The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-10-27 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARb.

Prance ? The consequences would be tile same, with this addi-
tion, that the upper house would be tile mere creature of the
crown. The only other course then is id have the house elected, '
but not by the peers—in other Wordii, that the people shall elect.
Are they, ao elect by the same qualificaticin by which they choose
their owtt representatives? if so—the upper house will be a
mere duplicate of the lower; and after all difficulties are over-
come as to how a local apportionment of the elected shall be
made, we shall only' have obtained what would be more easily
and just as effectually-obtained by dividiug the House:of Com-
mons into two, and snaking one half revise the proceedings of
the other. But we hold it to be quite clear that more than a
mere duplicate chamber is necessary in order to ensure an ef-..
fectual revision. Such a duplicate will, in most cases, only re-
peat the same erreis which the first has committed. That which
secures discussion, and gives the probability of real revision
and correction, is the second chamber being differently consti-
tuted from the first. Therefore many have suggested, what is
indeed the American plan, that the elective franchise should be
higher; and consequently that the second chamber should re-
present a class of individuals different from those who choose
the first. Suppose, then, that only persons of .£5OO a-year or
upwards were to elect among the peers—or there being nu dis-
tinction in favour of peers, suppose they were to choose among
all classes indiscriminately—what would be the result? We
are by no means certain that a better chamber than the present
House of Lords would not be found; but we are very sure that
it would be quite as hostile to liberal principles; indeed it would
probably be snore hostile—for the wealthier classes would by no
means return as many liberal peers as now sit by right in the
upper house. The new and elective house might be in some
respects better; it would be more diligent, anti it would lend
itself to fewer jobs—because it would be accountable for its
votes to a body of constituents. But, as these constituents
would assuredly be very generally
.adverse to reform, we can
have little doubt how. the decisions in general would turn. Then
be it borne in mind, that whatever extends the basis on which
the house rests, arms the peers with new power, and confirms
their courage to resist the propositions of the commons and of
the people; so that even the present House of Lords would be
far more domineering when It owed its existence to the voice of
a large portion of its countrymen than it now is, without any
title but that of inheritance or creation.
The truth is, that the evil lies a little deeper than many ima-
gine who discuss this question. It comes from the unhappy but
undeniable fact, that a large majority, not only of the peers,
but of the property of the country, is alarmed at, if not positively
adverse to, reform. This is the state of our case; this the con-
dition of the problem we have to solve; and shutting our eyes
to it is. quite useless and quite childish. There is, however, one
thing incomparably more childish, and that is, the fancy that
we can effect any radical change of the House of Lords in a
Parliament where the people have but a bare majority in the
House of Commons, and can only carry the most moderate re-
forms, and of the most ordinary cast, by the most inconsiderable
majorities of their own representatives. But for what we daily
teed end hear, we could herdly believe that there existed per-
sons so heedless of the circumstances of the case they are han-
dling, as some reformers of the Lords. It is equal to Major
Cartwright's philippics against the abominable heresy of Tri-
ennial parliaments, at a time when there seemed not any very
probable chance of the Septennial bill being ever repealed.
But we cannot leave this important topic of the lords, with-
out adverting to the great dangers which an encouragement and
extension- of the prevailing sentiments upon the subject must
bring upon the present liberal and reforming government. If
the cry becomes very loud and somewhat general, nothing will
satisfy those who raise it, but the ministers of the crown begin-
ning next session with some bill to reform the House of Lc.rds.
That any minister in his senses should propound such a raea-
.;ure to the present House of Commons, is quite impossible. The
cry, therefore, means dissolution, or it means nothing. Now,
suppose the ministers were to propose that measure, and the
court to refuse, as infallibly it would, only just consider the
consequences. The ministry retires of course, to the no small
contentment of the court and the peers; because to the inevit-
able strengthening of the tory interest in the House of Com-
mons. We have not the shadow of a doubt that the tory mi-
nistry would then have a majority in the lower house; for its
existence, that is, its continuing to exist for five years, would he
bound up with the existence of the tory government. Who-
ever voted to turn theM out would know that he voted to send
himself back to his constituents. Let any one consider this
with reference to the construction of the pm esent House of Corn-
mous, such as we have described it, and
.he will be at once con-
vinced how steady a majority the Tories would have. We throw
out the suggestion as one of the most practical kind which can,
at the present moment, be presented to the minds of honest and
sincere reformers.

