The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-16 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE MASTER DRAPERS.

A second meeting of the master drapers, &c., was held in
the Clarendon-rooms on Wednesday night, for purposes con-
❑ected with the resolution come to by them o❑ the 31st ult.
There was a pretty full attendance. Mr. Slater was called
to the chair.

The CHAIRMAN stated that they had previously had the
pleasure of meeting with the view of attempting to curtail
the hours of business, and they then passed a resolution to
carry that object into effect, and appointed a committee to
watch over the regulation. The committe had bestowed a
great deal of labonr and attention on the charge entrusted to
them; and he was happy to say that they had been in a great
measure successful, much more so, in fact, than he had anti-
cipated. He hair to 4taie, that all the trade, with the excep-
lion of two or three, had agreed to observe the regulatio❑
as to the hours of closing embodied i❑ their resolution. This
spoke well of the change which had taken place in the minds
of the principals since the similar attempt which had been
made some years ago—an attempt which was then unsucces-
ful. A deputation of the committee had called upon some of
the dissentients—that were such, at least, last night—and he
was enabled to state that four or five of them had come in.
However, they were called together in case of there remain-
ing any dissentients to the regulation, to take into considera-
tion whit steps they should adopt under that circumstance,
more especially with respect to those two or three that refuse
to come into the arrangement. lie might mention that seve-
ral persons had sent in notes to him and to the secretary,
complaining that, although II i end ly to the regulation adopted,
their names had not been inserted in the printed list, and this
they thought unjust, as it would make them appear to the
public as opposers of it. He said that they had to apologise
for such omissions, which had been ina.dvertentlyi made,
and assured the complainants that a correct list should be
prepared and published. All persons, therefore, who wished
their names to be inserted, were to send them in to the chair-
man or secretary.

Mr. BaiscoE moved the first resolution, which was to the
effect that the conduct of the principals who continued to act
iu opposition to the expressed feelings of the great body of
their fellow-tradesmen, in refusing to close at the hour of eight
o'clock, was highly reprehensible, inasmuch as, by keeping
open their shops after the hour agreed to, they took an unfair
advantage over those who closed at the stipulated time. Ile
thought that experience would teach those that were obstinate,
that there was a great deal of personal comfort to be gained
by the employers, and no loss would be suffered by them, by
closing their shops at an earlier hour. It appeared strange
to him that persons could not see that the regulation was one
calculated to benefit the employers as well as the employed.
But in order to render it beneficial to some, it should be ob-
served by all. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. GlasoN seconded the resolution, in doing which, he
observed that the conduct of the dissentients, few ris they
were, was such as to call for a vote of censure on them by
the trade. He would advise them to do so, and to do it in
such a manner as to show that they considered such conduct
as personal to themselves. It had been said that they ought
to endeavour to draw in the opponents of their regulation by
the cords of love: it had been tried, and the cords of love
bad been too weak. They (the dissentients) had been waited
upon, not only by a deputation of the committee, but by a
gentleman of high standing and respectability, who had ex-
postulated with them in the most friendly manner, but with-
out effect. The cords of love had no weight ; and it was fur
the meeting to devise what means were to be taken in this
exigency. He hoped, however, that whatever resolution was
passed, they would pass it to show that they were displeased.
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
Mr. BECK WITH observed that an objection had been made
to the majority by which the regulation was carried at the
late meeting, that it was only one; but he begged to state,
that in the minority there voted, in many instances, the two
partners of one firm, which was decidedly unfair. He might
as well have brought all his children, his wife, and his ser-
vants to vote for his amendment. (Laughter.) If the fact
which he had stated were taken into consideration, it must
be allowed that the majority had been more than one.
Mt. TA 1' Lott moved the second resolution, which proposed
that an address should he prepared, calling upon the ladies,
the press, and the public to exercise their powerful influence
in inducing persons not to transact their business at the un-
fair houses, but at those which closed at the proper time.
He remarked that the press was already on their side, and he
thought that the ladies of the town would also be. As to call-
ing en the public to suspend their encouragement of those
shops which belonged to persons refusing to accede to the
arrangement, that was a most important point, and he must
beg leave to request their attention to a few remarks upon it.
He could not think that any arguments were wanted to per-
suade that assembly to adopt the resolution, as they were all
convinced by experience of its necessity. But as they were
calling for public support, a few observations might be useful
to justify their proceedings before the public They were all
aware that the interference of the community alone could
snake their exertions effectual, for if they, as recommended
by that resolution, would withhold their support from those
who would not join their brethren in that humane work, it
would bring them, the dissentients, to accord with the gene-
ral feeling far sooner than any persuasion on their part
could. The call on the public to withhold their support trom
those who refused to maintain that laudable object, could not
be viewed as an attempt to injure any of their fellow trades-
men, for they were themselves giving up the same opportu-
nities of business as they were asking from them. They
were all equally as anxious of increasing their trade and ex-
tending their connexions as any of the non-conformists could
be, and from experience they were satisfied that the hour
fixed on was quite late enough for all purposes of business in
our trade. They neither hoped, nor wished, that the public
should continue to discountenance their fellow-tradesmen,
when they complied with the majority of the trade. No valid
objection against the arrangement now proposed could be
offered, for the object was known to all. To say that the
public accommodation required longer hours, was to say that
it required every hour, for, if that plea was worth anything,
it was strong enough to maintain the necessity of keeping
open all night. From the good sense, and philanthropic
feeling of the community, he had every reason to hope for
their support. All perceived that the arrangement was not
for the benefit of the employ era, but for that of their assist-
ants. The masters were free to follow their inclinations at
any time, but the assistants were not. Hitherto they had
been occupied in their horsiness many hours longer than any
mechanic, however humble his employment in life.
Mr. MASON seconded the resolution.

