The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-17 00:00:00

THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL. EASTER MONDAY, APRIL 20th, 1840. The popular VOCALISTS, Miss ROMER, Mr. TEMPLE TON, and Mr. G. STANSBURY, of the Theatres- Royal Drury-lane and Covent-garden, are engaged for Ten Nights, and will mak e their first appearance here, this Season, on EASTER MONDAY, 20th A pr il i ns t an t, -when will be performed the favourite Comic Opera f THE LOVE SPEL ;/ Being th e E ng li s h version of Donizetf L s Italian Opera of d' Amour.' Adina, Miss Romer ; Nemorino, . Templeton ; Doctor Duleamara, Mr. G. Stansbury ; as riginallv performed by them in L on d on ; Belcore, Mr. P rove ; Ciiannetta, Miss G rant. To conclude with the Tragic Play of DAMON AND PYTHIAS. Damon, Mr. Stuart ; Pythias ' Mr. W. Howard ; Hermi on , Miss CleaVer ; C a l an th e , Mr s . W. H. Bland. On TUESDAY, the Comic Opera of the LOVE SPELL. After which, th e Tragedy of BRUTUS. Lower Boxes, 45.; Upper Boxes, 3s. Gd.; Pit, 2s. Gd. Gallery, ls.—Doors to be opened at Half-past Six, and the Performance to commence at Seven. The Box-office will be open on EASTER MoNo.vv, when Places in the Lower Boxes may be taken of Mr. MINSTER t'roni Ten until Three o'Clock. , EJ)t itibrrpoot &tanbarii. FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 1;, 1840. By the Horatio, Captain Howland, we have received New York papers to the 26th ultimo. These papers do not contain any political news of importance. The following is a general summary of the intelligence brought by the Horatio : Trade continued very dull. Litttle was doing in the share market. The rate of exchange had not altered in the in terval since the sailing of the Great Western. The transac tions for the intermediate packets had been limited, parties reserving the business until the sailing of the British Quee n , The Pennsylvanian House of Representative s had passed a resolution authorising the governor to borrow of the United States Bank 1,000,000 dollars at 4 per cent., to be paid in the " constitutional currency," or its equivalent, to be applied to the payment of interest falling due before the meeting of the next legislature, and for the repair of public works. The Resumption Bill was still before the Pennsyl vanian Legislature. The Ist of October was the time likely to be fixed for the restunption of specie payments by the banks. It was extremelY, doubtful, however, Whether the bill would ultimately pass. The proceedings in Congress seemed to excite very little attention in the newspapers, and are quite uninteresting to the English reader. The boundary question had • not been again alluded 'to in either house. The latest advices received at New York from England were to the 3d of March, by the packet-ship Stephen Whit ney, which arrived off New York from Liverpool on the 22nd ult. Mexican papers to late dates had been received at New York. General Santa Anna, it is said, had obtained his Passports, with the view of travelling, but whether in Europe or the United States was unknown. The Mexican Congress had authorised the Government to borrow 1,000,000 dollars, at not less than 80 cents for a dollar. This loan is to be one of the ways and means of carrying on the expedition against Texas. The New York papers do not contain any- news from Canada. The day on which we publish being Good Friday, Ave gladly abstain from our usual comments upon po litical affairs. There are, however, one or two subjects Upon which we feel impelled to remark, and which, affecting as they do the religion 'and morality of our country, we shall perhaps he pardoned for bringing befor e the attention of our readers. We alluded briefly in our last putilication to a• pla card, which has been circulated during the present w eek, announcing the intended desecration of Good Inlay by the disgusting and depraved disciples of the Infidel Robert Owen. On this day, which is set apart by the Church as one of solemn and deep humiliation, and which has always been religiously observed as the anniversary of the cross and death of the Redeemer of mankind, the filthy and obscene professors of Socialism have dared to fix for the opening of their temple of Profanity and licentiousness. It was not sufficient that their increasing influence and numbers should be pa raded before the public; it was not sufficient that Socialism should be able to emerge from the kennel and the sty ; that the foul abortion which has hitherto b een compelled to celebrate its unclean orgies in ob scurity should be able to raise its unsightly form in the blaze of day and within a " Hall of Science;" but an opportunity must at the same time be taken to out rage the feelings and to mock the time-hallowed asso ciations of a great Christian community by the wanton and deliberate desecration of one of its most solemn festivals. We are aware that to_sanction such a desecration is quite in accordance with the liberalism of the present day. We know with what rapture the enemies of our Established Church are accustomed to regard any oc currence which is calculated to impair its strength or to wound the feelings of its supporters. But the out rage which is this day to be perpetrated is not directed against the Church of England alone. It is directed against the principles and the feelings of the entire body of Christian religionists, who, equally with churchmen, observe and revere the anniversary of our redemption by the blood of Christ. The gauntlet of the infidel is thrown down to every sect and to every church; and although we are prepared to concede to those who differ from us in religious opinions a right to dispense with any portion of our observances, yet we cannot but think that there is a point beyond which "en toleration ought not to extend. We may allow some latitude of religious principle to. exist amongst us, and even the total absence of such principle we may not visit with temporal punishment, however much we may regret to observe it in any portion of our fel low -creatures ; but when the doctrines of Atheism, mingled with disgusting profligacy and reckless blas phemy, are openly paraded and actively inculcated be fore our eyes—are allowed to insult our altars and pro fane our Sabbaths—we submit that it is time for the rulers of a Christian people—for the representatives of a Sovereign who has sworn to maintain and preserve the pure religion of her subjects—to interpose the krong arm of authority, and to drive howling to his den the foul monster whose obscenities are poisoning the springs from which they have been accustomed to drink of the waters of life. Under any circumstances it would have been pain ful to us to regard the progress of that brutalising system of which Robert Owen is the apostle and founder. We should have regretted at any time to contemplate the dedication of a large and, we are told, a costly building to the unhallowed purpose of dissem inating, amongst the industrious classes of this great community, doctrines so injurious in their operation, so prejudicial to the wellbeing of society, and so fatally destructive to the eternal interests of their infatuated dupes but when we notice the utter Contempt of Christianity, and the reckless disregard of decency, which have led to the selection of this particular day for the purpose, our feelings of regret are converted into those of indignation, and especially when we look around us in vain for those manifestations of public opinion, which in other and better days would have been loud enough to check so gross and daring an outrage upon religion and morality. The hymn . of praise and thanksgiving is rising from every spire throughout the length and breadth of our beloved land ; the lofty swell of the organ is mingled with the lisping notes of tens of thousands of the children of our industrious poor; the sweet incense of prayer, breathed from the lips of a Christian people, ascends from every green hill and valley where a vil lage or a hamlet has assembled its little congregation of worshippers, to listen to the tale of man's redemp tion, and to contemplate and admire the wondrous love of Hire who gave his only begotten Son to the ,cross for man's salvation. But here, alas !—from the heart of this great commercial town—the foul breath of 'infidelity is allowed to ascend, like the smoke of the burning cities of the plain, and to darken and obscure from the eyes of mankind the cheering pre sence of the throne of mercy. The insulting scoff and the ribald jeer are permitted to mock the tale of divine love, .and an altar to be set up and incense offered to the impure spirit of evil, within hearing of the song of thanksgiving which is issuing from before the shrines of the only true God ! This monstrous Praanation is allowed, and not a voice is raised to deprecate its commission. The heartless philosophy Which' sits in our high places looks calmly on whilst the demon of infidelity offers her alluring embrace to the young, the giddy, and the presumptuous, and by the blandishment of her smile, and the honied accents Of her syren lips, wins and enslaves the hearts, and Perils the souls, of thousands of our population. " Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer cloud, • Without our special wonder?" Alas, they can ! When impurity and infidelity are ' caressed at the court of England's Queen, her subjects need scarcely wonder if they present themselves boldly at the doors of more humble dwellings. When the chief priest of socialism has been an honoured guest at the palace of the Sovereign, need we wonder if he little fears from the authorities of Liverpool an inter ference with his disgusting and demoralizing orgies ? We have deprecated on more than one occasion the consequences of this ill-advised introduction. We have pointed out the scandal to which it would give rise, and the encouragement which it would afford to the growth of that baneful system of which Owen is the propNator and the acknowledged author. Are those of our contemporaries who defended its propriety prepared to acknowledge that they were in error ? We fear not. The high tone of morality which would prompt such an acknowledgment from the lips of a modern liberal, is not to he found in that portion of the press of Liverpool which condescends, week after week, to argue against doctrines which a manly oppo nent would at once denounce and condemn, and which the great majority of the community already regard with utter loathing and disgust. The liberal press and the liberal authorities of Liverpool will do nothing to put down and crush this obscene thing, which has fastened upon the hearts and the minds of so large a portion of—we grieve to say it—the educated and in telligent amongst. our middle and industrious classes ; but surely the gross and glaring insult which is this day offered to the feelings of the moral and religious portion of the community will not be forgotten, and the people of England will at length be roused to a conviction of the contamination and imminent peril, which a false and erroneous liberalism is allowing to approach and threaten with defilement our homes, our altars, and our throne. Since the above remarks were in