The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-12-04 00:00:00

every excuse for predic-
ipped one by one from

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speculation in rail-

pressure or calls, of revolutionary
movements in Europe, potato rots and other bug-
bears, can be adduced no more; and the Economists
and the Guardians, and the oracles of Manchester
and Free Trade Hall are dumb. Cobden has be-
taken himself to a new agitation for the creation of
forty shilling freeholders--a twin project to Feargus's
land scheme; and the small deer, the Wahnsleys
and Thompsons are hobnobbing with the Chartists
in favour of Financial Reform. Free Trade is
shelved for the time; "its name is never heard."
It is not very difficult to account for the fact that
we have at this moment a low rate of interest and
commercial suffering contemporaneously; that
whilst mercantile hills are discounted at 2 to 21 per
cent., tradesmen throughout the country have diffi-
culty in collecting money to meet their payments.
The simple fact is, that along with cheap money,
we have a contracted circulation. Discounts are
low, because trade is void of activity, and bills are
scarce. The late crisis destroyed a circulating me-
dlum, consisting of small bills, created for the
carrying on of the internal trade of the country,
the aggregate amount of which is probably not
over estimated at two or three hundred millions
sterling, and which were in part secured upon the
estimated value of shares in railway and other un-
dertakings, now no longer representing the same
capital. Obviously, the destruction of this vast
floating fabric of credit must have cramped the
means of the entire trading community; and the
same results, produced by the reduction of its rate
of interest by the Bank of England, immediately
after the passing of the act of 1844, will not follow
the step recently taken, until the increased confi-
dence of all classes of traders in each other shall
have enabled us to re-erect a similar floating fabric
of credit. The bank may, in the meantime, con-
tinue its offers of cheap discounts, and may even
bid lower. Such offers will, however, be of little
avail, for the money in the hands of private bankers
and capitalists will amply suffice for the conversion
of the anionnt of bills now in circulation; and the
directors of the great monopoly, and government
itself, will have to feel for some time longer the
recoil of the weapon which, in their hands, so dis-
astrously prostrated the enterprise and industry of
the empire.
Under the operation of the ancient policy of this
country, we should very probably soon have recov-
ered from even so crushing a crisis, as that brought
about in 1847 by the effect of the currency laws,
combined with the failure of the potato, and the
large importations of foreign food. But will this
be the case with our present free trade policy ? To
enable us to reply to this question, we must scru-
tinise closely our present position. We are, it must
be acknowledged, suffering in many branches of
the national industry. The manufacturing interest
is depressed. This very week the spinners and
manufacturers of Manchester are threatening a
return to short time : and why ? Is the raw ma-
terial too high in price ? At present it can scarcely
be said to be so; and during the two last weeks
the markets have shewn a tendency to decline. Why,
then, talk of diminishing production ? Because,
as we learn from the market intelligence in the
Manchester Courier of Saturday last, along with
the reduction in the raw material, " for most
descriptions of yarn, there is a very decided decline
in prices, and to a greater extent than the decline in
cotton, since Tuesday, and in goods prices also
show a downward tendency." We know that a
large export trade has been done recently; and to
some markets shipments have been on a very ex-
tensive scale—probably larger than is consistent
with anticipations of profitable returns. There is
nothing, then, to which the manufacturer can point
as the cause of his depressed spirits but the dimin-
ished consumption by our own population. The
home trade has notoriously fallen off. What other
result could have been expected from a policy which
has left the landlord without his rent, the mort-
gagee without his interest, and the farmer without
his profits; which has prostrated the colonial pro-
prietor, is ruining both the shipowner and ship-
builder, along with every other class, the product
of whose capital, enterprize, and industry can be
supplied from the cheap shop of the foreigner?
Such is the present fact; and the prospect of the
future is not at all encouraging. It is admitted and
notorious that with wheat at 40s. a quarter, the
land cannot be cultivated with profit. The farmer,
this year, if he pays rent at all, must do so out of
his capital; and what hope is there of the occur-
rence of any other state of things, or the realiza-
tion of any higher scale of prices ?
We must look therefore in another direction for
our restoration to a prosperous state; and where
can we turn ? An extension of our foreign trade
must be followed by an increase in imports; but
the profit from the sale of such imports cannot be
great whilst we are sinking into a nation of non-
consumers. An expansion of our railway system
is out of the question, in the face of decreased
ability in the community-to travel. Such an ex-
pansion of the currency as would let loose the
enterprise of the middle class of traders, at present
fettered by the withdrawal from them of the bank-
ing facilities which they formerly enjoyed, might
spread amongst them a feeling of temporary ease;
but we cannot readily see to what new purposes of
legitimate trade they could turn themselves, so long
as the great bulk of the agricultural consumers re-
tusined sunk in their present prostrate condition.

