The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-01 00:00:00

that, whilst we persist in this absurd and suicidal course, no mere lightening of the burdens which press upon manufacturing industry, no reduction in the price of food or even in the tariffs of other countries, can afford more than temporary and very trifling relief. It must not be supposed that the state of things which we have just described, as the position of our manufacturers, is peculiar to the markets of the United States. The same features present themselves in every market and under every tariff. We have nowhere any reputation beyond that of cheapness ; we have no where a first-rate character ; we have nowhere the most profitable portion of the supply of manufactured com modities ; and hence, in a great measure, our existing manufacturing distress. Our entire manufacturing system, in fact, is unsound to the core ! We speak this deliberately and advisedly; and we challenge de- ' nial of the fact. Great Britain is not now " the workshop of the world," but the slopsliop only ; the disease which is preying upon her very existence as a manufacturing nation is one, exclusively of internal growth, which no mere legislation, no external appli ances can reach; and, with this fact before their eyes, and it cannot be disproved, surely that statesman and that party would be mad indeed who would consent to unsettle the institutions of their country, who would sacrifice its native agriculture, and thus peril the pros perity and strength , of this great empire, to prop up merely,—to support and sustain, for a time, a thing so inherently rotten and perishing. • On a future occasion we shall endeavour to point out, in detail, the seeds of the evil, whose operation we have above described. At present, however, we must be content with calling the attention of the advocates of the manufacturing interest to the general features which we here present to them. Can their truth be denied ? The division, on Thursday evening, upon the motion of Mr. Villiers must, at least, if it have no other bene ficial result, effectually satisfy the country of the weak ness of the ultra free traders, in the present House of Commons. After five nights' debate, the utmost force, which the League could drum together, was the paltry number of 92 in a house of 485 ! No fewer than 10S "liberals" were amongst the " absent," declining to march through Coventry, or into the lobby, with so ragged a regiment. On Friday evening, Mr. Christopher brought for ward his amendment upon the scale of Sir Robert Peel, and proposed that the duty placed by Sir Robert at 205., when the price of Wheat was at 50s. and under 515., should Le 255. per quarter, and decrease progres sively, without the "rests" in Sir Robert's scale, to Is. at 735., and upwards. To enable our readers to under stand, more readily, the working of this alteration, we place the two scales in contrast together. When Wheat is at By Mr. Chris- By Sir Robert I topher's scale. Peel's scale. 50s and under 51s, the duty would be 25s 20s 51s and under 52s 52s and under 53s 53s and under 54s 54s and under 55s 2ls 55s and under 565.. 56s and under 57s 57s and under 58s lBs lss 58s and under 595. 59s and under 60s l6s l3s 60s and under 615.... 61s and under G2s l3s.. 62s and under 63s l2s lOs 63s and under 64s lls Os 64s and under 65s 65s and under 66s 66s and under 67s 67s and under 685.. 68s anti under 69s 6s 69s and under 70s 70s and under 71s 4s 4s 71s and under 72s 3s 3s 72s and under 73s 73s Upon the division the numbers were— For the ministerial scale 306 For Mr. Christopher's scale lO4 Majority in favour of ministerial scale.. 202 Amongst the strange absurdities which occasionally characterise the progress of party warfare, the most absurd which we have ever noticed was apparent in the division upon this occasion. The mover himself— Mr. Christopher—voted against his own motion !—and the bulk of the minority, voting in favour of tltra pro tection to the agriculturist, is composed of the members of the ultra free trade party!! Perhaps some very sagacious people can account for such a course of ac tion. We must confess, it is quite beyond our com prehension. We cannot but think that the Conservative members of the Council, who, on Tuesday last, expressed them selves in opposition to the proposed clause in the Im provement and Police Bill, about to be brought into Parliament, by which publicans will be required to close their houses from twelve o'clock on Saturday night until one o'clock on Sunday afternoon, have not looked fairly at the question, or expressed the feelings by which it is regarded by the respectable portion of the trade affected by it. It cannot be, we think, that the publicans of Liverpool, as a body, are disposed to object to an enactment so salutory and so well calcu lated as this is to promote the decent observance of the Sabbath ; and if even any fear should be entertained that its result would be prejudicial to the pecuniary interests of this respectable class, we are quite sure that, upon mature enquiry, it would be found that no such result is to be feared. It is well .known that a similar enactment in the Metropolitan Police Bill met with the opposition of the same body, (the licensed victuallers,)—upon the same grounds put forward in the council—viz.; that in practice it would either be evaded, or would drive parties disposed to push intoxication into the morning hours of the Sabbath to the distant outskirts. To a very limited extent, this fear was realized. Some evasions of the enactment were attempted; but these were promptly suppressed, and at the present moment they cannot be said to prevail to any sensible extent. We can state from our own observation that the work ing of the clause throughout the metropolis is most satisfactory. Drunkenness on the morning of the Sabbath is rarely seen, even in the worst neighbour hoods. The working classes, whose earnings have, hitherto, been too often dissipated by the debauch of Saturday evenings extending through the whole of Sunday, have, by its operation, been allowed that day, hitherto spent in the tavern, for a return to sobriety and comfort in their homes; and we believe firmly that, notwithstanding their former opposition, the publicans of the metropolis would now be the first to cry out against a return to the old demoralizing sytsem. It is quite true that it would be desirable that such a measure, to be effectual, should be made general. This objection, however, to a local enactment is, we are satisfied, made too much of. The habitual, or the casual drunkard, who will be debarred from pursuing . his excess after twelve o'clock on Saturday night, will rarely -be found at that hour resorting beyond the limits of the borough for the purpose. In the metropolis at least we know that this objection, in practice, is not felt. In. directing the attention of our readers to the an nouncement, in our advertising columns, of a series of lectures at the Music Hall on the twelve novel articles propounded in the creed of Pope Pius the Fourth, we cannot too strongly impress upon them the instruction which these lectures are calculated to afford. It will probably be in the recollection of many of our Protes tant friends, that at a meeting in this town, held to wards the close of last year, the Rev. Hugh M‘Neile impaled the Church of Rome on the horns of a di lemma, from which we feel convinced that all the in genuity of the papistry cannot extricate her. The rev. gentleman then irrefragably proved that until the six teenth century the only authenticated Catholic docu ments of the church were the Nicena creed, with its companions, the Apostles creed and the Athanasian creed. In that century, at the close of the sittings of the Council of Trent, a new form of faith was pr o p ose d by Pope Pius, and the innovations introduced by that pontiff will form the subjects of the twelve lectures about to be delivered. From these novelties we, as Protestants, have dissented for the last 300 years ; and we still maintain our protest in defiance of open and secret enemies. Do any of our friends, or even our opponents, desire to know against what we protest ? Let them attend these lectures. Are any in doubt whether the essential doctrines of Popery are in accord ance with Scripture ? Give diligent heed to the in struction conveyed in these addresses. The first lec ture will take place on Friday evening next, and amongst the gentlemen who have consented to deliver the succeeding ones are the Revs. Hugh WlNTeile, Mor timer O'Sullivan, Hugh Stowell, Dr. Tottenham, J. C. Barratt, and others almost equally well qualified. We believe considerable credit is due to the active and intelligent secretary of the Protestant Association for the delivery of these well-timed addresses. STATE OF TRADE, MANUFACTURES, &c. The demand in our cotton-market has continued languid throughout the week ; and at the close, on Friday, the amount of the sales reached 23,190 bales, of which 6000 were for export and speculation, leaving only 17,000 for consump tion. The announcement, however, of the reduction of the rate of interest by the Bank of England has given a little animation to the trade. On Saturday 4000 bales were sold ; and on Monday 5500 changed hands, in some qualities, at better prices. Upon the whole our prospects look brighter, and the seasonable relief afforded by the bank has inspired both buyers and holders with greater firmness. The market for manufactured goods, In Manchester, dis plays some symptoms of amendment; and when the factious movements of the league party, in that town, shall have sub sided, there is every prospect of a healthy trade being done. Many orders, it is said, are at this moment in the market, the holders of which only wait until agitation subsides to operate freely. In the Yorkshire clothing districts, an ex tensive amendment has already taken place, and a large business is doing for the spring trg.de, at satisfactory prices. LOCAL NEWS. THE ACADIA. — This steamer with the mails and passen gers for North America. which left this port on the 19th, has been spoken twice, making such progress as to lead us to expect she will make a rapid passage. The Right Hon. Frederick Shaw, M. P., for the Univer sity of Dublin, attended divine worship on Sunday morning last, at St. Jude's church. The Rev. H. M`Neile preached an admirable sermon, from the latter part of the 14th verse of the 2nd chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The rev. gentleman entered minutely, and with convincing clearness, into the cause or introduction of death into the world, and after glancing at its universality, dwelt, in the most trium phant and comforting terms, on the return of the Saviour, . . who would destroy both it and him that had the power of it. The hon. member, w,e believe, expressed himself, in the highest terms, as to the etoquence and scriptural character of the discourse. PROJECTED PURCHASE OF THE NORTH SHORE.