type, we have heard, we need scarcely say with what feelings of sur prise and shame; that the Liverpool Choral Society have contracted with the followers of socialism for the use of their hall, and that the latter are about to erect an organ for their accommodation. Surely it cannot be- that' a society whose objects are so far elevated above the filthy pursuits of the disciples of Owen, should be mad enough to degrade themselves by such an impure association. The divine strains of Handel and Mozart must never be allowed to echo within the walls of a socialist temple ! At any rate we are con fident that the great body of the supporters of the society will never listen to them in such a locality. We understand from our metropolitan contempo raries that Joseph Hume has succeeded in opening the doors of the British Museum to the public this day— a day consecrated by the universal voice of Christen dom to the most hallowed purposes. We live in fear ful times. The strongest and the most systematic efforts are now being made to eradicate from the minds of the public every vestige of Christianity. There are men to be found, even amongst our senators, who openly sneer at every religious observance, and who laugh at the solemnities of the present sea son as antiquated and narrow-minded prejudices. The remembrance of the passion, cross, and death of the Redeemer of mankind must give way to the gratification of a paltry taste for the mouldering ruins of Egyptian and Grecian mythology. The sanctifying exercises of piety and devotion must be superseded by an idle lounge among the curiosities of the British Museum. Such is the way in which modern legiSlators wish the people to he employed. can such things be without entailing upon us a national curse ? Owing to the late hour at which we received our re port of the proceedings at the Anti-Slavery Meeting last night, we are unable to offer any remarks on the subject this day. On Tuesday we shall endeavour to do Mr. Scoble justice. KENSINGTON PEDESTRIAN STEEPLE CHASE.—Since the event of the grand national steeple chase at Aintree, the sport ing spirit of many of our young townsmen have been stimu lated to perform similar feats, but, judiciously, in a more innocent and less hazardous manner. One of very great in terest to the immediate friends of those concerned in the chase, took place on Wednesday last, at Kensington, near Liverpool. Although no publicity was given to this intended sport, the colours and flags hoisted at the winning-post and at the different leaps, excited the curiosity of many on the London-road, so that the ground became unusually tilled. The distance was about three quarters of a mile, consisting of eight teazing leaps, chosen by the umpires, an d accom plished in the short space of four minutes. Nine gentlemen entered for the race, but six only started, and came in in the following order : L. J. Bird (blue). J. R. Wiseman (black) 2 • C. Came (white) W. Carne (blue and white).. Scott (pink) Bolderson (white) 6 The stakes were deservedly handed over to Mr. Bird, who gallantly kept the lead the whole time. The genial state of the evening, and the good condition of the ground, added materially to the success of the contest, which terminated to the satisfaction and amusement of all present. " ELLIS'S SODA WATER."—We have rarely tasted a more delicious and refreshing be - verage than our worthy friend Ellis's compound under the above name. We are glad to find that this exhilarating draught is becoming increasingly fashionable. It richly merits the patronage bestowed upon it.—See Advt. THE APPROACHING FANCY BALL.—We rejoice to find that the preparations for this ball are " progressing " most satisfactorily- under the able direction of the Committee of management, who have been indefatigable in maturing all the necessary arrangements. We trust that their zeal will be re paid by a numerous attendance on the occasion, and that the charities of the town, which are now, we regret to state, in a very depressed condition, will be greatly benefitted by the proceeds of the ball. We understand that Mr. Lynn will provide the ref res hme n ts and the supper, which will be given in the Exchange news-room;, and we have authority to state that they will be on a more liberal and sumptuous scale than at any public ball ever vet given in Liverpool. An early ap plication for tickets is recommended, as a great number have already been taken. THE IRISH CORPORATION BILL—The Liverpool peti tion against the Irish Corporation Bill, after receiving 7740 signatures, was presented on Monday night, by the Earl of Winchelsea, we deem this a little more important than the miserable failure in the attempted movement in favour of the measure at the sessions house a few weeks back, which terminated as it began, in absurdity ; the petition having been received only as the petition of that oracle of wisdom, Mr Joshua Walmsley, our would-be representative. DoNs.—The Marquis of Waterford has disposed of his two famous black-rnained lions to Mr. Wm. Batty, of the Royal Amphitheatre, Liverpool, for a very considerable sum of money. They are the same which the noble Marquis brought from Africa, he having hunted and killed the mother, secured.her two cubs, and brought them over to his estate near Waterford, where he domesticated and made them his drawing-room and even his bed-room companions. They are considered by persons conversant in national history who have seen them, to be two of the finest of their species in Europe. Mr. Batty intends to exhibit them together with his other groups of wild animals. ALLEGED DEATH FROM MORISON'S PlLLS.—Having in serted in the Standard a report of the inquiry touching the decease of Mr. Mallars, who, as was alleged, died from taking Morison's Pills, we feel it right to copy the following letter, which appeared in the Morning Post of April 7th : " Sir,—l am sure that your sense of justice will at once lead you to contradict the above report, inasmuch as Mori son's Pills were not used by the deceased, Mr. Mallars. It appears from the evidence on the inquest, that the so-called Morison's Pills taken by Mr. Mallars were purchased of a person of the name of Salmon, in Farringdon-street, who, without any authority whatever, attaches my name on the boxes, and also upon the stamps, in blue letters, to medi cines of his own manufacture, of which I know nothing, in order' to pass them off on the public as Morison's Pills, against which deception I have repeatedly cautioned the public. As Morison's Pills were not used on the above occasion, it is quite unnecessary for me to enter further into the case. I trust you will see the necessity of giving this letter immediate insertion.-1 am, sir, yours obediently, " JAmts MORISON, the Hygeist. " British College of _Health, " New Road, London, April 6th, 1840. " I shall of course now bring the party to justice for the fraud and consequent injury which he has done me." The celebrated composer Lewis Spohr has just finished a grand oratorio, entitled, " The Fall of Babylon," upon which he has been engaged for about six years past, and which is to be executed for the first time at Cassel, on the 16th of this month, by eight hundred musicians and amateurs. The two magnificent lions captured some years since, on the Coast of Barbary, by the Marquis of Waterford, and trained by their noble owner to sleep in his apartments, and even to follow him like spaniels through his demesne, have been lately purchased by Mr. Batty, and added to his splen did menagerie. There is at Holbeech, near Leeds, a single room (of two acses), recently built, for applying the power loom to the manufacture of lace. The whole is arched in and cemented, and the top is to be covered with earth, so thick as to make the top exhibit a grass field. A room, on a smaller scale, has been similarly constructed there some time since, as a sort of model. A lamb was killed yesterday morning, for Mr. Crowe, Wheat Sheaf Inn, Monk-Wearmouth, each quarter being of the extraordinary weight of 101 tbs. The lamb was bred and reared by John Leighton, Esq., of Grindon, near Sunder land.—Newcastle Journal. The large number of two hundred and eighty persons have been committed to Durham Gaol, duringthe three m on th s ending the 31st of March last, being an increase of 75 o n th e number committed during the corresponding period of last year.—Newcastle Journal. If the people should complain that the whigs have grossly falsified all their promises of " peace, retrenchment, and re form," have not the whigs provided a sufficiency of hand cuffs, cutlasses, and bastiles to teach them the duty of silence and submission ? The parishioners of St. Andrew's church, Droitwich, were so much effected by a sermon preached by the Rev. J. Top ham on Sunday week, that they sent a request to the rev. gentleman to preach the same sermon again last Sunday. This is surely the triumph of preaching !—TVorcester Chronicle. NEW MODE OF KYANIZING TlMBER. — lnstead of simple immersion, the Manchester and Birmingham railway com pany place their sleepers in a wrought iron cylinder, and with six men to the hydraulic pump raise the pressure from the liquid to 173 lbs. the inch. This completely saturates the timber in 10 hours. 'ADMISSION OF REPORTERS TO THE DOCK COMMITTEE. CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ROBERTSON GLADSTONE, ESQ., AND THOMAS LEATHOM, ESQ. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD SIR.,—You will much oblige me, by inserting in your next paper, the correspondence between Mr. Alderman Leathom, the Chairman of the Dock Committee, and myself, sent to you, in the beginning of last week, for publication, in the Liverpool Standard. Why the publication of this correspondence has been post• poned, will probably appear hereafter.—l am, Sir, your obe. dient servant, (Signed) ROBERTSON GLADSTONE. 21, Abercrombie-square, 14th April, 18.40. have this morning read in the Liverpool Mail newspaper, a report of what is s t a t e d to h a v e f a llen from you in the Council room yesterday, in.which my name is intro duced in the most unjustifiable manner, and as to which it is my duty to have an immediate explanation. I wish to be informed whether that report is substantially correct ; and in order that no mistake may arise, I now enclose it as taken from the Liverpool Mail.-1 am, Sir, your obedient servant, ROBERTSON GLADSTONE. 