The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-06-18 00:00:00

LOCAL NEWS

BLUE COAT HOSPITAL.—On Sunday morning last, after
an excellent and most affecting sermon from the Rev. Hugh
M'Neile, the handsome sum of £67 ss. 9d. was collected for
this admirable institution.
CALIGRAPHY.—Mr. Thompson continues to take pupils
for instruction in writing. Great success at all times is the
resith of his tuition, when application follows up his advice
and direction. The most wretched scrawler can be con-
verted into a handy pen man in a very short time, if placed
under Mr. Thompson's care.
WANTED.—An assortment of Radical Candidates for the
various manufacturing towns in this neighbourhood, at the
coming election. It has been suggested that Lancaster Castle
and the various County Lunatic Asylums would furnish
some very well-qualified candidates of enlarged minds, al-
though confined bodies. The chief requisites are—unblush-
ing impudence,—(coming up to the Walnisley mark,)—pow-
erful lungs—squeezable principles—or none at all, which will
do quite as well. Ignorance need be no barrier, as the mea-
sures to advocate are only cheap bread—cheap sugar—no
taxes—no rent—no education—no church—no religion—but
not a word about cheap labour.—Apply to Messrs. Black-is-
white and Co., Radical Association, Corruption-court,
Bribery-street.

REWARD OF HUMANITY.—We have mentioned the in-
tention of the British Government to present gold medals to
the captains of four New York packet-ships, in recognition
of their humanity in paving the crews of four shipwrecked
British vessels. A superb telescope has also been presented
to the first officer of one, bearing This inscription :—" Royal
Testimonial. Presented on behalf of Queen Victoria, by
James Buchanan, Esq., her Majesty's Consul at New ork,
to James Neish, an officer of the packet-ship Columbus, T.
B. Cropper, Esq., Commander, for his humane exertions in
aiding the saving of twenty-nine men and boys from the Bri-
tish ship Leonidas, of Belfast, upon the 25th day of Novem-
ber, 1840."
A MAN KILLED BY A BLOW.—An inquest was held be-
fore Mr. Chapman, the borough coroner, on Wednesday last,
on the body of John M'Donald, a labourer lately living at
No. 27, Oldham-road, who was killed by a blow he received
in a spirit vault. A man named Wni. Swift, a green grocer,
residing in St. George's-road, was in custody, charged with
having caused the death of the deceased. John Crighton,
land surveyor, of Water-street, stated, that about three
o'clock the preceding afternoon, he was in the vault of the
George the Fourth public-house, in Smithfield Market, and
heard deceased ask a person who was in, to treat him with a
glass. The person replied, he would ratherl treat him with a
glass of arsenic. Some words ensued, and the person threw
a glass of wine into deceased's face. The waiter and the pri-
soner then turned the deceased out of the vault. Witness
followed, and observed deceased taking off his coat on the
step. About a minute afterviards, deceased went into the
vault again, and used some pr6vokiug words to the prisoner,
who struck the deceased on the back of the head, about two
inches from the ear. The deceased fell with his head upon
the counter, and then, in a sitting posture, upon the floor.
His lips shortly beginning to look blue, the prisoner
and another person went for a surgeon, who, on his
arrival, found him dead. After the examination of the
surgeon, the jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter,"
against the prisoner. William Swift was committed, under
the coroner's warrant, to Kirkdale, to take his trial at the
ensuing assizes. The deceased, who was 46 years of age, has
left a widow and five children.—Manchester Guardian.
On Sunday, Mr. Cheetham, the parish curate of St. Nicho-
las's Church, gave notice that, Sunday next, the 20th June,
being the anniversary of the accession of Victoria to the
throne of these realms, the regular service as appointed in
the rubric would be read. It is very desirable to notice this
fact ; it is worthy of imitation every where, and is well cal-
culated to stir up that feeling of loyalty which at one time
prevailed in this town, and the example we are glad to find
set forth in one of onr parish churches. Genuine attach-
ment to the church and true loyalty to the throne are insepa-
rably connected. If the church will pay proper respect to
royalty, royalty will support the church; and surrounded as
we are at this particular period by every description of dis-
sent, it is the more advisable to afford to the friends and
supporters of constitutional principles in " church and
slate" an opportunity of praying, round the altar of our God,
for his support and protection, so as to obtain the blessings
we require for ourselves as a nation, or for the sovereign as
a ruler. We may add, that the aspect of the times is such
as to call for the fervent prayers of all who take a deep in-
terest in the welfare of the country ; and also that, besides
this consideratioh in thus performing their bounden duty
(for they are bound to use this service by their oath of al-
legiance to the Sovereign), the clergy will only be acting in
the very spirit of the devout sentiment expressed by her Ma-
jesty, in her speech to the Houses of Parliament on the 26th
of January last, when her Majesty said as follows .—" I
humbly implore Divine Providence that all your counsels
may be so directed as to advance the great interests of rn6-
rality and religion ; to preserve peace ; and to promote, by
enlightened legislation, the welfare and happiness of all
classes of my subjects."

