The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-06-06 00:00:00

THE MAIDEN'S SONG. I LOVE ! and Love hath given me Sweet thoughts to God akin : And oped a living Paradise My heart of hearts within : O from this Eden of my life God keep the Serpent Sin ! I love l and into angel-land With starry glimpses peer I I drink in beauty like heaven-wine, When One is smiling near And there's a rainbow round my soul For every falling tear. Dear God in heaven t keep without stain My bosom's brooding Dove : 0 clothe it meet for angel-arms, And give it place above ! For there is nothing from the world I yearn to take, but Love. GERALD MASSEY. REVIEWS OF BOOKS. Poems by Melanter. London : Saunders and Otley. The principal poem of those published by the gifted author who gives his effusions to the world under the nom de plume of Melanter, is a drama of Swedish history named " Eric and Karine ;" besides which the volume contains also a collection of miscellaneous poems, and several admirably rendered translations. In all of them the author displays no small amount of poetic fancy, wedded to a delicate and well-cultured dear ; while in not a few the afflatus is of true inspiration. Among the poems which, from the place he assigns them. in the volume, he seems to consider secondary, several are meritorious in a high degree, conspicuous among which is " St. Paul at Athens." In this poem, which is pervaded by a true devotional feeling, there are numerous passages of great beauty com bined with great subtlety of thought. The follow ing contains a fair exposition of his style, and will be readily admitted as imbued with the true spirit of poetry : Behold yon sister bill ! the virgin-fane Hath fenced the void from half her chaste domain, While on each side, the pillar'd vista through, Gleams in a marble verge aerial blue; In front majestic semblance breathes on high, The rival Godheads leaning from the sky ; Neighs the wild steed the mean award to brave, And monarchs shrink bef .re their destined slave. What can there be ambition in a god, And all it craves, to name a salient clod? Not long, I trow, shall superstitions awe From yonder pile the quailing Vance withdraw, For Paul bath marked the glorious disgrace, And all the kindling soul illumes his face; He lifts the arm by heavenly aid bested, And wakes the voice that shall reclaim the dead. Ye men of Athens, armed to light the air. To trust the dark, and doubt where all is clear; Whose haughty reach bath quenched perception's ray, The spark of nature on your twilight way, Blind leaders of the blind, in vague default, Ye grope the maze of Superstition's vault ; For you the earth, the air, the waves, are fraught With powers that menace all and promise naught. Of late I passed where crowding votaries trod, And to, an altar "To the Unknown God!" Whom then ye worship nameless, and unproved, His gifts unthanked, his excellence unloved. Him will I manifest, Supreme, Alone, The Almighty Father, the Eternal One, Realmed inaccessible, but ever nigh, The present God, the Dayspring from on high. Hcjiied while yet there was no life but His, Helnade of nothing everything that is, The swift light flashing throngh the dazzled void, The earth unzoned, unbalanced, and unbuoyed ; Her yearly voyage He shaped, and o'er her bent The unechoing arch, the crystal firmament, And shut the seas their warder capes between, And garbed the purple hills and valleys green ; Then lifted the creating arm on high, And scattered worlds like dust upon the sky, Empowered the sun, and graced the moon with light, And stars that watch the slumbering fold of night : No trident swung, nor cleft the several birth, But snake the word, and quickened the young earth, Each life astir with instinct of its kind, Unvexed by thought, yet compensate of mind. Then last, and paramount of the wondrous plan, He made of dust, in God's own image, man, At first a friend, in bliss and glory placed, Ere long a rebel, anguished and abased, From heavenly commune sunk to earthly scope, And driven beyond the verge of all but hope. This poem abounds in rich imagery, and its pictures are rendered in sonorous verse. Of his chief poem, the drama of " Eric and Karine," it is necessary to speak in more measured terms. As a poem in the dramatic form it is excellent; as a drama, intended for theatrical representation, it is scarcely so successful. Its story is that of an impulsive and impassioned North King, devotedly attached to his queen Karine, who, in return, loves him with an affection as high and holy as it is intense and pure. Her influence over her warm hearted but somewhat blunt and barbarous hus band renders her obnoxious to the hatred of Peterson, an astrologer, who, aiming at dominion through the power he exercises over the supersti tious and credulous mind of Eric, finds himself opposed, and in some degree thwarted, by the gentle and innocent persuasions and generous feel ings of Karine, who, ever eloquent in favour of virtue and suffering., pleads, in many instances successfully, in opposition to the astrologer's designs. This wily and malignant old man, to rid himself of her authority, determines on her ruin ; and for this purpose poisons the ear of Eric with tales and foul suggestions, that Nils Sture, a young noble, is the object of her guilty love. To aid in this nefarious device he has recourse to all the machinations of his art, aided by the more dan gerous promptings of his own fiendishly fertile disposition, and succeeds in corrupting the ear of the king. The workings of Peterson's devilish devices are well put forward in the second scene of the second act. It is as follows : PETERSON. Ay, yell away, good burghers I—honest fools ! Too fat to scowl, but powerful to look blank; — Bacon unstreaked —broad beans without the eyes ! And ye, proud shop-dames, in silk kirtles puffed, And satin gorgets, rumpling back from me, As I were what ye call " vulgarity,"— I'll raise the Nice of widows' hoods ere long! Well, I bad rather to be knave than fool; Though knave, set in comparison with me, Is an ant-lion to the desert's lord; Me who have met, and crushed the horns of fear But fool's a sop, whereon to wean the wise, Born to fill gaps, and christened to supply An alias for scorn. [enter ERIC. ERIC. And what is madman? PETERSON. Nor birth, nor baptism ; but of death is he— The death, and oft the suicide of the mind ; Which being buried, the soul, its widow, can scarce Live, or have feeling of her friends, or turn From foes; nor bath intelligence to man The ear's gate, or the embrasures of the sight. Only the body with a monster's strength, And eyes that are the hoods of fury's crest, Hugs the dull cunning of a double self, Or dungeoned, gnaws its flesh and pets its shackles. ERIC. How is my star, thou Goran Peterson, How is she, since I mortared up her foes ? PETERSON. Her foes ! What, all her foes ? Oh, rare equation, Three crowns, three enemies ! ERIC. Now, Peterson, What man hath patience ? Rude be as thou wilt, 'Twill save much toil : but be not roundabout. PETERSON (aside). Now, now is the time for it ; or ere she come To urge her prayer, and while he bath no arms. riffotid) One there bath been, whom scarcely tit to pass 'Mong falling stars (the evedrops of the sky), Thy royal planet took, and set in state, To shine beside her, and to light the world. ERIc. Thy tale—what is it ? PETERSON. Would push thee thence. ERIC. Karine I my Own Karine I PETERSON. She is in foul conspiracy with the Stares, To set Nils Sture, her lover, in thy place. ERIC. A sword ! a spear ! By hell robbed of my arms Come here, good fellow. Oh, I will not hurt thee. PETERSON. The king shall weep (if throne he bath or eyes), So soon as e'er he ceases to he mad. [Going. ERIC. Mad ! no, come back, come back I Now look at me. Stand closer, closer 1 Wedge thy keen glance now Deep into mine, as blade.crassed duellists Plumb for the impulse in each other's eyes. Well I Am I mad ? Is there a wildness here? A stealth of something conscious, or a lack of reason's crystal, in the glass of thought ? What lam clear ; I tell thee lam clear : What inean'st thou, glaring thus into mine eyes, As murderers, o'er the pool, after the plash" stand back. It is a lie, to say my thoughts Are whirled and wandering. I will think straight. Thou art come on purpose with some tale, to try If aught could madden me : thou bast tried well. PETERSON (aside). Who tempts him further, is more mad than he. [Exit. ERIC. Now let me try if I can think ; if still Within this dark and unsurveyed fiord, Where, to the ebb and flow of sense and sleep, Trim reason, and o'er canvassed fancy ride, If still I have—of that I cannot think ; It is not fair to teat my brain with that; Intrigues and tricks, and things that have more sides Than nature's front and back ! But nature's self — The hillside morning, and the sunset brake, The lowing cattle, and the bush of leaves, of these, at least, I may t hi nk, and Karine. Karine I I clutch the implements of thought, As watchmen grasp their spears to keep awake. B beri e baan fungus, h atropa, or hemp. edrenched me with some cursed d rug , Si Or blood bath fouled that pearly camera Which shapes. and renders to the seatedwill, The pictured flow a nd landsca p e of the mind. Whate'er I love, whate'er I own, or am, Even those elements, wbdicahreet,earnnd waste, eternity. Shall not impair,. dej ecte Like deathbed view of g a o s od m r u e c so h l m ve y s o n w nd n o . ne, Or like my funeral, and . Oh sight most strange, sic.ke_nitng agnd h mmaaddliening I see my mind—a solid mind hou What art thou, cloudy and unshapen thing, No more subst antial than the wings d ot im. sleep, Or nightfall, or the flake in eyeballs Yet owing duty to the sense of sight, _ In some half measure, as a vision dot h . Thou spawn of immortality ci oh cease, Thus horribly to curdle an to melt, Now liquid, like the juggler's pbial'd blood, Now pulpy, like a woman nine days drowne d Writhe on, thou dead alive worm in my skull. Oh God, great God! if for my youthful sins, By me forgotten, but in force with thee, Cast forth I am from all self-consciousness, (Save reasonable horror of myself) Grant, in thy mercy, that she know it not, And ttiat I may not lie at play with death. [Eater KARINE. KA RINE.. My lord, I have a favour. What, my Eric, My husband, why look you at your Karine, As if shemighibe any one to you ? Speak t 6 me Eric. Oh, what shall Ido ? His head is burning, and his poor hands clenched,— *) COW) Oh I could break my court-spoiled fingers, She, who shares thy throne Too weak to open them ! A pillow, quick, A pillow for his head ! There, look not so, - • Not at the door so wildly. ERIC. Where is Karine ? KARINE. Here, my own dearest, to thy side as close, As even she could ever long to be. But art thou better ? 