The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-01-21 00:00:00

it faulty in that management—much which prefer seeing reformed—and we have frequently beet obliged to the watchful zeal of Mr. Chapman for di recting public attention to existing or incipient abuses and pointing the way to a better system. On thil ground we should be really sorry to lose the benefit o. that gentleman's valuable services to the dock estate and to the interests of the port, and trust that no diffi culty will intervene to prevent his re-election to a seal in the committee. The election is fixed to take place on Monday, the 31st instant. T i tle qualification of members of the committee and of voters, and the declarations required to be si g n e d p rev i ous to voting, will be found se t forth in the notice issued by the Mayor, contained in our advertising columns. LOCAL NEWS We find we committed a slight mistake in our last with reference to the Rev. D. D. Stewart, son of the Rev. J. H. Stewart, incumbent of St. Bride's. The former gentleman is curate to the Rev. Thomas France, Davenham Cheshire, who i s expected to preach at St. Bride's next Sunday ' morn ing and evening. The Rev. E. R. Jones, son of the Rev. J. Jones, of St. Andrews, is the Rev. W. Freemantle's curate. LIVERPOOL NEW BATTERY.—We understand that the old fort at the north shore, near the Clarence docks, is to be im mediately dismantled, and the ground taken into use by the corporation of the town. A new site has been selected by the officers of her majesty's board of ordnance, for the erec tion of a new battery and barracks further down the seashore, which, it is expected, will he proceeded with immediately, under the able direction of Captain J. H. Rutherford, the c ommanding royal engineer of this station and the Manches ter district. THE CORPORATION SCHOOLS. —The following is the p,. in use at the Corporation Schools :—" 0 most merciful Got and Father, we humbly beseech thee to receive these prayers and thanksgivings, which we offer unto thee tl - • Jesus Christ our Lord. Be pleased to dir thy Holy Spirit, and by thy gracious that in all our works begin we may glorify thy holy nani - us, and up on t h ese schools; and grant that we, and all who may receive the benefit of education here, may be brought up in thy ways, never failing to ascribe, as is most justly due, all praise, all honour, and all glory to thy most holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our Father," &c. FRAUD IN THE NAME OF A MERCANTILE FIRM.—John Hickey was placed before Mr. Rushton on Wednesday, charged with having obtained, at various times, certain bolts of canvas from Messrs. Horner and Bell, canvas dealers, 34, South Castle -street, under the pretence that they were for Messrs. Moore and Christian, merchants, of Strand-street. Thos. Disley, a warehouseman in the employ of Messrs Horner and Bell, stated, that on the of Auust l, thf priso ner called at the warehouse of his l6th employers, and pro duced an order for a bolt of canvas, which order purporte to be signed by Messrs. Moore and Christian, by whom tl prisoner said he had been sent. Mr. Horner, ju a bolt of canvas to be given to him, and one was accordingly delivered, which measured 72 yards. On the 18th of Octo ber he called again with a similar order, and received another bolt of canvas. On the 19th of October he again obtained possession of a bolt of canvas by the production of a similar order. Ten days ago he (witness) heard that the prisoner had not been sent by Messrs. Moore and Co. The orders were produced and identified. Mr. Thos. D. Moore proved that he h a d not given the prisoner authority to obtain any canvas for his firm, nor had any person belonging thereunto. The prisoner was committed for trial. TRADE WITH PO RTUGAL.—We are happy to lay before our readers th e following letter. The merchants interested in the t ra d e here are indebted, we believe, to Messrs. Martin and Son, and Messrs. Hightield and Withers, for accom plishing this very important affair:— Copy.) Offic e of Commi ( ttee, Privy Council for Trade, Witeall,, 142. Gentlemen, —With r h efer h ence l7th to the January memoria B l dated 7th instant, signed by yourselves and other merchants of Liver pool engaged in the trade with Portugal, relative to the Bri tish orders in council of the 10th May, 1837, which impose differential duties on Portuguese goods and ships, 1 am di rected, by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, to acquaint you, for your information and that of the parties who signed the said memorial, that an order passed the council on Saturday, and will appear in to-morrow's Gazette, revoking these orders.—l am, Gentlemen, (Signed Your obedi en t servant, ) JOHN GEORGE SHAW LEFEVRE. T. Messrs. Highfield and Withers. We stated recently that a memorial was in eourse of sig nature to the Lords of the Treasury, for the purpose of gain ing for Liverpool the privilege of supplying her Me;esty's ships w i t h stores in bond. This memorial has been forwarded to London, and a copy sent to our noble representative, Lord Sandon, who immediately returned the following reply : " London, Januar yl5 142. " Dea r Si r,—The prayer of the memorial to the lords of t he Treasury a cony of which you have placed in my hands, is so reasonable that it se ems h ar dl y to requ i re support. I h ave, however, forwarded it to the Board of Trade, praying their co-operation and assistance in the case. I am, dear sir, Your faithful servant, B. Haram, Esq." GDEATH OF JOSEPH GIBBONS, ESQ.--It is with extreme that we t hi s week announce the demise of Joseph Gibbons Esq., who for many years occupied a very impor tant position in this community, having filled the offices of chur chwarden, honorary overseer of the poor, commissioner Mr. Gibbons of the board of highways and sewerae, &c. sting that discharged the onerougs duties thu ta s imposed u pon him with fidelity, z ea l, an d a d vantage to the public, Which be conferred upon the parish. He was an intlefatiga -I,°le Purveyor for the House of Industry, in which capacity pa exercised his judgment and eZperience as a corn-merchant in providing the best articles for the subsistence of the poor, there by promoti ng t h e comfort of the inmates of the institn - Most tion, and effecting a pecuniary saving t o th e p ar i s h t o an al unlimited extent. u Throughout the w ut hole of his ble lif e h e sustained an unblemished repation, and in valua his death the poor have lost a zealous friend, and society a useful and an honest many whose place will not readily be supplied. Mr. Gibbons expired on Saturday last, at his residence, Lark-lane, Toxteth-park, in the 57th year of his age. D ur Corads ' Ir. . lON, WITII Loss OF LIFE, ON THE RIVER.— ing the greater part of Tuesday the town and river were enveloped in a thick fog, whi c h, as t h e a ft ernoon a d vance d, increas e d i n density. The barometer stood unusuall high through out the entire day, the wind being about half a y point westward of south. As the shades of evening advanced the mist b ecame almost impenetrable, especially on the water, where it was impossible to see to any great distance. The ferry steamers were provided with lights and bells, in order to guard • slip s . dS much as possible against accidents, and on the , . on the opposite side bells were kept ringing or horns mowing during the time the boats were passing. Similar Precautions were adopted on the landing slip at this side the river. We regret to state that an accident occurred which as the means of depriving a t l eas t one i n di v id ua l o f lif e. 7:4About five o'clock the Egerton steamer, which w a s on h er o f rom Runcorn, with a crowd o f p assengers , ran f ou l o f a head . ner, whi c h was lying at anchor opposite George's Pier- The concussion was so great, that the steamer had sone of her ad dle-boxes a n d mast swept away, and, b efore fi lle d with a, lost all her bulwa rks. The passengers were ot le parlarm, and many of them jumped on board the schooner, and were left there. In the confusion one woman made eseen struggling in the water, and as no effort could be thisd. to save her, she, no doubt, perished. It is hoped that is the only life that has fallen a sacrifice to the disaster. ....hesteamer landed such passengers as remained on hoard at pled George's Pier, when, finding that she was not so much criP e as had been anticipated, she returned, and brought off in others from the schooner. It is stated that she had pre viously, in her passage down ' the river, run foul of one of the Glasgow steamers, and of a brig. Fort THE POOR.--Several of our correspondents have recently thrown out suggestions as to the mode of pre paring soup for the poor, and we tlTrefore deem it right to givegi the following reply of the committee to such proposals. tviildaualsPaYti n 8 a proper respect to the motives of such indi ,the committee proceed :—These persons forget . t the committee are guided in what they do by an expe rience of many years, in the course of which many experi ments have been tried, many sugestions listened to, and the wants and wishes of the poor studied with the most perse vering anxiety. The result is, that the present mode of making the soup has been found superior to all others. The pottage now distributed in such large quantities amongst the Poor is made of barley, rice, and sago, all hi g hly- nu t r iti ous farina ceous substances, boiled together with flav o urin g and, sweetening ingredients, till it forms a thick and most nourish ing mes s. Amongst the most frequent suggestions has been one that the committee should make the soup of beeves' and sheep's heads, shins of beef, &c. This would be absolutely incompatible with th e present great demand for the soup. It has, however, been tried, and excellent as is the charity, the goodness of its object was no shield against detraction. Re ports were circulated amongst the poor that the committee were boiling down the offal of the shambles for their use ; and we have moreover learned, that wherever preparations of animal food have been distributed, similar unfounded and injurious rumours have obtained circulation. The soup at present prepared is greatly liked by the poor, and they, after all, are the best judges. It is palatable, wholesome, very nutritious, and it can be prepared so as to meet the demand, which the reader will perceive by the subjoined statement, is exceedingly great:— Flint -street. Gill-street . ....... Pickop-street . 'ect our actions , continued, and ended in May thy blessinz rest ordered SANDON 31,197 quarts 26,126 47,904 Total 105,227 quarts, snaking an average of 4,384 quarts per diem since the opening. SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB. --The annual meet ing of the subscribers to this institution was held on Tuesday, in the school-room of the charity, Oxford-street East. Richard Rathbone, Esq., in the chair. The report for the Year noticed the great efficiency of the school, and the Punctual attendance of the pupils, and strongly urged the necessity of continued exertions on behalf of the institution. The treasurer's report set forth the accounts for the new buildings, and for the furnishing thereof, from which it ap peared, that the expenditure exceeded the amount received by £329 7s. 3d. The whole outlay on the'' - buildings and furniture was £6694 Bs. 2d. ; the receipts were £636505. 11d. The difference the committee were compelled to draw from the fnnds of the school, the balance of which account was thereby reduced to £6O is. 3d., which small sum is all they h ave to commence of the ye ar 184 2 with. This part of the report proceeded to state, that from various causes the „,rneans of the committee were inadequate to their wants. 