24, Abercrombie-square, 2d April, 1840. Thomas Leathom, Esq. (COPY OF THE ENCLOSURE.) " Mr. Alderman LE ATROM, the chairman of the commit tee, objected to the above -resolution, which, he said, had been passed during his absence, which he much regretted, as he should have wished to have recorded his opinion against the measure. The member for Abercromby Ward (Mr. R. Gladstone), who he was sorry to see was not then present, was the mover of the resolution which had been adopted. The objections which he had to the admission of reporters were, that their presence would tend materially to increase the labours and embarrass the proceedings of the members. On every committee-day subjects came before them which were not then disposed of, and it would be inexpedient to allow the discussions on them to go before the public, when the matters were in an immature state. If reporters were admitted, it would lead to the appointment of sub-commit tees to discuss the majority of the measures brought forward, and thus take up a great deal of the time of the members in attending those sub-committees, of which, according to established rule, he should he expected to be a member. He had, nearly every day, something to do in connexion with the dock affairs ; and if, in addition to what he now did, he had to sit upon sub-committees, there would be no end to his labours. He did not know the reasons of the member for Abercromby Ward in bringing forward his motion; but he could say, without fear of contradiction, that that mem ber attended th e me eti n gs less than any other member. It was difficult to keep him in his seat for more than half an hour ; and it perhaps would be convenient to him to read, next morning, in the papers, the proceedings of the commit tee meetings which he had not attended, and that the rest had attended all the time." Hanover-street, Thursday, 2d April, 1840. was disappointed at not seeing you at the Dock Committee this morning. I have since received your note, inclosing a report from the Mail of what I said yesterday on the subject of admitting reporters to the Dock Committee, which appears to be substantially correct. The latter part of it, to which I suppose your note chiefly refers, is perhaps a little too strongly expressed, and it might have been as well if I had conferred with you as to your motives for bringing forward the motion, and particularly during my absence on Dock affairs, before the meeting of the Council ; but my oc cupations since my return from London, after an absence of six weeks, put it out of my mind to call on you. Seeing you in yoar place in the early part of the Council, I concluded that we should go into the discussion of the question, when you would give your reasons, but I was sorry to find that you had left the room before the Dock proceedings were read. As to the precise time which you generally sit at the Dock Com mittee Meetings I cannot perhaps offer evidence, but you must recollect my frequently expressing to you, both in and out of the committee, my wishes thatsou could give us more of your company, it being my constant desire that the mem-. hers of it who are so deeply interested in the management of the trust as yourself should assist at its deliberations, as I have always felt that a great responsibility rests on me in the situation which I have the honour to hold. I gave notice to-day of my intention to move the recon sideration of the question as to reporters on Thursday next, when I hope you may be able to attend, and the subject will of course come before the Council again, when you and I can make any observations which may a pear necessary.—l am, Sir, yours, very truly, (Signed HOS. LEATHOM. Robertson Gladstone, Esq. SIR,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday, in reply to mine of the same date, from which I learn that the report of your speech, as delivered at the last Council, and which I had inclosed as taken from the Liver pool Mail newspaper, was " substantially correct." It re mains for me, therefore, to make good my charge, that you had introduced my name in the " most unjustifiable manner," a task which I shall find no difficulty in performing. Now, before I comnlence my reply to your accusations, I must remark, that I shall leave entirely to yourself any merit that may arise from the circumstance of your having, in the Council, made an attack on my conduct .in the Dock Com mittee whilst I was absent. Your letter confirms me in the opinion I had this morning formed (for I had no intimation previously of your statement in the Council), that you had seen me in the Council-room before the proceedings of the Dock Committee were read. Common courtesy on such an occasion, recollecting the friendly terms on which we had been in addressing each other, would at least have demanded that I should have been informed of your intention to attack me. Had I received that intimation, and afterwards quitted the Council-room, leaving the course I had pursued unde fended, there can be no question but that the onus of respon sibility would have rested with myself, and I should have done so at my own peril. In your letter, you admit "it might have been as well if I had conferred with you as to your motives for bringing forward the motion ;" but, in my opinion, a candid and straight-forward mind would have sug gested that it would have been infinitely better that you should have done so, and that it was only due to me that such a communication should have been made by you. From the very dictatorial terms in which you appear to have expressed yourself, it might be presumed that a member of the Dock Committee had no right to bring forward a mo tion without your previous sanction and presence on the oc casion. I own to no such surveillance as this ; but claim for myself to think and act as I deem proper, and that quite in dependently of you or any other member of the Dock Com mittee. What damage might have been done to the cause of the " free press" (which was of .yore " the air we breathe in") by your vote being recorded against the measure, it is bard to say. There was a time when reporters were much more in favour than they are now; but they must know that with some people their charms are evanescent, and that with them they are only in favour when they can be made conveniently useful. Now, sir, my reply to your " unjustifiable statement" will be best expressed, as coming under the following heads :- Ist. That, as regards myself, your statements are not founded on fact. 2dly. That you appear to imitate the self-confidence of some other members of the Council, in attacking one who, for a short time only I trust, remains in a minority in the Council-room ; and. therefore, that you presume on a strength which is undeniably an artificial one. 3dly. That you appear to be tinged (which I did not be fore suppose) with the spleen and venom (though I believe in a somewhat more modified form) which I have myself experienced, and which is one of the distinguishing feature, of the party with which your name is associated. And 4thly. I shall direct myself to the gravamen of your objections, Why reporters should not be admitted." I go at once to the first charge. An impartial person would infer, from what you are pleased to say, that I had sought some sort of evasion, by bringing on the discussion of the question, as to the admission of reporters, in your absence. I will state briefly the purport of what I said on giving notice of my motion, which was to this effect—that, as some of the members of the committee were absent, I would, instead of a week's notice, give a fort night's, by which time it was stated that the deputation then in London (of which you were one) would have returned.* Therefore it is clear I allowed no cause for complaint on this point. Now you say "you do not know my reasons for bringing forward this motion." If this was the case, before you made a charge against me, it was your duty to inquire and satisfy yourself as to my reasons, and not to make state ments without having firstascertained the grounds on which those statements were to rest. But I will tell you what my reasons were. In my opinion, the admission of reporters is essentially necessary, for the best interests of the ratepayers; and I consider that necessity to be enhanced by the attempt, on the part of the Dock Committee, to erect warehouses, themselves to be the managers, which were to come in open competition—a public purse against a private one—with those who, according to this measure, have been duped, by their purchases of land, for the purpose of erecting ware houses, from the Corporation ; and, in cases where the rate payers were warehouse-owners, positively bringing their own funds into active opposition against their own interests, thereby compelling them, nolens volens, " to cut a stick to break their own heads." _ You are stated to have said—and the report has received your seal of being substantially correct—that, " without fear of contradiction, that member (meaning myself) attended the meetings, less than any other member." I deny the correctness of this statement, though in the absence of a reference to the records of the Dock Committee, 1 am not able to furnish particulars, but it would have been well if you had happened to notice some other members of the committee, of your own school, who not only do not regu larly attend, but when they do attend, are of no use. But this probably might not have suited the purpose, otherwise you would not have had to travel very far through the alpha bet, before the name of one individual, a political partisan, though now no longer in the committee, would present itself, whose visits were as few and far between as any on record, unless an occasion offered where he was for once very par ticularly wanted. But, sir, I never heard you mention, or attempt to complain, of this individual, nor even of some who are still on the committee ; and why you venture to take such a liberty with me, it may not perhaps be hard to infer. In evidence, however, of a contradiction of your first state ment, and in support of my denial, I refer to what you say in your letter just received ; ' as to the precise time, which you generally sit at the Dock Committee meetings, I cannot per haps offer evidence." Here it is right to remark, that on this point, you could, in the first instance speak " without fear of contradiction." The less said of this little discre pancy the better. ou proceed further to state, that " it was difficult to keep me in my seat for more than half an hour." This I deny ; and I challenge you to name an instance in which I have left the committee-room, when any subject of impor tance to the trust either was then discussing, or to come on for discussion, unless I except some of the details of the Dock Warehouse Bill, which, seeing how the tide ran, it was worse than a waste of time to oppose there. But, even were the case otherwise, I would ask what right have you to controul my going and coming? You are not responsible for my actions, and, until I require your aid, I consider such interference wholly uncalled for. I complain, as I believe others do, of the extraneous topics introduced, the conse quent waste of time, and the want of better arrangement at the meetings of the Dock Committee; and, -if mem bers will talk, I conceive myself no more bound to sit through their arguments, all about " nothing," than I do to waste my time in the council-room, listening to propo sals for petitions to parliament, about the privileges of the House of Commons, abolition of the punishment of death, the corn laws, or bills for the better protection of oyster fisheries, lobsters, muscles, &c., either in Ire land or Scotland. Common sense tells me that, as a local functionary, I have nothing to do with such matters, and that they tread very far beyond their province, who at tempt to discuss them. As to your insinuation, that " it perhaps would be convenient for me to read, next morning, in the papers, the