The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-04-25 00:00:00

THE ANDREW FOSTER.

This noble vessel sailed from. the Mersey, on her first
outward voyage, on Friday last. On the Tuesday prior
to her departure a splendid dejeuner was given on board.
The chair was occupied by the gentlemanly but thorough-
going sailor the commander, Jabez Howes, jun., and the
vice-chair most ably filled by Mr. Banks. Amongst those
present were Messrs. A. and J. Taylor, the consignees ;
Mr. Maud, the representative of the owners ; Mr. Day,
of the firm of Stitt, Day, and Co. ; Mr. Meugens, of the
firm of Sill and Meugens ; Mr. Saul, Mr. Flynn,
&c., &c. The tables were piled with a profusion of every
delicacy of our own market, and not a few dishes peculiarly
" Yankee," the demand for which denoted their excel-
lence ' • indeed the variety and diversity of the viands,
which were principally served up warm, would have done
credit to any hotel ; while the wines were of that character
alone with which Captain Howes would desire to regale
his friends. After the cloth had been removed. Mr.
Banks proposed the health of the " Commander of the
Andrew Foster," and in a witty but feeling address
delineated the character of his old friend, Capt. Howes,
who modestly replied to the toast, which was so enthusi-
astically given. The " Owners of the Andrew Foster
was then proposed by Mr. Taylor, and as they are
known as the leaders of the few eminent firms who, in the
commencement of the present century, gave by enterprise
the stimulus to the trade of New York, from which her
importance may be dated, we need scarcely say it was
most enthusiastically received, and replied to by Mr. Maud.
Mr. Walker proposed " The Vice-Chairman," to which
Mr. Banks most eloquently but quaintly replied. " The
commerce of Liverpool and New York" was replied to
by Mr. Day, who, in a lengthy and highly interesting as
well as eloquent address, illustrated the advantages de-
rived from our commercial connexions. Several other
toasts were proposed, to which Mr. Flynn, Mr. J. Taylor,
and others responded, and the party was kept in the
greatest hilarity until five o'clock, when, under the
guidance of Captain Howes, they proceeded to view the
splendid ship—which may safely be said, as to strength,
beauty, and fitness for her intended trade, to be unsur-
passed. The Andrew Foster is one of the St. George
line of packets, and was built, under the inspection of her
captain, for Messrs. Andrew Foster and Sons, of New
York. In exterior appearance she is all that a sailor
could wish. She has a fine entrance and a clean run,
with that rotundity of side that will give her great bearing
powers, and well suit her for carrying canvass. Her lines
are fine, but on deck she is most roomy, and capacity for
passengers is such as will ever render her a favourite
vessel—for in the general arrangements, so important of
late has become emigration, every consideration has been
given to comfort. Between decks she is lofty, and, what is
far more, well ventilated. She is 175 feet in length, 411
feet beam, 251 feet depth of hold, 1280 tons register,
equal to 1400 tons carpenters measurement ; she will
carry, it is estimated, 4500 bales of cotton ; her keel is 15
inches deep and 15 inches wide ; the aprons, stern post,
transoms, &c. ere all of live oak—a timber so durable:and
strong that it is now almost entirely monopolised for the
American navy : she has two keelsons of 15 inches square ;
the keelsons have each a sister keelson, bolted to every first
futtock and floors running horizontally into the main
keelson with la inch copper bolts. The lower deck
beams are 14 by 17 inches in the throat, and 7 inches in
the side ; the hanging knees the same in the throat, and
from 9 to 13 inches on the sides, and are bolted each with
from 16 to 20 bolts ; on the lower deck the inner water-
ways are 19 inches square, the outer ones 12 and 13,
bolted with 1k iron bolt to every timber; all the clamps
and ceilings between decks, 82 inches ; through the bal-
last port she measures 24 inches ; the planking on the waist
outside is 4 in. thich, in the wales 6in., and the bottom 4in.
Indeed, instead of gingerbread decorations, strength and
convenience have been studied ; and we trust, as Captain
Howes is now trying her sailing qualities, she will prove
as fleet. as a glance at her model would denote her to be.

