The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-04-07 00:00:00

A of A The Earl Dogs Bill. Lord CAMPBELL opposed the motion, and moved that it be read a second time that day six months. A discussion took place, followed by a di the numbers were 14 each. The Lord Cha casting vote against the motion, and the bill is according der.ntpa itries. of WiclcLow moved the second reading of the bills on the tal their lordships adjourned ROUSE were forwarded a stage OF COMMONS-: in whic dges a mass of ition was House of Lords vr a power of d and Mr. Ru- 6 . tions of HARDY lavr upon no better follow power, profitable the feeling a greater sacrifice than ti who ha capital Sir Hen rance b were unfortrnately unpopular in China, ant more particularly st us amounted to hatred ; mitigated by the smuggling le iu opium. tie s throne if he as therefore de- the example of Jr.N Wil- lterest .31 himself witnessed scenes which s, physical and moral, which had m end to the trade in opium he s of nnininn that the mnnnnnlv a, although for pur- India had recently too ought to hesitate before adopting a policy so decisive. Mr. HoGG contended that no substitute could be found in the room of the monopoly of the cultivation of the poppy. That monopoly not only acted as a check upon the produc tion of opium, but its evils were greatly exaggerated. It was quite impossible to put down the smuggling of opium upon a coast so extensive as that of China, otherwise than by legal ising the trade, which he hoped would be done before long by the Chinese government. Lord SANDON said that he was quite ready to go on if the desired it, although at that hour and amid the confu- sion which prevailed, it was impossible to do justice to the subject of the debate. He ha d heard a g reat deal on minor points, but had received no assistance on the great question, w hether it was possible that ou r relations with China could coexist with the opium trade. Among other things they had heard was a long speech about the glory of the people who a te opium ; but had they. not evidence of every kind, evidence not only from missionaries, but from persons engaged in the cultivation of the soil, to the effect that the growers and con sumers of opium were a people generally in the lowest state of degradation ? Then another hon. member had told them that opium was the only stimulant permitted to be used by Mussulmans. He believed, however, that opium -eaters were looked on by their fellow Mussulmans with much scorn and contempt, and that they were no more permitted by their religion to consume it than they were permitted to consume any other intoxicating liquor. But all these, as he said be fore, were minor questions compared with the one great point for consideration. What we wanted was a permanent and peaceful intercourse with 300,0000,000 of people, with whom we might, under certain restrictions, carry on a most and flourishing commercial intercourse. To lose golden opportunity would be worth an infinitely sacrifice of the opium trade. For we did relinquish it, we should soon receive more than ample compensation. If we did not relin quish it, if we did not act honestly and manfully, let us not console ourselves by supposing that the Chinese would give credit to any shuffling apologies. The Chinese were now an enlightened people. They read our newspapers, and were acquainted with our customs, and they were fully aware of how, and by whom, this opium trade waS supported. It was time that the Government took steps to redress the evil, and if they did not take such steps upon them must rest the re sponsibility. We must show the people of China that we had no hand in forcing this drug upon them. The Chinese Go vernment had been honest and uniform in its opposition to the introduction of this drug. He could not remain silent and see a question of this nature treated with levity, on which the character of 300,000,000 of people depended. He heartily supported the noble lord's resolution. It was a disgrace to a Christian nation to carry on the opium trade as we had done. He entirely concurred in the opinion expressed by e very port and large manufacturing town out of London, that the existence of the opium trade would make it utterly possible that our manufactures could have any considerable expansion in China, or any permanent reception a Sir R. ING Lis hoped that no one would vote on the goes and Lord ihley, whose proposition he most warmly supported. Sir R. PEEL said it behoved the House of Commons to weigh well the resolutions it adopted upon a subject so im portant as the present. A resolution was a very different thing from a bill. In the case of a bill the house had many opportunities of expressing its opinions, but in the case of a resolution the whole question was settled by a single vote. Would they, under such circumstances, at once decide that no poppy should be grown in India, when, by so doing, they would be only throwing the trade into the hands of the in ants of the Manilla Islands, and find eve❑ there that ild be mainly conducted by means of British Ls far better to leave the matter in the hands of Pottinger, who was negociating with the Em peror of China upon the subject, while the British Govern ment was in every way discouraging the smuggling of opium into China, and had even recommended that it should not be introduced into Hong-Kong. With respect to putting down )le baronet contended that if it was 1, ie introduction of opium into India from th issible to prevent .eighbouring rities on the sub- be imposed was the 3 of th and the con taking place bbaies, raffia; as a tiormal system for the purpose of drawing numbers towards dissenting chapels—a system of proselytism of the young of other persuasions, who are driven by the lack of educational facilities and op- .thing of the dissenting bodies—than one having in view the exten sion of religious training, per se ! Virtually these pe titioners declare that they would prefer seeing the neglected children of the factory districts grovelling in midnight . darkness, than see them drawn towards the light of scriptural truth by any path which does not lead to their own by financial point of view, we this ! It is not, that the dissenting bodies are to be re- stricted in their duties. It is not that the dissenting conscience is to be invaded. But the Church's sphere of usefulness is to be increased ; and hint illce irce ! It is with sorrow, by the bye, that we learn, from an article in the Liverpool limes—(written most pro bably by Mr. Blackburn, of anti-church-education no toriety, for it contains the worthy doctor's view of the case as put forth in some resolutions adopted by the Dissenters of Liverpool,) that the Wesleyan Metho dists, firm friends as they are of a similar system of education in-our Corporation Schools, are vehemently opposed to the bill of Sir Jomes Graham. We disbe lieve the assertion ; or, at all events, if such opposition exists, we are firmly persuaded that it is based upon a similar want of knowledge as to the provisions of the bill which is displayed by our wise contemporary him self. The Times says, " They, (the Wesleyans,) have no idea of submitting to have the schools which they have supported for so many years, closed by act of Par liament ; of having the children, for whom they have done so much, driven from them by that clause of the act of Parliament which prescribes that no child edu cated in any schools, except those mentioned in the bill, shall be allowed to work in any factory." Perhaps our contemporary will be kind enough to point our atten tion to "that clause in the act of Parliament" which so prescribes. We never heard of such, and cannot, for the life of us, discover it in the printed bill. We had prepared some remarks upon the debate in the House of Commons, on Tuesday, on the motion of Lord Ashley, upon the subject of the traffic in opium between our East Indian possessions and China. The deficiency of our space, however, entirely pre cludes us from giving them at length ; and we regret it the less, inasmuch as it would be out of our power to convey to our readers more than a very faint idea of the case made out by Lord Ashley and his supporters, in deprecation of this illegal, and indeed piratical traffic, which, for the sake of a paltry Indian revenue of some million of money, debauches the natives en gaged in the opium culture, and cuts off every hope of a peaceful extension of our more legitimate commerce with the people of China. Upon one feature of the debate, however, we cannot forbear remarking. Our noble representative, Lord Sandon, it will be observed, most emphatically and in a tone worthy of a Christian senator, denounced this unholy traffic ; and never, in all that we have seen of his parliamentary career, was the speech of Sir Robert Peel, addressed, with something almost approaching to personality, to his lordship, less worthy of a great statesman than on this occasion. It would have served every useful purpose, towards a member, so little given to initiate or entertain motions embarrassing to govern ment as in Lord Sandon, to have simply stated the grounds upon which her Majesty's ministers objected to the motion of Lord 'Ashley. It is seldom, by the bye, that motions merely declaratory of abstract prin ciples are other than embarrassing ; and more seldom still that they are useful. There was something, how ever, peevish and pettish in the tone of the premier on this occasion, which must grieve his most sincere friends to observe, especially directed to a member of the high standing deservedly possessed by the noble member for Liverpool ; and certain we are, that a perusal of the speech in question is anything but calculated to advance the cause in behalf of which it appears to have been made. As a whole it is, in sentiment and in argument, perhaps the most utter failure ever made by Sir Robert Peel or any other minister The boon, for which our good neighbours in Man chester have been praying for years past, is at length about to be conceded. The government of Sir Robert Peel, less hard-hearted than previous governments, has consented to the privilege of bonding foreign pro duce being extended to Manchester; and, from hence forth, the metropolis of the cotton trade will have its custom-house, with a collector, controller, clerks, searchers, landing waiters, and other officers, and be come in fact A PORT, in every thing except the pos session of, what have always been considered indis pensible requisites, viz.