—We have heard, as a rumour, that the Corporation are now ne gociating with the Earl of Derby for the purchase of his lordship's right to the strand of the North Shore from the limits of the borough to the Landmarks at Bootle. The sum mentioned as the price of the strand is £15,000. The Cor poration contemplate the probability of the strand being wanted for the formation of docks to the northward, and and they are, therefore, desirous of securing the right to the strand as far as the Landmarks. As the tide runs with great velocity along the Bootle shore, a breakwater will, it is supposed, have to be built to weaken its force. The build ing of it will cost a large sum of money ; but it is, in the opinion of competent judges, quite indispensable, if docks are to be formed on the strand.—Albion. LAUNCH.—The new ship " Viscount Sandon , " a vessel of about 550 tons register, was launched from the building yard of Mr. Joseph Steel, Baffin-street, on Saturday last. She is, we believe, the property of Messrs. Taylor, Potter, and Co. ' merchants of this town. The symmetry of her model, the beauty and superior style of her workmanship, and her adaptation to carry and sail well elicited the cheers of an admiring, respectable, and influential multitude of highly gratified spectators. She went off the stocks in gallant style, and dipped into the bosom of her destined element with the good wishes of each individual present. THE REV. PRINCIPAL LEE, OF EDINBURGH.—We beg to call particular attention to the advertisement in our paper to day of the sale of this gentleman's rare and splendid collec tion of books. Seldom will the collector of scarce and valuable editions have such an opportunity of enlarging and enriching his collections as at this sale. It is believe that no individual living, and it may be added, no public institution at the present moment possess so extensive a collection of old and remarkable editions of the English Bible as are to be found in the Principal's library. The selection is by no means confined to the department of theology, but includes history, phisosophy, the Belles Lettres, and other branches of literature. BIRKENHEAD FAlR.—This fair was held on Tuesday last. The day was beautifully fine, and the tide answered well, which together caused an excellent attendance The steam-, packets had a good harvest. There was a good quantity of horned cattle, nearly all of which found a ready sale. Good bred milch cows were eagerly sought after, and sold at good prices, but inferior ones were lower, the same may be said of horses, of which there was a large show. There was much inquiry for good saddle and harness horses. The supply of cheese was but small. It is a matter of surprise to shopkeep ers and dealers that the farmers in the Hundred ofWirrall do not see their interest in sending their cheese to these fairs, but allow themselves to be gulled by the factors persuading them to sell their cheese at home, thereby depriving them of one of the best markets in the kingdom for that article. There was a good supply of store pigs, which met a good demand. We are happy to state that from the steady progression these fairs are making they are likely to prove exceedingly beneficial to the rapidly increasing population of Birkenhead and the surrounding country. INQUEST.—An inquisition was taken on Wednesday, be fore Mr. Curry, on view of the body of Robert Kelly, a man considerably advanced in years. The deceased was employed as an hostler in the employ of Mr. Bibby, car-keeper, Green land-street. About a month ago the deceased, while outside cleaning the windows upstairs in his master's house, fell, by some accident into the street. A Mrs. Moore, who was crossing the street at the time, saw him descend, but did not observe the cause of his falling, which, it appeared, was from the second story of the building. He was lifted up, and immediately carried to the Southern Dispensary, and thence, by direction of the attendant, to the Southern Hospital, in a car. It was found that he had received a severe injury of the spine, under which be lingered until Wednesday, when he died. Air. Okill, surgeon of the Southern Hospital, gave it as his opinion that the deceased died from the effects of the fall. The jury returned a verdict to that effect, amounting to " accidental death." The body of the deceased was so much emaciated, as viewed by the jury, that it presented little more than a skeleton, and made a painful impression on all who saw it. SERIOUS CASE OF STAIIIIING.—On Friday at the Police Court, a very stout and somewhat furious-looking man, named Thomas Tompkins, was placed at the bar on a charge of dangerously stabbing his wife, A police officer stated, that about half-past one o'clock on Thursday morning, he was called to the house of Mrs. Roland, publican, Frederick street, (the mother of the complainant, and with whom she and the prisoner lived,) where he found Mrs. Tompkins in a fainting state in her room, the effect of a wound in her arm, she having apparently been stabbed. The bed and part of the room covered with blood. The wife stated that she went to bed at a quarter past eleven o'clock, leaving her husband's supper for him when he came in, and that about one she awoke and found herself confused and wounded se verely in the arm. No one but her husband was in the room with her, and she was asleep when she was cut.—Mrs, Roland said that for several weeks they had been in apprehension of the prisoner committing violence upon one or both of them, and that about 1 o'clock she heard repeated cries of " murder, " from her daughter. She ran up stairs, and found that the prisoner had fastened the door inside, and, as the cries still continued, she broke it open with a poker, and found her daughter apparently dead. The prisoner also struck her, and had a knife in his hand. She gave the alarm and he was secured.—Mr. Cameron, surgeon, was sent for to the court, and after examining the wound, said that there was a cut on the back part of the left arm of about two inches and a half in length, and which penetrated considerabl y under the skin. It must have been done by means of a sharp instrument.—The prisoner, who is a ship carpenter, but better known as a thief, who has previously been com mitted both for felony and assault, said that he had nothing about him but a piece of chalk, and that he found his wife drunk, and that she got up and injured her arm i by coming in contact with the latch of the door.—The charge of drunk enness was promptly denied, and the case being clearly proved, Mr. Rushton said the prisoner no doubt purposed to take the complainant's life, and ordered him for trial at the Ses sions.—Mr. Parkinson, keeper of the main bridewell, said that the prisoner, since he was brought there, had threat ened to murder his wife outright the moment he got out. He used similar language to the inspector and constable who took him into custody. Immediately after the case was heard, the wife was seized with a fit, and was carried into an adjoining room. The taking of the informations was con sequently postponed and the prisoner was locked up. On Saturday the wife was not forthcoming, and Mr. Rushton issued a summons for her appearance to-day (Tuesday). WIRRALL FARMING SOCIETY.—Under the above title a society has been formed in the hundred of Wirral, for the promotion of agriculture and husbandry generally. It owes its origin to a few landowners and farmers in the neighbour hood of Upton, Woodchurch, Bidston, and Neston, and though having only a small beginning, bids fair to rise to considerable importance, and to be of commensurate utility. The first operations of this society took place on Monday last, in a grand ploughing match for prizes. The land se lected was a large field on the farm of Noctorum, the pro perty of J. Wilson Patten, Esq., M.P., and in the occupation of Mr. Jackson, an agriculturist of no mean reputation. The ground was laid out in butts; and, as there were some in equalities, the competitors drew lots for the various appor tionments. More than a score of teams were in the field, and the work in general was extremely creditable to the per sons engaged in it. The prizes were in three classes ; the first was " the landlord's prize," for which there were two competitors, the team of Mr. Webster, of Upton, and the team of Mr. M'Quay, of Neston : it excited considerable interest, and, we understsnd, the judges had considerable difficulty in coming to a decision, but the prize was given to Mr. Webster's team. The second prize was for tenants' teams, for which there was good competition. The third was the boys' prize, for youths under twenty years of age, for which there were also very praiseworthy exertions. The ploughing began about eleven o'clock in the morning, and closed about three o'clock in the afternoon. The judges were Mr. Bennett, of Stourton, Mr. Mason, of Morton, and Mr. Jones, of Bebington. It may not be out of place to mention here, that Mr. Jackson kept open house at Noctorum, and thac full justice was done to his substantial fare by his neigh bours and the visitors. On the table were placed two prize cups, which had been awarded him at the Manchester agri cultural meetings ; and a prize tankard by the Liverpool society, for draining 89 acres of land on his present tenancy. At four o'clock, about seventy gentlemen, farmers, and yeomen sat down to a good substantial dinner at Mr. Lang ley's, the Eagle and Crown inn, in Upton, under the able presidency of Mr. Jackson, of NoCtorum, who was well supported by Mr. More, of Hemel, who officiated as vice chairman. The " set out" was highly creditable to the worthy host and hostess. PRESERVED POTATOES.—We have tested the merits of this invention, and can speak in favour of it. The following is a strong testimonial of its merits :—Extract of a letter from H.M. steam-vessel Wilberforce, Niger expedition, As cension, dated 7th January, 1812. " I feel pleasure in bear ing testimony to the value of your preparation of ' Preserved Potato,' which I have found serviceable in restoring the con valescent, after the destructive fever which has prevailed in the vessels of the Niger expedition. I consider them to be a most valuable adjunct, from their highly-restrictive properties, to the usual restoratives made use of by invalids in all tro pical climates, where the English potato must be esteemed a rarity. (Signed) " WM. PrwrcuETT, M.D., Surgeon H.M.S. Wilberforce." WELSH IRON DISTRICTS.