The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-06-11 00:00:00

E ittraturr. POETRY. LINES ON MUSIC. (Written for the Liverpool Standard.) Music, thou soother of the troubled mind! Whose sway is felt in every feeling breast; E'en now thy spirit trembles on the wind, That glides in stillness from the placid \lest, And, gently playing, fans itself to rest; Thy peac,•ful influence calms the aching heart, That deeply sorrows, though it once was blest, Those which have known how sad it is to part, The anguish that succeeds to love's deep-wounding dart Thy notes come stealing on the opening air, From some melodious cornet's silver tone, Whose gentle breathing wafts the listener there, To wish the thrilling sounds might be his own. Fainter and fainter has the murmuring grown ; The lingering strain seems loth to die away ; And all were silent, motionless, and lone, Save that the echo still is heard to play Around the circling cliffs, that answer back the lay. Haste we to where a lighter music floats, In heavenly warblings on the twilight hour, To where the nightingale's melliflue t notes Issue so sweet y from the adjacent bower, Where blooms in beauty many an unseen flower; The hum of bees resorting to the spot Conveys a music of a drowsy power. Oh, Solitude ! how happy is thy lot ! Tor thou canst know the bliss which busy man can not. In brighter regions, in the destined home Of Christian sufferers, who wander here, And in oppression's chains are doomed lo roam, Upheld by Him who dries the mom rer's tear; There music hath its source, and doubly dear Is it to those bright seraphs whc have striven To sing the sweetest to that Omniscient ear, By whom this blessing was to mortals given, To purify their souls, and lift them up to heaven! 2roodside, May 30th, 1814. W. J. L. NOTICES. Abbotsford Edition of Waverly. Robert Cadell, Edin burgh; Houlston and Stoneman, London. Part 56 of this splendid edition is now before us, con taining a portion of the fine novel of Kenilworth ; and we are bound to acknowledge that the same spirit, on the part of the publishers, with which it was commenced, is stild apparent. The illustrations in this part are equal to my which have appeared in former parts, and the typo graphy, &c., faultless. Simmonds's Colonial Magazine. Foreign and Colonia Office, iB, Cornhill. The present is a valuable number of this well-conducted magazine. The first article—the conclusion of the Prize Essay, by Thomas Henney, Esq., on the Defects of the Agricultural System hitherto pursued in Jamaica, will be read with interest by all parties connected with the pros perity of our tropical possessions. The narrative of the Niger Expedition is a racy sketch of the progress of one of the most astounding pieces of humbug in which even British philanthropists ever embarked. The remaining articles possess above an average amount of merit; and, in particular, the " Colonial Intelligence" is excellently compiled, and must be highly interesting to those con cerned us our foreign dependencies. The Asiatic Journal. London : W. H. Allen and Co., Leadenhall-street. The present numbor is a little less literary and more instructive than some of its predecessors have recently been. its " Biography of Literary Characters" contains a sketch of the life and character of Sir Henry Hardinge, the new Governor-General of India, which, although written with an apparent spirit of fairness, yet scarcely does full justice to that gallant officer. The Chronicle of Indian Affairs is as usual well arranged, and must be most valuable to all who are interested in Indian affairs. Torn Burke of Ours. Curry and Co., Dublin. The present number brings our adventurer a portion of his way on his route homewards, and is not so eventful as its predecessors. The interest, however, connected with the fate of the young officer is still kept up; and we are as much in the dark as ever as to what is likely to be the unwinding of his tangled fortunes. We hope we shall mot, after all, be left with anything unexplained. In works of fiction, even although containing, as this does, much of historical facts and description, affairs of the heart, such as those in which our friend 'fom is engaged, must be arranged with a proper degree of adherence to poetical justice and the gratification of the curiosity of the reading public. Martin Chuzzlewil. No. 18. London : Chapman and Flail. Our author is in this number making himself up for the close of his story. Detection hangs over the head of Mr. Joseph Chuzzlewit, and Mr. Picksniff is revealed to Ms intended dupe, old Martin Chuzzlewit, and is about to be revealed to the world. One scene in this number, between Mrs. Gamp and Mrs. Prig, is inimitable. Where does Mr. Dickens pick up such characters as these two hospital nurses ? SELEG LIONS. IRISH MODE OF EARNING THE RENT.—There is a story told of the late Dick Martin, which occurred forcibly to my mind when I paid my first visit to the Ojibbeways. Dick, being at Greenwich fair, was led by a very super fluous curiosity upon the part of the king in Connemara, to enter a booth, whose proprietor professed to exhibit "a wild man !" There, assuredly, he saw a very wild looking individual, with his head and face covered with a profusion of red, shaggy hair, a regular glib, nearly naked, and with a chain about his waist. But Mr. Martin, upon observing that the savage seemed to display towards him some uncouth and uneasy signs of recognition, was in duced to examine him more closely, and the result was that he recognised in the " wild man" one of lt!s own tenants, and shouted out, with all the indignation be coming a legislator in favour of animals, " Why, then, Flaherty, you blackguard of the world, what is it you're about there, at all—at all; making a beast of yourself en tirely—entirely ?" " Earning the rent for your honour !" —Fraser. HAUNTED-HOUSES.—We have heard of a family, who lived in a solitary suburban house, approachable only by a by-road close to a churchyard, being roused by an unac countable noise from midnight sleep, leaving their beds, and huddling together in one room, while the master of the house, pistol in hand, searched the premises. Though nothing suspicious was detected, the female servants could not be persuaded to return to their chambers, because, as no thief was found lurking about, it was clear " the house was haunted." And to this day such a belief would have been cherished, had not the master been a man in whose mind no prejudice or absurd fear could for an instant exist—one whose clear and sagacious faculties are compe tent to the exposure of any fallacy, however plausible. The sound was heard on a subsequent night; and being resolved to detect its cause, which this gentleman sus pected beforehand would turn nut to be something very trivial, he ascertained at last that it proceeded from the rattling, in a sudden wind, of a Venetian blind, hanging outside the window of an unoccupied room, and which the servants had neglected, week after week, to draw up and secure.—Ainsworth's .211agazine. OPINIONS OF TUE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.—Napo• Icon was as fairly beaten at Waterloo as Hannibal was at Zama. When Sir Walter Scott was at Paris (1815), he was permitted to ask, and be did ask, the following ques tions, at his Grace's table, relating to Waterloo; and I repeat them as Sir Walter detailed them to me at my own :—" Suppose, your Grace, Blucher had not come rrp ?" The Duke replied, " I could have kept my ground till next morning." " Suppose Grouchy had Tome first ?" " Blucher would have been close behind him." " But let us suppose your Grace had been compelled to retreat ?" " I could have taken position in the forest of Soignies, and defied all till the allies joined." " Was there any part of the day your Grace despaired ?" " Ne ver !" was the reply. This is the reply of the first in command. In 1833 the writer of this letter dined at Lord Palmerston's ; on his right sat Lord Hill. As his Lordship lived near the author, he offered to set him down. When alone in the carriage with Lord Hill. re membering what Sir Walter had affirmed of the Ditke's confidence, he said, "Was there any part of the day at Waterloo, my Lord, you ever desponded as to the re sult?" " Desponded!" replied Lord Hill, " Never! There never was the least panic ; we had gained rather than lost ground by the evening. No, there was not a moment I had the least doubt of the result." Thus, here are given, from authentic sources, the opinions of the first and second in command ; and even in the French army this ought to be something."