The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-21 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A correspondent suggests that as the Leaguers are constantly
croaking without pi oducing the slightest erfect, they may not
be inappropriately termed " Corncrakes."
Crito" ought to be better informed than to imagine that the
conductors of a respectable nev.'spaper woul,l put the question
contained in his letter on anonymous authority.

Ebt Eiberpool &taniJart.

TUESDAY MORAING, MAY 21, 1814.

With an election for this important division of
the county impending over our heads—one too in
the decision of which we feel that important results
are bound up, we dare not, for the love we bear
Conservatism, express all the sorrow—all the dismay
—with which we have been compelled to view the
recent vote upon the Factory question. Had Sir
Robert Peel wished to damp most effectually the
enthusiasm of his supporters in this locality; had
he wished to deter them from the exercise of that
energy which the present crisis demands; he could
scarcely have taken a course more directly calculated
to bring about such a consummation, and to con-
vince them that there is no principle connected with
the maintenance of his government for which it is
worth the while of Conservatism to contend, than
the course which he has taken upon this subject,
and some other questions recently before Parlia-
ment. We know that the result of the dogged op-
position to the humane views of Lord Ashley has
fallen upon the hearts of the true friends of Conser-
vative interests in this district with chilling and al-
most paralyzing effect; and that, were passion to be
allowed to have its sway—were the crisis of our
country's fate less bound up in the result of this
contest, less momentous than it is—there would
scarcely be found a band to struggle, a voice to pro-
test or to animate, a heart to care whether, so far as
the election for South Lancashire is concerned, we
return for this county a friend or an opponent of a
ministry, which constantly compels us to ask our-
selves—" Why do we support—what is our interest
in, a government which is day by day yielding up
some cherished principle for which we have battled
in times past, and upon the faith of upholding which
we have placed them in a position to dis appoint and
betray us ?"

It is a cruel position in which we find ourselves.
As Conservatives we long to support the ministry
of Sir Robert Peel, and to be able to look up with
affection and confidence to the members of that
ministry. We cannot, unfortunately, do the latter;
but most earnestly we must urge upon the friends
of the constitution in this district to let no feeling of
distrust and disappointment, which late events may
have excited, operate to depress their exertions in
this contest. Let them remember that it is not the
cause of a ministry which has now to be decided,
but the permanence of all that, as Englishmen, we
hold sacred and dear, which has to be defended
against the assaults of Revolut►on. It is not a ver-
dict for or against Sir Robert Peel, or Sir James
Graham, which we have to record ; but we have
a declaration to make before the country of our
resolution to defend the rights of industry and the
security of property, which are menaced by heavy
blows from without, and by faithlessness from within.
Doubly fatal, in the present condition of Conserva-
tism, must be any fainting now. Defeat, for this
important county, would not only give an impetus
to the machinations of our opponents, which it
would be difficult indeed to withstand, but it might
even enable a ministry which worships expediency,
whilst it plays fast and loose with principles and
pledges, to justify before the world the adoption of
that very destructive policy which, as Conservatives,
we seek to avoid. For the gratification of a pettish
feeling against the men, we may drive them prema-
turely to those measures, which our own fears whis-
per they are prepared to concede, upon the first se-
vere pressure which assails them.
The Conservatives of South Lancashire will not,
we trust, take this rash, suicidal course. No—they
will throw aside their present apathy, and bury their
present jealousies; and rallying to the support of
those principles to which they are pledged by all the
ties of consistency and honour, they will beat down
the faction which is endeavouring to override them.
No Anti-Corn-law League—no seditious confedera-
tion of greedy millocrats—must be permitted to
hold the key of the representation of Conservative
South Lancashire,