In another column will be found—in an advertisement—
the spirited address of Mrs. Parkes to the public, while
inviting them to become members of her last GRAND
CLUB SUBSRIPTION. It is in unison with the tone and
taste with which she has conducted all her enterprises for
the promotion of the cause of art; and from what we
know of her past performances in the laudable career of
art-emancipation, we may reasonably foretell a fulfilment
of her present promises that must delight the members
of the subscription, while it will reflect ecl&t and credit
upon Mrs. Parkes's " farewell."
THE WATER QUESTION.—This subject, which has
given employment to the pen for some time, has at length
called into requisition the pencil of the artist, and a cari-
cature intended to illustrate the present position of the
question has been produced. The principal figure is a
stalwart Scotchman. armed with two branches from the
mains of the Harrington Water Company. From these
he is pouring forth so great a flood of water as completely
to floor the hero of the " Pike scheme," who appears in a
very pitiable plight, and to put to flight those who have
been loudest in their cries of " No water," " Bad supply,"
&c. Mr. M`Gahey is the lithographer, and a copy of the
sketch may be seen in our office window.

FEED APPARATUS FOR BOILERS.—An arrangement
has been suggested for a feed apparatus for boilers for
steam-engines, by Mr. Sutherland, of Liverpool, as a
means of guarding against gorging or drainage of the
boiler, and thereby preventing explosions. It consists of
a valve-chest, having a horizontal partition in the centre,
beneath which is the induction pipe for the water, and
above it the eduction. From the bottom of this valve-
chest, a pipe descends into the boiler, through which a
rod rises, the bottom of which is attached to a ball-float
in the boiler. In the bottom of the valve-chest is a
conical valve, opening downwards, and in the partition,
one opening upwards, both fixed to the rod in such a
manner that when is open the other is shut. Or a defi-
ciency of water in the boiler occurring, the float falls,
shuts the upper valve, and opens the lower, when the
water immediately rushes in, fills the boiler, raises the
the float, closes the bottom valve, and opens the upper
one, when the superfluous water escapes through the
eduction pipe above the partition.
DISTRICT COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.—On Tuesday,
Richard Taylor came up to pass his last examination.
The bankrupt was a soap-boiler, formerly carrying on bu-
siness in Blackstock-street, in this town. His balance-
sheet showed his liabilities to amount to £34,900, £19,264
of which he attributed to losses in railway transactions.
The assets of the bankrupt were stated at £9,428. It ap-
peared that, in 1846, the bankrupt had compromised with
' his creditors, having lost during that year, in railway
transactions, the sum of £lO,OOO. Since then lie had
been in business, and his assets had all been swept away
under the warrant of attorney, without anything being
left for the general creditors. In addition to this, his fur-
niture had been taken, but there was no visible transfer
on the face of the fiat. The bankrupt was still living in
the same house. The Commissioner observed that there
being no opposition offered, the bankrupt would, of course,
pass his examination, and any objection to be offered
would come forward when the certificate was applied for.
The yearins of the application for the certificate was fixed

for the 16th of May: -
THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND MISSIONS TO INDIA.--
We are informed that on Sabbath next, the Rev. Drs.
Cunningham and Hetherington are expected to preach in
some of the Presbyterian Churches in Liverpool in behalf
of the foreign missions of the Free Church. The names
of Dr. Duff, of Calcutta, and Dr. Wilson, of Bombay,
who may be regarded as at the head of the Free Church
Missions in either of these presidencies, are a sufficient
index of the faithfulness and almost apostolic zeal with
which the missions are conducted ; and one of the best
evidencies of their unsectarian spirit is this, that some of
Dr. Duff's native converts and pupils are now in orders as
Episcopal missionaries in Hindostan. The men who come
as advocates are well adapted to their work. Dr. Cun-
ningham stands among the first of the leaders of the Free
Church, and Dr. Hetherington is even better known in
the literary world, he being the author of two most popu-
lar works,—the one the " History of the Scottish Church,"
and the other " The History of the "Westminster Assem-
bly." We understand that a public meeting for the ad-
vocacy of the Free Church Missions will be held on Thurs-
day, the 4th May, when along with Drs. Cunningham and
Hetherington, Drs. Candlish, Begg, and other eminent
men from Scotland, will be present.—Correspondent.
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO BIRKENHEAD.—The
bill brought into the House of Commons by Lord Mor-
peth, for the purpose of empowering the Commissioners
of Woods and Forests to reclaim crown lands, and aid in
the completion of docks and other works at Birkenhead
has been printed. By the first clause, the reclaimed land
on the Seacombe side of the great tidal basin is vested in
the crown, free from restrictions as to its appropriation.
The cost of the wall on the north side of the basin is to be
borne by the crown, the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests repaying the money already expended for that
purpose. Power is given to the commissioners, by the Gth
clause, to undertake the completion of the work them-
selves, if they should be dissatisfied ; and the wall when
finished, is to be absolutely vested in the crown. The
commissioners are empowered to borrow money on mort-
gage of the crown lands, and to lend £150,000 to the
Dock Commissioners for completing the works. All mo-
neys advanced by the Commissioners of Woods and Fo-
rests are to be a primary charge upon the property of the
Dock Commissioners, and to have priority over all other
securities. Not more than three shareholders in the Bir-
kenhead Dock Company, or in the Birkenhead, Lanca-
shire, and Cheshire Junction Railway Company, are to:I bp
at the same time trustees of the Birkenhead Docks.

