The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-10-22 00:00:00

INTENDED SAILORS' HOME.

It will no doubt be in the recollection of our readers
that for some years past the project of establishing a
sailors' home, for the domiciliary Use, at a cheap rate, of
the less fortunate portion of our seamen, and their pro-
tection from the impositions practised upon them, has
been contemplated by our philanthropic townsmen; but
that, though the proposition was generally approved,
several obstacles to its formation presented themselves,
amongst which not the least was the want of a suitable
scite, near the docks, for an adequate building. We have
now, however, the gratification to announce that the latter
difficulty, and others of minor amount. have, happily,
been removed ;—the Town Council having liberally granted
a suitable piece of land..and the plan proposed by the first
originators,-- namely, the providing of poor seamen with
lodgings only,—having, on nurturer consideration, been
extended, so as to embrace not only a comfortable home
and board for the hardy tars, but a registry, a savings
bank, a library, a school for apprentices, and the means
of moral, religious, and genersl instruction for all,—
addenda which will render the institution not only more
useful in its operations, but stamp it with a degree of
respectability which could not otherwise be attained. We
further rejoice to state that a public meeting, (as an•
flounced in another column,) called by the Mayor, and at
which his worship will preside, will take place on Friday
next, for the purpose of forwarding the arrangements, and
at which we anticipate a full attendance of our townsmen.
The Rev. Jonathan Brooks, Bee. Hugh M'Neile, Messrs.
Gladstone. Rathbone, and many others, will advocate the
claims of " Poor Jack."

The temptations and frauds with which our gallant tars
in this town, PS in other laree ports. are beset on their
arrival from sea, are so notorious that it were almost
superfluous to endeavour to enumerate them. Naturally
of a generous and jovial disposition, their first resort.
after the fatigues of a long voyage, is almost invariably the
grog-shop" ; where, in the excited ebullition of their
spirits, they are prone to treat all around them, parting
with heir hard-got gains with a reckless prodigality
which has obtained them the reputation of " earning
their money like horses, and spending it like asses."
This improvidence is not, however, the greatest evil of
their position. Dissolute characters, of both sexes, em-
phatically denominated " men-hunters," are continually
lying in wait about the docks for their prey, and poor
sailors are marked out as ready victims. Precisely in
proportion to the amount of money poor Jack has in his
possession, (and which, over a glass, he is readily induced
to show or to divulge.) is the amount of cunning and
dexterity employed by these wretches to secure it. He
is treated, or persuaded to drink at his own expense,
until his senses become bewildered; and every ingenuity
is exercised to strip him. Cheating slop-dealers, or their
scouts, are at his heels from the moment the anchor is let
go in the river, or the shop got into dock. Goods of the
most worthless description are pressed upon him, at
extortionsble prices ; but, perhaps, the crowning mischief
is the extartion of low lodging-house or paltry tavern
keepers, who wile him to their immoral haunts, and spee-
dily relieve him by inducements to lavish expenditure and
exorbitant charges, of his cash, after which the chances
are, that his decent clothing is, pledged, and he is turned
adrift rageed and pennyless, deprived too of the means Of
resuming his vocation, for what captain will receive a man
, who has not a proper stock of apparel ? Add to all this
the allurements of abandoned females, who often contrive
dexterously to rob the seaman of the whole earnings of
his voyogs "at one fell swoop," darting off, are rarely
seen again.
This proves Jack to be an inconsiderate character, no
doubt, but he ought not, therefore, be the too easy prey
of the views of others • and the proposed institution ap-
pears to be well-calculated to shield him from many of
the dangers by which he is beset, to induce him to be
more wary and circumsdect : and, finally, to elevate him
in the scale of humanity. by implanting a proper degree
of self-pride, and moral f,eling. The intention of the
founders is to make him a wiser and a better man, and to
throw around him the shield of protection, of which he
. stands so greatly in need."
In addition to the other benefits of the proposed institu-
tion, and which will, we presume, include the teaching of
the mathematical theory of navigation, we would suggest
that the use of the globes, and of the quadrant and sex-
ton should he introduced, and that charts of the most fre-
quented seas and coasts should be provided. It may not,
too, be premature to suggest the gradual formation of a
Museum and Model Room, to which many of the men
(who are in the habit of bringing home quriosities, and
disposing of them for a mere trifle) might be induced to
contribute. and this would soon form an interesting col-
lection. And we have known not a few poor sailors who
are ingenious in making models of vessels of a new or
peculiar construction, from which prie•tical improve-
ements in hulls, sails, &c., might possibly be derived.
Lectures oft ship-building, and on general navigation
might afterwards be superadded, and would be a source
' of edification and entertainment during the winter nights,
keeping the inmates rationally engagea at " Home." in
place of squ9ndering their money and their time in the
noisy tavern. or the low concert-rooms attached, where he
is liable to fall into demoralizing associations.
That all our seamen who Lave no real homes to resort
to, will. in the first instance, take advantage of the insti-
tution we are not so sanguine to expect ; for obdurate
habits in some and prejudices insothers must be over.
come ; but it is to be hoped that if even a considerable
portion of the class become inmates on its opening, others
will soon be induced to follow their example, and the cha-
racter of the whole will eventually become intellectually
e'evated. Captains will always select the most intelligent
and well-behaved seamen they can find, and no one who
receive a certificate of good conduct from the institution
need long want a ship. And as to the individual advanta-
ges, a man or a youth who can keep a ship's course at sea
has chances of promotion that do do not tall to the lot of
those who have not that knowledge of their profession.
One instance in point will suffice. A few years ago it was
rumoured in the New York papers, that a tine and value-
ably laden ship belonging to Salem, and which had lost
both captain and mate by sickness on a distant voyage,
was safely carried to her port of destination by a young'
man of but eigteen years of age, one of the crew, who,
to his honour, though poor, had, applied himsel to the
study of navigation ; and he was 'duly appointed to the
command by employers.
We had prepared some other suggestions for adoption by
the founders of this excellent institution, but they will
keep until our next.

