The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-04 00:00:00

" The table and petition nuisance" has been again in ope. ration on our footpaths during the past week. What are the police doing? The obstruction to passengers is most incon venient. INDICATIONS OF SPRING. —Considering the chilly and unsettled weather that, with slight exceptions, we have expe rienced until within the last day or two, our readers will scarcely be prepared for the tokens which " smiling spring" has now given of her bland and cheering presence. In seve ral places in the neighbourhood, the note of the cuckoo has been heard, and on Friday week swallows were seen in great numbers. On Tuesday last a hive of bees swarmed in the garden of Cuthbert Simpson, Esq., of Woolton. This may be considered the most striking fact of all, the usual period being anticipated by at least a month. BURGLARY.—EarIy on Friday morning some thieves ef fected an entrance into the house of Mr. Nathan, watch maker, Castle-street, by getting through the coal-vault into the kitchen. They forced open several drawers, but de camped without taking any thing with them, probably hav ing been disturbed whilst at their nefarious work. EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY.—The report of this excellent institution we are glad to see has been much called for. We drew attention, when it was first published, to the important practical remarks attached to it by Mr. Neill, the operating surgeon, and we cannot too strongly press the claims of the charity, or the observations of Mr. Neill, upon the consi deration of our readers. On Saturday night and Sunday morning this town was visited by a seyere storm of rain, accompanied with thunder in the distance. On Saturday the weather was extremely sultry, but on Sunday we experienced a sudden change—the atmosphere being thick and hazy, and the rain descending the whole day. Yesterday, however, was seasonable, and like a May-day. We perceive, from the London papers, that the metropolis was visited by a similar storm, though of rather more severity. CAUTION TO CARTERS. — About eleven o'clock on Satur day morning, a carter, named John Guy, who was riding in his cart near St. John's Market in a state of intoxication, ran over a child, and seriously injured it. The child was immediately taken up, and it walked as far as Hood-street, and then dropped down. Policeman No. 202 took the driver into custody ; but not until after having had his coat torn in a struggle with him. Yesterday be was brought up before Mr. Rushton, when a certificate from a surgeon was produ ced, stating that the child was in considerable danger. The Prisoner said some woman had unbuckled the horse's reins, and that he saw the child walk under the feet of the animal, but he could not stop, although he shouted. He was willing to pay the expenses of the doctor. Mr. Rushton said that would not do, and he must be remanded till the fate of the child was known. STREET ROBBERY.—A bad character, named James Mill ward, was brought up at the police-court yesterday, on a charge of having picked the pocket of Mrs. Hannah Jones, the wife of a grocer in High-street, Bangor, of five sovereigns, a crown-piece, and a half-crown. Mrs. Jones stated, that she was looking for her lodgings in I'ownall-street about nine o'clock on Saturday night,. and that when she was with her daughter at the corner of Liver-street the prisoner jostled against her, and immediately afterwards she felt his hands in her pocket. The next moment she felt that her purse had been taken. She charged the prisoner with the rubbery, and on the police being called for he ran off. He was, however, secured, by policeman No. 70, after a severe struggle in Park lane. Four half-crowns were found upon him. The pri soner strongly denied the charge, but being positively sworn to by Mrs. Jones and her daughter, he was committed for trial at the ensuing sessions. DEATH OF GENERAL DONKIN, M.P.—This venerable and gallant general terminated his existence at Southampton on Saturday last. We are informed the deceased general, who was on a tour on the coast for the benefit of his health, which for some time past has caused much anxiety to his family connections, had only arrived a few days previously, attended by a person in charge of him, and that having availed himself of the temporary absence of his attendant succeeded in hanging himself. The deceased had been upwards of 63 years in the army. He was surveyor-general of the ordnance, a K.C.B. and - G:C.H., and colonel of the 11th or North Devonshire regiment of foot, to which regiment he was re moved from the 80th, of which regiment he was colonel-in chief many.years. He was returned as member of parlia ment in 1832 and 1835 for Berwick, and was returned at the last election for Sandwich, •for which place there is now a vacancy in the representation. • Miss E. HAMILTON'S CONCERT.—Miss E. Hamilton's concert took place at the Wellington-rooms, on Thursday last, and was most fashionably and numerously attended. The fair beneficiarie delighted her audience with some three or four pretty ballads, which she sung in a chaste and pleas ing style. Her sister, Miss Hamilton possesses a fine con trast voice of considerable power. Miss Whitnall sang with much sweetness a charming ballad of Lover's,—the chorus at the close of each verse having a novel and singular effect. Alr. Andrews free base voice was very effective in Calcott's song—" Friend of the Brave". The concerto on the piano forte by Mr. Elliot, displayed much brilliancy of execution, taste, and feeling.' It was deservedly applauded. quence of Mr. Walton being prevented leaving Manchester, Mr. Henry Dodd supplied his place, the change leaving no thing to be wished for. Mr. Dodd sung a very difficult and capital song of Horn's—that most charming composer—en titled " The Troubadour". It is somewhat new in Liverpool. It appeared to be well relished. It was given with powerful effect, good taste, and feeling. Tenors with fine names could not have made more of it. How is it that this very ca pital singer is so seldom engaged at the concerts continuall' given here ? Mr. Dodd is generally liked. His voice is In conse- noble one, and his songs are always relished by the public.— It appears remarkable that singers should be brought from neighbouring towns, when we have those who are in good favour amongst us. Mr. Dodcl a is not the only instance of talent being neglected. There is a Mr. Jackson—why is it that the concert " givers " do not engage him. Without doubt he is the first violincello performer in this part of Eng land—indeed we question if there is better or superior to him anywhere. At a late concert, a son.- in which he ac companied was rapturously encored, merely for the purpose of again hearing him " wake the sweet notes in passing along." Yet these stupid concert givers are so blind to their interest and so regardless of taste, that they will not give a man an engagement who has no superior—from some unac countable feeling—arising, nobody knows why, and nobody knows wherefore. We would rather, positively, hear Mr. Jackson's violincello forhalf an bow; than listen to all the Singers in Liverpool put together a day ! DREADFUL TRAGEDY AT RHYL, IN FLINTSHIRE.—We have the painful duty of recording one of those cases of the incautious use of fire-arms which have been too frequent in this country of late years. The following are the particu lars :—A young man, named John Hickson, about twenty one years of age, by trade a 'cooper, and whose father is a respectable master baker, in Hodgson-street, in Chester. became enamoured, it appears, some time since, with the daughter of a small farmer, residing at Rhyl ; the conse quence was that pregnancy ensued. He had, it should be observed, not quite finished, his apprenticeship, and, his in tentions of marrying her becoming known to his parents, they strongly opposed the alliance. The young man, how ever, resolved upon saving her from disgrace, and accordingly married her on Easter Monday last. Her father, last week, made overtures that she should return home, for a given period, until her husband could provide a habitation for her. This was agreed upon, and on Thursday, the 22nd ult., he left with his wife for Rhyl. They reached in safety, and, after dinner on the following day, Mr. Hickson and his wife retired to the kitchen, no one else being present. At this moment he took up a gun b elon g in g to his father-in law, and, not being aware that it was loaded, held it towards his wife, saying, " I'll shoot you, or words to that effect. He unfortunately pulled the trigger, and the contents entered her head, and she expired in three minutes afterwards, to the great horror of her husband, father, and all who soon en tered the house. A coroner's inquest was held on the body on Monday last, when the jury, after a careful investigation of the evidence, returned a verdict of " Accidental death ;" thus exonerating, as all persons did, her husband from any wilful intention of doing the deceased any harm. What a melancholy lesson the above fatal circumstance ought to teach all persons who carelessly leave fire-arms openly ex posed in their habitations, likewise those individuals who so impruiently use then.—Journal. THE CHINA TRADE.—The merchants interested in the East India and China trade in the city, at Liverpool, at Glas gow, and other principal ports of the United Kingdom, have drawn out strong remonstrances against the ratifications by our government of the basis of the arrangement sent home by Captain Elliot, her majesty's plenipotentiary in China, for the adjustment of the differences with the celestial empire, and for placing the commercial intercourse on a better foot ing for the future. A deputation from the East India and China trade association had an interview with Lord Palmer ston upon this highly important subject on Wednesday last. The deputation consisted of Mr. Crawford, M.P., Mr. Hors ley Palmer, Mr. Jardine, Mr. Jamieson, and Mr. Milligan. The deputation rested their complaints mainly on two points —namily, the inadequacy of the indemnity proposed to be paid by the Chinese government to this country, and the want of any sufficient security having been provided for the personal safety and independence of British residents in China, by the arrangements which Captain Elliot was said to have entered into with the Chinese plenipotentiary. The answer of Lord Palmerston was, to the effect, that as he was ac quainted only with the principles agreed to between the ple nipotentiaries, namely, that the emperor was to cede to the British crown a territorial possession in China, that an in demnity was to be paid to the British government, and that the official intercourse between the two countries was for the future to be conducted on terms of perfect equality. As yet, his lordship knew nothing beyond the admission of these important principles ; and as it was expressly stated that the details were to be the subject of further negotiation, it neces sarily followed that it was impossible for his lordship to come to any conclusive opinion as to the acts of the British ple nopitentiary until in the full possession of the details of the further negotiations so alluded to. ROBBERY AND STABBING.