The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-28 00:00:00

for the entire length; but mark, and take warning
from, this fact. The Woods and Forests have re-
tained the reclaimed land on each side of the tidal
basinfor the crown ! They have themselves snatched
up this rich prize of 120 acres ; and so carefully have
they guarded its future productiveness that the
fourth article of their proposals to the Birkenhead
Commissioners expressly stipulates that "no ware-
houses or buildings, other than sheds or huts, shall
be erected upon any of the said quays herein-
beforementioned," thus leaving the projectors, who
were to have built we know not how many ranges
of warehouse property on the margin of their docks,
without a yard of land to build upon I We leave
this fact to speak for itself, confessing, however, our
utter inability to perceive on what ground the libe-
rality of the Woods and Forests to the Birkerihead
Commissioners, so far as it goes, can be justified,
when it is remembered that our own Dock Trustees
have paid at various times for the strand which
they have occupied a sum exceeding half a million
sterling.
And now with respect to the practicability of the
plan as laid down. We say it is in itself impracti-
cable and absurd. The lift and fall to which vessels
will be subject in the tidal basin must he admitted
to be totally inconsistent with their safe and easy
working, either in loading or discharging. Vessels
of any great size, too, must take the ground ; no great
harm, to be sure, in the case of a north country
built ship, but unluckily north country built ships
meet with little favour in this port, and less in
foreign ports, for bringing home valuable cargoes.
The trade and wants of Liverpool require a superior
class of shipping. We boast, indeed, of our clip-
pers—our John o' Gaunts and Columbuses—and
such vessels are totally unfit for taking the ground
as here they would be made to do.
Again, this tidal basin is to be cleared by a scour
from the upper pool, through sluices as described
on the plan, every day, if need be; but with all
proper deference, we contend that this is altogether
impossible. In ninety-nine days out of the three
hundred and sixty-five the tidal waters cannot enter

the upper pool at all, and sometimes this state o.

. _ .
things is maintained for eight consecutive days.
These points, a reference to the tide table will estab-
lish. The scour, too, we must remind our readers,
is subaqueous, and will consequently fail to cleanse
the tidal basin as prescribed : and, moreover, if it
had sufficient power to effect this purpose, it would
carry the mud into the river at low water, and in-
evitably form a bank opposite our docks, or go with
the young flood to feed the Pluckington. We
assert, however, the impracticability of the necessary
frequent scouring, based on the fact of the tidal
waters being excluded from the upper pool ninety-
nine days out of the year, and the average duration
of the scour being limited throughout to eight
minutes and thirty-six seconds.
We now come to the second proposition, viz.,
that it is an unjustifiable interference with existing
rights and interests, and this is so clear that we need
not waste upon it many words. The pool itself, like
the Queeu's highways, belongs to the public and the
crown. Suppose, then, any public road to be
blocked up by some insuperable barrier, by which
persons were compelled to go round by Crosby to get
to Wavertree, would it not be looked upon as a
great hardship, a monstrosity of its kind in a free
country ? No doubt it would, and this is precisely
the position of Messrs. Bibby, Smith, and other
owners and occupiers on the banks of the Wallasey
Pool. The proposed tidal basin is a complete bar-
rier to them—they are most effectually shut out
from their own houses, and must submit to such
terms as the Wallasey commissioners may choose
in their moderation to impose upon them. This is
no exaggerated statement; and yet, when a clause
was proposed in the committee saving any rights of
Messrs, Smith, it was laughed at and rejected. A
clause, was readily inserted in the bill saving the
rights of the crown ; hut a similar act of justice was
refused to her Majesty's loyal lieges I Well may
we after this exclaim with Cobbett—" Thank God
we have a House of Lords !"