All our readers must be aware that the Commis-
sioners of Birkenhead are now before Parliament,
endeavouring to obtain an act empowering them to
construct docks and warehouses on the Cheshire
shore. So long as the matter was in the hands of a
knot of land speculmors we did not apprehend that
Liverpool had much cause to fear the competition ' •
but according to the evidence tendered before the
committee of the Commons, coupled with the asser-
tion that the capital has been subscribed to carry
out the project, we think that the interests of several
parties may be seriously affected; and it behoves
them to be on the look out, lest such powers and
privileges be conceded as may really endanger the
paramount interests of Liverpool. The apathy
shewn, not only by the Town Council, the railway
companies, and the warehouse proprietors, but also
by the holders of property of all descriptions in Li-
verpool, strikes us with surpri e ; and judging from
the spirit, the daring, and the ability which is direct-
ing the measure in question, backed as they appear
to be, by capitalists in London, we deem it our duty
to direct the attention of all parties to the probable
effects of docks in Cheshire upon the various inter-
ests connected with this town, in order that our
local rulers may be awake to the dangers with which
those interests are now threatened.

It is all well enough to say that the whole matter
is a mere bubble, gut up by interested land specula-
tors ; and that Cheshire docks cannot, in the face
of the Liverpool docks, with their large revenue,
produce a return for the capital invested. This
may, and probably will be the case. But it must be
recollected that if docks be made in Wallasey Pool,
and warehouses be there erected to the extent of
£600,000, as contemplated, it will be better for the
directors of such an establishment to receive even
the smallest return than none at all ; and the conse-
quences may be, that as trade will go where it can
be done the cheapest, dock rates and warehouse
rents here must fall to the competing point, and our
public trusts be thus placed in what a certain would-
be member of Parliament calls " a very akkard city-
ashon." It is perfectly clear to us that ulterior mea-
sures of a sweeping description are intended, which
will not only affect the whole of the leasehold of the
Corporation, the bondholders of the two estates, and
the trading community generally, but will operate
upon the two great railway companies connected
with Liverpool in a way which they do not expect.
Dust may be thrown in the eyes of the people of
Liverpool by the declaration that no rivalry is in-
tended, and that docks at Birkenhead are only to
receive the overflowings of Liverpool Liverpool has
long been a divided house on the subject of dock
accommodation, and the unfortunate opposition of
some members of the Dock Committee to the bill
now before Parliament, while it has materially
strengthened the hands of their antagonists, has
weakened the Dock Committee in their application
to the legislature; and although there is little doubt
that the dock bill will be carried, the differences to

which we allude have been in every way a misfortune.
It is useless to conceal what everybody knows,
namely, that the Cheshire members are aided by the
members of the manufacturing districts in depriving
this town of all the advantages which she has so
long possessed ; that there exists in Manchester and
other places an unworthy jealousy of Liverpool, and
that parliamentary applicants find willing listeners
when they develop any plan which can invade the
interests of this town. The chairman of our finance
committee has a vast responsibility on his shoulders
at this moment; and we wish that his ability to
grapple with the various important subjects now
affecting the welfare of the corporate estate, may be
equal to his desire to do what is right. Let docks
and warehouses he fairly in operation on the Cheshire
shore, on land, too, taken out of the estuary of the
Pool, and without cost, and a material difference in
the amount of fines for the renewal of leases will
soon be perceptible. Can the members of our
Council for one moment be so infatuated as to sup-
pose that the town dues can be permanently levied
in another county without continual contests ? They
may get up in their places and assert that Liverpool
possesses as good a claim to town dues from Hoy-
lake to Warrington Bridge as any nobleman does to
his entailed estate. But such assertions are now
secretly laughed at by men on the opposite shore,
aye, and by many on this side too, and as soon as
there is a sufficiency of capital expended at Birken-
head to justify the cost of a struggle, let the Corpo-
ration of Liverpool be aware that they will need to
buckle on their armour and throw away the scabbard•
But another question presents itself, and of
perhaps greater importance than any which we have
glanced at. Mr. Rendell has stated that abstract-
ing the water of Wallasey Pool, which now forms
part of the scouring power of the river, will not do
the slightest harm to the navigation of the harbour;
and that building a sea-wall from Woodside to Sea-
combe will not be detrimental to the Liverpool
Docks. Now it appears from the evidence, that a
great number of the most eminent engineers are of
a contrary opinion ; and they declare that by the
abstraction of the water, and the projection of this
sea-wall, the current will be diverted, and thus
will cause a silting up of the entrances of the Liver-
pool docks. On this point we do not presume to
offer an opinion ; but we do say, that when men of
high reputation and great experience pledge their
reputation that such will be the practical effect of
the contemplated schemes, it is high time for every
man in Liverpool to bestir himself, as any increase
of banks at our dock entrances would be most
fatal to the town.

