The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-01 00:00:00

LOVE AND TIME. Old Time one day, while on his way, In journeying through the world for ever, Was stopped beside a barrier wide— A deep and swiftly-rolling river. And while he stood beside the flood, He cried, Alas! will none come nigh me? Upon this spot I'm quite forgot, While precious moments lost fly by me. Dear young friends! will none, alas! Give a hand to make Time pass?" Thus while he cried across the tide. Some fair girls longed, his accents hearing, To aid him o'er the stream to shore In a light skiff that Love was steering. But one young maid now shook her head, The sagest she of the collection; And while hei hand restrained the band, Her wise lips uttered this reflection— " Full often have 5 oung maids, alas! Been wrecked in helping Time to pass." Love seized the oar, and for the shore, Across the stream, he's gailly straining, And soon his boat is seen to float Close to where stands Old Time complaining. And bravely now Love turns the prow To pass Old Time across the river; He spreads his sail to catch the gale, And to his arms the thin oars quiver. And as he cleaves the sunny waves, His light skiff o'er the waters dancing, With joyous song he speeds along, And thus he chants, while still advancing— " Mark you well, each lad and lass, Love alone can make Time pass." But young Love's strength gives way at length, To shrink from toil is aye his failing; Time takes his place, and pulls apace, And cries, " Poor child, you're tired and ailing. Lie down and sleep, the oars I'll sweep, And in my turn I'll sing a measure, Both true and sage—the song of age— Though youth ne'er hears such strains with pleasure " Be wise and learn, each lad and lass, Time will surely make Love pass?" ARIETIES THE MYSTERY SOLVED.—When Adam r ot ti r ed of naming his numerous descendants, he said, " Let all the rest be called Smith.' " A FARMER who recently had his butter seized by the clerk of the market for short weight, gave as a reason, that the cow from which the butter was made was subject to the cramp, and that caused the butter to shrink in weight. A PHILADELPHIA JUDGE and punster having observed to another judge on the bench, that one of the witnesses bad a vegetable head. "How so ?" was the enquiry. "He has carroty hair, reddish cheeks, a turnip nose, and a sage look." CRAVATS.—Cravats were, first worn by the Croats in the sixteenth century as a part of their military dress. Public speakers and clergymen hang themselves by wear ing cravats and stocks, high and tight, thereby impeding the return of blood from the head ; this can be explained on physiological principles. The brain, in speaking, is excited to increased action, a larger quantity of blood is sent to the substance, and unless it can find a ready re turn, it produces congestion and apoplexy. Students are not altogether free from the effects of ligation of the neck. It is surprising how little pressure is necessary to prevent the ready flow of blood from the head. Those who bend their heads forward, as in writing or studying, are apt to feel a dizziness and heaviness in the head, which loosening their cravats or collars altogether relieve, and the mind returns to its original clearness. In clergymen who are particularly prone to bundle their necks with large cravats bronchitis is induced, and the vocal chords become re laxed as the consequence. Men who speak extempo raneously can speak longer and with greater ease than those who read, as their voice is not confined so much to one key, and can be modulated with greater freedom. SCENE IN AN AMERICAN COURT OF JUSTICE.—Mr. B.—, a distinguished advocate and attorney-general of a far " down-east" state, was sitting with his hat over his eyes, and his chin on his breast, bolstered up on either side with chairs and table, and sleeping as comfortable as the " indomitable spirit of gin" would allow, in the Court-house at A—, when " the Court" entered and took his seat on the bench. Observing the situation of Mr. B—, which had not changed on the entrance of " the Court," the Judge looked at the Sheriff, who seemed to understand that it was his duty to get the sleeper into "condition." "Mr. B—, the Court is in." We won't give the reply. Suffice to say, the sheriff had a decided objection to going to the murky and sulphurous place to which he was consigned. Mr. B—, said the Judge, " we have observed, with profound regret, your conduct during the last week ; and this morning we find you in no better condition to take up your cases than before. We are dis posed to bear with you no longer. You disgrace yourself and your family, " the Court," and the profession, by your course of conduct." This reproof elicited the fol lowing colloquy :—" Did your-r-honour speak to me ?" " I did, sir." "What re-mark di-hid you make ?" "I said, sir, that in my opinion, you disgrace yourself and family, the Court, and the profession, by your course of conduct." " May i-i-it please your honour, I have been an attorney in-in-in this c-court for fifteen years ; and permit me to say, your honour, that that is the first cor-rect opinion I ever knew you to give." CURIOUS MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. The French speak in the nose, the Germans in the throat, and the English through the teeth. Books and paper were formerly sold only at stalls, and the dealers therefore came to be called stationers. A poker laid over a fire concentrates the heat of the passing smoke, and creates a draught through the fire. Water is called hard when from containing too much carbonic acid it holds lime in solu tion. A pound of wheaten flour consists of bran 3 oz., starch 10 cz., gluten three quarters of an oz., and suzar one quarter. The spring of a watch weighs 0.15 of a grain, and a pound of steel makes 50,000. The pound of steel costs 3d., and a single spring 2d., so that the 50,000 produce £416. Turnpikes were so called from poles or bars swung on a staple, and turned either ways when the dues were paid. A turnpike road by law is sixty feet wide, and parish roads about thirty feet. Children lose weight during the first three days after birth ; at the age of a week they sensibly increase ; after one year they triple their weight, then they require six years to double their weight, and thirteen to quadruple it. THE WAISTS OF AMERICAN LADIES.—The unna tural length and ridiculous smallness of their waists baf fles description. A waist that could be spanned is an English metaphorical expression used in a novel, but it is en American fact; and so alarming does it appear to an Englishman, that my first sentiment, on viewing the phe nomenon, was one of pity for unfortunate beings who might possibly break off in the middle, like flowers from the stalk, before the evening concluded. No less extra ordinary is the size of the ladies' arms. I saw many which were scarce thicker than moderate-sized walking sticks. Yet, strange to say, when these ladies pass the age of forty, they frequently attain an enormous size. The whole economy of their structure is then reversed, their wrists and arms becoming the thickest parts of the body. Here is a subject worthy the contemplation of the ethnologist. How comes it to pass that the English type —which I presume has not, in every case, been so affected by the admixture of others as to lose its own identity— bow comes it to pass, I say, that the English type is so strangely altered in a few generations ? I have heard various hypotheses : amongst others, the habits of the people—the dry climate. The effect of the latter on a European constitution would have appeared to me suffi cient to account for the singular confirmation, if I had not been persuaded by natives of the country that the small waist is mainly owing to tight-lacing. This practice, it is said, is persevered in to an alarming extent ; and if report be true, it is to be feared that the effects will be felt by future generations to a greater degree than they are at present.