The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-02-19 00:00:00

TII LIFIRPOSI STANDARD.,

LOCAL MEETINGS.

LIVERPOOL CHESS-CUM.—The tenth annual dinner of
this club was held at the Adelphi Hotel on Wednesday.
Mr. Schwabe occupied the chair, supported by Mr. James
Lister as vice chairman.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.—At the first meeting of the
council. held on Tuesday, T. B. Horsfall, Esq., was una-
nimously elected president ; Hugh Hornby, Esq., vice-
president ;-and Jos. Stitt, Esq., treasurer. Mr. Heath
continues his services as honorary secretary.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ROSCOE CLUB.—The
members of this club held their annual meeting on Thurs-
day evening, Mr. Edward Estill in the chair. Mr. Leigh-
ton, the secretary, read the report from which we derive
the following particulars :—The average number of mem-
bers during the year, paying subscriptions, was 706 ; of
associate members 107, and of life members an accession
of 12, making 825, to which may be added 33 previous life
members ; total, 858, contributing £lO3O 10s. 4d. The
amount of donations for the year have been £65 12s. Od.
The refreshment department contributed £l7 ss. 3d ; the
baths, &c., £l3O 17s. 3d., making a total income of
£1217 4s. 10d. The expenditure has been £ll9B lls. Od.
so that there is a balance in favour of the club of
£lB 13s. 10d. The report refers to the proprietary scheme
for liquidating the debt incurred in establishing the club,
including the Ragged Schools, the ball for which will take
place at the Town Hall, on Easter Tuesday. The Chair-
man in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated
the members on the good results of the year's proceedings,
showing that for the trifling subscription now paid, not
amounting to more than a penny a day, the members-
could enjoy all the benefits of the club. When the debt
was got rid of the advantages enjoyed would be yet more
extended. The motion was seconded by Mr. Horne and
adopted. The usual thanks to officers and friends were
voted, and the remaining business related to negotiations
with the new proprietary.
HEALTH COMMITTEE.—At the meeting on Thursday
Mr. Parker presided.—The medical officer of health re-
ported that the ,mortality last week was unusually low,
the deaths being 40 fewer than in the previous week, and
63 fewer than during the corresponding week of 1849.
Amongst the deaths 65 were from diseases of the lungs.
—The master of the school in Vauxhall district having
applied for liberty for the pupils to bathe in Paul-street
baths, the subject was postponed until the committee had
obtained St. George's baths into their own hands, by
which time the Cornwallis-street baths would be ready.—
The borough engineer received instructions to brick up
the doorway made by Mrs. Cooper, of the Everton toffee
shop, in a wall belonging to the Corporation, leaving to
Mrs. Cooper the opportunity of commencing an action at
law if she thinks she has a legal claim to the land in dis-
pute in that locality.—The inspector of nuisances gave in
his usual report.—Mr. Fernihough proposed the appoint-
ment of a sub-committee to enquire into the various rates
laid by the Health Committee, the amounts expended,
&c., with a view to reduce the rates for next year. These
rates bore most oppressively on those whose business
compelled them to live in the town, and if they could
possibly contrive to give some relief next year, it
would be very gratifying to the ratepayers, and be the
means of doing great good to the town. The chairman
highly approved of the motion, and after some conversa-
tion, Messrs. Fernihough, Godfrey, Langsdale, Lloyd,
and Thomson were appointed to form the committee.

LONDON AND LIVERPOOL FIRE AND LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY.—On Wednesday, at the annual meeting of
this company, William Nicol, Esq., chairman of the board
of directors, occupied the chair, and there was a numerous
attendance of proprietors. Mr, Swinton Boult read the
report, which stated that the fire business of the company
had largely increased during the year, and exceeded by a
million that of 1848. The premiums also were more than
last year. The losses, though heavier than usual, and
rendering the general result less favourable, were not
greater than, with the extensive business of the company,
must be expected from time to time. The life business
had steadily increased. The number of policies issued
was 236, the amount insured, .Z 132,883 ; the new pre-
miums received, £4,262 Is. 2d. ; and at the same time,
notwithstanding the terrible mortality with which this
country was visited, the claims were only eight per cent.
greater than those of 1848. After a great many questions
had been put to the chairman with reference to the de-
preciated securities, the report was unanimously adopted,
as was also a resolution fixing the dividend at is. 6d. per
share, less the income tax, and 5 per cent. on such portion
of the shares as had not yet been called up. A cordial
vote of thanks was passed to the directors. Messrs. Wm.
Dixon, Thomas Stewart Gladstone, Harold Littledale, and
John Marriott were then re-elected directors; and Messrs.
Alexander 111`Gregor, Joseph Shipley, and John Swainson
were appointed directors, in the room of Messrs. Thomas
Booth, William Brown, M,P., and John Pennington.
£BOO were voted to the directors for the ensuing year.