—the contiguity of water and of shipping. Questionless, such a trivial deficiency can easily be got over. • As a condition, however, we observe that it is stipu lated by government—much to the dissatisfaction of our friends in Manchester—that they must themselves disburse to the revenue the cost of their hobby. It will require five thousand pounds sterling, per annum, to furnish even a " skeleton" establishment—to start them, as it were, in their career as an importing and bonding people; and this sum (which the Manchester Guardian considers an extravagant one, but which, if bonding to any extent is to be practised, will have to be doubled and trebled) the Chancellor of the Exche quer, very reasonably, requires to be furnished by the people of Manchester themselves. Of course, there can be no difficulty on this score, when we look at the magnitude of the benefit to-be derived—when we con sider the hundreds of thousands of pounds, (in the shape of expenses of cartage, porterage, commission, &c.) to be snatched from the devouring maw of the community of Liverpool. A people, who possess pub lic spirit enough to volunteer the supply of some four or five tons of waste paper weekly, in the shape of anti-corn-law tracts, to the public of the empire, can scarcely be stayed in the realisation of a project, so important as that of converting their town into a depot for the entire produce consumed in the manufacturing districts, for want of the paltry matter of five thousand pounds. The circumstance which puzzles us, in connexion with the subject, is this. It is so long ago as Thurs day last that the meeting, at which the success of the deputation from Manchester, which has been in com munication with government, was announced to the world ; and yet we can thus far discover none of those awful signs which might have been expected to mark the conversion of this great mart of commerce into " a paltry fishing village !" Yesterday, indeed, we ima gined the face of the figure of Britannia upon our town-hall to he a little elongated, as she gazed down upon the " lads of the flags" beneath her. This, how ever, must have been fancy. We have heard of no nettles growing around our docks ; no grass springing in that " place where merchants most do conureuate :" nothing, in fact, newer than the comet or the nebulous tail which astronomers suppose erroneously must have a head " thereby to hang." We have heard of none of our brokers transporting themselves to the mudfog metropolis, nor of any carters, porters, coopers, " et id genus omne," on the move. The world of Liverpool still goes on, if not " merry as a marriage bell," yet merry as usual; and we ourselves have seldom felt in more excellent humour with all mankind. Perhaps, however, the latter circumstance may arise from the fact that, most unfortunately for us, we are not shareholders in the Liverpool and Manchester Railway—an undertaking which most undoubtedly is to be ruined outright by the change which is about ! The Chancellor of the Exchequer, we observe, has not the slightest objection to bonding in Manchester; but, as a sine qud non, the goods to be bonded must be transhipped into Old Quay fiats, in the same way, Mr. Lingard, the agdut of the said 01(1 Quay Company, observes, as they were transhipped before the Liverpool and Manchester Railway had its being ; and, of course, if we were so fortunate as to be railway proprietors, we should be infinitely alarmed for our property ! Varitanuntarp prottn The Marquis LOCAL NicKs. The British and North American Royal mail steamer the Britannia, Captain Hewitt, sailed from Liverpool on Tues day, for Halifax and Boston. She carried out between 60 and 70 passengers. She had on freight nearly 200,000 so vereigns. PREFERMENT. — The Rev. John Jackson, 8.A., Graduate and Scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge, and late curate of St. Paul's Church in this town, bas been instituted to the valuable living of Dodderhill, with the rectory of Elmbridge, in the county of Worcester, by the lord bishop of that diocese, vacant by the death of the Rev. John Hughes, D.D. PHRENO-MAGNE.TIRM.--Mr. Mil gives his last lecture on this subject this evening. The leetuter brings forward many curious statements and experiments. PAINTINGS OF A DAM AND Evr..—Tht•semagnificent paint ings are still on view, as may be seen from an advertisement. The number of persons who had visited them since their ar rival in this town up to Saturday night amounted to the ex traordinary number of 10,366. THE WEATHER.—The weather has for the last few days been extremely variable. Wednesday was a brilliant day, but yesterday the rain fell in torrents the whole day with a very brisk wind from the west and north-west. We continue to receive the most favourable accounts of the progress of vegetation from all parts of the country. FATAL AcclDexT.—Yesterday, an inquest was held be fore the borough coroner on view of the body of Elizabeth Patriekson, who, it appeared, had accidentally fallen from one of the garden walls, at teacomhe, to the beach, by which her left ancle was fractured. The accident occurred on the 23d of February, since which time mortification had taken place. Verdict—Accidental death. SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER. —Yesterday at the Police court, a man named William Sharrock, who had but been discharged from prison, after serving three months, on the previous day, was charged with having in his possession a quantity of lead, without being able to account satisfactorily for his possession of it. He was committed to the House of Correction for three months. COMNIITTALS.—At the Police-court yesterday, two dis orderly girls were committed for trial at the sessions—one for robbing a man named Stanbury, one of the crew of the Virginia packet-ship of one sovereign in gold and three half crowns in silver—the other for robbing a boy belougnig to a flat lying in the Queen's Dock. They both protested their innocence. PATENT. --11l the list of patents for March, we notice one granted to M r . Willi am Laycock, of this town, merchant, for improvements in constructing houses and such-like buildings. This is, we believe, the gentleman who has manufactured th e i ron res id e nce for the Af r i can ki ng now flitting up on the piece of land to the east of the Custom house. C OMMITMENT.—On Tuesday last, a bcy named Francis Husse was charged, before Mr. Rushton, at the Police court, with having broken the window of a shop in Dale street, and attempted to steal therefrom E piece containing seven silk handkerchiefs. He had previously been three times committed, and twice discharged. He was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. SurctnE.--An inquest was held yesterday on the body of Mary Rearden. From the evidence produced, it appeared that the deceased, who lived in Watkinson's-court, Sparling street, had had frequent quarrels with her mother and friends, and that she was not altogether of sound mind. She had more than once threatened to put an env to her existence, whist threat she executed on Tuesday last by taking a quan tity o arsenic, which produced death on the following day. Verdict, "Temporary Insanity." STEALING COTTON.—Yesterday, at the police-conrt, two boys were charged before Mr. Rushton.with stealing cotton. One of. them had forced an iron stancbon from a window of a warehouse in Great Howard-street, and was conveying off a sack of cotton, about 181bs. The other lad, whose age could not exceed 8 years, had stolen a quantity from Cromp ton-street. He was handed over to his mother, P. respecta bly dressed person, who promised to be responsible for his future conduct. STEALING A DRESS.—A youth (whose name we did not learn) was yesterday committed for trial by Mr. Rushton, at the police-court, on Cie charge of having stolen a dress and a shirt from the house of Mrs. Bimson, publican, Scotland road. From the evidence of Martha Large, a servant of the prosecutors, it appeared that she had seen the prisoner coming down stairs, and afterwards found near where he was sitting the gown and shirt, which had been removed from the room up stairs. The prisoner said nothing in defence. THE THEATRE ROYAL V. THE LIVER. — The actions instituted by the proprietors of the Theatre Royal against Mrs. Honey and Mr. Buckatone, for performing the regular drama at the Liver Theatre, without licence, which were en tered for trial at our present assizes, were witbdrawnon Tues day last, we believe, conditionally. 'The Liver Theatre, we understand, will in accordance with the conditions close to night until August next : so that for the present at least, litigation on this subject will cease. CALIGRAPHY.—The dispositions of men, say some per sons, are indicated in their writing. The Duke of Welling ton' for instance, makes bold t a ll letters, significant of daring and ambition; while the compact style of Lord Brougham betrays an intellect acute and cogent. Mr. Moore writes a lady hand, from which it is inferred, that gentleness prevails in his mind over more masculine feelings; but here the theory is at fault, for Byron's writing was very like his biographer's. Perhaps, as Lord Chesterfield said, we can write in whatever style we please ; and on looking over some specimens at Mr. Thompson's the other day, we were forcibly struck with the correctness of this observation. Mr. Thomp son's pupils learn in a few lessons to correct the most invete rate habits, and some of our friends have had the good sense to profit by his instructions. We would recommend one or two of our correspondents, if they wish us to read their future communications, to lose no time in applying to him. CHARLESTON.—The fast-sailing ship Hibernia, Captain Bunting, arrived here yesterday afternoon from Charleston, after a remarkably short passage of nineteen days, having left that city on the evening of the 17th ult. They had just received the news from England, by the " Great Western," which had taken them " all a-back." The dates from Mo bile are to the 11th, and 10th from New Orleans ; at the former port a large business has been alone in cotton, prices stiff, and tending upwards. Stock on hand (including that on ship-board not cleared) 141,067 bales. Every ship in the port had been engaged, a circumstance which is stated never to have occurred before at the same season of the year. Rates id. The bank was checking on New York 16 per cent. premium. At New Orleans the cotton market had been very animated, and a large business bad been trans acted, 6,000 bales sold on the Bth. Holders had regained what they had lost on receipt of the steamer's accounts. Middling cotton 5 cent. Exchange (sterling) had advanced, and was in good request at V s to 2 per cent. premium. Freights dropping, our engagements to Havre are 11 cent. IMPUDENT ROBBERY.