—We regret to state, ou private sources of information which may be relied on, that the Chartists have for some time been preparing for another out break, which will not however, be made, until there seems to the leaders to be a chance of success. Underground and club meetings are regularly held, and a system of orginization trade iooprevails th roug h out the bi lls. I t h as b een s t a t e d by a W e l sh contemporary ' In dre p ivin o v ra e r s y , that the Merthyr Chartists lately bought 600 muskets at l3 s. each. A considerable m ili tary f orce is Southsta tioned that the Wales; misguidedan and it is mteon who be arehoped, at, presentthat whets ex cited by the incendiaries who live in idleness, and make speeches at public meetings, will see the excessive folly of their views. Very great distress prevails amongst the col liers in South Wales, and part of Monmouthshire.—Glou ceBfer Chronicle. Lord Sandon was present at the third parliamentary din• ner of the speaker on Saturday last ' • and his lordship at tended, along with Sir Howard Douglas, at the levee of the right honourable gentleman on the same evening. BOOK CoLLEcToßs.—Book collectors have now an oppor tunitvlrarely presented to them, of adding many scarce works to their libraries, in consequence of the sale of the Rev. Dr. Lee's library. Messrs. Turner and Rose, of South Castle street, will be happy to show a catalogue. WELSH BALL.—Last evening a splendid ball, in honour of the birth of the Prince of Wales, was held in the Town hall, the proceeds of which it is intended to appropriate in aid of the Welsh Charity School, in Russel-street. The lady patroness was Mrs. H. R. Sandbach. Nearly 1000 per sons were present. Dancing commenced shortly after nine o'clock, to the enlivening strains of Horabin's band. At the time we were going to press, " the light fantastic toe" was being tripped with great spirit, and with no prospect of the party separating till a late, or rather an early, hour this morning. • THE BOSTON AND HALIFAX STEAM MAIL SIIIPS.—The Britannia, Captain Hewitt, after being in the Queen's Graving Dock for a short time, returned to the Coburg Dock on Suniay. She was the first of the line that con veyed the mails to America, yet was found to be as sound and seaworthy as on the day of her launching. The Caledo nia, Captain Lott, went into the Graving Dock yesterday to have the bottom overhauled. She too appears to be quite unshaken and perfect in her hull, notwithstanding the buffeting she recently sustained, when in consequence of damage to her rudder she returned to port. DEATH FROM APOPLEXY.- . —An inquisition was held yes terday, before Mr. Curry, on view of the body of James Richards, a young man, 26 years of age, who was mate of the Mersey, steam-packet, belonging to the City of Dublin Steam Navigation Company. Lawrence Murrel, barman to Mr. John Langan, innkeeper, Waterloo-road, said, that on Saturday afternoon, between three and four o'clock, deceased came into the house and asked for a glass of gin. He ap peared to be sober, and gave a shilling to pay for it. While witness was placing the change on the counter, and before deceased had drunk, he observed the latter suddenly fall backwards on the floor. He was immediately raised, and appeared to rally for a moment or two, when he again fell back, and appeared to be in a fit. He was carried into a room, and a surgeon was called to him as quickly as possible. Mr. Patrick Kelly, surgeon, said, that when called in he found the deceased in a dying state, and used every means to restore him, but without effect, as he died in about three minutes. He (witness) had made a post mortenz examina tion, and was of opinion that death was caused by apoplexy. The jury returned a verdict accordingly, to the effect that deceased died from natural causes. SPREAD or TRACTARIANISM.—The Morning Herald of yesterday contains a letter from the Rev; John Lee, rector of Whitchurch, a watchful guardian of the interests of our Protestant church, in which he says that "a clerical inspec tor of schools, appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, has recently urged a supporter of several of these charitable institutions in the diocese of Lichfield to introduce A ROMISH CATECHISM, for the instruction of the children." Well may Mr. Lee say that the subject deserves at least serious inves tigation. THE LIVERPOOL BANKING COMPANY.—The usual an nual meeting of the proprietors of this bank, took place at the Clarendon-Rooms, on Tuesday, when the directors pre sented the report for the past year. It gave general satis faction, as, besides the usual dividends, a handsome surplus was placed to the reserved fund. Thanks were unanimously voted to the directors for their cautious and successful management during a year of unexampled pressure on all the commercial and manufacturing interests of the country. PROPOSED COLLEGES AT FLEETWOOD-ON WYRE. The present is certainly an age of wonders, considered not only physically but morally ; and in the rapid strides which science and enterprise are making throughout the land, we foresee, even through the gloom of considerable commercial depression, and the retardations of party opposition, the ap proach of a brighter era than our historians have yet had the happiness to record; and which, if we blamelessly assume England to be the " model" of the nations, will, through her intercourse and example, shed its benign influence over even the remotest portions of the globe ;—for what the poet has said of " self-love" will apply with equal truth to mental progression : " ' Intelligence' the virtuous mind can wake, As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake; Friend—parent—neighbour, first it will embrace, — Our country next, and next—all human race." The advancement of general and mechanical science ; the triumps of industry in spite of innumerable obstacles ; the intersection of our country by railways, and the progress of steam navigation,—approximating district to district, and even continent to continent ; enabling us to supply mutual wants and mutual wealth—to administer to the comforts and happiness of the whole human family, and to spread civiliza tion and refinement wherever our flag is unfurled ;—all impel us to the pleasing anticipation of a consummation highly beneficial to the best interests of mankind. The very dis cussions on the question of the education of the people, an tagonist and frequently acrimonious as they are, serve but to confirm our opinions on this point; for all parties now ac knowledge the necessity of general instruction, as necessary to the maintainance of our ascendancy in the scale of nations in an age characterized by energetic competition ; and when conflicting opinionists become weary of the fatigue and ex citement of prolonged hostility, the repose into which they must naturally relapse will conduce to that mutual forbear ance and conciliation—dictated by self-interest and common sense—which will doubtless lead to the happiest results to the mass. These being our decided convictions, and being, moreover, the advocates, though humble, of the spread of useful know ledge amongst all classes of the people, it is with feelings of sincere gratulation that we learn that an educational esta blishment is in progress of formation at Fleetwood, in this county—a seminary which, judging from the principle on which it is proposed to be founded, as well as the magnitude and practicability of the design, promises to become a valua ble acquisition not only to this populous locality, but " a model" from which the patriot and statesman may derive a grand system of national education worthy of adoption throughout the whole united kingdom. ' Fleetwood, at the mouth of the Wyre, is a town of but recent date. A few years only have elapsed since, to employ a homely phrase, the foundation-stone was laid ; but such are the attractions of its position that it already boasts of many elegant edifices, and a very considerable, and, we may add, select population. Its site, on the eastern point of the entrance to Morecambe Bay, is proverbially salubrious ; and the surrounding scenery, both in land and water, is extensive and diversified. It presents great advantages for shipping, from its admirable natural harbour, and its proximity to many of the largest manufacturing towns, with which it has already rapid communication by railway—meeting the north, the south, and, through the latter, the great eastern lines, at Preston. Promising, however, as it is in this respect, many years must elapse before it can enter into commercial rivalry with Liverpool or Glasgow ; but from its peculiar adaptation for a watering-place, or a summer resort, whether for the invalid or the recreative visitor, its salubrity, its seclusion from the bustle of trade, and its cheap supply of the comforts and even the luxuries of life—situated as it is in the great " corn field" of Lancashire—it has been judiciously resolved, should the project meet with adequate encouragement from a discerning public, to render it the seat of education as well as of health. We learn from a prospectus (not yet we believe in general circulation) that it is proposed to build two Colleges, the one for 500 boys, and the other for as many young ladies,—" to be founded and supported on the principle of life assurance" —a system of which Mr. Vantini (a spirited proprietor in Fleetwood) has maturely considered for a number of years ; and so soon as the requisite number of pupils are registered, an association will be forthwith formed for the erection of the buildings, on a magnificent scale, both as regards interior convenience and healthful recreation out of doors. The members are to pay a small sum annually from the birth of every child, after whose admission into the college the pay ment will be £2O per annum ; or a child may be educated by the payment of a fixed annual sum from birth until the pupil leaves. Two-thirds of the money is to be returned if the child die before it is of age to be admitted. It is intended to found the colleges when 1000 children have been registered ; and until they are built no contribution is required. The whole profits are to be devoted to the purposes of the esta blishment, excepting 5 per cent. to:proprietors, on the capital subscribed. The government will be vested in governors, who will appoint the principals, chaplain, and matrons. The religious education of the boys will be conducted by the chaplain, who will perform the religious services, and impart instruction according to an outline approved by the Bishop of the Diocese. Parents who are desirous that their children should not attend the chaplain, may provide other means of religious instruction. The morals of the pupils will be care fully attended to. The pupils will be divided into depart ments, according to age, and the tuition embraces all the useful and ornamental branches, including the Ancient and Modern Classics, Drawing, Music, German Literature, French, Dancing, &c. Athletic exercises will also be encou raged. The young ladies will be under the superintendence of a committee of patronesses, and the instruction nearly similar to that of the boys. They will be taught all that is useful and ornamental in female life ; and efforts will be made to inculcate that sort of knowledge which will enable a pupil, on