The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-15 00:00:00

Tit LITERPNGS StrilliktV

FEARFUL MORTALITY.--OR Tuesday last, three chil-
dren belonging to a family of the name of Moore were
buried in the New Church-yard, Stockton, which, with
two preceding ones, made five deaths in the brief space
of a fortnight. The smallpox and fevers of the most
malignant nature are, we are sorry to say, .making sad
havoc amongst the children of the lower orders of society
in that town.
Twenty-three years ago, says-the Sunderland Herald,
a youth belonging to Sunderland jumped overboard from
a ship at Aldborough, on the Thames, while lying at an-
chor, and was supposed to be drowned. It appears, how-
ever, that he had swam ashore, and made his way to
Bridgewater, where he found a home. From that time
his parents never heard of him. He was eleven years on
board of a man-of-war, and last- week he came home to
see his parents, of whom his mother only remains.
DEATH OF A ROBBER FROM. INTOXICATION.—EarIy
on Sunday morning week, three men were found lying in
a field near Leeds. Near them were three bottles of
Marsala wine, and four which had contained whiskey.
An iron implement named a " jemmy" was also lying
near them on the ground. The constable who found
them had them conveyed to the police-office in a wheel-
barrow, and on the way one of them died. It was then
discovered that the wine and whiskey had been stolen
from the Leeds Public Fever Hospital.
SCHOOLMASTERS IN SCOTLAND,,—By a return recently
made to the House of Commons of the number of school-
masters in Scotland, and of the offices held by such inde-
pendent of the office of parochial schoolmaster, it appears
that the number of them is 882 ; of-whom 710 are session
clerks, 426 inspectors of poor, in collectors of rates, 134
clerks to heritors, and 261 performing other duties of a
private character. The total emoluments of the said
offices and fees received on account of such dues are
£12,259 14s. 3d.

HEAVY DAMA*ES.-Our readers will no doubt remem-
ber that in August last the Cricket steamer on the Thames
blew up, and many persons injured thereby. Amongst
these was a Mr. Redgrave and his wife and son. Actions
were brought in the Sheriff's Court against Mr. OH.
Smith, the owner of the Cricket, for compensation for the
injuries received by these three individuals, and came on
for hearing on Thursday. A verdict for £2OO was re-
turned in one case ; and two verdicts of £5O were then
taken, by consent, for the other two cases.
At the Central Criminal Court, London, John Connell,
aged 47, a discharged seaman from the navy, has been
convicted of feloniously trafficking in seamen's register
tickets, which he procured at different registration offices,
and sold to persons not qualified. He was sentenced to
14 days' imprisonment, with hard labour.—Chas.Wheeler,
aged 33, late a confidential clerk in the service of the
London Joint-Stock Bank, pleaded guilty to an indict-
ment charging him with embezzling and stealing £5OO,
the moneys of the directors, and was sentenced to seven
years' transportation.
A few days since, while the wife of a farmer at Hol
Ridding, near Kirkby Lonsdale, was sitting by the fire-
side, near which her infant was lying in a cradle, and a
boy three years old was playing, some stones fell down
the chimney, and caused some lighted coals to fly into
the room, by which the boy's clothes and the infant's
cradle both caught fire. The mother was severely
scorched in extinguishing the flames, which burned the
boy so dreadfully that he died shortly afterwards, whilst
the infant was also much injured, though it is hoped that
it will recover. _