proceedings of the Committee meetings this would, on the contrary, be extremely " inconvenient," for it would subject me, too frequently, to a repetition of what I had heard the day before—an infliction which, with all due deference to you, I must loudly protest against. Now, in noticing your reasons, as adduced in the Council room, against the admission of Reporters, you give it as your opinion that their presence would tend materially to in crease the labours, and embarrass the proceedings of the members." But although this is your opinion, it amounts, in sum total, after all, to only one opinion. I should like to know how the result can be fairly ascertained but by a fair trial? You add further—" on every Committee, subjects came before them which were then not disposed of, and it would be inexpedient to allow the discussions on them to go before the public when the matters were in an immature state." In contradiction to this, I maintain that such sub. jects, and so adjourned, do not occur " on every Committee" day—that they do sometimes so happen I admit; but I can see no more risk by the adjournment of a subject in the Dock Committee, than there is in the Council-room, where they are so much more frequent. But the real sore seems to be, not so much that the admission of Reporters is an im proper measure, as that it will add to the duties of the Chairman of the Committee. That it will compel him to look to the arrangement of his matter for the consideration of the Committee, and to place it before them in a more businesslike form, I can have no doubt • but beyond this point, as regards your asser ti on , I can admit nothing; and this would at least secure to every one, unless the Chairman be excepted, an economy of time. I must now be permitted to say, that, although you may give up much of your time to the Dock Committee and its concerns, you do not give more than I do to the public, for all useful and practical objects. To me the hour of meeting of the Dock Crrumittee is very inconvenient, as it clashes with the Paving Board meetings, which I have to attend; and when a proposition was some time ago made for changing the hour, I was, I believe, amongst the number who sup ported the measure, though it was unfortunately lost. In consequence, it rarely,occurs that I can be punctual to the hour of meeting of the Dock Committee. Now, I think I h ave ma d e ou t a p re tty s t rong case , an d have fully supported what I set out with, that you had made use of my name in " the most unjustifiable manner." It is for you to explain the course you have entered upon, which has been unprovoked on my part, though most un gracious on yours. I have cm one or two occasions given you my aid, when, as chairman of the committee, others have attacked you. But, when I find statements such as yours touching me individually, I usually look to the source from whence they proceed. In your case, they come before the public in the garb of respectability, and, therefore, I must look to you to contradict as publicly what you have advanced, or, failing which, it will be my duty to publish this corre spondence, so as to enable the mercantile community of Li verpool to judge between us • not that I dread at all the re sult of your attack, fo r I thi n k the effects of that will only recoil upon yourself. You have, it is plain, all the will, but not the power, to injure me, otherwise it is pretty clear as to the use you would make of it. I am, sir, your obedient servant, ROBERTSON GLADSTONE. 24, Abercrombie-square, 3d April, 1840. I have omitted to state that I should have remained in my place in the Council-room, on Wednesday, had not my pre sence been unavoidably required elsewhere. SIR,—Not having received any reply to my letter of the 3d instant, my intention is, in justice to myself, to publish the correspondence that has taken place between us; and this course I shall adopt, unless I hear from you before five o'clock this afternoon.—l am, your obedient servant, ROBERTSON GLADSTONE. T. Leathom, Esq. -- 24, Abercrombie : square, 6th April,llB4o, quarter-past two. lianover-street, Monday, 6th April, 1840, 5 o'clock. SlR,—Numerous avocations and calls, public and private, upon my time, have prevented me from bestowing that no tice on your letter dated the 3d inst. (which was delivered on the morning of the 4th) which you probably consider its merits, as well as its great length, of upwards of eight closely-written pages, entitled it to. I had not, however, forgotten it, and was about writing my reply, when I received your note of this day, containing a peremptory demand of an answer on pain of your immedi ately publishing our correspondence. Notwithstanding the mandatory tone of this your last com munication, I shall make no difficulty in complying with your. desire to receive my answer, which I shall he enabled the more readily to do by reducing your complaints of my speech in council to the following heads, viz. Ist, —My having made my charge in your absence. 2d,—My having mis-stated as to your attendance at the Dock Committee. And 3d,—Of having erroneously construed your motives for bringing forward a motion for the admission of reporters. As to the first, I beg to say that I saw you in council pre vious to the reading of the dock proceedings, and had no reason to suppose that you would have absented yourself so early, and before the important matters before the council had been disposed of. As to my statement in respect to your general attendance, I can with confidence appeal to any one of the gentlemen, whose presence at the committee has been constant and re gular, for the truth of what I asserted. As to my observations in respect to your motives in bring ing forward, and pressing during my absence, a motion for the admission of reporters to proceedings in which you have ever taken a very moderate share, I think you have no rea son to complain. A much less charitable interpretation of your motives might perhaps have been given than that which I conjectured. With this letter I trust our correspondence may close. You are at liberty to make what use you please of it, and I feel perfectly easy as to the opinion which the community may form of my conduct. _ I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) THOMAS LEATH OM. Robertson Gladstone, Esq. SIR,—I received your letter, professing to be in reply to mine of the 3d instant, about five o'clock yesterday afternoon. I need hardly say, that its contents are wholly unsatisfactory to me, and that you have answered no one point contained in it. As if to add intuit to injury ; you tell me, that " numer ous calls, public and private," prevented your bestowing "that notice" on my letter which I probably considered it merited. I conceive, that when I complained of injustice towards myself, of statements having been advanced by you, which were not borne out by facts, that your first duty, at whatever sacrifice it might have been, was to clear yourself of such an imputatidn. Be assured, that your time is not more valuable to you han mine is to me; so much so, that, if you suppose my etter of the 3d was extended beyond ordinary limits, merely to occupy time, and fill up a leisure hour, you are much mis taken. I have appealed to facts. I charged you with having at tacked my conduct, when I was not present in the Council to defend myself. What is your answer to this ? That "you had no reason to suppose that yca would have absented yourself so early." Does this alter the fact, that you did attack me, whilst defenceless. Mark, Ido not complain of " what you had no reason to suppose," but of what you did charge me with, whilst you admit yon saw I was not in the Council-room to defend myself. I have told you, that wiih regard to my attendance in the Dock Committee, you have not staled the fact. How have you met with this retort? First of all, in the Council-room, you took upoli yourself to say, that you could speak on this point "without fear of contradiction ; " but when you had received my remonstrance you say, "as to your general at tendance, you can offer no evidence." Now, you hark back, throw the onus off your own s houlders, and state, you it can with confidence (and of course " without fear of contradic tion") appeal to any one of the gentlemen whose presence at the committee has been constant and regular, for the truth of what you asserted." We shall see how this appeal will be met. What your presence or absence has to do with any motion a member of the Dock Committee chooses to introduce, I know not. For all I can see, one chairman is as competent as another to conduct the business of the day, which is simple and straightforward ; and what advantage was to be gained by waiting another fortnight for your appearance is more than I can arrive at. I shall most assuredly avail myself of an an early oppor. tunity of publishing this correspondence; for, if you feel " perfectly easy" as to the opinion which the community may form of your conduct, I think I do not over-estimate my case when I say, that I rest with the most perfect confidence as to the dedision they may arrive at. I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) ROBERTSON GLADSTONE. 24, Abercrombie-square, 7th April, 1840. Hanover-street, Wednesday Morning, Sth April, 1840. SlR,—Courtesy and the respect which I entertain towards yourself induce me to acknowledge receipt of your letter of yesterday, to which I h ave r eally no other reply to m a k e than to refer you to what I have already written to you, of which, I repeat, you are at liberty to make whatever use you please. I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) THOMAS LEATHOM. Robertson Gladstone, Esq. "k I originally proposed, according to the practice in the Dock Committee, a week's notice ; but being then informed that the deputation would not probably have returned within that period, I immediately acquiesced in a fortnight's notice. R. G. Mr. Easthope is to bring into parliament after Easter, a bill to relieve dissenters from the payment of Church rates. The Earl of Arran is spoken of as the next Kinght of St. Patrick, in place of the late much lamented Earl of Ennis killen. Lord Lyndhurst is daily gaining strength, and will, no doubt, be able to attend in the House of Lords, after the recess. Lord Brabazon has come under the lash of the agitator's scorpion, for absenting himself from the division on Lord Stanley's bill. Mr. Bond Cabbell has accepted an invitation to stand for Marylebone at the next election. A requisition was presented to him signed by 1270 voters. The Duke of Wellinuton has recommended the Rev. Henry Melvill to her majesty to fill the vacant chaplaincy to the tower, , of which his grace is high commissioner. An idea has been started of constructing a tunnel under the river Wear, so as to facilitate the communication between Sunderland and Monk-Wearmouth shore. The second or double line of the Newcastle and North Shields railway is intended to be opened tomorrow. Upwards of 500,000 passengers have been carried upon it since the opening. A circular has been sent by the Cambridgeshire association to other similar bodies throughout the kin g d om , recommend ing a fund to be raised for giving counter lectures in defence of the corn laws. The swallow, that cheering harbinger of a welcome season, has thus early made its appearance in the nighbourhood ; being sooner by some weeks than its first visits are usually paid.