The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-06-20 00:00:00

DEFENCE OF THE NAVIGATION LAWS

Sir John Gladstone, in his 84th year, has dictated, from
his bed, tobis son , the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.,
a long letter on the Navigation Laws. The venerable
writer contends that the boasted principle of reciprocity
cannot be worked out in this country. He says :—" We
have very extensive colonies and foreign possessions
(many of them earned at the cost of British blood and
treasure, and thus considered to be achieved by conquest,
though now, I lament to think, likely to be rendered
valueless to us by the present measures of our rulers,)
with which an intimate arid constant intercourse is main-
tained and carried on in British shipping, productive of
important advantages to Britain and British ship-owners.
If I understand you right, you propose to lay open this
carrying trade to the shipping of other countries—for
instance, to the United States. Now, it does happen that
the United States possess neither colonies nor foreign
possessions, and, therefore, have no such privilege to offer

to us in return or to concede ; it, therefore, follows there
can be no reciprocity in such a course of conduct, no quid
pro quo, but all the advantages, whatever thdy may be,
are to be given up by us without a consideration. You
contend that, in such a case, our colonists have a choice
,

of conveyances, some of them, perhaps, on lower terms
than by British shipping, are willing to adopt them, and
would reap the advantage. If this principle is to be re-
cognised and acted upon, do you not at once lay the axe
to the root of the tree out of which have grown the
sources of our commerce, our wealth, and our maritime
greatness ? By layinrthem open, you propose to abandon
to others the sources which support the superiority we
have hitherto possessed in our ships. our colonies, and
commerce, the sources of envy and jealousy to other
countries. You say that, if you do so, in return we shall
confer advantages on our colonies; as, for instance, you
suppose a German ship carries emigrants from Germany
to Australia, and on her arrival there the colonists should
have the power of loading their wool, or other produce,
and through such a foreign channel conveying it to a
British market. If such a concession were to be made,
the benefit to the colonist would only be incidental and
unimportant. But whilst the transport of their produce
is restricted to British shipping, the certainty of their
finding employment secures the necessary supply on
which colonist may depend ; but if laid equally upon
the foreigner, who. with such competition, can have no
dependence on finding employment—thus, between the
two stools,.whilst you propose to benefit the colonist, you
risk his being left without the means of sending his wool
to market. But this is only a secondary consideration.
We have at great expense, established and settled our
colonies ; we have given them privileges, protection, and
admission to our markets of consumption for their pro-
duce 'on conditions advantageous to them—concessions
all calculated to promote a union and intercourse alike
beneficial to both, but which, under your propositions,
are to be abandoned and thrown open to the world,—
whilst that world, caring only for itself, makes no optional
contribution in return towards raising our enormous
revenue—defraying or providing for our sources of
taxation, local and , general—supporting our sys-
tems, institutions, our habits of industry, labour,
expenditure, and consumption. These are wholly
local, and depend upon ourselves ; whilst you pro-
pose, with a hand of vast and liberal profusion, to lay
open every source we possess, or advantage we enjoy,
to the free and open competition of others, who, as far as
can discover, while we are to part with substantial good,
have nothing to give or even to offer to us in return. If
I understand you right you are also disposed to lay open
our coasting trade to the foreigner, which certainly, in
many instances, would be not only gratuitous, but with-
out a pretence to reciprocity. The principle of reciprocity
might be urged by the United States, if she proposed to
us to admit British shipping to participate in carrying on
their coasting trade, provided the same privilege were
conceded by us to American shipping in the coasting trade
of the United Kingdom. If such an uncalled for, un-
natural, and inconvenient concession, with a sacrifice of
local feeling, was to be made, I can discover no serious
advantage it would be productive of to the interests of
either, whilst it would be found to prove a source of great
jealousy and risk of misunderstanding. But come nearer
home, and let us suppose that the excess of shipping be-
longing to the ports of Hamburgh and Bremen, built and
fitted equally well with British shipping, though at a much
lower cost, navigated and provisioned on more favourable
terms, and now spread over the ocean, and advantageously
employed in the commerce of the world, which seems
rather a favourite object of yours—l say that if these
bottoms from the opposite coast were to be employed in
our coasting trade—let us suppose that great branch of it
carrying the supply of coals from Newcastle and its neigh-
bourhood, to supply the consumption of fuel by near two
millions of our population residing in London and its
vicinity, employing many hundred sail of British ships,
and many thousands of British seamen—suppose this trade
laid equally open to the shipping of Hamburgh and Bre-
men what have they to give us in return ? I answer,—
nothing. literally nothing ; for they have neither coast
nor coasting trade of any kind or description. Yet, in
this mania of liberality you, with others, appear disposed
to make such vast and uncalled for sacrifices. You may
say that what we give up is to be occupied by others, and
that the general trade and commerce of the world is to be
extended and increased by it. That may be true, but the
concessions and sacrifices are to be ours—the gains and
advantages are to be given to others, whilst this country,
raised to power and eminence by the advantages of situ-
ation united with well-regulated liberality in our inter-
course with others, but with a due regard to our own in-
' - "isdom of our laws and insti-
the affP;- if the

