The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-10-20 00:00:00

THE DIRTY TRICKS OF THE SOCIALISTS EXPOSED. A meeting was held in the Amphitheatre on the evening of Friday last, for the purpose of affording an opportunity to Mr. Brindley, the indefatigable opponent of Socialism, to expose the falsehoods and calumnies which the members of that system in this town had circulated concerning him. The falsehoods, in substance, were that Mr. Brindley, after his lectures, had ingloriously retreated from the field, alarmed at some pretended array of talent to be brought against him. The following report, which is longer than we originally in tended, will amuse those who feel interested in the contro versy between Christians and Socialists, but it will fail in giving an adequate idea , of the pretensions and the cowardice of the Liverpool disciples of Robert Owen. The Rev. FIELDING OULD was called to the chair. In addressing the meeting the rev. gentleman said, that the majority of them might perhaps be aware that an alleged correspondence between Mr. Brindley and the Socialist community of this town had been in circulation for a few days past, in which an attempt was evidently made to insinuate that the Socialists had called Mr. Brindley out into a discussion upon the principles of Socialism, but that be had shrunk from the discussion. Mr. Brind ley, however, was present to-night, having come from London for the purpose, to demonstrate that whether the Socialists could or could not help such conduct, they were in this instance entirely in error, to use the mildest expression that occurred to him. Mr. Brindley would submit the whole correspondence. He would state the dates of his own letters, and the date of the letters he bad received from the Socialist body, which would shew that from the first he bad been anxious to bring them to discussion—that he had made every reasonable concession to their claims in order to accomplish this object—and he was upon the platform this night once more to repeat the challenge, and prepared to concede to almost any terms the Socialists might name, in order that they might not have it in their power to say to the public that he had shewn any unwillingness to meet them. (Great applause.) He (the chairman) had, therefore, to re quest from the individuals present a patient hearing for Mr. Brindley whilst he made these statements ; and if there were any member of the Socialist body present, he invited that man to come on the platform, and deny, if he could, any of Mr. Brindley's allegations, whether in reference to this cor respondence or to the Socialist controversy generally. (Cheers.) He (the chairman) would himself guaranteedthat any individual so coming forward should have a full and a fair hearing ; and so far as he could protect him, he should not be interrupted whilst making his statements. (Loud cheers.) The rev. gentleman concluded by calling upon Mr. Brindley. Mr. BRINDLEY then came forward, and was received with loud cheering from all parts of the house; He commenced by saying, that he had felt it necessary to call the meeting at very short notice for the purpose of exposing to the public of Liverpool the lying practises of the Socialists. He had not expected that such notice would have been required from him, for when he arrived here yesterday afternoon [Thursday] from London, he fully anticipated work for him as last night. He had come, as he then understood, for the purpose of meet ing Mr. Hollick in discussion upon the evenings of Thursday and Friday ; but, on his arrival, he found that the Socialists avoided meeting him, for they raised two objections which seemed insuperable, unless he (Mr. Brindley) sacrificed the cause of public truth and justice. But he should take the opinion of the meeting, and if they decided he should accept the challenge in the form put by the Socialists, then, at once, as the humble servant of the meeting, he could make the best of a bad job, and make the most of the advocacy of truth even with the two paltry modes of evidence the Socialists placed within his reach. (Cheers.) He thought this the most clear,. straightforward, and manly course. The Socialists having put forward a pretended correspondence between the two com mittees as soon as they knew he had left Liverpool—which correspondence he should to-night prove to be a scandalously fraudulent fabrication—he thought it only just to himself and to the meeting, that they and he should be set right upon this matter; and that if the Socialists and himself did appear before the public as disputants, he .(Mr. Brindley) should not come before them with the prejudice against him that he had shrunk from discussion, or that the Socialists had been unable to obtain any reply to their letters " calling him out , " as they said. (Cheers.) He bad, first of all, to make good the placard which be had issued to-day headed—" More Ly ing and Fraud." (Hear.) Here was the " Correspondence between the Universal Community Society of Rational Re ligionists and the Reverend John Brindley." He supposed they meant himself, although he was not " the Reverend John Brindley ;" that was a title they had gratuitously given him as a reward, he supposed, after all the blackguardism he had received from them. (Hear, hear.) At the end of this cor respondence came these words— " And to this letter we have had no reply." This referred to a letter written by Mr. Westwick, dated Oct. 7th. This correspondence was issued on Saturday last, the 10th instant. Now he should prove that not only bad the Socialists a reply to that letter but that, moreover, he had himself received from them a long letter in reply to that reply upon the 9th instant, the day previously to the publi cation of this alleged correspondence. If that were the case the meeting would see that he had at once proved the So cialists guilty of a most shameless lie. Here was his reply, dated the 7th, to theirs of the 7th, to which, on the 10th, they said they had had NO REPLY. 38, Church-street, ,Oct. 7, 1840. Sir,—My committee will be prepared to enter upon the necessary arrangements with the Socialist committee for a public discussion, &c., tee., as soon as the protestant meet ing, which now occupies the attention of many of them has been held. To avoid any unpleasant personal collision, it is deemed advisable that the arrangements should be entered into by written communications. My committee will sit for that purpose at noon on Friday next. The challe n g e g iven bY me runs thus :- 1 . That I prove Socialism to be an absurd, an immoral, an atheistical, and a swindling system - . 2. That I refer to no books as authorities but those of the :ffi s ,,_ c ers of the Socialist body; and appeal to no perso ns as evidence but those who have been sufferers by the commu nity f rau _, 3. in, u• half hs n 's,,at each disputant shall have equal time of alternate 4 • i h " a r t ,-- u say, for four hours, on two successive evenings. discussion. Hollick have the choice of commencing the 5 . That each disputant choose his own chairman—the Moderator, whose decision shall be final, to be chosen by the meeting. 6. That the surplus receipts, after paying the necessary expenses, not including the personal expenses of the disput ants, be paid over to the charities of the town, as the meeting may decide. 7. Admission as at Mr. Brindley's lectures—the moderator to be treasurer, and one from each party at the doors. I remain, sir, yours obediently, JOHN BRINDLEY. So that the meeting would perceive he did not abate one jot of the original charge against the Social system. (Hear.) Here, in. the next place, was John Finch's answer to that let ter, dated the Bth inst., and received on the 9th, the day before their publication of the correspondence. On this letter he charged them to-night with being palpable, cool falsifiers, and he called upon them in the face of British justice, to acquit themselves of the charge. (Cheers.) If lie had gentlemen to deal with, men of common courtesy or common decency, he should wish to conduct himself towards them as a gen tleman and as a man ; but if he had, as on this occasion, other characters to deal with, he must use equally plain terms towards them—he must be equally plain and equally straight forward. (Cheers.) Here then was John Finch's letter. " Liverpool, Bth October, 1840. " Mr. Brindley,—Sir,—We have received your letter of the 7th, with your propositions for a discussion at four o'clock this afternoon, and they are of so vague and indefinite a cha racter that we cannot accede to them altogether as they are, for the following reasons : " Your first proposition is—' That you prove Socialism to be an absurd, an immoral, an atheistical, and a swindling system.' We are quite willing that you should try to prove ad this, and ten times more, if you are able." why, that was all he (Mr. Brindley) had undertaken to do. But mark here was a piece of great cleverness and of exceed ing sophistry— " 2nd proposition.—' That you refer to no books as autho rities but those of the OFFICERS of the Socialist body. To this we cannot agree, because if you were to undertake a con troversy with Roman Catholics, you would not allow them to refer to all the writings of every person who has held any Office in any Protestant society as an authority for the prin ciples of Protestantism ' you would not allow them even to take your litur and homilies for infallible authority , but haply would say that the Bible only is your standard,' or they might refer to the writings of the founders of your religion--Luther, who advocated polygamy and other vices ; or to Henry the Eighth, who first wrote a book in proof of the truth of popery, and then changed his religion because the Pope would not allow him to depose and murder his wives. For the same reason we cannot allow you to use as authorities in this discussion every book that may happen to have been written by any officer of any of our societies." Certainly not, and he never wanted them to submit to the writings of any person who had ever held office in any Social ist society, but he wanted to hold them to Me officers of the society. But see the art and subtlety used in creeping out of the thing. Then John Finch went on to say— " We shall discuss the subject from the book of Dutura tion of Principles, published by order of our Coneress, and from the book of the Constitution and Laws of the Universal Community Society of Rational Religionists, published by the same authority, and from them only." Here John Finch declared that the Socialists would discuss the whole question with him (Mr. Brindley), with no other than two tracts, both of which tracts, as the meeting should see, had only been brought into existence, the one last year and the other this year. (Hear, bear.) The Socialists had been regularly organised as a society for many years ; they had held five annual parliaments, yet now they wanted to bind him to two apologies for the it principles, and to drive him off from the principles by which they had been held together as a society for five successive annual congress meet ings. (Hear, hear.) This was a pretty way of getting out of the scrape. (Cheers.) Then John Finch went on— " If you sincerely wish to discuss the real principles of the Socialists, you will be satisfied with this." He (Mr. Brindley) should not be satisfied with this, nor would the meeting. He should think that if they wanted to know what the Socialist principles were, they would require the Socialists to accept as fair evidence all documents that, as officers of the society, they had put out ; but of all other books, surely they should accept as evidence the books of Robert Owen, their founder, particularly The New Moral World, and their weekly newspaper. (Hear, hear.) If they would have nothing more to do with The New Moral World, or any of the books of Robert Owen whatever, then he (Mr. Brindley) stood in the enviable position of having entirely driven them from all the standards they had pub lished by authority during the last six or eight years. (Hear, hear.) By these letters, then, was proved the lying of the Socialists, who stated they had received no such letters. Now for their fraud. This was a very ticklish point. They did not like the mention of it, it was so very vulgar. As to this part of the proposition, John Finch said— " Then as to the other part of your second proposition, you ▪ You shall appeal to no person in evidence but those Who have been sufferers by the community fraud.' In reply, that persons who have gone to community, may, at present, have been losers by it, is very possible"— He did not deny the fact, but extenuated it. He said— " It has cost me a considerable sum, but that is nothing to the purpose." He (Mr. Brindley) ought to have ad John Finch in the evi ;lence box, to prove the fraud, because he had been a loser by it . " It has cost me a considerable sum , [` The more foo l yo u,' ( laughter,)] but that is nothing to the purpose." de (Mr. Brindley) thought it was to the purpose. If he had sd his all, and dragged his wife and five little ones into eninenunity, and there been robbed, he should have thought that something to the purpose. But although John Finch Was not fool enough to take all he had with him to commu itY, still " it had cost him a considerable sum," I according t l . 