The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-30 00:00:00

Jan. 30, 1544. afforded by the Albert Dock, all demands would be met, or, at all events, that it would act as a luncheon to stay the appetite of the port for the next two or three years; but the worthy alderman seemed to have forgotten that the dinner was necessary as well as luncheon, and that while he was busy in providing them with luncheon, they must themselves take care and not overlook the dinner. (Hear, hear.) They should recol lect that it would take years before the proposed plans could be carried into execution, and that if they did not look forward, irrespective of what was going on over the water' they should be f oun d f au l t w i t h f or l eav i ng neg lected the present opportunity. (Hear.) It had been said by Mr. Aikin that there was no necessity for further dock extension at present, provided a different mode of manage ment were adopted ; but he should be glad to know who had ruled the Dock estate for the last eight or nine years, and why had not this improved management ever been brought into action during that time? (Hear, hear.) Again it was said that they could gain an increased accommodation of 10 per cent. by enclosing the ba sins but there was no t a b as i n connected w i th the docks' that could, with advantage, be closed, unless it was the Queen's ; and he could show, from the evidence of nauticd men, that it would be impracticable to work the docks if the basins were enclosed. (Hear, hear.) When they put those facts together, and considered the probable increase of their trade for the future—increasing and im proving, as he was happy to say it was at present, and When they saw the prospect they had of a further increase of tonnage, and of a larger class of ships, he thought every one would see the necessity of their going on and affording greater accommodation. There were one or two trades pe culiarly connected with Liverpool, which must, and for ever would belong to the port, and which contributed very largely to their resources. He alluded more particularly to the North American trade, which contributed £90,000 a year. After having stated that the inhabitants of the town were desirous of having further dock accommoda tion, and expressing a hope that the members generally had read the evidence taken before the sub-committee, he went on to remark on the advantages and disadvantages of the north and south ends. He confessed that in deal ing with the Harrington Dock purchase, his feelings at first were opposed to the purchase, but on more mature conside ration, he now came before them and most conscientiously recommended that that estate be purchased. (Hear, hear.) He had no interest either north or south, for he held not any land within the limits of the borough, neither did he hold any which the docks, north or south, could in the remotest degree affect. He thought at first there was a prima fade case against the purchase, but now he be lieved he could demonstrate that the purchase would be an advantage to the dock estate. If they got it for a fair and reasonable price, a most important part of their work would have been executed. He must remind the council that a negociation had been carrying on at one time for the purchase of a part of the Harrington estate, so far as the elbow, which would be noticed on the plans, com prising about 70,000 yards, and for which it was thought desirable to pay rather a high price. Whether it was desirable to pay the high price for it, it was not for him to say; but the only value of the land was from being con tiguous to their own land, because it was a mere worthless part so far as the land itself went. It might be of value to the Dock Committee, because it would enable them to bring into play what was a useless appendage to the docks, and that was the Toxteth Dock, upon which a large sum had been expended for no purpose what ever. If, then, they had purchased the 70,000 yards they should have bought the worst portion. (Hear, hear.) Now, the southern part of the estate comprised about 760,000 feet of sea-wall, made precisely the same as the one at Prince's pier, and would not require to be meddled with at all; and on the docks bad been expended the sum of £34,000. If they deducted this sum from the gross purchase it would reduce the price of the land to about 265. per yard. But it would be the height of folly for them to purchase the half of the estate and to leave the kernel of it ; for he could show that the south ern end was the productive part, and that there were par ties ready to rent that who would give an immediate in terest for the outlay, and a profit on the interest the Dock Committee would give to pay the money. (Hear, hear.) He contended that they ought either to pur chase the whole or none. (Hear, hear.) Complaints bad been made that the docks were not carried more inland : and on comparing the merits of the north and south he would remind the council of the dis tances. And here he might show the importance of distances, from valuable documents furnished to the Dock Committee by Mr. Poole—documents of great interest. They would learn from these documents that about nine-tenths of the produce imported into Li verpool went south. (Hear.) Now, the distance of the Harrington Dock estate from the railway station was 1450 yards, and the distance from the Clarence Dock to the railway station was 2800, or as nearly double as might be.' If, then, they went to cons t ruct d oc k s nort h of the Cla rence, the expense of conveying merchandise would be increased. The evidence taken before the Sub-commit.. tee went generally to show that dock extension was necessary, and necessary to the south. They had im portant evidence on this subject, and generally, with one or two exceptions, it was overwhelming, that increased dock accommodation was necessary, particularly for the timber trade ; and the timber trade was of very great importance. It was attempted to disparage this trade as one that did not contribute largely to the wealth of the town; but it contributed about £20,000 a year. The Brunswick Dock altogether contributed about £30,000 ; as nearly as could be calculated, the timber trade contri buted £20,000. But whether it paid a large or a small sum, it was of vast importance that it thould be kept at this side of the water; and the evidence went to show that if they provided the trade with accommodation it would not leave Liverpool. (Hear, hear.) If they gave accommodation for water and quay space, it would be kept on this side ; they had the evidence of a most intelligent witness to show, that not one ship in 100 would go to Wallasey Pool. (Hear, hear.) But that some trade must necessarily be carried on at Wallasey Pool, with a popu lation of 18,000, and some small population in the coun try around, he was prepared to believe. There would be aonmatrade at W a ll asey, but the bulk would he carried on on t h is side, if accommodation were afforded. After having again shown tu t importan ce of the timber trade, which he said employed 2,0,00 this particular trade i° people, he said the cultivation of portance. h wouldn bLeivceornpvoionleewdasthoaft t a he large port iimo on o f r m tim ed b t e h r at during musty gO from Liverpool, when they were in- Proportion of been conseru the last ten years, 500,000 houses had c 3 ted in Great Britain, and that a large neighbourhood 3,000 were in course of erection in the of Liverpool. Mr. Rankin, in giving evi dence about the timber trade, said, that this side would be continued to be occupied, and that he would not go over the water unless he could save £l,OOO out of every £l5OO. (Hear, hear.) If this might be taken as a fair specimen of the feeling of the ti m b er tra d e, the council mi ght make themselves pretty easy on that .score. (Hear.) une thing was certain, that the timber trade could not be carried on at the north. It had once been tried there and was a total failure. Mr. Challoner w as o f op i n i on ' that th e south and was design ed specially for the timbe r tr ade and th a t if t h ey could get t he Coburg and the Union Docks, all demands of the trade would be met. They had it al so i n ev i dence that the Brunswick dock Might be turned to advantage if it were confined. exclusively to the trade, and that one-third mor e have ve u t s a in r e a s m s there ; but then they would sp o m v i e gh t t he be em do p n ty e ships, which must occupy whe r ev er i t i hey were, and where were they to put them ? It was a that the trade could not be divi ded — tga re ji a t n a m s twiuoesnrt a b l e h a k ne have e s t in one locality, and that it would never part over the water and part on this side. ( Hear to ha ear and cheers.) It was also in evidence, on he authority of h arbour -masters, pilots, and more especially of the Marine Surveyor, that there was more smooth wa ter at the s ou th t h an at the north, and that ships could be docked there with greater facility, as the tide ran twice as fast at the north as it did at the south. Flatmen pre ferredthe south ; an d h e h ad just received a letter from Mr. Poole, stating that if the flats were to bring salt or earthenware to the north, they would incur a consider able extra expense. (Hear.) Having stated the advan tages of the