—Dublin University Magazine. MUSIC AND THE DRAMA THE LATE MRS. CLARKE, whose name was a house hold word in Liverpool, died at her husband's residence, Brompton-terrace. London. on Monday last, at the advanced ace of 75. In Liverpool a large portion of her professional life was spent ; in Liverpool she acquired that reputation which, in all dramatic circles, made her known as second only to Mrs. Glover. iMr. Clarke's name is associated with the brightest days our Theatre Royal ever saw; during the whole time of his manage ment and lesseeship, Mrs. Clarke sustained the rule of the Mrs. Allworthies, Mrs. Subtles, chambermaids, and old women, and in the last business she knew no rival save and except Mrs. Glover. In another class of characters,—Audrey, Pally Larkins, and a hundred others of the same school, Mrs. Clarke was pre-eminent. All her instincts and sympathies were with her art, She had no jealousies, but was ever quick to recognise merit, and give it the warmest appreciation. In 1841 she retired from the stage ; and, in 1845, she re-appeared in Douglas Jerrold's play of " Time Works Wonders." After a short engagement she made her final exit from the stage, honoured and respected as a rare and true artiste. In the summer of 1850, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke were on a visit to the family of Dr. Manifold, their old and long-tried friends; and there, amidst a party of her old friends, she celebrated her 72nd natal day. The theatrical records of this town will ever hold high the names of Mr. and Mrs. Clarke. The remains of Mrs. Clarke were interred on Th ur sday morning last, in Brompton Ch urc h- yar d . Th e funeral was attended by all her old professional friends, and by Mr. William and Mr. John Manifold, of Liver pool. MR. E. W. THOMAS'S CONCERTS at the Philharmonic hall are still progressing. Last night the performances were for the benefit of Mr. Streather, the accomplished harpist, when a duet composed for the violin and harp was played by Messas. Thomas and Streather. THE . AMPHITHEATRE.—Thi building was re-OrCHed on Saturday for dramatic performances. " - Uncle Tom's Cabin" and the pantomime were produced. THEA - raz-RoyAL—The fifty-first and last perform ance of the Pantomime took place on Saturday last. Durinz the week a dramatic version of " Uncle Tom's Cabin" went band-in -hand with Jerrold's new comedy. The present week is to be devoted to opera, for which Miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Pyne, and Borrani and Harrison have been engaged. " St. Cupid," however, will con tinue to be produced as an afterpiece. THE FIRST SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT of the Philhar monic Society for the season , was given at the ll a ll on Wednesday evening. The artistes were Madame Pleyell, Madame Fiorentini, Miss Alleyne, Mr. "Weiss, and Mr. Lazarus. The attendance was fashionable, and the con cert went off well—the applause being frequent and e n . thusiastic. IcE Eon FRANCE.—The French ice merckants have recently chartered thirty vessels in the Channel ports to proceed to Sweden for cargoes of ice, to supply the wants Paris of during th e summer. These cargoe s w ill be dis charged at Calais, Boulogne, Dunkirk, Dieppe, and Havre, whence the ice will be brought to the capital by railway. THE EDUCATION QUESTION.—It is said that a strong opposition is about being organized against the clause in the powers to be granted by the Education Committee of Privy Council, and which would give the right to the clergyman of the parish to remove the schoolmaster, if his teaching should not be in exact accordance with the opinions of the clergyman, and that already earnest repre seutmious hate been made to the government on the eubiect. THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1853. THE ROSCOE CENTENARY. THE arrangements for the celebration of the coming festival are proceeding with spirit. The event gives promise of being one of the most memorable in the annals of the town. May it amply realise all the expectations which are being formed- The proceedings of theday will commence with a public breakfast in the Philharmonic-hall, presided over by the Earl of Sefton, lord-lieutenant of the county. An ad dress, detailing the most interesting events in connexion with the literary labours of the man whose centenary is there being celebrated, will be delivered by a distin guished guest ; and topics having a relation to literature and art generally will also form the subjects of discussion. The elegant ticket of admission, designed by 'Mr. Mayer, of Lord-street, is nearly ready for issue, and, on the removal of a portion at the side, will form an elegant memorial of the event. Within an elegant archway - two of the nine Muses—viz., those who presided over poetry and history —are seen crowning the bust of Roscoe ; and at the opposite side, the genius of Commerce, surrounded by the Graces, is looking on with gratification. During the morning meeting, Lord Sefton will occupy the Roscoe chair, at present in Mr. Mayer's Egyptian Museum, ma nufactured from the timber of the house in which Mr. Roscoe was born. At the back of the chair are two ele gantly-carved statuettes, representing the historian's-two heroes—Leo X. and Lorenzo de Medicis. It is calculated that the breakfast and the speeches will occupy about three hours. At two o'clock the grand inauguration of the Derby Museum will take place, his Worship the Mayor, the Corporation, and some of the principal literary gentle men, walking in procession from the Town-ball. The Bth of March is a becoming day for the opening of the Town Museum, as the 18th of October was for the open ing of the Free Public Library. We have no doubt that both together will be a blessing to the community. In the evening the Mayor and Mrs. Holme will receive about 800 guests at the Town-hall, including the guests of the morning, the principal promoters of literature, science, and art, in town ; and the most prominent gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood. An equal proportion of the sexes will give interest and variety to the scene. The rooms will be laid out in such a manner as to afford a " feast of reason " to those who delight in it. and a programme will be issued, showing each guest the arrangements for the evening. Dr. Dickinson and Mr. T. C. Archer will prepare an elegant case of exotic botany, and be at hand to explain it ; Dr. Hume and Mr. Mayer will exhibit and explain antiquities, especially those connected with the neighbourhood ; Mr. New lands will provi.:e a variety of interesting models ; and Mr. Jos. B. Yates will exhibit some interesting MSS. and illuminated works from his own library. In the large ball-room there will be a select performance of music ; and the ladies are unanimously of opinion that there should also be quadrilles. It is understood, too, that the entrance to the Town-hall will be decorated by plants forwarded by the Gardens' Committe of the Council, so that some of the attractions of summer will be given even to this inclement season. The great feature of the day will be the public breakfast at the Philharmonic, at which the crack men may be ex pected to deliver themselves. It is just possible, as 1000 tickets have been issued by the Library and Museum Corn. mittee,—not a fifth part of which number can find accom modation in the building itself,—that an adjournment will be moved in the course of the afternoon to the Town ball, the ball-room of which would afford more spaca to hear the speakers. Messrs. Harris will place in the Royal Institution, the identical press from which Mr.:M'Creery printed Roscoe's lives of Leo and Lorenzo. At the meet ing of the Historic Society, on Thursday, Mr. Mayer will read a paper on " Roscoe and his connexion with art," a portion of his biography of which little or nothing is known. It is hoped that amongst the illustrious persons present will be the Right Hon. B. Disraeli. The namo of Mr. Charles Dickens is also mentioned. The members for the borough will be in attendance. Amongst those who have been invited, and who, it is hoped, will be likewise present, are the Earl cf Harrowby, who was formerly our representative; Lords Rosse and Mahon,the presidents re spectively of the Royal and Antiquarian Societies ; Lords Granville, Combermere, and John Manners ; and Baron Parke, and Justice Crompton, who are Liverpool men. The invitations to members of the episcopal bench include the Archbishop of Dublin and the Bishop of St. David's, both widely and favourably known in the literary world ; and the Bishops of Chester and Manchester, from the local influence. his Excellency the Hon. J. R. Ingerso rnd Chevalier Bunsen have been invited, to re present ou brethren across the Atlantic and men of learning on the continent of Europe. The invitations include, also, the President of the Royal Academy, the Poet Laureate, the President of the Botenical Society, and several pro fessors and official persons of high standing. Mr. Gibson, the sculptor, in a letter from Rome regrets his inability to be present at the centenary, to pay his affectionate homage to the memory of Roscoe. being at present occupied in modelling a large statue for the new Houses of Parliament. MEMOIR OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. The following is a brief sketch of the life and writings of William Roscoe, condensed from the once popular memoir of that illustrious man written by his son, Henry Roscoe, and published by Cadell, in two volumes, in 1833. This memoir was chiefly derived from the ex tensive correspondence of the father, whose frequently expressed opinion was in favour of deriving