The conclusion to which we are driven perforce,
is that there is but one policy, the prompt and re-
solute adoption of which will bring back the pros-
perity of the country, and sustain Great Britain in
the power and pre-eminence, from which modern
suicidal legislation has done so much to cast her
down. That policy, moreover, is so clearly
shadowed out before us, by the present condition
of all classes and interests, that it cannot fail to he
perceived by any, save the wilfully and intensely
blind. The first step in that policy ought to be to
place the great producing interests of the country
in a position which will enable them to give in-
creased employment to native industry, and also to
consume those foreign products which we receive
in return for our own. We do not ask to go back
to the days of prohibitory duties and ultra protec-
tion. We do not ask, for instance, that the com-
munity should be taxed in order that the agricul-
turist may be enabled to reap a profit from the soil
without exertion, and the application of capital and
science to develop its capabilities. We do not wish
to withdraw from the manufacturer, either, the sti-
mulus to enterprise, to the improvement of taste in
designs and economy in his various processes, which
is created by a fair amount of foreign competition,
upon equal terms. But we do distinctly state that if
the old protective policy of the country conferred too
favourable a position upon the farmer, the present
errs equally in the opposite extreme. The mass of
the present cultivators of the soil cannot live with
present prices ; with wheat at 40s. per quarter, and
that cheapness caused by constant foreign importa-
tions, and thus certain to be permanent. The
most bigotted free trader, if he speaks his candid
sentiments, will not dare to deny this fact, or that,
had the nation at large been aware of the extent to
which prices of all descriptions of farm produce
would be reduced by the repeal of the corn laws,
parliament would never have been permitted to
pass that ruinous measure. We must have, then,
ouch a moderate duty upon the importation of
foreign corn, as will enable the English grower to
compete on fair terms with the foreign grower, and
at the same time, by the revenue which such a duty
would produce, enable the legislature to remove
some of those imports, amongst which are the Ex-
cise on various native commodities, which peculiarly
press upon the British agriculturist and the mass
of the consuming classes.
The next step ought to be to protect not only the
agricultural but the commercial classes as well—in
fact, the industry of the country, however it may
be employed—from the tyranny of our present
monetary system. That astute personage, Mr.
Samuel Jones Loyd, once described the industry of
Great Britain, under protective laws, as "a swad-
dled giant." His own favourite currency nostrum
has reduced that industry to the condition of the
same giant chained to a rock, whilst vultures are
gnawing at his vitals. Or what would the worthy
millionaire say to another comparison of our indus-
try and commerce to a victim of the inquisition,
snatched from the rack, with every limb dislocated,
and barely in time to arrest the flight of the vital
spark, to be revived by stimulants, not administered
in mercy, but in order that he may afford his tor-
mentors another day's spectacle of anguish to feast
their horrible appetites upon ? This monstrous
system must be destroyed. The commercial enter-
prise of the country must no longer be the slave of
a monopoly, which tempts on the community to
imprudence and final madness; and when that
madness has become dangerous to itself, tramples
its duped victims in the dust, whilst it coolly ap-
propriates the spoil.

THE London Times of Friday last directed the
attention of its readers to the great and progressing
increase of crime in the agricultural county of
Dorset. " Measured by the infallible test of
crime," he says, " Dorsetshire is fast sinking into
a slough, which threatens the peace and morality
of the kingdom at large. The total number of

convictions, which in 1846 was 793, and in the fol-
lowing year 821, mounted up in 1848 to 950, and
up to the special general session, last Tuesday, for
less than eleven months of the present year, to the
astounding number of 1,193, being at the rate of
1,300 for the whole year." The population of the
county was 175,043, being the last census ; and the
convictions in four years being 3,000, it follows that
during the four years there has been one conviction
for every 60 persons, or in every 12 households.
The object of the Times in referring to this
astounding state of things is not very obvious,
unless it be to distract public attention from the
°c.aca which have led to such increase of convic-
tions. He tells us, indeed, that the increase has
been entirely in the summary convictions, from
which he insinuates a possibility that " magistrates
may have an occasional furor of judicial severity,"
and, from their being themselves " prejudicially
affected by the very circumstances, which have led
to the breach of the law," may have convicted
where juries would not have done so. But this
view is met by the fact that there has been no
decrease in the convictions by juries. An increased
disposition in the population to commit crime is
manifest, and the cause of that disposition is dis-
closed in the following description of the classes
amongst whom such increase has taken place,
given by the Rev. H. FARR YEATMAN, the chair-
man of the Dorsetshire sessions :

" From the great distress which unfortunately existed,
the union workhouses of the county had been much over-
crowded, and within them there had been a great deal of
contumacy and violence, which had led to a great number
of convictions and committals to the county gaol."

