The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-16 00:00:00

ew poor law should be thought insufficient, we have then only to examine the system itself in all its parts, when we shall find every imaginable argument fur nished us for redoubling the energy of our resistance in the overwhelming multitude of evils inherent in and inseparable from it. Towards the poor it is brutal; towards the rich, or the non-neressitons, it is offensive without being economical. Turn, overhaul, anatomise it in what way you will, investigation only increases abhorrence and strengthens the repulsiveness of every right feeling against it. We enter into no details ; they have been already submitted to the public in va rious shapes, from the rending asunder of every natu ral tie in the workhouse bastile—the separation of pa rent and child, husband and wife—the doling out of sustenance calculated to the very verge of death by in anition--the surgery and the medicine by contract—rto the prison death-bed and the felon burial—all these have heen already supplied abundantly, and we need not dwell upon them. We have only to pray that in Liverpool we may be spared the tender mercies of so vile a system, and to urge upon the benevolent inha bitants of this great city the strong necessity of using every legitimate means to avert the calamity. It is the cause of the poor, and we should feel it a sacred duty laid upon us not to be lukewarm in it. A deputation has been appointed by the special vestry to proceed to London for the purpose of presenting their remon strance ; but we shall despair of the success of their enterprize unless the inhabitants generally strengthen their hands by taking some further mode of evincing the deep interest they feel in a matter so exceedingly momentous. The petition now in course of signature is an efficient mode of doing to. INHABITANTS OF LIVERPOOL, HASTEN TO SIGN IT! THERE IS NO TIME TO BE LOST, In order to give the Jews the municipal enfranchise ment which is sought for them, it is only necessary to remove out of their way that declaration, which pur ports to be made " on the true faith of a Christian." It is contended that this obstacle ought to be removed because Daniel Salomans, Esquire, is quite a respec table person, and because there are others of his nation of a like grade, and of equal respectability in society; and secondly, because the policy acted on of late years has been one of relaxation and comprehension. On these positions the argument for the proposed enfran chisement is mainly built; but whatever validity it may seem in the mind of some men to possess, one thing is certain—that it does not at all meet the prin ciple on which the objection to concession is founded. 'We are not concerned particularly about Mr. David Salomans, or his status in English society; we may allow him to be all that his vouchers say for him ; we prefer no impeachment against either his moral or po litical character, or against that of his kinsmen and nation residing in this country : it is something quite immaterial to our immediate views. And as to the other position, all we shall say is, that if parliament must continue to do wrong ad infinitum, because it has done so once, then of course it is useless for us to say more upon the subject. But these are arguments of a very lame description indeed, and unworthy of serious refutation. To allude to the " true faith of a Christian," is, we have seen, an occasion of laughter, and a matter of ridicule, in the House of Commons. The Irish tail always attend well drilled and prepared on this point. Their secreta monita are, to laugh down everything serious. They cheer and applaud every sentiment that favours the dishonour, and the erasure from the statute-book, of the very name of our national Chris tianity; and seldom does it happen that they do not punctually obey, or even better, their instructions. Were any one to speak of " the true faith of a PA- PisT," the mockers would instantly become grave as Trappists, and serious as fasting eremites. The reli gion of the Roman pontifex maximus absorbs all their reverence, and commands all their affections ; but not so with Christianity : they hate the very name (unless in company with the Pope), and more particularly that of our national church. And what is the consequence of this anti-Christian, devilish system and practice ? Why, that few have the moral courage to encounter it—that it scares away many of the Conservative party—and, consequently, that when heads come to be reckoned on questions of the deepest moment, the numbers stand too often in the proportion that we find them on this Jews' question, when the expunging of the declaration " on the true faith of a Christian" was carried by a majority of 137 to 24. Such is the dis advantage that our national Christianity labours under, in consequence of the admission of Papists into parlia ment ; and yet the precedent is held up to us as a good one, and even insisted upon as a sufficient reason for extending the same measure of mistaken liberality to lons an the Jews 1 The position taken by Sir Robert Inglis is the true one, and, we need not say, was wholly unaffected by the " farrago of cant" given utterance to by the Colo nial Secretary in his attempt at reply. ' 6 You have put the question," said his lordship, " on a thcoloyical ground : are you aware that that is a mode of proceed ing quite unusual here, and which was not so done when the Catholic claims were advocated ? " And the more the pity, say we ; for the " theological ground," as his lordship calls it, is just the ground that, had it been properly defended, would have presented an in superable barrier to those pretensions. Theological references, we observe, are dreadfully annoying to your Liberal ; and he would persuade himself that they never can be a propos,—no, not even when a Jew seeks admission to the privileges of a Christian state ! The Colonial Secretary alleges that it is intolerant in the state to ask a man about his religion, in order to ascertain his qualification for office or preferment. But if so, it must he intolerant to ask him what sort of house he resides in, or what property he possesses, in order to test his fitness for voting for a member of parliament, or for sitting himself in that house. The one sort of test is just as much symptomatic of into lerance as the other ; and until society fall back again to first principles, and return to primitive barbarity, some such " intolerance" we must ever have. To make Mr. David Salomans an alderman may seem to some to be a mere bagatelle ; but if Mr. Salo mans cannot have that honour conferred upon him without an act that goes a great way towards unchris tianizing the state, then this bagatelle becomes a very grave affair ; and we are intolerant enough to think that it would be far better to leave the Hebrew gentle man plain Mr. Salomans to the end of his days than to perpetrate a deed of such evident national apostacy and sacrilege. Papists and liberals may laugh, and it is only natural they should, especially when they seem in a fair way to win ; but Papists and liberals have no desire to preserve our constitution in church and state, or, we believe, in either, and are glad therefore to asso ciate with them all those who, if true to their own prin ciples, must be its bitterest foes. On the other hand, every departure of the state from its position as Pro testant and Christian is a matter of serious grief and deep regret to those who consider its christianity to be intimately connected with its highest interests, its li berty and welfare in every possible relation and aspect. Our Whig cotemporary, the A/bion,has kindly essayed to involve us in a quarrel, and argues that because we dissented last week from the proceedings in the Town Council on this question, we have therefore put all the conservative members in the same category with the whigs and liberals. We are sure that our conservative friends did not so understand us. When we speak of the Council in general, we speak of it as a Whig body, existing as such by the grace of a small majority, which is alone accountable for its measures ; and if som e o f our conservative friends have agreed with the majority on this question, it is a casualty that we may have re gretted, but which certainly did not enter into our con templation at the time we wrote the observations re ferred to. Of the importance of that " union which is strength" we are as fully sensible as our whig co temporary, who shows how highly he appreciates it by seeking to sow dissention in our camp ; but much as we value it we would not wish to attain or preserve it by requiring others to dissemble their opinions, or by shrinking, when the occasion required it, from a can did avowal of our own ; and this, we think, is good conservative practice, which our friends will likely agree with us in, and applaud rather than censure us for pursuing. The " ingenious device" of the Albion o n this occasion—in which, by the by, there is a strong spice of the malicious—will, we venture to say, be dis appointed of its object. TO TUE CONSTITUENCIES OP PROTESTANT ENGLAND.-LETTER IT " Infandum, Regina, jubes renovare dolorem."—Vine FELLOW-PROTESTANTS, Before proceeding further into the subject of my present letter, allow me for a moment to recal your attention to the two alternatives which are forced upon our acceptance by Lord Morpeth's bill. Either Great Britain must submit to see that great principle of the constitution—its Protestant ascendancy—destroyed, by the admission into parliament of an overwhelming majority of Popish members ; either we must submit to see the powers of the House of Commons directed exclusively to the furtherance of Popish ambition, and to the weakening of Protestant establishments through out the empire ; or we must at once, resolutely and sted fastly, direct our energies to THE REPEAL OF THE BILL OF 1829 AS THE ONLY COURSE LEFT US TO PRESERVE THE CONSTITUTION. Between these twu alternatives, I submit, the constituencies of England have to choose ; and I now proceed to offer to your notice a few considerations which may guide you in your choice. And first let us examine the practical working of the mea sure of emancipation, during a period of twelve years, up to the present moment. We were told in 1829 that the admis sion of some thirty or forty members of the Romish faith into the British House of Commons, bound by their oaths to respect the property and the religion of the established church, would, so far as Protestant interests were concerned, be quite innocuous ; that such a body would soon fall into the ordinary divisions of party, and, upon questions of civil policy, would lay aside entirely the distinctive character of their creed in promoting the general - welfare of_ the commu nity. Let us see, then, whether this prediction has been fulfilled. The first circumstance which strikes us, in entering upon this portion of our inquiry, is the startling fact that not even one solitary member of the Romish church in the House of Commons can be