'the merits of the institution are so widely known, that the committee believe no other appeal than the above statement necessary. The smallest subscriptions, said the report, an. very acceptable. For instance, two d onat i ons of five shillings each have been contributed by some " poor Sunday schools," through the Misses Johnson, and eight shillings and four- Pence by a very little girl, whose name is not allowed to ap- Pear, as her " birth-day tribute," being the first fruits of the suggestion thrown out at the last public examination of the children. The chairman observed that Mr. Rhind's suggestion was, that these donations should be given by families as expressive of gratitude that their relations were not afflicted with deafness. The chairman proceeded to read a list of the subscribers to the clothing fund, library, a n d vou seum ;'of th e ex hibi t i ons an d pu bli c i nst i tut i ons to which the pupils-have been admitted, and of the benevolent indi- Z id uala who h ave entertained them. Eighteen pupils have een admitted into the schools since the last report, and six 'have left and gone to business, or to their homes. The 'school now contains sixty pupils; namely—thirty-three boarders, twenty-two day-scholars, and five private pupils. these, fifty-four, th e c hild ren o f pour parents, ale e d ucate d grat uitously ; and for all the children a substantial dinner rcalso gratis) is provided by the institution. Pupils are sent Ifrotstn all p arts of the United Kingdom. The chairman said, atistical account of the number of deaf and dumb persons In each of the countries of Europe, with the number of in atitutions in each, the number of pupil s un d er i ns t ruc tion, r i d the number remaining uneduc a t e d h a d b een prepare d. .4 th e U nited Kingdom, it appears, the number of deaf and uumb is 14,328 ; the number of i ns tit u ti ons , 12 ; t h e num b er under instruction 745 ; and the numb er rema i n i ng une d ucate d 125'581 The number remaining unin s tr uc t e d i n E urope i s ,225. The remaining part of the business was of a formal character. All the resolutions were carried unanimously. "1"118 Uheal hounds 111 meet this day, (Friday,) the 21st t„ at Ridley Toll-bar; to-morrow, the 22d, at Hurleston Village; Mo n d a y, the 31st, at Saudiway Head : Wednesday, February 2, at Duddon-heath ; Thursday, the 3d, at Dud don-heath ' • Saturday, the sth, at Bu c kl ow -hill,— a t h a lf-p as t ten o'clock. THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS' BALL.—The ball in be half of this very praiseworthy charity is announced to take place on Wednesday next. The ball last year was admirably got up, and went off with much eclat. It is " devoutly to be wished" that this year it will he still better attended. Miss WHITNALL'S CONCERT.—We hope our musical friends will not forget th a t Mi ss Whit na ll' s concert takes place on Monday next, at the Portico. A very promising programme is put forth. We perceive that Mr. Smith is announced to conduct, in the stead of Mr. G. Holden. Lord Ashburton, accompanied by Mr. Hugo Mildmay, will leave Bath-house, Piccadilly, on the 26th instant, to embark from Liverpool for New York. He then goes to Washington, where a mansion has been taken for three months. His lordship will afterwards visit Pennsylvania, and is expected to return to this country about the end of July. THE VICTORIA BATHS.—We had an opportunity a day or two ago of inspecting the new baths erected by Mr. Bird, in Cases-street. We have not seen anything out of London that will compare with them, either for convenience, com fort, or good arrangement. The baths consist of hot, cold, sulphur. and vapour. The rooms arc fitted up in a first-rate style. The proximity of the Victoria baths to the hotels, and their very central situation, render them likely' to prove attractive; and they will, doubtless, be the resort of all who love cleanliness and wish to enjoy good health. THE NIGER EXPEDITION. —The Lady Combermere, which left Bombay on the 19th October, and Fernando Po on the 26th October, arrived here on Tuesday. The chief features of tile information which she brings, respecting the untoward prospects of this expedition, we gave in our paper three weeks ago. on the authority of a letter from an officer of the Wilberforce, dated 22d of November, from Ascension. The following is an extract from the log o f the Lady Com bermere :—Her Majesty's steamers Albert and Soudon be longing to the Niger expedition, had returned to Clarence with all hands sick. Captain Allen died on the 25th October, after his arrival at the latter place. IN RE TINNE—LUNACY.—A commission of lunacy in this case has been issued, and on Wednesday Mr. Wakefield and Mr. ,`Christie moved that it might be directed to Li verpool. They stated that Liverpool would be far the most convenient venue, Mr. Thine having been domiciled there in his brother's house, and being at this moment actually resi dent in that town. Various affidavits were produced to show the fact of domicile, which were read- to the court. Mr. Whitmarsh and Mr. Bazalgette, on the other hand, main tained that the domicile of the supposed lunatic was in Green-street, Grosvenor-square, and, therefore, it would be far more convenient that the commission should be opened in London. Mr. Tinne was actually in London when the circumstances took place from which it would be attempted to prove his insanity. The lord chancellor, after hearing all the evidence, observed, that Liverpool was the natural and usual residence of Mr. Tinne, and the commission must be opened there. THE ROYAL CHRISTENING.—SeveraI correspondents, chiefly from that hardly-worked class of the community, the clerks employed in mercantile and trading establishments, have written to us to suggest the propriety of making the approaching christening of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales the occasion of giving'n general holiday to those who throughout the year are engaged for six days of each week in irksome and laborious occupations. We are not in general by any means inclined to approve of that easy generosity which, by adding to the vacation of school-boys, deprive the parents of the advantage of the instruction for which they have to pay, or grant days of recreation to the servants of those who have but little reason to rejoice in this cheap liberality; but the present occasion appears to -be one on which some such indulgence would be well bestowed. It is one on which the nation generally has much reason to re joice, and we trust that an opportunity will be afforded to all who can be spared froth the necessities of business to join in and increase the general gratification. IMPORTANT EXCLUbIVE INFORMATION !—" MEETING OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL AT WINDSOR—THE CORN-LAWS. —All the members of the cabinet assembled at Windsor, on Saturday, and we have heard from authority, which induces us to believe it, that, in addition to some formal business, the question of the corn-laws was discussed, and a plan was agreed upon for changing the present system, though without abandoning the sliding scale.' The above important infor mation was conveyed to us on Tuesday by our contemporary the Liverpool Times; and has naturally created a great sen sation and a desire on the part of the public to ascertain the exclusive and necessarily high source from which that jour nal received it. On enquiry, we learn that it is an original communication from " the boy Jones," who has recently become the palace correspondent of the Liverpool Times. The boy himself had his information from a housemaid, who was dusting the anti-chamber of the room in which the cabinet assembled, and overheard a portion of the discussion through the key-hole. THE QRIENTAL STEAMER.—Extract of a letter dated Gibraltar, Jan. 8 :—" I write to inform you of an accident that has happened to us, and very nearly of a serious nature. We left here yesterday afternoon at 5 o'clock, and had got about 17 miles to the eastward, when a large ship of about 600 or • 700 tons, was seen on ourlarboard - bow, running to the S.W., and before we had time to put our helm to port she struck us on the larboard spouson, sprung the fore and aft beam that supports the main shaft, tore the whole side of the paddle box away, stove in the waist boat, carried away the gig and maintopmast, and tore the quarter galley to pieces. We are in hopes to be able to proceed with the mail to-morrow. The ship we have neither seen nor heard anything of. We lowered our boat to look for her, as she fired two guns and burnt a blue light. It is to be hoped that she is safe. We have half her anchor stock and some rigging on board now. Had we put our helm up she would have gone down like a _. We have carpenters from the men-of-war on board low at work. Thank God it is no worse." CLOSING OF PAWNBROKERS' SHOPS.—At the police s woman preferred a compl a i n t aga i nst M r. court, yesterday, Richards, pawnbroker, to the effect that she had pledged with him a gold seal, twelve months ago on Friday last; that on Friday evening, between six and seven o'clock, she went to redeem it, and found the'shop cicised, and: that on calling the following day she was told it was sold. Mr. Richards said that he closed his shop at seven o'clock, and he supposed the complainant must have come after that hour. His your) , man, on her sub sequent l y ca lli ng , t o ld hi m t h at i t was so ld , ' but he had since got it back. Mr. Rushton said that seven o'clock was an unreasonable hottr to close for the fedemption of pledges from poor people, as many of them were at work till six, or later. The statute stated eight o'clock in the evening to give out goods. Mr. Richards said that several of the pawnbrokers had agreed to close at seven o'clock, and that he had understood the magistrates had approved of the arrangement. Mr. Rushton rejoined that he was not aware of any such approval : he had not been a party to it, nor could lie legally be so. Mr. Richards then said that he was told that by a recent statute the day (as regarded pawn brokers) ended at twelve at noon ! Mr. Rushton said that was a mistake. He knew of no day ending at noon, except ing the nautical day. The seal being produced it was re turned to the ownerbn her paying principal and interest. It was pledged forls., and was stated by her to be worth £2. IN 4UESTS.—Several inquests were held before the borough coroner on Wednesday. The first was on view of the body of Mary Anne Hale, a poor widow, 52 years of age, who lodged in a house occupied by David Rushton, in dristian street. It appeared that while she was in the act of reading a book in her room on Sunday night her clothes accidentally caught fire, and that she was burned in a dreadful manner all over her body : she died on the following day.—The second was on view of the body of Joseph Gerard, a servant in the employment of Mr. Thomas Griffith, of the Phoenix Inn, Mount-pleasant, who accidentally fell from the granary to the ground, a height of three yards, on Saturday night, by which he received a mortal fracture of the skull, which caused his death.—The third was on view of the body of Mary Vye, a girl nine and a half years of age, who was killed instantaneously in Clare-street, on Saturday afternoon, by a large gate attached to a cow-house having fallen upon her. With a view to induce a proper caution in similar cases on the part of landlords or others, the jury levied a deodand of £5 on the gate, which the owner was compelled to pay, or abide the result of a Queen's Bench writ.--The fourth was on view of the body of Dorothy Smith, of Richmond-row, who died of serous apoplexy, which had been accelerated by intemperance.—Verdicts in accordance with the evidence were returned in the several cases. SPECIMEN OF TETE LIBERALITY OF AN EX-" LIBERAL" MEMBER FOR ST. ANNE'S WARD.--A few days ago, we understand, an application was made to Mr. Mason, the ex " liberal" member for St. Anne's Ward, soliciting him to co-operate with the present members and other gentlemen of the ward in an endeavour to raise a. fund for distribution amongst their distressed neighbours during the present severe winter. The application in question was made with the greater confidence owing to a knowledge on the part of the gentleman who made the application, that, during last winter, Mr. Mason was most active in promoting a similar object, and was actually chairman of the committee by whom the funds were distributed amongst the deserving, without dis tinction of party or sect, the recipients, however, being prin cipally, as in most similar cases, the destitute Irish inhabi tants of the ward. On the present occasion, however, " a change has come o'er the spirit" of the very liberal Mr. Mason. That humane worthy is no longer a member of the council ; and to the application in question his reply was a very decided negative. On what ground? the reader may ask. Why, this. Mr. Ex-councillor Mason is fearful—bear this, poor, hungry, and naked inmates of the cellars and courts which this liberal once represented !