In point of fact, the Dorsetshire labourers are
not inclined to starve, and they rebel against the
discipline of the union workhouse. Our free trade
policy is pauperising the agricultural masses, and
degrading alike their physical and their moral con-
dition. Hunger drives some to crime; the tyranny
of workhouse officials drives others to contumacy,
and to the ulterior receptacle of both—the county
gaol, which the Times truly enough observes " is
fast sinking into the punishment ward of the union
workhouse."

It is preposterous in our contemporary to affect
surprise at this result of our present anti-national
policy. The legislature deliberately invoked it,
when it determined to employ mainly the industry
of the foreigner, and repudiated all care for the
well-being of the British labourer. It had pre-
sented to it the alternatives of permitting that
labourer to earn his bread honestly, in the sweat of
his brow, in cultivating his native soil, or of sup-
porting him in idleness as a pauper. It chose the
latter. It reduced that labourer to the desolate
condition of a being de trop in the community—a
waif, borne hither and thither on the current of
society; this day to the union bastile, the next to
herd with felons, and again to be disgorged upon
the hands of the community, branded with the
mark of crime, and defiled by its contact; either
sunk in the lethargy of despair, or with " his hand
against everybody and everybody's hand against
him," until at last some deeper offence than his
previous ones rids us of his contaminating presence
—and can we, after this, wonder that he is costly
to us, or complain at his refusing to die quietly in
the nearest ditch ? Assuredly, we have no right to
impute blame anywhere save to our own blind and
selfish folly.

But the Times, with all other philosophers of his
class, sees a judicial remedy for this sad state of
things. He would not retrace the policy, which
has degraded and is fast sinking human beings—
our fellow countrymen—to the condition of the
beasts that perish. He would not better their
social condition, and enable them to live by the
pursuits of industry in their native land, but merely
deport them to some other, before crime had irre-
vocably marked them for his own ! Half of the
1300 criminals who have been committed to gaol
this year, he remarks " have been driven to theft by
hunger, or to contumacy by the union officials ;"
and he continues :
"Now, is it wholly out of the question that those 650,
by a little difference of system and treatment, might be
sent to our colonies, at an equal cost, in the character of
honest men ? Dorsetshire has lately, with the assistance
of Government, sent out an unusual number of emigrants.
Why should it not send out more, instead of wasting
money and ruining both body and soul by confining them
in the workhouse or the gaol? The 1,300 sent to gaol
this year will never be good for anything again. They
will take themselves at the value which society has set
upon them, and hold themselves unfit for honest employ-
ment. What chance has a man of getting on when he has
been once in gaol ? A great part of them will altimately
find their way to our hulks, and to our penal settlements ;
costing the state many hundred pounds a-piece before it
has done with them. Indeed, it is becoming day by day
more evident that we must send out our labourers while
they are honest, or at least while their characters are un-
tainted, for before long every one of our colonies will
follow the example of the Cape."
This is scarcely a very gratifying state of
things for the labouring masses, or for the nation
at large to contemplate. The former are plainly
told that they are a drug in society; that if
they stay in thin laud they have but the work-

house or the prison before them; and the nation
is told to take upon itself the cost of sending
them away at once, as a lighter one than keep-
ing them here, with the prospect of their ulti-
mately being transported. " The 1300 sent to gaol
this year will never be good for anything again !"
The Times should have thought of all this, how-
ever, before it advocated the system which has
brought the labourer into bis present wretched con-
dition, in which the fear of his resort to crime
alone extorts from the community a morsel of food
for himself or his little ones, or from the free trade
philosopher the remembrance that such a being
has existence.

COMFORT FOR THE SHIPOWNERS AND

SHIPBUILDERS,

We have alrecdy seen how hollow, or how based upon
ignorance, of the effect of their own measures, were the
promises made to the agriculturists of Great Britain, that
foreign competition would not knock down prices below a
paying point. We have now to warn the shipping interest,
and especially our shipbuilders, that their turn for a similar
experience of the folly of having trusted in these charla-
tans, in their concocted blue books, and in their unprin-
cipled evidence, is now at hand. A Liverpool commer-
cial paper of yesterday contains an advertisement, which
will not be read by the parties just referred to with much
satisfaction.