That the Birkenhead bill will pass the Commons
there can be no doubt, because the Committee are
decidedly favourable to its promoters. It has, how-
ever, to go through another ordeal, where a com-
mittee sits in a legislative capacity, and where the
members have no political battery brought to bear
upon them ; and it may there be successfully op-
posed, or, at least, the interests of Liverpool may be
protected. Why does not the Corporation insist
upon the insertion of a clause in the bill making the
payment of town-dues for ever one of its admitted
enactments ? The question could never then be
agitated, and so the prosperity of Birkenhead would
be made to contribute to the prosperity of Liverpool.
Every pound of cotton ;docked and warehoused at
Birkenhead will be sold, not at Birkenhead, but on
our Exchange ; and the very resistance of town
dues has an unfavourable effect, and in principle
would be unjust. But we again tell the Corporation
that in less time than they expect, that resistance
will be attempted. And as there is such difference
of opinion on the probable effect of building a sea
wall across Wallasey Pool, let the Corporation insist
upon a clause in the bill making it imperative upon
the Birkenhead Commissioners to remove and carry
away all additional silt that may be deposited on the
Liverpool shore through the projection of their works
in the tideway.
These two clauses will only be fair, and if the
parties now seeking their bill are influenced by the
desire to advantage themselves without injuring their
neighbours, they will cheerfully consent to their in-
troduction, and it will test the sincerity of their for-
mer professions.
The whole of this subject is fraught with the
deepest interest to all classes of the community, and
we commend it to the careful and prompt conside-
ration not only of our great public bodies, but of every
owner of property in the town. In another month
vigilance will be unnecessary, FOR IT WILL BE
TOO LATE I

Really the House of Commons appears just now
to be taking extraordinary pains to lower its stand-
ing in the eyes of the world, as a grave and delibe-
rative assembly. Two months ago it decided, by a
majority, after a long debate, that ten working
hours per day was a sufficient amount of labour to
be exacted from the women and young persons in
our factories ; and on Monday, after another long
debate, it decided the reverse by an overwhelming
majority. And when the public had j,lst got over
the shock, and men who had been accustomed to
revere the character of the British House of Com-
mons were beginning to be able to look one another
in the face without blushing or laughing, our very
grave senators, during the discussion of a subject so
important as the Customs' Duties' Bill, break out
into an exhibition of the comic line of performance
which is perfectly irresistible, the prime minister
himself taking the leading buffo part, in a style that
would enrapture pit, boxes, or gallery, in any house
in or out of London.

