The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-01-20 00:00:00

WE MUST RECRUIT. Come, friend, enlist, a soldier be To fight in Christ's good cause, You're sure to win the victory, Tho' not the world's applause. But that, like all the things of earth, Should you indeed attain, You'll find at last of little worth, And but a useless gain. Come take the bounty, don't refuse, For rest assur'd 'tis freely giv'n ; A better captain you can't choose, Good quarters too, for they're in Heav'n. You will, I hope, most faithful prove, Come vow you'll serve our sov'reign King With all your heart, and soul, and love, That you'll obey in ev'ry thing. Remember you must danger face, Yet, soldier, do not be dismay'd, 'Midst difficulties pray for grace, And God shall come unto your aid. Be mindful ever, don't forget Our blessed Lord himself did pray, When by temptations sore beset, He drove our common foe away. And when, as sentinel, you stand O'er your own heart's weak citadel, Be wary who entre demand, By want of caution others fell. P'rhaps, too, you've enemies inside, Traitors within the camp I menu, Self love and envy, hatred, pride, Expel them all the moment seen. Keep watch for spies, who prowl about, Take heed, do not neglect the gate, Your foes, emissaries, are out, Be not in an unguarded state. Your trust in God alone repose. In Him you safely can confide; Man's heart too oft deceitful grows, He doth not by his word abide. Be grace your sword, and faith your shield, You'll death and sin defy, combin'd ; At God's command the fortress yield, Your foes but empty walls shall find. For safe above, in Heaven's store, With care yOur tr convey'd ;uarded by angels evermor, When Christ hath you the 'ctor made, Liverpool, 185 LITERATURE. intended for review, may he left at Mr. C. Mitchell's: Red lion-court, Fleet-street, London, addressed " to the Editor of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD," when they will be forwarded and receive attention. A Trip to the U I States and Canada, in a series of By Edward Watkin. London : W. H. _Letters Smith and Son Mr. Watkin I stitched in pap- iven 112 a 12mo. volume of 150 pages, ,T ; CO Iting of twenty-five letters were written on the steam-ship Asia, during the passage nut, twenty-two while in America, and the last on board the Pacific steam-ship, on the journey home. At might be expected, there are many new observations, and old r light facts put in a new dipped into the 1 so that we have tle volume with much pleasure The Ku cation o aper report. On This tract is a repu the 17th of December last a meeting was held in Bristol, at which a memorial to Lord John Russell was adopted ffir war in St deprecating the K The report th Africa, as at present was originally published in the th of December. It is sufficient subject Conducted Bristo lercury of to say that there are two op our own is, that the Kaffir abused the mercy formerly shewn to them ns on the 2Totes e misunderstood and I Colrl thrn lustralia, Ca London : James Wyld le, chew ralia 'a, and Russia tributed to the pub. ere it is procured ig (1) the its " diz- :t_ from Bathurst to Sydney in Califor in under the head of INcomPt but from notice. ,s reac To the enterprising ng from the four winds to.peopf searches of Mr, ry of Liverpool. Part VII. tillable work would naturally come PUBLICATIONS demands a separate but the author World, including with four ni Thi s is a t the histor: especially The maps World witi zings, and (4 colo nists England Weld mu A notice of this rt VII., to notice our that could not come in, in exact chronological order. But the History of the town is completed, and brought down to so recent a period as the Queen's visit in October last. We beg to congratulate Mr. Baines on the success with which he has performed the task, thus far, which he un dertook ; and to the successful completion of which his very name was a favourable omen. He will excuse us for requesting that at the end of Part VIII. there may be a copious alphabetical Index, referring to all the matter in the volume. It will add materially to the intrinsic excel- .tions, anc other matter lence of the work, arrangement of it is nd to its practical usefulness. The oublesome, but the labour is mecha- finical, and could readily be completed by another hand Among the INCOMPLETE PUBLICATIONS, the first that No. I. of Scripture Readings by Dr. are taken from the Old Testament, fOTtleti to band Cumming and form a sort of running commentary on the chapters read at the Scottish Ch he officiates. If con- tinued regularly throuell, ti y will form a brief and inte- resting c, ntary on a book or on several books ; if they take up the lessons read in the Established Chu'rch simply or inclusively, they will be useful to a larger circle of readers ; but if they are sketches of chapters here and • there at random, they will be of comparatively little use. —Nos. I. and H. of Mervyn Clitheroe are before us, the commencement of a new novel by Harrison Ainsworth. It is in the usual style of the novels which aro issued in numbers, exciting and captivating ; with two extravagant etchings in each number.—Lewis Arundel, by Frank Fair legh, has reached No. XIV., though how far that may be from the close it is impossible to say. It contains several passages of much interest, and the usual ability shewn in his previous works.—The Daltons, by Lever, appears to be deficient in matter, having only 22 pages in No. XXI. It is in the author's usual style and manner, and the etch ings are executed with rather more than the usual amount of care.—The Country House No. 11., the " Piggery," (Charles Knight,) follows the " Poultry Yard," which was the first of the series. We do not know much about swine, but the information is full, and apparently collected and arranged with great care. Apropos, we took the previous number to our country quarters, where poultry are well understood ; and the writer would have been much gratified by the comments elicited from those who are judges.—Knight's Pictorial Shakspere, No. xxviii., Henry VI. Part 3, and No. xxix., King Richard 111., re quires no comment, except that we have examined the printing and woodcuts with care, and find no deterioration.— The Companion Shakspere is a new issue, and commences with King John. The plan is to give the commentary and notes, at the side, riot at the bottom. They meet the eye almost like the marginal readings in a Bible; and as the blank verse allows sufficient space on the page, it is, if not an improvement, an interesting va riety. In addition to the annotations, a blank space is occasionally filled up by a pretty little woodcut, so that it is a sort of miniature pictorial edition.—The Half Hours from English History, No. xxii., illustrate part of the ci v il war period, and the reigns of Henry VII. and Henry VIII. Of course Shakspeare and other well-known au thorities are drawn upon largely.—The Girlhood of Shakspeare's Heroines approaches the close of the se ries ; the present is Viola the Twin. Mrs. Cowden Clarke is a remarkable woman. Her Concordance to Shakspeare is a monument of patient labour, such as few, men or women, have ever reared ; so that perhaps we look with a partial eye upon any production of her pen. Of the ordinary SERIALS, the Home Circle, edited by Pierce Egan, contains an interesting frontispiece, title, and contents, with the usual amount of varied matter.—The National Temperance Chronicle (Tweedie, Wellington street North, London), edited by a clergyman, is surely the cheapest magazine in the world ; and what is more, it is a thoroughly good one.—Hogq's Instructor contains a portrait and biographical sketch of Neil Gow, the cele brated fiddler of nearly a hundred years ago, whose " Farewell to Whiskey" is perhaps the best known of his productions on this side of the Border. There is much besides that is interesting, including the essay by our friend Pcedeutes on " True Blue."—Chambers's Edin burgh Journal completes Vol. XVI.—We read Dickens's Household Narrative as eagerly as any production of the month, though we cannot always agree with the spirit which the Editor infuses into his narratives. 'We admire the order, and condensation, of which it is so remarkable an example.—The Household Words are better known, and the extra number for Christmas which this part con tains is worth the price of the whole.—We have received No. I. of a New Medical Dictionary for the People, but we cannot judge of an animal by merely looking at the point of its nose.—The Protestant Magazine is interest. ing, especially in these days of aggression and controversy. Its table of contents is excellent, but we have not had lei sure to peruse the articles.