The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-01-14 00:00:00

EN. tibtrpool attanbarb.

FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY 14, 1842

We received last night, by the arrival of the West
India mail, advices from British Guiana, to the 3d of
December. The most important information which
they convey is contained in the report of a public meet-
ing of proprietors and representatives of estates and
other property in Georgetown, on the Ist of December,
for the purpose of receiving the report of a committee
appointed on the 6th of November preceding, to elicit
information with respect to the cost of production of
the staples of the colony during the last ten months,
with the view of devising measures to reduce such cost
of production, if found excessive, to a fair proportion
to the value of the produce. Sir Michael M"furk was
.called to the chair, and W. R. Sandbach, Esq., acted as
secretary.

The Chairman having briefly stated the objects for
which the meeting was called together, proceeded to

lay before it the result of the enquiries which had been
entered upon by the committee. Returns had been
received in answer to those enquiries from 62 estates,
situate in every district of Demerary and Esequibo ;
and from the returns it was manifest that the cost of
production far exceeds the value of the article produced,
leaving interest out of the question. This result the
committee cannot trace to any other source than the
scarcity and the high price of labour in the colony. To
remedy this they propose various plans, which we can-
not at present enter into the examination of, or even
detail; but we may state briefly that the alteration in
the law of tenancy, and a reduction of the cost of pro-
duction by means of a continuous supply of labour, to
be provided by means of an extensive system of immi-
gration. We regret that we can only glance at the
proceedings of this important meeting in our present
publication ; and shall endeavour in our next to do it
the justice it deserves.
The condition of affairs as described by the various
proprietors is truly deplorable ; and, yet bad as it is
we can see in it the foundation for a better state of
things, as well for the interests of the planter as for
those of the whole African race, if the statements
which this meeting brings in an authentic form before
the public, shall only receive from the Home Govern-
ment the attention for which they so urgently call.

We received at a late hour last night Jamaica Stan-
dards of 10, 11, and 13th December. During the
sittings of the House of Assembly the Copper Coin
Regulation Bill was rejected. The Silk Company, re-
cently established in the island, have applied to the
House for a " loan," but the idea is scouted by the
papers before us as most preposterous, and the autho-
rities are advised to lend their money to the agricultu-
rists and resident proprietors, to cultivate the staples
of the country. On the 10th ult. Mr. Barclay pre-
sented to the House of Assembly the return from the
Receiver-General, of the rum duties collected annually
from the year 1835, and observed, that from the time
the duties were laid at 2s. they were gradually de-
creasing yearly, from the time in which the duty was
only one shilling. The amount collected had decreased
at the ratio of £l,OOO per annum. Another speaker
stated, that although the consumption was double, and
the duties were double, the revenue collected was less.
No motion was founded on these statements. Whilst
the House was on committee on the Imports and Ex-
ports' Bill, a motion was made for the remission of the
Exports' Duties, but after a long debate it was nega-
tived. At the same sitting it was moved that a reduc-
tion take place of the duties on steam-engines, im-
proved mills, and all machinery which facilitated the
improvement of agriculture. This also was negatived.
The question then arose as to whether the import duty
should be contuntedat 5 per cent. or reduced to 3 per
cent., when the latter amount was eventually deter-
mined on.

Great indignation is expressed at, a paragraph in the
Limerick Chronicle, about the " mortality of the West
Indies," and the statement admits and receives a satis-
factory explanation.
The island has been rather sickly for the last few
months.