the history of an author's life from his writings. And it is a graceful and well-executed work, written by one who was prompted to the execution of the task by a strong feeling of filial duty—one who had long enjoyed the privileges of study. ing his father's character, through not a few of the changes of his eventful life, and to whom his mind and heart were ever open in the confidence of domestic in tercourse—one who had been impressed by the beauty of his character, and had deeply felt the importance of the principles by the operation of which that character was formed. The Roscoe family, who bad settled for a considerable period in the central part of Lancashire, could neither boast of wealth nor antiquity. Indeed, they were in very humble circumstances, and had not even the consolation sometimes afforded to poverty by a long pedigree. When William Roscoe had become famous, Sir Isaac Heard, Garter Principal King at Arms, expressed a wish to trace the origin of the family. " I told him," said Roscoe relating the circumstance to a friend, " that I was a good patriarch, and the proper person to begin a family, as I had six sons !" William Roscoe was the only son of William Roscoe, and Elizabeth, his wife, who had also an only daughter, Margaret, afterwards the wife of William Daulby, Esq. At the period of William's birth, which event took place on the Bth of March, 1753, Mr. Roscoe, senior, kept the Old Bowling Green public-house, on Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, which is now taken down. He was a native of Charnock, where he spent the latter part of his life, supported for many years by his son. Two years before his death he was removed by his son to Birchfield, where he died at an advanced age in 1796. Like so many men of genius, William Roscoe was blessed with a mother of superior mind and warm affections, and the influence whichslie exercised over hischaracter wasnever obliterated. Before he had the honour of being breeched, he was sent to a dame's school, and at six years of age he was taken from under the care of his old schoolmistress and placed under the tuition of Mr. Martin, in Paradise-street. Two years afterwards he was removed to Mr. Sykes, who dis missed him at the age of twelve years, with the assurance that be had learned all he was capable of teaching him. At this time he had made the acquaintance of one Hugh Mulligan, a kind of general genius, employed in a manufactory of British chinaware adjoining Roscoe's home, and who was not only a painter but like wise an engraver and a poet. The incipient bard, according to his own account, was a lad of a wild, rambling, and unsocial disposition, passing many of his hours in strolling along the shores of the Mersey, or in fishing, or in long solitary rambles. On one occasion the tide closed in upon him unawares while he was musing on a sand bank in the river, and he only escaped at the peril of his life. His father, however, had a large market-garden as well as a public-house, and so William had to assist in the cultivation of potatoes, and in carrying them to market for sale. He became a capital salesman, and was soon entrusted with the entire control of this department. And right happily went the time, for lie had sufficient leisure to study ; and while his out-door mode of life gave health and vigour to his body, the perusal of the b es t E ng li s h class i cs afforded amusement andinstruction to his mind. And, as he had learned little at school, and a ft erwar d s l earned much, so, with Pope, might he be appropriately ranked " amongst that class of remarkable persons who hav e b een th e i r own instructors." In his fifteenth year he was placed with Mr. Gore, bookseller, Live rpoo l ; b ut not relishing attendance in a shop, he returned in a month to his rural labours. In the foll ow i ng year, 1769, he was articled for six years to Mr. John Eyes, jun., attorney and solicitor, Liverpool ; and while pursuing th e profession of a lawyer, he first committed what Burns His especial favo uri t e among the called poets ' t "the sin in Sh o e f n r s i t ' o y n m e e ,.7hose style he sought to i m it ate. But, though devoted to literary pursuits, he did not fall into the too-frequent error of neglecting the graver nese of his profession ; the peculiar character of his mind, and the circumstance that his father and sister depended wholly Upon his future exertions, afforded powerful motives for assiduity. After the death of Mr. Eyes, he served the re ma i n d er o f his clerkship with Mr. Peter tElile oc la s me i s e , t an eminent attorney of this town. Having lost his mother a t an early age, he spent much of his time in of friends of ' his own years, and of kindred mind ; especially of one Francis Holden, whose genius and acquirements stimulated his literary ambition, and by who s e advice he devoted much of his leisure to the acquirement of languages, a pursuit which he subsequently prosecuted with two other friends, William Clarke and Richard Lowndes. Another of the friends to whom Roscoe was attached was Robert Rigby, a young man of fine talents, who. devoted himself t o p oe t r y, an d who it jug early age was drowned while crossing U Irish ' Channel. But the young bard had the privilege of friendship with a young and accomplished lady, Miss Maria Done, of Westmoreland, with whom he spent many ; happy hours while she paid occasional visits to some of his friends in Liverpool, and with whom he corresponded 'while she was at home, the youthful couple frequently exchanging the productions of their muse. This lady was 3 married to John Barton, and her poetical talents des cended to her son, Bernard Barton, the Quaker poet, as well as to her daughter, Mrs. Hack, the author of many books for children. Inspired by precious friendships and ardent study, William Roscoe had produced some poems of merit betbre he had attained the age of twenty. tln '1773, he aided in the formation of a society for the encou ragement of the arts of painting and design in Liverpool, and he commemorated the event by an Ode, which was his first-published piece. It was reprinted, with the poem of "Mount Pleasant," in 1777, and favourably noticed in some of the reviews. In the poem of "Mount Pleasant" he celebrates the growing importance of his native town ; but attempts, as he often did in after life, to divert the attention of his townsmen to the liberal pursuits of literature and science, " and to abate that spirit of enterprise and thirst of gain, which, when too much indulged, is seldom productive either of virtue or happiness." "Mount Pleasant" likewise contains his first protest against the slave trade. At an early age Roscoe wrote a small volume on " Christian Morality," from which it was evident that he had devoted much time to the study of the sacred writings; and it seas to the operation of divine principles incul cated in the Bible upon his conduct and temper through out life, to which must be attributed all that was most attractive and most exalted in his mind and character. In 1774, having completed his clerkship, Roscoe was admitted an attorney of the Court of King's Bench. In the same year he entered into partnership with Mr. Bannister, but this connexion lasted only a short time. A second engagement of the same kind (with Mr. Aspinall) was more lasting. In 1777 he began a corre spondence with Miss Jane Griffies, the daughter of a Liverpool tradesman, and a young lady tasteful and accom plished. Though both parties resided in the same town, a correspondence by letter was maintained for many years, and at length, on the 22nd pf February, 1781, the lovers were united at St. Ann's Church, and never, certainly, in the course of a long life, had either party cause to regret the connexion. In 1784, Mr. Roscoe, in con junction with Mr. Daulby and others, resuscitated the " Society for Promoting Painting and Design," which had became defunct shortly after its formation. Daring the first year he was vice-president, and afterwards one of the committee. He ventured even to introduce into the exhibition one or two of his own drawings, and the ticket of admission was etched by his hand. In 1785 he delivered several lectures on the fine arts, and during the same year he was visited by Fuseli, a friendship having sprung up between them in London. About this time, too, Roscoe produced a poem on " The Origin of Engraving," and also contributed valuable matter to Joseph Strutt's " Biographical Dic tionary of Engravers." In 1784 he was elected an hono rary member of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester. In 1787 he published the first part of the " Wrongs of Africa," a poem, the preface to which was written by Dr. Currie. In the following year the second part appeared, and twenty years afterwards the entire poem was translated into German. In 