The new duty to be levied upon confectionary was
the subject under discussion ; and Mr. Alderman
Humphery asked " What was the reason that the
duty on plums was to be altered ?" whilst Mr. War-
burton maintained that it was to protect the plum-
growing constituency of the honourable baronet, the
member for East Kent. Sir Robert Peel, in reply,
expressed himself not much surprised at the obser-
vations of the worthy baronet and ex Lord Mayor,
" for he" (the said ex-dignitary) " was no doubt so
encouraged by his extraordinary success in discus-
sing. last year, the duties upon turbots and lobster
sauce, that it was no matter of astonishment to find
him now standing forward as the advocate and de-
fender of the great plum-pudding interest." of
course the house was in convulsions of laughter at
the refined and classical drollery of the reply, and
perfectly reconciled with the proposed new duty upon
plums.
But the amusing performance was not to conclude
here. Sir Robert Peel and the ex-Mayor were not
to bear away between them the comic wreath. Mr.
John Bright, M.P. for the cathedral city of Dur-
ham, discovered that there might be a more ridicu-
lous character than even that of " advocate and de-
fender of the great plum-pudding interest ;" and in-
continently presented himself in that of " advocate
and defender" of the small canary interest ! This
bright specimen of a legislator contended that--
"There was another question affecting the county of
Kent besides the apple and plum question—he meant the
duty upon canary seeds. (Shouts of laughter.) It was a
minute question certainly—(more laughter, and cries of
Question')—he was speaking to the question. Canary
seeds, were confectionary. (Renewed laughter and cries
of Question.') Well, he would only say that peculiar
care seemed to be taken of Kenti-h interests."

Amazing discovery, or rather, discoveries, for
which the eleetors of Durham have infinite reason

to be proud of their sagacious representative I Let
it never be forgotten that there is another question
besides the sugar and plum question,—that there is
the canary seed question, " a minute question," cer-
tainly, and therefore eminently fitted for John
Bright to champion ! Remember, moreover, that
" canary seeds are confectionary ! !"
Seriously, after such a display as the above, which
extended infinitely longer than we have given it, we
shall begin to think that our reformed house is not
greatly more to be admired, for its tastes and mode
of conducting its proceedings, than the House of
Representatives of our republican brother over the
water. The amusements of that assembly vary a
little in their character certainly ; but as to the point
of respectability we have only to determine between
the bowie knife and harlequin's wand,—tragedy and
broad farce.

THE FUNDS, SATURDAY NIGHT.—The English se-
curities maintain much firmness, although little business
was transacted to- day, in consequence of the early closing
of the market. Consols for money and the account left
off 991 to ; Three per Cents. Reduced. 981 ; Three-and-
a-Half per Cents. Reduced, 1011 to ; New Three-and-
a- Half per Cents., 1021 to 1; Long Annuities, 12 7-16;
Exchequer Bills, 68s. to 70s. premium ; Bank Stock,
1911 to 1923; and India Stock, 285 to 287. In the
foreign market the prices of speculative stocks were rather
lower, and there was but a small amount of business done
in any descripti,m. Spanish Three per Cents. closed at
341 to 35 ; the Five per Cents. 231 to 24 ; Portuguese,
40 to 47 ; Peruvian, 281 to 291 ; Mexican, 351 to 1; the
Deferred, 151 to I; Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents.,
601 to 1; the Five per Cents., 1001 to 1; Danish, 88 to
89; Columbian, 141 to ; Chilian. 102 to 104; Buenos
Ayres, 34 to 36; Brazilian, sol to 811; and Belgian, 103
to 104.
A WORD OR Two IN SEASON.—The polling days for
the election in the Southern Division will be Monday and
Tuesday in Whitsun week. Many conservatives in Li-
verpool and the neighbourhood, we know, are in the
habit of making excursions durinc, this particular Reek.
Let their duty prove superior to their pleasures. Every
man may, if he will, record his vote before noon on Mon-
day. If he value the cause, let him not neglect to do this.
THE TEN HOURS' CLAUSE.—Amongst the members
who voted with Lord Ashley on the 13th instant, in the
House of Commons, in favour of the ten hours' clause, we
find the following :—Lord Sandon, Sir H. Douglas, J.
Brotherton, W. Ewart, W. B. Ferrand, and J. Tolle-
mache, Lord F. Egerton paired off in favour of the clause.
The following were amongst the members who voted
against it :—E. Cardwell, J. E. Denison, W. T. Egerton,
T. M. Gibson, T. Greene, J. W. Patten, Lord Stanley,
T. Thornely, and F. Tollemache.

