The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-10-08 00:00:00

CON I'EMPORAI: Y • PRESS.

Upon examining more minutely the tardy postscript
waien has been appended to the ministerial eapose, we
are prepared to pronounce it
.the must weak and con-'
temptible make-weight that ever was added to eke out
previous deficiency ; for what, after all, does this mighty.
abortion from St. Martin's-le-Grand prove, but that sun.
dry " improvements have been made," in the Post-otlice
arrangements, " producing considerable additional reve-
nue," Here is the point, apparently the solepoint,:upon
which this spirit of improvement turns. Persuade the
Vos-oflioe authorities that by sucri and such arrange-
meats the public will be convinced and the revenue in-
creased, and the plan is adopted With alacrity; but talk
of the convenience without the revenue, and see with
What a cold negative this department will meet the sug-
gestion. Of this the very obvious improvement of con-
veying the metropolitan letter-carriers to their several
beats, as at present practised, is a striking.prool. It is
now thirteen ur fourteen years ago since this plan, as
now at length carried into effect,- was suggested in this
paper, and for a period of twelve years did the Post-
odice authorities allow themselves to be taunted with
and reminded of this, before they- would consent to
its adoption—and why ? because great as the convenience
to the public would be, and is, nut only was no revenue
to be derived from it, but certain large fees paid for
"early deliveries," which didnot go to the revenue, would
cease. '['he same may be said of cross-posts, of which a
great deficiency exists, there being many towns of large
business, varying from ten to twenty miles apart, between
which letters are two, and sometimes three days in arri-
ving, and that at a rate of postage calculated upon the
circuitous route by which they are conveyed. So here
are the inhabitants not only inconvenienced by, but taxed
for the delay, with the additional consolation ut having a
law ready to -pounce upon them with heavy penalties, if
they presume to send their letters by a nearer, pronlpter,
or cheapqr conveyance. The truth is, that as long as the
Post-ohice is looked to solely as a source of revenue, so
long the public can never derive from it the conveniences
which it ought to afford; but let convenience be the first
consideration, and revenue the next, and there is no
doubt but the one might be greatly enhanced, and the
.other little, if at all daninished.—Atorning Herald:

ATTEMPTED CORPORATION ADDRESS TO LARD WEL-
LESLEY.—At the instance of the Lord Mayor, :a post as-
sembly of the corporation of this city was held yesterday
.•--when it was proposed to present an address of eongratu-:
:Wiwi to Marquis Wellesley .on his_ re- appointment ,to.
the government of this cuuntiy. Although considerable
• activity was used to collect a force on the occasion, and
after much protraction and management, forty members
not bging preSent, the proposed business could notes en-
tered upon, and the assembly was dissolved. This, how.
ever,, is not all—more remains to be told. The usual
mode on such occasions is by requisition to the Lord
Mayor, to convene a meeting for the purpose of consider-
ing the propriety of addressing the Lord Lieutenant.—
This course was attempted, but failed, not more than two
threeor having signed the requisition The Lord Mayor
then called the assembly on his own individual authority,
not even conceding to it the privilege of deliberative dis-
cretion; but, as expressed in the summons,'" for the pur-
pose of addressing .Marquis Wellesley"—cunsidering the
propriety of the act being altogether unnecessary There
was a time when such an address would have been a con-
sistent and matter of course duty, fur then our corpo-
rate institutiOns were protected and cherished by the state
instead of being threatened by extinction or a transfer of
their, privileges and property. The attempt will be re-
sumed, no doubt, at the next assembly, and although there
will be more time for management, the address, most pro•
bably, will not be carried. Unless the. noble Marquis
shall, in the interim, prove his attachment to the Protes-
tant rights and integrity of the corporation more substan-
tially than by equivocal professions,' the civic adulation
will be as unprofitable as it will be servile ; and if the
corporation is to fall, as its Popish enemies triumphantly,
and tauntingly assume, let it, at least, fall with honour
and dignity, and not meanly kiss ;he hand raised to inflict
its death-blow. At. the same time, we are ready-to admit
that it is only the peculiar situation in which the Corpo-
ration is placed that could excuse the omission of any cus-
tomary compliment to the King's representative.—Dublin
Warder.