— Preston Chronicle. The cuckoo is now to be seen here and there in our neigh bourhood, though we have not learned that its note has yet been heard.—.Dumfries Herald. The Spectator designates the Duke of Wellington's " me morandum" " the only statesmanlike document, proceeding from the British government, to be found in the volume of papers relating to China. Mr. William Villiers Stuart, M.P., has addressed a letter to the Morning Herald, in which he states that there is no foundation whatever for the report of his brother (Lord Stuart de Decies) having embraced the Roman Catholic faith. PEMBROKE.—The establishment of the Royal Dock Yard is to be considerably augmented. An order was received last week for the entry of upwards of 100 workmen and appren tices of different classes, which will make the total number to be permadently employed about 700.—Cambrian. Lord Moreton has opened for public inspection a model farm at Cromhall, for the purpose of showing to his neigh bours the advantages of carrying on farming operations on the most improved principles. The farm books are open to all persons wishing to see them, and periodical reports are made of the results of all systems of agriculture adopted.— Bury Herald. THE NEW PATENT OMNIBUSES.—The present omni buses have long been considered to require much improve ment, and it seems that a new form is about to be introduced, which will obviate several existing inconveniences. The new patent omnibus will be divided into two by a partition along the centre, and having . a row of seats on each side, back to back, against the partition and facing the windows, the sides to be entered by distinct doors, and hand rails to be fixed, so that passengers may guide themselves to and from the vacant places. As the windows will be in front of the pas sengers when seated, ventilation may then be obtained with out the fear of taking cold. There is to be a bell on each side, with strings within reach of every passenger, to indi cate when they wish to get out, and on which side of the way they desire to be put down, with such an extent of the ' steps behind, that passengers will not be compelled, as now, to alight among the mud of the carriage.way.—m orn i ng Herald. NORTH UNION RAILWAY COMPANY, A special general meeting of the proprietors of the North Union Railway Company was held yesterday in the Claren don-rooms, south John -street, for the purpose of the pro prietors assenting to or dissenting from the directors declar ing a dividend out of the clear profits of the undertaking for the year; to empower the directors to borrow any sum not exceeding £250,000., on the security of the works, and to make certain contracts with other railway companies. THEODORE RA.THBONE, Esq. took the chair. The CHAIRMAN said it was scarcely necessary for him to say that one of the principal objects of the meeting was to announce that the act of parliament authorizing an extension of the capital of the company, had been obtained, having been passed in the first commission this session. It wave very large powers, much larger indeed than the directors were likely to want. The proprietors hail also been called together to sanction the use of a limited portion of those powers, more especially the arrangement made with other railway companies, and increasing their establishment to the extent that had, been rendered necessary. Another very agreeable object was to announce that upon striking a balance at the end of last year it appeared that the clear amount of £32,000. remained to the credit of the company, which would yield a dividend of exactly £5. per share. (Hear, hear.) 'There was too, he was happy to say, a prospect of a further increase. (Hear.) The expenses were by no means alarm ing ; and the directors had no hesitation in declaring that that dividend might be declared. They had, however, pre pared a short report upon this subject, and all he should think it necessary to state in addition would be a few facts. He thought it only fair to state, that up to this time there had been a very large increase in the gross receipts—an in crease, he believed, of half as much again as the receipts of the corresponding period of the last half year. It was grati fying to him (the Chairman) to be able to say, also, that, in the net expenses, there had been little or no increase. But having stated these facts, he should be sorry it' it were thought that this wa s a s t a t e f things not likely to continue. It must be kept in view that some of the branches of traffic were hardly developed at the corresponding period last year, but at the same time 45 per cent, of the traffic was passen ger traffic. That, they might hope would continue to in crease, as other lines would come upon theirs, which were not yet brought into play. It must likewise be kept in view that there were some expenses not yet in operation, more particularly for maintenance of way which up to Autumn in this year fell upon the contractors, but which after that period would fall upon the company. This, however, he had ascertained from the actual payments of the contractors themselves was very moderate indeed. It was likely there fore to continue exceedingly moderate, but the directors anticipated expenses in other departments as in locomotive power, offices, and other items. However, upon the whole, the directors had every ground to feel such confidence in the future prospects of the undertaking as not to hesitate to re commend the diiision of the whole of the net profits of the last half year. The SECRETARY then read the directors' report. At the end of it there was appended a statement of the treasurer's accounts, from which it appeared that the receipts for the half year ending on the 31st of December l as t, amoun t e d t o £66,802 4s Id, and the expenses for the same period to £34,760 12s Bd, leaving a net balance of £32,051 lls sd. On the motion of Mr. JOHN HOLMES, seconded by Mr. HALL, the report of the directors, and the treasurer's state ment were approved and confirmed. Mr. WAINWRIGT moved that a dividend of £5 per share be declared. Mr. ROBERT GARNETT, of Manchester, se conded the motion, an d it was carr i e d . A propos i t i on of Mr. BARSTOW, that the dividend be only £4, fell to the ground for want of a seconder. Mr. COGLAN said he had a motion to propose, which he did cheerfully, because he had perfect confidence that the di rectors would use the money to be raised in a manner the most judicious and beneficial to the company. This motion ought to have preceded the last, for he feared, unless it were passed, the directors would not be able to accomplish their wishes as to the dividend. The object they had in view was to pay the shareholders a fair dividend of £5 per share ; and he (Mr. Coglan) trusted that, as the shareholders had been casting many a longing, lingering look before for a dividend, and as they had been looking five or six years for the com pletion of the works, the dividend would be paid at as early a period as possible. Mr Coglan concluded by moving a re solution, to the effect that the directors be empowered to borrow, under the new act, the sum of £llO,OOO on the se curity of the line. Mr. EDWARD BOLTON seconded the motion. The CHAIRMAN explained that the sum mentioned in the resolution was very far from the amount which the company had however to borrow. They had power to borrow £250,000 ; but the directors did not wish to go beyond £llO,OOO, as that would be sufficient, or if they wanted more they would come again before the proprietors. He wished to correct an erroneous impression that seemed to exist in Mr. Coglan's mind, namely, that it was necessary to borrow money to pay the dividend. The fact was, the money was now in the bank, (hear,) and would be paid on an early day— about the 3rd or 4th of May. (Applause.) The loan was wanted really and truly to complete the works. The capital should have been what this sum would make it, and would have been if the directors had been able to foresee all that was wanted. The shareholders might be satisfied that the directors would never be guilty of the absurdity of paying dividends by borrowing money. (Hear, hear.) Mr. COGLAN explained, and suggested that as this was a year's dividend, the same principle would be applied in this company as was adopted by the Grand Junction, the London and Birmingham, and others, that in future, the dividends would be paid half-yearly. The CHAIRMAN said the directors would attend to the suggestion ; and that the board had always contemplated half-yearly demands to be paid about the same periods as those of other companies. Mr. R. L. BOLTON inquired whether the directors had any positive prospects of borrowing the money? The CHAIRMAN replied in the affirmative. The only dif ficulty was in giving a preference to those who were willing to lend their money. The concern had no debt whatever, and the opportunity, therefore, was a very tempting one. The motion was then carried unanimously. Two resolutions were next passed, one on the motion of Mr. JOHN CROPPER, seconded by Mr. RICHARD RATII BONE ; and the other, on the motion of Mr. BROWN a, seconded by Mr. WM. GARNETT, authorising the directors to make arrangements and contracts with other railway companies, for the use of their respective lines, upon such terms as might be agreed upon. Mr. BRETHERTON said he rose to ask whether the direc tors contemplated any improvement, and if any, what were the facilities of travelling to the north from Liverpool and Manchester. I f they had not, he wished to state that there was not that accommodation given to Liverpool and Man chester that they were entitled to, and that the convenience to the public was anything but great. The CHAIRMAN. ---Your question relates to the hours, I suppose ? Mr. BRETHERTON said that it did. The CHAIRMAN said the subject was a very important one, and that it was under the consideration of the directors. They were, however, only one company, but he was glad to say that the directors of others were considering it, and he had letters in his pocket to that effect, whether it was not possible to have the hours altered. Mr. BRETHEItTON said, his idea was that passengers should be enabled to leave Liverpool or Manchester in the morning, and sleep in Edinburgh or Glasgow at night. From the amount of money paid by this company to the Liverpool and Manchester Company, he thought this company were entitled to call upon that company to afford the necessary accommodation, by causing their first trains to start at a quarter before six. In doing this they would not benefit the North Union Company alone, but the Leeds and Manches ter, and they would enable passengers to meet the North Union train in time to reach all parts of the north. You could nowtscarcely get to Kendal, Ulverstone and the Lakes by day, but by this arrangement you might get to all parts between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and when the