southern locality, and the desirability of the purchase of the Harrington estate, he felt bound to allude to some little difficulty or disadvantage belonging to it, and that was, that in selling the estate they could not con fer the privilege of building warehouses with it. If they could have done so, it would increase its merits in his eyes ; but if the Dock Committee went there at all, ware houses would be unnecessary, as they wanted it for the accommodation of the timber trade. However, this was one of the disadvantages. There was another point which he felt bound to state, and that was, that in the Harrington dock act, which might not be known to the whole of the Council, so long as that estate remained in in its present hands, and docks were constructed there, and in case of the receipts of the Liverpool docks falling short, the Harrington estate would be mortgaged to make good any deficiency. This would be considered as an additional security to the bondholders ; for, in case of a falling off, they could claim the whole of the receipts of the Harrington Dock estate to make up the deficiency. This would have its weight ; but it was only fair upon his part to state it in case it was not known by every one. A great mistake had been committed in al lowing private docks to be constructed at all ; but so long as they could obtain the estate at a fair and reasonable Price, it was their duty to become its proprietors, to attach it to the general estate, and to do away with th e r i va l ry , for, i n hi s op i n i on, the dock estate ought not to have any rivalry in Liverpool. (Hear, hear.) He then alluded to the north end, which he said was much exposed to the north-west wind ; but still accommodation was wanted t t le n w re, aasnd tr affic would i ncrease when a communica opened with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. (Hear, hear.) It hal been said by Mr. Bulley, that be should be sorry to b e a bondholder if thos e se veral schemes of the Dock Committee were carried out; but it might be satisfactory to Mr. Bulley and others to know, that, in carryin g out those matters, the Do c k C omm itt ee would have , according to the esti mate of the past yea r , sufficient fu nds to meet the i ntere st of all that would be required, a nd he w ou ld venture to pre dict that long before the proposed docks should have came i nto operation, north or south, they wo uld have a very large surplus. (Hear, hear.) M r . M oore proceeded at much furtherfurt lenga era th, and, in the cou rse of his rem arks , stated he wa s no t so f ear f u l o f the Wallasey Dock project as Many of the public seemed to be. Mr. Nicor. seconded the motion. Mr. EV ANS sa i d that the calculation which he had, Mowed this, that in what they had heard from the chair talm, the e le p f xenses t out of view of maintenance and repairs had been a ltogeth er Nicoe.—No, no : there they are upon the paper. ~_ Eva N s.—The i n t erest upon the dock d e b t at pre ss £139 000. Mr, B ' Mr. .ThiaItAMLEY-Mooll.E. — How do you mak e th at out, ns? (C a 2.% E VANS.—The interest and expenses I mean. p a i r u s, gtl a t r.) Now, the cost of salaries, wages, of re nd general4xpenses, was about £77,662 ; then a t ti re. was the intermit of the money upon the Albert Dock 14 warehouses, which, together with the new docks, ._ ~~ ID oT ionials make ty for coN miable all the hunch• :NTS, i Ser .eet or everl in the _~~ would make some £87,000. The result of the whole would be, instead of having a surplus, there would be a deficiency of more than £50,000 a year. Now, what would be the consequence of that? The real interests of the dock estate, and the community here, were so far from agreeing with the Chairman of the Dock Committee that rival docks ought not to be prevented, that they thought we ought to have the risk of providing dock accommoda tion for those who require it. He was of opinion that if they went on as they were now going on the, would be enabled either to pay off their debt or to reduce their rates ; but if they got into a deficiency, in place of a sur plus, they would be in a groove, and must raise their rates, because they could not, like an individual, put up with the loss. This would be most mischievous to the dock estate at a period when they ought to be in a position to lower their rates, in order to compete with those on the other side of the water, who were offering 100 per cent. re duction of dockage. In place of reduction they would posi tively have to raise their rates. There was no escaping that. They had heard of the increase of trade, and some wonder ful good wishes had been uttered towards those over the water; but where was the increase to go? It all entered the estuary of the Mersey, and would not those on the other side not only get it, but nibble away part of that which they never had on this side the water. The chair man of the Dock Committee could not have had so much experience as he (Mr. Evans) had had, from the number of years he had been engaged in the trade of the port, and also in the United States, or he would not have said that vessels would go over to the other side of the river to discharge, and then come to this side to take in their cargoes. If they could discharge on the other side of the river why not load there, and that they would do, as for one vessel which went out with a general cargo, there were one-hundred which went out in ballast, or with coals, salt, crates, iron. and such things as these—articles which could be deposited anywhere. It was always a good thing to give a homely illustration to an argument, and that might be done very easily. It was said one side of Bold-street was preferred to the other, and it was true that one side'was not so much frequented as the other ; but, he would ask, were there not shops on the other side? So with the other side of the water—if you give them docks, and quays, and warehouses, they would have trade just in the same manner as there were shops on both sides of Bold-street. (Laughter.) But it was said there were no railways on the other side of the water. He however contended that the other side in this respect possessed equal advantages to this side, and there were greater and cheaper facilities for passing goods up the country. It was therefore evident that vessels would go to the other side, discharge, and get away with greater facilities than on this side. There had been calculations about getting stone and other matters at the north, but it was said they would have to go beyond the proposed docks. He admitted that there would be advantages in that respect, but there was no question that there would be no necessity for going beyond the foundation of the dock for all the stone which would be required. (Hear, hear.) Among other arguments for the in crease of the timber trade, alteration of the tariff had been mentioned, but that did not afford to Liverpool advantages which were not possessed by other ports; and when gen tlemen told them that unless they could have a reduction of two thirds in the expense of dock accommodation, they . . . would remain on this side, he looked at it something in the same way as the celebrated Canute did at the sea ; for a person who would pursue such a system and not yield to the natural course of things must be destroyed. Mr. Charles Challoner had observed that we should not lose our trade, but that they would have a trade of their own over the water, and after that he observed we should lose nothing of importance. He might consider by the word importance that they would take the increase of the trade, but when they came to look at the advantages to be derived from cheapness, if it amounted to only one farthing per foot, no one would be able to contend against it. As to the evidence of Mr. E. Challoner, that was most decided. He said if another dock were made, and the present system pursued, so soon as there were facilities offered he would remove his establishment to the other side of the water. But there was no necessity for that. They could discharge their vessels on that side, and there would be yard keepers and others, so that the timber could at once be taken into the country by railways and other means. He was not one to deny the value of the timber trade or any other branch of trade in the town. On the con trary, he was of opinion that all hung together, and were dependent on each other just like warp and weft; but when gentlemen spoke of an increase in the trade of the town, they spoke of the increase over the last year instead of looking what it was over former years. They all ad mitted, however, that the Brunswick Dock would be quite sufficient if left to itself for the whole of the timber trade, therefore they ought to pause before they attempted to provide anything more for that particular trade, where as they were going to make a dock at the south end, with the western quay useless, in order to make the eastern quay valuable for the timber trade, and it was proposed to remove the timber trade out of the Brunswick Dock. If they did that, it was not accommodating the timber trade at all, but the general trade of the port, and then came the question of north and south again. But whatever the council might think of the new dock, the gentlemen in the timber trade thought