found separated from the bulk of his party! The pmfessors of other creeds—the most violent sectarians even—can afford sometimes to differ with each other upon great political questions ; but Romish legislators seem to have bound up their political sympathies and opinions along with their faith, and to receive the impulse which directs both from one common source. Upon no great question do we find them, by any chance, voting upon opposite sides ; and if occasionally symptoms of coldness may be perceived amongst particular members, an unseen influence immedi ately restores subordination, and draws together again into a compact body the conflicting or the lethargic parts. It is beyond dispute, then, that Popery refuses absolutely to allow her representatives to be merged in the general mass of the legislature. Whilst the professors of other creeds mingle freely in, and differ upon, those questions of general interest which invite discussion within the walls of the House of Commons, Popery alone " walks apart "—her sympathies ' and her judgment steeled against the entrance of any convic tion which may draw them aside from the path which leads to her ulterior objects. Whilst the professors of other creeds, upon their admission to that house, become at once the representatives, virtually, of the general interests of the community ; the professors of the Romish faith never lose for a moment the distinctive character of their religion — never lose sight of the fact that they are representatives, in reality, of the church, and not the people, to which they belong. The natural result—and, I have no doubt, the well-antici pated result—of such a system of self-violation on the part of the Roman Catholic body in parliament, is to render their support, to any ministry or to any party, in the present balanced state of the House of Commons, an object of vital importance. Through the medium of this isolation a united strength of upwards of forty votes (making a difference of upwards of eighty in a division) is created, which can be brought down to the house to turn the scale upon any ques tion—which, unlike any other equal number of votes, is ca pable of being wielded by an unseen influence—and which, when so wielded, never stays to weigh arguments—never hesitates at principles. At the present moment this body notoriously and avowedly possesses and exercises a control ling power over the entire working of the political machine —can regulate the extent to which concession may be made by the legislature to the constitutional expression of the national will—can hold and does hold, in abject subserviency to its insolent behests, the representatives in parliament of the whole empire. For five years a compact with this body, or with the power which works the springs by which its mo - directed, has enabled a profligate and imbelice mi a defiance of repeated majorities of both houses,—in defiance, too, of a standing majority of British members in the House of Commons, and of the great mass of the British people,—to continue in possession of the reins of govern ment—to menace our holy church with " heavy blows and great discouragements"—to tamper with democracy—to sap the foundations of our commercial and financial prosperity — and to degrade and dishonour the name of England through out Europe and the world! It may be urged, indeed, in vindication of such an exer cise of their legislative privileges, that as representatives of the " liberal" party in Ireland, the Roman Catholic mem bers only act consistently in supporting with their whole strength a " liberal" government—a government which, according to their views, legislates for the social and religious welfare of Ireland. it may be urged, too, that so long as they respect the oath, into which they have entered, to ab stain from any act of hostility to the established protestant church of the realm, they have a constitutional right totake any part, which they may judge most to their interest upon ques tions of general policy, and even to make any compact which they may choose as to the conditions upon which their sup port is afforded. I deny, however, that the Roman Catholic members of the House of Commons are the representatives of any lay interest in the sister kingdom—" liberal" or otherwise. Those members are " de facto" the represen tatives of the Romish Church in Ireland. They " live, move, and have their being" by permission of " the church" alone ; and can make no compact and will make no compact, which has not for its object the aggrandisement of that church. That in the pursuit of this object they adhere out wardly to the observance of the faith which they have sworn towards the protestant establishment of the realm I will not at present stay to deny. Although perfectly convinced that, in its spirit ,—that good faith, and the oath by which it was endeavoured to be secured, have been repeatedly violated, I am unwilling to impute deliberate perjury to any body of my Christian fellow-countrymen. But if I can establish the fact that, in the exercise of their admitted constitutional right of judgment upon general questions, they are influenced by motives partaking of the principles of their creed—that whilst ostensibly and professedly preserving their faith they are in reality, through other agencies, effecting their object— (which cannot, if they honestly entertain the opinions and principles laid down by their councils, and inculcated in their colleges, and from their altars, be any other than the ulti mate prostration of our holy church, and the raising of the " damnable idolatry" of Rome upon its ruins) ;—in that case, I apprehend, I shall have laid before you an amply sufficient ground for coming to the conclusion, that the repeal of the measure of 1829, if not at present even justi fiable, must be the inevitable result of a further increase of power being granted by Lord Morpeth's bill, to the de. mocracy of Ireland, ostensibly, but, in reality, to the church of Rome in that kingdom. Let us examine then the nature of the compact, implied or expressed, which exists between the present government and the members of the church of Rome in parliament. The government of Lord Grey was a reforming—was a " liberal" government ; and yet it is notorious that the support of the Irish Catholic members in parliament was not, as at present, upon every occasion at the service of the minister. On the contrary, an extensive agitation existed in Ireland, fomented by the present member for Dublin, and was conceived to be of so dangerous a character as to require for its suppression the temporary suspension of the constitution. The govern ment of Lord Melbourne succeeded that of the noble Earl; the celebrated Lichfield House compact was entered into with O'Connell and his supporters, and the cry of " justice to Ireland" was, for a time. stilled. What then, I ask, was the propitiation by which popery was conciliated and agita tion appeased? It was not, alone, place and emolument and patronage, liberally showered amongst the dependents of the Irish mendicant ; no : it was, distinctly and notoriously, the prospect held out to popery of the " appropriation" of a slice of the revenues of the established church in Ireland, to secular and to popish uses. The interests of protestantism were contracted to he surrendered, in exchange for the venal votes of the mercenaries of the pope. Listry, in Since the terms of that particular compact have been aban doned ; since that particular breach in the walls of our holy church has been found impracticable ; one concession after another has been held out—one outwork after another has been betrayed by the ministry—to purchase the paltry ma jorities by which alone they exist from hour to hour. As each successive session has been shuffled over, the working of Irish agitation has recommenced ; and a new demand sprung up, to be extorted as the price of Irish adhesion in the next. But has any one of these instalments of the debt, due, by compact, to popery, been unconnected with the ad vance of that dark apostacy itself? Has any one measure, demanded and conceded, had in view, merely, the social hap piness of the Irish people? Not one ! An isolated case of private jobbing may occasionally be found —some Shannon navigation job ; but it is a fact, to which I challenge contra diction, that not one of those great measures included in the cry of " Justice to Ireland," and successively forced upon the acceptance of Lord Melbourne's government, as the price of Irish catholic support, has had any other ulterior object than that of weakening the bulwarks of Protestantism, and prostrating the energies of this great nation at the feet of the mother of abominations —of hastening forward that period, which is so ardently and so unceasingly contem plated by popery, when the last ray of civil and religious liberty shall be quenched in Great Britain, and the native spirit of her people bowed down, in abject submission, be neath the gloomy tyranny of Rome. The whole operation, then, of the emancipation bill of 1829, up to the present time, has been directed, notwithstanding the securities by which it was accompanied, to depress the growth of Protestantism throughout the empire, and to en courage the hostile principle of popery. By that measure, in • conjunction with the abuses which have been allowed to creep into the system of registration in Ireland, the social in • terests, as well as the religion itself of the people of Great Britain, have been placed virtually in the hands of a body of men whom no faith is allowed to bind—over whom the con stitution has no hold—who represent no constituencies ex cept the Romish priesthood of Ireland, and whose votes in Parliament upon the most ordinary questions of party are directed by the dark and subtle policy which emanates from the councils of the Vatican. Whilst this over-riding tyranny exists, can it be said that you, the existing constituencies of Great Britain, have an independent voice in the legislature ? Do the majorities, by which a despicable party are enabled to cling to office, express your will ? Is it by your permission that the established religion of your country is hourly in sulted—that the constitution of your country is about to be abandoned to the wild and reckless demands of democracy— that infidelity, socialism, and unvarnished infamy, are suf fered to pollute even the chambers of the sovereign ? Un doubtedly not. At this moment the constituencies of Great Britain are virtually unrepresented in the House of Com mons ; the once boasted constitution of our country is but a plausible and an ingenious mockery! It is true that time would in part have corrected this glar ing evil. The loyalty and patriotism of the British people would at length be able to gain the ascendancy for British interests in that house. Already the majorities which an im becile and worthless ministry can command, even with the utmost aid of popery, have dwindled down to a paltry unit; and a few more months, or even weeks, may extinguish them altogether. Is it to he endured then, I ask, that a reckless and dishonest faction should be permitted, by the bill brought forward by Lord Morpeth, to recruit those majorities—to admit another influx of popery of more undiluted and more rampant character tian the existing body ? Will you—will the people of Engi:nd—rush madly forward to a bloody re volution, which mu .t be the issue of thus handing over to the uncontrolled power 3f a fierce democracy, wielded by popery, the lives, the p:o,:erty, and the church of your fellow-sub jects? I leave th, , question for the present to your calm consideration 1 PROTESTANT ENGLISHMAN Liverpool, Mar . 