There is one sentence in the above rather lengthy ex-
tracts which peculiarly deserves attention as a curiosity.
It is that in the fourth paragraph; where the writer speaks
of the " discomforts of high office—of narrow majorities
on test=questions," &c. which he fancies, " may
possibly be the reason why some are now no longer in
the service of the people; whose labours the people would
Most gladly reward with their unbounded because well-
earned confidence." This is clearly an allusion to Lord.
BROUGHAM, if not also to Lord SPENCER. If Lord
BROUGHAM be the author of the article in the Review, as
is rumoured, he best knows the reason why he is not in a
" high ottiae" under Lord MELBouatiE ; but we should
hardly think that the ex-chancellor would complain of the
" discomforts" of office, seeing how hard he toiled in the
last session of parliament, and exposed himself to unneces-
sary annoyance and responsibility, without. either praise
or emolument. It is true that the noble and learned
lord, in one of his fits dill humour, when Lord ALTHORP
was dragged back to save a sinking and divided cabinet,
declared that he never would sit in any administration of
which the then Lord ALTUURP was not a member. Can
this foolMh declaration be the , only reason for Lord
BRouonAm's peculiar situation—a drudge to the fallen
section of his patty without honour—their champion
without reward—their advocate without being allowed to
bold a brief, or touch a fee ? It may be so, but we are
far from being inclined to believe it. At any rate, what
are the excuses for Lord SPENCER'S silence ? Is he too
troubled with the "discomforts of high office ?" The
noble lord has not even opened his lips since his fathet's
death; and he has but rarely favoured the present mi-
nisters with his vote. All this, perhaps, will be fully ex-
plained before Candlemas.

Yesterday a numerous and respectable meeting of al
classes Of 'conservatives, including merchants, Master.
tradesmen, shopkeepers, licensed victuallers, and opera•

tives, was held. at the Golden. Lion, for the purpose of
securing the return of 'efficient, :intelligent, and inde-
pendent councillors at the ensuing election under the new
corporation bill. The utmost unanimity prevailed, and a
series of resolutions was passed which will be found in
our advertising columns.
The reason why this meeting was so exclusively of a
conservative cast was the fact which has transpired that
the radical or liberal party, as they call themselves, have
already set the example of making the municipal election
a party question. They have already come to a private
decision that no man shall be supported as a candidate for
the new town council who is not a leveller. They have
circulated lists in which no single conservative is to be
found, while the vast majority are ultra radicals, and in
thus presuming to dictate to the constituency they have
provoked feelings and produced a reaction which cannot
fail to disappoint all their secret and invidious calcula-
tions.

The object of yesterday's meeting was to bring toge-
ther all the various classes of voters, from the wealthy
merchant to the industrious and well-disposed operative,
and by this means unite the whole in one common cause.
It was one of the peculiar featuresof this meeting that every
person present seemed determined to merge all minor dif-
ferences, all subordinate and nominal grievances, and all
former classifications in the more important object of
securing able and intelligent men to execute the arduous
but thankless trust of councilmen under the new bill.
Tradesmen and shopkeepers, as well as operatives, were
therefore specially invited, and from the considerable
number of, those who attended, and took part in the pro-
ceedings, we have an assurance of a happy result be the
struggle what it may. The Tradesmen's Conservative
Society is increasing in power and influence every day ;
but it is singularly gratifying to learn that an Operative
Conservative Association has also been formed in Liver-
pool, and although onlyin ifs infancy, being in fact but
a few days old, it has upwards of a hundred members
ready to be enrolled.

Taking, then, the moral force of these powerful agen-
cies,into'consideration, the activity which pervades their
committees, and the, deep interest the members take and
in fact possess in the welfare of the country, we feel per-
suaded that the efforts of the radical faction to monopolise
all the municipal authority of the town will be frustrated.
The meeting appointed a committee to report upon the
qualifications of those whom they shall think have the
best claims upon the electors, and whom they can recom-
mend as proper candidates. From the character and in-
dependence of the gentlemen composing this committee
we have no doubt but that all distinctions of class will be
carefully avoided—that men of various stations will be
selected—that all interests will beifaithful:v represented
—and that the members of the new town council will
only be distinguished by their fair fame, their talents, and.
their strict-integrity.