PROTESTANT INTEGRITY.—The Dublin Protestant
Operative Association recently called the attention of the
Bishop of Exeter to the draft of a bill, making it penal
for the publi-hers of newspapers, or such other publica-
tions, to ascribe to Roman Catholic dignitaries the title
which properly belong to the Church of Ireland, or to de-
signate Roman Catholic places of worship by the names
belonging to the church. The Secretary of the Associa-
tion has received the following reply, dated the 15th inst.,
from his lordship. " I have received your letter, and the
paper enclosed in it. I highly honour the principles
therein setforth, and heartily wish that the legislature
would sanction them by a correspondent law."

THE LIVERPOOL ORANGEMEN.—At a meeting of the
Dublin Protestant Operative Association, on Thursday
last, the following resolution was passed amidst loud
cheers. " That we bold it as a most fearful sign
of the times that in Protestant England, heretofore
the land of freedom, men should be visited with exclusion
from the police force because connected with the loyal
Orange body—that we trust the Protestants of Liverpool
may unite as one man against this fearful aggression on
their liberties, and that the best thanks of this meeting
are due to Richard Harbord, Esq., for the firm stand that
he has made in this business, and that an address on the
subject be adopted."
AN IMPORTANT RADICAL MISTAKE.—The Liverpool
Journal of the 11th instant, in giving a list of free traders,
enumerated Mr. Weld Blundell. of Ince Blundell Hall, as
a gentleman likely to support Mr. Brown in the approach-
ing contest for South Lancashire. Mr. Blundell, how-
ever, refuses to place himself in the ranks of the free tra-
ders, and has addressed a letter to the, Journal of Satur-
day last, from which we make the following extract :—" I
approve of the moderate protection proposed by the late
ministry, and a fixed duty on foreign corn ; but lam op-
posed to an immediate and total repeal of existing pro-
tective laws, and still more to the manner in which the
Anti-Corn Law League have sought to establish their
doctrines."
ACCIDENT AT SEACOMBE SLIP. —PRAISEWORTHY
ACT OF A PASSENGER.—AS an elderly gentleman was
running hastily down the Seacombe slip to catch the last
boat yesterday evening, he unfortunately tripped over the
chain of the tram-road and was precipitated into the river.
The tide was running strongly up the river at the time,
and the death of the unfortunate man appeared to be ine-
vitable, when a young gentleman, without hesitation,
plunged in, and with considerable difficulty saved
him, at the imminent risk of his own life, he himself
being so exhausted by the effort, that on landing he was
completely prostrated. At the late hour at which we
write, we are unable to mention the name of the brave
adventurer to save the life of a fellow-creature; but we
shall make further inquiries. As the occurrence is re-
ported to us, a better claim to the notice of the Humane
Society has B.ldom presented itself.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE HON. RICHARD BOOTLE
WILBRAHAM, M.P.—The interment of the mortal re-
mains of this respected and lamented gentleman took
place, on Thursday last, at Skelmersdale, near Ormskirk,
Lancashire. As we have previously noticed, the body
had been removed to Latham Hall, the seat of Lord
Skelmersdale, prior to the funeral. About ten o'clock
on Thursday morning the mournful procession left the
hall for Skelmersdale parish church, about three miles
distant, in the following order :—First mourning coach,
containing the Rev. Mr. Battersby, Dr. Lax, Mr. Robert
Boyer, and Mr. E. Boyer ; the hearse came next ; and
then the second mourning coach, in which were Lord
Skelmersdale, Mrs. R. Bootle Wilbraham, Mrs. A. Las-
celles, and Sir Richard Brooke, Bart.; third mourning
coach, containing Lord Stanley, Sir Brook Taylor, Mr.
Farington, and Mr. Warburton ; and in the fourth
mourning coach were Mr. Arthur Brooke, Mr. Brooke,
Mr. Hutton, and the Hon. Arthur Lascelles. In the
rear were the private carriages of Lord Skelmersdale and
many of the local gentry and clergy. It was after eleven
when the funeral cortege reached the church, and the
coffin was then borne into the sacred building, preceded
by the Rev. Mr. Battersby, domestic chaplain to Lord