13th, 1841. PROCEI DINGS IN PARLIAMENT. (Frow our London Correspondent.) LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING The debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday evening, on the subject of the removal of the Jewish disabi lities as applied to the holding of corporate offices, is well worthy of attentive perusal. Although not apprehensive that such a measure can ever, practically, effect serious injury to society ; although satisfied that a Jew or a Hindoo is quite as likely to dignify by his presence those precious assemblies which have been created in our corporate towns by the mu nicipal reformers of the present day, as some of those sweet tempered Socinians who now figure there: yet it is impossi ble to imagine by what logic the admission of members of the Jewish religion to legislate for the moral and social order of Christian communities can be defended, which will not equally apply to their admission to the legislature of the whole kingdom. The manly and truly English speech of Sir Robert Inglis is especially worthy of admiration, as proving at any rate how the British constitution, in its ancient entireness, can be sup ported, against all the flippancy of modern liberalism, by a Christian patriot, a scholar, and a gentleman. Let that speech, uninipeached as it was throughout in all its positions, be compared for a moment with a vapid mouthings of ultra liberalism, which issued from the lips of the Home Secretary, or with the insolent chirpings of the unfledged duckling who followed him, in the person of Mr. William Ewart. Con trast the open sneers and ribald mockery with which the very mention of principle—religious principle, as constituting an ingredient of fitness for the exercise of legislative powers, were received by the " liberal" majority of the house, with the exulting cheers which greeted the ministerial profession of open latitudinarianism ; and the country will, at the least, have an opportunity of estimating the degree of safety with which matters of a higher import might be left to the sole guardianship of that branch of the legislature. Would that we had many members in the House of Commons possessed of the same sterling and uncompromising Protestantism which distinguish, on every occasion, the sentiments and the con duct of the honourable member for Oxford ! On Friday night, in the House of Commons, a motion was Introduced by the President of the Board of Trade, the sub ject of which will, I have no doubt, excite the most anxious attention of your mercantile community, especially of those engaged in the trade with our West Indian and American colonies. It is well known—to your mercantile readers at least—that the connexion between those colonies and Great Britain, hitherto, has been maintained by the formation of a system of mutually protective duties, in favour of colonial produce and British manufactures, as compared with those levied upon the produce or the goods of other countries. The proposition of Mr. Lahouchere is to reduce the rate of duties _'.. by our colonial tariffs upon all merchandize, not the 'oduce r of Great Britain or of any British possession, to an ,verage rate of 10 per cent. ;—in effect to throw open the narkets of our colonies to foreign powers, and thus to de prive Great Gritain of one of the most important benefits which she derives from her colonial possessions, in exchange for the expense by which they are supported, namely, a pre ference in their markets for her merchandize over that which is afforded to all other nations. It will scarcely be expected that in my capacity, as a cor respondent merely, I can enter into the various and compli cated questions which must arise upon the consideration of a subject of such vital importance to the interests of Great Britain herself, and of her colonial empire. lam not aware that the benefits of our past free trade policy at home have been so strikingly evinced as to call very loudly for their ex tension into our dependencies abroad. But it is impossible not to be at once convinced that the present crisis of affairs across the Atlantic is about the most impolitic that could be chosen for the agitation of such a subject—be its propriety in other respects what it may. We are menaced with a war of aggression upon our Canadian possessions by the people of the United States, which it will require all the energies, and all the devoted patriotism, which our fellow-countrymen in Canada possess in so emiment a degree, to repel ; and yet this is the moment which is selected by a whig government for the agitation of a measure which unquestionably must tend—whatever other results it may have—to weaken the connexion whici - . t present exists between the Canadian peo ple and the mother country. The Jesuit cunning which appears to pervade every move ment of the present cabinet, is not blind to the fact that the protection afford( .1 to British merchandize in our colonies, once withdrawn, the corresponding protection afforded to co lonial produce in the markets of Great Britain must be with drawn also. If our West Indian colonies receive their pro visions, their timber, and their manufactured goods from foreign nations, can they demand that we should tax our selves to encourage the growth of their plantations ? If Ca nada supplies herself with the silks, the linens, and the cot ton manufactures of Europe, can we any longer allow her a monopoly in British markets ? Undoubtedly not. The whole proposition on the part of ministers, to the extent at least to which it is carried, is a manifest trap, contrived to secure the adoption, ultimately, in Great Britain herself of a policy which they dare not, as yet, openly bring before the con sideration of the public. _ The debate upon the motion, it will be perceived, was adjourned ; and it is much to be desired that, in the mean time, the attention of mercantile communities throughout the kingdom should be directed to a consideration of the sub ject. _ In connection with the present hazardous position of the Canadas, and with this proposition of ministers, it is impos sible to lose sight of the outrage about to be perpetrated upon the feelings of our loyal Canadian fellow-subjects, by the St. Sulplice robbery. If there be one darling object second in importance to the subjugation to her rule of Great Britain itself, towards the accomplishment of which popery is at pre sent directing her energies, that object is to secure a footing upon the vast continent of America. The preservation by Canada of her connexion with Great Britain is the obstacle which can alone arrest the advance of this subtle power ; and to break that connexion, let past events evidence how un ceasingly of late have been her exertions. But it is not by an ordinary policy that the statesmen of the Vatican carry out their projects. It is not upon such vulgar instruments as Papineau and O'Connell, as M`Kenzie and Hume, that they rely on all occasions to secure their objects. The in vincible loyalty of the province of Upper Canada frustrated their last daring attempt; and that loyalty must, therefore, be alienated. The people of Great Britain would still aid in resisting any similar attempt ; and that people must also be alienated. Rome chooses her time with all the astuteness of diplomatic foresight ; and now—whilst a fierce democracy from America is hanging upon the frontiers of Canada—when the war whoop has been shouted, and the bowie knife has been whetted—a measure of gross dishonesty and shameless perfidy is flung in the face of her brave defenders by a British Governor General, whilst a British parliament prepares for the disruption of the only tie, save loyalty, which binds her to the British coronal. Deep and subtly daring as are all the workings of popery—mysterious to the unreflecting of its opponents and to the blindness of its duped and bewildered tools—it is much to be doubted whether throughout her past history—amidst all her plots against the liberties of man kind—can be found a more apt choice of time and of instru ments for effecting any cherished object, than is presented in the crisis and the means which have been fixed upon for the alienation of Canada from her connection with this country. Unprincipled and reckless jobbing seems to characterize every measure brought forward by ministers. The county courts bill, which was read a first time on Friday, contains, perhaps, as pretty a specimen as could be wished. By this bill, and another legal measure which is before the house, be tween 70 and SO judgeships are to be created at the disposal of the crown, at salaries ranging from £5OO to £l5OO a year ! Nice pickings these for secretaries of reform associations and other similar functionaries, who cling to the skirts of whig radicalism for the expected " doles." Her Majesty cannot afford to make Oxford knights every day in the year ; and hence the qualification formerly proposed for the judges in question —a standing of ten years at the bar—is dispensed with, as Sir Edward Sugden remarked, " to extend the sphere within which the ministerial bounty may fall." Verily, they are a nice set! LOCAL NEWS STEALING COPPER.--Yesterday, at the police-court, Richard Bryan was committed to gaol for three months, for 'stealing a quantity of copper from one of the docks. PASTORAL AID SOCIETY.—We understand that the an nual meeting of the Liverpool Auxiliary to the above society will be held on Monday, the 29th instant, when, from the important nature of its operations and the questions con nected with the society, much interesting matter may be ex pected. The Chancellor of the Diocese will be in the chair. LEEDS-STREET AND GREAT HOMER-STREET METHO DIST SCHOOLS.—Two sermons were preached in the Metho dist Chapel, Great Homer-street, on Sunday, by Mr. Wm: Dawson, of Leeds, in behalf of the Sunday and Infant Schools connected with that place of worship. The chapel was crowded. both morning and evening, and we are glad to say that the collections were considered liberal. Mr. Dawson preached last evening (Monday) in Pitt-street Chapel. Sr. MARK'S CHURCH.—We have already noticed that a sermon was preached in this church by the Rev. H. Wlsleile, and a collection made in behalf of the Liverpool Charitable Society, amounting to -CB3. In addition to this, a further sum has been contributed by the members of the same church, exceeding £BO, which has been given under the di rection of a committee to the suffering poor, in the shape of food and coals. The following statement is, we believe, tolerably correct :—Persons relieved, 499 ; loaves, (7d) 628 ; meat, 877 lbs ; pecks of potatoes, 495 ; coals, 490 cwt. LIVERPOOL DOCK AND TOWN DUES.