The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-27 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COME MOMS.-FRIDAY.

Gen.LTGON reported, from the Tarnwortl;eleCiiiin committee,
that Capt. A'COurt had been dilly returned.
There- were•then, again, 'presented Several petitions for the
abolition of the negro apprenticeshiP system, also several peti-
tions for the repeal of the Poor Law Amendment Act, and
against' the Nor Relief( IrelaUd).Bill. _
111 r. H emx, at
.the request of Lord John Russell,' rlefeired
the County :Rate, Bill, until after the Easter recess.
Lord J. RUSSELL intimated; in answer to the inquiry of Sir
R. Peel, that be proposed tbe Easter recess to be from Wednes-
day 401.11, till the Tuesday week following.
Sir it. Nit; after Some interesting observations, followed.
by remarks from Lord J. Russs.i.L, eulogistic of Colonal Shaw
Kennedy, inquired whether the principle which had been acted,
on in his nomination would guide the appointment of that
gentleman's successor as head of the constabulary force, Ireland,
- -Lord,J. Russat.t. answered in the affirmative.'

Lord J. RUSSELL said he should hereafter bring forward the
Corporation (Ireland) Bill, and press a division on it before.
Easter, if be was to understand that it was intended to move the.,
extinction of municipal corporations; otherwise he should let it
stand over till aft-r Easter, and proceed with the Poor Relief
(Ireland) Bill.
Sir R. PEEL expressed the hope that the government would.
intimate a bill declaratory of the principles and law to he ob-
served with .respect to disputed elections, and suggested a select
committee on the subject.
LOrd J.' RUSSELL said be should not hope much from such a
committee.
The house then once more resolved into committee on the
Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill. The lemaining clauses, with the
exception of those that had been deferred, were considered and,
adopted with some verbal amendments, the committee after-
wards proceeding with the consideration of the postponed clauses,
beginning at the 26th. The remainder of the sitting was chiefly
occupied with the consideration of the bill.

THEATRE R OYA L.—Last night the Theatre Royal opened. for
the season, and we understand there was a very good house.
Mr. Power, the well known actor of Irish characters, is engaged,
and appears to night in the comedy of `'the Irish Ambassador,"
as Sir Patrick O'Plenipo, A. D. C. ; and afterwards in the farce
of the " Omnibus," as Pat Rooney. A spirited season, so far
as the engagement of "stars" of all magnitudes can .make it
so, is promised on the part of the management.
THE CAUSE Lisr.—There are 51 causes entered on the first
or Salford list, which is extremely light, and no less than 125
on the West Derby list, which is unusually heavy. In the
first list the causes as far as number 43 are got through, 8 only
remaining to be tried, which it is7expected will be got through
to day. So far. the Salford list has proved what the lawyers
call an exceedingly " rotten" one: a number of the causes
having fallen through, and many of them being of the most
trumpery character. In the second list there are six special
jury causes entered, and seven indictments against the chemical
nuisances; all of which, if tried, will occupy much time. It is
anticipated that the assizes will continue for three weeks.
ST. PAUL'S SCHOOLS.—We perceive that the Rev. H.
M`Neile will preach a sermon nn behalf of these schools on
Thursdayeverntil next. The day school Contains upwards of
"M children, Catechized weekly by the Bev., J.. Staffwil, 8.A.,
there are also nearly 200 children in the Sunday school, these
schools are situated in the must densely populated part of the
town. They are, 'we are sorry 40 £5l) to debt;

Mit Eiberpool

TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 27, 1838.

(10- The Publication of the STANDARD commenced this morn.
ing at 5 o'clock.

LATEST FROM BUENOS AYRES.—ACCOUnts were yell-
lerday received in Liverpool from Valparaiso via
Buenos Ayres, of the refusal on the part of the Chilian
government to ratify the treaty of peace between that
republic and Santa Cruz.
The Chilians are understood to have been very much
annoyed at the ignominious termination of the wkr, af-
ter all their blustering; but iris su'pposed that they will
ultimately have to agree to, the treaty.