At length there are strong and satisfactory reasons for
believing that the maritime interests of this country, wile•
ther for war or for commerce, will be rendered altogether
independent of foreign supply for one of the most expen-
sive and important materials for its equipment. This is
proposed to be effected by the substitution of phormium
tenax, or New Zealand Flax, for Russian hemp.
in considering this matter we have no feelings inimical
to Russia, for we are not among those who regard its
Emperor as a ferocious despot, and its people as barbarian
slaves; but we deal with it simply upon this principle,
that independence and profit are two of the most legiti-
mate objects that a nation can pursue. Will they then,
or either of them, be accomplished or advanced by -the
substitution alluded to ? e have no hesitation in an-
swering in the affirmative.
And first on the point of independence. England has
long received the material-for her cordage and her canvas
alMoSt entirely from Russia. - in fact, she has possessed
no other source from which she could derive it; and,
therefore, although the trade has been a most lucrative
one to Russia, England has been dependant upon that
country for the supply she has required. Now, theNe w
Zealand flax may be obtained in unlimited quantities
from our own colonies ; and indeed it may be cultivated
with success in many parts of the United Kingdom ; and
consequently, if it would prove an efficient substitute,
there can be no question as to itsadoption being desirable
on the ground of its affording independence. W ith re-
spect to the consideration of profit, that equally leads to
the desire for the substitution. The balance of our trade
with Russia is immensely in favour of that country. In
fact we are compelled to take what we du at such prices
as Russia may demand—and they are generally exorbi-
tant enough—while Russia only purchases from us when
we undersell all other dealers.
The remaining vital question, then, for decision is
this:—ls New Zealand flax capable of being substituted
for Russia hemp ? Let us see now the facts bearing upon
the matter stand. It has never been for a moment doubt-
ed that New Zealand flax is intrinsically stronger than
Baltic hemp; but it has hitherto been generally thought
to be impracticable to prepare it in such a way as to ren-
der it possible to work it. That difficulty, however, has
been overcome, for the flax has not only been worked,
and , articles—as sails, rope, water-hose, pallings, and
water-proof cloth—produced from it, but they have been
used in Deptford dock-yard for upwards of two years, and
reported upon by the officers as decidedly superior both
in strength and durability to.similar articles from Baltic
Hemp.
Such being the case, we are extremely glad to find that
the various departments of the government have deter-
mined upon trying the manufactures from New Zealand
flax upon an extensive scale; and we strongly recommend
them to the attention of the merchant-mariner, the whar-
finger, and the factor. The agriculturist, too, will do well
at once to investigate the subject, for it will nut only afford
him a part of his necessary fittings at a greatly reduced
price, but may also open to him a new article for produc-
tion. To the interest of the capitalist it is hardly neces-
sary to advert, for that is always sufficiently well taken
care of; but it is worthy of remark that the encourage-
ment of the production and use of the New Zealand flax
is likely to prove as profitable to those who give it, as
must the .manufacture of that substance to the country in
general. Under these circumstances we are glad to see
that-a most respectable,company has already been formed,.
and. that its complete success is considered almost a cer-
tainty.7-Old England. . .

THE MINSTRELSi .6.1 WHiGGERY:.

774 e Nett City Baronet, u l'araphrase f the Old English Gentleman."

I'll sing you a modern song, that was made with modern care,
Of a fine new City Baronet, who twice had been Lord Mayor,
And who had a seat in Parliament, (licav'n knows iniw be got there !)
With a son whose tender years had long been his paternal care—,
Like a fine new City Baronet, all of the modern time.
His warehouses were newly filled with bundles, reams, and quires.
Of post and eke of foolscap, very fit for lighting fires ;
And 'twas there " his lordship ' sat in state 'mid stationery buyers,
And was " better known than trusted" from Whitechapel tu black-
friars—
Like a fine new City Baronet, all of the modern time.
But soon the Whigs came into power, and he came into use ; -
He twice " adorned" the civic chair—like any other goose, .
Befriended every Radical the prisons had set loose,
And was at last an M. P. made by bribery and abuse—
Like a fine new City Baronet, all of the modern time.
His politics were now so pure, his principles so true—
He'd soon emancipate the slave, and Christianise the Jew ;
" Reform " was ail he talked about—great things he meant to do ;
And tried to pall corruption down—to build it up anew— .
Like a fine new City Baronet, all of the modern time.
I've often heard him in the House begin to speechify, •
And Cobbett Cheered, andllarvey hear-ed—few knew the reason why,
While he denounced with bitter words all " jobs " that he could spy,
And thought it was a shame—he had no " finger in the pie "
Like a fine new City Baronet, all of the modern time.
So much he loved the ministers, so well he liked Lord Grey—
Ile contracted to supply them all with paper every day ;
And got his son appointed ies inspector (so they say,)
That he might manage matters in his own peculiar way—
Like a tine new City Baronet, all of the modern time.
Alas ! the House of Commons on their hooks had a decree,
That from government contractors their transactions should he free,
And that ali inspectors must be men as such men ought to be ;
And so —the worthy member " was obliged to change his Key—
Like a line new City Baronet, all of the modern time

For all the honest men on whom he used to frown and flout.
Soon nmde the country well aware of what he was about ;
And he left his seat in I'arliacuent, (a well-bred clog, no doubt,)
As preparations had just then been made to kick Win out—
Like a new tine City Baronet, all of the modern time,
Ills paper was deficient found, and faulty every page,
And his son upon in9uiry was discovered under age ;
Which put the Premier " out of sorts," the public in a rage,
And made our hero of reform look aught but like a maze—
' Like a fine new City Baronet, all of the modern time
But stationers and stations are but sublunary things,
And ex-lord mayors must bow to fate, as well as mighty kings;
For though hypocrites may thrive at first, at them soon Justice springs,
Arid many a rogue of high renown to infamy she brings—
Lik e a fine new City Baronet, all of the modern time
—Fra.zees Magazirt.
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