LOCAL MEETINGS.

THE FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.

We last week furnished a brief notice of the preliminary
meeting of this association and its objects, and from its
importance in a national point of view we now revert to
the proceedings more fully, and append a sketch of the
further progress of the society. About 100 influential
gentlemen were present at the meeting on Wednesday.
and Mr. Robertson Gladstone was called to the chair.

The CHAIRMAN said it was premature to enter into de-
tails as to the manner in which the association should be
carried out ; but it was intended in the first place to apply
to the Mayor to call a public meeting for the purpose of
giving effect to the great cause they had undertaken, and
he trusted they would meet with general support. It was
not money they wanted so much as moral power, and they
considered, as the times were so stringent, that the ad-
mission fee of members should be from ss. to XI. per
member, which it was deemed would be sufficient. He
urged the objects of the association in a very sensible and
forcible address, in the course of which he said :—" It
had been stated by some persons, who perfectly concurred
in the necessity of a change in the present system of taxa-
tion, that it was not desirable to urge it in the present
state of excitement at home and on the continent. He
(the chairman) did not say they ought to act rashly or
prematurely, but he thought they would neglect their
duty to themselves and to the country if they failed to
profit by what they witnessed in other countries at the
present time. They had at all times a great difficulty in
forcing upon the attention of government and of parlia-
ment reforms which were just and fair towards the mass
of the people, and it was therefore only right they should
seize the present occasion, as a fitting one, respectfully
but firmly to explain to the government and to parliament
what it was the country required; and if they only met
with cordial support, and particularly if their claims went
before parliament marked by moderation, sound sense,
and straightforward argument, he had no doubt but they
would soon succeed in their object." (Applause.) There
was, he continued,another association in the town, having
nearly similar objects, and with that they would gladly
co-operate without a feeling approaching to jealousy.
The association proposed would be confined to a modifica-
tion of national taxation alone. The other association
embraced in their views not only national, but especially
local taxation.
Mr. JOHN FINCH thought the association absolutely
necessary, and trusted it would be supported by all par-
ties. The object could speedily be brought about, and
without difficulty, if the people would unite. There was
less necessity in this country than in any other for resort-
ing to physical force, for such reforms as were required.
They had the government at their finger ends. They
could stop them in three months by refraining from the
use of exciseable articles.
Mr. R. V. YATES thought government would do no-
thing without being compelled. He complained of the
heavy sum of £lOO,OOO a year paid to the Queen Dowager,
while some of our own countrymen had actually perished
of starvation. Instead of additional taxes being laid on,
the expenditure of the country should be curtailed, and
all taxes that press upon the industry of the country
removed.
Mr. WYLIE moved that the association be formed, and
that a number of gentlemen (of whose names he gave a
list) should be the council. Amongst the names proposed
were gentlemen of various politics.
Mr. BROWN thought the object would be better accom-
plished by their joining the National Confederation.
Mr. SHIEL said there was no disposition or wish to
form an association in opposition to the one alluded to by
Mr. Brown, but there were those who thought it would
be enough for one association to do if they directed their
attention exclusively to obtaining an adjustment of na-
tional taxation. The other might direct its attention to
the adjustment of local taxation, and that would be enough
for them to do for some time to come. (Hear, hear.) . .

Mr. MuLLENEux had. had frequent conversations with
members of the other association, and they were most
anxious the present association should be formed.
A few of the gentlemen present were in favour of an
amalgamation of the two societies.
Mr. JOHN SMITH said he was a member of both asso-
ciations, and thought they would both be useful in their
respective efforts.
Mr. BRODRIBB moved "That the council appointed by
this meeting should be empowered to draw up rules and
regulations for the government of the institution, and
should propose a scheme to be submitted for adoption,
with regard to a general retrenchment of national expen-
diture, in accordance with the propositions which form
the basis of the association."' _ .

