The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-02-08 00:00:00

VISIT TO THE SHIP CARPENTERS' HALL

From Burlington-street Sir Howard Douglas and his friends
proceeded to the Ship Carpenters' Hall, in Bond-street, where
he met a numerous body of that useful and industrious class
of workmen.
Mr. JOHN Pilo occupied the chair, and he introduced
Sir Howard to the meeting with a few appropriate remarks
on his public character, and his qualifications to represent
this borough in parliament.
Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS, who was received with great ap-
plause, said he was fully sensible of the very favourable opi-
nion entertained of him by their worthy chairman, and of
the manner in which he had introduced him as a fit and pro-
per person to represent this borough in parliament. When
last he had the pleasure of meeting them in that place, they
were engaged for the second time in fighting the battle of the
Protestant constitution in this country. (Hear, hear.) lie
had been then called upon to present himself as their candi-
date, by a great number of the most influential persons in
this place, who had made acquaintance with him in the course
of services which had made them acquainted with the endea-
vours he had made to defend the shipping interest of Great
Britain, as the primary interest, the main interest, upon
which the power and the very existence of this great com-
mercial and maritime state depended. He obeyed that call
, with the same alacrity as he did this. He was unsuccessful
in both those struggles. He had since been employed in the

service of his country for a period of nearly seven years.
Appointed not by a whip ministry, but by a conservative
ministry, which was then in power, he continued to serve, as
a faithful subject and loyal soldier would do, under a Whig
ministry. Ile carried out the plans he deemed fit for the
real advantage of the people lie governed, and in these plans
the late ministry entirely and fully concurred, and he re-
mained in that country for a considerable period over the
time for which he had been appointed. He had come down
here well aware of the triumphant success which conserva-
tism had won since made in this good and loyal town, and
it was impossible for him adequately to express how deep and
grateful was the satisfaction be felt at having been brought
forward to witness that again. Ile took great interest in the
progress of that great cause, from having fought its battles
here twice; and as an inhabitant of Great Britain, and a
staunch conservative, he felt the success of that cause to be
of the greatest importance to the well-being of England. To
be put in the place which their triumphs ;lad prepared for
bins would give him a station in the House of Commons, as
the representative of Liverpool, which certainly was one of
the very first places in the House of Commons, and which
he should consider the greatest honour that yet remained in
the power of any constituency to confer upon him. (Cheers.)
If he were sent there they might rely upon it he would do
his duty steadily, loyally, and firmly towards all the interests
that he represented and protected. (Cheers.) They might
depend that no theories of a false philosophy should, as far
as he was concerned, be allowed to tamper with the great
interest upon which the existence of Britain's power de-
pended—the shipping interest. (Cheers.) He would fight
against them with all his force ; he would oppose them with
all his means; he would drive them in a corner, and expose
as much as he could what he thought of the falsehoods of
that most fraudulent theory. (Loud cheers.) He did not
mean to say that those who propounded them deliberately
meant injury to England, but that they themselves were
deluded by a fraudulent theory, which no power upon earth
was unwise enough to follow, and which he hoped we should
be wise enough determinedly to reject. (Loud cheers.) The
gallant candidate concluded by expressing his determination
to support a protection for all our great national interests,
an expression which elicited great applause.
Mr. LONGDEN complained to Sir Howard of the evils of
the apprenticeship system, and of its effects upon the trade
of the ship carpenters; and he asked whether the gallant
candidate would support a petition praying for an inquiry
into-the subject?

Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS said that he objected to give any
pledge to any person under any circumstances. Having pro-
mised this, he would declare that he was ignorant of the state
of the case, but he would inform himself thoroughly of it if
it were brought before bim, and he would engage to do all
with it that was just and proper. (Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then returned thanks for a vote in his
favour proposed by Sir Howard, and. the proceedings termi-
nated.

EXCHANGE, CASTLE-STREET, AND ST. PAUL'S

WARDS

Last night the freemen and burgesses of Exchange, Castle-
street, and St. Paul's Wards, held a general meeting in the
large room of the Queen's Arms Hotel, for the purpose of
promoting the interests of Sir Howard Douglas as the Con-
servative candidate for the representation of this borough, in
the place of Mr. Justice Cresswell. In the absence of Mr.
Peter Hope, the chairman of Castle-strcet ward, Mr. WIL-
KINSON was called to the chair.

Mr. CkusoN said that as an elector of Castle-street ward,
and an old freeman, he had great pleasure in moving the first
resolution, which was to the effect that the sound constitu-
tional principles professed by Sir Howard Douglas recom-
mended him to the electors of Liverpool as a fit and proper
person to represent this borough in the Commons House of
Parliament. (Cheers.) Sir Howard was a staunch sup-
porter of Conservative principles; he would not lean either
to one side or the other, but he would take a straightforward
course in supporting those principles which tended to perpe-
tuate the greatness of this city. (Cheers.)
Mr. NixsoN seconded the motion, and it was unanimously
carried.

Mr. GEORGE GREEN moved, and Mr. GEORGE WRIGHT
seconded, the next resolution, which was to the effect that in
case of opposition, the meeting pledged itself to use every
lawful means to secure the return of Sir Howard Douglus,
and having confidence in his integrity, declined to exact any
pledge from him as to his future conduct. This resolution
was carried unanimously. _ .

Sir HowARD DOUGLAS was then introduced to the meet-
ing, and, having been informed of the resolutions passed in
his favour, he thanked the meeting for their cordial reception
of him. He then proceeded to congratulate the meeting on
the success of conservatism. both local and general. He
should never lose sight of its principles, and he would devote
all the powers of his mind to the promotion of the interest
of his constituents. He was tied to their principles, and, if
they returned him, he would lose no time in giving effect to
them in the House of Commons. .

