The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-01-28 00:00:00

THE BIRKENHEAD DOCK QUESTION.

Some very lengthy official documents, connected with
the carrying out of these works, and the present position
of the parties connected with them, have just been given
to the public, comprising a letter from Mr. John Laird
to the holders of dock bonds ; a report of the resident
engineer, Mr. Abernethy, to the dock trustees, upon the
state of the works ; and another from Captain Hookey,
dockmaster„. to the same, upon the amount of traffic
which the docks, as proposed to be at present completed,
could accommodate and work efficiently. As it is entirely-
out of our power to give insertion to the whole, we shall
endeavour to place the substance of these documents in
an intelligible shape before our readers. Mr. Laird's
letter consists chiefly of a vindication of himself and the
dock trustees from some aspersions levelled against then'
by Mr. Rendel and by the committee of bondholders,
with respect to the manner of the appointment of Mr.
Abernethy. Mr. Laird reminds these parties that, in
consequence of a notice from Mr. Rendel in November
last, repudiating all responsibility if certain walls were
proceeded with, the trust had deemed it their duty to call
in the services of another engineer, who, it had been pre-
viously determined, should be resident on the spot. In
the exercise of this duty, and after full examination, hav-
ing found him to be a practical and talented man, they-
appointed Mr. Abernethy in December last. Mr. Laird.
repudiates the idea that he himself had any previous
personal acquaintance with the gentleman in question,
although he had met him during the performance of both
their public duties. He concludes by recommending the
bondholders not to commit themselves unadvisedly to any
course which might be proposed to them by the parties
who were agitating in London a certain course, involving
the creation of further preference bonds.
The report of Mr. Abernethy contains the suggestions
and alterations which, since his connection with the works.
he has felt it his duty to make with a view to carry out
the instructions of the trustees, to forward the opening for
traffic of a portion of the great float at the earliest possible
period, in which he enters at great length into a refutatiore.
of the objections urged against them by Mr. Rendel, and
also some aspersions made by that gentleman upon pre-
vious opinions as to the works, given by the resident engi-
neer. Into this portion of the report we confess our in-
ability to enter, although it will be fully appreciated by
those more intimately connected with the scheme, or ac-
quainted with engineeling subjects. The main alterations
appear to be an increase in the size of the lock and entrance
gates to the great float, the former being increased froth
60 feet breadth to 70 feet, and the principal gate from 75
feet to 95 feet, which he considers required to meet the
future wants of trade. The outer sill of the lock he re-
commends to be raised 9 feet ; the sill of the principal en-
trance gates lowered 7 feet 9 inches; and that of the fifty
feet gates and upper sill of the lock 3 feet 9 inches. One
of these entrances, he thinks, might be dispensed with.
With respect to the Birkenhead forks of the basin, he ad-
vises its postponement for the present ; and doubts the
propriety of having two sluicing currents at all, as likely
to create a deposit.
Mr. Abernethy proceeds to combat Mr. Rendel's ob-
jections to his plan, into which we repeat we cannot enter
further than to state that his reply is very satisfactory,
and his reference to the course pursued by Mr. Rendel
with respect to these works, in which so much was spent,
and so little of useful dock space completed, is very
happy. The following are his concluding remarks with
respect to the alterations which he proposes :
"Having thus noticed the salient points of objection urged
by Mr. Reticle' against the alterations proposed by me, 1 do
most distinctly deny that they are a mutilation of the general
features of the plan proposed by him, but simply an alteration
of details necessary to carry out the scheme with safety, and to
suit the growing wants of trade. The entrances proposed by
Mr. Rendel will not, under any circumstances, admit the
largest class of steam-vessels fregnenti.ig the Mersey, nor the
larger class of sailing vessels, except when the water in the
Float is impounded at a level above that of ne: p tides, so
that the only entrance to the Float during neaps would be
through the lock, an entrance obviously insufficient for working
a Float of such an eytensive area. I think it necessary that
the entrances should be made sufficiently wide, and that the
sills should be laid at such a level as to admit the largest class
of steamers and sailing vessels during all states of the tide."