Mr. Beet( wlTir said that if they wished to become the laugh-
ing-stocks of the whole town, they would give publicity to teat
resolution. Was there anything so ridiculous as to suppose
that the ladies would take the interests of the shopkeepers into
consideration 1 They would consult their own interests.
( Hisses.) Hiss as they liked, he maintained that ladies would
make their purchases where they liked, and for their own ad-
vantage.—(Cheers, hisses, and some confusion.)
The CHAIRMAN hoped that there would be no interruption,
and that Mr. Beckwith would be allowed to proceed without
annoyance.
Mr. BEcKWITH said that the interruption was no matter
to him ; he was not to be put down by clamour. He asserted
that ladies would consult theirown convenience in preference
to that of the tradesmen. Besides, there are many things
wanted in a hurry; and did they think that purchasers
would wait until they could obtain them at the shop of Mr.
Woullright or Mr. Chidson, when they could obtain them
anywhere else? It was a most ridiculous supposition, and
the resolution was equally ridiculous.
Mr. WHITE thought it a most important resolution, and
begged leave to differ from Mr. Beckwith. ( Mr. BECKWITH,
"Oh, it's all right.") He always considered it to be. a gene-
ral maxim, that the interests of the few should give place to
those of the many ; and if he understood that maxim aright,
it meant that if any large body met together and adopted a
certain line of proceeding, involving no sacrifice of principle,
it was the duty of the few to concur in the arrangement. He
was much gratified, on looking over the list, to find that the
efforts of the committee had been attended with so much suc-
cess. It was too much to expect that, in so large a body,
some few individuals would not hold out. He hoped, however,
that the gentlemen who had given their names to that ad-
dress, comprehending many of the highest and longest stand-
ing in the town, would not allow the perverseness of a few to
cause them to abandon a good object. Every individual that
held out was waging an impolitic and uncertain warfare. They
had the feelings of the trade against them, and. notwithstand-
ing what Mr. Beckwith had said, they had the ladies against
them, and the whole body of the drapers' assistants; and if
those combined influences did not bring them to, there was
very little doubt that in a short time they would be starved
into a surrender.—(Hear.) They might safely, therefore,
leave the perverse few for a limited time to patronize the gas
companies, and to the teutier mercies of the light-fingered
gentry a the town.
Mr. URQUHART thought the resolution an indiscreet one,
inasmuch as it exercised a domination which they had no
right to exercise. He was of opinion that if an address were
issued to the ladies of Liverpool, showing them the bad phy-
sical and moral effects of excessive and long-continued la-
bour. it would be more efficacious in securing their support
in favour of the curtailment than would be the proposed
means, and at the same time less domineering and unrea-
sonable.

