The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-11-18 00:00:00

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Letters addressed to the Editor should be accompanied by the
real name and address of the writer, not for publication, but
as a guarantee of good faith ; this is indispensably requisite
in any statement of facts.

ne t.ortor wisnes it to ne understood that he does not hold
himself responsible for the opinions or statements of his
correspondents.]

LIVERPOOL AND THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SIR,—During the next session of Parliament Lord J. Russell
has promised to " alter and amend" the Reform Bill. His
colleagues, it is generally believed, refuse to sanction the
draft he has submitted for their approval ; and, as a matter of
course, a great deal of unpleasantness is supposed to exist
amongst them. Our troops have been run down by dogs in
Caffre-land, and our colonists at the Cope who escape the
brutalities of a savage death live only to endure the horrors of
a barbarous war. This is attributed to the stubborn egotism
of the Colonial Secretary, with whom not only Parliament hut
some of his own colleagues are much dissatisfied. He refused
to send a sufficient force to crush the outbreak when it com-
menced, relying on his own petulant sagacity rather than re-
ceive a suggestion from Lord Eilenborough, or learn tactics
from the Duke of Wellington. Mr. Peel may in a measure be
the means of conciliating some of his own intimate friend
but still Earl Grey and the Caffre war will be the mei
administering a dose to the Russell Cabinet which I its

they will not survive

The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill was carried last session by
overwhelming majorities through the Houses of Lords and
Commons. Will they consent to allow the law to become a
dead letter, to suit the convenience of tie Russell administra-
tion, or the personal op'nions of the Earl of Clarendon? I
doubt it. Lord John Russell must explain his policy; and if
he be detected in a " trick" or convicted of cowardice, I ima-
gine that either house would prefer to maintain the Protestant-
ism of England and the majesty of the laws to even a much
better administration than that which he created.
The Income-tax has to be revised ; the Inhabited House-duty
has to be re-considered ; and the general taxation of the coun-
try will receive such an investigation, that Sir Charles Wood
will be too willing—even with all its emoluments—to turn his
back oh the office of Chancellor of the Imperial Exchequer at
once and for ever.

Under these circumstances, I consider that next session may
witness a resignation of Ministers and a dissolution of Parlia-
ment. I ask the people of Liverpool again, therefore, are they
prepared for that possibility? Rome, defeated in the day,
withthaws to the twilight, and now attempts by stealth what
she cannot accomplish by honest argument. Already one of
" the members for Rome"—a Peel—has wormed himself into
what was last year considered a Protestant Government ; anti
one can well imagine the trampling of similar footsteps in his
rear. A Graham is announced as the next arrival, in the place
of Sir George Grey ; and then will follow a Gladstone, a New-
castle, a Herbert, and a Cardwell, to perfect the intrigue and
to complete the victory 1 What will then—aye, what HAS NOW
become of the bill to resent " an insolent and i
gressie."?

Where is the spirit with which it was to be admf-
iistered, and the energetic addendas with which, if necessary,
it was to he followed up? If the people now foolishly neglect
this matter, their folly will induce an awful fatality. That bill
must be administered or repealed! The law is outraged as
matters stand; and none arise to vindicate it. The word is, now
or never! The subjects of the Pope are marshalling their
voters for the hustings, and already they have acknowledged
Mr. Cardwell to be their man.

Protestants of Liverpool ! ye do well to nominate a Horsfall;
but why do half the work ? There are two men needed ; is
there only one to be found? See to it!—the crisis is immi-
nent I—the consequences are tremendous to your country,
yourselves, and your children !! Oh, waken from your le-
thargy 1 You know, but do you feel the value of the stake for
which the nation struggles? Oh, that you could but he in-
spired, indiAdually, with a consciousness of this impending
danger 1 Then it would be unnecessary—it would be pre-
sumptuous in me, or any man, to implore you, as you love
your country, as you venerate those times of history to which
you owe your freedom, your unchined Bible, and your social
and intellectual advancement, to rise in godlike greatness, and
avert the dangers which envelope us—which both drag at the
nation's heels, and loom o'er her path in prospect!
I am, Sir, &c., ANTI-S 1 AYNOOTH.
10th November, 1851.

