The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-22 00:00:00

which had been formed during the past year, The address of the Governor Was extremely well re ceived by the House of Assembly, who, in their reply, expressed a hope that his Excellency might be spared to be amongst them for many years to come. The Royal Gazette mentions that the quantity of foreign sugar, refined in England, and consumed in the West Indies, amounts to 10,567 cwts. The same journal furnishes us with very unfavourable accounts of the crops, which are likely, in consequence of the drought which had been so long experienced, to show a greater deficiency than last year. We have received our files of the Guiana Chronicle to the 26th of October, inclusive. From the paper of the above date we learn that his Excellency the Gover nor would, on the following day, deliver his farewell address to the Court of Policy. It is also stated that it would be then announced, as the unalterable de termination of the Home Government, that all future Governors shall be paid out of the British Treasury, and that the salaries of the goverment secretary, the judges, and all officials, shall be reduced one half. Further, it is said that henceforth the produce of Bri tish Guiana shall be exempt from taxation. This astounding news will excite no little surprise on this side of the Atlantic. It is put forth without any sort of qualification. The only conclusion that we can draw from these mysterious hints is, that the editor of the Chronicle has been eggregiously hoaxed, or that he means to hoax his readers. The Chronicle of the 23d of October mentions that it was rumoured in Georgetown that Governor Light had been re-called. We should not be at all surprised if this rumour should prove correct. Few men have shown themselves to be so incapable of governing so important a colony as Governor Light. He has done more to embroil the affairs of the colony than can be remedied for many years to come. Under any other than a Whig administration he would have been super seded the moment his memorable despatches reached the Home Office. The Chronicle rebuts, in the strongest terms, the charges brought against the planters of British Guiana by the official authorities of Barbadoes, respecting the treatment experienced by those emigrants who had returned to that island from Demerara. The state ments of these discontented individuals are pronounced to be a tissue of falsehoods from beginning to end. As an overwhelming refutation of these lies, so in. dustriously propagated by the Barbadian vagrants and their abettors, the Chronicle furnishes the following graphic description of a fancy ball which had just taken place at Georgetown : FANCY BALL. (From the Royal Gazette.) When the actions and principles of individuals contradict the character given of them by their enemies, and when the visible, and therefore undeniable contentment, ease, plenty, and even luxuries of a peasantry, flatly refute all the reports and fabrications of their misery, poverty, and discontent, surely the credit of the calumniators ought thereby to be de stroyed. Of the latter of these two circumstances, the pea santry of this colony are a remarkable instance. Last night, in pursuance of extensive and expensive prepara tions, came off, at the house which was formerly the Victoria Hotel, a splendid fancy ball, got up by labourers, house ser vants, and others of their rank in the community ; and it was really difficult to know whether to admire most the splen dour of the dresses, the taste displayed in the decorations of the apartment, or the boldness and grandeur of the whole design. Had the people who ground their opposition to immigra tion to this colony, on the poverty and ill-treatment of our labourers, domestics, &c, been present at this fancy ball last night, they would have seen any thing but the signs of penury, oppression, and broken hearts. A more happy, joy ful, light spirited, and independent collection of people of the same rank, could not perhaps, be assembled on any part of the globe ; and the faithfulness of the designs in the various costumes, proves, that they have been far from inattentive to the usages and manners of their betters. The dresses were substantially grand, and consequently expensive. The cost of the whole being upwards of £5OO, and the decorations and illumination of the ball-room highly creditable to the taste of the planner; the design of the whole aimed at nothing less than a miniature representation of the entire British empire. There was a richly decorated throne ascended by three steps, on which sat her Majesty the Queen, on whose right was seated the Queen Dowager, and Prince Albert on the left ; and among the other charac ters, we had a specimen of almost all the sections and de partments of the British commonwealth : navy and army officers, common sailors and privates ; Lords, Squires, country gentlemen, farmers, and clowns ; clergymen, lawyers, and doctors; beggarmen, ballad-singers, and strolling players, even Paul Pry was there, and we had a North American Indian chief, with all the usual equipments of savage life ; and to show that our peasantry are not unacquainted with our political position, Mehemet Ali, the Pacha of Egypt, was also there. In the female part of the assembly, there were characters suitable to the above ; and .of these there could not be less than sixty couples. The music wa s exce ll en t, an d d anc i ng was kept up with spirit. The grandeur and novelty of the scene attracted crowds of ladies and gentlemen of the first rank and respectability in town to witness it. But the greater number of these departed after a short stay, highly amused with the somewhat extraordinary entertainment. We may safely demand, where can such exhibitions as that described above be produced in any part of the United Kingdom ? What a conclusive answer have the free labourers of British Guiana given to the malignant libels of the Aldermanbury agitators ! Let us hear no more about the misery, suffering, and de• gradation of the emancipated Negroes of the Wes Indies. Let us rather endeavour, by affording every possible protection to British industry, to raise our own labouring and operative classes to an equality with the Negroes of the West Indies. There is much more suffering and misery amongst our own population, to call into active exercise our benevolent feelings, than there can be found in any part of our colonial posses sions across the Atlantic. It may be taken for granted, as an incontrovertible axiom, that the best testimony to any man's character, as an honest patriot, as a friend of truth and justice, and as an enemy to all abuses, and, therefore, a true reformer, is, the abuse of the Radical press. It is on this ground that we congratulate Mr. Daniel Ledson, a young gentleman whose firm, unflinching, and un deviating advocacy of sound constitutional principles has induced the members of the Operative Conserva tive Association to select him as their President for the ensuing year. The election of Mr. Ledson to that office is alike honourable to himself and the Operative Conservatives of Liverpool ; while the virulent personal attacks that have been made upon Mr. Ledson, in the columns of the Liberal papers, afford the strongest additional proof that the choice of our operative friends was wise and judicious. It is a singular fact, that the individuals upon whom the Radical portion of the press has been most lavish in heaping its abuse, have gained, in consequence of that very abuse, an increased measure of public respect and confidence. We have no doubt that this will prove the case with Mr. Ledson, who may, therefore, well afford to smile at the puny efforts which have been made, within the last week, to ridicule his con duct and to disparage his motives. Whilst, however, Mr. Ledson, will best consult his own reputation by disdaining to bestow any notice upon the paltry attacks of the Radical press, we shall always consider it our duty to repel such attacks to the the best of our ability. Acting on this feeling we pro ceed to notice a few of the absurdities in which the Journal, the Chronicle, and the Albion have indulged, while remarking upon Mr. Ledson's speech at the meetin g of the Operative Conservatives. The Journal takes sad umbrage at the pithy obser vations which Mr. Ledson made respecting the con duct of the magistrates in subscribing to the funds of the Protector Society. The charge brought forward against them by Mr. Bushell, as Mr. Ledson truly remarked, is left unanswered to the present day. They have called no meeting to take that grave and serious charge into consideration. They have not directed Messrs. Ellis and Shuttleworth to demand from Mr. Bushell any avowal, explanation, or retractation of the charge. They have passed no resolution exculpating themselves from so serious a charge. They have, in short, contented themselves with leaving the public to draw the inevitable inference, that the charge of " aiding those who were violating the law" is undeni ably true. The Journal, it is true, says " that several of the parties declared that the accusation, as respected them, was false." How many of the magistrates have made such a declaration ? Is not the subsequent ad tnission of the Journal that " those who were silent are fully prepared to justify their conduct whenever called upon by proper authority," to he construed into an admission that Mr. Bushell proceeded on information These societies would be found beneficial in promoting in dustry and improved methods of cultivation, and in drawing out new sources of wealth, as well as in con firming a cordial union between the two great classes of the agricultural community. He then briefly alludes to the companies which have been formed for the cul ture of silk in the island, and expresses a hope that a new source of benefit may thus be opened to all the inhabitants. He then recommends the culture of the tea plant, which is already found to flourish there remarkably well. which was unimpeachably correct when he brought forward his charge against the magistrates ? This " untoward" admission of the Journal furnishes the most ample corroboration that could be desired of what Mr. Ledson has so boldly asserted. But we must proceed to our other contemporaries. Nothing can be more amusing then the laboured efforts of the Chronicle to show that there was no parallel be tween the charge brought forward by Mr. Bushell, and that which was alleged to have been made by Mr. Alex ander Smith. Morally speaking, Mr. Bushell's charge was