—At the Police-court, On Friday, an ill-looking fellow of the name of James Steele was put forward on a charge of having, in company with one or two others, entered the house of Mr. John Wren, tea dealer, of No. 92, Finch-street, at a late hour the night before, and taken therefrom some silver spoons. He was further charged with having drawn a clasp-knife on one of the police-officers, from which the latter had narrowly escaped. Officer 156 stated that he was in Finch-street about ten minutes past two o'clock the night before, and that he ob served two men going along the parapet. When they heard his footsteps they proceeded up a court that . was in the neighbourhood. He followed with a view of ascertaining who they were, but on discovering his approach they came out, and as fast as he went so fast did they continue to keep ahead of him. Before he reached the top of Moss -street they got out of sight. He went round into London-road, passed several streets, and at length heard footsteps coming along Finch-street. He then observed the prisoner, who was habited at the time in a glazed cap and coat, and went across to meet him and two others who accompanied him. They continued, however, to evade him for some tim e , b ut eventually he followed them thr ou g h M 1-street, and came up with the prisoner. The other two made off. Having asked him what he was loitering about the streets for at th a t advanced hour of the night, he re p lied that he was on hi s way home, and that he lived at th e to p of Copperas-hill. The officer expressed a wish to accompany him part of the way, but to this the fellow would not consent, and turning round, the officer heard him make a noise resembling that d of the click of a pistol. He then faced the officer,. and a thrust with a large clasp-knife at his mouth , whichthe latter ea parried off. H e th en made a second furious attempt to stab the officer, but having missed him he took to his heels. The officer followed closely, and while the fellow was in the ac t of scaling a wall, with the view of effecting his escape, the officer struck him a blow on the head, and spee dily brought him to the ground. A desperate rencontre then took place betsieen the parties, in the course of which the fellow made five or six other attempts to stab the officer, but failed. The officer then gave him a blow upon the arm, which in some measure disabled him, and he ran into Isling ton, where he was knocked down by officer No. 5, who hap pened to be oniduty in the neighbourhood at the time, and when lying on the ground the open knife was discovered under his thigh. One dessert spoon,one teaspoon, one salt spoon, and one dessert fork, were found wrapped up in a handkerchief on his person.—Sarah Tomlinson, servant to Mr. Wren, identified the property found on the prisoner as being that of her master. It appeared that the prisoner and his companions had effected an entrance into the house by removing the coal-grid and forcing the kitchen-door. Three skeleton keys, a piece of a candle, and a quantity of lucifer matches, were found upon the floor of Mr. Wren's house, and also upon the kitchen floor.—Mr. Rushton asked what the accused had to say for himself ?—The prisoner replied that he had been cruelly treated by the officers, and that they had nearly killed him.—Mr. Rushton expressed his satisfac tion at finding that he had been captured, and directed him to be sent for trial. SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.—No. 5. (FOR THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.) DEBATES ON LORD MORPETH'S REGISTRATION BILL ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, AND THE BUDGET ON FRIDAY The proceedings in the House of Commons during the last three nights have been of so extraordinary a nature that I find it utterly impossible even to attempt a detailed sketch of them, much less of any portion of them. The whole three nights' debate constitute in fact only one scene—one act of the ministerial scramble for the prolongation of their term of official existence. Different although the subjects of debate may appear on the two first nights and on the third, yet it is impossible to separate them ; for the budget on Friday is as essentially coloured throughout by the defeat of the preceding night, and the declaration of the ministerial views upon the question of the corn-laws is as essentially produced and in fluenced by that defeat, as if the regulation of the budget and the corn-laws both were mere clauses introduced to render nugatory the Conservative principle introduced by the majo rity on Thursday. into Lord Morpeth's registration measure. The interest excited by the debate on Wednesday night, if possible, exceeded that displayed on the preceding Monday. By five o'clock the house was filled in every part, and so pressing had been the ministerial circulars that the members of that party were strictly enjoined not to absent themselves for a moment without being provided with a pair. It was soon, however, made evident that on that evening the divi sion was not to take place, and that the proceedings of ministers were to be merely of a " retarding" character. After a debate of between five and six hours, upon a motion of Mr. Hume to confer the franchise upon £5 rated occu pants from year to year—a proposition which, it must be evi dent, could never by any chance have received the sanction of the house—the farce of dividing began, and continued un interruptedly from a quarter before eleven o'clock till nearly two in the morning Such of your readers as have not attended the debates in the House of Commons may be interested to know how a division is managed. The gallery you will be well aware is immediately closed; and, in addition, the ante-room next to the house is cleared of strangers, and shut. Between this room and the house itself the division is taken by two tellers on each side, and the name of every member volley is taken down. For such a process it must be evident that consider able time is necessary, especially in a full house; and upon this occasion the time occupied'by each division was upwards of half an hour. From a conversation which took place through a loophole of the lobby-door, between a member in side and a member shut out, no secret was made of the fact that there was a majority against Ministers in the house, and that the ruse of dividing would be continued for that evening at least ; and my only inducement to stay longer in the house was to witness the barefaced recklessness with which the system was persevered in by Ministers until the Conservative, members were worn out into submission. The house at length adjourned, with the understanding that a bond" fide division upon the main question should take place imme diately upon its meeting on Thursday. The interest displayed on this occasion continued unabated on Thursday, and the house was crowded at an early hour. From the very commencement of the proceedings it was apparent that the " wind-up" could not be much longer de ferred ; and the debate accordingly partook more of the na ture of explanations of the views by which the contending parties had been actuated—intermingled by the Ministerialists with splenetic personalities—than of a discussion of the real merits of the question before the house. Lord Morpeth, in his peculiarly sublime manner, expressed his sorrow at ob serving that the right hon. baronet, the member for Tam worth, " had been compelled to throw himself into the head long and impetuous career" of Lord Stanley—a course which before long he feared he would have " bitter reasons to re gret ;" although what the nature of these reasons might be he was not kind enough to disclose. The noble lord, how ever, would evidently have consulted his own ease better by refraining from an attack—even by a side-wind—upon an antagonist so prompt with his weapons as Lord Stanley, who in a reply of infinite power made complete mincemeat of the noble secretary and his bill at the same time, announcing boldly and unreservedly that, in the vote which he was about to give, his object was to get rid of it altogether! After several vain attempts to prolong the discussion, by Mr. flume and others, arid the administration of a little of what Mr. Sam Slick would term " soft sawder" to her Ma jesty's Ministers by Mr. Daniel O'Connell (on behalf of the people of Ireland), for their good intentions—(a commodity with which we are told that a certain place is " paved with," and which may possibly constitute the floor of that " slough of despond" which Ministers are all but in at the present moment)—the house divided, and the Ministry were defeated by a majority 'of eleven ! The scene presented upon the opening of the gallery was of the most animated description, and, like a debutant at Tyburn tree, or in the stocks, Lord John Russell found him self " the observed of all observers"—not much perhaps to his inward gratification, vain and inflated as most undoubt edlv he is After a whole heap of regrets—a profession of utter inability to comprehend what his opponents would be at, and (strangest of all !) an earnest wish to know what Sir Robert Peel would advise him to do under the circumstances, his lordship concluded a flighty and at the same time feeble speech, by moving " that the chairman do leave the chair," —a suggestion which Sir Robert Peel in a speech charac terized by great power and most happy effect heartily con curred in. The right hon. baronet repudiated in emphatic terms the imagination thrown out by Lord Morpeth, that he was under the coercion of the noble member for North Lan cashire ; and compared, in terms which called forth roars of laughter from the house, the " perfect cordiality" existing amongst the conservative party with the distracted condition and divided affections manifested amongst Lord John's sup porters. The house then adjourned at a little past nine. But come we now to " The last scene of all, Which crowns this strange eventful—history," the poet has it, but " farce" would be the more appropriate term. Again the house was crowded at an early hour; and now let me direct the attention of the conservative merchants of Liverpool to the working of what I observe Mr. William Rathbone called the " TRAP " set for them, upon the occa sion of a late public meeting held in your town. Lord San don presented a petition from GOO and odd merchants,bankcrs, &c., of the town of Liverpool, " praying for a revision of our commercial 'tariff." Instanter Mr. Wm. Ewart presented a petition signed by 53,000 ! ! inhabitants of the borough of Liverpool,—(l really was not aware you had that number of male adults in all your population)—praying for a total re peal of the corn-laws ; Mr. Mark Philips presented a similar petition from Manchester, and then—the trap fell, and Lord John Russell announced that on the 31st of May the minis try would bring on the question of the corn-laws as a cabinet question, "upon which ministers were undivided in opinion" I will not comment upon the position of the "trapped" con servatives of Liverpool