MANSLAUGHTER--It, will be remembered, that, some
time ago, a man, named Frederick Smith, who has an office
in Union-street, was brought before Mr. Rushton, charged
with having pushed Catherine Brennan, an aged female,
down his steps, and broken her leg. The offence was dis-
tinctly sworn to by several witnesses, but the prisoner called
other witnesses, who contradicted the other witnesses who
appeared in support of the complaint. Mr. Rushton held
the prisoner to bail to appear to answer an indictment for the
offence at the quarter sessions. The case was tried before
the recorder at the last sessions held for the borough, when
the witnesses for the prisoner prevailed, and he was acquitted.
Since that time the old woman, Mrs. Brennan, has died of
the injury, and an inquiry has been for some days pending
before the coroner. The evidence called was similar to that
brought forward at the examination before Mr. Rushton.
The investigation terminated on Tuesday, when the jury,
after a long deliberation, returned a verdict of manslaughter
against Frederick Smith, who was committed on the coroner's
warrant to take his trial at the next assizes.
ST. THOMAS'S CHURCH, LTHIATE.—Amongsi the nu-
merous churches in this town and neighbourhood, which
have been consecrated by the bishop during his recent visit,
we ought not to omit to mention that of St. Thomas, Lydi-
ate, in the parish of Halsall, one of the most extensive in
this county, and in which additional accommodation has been
so long wanted, there being no intermediate place of worship
(belonging to the established church) betweeji Maghull and
Halsall, a distance of six miles. The new church to which
the patron of the living, R. B. B. H. Blundell, Esq., has
contributed the munificent sum of £l,OOO, has been built at
Lydiate-cross, which is nearly equi-distant between the
two, and affords ample accommodation for the numerous in-
habitants of Down-Holland, Haskane, and Lydiate, many
of whom, owing to the great distance, were previously pre-
cluded from attending divine worship. The church is a
plain handsome edifice, with a substantial tower, built of
free-stone, and capable of accommodating five hundred per-
sons, two hundred sittings being free. It was built by
Messrs. S. Holme and Co., of this town, to whose libe-
rality the inhabitants are indebted for many conveniences
and improvements beyond what were stipulated for in the
contract. Service has been performed in the church by li-
cense for some weeks, and we understand that all the pews
have been let, and applications made for more than could
be appropriated. A great number of the neighbouring clergy,
gentry, and inhabitants, were present at the consecration,
and after a sermon by the bishop, and a collection amounting
to £22, a large party adjourned to a splendid collation at
the residence of R. B. Smith, Esq., of Pygon's-hill, to
whose indefatigable zeal in obtaining subscriptions, and
activity in superintending the building, much of the success
of the undertaking has been owing.

MuRDER.--An inquisition was taken on Tuesday, before
Philip Finch Curry, Esq., and a respectable jury, for the
purpose of investigating the circumstances which led to the
death of William Crummer, aged 30, late of this borough.
The deceased resided with his wife, Bridget Crummer, in
Christian-court, Preston-street, where they kept a brothel.
On Saturday night, about ten o'clock, James White (who
was in custody before the coroner) went into the house of
the deceased with a female, with whom he adjourned into an
upper room. They were in the room some time, when a cry
of " murder" was heard. Mrs. Crummer went up stairs,
and desired the prisoner to come away. The woman within
was heard to exclaim, " I will return you your sixpence, if
you will let me go." The prisoner descended the stairs, and
went to the kitchen, where the deceased was stripped, and
was just about to step into bed. The prisoner made an at-
tempt to strike Mrs. Crummer, when the deceased exclaimed,
"Itis no manly act to strike a woman. The prisoner said,
" 11l either strike her or you." The deceased said, "My
good man, go about your business, no one here wants any
conversation with you." Upon this, the prisoner stuck the
deceased. The deceased pushed him, according to the evi-
dence of the woman ; (according to the deposition of the de-
ceased himself, he struck him.) The prisoner retired for a
moment or two, when he returned, and was seen to draw
something from his pocket ; he made a blow or push at the
deceased, and a frightful wound was immediately visible in
the stomach of the latter. The prisoner had, in fact, ripped
open the 'belly of the deceased, whose bowels immediately
fell out. The prisoner ran off, and was pursued by Mrs.
Crummer, calling " murder." She caught him by'the skirts
of his coat and held him till he was stopped by police-officer
Gristenthwaite, who held him in custody. Mr. Cripps, a
surgeon, was sent for, and he, assisted by Mr. Callon, sewed
up the wound. Mr. Cripps described the wound as f great
extent, and of a semicircular form. The cut was a clean one,
and had evidently been made with a sharp instrument. The
Bridewell-keeper deposed, that when he informed the pri-
soner on the following day that Crummer was dead, he ex-
claimed, " then lam an unfortunate man." Crummer died
at five o'clock on Sunday afternoon, there having been no
hope of his recovery from the first. The jury returned a
verdict of wilful murder against James White.