1787 Roscoe pub lished " A General View of the African Slave Trade, de monstrating its injustice and impolicv ; with Hints to wards a - Bill for its Abolition." In 1788 he sent to the press " A Scriptural Refutation of a Pamphlet lately pub. lished by the Rev. Raymond Harris, entitled Scriptural Researches on the Licitness of the Slave Trade,' in Four Letters from the Author to a Friend." In 1792 he issued another pamphlet, entitled "An Inquiry into the Causes of the Insurrection of the Negroes, in the Island of St. Domingo," &e. In 1788 he took part in the Centenary of the Revolution, for which he composed a "secular song ;" in the following year he published "An Ode to the People of France," which was greatly admired by Fox ; and at a meeting held on the 14th of July, 1790, to celebrate the taking of the Bastile, he produced his song " Unfold, Father Time." Indeed, he took a great interest in the progress of the French Revolution, in which, ' for a time, he imagined that he saw the birth of continental freedom. In 1796 he published " Strictures on Mr. Burke's Two Letters, addressed to a Member of the Pre- 1 sent Parliament," having some years previously issued a ballad, containing " The Life, Death, and Wonderful Achievements of Edmund Burke,"which was accompanied by a frontispiece executed by himself. In the midst of the strong political excitement consequent on the state of affairs on the Continent, Roscoe, in public and private, advocated what was called the cause of Reform ; and, 1 being opposed to the war, he, in 1793, published a pam. Oda entitled " Thoughts on the Causes of the Present i Failures," which was mentioned by the Marquis of Lans downe, with commendation, in the House of Peers. In 1790, Roscoe removed from the town to reside at Toxteth-park; but, having purchased some land at Birchfield, he erected a house upon it for himself, to which he removed in 1793. In 1792, he obtained a lease of a portion of the unculti vated moss !and lying between Liverpool and Manchester, for the purpose of improving it, and making it a source of profit. _ _ _ The idea of writing the " Life of Lorenzo de Medici," which occurred to Roscoe when he first began to study Italian literature with Francis Holden, resulted in the accomplishment of a great work, which appeared in the month of February, 1796, from the press of the estimable John M'Creery. its success was so great and instanta neous, that soon after its appearance the author received £1,200 for the copyright, from Cadell and Davies, of the Strand. Lord Bristol urged Roscoe to visit Italy, and take for his next theme Leo X. Lord Lansdowne pub licly referred to his work in the House of Lords ; and the aged Lord Orford entered into a correspondence with one whom all concurred in considering the very first of living English historians, and whose work was not less favour. ably received in Italy and on the continent than in his own country. Dissatisfied with his profession, Roscoe relinquished it in 179'3, and in the February of the following - year became a member of Gray's Inn, London, with a view, it was supposed, of being called to the bar. He returned to Liverpool in a few weeks, however, and published a trans lation of the " Balia" of Luigi Tonsillo. About this time he assisted in the establishing of the Athenaeum, which was first suggested by Edward Rogers. In 1799, appeared a new edition of the " Life of Lorenzo." In this year he purchased Allerton, adopted it as his resi dence, and devoted himself to the life of Leo X. In a short time, however, he was called upon to arrange some difficulties which had arisen between the Liverpool Bank and their London correspondents; and, at the anxious re quest of the proprietors, he became a partner in the con cern. He aided in the establishment of the Botanic Garden, and delivered an eloquent oration at its inaugu ration. In 1804, he was chosen a Fellow of the Linntean Society, to whose transactions he afterwards contributed several papers. Then, also, did he begin in conjunction with Currie— " Sincerest critic of my prose and rhyme",— a series of papers called "The Recluse," which appeared in the Liverpool Herald. In 1805 was published his " Life of Leo X.," a work which was hailed even in Italy with astonishment and delight, and the half-copyright of which sold for £2,000. At the general election in 1806 he was enthusiastically returned as a representative in parliament of his native town ; and a great meeting was held to celebrate the event. Roscoe spoke several times in the house; his most important speech being one on the slave trade. While in London he assisted in founding " The African Institution." The sudden dissolution of parliament ended his parliamentary career. On re-enterinz Live;. pool he was received by a mob, who endeavoured to obstruct his progress home, and whose wish it was to create a riot. One of his friends' horses was stabbed under its rider in the crowd. Roscoe had become un popular, because he was opposed to slavery arid to " the No Popery cry." To prevent disturbances and blood shed, he announced his determination not to come forward at the next election as a can-didate. Ile was put in nomination, without his consent, by some enthusiastic friends, but was not returned. Soon oferwards the Earl of Derby recommended him as a deputy-lieutenant ; but Mr. Roscoe refused to accept the honour, on the ground that he was one of those whom the tests excluded from the office, and he did not wish to stultify those who thought, with him, that the law was unjust, by removing one of the reasons which might be urged for its reform. In 1808, Mr. Roscoe published several tracts on the war, and the poem of " Copenhagen." Among the tracts was one containing a sketch of Pitt. Though some of his political friends differed from him on the subject of peace, yet his opinions were shared by many ; and, at a public meeting in Liverpool, he proposed and carried a pacific address. In 1809-10 he resumed his literary studies ; he me ditated a life of his valued friend Dr. Currie, assisted Mr. Cromek in preparing his Relics of Robert Burns, wrote the preface to the Gallery of British Portraits, and projected a history of the Progress and Vicissitudes of Literature and Art. During thin period, too, he was an active member of the African Institution, to which he made several valuable communications ; one of which gave rise to a controversy with Mr. George Harrison. His essay on the Right of Great Britain to compel Foreign Nations to abolish the Slave Trade, was published at this time ; and, in November, 1809, he was the happy instru ment of rescuing from slavery nine negroes, who had been confined in the borough gaol by process for debt sued out by a Portuguese shipmaster, with the purpose of se curing them till he should be ready to sail. In 1810 he published a volume of tracts on the war, issued for the most part at different periods since 1793. His opinions on reform in parliament, publicly expressed during 1811-12 in a letter to the Duke of Gloucester and in a reply to a private letter from Lord Brougham, were opposed to the plans of many of the reformers of the clay ; but they were ultimately realised in many particulars. In 1812 he was visited at Allerton by Mr. (now Lord) Brougham, who spent several days at that rustic retreat. The opening of the trade with India was a subject in which he felt much interested ; and, as in 1807, he came forward again at a public meeting in 1812 to advocate the establishment of a free trade with India, the company's charter being about to expire. In the general election of 1812 the liberal electors of `West minster volunteered to return him, free of expense, but lie declined to stand ; but, at Leicester, without being asked, lie was proposed as a candidate, and 412 votes were recorded in his favour before he knew that he had been put in nomination. His friends pressed him to allow his name to b e p u t i n nom i na ti on a t Li verpoo l, a nquest with which he did not comply ; and, upon Mr. Canning's return, he issued a pamphlet, reviewing the speeches of that gentleman at the election, so far as they related to peace and reform. Between 1812 . 