The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-28 00:00:00

dilicacy, an' she met me, an' I had tinpence ha'penny in a Brat in my hand, an' she tuck a hoult of it, an' axed me to pay her what I owed her, and she sthruck me—an' here's WitnesS of dhat seam." Airs. M`Donald's witness, unfortunately, p rove d j us t the contrary of he r assertions, and the co nsequence was th a t Mrs. M`D onald was ordered to pay 10s. and costs, or be committed for fourteen days. AN I NCORRIGIBLE BEGGAR. A tionth young man w h o has, during the last three or four een several times before the magistrates for begging tthe.streets, was again placed at the bar, having been ap srehended in the streets labouring in his vocation. It ap 'ears, that as soon as this individual is released from impri imment, he again commences operations ; nor can the parish ,s4thorities induce him to submit to be sent to his place of ttlement. Re has told several stories as to his former oc kipation, which he asserts to have been that of a handloorn vetiver; but he has been detected in so many falsehoods, that *impossible to give implicit credence to anything he says. ti cs wife, who appears to be far advanced in pregnancy, ge 4frallY aPPears in court, and rails at the magistrates in good terms, threatening to make the parish of Liverpool sup her and her five children. She has always had relief on, the authorities while her husband was in gaol ; but she isitively refuses to be sent to her parish, which she avers is Scotland, though her speech indicates that she is of south n origin. Ile Prisoner, on this occasion, denied that he had been sagging.. The proof was, however, strong against him, and fr. Rushton was proceeding to remonstrate with him on his 4etertnination to r ema i n l evy i ng contributions in Liverpool 'ter the repeated warnings he had received, when, as usual, woman interrupted. She stood boldly forward on one the seats of the court, so as to make her person as con 'isicuous as possible, alluded i n a l ou d vo i ce to h er s i tuation, accused Mr. Evans, the last time her husband was in : ircerated, of havi n g f e d h er and her children on oatmeal a d w a t er. Mr. Rushton promised to inquire into this as soon as Mr. vans came. That gentleman entered the court shortly after, *hen the prisoner' s w if e was o b served stealing out of the -3urt. She was brought back. Nothing daunted she re tated the accusation.- Mr. Evans detailed to the magis 4ates all that had been done for her by the parish. It ap seared that she had received her relief in money, and that so from being grateful she had uniformly behaved exceed ' gIV ill and her importunities had been incessant. She loald come to no terms, and had refused to be sent to her swish. "In fact," said Mr. Evans, " she is the worst wo man I ever had to deal with.. We can make nothing either of her or her husband; they seem determined to beg in the streets of Liverpool." Mr. Rushton—l am afraid they are confirmed vagrants. I least again commit him. The prisoner's wife here put in her old threat—Very well Alen, if you do I shall make your parish support me and my Ave children. tabs The prisoner was committed for a month. On hearing sentence the woman renewed her threats, and continued rattle on with such loudness and volubility that the busi , ess of the court was for a time interrupted. The officers succeeded in quieting her for a brief space but she again aroke in, her object seeming to be to induce the magistrates ‘o give her money. If she be as importunate in soliciting aims, we should imagine it would be difficult to escape with out contributing. At length one of the officers threatened to bake her into custody, upon which she exclaimed—Very well shall go to Mr. Evans and make the parish take care of es, and left the court. THURSDAY. ROBBERY BY AN ERRAND-BOY. A lad, about twelve years of age, was placed at the bar, O',' , eiTged with having robbed Mr. Henry Radley, flour-dealer, ni on -street, in whose service he was employed as errand- Policeman No. 111 stated that Mr. Radley, having missed several five-shilling papers of copper, which he suspected the Prisoner had taken, desired him to watch his movements this b" r ning• Accordi ng l y, w h en the prisoner was going to his pteakfast, he stopp e d hi m, b ut not hi ng was foun d upon hi s 2h erson. S hortly afterwards, however, the prisoner confessed at he had stolen one paper of copper, which he had con cealed near Union -court Buildings, and it was there found. Radley id en tifi e d t h e parcel from h i s name b e i ng Printed upon the wrapper. He added that' he had taken the Prisoner into his employment, without a character, about lad, weeks ago, seeing that he appeared to be a sharp, active , Mr. Rusht on i nqu i red w h et h er any t h reats or promises aad been.held out to induce the prisoner to confess. ThMr. Radley and the officer replied in the negative. e prisone r , on the contrary, said Mr. R a dl ey h a d pro bused to forgive' him if he would confess. The case Was ultimately remanded till to-morrow (Friday). 'WENISM AND THE BROUGHAM INSTITUTE. „,,TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. 9wcu, —The destructive principles of the atheist, Robert en, have found a new channel through which to pour '4ieir venomous influence upon the people, by means of an institution in this town called ” The. Brougham Institute." h a The d irectors of this " i nst i tute " lend, it seems, a willing nd 9to the p ro p agat i on of infidelity, by encouraging the hi of all questions involving the attributes of the !Arational system, ' as propounded by the most infamous ll in the ki ng d om. On Tuesday last a question, asking What are the best means to remedy the evils existinr, in the B r i t i sh nation, " was discussed, and the socialists had' it all their own way ; their universal panacea, the " rational sYstern" of atheism, was most liberally extolled, most en thusiastically applauded, and most satisfactorily received by a numerous audience of the operative and other atheists of the town ;—and yet this infamous conduct is tolerated by the radical committee of this low place, who mostly profess the Christian religion ! But this is not all. The rascally Owen ites dared to cheer the sentiments of a Mr. Harris, who spoke nearly as follows :—" What has Christianity done? It has erected splendid e difices—palaces for princes and no what bles ; it has given wealth, honour, happiness t o th e rich— to the poor ? Misery ! Christianity has failed ! For 2,000 years it has been tried. and has been ineffectual to remedy the evils of society." These sentiments were ap plauded most enthusiastically, and yet the committee of this " Brougham Institute" tolerate such conduct; thus do these pseudo liberals encourage atheism. In the institute the social missionaries are treated with the greatest respect by the committee. A ball, given at this 1 ; 1 ** on the evening of the Queen's wedding-day, was eon- Tleted by a soc i al missionary, who officiated as master of the A ceremonie s • and yet Rob er t O wen and his disciples *ar marriage i And thus th e comm i ttee of the Brougham Institute'delebrated the Queen's marriage under the auspices "marriage -hating libertines ! Pl ace I trust, fo r t h e honour of the town, the above-mentioned will be avoided, even by the members themselves, and more especially b y t h e Christian members, so long as the more influence of the socialists continues to be encou raged by the committee Yours, &e., Feb. 26th, 1840. AWFUL CRISIS. SOCIETY FOR RECLAIMING UNFORTUNATE FEMALES. 7'(:) TIIE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STND.4RD. SIR, --Permit me, through the medium of your columns, t il ° br ing bef ore t h e Christian inhabitants of Liverpool the _ecessitous circumstances of the " Liverpool Society for vellts nearly-exhausted funds he speedily replenished, that most t}uable Ina hitherto successful institution must be ahan_, , Ine d• m perfectly aware that the entire burden .. of but nonee charities of this town rests upon a few individual pat of these charities have a greater claim onpublic s individuals, l tts _Y than the one now alluded to • and I feel fully convinced , g uat it is owing to the public's being uninformed as to the te at Moral good it has already achieved, and the beneficial is not 'llc3ral result it must have on the town, if carried on, , that it r t o 4.,,, more generally supported. I will therefore endeavour socaaii, as briefly as possible; the manner of its operations, Nvt,he good resulting therefrom. th e ~,1 1e ,n the agents whom this society employs at first visited . itself"eghbourhood of Williamson-square, a scene presented hug A to their view which baffles all description; they saw ttl to of females who had been led from the paths of vir eo' whose hearts were, beyond conception, awfully deprave threehardened. The agents, who go, two,. and, very often, e j n Ltogether, and whose time of labouring, is from eight t' s - " e K in the evening until about midnight, feel much dis eprjltaged at the awful appearance of the field of labour ap pr-eirlted to them as their future scene of action ; but having aadvi°l-14y counted the cost, they immediately set to work, fro faithc " us --ttsLY exhorteth both males and females to "flee th e - the wrath which is to come," taking those fesnales off th streets who were to accept the offers made them. 3,eZY were thus found at willing their post every night . for nearly a tliv, until forced to desist from the want of the necessary bee",_;----nor did they labour in vain. Eighty females have lea ice ‘aken off the streets, and are, to the best of my know v,_ , leading virtuous lives. Many, also, who did not avail 4Verriselves of the society's . o ' ffer, have abandoned their pro 'agate co less depraved most of those, too, who still remain, are 417 than they formerly were. good fLii,the bare reclairnino- of the female outcasts the only rploow pretend of this society.' It is, in my opinion, a very tothy thi s °nicer, aild Aoral auxiliary to the police of this town. Ido g t° Say what amount of crime has been put a stop where lieeliitt'° society, but it must be obvious to every police ; all those who frequent those parts of the tol doers, did,tiiiienbdettellbasieeanned almost every other crime, so awfully for . In the po ice re'' still o a great exten , , prevail, that a change ffected. brothels thwere sliPPressed Port for 1838, it is stated that eighty-one of wa c i l a y were so during that .year. I would just remindso society Public, that it was in the same year the agents of that ciii- actively engaged in the neighbourhoo . d . square and other parts of the town ; and if result is to he attributable to the agency of the police officers slifiro°twlisel may I not ask how it is that their report for 1839 vast increase of those places ?