unions, nas gamest a pre-eminence _ attairs o.
world which these new-fangled doctrines and theories are
calculated to undermine, and ultimately to break down
and overthrow, but which I would fain hope, by hasten-
ing a change of both men and measures, may be pre-
served to us unchanged. * * * Once lay open our
colonial possessions and coasting trade to the shipping
and seamen of other powers, I ask, where is your boasted
nursery that has hitherto manned your navy and pro-
tected your shores ? If they are to be laid open, and
passed into the hands of foreigners, who, in place of being
our friends, may prove to be our inveterate enemies, and
if we shall fans be cultivating and promoting the means
and engines for our future destruction, what then is to
become of your justly-boasted wooden walls ?"

EFFECT OF FREE TRADE MEASURES UPON
OUR COFFEE-PLANTING COLONIES.

It will be known to our commercial readers that up to
1836 the duties upon coffee were 6d. on West Indian, 9d.
on East India and Ceylon, and ls. 3d. per lb. on foreign.
In 1836 the duty on Ceylon Coffee was equalised with that
upon West ladian ; in 1842, by Sir Robert Peel's famous
tariff, the duty on foreign was reduced to Bd., and that on
West Indian to 4d. ; and in 1844 a further reduction was
made on foreign, which brings us down to the present
scale of 4d. per lb. on British and 6d. on foreign.
The effect of these several concessions to the foreigner
may be traced from the following statement of the prices,
in bond, of Ceylon coffee in the month of March in each
year, beginning at 1838 :—ln the March of that year, the
price per ton was £80; in 1839, £lO2 ; in 1840, £99 ; in
1841 (with free trade in perspective), £6l; in 1842, £7B;
in 1843, £55 ; in 1844, £6B ; .n 1845, when a further di-
minution of protection was made, £46 ; in 1846, £46 ; in
1847, £43; and in March, this year, only £3O to £32.

Some of the large houses which failed in the autumn of
last year are declaring dividends. Reid, Irving, and Co.,
in announcing a first dividend of is in the pound, have
issued a circular disclosing a further considerable reduc-
tion in their assets occasioned by depreciation in the West
India and Mauritius estates, and the failure of their cor-
respondents, H. Adams and Co. Upon the revised
estimates, 10s. in the pound, instead of 205., is the limit
calculated. Barclay, Brothers' first dividend, is fixed at
2s. -6d. in the pound. A second dividend is on the eve of
declaration under the estate of Rougemont, Brothers,
which will be from 2s. to 2s. 6d. in the pound.

