The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-03 00:00:00

I THE CORN LAWS. Air. Alderman .SHEIL then brought forward his motion on the corn-laws, and read the draft of a petition to both houses 0 ' the legislature, p ra yi ng f or th e repea l o f th e l aws pro hi, the importation of foreign corn, He proposed that • petition should be adopted, • r- Ir Alderman GEORGE HOLT seco n d e d th e mo ti on . . 11 ••vA.THBONE, Mr. CURRIE Mr. BOLTON, and Mr. ir c -,. 1 -InS: spoke briefly favour.of the motion. ' l. • liustiELL protested against the introduction of such 89.)i e cts in the council chamber. The coun c il was no t con toituted for the discussion of political m a tt ers . With respec t I,,°lie at l eas t o f the motions brought forward, he could not "eLP zetuarking that the day—All Fools'-day —was peculiarly P Pli cahle• When he was returned a member of th e counc il, slits c onstituents—for so, .he supposed, he mus t ca ll th em , , '!ce it ap peare d to b e th e .f as hi on th ere to ape the style and g hat iris -of the House of Commons—had never asked him opinions were on the - corn-laws, nor, had the pri :lfege question then been in agitation, would •they•ever have dreamed of inquiring what he thought about it. pe t YATES having spoken in favour of the motion, the Petifion was adopted. The council adjourned at a quarter past two. The motion was seconded by Mr. JOHN HOLMES, and carried. MEMORIALS. A memorial from fourteen owners and occupiers of houses in Rupert -street was referred to the deputy town-clerk. CLEVELAND -SQUARE MARKET. A memorial sighed by from 230 to 240 persons, chiefly re siding in South - Castle -street, by seven occupiers of houses in Cleveland-square, and five in Price's-street, was presented by the. mayor. It referred with satisfaction to the willing ness. 'which had been manifested by the council to improve the• Cleveland-square Market, and prayed that the suggestion which had been thrown out, that the market should be re moved-to the site of the old Custom-house, should be adopted. The opportunity they thought to be a very favourable one, and were of opinion that a better site could not be selected, inasmuch as it was in the midst of a dense population, and contiguous to the docks. Mr. RoniNsos moved that the memorial should be refer red to the- Market Committee. He mentioned that several other of the inhabitants of Cleveland-square would have signed the memorial if they had been aware of its nature. He maintained that any attempt to improve Cleveland-square 'Market would only make it more inconvenient. He had measured the space it was possible to enclose, and found it to be only 11 yards by 13. Mr. BOLTON suggested that the Market Committee should be requested to add to their report the probable cost of the land and the proposed new market. The TOWN . -CLERK here read the following repo r t : " The town-clerk reports upon the memorial from the i nhabitants of Pitt-street Ward, for a general measure of efficient improvement of the Cleveland-square market, re ferred to the Markets Committee, but in the first instance to he reported on by the town-clerk. "That on the 27th of October, 1763, the Cleveland-square market was first opened by the proclamation of the Wor shipful George Campbell, Esquire, Mayor of this borough, and clerk of the markets of the same,' of which proclaMation the following is an extract.—(We omit the extract as unin teresting.) " That in the opinion of the town-clerk the market cannot be converted into a permanent building, covered in, without power being obtaind from parliament, inasmuch as, without such a u th or i ty, i t would b e an encroachment on the legal right s of the public. That with regard to any minor im- provem en t s. the -town-clerk will be prepared to attend the Markets Committee." Mr. COOPER seconded the motion of Mr. Robinson. Mr. CURRIE hoped that, in passing the 'notion, it would not be supposed that the council pledged themselves to the Prayer of the memorial, but that the carrying of it into effect must depend altogether on the expense. The memorial, together with the town-cl er k' s re p or t , were then referred - to the Markets Committee. WATCH-RATE. The TOWN-CLERK said he had to report that, pursuant to the direction of the council, he had proceeded, before going on with the bill, to obtain the opinion of the attorney-general. He read the opinion which had been given by Sir John Campbell, Mr. Wightman, and Mr. Rogers, , which setforth that in their opinion it was obligatory on the council to levy a watch -rate of sixpence in the pound. The town-clerictlien referred to a bill brought in by Mr. Baines, and said the effect of this would be, that the act of last session would not apply to this borough, unless, adding the surplus of the borough fund to the amount of watf2h-rate they could levy under the original act, there was a deficiency in paying the watch -rate. If there was a deficiency of any sort, the act of - last session, would then apply, and the council would be tun- Powered to levy a watch-rate of sixpence in the pound, pro vided it was required for the expenses of watching. The amount now to be levied, under the municipal corporation act, would be, for Liverpool, on a rental of .£820,366, de ducting ten per cent. That rental would yield, at 2 48.97 d., £ 8 527 10s. lid. ; for Kirkdale, on a rental of £13,331, the levy would be £l3B Hs. 6d. ; for Everton, on a rental of 4 4,516, the levy would be £504 Gs. 7d. ; for West Derby,l on a rental of £39,073, the levy would be £406 3s. sd. ; fur T oxteth-park, on a rental of £96,471, the levy would. be £lOO2 16s. 7d. ; total, £10,579 9s. Then afterwards it Would be for the council to lay another rate, as they found it e° mPulsory or not. Mr. THORNAILL moved that the rate should be 2 48-97 d. Seconded by Mr. JORDAN, and carried, PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. BRIGHT, having been called upon to bring forward the motion of. which he had given notice on this subject, said t hat in consequence of a bill having been introduced, de his clarin g the privileges of the house, he should not then press ire motion, but continue it over until the next month, that might have an opportunity of bringing it forward if the llouse of Lords before whom the bill now was, should, as t hey sometimes did, amuse themselves by throwing it out. ABOLITION OF THE PUNISHMENT OF DEATH.Mr RATnnoNE read a petition which he had prepared, Praying for the abolition of the punishment of death, and stated that he wished to have the petition printed and taken into • eonsuleration at the next meeting. In -order to enable him then to bring the subject before•the council, he should continue his notice of motiom A Mr. Alderman EvANs counselled Mr. Rathbo ne t o with n his !notion until he could brim; it forward with more likelihood of its proving efficient, The question had already been this session disposed of i n th e H ouse o f C ommons. Mr. HoncsoN thought this an important subject, and he 'as to some extent in favour of Mr. Rathbone's views; but •Ie contended that the council w as t rave lli ng ou t o f it s way— ;L was departing from the business peculiar to itself when it iegan to discuss great national and political questions, and Pa rticularly one which was about to be introduced. He had .. i nade up his mind, and lie believed that several other gen ctnen had done so,- to retire from the room if the council b egan to discuss the subject of sending up a petition for the abolition of the corn-laws. The council, in his opinion, did not meet for any such purpose. Mr. Alderman 5f1.411, protested against this unfair way of dealing with the question. Mr, Ald artn au EARLE would ask one question, with re sPect to what Mr. Hodgson had said, and it was this, whether any member was at liberty to leave the room without the Permission of the mayor? He contended that it was not in the power of Mr. Hodson to leave the room, and take his tail with him—(Mr. Currie—" except his own tail")—yes. except his own tail, without the mayor's permission. Mr. BATIIBONE would withdraw his motion. SPECIAL VESTRY. oho,t 1 1 , Tuesday a sp ec i a l genera l ves t ry was h e ld i n St Ni. Church, for appointin g overseers o f th e p oor f o r the ti istiin g year, and for taking into consideration the Liverpool () ek bill, recently introduced into - the House of Commons, Par ticularly in reference to the loss to the parish in the wa ,?" y I,"ates from the dismantling of th e existing warehouses and "_,M building yards to the wes t war d o f t h e Salthouse Dock. T he Rev. Rector BROOKS was in the chair. Nlr. L OWNDES, t h e V estry-clerk, having read the notice ' 4)111,- i:flin g the meeting, r. SAIkIUEL HOLNIE proposed Mr. George Groom. Mr. ASPINALL, seconded the motion. th' 3 °lne objection bei ng ma d e by M r . S LATER, on t h e groun d it Mr. Groom had resigned, AseiNALL said, he had Mr. Groom's authority for 4)r ing that he would serve again. Mr. HoLmE objected to the Select Vestry nominating the Voyerseers of the parish. He begged to say, that there were eil persons as parishioners, and they, and not the Select t es trY, had the right to elect those persons who, according dutie s their belief, would honestly and efficiently discharge the 'ties of the office. SLATER said, the Select Vestry did not t a k e u p on ; 'elf to nominate the overseers; but w h en a p ar t y h a d b een 4 office some time, and signified a disposition to relinquish it, 1.1 Ze Vestry communicated that intention to the parishion s at large ; and there must be some significant reason for '• on Groom coming forward after havin g s e n t i n hi s resigna -1,;;- ASPINALL said, he took upon himself the responsi :'tY for Mr Goom's coming forward ; and he id it for r i -48 ° 11 8 which . he r would state. He very seldom interfered Parish affairs, but he was induced to come down now, be- N' t ?'e, a short time ago, an observation had been made in the I k ' r e tt Vestry, that it was exceedingly ungentlemanlike, he a 2 „ l ; e ved, to interfere at all in asking Mr. Groom to stand e "?: He was willing that any odium belonging to that ex t ,sion should attach to him, because he it was not e r „ t 'e• He had done hii duty in protesting against what he i;nsidered an improper interference with the parishioners at het (Hear.) There was another reason why he came th e re, which was, to protest against a calumny which had been i n ',' o ‘vn out against the Conservatives of Liverpool. He held t e Pis hand the Albion, in which they were accused of inter thll. too much with the V estry , an d want i ng to make it all t ieir own. They knew th e i r power, certa i nly — (hear)—but co had not used it in th e way spoken of. When Mr. d ?in's resignation was mentioned, what did the other party libri The Con serv atives nev er i nter f ered so long as an equi- Ilyum of p ower was ma i n t a i ne d, so long as there were two erseer s of one party and two of the other. But what did Lille sele c t V estry do ? They proposed a third Reformer ; so c ult the parish was to have three Reformers and only one ev onservative. (H ear.) He said the parishioners at large b era ould ave interfered on the present occasion if this attempt had not been made ; but he came there to tell them that they would not submit to it. (Cheers.) Th e nomination bein., parried, Mr. Win. Rushton, Mr. lotnas Muncaster, and Mr. Joseph Gibbons were succes 'ively Qo proposed. Th e two former were elected without op- Mr fn . KNAPPER moved th a t M r. W althew be substituted " r Mr. Gibbons. 