The British minister at Bueno4 AYies bad been re-
quested by Santa Cruz to use his influence in negotiat-
ing a peace between Peru and Buenos Ayres.

THE CORN LAWS.—The Mercury of Friday last has
devoted-a column to the discussion of this subject. The
,article is one of those special originals, to which we are
occasionally treated in grandpapa's journal, of which it
is difficult to say anything in the way of criticism.- The
absurdities concentrated within the compass of the arti-
cle are so numerous, that we should have left it to sink
into oblivion by the force of its innate dulness, had not
the editor of the Mercury ventured to cavil at the logic
of, the Standard, and to pronounce'our arguments on the
subject of the repeal of the corn laws as false positions
dogmatically asserted. We shall shortly prove that the
Mercury displays the most superlative ignorance on the
subject—that it seeks to delude its readers by partial
statements and distortion of facts—and that it is as de-
ficient in logic as it is in common sense or honesty of
inciple.
All the radical journals, in common with the Mercury,
while descanting upon the presumed benefits which are
associated with a repeal of the corn-laws, take especial
care to avoid every semblance of reasoning on the sub-
ject, but deal exclusively in vague generalities, confident
assertions, and declamatory appeals to the prejudices of
the " people." This renders it difficult to reply to any
article on the subject with which we meet, in the columns
of our liberal contemporaries. Thus the Mercury la-
ments the indifference of the people on the subject of
the repeal of these laws, and attributes that indifference
either to " an imperfect acquaintance with the baneful
operation" of those laws, or to " a sullen conviction that
it is useless to address their petitions to an assembly who
have a direct interest in the perpetuation of a monopoly
most injurious to the general prosperity." After such
strong language as this one might reasonably, expect
that the editor of the Mercury would endeavour to prove •
that. the corn laws were " baneful in their operation."

and that they " perpetuated a monopoly most injurious
to the general prosperity." He, however, does nothing
of the kind. An v attempt to do so would have only ex-
posed still further his consummate ignorance. Again,
the Mercury observes that the tax upon corn is one
which " bears incomparably heavier upon the poor and
laborious classes than upon the rich and inactive part or
the community." This can only be true in the sense
that all taxes indiscriminately must bear heaviest upon
those who are in the worst condition to meet them. But
it is an utter falsehood to assert that this is " a tax,
which, whilst it grievously enhances the price of bread
to labourers and manufacturers, at the same time, by
crippling our trade and manufactures, diminishes their
means of purchasing the staff of life." We say that
this is a plain untruth. It is sheer humbug to say that
the labourer would be in a better condition if the price
of bread were much loner. He certainly would expo
rience the benefit of a reduction in the price of bread, if
he could always command the same rate of wages; but
where is the man that is such a tool as to maintain that
the rate of wages would not be regulated by the price of
corn ? The fact is, that cheap bread so far from being
an advantage to the labourer; it is a serious evil. The
testimony of all ages Will beer us out in this assertion.
There was a time in the history of our own country when
as much bread could be had for a shilling as can now be
procured for twenty four shillings, or, in other words,
when a good family loaf could be purchased for a penny.
Those must surely, according to the theory of our radi-
cal philosophers, have been glorious days for the labour-
ing classes. They must have enjoyed, in a degree to
which our present starveling race of Englishmen are
total strangers, the blessing of abundance. Far from
it. The period to which ive allude was one of unparal-
leled distress. The fare of the labourer was then much
worse than it is at present, and for this simple reason,
that the wages of a labouring man were then only a penny
a day!