—above a hundred new It is sis there stated to have been established in that year. oar t ' l l eY Possible that this may bean erroneous calculation ; 4-so 'nog, however, is evident, that the streets are not now eltliiliganf7ested in the night-time with loose females as they 4 niount of ; and the fact is, that owing to the very limited almost entirel subriptons this society, s agent were Y inscactivei during the year 1839. it Having stated t hese facts, I will leave your readers to judge, whether the t hese of the crim e of prostitution in 1838 is to he attri outed to the instrumentality of the police, or to the agency of this society. I do riot wish for a moment to underrate the efficient exertions of that useful body of men, I merely raention these things to show that something more than a v icio us administration of the laws is necessary to reform the ncious ; and if the gospel be instrumental in christianising 4arbarians and cannibals, the same gospel, if faithfully ad- Itahinistered, would inevitably be instrumental in reforming ,r,! lives of those characters who walk our streets at night. ~" agents of this society carry the gospel to the infested ~,'. e. rts of the town, and personally address the perpetrators of Mr oe, exposing themselves, by so doing, to every species of itt salt 41 ., and contumely. Were this society, then, properly it support so that the agents might be kept fully employed, thiwtoould emphatically become the safeguard of the morals of "' c om e therefore call upon the inhabitants of Liverpool to yo.,forward and support this cause. Parents ! we call upon si o l, You who are fondly anticipating . the period when your ts,,,`_'reil may he respectably settled in life. Please to re tie Looer that these outcasts, who are the objects of this so- Y o ur 8 co mmisseration, were once, to their parents, what oi: children are now to you ; but they have fallen, and ,r I Y of them involuntarily, and but few care for their souls. 1 4 ,'eti have your sons, perhaps the pride of your families, 4-'4 prevented from participating in those sins which make ak a . ti lt ility blush, and sent ba c k t o t h e i r homes. Often have the a g e nts of this society grasped the unthinking youth by t,is o t r w,, whilst on the very threshold of crime, and affec ats4"elY and faithfully warned him of his danger, relieving seen for the time, from the power of those who might have , A li h plished hi s ru i n. 1114,17 is it possible th a t th e Ch r i st i an, the stiespphilanthropic it ants of Li verpoo l will stiller an institutio n w h ic h is to p , l ated to p ro d uce such great moral advantages, not only If 'lvate families, but also to the town, to he given up? 4 A lis e contemplate, for a oment, the vat suni which is 'oo‘,llY spent in the spread s of disease and s death, and if we I lis ti at the great pains the servants of the wicked one take-- 5 no expense, -to destroy virtue and corrup . t the inn ''st,.,' ',ask Shall the servants of God, the Christians of Li ttver,ool, be less active in. the service of their master ? Surely eary C hristian, who feels that he is a responsible being, and ta to l'e must give a strict account of his stewardship, will tlis,.e f orward with his support to this society for never has ,eka,.41e12,3,ee,n arm institution raised up to which all classes of the 'let - ..l r !'tY cau,iiiore conscientiously subscribe - than this, its 'o,lec tija - ugtheilsuppression acrinte. is t , i , .„ - --- - - ONE OF THE AGENTS, 1 "oion 28, ArrnfolkTstreet. ~ LIVER THEATRE, CHURCH-STREET. BENEFIT OF MR. T. D. RICE, and positively his Last Appearance but One. Mr. J. L. HATT 0 N. MHIS present FRIDAY EVENING, th e 28th i ns t an t, .I. the entertainments will commence with a New Drama, written for the peculiar talents of Mr. T. D. Rice, and per formed by him at the Theatre-Royal, Adelphi, and other London Theatres, with most distinguished success, entitled THE FOREIGN PRINCE ! Ebenetzer Mr. Tilbury. Jim Crow Mr. T. D. Rice, in which character he will sing his highly-pop u l ar Song, in which he has been nightly honoured with the most rapturous encores by crowded and delighted audiences, " Sicha Gittin up Stairs." After which, Misses Thomassin and Lidia will appear in their admired BOLERO, from the Opera, Massaniello. Mademoiselle Chevallier her Dance from Rob Roy. To which will be added, the laughable Negro Farce, written expressly for Mr. T. D. Rice, and acted by him so suc cessfully at no less than five London Theatres, entitled JIM CROW IN LONDON. Skinflint Mr. Tilbury. Jim Crow.... (a well-known character).... Mr. T. D. Rice, in which he will introduce an entirely New Version of " JIM CROW." Misses Thomassin and Lidia will dance a popular PAS DE DEUX. Madlle. Chevallier her admired dance of CUPID. The whole to conclude with celebrated Historical Drama of JACK SHEPPARD ; OR, THE HOUSEBREAKER OF 1703. Owen Wood Mr. Tilbury. Joe Blueskin Mr. J. L. Hatton, In which character he will sing " The Jolly Nose," " Now Farewell my Rowry Towries," and the Chorus " Nix my Dolly, Pals, Fake Away." Jonathan Wild Mr. Barton. Jack Shepherd Mrs. Barton. TO-MORROW, (Saturday,) various Novelties, in which Mr. T. D. Rice will make his Last Appearance. On MONDAY next, March 2d, will be presented a New Drama, (never acted here,) called A MAIDEN'S FAME, and a popular Interlude, in which Mr. RAYMOND will make his Fourth Appearance this Season ; with other En tertainments. Tickets and places for the Boxes may be had of Mr. BREZE, at the Box-office, from Eleven till Three o'Clock. Boxes, 35.; Pit, 2s. ; Gallery, 6d. Second Price at Half-past Eight : Boxes, 2s, ; Pit ls. ; no Second Price to the Gallery. Doors to be open at Half-past Six o'Clock, performance to commence at Seven precisely. ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE OF ARTS, WHICH WILL SHORTLY CLOSE. THIS EVENING, (FRIDAY,) and TO-MORROW, &SATunnAir,) LAST TWO_NI_ HTS OF THE P,,IOESENT" GRAND SPECTACLE. The performances commence at Seven o'ciock. with one of those unequalled and magnificent Speotgeles for which this Establishment is so popular,Ontitled the VICTORIES OF EDWARD, THE BLACK PRINCE ; OR, THE BATTLE YIELD. Unequalled Feats of Horsmanship, and Ducrow's Classical Scenes in the Circle.—For the first time out of London, Mr. Ducrow will have the pleasure of presenting a magnifi cent Picturesque History of ancient and modern Eques trianism, introducing MADAME DUCROW and the highly trained Steeds Beauty ! Pegasus ! Bucephalus ! Spanish Steed ! with the whole Equestrian Troop and Stud, entitled CATHERINE OF RUSSIA; OR, THE GRAND ECOLL. The Lady's Palfrey, Beauty, will be managed and instructed by Madame Ducrow, as Catherine, in her extraordinary and admired Voltes Terre a Terre, Cabriolles, &c.--In the course of this pageant, the Waltz, Gavotte, and Cotillon, will be Danced by Trained Steeds of LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE, and in which each Horse will execute a separate and single Pas Seul, &c. The Evening's Performance will conclude with, for the first time out of London, MOORE'S LALLA ROOKH ; OR, THE FIRE WORSHIPPERS. As the Company will shortly depart for London and Bir mingham, all persons having CLAIMS on Mr. DUCROW are requested to send them in. TEMPLARS' HALL. SIGNOR GUILIO REGONDI has the onour to an nounce, that he will give a CONCER f VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, at the abov • ooms, on MON DAY EVENING, March 2nd. Signor G ' egondi will be as sisted by Miss YANIEWICZ an Miss PAULINE YANIEWICZ. Further particulars will be given in a few days. Tickets, Five Shillings each, to be had at all the Music Shops. The Concert to commence at Eight precisely. Ebt Etherpoot at tanbarb. FRIDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 28, 1840. We have been favoured with a copy of the British Guiana Royal Gazette, of the 26th of December, the contents of which are unusually interesting. The scarcity of agricultural and other labourers is still as loudly as ever complained of. We are glad to perceive that the subscriptions towards Mr. Holmes's project for obtaining a supply of hands from the United States are " progressing" most favourably. A correspond ent of the Royal Gazette states that, if this plan had been put in operation a year sooner, there would have been, at the present time, many thousands of addi tional labourers in the colony. But " better late than never." It is a subject of hearty congratulation that Mr. Holmes has made a successful movement in this matter. It is said that there are upwards of 500,000 free blacks in the United States, living in the most ab ject state of outcast degradation. The whites refuse to eat, work, or walk with them. They dare not show themselves in the Slave States, for fear of contaminat ing the slaves with a free spirit. They have no outlet excepting Canada, and they are anxious to emigrate to any country where they can better their condition ; but they will not go to the colony of Liberia. The greater part of these labourers, we are informed, can and will cheerfully pay their own expenses, and all will joyfully engage to refund. Their passage to British Guiana need not cost more than twelve or fifteen dollars per head. They are said to be the best labourers for the colony that can be found anywhere, not even excepting the Bahamians ; and they are described as more sober, more industrious, more