—lest this effort to feed, and clothe, and warm you and your starving children should "be made subservient to party purposes!" And, why so ? Because the meeting to originate so excellent a work of charity " being held in Christ Church School-room conveys no very favourable impressions to his mind !!" Excellent, sensible, pious, church and church-school-hating Ex-Councillor Mason! Old fashioned ignorant people may tell us that " charity is of no sect and no creed," but the new light of St. Anne's Ward—(which ought to be proud of him) —cannot deign to shine if the voice of supplication is raised from a place which conveys such " unfavourable an impres sion to his mind" as those excited by " Christ Church School room !" Shame, Mr. Ex-Councillor Mason—shame! POPERY OVERSH OOTING . THE MARK.—That their reve rences the self-styled " Catholic clergy of Liverpool" would overshoot the mark in their proceedings upon the education question, we fully anticipated ; and we are happy to inform our readers that such has been the case. The ferocious bi gotry and intolerable insolence which have characterised the proceedings of these Popish gentry throughout, and more especially the dictatorial placard which they addressed to the poor children of their persuasion, denouncing the system of education adopted by the majority of the council, and requiring their immediate withdrawal from the corporation schools, have effectually convinced not only the great body of the public, but even some of the hesitating conservatives in our council, that with such men no conciliatory policy upon such a question could have been safely adopted. We are informed, upon excellent authority, that Mr. John Smith, the member for West Derby Ward, has expressed, within the last few days, in consequence of this conduct• of the Romish priesthood, his conviction that no measure short of that which was sanctioned by the council, and to which at the time he was strenuously opposed, could have been resorted to with any probability of being worked ad vantageously ; and that that gentleman has become one of the firmest supporters of the proceedings of the Education Committee. We are glad of this ; and we trust that his fellow waverer, Mr. Robinson, of Great George's Ward, will imitate his frank and sensible example. ALLEGED DECREASED ATTENDANCE AT THE CORPORA TION SCHOOLS.-Our ra di ca l an d Pop i sh . contemp orar i es having been in ext as i es o f d e li g h t , during the past week, with the falling-off in the attendance at the Corporation Schools, since the change of system was resolved. upon by the council, our reporter called on Monday morning at the South Corporation S c h oo l, f u ll y expec t ing to find the scrip tural system of education, which was said to . have c ause d such a w o f u l t hi nn i ng of the desks and forms, in full opera tion. T o hi s i nfinite surprise, however, he discovered that 10) such horror is as yet in being. The new rules of the Education Committee have not as yet been introduced ; and the old system, under the old teachers, is continued in the sflinolc.' The falling off therefore, which our contempora ries glo a t over, is not the ' result of the antipathy of children or their parent s to the new system as practised, but only to that system as de nounced and misrepresented by Popery and its allie.—aided, no doubt, by every facility for priestly in timidation being g i ven by the contumacious masters, who still remain at th e h ead of the schools, and can report, to Dominic Butle r or F ather Youens, the 'name of every Ro man Catholic parent who i s di sposed to embrace t h e benefits of a sound religious education for his poor children, at the hazard of an anathema from his priestly tyrant. RECOVERY OF THE LOST SCRIPTURCI3,—P-A. Dublin paper announces the discovery, by an Irish gentleman, of a valu able clue to the depository of those interesting manuscripts. COMMITMENT.—A boy, named James Gibney, was, yester day, charged with stealing a five shilling paper of copper, the property of Mr. Hurst, of Limekiln-lane, with whom he was shop-boy. The case was proved, and he was committed for trial. AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH.—An inquest was held yester day, before Mr. Curry, touching the death of John Ja . ckson. The deceased, a baker, was 42 years of age. On Tuesday evening, at six o'clock, he took his tea, and anpeared to be in his usual health. About half-past six he went to bed. At a quarter past seven a person went to call him, to draw a batch of bread, and found him quite dead. On an examina tion of the body it appeared that he bad died from apoplexy. Verdict accordingly of " death from natural causes." LON DON PRINTERS' PENSION SOCIETY.—This Institu tion has presented to the Rev. Hugh M`Neile and John B. Murray, Esq. each, a superb te:,timonial of gratitude for the exertionsofthose gentlemen in November last. The testimoni als are richly printed on white satin, surmounted by the arms of Great Britain and the United States, in gold, contrasting with a representation of the Franklin and Columbian presses, and an exquisite border, in pink. The body of the diplomas contain, in gold letters, the proceedings of the Printers' Pension Society, when convened to hear and receive the result of the " - Franklin Lecture" in Liverpool. LETTERS TO AMLRICA.—We understand that the Co"- lumbia which arrived here on Saturday brought back from America a number of letteis which were •put on board at Liverpool in an irregular way, not having passed through the Postoffice. The United States government join with our own in this endeavour to put down a smuggling of letters to and fro, which defrauds the exchequer of both countries. The letters sent back to England, we hear, are now in the hands of the Postoffice solicitors, London, for recovery of the fine incurred by parties sending letters illegally. We hope this intimation will act as a caution in future. THE PRIVILEGE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.—The Court of Queen's Bedell was occupied on Tuesday with a case arising out of the celebrated breach of privilege case, (Stock dale v. Hansard), which excited so much attention in the last session of parliament but one. The plaintiff, who was the solicitor to Stockdale upon that oecasion, brought an action of trespass against Sir W. Gossett, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and other officers and messengers of the House of Commons, for having entered his house, broken open various doors, &c.. in execution of the Speaker's warrant for his apprehension for an alleged contempt of an order of the house. Such an entrance for such an object, it was illeged by the plaintiff's counsel, Mr. Kelly, was a violation of Magna Charta,, the Petition of Rights, and the Habeas Corpus. Act; and the assumption of privilege by the House of Commons unwar rantable by the statute law of the land. After having ad dressed the court for four hours upon the general principle as well as upon the insufficiency of the . pleas put in by the defendants, the Attorney-General rose to address the court, but was stopped by Lord Denman, who stated that it was the wish of their lordships to hear him upon the general princi ple, as to the legality of the privilege claimed by the House of Commons, Upon which the learned counsel requested leave to amend his plea, and the case was allowed to stand over, upon payment of costs on the part of the House of Commons within a week. OBTAINING A LARGE QUANTITY OF ALE, &C., ON FALSE PRETENCES.-At the Police -court, yesterday, a man named George Smith, who appeared, f rom hi s d ress , t o be long to the better class of labourers, was placed at the bar, on a charge of obtaining ale, &c., to a large amount, by false representations. Mrs. Ann Thornely, a widow, said she kept the Manchester Arms public-house, Canning-place. About six o'clock on Sunday morning week, a man came to her house, and wished her to let him have a few gallons of ale, as he was working at the docks. She said she could not unless he brought a proper guarantee. He said he would bring their gangsman, and went away. About six in the evening the same man brought the prisoner to the house, and said " He is gangsman over 52 men, and we are working for Mr. Bowers, at the docks: he pays us our wages every Sa turday evening, and stops for what we have had." The pri soner said, " I am gangsman to Mr. Bowers," and, produ cing a red backed book, added, " You must not let any drink go, only to the person who brings the book." She then mea sured 15 pints of ale, and put it into a large bottle for theni, A lodger entered it in the book. About ten o'clock the same night the other man came with the book, and obtained 12 quarts of ale, which was entered in the book. He returned shortly after, and got six quarts of ale and a quart of rum, which was also entered. About eight on Monday evening, the 10th instant, the prisoner and the other man came with the book, and got 12 quarts of ale in a can which they brought. About eleven o'clock the other man came with a note as follows :—" Jany. 10th, 1842, Liverpool. Mr. Thornely, you will be so good as let these men have what ale they want, on my account. GEORGE SMITH." About four o'clock same afternoon, the other men came with a note stating—" Let the men have is. 6d. each till i come.— George Smith." The prisoner and the other men obtained liquor and tobacco to the amount of £ll 19s. On 'Wednes day the 12th, the other man came for more liquor, and pro duced a book. Witness said she would not let him have it unless lie brought Bowers. He left the book a nd wen t awa' In the evening the prisoner came and said, " 1 am very sorry you did not let the man have the drink this morning, as they are very ill starved." Witness said she could not let any more go without a proper guarantee. He replied, " You might have let it go on until Saturday, as it would be doing me a kindness." He then. left. A person afterwards called and told her she had been defrauded. She did not see the prisoner afterwards until Monday last, when she saw him at the Canning Dock quay, and said to him, " What do you think of yourselt ?"-• He said, "You have no pull at me," and began to abuse her. Sh e gave hi m i n t o custody. Mr. Bowers being called, said he was a contractor at the Canning Dock, but had never employed the prisoner in any capacity. When apprehended, the prisoner said to the police-officer that he had come to Liverpool in search of work, but had not got any. In reply to the question whe ther he had .worked for Bowers, he said he had not. On the depositions being read, he said they were all correct, ex cept as to Mr. Bowers's name, which was not mentiofied until Wednesday morning, and that he did not get it in his name. • He was committed for trial at the sessions, but as the offence was a misdemeanour, was told that he might be liberated on bail, himself in £4O, and •two sureties in £2O each. In default, he was locked up. EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF STABBING.-ASECOND 0 vENcE.—A young man, named Robert Frazer—said to be second mate of a ship —was yesterday placed at the bar of the police-court, on a charge of stabbing a young woman with a clasp knife. The case derived additional interest from the fact that the prisoner had been tried at the last assizes for a similar offence in the same house. Harriet Dicks said that she was one of the servants in a seaman's lodging_house in Queen-street, kept by Mr. John Starkie, and the prisoner was a boarder there. A little before eight o'clock on Wed nesday night, the prisoner, who was before in the front parlour, came into the back parlour where she was, and asked her to go out with him. She declined to do so, and directly after, while she was amusing herself with the other servant girls, she felt herself struck, on the right side under her breast. It appeared that the witness afterwards fainted.