differently. They wanted a waste dock. Did the council think they would leave the fair field they now occupied "to batten on the moor ?" The Bruns wick Dock was now opposite their yards in a most con venient position, and they would not leave it. As to the expense of it, that was estimated at £250,000, but he had no doubt it would be much nearer the mark at £400,000, and they could not have a dock exclusively for the timber the income of which would pay the expenses of construct ing and keeping it in repair. If they went to parliament for the proposed measure with a threat hanging over their heads of being made to pay £40,000 a-year for clearing the mud out of the docks, together with the enormous expense he had mentioned, they had certainly more nerve than he had. They had heard from the chairman that Plunkington Bank was a protection ; but according to the evidence of the Harbour-master, (which he said he was prepared to prove,) it was an impediment to the docking of ships so great as to make a difference of an hour and a half. When that bank became a protection it must be dry, and of course of no use for navigable purposes. Those, therefore, who said it was a protection had not, certainly, got into deep water, but were aground. (Laugh ter.) He could not conclude without observing, that if the proposed measures were consummated, it would in volve the Dock Estate to such an extent, that it would be come the prey of the other side of the water. If it was carried out they would be depriving themselves of the ad vantages of dock warehouses, which he had no doubt would one day or other be the only remediable means of saving the port from ruin. (Laughter,) They would not be able to place them on the dock quays with ad vantage, because these quays would be already mort gaged, and they would add to the security of the mortgagee, without being able to raise more on them. As to those who cried out, that by building warehouses they were raising a great monopoly, it might be sufficient to observe, that it a public body did that which was for the advantage of the public generally, and not for a few indi viduals, it would be no monopoly ; but if they handed , er ti e 3 c a t t w w a o r u el l l d ou b s e es c o r t e l a t t l i i n e g do a ck mo q n u o a p y o s l t y o . a over few the individuals, d After a few observations respecting the mode of managing poweri u a t i o s the docks in London, Mr. Evans resumed Lis seat. Mr. ASPINALL moved that the debate be adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE seconded the motion. The MAYOR put the question, and it was carried. Mr. BLACKBURN prayed for a longer adjournment. The evidence laid before the council occupied 468 pagas, and it was impossible it could be read and considered in so short a time. Mr. AIKIN said he would second Mr. Blackburn's amendment for further time. The MAYOR.--The motion was put and adopted before Mr. Blackburn made his. Mr. BIRKETT said, if Mr. Blackburn really wished for further time, why had he not made his motion at the com mencement of the debate. Mr. D. HODGSON also thought the motion ought to have been made at the commencement of the debate, as it would be exceedingly inconvenient to postpone the de bate now, after it had been half got through. The MAYOR decided that the original motion was adopted before Mr..Elackburn spoke at all, and the coun cil adjourned at ten minutes past three. GREAT PROTESTANT DEMONSTRATION. Last evening, a public meeting of the Protestants of Liverpool was held in the Commercial-hall, Gloucester street, to receive the Rev. T. D. Gregg, from Dublin, and several deputations of loyal Orangemen from other towns. The large room, capable of accommodating up.. wards of 2500 persons, was cramed almost to suffocation ; and amongst those on the Platform we observed the Rev. 1 W. Irvine, Rev. S. Cragg, Rev. S. Fenton, R. Harbord, Esq., J. Parker, Esq., T. Inman, Esq., G. Clay, Esq., Dr. Taylor, Slaiter, deputation ; Dr. Gouthwaite, Jackson, Esq., Ball, A. Byford, J. Payne, Watliam, E. D. Triton, H. Bentley, S. Wilson, J. Harrison, W. Wagstaff, Capt. Easton, and J. Wilkinson. The room was very tastefully decorated with orange and purple, and a sort of canopy formed over the platform. Immediately in front of the chairman the Bible and crown was placed, and behind it, in varigated gaslights, the letters V. R. On the rev. gentleman appearing in the room be was received with loud and long-continued ap plause and the Kentish fire. Shortly after half-past six o'clock, Mr. Councillor 'lar board took the chair, and on doing so requested the meet ing to be as orderly as they conveniently could, considering the crowded state of the room. The Rev. W. IRVINE was then called upon, and he offered up a suitable prayer. Mr. Councillor PARKER then rose to propose the first resolution, and was received with very loud demonstrations of applause. lie had been requested to move the resolu tion he held in his hands, and he had great pleasure in doing so. It began as every resolution ought to be which was connected with Protestantism, namely, that the prin ciples of the Established Church, if fully carried out, would remove the evils the community now labours under. This should be the basis of all their actions. It was a glorious sight for both him and them to see such a meeting of sound and loyal Protestants, because they had lately seen the town, from ward to ward, deluged with the minions of the Anti-Corn-Law League; but a few such assemblages as these would show such enemies of the church that their efforts would be unavailing. It was true their cry was cheap bread, but they cared little about the poor—they sympathised little with those who were in distress; their language was " down with the church." (Hear, hear.) But it would soon be seen that the opera tions of the whole community were truly Protestant. He congratulated them on having now established in the schools of the town a sound Scriptural education; and he trusted, having now obtained that, they would not !dn.- THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD in their efforts until the system which excluded the Bible from the schools was banished from Ireland also. (Cheers.) The worthy councillor concluded by moving the following resolution :—That the principles of the Established Church, if fully carried out, would be a com plete remedy for all the evils which at present afflict the community. Mr. BENTLEY seconded the motion. The Rev. T. D. GREGG then rose to address the meet ing, and was received with loud cheers which continued for some time ; when silence was restored, he said, he ftehlattammeagzeinitheleyeveosnsieeah astonished, and he might say d e light e d, a t and he felt it to be a very high honour and a great privilege to be allowed to address them. He trusted he came there to obtain a welcome from the Protestants of Liverpool. (Loud cheers.) He would be quite sorry to throw out any idea which was enjoying r indu s tr i ous country—standing as he e d classesi d the contrary to that, did h e not feel that he owed it to him self to do so . O ccupying the position he did in the s h is e te e entire f a sthe he confidence didifisdhe to cero the te Protestants of Dublin, he m i g h t say to the Protestants of Ireland, and of st the e et ,weheodl he trusted he might say, of the best of all classes, it would grieve him v ery muc h indeed to see that there were any difference bet ween t h e operative Protestants of Liverpool, and the ope ra ti ve P rotestants of Dublin. He did not know wheth er th e gentlemen on the platform would allow the letter he h e ld i n h is hand to be read, which was con tained in a p aper b e had that morning received—indeed he had bee n requested not to notice the subject—but he could not con sen t t o t h at. He was always for doing o l n rpn things upon and above board, and therefore he should like the public to know the grouuds on which that letter was written, in order to ascertain whether they were well founded, or as he believed them to be rotten. He en joyed the confidence of the Protestant operatives of Dub lin, the confidence of the Protestants of all Ireland, and he did say that any insult or slight offered to him would be regarded as nothing else than an insult or a slight to the whole Protestants of Ireland. (Loud cheers.) The The Rev. gentleman then read the advertisement from the Mail of last Saturday, signed by three members of the Operative Protestant Association, repudiating any connection with inviting the Rev. gentleman to Liverpool. fie did trust if there were any grounds for that letter, that they would be plainly stated. He considered it a letter calculated to give exceeding satisfaction to the pa pist party in Liverpool, and he could not avoid again say ing that if there were any ground for it, it should be openly, plainly, and distinctly stated. It stated that they had nothing to do with the getting up of the meeting by Mr. Gregg's friends. Why all he could say was that if those were his friends he was very proud of them,— (checrs,)—and if the Protestant Operative Association of Liverpool would set their hands and seals to that let ter. and repudiate all connection with him, he should think much less of them than he had been in the habit of doing. As for him his individual