—United Service Mag. TEE SHIPPING INTEREST V. FREE TRADE.—To the monopoly which this country so long enjoyed in its ship ping interest, bv its navigation laws, says the American statesman, Mr. Webster, may be traced Great Britain's empire of the sea. Of this law, although not favourable to restrictions in theory, yet never for a moment through out his great work, contemplating the displacement of tabour engaged in the agriculture of this country, Dr. Adam Smith says " As defence is of much more impor tance than opulence, the Act of Navigation is perhaps the wisest of all the commercial regulations of England." Yet, notwithstanding the natural interest every country has in its security against the attacks of foreign enemies ; notwithstanding the high authorities stated in favour of the Navigation Law, it was one of the first to be partially repealed, in the chimerical expectation that foreign powers would give us some advantage if we gave up the employ ment of part of our shipping to them. 'What has been the consequence? Distress in our mercantile shipping, and amongst our mercantile seamen (the nursery of our navy) almost ever since, without any compensation of advantage, although this was promised to our manufac turers. At a general meeting of the shipowners of the Ports of Newcastle, Sunderland, Stockton, and their de pendencies, held at Newcastle, on the 13th of January, 1842, the first resolution was, " That the shipping interest has been reduced to unprecedented distress." The se cond resolution, " That this meeting is convinced, after sixteen years experience, that the continued and increased distress to which the shippin g interest is reduced, is mainly to be attrib u t e d to the encouragement given to the foreign shipping and seamen of the north of Europe by the alteration of the Navigation Law s " No wonder that this complaint should be made when ' the foreign Shipping entering our ports has been rapidly progressive, ev er since the partial repeal of th e Navigation Laws ; w hilst the English shipping so employed, notwithstanding the great increase in our exports, has been almost station -317, and in some insta nces has rotro graded. Doubtless th e competition between foreign English . and shipping has' produced a zreater cheapness in freight. But are the p eo _ ple happier ? Is the nation safer 2. Cayley's (M.P.) " Reasons for the formation of the Agricultural Protection Society. RESOURCES OF GREAT BRITAIN.—We have, in these islands, at this moment, more than forty-six millions of acres in cultivation ; besides fifteen millions more, ca pable of yielding food, but not yet subjected to the plough. Now even as ploughed land merely, every acre will yield more than sufficient food for two persons,—so that here ought to be sustenance for ninety millions of people ;—but on taking a closer view, we find that, by the use of the spade, and allowing for the growth of luxu ries, " on the most moderate calculation, Great Britain and Ireland are capable of maintaining, in ease and afflu ence, 120,000,000 of inhabitants." Said we not truly, then, that the land which God has given us, is " a good land and a large," and may we not be thankful, (rather than alarmed) that since 1801 our population has advanced from seventeen millions to more than twenty-six mil lions ?—While, that the growth of food has advanced even still more rapidly, is made clear by the fact, that less and less of foreign corn is able to find a market in our ports : for it appears, that in the five years from 1801 to 1805 there passed our custom-house 3,432,809 quarters of wheat, or nearly 700,000 quarters per annum ; while in the five years from 1831 to 1835, the duty was paid on no more than 1,992,548, or not quite 400,000 quarters per annum. In manufactures our progress has been still more rapid. It is estimated that the wool manufactured in these islands in 1800, was 102,986,008 lb.—in 1835 179,291,7761 b. The cotton wool taken into consumption in 1801 was 54,203,433 lb.—in 1835 it was 333,043,464 lb. The iron exported in 1801 was 4,584 tons,—in 1835, it had increased to 106,467 tons.—Remedies for the Perils of the Nation. A WEST-END GAMING-HOUSE.—It was a large room, richly carpetted. Two rich and massive chandeliers, sus pended from the ceiling, showed the dazzling gilt and colour of the empanelled walls, from which, at alternate distances, extended elegant mirror branches with lights. The chimney-piece was furnished with a plate o f g l ass which reached the ceiling ; the sides were concealed by falling drapery of crimson and gold, and supp or t e d b y t wo gilt full-length figures, bear i ng lights. At the opposite end were placed two beaufets, furnished with costly plate glass, &c. In the middle was fixed the hazard-table, of a long oval form, having an adumbrated la m p h ang i ng over the centre. To the right stood the rouae et noir and roulette tables, idly placed "to make up a show." Not so that to the left, for there stood the supper-table. This was laid out with viands worthy the contemplation of an epicure, on whitest-damask, in costly china, and in forms delicate and recherche. Everything which might court the most fastidious taste were there placed in luxuriant profusion; game, poultry, ham, tongue, not forgetting the substantial sirloin, lobster salads, oysters en outre les petites miseres ; confectionary and preserves, creams, jellies, and pine-apples. Silver candelabra lighted each end of this long and well-supplied table, while the middle was reserved for the display of one of still greater magni ficence, said to have been designed and executed for his Royal Highness the late Duke of —. It was composed of a large figure of Hercules contending with the hydra with seven heads. This gargeous piece of plate sup ported seven wax lights.. Tolaus (who assisted Hercules) was also represented bearing the lighted brand wherewith to staunch the blood, lest ano th er h ea d s h ou ld spring I from the wound.—Bentley's Miscellany. CHURCH AND STATE.—The historical blunder made by dissenters in asserting the State to have given our Church all her endowments, reminds us of another blur der per petually repeated in the House of Commons, by Members who ought to have known better, during the debate on Irish affairs. We allude to the statement that the Church of Rome was the ." ANCIENT" Church of Ireland ; whereas the PRECISE CONTRARY IS THE TRUTH. The principles now held by the Protestant Church in Ireland were maintained by the ancient Church in Ireland till that country was invaded and conquered by Henry the Second in 1172 : and even after that, it required a long period before the Pope could fasten his iron collar of superstition around the neck of the once free Church of Ireland. On this subject the following extract from Archbishop Usher is, for more than one reason, peculiarly valuable just now : —" Thus did Sedulius and Claudius, two of our most famous divines, deliver the doctrine of FREE WILL, and the GOSPEL JUSTIFICATION and ADOPTION ; no less agreeably to the FAITH WHICH IS AT THIS DAY PRO FESSED IN THE REFORMED CHURCHES, than to that which they themselves received from the more ancient doctors whom they did follow therein. Neither do we, in our judgment, rr.e whit differ from them when they teach that `faith' a 1):... is not sufficient to life. * * * For as it is a certain truth, that among all the members of the body, the eye is the only instrument whereby we see; and yet it as true also, that the eye being alone, and separated from the rest of the members, is dead, and for that cause cloth neither see only, nor see at all. So these two sayings may stand likewise together, that among all the virtuesin the soul faith is the only instrument where by we lag hold upon Christ for our justification ; and vet that faith being alone, an d di s j o i ne d f rom the society of other graces, is dead in itself,' as St. James speaketh ; and in that respect can neither only justify, nor justify at all."—Usher's " Discourse of the Religion anciently pro fessed by the Irish and British. DUELLING AT HEIDEII3URG.