The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-24 00:00:00

dation of every class-book on moral philosophy. It is utterly impossible to teach youth their duties to God and man without having recourse to the revealed will of God. We grant that it is possible to carry into operation a system of national education of an ex clusively secular character, in which the Bible may be entirely dispensed with. But that is not the question. What we maintain is, that it is impractica ble to separate ethical from religious instruction. In our opinion the - terms are 'convertible ; and so they are in practice. The editor of the British Farmer's Ma gazine has, indeed, tacitly acknowledged the correctness of the preceding remarks. We infer this from the fol lowing passage in his last article on the subject under discussion :—" The precept of the Saviour, Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you,' is the very essence of Christianity ; it is universally acknow ledged; all men are agreed in it, the Christian and the Infidel alike; and is it not the sum and substance of ethics ? Wherefore, then, would religion suffer by teaching Christ's precept, and that only, as far as mo rals are concerned, in public schools ?" Here we have an unqualified admission that the only ethical or moral instruction necessary is a precept of Christianity. How does such a system "exclude religious instruction ?" We now come to the practical illustration of our views. The editor of the British Farmer's Magazine imagines a difficulty which has no existence, when he states that there can be no system of national educa tion devised by man, including religious teaching, that shall meet universal approbation, or even the approba tion of the majority." To meet this supposed diffi culty our opponent suggests a system of ethical in struction which, by his own showing, is actually de rived from the Bible ! But we have said that the dif ficulty which he wishes to overcome is imaginary. We believe that it is quite practicable to devise a system of national education which would meet, in the first in- stance, with the approbation of the majority, and, ulti mately, secure universal approbation. A system in ac cordance with the Church of England would effectually answer this end. The doctrines of the church, as set forth in tier catechism, her liturgy, her creeds, her ar ticles, and her homilies, are almost identical with those held by the great mass of Dissenters in this country. In those doctrines the great majority of the youth of Great Britain, th a t rece i ve any i ns t ruc ti on at a ll, are , at the -present moment, educated. Those doctrines are taught to hundreds of thousands of children in the schools connected with the Church of Eng land. They are also taught to hundreds of thou sands in Sabbath and other schools which are not connected with the Church. What objection, therefore, can there exist to the adoption of a sys tem of national education which shall include re fikions instruction in the doctrines of the Church of England, leaving out minor points of discipline in the case of Dissenters ? We have found no practical ob stacle, in our own experience, to such a system. We have ourselves superintended schools in connection with the Church, in which a very large proportion of the scholars in attendance were the children of Dis senters. We never heard from the parents of these any complaints respecting the course of religious in struction adopted. We do not believe that such com plaints would be preferred by any but Roman Catho lics, Socinians, or infidels. Does our opponent mean to insinuate that the three classes just mentioned con stitute a numerical majority of the population of this country ? But we must reduce the question to a still more simple issue. The great, the overwhelming majority of the population of Great Britain are undoubtedly attached to the Church of England. This is a fact which we believe few will have the temerity to dispute. A reference to statistical details would irrefragably prove the correctness of our opinion. Of course, we. include the Wesleyan Methodists in our calculation, for, although not actually members of, they claim alli ance with, the Church of England. Here, then, we have the groundwork for a system of national educa tion, including religious teaching, which shall "meet with the approbation of the majority." All we have to do i s , to snake the doctrines of the Church of England the basis of such a system. If this be done, and if fdequate means be furnished for carrying it into ope ration, we have no hesitation in saying that many • generations will not pass away, before such a system of religious. teaching would obtain " universal appro bation." fruits•would be too visible and too pre cious to admit of any -cavil, excepting from the scoffing reprobate or the blaspheming infidel. We trust that, the editor of the British Farmer's Magazine is not so regardless of the moral character and spiritual interests of his countrymen as to advo sate a system of national education purely secular in . its character. The experience of all ages proves that • ,: such a system is productive of nothing but unmitigated evil. Knowledge, unsanctified by religion, is a curse rather than a blessing. Learning, elevated and digni fied by association with religious principle, constitutes the only true nobility of our nature. " The fear of the Lord is the BEGINNING OF 'WISDOM." We are glad to find that the Bishop of Exeter has given notice of a motion in the House of Lords on the subject of Socialism, with a view to the suppression of that pestilent and demoralising system. It is no mat ter of surprise to us that the dandified ex-dictator of Ireland, who now presides over the Home Department, should treat the subject with indifference. It would be wonderful, indeed, if any minister, acting under a pre mier that introduced Robert Owen and his filthy pub lications to the Queen, should feel or evince any anxiety on the score of public morals. The Marquis of Nor manby was quite consistent in treating the questions of • the Bishop of Exeter with supercilious contempt. What is it to him that Socialism should spread its baneful poison throughout the land ? What is it to • him that a fatal blow should be struck at the very foun ,., dations of society ? Has he not the example of the rr.premier to plead in justification of his contempt of an pr,tiquated prejudices in favour of morality ? But let Lord r eNormanby know—let Lord Melbourne know—that l i English fathers will not allow their wives and daugh -lers to be blackened and maligned by such a wretch as Robert Owen. Let them know that a system so utterly n.subversive of morality, so destructive of natural affec tion, so beastly in its character, as Socialism is proved • , to be, shall and must be crushed—if not by the force 'of public feeling, by the resistless arm of the law. So :c!alism must be suppressed; this is demanded by jus 'lice, virtue, and even common decency. " The pear is ripe." The day has arrived when it becomes the imperative duty of the Conservative party in the House of Commons to endeavour to drive out +of office the present imbecile, corrupt, truckling, time serving, self-loving, hypocritical, and most thoroughly degraded administration. In this matter, we are happy to say, endeavouring is all that is necessary on the part .of ,the Conservative phalanx in the House of Corn .4nons..,..They constitute, it is our sincere belief, a .numerical.majority of the House of Commons, if the ministers holding seats in that House be left out of the calculation. The leaders of the Conservative party, among whom it is a source of pride to enumerate such men as Sir Robert Peel, Sir James Graham, and Lord Stanley, are a host in themselves. The House of Lords is ready to second the efforts of the Conservatives in the Commons, and to aid them in crushing the present unworthy ministry. Above all, the country is impatiently waiting some decisive effort on the part of the friends of the constitution in the House of Com mons. The people of England are utterly sick and disgusted with the misgovernment, peculation, trea chery, and double-distilled knavery of Lord Melbourne and his associates in office. The people of England— we mean the loyal, the peaceable, the Protestant, that is, the overwhelming majority of the people—are eagerly panting for an opportunity of throwing off the incubus that now presses upon the springs of this country's prosperity. That incubus, that paralyzes the body politic, and holds its energies in thraldom, is none other than the present pro-Popish, anti-English, and desperate administration. To doubt the prevalent anxiety for the downfall of the ministry would argue a man to be either a fool or a reckless postponer of the. itruth. We believe there is hardly an individual within ,the three kingdoms that would deny the triumphant :ascendancy of .Conservative principles, excepting the .! _9reat.liar himself,. (we do not mean Satan but O'Con _nen), whose denial would only be construed as the =strongest evidence, of the fact for which we are con qtfendingiclow zi &Ad , / 1119 i , m We have said that " the pear is ripe." The country is waiting for some movement which shall imperil the existence of the present ministry. We rejoice to add that that movement will take place on the 28th instant. On Thursday a motion will be made in the Commons, declaratory of their want of confidence in the administra tion, unless, indeed, the Whigs should determine upon a dissolution in the interim. Sir J. Y. Buller's motion will, unless it is baulked and shirked by the expedient to which we have alluded, bring the strength of the ministerial party to the test. We are glad to find that the leaders of the Conservative party are determined to support the motion which will be brought forwards on Friday next. This is as it should be. The Fabian policy has been pursued long enough. The country has been brought to the verge of a fearful revolution. All our national interests are fast approaching ruin. England, under the rule of Whiggery, has been degraded in the scale of nations. The time has come when the vessel of the state must be rescued from the hands of the present crew, before it is dashed to pieces on the rocks of perdition. There must be no shrink ing from the impending contest. If the leaders of the Conservatives are