4,1\1r.- SLATER complained th a t gentlemen who objected to ti! undue preponderance bei ng g i ven to the liberals, were o,:w givin g a n equally undue preponderance to the other side Meeting n ominating a third conservative, He appealed to the if this was fair, AsPINTALL.—You set us the example, and now you Iwo can beat you, you complain of it, (A laugh.) Hozarx said, th oug h hi mse lf an d h i s b rother were t 4 i t c lig the la rges t rate - payers i n the town, he would not have e n any part at th a t mee ti ng , h a d i t not b een from the o v ledge that th e o th er party wante d to cram three radical avow down down their th roa t s; an d h e b o ldl y an d un h es i tat i ngly ht o wed that he attended there for th e p ur p ose o f putt i ng a to what he considered a nefarious proceeding. (Hear.) j• KNAPPER'S motion having been seconded, illhi : :e.'ertaißsrAN called for a show of hands, and Mr. hem °l . is was elected, about half-a-dozen hands only being 1, 1 11 1) in opposition. Th r , e meeting then proceeded to the subject of the dock bill. ha y ': P r ovisions of the bill, a s s t a t e d i n t h e marg i na l h ea d s, A,in r g bee n rec it e d b y th e V estry-clerk, • PROCTOR said, as this a on invovin the fe e r ests of almost all classes in was the town uesti , he thought the ia l ugs tpu of th e i n h a bit an t s at l arge ought to be taken respect lie therefore moved that th e c h urc h war d ens s h ou ld )Iblic meeting and have it there discussed. 00,:er• LowNnts said, that was precisely what they had d the meeting was there assembled. that r. ritocrou then begged to move that it be adjourned to for stl ll a week. He did not think the church a proper place en meeting. Dow e e CHAIRMAN explained that the churchwardens had no " call a meeting except in the church. He sincerely br o ; e d the l aw were altered in that respect ; • a bill had been hate",ght into Parliament for the purpose, but it had unfortu- VY not be en carried. 4, u d r,. P ltocToit, under these circumst ances , would with .l4 5 ..„ motio n , t 'ot,t ed l otto said, he had a resolution to propose which he of Would meet with unanimous approbation. By clause tiav, , ke bill under consideration, the dock trustees would graving-docks No. 1,2, and 3, together 41:ti l t il it i vPetir T ha lar s :e th q e uantity of land, now occupied as ship ng Yards, or covered with buildings. This was very valuable, and would yield a large return to the corporate fund ; at a moderate estimate, not less than £200,000. or £250,000. He had looked the bill very carefully through, and he found nothing said as to the appropriation of this money. He should therefore move a resolution to the effect that the Select Vestry do petition Parliament to insert a clause into the bill, making it lawful for the corporation to apply this £230,000. or whatever other sum might be realized, in liquidation of the present bonded debt. He thought they would agree with him, that so large a receipt ought not to pass into the hands of the corporation, to be disposed of ac cording to the whim or caprice of the party who might.be in power. He would call their attention to the manner in which the corporation had already disposed of whatever funds they had become possessed of, and the expedition with which they had emptied their coffers. He had taken the last three years, not thinking it worth while to go further back, as they had only been four years in office. He had extracted from their general accounts the extraordinary receipts of money; and he would show that they had had a very large receipt indeed, and that the balance in August last was very trifling in com parison. The account between the corporation and their treasurer for August-31, 1837, shoWed the following extraor. dinar) , receipts : Cash in Bank and in the hands £ s. d. of the Treasurer 16,872 2 9 Cash borrowed on Bond £31,600 Less paid in liquidation of Bond Debt. . 145 31,455 0 0 Received for declining to serve office under the municipal act 50 0 0 Sale of the Advowson of St. Luke's Church, and Interest 1,621 11 I 0 1838. Sale of Reversions 1,76.1 0 0 Received on account of Advow- sons 96 0 0 Ry amount boil-owed on Bond 56,650 0 0 Interest from Trustees of En dowment Fund..... .. 1839. Received for fines for declining to serve 0ffice....... ' 177 0 0 Sale of Reversions 1,105 0 0 Sales of Advowsons 12,509 2 0 From Trustees of the Clergy En dowment...... Less paid in liquidation of Bond Debt.. 47,180 0 0 Interest from Trustees of En dowment Fund .. Cash borrowed on Bond . 2,984 11 8 ... 39,350 0 0 s. d. 49,998 14 7 69,322 0 0 103,30313 8 222,626 8 3 Cash in Batik and in the hands orthe Treasurer Total expenditure over and above the amount received as ordi nary income. £189,321 16 6 So that in three years they had got through the enormous sum of £189,321 16s 6d. He might, therefore, safely say, that if they got the £250,000 from the sale of this property, in two or three years nobody would know where it was. (Hear.) He called their attention to this system of making away with money, no matter what its amount. They were capable of getting through it to any extent. (A laugh.) He believed the first act they had contemplated obtaining was for power to borrow £250,000; and a portion of this they had borrowed at several sums amounting to £127,455 in three years ; consequently, they would have £122,455 to borrow, to complete the amount. If, in addition, they got from the dock estate £250,000, they would have somethinglike £370,000 to spend during the next few years. This was too much. He held in his hand a bill called . the Liverpool borough fund bill, to enable the Corporation to raise money. Could it be believed that a body of men with such funds at their com mand, would be applying to parliament t o b orrow money ? If this were " refo rm ," he hoped " reform" would never again be coupled with "retrenchment." (Hear and cheers.) Reform and extravagance would be a more appropriate com bination. With something like £400,000 in view, they wanted additional facilities for raising money ! Mr. Ford here read one of the clauses of the bill. He believed the people would lend them any quantity, and for this reason, that the estate in their immediate possession was not the only estate liable for the payment in case of deficiency. They could lay a rate to tax every inch of property in the borough. (Hear, hear.) He should like them to have set this forth ; but they had not the candour to do so. There was another point. As if to gull the public, they had inserted a very curious clause, empowering the council to create a sinking fund to repay the money, at the rate of £lOOO per annum for every £50,000 they borrowed, besides interest. Suppose they were to go on borrowing for ten years a t thi s ra t e , as h e h a d no d oubt they would, from the sample they had had of their proceed ings, he fancied they would find themselves somewhat in the condition of the man with the wooden leg chasing the hare — the more he ran, th e more h e was left bhind. (Laughter.) Mr. Ford concluded by moving a resolution to the foregoing purport. Some conversation arose as to whether the resolution fell legitimately within the scope of the preamble of the bill ; and the vestry-clerk gave it as his opinion that it did not ; it would be grafting upon a dock bill a measure relating to the corporation, and the two were perfectly distinct. Mr. FORD withdrew his motion, and proposed, in lieu of it that the churchwardens be empowered to oppose any clauses in the bill that inizlit appear to them injurious to the interests of the parish, and to apply for the introduction of such clauses as they might consider advantageous to it. Mr. KNAPPER conceived that not only the proposed ware houses ought to be assessed and rated, b u t lik ew i se t h e new docks. He considered it a grievous thing for the parishioners that the dock estate should pay no rates, when two thirds of the pauperism was brought by the docks. Mr. BiRKErr observed, that the shipowners would not be the least sufferers by the proposed act. If the corpora tion, instead of building warehouses themselves would allow private individuals to build them, one quarter of the money would suffice. The CHAIRMAN having risen to put the question to the meeting, Mr. HOLT thought the parishioners ought to know more distinctly what they were going to spend their t rnoney about. Mr. liQI,Alf, said, the object was to prevent the dock trustees having power to erect warehouses out of the public funds, and obtaining the power of discharging vessels, and employing coopers, and becoming master porters and master carters, doing that which w ou ld b e muc h b etter d one b y -in dividuals, and in which they would have no pecuniary interest. The bill would destroy property now rated to the parish, with out diving any