— Bridget, Ryan, another servant in the house, said the pri soner came into the room. lie said he was going to fight with one of the other lodgers whom he named, and that he would have somebody's life that night. He then made a thrust with a knife at the last witness, and immediately after put out the gas, opened the window, jumped out, and es caped. He wiped the knife on his jacket after he had used it against Harriet Dicks, and threw it on the floor. The knife was produced —a common clasp-knife, such as those used by sailors, and about four inches long in the blade.— Another female, Mr. Starkie's daughter, who is married, stated that the complainant shrieked and fainted after being hit, and she (witness) took her shortly afterwards to her house, and sent for a doctor. She examined her clothes, and found them cut through, and a slight wound on the side.— Inspector Morley said he heaud that a girl was stabbed, and went in pursuit of the prisoner, who had afterwards (it ap peared) affected madness. He found him concealed in a cellar in Queen-street, and took to bridewell. The clothes worn by the girl at the time were produced. The gown, stays, and shift were cut through, the first coniderably. The shift and the stays were discoloured with blood.—Mr. John Games, M.D., said he was called to the complainant, and found a cut under the right breast, three or four lines in length, and one in depth. He dressed it. It was not dan gerous.—Mr. Rushton then put several questions to Mrs. Starkie, the landlady of the lodging-house, and to several of the police-officers. , From their replies, it appeared that the prisoner was the same man who was committed, on the 14th April last, to take his trial at the assizes for stabbing a girl, in the same lodging-house, named Catherine English. On that occasion the girl was at one time not expected to survive, and Mr. Rushton went to the house, and took her deposi tion while her life was in danger. The prisoner was brought up at the assizes, but the girl (who afterwards recovered, and is since married), as well as the other principal witnesses, appeared to have forgotten all they had said before the ma gistrate, some of them taking his part, so that the prisoner, though arraigned for stabbing with intent to murder, escaped with but seven days' imprisonment.—The prisoner, after being cautioned, said he had nothing to say, and was com mitted for trial at the sessions.—Mr. Rushton, before the witnesses were bound over, addressed Mrs. Starkie on the subject of the former case, and cautioned her and the other witnesses against withholding their evidence, so as to defeat the ends of justice,—warning them that if they did so in the present case, their recognizances would be estreated and themselves imprisoned. They were then bound over to ap pear,—in the sum of £5O each. ROYAL LIVER THEATRE.—We perceive that this evening Mr. Alexander Lee's benefit takes place. The whole strength of the company will be put forth on the occasion. Mrs. Waylett will resume her character of .Mrs. Fitzstnith, in the ".Ladies' Club," in which she made so decided a hit last . sea _son. She will sing many of her delightful songs in the course of the evening. Mrs. Waylett has played during the week The Lady, in the farce of a " Lady and Gentleman in a Peculiarly Perplexing Predicament," very cleverly—her naivete and archness made the character as good as when played by Mrs. Keeley. The performances are under the pa tronage of the Earl of Sefton. His lordship and a large party of fashionables are expected to be present. The house has been crowded during the week. The tide of popular favour appears to have steadily set into this pretty little theatre. DISTRICT PROVIDENT SOCIETY.—We beg to remind the charitably disposed of this excellent institution. Its good work never ceases, and in seasons of inclemency and distress like the present, its operations assume an aspect of benevo lence that must be gratifying to the feelings of the sub scribers. We cordially recommend the society to public sup port at this period; and we trust that it will be speedily placed in a position, as to funds, that will enable it to fulfil its excellent objects. We may just mention, in order to spew the increasing demands upon it, that 248 persons have been relieved by it per day from Christmas Day up to Tuesday last, and that on Wednesday the number augmented to 326. When it is considered that aid is only given to such as ate really in want of it, some estimate may be formed, from this plain fact, of the vast utility, not to say the absolute neces sity, of the institution. THE ROYAL CH RISTENING.—The most extensive arrange ments are in progress throughout the country for the pur pose of making the day on which the royal infant is to be christened one of general rejoicing, and it is gratifying to see that this will not only be done by the gentry, tradesmen, and the more respectable portion of the community, but that that the poor will also be enabled to join in the general re joicing, and that in all the principal towns in the kingdom, by the consideration of the more wealthy neighbours, a plen tiful and excellent dinner and other comforts will be pro vided for them. At Aylesbury, a committee of the inhabi tants was formed, and a subscription entered into, to provide the poor of the town and the adjoining parishes with a din ner, and blankets and warm clothing will also be distributed among the more necessitous. The inhabitants of the town will also have a public dinner to celebrate the auspicious event. At Buckingham the 'ppor will also be regaled in a similar manner, a consideraule subscription, to which the Duke of Buckingham contributed £5O, having been entered into for that purpose ; and there will also be a public dinner upon a very grand scale, and the day will be closed by a ball ; gratification being thus afforded to all, rich and poor, old and young. In most of the other principal towns in Buckingham shire similar proceedings are to take place. At H ertford it is intended to give a quantity of beef and plum-pudding to every poor family in the town, and the gentry of the neighbourhood and the principal inhabitants are to dine together at the Town-ball. All the other principal towns of the county will adopt similar proceedings. At Chelmsford, and all the chief towns of Essex, there will also be public dinners, and the poor will be provided with substantial comforts, in comme moration of the happy event. From other parts of the coun try similar accounts are received, and there can be very little doubt that under Providence, the day will be one of almost universal gladness. MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE, The general weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held yesterday. The following members were present,— Messrs. Sands, Middleton, Sandbach, Chilton, Holmes, Aikin ' Evans, Martin, T o bi n , Ni co l, Sh an d, M o l yneux, Smith, and Ripley. The chairman of the committee, Mr. Sands, presided. The sub-committee for the department of the harbour masters recommended that the slips on the east quay of Queen's Dock be filled up; and the South Harbour-mastei suggested the necessity of additional sheds on the same quay. The SURVEYOR said that these alterations might be made with advantage, but it would be better not to make them until the docks now closed were re-opened. After a short conversation the recommendation was re ferred to the Sub-committee of Works. The Sub-committee of Finance reported that the police accounts had been audited, and that £4Ol 12s. ld. wet e found '.o be due to the Watch Committee up to the 31st December last. This amount was ordered to be paid. The name to be given to the new south dock was the next subject of consideration. The sub-committee last week pro posed that it should be called the Sefton Dock, and Mr. AMIN, seconded by Mr. HOLAIES, moved a iesolution to that effect. Mr. TOBIN warmly opposed the proposition, and I moved that it be called the Russell Deck ; but this motion dropped for want of a seconder. It was then proposed and seconded, that the dock be called the Toxteth Dock. A division was taken, when seven members voted far the name being Toxteth Dock, and five for its being called Sefton Dock. The dock was therefore christened by the former name. The head constable reported that on Sunday evening a fire occurred on board the schooner Rachel and Mary, lying in King's Dock. The vessel had arrived from Waterford the day before, laden with grain and waste cotton, and it was supposed that the latter spontaneously ignited. After great exertion the fire was extinguished, with no damage to any thing except the cargo. Mr. J. B. YATES, president of the Southern and Toxteth Hospital, applied to the committee, by letter, for an annual subscription in aid of the funds of that institution. Mr. ToBIN asked whether the committee had any power to grant annual subscriptions? . _ The CHAIRMAN replied that they had, and that they were now subscribing to the Infirmary and Northern Hospital. Mr. TOBIN inquired whether the Southern and Toxteth Hospital was situate within the limits of the port ? Mr. SANDBACH replied that it was on the dock estate. Mr. AIKIN said that when this subject was previously before the committee it was understood that a grant would be made as soon as the institution should be opened. As it was now opened the time was come when a grant should be made to it the same as was made to spine other institutions, for it was more likely to be used than any other hospital from its contiguity to the docks. A MEAIBER inquired what were the subscriptions paid to the Infirmary and to the Northern Hospital ? The SECRETARY replied that £lOO were paid to the Infir mary and fifty guineas to the Northern Hospital. Mr. HOLMES thought £lOO should be paid to the Northern Hospital. Mr. AIKIN thought so too. Mr. Nrcor, was of the same opinion, and he gave notice that he would move that £lOO be granted to the Northern Hospital whenever the committee of that institution chose to apply for it. A motion was then made and carried that £lOO be the an nual subscription of the Dock Committee to the Southern and Toxteth Hospital. Mr. TOBIN moved that the subscription to the Northern Hospital be, for the future, £lOO per annum. Mr. Timor. seconded the motion, and it was carried una nimously. Messrs. John Grantham and Co. applied for permission to place a furnace for heating iron plates within the walls of the Graving Dock, at the south end of Brunswick Dock, during the repairs and alterations of the John Garrow, iron vessel. The SURVEYOR stated that there was no objection to the application being granted.