0 his own testimony. But the majority of those who went `() community sacrificed all they had ; they were defrauded , of it, and had then no such home to return to, when t hey found it out, as John Finch. And now, since numbers had. confirmed his (Mr. Brindley's) statements, the New Moral World refused to publish the letters of those who had been def ra uded by the community system. This proved 'nem to be a set of knaves. (Hear.) Now, said John Finch— " You h av e to prove that the association is formed for fra udulent purposes, and is fraudulently using its funds, v, w h i ch ll we defy you or any other man to prove." did they not come forward and let him prove it? He i;_at , now prepared, and had long been, to prove that they ~,s1 and did, fraudulently use the funds they obtained, and 'at they obtained those funds by fraudulent pretences. (Hear.) It was no use sending him these flimsy things, tell ing him to do it : he was here to-night to prove it. (Loud cheers.) John Finch then went on to repeat the whole of the propositions agreed to. Did not the meeting think that he (Mr. Brindley) had now proved the lie against the Socialists? (Cheers.) Here was his letter replying to theirs of the 7th, and here was John Finch's reply to that, dated the Bth, but not received till the 9th ; yet in the corre spondence published on the 10th they said they had no answer to theirs of the 7th ! Here however was the reply sent two days before the publication of the lie ! (Cheers.) Had they not then in this tract published a wilful and premeditated falsehood, and circulated it about the town ? (Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) Now came the question, why bad they done this ? He would tell the meeting their motives. Said Mr. John Finch— " The public will thus see we have done all we could to bring Mr. Brindley fairly out, and that he has declined to come forward." To be sure : that was the reason he was there to-night. (Cheers.) " We again repeat that the statements he has made, are most gross, and WILFUL FALSEHOODS, and that the man is only a HIRED CALUMNIATOR of those whom he dare not meet on fair and equal terms." They forgot to name the gentlemen who bad hired him to calumniate them : they forgot to name in what he had calum niated them—two little items of no great consequence cer tainly—but proof did not belong to their " organisations." (Loud cheers.) But here was the whole secret in two lines— " On next Sunday evening, at half past six, at the Hall of Science, Lord Nelson-street, an exposure will take place of the lying calumnies which this man has heaped upon the So cialists. The public are invited to attend, and to come early, as many were obliged to go away last Sunday for want of room.—By order of the council board, " WM. WESTWICR, Secretary." Mark, the whole of the society were implicated in this. (Hear, hear.) The secret was this—" if we cannot meet Mr. Brindley we can make something out of him by lying, because we know he is lecturing in Chester on Saturday night, and at Sheffield on Monday, so he is out of the way, and we shall get plenty of twopences by him which is all we want." (Loud cheers.) The plain fact was that these So cialist gentry published this fraudulent correspondence in order to get a crowded meeting, and the pence of the people by fraudulent pretences. They got the meeting together under the fraudulent pretence of exposing his (Mr. Brindley's) cowardice, knowing well at the same time, they had in the building his reply to theirs of the 7th, undertaking to ;meet them in public discussion. (Hear, hear.) Their statement therefore was not only wilfully false but it was fraudulent, in asmuch as they had omitted to publish two portions of the correspondence which were essential parts of it—because whilst they pretended to publish the whole, they absolutely omitted the two most important communications—(Hear) — and one other which was a reply to his letter to Mr. West. wick, dated October 1. As soon as he reached town, he had the first letter placed in his hands, containing a resolution passed by the Socialists, that it was their intention to enter into a discussion with him, but before he received that, his own challenge was upon the walls, calling upon them to meet him. (Hear, hear.) They did not accept his challenge, saying Mr. Hollick or Mr. anybody else should meet him upon such and such principles, but they merely gave notice that they would discuss. He sent them in three propositions —one that they should meet him each night, having an hour for discussion after his lecture, then that they 'should have equal time for discussion, and the third that he should finish his lectures and afterwards go into discussion. What was the reply of Mr. Westwick— " Oct. Ist, 1840. " Stn,—l greatly regret that I cannot answer yours defi nitely, but our council board will meet to-night, and I will forward their decision to you early in the morning. I think it more than probable we shall accept the 3rd. " Yours obediently, " WM. WESTWICK.." He (Mr. Brindley) wrote another letter. Instead of sending an answer on the Saturday morning, which Mr. Westwick was pledged to do, from the council board, they posted bills on the walls, saying that all the terms of discussion were in the hands of Mr. Brindley ! (Hear.) Now here was a de liberate lie. He had received no terms, but he had himself sent them terms which they had not replied to. He sent them a second letter, to know the meaning of the placard upon the walls ; and what was the answer ? Mr. Westwick " had not time to attend to it "—and that a mere verbal message. Why had not Mr. Westwick inserted the above letter , in the correspondence published by the Socialists ? Why bad they not dared to publish his (Mr. Brindley s) se cond letter, and Mr. Westwick's important reply, that they had not time to attend to it? (Hear, hear.) This being the case, he called upon the Socialists this night to clear themselves in the eyes of the public of these charges ; if they did not, they stood convicted of wilful falsehood by the very publications issued by authority of the central board, and signed by their own secretary. (Cheers.) Here, then, was tithe first part of the charge he brought against them, and which he brought upon the authority of their own printed documents and their own letters. A PERSON on the platform asked whether it would not be right to send a deputation to the " Hall of Science," in Lord Nelson-street, informing the Socialists that Mr. Brind ley was waiting to meet them ? Mr. BRINDLEY was afraid, if a deputation was sent, the Socialists would find themselves too busy to come. He had no objection, however, to a deputation being sent. The same PERSON observed that the notice of the present meeting._had been very s h or t. Mr. BRINDLEY. — Oh, but he had a letter to read from John Finch, which shewed that he knew all about it. He should himself have proposed that a deputation be sent, but the fact was that the Socialists dared not, and they did not mean, to conic. If any of them were present, let them come upon the platform like men ; he (Mr. Brindley) would not run away (loud cheers), and the meeting would notice throughout the whole of the correspondence the fairness of his offers. (Hear, hear.) He had now to read a letter that he had sent to the Socialists, in reply to John Finch's reply, which he had just read. He sent this letter from Birming ham, and it was sent to Mr. John Finch on Monday. It began— " Liverpool, 38, Church-street, 12th Oct. " At a meeting of Mr. Brindley's Committee, held at 38, Church-street, this morning—present, Mr. J. Rigby (in the chair), Rev. F. Ould, Rev. P. Brown, Rev. G. Mansfield, Rev. B. A. Marshall, Rev. J. R. Connor, Capt. Creighton— " It was resolved, That the propositions of the Socialist body, in answer to Mr. Brindley's challenge, be answered thus : " lst proposition, agreed to as it stands. " 2nd do. agreed to as it stands. " 2rd do. agreed to as it stands. " 4th do. agreed to as it stands. " sth do. to stand thus :—Each disputant to choose his own chairman, the moderator to be chosen by the two chairmen, and in case of their not agreeing as to the choice, the meeting to decide. _ _ " 6th proposition to stand thus :—Surplus receipts, after paying the necessary expenses, not including the personal expenses of the disputants, be paid over to the Infirmary and the Northern Hospital. " ith proposition to stand thus :—Admission as at Mr. Brindley's lecture, Mayor of Liverpool to be treasurer, if he will comply. " And, as an Bth proposition, it is proposed, That there be no tickets, but that the money be taken at the doors by two money-takers, one to be appointed by each party. " It is also proposed, That the discussion take place in the Amphitheatre, on Thursday and Friday evenings next. There, the meeting would observe he agreed to the proposi tions they offered him. (Hear.) There was the whole, and a plain copy of his answer sent to Mr. John Finch, through his committee, in which he agreed to all their propositions rather than let them escape. Although it was absurd to confine himself to the two little pamphlets which they had sent him, yet rather than let them escape he had accepted their own terms. (Hear.) He wanted their "organizations upon the platform. (Cheers and laughter.) A PERSON observed that Mr. Brindley had mentioned, upon a previous occasion, several towns in which Socialism had declined. Was that the case at Norwich ? _ Mr. B RINDLEY cou ld name pl en ty of towns in which Socialism had become extinct, but he was only concerned now to see the Socialists shut out of Liverpool. (Hear.) Here, now, was Mr. Finch's reply, dated the 13th inst., so that the public would see an incessant correspondence had been kept up in order to get them out. It was a very lengthy letter indeed, but here it was— " We cann o t agree f or th e di scuss ion to take place Wore next Tuesday eve n i ng , as we shall not have time be fore then to make the necessary arrangemen t s . Nor can we agree , under any consideration, for the choice of moderator, who , in fact is the only rea l c h a i rman , to be left to the meeting.' This man declared here, that the Socialists could not upon any consideration allow the meeting to choose their own chairman. What reply could his (Mr. Brindley's) committee give to that ? His committee had no right to—they dared not—usurp the authority and power of choosing a chairman ; and surely if his committee had no right to appoint the meeting's chairman, the Socialists had no right to do so either. John Finch here said he would, on no consideration, allow the meeting to appoint the umpire. Now he (Mr. Brindley) declared, that this was contrary to all the usage and rules of public meetings in this country, and it would be for the meeting to say whether they would give up their right. If they said they had no objection, and would allow the Socialists to choose a chairman for them, with all his heart—he would meet them—(cheers ;)—but until the meet ing had acceded to that, neither his nor any other committee had any right to thrust upon them a chairman chosen with out their knowledge or consent. (Cheers.) Here the thing stood. Upon his arrival in town he found they bad put on this objection another—as to the proof of the fraudulent inten tions and fraudulent practices of the Socialists. How was he to prove them ? They . would not allow him to go to their practices, but they insisted upon his establishing the proof by reading their principles ! (Hear.) How was he to do that ? How was it possible for any man to prove fraudulent practices from the reading of principles I He defied any man to do it. For instance, here was a trades' club. There was a committee of ten ; and the members charge the com mittee with fraudulent practices concerning the funds of the society. But how can they prove it, for, says the committee, we will make you prove our fraudulent practises by merely reading over the rules and regulations of the society ! (" Hear, hear," and cheers.) Yet rather than not meet the Socialists at all, he would at once agree to meet them upon the two books which they had sent him ; but if they wanted him to prove their fraudulent practises from reading those books, and if they insisted on it, the meeting would see the reason. (Hear, hear.) A Voicx (in the circle.)