in this little scene ; but merely re mark that without a strong protest they stand committed — in the eyes of the public at least—not only to the budget, as subsequently introduced, but also to Lord John's corn-law measure whatever it may be. It is utterly impossible for me to convey to you even the slightest idea of the sensation created by Lord John Russell's notice. The radical section—the anti-corn-law portion—of his lordship's supporters were in the " seventh heaven," and I verily thought would have shouted for a month. There were, however, a few of the " liberal" landed gentry upon the ministerial benches who were not disposed to be so joy ous upon the occasion, whilst the great body of the conserva tive party stood perfectly aghast at this frantic effort of their beaten opponent, to fire the powder-magazine and blow up the ship, rather than strike his colours. Their alarm how ever was a little abated by the discovery that the day, upon which his lordship in his haste had fixed—the 31st of May— was actually a holiday, —was Whit-Monday ! The noble lord, however, who had not had time apparently since the night before, when this desperate step was resolved upon, to look at the calendar, intimated that if the Monday he had fixed upon was Whit-Monday, he would put off his motion until the Monday after, or some other convenient day ; and the excitement having a little subsided, the Chancellor of the Exchequer proceeded to bring in "what he called a budget.'' Of the delectable scheme introduced by the chancellor I need not attempt any description, for, in reality, neither the manner nor the matter of the right honourable gentleman were very lucid. Its main features, however, are a reduction of the duties upon slave-grown sugars—let the abolitionists of slavery in our colonies bear this in mind—from 635. to 365. per cwt., and a reduction of the duty upon Baltic timber from 555. to 505., with an increase of that upon Canadian timber from 10s. to 20s. per load. The decrease in question upon Baltic timber may be something very like the kind of modification of the tariff proposed at the late meeting by the " men of all parties" in Liverpool ; but I must confess I cannot see how the mercantile or the shipping interest can be benefitted—putting our colonists out of the question alto gether—by doubling the present duty upon colonial timber. That, however, is not my affair. The debate which followed was of a desultory character, and in fact necessarily so. The Chancellor of the Exche quer had given only a mere outline of his plan—his estimates of the revenue which it would produce, but not a syllable to shew upon what data those estimates bad been prepared. Mr. Goulbuni, indeed, endeavoured to grapple with what he could find of detail, and went into a statement, (which ought to be placarded throughout every whig-radieal borough in the king dom,) of the financial doings of Lnrd Melbourne's ministry, since their accession to office with a SURPLUS of HALF A MILLION: until the present hour, when they have contrived with a revenue whieh has increased upwards of two millions annually to accumulate a deficiency, by increasing expendi ture, which amounts now to SEVEN MILLIONS AND A HALF ! Mr. W. E. Gladstone, by a few queries addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which that eminent functionary was at a loss to reply to effectually, convinced the house that the whole affair, as to the sugar duties at least, was a loose experiment. Lord Sandon, Lord Francis Egerton, and other honourable members pressed for some definite notion of the ministerial intentions with respect to the corn-law ; but in vain. All that the world knows with respect to the probable working of the financial scheme, an d th e nature an d ex tent of the m inisterial attack upon the agriculture of the country, is confined to this. Some claptrap proposition must be got up to form an electioneering topic ; and we shall know more of the chancellor's details andidata—when he has learnt more himself—and of Lord John's corn-law bill, when he knows the precise amount of fixed duty which will, by ensuring its rejection, make another appropriation clause of it ! OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY.—No. VI THOMAS BLACKBURN, ESQ. Behold, reader, in the disciple of Esculapius wham we now present to your notice, the great apostle of that " libe ral" and " enlightened" system of education which has found favour in the eyes of the " liberal" and " enlightened" portion of our Town Council—a system which we will not embroil ourselves by describing further than as one by which little boys and girls can be made into good readers, good writers, good spellers, and even good philosophers, without the odious necessity of being made, at the same time, gdod Christians. We are very cautious, it will be observed, in our description ; for perhaps, were we to express our candid opinion of the system in question, we might be set down as being embued with " narrow sectarian views" and " old world prejudices" upon the subject of religion, which would utterly destroy our reputation with the philosophic portion of the community. In this character alone—as the " Mag nus Apollo" of our Corporation Schools—is the worthy doctor presentable amongst the illustrious occupants of Our Gallery ; for, in all other respects, we can only class 'him with that ordinary race who, we are told, are to be found " in every country town, Professing openly with death to wrestle, * * * * * * ' Armed with a mortar and a pestle." In this estimate of the character of our " Bolus," we are borne out by the opinions of the burgesses of Lime-street Ward, who in November last selected the education-doctor as a companion picture for the ex-quaker ex-member for Pitt-street ; and never did two cherries grow upon the same bough, two sparrows sit upon the same housetop, two geese sit upon one leg in the same gutter, more worthy to be asso ciated together " in mternum," to be framed and glazed and hung up " cheek by jowl," than these Siamese twain—this sweet brace of superlative humbugs. The majority of the council, however, judged differently; and accordingly alder- Manic honours have been heaped upon the man of pills and potions, whilst " sweet William" is left to " waste his sweetness on the desert air." The doctor still presides over parsing and prosody; writing and arithmetic, cross-stitch, seaming, and hemming ; whilst the discomfited Socinian is fain to hide his diminished head under the wing of John Rosson, and to court the sweet airs which distil from his associate brood' of repealers for his daily meal of popular applause. In person Doctor Blackburn is not distinguished by any superlative graces or comeliness. He has a hard, dry, utili tarian face, and, as a Scotchman would phrase it, limbs " in conform." Habit him in the garb of a Saxon " navigator" —not one of that fraternity which " goes down to the sea in large ships," but of that coarser race of human beings who go up sewers, sink wells, form railway embankments, or dig drains ;—place a pickaxe or a shovel in his hands, and forth with all the outward indications of the man of education arid intellect would be lost. You might then aptly apply to him the description given by William Wordsworth of his pedlar, Peter Bell : " There was a hardness in his look, There was a hardness in his eye,— As if from setting of his face Against the wind and sky." Neither can the attributes of grace or elegance be fairly applied to the manner of the doctor, as a writer or a speaker. From a man, in fact, of whose system the essential charac teristic is that it flings overboard all the finer feelings of the human heart—that it deliberately separates itself from reli gion, as an essential principle in the constitution of society, and adheres solely to the assertion of a cold utilitarian theory which makes the realisation of earthly advantages a primary object, whilst the achievement of eternal happiness is but of secondary or subsidiary importance,—it would be vain to look for either lofty sentiment or refined and graceful lan guage. Not a trace of imagination or of feeling—not one sentence addressed to the fancy or the heart—car► be found, we venture to say, in any written production of Doctor Blackburn ; and in the few oral addresses which we have heard him deliver, we cannot remember that one sentiment ever issued from his lips which might not have been uttered by an automaton. In the very " whirlwind of his fury," his manner never struck us with any other idea than that, so happily depicted on one occasion by the Rev. Hugh M'Neile, of a man " pounding his adversary's arguments in a mortar." Such as he is, however, and although, in our humble opi nion, far from a favourable specimen of humanity, the doctor appears, nevertheless, to be a very great man in the estima tion of his party ; and, with all due deference to the profes sion to which he belongs, we never knew a medical pretender to " superior lights," thoroughly embued, at the same time, with the doctrines of " modern liberalism," who was not a useful man in the eyes of his party, because a ready tool, possessed of a just admixture of the qualities of the M'Syco phant tribe, with the obduracy of heart and intellect peculiar to the Malthusian philosopher. Of all pestilent quacks, we fervently pray to be preserved from the medico-political quack, who, forsaking his lancet and his gallipots, takes to bleeding and physicking the body politic. We have no great predilection for either drastic or purgative, bloodletting or blistering, as applied to our own proper corpus ; we love nei ther splinters nor bandages, infusions nor transfusion ; and we see no pressing reason why one of the tribe who practise these useful arts, or perform these salutary operations upon diseased humanity, should be let loose to practise upon the social machine. That they are very efficient practitioners we have no doubt—where some principle obnoxious to libe ralism is to be eradicated. Of this, indeed, we have had ample experience in the education-practice of the learned doctor. But we once remember to have beard one of the profession speak of " a beautiful ulcer ;" and however bene ficial the production of such an interesting phenomenon may be to the human frame, we have no wish to see either ulcers, in the shape of Corporation Schools, wens in the form of Union 'Workhouses, blisters in the form of O'Connellite agi tation, or depletion in-the form of free-trade and anti-corn law nostrums, applied by political doctors to the body politic of Great Britain. Entertaining such a feeling, we certainly do not begrudge the whig party the possession of their medi cal alderman; but, on the contrary, we do hope most fer vently that the time is not far distant when his political prac tice will be confined to a narrower sphere, and he will have sufficient exercise for his gallipots in providing the necessary emolients, to salve over the wounded vanity of his discom fited and discarded fellow-quacks in office. The political views of the doctor are those of the thorough whig hack, and his philosophy is of the Scotch school. From the heart and the head