The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-16 00:00:00

MECHANICS' INSTITUTION, MOUNT-STREET

The annual general meeting of the members and friends of
this institution took place on Wednesday last, in the large
lecture-room, which was densely crowded in every part. The
chair was taken by JOHN LEYLAND, Esq., president of the
institution, who was supported on the platform by William
Danson, Esq., James Mulleneux, Esq., John Smith, Esq.
(the celebrated lecturer), J. S. Radcliff, Esq., Wm. Preston,
Esq., and other friends of education.
Mr. HODGSON, the secretary, read the report, which is of
great length. The report set forth that the natural results
of the increased accommodation and extended advantages of
the institution were beginning to appear. The great addi•
tions made to the Literary Museum and Sculpture Gallery;
the greater number of members ; the fact that there are now
above one thousand five hundred pupils, and that there are
forty-nine teachers and others regularly employed in the in-
stitution ; the exemption from debt ; and the greater effici-
ency of the schools, are subjects, not merely for present con-
gratulation, but for future hope.
During the last year one thousand six hundred and forty-
three new members have been ;:dmitted, while one thousand
two hundred and fifty-four have ceased to pay their subscrip-
tions. The present number of members is as follows :-523
members for life, 1575 annual members, 9 quarterly, 571 sons
of members, 261 apprentices of members, 211 apprentices of
non-members, 362 ladies; total, 3512 ; being fifty-two more
than in March last, the increase consisting wholly of the ap-
prentices of non-members. The income and expenditure of
the institution, during the past year, have been greater than
at any former period. A large portion of the outlay had been
occasioned by the recent erection and furnishing of two new
wings. From the accounts, it appears that the balance in the
hands of Mr. Jones is £lOB 19s. 3d. ; in the hands of Mr.
Mulleneux, £1451 lls. ; total, £3560 10s. 3d. The sum due
on the Building Fund is £273 13s. 2d. Salaries and accounts
unpaid by Mr. Jones, £231 12s. Salaries, &c., unpaid by
Mr. Mulleneux, £576 Bs. 3d. ; total, £lOBl 18s. sd. ; which,
deducted from the total above, makes the actual balance
£479 3s. Id. _ _ _

In order to simplify the business of the institution, it has
been resolved to place all the funds in the hands of one trea-
surer instead of three, the accounts, as hitherto, being kept

distinct

The report treated the business of every department of the
institution separately, giving all necessary information re-
specting the extra classes, Library, Museum, Sculpture Gal-
lery, Exhibition, Lectures, Lower Day School, Normal
Teachers, High School, and Preparatory School.
The CHAIRMAN recapitulated a few of the facts set forth
in the report, and concluded with an urgent appeal to the
members to endeavour to induce others to partake of the be-
nefits of the institution.

M r.JOHN SMITH moved the adoption of the report

Dr. NOTTINGHAM, in seconding the motion, said, that the
introduction Of classes for the cultivation of the most refined
accomplishments of society, and the existence of classes de-
voted to the study of the fine arts, were some of the best
features of the year just passed.
Mr. T. REAP proposed a vote of thanks to those persons
who had presented donations of books, apparatus, and spe-
cimens of natural history to the institution during the past

The list of donations having been read by the Secretary,
Mr. JAMES MULLENEUX seconded the motion, and con-
gratulated the members on the example which they had
shown to others, an example which had been followed by
those who had promoted the erection of the Collegiate In-
stitution.
Mr. Jos, in proposing the thanks of the meeting to the
officers for the past year, said, that they ought not to look to
their services for the past year only, when the institution was
in a flourishing condition, but they ought to recollect the
services rendered by some of those gentlemen when they
were surrounded with difficulties.
Mr. WA SON seconded the motion.
The names of the boys who were to receive prizes were
read over.

Mr. URQU n ART moved for the election of the officers for
the present year, which Mr. DUNN ETT seconded, and after a
vote of thanks to the Chairman had been proposed by Mr.
MURPHY, seconded by Mr. MAYER, and carried unani-
mously, the business of the meeting terminated about half-
past nine.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the picture gallery of the
institution, which had been hung with the drawings and the
paintings of the pupils of the institution, was thrown open.
Amonzst the collection there are some very fine specimens,
particularly of a number of marine and locomotive engines,
coats of arms, &c. By far the best in the room was a copy of
Landseer's beautiful painting of " The Return from Hawk-
ing," which has been executed in oil by Mr. It. Robers, a
young man of great promise, and who, we understand, is
abont to proceed to London. On the whole, the specimens
were good, and were viewed with much satisfaction. They
will again be publicly exhibited on Saturday afternoon.

IMPORT DUTIES.-THE LATE MEETING

(From the Lancaster Gazette.)