moral, and more advanced in their knowledge of the arts of civilized life, than any class of their colour in existence. If these representa- tions be strictly correct—if there be such a class of la bourers, anxious to emigrate to our West India Colo nies—and if no obstacle be interposed by the Govern ment of the United States—would it not be desirable to form an Emigration Society in England, for the purpose of raising adequate funds for procuring a sup ply of these labourers ? The West India Associations in this country are deeply interested in the success of the experiment. it may lead to results of the most important and beneficial character. The accession of 500,000 well-disposed, free labourers to the population of the British West Indies would give an unparalleled stimulus to the prosperity of those truly magnificent Colonies ; while it would, at the same time, react upon the manufacturing and commercial interests of this country in the most salutary manner. While, however, we would strenuously advocate a full trial of the experiment proposed by Mr. Holmes, we would not, for a moment, lose sight of other sources from which labourers, fully adapted for the climate of the British West Indies, can he procured. There is room enough for ten times as many labourers as can be procured from the United States in Jamaica and British Guiana. Other facilities for immigration must, therefore, be diligently sought after. The Hill Coolies, in particular, must be looked to as offering a suitable class of immigrants, who are willing and anxi ous to leave their own famine-struck country, with its poverty and pestilential visitations, for a country where their labour will find an adequate reward, and their days will be spent in peace and plenty. We trust that, when the subject of immigration into our Colonies comes before the House of Commons in a tangible shape, the restrictions now existing on the deportation of the Hill Coolies for the West Indies will be re moved. We feel assured that the evidence already in the hands of the members of the House of Commons will be sufficient to induce a favourable consideration of this important subject. That evidence derives an almost daily corroboration from the news brought by every il Hill Coolies arrival from Dm arreo found e b e o r t a i r i a andt to answer 13erb i.e i m c e a , r where kably w t e h l and to be perfectly contented with their treatment and condition. Africa, again, must he looked to for a supply of la bourers for the West Indies. A system of free inter course between the civilized blacks of our Colonies, and their brother tribes on the western coast of Africa, will prove, we have no doubt, the true key to the civi lization of the whole of Africa. The native tribes of Africa would, if the matter were properly explained to them by the free labourers in the West Indies, infi nitely prefer emigrating to our Colonies, to running the constant risk of being entrapped as slaves, by remain ing in their own country. But to return to our Guiana news. 'We find, from the Royal Gazette, that a meeting of merchants was held at the Court-house, New Amsterdam, Berhice, for the purpose of taking into consideration the increased charges on trade, the decreased prices on merchandize, and the changed condition of the labouring population from slavery to freedom, whereby the practice formerly pursued on estates of finding the labourers with food, clothing, &c., has been entirely subverted, and money Payments for labour instituted in its stead, creating a demand for money hitherto not experienced in the Co lony. In consequence of these altered relations of so ciety it was resolVed, at the above meeting, "that.from and after the first of January all plAntation meaning by that term every article of merchandize— delivered to an estate, shall be considered as cash, and in every way placed on the same footing as produce is at present—namely, payable on demand of the seller." The most interesting article, however, in the Royal Gazette, is the subjoined description of a grand fancy ball, which took place, on Christmas eve, at Vreed-en- Hoop, an estate belonging to John Gladstone, Esq., of this town. This account furnishes a striking example of the happiness and contentment which prevail among the coloured population of the West Indies.; and affords a triumphant refutation to the absurd state ments and atrocious slanders of the mischief-making Anti-Slavery agitators. It also proves the mutual good feeling which subsists between the planters and the la bourers, wherever the latter have happily been exempted from the malevolent influence of John Scoble and. Co. Scenes such as those described below are by no means of unusual occurrence in the West Indies. On such occasions the indulgence shown, to the labourers is far greater than any enjoyed by the corresponding classes in this country. We would particularly direct the attention of our readers to the speeches of Daniel Stron and Vincent Paradise in the following account. They speak vo lumes in favour of the planters. FANCY BALL AT VREED-EN-HOOP. On Christmas-eve, Vincent Paradise, head labourer on the above estate, and well known as the individual whose inflex ible integrity and rigid adherence to truth, John Scoble was unable to shake, entertained the sable ladies and gentlemen of his acquaintance with a fancy ball. Ten or fifteen days previously to the 24th, cards of invita tion, executed in the most fashionable style, were issued, not only to such as were to appear in fancy dresses, but also to numbers of white gentlemen of the first respectability in the neighbourhood. The whole day was fine, and admirably fitted for arranging the preparations of the evening. The last, or five o'clock boat from the town-side of the ferry, was crowded from stem to stern, and from larboard to starboard, with people of all classes and colours, from the metropolis ; the deck was covered, over its length and breadth, with baskets, tin canis ters, and band-boxes, filled with the robes of dukes and duchesses, of lords and ladies, and of peasants and country girls. Knots, epaulettes, plumes, and such ornaments as would suffer from being bruised, were laid carefully on the binnacle, on canister lids, or carried in the hands. On arriv ing at the Vreed-en-lioop Ferry Stelling, all was found to be hurry, joy, and expectation ; happiness beamed on every countenance, and the greatest enemy of the colony would have sought in vain for any, even the least, symptom of the distress and oppression under which they have represented the labourers as suffering. The room in which the assem bly met is a large logie among the buildings on Vreed-en- Hoop ; and to it, from all directions, were seen hurrying, gentlemen in great numbers, some in gigs, and others on horseback. Many of the girls and boys who were to appear in characters drove to the place in the chaises and convey ances of their employers, in order to prevent their dresses and ornaments from being injured by walking. Proprietors, attorneys, and managers of estates, up the river and down the coast, merchants, doctors, lawyers, magistrates, and pri vate gentlemen, from town and country, all assembled to participate and rejoice in the evening's amusement. The apartment that was fitted up for the occasion is in length 87 feet, and in breadth 36, and its decorations were on a style in the highest degree grand and elegant. It was entered at one end, so that to a spectator going in at the door, a fall view of the whole scene presented itself. A large beam runs the entire length of the room, and supports the floor above it exactly in the middle. From this was sus pended a Hogarthian line of waving drapery, richly embroi dered with scarlet and gold, having arched spaces at intervals, through which persons could pass from one side to the other. It divided the apartment, through the whole length, into two equal parts, leaving a space of 18 feet broad on each side for the dancers. From the centre of the ceiling of each side division was hung a row of brilliant chandeliers, fantastically bedecked with variously-coloured ornaments ; and at the outer extremity of both sides was suspended a similar row of lamps, the whole composing a beautiful illumination. At the upper end were executed, of evergreens and rich flowers, a device comprising the initials of Victoria Regina, and be tween them the crown of Great Britain. On each side of this burned a lamp of extraordinary brightness ; the whole was over arched and embowered by two trees of liberty, which were planted so that their unfading and luxuriant boughs were entangled together above. A colonnade of green branches rested on the floor, close to the sides of the room ; these ran the entire length of the 83 feet, and their foliage was trained so as to overhang the chandeliers in the middle of the side spaces. The orchestra was decorated in a tasteful and fantastic manner. About eight o'clock the fancy guests began to assemble, and it was really difficult to know whether to admire most the costliness and elegance of the dresses, or their appropriate ness to the rank and character they were intended to repre sent; kings and queens, lords and ladies, dukes and duchesses, naval and military officers, chiefs and haughty dames of the olden time, pirates and highwaymen, drunken sailors, and beggars upon crutches, old men tottering and paralytic, and women of equal age and frailty attending to them with an affection and care apparently as great as if they had climbed and descended the hill of life together. Little boys with their whimsical and ludicrous trappings, and girls having their brows encircled with chaplets and garlands of flowers ; in a word, every variety of character that can well be ima gined was present on the occasion, and many of no character at all. Numbers of respectable ladies were irresistibly attracted to survey the scene, and gentlemen of rank and standing mixed freely among the sable group. Previously to the ball being led off by Vincent Paradise himself, who was king, and by his lady, who was queen, Daniel Stron raised himself