of such a man might be supposed to emanate the harsher features of the new poor law. In such a man the workhouse test, the separation of husband and wife, of parent and child, the limitation of diet to that pre cise point at which the satisfaction of the bodily craving ends, and starvation commences, the contract for cheap physic, and, last scene of all, the felon burial and the unconsecrated grave, would find an advocate, who, whilst thus deliberately resigning the material frame to destruction—whilst thus de priving a human being of, the privilege of breathing for the few last hours of his pilgrimage the free air of heaven—would stickle for the preservation of his rights of conscience, and esteem it an act of hardship that his last prayer should be poured out in the presence of the Established Church. Hang, drown, imprison, starve the poor wretch who is guilty of the atrocious crime of poverty, if you will ; but philosophy such as that of our doctor, cannot endure that the dissenting con science should be touched, or that the voluntary principle in religion should be in the least degree impeached. POPISH MUMMERIES We extract the following very significant passages from the Dublin Weekly Freeman's Journal of Saturday last. They may be read by way of commentary on Dr. Butler's lectures now delivering in this town. We take this opportunity of stating to those correspondents who have forwarded us ex tracts from this gentleman's discourses, that the STANDARD countenances and disseminates Protestant truths—it cannot away with Popish errors, and instead of circulating, strives to denounce, and by every argument disprove them. Thus speaks the Popish organ:— ROME.—(HOLY WEEK.) " On Easter day the Holy Father, robed in his pontifical habits, and carried beneath a canopy, repaired to the Basilica of the Vatican to celebrate the Grand Mass at the High Altar. After having venerated the blessed Sacra ment he retired to his throne, while the third canonical hour was sung ; he then vested himself in the robes NECESSARY for the celebration of the office, and subsequently com menced the mass at the pontifical altar. The mass being ter minated he venerated the relics of the spear and the holy cross, shown from the balcony of St. Veronice, and was then carried to the stanza above the grand gate of the portico, when he gave the apostolic benediction to the vast multitude whioh filled the piazza. At the same moment the salvos of artillery thundered from St. Angelo, the great bells were tolled, and the loud clang of martial music issued from the drums and trumpets of the pontifical troops and military bands."—(Then follows an account of the fire-works and illumination.) . ON TIIURSDAY.—" After mass the holy sacrament was enclosed in an urn, and thus exposed to the adoration of the multitude. His holiness then repaired to the balcony of the Vatican, and gave the multitude the papal benediction and a plenary indulgence." ON FRIDAY.—" His Eminence Cardinal Castracane, Grand Penitentiary, went to the Vatican Basilica to hear confessions.' In the same paper, under the head of " Catholic Church in France," is the following announcement : " FRANCE. " The solemnity of the Beatification of the blessed Viryin of the Incarnation will take place with the greatest pomp in the Church of St. Mary. The Archbishop of Paris will offi ciate pontifically on the occasion on Sunday." Pretty specimens these of Popery at head-quarters in the enlightened 19th century. The Weekly Freeman's Journal contains blasphemous matter of this kind every week. CIGARS.—We beg to draw attention to Mr. Marcus's ad vertisement of his cigar warehouse. We understand from those who " revel in the weed," that his stock is one of the best and most recherche in town. NEW ORGAN.—We had yesterday the pleasure of trying the organ which is referred to in Mr. Chadwick's advertise ment, inserted in another column, and are bound to say that an instrument of more sweetness and power has never been built in this town. Although a chamber organ, there are some improvements in it which are not to be found in larger instruments ; the combinations of the great organ and swell with the pedals are perfect, and the swell is of unusual com pass. It is well worthy of the inspection of professors and amateurs, and in every respect it does credit to the skill and ingenuity of Mr. Chadwick as an organ builder. LIVERPOOL BOROUGH SESSIONS, AND COURT OF PAS SAGE.—The quarter sessions for this borough will commence on Monday next, before James Clark, Esq., recorder ; and the Court of Passage on Thursday week, before C. Cromp ton, Esq., assessor. THE PACKET STATION The question as to the most suitable port as a station for the West India packets being now open, an opportunity is afforded for putting forward the claims of this port to the award—claims which have been, in a most unaccountable manner, overlooked heretofore. In the Glasgow memorial, indeed, they were recognised ; the several intelligent and disinterested judges, who signed that paper, acknowledging that " in looking with impartiality for the most desirable port of departure, Liverpool occurs at once, not only as being the most central, but as most accessib!e to every part of the kingdom ;" but no adequate means have been used to second that recommendation The good people of Bristol, we perceive, have started for the prize, and have had their claims advocated with much zeal and ability by their representatives, particularly by the senior member, Mr. M. Berkeley ; but we do not conceive that their port would make a very formidable rival to Liver pool ; indeed, it has been already rejected in such a way by the contractors as to render its renewed entrance for the prize quite a hopeless business. In looking over Mr. Ber keley's enumeration of the attractions of Bristol, however, we were gratified to perceive that there was no one men tioned by him in which Liverpool could not compete, whilst many of importance in such an affair he was altogether silen t about, of which Liverpool can boast the possession in an eminent degree. " Bristol," he alleged, ," represents one sixth of the whole West Indian interest of Great Britain." We are not quite sure upon that head, but we are satisfied that Liverpool's share in the representation is not at all in ferior. " Bristol affords the advantage of a plentiful supply of coals." So does Liverpool, and coals also of the very best quality. " The merchants of Bristol have given proof of their ability in building steam-ships." So, we appre hend, have the merchants of Liverpool. "No city had such ample means to build and repair steam-ships as Bristol." We cannot concede this unparalleled advantage to Bristol, whilst Liverpool possesses such an iron-foundry as Fawcett's —such splendid docks and shipbuilding yards, which have turned out such a number of magnificent vessels. " As re garded the Post-office, Bristol was closely connected with Ireland by the ports of Cork, Waterford, and Dublin,—the immediate outlet of South Wales, connected by railway with the midland counties, and nearer by admeasurement to Bar badoes than either Portsmouth or Southampton." But as regards the Post-office, Liverpool is not only as much con nected with Ireland, but much more so—Belfast and Derry being included in her ports of communication ; and in all other respects possesses advantages the most marked and transcendaut, which at once suggest themselves upon a mere inspection of. the map. And, moreover, Liverpool "isby I admeasurement" considerably nearer to Antigua (which the Glasgow memorialists have recommended as the port of rendezvous across the Atlantic) than either Portsmouth or Falmouth is to Barbadoes. But, having received a commu nication from an intelligent correspondent, who has made this matter a subject of much and attentive consideration, we shall waive any further observations of our own for the present. Our purpose is to call the attention of the great mercantile body of Liverpool to the subject ; and the several points contained in the following paper will, we think, along with others which will readily suggest themselves, suffice for that purpose : The grounds on which Liverpool seems to me entitled to the preference as the packet station for the West Indian steamers, may be classed under the heads of— I. Advantage to the public at large ; and, 11. Advantage to the shareholders of the company, and the local interests of Liverpool. The first is a consideration of a general nature, and one that will be widely felt. The other is necessarily more con fined in its operation ; but what it wants in extent of applica tion, is amply made up in importance to individual interests. No one, I think, will deny that for the whole of Scotland, the Northern and Midland Districts of England, and the whole of Ireland, Liverpool is the most centrally, and, there fore, more; advantageously situated than any of the ports in the English Channel; and this, with the facilities of com munication she possesses with all parts of the kingdom, point her out as peculiarly well adapted for the purpose in view. The respective advantages set forth by each of the ports of Dartmouth, Falmouth, and Southampton, seem to me to be combined in a very high degree by Liverpool, in addition to other grounds of preference, in which she stands unrivalled. Falmouth claims the distinction, because the nearest port in England to the open sea ; but this, though certainly a great advantage when sailing vessels were employed, loses much of its force in the case of steamers, and is entirely neutralized by the long and expensive land journey to be per formed by 99 out of every 100 passengers, going by that route to the West Indies, as is already abundantly mani fest by the very small number who subject themselves to such an inconvenience. On the other band, Southampton founds its pretensions•on its convenient situation and rapid communication with the metropolis ; however, the commis sioners do not seem to have attached a great deal of weight to this circumstance, inasmuch as the sunshine of their fa vour appears to have lighted on the port of Dartmouth, pro- ' bably on the principle, that in mediis tulissimus ibis. Facility of getting to sea is possessed in a higher degree by Falmouth—rapidity of communication with the metropolis, belongs in an especial manner to Southampton ; yet Dart mouth, though considerably more distant from London by time than even Liverpool, (having no railway communica tion,) very nearly as distant from the point of depar ture in the West Indies as Liverpool ; possessing no suitable dock accornodation, nor any of the other local advantages in which Liverpool is so pre-eminent, has beeu preferred, for no other reason that I can learn, but because the harbour, from its depth of water, is said to be accessible at all times of tide : bat allowing this, its full force, let us examine the extent of the comparative inferiority of Liverpool. in this re spect. Our bar can be crossed by ordinary steamers at the lowest water of spring tides, and by the largest steamers at two or three hours' flood ; and in case of their arrival in the offing just at that particular