We come now to our last proposition, of certain
injury resulting to the navigation of the Mersey ;
and we call upon all inhabitants interested in the
prosperity of the Town and Port of Liverpool to give
their serious attention to this point, and urge them
to use all legal means within their reach to avert
such a calamity. This is no chimerical supposition.
The width of the mouth of Wallasey Pool, from
Seacombe Point to Woodside, is 5,300 feet, and the
projection of the intended sea-wall along this, will
be 450 feet into the, tide way ; this of itself, we
we should say, is too dangerous an experiment to be
tried on the currents and bed of the river, without
the most searching inquiry into its probable effects;
and as far as present inquiry goes, the balance of
the evidence is largely in favor of the port being kept
open. The construction of the wall, also, on the
amended plan at the south side of the pool curves
inward from the 10-acre beaching basin, which was
most aptly called " a mud trap," by Mr. Page.
The next and most important objection, to our
mind, is the abstraction of the tidal waters; for it is
a well-known fact to the least scientific, that all
rivers are kept open and navigable according to the
amount of back water to scour the channels,—and
we cannot view without great alarm the abstraction
of so large a portion of the tidal waters as are con-
tained in this pool. Wallasey Pool contains seven
million cubic yards, or seven million tons of water,
and this constitutes one-ninety-seventh part of the
tidal waters of the Mersey. Now, where is the man
bold enough to say that this enormous quantity can
be abstracted without danger—the most imminent
danger—to the navigation of the river ? Add to
this the intention of scouring the great tidal basin
at the very worst time of tide, when all the mud
driven out must go up the river, or be forced over
to the Lancashire side; and we have quite suffi-
cient grounds of alarm at the dangers to which our
magnificent river and docks are exposed.
The measure altogether is crude, ill-digested, and
incapable of being carried out in its present shape;
and so well satisfied are the promoters themselves
of this fact, that they objected to a clause making it
obligatory on them to construct the wall, sluices, and
other works, in accordance with the evidence of their
own engineer ! Such a clause was proposed in the
Committee and rejected.
If our Cheshire neighbours want docks, let them
have diem by all means; but they ought to confine
themselves to the sides of the pool, and not endanger
the existence of the port, or inflict injury upon pri-
vate individuals, by closing the waters which lead
to their wharfs and manufactories. Wallasey Pool
is eminently adapted for certain kinds of docks,—
building ships, boiler yards, foundries, and other
works,—and would, if so occupied, be a valuable
adjunct to the town and trade of Liverpool. Before,
however, it is to be taken from our coasting trade as
a beaching ground, and the public deprived of it as
it now exists, we venture to urge upon our townsmen
to call for a most searching examination, and satisfy
themselves that no injury will result to the naviga-
tion of the river and their own docks, on which
depend the prosperity and existence of thei town as
a port. We say, petition the Lords without a mo-
ment's delay, or the Wallasey Bill may become law
in a few days.
If we had space we would point out at length how
the navigation of the sister river, the Dee, was de-
stroyed. We can, however, briefly say, it was ruined
by the reclaiming of land and the abstraction of her
tidal waters. Vessels of large tonnage went up to
Parkgate, in the memory of man—and not a hun-
dred years ago there was two fathoms and a halfdepth
tehre at low water, and now there is none at all

At length we are happy to find that an opportunity
will be afforded to the Churchmen and orthodox
Dissenters of Liverpool, of recording their strong
reprobation of the measure of spoliation now before
Parliament, under the name of "The Dissenters'
Chapels Bill." Our own has been expressed in
these columns. We regard the measure as dis-
graceful to the Conservative government which
framed and introduced it, and insulting to every
believer in the Trinity, of whatever political party;
and we call upon our fellow-townsmen promptly to
second, by their signatures to the following petition
to the House of Commons, which has been pre-
pared by the most influential of the Clergy of Liver-
pool, the efforts making to prevent its being per-
mitted to become a law.

" 7o the Honourable the Members of the House of
Commons, in Parliament assembled :
" My Lords and Gentlemen,
" We the undersigned
persuaded that the Bill now before your Hon. House,
commonly called the Dissenters' Chapels Bill, in-
volves a national recognition of anti-christian error,
and an arbitrary alienation of trust property, dan-
gerous to the highest and best interests of the coun-
try, implore your Hon. House to refuse your sanction
to the said Bill."

It is not intended, we understand, to hold any
public meeting on the subject, hut we are informed
that those of the clergy who deem it right, will
bring the consideration of the measure before their
congregations, for the purpose of adopting congre-
gational petitions. We have, however prepared a
petition, which will remain for signature at our
office for a day or two for the names of any parties
who may wish to show their disapprobation of such
an iniquitous measure.
We have reason to believe that the bill may yet be
stopped if the friends of truth come forward ener-
getically to oppose it.