ON THE 111 A NUFACTURE OF `ALT.-At the A nderton Wolks,
near Noithwich, a new method of making salt has been
covered, and pans have been put up on a small scale to try the
effect, which has proved so far most satisfactoi v. A fresh wa-
ter boiler is placed in the midst of the brine directly over the fire,
the brine receiving at once the whole of the heat trove the boiler
and the fine; the overplus steam is applied to another pan ; by
this means a high temperature is obtained for one thousand six
hundred surface feet, which by the old mode r:ould require four
tires• immense expense in labour, andwear and tear is saved,
Mr. William Garrod is the inventor, he has taken out a patent.
It is expected that more than 5 tons of salt will be math: by one
ton of coals, by the old meth:Al not more than 2m or 3 can be
produced Awn the same quantity of Jouthat:

LONDON LATES'7' AVM'S:

City, Saturdag Evening, Hallasc. Seven o'clock.
• The total amount invested by the Commissioners for.
the'West India CoMpensation Account up to the preSent
period, is about £1,000,050 sterling. The adjudged
claims of parties holding West India property have been
liquidated, or are in course of payment, to the amount of
£1,300,000 or £1,400,000. Difficulties have arisen in
the payment of adjudged clainis, in consequence of in-
formalities which have been .Made with powers of attor-
ney sent over from the colonies, antliorizing individuals
here to receive the compensation for those who were en-
titled to it. Notwithstanding the complaints which have
been made agahotthe commissioners for the delay which
has been occasioned in adjudicating -claims, we are in-
formed that, considerihg the difficulties they. have had to
contend with, they are proceeding as quickly as might
have been expected.
Although the slight panic which was produced in the
Money Market yesjerday, by an expected collision be
tween the French and American governments upon the

indemnity question,lims not been wholly recovered, still
there is nothing in the advices received to-day frorn'Paris
to induCe the opinion that any serious misunderstanding
will arise between the two powers. Consols for Account
have varied to-day. only between 911 and 91a, the former
being the nearest price at the termination of business.
For money the quotation advanced to-day from 911 to
pu, and left off at 91:1. The omniuni remains very
el.eady at 4:1 premium. 'Excheqner bills have not -varied
since yesterday, but. India bonds itave dropped from 4s.
to 2s. premium. There has been an improvement of
full.l per cent. in •Bank. Stock to-day, it having opened
at 209 and closed at 210.
- -
Bank Stock, 210;' Red. Annuities, .90! ; Consols, 911;
3; per Cents. Red., 9SI; New 3 per Cents., 994;.
Lone Annuities, 16: :3-16ths ; °mainly), 4i pm. ; India
Stock,—; India Bonds, 2 pm.-; Exchequer Bills, 16 pm. ;
Consuls fur Account 914.
Speculation has 'been inactive in foreign bonds to-day.,
In Spanish 5' .per Cents. the variation has scarcely
amounted to per cent., the last price being 44, and of
the New Stock 421. An improvement of about A per
cent, hag taken,- place _in.. Purtuguesa..Bundx, the per
Cents closing at 88 and the 3 per Cents. at-58. -Dutch
Stock nearly maintains the recent improvement. Bel-
gian Bonds rose froM 1031 to 1031' this afternoon. A.
few bargains were made at 32 in Columbian Bunds to-
day. The quotatiOns of all the other South American
securities are merely nominal.''

.....
In the Railway Shares activity has again prevailed to-
day. The Great Western were sold so high as 9 pm.,
but closed at 11 pm. North Midland left off at 44 pm.,
London and Greenwich at 8, the Brighton at 41, and Lon 7
don and Birmingham at £4B pm. per share...
Belgian, 1031; Colombian, 32; Portuguese (New)
88; Ditto 3 per Cents., 53; Russian, 107,; Spanish,
44; Ditto (New) 41; Dutch 21 per Cents., 55?..