The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-12-05 00:00:00

TUE STANDARD,

PROPOSED INCREASE OF LANDING ACCOM-
MODATION FOR THE SEACOMBE, EGRE-
AIONI, AND NEW BRIGHTON, AND THE
LARGE STEAMERS.

The want of a convenient landing for the large and
other steamers has long been a subject of complaint; and
we pointed attention last week to the danger which results
from their coming to the steps and landing stage at present
used by the Seacombe aed Egremont boats. Since we
wrote another accident has occurred, from the same cause
as those previously noticed, by which the life of a cler-
gyman was nearly sacrificed. the particulars of which will
be found in another column. We are happy to find, that
at length the attention of the public is being directed to
the want in question, and that it is about to be urged
upon our local authorities; for, independent of the ad-
mitted fact, that our northern ferries, to the most delight-
ful and salubrious portion of the hundreds of Wirral, are
wretchedly provided for, there ought surely to be some
d,,ference paid to the claims of such companies as the
Dublin, the Glasgow, and the owners of other large Irish
and coasting steamers.

We have been favoured during the week with a private
view of a model, constructed by Mr. John Grantham,
C.E., of a proposed new landing stage, to be laid down at
the Prince's Pier, by which the want referred to will
be supplied. The model in question is to be brought be-
fore a meeting of the Polytechnic Society, on Thursday
next, at which his worsiip the Mayor has consented to be
present. In the meantime, a brief description of it may
not be uninteresting to our readers. It is proposed by
Mr. Grantham to lay down a stage four hundred feet in
length, and a little narrower than the large stage, and
built as a neatly flat bottomed ship, at the south end of
the Prince's pier, one extremity of which will be placed
nearly opposite to the southern corner of the present
Egremont basin. The mGoring proposed consists of
spring cables, or transverse chains from both ends crossing
each other within its own length, and thus not interfering
with the navigation of the river, except as preventing
vessels running between the stage and the pier. It will
be further kept off by iron booms. The ferry steamers
will be accommodated at the southern end ; and at the
north end, iron stauncheons, fourteen feet high. will be
placed for the accommodation of the large steamers.
The height of the deck will he the same as that of the
present small stage, which is found to he most convenient
for the ferry boats ; and, for the large steamers moveable
gatigways will be provided of the various heights required.
The stage will be approached by a b►idge of a very
neat construction, to run from about half way between

the Egrement basin and the presea Scacombe steps,
transversely to the centre of the stage, by which a greater
length of way will be secured, and a less incline than t!iat
of the bridges at the George's landing stage. The ap-

proach fro►n the pier is most convenient; and the turn,

end of the stage is equally easy. Each end will be at-
tached with hinges, thus acconimodatitu the bridge to the
rise and fall of the tide. It is conceived by experienced

lus constructed, will allbrd
the most complete accommodation possible for luggage to
or from Cheshire, or elsewhere.
One very material advantage to be derived from the
adoption of the plan will be the removal of the present
Egremont stage, which is felt to be a dangerous obstruc-
tion to vessels coming into or going out of the George's
Basin. It may be found necessary to fill up entirely the
present Egremont Basin, which will no longer be required,
except for fishing and other boats, and thus to secure an
uninterrupted line of pier from Prince's Basin. This
proposal, however, is entirely distinct from that of the
landing stage.

le stage

THE ASSIZES,

The special winter assize for the southern division of
this county will be opened at Liverpool, on Monday next,
before Mr. Boron Alderson and Mr. Justice Erle. The
calendar, in a numerical point of view is very heavy, there
being already not less than 154 prisoners for trial. 62 of
whom, however, are charged with political offences.
_ _

There are charged with the capital ofie9ce of murder 7,
(six of thpAo beinv fnr mtirdprin, rinlinotnnn Ttrirrht of