—A stout robust looking man, ra ther respectably dressed, named Willcock, was charmed at the Police -court, on Tuesday, with felony, under the follow ing circumstances. William May stated that he was a pub lican ' • the prisoner came into his house on the previous day and had some gin and ginger beer; there were pictures on the wall of the room in which the prisoner sat. This was in the morning ; about noon he was coming up St. James-street, when he met the prisoner, who had in his possession a pic ture now produced, which he recognized, and questioned the prisoner, who threw it down and made off; he also threw out of his pocket a book, which was taken up. The prisoner was stopped by a police-officer. Elizabeth Banbury stated that her husband was a publican, and the prisoner came into his house with.a picture in his hand; there was a book in the room in which he sat. The one now produced is it. It is a directory, and cost 6s. 6d. The prisoner said it was his first offence. He was committed to take his trial at the ensuing sessions. DARING ROMIERY.—Shortly after twelve o'clock on the night of Saturday week, a couple of scoundrels, who bad their faces blacked and were armed with pistols, entered the toll-house at the Old Swan gate. They threatened to shoot the master and mistress if they attempted to move or give any alarm. They ransacked the house, and, as it was the night on which the gate-keeper made up his money, they found about £l6, which, with a new suit of black clothes, they carried off with them. A relation of the gate-keeper had recently died, and was to be buried on the following day. The clothes had been ordered for the funeral, and had never been worn. The robbers left a Macintosh coat behind them. On the same evening, there was a dance or merry-making at one of the public-houses adjacent to the Old Swan. During the entertainment, two fellows with blacked faces entered the house and amused the company by singing Jim Crow and sundry other negro songs. As they left the house about twelve o'clock it is supposed that they were the parties who committed the robbery at the toll-house. ARMISTEAD v. CaELLIN.—At the Sheriff's Court, on Wednesday, an inquiry was gone into before the under-sheriff to assess the damages in an action brought for the recovery of a sum of money for services rendered by the plaintiff, Mr. Richard Armistead, of this town, to Miss Ann Crellin, also of this town, in bringing to justice John Orr M`Gill and others, accused some time since of having carried off the said Ann Crellin against her will to Gretna Green. On the action being brought the defendant suffered judgment to go by de fault, admitting that something was due. On this the case came before the sheriff to have the damages assessed. Mr. Atherton appeared for the plaintiff, Mr. James for the de fendant. According to the statement of the plaintiff, when he, Armistead, undertook to assist her in the conduct of the case above alluded to. he received from her a document promising 1:100 for his services. This she afterwards re fused to pay, and the action was hereupon brought for the re covery of the amount. The document was put in, and evi dence tendered to prove the genuineness of the signature. Mr. James pleaded at considerable length in mitigation of damages. After an inquiry which occupied two hours and a half, the jury returned a verdict awarding the claimant £l7. ROBBERY IN STAFFORDSHIRE. -- David Harrison and Frances Simpson, two respectably dressed persons, were brought into the Police-court, on Wednesday, in charge of police-officer 147, by whom they had just been arrested ; and who stated, that having that morning received information of a robbery in Staffordshire, and a description of the parties, he succeeded in arresting the prisoners in Stewart-street. They were about to embark for Philadelphia, in the Potomac, having paid their passage in that vessel to Messrs. J. and W. Robinson. On the male prisoner was found a bag containing about £2OO in American and English money, principally gold. A brother of the female prisoner stated, that on Wed nesday last his father had sold a plot of land adjoining his residence, at Grindon, near Leek. The proceeds, about £217, in £lO Bank of England notes and gold, were deposited, for safety, at his brother's house, of which the female pri soner had the management. Some time on Monday night or Tuesday morning they decamped with the money, and he had traced them to Liverpool. The female prisoner said, that her father presented her with the money. Mr. Rushton directed the officer to take them to the magistrate of Grindon. TrA. la .4 MACCH are glad to observe that the City of Dublin Steam-packet Company have come to the determination of placing one of their fine vessels on the station between this port and the Menai Bridge. The public will thus have the security of that company's well-earned reputation, that everything will be done that can possibly add to the comfort and safety of the passengers who patronise their steamer. The Erin-go-Bragh is a new and very fast vessel, and her accommodations are all that can be wished, both for cabin and deck passengers, as there is a large and airy cabin for the latter below the deck. She is divided into five compartments by wrought. iron water tight bulkheads, which not only 'prevent any danger from foundering by collision or otherwise, but also add much to the strength of the hull ; and, in addition to these great preserva tives to human life, she has a dopot of life-duoys on board sufficient to float 200 persons. Her draft of water is so small that, if she was thrown on a beach, her passengers and crew could walk out of danger. She will be under the command of Captain George Dani, who has had great experience on the station; and the comforts of the passengers are to be under the immediate surveillance of a gentleman selected for that especial purpose. SAVAGE issAurr.—On Tuesday last, at the Police court, Jan . les Finan, wh o h a d b een imnanded from the pre vious day in order to obtain the depositions of the surgeons, was charged with violently a ss aulting a man named M`Kenna, on St. P atr i ck ' s day' last. From the evidence adduced, it appeared that the complainant had on that day, in company with the prisoner and two other men, been play ing at cards at a oublic-house in Tithebarn-street ; that the prisoner was the losing Party, an d w i s h e d to play again, but the complainant declined, and went to accompany one of the party home. Atter parting with him he (11.1`Kenna) saw the prisoner following hi m . W hilst in the hab i t o f k noc ki ng at the door of the house i n w hi ch be resided, the prisoner struck him first with his fist, and a f terwards k no cked him down with a rod of iron. Finau then took hold of the complainant by the cars, and dashed hi s h ead against the causewa y. where he was found shortly a f terwards in a state o f i nsens ibility. c omplainant had Mr. M'Ardle, and a n ass i stant to Mr. C r i pps , surgeons , stated the nature of th e i njuries the re ceived. .A slight con cuss i on of the brain h a d t a k en pl ace , but it was more probable the injuries resulted from the fall than from the blow the person had received. The complain ant, it appeared, had h a d d r i nk, but not i n th a t q uantity to produce insensibility. WlCenna had been unable to attend until Monday in consequ enc e of the in j ur i es he had received. The prisoner denied having struck the complainant with an iron bar, but admitted havi ng hi t h i m, t h oug h slightly, with his hand. He was committed t o ta k e hi s t r ial at the ensuing sessions, but to be admitted t o b a i l, h i mse lf in 450, and two sureties in £2) each. DEATH FROM BURNlNG.—Yesterday, an Inquest was held on the body of Ellen Connolly, whose clothes had acci dentally taken fire about three weeks ago, since which time she had lingered in great agony. Verdict—Accidental death. THE FUNDS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. Consols have advanced the shade, and are now quoted 97 sellers. For the next account they have been done at 971. There were good buyers in the market, and the opinion of the public being in favour of the exhibition of a satisfactory 'revenue account, has also given some support to business. Exchequer-bills rule at 68s. to 70s. premiuni, and 675. to 695. premium; the higher quotation being for the lid. hills, including those issued for compensation to the claimants under the late for geries, and the lower quotations for the 2d. bills. The anti cipation with respect to the last class of bills is, that if any further reduction in interest is made, it will go below that now current in the March issues, and hence the cause of the difference in their premium. Bank stock is quoted at the high value of 189 for the opening this week ; New Three and-a-half per Cents. closed 1021 to 1, and India Bonds 745. to 775. premium. Some dealings have lately occurred in the shares of the United States Bank, and the Dutch specu lators are said to be the purchasers, certainly not with the idea of effecting immediate profit from their investment, but regarding them more in the light of a chance security, which in course of time may improve. It does not, however, appear that they are inclined to lay out much capital in the adven ture, since the price paid does not exceed 10s. or lls. for the original £25 share. THEATRE-ROYAL.—Madame Celeste, Mr. Webster, and Mr. Strickland have been delighting the audiences since Monday in some of their popular and amusin g d ramas . " The Pretty Girls of Stilbe rg ," which has had a great run in London, has been well got up. Mr. Webster gives in it a portrait of Bonaparte, which cannot fail to be recognised as a capital likeness : in fact, he appears as if he bad stepped out of some of the French lithographs in which the " little corporal " is depicted. Madame Celeste acts Margot with much archness and vivacity. The most amusing character in the drama is that of a drummer, played by Mr. Strick land. Mr. Shrivall introduced a drinking song in good bac chanalian style. Miss Gardner made a smart little sergeant, and sang a song with her usual ability. " The pretty girls " go through their manoeuvres with remarkable precision. The tableau at the close is very effective. In the " Lover by Proxy," Mr. Webster played Harry Lawless with much gaiety. Mrs. Seymour, as Kate Bromley, created conside rable laughter by her closing address to the house. Madame Simon's IVlise Prude was done to the life. Mr. J. Wood overdraws Squib. Mr. Slaiter was amusing enough as Blushington's valet. In " Marie Ducange," Mad. Celeste performed in her usual pathetic and graceful manner. The last act of this drama would " melt a rock to tears." The closing scene is one of the most effective on the stage. Mr. L. S. Thompson impersonated Lassells with much earnest ness and ability, but we cannot say we admired his costume. His sky-blue neck ribbon, white gloves, and white jacket, were anything but " shipshape." Mr. Eaton played the French smuggler extremely well. He is very successful in this description of character. Mr. Eaton is evidently a good French scholar. " Foreign Affairs" was produced on Wed nesday. Madame Celeste, Mrs. Clarke, and Mr. Strickland kept the house in one continuous scream of laughter. The acting of the two latter was " excruciatingly droll." It was the broadest of broad farce.