1 ERIC I have been asleep. i What was it that I dreamt of thee, Karine ? Art thou in trouble, that thine eyelids thus Are moist, and glistening, and thy cheeks so pale 7 KARMIC. No, lam happy, very happy now. Thou boldest all the compass of my soul : I No sorrow yet bath learned the road thereto, Nor shall, except through thee. C. H ow strange i t i s ! I feel thy gentle voice repose on me, Like sunset on a shattered pine. or as A hermit's shadow on a troubled brook. Now, at thy smile, the snowdrift of my heart Melts to a flood of h ppiness, too calm, iToo deep, and still, to murmur i n t o wor d s : And it bath dro w n e d th e sna k e , th e hi ss i ng sna ke ! KARINE. Ah, could I only keep thee ever thus ; I And little Gustave, so like thee in all, I His quick eyes kindling, when the maids in play Make mouths at him, or feign to threaten me : And then the laugh, which from his jutting lip, Breaks, like the ripple from a coral marge, Soon as his infant dignity is soothed. ERIC. Poor little man ! I trust he may not show A darker likeness to his father's moods. KARINE. Now promise this, this little thing to me: When, et a quick affront, or hasty word, Thou art aglow to forge the sentence-brand, Remember, he. whom thou wouldst hurt, may have His own poor Gustave, and his own Karine. ERIC. When lam chafed, my memory is short. KARINE. And shorter afterwards : men call thee harsh, "The King is quick of mood and terrible,*" But thy wife better knows her lord. And now I will entreat thee for a little proof, That s .e hath not mistaken thee. ERIC. What is it? Long must thou search ere thou couldat find a thing, I would deny thee. KARINE. 'Tis only this : • Release, and take again into thy grace, noble The Stures. ERIC. Woman, say that again ! If this be true, I have been always mad. KARINE. My lord, have I said harm? I only meant Swante Sture, and his noble son. His noble son ! 'Pis in the stars ! Thou loveet him—thou dost ! 'Thou wouldst kill me, to set him in my throne. Not in my brain the snake. but in my heart ! [Exit Eittc. KkitlNE. What, Eric ! then all I trembled at is true. Gone ! And such words as those ! Oh, gracious 'leaven, Lou), down on her who bath no hope of earth ! My husband must be—yes, great God ! he is—mal: Working on the insanity he has produced, Peter son succeeds in causing the king to imbrue his hands in the blood of Nils Sture and his 'father, both of whom he slays in prison. This flagrant act of injustice and murder is resented by the nobles, led on by Milne, the mother of Nils and widow of the elder Sture. Eric is driven to extre mity and ffies, and Karine, after enduring. much ignominy, insult, and suffering, is allowed to escape in peasant garb, and to take with her their only child. She rejoins her exiled and dethroned lord, now restored to a sad sense of the wild deeds he has committed in his hours of phrenzy. Tiere is something beautifully touching in his feeling out burst, when Karine tells him that their child is Borne, in peasant dress, Beyond the frontier. Eittc. My baby exile, God preserve the sane, Discrowned of pride, but monarch of thy mind ! The captive king is in the hands of Milne, and by her condemned to drink a poisoned cup, the fatal draught of which shared by Karine, and both die together. The closing scene is one of great power, and is finely wrought. The character of Milne is designed and filled in with masterly skill. High tempered, energetic, and unbending, when once bent on her revenge she pursues it with unswerving firmness and relentless hate ; she forms in all respects a striking contrast to the gentle and pure-minded Karine. The leading characters are well and skilfully drawn, and the piece abounds in interesting scenes and situations ; and the draw backs which will weigh upon it as an acting drama are of a technical, rather than of an artistic or poetic order. The dialogue is in general ivell sustained, and is full of noble sentiments. From the specimens before us we should be inclined to augur hopefully of Melanter's future efforts, and feel assured he has drank too deeply of Castalia's stream to withdraw his devotion from Melpomene. Brazil, the River Plate, and the Falkland Is- lands. By Wm. Hadfield. London : Longmans.. The beautifully got-up volume before us has numerous claims upon public attention. It is-par ticularly suited to the mercantile community, and must pdssess an especial interest in the estimation of the intelligent commercial population of Liver pool. The work, although setting up few claims to high literary character, is written in a clear, forcible, and comprehensive style ; and, fron( the thorough practical knowledge displayed by its author on the various and important subjects which fall under his review, it unostentatiously advandes claims on public consideration, which it fully sustains and justifies. It may be termed the codified result of matured experience, in a commer cial and social sense, of the condition and prospects of Braiil and La Plata ; of a similar knowledge of the chief of the Falkland Islands, and contains in cidental, but pleasing and shrewd, remarks on Lisbon, Madeira, the Canary and Cape de Verde Islands ; and has also sagacious observations rela tive to the advantages and disadvantages of the Cape Horn route to Australia. The object' Mr. Hadfield started with in planning his volume; and which object he has kept steadily in view through out its progress, was the development of the com mercial resources possessed by the respective countries he treats of, and to show the means by and the direction in which these resources could be made available to the British people, and most conducive to the advancement of the countries themselves. Keeping this philanthropic purpose steadily in view, he has nevertheless had skill and tact sufficient to embellish his narrative with nu merous important historical and physical facts, which add to its liveliness without impairing in the slightest degree its utility. In his capacity of secretary to the American and General Steam Na vigation Company, Mr. Hadfield was necessarily brought to consider attentively the wants of the important traffic of that extensive section of the world treated of in his volume, and the best means for accommodating them ; on this point it will be best to let him put his own case in his own way. This he does, after a sensible review of the existing trade between the eastern coast of South America and Europe prior to the application of steam to its navigation. In this review, he finds that, so long ago as 1851, Liverpool employed shipping to the amount of 30,000 tons annually in the Rio Janeiro and Rio de la Plata trades alone ; that the value of merchandise transported hence to these regions amounted to upwards of three millions sterling yearly ; and that that large export consisted chiefly of goods manufactured at Manchester ; and, above all, that that traffic might without difficulty be vastly increased with increased facilities for its transport. To be once convinced of a commercial improvement in Liverpool, is to secure the means of its accomplishment, and in this, as in other in stances, one facility lead rapidly to another, till the American and General Steam Navigation Company was instituted and organised under the provisions of a royal charter ; and in August last year their first or pioneer steamer sailed from Liverpool for the River Plate, which, on the 24th of the follow ing month, was followed by the Braziliera, a mag nificent ocean steamer, under command of Captain Green. Mr. Hadfield gives the following sum mary of the ADVANTAGES OF STEAM NAVIGATION TO BRAZIL. In the space of two months a merchant can visit his Brazil establishment, and another, under three months, can look after his River Plate affair, often saving himself much anxiety and loss of time. The manufacturer can, without great trouble, make himself acquainted with the markets he wishes to trade to; the botanist and naturalist can quickly be transported to the virgin ground of Para guay, or, now that the Brazilian governinent have placed contract steamers on the greatest of all great rivers, may ascend the Amazon with like certainty of reward as novel and varied, and depend on a prompt return of his newly acquired specimens. Whilst, which is equally important, the natives of those countries have an opportunity of visiting Europe, and forming, by personal contact, those relations of amity and goodwill which tend so much to soften prejudices, and bring about a right understanding on all points mutually advantageous. His claims to consideration as an authority on the subject he grounds on practically acquired information, derived from long residence on the South American continent, and he puts those claims forward with an ingenuousness and direct ness of purpose characteristic of a man of business habits and intelligence. Although his objects are chiefly o f a commerc i a l c haracter, he does not confine himself exclusively to topics connected with the counting-house or store—with the plantation or the wharf,—but freely illustrates his remarks upon subjects connected with them by reference to th e natural and social circumstances which confer upon these the impress and tone