On Monday, a large meeting of bankers, merchants, and
other influential persons, was held at Liverpool, to petition
parliament against the interests of the British farmer.
"Ah 1" asks the reader, " how is this ? The bankers and
merchants of Liverpool meeting in a body to attack the far-
mer ! I thought better of the town. I doubt not there are
bankers and merchants in Liverpool of a certain line of po-
litics, who would have no objection at any time to a fling at
the agriculturist, because in general agriculturists are of
conservative politics, and because their ruin might for a sea-
son administer to the selfish propensities of their opponents ;
but, as a body, the bankers and merchants would not will-
ingly do what is here represented of them." Reader, you
are perfectly right, and yet the fact is as we state. The ex-
planation is curious, as illustrative of whig-radical honesty.
A full report of the meeting alluded to appears in our con-
temporary of the Liverpool Standard, and the report com-
mences as follows:

" Yesterday a public meeting was held in the Sessions-
house, (of the bankers, merchants, brokers, shipowners, and
others, for the purpose of taking into consideration the re-
striction► and prohibitions of our commercial code, and to
determine upon all proper measures for obtaining such alte-
rations therein as may appear expedient.) The meeting was
called by the Mayor, upon the requisition of eighty-nine
mercantile firms. The meeting was numerously attended by
men of all parties."
Such is the description of the meeting in regard to rank,
wealth, and numbers. It appears to have been, as we have
expressed it, a meeting of the bankers, merchants, &c.
" But, then," says the reader, it was not a meeting to peti-
tion against the farmer, or, to speak more specifically, to
petition against the corn-laws." Reader, you shall see pre-
sently.

,
'We find by the report that first Mr. Hugh Hornby ad-
dressed the meeting at length in favour of free-trade in
general, but limited his objections to the protective duties
on tea, sugar, and tobacco. He was followed by Mr.
Ripley, who spoke of tea and rice. A Mr. Aikin was the
third speaker in succession, and he added shipping, timber,
and other duties to the list. All thse speakers delivered
themselves at length, but not a word about the corn laws.
So far all went very smoothly, and it is not till atter a gen-
tlenran of the name of Moore has spoken that we find out
what is going on. Mr. Moore complains that a Mr. Holland,
who had spoken next before him, should have introduced the
subject of the corn laws, " because he (Mr. Moore) had
signed the requisition on the distinct understanding that
that that question was not to be mooted." Upon this a Mr.
Duffey rose to object that the corn laws (to which the gen-
tleman seems to have an antipathy) should be burked by any
secret understanding. Mr. Duffey observed, with great sim-
plicity, that it was a shameful thing to do that.
Mr. Duffey having afterwards obtained a glimmering of
what was going on, allowed himself to be silenced, but what
say the bankers and merchants of Liverpool on finding them-
selves so completely entrapped into a declaration of war upon
the corn laws? Whether or not they left the room indig-
nantly in a body we cannot say, because the report makes no
mention of such a circumstance, but we take it for granted
they did so.

BIRKENHEAD POLICE COURT.-MONDAY,MAIL.IS

(Before JOIIN DEAN CASE, EsQ.)
Patrick Brannagan, an Irishman, was brought up in the
custody of the police, on a charge of having been drunk and
disorderly yesterday. It appeared that the defendant, after
having enjoyed himself the whole day in Liverpool, in anti-
cipation of St. Patrick's day, entered one of the ferry-boats
in the afternoon, the captain of which was very glad to de-
posit him in Cheshire. lie had not been long ashore before
his oscillations, not less than the noise of his brogue, at-
tracted the attention of the police, and he found a refuge in
the lockup.—Mr. Case lectured Patrick on his anti-tem-
perance proceedings, and ordered him to pay a tine of ss.
and costs. _ _ _

William Crabtree was also fined ss. for having been drunk
and disorderly during divine service yesterday.

GONG OR BELL IN FOGGY WEATHER

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—I beg leave to suggest that, during the prevalence
of the fog which at present renders the passage of ti►e Mersey
so very dangerous, if a bell or gong were to be placed on the
landing stage or pier-head, it would be of very great service
to the packets navigating the river. The gong or bell should
be struck or tolled continually while the boats are plying.
VIATOR.

SINGULAR BOAT FOR THE NIGER EXPEDITION.—There
is now constructing in the boat-house of Woolwich dockyard
a boat of a singular appearance, being formed similar to
some of the shallow creels used for carrying fish in seaport
towns. The boat is about 20 feet long and 10 feet broad,
t.nd about 21 feet deep, and yet it so light, that it is capable
of being carried any distance on the shoulders of four men.
It is formed of thin stripes of wood, about two inches broad,
and woven together exactly in the same way us Indian mat-
ting, and it is intended to cover the outside with waterproof
canvass. The purpose for which it will be used is to cross
shallow creeks and rivers, and from its size appears capable
of carrying 30 men. It will be placed above the l►fe-boat on
board the steam.-vessel when not in use, and will answer as
an excellent protection to it from the meridian rays of the
sun in the tropical climate to which the expedition is bound.
EQUALIZATION OF THE DUTY ON Rust.—The bill in-
troduced by the President of the Board of Trade for reduc-
ing the duty on rum and rum-shrub, the produce of and im-
ported from British possessions within the limits of the East
India Company's charter, has been printed as amended on
re-commitment. It provides that for every gallon of rum of
any strength not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes's
hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater or less
strength, or greater or less quantity, not sweetened or mixed,
the duty shall be 95. 4d. ; and the same duty for every
gallon of rum shrub, the produce of and imported as afore-
said. A proviso has been added that such rum or rum-
shrub shall be jhe produce of some British possession within
the limits of ti►e East India Company's charter, into which
the importation of foreign shall have been prohibited. It is
also provided that the act shall not come into operation until
satisfactory proof is laid before the Privy Council that such
importation has been prohibited into any of the British
possessions within the limits of the East India Company's
charter to which the act is intended to apply ; nor until the
Governor General of India shall have passed an act for pre-
venting frauds by the admixture of spirits made from rice or
other substances. A certificate of origin must be delivered
by the masters of ships importing the article, to the collector
or comptroller of the customs at the port of importation ;
and the same party must also give a declaration before the
same officers that the certificate was received by, him At the
place where the ruin or rum shrub was taken on board.