The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-11-16 00:00:00

at ti litYi believing, as he did, that the council had a trust re- Ptd r in them which belonged to the community at large. 1 1 . • RonINSON proposed Mr. Alderman Moon, as a mem i`r la the plaCe of Mr. Harbord, on the ground that there Vat a fair proportion of the different parties upon it. pr fir, FREME said that after the very just sentiments ex it!sed by Mr. Lloyd, the council would not be doing them• 'Zs justice if they did not elect him on the committee. alThe names o f M r. Ald erman M oon and Mr. Alderman N VeY were h ere w ithd rawn by their respective movers. to " . ..A. SMITH moved that Mr. Aikin be appointed on the r araittee 1 , 14 ,r: PRIE STLEY secon d e d th e mo tion. p o , e ": MAYO R sa id th ere w ere then three gentlemen pro ogle"' Mr. Harbord. Mr. Lloyd, and Mr. Aikin. If no r I vaa proposed he should proceed to the vote. The council then divided, when there appeared— For Mr. Harbord 2B For Mr. Lloyd 25 p For M r . Aiki n 7 1 4 2 r Harbord—Councillors Shaw, Hodgson, Sand 41', Copel an d, Ed war d s , B ar t on , Bl un d e ll, S a nds, Rae, Pinall Toulmin, J. Lawrence, Cooper, Wood, Birkett, 11 1 ,T,, s st( Te, Lloyd, Rigby, Kilshaw, Parker, Jones, Trottnan, Itol'uru; 'Aldermen Houghton. Chilton, Brainley -nioore, m peux, Crook-28. °r Mr. Lloyd—Councillors Isaac Holmes, Houghton, Yatlme , s, Mellor, J. Holmes, Bolton, Aikin, Bright, Ate. Robinson, Bushell, Proctor, J. Smith, Jordan ; t ar rneu Holt, Bulley, Freme, Harvey, Evans, Barclay, p e , Moon, Nicol, Turner, the Mayor-25. l ev ' ‘ .,r Mr. Aikin—Conncillors Thornhill, Preston, Priest. H• Lawrence, Platt, A. Smith, jun., Mather-7. pI e I :; . SANDR said the Education Committee was now corn withte' 'Might he venture to hope that they would act great wisdom prudence and moderation, and in uch a h p that the inhabitants of this town should rejoice s in the toVg e • He would have gone a little further into this Ileet, He 4 41 1 t• AIKEN said he should like to knovir whether Mr. 14 u s Meant - to move this as an instruction to the committee, w o rse if such was his desire, he (Mr. Aiken) . should be Pleased to second it. Mr. Aiken then entered into an Planationex of the opinion he had recently given as to eight being I, l k t eient number to constitute the Education Committee. NlAroa said this subject was now done with. GAOL COMMITTEE. Co°ll the motion of MR. AspiNALL, seconded by MR. LT ° l l, the following gentle Men were appointed the Gaol li t alaittee, after a short conversation between Mr. Cooper , Aspinall, the Town Clerk, Mr. John Holmes, Mr. I ,, t 'eu and oth ers : V f it. Bolton, Mr. Aiken, Mr. Earle, Mr. John Holmes, It e ; Evans, Mr. Yates, Mr. Hodgson, Mr. Harvey, Mr. h ard Houghton, and Mr. Sands. GARDENS CONEMITTEE. k T he following gentlemen were appointed the Garden Corn alee ' Robert Jones, jun., Mr. Trotman, Mr. Isaac C 4 'es, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Thornhill, Mr. Preston, and Mr. tool: COURT OF REQUESTS COMMITTEE. r n the motion . of MR. SHAND, the following gentlemen II! elected the Court of Requests Committee :—Mr. J. B. Vd, Mr. Copeland, Mr. John Smith, Mr. Cooper, Mr. 3, t h Matt. Mr. Evans, Mr. Bright and Mr. Slater. c o , ti MAYOR ready l memorial signed by 1,050 persons, Naining that this court, under its present mode of work- T7l*orked injustice to suitors, and suggesting that a jury of e respe c t a bl e men be appointed to assist the committee. p ev memorial was referred to the committee for them to re rt thereon. T L CHURCH EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE. 1 ,,„ 1 , 1 .e following gentlemen were appointed the Church Ex riture Committee, on the motion of Mr. ASI'INALL k r t i I3ir.krett, Mr. Griffiths, Mr. E. Molyneux, Mr. Procter , M Earle. PARKS COMMITTEE. k, 1 , 1r . SANDRACH said the Parks Committee must be consi oed def unc t. It wou ld b e a d e lu s ion upon the public to kfr o i4t a committee till the council were in a condition to ki ° rd to make the parks. This would show that the propo- A ,ai not what it had been called, a tory job. t or r• JORDAN said he disagreed with those who called it a to Job, anti that he was convinced as £20,000 had been lk s ed by subscription for building a single room by the pub the same amount might easily be raised for this purpose. COURTS OF LAW COMMITTEE. On the mo ti on o f M r . H. LAWRENCE, this committee lti a : thus constituted—Mr. • Sandbach, Mr. Bramley-Moore, Nlolyneux, .Mr. Aiken, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. 11. Holmes, r . E e arle, Mr. Barclay, and Mr. 11. Lawrence. At a sub -4t period of the meeting, Mr. Aiken and Mr. Evans lt it f e added to the committee, and so far as related to a reso in; uf the council on the Bth of September last, concern -18T,„le removal cf the police-courts, &c., to the site of '"gton market, or that of the new law courts. 0 TOWN-HALL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE. ri the motion of Mr. SANDBACH, the following gentle -112 wee -appointe to thi committee :—Mr. Earle, Mr. ' C lay, r Mr. Hodgson, Mr. s Gladstone, and Mr. Sands. OBSERVATORY COMMITTEE. „This coinmittce was constituted as follows :—Mr. Alder all Houghton, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Chilton, Mr. Aiken, r • Platt, Mr. Freme, Mr. Nicol, Mr. Rae, and Mr. Shand. n WAREHOUSES AND BATHS COMMITTEE. the motion of Mr. AiKIN, this committee was merged t he Health Committee, and was constituted of the follow -0 , 16 gentlemen : —Mr. Bushell, Mr. Houghton, Mr. Bir 4t, Mr. Yates, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Edwards, V. Kilshaw, Mr. Evans. Mr. Moon, Mr. Crook, Mr. ths, Mr. Harbord, and Mr. Isaac Holmes. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS. ton the mo ti on o f M r . A SPINALL , secon ded by Mr. C. elsnLt.i, Mr. Bolton was appointed a Commissioner of rkenhea ' d. in the place of Mr. Morecroft. WALLASEY EMBANKMENT. M r. AspiNA Lt. moved that Mr. Houghton and Mr. Aiken th aPPointed Com Missioners of Wallasey Embankment, in e Place of Mr. Hornby and Mr. Case. Carried. DOCK COMMITTEE kr. G. H. LAW. ONCE said he rose to propose for the co nsideration of the council the names of four gentlemen, tit 41 1 ,1 proper persons to supply the vacancies in the Dock Com mittee. There were two gentlemen retiring from that body !chose loss he was aware could be be but ill supplied. They 'lad devoted their time zealously and faithfully to the manage ment of th e a ff a i rs of the Dock Estate ; but when he read the names of those he was about to propose he thought the council would agree with him that he had endeavoured so far as in him lay to supply their place. He begged to propose that Mr. Nicol, Mr. Molyneux, Mr;.Shand, and Mr. Chil ton be elected members of the Dock Committee, in the place 111 Mr. Hornby, Mr. Booth, Mr. Benn, and Mr. G. Holt. Mr. TURNER seconded the mcition, and it was unanimously carried. CHAIRMAN OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE. ,LAWRENCE said the last motion being carried, r Should proceed, with the permission of the council, to P r o Pose to them a gentleman to fill the chair of the Dock ! ° annittee. In doing so, he could not help expressing his 'egret that the act of Parliament obliged the Council to pass Tier the services of the .gentleman who now occupied the Vil°lPuty chair, Mr. Horsfall. Had they been able to induce Horsfall to enter the Council chamber, which he would Ve done with the unanimousapprobation of all, they would n ot have been driven into this stress. Mr. HorsfalPs years 4 1 1 ( 1 previous services were entitled to some consideration, t hough .it was impossible to prevail upon him to accede to their wishes. Under these circumstances, he (Mr. Law- I : l iee) was obliged to propose to the Council the name of aoth a er gentlean. In doing so, he should propose one who wa s merchant of considerable standing in this town, who h already been a member of the Dock Committee—and let ' lll l add this—who promised to devote his time, to the ut most of his power, to discharge the duties of the chair. He ;tight be told that his friend, Mr. Sands, whom he was going 0 nominate—(hear, hear)—had not devoted as much time I t t l could have been wished to the committee, but when he , i ,° l d the Council that Mr. Sands was prepared as far as in "Ya to discharge the onerous duties of the chair with effi eleucy and zeal, he hoped the Council would repose confi dence in him, • and confirm the nomination. He begged to pr opose that Mr. Thomas Sands be elected chairman of the Dock Committee. Mr. TURNER seconded the motion. Mr. Alderman EVANB quite agreed in the appointment of t he four gentlemen who had been elected members of the ~ack committee, but when it came to the appointment of a chairman, it was a very serious matter, and quite a different ea Se. TV ± of the dock committee was literally the d .ie chairman c. d ock committee for six days in the week. He received all t he communications, he attended to every emergency, and, o f course he required a great deal of judgment and a great nem of zeal. They had been very fortunate in having had c hairmen who professed these qualities in the late Mr. Lea thom and Mr. Benn. To Mr. Sands as an extensive mer chant, an enlightened and clever man, he could have no ob leetion ; but knowing the duties of a chairman, and having seen the coolness with which Mr. Sands had hitherto attend ed to dock affairs, he did not expect him to give up that time Which would be so valuable to the management of his own affairs. Mr. Sands, the council had heard, had already pro mised to devote a great deal of his time to the affairs of the mocks, but he (Mr. Evans) hardly thought he had a right s 9neeption of the quantity of time they would require of "Im• He therefore should not expect from him a sacrifice, Which, without meaning anything invidious, he would have to make. Knowing that the dock affairs would never pros- Per without a degree of enthusiasm in the conduct of them. he (Mr. Evans) declared that nothing but a man who must be called a zealot ought to hold the high office of chairman of the dock committee. The gentleman he should name had passed all his life among the docks; his knowledge of them had not been acquired in his office. Ile had not gained it through the medium of clerks, but he had gone to the docks himself, and had there acquired that practical knowledge Which arose out of the actual management of his own affairs In the docks. Mr. Aikin was a merchant upon a very large scale ; he was extensively concerned in ships and shipbuild ing; his interest and his business were all intimately con nected with the management of the docks; and he (Mr. Evans) believed that every body who knew the interest he had taken in the management of the docks both before and since the passing of the municipal reform act, would admit that there was no gentleman in the whole community who could compete with him for capability for the office. Mr. Aikin had had the office offered to him before ; it was offered to him upon the last occasion, after the death of Mr. Lea thom, and he refused it. If he accepted it now he would accept it reluctantly, but, nevertheless, once in office, he Would give it the benefit of his knowledge, and of his great activity and zeal. Under these circumstances he (Mr. Evans) thought the council and the town at large would, in deed, have to congratulate themselves upon Mr. Aikin con senting to take the office. He had no need to t e ll the coun cil that this was no party affair ; it would be the height of absurdity in him to address the council at all in the spirit of Party ; but he really called upon them to weigh well before they made any other appointment than the best they could Make. As to political influence , he might appeal, he be lieved, to every gentleman that knew anything of the docks, Whether they had the least intermingling of politics in the establishment, or whether the chairman, or the gentlemen Who held different opinions there, ever interfered with those in the service of the docks, or in any way interfered w ith those who were in a subordinate condition. He mentio ne d this in order to let the council know that it was an appoint- Ment not recognieed by him with any other view than that of the public service. He had now only to move an amend ment, that Mr. Aikin be the chairman of the Dock Com mittee. Mr. MELLOR seconded the amendment, and in doing so he disclaimed all party feelings. The dock estate of Liverpool Was too vast, and too great to be administered in a spirit of Party. It was the duty of the council to hare in the chair the ablest man they could find—a man acquainted from ex erience and length of years with the working of the docks. t was no disparagement of Mr. Shand, to say he did not Profess that experience and knowledge of the affairs of the Liverpool docks which was absolutely necessary. If gentle men could divest their minds of party feeling, he thought the Private o pinions of a very large majority of the members of the council would be that Mr. Aiken had the preference in this respect. As a member of Exchange ward, he spoke the sentiments of a large proportion of the merchants who 11 ,"nabled upon the Exchange, when he said they would give Lme preference to Mr. Aiken, not upon account of his politics , ut simply upon account of his experience of the affairs of °I the docks. He hoped that gentlemen would rise superior 1 9 the little, petty, paltry feeling of p o liti cs , an d divesting th emselves of party spirit, give their vote in favour of that gentleman who was best qualified for the situation. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE replied. It was high time indeed for gentlemen to call upon the council to ri s e s uperior to Party, and to throw political feeling aside now that they were in minorit. It was time enough for them to draw compari- P . os between Mr. Sands and Mr. Aiken, which would not uye been d one h a d th e y h a d the ascendancy. Both were e qually d fit for the chair ; but it came very late in the day to tell the council this. What was their course when they had the power in their own hands in the year 1837, when a near relation of his came into that room, bound by the law to re. sign the key of the dock seals—what did they do then ? He had been in the dock trust since 1813, he had been a member and chairman of the committee for years, but he was not then fit to be upon the committee. He was to sweep the streets, to be a watchman or a scavenger. That was the way they had treated him, but now their cry was to throw over party politics. He wished they themselves had set a better ex ample. A long and very warm discussion followed between Mr. Evans, the Mayor, Mr. Bolton, Mr. John Holmes, Mr. Freme, Mr. Aiken, Mr. Earle, and others ; after which the council divided, when their appeared For Mr. Aiken For Mr. Sands Majority for Mr. Sands . For Mr. Aiken.—Councillors—Thornhill, Preston, H. Holmes, Mellor, Sands, J. Holmes, Bolton, Bright, Priest ley. Yates, Jordan, Platt, Mather. Aldermen—Holt, Bulley, Freme, Harvey, Evans, Barclay. Earle, Moon,-21. For Mr. S ands. Coancillors—Shaw, Isaac Holmes, Hough ton, Sandbach, Copeland, Edwards, Barton, Blundell, Aiken, Rae, Aspinall, Toulmin, J. Lawrence, Robinson, Cooper, H. Lawrence, Wood, Birkett, Gladstone, Bushell, Procter, Lloyd, Rigby, Kilshaw, Parker, Jones, J. Smith, G. H. Lawrence, Trottnan, A. Smith, jun., Harbord. Aldermen — Houghton, Nichol, Turner, Chilton, Bramley-moore, Moly neux, Crook, and the Mayor.-38. The MAYOR having announced the result, Mr. SANDS returned thanks. He was sure he need not inform the council that he had been induced to accept the office to which he had been elected with considerable hesita tion and reluctance. He was quite aware it was not one that was a niece honorary appointment ; he was quite sure it was as important as had been stated by his friends, Mr. Evans and Mr. Mellor. It involved not only great responsibility, but it would entail upon him very great labour. If he found in the next two or three months' experience, that his other avocations would not permit him to discharge the duties which the dock office would entail upon him, he could assure them, he'would come to the council and state that fact, and request them to appoint some one who could better discharge the duties of the office. He would not hold the office one day longer than he could discharge the duties of it with satis faction to himself and with advantage to the dock estate. (Applause.) REGISTER OF ATTENDANCES. M-. J. SMITH moved that all the committees keep a regis ter of the attendances of the members, and lay the same before the council, previous to the annual election. Mr. KILSHAW seconded the motion The Mayor, Mr. Birkett, Mr. Isaac Holmes, Mr. Hodg son, Mr. Bushell, Mr. Yates, and others opposed the motion on the ground that It was invidious without being correct, and after some discussion it was withdrawn. MR. ALDERMAN HARVEY'S CASE. The TOWN-CLERK read the following report, which he had prepared on this case: REPORT. That the council having, at their meeting on 'the 9th instant passed a resolution as follows, "That it be referred to the town clerk to inquire, and report at the next meeting, whether any amicable arrangement for the speedy determination of the legal difficulties of Mr. Harvey's case cannot be arrived at without ex pense to Mr; llarvey," the town-clerk has had interviews with the solicitors on both sides in the case of the rule to show cause why an information, in the nature of a writ of quo warranto, should not be file against Mr. Harvey, and that he has effected, subject to the approbation of the council, an arrangment, conditioned as after mentioned, which he now lays before the council. That the condition of this arrangement would he, that, its stipu lations being duly carried into effect by the parties respectively the council shall bear the costs of the neeessary proceedings, as between attorney and client, on both sides. PROPOSALS. That the facts of the case as to whether Mr. Harvey was " an inhabitant householder" in 1838, 1839, 1840, and 1841. shall he ascertained by the town-clerk, and his finding of such facts shall be final. That the town-clerk shall lay the facts so found before three barristers, one to be named by each party, and the third by the town-clerk, and the opinion of such barristers, or any two of them, shall be final as to the law upon the question of householdership. That all questions (if any) upon the lists and rolls that, alter such opinion, may remain, shall be forthwith brought before the court, with the householdership admitted according to the opinion of the barristers, and as a case upon the facts of which both parties have amicably agreed, with the object of not a day being lost in obtain. ing the opinion of the court on the law. That, accordingly, counsel on both sides are to be instructed, and the case is to be brought forward and pressed on to the satisfaction of the town-clerk. JNO. PENINGTON, Solicitor for Wm. Nichol, relator ; lIARVEY and FALCON, Solicitors for It. E. Harvey, defendant. Town-clerk's office, Nov. II , 1841. It is understood that the present rule may be enlarged by consent, lithe town-clerk approve of the same. Also, that the opinion to be expressed by the court on discharg ing the rule, or making it absolute, is to be final. JNO. PENNINGTON, November 15, 1841. HARVEY and FALCON. Mr. BOLTON moved, that before this matter was taken into consideration, the case submitted to the council should, with their opinion, be read, to enable the council to come to a correct conclusion upon the question. Mr. Alderman EVANS seconded the motion. Mr. LLOYD spoke against the proposition, urging that the matter was now in a train for a legal settlement of the Question to the satisfaction of the community, and it was not advisable to do any thing to prejudge it. He begged to move, that the instruction contained in the Town-clerk's report be adopted. Mr. JORDAN seconded the motion. The MAYOR opposed the reading of the case. Mr. Alderman EVANS thought the Council could not un derstand the question without the case being read. Mr. Alderman EARLE was of the same opinion. Mr. BIRKETT said the Council had heard sufficient at the last council to enable them to arrive at a just conclusion ; therefore he should oppose the reading of the case and opinions. Mr. Alderman EARLE said he would publish the report if he could get a copy of it. The MAYOR did not think the public would derive any more advantage from the reading of the case and opinions than would be communicated to them by the press. Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE feared if the case was withheld, the Council might be taunted with having a desire to stifle enquiry. Mr. HODGSON remarked that an agreement for the adju dication had been read, which was quite sufficient, and there fore he should vote against the reading of the case. Mr. AIKEN said he should like to hear both the case and the opinion. Mr. Alderman EARLE.—Surely there is nothing unreason able in that. Mr. LLOYD further opposed the motion, and a;very long discussion took place between the MAYOR, Mr. MELLOR. Mr. HARVEY, Mr. NICOL, Mr. BUSHELL, Mr. AIKEN, Mr. EVANS, and several others, the council divided on the question whether the case and opinion should be read. The result wss— For reading the report 3B Against it Majority l7 The TOWN-CLERK then read the case, which recited all the circumstances of the election and acts of Mr. Harvey, the protest against his eligibility, and, indeed, all the ques tions which have from time to time occurred in the case, all of which are familiar to our readers. The opinion of counsel, consisting of the Attorney-General, Mr. Starkey, Mr. Crompton, and Mr. Cowling, was in favour of Mr. Harvey's eligibility. The Town-clerk next read the affidavits in the case, from which it appeared that Mr. Harvey's household qualification was disputed, but only on the ground that he was entitled to be on the burgess list which came into effect on Nov. 1, 1841, his election having taken place in October. The principle point of contention was, whether the contend ing parties should bear the expense of the litigation now pro ceeding, or whether it should be defrayed by the council. The Town-clerk's opinion was that the question should be decided by the courts at the charge of the council, in order to prevent inconvenience, and to procure an early settlement of the point. After a very long debate, the council divided on the question whether the report of the Town-clerk should be adopted, which was carried by a majority of 15. The council adjourned at a few minutes to three o'clock. OPENING OF THE SHEFFIELD, ASHTON-UNDER LYNE, AND MANCHESTER RAILWAY. (From our own Correspondent.) On Thursday, the directors of this important undertaking, accompanied by J. Parker, Esq., their chairman, J. Locke, Esq., engineer, and a numerous party of their friends, pro ceeded on an experimental trip along the line as far as Godley, (a distance of nine or ten miles,) previous to that portion of the line being opened to the public, which we understand it is to be on Wednesday next. The train used upon the occa sion, consisting of an engine and eight carriages, started from the Station of the Company in Travis-street, Manchester — the same at present used by the Manchester and Birmingham Company—at about a quarter to three o'clock, some delay having occurred in removing an obstruction upon the line, and proceeded at a slow pace during the whole of the journey to the station at Godley, in order to allow the party present an opportunity of glancing, in passing, at the nature of the works, and of the difficulties which have had to be sur mounted in their formation. On its return, however, the speed attained was occasionally very fair; and the result of the trip, both in going and returning, must have been highly satisfAetory to the directors and shareholders present. We believe we are correct in stating, that, with the excep tion of the Summit Tunnel, and one or two viaducts, which are already far advanced, the portion of the line now com pleted is the heaviest in the amount of cutting and embank ment, and considerably the most expensive, of the entire railway. So far as we are enabled to judge of the execution