The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-07 00:00:00

A PATRIOTIC (!) LOCAL JOURNAL.

We never wonder to see schemes, however absurd, ad-
vocated in such organs as the Manchester Guardian, pro-
vided their carrying out be likely to be injurious to the
prosperity of Liverpool ; but it has, we confess, a little
surprised us to find the following paragraph occurring in a
journal published in this town. Let our readers glance it
through.
" THE BRIDGEWATER AND THE OLD QUAY CANALS.
There has been much speculation of late respecting these
canals, and many surmises afloat, as to what Lord Francis
Egerton intends doing. One statement, which has gone
the round of the public press, is, that the Bridgewater
Canal is to be drained dry, and then to be converted into
a railway between Runcorn and Manchester, and another,
that it is to remain in its present state, and that the Old
Quay Canal is to be made navigable for ships drawing not
more than ten feet water, so that vessels might proceed
from sea direct to Manchester to dischage their cargoes.
This we believe to be impossible, as the Grand Junction
Railway passes over the Irwell at an insufficient elevation
for vessels of any considerable size to pass uder. Besides,
Manchester cannot be made a tree port, though she
might have the advantage of bonding warehouses. The
most feasible and most likely project that we have heard of,
and it has come from a source supposed to know, is, that
the trustees of the Bridgewater Canal are waiting to see the
issue of the bill before Parliament for the construction of
docks at Wallasey Pool ; should that be granted, and on
the terms expected by the Birkenhead commissioners, the
trustees will themselves go to Parliament the next session
for power to extend the docks at Runcorn, along the
shore, and to join the Weaver Trust Canal at Weston
Point, so as to afford every accommodation for that im-
mense traffic now carried on in connexion with these two
canals, and which is expected to be much greater, as the
salt brought down the Weaver, and at present conveyed
to Liverpool for foreign shipment, will, it is affirmed,
ere long proceed to Hull by railway after navigating the
Bridgewater Canal to Manchester. Application will also
be made to make Runcorn an independent port, as by
far the greatest portion of foreign and coastwise merchan-
dise is brought direct to Runcorn, without the least ne-
cessity of calling at Liverpool. acrd thereby the desire pre-
vails of saving the present charge of town dues, a grievance
much felt and justly complained of. We hope, before
long, to state something more positive on this great and
useiul undertaking. The distance from the entrance of
the trustees' docks at Runcorn to Weston Point is rather
better than half a mile, and, with the exception of some
hundred yards, the laud belongs to the trustees, by whom
a large sum has been offered frequently for this small
parcel, but without success ; hence arises the necessity of
applying to parliament; otherwise, we believe, all other
matters are available for the completion of the works.
It is also expected that when the river wall is carried out
to its proper boundary, it will assist materially in cleaning
the channel, so that, with the assistance of dredging fora
time, a communication may be kept up between Liver-
pool aryl Runcorn by steam.boats, at any time of the tide,
thus bringing the two places within little more than an
hour's trip of each other."
And, now, what does the reader imagine is the paper
which can publish such wretched trash—which thus gloats
upon the prospect of any event which can damage the
interests of Liverpool? It is that paper whica Liverpool
feeds to repletion, and which repays the obligation with
slander and scurrilities against all that is dearest to the
majority of its inhabitants. It is THE LIVERPOOL
MERCURY! !

One of the latest London bubbles is a society " for
promoting the restoration of the Jews to Palestine."—
Liverpool Mercury.—[A better plan by far than this—
and, by the way, no bubble—would be, to send all the
priests to their lord and master, the Pope of Rome.]
A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.—The buildings
formerly occupied as a nunnery at Coxside, Plymouth,
are about to be converted into a soap manufactory.—
Mercury.—[The only difference appears to be this, that a
building which is considered inefficient for making red
necks, may be found quite effectual for making white
faces.]
THEATRE-ROYAL.—During the past week that clever
actress, Mrs. Yates, and Mr. 0. Smith, have appeared
in a succession of the peculiar pieces, for the getting up
of which they are celebrated, and which have here been
put upon the stage with great efficiency. On Thursday
and Friday the attractions were increased by the appear-
ance of Madame Celeste and Mr. Webster in "the Polka,"
of which we have heard so much, and in which Madame
appeared to great advantage ;—we say nothing of her
partner. We cannot ste any thing at all ungraceful in
this dance, as we have been told we should. On the
contrary, it is very pleasing, well danced, and would be a
favourite. This week the performances will be aided by
Madame Celeste, who will appear in several favourite
pieces.
THE IRON DUKE.—We have previously noticed the
extraordinary speed of this splendid steamer, and we have
now to record the result of her first Kingstown voyage,
which we should hope will satisfy the most sceptical and
prejudiced that she is unrivalled. The most curious cir-
cumstance connected with her passages to and from Ire-
land is the fact, that both occupied precisely the same
time, proving, as her voyage to Douglas had previously
done, that her velocity is uniform under different circum-
stances. We give some details, who have been kindly
handed to us by Mr. J. C. Shaw, who accompanied her,
and we doubt not but that nautical men will appreciate
them as affording data for comparisons with other vessels.
To those who are not nautical, we beg to state, that the
distance from Clarence Pier, Liverpool, to Kingstown
outer pier, is 114 nautical, or 130 statute miles :
To Kingstown. Return trip.
May 2. May 3.
b. m. h. m.
Clarence Pier to Rock Light OlO .. 0 9
Rock Light to N.W. Light-ship 042 .. 045
N.W. Light-ship to Great Ormshead 1 26 1 35
Great o:mshead to Point Lynas 5 1 1
Point Lynes to Skerries .
Skerries to the Kish Light
3 56 3 54
Kish Light to Kingstown

Total passage 844 .. 844
She derived no aid from wind, inasmuch as she made a
" head wind" both going and returning. The above pas-
sages are considerably the shortest ever made between the
two places ; and we ought to be proud of a vessel which
is entiri ly indilited to Liverpool talent for her success;
and we doubt if the Chester and Holyhead Railroad will
.ver do much injury to our town so long as we have such
fleet steamers as the Iron Duke.

May 7, 1844.

THE MERCURY AND THE ORANGE OATH.

For the information of the editor of the Mercury, we
give here a copy of the qualification and oaths of Orange-
men ; and, that he may not again twit us with the insi-
nuation that Orangemen dare not print and publish their
principles, we have procured and forwarded to him a cop!
of their " Laws and Ordinances," gratis:—

TH.

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