found at their posts—and of their disposition to be so we have every assurance—it is no .less the duty of every other Conservative member in the House of Commons to record his vote in favour of Sir J. Y. Buller's motion. We shall narrowly examine the list of the division, and point to it as an infallible test of the sincerity of those who have been returned to the House of Commons, on the strength of their Conservative professions. That list will be of incalcu lable use at the -approaching general election. From it the Conservative electors will know their men, and know how to act when any of them again claim their suffrages. We may be accused of expressing ourselves strongly on this question. We do so because we feel strongly. We feel that any dereliction of duty on the subject of Sir J. Y. Buller's motion would be an act of treachery—treachery towards the Queen—treachery towards the constitution—treachery towards the Esta blished Church—treachery towards the vital interests of the country. Until the results of the pending elections are ascer tained, it would be premature to speculate upon the probable majority on the division which may follow Sir J. Y. Buller's motion. The elections now in pro gress will, in a great measure, determine the majority. We do not, however, forget that there have been defec tions from the ministerial ranks. We do not forget that Lord Howick and Mr. Wood are now sitting, in sullen silence, on the cross-benches. But, whatever may be the result of the approaching struggle, the Conservatives must not quit the field, after once throwing down the gauntlet. They must worry Lord Melbourne out of office, as the Whigs worried Sir Robert Peel. They must compel them to dissolve Par liament, and then—the country will look after the rest The case of Stockdale versus Hansard, about which so much time has been lost in the House of Commons, has assumed additional features of interest since our last publication. The sheriffs have been committed into custody by the Commons; while the Court of Queen's Bench has fairly thrown down the gauntlet, by making the rule absolute for the payment of the money to Stockdale or his assignees. The House of Com mons and the Court of Queen's Bench are thus in open collision. The whole circumstances of the case are painfully humiliating. What have the sheriff's. of Middlesex been committed for ? The plain and unequivocal answer to this question is, they have been committed for refusing to disobey the Queen's writ, and to violate their oath of office! This is the plain matter of fact. Again, we would ask, what is the privilege set up by the House of Commons, under cover of which so extraordinary a committal has taken place ? The direct answer to this is, the House of Commons have claimed, and, as far as lay in their power, asserted the privilege of giving its own arbitrary will the force of law, and of superseding the constitutional tribunals of the country! Such is the construction put upon the proceedings of the House by the whole Conserva tive press of Great Britain. Such is the view taken of the matter by the great majority of the most learned lawyers in the realm. Such is also the opinion of the Judges of the Queen's Bench. The more we reflect upon the recent proceedings of the House of Commons, the more satisfied are we that our original opinions on the subject were perfectly cor rect. The privilege claimed by the House is diametri cally opposed to the principles of the constitution, and utterly subversive of the liberty of the subject: Well might Lord Denman exclaim that " the opinioti of the House of Commons, whatever it may be, and however it may be expressed, could form no ground whatever for arresting the course of justice, or preventing the Court of Queen's Bench from rendering, through the means of the Queen's writs, that justice which they were bound to render to every one of their fellow-subjects." This language is worthy of the unsullied, uncorrupted, and independent character of the British Judge. The Jus tices of the Court of Queen's Bench have done honour to themselves by the unflinching manner in which they have asserted the supremacy of the law and the dignity of their office. The Sheriffs of Middlesex have also acted in a man ner becoming officers holding so responsible a trust. They have done their duty nobly and conscientiously. They have earned the sympathy, as they have entitled themselves to the gratitude, of every true patriot. The sacrifice of personal liberty to which they have sub mitted, rather than they would violate their oath, has already been more than repaid in the warm congratu lations which they have met with from their fellow subjects. Their levee, if we may so call it, in the prison -cells of the House of Commons, was attended, on Wednesday last, by nearly a hundred of the most distinguished members of the Commons, as well as by a host of the civic officers and citizens of London. They have reserved for them the proud triumph of having dared and overcome the self-assumed authority of the House of Commons. There can be no doubt as to the opinion of the people of England on this question of privilege. The people• will support the Judges in their honourable career. They will not allow the laws and liberties of free-born Britons to be trampled upon with impunity. They will not suffer the arbitrary resolutions of the House of Commons, unsupported by any legislative enactment, to assume the force of laws. Thank God, we are not come to that pass yet ; though there is very very little doubt that the Liberal (tough!) portion of the Commons would be very glad to establish such a The conduct of Sir Robert Peel and several of the leading Conservatives in the Commons, on this ques tion, has given rise to much discussion. Some of our London contemporaries are sadly puzzled to account for his defection, in this instance, from the great ma jority of his supporters. Perhaps there is more in Sir Robert Peel's conduct titan meets the eye of a cursory observer. The event will probably justify our suspi cions. We question the policy of resorting to such means for precipitating the downfal of the Ministry. . We shall anxiously await the result of Mr. Richards' application yesterday for a writ of habeas corpus on be half of the Sheriffs of Middlesex. The issue of this application may render an immediate dissolution of Parliament a probable event. There is no other alter native excepting a prorogation; and by a prorogation, for the sake of liberating the Sheriffs, the House of Commons will show that it has been forced to succumb to the majesty of the law. The elections now in progress are exciting an extra ordinary degree of interest. Upon their issue, in very great measure, depends the fate of the Ministry. If only five of them are won by the Conservatives, the Ministerial majority will be annihilated, if not converted into a minority. The result of the pending elections will also afford a tolerable indication of the state of pub lic feeling, and thus exhibit the chances which Mini sters will possess in the event of a general election, consequent upon a dissolution. We must, however, protest against any general conclusion from the result of the struggles now going forward. Circumstances are greatly in favour of Ministers in almost every one of these elections. Newark, of course, is the principal centre of attrac tion at the present moment, and the greatest source of anxiety to the ministry. The loss of Serjeant Wilde, Solicitor-General, would be of greater consequence to ministers, than the mere deduction of a vote from their side of the House. We are not, therefore, surprised that the most strenuous and unrelaxing efforts are being made to secure his return. The means resorted to for this purpose, while they indicate a strong determi nation to carry the field, per fas aut per nefas, show also the desperate condition to which the ministerial faction is reduced. We are informed that "if the fate of the Ministry itself depended on this election, no greater efforts could be made to obtain success." •Treasury gold is said to be abundant in the town. This accounts for divers and sundry sudden and ex traordinary conversions which are said -to have taken place there within the last few days. Intimidation is also unscrupulously practised by all the Whigs who have the slightest influence. Combinations are also entered into by the liberal workmen themselves, to ex clude their fellow-workmen froin being employed, sin less they vote for the Whigs. Owing to these unjusti fiable and tyrannical measures the race may be much closer than was anticipated : but we have no doubt of the patriotic fidelity to the constitutional cause of the great mass of the Conservative electors. The election for Southwark is also looked to with considerable interest. It will afford some criterion of the state of public feeling in the Metropolis. The tri ttiph of so independent a gentleman as Mr. Walter would indeed be a " heavy blow and great discourage ment" to the cause of Whiggery. Whatever may be the issue of the Southwark election, we believe the day is not distant, when the Conservatives will obtain the ascendancy even in the Metropolitan districts. Mid dlesex is . a sure card in the hands of the Conservatives. If fair exertions are made, we believe that the city of London also may be wrested from the hands of the Radicals. Marylebone already returns one Conserva tive member. We hope to see the representation di vided, at least, in the Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, Fins bury, Westminster, and Southwark, whenever a general election takes place. The election at Birmingham possesses compara tively little interest. The Conservatives have been too quiescent on the subject. They ought to have taken the field at the moment Mr. Attwood's resignation was made known. Perhaps they thought it more prudent to reserve their strength and their resources for the approaching general election. At Devonport, and Penryn and Falmouth, despite of government influence, we think the Conservatives will carry the day. Conservatism has been astonish ingly on the increase in the West and South of Eng land. The recent Chartist disturbances in South Wales have, no doubt, had the salutary effect of still more effectually weaning the people of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wilts, Gloucestershire, &c., from