The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-12-10 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL CUSTOM-HOUSE

We hope, and believe, that our humble exertions to relieve
the trade of Liverpool from some vexatious regulations in this
department have not been without their effect. But many,
very many, remain uncorrected. It may be that in some cases
time is necessary for the accomplishment of the object, where
its execution is actually decided upon as a question of prin-
ciple.• We profess to be sufficiently acquainted with affairs of
that nature to understand that such must be the fact in some in-
stances; but the same degree of information suffices to con-
vince us that there are other cases—and if we were to say they
constitute the greater number we should not exaggerate—
where, as the will of sub-officials sufficed to introduce the re-
gulations complained of, unsanctioned by the higher autho-
rities, so should a sense of their utter worthlessness as mea-
sures of precaution, and their annoying character to men
of business in practice, also suffice to secure their abolition. If
men have influence enough with the commissioners to obtain
their sanction to the promulgation of orders for changing the
practice of the port; or it', wanting that sanction, they strain
the powers with which they may be invested to the manifeSt
inconvenience of the merchant and broker—it would be fortu-
nate for the mercantile interest if they had—and it is exceed-
ingly unfortunate that certain persons have not—sufficiebt
candour and honesty to confess that the views which they may
have entertained are erroneous; when, as we contend is the
case in many instances, the changes which they have in-
troduced are alike inoperative for any practical good—
abounding -with trouble and inconvenience to the mei._
chant and broker—and continue to be, enforced for one
of two reasons; either the authorities here who seek to en-
force their measures, notwithstanding their utter uselessness,
are iu ignorance of what is their actual import; and equally so
of the value of that wise commercial maxim which would remove
every unnecessary restriction ;—or, not •having the power of
offering even such inadequate pleas in justification of their con-
duct, they persevere in a wrong course, with a knowledge that
it is wrong, from a kind of pride which we cannot designate in
other terms than those which we are unwilling to employ. In
either case the course is inexcusable—it is productive of much
inconvenience to men of business; and determined measures
ought to be taken to get rid of the incubus, for such it is, and to
obtain for the body Conimercial that free and wholesome respi-
ration, which enables the physical frame to bid defiance to its
prototype, the night-mare.
We will abstain, for a few days, from detailing the instances
where some one or other of the causes we have above described
has led to the continuance of-practices fraught with all the great
inconvenience and injury to the mercantile interest of the town
which we pointed out two or three months ago. We so abstain
, because we still think that, if better motives do not urge the
abatement of the nuisance, the apprehension of the strung ex-
pression of public opinion will not be without its effects. What
reason can be assigned for going in the direct teeth of a Trea-
suiy order for the abandonment of one most annoying practice,
we are utterly at a loss to comprehend ; but in these "anoma-
lous" days we are obliged to change the number of our noun,
and talk of the imperia in imperio. We would advise certain
parties to take an early opportunity of consulting Johnson, and
study his definition of the word " contumacy." However, let
that branch of the question pass for the moment. It is one of
general interest; and whenever we call for public opinion to
sustain our efforts for the general good, we shall, doubtless,
have its weight superadded to those efforts.

We will now address ourselves, for a moment, to other prac-
tices in the department of the Customs. We charge au influ-
ential member of that body with flagrant injustice to the indi-
viduals who are brought under his surveillance. We have, at
the moment we write, clear and incontrovertible evidence be-
fore our eyes, of conduct towards many individuals,—whose
misfortune it is to have a superior in office in the party now re-
ferred to,—which conduct is of tire most discreditable character.
We have the evidence of deep intrigues, of the existence of pre-
determination to ruin or degrade men of unimpeachable cha-
racter in the service of the department ; men who have done
their duty to the government whom they serve for a long series
of years; and whom it is now sought to supplant, and deprive
of their bread, for the unworthy purpose, as we may in fairness
surmise, of introducing strangers into their places on a princi-
ple of favoritism. We have evidence, strong and palpable, of
all this; and of the (suppmed) secret means by which the plans
are intended to be brought about; and we are sorry to see some
one or two of the higher authorities made—unwillingly we hope—
the dupes of such practices. The men who resort to these pro-
ceedings in the first instance, and, if needful, those higher in
power, should they sanction them, must all be taught that the
character of the lowest officer in the service, if he do his duty to
the government, is of as much value to himself as is the charac-
ter of the hardest and highest of his superiors; and, whilst we
should ever be forerrost to sustain a due gradation of ranks
to respect the power—and to support the authority of those who
have to exercise that power, we shall never shrink from the duty
of protecting those in inferior stations, however low that station
may be, in the full enjoyment of their privileges. It is this
feeling that dictates the expressions, strong though they be,
which we have used with reference to one individual in authority
in the Custom-house. Ile may purchase our forbearance at an
easy rate—let himself forbear from the continuance of unjust
proceedings towards those placed officially beneath him. Our
terms are reasonable. It may be well if they are accepted. If
not, we will deal out to him even-handed justice. It may be
more satisfactory to the public than agreeable to himself ; but
our course is marked out—it is as plain as it is firmly resolved,
and will be promptly executed.
On the subjeCt of the " Customs' Annuity and Bevevolent
Fund" we are saved the trouble of any observations, by a cor•
respondent who signs "Alexis," whose letter will be found
elsewhere. Our correspondent hopes "that we shall be the
means of calling for an account of the present state of its funds
in the next session of Parliament." On this head we assure
him that, if necessary, his hopes shall not be disappointed.

On the Duke of Buceleugh's birthday, last. Monday week,
the Dm hess caused more than sixty tons of coal to be distri-

,
buted amongst upwards of 160 of the poorest families in Dal- of course, the favourite with the tories. Mr. Joshua Bower,
keith. And as an instance, out of nmuy, of the unbent ded unslet, is expected to be the nominee of the radical party;
charitv.of this ducal famity, it is worthy of being recorded, that en ;he whigs are directing their attention to Mr. Fawkes, son
since their residence at Daikeith a soup kitchen has Leen kept or the late Waiter Fawkes, Esq., of Faruley-hall.
op 9n at their expense, three Liiies a-week, at which upwari,s of Charles 111. of Spain, who was more favourable to the intro-
-100 poor families are liberally supplied each time with excellent due Con of reforms than the people themselves, used to say,
soup. 1 " My subjects are like babies, who cry when they are washed."