—To-night a new drama, called " Sidonia di Molina," will be represented for the first time, with " The Pretty Girls of Stilberg," and " Foreign Affairs," for the benefit of Madame Celeste. To-morrow night "The Bastile " will be produced. The house will be closed next week, and re-open on Easter Monday. THE THEATRE ROYAL, THE. LIVER, AND THE AMPHI THEATRE.—On Wednesday last the solicitors of the Theatre Royal, applied to Mr. Rushton at the Police-court, to exer cise the power vested in him by the New Improvement Act, and to proceed against the parties engaged in. or forwarding, any dramatic entertainments for which admission-money was received.—The solicitor considered that, in accordance with the section of the Act which he read, Mr. Rushton had no power to refuse the application.—Mr. Rushton said he must first require proof that money was demanded, and that the theatres named were not licensed theatres. The solicitor replied by reading a portion of an Act, that deprived even the Crown and the Lord Chamberlain of the power of grant ing any license, except within the precincts of Westminster, and then only during the residence there of the Sovereign, and argued that they could not be licensed theatres.—Mr. Ellis enquired under what Act the patent of the Theatre Royal was granted, hut this was not gone into, as to the proof that. money was received, the Act required that the information should be laid on the day the money was taken ; and as this took place at night, he wished Mr. Rushton to forward to the chief constable a written order to apprehend any person connected with the production of the performance. —M - r. Rushton declined to do this, and said they must them selves produce the proof of money being paid.—The solicitor replied, that that would render them liable ; and as the offence was committed at night, it would be difficult to find the Sti pendiary Magistrate.—Mr. Rushton said he was seldom out of town, but they must take that risk upon themselves. At present he declined granting their re q uest, on account of other proceedings that were pending against the lessees and other of the minor theatres.—The solicitor then applied on his own behalf, but Mr. Rushton ruled, that he represented the proprietors, though he was not one himself, and it was his (Mr. R.'s) opinion, that the Improvement Act was never intended to apply to such dramatic entertainments as those produced at either the Amphitheatre or the Liver Theatre, but to such as were resorted to by the lowest characters ; and if the present course was persisted in by the Theatre Royal, he would require the Act to be fulfilled to the strictest letter, for he was averse to the proceedings which had been adopted. The application was of course not granted. Yesterday the solicitors renewed their appli cation, and produced the authority which the mayor had granted to Alice Stebbing, of the Amphitheatre. It is to continue in operation until November next, but strictly for bids the production of performances by which a penalty would be incurred. Th e 2d sec ti on o f ac t 10 G eo. 11, chap. 28, prohibits the exhibition of stage plays without a patent from the crown, or a license from the lord chamberlain; and the sth section prohibits the grant, except within the pre cincts of Westminster, during the residence of the Sovereign there, and there only. The solicitor then read the 253 d sec tion of the new improvement act, which says—" It shall be lawful for any justice, by order in writing, to authorise the head-constable or superintendent inspector belonging to the poliee force of the borough to enter into any room or house within the said borough for the use of stage plays or dramatic entertainments, or for any public show or exhibition into which admission is obtained by payment of money, and which is not a licensed theatre or room or place appointed by the mayor at any time when the same shall be open for the reception of persons resorting there, and take into cus tody all persons who shall be found therein without lawful excuse. It further enacts that they shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £2O, or in default to be committed to hard labour to the House of Correction for a time not exceeding two months." The solicitor ably con tended, that as the Mayor had only given a qualified autho rity, and had forbidden the production of play, opera, or farce, by which a penalty was incurred. And that as section 253 of the Improvement Act says, it shall be lauful, he (Mr. Rushton) had no discretion in the matter, if he proved that admission-money had been received, and a play enacted. He then called William Hannay, who statedithat he had visited the Amphitheatre last night ; he paid sixpence for admission, and could define the difference between an opera, a play, and a ballet. A play was produced, it was entitled " The Life of a Woman." It was in three acts, and similar to what was usually represented at other theatres. The solicitor said that anything was a play in which characters were defined by dialogue and action in the usual way. Mr. Rushton said that there was a distinct remedy to en force the law by penalty in such cases, and that he did not consider himself justified in proceeding against those who were unconscious offenders, and subjecting them to the severe penalty of the law or imprisonment to hard labour. It was an infringement on the liberty of the British subject. Many could not afford to go to the higher classes of theatres, and it would deprive the working classes of a rational re creation. The Mayor had granted a qualified liberty to thosdd theatres, and if that was impugned a penalty of £5O could be enforced, and, therefore, he could not interfere. The solicitor said that the process of enforcing penalties were so dilatory as to be almost useless. Mr. Rushton said that that would not induce him to commit hundreds of unoffending persons to punishment. The Mayor had granted a sort of authority and he would not interfere. The solicitor then ap plied for a similar order to be granted against the Sans pareil—a theatre to which, it was stated, the Mayor had given no authority. Mr. Rushton said that this was quite a different case, when Mr. Sbuttleworth informed him that the mayor had given notice that he would not suffer this and some other places to remain open after the 131st March last ; but, in consequence of that notice being verbal, the time was extended until the Bth of April (Saturday next). The solicitor pressed on the attention of the magistrate, the 253 d section of the improvement act stating that he thought no discretionary power was vested in him.—Mr. Rushton said that he would take a few days to consider of it. The solicitor then left the court. MONDAY The same papers were asked for as in relative to the Ashburton treaty, and the request was ac- ceded to by the Government. The Registration of Voters Bill was reconsidered in com- rovisoes by 1 Lord J. RUSSELL said he con rich an appellate ittees to courts of.law a was g om election com- Sir J. GRAHAM said that tl duced while the bill was under d so bad been intro- jurisdiction as it was to be reconsidered, t .t Questions not be objected to ould be thus re- :t or ot . evidence ferred. The committee then proceeded to consider the clauses seriatim, and on the 58th clause Lord J. RUSSELL renewed Ma objection to giving an appellate jurisdiction to the Court of Common Pleas. He hoped the Government would at least defer the period of parting with the power of the House of Commons. He objected to giving this power to the •L inn of oartiality if to the c judges, who would he expose" . they happened to decide a case in accordance with their known political feelings. He also ob j ected to such an appellate jurisdiction ; for experience told them that there was a ten dency on the part of lawyers to interpret in the narrowest spirit matters connected with the liberty of the subject. Sir 3. , (310.ACIANI denied that such was the r , --- - at in a well as mode EREUR.D, Mr. Roes Ir. C. BULLER CO this appella court of appeal would ing, while it would expose the judges deciding in all cases according t o their own known political bias. The SOLICITOY►GENS&AL said ti the Court of Common Pleas the po , validity of a vote submitted to it b and that its decision thereon - This was not mons. Questions relating Queen's Be brought before t tempted to impugn their dec Sir G. GREY thought It best that eould be adopted med necessar oamittee then divided, 2a I by a_ni and lot v :t was to g 'at over of deciding u on the P revising barrister nd conclusi DC s of the House of Coln _ O, and no one at- n proposed by the mu tne ---,nate jurisdiction was lause, as it stood it to 51. • m voting by reason of his not having paid anv rates demanded of him pre- ,ers for Ilona to the day of electiop On a division, the pro so was The remaining clauses were resumed. The other orders of the day were house adjourned .._ ... _...