The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-05-02 00:00:00

TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 2, 1848.

gave, on their first proposal, very de-
expression expression to our opinion of the inade-
quate
nature of the measures of Government
tO meet the difficulties complained of by
our West Indian fellow-subjects. A peddling
encouragement
to immigration is too late now.
ehave let the time go past when even the most
liberal
measure of the kind would have been prac-
tically of use. We have beggared the planters
of our Colonies. We have mocked them with
delusive hopes until, were they even willing to place
confidence in our professions of a wish to aid them,
they have no longer the power to wait for the reali-
zation of our professions—as will be seen from an
article on the subject elsewhere. A supply of free
labour might have done wonders some few years
ago. It would have enabled the British planter to
protect himself against the competition, into which
we have forced him, with the slave trader and the
owner of slave labour. But to ask him now to
enter upon such a struggle is wantonly
Insulting. It is to ask him to start in a race,
in which his chances of success must inevitably be
lost before he gets within sight of the winning
post.

It is not with surprise, therefore, that we find
Such accounts coming by the last mail from our
West Indian Colonies as the following from Trim-
dad :

n
" Your letters of the 16th of February brought most I
unwelcome and unexpected news of'your sugar market,
and the n miserably
by her~Za inefficient measures of relief proposed
Miniiters are considered here as tanta-
mount absolute refusal of assistance. Sugars have
then selling
from 8'2.50 to 412.70, but now there are nei-
cioned- buyers nor money.- Many estates are to be aban-
Th even some that belong to merchants at home.
theere is no use in taking off the crop, since it will not pay
;„ expense of making. The labourers, generally speak-
Zg:,ate behaving in the most kind and considerate manner
seal
um Planters, but without Government relief our ruin is
Or the following, from Jamaica
" Since the arrival of the packet with the accounts of
the determination of Ministers not to grant any relief (for
their promised aid in promoting immigration, and by this
means granting us a gradual supply of labour, is an actual
mockery) a sad gloom is cast over everything here, and
the planters are in utter despair. With few exceptions
Ivers, estate in the island will be thrown up and aban-
doned."
In Demerara the same view is taken of the ineffi-
cient policy of the Home Government. Our ad-
' vices by the last packet say :
," It is almost needless to say that great distress exists
e colony, and that little or nothing is doing in the
'Way of mercantile business any more than agricultural ;
-Ind the best proof of the inefficacy of the measures pro-
posed the Home overnment on the 3d ult., is that the
reivalb oy f the packet Government on the 3d ult., is that the
fiival of the packet which brought news of their having
;_en submitted to the House of Commons has failed to
'''Part the slightest additional spirit to trade of any kind."
Such is the opinion of practical men in our West
Indian Colonies. And what is the opinion of
I)italists in our own country ? Why it is shewn
1i the fact that during the past week, in the Bank-
PlPtcy Court of our own town, two of the Bar-
badoes Estates of Messrs. Barton, Irlam and Hig-
Illsou were handed over to the mortgagee for only
awe
hundred pounds over the amount which he
'ad lent upon it as upon a first-class security.
W Or We may even go further; for, although this
culd be the conclusion of any party, in reading
report of the proceedings of our Bankruptcy
1„ 1'; the facts were more disastrous still, and
frre clearly traceable to our recent legisla-
Z". The two estates referred to are those of
"Pringhead and Tates, in Barbadoes, which were
Purchased by Messrs. Barton, Irlam, and Ilig-
gins°n, so recently as in 1846, subject to certain
annuities or other incumbrance, for £32,000.
Fourteen"o wed thousand
upon
them, bounds was the sum originally
leavingof which
bfiyr stth- class abs sa
ns ekcruurpittys
£6,500 as the mortgage. Adding the £5OO
bid, therefore, the amount for which the estates
have been handed over to the mortgagee, is £7,000
.
irhbe taken, subject to the same incumbrances with
ich they were bought in 1846, by Messrs. Barton,
lam, and Co., for £32,000 ? thus sheaving a loss
utiu_the purchase, within two years, and since the
,e_tu!ssion of foreign slave sugar, of £25,000, inde-
lii:aent of what may have been sunk in working
Rte hay
ties jiave ruined, then, these once splendid colo-
utter jt, le of no use to blink the truth as to their
feetedum—to gratify in the first instance an af-
ex abhorrence of slavery, and to try, at the
Tensewi,, of the British planter, an experiment,
for en We had not virtue enough to persevere in
aril a moment after its result began to press pecuni-
y,llPOrt ourselves. We set about the creation of
Proof to the world of the superior economy of free
Over slave labour ; but we closed that Utopia
against the whole African race, whom we handed
Over to the chains and the lash of the foreign
Planter. We surrounded the British planter with
restrictions, harassed him with unworthy suspi-
ei°ns, beat back the tide of immigration which was
Setting in from the African Continent, and which
Would long ere this have filled our West Indian
"looks with a free, a happy, and an industrious
LlTPulation; and when, as the natural result of so
,Pd a policy, we found their productiveness
I•lll",ceeked, and were made to pay dearer for tropical
of
Su,ries, our boasted virtue gave way, our horror
theAry and slave products vanished, and we put
4)114,1141ex to our folly and injustice by opening
vatorlarkets to the foreign slave trader and cult-
,and thus riveted for another century the
eoleuc'e!i upon the limbs of millions of our
the 1, reu brethren. In proof that such has been
so ~eesult, we ask of the pseudo philanthropist, who
eently babbled of imaginary negro sufferings
nesTe British Colonies, and boasted of the happi-
eon) and civilization to be established there, to
of ere the condition of those colonies with that
our e foreigner whom we have aggrandized by
latest
policy. The following is an extract from
the advises from Havannah :
rich alluvial ,cro'
p"Tolti e 4 production of sugar continues to increase, and the
7 has been the largest ever gathered. Many
eew estatesare coming into cultivation, there is much
nevial, soil on the very coast not yet broken up,
Plantation,
ratiogroes have been turned over from coffee to sugar
/bore r and the present prices, which seem likely to be
~„,40 less maintained, are still sufficiently high to en-
;Quineet he production. The only check it could receive
able on as by plantation labour not being attain-
ae moderate terms as formerly; but this planters
ofelnkato°llr7Tedy by the adoption of the most perfect classes
Y., some of which have given the most brilliant
results
1:Uf• It is not surprising that with the enormous pro
e'dwiasoupledsevwieth the extraordinary high prices which
to 25 ,2year, several of the estates have yielded net 20
tainiro
_nt. of them actual value, and some have cer-
r duced more."
rrhussl
av e cultivation prospers • and the only check era, tvhiea we are told it can receive, arises from ou;
Zrrittselo Prevent an increased supply of slaves to be
an in !-InP into coffee and sugar. We have given
erased ‘i bonus to man stealing althouh
ur
cillisers may rend r t 1,, trade more difficult