SERIOUS CASE OF EMBEZZLEMENT BY WEAVERS.—Se-
veraI weeks ago, the Miyor of Manchester received a letter
from the Mayor of Cork, stating that a large quantity of
embezzled cotton yarn of various colours and numbers was
every week brought from Manchester into that city by par-
ties residing there, and that there were persons in Manches-
ter who bought these yarns of the weavers, and had regular
arrangements for its transmission to Cork. The letter also
contained the names of the parties who purchased the yarn
from the weavers. This' letter was handed to the police, who
brought up three men of the names of Rividan, Byrne, and
Coakley, at the Borough Court on Saturday week. In the
house of each were found a large quantity of twist, some
ginghams and chamberies, in all a good cart load full, which
was seized and taken away. After several adjournments of
the case, the defendants were each convicted in the penalty
of £2o.—Maneheiter Guardian.

BOROUGH OF CLITHEROE.—On Friday last, a demon-
stration in favour of the good cause took place at Clitheroe,
from which we augur the happiest results. On that day Mr.
Cardwell- arrived in the borough, and without delay pro-
ceeded to canvass those whom we feel ourselves justified in
calling his future constituents. In the evening of the same
day Mr. Cardwell addressed a numerous and most respecta-
ble body of his supporters from the Rose and Crown Inn,
who received him in the most gratifying manner. The
meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. Forsyth (a son of
Thomas Forsyth, of this town), in the most eloquent terms.
The scene from the balcony of the hose and Crown on Fri-
day evening was enough to give the coup de grace to the
radical party, and renders certain the return of a conservative
member. It is almost unnecessary to say that Mr. Cardwell
is connected with this town.

Messrs. Joseph Wagstaff Barlow, and Samuel Bradshaw
Stewart (son of the Rev. William Stewart, of Hale), were, on
Wednesday, the 9th instant, elected Scholars of Brasenose
College, Oxford, on the foundation of Sarah, Duchess of
Somerset.

ARTFUL CONTRIVANCE.—The following cunning circular
has been forwarded to many highly respectable gentlemen of
conservative principles :—" Colonel Williams, on behalf of
the gentlemen who are conducting the preliminary arrange-
ments for Sir Joshua Walmsley's election, requests the
favour of your allowing your name to be added to the list of
the central election committee. Should you be unwilling to
accept the office, Colonel Williams will be obliged by an
early answer, as silence will be construed into assent.
" Committee-rooms, Clvyton-square,-June 10th, 1841."
The deception endeavoured to be practised by this note is
apparent from its concluding words. More than one-half of
the parties to whom it is addressed will, on reading the first
few words, instantly commit it to the flames, or at once for-
get it, and thus the object of the concocters will be gained.
No answer will be returned, and the names of some of the
first gentlemen of the town will thus be blazoned _forth as
members of Sir Joshua Walmsley's committee (albeit of well
known constitutional principles), simply because they have
not deigned to reply to an impudent and nonsensical request.
GLOUCESTER-STREET CHAPEL.—We have recently had
frequent occasion to notice the increase of church accommo-
dation for the inhabitants of this town, through the erection
of new valuable buildings for that purpose, and we have now
equal gratification in announcing that the chapel in Glou-
cester-street, which was lately advertised in the STANDARD,
for public sale, has been purchased for the purpose of being
placed within the pale of the established church. The inha,
bitants of the neighbourhood are very numerous, and the
district is a fine field for the elercise of the talents and.ener-
gies of a zealous clergyman. The building will contain from
600 to 800 persons.

CHARACTER OF A TRUE CONSERVATIVE.—The true
Conservative is faithful to God and his country. He regards
the institutions of his country as designed, not for the ag-
grandizement of a party, but for the protection and benefit
of all; he exults in the blessings they have secured for their
native land, and guards them as a sacred trust for posterity.
He condemns' experimental legislation, which risks substan-
tial blessings for shadows. He refuses to exchange practical
systems for untried theories. He knows his rights as a mem-
ber of 'a . free state, and firmly maintains them. He knows
his duty as a subject, and performs it cheerfully. He regards
the poor and the helpless, not as burdens upon the land, who
have scarcely the right to live, except as they minister to the
pride and convenience of the rich, but as a sacred charge, to
be protected and cherished. He has no ideas of politics apart.
from morals ; of morals not founded on religion ; of religion
not derived irons Revelation. Conservative principles, in
short; comprehend every duty to our neighbour, our country.
and our king, all with reference to God, as our supreme
Ruler and Judge.