equally grave with the imaginary charge which recently formed the subject of magisterial deliberation: legally speaking, it was of much more serious charac ter. The imputation from which the magisterial con clave so solemnly absolved themselves, was merely to the effect that they had abused their power by granting licenses to serve political purposes. Mr. Bushell's charge implied that some of the magistrates had been guilty of aiding and abetting the violators of the law. It is useless to attempt to draw such a fine distinction between the private and the public acts of the magis trates as would exonerate them from all culpability in this matter. The magistrates are sworn rightly and duly to administer the law, and any act which they may perform, which tends to its violation, is inconsistent with their oath of office. What, we ask, would be thought of a general, who in his public capacity fought against the enemies of his sovereign and his country, but who, in his private capacity, furnished them with arms and ammunition, or with information which might enable them to carry on their operations against those interests which he was bound to defend ? What would such a general deserve ? The Albion has also joined its feeble yelp to the growl of the Chronicle and the snapping bark of the Journal against Mr. Ledson. To expect reason or ar gument from the Albion would be very much akin to looking for honesty in a Radical, or to searching for brains behind the os frontis of the editors of a certain twaddling journal which affords so much amusement to the good folks of Liverpool every Monday in the year. To attempt any thing like a serious reply to the fanfaronade of the Albion would only be to render ourselves as ridiculous as our Harlequin contemporary. We have no ambition for any such " doubtful" dis tinction. We have no wish to emulate our contem porary in his excursive flights to the regions of nur sery literature. We confess that we cannot compete with him in the facility and, we may add, the felicity with which he quotes Tom Thumb, Jack and the Bean-stalk, Cinderella, Goody Two-shoes, and other equally learned and edifying productions. From these classic tomes, redolent of gingerbread and Everton toffee, our contemporary is perfectly at liberty to con tinue his quotations, for the weekly delectation of his admiring readers. We would, however, just drop a hint or two which may be of some value to the Lilliputian worthy who " does the amusing" in the Albion. Let him not " lay the flattering unction to his soul" that his array of squibs and popguns are likely to be mistaken for more solid specimens of artillery. His paltry and pitiable paper pellets (our contemporary, like all other writers of the small beer genus, is fond of alliteration) will do no injury either to Mr. Ledson or to any other gentleman against whom they may be aimed. But to be serious. The radical press, with its cus tomary disregard for truth, has imputed to Mr. Led son what he never said or intended to say. Thus, for instance, the Journal says that he soused Mr. Alex ander Smith. There is nothing in Mr. Ledson's speech to justify such a remark. The Albion, again, alleges that l‘lr. Ledson stated that, "at the next gene ral election, the contest will be between Lord Sandon and Walmsley, for Cresswell cannot be turned out." This is a gross perversion. Mr. Ledson asserted the contrary, that the contest would be between Mr . Creswell and Sir Joshua Walmsley. But as the radical journals have ventured to attack one of Mr. Ledson's speeches, we take the liberty of quoting an extract from another addreQs, which he de livered before the Tradesmen's Conservative Associa tion, and to which we should like to see something in the shape of a serious answer. What have the radical triumvirate by whom Mr. Ledson has been attacked to say to the following ? • " He trusted it would not be displeasing to them if he turned from the trifling peccadilloes of the whigs in the coun - cil to the amiable qualities of the whigs in the cabinet.—(A laugh.)—The contrast, he was sure, would be very pleasing and satisfactory to them all. (Loud laughter.) What vigour and what vigilance pervaded every department of the state ? (A laugh.) How admirably our foreign possessions and our foreign tactics were conducted ! (A laugh.) What singular felicity had attended our strict and intimate alliance with France ! (Hear.) How successfully our trade with China had been carried on ! (Hear, and laughter.) How speedily the blockade of Buenos Ayres had been terminated! (Hear.) How satisfactory the settlement of the American boundary question ! (Renewed laughter.) What very profound and statesman-like legislation had stopped that upraorious con duct in Canada! (Hear.) How totally the cry of " repeal" had been put down, and how completely the power of Daniel O'Connell had been annihilated ! (Laughter and cheers.) And, oh, above all, how the Chancellor of the Exchequer must chuckle over that financial statement which he exhibits quarterly to the applause of an admiring nation ! (Cheers.) These were only a few of the blessings that had resulted from ten years of whig-radical misrule." Here are " nuts to crack" for our contemporaries : which they will find difficult to dispose of, even if then jaw -bones were as strong as that which was wielded by Sampson of old. With regard to the impertinent observations of the radical press on Mr. Ledson's appointment to the office of Chairman of the Operative Conservative Association, we would merely remark that he was invited to accept the post on account of his acknowledged ability as a public speaker, and his firm and uncompromising adhe rence to conservative principles. This invitation, we understand, he did not accept un til a f ter repeate d solicitations. LOCAL NEWS, FIRE IN VAUXHALL ROAD.—On Sunday last, about noon, a fire was discovered to have broken in the stove in the timber-yard of Mr. Henry Williams, Vauxhall-road. The engines were very speedily on the ground, and in a short time the flames, which had gained but little head, were effec tually subdued. The loss is stated to be from £lO to £l2. ROYAL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE COMPANY.—It will be seen by an advertisement in another part of our paper, that George Loch, Esq. has succeeded the late William Wallace Currie, Esq., in the agency for the Royal Exchange Assu rance Company, in this town. The very moderate terms of insurance, and the promptness of settlements, in cases of loss, at this office, are well known, and we doubt not will continue to be appreciated by the public. BOOK COLLECTORS.-Our friends who are in the habit of collecting standard works for their libraries, should apply to Mr. Reece, who has just published his new catalogue.—See advertisement. SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS.—The ballotfor seats at the next concert will take place on Saturday next. The programme is a very strong one. We shall draw attention to it fully in our next. CAUTION TO SEAMEN.—Yesterday, at the Police -court, a seaman belonging to the Ballinasloe steamer, was fined £5, or in default of payment to be committed to prison for three months, for smuggling a quantity of whisky—under one gallon. THEFT FROM AN INN.-At the Police-court, yesterday, a woman named Mary Garvie. was charged with stealing a cloak, value £4, the property of her master, Mr. Charles Musker, innkeeper, Scotland-road. The prisoner took the article to a pawnbroker, to whom she offered it in pledge for thirty shillings. The article, however, was missed by another female who lived in the house, and who suspecting something, followed her to the shop, gave notice that it was stolen, and she was apprehended. She stated that she was drunk at the time, and knew nothing about it. She was committed for trial at the sessions. WARRINGTON.—On Friday, inquests were held at War rington, before John Heyes, Esq., on the body of F. Knipe, a child of the age of five years, and on another child about the same age, at Parr, both of them having come to their death by their clothes having accidentally taken fire. — Verdicts, Accidental deaths. THE CARACCI PICTLRES. — AIthough Mr. Haydon lately (in one of his lectures at the Mechanics' Institution) availed himself of an opportunity to " cut up" the three pictures by " the Caracci." and styled the heads of our Saviour as being " Greenacre heads," upwards of 2000 persons have visited the rooms since, and we have no doubt that very few have become proselytes to the lecturer's opinion. Mr. Haydon's abuse has been the cause of many inspecting these pictures who would not otherwise have done so. To add to their at traction a fresh picture has been ‘ pla ce d i n t h e rooms. I t i s a Madonna, by E. Serail'. 1 his painting is of extraordinary merit. Although it has been sold as a Guid o i t i s actua ll y b y the artist we have named. It might easily be mistaken for a Guido, having all the characteristics of his masterly touch. The Bolognese school is clearly traced in the fall of the dra peries, the brightness of the colours, an d t h e fine finish of the whole p er f orman ce. It is a picture which may be looked upon for hours with delight and pleasure ; it is both beautiful and spirituelle. The face is one of the loveliest ever painted. The brow is clear and lofty, the eyes melting and sunny— they are radiant with light and tenderness —the cheeks have all the downy softness of health and warmth, while the mouth and lips breathe with life ; the chin is round and plump, and the neck is exquisitely turned. The skin is beautifully transparent and approaches to perfection. The hair is brown; a veil of a light hue envelopes the head, around which a halo floats. The hands are exquisitely drawn ; they are round and soft, while the tapering fingers display nails of rosy hue. The hands are crossed over the bosom. The under garment is of a rich carmine. The shawl enveloping the form in massy folds is of a bright blue, and is finely thrown. The attitude of the figure is one of deep resignation and piety. We pity the spectator who does not view this picture with delight, and who will not recognise it as a gem of art. So perfect are the shadows, and so truly are they drawn, that, pass the hand between the picture and the light, it will be found that the lights instantly take the perfect colour of the shadows. A project is, we understand, in contemplation, which, if car ried out, may perhaps be the means of this picture finding a resting place in Liverpool. The Earl of Sefton has quite recovered from the effects of his fall, while hunting. His lordship's face was severely bruised, from coming in contact with the knee of his horse. FIRE. —On Sunday forenoon, at eleven o'clock, smoke was seen issuing from the stove forming part of the timber yard and joiner's shop of Mr. 11. Williams, at the bottom of Vauxhall-road. The policeman on duty immediately gave the alarm, and an engine was quickly on the spot. The fire in the stove was soon extinguished, and the men removed the smoking timber into the street. ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—Parents and friends should give children, during the holidays, au opportunity of visiting these Gardens, not only as a means of amusement, but as affording them instruction in natural history. Several very remarkable objects are now to be seen in the Gardens, which, although not clad in verdant beauty, are worth seeing, even at this period of the year. COMPLETION OF THE STOCKPORT VlADUCT.—Yester day, at half-past twelve o'clock, the final stone was set of the viaduct on the Manchester and Birmingham Railway, at Stockport. After the ceremony, Messrs. Samuel and James Holme, and Mr. Tornkinson, of Liverpool, the contractors for the work, treated the parties interested in the railway and their friends with a handsome entertainment. THEATRE ROYAL, MANCHESTER.—We perceive that Mr. Clarke has taken the Theatre Royal at Manchester. Under his management the play-goers there may anticipate a con tinuance of that spirit which has been always manifested in that establishment. Success will doubtless crown Mr. Clarke's efforts. He certainly promises to commence the campaign with eclat, having announced Ellen Tree and Charles Kean to open in the " Lady of Lyons." It is worth a journey to Manchester to see them play in it. STONE DRUIDICAL HARMONICON.—This musical novel ty, now that it comes to be known, is drawing numbers of persons to see it. The greatest surprise is expressed at the simplicity of the instrument, and its rude materials. It is hardly to be believed that so fine a tone could be extracted from stone. We advise our friends who are fond of " linked sweetness long drawn out," to go and hear Mr. Richardson's family perform upon it. SUGAR ESTATES IN JAMAICA ON SALE.—We perceive that several fine sugar estates in Jamaica are announced for sale in our advertising columns. The estates, we have rea sons for asserting, are in the finest possible condition, and present an admirable opportunity for investment to the en terprising capitalist. The prospect of obtaining an exten sive supply of immigrants will, no doubt, prove highly en couraging to the planters of that flourishing colony, notwith standing its recent depression. THE LIVER THEATRE.—Last evening a very effective drama was produced here, called " The Delusion," in which Mr. Elton sustained an extraordinary character, that of a man jealous of his wife. Mr. Elton's acting is true to na ture : he never overacts ; he seems to have studied Hamlet's advice to the players most carefully. The last scene in the drama was admirably done, and seemed to be highly appre ciated by the audience. As Mr. Elton will finish his engage ment this week, we recommend those who have not seen him to do so : they will be pleased with his style. Mr. Raymond, as ltfartoch Delaney, in " London Larks," kept the house literally in a roar of laughter. FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR PRESCOT. — Another accident oc curred, in the vicinity of Prescot, on Friday evening. The subject of tills accident was a man of the name of John Saunders, a j )iner by trade, and of the age of 29 years, who had been down to Liverpool with his nephew, the driver of a cart, and on their return home the deceased drove. His nephew got into the cart, and was dozing, when he fancied the horse made a start and had run away ; he got up, and then saw the deceased run from the parapet towards the horse, and make a rush to get hold of his head, when he missed and fell to the ground; the near wheel of the cart passed over his body, and after stopping the horse the de ceased was put into the cart, but he died directly afterwards. He was severely bruised on his body, and one of his thighs was broken.—An inquest was held on Saturday, before John Heyes, Esq., at which the jury returned a verdict of Acci dental death. CAUTION TO LODGING-HOUSE KEEPERS.—A woman named Elizabeth Brown, who on Saturday was brought be- Te Mr. Rushton, at the Police-court, on a charge of theft from a lodging-house to which she had found access, sub stantiated against her, was again brought up yesterday, on two charges of a similar nature. Mrs. King, keeper of a lodging-house in Cunliffe-street, said the prisoner came to her house on Friday night with a child in her arms, and in quired for iodgings, stated that she had been recommended to Mrs. K. (whose name she had learned) from the Clarence Dock. Mrs. King demurred to receive her on account of her having a child ; but was finally persuaded to provide her with a bed. On the following morning the prisoner went out, and two blankets were immediately missed from one bed in the room where she slept, and two from another. She was searched for but not found. Mrs. Gould, another lodg ing -house keeper, in Mill-place, stated that the prisoner had come to her in a similar manner, and while she had gone to prepare tea for her at her own request, she went off, taking with her three shirts, two pair of trousers, a scarf, and a handkerchief, the property of one of her lodgers. Informa tion was lodged with the police, and she was apprehended from the description given. Both witnesses stated their per fact assurance that the prisoner was the same person. She was committed to take her trial at the sessions. THE ASHTON MURDER.—FURTHER PARTICULARS.— On Wednesday, the whole of the five prisoners were brought before the magistrates at Ashton. Mr. Lord said that, as there appeared to be very great suspicion against them in the public mind, it was quite necessary that they should be de tained in custody until the result of the inquest was known. They would therefore stand remanded until Saturday. Mr. Taylor, attorney, of this town, appeared on behalf of the prisoners, and applied to have them admitted to bail ; but the magistrates did not think it proper, under the circum stances, to accept of bail. Mr. Taylor then made applica tion, on behalf of the Sawyers' Union, that they should be allowed access to the books, which were in the hands of the Ashton police, stating as the ground that there were several women and families, who were entitled to relief, but to whom it could not be given without reference to the books. Mr. Newton, the deputy constable, said he did not see that there could be any objection ; and the application was ac ceded to. On Thursday, the jury on the inquest assembled at the Swan Inn, at eleven o'clock. In answer to an in quiry from Mr. Rutter, the coroner, Mr. Newton stated that he was unprepared with any further evidence to lay before the jury. The inquest was accordingly adjourned to Thurs• day next, at the same hour.—Manc/iester Courier. AMPHITHEATRE.—Last evening Mr. W. J. Hammond's benefit came off, and we are glad to say that the house was very well attended. Master Humphrey's Clock was extremely well got up for the occasion. The tableaux illustrating the work are very prettily and effectively arranged. The enter tainments will be repeated this evening. We are glad to no tice that Mr. W. J. Hammond and Miss Daly are engaged for the season. A new piece is in preparation, which will " take the town by storm." The subject is the life and death of Buonaparte, with his exhumation, and burial in the His pital des Invalides. Great exertions are making to bring this piece out well before the public. Cooke's horses will be employed to give effect to the drama. Mr. Gomersal, who made so decided a hit some years ago as Buonaparte, at Astley's, has been engaged for this piece. So often has Mr. Gomersal imitated Buonaparte in his manner and gesture, that he has now altogether got rid of the acquired style. His Napoleon was pronounced, we remember, at the time, to be an admirable impersonation. Warde, we believe, took the character at Drury-lane at the same time, but never made anything of it. Mr. Gomersal carried all before him. The house closes for a few nights to enable the manager to get the piece up with spirit. FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY.—This society gave their tenth public performance in the Music-hall last evening. The performance consisted of a large selection from the Messiah, with Mozart's accompaniments, and we need scarcely ob serve that nothing could have been more appropriate to the season. Previously to the commencement of the oratorio, an anthem, composed for a similar society in London in honour of the birth of a Princess Royal, was sang. It is a produc tion of considerable spirit, particularly the chorus, which elicited general and well deserved applause. Mr. Stott, in the recitative " Comfort ye," and the following air " Every valley," was ineffective ; neither did Mr. Lunt produce a very favourable impression. Mr. Davies and Mr. George Lunt were in good voice, and sang admirably ; the former gave " The people that walked in darkness" with excellent precision. Miss Stott, who had a considerable portion of the solos allotted to her, gave them with much expression. She has evidently the materiel for a first-rate vocalist ; by careful cultivation she cannot fail to acquire fame, and we hope profit, as a concert singer. We scarcely know how sufficiently to describe the excellence of the choruses. They were everything that could be wished for. The band also was excellent. Altogether, the performances gave general satisfaction to a very crowded auditory. SEAMEN'S WAGES.