PROTECTION, FREE TRADE, &THE CURRENCY.

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sts,—To every person giving the above subjects proper con-
sideration, it must appear exceedingly strange that the nation
has not yet come to a decision as to the benefit or not of the
policy called Free Trade. True. the newspapers that support
that policy (funny fellows!) tell us about three times a week
that Protection is long since dead and buried ; yet the other
three quite belie their assertion by firing away at it, as if
it was not only alive, but actually flourishing; and when we
tell them how strange their conduct appears. they coolly say
that they will continue it I Now, Sir, I trust we are quite as
certain that Protection is alive and " doing well " as they are
that it is dead; but the mere assertion of a thinF, without a
proof, is a work of what our Roman Catholic friends would
call supererogation, and will most certainly effect nothing,
pro or con.
Now, suppose we briefly examine what the benefits of Free
Trade are—what the " unexampled prosperity" which it actu-
ally confers. Let us begin with taxes.
Between 1815 and 1844, £32,529,339 of indirect taxes were
repealed, and £13,451,119 were imposed. The population in
1840 was calculated at about 18,000,000 ; the revenue then was
.t 11,000,000. Last year the population was about 23,000,000,
and the revenue .-'58,93,1,000, against .460,000,000 in 1849,—
showing an increase of revenue of only seven millions, with an
increase of population of five millions ;—and yet more grum-
bling 1
But again, in 1815 the Government raised more than
seventy-two millions for the war, which was about equal to
19,000,000 quarters of wheat, taking it at the value of the
staple commodity of the country at that time. And this, I
think, explains the vast amount of complaining at taxes which
we now daily hear; for though last year we only raised about
.'59,C00,000, it must have cost the country somewhere about
the value of between twenty-five and thirty million quarters
of wheat. Probably its value, reckoned by the Manchester
standard of staples—calico—would shew a far greater deficit,
which must be made up by increased, labour or diminished pay.

• -
We are told, almost insultingly, that a poor's rate or a focal
burden has not increased in money value; but how much has
it increased by the decreased value in staple commodities?
Rates or tithes that were paid ten years ago by one hundred
quarters of wheat, now require two; so that the smallest in-
crease in money taxes (and nearly all have to be paid in money)
is felt exceedingly heavy in produce. The country feels the
taxes, rates, &c., to be getting heavier and heavier, so is
obliged to complain ; Government take off more taxes (which
it is extremely doubtful if it could put on again even in case of
a war), and yet burdens are felt not only not to be getting
lighter, but actually increasing ; and so it must continue
under the suicidal policy of the present Government. Debts
remain the same, or even increase, but the power of paying
them yearly decreases. Under these circumstances, is it sur-
prising that the home demand should not be found as active as
might be expected? Every one must allow this • and the con-
sequence is, that there is a mass of idleness, oicorruption, of
depraved characters, whose condition is as bad or worse than
barbarianism, of which the higher circles of society have, for
the most part, not an idea. Only a few days ago I heard.of a
town in one of the midland counties, which has 130,000 inha-
bitants, and in which religious accommodation of all sorts is
about equal to 40,000; take this at double (morning and even-
ing); 80,000,—what then must be the condition of the other
fifty Thousand, who have not the means, even if they had the
desire, to attend any religious instruction! I believe that in
several large towns and districts, with from 100,000 to 300,000
inhabitants, the case is nearly the same. What, then, must
be the consequence, if such a mass—such a sink of corruption—
should be stirred up? The consequences, even to think of, are
appalling: what, then, would be the reality? Yet, with all
this, we find numbers who prate about the " unexampled
properity" of the country!

HOw far the Banking Acts of 1819 and 1843 may have assisted
to bring about this state of things, I cannot say. Certain it is
that their immediate and natural effect was to limit the cur-
rency. But I feel that I have already trespassed upon your
valuable space too much to enter fully into this subject. I
shall merely state my conviction that the above Acts would
ere this have been' rescinded but for the timely discovery of
California. .