—Nothing can be more puerile and absurd, and in many instances disgusting, than the habitual pastimes and amusements of the stu. dents ; or at least of the large majority of them who at tend no lectures and study, nothing that they can po-sibly avoid, but look upon their residence at the university as three or four years to be devoted to smoking, beer-drink ing, and scratching one another's faces in duels. These duels, by the bye, are pieces of the most intense humbug that can be imagined. They take place now in the large room of the inn at Ziegelhausen, a village on the banks of the Neckar, about two miles from Heidelberg, and are fought with straight swords, square but sharp at the ex tremity, and having guards as big as a soup-plate. Before the fight begins, the combatants don their defensive arms, consisting of a strong and broad-brimmed hat protecting the head and eyes, an immense leathern breastplate de fending the chest and stomach, a padded case, also of lea ther, which shields the arm from wrist to shoulder, and an impenetrable cravat which protects the neck up to the ears. The nose, and a bit of each cheek, is all that can be possibly wounded. Thus equipped the heroes set to work, slashing away at each other (it is forbidden to thrust.) shaving off pieces of their padded armour, and looking exceeding fierce and valiant the while : until, after a greater or less time, according as the combatants are equal in skill or not, one of them gets a scratch across the nose, or a small eyelet hole in the cheek, which terminates this caricature of a duel. Since " young Germany" finds amusement in so harmless a practice, it might very well be allowed them ; provided they afterwards, like good boys, took their books and learned their lessons. But such a proceeding would be by no means consistent with the Burschen-Freiheit—the academic freedom of which these hopeful youths make their boast. To celebrate the valour of the victor, and show sympathy with the suffer ings of the vanguished—whose wound is by this time dressed with an inch of sticking plaster—the party repairs to a tavern to breakfast; and there the morning is killed over beer and Rhine wine.—Rhine and .Rhinelanders, in Blacletvood's Magazine. _ TREATMENT OF THE POOR.—There is now generally prevalent, a wish to force the poor back upon their own resources,—to make them independent, —to raise them above pauperism, &c., all which may be very de s i ra bl e and necessary,—but the obvious motive for which is, in general, in order thereby to escape their importunities. Such is the general tenor of Miss Martineau's and Mrs. Marcet's writings; in which those writers, evidently put ting a force upon their own natural feelings, even go the length of denouncing dispensaries, lying-in hospitals, almshouses for the aged, and the distribution of coals and blankets in winter. And the former puts into the mouth of a benevolent manufacturer, the sentiment, that all that the higher classes can do for the lower, is, to increase the capital on which they, the lower, are to subsist e., to increase their own wealth, in the belief that in so doing, they are doing " all they c an d o ," e ff ec t ua ll y, f or the poor I But how different is the tone and general tenor of the wisest national code ever propounded? Never was there a system so effective, in the outset, for the exclusion of pauperism, as that prescribed by God himself by the mouth of Moses. The whole land shared among the people ;—a provision made for the return of each family to their own original allotment each fiftieth year ;—a pro hibition of taking interest for loans made in the mean time ; all was contrived to keep, as much as might be, everything like pauperism at the greatest possible distance. But, after all this had been done, what is the temper of mind with which poverty is viewed ? Is it that of impa tience, and discontent? Nay, but as far as possible from any such feeling " The poor," the Israelites are told, " shall never cease out of the land,"—and the duty grounded on this assurance is, " Therefore, I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor and thy needy in thy land." " Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest him ; because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto."—Remedies for the Perils of the Nation. THE SENSATIONS THAT ATTEND STARVING.—I have never yet seen a treatise or dissertation upon starving to death—l can speak feelingly of every stage except the last. For the last two days through which the strong and healthy man is doomed to exist upon nothing, his sufferings are perhaps more acute than in the remaining stages—he feels an inordinate, unappeasable craving at the stomach day and night. The mind runs upon beef, bread, and other substantials ; but still in a great measure the body retains its strength. On the third and fourth days, but especially on the fourth, this incessant craving gives place to a sinking and weakness of the stomach, accompa nied by a nausea. The unfortunate sufferer still desires food ; but with loss of strength he looses that eager crav ing which is felt in the earlier stages. Should he chance to obtain a morsel or two of food, as was occasionally the case with us, he swallows it with a wolfish avidity. But five minutes afterwards his sufferings are more intense than ever. He feels as if be had swallowed a living lobster, which is crawling and feeding upon the very foundation of his existence. On the fifth day, his cheeks suddenly ap. pear:hollow and sunken, his body attenuated, his colour an ashy pale, and his eye wild, glassy, cannibalish. The different parts of the system now war with each other. The stomach calls upon the legs to go with it in . quest of food ; the legs from very weakness refuse. The sixth day brings on increasing suffering, although the pangs of hunger are lost in an overpowering l ang our and sickness. The head becomes giddy—the ghosts of wel l remembered dinners pass in hideous procession through the mind. The seventh day comes, bringing increased lassitude and farther prostration of strength. The arms bang listlessly the legs drag heavily. The desire for food is still left, to a degree ; but it must be brought, not sought. The mi serable remnant of life which still hangs to the sufferer is a burden almost too grevious to be borne ; yet his inher ent love for existence induces a desire to preserve it, if it can be saved without a tax upon bodily exertion. The mind wanders. At one moment, he thinks his weary limbs cannot sustain him a mile—the next he is endowed with unnatural strength, and, if their be a certainty of re lief before en whence proceeds bravely and strongly onward , wonderin g proceeds this new and sudden impulse. — Kendal's Narrative of the Texan Santa Fe Expedition. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS. CH EST IRE.—After a drought continuing three months, we had yesterday mor n i ng a d e li g htf u l f a ll o f ra i n, occu pying fully three hours, and also showers at intervals through the day. It is not considered too late for a good crop of winter potatoes, turnips, and probably oats and barley; but the hay crop must be a deficient one; still the latter grass will help to make up, and there being such an enormous stock of oats and oatmeal yet unconsumed, we must not look f or a d ec id e d scarc i ty o f f ee di ng s t u ff s during the ensuing winter. Last night the rain fell at intervals, and to-day (Th urs d a y) we h ave h a d re p e ated showers, with the wind blowing genially from the south west.—Slockport Advertiser of Friday. PRE STON. — Fortunately, since last week, the weather has undergone a change. On Monday the wind shifted from the east to the south and south-west, and early on Wednesday morning a shower of rain fell. Occasional showers continued to fall on Thursday and yesterday, but a good soaking rain is still wanted before the country and the crops can be benefited to any considerable extent. We never remember seeing meadows and pastures so parched up and bare of grass as they are this season. The hay c cropm ust Chronicle ce of p Saturday. b e exceedingly deficient.—Preston Essex.