" I am still of opinion that the water s'iould be impounded
in the Float as soon as it is practicable, and any further deepen-
ing which may be required can be executed by the dredging-
machine at a cheaper rate than is at present paid for excava-
tions ; and to effect this a machine was prepared by the trust
several-years ago, at an expense of ,tll,OOO.
"I am preparing a further detailed report on the present
position of the works and the best means of completing them.',
Captain Hookey's report consists merely of a reply to
some misrepresentations of his views as to the working of
the docks, circulated by a committee of the bondholders,
and are of no great interest, inasmuch as we noticed the
report and evidence so misrepresented at the time of their
publication,

A FITTING OCCASION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—Different occasions present themselves for open-
ing our Churches : can a more fitting one present itself
than the day and at the time when our beloved Sovereign
opens one of the most memorable Sessions of her Parlia-
ment ?

If the thunders of the Vatican, or the thunders of a
Canon Law mean anything, how much more the thunder
of the Tower's gun that announces a Protestant Queen
upon the throne of her Protestant and Legislative Assem-
blies ? And how much more, in an infinitely higher
degree, shall the thunder of a nation's prayers tell, at a
crisis perhaps unparalleled in England's annals, and at
the opening of a session pregnant with events that may
be fraught with the destiny of kingdoms.
May I then suggest, through your widely-circulated
columns, the special opportunity that the 4th of February
next affords of assembling the congregations, if, haply,
God of his infinite mercy may so bless the great council
of the nation, that with all due regard to the right liberty
of the subject, in the best defence of the true Protestant
faith in Church and State, " Peace and happiness, truth
and justice, religion and piety may be established among

The insertion of the above in your forthcoming columns
will oblige, Sir, your faithful servant,
H. B. W. HILLCOAT, D.D.,
Incumbent of St. Matthew's Church,
Scotland-road.
Vestry-room, Jan. 25, 1851.

SEWERS WANTED

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Stn,—Allow me, through the medium of your journal,
to call the attention of the sanatory gentlemen of this
part of Cheshire to the disgraceful condition of Limekiln-
lane, Duke-street, and the other streets in this locality.
During the whole of the winter the streets have been
ankle deep in mud, with a constantly increasing quantity
of refuse thrown from the various not too particularinha-
bitants of this locality. The want of drains and sewers
causes, I have no doubt, a serious amount of the sickness
in this neighbourhood, which want is the more seriously
felt owing to the pig-keeping and live-stock propensities
of the inhabitants. Pray, Mr. Editor, can you assist a
party who cannot quit under three months notice, tee
abate this evil I—Yours, Mr. Editor,
A CIIESIIIREMAN.
Lower Tranmere.

PROTESTANT DEFENCE

LIVERPOOL

COMMITTEE

PAPAL AGGRESSION

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR.—Mr. George Holt having been one of the requisi-
tionists to the Mayor, to convene a town's meeting, for
the purpose of resisting papal aggression, I took the
liberty of addressing a note to him, of which 1 subjoin a
co Receiving no answer I inserted his name on the com-
mittee, in accordance with the tenor of my note.
I have since received a communication from him, of
which also I subjoin a copy, as the best method of giving
" such early public explanation as the unauthorised inser-
tion (of his name) so justly calls for ! !"—I am, sir,
Yours respectfully,
H. .1. WEBSTER,
Secretary to the Executive Committee.
7, Rumford-street, 27th January, 1851.

7, Rumf, January, 1851.
SIR,-At a preliminary meetio rd-streetng, recentlyloth held at the Claren-
don-rooms, it was resolved that a committee of laymen, of
great influence in point of name and number, should be or-
ganised, for the purpose of watching the proceedings of parlia-
ment, and conferring with its members in relation to papal
aggression and encroachment.
We venture to assume, unless we hear from you forthwith
to the contrary, that we have your authority, as one of the
requisitionists to the Mayor, calling the late town's meeting,of
placing your name on that committee.—Remaining,

Yours most respectfully. ...
H. J. WEBSTER,
Secretary to the Executive Committee.