BOTANIC GARDENS.—An advertisement, in another co-
lumn, announces, that during the anticipated meeting of the
Royal Agricultural Society in this town, in the ensuing
month, a grand exhibition will be held in the Botanic Gar-
dens, under the most distinguished patronage. The com-
mittee deserve the highest credit for their endeavours to pro-
mote the science of horticulture and botany. The gardens
are in the highest state of cultivation, and we are glad to
hear are visited by a considerable number of persons. There
is still a large debt hanging upon the committee, but we hope
it will be materially diminished by this exhibition, which has
been specially designed with this intention.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—A gala will take place at these
gardens this evening. If the weather prove fine, it will no
doubt be numerously and fashionably attended.
LECTURES AT ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.—It will be per-
ceived, on reference to our advertising columns, that the
respected minister of All Saints' intends delivering a series
of seven lectures on the Cherubim of Glory, commencing
on Tuesday evening next, and continuing the same on each
succeeding Tuesday to the close of the series.
The following trait, in the conduct of Mr. Tollemache, of
Tilston Lodge, Tarporley, (one of the candidates for Che-
shire,) deserves mention at this juncture. There was a lo-
cality in the island of Antigua, on which our Wesleyan friends
were very desirous to erect a school ; but the agent refused
either to treat for the site, or to disclose the name of the
proprietor. By mere accident, Mr. Frazer, when visiting
this country, discovered that it belonged to Mr. Tollemachu,
to whom he was introduced by that gentleman's brother-in-
law, and who not only, in the handsomest manner, presented
to the society the requisite quantity of land, but also gave a
subscription towards the school-house, and in other respects
afforded his countenance and encouragement to the under-
taking.

EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA.--A new publication, de-
voted to Australia, is about making its appearance. Front
the prospectus we find that it will " offer an impartial record
of all intelligence received, either through the colonial papers
or from private sources, accompanied by statistical details in
a form which will admit of easy reference and comparison;
a digest of official acts and documents relating to the colony,
and a faithful view of its position and prospects, as exhibited
in the correspondence of honest and well-informed settlers
of all classes. The plan will further include a series of origi-
nal articles on subjects of general interest connected with the
colony of South Australia, which will be discussed in an open
and candid spirit—free from that tone of rivalry which has
too often disgraced the pages of many sections of the colonial
press." It is to be called the Australian News—the price
three-halfpence—cheap enough in all conscience. This pub-
lication ought to circulate freely amongst the agricultural and
manufacturing districts. It will be very useful to those who
intend emigrating. Now that we are on this subject we may
observe, that we have seen letters from a family who have
emigrated to Port Adelaide, which state that it is "a land
flowing with milk and honey," and wishes are expressed that
their friends would join them.

THE PROROGATION.—AImost every journal ventures a
guess at the day when parliament will be prorogued. The
Britannia says—" Either on Thursday or Friday next, and
as the dissolution will immediately succeed, and the govern-
ment is pledged to lcse no time in assembling the new par-
liament, it will probably meet in the course of next August."
The Globe fixed the 15th, but now declares the 22d to be the
day. The Era says—" It is calculated, demi-officially, that
the prorogation will take place on Thursday week (June 24).
by the Queen in person, and that the dissolution will be an-
nounced in the next Gazette. The Queen will not dissolve
the parliament in person, it being deemed an ungracious act
for the monarch personally to dissolve a parliament." The
Cheltenham Looker-on says—" It will be some day this week,
by the Queen in person ; and, on slit, the Queen's speech
is to be a telling one for ministers on the hustings." The
Times of Saturday says—" Some persons had an idea that
the prorogation would take place ou Tuesday next, the 15th
instant, but the more general opinion now seems to be that
the old parliament will ' drag on' for another ten or twelve
days, Friday, the 25th instant, being the day named. There
is, however, no business of any great importance to occupy
the two houses, and there is, therefore, nothing to prevent
the dissolution from being announced on Thursday or Fri-
day next, at the latest. We think it not improbable that
parliament will be dissolved next week.
SUDDEN DEATHS FROM APOPLEXY.—On Wednesday
morning, a working man, named Allenson, aged 39, was
found dead in his bed. It appeared from the evidence at the
inquest yesterday, that serous apoplexy was the cause of
death.—Verdict accordingly. On the same day, an inquest
was held on view of the body of Ann Leathom, aged 73,
residing in Falkner-street. At half-past five o'clock on
Monday morning, the deceased was found in a fit, in which
she remained for two hours. She afterwards fell into a state
of insensibility, from which, though she was attended to, she
did not afterwards recover.—Verdict—" Died by the visita-
tion of God."

