The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-11-14 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

the Standard have been accustomed to meet the
mere possibility of any cordial action between the
Protectionists and their former leader, Sir Robert
Peel. We find the former journal, however, speak-
ing now in a very changed strain, and urgently
advocating an oblivion of the past and a cordial
reunion of the _two sections of the Conservative
party. In a recent publication, be thus urges the
necessity of such a course :
" Is there no one point," he asks, " upon which both
sections of Conservatism can find themselves agreed ? Is
there no common ground upon which all may assemble—
we address ourselves, be it remembered, to Conservatives,
and not to Radicals, open or disguised—shake hands, and
re-unite for the prosecution of a common end, and the
achievement of a national good.? It is difficult to take
even a passing glance at the condition of affairs, and to
conclude that there is no such common ground of action.
The followers of Sir Robert Peel, for instance, may be
convinced that in 1846 the time had come for the repeal of
the corn laws, whilst Protectionists may still retain their
original opinion that no time could possibly arrive when it
would be lawful for Sir Robert Peel to renounce the entire
policy of his life ; but neither Peelites nor Protectionists
can continue in the conviction that it is wholesome to
carry on the business of the country with a deficient reve-
nue, with the balance of exports and imports continually
against us, and with dependencies a clog to the mother
country and a burden to themselves. The friends of Sir
Robert may be pardoned for standing by their leader in
the hour of his difficulty, as the seceders from his side
may be excused for not co-operating with their chief at
the period of his shame ; but neither friend nor seceder
can derive comfort from the support or toleration of a
ministry who are at once the abettors of treason and the
prosecutors of criminals, the actors of the offences which
they pretend to abhor, and the representStives of the
Sovereign, whose prerogatives end rights they are the first
to call in question and affront."

We would go even further than this, and ask—
is there no common ground upon which moderate
Whigs, as well as Conservatives, may meet to legis-
late, for the purpose of arresting the tide of evil
which is desolating the country, and introducing
agony and shame to so many once happy hearths ?
We contend that there is; and are prepared, in our
earnestness to see such a common ground occu-
pied, to say with our contemporary—
" We do not care to inquire now whether Mr. Cobden
was right or wrong, whether free trade be a panacea for
all the evils of the day, or whether the wars of the conti-
nent have or have not retarded the operation of principles
in themselves beyond criticism or cavil. It is quite enough
for us to know that a screw is loose somewhere—that the
machinery will not work—that the promised results do
not come. We are hard up. The expression is familiar
and intelligible to the humblest capacity. When indivi-
duals are in that disagreeable extremity they must draw
upon their legitimate resources, beg, borrow, or steal. A
nation has no royal road to competence. It can no more
extract sovereigns from abstract theories than a silk purse
can be wrought from a sow's ear. If it has not the means
of living it must find them, as the distressed have found
them before, and will find them again."
Even stronger, however, is the appeal of one,
who has ever proved himself the sound-hearted
advocate of true Conservative policy—the editor of
Blackwood's Magazine—in an able article in his
publication of this month, and to which we refer
our readers, in preference to weakening its effect by
any quotation from it here. The writer thinks with
us that honourable men, however far committed to
theories, will not refuse at such a crisis as the present
to re-examine their tendency, and even "to acknow-
ledge an error when its consequences are-made so
palpably manifest, or persist to gloss it over for
the sake of an egotistical consistency." With re-
spect to one particular question we have hopes even
of the great Conservative leader, Sir Robert Peel
himself. The Right Honourable Baronet has ac-
knowledged that his pet act of Statesmanship, the
Currency Laws, have failed to produce the effects
which it was devised to bring about, He has seen
it tested in concurrence with two opposite condi-
tions of our fiscal policy—with protection and with
Free Trade—and failing equally under both. Surely
a statesman, whose pride has ever been in expedi-
ency rather than in the maintenance of any fixed,
principle, and who has seen fit to change in every
portion of his past policy, can never be expected to
adhere with pertinacity to that particular measure
only, from which the results to his country's inter-
ests have been the most signally disastrous !

THEFT FROM A SHOP.-At the Police-court, yesterday,
a young woman, named Elizabeth Henry, was charged
with having stolen a piece of ribbon, twelve yards in
length, from a shop in Scotland-place, on Saturday last.
She had entered the shop with another woman on pre-
tence of making purchases, and was detected with the
stolen article concealed under her cloak. The other
female made her escape. The prisoner was committed
for trial.