of the works in their present somewhat undressed state, the whole reflect great credit, both upon the engineer and upon the contractors; and, except in one or two places, the earth work appears settled and firm, and the bridges, retaining walls, &c., of a permanent and solid character. In the con struction of the whole, strength and utility seem to have been consulted in preference to mere effect and ornament ; and we believe the result of this common-sense mode of construction is, that no line of railway hitherto, with equal extent of works, has been laid down at so small a cost to the proprie tors and so near the original estimate. _ The engine used in this experimental trip, and we belie g the whole of the engines upon the line, are of an extra powerful description, calculated to surmount with ease the somewhat steep gradients which occur throughout. No difficulty was experienced in ascending the steepest ; and in the descent towards Manchester, the necessary stoppages were made at the different stations with a facility equal to that upon the most level railways. The first-class coaches are very elegant and commodious. The second-class are also very pretty, and in convenience, something between those upon the Grand Junction and those upon the Liver pool and Manchester line. The third-class are what are termed " stand-ups," and resemble the same class in use upon the Manchester and Leeds line. There can be no doubt that, when opened to the public, this length of line even, running through a very populous manufacturing district, must be extensively used, and be found of great value to the manufacturing population in its neighbourhood. That such is the opinion of the public themselves was made evident by the groups of delighted and wondering faces which greeted the train as it passed by the various bridges and inhabited places along the line. It can not, however, attain its full degree of usefulness to the pub lic, or its value to its spirited proprietors, until completed throughout, arid the important districts at its termini thus permanently united. The only accident which cccurred was the destruction of a poor dog belonging to some of the excavators. The animal, in a sudden fit of enthusiasm, took a fancy to bile the heels of the engine in advance of the train ; and, after running along the side of an excavation in pursuit for a considerable distance, bounded down at length upon his iron antagonist, and, as the result of his mad emprise, was severed in two, the whole train passing over him. THEATRE -ROYAL, MANCHESTER.—We perceive, by the Manchester papers, that Mr. Charles Kean and Miss Ellen Tree are announced to perform Mr. and Mrs. Beverley, in the tragedy of " The Gamester," at the Manchester Thea tre, on Saturday next ; on which evening Mr.. and Mrs. Kee ley will appear in the farce of " A Loan of a Lover." Powrico CoNcEars.—The fifth concert took place last night. The performances commenced with " God save the Queen." The following additional verse, written by Mr. Stonehouse, was sung : Oh, Lord, by day and night, Bid guardian angels bright Their care evince 1 With strength the Prince sustain, . With health infuse each vein, Till he shall age attain, God save the Prince I GRATIFYING DEMONSTRATION. FIRST ATTENDANCE AT THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS, SINCE THE PASSING OF THE MUNICIPAL REFORM ACT It will be known to most of our readers, that, since the passing of the Municipal Reform Act, the majority of the Town Council having been, until the recent election, " re formers,"—and many of them consequently Papists, Unita rians, or something worse,—the old and venerated custom of the Mayor attending the Established Church officially, Preceded by the corporate regalia, and followed by such of the Councillors and others of inhabitants as might deem it proper to give their attendance, had unhappily fallen into dissuetude, to the deep regret of the Protestant community, comprising the mass of the worth, the wealth, and the re spectability of the town. The radical press, meantime, de precated the continuance of the practice, on the groundless assumption that it was now uncalled for by the " libe ral" spirit of the times, and offensive to those who did not range themselves under the banners of the church. Hap pily, however, the period at length arrived when that open, manly, and truly English feeling of respect to an establish ment to which this country owes her pre-eminence in the scale of nations, might again be legally and appropriately demonstrated,—when, indeed, the chief magistrate of our great town could furnish a wholesome example to all classes, to " prove all things, and hold on to that which is good,"— an example, moreover, which, in the church attendance of our monarch, the officers of state, and the respected and learned judges of the land, is essentially interwoven with the very principles of our constitution in church and state. That such a custom offers an affront to dissenters of any class, we utterly deny. No offensive emblems are carried ; no display is made beyond the few insignia of office, neither so numerous nor so attractive as those of an ordinary and even small benefit society—mere emblems, indeed, of the legal constitution of the body, which may be borne by any denomination of Christians, and no more calculated to give offence to good subjects than is the exhibition of the crown of the realm on the coronation of the monarch. With feelings, doubtless analagous to those we have ex pressed, the good churchmen of the town resolved to accom pany the newly elected and highly respected Protestant Mayor to the house of prayer on the first occasion (Sunday last) after his induction into office, and in such numbers as would furnish a decided and gratifying proof of the increas. ing attachment of the people at large to the most valuable, the highest, the holiest of all our institutions, the Protestant established church,—a collection, as is usual, on the new Mayor first attending divine worship, being to be made on behalf of that excellent charity the Blue Coat Hospital. The day was line and clear, though cold, and the streets unusually clean and dry after the recent rain and hail. So ea' ly as ten o'clock, a considerable number of parties anxi ous to see or to accompany the procession bad collected in front of the Town Hall, and the crowd continued to increase rapidly until the hour of departure for St. Peter's Church. A number of police constables, under Mr. Whitty, were sta tioned round the portico to keep the passages clear for the approach of carriages and gentlemen on foot, who continued to arrive in a continued and increasing stream from a quar ter past ten. The parties were ushered by officers in the vestibule up stairs to the drawing-room, which perhaps never before held so large an assemblage of gentlemen of the first rank and respectability ; comprising, indeed, nearly the whole of the " broad cloth" of the town and neighbourhood. The room is ninety-eight feet in length. It was crowded to ex cess, and many parties were constrained to accommodate themselves on the landings and steps of the grand staircase. We counted about twenty carriages, many of them handsome equipages ; but great numbers who reside at no great dis tance arrived on foot. About half-past ten the Mayor ar rived is his private carriage, and was greeted with every de monstration of respect. Shortly afterwards, the boys of the Blue Coat School, attended by their head master and ushers, came up, and, as on all former occasions, the neat and quaint attire and interesting appearance of these children excited much sympathy and attention. Nearly all the conservative members of the Council were present, and we observed three of the reform section of that body, as well as a considerable number of gentlemen who may be classed amongst the mo derate reformers of the town ; also a few of the Jewish per- The gathering, in fact, though almost wholly con servative, contained a sufficient sprinkling of reformers of respectability as citizens, amply to demonstrate the high and general respect entertained towards the new Mayor by all parties. By about half-past ten o'clock, the whole of Castle-street, the top of Dale-street, the top of 'Water-street, and the im mediate thoroughfares were crowded with dense masses of well-dressed individuals, of various grades in society, in cluding many respectable females ; and, in a few minutes more, the front of the Town-hall, half way down the capacious street, presented a sea of heads. The utmost de corum, befitting the day and the occasion, was, however, maintained, without the requirement of any effort on the suasion part of the constabulary force. The favourites in the coun cil were recognised by the multitude as they arrived with lively but, (with the exception of a casual and quiet an nouncement of their names to strangers around them,) with silent respect. The Rev. Rector Brooks, (who was to preach the sermon on the occasion) came in his carriage, ac companied by a lady; and was almcst immediately followed by the Rev. Rector Campbell, (both in canonicals)—the latter accompanied by the Churchwardens. The Blue ;Coat school boys were drawn up on the west side of Castle-street, in readiness to take their place near the head of THE PROCESSION. At about a quarter to eleven o'clock, the procession moved 'rom the Town-hall in the following order, along the west oot-walk of Castle-street : Police•-officers to clear the way. Four Parish Constables in dark brown, with red collars. The Blue Coat School Boys. The Regalia, carried by the Sub-Bailiffs. The Water Bailiff and others. The Sergeant at Mace. The Sword Bearer. The MAYOR, in a black gown, and bearing the white wand , supported by the two Rectors. The TOWN-CLERK and his DEPUTY. The REv. J. B. MONK and T. G. LEIGH, of St. George's Church. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. A long line of gentlemen - - - - t was intended, we believe, that the parties should walk foor and four ' • but such was the crowd of anxious spectators throughout the route, that it was impossible to preserve such an arrangement, and we uoticed rows of from two to five, the average being probably about three. It was, therefore, impossible to count the whole number who walked with ac curacy, but, making the fairest possible computation, they may be stated at considerably above five hundred gentlemen. The procession reached the tun length of Castle-street. Amongst the members of the council present we observed, Messrs. Robertson Gladstone, T. Sands, Richd. Houghton, Raymond Houghton, John Holmes, James Moon, James Lawrence, Jos. Cooper, H. Copeland, C. Bushell, R. Rigby, E. Rae, Jas. Parker, T. Toulmin, J. Aspinall, D. Hodgson, Isaac Holmes, Richd. Ilarbord, 11. and J. Holmes, William Preston, Robt. Jones, H. R. Sandbach, James Proctor, Rd. Griffiths, J. Edwards, William Shuttleworth, B. Ellis, and others. Amongst the gentlemen not of the council we noticed, the Rev. F. Moss, of Walton, Sir T. Brancker, Dr. Brand reth, Sir G. Drinkwater, Lieut.