The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-02-22 00:00:00

available at the very time when they were in urgent
request. One boat, from defect of the lowering
tackle, capsized as soon as it touched the water, the
other boat had the plug out of her bottom, and her
oars were securely lashed to the sides. The first
difficulty was partially remedied by the noble
courage of a boy who used his fingers as a substitute
for the missing plug, and the second was obviated
by the passengers, who were destitute of a knife,
wrenching two of the oars from the lashings by

; and it was owing to the praiseworthy
exertions of these individuals, aided by the boats
from the Roscommon steamer, that so many were
saved. There can be little doubt, however, that had
both boats been in serviceable condition, with

main force

proper lowering tackle, the greater part of those on
board would have been saved, as the distance to a
place of safety was only about half a mile, and the
sea was not very rough. The brave commander,
with the spirit of a true seaman, remained at his
post, but, unfortunately, with his second and third
officers, perished with the sinking vessel. It is
much to be desired that some steps could be taken
to provide more effectually against the consequences
of such a calamity, as it too often happens, par-
ticularly with steam-vessels, that the danger is im-
minent, when, perhaps, it is least expected.
The meeting in behalf of the Liverpool Indus-
trial Ragged Schools, which was held on Tuesday
last, attracted one of the most crowded meetings
which has been witnessed for some time in this
town

The speeches were listened to with great
attention, and the resolutions agreed to with enthu-
siasm. The proposition for training some of the
boys as seamen was favourably received, and it is
hoped that the Committee will be enabled to carry

it into effect. 'We have alluded to the meeting

more at length in a leading article

The half-yearly meeting of the Liverpool United
Gas-light Company showed a prosperous state of
their financial affairs, the dividend declared amount-
ing to fire per cent. on the half year. The public
would have been better satisfied with an announce-
ment of a reduction in price, as a reasonable con-
sequence of such remunerative profits ; but a ques-
tion to the Chairman on this subject only produced
an indefinite promise of a reduction being made at
some future time. As diminished cost usually
leads to increased consumption, the consumers will
be disposed to think that the amount of dividend
supplied ample argument for no farther delay.
At the annual meeting of the Liverpool Provi-
dent Society, on Tuesday, at which the Mayor pre-
sided, the Rev. Rector CAMPBELL called attention
to the importance of supporting the Society as one
of the most efficient means for the suppression of
mendicancy. It was too often the case that the
bestowal of casual alms was offering a premium to
imposition, and tending to perpetuate vagrancy ;
whereas by contributing to the funds of the Society,
and referring to them all applicants for relief, true
charity would be exercised, and the really necessi-
tous would have their wants relieved.

GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND.—WiII English
statesmen and English parliaments never be made
to see the great truth, that what is wanting for the
efficient and peaceable government of Ireland is not
the conciliation of this or that party—not a prop
now to Protestant ascendancy, and a lift anon to
Papal despotism—hut the steady, impartial, unflinch-
ing, and uncalculating administration of the law.
By that means alone, by the induction into the mind
of Orangeman, Papist, and Ribbonman alike, of a
conviction that every breaker of the law, every dis-
turber of the public peace will receive at the hands
of the government, whether it be Derbyite, or
Peelite, without paltering or evasion, the full mea-
sure of the law honestly dealt out. By these means
alone, can Ireland be relieved from the baneful
activity of party spirit, which has laid a spell upon
all productive and legitimate energy. and worn her
to the extremest point of helplessness and debility.
—Morning Post.

THE DERBY ELECTION CONINIITTEE.—Many
borough elections are a mere trial of skill between
the Whig Flewker and the Tory Frail. The general
who influences the greater number of indifferents
wins the day. The Whigs will have Flewkers,
Tories will have Frails, and even Radicals look out
for good and safe men. If by act of parliament we
could create voters who would be unselfish, and
act from principle, all this would come to an end.
But as this is impossible, we must bear the evils
inseparable from our corrupt humanity. It would
be an exceedingly amusing sight to behold the
whole body of Whig purists who uplift their eyes
at the name of Frail, marched one by one through
the lobby, and obliged to plead guilty or not guilty
to the use of good and safe men in their election
concerns. How few could lay their hands upon
their hearts and say " Not guilty, upon my honour."
We never yet heard of a Whig scrupling to make
use of an election agent. Were the secrets of all
boroughs disclosed, how many immaculate repre-
sentatives who are publicly wiping their mouths
and saying, " I have done no evil," be found
to owe their seats more to
'They
tact of their Frails
than to their own merits. arei w happythat no
Reform Club has as yet offered'for
heir let-
ters.t Give us a better system with all our their
Consign Frails and Flewkers to oblivion as soonear as
s.
possible—the sooner the better ; but it will be quite
time enough for the Whigs to crow in the Drum-
lanrig fashion when they have wiped their hands
altogether of using other than purely constitutional
influences at their elections. We may well speak
feelingly upon the subject. In Ireland we have
suffered at our elections the full curse of Frails and
Flewkers in long black coats, booted and spurred,
with heavy horsewhips, and followed by a horde of
myrmidons armed with shillelahs, for the last quar-
ter of a century. These are the " good and safe
men" of the Liberal party. By virtue of their ex-
ertions the Whigs feasted year after year on the
loaves and fishes of Downing-street. The recol-
the rampant glee
leetions are forced upon us by