-....111M." gatived by a majority of then agreed to, and the house n disposed of, and t 1 wth in the HOUSE OF COMMONS -Tv/ Lord ASHLEY brought fi opium trai yard his ed in tl ca " o v n " Qp — Oly c of _it%gi That it hi the opinion rade in opium and ti ;pa of Priti.h India between Ch in England and Chiaoujuiwus to the turfing mant interests of the country vti mate commerce, and dtities of aCh rn kingdo Lken, as soon as possible Dvernments and individ rd. in t ,GaTatlii also disc the East India Compan aorals of the Chinese, ow, .oy British influence With thee a. He quoted a variety of he in proportion as the Teased, that sc i o ns diminution ;sistent with the and that steps b .d to the r cl ue n a b o lish the evil' The disc stoic e „„ :tuated wa s au, e d all interest in le feeling towards a desire to rious to 1.L. , which was not only i i ,„, '_... had also a strong tendency- to classes of society in ❑ order to of opium into , China in- This was also case in heed..., temperance movement caused an increased consumption of clothing and provisions, rendering the people happier and more comfortable than when their money was squandered in the purchase of intoxicating liquors. It was clear, therefore, both in a commercial and moral point of view, that this opium trade was terribly in jurious. He cited a great number of authorities. proving the deleterious effects of opium on the Chinese population, and also neon the population engaged in the cultivation of the drug in Asmara. In the latter country the people were not only enervated by the use of this narcotic, but were brought up under Its influence as a crafty, cruel, and most immoral race ; and yet writers speaking of the natives before the poppy was cultivated there, represent the people as a strong, manly, and intelligent race. In fact one opium cultivator was enough to demoralise a Whole village. By st i m ulating the growth of opium this country was governing India for its t o o wn purposes only, and not with reference to the wants and stathde PrimPeritY oi its population. He was given to under to that the cultivation of the poppy was by no means po pi,!lar with the natives—that they would prefer the culture of sugar indigo, and other innocent and useful commodities, to the production ' of which the soil was devoted before this o de a. tesable traffic in opium was established. The smuggling traders is into China led to dreadful sacrifice of life, for the in it constantly fired into tile Chinese vessels which `:----1; and would it be be- where _the e mer- 3ductior attempted to prevent its .”.- - heved that in the nineteenth century, not only chants fond capable of engaging in such a naurderous but the opium clippers were actually armed from. the gt anent arsenals, and were looked upon by the Chinese as ves sels of war. The East India Company, ho Ch in e, did . not stand alone as the:supporters of this vile traffic, for a committee of the House of Commons had declared it was not expedient to discourage the trade as so great an amount of revenue as it pro duced could notbe raised so conveniently from any other source. In the debate on the gates of Somnauth, the right hon. ge !Leman (Mr. Macaulay) had said that to bring Ch.ristianity Into contempt was high treason against the civilisation of the human race. He agreed with the right bon. voted . with him upon that occasion ; and he now called upon gentleman, and hire, in accordance with his own principles, to vote with him (Lord Ashley) in putting a stop to this unchri s tian tra not ffic. to9ler. It was easy Onito prov ass late as last that the Bib W ednesday, at a meetin g of le and opium could go gey . Baptists, it was determined not to send a missionary to pvern- China, but to transmit the Sacr e opium medium of the American missio, was so strong against •-• that it was ho less to effect pe any goo b d ould e told that our Torts of our own missionaries, who sc own belief in • 1 to our ow tnrougn toe ° e now traffic in opium gave a practical denial to the doctrines we sought to impress upo ;co the means by Which this traff as told by parties convers -- - .. - A ith the “etails o f the mopolv would a' hat the were abolition of the once mitigate nine-tenths of the evil )wever, of putting an the growth of the poppy or British India. It was said b of China was not sincere in This, howe trade in opium opium LU KC LIM!. `u assaatat.ca ity I. kaa nu It was sa id that if the growth of the poppy was pt , it would be taken up by some other con was to be remembered, however, that it would be a long tim e i before it could be produced n such quantities, and in the mea ntime we might ex p ect animproved morality in China, and such an improved police as would check the revival of trade. The noble lord thanked the house for t, he had been heard, and expressed might hominr him by replying to his bim by facts. He could not help s country, with one arm resting on detestable the attention with whu a hope that whoever would answe I trampling in too many instice, he would .ality ani r, if such was to be Ithdraw ourselves within the c ircumference of our moral inoreoce, and descend at once to the level of a third-rate ing upon the motion, r Nlr. BROTHERTON SCCOfl' wrong could never be sm that that WM ally right. We a _:.t. 3 - d death amongst nue nor an )then other reasor human raN sake of people of-this countr to put a stop to th Mr. B f China poppy in India conld not be the company's territories, i to a system of a pany to check, as it w at empire. The Erect of India, for.it confined the did not niean to say that the Dsition to every moral sts of corn of the ven up in portant that such an amount of r, up unless the sure that doing s< evil. The only ci aintainec tvenue should not be ance of putting a stop of a remedy for t na was by to smuggi Emj whi( g on the coast of ( „rot' that country to legalise the introduction (It vy.--- , ,„ ______ class of petitioners pure as they profess to be, ao one except the insane would think it practicable to any m easure which, without setting up a tyranny over exclude. Indeed there was no reason to suppose th at the next despatches from China would not contain a notifica tion co nscience (which this bill does not), operated to pro that the removal of ignorance and irreligious training the trade has been already legalised. Th e . honourablethe mote gentleman concluded by moving as an amendment of the young, would be welcomed, rather than depre previous question. Sir G. STAUNTON' contended that the owners of the opium . c ated with all this violence of protestation. What which was seized and destroyed in China h a d a j us t claim for compensation. He had travelled much in China, and had conclusion are we to form, then, from the fact that had great intercourse with the people. He had, while so such is not the case ? 'Why this : that the Sunday travellingtezperienced less interference on the part of the police than he had done in many European countries. we school system is viewed and used by the dissenting A. more certain way evil would oo.io anufa cture of the .., Emperor lit the aeons. If 3 , .;t11 of the drug in his own domi favourable for its culture. He would had seized, and thus realised thr( was not sin ;ULL.r- which instead of urning it in the presence of witnesse uld wou ld impose a duty on its i m p or t a ti on , which wo uld im a large revenue. Even an ad valorem duty of 25 nt. would yield a revenue of one million. Yet none se things_ did he do, and it would be too much, re the pn that could opolv went of this very r He only called upon to postpone its judgment by not allowing the ques- matter might for the be rt- telt in the hands of the executive government. After a few words from Mr. ACLAND, who opposed the Lord ASHLEY replied, and withdrew his motion in the be lief that from what he had heard it might interfere prejudi cially with the exertions making by the government. The motion was then withdrawn, and the house adjourned. .--,--....,,.........-•-. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-WEDNESDAY The Pla ' _ rs of Interludes Bill and the Admiralty Lands 'sill were severally read a second time, upon the understand ch case should be taken on going discussion in e A petition was presented against the return of Mr. Fitzroy Kelly for the borough of Cambridge, which was referred to _ the committee of selection. The Sudbury Witnesses' Indemnity Bill passed through committee, and the Sudbury Disfranchisement Bill was read a third time and passed, when the house adjourned at five o'clock. Ebe Eibtrpool Otanliarb. FRIDAY MO RN ING, APRIL 7, 1843. The opposition to the education clauses of the pro posed factory bill progresses apace, as indeed we anti cipated. On Tuesday evening petitions against them were presented by Mr. Busfield, to the number of 40, from various parts of the West Riding of Yorkshire ; by Mr. Aldan', M.P. for Leeds, to the number of no less than 160 (1) by some dozen other members, four or five each ; making, in all, some 300 petitions in one clay ! No slight movement this amongst the " minis ters and congregations of all denominations ;" and we only pray that government may have firmness suffi cient to withstand such a pelting shower of dissenting manifestoes. Amongst these petitions we observe that a consider able number profess to emanate from parties calling themselves " Sunday School Unions," " Catholic Sun day Schools," " Teachers of Sunday Schools," and even from the " scholars" of such schools. Now we can- quite comprehend how some dissenting congrega tions, of whom dissenting factory-owners are the lead ing personages, can have been brought to petition against this bill. The fact that a restriction of the hours of labour, for children under the age of 13, forms a portion of the measure ; the fact that the hours devoted to educational purposes must be an entire forenoon or afternoon ; and the circumstance, men tioned by the factory inspector, by whose report the necessity for this measure is so convincingly proved, that " the principal obstacles in the way of education, for the children of the factory population, he has found to arise from the dissenting body ;" furnish to gether sufficient to dissipate any feelings of surprise at the hostility of these parties to the present bill. We can comprehend, too, by what process of ratiocination dissenting ministers, whose attention to the course of education in the existing factory schools has been so exemplary (0, should view with somewhat of shame, m ingled with dissatisfaction, the adoption of a sys tem, worthy of the name of education, the superin tendence of which is to be placed in the hands of the independent clergy of the Church of England. These are intelligible affairs; but what Sunday school unions, Sunday school teachers, or Sunday scholars, have pro perly to do with the matter in hand, we profess we are wholly unable to divine ! It is true that, by the bill of Sir James Graham, the children who attend the factory schools in the week- d ays will be required to attend it also on Sundays. 