The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-02-18 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

proval of the Board of Trade as could be offered by
any company. First we have every material con-
cessions, and no doubt very proper concessions made
to the demands and conveniences of the public;
but whether they may be consistent with the pro-
fitable working of the line is far from clear. Lord
Dalhousie himself affords us no data. Indeed it is
not even said that the question whether these con-
cessions could he profitably made was ever consi-
dered by the board. Then we have temptations
held out to government itself—an electric telegraph,
the links of a coast communication, and the offer to
government of the option of purchasing the line.
These are undoubtedly great inducements for the
board to give it their preference over lines whose
projectors are not so liberal ; but it is still proble-
matical whether the facilities thus offered do not de-
tract somewhat from the prospect of handsome di-
vidends for the shareholders.

We have made these remarks without the slightest
design to prejudice the interests and standing in
the market of the particular line referred to, which
may be, and no doubt is, a valuable property. Our
object is only the protection of the public against
the possible, and too probable, result of rash invest-
ment in whatever schemes the Board of Trade may
choose to sanction, without first ascertaining the
grounds upon which that sanction has been given;
and we trust that we have already said enough to
induce prudent men to be more cautious in their
operations. Some day, we have no doubt, they will
thank us for the word in season.

FEELING IN COMMERCIAL CIRCLES AS TO
SIR R. PEEL'S FINANCIAL MEASURES.

The period between the first announcement in Liver-
pool of Sir Robert Peel's financial measures for the year
and our publication of this day has been too brief to
allow of anything decisive being gathered, as to the feeling
of the mercantile body with respect to the details of the
plan proposed, or their precise operation. We must,
therefore, be understood to be somewhat general in
expressing the result of our inquiries upon the subject.
Before proceeding, however, to details, we may briefly
describe the feeling which was excited by the promulga-
tion of the scheme as a whole.

For some days previous to the premier's explanation an
impression was very current here that ♦ery little was to
be expected in the shape of reduced taxation. The inti-
mation conveyed in the speech from the throne, of the
necessity of further defences of our coast and of an increase
of navy estimates, gave rise to an opinion that a large
amount of the surplus in his hands would be applied by
Sir Robert Peel to the carrying out of these objects ; and
the announcement of measures of reduction, so compre-
hensive as'those decided upon, came upon all parties totally
unanticipated, and, on that account, was received with
greater satisfaction. The excitement which existed
during the whole of Saturday was unprecedented, unless,
indeed, it was exceeded by that caused by the announce-
ment of the tariff of 1842.

The first and the great feature of the scheme—the re-
duction of the duty on sugar—was sure to be received
with pleasure by the consuming classes. We have endea-
voured to ascertain bow it is regarded by the mercantile
body, and are glad to find that the feeling is generally
satisfactory. By the West India body it is regarded as
having improved their position in the market, as com-
pared with foreign producers. The East India planters,
too, find that in their low qualities of sugar they are placed
perfectly secure from any injury from foreign competition.
Although, under the uncertainty which exists, with re-
spect to stocks in hand, no definite prices can be fixed,
and business has been consequently at a stand, yet, we
understand that grocers are already disposed to admit of
an advance of 2s. per cwt. upon sugar in bond ; and opi-
nions are expressed in well informed quarters that 4s. to
ss. will be ultimately realized.
The repeal of the duty on cotton wool, although so
frequently canvassed, may also be said to have come upon
us as a surprise, being rather viewed as a thing to be de-
sired than one to be expected just now. On Saturday the
arrival of the news put a stop to business in our cotton
market for several hours; and it was not until mid-day