George Holt, Esq

laBsloln. gr
list of names purporting to be the "Liverpool Protestant De-
fence Committee," of which you are one of the secretaries or
No.L i l:, , e
,Ipnodoi al -.3bluaiilld
oi nfgso,
.7 tdhaJyairearr ye
is,
treasurer.
In that part of the list where the alphabetical arrangement ,
would assign it, appears the name of ' George Holt, common.
councilman."
This insertion having been made without any authority from
me, you will please give orders
. for its immediate withdrawal,
and also give such early public explanation Rothe ImauthoriSlMlx
insertion so justly calls for.
Your obedient tempt.
Mr, H. J. Webster,

liso. nom.

" SWALLOW TAIL" LINE

NEW YORK AND LIVERPOOL PACKET-SHIPS,

Sailing on the 6th and 21st of every Month

114
QUEEN OF THE WEST, HALLET
CONSTANTINE, RUNTI NO
ALBERT GALLATIN, DELANO
CONSTITUTION, BRITTON
ASHBURTON, 111`WILLIAm
NEW SHIP
NEW WORLD. KNIGHT
LIVERPOOL, GORDON

Carrying experienced Surgeons

1350 tons.. 6th Fe).
1500 tons.. 21st Feb.
,1,;010 tgns.. 6th March
16 ons.. 21st March
50 tons.. 6th April.
1700 tons.. 21st April.
1500 tons.. 6th May.
1250 tons.. 21st Jan.

Goods will not beAereived on board after Midnight of the
4th and 19th of eackSlonth.
These splendid Ships are allot the first class, and commanded
by men of great experience and acknowledged character. The
accommodations are fitted up in a very superior style, and
thoroughly ventilated.
For Terms of Freight and Cabin Passage only apply to
WM. BOWMAN and CO., Fenwick-chambers.

~►. LINE OF PACKETS FOR NEW YORK,
- SAILING ON THE
ELEVENTH OF EVERY MONTH.

li-ENRY CLAY, D. H. TRUEUAN 1464 tons..llth February
41DBONS, E. Howas, Jun 1054 tons..llth March.
ROSCIUS, SHOPPIt ll5O tons.. 11th April.

GARRICk, C. It. ADAMS

1914 tons.. 11th M.ay

Toinsure punctuality in sailing, Goo will not be received
after midnight on the 9th of each nth.
These ships are all of the firs d largest class ,buil tin the
City of New York, of the bes aerials, and with such improve-
ments as to combinegre peed with unusual comfort for pas-
sengers, and they ar mmanded by men of experience and
ability. The rat f Cabin Passage is fixed at TWENTY
POUNDS, without wines or liquors, butt hose stores can be
obtained onboard.—Apply to
BROWN, SHIPLEY, and Co.
Freightbythesevesselswill be collected at the rate of four
dollarseighty cents to the pound sterling.

TAPSCOTT'S AMERICAN EMIGRATION-OFFICE
ST. GEORGE'S-BUILDINGS. REGENT'S-ROAD,
•w
rIt44N
irtws,*

The following •
FIRST-CLASS PACKETS
will bedespatched on thei rappointed days,asunder
For NEW YORK.

GEORGE GREEN, REDMAN
QUEEN OF THE WEST, HALLETT
E Z, HARTSHORN
HENRY CLAY, FRENCH
UNDERWRITER, SHIPLEY
ARCTIC, J. ZEREGA
J Z, A. ZEREGA
SIDDONS, HowEs
A Z; CHANDLER

ANTARCTIC, RICKER/3

To sail
. 2000 tons.. Ist Feb.
2300 tons.. 6th Feb.
1801 tons.. Bth Feb.
3040 tons.. 11th Feb.
2500 tons.. 26th Feb.
25-tons..
,IsM tons..
2000 tons..
1800 tons..
2500 tons..