—The Ladies' Own Book, Part IX., is evidently not intended for us to read, as we have not the honour to belong to that sex. We ventured a t a peep, however, and found an interesting print con taining numerous specimens of crotchet-work, as well as woodcuts on the same interesting subject.—Lastly, Punch for the month, which it is hardly necessary to notice, as everybody has seen the numbers in their weekly issue. The ALMANACS on our table are only a small portion of those ordered ; but the rest will probably - come to hand by and by. The Illustrated L Almanac we gave away ; and when a • • ook becomes an interesting rch r,l: THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1852 FOREIGN AID SOCIETY and acceptable present, there is proof unanswerable of its excellence.—The Post-Magazine Almanac is marvellously cheap, yet very respectable in its contents and execution. The reason is, that it is issued at the office of a magazine exclusively devoted to insurance subjects; and therefore it is patronised in advertisements, information,l4c., by almost all the insurance-offices. Its list of these is itself a valuable document; and the information respecting them, individually and collectively, is of importance to many far beyond the sphere of their operations.— Gilbert' s Clergyman's Almanac ought to be good, costing five times as much as that last named ; but there is no pro portion between the prices and the merits. Of course the information is of a special character ; but there must be great slothfulness in the compilation. Under the head of Grammar Schools in England and Wales, we turn to Li verpool, and f►nd one established at an unknown date, with the Rev. F. Miff as head-master ! There is a good deal of a similar kind, which would be remedied by an annual circular.—The Catholic Directory (Dolman) con tains an account of the Roman Catholic Church in Great Britain. There is a frontispiece giving a portrait of Dr. Walsh, late Vicar-Apostolic of the London District, in episcopal robes ; an account of its chapels, clergy, schools, convents, &c., to which we must devote larger space on some future occasion.—The Wesleyan Almanac, compiled for the use of the Wesleyan and other branches of the Methodist family, is neatly got up, and is intended to re munerate by an extensive sale.—The Protestant Dissen- CHESHIRE AND WALES. 4a. A public meeting of the members and Friends of the It is said that an offer of Mr. Brassey has been accepted Foreign Aid Society was held on Friday evening last, in to complete the Birkenhead Docks according to Mr. the Hall of the Collegiate Institution. There was a large Rendel's plan. A sufficient sum of money h as b een ra i se d to warrant tsiiedseobfoa7tsm. boatmen 15s. each, accordin g to s t a ti on , t o th e ettendance on the occasion. Th e R ev . H. M'N e il e, D.D., 7otourii presided, and the Rev. Ri c h ar d B urgess , R ec t or o f Chel sea, attended as a deputation. There were present, the Mr. J. B. Phillips, a ticket collector at the Rhyl station Revds. J. B. Lowe, S. Minton, H. Hampton, F. Parry, of the Chester and Holyhead Railway, has been killed by The bengcrushed between the buffers of a luggage train. C. W. Lawrence, W. M. Falloon, J. Conor, J. Hirsch, Masonic body of Cheshire have commissioned Mr. W. W. Wright, J. Cowan, an d M essrs . W. J ones , E. J . A . P . M ac Bride, to execute in marble a life size bust . Jones, J. Cropper, E. Cropper, H. Webster, Major of their Grand Master, the venerated and gallant General Thorpe, &c. Lord Viscou n t C om b ermere. CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic for the The meeting having been opened with prayer, week ended 11th January, 1852 :—Chester and Holy assemblage, Ma introduced the Rev. Mr. Burgess to the head Main Line: Passengers. £B79' 6s. 2d. ; parcels, H. and, in doing so, said that Mr. Burgess, after a tour o n th e C on ti nen t had repeated his annual C. and D.. £59 B s . 4d. ; goo d s, catt l e, &c., £573 ss. 2d.. ; , visit to Liverpool, i n or d er t o i n f orm th em o f th e pro- mails, £575.—M 0 1d : P assengers, £3 B 18s. 2d. ; parcels, £1 13s. 5d. ; goo d s , catt l e, &c., £125 12s. 3d.—Steam would know that the f ore i gn c h urc h es are no t governe d gross of P r ot es t an ti sm a b roa d . M ost o f hi s hearers boats : Passengers, £l26 19s. 2d. ; parcels, £l3 7s. Od.— like ours, nor as so me p ersons thi n k th ey oug ht t o Total, £2,393 9 s . Bd. be. Here we see the Church governed by bishops, as BIRKENHEAD TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.—On Tues in the first ages of Christianity; but although that may day evening last, the members of the Birkenhead Total be preferred as th e per f ec ti on o f a c h urc h , yet we are not Abstinence S oc i e t y h e ld t h e i r meet i ng in the National at liberty to deny the Christianity of those who think School-room. Mr. John G. -O'Brien, of Birkenhead, a otherwise. We have among us, however, High Churchmen member of the Society of Friends, occupied the chair ; he who, be cause f ore i gn P rotestants h ave no episcopacy, deny contended that the mo d era t e d r i n ki ng usages o f our country that they have any Christianity, and who in their zeal have were the forerunners of nine-tenths of the vice, crime, and wretc hednss wety, he ses not scrupled to ass a il our venera bl e P r i ma t e , f or hi s t ru l y m Christian reco gn iti on o f our b re th ren on t h e C on ti nent. ore parti e cular hich infect soci ly. Mr. Luke Duff, t working of Seacomb clas e, and He has mildly replied to their assaults, in which they Mr. J. A. Bennett, from Liverpool, afterwards addressed attempted to array against hi m th e Bi s h o p o f London, the meeti ng , by garbling statements which he had made. In that STEAM CRANE AT BIRKENHEAD.—A steam crane, con they failed, and he (the Chairman) held in his hand structed by Messrs. Fox and Henderson, the contractors three sermons of the Bishop of London, which had for the building of the Crystal Palace in Hyde-park, has recently been reprinted in this town, under the care of recently been placed on the verge of the Birkenhead Rector Campbell, one of which contained a remarkable Docks, for the loading of vessels with coals from the quay. passage respecting the Reformed Church on the Conti- The two engines by which it is worked, are of three horse.- nent. The Prelate there said, that he believed the feel- power each ; and it raises from the railway, hoists over ing of the Fathers of our own Church to have been that the hold of the collier and empties a truck containing five foreign Protestants, though without episcopal govern- and a half tons of coals in about three minutes, requiring ment, constituted a true Church He gathered this not for the operation nothing more than the ordinary superin only from their w riti ngs , b u t b ecause it was th e op i n i on tendence. also of their predecessors. In support of this he cited COAL TRADE, BIRKENHEAD.—The prosperity of this Bishops Hall and Andrews, and Archbishop Branahall ; trade continues. Mr. Hancock, the agent for the Brvmbo and the Bishop of London had added, that it becomes us Company, is loading three large ships, viz., the Tara, to use the same la nguage t owar d s th em . H e as k e d w hi c h Gossypium, and Amide, carrying up war d s o f 3,000 tons, course was most likely to win over the men whom we principally for the service of the Peninsular and Oriental supposed to he in error ? Such language as that he had Steam Navigation Company ; the Tara alone carries 1,400 quoted, or that of hasty and ill-judging men, who as- tons. The Mangerton, the first government emigration sorted that they who rejected episcopacy were not Christi- ship for Australia from Birkenhead, also takes a quantity ans. He would say that they were guilty of no inconsist- of these coals. Although so many thousand tons of these ency in maintaining their own high standing. and at the coals have been, within the last two years, taken on long same time acknowledging the brotherhood of the Pres- voyages, yet no single instance of spontaneous combustion hyterian Church on the Co n ti nen t. H e k new, h owever, has occurred. that his own opinions would weigh lightly with those per- GOLDSMID V. THE TRUSTEES OF THE BIRKENHEAD sons who asserted the contrary; and he had therefore Docxs.