There is an interest connected with our expedition

to China which affords room for a great variety of spe-
culation. On the original rectitude of our position!
much has been said, and much might still be said, on.
both sides ; but so many leaves have been turned over,
we have gone so many stages since any opportunity re-

mained to us of retracing our steps, that to go hack
upon that question now would answer little other
purpose than that of satisfying a historical curiosity.
We doubt not that Sir Robert Peel is extremely anxi-
ous that our differences with the celestial empire were
terminated, and, so far as it depends upon his govern-
ment, that the war will not be continued unnecessarily
for a single day; but with xegard to those upon whose
consciences it seems to weigh heavily, as a grievance,
that we should persevere, even for an hour, in what
they look upon as an original error, we must say that,
in our opinion, they carry their scrupulosity a little too
far. It is, we allow, anything but credita'le to our
name and nation, that British subjects should have
been the principal purveyors, growers, carriers, and
vendors of an article among the Chinese rincipally
used by them for a most degrading and deptructiva

plirp9oi ttms *O4 !w/o po! MP!t7

ovix, with 4 f;;I! 4.npFi.v4gB MO? mp !rail Pi

it was contraband and unlawful, That is N circum.
stance which cannot be denied—one which gives us
little occasion to boast, and by which we really do ap-
pear in no better light than that of " barbarians"—

vhetber we laugh at those who usually favour us with
the designation, or weep with those who sadly think
that we deserve it. But, beyond this, we do not per-
ceive that there is anything in the position we have ta-
ken up that should occasion chagrin even to the most
sensitive. The Chinese have no right to claim a pre-
rogative superior to the usages of civilised nations,
nor to redress what they may conceive to be a griev-
ance, in a manner different from that which any na-
tion brought within the circle of ordinary relations,
and, unwilling to give offence, would pursue. The
Chinese method of putting an end to the opium traffic
was a complete defiance of all modern, all civilised
usages ; and not only injurious, but insulting, in the
highest degree, to British subjects. For their pre-
sumptuous and contemptuous operations on this head,
we not only had a right, but, as a necessary measure
of self-protection, were bound to call them to ac-
count. 'We have done so; and if the result of that
appeal is to place us in a state of %var with the autho-
rities and people of the country, there is nothing in
our position which we may not strictly justify by the
law of nations, however we may be grieved by the fact
itself.

Compensation for opium destroyed, or injuries done
to British subjects, constitutes, however, but a very
limited object of contemplation in connection with so
vast an announcement as a war between this country
and the celestial empire, with all its unknown and
hardly imagined train of consequences. There is a
presentiment with which few who have turned their
thoughts to the subject have not been visited—that
China, so long a sealed volume, is now at length about
to be opened, and that, hereafter, she will not be per-
mitted to isolate herself, as she has hitherto done, frGin
the rest of the world. Nor has anything yet occurred,
in the progress of our enterprise, to dissipate the de-
cided though still dim forecast of thought. The peo-
ple have had some experience of the immense superio-
rity of our power as a war-conducting nation ; their
great city of Canton has been taken, and all but
sacked, and glad were they to purchase its redemption,
in the moment of extremity, upon any terms. Such
outskirts of their empire as it pleased us to take pos-
session of, we have wrested from them with facility,
and, where it answered our purpose, retained. They
have had the opportunity of testing the total inefficacy
of their miserable war-junks by repectedly fatal en-
gagements with our " fire-ships" and other naval ar-
maments; their strongest forts fall quickly under our
guns; their truant troops cannot be prevailed upon to
try a steady conflict with our small arms even for a
moment; and yet what symptom has appeared of the
obstinacy of the people being in any degree wrought
upon, or of the great object of our expedition being
speedily accomplished ? At Canton they have shown
their disposition to violate the truce, and a feeling of
uncertainty prevails among strangers whether it is to
be considered as still in force or not. At Amoy they
have had mother impressive lesson administered to
them ; but they seem to learn everything but that
chapter on " humiliation" which it is so much our
wish to instil into their minds. Their ingenious ga-
zetteers found a sufficient handlej in our abandonment
of the conquest to convert the whole transaction into
a triumph on their side ! This Chinese victory is set
forth in glowing terms in the Canton press ;wand so
marvellous, according to their account, was the over-
throw of the barbarians, that the concoctor of this cu-
riously contrived, and most veracious piece of intelli-
gence, attributed the fact to the immediate interposi-
tion of their gods, "one of whom," he says, " was
seen with dishevelled hair and bare feet, holding a
sword in his hand, and descending from heaven, lead-
ing a numerous host of brave soldiery. At this the
souls of the barbarian troops were frightened out of
their bodies, and, being set upon by the celestial corps,
were unable to work their guns That Amoy
was recaptured on the. 19th moon was owing, first, to
the aid of the gods; second, to the assistance afforded
by the soul of the venerable Chang-yeu ; and third,
to the love which the governor cherished for his coun-
try and the people."