—At the police-court, on Friday, Wm. Perry, a seaman, claimed a considerable amount of wages, as due to him from the owners of the Sapphire, in which he had served on a voyage to Lisbon, and afterwards to Monte Video and back, the time being from the 7th November, 1839, to the 7th September of the present year. He admitted that he had received some money on account. His claim was resisted, on the ground that he had absented himself from the ship at Monte Video for 14 days ; that he had damaged a boat lent to him, and had lost her sails ; and that the cost of repair, together with the expenses incurred in get ting him back from a Monte Videan vessel, on board of which he had gone, would cover the whole amount of the de mand. To this the claimant replied that he had not willingly absented himself from the ship ; but that the captain had lent him a boat ; that he had gone on shore, and was kidnapped and put on board the foreign vessel alluded to when in a state of intoxication ; aria that he was taken from her by an officer of a British man of-war, the Rose, and came home in the Sapphire. The captain, and another party who appeared for the owner, said that the services of the claimant for the voy age home was paid for by agreement (X 5), as the authorities at Monte Video would not allow the ship to leave him there ; that the boat was lent to him to go on board of a brig with a letter, with positive injunctions that he should not go on n im ty se t l o f t s o e l r d ve tl a ie s c a ap so ta ld in ie o r f . sTtt Monte anhhiienpeesdoahgp aaVr book,nnidiaerecneac)tn accepted pyaw v te e tereo s diet s pt e 6et l fne, the dtb a eh n yoffe dfet effect to a eh s e shore ; that h e did go on s h ore, and afterwards joined the bounty ttay mate, a thellwu a de s el da produce. nit oa n tan d i a hd left aldt been e o t eh n ne hbeouh absent d of his having f ori rt ee t n d a k e a y n s the. bounty y a e b had d e n r o i v personal n knowledge l from the captain, who (in reply to Mr. Rushton) repeated an oath that the man had told him that he had taken the bounty. The man as positively denied the allegation. Mr. Rush ton, believing the captain's statement, said that the claim ant, in joining another service, constituted an act of deser tion, and adjudged that he was neither entitled to his wages nor his clothes. RUNCORN. — MERSEY AND IRWELL DOCKS.—EMBARGO UPON THE SLOOP WILLIAM, BOUND FOR THE PORT OF MANCHESTER. —On Saturday last, the sloop William, freighted with coals from Rhyddland, in North Wales, arrived in these docks on her passage to the port of Manchester. Immediately upon her coming into dock, Mr. Winstanley, the custom's-house officer, interdict e d h er proceeding any further until a special order had been obtained from the comptroller and general superintendent of the Liverpool Customs. He stated to the Mersey and Irwell agent at Runcorn, that he had received express instructions from the superintendent-general of Liverpool to forbid every vessel coming coastwise, proceeding beyond the limits of Runcorn. On Wednesday evening last, five days after her arrival, the William was still lying under her c argo i n t h e dock, the cap tain not venturing to resist the extraordinary exercise of authority by which he had been visited so summarily on reaching Runcorn ; and the l oss o f ti me b ecoming a serious consideration to him, as well as to Mr. Lolly, the consignee of the potatoes, they were to be transhipped at Runcorn the following morning, and forwarded to the port of Manchester by Mr. Lolly's own flat. This interference, ostensibly on the part of the Customs, but we are pretty sure, secretly, by an influential public body, more deeply interested i n th e sub ject, and tre m blingly apprehensive of Manchester's future distinction as a port, we consider a very b o ld exper i ment indeed, and a s h ame ful restriction upon the liberty of British merchants, as well as an offence offered to the port of Man chester, which will not be tolerated for a moment. It is an act which will signally defeat its own purposes, for instead o f impeding the sche me o f d ee pening and improving the Mersey and Irwell navigation for the transit of sea-going vessels of 300 tons burden, it w ill acce l era te this noble and spirited enterprise exceedin g ly—f or thi s petty j ea l ousy o f a rival port is a striking evidence that the contemplated undertaking is not so impracticable as at first sight it might appear to be ; and we know from the report of a talented engineer, R. H. Palmer, Esq., of London, that it is not only practicable, but comparatively easy of accomplishment. We doubt not that the obstruction offered to the William will be an event in the future history of the port of Manchester of no small impor tance.—Manchester Courier. Lord and Lady Delamere will give their usual fetes at Vale Royal, after Christmas. The festivities at that splendid seat were marred, last year, by the lamentable demise of Sir Wat kin Williams Wynn, Bart. STIMONY OF RE AN.—The Rev. ;ruing the incumbency of Brym by the congregation with a very beautiful testimony of respect and regard for his untir -1 exemplary conduct. A CHRISTMAS RARITY.—Mr. William Rolland, of Fon tenoy-street, Liverpool, has a fig tree growing in a pot which is nearly in full leaf at the present period, and with a second crop of fruit upon it, two of the figs being the size of nutmegs, This is considered a great curiosity by all who have seen it. Snipes are more numerous now on Bidston Marsh and neighbourhood than they have been at this period of the year for many seasons. At Hoylake they are also very plentiful. The former place is preserved, the latter is free; and should the shooter be disappointed in his expectation of finding snipes, he may have good rabbit shooting on the warren at Hoylake at a trifling expense. Thomas Marsden, on bo, was presented I silver cup v ing labours THE EPIDEMIC AMONGST CATTLE.—This disease, after having visited several townships in the neighbourhood of Great Eccleston-in-the-Fyld e , has now appeared in that place also, and is becoming, as in other places, general. The exer tions of Mr. Richard Hutchinson, the resident veterinary surgeon, have been very successful in allaying.the disease, and by an experiment of inoculation, he feels certain that animals will have the disease much more mildly than by tak ing it naturally.—Preston Chronicle. AN INGENIOUS SWINDLER.—On Wednesday last, a man who called himself John Walters, was brought up at Oldham, before Elijah Hibbert, Esq., charged with having obtained money under false pretences. He was proved to have been obtaining subscriptions for the pretended purpose of assisting a Capt. Parker and his crew, whose vessel was said to have been wrecked. A number of begging letters and a forged memorial, professing to be signed by several authorities of Liverpool were found upon him. The memorial was exceed. ingly well drawn up, and much calculated to deceive. Wal ters told a confused tale of having had the papers given to him. He was committed for three months' imprisonment as a vagrant. COAL MINING EXTRAORDINARY.—In March, 1836, seven men commenced sinking two coal pits at Wood Park, be tween Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham, belonging to Messrs. Lees and Co.;and on Thu rs d ay wee k t h ey comp l ete d t h e i r work. The epth of one shaft is 378 yards 6 inches, and of the other, 365 yard s 2 f eet 6 inches. S i x out of the seven men have worked the whole time in sinking. They have cut through ten beds of coal, and one of cannel ; and, when at the depth of 180 yards, they stepped upwards of 3000 gallons of water per hour, without lessening the diameters of the pits, which are ten feet each for the whole depth. The men have had the good fortune to finish their work without a single accident. On Monday last, the proprietors of the colliery gave the sinkers a very handsome present. SINGULAR ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday last, a large cart laden with pieces of calico belonging to Mr. Alfred Orrell, of Stockport, and drawn by two horses, was proceeding up Crow Alley, and when opposite to the extensive excavations between Ducie Place and New Market, which extend to the verse of Crow Alley, the weight and shaking of the laden cart causing a slip of a portion of the soil,—the cart and horses were suddenly precipitated to the bottom of the exca vation, a depth of 17 or 18 feet. The horses were promptly disengaged ; and, to the great surprise of those who wit nessed this accident, they were led out of the pit to Ducie Place, without appearing to be in the slightest degree injured by the fall. The calicoes were thrown off the cart, and the cart was a little damaged, but much less than might reason ably have been expected from the nature of the place and of the accident.—Manchester Guardian. FATAL ACCIDENTS.—On Friday, an inquest was held on the body of a child, the daughter of a person named Davies, living in Carspthers-street. The child, which was three years old, fell into the fire whilst the mother was frying bacon, and so dangeously injured, that it died in a day or two. Ver dict—" Accidentally death."—On Friday, an inquest was held on the b o dy of Samuel Parry, a corporal of Marines, belonging t o H. M. steamer Wilberforce. The steamer Hercules, in the Trafalgar Dock, was lying alongside the Wilberforce, and the deceased, before getting on board his own vessel, had to cross the Herc n les, belongi ng t o th e S t , George St eam - pac ket Company. The hatchway of the latter was open, and the deceased fell into the hold, about five o'clock on th e ev ening of Th urs d ay. He was conveyed to the Northern Hospital, and died almost immediately. It appeared from the evidence that a watchman who was on deck at th e t i me o f the accident, ca ll ed out to the deceased, but too late to preveut it.—Verdict, Accidental death." THE MAILS IN CHESTEIL—We understand that, on Monday, Lord Robert Grosvenor and the Hon. E. M. Lloyd Mostyn waited on the authorities at the General Post Office, in order to obtain for Chester and the northern part of the principality the advantage of the opening of the Chester and Crew branch of the Grand Junction Railway, in the conveyance of the mail. They received an assurance, that notwithstanding obstacles had been thrown in the way of such arrangement, yet that in the ensuing month the Chester and Welsh mails would be transmitted by railway to this city. This will enable a post delivery of London letters and papers to take place in this city by six o'clock every evening, and by eight o'clock every morning ; an d the Lon don letters and papers of the evening of one day to be deli vered in every part of the Flintshire and part of Denbigh shire, by breastfast time next morning ; and be facilitated at least two hours in every other part of t h e principality, which is communicated with through Chester.—Chester Chronicle DISTINGUISHED COMPLIMENT TO LIEUTENANT FAT HER, R.N.