—Agreed tn. RESIGNATION OF MR. CHAPMAN The CHAIRMAN said he was very sorry to inform the com mittee that Mr. Chapman, one of the members, had sent in his resignation, in a letter which the secretary would read. The SECRETARY then read the following letter:— " Liverpool, 17th January, 1842. "MY DEAR SIR,—I deem it my duty to resign my seat at the Committee of the Liverpool Dock Trust, in order to give the ratepayers an opportunity of declaring their senti ments on the late decision of the committee respecting the shipwright's yards and the increasing encroachments of the dock yard establishment on the land of the estate. " 1 resign on this ground solely, and not with a view to open out any new matter connected with the intended dock warehouses and transit sheds, but simply to ascertain whether the ratepayers will permit their trade to be harassed, annoyed, and driven away to the Harrington Docks for the purpose of extending an expensive and overgrown establish ment, or insist upon having their new works executed by contract, so as to admit of all spare land being appropriated to the wants, and in furtherance of, the enterprise of the trade of this great and flourishing port. "Under these circumstances,, 1 feel that my continuance as a member of the dock committee would not be attended with any beneficial results to the ratepayers, if my view of the else indoors is opposed to the general opinion of the con stituency out of doors, therefore the honourable course is to return the trust confided to me, in order that the public wants and wishes may be duly represented, and forwarded instead of thwarted in committee. • " In conclusion I think it right to mention that I enter tain a high opinion of the industry and personal integrity of the dock surveyor, but consider his engineering talent behind the age, hence the dock committee, instead of being in ad vance of the wants of the public,. have always been lagging astern, under easy sail, in coTrpany with the surveyor. I am, my dear Sir, yours faithfully, (Signed,) " HENRY CLEAVER CHAPMAN." (Laughter.) Mr. TOBIN was very sorry that Mr. Chapman had re signed, but he bad no notion of persons resigning from the cause which he mentioned. The more he (Mr. Tobin) was opposed the more was he determined to remain in the com mittee. He did not think that Mr. Chapman had done right in resigning. He (Mr. Tobin) was sorry too when Mr. `Yates resigned, for he considered him in the committee some thing like what Joseph flume was in the House of Commons, and though he very seldom agreed with him, he thought his presence necessary. So it was with Mr. Chapman. How ever he (Mr. Tobin) was not one who would a.l: him (Mr. Chapman) to come back. Mr. Alderman EVANS thought it was really very con siderate in Mr. Chapman to have sent in his resignation before the meeting of parliament, as otherwise the attention of the nation might have been distracted The CHAIRMAN mentioned that it rested with the Mayor to fix the time and place of election, but the rate-payers would have to decide who should succeed Mr. Chapman. Mr. TOBIN hoped that the same parties who took so much interest in the election of six or seven members of the committee some time ago, would do so on this occasion. The question then was, "warehouses or no warehouses," and he hoped it would be again " warehouses or no ware houses." He was quite sure that every member of the committee was satisfied with the conduct of the chairman of the committee, and when he had got a little more ex perience he would become very valuable; but at the same time his (Mr. Tobin's) opinion was, that the chairman should be chosen by the committee at large, subject to the approval of the Council, because nobody could know the qualifications of any member for the chair so well as the committee themselves. Mr. AIKIN reminded Mr. Tobin, that to effect that object the committee must go to parliament again. Mr. TOBIN said the time for that probably was not far distant Mr. Alderman EVANS said, that Mr. Chapman having resigned, he did not think they could do better than bring their late chairman, Mr. Benn, with his great experience, once more into the committee. Mr. ATKIN said he should like much to see Mr. Benn in the committee. Mr. Chapman's letter was then ordered to be entered on the , books, and the committee separated. THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN VERSUS THE PORT OF LIVERPOOL, Our contemporary the Manchester Guardian never, we observe, leo slip an opportunity of emitting the rancorous and spiteful feeling with which he regards the people and the port of Liverpool. Why such a feeling should exist in the mind of the leading organ of our cotton-spinning neigh bours, we know not. His various gifts as a journalist and a prophet, a philosopher and a wit, are, we believe, fully ap preciated by our fellow-townsmen, who are willing upon all reasonable occasions to listen with due decorum to his sage vaticinations, and to admire the profundity of his acquaint ance with arithmetic. And yet he lOoks upon us in return with a malignant hostility which is perfectly unaccountable, and never fails to do his feeble utmost of injury whenever an occasion presents itself for levelling a misrepresentation or a slander against our town. We bare one of these emanations of paltry spite before us in his Wednesday's publication, and we quote it entire for the purpose of enabling our readers to judge of the spirit from which it emanates : " FLEETWOOD versus LIVERPOOL.—We have had our attention called to the widely-differing rates of charges on the carriage of goods to Manchester, from ports in the north of Ireland, vid Liverpool and vid Fleetwood ; and two freight notes are now lying before us, which sufficiently illustrate the principal points of difference. In both cases the goods were from Belfast. The material items in these notes we subjoin : (LIVERPOOL NOTE.) Goods. ' Rate. Paid on. Cartage. Total. Butter, 15 cwt. 1 qr. .. 9s. .. 20s. 8d... Is. 4d... £1 9 0 (FLEETWOOD NOTE.) Paid on. Total. Butter, 22 cwt. 2 qr. 14s. 6d. £1 9 6 The ' rate' is the charge per ton between Liverpool and Manchester ; the paid on' shows, in each case, the freight from Belfast to the English port, with all dock and port charges. In the Liverpool note there is a charge of Is. 4d. for cartage, which, we believe, is is. 6d. per ton : in the Fleetwood note there is no corresponding charge ; the goods being transferred, at the quay. from the hold of the vessel to the railway lurry on which they are conveyed to Manchester. The total charge for the freight, &c., of this butter, from Belfast to Manchester, is, via Liverpool, about ls. 9d. per cwt. ; vid Fleetwood, less than ls. 4d. per cwt. ; being a dif ference of about Bs. per ton between these two routes from the ports in the north of Ireland. The goods come from Fleetwood to Manchester by railway ; whilst from Liverpool they come by water conveyance. The great difference in the cost is, doubtless, c hi e fly due to the h eavy d oc k an d port charges at Liverpool ; but the matter is one of some impor tance to those importing goods, especially provisions, from the north of Ireland." We dare say the grocer's boy who accommodated our friend with the two documents, upon which he has founded this venomous attack upon the port of Liverpool, was quite as ignorant of the meaning of the various terms therein, as the Guardian himself. Our contemporary says that " the paid on' shews in each case the freight from Belfast to the English port, with all dock and port charges ; " and whilst making this gratuitous assumption, we presume that the Guardian believed it to be true. We have, h owever , the satisfaction of assuring him that it is not true. The sum of 20s. Bd., which, because stated to be " paid on," he con cludes to be the freight and port charge s of l 5 cwt. 1 qr. of butter from Belfast to Liverpool, Is nearly 10s. more than such freight and charges would amount to by steamboat be tween the two ports, as the Guardian might easily have dis covered if he had been as anxious to learn the truth as to fling up his heels against us ; and his attack, therefore, and his argument as well, go for nothing, except what they are— viz., an emanation of spiteful ignorance. We dare say the porter at any Manchester coach-office, or any Old Quay carter, for a gratuity of a pint of ale, would be able to inform the Guardian that the mystic words " paid on " i n a f re i g h t note mean just—paid on, and nothing else in particular. days a go b e t ween t wo A duel with swords took place a few Ladies of Paris ! The fair combatants, who are known for their wit, beauty, and fash i on, quarre ll ed about an affair of love, and a hostile meeting was the consequence. One of the ladies was wounded, but we learn not dangerously. DIABOLICAL OUTRAGE.—We much regret to be obliged to record one of the most fiend-like outrages that we have heard of for a long time. Some evil-minded wretch, having gained admission to the Flax Spinning Mill at Beer's-bridge, placed a bar of iron between the cogs of a wheel attached to an upright shaft, by which, when the mill was set on, a horizontal shaft was smashed, and other parts of the machi nery seriously damaged. In our last we gave a br;ef report of the proceedings at the first annual meeting of this excellent charity ; and as, pro bably, not many of our readers are acquainted with the com modious and substantial building which has been erected to carry out the benevolent objects of the subscribers, we have been induced to procure a description of it, which we sub join : The building is situate at the lower ends of, and between, Parliament and Greenland streets, immediately adjoining (eastward) St. Barnabas' Church. .... The wh'ole of the building covers an area of 1130 superficial yards, and cost, according to Mr. Bateman's estimate with addition, a little above £4OOO. The accommodation, as regards arrangement and conve nience, is superior to anything of a similar kind in the king dom, and is chiefly on one floor,—a great desideratum in hospitals for patients maimed or injured by falls, bruises, The principal entrance is from Flint-street, by a pede merited porch, where the building rises the height of two stories above the basement, in which division, on the grounc' floor, are—one side of the vestibule, house surgeon's room and bed-room, and a very neat and commodious committee room. On the other side of the vestibule are—a spacious staircase, matron room, and store-room attached, &c. &c. The basement floor underneath contains a large and spa cious kitchen, with cooking apparatus of different kinds, scullery, larder, pantries, wine -cellar, &e. On the upper floor, communicating with the principal or ground floor by the staircase already mentioned, are, en one side of it—two wards for female patients, with nurse's room attached, housemaid's closet, &c. On the other—matron's bedroom, and servant's ditto, &c., &c. In the back part of the building, which is one story high, and a basement on the ground floor, are the wards, nurse rooms, &c., on each side of a corridor, 13 feet wide, which communicates by folding-doors with the vestibule of the front building; and again, by another vestibule, of nearly the same width, at the lower end, which leads out by a lodge door to Greenland-street. Four wards contain respectively beds for eight patients, and two for four, making, in all, in this division, 40 beds. A peculiar feature in the arrangement of the wards of this hospital are passages, 7 feet wide, between them, with the nurse-rooms at their extremities ; in which passages are four small closets, communicating with the wards by double doors ' • in these are contained the patients' excreti ons , & c ., thereby preserving the purity of the atmosphere of the wards. This we consider a most important improvement on the old system. . The whole of the wards are thoroughly lighted, heated, and ventilated. The ventilation is the most perfect that possibly can be imagined ; each patient, in winter or summer, is sup plied with a sufficient quantity of pure air of a suitable tem perature, while the vitiated air is constantly drawn off at the height of the ceiling, by flues communicating with a room in which a stove is kept constantly burning. At the extreme lower end of the building, and communi cating with the corrider, are, a large and well-lighted oper ating theatre, with bath -loom, consultation and waiting room attached. There are also in connection with the above apartment a large and commodious pupil's room, laboratory, and water- Closets. On the side of Greenland-street, communicating with the lower vestibule inside and flight of steps externally, are the porter's waiting-room and bed-room. In the basement floor, underneath the above apartment, are washhouse, drying-closets, laundry, and other conveni ences, all communicating with the apartments in the front basement, by a corridor of the same width as the upper. It is right to state that the plans of the building were fur nished gratuitously by Messrs. Cunningham and Holme, and have given the greatest possible satisfaction. [At the meeting of the Dock Committee yesterday, it will be seen that an annual subscription of £lOO per annum has been voted to this excellent institution.] THE NATIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION (From the Rev. Robert James M` Ghee's last Letter to _ _ Lord Stanley.) _ Ist —lnstead of protecting the rights of conscience, it has grossly violated them ; and not those of Protestants alone, but of the unfortunate Roman Catholic population, whom it was especially intended to protect. 2dly.—lt has totally failed to conciliate or satisfy the Ro man Catholics of Ireland. 3dly.