—At the Vice-chancellor's Court, on Monday, 1 given the opinions of Bishops and Archbishops ; and Mr. Bacon and Mr. Goldsmid moved, after notice, that the hoped that if any High Churchmen were present trustees of the Birkenhead Docks might be restrained by they would join both with their hearts and their subscrip- injunction from applying i any of their money to the pay tions to aid in diffusing the Protestant Faith more widely ment of expenses with reeard to the new bill of which 1 abroad. He then gave some brief particulars, from the notice had been given. Mr. Goldsmid, the plaintiff, and y of France, in relation to the progress of the others, held bonds given by the trustees, for which the I red Church there, from which a sublime lesson was docks were security ; and they apprehended that any in to be drawn, as it spewed that a priesthood with the terference with the existing plans for those clocks might secular arm at its disposal began by destroying the reli- possibly endanger their security. No one appearing to gious liberty of all persons in the State; proceeded to the oppose it, his honour made the order for the injunction as required to make the I ns tit u ti on truly useful—at least destruction of religion itself, and ended by rendering the prayed. 1,000 or 1,200. It was contemplated. as soon as the State incapable of enjoying liberty at all. (Cheers.) LISCARD NORTHERN SCHOOLS.—From a report issued funds should warrant the necessary expenditure, to este- One of the conditions of the marriage of Louis XIV— by the treasurer and secretary of this charity, it appears blish classes, and engage competent masters for the purr Le grand Monarque—with the Infanta of Spain, bound t hat the schools are progressing satisfactorily. C. K. poses of education ; and, lie might add, that it had al- him to do his utmost to destroy Protestantism in France; l‘Tainwaring, Esq., has made a free grant of the further ready been found necessary to enlarge their rooms. The and the king set about the work with cordial good will. quantity of land required, subject only to a nominal rent, library also had been greatly extended during the last few He then described the horrors of the persecution which so that the school premises have been made double their months, and now contained upwards of 1000 volumes, was carried on—the imprisonments, deportations, murders, former size. The Rev. John Tobin, incumbent of the besides the current reviews, magazines, and best periodi- and massacres, which devastated a great part of France,— I district, takes a warm and active interest in the success of There was another feature to which at- i and continued, with gradually diminishing severity, how- the institution, while the master and mistresses are also it to be drawn ; the lectures delivered in that ever, down to the reign of Louis XVI ; and when checked, —boys, 122 ; girls, 96 ; inf an t s , 104 : t o t a l 322. The most zealous in their exertions. The p resen t num b er are of .' ' , est, the abl e st, an d mos t l earne d that was d one by th e p en o f an i n fid e l Voltaire were given gratuitously to mem- who exposed the murder of the elder Colas, on a false boys' school is even now too full, but this number includes _ charge of assassination, got up by the priests, because the 35 from Wallasey village. From this extraneous pressure accused was an active Protestant clergyman. The enor- the committee hope to be relieved by the early reorgan rnity of that case aroused the indignation of Voltaire, isation, under the auspices of the rector, of the Wallasey advantages arid he wrote a Tragedy on the subject, which being endowed school. s were of the played in Paris, turned the current of the popular sycnpa- A SOLDIER DROWNED.—On Tuesday last the body of tides, and rendered the persecution which was then John French, a serjeant in the detachment of the Royal yee , e „ eel raging, o di ous . I n t h e meanw hil e t h e l ast vestiges 'Welsh Fusil e e r s, now d o i ng d u ty a t th e R oc k B a t tery, _ _ eingdom—the doctrines, position, and of real Christianity bad well nigh been eradicated through- was interred in Wallasey Churchyard, with military e e or the Romish Church. The object of the men out France, and the horrors of an atheistical revolution honours. Some time ago the deceased received a small by whom they had been delivered had been not merely to followed, which occupied the minds of this country and remuneration, as salvage, for securing a cask of oil which pull down the fabric of error, hut to establish the temple of all Europe during the latter part of the last century. he saw floating on the water; and on Saturday last, he of truth (applausel. He concluded by introducing the That ended in a military despotism, and was succeeded by plunged into the water for the purpose of securing what Rev. Mr. Tottenhain. a series of revolutions, in which republicanism, empire, was supposed to be another cask, but in the attempt The Rev. E. TOTTENHAM, in commencing his lecture, monarchy, red-republicanism, and a narc hy h a d success . I failed, and was dro w n e d. Th e d ecease d was an expert thought it necess ar y t o d e fi ne the meaning of ~ T.- fully striven for m a st er y, an d fi na ll y g i ven p l ace to a new swimmer '• he had, however, only be en a s h or t ti me i n t h e military despotism more gri n di ng th an an y th a t had pre- water when he suddenly disappeared, supposed either ceded it. And nobody now pitied France. Every one from being benumbed with cold (which was most intense said that she did not know how to enjoy or to use liberty on that day) or seized with cramp. The deceased was when she got it. Was there ever a more marked retribu- only 31 years of age, and has left a wife and three children. tion ? The country had gone through all the phases of THE NEW DOCKS AT CARDIFF.—The formation of the revolution, and the newspapers of that day contained a new docks at Cardiff will he commenced during the course mock constitution conceded by the petty tyrant who had en- of February. The trustees of the youthful Marquis of slaved the country. Yet, what could the French do? They Bute have accepted the contract of Messrs. Hemingway had no religion—no respect for themselves or for one and Pearson, and their contract will alone cause the ex another—no confidence in one another's truth ; and men penditure of a quarter of a million of money, if not more. who could not confide in each other are not fit for liberty. The whole of this will be expended upon the formation of Much of the mischief of such a state of things arose from the docks, which are to be constructed upon a scale of the teaching of Rome and of the Jesuit priests, who great magnitude, as well as to be fitted with every neces. insisted on implicit faith in all their dogmas, till the people nary and convenience for carrying on a most extensive were disgusted, and would believe nothing ; and he knew trade. The gates will be constrncted spacious enough to not which was most unreasonable—to believe all that admit vessels and steamers of the largest class. The Popery presented to its adherents, or to believe none. building of these docks will also involve the extension of Both implied madness. Nor was it competent to give a railway accommodation thereto, and the erection of ware nation freedom by the constitution of a day, or the decree houses, wharves, sheds, stages, &c., so that altogether the of a council, any more than to inspire men with religion outlay of money will be heavy. by absurd relations such as the liquefactionof the blood of LISCARD NORTHERN SCHOOLS.—A triennial report, St. Januarius. True liberty must arise from the character issued by the treasurer and secretary of this excellent of a people. God had thrown liberty upon us as the charity, is highly satisfactory. C. K. Mainwaring, Esq., reward of the fidelity of our forefathers in the maintenance has made a free grant of the further quantity of land and circulation of His word i n its p ur ity—th e means b y required, subject only to a nom i na l ren t, so th at t h e which the character of the British nation had been formed. school premises have been made double their former size. Had they submitted to the dictates of James 11., the people The Rev. John Tobin, incumbent of the district, takes a might have been in the same condition as France now is ; warm and an active interest in the success of the institu but they would rather perish then, and he believed the tion, while the master and mistresses are also most zealous same feelings actuated them now, than submit to a Popish in their exertions. The present numbers are, boys, 122 ; despot. The character of the Anglo-Saxon race was such girls, 96 ; infants, 104 ; total, 322. The boys' school is that they could not submit to be tyrannised over by bigots even now too full, but this number includes above 35 of any religion or name. But God had not left himself from Wallasey village. From this extraneous pressure without witnesses, even in France, though there they the committee hope to be relieved by the reorganization, resemble doves in the midst of rooks. The Protestants under the auspices of the rector, of the Wallasey En among them wished to maintain their pastors and to edu- dowed School. cate their children ; hut they were without the means, for BALL AT WALLASEY.