—Will Mr. Brindley read the whole letter ? Mr. BRlNDLEY. — Certainly. But come upon the plat form. (Loud cheers.) The MAN came on the platform, and in answer to general cries of " Name, name !" he said, my name is Dodbleday, and all that I am here to-night for is, to say that, whoever the Socialists are I care not, and whoever Mr. Brindley is I care not. All I want to see is, justice done to both parties. (Hear.) Mr. BRINDLEY. — That is what we have come here for. (Cheers.) Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—If this is the same letter that I have read before, there is falsehood upon one side or the other. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BRINDLEY.- - Read it all over yourself. (Cheers.) Mr. DOUBLEDAY commenced reading, but having thickly interspersed it with comments, Mr. BRINDLEY called upon him to read the whole of the document before he commented, as he (Mr. Brindley) had been charged with not wishing to read the whole of it. The CHAIRMAN called upon Mr. Doubleday to read the whole. Mr. POUBLEDAY read as far as the fourth propositiov., concerning the appointment of chairmen and umpire, when he went, on to say , t h at h e s h ou ld lik e t o h ave t h e R ev . H u gh M'Netle as the umpire at a discussion. He repeated, that all he wished to see was justice to both parties, as a lie had been told either by one or the other. Now, Mr. Brindley had posted the walls of the town, saying that the Socialists did not dare to meet him, but what did Mr. Finch's letter say? (Great uproar,) The CHAIRMAN requested a patient hearing for the speaker. He had pledged himself to procure a fair hearing for both sides, and unless he could secure that, he should be under the necessity of vacating the chair. (Hear, hear.) Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—I now call upon Mr. Brindley, before this meeting, to appoint a time , place, and a chair man , an d the Socialists will meet him in discussion. (Hear, hear.) Mr. BRINDLEY.—That is what I want to bring them to, but they dare not come. (Cheers.) Mr. D ouBLE DAY. 7 Do not let Mr. Brindley in su lt th e two committees by saying it is not their business to a p po i nt their chairmen. It is their business ; and it is for the ch a i rmen to appoint an umpire . But I ask Mr. Brindley this— w hy has he brought forward a small placard which shows the genuine honour of some gentlemen ? I will read it. " Wh a t think you of the Socialists now :" Mr. BRINDLEY.—Begin with the beginning, and read the whole of it. (Cheers.) . . _ Mr. DOUBLEDAY then read the following— " MORE LYING AND FRAUD OF THE SOCIALISTS. " What think you now of the Socialists? They have pre tended to publish the correspondence on the subject of a public discussion, &c., and have actually omitted some of the most important communications that have passed be tween us ; whence their FRAUD. They also declare, in their publication of the 10th, that no answer was given to theirs of the 7th ; instead of which my reply, dated the 7th, was sent in on the morning of the Bth, and a long letter received from John Finch, in reply, on the 9th, dated the Bth ; yet on the 10th they say there was no answer to theirs of the 7th !!! Here, then, is their WILFUL LYING. What can we do with these creatures of circumstances? Dare they meet me on any terms? " JOHN BRINDLEY." " Birmingham, October 12, 1840." What publication on the 10th he begged to ask Mr. Brindley was here referred to ? Mr. BRINDLEY.—Why, your publication of the corre spondence, to be sure. Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—I have seen no publication by us on the 10th of the correspondence, and I will prove it could not be so. Now, gentlemen and ladies—l mean ladies and gen tlemen,—(great laughter)—on the 7th of October the follow ing letter was sent by the Socialists to Mr. Brindley—holding up the correspondence. Mr. BRINDLEY.—He said just now that he had not seen the correspondence. (Cheers.) 'Mr. DOUBLEDAY.---1 said I had not seen any publication of it by us on the 10th. (Oh, oh.) But here is Mr. West wick's letter of the 7th, and see the shuffling of Mr. Brind ley. (Hear.) The speaker then read the letter, which stated that unless an answer was received by " the council" by nine o'clock, the correspondence would be immediately pub lished. Did, he continued, the Socialists receive an answer that evening ? Where was Mr. Crisp ? Mr. CRISP.—I am here. Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—Did you hand that letter to;Mr. Brind- Icy at four o'clock when it was brought to you ? Mr. CRISP.—No letter was brought to me at four o'clock. Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—Did not Mr. Finch bring to you a letter at four o'clock on that day ? Mr. CRISP. — On what day ?_ _ _ Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—On the Sth of October. Mr. CRISP.--I received no letter from Mr. Finch on that day, and Mr. Finch did no such thing as send me one. But I will tell you that he did previously send me a letter so per sonally gross and insulting, that I paid no attention to it. I would pay attention to a letter even from a Socialist, but such a letter as that which I received, I should put into the right place—the fire. (Cheers.) Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—Honesty would make no objections to answer the question. Mr. BRINDLEY.—We . will have the letter read now— (Hear.) Mr. DOIIBLEDA Y.-I ask you the question when was this letter delivered ? _ Mr. BRINDLEY.—By what authority do you ask me that? What letter do you mean? Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—That which will prove you guilty of falsehood—(uproar)—the letter saying, that unless an answer was received by nine o'clock the correspondence would be published. Was an answer sent by nine o'clock ? Mr. BRINDLEY.—Do you think I must go all over the country to answer your letters at the exact moment you please to fix ? Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—Oh, Mr. Brindley, you are catched, are you ? (Uproar.) Mr. BRINDLEY.—If you will be decent I will reply to you. We have here an exceedingly flippant little gentleman, who says he has catched something ; what has he catched? Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—A falsehood. (Uproar.) Mr. BRINDLEY.—Where is it ? Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—Here I will read the bill again. (The speaker then read the bill.) When, he asked, was the eon-es pondence published ? Mr. BRINDLEY.—On the 10th—last Saturday. Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—I deny it. I had the bill in my own hands on the night of the Bth October? Mr. BRINDLEY.—Do you mean to prove that? Where is the printer? Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—I cannot carry the printer upon my back. (Uproar.) Mr. BRINDLEY.—No, but we do not choose to take your impertinent assertions as proved. You are exceedingly flippant, but you are not to have your " catch" as you call it, till you have proved it. (Cheers.) Mr. DOUDLEDAY.—I ask Mr. Brindley did the Socialists receive an answer to that letter on the 7th of October? Mr. BRINDLEY.—He has to prove to this meeting that I have been guilty of falsehood in the printed bill of mine to day. The proof rests with him. Now, sir, prove (Cheers - Mr. Mr. DOUBLEDA Y. — l have proved it. (Cries of no, no.) Mr. Brindley says this publication of the the corre ri sp n o t ndence Brindley s e a r w an a s s w n e o r t a i i s a s t u . ed lt ti w il a t s h n e u l t O e t n h. the A s l t r h .. Lloyd, mr. , s can have omitted the letter that came from him ; but how y eotrld we insert it when lie sent no answer in time to our letter of the 7th ? (Uproar.) The CHAIRMAN.—You have given no proof of the publi cation of the correspondence on the B th . ( H ear and cheers.) Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—I have proved it. Mr. BRINDLEY. — HOW ? Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—Why I tell you so and that is suffi cient. (Great uproar followed this sentence, in the midst of which the representative of the Socialists retired to the back of the platform.) Mr. BRINDLEY then resumed his address amidst loud cheers. He thought that the Socialists themselves would acknowledge that the chairman had acted towards them with more than fairness, because they had no right to expect to be allowed to interrupt him in the middle of the correspondence. (Hear, hear.) Yet this person had done so, and why ? Be cause, he said, there was a lie on one side or the other, and he came forward to prove him (Mr. Brindley) the liar. Had he proved it ? (No, no.) That was the point. He (Mr. Brindley) had replied to the Socialists' letter of the 7th : he wrote the letter in Mr. Crisp's presence. He received the Socialists' letter in the evening of the 7th, and he sent his reply the next day. John Finch did the same thing. He wrote his answer on the Bth which he (Mr. Brindley) did not get till the 9th. What more could be done ? Now he defied the Socialists to prove that the correspondence was in circulation before Saturday the 10th. Their agent said Lloyd, the printer, could prove it, but the fact was there was not the name of any printer upon it! (Cheers.) They had, therefore, a little overstepped themselves. This gen tleman (Mr. Doubleday) was in the secret; he saw the paper when it was first concocted, two or three days before it was issued —which shewed the premeditated character of the thing, and stamped it ten times worse than it appeared at first to be. Now, here was what Mr. Doubleday had to do. He had to prove first, that the paper he had read was not a fair copy of his reply dated the 7th—and secondly, that the answer he had read was not the real identical letter of the Bth, f r om John Finch, in answer to that reply.