DEATH OF A CHILD lIY FALLING FROM A WINDOW.—
An inquest was held yesterday, before Mr. Curry, on view
of the body of James White, a child of about a year and a
half old. It appeared that the deceased, whose parents were
about to emigrate to America, and lodged in Stewart-street,
near the Clarence Dock, was, on Monday morning about
eight o'clock, playing on the bed in the front room, in the
attic story of the house, when, though the window was
closed, lie fell through one of the panes into the street. The
deceased's sister-in-law was in the room at the time, but had
not naturally any apprehension of such an accident. The
alarm was given, and it was found that the deceased had
fallen upon the iron rail opposite the cellar, on which he
hung, one of the points of the rails having entered his belly a
short distance, causing a dreadful wound. He was immedi-
ately carried to the Northern Hospital, where the wound
was sewed up, and every means taken to save his life, but
without avail. He died in thirteen hours after the accident.
It will be recollected that Captain Harris, the second mate-
and several people, took to the long-boat when the William
Brown sank after, having run against an iceberg. We find by
a Cape Breton paper, received by the Caledonia, that, after
having been in the long-boat six days, they were picked up
by a French lugger on the fishing ground, and carried into
St. Pierre. They were in a dreadful state of exhaustion, and
were sent to the hospital, where several of them remained at
the date of the last advices. This is, in all probability, the
boat which was referred to in the letter to Mr. Buchanan, of
this town, inserted in the Standard of Tuesday. We should
have been able to have added this explanation of the letter,
had we received our papers brought by the Caledonia before
Wednesday morning, but their delivery was delayed for some
reason, and we are yet in possession of a very incomplete file.
It will be remembered, that the communication addressed to
Mr. Buchanan informed that gentlemen that these poor
suffering creatures were a part of the crew of the unfortunate
President. This is a sufficient reply to a mean and spiteful
remark of a contemporary print of yesterday. The London
Times and Dublin Evening Vail circulated the same report
further timefo
as the Liverpool Standar
tiond, when they had several days
considera.
Lord John Russell made his appearance at the London
Tavern to-day, and was certainly very well received by a
closely-packed specially hired and drilled
g
fortheoec columnasion,,vho oactfedrr
it
ter
ms
ustb
e owned, exceedingly
well up to the fuglemen stationed at regular intervals for
giving the signal to—
sound your trumpets, beat your drums,
See Tom Thumb the hero comes."
y delighted, and his eyes
dHains
clei
dt t lwe
ith lsehaispu
rlookedw
iitnhe
affabl
reception so plausibly con-
trasting with the goosy strains before which of late quailing
elsewhere about P
about the purlieus of Westmin-
ster—for forlornness of look in St.
things are great to little minds." What
Jamessintesr such agony
rapgLoirikiy,
"littleoo fr
passed in the interior of the tavern must be left to the duly
recognised functionaries to tell, who of course accredited as
other diplomatists, were safe from risk of limb or purse, but
other persons not equally fortunate with such a safety pass,
and wearing pockets worth turning inside out, naturally
eschewed trusting themselves in the sort of company gathered
together on the occasion. Theme were, it is understood, some
decent persons present, such as Mr. Samuel Jones Loyd,
the banker, but then they cautiously entrenched themselves
on the platform, and did not show the smallest disposition to
fraternise too closely with the heterogeneous fry in the body
of the room. The Chronicle will, however, doubtless to-
morrow speak to the character of the whole concern, and
avouch them to be " all, all honourable men." The rogues
of course are sure to answer for each other, and so be it--
Morning Herald of Wednesday.

SIR JOSHUA WALMSLEY AND THE REPESEN-

TATION OF LIVERPOOL

When a citizen in his aspirations after fame quits the re-
tirement of private life, and becomes a candidate for the
highest mark of distinction which his fellow-townsmen can
confer, a spirit of enquiry is naturally excited, not only as to
the qualifications of the aspirant, but also as to the standing
which he possesses in the community where he lives. He
must expect the previous sanctity of his private life to be in-
vaded without.scruple, and his various actions, whether for
good or for evil, to be weighed and scrutinised with the ut-
most severity. In this position Sir Joshua Walmsley has
now placed himself. Ile has launched his bark upon the
ocean of public opinion, and he must prepare to encounter
the rough tempests which abound upon it, in his progress to-
wards the haven for which he steers.
In the first place, then, let us consider what are the pecu-
liar claims of Sir Joshua Walmsley to the representation of
Liverpool. These we should have expected to have found in
his address, but certainly a document more meagre in its de-
tails it has seldom been our fortune to read, and if something
more were not known of the candidate than what there ap-
pears, we should, indeed, have much to learn respecting him.
During the period in which he has taken a somewhat pro-
minent part in the affairs of the town, which may be com-
prised within the last six years—to wit, since the passing of
the municipal act—he has stood before the public as a corn
merchant, a municipal councillor, a chairman of the watch
committee, a mayor, a president of the Mechanics' Institu-
tion, a chairman of the Tradesmen's Reform Association,
and an active member of ti! notorious Protector Society.
It has been remarked of him, that he allowed his party to
achieve the reform bills at a vast sacrifice of time and money,
without stepping forward to assist them, but that he lost no
time in avowing himself a reformer when the burdens had
been successfully borne, and the heat and toil attendant upon
them triumphantly. .surmounted, and eagerly strove to par-
ticipate in the new honours which were then opened to view.
It has been likewise said, and, as in the previous remarks, by
his own supporters, that he cared not how rudely he rushed
by those to whom he was indebted for those honours, and if
he could not otherwise gain his object, (which, according to
his own assertion, he has never yet failed to do,) resorted to
means for that purpose, which in others would be charac-
terised u anything but honourable. If any further evidence
be wanting upon these points, we have only to refer to the
pi:esent mayor and William Rathbone, Esq., by whom we
are sure it will be 'cheerfully afforded.