Again, there was a period within the memory of the
editor of the Mercury, when bread was thrice as clear as
it is now. Surely that must have been a time of great
suffering and privation to the poor labourer. Far from
it. How could that be ? Wages were double what they
are at present. _ _

We dwell the more particularly on this point because
an attempt was made at the last election, and no doubt
will be renewed hereafter, to delude the labouring classes,
by raising the cry of " cheap bread." Our readers will
remember that a large and a small loaf were carried on
poles at the head of Ewart and Elphinstone's procession,
to indicate that these gentlemen were willing that the
poor should fare better than the conservatives wished
them to do. With equal justice might our conservative
friends have carried at the head of their procession two
bags of money, one a small one, and the other a large
one, to show that the radicals would diminish the amount
of the wages of the labouring man, whilst the conserva-
tives wished to keep it up.

But it may be urged that although a reduction in the
price of corn might be followed by a diminished scale of
wages, still the stimulus which the repeal of the corn
laws would give to our manufacturing interests would
make work more abundant, and render the labourer more
comfortable in his circumstances. We deny this also.
Even supposing that our " crippled trade and manufac-
tures" were free from the supposed disadvantage of hav-
ing to contend against the corn laws, the position of the
labourer would be eventually much worse than it is un-
der the present system. Let us take it for granted that
a repeal of the corn laws would be followed by
,a reduc-
tion of one-half in the price of Corn. is there a labour-
ing marl in Liverpool so stupidly blind as to imagine that
his employer would not take advantage of the circum-
stance to lower his wages ? And it should be remem-
bered that, although corn might be procured for half the
money it costs at present, other articles, especially those
of foreign production, such as tea, coffee, tobacco, &c.,
would retain their present prices; so that the condition
of the labouring man would be much worse than it is at
present.

But even on this point the advocates of the repeal of
the corn laws are guilty 'of the greatest inconsistency.
Mr. Poulett Thomson maintains that a change in the
corn laws would occasion but little if any diminution of
price. If such be the case, what becomes of the argu-
ment of those who Pay that the repeal of the corn laws
is necessary in order to enable us to compete with the
low price of labour on the continent ?
Of course we deny that the corn laws have operated
injuriously upon our foreign trade. On this point the
Mercury quotes the following passage from Mr. Villiers'
speech : . . .

Mr. Villiers observed, that " his charge against the corn laws
was, that they limited the foreign trade of this country; and
his charge against the legislature was, that they were pursuing
for the last twenty-five years, a course which was injurious to
the manufacturers of England. Ile hoped the manufacturers
would speak out on this occasion. In private the manufacturers
had no hesitation in saying that the corn law was destroying
their trade. He hoped, then, they would declare openly what
was their candid opinion on this question; for they had now
come to this point, that they must snake up their minds whe-
ther they would abandon their foreign trade or their corn law,"
Now, the official returns afford no justification what-
ever, of this language. These documents, to fact, tell
us quite a different tale. They demonstrate that our fo-
reign trade can not only exist, but flourish and increase
with unexampled prosperity, notwithstanding the exist-
ence of the corn laws. The official value of the manu-
factures and produce of the united kingdom, exported in
the three years 1814, 1815, and 1816, was £116,867,034,
being an average of £39,955,678 in each year. The
official value of similar exports in the years 1834, 1835,
was £237,438,119, being, and 1836, an average of
£79,146,039 in each year. Thus it' appears that in 1
twenty years, notwithstanding the operaiOn.of the corn
laws, the quantity of our exports has more than doubled!
But if we confine our observation to the.niost important
branch of our manufactures, we shall find evidence of a
still more conclusive nature to prove the fallacy and ab-
surdity of the positions advanced by Mr, Villiers, and
echoed by the Liverpool Mercitry. The quantity of
raw cotton used in spinning in 1817, .according to the
estimate of Mr. Kennedy, was 110,000,000 lbs. In the
year 1837, the quantity upon which duty was paid was
376,019,680 lbs. ! How does this bear out the rigmarole
of the,Mercury as to this " injuriousEronnpoly ?"
On the other hand, we maintain that the repeal of the
corn laws would be manifestly injurious to our manufac-
turing interests. This will be evident to every one who
reflects for a moment upon the consequences which
would result from the ruin of the landed interests. That
our readers may form some idea of the, magnitude of
these interests, and of the amount of property which
would be placed in jeopardy by the abolition of that pro-
tection which is at present enjoyed by the British corn.
grower, we will place before them the following
statements from the statistical writings*, Mr. Montgo-
mery Martin :