—A ball in aid of the funds of they were surrounded by Popish commissaries of police, the Wallasey Ladies' Charity was held at the Egremont and by bigoted gendarmerie, and were afraid to move ; Hotel, on Wednesday evening last. Nearly three hundred therefore it was they cried aloud to us, and asked for ladies and gentlemen were present, comprising the prin assistance. (Applause.) He concluded by calling upon cipal families of the neighbourhood, among whom were— Major Thorpe, the honorary secretary, to read the report Messrs. Miles Barton, D. C. Buchanan, James Buchanan, for the past year. Thos. Bouch, Wm. Chambres, W. R. Coulborn, E. Coul- Major THORPE stated that the funds bore a general born, W. Duncan, J. C. Ewart, W. H. Gilliat, G. Grant, average of about £2,000 per annum. Many persons had J. Halliday, T. Hassell, H. Littledale, G. H. Lawrence, reduced or withdrawn their subscriptions during the past Rev. Haggitt, W. Mann, J. Naylor, D. Neilson, J. North, year ; but he was happy to add that new supporters had Dr. Parr, T. Peer, W. Rowson, Commissioner Stevenson, come forward to fill their places. Other collateral aids J. Stringer, T. W. Sharland, S. F. Symonds, G. Thomp had been extended to the society. For the support of son, Henry Winch, Maddock, Peter Wright, &c. Dancing evangelical schools they had raised the sum of £1,200, commenced at nine o'clock, and was kept up till a late which was not brought into the annual account, because hour. The refreshments, supplied by Mr. Manafall, were it had been obtained from other than the ordinary of the choicest kind, among which the seasonable dainties sources. Other sums had 'also been subscribed to build of a huge boar's head, and a large game pie, both deco a school-house in Geneva, in order to bring the children rated with flowers and evergreens, attracted general notice there taught within the protection of a new law which had and admiration. The music was supplied by Mr. Gribbin's been passed by Jesuitical influence. The purport of that excellent band. law was, that schools for Roman Catholic children, and WALLASEY EMBANKMENT.—The Commissioners of those of the reformed faith, could not be held under the the Wallasey Embankment met at Mr. Bussard's, the same roof, and consequently the Protestants were com- Leasowe Hotel, on Tuesday last. There were present the pelled to build a place of their own, or to send their chit- Hon. Sir Edward Cast, J. R. Shawe, Esq., of Arrowe dren to be taught by the priests. The Major then gave a Hall ; Harold Littledale, Esq., Liscard ; the Mayor of history of the operations of the society in Liverpool, where Liverpool ; Samuel Holme, Esq., of Liverpool, and John it had been established for eleven years past, and had col- Davies, Esq., of Mollington. The commissioners in lected altogether about £BOO ; though, he must add, the spected the whole of the works, being accompanied by the amount named was not all that had gone in aid of the Town-clerk of Liverpool and the Corporate Surveyor. It cause from this town, as some of their friends here, was found that some damage had been done by the high whose names he was not at liberty to mention, had given tides and recent heavy gales, but the damage was being very large sums privately —more than double the amount speedily repaired. The embankment was ordered to be which appeared in the report. He next made a statement lengthened about 600 yards, so as to obviate the danger as to the necessity of rendering all the assistance in their of any breach being made over the low land contiguous to power to the Protestants of France, who, under Louis it; and the Surveyor was directed to prepare plans and specifications for letting the work by tender. Mr. Milne Napoleon's rule, had been completely subjected to the dominion of the Jesuits and their suppo r ters, and con- was appointed collector of rates, in lieu of Mr. Browne, eluded by exhorting the audience to contribute liberally to and Mr. Tweedie the treasurer, in lieu of Mr. Neilson. It the funds. was found that many parties were in arrear ; and the The Rev. RICHARD BURGESS followed with a long and commissioners have expressed their determination to have interesting narrative of the condition and prospects of the rates collected in future with greater promptitude and Protestantism in France, whither he had lately been on a regularity. tour. He spoke of the hostility of the existing govern ment there to the promulgation of the reformed faith, and of the effects of suppressing the liberty of the press, in preventing tracts and facts relative to the errors of the Romish Church from being disseminated. He next pointed out how the President and the priests played into each others hands for mutual power—the latter procuring votes from the ignorant peasantry, to serve the purposes of the former, and he conferring authority, and bestowing a monopoly of state influence, on them in return. Pro testantism, nevertheless, though persecuted, was still making considerable progress in France, and it had been said by a politician —a sort of under Secretary of State — that so disgusted were large numbers of the people with the conduct of the priests, that half the population would embrace the reformed faith if the opportunity were afforded them. To some extent this assertion was borne out by what had happened. In the south of France, at the place where the bleeding picture had been cited as a miracle, and affirmed by the mayor and other officers of the commune, the whole parish had renounced the creed which encouraged such imposture, and taken a Protestant pastor : and in several places in Normandy and other pro vinces conversions, were rapidly proceeding, and would be multiplied tenfold if the means of enlightening the flocks were not wanting. The speaker created considerable mirth by relating the history of some alleged relics of the apostles and saints, which are still shewn in Rome and elsewhere, and by exposing the fraud of some modern miracles, which have proved exceedingly profitable to the priesthood, and concluded by exhorting his hearers, in the words of the song of Deborah, to " come out to the help of the Lord against the mighty." (Applause.) JOHN CROPPER, Esq., next addressed the meeting, feeling anxious. as he did, that it might not be laid to the charge of any of them that they had failed to do their duty in extending the bright spots which were still per ceptible in the melancholy condition of France. He thought that in Liverpool they had done very little, by giving scarcely £lOO a year for the religious instruction of the Continent. It was not what they had a right to look for, and though it might have been blessed by God, who could make £lOO go farther than they could, they ought not to rest till they had done much more. The CHAIRMAN closed the meeting by giving out a hymn, which was sung by all present, and by pronouncing the blessing on the assemblage. ters' Almanac, published by Jobn Cassell, is unques tionably the vilest of the lot. Neither from papist nor in fidel have we heard or read of language more abusive to the Church, than in the previous numbers of this publica tion. The present seems to be milder, but in the same spirit. We purpose to advert to the Almanacs again ; for there is much t 3 be learned from the official statements of the parties themselves. Those who merely know the current newspaper reports or platform effusions respecting the various sections of the community, political and reli gious, know little or nothing respecting them. It is our wish, and it will be our effort, to guide to more correct in formation. LECTURE ON TRADITION, BY THE REV. E. TOTTENHAM, 8.D., OF BATH On Thursday evening last, an interesting lecture " on Tradition" was delivered in the Concert Hall, Lord Nel- dance was not so large as usual, owing probably to the extremely unfavourable state of the weather. JOHN GRANTHAM, Esq., haying been celled to the chair, explained the objects of the Church of England In stitute, under whose auspices this course of lectures had been established, and proceeded to urge its claims upon the attention of young men engaged in mercantile and other purs ts. He understood that in Liverpool there were not less than 15,000 young men of the class to which he had alluded. For their instruction and intellectual gratification that Institution was especially adapted. The Society, as yet, had bad but one annual meeting, but the 1,17 f Ohnrfixr h i: , h,,i;„„n_i a ' say, that, it would appear from the Report of the Commit tee that the number of members had considerably in creased during the