Mr. HOLLAND seconded the motion. The resolution
was passed, and the meeting adjourned.

WEST DERBY GUARDIANS,—The usual weekly meet-
ing was held on Wednesday.. Mr. John Sheppard was
unanimously elected chairman for the ensuing year. Mr.
Roberts and Mr. Roskell were appointed vice-chairmen.
The clerk was requested to write to the Poor-law. Board,
to ascertain their opinion as to the enlargement of the
Workhouse, which now contained a hundred more per-
sons than it was calculated to accommodate. It was re-
solved that Mr. Arrowsmith, of the Crosby, &c. district,
should be called before the board, to give some explana-
tion as to the collection of rates, complaints having been
made that after the payment of the amounts, a second
demand had been made upon the ratepayers for them.
A long conversation then took place on the letter which
appeared in the Mercury of the Friday previous, in an-
swer to the statements made as to the accuracy of a re-
port of the proceedings at a previous meeting of the board.
The Chairman and Mr. Peers maintained strongly that
the report originally complained of was essentially correct,
but the letter was considered very offensive, and on the
motion of Mr. Sydney, seconded by Mr. Shaw, it was
resolved, by a majority of 11 to 4, that the writer should
not be again permitted to enter the board-room. During
the discussion, the Chairman bore testimony to the accu-
racy of the reports which have appeared in the Mercury.
WESLEYAN METHODIST FOREIGN MissioNs.7on
Tuesday the annual meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary
Society in Aid of these Missions, took place at the Bruns-
wick Chapel, Moss-street. John Cropper, Esq., occupied
the chair. From the report, which gave a satisfactory
account of the various missions. it appeared that
.under
the care of this society there are-294 central or principal
stations, called circuits ; 2597 chapels and other preach-
ing places ; 417 missionaries and assistant ditto, including.
8 supernumeraries ; 771 paid agents, (catechists, interpre-
ters, day-school teachers ; ) 7074 unpaid agents, ( Sabbath-
school teachers, &c. ; ) 102,230 full and accredited church
members ; 4115 on trial for church membership ; 72,00
scholars, deducting for those who attend both the day and
Sabbath schools ; 8 printing establishments. The follow-
ing is the financial statement for the past year :
The total amount of income received for 1847, X. s.
d.
from all sources, has been
Balance in hand from 1846 . 4_,994_9 4

Total ............ .. .. 108,613 11 1
The expenditure for 1847 has been ...... 114,606 17 6