equivalent. Cooyant directed Mr. Holt's attention to the "rating clauses. He had contended in the council for a clause im posing all the parochial rates. But what did it t urn o u t? They had agreed to pay the poor rates, but forgot the paving and sewerage, and watching and lighting rates. Mr. HOLT said, the dock trustees paid these out of their own puree. Mr. DOVER admitted they did so : but were not the goods from the warehouses to be sent along the streets, and who was to pay for the wear and tear of the roads thus occasioned ? (Hear.) On the subject of the dock warehouses a great deal of delusion was studiously kept up. No man could have a higher respect for Mr. Holt than he had; but he would ask Mr. Holt if he would consider it fair for the corporation to build offices to his property in Water-street, Mr. Holt was a most respectable cotton-broker ; but could he sell cotton against the corporation? (Hear, hear.) He could in one way, because his concern was worked much cheaper, but he would be in the Gazette before the corporation would give in, because they bad a sinister end in view, and they would carry it on to the end of time, though at a loss, because of the patronage it would put in their hands. (Cheers.) Such was the grasping disposition manifested by the corporation, that on reading the bill he had looked anxiously forward till he should come to a clause empowering them to supply the town with boots and shoes. (Hear, and a laugh.) Mr. ISAAC HoLmE spoke at some length against the mea sure, and reprobated in particular one clause, by which the Dock Committee was authorised to seize any goods not entered within forty -'eight hours after a vessel had been re ported. The warehouse scheme would do incalculable injury, not to warehouse owners only, but to all owners of property adjacent to the docks. Ten guineas had been offered for land for which £3 could not now be obtained. Mr. HoLmE corroborated the latter statement of the last speaker, Land on the cast side of the Salthouse Dock sold some time ago at £lO a square yard. At a sale by the cor poration on Thursday last ,two lots of land had been put up; the highest offer for one was £4, and for the other £3 10s. This showed the mischief arising even from the agitation of the subject. The whole property must be reduced in value, and consequently contribute less to the parish, by the com petition of dock warehouses. Mr. Foap contended that the new dock would be more for the benefit of Manchester than Liverpool, especially if the people of Manchester succeeded in obtaining the privi lege of bonding. After some further discussion, of a desultory character, the Chairman suggested that Mr. Holt should move an amendment. Mr. HOLT declined; and the motion being put from the chair, was carried with only one or two dissentients. 33,304 11 9 NOVEL STEEPLE CHASE AT BIRKENHEAD. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) On Wednesday evening last, the neighbourhood of Wood side was the scene of a most interesting and manly foot steeple chase; but owing to the day it was arranged to come off, though very generally known, the attendance of specta tors was not very great, probably imagining it was a hoax. The following gentlemen started : Bicknell, Kerney,. Aspinall, Littledale, Moorcroft, M‘L eane , Willi ams , Pik e , Mann, Rayner, Miller, Peacock, Williams, Stacey, Noaks, Crewe, and Darleey. The course was about one mile and a half, over a sporting country. The leaps, in many instances teazels. The start, in a barren field, containing the first leap, a wide drain and fence, was taken by the whole party, at racing speed, in gallant style ; to the next, a cop and dyke, which was soon surmounted. The next, a regular rasper, was cleared in splendid style by Pike, all the others scrambling through, and sticking in the thorn fence. The betting now was, even on Pike against the field, he having gained so much in conse quence of clearing the leap. The race continued up a long grass field, at the extremity of which was a five-bar gate — vaulted cleanly by several—when they came to a stiff hedge, dividing a lane, at which some few baulked, Thence along the lane for about two hundred yards, over a large bank and and hedge into a grass field, where some showed symptoms o f fagging , in consequence o f th e h eavy ground and very rapid pace kept up at the commencement. Mr. Kerney now took the lead, closely followed by Mr. Bicknell to the next leap, w hich was a thorn hedge and drain, into a ploughed field, and thence into a grass one, in which Bicknell passed Mr. Kerney, and led over the next leap, a close thorn hedge and dyke, into the starting field, and over the first leap, to the winning-post, winning cleanly by about twenty yards; but in consequence of him and Mr. Kerney having taken the wrong side of one of the flags, both were disqualified, and Mr. Aspinall declared the winner, the remaining competitors not being placed. When stripped for the race, they were all as fine young men as could be seen, and it is pleasant that no accident whatever occurred. The whole party adjourned to the Albion Hotel, where an excellent supper was provided, and the evening was spent in the greatest harmony. Seventeen :hips, with 4096 persons, sailed for Sydney, under the direction of the emigration agent, in 1839. Agri cultural labourers received £25 a-year, with board and lodg ings. All the emigrants of 1828 had been provided for. It is now reported that government intend an increase of five per cent. on all existing taxes, in addition to a modified house duty. A correspondent inquires if we can inform him who Mr. John Hignett, the present solicitor to the ordnance, is. In the years 1813, 1814, and 1815, there was an attorney at Li verpool, of the name of Mr. John Litherland, who, we understand, afterwards assumed the name of Hignett, but no trace appears in the law list of any gentleman of that name, except one at Chester, who is still there, until 1836, when the name of John Hignett Hignett, (the surname being repeated twice,) as of No. 8, New-square, Lincoln's inn ;in that of 1837, at Mr. Swan's, No. 7, Staple-inn, and at Lincoln ; in 1838, at Ipswich and Yoxford ; in 1839, at Yoxford only, but in this last year, there is also a John Hig nett (the single name onl,) of 38, Hatton-garden, and La vender-hill, Battersea. Is John Hignett, the solicitor to the Board of Ordnance, the John Litherland, the John Hignett Hignett, and the John Hignett above described ?— Courier THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL. The new Play called A LEGEND OF FLORENCE, having been received on the first representation with the most rapturous applause, will be repeated Tins EVENING, and on MONDAY lICYt . . Second Week of Miss ELLEN TREE, of the Theatre- Royal, Covent-Garden, who is engaged for a limited number of nights. T HIS present FRIDAY, Ap r il 3,1840, w ill b e per f orme d , for the second time here, the last new Play, written by Leigh Hunt, Esq., and performed this season, with the greatest success, at the Theatre-Royal, Covent-Garden, called A LEGEND OF FLORENCE. Francesco Agolanti.. Antonio Rondinelli Mr. W. Howard. Fulvia Da Riva Mr. Chaplin. Cesare Colonna . Mr. W. H. Bland. Giulio Mrs. Tellet. Olimpia.... Miss Cleaver. Diana.... Mrs. Baker. Genevra (Wife of Agolanti) Miss Ellen Tree as originally performed by her in Lo on. To conclude with the new Comedy, written b J. B. Buck stone, Esq., called . SINGLE LIFE. Mr. John Niggle Mr. ebster. Mr. David Damper • Mr. Baker. Mr. Peter Piukey M 'alter. Mr. Narcissus Boss lr. W. Howard. Mr. Charles Chester Mr. W. H. Bland. Miss Caroline Coy Mrs. Edwards. Miss Maria Macaw Mrs. Clarke. Miss Kitty Skylark Miss Grant. Miss Sarah Snare Miss Cleaver. Miss Jessy Meadows.... Mrs. W. H. Bland. The original Conversation Epilogue, by the Characters. Lower Boxes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. 6d. ; Pit, 2s. 6d. ; Gallery, Is. Doors to be opened at Half-past Six, and the Performance to commence at Seven. The Box-office will be opened daily, when Places in the Lower Boxes may be taken of Mr. MINSTER, from Ten until Three o'Clock. A limited number of Subscription Tickets for the Season, not transferable, nor admissible at Benefits, to be Sold. Ap plication to be made at the Box-office. TO-MORROW (Saturday), will be performed the Tra gedy of RICHARD THE THIRD. Richard, Duke of Glo'ster, Mr. Stuart ; King Henry, Mr. Gray ; Richmond, Mr. W. Howard ; Buckingham, Mr. Chaplin ; Lord Mayor, Mr. Baker; Queen Elizabeth, Miss Cleaver; Duchess of York, Mrs. Baker ; Lady Anne, Mrs. W. H. Bland.—To conclude with the Melo-Drama of ROBINSON CRUSOE. LIVER THEATRE, CHURCH -STREET. LAST WEEK OF THE SEASON. FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. RAYMOND, On which occasion he will appear in three different Dramas, for the first time this season, WEDNESDAY, Bth April, 1840, th e rev i ve d R omant i c Legendary Drama of RORY O'MORE. Founded upon the popular Novel of that na by S. Lover, Esq. Rory O'More, Mr. Raymond; Kathleen Mrs. Barton. A variety of Dancing and Singing, by M . Thomassin and Lidia, and Maddle Cheva r. A new Dramatic Caricatur ntitled HB Betty,Nangle, Mrs. Raymond ; Bonus, Mr. Tilbury. Dancing by Maddle Chevallier. To which will be added a laughable Burletta in one act, called MYSTIFICATION. O'Blarney. Mr. Raymond ; Thoughtless, Mr. Higgie. Munyall will Dance his popular Lancashire Hornpipe it Cloys. To conclude with th e highly successful Drama, not acted here these three yea's, entitled THE MAYOR OF. FLANDERS. M`Malion, Mr. Raymond; Estelle, 7,1 1 1r5. Raymond; Potts, Mr. C. P. Marshall; Jeanette, Mrs. Barton. Tickets and places to be had of Mr. BREZE, from II till 3, Private Boxes to contain seven, price £1 Is. LIVER THEATRE, CHURCH-STREET. For the BENEFIT of Mr. W. J. HAMMOND, AND HIS LAST APPEARANCE. THIS present FRIDAY EVENING, the 3d o f A pr il , will be revived the Drama of THE BILL STICKER ; OR, " AN OLD HOUSE IN THE CITY." Bill Buzzbottle (his original character) Mr. W. J ammond , in which he will Sing the Comic Song of -A-W. DANCING by Misses Thomassin and Lidia and Ma . Chevallier. To be followed by THE IRISH LION. Tom Moors Mr. Raymond. Mrs. Aurelia Fizgig Mrs. Raymond. Mr. W. J. Hammond will Sing a New Comic Song called A Batch of Ballads, in the character of Jenny Nightingale, as originally sung by him, three times each night, in Mon.. crieff's Opera of the Ballad Singer. To conclude with a New Burlesque Burletta, entitled BEHIND THE SCENES ; Or, Actors by Lamplight. Jeremiah Hopkins (a Stage-struck Hero) Mr.W.J.J - lam mond. In the course of the Burlesque, A BLANK VERSE TRA GEDY, and a Grand Basketical Equestrian Spectacle, entitled THE TOURNAMENT; Olt, AMATEURS OP WAPPING. Tickets may be had of Mr. W. J. HAMMOND, No. 56, Seel-street, or of Mr. BREZE, at the Box-office. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are compelled to postpone the article on Socialism--it shall appear on Tuesday if the pressure of Assize Intelli gence will admit of it. The letter of " J. T." has been received, and shall appear on Tuesday, if possible. We shall endeavour to comply with our correspondent's suggestion, but he would particularly oblige us if he would write his communications on one side of the paper. We have received, from an unknwon quarter, a copy of the TVilts and Gloucestershire Standard, of the 28th of March, in which there appears, verbatim et literatim, as a leading article, a "leader" which appeared in the LIVERPOOL STANbARD of Feb. 21. We certainly feel highly flattered by the compliment paid us by our western contemporary ; but we should have been better-pleased if the source from which the article in question was derived had been acknow ledged. ri,br atbrrpool &tanbarb. FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 3, 1840. By the Josepha, Captain Wlntyre, which arrived here on Wednesday, we have intelligence from Charles ton to the Ist of March. The political news brought by the Josepha is totally unimportant. The commer cial intelligence is of a varied character. In cotton there had been a considerable demand, especially among dealers in Upland, of which about 10,523 bales had been taken during the week previous to the 29th of February. The prices ranged from sto 91 cents per lb. The following quotations give generally a fair cri terion of the market :—Liverpool classification, ordi nary and inferior, 6+ to 7; middling and middle fair, 71 to 8 ; fair to fully fair, 8+ to 81; good fair, 81 to 9 ; choice 91 to 10 cents per lb. There were several choice lots on hand, which were held at a fraction above the latter quotation. Dealers in long cotton had taken 274 bags Sea Island, at the following prices : 10 at 20; 16 at 21; 8 at 22; 71 from 18 to 27; 109 from 25 to 40; and 90 bags Santee at 20 cents per lb. In the rice market the following were the last quota . tions :—lnferior to fair, 21 to 2i; good to prime, 2'l to 3 ; and a strictly choice parcel would bring a fraction above the latter quotation. Rough rice had been sold at 77 cents per bushel. The operations in all descrip tions of Flour continued light, as the business was chiefly confined to the city bakers. North Carolina had been selling in small parcels, and according to qua lity, at from 51 to 61 per barrel. Superfine Virginia was as high as seven dollars per barrel. In the absence of arrivals the salt market had be come more firm—in fact holders were asking an ad vance on stone lots. Liverpool was quoted at 11 to li per sack. Bills on England are quoted at 9 to 10 per cent pre mium. There had been much briskness in domestic exchanges, especially in bills on New York. Freights to Liverpool for cotton were 1 to 11 cents. We have intelligence from Savannah to the 22d of February. The arrivals of cotton up to that date, from the 14th of February, had been 13,988 bales Upland, and 463 bales Sea Island. During the same time there had been cleared 9,643 bales Upland, and 160 bales Sea Island, leaving a stock on hand, inclusive of all on ship-board, of 41,043 bales Upland, and 2,342 bales Sea Island. The business of the last week had been extensive. Prices ranged from sto 9 cents for Up land, and from 18 to 28 for Sea Island. The following is a statement of the stock of cotton : Uplands. S. I. 1,523 118 13,988 463 138,756 3,991 Stock on hand, Ist October.. Received this week Do. previously 124,267 4,572 Exported this week .. 9,643 160 Do. previously.. 73,581 2,070 83,224 2,230 Stock on hand, including all on shipboard not cleared on the 21st instant.. 40,043 2,342 Freights to Liverpool from Savannah were quoted at 1 to n-, and exchange on England at 10 to 101 per cent premium. From Mobile we learn that, on the . 22d of Febru ary, freights had advanced, and that, from the scarcity of shipping, they would, in all probability, go higher still. The rate to Liverpool was quoted at 11 to 11. The stock of cotton was 110,000 bales, against 93,000 bales last year. Prices ranged from 51 to 91. The receipts of the week ending on the 22d of February had been 45,940 bales, against 13,758 bales in the cor responding week of the last season. The total receipts this season had been 168,124, against 181,718 last year, showing a deficiency of 13,594 bales. The ex ports of the week had been—to Liverpool, 2,884 bales; Havre, 1383 ; New York, 1,371 ; Boston, 1,510 ; Pro vidence, 553; Philadelphia, 214; New Orleans, 637; together 8,552 bales. The following is a statement of the prices, according to the Liverpool classification : Good and fine, 9 to 9a; good fair, 81 to 81; fair, 71; middling, 61 to 71; inferior and ordinary, 51 to 61. Already the howl of Irish agitation has been raised to stay the progress of Lord Stanley's just and equita ble measure, and the English majority of the House of Commons are told that they must still hold their liber ties, their property, and' their religion at the mercy of a Popish rabble and an incendiary priesthood. The bloated reprobate, O'Connell, dares us to persist in pressing forward this bill, and, in a letter addressed to the Duke of Leinster, full of the rabid insolence, in flated bluster, and arch-hrprocrisy peculiar to his epis tolary effusions, thus details the means to be adopted, in the hope —we trust the vain hope—of frighting from their purpose the representatives of Protestant England. " All Ireland," says this rabid miscreant, " should be aroused in its peaceful strength. From the north to the south a great popular demonstration should be made. Parliament must hear the voice of Ireland— that voice must also be heard claiming the protection of our beloved Queen, the best of her race ; the first British monarch who knew how to appreciate the loy alty of her temperate, religious, and brave Irish sub jects." Be it so ! Let the voice of Ireland be heard by Par iament and by our beloved Queen; but not from the polluted lips of this vampire that feeds upon her blood. Let the cry of that suffering land rise up from her green vallies and her wild heaths, from the humble dwelling§ of her industrious yeomanry, or from the mud hovels which shelter her indigent and wretched pea santry ;—let it rise freely, and uncontrolled, and fresh from the hearts of the utterers ; and it will disclose a tale of suffering, a history of grinding tyranny, that will startle and appal the hearers. Let the voice of Ireland he heard, we say—and would that it could rise in happier strains and from lighter hearts !—but let not the drunken ravings of priest-led mobs, infuriated with whisky, reeking from recent outrage and blinded with superstition, be deemed to be that voice. Let the true spirit of Ireland be permitted to approach, unfettered, the Throne of our beloved Queen, and to pour out the untutored feelings of her people ; to point out what Ireland might have been and what she is ; to drag the mask from before the face of her real oppressors, a li centious, unprincipled, and ambitious priesthood, and to lay bare the reptile form of the incubus which for centuries has pressed down her energies and trans formed into a howling wilderness a land formed by na tuie to be a garden. Then and then only would our beloved Monarch know how to appreciate "the loyalty of her temperate, religious, and brave Irish subjects." But this will not be permitted. Ireland—degraded Ireland—must speak only by the mouths of her priest hood, and from the prompting of her mendicant ruler. The opposition which will be offered from that country to the passing of Lord Stanley's Bill, springs not from the loyal yeomanry of Ireland—not from the substan tial freeholders upon whom was intended to be con ferred the power of returning members to represent their interests in the British House of Commons, — but from the hired slaves of her priesthood, who usurp that power to the ruin of the best interests of her people. We Warn our countrymen against the gross error into which they will be led if they allow themselves to believe that the agitation which for years has distracted that unhappy country, and which is now to be renewed in all its strength, is the unprompted and free effort of the people of Ireland. We urge them to cast from their minds the thought that Ireland wishes for the perpetuation of the present system of perjury and outrage. As regards that country, Lord Stanley's Bill is one of protection essentially —protec tion to the real voter in the exercise of his acknow ledged rights, and, to the disqualified voter, emanci pation from the unhallowed influence which drags him to the poll, to outrage by open perjury the laws of his country and his God ! But, we ask, is the Bill of Lord Stanley an Irish question merely? Is it one in which the wishes of the people of Ireland only are to be consulted ? By no means. On the contrary, it is one which deeply affects the interests of the whole empire —which affects the interests of Great Britain and her remotest depen dencies, inasmuch as it affects the composition of that branch of the legislature to whose care so great a portion of the interests of all is committed. We gave to Ireland, by the Act of Union, a share in the repre sentation of Great Britain. We extemled that boon, by the Emancipation Bill, to the Catholics of Ireland; and, by the Reform Bill, we remodelled throughout the kingdom the forms by which it was to be acquired. If we have since found that, as respects one portion of the kingdom, the machinery which we then thought calculated to secure our object—viz., a full and fair representation of the people, based upon a qualification of the bona-fide value of ten pounds per annum—has not had that effect ; if we have found that the system adopted in Ireland has placed the representation of that country virtually in the hands of fictitious and fraudulent voters—of men who have no bona-fide claim, under the spirit of the Reform Act, to exercise the privilege of voting,—have we not an undoubted right to adopt such a measure as will best remedy the evil ? We gave the power of legislating for the people of England to the bona-fide representatives of the pro perty, intelligence, and worth of the Sister Kingdom, and not to the hired and perjured tools of an incendiary priesthood. What we gave to Ireland we are willing to secure to her ; but we are not willing to give our altars and our homes to the sworn enemies of our reli gion and our liberties ! England has gone far enough already in her blind submission to the demands of Irish faction. She has too long allowed her own interests to be neglected, and her just desires to be thwarted, by the unprincipled machinations of a Popish majority, delegated to the House of Commons by the priesthood of Ireland. England must no longer be frighted from her purpose by the howl of Irish agitation, or the threat of Irish rebellion. 