—So far from producing concord or united education, it has intruded more disunion—more discord—more acri mony—into the whole nation than any system of education that ever was propounded in Ireland ; and this not only among those whom it professed to reconcile, but it has gen dered strifes, where strife was never known, and separated those who had never before felt the bitterness of even a dif ference of opinion on the subject. A few brief remarks will evince the truth of these assertions. As to its violation of the - rights of conscience of Protes tants, it has struck a blow at the very fundamental princi ples of our church—namely, the integrity and perfection of the scriptures as the standard of all true religion—all sound divine instruction for man. The free and unrestricted right to use them—the blessing of scriptural education for our children, that, like Timothy, " from a child they might know the holy scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." These principles are incorporated with the very existence of our church—and to compel us to co-operate in a system which interdicts God's word in the national schools as a school-book—and this to meet and justify the principle of the Papal apostacy, that it is not a proper book for the edu cation of children—is to strike a blow at the very founda tions of our faith—to exact from us a surrender of principle —to put in force the most unjustifiable tyranny on the part of the government to which we neither can nor will submit. It is not against Protestants alone that this is committed, but against the whole Roman Catholic lay population of Ire land. The Board of Education was a most cruel invasion of the rights of their consciences. I know how far this was from your lordship's intention ; but I will explain, with your lordship's permission. Your lordship labours under the la mentable misconception—which I believe is common to too many British statesmen, even of those best informed in all other subjects—you imagine that Popery is a system of reli gion in which priesthood and laity are all one body, with one mind and one object. There are some points in which this is true, but others in which it is totally erroneous. The Romish hierarchy and priesthood are, by their system, an incorporated body of tyrants, who keep up, by means of a duplicity and imposture which they censider perfectly justi fiable, the most absolute despotism over the consciences of the whole lay population. Some individuals are, of course, less enthralled than others; but if they are not personally the dupes and slaves of their priests, they are the dupes and slaves of that esprit de corps which elevates the priesthood, and renders all the laity slaves in form, at least, if not in heart—the whole female population are enslaved to the most abject condition. _ Now, one act of tyranny practised by the Papal priesthood is the interdicting the Bible to the laity. The rule of their church is absolute that the laity arc not to dare to have or use the Bible without permission. This rule they pretend sometimes to deny or evade : it is, in fact, like many other of their India-rubber principles, which they dilate or con tract according to circumstances. They will swear to an ig nbrant liberal Protestant, that there is no such restriction in their church—while, again, if a poor man dares to have a Bible, without their leave, they will deny him the sacraments, or. perhaps, drag the Bible from under his dying pillow, and burn it on the road. The grounds en which they exercise this despotic tyranny, and the imposture by which they justify it to the people, it is not now my object to prove—it is enough to state the fact. The priests use their utmost effortstokeep the people in Scrip tural ignorance and slavery, and, therefore, they hate Scrip tural schools. But vast and growing multitudes of the poor Roman Catholic people are writhing nnder this ty ranny over their consciences—they love Scripture instruc tion for their children, and long for it. 'When they bad only schools in which it was given, they sent their children to them in thousands ; for, as the priests had no other schools at the time, they could not take the children away. But now the Board of Education has given the priests a power of supplying the people to a considerable extent with their anti-scriptural schools ; and thus, instead of promoting or protecting liberty of conscience, it is a mere engine in the hands of the priesthood for spiritual oppression—it joins with the priest to trample on this liberty, and to enslave the consciences of the people. If your lord ship demands a fact that proves it to demonstration—that, at this moment, in defiance of the tyranny of the priests, and the co-operating despotism of the Board of Education, there are more than 21,000 Roman catholic children in the schools of our Church Education Society, and above 31,000 in those of the London Hibernian Society, independent of the many thousands far greater than those attending the schools of the Irish Society—the schools of other societies, and of indivi duals, besides those who attend adult schools, and Sunday schools in Ireland—so that to imagine that the national board protects the liberty of conscience of the Roman Catholic popu lation, is the grossest delusion to be conceived. Mr. O'Connell and the Popish members of the House of Commons may con tend for it, but why, my lord ? Because they must do as the men to whom they are indebted for their seats command them ; they must echo the voices of their spiritual and politi cal masters and the Papal hierarchy of Ireland. But there are hundreds of thousands of poor Roman Catholics in Ire land, if their voices could be heard, and if they dared to speak, who would drown the interested clamour of these po litical slaves to their priests, who are the tyrants and task masters of the people, with shouts for spiritual liberty and. Scriptural education, that would make the walls of St. Ste phen ring to their foundation. But again : your lordship's plan has not only signally failed, and even counteracted your own intentions, in this object, but you have totally disappointed your own ex pectations in conciliating the Roman catholics by this system. What is the fact? There is not one living states man who has succeeded in sacrificing, so far as depends on legislative measures, so much of the sound principles, the property, and the government of the protestant church, to conciliate the members of the papacy, as your lord ship; and there is not a living statesman whom they so cordially abhor and so loudly vituperate and denounce. Your lordship will justly say you totally disregard this, when you are conscious of having done what you considered your duty. I know your lordship's high and noble character and spirit. I merely want to convince you how totally you have been de ceived. Your lordship only requires to be reminded of the failure of this experiment of the National Board, by your attention being called to the conflict on the subject between Doctors Murray and Mac Hale, Archbishops of the Papal apostacy in Dublin and Tuam. The one honestly denouncing the board as a system hateful to the Papacy, because it inter feres at all with their religion—the otherjesuitically support ing it, because it helps Popery to deprive the poor of the Bible. But your lordship will remark that there is one whole province in Ireland from which the National Board is totally excluded as far as Papal influence can effect it, so that here, too, your lordship must admit the plan is utterly abor tive of even the one result in which you had not anticipated it could possibly fail. _ But as to its great and avowed object—that of producing a united system of instruction between Roman Catholics and Protestants, your lordship does not require that a line should be written on the subject. You have seen that it is hope less—yOu are convinced that it is impossible. You have seen that the bishops and clergy of the church of Ireland, with a few exceptions, which it would be too painful to dwell on, have felt bound to set their faces decidedly against the system, and though the Irish church has been crippled and pillaged, and has never been reduced to such straits since it was established in the country, and though it never was so distressed for means to educate the people, still neither power, nor intimidation, nor influence, nor persecution, nor poverty, nor distress, have been able to force it to co-operate in a system so utterly repugnant to its own sound principle, and to the word and authority of God. But while this system has separated Roman Catholics from each other, and Roman Catholics from Protestants more widely than ever before, it has produced results still more painful and disastrous to our church. Surely there never was a time when men who were anxious for her prosperity, ought to have been more desirous to unite us in firm co-operation for the maintenance of her very existence. But this plan, which your lordship so disastrously introduced, has proved a very apple of discord amongst us : it has superinduced a state of things from which every true Christian, and every true churchman, must recoil with heartfelt sorrow. We were enabled a few weeks ag9 to a nnounce that the sub ject of emigration to British colonies, as an a ff a i r o f nat i ona l policy, was under the consideration of the C o l on i a l- o ffi ce . We have now the satisfaction to state that the details of a Government measure to aid the sp ontaneous d es i re to emi grate to those possessions are in the hands of Lord Stanley. —ltforniny Herald. are'abarked - in this cause. The great deeps are breaking up, and the ark that is to ride out the storm must have skill engaged in its construction, and wisdom and truth to preside at its helm. The war of opinion is already begun ; and for TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. its safe direction, knowledge founded on scriptural truths SlR, — Alreudy is the din of preparation resounding in the . must take the command. In the war, not the greatest war ears of expectant thousands ; already is the engrossing theme rior, but the schoolmaster, must marshal.the hosts to battle. of the approaching celebration of the infant Prince of Wales It is he that is to train the minds which are to engage in this occupying the thoughts of the loyal subjects of dear old S contest. It is he that is to train up orators and legislators, England, while a strange spirit of apathy seems to pervade statesmen and rulers. Would the free spirits of our coon the once spirited, and, I believe, still loyal town of Liver- try, especially th ose o f Li verpoo l . look to the defence of this pool. A change app ea rs to h ave come oer the spirit of he r Cause, it is no dubious question where they must look. Their dream, and we find her merchant princes and men of com- outposts must be free-schools; their citadels must be uni merce, her tradesmen and inhabitants generally, evincing a versities ; their munition must he the Bible; their pioneers lethargic indifference to the event as remarkable as it is un- must be the religious schoolmaster and pious pastor; and precedented. What! does not the second port in the king- the mighty engine that must hurl destruction upon the le dom possess a kind r ed s pirit w ith th e metropolis and places gions of error , is the free pres s . L et t h e peop l e d o this— of minor importance to join them in celebrating an event which can be done—by electing men cf honour, truth, and so important as the induction of the heir apparent to Eng- religion ; and show the bigoted priest that we and our schools land's protestant throne into the pale of the Christian are not to be guided by men who, when chance offers, will church ? A wa y w ith suc h apa th e ti c i n diff erence, and let us compel us to bow down to idolatrous Rome's " proud and devise some scheme, such as regaling the poor, and proclaim- tyrannical " altar of " sup ers titi on an d bi gotry. " ing a general h o lid ay througho u t t h e town, that we may tes- Yours, &c., CONSISTENCY tify our cordial joy upon such an occasion, and stamp upon the future annals of Li ve rp oo l th e l o y a lty o f i ts inhabitants, ____ _ and the demonstration of their joy at so auspicious an event. I am, Sir, your constant reader, Liverpool, Jan. 191 h, 1842. A BRITON TO THE REV. THOMAS YOUENS, D.D Itrsv.'Sitt,—l have read, with all the attention I can com mand, both your pamphlet and the Rev.