We are glad to have it in our power to announce tha
the late Mrs. Bury, of Moss-street, left by her will cer-
tain property the proceeds of which she directed to be di—
vided equally between four most excellent charities,
namely—The Church Pastoral Aid Society—The Intir-
mary—The Blue Coat Hospital—and the Strangers'
Friend Society ; and that in consequence each of these
Institutions has lately received the handsome sum of
£125, duty free, through the hands of Mr. John Hicks
and Mr. Thomas Branch, the executors.
FARMING MACHINERY.—This being the age for im-
provement, our landed proprietors are determined if
possible to keep pace with our wealthy millocracy in the
improvement of machinery for every description of farm.
ing operations. In the neighbourhood of Llangollen, on
a farm held by a late townsman of our own, may be seen,
gorse and hay cutting, kibbling oats, brans, &C., &c., and
churning, all in operation at the same time ; or the thrash-
ing and winnowing of grain, and the straining of potatoes,'
chaff, corn, &e., sufficient for the food of twenty cows and
six horses, for a day and night. In the first operations,
200 quarts of milk art churned in an hour, and as much
hay, gorse, and grain knibbled during the time of churn-
ing as will supply eight horses three days; and by the
latter, eighteen measures of grain thrashed and winnowed
ready for market.
IRON SHIP BUILDING COMPANY.—At thelast quarterly
meeting of the iron masters in Staffordshire, it was pro-
posed by Mr. Thorneycroft that a Company should be
formed for the purpose of bringing Iron Sailing Ships
into more general use, to overcome the prejudice which at
present existed against them. Iron Steam Vessels were
thoroughly established and required no assistance, but in
consequence of several defective sailing vessels having
been built this branch had not made any progress. Mr.
Thorneycroft also recommended that the proposed Com-
pany should not themselves build the vessels but contract
with the existing builders to construct them from the
plans and under the superintendence of a first-rate En-
gineer. This proposition met with the warmest approba-
tion of the meeting, and me. Thorneycroft last week
visited Liverpool for the purpose of ascertaining the state
of public opinion ; and, in company with Mr. Grantham,
waited on the Mayor, Mr. Robertson Gladstone, and
other influential men. He everywhere met with the
greatest encouragement to proceed with the undertaking.
It was also proposed that the same Comi any should, if
found necessary, adopt measures for insuring all Iron
Vessels built under the inspection of their Engineer.
The steam-ship Great Britain, according to the Bristol
Mirror, is to be released from her long confinement on
the 26th inst.

ADULTERATION OF BEER.—It is said that an extensive
increase of drugs used in the adulteration of beer has
taken place in-an ale and porter brewery of consideraole
standing, and that it will be heard of at the next meeting
to be
yeßebgnKeppr
o.etrvi
Woodside
and
seacowbe..
of the Commissioners of Excise.
PieToittAL. (.TPPLETIIENT.—Our friends across the water have
stirred up the members of the broad sheet to accomplish wonders
which were never even contemplated before. Our neigbour of the
Dlnil has announced that he will present with his publication r.f
Saturday next a stamped pictorial supplement representing viers
of the chief occurrences which will take place at Birkenhead to.
morrow. From the toleuted artist engaged by our contemporary
we expect to see very correct and graphic illustrations of the
animating scenes.
PAINTINGS BY THE OLD MASTERS.—We lately visited Mr
Wilson's collection exhibiting at Lact-y's rooms, and, as we pro-
mised in our last, proceed to notice what appeared to us most
choice and beaulful. The unfortunate Queen of France,
" Marie Antoinetto," by Greitze. is a lovely and exquisitely
coloured picture, highly interesting hist-rically and as a work
of art. " The Salutation of the Virgin." by Luciri, is one of
those gorgeously coloured and wonderful-y finished paintings,
that display i perfectii -n the grand characteristics of the Flo-
rentine school. The heads of he Angel anti Madonna are types
of ideal beauty. " The llawking Party, by Wouvermans, is a
charming composition. and remarkable: for the argentine tone
so desirable in that master's works. Among the landscapes,"
we particularly noticed a grand classical one by Hughtentrurg,
and others of great merit by Salvator Rosa, flobbemw, Rnysdael,
and Berghem. There are also some very fine " Holy Families"
by the great Italian paidters, particularly one by Baroccio
which is remarkable► for its sweet expression. The " Card-
players," by Murray, is a rich-toned syecimen and full of cha-
racter. Lastly, there is a picture by Roepel, which, for beauty
and harmony of colour and the most extraordinary transparence
and finish, we have never seen equalled. Many others of the
hundred paintings on view deserve a special notice, but our
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