feelings had been before the world as clear as noon day. He had been maintaining the Protestant cause in Ireland, and with so much effect, that, notwithstanding the discouragements of the times, notwithstanding the spirit of compromise which was mani fested in places,—notwithstandingthe vast power which was thrown into the hands of the Roman Catholic community, he believed, and it was very generally believed, that the spirit of Protestantism was never so strong, never so ener getic, and never produced so many practical proofs of it in Ireland as at this moment. (Loud cheers). He was aware that in Ireland a very considerable number were disposed to stand aloof from their proceedings, and the reason was because they were disposed to place entire and unlimited confidence to those at present in power, and he plainly and decidedly stated that the party with which he was connected, and he himself, were not prepared to do any such thing. He found they had been established in Ire land, by the Whigs when in power, a system of education constructed with the express view of giving full play to the teaching of Popery. The intention of the national system of education was just that. The system which existed previously was decidedly Scriptural. All the children who came to the schools were obliged to read the Bible, with out notes or comment. God had promised to be with his Word, and the effect was that the reading of the Bible lessened the faith of the people in the dogmas of Popery. The most cursory view of it sheaved that Popery was con demned, and exhibited the necessity of relying solely on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. The priests saw this. They opposed the system and were :determined to have everything withdrawn which should lead from Popish er ror. A system was therefore introduced by the Whigs which excluded the Bible,—that was condemned by Sir Robert Peel and his party, and yet nevertheless that sys tem was now fastened upon the mind of Ireland with the support of their approbation. They bad also continued the grant to Maynooth, but that he did not so much com plain of,—every party had been committed with that, and these must be a stronger manifestation of public feeling before it could be done away with. They had done that and they had studiously avoided committing themselves to anything like Protestant principles. It was therefore they stood upon principles irrespective of the Ministry• They stood upon the Word of God,—they made that the basis of their proceedings. He knew there were many well.instructed men who refrained from opposing them on the g round that it would b e e m b a rrassing the Mini s t r y. But he said that if all conformed to their views it would really relieve Sir Robert Peel from embarrassment ; if there was a stronger manifestation of public feeling in favour of Protestantism it would enable Sir Robert Peel to appeal to the people, and to fall back on complete Pro testant measures. The Rev. Gentleman again referred to the letter, and said if he considered it necessary he should, at the next great Protestant Operative Meeting in Liver pool put it to the test, invited or not, whether they would repudiate him. After showing that it would have the effect of playing the game of the. Papists and Radicals he apologized for occupying so much of their time on a sub ject purely personal to himself, and proceeded to more general topics. He said the resolution conveyed the most important proposition in the world,—it set out by stating that the principles of the Established Church, if fully carried out were a remedy for all the evils which now aifict the community. He entreated them for God's sake, to fix their attention on that general senti ment, to examine into it, till they found it was well pounded to powder upon its vast importance. The prin ciple of the Established Church if justly carried out would remove all the evils of the community, 'and no doubt they would. The principles of the Established Church were the principles of the Bible, and what were those principles—they were—" Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all but a disregard of this latter part of the precep t caused thy strength, and thy neighbour as thyself." Now h all the evils which now aflict the community. He would ask those who had heard the a nd ta l en ted Mr. Fer rand depict the miseries resulting fro m the New Poor w Law and the factory system whether such a state of things could exist if they loved their neighbours as them selves. Take for instance the New Poor Law. The old law passed in the reign of Queen Elizab e th, Protestant s i m ply contemplated the relief of the poor. It found the individual poor and in distress and it declared his poverty ought to be relieved without being accompanied by any imprisonment, insult, and disparagement. The New Poor Law acted upon the principle that poverty was a crime, that the individual had no right to relieve at all— that he must come as a petitioner to the Poor House, that he should be stripped of his apparel, arrayed in a prison dress, seperated from his wife and children and impri soned. In fact he must not be treated as a human being possessed of proper feelings, but treated as a horse, or a mule, or a cow, just afforded shelter and f oo d, an d that was all h e ought to have. What did that arise from but the not loving our neighbour as ourselves. Again, take the case of the factory children, and in that case a great deal of misery had been shown by Richd. Oastler and Mr. Ferrand, arising out of a great deal of covetous ness, and did not the principles of the Church of England condemn all such covetousness. Did it not inculcate the rule that a man was not only to consult his own but also another's welfare. Hence they would perceive that if the principles of the Established Church were carried out, they would remedy the evils under which the commu n ity now labour. In the articles of the liturgy, and the homi lies of the Church were to be found the true interpreta tion of the Scriptures. There the principle was incul cated that the poor were entitled to proper consideration, and the charge was so stringent that Richard Oastler, when argning against the cruelty and rapacity of the times had not to go to one single testimony beyond the authority of the Church, and he boldly flung in the face of the ministry the declaration that in neglecting the care of the poor they were violating the principles of that Church to which they had sworn adherence. He had dwelt upon the practical precepts of the Church. but, oh, let him dwell upon the grand and fundamental principles of that Church. What placed it as the most beautiful in the world ? What made it the glory of Mount Zion ? It was this ; it made Jesus Christ the beginning and the end of all its ordinances ; on him it builds every precept, on his atonement it rests every hope, and it places faith in him as the grand panacea for every evil. But there was another feature in the character of our church which he , thought it important on that occasion to dwell ;—it was that of its being united with the state, and isa that union its greatest usefulness consisted. lie asked if the church were separated from the state, what hold would tiae7l7ave upon statesmen for any single measure they adopted? If it were separated from the state, instead of appealing to its ordinances, or the Bible, on such questions as the new poor law, they would refer them to a M'Culloch or a Malthus, who would argue the very brain out of their heads, and bandy syllogisms and sophistry un til t h ey did not know whether they stood on their heads or their heels. (Cheers, and laughter.) Then, when they told him they did not understand his syllogisms and his sophistry, but they appealed to the Scriptures, they would be answered by the observation—" Oh ! that is all done away with ; we have philosophy now for our guide." But consider the chuch as connected with the state, and carrying out these principles which the Word of God taught, and see what the result would be. Look at the constitution of the church. It was episcopal. Its bishops had the control of the whole clergy, and the clergy could direct, or move, to a great extent, the whole people. It had been a favourite topic with him (Mr. Gregg) to ad vocate the amasing benefits which would come upon the community by the full and perfect operation of the Established Church ; but there were reformers springing up, with their plans of reform, for the evils under which the community labours, but in most of them, such as vote by ballot, the extension of the suffrage, &c., they would have the higher classes arrayed against them, and they never could succeed with the influence the higher classes possessed, and justly, against them. (Cheers.) This object, however, and the object of those who acted with him was to revive the old tory party—that party which based its principles on the articles, the liturgy, the homilies, and the bible. (Cheers.) if they joined this party, they might depend upon it, instead of having the higher classes aga nst them and closing their pockets, 1 think that history, chimerical, for, they would fi n d t h e con t rar y to be the case. Th ey should if they looked at t h e Old Testament they would find many instances of en couragetnent