SCRIPTURAL EDUCATION V. POLITICAL CONVULSIONS.
—On Sunday evening last the Rev. Mr. White delivered
en excellent sermon, in fit. Mary's Church, Birkenhead,
on the practical character of the Christian religion ; and
last night he gave, in the National School-room, a lucid
address on the recent distressing events in the various
nations of the continent as resulting from the infidel prin-
ciples so sedulously propagated there. The Rev. A. Knox
occupied the chair.
LIVERPOOL AND WEST DERBY.—We have been as-
sured on good authoritythat one or two points in a report,
published in our last, of the parish appeal cases between
these unions, were rather too strongly worded. The
two unions have come to an amicable arrangement to
abandon merely technical objections in disputed pauper
settlements, and to decide before a judicial tribunal, those
only in which the merits are not agreed on. it was con-
sidered by the overseers of Liverpool that the cases alluded
to in the report rested• on formal objections, and thence
they were abandoned, and the costs, we are told, were not
incurred with the consent of the overseers. The arrange-
ment will be
.Itonestly carried out by both parties. We
may mention that several circumstances stated to have
transpired in court were arranged privately, and the cases
were decided on that private arrangement.
THE POTATOE CROP OF THE PRESENT YEAR.—We are
glad to state that we have learned that the disease in po-
tatoes has not turned out to be nearly so destructive,
after the gathering of the rest, as was apprehended, espe-
cially in this neighbourhood, both in Lancashire and Che-
shire. In some fields and gardens, nearly the entire
crops have proved to be of excellent quality ; and we have
a constant and good supply of this popular vegetable in
all of our markets. The general opinion now is that the
crop will keep, and will last until the middle, if not the
end, of May ; allowing for the usual consumption. An
excellent article was attainable at Birkenhead market on
Saturday last, at ls. 2d. to Is. 3d. per peck :• the price is
certainly comparatively high, but a fall is anticipated,
when the farmers begin to open their reserved hogs. It
is also hoped that the quality will be better than that of
those hurried into towns for immediate sale, during the
prevalence of the alarm as to the general crop. The ac-
counts from Ireland as to the potatoes'are considerably
better.

THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.—The annual supper in
commemoration of the Gunpowder Treason, and the happy
arrival of King William 111. in England, was celebrated
by the members and friends of Lodge 143 of Loyal
Orangemen, at the Black Bog, Bridge-street, Warrington,
on Monday evening, when upwards of 0 sat down. After
justice had been done to the good things provided by the
worthy host, Bro. Woods, non nobis domine was sung,
and the chair was taken by Bro. Henry Gorst, W.M.,
supported on the right by G. Greenall, Esq. M.P., and on
the left by Joseph Perrin, Esq. ; the vice-chair was filled
by Bro. John Houghton, D.M. After the usual toasts
of " The Queen," " Prince Albert and the rest of the
Royal Family," " Protestant Ascendancy in Church and
State," the health of the worthy member was proposed
in a most able speech by the vice-chairman, in which he
alluded to the many acts of kindness performed by him
for both friends and political opponents, and especially
towards the working classes. Mr. Greenall, in returning
thanks, said that on receiving their invitation he deter-
mined
that nothing should prevent him from being present
that evening. Several other toasts followed.
BEAUTIFUL MARBLE STATUARY.—On Saturday we
had the pleasure of seeing, at 26, Bold-street, two
beautiful statues and four busts, all in marble, executed in
Rome, by Mr. Robert Ormerod Smith, for gentlemen of
this town. The busts are of Edward Rushton, Esq.,
magistrate, (to be presented to that gentleman) ; of John
Bramley Moore, Esq., (our present Mayor) ; the Rev.
Thomas Bold ; and Christopher Bushell, Esq. The
sculptor has been highly felicitous in producing in all of
these, marked and undeniable likenesses of the parties.
They are all cut in the finest Parian marble, with a
minuteness and delicacy of finish which is rarely attained
and has seldom been surpassed by the most celebrated
masters. The bust of the Rev. Mr. Bold will be instantly
recognised by any visitor who has seen and listened to that
venerable divine. That of Mr. Rushton exhibits equal
vrais-semblance, in every point, the Roman acquiline nose
and the whole centour of the manly face and person are
unmistakeably defined. The same may be said of the
bust of Mr. Bramley-Moore—if possible, indeed, even
more striking, and we are almost devising a fault when we
opine that the hair on the head and visage is rather too
voluminous ; but this portion of the bust is probably un-
finished, and if over-raised may be readily reduced by the
chisel of the artist. The bust of Mr. Bushell is a fine
piece of sculpture, but appears to us to be a slighty flatter-
ing likeness of assuredly, a handsome gentleman. The
drapery throughout is graceful and natural. Perhaps,
however, the most beautiful specimens are the two statues,
which appear to us to be fancy pieces, or studies. They
form a pair, and are exquisite full length representations
of a boy pnd a young maiden ; the former holding a rabbit
to his breast with one arm, and another in his garment by
the other ; the latter in a stooping position on one knee
with a butterfly perched on her delicate shoulder, upon
which she is gazing. We consider both of these to be
exquisite likenesses of juvenile beauties of " the human
form divine,"—the perfection, indeed, of the beau-ideal
in shape and symmetry. The finish is superior, and con-
sidering the posture and position of the figures and limbs,
must have been accomplished with extreme labour and
care. The female figure reminds us of the passage in
Shakspere:—
"
What fine chisel could ever yet cut breath !
Let no one mock me; for I will kiss her."