leaving the college, to take on herself the management of a family and the education of children, We have before us plans of the colleges and playgrounds, with a bird's-eye view of the whole establishment. They cover a large area, and the design appears to embrace archi tectural elegance, with every appliance that can conduce to health and comfort. Besides the extensive playgrounds, there is a park of ten acres at each corner of the quadrangu lar site. There are, also, isolated from the main buildings, and forming the angles of an outer square, aLchapel, an. in-, firmary, a riding school, and a pile of stabling, all of uniform design. The capital required for the erection of these hand some buildings is £BO,OOO. Such is an outline of the proposed colleges. The subsidiary arrangements appear to be the result of great care and judg ment. One of the strongest inducements to the support of the establishment by the public is, the principle adopted of life insurance,—by which, for a comparatively small annual sum, the payment of which will scarcely be felt, a parent may ensure for his child a sound, moral, and classical educa tion ; at a place, too, deservedly esteemed for its salubrity, and which (to employ the language of the projectors) is ex empt from many of the evils of older towns. VOTES OF THE LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE MEMBERS, On Mr. Villiers' motion,—" That all duties payable upon the importation of corn, grain, meal, or flour, do now cease and determine." (No. 1.) On Mr. Christopher's motion,—" That under 51s. the duty upon every quarter of wheat shall be 255." (No. 2.) No. 1. No. 2. For. Agst. For. Agst. Lord Stanley N. Lancashire. J. W. Patten Ditto Lord F. Egerton S. Lancashire.. Hon. R. B. Wilbraham Ditto Lord Sandon . Liverpool .... Sir H. Douglas ........ Ditto M. Philips T. M. Gibson Ditto T. G. Greene Lancaster .... G. Marton Ditto J. Brotherton Salford P. Ainsworth J. Bowring Ditto ........ Sir H. Fleetwood Preston Sir G. Strickland J. Hornby Blackburn.... W. J. Fielden Ditto J. Fielden General Johnson Ditto I. Blackhurne Warrington .. S. Crawford Rochdale .... C. Hindle} Ashton R. Walker Bury M. Wilson Clitheroe .... P. Greenall T. B. Crosse Ditto W. T. g Eerton . . N. Cheshire G. C. Leigh .... Sir P. Egerton J. Tollemache Ditto — Lord R. Grosvenor .... Chester J. Jervis J. Brocklehurst Macclesfield .. T. Grimsditch Ditto H. Marsland Stockport .... R. Cobden . Ditto ... . -- THE LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER, SHEF FIELD AND MANCHESTER, AND MANCHES TER AND LEEDS RAILWAYS. Amongst the incentives to the conduct recently manifested by the board of the Manchester and Leeds Railway, towards the directors of the Liverpool and Manchester line, with respect to a proposed junction at their Manchester termini, we have ever viewed as the chief, the rooted jealousy with which the former gentlemen regard the progress of an un dertaking which promises at no distant period to be a formi dable competitor, with theirs, for the traffic from the heart of Yorkshire and the north-eastern portion of England. From its being first projected, in 1835, the Sheffield and Manchester Railway has been the constant object of the sneers and the misrepresentations of the gentlemen of the Manchester and Leeds line, their engineers, and their various officials. A continual under-current of hostilities has been directed against it. The press has teemed with anonymous slanders to its prejudice, nine-tenths of which, it is too cer tain, have emanated, not from the "injured shareholders," the " sufferers," and other small unknown, whose senti ments and sufferings they purported to express,—but from the hoard-room or the private parlours of Leeds and Man chester directors and shareholders, whose jaundiced vision saw in every step made in the progress of this undertaking a ray shorn from the magnificent prospects which, in imagina tion, surrounded their own line. And it is chiefly because the directors of the Manchester and Liverpool Railway have refused to shut their eyes to the claims of Sheffield and the eastern district of the north of England to be connected with Liverpool, that the storm of vituperation, and the ac cusations of want of faith, which we have recently noticed, have been drawn down upon them from the officials and the anonymous partisans of the Manchester and Leeds direction. We have taken some interest in this controversy so far, and have come in for some small share of visitations usually received when such warfare is raging. We stood forward in defence of the course pursued by the Liverpool and Man chester board, not merely because that undertaking was, to some extent, a Liverpool undertaking — not because we have the pleasure of receiving any extraordinary favours from its directors—or that our journal was (as represented by our able contemporary, the Railway Times) "in their secrets ;" but because, upon geneial grounds, we were satisfied that in that course they were right.. Whilst entertaining the ques tion of a junction with the Manchester and Leeds Railway, we were convinced that they could not, with propriety and justice, or with advantage to the interests of their under taking and of the port of Liverpool, overlook the importance of a junction with all the lines which diverge eastwards from Manchester ; and that amongst those lines the Sheffield Railway possessed especial claims which they could not and ought not to overlook. It is partly in justification of our former advocacy, and partly because, as journalists, taking a deep interest in the prosperity of railway undertakings, we cannot in silence see any line borne down by systematic misrepresentation, that we purpose now placing before our readers, from the docu ments presented at the last half-yearly meeting, the actual present position and prospects of the Sheffield and Man chester Railway. And first, with respe.it to the cost of its execution, as thus far tested by experience. The public have heard abundance of stories, from anonymous correspondents of the Railway Times, with respect to the enormous probable cost of por tions of the works. Let us see what are the facts. The total length of the line from Manchester to Sheffield is 40 1-3rd miles. • The total cost as estimated by Mr. Vignoles, the late eminent engineer of the company, was £1,000,000, which was divided in detail, as follows : Manchester to Glossop, 11 miles £248,600 Glossop to Tunnel, 71 , Tunnel, 3 „ From Tunnel to Sheffield, 19 „ Cost of Works . £666,138 Land . Management 37,336 Stations and Stock 'Tunnel Contingencies 24,617 Unforeseen ditto .. . £1,000,000 Of the entire length of 40 1-3 d miles, a distance of nearly nine miles is already completed and opened. Another por tion extending to Glossop, is under contract; and the cost of the first eleven miles out of Manchester, which is stated by Mr. Locke, the present engineer of the company, (upon whose competence as a judge we need not, in Liverpool en large,) to contain one half of the entire earthwork of the line,) is £233,000—a difference, between the estimate and the general cost of but £4,400 in an amount of a quarter of a million ! Of the tunnel, which has ever been treated as the great difficulty of the undertaking, and the cost of which has been so exaggerated by interested and anonymous detractors, the progress, thus far, developer a similar result. The estimate of Mr. Vignoles, made upon the supposition that, from the nature of the strata, it would not require lining throughout, was for tunnel and contingencies £105, 967. That of , Mr. Locke, allowing for lining throughout, is, as recently fur dished to the directors, £2 0 5,70 0 . The discrepancy here is undoubtedly large. It is, however, still uncertain whether this great additional cost of lining will have to be incurred ; and at all events it must be satisfactory to the proprietors to know that the estimate of Mr. Locke, which has been formed, after the nature of the strata was ascertained, the shafts nearly completed, the necessary buildings erected, and one third of the entire driftway executed, must necessarily be the extreme cost of the work! So far from there being any probability of the whole tunnel, (as it has been repre sented by the partisans of the Leeds and Manchester direc tion,) having to he formed through the same difficult and expensive material which presented itself in the Summit tunnel on the Leeds line, we can state, on the authority of the resident engineer, that " they have not met with a bed of mountain limestone, nor a bit of blue shale"—(the strata on the Leeds line)—" in the whole range of hills thi:ough which they are driving ; and the fact will prove itself, that on the Manchester and Leeds summit tunnel, they were forced to line their shafts with stone or bricks, as the sides would not stand without, whilst the shafts on the Sheffield and Manchester tunnel are lined with boards, merely to stop the water from Roofing on the men and extinguishing the lights ; and the best proof is this—their shale stands equally as well as the rock." The total revised estimate of Mr. Locke, including all stock and contingencies, amounts to £1,113,500, the differ ence between which, and that of Mr. Vignoles, is principally, as we have shown, in the cost put down for the tunnel, a portion of which, it is probable, may be saved, although the former gentleman has very properly, in his estimate, taken the extreme view of the case. That this is an estimate which with certainty may be depended upon to complete the under taking we think must be manifest from the following passage in Mr. Locke's report to the directors : " With a view to arrive as nearly as possible at this cer tainty in the present case, it has occurred to me that it would be well to obtain contracts for the entire works, to'be finish ed in a given time, and that all liabilities of every kind, even including the land, should be guaranteed to the company under bond. If persons could not be found to take such contracts, then a prima facie case is made out against the sufficiency of the estimate. Upon this showing lam willing to test the estimate I have made to you, and either to find parties who will give the guarantee required, or at once retire from the position I hold." We can imagine nothing more satisfactory than such a declaration. With respect to the prospects of the traffic to come upon the line, we believe that they fully equal, now, any previous anticipations which have been entertained. So far as the railway has yet been open, the receipts have been highly satisfactory, and are steadily increasing ; and when the line is further extended to Glossop, or to the mouth of the sum mit tunnel, (which will be in the course of the present year,) there is no doubt that a good available revenue, clear of all expenses, will be brought in. It must be borne in mind that so far as the traffic in passengers and in goods as well, is concerned, there can be no possible competition against this undertaking. Between the towns of Sheffield and Manches ter, no canal or other conveyance, except the ordinary roads —and bad they are !