Highly creditable, then, as the conquest of Amoy is
to our arms, to the officers commanding, and the men
who were engaged in the service, it would seem that
we have not been able to subdue in the Fokien man-
darins the spirit of lying, nor in the people the taste
for the highest heaven of boasting and invention. We
retain a small island near the town, but flea-mun, or
Amoy itself we give up, not having troops enough at
the existing juncture to hold it. The immediate fruit
then of this achievement is but trifling ; it was but a
mere morning visit—a passing token of respect to the
Amoyites; and our expedition passes on northward,
having gained little more than honour, which the ene-
my does not acknowledge, by the incident. For any-
thing we can yet perceive, the war approximates no
nearer to its termination by this occurrence; Chinese
obstinacy continues as much as ever unmoved, and
our complaint unsatisfied. The only addition we have
made to our gains of any importance is something to
our stock of acquaintance in the celestial character,
manners, and customs; we do not mean to say that
even this was altogether worth the cost. We learn,
first, that these Chinese are no soldiers, and that if
their country were not so large, and they so numerous,
they might be very easily subdued ; secondly, we per-
ceive that they are a set of basely abject idolaters, and
superstitions to the last degree, having no knowledge
whatever of the only true God ; and, thirdly, that they
are as prodigiimsly great thieves and plunderers as
they are liars, preying upon each other with as little
remorse, in the midst of public calamity, as they un-
questionably would upon absolute " barbarians," if
they had the power.

" Plunderers," says Sir H. Gough, " flocked into the city
and suburbs, to the extent of many thousands, and I regret
to say, that several gangs penetrated into the citadel, and
commited much devastation. Indeed with the prospect of
leaving Amoy so soon ! I doubt that our marching
through the island might rather have frightened away the
peaceable householders, and led to further plunder by the
mob, than have been of any advantage. Such, indeed, was
the audacity of these miscreants that I was in some cases
obliged to fire, in order to disperse them ; but I am glad to
say with but little loss of life. "

Now, whether we fancy the task of chastising these
miscreants or otherwise—whether the exercise of some
wholesome discipline upon them be profitable, or un-
profitable to their schoolmasters—it is tolerably clear
that we are in for the job, and that our pupils have all
the appearance in the world of being perfect gluttons
in the way of correction. That they should be made
to pay_ in money the full price of
.their instruction
would seem no more than just and reasonable.

The Popish Priests of Liverpool have been trying
to get up a storm since the Council of our munici-
pality took the wise resolution of re-modelling their
schools, according to the precepts of Catholic doctrine
and discipline. This is the natural rebound of the shot
discharged in good time, and with such true aim, by
our excellent cannoneers. Such a report we looked
for and expected; and as it does not take us unawares,
all the

" Double, double, toil and trouble"

of the conjurors, who ride in the whirlwind, is in a
great measure lost upon us. The thunder has come
off first, in the shape of a fierce denunciation, from the
pulpit of St. Anthony's Mass-house; next, in the way
of awful placards upon the walls ; and thirdly—we
know not that we can say, lastly—in the form of a
memorial or remonstrance, addressed to the Town
Council, deprecating the recent change of system which
it has been their pleasure to make in the schools. All
this is very awful, and no hurricane in the puddle or a
wash-hand basin, but very echoes of the Vatican, with
a touch of the earthquake—most dreadful to consider
and experience. Babylon, Babylon, ay, Babylon the
great, is falling !—that great city ! and those who lived
by her merchandise are running about distracted—
wringing their hands and proclaiming the sad news.
But what is this to us ? We are Protestants as well as
Catholics : we know that Popish Babylon must tum-
ble ; we have been always looking fur her downfall ;
and if her plagues begin even now to come upon her,
we have nothing to do but call earnestly upon the
people to " come out of her," that they be not par-
takers thereof, or perish in the certain ruin that awaits
her.