—At this period of the year the state of the crops, and the promise which their appearance holds out, are usually matters of deep anxiety, not only to the farmers but to the tee m i ng th ousan d s w h os e hope o f being plenti fully and cheaply fed without injury to their neighbours, depends upon native abundance. In this view we regret the prospect is not satisfactory either to producer or to consumer. The long period of drought which has parched the earth cannot fail to produce an effect upon the harvest —to lessen the size of the swarth and weight of the sheaf when the scythe and the sickle shall be sent forth into the ripened fields. Since the middle of March, we have scarcely had what is called " a good rain." From this state of things the wheats perhaps have been injured least, but upon the light lands even these have suffered very se verely. In most districts of this county, the oats and barley are looking thin and sickly, and beans are very stunted. The hay crop, it is needless to say, especially in the up!ands, is exceedingly light. —Chelmsford Chronicle. LIN C 0 LN S II I RE. —The wheat plants are looking remark ably healthy, and will in a few days be in ear. The spring -sown corn in the Holland fen, having been sown early, is looking tolerably well, notwithstanding the con tinued drought ; and in other localities it will, it is feared, suffer from the dryness of the season. Many clover fields promise a plentiful harvest, but the meadows, ex . - cept in a few instances are very short of grass. A. plenti ful supply of rain is much needed.—Lincolnshire Chro nicle. YORKSHIRE.--A favourable change in the state of the weather has taken place in this neighbourhood. The at mosphere, although generally cloudy, has become more warm and genial. There have been occasionally showers, but not that steady continuance of rain which is much wanted.—Doncaster Gazette. EDlNBURGH.—Yesterday copious showers, with slight intermission, fell gently during the whole day, and last night it begin to rain heavily at 11 o'clock, which con tinues as we go to press. This much desired change in the weather roust be productive of immense benefit to the vegetation which seemel almost destroyed by the effects of the late drought ; and already the reviving influence of the rain is apparent in field and garden,—Edinburgh Slandard of Saturday. GLOCESTER.—At length we have to record a change in the weather. Aft r a continuance of cold, drying winds for eight or ten weeks, on Tuesday the wind veered round fr m E.N.E. to about S.W. There was an immediate increase in the temperature; at noon, on Tuesday, the thermometer in London stood at 63 degrees in the shade. No rain fell in this district, except a shower in some par ticular localities, until Wednesday afternoon ; since that period we have had a series of refreshing showers, which have done great good ; and yesterday there was a strong gale of wind.—Glocester Journal of Saturday. GLASGOW.—We have had much blessed rain since our last. Early on Wednesday morning, after a five weeks' drought, and in the very nick of time, it came on to rain, and has continued occasionally since. As things go now, we should say that nothing whatever has suffered by the late dry weather, not even the grass, materially. It is rather stunted, perhaps, in some places, but even this will be all put to rights by the genial and refreshing showers which still continue. The face of the country already wears the most altered and charming aspect, Everything is revived and healthy in appearance.—Glasgow paper, EARLY WHEAT CROP.—Monday, Mr. John Crow thers, of Blackwatertown, left at our office a sample of wheat taken off his lands, which is certainly indicative of a most superior and early crop. It is the produce of Oxfortl prize wheat seed. The beads are considerably advanced towards maturity; the straw is uncommonly fine; and Mr. Crowthers informs us that the specimen left with us is a fair average sample of a field of twenty acres.—Newry Telegraph. GENERAL MISCELLANY. At the Middlesex sessions, a lad prosecuted for stealing cigars, escaped conviction because the things stolen hap pened to be cheroots. It is a curious fact, that at the present season no less than 600 to 800 hands are temporarily employed at Co vent-garden market in shelling peas. The price of gas is to be reduced from the 30th instant to 7s. per 1,000 cubic feet by the leading gas companies in London. PARKER AND SHORE'S BANKRUPTCY.—It is reported that the assignees have somewhere about £40,000 in hand—a sum that will enable them to declare a further dividend of 2s. 6d. in the pound. The express train, with the sentence on Mr. O'Connell, travelled in two hours from Birmingham to London. The sentences passed upon the traversers in Dublin at half past four on Thursday afternoon, were published in the London papers on Friday morning at eleven o'clock. GUANO.—The Bristol Journal of Saturday announces the arrival at that port of a cargo of guano from Peru, consigned to Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co. A local paper also notices the arrival at the port of Gloucester of a cargo of the same valuable commodity. Mr. Croal, of Edinburgh, is about to recommence the running of stage coaches betwixt Edinburgh and Glasgow. They 'are to be large vehicles, capable of carrying 21 per sons each, and Ere expected to perform the distance regu larly in four hours. It is said to be in contemplation to revise the whole system of licensing inns and public-houses during the next session of parliament, so as to place it on a similar footing to that now in practice on the continent, by which means the revenue will be greatly increased. " REBECCA " COMMITTED TO PRI SON.—On Monday week, David Evans, farmer, of Penlan, in the parish of Llanfihangel Yeroth, was committed by J. L. Davies, Esq., to Carmarthen gaol, for inciting persons, by threat ening letters, &c., to destroy Llanfihangel gate, last sum mer, and acting as Rebecca on the occasion. A man named Joel Fisher, who kept the Devonshire Inn, High-street, Weston-Super-mare, Gloucestershire, has been taken into custody for murdering his wife, Mary, on Wednesday morning, by striking her on the head with an iron bar, and afterwards cutting her throat with a carving knife, as he subsequently said " to put her out of life as quickly as possible." THE GUANO TRADE.—OH Thursday last, the John Gibson sailed from this port for the Cape of Good Hope, in ballast, and on Saturday the New Brunswick sailed direct for Ichaboe ; their united tonnage as per measure ment being exactly 600 tons. They may be expected to return in due time with about a thousand tons of African guano.—Hull Herald. SUGAR.—By the new Government measure free grown is to be admitted at the duty of 34s and 5 per cent. on the 10th of November next ; but in sugar, the produce of slave colonies; no alteration is to be made in the duty. Siam sugar is to be excluded. Certificates of produce will be required. The Custom Duties' Bill has passed the House of Lords. ACCIDENTAL SUICIDE.—A. gentleman named Bagshaw. residing at Borough, near Hope, in Derbyshire, was found strangled to death, near a bed-post, in his sleeping room, under circumstances which showed that he had only in tended to put himself in that position, to frighten his family, and to obtain money from them to buy drink, but he had miscalculated the length of the cord. The Coro ner's Jury, however, found that he did it in a state of in sanity. - - HEIR TO THE BRIDGEWATER PROPERTY.—The eldest son of Lord Francis Egerton comes to age on Sunday, the 16th instant, when great rejoicings are expected. Banquets of a most extensive scale will take place both at Runcorn and Worsley, at the former place on Saturday, the 15th, and at the latter on the 17th. A marquee is about to be erected in the Old Quay Yard to dine one thousand persons, and the day's amusement to be wound up by a grand display of fireworks. SINGULAR CIRCUMSTANCE AT SANDBACH.—A re markable funeral took place on Wednesday week at this place,—an old lady of independent property residing in Sandbach, and her gardener ; they were each 75 years of age, both born in the month of May, and came to Sand bach at the same time. The gardener lived with her 45 years. She died on the 25th ult., and he died on the 27th. They were carried to the churchyard together, and interred in the same grave. Sir Henry Hardinge, K.C.8., Governor-General of India, has been unanimously appointed by the Court of Directors to succeed to the office of Commander-in-Chief of the Company's Forces in India, in the event of the death, resignation, or coming away from India, of G en . Sir Hugh Gough, G.C.B. Sir Henry Hardinge was in vested by the Queen, on Saturday week, at Buckingham Palace, with the ensigns of a Kni g ht Grand Cross of th e most honourable military Order of the Bath. SAVAGE ATTACK BY A BEAR.