SHOCKING CASE.—Three children having been left
together in a room, at Birmingham, a dispute arose about
the division of some sweetmeats. Caroline Perry, a girl
eight years old, said she would have the whole from
Rosanna Morris, an older but weakly child, or she would
burn her to ashes ; and she did thrust her against the bars
of the grate with fatal effect. Such, before she died, was
the story of the sufferer and her brother, but the coroner's
jury ascribed the death of the child to her having " fallen
into the fire while engaged in a struggle with Caroline
Perry."
The Aberdeen Journal mentions that a young man
lately announced that he would perform, in a house in the
parish of Aberdour, the extraordinary feat of creeping
into a large bottle, and that when inside the bottle he
would entertain his audience with a solo on the violin,
sing several comic songs, and finish by forcing a live duck
down his throat. At the appointed time, a crowd of curi-
ous and credulous spectators paid their entrance money,
and waited the appearance of the wondrous wizard, but at
last became impatient at his absence, and then discovered
that his accomplice, the money-taker, had fled with the
receipts.
CRUELTY.—At Old Brentford Police-court, on Wed-
nesday, Mr. R. Hunt was called on to find sureties to
answer a charge of cruelty to his nephew, a boy 14 years
of age. It appeared that the boy had been a sort of ser-
vant to'bis uncle, that he had been kept in solitary con-
finement in a garret by his uncle for a fortnight ending
Saturday last, and fed on bread and water. There had
been no fire in the room during that time, he had straw to
sleep on, and during part of the time he had been tied by
a cord by the leg to the grate, to prevent his escape. He
had been very ill, and had been supplied with pills by his
uncle. The uncle complained of the boy's bad conduct,
and that the police were prejudiced against him.
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.—On Friday the family
residence of Osman Ricardo, Esq., M.P., at Bromes-
berrow, was thrown into a state of confusion by the
sudden entrance of a very fine fox. Reynard, it appears,
had afforded an excellent day's sport for the Ledbury
hounds, and, being hard pressed, ran in a straight direc-
tion for Mr. Ricardo's house, which he entered by dash-
ing through a window, about three yards from the ground,
into one of the bedrooms. The consternation of the in-
mates was further increased by the arrival of the hounds,
who, hesitating not a moment in following the example of
their cunning leader, soon despatched him in his close
quarters. The singular termination of the day's run was
wound up by the gentlemen of the hunt being hospitably
entertained by the owner of the mansion they had so un-
expectedly paid a visit to.
ATTEMPT TO BURN DOWN A PRINTING•OFFICE.—We
last week noticed the loss sustained by fire on the premises
of Mr. Piper (printer) of Ipswich. It has since been dis-
covered that some villain had endeavoured to fire the
building in nine different places on the lower floor. In
three places, wire files, full of papers, had been hung un-
der light woodwork and then fired, burning valuable do-
cuments to ashes, and igniting the wood, which fortu-
nately in each case burnt out without doing serious da-
mage, in consequence of being saturated with wet. The
front counting-house (a small room filled with paper and
shelving) was set on fire in four different places, and a mass
of burning papers falling on the floor, burnt it through
over a space exceeding a square foot. A previous
attempt had been made to fire the office, but it was dis-
covered in time to save its destruction. The incendiary
has not yet been discovered.
WHITE BELGIAN CARROTS versus SWEDE TURNIPS.—
A gentleman at Great Maplestead has this year grown
upon three acres of very poor land, the enormous quan-
tity of Jour thousand bushels of white carrots. The land
was so poor that it was thought not worth cultivating. It
was allowed to seed itself with glass and other seeds, so
as to form a meadow, but the stock rejected it. It was,
two or three years ago, broken up, and last year sown with
white carrot, and the produce was as above stated. Five
beasts were selected from the yard, and tied up ; two of