in the influence which the righteous kings of Israel exercised. Ile hfteethed them then to stand for the old English constitution. It was time enough to call for a new one when they found the old one was not good, but, first of all, they should see that the old one was thoroughly worked, which it had not yet been. The union of church and state had not been properly carried out, for if it was popery would not stand half a dozen years in Ire land. The rev. gentleman then drew a picture of what England was during the reigns of popish monarchs, what sbe is now, contrasted her state with that of Ireland and other popish countries, and showed that even in Ireland the free expression of opinion could not be exercised as it was in England. This he illustrated by what had occur red at two recent meetings in Dublin, wherein, although liberal Protestants were present, yet popery was fostered, encouraged, and supported, and Protestantism put down. (A collection was then made to defray the necessary ex penses of the meeting.) After the collection, the Rev. T. D. GREGG again ad dressed the meeting at considerable length. He had, he said, before endeavoured to impress upon them the evil influence of popery, and the saving effects of Protestan tism as a system ; that the latter was consistent with rational liberty, and the enjoyment of its privileges, and that the former could not exist in the atmosphere of liberty. He desired to address to them an exhortation to respect and protect their own rights. For example, even in the matter of public assemblies and the free dissemination of truth, there was a spirit of intolerance in popery which did not spring out of Protestantism. He and his friends had, the other night, a glorious meeting in Dublin, to re ceive their friend, Mr. Ferrand (cheers), the first meet ing, he believed, that had been called through an English man, in Ireland, in an English cause. It was in the cause of a worthy and respected Englishman, Mr. Oastler, and he was glad to say, that they would be enabled to send £5O (after all expenses were defrayed), collected at that meeting, which, he thought, was, under the present cir cumstances in that country, no inconsiderable donation towards the fund. (Loud cheers.) One individual only had risen to oppose the object of the meeting, and had endeavoured to cast a slur upon the character: of Mr. Oastler : but they had patiently heard him out, and put him down with a simple question without gagging him. It was not so at popish meetings. (Cheers.) The putting of a man down by clamour was most unworthy. He had himself attended a meeting convened by the Lord Mayor, at which he had been so treated. He had complained of the violence he had met with in a memorial to the Lord Lieut., and if need were he would complain to the Gov ernment. Protestant citizens had a right to attend meet ings so convened, and he should found his complaint on not being allowed to exercise his rights. No meeting ought to put down a speaker by force, or to crush the expression of public sentiment. (Cheers.) If there were a majority at the meeting they were in the right to gain the day, by a show of hands, but not to prevent others from freely expressing their opinions. With regard to popery, it was in truth, a mind-undermining, a soul-en slaving, and a liberty-opposing system. (Cheers. Was there, he would ask, no deli verance f rom i t for I reland? (Yes.) He himself was banded against it, and his protes tant friends were banded to eradicate it out of Ireland. He had attended the meeting alluded to, the other day, in the knowledge that he might fall a sacrifice to his ar dour in the cause; but, he said to himself, Englishmen have fallen in the same cause ; they have endured even the fire itself, in its behalf, and their blood had become the seed from which sprung religion and truth. (Cheers.) It was this sacrifice that gave the Englishman a home, and all the privileges he enjoyed ; and until Irishmen submit ted to an equal sacrifice, his country would remain in her present state of prostration. He went to that meeting in the premeditation that he might lose his life ; but what was the loss of one life to the eternal salvation of thousands. (Loud cheers.) Jesus had himself become a sacrifice, and our church would never have been established without the testimony of martyred churchman to be her foundation. O'Connell was at the first of these meetings, and through out hillooed the hounds on to their prey, with a view to quench the voice of truth. Were they to remain for ever thus fettered? No! The principles embodied in the resolution, if fully carried out, would for ever eradicate popery in Ireland. (Cheers.) Had popery died, when it was rampant, with all the concessions made to it ? No : the devil never died ! (Cheers, and (laughter.) It was put out: it was thrust out. Cromwell (as he was just reminded by a by-stander) had found the people snuffing after the flesh-pots of the monks ; and he col lected their mock tears, the wires with which they worked their puppets, and their relics. He showed them to the people, and said, " these are their idols." They trampled upon them, and repudiated both their priests and their idolatry. The parliament was then more careful of the morals and religion of the people than now. They circu lated controversial sermons—and what else were the ex cellent homilies of the Church of England ? They also published Fox's Book of Martyrs ; and popery was thrust out of England by the exposure of its errors, its ab surdities, and its enslaving doctrines. (Cheers.) He believed the Catholics themselves were ripe for a change, and would snap the chains that hound them on the first favourable apportunity. They did not now even resort to arguments in their controversies. They merely looked to the concessions made to them, in evil hour, and urged from them that their religion was getting up and not re trograding. Let, then, the country at large have scriptural education ; let them (the Protestants) withdraw the Maynooth grant, and all the support to catholic chaplains in workhouses and elsewhere, and popery would soon sink. What they (the Protestants) declared was, that the mass was a blasphemous deceit, and could they do any thing, therefore, more foul than support it in any shape ? (Cheers.) Was it not, he would ask them, most foul.) (Yes ! and great cheering.) He rejoiced in the enthu siasm, for the moment an assent was given nationally to such a proposition, such a corruption could not stand. If anything were more forbidden in scripture than another, it was surely idolat r y. Wh en th ey trampled the com mandments of God under foot by supporting it, to His dishonour, He would withdraw His goodness to them, in their bread, and i n th e bl ess i ng o f their homes, and their fireside s . If t h ey o b eyed his precepts, every enemy would be vanquished, and they would enjoy every comfort that man could enjoy on earth. He here quoted what had been said by the Warder. Were they to extinguish the light of reason and of science, to go back to the darkness of ignorannce and superstition. No, (said he,) the man who did so was a traitor to his God and his country, and his proper treatment was to lop off his head. (Repeated cheering.) He j He would that that shout werq heard throughout the length and breadth of the for it would show their enemies the irresistible force of pub lic opinion. A course might be taken that would do away with popery in Ireland. (Hear.) If the Protestants would but all act on principle, and be united, they would hear no more talk of the repeal of the union. (Cheers.) The two countries had but to unite in an indisoluble bond of truth, and if England and Ireland were so united they might defy the world. All was to be attained by scriptural law, and Protestant legis lation. All their wants and miseries arose from that principle not being carried out. Were it carried out sel fishness and covetousness would be rooted out. They wanted not novelty or revolution : all that was needed was a return to the constitutional principles of their fore fathers. This was what Mr. Oastler contended for. (Cheers.) It would heal all their wrongs, for the grand point was scriptural legislation. But how were they to obtain that, seeing they had papists in parliament? What was to be done ? (Cries of " Repeal the Emancipation Act," and tremendous cheers.) He really thought from the enthusiasm shown, that the object was al,eady ac complished. The rev. gentleman then related a conversa tion he had with a popish alderman who happened to be his own tenant, and adduced from it, that if the Catho lics were pushed and reasoned with, they would them selves admit that they had no right to sit in parliament in this country. The grand duty of parliament was to ele vate the public by morality and truth. After several other Powerful remarks, he concluded by impressing upon the meeting the necessity of having the constitution fully car ried out. Then would God's blessing again fall upon the empire ; then would England aga i n become the envy of surrounding nations, and the glory of the world. (The rev. speaker sat down amidst prolonged, and enthusiastic cheering.) Mr. DAVIES, a Protestant operative from Dublin, then addressed the meeting with great spirit and effect, alluding to 'William 111., and hailing the kindred spirit which be found amongst the English Protestants. He was warmly received. THE CHAIRMAN put the motion, which was unani, mousiy carried. Mr: WILKINSON moved the thanks of the meeting to the Rev. Mr. Gregg for his visit, and his excellent ad dress, which was seconded by Mr. Irvine, and carried by acclamation. The Rev. Mr. Gregg returned thanks in feeling terms ; but we are precluded from want of space from entering into further details. Thanks were voted to the Chairman, who returned his acknowledgments, reminding the meeting of the Soiree of this evening, and the Doxology being sung, the im mense assemblage quietly dispersed. POPULATION OF LANCASHIRE.