0110[11 - PT of Church of England parents will be re quired to receive Church of England instruction, on t h o se days, and to attend the - establlsllen place o r worship. The children of dissenting parents, on the other hand, will not be required to receive anything beyond scriptural teaching, and will be permitted ti . _ attend their own places of worship, care being take that they do so attend them What earthly objection offer to such an arrangement, if the motives whit] ;..,.,el them to their duties be in reality to promote th spread of religious education amongst the rising corn munity ? They lose. it is true, a few dissenting chil dren, having the assurance that their moral and reli training will be properly cared for, and that m —no unworthy efforts at least—of proselytise e exercised upon thorn. As a set-off against thil ffbrts- own sphere of usefulness must be e never heard that the Sunday-schoc afflicted with a .ora of wealth; th means to educate, at disposal of dissenter: ss when compared with the vastne We have i. We have hear e lack of means bewailed. nd - subscriptions for Sunday-school purposes un means to meet the giant extent of the evils — moral and spiritual destitution ! of those It does therefore appear to us that, were the motives MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE The weekly meeting of the Dock Committee was held yes terday, when the following members were present :—Messrs. Horsfall, Barclay, Holt, Holmes, Middleton, Smith, Moly neux, Tobin, Bold, Shand, Ripley, Evans, and Bullev. In the absence of the chairman, Mr. Sands, in London, the chair was taken by Mr. Horsfall, the deputy chairman. The Sub-committee of Works, and the Harbour Masters' Sub-committee, the CHAIRMAN stated, had nothing to report to the general committee. Mr.BoLo called the attention of the committee to the necessity of additional policemen being stationed on the west side of Prince's Dock, for the purpose of preventing pilfer age. Pilferage was carried on to a great extent : sometimes the thieves actually cut open bales of twist, and escaped behind the sheds so that the policemen on duty could not see them. He had spoken to one of the officers, who had informed him that the party behind the shed had an accom plice in Prince's-parade : a string was thrown over the wall, and by that means the property stolen was conveyed away. In one case which had come to his knowledge, a box of cot ton-goods had been - talcon behind the transit sheds, opened, the contents taken, and the hox lett. In another Instance, a box of soap was taken away altogether. He therpfore re commended that an additional officer should be apOinted. The CHAIRMAN thought Mr. Bold had Made out a cas not for the addition of one officer, but of three or four. It was then resolved that the secretary should write to Mr. Whitty, the head constable, requesting that one or more constables be appointed for the better protection of property upon the west side of Prince's Dock. Mr. BOLD the❑ suggested that all flats which brought goods into the docks for the purpose of being shipped should he subjected to a search, as numerous robberies were com mitted upon the ships, which these flats afforded every op portunity of carrying away without observation. The CHAIRMAN thought the owners of the ships should look after their own property on board the ships in docks. Many additional officers would be required if all the flats which brought goods into dock were to be searched. Mr. EVANS said such a system would require 500 men, and even with that number there would be great delay. Mr. RIPLEY contended that such a system would not be fair towards the flatmen ; besides there was more theft com mitted by the shipkeepers than by any other class of men. Mr. EVANS.—And there always will be without you get enclused docks, with warehouses round them. The CHAIRMAN announced that the tables of rates and charges for the new sheds were now published, and they were now in every respect complete. Some financial matters were then disposed of, and th committee separated. ANSWER TO THE ENIGMA IN OUR LAST, None can say that their stock of invention is thin, When it furnishes asses in store ; For two in a verse, and so closely crammed in, No man could in reason ask more, Except 'twas a word to stow two asses in, And to get it I think I am able-- An assassin I've found, and to pu n i s h hi s s i n I'd have hi m h ung up in a stable. ATHLONE ELECT lON. — Contrary to all expectation, Mr. Collett has been returned for this borough. At the close of the poll on Tuesday evening, the numbers were—for Mr. Collett 114; for Mr. Beresford 108. It has been determined upon to run first-class steamers from Brighton to Dieppe and Havre so soon as the Paris and Rouen line opens, which will be on the 3d of next month, being the shortest route to Paris by ninety miles. COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION OPENING OF THE LECTURE HALL On Tuesday evening the beautiful and commodious lec ture-hall of the Collegiate Institution was opened, when the Rev. W. J. Conybeare, the principal, delivered a very argu mentative and convineing)ecture on the " connection be tween true sciencOatia revealed religion." At half-past seven predisely the reverend principal, accompanied by the professors of the institution i❑ their college gowns, and several members of the committee, came upon the platform, and were received with the greatest enthusiasm. The Rev. Rector Brooks occupied the chair, and amongst the gentle men about him we noticed the Revs. Dr. Tattershall, H. M'Neile, J. Cordeaux, and F. Barker ; and Messrs. Wm. Potter, Edmund Molyneux, C. Bushell, T. Muncaster, J. Leyland, James Parker, John Grantham, and Wm. Jones. In consequence of the extreme wetness of the night (the weather being even more unfavourable than it was on the day appointed for the opening of the institution itself) the at tendance was not so numerous as it otherwise would have been. There were probably about a thousand persons pre sent. c d o u m ce m d e td d r e b v y e r e a n d c principal t i b o y n a a short a d Th e e s Re w ct h o i rc hintroduced e r t o h f e th c e ou s r p s a e ci o o f us wh h i all c in he w n an p d eni i n n g statedhich they ta t werethere assembled,were 58 which was indeed a satisfactory progress of the institution. persons receiving instruction in the day and evening schools, officially at the opening lecture, whi c h th e y h a d dee m ed it He concluded by saying that the committee had attended right to make of a more general character than the lectures which would succeed it. Mr. Convbeare was then introduced to the meeting, and was received on approaching the desk with the warmest applause. Mr. Conybeare began by alluding to the remark made by Mr. Gladstone in his inaugural address, that the great in stitutions of this country have no reason to fear free discus sion, but may well abide the test of scrutiny, and stand the firmer for the investigation. Mr. C. observed that this re mark, true as it is with regard to our political institutions, is still more true of our religion. That we ought not to regret that our lot has not been cast in the ages of mechanical assent; that it was an error to suppose that ignorance in clines men to believe in Christianity. For the ignorant are as likely to disbelieve the true as to believe the marvellous ; and if they receive Christianity, they will probably require it to be in an adultered form. He proceeded to illustrate this by some examples, drawn from the present character of the majority of unbelievers, and showed that the spirit of in vestigation, which accompanies increased knowledge, cannot be dangerous to a religion, founded on evidence, which can answer every question. He proceeded to notice an objection which might be brought, namely, that if increased knowledge be advantage ous to religion, a more intellectual age ought to be a more believing age, which is not always the case. This was an swered by showing how, in particular cases, the decrease of faith has not been the consequence of the increase in know ledge, but has resulted' from other causes, as in the case of France, and m ore genera ll y b y t h e avowal that knowledge cannot give religion ; the utmost it can do is to aid it. Its principal employment, in this aspect, was twofold ; to strengthen the positive evidence of Christianity, and to re move difficulties which might impede its reception. To show how it performed these functions in some of its principal branches, was the object of the lecture. This would be more strikingly evident if we observed the addition made to the evidence of Revelation, since the revival of letters ; and he would therefore begin by noticing the in creased evidence gained during that period by the growth of philological, historical, and critical science. He would ima gine the case of some Christian living 300 years ago, assailed by sceptical objections, in order to show how much we have since gained. He would suppose, for instance, such an ob jector demanding from Luther a reason why, after renoun cing so many old beliefs, he still adhered to his belief in the revealed word of God. He admitted the truth, that in the age of Luther, Christians possessed, as they have in every age, the most important evidence of all, namely, that which the Holy Spirit bears to the faith, in the hearts of all sincere Christians, but showed the need of external evidences in ad dition to this, and went on to show how very insufficient a defence Luther could have given of Christianity (when placed on the footing of external evidence) compared with that which it is now in our power to give. Mr. Conyheare proceeded to mention the evidence on which the genuineness of the scriptural books is proved. Ist, —that of successive citation. 2d—the critical evidence from the style and language. 3d—the argument from undesigned coincidences, and gave some examples illustrating the im portant addition which these had received in the last three centuries. He next showed the connexion between the proof of the genuineness and of the truth of the New Testament, proving that when the genuineness was established, the ma terial facts could not be denied, and went on to give a sketch of some of the direct arguments which establish the authen ticity of the scriptural narrative, in order to illustrate the manner in which they had been strengthened by the progress of learning. He gave several detailed examples of this, espe cially of the mode in which modern investigations have esta blished the perfect coincidence of the facts mentioned in scripture with the state of things as represented in foreign and independent accounts. The next subject touched on was the additional proofs of the fulfilmht, which have been elicited by the discoveries of modern geographers and travellers ; and in connection with the same branch of evidence, Mr. C. mentioned the remark able manner in which the accomplishment of some prophe cies has been rendered more clear and striking, by a more accurate translation of the original; and instanced particu larly the 53d chapter of Isaiah. Though it could not be expected that our knowledge of Christian doctrines would be increased by an advance in se cular knowledge, yet, in some instances, we had b een ena bled by it bett er t o d e f end those already known to the church. As an example of this was mentioned the confirma tion of trinitarian doctrines, afforded by the laws, which mo dern scholars have established - with regard to the usage of the Greek article. From this Mr. Conybeare passed to