the fattest and best were fed with Swedes, and the other
three were fed with carrots. It soon became very evident
that those fed with carrots were going on the fastest, and,
from their present appearance, they are quite a month
forwarder than those fed with turnips, notwithstanding
the turnip-fed ones were the best when tied up.—Essex
Standard.
RIOTS.—Last week a series of riots took place at Shiff-
nall, Oaken Gates, and Wellington, Shropshire. The
disturbance arose from a jealousy entertained by the
English navies against Irishmen employed on the Shrews-
bury and Birmingham Railway ; the former persuaded a
number of colliers to join them, and on Wednesday they
walked in a body, to the number of 40 or 50, into Oaken
gates, armed with sticks and bludgeons in search of the
Irishmen. They thence proceeded to Shiffnal, stating
that they were going to fetch the men employed on Mr.
Hoof's contract of the railway, to enable them to drive
away the Irishmen working on Mr. Murray's contract of
the same line, near Wellington ; but Uvedale Corbett,
Esq., the nearest magistrate, reasoned with the men, and
prevented any outrage. About 12 o'clock the men, then
200 in number, all armed with bludgeons, marched to the
Oaken Gates, where a regular affray was expected to take
place ; but the Irishmen, numbering about 500, being too
many for their opponents, frightened them away. Several
of the rioters have been apprehended.
SINGULAR CAPTURE OF A HOUSERREAKER.-011 Sa-
turday evening a weaver, named Cameron, was appre-
hended in a rather singular manner. He had taken ad-
vantage of the absence of the inmates of a dwelling-house
in Crnwn-street. Gorbals. to effect an entrance by a back
window, and not having a lantern, as an older hand would
likely have provided himself with, he coolly tore up one
of the best shirts belonging to the gudeman, and formed
it into something like a torch, with the light of which he
proceeded deliberately to select the best in the house.
The master, however, at this critical juncture, came to
the door, which he found locked, and was on the point of
turning away, supposing that his wife had gone out on
some errand, when his eye caught a glimpse of light
streaming through a back window. He listened, and
suspecting what sort of a customer he had to deal with,
procured the assistance of some of his neighbours who
surrounded the house, and caught the weaver in the act of
bundlirg up the gear which he thought most valuable.—
Glasgow Mail.
A ROBBER OF HIMSELF.—A few nights ago, a gentle-
man who had got powerfully refreshed with a friend,
wended his way toward his own house in the west end of
Sheffield. He had scarcely reached home, when he
imagined that three men stopped him and demanded his
money. He handed them all he had, viz. 3s. 6d. Still
they seemed to obstruct his onward progress, and he
threw them his watch. There was no getting rid of them,
and he remembered a pocket pistol that his friend had
given him. Accordingly lie handed it out of his pocket,
with the friendly invite, Here, have a drop of brandy,"
at the same time throwing the bottle towards them. He
then selected the likeliest, as he thought, for a struggle—
a wood post—which he thrashed till his lady opened the
door and found her husband hitting right and left ; his
hands were bruised all over, and shoulders, with the ex-
ercise, nearly out of joint. Next morning, the purse,
watch. and a broken brandy bottle, were found in his own
garden, where he had evidently thrown them, under the
delusion of being robbed by three " navvies."—Shef.lris.
A RADICAL CURE OF A BILIOUS COMPLAINT BY HOL-
LOWAY'S PIS.—Mr. John Madden, of .aughal,
near Moy, county Tyrone, according t. 8 OWn account,
suffered perhaps more than mos :eople, from severe
bilious attacks, accompanied w. a disordered stomach,
and great derangement of system, from which, last
spring, he was complet: . cured by taking Holloway's
Pills. He now oecas ally has recourse to them, as they
have the effect of . - ping him entirely free from all affec-
tions of the li. and stomach, besides improving his
health. Pe - • sof weak and delicate health should try
this fine • • vigorating medicine, which Would soon
strengthen the terse of Ott system,

