The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-10-21 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS

Neither one nor the et

Telation,htp betwe

; there is not the slightest

Lipp ttintTool 4,tanlan.

TUESDAY

MORMNG, OCT. 21, 1845.

We are happy to announce that Thomas Little-
dale, Jun., Esq., of the firm of T. and IL Littledale
and Co., has consented to stand for election to fill
the representation of this ward, vacated by John
North, Esq., at the ensuing election. Mr. Little-
dale has the countenance and support of the influ-
ential electors of the ward and the Conservative As-
sociation ; and, independently of this support, his
own well-known Conservative principles, and his ac-
knowl,d2ed ability and standing as a merchant, he
wid be found a firm and consistent advocate of the
present system of religious education in our Cor-

poration t"chools

Some weeks ago we intimated our conviction that
the late fearful doubts, as to the state of the harvest,
dad sealed the fate of the existing system of protec-
tion for native ag,riculture, and that Sir Robert Peel
was prepared to repeal his own pet measure of
1842. We are already assured, en the authority of
no less influential a nobleman than Lord Ashley,
that we were not singul r in entertaining such con-
viction. In a circular, from the Dorset County
Chronicle of October 16, addressed to his con-
stituents, his Lordship thus expresses his opinions
upon the subject of the Corn-l.ws

"J will seek this occasion ti. touch the subject of the

corn law

end the certain result of the present movement
against them. It appears to me that their destiny is
fixed; and that the leading wen of the great parties in the
Legisi,ture are by no means disinclined to their eventual
abolition. The debases of last session have left no doubt

on this head—hoih the candidates for power, and the occu-
pants of it, approximated so much more closely than at
any fGra er period, that most of the hearers were induced
to hel,, re that their diff,ret.ce was ltss a matter of prin-
ciplr than a question of tube."

N quest

ion of time only!

We admit it, and are

confident of it, although we are somewhat curious
as to the kind of argument with which the fact will
be enforcer), that this question has been determined,
and that now is the time. It is, aho, not easy to guess
whether Sir Robert Peel—to whose conversion Lord
Ashley evidently points—is prepaied to fly in the
face of his opposition to Lord John Russell's pro-
posal of an eight shillings duty, or to go the whole
length of total and immediate repeal. Uur impres-
sion certainly is—and we take a hint from the past—
that he is prepared to in,4ke a much greater step
in advance than that which he strongly opposed
when attempted to be made by Lord John Russell.
Sit Robert is no half and half propounder of mea-
sures of apostasy; and we would, therefore, warn
our :tricultural friends to look ahead, and be wise
in time. Lord Ashley, however, appears to think
that there is time yet left for the adoption of a tem-
porizrig policy. He says, in the sentence following
that above quoted,
" If this be so, it is need'es, to a

ue the policy or im-
r b

would wise to policy of 3uch a change;
con-
sider in what way you can break the force of an inevitable
blow. The sudden repeal of these laws would be destruc-
tive ; the gradual ahol:ti,l) of them would be less inju-
. You have, at this moment, the power to offer
-rms ; there is n, certainty that you will retain it
much i.inger—our actual prosperity must come toan end;
and then the wide and fearful pres,ure of commercial dis-
tress, with the hostility on the one side, and the indiffer-
ence on the other, of the great political chiefs, will leave
you, in au hour e.pecial difficulty, altogether without a

refuge or resource

The advice offered here, to he prepared with
measures to break the blow impending over the
heads of our agriculturists, is full of wisdom ; but
will the opportunity be allowed them of following
it ? Where is now the strength of that class ?
They have, we are afraid, almost lost it. They have
weakened their hold upon the minds of the working
classes, by their advocacy of the New Poor-laws.
They have lost the middle classes by their conduct
with respect to Sir Robert Peel's anti-Protestant
measures. They have compelled the mercantile

..,racy of the country to see that, with the
present management of our land, the profits of the
be et directed commercial enterprises are liable to he
swamped by the effects of a few showers of rain, a
blight in the potato crop, or any other agricultural
calamity ; and, lastly, they are fast bringing such
parties as Lord Ashley to the conviction, that men
who will not help themselves, their fellow-country-
men will ❑ever go out of their way to help. Of
course, there are many individuals amongst the
agricultural body to whom these remarks do not
apply, but we are speaking of them as a class.
Entertaining these views, we feel perfectly assured
the defection of Lord Ashley is only the fore-
runner of numerous other defections. It is almost
the admission of the landowners of the country
themselves, that their title to legislative protection
can no longer be mantained, and that they must
henceforth sustain the encounter, which enterprise
and capital in all other avocations are compelled to
with external rivals.