WEST POINt, ALLEN 2090 tons..
CONSTITUTION, Bat N 3000 tons..
ROSCIUS, SHOPPY -
-CENTURION. Co ES 2OOO tons..
-CONSTELLATIO , ALLEN 3500 tons.. -
J. H. SHEPPARD, AiNswotwa 1800 tons..
NEW WORLD, KNIGHT 3500 tons..
LIVERPOOL, ELDRIDGE 2000 tons..
GARRICK, ADAMS 3009 tons..
NEW HAMPSHIRE, CHASE lBOO tons..
.)YATERLOO, HARvEY 2OOO tons.. -
And succeeding Packets weekly through the year

For NEW ORLEANS.
VHARIS2 ALON ER , THOM PSON .. 1800 tons.

For BALTIMORE

ROBENA, KANE':
SCOTIA, MISKELL

1800 tons.. This Day
1800 tons..

f the largest class, commanded by men
The above Ships are o.
Of experience, who will L...ke every precaution to promote the
n gam' during during the voyage.
health and comfort of the a Passage by the above Ships.
Surgeons can have free Cab,. n ,Persons who wish to be more
Private Rooms for Families, o, sits of .11 each, to se
select, can at all times be had, and . d:eP°
stall have due attention.
Cure berths, should be remitted, which' . the United States can
._ Persons proceeding to the interior oinow the actual outlay, are! make the nec, W3'. arrangements
It
'of*. without one
here, to be forwarded, or. arrival at New
day's delay, and thereby avoid the many annoys.`` 'emigrants
are subject to on landing at New York.
Draft and Exchange for any amour ~ at sight on I:eF.„,„.Y"lik:
payable in any part of the United States, can at all t. ‘"""....1`;
furnished to those who prefer this safer mode of taking c. "'
their funds. For further particulars appl pest-paid, to
W. TAPSCOTT and C 0.,, Liverpool,
, Agents for W, and J. T. TArscorr, New York.
TAPSCOTT'S EMIGRANT'S GUIDE, 4th edition, can be
bad by remitting Six Postage Stomps for the same,

PHILADELPHIA AND LIVERPOOL
LINE OF PACKETS.

Sailingfrom LIVERPOOL on theist tkfeach Month
And from PHILADELPHIA on the 10th.

SHENANDOAH. R. R. DECAN
EUROPE. W. M`DowELL

806 tons.. Ist Feb.
650 tons.. 1 st March

BERLIN,-A. F. SMITH
MARY PLEASANTS, A. M. Mici Ls 800 tons.. Ist May.

Cabin Passage, Fifteen neas. Excursion Tickets are
issued at Twenty-five meas for a Cabin Passage out and
home in any of thes lips.
Parcels will b eccipted at 2s. 6d. each. Bills of Lading
will be signed at the Office of the Consignees for the Captain,
of which Shippers will please to take notice.
The Ships of this Line are built of the best and most costly
materials, coppered andcoprer-fastened, and commanded by

men of acknowledge
No freight receive(

d on board on the appointed day of sailing,
Ships willtake steam up"the Delaware.
to JAMES M‘HENRY, 5, Temple-place.
Freight payable at 4 dollars SO cents per pound sterling.

PHILADELPHIA LINE OF PACKETS

Sailing on the 12th of every Month

WYOMING, T. JuLms
TUSCARORA, E. TURL
TONAWANDA. J. W.
SARANAK, R. M. DUN

1100 tons.. 12th-Feb.
sr 1232 tons.. 12th March
%RCKEN .. l3OO tons.. 12th April.
NY lOOO tons.. 12th May.

These Vessels are all of .the fir ass, built expressly for
CIEs line, and combine ever, . ity to render them safe and
exn.ditinna ennyeynnees f .nnda_ and they are fu-nished

61- accommodation for Passengers.
advantage of the Steam•towboats on
Punctuality in sailing, no Goods can

BROWN. SHIPLEY, and CO.
it by these Vessels will be collected at the rate of four

qty cents to the pound sterling,

PACKETS FOR PHILADELPHIA
TO SAIL FROM LIVERPOOL ON THE
-TWENTY-SIXTH OF EVERY MONTH.

lA, G. I

WILLIAM PI

D. W. MOLONY

26th May

The above Ships are built of the aerials, and com-
manded by able and experien navigators, and due regard
has been paid to select m s for speed, with comfort for