— Till he had done that he had done nothing. H e h a d made much noise certainly, but he came forward by no enntemy)ittreeepetaeteedemtheatfnirtwawrads andt business authority. of d • a Mr. Anybody to come and dance an pipe before the prove, if they could, that he had told a falsehood, and not for the He Socialist li ß st ri swer to the Socialists when he was interrupted by . a drunken meeting. Mr. Brindley was proceeding to read his final an man belonging to that body, who was eventually ejected from the house by the police. He then alluded to a placard signed by Finch and posted on the walls, in which he said that not having received any reply to his letter of Wednesday, he branded Mr. Brindley as a " lying impostor." Now here, proc eeded Mr. Brindley amidst loud cheers, was this " impostor,"lying ready to hav e a trial, before a very large jury, u pon the question of who the liar was. One of them, either t h e Socialists, or himself , bad evidently told a most atrocious falsehood. The meeting would have to decide which. Now he proposed that Mr. Doubleday should himself accompany a deputation once more to Lord Nelson-street—(cheers) — inviting them to a discussion this very night. Let them come, said Mr. Brindley, and I will give them £5 for a cha rity if they will hold discussion this night. (Immense cheers.) Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—I will go with pleasure. I now want to ask Mr. Brindley one question. Is he willing to meet the Socialists upon fair and equal terms in discussion ? If he is, will he state before this meeting the time and place where he will meet them. (Oh ! oh !) Mr. BRINDLEY.—I will meet them to-night ; now ; (loud cheers)—and if they like, I will meet them again to morrow night. (Renewed cheers.) My little friend wanted to put one question to me, and I allowed him : lie will, in turn, allow me to put one question to him. It is this : since you know all the secrets of the Socialists — Mr. DOUBLEDAY. — No, I do not. Mr. BRINDLEY.—You pretend to do;—will you have the goo d n ess to go and " catch" John Finch for me to-night.? (Cheers.) Mr. DOUBLEDAY. — I will catch John Finch for you at the proper time and place. Mr. DOUBLYDAY. — If any party, who has the charge of this theatre, will name the rate at which it is to be let for two, three, or four nights' discussion — Mr, BRINDLEY. — Are you in authority to make any pro position ? Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—I say I will carry this question to them, and I will be hound they will answer it. Mr. CRISP.—I have taken this theatre, and they shall have it to-morrow night for nothing. (Immense applause.) Mr. BRINDLEY.—A gentleman has just come forward most handsomely, and offered the theatre free of charge, if the Socialists will meet me here to-morrow night. (Cheers.) Mr. DoUBLEDAY.—Can you say for two nights? Mr. CRISP.—You may have it to-morrow night butlwe do not hold discussions upon the Sunday. (Cheers. Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—WiII the proceeds go to the Liverpool charities? Mr. BRINDLBY.—Yes. Now go and get your men. (Cheers.) Mr. DOUBLEDAY. — AII I want to see is a fair and upright thing. Mr. BRINDLEY.—WE want it too. Now go and bring your men. (Cheers.) Mr Doubleday, onthe part of the Socialists, and Mr Taylor and other gentlemen, on the part of Mr. Brindley, then left the theatre as a deputation to the Community Hotel, to re quest the leaders of the Socialists to appear and defend them selves. Mr. BRINDLEY then addressed the meeting upon the scene that had taken place, and upon the general question of Socialism, clearly demonstrating all that he had described it to be as absurd, atheistical, immoral, and swindling. The deputation returned in about half an hour minus Mr. Doubleday. The following scene then took place, the effect of which no report can convey an adequate idea. Mr. CRISP announced that when the deputation arrived at the Community Hotel, the police were called in and or dered to turn them out. (Uproar.) Mr. TAYLOR then came forward and said—When we went in neither Mr. Hollick nor Mr. Finch were there. I then spoke to Mr. Westwick, telling him that Mr. Double day had guaranteed to this meeting that either Mr. Finch or Mr. Hollick or both of them should come down here this evening or to-morrow night, or both, and meet Mr. Brind ley in discussion. He said they were not there ; and as we were coming out of the door they brought in some policemen to turn us out. I saw Mr. Finch come in, and I said to him, " Do you intend coming down to meet Mr. Brindley to night or to-morrow night, or both ?" He said, " No I will not go down among such a set of blackguards." I then wished him good evening. Mr. BRINDLEY then addressed the meeting upon this state of things, when Mr. Doubleday suddenly made his appear ancce on the platform between some of the gentlemen of the deputation. Now, Doubleday, said Mr. Brindley, I will repeat in your presence the message handed in to us by the deputation. Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—Who are they ? Mr. BRINDLEY.—Mr Crisp, Mr Taylor, and others. They state that when they entered this coffee house in Lord Nelson street, Mr. Westwick denied that Mr. Finch or Mr. Hollick were there, and that the police were sent for to turn them out — Mr. DOUBLEDAY.—There was such a crowd about that the police came in— Mr. BRINDLEY.—Do you mean to say that the Socialists dfd not send for them ? Mr. DOUBLEDAY.---1 cannot say. Mr. TAyLon.—Westwick himself gave the police orders to take us into custody. (Hear, hear.) When we got there Finch and Hollick were out. We met Finch just coming out of the hall into the house. We told him the meeting was waiting for him. He said, " We will not come ; no one here (pointing to a round table where some of the community sat) shall meet such blackguards." This gentleman (Doubleday) wa s present, and he wanted to get away, saying he himself knew they never meant to come. (Laughter.) The CHAIRMAN then interposed, observing that Doubleday was only trifling with the meeting and with Mr. Brindley, and that he advised him quietly to retire. Doubleday took the hint, and made his exit in the manner that beaten dogs perform such an operation. Mr. BRINDLEY then resumed his address, in the course of which he observed, that it was now dearly placed upon record, that Mr. Finch and the Socialist body generally would not meet him, because they considered the people of Liverpool a set of blackguards. He (Mr. Brindley) now left this final challenge to the Socialists of Liverpool —upon one week's clear notice, he would, within the next three months, come from any part of the kingdom, to meet in public discussion, any accredited agent of Socialism in the town of Liverpool upon their own recognised books, and that he would leave in the hands of his committee a guarantee of £2O for his presence at the appointed time and place, and that they should also give a similar guarantee in £2O, the proceeds to be given to the public charities of the town. (Loud cheers.) The CHAIRMAN then took the sense of the meeting upon the question, whether Mr. Brindley had not clearly and dis tinctly proved Socialism to be an absurd, immoral, atheisti cal, and swindling system. All hands were held up in favour of this. Next, whether Mr. Brindley had not shewn every possible disposition, and made every possible effort during the last fortnight to bring the Socialists to an open, fair, and free discussion with him. This was also carried unanimously. Next; whether the meeting was not of opinion that, notwith standing the correspondence which had taken place, the So cialists had really never from the commencement had the slightest intention of meeting Mr. Brindley in discussion. This was likewise unanimously adopted. The last proposi tion was whether the meeting should separate without shew ing its sense of disgust at the insolent and disrespectful mes sage sent to them through the deputation by Mr. John Finch. This was also adopted, the meeting exhibiting obvious signs of their execration of the Socialist creature. The Rev. Chair man then said that the controversy now stood in this position —that either the Socialists were afraid, or did not think it ex pedient to meet Mr. Brindley. (Hear.) The meeting, he was sure, did not wish to separate without passing by acclama tion a vote of thanks to Mr. Brindley, for his able, eloquent, and satisfactory exposures of this fearful system, not only in this, but in 300 towns in England. (Loud cheers, in the midst of which the thanks of the meeting were tendered to Mr. Brindley. Mr. BRINDLEY.-I cannot do more than tell you that I indeed feel exceedingly delighted with the kindness and sym pathy you have expressed towards me; and depend upon it, so long as God blesses me with health and strength, and with the humble talents which he has given me, to defend the cause of truth against errors and abominations of every kind, you shall ne ver ca ll upon J o hn Brindley in vain to stand up in this good—this righteous cause. (Loud cheers.) The meeting then separated. REVISION OF THE BOROUGH LIST OF VOTERS The court for the revision of the list of persons entitled to vote in the election of Members of Parliament for the borough of Liverpool, commenced yesterday in the Court house, before Spencer Horatio Walpole, Robert Wharton, and Joseph St. John Yates, Esq., the barristers appointed for the purpose. Two courts only were held, one before Mr. Walpole for a short time, and the other before Mr. Wharton. Mr. Yates did not sit, and in Mr. Walpole's court nothing of public in terest occurred. He proceeded with the lists for the town ships of Everton, Kirkdale, and West Derby, in the Ma gistrates' room. (Before Mr. WHARTON.) In this court the lists were taken from Ato E. Mr. Car son and Mr. Pennington appeared on the part of the Con servatives ; Mr. Maynard and Mr. Bretherton for the Re formers. One hundred and forty-six objections, half on each side, were withdrawn by consent. On Mr. Hart, one of the overseers being sworn, Mr. CARSON informed the court that the lists had not been published according to the act, inasmuch as they had not been posted on the doors of all the chapels and churches in the town. _ _ Mr. WHARTON said the case had been so often decided that it was useless to make any point of it on the present oc casion. It had been decided in almost every town the re vising barristers had visited, and they had always ruled that the section of the act bearing upon the point was merely directory, which, although it might not have been complied with, did not invalidate the list. Mr. PENNINGTON expressed himself perfectly satisfied with this explanation from the court. PAYMENT OF RATES BY THE PROTECTOR SOCIETY. Joseph Maguire, Maguire-street, o p pose d by M r . C arson . It appeared that this person had never paid rates before the 20th July last, and that on that day he paid for three years. He got the money from " a friend ;" it was not his own money, but he had repaid it. Mr. WHARTON.—Had you repaid the whole of it before the 20th of July ?—No. Mr. WHARTON. — Then I must strike you off. Mr. MAYNARD apprehended that if the court would allow him to argue the question, he could satisfy it that the notice ought not to be allowed. Mr. WHARTON said he had taken the man's evidence as it stood. His colleagues and himself had made up their minds, that the payments of rates must be Lona fide by the party, and it was really wasting time to argue the question. Mr. MAYNARD was so thoroughly convinced of the quali fication of the voter being perfectly unobjectionable, that if the court would allow him he would argue the question, as it would save time. Mr. WHARTON trusted Mr. Maynard would have the kindness to listen to him. His colleague (Mr. Walpole) he was informed had so decided in the next room, and indeed they had made up their minds before. When a question arose upon which there had already been a decision in the course of the same revising season, it was a great waste of time to re-open it. Mr. MAYNARD would ask the witness what he meant when he said the money was not his own. He then asked the wit ness whether he denied the money to be his because he borrowed it. Witness.