The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-12-31 00:00:00

RAILWAYS AND THE BOARD OF TRADE.

Parliament, in its wisdom, says the Railway Record,
has appointed the Board of Trade to the onerous duty of
arbitrating between all competing lines of railway. Ga-
zelle notices have issued from the board, declaring its in-
tention to investigate the relative merits of competing
railways, and, pending this investigation, a long manifesto
against the sincerity and honesty of the gentlemen con-
stituting the board of investigation appeared in the Times
newspaper on Monday last. The article, which is not
editorial, bears strong evidence of having emanated from
some of the " monopolist" party, seeking to be considered
as p ssessing a vested interest in existing lines, wh'ea
they have so often laid claim to that at least they imagine
they possess it. Though no decision of the Board of Trade
has yet been published, it may readily be imagined that a
committee of ministerial officers, acting in the capacity
of guardians fur the public, will be a most unpalatable tri-
bunal for the old railway directors or " dictators," to
submit to, who, conscious that such a tribunal will consi-
der the public weal of more consequence than sharehold-
ers' dividends, tremble by anticipation lest they should
not be allowed to hold their own, and seem to think that
bombast and insult are the best protective measures they
can fortify themselves with. If the writer had allowed
roason to be his guide, he would have seen that the board
of trade must have taken the course that he deprecates so
strongly. Their position and mode of treating the present
railways must be similar to the course adopted by the le-
gislature towards the turnpike trusts on the introduction
of railways. The public advantage must be considered,
the private interest sacrificed. More direct lines, where
they afford a more decided benefit to the commtrity,
cannot be allowed to remain in abeyance because they
are hurtful to the profits of existing circuitous rail-
ways. More improved systems of working must be
adopted, when ascertained to afford very great additional
security and advantages, and an extended and wise
policy would encourage improvements instead of
seeking to disparage, and also making them the vehi-
cle of attack on a government board, whose position
and integrity of action render them beyond the suspicion
that the writer of the Times would insinuate aga'nst them
of being influenced with a preference for and interest in
some " new patent." There is no doubt that this is
meant for the Atmospheric Railway—an invention which
many first treated with contempt, trusting to the security
of their imagined unassailable position ; but, subsequently
became alarmed at the progress it was making, and then
employed every means to bring it into disrepute ; opposed
it in both houses of parliament, but without success, and
without being able to establish any one point against it.
Is it the reflection that the melancholy accidents on the
Midland Counties and the South Eastern Railway (which
could not possibly have occurred with the new system)
may militate against their interest, which induced the
ungenerous remarks we have had occasion to notice ? Or
is it disappointment to find that they are unable to check
public opinion in favour of the system of working that
they denounced—for several hundred miles of railway
now seeking parliamentary powers are proposing to work
atmospherically ? Does the writer fear that such com-
panies have a great claim for preference at the hands of
the Board of Trade, who, with equal or superior lines,
say—" We are well convinced of the perfection of the at-
mospheric system—our engineer recommends us to adopt
it. Every proof given by the line at work in Ireland is
such as to convince us, beyond any doubt, of its perfect
success. There are seventy miles at present under con-
struction (on the Croydon and South Devon Railway),
and part will be opened before we begin our lines. We
offer velocity, cheapness, and perfect safety to the passen-
gers, and no annoyances to the proprietors where the line
passes; at the same time, if any unforeseen circumstances
prevent the possibility of adopting the atmospheric sys-
tem, we offer to give the locomotive. The time has
passed when interest and monopoly can be allowed to
check the onward course of improvement ; and the best
security for public patronage is now to make such changes
of system and arrancrement as will ensure the greatest
amount of accommodation at the cheapest rate, the re-
compense for which will invariably he found to consist in
the greatest return for the capital invested.

SA LB OF GUANO.—On Friday, a cargo of guano, com-
prisirg about 550 tone. from Smith's Island, off the coast
of Africa, a considerablo distance from Ichaboe, was sold
by auction, at Glasgow, and brought £4 6s. 6d. to
£4 is. 6d. per ton in bags. The quality of this description
is inferior to the averaze from Ichaboe, and the few yes-
sets which were loading et Smith's Island were expected
to clear away all the guano to be found on it.

Dec. 31, 1844•

RELATIVE EMPLOYMENT FROM AGRI-
CULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.