liberalism, of which Chartism is only the full type and develop ment. The election for the county of Rutland, we fear, will give the ministry an additional vote. Lord Barham's influence is very extensive in the county. The vacancy has, indeed, been created for the very purpose of strengthening the ministerial ranks. The conservatives have been taken too much by surprise in the county, to allow of any adequate preparations for a contest. We entertain very little doubt of the result of the election at Ripon. The chances are strongly in favour of a Conservative candidate. Indeed, throughout the whole of Yorkshire Chartism has had its beneficial effects. The peaceable electors have been terrified at the ultimate workings of Reform. Good has thus sprung out of evil. At Edinburgh there is no opposition to " the man wot dines with the Queen," and dates his notes from Windsor Palace. Auld Reekie is doomed once more to be rode rough-shod over by a thorough-going Whig, in the person of Mr. Macauley. What are the Con servatives about ? We hope that our contemporaries of the Evening Post, Advertiser, and Scottish Standard, will not cease to agitate until the Modern Athens has, at least, the honour of possessing one Conservative representative, to prevent any further Whig jobbing in that part of the kingdom. We perceive that a deputation, representing the in terests of British Guiana, consisting of Mr. M‘Garel, Mr. Robertson Gladstone, Mr. Rainey, of Glasgow, and Mr. Colville, transacted business at the Colonial Office, on Friday last. We presume that the object which they had in view was, the promotion of immi gration into that important Colony—an object in fur therance of which we have already used our humble endeavours, and in the prosecution of which we shall not relax our efforts until it is accomplished, and jus tice is done to British Guiana, as well as to the other Colonies in the West Indies. The subject of immigration into the West Indies, and especially to British Guiana, is one of urgent and' para Mount iniportance: The West India Colonies are rapidly sinking into ruin. The planters are unable to carry on the cultivation of their estates. The crops are diminishing every season. There is no time to be lost. Labourers are wanted, and must be had, if those Colonies are to be preserved. Labourers are to be found, in hundreds of thousands, ready, willing, anxi ous to be employed. All that is wanted is permission to transfer them from their present state of abject misery, to the plenty and happiness which awaits them under the protection of British laws. We perceive, from our Birmingham correspondent's report, that Sir Charles Wetherell has been nominated as the Conservative candidate for the representation of that important town. A better choice could not have been made. His powerful understanding, fervid eloquence, and sound attachment to constitutional principles, eminently qualify him for the successful discharge of the duties of a Member of the House of Commons. His return would prove a source of im measurable mortification to the ministry. We shall endeavour to procure a statement of the polling for our second edition. Every true-hearted Conservative must look forward with no ordinary degree of interest to the result of Sir John Buller's motion in the House of Commons, which comes on for discussion on the 28th instant. Th4t the Government have lost, in the fullest sense of the word, the confidence of the country, is a matter so notorious, that even Ministers themselves cannot, and dare not, attempt to deny it. It is not improbable but that it may be desirable to call a meeting of the Conservatives of Liverpool at an early period, to express their distrust and entire want of confidence in our present rulers; a course which, we have reason to believe, has already been adopted in Glasgow, and will no doubt be speedily followed in every part of the kingdom. Let the Conservatives of Liverpool, therefore, be ready ! They have a duty to discharge to their coun try—to themselves. We say again, " Watch and be ready !" WRECK OF THE WILLIAM HUSKISSON-THE HUDDERSFIELD-THE CITY OF DUBLIN COMPANY. The following letter, addressed to Messrs. Charles Hors fall and Son, by Mr. Perry, the agent of the City of Dublin Company, is highly creditable to the company, and must be gratifying, not only to the owners, but to the captain and crew of the Huddersfield : Water-street, January 18, 1840. Gentlemen,—ln reference to the unfortunate loss of the William Huskisson, steam-vessel, the directors of the City of Dublin Company have been anxious to express their ac knowledgment to Captain Clegg and the crew of the Hud dersfield, for their valuable and efficient services in saving so many human beings from a watery grave ; but, as it was ne cessary for the subject to be brought under the consideration of a board of directors in Dublin, it was not until yesterday that this could be done. I have now the satisfaction to state, that the directors have instructed me to place in your hands the sum of fifty guineas, which they request you will have the kindness to hand to Captain Clegg, as a small acknowledgmet of his valuable ser vices in the cause of humanity, and an additional sum of fifty guineas, which you will be pleased to divide amongst the crew of the Huddersfield in such proportions as you may think proper. Had the company not have experienced the loss of the vessel, but had been successful in getting her into some port, the directors would have felt themselves at liberty to more adequately reward the captain and crew of the Huddersfield ; however I trust Captain Clegg will receive the acknowledg ment conveyed to him through your hands, in the same spirit with which it is given. -1 am, gentlemen, yours very respectfully, SAML. PERRY, Agent to the City of Dublin Company. Messrs. Charles Horsfall and Son. The subjoined is a Copy of Captain Clegg's letter to Mr. Perry : Liverpool, January 21, 1840. Sin,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of fifty guineas, which I have received from Messrs. Charles Horsfall and Son, in accordance with your letter to them. May I request that you will do me the favor to convey to the directors of the City of Dublin Steam-packet Company my warmest thanks for this liberal mark of their approbation of my conduct on the recent loss of the William Huskisson. Having upon that occasion done only what it was my duty to do, and what every man actuated by the common feelings of humanity would have done, under similar circumstances, the satisfaction to my own mind, in having been, under Providence, the instrument of saving so many of my fellow creatures from a watery grave, was in itself a sufficient recompense for my trouble, and the danger or anxiety which I experienced.—l remain, sir, your obedient servant, JOIIN ARDEN CLEGG. Samuel Perry, Esq. The actual expenditure of the United Kingdom for the year ending October 10, 1839, exceeded the revenue by the sum of £803,463 175.. 4d. 'OOl3lll .S J:. ~.7i,`, . I 31;f: ) 'llOl tv.h.tria•a`in 51[ i DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WOODSIDE. We lament t o h ave t o s t a t e th a t t wo e l egant stone man sions, belonging to Mr. It. W. Prichard, of the firm of Messrs. Lodge, Prichard, & Co. merchants, of No. 1, India buildings, Water -street, were Wally destroyed by fire on Tuesday last. One of the houses was occupied, by Mr. Prichard himself, and the other by Mr. John Smith, of the firm of Messrs. John and Charles Smith. They had been inhabited only about a month, but so great i s th e d evastat i on caused by the raging element, that it is, at present, expected they will have to be almost entirely rebuilt. It will be seen from an account in another column, that on Tuesday a Alden's wind prevailed from the west. The houses, being new, some of the, rooms were not perfectly dry, and conseqyently a fire was kept in the attic or servants sleeping room in Mr. Smith's house. Whether any ashes escaped from.this, fire, or whether the flames were extended by some other means, it is impoisible to say, but the probability is, that the high winds had blown in some pane of the window, and scattered the live ashes over the floor. . About three o'clock an alarm was given that the bath room underneath was on fire. So 'rapid were the flames that a lady who hap pened to observe them from a house at some distance, de scribed them, fanned as they were by the prevailing wind, as resembling a flash of lightninK, rather than a wav i ng b ut compact body of fir e . Indeed their progress in destruction confirms this impression, for the -fire instantly extended to Mr. Prichard's house, and - Mrs. Prichard had but just time to place the children in a neighbour's house, and to save the plate in immediate use, before the whole house was filled with fire and smoke. She had not even an opportunity of saving any portion of her wearing apparel, beyond that which happened -to be on her person. The work of destruction was, as may be expected, equally rapid in Mr. Smith's hou se . The Woodside engine was sent for immediately on the alarm being given, but owing to the high wind, and to a de ficiency of water, it was of comparatively little service in arresting the flames. Indeed, from the inquiries we h ave made, it would a pp ear th a t no engine, however powerful, could have accomplished that object. In the mean ti me , as much of the f urn it ure as it -was possible to get at, was re moved from both houses, but it amounted to a very small portion. The roof fell in about an hour after the arrival of the engine, with a tremendous crash, and in its fall carried with it nearly all the floors ; those which remained were soon afterwards destroyed by the fire, as were the wind ow f rames and the fixtu res i n t h e different apartments. It is but just to state that the constable of Woodside, and the men work ing the engine, exerted themselves to the utmost in suppress ing the flames. After the lapse of a few hours, the entire building, as may be seen by any one one who pays a visit to the place, was reduced to a complete shell, nothing but the bare walls remaining. We understand that Mr. Prichard is fully insured, both as to building and furniture, in the York and London and Scot tish Union Offices. The loss must be very considerable, as nearly the whole of the furniture was destroyed, and none of the plate was saved except that in daily use. Mr. Smith, we understand, was also insured. Much of his furniture was removed before the fire could reach it, as well as some por tion of, the plate. Some was entirely lost ; but we were told yesterday that several silver spoons and forks, supposed to have been destroyed, were found among the ruins, in such a state as to render them useless. Both Mr. Prichard and Mr. Smith's families found a ready shelter for the night in the Rev. E. Obin's house, adjoining, who, together with many other kind friends, were most anxi ously solicitous to bear sonic part in administering to their immediate necessities. We should also add that J. D. Case, Esq., one of the ma gistrates for Cheshire, exerted himself very actively during the fire, and that his services were of the greatest utility in preventing depredations, which, we ate sorry to say, were considerable, notwithstanding the danger, particularly in the cellar. Some of the offenders, we hear, are in custody. PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.