15 the a tt en ti on o f M r . R oscoe was oc cupied with alterations at Allerton•hall, and the cultiva tion of Chat Moss ; with communications to the Agricul tural Society of West Derby, and to Sir John Sinclair ; in projecting a translation of Lanzi, and a Life of Eras- Falls ; and in writing various minor poems and contribut ing papers to the transactions of the Linnann Society. He was elected an honorary member of the New York Historical Soc iety , his name h av i ng long been familiar in America, with some of whose distinguished men he corresponded regularly. In 1814 he visited Holkham, the magnificent seat of the Cokes, and was entrusted with the pleasant duty of arranging the vast literary treasures which had previously been allowed to lie in disorder and deal. fiet war repaid by Mr. Coke is the Ililtanlia of 1815, when the distinguished party assembled in the preceding year at Holicham were invited to meet hial at Allerton. Owing to various ci-cumstances, much difficulty was experienced at the end of 1815 by the banking-house in which Mr. Roscoe was a partner, and on the 25th of Januarv,lBl6,they suspended their payments. Mr. Roscoe, with the ready consent of the creditors, undertook the arrangement of the affairs ; and, when a committee de clared the house solvent, he drew ap a plan by which he proposed to discharge th whole of the debts in six years. But the noble strugglewhich he made was of no avail, and the depreciation of their property, coupled with other unexpected reasons, obliged Mr. Roscoe to surrender the management of his afftirs. He resolved to offer up to public sale the whole of his effects, including those books and works of art which le had employed himself in col lecting for half a century, and which were so much endeared to him. The collection produced upwards of £19,000, At the meeting for theestablishroent of the Royal In stitution, Mr. Roscoe wai put upon the committee, and the first report was from his pen. He likewise delivered the introductory lecture. In 1825 he resigned the office of president of the Liteary and Philosophical Society ; shortly afterwards he was added to the list of the mem bers of the Philadelphia linnaenn Society. In 1818, a year devotedchiefly to the settlement of the affairs of the bank, Mr. Roscoe superintended the pub lication of a collection of lymns for the use of the congre gation of Protestant Dissenters, at Renshaw-street, of which he was a membe. In 1819 he published his " Observations on Penal Jurisprudence and the Refor mation of Offenders," which was followed by " Addi tional Observations," in reply to an Edinburgh Reviewer, besides other pamphlets nn the nature and objects of punishment. The affairs of Mr. Resew terminating in bankruptcy, he retired to Chatmoss, where he translated a portion of Dante's immortal poem. Cn his certificate being granted he returned to Liverpool, and shortly afterwards retired altogether from business.' Unkmwn to himself, his friends subscribed the sum of .£2,100, which was vested in trustees for the benefit of himseir and family. Shortly afterwards he published the " Illustrations of the Life of Lorenzo de Medici," which was trinslated into Italian, and led to a friendship between its author and the dis tineuished M. Sismondi. He next issued a " Memoir of Richard Robert Jones," who was firt introduced to Mr. Roscoe's attention in 1806. In the Summer of 1822 he took a house in Lodge-lane, Toxteth-}ark, where he pre pared for the press his new edition of ;he works of Pope, and "A Declaration of the Objects of the Liverpool So ciety for Promoting the Abolition of Savory." In the autumn of 1824 he suffered in irreparable loss in the death of Mrs. Roscoe, whose health for a long time had been in a very precarious statt. Resuming the study of botany, he de'oted much atten tion to the Monandrian plants, of which le made a new ar rangement usually called Scitaminew. lir. Roscoe in the same year was elected an honorary assotiate of the Royal Society of Literature, and afterwards an associate of the first class. Subsequently he received tie gold medal of the society; and he was also elected corresponding mem ber of the Academy della Crusca, and of the New York Horticultural Society. his new edition of Pope involved him n a controversy with the Rev. W. Lisle Bowles, as to the character of the author of the " Essay on Man." Tovards the close of the year 1825 the health of Roscoe ms considerably affected, insomuch that he was frequenly unable to pursue his usual literary avocations. He began to feel the pressure of years, not only in the failue of his bodily strength, but in the increasing difficulty of mental exer tion. He was, happily, able to complete tie magnificent catalogue of the Holk ham MSS. On Sundiy, December 16, 1827, he was suddenly attacked. with Taralysis ; but he soon recovered the use of the hand afbcted by the malady, notwithstanding that he persisted in preparing for the press the " Letters to Mr. Stephen Bien, of New York," against the injunctions of his medics], attendant. With a serenity and cheerfulness which neither ago nor ailment could overcast—in the full enjoy vent of the pleasures afforded by the works of nature, of fancy, and of art—with the high tone of feeling, and thebenevolent dispositions of youth, unchillea by a wintry ell—William Roscoe passed his closing days on earth in a mood of uniform, unvarying, and calm gladness. He retained all his warmth of feeling, his animating views of human nature, and his benevolent purposes. He hat not his sensibility to the beauties of poetry •, nor did he ever give way to depression of mind' or gloomy apprehension. More than half a century had elapsed since he lost his early friends, Holden and Rigby ; twenty-five years since the grave closed over the remains of Currie and of Clarke ; and now he was destined to stand by and see 'Ass away, in quick succession, Dr. Parr, Dr. Aikin, Fuseli, and Sir James Smith—all of whom had been attracted to him by the ties of no common friendships. In 1831, he partly prepared for publication, "Poems, Original and Fugitive, written between the vests 1770 and 1830;" which, however, be did not live to complete; and, in a tranquil and happy frame of mind, Win. Roscoe expired at eleven o'clock on Thursday morning, the 30th of June, 1831. The immediate cause of his deati was an effusion of water on the chest. He was interred in the burying ground attached to the Unitarian Chapel, in Renshaw-street. He left a family surviving him of six sons and two daughters. He had lost a daughter in infancy, and a son in mature age. Soon after his death a monument was raised by public subscription to his me mory. With the Marquis of Lansdowne he enjoyed a king and confidential correspondence on political topics; with the Duke of Gloucester he corresponded on Slavery mid other subjects ; and among his friends and constant correspond. ents were Lord Holland. Lord Erskine, Sir Samuel Romilly, Lord Brougham, Sir James Mackintosh, Sir Philip Francis, Fuseli, Mr. Whitbread, Dr. Currie, Mr. William Smith, Rammohun Roy, Wilberforce, Clarkson, Macaulay (father of the historian), Lord Orford, Lord Carlisle, Rogers, Rev. James Graham, Campbell, Mont gomery, Wilson, Hogg, Hector Macneill, Bernard Bar- lon, Dr. Parr, Dr. Aikin, Dr, Dibdin, Miss Edgeworth, Mrs. Barbauld, Miss Aikin, Mrs. Wolstoncroft, Mr. Coke, Mr. John Shepherd, and many others. In person, Mr. Roscoe was tall and rather slender. His hair was light auburn ; his full great eye was clear and mild ; his face expressive and cheerful. WILLIAM ROSCOt'S FAMILY The eldest daughter of this distinguished man was married in the year 1825 to Thomas Jevons, Esq., of Liverpool. His son Henry, by whom his life has been written, died in 1836, having been called to the bar in 1826, and written, in addition to his father's biography, many able digests of different branches of the law. CONTEMPORARY ESTIMATES OF ROSCOE " I can bear testimony," said the Hon. G. C. Ver planck, of New York, " to the philanthropic zeal with which Roscoe entered into the examination of every ques tion of improvement on this side of the Atlantic ; to the warm interest he took in everything that concerned the cause of civil and religious liberty, of education of hu manity ; his zeal, his courage, and ids unwearied efforts in promoting the success of all of them." " To say the truth," said Mr. Coke, the representative of the Leicesters, " be is a most extraordinary personage ; such a head, such a heart, such suavity of disposition, such courage in the pursuit of what is right, such pure philanthropy, are seldom combined in one individual." ROSCOE AND GIBSON Roscoe was one of the first who observed and encou raged the genius of Gibson, whose works asa sculptor have since gained him such deserved celebrity. While Gibson was yet a student, he was frequently invited to Allerton Hall ; and he had free access to the various works of art which Mr. Roscoe was delighted to look over in his com pany. And, in 1827, when Gibson presented a marble bust of his first friend to the Liverpool Royal Institution, he accompanied it with the statement :—" To that gen tleman I am indebted for what little merit I ally possess as a sculptor." MR. PANIZZI AND THE LATE WILLIAM RGSCOE.