Mr. FERGUSON, though in favour of the arrangement come
to, agreel with what had fallen from Mr. Urquhart. The re-
solution was quite a nulk and water thing. The press, it was
granted, was on their side, and the ladies were invited to as-
sist them in carrying out their object by refraining from pur-
chasing at certain shops, and after a certain hour. Now, it
was a well known fact, that few ladies—at least real ladies—
went a shopping after eight o'clock. The shops that kept
open suppiied servant maids and market women : and what
would they care for the resolution ? They would laugh at it,
if they ever heard of it, which was not an extremely likely
thing. (" Hear, hear," from Mr. Beckwith.) tie was quite
confident that the resolution would he a piece of waste paper,
and to pass it would he to throw away their time. In Man-
chester, another course had been adopted. Men had been
engaged to stand at the doors of the shops that continued
open after the regular hour, holding a placard which stated
that " respectable people close their shops at eight o'clock."
But the class of ladies that went out at night, uid nut care
for that.
Mr. Tit inr spoke in favour of the motion, and character-
ised the opposition as jesuitical and hypocritical. lie thought
there was nothing either laughable or ridiculous in supposing
that the ladies, (who hail shown their benevolence of heart
in endeavouring to obtain the emancipation of the negroes,
in getting up a bazaar in aid of the funds of the medical in-
stitution, in soliciting subscriptions for the erection of
churches, and in a variety of other ways,) would now come
forward and aid in carrying out the emancipation of an over-
worked class, by abstaining -frotn purchasing after eight
o'clock, and by recommending visitors at their houses, as well
as their domestics, to abstain also. He said that they had op-
ponents of the most base and sordid kind to struggle with.
(Cries of disapprobation.) I he repeated, opponents of
a base and sordid character; for when one man in a district
refused to accede to the regulation, what could be his motive

but to gain a very sordid advantage over his neighbours ?
(Applause.)
Mr. URQUHART here stood up to propose an amendment;
but as he had previously spoken, and had then refused to
move any amendment, the chairman decided that he was out
of order, but suggested that it might be moved by some other
person.
Mr. CowPErt then moved anlamendment, which proposed
that an address should be prepared, showing the advantages

.
of closing business at an early hour. and requesting the co-
operation of shopkeepers and the public in the attainment of
the desired object. He thought that if there were a few
people who differed from the majority, the very worst way in
the world to effect a change in their sentiments or conduct
was persecution.
The amendment was seconded by Mr. PECK.
Mr. Woot.LaiGHT thought the original motion should not
be lost sight of altogether. Perhaps it might be so modified,
without taking away its spirit, as to embrace the views of all
present. He was of opinion that the dissentients could have
nothing but a sordid motive—a desire to take an unfair ad-
vantage of those who would close at an early hour, and ought
nut the sense of the public to be taken thereupon ? One
single person might be the means of preventing all the gen-
tlemen in the street from closing at the stipulated time.
Mr. WHITE thougt it desirous that they should be unani-
mous, and therefore proposed a second amendment, to the
effect that an address should be prepared, calling upon the
press, the ladies, and the public to exercise their powerful
influence in support of the regulation which had been come
to, by affording encouragement to those shops which closed
at eight o'clock, by making their purchases before that hour,
and by recommending their dependants to do the same.
Mr. RALPH seconded the amendment.
After some further conversation, Mr. White agreed to with-
draw his motion in favour of the last amendment.
The votes were then taken. About 10 or 12 held up their
hands in favour of Mr. Cooper's amendment. Mr. White's
was carried by a large majority.
Mr. H et:tics moved a resolution, calling on all classes of
shopkeepers to close their shops at the same hour.
Mr. 14..0yn seconded the resolution, which was carried
without a dissentient voice.