Ashton-under-Lyne,) manslaughter: 5, rape 3, burglary
17, stabbing 13, bigamy 7, forgery 6, robbery from person
Bohorse-stealing 1, sheep-stealing 5, night poaching 5,
mint cases 11, concealing birth 1. stealing post letter 1,
making a false register 1; (Mr. Chubb, the registrar, who
has continued in custo(

y since his committal,,) " conspi_
racy",—such is the general charge against the whole of
the political offenders,-62. In one murder ease a young
man, named James Kelly, stands charged with having cut
the throat of his sweetheart, at Heaton Norris, in Sep_
—'le le sad details will be yet fresh in the me-
The following are the names of the

:ember

rnory ofbur readers

parties charged with the murder of Bright :—Joseph Rat-
cliff, Joseph Constantine, Thomas Kenworthy, Jonathan
Walker, Wm. Winterbottom, and James Stott. A second
and minor count in the indictment charges these prisoners,
in case of acquittal on the capital charge, with conspiracy.
It is arranged that the trials of the political offenders shall

be taken first. Of the sixty-two charged wit
ten are Liveapool Confederates, twenty-eight

conspiracy

lrem Manchester. and the twenty finir -others are from
Ashton. It is thought that the trial of the tcn Liverpool
Young Irelanders will take place on Tuesday, the 12th
instant, and many interesting facts, showing the designs
of the leagued Confederates here, will doubtlessly he

elicited. The names of those in custody are, Joseph
Cuddy, cabinet-maker; Matthew Somers, (formerly a
provision-dealer, in Hurst-street;) Francis O'Donnell,
surgeon ; Edward Murphy, clerk ; Robert Hopper, joiner,
Birkenhead;. and a youth named James O'Brien. There
are four out on bail: Martin Boshill, cashier in a mer-

chant's offi,
West ; and

A STAPLE TRADE LEAVING US

The following paragraph, which we copy from the
Sheffield Times, discloses to us a rather alarming feature
in the position of the nation :

HAT IS TO BECOME OF SHEFFIELD? is a c

uestion of

of reflection in the mindi of all Who really, as they profess.
feel an interest in the welfare of their town. Independently of
the temporary stagnation of commerce. the staple trade is
fast leaving Nheffield. There is a sad want of capital in the
town, which arises, in a great measure, from the fact that any
man with a few pounds in his pocket can start as manufac-
turer; and he almost necessarily consumes his capital as fast

can calcu

o a certainty on the return of two,
ew trade alone will us."

duction of a

!" Where is

tgoing to ?. Its cutlers have no capital

—no enterprise

brariches of trade

We fancy that we can trace it in part to the very policy
which Slaffield, above all other towns, by the return to
Parliament of her Wards and Parkers, has been most

were in the enjoymen

free trade has smitten these colonies, and the woodman's
axe is no longer busy in their forests as of old. The West
Indies were their customers; and they are ruined. The

other markets, and the competition of the hungry artizans
of Birmingham has done the rest. We are sorry for the
fate of this once enterprising town. The reputation of its
cutlery is as old as the Heptarchy, when "a Sheffield
whittle" was the sportsman's companion in our primeval
woods. Although now furnished with railway communi-
cations to every market its decay has commenced, and a
lay see it the centre of a mass of pauperism.
Id Times informs us that "a new trade alone
" but where, he must tell us, is a new trade to

few year

The Sheffi

can save it
be found ?

the whole very boisterous, with frequer
some fine intervals were experienced
wailed almost exclusively from the
sional breeze from the S. and S.W

The wind has pre-
with an occa-
The air, for the

most part, has been very humid, and at times very cold,
but there has been no freezing. We have nothing new to
notice in reference to the crops.
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.—The usual monthly meet-
ing will be held to-morrow. The Finance Committee
recommend the purchase of one or two more steam-boats
for Birkenhead Ferry. The Dock Committee proceedings
comprise the agreement for the purchase from Lord Derby
and the election of the

of the land at fh
Dock Chairman

proceed-

Solomon

report. The Mayor's communications com-
prise—Resolution of the justices of the borough relative
to the new gaol and house of correction for the borough.
Memorial from the operative porters of Liverpool, praying
the Council to tare steps to repeal so much of the 9th and
10th Victoria, cap. 109, as relates to the present system of
to 1 master porterage. The following motions will be sub-
nf I LP.. AT- TL-a

LIVERPOOL DECEMBER SESSIONS

The sessions of the peace for the trial of prisoners con-
fined in 'the Borough House of Correction, commenced
yesterday, before Gilbert Henderson, Esq., the Recorder.
The ealerdar contained the names of 106 prisoners charged
with felony, and 12 charged with misdemeanour. Of the
whole number (118) it appears 18 can read imperfectly ;
41 can read and write imperfectly ; 52 can neither read
nor write ; and 7 only can read and write well.