From these specimens alone we augur highly of the
forthcoming mastery of Mr. Smith as a pursuer of an art
even more noble than that of the limner. We know not
the gentleman personally, and visited the productions no-
ticed during his absence from the room.

IMPORTANT PARLIAMENTARY NOTICE.-PRO-
POSED CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE LIVERPOOL DOCK TRUST.

We beg to direct our readers to a notice, in our adver-
tising columns, of an application to be made for an act of
parliament next session, which will affect a change in the
powers of the Council and burgesses, more important, in
our opinion, than the Municipal Reform Bill itself. The
object of the promoters of the measure, stript of the legal
technicalities in which it is expressed, is simply to divest
the corporation and the burgesses of Liverpool of all con-
trol over the management and the property of the Dock Es-
tate; and to vest that control in an independent body,
which is, by the act, to be constituted " a body politic and
corporate, under the name and style of ' the Trustees of
the Liverpool Docks.' " Provisions are proposed for the
purpose of altering the mode of electing such Trustees,
with their Chairman and Deputy-chairman, of regulating
the period of office of the two latter, and of altering and
extending the powers of the whole. In a word, a power-
ful body is to be formed, under the name and style men-
tioned, and with our vast Dock Estate as their realm,
which will certainly not be second in local importance to
our municipal body itself.
We are not prepared to state what are the pressing in-
ducements, at the present moment, for this important
movement. We believe, however, that we may state ex-
plicitly that its promoters are the merchants, the
shipowners, and the dock ratepayers of the port ; and our
readers would probably have been able to see, without our
saying more, what are likely to be the motives of these
gentlemen. It has for some time appeared to several par-
ties of influence, that the Dock Estate of this port was
one of magnitude sufficient to require for its management
the undivided energies of a distinct body ; and that its ex-
isting constitution was of an anomalous character. It has
been thought that the check or veto of the Council was
more of the nature of a harassing than of a beneficial con-
trolling power over the proceedings of the Dock Com-
mittee; and that important improvements and measures,
calculated to be conducive to the prosperity of the port,
and of the commerce of the country at large, were fre-
quently retarded by the necessity of submitting them to
the decision of a body, necessarily not so well conversant
with their merits as the body by whom, on the evidence
of practical experience daily before their eyes, they had
been determined upon. We fancy that amongst the most
pressing inducements for the change being sought, just
now is the very serious chp.nge which is being made in the
constitution of the Council itself, from amongst whose
body a portion of the members of the Dock Committee
have to be chosen, before whom the proceedings of that
committee have to come as before a final tribunal, and
without whose assent they cannot advance a step in any
important matter. We have ever advocated the presence
in the council chamber of a fair admixture of men of
every class in the town. There are questions daily coming
before the attention of the corporate body upon which the
tradesman's or the shopkeeper's experience and local
knowledge isas valuable, and his voice ought tobe as poten-
tial, as those of the merchant or shipowner. But, with
respect to dock management, the range of fitness is not so
wide ; and we dare say that with the not very discriminating
course pursued at the recent elections, when the test was
more the opinions of the candidates upon a particular,
though a most important question ; and with the boasts
of a certain confederated body of their ability to turn the
elections in favour of their nominees on future occasions
ringing in their ears, it may have occurred to our mer-
cantile body, and to the dock ratepayers generally, that
two great estates, requiring such different kinds of men of
such different capabilities, for their satisfactory manage-
ment, should be confided to totally distinct bodies.
We can at present see nothing to object against in this
arrangement. We are satisfied that there will be busi-
ness ample to employ two independent bodies. Our great
fear is lest, by the action of the Council upon the Dock
Committee being withdrawn, we should not be able to
realise, what we still contend to be most desirable—the
rating of the Dock Estate. Should this unfortunately
be the case, it may probably occur to those, whose head-
long haste in this matter has, we suspect, urged on the
separation of the two bodies, whether they will not them-
selves have to bear the burthen of their own and their
fellow-townsmen's regret and disappointment.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

MR. EDITOR,—In the recent discussions arising out of
the annual meeting of the Jews' Society, in this town, we
have heard muchofone-sidedviews, millennarianisrn,Jewiah
restorationism, &c. Now it appears to me, that if any
clergyman thinks Dr. M`Neile's statements on those sub-
jects to be one-sided, so as to be unscriptural, his best
course would be to answer the doctor's books, The doc-
tor has published two volumes, one on Jewish Prophecy,
and one on the Second Advent. They have gone through
six or seven editions. It would be more in character with
a scholar and a divine to publish a fair and full reply, than
to force discussion on a meeting convened for the tran-
saction of the yearly business of the society.—l am, sir,
your constant reader, SPECTATOR.