—The members of the United St a t es Navy Clu b , at New York, have eleelectedlaeutenant Fay rer , R . N ., an ho n o ra ry member ; a distinction that has not before been conferred on any foreigner, and but rarely to even gentlemen of the highest standing id the United States. The diploma admitting Lieutenant Fayrer as a member of th e club, was a c companied by a most kind and flattering letter from Com modore Renshaw. the president of the club, and at present commanding the United States ship-of-the-line North Carolina, of 104 guns. The first article of the constitution states :—" That it shall consist of four classes of members, to wit, resident, absent, corresponding, and honorary. Resi dent members shall be such as dwell in the city of New York and its immediate neighbourhood; corresponding members, those not belonging to the navy or marine corps : and hono rary members, such as may be entitled, by divtinguished merit, to be admitted into the society. The number of hono rary members shall nor exceed forty, nor shall corresponding members be taxed." CAUTION TO THE PUBLIC.-It behoves the public, and more particularly the tradespeople, to be on their guard against a person who has been traversing this and other counties, under the guise of soliciting the acceptance of agencies for vending " Mackintosh's India rubber patent liquid for waterproofing and polishing furniture, cloth, leather, &c." which, according to the label on the bottle, purports to be manufactured at Cheapside, London, and at Manchester. When the impostor—for such he evidently is—has prevailed on his dupe to consent to become the " sole agent" of the place, he modestly tells him, that the supply, with which he will there and then furnish him, is to be paid for in advance, adding, that this is indispensably necessary for the purpose of paving advertising expenses. Immense pro fits are offered, and rapid sale is guaranteed, of course, to the agent, who is solemnly assured that in three days afterwards a further supply will be sent per railway, together with 500 circular advertisements and specimens to shew the efficacy of the fluid. Thus he has succeeded in getting many inexpe rienced tradesmen to take his thrash, and, what is most pro voking to part with their hard cash. Of course the pretended traveller is never more heard o f.—Manchester Guardian. FRIGHTFUL AND FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE PRESTON AND LANCASTER RarLwAy.—Ort Wednesday afternoon last, between four and five o'clock, a most fearful collision took place on the Lancaster and Preston railway, between Dock-street and the Maudland (Preston and Wyre) station, about 100 yards from the crossing to the latter place. It appears that during the afternoon an old man, about 62 years of age, named Henry Taylor, a labourer on the railway, had been carting some ballast from near the Maudland station towards Preston, and having finished his days' work about half-past four o'clock, was returning towards the Maudland with his empty waggons. After he had emptied his last load, he was requested by several of the officers to go off the line, as the Fleetwood train was mo mentarily expected. He, however, refused to comply with h i s advice, and said h e should be able to get off before the train came up. He was warned by several persons as to the danger of returning on the rails, but he seemed to pay no attention, and said " he had no doubt he could get off the line before the train came up." The unfortunate man was, however, in a few minutes destined to pay dear for his temerity. The train left the Maudland station a few minutes before five, and had come about 100 yards on the Lancaster line when the engine suddenly came in contact with the waggons driven by Tay lor. Fortunately the train was proceeding very slowly at the time, not above six miles an hour, otherwise the consequence must have been direful in the extreme. As soon as the col lision took place, the engineer stopped the engine instantly, when it was ascertained that so far as the engine, carriages, and passengers were concerned, no damage of consequence, and no personal injury whatever, was sustained. On walk ing round the carriages, the guard found the deceased Henry Taylor lying on the railway. He never spoke, and was per fectly dead. His body was completely cut in two, his head being laid in one direction and his feet in another. An in quest was held on the body in the Town-hall, on Thursday, before Mr. Palmer, coroner, when evidence was given which in substance was precisely similar to the above account. The jury returned a verdict of " accidental death," and expressed an opinion that not the slightest blame could be imputed to the servants of the company. Several of the principal offi cers connected with the railway were in attendance during the investigation.—Preston Chronicle. CAUTION TO RAILWAY COMPANY'S SERVANTS.— ACCIMCNTS.—The directors of the Manchester and Leeds Railway Company have issued their second monthly number, that for November, of a serial publication on railway acci dents, addressed to their own servants in all the departments of duty on their line. It is a goodly octavo phamphlet of 42 pages, commencing with some account, derived from the evidence on the inquest, of the accident on the York and North Midland Line, attended with the loss of two lives ; and the other cases printed in the pamphlet are the committal of an engine-driver on the Liverpool and Manchester Line, for a month, under Lord Seymour's act, for disobeying the regulations of the company in reference to the locomotive engine entrusted to his care ; the conviction and infliction of a penalty upon a labourer on the Manchester and Leeds Line, for not removing a wheelbarrow far enough from the rails, so that the steps of a carriage upset it ; the eommittal of a " plate-layer," on the same line, for two months, to the Wakefield House of Correction, under Lord Seymour's act, for neglect of duty in not making a signal to stop an approach ing train, when an obstruction had been caused by raising some rails ; a caution issued by the company to their servants referring to this case, to the effect, that, " in all instances where negligence or disobedience is shewn to any of the rules or regulations of the company, or any omission in the dis charge of their several duties, such servants will be proceeded against with the utmost rigour ; it being the full determination of the company to use the utmost caution i n or d er to preve nt accidents; and, as far as possible, to protect the lives and pro perty of the public travelling upon the said railway." The next case notieed is the late fatal accident on the London and Birmingham Line, where a verdict of murder was returned against the deceased engine driver ; a letter, in reference to it, reprobating the practice of employing as engineers persons who have not been properly trained to that business ; and the last case noticed was the conviction of an auctioneer for having got upon an engine on the Eastern Counties Line, and turned on the steam, by which m eans h e cause d t h e en gine to run over and dash to pieces a horse carriage and coal truck, and by this collision was himself thrown out, and narrowly escaped being killed on the spot. He was sentenced to be imprisoned for six months, and fined in the penalty of £5. We understand that the directors issue these pamphlets to their superintendents and principal servants along the line, by whom they are distributed to every individual employed under the company, each man receiving a copy to take home for his own reading ; and the material parts, e i ther po i nt i ng out the causes of accidents, or any negligence on the part of railway company's servants , or contai n i ng useful suggest i ons in the way of caution or . improvement , are rendered conspi cuous by being printed Italics . Thus th ese littl e publica tions must be doing great good in bringing to the knowledge of all concerned in the working of the line, the danger of their negligence in reference to the lives of passengers, and the serious responsibility which devolves upon themselves, with the almost certainty of punishment for any act of gross negli gence, even though. it should not be attended with any serious consequences. Thus they are trained already, while the line is but partially opened, in those habit s o f caut i on an d atten tion so desirable in, and indeedimperative upon, all persons concerned in the working of railway transit —Manchester Guardian. THE DISPENSARIES.—The funds of these excellent chari ties are, we are sorry to find, quite insufficient to meet the ordinary expenditure. The institutions, in fact, are many hundred pounds in debt. This circumstance will, we trust, induce the benevolent to come to the aid of the dispensaries, and by subscriptions and dnnatinn. I litiumaLc butsEanaing debts, and meet the current expenditure. Meanwhile, we have great pl easure i n announc i ng the receipt of the handsome benefactions of £lOO to each of the dispen— saries from the Misses Colquitt, at the request of their late sister, Miss Mary Colquitt. The treasurer has also received £4O from Miss Hilton, at the request of her late father ; and £lOO from Wellwood Maxwell, Esq., as executor to the late John M'Adam, Esq., formerly of this town. CURE OF SQUINTING.—It is an extremely pleasing and satisfactory result of modern science, that that obliquity of the eyeball called squinting, can be cured in the most perfect manner by a short, delicate, and not very painful operation. Our townsman, Mr. Robert Atkinson, has operated M a great number of cases, and with invariable and complete success. We perceive from an advertisement that he is about to visit Liverpool, the inhabitants of which town may safely apply to him to cure the disfigurement referred to.—Leeds Mercury. THE " PORT OF WARRINGTON."—CaPtiLI Ellison, the owner of the flats that have so successfully and so recently succeeded in bringing cargoes direct from Ireland to Man chester and Warrington, is now about to make Warrington an export town also. The Conservative is now at Bank Quay, taking in a cargo of railway waggons consigned to Scotland, and will sail in the course of a few days.—Man chester Courier. GRAND PROTESTANT CONFEDERATION OF LOYAL. ORANGEMEN.-A new lodge in connexion with the above association was opened on Saturday evening last, at the house of Brother Henry Pennington, Wheat Sheaf Inn, Bedford, West Leigh, for which occasion the room was tastefully de corated with evergreens, artificials, flowers, fruit, elegant banners, &c. About 100 of the brethren partook of a most sumptuous repast, which was served in a manner highly satis factory to all present. At the conclusion of the dinner non nobis domine was sang by the glee singers present, and on the removal of the cloth, the chair was taken by J. M. Sil rester, Esq., G. M., of Great Britain and Wales, supported by Henry Rigby, Esq., Gregory, Esq., and others. The vice-president selected for the occasion was William Hurst, Esq., of Leigh.