Lancaster and Preston line opened, they might sleep at either of those places the same night. The CH AIRMAN observed that this question would form a proper subject for discussion by the board of directors, and they should be glad if Mr. Bretherton would meet them. Upon the part of the Liverpool and Manchester Company he must say there would be no difficulty ; they interposed no obstacle; the difficulty lay with the Derby and Birmingham Company, and if they could be induced to change their hours there would be no obstacle in the case. A DIRECTOR said, the inconvenience of not having an earlier departure from Liverpool and Manchester, in order to reach Edinburgh or Glasgow the same day, had been under the consideration of the board, and it had led to an arrangement with the Grand Junction Company, who put on trains leaving Liverpool and Manchester at six o'clock, with passengers, and left those for the north from Manches ter at Parkside, and those from Liverpool at Newton. The object was thereby effected. This arrangement lasted for some months. until the Grand Junction train not leaving till a later hour, it became impracticable to do it any longer. But, at the time it was given up. it was under discussion whether it would not be desirable to put on a special train for the purpose. The directors therefore desired the secre tary to look at the books, and ascertain the number of pas sengers accommodated by this extra train. He did ; and the directors found that they did not average three, and among those were some who wanted to go no further than Newton •, so that even the average of three were not Lona fide north passengers. Besides, they must recollect that in the course of the summer the Lancaster and Preston line would be opened, and the object might then be accomplished by setting out later. He mentioned these circumstances to shew that the matter was not overlooked. Mr. BRETHERTON had not the slightest idea of attributing neglect to the directors, and he knew that it was only upon the opening of the Lancaster railway that the great facilities which he had pointed out could be given. He was aware of the expense of having a special train from Liverpool to Man chester; but the advantage, he contended, would be found in the regular trains from each place starting at a quarter to six. There would then be no extra expense, and as facilities were given, of course the trade would increase. The trade from Blackburn and Keighley was completely gone for want of this accommodation. The CHAIRMAN said the directors of all the companies were in constant communication with each other, and when ever they saw reasonable hopes of a return, they would put on a train. In this case, however, there must be a combined operation. Mr. HORNBY observed, that Mr. Bretherton seemed to think the Yorkshire trade would induce the Liverpool and Manchester Company to start an earlier train. In that case there would be no difficulty in attaching a North Union car riage to it. The CHAIRMAN added that whatever the directors of this company had the power of doing that they desired to do. They had hitherto erred in putting on more trains than could be adequately supported. Some trains, indeed, had been losing affairs. A PROPRIETOR asked whether the seven o'clock train had not been taken off for the winter only? The CHAIRMAN replied, for a later hour. The trains had averaged 21 passengers each ; whilst 50 or 60 was not an un reasonable number to expect. Mr. Corr 4N said he had had conversation with many pro prietors, and the general feeling among them was that it was desirable, if it were pr ac ti ca bl e, for a junction to take place between the Lancaster and Preston and the North Union lines. The two together would form a very excellent line, and he believed both might be conducted upon terms very little more expensive than each line individually. He was aware there would be some difficulty in making the arrange ment—in' valuing the respective lines, which could not be known until the Lancaster and Preston came into operation. He begged, however, to suggest that this question be taken into consideration at some future period. He was sure that a line of 43 miles would be a very excellent line, but one of 22 and another of 21 must each be very expensive. The CHAIRMAN said the suggestion should have every attention from the directors, and that arrangements were in progress which would go a good way in making a junction between the two. Mr. BROWN E then moved a vote of thanks to the directors and to the chairman for their services. Mr. Wm. GARNETT seconded the motion, and it was una nimously carried. The proprietors then separated. LANCASTER AND PRESTON RAILWAY.—The recent fine weather has been as favourable as could be desired for the progress of the works. The principal building at the Lan caster terminus has been run up with great rapidity, and will be " reared," that is roofed, next week. The style is Grecian lonic, and the structure will have a tasteful appearance, and be altogether an ornament to the town. The dispute between the master masons and their men is not yetadjusted, a n d th e strike accordingly still continues. The masters, however, have been able to procure sufficient hands from a distance t o enable them to complete the works, so that the men have t a k en no thing by their motion.—Lancaster Guardian. MEETING OF THE LIVERPOOL ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY, Yesterday evening at seven o'clock, a meeting of the members and friends of the Anti-Slavery Society was held in the Music-hall, Bold-street, for the purpose of tak ng into consideration the duty of the friends of the negro, with reference to the present state of the slave-trade throughout the world. The meeting was rather numerously attended, although at the commencement of the proceedings very few people were present. On the motion of D r . R AFFLES , secon d e d by M r . R ICHD . RATHBONE, the president of the society, Mr. JOHN CROP PER took the chair. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, urged the necessity of pressing upon the public the necessity of going on in the good work which the society had at heart, in par ticular, that of carrying amongst the emancipated slaves the blessings of the Christian religion. He trusted that the ex ample of the society would be followed by other nations, and that erc long the bonds of slavery would be for ever dis severed. A very long report was then read by the Rev. Mr. Bevon, conveying a high tribute of respect to the memory of the late Mr. Cropper, and giving many details of the progress of the society in various parts of the world. The report noticed in terms of commendation, the efforts of the anti-slavery community of the United States. It also went to sheW that at Guiana, Demerara, Essequibo, &c., the landed property lately sold had for the most part brought much above its previous value, and none of it below it. This, the report contended, went to prove that the evils apprehended by the friends of slave labour, had by no means been realized. Some of the details of the continuance of slavery in Cuba and other parts were sufficiently horrifying. The demoralization of Texas by the encouragement of slavery, was dwelt upon, with a compliment to tilt, anti-slavery states, of the American union. The abolition movement was, how ever, going on, and could not be arrested. The dreadful mortality occasioned by slavery was dwelt dpon, and it ap peared that the annual expenditure of life by the traffic pur sued by Christian countries, amounted to 375,000 individuals. Nothing would arrest the evil but the doing away with the employment of slaves, by bringing the minds of those who made them the instruments of their cupidity to a sense of their wickedness. The report concluded by intimating that, to arrest the dreadful evils of slavery, a conven,tion of the friends of the abolition would be held at London, in June next, upon which it implored the blessing of Divine Providence. The CHAIRMAN then introduced Mr. John Scoble, whose name appeared in prominent characters in the placards. He was loudly cheered. Mr. SCOBLE said he had listened with intense interest to the able and eloquent report just read by the secretary of the society. He felt that the ground which had been occupied by thesecretary almost precluded the necessity of his appear ance before them ; the harvest had been reaped, and all he (Mr. Scoble) could do was to pass thro' the field and gather up a few of those scattered cars here and thither, and present to them some few details upon points to which their attention had already been directed. The last time he had the pleasure of addressing an audience in this town, it was his principal duty to call attention to the wretched horrid, and appaling situation of the negro appren tices ; and to urge upon all the friends of humanity and freedom then present the necessity of exerting them selves, yet once more, to put an end for ever to the system of slavery in the British West I! dia Colonies. Since that period as the report had shown, they had achieved a noble triumph for liberty. There would not now be found in the length and breadth of our West India Colonies a single slave; at this moment we should find human beings raised from the condition of cattle to the condition of men; we should find men formerly under the most unhum an system everdevised, reduced to the condition of beasts of burden,raised now to the condition of British freemen. In the colonies which he had recently visited,.he had been struck not merely with the results of emancipation, in so far as the interests of the planters were concerned, but as far as the feeling and condition of the emancipated were concerned. He . had found that commerce flourished ; that trade was never in a more healthy condition than at the present time in the British colonies ; that wherever there had been a defalcation in the amount of crops, it was to be traced either to the ordinances of Providence, or to those circumstances which were foreseen, and said to have been provided against by the planters themselves. We had heard very little of complaint from the colonies generally, with the exception.of the Island of Jamaica and British Guiana, with regard to the conduct of the labouring population. We found, indeed, charges brought against the emancipated negroes, but they were merely a reiteration of those charges which were formerly brought against the slaves. The meet ing knew that Pharoah of old said to the Children of Israel, that they were idle ; and so it was said now of the freemen of our colonies. When you spoke to the planters in this country, and to the merchants who depended upon them, upon this subject you found they all said, " We cannot ex act labour—the negroes are indolent—they have a coun try abounding in fruits and roots, and every thing that can stoma' and gratify the appetite and heart of man, and they will not labour for more than what will just give them the necessaries of life." Throughout the press we found the same statement made ; but what were the facts ? It would be found, upon examination, that whenever the negro would not work, it was because he was not adequately paid—it was because he knew the value of his labour that he was in opposition, generally speaking, to the planters. We were told, for instance, that in British Guiana the negroes received an immense reward for their toils. Now, what was the reward which the emancipated negro received in that colony for a day's labour, as fixed by the planters themselves? Just sixteeen-peuce halfpenny sterling ! Mr. - ZEMDLE.