—A very influen tial meeting was held in Runcorn on Tuesday last, to consi der the question of applying to the legislature for exemption from the dock and town dues of Liverpool, upon vessels tra ding to Runcorn. The Manchester Courier states that the Liverpool Dock Committee have withdrawn all objections to the claims of Runcorn,—but surely such cannot be the case ; for however liberal the majority of our dock trustees may be to the imaginary rights of this rival port, we cannot suppose they will permit such an injury to be inflicted upon the inte rests of Liverpool as their apathy seems to threaten. TWO VESSELS LAUNCHED AT RUNCORN.—On Monday week a fine sloop was launched from the building-yard of Messrs. John Latham and Co., Runcorn, and on the follow ing day, a large fishing smack w as launched from Mr. Ma son's slip. The tides on both days were the highest of any that will occur this year, and the vessels moved gallantly off their stocks into the river, amidst the shouts of assembled crowds, the display of banners in the breeze, and the firing of cannon. The carpenters and others interested in the vessels were afterwards regaled by their employers. Our Runcorn neighbours are warmly congratulated by their Manchester friends for the specimens of their work which they have lately sent forth upon the sea, and a hope is held out that the port of Manchester will, ere long, find employment for their skill in shipbuilding. STEALING FROM A VESSEL.—Frank B. Kellison, mate of an American ship, and a youth named Michael Gore, were yesterday charged, at the police-court, with being concerned in taking from the ship a quantity of pieces of sheet copper, and a bag of copper nails. No leave had been given by the captain to the mate to send the articles from the ship. It appeared he had given them to the boy to sell, and was to pay him for his trouble. Kellison said that he considered he had a right to take the scrap copper, &c., and dispose of it. The captain stated that, on the contrary, he had told the prisoner to collect it together, so that it might not be pur loined. The boy was discharged, and Kellison committed to gaol for three months. CHURCH OF ENGLAND MISSIONS TO THE JEWS.-011 Thursday evening week, a public meeting was held in the na tional school, Runcorn, in support of the Society for Promot ing Christianity among the Jews, at which the Rev. H. S. Joseph, lecturer to the Jews, and formerly Jewish rabbi, at tended, together with Mr. M. Margoliouth, a converted Jew of Poland, and they communicated some important and interesting intelligence relative to the present state and pro spects of the dispersed children of Israel, and of the success ful operations of the society, in exciting a spirit of inquiry into the evidences of Christianity, and in founding a branch of our apostolic church at Jerusalem, in which our liturgi cal services are statedly used. Mr. Joseph related a striking circumstance in which the traditional and idolotrous services of the church of Rome presented an insurmountable obstacle to a number of Jews embracing Christianity. MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—The lecture-room of this institution was, on Saturday evening .last, crowded with a highly respectable audience, to hear a concert of glees and , choruses, p er f or med by the pupils of the senior and junior classes o'f music, under the able and scientific direction of Mr. G. Eyton, the master of this department. The perfor mance did Mr. Eyton and the gentlemen great credit. The precision with which the choruses were given was admirable, and the effect produced was evinced by the cordial and reite rated approbation of the company. The pleasure of the evening was further enhanced by a performance upon the " Stone Harmonicon," by the three sons of the inventor and Mr. Davies, who played several waltzes and airs with brilliant effect. Master Tyzack, a boy of six years, pupil to Mr. Eyton, played an air with variations on the violin with asto nishing confidence, producing a strong sensation of surprise and pleasure in all who listened to the performance. We hope the gratification this performance has occasioned will induce the committee to repeat it. WANTON OUTRAGE.—DanieI Murphy was placid before Mr. Rushton, on Saturday, charged by Mr. Robert Short house with having assaulted him. Mr. Shorthouse stated, that on the preceditr , day he was walking along Rodney street, when he pass ed the prisoner and another man. In a few minutes he heard a scream,' and, looking back, he saw the prisoner and his companion attacking several blind young women, in a very indecent manner. He turned round and remonstrated with them, but they persevered, and their ac tions became still more indecent. Mr. Shorthouse went up to them, upon which the prisoner's companion ran away. Mr. Shorthouse succeeded, with great difficulty, in making the prisoner desist, and he put the blind girls in the right direction. The prisoner, after this, followed him, calling him brutal names and abusing him, and at last he struck him. Mr. Shorthouse called an officer and gave the prisoner into custody. The prisoner declared that lie had no recol lection of what had happened, spoke of his respectability, and said he had been a gentleman s servant. He attributed his misconduct to the influence of drink. Mr. Rushton, after a suitable admonition, ordered the prisoner to pay £2 and costs, or be imprisoned one month. IMPORTANT TO BENEFIT SOCIETIES.—At the police court, on Friday, a man named Thomas Lloyd, who appeared to be in a sickly and feeble condition, appeared before Mr. Rushton, and complained that the relief to which he was en titled by the Total Astinence Benefit Society was withheld. He stated that he was a superannuated member, and had been ill for fourteen months. The secretary of the society appeared against the claim. He said that they had no funds; that the society had been broken up on the 27th of June last, in accordance with the act of parliament ; and that the fund on hand at the time, amounting to £97, had since been paid to sick members, as well as an additional sum. The society had since joined the Independent Rechabites Society, and the complainant's name had been also enrolled amongst the members of that society. A general meeting had been called at the breaking up of the society. Mr. Rushton ex amined the rules of the society, and inquired whether the complainant had consented to its being broken up. He re plied that he had not, for he was then sick in Wales. Mr. Rushton stated, that that would not do. He found nothing in their rules that authorised them to break it up without complying with the requirements of the act of parliament, (16 Geo. IV. cap. 56, sec. 26,) and these were, that five. sixths in value of. the members should give their consent, and also that all parties entitled to reliet on account of age or infirmity should give their consent, testified under their hands individually and respectively. No such certificate was produced as regarded the present applicant, and the society must provide for him. He (Mr. R.) would not allow of such juggling changes in societies, evidently resorted to for the purpose of getting rid of their superannuated members. The secretary said he considered such a decision hard upon them, as the applicant had already received about £4O. Mr. Rushton :—That is of no consequence, as affecting the justice of the case. I shall give an order on you for payment, and shall see that it is enforced. SEAMAN'S WAGES.—On Friday last by adjournment, James Williams, chief mate of the ship Berkley, made a claim against Mr. Samuel Lee Trotman, for two months' wages, £B. 3s.' for the time he was on board the said ship at Calabar. It appeared that when the complainant was first engaged as chief mate, a person named Black was master of the ship, who was discharged, and another master was substituted, of the name of Rakin. Shortly after Rakin took command of the ship, be received orders to take the ship to another part of the river, which the chief mate insisted on being carried into effect, but Captain Rakin objected ; this led to insubordination on the part of the chief mate, and Cap tain Rakin was under the necessity of sending to one of the chiefs for assistance, and three canoes were ordered, and a sufficient quantity of natives, for the purpose of keeping erder on board the ship. After much disturbance taking place, the chief mate left the ship at Calabar. It was stated that a Mr. Wood who was a passenger on board, had made an entry of the transaction in the log-book, Mr. Rushton ordered this case to stand over till yesterday morning, in order that Mr. Wood might be produced. On Mr. Wood being examined, it appeared that the whole statement made in the log -book had been correctly ente re d, an d on thi s b e i ng c l ear l y esta blished, Mr. Rushton said he could not permit the mate to supersede the master, who had full command of the ship ; and that as . the compl a i nant h a d attempted to act contrary to th e master's orders, he was not entitled to his wages ; if the owners chose; they could proceed against him by action at law for mutiny. IMPROVEMENT OF THE MERSEY AND IRWELL FOR SEA-GOING VESSELS.—It a having been announced in Run corn that on Wedne s d a y last party of scientific and mer cantile gentlemen, who f ee l interested owould . , the contem plated ' improvements of the navigation, of therari come pp down the river f r om Manchester in the company steam packet Jacksharp, for the purpose of surveying the naviga tion and investigating and discussing the projected under taking, the powerful steamer was prepared and despatched to the Grand Junction Bridge, beyond Bank Quay, to meet the distinguished party, and convey them on their interesting and most important expedition to Liverpool, and round the floating light ship at Formby. The day was beautifully fine, and the tide being a very hjgli one, th e p ar ty h a d t h e most favourable opportunity of prosecuting their designs with pleasure and advantage. They arrived at Runcorn about three o'clock in the afternoon. In passing along the river they were frequently cheered from its banks by assembled crowds ; and when they approached the docks of the Mersey and Irwell Conapany, at Runcorn, they were greeted with a royal salute of half-minute guns, and th e masts an d r i gg i ng of the numerou s Irish traders and coasters which crowded th es e spacious dock s were gaily deck e d out w i t h fl ags , an d m any rounds of he art y cheering were given from the sailors on the pier hea ds, who, according to the very disinterested representat i on s of our Manchester contemporaries, expect ere ac h es t e r basin. long to moor their ships and discharge their cargoes in The day's excursion is hailed as the M commencement an earnest of one o f t h e most magnificent undertakings for the port of Manchester, that ever was con ceived. Our rival port friends grow eloquent on this an ticipated project, but building castles in the air sometimes amuses the most ta lented individuals. CORONER'S INQUEST. —An inquest was held on Friday before P. F. Curry, Esq., on view of the body of William Wynne, a mar ried lean, of seve n t een years of age. Char lotte Chambers said she was the daught er o f M a ry cham bers, who keeps a cow-housein Finch-street. On Tuesday night week, about ten o clock, as she was s t an ding on the steps at the door, she observed the deceased standing on the area rails before the house, looki ng th roug h t h e w i n d ow . He remained on the rails some time, and, at last, made an effort to jump off backwards, when his trowsers caught the top of the rails, and he fell backwards an d s t ru ck the back of his head against .the flags. Hi s f eet rema i ne d on the rails. She went to his assistanc e , an d en d eavoure d t o l oose his trowsers from the rail, but was not able to do so, and she then called _ some men from the h ouse w h o ca me and lifted him up. He said he was not much butt, and walked away, a nd she did not see him again until Thursday morn ing, hen he wa s dead.