— In a letter to Mr. Rogers, written in the year 1830, Roscoe, thus introduces Mr. Panizzi to the notice of that gentleman :—" This is intended to be delivered to you by my highly valued friend, Signor Antonio Panizzi, pro. fessor of the Italian language in the London University, who lived some years in Liverpool, whence he is now returning, after visiting the numerous friends whom he has made during his residence here. He is probably already known to you by his literary works, particularly his edition of Bojardo arid Arrozcto, now publishing ; in addition to which, I beg leave to add my testimony, not only to his abilities as an excellent scholar, but to his ex perienced worth as a sincere friend, and to his character as a man." A LITERARY SAlLOR.—Amongst the large number of persons who solicited the literary advice and assistance of William Roscoe was a sailor, whose letter we are fortu- nately enabled to append. The precious document runs as follows : " Kind Sir i take this oportunity of wrighting to you being advised by a Lady of Liverpool to do so in order to tell you i am a Britich Sailor iliat as Lately arived in England after aving maid racy escape from the cost of New 'Leland were i was ten years a prisner and is Most beautiful( tattled over the face and body, and as wrote a manuscript of every think Consirning the interior of New Zealand, the wars, Mariaires, Borings, and the Discrip tions of every Animals cf Birds Beasts and Reptils and Menney others of the South Sceas, the Manuscript is va luable and wok] make a Book of 200 Pages if wrote by a Good Editor being such enformation as Never yet being in print not aving the menes of printing it moy selfe i wish to Dispose and being advised to wright to you Concerning it i shoid wish for you to send me a Uwe wether i must atend at your house or whether you will wait on me at Mr. Cal- vest's Exhibition in the market Liverpool where they are exhibiting me as a curiosity Your obedient Servini, " JOHN ROTHERFOOT:" LORD'S DAY OBSERVANCE.-It has been said that when slaves become masters, they are very much dis posed to tyrannize in their turn over their newly-acquired property. This, perhaps, will explain the strange spec tacle exhibited at Drury-lane Theatre, when a knot of workmen resolved to use their own freedom on the Lord's-day, in such a manner as to require another knot of workmen to toil upon that day for the amusement of their new masters. Master Webster, a carpenter, abused those who out of pure regard for the working classes tried to shut up railroads and the Post-office on the Lord's-day. Webster considers it a shame that he should be deprived of a rest upon the Sabbath ; he has no notion of working seven days for six days' pay ; he intends to rest and enjoy himself on the Lord's-day; but having thus become his own master on that day, he is fully resolved that a few servants shall work that day for him. Webster having thus become a master, insists upon it that omnibus-drivers, and con ductors, and cabmen, and steamboat men, and railway men, and waiters, and all sorts of slaves shall wait on Master Webster on his day of rest. What cares this carpenter set free whether the sweat stands upon the brow of the engine-driver or the stoker of a railway carriage ? Let the clerks be all in their places to hand Master Webster a ticket, waiters or waitresses to attend his beck and call. Let the poor postman walk ten miles to bring him a Sabbath breaking newspaper. He knows something of theology too : " The Sabbath was made for man," says he ; that means for Master Webster, not for cabmen, omnibus drivers, canal men, publicans, postmen, railwaymen, and such vile public slaves. Let them get their Sabbath where they can, two Sabbaths in the week, one for the masters and the other for the servants—but let them not dare to stand in the way of their lords and masters in Drury-lane Theatre. CORRESPONDENCE. Letters addressed to the Editor should be accompanied by the real name and address of the writer, not for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith ; this is indispensably requisite in any statement of facts. The Editor wishes it to be understood that he does not hold himself responsible for the opinions or statements of his correspondents. LETTERS ON FAMILIAR SUBJECTS.—No. II LONG SERMONS. To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD, SIR,-It will perhaps be deemed presumptuous for a layman to comment upon a subject which may be considered the espe cial province of the Clergy; but, unfortunately for the exclu siveness of their position, the subject of sermons, both as to -their length and quality, as being addressed to the laity, is one which frequently forms the theme of conversation and free criticism. This is a practice which I shall not attempt to defend or to excuse, but content myself with asserting that, as a true Churchman, holding the Clergy as a body in profound respect, I shall treat the subject with becoming deference, pre mising at the same time that none of my remarks have the slighte t reference to any particular individuals, but are in tended generally for whom they may apply. Were I alone in my opinion as to the length to which a sermon on ordinary occasions ought to extend, I should doubt my own judgment, nor should I rashly take the opinion of in different worshippers, who may be biassed by their feelings, and being anxious for the termination of the service in order to hasten to some other pursuit, may incontinently deem the merit of a discourse to consist in its brevity. I have, however, read somewhere the opinion of a dignitary of the Church, that a sermon should not commonly last more than a quarter of an hour, and the most eloquent preacher should not exceed twenty minutes. How often, on the other hand, do some of our modern preachers occupy the best part of an hour, and sometimes exceed it, and this not only by those who have the rare gift of eloquence, and can make an attentive audience think a long time to be short, but by others whose only skill is in elaboration of expression, multiplying words without knowledge, in a vain endeavour to exhaust the subject, when they are merely repenting themselves with variations. To take, however, the most favourable case. A congregation is assembled for prayer and praise, —the best of all duties in which man can be engaged,—and having gone through our beautifal Liturgy, and become animated with the devotional feelings which it cannot fail to inspire, where there is a spark of piety or faith, the worshippers settle themselves down to listen to the preacher, who ascends the pulpit, and, having selected a short passage of Holy Scripture. proceeds to expound its meaning and its practical application to the immortal welfare of his hearers. In the space of half-an-hour he may teach a lesson which ordinary capacities can ;with out difficulty remember ; and that this may be done within this limit, is abundantly proved by the hundreds of published sermons by our ablest divines, few of which will occupy more than twenty minutes if read deliberately. A manifest advantage has been gained,—the feelings inspired by the preceding prayers have not been obliterated, a practical lesson of piety has been received, and the worshipper retires with his mind improved, and fresh with all he has heard, because it has not been overcharged. Supposing, on the other hand, that the preacher, full of the subject which he has atten tively and carefully studied, and with ample command of language, with choice phrases and well-rounded periods, detains his auditory for nearly an hour, or perhaps more, we have but the choice of evils. Either he has wearied them with his prolixity, and rendered the rememorance of his lessons by ordinary minds almost a matter of impossibility, or if he has retained their attention by the attractiveness of his style and manner, he has diverted it altogether from the teaching to the teacher. Their ears have listened to his accents and been enchanted by his phrases, but their hearts are untouched, and their minds, instead of being improved, are actually diverted from that feeling of devotion with which they were previously inspired. They listen to the preacher not as a messenger from Heaven, with the glad tidings of pardon and peace for guilty sinners, charged to warn the impenitent, to arouse the luke— warm, to comfort the afflicted, and to encourage the faint hearted, but as they would listen to a well-graced actor, who appeals to their sense of sound by his well-tuned modulations of voice, and to their intellectual capacity by his appropriate choice of language. Should he, however, possess none of these attractive qualities, the evil is not lessened, for the wakeful attention is substituted by listless weariness. In both cases they result in a forgetfulness of the great object of Divine worship, for which attendance at church is so manifest a duty. Another evil also is, that persons are tempted to become erratic in their church duties, and by irregular attendance, in order to listen to favourite preachers, they vir tually destroy that unity of spirit and communion in worship which is one of the great blessings in Christian England of our parochial system. I trust I have not exceeded the fair limit of legitimate dis cussion on a question which I approached with some trepida tion, though it is a not infrequent theme of conversation ; and ~.. _ EPHRA. am, Sir, &c., -..