RSTIMATED WEALTH Or THE LANDED INTEREST.
3,0(X),(X)0 labourers dependant upon agriculture
at 104. per week
250,000 farmers whose incomes average £'2oo cash
yearly
30,000 landed proprietors, rental areraging.l:loo
each yearly

Amount of income annually dependent on agri-
culture ...-

Per annum.
50,000.000 quarters of grain, raised annually in
the United Kingdom, at 365. per quarter. £90,00,000
50,000,000 quarters of grain, requites for each
quarter, 16s worth oftnanual labour to raise it 40,000,000
20,000,009 acres of tillage land, requires an outlay
of £5 per acre yearly 100,000,000
2,000,000 of horses in the United Kingdom, ave
raging £l2 10s. each
7.000,0tX) horned cattle averaging £6 I 0 s. each 45.000,000
32,000,000 sheep. averaging £1 Ils. 6d. . 50.000,000
Swine, poultry, game, &c., estimated at I 0 ,000,000

Total value of stock in the United Kingdom £139,000,000
20,000,000 acres of tillage land, fee simple at £4O
per acre 800,000,000
40,000,000 acres of pasture land, do., at £3O per
acre 1 2(11,000,000
10,000,000 acres of wood land, do. at £l5 per acre 150,000,000
10,000,000 acres of waste land, at £5 per acre.... 5(1,000,000

Fee simple of the land of the United KingdomE2,2oo,ooo,ooo

The above, Mr. Martin remarks, is independent of mansion 4
on estates, of farm houses and buildings, and agricultural 1111
plements, the value of which, if taken into account, would of
course be considerable. But there is another point in which
the importance, of the, landed interest may be viewed—that Of

tVlAitcit ItlBB,

population. The population of the united kingdom, as before
stated, may be taken at 26,000,000; and from the inquires of
Mr. Martin, it has been satisfactorily ascertained that2o,oooN°
—nearly four-fifthi of the people—are dependent ou agricul-
ture.

We may, therefore, will demand of what benefit it
would be to the manufacturing interests to annihilate the
the greater portion of our national wealth ?

As the Mercury has ventured to sneer at " the politi-
cal economy of the statesman of the Crescent" we will
afford him a few corroborative proofs of the soundness of
that political economy. In support of our views we shall
quote the three conservative papers of the largest circu-
lation out of London, each of them published in one of the
principal manufacturing and commercial towns of the
United Kingdom.

From the Manchester Courier we extract the follow-

ink :

"But is there any reason to suppose, if our corn-laws were
repealed, that foreign powers would remove the restrictions
which they have imposed upon our manufactures? If the advo-
cates of repeal could produce some proof that a relaxation of
our system would be followed by corresponding liberality on
the part of foreign nations, they would be armed with- a much
stronger argument in favour oft heir object; than is Wire found
in the indulgence of vituperative attacks on the landed interest
But no such proof is offered. The fact is, that foreign states
are as anxious to encourage domestic manufactures as we are;
and they adopt the usual means of encouraging near° enterprise.
by imposing duties upon foreign produce.
One of the most extraordinary passages in the speech of 114 r.
Villiers is the following :
'che (British) manufacturer has only a protection of 20, er
at most 30, per cent., whilst the landowner has a protection of
80; if not 100, per cent. The manufacturers. of Great Britain
do not wish for protection; they repudiate the principle of im-
posing duties in order to give their productions an undue pre.;
ference over those of other countries.'