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.—We have had ano-
ther week of fine feeding, but rather rainy weather; and
the crops, both in field and garden are luxuriant and, on
the whole, highly promising. Early potatoes are of large
size, and from dry soils almost ripe and flowery. The
wheats, generally, look well, though we regret to say that
we have observed, in some fields in the neighbourhood, a
decided appearance of smut,—which, however, we hope
will not proceed far, especially if the weather takes up,
and becomes dry and sunny. The oats this year are truly
tha thick on the ground, the seed not perhaps being
depended upon and sown too lavishly, having sprung up
almost to the suffocation of the plant. The turnips and
mangles,so far, give great promise, and the country, gene-
rally, never presented a more luxuriant clothing of ver-
dure. With regard to fruit, (a secondary consideration),
we may say, from present appearances, that there will be
much more than an average crop of apples, pears, currants,
gooseberries, strawberries, &c. A good deal of hay-grass
has already been cut ; hut owing to the repeated showers
has not yet been gathered, and is in some degree: in
jeopardy. That portion which is yet on its legs (perhaps
two-thirds of the whole), will, we hope, be entirely secured.
There is abundance of feed for cattle of all kinds, and
the prospect is cheapness for the housekeeper.
IDOLATRY OF CHEAPNESS.—" It is in the retributive
justice of the Great Being who sways the universe," said
the Rev. Dr. M`Neile, at Liverpool, on Tuesday last,
"that an idol unduly worshipped shall be turned to the
punishment of the idolaters; and if there be an idol ever
unduly worshipped on the face of the earth, I believe that
cheapness is that idol now, and that God will smite it, and
cause the men who are worshipping it to buy dear." We
recommend the words to the serious attention of Mr.
Richard Cobden. That gentleman is evidently in danger
of selling his soul to the fiend, if the bargain be not already
contracted. The disclosures made by the hon. member
for the West Riding in the House of Commons as
recently as a week ago strike painfully on all well-
regulated minds. He lives to buy cheap. This is his
mission. All men have their work to do in life. Old
Chapman thought he might die when he had trans-
lated Homer. Schiller's heroine loved, and then
prayed her Father to remove her from the earth. Mr.
Cobden will have done his work, his very ignoble work,
when he shall have brought his weekly expenses down to
the lowest point hitherto attained by mortal stinginess.
He tells us so himself. He hates every thing but buying
cheap. lie cannot bear to hear men talking Rule Bri-
tannia : he grumbles when he sees a noble-hearted middy
not four foot high clapping his hands and delighting him-
self with the thought of England's naval supremacy. He
is only happy when he sees a bankrupt's stock advertised
for sale, or when haberdashers announce their attention
to dispose of. their goods fifty per cent. under cost price.
Then he lives : at other times he is dead. High-
spirited gentleman ! Englishman thorough-bred to the
backbone !—John Bull.

Juin' 21; Sit

THE LIVERPOOL MEETING ON THE SUGAR

QUESTION

The meeting of Tuesday last at the Sessions Houses
upon the subject of Lord John Russell's proposed modifi-
cations of the Sugar Duties, resulted in another triumph
of the intellect and prosperity of the town over that small
but self-sufficient party who style themselves free traders;
who arrogate to themselves the character of luminaries of
the first class, and assume that all who disagree with them
are immersed in the depths of ignorance. It was a de-
monstration of which Liverpool might well be proud, and
from whose proceedings, orderly throughout, and full of
ability, the parliament of Great Britain itself might with
advantage take a lesson. Deeply interested in the subject
before them as were many of the speakers opposed to the
then existing law affecting our sugar colonies—one of life
or death to some and of intense interest to others ; con-
taining amongst them, and having around them, the re-
presentatives of some of the oldest and most respectable
firms in Liverpool, connected with our colonial trade,
whilst the advocates of the application of a further
measure of free trade to those colonies were composed, in
part of rude theorists, and wholly of parties unconnected
with, or having interests apart from their maintenance
in, or rather their restoration to prosperity. We saw'
no attempt to bear down the weight of the arguments
adduced by clamour, on the one side, or the
other; and still less by the influence and weight of
authority which must ever attach to the opinions of such
gentlemen as Mr. Shand, Mr. Adam Hodgson, Mr.
Josias Booker, and others upon such a subject. The
overwhelming majority, therefore, in favor of the whole of
the resolutions must be considered on the part of colonial
protection, must be set down as the result of pure con-
viction on the part of the meeting—as a declaration of
the sentiments on the subject of a majority composing
men of every shade of politics, establishing above all
things the fact that, in the opinion of the commercial
people of Liverpool, the question at issue as to the treat-
ment by the mother country towards her free labour sugar
coloniesi is one which cannot and ought not to be decided
on purely free trade or politico-economical principles.
There was another characteristic of the meeting on
Tuesday, which contributed to establish the exception of
this measure from the rule to be applied to other subjects.
We refer to the fact that, amongst the most able of the
speakers, and listened to with the deepest attention, never
attempted, even by those amongst the adverse minority,
upon whom their arguments appeared to tell with the
greatest force, to be reproached with having descended
from the exercise of their high functions to mingle in the
strife of ordinary politics—were two clergymen of the
Church of England, the Rev. Dr. M'Neile and the Rev.
Thomas Nolan, A.M. The question involved in our
treatment of our sugar-producing colonies was recognised
as one involving the sacred rights of humanity, and 01'
national faith and justice, as well as the merely selfish
question of money and cheapness. In their hands it was
elevated above these paltry considerations ; and it is signi-
ficant that the resolution moved by the Rev. Dr. M`Neile,
affirming the adherence of the mee ing to the principles
of " British Justice, British Consistency, and British.
Honour," was carried by a great majority, and with
greater enthusiasm than any other. •