of a distinctive traffic. Ile also touches with readiness and decision upon the habits and peculiarities of the people among whom he sojourned, and of those who by their position in life were able to sway the lead ing events of South American polity. In his pages we are brought into familiar acquaintance with the leading men of the republics, such as Lopez, Uriquiza, and Rosas, besides others whose names occ upy prominent places in the history of those states. In addition to numerous well executed views and portraits, the volume is beauti fully, as well as usefully, illustrated by maps of South America and its rivers, and of the Falkland Wands, Forty-six Short Sermons on various interesting subjects, especially designed for Sabbath Even ing Reading. By the Rev. W. Dransfield. London : Aylott and Co. The volume before us is composed and published by a veteran labourer in the Gospel vineyard, who has already been long and familiarly known to an extensive class of the religious public. The sermons are put forth under the modest desire of being useful in "assisting the devotions of families," and they are peculiarly fitted for the domestic circle ; more especially under circumstances which preclude attendance on divine worship in the parish church. They are eminently practical in their character, and earnest in their style—enforcing with unaffected eloquence the comforting assurances of Christian hope—and commending by instructive precept the benevolence and charity of Christian love. The Dublin University _Magazine. Dublin : James MeGlaslian. The June number of this Magazine is scarcely so marked by interesting novelty as some of its predecessors have been, but it is still rich enough in this particular to claim and deserve a high place in the periodical literature of the day. ,It opens with a judicious chapter on the teaching and value of Alison's History of Europe, from 1815 to 1852, in which the writer, after a somewhat subtle in quiry, concludes his analysis by a compliment to the temper, industry, and unusual sagacity of the great historian. This paper is followed by an amusing essay on French Dramatists and Actors. It forms a second portion of the very interesting series, and is replete with well-told anecdotes, illustrative of French theatrical life before and be hind the scenes. In one of the figurantes of this life drama, Mademoiselle Clairon, we have another of the numerous instances in which an early predi lection for the stage has been formed by accident and fostered by unconquerable resolution under the pressure of great difficulties, aided solely by an unswerving resolution and an ardent desire for distinction. That Clairon had the true feeling ' for her art, was speedily manifested ; and that she duly appreciated its pretensions and necessities, she also made equally apparent, as well in the business of real life as in the mimic scenes which are made to represent its essence on the stage. According to her views, and on this point there is much truth in them, an actor or actress should be, off the stage, to a considerable extent, the same sort of being which she or he is desirous of appearing on it. " The tragic actor," says La Clairon, " should ap propriate, in common life, the style and manners of such characters as his cast of parts most fre quently requires. If lam only a vulgar and ordi nary woman during twenty of the four-and-twenty hours of the day, whatever efforts I may make I shall only be an Ordinary and vulgar woman in Agrippina or Semieramis during the remaining four." There is much sound sense in such a re mark, and although it is a maxim easily rendered ridiculous by over-effort, it is based on sound philosophy ; and though more concentrated, and more elegantly expressed in Goldsmith's happy phrase— "— Seeming blest, they grow to what they seem." Still it is an aphorism which mntatis mutandis may be safely and profitably applied through all the occupations and positions of life. The well told tale of " Sir Jasper Carew" is brought to a conclusion in the present number ; which, besides other papers of much interest in addition to those named, has one or two analytical reviews of new publications, and is concluded by a capital article under the title of " Midsummer with the Muses," in jvhich an ably-written and eloquent, as well as generous, estimate is given of the character and quality of a considerable quantity of the current poetry of the day. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER. NEW ➢iUSIC. La Sultana, False Brillante. London : Jullien. The composer of this exquisite dance tune, which is dedicated to Thomas Blake, Esq., is Mr. Wm. Spark, the organist. of Leeds, who was a pupil of the celebrated Dr. Wesley. It possesses those rare and excellent qualities of attractive melody and yet distinct measure, and cannot fail to be appreciated by every performer on the piano -forte, from the ease with which it may be played, and the delight which it is sure to afford. Mr. Spark has shown himself to be an apt scholar of a very eminent master, and the skill which he has here displayed will induce many to look forward with anxiety to his future compositions. TILE LIVERPOOL SHIPWRIGHTS' ASSOCIATION.—The annual report of this body, for the year ending on the 26th ult., has just been published, from which it appears that the number of members at present on the books is 1,718. During that period the society has disbursed in sick, superannuation, and funeral money, including a sum of £389 18s. 61d. for miscellaneous expenses, no less than £1,44145. old. The association must be in a prosperous state, for the amount of " cash in bank" and in the hands of the treasurer, is £1,191 2s. Bd. The association sub scribes annually £5 ss. each to the Infirmary and the two hospitals. Unconnected with the funds of the association, the body has also contributed voluntarily upwards of £5OO to various movements, including relief to distressed opera tives out "on strike ;" £5O to the fund for the soldiers' wives and families, and £5 to the voluntary life-boat fund. It should be stated that the "association" consists entirely of what are known in the trade as "Liverpool men." The " strangers," who number 400 to 500, are divided into three different bodies ; but their principal club is called the "Liverpool National Shipwright's Friendly Society." ACCIDENTS IN LIVERPOOL.—In the year ending the 31st December last, 1913 persons suffered from accidents. Of these 436 were run over by carts, cars, &c. ; 48 fell from buildings, 31 were injured at dock works, 157 on dock quays, 302 on board vessels, 369 fell into docks, 24 were burned, 45 were drowned, 3 were injured by fire arms, and 488 by other means. The cases which termi nated fatally numbered 159. The police saved 80 lives in the course of the year, and 129 lives were saved by other persons. Assistance was rendered by the police in 1247 cases of accident, and by other persons in 457 cases. THE NEW MONSTER STEAXER.—The keel for the gigantic steamer for the Eastern Steam Navigation Company is now being laid in the yard of Messrs. Scott, Russell, and Co., Millwall, opposite Deptford dockyard. Her proportions are to be nearly twice the length of the great Himalaya, and more than three times her tonnage. She is to be completed in two years, and is expected, it is said, to do the distance to Australia in little over thirty days, and, if necessary, to carry sufficient fuel for the voyage out and home. She WU be fitted with paddle wheels and screw propelling power. •BURGLARY AT TRANDIERE.-011 Saturday morning, at an early hour, the house of the Misses Pickering, Church terrace, Higher Tranmere, was broken into, and a couple of coats and some plated articles were stolen ; and the same morning the thief was apprehended on the Wood side boat, with the stolen property in his possession. He was, yesterday, committed for trial at the assizes. PICKING POClEETS.—Yesterday, Henry Williams, a boy about ten years old, was charged at the Police-court with picking the pocket of a man in Whitechapel, from which he stole a pocket handkerchief. The case was clearly proved, and the prisoner, who had been on previous occa sions before the court on similar charges, was sentenced to be imprisoned for a month. LIVERPOOL Towx COUNCIL.— At the monthly meeting of the Council to-morrow, the following subjects will be discussed :—The proceedings of the Finance Committee, comprising recommendation to purchase the reversion of a house in Russell-street for the sum of £4.8 ; recommenda tion to accept the tender of Mr. Thomas Mackarell for new works required at the Tobacco Warehouse, (excepting the plumbers',work,) and the tender of Mr. William Edward son for such plumbers' work ; and recommendation to pur chase freehold property in Hood-street, Marble-street, and Charles-street, for the sum of £4,s2o.—The proceedings of the Watch, Lighting, Fire-police, and Fire-prevention Committees, comprising recommendations to allow various sums during the pleasure of the Council, as compensation and allowance to police-constables disabled by severe bodily injury received by them in the performance of their duty, and worn out by length of service.—The proceed ings of the Courts of Law and St. George's-hall Committee, comprising recommendation that the members of the Courts of Law and St. George's-hall Committee, with nine other members of the Council, be appointed a Special Committee for making arrangements for the opening of St. George's hall by the Council.—The proceedings of the Markets' Committee, comprising, recommendation to increase the salaries of the following officers ; namely, John Radcliffe and Thos. S. Tyrer, collectors at St. John's Market, from £9O to £llO per annum' each ; Robert Tyrer, collector at the Fish Market, from £7B to £9O per annum ; and Wil liam Appleton, collector at Pownall-square market, from 30s. to 335. per week, the consideration of which was post poned at the last monthly Council, pursuant to the stand ing orders.