• Hugh Wisteile's reply. My impression, however, is, that Mr. M'Neile has placed your church in a dilemma from which at present I see no way of escape. My opinion is, that you must either give up the authority of the Council of Ephesus, or the Creed of Pius IV. Doubtless you will not let the matter rest here, and my motive in addressing you is respectfully to suggest a more careful examination of the premises, from which you draw a conclusion which militates against the refor m ed faith. It is as follows :—" Suppose that I address myself to ten individuals with a view of proving to them that my opinion is right. If by my arguments I satisfy two of them, it is clear that my opinion is proved to. two of them ; but the circumstance of its being proved to two is no criterion that the two who agree with me are right, and that the eight dis senters are wrong. The probability is that the dissentients, being more numerous, are in the right, and I and my two friends are in the wrong, notwithstanding my proof." (p. 8.) (Before noticing the above._ alloiv me to state that I take exception to your mode, P. 7, of "proving a doctrine from Scripture," but time will not allow me to enter upon it.) Allow me to inquire, was the subject of your address capable of demonstration?—because, if you established your point by a legitimate process of reasoning —if you proved it to de monstration, it would be proved, and there would be art end of the matter. It is of no consequence whether eight or eight thousand individuals deny that two and two added to gether make four : their dissenting from the proof will not alter the fact. It is, therefore, idle to talk of eight out of ten being " probably" right on account of their majority, after a given problem has been proved. On the other hand, supposing the subject of your address be such as will not admit of absolute or mathematical de monstration, it is obvious that your proposition lacks one of its most important components, which gives it such an inde finite existence in the mind as to engender doubts, and almost prevent our reasoning upon it ; and therefore it has an ap pearance of sophistry, which ought to be avoided by all Chris tian teachers. You leave us completely in the dark as to your audience ! Are we to understand that they were all (so far as may be) of equal intellectual power? equally acquainted with the subject? not one of them willing to take your state ments upon trust I and each and every one of them equally interested in the subject and its results? were they prejudiced against you or prepossessed in your favour ? were they equally indifferent alike to you and your subject, or was it a mixed assembly ? Now, on none of these suppositions should we be justified in concluding that the majority were probably right on account of their number ; because much would de pend upon your mode of address, and there would exist in every mind to some extent the prejudice of self-love and pre-conceived opinion. The majority of mankind regard their opinions and their prejudices as personal property, which in too many instances they leave with their children. But again. SECOND EDITION. Standard-office, Ten o'clock PROFESSOR OF POETRY RETIREMENT OF MR. WILLIAMS We have this moment been favoured with the fol lowing gratifying letter from the principal of Brase nose College, Oxford : •• TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. " Brase-nose College, January 20, 1812. " SIR,—A comparison has this morning been made of the number of promises given in behalf of each candidate for the Professorship of Poetry, when they were found to be— " For Mr. Garbett Mr. I , l: 7 illiam s 1.2:1 Mr. Williams has in consequence withdrawn. " We beg you to accept oar thanks for the intention ex pressed by you of supporting Mr. Garbett, and to congratu late you on this termination of the contest. " I am, Sir, " For the Fellows of this College and myself, " Your obedient faithful Servant, " A. T. GILBERT, Principal." The London Standard of last evening makes the same return in a second edition, and publishes a letter from the bursar of the same college, who gives a similar result of the contest Suppose, upon any given subject the dissentients or affir matives were more numerous, and happened to be right, this must be regarded as an accident, because the various interests of man on the one hand, and the secret springs of action on the other, prevent our admitting the probability that a party, because the more numerous, are right; and this for three reasons : first, the probability of truth or error would rise or fill in proportion to the majority; and- secondly, because right and wrong are not convertible terms; and lastly, be cause this mode of determining truth, would make that truth in one place which was error in another. The Roman Catholic creed would thus be right in Spain and wrong in England, because in the former it is professed by the majority and in the latter by the minority. Another objection to your theory exists in our very nature, which appears to have a natural aversion to pains-taking ex amination. It is much easier to swim with the tide than to stem it ! Most men are afraid to dissent from the crowd, forgetting that the mass are like Samson of old, deceived by blandishments, and led to and fro by insignificant persons. Man has been defined to be "an animal who thinks." The misfortune is, that he does this by proxy. He has sight, but generally uses it through the medi um o f spectacles manufac tured for him, and belonging to another person. He has a head upon his shoulders, but lie too uses that of another, to the exclusion of another. WAR IN CEIINA. — Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane has been selected by the Lords of the Admiralty to hoist his flag and proceed immediately to China. Enjoy the blessings of this day, says Jeremy Taylor; God sends them, and the evils bear patiently and sweetly ; for this day only is ours ; we are dead to yesterday, and we are not born to to-morrow. CAPTURE OF THIRTY-THREE SLAVE VESSELS.—The following is an extract of a letter from the Cape of Good Hope, Dated November 9, 1811 :—" Her Majesty's ship Fantome, returned to Simon's Bay on the 24th ult., after a six months' cruise on the coast of Angola, for the suppres sion of the slave-trade, having had the Brisk and Water witch under her orders, during which period they have cap tured 33 slave-vessels, and liberated 3,427 negroes—viz., Fantome, 16 vessels, and 1,340 negroes Brisk, 10 vessels, and 1,136 negroes; and Waterwitch, 9 vessels, and 937 negroes. MELANCHOLY DEATH OF AN INFANT AND ITS MOTHER. —On Wednesday night a long enquiry took place at the Commercial Tavern, London, on view of the body of a male infant, a month old, whose death was occasioned from the severity of the weather whilst travelling, in the mother's arms, from Bristol to London, by the Great Western Rail way. The mother was quite well on arriving at the end of her journey, and was staying at the inn ; and in the course of the inquiry the coroner sent for her, and the poor woman accompaoied the officer up stairs to the door of the inquest room. She then became faint, and was led into an adjoining room ; becoming worse a surgeon was sent for, and Mr. Fuller also attended her. In less than two minutes after the latter gentleman had left the room, he returned very much excited, stating that the mother had just breathed her last. DARING ATTEMPT AT BURGLARY. — Yesterday morning, at 1 o'clock, the neighbourhood of Maida bill was thrown ioto the utmost consternation and alarm by the cries of " Murder ! Police ! Fire !" and the springing of rattles. The inhabitants rushed to their windows ; and one gentleman in his fright ran into the streets in a state almost of nudity. It appears that some thieves on the previousevening ascended the roollof a newly-built house opposite the Paddington Canal Maids-hill, occupied by Mr. Anderson, the vocalist, and in an attempt to get down the chimney, the robbers dropped a dark lantern in that gentleman's bed-room. Being awoke by the noise , he gave the alarm, but the thieves got clear oil. The next day Mr. Anderson gave information at the station, house of the circumstance, when he was assured attention should be paid to his communication ; however no additional policeman was put on the beat, and in consequence, the thieves attacked the policetnrn, and nearly murdered bim. Half an hour elapsed before any other constable made his appearance, notwithstanding that the cries for help were heard in -Edgeware-road. At last two policeman appeared, but the thieves had got off. Several serious robberies have lately been committed in that vicinity, and at one house the whole of the plate, worth nearly £l9O, was stolen and carried off—Sun of Wednesday. Another objection to your theory presents itself in the fact, that its adoption has been an awful barrier to the happiness of the human race. It was this that plunged Galileo into a dun.eon. He was in the minority,—nay, did he not stand alone, before all the wisdom, and science, and philosophy of his day ? " Still it moves," was his exclamation, and he was right! Innumerable similar instances of the opposition of weak and ignorant men to truths of the greatest magnitude and importance, which have been drawn from nature's storehouse by men who were themselves despised and theories rejected —men whose memory after ages embalmed in the imperish able utility of the discoveries which the deep digging of their master m►nds produced. They were ever in the minority, and it was the reception and influence of the dogma you have propounded which immured some of them in dungeons, and laughed others to scorn. Suppose we admit your theory, what would be the result? It would he the funeral knell of Christianity : even its no minal professors form only a speck in proportion to the inha bitants of our planet. Could not an infidel wield your argument against you with overwhelming force? The Chi nese adopted it when they barbarously murdered some of your missionaries ! Suppose Voltaire addressing his coun trymen, and convincing eight-tenths of them that his dan gerous opinions were right, would you admit that the mino rity were in error ? You have already placed it upon record that the probability is the more numerous are right ! Why do you adopt a.standard in one case which you reject in a REPRESENTATION OF DUBLIN.—The writ haS arrived—it has been transmitted from the Hanaper to the High Sheriff —proclamation has been made,. and the election will take place—as we originally announced it would—on Monday next, the 24th instant. Mr. Gregory is proceeding with his canvass in the most triumphant manner; and we rejoice to say that the dissatisfactions felt and the apathy manifested are rapidly giving way to confidence restored, and zeal awakened. There is no doubt, but that much indifference did prevail previous to the opening of Mr. Gregory's canvass : and we hold them no good friends to the cause, who would either deny it, explaining it improperly away, or doubt its pernicious ten dency. But, thank Heaven, all jealousy and mistrust have vanished, and are succeeded by an enthusiasm and energy which more than compensates for the previous delay.-.7Dub lin Mail. similar ? But, as you apply your theory as a test, and thereby infer. the error of the reformed faith, it is but fair that we should examine whether the dogma we have propounded has any warrant in Scripture. We have no means of ascertaining, and therefore it would be folly to speculate upon, the number in the antideluvian world ; but we do know that only Noah and seven other human beings escaped the awful destruction ! and we know that Noah preached to them at least during a period of one hundred and twenty years. Can you doubt that he and his family formed an infinitessimal portion of the human race? The event proved that they were right, but it was not until the flood came that they were proved to be so. When the cities of the plain were destroyed, it was a simi lar theory to yours which caused their overthrow, for had TEN righteous ones been found, Sodom had not been de stroyed ! Would these ten not have formed a minority of the inhabitants of Sodom ? A metal-broker's circular, with a statement of the business of that department for the past year, has been handed us, and from this it appears that the article spelter has engaged a good deal of the attention of the speculators, its value having risen from £23. 