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

INTENDED SAILORS' ROME.

It will no doubt he in the recollection of our readers
Vial 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 on: philanthnvic townsmen; but
th it, though the proposition was. generally approved,
several obstacles to its formation presented themselves,
amongst which not the least was the want of a suitable
seize, near the docks, for an adequate building. We have
now, however, tLie 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,--ncmely, the providing of poor seamen with
lodgings only,—having, on inaturer consideration, been

extended, FO at 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 general instruction for all,—
addenda which wilt render the Listitution 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•
nounced in another coluMn,) called by the Mayor, and at
which his worship will preside, will take place on Friday
next, fur the purpose of forwarding the arrangements, and
at which we anticipate a full attendance of our townsmen.
The Rev. Jonathan Brooks, Rev. Hugh M'Neile, Messrs.
Gladstone, liathhone, and many ethers, will advocate the
claims of " Poor Jack."

The temptations and frauds with which our gallant tars
in this town, es in other large hors. 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, rafting
with heir bard-got gains with a reckless prodigality
which has obtained them the reputation of " earning
their money like horses, and spending' it like asses. '
This ionnovidence 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 their 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 eunnirg and
dexterity employed by these wretches to secure it. He
ris 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, arc at his heels from the moment the anchor is let
go in the river, or the ship got into dock. Goods of the
most worthless description are pressed upon him, at
extortionate prices ; but, perhaps, the crowning mischief
is the extortion of low lodging-house or paltry tavern •
keepers, who wile him to their immoral haunts, and spee-
dily re:ieve him, by inducements to lavish expenditure and
exorbitant charges, of his cash, after which the chances
i are, that his decent clothing is pledged, and he is turned
adrift ragged 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 earnines of
his voyoge "at one nit swoop," and darting off, are
rarely seen again.
This proves Jack to be an inconsiderate -character, no
donut, but he ought not, therefore, be the too easy prey
of the vices of others; and the proposed institution ap-
pears to be well-calculated to shield him from many of
the (tamers by which he is beset, to induce him to be
' more wary and circumspect ; and, finally, to elevate him
in the scale of humanity, by implanting a proper degree
of self-pride, and moral feeling. The intention of the
founders hi to make him a wiser and a better man, and to
throw around hial 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-
ant'should be 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 curiosities, and
disposing of them for a mere trifle) might be induced to
contribute, and this would soon form an intsrssting col-
lection. And we have known not a few poor s who
are ingenious in making models of vessels of a new or.
peculiar construction, from which praetical improve-
ments in hulls, sails, &c., might possibly be derived.
Lectures on strip-building, and on general navigation
might afterwards be soperadded, and would lie a source
of edification and entertainment during the winter nights,
keeping the inmates rationally engaged at " Home," in
place of squandering - their money and their time in the
noisy tavern, or the low concert-rooms attached, where
they are liable:to fall into demoralizing associations.
That all our seamen who have no real homes to resort
to, wilh in the first instance, take advantage of the insti-
tution we are not so sanguine as to eapect ; for obdurate
habits in some and prejudices in others must he over-
come ; hut 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
elevated. Captains will always select the most intelligent
and well-behaved seamen they can find, and no one who
receives 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 eta.
has chances of promotion thit 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
reported 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 eigtecn years of age, one of the crew, who,
to his honour, though poor, had applied himself to the
study of navieation ; and he was duly appointed to the
command by his 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. Bair, 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 Inlir-
mary—The Blue Coat Hospital—and the SA-atnzers'
Friend Society ; and that in consequence each of these
Insiitutions has lately received the handsome sum of
£125, duly 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 milloeracy in the
improvement of machinery for every description or farm-
ing operations. in the neighbourhood of Llangollen, on
a farm held by a late townsman of our own, may he seen,
gorse and hay cutting, kibbling oats, brans, &c., &c., and
churning, ,11 in operation at the same time; or the thrash-
ing and winnowing orgiain, and the straining of potatoes,_
chaff, corn, &c., sufficient fur the food of twenty cows and
six horses, for a day and night. In the first operations,
200 quarts of milk are chained in an hour, and as much
hay, gorse, and grain kibbled during ithe time of churn-
ing as will supply eight horvs three days; and by the
latter, eighteen measures of grain thrashed and winnowed
ready for market.
IRON Sine BuILDING COMPANY.—At thelast quarterly
meeting of the iron masters in Staffordshire, it was pro-
posed by Mr. Thorneyetoft that a Company should be
formed for the purpose of bringing Iron Sailing Ships
into more general use, to overcome that prejudice which at.
present•existed against them. Iron Steam Vessels were
thoroughly established and tequired no assistance, hut in
consequence of several defective sailing vessels having
been built this blanch had not made any progress. Mr.
Thornaycrolt also. recommended that the Froposed 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 Mr. Thorneycroft last week
visited Lit erpool fur the purpose of ascertaining the state
of public opinion ; and, in company with Mr. Grantham,
wafted on the Mayor, Mr. Robettsou Gladstone, and
other influential men. He -everywhere met with the
greatest encouragement to proceed with the undertaking.
It was also proposed that the. saute Com, any should, if
found necessary, adoPt measures for insuring all Iron
Vessels built under the inspection of their Ergineer.
The steam-ship Great Britain, according to the Bristol
Mirior, is to be released from her long confinement on
the 26 h inst.