THE LIVERPOOL WAREHOUSING COMPANY•

We noticed briefly in our last the object of this coin'
pany, whose prospectus appears in our advertising columns
this day; and we learn that during the week the plan
proposed has been discussed in many influential quarters►
and promises to meet with a large share of success. We
have ourselves more maturely weighed it, and it really
seems to us that nothing but some such measure can
effectually protect the great mass of warehouse property
throughout the town from serious deterioration. In parti-
cular we would direct the attention towards it of the owners
of those warehouses, whose means and position do not
admit of making large advances for the purposes of int"
provement, and whose interests would be greatly served bl
the proposed central management by the Company's
officers, and the advantages of the improved machine*/
to be provided.

The departure of the West Indian mail has been again
postponed until to-morrow (Wednesday.)
FATAL SQUABBLE.—On Friday last two men in the
village of Greasby, near Upton, commenced a quarrel
which, unfortunately, ended in a fight, during which one
of them, named Evans, received so severe a blow on
side, from his antagonist, that he died soon after.
SINKING OF A PIER.—On Sunday, the Fire King,
Gravesend steamer, came with such force against the City'
steam pier, Temple-bar, that it forced the dummy against
a pile, which entered its keel, when it filled with water,
sank, and dragged down the whole pier with it.
THE IRON TRADE OF SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE.-This
important branch of manufacture has been exceedingly
dull during the past week. There are very few orders on
hand, and nearly all now being made is for Stock.
Throughout the district there are a great number of men
unemployed, and many working only. half time upon re-
duced wages.

MURDER IN WESTMEATU.—A travelling Connaught
man, named John Cook, was brutally murdered, at
Horseleaf, near Kilbeggan, on Thursday night. The ill-
fated man's head was smashed in pieces by blows with
stones, supposed to have been thrown at him by his com-
rade or fellow-traveller. The plunder of a few shillings
is supposed to have been the object of the murder.
NOVEL IMPORTATION.—The St. George,
Capt. Ferris,
from New York, landed here on Friday last, 101 live hole)
They were shipped at New York after travelling 1000
miles 990 of which they were driven. One hundred wnel;
shipped, three were used on the passage, and
°ile
o the
died, while another gave birth to five, thus increasin
ne
original, shipment by one. They are well bred Ana I,'
large animals ; and have been so well attended that Wel,
are ready for butchering. The St. George is consignee!
to Mr. A. Taylor, and the hogs to Messrs. Jas. Taylor
and Co., Dale-street.

