The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-28 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY NEXT.

On WEDNESDAY next, the 30th instant, at Twelve o'clock
precisely, at the Broker's office, 11, Temple-court,
100 Serous Columbian TOBACCO,
Ex Tagus, and Mercutio.—Apply to
EDWARD SAMUELSON, Broker.

The Magnificent new Clipper American Ship
' ROLLING WAVE," 606 tons register.
_Length 132 feet.
Al' Breadth
..acw ,fia\ 28 „ 11 inches.
- • Depth
Built this present year, of the choicest materials, Hackma-
tack, Pitch, Pine and Oak, thoroughly kneed in the upper and
lower deck, 'tween decks laid a neat cabin on deck, also a
house for the crew. Copper fastened, and sails remarkably
fast. She is admirably adapted for the Brazil or China
trade. For beauty of model and workmanship she cannot
be surpassed—Laying in Brunswick Dock. For further
particulars apply to JOHN S. DEWOLF & CO.

The Barque " SPARTAN,"
a L.
t,'tit„*.:, Breadth
- Depth .... 13 „ 4-19
275 tons Register.
This beautiful little vessel was built at Liverpool, N. S., and
launched in October this year, is copper fastened, and sails
uncommonly fast, having just arrived from Halifax, Nova
Scotia, in 14 days. Her draft of water is exceedingly light
—Laying in Brunswick Dock. For further particulars
apply to JOHN S. DEWOLF & CO.

The Brig " " GERTRUDE,"
)44k Length.
4,11., ,N,,,
„v,‘,,- Breadth
-- Depth
229 tons N.M. and about 260 O.M.
Built at St. Stephen, New Brunswick, of the best seasoned
Spruce, had extensive repairs upon her in the present year,
well suited for the coasting trade, and abundantly found in
stores—Laying in Brunswick Dock.
Also,
The Brigantine "VIGILANT,",
Length 6B feet 8-10
Breadth
Depth
134 tons N.M. and about 210 O.M.
Built in Nova Scotia, '
and in October, this year,
of the best seasoned materials, well suited for the coasting
trade.—Lying in Brunswick Dock. For further particulars
Apply to JOHN S. DEIVOLF St Co,

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1853.

JOHN BULL is, unquestionably, a gullible animal.
None more so. From Dan to Beersheba his
like is not to be found. His philanthropy
" extends to all extent" of this habitable globe.
Of his cosmopolitanism there exists not a doubt.
And as to his benevolence, it is quite as unbounded
as it is mis-directed. The North American Indian
amid bis interminable forests—the Greenlander
buried in eternal snows—and the Hottentot in his
kraal, are each and all, the objects of British
regard, and the recipients of British charity.
The inhabitants of distant lands must fancy our
country a very Arcadia—literally " overflowing
with milk and honey ; " where national prosperity
and domestic happiness prevail, aad where poverty
and crime are practically unknown. One can
fancy how they must envy our felicity, and con-
sider us both honoured and favoured by the Gods.
The English are never tired of forming schemes
and executing plans for the conversion of idolaters

to the " true faith of a Christian. " Our Foreign
Missionary Societies, for many years, have been
in full operation ; and as to the amount of money
expended, why it would require a first-rate finan-
cier, well-skilled in the decimal system, to compute
it ! The great rage now-a-days is the proselytism

of nations less remote—which we take to be a favour-
able omen, inasmuch as it indicates a growing
disposition on our part.to confine our benevolence
and philanthropy within the limits of the British
empire ; which, on the principle that "Charity
should begin at home," ought to be the case.
A. society has for some time been in existence, called
the " Evangelical Continental Society of London,"
the object of which is the Protestantising of France
and other Papal countries. On the formation of
an auxiliary society in this town, the Rev. BAPTIST
NOEL gave a lengthy address upon the " State of
Religion on the Continent," a report of which we
have already published. The address itself dis-
appointed us much. Instead of affording sound,
practical information on men and manners, Mr.

NOEL indulged in a sort of rhapsodical discourse,
which savoured too much of the conventicle

" twaddle." He literally departed as far from his
text as he could well have done with propriety.
After repeating the old story about the Roman
Church, he informed his auditory that nearly
thirty-seven millions of inhabitants had to be con-
verted to the Protestant faith ; that a country like
France, which exercised such an influence, both
by its diplomacy and arms, and which was nearer
to us than Ireland, should not be overlooked; that
two million Bibles had been distributed, and 2,000
Catholics converted ; that, in fine, " though last
not least," a sum of £2,500 had to be collected
annually to sustain the society's Operations—
Protestant Great Britain being naturally looked
to for support in such a case.
Now, on several grounds, we might justly oppose
this " Special Mission to the Roman Catholics" of
France. In the first place, according to Mr. NOEL'S
own showing, there are Protestant churches of
various denominations already existing in that
country ; all of which are not only tolerated, but
positively supported by the State. Now, if the
people of France desire to change their reli-
gious faith for another, there is no let or hin
drance whatever ; and one would think that
the numerous Protestant churches already existing
would do all that was requisite, and meet every
requirement on this score. But no ! Only the
favoured apostles, commissioned by the Vatican at
Exeter Hall, have the power invested in them to
convert the French nation to Evangelisation. Mr.
NOEL'S character of the Protestant churches and
clergy of that country is anything but flattering.