sustain

In our remarks last year upon the accounts of
the corporate estate, as shewn in the yearly ab-
stract published by the Finance Committee, we en-
-2d to prove to our Readers, that, by the
sagacity and prudence with which their affairs are
conducted by that body, together with the growing
commerce and population of our port, we might
calculate this year upon a large surplus income, ap-
plicable to purposes of public improvement, or to
the gradual liquidation of our bonded debt. In this
anticipation we have not been disappointed. On
the contrary, an attentive comparison of the pre-
sent year's accounts with those of the last exhibits
our position as even more favourable than we ex-
pected it to he.
The total ordinary income of the borough is
stated this year at £146 301 3s. Bd., an increase
over that of last year of £14,229. The total expen-
diture has been £103,303 4s. 11d., which is less than
that of last year by nearly £28,000. The balance
on the year, or surplus fund, is £42.997 18s. 9d.,
whilst that of last year was only £1,291 7s. Od.

deavou

The principal portion of the increase in ordinary
income accrues from the town dues, which have pro-
duced this year a nett amount of £77,333 6s. Bd.,
against -.E73.129 14s. Id. last year; from renewals
of leases, and the generally increased productiveness
of the estate. It is, however, to the great decrease
in the expenditure that we are to attribute the
existence of our present large surplus. Last year,
the debit, under the head of "General interest ac-
count," was for a balance of £39,395 12s. 43.
This year, however, the same item is reduced to
£19.039 18s. 9d., the interest on the sales of land
at Wallasey Pool, and on the North Shore and Salt-
house Dock, operating as a material set-off against
that of the bonded &ht. A provision for the fur-
ther and permanent reduction of this item of expen-
diture has been made, by the conversion of about
£420,000 of the bonded debt, now at 4 per cent.,
into Vit. per cent stock. This operation, however,
has not as yet come into effect, so as to tell upon
the present year's accounts. n the amount charged
under the head " Constabulary force," there is also
a reduction from £17,668 14,. id. last year to
£14,449 121. Bd. this year. Such reduction, how-
ever, must he taken as merely apparent, the balance
charged under this head being regulated in amount
by the forwardness, or otherwise, of the payments
towards it by the Dock Trustees and the Parish
Collectors, The same circumstances account for
an apparent increase under the head of " Lighting,
cleansing, and fire police," which is, this year,
£4,212 17s. 9k1., against £3,525 4s. 90. last year.
Of the " extraordinary" account the leading fea-
tures are the receipt, on account of the Wallasey
Pool and Birkenhead estates, of £245,576 Os. 9d.,
and the payment, in liquidation of outstanding
bonds, of £324,225 18s, 101 This, however, al-
though a permanent relief to the estate, will not
operate to increase the surplus of next year; but
will rather have a contrary effect, inasmuch as for
the Wallasey portion of the property, sold and un-
paid for, the Finance Committee have been receiving
s per cent interest, whilst upon the amount paid off
with the money they will only be saving 4 per cent.
The present general financial position of the
estate may be briefly, and, perhaps, as lucidly as by
any lengthened array of figures, summed up as fol-
lows :—The amount due to it by the bankers, the
dock trustees (for their purchases on the North
Shore and Salthouse Dock), from the purchasers
of Wallesey Pool property, and other parties, is
£478,451 4s. Bd. Against this the estate owes
£15,127 Os. 5d., thus leaving a balance in its favour,
applicable to the further reduction of the bonded
debt, or to the improviment of the town, of
£463,324 4s. 3d. In addition to this amount, the
corporation possess land purchased under the im-
provement act of 1837, valued at £31,407 15es Od.