time, which is nearly always com municated by telegraph, small steamers are always in readi ness to convey her letter-bags ashore. Is not the regularity of the arrival and departure of the Halifax steamers, which is quite proverbial, a sufficient answer to the_objection ? At Dartmouth, too, the expenceoithe forination and sup port of a post-office packet establishment would have to be incurred, while here the arrangements already in force for the Halifax mails are capable of being easily made amply suf ficient for this additional service, to say nothing of the advan tage of centralization and simplification in so important a branch of our domestic economy. I will just allude to one other point on this part of the sub ject—it is that so clearly pointed out in the Glasgow memo rial to government, where it:is shown that by adopting either of the E. Channel Ports as the station, London will have the undue advantage of being able to answer letters by the return packet, while all the rest of the kingdom will have to wait for the succeeding one,—for, as shewn by the prospectus of the Mail Steam Packet Company, a steamer leaving the English Channel on the Ist or 2d June, may be expected to return on or about the 29th July, and letters by her would be in Lon don on the 30th. which would enable the merchants there to write in reply by the mail made up on the Ist August, while the rest of the kingdom would be too late. The plan sug gested by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce provides against this unjust preference of any particular locality, and affords time for every part—of any consequence—in the king dom to answer their letters by the return packet. 2. I come now to the enumeration of the particular ad vantages to the shareholders, and the public of this town, which would result from its being fixed on as the packet station ; and, as I have already occupied no much space, I shall be very brief in stating them. One of these is the ex cellent dock accommodation now afforded here to vessels of the largest size, both for the ordinary purposes of loading and discharging, and for the occasional but indispensable sur veys and repairs of ;the halls and machinery, an advantage, particularly in the latter case, which neither of the three ports already alluded to can afford. Another obvious advantage presented by this port, is the abundance and cheapness of that . all-important element of consumption, coal, for which, in the Channel ports depfits of the article, brought at a great expense from the northern colieries, would have to be formed, causing an enhancement of price on so large an item of the expenditure, as most seri ously to detract from the expected profits of the undertaking. With regard also to all sorts of stores necessary for the out fit of the steamers, and supplies for the passengers, none of the English Channel ports, with the exception of the great naval arsenals of Plymouth and Portsmouth (which, however, seem not too have been contemplated as packet stations) can at all compete with a port in which steam navigation forms such a leading feature as in Liverpool. The factthat the vessels of the Peninsular and Oriental Company, though under engagement with government to take their departure from Southampton, actually come round here to take in their supplies of coals and other stores, and undergo the needful refit, is a convin cing proof of the superiority of Liverpool in this respect. The recent change in the " British Queen's" port of arrival and despatch is also a fact worthy the shareholders' notice. [Surely with such advantages as these, and more might be enumerated, it is worse than criminal to overlook the inte rests of Liverpool. Is there no association to take this mat ter up ? Are the claims of Dartmouth, Bristol, Falmouth, and other places, to be pressed upon the government, and those of Liverpool not ?] CHESTER RACES-YESTERDAY. At no previous meeting at this city has there been such an influx of company as yesterday graced the Roodee with their presence. The trains by railway from Liverpool contained such numbers of paasengers that they must have been seen to be believed. Not less than 1600 persons were taken from Birkenhead by the 11 o'clock train, and the street at the ter minus of the railway in Chester presented a more crowded appearance than we ever recollect the north road doing on the cup day at Aintree. On the 30 Roodee we re assem bl e d, to witness the races of yesterday, full ,005 souls. There was the usual assemblage of beauty, rank, and fashion. The stands were crammed to overflowing. Lord Milton, the owner of Cruiskeen, is reported to have won well nigh £10,000; and we should suppose that a greater amount of money changed hands on this than on any previous Chester cup race. The lateness of the hour at which the races terminated prevents our giving a lengthened notice ; but in our publication of Friday next we shall enter much more into detail. The following is the result of the business of the day : THE TRIAL STAKES, of 15 sovs. each, with 50 sovs. added, stand ; three years old Gst 41b, four Bst 61b, five 9st 21b ; once round. Mr. Orde's b m Bee's Wing , aged-•(Cartwright) 1 Mr. Graydon's br Roscius, 5 yrs - • Lord Stanley's bl f Nightsh ade, 3 y rs A PRODUCE SWEEPSTAKES of 50 sot's each, Id. ft. ; two miles. Sir R. Bulkeley's b f Cerito .. e.miltiang)) 23 crpierini Mr. Mostyn's b c Peter the Great Sir T. Stanley's b f by Stumps The TRADESMEN'S PLATE of 200 sovs. in s p e cie , added to a Handicap Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each. Lord 'Milltown's ch m C ru iskeen, aged .......... (Stagg) 1 Mr. Goodman's ch h Bedford, 5 yrs ........ (Wakefield) 2 Mr. B. Collctt's br h The Dean, 5 yrs . (Marlow 3 Mr. F. R. Price's ch c Tuly , 4 yrs, .. 7 . .... (C ar t wr i g ht) 4 Twenty-one started. A SWEEPSTAKES of 5 sous. each, with 50 sovs. adder. by the Proprietors of the Grand Stand, for horses that never won before the day of entry for th e Plates ; heats, two miles. Mr. Mostyn's bc by Tulip—Queen Bess, 3 yrs. 00 1 1 Mr. Palmer's br c Priamus , 4 yrs 0 1 2 2 Mr. F. Robbins' br c President, 3 yrs 1 0 0 d Col Anson's ch f Miss Horewood, 3 yrs 0 2 0 d Mr. Singleton's br c Autocrat, 4 yrs 2 0 0 d Lord Stanley's b c Sophistry, 3 yrs 0 d Three drew. COMMODORE NAPIER.--It is stated upon very good autho rity that this gallant officer will become a candidate for the borough of Marylebone at the next election.—Morning Herald. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCI?. UNITED STATES The royal mail steamer Acadia, under the temporary com mand of Capt. Lott, (Capt. Miller having been left at Boston recovering from an attack of scarlet fever) arrived at this port at half-past six on Sunday evening. She reached the en trance to the Victoria Channel before two o'clock, but could not cross the bar, for want of water, until half-past five. She left Boston at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 17th, and, after a stay of seven hours, Halifax on the morning of the 20th ult., and has made the passage in 14 days and 20 hours. She has brought 73 passengers, a list of whom will be found in another column. The royal mail steamer Columbia, which sailed from this port on the 4th ult., arrived at Halifax on the 17th, after a passage of 12 days and 12 hours. She would reach Boston on the 20th. %1 , hen the Columbia sailed hence, the Presi dent had been over due above a week. The news of her non arrival at this port had caused a great sensation at Halifax on the alarming fact becoming known there. The intelligence brought by the Acadia is not of any gene ral interest. President Tyler appears to have given great satisfaction so far as he has had an opportunity of showing his talents for government. He had issued " a recommenda tion " that Friday, the 14th of May should be observed as a day of fasting and prayer by such religious services as may be suitable on the occasion, " to the end that, on that day, we may all, with one accord, join in humble and reverential approach to him, in whose hands we are, invoking him to in spire us with a proper spirit and temper of heart and mind under these frowns of his providence, and still to bestow his gracious benedictions upon our government and our country." Lord Sydenham had issued a proclamation, calling together the united parliament of the Canadas. The Montreal [Jerald has the following on this subject : From the character of the members returned at the late general elections, Lord Sydenham will have a good working majority of men who will do their utmost for the good of the country—men of independent principle, who will be guided in their proceedings by a spirit of pure and not spu rious patriotism, as unfortunately formed the characteristic of the late House of Assembly of Lower Canada. Secretary Harrison had been sworn in Deputy Governor of Canada, in the place of Sir George Arthur. The French Canadians will have nineteen representatives of their class in the House of Assembly. Lord Sydenham had been alarmingly ill with the gout, which it was feared would have reached his heart, but he was better by the last accounts. It will afford considerable pain to many to learn that Gen. Jackson is involved in pecuniary distress. We copy the fol lowing particulars from the New York Herald and the Louis ville Journal. SAD NEWS.—It is said that General Jackson is so em barrassed in his circumstances, that he cannot raise cash to pay a debt of 100 dollars. This is too bad. There is no fun in being President. We would not exchange places with Mr. Tyler even. If " Old Hickory," with all his faults and virtues, will take a hundred dollars, we'll pay the debt for him. A few weeks ago we saw a letter from General Jackson to a gentleman who had drawn on him for one hundred dollars. He acknowledged that the money was due ; but stated that he was so miserably embarrassed by his security debts as to be utterly unable to raise the small sum necessary to meet the draft. He said he had some blooded stock which he was willing to give up to the drawer of the draft, but that hun dred dollars in money was out of the question. Business had remained without change since the departure of the British Queen. The money market was easy. In the share market most kinds of stock had declined in price. The shares in the Bank of the United States. which had advanced on the publication of the Report of the Committee of Inves tigation, had declined to their old quotation, namely, 17 at New York and 174 at Philadelphia. The transactions in foreign exchanges for the Acadia had been extensive. The rates were from 107 to 108 per cent. : the chief business had been done at 1074 to 1071. The ex treme price was given for prime New York bills. There were, however, Charleston bills, with New York endorsers, in the market, which were limited to 108. On France, for which a large business had been done, the rate was sf. 284, and some bills at sf. 274: on Amsterdam 394, Hamburgh 354, Bremen 76 to 76.1. NEW ORLEANS COTTON MARKET, APRIL 3.