—Manchester Courier, BRIDGEWATER CANAL PLATMEN-It will be gratifying to all who feel interested in the moral welfare of watermen, to know that Lord Francis Egerton has accepted the kind offer of the Rev. F. Master, vicar of Runcorn, to undertake the special pastoral superintendence and instruction of his lordship's numerous body of flatmen and others employed on the Bridgewater Canal at Runcorn : and for the purpose of carrying the benevolent offer of the vicar into effect, a com modious room is ordered to be prepared upon the premises of the Bridge . water establishmeni j , wherein the men can assemble at convenient opportunities for instruction ; besides which special religious services will be afforded them at the parish church. This increased duty, solwillingly undertaken by the vicar, we fear will be '— than his strength will long sust&- .s, .n, and we hope to hear o, him sharing the labour with a good and active curate.— Manches:er Courier. THE BANK OF MANCHESTER.-SWINDLING EXTRAORDINARY. (From our own Correspondent.) On Saturday morning, a person called at the Postoffice, Manchester, just at the time of opening, and called out for the number of the box assigned for the letters of the Bank of Manchester. This call was responded to by the clerk in at tendance, by whom the letters were delivered to the indi vidual in question, though such individual was a stranger. It fortunately happened that the London parcel from the bank's agents, Messrs. Dennison and Co., was so large that the box assigned for the letters would not admit it ; and, in consequence, it was laid aside, and therefore not delivered with the letter. There is some, though not a sufficient excuse on behalf of the delivering clerk, for so careless and strange and negligent a proceeding, as the crowd in attendance is so great, that, unless a point was made of distinctly recognizing each person to whom the letters were delivered, that such an occurrence may be supposed as not unlikely to 'occur. The amount contained in the letters cannot of course be very soon ascertained, as the bank must be ignorant from whepce remittances might come on the morning in question. Notice, however, was promptly given to all the banks in town and neighbourhood, with a caution not to take any notes or bills from strangers. This caution was effective in one case, viz., in that of a check presented to Jones, Loyd, and Co., for near £5OO. There being sonic hesitation on the part of the paying clerk, the person presenting it left the bank, saying he would call again, but this he neglected to do. If any further particulars trrnspire by five or seven o'clock you may expect a further communication. THE FINE ARTS We had yesterday the pleasure of inspecting, at Mr. Lin necar's, two very fine works of art, which will shortly make their public appearance. The first we shall notice is an etching from a picture by Mr. Alexander Johnston, a vary rising artist, who had two clever pictures in the exhibition here just closed, one of which, marked 296 in the catalogue, and described as " An Interview between Mary and the Regent Murray," attracted great notice. The picture from which the etching has been made was hung in the London exhibition this year. The subject is taken from Allan Ram say's rustic drama of the " Gentle Shepherd." The follow ing portion of the poem is appended to the plate : " Last morning I was gay arid early out, Upon a dyke I lean'd, glow'ring about ; I saw my Meg come linking o'er the lee, I saw my Meg, but Meggy saw na' me." The publication of the ".Gentle Shepherd" placed Allan Ramsay in a front rank amongst the poets of Scotland, and the painter has not done him injustice, having carried out his meaning by producing a picture in which a scene from humble life is vividly depicted. We find the " gentle shep herd " leaning against " the dyke" (a low stone wall), in an easy and picturesque attitude. The rustic lover has placed his crook beside him, and appears to be watching with great intentness the form of his Meg, who comes " linking o'er the lee." She really seems to " trip along" in all the joyous ness of youth, innocence, and beauty : her figure is so grace ful and full of lightness, that she appears to bound along the path of her native hills. The dog at the feet of the shepherd is happily placed : he seems to be on the alert, and to watch, with an interest as great as his master's, the approaching lassie. The broken fence and the little pit of water, the undulating landscape and the farm in the distance, are all very happily pourtrayed. This work will induce many to read Allan's " Gentle Shepherd," the scene of which is laid in the Pentland Hills. If Mr. Bromley, the engraver, pro eeeds in the same style of excellence, a very superior and attractive work of art will be produced. The other work which we had the pleasure of seeing is a mezzotint° from a painting by Lady Burghersh, the niece of the Duke of Wellington. The subject is his lordship writink his despatches at Waterloo, after the battle, the story of which may be briefly told. On th e n i g ht of the 18th June, the Duke of Wellington returned to the small inn, in the vil lage of Waterloo, w h ere h e h a d l o d ge d the night before. He found the bed in which he had slept occupied by his aide-de camp, Sir Alexander Gordon, who had been brought there severely wounded. The duke went into an adjoining room, spread his cloak on some unthreshed corn which he found there, and laid down to rest : at three o'clock in the morning of the 19th, he was awakened by the intelligence of the death of Sir Alexander Gordon ; and feeling he could no longer continue to rest, he rose and began to write his despatch describing the battle of Waterloo, which he afterwards finished at, and forwarded from, Brussels. His grace has given her ladyship several sittings for the portrait ; and all the accesso ries of the picture, the duke's sword, hat, &c., and the articles upon the table, are exact representations of those used on that memorable occasion. The back-ground represents the room where the remains of Sir Alexander Gordon were lying, with the morning-light breaking. Two officers are watching the body. The light is admirably thrown through the case ment. The duke is seen seated at the table, a cresset lamp illuminating his fine countenance. He is in a plain dress. The face wears a cast of deep thought. The likeness, in our opinion, is one of the truest ever taken. This work is deeply interesting, and we have no hesitation in prophesying that the publishers, Messrs. Welch and Gwynne, will be honoured with a long list of subscribers in every part of this country. It is a national work, as illustrating an incident in an impor tant period of history. The style in which the engraving is executed by Mr. Hodgetts, deserves great praise : the lights and shadows are skilfully wrought. Mr. Hodgetts has caught a spark from the genius of the noble painter, and has, by handing her ladyship's artistical effort down to posterity, added a palm to the wreath she is so well entitled to wear. This engraving will form an appropriate companion to Lady Burghersh's picture of the Countess of Mornington. THE THREE SCRIPTURAL SUBJECTS, PAINTED BY THE CARACCI, VIEWED IN THI We hay TRUE LIGHT, iy calle of the public to th we beg they w best pres of o ent season, probably, - enjoinsits to direct the attentioi - friends to this subject, especially those who are en trusted with th ducation of youth, and are desirous of sound moral principles, by impressing on the those ineffaceable recollections which time itself cannot obliterate or overcome. Nothing can effect this end so powerfully, so truly as th, eye. Objects, through its means, immediately address them selves to the understanding, while the more complex and abstruse knowledge of books leaves the young mind in the dark, or makes but little impression upon it. We ourselves can recollect, that, in the days of our early youth, those objects which made the greatest impression on our mind, were the engravings of scriptural subjects in our old Family Bible. To this very day we can see the two men ' ,, nee bunches of grapes which they brought on 11 on their shoulders, from the land hich with milk and with honey. if such an ob . —mina- mind from what we should carrying the ject could capiivat , inferior engraving,, how much mor 4 and vivid representations of sty'- ,our calling into life the Widow' doy who was born blind inr: when even the most intelligent regard the with wonder and delight, and revisit them with plr 'Where objects are of a high, intellectual, a. - well pronounced and easily understood, the mind acquires bias towards them which dwells long on the recollection. This axiom should not be disregarded on the present occa sion, for we have a case in point now before us, and one which may not again return. Without, therefore, many words, we have but one short advice to offer : take your children and shew them the miracles of Christ: they are written in plain and legible characters ; let each child have the subject explained as fully given in the text, and, our word for it, it will prove a lecture which will not be soon for gotten : it will be remembered all the days of their lives. We speak not unadvisedly, or without just and due consi deration.—Albion. curing holder our Saviour call .ss the yot id moral cl FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES Duties paid to government by the Fire Insurance Office, for the year 1839 : LONDON OFFICES SUN (established in 1710) .... Alliance Atlas British County Globe Guardian Hand-in -hand Imperial ... Independent and West ' Middlesex Licensed Victuallers London Phoenix Protector (discontinued) Royal Exchange Union Westminster £158,688 25,512 25,121 18,348 45,099 33,320 34,916 10,993 28,221 2,071 5,209 13,258 130,149 69,875 18,211 18,662 COUNTRY OFFICES Birmingham Birmingham District. Bristol (discontinued) Bristol Union. Caledonian Essex Economic Essex and Suffolk Hants, Sussex, and Dorset Kent Leeds and Yorkshire Leicestershire X 8,278 3,151 3,407 Liverpool Manchester Newcastle-upon-Tyne .. New Norwich Equitable Norwich Union North British Reading Salop . : 2,749 6,185 3,097 5,698 2,614 11,413 11,659 1,490 6,270 20,467 5,886 1,512 66,873 8,185 227 3,059 2,600 ' Sheffield Suffolk East I United Suffolk West West of England .............. 32,422 Yorkshire . 11,334 York and London .............. 11,583 Scottish Union ................ 