The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-07-14 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ALBION

Strt,—With reference to the intelligence announcing the
destruction of the town of St. John's by fire, we beg to
state, that we have received information that the hooks,
papers. cash, and other valuable property belonging to the
Bank of British North America, were deposited in one of
our Patent Fire-proof Safes, and were found perfect and
uninjured upon the Safe being opened iii the ruins atter
the tire.—We are, sir, your obedient servants,
C. CHUBB and SON.
28, Lord-slreel, Liverpool.

DOCK TICKET.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Stu,—Amonest the many suggestions which have al
ready appeared with regard to Prince Albert's visit, I
should be glad to be the means of bringing one
the proper quarter, end that as respects the tic'
mission to the new dock, viz., that a certain number might
be handed over to the committee of the Exchange News-
room for circulation among the members and sous.i s,
whereby those more immediately interested in the mercan-
tile marine of this port may come in for a small share of
s'ght-seeing on that occasion, besides proving in a mea-
sure the means of putting a check to the reprehensible
grasping and imaginary claims of some, as alluded to in
this day's Albion.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
I HOPE WE MAY.

Liverpool, 13th July, 1846

ANNUAL SURVEY OF THE PILOTS'
COMMITTEE.

Tuesday being the day appointed for the Pilots' Com-
mittee to survey the outward channels, and the condition
and working of the pilot-boats not employed outside, a

and many of their invited friends, embarked in the steam:
tug No, 1, (the Dreadnought, Captain Gillespie,) at nine
o'clock, at the south end of the Prince's Pier.

There were on board a number of influential gentlemen
connected with the shipping of the port, including the
leading members of the pilots' committee.
The steamer left the pier shortly after nine o'clock, and
proceeded up the river, to beyond the Albert Warehouses,
several of the pilot-boats showing themselves around her.
After making two or three runs opposite the town, to
collect and instruct " the fleet" of pilot-boats, which at
last numbered seven, and appeared with their flags and
ensigns in beautiful array, the whole started off down the
river, the pilot-boats having to beat, the wind being brisk
from the N.W.
The boats (for it was a contest for speed) started nearly
together. No. 7 took the lead, and maintained it—a fine
boat built by Mr. P. Cato. At the Northwest Lightship,
No. 7 was first ; No. 4, second ; No. 10, third ; No. 12,
fourth, and the remainder not far astern.
The steamer, which could scarcely head them, got into
ilbre awash, close to the island, about two o'clock. The
pilot-boats came in in the order in which we have stated,
and anchored near to her. A substantial lunch had been
partaken of by the parties on board of the steamer about
eleven o'clock, and now, when she was riding safely at
anchor, they sat down to a splendid dinner on the quarter-
deck. John N. Wood, Esq., presided.
The entertainment was enlivened with songs, glees, and
a brass band of music from pilot-boat No. 4.
On starting homeward at a quarter-past six, boat No. 4
had the advantage, but she was soon overtaken by boat
No. 7, which wps the last in starting.
No. 7 pilot-boat arrived opposite the pier at twenty-two
minutes past eight; No. 4 about half-a-mile astern of her;
and the others soon after in succession.
The remainder of the company on board the steamer
were landed at George's Pier, highly delighted with the i
excursion.

We take the following from the Scotch Reformers'
Gazette, published at Glasgow, on the 4th instant :
CANADA NEWS. PER HIBERNIA.
The following, from the Montreal Gazette of 12th May,
which is the leading ministerial print, and a STREYUOUS
ADVOCATE OF FREE TRADE, seems to be most ample con-

firmation of the facts as to the state of public feeling in
Canada which were nrnmul7ated by Mr. Isaac Buchanan.

is exactly the same as we
' Gazette) took. We

through our paper, last spring
The Montreal Gazelle's vie,
ourselves (the Scotch Reformers

deplored the existence of the Protectionist feelings in
Canada, but as they exist, we thought it our duty to de-
clare the fact.

" Before resuming from our last the consideration of
the mutual relations of British and Canadian opinion on
each other, we shall corrett one most extraordinary error
into which all the British papers which have touched on
the subject have fallen. Copying the New York papers,
which almost invariably, either intentionally or accident-
ally, misrepresent what takes place in this colony, and
from which, unhappily, from their earlier and more regular
arrival, English journalists are too apt to draw their con-
clusions, it is generally stated that Mr. Cayley's motion
in the latter end of April, was for the total and uncondi-
tional repeal of the duty on American bread-stuffs enter-
ing this province ; that after having been rejected by a
majority of seven in the House of Assembly, it was ulti-
mately affirmed, and that this was a great triumph of
free-trade principles, and indicated the approbation, by
the Provincial Government and the Legislature, of the
measures now under consideration at home! A more ab-
surd error could not possibly be imagined. Mr. Cayley's
resolution was that, conditional on the passing of the
proposed Imperial Acts, the Governor-General should
have power, by proclamation after that event, to allow the
passing through the Province of American produce
under bond duty free. This was the proposition,
not one for the repeal of the duty, which was re-
jected. It was only carried on another division by
the Ministers taking their stand on it, mustering their
supporters, and telling them the assent to it was a sine
qua non of the existence of the Government. And, strange
as it may seem to tell the resolution itself was a mere
piece of surplusage—practically a nonentity. Already,
as we bad ourselves stated some time before, on the au-
thority of the Customs Department of this port, which
obligingly answered inquiries on a topic of public impor-
tance, American produce could be passed through the
waters of the Province duty free. and shipped on board
British vessels in this port, as a " constructive ware-
housing" had taken place under the Imperial British
Possessions Ace. The Ministers could have no possible
motive in insisting on the passing of this specious but
barren resolution, unless it were one simply political,
one which we shall not conjecture, or perhaps it were to
smooth the passage for the next resolution, which allowed
the Governor, under the like condition of the British Act
being passed, to allow American grain to be imported and
ground by millers, duty free, under bond of re-export.
This is some small concession to sound principle, but a
very small one, and has provoked much hostility. The
different genius of the Imperial and Provincial Govern-
ments is shown in the mode of dealing with analogous
cases. Sir Itob:rt Peel and the Lords of the Treasury
grant licenses for the free importation of forelgn produce
for domestic consumption, subj-ct to bond for the pay-
ment of the extant duties. should Parliament refuse the
Bill for their abolition. Lord Cathcart and his Council
allow the import of foreizn wheat for grinding in bond
for re-export only, but take the duties, subject to the
condition of returning them, if the Governor is in a posi-
tion to allow the re-export, under bond, to be effected.