—The news by the steam-ship Caledonia, which came to hand the day before yesterday, has exercised a favourable influence on the cotton market, and the trasactions since then have been on a very extensive scale. On. he same day 6000 bales changed hands at full prices ; yesterday the inquiry became exceedingly animated. and upwards of 16,000 bales were disposed of at a farther improvement of le., thus making the total advance during the weeks to 4. The total sales for the week ending last evening amount to fully 50,000 bales ; a larger business than we ever remember to have been transacted here in the same space of time. The purchases have been principally for the English market. CHARLESTON COTTON MARKET, APRIL 9.—The transac tions comprise 4809 bales, at from 9 to 114 c. ; Sea Island at from 23 to 35c. ; stained, 124 to 18c. per lb. Rice has been comparatively quiet. Sales, 987 tics. ; inferior to fair, 21 to 2; good to prime, 3 to 34; choice would probably bring 3 dollars per cwt. FREIGHTS.—To Liverpool engagements have been made at id. for round and square bags. To Havre we quote 1i for cotton in square bags, and 3 doilars for GOO lbs. for rice. To New York, for cotton, 75 to 100 c. ; for rice, 75c. per tce. There is nothing offering for Boston. WEST INDIES The Lyra Packet has brought the regular West Indian mails. The dates from Jamaica are to the 23d, from Barba does to the 17th, from Demerara to the 15th, and from Tri nidad to the sth ult. The intelligence received is not of particular importance. Some inconvenience had been suf fered from drought, but the showers had proved refreshing : the want of water had added greatly to the necessities 'of the poor, but it was presumed that the showers had been only partial, as no accounts from the interior mention a change. The prevalence of commercial distress was still complained of, and the anticipated reduction in East India rum was looked forward to with much apprehension. Much surprise appears to have prevailed on this subject, as the interests most deeply affected by it do not seem to have been aware of that contemplated attack on their vested rights. Great alarm had been occasioned by the serious illness of Sir Henry M‘Leod ; but he was almost well again. The weather hav ing been very favourable to commercial pursuits, much busi ness had been transacted at Trinidad. The accounts from Grenada state that the Maltese emigrants, who arrived there last year, had disappointed the expectations of the planters, preferring idleness and begging to working on the estates. An address had been presented to Mr. M'Queen, as a testi mony for his services in establishing the Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company. We refer our readers to an ar ticle in the usual place, where will be found several arguments why Liverpool should be chosen as the port, in England, for the arrival and departure of these vessels. A great deal of uneasiness and alarm appears to have existed about the un necessary agitation in this country in respect of the import duties ; and the disquietude on this subject is not to be won dered at amongst parties who have been accustomed to other descriptions of anxiety and threatened disasters. As a me tropolitan contemporary, however, justly observes, the West Indians may console themselves that their case is only that of the country at large, where no man knows whether he will rise up to-morrow with the property untouched and untaxed which he possessed to-day. The crops, in consequence of the dry season, were not looking well. DR. BUTLER-HIS CHALLENGE_AND HIS CHALLENGER TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, confess I was rather surprised on reading the cor respondence between the Rev. J oseph. Baylee and Dr. Butler, in the Liverpool Mercury of this day, to observe the manner in which the latter avoids the challenge so fairly offered, or rather, I should say, avoids making good his own challenge so recently made, and so promptly met. --- I do not . think, that, because the Doctor's Scripture Lec tures have not been (as he says) yet answered, that therefore he should decline all further controversy. If, as he seems to infer, from making this statement, he deems these lectures unanswerable, or not to be refuted, surely it is no reason why he should decline coming forward to obtain further triumphs, and by silencing Mr. Baylee, at once prove him to be " IN COMPETENT" to undertake either the defence of his own church, and to prove the charges he advances against that of Rome. I should wish, Sir, to give Dr. Butler credit for zeal and sincerity, in coming forward, as he h as d one , t o en d eavour to vindicate his church, and can he give a better proof of both than by at once accepting the challenge so fairly offered to him ? He states, if I remember rightly, in one of his communica tions to Mr. Baylee, that several have, by means of his preaching, been induced to renounce the errors (as he styles them) of the Protestant Church, and to embrace the Roman Catholic faith. If his labours have indeed produced such effects, and if, (as I have no doubt h e d oes ,) he desires to make more converts, would he not have a fair opportunity of so doing by refuting Mr. Baylee's:arguments, thereby proving himself to be right and Mr. B. wrong? In my humble opinion, the course he is at present taking, in altogether avoiding Mr. Baylee, and at the same time accusing him of incompetency, is not likely either to increase his number of converts or to give the public a favourable opinion of his own talents. Truth ought never to shrink back, but, strong ia itself, should, in boldly confronting all error, and in pursuing a straightforward course, show its own power ; and no one can say that Dr. Butler, after offering a challenge to ANY Pro testant clergyman, and then refusing to meet the FIRST that offers, is either boldly facing what he believes to be error, or pursuing a straightforwa r d course, i n t h us k eep i ng b ac k what HE conceives to be truth, from the attack of those who con ceive otherwise. In my judgment, (and I should imagine it would do the same in that of every person possessed of com mon sense,) it appears that the reason for his having acted as he has done, is because he is AFRAID of meeting Mr. Baylee, knowing that the doctrines of his church cannot bear to be submitted to the only revealed standard of Christian faith and practice,—the Holy Scriptures, which, on this ac count, he and other ministers of his church so carefully en deavour to keep back from their lay communities. If the Doctor persists in refusing to meet Mr. Baylee, who can ever for one moment suppose, that it is because he thinks him incompetent? Surely, if he thought so, he would come for ward at once and attempt to prove this charge, by showing his own superiority, and not as he has done, meanly shrink from arm under such a pretence, for a pretence it is and no thing more ' • and he may rest assured that this mode o f pro ceeding will not benefit the cause he has come to Liverpool to advocate ; on the contrary, he had far better have staid at home, for he must know that Popery in this town is not so strong, neither has it obtained so great an ascendancy as not to suffer from the cowardice and meanness of any of its sup porters. He will only, by pursuing the present shuffling course he is adopting, be an unwilling, but certainly a strong witness to the power arid truth of Protestantism, and to the weakness and falsity of Popery, and l a w s stuilclhnboewt,hme may have I trust, of opening the eyes of ose w been blinded, so as not to discern the real nature of the great Apostacy. If such be the case, he will indeed make some converts, how many soever he may have hitherto succeeded in perverting.—l am, Sir, yours, A PROTESTANT, Everton, April 30, 1841 A man in New Jersey, named Bills, has been presented by his wife with three little Bills. THE REV. J. BAYLEE AND DR. BUTLER, At last Dr. Butler has come forward with a reply to Mr, Baylee, but it will be seen that the Doctor shrinks most completely from his powerful antagonist. The excuse of tho popish emissary for declining the controversy is evidently a mere subterfuge, but Mr. Baylee seems desirous to remove every obstacle out of the way, in order to have an opportu nity of opening the eyes of the poor deluded subjects of the papacy to the miserakle bondage in which they are held. The sooner Dr. Butler leaves Liverpool the better. We hear that no little abuse was heaped upon Mr. Baylee and the conductors of the Standard, at St. Anthony's, on Sun- day evening, and that a conservative contemporary came in for a share of praise. Let our protestant readers reflect upon this. Popery rarely flatters, unless the object of her fawn ing embrace be serviceable in one way or other to the further ance of her designs. We now subjoin Dr. Butler's letter, with Mr. Baylee's reiterated acceptance of his cliallenge. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL JOURNAL Sir,—With reference to the challenge of a Reverend Mr. Baylee, Incumbent of, Holy Trinity Church, Birkenhead, to meet him in an oral controversial discussion, I have to ob serve, that it will be time enough for me to meet in discussion any competent clergyman of the Church of England, so soon as my Scriptural Lessons, which have reached a second edi tion, have received an answer.—Yours, &c., THOMAS BUTLER, D.D. St. Anthony's, April 29, ]B4l. Parkfield House, May 3, 1841 Sir,—As you have declined an oral controversy till your published lectures have been answered, you will perceive by the public papers that I have undertaken to do this. I, therefore, beg to re-state my original acceptance of your challenge, and to say that I again declare myself ready to meet you in a public discussion of the following assertions The Church of Rome has apostatized from the true faith of Christ. 2. Romish priests, exercising their ministry in this country, are schismatics. 3. The Church of England is the only branch of the Ca tholic Church existing in England. I remain, sir, your most obedient servant, JOSEPH BAYLEE. To the Rev. Dr. Butler. THE FAMILY OF MR. JENNER , The following• communication has been placed in our hands, and we gladly give it publicity, hoping that the peculiarly interesting nature of the circumstances may induce the charitable and humane to contribute generously for the relief of the distressed and destitute survivor or survivors of this melancholy catastrophe, and we shall have much pleasure in for warding to its destination any subscription which may be entrusted to us : LIVERPOOL, 28th April 1841. It is proposed by some parties who have known the un fortunate Mr. WILLIAM JENNER, in times long gone by, at home and abroad ; when he was respectably connected and doing a large business in the Cotton trade—and who very sincerely deplore the melancholy events which have so recently occurred to himself and his family :—that a sub scription should be opened for the purpose of raising a fund to support, educate, if necessary, and put in some way of getting an honest livelihood the only remaining child, a boy about 13 years. old, who !appears to have shewn very great courage and presence of mind under the awful and distres sing circumstances by which he was surrounded, and is now left destitute in the world. Those persons, therefore, who are disposed to promote the above object, will please to signify their kind intentions to either of the subscribers, who will be happy to receive any contributions, and to dispose of them as may be deemed best for the benefit of the poor boy, by a committee to be ap pointed hereafter. It is further understood that Mrs. Jenuer, if she should survive, shall be included in any arrangements that may be made fur the disposal of the amount collected. J. B. CLOUGH. WILLIAM STUART. JOHN GARNETT. ANDREW LOW. MRS. JRNNER.