-Col. Sir Ewd. ust, Messrs. John and D. Maddock, Lieut. Vickers, Gist Regiment, John Wright, R. Dawson and Son, S. Stainforth, S. Sandbach, M. D. Lowndes, T. B. Horsfall, Rt. Horsfall, Charles Horsfall, Robt. Birkett, T. Moss, J. A. Kaye, J. Mawdsley, Rawson, J. D. Case, Wm. Dixon, Rt. Heywood, Charles Turner, N. Robinson, T. Muncaster, Samuel Holmes, P. Wright, E. G. Deane, Myers (2), G. Dyson, P. Leather, Riehd. Leyland, C. Bullen, F. Shand, Jas. Lawrence, Geo. Ormerod, W. Shand, Chas. Okill, T. Tobin, and many other distinguished individuals of the town and neighbourhood. As the procession moved onwards down the south side of ,ord street, the congregated masses of well-dressed indivi- duals, including many ladies, became more a •d more dense, and the whole of Church street and considerable length of ,s approaches from_the northward, were so densly crowded, that it was with difficulty that space could be made for its comfortable passage to the caurch, the yard of which was surrounded on all sides by multitudes of spectators. The greatest respect was manifested throughout, towards the whole train ; with the most decorous absence of all cheering or demonstration of peculiar political opinion, either in the streets or from the windows of the houses. It was, indeed, a glorious revival of Christian feeling, altogether devoid of intolerence which excited no little enthusiasm in the bosoms of the friends of the trne churchmen, and roused no un pleasant feelings even in those who dissent from her doctrines. There are some interesting historical and local reminiscenes which the occasionn was calculated to call forth. The sacred edifice to which the procession advanced to offer up the prayers, was the second parish church in the town—finished and consecrated in 1704, shortly after Liverpool was made a distinct parish from Walton, St. Nicholas's (the only m.her church) having up to 1699 been merely a chapel of ease under the church of Walton-on-the Hill. At that period the " pool," which formed a little creek on the site of the old dock, and now of the Custom House, and was called the " Sea Lake," ran up on the site of Paradise street, White chapel, and Byrom street, to the bottom of Dale street, and Show's Brow, then called "Townsend." There was a bridge, or mound with a small archway and sluice at the bottom of the pool below near the site of Cooper's Row. and another at Townsend on the road to Prescot. A bridge had also been built in 1672 at the bottom of Lord street, leading to a " road over the common," (now Church street) on the east bank, but this had fallen into desuetude and on the rmains of it now stands the shop of Mr. Gillham, the hatter. Till a considerable number of years after the building of St. Peter's Church, the mayor and corporation were wont on going to worship within its walls, to be ferried across from Lord-street, a distance of about 200 feet. The whole space thus covered by water was upwards of 50 statute acres, and now redeemed from the sea, forms the site of several of our best thoroughfares. The Blue Coat Hospital (in behalf of which the collection made on Sunday last is appropriated) was established only four years after the building of the church. The town then contained under 10,000 inhabitants, and a comparatively insignificant amount of shipping in small craft. It is a proud reflection that the " good old town" fostered in its commerce and enterprise by a protestant government and protestant institutions, has, in little more than a century, risen to her present magnitude— second only to the metropolis itself in maritime importance, and yielding to none in enterprise and intelligence. THE SERVICE. The church, as might be expected, was crowded to excess, many parties—including not a few of those who had joined the procession—being unable to obtain admittance. A con siderable number, in consequence, went to St. George's Church, where an excellent sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Monk, and Handel's coronation anthem was sung in commemmoration of the birth of the infant Prince. After prayers (at St. Peter's) the Rev. Jonathan Brooks, senior Rector, ascended the pulpit, and delivered the follow- SERMON. 144th Psalm, verse 12 " That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace," Or as it is expressed in the version of our Prayer Book— " That our sons may grow up as the young plants : and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple." There is no part of the sacred writings better• calculated to minister to the improvement and to the edification of mankind, than the book of Psalms. It abounds with those instructions which are of so much value to man, for securing his improve ment in virtue and knowledge, for the advancement of his piety, and for the confirming of his faith. Do we wish to discern the difference between wisdom and folly, between holiness and sin ; would we be alive to the consequences to which they respectively and inevitably lead, would we have our joy and gratitude awakened by a lively display of the goodness of God, and the wonders which he is continually doing for the children of men ; and would we have our sor rows soothed amidst the vicissitudes and clouds of life, by the contemplation of his mercy, would we trace the redemp tion of man from the first advent of the glorious Redeemer to the scene of his last sufferings, and carry our view forward to his final triumph at the great consummation of all things —we can find these circumstances presented to us in a form so perspicuous and so attractive, that they cannot fail, when diligently studied and rightly understood, to interest the affections, and to reach the heart. They present an inex haustible variety of the noblest matters that can engage our attention. " Calculated" says one of their ablest commen tators "alike to profit and to bless, they inform the under • standing, and they elevate the heart. Indited under the influence of Him to whom all hearts are open, and all events foreknown, they suit all kinds in all stations, grateful as the manna which decended from above, and conformed itself to few perusals, like gathered flowers, wither in our hands and lose their progrance ; but these unfaded plants of Paradise every palate. The first productions of human writ, after a • become, as we are more accustomed to them, still more and more beautiful, and their bloom appears to be deeply heightened lie who has once tasted their excellence will desire to taste them yet again, and he who tastes them often est will relish them best." Though these compositions are styled the Psalms of David, yet, he was not the writer of the whole of them. Of a great proportion however, he was undoubtedly the author, and among others, of the one immediately before us. It seems to have been composed upon the occasion of some national deliverance, and opens with an expression of pious gratitude to God for the protection which He had vouchsafed' to him, for having. " taught his hands to war, and his fingers to fight," and thereby enabled him to subdue his enemies having ascribed to God the honour of the victory, he con- fesses — his own unworthiness, and acknowledges that man can have no claims to such au exhibition of divine goodness— " Lord what is man that thou halt such respect unto him, and the son of man that thou _so regardest him ? Man is „ - like a thing of nought,” He then proceeds to invoke his future assistance, that He would once more lay bare his arm, and to go forth in the strength of his might with the army of Israel, to conquer their remaining enemies and to gain to them so complete a victory that they might return home in triumph, lay aside the garments of the warrior which had so long been dyed in blood, and have leisure to resume the pursuits of agriculture, and to cultivate the arts of peace. Transported by the anticipation of so pleasing a prospect, he pourtrays in glowing colours the happy consequences which would ensue from it, when plenty shOdd return to the land, and the granaries shOula be full of corn, when every herd and every flock should be increased without limit,_when they should enjoy freedom from foreign invasion and domestic complaints, and when, amidst the first and choicest of their blessings, their children should be no longer neglected, but " their sons should grow up as the young plants, and their daughters as the polished corners of the temple," and they no longer be left uncultivated and un improved, like the wild flower or the unhewn marble, but that now, when the din of arms was over, they should be nurtured with the tenderest care and increasing solicitude, that they might grow up the future strength and ornaments of their country. Indeed, there is nothing of such vital importance to man, whether we consider him collectively or individually, as the formation of early habits. As the plant is trained, so is the beauty or the deformity of its maturer growth. According to the skill and ingenuity and patience displayed in the mould ings of the marble, is the polish and symmetry of the future column when it comes from the artist's hands. If the ground work be not well laid, if the cultivation of the soil be neg lected, if the plant be left to grow wild in rank luxuriance, in vain shall we look forward to the fruit; if the stone be not reduced to its harmonious proportions, in vain may we ex pect it will add to the stability or to the symmetry of the future building. So it is with man : he is born like a wild ass's cold ; if left to himself, and allowed to take his own course without controul, he must fall the victim of his head- strong passions and . of his unrestrained appetites. Atten tion, and industry, and perseverance, must form the disci pline of the youthful mind ; it must be early taught to know the power and the practice of self-government ; it must not be left to the fearful chances of accidental impressions, much less to the positive contagion of evil associations ; but " what soever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, what soever things are lovely, must be inculcated and rooted in the growing habits of the child, must he taught to ' grow with his growth and to strengthen with his strength.' " From infancy proceeds the growth of men. They are placed here in a state of probation for an immortal existence ; and upon the early direction given to their opening faculties, upon the early inculcation of right religious principles, depends not only the colour and the complexion of their life upon earth, but also their prospects in an eternal world. There is a restless and a busy principle of action within us, which will not be satisfied without being called into exertion, and if it be not guided at first aright, will soon find for itself another direction. Can any reflecting man doubt the vigilance of the great enemy of souls, who is continually walking about seeking whom he may devour ? Can there be a doubt of his eagerly seizing every opportunity of sowing his tares in so fruitful a soil, if it be left open and unguarded? Now, as the tendency to evil and sinful habits is much more easily prevented than cured, as the teachableness and the docility of childhood are proverbial, as the mind at that tender age is susceptible of any impressions, capable, like the plant, of being bent to any form, and like the marble moulded to any shape, it is most important to preoccupy it with sentiments of piety and of virtue, and to instil good principles and good thoughts into it as soon as ever there is a capability to re ceive them. , Our Saviour has taught us how acceptable is such an offer ing, when he applied the words of the Psalmist to the hosannahs of the children of Jerusalem " out of the months of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise." It is the advice of the wise king of Israel " remember thy creator in the days of thy youth" ; and if this was inculcated, and necessary to be inculcated under the imperfect ministrations of the law, 1)ow much more necessary is it that a Christian child should be taught to know that God is his creator, and that of all mankind—that he is an all wise and a perfect being, and as he at first made the world by his power, so he continues to govern and to preserve it by his providence ! To these truths, which are the foundation of all religion, must be gradually added, as his faculties expand, and his powers of apprehension unfold themselves, the knowledge of the divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, of the universal corruption and degeneracy of mankind, the causes which led to it, the hopeless condition to which we were reduced by the fall of our first parents, the mercy of God in providing the remedy, the atonement made for sin upon the cross. He should be informed that " as in Adam all havp died, so in Christ shall all be made alive"; he should be instructed in the history of his Saviour's life ; in the efficacy 'of his Saviour's death, in the necessity of repentance and newness of life, in order that the benefits of that death may be ap plied to himself, in the certainty of another state of existence after he shall have passed through this probationary scene, and of a great day of account when the living and the dead, both small and great shall stand before God, and be judged and dealt with out