—presents itself ; and, whilst from the comparatively light!cost of the line, (X 27,000 per mile,) the cheapness of fuel, and other advantages, the company will be enabled to carry upon very reasonable terms, they will have no opposition to force them into reductions detrimental to the profitable working of their line. The circumstance, however, which we have no doubt has most materially tended to produce the soreness with which the Sheffield railway is contemplated, and to sharpen the shafts which are launched against it by the partizans of the Manchester and Leeds line, is the fact, that, by a movement which is at present making on the Yorkshire side of the sum mit, this line threatens ultimately to become the route from Liverpool and Manchester to Leeds itself .r The London Gazette of the last week or two has contained a notice of an application to parliament for the formation of a junction line from Penistone, on the Sheffield and Manchester line, via the North Midland line, near Barnsley, to Normanton, by which route the distance between Manchester and Leeds (which by the present line is upwards of CO miles) will be reduced to less than 41—thus effecting a saving of 7 m il es ! The plans and sections of this line (from Penistone to the North Mid land) are now, we are informed, in active progress ; and we have no doubt that, the perfect practicability of the tunnel on the Sheffield line being demonstrated, the junction in ques tion, which will open to the manufacturing districts of Man chester and Sheffield the vast and valuable coal fields in the vicinity of Barnsley and Silkstone, will be vigourously pro secuted. Hine illce irce, There can be no question, we regret to say, that the finan cial prospects of this undertaking are anything but satisfac tory ; and to this state of things there is as little question that the ceaseless hostility which has been directed against it, by interested opponents, has mainly conduced. Large ar rears of calls upon shares have accumulated ; litigation to en force payment has created a vast amount of exasperation, amongst the holders, against the proceedings of the board ; and from these circumstances,. combined with the unexampled disorganization of trade in the manufacturing districts, the most serious difficulties in the way of the successful prosecu tion of the undertakingpreseint themselves. We must, how ever, express our deliberate .conviction that there is nothing in the present position of the company—there is assuredly nothing in the undertaking itself—to warrant a continuance of this almost unexampled depression, which has fettered and still fetters the efforts of the Sheffield and Manchester di rection. On the contrary, we are satisfied that were the public mind disabused and the cloud of misrepresentation (which has been designedly raised to prevent a just apprecia tion of the merits of this line of railway by capitalists) effec tually dissipated, there is no substantial reason why it should not at once assume a prominent position amongst our most valuable railways, and the remaining funds required be promptly and liberally furnished. Upon this subject our Liverpool readers, who are inter ested in rails' ay speculations, will, no doubt, listen with somewhat greater confidence to the opinion of Mr. Locke, the talented engineer of the company, than to any opinion which we can be justified in expressing. " There have been, up to this time," writes Mr. Locke in his half-yearly report, " many causes to arrest the progress of this undertaking. The depression which has existed in every branch of trade in the Lancashire and Yorkshire districts has no doubt tended to depress not only this, but every other description of rail way property ; and the opening of other lines not so success fully as was expected, has, from a sort of-intuitive feeling of inferiority, sunk this line still further in public estimation. The truth is, that the railway public has been too much daz zled with the brilliant prospects of traffic, to distinguish clearly the difference between a cheap and a costly line. It has, until recently, passed judgment upon all railways accord ing to the expected income, regardless of the relative expen diture ; and thus it is that many great and useful undertakings remain neglected. It is not my wish, alihough it may be my duty, to make comparisons with lines more or less favour ably circumstanced than the Sheffield and Manchester; but whether we look to the local or general traffic, or to the posi tion which this line must eventually hold in the chain of inland railway communication, there cannot remain a reason able doubt that,( with an outlay less than one-half that of such lines as the Leeds and Manchester and the North Mid land, the income derivable cannot be less than it is likely to be on either of those lines. These comparisons may not be altogether fortunate;; but there can be no doubt that had either of these lines been executed for the cost per mile of the Manchester and Sheffield, they would hold very different positions in public estimation to what they now do ; and there does not seem to :me any adequate difference in the traffic on those lines to justify so decided a preference over the one now under consideration. This state of opinion, however, if ill founded, will in time correct itself; and if it can be shown—as I have endeavoured to show—that this line can be executed at something like £25,000 a mile (exclusive of its carrying stock), there seems little reason to doubt of its eventual success*" To this testimony we may add, that we know of no com munity —scarcely even those of Manchester and Sheffield themselves—which is more interested in the satisfactory completion of this railway, and by whom an interest, taken in it, would be more effectual in rescuing it from its present neglect and difficulty than that of Liverpool. To the vast intercourse of the trade of Sheffield with the markets of the western world this is already the natural and almost exclusive port ; and there can be no question that when the connexion which this line of railway opens between Sheffield and Liverpool is completed, not only that town, but the important agricultural district lying eastwards from Sheffield, and including a great portion of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire, which is now supplied with the greatest portion of its foreign produce from the Humber, will in future be brought to this as its nearest and cheapest port of supply for imported produce. To the Liverpool and Manchester Railway we need not say that such a result would bring an immense and valuable traffic ; and by the di rectors of this line we are confident that its importance is fully appreciated. And now we may be excused if we address a few words upon this subject to our valued contemporary, the Railway Times. We are sure that in any editorial notice addressed by our contemporary to the subject which has recently been canvassed between us, his views have been to advance the general interests of railway nndertakings, and that no im proper motives have induced him to level even a side blow at this undertaking. Upon the merits of the whole case, as between the Manchester and Liverpool, and Manchester and Leeds railways, we think our contemporary has been misled ; and in giving to the world the numberless communications which have lately appeared in his columns to the prejudice of the Sheffield and Manchester railway, he has acted with some little indiscretion. We' are not about to defend all the acts of the Board of Directors of that railway. With respect to some of them we expressed, very freely, our con demnation at the time ; but we cannot see that such dis agreement would justify us in placing before the public, in our columns, the carping attacks of every scribbler who might choose to address to us his unfounded or strained ani madversions upon the undertaking. The reputation of a great public work, however strongly guaranteed by the cha racter of those connected with it, is sensibly affected by even anonymous censure, when reiterated from week to week in the pages of a publication so influential as the Railway Times; and it is scarcely a justification that the same pages which are open to the villifier are freely offered to those in terested in rebutting his attacks. We trust, therefore, that our contemporary will in future exercise a little more discri mination in matters of this nature. Nine-tenths of his late correspondents upon this railway, we can assure him, would prove, if unmasked, to be either puffing proprietors of other lines, or interested opponents of the Sheffield, and he must know the injurious tendency of such a course of attack as has been directed against this undertaking in his columns. FEMALE ORPHAN SOCIETY. The secod annual general meeting of the subscribers and friends to the Liverpool Female Orphan Society was held at two o'clock yesterday, in the lecture-room of the Royal In stitution, Colquitt-street. The Rev. Jonathan Brooks, the senior rector of Liverpool, and chairman of the committee, presided. On the side benches in the lecture-room the in mates of the charity were ranged. They were each attired in white caps, dark dresses, and white aprons, and their pre sence imparted great interest to the proceedings. The CIIAIRNIAN, in opening the meeting, said, he had great pleasure in meeting the ladies and gentlemen who were present upon this occasion, but he would not, by any intro ductory remarks of his, interfere with the able report of the committee further than to state, that the Orphan Institution was now formed, and that forty-two children had been ad mitted. Mr. Banner would read the report, and it would be only in anticipation of that report if lie (the chairman) were to state the proceedings of the last year. The committee had obtained a piece of land from the common council, who had been kind enough to present them with it; and they hoped before another year was over to have began, if not completed, a building which would contain a considerably larger number of children than could at present be accommodated. And there would be no difficulty in filling it, for they had now se veral applications to be admitted, and it was only by means of the greatest exertions on the part of the ladies' committee that they were able to meet the claims which pressed upon them. The present building was as full as possible. (Hear.) Mr. HARMOOD BANNER, the secretary and treasurer, then read the report of the committee, of which the following is a copy : " The committees, in submitting the second annual report of the proceedings of the institution, congratulate themselves and the guardians generally on its steady and satisfactory progress. The utility, or rather