Major DOUGLAS was then called for, and he addressed the
meeting in a few spirited observations.
Three cheers were then given each for Sir Howard Dou-
glas, Sir Robert Peel, Lord Sandon, and Sir Thomas
Brancker, and the meeting separated.
GREAT GEORGE'S AND PITT-STREET WARDS.
At eight o'clock last evening, Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS
made a brief exposition of his principles to the electors of
those wards, at the Nag's Head Inn, Park-lane. Mr. Wat-
kin Williams occupied the chair, and Messrs. May, Russell,
Jackson, and others addressed the meeting. Resolutions
were adopted expressing the regret of the meetirl at the loss
of Mr. Justice Cresswell, and pledging them to use all legal
exertions to return Sir Howard Douglas. The address of the
gallant candidate was very brief, and exactly to the same
purport as those already reported. Major Douglas also ad-
dressed the meeting, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed
throughout the proceedings.

EVERTON AND KIRKDALE WARD.
Immediately after the preceding meeting Sir Howard
Douglas proceeded to Mr. Lyon s, St. George's Hotel,
Everton, where a numerous body of his friends, resident in
the wards, had assembled. Amongst those present we ob-
served Messrs. T. B. Horsfall, J. Chaffers, Bold, Roskell,
Derbyshire, J. C. Duncan, E. D. Maddock, Councillor T.
Shaw, R. Horsfall, W. Ashley, and Arthur Henderson.
On the motion of Mr. Molyneux, seconded by Mr.
Chaffers in the most complimentary manner, Mr. T. SHAW
was called to the chair. He stated that they had met in con-
sequence of a vacancy in the representation of the borough
in parliament. Sir H. Douglas, whom they had fixed upon
as their candidate, had come down amongst them some years
age, and had fought their battle manfully at a time when
radicalism was in the ascendancy, and a whip ministry mis-
governed the country. Now they had happily a conservative
administration, who, he trusted, would redeem the country.
Mr. T. B. HORSFALL said he had to move "That Sir
Howard Douglas was a fit and proper person to represent the
borough." (Cheers.) It had been suggested by a friend near
him that the motion should be postponed until they saw the
candidate. He (Mr. Horsfall) need but say that they had
already seen him ; and that they had now met to receive an
old, valued, and tried friend. Six years had elapsed since
he had been amongst them; but what had since transpired
tended to strengthen the bond of friendship and political re-
gard which previously existed between them. Our gracious
monarch having called their late representative to the
bench, and thereby broken the link between them, they
were thrown back upon their earlier attachment, and would
rally round him not to contest a battle but, he trusted,
to enjoy an easy triumph. (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.)
The sentiments of Sir Howard Douglas were in accordance
with their own, on the great question of scriptural education,
as well as in his attachment to the Protestant church.
(Cheers.) He congratulated the ward that it had returned
three conservative members to the common council, (inclu-
ding their worthy chairman,) all of whom had manfully stood
to their colours ; and he did not think they ought to separate
without an expression of their gratitude to Mr. D. Hodgson,
who had so fearlessly and consistently stood forward on the
school question, and that too amidst opposition of a ran-
corous nature which no gentleman ought to meet with.
(Cheers )
Mr. MADDOCK seconded the resolution.
Mr. CHAFFERS moved " That the meeting having every
confidence in Sir H. Douglas, pledged themselves to use
every exertion to return him triumphantly.
The motion was seconded and carried amidst loud applause.

The gallant general then entered the room, accompanied
by Sir Thomas Brancker, Arthur Henderson, Esq., and
others, and addressed the meeting at some length. He
thanked them cordially for the warm reception with which
they had honoured him, and which was exceeedingly grateful
to his feelings. He congratulated them on their present
position. He could not but remember that he had partaken
with them of two defeats ; but since, by their exertions and
perseverance, they had been triumphant not only in their
parliamentary but their municipal representatives. He en-
tertained no doubt but the present administration would
proceed in a straightforward manly way to repair the mon-
strous evils produced by their whig predecessors. Sir Robt.
Peel had already announced that he would immediately pro-
ceed with several of his great measures. One of these, re-
lating to the corn laws, was fixed for Wednesday next. He
should co-operate with the ministry :in their measure, which
be believed would be for the benefit of the country ; and if
the electors gave him their confidence, he could assure them
he would not abuse it. He would exercise his functions for
their interests, and the interests of the town at large,
and he hoped he should be enabled to give a good account of
his stewardship. Ile would not delay them at so late an
hour, more particularly as he must keep a shot in the locker
for to-morrow. (Cheers and laughter.) He would look
back at the last ten years, (since he knew Liverpool,) as the
most interesting in his life. He anfeipated b:ting placed by
their kindnes, in a position at once dignified and pleasing, at
a period when he could devote himself solely to their inter-
ests, and he would assure them his best endeavours would
be exerted to render him worthy of their choice. (Loud
cheers.) He concluded by proposing three cheers for their
chairman, Mr. Shaw, which were heartily trebled.
Three cheers were given with equal good-will for Major
Douglas.
The gallant Major returned thanks in a feeling address, in
which he expressed his gratitute for the honour done to one
so near and dear to him, and felt an assurance that their con-
fidence would not be misplaced. He concluded by congra-
tulating them on the conservative triumphs they had achieved,
remarking that they had carried their meliorating principles
not only into parliament and into the local government of
their town, but to their homes and their fire-sides. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN proposed the thanks of the meeting to
Mr. D. Hodgson for his unflinching and consistent advocacy
of scriptural education. This was heartily complied with.
Repeated cheers were then given for the Queen, and for
Mr. F. Shand ; and the meeting, which was marked by great
enthusiasm, then disperse&