of those things which are written in the book, according to their works ; in the means by which he may be enabled to obtain the grace of God here, and the foundation upon which he may build his hope of glory here after. To these doctrines should be added, that he should be taught those precepts which contain the great rules of practise, those unquestionable duties, founded on thosedoctrines, which he owes to God, his neighbour, and himself : towards God, faith, reverance, submission, resignation, worship, gratitude, and love ; towards man, truth, justice, mercy, and charity ; to wards himself, temperance, sobriety, humility, and self denial. In short the whole gospel of that Jesus, in whom, as a Christian, he professes to believe, should be laid before him, and he should be made familiar with those sublime doctrines, and those golden rules, which it is the glorious and admirable previlege of Christianity to have fully revealed, and brought within the reach of all. Such are the heads of that instruction which should be taught to all as the basis of their present and future happi ness. God has never left himself without a witness ; but we have a peculiar revelation. He has placed us under the covenant of grace, and surely if there be any one branch of knowledge more important than the rest, it is that a Christian should be instructed as early and as carefully as possible, in the terms of that covenant into which he has been admitted. For this blessed purpose it has been the wisdom of our na tional church to provide her excellent catechism—a produc tion which the wisest and the best has for ages regarded with the highest estimation, and which they will continue so to regard as long as purity of doctrine and unaffected piety shall be dear to Englishmen. It has been well said of it that it is a production upon which the philosopher when he peruses it pauses with admiration, and the religionist is enraptured with its piety. The young should be encouraged to learn it with the most serious attention, and happy is it for the hoary headed if he continues to read with growing conviction, grow ing delight, and growing improvement. It may well be called the key of Christian knowledge, for it opens the way to further improvement. Would to God that every parent throughout the land would put a true value upon that inesti mable blessing, and avail themselves, as they ought, of its help and of its assistance. From the earliest dawnings of reason and of conscience, the tendernesi of a mother's affec- tions cannot possibly be a worthier object, nor one which will more effectually secure the favour and affection of Almighty God, than in thus training up the soul of her child in the nurture and admonition oi' its Saviour ? To every parent whose pious care thus sows the seed of religious truth in the mind of her child, it will through every future stage of her life, and more especially when life closes, be a source of lasting comfort, to reflect that she has not in this instance been unmindful of her duty. " Whom," says the prophet, " shall he teach knowledge, and whom shall he make to un derstand doctrine ? Even them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breast." In that important inter val from the first unfolding of the soul, to the maturity of riper years, what cpu parents do more useful to their children, and if they think rightly, is more satisfactorily to themselves than to see that those children be taught so soon as they shall be able to learn " what a solemn vow, promise, and profession" have been made for then in their baptism ? It must be a subject of sincere congratulation to every de vout and benevolent mind, that the vital principles of the institution, for which I have this day the privilege of plead ing, is to perform in this most esse n ti a l point the duty of an anxious and affectionate parent. Your Blue-coat Hospital receives into her maternal arms those whom it has pleased God to deprive of their natural protectors. Out of 350 children now under its roof, 344 are either wholly or in part, orphans. Can we conceive of a charity more calculated to interest the best feelings of the human heart, one which snatches these helpless and unprotected children from the dangers with which they are surrounded, supplies them with food and raiment, shelters them from the pressing evils of poverty and destitution, and not content with providing for their temporal wants, teaches them to look forward beyond the transitory concerns of this world, and educates them for an immortal existence? Aware that moral duties lose their energy and their strength, and moral virtues their animation, and their consistency when unsupported by religious motives, it is the care of those who are entrusted with its manage ment, to bind the strong distinction between good and evil upon the heart and the conscience, by the solemn sanction of religious belief. Is not this in strict conformity with the will of Him who commmnded that little children should be brought unto him, and blamed those that would-be kept thus from him ? Is it not in compliance with the injunctions of Him who declared, " whoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me ; who when h e l a id h is h an d upon them and blessed them, openly proclaimed th a t o f suc h was the kingdom of God ? May we not confidently hope and trust that the blessings of God will not be wanting to further the efforts of those who thus endeavour to promote his glory, and the everlasting happiness of their fellow creatures ? But it is not mere instruction which is given in this school. Knowledge is of but little use without practice. To profess to know God, and yet to deny him in works, the Apostle brands with the stigma of being " abominable and disobedi ent." Whilst, then, their memories are stored with the facts and the promises of the gospel, whilst they are occupied with things concerning s alvation, they are at the same time accustomed to acts of devotion. They attend time Lord's house, they join in congregational worship, they show their respect for the ordinances of religion by their practical at tention to its duties. Religion becomes a habit to them, and in the little world in which they live they are required to bring forth the fruits of the spirit. When they enter thus armed upon a wider sphere of action, they are better pre pared to struggle with the temptations which they must meet with. It does not indeed follow as a matter of course, that all of them shall escape the pollutions of the world, that passion, or interest, or evil communications may not lead some of them astray ; yet even should this be the case, we may fairly hope that conscience will be more easily awakened, and that the recollection of early instruction and early habits may recur to produce repentance and amendment. Happily, however, as far as regards this charity, we are not left merely to conjecture. The experience of many years has assured us that a very large proportion of those whom it has laboured to guide in the paths of holiness and piety, have re solutely continued to walk in them, and that it has sent forth into the world many honest and useful citisens, intelligent and upright merchants, many loyal and industri ous - su bj ects , many pious and sincere Christians. If such, then, be the wisdom of this institution, and such the effects which have flowed.from it, go on, I beseech you, with one heart and with one spirit to promote its future use fulness. Animated by Christian faith, mighty in its energy, and grateful to the giver of all good, join in contributing to lead these children to industry, to virtue, and to God. But it is unnecessary for me to exhort you. Your own hearts will be your best councillors. I will not believe that there is a single individual here present in whom the desti tute situations of these children has not raised a feeling of generous sympathy ; nor will I believe that there is one who will not consider it a h a ppiness and a delight to give vent to that feeling—by throwing in his mite in so holy a cause. Were any additional inducement required, it is to be found in the circumstances of the present period ; in the occurrences of the past week. The birth of an heir to the British throne is a subject of congratulation and rejoicing, which should excite in every loyal breast the warmest feelings of thankfulness to that gracious . Being by whom, kings reign, and princes decree justice. And how can our gratitude be more acceptably displayed than in consecrating it, by acts of charity and benevolence to our fellow-creatures ? How can we better show our sense of the value of the gift he has bestowed than by making it the means of conferring benefits upon those who, though born to a humbler lot in this world, are yet cast in the same mould, and are equally dear to him, who, as the common Father of all, is no respecter of per sons? Follow, then, I beseech you, upon this occasion, the Christian rule of charity. Let each give according to what he has. You who have much, give liberally ; you who have little, do your diligence gladly to give of that little. Remem ber it was the praise of Mary of Bethany " She has done what she can." And if, at the great day of account, the joy ful sentence shall be addressed to you " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the wo , •ld, for I was a-hungered, and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink, I was a stran ger, and ye took me in, naked, and ye clothed me ; for inas much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me ",—if, I say, it shall be your happy lot to have this sentence pronounced upon you, then will you look back with consolation, and with joy upo❑ this day, having found that its reward is in heaven, and its reward is on high. Now to God the Father, &c. At the close of the service, owing to the croweded state of the church, the collections were made at the doors from the parties as they retired, and the total amount was £195 -Is 4d, —a sum nearly six times larger than that collected for the same charity last year. Long before the conclusion of the service, the surrounding streets, also Lord-street and Castle -street, and the church yard, again became densely crowded by parties of all grades, anxious to witness the return of the procession to the Town hall, which it was generally expected would form in the same order as before. In this, however, they were disap pointed, as the mayor, the town-clerk, and a few friends, alone returned to the hall, preceded by the regalia, the re mainder of the company (after a prolonged attendance,) hav ing taken their way to their respective homes. _ _ the crowds in the neighbourhood soon afterwards dis persed, and the town assumed its usual quiet Sunday appear ance. The following is a statement of the respective amounts collected for the Blue Coat School, by the respective new mayors, within the last seven years :- 1835 Mr. W. W. Currie 1836 Mr. W. Earle..... 1837 Mr. W. Rathbone, 1838 Mr. H. Hornby... 1839 Sir J. Walmsley... 1840 Mr. T. 801t0n.... 1841 Mr. J. Shaw Leigh £54 4 0 35 12 6 30 14 4i 42 7 6 45 3 G 33 17 3 195 4 4 NORTH DISPENSARY.—On Sunday evening last a sermon was preached at St. Mary's Church, Kirkdale, by the Rev. D. James, incumbent, after which a collection was made in aid of the funds of the above charity, amounting to £lsls. 3d. We hope the example set by the rev. gentleman will be forth with followed by the clergy of the town, in order to relieve the Dispensaries from their present state of financial embar ragsment. LIST OP PASSENGERS BY THE STEAM-SHIP COLUMBIA. —Prom Boston—Hon. Washington Barrow, lady, and son ; Hon. George Cathcart, Lieut.-Col. Belfour, Capt. Forbes, Capt. John Marshall, Messrs. W. Blake, W. Walton, A. H. Haddan, W. E. Lewis, J. Emerie, J. J. Lyons, Klancke, S. Hopkins, F. Aleny, C. F. Shaw, A. H. H. Bernard, C. F. Adams, Kinnard, Fritz, J. Freeman and lady, J. P. Stephens, W. B. Huzgins and man-servant, T. Soublet, Montizambut, R. Gillespie, J. Wrigley, J. Robinson, J. Gourd, Bullock, and Bush. From Halifax—Capt. Broughton and man-servant, and Messrs. M'Queen, Miller, Powell, Curzon, Russell, Hollingsworth, and Robinson. DEAFNESS.