The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-04-26 00:00:00

DR. APNEILE AND PRIEST POWER.

WE reminded our readers, last week, that Priest POWER
had not yet responded to the challenge of Dr. M`NEILE,
although nearly two months had elapsed since it was pub-
lished. He has not, however, taken the hint ; and we
publish this week a second letter from Dr. M'NEILE,
who magnanimously helps his antaconist to the selection
of the best weapons. A bad caue, however, requires
more skill than Rome seems to entrust her children
with ; and Mr. POWER prudently shuns a controversy
in which his defeat is certain. Dr. M'NEtta's second
letter will be found in our sixth page.

MERCANTILE LAW.-CONFERENCE IN
LIVERPOOL.

THE Liverpool Chimber: of Commerce will hold meet-
ings on Thursday and Friday this week, on the important
subject of the changes required in the law affecting mer-
cantile transactions. The meeting on Thursday will be
preliminary, and that on Friday will be of a more formal
character, to receive the deputies from Commercial Asso-
ciations, and other parties who have been invited. This
is a subject which imperatively demands attention, and it
is but fitting that Liverpool should occupy a prominent
position i❑ pressing it upon the Legislature. The first
point for consideration is the necessity of establishing
local tribunals of a purely commercial character, in which
justice may be administered speedily and economically,
and by men whose previous experience has qualified them
to judge of questions affecting shipping and mercantile
operations. This will occupy the first place in the deli-
berations of the Conference; and considering the influen-
tial position and great experience of the men of whom it
will be composed, their conclusions will be entitled to
great weight. The principal grievance complained of is
the great expense and unnecessary delay of obtaining any
legal decision under the present system, and then only in
most cases before Courts manifest!), incompetent to deal
with the subject, or even to comprehend the points at
issue. Our recent Assize afforded a striking illustration,
the records of our Law Courts would furnish many more;
but these are few in comparison with the necessities
which arise, for in the majority of cases men rather suffer
the irjustice arising from the want of justice than run the
hazard of making it still greater by appealing to the
Courts of Law, as at present constituted. This is a
grievance of no ordinary magnitude, calling loudly for re-
dress. If Agriculture be the back-hone of the country.
Commerce is the life-blood of the community; and
Liverpool, as the great head of the commerce of the
world, is entitled to this bare instalment of Justice.
What is wanted is a permanent Local Tribunal, invested
by the legislature with full power to enforce its decrees,
and competent to decide on all questions concerning its
Trade and Commerce, leaving all other matters to the
ordinary tribunals of the country. We have a precedent
for the establishment of Courts of peculiar jurisdiction in
the Stannary Courts of Devon and Cornwall, which were
for the especial benefit of the milling interest ; and surely
if the copper and tin mining of England was entitled to
its own laws and its own courts, the Commerce of Great
Britain, which knows no limits but those which Nature
imposes on the habitable globe, has an infinitely higher
claim to such a privilege. Reason and justice alike de-
mand it, there can be no solid objection, and perseverance
can alone be required to obtain the consent of the Legis-
lature.

Should time allow, the attention of the Conference will
be called to subjects of comparatively minor interest,
such as the Bankruptcy Law and its administration, and
the law of Partnership and limited liability, both of
which are worthy of consideration. Upon the latter
subject the Government is about to issue a Commission
of Inquiry'; and it is to be hoped that doubts will be set
aside, and some decision arrived at, so that no exclusive
privileges shall be granted to particular companies, at the
expense of others.

THE Ray. W. E. RA.WSTOR/sTE, M.A., vicar of Orms.
kirk, has intimated toll's parishioners his intention of re-
signing his incumbency in the course of a few months.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—We heg to remind
our readers that, according to an advertisement, which
will be seen in another part of our paper, the Rev. J. C.
Ryle, author of Living and Dead, Home Truths, &c.,
will preach this evening in St. Michael's Church, Pitt-
Areet, on behalf of the Church Missionary society.