—Eliza W ynne sa id t h e d ecease d was her husband, and was seventeen years old. Last Tues day night week deceased was brought home, and complained of a pain in his head, and was very sick. A surgeon was called to him, but he never appeared to get any better, and was at intervals insensible. He died on Tuesday night last. He never said t h a t he had had a f a ll, an d seeme d qu it e un conscious of it.— Mr. Pennington, surgeon, who had attended the deceased, sa id, that he found him, on Tuesday week, i n a state of insensibil i ty : He examined his head, but found no external marks of injury. He prescribed such remedies as he considered proper, but without avail ; he never rallied He had symptoms of concussion of the brain, and, no doubt, died from injury tc . , the head. The . jury returned a verdict, that the deceased (bed from conemision of the brain, caused by accidenta ll y fa ng from the rads. }'MIGRATION.-4 very extensive emigration is now taking place to New York. On Sunday the packet ship Sheridan sailed with upwards of 350 passengers on board ; and a ship was in the river on the same day with nearly 250. Notwith standing the numbers on board, the accommodation is ample. THEFT FROM A BOAT-BUILDER'S YARD_ court, yesterday, a y oung man , J am e s Gillon, was charged with stealing a plane from a boat-builder's yard, and pledging it. He was seen making his way from the shed over the back, and the plane was afterwards found at the pawnbroker's where he had pledged it. Five other planes and some other tools had also been taken. He was ordered to pay three shillings, the value of the article, also a fine of £.3, or, in de fault, to be imprisoned for two months. .At the polic Tint LIVERPOOL UNITARIAN CONTROVERSY• - It will have been seen by our advertising columns, that this impor tant series of lectures, delivered a short time since in Christ Church in this town, has undergone a considerable reduction in the price, with a view to accommodate those whose means did not permit of their purchasing the work when first pub lished. We cordially recommend all those of our readers who have not yet added this valuable book to their libraries to do so without delay, as, we believe, very few copies remain unsold. SMOKING IN A BOAT CONTAINING GUNPOWDER.-At the police-court, yesterday, a boatman named Hugh Weak ley was charged with having been found smoking his pipe while he was landing some kegs of gunpowder at the Seacombe Slip, north-end of the Prince's Dock. The case was proved by police-officer 505. Mr. Rushton remarked that the prac tice was a most dangerous one : it was a wonder, indeed, that the offender and those near him were not all blown.in the air. He was fined ten shillings and costs. THE GREAT LIVERPOOL. — This noble vessel arrived at Falmouth on Sunday night, bringing about forty passengers• Her dates of sailing are—from Alexandria Feb. 24 ; Malta I st, and Gibraltar the 7th instant ; being only four days and five hours from the latter port. The intelligence from the east received by the Great Liverpool has been in every point anticipated by that which reached Marseilles by the Prome theus steamer, and which was published in the STANDARD of Friday last. LIVERPOOL SHIPMASTERS' ASSOCIATION.—We under that Captain Hunt, the first of whose interesting lectures on the same subject was recently reported in the STANDARD, will deliver his second lecture on Salvage and General Average to the members of the Shipmasters' Association on Monday evening next, at seven o'clock. A topic so impor tant to nautical men, and which is oftener made the subject of discustion in books, which are frequently inaccessible to them, than of instruction by the " royal road " of public lectures. cannot fail to attract a numerous auditory. The gallant Captain, too, is equally " at home" behind the lecture desk as he unquestionably is in his ship, braving the winds and storms that agitate the deep. STEALING FROM A DWELLING HOUSE. —Yesterday, Peter Hunter, apparently a labourer, was charged before Mr. Rushton, with having entered the house of William Barton, shipwright, Trafalgar-place, Great Howard-street, forcing a drawer, and taking out some wearing apparel. Elizabeth Barton said, she had occasion to go out on Satur day night, leaving the house locked. On her return she found some one had entered by the window, and she missed a jacket, waistcoat, and ttowsers of her husband's, from a drawer. A neighbour was called in, who secured the front door, and a constable afterwards came—when the prisoner was found standing on a foot-bear near the parlour, in which the clothes were found on the floor, in readiness to be carried off. The prisoner said he found the window open and went in. He was committed for trial. FATAL ACCIDENT ON SHIPBOARD. — An inquisition was yesterday held before P. F. Curry, Esq., on view of the body of William Eades, a seaman belonging to the ship Canton. Captain Jenion, of the steam-tug Victoria, stated that on Tuesday last he was towing out the Canton, and when near the Bell Buoy, he observed the deceased fall upon the deck with great violence. He had previously been on the fore topsail yard arm, loosing the sail. Ha was picked up direct ly, and taken to the packet, when the witness and the captain of the ship saw him shortly afterwards, and found him insen sible and bleeding. Mary Bell said she resided at No. 7, Dwerry-street, where the deceased lodged with her, and was 22 years of age. The deceased was taken from the packet to the Northern Hospital. Mr. Parker, assistant house-sur geon of that establishment, said the deceased was•brought there on Tuesday. He had a compound fracture of the right thigh, and some injury to the head, and these were the cause of death. He died on Sunday morning. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that he accidentally fell, and died from the injuries he received. THEATRE-ROYAL.—On Friday Mr. Balls's benefit was well attended. On Saturday " Richard the Third" was de lightfully played. Mr. Elton's Richard is well worth see ing :it is replete with charming readings. He rejects alto gether the claptrapisms of many actors of the present day, and plays it in an even, smooth style, giving us an idea of the actual character of the crooked-backed monarch—as he was—not as Colley Cibber and the Keans would have us regard him. Mrs. Bland's Lady Anne was excellently done. No one knows Shakspere better than Mrs. Bland, or more perfectly understands him. The house was thinly attended, but those who were present seemed highly pleased with the performance. Last night, on the occasion of Mr. George Vandenhoff's benefit, there was an excellent attendance. As Knowles says in " The Wife," I see you know my father's face." Mr. Vandenhoff's likeness to his father is striking, as is also the style of his acting. Charles Kean resembles his' father, and when he delivered the above passage at the Olympic Theatre in London, when " The Wife" was first performed, it was always warmly caught up by the audience. Though Mr. Vandenhoff will ever be warmly welcomed here for his father's sake, he will also be esteemed for his own : he is decidedly the most rising actor of the day.—To-night " ir ginius," " Bob Short," and " Monsieur Tonson," will be performed. To-morrow " William Tell," " Bob Short," and "No Song no Supper." In the latter Miss E. Honner will make her first appearance. Report speaks well of this lady, as it does also of Mr. Grainger in French characters, who plays Tonson. Really, if the Liverpool playgoers will not visit the Theatre-Royal with a company such as the present, they ought to be debarred altogether from seeing the legitimate drama represented. FORGERY. — Edward Gilbert, a respectable looking young man was placed before Mr. Rushton, on Saturday, charged with having forged the acceptance of a bill of exchange, which he had uttered to Mr. John Holmes Clementson, solicitor, No. 6 Castle-street. It appeared that Mr. Clementson had known the prisoner a few months, during which time he bad done business for him. On the 2d March last, the prisoner took to Mr. Clementson a bill of exchange for £23 16s ; and saying that he wanted some money to make a payment, in duced the latter to lend him £7 10s. The bill was dated the 24th Feb., payable in one month. was signed and endorsed by the prisoner, and addressed to Mr. Charles Edward Warneford, by whom, also, it purported to be accepted, pay able at Messrs. Cunliffe, Brooks, and Co.'s, bankers, Lon don. Mr. Clementson asked who the acceptor was. The prisoner said he was a respectable young man, a son of Dr. Warneford, of Gloucester, and a clerk in the Customs. The bill was left in Mr. Clementson's possession as security, with the understanding that the prisoner was to repay ten pounds in one week. The ten pounds included the sum lent and an account for professional services. The bill was not to be ne gotiated. The prisoner did not call as he promised, and Mr. Clementson went to the Custom-house and found Mr. Warneford, who had been intimate with the prisoner, but knew nothing whatever of the bill. The signature to the ac ceptance was not in Mr. Warneford's handwriting. Mr. Clementson caused the prisoner to be apprehended. He said to Mr. Lloyd, the constable who took him into custody, that he intended to repay the money and take up the bill. The prisoner had nothing to say in his defence. He was com mitted for trial. -- EXTENSIVE ROBBERY FROM THE DOCK QUAY.—James Parr, Thomas Brown, John Holbein, and Lear Miller, were placed at the bar of the Police-court, on Saturday, charged with having stolen eight puncheons of molasses from the quay of the Manchester-basin. An immense quantity of evi dence was taken for the purpose of bringing the charge home to the prisoners. It appears that twenty-four puncheons of molasses were consigned, through Messrs. Swan, Dixon, and Co., to a party in Liverpool. who did not immediately send for them on arrival. They were, consequently, left on the quay, where Mr. Walsh, one of the partners in the firm above-mentioned, saw, as he was passing, a cart laden with three of the puncheons. He inquired where they were going, and was informed to a warehouse in Finney-lane. This led Mr. 