RECORD OF MMTORTUNESa—In the Banker'S-Magazine
for February, there is a list of 270 firms which have stopped
payment from August to December last. Nearly all
these merchants• of the first class have been brought to
the ground by the operation of Sir Robert Feel's free-
trade and monetary legislation. We have gone-through
the long list touscertain where they all lived and where
they moved in, all the pride of mercantile wealth and
greatness, and we find 78 resided in Landon, 49 in; Liver-
pool, 33 in Manchester, and 25 in,Glasgow, making 185 ;
the other 85 consist chiefly of foreign merchants, con-
nected with the Colonial markets.

TREA.IENDOI7S RUN WITH A Fox,.—We hear of a tre-
mendous run with the Cambridgeshire hounds yesterday
(Friday), the exact details of which have not yet reached
us. They: met at Ha rlton Wheat Sheaf,: found at Evers-
den, went at a killing pace straight to Haley Wood, and
thence to Morden Heath, where poor pug gave up the
ghost. Some four or five only were up at the finish, one
of whom was the celebrated Miss Reynolds. the most
celebrated lady-rider in the kingdom.. We regret to add
that several horses were left dead in, the field in conse-
quence of the severity of the run, the huntsman's horse
being one of those which thus yielded up its life for the
pleasure of man.—Cambridge Chronicle.
CAPTURE. or RARE BlRDS.—Several rare and valuable
birds have been captured in the vicinity of Margate du-
ring the past few days. One of the Rough-legged Buz-
zards (Buteo Buzzard) was shot a short time since in St
Nicholas marshes. A fine specimen of the Bohemian
Chatterer (Bombycilla Garrula) has lately been shot by
Mr. Miller, of Coalswood, near Margate. Two others
have been taken near Birchington, and one at Ramsgate.
In 1829 this country was visited by great numbers of
these birds, and in Kent several specimens were taken,
particularly in the neighbourhood of Canterbury. A
great Northern Diver (Colymbus Glacialis) was shot near
Margate a few days since. These birds are rarely seen so
near our coast, except when attracted by shoals of her-
rings or sprats ; and they have occasionally been taken by
a baited hook while diving in the water for their prey.—
Mudford's Kentish Observer.
CURIOUS INCIDENT.—On Saturday., in Hosier-street,
Calton. during the temporary absence of the mistress of
the house, a woman entered the room where two young
men were sleeping, and, after carefully scrutinizing the
inmates of the bed, remarked to herself that "it was all
right," and quietly deposited a fine healthy male child
between the unconscious sleepers. The transaction was
witnessed by a young man who was lying in bed in ano-
ther part of the room; but, as he was in a weak state of
health, having but partially recovered from fever, he
could not in any way interfere with the movements of
the woman. The astonishment of the mistress of the
house may be imagined, when, on entering the door, the
lusty squalling of the little stranger met- her ear - and
when she saw the place which had been selected for its
deposit she awakened the sleepers, but they both pro-
tested their entire ignorance of any circumstances which
could have led to such an unceremonious intrusion ; and
the child, a fine boy of about 10 months old, has been
handed over to the parochial authorities.—Edinburgh
Mail. _ _ _