___. _.... _ ........
'Anil I.TERATION OF BEER.—It is said that an extensive
increase -of drugs used in. the adulteration of beer has
token place in an ale and porter brewery of considerable
standing, and that it will be heard of at the next meeting
of the CrimmissiOners of Escise. • -
Birkenhead
to.
icontemporary
PtccoatAL SoPPLESINNT.—Our friends across the water have
stirred up the members of the broad sheet to accomplish wonders
Al hich were never even _contemplated before. Our neighbour of the
Mail has announced that he will present with his publication of
Saturday 'next a stamped pictorial supplement representing' views
engaged place
b 5' a
ourL Bir
o,f,
otit,chid . F
io.,c,icirtrehentacelsenNtvehdi Cahrti‘svtisl l
etiawuke
we expect to seo very correct and graphic' illustrations of the
animating-scenes.
PAINTINGS' BY Trl2 OLD -51ASTLIFts.—We lately visited Mr
Wilson's collection exhibiting at Lac.iy's rooms, and, as we-pro-
niisecl in our last, proceed to notice what appeared to us most
choice and butiu intl. The unfortunate Queen cf France,
" Maria Antoinette," by Grerize. is a lovely and exquisitely
coloured picture, highly interesting histi.nically and as a work
of art. - The ts:aintation of the Virgin." by Luciri, is one of
those gorgeously coloured and wonderfully finished paintings,
that display i, perfecti :a the grand characteristics of the Flo-
rentine school. The heads of ihe Angel and'M adonna are types
of ideal beauty. " The Hawking Panty, by Wouvermuns, is a
charming composition. and remarkable for the argentine tone
so desirable in that master's works. Among the" landscapeQ,"
we particularly noticed a grand classical one by Hughtenbu'rg,
and Viers of great merit by Salvator ROSfl, Llobberna, Ruysdael,'
and 13erglem. There arc also some very fine " Holy Families"
by the great Italian painters, particularly one by Baroccio
which is remarkable for its sweet expression. The " Card-
playeta," by Murillo, is a rich-toned specimen and. full of cha-
racter. Lasly, 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
limits prevent our saying more than that we were highly gra-
tified by the inspection, and recommend our readers to avail
themselves of this opportunity of witnessing
the results of an-
cient a: t. ,
__ _

„,---
ANTI-GRZASE HATS.—The use of these hats are now becom-
ing general; and time has proved that they are all the ad-
vertisements announce them to be,—light, durable, and
impervious to grease.

VIEW OF BI RICENH KA e.—Each purchaser of the Courier of to-
morrow wili be presented with a lithographed view of Birken-
head, Wallasey Pool, and the surrounding country. The ♦iew
is supposed to be taken from the mast-head of a ship stationed
midway between Woodside and Seaconibe..