The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-12 00:00:00

PASTORAL Am SOCIETY.—Lord Cattorpe has 4esellted the office of president of the Birmingham Association of the Church Pastoral Aid Society, and has sent a donation of £2O in aid of its funds. The trustees of the late Earl of Dudley have forwarded to the Rev.' W. Dalton, in the name of Lord Ward, the sum of £2DO, in aid of the fund for building two new churches in Wolverhampton. COURTS FOR THE RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DESTOTtS will be hem, March 15, Horsham; Carmarthen, Lincoln ; 17, Nottingham, Preston; 18, Liverpool; 19, Cardiff, Derby; 20, Chester, Leicester. COMMITMENT.-At the Police-court yesterday, Edward Much was committed to take his trial at the sessions, on a charge of abstracting a cart load of manure, from the pre mises of Mr. Samuel Barron, of Gordon-street, without leave, and s e lli nz th e same f or 13S. to a person belonging to a 'arm i West Derby. PORTRXIT OF THE REV. HUGH M'NEILE.—It will be seen from an advertisement, that the portrait of the Rev. Hugh M`Neile, by Mr. Robertson, will remain on view at Mr. Crisp's office a few days longer. We recommend every Protestant not only to view the painting, but also to place his name' as a , subscriber to the engraving which will shortly be issued, in order that he may possess a striking likeness of this eminent divine. ST. HELEN'S PROTESTANT READING SOCIETY.—The inhabitants of St. Helen's, under the guidance and spiritual instruction of the aorthy vicar and his curate, have long been actively engaged in disseminating tracts and other publica tions inculcating sound Protestant principles, and in further ance of this laudable design have established a reading society, the annual meeting of which will, we understand, be held on Monday evening next, in the Sunday school room. SOIREES AT THE ROYAL INSTITUTION.—The last of these interesting and fashionable meetings will take place at the Royal Institution, on Tuesday next, when a lecture on the dress, furniture, and implements of uncivilised nations, will be delivered by the secretary of the St. Anne's-street Literary Institution. The evening's entertainments will be heightened by the performances of the Richardsons on the celebrated Rock Harmonicon. ARRIVALS FROM AMERICA—During the present week we have had two packet-ships from New York, both of which, the Westchester and England, have made extremely short passages. The next packet due is the Rochester, which would leave New York on the 25th ult. ; but, in all probability, be fore her arrival we shall receive intelligence of much later dates by the Boston and Halifax steamer Columbia, which would leave the former port on the Ist instant, and will, in all probability, make her appearance on Sunday. She will bring important news, shewing the feeling created by the despatches of Lord Palmerston carried out by the President. IRON STEAMER NEMESIS. — We have several times spoken highly of the steam 7 packet Nemesis, built by Mr. John Laird, of North Birkenhead, and we are glad to find our opinion of her good qualities borne out by the following ac count of her appearance in China, just received by the' over land mail :—" From private letters we learn that the alarm which 28 men-of-war, sailing about in idle parade, had failed to awaken, was at length aroused by the arrival of the Ne mesis, iron steamer, from England. The combination of anomalies that this vessel seemed to present had struck them with utter dismay. Here was a floating ship made of iron, yet of such light draught of water as to cross shallows on which their own cotton boats would have been in danger of grounding propelled, too, by the agency of fire against wind and tide ! !—Morning Herald : India News, March 10. The Great Liverpool performed the trip this time as fol lows :—lt left Southampton at 8 a.m. on the Ist of February, with the mails of the 31st of January ; arrived at Falmouth at half-past 2 a.m. on the 2d of February, and left at 3 p.m. same day, with the mails of the 30th only (the Southampton station enabling the post-office to despatch the mail next after that already sent to Falmouth) ; arrived at Gibraltar, after a bad passage, at 7 p.m. on the 9th of February, and sailed at 1 a.m. on the 10th, after six hours' stoppage ; arrived at Malta at 2 a.m. on the 14th; stayed 21 hours, and left at 11 p.m. on the same night, and arrived off Alexandria at 2 p.m. on the 19th February. The outworks of the paddle boxes suffered something in the heavy feather off Gibraltar, end the pasha's workmen executed the repairs with all the aid which his arsenal could affm d. THEATRE ROYAL.—During the last week we have had Shakspeare's finest plays peformed, and " shy houses" only to see them. " King John" was played ou Wednesday most admirably. Mr. Elton's Kiny John was truly an excellent impersonation. Vandenhoff's Faulconbridye gave us an ex cellent idea of the bold, dashing, and spirited soldier, while Hubert, in Mr. Stuart's hands, left us nothing to wish for. Miss Chaplin's Prince Arthur wanted feeling ; in the beau tiful scene with Hubert, she appeared only repeating, par rot-like what she had learned by note. Mr. Bland's Dau phin was tame and insiped. Austria, in Mr. Horn castle's hands, was pretty much as usual. Miss Clea ver, as Lady Constance played with spirit. Knowles's " Virginius" was magnificently done on Tuesday night. It was never better represented out of London. We can assure thosa who abstain from visiting the theatre at present that they are losing some great treats. We perceive that to-night Mr. Ball takes his benefit. So old a favourite and so first-rate an actor ought to be well supported. EXTRAORDINARY PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM DROWN ING.—For some weeks past there has been the most intense excitement relative to America and her relations with this country, and the gentlemen of the London press, eager to secure the earliest possible information, have, by authority. spared no pains or expense to obtain American papers, for the purpose of forwarding to the metropolis. On Tuesday night last, Mr. Revis (agent for the London Globe), Mr. Bean (proprietor of the Liverpool Albion, engaged for the London Times), together with other parties, took boats from the pier -head at eleven p.m., when, after a strong pull, they Succeeded in nearing the ship England, off Egremont. The night was unfavourable to the discovery of the vessel, but at length the England was seen, and the boats made to her. Oa coming alongside, Mr. Revis, in attempting to climb the vessel, missed his footing, and was percipitated under the a lip's stern. Fully fifteen minutes elasped before a boat from the England reached him, as he swam towards port. The event happening at midnight precluded the possibility of any assistance being procured. ELECTION OF AN HONORARY SURGEON TO THE NORTH DISPENSARY.—On Wednesday a general meeting of the governors of the Liverpool Dispensaries was held in the board room of the parish offices, Fenwick-street, for the pur pose of electing an honorary surgeon to the North Dispen sary, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Stubbs. W. P. Freme, Esq. occupied the chair. There were four candidates, Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Potter, Mr. Hutchinson, and Mr. Trench. The election commenced at eleven and terminated at three. Mr. Ferguson was proposed by Mr. James Bateson and se conded by Mr. William Fosberry ; Mr. Potter was proposed by Mr. Wilmer and seconded by Mr. Ellis ; Mr. Hutchin son was proposed by Mr. Robert Russell and seconded by Mr. Thomas Simpson; and Mr. Trench was proposed by Mr. Edmund Molyneux and seconded by Mr. John Cropper. At the close of the poll, the numbers stood as follow : For Mr. Ferguson. 316 For Mr. Hutchinson For Mr. Trench For Mr. Potter Mr. Ferguson was accordingly declared duly elected. THE HIGHEST TIDE IN TILE YEAR.—On Tuesday, at noon, our river presented a beautiful and animated appear ance. The tide, which was the highest of the present year, flowed to the height of 20 feet 6 inches. The day was bright and beautiful as sunshine and balmy air could make it, and the water scarcely rippled under the influence of the soft and pleasant breeze that brushed over its bosom. The piers were thronged with individuals who had wended their way to the water side expecting to witness a sight at once Hovel and extraordinary. In this anticipation, they were, however, disappointed, for the view, though delightful, had nothing in it that could, in these days, be termed wonderful. On Tues day, the " gentle Mersey" was in one of her best moods, bright with sunshine , and c alm, as if the tem p ests had never ruffled her breast. Vessels of all sorts and sizes were seen moving to and fro on every part of the river. Ships of large tonnage, with their sails swelling to thebreeze, passed slowly towards the mouth of the port, the smaller craft, of every de nomination, the humble river boat which skimmed lightly as a bird over the water, the ferry steamers with their paddles tearing up the foaming stream, the yacht with her white sails gleaming in the sun as she bent gracefully to the wind, and cutters, pilot-boats, flats, and sloops innumerable, ever vary ing in relative positions, gave a pleasing animation to the prospect. The steps on the piers were for the time useless. The steamers came up close to the parapet, and the passen gers were enabled to walk on board without hindrance. It appeared that numerous parties had made up their minds for short journeyings on the water, for not only were the packets filled with groups of holiday makers, but many of the smaller boats were in requisition, and the more ardent lovers of aqua tic excursions preferring wind to steam, launched into the current to enjoy the pleasures of a sail. LICENSED VICTUALLERS' ANNUAL BALL.—The Liver pool licensed victuallers' annual charity ball was held at the Town-hall, on Tuesday evening, under the patronage of the mayor and trustees of the society, consisting of John Bent, James Aspinall, James Brancker, R. Wo,idward, and R. Jones, Esos. Between eight and nine hundred ladies and gentlemen attended, who appeared to enjoy the festivities of the evening with all that hilarity and enthusiasm which dis tinguish convivial parties. Among the company present we noticed Sir Joshua Walmsley, several members of the town council, and varimo others of equal respectability. The rooms for tea, coffee, and refreshments were opened soon after nine o'clock, and remained open until half-past eleven, when the general refreshment rooms were thrown open. Mr. Horrebin s band attended in the two ball-rooms, and that of Mr. Stubbs played at the foot of the grand staircase. The dancing commenced shortly after eight o'clock, and was con tinued until about half-past three with spirit and animation, during which waltzes, quadrilles, gallopades, and country dances, were the order of the night. Mr. Aspinall kindly undertook the direction of the dances, and by his urbanity and attention, won for himself universalapprobation and ap plause. The refreshments were provided by Mr. Towers, of the Angel Hotel, and gave general satisfaction ; indeed, we are fully warranted in saying, that there was an unanimous expression of approbation at the manner in which Mr. Tow ers discharged the duty committed to his charge. It would be an unpardonable omission not to state that Mr. Hamer, of the York Hotel, (the chairman) and the committee, were 'le servinz of the highest meed of approbation for their unremit ting attention during the evening to please and gratify the company; and it is a fact, highly creditable to the society, that the proceeds. of the ball will be added to the sum of . £lOOO already set apart for promoting its charitable institu tions. The comp an y se p arated at four o'clock, in the utmost harmony and good fellowship. DENSE FOG ON TUE MERSEY.---011 Wednesday, after a fine, clear, sun ny morning and foreno on , a f og set i n a b out half-past three o'clock from the we s t war d , w i th a cold, raw atmosp h e re, and soon became so dense, that the passage across the Mersey by the river steamers, to and from the several ferries ou the Cheshire shore, became difficult and even hazardous. The compass became as necessary to the helms man, as on the darkest night " on ocean's wide expanse." The greatest caution was required to avoid collision, not only with other vessels under sail or steam, but with the numer ous craft, large and small, at anchor in various parts of the route. Vessels could be seen at only a very short distance, and the optical effect of the mist was such that, when first descried, they appeared to be a long way off, so that they neared with alarming rap idity ; it was either by " h ar d s port !" or " hard a-starboard !" as the case might be ; and even then there, were " hair-breadth 'scapes" from destruc tive contact. The passengers in some few instances became a little alarmed ; but a good look-out was kept, and caution used in the reduction of speed, s o that happily no accident occurred. After sunset the fog still continuing, bells and trumpets were put in requisition, and the commingled tink. ling of the former, and the braying of the later, from mouths ". all unused to the playing mood, bad a novel and some what ludicrous effect. The gas-lights on the quays were not disguishable until pretty proximate; and the shore and the vessels near it not being easily recognised in making a land fall, the question of " What vessel is that. or " What light is that ?' was frequent, and was responded to in the calmness of the night, by voices here and there, so that the respective captains were made aware of the precise spot they had reached, and steamed on cautiously, or relaxed, till they reached the landing-place in safety. Some of the steamers overshot, or brought up short of their places of debarkation on the Cheshire shore. No lights could be seen on either side from a considerable breadth in the middle of the river, all objects being as effectually hid in the mist, as if they were enveloped in impenetrable darkness. In the outward channel the danger to the mail steamers and other vessels mu st have been still more imminent, but we have heard of no casu alty. Such fogs are very unusual at this early period of the year. After midnight the whole began to disperse, and yis terday was beautifully clear and warm. IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING, iGAINST THE INTRODUCTION OF THE POOR LAW INTO LIVERPOOL, Yesterday a most important public meeting of rate-payers, or Special General Vestry, was convened in St. Nicholas's Church, by the churchwardens and overseers, in compliance with the following requisition, signed by ninety-three of the most respectable firms and individuals in the town : " To the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Parish of Liverpool. " Gentlemen,—Mr. Mott, the poor-law commissioner, having given the Select Vestry notice that it is intended to introduce the new poor-law into Liverpool immediately after Easter, we, the undersigned, being rate-payers of this parish, request that you will call a Special Vestry, to take into con sideration the propriety of adopting such measures as may prevent the introduction of this act into the parish. " Liverpool, March 4, 1841." The meeting was called for one o'clock, and about that time the church was almost crowded. The Rev. JONATHAN BROOKS, senior rector of the parish, took the chair. Mr. LOWNDES, the vestry clerk, read the requisition, as it appeared in our last number. The requisition, he added, stated that Mr. Mott, the assistant poor law commissioner, had given the Select Vestry notice that the New Poor Law would be introduced into this parish after Easter; but since that had been printed, the Vestry had received the warrant of the poor law commissioners, constituting this parish an union after the 25th inst. (Hear, hear). The CHAIRMAN said the meeting had heard the report read under which the churchwardens and overseers had con vened the rate-payers, for the purpose of affording them au opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the introduc tion of the New Poor Law into Liverpool. He begged leave to remind the meeting that it was the law of the land—(hear, hear)—and that their principal object must be directed, if they thought it right, to get an alteration in, or exemption from, it ; but that there was not a question of its being the law. (Hear, hear). It was absolutely the law, and as such they were bound to obey it—(hear, hear) ; but if they thought it unnecessary in this parish, they might take such legal steps as might be found useful in preventing its introduction. He should now be glad to hear some of those gentle! .^n who had signed the requisition, and who were prepar,... l . to recommend some measures to the adoption of the meeting. Mr. WOTHERSPOON moved the first resolution, which declared in effect that since the introduction of Sturges Bourne's act into Liverpool the assessment to the poor-rate, and the relief of the poor, had been productive of great satis faction to the parish at large. In moving this resolution he would mention a few of the reasons which appeared to him most cogent for wishing to prevent the introduction of the New Poor Law into this parish. He agreed with the Rev. Chairman that it was the law of the land, and that if the Commons chose to enforce it in Liverpool they had the power. His object, therefore, would simply be to place before the commissioners such reasons as appeared to him ought to induce them to waive still longer that power which they had waived for seven years, ever since the passing of the. Act. The Poor Law Act came into force in 1834; and since that time the Commons had not thought fit to apply it to Liverpool. (Hear). And be had reason to believe that they had not done so because, both from information which had been transmitted to them, and from their own observa tion,—some of them having seen the system in operation,— they had not thought it necessary to extend to Liverpool the provisions which they had extended to other parts of the country. To show the working of the present system he should he should have to trespass upon the time of the meet ting with a few details. In the year 1819 Mr. Sturges Bourne's Act was passed to amend the laws for the relief of the poor, and under that act the Select Vestry of Liverpool was established. He should enter into a few details to show the working of the system under the old and new law. In 1820 the number of assessme.ts in the parish was 21,053 for 1562 paupers in the workhouse, and out-door relief for 3223 people. The expenses of that support to the poor were in that year £60,630. The rate for the relief of the poor was then 3s. Bd. in the pound. The act came into force the year when Mr. Benson and Mr. Crag were overseer and church warden ; audit went on practically and successfully in reduc ing the expenditure of the parish for the relief of the poor, and yet steadily granting increased relief to the necessitous poor of the town. In 1829 the number of assessments were 27,023, being an increase of 6000, and the population of the town no doubt had increased in the same proportion. In that year the number in the poor.house was 1553, and out-door relief was administered to 1291 persons, the Select Vestry being empowered in the administration of relief to the poor, to extend it to the idle and dissolute poor, and to those who were real objects of charity, to the latter of whom, only, he believed relief ought to be extended. The expenditure that year for the poor upon the increased asess ment was £39,684 against £60,630, which it was in 1820. (Hear.) The system had gone on working much in the same way up to the present year. In the year 1839, ending June, 1840, the number of assessments was 35,345, being 14,000 more than there were in 1820. The expense of maintaining the poor that year—during which there were 1804 inmates in the workhouse, and relief was administered to 2207 outdoor poor—amounted to £45,861, or is. sd. per head. (Hear, hear.) He need not say more for the beneficial working of the system under which the town had been governed during the last 20 years, for it shewed that whilst an increase to the relief of the poor had been progressive the dimunition of rates had also been progressive. He held in his hand a table of the parochial rates of Liverpool for several years before the introduction of Sturges Bourne's act, and it, perhaps, would be profitable to read it. In years 1814, 1815 and 1816, the poor's-rate was 2s. 11d. in the pound upon an assessment averaging £550,000. In 1818 the rate was 4s. 10d. upon an assessment averaging £580,000. In 1820 the rate was 3s. Bd. upon an assessment averaging £555,000. Now he ven tured to say that the really.deserving poor were not at that period relieved to the same extent as they were now. A vast deal of money raised for their relief was given away in discriminately to all, and the consequence was that the poor's rates were rapidly increasing, and becoming an absolute nuisance. But since the introduction of Sturges Bourne's act, the rates had been reduced to 2s. 6d., 25., Is. 9d., and for the last three years to ls. sd. ' which they were now upon a reduced nominal assessment. Surely if anything ought to satisfy the inhabitants who contributed to those rates, it ought to be such a state of things as was now laid before them. All the facts he had stated were taken from offi cial documents, and any gentleman who chose to take the trouble might go through those documents and verify them. They had gone on for twenty years under this system, and for the last seven years, as he had said, before the poor-law commissioners had not thought fit to extend the poor-law system to Liverpool. (Hear, hear.) Why they were now coming forward to do so was more than he could tell, he should indeed be glad to hear any reason assigned for their interference, because there was no com plaint from the community of increased expenditure, or from the poor of want of attention or of comfort, and indeed there had been less of them than there ever had been any time within his knowledge. (Hear, hear.) As to the working of the new poor-law here, he could not venture to prophesy, but as far as we bad hitherto seen its operation in large parishes, we had heard nothing but complaints of it, both as to its increased expenditure and as to the sufferings of the poor. He was, therefore, curious to know or to hear some reason assigned why it should be introduced into Lverpool. He was old. fashioned enough to be inclined to " leave well alone ;" or, to use language much more appro priate, he would rather —Bear those ills we have, Than rush to others we know not of. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He doubted very greatly whether the poor under the new law would be so efficiently or so cheaply provided for as they were now. In proof of one part of its working which he most objected to, was that which withheld all relief to those in immediate want, except upon the condition of their going into the workhouse. In fact, it drove all the poor of the parish into the workhouse, and it separated husband and wife. He should conclude by simply moving the resolution. Mr. PRITCHARD seconded the resolution. He said that he was an inhabitant of Kirkdale, in the parish of Walton, and he would state some facts to show the operation of the new poor-law upon that township. In 1837 the cost of the poor in the township of Kirkdale was £l7O. In 1838, during part of which it was under the new poor law, the cost of the poor was £lB3. In 1839, during the entire of which year it was included within the union of West Derby, the cost of the poor was £243 4s. 4d. In 1840 it was £302 6s. 4d. In 1841, that is up to the present day, it was £423 19s. (Hear.) The meeting must recollect that Kirkdale was but a very 'small town3hip; that the number of its poor was com paratively very limited, and that, besides these amounts, casual relief had been administered to the poor by private subscriptions to the amount of between £lOO and £1.50. It appeared that by what bad already been done, that the an nual expense would still go on increasing, not that pauperism was increasing in the neighbourhood of Kirkdale, but merely from the altering of the system. He begged to seoond the resolution. ,Mr. EARLE had had a great deal of conversation with a relative of his, who perhaps had had more to do with the poor-law than Mr. Wotherspoon, with the poor-law commis sioners, and with the practical working of the system. He did not know that there had been any complaints made by the poor of those parishes where it had been introduced, that justice had not been done to them, and he was sure that, generally speaking, the system had economized the funds. It did not follow that the funds would not be equally well administered under the Door-law commissioners as under the select vestry. VOICE.—Would they do it better? Mr. EARLEr—That remained to be proved. It would not be better by a statement of that gentleman, nor the worse either. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) The CHAIRMAN begged that Mr. Earle might be allowed to proceed. Mr. EARLE proceeded to say that the poor law commis sioners were constituted judges, as it were, of what was going on in the parish, and that they saw things a great deal clearer than the people who were connected with the parish. (Great uproar.) Mr. Wotherspoon had asked why the poor-law com missioners were introducing the poor-law here. If he were asked why they were coning down litre he should say that was a tender subject, but he would reply it was in conse quence of the opposition made to the warehouse project last year, of the parish money having been illegally spent in that opposition. He really believed that to be the reason why the new poor-law had heen introduced here. He was very glad to see it introduced, because he thought it would be properly administered. He did not mean to say that the law had not been properly administered hitherto, but he meant to say that the poor.law commissioners would admi nister it much better, It was impossible to prevent them coming down here, they had issued their orders, and the in troduction of the law was merely carrying their orders into effect, and he thought that the parishioners would be occupy ing their time much better if they would meet and see how they could carry the new machinery into effect more benefi cially to themselves and to the poor. He did not wish to mix the question up with party at all. (Laughter.) Gentle men laugh, but he should maintain his own opinion. He had alluded to a relation of his, who was not, he was sorry to say, of the same way of thinking in politics as himself, but who was a strenuous advocate of the poor-law. That relative had mentioned to him an instance, in a very low part of Birmingham, where its introduction had effected much improvement in the place by its incorporation with the union of Aston, and which formed a striking contrast to the manner in which the old laws were administered in Birming ham. He bad now answered Mr . Wothe rspoon's question why the poor-law commissioners had come down here ; all that he wished for was for fair play to be shown to all parties, the poor as well as the rich. He should now sit down. The CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Earle if he meant to move an amendment? Mr. EARLE.-Oh, I am not going to make an amendment; the observations I made were merely in answer to Mr. Wotherspoon. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) The CHAIRMAN said it was quite right for the meeting to hear all parties, and he was much obliged to the g entleme n for what they had stated, but it was for the meeting to take these measures which they might deem beneficial to the parish : as Mr. Earle had not moved an amendment, he should put the motion. Mr. BIRKETT wished first to make a few observations in answer to Mr. Earle, but The CHAIRMAN said he was rather late, and he had better defer them.—Mr. Birkett acquiesced. The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously. Mr. A. SMITH, jun. said, that as one of the requisitionists he had the honour to propose for the adoption of the vestry, the next resolution. He felt that no case whatever had been shown for the introduction of the new poor-law into this parish;. and he thought that it bad been clearly made out by Mr. 'Wotherspoon, that their parochial affairs were and had been conducted in a manner which had been satisfactory to the parishioners at large. The rate was a very moderate one ; and the manner in which the money collected had been distributed to the poor, appeared in every way satisfactory. There was not the slightest complaint from any party, of non-attention to the poor. This being the case, why were they to be meddled with at all ? Mr. Earle had stated the reasons why the commissioners were about to introduce the new poor-law. (Hear, hear.) lie (Mr. Alexander Smith) was not aware before that any such reasons existed, nor did he know what had been going on : but it appeared that the new law was about to be introduced, from the circumstance of an opposition having been raised by the parish to the dock bill introduced by the trustees of the Liverpool docks into the House of Commons- __ Mr. EARLE (very warmly)—Allow me to make one obser vation. (Much uproar). It was only an explanation he wished to offer. (Continued uproar). The CHAIRMAN told Mr. Earle that his interruptions were irregular, and that he had better hear Mr. Smith out. Mr. SMITH continued : Mr. Earle certainly had stated this to be the reason for the introduction of the New Poor Law. Now the result of the opposition made by the church wardens last year, to the bill introduced by the Dock Trustees, would be found to have been most beneficial to the parish. The Trustees of the Liverpool Docks endea voured to obtain warehouses , round the docks exempt from the payment of parochial rates. Owing to the opposition of the parish this clause had been withdrawn, and the parish, consequently, benetitted to that extent. It must, therefore, be evident to every individual that so •far from that being a good reason for the poor law commissioners introducing the poor law into Liverpool, that it was no reason at all. The churchwardens were perfectly warranted in the course they bad taken, and the outlay of money thereby caused had 'been very beneficial to the interests of the pa rishioners at large ; that point was therefore settled. Mr. Earle had also stated that it would be advantageous to this parish that there should be a controlling power in London totally unconnected with the parishioners of Liverpool. That appeared to him (Mr. Smith) a very strange doctrine for Mr. Earle to advocate, more especially as only a few days ago he was a party in the Town Council who raised his voice against the Marquess of Normanby's Drainage Bill, and asserted that it was not fair or right that the provisions of that act should be applicable to the parish of Liverpool. Mr. EARLE : I deny it. Mr. SMITH : Mr. Evans brought forward a motion to that effect. Mr. EARLS : I an► not bound by what Mr. Evans Mr. SMITH But you agreed to it. (Cheers). He could not comprehend why the same argument should be applicable in the one case and not in the other; why Mr. Earle should say that Lord Normanby's act was not to be applicable to Liverpool, because the commissioners carrying it into effect resided in London; and on the other hand, how he could argue that commissioners residing in London were the best persons to manage the parochial affairs of Liverpool. It struck him (Mr. Smith) that notwithstanding what Mr. Earle had said, that they, the parishioners, were best able to manage their own affairs themselves ; and that not every trifling thing they wished for, or every trifling appointment they might desire to mike, should first be transmitted through an as sistant commissioner to the board in London, and month after month probably elapse before an answer could be ob tained. In illustration of this he would mention a fact. About siz or seven months ago, an application was made through the board of guardians for the West Derby union, for additional assistance, and making complaint at the same time of the manner in which the assessments and books were kept. Would it believed that they had not yet received any answer from the board although six or seven months had expired ? They were now obliged to go on, in conse quence, in the best way they could, and to put up with the grievance ; for nothing had been done, and as far as he could see, nothing was likely to be done. (Hear, hear.) He would also state another fact, which had come to his knowledge yesterday. They had beard that attempts had been made to circumscribe the rights of the parishioners in various ways. He had been informed by a gentleman that it was intended to withdraw the subscriptions at present granted by the pa rish to the dispensaries ; and he understood that the com missioners, or their assistant commissioner, had so far matured his plans, that he had one which he conceived would obviate the necessity for those subscriptions. The plan was this, that the parish of Liverpool should be di vided into six districts, and to farm out tt? any persons who would undertake it, the dispensing of medicines and medical attendance to those unfortunate wretches who claimed our sympathy and support, at the rate of £5O per annum each. (Hear, hear.) Fifty pounds a year for medicine and medical attendance, to each of the six districts in the parish of Li verpool ! He should be glad to know what sort of medicine and medical attendance the town were to have? A Vozcz.—ls it true? Mr. SMITH.-11 was so stated. (Loud cries of " Yes, yes, it is true.") It had been stated to him that the number of poor people sent by the parish to the dispensaries, amounted to upwards of 42,000 a year. Having stated these facts, he had great pleasure in moving the second resolution. Mr. TINNE seconded the resolution. Whatever the result of the meeting might be in its general effect upon the poor law commissioners, he was extremely happy in being able to give his opinion upon the application of this act to Liver pool. Having been one of the churchwardens three years ago, he had had an opportunity of witnessing the operation of the present system ; and he would recommend an exami nation into it by the parishioners at large, to satisfy them, as it had him, of its effectiveness. He was most happy in seconding the resolution. (Cheers.) The VESTRY CLERK (Mr. Lowndes) wished to call the attention of the vestry to an observation, to the effect that £5O per annum was the amount to be paid for medical relief in each district. It was mentioned to the Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, at one of the meetings with him, that £9OO were paid in annual subscriptions to the Infirmary, the Northern Hospital, and the Dispensaries, and he was asked in what manner he would efficiently supersede such an arrangement ? lie replied that there might be an equally, if not a more efficient system substituted at a less cost. Manches ter he said was divided into so many districts : to each dis trict were attached three individuals, a visitor, a relieving officer, and a surgeon, that the surgeon received £5O a year, which the assistant commissioner considered a small sum, but that the amount would rest with the Board of Guardians. This was the substance of the asssistant commissioner's ob servation ; and he added that it would be illegal to grant the money of the parish either to the Dispensaries, the Infirmary, or the Hospitals, but that this would be a legal mode of substitution. A VOICE.—In his opinion it would. Mr. EARLE wished to make a remark or two in conse quence of what Mr. Smith had said. A great many things frequently passed in council, to which he was not always alive. He had had a great deal of conversation with Mr. Okill on the subject of the Marquis of Normanby's drainage bill, and lie appealed to that gentleman to say iflie had not always been in favour of the bill. If anything therefore had occurred in the council like that which Mr. Smith had men tioned, be (Mr. Earle) could not have been paying attention to it. Certainly he had not opposed the bill in any way. As to what he had said about the poor-law commissioners com ing down here, it was merely surmise ; he had merely ex pressed his own belief that the money of the parishioners had been illegally spent, and that they had interfered in conse quence. Ile did not doubt the good working of the present system, but he thought it might be improved under the su perintendence of the poor-law commissioners. Very few in that meeting had a perfect knowledge of the working of the new poor law. A PARISHIONER, (throwing a newspaper upon the table) said—There is a case of destitution and starvation to death under the new poor law mentioned in that paper, if you will read it. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Mr. EARLE, with regard to the management of their own affairs, would contend that they would be the managers of them under the new poor law. There was a certa n act of parliament stating what should be done and what should not be done for the poor. The parishioners were obliged to abide by that act of parliament. One clause in that act he supposed was—that they should not give money away to the dispensaries. Now the board in London—as he had said be fore—were the judges, like the judges at assize, upon this act of parliament in the event of any dispute : the parishion ers had the management of their own officers, and they pre scribed to those others what they should do and what they should not do. (Cries of " No, no.") A PARISHIONER said the Board of Guardians had no controul over their officers. Whenever their officers were once appointed, they lost all power over them ; it rested with the commissioners in London Another PARISHIONER inquired whether the vestry were willing to hear the case of destitution read, which was men tioned in the newspaper upon the table? (Cries of " No, no.") Mr. BIRKETT said it was not his intention, or the inten tion of his colleagues, to have interfered with the proceedings of the meeting ; and he should not have risen, had it not been in order to make some remarks in answer to Mr. Earle's statement, that there had been jobbing by certain parties to spend the parish money for their own private pur poses, and not for the public advantage. The parishioners of Liverpool during last year had been called together on three several occasions, and they had never acted in one single instance upon the offensive. They had always acted upon the defensive, whether the council had failed in their duties to the parishioners, or whether the council had al lowed other parties to attack them. In no other instances had the parishioners interfered. And in no instance had the select vestry acted without calling the parishioners together, and acting according to their directions. The largest mi nority which had occurred in the select vestry upon any mat ter for calling the parishioners together was the number seven in the opposition to the Dock Bill. On the matter of the Inland Bonding Bill, which did not affect the owners of pro perty more than any other men in trade, the minority was only four. (Hear, hear.) And with regard to the Gaol Bill, in consequence of Mr. Clarke having stated, on the authority of the present mayor, Mr. Bolton, that the council were going to relieve the town of a rate which cost them £14,000, the select vestry only took a conditional direction from the ratepayers. If Mr. Clarke had not made that statement, and which, indeed, Mr. Holmes contradicted, the direction of the ratepayers would have been positive, whereas it was only conditional. He had not the slightest hesitation in saying, that the select vestry had been the best friends to every man in the parish, whether he were an owner or as merely con nected with the trade of the town. As to Mr. Earle saying that the select vestry had acted illegally, he would ask, where was the use of having a public body at all if they were not to do the work of the great mass of the people? Why should they have the expensive machinery of a Town-council, or of a parish board, if they were not to stand up for the town when the interests of the town were attacked ? He (Mr. Birkett) would always stand up for the town, but he would do it in a proper way. He had never done, and would never do, anything illegally. As one of the parties baying power to act under the advice of the vestry clerk, he would further mention, that not one farthing of the expenses of himself had been paid out of the parish funds, but that he was nearly £lOO out of pocket in endeavouring to protect the interests of the town. (Hear, hear.) Mr. KNAPPER thought that since the parish had interfered on this matter of the new poor law, they ought to interfere with the Marquis of Normanby's drainage bill. (Cries of " No, no," and " Question.") The CHAIRMAN said that was not the question, and that if it was thought desirable to discuss that bill, it must be done so at a special vestry. Mr. WOTHERSPOON said, in consequence of what Mr Earle had said— Mr. EARLE to reply. The CHAIRMAN.—That will depend upon what comes from him. (Laughter.) Mr. WOTHERSPOON.—Mr. Earle had kindly informed the meeting of the reasons which had induced the poor law com missioners to come down to Liverpool-- Mr. EARLE.—I said, in my opinion. Mr. WOTHERSPOON repeated that Mr. Earle had 'kindly said that application had been made by certain parties to the commissioners, to bring forward the new poor law as a pu nishment for the contumacy of the vestry in having op posed a certain ain.— The CHAIRMAN thought that Mr. Wotherspoon had mis apprehended Mr. Earle. Mr. EARLE.—Bear the chairman, who denies that I said so. I deny that I said so. The CHAIRMAN repeated that Mr. Earle did not go so far as that. Mr. WOTHERSPOON did not mean to quote the exact words, but to give rather the spirit of what Mr. Earle had said, but if he had misunderstood Mr. Earle he was very sorry. Mr. EARLE.—Sir, I am much obliged to you for your apology. Mr. WOTHERSPOON continued. Mr. Earle had given reasons for his opinions on the introduction of the new poor law, and he was obliged to him for them inasmuch as they —Mr. Chairman, I hope I shall have a right seemed to contain a great deal of truth. Mr. Earle's opinion then was, that we were to have the new poor-law because the parish had opposed the corporation. He hoped the parish would continue to defend their own rights and interests ; and if they thought the interests of the corporation or the dock trustees were in opposition to those of the parish, be trusted that individuals of sufficient spirit would be found to defend those rights. Mr. Earle had said that the new poor-law was the law of the land and that the parishioners had nothing to do but support it. He agreed with him that the commis sioners had power to inflict this law upon the parish, but inasmuch as they had suspended its operation for seven years, he thought there were good grounds that they should not have introduced it at all, and that they had not been induced to introduce it for the sake of the interests of the town or the poor, but to enable a certatn political party to acquire more influence. (Hear, hear.) _ _ Chairman, I must be allowed to reply Mr. EARLE to this. Mr. BUSHEL to Mr. Earle. Mr. Eau.LE.—Very well. But I think I ought to speak now Mr. BuSHELL.-1 thought you would like to reply to both at once. (Laughter.) Mr. EARIAL—Yes. I like killing two birds with one stone. Mr. BUSHELL then addressed the meeting. He had not intended to have said a single word, but after what had fallen from Mr. Earle he could not avoid thinking that the party with whom Mr. Earle usually acted must feel much obliged to him for coming there, inasmuch as be had made some extraordinary statements, which perhaps, had he consulted them would have been kept back. He (Mr. Bushell) thought the vestry were nevertheless much obliged to Mr. arle for having come, because, if he had not been there, they would not have had half the fun which had been' amusing them for the last half hour. With regard to the observation he had made, he (Mr. Bushell) must say that Mr. Earle had stated that the reason why the poor-law commissioners were bring ing the poor-law into operation here, was because the vestry had had the misfortune to offend the council in oppposing a certain bill. Now he thought that this would throw some light upon the real reasons why the poor-law commissioners were, after such a lapse of time, bringing the new law into operation. He thought he saw the whole course and progress of the matter. He thought that if the vestry and parishioners at large had entertained similar opinions to the council and the leading members of the opposite party, we should not have heard a single word about the introduction of the bill into Liverpool. He should not be surprised if the leaders of Mr. Earle's party had not been very active indeed in inducing the poor-law commissioners to put the act into operation, simply because they were jealous of the power which the parish possessed, and of that power being in the hands of those whose political opinions were adverse to their own. (Hear, hear.) H e was satisfied that the Town-council of Liverpool, or rather the majority in it, looked with a jealous eye upon the power of the parishioners in vestry assembled. He did not know whether Mr. Earle had before attended a vestry meeting— Mr. EARLE.—No. • —But I have first something to say in reply Mr. BUSHELL.-He did not think, then, that Mr. Earle could have expected to have found such a conservative spirit amongst the parishioners, not only with regard to general poli tics, but with regard to our ancient institutions, whether paro chial or general, as that which now existed. Could it be supposed that if this act were brought in operation, it would benefit the parish in a financial point of view ? (No, no.) Could it be supposed that it would benefit the poor? (Con tinued cries of " No, no.") Then he would ask, for whose benefit was it to be introduced? A PARISHIONER.—For Sir Joshua Walmsley's. (Loud laughter.) Mr. BUSHELL would not say who had taken an active part in bringing the poor-law here, but he would say that it could not have been introduced to benefit the parish in a financial point of of view, for it could be proved, from a great number of statements, that in places where it had been intro duced, that the amount of expenditure under it had been in creased fourfold—(hear, hear,)—and certainly it could not be for the benefit of the poor, for we knew that under this system the poor man had been more oppressed, and that poverty and misery had been made a crime and punished as such. His own opinion was, that it was impossible for this act to work well in Liverpool. He did not think that it could succeed with such an enormous pauper population as we had from the sister country. How was it possible, he would re peat, that it could be brought into operation here ? Mr. Earle had told the meeting that gentlemen who lived at a distance, who were strangers io the town and who knew nothing of our population, were much more competent to manage our parochial affairs than we who were upon the spot! That seemed to him a most extraordinary proposition for any gen tleman to make. If he (Mr. Bushell) wished to manage his own affairs well, he was always upon the spot. He would cer tainly not send to London for a man to manage his business, and if they would not adopt that rule in their own private affairs, why should they in those of the parish ? (Hear, hear.) He would not detain the meeting further, as most probably they would be desirous to hear Mr. Earle's reply. Mr. EARLE.—That was very good indeed. (Laughter.) He never heard Mr. Bushell get up to make a speech in his life but he began in the old way, that he did not intend to speak, and he had never known him—when he had an oppor tunity to speak—keep silent. (Loud laughter.) Really, Mr. Bushell's eloquence had almost made him (Mr. Earle) forget what he was going to say. (Continued laughter.) He begged distinctly to state upon his word and honour, that he knew nothing whatever of any application being made to the poor law commissioners for the introduction of the law. Mr. BUSHELL.—I do not think you do. Mr. EARLE had merely expressed his opinion that such was the case ; and the opinions he had given as to the opera tions of the new law were those of a near and dear relative, who was very far from thinking in politics as he thought, and who he should be very glad to see a good radical. That man had devoted the whole of his time, night and day for four years, to the subject. He was his own brother. He was not desirous of praising him, but of justifying himself; and lie would refer those gentlemen who were sceptical on certain points of the New Poor Law to him, and he would afford them every information. A PARISHIONER enquired whether this gentleman was Mr. Charles Earle ? Mr. EARLE said No. It was Mr. Richard Earle, his brother ; Mr. Charles Earle was his cousin. He wished they would consult Mr. Richard Earle upon certain points on which certain persons in the meeting had laid down the law so clearly, because it was just possible he whould upset them. (Laughter). Mr. THOMAS SMITH opposed the introduction of the law, and said the real reason for it was the necessity fur the corn misAoners and assistant commissioners to do something for their salaries. He was not a rate-payer certainly, but in the election of guardians he should at least have half-a-dozen votes. Mr. BIGHAM contended that Mr. Smith had no right to address the meeting, inasmuch as he was not a rate-payer. Mr. SMITH appealed to the Chairman to confirm him in the fact that in the Union in which they both resided, the rates in all the townships bad not been increased. Mr. BIGHAm then addressed the vestry at very consider able length in support of the law being introduced, and con tended that the Select Vestry had misappropriated the funds of the parish by paving the expenses of three deputations to London. He was - proceeding in this strain, when he was stopped by the Chairman for irregularity. The resolution was then put and carried with only two dis sentients. Mr. SANDS moved the next resolution, and observed that the meeting had heard quite enough to convince them that if it were possible to induce the poor-law commissioners to suspend their intention of introducing the law, it was most desirable the attempt should be made. Mr.-Sands concluded by moving the resolution to this effect, and which also ap pointed Messrs. Birkett and Tinne a deputation to proceed to Somerset House. Mr. RICHARD WILLDING BATESON seconded the reso lution. He said that he attended this meeting in order to show that the commercial community felt an interest in this question. That part of the community certainly felt that the introduction of the new poor law would be an evil to this parish. In seconding the resolution, he should endeavour to confine himself to the question, for much, which was per fectly foreign to it, had been introduced. The meeting had not been convened, as one gentleman had said, in that sacred edifice, to have half an hour's fun, or to discuss the intended dock bill, or to promote the warehouse interest ; but they had met to consider whether it would be for the interest of the parish to oppose the introduction of the new poor law— whether sufficient ground could be shown to the commission ers to induce them to allow the parishioners to manage their own affairs. ( Hear, hear.) Much had been said, from which he differed, as to the operation of the law ; but before he proceeded further, he would advert to the circumstances which called it into existence. The meeting were aware that, in passing through the legislature. it had the support of men of all parties, including our leading statesmen, and that it had been called into existence by abuses in the adminis tration of the old law, especially in the agricultural districts, where a system so bad had got into operation, that the pay ment of wages was frequently made out of the poor rates. (Hear, hear.) The bill, then, had been brought in as a mea sure of relief—(hear, hear) ;—and he differed with Mr. Wo therspoon inasmuch as he thought it bad worked well in those districts ; but, at the same time, he was convinced it would be an abuse in towns circumstanced as Liverpool was, with so many various interests to conciliate. For a long series of years our parochial affairs had been managed by a select vestry, and he could not see how their management was to be improved upon. Some portions of the bill might probably be effective, but many others were decidedly wrong —the workhorse system for instance. What a contrast would the existing workhouse system afford to that under the bill ! The relief of the distressed poor was another point in which the bill would have a harsh operation here. The question, however, for the consideration of the vestry was this—could they make out a case strong enough to convince the commissioners that the parish was under a better system now than it would be under the new law? (Hear, hear.) With these remarks he begged to second the motion. Mr. RIEKETT, as his name had been proposed, altogether unknown to him, as one of the deputation, begged to say he wished some other parishioner had been selected, as he had only just returned from London, where he had been laid upon the bed of sickness. Independently of this, there was one subject which he thought the vestry ought to look boldly in the face—namely, that there were, at the present moment, 1900 paupers in the workhouse—(hear, hear)—and that to accommodate the increased numbers some of the weaving shops had been fitted up with beds. (Hear.) The select vestry had power to give outdoor relief; and it had been a question with the select vestry whether some consideration should not be paid to those who contributed to the poor rates—in fact whether it would not be cheaper to allow out door relief, to a small amount, instead of driving the parties to the workhouse. There were numbers of aged female s w h o would rather acc ept Is. 6d. per week, and many age d men with wives, who would be content with 2s. 6d. a week, rather than enter the workhouse; but if the new system came into operation they must all go there. (Hear, hear.) He should like to know whether Mr. Bi,, ,, ham and his friends would not be amongst the first to complain if they were called upon to pay an additional rate Ch e ere levied for the p ur p ose o f b u ildi ng a new workhouse ? (es.) He was quite satisfied that the poor would not be content, neither with the quantity nor the quality of their food. _ (Cries of " qu er y.") Q uery ! Why there was no man in the parish, from the rector down wards, who sat down to better food—though it might be differently cooked —and there was no place in England where the poor had so much or better food than they had under the present system in Liverpool. They could only save money by running down the poor, by refusing sub s c r iptio ns t o public charities, or by increasing the assessment upon all buildings in the parish not assessed. For instance, the Me chanics' Institution was not assessed—and no man could say that was a conservative institution. But he had never yet found any good done either by robbing the poor or by robbing the church. (Cheers.) If he con sente d to b e one of the deputation it was solely because he thought it was due to the great manifestation of feeling which had taken place that day, —(cheers)—not only with regard to the poor, but also to the handsome terms in which the gentlemen who had come for ward had exonerated the select vestry from the charges made against them. (Hear.) Mr. JAMES OWEN su pp orted the resol u ti on i n an energet i c address, which was received throughout with much applause. He remarked, that the enactment which it was proposed to introduce was really . a poor law and not a rich law. It took away the power of givingout - door relief, an d th ere i n con sisted one part of the vil auy of it. The powers of the com missioners were about to expire, and the vestry might depend that when those p owers were renewed th ey would put on the screw with more rigour than they had ever hitherto exhibited. In conclusion, be contended that the inevitable tendency of the new poor law was to inc rease chartism, t o separate master from man, and to destroy a 1 good feeling between the upper, middle, and lower classes. Mr. TZNNE disclaimed all party motives in signing the requisition and also in consenting to act upon the deputation. He should have not done either had he not been convinced that the introduction of the law into Liverpool wu not M. ceedingly ill advised. Mr. '' E . ARLE being anxious both for Mr. Tinne's and Mr Birkett's pocket, would venture to ask how their expenses, as the dep u t a ti on , were to b e paid: - from the parish funds he was sure there would be an enquiry Mr. WOTHERSPOON said he would answer the question The expenses would be paid by subscription. Mr. SMITH was understood to contend that as the parish was not yet under the operation of the new poor-law, the expences might be paid from the funds of the rate payers. The CHAIRMAN remarked that upon whom the expenses would fall seemed to be a disputed point. Mr. EARLE.—If I was appointed I would not go before I knew of a certainty who was to pay me. BIRKETT.—I shall never stay to enquire who is to pay my expenses. I will go and stand up for the interests of the town again. (Loud cheers.) Mr. EARLE.—WeII, I would not do any such thing. Mr. TINNE.—The consideration of who shall pay the ex penses, shall not deter me from going to London. (Cheers.) Mr. EARLE.—I never intended to put the question to you. I put it to a legal character, not to you. (Hear.) The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the vote, and it was unanimously carried. If they were to come Mr. ISAAC Horatza, in moving the next resolution said, there could not be a question, that the intended introduction of the poor-law was owing to the instigation of some party. Mr. Earle said it was not so. Perhaps the question might not have been discussed at the Angel, but it was quite pos sible it had been debated at some other place. (Hear.) Cer tainly there had been a strange argument used in favour of it, namely, that the affairs of the town could be best admi nistered by those who really knew nothing about its interest. Of all the arguments ever used, that surely was one of the most ridiculous—that persons should have the management of the affairs of so great and important a place as Liverpool, and actually know nothing of its interests ! Should such indivi duals as Mr. Harbord or Mr. Birkett, wbo paid such large proportions to the parish rates, have no longer that controul to which they were justly entitled ? (Hear.) Yet such would be the case. Mr. Holmes, after a few remarks upon the debate upon the drainage bill-in the council, expressed his regret that the meeting had not been called upon to apply to parliament—(hear)—for an act exempting Liverpool from the operation of the new poor law. He declared his convic tion that the attempt to introduce it had been made with the sole view of obtaining the controul in the select vestry. Mr. Holmes concluded by moving the resolution, whic h was to , the effect that the deputation be also instructed to represent to the members for the borough the great dissatisfaction which the introduction of the bill had created, and to induce them to use their influence to procure a clause in the bill now before parliament to exempt Liverpool from its opera tion. (Cheers.) Mr. COOPER seconded the motion said- Mr. Earle had. Mr. EARLE.—Do let me alone. (Laughter.) Mr. COOPER then entered into some details with regard to , the operation of the act in the West Derby Union, shewing that the expenditure of all the townships comprised in it had been increased, and that poverty was in reality treated as a crime. Mr. RAMPLING supported the resolution, and denounced the poor-law act as one of the most diabolical and tyrannical measures ever concocted to oppress the poor. The resolution was then passed unanimously. A RATE -PAYER, whose name we could not ascertain, said, a question had been brought forward with regard to medical relief. He had practised for a long time in Gloucestershire, and had been appointed medical officer to a union in that county. He was obliged to enter into a contract to supply the medicines and attend the paupers, for which he received the sum of £75 a year. He had to visit five parishes, and during the period of twelve months he attended between. 500 and GOO individuals. He frequently had to ride, at the dictates of Mr. Assistant Commissioner Weale, ten or a. dozen miles ; he had to furnish medicines and medical attend ance, to attend the board of guardians every week, and to keep a book of all the cases. At the expiration of the year he told the commissioner he should no longer serve; but he insisted that he should. He (the rate-payer) had thus acquired a great deal of experience of the working of the new poor. law. He had to attend the workhouse twice a week, or whenever he was called upon ; he had to supply the workhouse with medicine, and at the end of the year he found he had lost about £l3O during the twelve months. Such was his experience of the new poor-law. (Cheers.) The thanks of the meeting were then voted to the church wardens and overseers, for having called the meeting, and also to the Rev. Mr. Brooks, for presiding, and at three o'clock the meeting separated. CORRESPONDENCE THE NEW POOR LAW TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Stu.,—l am gratified beyond measure to find that the in utbitants of our good old town are beginning to rouse from ,he lethargy in which they have too long indulged with refe •ence to the introduction of the new poor law into Liverpool. Permit me to offer a few words ou the subject, with a view :o rouse the ratepayers generally to a sense of the importance )f carrying out the objects of the meeting with energy and lerseverance. The new poor law is an enactment totally at variance with the constitutional principles of English government, and to tally subversive of the humane bearing and purpose of the old act of Queen Elizabeth. The principal or propulsory machinery in this new engine for the grinding of the poor consists of three grand commissioners, most exorbitantly paid, who reside in the metropolis, and arrogate to them selves a knowledge of the poor in the multitudinous localities throughout the kingdom, superior to that of those amongst whom they reside, and from whose pockets they are relieved. These commissioners are paramount to all guardians that may be appointed under the act, and even to parliament it self, and can play their " fantastic tricks" ad libitum. The guardians, indeed, have a most thankless office, and are in reality mere nonentities. The three bashaws may refuse to sanction any of their proceedings, repudiate any of their re commendations, and even act in positive contravention of anything they may do. They also set aside the powers of the local magistracy, who have only the negative privilege left of ordering a slight relief to the starving applicant for one day, and that too only (as the act vulgarly expresses it) " in kind,"—that is, in a morsel of bread, or a small quantity of the coarsest food. This, too, extends to relief of the aged and infirm only, and those unable to work. Was ever such power before conferred on any man, or set of men, over the destinies of, at all times, a large portion of our suffering popu lation, who of all others require most a kindly and humane treatment ! Was ever such power given over an immense fund, in the administration of which those who pay it are de prived of all control, by their representatives or otherwise! The poor's affairs of this town have long been managed with discretion and humanity, and perfectly to the satisfac tion of both the ratepayers and the poor. if there has been any fault, it appears to me to have been a rather rigid adhe rence to parsimony in giving relief. Why, then, not let well alone; and not introduce amongst us a system which, inde pendent of its cruelties, will entail upon us probably double the present rates, and create heartburning and dissatisfaction amongst both the succourers and the succoured ? Several portions of the new act are, in my thinking, a.dis grace to those who passed it into law. Such is that clause relating to outdoor relief. If a family of six or eight, some of them able and willing to work, can make a living within half-a-crown or three shillings a week, that small relief is denied. They must either linger on in a half-famished state until they drop one by one into their graves, or suffer the degradation of becoming paupers—en famine The clause that separates the aged pauper from his wife—the companion and solace of his afflictions—is equally heartless and unchris tian. A poorhouse, to the support of which all classes con tribute more or less, should be an asylum for wretchedness or casual misfortune, not a place of punishment and impri sonment. True, destitution often arises from improvidence, want of domestic economy, reprehensible idleness, or still more reprehensible sensual indulgence ; but we are all chil dren of Adam, prone to fall into evil, and though means should be taken to redeem the character of the dissolute (which is a holy duty), and though a stricter line of disci pline might properly be pursued towards these delinquents, it is manifestly unjust to treat the whole pauper population as outcasts unworthy of the sympathies of their fellow-men, and (as is the whole tendency of this accursed act) to consi der poverty as a crime. The bastardy clauses are equally reprehensible. The Scrip tures truly consider the female the " weaker vessel," and as such, in cases of seduction, she is, generally, the party " more sinned against than sinning." The old law was mischievous on this point, by presenting facilities for perjury in affiliations. The new law repudiates Scripture, and errs more grossly on the other side. By throwing the whole onus of the support of the offspring, and the whole shame of exposure upon the wo man, (except in remote and scarcely tangible cases,) it holds forth a bonus to the seducer. It, in fact, gives him a carte blanche—a roving commission, to roam abroad with impu nity, " seeking whom he may devour." It is a mere mock ery to tell the poor man, whose daughter has been basely polluted, that he may have his redress in an action " for the loss of her services." The cost of his admission through the gates of the civil courts amounts, to him, to an absolute denial of justice. The old poor law, if but slightly amended, and duly admi nistered, would meet all the wants of existing society. If in some of the agricultural districts the parties appointed to work it either could not or would not follow up its provisions in accordance with its spirit and intent, let them for Heaven's sake adopt the new ; but forbid its compulsory introduction amongst dense communities to whom it is not applicable ! In a town such as Liverpool, the fluctuations of trade, the great influx of needy strangers in search of work, or in transitu to other places, necessarily entail upon us the support or casual relief of a vast number of men, women, and children. We are willing to do this—to do, indeed, more than our legiti mate share—in consideration of the commercial advantages we enjoy, and we ask no assistance from others in effecting it. But we protest against a new system which will entail additional cost upon us, and at the same time prevent us from meeting the wants of the necessitous in the effectual and humane, yet economical, manner we have hitherto been enabled to pursue. The new poor law is, in fine, an abortion of a vicious and imbecile and heartless whig administration ; and I hope and trust that the coming meeting will, by its numbers and its influence in wealth and respectability, give such expression to their sentiments on the subject, as shall induce an abro gation of the order of government sent down, and leave us to the management of our own affairs. I am, sir, respectfully, A FRIEND TO THE UNFORTUNATE POOR, BUT AN ENEMY TO IMPOSITION. Liverpool, March Bth, 1841. ON BARBERS AND SHAVING TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD SlR,—Having just risen from reading that excellent article (i▪ n many respects) in your last number, called "A Chapter on the Barberous," 1 must be allowed a small space in your columns to deny, which I do most positively, that we are a class of men the " most lightly esteemed," or that we are lopked . upon "as beings of a proscribed race." I freely ad mit, sir, that we do not take that professional standing to which we are so justly entitled ' • but I cannot on this account consent to claim a fal se sympathy, which I consider the very important station we do occupy in civilized society. Is it nothing, sir, that we possess the privilege, which no one else possesses, of taking by the nose the highest func ti▪ onaries in this country? Is it nothing, sir, that neither peer nor commoner can nightly take his seat in parliament, without first passing under the skilful hand of one of our profession ? Is it nothing, sir, that many a fair one's head has been placed u n d er our d a ily care , and that the highest medical practitioners have ca lled us in to their aid ? Is it nothing, sir, that our politics are quoted in parliament, the late excellent Sir W. Curtis having observed —" I believe, as that honest f e llo w M az i ngr y m y barber once said," &c. ? I trust, also, I am not f ar wrong in stating, that there is much error abroad respecting a quotation from Shakspeare, and that the following is correct : To shave, or not to shave? That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler on the chin to grow A goodly and a bristly crop, or let Some barber shave them ? To lather, shave, And on the chin perchance to give a cut— Ah ! there 's the rub ! Does not every man know the most notorious character in all London some few years back was Barbarossa, wh ose splendid whiskers were so extensive , that i f he condescended to take the place of not less hairy , thoug h mo re ignoble cat tle, his projecting bushes would sweep the houses on each side? Have you forgotten, sir, that splendid invention of our profession, by which a deal . box, if well satu ra t e d w i th the liquid, would the next morning shew to the anxious ob server a most beautiful hair trunk? And is it nothing, sir, that more crops pass under our bands in one year than the best husbandman could undertake in twenty years, and are mown with the greatest skill ? Has not the exquisiteness of our profession brought forth remarks from the most severe of poets ? 4'or instance : " Satire, like a razor keen, Should cut with an edge that 's scarcely felt or seen." And then—clearly having in view such remarks as your cor respondent's— " Thine is an oyster-knife." I trust I have proved, to the sati•faction of all but the most stiff-bearded of your readers, that we are nut " beings of a proscribed race," &c. I have the honour to remain, sir, Your very obedient servant, J. SHAVALL; Blackbeard-court, Barbera'-street, Liverpool, 9th March, 1811. N.B.—Hours of shaving, 10 to 4. I may just mention that I am about to take out a patent for a new machine, to be called the " Shavographia." THE MAYNOOTH DEBATE TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD " Mr. O'Connell said he should begin by saying that he believed all that was taught at Maynooth, and would not shrink from the avowal of it." Supposing the perfection of popery to be concentrated in the learned gentleman, we cannut be charged with unfairness iu giving the following as a plain state of the case : " We must not obey apostate princes."—DANlEL °TON NEI.I.—" All this I stedfastly believe." " Apostates from the faith are excommunicated as also heretics."—DANlEL OTONNELL----" All this I stedfastly believe." " Who bath not known the Calvinists and Lutherans, who does not see that they are heretics, who have revived almost every ancient heresy? Truly there never can be a heretic if they are not."—DANIEL O ' CoNNELL—" All this I stedfastly believe." " Oaths are dissolved if the thing becomes unlawful, on account of the prohibition of the superior."—All this I stedfastly believe." DANIEL O'CONNELL. " He who owes anything to a heretic, by means of pur chase, promise, exchange, pledge, deposit, loan, or any other contract, is free from the obligation, and is not bound to keep his promise, bargain, or contract, or his plighted faith, even though sworn, to a heretic."—" All this I stedfastly believe." DANIEL O'CONNELL. " An oath may always be dissolved when the public good requires it."—" All this I stedfastly believe." DANIEL O'CONNELL. PROTESTANT. MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE The Dock Committee held their weekly meeting yester day. The following members were present :—Messrs. Benn, Barclay, T. Holt, Holmes, Quayle, Aiken, Smith, Booth, Mellor, Sands, G. Holt, Chapman, Martin, Moon, Middle ton, Tobin, Ripley, and Evans. Mr. BENN presided. After the transactions of the routine business, the Sub committee, to whom the matters relating to the alterations in ships' numbers made in the new edition of Marryatt's signals was referred, made a verbal report to the effect that nothing could be done at present, except desiring the keepers of the telegraphs to have reference both to the new and old editions. The tender of Mr. Thomas Whitter to erect three lantern houses for the use of the Comet light-ship was accepted. Thomas Waller was appointed keeper of the Prince's Dock weighing machine, at the weekly wages of 255., on his finding security to the amount of £5O. The Solicitor to the British North American Association, transmitted a resolution passed at a meeting of that body, held on Saturday last, requesting the Dock Committee to reduce the Dock-rates on timber ships to Is. per ton, such reduction to commence on the Ist July next.—Some dis cussion took place on this application, which ended in the committee resolving that they could not accede to it. Mr. James Logan, owner Of the ship Malabar, applied to have a portion of the Dock-rates charged on that vessel re turned, under peculiar circumstances, but the committee, on consideration, decided that they had no power to remit. A question concerning the point when a pilot's duties, in bringing in a ship, determined, and those of the pier master commenced, was referred to the Harbour-master's sub committee. The meeting then adjourned. WATERLOO COURSING MEETING PICTURE.- - Thill pic ture, which is to be engraved-, excites much attention. It is the production of a Liverpool artist, and does him infinite credit. The figures are admirably grouped—the likenesses capital—many of them there can be " no mistake" about. We fancy the engraving will be far more attractive than any other of a similar character, more especially as it will contain portraits of esteemed Liverpool and Manchester gentlemen. Tice LIVER.—The benefits at the Liver are coming off. We perceive that Mr. Tilbury, who, as Polonius says. may be " esteemed a good actor"—makes his appeal on Monday. His bill is very attractive, and so great a favourite will, no doubt, be warmly supported. POST-OFFICE PLACE GALLERY.- These magnificent pictures are attracting numbers of visiters—they are truly well worth seeing The expense of fitting up and furnishing the House of Lords for the Trial of the Earl of Cardigan amounted to nine hundred and ninety pounds two shillings. ARRIVALS AT . TIIE GRAND JUNCTION HOTEL.—The Earle and Countess of Charleville, Viscount Jocelyn, the Lady Elizabeth Cole, Hon. H. Ponsonby, Col. Campbell Grattan, 1\1.P., G. B. Cole, Esq., the Hon. Capt. Bruce, R. Hankins, Esq., Lady Shaw Stewart and family, W. Higham Esq. C. Woods, Esq., J. Anderson, Esq., W. . . , . 'Tyson, "Esq., Mr. and Mrs. Balentine, Count Velenskie, Captain Halker, H. Walmsley, Esq., Captain Daly, Colonel Grant, F. Fitzpatrick, Esq., Captain Montague, H. Roe, Esq., the Hon. H. Brownlow, T. Pigott, Esq., Mr. and Mrs. M' l ntirc and family, Edward Smyth, sq. Lord Mount Charles, T. Cockerell, Esq., the Right 'Hon. T. Frankland Lewes, Mr. and Mrs. Smart and family COLLISION OF TWO STEAM-BOATS ON THE RlVER.—Yes terday, about half-past one o'clock, one of the Steam Tug Company's boats, and the iron Woodside boatthedevelan-S, by some means came in contact, and some slight damage was done to the latter, but happily no one was hurt. The Wood side boat was crossing the river, and got under the hawse of the other which was towing a flat down the river. The former was struck abaft the larboard paddle-box, and the blow in dented or drove in, flush with her side, the strong gimwale or fender plank common to river steam-boats. There was also a slight indenture of the iron, and part of the bulwarks was carried away. The vessel did not, however, leak. Some of the ladies in the cabin were throw❑ from their seats to the floor by the shock, and several parties on deck were also shaken a little, and there was considerable alarm amongst the females in particular for a short time ; but they soon re- covered their * composure, and the vessel continued to ply throughout the day in her accustomed track. ATTEMPT TO MURDER MR. BIDDULPH.—The persons charged with the attempt to assassinate Mr. Biddulph, in the King's County, have escaped punishment—not from a con viction on the minds of the court or the jury, of the inno cence of the prisoners —the impression was all the other way ; but because one or two of those permitted to be on the panel refused to agree with their brother-jurors in find ing a verdict ! Being good holders -out, and practised sitters-up, they remained in their room the whole of Mon day night, and on Tuesday morning were discharged by the Lord Chief Justice. The prisoners was sent back to gaol, where they will have to remain until next assizes, when they will be tried again. —Dublin Mail. IMPORTANT.—A gentleman has shown us some writing paper, the water-mark of which bears the date of 1812, with the name George Lloyd. Persons should be cautious in executing wills or other legal documents on paper so marked, as the circumstance might at some future time tend to throw a doubt on their validitv.—Bristol Mercury. EXTRAORDINARY EFFECTS OF THE LATE SEVERE FROST.—An American visitor, the other day, thus wrote to a friend in London :—" It was so tarnation unheard of cold yesterday morning at Brighton, that when I took my kettle off the fire to make my tea, the boiling water in it was ac tually froze !" FATAL MISTAKE.—A. few nights ago a person named Coquelin, who lived in a third floor at No. 21, in the Rue du Marche St. Jean, returned home intoxicated, and having with difficulty succeeded in undressing himself, threw his clothes out of an open window, which he mistook for the opening of the alcove in which his bed was placed. He then jumped through the window, thinking that he was jumping into bed, and was not discovered till next morning. He was still living, and was able to relate the cause of his disaster, but he died two days after of the injuries received in his fall. —Galignani's Messenger. THE FLEET PRISON.—A deputation from the Woods and Forests, attended by the Marshal, visited the Queen's Bench prison, preparatory to moving over the debtors from the Fleet, which prison is to be pulled down. By this arrange ment the country will save about £15,000 per annum, be sides getting rid of an ugly object, and room being made for other contemplated improvements. It is supposed the judges will find some difficulty in removing the prisoners from the Fleet by habeas, and that a short bill will be neces sary for that purpose. The expense of the Queen's Bench prison in its present profitless employment, is about £30,000 per annum to the country. BURGLARY.—A most daring burglary was committed at the residence of Mr. Gompertz, 45, Ebury-street, Eaton square, on Wednesday evening, the 3d inst., at the early hour of seven or eight. The thieves effected their entrance at the back attic window while the family were below, though some of the servants were about and even in the next room. What renders it the more remarkable is, that from the narrowness of the parapet and the cooing, and the construction of the roof, so inaccessible from the other houses, it was scarcely possible they could succeed in their attempt; still they not only managed to do this, but in the short time allotted them broke open several boxes, ransacked the drawers, and ab sconded with considerable property. In the room they en tered they forced open a valuable dressing-case, aad stole out £3O. in sovereigns, together with a small gold watch of some foreign make, a gold or silver-gilt knife, fork, and spoon, &c.; from this room they entered the front attic, where one of the servants had just been dressing, stole her gold watch, gold locket, and a new silk gown, and thence descended into the back two-pair, where they broke open the servant's work box and stole a silver watch. They then entered another room, which they completely ransacked, and departed, leav ing a carpet bag, ready packed to carry off, of wearing ap parel, but being disturbed left it behind them. To prove 1 how the public should be on their guard against such depre dations, it is necessary to state that the thieves entered from the distance of 12 doors higher up in an empty house, making their entrance through the attic window. SINGULAR CASE AT BURY.—A singular case has just come under the cognizance of the magistrates at Bury. A Frenchman, a short time ago, waited upon a Mr. Haden, a grocer of that town, and stated that he resided at Manchester, and had facilities for obtaining various articles of grocery, spices, &c., which he could sell much below the ordinary prices. Having conveyed the idea that the goods were cheap because contraband, and that the buyers had no reason to apprehend any risk, he succeeded in getting an order from Mr. Maden, for groceries, to the value of I:3o,—for which the latter paid him £6 5s in cash, and accepted a bill for six months, for £25. On the other band, as the goods were not delivered, Mr. Maden required some security, and the French man deposited with him a gold watch, which has since been valued, anti is worth about .£7. As the goods did not come to hand, Mr. Maden began to think he was duped ; and, a few days ago, he saw, as he supposed, the same individual, and caused him to be apprehended i when it ppeared that the party in cu s tody was a M. Carlhee, a resident of Man chester, but, for some years past, a teacher of the French language at the Grammar School, Bury, and in many highly respectable private families in that town and neighbourhood. M. Caillie denies all knowledge of the transaction ; and those who know him best say, that Mr. Maden is deceived by some strong personal resemblance. A long examination took place before the Bury magistrates on Monday, when evidence was gone into for the purpose of showing that M. Caillie could not be the individual who had defraud e d M r. M aden, as on a particular 'Wednesday, which the latter spoke to as the day on which the Frenchman was several hou rs w i t h hi m , M. Caillie was engaged in giving lessons at the Grammar School, and, su b s equently, spent seve ra l h ours i n the house of a gen tleman in the town. i The case is exciti n g th e grea t es t inte r rest in Bury; and it sby many persons believed, that a t striking resemblance has, in this instance, involved an inno • cent and respectable man in all the odium. attaching to a se , rious charge of fraud. REAREMISITATION OF LONDON. — N4de ll t e t ti tttrie !Vs put in laotnination at the neat election e. 4of went fc r the city. • Abou t 80 persons of the Roman Catholic religion:ll'l4st part of the county of Kerry adjoining to the town of Abbey feale, ha ve quitted the church of Rome, and embraced the Protestaat faith. The coming of age of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart. on the noth of May next, will be celebrated with great re joicings at Wynnstay and his other estates in Wales. The W North ales Chronicle says, "It is supposed that Lord Ward will come down specially to preside." A YANKEE TRICK.—It is reported that Mr. Biddle has been in the habit of placing the valuable service of plate pre sented him by the directors of the United States Bask, at Philadelphia, for safe keeping, in the vaults of the bank, ani of drawing it out on occasions when its use was de sirable. The other day he sent for it, and received for an swe that "it had been placed to his credit."—New York Courier and Enquirer. THREATENED WAR WITH AMERICA.—SHEERNESS, MARCH B.—Her Majesty's ships Monarch and Vernon have received orders to expedite their fitment, and then proceed to Spithead for orders. It is reported that, owing to recent differences, America, is their destination.—Morniny Herald. MORE PREPARATIONS—NEWS FOR JONATHAN—PORTS MOUTH, MARCH 6.—This morning her Majesty's ship Indus, Capt. Sir James Stirling, and the Tweed, Commander Doug las, were towed out of harbour, for Spithead, for orders, sup posed to be America. The Tweed, in going out of harbour, very nearly got on shore ; her moorings were cast off before the Alban steamer, which was to tow her out, got headway on her, and a st rong addy of the flood-tid e runn i ng a t t h e time, veered her head round, and, running on the logs, the Tweed was obliged to let go her anchor.—Morning Herald. POOR LAW HUMANITY. —An adjourned inquest was held on Thursday before Mr. Wakley, in the board-room of the Brentford Union Workhouse, on the body of a child twelve months old, named William Sweeper, who died in that esta blishment on the 14th instant. The inquiry was instituted in consequence of a statement made by the mother of the deceased, and that the child had not died from small pox, as stated by the Union undertaker, but from want of the breast, having been separated from its mother. From tie examination of the witnesses, which was a very long one, it was apparent that, although the child died from natural causes, yet, as it was observed by the coroner, there iNas shown a great neglect in the feelings of a parent in the mode of treating the deceased, an opinion in which the jury ap peared unanimously to concur. The verdict returned was— Natural death, caused by irritationfrom teething. FEMALE EDUCATION IN INDIA.—On Wednesday week, a public meeting was held in the Caledonian School-room, Edinburgh, the purpose of which was to form an auxiliaty to the Scottish Ladies' Association in that city, for the Ad vancement of Female Education in India, under the superin tendence of missionaries of the Established Church of Scot land. There was a numerous attendance of ladies and gen tlemen. Dr. Ralph presided, and in opening the business he drew the attention of the audience to the influence of the female sex, for good or for evil, upon human society—to an affecting account of Hindoo superstition as it bears upon woman—the low and degraded position it assigns her—its debasing influence upon her character, a n d it s consequent ruinous results upon society, and espe c i a lly upon the rising generation; and urged it with much feeling energy, as at once the peculiar duty and privilege of the ladies of this Christian land, to exert their utmost influence to rescue their sister subjects of India from the wretchedness and slavery to which they are doomed. He stated that the Church of Rome had lately sent out several " sisters of charity " to prosecute the same design, and pressed this as an additional reason why those who teach a purer faith should put forth more strenuous exertions in behalf of the helpless Hindoo. An association was then formed, to be called the Liverpool and Woodside Auxiliary to the Scottish Ladies' Association for the Advancement of Female Education in India. ADROIT SWINDLING.—A pretty young girl, scarcely 10 years old, neatly dressed in a silk frock and velvet bonnet, was found the day before yesterday crying for her maid in the Rue de Conde, near the Odeon theatre. An upholsterer kindly took her into his shop, and was told by her that she lived in the Rue Saint Louis-au-Marais, and had been walk ing in the Garden of the Luxembourg with her maid, who was sure to come back for her, as she dared not return home without her. The upholsterer and his wife amused them selves with her chattering till they were obliged to attend to some customers who came in, their little guest having be come quite at her ease, and running about the warehouse admiring the fine things it contained. Being again at liberty, the tradesman and his wife again thought of the little girl, but she was no where to be found, and they concluded that she had seen her maid, and was gone home. Some time afterwards, however, they missed a watch which was hung by the fireside, and on searching further, discovered that four pieces of plate, which were with others in a beaufet that had been left open, were also carried off.—Galignani's Messenger. - - THE MURDER OF ELIZA GRIMWOOD.—It will be recol lected that at the time of the murder of the unfortunate Eliza Grimwood, she was previously cohabiting with a man named William Hubbard, her cousin, and against whom there was a strong suspicion that he was privy to the foul transaction. On that charge he was several times exanined at the police office of Union-hall, and since then the police have always watched his motions. He died last Tuesday week at the house of his brother, No. 24, Castle -street, Borough-market. He was brought home the Friday previous, having been at tacked with inflammation of the lungs. His complaint daily got worse, and he died the Tuesday following. He was aware that his end was approaching, and shortly before he expired be exclaimed, " Eliza, I see you. You have been waiting for me a long while. Wait a minute, lam coming." He then placed his right hand upon his heart, and in a few minutes after ejaculated, " Release me now." He was sup ported by his sister, and soon after died in her arms, without alluding further to the dreadful deed. Hubbard used fre quently to allude to the murder, and when in conversation upon the subject, he always said that he was prepared for the fullest investigation into his conduct. DARING BURGLARY NEAR CIIESTER.—A most audacious robbery was committed on Tuesday morning, the 2d instant, at the house of Mr. Ardern, an elderly gentleman of consi derable property, residing (with his sister and two female servants) at Utkinton. About one o'clock in the morning, one of the servants was alarmed by the dogs barking, and she left her bedroom in order to see if all the doors were secured. She double bolted the doors, and fastened an itiner door, between the hall and the kitchen, with small bolts and an iron bar. Before she had time to get up stairs, she heard a crash at the outer door, as if it was beaten in, which proved to be the case, and immediately afterwards a crash at an inner door, which proved to be that leading into the pantry. She then went up stairs to give the alarm to the family, and immediately heard a third crash, by which the inner door she had fastened with the iron bar was also forced. She went to one of the windows to give the alarm, but was prevented doing so by a man who was stationed out side. The other servant had gone to Mr. Ardern's room to alarm him, and attempted to spring a rattle at the window, but was also prevented, by being assailed with a volley of large stones, which broke the windows, and severely hurt her. The other servant, about this time, was met at the top of the stairs by three men, one of whom seized her, and told her not to be alarmed, as they would not hurt her, all that they wanted being money. They then went into Mr. Ar dern's room, where that gentleman was confined from indis position, and then put the other servant .under the bed clothes, with her face down, and guarded her and her master with pistols. They then made a formal demand on Mr. Ardern for £3OO, which they stated they knew he had in the house. Miss Ardern overhearing this demand, came into the room, and told them that so much money was not in the house, and that all they had was in a caddie, which she pointed to. They immediately broke that open, and took out of it thirteen sovereigns. They also broke open in the same room a chest, from which they took Mr. Ardern's watch. They went into an adjoining room, and broke open several drawers, and took away Miss Ardern's gold watch. They broke open severarother boxes in the house, in order to search for valuable property, and after doing a great deal of damage left the premises, first fastening the outer door in order to prevent pursuit. There were six persons at least concerned in this gross outrage, and it occupied a short space of time, as they were very quick and determined in their operations. They appeared to have been well fur nished with all the implements of their nefarious profession, fire arms, jemmies, &c. The doors were burst in by the aid of a large pieceof timber, eight or nine feet long, and about seven or eight inches round, which was used as a battering ram ; they found it upon Mr. Ardern's premises, and also left it behind them. They committed no personal outrage beyond stoning the servants from the windows, in order to prevent them giving any alarm. A. handsome reward has been offered for their detection. CHANGE or AM.—This country offers abundant ways of obtaining change of air of a very marked character; parti cularly in the transition from the southern and sea-girt counties to the midland ones, or from these to the upland regions of Yorkshire and Northumberland ; the passing from the bracing and dry north-west or north-east corners of England to the south-west and south angles—warmer, but moist and relaxing ; together with many other changes that may be suggested to patients by a medical man conversant with the several topographies of the country, and above all with the general aspects of the town and villages.—Grati ville's Spas of England. KNOWING THE WORLD.—The great and constant danger to which children in the higher walks of life are exposed is the prevailing turn and spirit of general conversation. Even the children of better families, who are well instructed when at their studies, are yet at other times continually beholding the world, set up in the highest and most advantageous points of view. Seeing the world, knowing the world, standing well in•the world, making a figure in the world, is spoken of as including the whole sum and substance of human advan tages. They hear their education almost exclusively attended to with reference to the figure it will enable them to make in the world. In almost all companies, they hear all that the world admires spoken of with admiration; rank flattered, fame courted, power sought, beauty invoked, money con sidered as the one thing needful, and as the atoning substi tute for the want of all other things. The phrase, " know ing the world," is commonly applied, or misapplied, in the way of panegyric, to keen, designing, selfish, ambitious men who study mankind in order to turn it to their own account. But, in the true sense of the expression, the sense which Christian parents would wish to impress upon their children, to know the world is to know its emptiness, its vanity, its utility, and its wickedness. To know it i s t o d esp i se i t ; an d , in this view, an obscure Christian in a village may be said to know the world better than a hungry courtier, or a wily po litician ; for how can they be said to know it, who go on to value it, to love it, to be led captive by its allurements, to give their soul in exchange for its lying vanities.—Mrs. H. Moore. LAST DAYS OF BEETHOVEN.—On the 2nd December, 1826, Beethoven, with his nephew, returned sick to Vienna ; but it was nut till several days afterwards that I heard of his situation, or even of his arrival. I hastened to him, and, among other details, whi c h s h oc k e d me much, learned' that he had often in vain entreated his two former physicians, Drs. Braunhofer and Studenheim, to undertake his case; the first declining to do so, because the distance was too great for him to come; and the second, indeed, promising to come, but not keeping his word. A physician was sent to his house, he did not know how, or by whom, and who, con sequently, knew nothing of him or his constitution. When, however, this physician (the excellent Dr. Wawruch, clinical professor,) visited Beethoven's sick bed, I heard from his own mouth how it happened, and it affords an additional proof that this man, belonging to the world and to posterity, was abandoned by his nearest relations, who had so much cause to be grateful to him ; not merely abandoned, indeed, but be trayedlw and sold. Professor Wawruch related to me that had been sent to Beethoven by the marker at a billiard-table at at a coffee-house, who being, on account of ill a ne a ss. brought nephew of Beethoven had come to the coffee-h ouse . to the hospital, had mentioned that some dybwefkoerreethhee but being extremely un. played at billiards, and commissioned him, find a physician for his sick uncle;the marker, to begged the professor to visit Beet he had immediately done, well at the time, he had not been ak b o l v e e t u o . d w o k so id , ,, a e n n d t t e h r e ta r i e n fo in r c e the highest respect for the artist, u without marker at m edical billiard at nfdo r h t i h m e ,hospital,beforeathe greatank a te n i d ula h n a e d e. on lt h w is aa ar n r e i e v e a s l aa sii y l n i th fo eu the in the time of need. Sick and u th n e d lp himself obliged either to make t hß a ße b re l a e t skstoeovd Beethoven fall Beethoven e s eo i e c ut k lhdo a , n . edn obtainpropertyb f e o h taken sed consisting of few b use of the only apply to his brother for assistance. This brother shares, or app :mei • t h e presence of M. Von Breuning, a n d m y se lf ,. Beethoven have any of his hay, when two, one day, in prescribed for him a hay vapour-bath; alleging s an excuse that his hay was not good enough. Yet this, ?, ne brotherly brother," as Beethoven called him, rich as he was , wished to share in the little that the composer pos itlsteizlOl;thtia7 pessed.-111: life; just publi4l4ed.