of course, we concleda that the debt will be the
first thing to be dealt with; and we then come to
the question,—what is to be done with the present
year's and our growing surplus revenue?
With our present prospects—with the rapidly-in-
creasing importance of the town and of its com-
merce before us—we cannot think it would be poli-
tic to fritter away our surplus of nearly £43.000 in
any attempt to reduce the bond debt, which
stands now at £871,448 4s. 10d. The expansive
character of our estate, and its increasing value, will
of themselves suffice to effect this, before many
years elapse. The best course would be to bestow
the benefit of its outlay upon the present genera-
tion, by devoting it to the improvement of the town
—to the removal of the known causes which depress
the health of our population—to the advancement
of our charitable institutions—and to the promotion
amongst us of religion, morality, science and arts.
It is pitiable to trace through these accounts the
paltry amounts contributed to these objects from an
estate so wealthy as our own, and to compare them
with those which we pay for the repression and de-
tection of crime. We pay £15,000 a year for a
police force ; other thousands for prisons, a stipen-
diary magistrate and other administrators of justice;
whilst for schools and other agencies for the amelio-
ration of the minds of our growing population, by
which a great portion of this expenditure would he
rendered unnecssary, we contribute comparatively
nominal sums, unworthy of our town, and most
unwise. Our subscriptions to the public charities
may, we hope, now he, at all events, doubled. In
this direction we would pray of the able chairman of
our Finance Committee to turn his attention, and to
urge his influence with the Council. We cannot
think that he would find ample support wanting
him ; and we are certain that ne would be rewarded
with the gratitude of his fellow townsmen, and,
what is better, the approbation of his own con-
science.

A strange paragraph was published last week in
the London Times, the statements in which, as they
are making the rounds of the public press we feel
bound to contradict, for the information of those
parties unacquainted with the locality, whom they
may mislead. Here, of course, they would only be
regarded as absurd. The paragraph in question,
which purports to be from the pen of a " noble
diplomatist," (!) says

" I have made a very agreeable trip to Birkenhead,
which is a place rising, as if by enchanrment, out of the
desert, and bidding fair to rival, if not eclipse, the glories
of Liverpool. Seven years ago there were not three
houses on that side of the Mersey—there are now above
20,000 inhabitants; and on the spot where Sir William
Stanley's hounos killed a fox in the open field, now stands
a suuare larger than Belgrive-square, every house of
which is occupied. At Liverpool there are now ten
acres of oocks, the charges for which are enormous ;
at Birkrnhead there will be forty-seven acres, with rates
two-thirds lover, which will gradually diminish until
(supposing trade to continue pr.sperous) they will almost
di.appear, and the docks become the property of the
public at the end of thirty years."
We have not of course the slightest wish to dis-
parage the growing importance of Birkenhead or
the enterprise of the g ntlemen who are so energeti-
cally promoting its prosperity. That this great
Port stands in the humiliating relation towards its
new rival, described by the " noble diplomatist,"
we must deny altogether. It is not true that
seven years ago there were " not three houses on
that side of the Mersey." There were nearer three
hundred. Hamilton-square, upon the site of which
Sir W. Stanley's hounds are said to have killed a
fox, had part of it built upon and the centre enclosed
more than 12 years ago. Liverpool, which is said
to have only ten acres of Ducks now, has one
hundred and eleven acres of enclosed water space,
with upwards of nine miles quay room. We have
also 40 acres of new Docks at present forming.
Some wag has certainly been gulling the " noble
diplomatist," or he must have visited the "new city"
in a state of bewilderment.

A few weeks ago we suggested the propriety and
justice of an attempt being made, by the opponents
of the New Poor Law in Liverpool, to raise funds,
by public subscription or otherwise, to meet, at least
a portion of, the expenses thrown upon Mr. West-
lake of Andover, by the harassing mode of con-
ducting the enquiry into the conduct of the master
of that Union, forced upon him by the Poor Law
Commissioners. Since doing so, a communication
has been opened with Mr. Westlake by an influen-
tial party in Liverpool ; and the following letter has
been received from the former ge ntlernan—

Andover, 16th Oc/ber, 1815

The labours and anxieties necevarily attendant
on the recent Poor Law enquiry, added to an urgent
pressure of professional engagements, have precluded the
possibility of my attending to the very numerous commu-
►nications made to me by unknown, though most truly
kind and considerate friends of humanity. To you most
particularly is an apology due, and very sincerely offered,
since the noble spirit which prompted your letter on the
15th ult., cannot otherwise than call forth the warmest
admiration.