—lt was not my own because I borrowed it. Mr. MAYNARD apprehended that it was his own to all intents and purposes. Mr. WHARTON could only say that Mr. Maynard's appre hension was not law. That was quite clear, and he would just state the line of reasoning by which they arrived at that decision. In the case of the King v. Cousins, which was a case between the rate-payer and the parish, for the purpose of gaining a settlement ; it was decided that the payment of rates by another party was a good payment on behalf of the occupier. But in the case of the King v. Bridgnorth, the judges decided that such a payment was hot a good pay ment for the sake of obtaining the franchise. In the next place, the reform act gave a new franchise, clogged with certain conditions which must be complied with before the franchise could be obtained. It being decided then, in these two cases, that a payment of rates by a third party might be good as against the parish, but not for the sake of getting a vote, it is quite clear they must be guided by the meaning of the act. In arriving at that they were guided by the dicta of the judge, in the case of the King v. Bridgnorth, in which they were all of opinion that the vote was not obtained pro perly—that there must be a payment of rates by the voter himself. The strong expressions used by Lord Denman in that case led him (Mr. Wharton) to the conclusion that a mere borrowing of money was not sufficient, but that there must be a payment by the actual party. That being the case, and the judges having already decided that payment by another person, not with the voter's money, was not a good payment, he de c id e d t h at pa y m ent by the voter with another person's money, was not a good payment. Mr. MAYNARD urged that the object of the law in re quiring the payment of rates with the voter's own money was to take away from it that eleemosynary character which it would have if they were paid with money not his own. But this was a loan, for the purpose of paying his rates, to be re paid by the voter •, and a loan, he contended, was not suf ficient to disqualify him. There was no presumption that he had not applied the money to the payment of rates. Mr. WII ARTON trusted that if Mr. Maynard was allowed to argue the question, after the strong opinion he (Mr. Wharton) had delivered, he would confine himself to the facts. Mr. MAYNARD observed, that payment of rates by a land lord, by agreement with the tenant, was equivalent to a pay ment by the tenant hi mse lf . Mr. ,the ; but the landlord, as a matter of course, obtained a higher rent from the tenant. In that case there was a quid pro quo, but there was none here. It was not a payment according to the act. The discussion was prolonged for some time with great perseverance by Mr. Maynard, on a variety of points, when Mr. WALPOLE (who came to assist his learned colleague) said, the court had come to the decision just given not with out mature consideration, and they should adhere to it. It being quite a new point, there being so much difference of opinion upon it, and their minds not being clearly agreed upon all, although they were upon most,whatever decision they made, they certainly did not wish it to be drawn into a precedent for future years. If the money was given to the voter absolutely to pay his rates the revising barristers were agreed that that was a good vote ; if a third party paid the rates without com munication with the voter it was bad, but if the voter repaid the money before the 20th of July it was good. Then came the sole question, whether a person borrowing money for the express purpose of paying his rates had a vote. That ques tion might admit of a difference of opinion, but at the same time, if the loan was au absolute loan for any general pur poses, the court thought that was clearly a good payment. The only doubt they had was whether a loan for the express specific and sole purpose of paying rates was not a good pay ment. Mr. MAYNARD.—Do you say it would be good if the pay ment were made with money given to him? Mr. WHARToN.—Certainly. It must be an absolute gift. Mr. MAYNARIL—SureIy there can be no impropriety in the person who gives the money to the voter, saying—`' now go and pay your rates with it." Mr. WHARTON.—It will be a direct fraud on the act of parliament. Mr. CARSON.—Suppose a party gives money to a voter, I apprehend that we may go into the bona fides of that gift. Mr. WALPOLE.—That must follow, I think, at once. Mr. MAYNARD iLquired what was to be the test of the bona fides/ Mr. WH ARTON.—The same that would be submitted to a jury in a case of a fraudulent purchase under the statute of Elizabeth ; the bona fides would be left to the jury to make up their minds upon. Mr. MAYNARD.—What posssible fraud can there be in paying a man's rates ? Mr. Wu A lITON.—It is in direct opposition to the intention of the legislature—that is all. The vote was then sti uck out on the ground that the money had been borrowed for the specific purpose of paying the identical rate. Mr. WALPOLE.—Money given for general purposes may be applied in payment of rates ; but if money is borrowed for the specific purpose of paying rates, it is the opinion of the majority of the revising barristers that the vote is not good. At a subsequent period, Mr. Wharton stated that the money must be advanced as well as borrowed for the purpose ; and that if the voter was not told what to do with it, it would be a general borrowing. Williiam Aiston, Pembroke-street, was the next voter called, and he was supported by Mr. Maynard. In cross examination by Mr. Carson, he said that he paid his rates, on the 18th July with money he borrowed from a friend whose name he did not know. He was responsible to his friend for the repayment. In answer to Mr. Maynard, he said he was at perfect liberty to use the money as he chose, and he told the barrister that he did not tell him for what purpose he borrowed it. The following dialogue took place between Aiston and Mr. Carson. Are you a member of the Protector Society ?—I am . Where did you see the friend that l ent you the money ?— I • saw him at Mr. Bretherton's office, in Union-court. Did you go to that office as the office where the Protector Society was distributing money ?—I went to that office to borrow money. Mr. MPLYNARD.—I object to these questions. Mr. WHARTON.—Go on, we had better know once for all what it is. . The cross-examination was continued, and the witness stated that he did not know the name of the man he saw at the office; he merely asked his name and lent him £2 4s 6d. When he had got the money he took it to the parish-office, paid his rates, took the receipt to the office of the society, where it was kept till last Saturday when he received it again. Other questions were asked, the answers to which clearly shewed that the money was advanced by the Protector Society, and Mr. WHARTON in deciding the case said, that Mr. Walpole agreed with him that whether or not the society had other objects, it was manifest what was its object with regard to this man. From his going there, and coupling the whole facts together, it was morally certain that the parties who acted for , the society knew what the purpose of the loan was. The vote must be rejected. Many other votes—in all of which the parties themselves proved that the money was advanced by the Protector= Society, and received for the purpose of paying the rates — were struck off. Michael Burke, Stockdale-street, was opposed by Mr. Carson, on the ground that the Protector Society had paid his rates. Mr. C. argued on this case that it was clear the object of the society was to pay the rates of these parties. Mr. MAYNARD contended that the society's objects were general, and said he could prove it. Mr. WHARTON.—If you choose to call evidence to prove that. I shall use that evidence in all other cases. After a consultation between Mr. Maynard, Mr. Brether ton, and Mr. H. T. Atkinson, it was stated that the secre tary of the Protector Society would be called to prove its objects. Thomas Macintyre was then sworn, and examined by Mr. Maynard. He said he was secretary to the Protector Society, and was perfectly well acquainted with its regulations, and with the manner of conducting its business. The society lent money to its members, but the loans were not confined to any particular object. It did not, however, lend money for any purpose. It lent money to its member s f or t h e three objects, of relief in sickness, if they were distressed to pay their rent, and to pay their rates. The society had often, without inquiry, given to members what they had paid in. Acknowledgments were taken from them where they received more money than they had paid in. There was no limited time of giving credit ; it was left to the discretion of the com mittee. Could not say what course would be adopted in case a loan was not repaid within a considerable time, as there had never been a case in which it had been refused. Could not say what would be done in such a case, as it would de pend upon the committee. There was no regulation upon the subject. Cross-examined by Mr. CARSON.—How- long have you been secretary to the Protector Society ?—I think eight or nine months. Are the rules of this society in writing ?—There are rules in writing ; they are as originally drawn up, and we have been waiting to see the working of the society before we printed them. Have you any rules which persons sign before they be come members ?—I believe a few have signed at one place of meeting, but few altogether have signed any. When was this society established ? Better than twelve months ago. How many members have you? I cannot tell you that, because there are five different districts and five societies ; the secretaries in each district keep the books, and I have no return from them. Mr. WHARTON.—Are you the general secretary ?—I am. Mr. CARSON.—According to the returns you have re ceived, how many members have you ; have you a thousand ? —A great many more. Have you 3000 ? I should say we have. You say you lend money to members ? Yes. Did you lend a great deal of money in July last ? Yes. Did you lend £lOOO ? I do not know what sum we lent ; It was not I that gave the money, nor have I the cash-book. Did you ever see any statement of what was lent ? No sir. Are you the treasurer also? No. Were you ever at an office in Union-court last July? Yes. Did you lend money there? We lent a good deal. For what purpose was that money lent? I never made inquiry. Did you not know it was lent to the parties for the purpose of paying their rates ? I might have my own ideas, but I did not know that. What is your idea? I was under an impression that it might be ; it might be employed to some other purpose, and in some cases it has been. You are secretary, and do you not know that the money was lent for the purpose of paying rates? That was distinctly understood, that the men who had paid their money into the society, were to come there in July last, for money to pay their rates. Did you confine your loans to persons who had an equal amount of money in the society ? In the short time there was, I could not tell, we were so hurried. Why were you so hurried? Because, during the few days we had, there was an immense number of them. Where there as many as 300?-1 do not know how many. You were so crowded you did not count how many there were ?—Yes. Mr. WHARTON.—Do you know any one instance in July of your advancing money which was not for the purpose of paying taxes ?—I do ; but I cannot now tell who the parties were. Did any one conic there in distress ?—Yes, there were per sons. How many ?—I cannot tell you, but I know some. Mr. CARSON.—At the office in Union Court ?—I am not confident of that, but such things did occur during that pe riod. How many ?—I cannot tell. Mr. WHARTON.—Were yours the bands thad advanced the money on that occasion ?—lt might or might not have been. Whenl was the office opened ?