20,502 Hibernian(discontinued) Irish Offices} National 5,135 Patriotic 2,975 THIRTY-FOUR FIRE-OFFICES (chiefly those lately esta blished) have discontinued their business. 11,296 APROPOS OF ELECTIONS.—Said a clergyman to a bride, " What do you think of the connubial state 1" " I think it will go for Harrison," was the reply. DISSENTERS AND THE PRAYER Boos.—We believe there are scores of dissenters who gratify themselves by indulging in this kind of rant against the prayer-book and the written sermons of the clergy, merely because they are profoundly ignorant of the true character of both. It happened not long ago, in Wales (haud ficta loquimur), that a youngster was appointed to the pastoral charge of a dissenting congregation. Dissent was low, and the church popular. Something must be done to revive the cause ; accordingly a lecture against the Prayer -book was suggested to the youthful minister as an admirable method of exhibiting his own powers and rais ing the dissenting " interest" at —. To this he had but one objection, which was; that he knew nothing about the Prayer-book, except, in general, that it was Popish, and formal, and so forth. However, he commenced his studies upon the dangerous volume, and dangerous it proved, for he found, to his amazement, a body of devotion, scriptural, spiritual, edifying. In a word, he renounced dissent, and is now a warmly-devoted son and minister of the established church. CORRESPONDENCE CATHOLIC AND POPISH FORMS OF ABSO- LUTION THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD SIR Your contemporary, the fercury, in its leading Lou zuLn uir., tons modestly reminds its readers and the community at large of the invaluable services which it has from time to time conferred :—" In the course of our occasional animadversions on the speeches and sermons of the most rampant of the no-popery party, w•e have repeatedly nnt the inconsistency of their sarcasms upon certain doctrines which the Protestants hold in common with the Roman Catholics, if there be any tn2aning in words Amongst these are the doctrines of transubstantiation ar the power of the minister to absolvP tent e pen'. from their sins." And again, further on :—" We assert, however, that if there be any meaning in words, the power of the Pro testant minister, to forgive sins, is as unequivocally re cognised by the Protestant church as by the Catholic priests, and we proceed to the proof." Then your contemporary, in the way of " proof," gives two of the three forms of absolu tion as they stand in our Apostolic and Catholic Liturgy ; but, for reasons best known to the writer, favours not the public with the popish forms as they exist in the Rituale Ronzanum. The " article" winds up with the following " flourish of trumpets :"—" We have also shewn, on a for mer occasion, that another tory oracle, Bishop Philpotts, has expressly admitted that the ministers of the Established Church are invested with authority TO FORGIVE THE CRIMES of penitent sinners; and with a Protestant bishop and the Rev. Hugh M`Neile on our side, we have little to fear fro• the attacks of the minion fry of the Courier, Mail STANDARD." It would appear, however, that the writer of the above is not disposed to content himself with the services which he then vouchsafed ; for in the Mercury of last Friday he in dulges his readers with a " brief reiteration," in the way of stirring up their recollection, thus :—" We have often pointed out the inconsistency and indecency of ridiculing the Roman Catholic doctrines about the real presence, and the power of the priests to forgive human sins, when our (1.) own liturgy unequivocally recognises precisely the same doc trines, as we have proved by quotations from the Protestant Prayer-book. &c. &c." Now, sir, I have no right —nor have I the disposition —to impute to the writer of the extracts cited above a wilful sup pression of the Romish forms of absolution, for "I would rather imagine him to be ignorant that there existed any differences between them and those of our own church ; but at the same time I cannot help expressing my deep regret that he did not consult the Romish formulary, to which I have already adverted, ere he ventured to put forth state ments calculated to widen, still more, the breach between churchmen and dissenters. With your permission, then, I shall now give the three forms of absolution, as they are to be found in our Book of Common Prayer, and place in juxtaposition with them the forms used by the Romish priesthood, as extracted from the Rituale Romanum now before me The form of Absolution in Forms of Absolution in •or, after the ROMISH CHURCH. '—BOOK Morning Pra. general Confession OF COMMON PRAYER. RUBRIC. " Almighty God, the Fa- " Thenwhenhe[thePriest] ther of our Lord Jesus wishes to absolve the Peni- Christ, who desireth not the tent, a SALUTARY PENANCE death of a sinner, but rather having been first enjoined, that he may turn from his and upon being received by wickedness and live ; and him—he says first : hath given power and com- May the Almighty God mandment to His ministers,' have mercy upon thee, and, to DECLARE and pronounce thy sins being forgiven, lead to His people, B EING PENS - to everlast i ng lif e ." TENT, the absolution and re mission of their sins : He. pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repen unfeignedly believe His holy Gospel. WHEREFORE LET US BESEECH HIM to grant us His Holy Spirit, that tliose. things may - please Him which we do at - this present: and that the rest of our life here after may be pure and holy ; so that at the last we may come to His eternal joy: through Jesus Christ our Lord." RUBRIC. The form of Absolution after " Then lifting up his right the general Confession' in hand towards the Penitent, the COMMUNION Service. he says:— "Almighty God, our hea- " May Almighty and Mer verily Father, who of His ciful Lord grant unto thee great mercy hath promised the indulgence, absolution, forgiveness of sins to all them and remission of thy sins. that with hearty repentance Amen. May our Lord Jesus and true faith turn unto Him : Christ absolve thee ; and I Have mercy upon you ; par- by his authority absolve thee don and deliver you from from all the bond of excorn all your sins ; confirm and munication, suspension, and strengthen you in all good- interdiction, as far as I can ness ; and bring you to ever- and thou needest. Also I lasting life ; through Jesus absolve thee from thy sins, Christ our Lord. Amen." in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen." RUBRIC The form of Absolution at "If the penitent should be the Visitation of the Sick. a layman, the word suspen " Our Lord Jesus Christ, sion to be omitted. who hath left power to His " May the PASSION of our Church to absolve all sinners Lord Jesus Christ, and the who truly repent and believe MERITS of the blessed VIR, in Him, of His great mercy GIN MARY, and of ALL THE forgive thee thine offences: SAINTS, and WHATEVER And by His authority corn- GOOD thou hast done, and mitted to me, I absolve thee EVIL thou hast SUFFERED, from all thy sins. In the be UNTO thee for a REMIS• name of the Father, and of sum OF SINS, INCREASE of the Son, and of the Holy grace, and the REWARD of Ghost. Amen." eternal life." " The rite," or form, " of absolving an excommu nicated person already dead." RUBRIC. " If any excommunicated person departing from this life should have given a sign of contrition, lest he should be deprived of ecclesiastical burial—but be assisted by the suffrages of the church, as far as it can be done—he may be absolved after this manner : —lf the body has not yet been buried, let it be SCOURGED and ABSOLVED as below; then, being absolved, let it be interred in a sacred place. But if it should have been buried in a profane place, it shall be exhumed, if it can be conveniently done, and SCOURGED in the same manner, and after AB SOLUTION buried in a sacred place ; but if it cannot be conveniently exhumed, let the PLACE of burial be SCOURGED, afterwards let IT be ABSOLVED. But if it has been buried in a sacred place, it shall be exhumated, but the grave shall be LASHED. And whilst he is LASHING the body, or the place of bu rial, the priest says the antiphone—' The bones which were humbled shall rejoice in the Lord;' the Psalm. ' Have mercy upon me, God,' &c. &c. " When this is done, let sit be ABSOLVED by By the authority granted unto me I AB SOLI, E thee from the bond of EXCOMMUNICATION which thou bast incurred (or thou art declared to have incurred), on account of such an action, and I RESTORE thee to the COMMUNION of the FAITH FUL, in the name of the Father, &c. &c. &c.' " Rituale Romanian, pp. 68, 69. 72. I now leave your readers to admire the contrast which )ur Catholic forms of absolution, as they stand in our li urgy, present, when placed alongside of those practised by he Grand Apostacy. In my next letter, with your permission, I shall go as ninutely as may be necessary into the stated requisites to yards insuring the validity of absolution in the papal hurch ; and also transcribe at length—in the hope of dis !busing such as may have been abused by your contemporary he Mercury—the statement of the Church of England with sa y ing - .espect to absolution ; and that, too, as defined by that great ind erudite, though whip-maligned prelate—Dr. Philpotts, 3ishop of Exeter. I am, sir, yours faithfully, St. Helens, 17th Dec., 1840. PACIANUS DESTITUTION OF THE POORER CLASSES TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, SlR, — The misery which exists in the neighbourhood of Vauxhall-road and Marybone, renders it imperatively neces sary that the wealthier classes should bestir themselves to do something towards its amelioration, or have the alternative of seeing the poor perish for very lack of bread. No an nouncement has yet appeared concerning the soup shops. May I ask, through the medium of your paper, if those gentlemen who so kindly interested themselves last year, will come forward again, and open subscription-books at the different public offices ?—Yours, ALIQUIS. Dec. 21, 1840. !Our correspondent's suggestion is worthy of grave consi deration ;—we shall be glad to see something done for the alleviation of the distress he so feelingly alludes to. — ED. L. S.l CHARTIST Row.