'Walsh to perceive that something was wrong. The puncheons, as they were placed on the quay, had been duly marked on their heads with lead-coloured paint. Informa tion was given to the police, and the result was the discovery of eight of the puncheons at the warehouse of Holbein, who is a treacle dealer in Finney-lane. The marks on the puncheons had been scraped out, and, as a further disguise, the heads bad: been washed over with lime, and new marks and numbers put on the sides. They were, however, easily identified. Or.e or two other parties had been concerned in the transaction, but they were not yet in custody. From the evidence, it was plain that the prisoners had proceeded in the most impudent manner, engaged carts and carried off the puncheons as if they were their own property. Had not the discovery been made by Mr. Walsh they would, probably, have succeeded in carrying off more of the property. They were committed for trial at the approaching assizes. SUICIDE UNDER TEMPORARY DERANGEMENT.—An in quest was held yesterday, before Mr. Curry, touching the death of John S. Mitchell, who had died at the Northern Hospital. Robert Breeze said he was a passenger in the ship Queen Victoria, which left New Orleans in February : the deceased was also a passenger. The vessel arrived at Liverpool on Saturday evening last, and he went on shore. Next morning he went on board, and he found the deceased sick in bed. He was not able to speak. A surgeon was called, and the stomach-pump applied ; but he did not re vive. and was afterwards taken on shore, where witness had since seen him dead at the Northern Hospital. On Wed nesday (while the ship was at sea), witness went into the after cabin and found deceased there. He appeared confused, and drank something out of a glass, which witness thought was brandy or ale ; but on smelling it, he could not detect anv liquor. The deceased said he had taken some morphia, and would be a dead man in twenty-four hours. Some emetics were given to him and he recovered. Deceased ap peared a very weak-minded man, and was very melancholy during the passage home.—Captain Wildes Thomas Thomp son, of the Queen Victoria, corroborated the last witness. Deceased had told him he did not want to go on shore, but to die on hoard the vessel. He was much reserved, wished to be by himself, and read a good deal.—(The deceased, it appeared, was professionally a druggist, and no doubt had the morphia amongst his luggage.)—Police-officer Hodson said that on Sunday, while he was at the Prince's Dock Basin, he was told that a man had poisoned himself on board the vessel. He went on board, and found him insensible, with a surgeon attending him.—Mr. Edward Parker, assistant house-surgeon of the Northern Hospital, said the deceased was brought there on Sunday, in a state of com plete insensibility with other symptoms which, with the account he had heard of the case, led him to the conclusion that he was labouring under the effects of opium. The stomach-pump and other means were used, but he did not recover, and died in about three hours after he was brought to the hospital. The jury, uuder the circumstances, returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased poisoned himself during a temporary state of derangement.—The relatives of the deceased are stated to be resident in the county of Galway. ROBBERY BY A JUVENILE SERVANT.—At the police court, yesterday, a girl named Elizabeth Swift, apparently of about 14 years of age, was placed at the bar , cha r g ed with having robbed her master's house of a considerable quantity of property, in plate and clothing. The wife of Mr. William Bercy, book-keeper, No. 1, Moira-street, stated that the prisoner had gone into their service on the 20th of last month, and remained about 16 days. On the afternoon of the Bth instant, she (Mrs. B.) went out, leaving the pri soner in charge of the house, and on her return about five o'clock, she found the house door open, and the prisoner gone. The property was then missed, consisting of two silver table spoons, one silver butter ladle , four silver An old i tea spoons, a black satin bonnet, a Saxony dr e ss, a shawl, a scarf, &c. &c, Bills of the robbery wer e printed. man named Harrison, said he kept an eating-house n Wigan On Friday last, the prisoner came to his house, and offered the spoons for sale, stating that they belonged to her aunt, who was badly off in the house, and that she wanted lOs f or them. Harrison suspecting all was not right, took them to Mr. Latham, the chief constable, who returned with him to the house, and apprehended the prisoner. She told Mr. Latham that she lived with her aunt at Dalton, who was badly off, and had sent her to Wigan to raise some money on the spoons. A constable was afterwards sent to Dalton, and found at the house of John Swift, tbe_prisoner's fathe r , all the clothing that had been missed. The whol e o f th e property was identified. The prisoner, who decli ne d sa yi n g anything, was conunited for trial at the sessions. EGGLESTON'S TOOTH PASTE.—The best remedy for this disagreeable complaint ever brought before the public is Mr. Eggleston's tooth paste. If it does not altogether eradicate the disease, it very considerably alleviates the pain. TUE LlVER.—Tilbury had a good house at this theatre last night. As the benefits are now coming off, we hope the patrons of the " minor drama" will not forget their fa vourites. All have seemed to strive to amuse through the season. It must be remembered that—" Those who live to please roust please to live." WATERLOO COURSING MEETING.—We beg to remind those who wish to see this very clever picture of Mr. Ans dell's, that it will leave Liverpool positively ou Saturday. Upwards of SO subscribers has been obtained in Liverpool, for proofs, before letter and prints. It should be borne in mind, that impressions are delivered according to rotation in subscription—" first come, first served ;" therefore, those who place their names earliest on the list, will obtain the finest and most brilliant engravings. MECHANICS' INSTITUTION, MOUNT-STREET The annual general meeting of the members and friends of this institution took place on Wednesday last, in the large lecture-room, which was densely crowded in every part. The chair was taken by JOHN LEYLAND, Esq., president of the institution, who was supported on the platform by William Denson, Esq., James Mulleneux, Esq., John Smith, Esq. (the celebrated lecturer), J. S. Radcliff, Esq., Wm. Preston, Esq., and other friends of education. Mr. HODGSON, the secretary, read the report, which is of great length. The report set forth that the natural results of the increased accommodation and extended advantages of the institution were beginning to appear. The great addi tions made to the Literary Museum and Sculpture Gallery ; the greater number of members ; the fact that there are now above one thousand five hundred pupils, and that there are forty-nine teachers and others regularly employed in the in stitution • the exemption from debt ; and the greater effici ency of die schools, are subjects, not merely for present con gratulation, but for future hope. During the last year one thousand six hundred and forty three new members have been :admitted, while one thousand two hundred and fifty-four have ceased to pay their subscrip tions. The present number of members is as follows :-523 members for life, 1575 annual members, 9 quarterly, 571 sons of members, 261 apprentices of members, 211 apprentices of non-members, 362 ladies ; total, 3512 ; being fifty-two more than in March last, the increase consisting wholly of the ap prentices of non-members. The income and expenditure of the institution, during the past year, have been greater than at any former period. A large portion of the outlay had been occasioned by the recent erection and furnishing of two new wings. From the accounts, it appears that the balance in the hands of Mr. Jones is £lOB 19s. 3d. ; in the hands of Mr. Mulleneux, £1451 Ils. ; total, XI:AA 10s. 3d. The sum due on the Building Fund is £273 13s. 2d. Salaries and accounts unpaid by Mr. Jones, £231 12s. Salaries, &c., unpaid by Mr. Mulleneux, £576 Bs. 3d. ; total, £lOBllBB. sd. ; which, deducted from the total above, makes the actual balance £479 3s. hl. _ . In order to simplify the business of the institution, it has been resolved to place all the funds in the hands of one trea surer instead of three, the accounts, as hitherto, being kept distinct. The report treated the business of every department of the institution separately, givinr , all necessary information re specting the extra classes, Library, Museum, Sculpture Gal lery, Exhibition, Lectures, Lower Day School, Normal Teachers, High School, and Preparatory School. The CHAIRMAN recapitulated a few of the facts set forth in the report, and concluded with an urgent appeal to the members to endeavour to induce others to partake of the be nefits of the institution. . . _ Mr. JOIIN SNIITII moved the adoption of the report. Dr. NOTTINGHANI, in seconding the motion, said, that the introduction of classes for the cultivation of the most refined accomplishments of society, and the existence of classes de voted to the study of the fine arts, were some of the best features of the year just passed. Mr. T. REAY proposed a vote of thanks to those persons who had presented donations of books, apparatus, and spe cimens of natural history to the institution during the past year. The list of donations having been read by the Secretary, Mr. JAMES MuLLENEux seconded the motion, and con gratulated the members on the example which they had shown to others, an example which bad been followed by those who had promoted the erection of the Collegiate In stitution. Mr. Jon, in proposing the thanks of the meeting to the officers for the past year, said, that they ought not to look to their services for the past year only, when the institution was in a flourishing condition, but they ought to recollect the services rendered by some of those gentlemen when they were surrounded with difficulties. Mr. WA SON seconded the motion. The names of the boys who were to receive prizes were read over. Mr. URQUH ART moved for the election of the officers for the present year, which Mr. DUNNETT seconded, and after a vote of thanks to the Chairman had been proposed by Mr. MURPHY, seconded by Mr. MAYER, and carried unani mously, the business of the meeting terminated about halt past nine. At the conclusion of the meeting, the picture gallery of the institution, which had been hung with the drawings and the paintings of the pupils of the institution, was thrown open. Amongst the collection there are some very fine specimens, particularly of a number of marine and locomotive engines, coats of arms, &c. By far the best in the room was a copy of Landseer's beautiful painting of " The Return from Hawk ing," which has been executed in oil by Mr. R. Robers, a young man of great promise, and who, we understand, is about to proceed to London. On the whole, the specimens were good, and were viewed with much satisfaction. They will again he publicly exhibited on Saturday afternoon. IMPORT DUTIES.