With respect to the memorial presented to the Coun-
cil, we would have been much better pleased if that

119Eliftm 11§4 Nni OW APisilwi Rfit ft-* oil

40 Pt its Poolli-POPP pe lito
irty which it was diginauliild, Our Conservativo
friend: in that assembly must really put forth a little
more vigour, and exhibit somewhat more of consistent
decision. It was extremely well argued, that a memo-
rial purporting to be from the " Catholic Laity and
Clergy," of Liverpool should strictly be understood to
be a memorial from the Rectors and Clergy of the
protesting Catholic churches and people of the town.
The argument was perfectly correct; but why did not
the conclusion correspond with it ? Why was not the
petition sent back to its framers to be altered according
to the truth, or to be withheld altogether if such a
change did not suit their taste ? Here is an instru-
ment presented with falsehood upon the face of it.
Those who look at it are aware of its unfounded as-
sumptions. They discuss them, complain of them, and
yet end by voting for the reception of the documeut
as genuine, whilst " forgery" is branded upon it in
broad characters. This is egregiously inconsistent,
and ought not by any means to he. It is carrying
courtesy a great deal too far to join in giving currency
to untruth. Members of the corrupt apostate Church
of Rome are not Catholics, and have, therefore, no
title to the name. Their assumption is unfounded,
and we of the Church of England, and of every other
Scripturally Christian church, protest against it; but
of what use will our protest be in words, if we violate
it in our conduct ? The Corporation of Liverpool has
taken up a noble position ; they have made a glorious
and a successful, stand in defence of our national
Christianity; they have planted the standard of Eng-
land's Church well and rightly. It only remains for
them to maintain their ground with firmness and con-
sistency.

We would be the more disposed to dwell on the
propriety of rejecting this petition on the ground of
informality, as the case may in some respects be re-
garded as one of the first impression. It is not, indeed,
any thing new for Romish priests to take upon them a
style and dignity which is the right of others, and to
which they have themselves no claim whatever ; nor is
it a novelty for members of their communion, both
lay and clerical, to disguise their unhappy apostacy
under the honourable designation of Christian Catho-
licity; but it would be something new, and worthy of
lasting commendation, if the Corporation of Liverpool
would take the matter in hands, and so far as it lies in
their power, put a stop to the practice. It would be a
very excellent example, and we trust, at the next op-
portunity, they will not shrink from affording it.
We were much pleased to learn, from Mr. Harbord
and other gentlemen, that the Education Committee
have lost no time in carrying the new rules into effect;
and only regretted that Mr. H. was not favoured with
an opportunity of putting the " surpliced ruffian," who
had the audacity to visit the schools and kick up a
riot therein, into the hands of the police. Let Con-
servatives rejoice and be glad that all such vulgar
janissaries of Popish craft, tyranny, and iniquity are
now cut off from all right of access, or even pretext
of approach, to our public, municipal schools; and
must retire from the beams of Christian light, which
are too strong for them, to congenial darkness, there
to lord it over the moles and the bats. These are just
the men to prophesy deceits, and cry out, " peace,
peace, where there is no peace." What system of
education could be good that Romish priests had ap-
proved of ? None. Their rage at this moment is an
unequivocal evidence that the reform now affected was
much needed; and we never were better pleased at the
glorious consummation that has been brought about.
The municipal schools will not want scholars, maugre
all this priestly passion. And who can tell how many
poor persons, who have been the dupes and victims of
sacerdotal presumption, and withheld from enlightening
knowledge by circumstances too strong for their con-
troul, may yet live to bless an institution organised as
these schools now are, that first led them to the know-
ledge of truth, struck off their chains of darkness, and
set them at liberty—free in the enjoyment of that
liberty which is consistent only with the knowledge of
truth ? It was time to
.make a stand against the en-
croachments of a brutilising superstition. The local
government of this great commercial town will gather
unfailing laurels by having had. the perspicacity to see
the necessity, and to act courageously and unreservedly
upon it. We laugh with rneasurelekm satisfaction at
the disappointed malice of shaven crowns; and we
delight ourselves in the thought that many and many
a poor exile of Erin, who long had crouched beneath
the hideous tyranny of these remorseless despots, will
now find a safe refuge in Liverpool—riddance from
their fangs—liberty for himself—and the instruction of
sound wisdom for his children. The Council of Liver-
pool has passed an act of true Catholic emancipation
which cantiot be appreciated too highly.