The return for Great Britain (exclusive of Ireland) set
forth the occupations of 6,851,045 persons, out of a PP
lation of 18,655,981, the rest being women and childre9+
and unemployed dependents. The total number of ad'u;,
males whose occupations are returned is, however, but
4,248,914, who may be taken to constitute the heads ofa
families in this country. This bears out the usual pro'
portion, which allows to each head of a family
an av end
addition of three for wife, children, servants, and dependi
ents. However much the employment of women and
children may come in aid of the industry of a countrl,
it needs no argument to prove that the most valuable ca.
cupations are those which employ the adult males, the
beads of families, upon whose well-doing the comfort f
the remainder of the population must chiefly depend. ;
is especially in this respect that the superior advantage(/'
agricultural employment consists. In the manufacturing
districts a man sends his wife and children to the
and each individual of the family swells the number 01
the manufacturers in the occupation returns. In the
agricultural districts adult males are chiefly employed;
and it is, therefore, but common justice to take into ac-
count their families, who, with themselves, are supported
by the cultivation of the soil, though figuring to a veil
age
small extent in the commissioners' abstract. Let us refer
then, once m re to this important document, and strike
the balance between manufacturing and agricultural oc-
cupations. _

Allowing for an error admitted by the commissioners,.
agriculture in Great Britain employs 1,559,278 persons,
and manufactures, of all kinds, 1,140,906; leaving a
i balance of 418,372 in favour of agriculture, as regards v
dividual employment. But, of the above number, the
adult males employed in agriculture are 1,265,264; whils",
the adult males engaged in all our manufactures are but
579,446: agriculture, therefore, maintains 685,818 families
more than manufactures. In other words, agriculture io
this country provides for the subsistence of 5,061,056
human beings, and all our manufactures combined main'
fain but 2,317,784, showing an excess in the value of
agricultural employment over manufacturing of 3,743,272
persons ; and, were the Irish returns to be added to this,
the d'sproportion would be infinitely greater. Com-
merce and trade, in all their multifarious avocations, only
employ 1,459,963 male adults, or 194.691 mere than agri-
culture ; but the Irish statistics would also turn this scale
in favour of agriculture. The disingenuous art of the
Leaguers generally induces them to mix up the numbers
employed in trade, commerce, and manufactures alto-
gether, and thus, by false comparisons, they have circu-
lated the numerous statical fallacies which have been
too readily swallowed by their credulous supporters. The
commissioners' returns, however, clearly establish that,
even inithe manufacturing portion of the United King-
dom, more than twice as many people are supported by
agriculture than by manufactures. If the interests of
agriculture and manufactures were really opposed to each
other, as the Leaguers frequently assert, and arpear to
believe, though they as often deny it, this would still be
an unanswerable argument against sacrificing the greater
interest for the sake of the less.

But the avowed object of the league manufacturers is
the extension of our foreign exports ; and, even should
there be any truth in the allegation of divided and oppOS-
ing interests, the manufacturers for the home and colonial
markets must be arrayed on the agricultural side, leaving
the small fraction of those engaged in foreign exports
alone to oppose them. The annual value of our manufac-
turers has been variously estimated, but certainly at least
two thirds of the whole are consumed at home ; and of
the remaining third exported a very large proportion is
absorbed by our own colonies. Of all our various manu-
factures there is only one which alleges that it depends
more on the foreign than the home market, and that is
the cotton manufacture. Now, how many adult males
does this boasted cotton manufacture employ ? But little.
more thin one-tenth of those engaged in agriculture—via.-
138,112, of whom considerably more than half must in
reality be given to the home trade. At tue outside, those
engaged i❑ manufactures for the foreign export market
cannot exceed 120,000, or, including their families,
480,000. The real case of the league, therefore, is, that,
for the sake of promoting a trade wt ich now gives sub-
sistence to 480,000, we are to sacrifice, or materially in
jure, an interest which directly maintains 5,061,056, and
indirectly supports upwards of 2;000,000 of those depen-
dent on manufactures. This is the policy of the league
apostles—the new lights of free-trade philosophy ; of its
wisdom, as well as of the honesty or sanity of those who
promulgate it, we may now leave our readers to judge.

THE NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE.-OPENING

OF LLOYD'S.

An important step towards the complete occupation of
this edifice by its former tenants was accomplished on
Thursday by the great commercial establishment known
as Lloyd's taking possession of their splendid and com-
modious apartments. It is now seven years within some
ten or fourteen days, since, by the destruction of the old
Exchange by fire on the 10th of January, 1838, they were,
deprived of their apartments. They certainly have gained
most materially by the change, though in the interval-
they have been exposed to great inconvenience by the
narrow accommodation afforded to them at the Old
South Sea House. The rooms they now occupy have
been so recently described that it is unnecessary to notice-
them now in much detail.

Toe great room in which the banquet was given is now'
fitted up with three ranges of mahogany tables and seats,
each table accommodating four underwriters. At the
north end is a lobby entrance, divided from the great
room by a screen, having a small room or enclosure right
and left for hats, great coats, &c. The warming and
lighting of this room are considered for business arrange-
ments as perfectly successful, whilst, to provide against
the inconvenience of dark and gloomy weather, two bude-
lights are suspended from the ceiling. The only remark
we have heard made amongst the occupiers was, that the
chandeliers are considered too plain and slender for
consistent effect with the room in which they are hung.
The Commercial Room and Captains' Room are fitted
up with sea's •nd benches of mahogany, and richly carved
mahogany stands are placed all round the tom, for the
reception of newspapers from all parts of the world.f
The Captains' Room is the coffee•room department of
the establishment. Here there is a bar, with kitchen
and offices attached, for supplying merchants and the sub-
scribers with coffee, sandwiches. &c.
Lloyd's Committee, under the superintendence of Mr.
G. R. Robinson, their respected chairman, met for the
first time in their board-room on Saturday last. In con-
sequence of the holidays not much business was transacted
in Lloyd's that day, but their rooms were a good deal
crowded by the subscribers and their friends ; and the
increased accommodation and convenience were subjects
of much satisfaction and congratulation.