-.41■••-- LIVERPOOL CLERKS To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD, Sin,—The time is now drawing near when the position 'of merchants' and brokers' clerks will differ materially from what it has hitherto been. As one of that class, about to embark tor Australia, I would venture to suggest to employers, in re ference to such as may remain at home, that in order to retain the services of good and faithful servants, they should be remu nerated accordingly. 1 would suggest that a meeting be held by all the clerks in this town, with the view of ascertaining more precisely what their ultimate prospects are likely to be. As one instance out of many, I may remark that between 40 and 50 per cent. has been added to the salary of a friend of mine of ordinary capacity, who has only been in his place three years,—thereby showing that in some quarters the necessity of more ample remuneration is understood. When we look to the number of those gone last year, and those already gone this year, with 200 ships now loading, with high rates of passage, in the Thames, Clyde, and Mersey, we must infer that very few labourers will be left, and then masters will have to reform their niggardly payments. In fact, clerkship is a species of white slavery, and a "digger's" life, though attended with great risk, is, after all, with due ease and caution, preferable to being housed all day addling the brain with intricate calcu lations for barely such as will maintain himself, let alone his wife and family.—l am, Sir, yours, &c., A REGULAR READER, AND HOPE TO BE, IN AUSTRALIA. PERJURY OF THE IRISH BRIGADE To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sr rn,—The last few days have afforded an additional proof of the utter want of principle of some Irish Romanist members of parliament. Notwithstanding the most solemn oath which the ablest divines and lawyers could frame, Mr. Moore avd Mr. Lucas have dared to speak of " religious equality" as the only cure for Irish discontent and disaffection ; and, to prevent any mistake of th it meaning, they declare that the spoliation of the Church of Ireland is their object Now, Sir, the absurdity of such a proposal is only equalled by its intolerable wickedness, as it would require not merely that these Irish Papists should break their oath (as they have already done, and shown to the world that no oath can bind them), but also that the majorities of both houses of parlia ment should perjure themselves, and, more awful still, that our Sovereign Lady the Queen should give the act the polemn sanction of the royal assent. Thank God, this is not very likely, for we may surely hope that the spirit of Englishmen will be so roused by present events as to put it for ever cut of the power of a number of perjured Irish Papists to overthrew "our glorious constitution in Church and State." I have little doubt that abler heads than mine are anxiously considering this subject, and, it appears certain, that it will impart additional weight to the inquiry, with respect to May moth, of which Lord Winchelsea has given notice. Must we, Englishmen, be taxed for the support of a false religion, whose chief tenet, the sacrifices of the mass, I, and every other lawful minister in England, are required by the LAW OF 711 E LAND to declare to be blasphemous fables and dangerous deceits? , Muet we be taxed for the education of these "elasphemous fabulists and dangerous deceivers," who are described as unable to pay for their own education, whilst the man, whom the Bishop of Rome has sent to insult us, is living like a prince ; whilst the Popish Archbishop at Dublin occupies the best house in Dublin; and whilst magnificent edifices, rivalling our cathedrals, are springing up all through England? lam aware, Sir, of the warmth with which I write, and I am also aware how unequal anything I can say is to do justice to this subject ; I can only plead the enormity of the insult and outrage offered to every Protestant in the United Kingdom, from the Queen on her throne to the pauper in the workhouse. I will not offer lengthy arguments or endless quotations, but 1 will come to the point, for— " Facit indignatio versum." Let every Protestant pledge himself to use every legal and constitutional means for obtaining the repeal of the " Catholic Emancipation Act." Let the men of influence and ability and station come forward and rally round them all the true-hearted subjects in the United Kingdom ; and let us, when we know WHO WE ARE, and HOW MANY WE ARE, solemnly bind our selves to use every method, which the law and Constitteion provide, in order to bring to condign punishment, AS TRAITORS TO THEIR QUEEN AND COUNTRY, all persons who shall in any way devise, propose, or attempt the subversion of our Con stilution.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, A LINCOLNSHIRE VICAR. PRETENDED POPISH PERVERTS. To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL *STANDARD. SlR,—i see in this day's Mercury a list of names culled from the "Catholic (?) Directory" of persons who are stated to be perverts to Popery in 1852. The pains taken to swell and puff off the list by titles and pedigrees is almost childish but, leaving this to the priestly concoctors, let us look at the names of which we know anything, and see what it amounts to. Two persons are named as converts in Liverpool—one a Mr. J. Richardson, and one Miss Lawton, Queen's -square. This is no great amount of success, considering the number of long-coated, beardless figures, paid by foreign money to incul cate the poison of Popery i❑ this neighbourhood. But, Sir, I believe the priests have been driven from want of facts to countenance fibs. I believe the J. Richardson named to be a brought up Romanist, and if we can get his address this case can be easily cleared up. As to Miss Lawton (and I am sorry that L►die:s are thus dragged out to court remark), I believe here respected father, the landlord of the " Bee," is a Roman Catholic, and served in a good old Roman Catholic family, and that Miss Lawton has been regularly brought up in the reli gion professed by her father. The list of converts (?) is small, but if the names trumpeted forth are no better converts than the two Liverpool nominees , the list—small as it is—must be deemed, for the greater part, a fabrication.—l am, Sir, yours, &c., Liverpool, 23d Feb., 1853. DICKEY SAU. LIVERPOOL FREE LIBRARY. To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sin,—The success which has attemled the noble experiment in providing a free library for the people is much to the credit of our town. So much, indeed, that it becomes desirable that we should have the fullest details as to the number and cha racter of the numerous readers who are to be found daily within its walls. With the view of ensuring fuller statistics, I have to suggest that every reader should be required to specify his occupation on the card which he is obliged to fill up before he obtains a book. At present the visitor has only to state his name and address. Were the suggestion which I have thrown out adopted, some very interesting particulars as to the studious habits of the respective trades of the town might be ascer— tained.—Yours, respectfuly, February 28, 1853. PAUL BOOKWORM.- THE FEMALE REFORMERS OF AMERICA. The reformers in petticoats and pantalettes at New York held a great Temperance Convention in that city, on the Bth ult. Mrs. Bloomer, the " Rev. Miss Antoinette Brown," and Miss Susan B. Anthony, the leaders of the Yankee Amazonian legion, were the speakers of the evening. Though there was an admission charge of 25 cents., the great metropolitan hall was filled. The fair orators were attended by the Quixotic Mr. Greeley ; Mrs. L. N. Fowler was chairwoman. Miss Rich was chosen secretary. The Rev. Miss Brown, of Henrietta, opened the proceedings with prayer. " Miss Brown," says the New York Herald, " was in no way distinguished by dress, but the sympathetic tones of her voice, the earnestness of her manner, and her slight youthful figure, created a deep impression in her favour. It was plain, indeed, to see that, however others might have made female agitation a profession, with this young Miss, at all events, it was an enthusiasm." Mrs- Bloomer, dressed in the costume, was received with loud demonstrations of applause. " Woman finds," said Mrs.