the necessity of such an institution, in so large a population as that of Liverpool and a circle around it of seven miles, is fully proved, and the anticipations of its promoters have thus far been rewarded with cheering encouragement. It is, however, a growing establishment, and requires increasing support. " The number of orphans in the house by the report of last year was 19, and is now increased to 42. There are also several candidates for admission, eligible in other respects, waiting till they attain the proper age. " For proof of the healthy appearance of the children, they are offered on this occasion to your notice ; and of their im provement in their borne and school duties, the friends who frequently visit, and those who were present at the recent examination at the asylum, have been pleased to express their approbation. This is gratifying to the committees, and also a pleasing testimonial to the care and attention of the matron and teacher. " The present dwelling can afford very little further ac commodation, without great inconvenience and risk of health. It must also be taken into consideration, that the children now in the asylum are young, and it will be about three years before vacancies can occur by any of them being ready to go out ; consequently, with scarcely room for another child, the institution will be expected to provide for the de mands which arc certain to be made upon it during the next three years. " The attention of the committees has, under these cir cumstances, been directed to the erection of a suitable build ing. A petition was presented to the town-council for land for the purpose, and a lot containing 2372 square yards has been kindly granted by the corporation, on the site of the old Botanic Garden, fronting Myrtle-street. On this land it is proposed to build an institution worthy of the town and neighbourhood —not a work of grandeur and extravagance, but intrinsically worthy by its capability to accommodate a large number of children ; in outward appearance exhibiting a handsome elevation, and in its interior to be plain, com modious, and useful. ts magnitude and character, however, must depend upon the measure of bounty bestowed. " There is now in the bank, arising from donations, £l6OO. A large additional sum will be requisite, for which the com mittees make their urgent and respectful appeal; and, in so righteous a cause, they cannot but entertain hopes of com plete success. " There can be no question as to the utility and real cha rity of sheltering and protecting poor children who require shelter and protection, and fitting them for stations in life appropriate to their condition ; and, of all who stand in need of such assistance, none can be so entirely free from the risk of imposture as the case of a poor female orphan. " We are enjoined to do good whenever we have opportu nity, and it pleases God to appoint opportunities of exerci sing our benevolence in various ways. It is His dispensation that parents are removed, and their offspring left in a state of helpless destitution. Thus lie affords to us an opportunity of testifying our love to Him, by visiting the fatherless in their affliction, by taking under our care the objects of so sad a visitation, and so becoming willing instruments for the display of His mercy to this interesting portion of our fellow creatures. " Earnestly, then, are all entreated to join in this labour of love, by availing themselves of the opportunity thus vouch safed of promoting so excellent a work. Successful in our appeal, we may then hope that, under the blessing of God, our united endeavours will prosper, and that we may he able so to extend the benefits of the institution, that the affecting wish expressed by the children at the close of one of their hymns may be realised:— " And may the helpless, who remain Exposed as we before, Be gathered in the Saviour's The Saviour's name adore.' " The reading of the accounts followed. It appeared that there is a balance in the bank of upwards of Xl6OO. Mr. TURNER said he had great pleasure in moving the first resolution, which was. that the report be received, adopted, and printed , to g ether with the list of sub scr i pt i ons: The Rev. AUGUST US CAMPBELL said that, i n secon di ng the adoption of th e report, and in directing his att en ti on t o that which might be considered the most important part of it, —namely, the claim upon the public fo r p ecun i ary a id,— he did not see how , a s a minister of the Gospel, and an au thorised preacher of the written word, he could take any other ground than that which the written sfoi'd described, or speak from any better text than that which was provided by the apostle :—" Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this : to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Practical proof of Christian sincerity was to be found in the exercise of charity and holiness. No other, he believed, would be acceptable on the day of judgment. Orthodox belief would not avail, however necessary orthodox belief might be, because we were told that the devils themselves believed and trembled. Belonging to the true church would not avail, however necessary communion might be to secure us sacramental graces and Christian covenant, because we were not told to rejoice. because we were enrolled as members of the visible church upon earth, but because our names were written in the book of life. And we could not expect accept ance from the Great Judge, unless, when we appeared before him in the last great day, and said, " Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee drink ; when saw we thee a stranger and took thee in, or naked and clothed thee, or when saw we thee sick or in pri son and came unto thee,"—he was enabled to reply to us, " Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." He knew not how it was possible for us to pretend, and confess, and call ourselves Christians, if we denied the necessity for Christian charity. He was sure it was worse than mockery to acknowledge the necessity of Christian charity, and not to live in the practical exercise of it in the giving of alms. The rich man who wasted his money in idle splendour, or hoarded it in covetous ido latry, surely could not expect salvation at the hands of the great Redeemer who suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps, and whose very character it was that "he went about doing good." Let us not, therefore, suppose that it was possible to profess and call ourselves Christians unless we lived in the exercise of alms-giving; and if he were met with the excuse that people could not afford to give, he was bound to admit the validity of it when they really could not afford, but nothing but ne cessity ought to prevent a man from living in the exercise of Christian charity. When a man had spent money upon what the wants of his family required, and what his de cent position in society demanded as a member of so ciety, lie was bound to give, to render to the poor, ror his ' own sake, and for the sake of Christ. And when he heard , as he did hear, so loudly, the moan of national distress and commercial embarassment, and when he looked around him and saw such excessive expenditure in dress, in equipage, and feasting in " purple and fine linen and sumptuous fare," he hardly knew how he could reconcile the apparent contradic tion ; still less was he able to account for the contradictory walk, the contradiction between the practice and the pro fession of, those rich men, who would not spare even the crumbs that fell from their tables, and who contemplated with seeming unconcern that great gulf which was fixed between the rich man and the beggar in our Saviour's parable, and who still professed a hope of everlasting reward. They might depend upon it that the duty of alms-giving was imperative upon all Christians, and that alms could not be given to a , better object than that before the meeting. We could not imitate our blessed master in a better or more effectual way than by visiting the fatherless children, and affording them an asylum in which they could be kept unspotted • from the vice of a corrupt and corrupting world. Let us, therefore, consider that if we rescued these children from vice, we were contributing to the salvation of their souls. There was one other subject to which he would al lude. It was rather a delicate one, but still, perhaps, it would be proper in the way he should do it. There were some who objected to this charity because it was exclusively of one religion. That objection had been well met by one who was a-great and firm friend of the charity who did not belong to the communion of the Church of England, though lie regretted it had not his full concurrence and adherence. He said, and justly said, that these children must be taught to worship God after some form, and he was sure that such a measure of toleration could - be afforded towards the esta blished church, that they might be brought up in the principles of the Church of England. He (Mr. Campbell) trusted that this was an objection which would not weigh seriously with any ; but that all would contribute cheerfully, and that the whole community would think it their duty to assist this admirable institution to the best of their power. He spoke now in the presence of those who, if they used their influence, would do it a great deal of good. Unhappily there were very few gentlemen present. They were not in the habit, unfortunately, of attending these meetings, having other avocations which required their attention, but if the ladies would undertake the task they might greatly promote it by their influence, and he could not help hoping that the interest they took in the proceedings of the day would send them forth as able missionaries in the cause which they had met to support. (Hear, hear.) The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, and it was unani mously carried. The Rey. THOMAS BOLD moved the second resolution, to the effect that immediate exertions be made to raise funds for the purpose of erecting a suitable building for the re ception of the objects of the institution. The merits of this asylum for female orphans were so universally appreciated, that he did not feel it necessary to enlarge upon them; and therefore he should content himself with moving the re solution. The Rev. J. H. STEWART said be had very great pleasure in seconding the resolution. If there was any one cause which should come nearer to the 'heart of a Christian man than another, it was the cause of the fatherless and the wi dow ; for it was one of the most pleasing characters which God had taken to hiniself, that he is the Father of the father less. When one of the prophets would encourage those who were at the greatest distance from Him, he says, " and in Thee the fatherless find mercy ;" and when our blessed Sa viour was counselling his disciples, he did it in these words— " I will not leave you comfortless;" or, as it might be pro perly rendered, " I will not leave you orphans." What a delightful opportunity did this institution afford us of tread ing in the steps of our Divine Master ! We might here meet in perfect unanimity. We all agreed that there were no per sons so destitute as a poor fatherless and motherless child ; and those who took such under their protection, might be said to be following the steps of our Lord, when, upon the cross, he was providing for his mother. He did not know of a more beautiful trait in our Saviour's character than when he was upon the cross. When the women (for he might say as the Rector had said, that when the men were absent, the holy women were there) were near, Jesus saw his mother and the disciple that be loved standing by. He said to her, " Woman, behold thy son," and then, looking at John, he said, " behold thy mother"—thus giving the high honour and privilege to the disciple he loved of taking care of his widowed mother. We were then following the steps of our Lord when we were providing for those who had not even a mother to take care of them. There was a very dear friend of his, a clergyman, who paid great attention to a society established in London for the orphans of clergymen. There was a little child who attended his church, and one day when he came out of the church, the clergyman said to the little boy, " Well, my dear little boy, I suppose you are going home to your mother ?" He said , " Sir , I have no mother. ' The clergyman replied, "'Then you are going to your father;" but the boy answered, " No, sir, my father is just dead." " Where are you going, then ?" was the next question of the clergyman. " Why, sir," answered the little boy, " I have heard you say that God is the father of the fatherless, and that when our father and mother forsake us, then the Lord will take us up, and I have prayed to the Lord to be a father to me." (Hear, hear.) That poor child's prayer received an answer ; for the next day a kind lady, who had heard of these circumstances, sent for the boy and three others of his fatherless and mo therless sisters and brothers, took them all, and provided a home for them. (Hear.) We were now called upon to follow the steps of this good christian. He thought it quite unnecessary to enlarge upon the pleasure and the privilege there was in joining to aid such an object as this. He did hope that by the blessing of the Lord, the hearts of all pre sent would be inclined to this work, and that they would bear in mind what the rector had quoted—" Inasmuch as ye have done to the least of one of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Applause.) The resolution was then unanimously adopted. The Rev. FREDERICK BARKER moved the third resolu tion, which presented the thanks of the meeting to the ladies and to the gentlemen's committees. After having spoken of the valuable services rendered by each committee, and par ticularly by the ladies', the rev. gentleman said it afforded him great pleasure to testify to the efficiency of the religious instruction communicated to the children in this institution, as evinced by the manner in which they had answered the questions put to them at the annual examination. He was not present at that examination, but a friend of his who was, and who took great interest in the charity, had assured him that the answers of the children to the religious questions put to them, were most sa tisfactory, and that this part of their education had been carefully attended to. This, after all, was that part of their education which was, to them, the most important. It was the seed-time of their life ; and however necessary it might be to teach them to be good servants, and to make them valuable members of society in that station of life to which it had pleased God to call them, we should not dispute that it was of still greater importance that they should be brought up in the fear and the love of God, and be taught to keep themselves unspotted from the world. (Hear, hear.) This, he trusted, would ever be the object of the committee to be appointed at this meeting, and of their successors ; remembering that if they sought merely to make them useful members of society, without teaching them the fear of the Lord and without genuine religion, they would wretchedly fail in their duty towards them. But it was impossible they should do this. The reverend gentleman, after some further remarks on the efforts made by the ladies' committee, paid a high and deserved tribute to the exertions of Mr. Banner in this cause, and concluded by moving the resolution. The Rev. Mr. CARTER seconded the resolution ; and after the Rev. Rector CAMPBELL had eulogised the efforts of Mrs. Aikin in support of the charity, it was unanimously carried. On the motion of Mr. WILLINK, seconded by Mr. Bnowbra, the thanks of the meeting were voted to Mr. Ort, the surgeon, for his professional care and attention to the children of the institution. The committee of ladies and gentlemen for the management of the institution for the ensuing year was then appointed on the motion of Mr. BANNER., seconded by Mr. WILLINK. Mr. JOSHUA EDWAnDS said he had the greatest pleasure in moving the next resolution, which was that a vote of thanks be presented to Mr. liarmood Banner, for his zealous exertions in behalf of the charity as treasurer. Mr. BUCHANAN seconded the motion. _ _ _ The CHAIRMAN said he could not put this motion without adding his testimony to that already given of the value of Mr. Banner's services in the cause of this institution. He had done a great deal individually for it. It was principally through his means that the large . sum in the bank had been collected. (Hear, hear.) No doubt he would continue the same exertions in future, for he had the welfare . of the insti. tution much at heart ; and he was sure the meeting were only doing a gratifying thing to themselves, and the best they could for the charity, in requesting Mr. Banner again to accept the office of treasurer. (Applause.) The reverend chairman then put the motion, and it was carried ;}midst great applause. Mr. BANNER ' in reply, said, that so far from there being any di ffi culty in his mind to meet the wishes of the meeting, they had only done him justice, for he felt so warmly inte rested in the objects of the institution that he would gladly continue his services. He should be very glad—and he would not detain the meeting long—to explain oue mistake which had got abroad with regard to the institution, which he was afraid had operated in some measure to its prejudice. He had heard it once or twice mentioned, and after the com mon council had been kind enough to grant the land, one of the newspapers in commenting upon the grant said, that it was not only exclusive (which Mr. Campbell had answered, therefore he need not touch upon it) but that it was intended only for the children of respectable parents. It added— " aye, that 'a the word—' respectable.' ' Now the fact was, that the only qualification on the part of children for admis sion into this charity was destitution. Children who had not only lost their parents, but, (and the greatest possible care was taken to ascertain that) who had no friends, were the only objects of its care. Destitution was the only qualification required ; and he could not better illustrate this principle than by stating the circumstances of the two last cases which had come into the institution. Mr. Banner then described the circumstances of these cases, which were most affecting, and from them it was evident that the only qualification for admission is tution. In conclusion, he urged upon the meeting the ne cessity for exertion, in order to obtain sufficient funds taco plete the new building. It would cost £ 4OOO, eg nearly one half was in hand ; and surely, in a liketown thricsh, there would be no difficulty in raising the remai ning X town.2oo O When it was completed it would be an ornament He congratulated the meeting upon having obtai ned the a grant of land upon the principles and terms which the committee laid down, a result which was mainly owing to their excellent chairman, to whom he moved a vote of thanks. Mr. BROOKS briefly returned thanks, and the proceedings terminated about a quarter-past three o'clock. CORRESPONDENCE. LIVERPOOL DOCKS. TO THE SHIPOWNERS' ASSOCIATION. GENTLEMEN,—Having seen by the public press the deci sion of the Dock Committee respecting the plans submitted to their inspection, I am induced to offer the following re marks to your co ns id era ti on , f ee li n g, in conjunction with the inhabitants of Liverpool, that you are they who bear the burthen ; you, I say. should he consulted on matters of such importance to our to wn an d commerce . I having on a for mer occasion submitted Inv ',Wan, for inspection, cannot but entertain a hop e b u t that I have contributed towards the wishes of all who are interested in this roost important mat ter; with suc h i mpress i ons 1 cannot dispel from my mind the feeling that the same impartiality has not been displayed towards all the plans, otherwise wily prefer Mr. I, artleY's plan, in whicii there a re seven acres .!' , 86 yards of water, and 795 yards of quay, while mine has 10 acres 2583 yards of water, and 1403 y ar d s o f quay. According to the public prints this dock is to be proceeded with all possible despatch. Gentlemen, these docks will be decidedly worse than either the George's or Prince's Docks, they haing two-thirds land and one-third water, when the very opposite could he had, had not this design of a favoured individual been so readily adopted ; but this is not the only ill, for when the dock is perfected it will put a stop to all further improvement. Again, it will be worse than the Cobourg Dock, which has 5 feet of mud and 13 feet of water, instead of 18 feet of water and only one foot of mud, which could be obtained were my plans adopted. Thus being choked to a great extent, which prevents its being made available to the reception of vessels of the larger class, this obstruction will increase, and that rapidly, from the position of the bank in front of the dock, and will also cause the dredge to be continually in action the same as at present. This, in my opinion, is very unprofitable, for no sooner is the mud removed than the flow of the tide returns it again to the place from whence it was taken. Besides, we cannot object to the river steamers casting their cinders, &c. overboard when the surveyors set them an example. Should any of the Shipowners' Association feel disposed to inspect my plans, 1 shall be most happy to attend an appointment. I am, Gentlemen, Your very obedient and humble servant, HENRY GROVES. Eldon-place, V aux h all -road, Feb., 1842. _„___ OR THERN MECHANICS_ ' INSTITUTION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. A few evenings ago I was in company with some friends, when one in the company put the question, " What is a mechanic ?" I boldly enough said, " A workman." I was smartly contradicted by a gentleman, who stated that the word must have a wider signification. As a proof of this assertion, he pointed out the Northern Mechanics' Institu tion, Liverpool, which is formed of mechanics, where he stated that all sorts of theatrical amusements were carried on, such as the Irish Servant, the Chimney Sweep, Ventri loquism, &c., &c. He then went on to chew, that every mechanics' institution ought to be a theatre. My answer was, that there is a time for every purpose, thereby inferring that there should be recreation, but at the same time that there should be time and place. lam certainly of opinion that the Northern Mechanics' Institution is not a place for theatrical performances ; but, as I am only a novice in the matter, I would feel grateful for a few remarks from some of your mechanical correspondents ; and remain, sir, your humble and obedient servant, IGNORAMUS. [lt will probably gratify our correspondent to learn, that the Education Committee have resolved not to permit the North Corporation School to be any longer used by the Northern Mechanics' Institution.