'We seek not to trample upon Ireland, but neither will we allow England to be trampled upon. We are not to be for ever startled by the wild cry of repeal—to mistake the yelp of every cur that barks, for the deep bay of bloodhounds straining to gripe the throats of our Irish Protestant fellow -subjects. The people of England will not allow one hair on their heads to be injured. They will neither allow one inch to be wrested from their boundless dominions, or one jewel to be torn from the diadem of her monarchs Away, then, with the thought that an English House of Commons, or an English people, will be induced to abate their just demands by the threats of O'Connell, or the paltry lies of the mean and merce nary faction that obeys his behests ! Let the shallow drivellers of our Radical Town Councils meet and spout; let the small fry of corruption, which fattens upon morsels of patronage rejected by the nicer sto machs of the larger birds of prey, meet and spout ; let the tribe of hungry expectants, who are contented with the crumbs and broken meat of office,—subregister ships of " social arrangements," or the livery and lounge of an inspector of police, joie their " most sweet voices" in the cry. The people of Protestant England have taken their stand, and w ill " STAND FAST." Mr. Buxton's plan for the suppression of the Slave trade having recently obtained the patronage and sup port of the Government, we feel called upon to offer a few observations on the subject. In doing So, we must be understood as offering no opp os i t i on to t h e furtherance o f an o bject so praiseworth y an d philan thropic. We yield to no one in our abhorrence of a traffic so horrible and disgraceful. It is our earnest desire to see it utterly destroyed. But, while we take credit for entertaining these feelings, we are bound to add that we do nut believe the plan to which we have just alluded can possibly succeed. Mr. Buxton's project may be thus stated :—he pro poses to impede and discourage the Slave traffic—to establish and encourage legitimate commerce—to en courage and teach cultivation—and to impart instruc tion. To accomplish the first of these objects, we must increase and concentrate our squadron, and make treaties with the chiefs of the coast, the rivers, and the interior of Africa. To accomplish the second, we must obtain commanding positions; settle factories ; and send out trading ships. To accomplish the third, we must set on foot an agricultural company, and ob tain by treaties lands for cultivation ; with so much power as may be necessary to keep the Slave-trade at t a distan ce . T o accom pli s h the fou r th , we must esta blish a benevolent institution, somewhat on the plan of the African Institution, and acquire all necessary statistical information for the use of the merchant, the agriculturist, or the teacher. Such are the main features of Mr. Buxton's plan, in favour of which Government have proposed a vote of John Russell's letter to the Lords of the Treasury. He proposes to establish new commercial relations with `hose African chiefs or powers within whose domini- ons the internal Slave-trade of Africa is carried on, and the external Slave-trade supplied with its victims. To accomplish this, it is intended to negotiate conventions or agreements with those chiefs and powers, the basis of which conventions would be, first, the abandonment and absolute prohibition of the slave trade; and, se condly, the admission for consumption in this country, on favourable terms, of goods the produce or manufac ture of the territories subject to them. Of those chiefs the most considerable rule over the countries adjacent to the Niger and its great tributary streams. It is therefore proposed to dispatch an expedition, which would ascend that river by steam-boats, as far as the points at which it receives the confluence of some of principal rivers falling into it from the eastward. At these, or at other stations which may be found more favourable for the promotion of a legitimate commerce, it is 'proposed to establish British factories, with a view of teaching the natives that there are methods of em ploying the population more profitable to those to whom they are .subject, than that of converting them into slaves, and selling them for exportation to the slave traders. Such is a partial developement of the plan adopted by Government at the recommendation of Mr. Buxton : but is it feasible ? Would it not be better as the Spec tator• says, "to take the money at once and throw it into the sea? One of the first objections which we have to urge against this utopian and visionary scheme is, that there is not on the banks of the Niger a sufficient quantity of surplus produce of any description to justify the ex pectation that a trade may be established. This is abundantly proved in the published accounts of the expedition of Messrs. Laird and Oldfield. The second objection we derive from the circumstance hat the natives of that portion of Africa will not be al- lowed to trade with white men. Messrs, Laird and Oldfield found it utterly impracticable to establish any commercial intercouse with the inhabitant s in the in terior, whence nearly all the slaves are procured. It is quite nonsensical to imagine that any process of reason ing will persuade the. predatory chiefs that it would be more to their interest to exchange the profitable traffic in slaves for the arts of civilised life—in other words to substitute labour and poverty for idleness and wealth. In the third place, the climate of that part of Africa in which it is intended to establish factories is even worse than that of Sierra Leone, where so many Eng lishmen have been prematurely consigned to their graves. No white man can survive long the pestilential marasmata on the banks of the Niger. To transport Englishmen to such a horrid climate would be almost as cruel as the Slave-trade itself. In the fourth place, the proposed plan cannot be carried into effect without involving this nation in a system of petty warfare, interminable in its duration, and involving an enormous expenditure of life and mo ney, with the African chiefs by whom the Slave-trade is now carried on. It is idle to talk of conciliating these chiefs. They may be intimidated into a compliance with our demands by the presence of an armed force. Is Lord John Russell prepared to carry out his plan by making war on the African chiefs ? Is he, furthermore, prepared to seize upon the territories of the African chiefs for the purpose of establishing his factories and forming his agricultural settlements ? Another formidable objection to Mr. Buxton's scheme is founded on the well-known fact, that the chiefs in the interior of Africa are in a state of almost prpetual warfare with each other. By what magic process can we expect to reconcile these chiefs and their belligerent and predatory clans with each other? Unless we can accomplish this, it should be borne in mind that it is utterly impossible to establish a permanent trade or form agricultural settlements. We have thus briefly detailed a few of the more pro minent objections to the proposed expedition to the Niger. In our next we shall proceed to show its utter inefficacy as a means for suppresSing the slave trade. At the same time we shall detail a scheme which will effectually accomplish this object, and strike a death blow to slavery, in every part of the world. The Great Western may be expected to reach Bristol this morning, on her return from New York, bringing accounts to the 19th instant. The Right Honourable the Lord Viscount Combermere has been pleased to appoint the Rev. Charles F. Smith, of St. Mary's, Chester, a n d lat e o f thi s t own, one o f his lord ship's domestic chaplains.—Courier. ATTENDANCE OF UNNECESSARY WITNESSES AT TILE ASSIZES.—On Monday, in the Crown Court, a case of sheep-stealing was tried, in which no fewer than three of the constabulary force of Wigan were brought up as witnesses, where one would, by proper management, have served all the purposes of justice. One constable produced the bones of a shoulder of mutton (that had belonged to the stolen sheep,) and another, the foot or trotter bone to fit it. On the same principle a whole posse might have come into court, each armed with a rib or other bone of the dead animal. His lordship took occasion to allude to the attendance of unne cessary witnesses, intimating that the judges would certainly not, in such cases, allow them their expenses. PROTESTANT OPERATIVE MEETING.