the connexion of phy sical science with religion. This must necessarily be less direct, but not yet to be neglected. First, because natural theology, which is the basis of all religion, must rest on it : and, secondly, because it guards us from certain errors which might have prevented our reception of Christianity. For example, the ancient opponents of the faith referred all Christ's miracles to magical agency, which our knowledge of the laws of nature renders now impossible. And, further, the growth of physical science has led men to beware of some erroneous views concerning the mode in which truth is re vealed in scripture. Formerly it was looked on as given partly to satisfy, man's curiosity, and to anticipate the disco veries of science. Such was the idea of those who persecuted Galileo, The danger to faith of such a view was exhibited in the preface to the Jesuit's edition of Newton; and in more recent times by some of the ignorant opponents of geo logical science. Mr. Conybeare showed the important con firmation given by this science to the truth of Revelation, since it proves by independent evidence, the creation of ani mals, and of man es the last. He concluded with some re marks on the spirit in which our search for truth ought to be conducted, and on the want of faith evinced by those who are afraid of its progress. On the lecturer retiring to his seat he was greeted with several rounds of applause. Dr. Tattershall immediately rose, and proposed that the thanks of the meeting be given to Mr. Conybeare for his interesting and important lecture. This was seconded by the Rev. Hugh M`Neile, and carried with acclamation. Mr. M`Neile then passed a very warm enconium on the services rendered to the institution by the worthy chairman, not only on those occasions . when the public were aware of his presence, but also for his judicious advice and perseve ring labours at the more private meetings of the committee, and at other times. This was carried by the meeting with great applause without waiting for a seconder. The chairma n re t urne d thanks in suitable terms, and the meeting dispersed, the organ being played whilst the company were separating. An Englishman having asked a son of Erin if the roads in Ireland were good, Pat replied, " Yes, they are so fine that I wonder you do not import some of them into England let me see, there's the road to love, strewed with roses ; to matrimony through nettles ; to honour through the camp ; to prison through the law ; and to the undertaker's through physic." " Have you any road to preferment ?" said the Englishman. " Yes, faith, we have, but it is the dirtiest road in the kingdom." THE TIDIEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD.--MrS. Baxter's house contained three or four sitting-rooms, yet the kitchen, to the great annoyance of her hard-worked maid, Wa s th e place where she chose to take her meals. Her dining-room was large and well-furnished ; but on entering It you would involuntarily exclaim—" Can this be an inhabited house ?" for not one sign of habitation was there. Curtains there were to the windows, certainly, but not put there to b e drawn ; for the coldest day in the depth of a Russian winter could never tempt Mrs. Baxter to see them so treated. There was a comfortable 'carpet, too; but, rash visiter, be ware ! touch not its sacred hem, for the last idea ever enter tained by Mrs. Baxter, when she laid it down, was the idea of any one walking over it. Do you not see that India mat, laid down and across the room, which, and which only is to be so profaned ? There was a fine easy chair, made in the last style of luxury and elegance, which she exultingly told every one cost 14 guineas ; but I wish you could see the black look she would have bestowed upon any one (sposo not excepted) who had dared to remove it from the corner she had destined to be its abiding place. In short, Mrs. Bax ter's goods, like the Crown jewels, were to be looked at with awe and admiration, but not to be touched ; and thus her poor victim of a husband, more miserable than a traveller in an Arabian desert, who, if he does not see the element he languishes for, at least is not tantalized, pines in the midst of plenty for the common comforts of life, knowing no rest in his own well-furnished house, but in that blest oblivion— sleep. Came home hungry or thirsty, there was nothing in his larder, Mrs. Baxter being much too clean to cook, or allow cooking ; and some excuse would always be found against drawing the strong ale, or opening a bottle of wine. Was he weary, not for worlds durst he seek repose in the inviting arm-chair, or stretch his limbs on the sofa, for he would sully this, and tumble that, and disarrange everything and a lecture from Mrs: Baxter about her household gods (for ...I. ttacy - vv., to her) was a thing in every way to be dreaded.—Ainsworth 'e Magazine. TREATMENT OF CONVICTS. —An intelligent gentleman has written the following graphic statement in reference to a fallen divine which corroborates the Scriptural declaration that " the way of transgressors is hard," and proves that the criminals who were in superior stations are not for that rea son, shewn any leniency. " Whilst going through the con vict department at Woolwich, one of the inspectors turned to a convict who was engaged in folding some of the articles, and' directed him to open one of the blankets. The prisoner seemed disposed to obey with an air of alacrity. He spread the flannel wide, so as to display the stripes introduced as a distinguishing mark, instead of the broad arrow of the Crown. lie was attired in the dark brown clothing and long oval hat, worn by the convicts. His jacket seemed to be quite a new one. His countenance, though not remarkably prepossessing, was intelligent. He was a man of small size, and without exhibiting hardihood preserved an air of serenity and smiling resignation. Once or twice his lips quivered, as if he were doubtful whether a reply was not essential to one o en r o t u w g o h t o o f the brief speeches addressed to but answer made he none.' When we had removed from the spot far ' one that would be out of hearing, my curiosity was roused to ask what of fence that prisoner had committed. ' A most aggravated for gery,' said the friend who accompanied me, formerly have been visited with death. It was viewed the more seriously,' continued he, 'f rom t h e education of the man, and the high and enviable position which he held.' 'Then who is he ?' inquired I. The reply was, ' Dr. Bailey,' ' Can that really be Doctor Bailey,' I exclaimed. 'lt is,' said my friend. Yes, the unhappy being wear i ng a convict's sombre dress, the fetter on his left ancle, I had seen him who as a distinguished minister of religion had f ormerly warned his fellow me n aga i nst t h e temptat i ons of life ! Yet he, nu.. happily yielding to•th e i r se d uct i ve power , was now reduced to sigh— ' Ye cheating vanities, Where are ye now and what is your amount ? Vexation, disappointment, and remorse.' Pitying the deep degrad a tion I had witnes se d, I could have wished that justice had abated her stern d emand. I learned that in a very few days his removal was to t a k e place. He had written to hi s wife to visit him, but it was very doubtful whether he would not depart before she could arrive. Look ing at his deplorable situation and the melancholy prospect before him, at that moment I felt all the importance of the solemn admonition—` Let him that thinketh be standeth take heed lest h e f a ll.' D r . B a iley's case is d ou b tless a bad one, hut if the cir cums t ances connected with hi s former station azgravate ishment." l ;is crime, ' how fearfully do they enh ance his pun- COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. The usual monthly meeting of,the Town counc'i was held' on Wednesday at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, in th Council Chamber, in the Town Hall. ;FINANCE COMMITTEE. The report of this committee set forth that the mill and ground adjacent to Islington Market had been purchased for purposes connected with the new Assize Courts. The mi nutes embodied a report from the Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk, expressing an opinion to the effect, that suffi cient room could be found in the buildings of the new Assize Courts and St. George's Hail for the business of the Magis trates' Court. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE, after some remarks on the pur chase of the mill, said the improvements at the Seacumbe Pier were completed. The cost had been £5,165, and the cost of maintenance would be about £5OO a year. The com mittee intended, however, immediately to effect similar im provements at George's Pier. Mr. Lawrence moved that the proceedings be confirmed. Mr. LLOYD desired to be informed whether the report of the Town-clerk and Deputy Town-clerk, being favourable to the Magistrates' Court being held in the new building, the confirmation of the report would decide that it should be so The TOWN-CLERK said, they had only reported that it was perfectly practicable to procure such accommodation in the new building. Mr. LLOYD said the courts had been planned to give ample accommodation, and any departure from the plan, would be a breach of faith with the county. He would ask the Town clerk to read Mr. Elmer' report on the subject. Mr. H. LAWRENCE said there would be no breach of faith with the county. There was ample room, and the difficulty had been to find occupation for all the space at their dixposal. The accommodation would he taken from the Arbitration Rooms on the Crown side, where no arbitration rooms were ever wanted. Mr. EARLE said, Mr. Elmes had constructed the rooms, in consequence of interviews with great law men. Mr. Earle spoke of the necessity of space and comfort for the magis trates. After some explanations from the Town-clerk, the report of Mr. Elmes was read. It was generally in favour of erect ing the new Daily Courts and Bridewell, and against the ap propriation of any portion of St. George's Hall and the Assize Courts. Mr. S. HOLME spoke at length in favour of building new courts, and expressed his strong opposition against curtailing the space for the Assize Courts. Mr. Holme concluded by moving, as an amendment, that the proceedings be con firmed, with the exception of that portion of the report relative to placing the Local Courts within the area of the Assize Courts, which portion should be referred to the Local Courts' Committee, to report thereon to the Council. Mr. HORNBY expressed his astonishment that any argu ment was necessary to induce the Council to pause on the outlay of so large a sum of money when they had so many expenses before