"It is laughable enough to see a person talking of a duty of
20 or 30 per cent., as a mere trifle,a proof that our manufacturers
do not wish for protection. But the question is not whether the
protecting duty be 10, 20, or 50 per cent.: but whether it be
sufficient for the purpose. The fart _►hat the smallest of there
duties is large enough to protect one branch of our trade is
proof that it would be equally effsctive for the protection of sin-
tiler. It is a gross fallacy, however, to maintain that the land-,
owner has a protection of 80 or 100 per cent. That it has been
as high within the last two or three years is true; but under the
very same law by which the duty has risen to lOU per rent.,
upon the market price, it has fallen as low as one shilling per
quarter. The truth is, the British grower has tbe least protection
from foreign competition at a period when, in consequence of
the failure of his crops, he has the most need of it. But the
legislature have taken care to ward the public from the effects,
of those circumstances which are likely to raise the price of
bread, by lowering the duty upon importation as the market ad-,
vances. This is a fact which those philosophers who are con-:
tinually complaining of the partiality of the legislature to the
landed interest carefully keep out of view."

In the Newcastle Journal we fincl the following
"But what are the motives which induce these men to wage*
war against the wealth, intelligence, and influence of the coun-
try? Our foreign trade, as may be seen by a reference to the
tables of exports, has been steadily increasing for the last seven
years; to America, our exports have been doubled within that
period, whilst to Russia our exports have advanced front
£1,800,000 to £2,300,000, and a similar improvement has taken
place in all our exportations to corn-growing countries. Neither
is this state of things attributable to or consequent upon a loge
importation of corn; for it is proved by the same tables that
in those years when our importation of corn has been greatest,
our exportation of manufactured goods has been least—a fact
which proves more satisfactorily than the most subtle reasonings
of Mr. Villiers, or the philosophical disquisitions of Sir William
Molesworth, that the existing corn laws do not act iajuriousiy
on our foreign commerce.

"But let us turn our attention to the effect of a repeal of the
corn laws on the manufacturer and tradesman at home. It
must be plain, that if the demand created by the consumption
among twenty millions of people, which as we have shears east
dependent on agriculture in this country, be abstracted from
our home markets, our manufactures would be seriously inju-
red, if not wholly annihilated. Besides, from whence are our
munufacturing population supplied ? /t is a fact which is
proved by observation and experience, that the disposable po-
pulation of this country—those engaged in the cotton mills at
Manchester, in the woollen factories at Leeds, and at the forges
in Bi rininghain and Wolverhampton—are principally emigrants
from the rural districts and country villages. And, indeed, the
great mortality which atinnally takes place in the large manu-
facturing towns in the kingdom, renders such a source of keep.
up the numbers an indispensable auxiliary to the system. How,
then, could our manufactures be continued it our rural popula-
tion were driven from the country—to the plains of Poland or
the wilds of Canada ? Free trade in corn would inevitably de-
stroy the capital of the country, by leaving the balance against
us in all our dealings with corn-growing countries. from whence
our largest importations would of course be made; and the re-
sult in a few years would be irretrievable ruin to our manufac-
turies, and all classes thereon dependent. Agriculture is in-
deed essential to the prosperity of the country, and whilst that
important interest, in demanding what is granted to other
branches of industry, and which is required event as an act of
justice, is supported in the legislature, no apprehension of the
success of the measures directed against it need be entertaised
As the right artn of our national prosperity it shall always
receive our fostering care and most zealous support."

The last authority which we shall quote is the Leeds
Intelligencer, in which we find the following re-

marks :

" The argument of the advocates for opening the port is, that
the foreigner would lay out in manufactures the money he re-
ceived for corn : that, consequently, our trade would increase:
and that, by getting his work done at lower wages, the home
manufacturer would be able to put the foreign manufacturer out
of his own market. To the working classes, as we have said,
the bait of more work and cheap bread has been held out.
"With regard to the first point, we think that the foreigner
would. much oftener take his money borne than lay it out in
England; and a portion of that money would soon be employed
iu raising manufactures in countries where there are at present
few or none arising from want of capital.
"We are still more confident on the second point. Foreign
Governments would take good care that their irt.fant manufac-
tures were not beaten down by the importation of English goods,
for duties would be laid upon them in proportion to their cheap-
ness ; and thus we shoald receive no compensation whatever for
the injury done to the home market by the ruin of the English
agriculturist, and the '°heavy blow and great discouragement"
inflicted upon the land-owner.
" The question as regards the workpeople we have already
disposed of. If bread were cheaper, wages would be lower, ant
they would occupy the same relative position.