—On Friday week, the bear belonging to the Zoological Gardens, at Wakefield, made its escape from its den ; and in attempting to drive it back to its place of confinement, Mrs. Haslegrave, the ' wife of the proprietor, was attacked by the beast, and severely lacerated. Her sister, on hearing her cries, came to her assistance, when she was immediately set upon by the infuriated animal, and dreadfully mangled with its teeth and claws. The bear was with great difficulty beaten off, and was afterwards destroyed. FATAL CAROUSE:A married woman, named Gray, just out of her accouchement, was, the other night, drinking and m a ki ng merry with some friends at the bar of a public-house, in Goswell-street, London, and had with her the inf an t, l ess th an two mont h s o ld. The party became rather excited from their potations ; and attention being at length directed to the child, which the mother pressing closely to her breast, underneath her shawl, the covering was removed, and the poor infant was found dead, having been suffocated by the want of air and the pressure. 1010000.0.11111111 SECOND EDITION. Standard-office, Half-past Ten o'clock. THE STATE TRIALS. Court of queen's Bench, Julie 10. (From our Correspondent.) It having been fully expected, in consequence of what transpired in the court on Saturday, that the Writ of Error would be argued this morning. The court was crowded to excess. At eleven o'clock all the members of the Court were present, with the exception of the Chief Justice ; in a few minutes, however, his lordship entered the Court, and took his seat amongst his learned bre thren; at this time the Attorney and Solicitor-General, Messrs. Bennett, Q.C., Holmes, Smyly, and Napier, were present, as counsel for the Crown, the Crown- Solicitor Mr. Kemmis was also in attendance; the only counsel who appeared on behalf of the traversers was Sir Colman O'Loghlen. The Chief Justice said, Mr. Attorney-General do you move anything?_ The Attorney-General —my lords in the case of the Queen v. O'Connell and others, if the gentlemen at the other side intend to argue the writ of error, as the replication which we have put in on behalf of the crown is in the nature of a demurrer, we have a a right to commence, and my learned friend the Solicitor- General will argue it. Sir Colman O'Loghlen said it was quite true as stated, that the replication put in by the crown was in the nature of a demurrer. Mr. Whiteside, Q.C., who was with him (Sir Colman O'Loghlen) in the case did not mean to argue it, they would suffer judgment to go by default as their only object was to have the judgment of the court pro forma" upon the subject, the question intended to be raised was the same as had already been decided against the traversers by the court, when the plea in abatement was under discussion, and they (the traversers counsel) would not presume to trouble their lordships with a mere repetition of the arguments which had then been urged without success. The CHIEF JUSTICE.—Very well, then, let judgment be entered for the Crown. Mr. Attorney-General do you move any thing else. The Attorney-General bowed, and having no further application to make, in a few minutes withdrew. In a few minutes after, the Chief Justice, addressing the Solicitor-General, who had remained aiter his col league left court, said it would be very• necessary for him to see that the judgment of the court was properly made up• The learned gentleman stated he should attend to its being duly entered, and then the subject dropped. As term expires on Wednesday, this is probably the last time the case will be mentioned in court. The pro ceedings to-day, which though almost unintelligible to civilians, nevertheless were looked on with a considerable degree of interest, it seems that it was necessary to have a formal decision of the court upon the matters brought before them by the writ of error. coram nobis, before they could appear regularly on the record, and be submitted to the final decision of the House of Lords. The Dublin Evening Mail of last night, in reference to this motion, says—" Another scene of the farce—for it does not deserve the name of drama—was enacted this day in the Court of Queen's Bench, as will be seen from the following report ; but we only hope the managers may have the courage to bring out the whole piece at the great theatre in Westminster—tile Peers and Judges being the audience, and we undertake that the thing will be damned off-hand, and after the conclusion of the firstact. " A most numerous meeting of the Repeal Association was held to-day at the Conciliation Hall, Burgh Quay, Lord French in the chair. No endeavour having been spared to give it eclat, in fact such have been the exertions made during the past week by the priests, backed by the Repeal rent, to make the unfortunate peasantry bring in the Repeal rent nolens volens, that the landlords of Ire land will stand a very indifferent chance of getting in theirs next November, the poor dupes being forced to bring into market, at no matter what sacrifice, produce which would otherwise be kept over until an advantageous price could be obtained. Five o'clock. The meeting at the Conciliation Hall is not likely to be over until a very late hour. Up to the present moment £2501 is the amount of rent received, but several other sums from three wards in this city have not come in, but are expected. The room is crowded to suffocation : pro bably there never was so large and formidable a meeting of the Association. ONE LONDON WATERMAN AGAINST A FOUR-OARED FLEMISH CREW—The boat-race on Monday between Robert Newell, of Battle-bridge-stairs, and four Flemish waterman with a coxswain, terminated, contrary to gene ral expectation, in favour of the latter. It will be re membered that the same parties contended about a month since, when Newell was declared the winner by a very considerable distance ; but as the opposing party attri buted their defeat to the size of their boat, and were de sirous of having another trial, a match was made for £4O a side. The former race had been rowed from Ostend to Bruges, a distance of twelve miles ; but on the present occasion the starting and winning posts were reversed. BARBER AND FLETCHER, THE WILL FORGERS.— These convicts are still at the penitentiary. Barber is a tailor, and was seen in the course of last week making breeches in the convict's apparel, and with his head closely cropped. H aving chosen this trade or occupation, he is, as a matter of course, excused from the much more disagreeable occupation of picking oakum, which is very laborious, and very much taxes the eyes as well as the fingers. Fletcher, whose profession as a medical man is not likely to be called into exercise, and who cannot use the needle or wax-end is regularly seated along with the other convicts, and kept at work with oakum. They are both in good health. ANOTHER MANIAC.—On Tuesday morning, Bernard Fitzpatrick, an Irishman, about 50 years of age, was taken by the constables before the magistrates, was charged threatening to shoot the Duke of Wellington and Sir R. Peel, the former for having prevented him, as he asserted, from obtaining a pension on leaving the 74th Regiment, and the latter for putting Mr. O'Connell into prison. It was proved that the threats had been used by the prisoner ; but it appeared that he had twice before been an inmate of the Hanwell Pauper Lunatic Asylum, and Dr. Hoffen den, of Hanwell, having certified that he was now again insane, an order was signed by the magistrates for his readmission into that institution, where he was accordingly conveyed. THE TEA TRADE.—The accounts from China, received by the overland mail, resp ec ti ng th e l ea f, h ave cause d much heaviness in the market. The merchants, in con sequence of the expected supply from China, are disposed to sell, but dealers are cautious, and out of about 15,000 packages brought forward on Thursday, not more than about 1,000 sold at former rates. Congous fetched 10d. for very common quality, and from 2s. 3d. for fine. Gunpowder, for fine quality, brought 4s. ld. to 4s. 6d., and twankay Is. nd. to Is. 4d. The duty upon the leaf, as paid up to Saturday last, is as follows :—London, 10,147,574 lbs. ; Liverpool, 1,674,299 lbs. ; Bristol, 308,790 lbs. ; Hull, 133,709 lbs. ; total, 1844, 12,264,372 lbs. MORE POPERY.