—Mrs. Gardner, we perceive, has been com pelled by the pressure of business to remain in Liverpool. Those who have been under her care speak very highly of her abilities, attention, and mode of operation. Mrs. Gardner may be termed a benefactress to her race—and those who need her assistance will not repent applying for it. PROPERTY.—Those who are in want of a good house, may suit themselves by a reference to Mr. Williams' ad vertisement. CANDLE SPRINGS.—A very useful and handy little article has just been brought out by Mr. Healey, for the purpose of keeping candles upright in the socket of the stick. It quite supersedes the use of paper in wrapping round the candle, and quite prevents accidents occurring. The application of Captain Taylor's floating breakwater, for the formation of refuge harbours on the coast of the United Kingdom, appears likely to be carried out with great advantage to our maritime commerce, and its practicability is almost universally admitted. To show the vast import ance attached to the invention, it is only necessary to refer to the names of the patrons, the directors, and others con nected with the formation of the company, by means of which it is to be put into immediate operation, which com prising as they do, those of the first eminence in nautical service and knowledge, cannot fail to impress upon the pub lic mind its high utility. HOAX Or THE ALBION.—Poor Thomas Bolton! never did any great man descend from his tripod to mingle with the denizens of this " worky-day world," with less flourishing of trumpets and showering of bays than the forlorn and ne glected EX-MAYOR of Liverpool. Not a line to grace his retirement or to soften his fall—not a line even ofMercury— not a word from Chronicle or Journal; whilst the Albion — more cruel than any—"damns with faint praise," and " shuffles off the coil," from the object of his worship for twelve long months, in the space of a shabby paragraph, no longer than would serve to record the decease of a favourite hound, or to record the praises of a spavined hackney. Alas for Thomas Bolton ! when the only commendation to posterity accorded to him by his sole panegyrist is confined to his " hospitality at the Town -hall, and the cosmopolitan character of his invitations! Happierfar would it have been for him to have been unsung and unwept—happier had his " liberal" compatriots been able to say of his obscuration— " We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone ; But we left him alone with his glory !" ST. SUWON'S CHURCH, GLOUCESTER-STREET.—On Sun day last, sermons were preached towards liquidating the debt still existing on this church in several churches, and the following collections were made: at St. Jude's £5O Is. 10d., Christ Church £2O 10s., St. Mary's, Kirkdale, £lB, All Saint's £lO 10s. We cannot too strongly recommend this interesting church to the liberality of the public. It is probably known that until very lately the building be longed to the Independents, and being advertised for sale was purchased by some friends of the establishment, and vested in five trustees, of whom the Rev. Fielding Ould is one. The debt still outstanding, notwithstanding the col lections on Sunday, amounts to nearly £9OO, and we trust some effort will be made to remove such an in cumbrance on the efficiency of the minister (Rev. J. R. Connor), a truly devoted, zealous, and persevering man. The district allotted to the church comprises a most degraded and lamentably neglected portion of the population of the town, as the following statement evinces. Out of 1462 inhabitants of four small streets, which are by no means the worst in the locality, 1280 never profess to attend a place of worship, 95 only go there occasionally, and but 87 attend regularly. THE WOOL OF THE LAMA.—(From a correspondent.)— A gentleman of the name of Woolaston, who has resided for some years among the mountains of Thilbet, has lately dis covered a species of the lama, the colour of which is perfectly black, and its hair as soft as silk. The latter, he says, is capable of being woven into shawls and other cloths of a similar description with much advantage. As a staple com modity he remarks that it does not possess the properties of wool, it being much more fine than is the latter material ; but it would admirably well suit the fine shawl trade, as it is carried on in the manufactories of Glasgow and Paisley. The hairs run upon an average 12 inches in length, and are of a jet black colour, so that they do not require dyeing to enter tain a darker shade. A large quantity of twist, which has been turned in the hills, has already been bought up by the French merchants on speculation, and sent to France, where it has realized as much as from 12s. 6d. to 14s. per pound, while the raw unspun material has met a ready sale at 2s. sd. to 3s. per pound. The Indian shawls, which have ever been eeld in high estimation, are manufactured from the fine soft hairs which forms the under coat of the Cashmere hill goat, and the above animal, the " Alpaca," (for such is the name under which it is known by the natives), affords a hair equally as soft and as long as that which is furnished by the former creature. The black Cashmere shawls have always fetched higher prices than any other of a similar descpiption in the market ; and it is not at all improbable but that the beautiful silky hair of the " Alpaca" is used largely by the Cashmere weavers in their manufacture of the latter very valuable as well as profitable article of commerce. CURIOUS ROBBERY.—On Lord Mayor's Day, as the pro , cession was passing the Mansion House, the thieves were, as might be expected, very busily employed. Amongst the persons robbed was a French gentleman. The way in which the robbery was committed had a good deal of coolness and comedy about it. The gentleman had his watch, to which there was a guard, in one waistcoat pocket, and a purse con taining 15 sovereigns in the other, and he kept his arms down so as to protect the property in both pockets. As he walked along a well-dressed person, who had noticed him for some time, said to him, " Oh, sir, if you carry your arms in that way you will hare your pockets picked as sure as you ever were born." " Ah," said the French gentleman, " sare, I shall thank you let me know how I carry my arms." " Why," this way to be sure," replied the polite adviser ; and, taking hold of one of the Frenchman's, raised it up, and, with amazing quickness. whipped out the purse, while the grateful foreigner passed along, saying " Sare, I thank you vera much for showing me how not to be robbed." The gentleman did not ascertain that he had lost anything till he got into Wood-street, where he visited a family and men tioned the adventure pretty nearly as it is stated above. The statement of this robbery at the Mansion \House brought to mind an impudent robbery which was committed on Ludgate bill in the mayoralty of Alderman Thompson- Upon that occasion a little elderly, dressy man, who had a diamond pin in his shirt, stood out of the crowd upon the steps of a hall door, and was enjoying the procession with great dignity. The sparkling gem in his shirt, however, soon attracted the attention of a gang of thieves, who went over to the place on which he stood, and held him by the arms, while one of the fraternity quietly took the pin out of the little fellow's shirt, and fixing it in his own, said, " I say, old fellow, dont it look a precious sight better where it is now, eh ?" It was in vain the loser cried out. The gang drowned his voice by their vociferations ; and, getting among the crowd, proceeded in their work without any interruption from him. LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, AND COMMERCIAL INSTITU TION.—On Friday evening, Mr. Thomas Venables com menced, at this institution, a series of lectures on " English Minstrelsy and the National Music of England." The mat ter of the lecture itself was very interesting, and displayed great learning and research ; the illustrations, too, were apt and well performed. This, the first lecture, was for the pur pose of provine that England has a national music entirely distinct from that of Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, &c. To prove this, numerous illustrations of the melodies of these nations were brought forward, many of them very an cient and also beautiful ; for instance, as a specimen of Eng lish music, " Down among the dead men," was given by a gentleman amateur, in a manner worthy of this beautiful composition ; and also, by Miss Sarah Venables, " Shall I go walk," from Queen Elizabeth's Virginal book, and " the King shall enjoy his own again," " From merciless invad ers, &c., &c. As a specimen of the melodies of Scotland, " Ye banks and braes" was sang beautifully by Mr. and Miss Venables. The peculiar music of Italy was illustrated in the Polacca " Son Vergin," splendidly sung by Miss Venables. The rollicking joyous music, as Mr. Venables styled it, of Ireland, was exemplified in " Rory O'More ;" and its pathetic melodies in the " Last Rose of Summer." Besides those we have enumerated, there were a great num ber of other illustrations of the lecture, both vocal and in strumental, amongst the mostbeautiful of which were " Chevy Chase," by Miss Venables,—" Here's a health unto his Majesty," written for Charles ll.—the march played before Mary of Scotland when proceeding to execution — and " Fare well Manchester," performed by the troops of the Pretender in '45, when making their retreat. Mr. Venables is evi dently master of his subject, and an enthusiast in his art. His lecture was full of anecdote, and was, together with its illustrations, a great treat. We cannot in justice close this short notice without returning our sincere thanks to Miss Venables for the pleasure she afforded us by her exertions. Galignani's Messenger contradicts, on authority, the state ment that Lord and Lady Holland were perverted to the Roman Catholic faith. THE LIVERPOOL S TANDARD AND THE ART UNION As our contemporary the Chronicle has condescended to reply to the following silly paragraph which appears in this month's Art Union, we cannot allow another publication to pass without some comment upon it. _ "The Liverpool prize has been awarded to Thomas Web ster, Esq., A.R.A. for his picture of ' The Boy o f man y Friends;' a work of ? rare merit, and unquestionably entitled to the distinction conferred upon it. We are unable, this month, to notice the Liverpool Exhibition, but shall do so in our next." " We lament to observe, that the press in Liverpool is doing much injury to the best interests of art, by a system of remarks (not criticisms) upon the pictures in the present Exhibition : we allude more particularly to the ill-judged notices of the Standard and the Chronicle; the writers in both these papers are evidently totally unacquainted with the subject on which they profess to write. In illustration, we need only refer to the blunderings of the Chronicle, both in manner and matter, and the " fleshings" of the Standard, coupled with a general vulgarity of style, eminently calcu lated to disgust the friends of art. We can assure their editors, that Liverpool is the only town in which such bad taste is displayed, and we trust we may venture to hope that, in future, these gentlemen will confine themselves to writing upon subjects they may chance to understand, and not imi tate Sir Roger de Coverley, who deemed it his duty to make a speech whether to the purpose or not." Now, it must be quite clear upon whose authority the above statement is made. The paragraph evidently emanates from the " Liverpool Academy," perhaps indited by the president himself, whose immortal work, No. 184, "Going out with the Keeper," hangs in a very conspicuous corner of the large room to the left of the entrance of the second apartment. We noticed this picture in the following terms : " 184. ' Going Out with the Keeper.' C. BARBER, Liver pool.' This work is by the President of the Liverpool Academy. It certainly stands per se, as it is without doubt the worst painting in the Exhibition. The bow-wows are portraits of some in the possession of