—The proceedings of the Health Committee, comprising, recommendation to increase the salary of James Lothean Ascroft, in the Borough Engineers' De partment, from £l2O to £l5O per annum ; and the salary of James Wilson, in the same department, from £52 to CO per annum, the consideration of which was postponed at the last monthly Council, pursuant to the standing orders.—The proceedings of the Library and Museum Committee, comprising, report that .the model of ancient Liverpool, prepared by Mr. Harding, has been offered to the Corporation for the sum of £loo.—Returns of the offi cers of the Corporation, and comparative cost of the constabulary force, pursuant to a resolution of the Council, at the meeting on the 3d May last.—The Coroner's account, amounting to £4B. Bs. ed.—The Mayor's communications, comprising, application from Mr. Robert John Brew, col lector of lighting, paving, and sewerage rates, for an increase to his salary ; application ffom Philip McGuinness, bricklayer, for an increase to his wages ; application from workmen and labourers employed by the Corporation for an increase of their wages ; and applications from join ers and stonemasons employed by the Corporation for an increase of their wages.—The following motion, of which notice has been given :—By Mr. Alderman Ben nett,—That, as the report of the Committee appointed by the Inhabitants in Public Meeting has been printed, and a copy sent to each member of the Council, a sum not exceeeing £lOO be placed at the disposal of such com mittee, for defraying the expenses incurred in preparing and pr inting the report. IS LORD STANLEY A CONSERVATIVE ? TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,--I was glad to see that in , one of your leading articles to-day you notice the suspicious conduct of Lord Stanley, M.P. It is certainly high time that the Conser vative press should notice it. Another instance of his lordship's backsliding was his recent speech at Ormskirk. Speaking of what books they should exclude from the proposed Free Public Library, he said, as well as I can quote from memory,— " * * And on this subject 'hold a very strong opinion. * * * I should advise you to exclude from your library all works on religious controversy and party politics.' He also voted with Lord John Russell on the Jew Bill last year. _ _ When Lord Stanley holds such opinions, it is inconsis tent in the Lynn Conservatives to retain 4)in as the colleague of the son-in-law and nephew of Lord Roden. His lordship's vote on the Church-rate question, although displeasing to you, seems to meet with the approval of a Romanist contemporary, who slily hints that he (Lord S.) would prove a suitable IVI .P. for Liverpool on a future occasion. If he be ever brought forward, it will not be by those who voted for Liddell and Horsfall in 1853. I am, yours, Liverpool, May 30, 185* Mrsi. PROPOSED CHURCH FOR DAILY PRAYERS AND WEEKLY COMMUNION. TO THE EDITOR OP TUE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Siu,—A. letter appeared in last Tuesday's Standard, from Mr. Hampton, of St. James's Church, in which he is at some pains to defend himself from charges which have not been made against him, and to assure the public of his zeal and activity, which no one has questioned. He has also charged me with acting with discourtesy, and in a manner "neither English nor Christian," in not con suiting him before the committee fixed upon the site of the proposed church in the neighbourhood of his district. To such a charge, publicly made, I suppose that some answer will be considered due. I would therefore beg for myself, and on the' part of the committee, to disclaim any intention to interfere with Mr. Hampton and St. James's district, or with any district or clergyman in the town, or to impute to them any neglect of duty according to their own appreciation of duty. Indeed, we thought ourselves fortunate in meeti ng w ith a s ite which was in no ecclesiastical district, either conventionally or legally assigned; while it was at the same time in a position which will, in a short time, be covered all round by a dense population. The object of the promoters of the proposed church, many of whom are inhabitants of Toxteth-park, is to vrovide for themselves and others those advantages of trequent church worship which are not to be found in any of the churches in that part of Liverpool. So that it is not St. James's district only, but all the surrounding dis tricts, comprising hill the population of Liverpool, which might be benefited by the erection of such a church. We contend for a great principle, and have no wish to come into collision with individual clergymen, or to interfere with their religious prejudices. But weprotest most emphatically against a claim being set upby any clergyman that all peopla are bound to worship according to his individual inter pretation of the Rubrics or his peculiar mode of " using the Book of Common Prayer in its integrity." In our opinion, those clergynten who omit one-third of the Prayer Book, in the neglect to observe the Holy Days—who omit one-half of the Marriage Service—who occasionally change the appointed lessons—not to speak of the omission, nay, disparagement, of the prescribed daily prayers—those clergymen, in our judgment, do not "use the Book of Common Prayer in its integrity." And if it is proposed to offer to the multitudes of any neighbourhood these additional services, why, because a person has.no heart for them himself, should he grudge others the enjoyment of them ? Mr. Hampton takes comfort to himself that his people are not "pinin = g after a daily service and weekly com munion." He knows their views and tastes, and can confidently assert that no such deAre exists in any con siderable number of Churchmen in the 20,000 embraced in this scheme." And we too can assert that if any of this number, nay, if any of the 200,000 inhabitants of the south of Livprpool do desire the privileges of daily prayers, or of weekly communion, they must, indeed, pine for them in vain in any of the churches of this populous neighbour hood. But what a confession is this, that the people are so far departed from the piety, of primitive times as to have no taste for those Churcli privileges which were then in uni versal estimation and practice ! The incumbent of St. James's throws the responsibility of this state of things upon the people, observing that " till they have made known their wishes, they cannot say they have been re jected." Are, then, people wont to pine after spiritual privileges until they are taught to value them ? Or are they likely to ask for more frequent communions than their pastors recommend by their own example ? It is not thus that souls will be trained upwards. Such arguing as the above is the best proof how much such a church is needed, and how little sympathy and co-operation we could expect from consulting Mr. Hampton. Without any intention to offend others, we cannot help taking a very different view of the religion of the Church of England from that vhich is current in this town ; and in proportion to the jealousy with which we are treated, shall be our determination to proclaim and defend our conscientious convictions ; and to maintain the right of the people to more frequent services than are at present afforded thein, and that too in churches where the best places are not appropriated to the highest bidder. Mr. Hampton will pardon me for asserting that the Lord's Day cannot be duly honoured without tlic offering of that sacred memorial which lie ordained as the peculiar service of His religion. As to a monthly celebration of the Lord's Supper, it is a disgraceful abridgment of the Church's office three Sundays out of four, without warrant from Scripture or antiquity, and is a reproach to us throughout Christendom.—l am, yours faithfully, CECIL WRAY. THE PROPOSED "FREE" CHURCH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sin,—ln your paper of last Tuesday, I perceived a letter from the Rev. Mr. Hampton, in which, it seems, he takes offence at the laudable attempt to provide a Free Church for Daily Prayers and Weekly Communion, and at the neighbourhood of Toxteth•park being selected for the purpose. Mr. Hampton appears to have exerted himself for the welfare of his district, for which he is deserving of all praise. He admits, also, that there is room for further and increased exertions. Then why object to a scheme for building a church where Daily Prayers may be said, and Weekly Communion administered ? What is there—what can there be—to object to in this ? One would imagine that one like Mr. Hampton, who finds so much to do, and means so few, would hays been the first to hail such a design, and only too happy to promote it. At St. James's church, Mr. Hampton says, the Prayer Book is used in its integrity. As a Church of England man, I should be glad to know such to be the fact. Is there the Daily Ser vice.? Are the current Fasts and Festivals of the Church, which occupy so large a portion of the Book of Common Prayer, observed at this church ? Is the Prayer for the Church Militant regularly used ? It is some years since I was in the church, and know nothing of its services. But, unless these questions can be answered in the affirmative, it appears to me that the Prayer Book is not " used in its integrity." It is said " that no desire exists in any consi derable number of the 20,000 churchmen, for whom this church is intended, for Daily Prayer and Weekly Com munion." Again, Sir, I would say, all honour on those to whom it is due for what has been done in the neighbour hood of St. James's ; but Mr. Hampton must forgive me for reminding him that, on his own showing, this is a field wide enough for further exertions, and, could he produce and foster such a desire amongst even a few of these 20,000 people, it would not be an unworthy part of the fulfilment of his mission. Who dare put a limit to the blessing that might descend on this busy town, if every church poured forth its daily supplications to the Throne of Grace from no matter how few worshippers. Mr. Hampton wisely avoids Mr. Radford's "long" letter. To my mind it is unanswerable, and, though a poor man, I intend doubling my mite in the list of subscriptions, and only hope the undertaking will not be abandoned. I, for one, should feel thankful for the opportunity, when practicable, of joining in the daily public prayer and praise, feeling assured that where two or three are gathered toge ther in God's name, there is He in the midst of them.