Although aware at the time of requesting the enquiry
that expenses would inevitably be incurred, yet 1 certainly
had no idea either that such ,nquiry could be so protrac'ed,
or that I should be driven, by the extraordinary conduct
of Ihe assistant Commissioner, to the heavy expenses
attendant on the assistance of counsel, and therefore shall
not hesitate to accept, in the same spirit of liberality in
which it may be offered, the pecuniary assistance of any
Friends of the Poor. And lam decidedly of opinion that
public meetings would be att-nded in other respects, with
the best conceivable consequences, since the Govern-
ment. there is too much reason to fear, will only be in-
duced, through a pressure out of doors, to legislate in a
spirit of justice to the poor.

Believe me, wi h the deepest sentiments of respect,
Yours, faithfully,
T. C. WESTLAKE.

At present the mode of proceeding, in the pur-
suit of this act of justice towards a humane man
and a friend of our unfortunate poor, has not been
definitely decided upon- If, however, any of our
Conservative friends are wishful to partake in so good
a work, we shall be happy to take charge of their
subscriptions ; and in our next we hope to he able
to announce the course to he taken in carrying it out.

TFIE SHOOTING CASE.—The police officer continues
to improve, but the ball has not yet been extracted.
WOODSTOCK ELECTION.—The Borough remains quite
quiet, and so little does Lord Alfred Churchill appear to
dread an opponent, that he has not yet visited Woodstock
or taken any steps to secure his election.

MR. NEWMAN.-Dr. Pusey has just published a fresh
letter—the fourth within four weeks, on Mr. Newman's
secession. The object of that letter is to persumle people
1. That the loss of Mr. Newman is a great calamity ;
2. That this calamity has been directly end plainly b. ought
upon us by our own sins, and especially by the sin of not
valuing Mr. N. as we ought to have done:

THE WEATHER, since our last publication, has, in
this neight:ourhood, again been variable, with occasional
heavy rains and boisterous winds. Sunday was as gloomy
as a November day and wet withal. Yesterday was,
however, fine, with a brisk and drying breeze. Luckily
nearly the whole of our corn is safely under cover. and
we bear of no particular complaints of the potato crops,
which we still hope to have a favourable time to gather
in. The turnips are admitted on all hands to be unusually
fine.

A letter from a gentleman near Edinburgh states that
the potato crop is much more diseased in that part of the
country than was generally supposed. He says he men-
tions the circumstance " to put farmers on their guard
not to store their potatoes till they have minutely exa-
mined them. Probably the only way to preserve the
sound ones is to hand-pick the whole after a day or two's
exposure to the air, when it is said the disease appears.
The infected ones should be immediately made into potato
flour. All accounts from England show that the diseased
potatoes, if so used in time, make excellent and whole-
some flour."

OT A TO E
coIumnDISEASE. t
the
IsNprelandE Lo
fA IRELAND.—We
hDi
eWs tei ehnacvee.
noticedTlLE P
inanother
The accounts on Saturday fully corroborate 'thpose
previ-
ously received. They speak gloomily of the rapid pro-
gress of the infection in Derry, Donegal, Tyrone' Mayo
Sligo, and Roscommon. The midlandcounties appear'
comparatively to have escaped the pestilence. A gen-
tleman residing near Drogheda has had nine acres totally
destroyed ; he estimates his loss at 2001. Another, still
more unfortunate, in the county of Tyrone, has had no
less than 18 acres infected, which his tenants have pur-
chased at a pound an acre. The Clare Journal calls
upon the inhabitants to drop their political agitation, and
to form central and district committees to adopt every
precaution to avert the impending danger. Let not the
brewery and the distillery, says our contemporary, "con-
sume the food of which mortals are deprived. Let the
quadrupeds be fed upon the herbage of the field, and let
not a stone of wheat, oats, or barley, leave our coasts."
At Newry market, in the beginning of last week, oats
reached the high figure of Is. 2d. per stone, and oatmeal
19s. per cwt. Advices from the county of D,,wn lead to
the expectation that the unfortunate disease is in some
measure arrested in its destructive progress, the com-
plaints being far less general, and some situations where
a week ago, the number of apparently diseased tubers
was fearfully great, exhibit now very trifling symptom
of its presence. The Lord Lieutenant has directed en-
quiries to be made zi to the probable prospects of the
crop. si