and hazardous, the sure result will be to impel the
foreign planter to double the tasks of the wretched
labourers whom he holds already in his toils.
"The most perfect classes of machinery" which
we have encouraged him to adopt will be found in
nine cases out of ten to consist of a whip or a
goad of increased severity.

The congregation of St. Luke's Church in this town
has presented the Rev. B. A. Marshall, M. A., with a
purse, containing 100 sovereigns, as a token of their
esteem.

On Wednesday night, James O'Neill, 54 years old, was
found to have died in bed of apoplexy.
The Rev. Dr. .M`Neile is announced to attend the an-
nual meeting of the British Reformation Society, at the
Hanover-square Rooms, on Thursday, the 11th instant.
PUBLIC BATHS.—On Thursday, it was agreed that Mr.
Parker and Mr.. Bennett should, in conjunction with the
engineer, proceed to London, to view the baths and wash-
houses there, which the engineer has strongly recom-
mended. _ _ .

A woman, named Catherine Gorman, is in custody at
Birkenhead, charged by Dr. Vaughan with kicking ano-
ther female, named Eliza Cochrane, so seriously in the
abdomen that she is not expected to recover. The parties
lived in Gilbertson-court, Albion-street, and the brutal
violence originated in a quarrel.
DEATH FROM BURNING.—On the 26th March, Eliza-
beth Benson, aged 16, living in Lower Mersey View,
North Shore, was found in the road, all in flames. The
fire was extinguished, but deceased was much burnt. She
died from the injuries on Thursday in the Northern Hos-
pitol. She was of weak intellect.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, PRINCE'S PARK.—An exten-
sive building, in Mill-street, Toxteth-park, capable of
accommodating between 200 and 300 children, is being
fitted up as a temporary school, in connexion with this
church. The premises, which possess a convenient access,
are well lighted, and will be neatly finished inside and out
in a Gothic style.
NENV MAGISTRATES.—On Tuesday, at Kirkdale ses-
sions, Ralph A. Thicknesse, Esq., M.P., of Beech-hill,
; Wigan William Gillibrand Unsworth, Esq., of the
Manor House, Maghull ; and James Culshaw, Esq., of
Frenchfield, Ormskirk, qualified as justices of the peace
for the county. On Thursday, W. Brown, Esq., M.P.,
of Richmond-hill, Liverpool, also qualified. On Friday,
the Rev. John Atherton Kershaw, of Ormskirk, qualified.
IRISH PIKES.—On Thursday, two specimens of the pikes
recommended for use by the physical force Repealers of
Ireland were shown,in the Fxchange News-room. One of
them is a blade about a foot long, apparently made of
well-tempered steel. The other is of a similar shape, with
the addition of a hook, which might be applied in certain
cases where a thrust from the pike would not be available.
Both are dangerous-looking weapons, and much more
likely to do injury than the 62d. cutlasses of the Chartist
ironmonger. _ . .