- Bloomer, "she has hitherto trusted too much to man's guidance, and has taken his opinion as the guide of her life, instead of obeying the higher law imposed upon her by the Almighty. But woman has become wiser now—a new era has dawned for her, and great truths have been revealed to her awakened mind. (Sensation among the ladies.) Henceforth she will decide forherself, and select the weapons most available for her moral .carfare." (Decided marks of approval.) Having entered upon the topic of the night, temperance, Mrs. Bloomer remarked :—ln social circles, too, women do much harm to the temperance cause ; and not unfrequently it is the first glass taken from the hand of a lady, that destroys the recipient, body and soul. Woman is at all events mistress of her own house, (applause,) an d s h e h as the power to provide what she thinks best for her guest, and man has no right to in terfere. (Carried by acclamation.) Better for her to brave her husband's ire than disobey the command of God, " Thou shalt not kill." Women also do much harm by the use of spirituous liquors in their culinary operations. Puddings, and pies, and pound cake are thus the sources of terrible evil. (Sensation among the rising generation.) Such women voluntarily yield up their sons to the Moloch of intemperance, and vain will be her sermons to her children to avoid intoxicating drinks so long as she leads the tempter into her ewn doors. Mrs. Bloomer . went on in a strain so indelicate, that we cannot with propriet yrepeat her disgusting language,and continued: " Let things be reversed, and let man he subjected to a being inferior to himself ; how long would he tolerate it ? Not long ; and yet he thinks it right for woman to bear it. But woman has dared to profess her right to throw off the yoke, and to declare she has no earthly superior. (This sentiment was received with great approbation.) She will be held responsible for the guardianship of her children. She (Mrs. B.) would not advocate divorce, but she would advocate separation, which would give woman the control of her own person, property, and children. Let woman refuse to be the companion of a drunkard. and we will soon see the effect of that measure on society." " And woman," continued the miserable creature, "must declare her inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pur suit of happiness, and enact laws for herself. (Symptoms of a fellowship of feeling in this idea). Woman is thought too good and too delicate to mingle in public discussions ; but would that she was thought too good and too delicate to live in close companionship with a drunken profligate ! Horace Mann was travelling round the country lectur ing on woman, an d th oug h t h ere were port i ons o f his lecture unexceptionable, still there were other parts which deserved the rebuke of every woman. (Sen sation). We would strike at the root of the evil, and remove the cause of evil and despair. Far more noble in our eyes is the political field—that Stygian pool' on which Mr. Mann says we must not embark. Though woman is now denied her right to speak her senti ments through the ballot box, it is her right, never theless. (Applause). We do not invite woman C o act in the mission pointed out by Horace Mann—to visit the lanes an d b yewaya , and abodes of wretchedness. " The Rev. Miss Antoinette L. Brown" told the follow.' ingstory :—I had a sc h oo l- mate once — a generous, noble, amiable girl—and I loved her ; and yet there were times when I shrunk from her as I would from the plague. And what was her crime ? Her father was a drunkard. True, she was not to blame; but we did as society now does visit the sins of the father upon the child. That father was a man of wealth, and yet wealth could not make him honoured and respected while he was seen reeling through the streets. And yet that drunkard ras a man, and had a man's heart, and he felt the degradation of himself and those who were dear to him. He took the pledge; but he fell before the temptation of a licensed rum shop in the village. He felt his shame, and renewed his pledge, and said if he should fall again he would take his own life. A companion tempted him again, and the next reiornise. his daughter found him in the barn, hanged, dead. And that girl fell down in a swoon, and became a maniac ! Such are the evils of intemperance. Miss Susan B. Anthony, of Rochester, N.Y., was introduced by the President, as an agent of the Women's State Temperance Society. Miss A. is not so young or well favoured as her collaboraleura, and a pair of spectacles which she wears does not add to her personal charms any more than a regular Yankee nasal twang improves the impression she makes. As she got excited, however, she got warm, and seemed at last to have on so much steam that nothing could stop her. She wore the Bloomer rostume of black silk, but looked angular enough for a Lebanon shakeress. She said she did not rise to inflict a speech on the audience—an assurance which proved to be " holding the word of promise to the ear, and breaking it to the hope" with a vengeance. HORTICULTURE. The Rose Garden. By Wm. Paul. London : Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper. To attempt to classify the apparently endless varieties of the queen of flowers, would at first sight appear to be impracticable ; and no one would make the effort who was not possessed of abundant experience upon the sub ject. Mr. Wm. Paul, of the Chesbunt Nurseries—fa mous for roses wherever roses are known in this country —has undertaken the task, and the volume before us is a triumphant prof that he has eminently succeeded. In the ,first part Mr. Paul shews that he can not only grow, and classify roses, but that he can also write a classical history of these beautiful flowers ; every author is quoted who has written in favour of the rose, and a most interesting account is given of its history from the ear liest mention which can be found in the most ancient writings. But the great valueof Mr. Paul's " Rose garden" is his practical arrangement and description of more than one thousand varieties of choice, well-proved roses ; the value of such a book will be apparent at first sight to the rose-grower, for nothing can be more bewildering than the heterogeneous lists upon which be has hitherto been obliged to depend. This beautiful work (fur it is as ornamental as it is useful) is illustrated by exquisitely perfect coloured representations of the typical roses of each group, by which means it is impossible to find any followingd ti r ul c a u r a t y he ir a l mat ii ror out practicalt classification. rose _o rose-grower can Every p wish forar as to quality of variety, time of flowering, mode of cul ture, &c., is amply detailed ; and we can confidently assert, that we never saw a bock which we could recom mend with so much satisfaction to those for whom it is written. OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. Spring is beginning to indicate its approach ; the plants under glass arc evidently feeling the influence, and are beginning to sheer signs of new growth ; it is, there fore, necessary to prepare for the necessary operation of potting, which will soon be required. Camellias are beginning to fade, and we must now look for the beautiful Chinese azaleas, moss roses, and other showy plants which have been brought forward ; the buds of the azaleas are pushing forward actively, and will be much assisted by occasional application of weak liquid manure. It is too soon to move in the flower.garden ; but no opportunity kitchen-garden, t u c s i e 1 11 1 ar . dn be neglected as te the dof gettingon with th e wor k i n the excessively wet autumn and winter have caused much to be left undone which will have now to be completed. In the plant-houses all leisure time will be well employed in destroying insects. The follow ing is worth knowing : The Thrips.--! find the foll ow i ng an e ff ec t ua l reme dy for this destructive insect :—Place the plant in a house and fill it with the stron ges t common to b acco-smoke three n i g hts successively, syringing them well on the following mornings. My azaleas suffered a good deal this spring with the red and black thrips, but by the above means have effectually destroyed them, as I have proved b 1 placing them on a white sheet of paper. I have found the red insect more easily destroyed than the black one. —S' 7'., he Turner's Florist and Garden Miscellany. CHANGE or FORTUNE.—A paragraph under this head has been going the round of the press, stating, on the au thority of a Devonport paper, that a stoker on boar H.M. steamship Valorous, has just become possessed by,.. a decree of the Court of Chancery of the Earldom 05 Stockport, and an estate of the value of £34,000 a-Yelq . " It is pure invention. Her Majesty has no steamship' Valorous. There is no Earldom of Stockport, and 1 . 1 ,.. ° estate of £34,000 a-year h a s recently been decided on , I" the Court of Chancery.