It is headed " Contracts for Shipbuilding;;' and states,
that the undersigned have made arrangements with ship-
builders in the Baltic, for the building of ships of any
tonnage or description requited ; and the advertiser pro-
ceeds—" The low rate of ships there, as well as the
known durability of Baltic ships may induce shipowners
here to avail themselves of this opportunity to make chea.fi
contracts, for which he begs to solicit orders. These ships
can be built under the survey of Lloyd's agent, and can
be coppered there before launching, without increase of
cost." He has three of these cheap ships now on sale.
This is only a beginning. There is more to follow.

DESTRUCTION OF THE SPLENDID PACKET-
SHIP CALEB GRIMSHAW.

We regret to have to record the destruction, by fire, of
the fine American ship Caleb Grimshaw, which unfor-
tunate event took place on the 17th ultimo, sixteen miles
south-east of the island of Flores. The Caleb Grimshaw
was bound for the United States from this port, and had
on board 390 passengers (principally emigrants.) The
British barque Sarah, Captain Cook, from London, bound
to St. John's, New Brunswick, having observed the fire,
bore down and succeeded in extricating all the passengers
and crew from the dreadful death which appeared to be
awaiting them, and they were all conveyed in safety to
Fayal, where they arrived on the 24th ultimo. The whole
of the property belonging to the emigrants was lost, but
they were truly thankful for the providential preservation
of their lives. We are informed from Fayal that the
captain of the ill-fated ship had been induced to charter
the Sarah to convey the passengers to their destination a';
the expense of his owners. This intelligence was brought
by the West Indian Mail.

PRESENTATION TO MR. J. BLUNDELL, OF
WALLASEY.

We noticed, some few months ago, the efficiency of the
amateur choir at St. Paul's Church, Seacombe, and stated
that it had been instructed, gratuitously, by Mr. John
Blundell, of this town, watch manufacturer, and resident
at Wallasey. Yesterday evening, this gentleman had paid
him a compliment, which must be most gratifying to him
to remember in after life, for the zeal and assiduity with
which he has devoted himself to his self-imposed task,
by being presented with a copy of Scott's Bible in three
volumes, and a purse of twenty sovereigns, raised by sub-
scription amongst his pupils, with the aid of the minister
and a few of the congregation. The Bible is elegantly
bound in purple morocco ; and the first page contains the
following inscription, on vellum :
" This copy of the Holy Scriptures, together with a purse
containing twenty sovereigns, were presented to Mr. Thomas
Blundell, by tha members of the amateur choir connected with
St. Paul's Church, Seacombe, assisted by the minister and a
few members of the congregation, as a tribute of esteem for his
kindness and liberality in devoting so much valuable time to
their instruction in congregational psalmody."
Another leaf contains the names of the committee for
getting up the testimonial, of which the Rev. E. Roberts
and Mr. John Surr are respectively president and vice-
president. The presentation took place at the Infants'
School-room, Seacombe, which was numerously attended
by. Mr. Blundell's friends and others of the congregation
of St. Paul's. The Rev. E. Roberts, after a very feeling
address, handed to Mr. Blundell the tokens of the esteem
in which he was held ; and Mr. Blundell, who was much
affected, made a suitable reply, evidently, however,
wanting words to express his sensations on the gratifying
occasion.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—Three sermons were

preached in the churches of St. Mary, St. Thomas, and
Trinity, at Preston, on Sunday last, December 2nd, by
the Rev. Stephen B. Sutton, 8.A., curate of St. Mary's,
Kirkdale, after which collections were made in behalf of
the above society.
THE WORKHOUSE SHEDS IN BROWNLOW-HILL.-
-.

These sheds, erected for the reception of patients during
the epidemic fever, are now usefully used for the recep-
tion of the houseless poor, during this inclement season.
On Friday night, no fewer than 185 applicants appeared,
including about 80 fcmalca, and they were all sheltered
for the night, and received some food.

THE BRUNSWICK CLUB.-It will be seen by an adver-
tisement in our first page that this clnb, which is now
entering on its third year of existence, is about to undergo
some slight reformation. There will be a reduction in the
subscription. The library will be made available for out-
door circulation, and many other alterations are contem-
plated, none of which will, however, tend to diminish the
usefulness of the society in promoting intellectual, moral,
and harmonious associations.