—A bill has been brought into th House of Lords, by Lord Beaumont, which is connected with the laws affecting charitable bequests, and which ought, we think, to be carefully watched, as it specially provides for the validity of bequests to Jesuits—an order of men so dangerous from their bad principles, that even in some Romish states they are still discountenanced, and were once suppressed universally as conspirators against the peace of society. At Hanley, in Staffordshire, fifteen persons who have become perverts to Popery, have been confirmed ; at Manchester the other day there were four hundred and fifty apostates from Protestantism, and in Liverpool recently many persons have left the Church of their Fathers to return to the errors and superstitions of Rome. ARRIVAL OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF DENMARK IN SCOTLAND.—On Friday morning, about half-past four o'clock, his Danish Majesty's frigate Gafien, 48 guns, arrived in Leith Roads, having on board his Royal High ness Frederick, the Crown Prince of Denmark. The Gafien was accompanied from Copenhagen by the frigate Thetis. His Royal Highness's stay in Edinburgh, we learn, is limited to a few days, when he starts on a short tour through the Highlands. He afterwards proceeds to the Faroe Islands upon a geological tour. Frederick, Crown Prince of Denmark, was born the 6th of October, 1808, and is consequently in his 36th year. His Royal Highness is a stout, handsome person, rather tall, with dark hair, and altogether of a very prepossessing exterior. —Edinburgh paper. DISASTROUS CONFLAGRATION.—A fire broke out at Gravesend on Sunday night, which was not extinguished before it had consumed twenty-five houses. and seriously damaged 15 or 16 others. Three barrels of gunpowder in a salt warehouse which caught fire, blew up with a ter rible explosion. A house was pulled down in which the son and daughter of the occupier lay in bed, in the last stage of consumption; they were hastily removed, but the fright had a fatal effect upon the youth, and he died next morning. The daughter is not expected to live, the esti mated damage varies from £lO,OOO to £15,000, The greater number of sufferers are very poor. During the fire a woman just out of her confinement, was conveyed to the Falcon Inn, wrapped up in flannel, and apparently in a dying state ; and a poor shoemaker, named Hooker, was observed to leave one of the houses in a hurried man ner, whichbea ringlaoy in the nhissh h o o u u ld se er a s t httheedteiamde itbo dtoyookf fire.is daugh- EXPENSIVE MUNICIPAL CONTEST.—Last week a strong contest took place for one of the wards in the town of Nottingham, in consequence of the death of one of the late representatives. The whig party brought forward a lace manufacturer of the name of Bacon, a very influen tial and wealthy gentleman, to oppose Mr. Shelton, the conservative, but the latte r gen tl eman was returnedby a majority of 278 to 231. Between £1,200 and £1,500 has been expended on the election, as the radicals resorted to all sorts of bribery and intimidation in order, if possible, to reduce the conservative majority in the council. ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.—A special general meeting of this society was held, on Monday last, in Exeter-hall. At the recent meeting, it was resolved, that a meeting be called to take into consideration a part of that rule which recommended "the use of free-grown produce, and to promote the adoption of fiscal regulations in favour of free-labour." The present meeting was called for that purpose. The Rev. J. Hinton moved the confirmation of the rule. Mr. E. Smith, of Sheffield, seconded by Mr. Bright, proposed an amendment, the effect of which was to annul the clause. The amendment was supported by Mr. George Thompson. Eventually the original motion was carried by 82 to 7. CASE OIT BRENT SPENCER, A LUNATIC.—At the Queen-square Police-office, London, on Wednesday last, Mr. Deering, a magistrate, of Bucks, describin g hi mse lf as a friend of the late R. pencer, assured the magistrate that the charge made against Mrs. Pelham was a gross tissue of falsehoods. On Thursday, Mrs. Pelham and her son, Wilson Pelham, were brought up at Queen's square. Mr. Deering sat on the bench. There being no evidence against Wilson Pelham, he was discharged. Further evidence was heard against Mrs. Pelham, as re garded the charge of cruelty to Brent Spencer, to whom, it appeared, some property had been left, part of which he had made away with, He had, however, if one witness was to be believed, been coerced, and treated with some degree of neglect. He had himself grown very dirty in his habits. Mrs. Pelham was ordered to find bail to an swer the charge at the sessions. Mr. Deering offered to be bail for Mrs. Pelham, and said he would take care that her conduct should be set in a just light before the world : he would write to the Times on the subject. THE COLLIERS.—The dispute between the pitmen and coal-owners of Durham and Northumberland has not yet been brought to a conclusion. A few of the men have resumed work, but the great majority of them are still on " strike." The districts of the Tyne and Wear are suf fering immensely from the stagnation occasioned by the ptolonged dispute. There are several pits in the West Riding of Yorkshire closed or nearly closed, owing to the men there having also struck for an advance of wages, Some of the masters have given the advanced prices, but the majority refuse to do so. It is much to be regretted that the masters and men cannot come to terms of agree ment. A little bending on each side would no douht bring about what all must regard as "a consummation devoutly to be wished." Our Barnsly correspondent says—" Most of the pits in this neighbourhood are now more or less in operation. During the week a number of miners denounced the union, and went to work at the collieries belonging to Messrs Field, Cooper, and Co., at the old wages; and on Monday next, it is expected that a return to work will be almost general in this district, the men being entirely worn out." DRAMATIC INTELLIGENCE.—We grieve to be under the necessity of believing that the glories of Covent garden as a theatre are at an end. According to current report it is about to he converted into a species of bazaar and exhibition, and for this purpose an offer has been made to the proprietors which they do not feel warranted in rejecting. It has been long closed as a place of dra matic entertainment, and it is singular that, as far as re gards the present structure, the family of Kemble has witnessed its highest prosperity and its lowest decline. Blue Beard (with horses) and Timour the Tartar were produced in 1811, under the management of Mr. John Kemble, when the receipts for the season exceeded £112,000; and within very recent memory, under Mr. Charles Kemble, the " takings " at the doors were not sufficient to enable the proprietors to keep them open. We have so often adverted to the more obvious causes of this depression, that we need say nothing of them now. All we have to do with at present is the fact, that the state of dramatic affairs is such, that a theatre which cost more than £300,000 for its construction is perhaps speed ily to be diverted from its original purpose, and applied to more profitable uses.—Observer. MESMERISING THE PlG.—The noisy propensities of the grunting tribe have hitherto acted as a barrier to their abduction without their owners's knowledge ; but to ob viate this difficulty, some daring invader on Saturday night tried the effects of mesmeric influence upon a fine hog of nine or ten score, belonging to Mr. Bushell, of the Gate public-house, on the Dover road, about a mile from this city. Taking a liking to Toby's " fair proportions," he was anxious to secure a removal without disorder— possibly to locate him in another parish; and after sundry mysterious passes, which, no doubt, at first excited piggy's wonderment, the grunter laid his full length along in not quite a " perfect state of coma ;" for, on the mesmeriser attempting to raise him, clairvoyance was very evident. Pigs generally run the way not required, and to do that which is not desired. The pig in this instance did so, and displayed his perverse inclination. and made a terrible squeaking, which drew " mine host" from his drowsy arm chair, just in time to see some one leap from the sty and decamp. Mr. Bushell tried to demagtise his favourite hog, but his unskilfulness did not succeed, and as piggy had no notion of tune he did not like his organs to be played upon, and, with the ferocity of a wild boar, attacked his owner till other means were devised for quieting the unruly beast. The pig was killed.