—There was a report very generally cur rent yesterday, that this unhappy lady had become worse, and that little or no hope could be entertained of her living until the evening. We are happy to be able to give a con tradiction to this rumour. On calling upon one of her me dical attendants last evening, we were informed, that so far from having become worse, she was better on Sunday and yesterday than she had been since the lamentable occurrence. The ball had not yet been removed. Mr. Jenner, we un derstand, remains much in the same state as described in the STANDARD of Friday. MEETING OF THE LICENSED VICTUALLERS A meeting of the licensed victuallers and others interested in the sale of spirituous and malt liquors was held, on Sa turday, at the York Hotel, in Williamson-square. The meeting was called for eleven o'clock, but the proceedings did not commence till about twenty minutes before twelve, at which time between forty and fifty persons were present. Mr. George Gurden was called to the chair. The meeting was convened in consequence of a resolution recently passed by the Watch Committee, to recommend to the Town-coun cil, that the 42d clause of the metropolitan police act should be introduced into the Liverpool local acts amendment bill, now before parliament. The CHAIRMAN said, it appeared that a large body of the licensed victuallers differed from the Watch Committee as to the propriety of introducing the 42d clause of the metro politan police act into the local act. He, for his own part, thought that, so far as related to the closing of public houses at certain hours on Sundays and Good Fridays, the measure would be useful and agreeable to the licensed victualler. themselves. • Mr. ROBINSON read a letter from a Mr. Hibble, a li censed victualler, of London, who stated his opinions on the entire operations of the metropolitan act, which he denounced wholesale, as a tyrannous and monstrous measure. Mr. Robinson complained, that, though the local acts amend ment bill had been before parliament since February last, the licensed victuallers had not been made acquainted with the intention of the committee to introduce the 42d clause till a few days ago, which was a not a fair way of dealing with them, as they had not had time- to consider the subject. Mr. Robinson contended, that the clause would not assist the cause of morality, as, if tll,:y were forced to turn indivi duals out at midnight, they would go to houses of worse cha racter, and be thus taken from those who were not amenable to the law. On Sunday mornings, he said, they would have travelling public houses at the outskirts of the town : drink would be sold from coaches as it was in London, while the cook-cellars in the neighbourhood of the docks, where illicit spirits were even now sold, would become regular grog cellars, through the premium which the W a t c h C omm i ttee were about to hold out to them. Mr. Robinson, at some length, spoke of the inconvenience which, in his notion, the clause would cause to the public. Mr. PARKER, councilhir for St. Anne's Ward, said, the thanks of the licenced victuallers were due to Mr. Procter for the determined opposition which he had given to the proposition in the committee. - Mr. ROBINSON moved a resolution to the effect, that the introduction of the 42d clause of the Metropolitan Act into the Local Bill would be oppressive to a large body of the victuallers of this town. The resolution was seconded and carried. Mr. ALEXANDER said, he objected to the measure because it was not a general measure. Why should the Watch Com mittee endeavour to make the people of Liverpool moral and leave the people of Cheshire sinners? Some time ago, there was a proposition from the methodists and others to put a stop to the steamers crossing the ferries on Sundays. He thought such a measure as that and this clause ought to go together, as they were drawing trade from Liverpool to give it to Cheshire. His second ground of objection was, that 12 o'clock was not late enough for those houses which were in the vicinity of the markets. The hours ought to he from one o'clock on Sunday morning to one o'clock on Sunday after noon. Mr. Alexander moved a resolution to the effect, that any measure for restricting the hours and mode of business of the victuallers of the town would be injurious, as coming so soon after the granting of so many new licences. Mr. COFFEE seconded the resolution, which was passed. A person present asked the names of the mover and se conder of the resolution in the Watch Committee. Mr. ROBINSON said, the amendment opposing the resolu tion was moved by Mr. Cooper, and seconded by Mr. John Smith. Mr. MAY moved the third resolution, which was to the effect, that the meeting viewed with surprise the resolution of the Watch Committee to recommend to the Council the adoption of the 42d clause, without having given them notice of the intention; and that such resolution was unfair, and would be unsatisfactory to a large body of the inhabitants. Mr. May said it was by the merest accident that they had heard of the intention of the Watch Committee. Mr. PARKER said, he understood the propriety of intro ducing this 42d clause would be brought before the Council on Wednesday next, and, as he had the honour to be a mem ber of that body, if they would put him in possession of the sense of that meeting, he would be happy to be their organ. Mr. BENT said, Mr. Parker ought to be put in possession of what were the wishes of the body generally on the general question, and he would go before the Council with greater influence. He (Mr. Bent) thought, taking the measure ge nerally, that it was desirable. The hour might he debate able, and a subject for the trade to settle. The Cn AlltNiAN said, he believed there was no objection to the clause, if its operation were made general over all the empire, . . . Mr. ROBINSON' said he begged pardon, there was great ob jection. He thought the licensed victuallers had restrictions enough to contend with. Mr. PARKER said, he thought Mr. Robinson was correct in his notions as to the causes of drunkenness, which arose from a source they were, perhaps, a little aware of. He thought no trade was so oppressed as the licensed victuallers. The licensed victualler's house was his castle, as well as any other man's house, and no police-officer had any right to enter it unless he had good grounds. He should be very happy to be the vehicle to express their opinions in the Town Council. Mr. RADLEY, of the Adelphi Hotel, suggested that a de putation should be sent to the Watch Committee, to endea vour to induce that body to obtain a general co-operation of the magistrates in Cheshire, and seven miles round Liver pool, for conformity of regulation with the provisions of the 42d clause. Mr. Radley pointed out the evils that arose from the present system, and mentioned the complaints that he had heard, from the strangers resorting to his own house, of the number of drunken people visible in our streets on Sunday mornings. He had, when recently in London, re marked to his brother, on a Sunday morning, how quiet the streets were. His brother replied, that it was because the public-houses were all closed. Mr. HA➢MER read the memorial which had been prepared for presentation to the Town Council, and moved its adop tion. It was adopted. Mr. WHITE moved, that a Committee be appointed, to consist of ten licensed victuailers of the Society, and ten other members of the trade, who were to take measures, local and parliamentary, to avert the introduction of the 42d clause, &c., into the bill now before Parliament. The reso lution was carried. A. publican present moved that Mr. Parker should be one of the ten not belonging to the Society. Mr. Parker excused himself. Several licensed victuallers were proposed, who all declined becoming members of the committee. The Chairman having quitted his seat, thanks were voted to him for his services, and the meeting broke up. Popery is at this moment as audacious in pret ens i on , as subtle in contrivance, as insolent in usurpation, as exqu i s i te l y organised, as skilful in adapting and bending herself to meet all emergencies and occasions, as resolutely determined on the aggrandisement and supremacy of her sway, as she was in the Pontificate of Gregory the Great. She is all things to all men ; shaking hands with republicanism, caressing infi delity ; fawning on aristocracy, but under all masks, and in every variety of poli c y, a l ways promoting and tending to. wards one object—the subjugation of the human race to her iron yoke.--Record. CHARGE OF FORGERY On Wednesday last, Mr. Wm. Hartley, of Eccleshill, cloth manufacturer, was brought up by warrant, before the magistrates of the borough of Leeds, charged with having uttered a forged bill of exchange, knowing it to be so. The circumstances out of which the charge arose were rather pe culiar. It will be remembered that we stated last week that Mr. Francis Buckle, of Leeds, cloth merchant, who has re cently had the misfortune to become a bankrupt, had been held to bail to take his trial at the next Yorkshire Assizes on a charge of having uttered a forged bill of exchange for £25, to Mr. Thomas Booth, of Eccleshill, then of Shipley, in the month of July last. It was at the instance of Mr. Buckle that the warrant against Hartley had been issued, as he alleged that Hartley had paid him the bill in question, in that month, for three bags of wool and a bag of waste which he had pur chased. Of course he was the principal witness in the case against Hartley, and he underwent a severe cross-examination by Mr. Naylor, on behalf of the prisoner. The bill, in re spect of which the charge was made was dated in July, 1840, was drawn at three months, by " Messrs. Smith, Brother, and Company," and Mr. Francis Buckle stated, that when the prisoner paid it to him he stated that he had received it from the drawers in payment for goods, and that they were linen or woollen-drapers, and kept a large shop in South John street, Liverpool. The bill had not been entered by Mr. Buckle in any bill-book, nor did it bear the indorsement of the accused, Hartley; but two reasons were stated why that was not done, first, that Hartley was not in good circum stances at the time, and therefore his indorsement was not likely to give the bill additional value ; and second, that Hartley was at that time in treaty for a composition with his creditors, and he did not wish them to know that he was ne gotiating bills. The bill became due in October, at which time Mr. Buckle was in Hamburg, but soon after the period at which he alleged he had received