THE FUNDS, SATURDAY NIGHT.—The Stock markets
were good without any particular feature. Business was
slack. but prices were nevertheless well supported. Con-
so,s for money and the nccount closed 99i ; Bank Stock,
197 to 199; Exchequer-bills, 725. to 745. premium ;
India Stock, 285 to 287 ; Three per Cents. Reduced, 981
to i; Three-and. a-Half per Cents. Reduced 1011 to ;
New Three-and-a-half per Cents., 1021 to I ; Long
Annuities, 121 ; and India Bonds, 92 to 94 premium.
The foreign securities are rather better, especially the
speculative descriptions, which left off at an advance.
Spanish Five per Cents closed 241 to 4.; the Three per
Cents., 951 to 4.; Portuguese, 46 to 47 ; Peruvian 274 to
281; the Deferred, 154. to ; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per
Cents., 601 to 61 /•, the Five per Cents., 1001 to 1;
Danish, 88 to 89 ; Columbian 14 to 4. ; Chilian 102 to 101 ;
Buenos Ayres, 34 to 36; Brazilian, 834 to 811 ; and
Belgian, 103 to 104.
M. F. Gautieo, Esq., French Consul-General in En-
gland, has transmitted to Lloyd's three pieces of paper
contained in bottles, picked up on the coast of Cape
Breton, Bayonne, 14th April last—one of which runs
thus—" Barque Rory 0' More, from Liverpool to Charles-
ton, S.C., all well. Lat. 54 North ; Long. 11 30 West.
ANDREW M'MASTER. Found the current setting very
strong to the E. S. East. 3d December, 1843."
LAUNCHES.—On Saturday the Ist of June, at a quar-
ter before eleven, and on Monday the 3rd June, will be
launched, from Messrs. Wilson's yard, North Shore, a
ship of 500 tons old measure—an improvement on the
celebrated ship John O'Gaunt, but by the same builders,
to be called the Duke of Lancaster, after the distin-
guished ship of that name built by the late Mr. Wilson.
She is copper bolted through anti through, including all
the lower deck, bindings, in short neither skill nor ex-
pense have been spared on this ship, and the builders pro-
nounce her superior to any of their former works. The
second vessel is an iron steam ship for London, to be
called the Queen. We shall give more particulars of
these vessels in our next.
ELECTION OF BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—The
election of gentlemen to supply the vacancies occasioned

amongst the Birkenhead CO;milissioners, by resignation,

or retirement by rotation, will take place on Tuesday next.
The gentlemen who go out of office by rotation are Messrs.
J. D. Case, D. Appleton, W. Jackson, J. Laird, J. S.
Jackson, S. Stansfleld, and R. Fry. The two following
gentlemen have resigned :—Messrs. P. Howard and F.
Berner. There are, consequently, nine vacancies to fill
up,—and the ratepayers of Birkenhead have, therefore,
an important duty to perform. A correspondent suggests
that gentlemen should be selected who have no interest in
the various speculations afloat in Birkenhead, and who
would adopt such measures only as are calculated to pro-
mote the interests of the inhabitants at large. The same
correspondent strongly urges the necessity of returning
parties who have no pecuniary interest in the railway, and
who would not allow the public roads to be left in the ne-
glected condition in which they are at present.
THE NEW PEDLARS' MARKET, GILL-STREET.—The
pedlars' shops which have been erected in the yard at-
tached to Gill-street Market are now completed, and will
be opened this week. The appearance of these shops,
when filled with appropria'e wares, will be really not only
curious, but pleasing. The shops are nine feet square,
having in front an arcade, covered over and flaeged, for
the convenience of the public in wet weather. Gill-street
Market is improving every week, the inhabitants in its
vicinity beginning to find out that they can be supplied
with every necessary article of provision in it quite as good
as elsewhere, and at decidedly lower rates. The accom-
modation,—not only for the tenants, but also for the
putic—are superior to those of any other market in the
kingdom,—we may say in Europe. The frequenters have
to think Mr. Alderman Evans for many valuable sugges-
tions which he has thrown out, not only in the construe•
tion of the provision market, but also for these pedlars'
shops. _ _

COMPLAINTS AND CLAIMS OF SEAMEN.--otl Tues-
day a seaman, named Young, appliei to Mr. Ruihton for
a summons against Captain Mantel of the Jane, for having
struck him while the vessel was in the Mersey Roads, in
Brazil. It appeared, however, that while the complainant
and another man were aloft, one or other of them bad
spit upon the captain, soiling his shirt; and, as it further
appeared, that both had insulted the captain, the sum-
mons was refused.—On the same day, John Magivan ap.
plied for a balance of £lO of wages, stated to be due to
him for a voyage to Bombay. The defence was that it
was kept back as indemnification in consequence of com-
plainant's son having left the ship. Mr. Rushton ordered
the amount to be paid.—Same day,• Wm. Barrow, mate
of the Betsey Hall, applied for £4 balance of wages; hut,
as it appeared that complainant had neglected to see a
bale shipped, for the receipt of which he had sigre I—ald
which had gone by another ship—so that the captain had
incurred considerable expense (£114) upon it. Mr.
RuThtort dismissed the case.
MR. Love les IRISH EVENINGS.—We were unable last
week to notice the second of these particularly choice en-
tertainments designated as " Irish Evenings," in conse-
quence of the early hour at which we are compelled io go
to press, but will now say a few words relative to it. Mr.
Lover, all know, is an Irishman ; and if we were not aware
that he has shone at once as painter, poet, and musician,
thus combining in his own proper person the sister arts,