them, and no surplus income. If they en tered upon the expense of building new local courts, they must resort to a borough rate. After a lengthened discussion, in the course of which the Town-clerk gave it as his decided opinion, that the proposed expenditure would be illegal—the Council voted on the amendment with the following result : For the Amendment—Messrs. Shand, Isaac Hohne.E. Pres ton, Edwards, Aikin, Holme, Rae, Boyden, Cooper, Rigby, Lloyd, Parker, Plumpton, Lace, Barclay, Bulley, Earle, Turner, rvlolyneux, and Evans. Against the Amendment—Messrs. Shaw, Houghton, (councillor,) Thornhill, Blackburn, Blundell, North, 1 1 • Holmes, Sands, Hornby, Aspinall, J. Lawrence, Wood, Lawrence, Birkett, Bushell, Kilshaw, Parker, G. H. Law rence, Trotman, Platt, Sheppard, Smith, Freme, Holt, Nicol, Moon, Sir T. Brancker, and the Mayor. For the amendment, 19; against it, 28 ; majority, 9. Mr. 1 - I ot.mu urged the great necessity which existed for opening Cook-street, and moved that in offering the Queen's Arms for sale, the north side of Cook-street be widened to the line shown on the plan, and that the purchaser be re stricted from again building over the arch-way extending across the street. Mr. LLOYD seconded the motion A discussion of some length ensued. On its being stated as a distinct understanding, that the tenders for the above property were to come before the council for their decision , they being not bound to accept the highest tender, but to decide at their option on the course that may appear most likely to conduce to the public convenience, Mr. Hohoe with drew his motion. The proceedings of the Finance Committee were con firmed. WATCH COMMITTEE The proceedings of the Watch Committee was read. The minutes embodied an order for a return of the names of all the constables who had laid informations against publiF houses, distinguishing such as have gone on this duty In plain clothes. Mr. EARLE wished to know the reason of this order, and the motives of the parties who had moved for it? Mr. LAWRENCE explained that the reason why the return was ordered was for the purpose of ascertaining that the men sent out were such as could be depended upon for veracity, and would do their duty in a proper manner. THE NEW ASSIZE COURTS A report from Mr. Elutes was read respecting these Courts, which are to be proceeded with expedition the moment the tenders have been received and decided upon. A long dis cussion ensued, touching the site of the ventilating shaft and tower. It was at length decided that the ventilating tunnel , should be extended to the newly purchased mill, and that the shaft should be erected over the site of the latter. The re port was adopted, embodying the followiugamendment : _ That it be au instruction to the Courts of Law Committee to communicate to the architect that the council have pur chased the mill near the land of the corporation on the north side of Shaws-brow ; and that it is desirable that the ventil ating tower should be erected on the site thus provided , whereby the expense of ornamental work that would have. attached to an erection on the sit e o f I s li ng t on mar ket will be saved : and that the Courts of Law and Finance Com mittees be instructed to confer together, and to give the ne cessary directions to the architect. On the motion of Mr. ASPINALL, the council adjourne d at half-past three o'clock to eleven o'clock on the morning of Wednesday week next. MEETING OP THE BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS. The usual monthly meeting of this body was held on. Tu,sday evening last. There were very few members in attendance, probably owing to the unfavourable state of the weather a Ithe hour of meeting. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. 1) 'ase; the vice-chair by Mr. Jackson. VI:tIITING AND WATCHING , COMMITTEE. The ptsteedings of this committee were read. The onIV subject of importance was that of the fire-engine for the use of the township. Mr. JACKSON stated that at the last meeting of the com missioners it was considered desirable that application should be made to the various insurance companies to ascertain whether they would furnish an engine, and in every instance except one there had been a denial, and that one was th e London In surance C ompany, who had sent down drawing° and plans of different engines to allow them to make thei r choice. He (Mr. Jackson) had waited on one of the director° when in London, and told him that he had no doubt the members of the board would use their exertions to foriver. a the interests of the company by throwing everything in their way. He thought they had acted liberally. and ought to be supported. He also considered it desirable that the police force should do their duty as policemen as well as fireme n : The terms on whi c h th ey were to have the engine were, that the committee should provide an engine-house, and keep th e engine in good order and repair. After some-conversation the report of the committee WSS confirmed. FERRIES COMMITTEE The report of this committee was read, from which it .o." peared that there had been an increase of £255 l s . 10d. atl'. ing the last quarter. Confirmed. Mr. JACKSON then stated that he wished to mention t° the Commissioners the propriety of having the duties of the rate office kept separate from other business, as one inter fered very much to the detri men t o f t h e other, as they we r e at present conducted. He th oug h t i t would be much bet te d for Mr. Robinson to take th e p l ace o f M r. Hardman, ail that Mr. Hardman should collect the rates, which he COrot" dered quite a separate duty. After some remarks from the Chairman and others, it v/ 86 agreed that the matt er s h ou ld b e referre d to the Fi n an ce Committee. The CHAIRMAN stated that he had received a letter fce... Mr. Walker, tendering his resignation as commissions' Several members expressed their regret at the circumstan ce : as Mr. Walker had been a most valuable and useful meolbei of the board, and it was agreed that the high sense which the commissioner s enterta i ned of his services be recorde d o n ti!, books. The Chairman also stated that he conce ived h s straightforward and m an ly con d uc t on a ll occas i on s mer it their approbation. bi g A letter w as th en " rea d b y the cha i rman, wh i ch had t sent to him by Si r E dward Cust, in which it was state d o s 't he applied t o t h em on the part of the Rev. Mr. Gctes'ry, Bidston, who wou ld b e i n j ured b y the proposed ceninte of which would run close up to his house, and wished to " t i l e whethe r th ere would be any disposition on the part of _ t commissioner s t o ma k e an arrangement by which tbeinter.e_o of Mr. G a t es would be protected. After a s h or t co nversat iul3 the matter was referred to the Parliamentary committee. The meeting adjourned at a quarter past eight. f the came iiimitopoorptearnattioeht7tWmeen a ts ll e o v d e e r t p o a t s h s COPYRIGHT ACT.—Saturday, the Ist of April, one 0- tir e toms Act, for the protection of English literature by the P i o e ed Co b p y yr t i h g e ld e a g O i g: hibition of the importation of foreign editions of Egg i/ 0 works und er any pretext whatever ; and thus the ei te l' es rs system of piracy an d smuggling which has for so manY !heel been carried on with impunity to the prejudice of the au! iiin g bookseller, an d, i n f act, every artisan engaged in the Iss of works from the press, will be prevented. It is not , f o r haps, generally known that under this statute it is filer' r us any person who may purchase reprint copies of English gi° , o ol on the Continent to introduce them into this countrY' lg a any bookseller is li a bl e t o a h eavy f i ne if any of these f°l.-sle• editions are found in hi s p ossess i on, being exposed fors de- It is understood that all the leading publishing firms ared to termined to do all in their power to support the law, e n enforce the penalties for any infractions committed. o f SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. HONEY.—Our obituarisciir Tuesday contained a short notice of the Ileath of this e et, which took place at her residence, No. 149, Albany-sired Regent's Park. on Sunday evening, at eight o'clocke ..o er . the effects of v i o l en t i n fl ammat i on, pro d uced b y over 00: tion in her pr o f ession, and i n a manner that grea tly r y aB bled the m e l anc h o l y d ecease o f t h e l ate Miss Merged/ regards the ve r y b r i e f per i o d o f eac h l a d y ' s ill ness . . ven uP still bearing th e name o f H oney t h e d ecease d had gLd was t the title to widowhood during the last four years, "", 0 las t married to a gentleman named Gaston.* Mrs. 1 10 ° 8 „ 31 0 1 be engagement was at the City pf London Theatre, ",,orell: final appearance there was on Saturday the 25th 1 ; 0 01 She was the daughter of Mrs. Young, an actress ( ;: cee st` repute, now engaged at the Eagle Saloon. The . e fo re I" was born on the 6th December, 1817, and was thei t hes' her 26th year. Early in life she was initiated into tA7 rto pi , trical art, and was engaged at Sadler's-wells, the tY c ens, l ; *b . teu r" Victoria, and Surrey Theatres, where she exhl Le es rl9 ability under the name of Laura Bell. At ti /ov eY r ; age of 16 she formed a matrimonial alliance with Mr* w as who was only two years her elder. The marriage rlr ill-assorted one, and they parted shortly a fter ' e rti ° e a Honey was unfortunately drowned in a sailing P o gsg, the Thames, in the year 1836. Mrs. Honey 105 , 1 a ttr e 2s at the New Strand Theatre, in 1833, where she fir* ti fteciv e , ted public notice in the character of Lilias, in Lei la iv enli, drama of the Loves of the Angels, when under th' die Au o f meat of Mrs. Waylett. Her next remove was t e bor lette oi o phi, where she became highly popular in the o p° Cupid, with the late John Reeve. Here she reret' r igeto, d , seasons. Her next engagement was at the HaYw„f OP:* which theatre she opened in Buckstone's Farce ono House; from thence having established herself e e_ eres c K favourite, she visited nearly all the provincial th _e es `' h b 7 e , great pecuniary advantage and eclat, and a few Z as 0 0 , t bli was lessee of the Nortonfalgate theatre. She " n p o , i ta quently been engaged at the Haymarket and Qt r ee n oor• t ifto theatre she was engaged to appear nest Eastero' er 00 an actress she belonged to no distinct class, yeti, su re h icis person, rich contralto voice, and arch humour ,c_i; tito Wr it success of many of those commediettas and bari'.wo eb left are written for a popular favourite. She has ren, one ten and ihe other three years old. ,„ * Mr. Gaston has denied this,^through his solicit° r ' '- the London papers.