IRON TRADE IN WALES.--W. Crawsbay, Esq., in
anticipation of an increased demand fcr railway iron, 110
determined on the erection of an extensive steam rail-mill,
in addition to the already numerous rolling-mills at the
Cyfartha Iron-Works, the cutting of a foundation of which
was commenced on Monday morning. It is to consist of
a double set of rolls, saws, and shears, and other necessary
appendages for the completion, if necessary, of upwards
of 2500 tons of finished rails per month, and all to be
worked by one steam-engine of very large dimensions oe
the long pressure principle. A great number of fresh
hands have been employed, and many will be, as Mp-
Crawsbay is anxious that the whole should be ready in
months time. This extensiie addition to the work is
estimated to cost, at least, £25,000, and will give regular
employment, when ready, to about three hundred persons.
A new bar-iron rolling-mill, also consisting of two sets of
rolls, was started at these works for the first time 00
Friday morning last. This addition will give employment
to a great number of fresh hands.—Stvansea Journal.

EXECUTlON.—Notwithstanding the great exertions
made to obta'n a commutation of the sentence, the exe'
curios of Mary Gallop, for the murder of her father b 9
arsenic, took place at Chester en Saturday. The culprit
since her conviction had exhibited the deepest contrition•
Her removal from Chester Castle to the place of exece-
n on, in front of the City Gaol, took place at midnight on,
Friday. On parting with Mrs. Bennion, the matron 0'
the Castle, the culprit was much excited, and expressed
her fervent thanks for the kindness she had invariably
rec,ived at her hands. After partaking of some coffee 5h5
retired to rest, but her slumbers were short and (1 t.irbed,
and, at an early hour on Saturday, she again engaged in
devotional exercises with the respected chaplain of the
Castle. In the course of the morning Mrs. Haswell (the
governor's wife) supplied her with some refreshinen!,
when she broke forth into lamentations for her past ini'
quitiee, but expressed her conviction that she should soon
be in heaven, where, she alleged, her father had goq'
At 11 o'clock she received the sacrament of the Lordh
Supper, and appeared to engage in the service with muc
feeling, continuing her devotions till 12 o'clock, when the
executioner made his appearance, and proceeded to pinion,
her, an operation to which she submitted with the most
perfect docility. She appeared, however, to be inwardly
convulsed, and suffered so much from exhaustion of body
that it was found necessary to carry her to the ',allows Or/,
the chair on which she had been seated. A last" farewell"
was then taken of her by the chaplain and M. Rose,
and immediately the platform fell, and she soon ceased to
live. The culprit would have been twenty-one years O,
age next March. She was short of stature, and w:hatinil
be termed good-looking. She wore a black stuff dre/'
and plaid black and white shawl. It may be remembered,
that, some few months previous to the murder of Mr. Gallas
his wife was found with her throat cut, when herself an,
her unhappy daughter were the only inmates of the bottle;
and public opinion prematurely fixed the murder of he
mother also on Mary Gallop. The latter, however, 'et
throughout, utterly denied having had any particiPstroP
in Mrs. Gallop's death.
SEASONABLE FESTIVITIES.—The gaiety that reig°,,
supreme at this festive season, when friends and lover
assemble at the social board, or whirl in the giddy mares
of the dance, induces both sexes to he more than usual
d: sirens of shining in personal attraction, and to devote
greater share of attention to the tui!et. It is, at this par
ticular season, that the virtues and singularly happy 1)°,),
perties of those auxiliaries of personal beauty, RowLAND ,
KALYDOR, ROWLAND'S MACASSAR. OIL, and ROT.
tLrAe sN whilesD:taSl:
ledOwtnhheoitNepreaaorr\dysheseiwntaeonipitirekeee-tehmnfeiocnrkemt,itaticiiieitni rich
uirable tpxr
ooupvrilr
hiee
of their inestimable qualities ! The august patrooog
conceded by our gracious queen, and the several Sove,_
ther ig
circles
cl ofe
s o f Europe.
princely together . d
regal
a the h
me tifit:ceesn
ewhiche
an add et rooPef
efficacy
tconfirmationiese,,reati,ebyr•
eenx.opyearttizcespoefeitfihces, h infallibleaven eh
characterized
them with perfection, and given them a celebrity uniP,,
railed. They have proved the theme of the poet ; taelle
are celebrated in the periodical literature of the ill
cisilized world ; the lays of Byron, and the voice of
universal press, hare proclairred the incomparable v,'g
tires of the " Oil Nlrtead:.;ar,'' Rua of its accompanYl/1
preparations.