"We are for no divided interests. " Live and let live," is et
good motto. Englaud cannot afford to lose her agriculture any
more than her manufactures and commerce.

These thre papers were all published the very day
after the. Mercury denounced the statements of the
STANDARD as " absurdities." We can only asssere
our venerable grand-papa that we shall always take a
delight in sharing such a charge with such respectable
journalists as the editors of the papers which vie have
quoted.

TESTMONI 41. OF ESTERM.—It is with much pleasure we.
learn that the Rev. John Park, of the Scotch Kirk, Rodney
Street, has been presented by the young men of his congre-
gation, in testimony of their esteem and regard for him as their
pastor, with a beautiful bible written in eight various languages,.
viz.:—Hebrew, Greek, Lelia, German, Italian, French, Span-
ish and English; with an appendix containing the Peschitcs
edition of the Syriac New Testament and Prolegomena; which
forms one splendid and unique volume, sumptuously yet taste-
fully bound in Turkey Morocco. The Bible was tiocompanicAt
with that very excellent work by the Rev. S. T, aicuun WA,
being a critical digest and synoptical arrangement of the WA
important Annotations on the New Testament, exegeticahs
philological and doctrinal. This work, which is in S v01t.,, irk
also very elegantly bound for the occasion. The presentatkon,
is as highly creditable to the younggesittemestas.it is gratifying
to the clergyman, who is so much respected by his hearers,, e&
well for the able and talented manner hit which he discharge*
his public duties as for his many amiable accomplishments and
private virtues.

LOSS OF THE F.I.VIRA, INDIAMAN.—We regret to state, that
this fine vessel, for Calcutta, which left this port on Friday last.
in tow of a steam-boat, having on board a cargo estimated. we
believe, at £BO.OOO, struck on the outward bar in the new chan-
nel, The captain and pilot then determined to return to Livers
pool, but not having water to come back the way they went out,
they bore up for the Horse Channel, and the passengers then
returned to Liverpool on board the steamer which had towed '
out the Elvira. Notwithstanding every exertion to bring the
vessel into port again, the water gained rapidly upon them, and
at half-past five she was telegraphed in great distress near
Spencer's Gut buoy. About this time she was seen by the
Messrs. Atherton, of New Brighton, with a signal of (Pere".
flying and sinking; and these gentlemen prnceeded, we %iaci!,
stand, in their steam-boat, with as little delay as possible, to en,
deavour to find the vessel and save the crew. After forge digt,
culty, owing to the darkness of the night, they fell in with the
wreck on the West Wharf, the poop and masts only being above
water. As it would have been 'dangerous, in consequence-or
the heavy swell, to have laid the steant-boat alongside the
wreck, the Pest-office mail boxes, ship's letter bags, seat:nen'.
haminocks, some luggage and stores were transhipped in boa"
without damage. Shortly afterwards, however, the water roll,
breast high. in the poop and cabin, and all hands then left tall
vessel and took refuge on board the steamer, and were safely
landed next morning at Liverpool.
DEATH OF MRS. lIEAD.—This lady, whose productions.
in prose and vsrse, under the signature of K. H., have BP.I
!reared, during the last twelve years in the colitruns of this
journal. died, we lament to say on Sunday, at her h
house, in Great Mersev-street, Kirkdale. Her health has beet!
declining for some months, but she was taken seriously about
six weeks ago only. The last lines from her pen appeared in toe
Albion of Monday, the l9th instant: they were addressed whet'
brother,
brother, Mr. Edward Browne, the celehr,ated flutist, and vest
at once solemn and affecting. Mn,s Head Iva, a wcti*li
husband s
versatility of talent.—Atitios.