—Canterbury Journal. THE POPISH MURDER AT BRADFORD.—The investi gation before the magistrates relative to this painful event was brought to a conclusion yesterday week. Five men; named Thomas Rogan, John O'Brien, Daniel Donovan, Daniel Power, and William Quin, who had been examined on the preceding Friday, were again taken . before the ma gistrates, at Bradford, and after the exam ination of several witnesses, whose evidence did not vary any of the facts before stated. the bench said," It is our duty to commityou, Rogan, O'Brien, Donovan, and Quin, to York Castle for trial, on the charge of wilful murder." Power was ad mitted to bail, himself in £lOO, and two sureties in £5O each, to answer the charge when called on. The prisoners were then removed. Donovan and Quin, the latter of whom was affected almost to tears, asked permission to see their wives and children before they went to York, which was granted them, on the condition that it was in the presence of a constable. Rogan received the decision of the magistrates with an air of bravado. On Sunday week the funeral of the poor man, Benjamin Gott, took place at the parish church of Calveley. Above a thousand people attended to hear the funeral sermon. It is some alleviation of this lamentable affair that but one person has fallen a sacrifice to this brutal assault, the Halifax Guar dian being in error in announcing the death of a second man. " GASTON DE Foix."--A good historical novel is one of the greatest treats that can be placed upon the table of the literary epicure. The work before us is a chef d'ceuvre. The story is laid amid scenes of the most sur passing interest; and the author has treated it in a man ner that will raise his reputation to a level with the first writers of tie day. In descriptive narrative he is unsur passed. His characters are all drawn with a life-like fidelity of portraiture, a graphic power of minute delinea tion, which bodies forth to the eye of the reader the almost real presentment of the principal actors in the important events which he describes. The reader is successively introduced to three of the most remarkable rulers of the age—the Emperor Maximilian, Louis XII., and Pop e Julius II.; and this at a period of their history when the peculiar and distinguishing traits of their characters were most prominently and strikingly developed. Gaston de Foix, upon his first arriving in Italy, happened one day very unexpectedly to come in collision with no less a per sonage than the Pope himself. The following is the ac count which the author gives of this extraordinary meet ing. * * * There are many extracts which we might give, but we prefer allowing the reader to refer to the work itself. We can assure him that in the perusal of it he will be amply repaid. " Gaston de Foix" is undoubtedly one of the best historical novels that ha s appeare d f or many years.—Sunday Times. ATTEMPT AT MURDER.—On Thursday last, a man named Markham, forty-five years old, went into the toll house, on the Spilsby-road, near Louth, and, after eating a biscuit, fired a pistol at Griinsley, the toll-keeper, but missed him. He then pulled out a heavy hammer, and struck furiously at Grimsley's head. The wife of the latter rushed from an inner apartment and seized the ruf fian by the neckcloth, when. to release himself, he seized her hand in his mouth and bit off half of her finger. He then felled the poor woman to the earth with his hammer. Grimsley's son, a stout young man, hereupon rushed into the room, when the villain fired a second pistol at hire, the b3ll of which lodged in bie arm. The young man grappled with him, but he pulled forth a razor, and cut most savagely with it, the young man succeeded in getting the hammer, with which he struck the ruffian on the head. The shalt of the hammer was broken in the struggle. After further conflict, the villain seized a loaded gun, from which, however, ho lost the cap. The old man contrived to get hold of a sword stick, with which he stabbed the assailant with as much strength as he had remaining. Ultimately all of them were so much exhausted that they cou Id not continue the struggle, but the ruffian contrived to escape while the old woman was absent looking for assistance. Markham was subse quently taken into custody. On the appearance of the officers he cut his throat with a razor, and is not expected to live. kiss in Herefordshire according to the assessment of a THE PRICE OF A Kiss.--Ten o si ti ll d i u n os g aq i ss magistrates egi t emwana h e sta e humhhtswceeoo p htuu r fih i lssneadeoeet sought ofhtgafhhaori in bench of magistrates ; and it is to be hoped for the sake of their character for gallantry that our neighbours won't grumble at the price of such a dainty snatched from the a coral lips of beauty. The statute price was settled or as t Leominster last week, on the occasion of an amorous ° wo f farmer,, Ko m i e n r g , sresiding professed o (known i c n u t r h e the lol delightfulthed diseases, esurroundingases , and atne countryu a ck drnhod w i abc y ceseth i dr l f i eost a srhh g seee e for merly the dwelling-place of a famous liaftery lived), d ) ,by being the cited before people an db taking a kiss without leave, horrible r party. T oa t h tne s es e ( iattwhyeefrroeer, tlahnedhd insistedt the above penalty. vt' vv domestic is a ' uns servant) Ill, ahecircumstances a bec n ue d p u sfe r w ia pe rtr a yh s ni ew d s tt ow ki r e h n uaa n i ah gs tlg t t s iodce ii w b r nn hs y her mistress bench n u the presence of a third that defendant (to whom she was a perfect q:stPct struggle complainant t an dg el ra i l :aiztitlfehhpafEeeenerrYh names e o: u h s e e Brz and e . that This somehow protracted or had been mistress, buth situate e o ni f e a t f s n o yr n t m h ve e err e y a t r o s grar o o f ass Conduct refused compliance, beingwhe re quired the mistress thereupon insisted upon her servant bringing the matter before a bench of magistrates, who awarded the penalty aforesaid. noothceernt" 3nne 11, 1844. CORRESPONDENCE. THE ENSUING ASSIZES. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sta,--I understand that Sir Frederick Pollock, Lord Chief Baron of her Majt-sty's Court of Exchequer, and Sir Cresswell Cresswell, are the judges who will attend the next Liverpriol A ss i zes . C an yun i n f orm me which of these learned judges will preside at. Nisi Prius? Yours, obediently, A SOLICITOR. 7th June, 1844. [This being the first circuit of Sir F. Pollock, Chief Ba ron of her Majesty's Court of Exchequer, he will, probably, though the chief justice, try at Nisi Prius; and we come to this conclusion from the recollection that the late Lord Chief Baron Abinger, on going hid first circuit as judge, tried here at Nisi Prius.] TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,---It was not tint it a very few days ago that I got a sight of Mr. Blackburn's speech on education, as pub lished in a pamphlet : should you deem the following observations on that speech suited to your valuable and highly-respectable paper, you will please give them in sertion. I would first observe, that the subject of education is not one, now to be speculated on, as to the results or be- I nefits to be derived from the different systems of secular and scriptural education, as the systems have been in operation for thousands of years—therefore, to reason fairly on the question, we must look to the rend!. or • or benefits which have arisen to society from each system. Mr. Blackburn commences by saying, that the system now adopted in the Corporation Schools practically ex cludes the children of Roman Catholics. It would have been a more ckar and fair way of stating the question to have said, that Roman Catholics had withdrawn their children from the schools in