—lt appears from both our contempo raries that a cdollision took place between the Chartists and the old Political Union party, in the Watt Institution Hall, on Tuesday evening last. It appears that a body, terming themselves the Anti-Corn Law Association, called a meeting of " all friendly" to their society on the above evening, George Kinloch, Esq. in the chair. The presence of the son of the once-idolized refugee fr. , m and representative of the town of Dundee, however, could not restrain the violence of the Chartists, who had sworn to allow no inferior agita tion to that of the charter. Accordingly, a full muster of the worthies attended the meeting, headed by a James Low ; and all Mr. Kinloeh's efforts to preserve order were, from the first moment, utterly useless. A regular row ensued—. cheering, yelling, groaning, and hissing alternately, without intermission, until the Anti-Corn Law Association were driven from the hall. A fierce contest then took place for the chair, but the appearance of Mr. Corstorphen and a posse of police officers promptly put an end to the fight. A vote in favour of the charter was then carried by acclaim mation.—Dundee Courier. RAILWAY TO Yc RAILWAY INTELLIGEM cannot s Walker, from ( York, and that plans hay clerks of the peace for the way cou ;overnment tur bers, we doubt it MIDLAND COI ary bri Manchester and I I in printing and c 1 the c A. tempo.— -- s . nas been t avelling on this part of the line. ivernment contemplate ILWAY their se working classes a la fourchette is —Stock port A MI AND RA week ending 12th December—Passenger and horses, £1637 is sd; merchandise £2323 13s ld. Not including North M Manchester and Leeds traffic. MANCHESTER AND LEEDS RAIL' directors of this railway will travel alc opened on the 21st instant, the railway the public in less than a week or ten day first Monday in the new year. GREAT NORTH OF ENGLAND RAILWAY.-It has 1 announced that the Great North of England Railway f Darlington to York will be ready for the conveyance of on Monday, the 4th of January next, and that coals wi ready for sale at the several depOts on the line, viz., at Alne, Easingwold, Thirsk, Northallerton, Cowton, and ( The arrangements for opening the line for passengers and for general traffic are in a ve and it is expected that they will be mature a very few weeks.—Newcastle Journal conveyance a d van ced state, STATE OF TRAM LEEDS.—The woollen trade continues active for the se: son, a great deal of the business being now' done to order This, of course, keeps down the stocks in the Cloth flail to which the merchants only resort when they want to mall up assortments. The transactions in the flails, therefor< afford no safe criterion of the amount of business,doing There has, however, been full as extensive sales effected dur ing the week as in any week for some time past. BRADFORD MARKET. — Considering the period of th year, we had a full average attendance of buyers at this mar ket on Thursday, and a fair amount of business was done a former rates. As it is generally thought that wool will no be lower, and that there will be a brisk demand upon th commencement of the new year, the manufacturers seen disposed to increase their stocks; but various causec .mil prevent this being done to any extent rather brisk, at former ra he yarn mar e trade c An un which at tend F.CEPTION O. Majesty hay In the wool an active demand for combin b qualities, but in the better sorts done. There was no variation in price ENGLISH WOOL.—The state of O. the same, being still very unprofitable rally, on account of the nea everi from the farmer to the .rly univ a fair demand forso nay be said to be -Leeds Intelligences BURNED TO DEA took place in Prescot other to the many thousand vicar/ The suffere vet s Lucas, was seen the preceding evenin g, cated, and about 12 o'clock he had lain evening, to sit—. Lee Wall, and near to the mouth of one of the ovens of Pottery, a place where many of the lower class are i habit of sleeping (notwithstanding the endeavours of the prietors to prevent it). He was seen in that situatior workman belonging to the pottery, who though: was too near the mouth of the oven, and removed him s, distance off. The workman afterwards left that part of t works, with the deceased in the situation he had placed 1- In about an hour afterwards he was alarmed by for proceeding from the Lee Wall, in which he had leP ceased, and on arriving there he found a chimr who had been sleeping a short distance from and who had also been alarmed by the cr; ther beheld the deceased, who was liter? who seemed to dread their nearer throwing out his arms ud crying of They. ! keep them away! and enveloped the bo lereby extinguished t moved and a surgeon sent f sufferer, but without avail, he could noner of t 'ntal death afterwards had caught fire. An inquest v Wm. Pemberton, Esq Prescot.—Verdict, Ac The tolls of the Bath Trust were Robinson for £lO,OOO. per year ; tl ing off has been comparatively trifling. The sheep stocks in the upland districts are in healthy and thriving condition, indeed, much more has been the case during the last four years ; and this able state of matters will in the spring tell greatly for neflt of the store farmers.—Newcastle Journal. The late Mr. Culley, of Coupland Castle, near Wo said to have to have exceeded in value the fee simp is scarcely an instance on record, we believe, of wh_ affected by milldew, when grown on the land where r been eaten off by sheep.—Newcastle Journal. REPRESENTATION OF WALSALL.—We have just that there is a vacancy in the represen consequence of the retirement of Mr Law Circala? . a of Wa VESSEL DESTINED FOR government had been making ii Bengal, but that their destinatio since heard on got for a large numbe burden, and their dentin thority as compensation, a good round sum for the run d the island. They take uo cargo from this port, but 01 ing at Chusan will be held available for general set East Indian Telegraph. GENUINE HONESTY.—A traveller for a Newcastle lost his pocket-book, containing .f. 300, between Hex Alston, a few days ago ; and on missing it he retu the hope that it might be recovered. On the road with a person named Batey, and inquired if he had pocket-book. Batey replied in the affirmative, and it, with the money safe. Five pounds having him for his restoration, he inquired if the tra principal in the firm, and on finding that he w fused to accept the donation.—Newc A correspondent of the John o' Groat Jo, ing the loss of a Prussian galliot on one Islands, naively says, " The natives will deriv from the disaster.' It must have been an ill that blew nobody good; and the Orkneymen se, themselves very scurvily used by the elements. 0 friends long derived plentiful harvests from the se, frequently furnished the plenishing of their house. means of keeping up a cheerful blaze during the lo of their stormy winter. But the law which for' had reached Tain, has now, we hope, advar , northward, and taught the peop' - propriety and the justice of ree the sea has washed upon their The King of the Belgians has issued th,.. dated the 16th instant :—" Article 1. Our wc. Prince Leopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor title of Duc de Brabant, which title shall in futt borne by the eldest son of the King, or, in defth by the King's eldest grand son . Article 2. Our v son Prince Philippe Eugene Ferdinand Marie C douin Leopold George shall bear title of C' dres."—Galignani's Messenger. ', been C astle Jour ;! of the I eating the LORD AUCKLAND'S RESIGNATION Or GENERALSHIP OF INDIA. -Our readers (C, may not perhaps be aware that Lord Auckla, resignation of the governor-generalship of Ind of Directors some months back. We now xi' we have no doubt of the fact, that his lordship's has been accepted, the intelligence having reach, by the last overland mail. The Hon. T. C. Roberts , ber of the Supreme Council and deputy governor of has been appointed to succeed provisionally to the generalship, which high situation it is expected he ttnue to fill till September, 1843, the date of the e of his service as member of the Supreme Council as governor of Bengal. DISGRACEFUL OUTRAGE.—SOMe time hotel in town was the scene of one of the mos outrages to men moving in the sphere of gentle possibly be imagined, and which, it is undo shortly occupy the attention of the Supreme the discreditable affair be hushed up by the offe the amount of the damage sustained by the 1 and the expense of the legal proceedings alret It appears that three individuals, on a given da hotel in the New Town at a late hour in the (' having been served with refreshments, which dered, proceeded in the most wanton maneeF furniture of the apartment (the commercial r cupied, and perpetrated other outrages whic' the most degraded of the " lords of err breaking open and soiling letters addresse table gentlemen, visitors to the hotel in pockets of a great-coat belongio , - which was hanging in the room, t minations by writing on the window-blinus, ... of the hotel, with the recital of which we cannot columns. The station which the accused have occupied in society renders the disgusting outrag unpardonable. A summons to answer the off Court of Session has been served on two of the but the third, an Englishman, has hitherto ev searches of the messenz _Edinburg h Observer. DEATH OF HER SERENE HIGHNESS TH PRINCESS OF REUSS-KOESTRII Z. Intellig death of the above princess was received at Palace on Friday last. The deceased princes: daughter of Prince Henry Reuss dtEbersdorf, w June, 1759, and was widow of Prince Henry Schleiz-Koestritz, who died 22nd September, mother of the present prince and great-aunt to the Queen. In consequence of the death o highness the court was ordered to go into m( yesterday until the 31st instant. PREPARATIONS AT WINDSOR FOR THE R HER MAJESTY. — WINDSOR, DEC. 19.—Her ing expressed a desire that the new riding-hol completed at the earliest possible moment, M e , and Peto, the contractors, have guaranteed th, ing should be fit for the use o f the Queen by M the 21st inst. The only work required to be pert plastering a portion of the interior walls ; but it is the late severe frost will retard the operations of men for a short time beyond that period. Should t severe weather continue, it is not improbable that ty's departure from Buckingham Palace for the c' postponed for a few days beyond the - time r upon by her Majesty. It is fully expected ti• of the christening of the Princess Royal v-' The alterations and other arrangements connt, royal kitchen are fast approaching towards completim the arrival of the court a public meeting of the will be held for the purpose of voting coney-` to her Majesty and Prince Albert on a Royal. " Better late than never." to an Engl. Ley perpetr ill take t Tun WORLD COMING TO AN END. — Yesterday twc brothers were seen shaking hands together in the street, A LAWYER'S SIMILE.—" The witness, my lord, stood plump opposite the defendant—plump, my lord plump as partridge." account