A MAN UNKNOWN DROWNED.—OR Sunday night, a
man unknown fell into George's Dock-gut. He was soon
got out, but was found to be quite dead. He had just
before been seen at the bottom of Redcross-street, and
was then quite drunk. He appeared to be from 24 to 25
years of age, 5 feet 6 inches in height, and had on checked
or plaid trowsers and vest, and a black coat. A few shil-
lings were found in his pocket, also a tailor's thimble,
and a note written in pencil, and addressed to Mr. Taylor,
in Toxteth-park.
ITALIAN OPERA COMPANY, THEATRE-ROYAL.—After
the attractive performances of this well-selected company
during the past week, the lovers of operatic performances
of a high character will be glad to hear that the manager
has been able to secure a short re-engagement. Last night,
" Don Pasquale" was most effectively given. The Norina
of Signora Montenegro was one of the most spirited of
her efforts, and drew down loud p!audits. She was well
supported by Signors Santiago, Bailini, Montelli, and
Gregorio. On Wednesday (to-morrow), " Lucia di Lam-
mermoor" is to be played.
LIVERPOOL COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION.—The new or-
gan will, we understand, be opened on the 26th Decem-
ber, 1849. With a view of obtaining the balance required
to meet the contract, the Organ Committee purpose, dur-
ing the ensuing Christmas vacation, to give a series of
sixteen soirees musicales, to comprise a grand opening
performance on the new instrument ; three lectures on the
capabilities of the organ, with illustrations ; three ora-
tcrios, and nine miscellaneous concerts. The oratorios
will be conducted by Sir Henry R. Bishop, Knt., Prof.
Mus., Oxon., who liberally offers his gratuitous services
for tis purpose. The organ is being erected by Mr. R.
Jackson, of this town.

DEATH FROM EXCESSIVE DRINKING. On Friday,
Bernard Mulligan, aged about 50, went to a house in
Stephen-court, Hotham-street, which he sometimes fre-
quented, and which is tenanted by a man named Burn
(aged 21,) and his wife. He was then very drunk. He
sat some time with Burn, and partly recovered himself,
but at ten o'clock they both went out together, and both
returned quite drunk. They went and lay down on the
same bed. Burn left him asleep at nine on Saturday
morning, and, (as he was in the habit of sleeping off his
drink,) he was not visited till five in the afternoon, when
a little girl was sent up to him with some tea. She re-
turned and said she could not awake him, and it was then
found that he was quite dead and cold.
THE POLICE FORCE OF LIVERPOOL.—We stated in a
paragraph last week that the total number of persons in
our police force (which had during the disturbances about
1,100) was "now about 1,000," reductions having taken
place. We find that we were misinformed (though not
intentionally) on this point, and may now state from
authority that the total force, including every depart-
ment in the several offices, bridewells, clerks, superinten-
dents, inspectors, sergeants, and the whole number of
" privates," both of the borough and docks, is 880. We
understand the inspectors will not hereafter be increased,
but rather diminished, as " sergeants" will henceforth
attend to much of the duty required from those higher
officers.
PRESENTATION TO THE REV. VERNER M. WHITE.—
On Tuesday evening last the members of Islington Pres-
byterian Church had a meeting, for the purpose of con-
gratulating their esteemed pastor on his return, after an
absence of some months in consequence of ill health, and
presenting him with a mark of their esteem, and an offer-
ing of gratitude for the faithfulness and ability with which
he has always discharged his ministerial duties. The
meeting had tea, and the chair was occupied by William
Gardner, Esq., who introduced the business of the even-
ing in handsome and appropriate terms. A feeling ad-
dress was read by H. S. Hawthorne, Esq., to Mr. White,
and a massive silver salver and a purse of fifty sovereigns
were presented to him. Mr. White replied in eloquent
and touching terms. The meeting was afterwards ad-
dressed by the Rev. James Fergusson, of London, and
the Revds. William Graham and Donald Fergusson, of
Liverpool. The salver was a beautiful piece of workman-
ship, and was from the establishment of Mr. Liddell,
Bold-street, and bore the following inscription :—" Pre-
sented, with a purse of sovereigns, by the members of
Islington Presbyterian Church, Liverpool, to their
esteemed pastor the Rev. Verner M. White, as a token
of sincere at nt and affectionate regard. 30th Nov.,
1849." Tli re voted to the chairman, and the
meeting sepa ighly pleased with the proceedings of
the evening, an with the occasion which had drawn them
together.

FOR SIR ROBERT PEEL AND THE " TIMES."-Mr.
Cobden, the other day, at a freehold land company's
meeting, put forth a little bit of "unadorned eloquence"
for the special benefit, we presume, of Sir Robert Peel and
the Times, which it is to be hoped those worthies will
duly appreciate. He said, " Every species of abuse, mis-
representation, and suppression, was used against his
party, until they became strong ; and then they became
fashionable. (Cheers and laughter.) Then they were
slavered with praise from the parties who before abused
them, and he confessed that he liked their praise less than
their abuse. (Chem.)