last twelve months. They now amounted to 400 persons, but a much larger number was cats of the day tention ot ball, by men of the at the course con- „,on was hut 10s. a-year, and t 1 .sted of twelve lectures, he thought it must prove an in ducement for many to avail themselves of the I which the Institution offered. The lectu r r a greatest importance. They hod - agitated the whole la workine generally been of a con- tion," in relation to its use as a rule of faith , or a standard by which men may judge of the truth. It was obvious that all men must have a rule of faith, or they could not know what to believe, but would be liable to be carried away with every wind of doctrine. But, with regard to that rule, there was great difference between Protestants and the Church of Rome. A theoretical agreement existed, that the Word of God constituted the rule, and that that Word was to be found in the Holy Scriptures, and also that tradition, if it could be authenticated, would have the same effect as the Word of God. But while that agreement existed, there was an essential difference as to what constituted holy scripture. The Church of Rome added to the Scriptures we receive, the books of tbe Apocrypha ; and they differ also as to the authority of the Scriptures; for while the Church of England maintains that therein is to be found all things necessary to salvation, and that nothing which cannot be proved therein is required ; the Romanists say that the Bible is a partial and incom plete revelation, and that it requires tradition and the in terpretation of the Church to exnlain its mt.:mina H ,•••-•• wa.• I/ 44111 ILO lucannig. LIIS subject, however, was simply tradition ; and he would ex plain the meaning of the word, for without that they would be liable to get into confusion. Roman Catholics were in the habit of taking advantage of the several mean ings of the word. Tradition was derived from a Greek word, signifying to deliver or hand down, and that might be either by writing, or orally. Sometimes, however, it meant the thing itself which was handed down, as they mutt frequently have heard of a tradition which had de- This word had a wide sig nification, and its uses were quite as various. The Scrip tures themselves were a tradition, or rather a body of written traditions ; and the Romish Church often quoted St. Paul's exhortation, to hold fast the traditions which had been delivered to the Church. The early fathers fre quently spoke of the Sacred Writings as traditions ; but it should be borne in mind that Protestants did not reject the traditions of the written Word of God. The traditions of ancient authors also were necessarily referred to for the opinions and facts of the primitive ages of Christianity. But that was not the rneanin g attached to the word by the Church of Rome. We receive their testimony as to the facts which they state, but not as conveying to us anything essential to faith which is not to be found in the Scrip tures. Where the testimony of early writers could be obtained as to the opinions and usages then prevailing, it was a help to the understanding of the written Word of God ; but it could not be received when it contradicted the letter or spirit of that Word, or added to it matters on which the Scriptures themselves were silent. The sense, however, which the word " Tradition" bears in the Romish Church is, that it is the unwritten Word of God, which we are bound to accept. This view the Church of England rejected. The lecturer then quoted the decrees of the (Ecumenical Council of Trent, which stated that the rule of faith was contained in the received books of Scripture, and in the unwritten Traditions which had been handed down from Christ himself, by the Apostles, to the fathers of the Church ; and that the same reverence was to be paid to the Old Testament, to the New, and to those Traditions. He then read an extract from the writings of Cardinal Bellarmine, which asserted that there was a necessity for an unwritten Word of God, to explain the written Scriptures ; and went on to shew that a living Roman Catholic writer, being asked where the Traditions of the Church are to be found, replied that they were contained in the decrees of the General Councils, and in the writings of persons versed in theological antiquities; adding, that it is possible there still remain some other Traditions in the works of the fathers, not yet decided upon by the Church, but preserved therein, so as to be produced when occasion should require. They would see, therefore, that Tradition was still unfixed, and left float ing as it were. The lecturer next sbewed the liability of Tradition to be corrupted. The fathers of the Church offered no unbroken chain of evidence from the time of the Apostles, and the first General Council (that of Nice) was held in the fourth century. And the argument of the Church of Rome, that for the first 2400 years there was no written Word of God, was not applicable to the case ; for the ages of Adam and Methuselah alone extended over nearly 2000 years, during which they might have transmitted to their posterity the truths they had received from God without corruption ; while we know that even in the age of St. John the traditions respecting our Saviour had already become perverted, for the Evangelist tells us, in the last chapter of his gospel, that Peter said to Jesus, concerning the beloved disciple, " Lord, and what shall this man do ? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to thee ? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die; yet Jesus said not unto him He shall not die, but If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee ?" The rev. lecturer produced also a large body of evidence from Roman Catholic authors— doctors, and bishops, and cardinals themselves—to prove that the Church of Rome was not unanimous as to what decrees of councils should be received, or as to what tra ditions were perfectly orthodox. One council had occa sionally opposed a direct contradiction to the affirmation of another, and one pope reversed the decision of his predecessor. Tradition, consequently, could at best be only an uncertain guide, and ought not to be accepted as a rule of faith, though even the creed of the Romish Church had been enlarged solely on the faith of tradition ; for the Council of Trent had added, in the 16th century, no less than twelve articles to the Nicene creed, which contained the doctrines of transubstantiation, the invoca tion of saints, and other matters which Protestants wholly rejected. He concluded by exhorting his hearers to stand by the Bible, as containing all things necessary to salva tion, and as giving all that our Saviour and his inspired Apostles deemed essential to be borne in the memory of men. (Applause.) A vote of thanks was then given to the lecturer, and, after the announcement of some future lectures by the chairman, the meeting closed. scended from preceding ages Reforr; A VETERAN STILL IN THE FIELD.—Tne Most: K'ob'e the Mar.uis of Anglesey, although in his 83rd year, turned nut on Tuesday and killed 27 head of game with his own gun. The noble I Vlarqui3 was not a little pleased with his exploit, and with his capital sport. THE GUN TRADE.—BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.—The Board of Ordnance have sent down to this town for ten ders for the setting up of 23,000 rifle muskets. MR. WARBURTON.—We are glad to hear that poor Mr. Warburton, who was in the steam-ship Amazon, effected an insurance on his life for £lO,OOO previously to his departure. THE STRlKE.—Nothing has occurred likely to lead to a satisfactory settlement of the dispute pending between the operative engineers and their employers; on the contrary, everything leads to an opposite conclusion. It is rumoured that the Employers' Association have despatched agents to Belgium, for the purpose of endeavouring to hire skilled workmen for employment in English shops.— Observer. MUNICIPAL BOROUGHS.—A Parliamentary paper has been issued, containing a return of the accounts of bo roughs in England and Wales for one year, from the Ist of September, 1849, to the 31st August, 1850. The re ceipts, including balance in hand, for England were £1,074,963 15s. 41d., and for Wales £21,733 2s. 2,1 d., making £1,096,696 17s. 61d. ; while the expenditure for England was £1,053,523 3s. 04d., and for Wales £19,340 3s. 71d., making £1,072,863 6s. Bd. FORTIFICATION OF THE COAST.—A battery of 100 guns of heavy metal is ordered to be constructed at the Nab Light, off Bembridge, near Spithead, as well as a battery (temporary) at Lumps, also off Spithead, on the Ports mouth shore, and also for 100 heavy guns, with the least possible delay. A new fort at Browndown, opposite Ryde, (Isle of Wight,) on the Gosport shore, is in course of construction by two companies of the Royal Sappers and Miners, stationed at Fort Moncton, every despatch being used to complete the works in two months.