-THE LATE MEETING (From the Lancaster Gazette) On Monday, a large meeting of bankers, merchants, and other influential persons, was held at Liverpool, to petition parliament against the interests of the British farmer. "Ah 1" asks the reader, " how is this ? The bankers and merchants of Liverpool meeting in a body to attack the far mer 1 I thought better of the town. I doubt not there are bankers and merchants in Liverpool of a certain line of po litics, who would have no objection at any time to a fling at the agriculturist, because in general agriculturists are of conservative politics, and because their ruin might for a sea son administer to the selfish propensities of their opponents ; but, as a body, the bankers and merchants would not will ingly do what is here represented of them." Reader, you are perfectly right, and yet the fact is as we state. The ex planation is curious, as illustrative of whig-radical honesty. A full report of the meeting alluded to appears in our con temporary of the Liverpool Standard, and the report com mences as follows : " Yesterday a public meeting was held in the Sessions house, (of the bankers, merchants, brokers, shipowners, and others, for the pur pose of taking into consideration the re striction and prohib►tions of our commercial code, and to determine upon all proper measures for obtaining such alte rations therein as may appear expedient.) The meeting was called by the Mayor, upon the requisition of eighty-nine mercantile firms. The meeting was numerously attended by men of all parties." Such is the description of the meeting in regard to rank, wealth, and numbers. It appears to have been, as we have expressed it, a meeting of the bankers, merchants, &c. " But, then," says the reader, it was not a meeting to peti tion against the fanner, or, to speak more specifically, to petition against the corn-laws." Reader, you shall see pre sently. _ We find by the report that first Mr. Hugh Hornby ad dressed the meeting at length in favour of free-trade in general, but limited his objections to the protective duties on tea, sugar, and tobacco. He was followed by Mr. Ripley, who spoke of tea and rice. A Mr. Aikin was the third speaker in succession, and he added shipping, timber, and other duties to the list. All thse speakers delivered themselves at length, but not a word about the corn laws. So far all went very smoothly, and it is not till after a gen tleman of the name of Moore has spoken that we find out what is going on. Mr. Moore complains that a Mr. Holland, who had spoken next before him, should have introduced the subject of the corn laws, " because he (Mr. Moore) had signed the requisition on the distinct understanding that that that question was not to be mooted." Upon this a Mr. Duffey rose to object that the corn laws (to which the gen tleman seems to have an antipathy) should be barked by any secret understanding. Mr. Duffey observed, with great sim plicity, that it was a shameful thing to do that. Mr. Duffey having afterwards obtained a glimmering of what was going on, allowed himself to be silenced, but what say the bankers and merchants of Liverpool on finding them selves so completely entrapped into a declaration of war upon the corn laws ? Whether or not they left the room indig nantly in a body we cannot say, because the report makes no mention of such a circumstance, but we take it for granted they did so. BIRKENHEAD POLICE COURT.—MoNDAy,MAR.IS (Before Jomr DEAN CASE, Eva.) Patrick Brannagan, an Irishman, was brought up in the custody of the police, on a charge of having been drunk and disorderly yesterday. It appeared that the defendant, after having enjoyed himself the whole day in Liverpool, in anti cipation of St. Patrick's day, entered one of the ferry-boats in the afternoon, the captain of which was very glad to de posit him in Cheshire. Ile had not been long ashore before his oscillations, not less than the noise of his brogue, at tracted the attention of the police, and he found a refuge in the lockup.—Mr. Case lectured Patrick on his anti-tem perance proceedings, and ordered him to pay a fine of ss. and costs. William Crabtree was also fined ss. for having been drunk and disorderly during divine service yesterday. GONG OR BELL IN FOGGY WEATHER TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD beg leave to suggest that, during the prevalence of the fog which at present renders the passage of the Mersey so very dangerous, if a bell or gong were to be placed on the landing stage or pier -head, it would be of very great service to the packets navigating the river. The gong or bell should be struck or tolled continually while the boats are plying. VIATOR. SINGIILAR BOAT FOR THE NIGER EXPEDITION.—There is now constructing in the boat-house of Woolwich dockyard a boat of a singular appearance, being formed similar to some of the shallow creels used for carrying fish in seaport towns. The boat is about 20 feet long and 10 feet broad, and about 21 feet deep, and yet it so light, that it is capable of being carried any distance on the shoulders of four men. It is formed of thin stripes of wood, about two inches broad, and woven together exactly in the same way us Indian mat ting, and it is intended to cover the outside with waterproof canvass. The purpose for which it will be used is to cross shallow creeks and rivers, and from its size appears capable of carrying 30 men. It will be placed above the life-boat on board the steam-vessel when not in use, and will answer as an excellent protection to it from the meridian rays of the sun in the tropical climate to which the expedition is bound. EQUALIZATION OF THE DUTY ON RUM.—The bill in troduced by the President of the Board of Trade for reduc ing the duty on rum and rum-shrub, the produce of and im ported from British possessions within the limits of the East India Company's charter, has been printed as amended on re-commitment. It provides that for every gallon of rum of any strength not exceeding the strength of proof by Sykes's hydrometer, and so in proportion for any greater or less strength, or greater or less quantity, not sweetened or mixed, the duty shall be 9s. 4d. ; and the same duty for every gallon of rum shrub, the produce of and imported as afore said. A proviso has been added that such rum or rum shrub shall be the produce of some British possession within the limits of the East India Company's charter, into which the importation of foreign shall have been prohibited. It is also provided that the act shall not come into operation until satisfactory proof is laid before the Privy Council that such importation has been prohibited into any of the British possessions within the limits of the East India Company's charter to which the act is intended to apply ; nor until the Governor General of India shall have passed an act for pre venting frauds by the admixture of spirits made from rice or other substances. A. certificate of origin must be delivered by the masters of ships importing the article, to the collector or comptroller of the customs at the port of importation ; and the same party must also give a declaration before the same officers that the certificate was received by him at the place where the rum or rum shrub was taken on board. MONEY-MARKET.- , -SATURDAY EVENING The Consol-market was in the early part of the day very firm, at a trilling advance upon the prices of yesterday, but as business progressed it did not receive sufficient support, and the consequence was a retrograde movement before it closed. Consols for money opened at 871, advanced to 88, and left off at 871. For the account they opened 881, advanced to 881, and closed at 88i to I. New Three-and-a-Half per Cents. were last quoted 96;1 ; India Bonds, 18 discount ; and Exchequer-bills, Os. to Ils. premium. In the foreign stock-market business was limited in amount, and prices were influenced by the state of things in the Eng lish funds. Spanish Actives finally closed at 231 to 1; Por tuguese 5 per Cents., 301 to 311; Ditto 3 per Cents., 181 to 19 ; Dutch 21 per Cents., 501 to -1 ; Ditto 5 per Cents., 991 to ; Colombian, 221 to 1; Mexican, 271 to 1 ; Danish, 77 to 78 ; and Brazilian, 71 to 72. SCOTT'S NOVELS.—ANOTIIER EDITION !-Mr. Wareing Webb, it appears, is now receiving names of subscribers for a new edition of Walter Scott's Novels. The price is so cheap, that they are placed within almost everybody's reach. The High Sheriff of the county of Derby has appointed the Rev. Thomas Sing, Catholic priest of Derby, to be his chap lain during his year of office.—Derby Mercury. DEATH OF Dlt. M'Tvnx.—We regret to have to announce the death of the Rev. Dr. M`Turk, Professor of Church History in the University of Glasgow, which took place at his house, in the College, on Wednesday afternoon. Dr. M`Turk was appointed to the Chair of Church History, the patronage of which belongs to the Crown, in 1807.—Scottish Guardian. TRIAL OF MISTERS.—The commission for the Shropshire assizes will be opened in Shrewsbury on Friday next, by Mr. Baron Gurney and Mr. Justice Coleridge. The num ber of prisoners committed for trial amounts to 37, exclusive of Josiah Misters, charged with the attempted murder of Mr. Mackreth, at Ludlow. The interest attached to this trial has excited the curiosity of the entire county ; and we understand, that in order to prevent any disturbance or overcrowding on the day of trial, it has been resolved to ad mit the public by tickets from the sheriff's office. The de fence of Misters has been intrusted to Mr. Jones, coroner for this town, who has retained Mr. C. Phillips and Mr. V. Lee. The trial is expected to take place on Tuesday week, or Wednesday, before Mr. Baron Gurney ; in all probability it will occupy at least one day. The case for the prosecution will be conducted by Mr. Anderson, of Ludlow.—Shrews bury Chronicle of Friday. OPERATIONS FOR THE CURE OF STAMMERING.—Pro fessor Dieffenbach, who lays claim to the discovery of the cure for squinting, has also operated for stammering. A correspondent of the Medical Gazette states that the first operation for the cure of stuttering was performed by the professor, on the 7th of January, on a young gentleman 13 years of age, and was followed by a perfect cure. In this case he excised a piece, of the shape of a wedge, from the root of the tongue, being three quarters of an inch at its su perior part, and extending through its entire thickness. SPANISH TRAVELLING.