consequence of the scriptures being read in them. Mr. Blackburn, through all his rea soning, assumes, as facts, matters which are not so. He assumes as fact, that Roman Catholic parents are free agents, in prescribing to their children what they should read or learn at school—when any one at all acquainted with the Roman Catholic religion must know, that the clergy claim and exercise the right of dictating to the pa rents how their children should be educated, and nearly all parents submit to their claim. Again he assumes as a fact, that few if any Roman Catholics would attend schools where the scriptures are read ; to this assumption we have a most decided contradiction—for in Ireland, at this moment, there are more than one hundred thousand Roman Catholics receiving scriptural education, and re ceiving and reading the Scriptures,_ in despite of a ll their clergy can d o t o prevent them. But Mr. B. intimates, or assumes, that if the Douay translation was allowed in the schools, the Roman Catholics would read it. but there is a fact on record which contradicts this. Some time after the British and Foreign Bible Society was formed, t lie directors made an offer to the clergy of the Church of Rome to print the Douay version, without notes, if they (the clergy) would not prevent their people from reading it—but this they peremptorily refused. Thus it is evi dent that it is the matter contained in both to which they object. But the greet error in Mr. Blackburn's reasoning is this, that is a matter of convenience with a Roman Catholic, or any other man, to obey or reject any precept taught in the word of God ; surely convenience can never act in this case. The first duty of every one is to carefully examine the word of God, to ascertain what the will of God revealed in his word is—and that once ascertained, the duty is most undoubtedly implicit obedience. But let us see what the consequence would be if convenience were to be exercised on the commands or declarations of the word of God. The man reads the word, and clearly sees that a certain duty is demanded, but he does not like to obey it, and his convenience tells him he need not do so ; surely such conduct and reasoning as this would most effectually destroy the whole value and obligation of the word of God, and leave every man to follow his own mind or feelings. Now it is a most evident fact, that through the whole word of God there is not a single prin ciple so clearly taught, so frequently and stren , ously urged, as the reading of the word c f God, and that children from their very infancy should be well instructed in that word. Our Saviour appealed to that word to prove the truth of what he taught. and so did every inspired writer or teacher ? Now if what I have stated be facts—and I challenge contradiction—surely the crime of those who have been building up Roman Catholics in tiler great error, of refusing to read the word of God, is far from being a small one ; and what adds greatly to the crime is, that it effectually prevents the poor Roman Catholics from ever having access to the word of God, and leaves them to the instruction of those whose interest it is to keep them in the grossest darkness. Surely those who have been so publicly teaching such errors are called on as publicly to retract them. ALEXANDER M'CREERY. Liverpool, 6th June, 1844. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. ASCOT RACES.-TUESDAY, JUNE 4. The Emperor of Russia, the King of Saxony. and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, arrived at one o'clock, accompanied by a numerous suite, and were received with acclamations. The Queen did not accompany her illus trious visitors. The TRIAL STAKES of 10 sovs. each, was won by Mr. Townley's Coranna, beating Lord E. Russell's Nat, and two others. The ASCOT DERBY STAKES, of 50 sovs. each, won by Lord Chesterfield's The Miser Scarve, beating the Duke of Bedford's c Panther, and Colonel Wyndham's Master Henry. A SWEEPSTAKES of 50 sous. each, h ft. Three-quar ters of a mile. Lord Albemarle's Scarmentado walked over. The ASCOT STAKES, of 25 sovs. each, 15 ft, and 5 only declared, with 100 added ; the second horse to receive 50 sous. out of the stakes, won easy by Mr. Payne's Johnny, beating Lord Chesterfield's Knight of the Whistle, and eleven others. The QUEEN'S VASE, added to a SWEEPSTAKES of 20 sovs. each, won by Mr. Salvin's Alice Hawthorn, beating Lord Verulam's Robert de Gorham, Lord Albemarle's Delapre, and three others. The BOROUGH MEMBERS' PLATE, Of £5O, added to a SWEEPSTAKES of 5 sovs. each, won by Lord Chester field's The Artful Dodger, beating Mr. Copeland's Imaum, Colonel Peel's f by Slane, and eight others. A SWEEPSTAKES of 100 sovs. each. Mr. Ford's Poison walked over. The ST. JAMES'S PALACE STAKES, Of 100 SOVS. each, h ft. Colonel Peel's lonian walked over. WEDNESDAY. The SWINLEY STAKES of 25 sovs. each, &c. Lord Glenlyon's Ben y Ghlo Duke of Richmond's Pastoral.... The FERN HILL STAKES of 15 sovs. each, &c Mr. G. Ongley's Mystery, 2 yrs Mr. Edwards's Hedgehog, 2 yrs 2 Mr. A. W. Hill's Beaumont, 2 yr 5...... Six ran. The GREAT ASCOT PRODUCE STAKES Of 100 sovs. each. Mr. Osbaldeston's Sister to Martingale.... Colonel Peel's Zencbia Baron Rothchild's Emerald .. 3 Seven ran. Won by half a length. THURSDAY. Her Majesty, accompanied by the Emperor of Russia, the King of Saxony, Prince Albert, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and a brilliant suite, arrived at two o'clock. THE WINDSOR FOREST STAKES Of 50 sovs. each, &c. Lord Verulam's Charlotte.. Mr. Phillimore's Skeleton.. Mr. Ford's Eccola.. .. SWEEPSTAKES Of 50 sovs each. Sir G. Heathcote's Campanero ...... Mr. Ford's Sir Diggory Diddle.. The GOLD Cur. Lord Albemarle's c. by Defence.. Mr. Townley's Corranna . Col. Peel's lonian The NEW STAKES of 10 sevs. each. Mr. R. Newman's 8100d5t0ne....... Mr. J. Day's Old England.. Mr. Mostyn's Pantasa Fifteen ran. Winner objected to. 1 2 FRIDAY. A Match for 50 sovs. was won by Lord March's Jew bov, beating Captain R. Howard Vyse's Trapola. The WORKINGIIAM STAKES, (first class.) of 5 soya• each, was won by Mr. Stanborough's Isleworth, beating Mr. S. Scott's Windsor, Mr. Payne's c by Clearwell, Mr. Little's Dahlia, and five others. A MATCH. for 150 sovs : Mr. Copeland's Assay received forfeit from Sir. S. Spry's Botherew. The WORKINGHANI STAKES, (second class,) of 5 sovs. each, was won by Mr. 13alchin's Moustache, beating Lord E, Russell's Nat and nine others. The WINDSOR TowN PL AT E, of 50 sovs , was won by Lord March's Jew-boy, beating Mr. Greville's Portotn nus and nine others. SEALED MATCH, for 200 sovs: Colonel Peel's Orlando received forfeit from Mr. Copeland 's Irnaum. t t oo renderthe 111 . 8 of £soo per annual Ascot more than Lord s 11°54 , races. his v In i t the t of the day, y . ri entered the Stewards' course announced that his Imre • :Majestyl had Stand, and . . intention subscribing during his of aatiln intends s t life, to be run for at Ascot-heath. Unlike the g irt of the Grand Duke Michael at Newmarket, which iS paid in cash, the Emperor has determined that his Pr ize shall be a piece of plate of The Emperorr £5OO, hearing a shield with the Russian coat of arms upon it. TIM " RUNNING REIN" CASE.—It was arranged in the Court of Exchequer on Thursday, that the issue in the action brought by Col. Peel against Mr. Wood, the owner of Running Rein, to try the title of the latter to the stakes won by his horse in the Derby race at the lat e Epsom Meeting, should he tried at one of the Miiddlese% sittings after term, and that the questions should be -- ' whether " Running Rein" was foaled in 1811, whose sire signified was " Sadler," and whose dam was " Mab." Mr. O gle then applied, on behalf of Messrs. Weatherby, who held the stakes, w hi c h or i g i na lly amoun t e d t o 36 , 000, but which, since the commencement of the action, have been considerably augmented by various large sums which the/ have received, to be no parties to the action, and to be 1 allowed their costs.—The applicatio n was acce d e d to b the Court. BANK FAILIIRE. — The failure of Messrs. Thomas Johnson and Co., bankers at Romford, was advised in London on Thursday. The concern is, it appears by no means a large one; but nevertheless much inconvenien ce is expected to arise on the spot, the notes having some what extensively found their way into circulation.