—It is not generally known that Lancashire has become the most populous county in the kingdom, such however is the fact ; and Middlesex which a short time since stood at the head, in point of numbers, is now only rated third. MORALS AND EDUCATION.—Under this head, the first number of The Municipal and Poor Law Gazette and Local Functionary, published on Saturday last, says that the number of people married in the three years ending Midsummer 1841 were 367,849, and that of those 112,405 males and 180,260 females, making a total of 301,665 signed the marriage registry with marks. We do not be lieve that the statement affords a fair index of the educa tion of the parties to whom it refers, for we have known many instances of parties who could write well having been so overpowered with trepidation at the time of per fecting the Register of the Marriage Ceremony, that they have been glad to get over the effort required of them by making a mark, when, under other circumstances they would have been able to write beautiful signatures. LORD WELLESLEY. — Lord Wellesley was a perfect specimen of the Irish gentleman of the old school; with a beautiful form, and of the most polished manners and exquisitely refined taste; thoroughly master of his own language, and of the highest classic attainments ; abound ing in pathos, rich in anecdote, and sparkling with wit ; effective quickly perceptive, and yet deeply reflective • of high i c n om a p e r t e io h n en ; si g ve uic r k es iy olv d e i s sc ; r p im ro i m na p t t ing character, , vigoro us , and and well adapting instruments for the purposes designed; yielding confidence most fully, and, with th e power that alone be into his s u b or di nates the spirit g vigotou s , an d well-stored mind ; feriors ; gay, animated, instructive kindly n t to or ggneysni ofd i u e s r a , a t p el o at u rog r i ei n n, with equals; deferential, but proud, to superiors; ardently attached to constitutional liberty ; conscious of the re despising wealth ; em b ue d and,t o i l s it m ic ; allw when full of y ears an d h onours, re sponsibility pure ibilitpyaotrfiop descending into the grave, breathing forth his dying thoughts for the welfare and perpetuity of the United British Empire.—Montgomery Martin's Ireland. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SEAMEN'S READING ROOM AND SCHOOL SOCIETY. Last evening, a numerous and respectable meeting was held, at the Music-hall, 80ld -street, in support of this highly-valuable society, and to receive the report of the proceedings of the past year. Amongst the gentlemen upon the platform, we noticed the Mayor, Thos. Sands, Esq., and th e following clergymen and gen tlemen, v : Revs. Hugh M'Neile, T. Nolan, W. Fa!loon, iz H. Hampton, John Irwin, Messrs. A. Hodgson, C. Cotes worth, J. Royden, Middleton, Howard, Payne, Chadwick, and Goode. The Rev. Mr. MAYNARD, officiating minister of the Mariner's Church, having opened the meeting with prayer, it was proposed, and carried unanimously, that the chair be taken by the Mayor, who proceeded briefly to open the business of the meeting. He (the Mayor) had been re quested to take the chair chiefly on account of the high office which he had the honour to hold in the town. He was proud that he had the privilege of so doing ; and he should endeavour, to the utmost of his ability, to wield the powers of that high office to advance the cause which they were met together to advocate. There was no class of men to whom they were more indebted—he might say, so much indebted—as to that class. (Cheers; amidst which Mr. M`Neile entered the meet i ng.) He was glad of that cheer. It skewed that they appreciated the efforts making to repay their obligations to the sailors. No class of men had hitherto received so little attention as that class; but within the last few years the sympathies of the public had been roused in their behalf. They had been provided with a church, with a school, and a reading_room, and the same energies which had accomplished this amount of good were still at work for their benefit. He would leave it to those gentlemen who would have to follow him to explain the objects of the present meeting, and con cluded by calling upon the Rev. Mr. Maynard to read the society's report. Mr. MAYNARD then read the report, which stated that the leading object of the society was, to provide a read ing-room, with fire, light, and books, which shall be open to the seamen from six o'clock p.m., till half -past nine: to supply libraries for the use of the crews at sea: to es tablish a day and Sunday school: and to afford instruc tion in navigation to boys and apprentices training up to a seafaring life. In carrying out these objects, they had been blessed with great success, and rewarded by the gra titude of those for whose benefit they had wrought. The number of seamen constantly frequenting their reading room when on shore had increased. during the past year, by more than 300. As soon as their funds would permit, it was their purpose to establish a similar room, in con nexion with the present, at the north or south end of the town, as might be thought most desirable. They had also been able, though to a limited extent, to supply libraries to the crews of vessels at sea. They desired to call the attention of merchants and shipowners to their navigation school, which is open every evening from six to half-past nine, to which subscribers of one guinea are privileged to send apprentices free of charge, and at which a considera ble number had, last year, received instructi on . A t the daily s c h oo l, established for the daughters of seamen, there were now fifty-eight on the books, and forty-eight to fifty was the average attendance. (Mr. Maynard then read a paragraph from the Liverpool Standard, describing, in highly flattering terms, the proficiency of the scholars, as evinced at their last half-yearly examination) and proceeded to state from the report, that several ladies had kindly volunteered to visit the school in rotation, and added that it was open on the sabbath as a Sunday school—that the attendance of the girls was good, but that the boys had fallen off owing to the want of teachers. Upon the subject of the pecuniary condition of the society the report stated that their income for 1842, in cluding a balance of £7 13s. 3d. from the preceding year, was £lO5 Os. 4d., and the expenses £23 19s. sid., leaving a balance of £lB 18s. 6id, in arrear. This year the in come has increased to £l6l 4s. aid., whilst the expenses are nearly the same as last year, viz., £123 7s. Bd. thus leaving a baiance in the hands of the treasurer of £lO 17s. lid. The report concluded with an urgent ap peal to the shipowners and the merchants of the port to come forward in aid of the society's efforts " to discharge the debt of gratitude which is duefrom all parties to that long-neglected, but valuable class of men—our sailors." After a few brief but feeling remarks, and a description of the origin and growth of the society, the Chairman called upon the Rev. Mr. Nolan to read the first resolution. The Rev. Mr. NOLAN, in a long and eloquent speech, moved the adoption of the report. ADAM HODGSON, Esq. seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Rev. W. HAMPDEN moved the second resolution, to the effect that the meeting heard with satisfaction, and gratitude to God, the progress which had been made hitherto by this institution, and desired to express their opinion, that it had special claims on the merchants, the shipowners, and public generally, for increased support. JOHN HOWARD, Esq. seconded the resolution proposed by Mr. Hampden. The Rev. H. M i NEILE on rising was received with deafening cheers. He said :—Mr. Mayor, my Reverend friend, Mr. Maynard, invited me to come and address you, sir, and this meeting, and with great pleasure I accepted the invitation, and I came not into this room, not deter mined, as other gentlemen said, to speak, but determined to speak. (Cheers and laughter.) And the resolution I have been requested to propose is this :—that this meet ing pitying the condition of the seamen while on shore, exposed as they are to innumerable evils and temptations, desires to express a hope that this institution will be the means of promoting the establishment of a sailors' Home, which has been long wanted in this port." If I mistake not, this is beginning at the right end ; for I very cordi ally ente r i nto the argument which has been already ad duced and well argued with reference to the spiritual be nefit and reli g i ous i nstruction of our seamen. All