Mr. WOULRIGHT proposed the fourth resolution, which
followed up th• last, namely, that the drapers' committee

should be empowered to call a public meeting of the whole
body of tradesmen, for the purpose of attempting to carry the
foregoing resolution into effect. He said that the main argu-
ment of the dessentients among their own body was, that it
was unfair to call upon them to close their shops, when those
of their neighbours were open. He did not think the argu-
ment wa3 worth much, seeing that tradesmen of a different
class could have no influence upon the drapers, however long
they remained open. The proposed object, however, was a
very important, and he thought would be a beneficial, one.
If it could be effected, the principal argument of the dissenti-
ents Would be annihilated.

Mr. JEFFERY seconded the resolution, and Mr. Pringle
spoke in favour of it at considerable length. Carried unani•
maualy. - • -
—A-Votti of thanks was' pissed fo-the chairman, and the meet-
ing separated.

CORRESPONDENCE.

FALLACIES OF THE MERCURY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST.4NDARD.

Stu,—Being in the house of a radical friend of mine the
other day-, 1 chanced to take up the Liverpool Mercury, a
thing which I had often done before t but somehow I never
could manage to get through an article; for, before I had
read a dozen lines, an unaccountable drowsiness came over
me, and if I continued it ten minutes, I was sure to fall fast
asleep, dreaming of spinning-tops. cork jackets, floating baths,
and so on. On this occasion; however, I cast toy eyes on an
article that both edified and amused me. It is written in
rich mercurial style, and I think is headed " Municipal Elec-
tions." The highly gifted Editor begins by informing his
readers that he had not (as he some time ago promised them)
given them a full, true, and particular account of the muni-
cipal elections throughout the country. The reason he gives
for this is, that the accounts of these elections, given in the
country journals, were so meagre as to render it impossible
(after several attempts) to collect them. Now, to those who
had seen a full, clear account of these elections in the con-
servative journals, this excuse must seem a strange one. It
is for the benefit of each persons that I now write. It is my
intention to inform them what the learned Editor means by
the passage 1 have quoted above; the simple English of
which would be, that the spirit-stirring Editor of the Mer-
cury, always on the alert to give his readers a treat, had some
six months since prepared a long article, commencing, " We
have again to congratulate the reformers of England on the
glorious victory they have obtained, on the glorious downfall
of, &c. &c." Ibis article was actually in type, and not only
this, the names of all the corporate towns in England and
Wales had been got in type too, with the names of the refor-
mers first. Nothing now remained but for the venerable
Editor to steal the figures from some conservative journal;
that is, if the returns were favourable. In due time the first
of November comes, and the elections take place. Some
week or fortnight after, he of the cork jacket, putting on his
spectacles, glances over some good conservative journal,
where he knows, from experience, he will get the best infor-
mation. One glance is enough. The old gentleman starts,
takes off his specs., carefully wipes them, and putting them
on, looks again; but the stubborn figures remain the same.
" A conservative triumph, indeed," grunts the old man, with
a sigh deep and long. "The article I have written can never
be printed. No: we are shamefully beaten. I never can
give these accounts in the Mercury, which has been wont to
sing the triumph of our party." That this is the true mean-
ing of the passage, is clear from the solemn and mysterious
one that follows. " There is in these elections," says the
Editor, " cause for serious alarm." For once 1 agree with
him. Yes, sir, to the craft of the Mercury—to the blood-
thirsty Papist—to the wilt Socinian—to the treacherous infi-
del—to every enemy of England (whether they are her fo-
reign foes or her own bastard children)—these elections do
indeed give great cause of alarm. But to the friends of order
and constitutional law—to the lovers of truth and justice—to
the champions of our glorious constitution in church and
state—to every true son of England—they afford cause for
much joy, gratitude, and encouragement. I would say to all
conservatives " onward." Then let your motto be, " for
God and your country." You must succeed. England has
once spoken, with a voice that made the Popish crew quail,
and her Majesty's minister tremble in their seats. The Bri-
tish lion is awake, though not fully roused. Let our minis-
ters beware, or they may suffer the fate which nations some-
times award to traitors. I have neither time nor space to
notice the other part of the Mercury's article. Indeed, if I
had, it would be unnecessary, as it has appeared in that print
after every election for the last ten years. I am, Sir, your's,
&c. A LOYALIST.
November 14th, 1838.