The following gentlemen were sworn to constitute
THE GRAND JURY :
Henry Jenkins, merchant, Gorec-piazzas, Foreman,
Robert Coleman Crosbie, merchant, Cook-street,
Charles Fairclough, cotton broker, Lower Castle-street,
John Finch, jun., iron merchant, Rumford-place,
Charles Groves, merchant, 8, Goree-piazzas,
Wm: Lindsay, merchant, New-quay,
Thos. Marshall Myers, accountant, Exchange-alley, East,
Charles Wm. Newman, cotton broker, Hackin's-hey,
Wm. Rotherham, merchant, Exchange-street East,
Samuel F. Symonds, wine merchant, Lower Castle-street,
Richard Withers, share broker, Royal Bank Buildings,
Henry Curry, broker, Rumford-place,
L. IL Bally, 21, Exchange Buildings,
T. B. Blythe, merchant, Rumford-street,
J B. Cooper, broker, Rumford-street,
Robert Higgin, merchant, Rumford-place,
Wm. Moore, merchant, Chapel-street,
R. A. McFie, sugar refiner, Bachelor-street,

James Livesey, cotton broker, Rumford-place,
J. T. W. Leylsnd, merchant, Exchange-street East,
S. Taylor Hobson, gentleman, Catherine-street.

-----
The proclamatiOn against vice and immorality having
been read,

The RECORDER addressed the Grand Jury. He said
that, though six weeks had not quite elapsed since the
last sitting of the court, the juries of the borough were
called upon again to discharge heavy duties. I find in
my calendar (which is more complete than the printed
list) the names of 128 prisoners for trial. He remarked
that there was an enormous increase in the number of
female offenders. Out of 103 names in the present list,
49, or nearly one half, were women, the number being
nearly double the usual average. The evil was increasing
in this town, and be found, by a careful examination of
the prison returns, that there was no town in the kingdom
where the sex was more degraded, and so steeped in
crime. This was the more painful, inasmuch as it was an
evil to a great extent beyond the controul of the court ;
for, what improvement could be hoped for in such cha-
racters by imprisonment in a gaol in which there was no
means of separate confinement. And what amendment
could be hoped for in the punishment of such persons,
when it was known that their places were filled up by new
corners from Ireland ? This was an evil'which would, he
feared, continue in the town, until as was probabie, some
experiment were mad t- -

to arrest it. He thought some
controul should be put upon that class of women ; that
they should be so restrained that their number would be

reduced ; arid that some degree of punishment should be
inflicted upon those who harboured them. With regard
to the other cases in the calendar—he might remark that
the offences of picking pockets, stealing lead, &c., from
warehouses, carters carting away stolen property—he had
latterly punished such offenders with severity, including
corporal punishment. The Grand Jury would find, by the
calendar, that the severity of the court had been followed
by good results, as there were few or any of these classes
of crime. It was certainly something, if they could not
reduce the number of crimes, that they could decerase
their atrocity. The cases were generally of a light de-
scription ; but there was one case of o'itaining money
from a burial society, on pretence of the death of a child.
On reading the depositions, he was struck with the great
facilities with which the names of children could be en-
tered in such societies' books ; and knowing, as he did,
what had recently transpired in a court of justice, and
what had taken place elsewhere, he did hope that parlia-
ment would interfere, and would take such measures as
would prevent the strong temptations offered to parents
by these societies, which gave them a pecuniary interest in
the death of their children. The system had, in some

instances, led to the greatest crimes

He tho

would be well if some pla►► were adopted by which the
parents would receive no share of the money, or by which
the societies only would attend to the burial of the chil-
dren. He made these remarks generally, without in the
slightest degree impugning the conduct of those whom he
brought before them in the case alluded to. He con-
cluded by saying that the Grand Jury were perfectly
competent to the law affecting the cases that would be
laid before them, and also to judge of the facts: With
these sentiments he dismissed them to the discharge of
their duties.