—I do not know ; it must have been in July or immediately before. The case, with several others, was postponed, in order to enable further evidence to be given by Mr. Maynard as to the objects of the Protector Society. The court adjourned shortly after six o'clock. CORONER'S INQUEST-WILFUL MURDER OF AN INFANT BY ITS MOTHER. On Friday morning an inquest was held before Philip F. Curry, Esq., coroner, at the Coroner's -office, Lord-street, on view of the body of a new-born female child. The fol lowing is the evidence of the several witnesses : Anne Burton examined—She said : I am a single woman, and in the employ of Dr. —, of Rodney -street. There are three other female servants in the house ; the name of the cook is Mary Jones. I slept in the same bed with her. Yesterday morning, about four o'clock, I was awakened by a noise, and found Mary Jones on the floor; she seemed in great pain. I asked her what was the matter, and she said she was in violent pain. I fell asleep again, and did not awake until it was near daylight ; she was still on the floor. I got up and dressed myself, and as she did not get better, I went, at her request, and fetched the doctor (myjnaster) ; I went and called him up. About eleven o'clock my mistress in formed me that Mary Jones had been delivered of a child. I have not seen the child, nor was I aware that she was in the family way. The professional gentleman was here examined—He said, I am a physician, and reside in Rodney-street; Mary Jones is one of my female servants; yesterday morning I was' called, and informed she was ill; I went up to her bed-room, and, on inquiring what was the matter with her, she told me she had violent pains in her bowels. I prescribed some castor oil and a few drops of laudanum, and directed warm fornen tations ; she was then in bed, and I was not aware she was in the family way. 1 then left her, and returned to bed. Before I went out on my morning rounds I again visited her; she was then apparently easier, and she mentioned that a particular change, incidental to females, had taken place, which I conceived might account for the symptoms she was labouring under. Whilst I was standing at her bedside, in company with my wife, she was seized with a paroxysm of pain which struck me as suspicious, and which induced me to call my wife out of the room. I asked her if it were pos sible she could be in the family way, and she answered me that she could not possibly imagine such a thing. I returned to her room afterwards, in consequence of a message from het, and I then putthe question distinctly to her, " Are you or not with child ?" to which she replied, " Oh ! no, it is impossible." As she complained of great straining bearing down, and a swelling which was gradually enlarging, I made an examination to ascertain the cause ; 1 discovered a symp tom of such rare occurrence that I considered it right to ask the opinion of another medical gentleman, and immediately went across the street to the house of Dr. Nicol ; I rather think there was no person with Mary Jones when I left for this purpose. In about fifteen minutes I returned with the doctor I had gone for, and found her apparently lyi ng i n t h e same position in which I left her. On an examination with that gentleman I found a very material change had taken place during my absence, and which left no doubt on my mind, and that of my friend, that she had been delivered of a child. lam not sure whether it was the doctor or myself, but one of us told her that she had borne a child, and that it was no use of her denying it ; however, she still denied it. (The witness here alluded to the state of the bed in corrobo ration.) I had occasion to leave the room for a minute or two, and during my absence the other gentleman had disco vered the body of a full-grown female child, which had evi dently been just born. I remarked to her how culpable it was to conceal thething, when she declared she was ignorant of her situation. An examination of the body has been made by the gentleman alluded to. John Nicol examined.—l am a physician, and reside in Rodney-street. At the request of Dr. I visited one of his female servants yesterday morning, along with him. We made an examination, the result of which was that I had no doubt Mary Jones had recently been delivered of a child. I told her I felt convinced she had been delivered of a child; but she positively denied it. I made a diligent search in the bed, but could not discover the child. The last witness had occasion to leave the room for a few minutes, and I conti nued my search, and in an old trunk I found the body of a full-grown female child, wrapped up in an old apron, and covered over with some dirty clothes. The body was warm, but quite dead : the umbilical cord had more the appearance of having been cut than torn, but it was not tied. The last witness and myself made an external examination of the child, and found a swelling on the right side of the neck. A post-mortem examination was made in my presence : the swelling at the side of the neck had considerably subsided, but the particular discolouration which I found on first dis covering the child still remained: on examining the lungs, I found respiration had taken place, and I am quite satisfied the child was born alive : the child may have died from the violence used by the woman in delivering herself : I infer i this from her not having spared herself iu her efforts to deli ver herself: cases sometimes occur in which, when the head is expelled, the child may breathe before the body is expel led, and after respiration has taken place : in such a case the child may have died from the force used to extract the body. Mr. Edward Batty deposed as follows :—I am a surgeon : I have made a post-mortem examination of the body of the deceased, in the presence of Dr.:Nicol : the state of the child, when I first saw it, was that of its natural appearance, with the exception of a large suffusion of blood on the right side of the neck : I then opened the chest, and found all the vis cera in the natural state of a child having breathed : I then opened the neck, and found that great violence had been ef fected. From the history of the case, I learned that violence had been done to the person of the woman, which rarely, if ever, occurs in natural labour : the connexion between the appearance of the child and the injury done to the woman had been effected at one and the same time, during the ex pulsion of the child : no other appearance, upon dissection of the child, could account for its death, and my belief is that the child died in consequence of the extreme violence used in delivery. The coroner here summed up the evidence, and after the jury had been in deliberation for about a quarter of an hour, they returned a verdict of " wilful murder." RADICAL VERACITY. (?) TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR.—Observing in the Journal, of to-day, a report of a speech delivered by Mr. Wm. Hardy, at a meeting of Re formers, held in West Derby Ward, last night, in which he asserts, that my brother-in-l aw , M r. F roste, had discharged his (Mr. H. s) son, in consequence of the vote which he (Mr. Hardy) had given some years ago, I beg leave, through the medium of your paper, in the absence of Mr. Froste, who is at present in Canada, to give to such statement the most un qualified contradiction. Mr. Froste, to my knowledge, never did interfere in political matters, nor did he care one straw how Mr. Hardy or any other individual might think proper to vote. fenclose a note on the subject from Mr. Ashlin, Mr. Froste's present partner, and who was with him at the time alluded to, which fully bears me out in what I have here stated.--I am, Sir, your obedient servant, Hanover-street, Oct. 17, 1840. JOHN SMITH. Exchange-buildings, 17th Oct., 1840. MY DEAR SIR,—In reply to your note of to-day, calling my attention to a statement in the Liverpool Journal, re ported to have been made at a meeting of the Reformers of West Derby Ward, last evening, by Mr. Wm. Hardy, I can feel not the least difficulty in a ffirming ; that Mr. Hardy's son was not disch arge d from Mr. Froste s service for the cause assigned bf his father, inasmuch as Mr. F. was not aware, at the time alluded to, of the manner in which Mr. Hardy voted, nor would he at any time trouble himself to make any such inquiries, nor suffer such considerations to influence him in the slightest degree in his conduct towards any individual.-- Yours, very truly. I. ASHLIN. John Smith, Esq. [Mr. Hardy's assertion (how apposite the junta-position of these terms refutes itself most completely. He says --ttst his son has een out of a situation for eight years; and yet he has the hardihood to declare that he was dismissed because the father voted for Mr. Smith's opponent in 1836 ! Those who invent such statements ought to pOssess—long namories.—ED. L. STANDARD.] WARD MEETINGS. LIME-STREET WARD. A very numerous and highly respectable meeting of the conservative burgesses of this ward was held last evening in the Assembly-room attached to the York Hotel, Williamson square, for the purpose of nominating a fit and proper person as a candidate for the representation of the ward at the forth coming municipal election. Mr. Thomas Blackburn is the retiring member for the ward, and as he is one of the ablest men of the party, the :whigs, no doubt, will use the most strenuous exertions for his re-election. Mr. Kilshaw, how ever, will be found a formidable opponent, and if the con servatives do but bestir themselves as they did at the last election their success is certain. JAMES ASPINALL, Esq., was called to the chair. They had met for the purpose of nominating a candidate in the conservative interest for Lime -street ward. He congratulated the meeting upon the fact, that, as the period of election ap proached the apathy of the conservatives decreased. (Hear.) He had 'lately addressed several ward meetings, but he had never seen so large and influential a meeting as Lime-street ward presented this evening. He congratulated them upon this on two accounts. In the first place, because it showed they were strong enough ; and in the second place, that they ware determined to oust their present "liberal" representa tive from the Town-council. Far be it from him to say any thing against any individual, but he must make a few obser vations on the political character of Mr. Blackburn. Two sub jects now engrossed the attention of Liverpool, namely, the system of education in the corporation schools and the ware house question. He would deal with the first. Mr. Blackburn was de chairman of the Education Committee, and he con tended that no dissenter from the Church of England had a right to dictate to the town of Liverpool what the education of the poorer classes should be. (Hear, hear.) If he (the chairman) should ever have the honour of being returned to that council, he should conceive it the greatest victory he had ever gained to carry the sale of the Corporation Schools (hear, hear) ; for the education carried on in those schools was not consistent with the character of the town. He was by no means au enemy of education, but if the poor were to be educated by the corporation, let the money be distributed to each class, whether churchmen or dissenters, and then it would be fair ; there would then be no reason to complain on any side ;—but he would not consent to allow the Popish priests to turn out the Protestant clergymen from teaching their own Protestant poor. (Immense cheering.) If the Protestant poor were to be instructed, let them be instructed by their own Protestant clergy ; and let the children of dis senters be taught in their own way ;—but let the money that was given by the corporation, if there were any scruples, be properly divided amongst them. Let not the present system be continued. (Hear, hear.) As Mr. Blackburn was the chairman of the Education Committee which promoted that system, he (Mr. Aspinall) called upon the meeting individu ally and collectively to turn him (Mr. B.) out from the re presentation of that ward. (Cheers, and cries of 'We will.') An to the corn-laws, and other legislative measures which had engaged the attention of the Town Council last session, (he believed one of their members had given notice of a mo• Lion respecting the privileges of parliament)—(loud laugh ter)—he (the chairman) had nothing to do with them ; but, as a member of the old corporation (hear, hear), he must protest against that breach of faith now going on in the pro posal of building warehouses on the dock quays with