—A meeting of the members of the Operative Protestant Association was held on Tuesday evening, in the News-room, Houghton-street, John Wilkinson, Esq., in the chair, for the purpose of adopt ing a petition to the House of Lords, praying their lordships to reject the Irish Municipal Bill, which was considered so eminently calculated to injure the Protestant institutions of that country. The meeting was addressed by several in fluential members. The room was crowded to excess, and many were unable to obtain admittance. It was unanimously agreed that the petition should be sent to the Duke of 'Wel lington for presentation. A great number of signatures were received in the room. The meeting separated at ten o'clock. In the Nisi. Prius Court on Saturday, just before his Lordship passed sentence on the Messrs. Sowler, Mr. R. Scarr Sowler, the gentleman who committed the assault on Mr. Jeremiah Garnett, of the Manchester Guardian, passed from the vicinity of the under-sheriff, near whom he had been standing, to the place occupied by the elder Mr. Sow.; ler, immediately behind the sea t s assigned to'the Q ueen ' s connsel. The vicinity was crowded by gentlemen of the long robe, who were anxious to hear the sentence ; and in order to reach his father, it was nece ssary f or Mr. Scarr Sowler to displace a learned gentleman, who after the lapse of a few seconds reminded Mr. Sowler (with whose person, by the way, he was quite unacquainted) that " he had com pletely deprived him of his place." " Oh," rejoined Mr. R. Sowler, politely moving to the gentleman, " I assure yo u I shall most cheerfully g i ve way ; the fact is I am here waiting to receive judgment in the case Garnett v. Sowler, and if you choose to take the place and its consequences, I'm sure I have no objection." This sally was followed by a general titter amongst the gowns and wigs. NEW FLOAT ING-LIGHT.—The new Floating-light, the Queen, is nearly completed, and will bo moored, at the Formby station, on the 6th of April. It is intended to place an additional Light -ship in Crosby Channel, about half the distance between the Rock Light-house and the Formby Floating-light, which will be ready to be laid crown by about the 6th May. We shall then have three Floating-lights, viz : one in Great Crosby Channel, off the east elbow of Great Burbo Bank, showing a single light; a second at the Formby Station, showing two lights ; and the third at the Northwest Station, showing three lights. The Rock light, the intended Crosby and the Formby Floating-lights, being nearly in a line with Victoria Channel, will enable vessels to enter or leave the port at almost any hour of the night, thus afford ing means of access and of egress particularly valuable to her Majesty's mail-packets, as well as to American or other packets sailing on fixed days, and to the shipping generally, whether sailing vessels or vessels navigated by steam, as the port may then be said to be open almost every hour of the twenty-four. These are great improvements, effected at no additional cost to commerce, and the Dock Committee de serve great credit for carrying them into effect. We under stand that two masters will be appointed to the new Floating light on the ninth of April. £35,000 of primary outlay, and £10,546 of annual expenditure to carry it into effect. F Mr. Buxton, in his recently published work on the Slave-trade, has fully demonstrated the utter ineHi cacy of all previous schemes for the suppression of the Slave-trade. It is no exaggeration to say that the Government of this country has expended twenty-five millions of pounds, since the year 1808, in the vain endeavour to extinguish this traffic. During the same period, and in the same enterprise, how many thou sands of our brave seamen have fallen a prey to the pestilential climate of Western Africa ? How many other brave and distinguished men, engaged in a civil capacity, have also been sacrificed omits plague-struck coasts ? How many hundreds of thousands, nay mil lions of Negroes have been consigned to all the accu mulated horrors of slavery in foreign colonies during the same period ? Is not the answer to the last question a pregnant proof of the failure of all the schemes to which we have hitherto resorted, for the purpose of putting an end to this aboniinable trade ? As all previous schemes for the suppression of the slave trade have proved miserable but expensive failures, it is worth while to enquire whether Mr. Buxton's plan is better calculated to answer the end in view. We think it is not. It is as childishly absurd and impracticable as the most chimerical scheme that has ever been engendered in the brain of the wildest enthusiast. This is tacitly acknowledged even by the organs of Government. The chief of these, the Morning Chronicle, has observed,. "that the expedition to the Niger may fail to produce all the good results which some expect from it, but it can hardly fail to produce much good." So far from pro• during any good whatever, we believe that the proposed expedition will be productive of incalculable evil. Let us examine in detail the plan laid down in Lor "LOVE." In the preceding part of this review of " Love," we tested and compared Knowles with himself. Irrespective of minor differences of opinion, it is an enviable play that claims a third place with such choice - productions as " Virginius" and the " Hunchback." In this honourable struggle for pre eminence, Knowles Lis to be regarded as an emulous compe titor with self. He is not idly content with having made — he strives to sustain a reputation as confessedly the most faithful and devoted playwright of his century. The chances of dramatic success, compared with those which are open to competitors in other pursuits of precarious literature, are now-a-days, as respects " odds" and the chapter of acci dents, on a level with riding at steeple-chaces compared with the expenditure of nerve and muscle on a straightforward course for the St. Leger. This is worth serious reflection : it has the closest relation to a curious stage in the history of those more immediate influences which affect the highest de partment of the national literature of every civilized country. Ycs ! familiar as the association at first may seem, it is ne vertheless true. If steeple-chacing be a neck-breaking, play writing is a heart-breaking pursuit. The race is not always to the swift, nor success to men of understanding. In " Love" there are marked borrowings of the author from himself as identified with his previous writings. But that , is all but the inevitable badge of fruitful authorship. What befel Cobbett and Bulwer, especially, as political and prose compositors, neither Byron nor Sir W. Scott—not even Shakspere himself, with his well-like, ever-fresh genius —could wholly escape. All have reproduced pet thoughts and characteristic phrases in a similar spirit, and often in nearly the same words ! Yet who but a verbal carper will say that Knowles has written himself out? The beauties, which from any page of his " Love" invite quotation, will, we think, satisfy even the indifferent after rousing them from an affected or unenviable unconcern. They shall be select and short—to the purpose—and conclusive. The pressure of assize intelligence alone deferred their appearance in the columns of last Friday's STANDARD. *** The above should have appeared in our impression of Tuesday ; but, as a dark man says in a play of Shakspere's. " Who can controut his fate !" so may -not we observe of our own attesting intentions ? On consideration, therefore, it has appeared preferable to let the foregoing appear unmo dified as set up in type for an " appearance." This, as our readers are aware, is an assize visitation ; and as the good and commonplace things said and done from under the imposing thatch of wigs and silk gowns " couldn't keep," and as the crumbs which have fallen from a dramatic poet's mental table can,—we say not " cedant arena," this being a wind-piping time of peace, in which the talents of the war rior cannot be said to yield to those of the gown,—but Cedat amor togw, which words, literally translated, signify Knowles's Love must yield to Cresswell's wig. There. Like many worthy men, when at a loss, we have paraphrased a piece of convenient latin, and thereby cut the matter short under the cover of a classical " allusion." It were idle to give extracts illustrative of sustained dra matic effect from the play of " Love." The characteristics are necessarily interwoven with dialogue and the collision of action between the dramatis personce. The play must be seen to enjoy such traits: there is no other way. What are appended are submitted as pictures in little. Kindred gems might be served up so as to exhaust columns. But it is un necessary to multiply instances or cloy with sweets. After speaking of a change which grew with the heroine, " the nearer she approached to womanhood," we have this on the dangers of trifling with— FIRST LOVE. " You ust not With a first pa ss i on , once i t has m taken root:. play For it strikes deep —to the foundations even Of the heart—entwining with the fibres, there, Of life itself, that pluck the other up. * So may you tempt her, sir, with pity for him, To turn a pilgrim—take up staff and scrip. O never did achievement rival Love's For daring enterprise and execution. It will do miracles ; attempt such things As make ambition, fiery as it is, Dull plodding tameness in comparison. Talk of the miser's passion for his store— 'Tis milk and water to the lover's, which Defies the mines of earth and caves of ocean To match its treasure ! Talk of height, breadth, depth- There is no measure for the lover's passion, "No bounds to what 'twill do !" Here comes an old friend, no the less welcome because in a new dress. It reminds one of every dear old aunt's re mark, " there are many true words spoken in jest." ------ IRONY. • " For I have known Bracelets and rings do miracles, where nature Play'd niggard, and did nothing or next to it ; Beat lotions in improving of the skin, And mend a curve the surgeon had given up As hopeless. Sig• Rupert. Nay you speak in irony. Catherine. I speak in truth, speaking in irony; For irony is but a laughing truth Told of a worthless thing. * * * Come The argument shall be, that you're i n l ove ; The which sh a ll I affirm while you deny. You are in love! I'll prove it by fifty things, And first and foremost, you deny it, sir; A certain sign, with certain accidents: I'd stake my credit on one single fact, A lover is the dullest thing on earth." • Knowles, of course, means a true lover is . the dullest thing on earth to the maid of his heart. Such swains look down when they should look up—mumble when they ought to be silent, and are loutishly mute when it is the height of con ventional rudeness not to say all manner of soft things, and the greater the nonsense the better. It is otherwise, how ever, with lovers of a l a dy' s purse and not her person; or of a vain one, because of " plunder and place" through her connexions ! With another sample of a rich lot we must conclude. It is taken from among a profusion of fine things which a shrewd half Polonius of an officious and well-meaning old Baron Steinberg of an intermeddler is made to say, in the person of (Brick. The thing is a narrative as well as a pic ture of the all engrossing theme of LOVE. What saidst thou no w , apostrophising love ? ULRICK.