Several true bills baying been found, the trials pro-

seeded

A FEW MORE NUTS FOR THE BULLIONISTS
TO CRACK.

" The Construction of Railways has been the
!ause of the present national suffering."
Yet we have in reality been increasing the national ca-

pital by creating a mass of property, which will_ pay, on

whilst it contributes incalculably to the developement of
the resources of the country and to the convenience and
cheapness of locomotion, both for passengers, merchan-

we have been converting land, much of which is scarcely
worth the cost of cultiVation, into highly remunerative
lines of road ;
And whilst some hundreds of thousands of tone of iron
have been extracted from the bowels of the earth, to pay

No. 2.—" The conversion, by means of the railways, of
floating into fixed capital, is the cause of the present
national distress."
W hot is " floating capital" but money currency ; which
is either deposited at your bankers, bringing in a small per
centage of interest, locked up in your till, or employed in
your ordinary business ? _ _ _ _ _

You don't bury this "floating capital," in the shape of
bank notes or gold, in tunnels or embankments.
It is not abstracted from circulation ; but pays the
" navvy" to-day, goes to the baker, or the beer shop-
keeper to-morrow, and into the bank at the end of the
week. It is " floating capital" all the while.
The same sort of conversion of floating into fixed capi.
tal takes place when a man buys a house, a mill, an es-

tate, a horse, or a new

but we never heard of any
eating national distress !

No. 3.—Anomalous results of the causes of national

distress above- pleaded,

From three to five hundred agricultural labourers earn-

•
union workhouses, converted into "navvies" earning 20s.
a week, spending that sum with the butcher, the baker,
the grocer, &c., and yet causing national distress !

Miners,. smiths, artizans, &c., receiving a similar ac-

yet causing nationa

distress

Money in more active circulation, and a large portion
of the community with increased means of consuming ;
and yet the manufacturer and the merchant selling their

increased custom of the well-paid navvies ; and (
landowner, who has got a hundred pounds an acre.

railway proprietors for a

worth only one pound,—none of whom ever held a share
in any line, suffering because I), E, and F have been en-
gaged in converting capital at their bankers, paving only
2} per cent., or consols paying 3 per cent., into railway
property, which will pay ten per cent. ! _ .
..

G, idiennporarywa'ni of currency. selling the ten thou-

to a so

Loyd, or some other bullionist, for seven thousand fi
hundred pounds !
A depreciation of ten
property of th

value of the entire
^-r £5.000.000.000

sterner, because £30,000,000 in euci,L.,y have to be paid
within the year in the shape of railway calls, which will
be expended in labour and commodities, to create addi-

week alter It has been so paid !
No. 4.—What ought to have beon the effect of the E

tension of our railway system.
prosperity of the labourer, the shopkeeper

.ealized

rig only from two to
—still capital—pay-

by the Conversion of capital prod
three per cent. into railway property
ing from five to ten per cent.

ro. s.—The real cause of the depreciation, not only of
railways but of every description of property, includ-

t the tim

activity of the indu;try_and the enter

ilereased

. . ,
the Governor's speech, was voted. .
The Jamaica Despatch gives the expenditure and ex-
ports of the colony for 1848, from which it appears that
the former amounts 0 £403,000, and the exports are

than the expenditure; or, in
head worth £lO, they have to

pay £ll in tas
The Demerara crop was estimated at 40,000 ho,
against £200.000 expenses.—A ;commercial letter from
Demerera says, " The fatal effects of the ' stoppage of the

supplies' is already making itself felt and understood.
Within 10 days after the expiry of the Tariff of Duties
there had been a loss of kr65,000 upon imports thrown
into the market in eonseouenee of there twiny no duty

:11: I leviable, an amount cc

This loss has been tritnsf