SOUTH TOXTETH WARD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Stir,—On reading the Liverpool Courier of the 14th instant
I observed a letter front Mr. Francis Jordan, relative to the
statement made by me, at a dinner given by the independent
Conservative voters to T. M. Gladstone, Esq., for his manly
and upright conduct in coming forward as a candidate to
represent South Toxteth Ward. I there observed, that the
allusion made by me on that occasion, relative to the conduct
of Mr. Jordan in intimidating a voter, was denied by him ;
but I am fortunately in a situation to prove, by Mr. Pearson,
timber merchant. Saint James's-street, the gentleman who
was present at the time Mr. Jordan made use of the language
in question, that the words expressed by me on the above
occasion, relative to his unprincipled conduct, were true. I
should like to ascertain where Mr. Jordan obtained the name
of the voter alluded to in his letter, for no name was ever
mentioned by me at the time, conseqently Mr. Jordan
admits that he must have been on Mr. Tickle's premises at
the same time I was, and that the above statement had been
there made, or how could he have jumped to the conclusion
that that man was the voter; but a guilty conscience needs
no acccuser. Now, Mr. Editor, had I not considered that Mr.
Jordan was holding a high and responsible situation as a
county magistrate, and another equally as important to our
local government, viz. one of the common councillors for
South Toxteth Ward, I should not have considered that the
illegal and unprincipled conduct he was guilty of worthy of
my notice; but when I see persons clothed with power, their
first duty ought to be to obey the laws, and not pervert them
by stooping to party spirit, and forcing that spirit of intimida-
tion and threats which, were he a true conservative of the
peace, his duty would have dictated to him other and better
steps.—l am, Mr. Editor, your obedient servant,
GEORGE OXLEY.
Park-street, Nov. 15th, 1838.

TRADESMEN'S REFORM ASSOCIATION.

WARD EXPENSES.

I—Everton rent, canvassers, printing, &c.....£40 2 6
2—Scotland ditto .... 38 3 4
3—Vauxhall ditto .... 37 0 3

4—St. Paul's ditto .... 39 3 2
s—Exchange ditto .... 32 0 6
6—Castle-street ditto .... 39 2 4
7—St. Peter's ditto .... 32 2 4
B—Pitt-street ditto .... 36 6 11
9—Great George-street ditto .... 31 1 8
10—Rodney-street ditto .... 55 8 2
I—Abercromby ditto .... 51 3 11
12—Lime-street ditto .... 39 2 8
,3—St. Ann's ditto .... 33 1 6
I4—West Derby ditto .... 25 2 8
15—South Toxteth ditto .... 36 1 4
16—North Toxteth ditto .... 21 6 3

£586 9 6
Less subscriptions 346 0 0

£240 9 6

N.B.—The qualification for a ward chairman is £5 sub-
scription, committee-man £2, and canvasser £1 per annum.
Having expended in the last severe municipal contest more
than our receipts, it has become necessary to call upon the
Tradesmen's Reform Association fund for assistance to the
amount of £l5 per ward—say, £24o—to cover immediate
wants and claiins.

RECAPITULATION.

Annual expenses Tradesmen's Reform Associa-
tion
Expenses to cover the wards 240 0 0