--111AYNOOTH GRANT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sza,—The question has at times been asked, What does the Protestant Association do ? A practical answer can now be given by stating, that it calls upon every Protestant in Liverpool, at this time, either to record his protest against the grant of £9,000 per annum to support the iniquitous College of Maynooth, or deserve no longer to be called by that name. It calls upon every Churchman, who values and loves the pure and undefiled doctrines of his own church, to exert him self to the utmost in discountenancing the blasphemous errors of the Church of Rome ; therefore he—will sign the petition. It calls upon the Wesleyan Methodists to lend their power ful aid in washing out this disgrace to a Protestant land, and to aclbere strictly to the doctrines of their founder, by one and all—signing the petition. It calls upon members of the Church of Scotland, as they love the truth, to enter their solemn protest against the ini quity of Maynooth, by—signing the petition. . It calls upon members of the Society of Friends, (who hesitate not in protesting against church-rates, or any grants to support the Church of England,) to shew their consist ency in protesting against the support of that church, the doctrines of which must clash terribly with a sound consci ence ; by—signing the petition. It calls upon Dissenters of every Sect, who delight in the voluntary system ; by the very arguments upon which they profess to dissent, to avail of this opportunity of carrying out their principle, and shewing to the world that they arc de serving of the name of Protestant Dissenters. This they will do by—signing the petition. It calls upon every Jew, who abominates idolatry, to give vent to that righteous hatred, by protesting against the idola trous Church of Rome. This he can do by—signing the petition. It calls, and calls most solemnly; upon all who would dis entangle our most g racious and belo ve d S overe i gn f rom the charge of allowing er government to give encouragement to that church, against which, she as head, and they as mem bers, are pledged to protest. These, then, are the practical answers to the question, and I would urge upon every one who glories in the name of Pro testant, to consider whether he has hitherto gloried in the name only, whether he does actually protest against the damnable doctrines of the Church of Rome ? If not, let him now enter his solemn protest by—signing the petition.— Your obedient servant, PROTEST. Liverpool, 22d .7 lanuary, 1840. THE CORN LAWS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Stn,---My attention has just been called to the following paragraPh in the Liverpool Mail of this day : " It is rumoured and generally believed, that the Mayor has received an official letter from London, intimating that it is not the intention of ministers to introduce any measure for the alteration of the corn-laws in the present session of parliament." I deem it due to myself, and to the public, to state that :here is not the slightest foundation for such a statement.— If am, respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSHUA: WALMSLE Y. Town Hall, January 23, 1840. ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—Every night the Amphitheatre is crowded, to see the " Tournament ; ' - ' and we believe that every one who goes is convinced that nothing has ever been produced equal to it out of London. We strongly recom mend our friends to lose no time in seeing it. The Prince, contract mail-packet steamer, from Kings town to Liverpool, was honoured with an illustrious company of passengers on her last voyage to this port. She brought on Wednesday 52 cabin passengers, including Lord Clements, Lord Lismore, Lord C. Hamilton, Lord Hawarden, Lord Brabazou, Hon. O'Callaghan, Sergeant Jackson, Sergeant Curry, Sir M. Chapman, Sir D. Roche, Sir J. Norreys, Sir P. Ross, Sir R. Batesou, Sir W. Somerville, Col. Connelly, Col. Percival, Col. Vernor, Major Humphreys, Major Cros daile, Mr. H. Grattan, Dr. Stock. THE PACKET SHIP SYLVANUS JENKINS.-It appears that the packet-ship Sylvanus JerAins, which sailed from Liver pool on the sth of October, after having been driven about at sea for seven weeks, was compelled to take refuge in the Danish island of St. Thomas, many of the passengers being in a state of utter destitution. We copy from the Morning Courier the following statement, dated St. Thomas, Nov. 28, 1839 :—The ship Sylvanus Jenkins arrived in this port on the 22d inst. from Liverpool, with 270 passengers on board, bound to New York. Owing to bad weather, the provisions of said passengers were damaged; consequently, a fresh supply was necessary. Among the number of 270 souls on board, there were one hundred and eighty absolutely pennyless and in a state of starvation. The moment these said passengers were landed, hunger obliged them to ask as sistance, and the public in general contributed to their relief. They were amply supplied in their immediate wants. Inde pendent of which, a committee, by permission and consent of Governor Oxholm, consisting of three respectable mer chants, volunteered their services to realise a sum necessary, by subscription, towards the purchase of provisions for the sea store of these passengers, to continue their voyage to New York, which was largely done. A sum of three hundred and forty-one dollars was subscribed, and the amount em ployed in provisions for the distressed passengers without interest. " THE HINDRANCES WHICH CIVIL ESTABLISHMENTS OF CHRISTIANITY PRESENT TO THE PROGRESS OF GE NUINE RELIGION."—This is the title or subject of a public lecture, delivered on behalf of the " Liverpool Young Men's Voluntary Church Society," in the Rev. C. M. Birrell's chapel, Pembroke-place, on Tuesday evening, by the Rev. John Kelly, a preacher of the Independent denomination. An outline of the doctrines laid down might not be unin teresting, as skewing the members and friends of the Esta blished Church how their opponents, whilst professing the greatest liberality and candour, can stoop to distort her principles and cavil at her practice. After singing and prayer, Mr. Kelly commenced readi n g hi s l ec t ure f rom a rather bulky manuscript, from which we infer that it is in tended to be published. A copy of the Holy, Scriptures lay open before him, but, contrary to our expectation (founded on the fact that the usual form of worship had been previ ously followed), he did not avail himself of them for a text. The subject, he said, had been chosen advisedly : he had considered the effects of civil establishments of Christianity upon religion as a practical man, and his settled conviction was expressed in the title of the present lecture. After de fining the term " genuine religion," to the accuracy of which we offer no exception, Mr. Kelly advanced the following propositions : —That civil es t a bli s h ments o f Ch r i st i anity hinder the progress of vital religion, by the encouragement they give to an unconverted and inefficient ministry ; that all civil establishments of religion are so constructed as to render it impossible for the apostolic regulation to be ob served in the selection of men for the ministerial office ; that the theory of a civil establishment of religion is destructive of church organization upon New Testament principles ; that the emoluments and status in society which an esta blishment confers, constitute a feature operating in the same direction ; that another feature of the same tendency is the way in which the appointment of a Christian minister to a particular field of labour takes place ; that another objec tion is the character of the tenure upon which these emolu ments are secured—namely, by, law—without any reference to the manner in which the duties of the clerical office are discharged. These propositions constituted the first division of the lecture. In the second division he undertook to es tablish the fact, that civil establishments of Christianity hindered the progress of religion by exerting an injurious influence upon Christian character and duty. First, he ar gued that secular establishments of religion rendered the formation of Christian churches impossible ; next, that they, in effect, relieved the Christian mind from the necessity of attending to a most important Christian duty incumbent upon it, and by so doing they tended to repress the grace which the performance of that duty gave—the duty of pro pagating the Bible ; and, in the next place, he asserted that civil establishments prevented, nay destroyed, the grace of Christian liberality. In the third and last division, Mr. Kelly advanced the proposition that civil establishments of Christianity are essentially sinful and schismatical. The arguments and illustrations by which these propositions were enforced, will for the most part be found most ably answered in the Rev. John Baylee's sermon recently published, and in a spirit which, we are inclined to think, Mr. Kelly would do well to endeavour to imitate. All the evils which he contended attach to establishments, he fixed upon the Church of England; whilst he sedulously abstained from any expli. cit acknowledgment of the benefits she has accomplished. Such arts as these niay lead some of those who have not the means or the industry to investigate for