SOMETHING GRATIFYING FOR SIR ROBERT PEEL."'"
After the manner in which the once great leader of the
House of Commons was received, the other night, in the
scene of his former glory, it will be consolatory to his
friends to read the following paragraph from a con tem p9rarY,
Sir R. Peel officiated at Birmingham, on Tuesday evening, at
a public dinner given to Dr. Hodgson, of the General Hoopluu
of that town. The right hon. baronet was received in a vet)"
complimentary manner.
We shall, perhaps, next hear of Sir Robert's " health and
song" being well received at the cyder cellar or the eolll'
hole. Verily, the mighty are falling !
THE ALLEGED POISONINGS AT BRISTOL.—ANOTfI
EXHUMATION.—On Friday, the coroner, assembled 11
jury for the purpose of holding an inquiry on the body
a Mrs. Mitchell. who died about four years since, 011
whose case is connected with the late extraordinary
poisoning cases. The coroner and jury proceeded to SP'
Paul's Churchyard, where they disinterred the body 13
the presence of several medical gentlemen. The visors
and entrails were perfectly decomposed, indeed soluble.:
but some portions of the lower extremities were in good
preservation. The contents of the stomach were deliverer
to Mr. Herapath for analysation, and the inquest was nu.
journed.—Bristol Mirror.
QUERY—A BIT OF SATIRE ?—We cannot accuse OU
contemporary of the Journal of disregard of the merits 01
Sir Charles Napier; but the following two paragrapbsl3;
unfortunately so arranged as to convey an inuendo both
upon that distinguished officer and her Majesty's mil:
ters. We give them precisely as they appear in his pub
lication on Saturday :
" Admiral Sir C. Napier entertained the ministers and a
large naval party on Wednesday, at Portsmouth.
" The Lords of the Treasury have decided upon giving Sir
Charles Napier one-eighth of the Scinde prize-money."
We are at a loss what we have to infer. But the decision
of the Lords of the Treasury to give Sir Charles one"
eighth of the prize-money is certainly made here into all
after-dinner decision. Whichever way it is, however;
the entertainment and the award of the loaves and fiPhe'
are brought rather too much into juxta-position

LIVERPOOL CATTLE MARKET, JUNE 19.
We have bad a larger supply of all kinds of stock at our
market to-day than last week, with a numerous attendance of
customers. On the whole we had a dull market, particularly
for second-rate and inferior qualities. Beef, 5b.1 to Gid per lb.;
Mutton, Gd to 74d; Lamb, 6d to 7d.

PRICES OF PROVISIONS 1N BIRKENHEAD
MARKET, JUNE 17, 1848.
a. d. 8. d.
as. .
Beef IOU. os.
6. dlto 0 7i Gooseberries, qt. olto 0 2
Mutton
Veal
66
--
00 774 i
CSturrarwabnetsrries.... 00 82
_.—
00 to
Lamb, per lb.
Fresh Pork
0 6 0 g
4
Bacon
Hams 0 9 0 10 Cucumbers, each 0 1— 0 A
Salmon
Soles
Cod Fish
Brit 0 8 0 0 Geese, c'ntry fed 0 0 —0,. 0
Haddocks 0 0— 0 0 ,Partridges,vbrce 0 0— ! p
Whiting 0 0— 0 0 ,Plovers
Lobsters - 0
Fresh Butter.... 1 0— 1 04 Black Game
.- Salt ditto ..... 0 10 0 11 Pheasants 0 0 —„" 0
Eggs.... a'120.. 5 8— 0 0 Hares ...... each 3 6 nu 0
Potatoes, 1.1, Peck 1 6 2 0 Pigeons,wouple 1 B—* „v 0
New Do., per lb. 0 01— 0 li Rabbits 2 2_,....,.. v
._._—

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER
BY MR. C. H. CHADBURN, 71, LORD-STREET
5 a

ATMOSPHERIC
Daily Direc-
Temperature tion
in Humidity at
Fall of
Pressure at shade by self- Noon. Wind
registering Difference of of at
Nine i
p.m.Max.n Six thermometer Wet and Dry Rain. Noon.
`-0
a.m. ! •M I bulb.
a
-----1
P In. In. Deg. Deg. Deg. In.
13 29'46 1 29'60 57 50 3 o'oB s•s•W
14 29'83 I 29'83 60 55 3 o'o3 s.byW
15 29'86 29'85 70 58 7 4E.
16 29'87 29'85 70 60 5 E •
17 29'84 29.83 63 58 1 o'2B vr• N•'"Y
18 0•15
19 30'18 30'19 , 3

THE WEATHER.-13th: light rain, breeze.—loth? Aro
breeze, light rain, sunny.—lath : bright.-16th : brtgr
clouded.-17th : morning, heavy rain. —lBth : light
19th . alternately bright and clouded.

LIVERPOOL:
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1848.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED Ar a,
EVERY TUESDAY MORNII_,
By JOSHUA FLETCHER LACE, of 53, Grove street, $ll4.
Orford-street,
LEONARD ADDISON, of 14, Great
At No. 4, ST. Grosent's CRESCENT, LIVERPOOL.

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