into an erect posture from off his crutches, on which he rested a body apparently wasted by age and bent by decrepitude, and addressed the assembly in a loud, clear, and distinct voice, to the following effect : " Ladies and Gentlemen,—l see that the present meeting is composed of the natives of England, Ireland, and Scotland. It is to the exertions and good-will of the British nation, and to the kindness of our good Queen Victoria, that we owe the relieving of our necks from the yoke. It shall be our con stant endeavour, both as subjects of Queen Victoria and as agricultural labourers in the colony of British Guiana, to behave ourselves as becomes free men. I hope we shall never disgrace our good Queen by acting in any way contrary to her wish. I hope always to see plenty of labour and good crops in this colony. Gentlemen, lam glad to see you all here this evening, and I hope you will enjoy yourselves well." As soon as Mr. Stron had concluded the speech, he bent himself down upon •his crutches, resumed his assumed cha racter of a mendicant, and supported it well throughout the evening. Dancing commenced about nine o'clock. There was room sufficient for eight sets of quadrilles, and politeness and good nature prevailed in the whole assembly. About one o'clock, or rather after, supper was announced, and there was a decorum observed in going to, while at, and in coming from the table, that many assemblies of higher pre tensions might have been proud of. Mr. Matheson, a gentleman engaged in the conducting of the affairs of the Vreed-en-Hop estate, was in the chair, and Mr. Sanderson, the manager, was croupier. It was with pe culiar satisfaction that we observed seated, at the same table, the labourer and his employer, together with magistrates, professional and private gentlemen. It was a rich entertain ment for a benevolent eye to behold, gentlemen of rank and standing in the colony encouraged, by their presence, the in fant efforts of our emancipated population to rise into re spectability, independence, and into the refinements of civi lised life. When the cloth was removed, the Chairman gave " The Queen ;" and after the hearty cheers and acclamations which the toast had called forth had subsided, Vincent Paradise returned thanks, and expressed himself to the following im port : " Ladies and Gentlemen,—ln the name of the labourers upon this estate, I will return thanks for the health of her Majesty Queen Victoria. We all feel grateful for the gift of our freedom. I have been headman on Vreed-en-Hoop, in slavery time, in 'prentice time, and since free, and have al ways seen good men well-treated ; and I do not think that good honest labourers, who were willing to work, were ever badly treated ; they might be by some masters, but not many. From the goodness of Queen Victoria that gave us our free dom, we have all opportunities of making ourselves comfort able and independent ; and I hope there will not be a negro found in all this colony who will prove ungrateful to the Queen and to the people of England for the important gift that they have bestowed upon us. Gentlemen, lam very happy to see you all here, and much obliged to you for com ing; and I sincerely trust that the pleasure and harmony of this evening may be the forerunners of future peace and good understanding between the proprietors and the labourers of the colony." Mr. Paradise concluded his speech amid loud and continued cheering. Mr. Sanderson gave "The Governor and Court of Policy." This was received with great enthusiasm and loud cheering. Mr. Matheson rose and said—" In the absence of Mr. Stuart, the attorney of this estate, I have one other toast to propose, and in doing so I may be allowed to say that it has been Mr. Stuart's wish, as it has been my endeavour, to cul tivate a good understanding between the employer and those who conducted the labour of the estates, and I trust that the good feeling which now prevails between the employer and labourers, on this estate, may long continue to the mutual benefit and satisfaction of both parties. I will now propose health, prosperity, and happiness to our hosts on this occa sion, and to all the labourers of British Guiana." Mr. Vincent Paradise said, that he felt proud for that toast, and hoped that all the labourers of British Guiana would ever be found worthy of the good opinion of the proprietors ; and concluded by proposing the health of Mr. Gladstone, and peace and prosperity on all the estates. Mr. Matheson.-1 now beg to return thanks in the name of Mr. Gladstone, for the favour just conferred on him, and ulgy exPrtee the pleasure I am sure he would feel were he now present here to witness the way in which his efforts to make his labourers contented and happy are appreciated. Mr. M'Clelland said, that, with the permission of the chair, he wished to propose a toast. He prefaced it by say ing, that he would not detain the company by any lengthened remarks, although the subject was one of a very soft, delicate, and important nature, and well calculated to awaken all the finer feelings of the soul, inasmuch as everything connected with the harmonies and elegancies of human existence was intimately connected with it. He wished to propose "The Ladies." This was responded to with unbounded applause. Mr. M'Cormick proposed " The Agricultural Interests of this Colony," and said he challenged the Emerald Isle, the Land of the Rose, the Land'of the Thistle, and the Land of the Leek, to produce a peasantry so contented, independent, and happy as those which are in this colony. Attempts have been made to poison their inexperienced minds, and sow the seeds of discontentment among them ; but he was glad to find that they were now beginning to know their friends from their foes, and hoped that they would never become the dupes of the latter. This was suitably acknowledged. Supper over, dancing was resumed and kept up with greal spirit until after daylight in the morning. The dresses at this fancy ball, taken altogether, cost up wards of £3OO sterling, and the whole expenses of the enter tainment about £4OO. These are the labourers that are mulcted of their wages, and oppressed by their employers ! May every hand be withered that will ever again attempt to sow strife, mistrust and dissension among our peaceful and happy peasantry ; and every tongue be silenced that may endeavour to poison their minds ! The Guiana Royal Gazette, noticed in the preceding article, furnishes us with some very interesting parti culars respecting the Colony of Puerto Rico, which we may very properly lay before our readers at the present crisis, when attempts are being made to destroy our Wrest India Colonies, by placing the slave-grown pro duce of Foreign Colonies on the same footing as the produce of our own free-labour Colonies. It appears that the number of slaves in Puerto Rico is usually estimated at from 40,000 to 50,000. It is supposed that there are three or four times as many free persons, natives of the island, who are considered the same as the whites. The island is about 100 miles long, and 40 broad, of which not more than one-third is in cultivation. The annual produce is about 100,000 hogsheads of sugar, of 1500 lbs. each; 100,000 bags and upwards of coffee, of 100 lbs. each; besides mo lasses, rum, and cotton. The crop of tobacco in 1839 is said to have been about 8,000,000 lbs., most of which was shipped to the continent of Europe. The produce of Puerto Rico is now annually increasing to a very considerable extent. The statement from which the preceding statistical details ate extracted, says that " Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Hayti, and Puerto Rico consume from four to six millions annually of British manufactured goods." Having stated this, it adds—" It is only reasonable that British merchants should have it in their power to remit the produce of these countries to Britain in pay ment : and it is alio reasonable that the people of Bri tain should have their choice of sugar and coffee from any and from all quarters, while they are able and will ing to pay for them." This assumption is merely an echo to the cant of such men as William Ewart, Esq„ and other equally enlightened advocates of the system of " free trade," the extension of which has already proved so detrimental to our Colonial interests. How ever " reasonable" the above proposition may appear to some parties, it would be utterly inconsistent on the part of the British government to make any such concession as that which the advocates of the free-trade principle suggest. This country has been engaged for a great many years in entering into treaties and con ventions for the suppression of the slave-trade. In furtherance of this humane enterprise we have formed settlements on the coast of Africa, which have proved the graves of thousands of our countrymen, and have expended millions in maintaining a fleet of cruisers, on board of which thousands of our bravest sailors have fallen a sacrifice in the cause of philanthropy. After all this expenditure of money and loss of life, in the en deavour to put down slavery and the slave-trade, it would certainly be highly inconsistent to permit slave grown produce to be imported and brought into the Bri tish market for consumption. In the emphatic language of the Royal Gazette, " it is easy to conceive the opi nion that would be formed of a Government and people that would liberate their own slaves at a cost of twenty millions of pounds sterling—who have spent so much treasure, and sacrificed so many brave and valuable lives, and laboured for so many years to suppress the slave-trade—it is easy to conceive the opinion that would be formed of a Government and a people who, under these circumstances, could permit sugar and cof fee to be carried from an island, notoriously known to be engaged in that accursed traffic, and which sugar and coffee are grown by slave-labour, to the British markets for British consumption." If it be wrong to carry on the infamous trade of man-stealing—a crime so emphatically denounced in the Holy Scriptures ; if it be sinful for a man