themselves into a belief that the Church of England answers Mr. Kelly's re presentation of her, but they cannot deceive those who have knowledge and experience. The lecture, which occupied nearly two hours, was but thinly attended, although large placards inviting the public had for a week or ten days pre viously been extensively posted on the walls of the town. LIVERPOOL HUMANE SOCIETY. The committee of the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society met on Tuesday and Wednesday, and passed the fol lowing resolutions : A gold medal to Captain Clegg, for saving a number of the passengers and crew of the William Huskisson (the highest reward of the society,) and £lOO to be distributed by him amongst his officers and crew. A gold medal to Captain Collins, of the Roscius, for saving the crew of the Scotia. Ten pounds to Captain Schabilling, of the Dutch galliot Harmony, and £l5 to be divided amongst his crew, for saving the crew of the Heath, on the 18th ultimo, off Tuskar, and for his kind treatment till he landed them at the Isle of Man. Ten pounds to the captain of the sloop John and Grace, and 50s. to each of his crew, for taking the crew of the Eli zabeth from their boats, and bringing them to Liverpool. The Elizabeth was from Liverpool to Trieste, and was run foul of near Holyhead, and abandoned. The John and Grace was bound to Dundalk, from Chester. Two pounds to the master, and £1 to each of the crew of the Hoylake Life-boat, for saving the crew of the Hector, when she was sunk on West Hoyle. Several sums were given to assist the passengers of the Wm. Huskissou. We understand that a resolution was passed to authorise the payment of £lO to the Steam-tug Company, when any of their boats go out to save life ; this, however, to be irrespec tive of any remuneration for services rendered ; the Steam tug Company engaging to take out a life-boat when advisable. MEETING OF THE WEST DERBY GUARDIANS. On Tuesday last,"the usual weekly meeting of the Guardians of the West Derby Union took place at the Board-room, in the Poor-house, the principal object, pursuant to advertise ment, being to elect an auditor, at the salary of twenty guineas per annum. _ - A very full meeting of the guardians was assembled. The ordinary business having been disposed of, Mr. WM. WINSTANLEY, the chairman, begged the atten tion of the guardians to the appointment of an auditor of the accounts of the board. Mr. JOHN SANDERS, clerk to the Union, read applications from the following persons :—Mr. Rhind, the master of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, Mr. Price Davis, Mr. J. F. Par ker, Mr. Joseph Pennell, Mr. P. Mitchell, Mr. Homer, and lastly, Mr. Joseph Harding. The Rev. Rector BROOKS wished to know how the board intended to proceed as to the election. It was a matter of material importance, whether any of the candidates for the office were or were not the paid agents of the union. He thought that the conduct of the board should be above all suspicion ; and if the accounts of such a paid individual were to be audited by himself, it appeared to him a perfect ab surdity to make such an appointment from the list of candi dates. He would, therefore, move, that no person who is a paid officer by the union should be eligible to the situation of auditor. Mr. SANDERS stated that Mr. Pennell and Mr. Homer were both paid officers of the union. Mr. JOHN C. THOMPSON observed, that Mr. Homer was merely a district registrar. The Rev. Rector BROOKS would emphatically state, that his question had been answered in the affirmative. He cared nothing about the office the party might hold, but, he re peated, it involved a perfect absurdity to elect a person to guarantee the correctness of his own charges and vouchers. Mr. THOMPSON.—The accounts are such that never come before the board. The Rev. Rector BROOKS.---I care not for that. I object to the principle. I do not consider the men, and am sorry that their names have been given. Mr. BIRCH agreed with the Rev. Rector Brooks, and re marked, that the reverend rector's objection must, in his (Mr. Birch's) opinion, be fatal to the election of either of the parties. Mr. WILSON required to know from Mr. Sanders, the clerk to the board, whether, in his opinion, the parties who were named were eligible ? Mr. SANDERS.—I will refer to the clause in the act. The CHAIRMAN remarked, that, in his opinion, the poor law commissioners should be written to. The Rev. Rector BROOKS would not consent to that. He had no notion of writing to the poor-law commissioners upon every little matter which the guardians had the full power to determine. Mr. THOMPSON said he should move that Mr. Homer was a fit and proper person to fill the office of auditor. The motion was seconded. The Rev. Rector BROOKS said, having referred to the books handed to him by the chairman, it was quite clear that the auditor must examine the accounts of the district registrar. Mr. Homer held that appointment, and he should move an amendment, in effect—that no paid officer of the union should be'appointed to fill the office of auditor. The amendment having been put, and afterwards the origi nal motion, the former was d ec l are d to b e carr i ed. The ap plications f Mr. Pennell and Mr. Homer were then dismissed. A long debate then ensued upon the fitness of the respec tive candidates. Ultimately, the votes were taken by ballot, and Mr. Harding was duly elected. A protest was afterwards read by Mr. Thompson against the appointment, and he concluded by moving that it be re ceived. Mr. SANDERS supported the motion. An amendment, that the protest be ordered to lie on the table, was proposed by Mr. Riley, and seconded by Mr. Eccles. The amendment was carried by a considerable niajority and the guardians adjourned. AUCTION EXTRAORDINARY. (From the Times of Yesterday) Russell and Peel have the pleasure of informing the public, that they have received instructions from a great house to offer for sale on the Ist of April, 1840, at the Crown public house, near Constitution-hill, that magnificent pile of build ing hitherto used as courts of justice, and known as West minster-hall, thebusiness formerly transacted there being re moved to the House of Commons. A very fine old copy of Magna Charta and several lots of acts of Parliament will be sold as waste paper, being of no further use. May be viewed until the day of sale by tickets, which may be procured on application to Lord John Russell, at the office, or Sir Robert Peel, at his private residence (for the present), Privy-gardens. SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS.—The next concert of the series will combine such a host of" first-rate talent, that the admirers of music must necessarily do their feelings violence if they do not attend. Signora E. Grisi, Madame Balf, and the inimitable pianist, Thalberg, &c. are announced. The Festivals excepted, how seldom is it that such eminent names are associated in one concert in Liverpool ? LIVER THEATRE.—Theannouncerrkent in another column will detail the novelties which the spirited managers of this little Theatre are about to produce. That they deserve sup port no one who has witnessed the performances will deny; and we are confident they will receive it. In our next we shall be able to speak of the newly introduced performances, and of the pieces in which they will appear. INSTITUTION FOR THE CURE OF DISEASES OF TIIE EAR. —This day a public meeting will he held in the Clarendon Rooms, for the purpose of ;establishing the institution for the cure of diseases of the ear, as a public charity, of Liver pool. The design has our hearty concurrence, and we hope that the projected charity, which is much wanted, will long enjoy the support of the liberal and generous inhabitants of Liverpool. THE NEW POSTAGE PLAN.—The number of letters re ceived at the Post-office in this town, under the penny rate, is somewhere about one-half more than the number posted under the fourpenny• rate, and double the number received under the old scale. The deficiency in revenue from the al teration, in this town alone, is likely to reach the large figure of fifty thousand pounds per annum. The Earl of Sefton has been pleased to appoint the Rev. James Hassall, M.A., Minister of St. John the Baptist's Church, Toxteth-park, to be one of his lordship's Domestic Chaplains. HOUSE WARMING.—On Wednesday evening last, at the rearing of a handsome edifice, in Everton, erected by Mr. Woolridge for Hays Pyke, Esq., the latter gentleman enter tained the whole of his tradesmen and workpeople with a most substantial and excellent supper. After the cloth was drawn, Mr. Pyke eloquently p-oposed " the health of her Majesty," declaring that his politics were decidedly Tory, as were those of his regretted parent before him ; and, con sequently, it was impossible that any other feeling than that of " loyalty," even to the death, could pervade his political conduct. He also took occasion to remark, that in affairs of local government, he claimed for himself the independent right of supporting such men, as without reference to poli tical bias, he conceived most likely by their practical know ledge and standing in society, to serve the town—Mr. Pyke's conduct in local election matters having been latterly much animadverted upon by some of his respected neigh. bours—he thought it only justice to himself to render this explanation to his friends. Several good old songs were sung, one of which, so illustrative of what British feeling really is when roused, we could like to bear much oftener. A verse, in allusion to the invasion by the celebrated " Spanish Armada," was uproariously encored. Here it is : " The Spanish Armada, Sent out to invade her, Quite sure if they ever came nigh land, They could not do less Than tuck up Queen Bess, And have their full swing i n th e Island. And it's oh! the poor Queen and the Island ; The Dons came to plunder the Island ; But—snug in the Hive, The Queen was alive, And " Buzz" was the word in the Island." When it was known that " the Queen was alive,', we thought the storm of applause would have blown the roof off. " Smiling Mirth," we understand, presided, until the " Sma' wee hour ayont the twal." CHURCH RATES.—IMPORTANT FACT.