these argunints, intrinsically excellent in themselves, relatively important in the bearings they had on missions abroad, have my very cordial consent and co-operation in every thing that can be done to carry them out practically. (Hear, hear.) But lam sorry to feel compelled to say that I think, although there are individuals, a few, and, I hope, an increasing number amongst the seamen who are in such temporal circumstances as to leave them at liberty quietly to avail themselves of the literary and religious provision made for them b y brother, M r. ay nard, I think their number is ver y y few. I think the tem poral condition of the seamen of this port demands our attention in the first instance. (Hear and cheers. ) My resolution aims at it ; an d I have ventured to say that I think it demands attention in the first instance, because, although no temporal circumstances, however unfavour able, can be pleaded in the sight of God as any just ex cuse for the intentional neglect of religion, yet it is our part, as men feeling for men, and desiring to do good to men as we find them—(hear, hear)—not to men such as we would have them to be, but to men such as we find they are. (Hear, hear.) It is our duty to proceed upon principles of plain, practical common sense; and I would ask how, on such principles can we expect attendance on the means, or attention to the words of grace from—(bear, hear)—men who are exposed to a system of cunningly devised frauds, which not only rob them of a part of their property, but also, as a natural consequence, irritate them into angry passions while they are sober, and therefore make them willing to throw away both their angel and their sobriety, and to cast themselves with rollicking heedlessness into the lap of debauchery, —another branch of wickedness prepared by their perse cutors in this town. (Hear, hear.) Shall Ibe told that such persons do, above all other persons, require religion ? I deny it. (Hear, hear.) The fairest moralist, the most upright, well. fed, well-clothed Pharisee in the town re quires religion quite as much as the most dissolute sailor in the town. (Cheers.) But I shall not discuss that question now; but this I would say, that whatever super human virtue, or whatever super-angelic tempers other religionists may profess to enjoy, I candidly confess that if I were called to endure cold and hunger up to the point of pain, and a man came before me and said, "pray to God," and another said, " here is a loaf and eat that," I would turn away from the first man, and if I were rob bed and plundered as many of the sailors in this port are, shipped on paying an exorbitant price, and unshipped again because others were fools enough to pay a larger price, and a man met me and irritated me to religious disa.ussion and offered me a tract, and another said, " come here, I value your soul as your chief part, but here is the way to the registry where you may get shipped on paying a shilling, and don't go near them alligators or sharks," why whether I had an ear or not for the first man, I guess I would have two open ears for the second man. (Hear, and laughter.) I think that the evils to which I have now alluded are not sufficiently understood in this town ; and if you will allow me I shall let the sailors speak for themselves. The rev. gentleman here read a memorial which had been sent by the sailors to the council in the autumn of last year, complaining of the impositions prac tised upon them by the shipping masters. He also read a memorial, to a similar effect, which was more recently presented by the sailors to the merchants : and then con tinued :—There may be some persons here who are curious to know what are these shipping-offices against which the sailors memorialized the council and the mer chants. I hold in my hand a paper setting forth the rules and regulations, and charges they make on shipping a man. They have entered into a combination, that no man shall ship a sailor except themselves. (" Hear," and a laugh.) Here is one of their rules :—" That if we can find out that any tailor, shopkeeper, or boarding-house keeper, shall cash any note from the Bethel Union, he or she must not expect any of our future custom." (" Hear," and laughter.) Thi s i s something like the exclusive dealing of some of my fellow -countrymen. (H ear , hear.) Is that meant to intimidate others from cashing the notes, who get them anywhere else except at their own offices ? (Cries of " Yes.") Then this is a system of tyranny justly complained against in the memorials, and against which it is our bounden duty to move, if we wish to get a willing ear from the seamen for our religious instruction. (Cheers.) Perhaps it may be asked, how does it happen that the captains sanction such proceedings ; and how can they proceed unless the captains sanction them ? It should be remembered, in answer to this, that all the captains who comm a nd vessels out of this port are not of that class that are altogether themselves above temptation. (Hear.) Some o f them are employed, o f comparatively a low class, to whom it is an object to get a present—some thing like what the French call a douceur—that is, a sweetener. (Laughter.) A Plain Englishman would call ossible I am insinuating that any of it a bribe; but is it P masters can bribe the captains ? Oh ! those shipping there's a way of doing things. (Great laughter.) The captain, for example, might have a worn-out hat, and a nice new hat would be very handy before sailing. (Con tinued laughter.) And some of those shipping masters, knowing people, might come quietly, and in a very gentle and insinuating manner say, " Will you get a ship ?" " Y es ."—" You want h an d s ?" " I do."—" Take none but what I send you, and I'll get one of them to drop a nice new bat in the cabin for you, but sa y no thi ng about it, or a topcoat, or a jar or two of pickles for the voyage." (Roar l a s of laughter, and che ers. ) Oh ! it's no strange thing m speaking. The understanding is entered into, and the Inca are sent. They are sent from the office, and they pass the captain ; but, in the meantime, the shipping masters have cribbed from Poor Jack three, four, or ten times the price of the hat. (Hear, hear.) And now, what a curious thing : the crew have paid for the captain's hat ! (Roars o! laughter, and cheers.) It rehunds me of what Sydney Smith said of the Pennsylvania men the other day. He said, that if one of those men were to come over to England, he ought to give his coat to one, and his hat to another, and so on; and upon the same principle, every Jack should have something, and leave the masters to go bareheaded. (" Hear," and continued laughter.) Now this is not to be borne. I have put it in this plain shape, that you may understand ; and I think we ought to make a general move, and show them that we understand it. I believe it is a fact, that until the tem poral circumstances are looked into, until a registry office is established, and until a Sailors' Home is got up, we are labouring in vain to i get them in num bers to hear us. Our chaplain sat work, but how many of the real Jacks go to hear him ? Why, few. Some do—the more the better ; and where are the rest ? These gentlemen, the sLipping-masters, could tell a tale of where they are. (Hear, hear.) They have their houses for them, and houses of all sorts, except good, all bad ones, for Jack all day long, to keep him away from the Mariner's Church ; and until be sees that we are feel ing for him, for his body as well as his soul, he will turn away from the canting hypocrisy that tells him to go and pray while he is left to be robbed, and plundered, and se duced by wicked men. (Loud cheers,) And what can be done in the way of remedy for this ? A registry office is alluded to. A registry office might do much good; and there is a registry office now in operation. It is, I sup pose, doing good. It is taking the right course. The rev. gentlemen having here read the circular from the re g!stryoffice, p rocee d e d : —H ere i s a movement in a right direction. Some one say s , " it i s manage d b y di ssenters ;" and what if it is ? (Cheers.) My answer is—the dissen ters have shown churchmen a good example, and let churchmen f o ll ow that example and get another office. (Chders.) There is plenty of work for two : there is more than plenty for two. (Renewed cheers.) Do I ask these gentlemen to give up their good work because they are dissenters? Far from it. (Great applause.) I wish them God speed ; and then I turn on churchmen and say—do you like good work ? if so, establish another office. I say again there is room for two : I don't like mixing colours ; I wish every man to show his own. (Cheers.) I myself go under the colours of the good old trusty ship the church of England, which was a Christian church years before there was either dissent or popery in Eng land. (Great cheers.) I stand on her old weather bea ten timbers, sound to the last. (Vehement cheering.) I stand, I say, to my tackle or my gun—ready, all ready: I wo'nt compromi s e a ro p e i n th e r i gg ing, nor lower one square inch of her canvas before mortal men. (Tremendous cheering.) Let us have a Church of England registry ; and now we come to ask, what has become of the Church of England al merchants and