—No, no. I say no. (Uproar.) Mr. SCOBLE was exceedingly pleased that a gentleman from Demerara, a planter too, should appear, who said that he paid three guilders to his negroes for a day's work. When his friend 'dr. Bevon was reading his admirable report he was hoping something of this kind might occur, in order that some, spirit might be given to the meeting. A little opposi tion, especially from plante.s, was exceedingly gratify'ng to ail parties who attended meetings of this kind, and now they were to have it. He would make his statement again —that the price of a day's labour, as fixed by the planters them selves, in British Guiana, was just one guilder per diem—the -third part of a dollar, which, in sterlinc , money, was Is. Another GENTLEMAN.—That is for four hours' labour. Mr. SCOBLE.—One gentleman at a time ' • he would dispose of one at once, and now for the facts of the case. During the period of apprenticeship a tariff of labour was drawn up by a committee of planters ; it received an official sanction from the late Sir James Carmichael Smith, and it was con sidered a sufficient remuneration for a negro performing ai l day's labour of 74 hours. When the Ist of August. 1838, arrived, this same tariff of labour was considered the standard of a day's labour for the freemen, and for that day's labour the sum of one guilder per diem was offered by the planters; and the negroes were compelled, after the Ist of August, to accept the tariff of the planters. His statement was this : that the day's labour, as far as the amount was concerned, was fixed by the planters themselves upon the Ist August, 1838 ; that the amount of wages they gave for it was also fixed by the planters' themselves, at one guilder per diem. He was speaking of the ordinary field labourers, and of the amount ordinarily expected. If the negroes did not perform the full amount of labour, a certain amount was deducted from the guilder, and they received only the balance, which was but fair and just to the two parties contracting, and he did not quarrel with it. Now he should be glad, before he proceeded any further, to hear the statement of the gentle man with regard to the three guilders being paid per dienz. Mr. SEMPLE then stood forward. When Mr. Scoble stated that one guilder was the wages given to negroes in British Guiana for a day's labour, he was constrained to call out — No ; and he maintained it was not the fact. He would in a very few words prove to the meeting that it was not the Case. He was himself a native of Demerara, and he had inherited from his father a small West Indian property. He was as averse to slavery as any man and Christian possibly could be. His inheritance had been but trifling ; and such was his aversion to and detestation of any thing like slavery, that as soon as he became of age he declared that he would have nothing to do with it. His patrimony was sold, and he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. He settled at Berbice. a portion of British Guiana, where he resided, as a merchant, eleven years ; and his character, he believed, was tolerably well known ' both there and in Liverpool. H e h a d no slaves—he owned none ; neither had he anything to do with them, except as porters and domestics. After he came to this country he took into partnership two young men who had been his clerks ; but one morning, on going to the office, lie was greatly surprised to find that his partners, without his sanction or permission, had bought a large estate, for which they gave between £30,000 and £40,000. Under these circumstances, and in this respect, he was, undoubtedly, a West India proprietor; but so far from Mr. Scoble's state ment being true, he could show the meeting, or Mr. Scoble himself, his returns, proving that the wages paid these people were three guilders per day. What Mr. Scoble said of the rate of 161 d. might be true; but Mr. Scoble knew that that ls. 4-Ad. was for a " task" of 74 hours labour, which any negro could do in four hours with great ease ; but for twelve hours, they could get three guilders, and his people did get it. Mr. SCOBLE.—Oh, oh. Mr. SEMPLE desired that he might not be interrupted by such exclamations as oh, oh. Mr. SCOBLE said he would not cause any further inter ruption. Mr. SEMPLE would go further and say that he should be exceedingly happy to shew Mr. Scoble his accounts of the earnings of his people. Indeed, a friend of his, who had but just sailed for Barbadoes, waited upon Mr. Scoble yesterday, but could not meet with him, for the same purpose ; and there were gentlemen in that meeting who would bear him out when he said that be had himself yesterday sought for Mr. Scoble. Indeed, if Mr. Scoble had not invited him he should have intruded himself upon the meeting. (Hear, hear.) Mr. SCOBLE said, of course it would be exceedingly rude in him to attempt to invalidate the statements of Mr. Sem ble, who said that his negroes received three guilders per diem for their work. He would not undertake to refute him, or to say the fact was not so ; but the meeting would permit him to bring before them one or two official facts, for, after all, more attention would he paid to them than either to Mr. Semble or himself, as bearing on the question mooted between them. With regard to the amount of wages paid for a day's labour. He had before him a statement made by certain co lonists from Demerara, in the shape of an address to Lord John Russell, in which they stated that they paid Is. 6d. per diem to the negro. A VoicE.—Read the passage. Mr. SCOBLE must be allowed first to make - his statement, and then he would read the passage. In this address it was stated that the value of a day's labour was nominally Is. 6d., but that the real value was fixed at is. 40., the value of the dollar being fixed by proclamation at 4s. 2d. Mr. Scoble then read an extract from a despatch from Lord John Rus sell to the governor of Briti s h Guiana, dated 15th February, 1840, and requested the chairman to say whether he had read ' correctly or not. The CHAIRMAN looked at the passage, and said Mr. Sco ble had read it correctly. Mr. SCOBLE continued.—Now what was the amount of labour exacted from the negroes for this is 6d, but which was really only is 4d per diem ? In a despatch from Governor Light to Lord Gleuelg, dated January 30, 1839, it was stated that the planters had desired him (the Governor) to autho rise the substitution of 9 hours' labour per diem instead of 74 hours, but that he had refused. [Mr. Scoble read the extract.] It had been stated that , the negroes u p on t h e pl an t a tions could perform three days work upon one— Mr. SEMPLE.—NO ; I said they could perform three of these tariffs in one day. Mr. SCOBLE.—WeII, that is the same thing. Mr. SEMPLE. — Not exactly. I said they could perform three of these tariffs in one day. A GENTLEMAN. — They can do four. Mr. Sconce.—l beg to deny most distinctly that state ment. The GENTLEMAN.—I beg to say I have seen it myself. Mr. SCOBLE had had pr oo f o f this fact nthe year 1837, and subsequently when he visited the colonies, that there were different soils in Briti s h G u i ana. The r upon one estate might be very much lighter than upon another. Upon the east coast, where the soil was light and pliable, the negroes could perform th e i r accustomed task in much less time than the negroes who were located upon the banks of the river could perform theirs. A G ENTLtmxN.--It is just the opposite. Mr. SCOBLE said that was a most extraordinary statement, for there was not a planter who did not know that the soil upon the river was stiff and hard, whilst that upon the east coast was light and pliable, and that much more labour could therefore be performed upon the one than upon the other. This was clear from this fact—that upon some estates on the banks of the river, the tariff of one hundred roods weeding and moulding, had been reduced to seventy-five in consequence of the labourers not being able to perform t within the 71 hours. Hence it was easy for one gentleman to affirm and for another to deny ; it must be for the meet ing to judge. He had proved, in the first place, the value of a day's labour in a memorial to Lord John Russell from the planters themselves, and what a day's labour was, had been stated by the Governor of Guiana ; and he would leave the meeting to decide the question. During the season of crop it was usual to give higher wages to those who were em ployed about the buildings —in the boiling house—because they were required to labour a greater number of hours, in order that the saccharine matter might be properly boiled out. Now, he had known, in these circumstances, a negro to get from one and a half to two guilders per day ; but it was only during the apprenticeihip, when the value of labour was much more highly appreciated in Guiana than at present. And he said, looking at the fertility of the soil as compared with other colonies, the remuneration of lalour. whether one dollar or three guilders pee diem, was not too much, and that the planters could afford to give more. Mr. SEMPLE said he had an engagement to Meet, hut be fore he left the meeting he wished to remind Mr. Scoble of one circumstance—that he (Mr. Semple) did not at all con tend or maintain that three guilders per diem was too much. All he said was this, that it was what his people got, and that it was the minimum of each negro's earnings upon the es tates with which he was concerned. Independently of that, they had free rent and medical attendance. Mr. SCOBLE wished to say that himself and Mr. Cropper would do themselves the pleasure of waiting upon Mr. Semple to-morrow. Mr. SEMPLE said he should be most happy to see them. Mr. SCOBLE observed it must be borne in mind that Mr. Semple had stated that the minimum was three guilders per diem. A Vol CE.—For how long. M. SEMPLE.-1 say for the day; and I believe not for 12 hours. The Cre AlRMAN.—However, we will call upon you. Mr, SEMPLE.