to hold his fellow-man in a cruel and degrading bondage ; how can it be otherwise than improper to receive from the slave-traders and slave holders the produce which results from that trade. This would be neither more nor less than offering a bonus upon the continuance of the slave-trade and slavery. If we should, unfortunately, so stultify our selves as to afford any such encouragement to this abo minable traffic, we should deserve to be denounced as a nation of the most consummate hypocrites that ever sacrificed the interests of humanity at the foul shrine of Mammon. Of course, the remarks which we have just offered on this subject have no reference to Hayti, or, we be lieve, to Columbia, as far as slavery is concerned. Hayti stands in a far different position from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Brazil. In Hayti there is no such thing as slavery, and, as far as that island is con cerned, there would be no inconsistency on the part of the British Government in removing the existing re strictions on the importation of its produce for home consumption. Indeed, we almost feel disposed to ad vocate the propriety of admitting the produce of St. Domingo on the same conditions as that of our own Colonies, by way of inducing Foreign nations to recog nize the policy, as well as the propriety, of resorting to a speedy emancipation of their slaves. Independently, however, of the inconsistency of ad mitting slave-grown produce on the same terms as that of our free Colonies, there is another consideration which must be kept in view. It would be an act of gross injustice to our own Colonies. This country re stricts the West India Colonies, not only in the scale of sugar, but in the purchase of those articles which our Colonies require. Our own Colonies are compelled to take our manufactured produce in exchange for their own commodities. Can we enforce such a restriction on Foreign Colonies ? How can we expect to destroy the monopoly which our own Colonies enjoy, so long as we claim a monopoly in the supply of such manu facturers as they may find necessary ? The truth is, that, under the present system, and until labour is more abundant in the West Indies, we cannot possibly compete with those Colonies in which slavery exists. To prove this, we shall enter into a comparison between the amount of produce raised in Jamaica, under the system of free lab our , an d i n Puerto Rico, under a system of rigid slavery. The Island of Jamaica, with a labourin g population o f 300 ,000 souls, shipped in 1837, 56,233 hogsheads , 7,488 tierc es , an d 2,236 barrels of sugar; and 8,955,17 8 1b 5. of coffee. the hogshead s at 1,8001b5., Taking the average of the tierces at 1,2001b5., and the barrels at 2501b5., these would give an aggregate of 110,764,0001b5. of sugar. Puerto Rico, w ith a population of only 40,000 s l aves, shipped 100,000 hogsheads of sugar, of 1,500 lbs. each, equal to 150,000,0001b5., or 39,2 3 6,0001b5. more than Jamaica. Puerto Rico also shipped 100,000 bags of coffee, of 1001bs. each, equal to 10 , 0 00,0001b5., or 1,044,8231b5. more than Jamaica. This took place before the apprentices were finally liberated in Jamaica. Since that period, as we showed in a recent number, the exports from Jamaica have materially diminished. How is it possible, under these circumstances, that the British West India Colonies can compete with such Colonies as Puerto Rico, if we admit the produce of the latter for home consumption on the same terms as that of the former ? Such a scheme is utterly impractica ble until slavery is universally abolished. The Manchester Guardian of Saturday last contains an article in reply to the remarks on the Corn Laws, which appeared in the LIVERPOOL STANDARD Of Friday last. Our contemporary, after his wonted fa shion, shirks the real merits of the question. '%\Te as serted that the aggregate price of the grain produced in this country would be diminished to the extent of thirty. three millions and a half by the repeal of the Corn Laws. To this the Guardian replies—" Well, then, the Corn Laws must now add thirty-three millions and a half to the aggregate price of corn ; and, to the extent to which the trading and manufacturing interests are purchasers of this corn (say one half of the whole), they have to pay this price over and above the amount they would have to pay if there were no Corn Laws." This is certainly a bold assumption ; but will it bear the test of examination ? We think not. So long as the thirty three millions and a half are spent upon the manufac tures of the country they add, not to the price of the corn, but to the capital of the manufacturer and the wages of the operative. The repeal of the Corn Laws, and the consequent reduction in the aggregate price of grain, owing to foreign competition, would cause a cor responding reduction in the rate of wages and in the profits of capital. Protection adds no more to the price of corn than it does to the prices of manufactures. If Foreign manufactured fabrics were introduced into this country free of duty, the aggregate price of British ma nufactured goods would be very materially diminished —probably in the same proportion nearly that the aggregate price of corn would be diminished, in the event of a repeal of the Corn Laws : but it would be absurd to say that the duties now existing on the im portation of Foreign manufacturers adds anything to the price of British manufactures. The buardian says that the manufacturers and trades are " compelled by the corn-laws to pay £16,750,000 more for their bread than it would cost under a system of free trade." How much are the agriculturists now compelled to pay more for the ma nufactured goods which they consume than they would have to pay under a system of free trade ? The home consumption of manufactures is estimated at £218,126,115. Of this amount those connected with agriculture may be fairly said to consume about two thirds—say £140,000,000. Under a system of free trade, Foreign manufactures might be obtained at least 33 per cent cheaper than they can be sold by British manufacturers. This would be a saving of X 47,000,000 to the agricultural interest. But can it be fairly said that the "agricultural interests are compelled by the existing duties on Foreign manufactures to pay f 47,000,000 more than the manufactures which they want would cost under a system of free trade ?" This, to our apprehension, is precisely the argument which the Guardian brings forward against the corn-laws. We do not admit its force in the one case any more than we do in the other. We showed, on Friday, that the probable reduction on the whole agricultural produce of the country, un der a system of free trade in corn, would amount to about £135,000,000. The farmer against this would hare a set-off of 25 millions, or thereabouts, in rent : but there would still remain £110,000,000 to be reduced on labour and expenses incidental to agricul- tural business. Supposing these £135,000,000, now spent and circulated in Great Britain, to be entirely cut off—how much would be lost to the manufacturer? Both rich and poor would still require the same amount of food as before. Where must retrenchment come from ? Will it not be from spending less in manufac tures ? To use the language of an eminent statist, " How would the manufacturer make up for the loss of his home customer ? He tells us that he is beaten by 40 or 50 per cent. by the foreigner. Taking the earnings of every operative at los. per week, the sum paid for manual labour in manufactures is nearly £130,000,000; upon that a reduction may be sup posed to take place equal in extent to the reduc tion of the price of corn. Allowing half this sum paid for labour to be required by the ope rative for the purchase of bread and flour, the amount of such saving, at twenty-five per cent. would be £16,250,000. Now, how is this reduction to compete with the 40 or 50 per cent. by which the manufacturer says he is beaten ? Supposing that out of £135,000,000 of decrease upon the value of agri cultural produce, added to 25 millions less rent to the landlord, altogether £160,000,000, 100 millions went immediately to the manufacturer. Where is the sale for his goods to be found? He has enabled himself to reduce the price of his goods six per cent. and a decimal. Oh, says the manufacturer, the foreigner will take our goods in exchange for his own. What ! when the foreigner can buy articles to wear 34 per cent. cheaper in his own country ?" A correspondent, in the Manchester Guardian of Wednesday, has also animadverted upon our article of Friday last. His whole argument, however, proceeds on the assumption "that a greatly increased export of our manufactured goods would greatly increase the consumption of agricultural produce," of course ex cluding grain. He appears to have entirely overlooked the remark which we made "that the price of grain regulates the prices of other articles of agricultural produce." If this be the case, and it is generally acknowledged to be so, how is the farmer to benefit from an increased consumption of those " other articles" —those articles being much less profitable than grain: If, after the repeal of the corn laws it would not pay the farmers to cultivate grain, of what advan tage would it be to raise a greater quantity of less profitable produce ? We rejoice to find that the " thunderbolts" of the Times are, at length, hurled at that impious and blas phemous print, the Weekly Dispatch. That vile, de graded, and atheistical print has laboured with inces sant assiduity in preparing the minds of the.lower classes for the reception of the disgusting and filthy doctrines of Socialism. For many years past the Weekly Dispatch has contained a series of virulent and blasphemous letters from the pen of a wretched atheist, named Williams, we believe, under the assumed signature of " Publicola." These letters, owing to the enormous circulation of the paper, have had a most alarming effect upon the minds of the working classes. This is but too evident from the recent spread of So cialism. The Times is entitled to the