Mr. Eastee, our next door neighbour, only his animals look the more natural." In the Chronicle we find remarks upon the same work to the following effect : " 184. Going Out with the Keeper.' This gentleman had better remain in with a keeper ere he venture to smug gle such a thing as this into any exhibition. Some one must surely have imposed on the committee in this as well as in others." These notices have given great offence. Ours, we know, has proved particularly vexatious. Whether our opinions are correct or not we leave the public to judge. Let any body inspect the picture. We certainly did not draw atten tion to the larger animal represented thereon, because we were not aware of its class ; but as we have since understood it to be a pony, we may as well call it so. We shall not here notice this work of art any further, because we shall do so at length in a few observations upon the Liverpool Academy —its members, and their claims to public consideration and favour. The plain tale of the above paragraph in the Art Union is this—wishful of giving the Art Union the intelligence that the prize of the year had been awarded to Mr. Webster's picture of " The Boy and—(not of)—many Friends"—re specting which award, anon—the writer of the paragraph avails himself of the opportunity of dealing a heavy blow at the STANDARD and Chronicle fur the pokes they have be stowed upon him, while dragging into notice a work which should have been hung behind a door instead of by its side. The Art Union, without inquiring into the matter—without having seen, perhaps, the notices in either paper, relying upon the authenticity of the authority, inserts the paragraph, and the contributor is supremely happy. We have never presumed to call or consider our remarks criticisms. We have merely endeavoured to draw public at tention to such works as we have considered meritorious. That we have been compelled to omit noticing many works by the Liverpool academicians is a subject of regret; it is not from want of inclination, but from the fact that many of their works are not worth observation—and are best " left in the shade." That our remarks have " disgusted the friends of art" may perhaps be true, if such persons can be called friends of art who admire pictures of the quality of 184, but that we " are doing i,ljury to the best interests of art" we declare to be false. We have been the means of bringing into notice several very clever young artists—not academicians—and a reference to our columns will show that we have been at all times ready and willing to advance the cause " and best interests of art." We may, perhaps, have unintentionally and slightly damaged the reputation of a bad painter, who he may be esteemed a good teacher ; but how can a man inculcate thoroughly the principles of an art which he knows only in theory ? But this is from the subject. As to the Art Union taking upon itself to denounce our notices, we shall say but little, because we consider it has fallen into a snare which it would not have avoided, if fully acquainted with the subject. We shall await patiently the appearance of next month's number, when its own remarks upon the Liverpool exhibi tion will appear. If of no better quality than its usual notices, we think we may court comparison, with a trifling balance in our favour. A word or two upon the adjudication of the prize to Mr. Webster's picture of the " Boy and many friends." We cannot see why this picture should have been selected " to bear off the bell." It is a deserving and very clever one we admit, but if we are rightly informed, it has long since passed out of the painter's possession, and at a good price, and it has been exhibited elsewhere! What encouragement is this to the artists of Liverpool or any other place to compete for a prize? Why, artists now will go back to those who have paid them liberally for their works, and say, " Sir, lend me the picture I painted for you last year, I want to exhibit it at Liverpool, as I think it may carry off the prize." What advancement is this to the " best interests of art." It is positively ridiculous to award a prize to a picture that has been sold and paid for. It is not ourselves but the academy itself that is doing injury to the arts—if injury is effected, which, however, we do not think is the case—it is not our remarks, but the vanity, absurdity, and exclusiveness of the academy that will damage the " best interests," and disgust the lovers of fine arts. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SlR,—The tide of conveniently assumed loyalty which formerly manifested itself in the boisterous professions of self-interested radicalism, has, as was confidently predicted by every sagacious observer of the signs of the times. long since arrested the commotion of its waters ; and, with re ference to the " good old town " in which we reside, let Clayton-square bear testimony to the fact, that the voices of our liberal gentry have not latterly become hoarse, nor have their throats been made sore, by dint of n:ly very extrava gant professions of attachment to the throne. Rathbone, the thrice-rejected, laments in solitude in his retreat at his favourite Greenbank ; and Colonel Williams seems resolved to keep snug in his retirement at Woolton, not having, since the occurrence of the recent glorious changes, condescended to favour the world with any proofs of his political existence, if we except a few letters in which, through that veracious organ of the radicals, the Mercury, (nomen ingens ') he has recently thought proper to vent his spite upon our noble and valued representative, who cannot, indeed, be said to be otherwise than honoured in becoming the subject of the coarse and vulgar abuse of such a man. But for loyalty, truly, we must look to some other quarter, rather than to wards the votaries of a disappointed and furious radical fac tion. The general and thorough defeat sustained by their party may, perhaps, in some measure, be admitted as an apology for their wrath ; but can certainly form, on the sup position they are sincere, a most wretched palliation of their glaring inconsistency in abandoning our gracious Queen, without a sigh or a protest so far as she is concerned, to the guidance of men whom they have, in time past, been assidu ous in maligning as the country's worst enemies, and as royalty's determined foes,—men, in short, who could never be permitted to hold the reins of authority, without the sa crifice of everything which a patriot should hold most dear. Yet such is the fact, and it seems very clearly to expose the real nature of those loyal and disinterested feelings which are cherished by the liberal party. But with all true conservatives, whom I shall take the h berty of characterising as the sole bond fide loyalists of the realm, the elevation of the present ministry to power must indeed form a subject of patriotic exultation. That a minis try who, at the commencement of their career, held forth promises of peace, econamy, and reform—a ministry indebt ed for their elevation to power to the unqualified pledges which they gave as regarded these three particulars—should, immediately on their inability to realise these engagements becoming manifest, he exposed to the lofty indignation of a discerning British public, and, ultimately, to all the odium of a literal expulsion from their respective posts, is a fact which redounds to the honour of the nation whose concerns that ministry had so long and so grossly mismanaged. I may here, Mr. Editor, be allowed to make the remark, that there is one circumstance in connection with the general election before adverted to, deserving of especial notice. It is that those who had previously rendered themselves most prominent by their vigorous advocacy and espousal of the conservative cause, were invariably returned to parliament by unusually large majorities, at the hands of their respec tive constituencies. Sir R. Peel, Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, our own noble and highly-valued representative Lord Sandon, and others. will form apt illustrations of the truth of this remark. Thus, therefore, has practical proof been given of the fact, that the country viewed with appro bation the manly and independent line of conduct pursued by the leading parliamentary champions of our glorious cause ; and thus, in a word, is the conservatism of the great bulk of the population of England made manifest beyond the shadow of a doubt. The political and social amelioration of Ireland, I would further remark, is a subject so important as to demand the serious attention of our new administration. While no one would be more prompt than myself to discourage any mode of procedure at all savouring of persecution, I would vet most strenuously contend that effectual measures should with all promptitude be taken, with the view of securing protection to life and property—a course of conduct the adoption of which will be infinitely better calculated to pro mote the prosperity of Ireland, by o f fering inducements to the resident landlord, than the truly absurd practice too often resorted to, of declaiming against absenteeism as a crime, when, in point of fact, many places, and especially in the southern districts, have been so infested by the midnight depredator and the lawless assassin, that no man, invested with our common attribute of reason, could for a moment seriously cherish the intention of residing on his own estate, if in possession of any means of establishing his residence elsewhere. But better days, let us trust, are about to dawn, and to extend even to the many benighted districts so frequently to be met with in the south of Ireland. Under the auspices, indeed, of a truly liberal and loyal, because conservative go vernment, very sanguine expectations may reasonably be entertained that the whole of that beautiful and naturally productive country will speedily undergo an amelioration of condition. The Irish are themselves, in many instances, prepared for this. The writer of this letter had recently occasion to pay a visit to Dublin, and, though it is well known that there the arch-agitator has chosen to take up his head-quarters, it affords him much pleasure to he ena bled to state, that while over too many, alas ! of the popula tion of that city that turbulent demagogue exercises an un happy influence, there are not a few who regard himself and his conduct with a virtuous and richly-merited abhorrence. Believing that the sentiments to which I have now given expression will commend themselves to the sympathies of yourself and the numerous readers of your valuable journal — that you will agree with me that conservatives, who are at all times ready to attest their loyalty by deeds as well as by words, are the truly l o y a l, lib era l, i n dependent citizens,—"l venture to request the insertion of these remarks, and re main, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant and constant reader, ANGLICANUS. Nov. 13th, 1811. MRS. favourite BENEFIT.—We perceive that this ver y general favourite and clever actress has announced her bene fit to take place on Monday next. Those who wish to be present must be quick in securing places, as the attractive nature of " the bill," and the merits of the ben6ficiarc, will cram the house to the very ceiling. PRAISEWORTHY CONDUCT —ollSupday last, a boy, w h o was probably amusing hin.self at the time, fell accidentally into Canning Dock. Several m en were passing a t t h e tim e and ran for the life buoy , but in the meantim e po li ceman 389, hearing of the occurrence immediately ran to tha spot, and without ceremony plunged into the water, a n d succee d e d in keeping the boy above water . until he bro ug h t hi m sat e to shore. We hope suchmeritorpus conduct w ill b e f avoura b ly regarded by the Marine Society, a s i n a ll probability the boys life would-have been sacrificed but for the timely inter ference of the policeman. Vottrp. SIMILES (For the Liverpool Standard.) When on the water's placid face Rudely the pebble's force descends, The infant circlet you may trace, As round its mimic life extends. See how, at first, with youthful stre! It widens its expansive sweep ; And, weak'ning with its age, at lend Melts slowly in the liquid deep ! Ah I such is LIFE! From youth to mar How short its span!