HIGGINSON v. SHAND.—In this case the plaintiff has
obtained an injunction ex parte to restrain the Royal
bank from proceeding against him upon a guarantee, for
advances made by the bank to the firm of Messrs. Barton,
Irlam, and Higginson, merchants at Liverpool. The
plaintiff, being the brother of one of the partners, dis-
puted his liability, after the transactions which had taken
place between the firm and the bank. The Vice-Chan-
cellor was of opinion that the injunction ought to be con-
tinued, but reserved the consideration of the costs until
the bearing of the cause.
INQUESTS.—On Tuesday, William Rutter came down
from Birmingham in one of the trains to the Lime-street
station. On getting out the carriage he complained of
indisposition, when a surgeon was sent for immediately.
The deceased became gradually worse, and died shortly
afterwards.—On Tuesday, Charles Beresford, a child ten
years old. living in Eldon-street, was found drowned in a
pond near Victoria-road. The deceased went out on Sun-
day afternoon to angle for small fish, and nothing was
heard of him until he was found, after a long search, as
above stated.—About three weeks ago, a young man,
named Peter Hunt, a painter, was working at two new
houses in West Derby, when he fell from a ladder, and
received a compound fracture of the left leg and right foot.
He died of his injuries on Wednesday.
DEFEATING THE LEVY OF A COUNTY COURT.—On
Saturday, Cecilia Slinger, a middle-aged woman, was
charged with having stolen a considerable quantity of fish.
That morning, it appeared, Patrick Maher, one of the
officers of the county court, had made a levy, in the fish-
market, upon the stall of Mr. John Wheaton. He had
given Wheaton a short time to make up the amount due,
and left the fish on the stall in the charge of an assistant,
when the prisoner came and carried off a considerable
number of soles, which formed the chief part of the stock.
The prisoner, who appeared much agitated, stated that
she was a servant of Mr. John Bird, who keeps a stall in
St. John's Market. Mr. Wheaton had that morning, in
Mrs. Bird's absence, obtained thirty dozen of soles, but,
as a former order had not been paid for, she had been sent
to bring back the fish. She knew nothing of any levy
whatever. Mr. Bird corroborated the prisoner's state-
ment, and she was discharged.
INCREASED RATES.—From estimates submitted by the
engineer and surveyor, the sub-committee of the Health
Committee recommend that the rates for 1848-9, under
the sanatory act, shall be :—Liverpool paving rate Is. in
the pound, sewerage ld., water Id., general 5d., total
Is. 7d. The paving rate is increased 2d., and the general
rate Id. as compared with last year.—The Kirkdale pav-
ing rate is to be ls. Bd. in the pound, sewerage 2d., water
Id., general 10d., total 2s. 9d. These rates are double
those of last year.—The Everton paving rate is to be ls. 7d.
sewerage Id., water Id., general Bd., total 2s. 6d.—West
Derby, paving ls. Bd., sewerage 2d., water ld., general
9d., total 2s. Bd.—The Toxteth-park paving rate is to be
ls. 5d., sewerage 3d., water ld., general ls. Id., total
2s. 10
. In all these districts the rates exhibit a consider-
able increase. Surely we cannot afford to go on with the
Rivington Pike scheme with such a prospect as this before
us.
BARTON, IRLAM, AND HIGGINSON'S AFFAIRS.—On
Wednesday, the case of these bankrupts again came be-
fore Mr. Sergeant Ludlow, at the Bankruptcy Court.
Several new proofs of debts were tendered, amongst others
one for 600 dollars, stated to be due upon the property of
the bankrupts' estate. Mr. Lowndes, for the assignees,
objected to the debt being allowed • and, after a somewhat
lengthy argument, this claim, and others of a similar
character, were not allowed.—lt was expected that the
bankrupts' balance sheet would have been ready for this
meeting ; but it was not yet filed. The commissioner
said he understood the balance sheet was to be filed on
Saturday ; but, from the size which it would neces-
necessarily be, he suggested that a sufficient time should
be taken for its examination. Two sugar plantations in
the West Indies, belonging to the estate of the bankrupts
were put up by auction under an order of the court. Sir
Semuel Osborne Gibbes, Bart., the mortgagee, who was
present, offered £5OO for the property; and there being
no other bidder, it was knocked down to him for that sum.
STREET ACCIDENT.—On Saturday, an inquest was held
before the Borough Coroner, on view of the body of
Eleanor Batty Quince, aged 3 years, and daughter of a