•' We now turn to the remarks of a great statesman,
better conversant with the political position, at least, of
this colony, than any other who ever occupied the post of
Colonial Secretary, and whose definition of ' responsible
government,' in his memorable despatch to Lord Svden-
ham, has been generally accepted by the constitutional
and British party as its basis in this province. In the
great debate of the nth ultimo, in his reply to Mr.
D'lsraeli, Lord John Russell is reported to have said :

" ' The hon. gentleman referred to our colonies, and
asks, are we going to ruin them? Now, Ido not think
that we run any risk with respect to our colonies. (Hear,
hear.) I think that they have great advantages, setting
apart those which they may enjoy from the differential
duties. The law for the colonies, I think, ought to be
proceeded with more gradually than that with respect to
the people of which-they are the representatives; but be-
ing, as they are, united to this great empire, they will not
be sorry to see this restrictive system abolished. (Cheers.)
And, as for Canada, I cannot find in the accounts from
that colony any symptom of that alarm which has been
spoken of. (Hear, hear.) It does not appear, either
from the meeting of the Legislative Assembly, or from
the public meetings, tha,t the people of Canada do enter-
tain those fears, or thoieinsuperable objections of which
we have heard to the change. (Hear, hear.)
" NOW, HIS LORDSHIP. IN THIS PARTICU-
LAR, IS VERY ILL-INFORMED. There have been
but three public meetings in the province—in Frontenac,
Quebec, and Montreal,—the two first decidedly against
Sir IL P, el's measures, the last neutral,—for an amend-
ment pointedly guarded against expressing approbation.
Had it been imagined that condemnation would have been
of any use, there is not a county in Canada that would
not have met to protest. The Legislative Assemblies did
not oppose, only because they thought opposition was
useless, and might be ungracious, and they trusted to the
representation of their position promised by the Gover-
nor-General. The opinions of the popular branch are
suffic ently indicated by the votes on the address relative
to the drawback on the duties on provisions imported for
the use of her Majesty's troops. The truth is, the people
of Canada are fifty years behind those of the mother
country in such matters. They are humble copyists of
the United States, and even behind them, for they are
just, with difficulty, approaching the point of free transit
in bond. The people who are the most English in their
feelings, are the most un-English in their reasonings. For
a long time we have, with some labour, and at some risk
of populari' y, endeavoured to introduce what we thought
a more enlightened opinion on commercial and industrial
topics. Until but recently vv?, sto'-d nearly alone, and at
this moment we have but few allies, and those a very
small minority of the provincial press. We cannot con-
ceal from ourselves that we owe the indulgence of the
great mass of our readers much more to their giving us
credit for good motives, than to any recognition of the
soundness of our arguments. We should ill repay to-
lerance, and indifferently discharge our duty of faithful
journalists, if we were to suffer their opinions, such as
they are, to be misrepresented abroad. THE PEOPLE
(IF CANADA, AS A WHOLE, ARE PROTECTIONISTS.
THEY DREAD AND DEPRECATE THE MEASURES OF THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT. THE DIFFICULTY IS TO KEEP
THEM FROM ABSOLUTE DESPONDENCY, AND, AT THIS

MOMEN.7', WITH A LARGER AMOUNT OF EXPORTABLE

PRODUCE

THE TRUE TEST OF A NATION'S WEALTH AND

RESOURCES) THAN WAS EVER BEFORE KNOWN IN THE

COLONY, ITS COMMERCE IS IN A STATE OF UNPRECE-

DENTED PARALYSIS, PRINCIPALLY FROM THE FEARS

OF THE RESULT

AY THOSE FEARS BE GROUNI LESS

BUT TO DENY THEM WOULD BE SOMETHING WORSE

LORD JOHN RUSSELL AND THE COLONIES. community who have not already contributed to Se
praiseworthy an object.
The colonies and colonial government and interests will We have only to add that the foundation stone of the
be a " great difficulty" to the Whigs, as Ireland was to building will be laid by the senior rector of Liverpool
Sir Robert Peel. to-day. The friends of the interesting undertaking will
As regards Canada, it will be seen from the following assemble at the Concert-ball, Lord Nelson-street, at
quotation that Lord John Russell is quite at sea in his half•past one o'clock, and will move. thence, in procession,
information as to the views of the English or farming po- towards the site of the new buileing.
pulation, and it also happens (most unfortunately for the
Whigs) that his lordship is cordially detested among the
French Canadians, as the author of their Coercion Bill of
1835