thanks of the whole community for its endeavours to crush the venomous reptile " Publicola." The " thunderer" rarely darts his bolts without effect. We hope they will, in this instance, prove as lethiferous in their aim as they have usually done. We call upon all our readers to co-operate in the endeavour to banish the Weekly Dispatch from every circle of society. It is a scandal to the nation that such an abominable publi cation should be permitted to exist. The atrocious language in which the Radical press of this country has recently indulged towards the Duke of Wellington, and that at a period when he was lying on a sick bed, cannot fail to excite feelings of the strongest indignation and disgust in every well-regu lated mind. But it has been reserved to the special organ of O'Connell--that " base, bloody, and brutal ruffian—to outdo the vilest of the English Radical prints, in its foul and truculent abuse of the illustrious hero. In this respect, the last number of the Dublin Pilot " bangs Banagher" hollow. It is thus that this scurrilous print dwells upon the Duke's illness, in an article which is impudently and mendaciously headed " The Rebel" :—" The Iron Duke was the last prop of a tottering faction ; but the iron rusts, and adamant becomes earth. That light already flickers which dazzled and deluded the unreflecting multitude. The blood with which the great blood-letter cemented the edifice of tyranny and corruption loses its adhesive quality with his decay, and the last scene of the tragedy of Toryism appears about to close with the approaching fall of its hero." Such is the language which emanates from the special organ of O'Connell. What Englishman is there that does not involun tarily exclaim " Out upon the wretched assassin who thus gloats over the anticipated end of the saviour of his country ?" But this is not the worst specimen of the Pilot's heartless blackguardism. It proceeds to make the Duke's late illness the subject of vulgar jest ing. The following can hardly have been framed by any other than O'Connell himself—the verisimilitude of style is so great :—" Our readers are already aware that the Duke of Wellington got a second attack within a few days. The first, according to the Tory journals, was the ' hunt' and the ' crust' attack ; the second the attack of ' indigestion;' the one from eating too little, the other from eating much; but both indicative, in our minds, of th e D u k e ' s h av i n g been twice attacke d with a complaint of which few hal:e, "Tory faction," i ever r survived the third." Again, sp ea king of the says,—" The Duke was its last t trump not o lose the game against the people, the fa e i ti List and s endeavoured to play their knave against our Queen." Again, refer ring to the words "old rebel," it says,—" Whether the ' first personage' did really call the Duke an old rebel, we know not ; but if her Majesty did, she only called things by their proper names." Comment upon such language is unnecessary. We leave it to the indignant scorn of Englishmen. "No Popery" for ever In common with most of our brethren of the Conservative press, we have long made this our rallying cry; whilst the Clergy of the Established Church have been indefatigable in spread ing the echo far and wide, through the length and breadth of the land. But little did we ever expect that the Dissenters, who have so long been sworn allies of the Papists, would ever join in chorus. Such is, however, the case. Placards have been plentifully spread over the walls of this town, within this last week, headed, in conspicuous type, with the ominous words, "No Popery . !" Great was our astonishment when we found that the placard thus headed announced that a lecture on the subject of " No Popery" is to be delivered, on Tuesday evening next, in the Crescent Chapel, by the Rev. Andrew Marshall, A.M., of Kirkintilloch, Glasgow. This is, certainly, a novel sign of the times. We shall be curious to know how the subject will be handled, and shall be glad if we can cordially hail our dissenting brethren as allies in the " No Popery" agitation. It is to be regretted, that the principal charity, the Liver pool Infirmary, with a deficiency of income for the past year, 1839, of nearly £2,000, should only have a ninth part of the sum granted by the Corporation, and to be raised, in aid of the charities. Perhaps the committee of the forthcoming Fancy Ball will take into consideration the depressed state of the funds of this charity. COUNTY VOTERS.—By the list just delivered in by the clerks of the peace to the sheriff of the county, it appears that the number of voters for this county is as follows :—For the northern division, 9,648 ; and for the southern division, 18,148.—Preston Pilot. NEW MAGISYRATES.—On Monday last, John Hall, Esq., of Port-street, Manchester ; and, on Tuesday, Joseph Acton, Esq., of Wigan, and John Green, Esq., M.D., of Newton in-the-Willows, appeared at the Salford Hundred sessions, now holding at the New Bailey, took the oaths and qualified as magistrates for the county of Lancaster.—Manchester Guardian. COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUXI. - -APPOINTMENTS YESTER DAY.—There was a very numerous meeting of county ma gistrates yesterday at the Court-house, Preston, for the pur pose of appointing a superintendent of the County Lunatic Asylum, at Lancaster. Thomas Batty Addison, Esq., chair man of the Preston quarter sessions, presided ; and there were a hundred and one magistrates present. For the situa tion of superintendent, there were six candidates, of whom the three having the greatest number of votes were Mr. Samuel Gaskell, house apothecary at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, for whom were given 51 votes ; Mr. Rowley, 24 ; and Mr.Liporte, 10. Mr. Gaskell was accordingly declared duly elected.—For the office of physician to the same institu tion there were, we believe, three candidates. Dr. De Vitre, of Lancaster, had 43 votes, and Dr. Johnson, (we believe of the same place) had 25. Dr. De Vitre was therefore duly elected.—Manchester Guardian of Wednesday. ELECTION OF AUDITORS AND ASSESSORS.—The annual election of auditors of the borough, of assessors to hold the court for revising the burgess lists with the mayor by the burgesses, and of assessors for each of the wards by the bur gesses of them respectively, takes place on Monday next. The advertisement describes the polling places. LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.—The frost, which has prevailed for some days, has rendered the land in Stand park unfit for the purposes of the ploughing match, which was announced to take place yesterday (Thursday.) It has been consequently postponed sine die, but due notice will be given by Mr. Ledger when it will "come off." The Rev. Joseph Birchall, M.A., has been instituted by the Lord Bishop of Chester to the living of Churchkirk, in this county, vacant by the death of the Rev. Richard Noble. This is one of the livings connected with Brasenose College, Oxford, to which the Hulmean Trustees present one who is, or has been, an exhibitioner on that foundation, and whose testimonials appear to them most satisfactory. THE " GEORGE THE FOU RTH."—It will be in the recol lection of our readers that a steam-ship of this name was converted into a sailing vessel, and most successfully, under the superintendence of Mr. R. Talbot, shipbuilder, who has since also reconstructed the " Cumberland" in the same manner. Both ships have turned out to be " clippers." The " George the Fourth," Capt. Brownless, has made a voyage to Sydney, and thence to Rio de la Plata and home, in rapid style, beating, in her homeward passage, no fewer than four of the crack ships of this port, by from 10 to 21 days. She is of extraordinary beam, and will carry any weight of canvas. She is, we learn, the private property of Mr. Pinn, of the St. George's Steam Packet Company. She sails this day, we learn, for New Zealand, with a valua ble cargo. MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF MR. CHAS. SCHOLE FIELD, OF EVERY -STREET, MANCHESTER.—Uri Monday, the 10th inst., Mr. Charles Scholefield, builder, of 56, Every street, left his home and has not since been heard of. The last intelligence that his family have of him is, that he was seen about half-past nine o'clock in the evening of the 10th inst., in conversation with two men near the Touchet's Arms in Pollard-street. He had on him four £5 Bank of Eng land notes, besides some sovereigns and silver. The family have issued an advertisement stating that they have reason to fear he has been robbed and murdered ; and they have offered a reward of £5O on conviction of the offender. Seve ral reports have been in circulation respecting him, one, about ten days ago was, that a body, supposed to be his, had been found in the Gorton reservoir with the throat cut, but that report, we stated at the time, had no foundation. Within the last few days it has been rumoured that a person answering his description had left the town per t ailway ; but we believe this rumour is also without foundation, and that no tidings of him whatever have yet been heard.—Manches ter Guardian. BLITE-CQAT BROTHERLY SOCIETY.