public money. He had said before, and he now repeated, that if the present Town Council did use the public money for that purpose, they ought to release those individuals to whom the old corporation had granted leases on condition of building werehouse. This was an important feature in the warehouse question. (Hear.) Several individuals about the King's Dock, who had built warehouses according to their stipula tions with the old corporation, had petitioned the present corporation to exonerate them, in consequence of their in tending to build warehouse with the public money. No re gard, however, was paid to their remonstrances, and thus they would be forced to compete with the corporation ,who were using public money to a deadloss. (H ear .) Was this just? (No, no.) With regard to the question as it now stood, he left it to the merchants of Liverpool. It had assumed a new feature, which those who went into the town council would discuss with better effect than he should; but he would express his feeling—that it was hardly fair for one political party to cre ate this monopoly ; for it was a monopoly for the sake of pro moting their own political interests. (Cheers.) If it was desirable that the land on the dock quays should be built upon, it should be let to the highest bidder, and let the ware houses be built by companies or private individuals, and then there would be a fair competition. But there would be no competition if the warehouses were built by the dock com mittee. (Loud cheers.) Mr. RIGBY, the present conservative member for the ward, rose to move the first resolution. Ile said he came before his constituents to propose a man whom he had known for the last 25 years to be a man of standing, of industry, and integrity. (Cheers.) They all knew that he (Mr. Rigby) was no speaker ; but he hoped and trusted that his friend, like himself, would be a worker, if they would give him any thing to do. (Cheers.) The worthy member concluded by moving the first resolution, to the effect that John Kilshaw, Esq., was a fit and proper person to represent the ward in the town council. Mr. JOHN WRIGHT then came forward amidst loud cheering. He had great pleasure he said in seconding the proposition, as he knew that Mr. Kilshaw had been a hard and honest worker in their cause. He had known him for many years as an upright and honest man, and a downright Englishman. If elected he would look to the interests of the town, and particularly to the interests of the ward. He would not be like those liberal gentlemen who took upon themselves the task of giving their opinions upon all sorts of legislative enactments ; it would be quite sufficient for hint to look after the interests of the town. He (Mr. Wright) believed that there were many well meaning individuals in the Town-council • but they wished to be thought much greater men than they really were—they wished to be above representing a mere ward in Liverpool, and to be actors in a higher sphere. He thought, however, that their situation was quite high enough for them, and the town[would be obliged to them if they wou ld at t en d to their proper duties instead of running away after things that did not concern them, and using language he had been sorry to hear. He must be allowed to say that, although the old corporation had been so much abused, they never forgot in their discus sions to speak to each other as gentlemen. He agreed most cordially with the resolution, and hoped that every one in that meeting would do their utmost to return to the Town council a man like Mr. Kilshaw—who would do his duty to them ; by that means they would be doing their duty to him. (Loud cheers.) Mr. KII.SHAW then rose amidst loud cheering. He said he felt proud of the honour they had just conferred upon him, by nominating him as a candidate for the representa tion of this ward in the Town-Council. If he could be of any service to the burgesses there, he should have very great pleasure in doing all in his power to serve them uprightly, honestly, and steadily during his time of servitude. (Cheers.) He was no speaker, and therefore they must take the will for the deed, but he trusted he should be a good worker. (Loud cheers.) Mr. DANIEL LEDSON, after a very eloquent speech, in which he exposed the proceedings of the Protector Society, and adverted to the principal topics among our local politics, moved the next resolution. • Mr. SANDARS seconded the resolution, and highly eu logized Mr. Kilshaw's fitness to represent the ward. Mr. J. OWEN, chairman of the ward, next addressed the meeting in an energetic strain, and congratulated the bur gesses of that ward on the progress conservatism had made within the last six years. He said that if they would exert themselves as much as they did at the last election, Mr. Kil shaw's election would be secured. Alluding to the warehouse question, he said it was clear it had been raised for political purposes, because the great thorn in the side of the radicals was the blue jackets—whose votes they wanted to neutralize. He contended, however, that the blue jackets, the old freemen of this town had a right and title far superior to the Irish. They had sought to put the blue jackets down, and swamp the constituency —but they had been thwarted : they had been gloriously frustrated ;—he trusted that the conserva tives would never give them the chance to rise again. In deed, if they would but work as they did 1 ast year, the same results must take place. (Cheers.) He then moved a reso lution to the effect that an active canvass be commenced on behalf of Mr. Kilshaw. Mr. BIRKETT seconded the resolution. The thanks of the meeting were then presented to the chairman, who, in acknowledging the compliment, congra tulated the burgesses on the defeat the protectors had expe rienced in the revising barristers' court during the nay. The meeting then separated after giving three cheeers for the Queen,—the Duke,—and the Chairman. CASTLE-STREET WARD. The conservative electors of this ward assembled in the Clarendon Rooms last evening, for the purpose of selecting a candidate for the representation of the ward in the Town Council at the ensuing municipal election. The meeting was extremely well attended, considering that another ward meeting was taking place. At the close of the proceedings the room was well filled. JAMES ASPINALL, Esq., having been called to the chair, drew attention to the purposes of the meeting, assuring the electors that if they did their duty they would be able to re turn the gentleman who would be proposed to them that night. The chairman said that they had a different opponent to cope with this year. Mr. Aiken was an able man and a popular man with his party, and a spirited canvas must be undertaken if they wished to succeed. Mr. \VILKINSON, in proposing the first resolution (for which see our advertising columns), eulogised Mr. Hope, and trusted that the utmost would be done to return him. Mr. GARDNER, in seconding the resolution, said it gave him great pleasure to do so. Mr. Hope was, like himself, at one time a reformer, an d vo t e d on that side, until be began to consider the matter most fully, and judge of the effects that would ensue from the reckless course of that party. lid was glad to be put right respecting his vote, as he had one in Castle-street ward and Everton, he should give his vote in Castle-street. (Cheers.) The chairman said that h e , in company with his friend, Mr. Gluebrook, thought that it was their duty to call upon Mr. Hope, to hear what his sen timents were : they found h!m of the same opinions, and ex pressing thp same anxiety to be useful to his native town. He had shown the most unflinching integrity, and he was certain that he wo u ld no t regar d hi s own pr i vate interest in doing that which was right. Mr. GLAZEBROOK, in proposing the next resolution, ad dressed the meeting in an eloquent and fervid strain, alluding to the base and anti-christian conduct of the radical party, which he said was subversive of, and at variance 9 with, our national institutions. He a lluded to Mr. Aiken 's opposition to that part of th e re p or t o f the Steam Tug Company' s, which proposed that their vessels should not be employed on Sundays, and also commented upon that gentleman's opinions respecting education in Scotland. This motion being seconded by Mr. DoKE, Mr. Hop e en tered the room, and was greeted with the most cordial and enthusiastic cheers. The IN informed him of the resolution of the meeting, and said that he was glad to say that it had pledged itself to do its best to return him at the ensuing election. Mr. HOPE entered at some length into his views upon several questions. He showed the difference between the conservative and the radicalparty, in regard to the scriptures and scriptural education, and said, that however commend able such institutions as the Mechanics' might be, he re gretted that the fundamental—the great truths of religion were placed in the back ground. Mr. H. then alluded to Mr. Hollick's conduct to Mr. Brindley, and the refusal of the Socialists to meet the latter gentleman. The speaker, in alluding to the warehouse question, said that he thought the council were trying to establish a monopoly, which, consi dering the terms on which land had been let to private indi viduals for the erection of warehouses, was a disgraceful breach of faith, and that the monopoly would be established with the public money. Mr. Hope said he had nothing to keep in the back ground. If any gentleman had any ques tion to put to him, he was ready to answer it. He would make no pledges, except that he would do his duty. _Mr. Hope elicit e d l ou d cheers at several portions of his speech. the next re so l ut i on being proposed by Mr. Robinson, a n d seconded by M r . Evan Williams, The CHAlltilAN said, that having heard Mr. Hope's sen timents, it only remained for them to use their best exertions to secure his return. On the th an k s of the meeting being g iven to the chair, The C HAtantAN sa i d that t h e Al b ion, in its vulgar_ style, had tri e d to b e witty at his expense; but i nsteadwagcould mak e of feeling vexed at any remar k that such a radical upon him, he f e lt it rather as a compliment that it sho u ld notice him. He had never shrunk from doing his duty, a n d though it might call liim n t a . a . ies, it could not say he had ever neglected his duty to hisetlow-townsmen, or that he had been unmindful of the interests and welfare of the conserva tive cause. (Loud cheers.) The meeting then separated. DREADFUL ACCIDENT ON THE SOUTH AMPTON RAILWAY. (From the Morning Hsrald of Yesterday.) e regret to have to announce another of those frightful and fatal accidents which have of late been so frequent on railroads, and which occurred on Saturday evening on the line of the South Western (Southampton) Railway Com pany, close to the terminus at Nine Elms, Vauxhall. A mixed train had left Southampton at half-past one, and should have arrived at the Nine Elms station at a quarter past five. From the greatness of the load, this train, although drawn for half the distance hr two engines, was thirty-five minutes beyond its time, cull did not, therefore, arrive at the London station until ten minutes before six. About one hundred yards from the arrival at Nine Elms, the engines which had drawn it were, as usual, detached from the train, and a rope by which the carriages are drawn under the arrival-shed was fastened to them. Unhappily, as this operation was proceeding, the fast train, which had left Southampton at three o'clock, and which became due at Nine Elms at six, arrived ; and owing to the hazy state of the atmosphere, and the omission of the person who had care of the signal lamp, the driver of this train was not aware that his passage into the shed mould meet with any obstruction, and a collision between the trains was the con sequence. It appears that at some considerable distance from the point where the former train had stopped for the detachment of the engine, there is a signal lamp, at which