— Yours faithfully, June 3, 1854. A CHURCHMAN. THE PROPOSED DAILY CHURCH. TO THE EDITOR. OF THE LruntPool, STANDARD. SIR, —I was much pleased to observe, by the very able letter from the Rev. H. Hampton, in your last paper, that the bishop's objection to the proposed new church for daily prayers in Liverpool is followed up by those who have a direct interest in the question, and have opportuni ties of knowing more as to the details than may appear to the general public. It is, I am perfectly aware, an nn gracious task to say anything against so apparently praise worthy an attempt as that of founding a new church, but there are in this case grounds of suspicion which demand the utmost vigilance. Why should we have a church devoted specially to daily service ? For my own part, I am content with the two services on Sundays, one in the week, and one on Christmas.day and Good Friday, and I believe that ninety-tune out of a hundred of my fellow townsmen are , of the same opinion. I strongly suspect that the object chiefly sought by the promoters of the proposed new church i s to familiarise us with Romish practices. If so, it ought to meet with. the most strenuous opposition ; but whether this be the case or not, I do not see any necessity for disturbing the peace which at present happily prevails, by introducing novelties, when we have so much reason to be content with the present system.— I am, Sir, A REAL PROTESTANT. Liverpool, 3rd June, 1854. THE TEACHING OP MAYNOOTH. TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR,—The Cork Constitution has the following : DEATH OF WILLIAMS, THE SCRIPTURE READER.—Poor Williams, the Scripture reader, beaten some months ag o at Aghada, died on Saturday at Milltown, county of Kerry, his medical attendant (a Roman Catholic) stating, as we are in formed, that he died of the injuries then received. With what feelings the intelligence will be read by those whose con sciences admonish them of the share they bore in the assault, we know not ; but the man is dead—dead, in consequence, i t is medically stated ? of the cruelties inflicted by their hands or at their instigation. With respect to the above, a relative of mine, who has just returned from the same county, has supplied me with the following particulars : The deceased was a convertfrom Popery, and obtained ent as a scripture reader. Many respectable per sons in neighbourhood can t es tif y t o hi s uno ff en di ng s e o m n p s loin demeanour in the discharge of his duties, and can vouch for the sincerity of his motives in turning from the worship of pictures and images to that of the Living God. It was on his return from reading the Scriptures to some poor person that he was attacked by a mob of persons, who were evidently led on by the Popish priest to maltreat the unfortunate man. " His Rivirinse" stood by, and, although he, as well as any one acquainted witlarelaxd, know§ that a word or nod from him would have the effect of restrain. ing the violence of the mob, he did not use this influence, but, on the contrary, openly encouraged them in their murderous attack. The man lay for dead, but afterwards partially recovered, and the Priest and other perpetrators of the outrage were prosecuted at the assizes, but were acquitted by a" packed jury." An application was made to the Lord Lieutenant, who " declined to interfere ;" the man lingered, and died as described in the Cork Constitu tion. Englishmen ! this is the teaching of Maynooth ! This is the use made of your £30,000, which is given annually to educate Priests, who not only stir up rebellion against your Queen and Constitution, but also against the life of every man, no matter how insignificant, who dares to think for himself, read his Bible, and turn Protestant. Facts like these show more plainly the real teachings of Maynooth College than the voluminous reports of a dozen Commissions of Inquiry.—l remain, Sir, yours respectfully, Liverpool, 3d June, 1854. G. W. M. ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE. PREFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS. Rey. J. Boultbee, 8.A., to the Curacy of East Leake, near Loughborough. Rev. R. W. Burton, M.A., Vicar of Willesden, Middlesex, to the Incumbency of All Saints, Gordon-square, St. Pancras. Rev. J. J. Cort. M.A., Minister of St. Michael's Church, Birmingham, to the Incumbency of St. Andrew's, Sale Moor, Cheshire. Rev. M. W. Currie, to the Curacy of Saltwood, Kent. Rev. J. Davies, M.A., Curate and Lecturer of Mold, Flint shire, to the Vicarage of that parish. Rev. F. Davis, to the Curacy of Louth. Rev. T. C. Dixon, D.D., to the Perpetual Curacy of Quarry Bank; Staffordshire. Rev. W. Field, M.A., to be Chaplain to the Royal Asylum of St. Ann's Society. _ _ . Rev. J. C. Head, M.A., to the Incumbency of O'Brien's bridge, Ireland. Rev. P. Hunt, 8.A., to the Curacy of Thurles, Ireland. Rev. W. R. Jolley, to be Chaplain of H. 31. ship Amphion. Rev. W. C. Ledger, 31. A., to the Curacy of St. John's, Limerick. _ _ . Rev. L. Lewis, M.A. late Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, to be Vicar. Choral of St. Asaph's, Cathedral. Rev. F. 0. Morris, M.A., to the Rectory of Nunburnholme, Yorkshire. - Rev. J. Murray, M.A.' to the Vicarage of Wroxton with Balscott annexed, Oxfordshire. Rev. J: R. Owen, M.A., to the Vicarage of Llanferrea, Denbighhire. Rev c ..F. H. S. Pendleton, to be British Chaplain at Monte Video. Rev. C. Thornhill, M.A., to the Vicarage of Burwell, near Newmarket. Rev. G. R. Turner, M.A., Curate of West Tisted, Hants, to the Rectory of New Radnor. _ _ Rev. It. D. Welsh. 8.A., to the Curacy of Ballymascalon, Ireland. Rev. A. Welsh, M.A., to the Curacy of Maidstone. Rev. R. Wickham. M.A., Vicar of Gresford, Denbighshire, and Chaplain to the Bishop of St. Asaph, to be Archdeacon of St. Asaph. Rev. J. St. George Williamson, M.A., to the Rectory of Thotnastown, in the county of Kildare. Rev. A. Wightwick, to the Stipendiary Curacy of Elton, near Bury. -- DIOCESE OF CHESTER. CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY As- CENSION. — This new Church, which is situate at Upton, in the parish of St. Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester, was conse crated on Wednesday last as a Chapel of Ease to St Mary's, making the fourth church consecrated by the. Bishop of Chester in the course of last month. It is cal culated to accommodate 300 persons, but sittings have at present been provided for 274 persons only. The Marquis of Westminster has contributed £l,OOO, as an endowment to aid in providing for the regular performance of divine services, besides having subscribed a like sumlowards the bUilding. It will be a great accommodatimi to the inha bitants of Upton, who were previously two miles distant from any church. VACANCY.—St. Mary's Church, Edge-hill, in the parish of Walton-on-the-Hill, Liverpool, by resignation of Rev. Frederic Barker—patron, John Stewart, of Liverpool,Esq. ACTON, CRESHIRE.—The Bishop of Chester has granted his license for performance of Divine Services in the School room at Worleston, in this parish, on the representation of the Rev. F. Storr, the vicar. WYRUNBURT, CHESIIIRE.—The Bishop of Chester has granted his license for performance of Divine Services in Broad-lane School, in Stapeley, in this Parish, on the representation of the Rev. J. Hayes, the vicar. THE BISHOP OP NATAL.--Dr. Colenso, who only embarked for his new Diocese at the close of last year, has already returned to England for the purpose of rais ing funds. THE ARCEDBLCONRY of St. Asaph, vacant by the pre ferment of the Venerable C. B. Clough to the deanery of the cathedral, has been conferred upon the Rev. R. Wick ham, M.A., vicar of Gresford. LONG-ACRE CIIA.PEL.—The incumbent writes that his dislike to pew-rents has determined him to endeavour to defray the expenses of the chapel by the weekly offertory. The chapel was lately held by the Rev. Mr. Gladstone. The former congregation, with few exceptions, had relin quished their attendance. There was a new flock to gather, and the opportunity seemed favourable to try whether divine service could not be maintained, and a moderate stipend procured for the minister, by making the seats of the chapel entirely free, and appealing to the liberality of the congregation for support. The trial commenced on Sunday, May 21, and on the succeeding Sunday the congregation was doubled, and the collection fourfold. THE JUNIOR BISHOP IN THE LORDS.—By the death of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Bishop of Salisbury will take his seat in the House of Lords immediately after his consecration ; and, according to the inconvenient cus tom which still unhappily prevails, the duty of reading prayers daily in that house will devolve upon him, as the youngest bishop, during the remainder of the session. Thus, at the very moment when a bi s h o p i s mos t wan t e d in his diocese, the see having been for a while vacant, and when he himself would earnestly wish to be amongst his clergy, he is required to sacrifice his time, and to expend his money on a London residence, in order to discharge a duty which any clergyman in the land is competent to perform. A Pelvic IN Curucif.—An eminent minister at Nor wich made a sudden pause in his sermon : the congrega tion were panic struck. Having rivetted their attention, he addressed himself by name to a gentleman in the gal lery—" Has that poor man who stands at the back of your pew a gold ring on his finger ?" The gentleman turned round, and replied, " I believe not. sir." "0, then, I suppose that is the reason he musn't have a seat." The gentleman had three gold rings on his hand, and his pew was nearly empty. THE LORD BISHOP OF SALISBITRY.