—The annual dinner of this society was held at Mr. Lawton's, the Rainbow Hotel, on Tuesday evening last—Mr. Forster, the master of the Blue-coat Hospital, in the chair. He was supported by Anthony Swainson, Edward Moon, and James Aspinall, Esqrs., on his right ; and by Joseph Langton, Edward G. Deane, and Thomas Langsdale, Esqrs., on his left. About fifty members of the society sat down to a sumptuous dinner, prepared in Mr. Lawton's best style. After " Non nobis Dornine," by Mr. Holden, Mr. Andrews, Mr. G. Holden, Mr. Taylor, and others, the chairman proposed " the health of her most gracious Majesty the Queen, and her royal con sort Prince Albert,"—" the Queen Dowager, and the rest of the Royal Family,—" the Church,"—" the Blue-coat Brotherly Society, and prosperity to it." One of the mem bers made some interesting statements respecting the society, and the good it had already done, and was likely to effect. " The immortal memory of the pious Founders of the Blue coat Hospital." Mr. Langton responded to this toast in a most appropriate and feeling manner, concluding with a hizh eulogium on the merits and services of Mr. Forster, and proposed his health. " Anthony Swainson, Esq., trea surer,"—song, " The fine Old English Gentleman." " The present Trustees of the Blue-coat Hospital." A very beauti ful and affecting address to the trustees was read by one of the members. which we regret we have not space to insert at present. The toast was acknowledged by Mr. Aspinal in his usual warm-hearted benevolent manner, who was most rap turously cheered. He proposed the health of Mrs. Forster, whose merits, he said, were too well known to the company to require any panegyric from him. The health of " Mr. Gray, the treasurer of the society," and of " Mr. Irwin, the secretary," were given, and responded t o by th ese gentlemen. " Thanks to Mr. Holden and his musical friends"—after which the meeting began to separate. Deep regret was ex pressed at the cause of the absence of the rectors, who, it was understood, would both have been present, had they not been prevented by sickness and family affliction. Several of the trustees of the Blue-coat Hospital were also prevented attending, who had expressed their intention of participating in the festivities of the evening. GRAND MISCELLANEOTTS CONCERT AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.—The concert which took place on Tuesday night was in aid of the fund now accumulating to raise a sum of £2,000 for the Dispensaries, Infirmary, and Northern Hos pital in this town, to be added to £l,OOO, which will, in case that sum accrues, be given by the Town-council. The profits arising from this concert we fear will prove but small, unless, indeed, more tickets were purchased than were represented in the theatre. The boxes were but thin, the pit almost empty, and the upper boxes contained only a sprinkling. The contrast which the house presented against its appearance at the last concert was very deplorable. The selections were principally of a light and agreeable cast, and a slight addition was made to the scheme, through the kindness of Signor Giulio Regondi, who offered his services gratis to perform a duet in conjunction with Mr. Lidel. The opening piece was Beethoven's fine overture to Fidelio, Mr. Hermann, the talented leader, has succeeded in getting his band into an excellent state of discipline. They executed this beautiful composition with great precision and effect. Once, indeed, some furious violonist got slightly out of time, but he was quickly brought into order, and the piece was finished ex quisitely. The opening glee, " Sleep, gentle lady," was sung very pleasingly by Miss Hawes, Mr. Dodd. Mr. Stret ton, and a gentleman whose name is left blank. Calcott's scene, " All worldly shapes," &c., was given by Mr. Stret ton, in a style that called forth deserved applause. Miss Hawes sung a very delightful ballad of her own composition, entitled " I'll speak to thee—l'll love thee too," accom panying herself on the pianoforte. The fine voice of this lady was in excellent order, and she acquitted herself through nut the evening admirably. No performance throughout the evening gave greater satisfaction than Miss Christiana Weller's fantasia on the pianoforte. • She commenced by de lighting the auditory by her neat and skilful execution, and concluded by astonishing them by her rapidity and precision. Miss Whitnall sung Donizetti's aria, Ecco it pegno ch'io le porsi ! with cold correctness. The fault of this performance was its want of expression. Several very sweet English ballads were well given, in the second part, by Miss Hawes, Miss Whitnall, and Mr. Dodd ; and the duet above alluded to was finely executed by Signor Giulio Regondi and Mr. Lidel, and that old favourite " Vadasi via di qua" •r was sung with proper liveliness and humour by Miss Halve -,, m • Stretton, and Mr. Dodd. LIVER THEATRE.—This elegant little theatre has been well filled during the week, the attraction being the perform ances of Mr. T. D. Rice, in the " Love Pledge; and a farce, entitled the " Sarcophagus:" the latter piece admira bly calculated to display the peculiar talents of Lord Mont eagle's American relative. The Highland Fling of Madlle. Chevallier has been encored nightly, and is a most graceful performance of one of our m ostxicturesque dances. j ac k Shephard" still continues to be favourably received, and draws well at half-price. MASTRIt BASSLE'S AINEMON CAL CON. VERZ ATION E s._ Yesterday Master Bassle gave tn. most interesting conver * atln 0 es in the Medical - hall , Mount -pleasant. The first 2 tookplace at noon, and the oth3r in the evening, and both g ave unbounded satisfaction to the auditory. Few thi ngs are more captivating and desirahe than a good memory ; cer tainly no faculty is more useful and what ever t h erefore en larges its powers, may be,a!ssignal a pl ace amongst the most useful inventions of mankind. The fluent and rapid articu lations of Master Bassle, irt tht first instance, appear to be the result of a system of rote ; but when difficult questions were proposed to him i n perplexing succession, and on all manner of subjects his ready and correct replies, convinced the hearer that there is somthing more in the art. We should say, from what we sawsud heard, that it is decidedly calculated to enable a person to become a walking encyclo ptedite ; but, of course, not witout great and laborious efforts. In chronology and the kindrd sciences it must be exceed ingly useful. Owing to our tine and space being limited, we are not in a condition to desribe the most interesting fea tures of these two converzaiones : suffice it, therefore, to say, that Master Bassle proud that he has fairly earned the well-merited praises which live been bestowed upon him by the principal metropolitan ind provincial journals. Nye understand th a t t wo more onverza t ion es will be given in the same place next Friday. THE " PRESIDENT" STEAM-SHIP. This vessel, the largest of " the steam fleet" of England (it we may be allowed to coin a new expression out of the " metal" of our country), arrived here, as our readers have already been informed, a few days ago, and is now at anchor in the Sloyne, awaiting the reception of her engines, and her general fittings, as a first class - transatlantic steam-ship. We have before noticed " The British Queen," " The Liverpool," and last, th oug h not least, the sturdy, the in flexible, the gallant ` ° Royal Willia m ," a compara ti ve l y small boat, which showed her ocean powers to such advan tage, that she is still looked to as a first-rate model as a sea going steamer. We have ever taken a peculiar interest in the commercial prosperity of " the good old town ;" and we believe that we speak the general sentiments of the public when we state that in point of maritime enterprise our town has never been excelled. During a long course of years, Bristol took the iead in ocean steam navigation, from the western coast of England. Liverpool was then a comparatively insignificant port. By the enterprise of her merchants, who adventured their capi tal to every quarter of the world, and more particularly to Africa, to both of the Indies, and to South America, she became, from a mere fishing village, in a very few years, the second port idthe British empire. London being the seat of govern ment, and consequently the nucleus of foreign commerce and exchange, was, and still is. to a slight degree pre-eminent ; otherwise Liverpool would be the ,first in the world in com mercial importance, so far as regards the value of import and export cargoes :—in the consequent duties of customs and excise she is now nearly equal to her southern metropolitan contemporary. In steam navigation, it must be admitted, that the Bristol people have made a decided " hit" in " The Great Western." They took the right plan, that of bringing out a vessel of large and sufficient tonnage, bearings, and accommodation to secure safety and comfort to passengers, and, at the same time to ensure, in ordinary winds, a speedier voyage to the transatlantic passenger than could be expected by the first-rate sailing vessels, splendid as are their size and equipments. As we - have alluded to other ports in our " tight little island," besides our own of the Mersey, we feel peculiar pleasure in stating, that " The President" furnishes an ex emplification of the feeling that now happily pervades the whole of the British community. The generous rivalry of Bristol, in ocean steam navigation, is hailed imour own port, and the competition of London, and of London capital, is here equally looked upon as a demonstration of that mutual feeling of enterprise which characterises our country. We feel assured that such is the disposition for " fair play," and particularly in maratime enterprise,—that every county in the United Kingdom, having a sea-coast, will forward, with out the slightest feeling of jealousy, whatever may be pro duced, whether in the " ploughing" of the earth or the sea, that may be conclusive to the increased happiness and comfort of mankind. The writer of this, it may appear, has wandered into a long preamble in introducing a necessarily bri e f accoun t o f th e steam-ship " President." It may be stated, however, in ex tenuation of the offence, that though not built in Liverpool, the " President" will hail from this port, and that our me tropolitan friends who happen to be of the company of pro prietors, have wisely advised that she should here be provided with engines, the experience of the makers being second to none. The " President," under the command of Captain Kean, and now lying in the Sloyne, is the largest steam-ship ever yet built for ocean or other navigation. She is of exceed ingly beautiful model ; built of the best materials that Eng land and England's wealth can supply, and is in every respect a noble vessel. She is now, (her engines not being vet on board), what is, in nautical term, called "light;" and loonies very large. Her proportions