SAGACITY OF A DOG.—The Dundee Advertiser reports
the suicide of a young girl at Rothsay by drowning, in
consequence of her friends refusing their consent to her
marriage with a young man to whom she was engaged.
Our provincial contemporary adds :—" There was a cir-
cumstance connected with this tragical affair which in-
vests it with a horrid and melancholy interest. The girl
left the house between five and six o'clock in the evening,
and returned again about eleven o'clock in a state of con-
vulsive agitation—her eyes frenzied, her hair dishevelled,
and her dress disordered and torn, and dripping with wet;
and she bore evidence of having been engaged in an agi-
tating and violent struggle. She spoke not, but opening
the door, thrust in the house-dog, by which she had been
accompanied, and, shutting the door, immediately dis-
appeared. It is conjectured, and with a great degree of
probability, that this sagacious animal, with that almost
reasoning instinct for which the Newfoundland dog is so
much noted, had by force prevented her from committing
the rash act, which she had attempted, but which she
could not accomplish until she returned with him, a dis-
tance of between two and three miles."
AGED GOVERNESSES.—The projected Asyulm for Aged
Governesses is a merciful appendage to the Governess'
Benevolent Institution : the State having declined to in-
terfere kas it does in other countries) in organising a sys-
tem that would secure to families properly qualified and
duly accredited ladies to perform the duties of home edu-
cation, and to direct moral as well as social and intellec-
tual training, it devolved upon private zeal and benevo-
lence to move in the matter; the Governess' Benevolent
Institution has thus been associated with a college in
which governesses pass voluntarily through an ordeal by
which their qualifications are ascertained, and which can-
not fail to induce confidence in those to whom it is en-
trusted the important task of forming the minds, guarding
the tempers, and directing the hearts of the young : in
short, conducting education in all its various and distinct
departments. While the patrons and directors afford
temporary assistance in the too frequent cases of distress ;
while " The Home " in Harley-street is indeed a home to
to those who need such a protection until they obtain cer-
tificates and situations ; while they grant annuities twice
a year to a certain number of aged candidates ; and while
they are " instant in seasen and out of teason " in the
glorious labour of this good work, they also desire to bnlld
an Asylum for Aged Governesses, for those who, having,
during a long life of labour, undergone all the duties and
cares of maternity without reaping any of its advantages,
have no child to steady their footsteps along the down-hill
of life, no duteous hand to smooth their pillow, no arm to
lean on, no voice to retail the little business or news of
the passing world to their deafened ear.
THE POWER OF WITCHCRAFT.—SODIC days ago, a per-
son of the name of Southward, who keeps a small shop
in the village of Dinnington, had five sovereigns stolen
from a cup in which he was accustomed to keep all his
cash. Being unable to discover, by ordinary means, who
had been the robbery, he determined to resort to a " wise
man," residing in Sheffield, of whose fame he had heard,
in order to obtain his aid in recovering the stolen pro-
perty. He accordingly repaired to the abode of this
" wise man," who, it must be admitted, gave a most
eminent proof both of his " wisdom" and his craft.
The professor of the " mystic art" told his silly dupe that
he could not acquaint him with the name of the person
who had taken the money ; but he said that he had it in
his power to torment him if he did not return it. What
the man paid for this information, we are unable to state ;
but itis not to be supposed that such a display of "wisdom"
would be made for nothing. On his return home, the
man was assailed on all sides with inquiries as to the result
of his interview, and when he told them, the news spread
with wonderful rapidity throughout the whole neighbour-
hood. Amongst those who heard it was the real thief,
and, fearing lest he should be " tormented before his time"
through the influence of the magician's word, if lie did
not restore the money, he tied £3 of it, probably all he
had remaining, in a piece of cloth, and having knocked at
the man's door, he threw the money in directly it was
opened, and then ran away. The man heartily rejoiced at
having recovered so large a portion of his lost treasure,
and no doubt attributed it to the magical power of the
"wise man" whom he had consulted.—Doncaster Gazette.
GREAT PROCESSION OF SAILORS IN SUPPORT OF THE
NAVIGATION LAWS.—The sailors' demonstration, on
Wednesday, on the Thames, was one of the most novel
and imposing that has probably ever been witnessed on
the river. At an early hour four steamers belonging to
the Waterman's Company were engaged in collecting the
crews from the numerous vessels moored between Black-
wall and Gravesend, towing them in their boats to the
starting opposite the Shadwell entrance of the London
Docks, where an immense crowd of spectators surrounded
all the places whence they could catch even a glimpse of
the proceedings. Shortly after one o'clock the steamers
were filled completely by the blue jackets, and each steam-
vessel was successively puc in motion, all following in
single line, the decks of each being lined with a grand
display of union-jacks. of which there could not be less
than one hundred. To the third steamer was attached,
fixed together by strong ropes, about fifty small boats also
filled with sailors, each boat having a union-jack. The
bands on board the steamers played national airs, which
contributed much to enliven the scene. The men were
all dressed in blue, wearing round their caps a blue ribbon
bearing "The Navigation Laws-" They reached Water-
loo Bridge a few minutes before three o'clock, where they
disembarked, and proceeded to Trafalgar-square in pro-
cession, three abreast, from whence they marched to the
Home-office, where the delegates had an audience with
Sir G. Grey, who then received their petition for presen-
tation to the Queen, praying her Majesty not to sanction
any alteration in the navigation laws of this country. As
they passed under London Bridge, Southwark Bridge,
and Blackfriars Bridge, the men gave a most vociferous
huzza. which was most warmly responded to by the
thousands of spectators assembled on those edifices, and
the neighbouring shores. Great part of the snipping in
the pool and the docks were all decked out with their
flags, evincing the feelings of the owners to be in the
strictest unison with that of the men. After the reception
of the petition, the men all returned to their respective
vessels. All the proceedings were marked by the most
praiseworthy decorum and order.

COURT AND FASHION.

On Tuesday the Court left Windsor for Buckingham
Palace. The whole of the Royal party appeared in ex-
cellent health and spirits. On Friday, her Majesty held
a Privy Council.
The eighth anniversary of her Majesty's marriage, was
celebrated at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, when her
Majesty gave a grand banquet and evening party.
HER MAJESTY'S VISIT TO THE HAYMARKET THE.
ATRE.—Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by
a large party, honoured the Haymarket Theatre with their
presence, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of
witnessing the performance of the new play, " The
Wife's Secret," in which Mr. mid Mrs. Charles Kean
appeared. The royal party occupied her Majesty's box
and that of the Queen Dowager.
At the recent drawing-room in Dubliu, the Countess of
Clarendon wore a gorgeous train of Irish brocade poplin,
blue and silver, dress and berth of the richest fabric, or-
namented with three deep flounces of Irish lace of beau-
tiful design and delicacy of texture, worked by the pupils
of the Castlecomer schools, in the county of Kilkenny.
The Hon. Mrs. Villiers wore a train of dark blue poplin,
of Irish manufacture, over a dress of white silk, trimmed
with black Limerick lace.
On Saturday night the Queen and her royal consort,
with the Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg, and a select
suite, visited the Lyceum Theatre. The Queen and her
illustrious relatives were received at the royal entrance in
Burleigh-street, on their arrival a few minutes before
eight, by Mr. Strutt, Mr. Roxby, (the stage manager')
and Mr. C. Mathews. The pieces were The Astounding
Phenomena, The Golden Branch, and Box and Cox.
With the Burlesque and the last piece the Queen and
Prince Albert seemed highly gratified, and laughed heart-
ily, and were most marked, in their applause at the various
effects of the spectacle. Her Majesty and party remained
till the curtain fell,