pilot. On Friday afternoon, deceased was run over by a
spring cart in Fazakerley-street. One of the wheels
passed over her head, and she died almost instantly. The
cart was going at rather a rapid rate, according to one
witness ; but merely walking, according to some other
evidence. The coroner explained that there was no rate
of driving defined by law. If a party were driving along
the North Shore, to wit, he might go as fast as he pleased
provided lie did not endanger human life ; but if driving
in a narrow crowded thoroughfare, a snail's pace might
be illegal. If the person in charge of a vehicle displayed
gross negligence, or gross want of caution, and death
ensued, he was clearly guilty of manslaughter. The
street in this case was very narrow ; there was no direct
evidence to shew how the accident actually occurred ; and
if they did not deem it a case of manslaughter, it would
come within the category of accidents. Verdict—" Acci-
dental death." The coroner admonished the driver,
Simpson, who was in custody, to be more cautious in
future.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—ENGAGEMENT OF MISS
CUSHMAN.—The announcement of the appearance of this
talented actress, in some of the most admired characters,
has attracted excellent houses, during the week, notwith-
standing the numerous other attractions provided for the
festive season. On Monday,Wednesday, and Saturday the
musicalplay of "Guy Mannering" was performed, thegreat
feature being, of course, the striking delineation of the
gipsy Meg Merrilies, by Miss Cushman herself. In ad-
dition, however, the last was a very good one, developing
the very considerable accession of talent with which the
manager has commenced the season. In particular, we
cannot but point to Mr. C. Rice's Dandie Dinmont which,
though a little overdone, perhaps, assures that, of this line
of characters, the amphitheatre possesses an able repre-
sentative. The Bailie Mucklethrif lof Mr. T. Taylor is
clever ; and Mr. Gilbeigh, who played Cabriel, possesses
an excellent voice, and will be an excellent actor. Two
1 dies, also, Miss Connor and Miss Phillips, we do not re-
member to have seen before. Their execution of the parts
allotted to them—Lucy Bertram and Julia Mannering—
was very meritorious. In the Dominic, Mr. James Brown
was very happy ; and at times most affecting. The calls
for the favourites were many and enthusiastic after each
performance. On Tuesday The Stranger" was played ;
and on Thursday and Friday " Henry the Eighth," in
which Miss Cushman's Queen Katharine was a most
striking impersonation. The production of the " Scornful
Lady" was postponed until Wednesday (to-morrow) night,
in order to afford time for ample rehearsal.
THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS•—The week ending
this day has been characterized chiefly by extremely cold
frosty winds—particularly on the few first days. The
winds were variable, ranging round and back from S.E. to
N.W. Friday—with the wind from the latter quarter—
was a bitter cold day, more piercing indeed than any, but
one or two, which we remember since Christmas, such not
being expected, especially aftet the sultry atmosphere pre-
ceding and during the thunder storm in March. Satur-
day, Sunday, and yesterday, were fine and clear, but the
air, in the shade, was still cold; and in the country slight.
frosts were experienced before daybreak each day. The
Carnarvonshire mountains are still partially covered with
snow, and no doubt much snow has fallen in the moun-
tainous districts in the north of England and in Scotland.
The effect of the cold wind alluded to, superadded to an
unusually wet spring, has had, in the districts surround-
ing us, an effect on the field crops, especially wheats and
grasses, which is to be deplored. In some fields the for-
mer has assumed a yellowish tint, and the latter is much
retarded, and less vividly green than it was three weeks
ago. Congenial weather henceforth would, however, re-
deem much of, if not all the damage. The early potatoes
have also suffered from the frosty winds, which have
bordered the leaf with a yellow tinge. Fruit trees not
being forward, have been but little affected. It is proba-
ble that we shall have an early and favourable change, for
at Wallasey, a rather exposed situation, the Cuckoo was
frequently heard and seen on Sunday evening on the
sand-hills; and at the same time three swallows were
observed in the same locality. Generally, however,
vegetation is backward for the season, in this county and
ia Cheshire..