—Ports mouth Times. FIRES IN LONDON DURING THE PAST YEAR.—The returns kept by the principal insurance-offices of the fires which have occurred in the metropolis and suburbs during the year just closed, exhibit a c'nsiderable in crease as compared with former years. In number they exceed 1,000. Between 400 and 500 dwelling-houses were for the most part destroyed. Several of the fires were of great magnitude, consuming property to the extent of thousands. On the whole, however, they were not generally of so extensive a character as in past years. The amount of property insured in London exceeds £300,000,000. EMIGRANTS' HOME, AND GOVERNMENT 'STATION AT BIRKENHEAD. Until the present time, the free passengers sent out by Government to our Australian colonies have been collected in London, and shipped from that port for their destina tion ; which, as a large number, if not the majority of them, came from Ireland, necessarily entailed considerable inconvenience on the passengers, and much waste expen diture of the public funds. The attention of the Commis sioners of Emigration having been called to that tact, they have resolved to establish a station in this neighbourhood, at Birkenhead, as a more convenient locality for persons proceeding from the sister island and from the north of England and Scotland, than the metropolis. With the view of carrying out their intentions in this respect, they have chartered the Mangerton, (Stephens, commander,) belonging to Messrs. Barton arid Brown, of Cook-street, in this town ; annexing this condition, however, to the contract, that the commissioners should not be at any expense in providing such a depot as they required for the proper accommodation of the emigrants till the period of their embarkation. This home has accordingly been fitted up, in one of the dock warehouses, at the south-eastern corner of the great float—the free use of which has been kindly granted by the Birkenhead Dock Warehousing Company—by Messrs. John S. De Wolf and Co., through whose courtesy we have been able to inspect it. The lower floor contains a number of tables, forms, and other conveniences for a great hall, or general living room ; but as yet it has only a brick floor, and as the wood partitions around are still rough and unpainted, the place has somewhat of a tempo rary, naked, and cheerless aspect. If the experiment— for as yet the thing is necessarily only an experiment— should succeed, it is intended to lay down a boarded floor, to increase the accommodations at present afforded, and to give it a greater appearance of comfort and stability. This applies, we understand, to every part of the "home," which, till the contemplated improvements are effected, will continue to look " raw" and uncomfortable. On the floor above are large dormitories —one, for married persons, containing 74 berths, with bedding and bedroom requisites complete ; another, for single females, containing 50 berths, each intended, we believe, for the accommodation of two persons ; and the third, for single men, about the same size as that for unmarried women, and capable of accommodating as many sleepers. The whole of these looked clean and airy; and the rooms seemed to be well wa rme d an d ven til a t e d. Within the building, on the ground floor, is an emigra tion office, where the business of the emigrants is tran sacted under the superintendence of Mr. Smith, whom the Government commissioners have deputed to manage the embarkation by the Mangerton ; and who also under takes the duty of exchanging all moneys belonging to the emigrants, where reqnired, for colonial currency, —an arrangement which cannot fail to be highly beneficial to the parties concerned, who might otherwise he liable to the notorious fronds so frequently practised by disrepu table " dollaring" agents in this town, upon the unwary. Moreover, the emigrants, in order to prevent the risk of their being duped by sharpers, are not allowed to leave the "home," until the sailing of the ship, without his per mission ; nor are strangers admitted to the building with out an order for that purpose from authorised parties. To enforce these regulations, a police-officer is constantly stationed at the entrance gate. Adjoining the office alluded to is a provision store, whence the daily rations are served out in conformity with the dietary appointed by the commissioners ; and in front is the cooking estab lishment, excellently fitted up, and conducted in the most quiet and orderly manner. There is a washhouse and drying-shed adjoining the building, in which we saw several of the female emigrants busily engaged in pre paring for their approaching departure. The Mangerton, which is to convey the emigrants to South Australia, is a substantially-built, full-rigged ship, of 960 tons old, or 1,100 tons burthen, new measurement. She was constructed at Quebec : is classed A 1 for six years ; and is nearly new, having been previously out but one voyage. She has a poop deck, and is roomy and commodious throughout, her between decks being nine feet high, and measuring about eight to the beams. Her berths are constructed to carry 166 married males and females In the mid-ships, 90 single adult males in the after deck, and 80 females forward. We understand that the whole of these berths are engaged ; and, reckoning upon non-adults in the usual way, it may be estimated that the ship will carry about 340 persons. All the internal arrangements are admirable ; and the accommodations superior to those generally provided in emigrant ships. Every precaution has been taken for the due separation of the sexes, to preserve decorum, and to secure the efficient protection of females during their long voyage ; and for the sick, two excellent hospitals, for males and females, have been furnished with every requi site which experience could suggest. At our visit we saw a considerable number of the emi grants, who looked cleaner, better clad, and more healthy and cheerful than persons 'in similar circumstances ordi narily appoar. We were informed that they are chiefly from Ireland, and must have been drawn from the most vigorous and desirable classes of its population. Several of the passengers, however, are from different parts of England, who havebeen sent down to the "Home" by the Emigration Commissioners. On Monday last, all who had arrived were mustered, and a dejeuner was given on the occasion by the owners and agents of the Mangerton. Captain Stephens, the commander of the vessel, is very intelligent and obliging, and readily supplied us with all the information in his power. The officials ap. pointed by the government commissioners were less cour teous, and seemed anxious to avoid troubling themselves to do or say more than their duties absolutely required. We may add, that besides the steerage passengers, nine were engaged for the cabin. To-day is appointed for the vessel's sailing. THE LOSS OF THE AMAZON. It is highly satisfactory to know that, in addition to the passengers and crew of the Amazon reported last week to have been saved from the awful conflagration of that vessel, thirteen more were picked up on Sunday afternoon week, after having drifted about in an open boat for fifteen hours, by the Dutch galliot Hillechiena, Captain S. P. Gruppelaar, from Amsterdam, bound to Leghorn, and taken into Plymouth on Thursday evening last, by the revenue cutter the Royal Charlotte. The names of the persons thus saved arc :—The Rev. William Blood, Mr. Kilkelly, Lieutenant Grylls, R.N., Senhor Juan de Cuna, William Angus, second engineer ; Isaac Roberts, boiler maker; Michael Fox, fireman; Angus M'lnnes, engineers' storekeeper ; C. Dewdney, stoker ; W. Wall, stoker ; G. Webb, seaman ; R. Harris, doctor's boy. These persons escaped in one of the life boats from the burning ship. This was lowered during the confusion occasioned by the devastating progress of the flames, and by some means a hole was stove in its side, which required a staunching, and one of the poor seaman's shirts was used for that purpose, together with the drawers of Fox, the fireman, and the stockings of Mr. Kilkelly. It was necessary, however, to continue bailing the water out of the boat during the whole of the fifteen hours she was at sea; and as her oars had been capsised in lowering her, she was suffered to drift until three o'clock on Sunday afternoon, when a sail appearing in sight, the boards in the bottom of the boat were torn up to make paddles, by means of which those on board were able to reach the Dutch galliot which