—It was stated in the House of Commons two years ago that nineteen-twentieths of the church-rates were paid by churchmen. The whole amount foy that year was estimated at £600,000, of which £570,000 was paid by churchmen, and £30,000 by dissenters. In the same year the sum of £25,000 was voted by parliament to dissenting teachers, and a further sum of .£24,000 towards the erection of dissenting meeting-houses and the popish college at Maynooth. Out of these two last sums the churchmen paid seven-eighths, or £43,000; therefore church men are actually paying £13,000 more in one year towards the support of dissent than the dissenters are paying towards the established church.—Courier. PRINCE ALBERT.—The following are the terms of the notice of Colonel Sibthorp, as entered on the Commons' books yesterday morning :—" In Prince Albert's Annuity Bill to insert the following clause :---` Provided neverthe less, and be it enacted, that, in case his Serene Highness Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha shall survive her Majesty, such sum or sums as may be granted by Act of Parliament, by way of annuity, to his serene highness during his natural life, shall altogether and wholly cease and deter mine, in case his serene highness shall reside for a less period than six months consecutively in each year within the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or shall ally himself in marriage with any foreign princess or foreign person, or shall cease to profess and adhere to the Protestant religion as by law established within these realms.' "—Herald At a time when " chartism" and " socialism," instigated by Whig treachery to upset all sound .principles of govern ment, are endeavouring to break down all respect and reve rence for the laws of the land and all constituted authority, it is a most lamentable thing to see conservative leaders in Parliament assisting the Whig ministers and their radical and Ronianish friends, to bring into public contempt the courts of justice, and destroy all veneration for our judicial institutions in the minds of the people. Why did the virtuous and patriotic monarch George the Third render render the judges indep en d en t of the Crown f Why, but to establi s h th a t hi g h a nd honoured r characterih to for the administration of j u stice in the public mind which the House of Commons is apparently labouri n gbreak down. Here is the King's own declaration on t he subject— " That he LOOKED UPON THE INDEPENDENCE AND Ep., T J s U A S N TI D CK: B A E S R O T N IR E S 0 0 ; HIS RIGHTNESS OF THE JUDGES AS ESSENTIAL TO TH E Im . THE I V I A LS R T TI S A E L CU A R D I M TI IN ES Is O T I R SUBJECTS, AND MOST CONDUCIVE TO THE HONOUR OF THE CRowN." Words that ought to . be engraver in letters of A T T H I E " RIG O LI F of British justice.--Morning Herald. gold over the sanctuary 9 Nearly eighty years have elapsed since the m marriae of a ' n has been celebrated in this country , Kin g sovereign I George the Third having been united to Queen Charlotte on the 7th Sept., 1761. LIVERPOOL OPERATIVE PROtES TAisTT ASSOCIATION. Last evening a very crowded meeting of the :members and friends of the Liverpool Operative Protestant Association was held in the school-room belonging to St Ma rk's Church, Cornwallis -street, for the purpose of promoting the general objects of the institution. Mr. JOSEPH CRIS' e was unani mously called upon to accept the office of chaff rman, in the absence of the Rev. Mr. Connor, whose att, sndance was prevented by ill health. The CHAIRMAN, after offering prayer, mentit med that the principal subject for the consideration of the meeting was the enormity of a Protestant government supp orting a Po pish college. He would state an interesting file t, which he hoped would excite their zeal and exertions figs the future. In the year 1837 the number of petitions agains t the annual grant for the support of Maynooth was 52, and the number of signatures 11,639 ; now, in the year 1838-9, :the petitions had increased to 199, and the signatures to 51,2 r Before the meeting closed he should have the pleasure of proposing a plan for their adoption, which would have the effect of increasing those petitions and signatures at least fourfold. (Cheers.) He begged to introduce Mr. Scott. Mr. Score, in a very interesting speech, of which we re gret we can present our readers with no more than an out line, called attention to the singular fact that the Protestants of England and Scotland, after an interval of 300 years, should again be united in endeavouring to put down the monster of Popery. He had himself travelled on various parts of the Continent, and, since he had arrived in Liver pool, he had remarked an article in one of the Paris news papers upon the subject of the English " No Popery" agita tion. This "No Popery" agitation—although the .French were a people who seemed to care very little about any reli gion —was denounced first as the most fanatical, next as the most foolish, and lastly as the most uncharitable thing in the world. He should endeavour to prove that it was neither one nor the other of these. Mr. Scott then went on to demonstrate this position, and he succeeded in a manner that frequently elicited the applause of the meeting. He showed, from the character of Popery itself, the necessity of a No Popery agitation ; and answered an objection in the French paper, that the aristocracy had no share in it—that it was too great to interfere in any cause of this nature. He proved that many of the French aristocracy had left their estates and their country for the sake of the Protestant faith ; that some of them contributed materially to the victory of William the Third in the Battle of the Boyne ; and that at this moment some of their descendants formed part of that aristocracy which this French writer so much misrepresented. Their Popish opponents insisted that they had nothing but the Bible on their side. - Well, if they had, did they want anything else ? Did it follow that the Bible was false, or that Protestants invented the Bible ? (Cheers.) As well might they say that those who believed in the truth of the Newtonian philosophy had invented the sue, or that as mariners in one place found it necessary to observe the rules of navigation the same necessity did not exist over the whole world. (Hear, hear.) Reverting to France, he argued that it was owing to the prevalence of Roman Catholic principles that she was one of the moss difficult nations in the world to govern, and, that, although Providence had poured into her lap such abundant resources, she seemed destined never to enjoy that greatest of all blessings —a contented mind. But he was happy to say, that Popery was beginning to stink in the nostrils fo the French people, and that few respectable people brought up their sons to the priesthood. The greatest number, he had been told, were collected out of the Found ling Hospitals, and brought up so strictly in the principles of the church that they were never able to get rid of tire system. Popery affected to teach humility, but he would undertake to prove, that, in the lowest member of the priesthood there was more arrogance than a Protestant Archbishop would ever pretend to. (Cheers.) On this subject what did Rome her self tell us? The poor gentleman who lived there washed poor men's feet once a year;—(hear)—but had the meet ing never heard of very different things being done to that gentlemans' toes ? (Cheers.) This was the humanity of Popery—making emperors, and kings, and princes kneel to the Pope, and do the most menial offices for him. (Conti nued applause.) The great object of the meeting was to pe tition the legislature to withdraw the annual grant to the Popish college at Maynooth. (Hear, hear.) What a fool ish appearance we necessarily made against the sound-think ing men of foreign nations by that grant ! We called our selves a Protestant country, we carried out our principles by largely paying for teaching direct error, and to teach the teachers of error! (Hear, hear.) By this what were we doing for the miserable population of Ireland ? Why, we were actually trying to support a system which was weak in its morals and pernicious in its effects! (Hear, hear.) The editor of the Gazelle de France, in alluding to this subject, ridiculed the parliament of this country for paying this its annual sum to Maynooth, as paying for teaching the people to laugh at the oaths made to that parliament itself ! Aye, and what sort of policy was that which paid to teach the teachers of the people the necessity of violating or " swal lowing" their oaths ? This was not, however, the princi ple of Protestants. (Hear.) Mr. Scott concluded an eloquent and impressive speech, by remarking, th a t w hil s t the loyalty of the Ro man C a tholics was loyalty to the Pope of Rome, the loyalty of Protestants was loyalty, first to their God and then to the Queen under God; and by imploring the meeting to sign the petition against the parliamentary grant to Maynooth. (Cheers.) Mr. WILLIAMS next addressed the meeting, and said, though it might be superfluous, after the able speech of Mr. Scott, to unfold further the character of the Church of Rome, he could not avoid reminding Protestants that her object was not only religious but civil supremacy. (Hear.) At all times, and upon all occasions, she expo se d thi s o bj ec t, and now it has become our duty to cry, with Bishop Hall, "No peace with Rome." (Hear.) We were told by the sycophants of the Melbourne ministry, that by this no popery agitation we were speaking treason against the sove reign. Now, he contended that any man that spoke in any way but reverently of our most gracious Queen was not a true or a consistent Protestant. (Hear.) The Established Church, he contended, was the great bulwark against the aggressions of Popery, and that, alone, the dissenters would not be able to resist them. He mentioned, in order to shew the pro-popery character of the present administration, the fact that Lord Melbourne had refused to present the prospectus of the Institution of Civil Engineers to her Ma jesty, because it contai ne d th ese wor d s —" t hi s i nst i tution is based upon the principles of the Established Church." Now it was fortunate, perhaps, that there was no law against ex posing the character of a pro-popery ministry. (Hear.) Protestants repelled indignantly the charge of disloyalty. (Hear.) As Protestants their intention was to render her Majesty one of the most glorious monarchs upon the face of the earth. He