—The ceremony of inducting the newly-appointed bishop of this diocess took place on Wednesday. Precisely at ten o'clock his lordship arrived at St. Thomas's-bridge, on the London road, attended by his three chaplains (the Rev. H. Drury, the Rev. J. L. Popham, and the Rev. F. Lear). Here he was met by Mr. J. L. Alford, the receiver of the see, Mr. Fitzherbert Macdonald, his lordship's secretary, and a procession of carriages. His lordship then proceeded to a pasture field on the Bishop's Down Farm, within the manor of Milford, where a marquee had been erected for his receptien. Here Mr. Alford dug a turf from the field, and delivered it to his lordship as seisin of the temporali ties of the see. The procession then re-formed, and re turned to the city. At Mr. Smith's residence a chapter was held, to whom his lordship delivered the mandate of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and assumed his episcopal robes. At the entrance to the Close the procession was met and preceded by the choristers of the cathedral, who chanted the anthem, "Oh ! how amiable !" In this manner his lordship reached the row of noble elms below the Widows' College, where the senior boy in the Grammar School of the Close (Master J. Waller) welcomed the right rev. prelate by delivering a brief Latin address, to which his lordship feelingly replied in the same language. The procession then moved on to the west door of the cathedral, the choristers singing, " Praise the Lord, 0 Jerusalem !" and immediately within the nave an altar was prepared, where his lordship took the necessary oaths, which were admistered by the Very Rev. the Dean. The nave and aisles of the noble edifice were thronged with eager spectators, but great decorum and the most appro. priate demeanour were observed throughout. As the procession moved up the nave the pealing tones of the organ burst forth, and Mozart's beautiful anthem, ` S I will give thanks," was performed. His lordship was then conducted to the high altar, where he knelt while the Very Rev. the Dean offered up an appropriate form of prayer. The solemn notes of the "Te Deum" then re sounded through the venerable pile, and his lordship pro ceeded in procession to the Chapter-house, whence an adjournment was made to the vestry, where certain for malities were gone through ; and the right rev. prelate, on his return to the choir, was inducted by the Dean and Archdeacon Macdonald into the prebendal stall of Pot terne, which is annexed to the see. THE NATIONAL SOCIETY.— The anniversary meeting of the members of the National Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the Church of England, was held on Wednesday in the National School room, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster. Among those present were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Romney, the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Lyttleton, Lord John Thynne, Lord Bayning, the Bishops of London, Oxford, Ripon, Lichfield, Chichester, St. David's, Glouces ter, and St. saph, Mr. Adderley, M.P., Mr. Alexander B. Hope, &c. The chair was taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who observed that the cause of education had been making steady progress, and that the National So ciety had fresh reason to be grateful for the success which had attended its operations. The friends of education all over the kingdom most thankfully allowed that every thing connected with the subject had taken a most palpa ble start, and that public attention appeared to be at length steadily directed to the importance of providing sound religious education for the people. In fact, educa tion was proceeding in England at a rate which our fore fathers could not have anticipated. This fact was proved by the report of the Census Commissioners, recently pub lished. But, looking at counties with which he was him self acquainted, he found that in the 20 ears from 1811 to 1831 the number of schools established lin Cheshire was only 36; while in the 20 years from 1831 to 1851 the number of new shools established was 217. The schools established in Kent in the period between 1811 and 1831 were 85 (showing, however, an increase in the south over the north of England), while the number established from 1831 to 1851 was 281. The principle of training schools also was not known until 1838, but at present there were no fewer than 34 in the various dioceses from which the schools of the society could be supplied. The work of progress was also apparent in the system of inspection adopted. A few years ago no one dreamt of the inspec tion of schools, but now there was a perfect organization for the purpose, irrespective of the inspection under the superintendence of the government. The report which they would now hear read would fully corroborate all lie had said, and furnish additional reasons for supporting the society. The secretary read the report, which stated that the amount collected u nder the Queen's last letter had not equalled that of former years, but was as much as could have been expected, considering the other pressing claims upon parishes in the cause of cdactigon. The nuas received under the letter had been expended in aiding the erection and enlargement of schools and teachers' resi dences. Since the last audit the school building fund had assisted in the erection of 185 schoolrooms, affording ac commodation for 22,826 children, and also 86 teachers. The total number of schools now in union with the so ciety amounts to 10,202, and of these 182 had been added during the Last year. No alteration had been made in distributing the general fund of the society. The West minster training institutions had sent out during the past year 63 masters and 83 mistresses. The receipts of the depository during 1853 amounted to £11,638, exceeding those of the previous year by £1,400. The report, having touched upon the progress made by the training schools in the provinces and the Diocesan Boards, concluded by expressing a hope that increased exertions on the part of the Church of England would enable her to supply the spiritual and intellectual wants of the rising generation. The Bishop of London moved a vote of thanks to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and congratulated the meeting that the National Society had returned to a state of peace. The proceedings then terminated. THE MOUNTAIN CLERGY.—The church of Askrigg, in Upper Wensleydale, Yorkshire, having become dilapi dated, a subscription for its restoration was raised of more than £lOOO, and a church-rate of 3s. in the pound was unanimously voted by a publsc vestry. When citizens are refusing id., and mountaineers voting 3s. for church purposes, it is an act of justice to that vilified body, the mountain clergy and their flocks, that such facts should be known. CONSECRATED SATIRE.—In the great window of the north transept of St. Martin's Church, Leicester, occurred one of those little pieces of satire which the monastic clergy were so fond of levelling at the predicant friars. A fox was represented preaching to geese from the text, " Testis est mihi Deus quam cupiam vos omnes visceribus meis"—a cunning adaptation of the words of St. Paul to the Phillippian converts, with a significant change in the last word—" Clod is my witness how I long after you all in my bowels," instead of in the bowels of Christ.—Rev. G. A. Poole. THE SONS or THE CLERGY.—The Archbishop of Can terbury was honoured by the company of Prince Albert at Lambeth Palace, on Tuesday, at an entertainment given by his grace to the prince and the other stewards of the bicentenary festival of the Sons of the Clergy. The com pany present comprised the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Westminster, the Marquis of Abercorn, K.G., Earl Spencer, K.G., Earl Howe, Earl of Auckland, Lord Palmerston, Viscount Torrington, Lord Saye and Sele, the Bishops of London, Winchester, Bangor, Ripon, St. Asaph, Chichester, Hereford, Manchester, Peterborough, Worcester, Oxford, Lichfield, Lincoln, New Zealand, and Adelaide ; the Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford ; the Master of Downing College, Cambridge : the Regius Pro fessor of Divinity, Cambridge, and many others of the clergy and laity. DIOCESE or EXETBIL—The Bishop of Exeter having circulated, through the rural deans, a paper stating that he was willing that any questions not doctrinal should be discussed by his clergy at his coming visitation, and that these questions should be previously forwarded to him through the rural deans for his acceptance or otherwise, on Wednesday, 17th instant, the Rural Dean of Totness and other rural deans invited the clergy under their juris diction to meet and consider if any and what questions should be discussed at the coming visitation. The follow ing subjects were proposed in resolutions and carried unanimously : —The division of the services on Sundays ; the occasional celebration of the holy communion in the evening; home missions; education of the middle classes in national schools; the improvement of the Institution for the Training of Schoolmistresses at Truro; the esta blishment of a college for the education of the clergy ; thanks to the bishop and rural dean ; proposition for the oftener and stated meeting of the ruri-decanal chapter ; au authorised hymnal desired ; and other questions were submitted. The clergy assembled were twenty-one in number. CHESHIRE AND WALES. THERE were great rejoicings last week in North Wales in honour of the coming of age of R. L. M. W. Bulkeley, Esq., eldest son of Sir Richard Bulkeley, Bart., Baron hill, Anglesey. _ . _ dnEsiER C ATTLE FAIR.—At the fair on Tuesday there was a good show of milking stock, and a large quantity of sheep and lambs. Pigs were numerous. Of fat beef there was scarcely any in the fair. Calving beasts sold from £l6 to £l7 each, and ewes and lambs about two guineas the couple. MILITIA.