it would be sufficient that we were associated with him
during one " Irish Evening," to warrant us in pronouncing
him a genius—an Irish genius it may be—but not the less
a genius for all that. No small part of Mr. Lover's
pleasing conversations consist of illustrations of the cha-
racter and peculiar forte of his countrymen, and•the means
he los availed himself of for placing th,se illustrations in
the most charming light beforean English audience, though
in themselves not nouvele, are still greatly creditable alike
to his research taste and talent ; the hearty bursts of laugh-
ter which followed his well-told anecdotes, founded, for
the most part, on some of Pat's peculiarities, were quite
squall-d by the intense interest with which he was listened
to while relating instances of Erin's chivalry, and of her
sons deep and lasting devotion to their country, and to
their country's fair daughters. His subject was well chosen
for the introduction of alternate fun and pathos, and em-
braced in its data the formation of the Irish Brigade in
France, its maturity and its final disbandment, as also the
era made famous by the descent upon Scotland of Charles
Stuart; these epochs of military glory gave Mr. Lover
ample opportunity of descanting on the military ardour of
the Irish nation, for which disposition to follow the merry,
fife and drum he, in a way all his own, well accounted.

His nice transitions from grave to gay prevented any ap-
proach of nausea during the sentimental recitals, and
avoided all sensation of weariness, while the more humour-
ous parts of the narrative were on the tapis. Tne songs
with which the entertainment was enlivened were well se-
lected, and had justice done to them by the taste and fine
tone of the talented vocalists into whose charge they were
given, Miss Whitnall and Mr. Ryalls. Mr. Lover him•
-
self is a pleasing sineer, and the raciness with which he
gave the songs—" Widdow Mac Cree," "The &wild
Sojer Boy," and " The Birth of Saint Patrick," was ini •
mitable, and elicited warm applause and hearty encores.
Mr. Lover was very hoarse; hut, despite this drawback,
the audience insisted upon again hearing him, and only in
the instance of one song wai he excused. e must re-
mark before concluding, that it afforded us much gratifi-
cation to see the Royal Assembly Rooms so crowd-d, and
we doubt not the t ntliu,iastic greeting Mr. Lover's an-
nouncement, that he should again visit Liverpool,
met with, is a good earnest that he will not regret
his third visit to our town.
INTERESTING RURAL EXCURSTON.—OR the morning
of Friday last, the anniversary of the birth of our gracious
Queen, many of the inhabitants of Chester were struck
by the arrival of, a gay and goodly holiday party, who re-
paired to " the Groves," on the banks of the Dee, a short
distance above the Bridge, and embarked, in barges, pre-
viously provided, one of which was occupied by a mu-
sical band. They consisted of ladies and gentlemen, and
respectable youths, to the number in all of one hundred
and seven, including forty-three of the latter,—evidently
bznt on an aquatic and rural excursion for the day. About
eleven o'clock, all being comfortably seated, they rowed
up the placid river the banks of which are highly wooded
and diversified, while flags were displayed, and the band
played national and other airs, suited to the well-timed
oars, and occasionally to the voices of the musical portion
of the party. Their appearance excited much interest and
curiosity amongst the citizens assembled. On reaching
the iron bridge that spans the Dee, at the grounds near
Eaton Hall, the splendid palacial mansion of the Marquis
of Westminster, they landed at the Ferry House, carrying
with them ample provision for the day. Spacious tables
were laid on the grass plot in front of the house, at which
they soon afterwards sat down, and partook of a sump-
tuous cold collation, after which "The health of her
Majesty and long life to her," was drunk with the greatest
enthusiasm,—the cheering, and the singing of the national
anthem that followed with the band accompaniment,
rousing the slumbering echoes amongst the grounds and
woodlands, on both romantic banks of the river. Several
other loyal and appropriate toasts were afterwards given
with- equal feeling, followed by Rule Britannia," ' &c.
The repast was marked by the utmost good humour and
hilarity, every one being resolved to please and to be
pleased. The whole party then visited the beautiful
grounds, the gardens, the artificial water, &c., and filially
the -noble Gothic Hall ; s and were highly delighted
with all they beheld. On their return from their pleasing
ramble to the Ferry House, they partook of tea, with all
the et ceteras, after which the whole party joined in a suc-
cession of lively quadrilles and country dances on the
green—the notes of the cornopean, skilfully and sweetly
played by a gentleman of the Party, being frequently
heard above the other instruments, and having the effect
of " putting life and mettle in their heels." When even-
ing approached, the whole assemblage re-embarked, and
proceeded down the river, the band again playing, and the
party singing glees, &c. They soon reached the town,
after a day of blameless enjoyment and festivity, which
will long be remembered by all present with unmingled
delight. On approaching the Groves, they found tLat
great number of the good people of the " anciente citie",
bad assembled along the bank to witness their arrival,
curious to learn who the joyful strangers were. It
then became known that the juveniles were the pupils of
Mr. Brindley, of Tarvin Hall, near Chester. who had
given them the treat, and was present with his masters
and assi,tants ; and that the ladies and gentlemen were
their relatives and friends ; the whole of whom expressed
their gratification at the admirable way in which- the pic-
nic was arranged.