rescued them from their perilous position. While in the boat, the men had not a drop of water to drink, or a bit of food. Some of the party were without clothes, and others only partly clothed ; and the Spanish gentleman who was 'saved escaped without any trousers or waistcoat, having only his night-clothes on. They were drifting for fifteen hours, during which time the weather remained comparatively calm, and the sun shone out brilliantly ; but shortly after they were taken on hoard the Dutch vessel a strong gale sprung up,. and the sea became so rough that they could not have lived had they not been picked up. The party thus saved remained in the neighbcurhood of e tl x le plo b d u e ri_n a ng sce A n m e a w zo h n ich fo w r as se t v e e r r r a ifi l o e u n r d s, b a e nd yend saw he all r de scription. Immediately afterwards every trace of her disappeared; but during the night the passengers and men in this boat heard the voices of people in another boat at a distance. It was, however, so dark that they could dis tinguish nothing but the weltering waters. They shouted loudly for assistance, and for oars, but no response what ever was returned. The steam-ship, it is said, did not explode till about six o'clock in the morning. The captain of the Dutch galliot treated those whom he had rescued from death with the utmost kindness, courtesy, and hospitality ; and after being out eight days, and encountering heavy gales from the south-west, he consented to return on being promised £6O and his port charges at the first English port that he could make. He accordingly put back, and entered Plymouth at half-past six o'clock on Thursday evening last. The appearance of all the persons who then landed evinced the hardships they had experienced. Their beards were of many days' growth ; their clothes were scanty and dilapidated ; several of them appeared to have been wounded either by falling spars or the effects of the fire ; and some had their arms in slings. The inquiry instituted by the directors of the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company, as to the cause of this dreadful catastrophe, was resumed at Southampton on Friday, and a number of witnesses were examined, whose evidence was mainly a recapitulation in different forms of the main facts already before the public—the first appear ance of the fire at the starboard fore stokehole—the rapidity with which it spread—the impossibility of stop ping the engines, or even of using the pumps—and the madness of launching the boats while the vessel was making such way. As to the origin of the fire, some approach to a satis factory solution has been made by the evidence of Attwood, the fireman, who declares positively that he first saw the fire breaking through the grated door of the storeroom, the oil tanks of which leaked, the oil running out under the door and over the boiler. MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.—A young lady, named Johanna Timme, about thirty years of age, and very re. spectably connected, had for some time past resided in the family of Mr. A. Duncan, of Hatfield House, Widcombe, Bath, as governess, and on the morning of Christmas-day she accompanied Miss Duncan to church. During the service she complained of illness, and quitted her seat. After this time no trace of her could be found by her friends, excepting that on Christmas-day, between twelve and one o'clock, a young lady, answering the description of Mr. Duncan's governess, had been seen walking hurriedly along the towing-path on the bank of the river Avon, about two miles frcm the city. A few days ago the body of the unfortunate lady was discovered in the river. The deceased was, for some time previous to her disap pearance, suffering from depression of spirits, to which she was constitutionally disposed. ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. Letters addressed to the Editor d bbe accompanied by the real name and address of the writer, not for publication, but as a guarantee of guod faith ; this is indispensably requisite in any statement of facts. The Editor wishes it to be understood that lie does not hold himself responsible for the opinions or statements of his correspondents. THE EMIGRATION TRADE. To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD. LTTER. . Sta,—ln my last .I endeav E oured to II show that by the wholesale charges brought against the lodging-house keepers much in justice is done to a very large number of them ; and that, in fact, the mass of Irish emigrants pass through Liverpool with out experiencing any of those cruel deceptions and heartless robberies about which the Albion is so eloquent. I propose, in my present letter, to consider the case of the passenger-broker, (on whom, of course, when the whole system is so mercilessly denounced, a vast amount of odium must necessarily fall,) and the owner or charterer of the emigrant ship. There are somewhere about thirty licensed passenger brokers in Liverpool, but of the 206,000 emigrants who have been for warded from Liverpool during the past year, nine-tenths at least have been booked by six or eight leading firms, 40,000 having been sent forward by one house alone. Now, among these six or eight firms there has been, if I recollect rightly, but one solitary case of complaint brought before the magis trate, and that a case of compensation merely, involving no moral culpability on the part of the broker. This is a fact which reflects the highest credit on these firms, for it shows that, amid much to harrass an . annoy, and I may add much to tempt, they conduct theirbusiness with an honesty and straight forwardness that might be creditably copied in some other branches of trade. I have said the passenger -broker has much to harrass and annoy him. With the American passenger law on the one side, and the English passenger law on the other— this telling him he can put in but so many passengers —that telling him he may put in so many —the government enigra tion officer ordering him to serve out stores to the passen gers—the Custom-house officer daring him to do so at his peril the passengers clamouring for detention money— the captain refusing to allow it, since it is not his fault the full stores are not served—tl ese are some of the vex ations to which the passenger -broker is exposed. But he is also frequently made the object of gross frauds by the emigrants themselves, who will frequently book a youth of 15 as a child, or a child as an infant, or wi reprsent themselves as sound, when one of the party is a cr ll ipple ; e or will leave l a balance of the passag e money unp a id, an d w h en the ship is in the river declare thy cannot pay, and leave him to suffer the loss. Be sides this, the broker's charity is often laid under heavy contri butions. Some unfortunate owes for a week's lodging, and his box is detained : the broker must pay the two shillings—here are three or four poor children from the union in Ireland, whose passages are paid in America : they have no hat, shoe, or stocking, nor a biscuit for the voyage, nor a penny in their pockets—the broker must lodge them and feed them, and get them some provision for the ship, or the " authorities" will take the matter up ! All these cases are of weekly occurrence, and might provoke the tender sensibilities of the Albion and the emigration commissioners, if either the one or the other knew anything practically of the emigration trade. It is said that the government intend putting some severe restrictions on the passenger business, early its the coming session. If so, they will certainly raise a barrier against that numerous class which the Poor-law Commissioners are so anxious to get rid of—the candidates for workhouse accommo dation in Ireland. The average rate of passage money to New York, paid by poop, second-cabin, and steerage passenger., in 1851, was about £3. Out of this the owner or charterer had to pay the government surveyor's fee, the government medical inspectors' fee, the broker's commission, and the commutation money (a dollar and a half per adult) in New York, to erect berths, and to furnish provisions, water, coals, and medicines, for seventy days—leaving perhaps 255. a head for the cost of working the ship. Now, it is quite clear that the rate of pas sage must have reached its minimum, and that ships cannot continue to take passengers on such terms ; but if the govern ment officer is coming forward with greater powers and further restrictions—with a demand for cooked food, and a more liberal dietary—for separate cabins, and better superintendence—in short, for first-class accommodation in a parliamentary train— the shipowners must look to some other quarter for a freight. Indeed, several American ships