DOCK COMMITTEE, THURSDAY.—PIans of sheds for the
accommodation of the Glasgow traders in Canning half-
tide basin were approved. The dock solicitor reported
that in the action for debt brought against the committee
by Mr. 'Waring, the arbitrator had given a verdict for
£963 Os. Id. ; but that in the action for damage, in which
Mr. Waring claimed £7,937 16s. 4d. for loss occasioned
by interruptions and obstacles interposed by the survey-
ors, in the excavation of the Albert Dock, the decision
was wholly against Mr. 'Waring. An extra day's pay was
ordered to be given to the master and crew of the Point
of Ayr life-boat, for their services in rescuing the crew of
the Mary ashore on West Hoyle. A petition against the
bill promoted by the operative porters was presented, and
Mr. Nicol moved that the seal of the trust be affixed
thereto. Mr. Jones spoke highly in favour of the porters,
and hoped the committee would not spend any money to
oppose them. A short conversation ensued, but Mr.
Jones said he was hardly experienced enough to oppose the
petition, and it was adopted, Mr. Nicol remarking that the
Committee had a more friendly feeling towards the por-
ters than those who advised them to go to parliament. A
petition against the Birkenhead Dock Bill was also car-
ried, Mr. Nicol expressing a hope that by the exclusion
of one or two clauses there would be no necessity to carry
the opposition further. As the bill at present stood, by a
side wind they would be exempted from dock dues on
goods discharged in the river. The treasurer reported the
receipt of £B,BOO from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
proprietors, being the third instalment of the £50,000 for
the construction of the navigable gut into the docks.
LIVERPOOL PROVIDENT CLERKS' ASSOCIATION.—A
general meeting of the members was held on Tuesday
last, at the offices, in North John-street, for the purpose
of electing six additional directors, pursuant to the new
rules, and also for the election of an auditor in the room
of Mr. Hughes, who had qualified as a director. The
names of the candidates for directorship (eight in num-
ber) having been read, and each candidate having addressed
the meeting, and stated his determination to devote as
much time and attention to the interests of the institution
as possible, the ballot was proceeded with ; after which
the chairman (Mr. Davenport) announced that the choice
of the meeting had fallen on Messrs. Burrows, Hughes,
A. M`Gregor, Martyn, O'Doherty, and Oyler, and he
declared those gentlemen duly elected accordingly. The
secretary reminded the meeting that the election was only
for the remainder of the year; ending 27th July, when
three of the directors would go out by rotation, and that
the two candidates who had not been elected would, with
others who might qualify in the interim, have their chance
of being elected. It was then carried that Mr. J. E.
Richards be auditor in the place of Mr. Hughes. The
business of the evening being concluded, the chairman
congratulated the meeting upon the gradual augmentation
of the number of members, and the harmony and good
feeling which prevailed amongst them ; and after point-
ing out the advantages offered to clerks by the institution,
urged each member to use his personal influence in get-
ting clerks to join. After the meeting, the board sat for
the transaction of preliminary business. Mr. W.
M`Gregor was chosen vice-chairman, and deputations
from the board, for the purpose of soliciting donations
and annual subscriptions, distributing the new rules, and
canvassing clerks to become members, were formed. We
have been furnished by the secretary with a copy of the
amended rules and tables, and are pleased to find that
everything has been done to render the institution popu-
lar and beneficial. Every clerk should join it.