10s. per ton in January to £4O per ton in December, but from which it has subsequently de clined to £37 and £37. ss. : the great increase in consump tion, the short stocks, and the decline in production have been the chief causes of the rise. The sale of British iron has been at very depressed prices in our markets, in conse quence of the heavy stocks ; and it is s t a t e d that there is no prospect of improvement for the present, as pigs can be de livered in the Clyde for £2. ss. to £2. 10s. per ton. The steady demand and the short stock of quicksilver; now not more than 2,000 bottles, has induced the contractors to raise the price to 45., and there is stated to be no chance of re duction for the present. The new feature in the tin market is the quarterly sales by the . British Miners, one of which takes place on the 27th instant, when 1,000 tons will be offered. This is the second sale on this principle, which, it is said, will greatly benefit the general trade. POPISH IMPUNITY FOR FRATRICIDE.—The late intelligent traveller, Mr. Eustace (a Romish priest), speaking of the notoriously depraved state of morals in Italy, asks, " May it not be ascribed to the corruptions of the national religion, to the facility of absolution, ana to the EASY PURCHASE OF INDULGENCES ?"—(Eustace's " Classical Tour in Italy," vol. iii., p. 342.)—0ne fact will furnish the best answer to this enquiry. "At Tivoli (says Miss Graham, who spent three months in the vicinity of Rome in 1819), a man was pointed out to us who had stabbed his brother, who died in great agonies within an hour. The murderer went to Rome, purchased his pardon from the church, and rec ived a writ ten protection from a cardinal; in consequence of which he was walking about unconcernedly—a second Cain, whose life was sacred.—(" Three Months' Residence in the Mountains East of Rome." By Maria Graham, p. 34. London, 1820, Bvo.)—From the Church of England Quarterly. RADICAL LOYALTY.—The Lord Mayor (Mr. O'Connell) gave his first civic dinner yesterday at the Mansion-house. The invitations were confined exclusively to the Aldermen and Town Councillors, some members of his own family, and a few gentlemen connected with the Liberal press. Nothing occurred either in the nature of the toasts or the speeches with which they were prefaced, that -calls for observation, except that the health of his " Excellency the Lord Lieu tenant"—the Viceroy of—" our amiable and lovely little Queen" (as Mr. O'Connell is fond of familiarly and im pudently designating her Majesty) —was omitted altogether. If such a violation of decorum, and of decency as this b a d .been perpetrated by a Conservative party during the ad ministration of Lords Mulgrave or Fortescue, we should have had the whole Liberal press teeming with indignant articles in reprobation of the i nsu l t . O n two occasions, when the healths of .these noblemen were coldly or unkindly received by the company, although respectfully proposed by the President, the anger of our contemporaries knew no bounds. They are silent upon the subject now, however.— Dublin Mail, Wednesday. When Moses uttered that important question,--" Who is on the Lord's side," was he ans wered by the maj or ity? Elijah was dismayed at th e m ajority when he prayed for death, and fled like a fugitive to Horeb! But Elijah was taught that majorities are not in themselves criterions of froth ! When Isaiah, the bold protestor against the idolatry of the Jews,—when Isaiah, the sublime prophet exclaimed, " except the Lord of B oats had left us a very anzall remnant we should have been like to Sodom and Gomorrah." He knew that the truth was confined to few. When Jeremiah was in " the loathsome pit ;" when the three Jews braved the fiery furnace, and when Daniel was cast into the den of lions, what supported them but the con viction that the majority were in error? The Jewish church acted upon your dangerous dogma when they crucified our Redeemer; they vainly thought that the minority was so small that they could annihilate it with the point of a spear, or destroy by nailing it to Calvary's cross. The event proved how dangerous it is to trust to ma jorities as the test of truth Mr. M`Neile well observes that " the Saviour argued with many, but convinced few." Are we not warranted, then, in rejecting your dogma Arc we not justified in contending that numbers do not in themselves afford even prima facie evidence of truth. Then let every man remember Paul's exhortation,—" Prove all things--hold fast that which is good." Hoping that, in your reply to the Rev. Hugh M`Neile, you will show us more tenable grounds for your opinion which, as it at present stands, will be condemned as a fallacy. I am, Rev. Sir, yours, Liverpool, 121 h Jan., 1842. BA PTISTES. MR. SLATER'S RESIGNATION TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD SlR,—The conduct of Mr. Slater, the titular councillor for St. Anne's Ward, and the proceedings of the.town coun cil regarding such conduct, seem to have made but little impression upon the minds of those whose duty it is to de mand the immediate resignation of that trust which they had reposed in him, when he statedly informs them that he is unable to exercise the duties of that trust. THE LAW RELATING TO APPRENTICES.—A few w eeks ago, a case was heard at the Borough Court, Bolton, relating to an apprentice in the service of Mr. Kirkman, ironfounder , of that town, in which Mr. Taylor appeared for the defence: and objested to the jurisdiction of the court, on the g round that no apprentice-fee had b een pa id ; an d that, there for e , . according to a recent decisio n i n L on d on, t h e master had,R,?: the power to compel the ser v i ces o f th e appren tice ;e : bly The magistrates, however, said, th a t th ey s h ou ld act e rror ; with their former decisions, un til conv i nce d o f then' and they committed the youn g man t o p r i so n; , o n the application of Mr. Taylor, liberated hi m onb ail, hut in order that an appeal against the con v i c ti on m ight be t r ied at the however, was aban doned quarter sessions. The appeal, t the Borough by Mr. Taylor ; and on Monday last, a_ apprentice in Court, a young man, named James Keenev , " - Deansgate, and said, that the service of Mr. William Higson, ironmon ger, ith neglect of work, : e. Mr. Tay_ Great Bolton, was brought up, charged a " i a: r d , general t hi this misconduct eaae, app eare i d n f h o i r s t h in e a p a r te oc r iaes _ aus 7 0 7, there being no ap it was exactly similar to the fora; e different view of the law, dangerous principle to say, and d n t t h ic o e u - g fe h e t ; it but wouldhe now took too r k y jurisdictionvery in such cases. With that the bench had no ,h a d taken the opinion of Mr, regard to the former case, 0 alluded to, in which the judges •was reported in the d by his advice had abandoned the r s but this was under the 37th a ti p u p l e t a o l u , the Th e b e a a rr a i e s barrister, ahad j ; urisdiction, d related to parish Fourth, an than £10" apprentices, the thirdheld t o h f e A m d a o g i i p st h ija is te n s h u h d a r, d n r i George the t although a _._ i‘alnr omission ' not more in the act, that ount must h he Pid . Barnes and Mr. H. Ash faocrte the stating j u som e am i t ass necessary the magistrates should decide Ash worth said , e fixed course, otherwise a number of a upon smnwhere I'd' 1 ces p irenti , and they asked Mr. Taylor decide - if , i n order to the question at mice, it would not be might leave .dg th es e l i ' r e emplovment • - . better in the former case, to procure a mandamus. Mr. Tay lor replied, that it would he too expensive ; and he did not think it necessary, as the magistrates had power to commit. The magistrates consulted together, in the private room, for about half an hour, and, on their return, said that Mr. Taylor might proceed with his case. Evidence was then gone into, showing the general misconduct of Keeney ; and he was commi tted to hard labour for two months.—Manches ter Guardi an.— [With reference to the cases here adduced, we may state, that at our police-court yesterday, a master made an application to Mr. Rushton, the stipendiary magis trate in writing, touching the conduct of a refractory appren-, tice, with a view to his being punished ; and, that Mr. R. still abiding by his former opinion, stated, that as no pre mium Or a ppi entice fee wrs paid, he could not ajudicate in. the case —adding, that in taking apprentices in future the applicant should require a premium, however small—even a shilling would be sufficient to bring him within the jurisdic tion of the court.) If he refuses to resign, after publicly avowing that he can not fulfil the duties of councillor, and that refusal be sup ported by law, I prognosticate a speedy clearance of the council chamber. But there will be one method of remedy ing this palpable evil—by the public inquiring, previous to any future elections, whether the candidates be men of ho nour and confidence. If Mr. Slicer has had the audacious presumption to offer his invaluable services for the town's weal, and knowing, at the same time, that he could not fulfil his proffered services, would not such conduct be considered, by the law, as an imposition on the public? l3ut, if he is now compelled to leave the borough in con sequence of some unforeseen event, his first care should be a resignation of the trust into the hands of those from whom he received it. It now behoves every individual to emerge from the cold shade of neglect in which they have allowed themselves to lie dormant, and use such clear measures as will prevent a repetition of such disgraceful proceedings. In conclusion, sir, I crave permission for a little additional space, for a few lines, w hi c h, th oug h t h ey are not di rectly connected with the prelude, yet they are concomitant with the subject generally, and may prove useful to the unbigoted part of the municipal electors. It is a most mischievous and absurd idea, but one that has prevailed, if it do not still pre vail, that a common councillor is not required to possess great talents, that he may be a dull and plodding man, that he may be dull in his moral sensibility, that he need not be a religious man, and yet may very well discharge the duties of his office. But if Heaven has given any mean a greater share of talent, virtue, or piety, let them know that they cannot choose a better man ; neither can he choose a nobler field for action, than that of town-councillor. And let such a man enter this field, not to go through the dull round of prescribed duty,—let him throw himself into this sphere of action with his whole mind and heart, with every, wakeful energy of thought and kindly fervour of feeling. -to think and to act, to devise and to do all that his powers permit, for the minds of the many youths of both sexes, who are committed to his first charge; and to transmit them to the second charge of maste r s, who will labour to win their affec tions, to quicken in them the love of scriptural knowledge, to inspire with every noble impulse the breast of ingenuous ed youth, and to raise up sound scholars for literature, devoted pastors for the church, patriotic citizens for this country, and glorious men for the universe. Let councillors do this, and none shall leave brighter signatures upon the record of honoured and well-spent lives. To the friends of scriptural education, as well as the actual labourers in its cause, I must say, in fine,—for the future, pass the watchword.—" Press onward " The spread of scriptural knowledge gave birth to civil liberty; the increase of such knowledge must give it stability and security. The fortunes of the civilised world SOUTHERN AND TOXTETH HOSPITAL. 14 ,0, tit 3 i Ce!+: CORRESPONDENCE THE ROYAL CHRISTENING