As a merchant of Liverpool, Sir Joshua Walmsley first
claims our notice. He has acquired the fortune which he
possesses, and as to the extent of which, estimates widely
differ, in the pursuit of the corn trade, and having entered
both deeply and profitably into that portion of it connected
with foreign parts, he naturally wishes to benefit himself
still further by means of a free trade in corn. Whatever
may be the delusion under which some persons labour upon
this political question, Sir Joshua cannot be said to be
among the number, as it is obvious to all that such a trade
must necessarily be to his advantage. Hence some caution
should be exercised before his doctrines upon that subject are
received with implicit credence, as men are apt to step be-
yond the bounds of truth when their own interests are at
stake. The first period from which the fortunes of Sir
Joshua would appear to have taken date, was when a method
was discovered of evading the laws of this country by the
importation of foreign grain from the Isle of Man, and nu-
merous consignments of that article came to the house of
Booth and Walmsley. The discovery was doubtlessly in-
genious, and exhibited a master mind ; but sonic persons are
to he found who do not set an extraordinary value upon
talent, however gigantic it may be, when it is devoted to
such ends, and there were some ugly things said upon the
subject in the House of Commons, when the affair was
brought under its notice. Upon the principle, however,
that a " thief makes the best police-officer," it may be pos-
sible that Sir Joshua, if the discoverer of that notable
schgrne, would make an excellent representative for the
people of Liverpool.
In our consideration of the merits of Sir Joshua as a
Town-councillor, we find him advocating the extension of
the bonding system to inland towns, as well as witnessing
the contemplated removal of the Post-office packets to Bir-
kenhead, without an effort to avert the evil. And we can
scarcely think that such an astute individual as Sir Joshua
could have refrained from bidding for popularity by opposing
these measures, did not his interest run in a contrary di-

section
We have said that Sir Joshua is the chairman of the watch
committee, and certainly the clear and lucid statements not
only of the number of brothels in the town, but of those
who inhabit them, which he has periodically furnished to
the public, deserve their warmest gratitude, and there can
be no doubt that Lady Walmsley duly appreciates these laud-
able researches of her husband. But there is another point
upon which we think he is not so fully entitled to credit,
and that is, the constitution of the police force. It would
really be an act of service to the town if some town-council-
lor were to move for a return of the number of Irishmen,
Scotchmen, and Englishmen of whom the police force is
composed, as well as how many of the latter were natives
of the town. This is, indeed, a more serious matter than
it would at first sight appear, for when our churches are
desecrated by a savage Irish mob, it is important that the
majority of the force by which such attacks are to be repelled
should not belong to the same country and creed as these by
whom the outrages are committed. We have heard it fre-
quently asserted that the greatest obstacles are interposed to
the admission of a townsman into the police force, whilst an
Irishman, especially a Roman catholic, experiences the ut-
most facility. Really these things should be inquired into.
If profuse expenditure, if magnificent balls, if frequent
and excellent dinners, be the test of an honorable mayoralty,
we are bound to admit that Sir Joshua Walmsley was one
of the best—if not the best—mayors that Liverpool has for
some time possessed. In our opinion, however, the excel-
lency of a mayor is not shown so much by his hospitality as
by the regard which he exhibits for the real welfare of the
town over which he presides, and we cannot discover one
single instance in which Sir Joshua excelled his predecessors
in that respect. It has not been denied that he spent £5OO
in putting Irish catholics upon the register, to influence the
last municipal, and the coming parliamentary, elections ;
which act her majesty's judicial representatives pronounced
highly illegal ; and that the inhabitants of cellars, and the
lowest description of houses, so put on, whose claims were
sat upon by himself, as judge, may thus legally become bur-
thensome to the parish for the remainder of their lives. Sir
Joshua, as mayor, attended an inspection of the plans of a
dissenting place of worship, and expressed his approbation
of them, apparently for the purpose of such sentiments find-
ing access into the public prints, and thereby gaining him a few
stray votes, though we do not find that -he took any trouble
to attend a similar inspection of the churches which have been
built in the town, or even contributed a farthing to their
erection : indeed, when invited to attend a dinner in
celebration of the laying of the foundation-stone of the new
Protestant College, he declined doing so on the score of pre-
vious engagements, although it is well known that the circu-
lars which he issued for his own dinner, most auspiciously
held on the same evening, were not issued for at least a week
after receiving the invitation. Another point connected with
his mayoralty, and we have done, as it affords a further il-
lustration of the facility with which he dragged the insignia
of his office through the mire to serve a political purpose. He
accompanied Mr. Justice Coleridge and a party through
Fawcett's foundry. Her Majesty's Judge left a guinea, to
be divided amongst those who had pointed out the different
departments the Mayor of Liverpool sent a five pound note
for a similar purpose. What man of modest feeling would
have caused such a contrast to be drawn? The reason is
obvious ;—there are a number of electors and freemen at
Fawcett's foundry, whom it was policy to conciliate.
The Mechanics' Institution has been no mean stepping-
stone to Sir Joshua's greatness—such as it is. It was there
—when the true leaders of his party, such as Messrs. Rath-
bone, Bolton, Hornby, &c., would not aid his ambitious
projects—it was there that his scheme was first smiled upon.
Mr. Urquhart, of Lord-street, consented to become the
chairman of his committee, and to manage the requisition
upon which Sir Joshua has consented to stand. Oh ! the
history of that requisition is a curious affair ;—no document
of a similar nature ever experienced so many reverses—so
many smiles and frowns. Little do the mechanics, who have
heard Sir Joshua Walmsley speak so blandly to them in the
theatre of that institution, know how little indebted they are
to him for the building in Mount-street—nor what trouble
he took to dispossess them of it. Ask Mr. Leyland, and
he can tell you that Sir Joshua has often regretted that it
was ever called a Mechanics' Institution, and that but for
his exertions, and those of Lord Sandon in parliament, the
institution in Mount-street would ere this have been any-
thing but a Mechanics' Institution.
The only remaining point of view in which we purposed
is
considering Sir Joshua Walmsley, as the chairman of the
Reform Association. In that capacity he forced himself upon
his party as mayor of Liverpool. Attaching to him a few
hungry adherents—men of broken fortunes, the scorn of those
who knew them—he contrived to have his dirty work done
for a time in the most secret and serviceable manner; but
murder and ill deeds will out,—the Liverpool Times would
not march with him through Coventry, and the fracas which
ensued would, if duly considered and studied, afford the best
possible insight to the character of Sir Joshua Walmsley, and
discover that in his restless yearnings after fame nothing was
an obstacle, and that if the object was attainable, no effort
was too great for such a purpose,—and it would there be
found that the swamping of the register by hordes of wild
Irish was deprecated by thei respectable men of the party,
as a measure which tended to upset every principle of free
representation which they had been contending for during