a man is posted, whose particular duty it is, by turning a red or green glass over the light, in case of any obstruction at the station, to announce to any engine or train which may be approaching, that there is cause (if the light be red) to stop altogether, or (if the light be green) to approach with great caution ; and it. became his duty, on the very late arrival of the train which should have arrived at a quarter past five, and the anticipated arrival of the fast train at six, to give notice to the latter by displaying the red light. We learn that this person was at his post; but as his conduct on the occasion may become the subject of investigation hereafter, it may be better not further to notice it than to state that the lamp was not made to exhibit any signal of danger ; and the second train, its driver not being able, from the state of the atmosphere, to see the train before him, and having no notice of any unusual obstruction, came in contact with the hindermost carriages of the other train. The shock was undoubtedly a severe one, although no da mage appears to have been done to any person or property in the second train. We regret to state that the effect on the first train was more serious. A female servant, named Elizabeth Andrews, who was seated in the last carriage, was killed by the shock. She had, with a fellow-servant, been down to Hampton-court, and her death was, so far as our information reached, instantaneous. Her fellow servant, although seated beside her, sustained but little injury. Of the other sufferers we heard of one who was severely injured in the body, and'had, it is believed, some ribs broken. There were, we regret to add, several other contusions and injuries of more or less severity ; but we have not been able accurately to ascertain the extent of them. The chairman of the directors, and the principal officers of the company, were actively engaged when our reporter was at the station in the investigation of the subject. GENUINE PICTURES BY THE OLD MASTERS. --We can not with justice withhold our approbation from the very fine pictures by the old masters, which will be sold THIS DAY at Hodgson's Picture Gallery, Church-street. The numerous fine collections which are being continually brought to the hammer by Mr. Hodgson, must entitle him to a high rank on the list of provincial picture auctioneers. ST. HELENS.—On Wednesday last, a child, two years old, the daughter of a widow, residing at Thatto Heath, near St. Helens, was standing near a table in the house, upon which there was a jug full of boiling coffee; the child pulled the table-cloth, and thereby upset the jug, when the hot coffee was poured upon the child's breast, and so severely scalded it, that it difd two days afterwards. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LONDON AND DUBLIN. — Complaint is made of the state of communication between London and Dublin, and it is said by a correspondent that the same delay occurs now the double line of packets be tween Liverpool and Dublin is established as when there were none but evening packets. Thus letters which have been sent to an Irish town close to the mail coach roads do not reach it till the third day after they are posted. A letter written in London on Wednesday arrives on Saturday, whereas it is supposed that it might easily reach Liverpool by the night train on Thursday morning, so as to cross on Thursday, and be forwarded to its inland destination by the mail of the same evening, so as to arrive on Friday morning. The de lay is attributed . to the letters lying 12 hours at Liverpool.— Times. ADVERTISEMENT.—BEDFORD HOUSE, 22, CHURCH STREET.—At the above establishment is exhibiting an unli mited variety of the choicest and most rare designs in Cloaks, Mantles, Envelopes, &c. &c., selected from the most ap proved specimens of Parisian productions. The selection will be found to contain all that is useful, warm, and elegant in that most useful article the Cloak, comprising Carriage, Opera, Walking Cloaks of every description, with Parisian Mantles of a very exclusive character. The Cashmere Tar tan Plaid Cloaks in every clan, and an extensive selection of Silk, Satin, and Satin Turc Cloaks and Mantles.—GEOßGE LINDLEY, Proprietor, late of Commerce House. OnmsKtßic.—A case of sudden death occurred on Thurs day night or Friday morning last. It appeared in evidence before the jury who sat on the inquest, on view of the body on Saturday last, the 17th instant, that the deceased, Mr. Butchard, was about 60 years of age; he had lived for some time with his brother, who is a respectable farmer at Kirkby ; that up to Thursday night last, he was to all appearance in perfect health ; he partook of supper heartily as usual on that night ; there was a young man slept in the same room with deceased, and the latter conversed with this young man during the time that deceased was getting ready for bed, he was perfectly collected and cheerful, and continued to talk until the young man above-mentioned fell asleep. The next morning Mr. Butchard did not rise as usual, and on one of the household being sent to see if he were going to get up, the melancholy discovery was made that he had ceased to breathe—he had been dead some time ;—it has been a regular habit with the deceased to sleep with his hands clasped across his head—he was found in this manner; nor does it appear from the state of the bed-clothes, that he had ever made a single struggle. —The jury conceived that he died in conse quence of the rupture of a blood-vessel of the heart, and returned a verdict to that effect. ----- MISS GRANT'S FAREWELL BENEFIT.—On Wednesday next Miss Grant will take her farewell benefit at the Thea tre Royal. She has put forth a very attractive bill of fare for the occasion. The evening's performances will com mence with Bellini's celebrated Opera of La Sonnamhula ; in which Miss Grant will sustain for the first time, the cha racter of Ainina. This will be followed by the Interlude of the Rendezvous, and the Grand Musical Spectacle called Gustavus Third, or the Masked Ball. Miss Grant has be come, since her sojourn -in Liverpool, a decided favourite of the public. She has attained to great eminence as a vocal ist, and has given ample promise of her future celebrity as a eantatrice. Wherever she goes she will carry with her the best wishes of her friends ; who, we have no doubt, will take care that her parting benefit shall prove " a regular bum per.,' ALBION HOTEL, CHESTER.—We beg to refer our friends who are in the habit of visiting Chester to Mr. Whaley's announcement of the opening of the Albion Hotel. During the period that Mr. Whaley occupied the White Lion, he " won golden opinions from all sorts of men," and at all times appeared anxious to accommodate his friends with the best that the old city could produce. We have no doubt that " The Albion," in his hands, will become one of the best houses, if not the very best, in the county. There is every convenience for travellers of all denominations. The hotel has been completely re-papered, re-painted, and re-furnished, from the garret to the cellar; and those who visit it cannot fail to be highly pleased with the accommodations afforded them,—the civility of the host, and the excellence of the entertainment. THE HALIFAX AND BOSTON MAILS. —The royal mail steam-ship Britannia will s a il for Halifax and Boston this afternoon. A steam-boat will be in attendance at the Egre mont pier at three o'clock to take off the passengers to the vessel. THE NEW Asslnt COURTS, &C.—Workmen are now en gaged in pulling down the old lunatic asylum, at the east end of St. John's Church, (old Infirmarv.yard,) preparatory to the laying of the foundation stone or the new Assize Court House,—a ceremony which will probably not take place be fore the spring. WEATHER. —Rain fell copiously on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by a strong breeze towards nightfall. At mid night the wind increased to a violent gale, which, with heavy showers, continued until nearly daylight yesterday morning, when it moderated a little. It was apprehended that some disasters had taken place outside the harbour ; but we are glad to state that no accounts of any accident have reached us yet ; and it is to be hoped that the shipping generally has escaped. Yesterday it bl ew f res h f rom b etween the W.N.W. and N.N.W. points ; but became settled in the evening. In the afternoon, pieces of the wreck of•the ship St. Andrew, stranded on the 9th instant on Taylor's bank, were seen float ing up the river. Some portions, including the quarter deck with its beams, were towed into the Queen's Dock Basin by some boatmen. MAHOGANY FOR SHIP BUILDING.—We understand that our respected townsman, Mr. Duncan Gibb, is making strenuous efforts to introduce mahogany for ship-building purposes. A cargo imported by him, which will b e o ff ered for sale, on Thursd a y nex t, b y Mr. haloner, will be found admirably adapted for the above purpose. It consists of some of the finest timber ever brought to this port, and has been expressly cut in lengths, suited for the construction of vessels. Mahogany is likely to come into great request among ship-builders, possessing, as it does, all the good qualities of other timbers, without any of their defects SHOCKING DEATH.—On Friday evening last, about five o'clock, Thomas Armstrong, the gardener of William Edwards, Esq., wine -merchant, was observed entering the gat-Zen of that gentleman, in Beacon-lane, Everton, and was not afterwards seen alive. Cries were heard some time afterwards, by some of the female servants in the house, but ther import, or whence they proceeded was not appa rent, and as they soon ceased no further notice was taken of them. The deceased was a married man, and as he did not make his appearance at his usual time, his wife made enquiry for him but in vain. In the morning, about seven o'clock, s h e went into the garden, and on looking down into a well, to which a pump is attached and which is 20 to 30 yards distant from Mr. Edwards's house, she ob served, through an aperture left by the removal of some boards that had covered part of the top, a hat, on the water, which she apprehended was his. She immediately gave the alarm, and. Mr. Edwards procured some men who brought a ladder, found the deceased, and after considerable exer tion brought up the body. The well was five to six yards deep, and contained about four and a-half to five feet in depth of water, below which there was probably two feet deep of soft mud. It appeared from all that can be learned that the deceased had gone to pump a bucket of water, it is supposed to be used in a small greenhouse in the garden, and that the boards covering the well being in a state of decay, had given way with his. weight, so that he was precipitated to the bottom, where his cries could not be heard distinctly, and that being unable to extricate himself, he had, after the most agonizing exertions, submitted to his dreadful fate. It is remarkable that he was found with nothing on but his shirt, his stock, and his stockings, he having—perhap s not knowing what to do—found means to take off his jacket and trowsers while in the well. The pipe of the pump is a leaden one, and was found to be bent be low by his attempts to ascend by it. The deceased was about thirty years of age ; he had been married for some years, and bore an excellent character. He had been engaged only a short time before by Mr. Edwards, and was on the look out for a house in the neighbourhood of the garden. An inquest was held on the body on Saturday, When a verd!ct of " Accidental death" was returned. We have authority to state that his Grace the Duke of Northumberland will aspire to the honour of the vacant Chancellorship, vacant by the death of the Marquis of Cam den.—Cambridge Chronicle. The Weekly Dispatch is at a discount in this town. It was hawked here on Monday last, as we are informed by an eye-witness of the fact, atfourpence per copy, without meet ing purchasers.—Brighton Gazette. 1