it he paid it away to Mr. Thomas Booth, then of Shipley, to meet a dishonoured bill which he held, but as the bill which had been returned to Booth bore the indorsement of Mr. Joseph Waterhouse, of Eccleshill, Booth would not take the bill in question in dis charge of Waterhouse's liability, unless it were indorsed by Waterhouse, as well as Buckle, and Waterhouse accordingly indorsed it when it was paid to Booth, at the Junction Inn, in Bradford. On behalf of Hartley, Booth and Waterhouse were called ; Booth stated that Mr. Buckle told him at the Junction Inn that he had taken the bill for cloth, of Smith, Brother, and Co., who kept a flash -up draper's shop at Liver pool; and Waterhouse confirmed that statement so far as related to Mr. Buckle having received the bill of the flash-up drapers, Smith, Brother, and Co., of Liverpool, but he did not hear him say that he had sold them cloth ; and both witnesses stated that nothing_ was said by him about his having received the bill from Hartley, as he had sworn he stated to them at the time. It appeared that Mr. Buckle returned from Germany about the middle of Novem ber, and that he became bankrupt early in January. He passed his final examination on the 2d March, and as his bankruptcy protection then expired, and he had ascertained that there was an execution out against him, he went off to Liverpool after his examination, on that day, and remained there incognito until he had obtained his certificate on the 19th of April. In the meantime he had heard of the warrant for his apprehension, on a charge of uttering the bill in ques tion, having been issued at the instance of Waterhouse, about the Ist of March, by the magistrates of Bradford ; and im mediately that he had got his certificate he directed his soli citor to give all the parties notice that he would appear before the magistrates to answer the charge, and he also gave notice to Hartley that evidence would be given to show that the bill had been paid by him to Mr. Buckle ; but although Hartley attended before the magistrates he was never called on. When the notice to attend before the Bradford magistrates was served on Hartley by a clerk of Messrs. Richardson, solicitors, Leeds, it was read over to him, and the clerk asked him where he had got the bill (the bill mentioned in the no tice), and he said lie had got it of a person in Manchester, but he did not know who. Yet in a conversation that he had with Mr. Brigg, police-officer, of Bradford, after Mr. Buckle had been held to bail, Hartley expressed his surprise that he had not been examined, and said that if he had been called he could have put an end to the question immediately, for that the bill he had paid to Mr. Buckle was a printed one, and not entirely written as was the one produced. In reply to the case on behalf of the accused, Mr. Prest called Casson, No. 4 of the Leeds Police, who proved that iu a conversa tion with him, when they were together searching for Mr. Buckle, Waterhouse said to him that he knew Mr. Buckle was as clear of the bill as what he was, but that as Mr. Buckle's name was to the bill they had only him to look to for it ; and subsequently he stated that Hartley himself had told him (Waterhouse) that he had paid the bill to Mr. Buckle. After the bench had been occupied nearly five hours, the mayor, who, with Justices Clapham and Lupton, heard the case, said that they should require the evidence given to be committed to writing next day, and then they would give their decision. Accordingly, after the depositions of the witnesses had been taken, the magistrates decided upon committing Hartley to York Castle to take his trial at the next assizes, and refused to admit him to bail. As a curiosity we subjoin a copy of the document, which is, in fact, only a promissory note : " No. 189. Liverpool, July 15, 1840. £25. • Three months after date pay to myself or order the sum of twenty-five pounds, value received, in cloth, as ad vised. At SMITH, BROTHER, & CO. Messrs. Masterman and Co., Bankers, London. Indorsed ' Smith, Brother, and C 0.," Francis Buckle,' ' Joseph Hainsworth, &c.' " —Leeds Intelligencer. THE ACADIA AND THE COLUMBIA We insert, with very great applause, the highly compli mentary letter which the passengers by the Acadia have presented to Captain Lott. The logs of both ships will inte rest our nautical readers. " On board the steam-ship Acadia, in St. George's _ Channel, May, 1841. • J F " At a meeting of the passengers on hoard the Acadia, held in the saloon of the ship, Edward Tuckerman was ap pointed chairman, and James M. Whiton, secretary. " The following testimonial was presented, and unani mously adopted:— " A CARD " The undersigned passengers in the steam-ship Acadia. from Boston to Liverpool, have much pleasure in expressing their high esteem for Captain Edward G. Lott. From the well-known reputation of Captain Miller, the intelligence of his illness, depriving us of his agreeable company and valua ble services, was attended with sincere regret, not only on his own account, but also that of those who expected to take passage with him, especially as the command was to devolve on a junior officer less experienced than himself. But jus tice to our own feelings, as well as the merits of Captain Lott, prompt from us this public testimonial to the gentle manly deportment, the careful attention to every person's comfort, and nautical skill exhibited by Captain Lott during the passage. The good order on board the ship, the excel lence and profusion of the provisions, the vigilant and polite attentions of the stewards and stewardesses, have been topics of spontaneous and frequent remark. " To the expression of the sentiments we entertain for Captain Lott we add our most cordial wishes for the conti nuance of the flattering prospects that open before him, and that he may conduce as much to the comfort and happiness of all who may hereafter sail with him, as he has to the pas sengers of the Acadia in her present voyage. (Signed) " EDWARD TUCKERMAN, Chairman. " JAMES M. WHITON, Secretary." 1 ! Steam-ship Acadia, off Holyhead, May 2, 1841 . " Gentlemen,—l must be insensible indeed, did I not fully feel and appreciate the many flattering compliments you have unanimously paid me, for which you must accept my most sincere thanks. " I must consider myself fortunate in having conducted myself in such a manner as to call forth such flattering testi monials from gentlemen who have sailed with Captain Miller, and those who, in anticipation of such pleasure, would, per haps, expect more than in the power of any but himself to afford. " I shall conclude with wishing you each and all happi ness.—l am, gentlemen, most respectfully yours, (Signed) " E. G. LOTT. " Edward Tuckerman, Esq., Chairman, and others. LIST OF PASSENGERS. From Boston.—Lady Arthur (three) Misses A governess, three children, and two servant maids, Captain Frederick L. Arthur and servant-man, John Parker and Lady, Charles Parker and Lady, and female servant, Edward Tuckerman and Lady, (two), Misses Tuckerman, Edward Tuckerman, jun., Miss Grace Brown, W. Y. M'Alister, Miss Agness Y. M'Alister, Thomas Mellor and Lady, Miss Bancroft, Miss Cadbury, Mrs. Hall and two daughters, Edward Hall and two Masters Hall, Rev. A. Cowley and Lady, Elizabeth W. Berry, Rev. Dr. Peter Parker, Thomas J. Macauley, Elisha V. Ashton, Wm. Taylor, jun. E. H. Welsh, James M. Whiton, S. F. Coolidge, F. W. S. Coo lidge, G. A. Kendall, J. W. Bates, M. Purton, D. L. Sug dam, Wm. H. Smith, F. A. Lovering, George Gurnet, Edw. Blanchard, F. Swanwick, William Cruickshanks, L. Gold schmidt, A. J. Cipriant, Francis Watson, Seth S. Lynde, Louis Meran, J. C. Martin, Wm. M'Culloch, Jos. White, Robert L. Stevens, M. A. Berk, Chas. Adshead, William Nove, John Gray.-69. From Halifax.—Lieut. Col. Freeth, Coyley. Mr. Scholfield.-4.-73 Mr. Walker, Mr LOG OF THE STEAM-SHIP ACADIA April 17-145, p. m., backed out from the wharf at Bos ton ; 5 45, pilot left the ship. 18 to 19—Wind S. to S. W.; running between Boston and Halifax. At 7 p. m., of the 19th, moored at Cunard's Wharf, making the passage in 50 hours. On the 18th, hard gale from the south, with rain and cross sea. 20—Wind S. W.; course S. 55 E.; distance 76 miles; lat. 43 50, lon. 62 3 ; at midnight, started from Cunard's Wharf ; at 1 15, a.m., Sambro Light S. W. 6 miles. 22—Wind E. to E. S. E. ; course S. 87 E. ; distance 130 miles; lat. 42 28, lon. 53 8; p. m., strong breeze ; a. ►n., moderate, with thick fog. 23—Wind S. to W. ; course E.; distance 210 miles ; let. 42 28, lon. 48 25 ; light breeze, with thick fog throughout. 24—W.S.W. to W.N.W. ; course N. 88 E. ; distance 233 miles ; lat. 42 36, lon. 43 2 ; strong breeze and cloudy. 25—Wind N.W. ; course N. 71 E. ; distance 244 miles lat. 43 54, lon. 37 23; fresh gales, with hard squalls. 26—Wind N.N.W. ; course N. 73 E. ; distance 203 miles • lat. 44 52, lon. 32 53 ; strong gale, with hard squalls and heavy sea. 27—Wind N.N. to S.W. ; course N. 66 E. ; distance 224 miles; lat 46 22, lon. 28 2 ; first part, fresh gale ; latter, 'va riable, with rain; 6 p.m., spoke the brig Triad, of Kirkoldv. 28—Wind S.W. to N. ; course N. 89 E.; distance 2: . 43 miles; lat. 48 23, lon. 23 10; light, variable breeze. v, showers and a cross sea. 29—Wind S.E. ; course N. 67 E. ; distance 178 milcs ; lat. 49 31, lon. 19 2 ; strong gale, with squalls and high sea. 30—Wind S.E. ; course N . 70 E. ; distance 193 miles ; lat. 50 41, lon. 14 26; first part, fresh gale; latter, moderate and fine; 10 a.m., passed a British man-of-war, with white flag at the mizen. May I—Wind E. ; at noon, Cape Clear miles; fresh breeze and hazy weather ; at midnig N.W. Tuskar Light N.N.W. 4 N. 4 miles. 2—Wind N.N.W. to N.E. ; running up Channel ; 8 a.m. passed Holyhead; 2 p.m., abreast of the Bell Buoy, illaksi , the passage from Tuskar in 14 hours. Ha 17, 11. GENTLEM EN ,—I h ave to announcelif to ax, you April the arrival of the steam-ship Columbia, at this port, having accenll , -, the passa ge i n thi rteen days one hour against a continued St cession of head winds, although not to say very heavy, ha continued heavy head sea has pervaded the whole of the p sage.—Yours, most obediently, (Signed) C. H. E. JUDKIN' Messrs. D. and C. M'lver. CONCERTS AT THE AMPHITHEATRE. —A magnificent bum? is now performing at the Amphitheatre, under the direction of Mons. Jullien. It is one of the most complete and adinii - ably organized we have ever heard. TOXTETH PARK. --It will be seen by an advertisement, elsewhere, that a memorial, signed by the inhabitants Toxth-park, is about to be presented to the Town Council, to petition for a landing-slip to be erected in that vicinity of iyup the the river banks. regret, we CHESHIRE E k s i l i l o i : be a so amongst the spo r t smen and lovers eo C ot d. e t e h l :f mchaancaegeimil eCheshire,Cheshire hrier. hounds.. Smith BarryHe held has this po sition g u iv r i c n so long, and he is so universally esteemed, that a Old will necessarily be felt on the occasion. Mr. Smith Barry has selected Messrs. Lucas and Co.—the Lancashire Tatter salls—to sell off his hunters, at Sandiway Head, and the sale wit take place on Saturday next.