—Very well. Mr. SOMME resumed. He should be very happy to bear his testimony to the accuracy of Mr. Seinple's statemenie, when he had examined the documents, should he find them correct. He would repeat the observation, that this tariff of wages had been fixed by the planters themselves ; and 1w would ask the meeting, as a question of common sense, whether it was a t all likely the planters would fix such a small amount of labour to be performed in return for their wages, as some gentlemen would have them suppose ? Much had been said with regard to the diminution of produce in British Guiana ; touch had been said too as to the ruin of that fine portion of the British empire. He felt more than ordinary interest in that colony, for he had spent a longer period in it than in any other which he visited during his two tours in the years 1836 and 1838. So far from being an enemy to the colony or to the planters he would ask any person whether he had ever deteriorated the character of the colony ? On the contrary, he had often said it was one of the most splendid appendages to the British crown, that there was ample room in it for forty millions of people, that it had a soil of inexhaustible fertility, and that those individuals who located themselves there, provided they went as free persons, and took care of their freedom when there, were likely, by steady industry, to raise themselves. This he had asserted again and again ; for he was no enemy to emigration thither. His quarrel was not with the colony, but with the men who were the governors of it—the planters ; and so soon as they could be trusted with any grace with those who went there, he would allow them to have them. This was a point of very great impor tance in connection with the prosperity, present and future, of British Guiana. He ought to state that there was a gross fallacy lurking under the statements made by gentlemen_ with respect to that colony. In all the written documents which had appeared before the public, and in all the state ments made with regard to the falling off in the amount of the crops in the colony, they had on all occasions studi ously concealed the whole of the facts of the case. In the first place, they had disguised the actual amount of the exports of the colo n y un d er th e name of hogsheads of sugar. They would neve r , th e y t oo k care , go into details as to how many hogsheads less were the exports last year—but he had found out that they had increased very much in size ; and it would be found, when the official documents were pub lished, that the defalcation in the amount of sugar shipped from Demerara and Berhice during the last year, did not fall so very short from the amount exhibited the year before, as stated by the planters themselves. Ile had before him an official document, which gave the total amount of sugar ex hibited, (but it did not go into details of the differ ent colonies) during last year, as compared with the preceding years. Looking at the whole of the colonies, the amount was 698,000 cwts. less as compared 1838; an:l 483,000 cwts. as compared with 1837, which he believed the planters of Guiana said was a very profitable year to them. So that the loss upon the sum total was not very great. Mr. Scoble then proceeded to contend tend that the principal cause of the falling off in the produce of British Guiana in 1839 was the drought, and to defend the character of the negro for industry ; and, in conclusion, he mentioned three points, on each of which enforced the well known views of the abolitionists, namely, legislation, ad ministration of justice and emigration, but owing to the late hour at which the meeting concluded, and the necessity for going to press soon, we are unabled to report his arguments. In conclusion, he moved a resolution declaratory of the sentiments of the meeting. WILLIAM Reernaoxe, Esq. hoped this country would never cease in its exertions until the abolition of slavery was achieved in every quarter of the globe. God had made all men alike, and there was no need for such meetings if chris tians proceeded upon the principles which they professed. The Rev. Mr. KELLY moved a resolution to the effect that slavery was pernicious alike to the slave-holders and the enslaved. He would make no lengthened remarks, as an American gentleman would succeed him, who represented a country which had much more to contend with than this. He considered that the work of abolition, to be successful, must be founded on Christian principles. The Rev. JOHN KEEP, from America.—lt was gratifying to state that in no part of the British dominions was now heard the clanking of the chains of slavery. He then alluded to the American abolitionists. Slavery existed in its most painful form in the United States. He tra ced the commencement of slavery, upwards of two hun dred years ago, in these states, when they were under the British flag. He furnished some interesting details relative to the gallant conduct of the slaves during the revo lutionary war. He next noticed in indignant terms the op position to free discussion in America on the subject of slavery. Mr. Scoble, he said, had, however, been heard with attention, and there were 1500 anti-slavery associations in the States. A school was also commenced, into which the black man and the white man were admitted together. The place, such was the opposition, was in a dense and remote fores, near Lake Eirie. The speaker expressed his gratitude for the kindness with which he, as a member of a deputation from the American States, had been received in England, and rejoiced in the brotherhood of his countrymen and the British public, in the cause in which they had mutually em barked. He doubted not but their combined exertions would result in victory. The motion was carried unanimously. Dr. RAFFLES, in an eloquent address, moved the next resolution, opposing the proposed introduction of Hill Coolies into the Mauritius. The motion was unanimously agreed to, as also a petition founded upon it. Thanks, were then voted to the chairman, and the meeting broke up. The postage stamps are only to be sold by persons ii muted to sell stamps. In England alone, the capital belonging to the operatives in the savings' banks now amounts to £16,000,000 sterling. Frock coats and white cravats are becoming quite the vogue ; Prince Albert having set the fashion. We learn that the county constabulary, in consequence of the number and atrocity of the recent outrages, are to be in creased by one hundred men. So much in proof of the boasted tranquillity ! Already have four constabes and nineteen sub constables been ordered hither from Longford.—Linscrick Standard. CRI EF F.—An earthquake was felt here on the afternoon of Tuesday, the ith instant, at eleven minutes to four o'clock . like most of the preceding shocks which we have had, this was double—a second or so intervening between the two shakes. Although the night was passing cold, there was a sort of sultry look in the air ; but there was nothing strikingly observable. The conservatives of Rutlandshire are already anticipating the prospect of an election, and have determined to get rid of the domination of the whig-radical house of Barham. A. requisition, very numerously signed, has been presented to the Hon. W. Dawney, the eldest son of Lord Down, who has consented to contest the county, with which his family are intimately connected. FERMANAGH ELECTION.—We perceive by the Fermanagh Reporter, that Sir Arthur Brooke will be returned for that county without opposition. Lord Cole, now Lord Ennis killen, has published a most affectionate and farewell address to the constituency, and Lord Loftus has also published au excellent address, declining to stand as a candidate. NORTH MIDLAND RAILWAY.—This great line will be open from Derby to Sheffield (forty miles) in the first week in May. The celebrated station at Derby for the three com panies—the North Midland, Midland Counties, Birmingham and Derby Junction—which, it is said, will be one of the finest railway stations in the kingdom, is in a state of great forwardness.—Derbyshire Chronicle. MANCHESTER ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—On the Ist inst., at these gardens, the lioness, who possesses the name of Victoria, gave birth to three cub s , a ll th r i v i ng; and visitors . are often amused to see her carryin g o ne of them playfully in her mouth. Sir George Murray has recently made a do nation to the gardens of a Scotch eagle; and, amongst the late additions, are a silver fox and an opossum, from No r th America, and a variety of monkeys and other small quadru peds ; and the collection of water-fowl has also been mereas ed.—Manchester Guardian. The quantity of pig iron made in Staffordshire last year is calculated at rather more than 338,000 tons, and the number of puddling furnaces 581, each consuming 124 tons per week. It is further calculated that, owing to the reduction of 20 per cent in'the make, the accumulation of pig iron during the puddlers' turn out will be worked down in the ensuing quar ter. Orders in the Midland Counties are steady, and au ad vance of 5s per ton has taken place in Scotland. SALMON FISIIING. — The fishing in this quarter, up to tife present time, has been very discouraging. Some of the old est fishermen athrtn, that they do not recollect to have seen fewer salmon in the rivers than have been met with this yea,. To what cause this state of things is to be attributed we do not know ; but there can he no denying the fact that for some seasons bypast, this source of luxury and profit has been de clining to an alarming extent. We would fain hope, how ever, that what of the season has yet to run will be more productive, and thus enable gentlemen embarked in the trade to redeem their lost capital.—Montrose Standard. The county of Oxford has followed the example of Berk shire, in rejecting the proposition for the establishment of a rural police, or rather a government gendarmerie. The pro position, it appears, was rejected by a majority of more than two to one of the magistrates of Oxfordshire, there being 1G for a centralised police, and 33 against it. SECRET SERVICE MONEY.—It appears by the Parlia mentary Returns, that the whig ministers of this country have expended, in ten years, between 3 and £400,000 in secret service money, of which no account whatever has been, or will be given ! This will help to explain some of the patriotism displayed in such boroughs as Newark and Ludlow, where the secret service money was sent down in shoals to bribe the electors, and also to establish newspapers for the advocacy and encouragement of whig politics, such as the North Chester Reformer and the Manchester Times, both under the especial patronage of one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, the Hon. E. J. Stanley.—St oc kp or t Ad vertiser. RAILWAY INTO SCOTLAND.—The commissioners are, we believe, still employed in selecting an inland route for the connecting line of railway between England and Scotland. It seems now to be understood, that the east coast line is entirely given up by the commissioners, and the Morecambe Bay line scarcely less so. From the nature of the inquiries put by the commissioners, it is supposed that they have not yet made up their minds as to the comparative superiority of the line recommended by Mr. Locke up the Lune, and that through Kendal. The principal obstacle in the way of the latter line is the formidable tunnel through Longslerldale ; and if the engineering difficulties should appear to the com mission to be in reality less than they have been represented, it is generally supposed that the Kendal line will be the one recommended. The certainty that a west coast line, 'begin ning at Lanca s te r , w ill b e recommended by the commission ers, as the best connecting link between England and Scot_ land, begins to exercise a most favourable effect upon the Lancaster and Preston Railway shares, which, like the North Union, will no doubt soon be at a premium.—Lancqster Gyardia4.