are, however, such that but for the comparative size of the Queen's mail ships near her, she is so compact that she does not appear at even a short dis tance to be larger than the " Liverpool!' A nearer approach, however, undeceives the beholder, and a visit on board realizes to its fullest extent, the conception of " a wooden world." Through the politeness of Captain Kean, our " nautical " reporter had yesterday an apportunity of inspecting " The President" throughout. He was accompanied by Mr. French, the intelligent carpenter of the ship, who was em ployed in building, and who could consequently appreciate the pains and expenditure bestowed in the construction of the ship, and the peculiar improvements and advantages introduced. Before noticing the interior of the vessel, we may state that her appearance on the water is magnificent, not only from her bulk, but from her fine proportions and her rigging. She is painted in man-of-war style, with gun ports, and is handsomely rigged as a thre e - mas t e d schooner, with a fore mast, foretopmast, and topgallantmast, approximating to those of a ship. Her bow is fine, and at the extremity of her head-rails will be placed, when completed, as a figure head, a bust of Washington, the hero of American inde pendence. Her stern is projective ; beautifully formed to turn off aheavy sea; ornamented aloft with the arms of Eng land and America, quartered in an heraldic shield, supp or t e d by " the Lion of England," and " the Eagle of America." The paddle-boxes of the " President" are comparatively very slightly raised above her bulwarks ; and her general appear ance is, when her side is viewed, that of a first-class frigate of extraordinary size, her light rigging giving her at the same time a most rakish and mischievous appearance. We now supply from the most authentic source the several dimensions and capacity of this great steam Leviathan : Length over all, from taffrail to figure head Beam within the paddle-boxes Breadth from outside of paddle-boxes Depth of hold Height between the main and spar deck Height between lower and main deck (both flash) Tonnage (supposed), 2500. Those who are versed in maritime affairs will readily con ceive from these dimensions that we were warranted in stating that " The President" is in reality " a wooden world." She is, indeed, more—she is a world not only of wood but of iron, copper, and other materials, constituting the ne plus ultra of strength in naval architecture. Ft. In. 273 0 41 0 72 4 30 0 8 6 7 8 The " President" was built at Lim ehouse, London, by Messrs. Curling and Carter, the latter gentleman superin tending her construction throughout. Between decks and in her holds she presents a perfect picture of strength ; and we cannot more highly compliment our metropolitan friends and contemporaries in Transatlantic Steam Navigation, than by stating that they seem in materials, in fastenings, and in put ting together, to have taken a leaf out of the book of our townsmen Messrs. Wilson and Co., whose vessels both in point of strength and sailing have hitherto borne the bell. Every available modern improvement has been taken ad vantage of in the construction of "The President." In ad dition to a remarkably strong frame, solid to the bilge, she is diagonally fastened fore and aft with iron and wood, in a manner that would seem to defy the rudest assaults of the ocean wave. We have not time to enter into details. Suf fice it to say, that the materials of "The President" through out are of the best quality, and that the utmost science, in a scientific age, has been exerted to work them up to the best advantage. The engines for this vessel will, we learn, be of about 600 horse power. They are already built, by our townsmen Messrs. Fawcett and Co., and present a splendid specimen of the ingenuity and enterprise of the age. These we shall take an early opportunity of noticing. " The President" will present peculiar advantages for passengers. Her spar-deck will afford a long and delightfuj promenade in fine weather, and during rain or storms a dry and sheltered walk may be enjoyed below. The cabins are not yet fitted up. The principal or stern saloon will be eighty-seven feet in length ' - its breadth (in cluding the small state-rooms on each side) forty-one feet. No expense has been spared to render " the President" a crack ship. In strength of materials and fidelity of work inanship she is fully equal to any of her Majesty's ships of war ; and she is fitted up with all the modern improvements in pumps, tanks, &c. She is also divided into sections, so that the springing of a leak (should such take place) would be attended with comparatively trifling danger. It is calculated that " The President' , will carry 1000 tons of goods beyond her compliment of coals, luggage, and materials for a trans-Atlantic voyage. Her steering tackle is of a novel and improved construction ; and such was required ; for, from her length and size, she may be deemed a floating island. The agents of the " President" at this port, are—Mr. Pim, of the St. George's Steam-Packet Company, and Mr. Laird, of North Birkenhead, the celebrated builder of iron ships. We have heard it stated (but we cannot vouch for the au thenticity of the report), that the " President" will, when equipped, be placed under the command of Captain Fayrer, late of the " Liverpool," and that Captain Kean, who does not profess to have the same experience in ocean steam navi gation, will act as second Captain. We shall be much grati fied to find that one or other, or rather both of these gentlemen are appointed to the charge of " The President." That charge is sufficient in its magnitude and anxiety to occupy the full attention of two chief and first-rate officers. Captain Kean is an experienced and, (the highest compliment we can pay) an " able seaman. He is, moreover, a g e n tle man of pleasing manners and deportment. We can scarcely say more of Captain Fayrer ; but we cannot avoid reminding our readers that his long service at sea, in the British navy (me mentos of which he bears in honourable wounds) and in our mercantile marine, and, above all, his peculiar experience in ocean steam navigation, have, together with his urbanity of manners, rendered him a favourite on both sides the At lantic ; and that his accession to the command of " The President" will be hailed with pleasure and satisfaction by all who interest themselves in the friendly intercourse be tween this country and the United States of America. We regret that we must postpone any further notice of " The President" until a future oacasion. What we have already stated will, we doubt not, be fully borne out by those who will visit her when she is in dock to receive her engines. As the President lies contiguous to Rock Ferry, the pas sengers on the boats belonging to that Company, have an opportunity, in passing to and fro, of seeing that magnificent vessel. BACHELORS' BALL.—The Bachelors' Bali was held last one we night, in the Wellington-rooms,- s p s le b a a s l a l, ut a . nd As announced on Tuesday, it a most magnificent character too. About 480 were present. Weippert's band was in attendance. The company began to arrive about nine o'clock, and soon afterwards dancing com menced, and continued till an early hour this morning. The rooms were most elegantly decorated for the occasion. ACCIDENT. —As Lieut.-Colonel Neilson was riding down Brunswick-street, yesterday, he was thrown from his horse, and w e regret to add has fract ure d his leg ; -we have not learned the particulars, but we have heard that it was owing to a female crossing the street suddenly, and on the horse b e i n g instantly checked, it reared and fell backwards. AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH.---On Wednesdly evening last, as Thomas Freme, Esq., father of W. P. Freme, Esq., of the Common Council, was in attendance at the vestry of the Baptist Chapel in Byrom-street, at a meeting held for discussing some business connected with the congregation, he complained that he felt very unwell, and ordered a car to be sent for. While pacing the vestry, waiting for the car, he suddenly dropped down, and instantly expired. We be lieve the cause of his death was ossification of the heart. Flow true is it that " in the midst of life we are in death !" THE OLD ENGLAND.—We perceive that the proprietors of this truly excellent Conservative journal have announced their intention to present their readers, to-morrow, with a beautiful portrait of Prince Albert, admirably adapted for framing. This portarit is said to be the best likeness of his Royal Highness yet published. As few of the portraits which have hitherto appeared are worth placing in a frame, we have no doubt that many of our readers will avail them selves of the present opportunity for obtaining so valuable a representation of her Majesty's chosen partner. GREAT WATERLOO COURSING MEETING.—The coursing at Altcar is fixed for Wednesday and Thursday next. No less than £BOO will be contended for. THE CATHOLIC CHARITY BALL.—The annual ball in aid of the funds of the Female Orphan House, and other Catho lic charities, in this town, took place on Monday evening, in the Town-hall, and was attended by a numerous and fashion able company. LICENSED VICTUALLERS.—The annual ball of this so ciety, the proceeds of which will be applied towards the in crease of the fund for providing a school for the children and an asylum for the decayed members of the trade, will take place on Tuesday next.—See Adn. By the substitution of the word persons for passengers ! in most of the p u bli s h ed accounts as to the number of lives saved from the William Huskisson steamer, by the Hudders field, the number has been stated at less than was really the case. There were 93 passengers and 21 of the crew, making a total of 114 lives. DIOCESAN CHURCH BUILDING SOCIETY. — The annual meeting of this society will be held this morning, (Friday,) in the Blue Coat School. The senior Rector of Liverpool, the Rev. Jonathan Brooks, will occupy the chair. ;44• g ,„. • • --• ;3A !r! .• ice ' - r 4 , • 'l'