the previous century.
Having thus traced the history of Sir Joshua Walmsley
through the several relations in which he has stood with re-
spect to his native town, and shewu that in all, self•advance-
meut and self-aggrandizement have been his ruling passions,
we trust that our townsmen will pause before they withdraw
their confidence from those who now represent them, in fa-
vour of a man whose career has been one uniform course of
selfishness, whose ruling motive is unbounded vanity, and in
whom, unless we are grievously mistaken, not one greatness
of character can be pointed out which does not spring from a
lieltiab root.

THE CORN LAWS

OPINIONS OF MIL. HIISKISSOY

Amongst the multifarious placards on the walls of this
town at the present moment, is one which affects to represent
the opinions of Mr. Huskisson on the corn laws, and vainly
endeavours to present them in contrast with the sentiments
of our noble representative, Lord Sandon, as put forth in his
lordship's inimitable address to his constituents. It is almost
a work of supererogation to point out all the dishonourable
shifts and disgraceful falsehoods resorted to by the Walms-
leyites, to prop up their sinking cause ; but as some little at-
tention has been drawn to Mr. Huskisson's reported lan-
guage, we consider it best to give that gentleman's real rea-
soning on this important question, which we extract from a
speech delivered by him to the electors of Chichester. It
places the subject on a broad basis, and is conclusive in re-
futation of the assertion that the corn laws are merely a
benefit to the lauded proprietor. We wish all who respect
the opinions of this advocate of free trade in general, but of
a fair protection to the English agriculturist, would examine
the arguments he' advances as detailed in his published
speeches, and not run away with garbled statements put
forth by enemies of Mr. Huskisson and Mr. Huskisson's
opinions. We subjoin the right honourable gentleman's