The infinite importance of the subjects on which I have
touched, must prove my apology for the length to which I
have prolonged this.—l remain, Sir, yours very respectfully,
Liverpool, 10th Nov., 1851. F. W.
IV I am indebted for many of my figures to Mr. Alison's
admirable work on the Currency.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.

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DEFRAUDING AN EMIGRANT. —On Friday, Peter
M'Dougan, a "man-catcher," was charged with obtaining
£2 12s. 6d. from Patrick Cummins, an emigrant, under
false pretences. From the complainant's statement. it
appeared that the prisoner (in whose house he lodged) had
sold him a certificate, taken out by a man named Burke,
who was prevented from proceeding to America, for the
above sum, telling him that he could go out in Burke's
plcce ; but, on calling at the emigration agent's office
from whence the certificate was issued, the clerk pointed
out to him a line in that document, stating that it was not
transferable. Not knowing how to read, he knew nothing
of that fact before; but the prisoner was perfectly aware,
when he sold the certificate, that such a clause was in it,
as lie could both read and write. The prisoner was re
manded until Saturday, to give him an opportunity of
refunding the money ; and if it was not forthcoming by
that time, he would be proceeded against under the Pas-
senger Act, and fined £2O.
BREAKING INTO A WAREHOUSE.—Thomas Johnson,
John Burchell, and Eliza May, were charged with break-
ing into the warehouse of J. W. Scott and Co., provision
dealers, Mason-street. It was proved that the prisoner
May. sold 5 lbs. of cheese to a woman named Ward, resid-
ing in Thomas-street. When the prisoners were appre-
hended, the handle of a knife was found in Johnson's
pocket, which exactly fitted to a knife blade found in the
warehouse. On Monday morning, officers 58 and 536
proceeded to the residence of the prisoners, who were well
known, and there found a- quantity of cheese, rum, and
wine. .Committed for trial. .

A DISHONEST SERVANT.—On Friday, Mary Moran
was charged with stealing a £lO note from her mistress,
Sarah West, of Russell-street. On Thursday night she
was sent out to get change for the note, but did not return,
and was apprehended on the following morning -with
£7 ss. and two bottles of champagne in her possession.
She purchased the wine in order to get change. Remanded
for seven days.

PUBLICANS' CASES.—On Friday, Richard Walsh, pub-
lican, St. Vincent-street East, was fined 10s. and-4s. 6d.
costs ; and a similar fine, was also inflicted .upon the fol-
lowing :—Thomas Butler, publican, Tarleton-street ; Jos.
Lyons, beerseller, Beau-street; Edward Jones, beerseller,
Mann-street; Jas. Hutchinson, beerseller, Wolfe-street;
and Michael Blackball, table-beer seller, Naylor-street.
BURGLARY.—On Friday, John Jennions, Thos. Smith,
James Kilpatrick, William Evans. Louisa Shaw, and Mary
Hughes, well-known thieves, residing in Clement-street,
Scotland-road, were charged with breaking into the house
of Mr. Potts, grocer, Scotland-road, on Friday night last,
and stealing a parrot, a pa►r of boots, and two coats. The
parrot and boots were found in the house, Clement.street,
by detectives Williams and Grace, when they apprehended
the prisoners; and they also found some housebreaking
tools, which are, likely to lead to the detection of other
robberies. The prisoners were committed for trial.

- - - - -
AN IMPOSTOR.--CAUTION.—Thos. Jones was charged,
on Tuesday, with having entered the shop of Mr. Henry
Davis, in Scotland-road, and solicited relief, assigning as
the cause of his destitution, the loss of two fingers; but
when asked to show his hand, he refused to do so, and
was exceedingly insolent. After he left the shop Mr.
Davis called a policeman, who discovered that his hands
were sound and whole. When asked what he had to
say in defence, he replied, " T thought it better to do so
Wan rob." He assumes various names, and is often ob.
served with his arm in a sling. The magistrates Senteneed
Haim kg two months' imprisonment.