shipowners of this great town ? Why e they not thronged here upon the platform? (Hear.) I will tell you what I think is part of the reason of it, though it should make you laugh. I believe that many of them if they bad thought that the object of this meeting was to get a registry office—that it was to attend to the tempo ral wants of the sailors,—that it was to lead on in a direc tion towards laying the foundation for a Church of Eng land registry and Sailors' Home—l have a strong suspicion some of them would have come; but they thought that this was merely got up for the purpose of learning the methodistical evangelicalism of Mr. Maynard and Mr. M'Neile. (Hear, and laughter.) They consider that they have too much good sense to listen to our enthusiasm but I hope they will be told that we want them to establish a Church of England registry, a Church of England home, and a Church of England Chaplain, that the sailor may have a place to go to where he may meet friends, that there should be a savings bank in the house, where his money would be increasing like a snowball rolling on a green, where he would have a comfortable bed, and where he would get leave to chew his tobacco when and as he pleased. (Roars of laughter and great cheers.) Now, this is not only what we want, but this is, what we must have ; and I hope we shall never let the merchants have peace till we get it. (Renewed cheers.) I never under stood the matter, as I understand it now, till very lately. Everything works in a circle. 'When some of the sailor men saw my name to the bills for this meeting, one of them came up to my house, rung the bell and said—" I want to speak to you, Mr. M'Neile," and he sat down and told me the whole about the ships' masters, and how they charged him two shillings in the pound on cashing his note in a slop-shop. Was not that a shame? (Hear, hear.) He got half of it in goods ; and for getting money for the other half, he had to pay two shillings in the pound. I dont think I have got thoroughly at the/right bones of the case yet. (A laugh) ; but I wish for informa tion on the whole subject. (Several voices—" You shall have it sir") And, now, I am happy to be able further to say, that application has been made to the council on behalf of the Sailors' Home. There was a building which it was thought might be got. However, there were good reasons why that could not be given. But there is a piece of land belonging to the corporation near the Custom-house, where a Sailor's Home might be built, and the application is still before the council ; and now the chairman of the council is our chairman to night, and we shall send him with three cheers for that land. (Applause.) This is what must be done, I hope there are gentlemen here to bear a report of this to influential parties who hill put down their names on each side, thus;-- —______ a n d Co" £500; £400; and Co., £lOO, until we get a sufficient sum to build a Sailors' Home; and it must be a substan tial building. There must be beds, such as I saw in the Sailors' Home in London, where they have built one on the site of a playhouse, and where every man has a bed to himself, about as broad as the Duke of Wellington's bed. The duke has a bed that he had with him on the field of warfare. " Why your grace," said a person to him on one occasion, " its not broad enough to turn in." " Turn in," he replied, " when its time to turn in your bed, its time to turn out." (Great laughter and cheers.) Do Englishmen require to he stimulated to give money for such a work as this?—for sailors? Surely, surely, the very name of sailor should act like magic on the name of Englishman. (Hear.) Are not England and sailors iden tified throughout the world ? (Hear, hear.) Who are they who have carried the name, and the arm, and the influence of the Government of England to the four quarters of the globe? Who are they that, when Europe lay pros trate at the feet of the Corsican tyrant, and when Bona parte collected his hundreds and thousands of soldiers on the heights of Boulogne, waiting to pounce upon England —who manned the ramparts and laughed him to scorn?— who made his legions good for nothing ? Why, British seamen. (Great cheers.) And talk of commerce, of manufactures, of leagues and corn laws—why, sir, what were mills and machinery without seamen? Why, you are men of skill—men who know whether they refer up wards or not to Him who has placed the constellations in the heavens, and set boundaries to the mighty deep —men who know how to wend their way through the trackless ocean and make the land after a week, or a fortnight, or a month, full as true as if they had seen the head land all the time—men of enterprise —men of hardihood—men of endurance—men who will stand to their post in drifting snow and burning sun, and finish their work with cheer fulness. (Great cheers.) They have emptied the riches of the Indus on the tables of our merchants; they have heaped them so, that they revel in the enjoyments furnished by distant lands. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) These are the men on whom you are luxuriating twice a day. Your crop of tea ! Where did it come from ? Why the British seaman brought it all the way from China. (Cheers.) And shall E.nglishmen neglect the sailors? Will English women neglect the sailors ? Will shop keepers,—tradesmen, merchants, neglect the sailors? (Hear, hear.) I cannot imagine a higher climax of in gratitude :than neglect of sailors. I have heard of in stances of indignation, roused up by feelings of in gratitude, but none have greater cause to complain of ingratitude than the sailors. I have heard of the indigna tion of the Athenian orator ; I have heard of the indigna tion of the Roman senator; I have heard of the indignation of the Peruvian hero ; I have heard of the indignation of one of our statesmen, who asked, " shall man have property in his fellow man?—shall man be the sole and degraded possessor of the horse-whipped flesh of his brother ?" but for indignation, exceeding the thunder of Demosthenes, exceeding the indignation of Junius Brutus, exceeding the warmth and fervour of Rolla, exceeding the touching tenderness of our own Wilberforcc,—l say, I would rise higher to see ingratitude to the sailors of England, now seeking a home—a home from plunder, a home from drunkenness, a home from debauchery, a home from fraud : " Give us a home and we will listen to your instruction—send us a chaplain —send us your Bible and your Prayer-book, and we shall thank you and bless God ; but give us a home." The rev. gentleman here resumed his seat amidst loud and enthusiastic demonstrations of applause. After Mr. M'Neile had sat down, and while the col lecti?n was going on, Mr. MAYNARD detailed to the meeting a number of interesting anecdotes of circum stances connected with seamen, which had come under his notice during the course of his ministry amongst them, which we should have been glad indeed ti have given to our readers had not our space been so largely drawn upon. Mr. W. J. TOMLINSON seconded the resolution, which he prefaced with a brief explanation. Mr.M‘NEI LE rose to supply an omission which he had made in the course of his speech. He had intended to caution his friends, the sailors present, to avoid any quar rel with the seamen's unions ; not t o go near them, and if they met them in the street s , t o get out of their om pany as soon as possible. There might be present some of those shipping masters, and if he had touched them in the course of his remarks, he would ask them to go home and repent of their past sins. The Rev. W. FALLOON proposed the next resolution, which called for the th an k s o f t h e meet i ng to the com mittee and officers of this association. Mr. Falloon had been struck, upon coming to this meeting, that the time was peculiarly appropriate for originating a sailor's home. It was blowing hard, and his feelings carried him at once to the poor seamen tossing upon the deep, and to the desirableness of an attempt to provide for his comforts on shore, and to prepare his mind for th e p er il s an d possible fate of a mariner's life. The reverend speaker qopealed to the meeting in a m os t f ee li ng speech, (of which our limits will not even allow us to furnish an outline) to give their thanks to the committee, and to aid them in their noble exertions. Mr. ROY DEN briefly seconded the motion, which was carried nem. con. Mr. CHARLES COTESWORTH, moved the thanks of the meeting to the Mayor, which was seconded by Mr. JOHN EDEN, and carried with acclamation. The MAYOR briefly returned thanks; and after the Doxology was sung the meeting dissolved. We may remark, that on no occasion have we ever seen the Music-hall so crowded as on this occasion, or a meet ing anywhere so enthusiastic. The collection made in the room amounted to £l7. 14s. 6d., which, we venture to say, will be swelled by the contributions of merchants and others out of doors to a much more satisfactory sum. This, in fact, we trust we may consider as principally the gift of the poor seamen themselves, a great number of whom attended the meeting. Adi /<l46lZrt:,\ (0••••""" '.-7------ ' , " , t cf 1 1. 4141\ if ,• ji t tt f t of. AF i. Att' i • pro- s. 2, re wful et in • di r or over :4 :'' , 4 ow_ .2.01 ~. = ~ ;1--:.2 21, 0 re - ..,