--Commissions signed by the Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Denbigh :—Royal Rifle Regiment of Denbighshire Militia : Second Lieut. Robert Myddelton to be First Lieut., vice Roberts, who retires, retaining his rank ; and Second Lieut. Godfrey Fitzhugh to be First Lieut., vice Ward, deceased. _ _ _ CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.—The traffic for the week ending 28th of May, 1851, was as follows : Passengers, parcels, &c., per railway, £2,549 9s. 3d. ; steam-boats, £426 Bs. 9d.; total, £2,975 18s. Od.: goods, £1,672 lls. 6d.: total, including Carnarvon traffic, per rail, £4,222 Os. Bd. ; steam-boats, £426 Bs. 9d. Cor responding week last year, per rail, £3,652 7s. id. ; per steam-boats, £359 ss. 4d. Increase, £636 17s. Od. BIRKENHEAD COLLECTOR.—On Wednesday, a meeting of the overseers of Birkenhead was held at their office, Chester-street, for the purpose of recommending a proper person as assessor and collector of government taxes for the township. There were several candidates for the situation. Mr. H..P. Priest was placed at the head of the list, and in all probability he will be selected by the magistrates to fill the office. MIISICAD PROMENADE AT WOODSIDE.-The Woodside ferry committee have granted the nse of their prome nade to an excellent German band, who will perform on Thursday evenings, between the hours of six and nine, a variety of marches, overtures, polkas, and other popular music. Rules and regulations for the proper conduct of the promenade will be strictly enforced, and there is no doubt that the entertainments will be patronised by a large portion of theynblic. - hA.NERUPTCY.—On Wednesday, in the case of George Pearson, grocer, Birkenhead, the certificate was suspended for 18 months, protection generally being refused, and a second class certificate then to be granted.—ln the case of W. Jones, builder, Shaw-street, the commissioner sus pended the certificate for six months—the certificate to be of the second class. _ gUDDE;I"bEATIIS. — On Thursday an inquest was held before Mr. Churton, coroner, on the body of Ann Moseley, aged 55 years, who died suddenly at her residence, Brunswick Avenue, Birkenhead, on Tuesday morning. The deceased was apparently well in health up to a few minutes before her demise. A verdict of " Died from natural causes" was returned.—An inquest was held, on Tuesday last, at the Mersey Inn, Tranmere, on the body of James M'Cormack, aged three years, who died suddenly on Monday. The jury returned a verdict of " Natural death." EMIGRATION PROM BIRKENHEAD.—The following are the particulars of the emigration from the Birkenhead Docks durinc , the past month:— ... . May 3 Araminta Sydney...29o adultsprincipally Irish ~ 13 Monsoon Mort'nß. 336 ditto. „15 Columbia Sydney ...350 ditto. „ 18 Stamboul Melbonrne3Bo Irish and Scotch. ,-, 26 B. of the Sea Geelong...4oo ditto ditto. „ 28 China ..... .. Sydney ...214 Irish. „ 31 Genghis Khan Mort'n B 406 Scotch and Irish. June 1 Arabian Melbourne....22o Highlanders. Total GREAT WESTERN AND SIIREWSBI7RY RAILWAYS.— The committee of the House of Commons have decided in favour of the bill for the amalgamation of the Great Western, the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and the Shrewsbury and Chester Railways. They have so decided, they state, such decision " being of a special character, and of great importance to the public interest, inasmuch as without such amalgamation it appears to the committee that the smaller companies cannot effectually carry out the traffic within their several districts, and that the result of such amalgamation will be improved economy of manage ment, and greater facility of communication to the public at large." The Chester Courant expresses a hope that the shareholders will unanimously support this decision at the meeting, pursuant to standing orders, which will have to be held in that city on the 13th instant. The London and North-Western Railway Company threaten to renew their opposition in the House of Lords. WALLASEY Loce.x, BoAD OF HEALTH.—The last general monthly meeting of the old board was held on Thursday. Mr. Penny in the chair. The time for the completion of the survey of the parish was extended to the Ist of July. It had been recommended that the members of the board should form themselves into visiting com mittees, to inspect the sanitary condition of the districts they represented. The surveyor's report set forth that in Wallasey the practice of whitewashing was common. In Seacombe directions had been given for whitewashing and cleansing. A great scarcity of water prevailed. In Liscard the greatest prevailing evil appeared to arise from sewage matter being allowed to fall into ditches. A want of water was also felt in the district. A memorial was read com plaining of the nuisance arising from brick-kilns. The matter was referred to the law-clerk, with instructions to take proceedings against the owners. Some conversation ensued respecting the establishment of a scavenger force in connexion with the parish, which was referred to a com mittee. BIRKENHEAD LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCI ETY.-T 11,9 monthly meeting of this society was held on Wednesday, at the Concert-room, Hamilton-street. The chair was occupied by Dr. 3lacdougal. Mr. Hugh Gawthrop read a paper on " The Literature of the Eliza bethan Era," there being, he considered, no other period in the history of the world to which an Englishman re verted with greater pride, from the large number of first class poetical writers who then existed, whose works were marked by originality of conception, and simplicity of language. After referring to the mighty genius of Shaks peare' he gave short biographical sketches of Spen ser, Gascoyne, Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir John Harrington, Lilly, and others, besides quoting from poetical productions, and pointing out the beauties which marked the works of these eminent poets. The chairman announced that the society would not meet again until September, in which month they would hold two meet ings. He expressed the thanks of the society to those gentlemen who had kindly favoured them with their lectures, and observed that the object of the committee had been to meet the wants of the town of Birkenhead and the wishes of the members of the society. Their means had been limited, but he hoped the time was not far distant when a regular periodical would be commenced, and published with spirit, in which their proceedings would be recorded. Aft er urg i ng upon the audience the necessity of endeavouri ng t o i ncrease the members of the society, and thereby to augment its funds, the chairman enumerated the various scientific and other lectures which had been delivered, showing that the society had gone over a vast field, not only of literature, but of science, and all the subjects had been brought before them in a philo sophical and pleasing form. o He thought no fault could be found with the general management of the committee in their attempts to gratify and instruct. He called attention to the desirability of selling the books of the society, and with the proceeds to purchase apparatus, for it was their intention to secure lectures of a highly interest ing character, combined with experiments, so as to render them perfectly intelligible to every one. At their next meeting they would t a ke the subject i n to consideration.-- The session then terminated. TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1854. THE EARL OF CHESTER'S regiment of yeomanryo s3l 4 terminated their annual period of training on Toes last, at Chester. NARROW ESCAPE.—During the recent festivitie s 3t Llanelidan, near Ruthin, the largest bell fell with its franc from the belfry into the churchyard, w hi c h was croly with children, but no one was hurt. hp AN UNFEELING SON.—John Norman, stated to contractor, was summoned on Thursday, before the Itlas7; trates of Birkenhead, by the overseers of Great Nestori,,'!, the payment of £1 Bs. and Os. co s t s , th e am ount bO! , incurred by the parish in support of his father and moth' An order had been made on the defendant, some time ag, for the payment of 4s. a week towards the maintenanc e his aged parents, and he was in arrears seven weeks. n defendant maintained that h e wou ld no t p a y, an d aePe'r 0 1 J to think that he had no ri g ht t o d o so . Th e bench the defendant stood committed for a term not exceed' twelve months until the claim was paid. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS' BONDS.—On A. 1011.7, last week, a sale of Birkenhead Commissioners' Bonds taa a sum of £3,300, with arrears of interest, which made t; gross total amount to a sum of £4,290, or thereabo u t was announced to take place at the Clare n don-rooms Messrs. Walker and Ackerley, who were instructed to by the assignees of William Green, auctioneer, Birkenhead, a bankrupt. The first bid offered was £ l 2"'i i i which was gradually increased to £1,750, when the reset` „ price was stated to be L 2,500 ; and no advance hav v been made upon that sum, the sale was adjourned. ', e THE CANADA Wonxs.