—I said it was a wilful, wayward thing, And so it is—fantastic and perverse ! Which season and occasion set at naught ; Takes its own way, no matter right or wrong. It is the bee that finds the honey out, Where least you'd dream 'twould seek the nectarous store. And 'tis an arrant masquer—this same love— That most outlandish, freakish faces wears, To hide its own !—Looks a proud Spaniard now ; Now a grave Turk ; hot Ethiopian next ; And then phlegmatic Englishman ! and then Gay Frenchman ; by and by Italian or Gruff Dutchman is LOVE behind the masque ! It is a dissembler too—looks every way But that where lie its thoughts ! will openly Frown at the thing it smiles in secret on ; Looks most like hate, then when it most is love ; Would fain convince you it is very rock When it is water ! ice when it is tire ! Is oft its own dupe, like a thorough cheat; Persuades itself 'tis not the thing it is ; Holds up its head, purses its brows, and looks Askant with scornful lip, hugging itself That it is high disdain—till suddenly It falls on its knees, making most piteous suit— With hail of tears and hurricanes of sighs, Calling on heaven and earth for witnesses That it is love, true love, nothing but love ! We forget who it is who calls love " fool's paradise." As this is assize time, we are reminded by the exposure of all cases of ardent, or rather tried attachment, that, when " dis interested" and " ingenuous," they ever shew the tender pas sion to work by the rule of contraries ! Thus, men who in other respects have a reputation for being sensible, make fools of themselves—especially when they commit themselves on paper, under the poetic feeling of the distance which lends enchantment to the view ! Really foolish and weak people, on the other hand, when in love, evince temporary sense, or an approach to an escape from imbecility ! Cow ards wax valiant; invalids recover; the self-confident become diffident—of themselves : and so on by " opposites" through all degrees and kinds of men. Strange, but true. And this has ever been, since Adam delved and Eve span ! (Continued from the STANDARD of Friday.) This play, which was noticed on Friday last, has been pre sented nightly at the Theatre-Royal since the opening of the season. After this evening, it is to give place to varied per formances, Commencing with another new play, from the pen of a sentimental and struggling author—Leigh Hunt. Our present business, however, is neither with the " Legend of Florence," nor with the ever-interesting Shaksperian As You Like It, in which Miss Tree will on Thursday personate Rosalind—but with the brief fulfilment of a promised esti mate of Knowles's most recent play of " Love," in respect of which our position is properly twofold, the nature of the subject under notice being lyric as well as dramatic. In addition to one or two errors of the press, there was one of statement, which is worthy of remark. In taking ex ception to the animus under which the daughter quits her dying father, after receiving and entreating a reiteration of his " blessing," by an oversight we indicated the part of the action as the " first scene of the first act." It ought to have read—end of the " first scene of the third act ;" but as a description was annexed, the verbal inaccuracy of " first" instead of " third" was self-rectifying to every interested reader of ordinary penetration. As the venial error was ours, and not the printer's, it should be admitted —and there an end on't. " A LEGEND OF FLORENCE." The last new play was produced at the Theatre-royal on Wednesday night, and, of course, according to the pecu liarly correct notions of certain contemporaries, the manage ment deserves censure for it. The author, our literary read ers are by this time aware, is Mr. Leigh Hunt, a gentleman who for many years has added grace and beauty to our periodical literature, who has contributed to improve the taste, and to extend the observation of the reading class, more, we venture to say, than any writer of the present day. This, however, was his first experiment as a dramatist, and as in London so in Liverpool, it was completely successful not alone with the judicious few. The plot is founded on a Florentine legend, as the title ex presses, and may be described in a few words. Genevra (Miss Tree) is the wife of Francesco Agolanti (Mr. Stuart), whose peevish tyranny bows her patient spirit to the dust; and at length, outraged beyond her physical endurance, she expires. This event apparently changes the entire character, or rather disposition, of Agolanti; for, from being imperi ously obstinate, he becomes all penitence and self-reproach. Suffering from remorse whilst in his widowed chamber, he hears the voice of Genevra calling upon his name, and he sees, as he imagines, her ghost in the street. He is seized with a paroxysm of terror, and rushes from the window, bid ding defiance to the spectre. Genevra, the auditory then find, has been buried whilst in a trance. Her husband's door being closed against her, she seeks her mother's, where she meets with a reception no better, and at length she ar rives at the house of her former lover, Antonio Rondinelli (Mr. W. Howard), where she is received and most honour ably treated. She is about to return to her penitent hus band; but before Agolanti takes her home, the vindictive ness of his nature again appears, whereupon Genevra indig nantly declares she will not return, but enter a convent. Agolanti becomes furious; Cesare Colonna (W. H. Bland) interposes, a tight between them follows, which terminates is the death of Agolanti, and the curtain drops. In delineating the various characters in this play, there is much delicate skill and infinite grace displayed. The con- MEETING OF THE RATEPAYERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST DERBY. Mr. Moththwaite of Low-hill, and Mr. Roundthwaite of Edge-lane, were appointed Overseers of the Poor for the en suing year. The business being concluded, the thanks of the meeting were unanimously voted to the Chairman for his impartial conduct in the chair, and also for the warm interest which he ever takes in the affairs and welfare of the township. MEETING OF THE RATE-PAYERS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF EVERTON. A meeting of the rate-payers of the township of Everton was held yesterday, at Mr. Halliday's, the Everton Coffee house, for the purpose of examining the accounts of the Overseers of the Poor, and the Surveyor of Highways, of that townsnip, for the past year, and to appoint overseers and surveyor for the ensuing year. Shortly after 9 o'clock, Mr. John Walker, cotton-broker, was called to the chair, when, after a discussion of considerable length, the accounts were passed, and Mr. Wilson Ledger and M. Henry Edwards were re-elected as auditors ; Mr. Robert Ledsom and Mr. James Perrin as overseers ; and Mr. Willan as assistant overseer and surveyor; all at their former salaries. The principal speakers were Mr. J. P. Hall, Mr. Heaton, Mr. Ledger, Mr. Tattersall, and Mr. Heys Pye. The latter gentlemen urged particularly a security from the assistant overseer to an amount sufficient to free the parish from lia bility of loss. Mr. Shaw replied he was ready to give secu rity to the amount of £30,000 if required. The meeting on the whole was but thinly attended. Passengers per Queen Victoria, April Ist to Liverpool from Dublin.---Earl Devon, L or d Courtney, Sir M. Bellew, Lady Bellew, Lady Fortescue, &c. Miss COMER'S HISTORICAL LIBRARY.--We beg to di rect the attention of our readers to an advertisement, in another column of this excellent ser i es o f works, which will be found a valuable addition to the school and family library. We perceive by the Gazette of Tuesday night, that her Majesty has been pleased to grant the dignity of a Duchess of the United Kingdom, to The itt. Hon. Lady Cecilia Letitia Underwood (eldest surviving daughter of Arthur Saunders, second Earl of Arran, by Elizabeth, his third wife, daughter of Richard U n d erwoo d , late of the City of Dublin, Esq.), and the heirs male of her body, Lanz/idly begotten, by the name, style, and title of Duchess of Inver ness." DEATH OF THE EARL OF ENNISKILLEN.—A brave and noble spirit has departed from the world. The Earl of Ennis killen is no more. After many months of suffering and de cline, this distinguished nobleman breathed his last, at his residence, Florence Court, in the county of Fermanagh, on the morning of yesterday. Frank, intrepid, and courteous in his manner, he was as much beloved by the friends, as dreaded by the enemies of his country. Just, considerate, and judicious as a landlord, he was the pride and the boast of his intelligent and independent tenantry; whilst the ar dent affections of his family and the warm attachment of his friends—the solicitude with which they watched his declining health, and the sorrow with which his demise, though ripe and full of honours, has filled their hearts, are the honest evidence of that kindliness of disposition and universal bene volence of character which won him the respect, confidence, and affection of all who had the happiness of his acquaintance. The noble lord is succeeded in his title and estate by his eldest son, Lord Cole, whose elevation to his present rank will create a vacancy in the representation of Fermanagh, of which he has been member since the year 1831.