—The diligence running between Madrid and Andalusia was stopped a few days since near Valdepanas, by three armed brigands, who completely stripped the coach and passengers of all that was worth taking. It is a lamentable feature in this case, that the party of troops which escorted the carriage, either through treachery or cowardice, surrendered their arms to the rob bers without making any resistance. If the government does not make some greater exertions, it will be impossible for any one to travel through the country with any degree of safety, without having recourse to the system established by the famous brigand Jose Maria, who, on receiving a certain suns of money, guaranteed the persons and property of those who confided in him.—Galionani's Messenger. MURDER OF A MAN BY HIS WIFE.—A foul murder, which caused a strong sensation in the neighbourhood, was committed in the town of Claremorris, county Mayo, on Sun day night, the 7th instant. The name of the victim was John Halloran. He had been married for some years, and is said to have lived on very good terms with his wife. He was found on Monday morning dead on his own floor, perfectly naked, with a portion of his shirt fastened round his neck, the latter presenting the appearance usually observed in cases of death by strangulation. There was a tumbler containing a large quantity of undissolved arsenic found in the room with the deceased. Some circumstances appeared which caused sus picion to fall on the wife and a policeman named Stanford, who were immediately arrested. A coroner's inquest was held the ensuing day, when the following verdict was given : —" That the deceased, John Halloran, came by his death by being wilfully strangled by Mary Halloran, deceased's wife, and John Stanford, policeman." The judges were at the time sitting in Castlebar, and an express arrived from the Crown Solicitor to have the prisoners sent immediately to stand their trial.—Dublin Evening Mail. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY.—During the last week, two sol diers, Sergeant George Fillingham, and John Stather, a pri vate of the 68th regiment, and Ruth Whitely, Ann Flitcroft, James Robertson, and Benjamin Whitely, were brought up at the Borough Court (the sergeant being out on bail) charged, Robertson with stealing, and the others with receiving a quantity of gold rings, brooches, and a watch, the property of Mr. James West, watchmaker, of this town, and remanded until Monday last, when the case was heard. Mr. Glover appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Taylor for the defence of the soldiers. Mr. Gordon appeared for the defence of Whitely and wife. Mr. Glover stated the case. The pri soner Robertson, it appeared, had been servant to Mr. West, and was the principal in the affair, but he found that he could not make out a case without admitting him as evidence, which he exceedingly regretted. Robertson had been Mr. West's servant for about twelve months, and had been dis charged about ten days ago, for keeping bad company, and from a suspicion that he must be guilty of pilfering. During his servitude be had become acquainted with the other pri soners, who had induced him to commit the thefts complained of, and had disposed of the property, principally, to their own advantage.—After a short consultation the sergeant and Whitely were acquitted, and the other three were com mitted for trial.—Bolton Chronicle. FUNERAL OF THE RIGHT REV. BISHOP WALKER.—It gives us sorrow to record the death of that excellent and ve nerable individual, the Right Rev. James Walker, D.D., Bishop of Edinburgh, the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. He departed this life on Friday, sth current, at 8 o'clock, A.M., after a long and painful illness, which, though it allowed his general health to remain tolerably good, until from about a year before his death, was, nevertheless, for many years, a visitation of peculiar severity. While tra velling in Italy he had an attack of rheumatism, and, since then, the disease gradually became more aggravated, until, from the extreme rigidity of his joints, he was unable to move from one apartment to another. Retaining, in full vigour, his mental powers until within a very few of his closing days, a returning and transient gleam of consciousness enabled him, in a very affecting manner, to bless and take leave of his mourning family, before his decease. He was elevated to the episcopate on 7th March, 1830, and, since then, has exercised his prelatic functions to the great satisfaction of the church. The funeral took place in the burying-ground attached to St. John's Episcopal Chapel, on Thursday last. REJOICINGS AT IRVINE ON TEE ARRIVAL OF THE EARL OF EGLINTON AND HIS COUNTESS.—Tuesdav last having been set apart for the arrival at Eglinton Castle of the Earl of Eglinton and his beautiful countess, it was held as a day of high jubilee and merry-making in the ancient and spirited town of Irvine. At the Cross there was a most elegant triumphal arch erected, surmounted with the family shield and coronet of the Earl, covered and festooned throughout with laurel and flowers. All the vessels in the harbour had their flags flying, and those who were to take part in the proceedings of the day wore white favours. The Countess is an exceedingly beautiful woman, and seemed much interested and delighted with everything she saw.— Scottish Guardian. THE " RATIONAL" SYSTEM.—We have seen a document, authenticated by Mr. Robert Owen's signature, which must afford useful knowledge to those of the working classes who look up to him as the benefactor of their order. This docu ment is an estimate of the expense of setting up one of the grand quadrangular community colonies of 2000 acres, for 2000 or 2500 men, women, and children ; in which, by spade husbandry and their own industry in producing various other requisites, they are to board in clover and lodge in " man sions and palaces surrounded with shrubberies, gardens, and pleasure grounds, superior to those of the most powerful monarchs of the earth." In this detailed estimate the figure is £700,000, say seven hundred thousand pounds ; to which Mr. Owen quaintly appends a note—" The interest on £700,000 is £35,000, and for repairs say £lO,OOO. So that the " rational" system is that, at most, 2500 persons of both sexes and all ages are by their industry to produce, every year, not only what is necessary for their own food and rai ment, but £15,000 besides—equal to £lB for each man, wo man, and child—tor interest of money. This is Mr. Owen's great boon to the working classes ; and a nice prospect it holds out to those who can work, when four-fifths of the company must be either children or aged persons, who can do no work at all !—Bristol Journal. SHIPWRECK.—It is now our melancholy duty to set the public anxiety at rest with regard to the shipwreck on the southern coast, which has been the absorbing topic for the last fortnight. The week before last we ventured an opinion that the vessel lost was the Maria brigantine, of Hobart-town, from Port Adelaide for that place. The facts which have come to light during the last two or three days have proved the opinion we then expressed was but too correct. The ves sel lost is the Maria. The fact has [been ascertained by means of the gold rings found on the bodies of two ladies, and brought to Adelaide by Mr. Pullen. These have been identified by the relations of the deceased as having belonged to Mrs. York, both of whom were passengers in the Maria, ' The whole of the passengers by the vessel were—Mr. and Mrs. Denham and family (three boys and two girls, we be• lieve); George Young Green and his wife, Thomas Daniel and wife, Mrs. York, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Murray. and James Strutt, a servant of Mr. Denham's. Mr. Denham and Mrs. York were brother and sister, and cousins, we believe, to Captain Hurst, of the Agenoria. Mrs. Yor k had an infant when she left. Of Green and Daniel we know nothing. Mrs. Smith was the wife of Captain Smith, commander of the Maria. Mr. Murray was ayoung man, a brother of Mr. Thomas Shepherd, who is about to sail to India, in the ship Fairlie. The number of passengers was therefore 16, in cluding the children. Besides Captain Smith and the mate, there were, if we recollect rightly, eight men and boys of the crew, so that there must have been about 26 people on board. What has become of the others it is impossible to conjecture. They must have gone to the southward, and reached Portland Bay, or they may have met with the same fate as those which have been discovered. It is rather re markable, that the bodies found appear nearly all to have been of Mr. ;Denham's party : the two male bodies, it is true, have not been in any way identified; but Mr. Denham's family and Mrs. York's infant were the only children on board. Four of the bodies found were those of children, the others being those of Mrs. Denham and Mrs. York, and the two male bodies. It is unnecessary to hazard a conjecture as to how the vessel has been lost. Should any of the unfortunate crew survive, time will pro bably bring this to light.—South Australian Register, Sept. 5. FIRES IN CRIMNEYS.—It ought to be known to every person that the attempt to arrest the progress of a fire in a chimney by any plan of putting a wet blanket or other cover ing at the top, or by throwing water down, is but a very remote remedy. The most obvious mode is to extinguish the fire from the bottom, which may be done by throwing into the fire-place a few handaful of flour of sulphur, which creates sulphurous acid gas, and which, ascending the chimney, will extinguish the flames, as combustion cannot continue in it ; or, what is equally effectual, stopping the current of air up the chimney by means of holding a carpet over the whole front of the fire-place. TIGHT LACING.—AII the world has agreed to recognise the Medicean Venus as the unity of every perfection in the female form. Casts from this beautiful statue are numerous in this country. Let one of these be placed in the establish ment of a modiste, and by its side a lay figure, such as is used dress beby artists, having the ribs of that form which tight stays are sure to produce . ' Let every kind of corset an d us t s a h trii ra n eri tt : eilcPtishgtonpf°laeastreireffect, adapted to the ad justed to these two figures, from the most viola tionsonlergeosandahcecofirdguinrge of propriety to the nicest results o t f be rld re kill iu spite of every effort to the contrary War_ poutt—a taper waist have needlessly been , superior to t to nature shall be, in every rea r tfc c t , s rse tyl t e s of dress, having for its waist, which is not according to art, e c v o e n n e —to gain which 117 c ld the conviction of this applied. In a wo a r p d i grand object the perfect figure than other. on re be eas b i l l . : , , ,g a h n t d i, the factmo understandings of the female part of the creation, the average mortality of the sex would w o th ro tteh e to be less than it is at present, and their personal comforts and health much greater. Moreover, they would be finer figures, even according to their own notions of beauty of form • and t hi s , we fear, is, and always will be, the greatest conidera tion of a11..-Polytechnie Journal.•