—how soon it fades Now shines the glorious orb of Diffusing beauty, life, and light . „ Joyousness tints each playful! liood'. . - N:ture refle c t s th a t radiance bright!— How chang'd the scene! Yon teeming Hath cast its veil athwart the sky ; And now the tempest, fierce and loud, Dispels those charms that pleas'd the c: Thus, HAPPINESS sheds smiles and sunshit And now sad sorrow's tears bedew the grow Rivers, wherever they may stray, Whether o'er rugged rocks they swell, Through urban scenes pursue their yea Or beautify the sylvan dell, All onward to the ocean roll, Submiss to its authority • They swell the vast, Absorb'd in its immensity ! LOVE is the ocean of the mind ! And so All feelings else into that ocean flow unmeasued whol Look on that star! so fair, so bright, Shedding its silv'ry rays around; Cheering the darksome, dreary night; With beauty studding the profound! Fairer and brighter still it seems, Amidst its sparkling sisterhood— Their lustre 'minish'd by its beams, But only prov'd less bright, less good ! So VIRTUE shines, with rays of peace and love Adorns the earth, and glitters, then, above! There blooms the rose, the garden's pride!! In loveliest loveliness array'd : No flow'r that gems the earth beside More plainly tells the Hand that made. Alas ! the heedless, cruel blast Assails it with its vip'rous breath : Nov, it lives only in the past, Shrunk in the cold embrace of death ! How like to BEAUTY ! Such its lasting bloom It charms to-day ; to-morrow—in the tomb ! LitTrpool, Nov. 13, 1841 J. M. L LI7'ERARY NOTICES Smallwood's Magazine and Colonial Review London Smallwood, This periodical presents the greatest variety of perhaps any of the magazines. The number for this month contains no less than seven tales, a continuation of the History of 'Ve nice, by Dr. Shepherd, five pieces of poetry, several reviews of new works, and twenty pages devoted to colonial affairs. The articles, as usual with this magazine, are above medio crity, some being of course superior to others in interest and talent. Miss Louisa Muckleston continues her " Extracts from the Diary of a Country Gentleman ;" the portion in the present number is the conclusion of the melancholy tale of " Millbridge-hall," which is well told, and gives promise of even greater excellency in this young lady, though she is already one of the most pleasant writers of the day. The Italian romance, " La Tomba," is worthy of its talented author Gabriele Rosetti—can we give it greater praise ? The " Impromptu to Julia" is prettily love-sick, and reminds us of 11loore's earlier efforts. Two more chapters, the sixth and seventh, of the " History of Venice," are fully as inter esting as the earlier ones. The extraordinary narrative-of a Jewish priest of the first century, called " The Impenitent," is continued. Fitzball's wonderful tale, " The Devil Stork," continues, and is—worthy of its author. We have not space to particularize the remainder of the articles, except to say that the " Prisoner of the Valais Royal" is a delightful story, and possesses the merit of beginning and ending in the current number, a rare merit in these continuation days. In conclusion, we recommend Smallwood's Magazine to the notice of all lovers of light literature—they will be pleased. FATAL FIRE IN THE BLACKFRIARS•ROAD TWO FIREMEN KILLED. (From Me London papers of yesterday At a quarter before two o'clock, yesterday morning, a most destructive fire broke out on the premises of Messrs. Kindon and Bathe, floor-cloth manufacturers, at the corner of Wel lington-street, Blackfriars-road. On the first alarm ll given the police were fully occupied in calling upon the sur rounding neighbourhood to quit their beds. The engines from the Waterloo-road station and Farringdon-street were soon on the spot, promptly followed by those of the various other metropolitan stations. Owing to the unremitting ex ertions and undaunted perseverance of the firemen, to whom the greatest praise is due, the conflagration was happily con fined to the factory in which it first broke out. The conflagration raged for some time with uncontrolable fury, and at one time threatened the surrounding neighhour hood with destruction. It had, in fact, caught the back part of the contiguous dwelling-house, but, owing to the plentiful supply of water, the fire was confined to the premises on which it first broke out, and which was completely reduced to ashes. At hale-past three all danger of the flames extending was at an end. At about twenty minutes before eight o'cl6ck two of the brigade men, one named William Webb, aged 25, attached to the Morgan's-lane station, and the other named Joseph Parke, aged 27, belonging to the Wellclose-square station, made their way into the ruins through one of the windows in Wellington-street, with the branches of two engines, and commenced playing on those portions of the walls where the tire was still raging. They had not done so more that minutes when the lofty walk on the west side, together with the gable end of the south wall, fell inward with a tremendous crash, immolating the two unfortunate men beneath them, and, no doubt, instantly launched them into eternity. It is needless to say, that this occurrence created the most pain ful sensation in every bosom. Their brother firemen and several other persons, regardless of the impending danger from the still tottering walls on the northern and eastern side, rushed into the ruins, burning as they were, and used strenuous exertions to extricate their unfortunate fellow creatures. It was a work, however, which occupied them upwards of three hours, for it was estimated that not less than 20 tons of rubbish were removed before a sight of either of them was obtained. The first diccovered was Webb. He was found with his head shockingly fractured, both legs and arms broken, and otherwise dreadfully mutilated, arid quite dead. Parke was discovered an hour after, about six yards from Webb ; he appeared to have been killed by suffocation, no bones being found broken. As their bodies were got out the scene was heart-rending in the extreme, and their fate excited the deep commiseration of the hundreds of persons assembled. They were placed in shells and conveyed to the workhouse of St. George-the-Martyr, where they await a coroner's inquest. Both of these poor fellows were married, and Webb has left a wife and two children to deplore his loss. Large bodies of fire remained in the ruins up to a late hour last ❑ight, and during the whole of yesterday thousands of persons were on the spot, but were prevented from ap proaching by barriers, at which the police were stationed to prevent any one passing, it being expected that the front wall of the factory would fall with every succeeding gust of wind. Mr. Charles Kean, who is now performing at Liverpool, has been inure successful than ever in his provincial engage ments this year. Theatricals in the country, generally speak ing, are in a wretched state. R URA LITT OF PARIS.—One of the great charms of Paris as a metropolitan residence, consists in the peculiarly rural character of the environs. lip to the very gates of the city the country is really country ; and within view of the exterior Boulevards small farms are carrying on their agri cultural operations with all the rural simplicity of our remote countries. Instead of ten miles of villas and Londonized hamlets surrounding our metropolis, the student walks out from the Pays Latin to watch the progress of the harvest, or from the Quartier des lnvalides proceeds to botanise in the woods of Meudon or Vincennes. This is partly the result of the absence of the coal smoke. It is well known that many species of flowers (the yellow rose, for instance) will not blossom within ten miles of London ; Paris, on the contrary, produces the finest flowers, not only in the Royal gardens of the Tuileries and Luxemburg, but in the nursery grounds of the famous rose growers Noisette and Laffay, which in the Fauxbourg St. Germain enjoy advantages such as it would be necessary to retreat many miles from London to secure. In the older portions of Paris every house of note has its garden ; and it is sometimes startling in a narrow, gloomy, obscure street, to perceive at the extremity of a long passage a grove of green acacias, or one of those gaudy flowerpots which the dry and sunny climate clothes with such brilliant colours. THE WIT or CONGREVE.—Mr. Leigh Hunt, in his Bio graphical and Critical Notices of Wycherley, Congreve, Vanbrugh, and Farquhar, to Moxon's new edition of their works, throws out the following piece of just and piquant criticism on the wit of Congreve :—" But above all, we must confess we find the wit ' become tiresome. We love it heartily in its proper places, in Butler, Swift, and Addison, where it is serving some purpose greater than itself; and we love it still more, when it issues out of sheer animal spirits, and is happy as a child. But wit for wit's sake becomes a task and a trial; and in Congreve's days it was a cant, like the talk about ' sense' and ' reason' ;—as if all sense, and reason, and wlt, had been comprised in the s ubstitution of the greater faculties of man for the less, and the critical for the unconscious. Every body was to he witty.' Letters were to be full of wit,' and end in some witty turn.' Coffee-houses were to talk nothing but wit.' Ladies were to have wit and sweetness,' and gentlemen wit and fire' ; not the old ' mother wit' of Shakspeare and his fell ws, which was a gift from the whole loving frame of Nature ; but a trick of the fancy and of words, which you might almost ac quire from the brother-wits of the tavern, and which dealt only inasmuch as it co u ld b e li kened chiefly in simile, with a variation of anthitesis. Every thing o s seemed to s t e o d b t e o of val somethingue, else; till at length s i m il e and meta phornot in seeing into anything v ery dee Iv came to be taken for a reason ; and ' sense ' i tself o w w a . s n o s c ake ll , but iedp fo in discovering how far it was capable r its of being split off into a couple of images. The great wits, to be sure, thani affected b an t ere d the less, and affected to lau g h at the' affectation ; but it was only for the purpose of guardin g it s ran k a nd dis ley' mnss.elfTahgisrecaatudteoatl• wit, more which eh i it ought, ted came 'manly its head eber in Congreve, and pretty well ce ase d wit h h i m. V an brugh to Wv." was too robust and straightforward to care for it, and Far quhar too full of play." THE CONVICT B LAKESLEV.—The turnkey who was as saulted by Blakesley of Thursday in the sham madness which the convict thought fit to exhibit, was so far from be ing injured b y t h e attack as to be able to s i t up w it h his charge on Th urs d ay night. There was never , we are g iv en to understand, a worse imitation of insanity than that wh ic h . has been a tt empted b y Blakesley s i nce his confinement in. Newgate. B e f ore any o f t h e i n f er ior per so ns he app ears i nvar i a bl y i n per f ect posse ssi on moment the sheriff, the ofs about the prison his understand ing, but for the last few days he has, or the governor, or Mr. Carverp the ordinary, or any other person in authority, entered the cell , begun to play his antics, and denied that he had killed h a a n n y anything more to his body, or that he had done merely given her " a dig."' i prudent a t h e i r by ial the pnr important sheriffs, It has been, we believe, " e ' l l o re n e s t n id g e a r g e e d d who have been constan tly' n. not to make Sunday next what arduous duties in the 13:7 in the chapel. The Bev. Mr. Car ver will perform will mass not of b e t the present, prisoners for day" service, and preach a sermon, is called " a publichdea ra hat he i would pi tch . upon that op. a c o ' I n a P t -, tneedd to the N . e I.; ° . I „ c r t z c i n t a e s i , ° b n i; t to o the Blakesley g r "t bl for el:weaving to the publie portanit . b t l h e e to m s ost pp fa o v se ou t it is r easonable an impression of his insanilly. ~1~