trusted we should yet see the day when Protestant associations would multiply in our cities and towns, in our hamlets and villages ; when the Protestant spirit of England should rise and speak in a voice of thunder ; when our senate house should be swept of the locusts that now infest it; and when our sovereign, by the interposition of divine providence, should see the dark designs of those who now surround her, and call to her councils men who would support Protestantism, and men determined to carry Protestant ascendancy. (Cheers.) Protestantism and Con servatism, iu this sense were synonymous. (Loud Cheers.) Mr. LEATHEBARROW agreed with the sentiments of the speakers who had preceded him ; and trusted that the opera tives of this important town would be up and doing. The Papists and some of the dissenters had combined to under mine the established church, but they had been too rapid in their approaches—they had succeeded only in rousing the Protestant spirit of the population. Let the Protestants how ever, not be out-generalled. He concluded with a spirited appeal to the meeting to this effect. The CHAIRMAN begged to make one or two remarks with regard to Maynooth. It might be asked why they were so violent against the grant to that popish college. The an swer was that by allowing a Protestant government to con tinue it we were sanctioning the blasphemous and idolatrous church of Rome. (Hear.) Now, government made grants, in the colonies, towards the support of the dissenters, but those dissenters, strange to say, did not come forward to help the church on this question, although by the very prin ciple by which they dissented they were bound to oppose popery. (Hear, hear.) They had petitioned s t rong l y enoug h against the Church of England ; for he found they had sent 387 petitions with 152,142 signatures, against the further endowment of the church of Scotland, 109 peti tions with 80,000 signatures for the abolition of tithes in Ireland, and 391 petitions, with 25,305 signatures, in favour of the appropriation clause—yet they went hand in hand with the papacy, and would not help the church in protesting against the idolatrous Church of Rome ! Our Protestant government was now paying £50,000 a-year towards the edu cation of the Irish people, which education was conducted by Romish priests. It was paying £9OOO per annum to May nooth ; 25,000 a-year for the establishment of Popery abroad ; and £4667 annually to Popish priests in the colonies. (Hear.) Why was this ? Because it was " liberal." But he would ask how long the Protestants of England would allow these things to remain so? (Hear.) Last year the Liverpool pe tition against Maynooth had only 4500 signatures, whilst that from Manchester had 14,000. He hoped they would do bet ter this year. (Hear, hear.) He wondered what the Church of Rome paid towards the support of Protestantism. (Hear.) Did Franco pay anything? No : and he thought we should find our liberality all on one side. (Cheers.) The Chair man concluded by reading the petition. Three cheers each were then given for the three watch , . words of Protestantism—Scriptural Education, Church Ex tension, and Protestant Ascendancy ;—and the doxology having been sung, the meeting separated shortly before ten o'clock. MIL GEORGE LANE Fox. —lt is understood that this gentleman retires from parliament on account of ill health ; and that his brother, Sackville Lane Fox, Esq., offers :himself for the vacated seat at Beverley.—Leeds Mercury. HORRIBLE ATTEMPT OF A FATHER TO POISON HIS TWO CHILDREN, AND HIS OWN SUICIDE.—A widower, named Garn, aged 32, residing at Mitcham, by trade a tailor, gave oxalic acid, on Tuesday last, to his two children (girls), aged four and six years, and took also a large portion of the same poison himself. Garn shortly afterwards died, but the chil dren, although very ill, are still alive, medical remedies hav ing been promptly applied. A coroner's inquest has since sat on the body of the deceased, and a verdict was returned of " temporary derangement." ELGIN DISTRICT OF BURGHS.—Sir A. Leith Hay ar rived here on Tuesday afternoon, and immediately com menced h's canvass. On Wednesday evening he held a pub lic meeting in the Trades' Hall, and addressed the electors at considerable length. Mr. Grant of Carnoustie, the other candidate in the liberal interest, arrived on Wednesday, and both gentlemen have since been actively engaged in calling on the electors. They have resolved not to divide the libe ral constituency, and that the candidate who shall have the smallest number of pledged supporters is to retire from the contest. Sir Andrew left Elgin on Friday morning for Banff.—Elgin Courant. BRISTOL COTTON WORKS.—We h o ld out, to the imita tion of the Manchester cotton, and of the Monmouth and Glamorgan iron lords (as well), the noble example of the Bristol Cotton Company, who have c ontributed £lOOO to the pro funds for erecting a new church. The proposal al so t o vide church room for the increasing population of St. Philip's will, we trust, be supported by a large body of Protestant Christians, besides those who have already set a noble exam ple of munificence.—Bristol Journal. Lismostu LiGurnousE.—An immense number of rats have crossed the narrow sound from the southmost point of the island of Lismore, in Ar g les hire , to th e i s l et of Mous- dale, on which the lig hthouse is built, and are devouring all that comes in the way. They have e a t en up the potatoes of th e li g htkeepers, and attacked their poultry. One chicken was dragged by the neck to one of their holes, but being too large for the hole, they nibbled off the head, and so left it.— Edinburgh Evening Post. ExrsozTiox TO CHINA. —The Master-General of the Ordnance has transmitted orders to Woolwich for a party to be selected P. y o f artillery and artifi cers, from volunteers of civilians out of th e royal arsenal, to be embarked in the ships of war now fitting out for the coasts of China. Howitzers and rockets are being • d • h prepaie with the utmost celerity ; iu fact, the workmen have on Sundays, in been employed even addition to extra hours during the week. Officers of the royal artillery have been directed to hold themselves in readiness for instant embarkation, but from the particular nature of the service in v i ew at present, the absolute selection has not yet taken place, and they are not to be taken according to the " roster," or usual routine of duty. The non-commissioned officers and gunners are all to be picked men from the seve ral battalions, although the commandant of the garrison is desirous of selecting them from the seventh battalion. Twelve arsenal artificers belonging to the laboratory depart 'milt have volunteered to accompany the expedition on re ceiving double pay; and it is stated to be the plan to pur chase on the voyage (as near the Chinese seas as possible) several ships which are to be filled with combustibles, and converted into fire ships by these artificers, in conjunction with the *pal department, and then intended to be em ployed among the Chinese War junks. 131RMINGRAM ELECTION. (Front our awn CorrespomAnt.) THURSDAY EVENING, 5 o'CLoce - . The nomination of candidates : for this borough took place at the Town-hall, -Birmingham, this morning (Thursday.) The attendance was not by . any means so numerous as on former occasions It had became known by a few parties in the conservative interest on WedneLqlay evening, that they intended to bring forward a gentleman well qualified to re present them, and Mr. Alle n , who had pr ev i ous l y announce d his intention to contest the election, when apprised of the circumstance, offered - to withdraw, in favour of a'gentleman whose claims on the conservatives were generally admitted. The orchestra of the hall was appropriated for the candidates and their supporters. Mr. Sturge, accompanied by several of his committee, appeared first, and was received with cheers and partial hissing. Soon afterwards Mr. Allen and some of his supporters appeared amidst slight applause. In a short time afterwards, James Taylor, Esq., J. W. Whateley, Esq., J. B. Hebbert, Esq., G. Arnfield, Esq., and other leading conservatives. On Mr. Muntz appearing, he-was assailed with hissing and yelling from th ose assembled. Among his supporters, we noticed, Mr. Thomas Ryland, Mr. R. K. Douglas, (editor of the Birmingham .lasrnal,) Mr. J. E. Lee, Mr. George Attsvood, (brother of the late member,) Mr. Salt, &c. Mr. Sturge sat on tlie right of the mayor, and among his supporters were, Mr. Boultbee, the Rev. J. M. M`Donnell, (a popish priest,) the Rev. Thomas Swann, of the Baptist persuasion, Mr. H udson, Mr. Shearman, (late editor of the Birmingham Philanthrophist) a paper sup ported by Mr. Sturge and his party. Brown and Fussell, the convicted chartists, also appeared Olithe platform. At eleven o'clock the hall was about half full, and the usual preliminaries having been gone through, Mr. P. H. MuNTz, mayor, and brother of one of the can didates, said, " The precept which I have received-" He was not able to say anything more, in consequence of the the most deafening noise and yelling with which he was greeted. Mr. RICE HARRIS, the high bailiff of Birmingham, then said that he also had received a precept, in conjunction with his colleague, the low bailiff, which he would read to them. He then read the precept. • Mr. GEORGE EDMUNDS then said, I rise to move that Joseph Sturge, Esq., is a tit and proper person to represent this borough in parliament. (Cheers, and cries of " No, no.") One complaint against Mr. Sturge is that he cannot make long speeches. I think that to be in his favour, for we have had too much speechifying: we want now to have a man of business habits. He concluded by saying we won't have a tory. Mr. WILLIAM BOULTBEE seconded the nomination. He supported Mr. Sturge, because he was generous, persever ing, philanthropic, and most exemplary.; in doing which he was greeted on sitting down by several parties imitating the crowing of a cock. Mr. LLA said he appeared. before them to nominate his respected friend, George Frederic Muntz. Mr. Muntz was able to defend himself. He did not know any man better acquainted with the mercantile and local interests of the town than Mr. Muntz. Mr. SALT, (the founder of the Female Political Union,) rose to second the nomination, and was received with the most