CORRESPONDENCE.

DOCK WAREHOUSES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sir,—The recent agitation of the dock and warehouse,
question has induced me to take a retrospective glance of
what has transpired; in, direct relation to the subject
within the last few years.
What followed the first agitation of this question; the
loss of the conservancy of the river, and two rival ports
in the Mersey. What did we gain to compensate for this?
even allowing that the warehouses yield a profit, do the
rate-payers benefit by it, or are they not considerable
losers ? Has not their land, which was exceedingly valu-
able, been conveyed to the dock trust for a mere trifle ?
what would the profit on the warehouses have been, had
they paid a fair price for the land, a price that would have
been readily paid by private companies ? I remember
speaking tea very intelligent man, when the dock and
warehouse scheme was first concocted, he remarked that
although only one description of property was attacked,
it would not end there. Little did I then imagine ho w
soon his prophecy- would be verified. The public should
always receive with extreme caution any project which
has no other recommendation than what is called in the
present day a liberal and enlarged view; it is. so easy
to be generous when not at your own expense. I once
heard a shipowner and merchant argue very strongly in
favour of .the dock trustees being warehouse keepers, but
the same man had a decided objection to government
speculating, when corn and flour were cheap,,although the
supply was intended for the relief of the starving Irish,
because he said it would interfere with trade..

Suppose, for the sake of argument, the docks made and
the warehouses built, and neither of them- contribute to
the local rates : suppose also that a profit shall accrue
from warehousing goods, to whom does that go ? Not to
the ratepayers generally ; for it is intended that any profits
arising from the warehouses shall be applied to the re-
ducing the dock rates, and the reduction of those rates
benefits only one section of the community. But the
advocates of the scheme say, what a glorious thing to
make Liverpool a free port !—see how- it would increase
trade ! So it might, but with what advantage to the
town, except an increase of pauperism .?• Vessels would
come in and discharge their cargoes,. which would be
forwarded to Manchester and elsewhere, and pay nothing
for their accommodation. Nature has blessed Liverpool
with many advantages : the money of the ratepayers has
been expended for the purpose of improving them : are
we to make a present of all this to persons, speaking of
whom comparatively we know nothing, whilst we our-
selves, are suffering under heavy local taxation?
It cannot be denied that the prosperity of Liverpool
depends in a great measure upon the shipping frequent-
ing the port. Still this is no argument for their not bear-
ing a fair proportion of our rates. Manchester owes its
prosperity to its manufactories;. those factories, however,
are not exempt from taxation.
What between Irish pauperism, the sanitary improve-
ments, and other local burdens, the inhabitants of Liver-
pool will find their rates quite high enough without the
additional amount that must necessarily fall upon them if
they destroy nearly £2,000,000 of property that now con-
tributes to them. We are told that they will have their
goods cheaper; but this is too absurd, because Liverpool
does not consume one-tenth part of the produce landed in
the port ; and even if they did, is it not ridiculous to pay
money only to receive it back in another way ?
Let me, in conclusion, recommend the influential rate-
payers and owners of property to have a meeting, for the
purpose of fully investigating this matter. Why should
they not go to parliament for powers to compel the docks
to contribute to the rates ? Yours, &c.,

ALIQUIS.