Skelmersdale, who officiated as minister. The solemn
service for the burial of the dead was impressively read
by the rev. gentleman, and the customary sad offices
being discharged, the circle of relatives returned to
Latham. It was the urgent wish of Mrs. Wilbraham to
attend the obsequies.
Trig WEATHER.—With the exception of a very slight
shower or two, we have not in these districts been fa-
voured with any rain for several weeks ; and we regret to
add that since Wednesday last the air has been uncom-
monly chilly (in the shade) during the day, and frosty
during the night, to the injury of some portions of the
growing vegetation, and the retarding of the growth of
others. On Friday night and Saturday morning in parti-
cular, the cold was unusually severe for the season, so
much so that thin ice was formed in exposed and high
stations. The wind has for some days blown rather freshly,
and varying from north to about north-east. The early
potatoes in exposed land, in some neighbouring localities,
have to a great extent been cut off—the young plant
being exceeding susceptible of the killing effect of frost.
Some farmers who sowed deep, have been more fortunate,
as theirs have scarcely yet appeared above ground ; and
we have seen several sheltered fields that do not appear to
have suffered at all, so that the damage is as yet by no
means general. The wheats still look remarkably healthy,
thick on the ground, and well coloured. The fruit trees
are apparently little injured, if at all, and still give pro-
mise of an abundant crop. The grass also looks well, but
without a seasonable supply of rain and warmth, the crop
of hay will scarcely be an average one. Up to the time
we write, (Monday evening) there is no appearance of a
speedy change, but the wind has veered a little to the
westward of north. A few points more westing and all
would probably be right. Our markets were well sup-
plied with vegetables on Saturday. New potatoes (yet
very small) were at sd. to 6d. a pound ; Irish cabbages
kd
ptloa
eset,a tnen
dt heast
waet
wmidnightn
ga
avery d a
favourablehead Wc
hea nag' ee
tgoloa
to press the rain descended in copious showers.
INTERESTING EXHIBITION AT THE PORTICO, NEW-
INGTON.—We were much gratified by an inspection, on
Saturday, of the ecclesiastical tablets, by Mr. Daggets, of
Bolton, embodying the Decalogue, the Apostles' Creed,
and the Lord's Prayer, beautifully and elaborately exe-
cuted, in pure Anglo-Saxon text, with richly foliated and
illuminated capitals. They were taken from extremely
scarce and valuable manuscripts of the early and middle
ages, and were so much admired at Bolton, where they
were shown privately, that, at the request of a great num-
ber of clergy, antiquarians and others, who felt assured
that the public had but to see them to be highly gratified
by the purity and antiquity of their style, and the exqui-
site character of their execution, the artist was induced to
exhibit them for the first time publicly in this town. They
are painted on a smooth ground representing vellum ; the
text is cut with all the nicety and sharpness of the finest
engraving;
the colours of the ornamental portions are
strictly those employed in sacred writings at the time :
every letter, and ornament—even to the Norman and
Saxon quatre-foil—will bear the minutest inspection.
The whole, though ancient, is sufficiently legible, and the
keeping throughout so admirably sustained as to form an
ensemble at Once impressive and unique. The well-
informed antiquarian will readily admit the fidelity of the
work, and be enabled to pronounce the dates. The tail-
pieces (filling up the broken lines) are very fine, resem-
bling, indeed, the finest enamel. At the top of one of the
tablets there is a curious device, within a figure like a
shield, taken from the Athanasian'Creed, and which may,
in fact, be said to be the creed itself reduced to a mathe-
matical problem. These tablets, which are within oak
frames, were painted for Hallywell Church, near Bolton ;
and now that we have several new churches in the town,
and.others that are being improved or enlarged, we think
table's (which may be varied in the date of the cha-
racters) would form a decided and striking improvement
on the usual lettering, &c. of the Decalogue, Creed, &C.
over the communion table.