have already been withdrawn from the Liverpool trade, and others are expected shortly to follow. Instead, then. of discouragements and restrictions, it would be wise in all who wish well to the port of Liverpool to endeavour to promote the passenger traffic in every honest and straightforward way. It is useless to attempt to bolster up other ports at the expense of Liverpool, by pretending that emigrants meet with less abuse, for it is certain that while it really costs them from ten shillings to a pound a head l ess , th e accommodation and the ship s are far superior. lam told that ships that would not pass survey in Liverpool, meet with no such obstacle in the Irish ports, and the assertion is some what countenanced by a fact mentioned in the Dublin Com mercial Advertiser, of January 12, as follows : "Three vessels, with nearly 1,000 emigrants, which left Dub lin for New York early in October last, have not since been heard of, and very serious apprehensions are entertained for their safety." Now, all the Liverpool passenger ships that sailed early in October have, I believe, without an exception, been long since reported safely arrived ; and surely there is no evil to be endured in this town equal to an addition of three or four weeks to the Voyage, and the greater risk of not reaching the port of destina tion at all ! The case of the shipowner or charterer (who is usualiy a pas senger broker), as affected by the man-catching system, is one of far more hardship than that of the emigrant. The average amount of commission paid to the man -catchers is 64 per cent. This on 200,000, at £3 per head, will amount to the enormous sum of £37,500, a sum which comes entirely out of the pockets of the owners or charterers, and goes to pay enormous rents, enormous rates, and enormous taxes, and to support scores of those moral and social pests—the public-houses—which abound to such a disgraceful extent in every part of the town. That something should be done to deliver the shipowner from this most unconscionable burden is earnestly desired ; but how this can he accomplished is a difficulty which no one yet has been able to solve. If to the above sum we add ..4 . 10,000 paid to the same parties (the lodging-house keepers), as commission on stores for the voyage, we shall probably arrive at the extent of the "plunder," except the occasional booty that is made at a dollaring shop out of a runaway debtor or thief, or a ninny, with snore money than brains, which we may roughly state at £2,500, and we get £50,000, instead of a quarter of a million sterling., as the me morialists to the Dock Committee have ludicrously stated. Let us sum up. The lodging-house keepers, runners, and touters, make something like £50,000 per annum. Of this, .e 37,5011 is borne by the shipowners, at no extra cost whatever to the emigrant. £lO,OOO is borne by the emigrant, in the increased cost of his provisions. £2,500 is borne by swindlers, absconding debtors, thieves, and simpletons. If the two first could be relieved from their most grievous , burdens, the last may be left to their fate. AMUSEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC, GRATIS ! To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD, SlR,—One or two persons have in vain called attention to the bell, or rather want of a bell, on the great Lauding-stage. As I cross the river regularly four times a-day, I have pretty good opportunities for judging of the capability of the arrangements which have been mace for foggy weather. Some months ago, during the summer, when there was no likelihood whatever of fog, the large bell hung there without being of the slightest use. In due time winter, with its fogs, came on, and the first or second time the bell was used, either it was cracked or found inefficient (it certainly was the latter), or something else was the matter with it ; at all events it was removed, and has not been heard since, save by rumour that it was gone to be " re-cast ;" some months have elapsed and we have had several very thick fogs, but no bell has made its appearance ; true, a gong was put up, which was very well for those who reached the stage, and was by no means unplea sant when you were a few yards from it, but when you got only a short distance from the stage, I defy any one to have heard it ; indeed, a greater farce than the aforesaid gong has seldom been "played" on any stage. But, monstrum liOrrendrum, an article, I know not what to call it, has to-day made its " first appearance on the stage," which looks something like one of the "new patent knife cleaners," and emits a sound somewhat like the horrid squeal produced by a wheelbarrow when in want of oil, occasionally degenerating into a sound very like the last groan of a pig! I assure you, sir, it caused a very hearty laugh on board the Woodside boat, this morning, when we came near enough to hear it ; and if any of your readers wish to have a little amuse ment gratis, they should proceed to the Landing-stage some foggy day. Suffice it to say, that the present horrid whistle, or whatever they call it, is by no means loud enough, and it is to be hoped that another and more successful attempt may be mad► to im prove.—l am. Sir, your obedient servant, F.W. Liverpool, Jan. 13, 1852. THE SPRING CIRCUITS.—The Judges assembled on Thursday morning, to select their respective circuits. The final arrangement was as follows : -Norfolk Lord Campbell and Mr. Justice Patteson.—Midland : Lord Chief Justice Jervis and Mr. Justice Maule.—Home : Mr. Baron Parke and Mr. Justice Coleridge.—Northern: Mr. Baron Alderson and Mr. Justice Cresswell.— Oxford ; Mr. Justice Wightman and Mr. Baron Platt.—Western : Mr. Justice Erle and Mr. Justice Talfourd.—North Wales ; Mr. Justice Williams.—South Wales : Mr. Baron Martin.—The Chief Baron will remain in town and attend Chambers. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH.—At the Court of Windsor, the 10th day of January instant, Her Majesty, having taken into consideration the report directed to be made by the General Board of Health with respect to the township of Kirkham, in the county of Lancaster, bath ordered and directed that from and after the above date the Public Health Act, with the exception of the section numbered 50, shall be in force throughout the entire township of Kirkham aforesaid, and that at the first elec tion of the local board T. L. Birley, Esq., shall perform the duties of chairman thereof, and in case of his inability or refusal to perform such duties, Richard Moore, Esq., jun., shall perform them. A FAMILY OF SUICIDES.—A man, named Nash, the son of a blacksmith, of Sunning-hill, has committed suicide by throwing himself into a stream near Virginia Water, Windsor. The deceased had written on the wall, " Good bye, all—J. N." No immediate cause is assigned for the rash act, but the annals of the deceased's family show a remarkable predisposition to self.destruction on the part of its members. About twelve years ago, a brother of the deceased threw himself off the same bridge, and was drowned. Twelve months ago, a cousin drowned himself in the same water. Many years ago, an uncle hanged himself in the adjoining wood • and, about seven years ago, another cousin hanged himself in a plan tation on the Silwood estate. ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MATRIMONY.—The Arbroath Guide announces the first distribution under the will of Mr. Oir, of Brigton, by which he left £9OO to be invested in good security, the yearly interest of which to be divided on new Christmas-day by the minister of the Established Church of St. Cyrus into five prizes, to be awarded as follow :—" The youngest, the oldest, the tallest, and the shortest of the brides belonging to the parish, married by the parish minister during the year, to have a prize each ; the fifth prize to be invested in tea and sugar, and pre sented to the deserving old maids belonging to the same. The ages of the various claimants had accordingly to be ascertained ; and on the 25th ult. the very interesting pro cess of measuring the damsels took place at the manse, in the presence of the parish minister and other gentle men. There was a good deal of anxiety manifested, and, as may be supposed, by the fair candidates ; and as each nymph was subjected to the gauge the scene became parti cularly exciting. The result we give : —Th e tallest measured five feet six inches, the shortest five feet, the youngest was twenty-three, and the oldest twenty-nine years of age. The prizes were then handed over to the blushing com petitors ; and, after having resumed their bonnets and boots, they each, with a curtsey and a `thank ye,' retired." on Ar CI, Sa cal Or ( ac ( 4, th, th, War rcia y ti on la ns , fatni t: