The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-12-28 00:00:00

GLASGOW, PAISLEY. AND GREENOCK RAILWAY. On Tuesday week a sratutory half-yearly meeting of railway FropVietors was held in the Sheriff Court Hall, hobert Dow Ker, Esq., chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. The Chairman called upon Captain Huish, the secretary, to read the report, which that gentleman did. The following :is a copy:— The directors have looked forward to meeting the proprie tors with much pleasure, and avail themselves of the earliest opportunity allowed by the act to assure them that the affairs of the company are proceeding favourably. The whole line from Greenock to Glasgow is now under contract, two important divisions of the road having been let to Messrs. Brassev and Mackenzie since the last meeting. . . . ble, and the directors are glad to see them placed in such good hands. They have thus redeemed their pledge of hav ing the entire line provided for this autumn. With the progress of the works during the last six months, they have much reason to be satisfied, and they give from the engineer's report the following particulars : The first care of the engineer, as stated in last report, was, by seizing on the heaviest works, and getting them well for ward, to satisfy himself that the contractor had the means of completing them at the period assigned. From their present state, and the energy evinced in carrying them on, this desi rable end is, in his opinion, secure. At the Bisbopton ridge 110,000 cubic yards have been removed, and the embank ments are formed to a considerable extent. Two bridges are built, and a third is in hand ; nearly all the masonry will will be finished next summer. The steam power applied, and the means pursued for working the tunnels, are satisfac tory to the engineer, and throughout the whole of this im portant contract great activity prevails. The other works between Paisley and Greenock are in good hands, and are not of a formidable description. After details will show the extent to which they have already been carried. In Greenock four arches are completed, and nearly a third, and retaining walls are proceeding with all desirable despatch. The excavations at Cartsburu Hill and Gibb's Hills are going forward at a rate to insure their completion at the appointed time. The bridges between Port-Glasgow and Greenock are all provided for, and partially erected. Through the town of Port-Glasgow nearly one half of the walls and arches are building. There is no doubt that this part of the railway may be finished next year, as promised in the last report. It may be added, that the expensZ of the works through the towns d Greenock and Port-Glasgow, together with all the intermediate cutting, extending to full three miles, and in cluding the permanent way, dues not collectively exceed the sum of £30.800. Consideriug the nature of these operations, and the fact that twenty-three streets and roads are crossed by bridges, two of them of five arches each, and that nearly two miles of retaining wall have to be erected, the directors consider this as one proof among many of the care and economy that has been exercised in designing and laying out these works. The Walkinshaw and Finlayson contracts will be com menced without delay, and are neither of them of such mag nitude as to cause apprehensions respecting their accom plishment. No point connected with the construction of the railway has been more anxiously attended to than the formation of the permanent road, and no reasonable expense has been spared, in providing for its stability and fitness for the smoothest possible conveyance of passengers. To this end Mr. Locke has adopted a 751 b. rail, and four feet bearing, and from the natural advantages of the country, affording good ballast, blocks, and sleepers at reasonable rates, this superiority has been obtained at an average price, even when compared with lines where the rail is lighter. In the last report reference was made to a difference of opinion respect ing the width of the rails. This is arranged by a unanimous decision in favour of the old standard of 4 f. 82 in. It will be the care of the engineer to urge forward the im portant points next summer, so as to prevent even the con tingency of bad weather having any effect in delaying the opening. The following is from the report of the Committee of Ma nagement, to whose charge is committed the portion of the line extending from Glasgow to Paisley : "The committee on the joint-line, in giving a summary of their proceedings, have satisfaction in stating, that in every department of the works under their direction considerable progress has been made. "They feel that the best information they can afford will be found in the annexed particulars, collected from Mr. Er rington's report. " The land plans for the Tradeston contract, in Glasgow, are furnished, and the works will be commenced in the spring. " Mr. Brassey's works are well stocked with materials, which are all in full occupation. The first point of any mo ment on the Ibrox and Arkleston contracts, both of which are in Mr. Brassey's hands, isthe cutting at Ibrox. 30.000 yards have been turned out here, and the same rate of progress insures completion in good time. The cutting through the Arkleston Hill is the key to the works on the joint-line, and here every effort is making, and the operations are pushed forward by the contractor with skill and judgment. "Although the tunnel is only 200 yards long, it has been thought best to make the time of its completion more certain, by sinking a shaft midway. This is done, and the tunnel is worked both ways. The Paisley side is also open, and thus three faces are actually at work; a fourth will be shortly commenced. 100,000 cubic ards have been excavated in this cutting. " The works in Paisley are proceeding with rapidity for the season ; the street bridges and walls are considerably advanced, and the large bridge over the river Cart is built above flood water. The intermediate lengths are slight em bankments of four and five feet, and are in course of formation. " We may briefly remark, that from excellent ballast having been found at convenient points along the line, and Mr. Brassey having contracted for making and upholding the permanent way, a very good road may be anticipated. Rails and chairs in sufficient quantity for carrying forward the works are in course of receipt, and it is confidently exptcted that several miles of road will be laid in the spring. The contractor is in possession of the whole of the land, excepting three fields at Craigton. These will form the subject_of a jury trial, which will be settled in January. The price of all the house property in Paisley has been amicably settled, except in two cases ; the compensation in these cases has not yet been ascertained. Part of the land for the Paisley depot has been acquired on fair terms. " The committee have given much thought and attention to the Glasgow terminus, and a sub-committee is now sitting, having for its special object all matters connected with these works, which are not of such a nature as to cause anxiety regarding the time of their completion. Finally, it is due to the respective boards to add, that the works of every descrip tion are let rate', and the committee see no reason to expect that the outlay will be materially increased, unless it shall be considered desirable for the permanent interests of both companies to possess themselves at once of a sufficient quantity of land to afford ample accommodation for their expected traffic." From Bogle-street, in Greenock, to the end of Port- Glasgow, the whole of the land and property has been either purchased on fair terms, or the price is in course of being settled by arbitration. No jury trials are expected on this part of the line. One or two cases must be referred to the sheriff, in the summary mode pointed out by the act, chiefly owing to defective titles. From Port-Glasgow to Paisley, the land is partly acquired, partly under submission, and partly in course of negotiation, and one or two jury trials are anticipated. The awards here have, on the whole, been satisfactory, and there is yet no cause to regret the adoption of this pleasing mode of settling questions between the com pany and proprietors. It will be seen that the directors are confirmed in their expectation, that the whole line will be open to the pnblic very early in the summer of 1840, a time peculiarly favoura ble, as embracing the season when travelling between Glasgow and the numerous watering places on the coast, commences. . . Careful re-examination demonstrates that the original calculations on this head were much underrated, or that the increase in two years has been very great. The directors have ascertained that, during the last summer, 30,000 persons passed weekly between Glasgow and Greenock. In going to parliamen , , rather more than one-third of the then existing traffic was assumed to travel by reilway, but the directors have now little doubt of ultimately acquiring nearly all. By starting steamers from Greenock on arrival ot each train to the numerous ports to which they now run, a great saving in time will be effected, and the tedious and uncertain river trip avoided In this union of purpose, the board is led to believe, that many if not all the steam companies now plying on the Clyde will cordially join. In cases where this co- . operation is declined, the directors will arrange with other parties; and the gain of one hour and a half in four (com bined with low fares) will be a sufficient inducement to in sure the public support. To the western Highlands in par ticular, the practical gain in time will be one day of 'three. To facilitate these plans the directors are at present employed in maturing a project for carrying down the rails to one of the quays, so that but a few paces may intervene between the steam-boats and the railway carriages. A committee is also appointed to negotiate with the harbour trustees, for in creased accommodation for steamers, particularly deep-sea boats, and also for having rails laid along zhe quay, in order that waggons may be taken to and from their loading berths without shifting the goods. 'l'he board think it due to their proprietors at a distance and unacquainted with the localities, to state, that they have no fear whatever of any part of the sea-going traffic (which, however, forms a very small portion of their expected re turns) being diverted into other channels. They form this opinion from the concurrent testimony of all nautical men, as to the certainty of the passage to Greenock in all weathers, the security and convenience of the port, and the safety of the approaches, (advantages not possessed by any other fiar bour that can interfere with it,) added to the circumstance of the greatest saving in time, being two hours in nineteen from Liverpool, while the contingent risk appears imminent. The directors have felt some difficulty in determining the amount of accommodation required for the commencement of their business. They have leaned to the side of caution, in directing their engineer to prepare for an average of 2,000 passengers (which will enable the company to carry, on emergencies, 4,000,) and 300 tons of goods daily. Two thousaud tons of rails have been contracted for with Messrs. H arfords, Davies, and Co., of Bristol, at a moderate price, to be delivered at convenient points along the line. Nearly 91/0 tons are shipped. 'I he directors must now allude to their financial prospects, as this :A a subject on which the proprietors will naturally feel auxiouF. Every item of expenditure has been carefully and minutely consi , lered—practical experience having taken the place of theoretical calculation. TW*act of parliament confers on the proprietors the power of borrowing £133,000; and this sum the directors will re commend being taken up by bonds, as soon as half the capi tal shall have been paid: and, allowing for cost of works, stations, land and compensation, engines, carriages, &c., ex penses in obtaining the act, management, and every con tingency, the directors have great pleasure in stating that they do not anticipate being obliged to call for more than £2O per share, or 80 per cent. on the subscriptions. The in creased accommodation for two companies at Glasgow and Paisley will cause an extra outlay there; but this is allowed for in the estimate—and the board, therefore, feels much pleasure in announcing that, while the traffic from new sources will be larger, the calls on the proprietary will be less than expected. The number of shares required by the act to be issued have all been appropriated, and are ascertained to be in good hands. Notice has been given for a bill to make a railway from Airdrie to Glasgow ; should it be obtained, a vast mineral field will be opened up, and as the proposed line crosses the Glas gow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway, it will become a very important auxiliary. The directors are sensible of the advantages that would fol low from a junction with tire Edinburgh and Glasgow Rail way, and any judicious plan that can be suggested for this purpose will receive their best attention. In such a number of sh -tree, some defaulters may reasonably be expected; but the board have only to recommend the for feiture of fifty-eight shares, on which the first call has not yet been paid. Iho notices required by the act were duly sent to the parties. The directors have delayed making a call until they should meet their pror rietors, but the heavy outlay which is going on must be promptly met. They, therefore, resolve on a call of £2 per share, payable on the 12th of January. By act of par liament, three directors have vacated their seats at the board : the gentlemen who go out are Mr. Robert D. her, Mr. Archi bald Falconer, and Mr. Roger Aytoun, who are all capable of re-election. MARK Hutsti, Secretary. We have not room for the balance-sheet, but we may men tion that the receipts of the ~ompany from the commencement amount to , , .. £89,378 3 10 And the expentaditure to .71:229 10 9 Showing a ba:anee of .. £18,148 13 1 The Chairman then rose and said—l assure you the direc tors have much pleasure in again meeting the, shareholders, and reporting the progress of our great undertaking. The report is now in the hands of the meeting, and . I shall not delay your comments on it a moment, except to state that as, this day ends the services of the first Board of Directors, ap pointed under the act of incorporation, it will now rest with the present meeting to elect three directors in the room of three whose names have been ballotted out as required by the act. In making this announcement, I cannot help alluding with feelings of pleasure to the unanimity which has charac terized the proceedings of the board—a circumstance which, I assure you, has tended not less to facilitate the business of the company than to the personal comfort of the directors; and also to the good feeling and excellent spirit which have all along prevailed between this board and the gentlemen of Glasgow, in managing the joint line. It cannot be supposed that so great a mass of business could be transacted as that - isThich his passed through the hands of the board, without grappling with the most formidable difficulties, and, in truth, the directors, in conducting the business of the company, have found themselves placed in, and had their ways to work out of situations sometimes full of perplexity and embarrass ment; but with energy and perseverance, and guided by an eye constantly directed to the solid welfare of the Railway, and hence to the interests of the shareholders, difficulties have been overcome, and no opposing iufluence, so far as can be seen, can now prevent the Railway being opened at the time originally contemplated and proposed— the summer of 18.10. There are two leading points on which the Directors were thoroughly agreed, and which formed the foremost and most fundamental principles - of our management, viz : —lst, To secure, above all .considerations, Ahat the work should be well done; and, • 2nd; Its speedy completion. With a view to the accomplishment of these most important objects, it was our-first most anxious concern to commit the executive department, both indoor and outdoor, into the hands of men of the highest professional skill and talent, in whose zeal for the interest and honour of the Company the fullest reliance could be placed; and I speak with the hearty concurrence of every member of the Board, whether preseut or absent, when I say that the gentlemen who were appointed to these responsible nffices have in no respect come short of the good opinion that was• forrn.ect of them, or disappointed the trust reposed in them, but that one and all have fulfilled to the full the highest and most sanguine expectations of the -Board. I should •clo• violence to my own feelings, and be committing an act of injustice, did I not embrace the present occasion- of speaking .in terms of the highest commendation of the indefatigable labours and zeal of these gentlemen. If • it were a matter of purely personal concern, it is impossible that more devotion could be shown to the business of the Railway, or more interest felt in its welfare, than is done by the gentlemen we-have the good fortune to call the officers of the Company; and.l invite the shareholders-to look at what is done, and the arrangements in progress, and to rest as sured that our Railway,- when it 'arrives at its completion, will not, in point of masterly construction and working effici ency, combined with economy of disbursement, be surpassed, or can be surpassed-by any railway in the• united kingdom. : On a late occasion,- when the directors visited theline, they were agreeably astonished and delighted to find the works in such a state of advancements - which, considering the unfa vourable season for carrying on operations of that descrip tion, reflects the highest credit on all concerned. The te most pains continue to be used to secure the landowners and resident country gentlemen from annoyance; and from the few complaints that have -reached the ears of the directors, and these from still fewer individuals, -it may be fairly in felled that their efforts -have-been successful. For this we are mainly indebted to the prudent care of• the contractors, and to the able and-judicious management of Mr. Ross, our inspector of police,. I congratulate the meeting on the pros -pects of the company, and- the favourable report you have just heard read... The general-prospects of the company are every day brightening. The-report-states on increase of tra velling—in illustration -of which ; •I•may mention that the traffic was taken for three- days -last week ; during the dullest month in the year, and during very-wet and stormy weather, showing within a. fraction of 700 a-day between Glasgow and Greenock alone, the number being-greater-than was proved in parliament. .The.directors also expect to obtain a much larger proportion of the traffic than was originally antici pated, one or two companies have signified their acqui escence in the plan ; as soon as the company's plans are ma tured, negotiations will be entered into with all of them. Another agreeable fact to mention is, that of the shares held on the Clyde only 158 are in arrears of the second call, and of these 90 will be made immediately. In short, sanguine as the directors have always felt as to the success of the railway, from the advance of public opinion in favour of railways in general, and the increased estimation in which our I ailway held in its locality, evinced by the increased amount of stock held ,by local proprietors, and the increased travelling be tween the termini, the efforts of the directors will receive a new stimulus, from the well-grounded and increasing con viction that our railway is destined to yield an ample return for the capital invested, and prove a powerful instrument of much public and private good, (Great applause.) In con clusion, I may state that the directors-have determined that they will receive shareholders to the amount of £2O per share, allowing interest at the rate of five per cent, on all balances after deducting the calls. William Leitch, Esq. said—ln rising to move the adoption of the report which you have heard read, I cannot, forbear giving expression to,the feelings of satisfaction with which I have listened to it. lam sure every one present must join me in congratulating the directors on their being able to produce such a gratifying report. Our worthy chairman has anticipated what I would• otherwise say in reference to the good qualities of the officers engaged on the railway. I com pletely concur with him in a ll h e has said of their efficiency, and, without any further remarks, I move that the report be adopted. Thomas Turner, Esq., seconded the motion, which was put from the chair, and carried unanimously. On the motion of Bailie Muir, seconded by Thomas Saun ders, Esq., the common seal of the company was attached to the register of proprietors for the last six months. . James Baird, Esq., in moving that 58 shares be forfeited, remarked that it was a most gratifying proof of the solidity of the Isis on which the undertaking rested, that of the con tributors to a sum of E. 400,000 there were only 58 lame ducks. (A laugh and cheers.) Thos. Saunders, Esq., seconded the motion, and expressed his concurrence in Mr. Baird's remark, that the paucity of the forfeitures was a remarkable proof of the solidity of the company and the zeal of its members. The motion was carried unanimously. Adam M•Leish, Esq.. said he had a motion to make, but from its nature he would rather address himself to the share holders than to the chair. At last meeting it would re collected that be had given notice of his intention to move that some remuneration be giv en to the directors for the great toil, trouble, and loss of time to which they were subjected by_attendintr to the dutie.- of their iin part.nt office .' -..Every other railway company made an allowance to their directors, and he was sure that by none was such a mark of favour bet ter merited than by those whom they had the happiness to have placed over their undertaking. The sum he proposed might strike a number as too small; but he did not propose it so much as a payment for their services—for he was well aware that, in that sense, it was altogether inadequate—as to mark to some extent the respect in which these gentlemen were held by their constituents. He would hold it as the height of ingratitude were they not to do something of the kind; and, impressed with this convi c ti o n, he should move that the thanks of the company be given to the directors, and the sum of £ , IOO be paid to them for past services, and a like sum be given to them annually in future. He made his mo tion from a sincere conviction that it was right and proper, and he hoped it would meet with the unanimous approbation of the meeting. (Cheers.) Andrew Donaldson Campbell, Esq.. of Asbcraig, seconded the motion, and expressed his regret that the proposal did not give them compensation equal to that granted to directors on other lines. (Cheers.) The Chairman said, before he would put this motion, he most take the liberty of saying that the proposal did not ori ginate with the directors. It was a spontaneous movement from without, and the directors had resolved to be altogether passive in the matter. James Baird, Esq. bad serious objections to this motion, and was afraid it would have an injurious effect • upon the minds of shareholders at a distance. What to the gentlemen composing the direction was the paltry sum of £3O a year ? It could not for a moment compensate them for the loss of that proud and independent position which they bad hitherto occupied as a gratuitous labourers in the work. He should regret to see them lowered from the lofty pedestal on which as yet they stood. It would be much more gratifying to the directors themselves, and much more. satisfactory to all con cerned, were they to wait till the works were completed and in active and stlecessful operation, and then bestow upon each a present which they could transmit with pride to their children's children—something that it would be a credit to the shareholders to give, and an honour in the directors to receive. He must repeat that be regarded the remuneration proposed by the present motion as paltry mu the extreme. William Leitch, Esq. —Let Mr. Baird propose a larger sum, if he thought so little of this. Mr. Baird.—No; he would propose nothing at the present time, as he thought such an expenditure of the money inju dicious, and, as regarded the directors, of no importance to themselves personally. He was sure that, even if voted, they would refuse it. Mr. M`Leish admitted that the sum was too small, and, with regard to the value of the services of the directors, altogether inadequate. It was not as pay, but simply as a mark of respect, that be moved it. The directors of the Glasgow and Ayr Railway had £6OO a year allowed them, and the shareholders of the Edinburgh and Glasgowlinegave their directors £lOOO a year, and he felt persuaded that those in the management of the Greenock Railway were as well entitled to remuneration as the directors of any other line in the kingdom. The idea of the shareholders at a distance being displeased at what had been proposed, he could not admit. Indeed, he felt convinced that they would be asto nished were a practice, universally followed elsewhere in regard to works of this kind, not adopted here. John Poynter, Esq. was anxious for unanimity, and would suggest that, before the motion was from the chair, the directors should retire for a little, to consider whether they should consent to receive any remuneration for their services. William Brown, Esq., of Kilmardinny, begged leave to remark, that there was only one motion before the meeting. Mr. Baird , a objection had scarcely assumed the form of a motion; and, even if it had, it had not been seconded, and consequently fell to the ground. As to the suspicion that shareholders at a distance would object to the directors receiving some compensation for their services, he would merely remark, that such conduct on their part would be in the highest degree unreasonable. They surely could not expect that people on the spot should have all the toil and trouble, and that they should have nothing to do but to pocket their share of the profits. He believed that their directors would attend to their business without any other inducement than a sense of dutv but he also knew, that in other joint stock concerns, the despatch of business bad been much fa cilitated by the payment of the directors. The motion was then carried unanimously. Captain Houston Stewart, R.N., in name of his brother directors, returned thanks for the vote of approbation with which their services had been rewarded. He must confess that he had been but a drone in the hive hitherto, owing to circumstances which compelled him to reside at a distance from the scene of action; but he hoped that, in future, he would he able to devote inure of his time and attention to the great work in which they all felt so deep an interest, and the prospects of which were now so very promising. He spoke disinterestedly when he said he regarded the thanks they had voted to the directors well deserved, for he was conscious that no share of the merit was due to himself. Since he was last among them, he had resided in England, in the immediate neighbourhood of a great railway, with the officers on which he was well acquainted. He had inquired into the working of this mode of conveyance; and, from all be learned, he was convinced that the Greenock Railway needed to fear no competition with any other medium of transit. Of the officers, too, he felt bound to speak in the highest terms. Mr. Errington and Captain Huish had conducted themselves in such a manner as to gain for them the respect and approba tion of the landed gentlemen along the line, although their duties led them sometimes into discussions which tequired the utmost prudence to hiring to a satisfactory conclusion. He recollected being once on the line, when he had an op portunity of seeing how their engineer conducted him self in very trying circumstances. Mr. Errington at that time did not know him (Capt. S.) but he was met with a host of serious objections, and he was quite delighted with the knowledge, good-humour, and firmness with which he met and finally overcame them all. (Cheers.) He was sorry to learn that an old and esteemed friend of his (Captain S.'s) was not friendly to the railway. He was convinced that there must be some misunderstanding in the case; and al though he could not promise to remove it, his hest endeavours should not be wanting to effect that object. (Cheers.) His heart beat high at tbe.prospect which this railway opened of increased prosperity to Greenock, and to Renfrewshire gene. rally, and he could not express his desire for the success of the undertaking better than by wishing their next half-yearly report might be as satisfactory as that which had been read that day. In regard to the pecuniary part of the resolution in which the thanks of the meeting had been conveyed to the directors, he would only say that he agreed with what had fallen from Ir. Brown the-$-nbject - , - batiW the same time care'Should be taken that only those who laboured should re ceive the reward. No work no pay was a sound maxim; and those who, like himself, had been drones in the hive, would get no share of the honey unless they attended to their duties. William Brown, Esq. moved the re-election of the three directors who bad been ballotted out. The propriety, and even prudence of this step, were so obvious that he would not take up time in endeavouring to demonstrate them. Those who had so auspiciously begun the work should be requested to see it finished. It would be a pity to see men who worked so well, and so successfully, interrupted in their exertions. Captain Stewart had alluded to the benefits which Greenock and R enfrewshire would derive from the railway, and he did not think these had been over-estimated. At the same time he would remark that he had great pleasure-in-3-a shareholder residing in Glasgow, in coming forward to state that that city would benefit largely from its construction. (Cheers.) John Gray, Esq. seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. McLeish, the thanks of the meeting were given to the chairman, and the meetiug broke up. TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.* (From the Church of England Quarterly Review.) We are now about to enter upon one of the most momen tous inquiries by which the church of Christ has been agitated for many years—one, in which we . are called upon to deter mine whether the zeal be according to knowledge or contrary to it. The question is one in which we must weigh without bias the logos and the didiskalia—one, in which we must decide whether the authors of the Tracts for the Times have a tendency to Popery, or whether they can be accounted or thodox. We are aware that we are not discussing the merits of ordinary men; nevertheless, we shall make our remarks freely, but without seeking unduly to give offence. The tracts seem at first to have obtained respect and circu lation from their enforcement of apostolical succession in our church; nor was it suspected that any purpose of innovation and of raising tradition to the standard of God's word was contemplated. For some time afterwards, they appeared more injudicious than dangerous: but now no one can avoid perceiving that they are making new and serious breaches in . the Christian world, and div:ciing our house against itself. The authority of the fathers, whichis claimed for their asser tions, will only be admitted according to the opinions which each may have formed of it: the varying sentiments and con tradictions of the fathers will prevent general deference from being paid to it. All, therefore, that the writers will e•ffect will be the rise of a new party in the church, which, if we may judge from its present deportment, will ultimately lapse into Romanism. As Mr. Holden has very clearly, shown that a great pro portion of what is pressed on•our attention depends upon tradition, the question is, can "the traditionary creed of the church, so far as it is known to us, be proved to be identically the same as that which was preached by Christ and the apos tles?'.' If this proof can be given, it should be received as the test of orthodoxy ; if it cannot, it should be only respected as human testimony.: and it will need but little reflection to decide that the required proof is impossible; that the eccle siastical traditions, on which so great a stress is now laid, can never be authenticated. as purely and transmissively conveying the declarations of our Saviour and his apostles, that even an uniformity with the Scriptures in certain parts will not amount to a demonstration that they proceeded from the same source as the Scripture, and that no one thing to be discovered in the early ecclesiastical writings can fix on them the character .of divine. Mr. Holden very properly urges, ttkat corruptions existed in the primitive age of the church, eift thus that there will be the same difficulty in dis tinguishing the true church in the primitive as in the subse quent ages. Of these corruptions, the epistolary parts of the New Testament give an overwhelming evidence; in the age too succeeding the apostles schisms and heretical opinions abounded, and most of the churches were lacerated with in testine divisions. But, though the church was at no time free from the pernicious doctrines of heretics, " the essentials of the faith, which were at first delivered by the Holy Ghost, and sent down from Heaven, are still taught :" and the er rors of particular churches have never destroyed the sub stance of sound doctrine. It is, however, assertained in the tracts (No. 71), that the heretirs were always distinguished from the Catholic body ; that the sects in every country bore their own refutation on their forehead, in that they were of recent origin; that all those societies in every country which the apostles had found ed did agree together in one ; and that no time short of the apostles could be assigned with any show of argument for the rise of their existing doctrine. Mr. Holden rejoins, that this assertion bears its own refutation on its forehead; that, since heresy is proved by the Scriptures to have existed in the lifetime of the apostles, it cannot be called of recent origin ; that there is no evidence that all the societies founded by the apostles agree in one; and that to allege " that the faith of the orthodox had its rise at no time short of the apostles, is a mere assumption, which, if proved, would not of itself prove also that it was the creed delivered by the inspired teachers of Christianity?' Further, the simple fact of this or that doctrine having been received by several early churches does not absolutely prove apostolicity; for the inerrancy of these churches must be first established; and as a corruption of re ligion soon began, and as we know not that those churches may not have erred, no article of faith, solely because they received it, can therefore be pronounced apostolical. But the coincidence of many ancient churches in religious opinions is said, on the other hand, to amount to more than a presump tion that these transmissive doctrines had a divine origin; yet what avails the presumption, when the evidence which is required to verify these writers is wanting ! It will also be required for this, that the coincidence should be universal ; and not merely universal, but that proofs of apostolical origin should be produced. With respect, likewise, to the inference that the transmissive belief of the primitive Christians must have been in exact union with the doctrines promulgated by the apostles, it is one which will not bear an examination. When we consider the eagerness of the spirit of heathenism in the early ages to intrude into the sanctuary the false philo sophy which often successfully corrupted the doctrines of the gospel—the darkness of Pagan idolatry, in which the human mind had been long involved—the difficulty with which the early Christian converts comprehended a pure and spiritual religion—the deficiency of the primitive teachers in cautious inquiry, in close reasoning, and heim'etrenticAUkill (asAr b Holden_ continues), it is no wonder that they were'iMie'iiines led away by the errors of the times, which became difficult of detection, on account of the paucity of written documents; and it is plain that the primitive Christians could not have derived from their proximity to the apostolic age all the ad vantages which are supposed. The oral instruction of the apostles, as these writers understand it, would have been yet morn-noble be more liable to misconception on the part of the hearers: the preaching of their cotempoi a ries would have been equally liable to misapprehension, anti the probability of error must have increased at every remove: no steady light of divine truth could have been therefore thus communicated : no oral instructions could have descended to the second generation without some mixture of error. If idolatry found an entrance into the households of Nahor and Terab (Gen. xxxi, 3052); of Isaac, Esau, and Jacob (Gen. xxxi. 92; xxxv., 2); if the true religion bad become corrupt ed during the servitude in Egypt (Josh.xxiv., 14), parallel examples of the truth of th e s e rem a r k s are efore us; and it is absurd to argue, that what took pace in these instances could not have taken place with the early Christians. Oral tradition is always unsafe : it has always been that to which the advocates of a corrupt faith have applied as to a para mount authority; it was that by which the Jews, in our Saviour's time, rendered the word of God of no effect : it is that which the Papist still claims as the sanction of his doc trines. If oral tradition had been designed to direct the church, we cannot conceive why the New Testament should have been written—why the apostles should have committed to writing the substance of the doctrines which they preached. On the same principle as .they wrote, Moses was desired to write the law, as a protection against the insecurity or oral tradition ! As to the rule of Vincent of Lirius, quod übique, Two: sem per, quod al. omnibus, &e., which is urged in support of the unbroken continuity of tradative belief from the very period of its origin, Mr. Holden observes, that it is not within the reach of human ability to discover what were the precise te nets held everywheje, always, and by all; that Omniscience alone could accomflisb so mighty a task; consequently, that some abatements must be made from the universality of the rule. And if it must necessarily be enforced by limits, its capability of constituting a proof of apostolicity may be doubted; and when it presupposes unanimity, absolute an tiquity, and universality, it begs the question, and assumes what it should prove. But this acute writer objects, that as it was out of the power of any one or of all the writers in the three first centuries, whose works are extant, to have ascer tained the doctrine of all the apostolical churches, these de clara4ions must be accepted with considerable limitations— that heretical opinions having sprung up, even in the infancy of the church, grown with its growth, and increased with its strength, and a great part of the ecclesiastical writers having been occupied in refuting them, the doctrinal uniformity of the primitive ages is disproved—that as certain early here tics either rejected a large portion of the Scriptures received by the church, or mutilated them or acknowledged several spurious books, the fathers could not properly argue with such on scriptural grounds, and could only appeal to the tra ditionary doctrine, and that thus tradition was not intro duced as infallible or equipotent with the Scriptures, but merely as the only common ground of argument. Again, certain heretics contended that their doctrines were conform able to those of the apostles; that they had been conveyed to them by tradition in perfect purity; and that in process of time they had been perverted by their opponents. This alle gation the fathers denied, retorting the charge of perversion on their antagonists, su that tradition was equally claimed by either party. But the fathers occasionally called the Scriptures them selves tradition ; sometimes the creed or summary of neces sary articles of faith handed down in the apostolic churches was likewise so denominated. In the latter case, tradition was a system of doctrine really contained in the Scriptures, and one to be proved from the Scriptures, not anything per fectly independent of them; in fact, a compendium of Scrip tural doctrines. "Lastly," proceeds this writer, "the t hers declare, with one voice. that the Scriptures contain all things necessary to be known, believed, and practised for salvation; which are words that fully refute the extravagant assertions of those who would raise tradition to an authority equal to the Scriptures." He then discusses the sense in which Irenwus understood tradition, and unanswerably refutes the usual meaning ap plied to his words—showing, with Stillingfleet, that where he speaks most of tradition he resolves the ground of faith wholly and entirely into scripture; and that those who other tvse apprehend him take citations on trust, or only search him for the words of those citations, not taking the pains to inquire into the scope and design of his intercourse. As I reuteus always asserts the paramount authority of the Scrip tures—as he affirms Polycarp, the disciple of St. John, to have reported all things agreeably to the scriptures, it is evi dent that he believed the scriptures to be supreme in matters of faith, not tradition to have been another apostoiicial stand ard of Christian doctrines. By him and Tertultian tradition was accounted only an evidence subsidiary to the scripture; it wascited in proof that the scriptures were written by those to whom they are attribu ted—by neither was it elevated to the rank which has been assumed. The opinion of Tertullian on this point has been so fully proved by a living prelate to have been conformable to our twentieth article, and opposed to the Roman Catholic notion, that this part of the subject may be safely dismissed; for it is very apparent, that in many passages cited from the fathers in support of tradition they meant the doctrines deli vered down in the sacred writings —not that to which modern appeal is so forcibly made. Amon; other things wanting is the continuity of consent; also the primary and connecting link in the chain of evi dence is wanting. Irenmus is the earliest subject of appeal ; but as he flourished late in the second century, and as the other authorities flourished at a much later period, there is a great chasm which cannot be supplied; "and a failure in tracing at any one period the uncontaminated descent of tra dition from the apostles subverts the very foundation upon which the high authority claimed for it is built." The advocates of the theory which is now perplexing the church use language nearly similar to that of the Roman Catholics in support of tradition, and quote texts in common with them to justify its pretensions. If their words be ad mitted, how imperceptibly may Protestants glide into Popery ! Mr. Churton in particular has quoted texts which are insuffi- * The author of a publication, entitled Travels in Town, in his allusion to the editor of this periodical, says—" The charge of Puseyism lies against him, inasmuch as he has so lavishly praised the men, and recommended their works, who were the first to broach, and still continue the leading cham pions of, those sentiments;" and in another place calls this review the organ of the Puseyites! he editor wishes dis claim any connexion with the party alluded to: if he has praised any of their works, it has only been when they have Contained sound church principles; but when the authors have departed from them, he has, in the same independent spirit by which this Quarterly has alwayi been conducted, re proved and exaused the tendency of they .peculiar_ opinions, Is the plesehTsrticie . will testify. cient to establish the authority of tradition as a standard of faith. It is not disputed that, the apostles delivered oral as well as written instructions; but if these oral instructions were not embodied in Scripture, who now can tell us what they were ? Who can shew that the traditions, to which ap peal is now made, were the same, or indeed had any relation ship to them! One text, on which great reliance is placed, is Thess. ii , 15; but were the paradoseis in the apostle's preaching (logo) different from the paradoseis in the apos tle's epistles? and as the epistles were written documents, and as we cannot imagine men acting under the influence of the holy spirit to have omitted anything necessary to salvation in those written documents, we cannot admit a distinction in this passage, especially since the words, as edidaehtheetee must convince every unbiassed mind that these paradoseis were things that had - been generally taught. Tradition, in the sense in which it is claimed, could not have continued pure for a century, much less could it .leave been conveyed uncorrupted to our times; how any Men of critical minds can attach certainty to it, and write of its pure sources, we cannot understand. - In 2 'fim, Mr. Keble understands teen kalee'i parakatatheekeen, as" the treasure of apostolical doctrines and church rules, containing" -according to the citation by Mr. Holden,) " besides the substance of Christian doctrine, a certain form, arrangement, and selection, me thodising the whole, and distinguishing fundamentals; and also a certain system of church practice, both in government, discipline, and worship, comprising matter independent of, and distinct from", the truths which are directly scriptural." It is most manifest that this is mere conjecture, and that the words contain.in themselves no authority for this amplifica tion ; in fact, Suicer (in voce) has given instances of a differ ent interpretation. Whatever was the parakatatheekee, the text only enjoins Timothy to keep it safe: it is silent even how it was to he kept safe; and Mr. Keble's notion of mat ters independent of, and distinct from, the truths which are directly scriptural; in other words, tradition, is unwarranted by it. Have we, however, evidence that that which is now called primitive tradition was the good deposit committed to Timothy ? - For all the texts collectively which refer to the oral teaching of the apostles do not prove it to have been distinct from that teaching which is preserved in the Scrip tures. We ask, do not the partisans of tradition virtually assert the Scriptures to be defective ? and is not the tradition ary interpretation of many passages contrary to the simplest rules of hermeneutics ? Mr. Holden states, that it is likewise urged that the Scrip ture no where hints that its authority was to supersede that of the unwritten word, no where asserts that it is by itself an intelligible rule of Faith; that, "so far from it, the. Scriptures, on the very face of them, bear testimony to the contrary." In other words, this argument asserts the insufficiency of the Scriptures. No*, as our Saviour arguing with the Jews, did not refer to tradition, but to the Jewish Scriptures, for proof; as the apostles, seeking to convince the Jews, reasoned not from tradition, but from the Seripture; and as by tradition the Jews were said to have made the word of God of no effect, it is very clear that Christ and his apostles considered the Scriptures alone as the intelligible rule of life and faith; and that if this was the case with the . Old Testament, polity of reasoning exacts that it should also have been the case with the New. We cannot understand, since the apostles were enjoined to write•(Apoc. i., 10, 11—ii. 1,8, 12, &c., xiv. 12, xxi. 5, ef, 2'; Pet. iii. 1, '2; St. John Ep. i.-1, 3,4, ii. 1,12, 13, 14, 25, v. 13, 1 Cur. xi., 23.), how anything traditionary, and therefore uncertain, can assume an authority with re ference to that which has been written, unless it. be one most subordinate and open to criticism. St. Luke evidently thought tradition an uncertain guide; for he wrote his gospel that Theophilus might know the certainty or security (asphaleia) of the oral (kathos paredosan—periton kateechathees) instruc tion which he had received. Had the evangelist not fore seen the possible and probable corruption of this oral in struction, the cause which impelled him to write would not have existed. St. John, - too (xx. 31.), says, " These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name ;" than which no words can more fully express the perfect sufficiency of the Scriptures, and by consequence the inadequacy of tradition. St. Paul likewise wrote to Timothy, hint to whom was committed the good deposit, that he might know how to behave himself in the house of God, (1 Tim. iii. 14, '25); whence it appears, that if the good deposit had been oral instruction, it was insufficient without this hortatory epistle. In his second Epistle iii. 16;17, St- Paul unequi vocally maintains the complete sufficiency of the Scriptures; and St. Peter ( I Ep. iv., 11) desires that if any man speak, he should speak as the oracles of God, by which the writte❑ word, not tradition, must have been meant.* In the cause of the Scriptures against tradition, Dr. Shut . tleworth, the warden of New College, •Oxford, steps forth also as a powerful champion. He rightly maintainsin limine, that if the first links which ought to connect a chain with any given object be wanting, no addition to its length at the op posite end will remedy the defect; and that to defend tradi tion hy_appealing to , tradition is, in fact, reasoning in a circle. He adduces a striking passage from Irenmus (adv. iii., 1.), who, be it remembered, is claimed as an au thority for tradition, which passage unequivocally declared, that what the first teachers of Christianity originally taught by word of mouth, they afterwards committed to writing ; and that those writings are the books of the New Testament : consequently, the paradoseis of the apostles were the mate rials from which. the gospels and acts were made, and were identical with the doctrinal parts of the epistles. From the second chapter of the same book it further appears,. that "the first appeal to floating tradition, as containing articles of belief, in addition or in contradiction to the records of holy writ, was made by the earliest of those numerous classes of heretics who, at so early a period of the church, attempted to in g raft their own inventions upon the revelation of God's will." When he again says, that the sound traditions derived di rectly by the church from the apostles themselves in all points harmonized and coincided with the written word; we have a datum in vindication of our preceding interpretation of apos tolical paradoseis. We have thus a proof that Irenmus can— not be justly cited as a traditionist. Dr. Shuttleworth has likewise clearly established, that neither Clemens Romanus. Polycarp, Ignatius, nor the his torians of the martyrdom of the two latter, make tradition a second standard of faith, nor set it up as an auxiliary to revelation. Nor can we conceive that St. Paul especially, who called the Jewish traditions lodaikoi muthoi kai entolai anthropon (Tit. i. 14), and cautioned Timothy against them (1 Ep. i. 4.), stigmatizing (iv. 7.) them as yraodeis muthui, rit'llU had wished tradition to direct the Christian church, would not have left some injunctions respecting it. Nor in the writings of Justin Martyr is there any reference to oral communications, as opposed to those which the apostles left recorded in writing for the edification of the church—nu hint of an esoteric and exoteric system of Christianity. ThusW., have we descended beyond the first 150 years after the close of /mi. Lord's ministry, during which period the doctrine of • tradition, as being concurrent in authority with the Scrip tures, was not imagined. -Had the case been otherwise, we should have found during this interval some allusion to it as a rule of faith, some sifting of the evidence on which it rested, some direct retracing of it to the apostles; and Justin Martyr, who disputed withTrypho, especially, might have been expected to have been diffuse in its favour. The opi nions of the writers of the third or fourth centuries, from the inability to support them by the evidence of the earlier, have little value : and if we would see how tradition involved itself in the fabulous as it proceeded down the stream of time, we need only consult the pages of the Byzantine authors. Tradition should always be received with great caution: it has ever been the engine by which the commandments of men have been set it opposition to the revelations of God. It was the -tool which enabled the Jews to wrest and wrench the Scripture; from their obvious interpretation; it was the tool by- which many of the early heretics forded the gospels to their purpose: why should it not be so again, if it be equalized with the written word ! What tradition has perforined for the Roman Catholics it may perform for others. If God, by mi raculous aid, enabled certain persons to write an infallible record of his will—an infallible directory for mankind, what they wrote must necessarily be accounted complete; if not, the anomaly of something uncertain, therefore fallible, as an indispensable aid to the infallible, will be presented to us. Hence Dr. Shuttleworth properly contends, that there is an d priori improbability against divine inspiraaun having been afforded to an incomplete Scripture; that is the written works of i he apostles are merely a kind of pareyro, mere incidental allusions to uoctrines stated elsewhere, it will follow, a that as the original record has at all events not come down to our time, the revelation of God's will which we now possess is ne cessarily incomplete; that we know not at this moment the whole of our religion, what it has been and should be." For, as he continues to assert, that the oral instruction of the apostolical ages has been transmitted to our tunes in any thing like purity, or a state capable of identification through all the thousand heresies of 1,800 years, on the almost total extinction of Christian knowledge in Europe before the Re formation, is the merest gratuitous assumption, contradicted by historical testimony. Where were the pure traditions of the church i❑ the ignorant and superstitious middle ages of Europe? In this dark epoch was true Christianity to be found anywhere -but in the Scriptures ? We cannot escape from the dilemma—either that " reve ' lation, supposing it to have originally consisted of the written Scriptures and of oral tradition, is at this moment incomplete, the communication having been lost in the lapse of ages, anu the supplementary written portion alone having descended to us; or that, on the other hand, we must be prepared to re ceive the canonical books of the New Testament as an en tire, full, and sufficient declaration of the will of God and summary of our faith." That the latter is correct we cannot doubt; for to &seta that traditionary doctrines passing from mouth to mouth, capable of modification according to the wishes of the reporters, are - revelation, and as such equally binding, on the belief and conscience as the 'Holy Scripture, (as we hear in the present day) is most startling, and, in our• opinion, opens a ready ,doorto heresy and schism. The proximity to the apostolical age yields not proof that the early Christians could not have made important mis takes ; for at that time inspiration had ceased. Without inspiration we cannot imagine unmixed truth to have been orally transmitted front one generation to another; if we affirm that in this transmission there was no taint or super addition of human speculation, we ►mist exempt those suc cessive•generations from one of the most besetting infirmities of our nature. It• we compare the writings of the apostles with those of the primitive Christian fathers; we instantly. perceive that we have passed the boundary of inspiration— we perceive the writers to be merely fallible beings: tradi tions descending to us through such a channel can, therefore, not be put in competition with the inspired documents. In evidence, that no inspiration can be assigned even to Clemens Romanus, Dr. Shuttleworth instances his notice of the phcenix, not merely as illustrative of the resurrection, but as asserting the existence of that fabulous bird as an established fact in natural history, bow much less can it be assigned to those who lived at later periods? In Ju s tin Martyr we observe, occasionally, strange inferences drawn from holy writ, verbal inaccuracies arising from ►nisquota tions, or quotations memoriter, and continually perceive most inconclusive reasoning, such as his deduction of moral evil front the progeny of angels having commerce with antedilu vian females.t Such was his interpretation. What shall we say "of his discovering the holy symbol of the cross in the masts of shipping, iu the implements of husbandry, in the tools of the carpenter, and even in the position of the nose and eyebrows in the human face ;" and of his quoting Lam. iv. 20, in support of the last idea? Shall we accredit tradition handed down by such a person ? Moreover, if Ire nmusa.a by some called the disciple of Polycarp, the disciple of St. John, who in this case ought to have known the truth, asserted for the sake of supporting a fanciful theory, in illus tration of John viii. 57, that our Lord must have nearly reached his 50th year at the time of his crucifixion, to make out which, contrary to the express declamation of the four evangelists, he interpolated more than 15 years between his baptism and the commencement of his ministry, of what au thority can lie be in matters of tradition? If such distin• auished men as Clemens Alexandrinus and Origen bore tes timony to the authenticity of that stupid production and for gery, the apocryphal epistle of Barnabas, whose misrepre sentations of the Levitical law, cabbalistical nonsense, and monstrous blunders abundantly refute it, how can they be trusted respecting orally tradittve communications? If Lac tantius, too, could repeat the outrageous and stupid 'error of this unknown author ou Isaiah xiv. 1, and reading Kruios for Kuros, and arguing from that blunder as from a truth, could have applied the passage to Christ—in the one to Christ° Kurio mou, in the other Christo Domino meo—can we, wit nessing this want of biblical knowledge, account for a safe custodies of tradation ? Nay, who that have read the frivol ties with which the pages of the fathers are filled will trust their judgment respecting any standard of faith separate from the written word? Who will allow these fanciful men to hand down to us another rule of life ? After this period the progress of innovation was so rapidly accelerated that before the close of the fourth century many of the abuses which human invention had superadded to di- * Compare Deut. vi. 6-8, x•i 8-21, xxx. 2, 10, xxxi. 11-13, xvii. 19, 1 Kings ii. 3, 2 Chr. xxxiv. 31, Ps. xii 6, xix. 7-11, lxix. 105, Isaiah viii. 20, xxxiv. 16, Mal. iv. 4, Matt. xxii. 22, Mark xii. 24, Luke xvi. 29, .x. 25, 26, John v. 39, Acts xvii. IL—particularly Rev, xvii. Jl, 19, which, in principle, applies to all the works of. all the inspired . writers. See a - subsequent note. r. Adv. Her., ii. 39. vine revelation became almost completely established. These were subsequently matured into Popery in its worst form. When we find Augustine approving the administration of the eucharist for the purpose of removing a murrain from cattle, under the idea that it was caused by demons,* and recounting a miraculous vision vouchsafed for the purpose of discovering the concealed bones of Gervasius and Pretasius, interred two centuries before ;-f when about the same period, we read the miracles gravely related by Sulpicius Severus,l . and consider that through these periods the oral traditions of the church must have descended, and descended unimpaired, if we would accept them as sound portions of apostolic teaching, we must be more than ordinarily credulous, if we can assent to their integrity or authenticity. It is to tradition, which is, as we have described it, that a party in Oxford would, in these days, direct the church as to a rival of the word of God ! They would hew out for us a broken cistern which can hold no water, and little by little lead us back to all the corruptions of Popery. It is impossible to foresee the mischief which they are pet forming, and which they are leading others to perform ; yet it requires no prophe tic spirit to perceive, that as tradition before conducted the church to Popery, the tradition which these men advocate will have a similar result, if .it be reverential, as they wish it to be. It is a fond fancy, that the adoption of tradition may be restricted to any particular period of the church; the bar , rier which the present party may prescribe to themselves will perhaps be broken down by their disciples; and all the gross absurdities of the later writers, often not exceeded by the Tal mud or the Sonnab, may thus force their way gradually as points of faith. Nay, are not the mummery of abandoning the reading desk, of kneeling on the steps of the altar, and of affected and Pharisaic individuals, wearing, the cross, sure in dications of what will follow ? ' Will not trine baptism, total immersion,§ and unction be advocated upon the same princi ples? Nay, as prayers for the dead have already their apolo gists, as Bishop Ken has been canonized in a service formed on the Popish model, and deceased relations and friends have been provided with a devotional commemoration, and the bre viary itself has been strongly recommended to us, because our reformers did not go far enough, we may, as the army of these men ferments, expect a baptisms umer ton nekron to be en rolled among our institutions. Their progress has been steal thy aocldangerous ; and itthe ,Bishop of Oxford will tolerate such mountebankism and such doctrines in his diocese, no one can tell whet 0 these innovations on our established eccle siastical practice will end. If the church, according to;our articles, has the sole power of decidinc , on her rites, no mem ber of that church has a right to add' to them, or substract from them, under any pretext: if any one be dissatisfied with her formularies and institutions, let him leave her commu nion, and not try to establish a new sect within her pale. (To be continued.) * De Civitato Dei xxii. 8, in which are many most mar vellous legends. t Confess., ix. 8,. . T. Dial. i. 7,8, 9; iii. 6. Baptism was mostly confined to Easter and Whitsun tide; and from a tradition, that the West was the place of darkness, the canclidate's face was directed to that quarter. When he renounced the devil and his works, he was wont to stretch cut his hand, as if in defiance of him; the renuncia- lion twice took place, once before the congregation, and once at the font. Then followed a sort of exorcism; after which he was stripped of his garments and anointed with oil, the sign of the cross being made upon h's forehead. Then twice im mersion took place, afterwards another unction, and at last he was clothed.in a white garment, which he wore for a week, and then deposited in the church. If we were to re vert to such falsely called primitive customs, the simplicity of our services would be destroyed, and these absurd and other equally absurd encumbrances would supply its place. These were a yoke which our fathers could not hear. SIR JAMES GRAHAM AT GLASGOW. (From the SeeOnd Edition 'of the Glasgow Constitutional.) PRESENTATION OF THE CITIZENS' ADDRESS-FREEDOM OF THE CITY-ADDRESS FROM THE CONSERVATIVE OPERATIVES. This (Saturday) being the day appointed for the presen tation of the congratulatory address to this distinguished statesman, from the bankers, merchants, and other inhabitants of Glasgow, on his election as Lord Rector to the University, a good deal of interest was manifested among hundreds of the citizens, to be present on the occasion. he Trades' Hall being the largest available place in the city, it was resolved that the interesting proceedings should take place there; and long before the hour (one o'clock) at which they were to commence, it was crowded to suffocation by as influential and respectable an audience as was ever congregated within its walls. A platform was erected at the upper end of the Hall for the convenience of the committee and other gentlemen ; and in that quarter we observed, among other distinguished personages, the Duke of Montrose, Sir Wm. M. Napier, Dr. Chalmers, Sheriff Alison, Mr. Robert Monteith, the younger, of Carstairs,. &c., &c., &c. Shortly after one o'clock, Sir James Graham entered the Hall, followed by a great number of the leading men of the city, and was welcomed by a most enthusiastic: shout of applause, accompanied by waving of handkerchiefs. On the cheering subsiding, Mr. Robert Dalglish moved that the Lord Provost take the chair. (Tremendous applause.) His Lordship, on taking the chair, said he felt highly honoured at being called upon to preside on so gratifying an occasion as the paying of a tribute of respect to the high and distinguished statesman, who had been elected to the ex alted and honourable.station of Lord Rector to our venerable University. (Applause.) He hoped that the warm recep tion with which Sir James Graham had been honoured would convince him of the deep interest with which the inhabit ants of Scotland looked upon sound constitutional principles, and the value they attached to public as well as private virtue. (Cheers.) He spoke his own sentiments, and he was sure they were the sentiments of all who heard him, when he said, that however much they dreaded all speculative and uncalled for innovations on the constitution—innovations tending to weaken and destroy the Protestant institutions of the coun try, yet they desired to forward and support every measure of practical, useful, and constitutional reform. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) But of all things, they desired to see the moral and religious improvem e nt of the people—knowing that while this added to their happiness here, it. would secure their best happiness hereafter. (Applause.) A. well-educated, pious, and virtuous people would best preserve the peace and secure the prosperity and happiness of a great ' glorious, and free country. (Cheers.) It was now, his lordship added, in virtue of the official situation he held, his duty to present to Sir James the freedom of the city (enthusiastic applause), which the magistrates and council had been pleased to vote to him. The Lord Provost having read the burgess ticket, and tendered him the same, next presented the hon. baronet with the exeelieer eddrese of the eitizene (which has already been published,) subscribed. by upwards of 2000 names, which he also read with excellent effect, being repeatedly in terrupted by rapturous bursts of applause. Sir James Graham, on rising, was received with the most deafening cheers. He said it would be superfluous in him to assure them that he had yesterday accepted, with pride and gratification, the very high honour which had been conferred upon him by. the ancient University of this city; while, at the same time, it was the deep and honest conviction that he was unworthy of the distinction. He however accepted it as a high and ample reward for the many painful sacrifices he had made, and a complete compensation for any services, which, during his public life, he had been able to render to his fellow subjects. (Cheers.) But while he spoke of the honour as being thus personally gratifying to himself, he held this to he far inferior to the pride he felt in looking upon it as a proof to the country at large, that the youth of Scotland, be longing to the middle classes, which were the mainspring of the body politic, were rallying round the ancient institutions of the country; to defend them in the time of need, and to arrest the progress of that revolutionary destruction, which, under the guise of salutary reform, would lead onward to havoc and exterminating violence. (Loud and continued cheers.) If anything could enhance the pleasure he felt, it was the delight he experienced in seeing such a large and re spectable assemblage before him. What did he see before him at the present moment? He saw the Lord Provost of the great city pf Glasgow presiding—he saw her most emi nent merchants, her bankers, and all classes of her citizens represented in the present meeting, to ratify the choice of the University, and to express their approbation of those public 'principles which had been the guide of the whole tenor of his public life. (Cheers.) It was advisedly that he used the word tenor, for looking, back on the whole of his public ca reer, as compared with the eventful times in which we now lived—events which seem to crowd the occurrences of centu ries within the space of a few years—and which require the promptest measures on the part of public men—there might be passages of his public life which he was not now prepared to justify, and there might be many mote which they might see reason to condemn. Yet, looking at the tenor of his pub lic life, they were pleased to say that be had conducted him self with independence, moderation, industry, and firmness. (Cheers.) And what was still higher praise in these shabby times, they had honoured him by stating that he had resisted the temptations of self-interested ambition. (Cheers.) The tribute which they had paid to him was far beyond his deserts. What was the tribunal before which his conduct had been tried, and by which the judgement had been pronounced ? Why, there was first a majority of the town-council. (Great applause.) It was not from personal vanity that he had al luded to this matter,but it was because there was a great moral lesson to be learned from it. He was utterly unworthy to be compared with the two eminent persons he was about to name, but it would be remembered that in 1834, Lord Stanley had been elected Lord Rector. (Cheers.) That nobleman was his most intimate, his most confi dential and faithful friend. In office they had not been separated, and in opposition they had not been divided. (Cheers.) With his name there was connected every thing which was manly and noble, and yet when he was appointed Lord Rector a majority of the town council denied him the freedom of the city. (Shame.) In 1836, when Sir R. l'eel was elected to the same office—(ioamense cheeringl—he who was the great leader of the Conservative party, and whom he was proud to be able to call his friend, ,ind it was his boast that he could call himself his follower — (cheers)—even then when Sir Robert was present in Glas gow—when he was entertained at one of the greatest public dinners which had ever been given in honour of a public man—the question of the freedom of the city was aaain brought forward, and again was it refused by a majority. (Cheers and hisses.) But that which was meant as a mar k of disrespect to Sir Robert Peel turned out to be a complete triumph. (Loud cheers.) The operatives of Glasgow pur chased the treedorn which had been refused by the council— purchased it out of their own means, and presented it to Sir Robert. (Cheers.) It was yet only two years since this had taken place in Glasgow! and yet he who was greatly inferior to either in merit, and in every thing else except in his at tachment to Protestant principles (cheers) he had a majority of the council answering in the affirmative the question if the freedom of the city should be given to Sir James Graham? (Cheers.) And not only was it granted, but it was stated to be given in consequence of his adherence to sound Protestant principles—(cheers)—to those principles on which the safety of the country so mainly depended. Who would venture to assert that in this there was not shown the progress of public opinion, of its returning to inure sober sense and judgment ? (Cheers.) He had been one of the promoters of municipal reform, because he considered that the well-educated and in telligent people of Scotland were entitled to be intrusted with that power. But he was, at the same time, aware that sudden changes would, undoubtedly, for a time, create the opposite evil, though not to an equal extent ; for if men were regardless of the distinctions between right and wrong for a time, he held that it would not be long before they re turned, and again recognised sound constitutional principles The result had been, that the progress of sound opinion was far beyond his most sanguine hopes, &the town councilor Glasgow had set an example of the progress of that change. (Loud cheers.) But by whom was the address presented to him? It bore 2000 signatures, many of the principal merchants, bankers, manufacturers, and inhabitants of the city—a city which was second only to the metropolis itself—which was the great emporium of Scottish commerce, and the mart of its merchandise. (Cheers.) And by whom was the verdict in his favour pronounced? By men who were renowned for their intelligence, their sagacity, and their prudence in managing their affairs. (Cheers.) The address alluded to the detractions and aspersions with which he had been as sailed, and which often fell on the purest characters, but amidst all the cares, the troubles, and the jealousies of life, he would look back upon the proceedings of this day with pride and with pleasure, and would rest on the verdict they had prononnced in his favour; and come what might during his career, he would think with satisfaction of this meeting, and endeavour by his future conduct to merit their approval, so that he might go on his way rejoicing. The address re ferred' to his official services when a member of the govern ment. It was his fortune, while in the management of naval affairs, to make considerable reductions in some branches of the expenditure ; but it was his first, as it was his constant endeavour to sustain the warlike efficiency of the right arm o f Britain's' strength. (Cheers.) It was n vain that they talked of making commercial treaties for opening the Black Sea; it was in , vain• that they attempted to open up the Countries of South America; it was in vain to think of over awing Russia in the East, if the Witish navy was not pre - Pifed ready to assert British rights, and vindicate our maritime supremacy. if they did not, then their glory was de parted, and the foremost place which Britain has hitherto held among the nations would be abandoned without a struggle. (Cheers) He never, with all his reductions, hesitated to apply for money to add to the amount of naval stores, or b add to the number of effective sailors and marines; and at great expenge he had enforced the laws relating to apprentices in the merchant service—introduced a new system of gunnery— and prepared steam vessels of war—and in justice to the House of Commons he must say, that he never saw a grant refused for naval purposes, which a responsible minister of the crown said was actually required. (Cheers.) lf, then, the present government, from a fear of asking supplies, or a fear of asking for new taxes, shrunk from taking those mea sures which were so necessary for keeping up our naval re sources, in order to secure our maritime supremgcy, he had no hesitation in saying, that they neglected their duty to the country—that they had utterly mistaken the policy of Bri tain, and the wishes of the people. (Cheers.) Hume was the great bug-bear in the matter. (Laughter.) He saw their mirth was excited by the mention of his name. That gentleman had once told them that the Roman capital had been saved by the cackling of a goose (laughter)—and Lord Melbourne might yet find that the greatest people of the world, if not ruined by the cackling of a goose, might suffer equally from the parsimony of an empiric. (Loud cheers.) Attempts had been made in certain quarters to throw upon him the blame of the present state of the navy. They ought, however, tol recollect, that it was now five years since his measures had been put into other hands.. They might have been neglected, or misunderstood, or injured by design; but he was not to he responsible for the present state of the navy. The fact was, that in this as in many other things, the go vernment of Lord Melbourne was not the government of Earl Grey. (Cheers.) The address also referred to his sentiments on the subject of the Protestant religion. While he held that the navy was the right arm of Britain's strength, it was his deliberate judgment that the pillar on which Britain rested was the Protestant faith. (Cheers.) This he held to be the real source 'of all morality, of all intelligence, and if that pillar were shaken, the whole fabric would tumble into the dust. (Cheers.) It was made a complaint that they mingled religion in their political strife; but our fathers were pecu liarly studious to blend religion with all their national iusti tutions, and their utmost exertions were used to render the state an oblation not unworthy of the Most High ; and the union of the Church and State has been that under which the country had secured all her happiness, and acquired all her glory. (Cheers.) They should look what their institu tions were 300 years ago, when the mind of the country was relieved from the thraldom of the Pope—when Luther and Calvin taught the people to think, and when Crannies and Latimer showed the people how to suffer and to die for tbeir religion. Let them point out a single instance in which the mind of the country had been effectually roused, and it would be found that religion's defence was the strength of the con flict. Let them look at the Reformation, at the Revolution, at the rebellions in Scotland and of Leland, and they would find that they all attested the truth of that statement. In Scotland, too, for the sake of their religion, the Cove nanter§ overthrew Charles the First. For that same cause Scotland, independent and high-minded Scotland, had maintained. (Enthusiastic cheers.) And the peace of Ire land has been shaken by the attacks on the national religion. These attacks were joined in by Catholics, by Dissenters, and by Infidels; and he was grieved to see that the executive government of the country, who were in the confidence of the crown, were giving them too much en couragement, a combination which no foresight could have guarded against, and against which they might not be able to stand, except by the special interposition of Divine Pro vidence. But they will say to him, vou supported Catholic Emancipation. He did support it. you they should recol lect the circumstances in which the matter stood when he did so. It was in 1793 that the great concession was made, the right to the franchise; and the right of being elected should, he considered, follow that measure. The result had been, that an awful warning had been given them, in showing how much farther the consequences of concessions go than what is apprehended at the time of making those concessions: (Loud cheers.) He was sorry to be obliged, however, to say that he stood in the disgraceful situation of a dupe. He believed that all they required was, that the Catholics should have equal religious rights, but he did not anticipate that they would claim a religious ascendancy. (Cheers.) When he was at the Westminster School, in 1805, he had the for tune to be under the gallery of the House of Commons, when Mr Fox moved for the emancipation of the Catholics, and when Mr. Grattan made his first speech on that question. It was impossible but that those speeches should have made a deep impression on his mind, and he recollected it as if it were yesterday. Both of them placed the claim of the Ca tholics to equal rights, on the ground, that it would give in creased security to the Protestant Church, and that if it could be shown that any danger was likely to arise tO the National Church from the yielding of those claims, they would repudiate the matter. But the fact did not rest merely on this assertion. In the very petition which was presented in 1805, there was a passage which contained an explicit de claration that the Catholics did not seek to injure the Church, or to encroach on any of its rights, privileges, or revenues, or other immunities, as secured by law—that the sole object was to obtain an equal participation, on equal terms, in the benefits of the constitution. Language could not be plainer than this, which was in 1805; but how was it in 1812? It ever there was a conscientious, pious, high minded patriot, that man was Wilberforce. (Cheers.) A volume had been lately published, which had laid open some of his secret thoughts by means of his diary, and on the sub ject of the vote he had given on that question, he said that he contended that the admission to parliament should be con ceded, as the franchise had been, the one naturally leading the other. It was in vai n t o s t op host of that, but he thought that the present was the golden opportunity for accompanying the concession with some necessary safeguards; for though the Catholics might think the oath not binding, yet who that had taken the oath would venture to rise and propose any thing trithe detriment of the Church. Sir James then quoted some remarks from a letter of the Earl of Shrewsbury, de claring that the Catholics did not wish to injure the Church, and thatthey would rather support it than the Dissenters, be cause the former were nearer to the mother Church than the. Dissenters were; and he added, that he considered these to be the sentiments of the whole body, as well as his own. Sir James then stated that he did confess that he had implicit confidence in the declarations of the Catholic nobility and the dignitaries of the Catholic Church, that an equality of civil rights was all that they would require, and that granting that would secure religious power; but he would never shrink from saying, that he would resist all attempts to injure the Church ; and with these hopes he had cohsented to make the experiment. They could not fail to recollect the remarkable words of Sir It. Peel in 1829, 'in the speech in which he brought forward this measure—words whirl, .honed, in the strongest manner, the sagacity, and would explain the grounds of his supporting every measure which would prevent the dominancy of the Catholic Church. The effect of his words were, that if his expectations were disappointed, if unhappily any strife should take place—if these differences did not arise on the ground of inequality of privileges—if there was some thing in the character of the Catholic religion, which would prevent its stopping short of supremacy—yet he would make the trial. If the contest could not be averted—if the battle was for other objects than an equality of rights—if it were fur the dominancy of an intolerant church—if such gloomy pre dictions were realised, they would be able better to fight the battle after these concessions, than as they then were. If, therefore, said Sir James, the expectations. of Sir Robert were nut realized, he had a right to claim the support of all who had joined them in the measure. He had been taunted with inconsistency. He had supported Sir Robert Peel at Oxford after the Emancipation Bill passed, and he had said then that Sir Robert would vet be the great est champion of the church. (Cheers.) Sir James then al. luded to the conduct of the Marquis of Headfort iu attending an anti-tithe meeting, and commented in strong terms on one of her Majesty's household adopting such a course. On these grounds, be insisted on the necessity of supporting Sir Robert Peel against an intolerant church. Now they were called on to stand forth in defence of the Church of their fathers. This line of conduct had been taken, and he should not be found wanting in the great struggle. (Cheers.) It would be his glory to be found fighting in the ranks of that great man Sir Robert Peel. (Cheers,) He was the cham pion of the party, and with such leaders as the immortal Wellington (cheers) by their side, defeat and despair must be wholly unknown. (Loud cheers.) He had been taunted with a departure from his principles—hut these taunts he re garded not. 'l' he real question now, and its importance could not be denied, was, ' Are you going to stand by the Church and the Queen, to prevent the dotninaucy of volun taryism and a republic ?' (Cheers.) Sir James then went on to describe his connection with the Whigs, who, while he supported them, he always understood to be firm advocates of the Protestant religion—in that they would have his support to the last. (Great cheering.) It'had been said he had de parted from the principles he professed at the passing of the Reform Bill. But surely the memories of those who said so must be short. What were the arguments by which the friends of the Reform Act obtained an acquiescence to the measure from the late King and the House ot Lords—was it not because it was understood to he a final measure? Did the King or the House of Lords ever imagine that it was only the beginning of a change which was to move onwards for ever? He knew the moral obligation which he felt him self, and he considered that bill to go as far in the democra tic principle as it was possible in this country. In his own mind too, he had come under a solemn obligation when the measure was granted, to resist further innovation. It was a great change—the greatest ever effected in the world without bloodshed. That measure was agreed to on the understand ing that the franchise was not to be lowered, that the ballot could not be operative in this country, and that there was to be no ulterior change. My Lord Grey tendered the act in full satisfaction of all demands,—even of the demands urged by the friends of the people. He then went on to descant on the late proceedings in Canada; and appealed to his hearers whether it was a stable government who put down the Patriots in that country, and favoured the Precursors in Ireland? He agreed with Lord John Russell in many things. They were perfectly at one in this, that the country could not bear a re volution every year—that an established religion was ne cessary; and when Lord John remembered that his ancestor had died on the scaffold in defence of its liberty, he (Sir James) could not help thinking that Lord John was still a friend of Protestr_ntism. After contrasting the manner in which Sir Robert Peel and Lord Russell had conducted themselves, in nearly similar circumstances, as to love of place, Sir James said he (Sir J.) resisted O'Connell as dangerous, while Lord John Russell depended on him for political existance. He abjured the doctrines of Mr. Whittle Harvey, while Lord Russell upholds that man, and confers on him places of trust. The men of the ballot, too, were countenanced by his lordship. It might be asked why he singled out Lord John Russell in this way. That was solely because he happened to be at the head of the government. He alluded to the conduct of O'Connell and the Irish people, whose principle seemed to be to crouch when weak, and kick when strong. At one time they were 2,000,0000 f humble peti tioners, and at another they were 2,tX)U,oooof fighting men. Looking at the occurrences in Canada, at the declaration of independence, at the people's charter, which Lord John Russell did not denounce in Liverpool. though he has since issued a torch-light proclamation—(a laugh ;)—if, after all this, the Whigs adhere to the radicals, there would be the writing on the wall, "the days of monarchy , are numbered." (Cheers.) if they had any love for their country—if they had any sense of the common danger—if Lord J. Russell would manfully resist those measure to which he is opposed, he will separate from the radicals, and though his supporters might be somewhat reduced, a great nation will be saved from impending danger. (Loud cheers.) There were many other topics on which he might enlarge, but he would desist. He had stated his opinions frankly and fearlessly; he Was not afraid to state them—he was as ardently attached to li berty as ever he was; and it would still be his leading motive to support the Protestant religion, which was the basis of the happiness of both rich and pour. He would never consent to changes which would destroy sore happiness than the civilised world ever presented to the view of the astonished philosopher. (Great applarisP.) Mr. William Anderson, the president of the Conservative Operative Society, then came forward and presented an ad dress to Sir James. He was accompanied by Mr. W. Keddie, who read an address in a distinct and spirited manner, amidst frequent cheers from the audience. At the conclusion of the document, which we considered a very masterly pro duction, and exceedingly creditable both to the hearts and heads of the class from whom it emanated, Sir J. Graha►n observed, that although he had been considerably fatigued and worn out by the exertions of the last two days, yet the sentiments propounded by the Conservative operatives were entitled to the highest respect, and he must say they were congenial to his heart. (Cheers.) They had put promi nently forward what was the most important of ail subjects. The parochial system of education of Scotland was a perfect model. Would to God that they' had such a system in Eng land. There was one thing of which he was well assured, — the operatives of Scotland would not calmly, and without a struggle, surrender those glorious privileges which had heed transmitted to them by their forefathers, who were now :en joying .the reward of their virtue and piety. - He conja, them to foster and defend education—Scriptural education-- as "the apple of their eye." That would always be a sure guide to good morals, and an infinite consolation when they come to die. In the Reform Act, which was alluded in the address, all he had ever wished for of political privi leges had been carried by that measure ; and he was extremely happy to find that so many of the respectable operatives of Glasgow were also satisfied. By a constant dabbling in legislation and ideal reforms, all the practical good expected from the bill would be nullified,—and this continual move ment, agitation, and change, would frighten men of capital and property out of the countiy This would be most fatal, of course, to the working classes. He assured them he would ever be ready to assist in anything which could benefit them. One part of the excellent address which had just been read, related to a matter of the deepest and most para mount interest, and they appealed to him for his sympathy _and suppott.___The destitution of_the people in this city for churches had been stated. There were 60,000 of the inhabi tants destitute of accommodation. The question here was, shall the bread of life be supplied or not ? His undoubted opinion was, that it should be given without money and without price. But all that was required was, that the churches which the people themselves erected should be en dowed; and a more modest, a more reasonable request had never been asked. To these endowments he now earnestly declared that he would give his most unqualified support. In one part of the address his kind friends wished him long life; he thanked them for their good willies, but he could assure them he had no wish to survive the religious institu tions and the constitution of this country. These institu tions and that constitution, however, must be defended; and although he should fall in the struggle, and be buried amidst the ruins, he would account himself more fortunate than those who survived to witness what should follow. Mr. Robert Monteith, jun., of Carstairs, on coming for ward to move a vote of thanks to the Lord Provost for his conduct in the chait, was received with several rounds of applause. He remarked, that to the Lord Provost they were indebted for coming forward, as he had done, and wel coming Sir James Graham—such conduct had been the means of adding greatly to their harmony and social enjoy ment. As the first magistrate of the city, too, he had been the first to throw something like credit over the popularly elected town Council, by coming nobly forward and present- ing the distinguished statesman before them with the free dom of the City of Glasgow, for his exertions in aid of the great cause of the constitution. (Loud cheers.) In relation to the proceedings of the day, Mr. Monteith expressed him self in terms of high admiration ; and referring to the address presented to Sir J. Graham, by the Conservative Operatives' Association—an address couched in the best language, and conceived in the noblest spirit—coupled with the spirit stirring speech of Sir James, he must confess that, for one, he felt grateful in havin g had an opportunity of being pre sent; for sure he was that he, and all who heard him, would depart wiser and better men. (Applause.) Thanks having been enthusiastically tendered to the Lord Provost, three cheers were given for his 19rdship, three for Sir James Gia ham, three for Dr, Chalmers, three for Sir Robert Peel, &c. &c., when the crowded assembly separated. MISCELLANEOUS. A miller near Wakefield has purchased the sweepings of he corn-market there for the next year for £3O, being double .he price obtained last year. SAVING WITHOUT CONSCIENCE.—We are informed that the Poor-law Commissioners have suggested to the board of guardians of the Tendring union, that those surgeons only should be employed for the union as would give the sick poor "no mutton."—Essex Standard. Nine vessels have arrived to Messrs. J. Alexander and Co., of Belfast Mills, five to-day, and the remainder since September, all loaded with foreign wheat, of the finest de scription, and containing about 10,000 quarters, or 2300 tons. —Belfast News Letter. A Musical. Doc.—An amateur flute player had a terrier dog that would sit listening to his master's performance for an hour together; but if he played " Dropsof Brandt , " rather rapidly, the animal would jump upon his knees, and push the flute from his mouth. The temperance society ought to have presented this sober dog with a silver collar. LABOURERS' WAGES.—In consequence of the high price of wheat, and the privations likely to occur to labourers during the winter, many farmers in Wiltshire have increased the wages of all the labourers on their farms Is. per week— an example which, we trust, will find many imitators in this county. We observe many similar instances, to a greater extent, in other counties.—Gloucester Chronicle. HORTICULTURE.—Mr. Dutton, the gardener of Comber mere Abbey, in this county, gathered a dish of green peas on the 22d of - November last, and on the same day a basket of Morello cherries. Lord Combermere has an extremely choice selection of apples in his garden at the abbey. One apple, gathered this year from a small Spanish tree, weighed 56 ounces and a half. The flavour of this apple is delicious —Chester Gazette. The doors of the Legislative Council of New South Wales have been thrown open, and the proceedings are re ported at considerablelengtb, and apparently with much care and ability, in their journals. Sir George Gipps appears to be his own minister, to carry on the business of the govern ment himself, and accordingly to speak both frequently, and if the reporters are at all correct, well.—Murray's Australian Review. THE STRIPED PIG 00TDONE.—It is stated in an exchange paper, that rum, the sale of which is prohibited to the United -States army, is smuggled into camp, by the fruit traders of Florida, very ingeniously, by emptying cocoa nuts of their milk and filling them with the liquor, then sealingthe eye of the nut with pitch.—New York paper. MARYPORT ANTI) CARLISLE RAILWAY.—OR Setnrday week another portion of this railway was contracted for by Mr. W. Irving, the contractor for the former portion. Mr. Wales, a Liverpool iron merchant, was declared the contractor for the permanent rails; and Mr. Hillary, of Ewan rigg Hall, con tracted at the same time for the chairs, &c.—Carlisle Patriot. HERRINGS.—The catch of herrings at Poulton, near Lan caster, has been very large, indeed this week as many as 30,000 have been taken at one lift of the net by one boat; so plentiful are they, that the fishermen sort the finer ones out for the market, and the smaller ones they throw on the land for till; fine ones are now selling at Lancaster at Is. per 100. —Preston Pilot. NOVEL WATCH4IOUSES.--On some farms near Salisbury moveable watch-houses are made use of to prevent depreda tions on the flocks and other exposed property. A waggon is covered with thatch, and each end boarded up and fitted wit t h a door ; then the waggon is drawn up glpse,49 the, sheep fold, and thus a comfortable lodging' lurormed for the shep herd and boy, thereby rendering the crime of sheep-stealing almost impossible. There can be little doubt that the adop tion of so easy a mode of watching agricultural property will become general.— Wiltshire Independent. PEAT AND FOSSIL TIMBER BELOW GRANITE.—A letter was lately read before the Geological Society, from Mr. Edge, in which he states that when engaged in erecting some works in the neighbourhood of St. Peter's, Guernsey, he found it necessary to have a well dug. At the depth of 45 feet from the surface, the workmen came to a block of granite, which they were forced to blast, and ascertained to be six feet in thickness. A few feet beneath the granite, they were sur prised at finding a small quantity of peat, with several pieces of fossil timber in the state of bogwood, and conceived to be oak. Specimens of these have been sent to the society. CAPTURE OF A HAWK.—On Sunday afternoon last, as two gentlemen were walking near Messrs. Brocklebank's building yard, Whitehaven, they perceived a hawk descend with fearful rapidity upon a poor sparrow that was faintly chirruping on the ground. One of the gentlemen ran to the spot, and so bent was the hawk upon the destruction of his prey, or else so stunned by the descent, that he permitted himself to be captured.—Carlisle Partiot. NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY.—A number of workmen are at present actively engaged iu securing from wet the arches of the new bridges, thrown across the different roads and rivers on the North Midland Railway, in the vicinity of Ches terfield, by a covering of melted pitch mixed with a quantity of burnt clay which had been previously pulverized. This mixture possesses uncommon qualities as a durable cement. A thoroughfare is now made under the " Horns Bridge." EXPEDITION.—A short time since a gentlemen of this town crossed the Atlantic by the Great Western, visited Niagara, Montreal, Quebec, Philadelphia, and Washington, and re turned to England in a sailing packet, accomplishing both the voyages and his American tour in a day less than two months. A voyage to America has now become a mere trip of pleasure, which thousands will be induced to take, indeed we have already heard of a number who are going in the spring merely for the gratification of curiosity. CHURCH ACCOMMODATION.—On Monday a very numerous meeting was held in the Court-house, Barnsley, Lord Wharn chffe in the chair, for the purpose of furtheritig the extension of Church Accommodation in the Diocese of Ripon. Some very interesting speeches were delivered, in which it was shown that a great want of Church Accommodation existed in the district, as the population had of late rapidly increased. On the subscription list being shown to his Lordship be put down a donation of one hundred pounds, with an annual sub scription of five guineas. Other subscriptions rapidly followed, till the sum raised at the meeting was upwards of £600. Leeds Intelligencer. A LEGAL QUESTION.—Mr. Pickering, miller, of Sutton Mills, Frodsham, after being convicted at Daresberry Petty Sessions in a mitigated penalty, for having a 60Ib weight in his possession, inquired of the magistrates as to whether it would be lawful for him to use a 561 b weight, made with a sort of watch fob or hollow place, for the insertion of a 41b weight, so as to make up the sixty pounds, as he had been given to understand the magistrates at Hoo Green had held it to be legal. The bench declined giving any decisive opinion, but considered that it would be such an invasion of the act as would render the parties adopting the plan suggested liable to the same penalty as they would incur by having one weight of sixty pounds. RADICAL DEMONSTRATION—FIRE ARMS.—At two small villages, called Gravel Hole, and Crompton, which are be tween Rochdale and Oldham, the inhabitants have clubs held at hush shops and beer houses, and pay sixpence per week to purchase fire arms. Last week, the menibers of a inen's sick club, in that neighbourhood, held a meeting, at which it was proved that the club was worth upwards of two pounds per member; it was unanimously agreed upon that the money they had in the bank should be drawn out, and that one pound should be allowed to each member to purchase fire arms, and to have them -ready, previous to the meeting of the radical-demonstration parliament. At Royton and Oldham, the radicals are opposed to physical force, but at Ashton under-Lyne, Staley Bridge, and Hyde, there are several hundred; of radicals who have lately got fire arms. There are also clubs similar to the above.—Bolton Chronicle. LONE) NoIIBCRY AND MR. O'CoNNELL.--When Mr. O'Connell was urged by his friends in Ireland to follow Sir Robert Peel. for the purpose of demanding that satisfaction which he was precluded front receiving during Sir Robert's remaining in office, he proceeded to London while Sir Robert waited for him at Calais; but during his stay in the metropolis he was supposed to have talked so much about the nature of his errand that he was apprehended and taken before Mr. Birnie, who bound him over to keep the peace, which he effectually (lid, by returning to Dublin without furtber seeking Sir ltobt. Peel. These are things, however, that are not easily passed over in Ireland, and it was soon whispered that Mr:O'Con nell had caused his own apprehension. Just at this period was arguing a case of nisi before Lord Norbury, who always shut his eyes when O'Connell spoke, and he this day kept them so firmly closed that Mr. O'Connell believing him to he really asleep, lost his temper, and exclaimed.. "My lord, lam afraid you do not apprehend me." His lordship's eyes opened in a moment, as he replied, " Nobody is so easily apprehended as Mr. O'Connel, when hewishes to be."— Standard. 'TEMPERANCE IN THE GREAT WESTERN.—We, the under signed, who have been passengers in the Great Western on her last voyage to England, are of opinion, that, considering the change which this establishment of steam navigation will certainly produce, and has, indeed, already effected, in lead ing to the employment of a larger class of ships, and the assembling of a greater number of passengers than has hitherto been usual, it would be found a much more expedi ent course, and not less satisfactory to the great majority of the passengers than to the company of proprietois, if these steamers, being, in fact, magnificent floating hotels, were placed upon the same footing as hotels in one importa n t par ticular, viz., that, instead of wine and other li quors b e i ng freely supplied as they are called for, at all tim es , an d with out any specific charge, they should he left to be furnished by the steward to the passengers calling for thetn, at a separate established price, in the same manner as in hotels, and in the steam-boats employed upon the lakes and l i vers o f A mer i ca . Such a change, we are persuaded, is recommended, by vari nu; considerations applying to the comfort of the passengers, ,roil to the safe, orderly, and satisfactory conduct of the great .nterprise in which the Great Western Steam Navigation Ctimpany is engaged. We take the liberty, therefore, of aging it strongly upon the attention of the directors, and quest that Captain Hosken will have the goodness to lay ,is expression of .opinion before them. (Signed by - sixty passengers, among whom. were John Robinson, Chief Juttice of Upper Canada, and Loth Arthur Lennox.)