Leaving a deficiency for 1847, to be provided
for, of . 5,993 6 5
The meeting was addressed by the Rev. Thos. Williams,
of Stockport; the Rev. J. Cordeaux, of St Silas's; the
Rev. George Steward, of Hull ; the Rev. G. G. Jessors,
of Runcorn ; the Rev. Mr. West, of Manchester ; and
the Rev. R. S. Hardy, missionary from Ceylon. The
collection amounted to £lB2 ss. sd. On Wednesday
evening the adjourned meeting was held at Pitt-street
Chapel.
DOCK COMMITTEE.—THE DOCK BILL.—At the Dock
Committee meeting, on Thursday, the Chairman said he
bad the pleasure to inform the committee that the dock
bill now before parliament had, substantially, passed the
committee as it left that board. The only alteration that
had been made was with regard to the enabling power to
sell for freight. The bill went from the Dock Committee
with 90 days in it. The Council altered the time to 30
days. To this the Parliamentary Committee took excep-
tion, and substituted 90 days, as in the original bill ;
with a condition, also, that ten days' notice must be given
before selling for freight. There was no alteration but
this, and the bill would have passed altogether, but for
the insertion of the rating clause,—the enabling clause to
pay the local rates. He might say that the feeling of the
committee was decidedly in favour of the rating clause,
and they consented, as a matter of course, to an adjourn-
ment till after the recess, in order that measures might
be taken, backed by the opinion of the committee, for
getting over the difficulty as to the standing orders, with
the view of obtaining the insertion of the rating clause
itself. A petition was presented to the house on Tuesday
night, to overcome the difficulty ; and he (the Chairman)
could entertain no doubt whatever that the town would
feel perfectly satisfied on that subject. There was every
reasonable hope that the rating clause would be in, but
should it not be in, the proviso, which was equally satis-
factory and protective of the ratepayers, would be in. So
that it would be in, either in one shape or the other. No
difficulty would arise as to the rating clause. The money
clauses were passed—the warehouse opposition was un-
successful—and the clauses tendered by the warehouse
owners, to give them privileges similar to those at the
Albert warehouses, were rejected by the committee. The
opposition from Birkenhead had been of a very bitter
character. With regard to the warehouse matter, an
anonymous paper was sent to the committee, with a good
ma arguments in favour of warehouses. He (the chair-
man instructed the counsel to state to the committee,
that neither he, as chairman, nor any of those associated
with him, had any knowledge of the paper being sent,
but, from some cause or other, it was forgotten. The
next day this paper was mentioned whilst he was under
examination, and he took the opportunity of stating to
the committee that he was anxious to disclaim all know-
ledge of this anonymous paper, which had, with so much
impropriety, been sent to the committee ; but as it con-
tained so many personal attacks on himself, he thought
that was unnecessary. The paper was sent to the com-
mittee individually, and not as a sitting committee. He
might state generally, that, in opposition, the Birkenhead
people wanted to show that they could supply the accom-
modation and requirements of the trade of the Mersey
better and cheaper than the Liverpool dock trustees, but
they were thwarted in every stage till the decision on the
preamble was taken. The committee were of opinion the
dock trustees were entitled to their bill.—After a few
observations from Messrs. Henderson, Robinson, Shand,
and Mann, the committee proceeded to financial matters.
BIRKENHEAD DOCK COMMISSIONEOn Thursday
last a special meeting was held on the subject of the
Dock Bills now before Parliament—Joseph Mallaby, Esq.
in the chair. Mr. Hicklin said that from what he had
heard he thought it was absolutely necessary to adopt some
decisive resolution, investing some gentlemen on the
board with full powers to proceed to London for the pur-
fose of taking the necessary means for securing the pass-
ing of the dock bills, in their full integrity, upon the basis
of the arrangement entered into between the Commis-
sioners of Woods and Forests and the Birkenhead Com-
missioners. Some misgivings had arisen on the subject,
but they were now partly removed. Lord Morpeth sent
down an eminent engineer to inspect the works §rid test

the accuracy of Mr. Rendel's estimates, and they had been
found quite correct. He drew the attention of the com-
missioners to the necessity of the bills being passed in
their integrity, and thus prevent the ruin that must
result to the shopkeepers if the matter was further de-
layed. In conclusion, he moved, " That it is the opinion
of this board that no proposition should be entertained
in reference to the bills now before parliament affecting
the Birkenhead docks, which may tend to delay or defeat
the carrying out of the arrangements already agreed upon
with the Commissioners of Woods and Forests ; and the
chairman be authorised and requested to proceed to Lon-
don for the purpose of watching the progress of the bills,
and supporting the views of the commissioners, subject,
however, to any modifications of detail which may not
interfere with the essential conditions of the arrangement
referred to."—(Applause.) Mr. Pike seconded the
motion, and referred to a document which had been
signed by some of the commissioners, and which was in-
consistent with the previous arrangements made with
the Government. Mr. Potter explained, that the docu-
ment referred to was merely an expression of opinion that
some amalgamation was desirable. It had been signed,
in a very short time, by 150 individuals interested, in the
place. The document was then read. It was signed by,
amongst others, eight of the commissioners, and was to
the purport that an amalgamation of the dock system of
Liverpool with the Birkenhead docks, would be beneficial
for the latter. Mr. Potter had signed it, but he said that
all he wished was, that the Liverpool Dock Trustees
might not be precluded from entering into an arrange-
ment for working the docks. Two or three other com-
missioners stated that there was a growing desire that the
docks should be under one management. Mr. Nicholls
said that he had the authority of three of the commis-
sioners who had signed the document, under misconcep-
tion, to withdraw their names, and read a paper to that
effect, concluding with these words :—" Having been this
day informed of the contents and object of the movement,
we most earnestly protest against the same, believing such
a measure as it advocates to be contrary to the interests
of the town and neighbourhood." It was signed by
Messrs. Watson, Horner, and Barlow. A long and some-
what animated discussion then ensued, in the course of
which the Chairman protested against anything being
done which might impede the passing of the bills, as the
docks were a national affair. Mr. Hicklin replied, ex-
pressing a hope that the Government would make the
neighbourhood the station for vessels of war. The
motion then passed unanimously, it being understood that
if the Liverpool Corporation thought proper to open a
negociation for the docks, after they were completed, they
should not be debarred from doing so.