—So quietly, yet so rapidly, ht the shores of Wallasey Pool been dotted lately with dustrial establishments, that many of our readers a. doubtless unaware that within the last twelve won' Messrs. Brassey, Peto and Co. have erected huge building there, in which five hundred men are daily employed making locomotive engines, railway carriages, and otb,„ et articles required for the Grand Trunk Rail wa y i n Catis. u :; In these works, called the Canada Works, f or ty locomen engines can be turned out each year, the first construe, there being the Elgin, which made a short b u t sa tisfacto r 4 " trial trip," on Monday, previous to its s hip men t for tt, Canada Grand Trunk Railway, which w a s sa ti s f a ctoll . .i all respects. The engine in question, which was the locomotive made at Birkenhead, was named the PI Elgin, the second is to be called the Lord Elgin, and 1) 0 ,,, of them are to be dispatched by the ste am - s hip Otto ls :; The engine tried on Monday has a cylinder 15 inches l e. diameter and 20 inche s s t ro k e . It i s a coup l e d ens' with driving and trailing wheels. The wheels are 0 in diameter, and th e l ea di ng w h ee l s 3 f eet 6 i nc hes t 4 diameter. The engine is tubular, having 178 tubes, es c ,, 18-inch in diameter, which is equal to 872 feet of heutil li ; surface. In the fire-box the heating surface is equal to uE superficial feet,• making a total of 950 superficial feet ;, heating surface. The American principle of a " spa n catcher," has been adopted, as the steam will be genersfrj by wood fires, which throw sparks up the chimneys, l et which require to be intercepted so as not to damage or fire to the forests through which the engiubs travel. f o,s engine is a passenger engine, and it will be able to take.', or 23 carriages at the rate of 40 miles an hour. The P .. ,r g cipals of the establishment celebrated the event by e.dw— together in the evening, at the Woodside Hotel. FATAL THUNDERSTORMS. WITHIN the last ten days severe thunderstorms visited various parts of England, Ireland and Sentirol unfortunately in several instances attended with t results. abo ENGLAND.—On the afternoon of the 27th ult., 01 is . and its neighbourhood was visited by a severe and ala r s j ing thunderstorm. About half way between Oldliala Rochdale the electric fluid struck a cottage. It 1 0 • 5s „. 1 f down the chimney, struck a female who was sitting:''' the fire, and stunned her. On Sunday evening an an,: ing storm, though of short duration, passed over I[3 ';'„;,l There is a footroad leading to the iorley New Ileau , r,o' when the storm came on two men and a woinan,,`, o ;" shelter from the rain under some trees which overm - e the footpath, and were all more or less injured 11 as e% lightning. On Monday a severe thunderstorm w perienced in North Derbyshire, proving fatal to )1,, gentleman. Mr. George Oldham, surgeon, of Alfr e:o ? had started off to his farm at Morton, and on his s s i : a j picked up a boy who was returning from school. 11 , 8 g el; arrived a short distance from Morton when he was s r 1 ,0 dead in the gig ; the boy was unhurt. The deceased t ilt ' day a wife and eleven children. On the preceding ti l t' day afternoon a violent storm of thunder and lig o G ning passed over Bakewell. Five men, empleYe u m vo the Duke of Devonshire's farm, at Crackendale, had of refuge from the storm in an open shed near their 0 36 0 , 0 labour, when one of them, named Samuel Grego* a i s o struck dead by the electric fluid; three others wer e 0 0 struck down, but escaped death. At WolverharuPtt,ble Wednesday week, the electric fluid struck two Val' horses under a tree. and killed them instantaneously 3c. . IRELAND.—On Tuesday, a violent thunderst ollll o, companied by torrents of rain and hail, burst over Pl a cer and resulted in a fatal accident to a stocking n''",is named White, who was struck dead in his own 11 001 : t be Mill-street, the electric fluid having en t er ed the top e' by gable. The sister of the deceased was s tanding clo se v . him at the time he was struck, and her escape was ,e u b i sidered miraculous. Life has also been sacrificed lightning at Loughrea, Galway, a farm lad havin g :!`ct, killed by the electric fluid on Sunday On Sunday W. , % when the parish priest, the Be of baptising a child in the Roman Catholic Chapel pt christ, county Galway, the eastern was strue" t y gable r lightning, and the electric fluid carried a portion ej,, Rev Michael Burke, 4. belfry into the body of the building, some heavr e p: falling upon the altar, and terrifying the assenl l,l 4 ot: gregation. A young lad, who was holding theZ horse outside the eastern wi n d ow , was killed on,,f"kk - Last week there was a fall of black raisLat Fes' the county of Kilkenny. (1 r,05 ter° SCOTLAND.—Dumfries was visited by a t he last week. The peals were terrifically loud, and 1 1 0 poured for some time in torrents. At the telegr el l 'e groZ' railway station, the electric fluid, acting on the , ti oei ,i '' wires which communicate with the testing rthe i 5 exploded with a report like a gun-shot, destraYi"g,,,eltr - ' strument, a portion of the brass index plate being„L; en' A workman employed by the telegraph company tU the gaged on the top of one of the poles, about a nin e & wil% station, repairing the wires, when he was thrown fea. the action of the electric fluid on the wires , anu ae re4 height of twelve feet to the ground. Ile was r en insensible for nearly an hour. OPENING OF THE CHELTENIL EXHIBITION. P e ON Thursday last, the great floral exhibition an': oc i la art display, which had been for a considerable Pe ri blic• preparation at Cheltenham, was opened to the ll o sc• The exhibition comprises three sections, the first O A ing horticultural products of all kinds; the seconuAtii eludes a display of all which is connected directly Id horticultural art and science ; and the third is coinr' of designs less or more associated with horticultur e. One feature of the exhibition is a museum , for uoet the noble music-hall of the Royal Old Wells has he e un der apart. There are fine fountains in the g rounds„ , „ the the exclusive management of Mr. Freeman -u7 th e hydraulic engineer of the Strand, London, art, of marquees are under the charge of Mr. R. Lus' Liverpool. Of t his r The building measures 400 feet in fine arts' committee. This length• As ted fL, space, about 80 feet at the upper end is spnroP''n of a picture gallery, under the immediate directio perhaps is its mo st P o ol a I L feature, and arround the walls are some reallY .neut excellent pictures, painted by artists who are ouro' their profession. That the picture gallery of t „ most attractive part of the exhibition, tonn e ' f s acie", doubt. The museum contains a collection 0 ii . r h bjlo armour, stuffed birds, and other curiosities, for committee are mainly indebted to the Chelte nhata sophical and Literary Institution.cling lea oic A magnificent tent is . erected in the broad-vial,',_e to the pump-room and exhibition, under which tn_ t o ceu,, breakfast took place. That part of the building n e e , l 4l o , pied as a picture gallery, contains counters for th.,,,7 srt u . of different manufactures, wares, and merchancut'ok tDoef altogether has a very pleasing appearance. 1 S solu e is leading tradesmen of the town are exhibitors, hs eso.,it workmanship, and beauty in design the articles are novel and unique, and exhibit rie' io t We m ust lie.4tb is to notice some fine specimens of modelling o, Bre r sl also, some very fine ancient black oak carvingl,„. f icaLti, ion also a good collection of horticultural and e rg implements. The porcelain department of the 4,ectres of is very rich, and contains some costly and rar e ; s rti c ` in Dresden china, Bohemian glass, and other (Ire' curious workmanship and vertu. es tlie r s ing , At the inauguration the beauty of the oi be Of the hundreds to the grounds. Introductory tea_pt i r sous , a public breakfast took place under 3 134 °300 E. s illies broad-walk. This was attended by ahU i l t s cliao "coope r ' including numbers of the aristocracy lar; ke tion; of the county. The breakfast was serve d : s i sati s ' - „, s erai of Cheltenham, and appeared to give geog the g' w heit This part of the business being dispose' ~r e und'l', public were admitted at two o'clock to the , ' o t of P .- ilev• a procession formed, headed by the presid e , e , th e the W. N. Skillicorn, E sq ., a county mag istru` ch urch , oro i John Brown, M.A., incumbent of Trill it i,be ill3u farn i- Rev. M. Boyd, w h o was to delive is r c ounty h lbitioll address, and leadi ng mem b ers of tu' t he el, i d the lies. • The procession marched t ° op en ' - WT. N . Skillicorn, with' the Rev. M. Boyd' t wo ,•A e at, johs building, the doors of which were building itself was soon crowded. i f- `,, c "ci theß eP • seP t ' Brown, stationed th 1 • cell‘r - the I tec ' as emse ves in t e „ben • near to the fountain on a raised , Boyd delivered the inauguration its deo. listened to with great attention, and wir is l- ry aPP'"snee,', the rev. gentleman was frequently war ai per forn l o , Previous toe the address, there was a mir . i 4 e :os i Ant`4ooo - the address was followed by the I'Nu the the by an orchestra of 100 voices. After erfornicu' Anthem," which was most adinirably ~P sa cc . e j "Hallelujah Chorus" was sung in effecti s v a e g l' a i - n " fo i drew down a burst of applause.,, This Wa Awake the hu r l'' exi o ; by "The Heavens are telling, " of the s et , Rule Britannia." This cljed,,Vie ope riln f curiosi tie s s ur bition building, after which the rAsentr., a nd t se works of art in the royal wells, _..„ 00 n,. of the atte“i• o ed " of the tr a° 31. room were opened. In the course m o dern f the of • o the grounds , and performed a selection e rerooo splendid band of the Coldstream Guards n i s striv mental music. The above concluded the c ue Horticulture and Crystal Palace for the Exhibition of inauguration of what may now be termed t 031 4/IY, Fine Arts. ble co The grounds were crowded with fashionable and presented a pleasing and animated appeal a j_'-;; 0 1 . 1c , ; The building, when filled with company, co ost st ri " the elegant dresses of the ladies, produced a In effect. The novelty of the exhibition, however,,u,r,r`isgi crowds to Cheltenham, the trains on each arrivaV",.teripr. a large accession of company, and the queen of " places assumed a busy, bustling aspect. J. l3 ' Dir• f the DRUNK/EDS.—In an oration at Exeter IL , o _ Gough, the American temperance orator, in suvpol_ l o tte r r , London Temperance League, to show how liar9',„ /) pc it was to save a drunkard, stated that out Unit ;' gtateS3 sons who had signed the pledge in tbc, 450,000 had broken it, Chelteoilo; ?ea, tot elat otit