—En.] THE BUTTER TRADE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sin,—Having seen in a late number of your paper a letter signed George Casey, in which my character is assailed, I trust you will have the goodness through the same medium to permit me to defend myself against the scurrility and false hood which that document contains. He states that I was sent by the committee of merchants of Cork, in order to write home slanders which may appear in print, &c. To that assertion I give the most unqualified denial. I was not sent, nor would I have come, on such an errand. The resolution of the committee of merchants will speak for itself :—" Re solved,—That one of our butter inspectors, Mr. Richard Townly, be forthwith despatched to Liverpool to ascertain the extent of these practices, and to report to this board." How have I complied with that resolution? By simply sending the number of firkins, and the places to where shipped, the entire of which information I derived from public documents, to which every person may have access. Was this slander ? The veracious Mr. C. says it was. He has added that part of my business was to assure the simple folk of Liverpool that German butter was not Irish. My duty consisted in au endeavour to show, that butter produced in Hamburgh was made to appear as Cork butter, thereby calculated to bring Irish butter into disrepute, and to the injury of the fair trader in that article. If Mr. C. had no object in view but fair open dealing, why had he recourse to that which had no existence in truth ? I remain, dear sir, your obedient servant, RICHARD TOWNLY. THE KING OF PRUSSIA. ADDRESSES FROM THE LIVERPOOL PROTESTANT ASSOCIA TION, PROTESTANT OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, AND THE TOXTETH-PARK PROTESTANT OPERATIVE ASSOCIATION. SIRE,—We, the vice-presidents and committee, &c., of the Liverpool Protestant Association, most respectfully, and with heartfelt satisfaction, welcome your Majesty to the shores of England. _ _ Associated as we are for the maintenance of that best of all blessings, the Scriptural Protestantism happily established in this land, we cannot but look with peculiar thankfulness to the example which, by the grace of God, your Majesty has been enabled to exhibit in the eyes of all Europe; most devoutly praying, that He " by whom kings reign and princes decree justice" may continue to guide your Majesty's coun cils, and to crown with signal success whatever your Majesty shall undertake for the glory of His great name, and the pro motion of His holy cause. It has been your Majesty's happy privilege to devise, and to assist in the execution of, a noble project for the union of Christian churches and the effectual promotion of our high est interests, by establishing a Protestant bishopric in the holy city of Jerusalem ; and this we hail with more abundant thankfulness, since it includes that, without which all schemes for the prosperity of the universal church must be inefficient —the in-gathering of the lost sheep of the house of Israel to the fold of Christ. We bear in mind that your Majesty, treading in the steps of your royal father of happy memory, and in those of your august ancestors under whose pious care the Reformation was cradled in Germany, still extends a fostering hand over the.exiled Protestants of the Tyrol; and that your Majesty also continues to oppose with equal temperance and firmness the encroachments of foreign ecclesiastical aggression in your Majesty's dominions. It is on these grounds, Sire, that we avail ourselves of the present auspicious occasion to express our respect for your Majesty's character, our sincere attachment to your royal person, and our unbounded gratification at beholding your Majesty in the sacred and endearing character of sponsor to our beloved infant Prince of Wales. That the ties so happily formed may long endure, uniting Prussia with Great Britain on the firm foundation of our most holy faith ; and that the God of all grace may still guide, defend, and bless your Majesty with every temporal and spiritual blessing, is the unfeigned desire and prayer of [Here follow the signatures.] ANSWER. 4, Carlton-terrace, February 22, 1842. SlR,—Having had the honour to lay before his Majesty the King of Prussia the address voted by your society, I have received from his Majesty the gratifying commands to express to you the satisfaction his Majesty feels at the loyal and Christian sentiments embodied therein, and to thank you for the expressions of attachment and affection which it con tains. It is a source of high gratification to his Majesty to have joined the British church and nation in two such im portant and sacred, acts, as the extension of the church in foreign countries, and the imploring of the divine blessing upon the future ruler of that nation ; and it is his confident hope that this blessing will be alike upon the ruler and the nation. In thus executing his Majesty's orders, I beg to apologise for the delay caused by an indisposition from which I was suffering immediately after his Majesty's departure ; and have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient, humble servant, John Rigby, Esq. BUNSEN. Similar answers have been received to the addresses from the Liverpool Protestant Operative and Toxteth-park Pro testant Operative Associations, by Mr. Joseph Crisp, as chairman. THEATRZ•ROYAL. — Last evening Mr. J. S. Thorburne, the manager and lessee of the Belfast theatre, a gentleman well-known in the literary and medical circles of this town for his abilities, appeared as Huon, in Knowles' play of " Love." Miss Bennett was the Countess. The house was well attended, and very full at second price. Of Mr. Thor burne's acting we can speak praisingly. He showed a true knowledge of his author, and manifested energy and spirit where occasion required . it. He seems to possess a good acquaintance with the stage ; and after the first agitation was over, on seeing before him many " old familiar faces," he applied himself to the business of the play in a man ner that frequently drew forth applause. His great fault, arising, no doubt, for want of sufficient practice, is a free enunciation. Without for one moment comparing him to one or two we have been accustomed to see, in the character, we may pronounce it to be a ver creditable effort. Mr. Thorbourne will in time becom e a highly useful member, and if he studies hard an ornament to the stage : he possesses many of the requisites, a good voice, expressive features, and education. Miss Bennett occasionally shined as the countess, particularly in those pats where a lightness and grace are requisite; but in the he - alier and deeper portions, it was clear she had not physical strength to go through, with the idea she had herself conceived. Mr. Chaplin played Ulric in his usual singular manner, occasionally walking away from the person he was in conversation with, addressing apparently the prompter. Mr. Barton was sententatious as ever in the stupid lover of Catharine. The pantomime has lost none of his freshness, " it goes " as well as ever, and appears to de light yound and old. REMARKABL Y HIGH TIDES.—The highest conasteucitiv,e, tides of the present year at this port took place on n , „ ai l s Sunday, and yesterda ; the height, as indicated in !, 11 ',',', bes, Almanac, being respectively 21 feet 5 inches, 21 feet l"' and 20 feetlo inches. They, however, considerab l e these heights, the tidal water being thrown beyond its altitude in calms, by the Pr e l s _ i _ l e r a i n gales, from strong winds, in frequent squalls, and at twin 7 ( 5 9 r p e E: e il d i : nl Cs Sunday, in par the south west quarter of the compile. ticular, the height was thus increased bY_pra°tbaalbllytimfreosmint:tce! Mersey, —at almost level to three feet. About noon, the Me resting—now " brimful from brink to its banks, tossed into with the eye of the spectator on its rapid n inte river craft, presented a w n a d ve s s te o a f m g e r r e s a , t a s t i size, anchorand animated in h .r The sea, impatient of the Y m l odern science and enterprize sea-goer to the comparativel p ei i • e a r l of the outer quays, p rush inga mural truly boundaries magnifice magnificent i th appearance.swhich a ct: time of those landing ft om, or n d Considerable r portionsbasin, o f th C e o m ns a i hav d e s se ,v lined to atlh o ey u ai r ar port, ds nuvp ; r i : ni s e e e : o ve r several re s &c., ter. The damageable goods were, however, were under guava, and little or no injury was sus (aa liwparefeaution--a high tide being anticipated) on the h p i lr h e e d r lila :h i m e:q e a c u i r : k y i n s r g roundhbeynyneruksete'asmdoecrks., t o b le e su o a f, t:heshipping in the docks, elevated whole t e h showed bveustse t t beir hulls to great ad vantage e quays, and as the sailors would t t h h e e i ru walls usual level, th say, about in a lively manner, but „ loome d" very large. rocked Ihseindatmheasgeevebryalfohualsiinngs muchaboovveer and jamming was but trifling. On the west side of the Brunswick dock the whole of the inclined quay used for un loading timber was under water (in some parts to a depth of three feet), and some deals, and even balks, were floated up. We regret to add that the tide of Sunday, probably thrown up the sewers, and otherwise finding its way under ground. filled Several of the cellars under the warehouses in Strand street, and also those on the east side of the King's Dock. A block-maker's in the former, at the bottom of Red Cross street, the cellar under the premises of Mr. Pitt, wholesale paper dealer, and others, were flooded to a depth of about 24 feet. At the King's Dock considerable damage is done to sugars and several other goods in one of the cellars. • -:• . _-w;;_. , A