Like other great men who imagine themselves duly
qualified to speak de omnibus rebus et quibusdam aliis,
Mr. Bolton frequently discovers a profound ignorance
of his subject. In nothing has this been so apparent
as in his attempt to mislead the Council by informing
them that the Collegiate Institution was intended
exclusively for the children of the wealthy. If he had
taken the trouble to consult the prospectus which was
published in every Liverpool Newspaper, he would
have found that, the education which it will afford will
be adapted to the means of every class of society, so
far as three scales of charge and divisions of School
can produce such effect. He would likewise have
found that the Mechanics will enjoy in the Evening
School by far greater advantages than they at present
are deriving at the Mechanics Institution, and if the
Directors can carry their intentions fully out, on lower
terms. But it did not suit the purpose of Mr. Bolton
to make any enquiry upon the subject,—it was
sufficient for him that the Institution was connected
with the Established Church, and that one of her
Bishops was at the head of the educational department
—under such circumstances, were every child and
adult to he freely admitted, or even paid to enter, the
Institution must be denounced.

We can, however, understand this conduct, for
whatever else we have to complain of, in Mr. Bolton,
we cannot accuse him of any attempt to disguise the
deep hatred which he bears to the Established Church.
But what shall we say with respect to Mr. Henry
Lawrence ? who could have expected that he, a
professing churchman, after having been a consenting
parts to a grant of money,—money, mark, not land—
to the Mechanics Institution where no religious
instruction. according to Mr. Mellor's own admission
is communicated, should have declared that he would
do his best to oppose a similar grant to the Collegiate
Institution,—that it was ridiculous, nay, quite a farce
to think of referring the application, though made
by the Rectors of the Parish, to the Finance Committee,
—and that the Mechanics Institution has merits
peculiar to itself. Thank Heaven, all our Town
Councillors are not like him. Messrs Gladstone,
Aspinall, Sands, Parker, Harbord, Birkett, James
Lawrence, at least, will continue faithful to the Pro-
testant Cause, and we trust that the remainder of the
Conservative Councillors will imitate their example.
In this case we may afford to lose Mr. Henry Lawrence.
What he could be dreaming of to state that the
Mechanics Institution has merit peculiar to itself we
cannot divine, unless Mr. Lawrence deems instruction
in dancing and non-instruction in religion, to be such.
No one can have attended to the proceedings of the
Town Council, without noticing the frequency with
which Mr. Bolton rises, and we are assured that if
the reporters were to present his " airy nothings" upon
ever occasion the lenth (to use Mr. Alderman Evans
elegant mode of rendering the word) and breadth of a
Newspaper would scarcely contain them. He evi-
dently thinks the Town► Clerk an useless piece of
furniture, as he volunteers every moment to make
unnecessary suggestions. His attempt, however, to
reply to Mr. Aspinall's enquiry, on Wednesday pro-
duced such a well merited rebuke to his impertinence,
as will probably render him a little more careful in
future. It is impossible to describe the ridiculous
aspect which he wore upon the occasion.
We can only anticipate that the Council will aid
the design of the Collegiate Institution Memorialists
with their most liberal support; we take this for
granted and though we refrain from noticing further
the spirit in which the proposition was received, wa
cannot permit ourselves to doubt of its ultimate