THE MASTER COOPERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
Of all the Trades in this town I find none which the
Dock Bill threatens entirely to annihilate but the Master
Coopers, and therefore a strong representation should be
made on their behalf. For a public body, acting with
public capital, attempting an innovation of the rights of
the Tradesman, who has devoted his sole attention to a
business taught him by his sire, and calculated as a
maintenance for himself and family through life in a re-
spectable sphere, together with sons who he may likewise
have instructed in the trade, art, or business, and who
from their youth up until now have none other in view
for an existence—l have no hesitation in avowing such
interference with legitimate business as derogatory to this
country ; for such men have been instrumental in this
business in fostering the growth of commercial inter-
course to its present importance. They have assisted in
by-gone days, the sires of our present African and West
Indian, and other merchants in producing their wealth—
and after existing as mere machines of commerce—in this
their sere and yellow leaf, when youth and activity have
flown, andinfirmity consequent on old age is fast approach-
ing, to be put aside like a used-up steam-engine, void of
a maintenance—is not to be endured. 1 have perused
with deep concern their memorials on the subject, lucidly
as they explained the injurious effects which the Bill would
(if carried) entail upon them. lam not averse to Dock
Warehouses being erected, though at the same time I am
of opinion that Transit Sheds similar to those already
erected on the west side of the Prince's Dock are prefer-
able : the facility which they afford for the speedy dis-
charging of vessels, for shortness of time, in many
instances, has been almost incredible and unprecedented
—being applicable for all anticipated increase of Trade.
I would, then, suggest that on the whole of the dock
quays, if expedient, that Transit Sheds be erected.
Yours. &c.,

MERCATOR.

GREENWICH TIME.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sin.,—Much is now said about keeping Greenwich time.
I write to you to propose an improvement on this. The
meridian of Greenwich divides England into two very une-
qual parts. I, therefore, propose the meridian of Liver-
pool, as dividing the country much better, or, in other
words, keeping Liverpool time instead of Greenwich. If
Greenwich time is generally adopted, the inhabitants of
the West of Ireland will have to keep their clocks nearly
an hour too fast. If your readers will look at a map of
Great Britain and Ireland, they will at once see the fair-
ness of my proposition.—l am, sir, &c. A. A.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Stn,—Your attention is respectfully requested to a pro-
posed Prize Essay, to be written by working men (adver-
tised in another column) to be devoted to the advocacy
of the Christian Sabbath.

The sudden spread of railways has been attended by a
great outbreak of Sabbath traffic in the conveyance of
passengers. And the deserved reputation for Christian
worth of some men who have hitherto stood neutral on
this subject shows the necessity for an immediate and
earnest appeal to the word of God, to ascertain what is
the duty of all Christians, and to the views of the working
classes, to inquire whether they are willing to surrender
this sacred property, entrusted to them by their benefi-
cent Creator ?
The proposer of this essay is deeply convinced that the
Sabbath is, of all social institutions, the best gift of the
Almighty to all classes, but especially to the poor. It is
a sacred right of the people. To the working man the
Sabbath is an estate of time, a sacred property given him
by his maker for his whole well-being—physical, econo-
mical, moral, and spiritual. It is his day of emancipation.
A week of seven working days—sabbathless months or
years—mean perpetual vassalage and entire slavery. The
man who has no Sabbath has no period for the cultivation
of himself—in health, or mind, or heart or soul. He'is
robbed of his home when robbed of the day God has
given him for the cultivation of the family affections,
without which home is hearthless, cold, dark and bitter.
By a perpetual encasement of sordid toil—a poisonous
Nessus robe, whose influences extend to his soul—the im-
mortal spirit of the man is unmanned, brutified, demo-
ralised, and destroyed.
It is submitted to the political economist whether the
preservation of one day in seven for rest be not the best
way of keeping up the efficiency of labour,—to the friend
of humanity, whether the Sabbath be not the most hu-
mane of institutions ; while there is confidently claimed
for it from the friend of the people, the admission, that
the Sabbath is the best of the rights of the people.
But, above all, the proposer of this essay would submit to
Christian men, who rightly place spiritual well-being
highest, whether the preservation of the Sabbath is not a
sine qua non to the progress of Christianity. To them
he would strongly recommend the perusal of a series of
Tracts for the Times, now in course of publication, the
object of which is to exhibit the infallible teaching of the
word of God on the subject. The authors belong to most
of the evangelical denominations •, the series may be re-
garded, therefore, as embodying the voice of the churches.
The crisis is imminent and immediate, and all-impor-
tant—therefore he most respectfully says to all, " Read,
and judge for yourselves."
A FRIEND OF THE WORKING MAN.