discordant yellings, and it was not until the High Bai liff interceded in his behalf, that he was able to utter a word that could be heard. The speeches of the above gentlemen were repeatedly in terrupted by the crowd, and scarcely a sentence was uttered without eliciting a mixture of the loudest laughter, hissing, &c. &c. JAMES TAYLOR, ESQ. (of Mere Hall) then rose, and after a temporary interruption, said, the friends with whom he acted had called on him to propose a candidate. They were all well acquainted with the difficulties of the govern ment—that the ministers were incapable . of.goyerning the country. (Ch eers .) Th e candidate he should propose would be a gentleman who should be able to , act , when any change took place. In referring to the corn-laws -lac said, the American president . congratulated the American people on the benefits that had accrued to the American people by agriculture. (Cheers.) The trading interests derived more advantage from agriculture than was generally known. (Hear, hear.) It was under the present system of, the corn-laws that this country had arrived at its present state of prospe rity. (Interruption.) The candidates who were named were for a repeal of the corn-laws, but he should propose a gentleman who would .protect, not destroy, the agricultural interest. (Cheers and hisses.) The candidate lam about to propose is not the Attorney-General who prosecuted Mr. Frost, but a gentleman who, when he was in office, during the passing of the Roman Catholic Emancipation bill, threw up his office rather than sacrifice his principle—he meant Sir Charles Wetherell. (Great uproar.) The name was received with great cheering. N. C. ALSTON, Esq. seconded the nomination; but the clamour had risen to so great a height that it was not pos sible to catch a word that he uttered. Mr. J. B. HERBERT proposed Mr. R. W. Allen,and was seconded by Mr. J. ALLDAY: The MAYOR asked if any one else wished to nominate any one, upon which BROWN, th e c h ar ti s t, stepped forward—and the M AYOR said, Are you an elector ? BROWN—You produce the burgess roll. • The MAYOR—I can send for it. Brown sat down, and The Rev. Mr. MWONNELL read the address. of Mr. Sturge, who was non est inrentus. He stated that lie had not attended any of the committee meetings, but he should and would also have been present if circumstances ..had not prevented him. A great portion of the address was in refer ence to temperance. Mr. MUNTZ proceeded—He said that he dare say Mr. M`Donnell would answer for his god-son. (Great clamour, amidst which Mr. Muntz said—conscious of my own inte grity, I defy you all, men and women. He was the same man as he was two years and a half before. He would speak until midnight, if they did not hear him ; " and mark you," he said, " you'll never get universal suffrage, if you don't know how to behave yourselves." He next abused his old friends, the chartists, who, he said, had charged their leaders with deserting them after they came into office. (Cries of " They did.") H. would ask what he had done to deserve the reception he met that day ? A VOICE-It is because that, on Monday night, you de clared, in the police-office, a menial servant was not entitled to vote; and because, after you brought forward the subject of reform, you have dastardly shrunk from it. Mr. MuNTE—No impudence, Sir, I can speak as harshly as you. _ _ _ A VoteE—lt is because; when a petition was presented to you yesterday, to save Frost, and the others, you declined it. Mr. MUNTZ.—I did not. (Loud cries of " You'did, you did," " Shame, shame," " Off, off.") Mr. MuNTz (in a great passion).- 7 You want hanging— such a scoundrel as you are. All I have to say is, that Mr. Acland is a dirty scoundrel. (Great confusion and Clamour.) Mr. Muntz having stated that Frost had deluded a num ber of men into a dangerous enterprise, a ludicrous scene ensued. A female (the chairwoman, it was said, of the Female Political Union) in the large gallery opposite, shook her fist, and, in a v i o l en t rage , exclaimed, ." He never did— it 's you, and such lik e as y ou , as h ave h um b ugge d t h e peo ple."the building resounded with shouts of laughter. Mr. ACLAND now stepped forward, amidst much confu sion, and denied the statement of `Mr. Muntz ; but he was not able to obtain a hearing. Mr. MUNTZ resumed.—He would vote fox the repeal of the corn-laws, if accompanied by an alteration of the mone tary system. The time was at hand when that subject must be taken into consideration. He was not surprised at Mr. Attwood's failure : it was just like turning alady's lapdog into a tub of rats. (" Hear," and laughter.) ,He should be independent of all parties. Sir Charles Wetherell was a good lawyer, but there were too many of such men in the house. (Cries of " The tories would not have you.") If you try me, you may watch me; and if you.ask me at any time to walk out of the house, I will. lam independent of you all ; and you ought to be obliged, and not me. If you do not elect me, I shall go home, and you will never see me again. Mr. Muntz resumed his seat amidst partial cheering. Mr. GEORGE BARKER, on the part of Sir Charles We therell, he would say, that if they returned him, they would return a gentleman distinguished for integrity, and an emi nent statesman. [The clamour here became so great as to render it impossible for Mr. Barker to proceed, and after making a few observations, he sat down.] Mr. ALLEN then came forward, and said he was aware of being nominated when lie came there. He wished to see the people benefitted, but there had been too much of splitting of opinions —too much of liberal promises an d b ro k en p l e d es of late. He was for practical reform, but never would con sent to the separation of church and state. (Priest M'llon nell here interrupted Mr. A., and some clamour ensued.) They had been told that the repeal of the corn-laws was the grand panacea of all their suffering. Now he would tell them what they had not been told. If the corn-laws were repealed the agricultural population would be deprived of eiliployment. Mr. ALLEN said, by repeal of the corn-laws, they would enhance the price of land abroad, while they reduced their own. The whigs having have not brought forward one prac tical measure. (Cries of no, no.) He was not con nected with that gentleman who had brought forward Sir Charles W., but had answered the call of a Tequisition, but now thitt gentleman was announced in the person of Sir Chas, Wetherell, than whom there could not exist a more indepen dent, a more excellent, and at the same time a more honour able man. (Cheers and hisses. Whatever the result of the co , ntest might be, he hoped it would be attended with some , eneficial legislative enactment. The MAyon. said—Electors and 'non-electors, you have before you three candidates. JosAlth Sturge,E s q., has been moved and seconded, a n d th ose i n his favour please hold up your hands. A large number of hands were held up. He next put the name of Mr. Muntz, - and subsequently Sir Charles Wetherell, and d ec id e d against'Sir Chas. Wetherell, but said the show for Muntz and Sturge was . so equal that he must put it again. (This was received with loud hissing.) He then put it in favour of Sturge, and again for Muntz, anti decided in favour of his brother, -(Gorge Frederick a .poll in b e h a lf o f JAMESMuntz, amidst . loud ne.E hts i i . n t g he a i nd ide y r e n i a li nt ng ie . Sir Charles Wetherell, and the proceedings terminated shortly before five o'clock in the evening. • Tug HUDDERSFIELD.--We are happy to inform our readers, that subscription lists, in aid of the testimonial to • Captain Clegg, and the crew of the Huddersfield, are lying at the office of this paper. We trust that numbers are ready to contribute towards so praiseworthy an object. The intre pidity of Captain Clegg and his crew richly deserve the re ward which is in store for them. LAUNCH. —On Wednesday last a fine new vessel of about 450 tons burthen was launched from the building yard of Mr. Steele, Baffin-street. She is called the" Livingstone," and is of a very superior model, combining the advantages of a fine entrance and a c l ear run , with amide bearings : she' has a bust head, decorated stern, and a roomy quarter-deck, with ample accommodation for passengers. • She is the property of the builder, and we understand is intended for the East ern trade. SHIPPING IN LIVERPOOL—There is, perhaps, a greater number of ships in this port now than was ever known at any previous period. All the docks appropriated for sailing vessels, with one exception, are quite full 4 and should the present westerly winds continue, the Clarence and Trafalgar will have to be resorted to. Not one quarter of the vessels in dock now can be accommodated with either quay or stage berths. Colonel G. Deane Pitt, formerly of the SOth regiment, and now inspecting - field officer at Leeds, is to he removed to the London recruiting district, in succession to the late Colonel William Gordon M`Gregor. Lient Colonel Bissell Harvey, K.H. on the half-pay of the Royals, and at present Fort Major of Edinburgh Castle, will replace Colonel Pitt at Leeds. —United Serriee Gazette. Lusus NATUII/E.—There was slaughtered on Tuesday last, in the parish of Solport, a cow, which, on being opened, was found to contain a calf nearly full grown, baying two heads distinctly formed. The calf is now in the possession of Mr. Stephen Beck, innkeeper, Botchergate, Carlisle.— Carlisle Patriot. Three of the ministers will, it - is .said, have a step in the peerage, and a fourth be elevated to it. The four names mentioned are th ose o f t h e premier (by specia l command of the Queen), Lord Palmerston, the 'Marquis of Lansdowne, and Sir .1. Hobhouee. . .. .. • THE GREAT CHARTIST TOAST. ---4` Hard Winter—Spring not green—Bloody Summer-r-anci.uq,Cluel=n!'' We are as sured that this atrocious-.sentirnenLisieoMpionly given a t t h e meetings of the friends and conft..dernteit'Mr. F ros t, who Lord John Russell made aimagistratc.,:. - • • PRIVATE B tLLS.-;--.'H ease of Oman , pni; Friday, Ja n . 17 . It is ordered, that the-house-willinotieeeive..any petition f or private bills afterTriday.ttre 3lst aianuary. That n o pri vate- bill be read the Ist time after Monday, the 9th of March. That the house .will not receive any•report of such private bill after Monday the Ist of June. MIND 11 th;