language :
" If I were not fully convinced, that the consumer in ge-
neral, but more especially that class of consumers whose
subsistence depends on their own industry, would be bene-
fitted by the proposed alteration, it would not have had my
support. My sole object is to prevent (as far as human
means can prevent) bread corn from ever again reaching the
late extravagant prices. Can any man have witnessed the
scarcities and consequent privations of the people, during
six or seven different seasons of the last twenty years, with-
out feeling anxious to guard the country against the return
of such severe distress ? But if we wish to cure an evil of
this alarming magnitude, we must first trace it to its source.
What is that source ? Obviously this, that until now, we
did not, even in good years, grow corn enough for our own
consumption. Habitually depending upon foreign supply,
that supply was interrupted by war. or by bad seasons
abroad. The present war, it is true, is now at an end ; but
peace is at all times too precarious not to induce us to guard
against the repetition of similar calamities, whenever hosti-
lities may be renewed. But even in peace, the habitual de-
pendence on foreign supply is dangerous. We place the
subsistence of our own population not only at the mercy of
foreign powers, but also on their being able to spare as much
corn as we may want to buy. Suppose, as it frequently hap-
pens, the harvest in the same year to be a short one, not only
in this country, but in the foreign countries from which we
are fed. What follows? The habitually exporting country,
France for instance, stopt the export of its corn, and feeds
its people without any great pressure.* The habitually im-
porting country, England, which, in a good season, has
hitherto depended on the aid of foreign corn, deprived of
that aid, in a year of scarcity, is driven to distress, border-
ing upon famine. There is therefore no effectual security,
either in peace or war, against the frequent return of scarcity,
approaching to starvation, such as of late years we have so
frequently experienced, but in our maintaining ourselves
habitually independent of foreign supply. Let the bread we
eat be the produce of corn grown among ourselves, and, for
one, I care not how cheap it is ; the cheaper the better. It
is cheap now, and I rejoice at it, because it is altogether
owing to a sufficiency of corn of our own growth. But in
order to insure a continuance of that cheapness and that
sufficiency, we must insure to our own growers that protec-
tion against foreign import which has produced these bless-
ings, and by which alone they can be permanently main-
tained.
" The history of the country for the last one hundred and
seventy years, clearly proves, on the one hand, that cheap-
ness produced by foreign import is the sure forerunner of
scarcity ;t and on the other, that a steady home supply is
the only safe foundation of steady and moderate prices.
During upwards of one hundred years, up to the year 1765,
the import of foreign corn was restrained by very high duties.
What was the state of the country during those one hundred
years ? That in ordinary seasons our eWn growth supplied
a stock of corn fully ample for our own consumption ;—that
in abundant seasons we had some to spare, which we export-
ed ;—that in bad seasons we felt no want, and were under no
apprehension ;—that the price of corn seldom varied more
than a few shilings per quarter;—that we had no years of
inordinate gain to the farmer, and of starvation to the con-
sumer ;—that prices, instead of rising from year to year,
were gradually diminishing so that at the end of this long
period of a century, during which we never imported foreign
corn, they were actually one-fifth lower than at the begin-
ning of it. Would to God that we had continued in this
salutary system ! But in 1765 it was unfortunately aban-
donded. What has been the result? Precisely the reverse
of the former system. Instead of a steady supply, afforded
at steady and moderate prices, we have witnessed frequent
and alarming scarcities. Every year our dependence on
foreign supplies was increasing till the war came, and by
interrupting that supply, greatly aggravated all our evils ;
for, a country which depends on its enemies or its rivals for
its food of its people, is never safe in war. (Mr. Huskisson
might have added, nor in peace.') In the first eighteen
years of this war, we were forced to pay sixty millions of
money (to nations, every one of whom has, in the course of
it, been our enemy) for a scanty and inadequate supply of
foreign corn ; and when for this purpose we had parted with
all our gold, and even our silver currency, combined Europe
shut its ports against us, and America, co-operating, first
laid an embargo, and then went to war. This combination
was formed with the vain hope to break our spirit by starving
our bodies. We struggled hard both at home and abroad,
but by the struggle we have gained much. Abroad we have
subdued our enemies ; at home, we come out of the war with
our agriculture so extended and improved, as to make us at
this moment independent of foreign supply. We are so at
this moment ; and shall I, who to the entire conviction of
my own judgnzent, have traced the lung sufferings of the
people to a contrary state of things, be deterred from using
my honest endeavours in parliament to prevent the recurrence
of such sufferings? For that purpose we must go back to
the principles of our forefathers ; and by reverting, as much
as possible, to their system, we shall secure to ourselves and
our posterity all the benefits which they derived from it.
" I admit, that if unlimited foreign import, which the war
had suspended, were now again allowed, bread might be a
little, though a very little cheaper, than it now is, for a year
or two. But what would follow ? The small farmer would
be ruined ; improvements would everywhere stand still ;
inferior lands now producing corn would be given up, and
return to a state of waste ; the home consumption and brisk
demand for all the various articles of the retail trader, which
has so long contributed, even during the pressure of war to
the prosperity of our towns, (and especially of those which
arc connected with manufactures or foreign commerce,)
would rapidly decline ; farming servants, and all the trades
which depepd on agriculture for employment, would be
thrown out of work ; and the necessary result of the want

of work would be, that wages would fall even more rapidly
than the price of corn. Then conies some interruption to
the foreign import, coinciding with the decay of agriculture
at home, and corn is suddenly forced up again to a famine
price. Such, I conceive, would be the inevitable consequence
of again placing ourselves in a state of habitual and increas-
ing dependence on foreign supply. Who, upon the long run,
would profit by such a state of things ? Certainly not the
consumer; but precisely those who have profited too much
already from a similar state of things • namely, the over-
grown farmers with large capitals. They will be enabled,
for two or three years, to bear up against the foreign import ;
and whenever that import is interrupted, the extravagant
prices they will then be enabled to command, will more than
repay the temporary losses which their poorer, but not less
industrious, neighbour had not the means to withstand.
Every one thus forced out of cultivation will insure to them
an ultimate increase of profit, and in proportion to that profit
will inflict an increased pressure upon the consumer. To
protect the small farmer, therefore, is ultimately to protect
the people. This is my sole object ; and, whatever may be
the fate of the bill now in the House of Commons, I can
most conscientiously declare is, in my opinion, the sole ten-
dency of the plan which that bill is calculated to carry into
effect."
* Or it may lay on an export duty for the sake of revenue.
t Trade dependent on foreign demand is sure to be at-
tended with distress.
T. As they are now doing.