—Dublin Evening Mail of Wednesday. DEATH OF LADY THURLOW.—We have to announce the premature demise of Lady Thurlow, on Tuesday last. Her ladyship, who was the only daughter of Mr. Peter Hodgson, was married to Lord Thurlow, in November, 1836, by whom her late ladyship leaves issue two sons. The members of the Athelstone, and of the Royal York Lodge of Perseverance, No. 7, with many members from va rious Lodges, dined together at the King's Head Tavern, on the 23d instant, to commemorate the 28th anniversary of Brother Grimstone's celebrated Eye Snuff. Brother Grim stone is past master of No. 7, and P.Z. of the Royal York Chapter, No. 7, and has served the arduous office of Trea surer to both, for the last 7 years, to the united satisfaction of all brethren and companions concerned, and much honour to himself.—Bell's N ew W ee k ly Messenger. INTOXICATION IN CONSTANTINOPLE.--The following punishment of drunkenness was lately inflicted by the popu lace at Constantinople. An unfortunate Mussulman, who, under the influence of wine, had lost his perp en di cu l ar , was tied upon a lame mu l e with his head, on which was placed a round European hat, towards the tail of the animal, and be hind him was tied a dog back to back. After having paraded him through the streets, stopping at every fountain to sprinkle him with water and mud, he was taken by the populace to the banks of the Bosphorus, and plunged into the:water with his innocent companion. The hair of the back of the dog was then cut in the form of a cross, and the beard of the Mussulman was shaved off with the same razor. He was subsequently plunged twice into the Bosphorus, and the pu rification was considered perfect. - - A LONDON CABMAN. —Arrived in Thames -street, Davie, with a considerable effort, mustered up resolution enough to call a " patent safety cab," according to his uncle's instruc tion 4 ; though amongst the odd var i e t y o f compet i ng ve hi cles which rolled forward at his summons, amidst the cra c ki ng of whips, and the mos t insinuating exclamations of "'Ere, yer honor !" " Now, yer honor !" " Honly set hey es on this ere 'oss !" &c. he was sadly puzzled as to which he should choose. Seeing, however, the words " patent safety," glit in glowing invitation upon one of Hansom's low-strung street-scourert. he stepped into it, bag and baggage, and very narrowly eseaped being run over in the attempt. " Now vich-a-vay, yer honor ?" Was it Ashantee, or the language of the Cannibal Islands, that he spoke ! Davie could not for the soul of him tell. " Vich-a-vay !" the man repeated, somewhat impatiently. " Vich !" said Davie, in unfeigned astonishment. Away the vehicle rattled towards Wych-street. * * * Arrived in Wych-street, the cab man stopped sudd en l y , an d i nqu i red of Davie " vich was the number ? Davie got a sudden inkling of the state of affairs and roared out, " The Cawledonian eawffee Hoos, in Hall borren." The m a n s h oo k hi s h ea d . D avie repeated the di rection. " Cant come that 'ere lingo," said the man, "cant tork nuffin but Hingleish !" Davie fortunately had a card of the coffee - -house-keeper's in his possession, which he had received from his uncle, and by a strong effort of ingenuity he thrust it into the cabman' s h an d. " V y, i t ' s O b in you means," said the cabman; and then, in a stage-whis per, perceiving that he had caught a " flat," " the cove's as green as wardierras ; comed out of 'is vay, nigh a moile. But never ' salt' his fare on the rum un !" Hav ing reached the place of destination on Holborn-hill, a coffee shop of which the professor had found the charges very con veniently moderate—" Now, moster," said the cabman, " jist arroived—distance jist ten moile—comed out of yer way four—my fare's jist height and sixpence !" " Eight and sixpence!" roared out Davie, in utter astonishment. " Height and sixpence," repeated the cabman ; " 1 bought to have charged yer a ' bob' more for the luggage ; but has you're a younker, I thought as 'ow I'd be merciful." Now Davie was not so easily duped as the cabman imagined. " His country for that as any friend Thomson says. In one of the skirts of his coat he had placed a leaf taken from the pocket-book of a Glasgow friend, in which the fares of the London cabmen were duly registered. While Davie was un folding and consulting this document, the cabman became m onstrously impatient an d even a b usive. Davie's sole re mark was, " Hoot awa', mon, dinna fash yerser ." The cabman muttered something about " Scotch beggar," in tones so distinctly intelligible, that Davie's Highland blood was up at once, and out he poured a most tremendous volley of in vectives, which he wound up by applyinm to the astonished " whip" th e ep i thet of a " dons naethinP era I" The cab man, seeing the sort of customer he had to deal with, began to " sing small," and Davie having by this time made out the fare, i n a very blundering manner, to be somewhere about three shillings, the man consented to take three shillings and sixpence (thus making the moderate abatement of a crown in his charge), and Davie having paid this, as he said, to avoid " fichin' and dispitation," the cabman drove off, imitating the Parthian mode of firing backwards at Davie a volley of the most scurrilous abuse.—Davie Diddledoft, London Ma. gazine. ~..__~ _ trast between the characters of _Agolanti and Genevra is highly dramatic, and we doubt not its truthfulness is often recognised by English experience. Miss Tree played ad mirably. Her resignation was exquisitely reproachful of the cruelty of her husband ; and the exclamation, before she faints—" Good God ! what have I done?" completely thrilled the house. We shall not enter now into an analysis of the character—we shall only characterize it as showing what woman endowed with the best qualities actually is. Of Mr. Stuart's performance we cannot say much. The defects in his elocut which we have already , yet reain, and there i s a s certain affected utterance observable in m him that spoils his reading of the part. We should like him to give his voice a fair chance, as it were. He will readily com prehend our meaning. Mr. Howard was respectable in .Rondinelli, and the other performers were good. We find that the play is to be repeated to-night and on Monday ; and it is possible that we may further notice it ift our next number. Last evening As You Like It was performed—Rosalind by Miss Tree. We cannot sufficiently express an admiration of her performance. We trust that before Miss Tree's engagement terminates, the management will afford the public an opportunity of witnessing Mr. Hayne's new play Mary Stuart, than which there are few dramatic productions in that style of superior merit. Yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, an unusually numer ous meeting of the ratepayers of \Vest Derby took place at the Commissioners'-room, Harper-street, Low-hill. for the purpose of passing the accounts of the surveyor of the high ways, and the accounts of the overseers of the poor, and of electing a surveyor for the ensuing year. There were present about 500 individuals, including the most respectable inha bitants of the township. Previously to the general business of the meeting, and immediately after the CHAIRMAN had read the notice calling it, HARDMAN EARLE, Esq., addressed himself to the meeting in behalf of his brother, It. Earle, Esq., at whose instance the township had b een i n di cted, for neglecting the repair ef Lord-street, Edge-hill, between Duke-street and Smithdowil lane. He read a letter from his brother, authorising him to represent him, and requested the favour of having a prior hearing, as he was about to depart by the railway, on urgent business, to Manchester. The Chairman having assented, lie proceeded to justify the indictment, on the ground that the street in question was bona ; fide a public highway, which the inhabitants were bound in law to repair. -He disclaimed being actuated by private motives, his sole object being to obtain an advantage to the public. It was then put to the meeting whether the ratepayers should agree to repair the street, as required by Mr. Earle, or should oppose the indictment at the quarter sessions. The show of hands was greatly in favour of the latter proposition; but this was set aside by an amendment, to the effect, that in order to save the expense of an appeal, they should have a case drawn up by Mr. Saunders, under the inspection of Mr. Falkener, so that the opinion of counsel might be taken on the subject. The amendment was carried almost unani mously ; and Mr. Earle bowed to the meeting, thanked them for their courte s y i n h ear i ng him, and retired,' remark ing that he supposed the matter must be settled elsewhere. The CHAIRMAN said that the question was settled so f ar as the meeti ng cou ld procee d with it. The meeting then proceeded to the passing of the surveyor's accounts, upon which a good deal of discussion ensued, in which Mr. Wilson showed himself in his usual way —ever anxious to economise. Finally the accounts were passed without a division. The appointment of a surveyor for the ensuing year was next considered. Mr. WILSON moved that Mr. Sherwood be appointed the surveyor, at a salary of £BO a year. The motion was but feebly supported. Mr. GEORGE HOLT moved that Mr. Pennell be re-ap pointed as surveyor, with a salary of 200 guineas. The motion was seconded by Mr. E. HALL, and was carried by a majority of about 5 to I of the whole meeting. A few gentlemen called for a poll ; but Mr. Wilson de clined joining them, expressing himself satisfied with the choice being in accordance with the general feeling of the meeting. Mr. Holt's motion was supported by the most re spectsble part of the inhabitants of the township. At first the proposition for so large a salary staggered the meeting ; but they soon fell into the views of Mr. Holt. The accounts of the Overseers were then presented, but were not gone into, as it was thought unnecessary, they being scrutinized by the auditor appointed by the Poor Law Guardians. -. 6 .1t_ -