ANNUAL SOIREE OF THE LIVERPOOL CHATHAM SO-
CIETY.—This soiree took place in the Assembly Room of
the Adelphi Hotel, on Tuesday evening, his worship the
Mayor presiding. The lady patronesses were Mrs. T. A.
Bushby, Mrs. H. C. Chapman, Mrs. Paulet, and Mrs. H.
Royds, to whose exertions the success of the fete was
mainly attributable. The Mayor opened the proceedings,
and the meeting was ably addressed by Mr.W. Rathbone,
Mr. Edward Lawrence, Dr. French, Mr. Alfred Lafone,
Mr. Richard E. Griffith, and others. In the course of
his address, Mr. Lawrence gave the following gratifying
account of the rise and progress of the society:—" It has
been in existence, as at present constituted, upwards of
five years, and was formed out of two existing societies,
neither of which could boast of any great numerical
strength, and both of which were dragging along a very
precarious existence. I cannot say exactly upon the
ruins, but out of the crude materials of these two societies
the present was formed ; and with, for our motto, " Qui
stadium currit miti debet ut vincet," we determined, if
possible, to work out an institution which should be a
credit to its members, and no disgrace to our town.—
(Applause.) Our task has been a hard one—our path
has been steep and rugged, and beset with innumerable
obstacles. Our members were long few, and our speak-
ers fewer still, and the whole burden of supporting the
society lay with a few who worked zealously for the cause
they had espoused. Our object, which will readily sug-
gest itself to you, was the investigation of truth, the ac-
quisition of knowledge, and to acquire an aptitude for ex-
pressing with fluency and arranging in order, our thoughts
and ideas ;—and in order that our debates might be con-
ducted with harmony and concord, all questions border-
ing on that subject in the discussion of which ill-feelings
are so soon engendered, were excluded. Politics are not
prohibited ; but I wish it to be distinctly understood that
we are not a political society.—(Applause.) I make this
remark because I have heard it said that we are a conser-
vative society. We repudiate all such distinctive names.
In our ranks ultra-protectionist, Peelite, Russellite, ay,
and even red republican, meet on the ground of a common
friendship ; and if further proof be wanting of our political
neutrality as a body, it is afforded by the presence, last
year, of the noble lord who did us the honor to preside
over us, and this year, of yourself, Mr. Mayor, and the
gentleman who has just addressed us.—(Applause.) Our
success, though comparatively small,. is progressive—our
numbers are increasing—more spirit is infused amongst
us, and I do not despair of fully attaining: that ob-
ject we originally had in view." Thanks were voted to
the Mayor for his attendance, and the room was then
cleared for the ball, which was even more numerously
attended.than the previous proceedings, and was kept up
with great spirit till a late hour. The refreshments were.
of the best description. The band was provided by Mr.
Peter Stubbs, and the whole entertainment passed off..de-
lightfully....

A FREE TRADE__LESSON _TO THE AGRI-

CULTURISTS;

The writer of the commercial article in the Albion
(Whig paper) thus remarked yesterday,on the subject of
the prices against which the British farmer will have to
compete. After attributing the present- lbw prices to
" the very large production of wheat last season on our
own soil"—nothing is said about the scarcity of the pre-
ceding two years, and the operation which the failure of
the potato crop would have in increasingAhe consumption
of bread stuffs as a substitute I—he proceeds—
" Comparing present prices with those which usually
existed before the introduction of free trade, they are unques-
tionable low ; yet the opinion of those best acquainted with the
trade leans to the idea that under the new law the present
averages may be considered high. This is the period of the
year most susceptible of improvement in the corn market, and
a little temporary rally may fairly be expected'; but the re-
sumption of activity in the ports of the Baltic and Black Seas,
which may be expected shortly from the breaking up of the ice
and the opening of the inland navigation in America, will in
all probability again reduce prices from augmented foreign im-
ports. There is no blinking the question I Our farmers must
be prepared to compete with the foreigners at bower prices even
than are at present current."

Not very consoling this ; yet it is very true. It is
absurd for the farmer to bewilder himself about growing
wheat at 40s. a quarter. He will have to grow it for
much less ; probably for 30s. By the advices received
yesterday from New York per mail steamer, the American
markets were represented as dull and declining ; and we
have been assured by a friend from that city that vast
stocks of last year's crop are stored up in the interior of
the country, ready, on the breaking up of the ice on the
rivers, to be poured upon us like a fibod. Similar heavy
stocks are destined for this country from the grain mar-
kets of Europe. Thus, between his European and his
transatlantic competitors, the British farmer is about to
be placed in what the latter would call a rather awkward
I fix.,,
The writer in the Albion concludes—

" In the meanwhile all parties, without reference to political
opinion, heartily desire that the farmers may succeed in the
contest; the latter, however, must bear in mind that the first
step towards success is that of putting their own shoulders to
the wheel, instead of contenting themselves with invoking the
aid of Jupiter; and should they then fail, English justice will
be aroused to their distress, and provide a remedy, no matter
what party may be in power."
_ _

We wish he may be right. The agriculturists bad
better, however, adopt the Alb ion's suggestion, and " put
their own shoulders to the wheel" to obtain the protec-
tion which is due to them. " English justice" is rather
a frail reed to lean upon.