He tells us, that the million-andfa-half of Prole;
tants there are incapable of doing the work;
that although there are in Paris 25,000 belonging
to the reformed faith, they did little or nothing
for the cause of religion ; and that they, with the
Protestants of Lyons have never yet converted a
single Catholic ! He tells us, that the Evangelical
denominations there are just at loggerheads as

they are here ; and that merely a spurious sort of
brotherhood prevailed amongst them, which
naturally enough had led people to say : " I admit
that these others are Christians, and therefore, of
course, they must be my brethren ; but I think
the less I see of them the better—the less I come

into contact with these brethren of mine is some-
how or other the better for me." Then the Evan-
gelical Continental Society might also be regarded

as a Peace organisation—having for its object the
abolition of religious strife and the spirit of
rivalry amongst professing Christians. And Mr.
NOEL mentions an extraordinary instance of the
effect brought about by such instrumentality—
which rather approaches the story of the La Salette
miracle ! The state of religion in France may
briefly be summed up in Mr. NOEL'S words. Com-
menting upon the wisdom of the French, he
observes : " They had 40,000 Catholic priests to
execrate Protestants, they had established a Pro-
testant church to execrate the Catholics; and
whilst they established Protestants and Catholics
to condemn the Jews, they established Jewish
Rabbins to condemn the Christians !" So it would
appear that the mission of the London Society
is to throw oil on the troubled waters of polemical
discord in that country ; and convert Catholics,
and all, to the faith adopted by the Exeter-hall
Committee ! Could not these gentlemen experi-
mentalise at home, where the good effects of their
labours might be more readily seen; and as there
is a better and wider field for their exertions?
Poor old benevolent Pope ! How the English
people laughed at your folly when you, in the
abundance of your charity, offered daily prayers
for the conversion of this country to Catholicity !
And here we are now going to alienate from their
" holy Father," a whole nation, and make them
obedient to the religion of the Reformation
Have we not turned the laugh fairly against our-
selves in the height of our phrenetic folly ?
But there exists a greater objection still to this
scheme. We maintain that our own country has
the first and justest claim upon our liberality and
philanthropy ; and that whilst such inconceiv-
able poverty, wretchedness, crime, and practical
heathenism, exists everywhere around us, our
efforts should be concentrated and combined to
improve our home condition, ere we went " there
and back again" in search of objects whereupon
to exercise our abundant charity. If our Chris-
tianity be a failure at home, it must be a failure
abroad. Why not try its practical effects upon
the masses of our own countrymen ere we
venture to reclaim foreign lands and people of other
faiths, who are far more moral and religious, perhaps,
than our own? When we perceive its beneficial
influence here, we shall advocate its spread else-
where. But as longas society is in its present state—
while crime and criminals are so numerous—poverty
and destitution such as no other nation under
Heaven does witness—irreligion so prevalent, al-
though combined with Christian profession—we
say, let us stay at home—work at home—feed the
hungry—clothe the naked—redeem the criminal—
raise the condition of the masses—give them better
houses and purer water and nobler aspirations—
make them better citizens—fonder parents—more
faithful in their conjugal relations— and let these
things be done at home! When we have dethroned
crime—exterminated plague—elevated the people—
and moralised, if not Christianised, their minds—
then, should we lack objects, we may, without
fear of reproach, seek them elsewhere—but not
till then.

'Tis positively monstrous ! The Chaplain of
the Borough Gaol complains that the small sum
of £250 only was' granted by the Town Council of
Liverpool for the purpose of maintaining our
juvenile criminals, after their respective periods of
imprisonment terminated in reformatory asylums,
where they were likely to be morally benefited—
at all events, kept from preying upon society.
He states that there are objects enough, if there
were funds enough to maintain them; but such
not being the case, those unfortunate creatures
are turned loose upon the town, to follow with the
greater expertness and success, their only caning
—plunder !* And yet Mr. NOEL complains that
only £5OO had been raised for the purpose of
proselytising the people of France, and the subjects
of a Catholic Emperor ! If this be not mistaken
zeal and misplaced benevolence, we might well
ask, what is ? But, " GOD amend us, GOD amend
we are much out o' the way."

THE Bank of England returns for the week end-
ing the 19th inst., are even less satisfactory than
those for the week immediately preceding them.
The contraction of the Bank's circulation con-
tinues excessive, while a decrease has taken place
in its stock of bullion, notwithstanding there is an
excess of imports over the exports of gold for the
week, amounting to 283,6061. The contraction in
the active circulation for the same period amounts
to the extravagant sum of 596,5521. This would
be a disheartening state of things, if it were not
for the fact that the arrivals of bullion continue to
be largely in excess of the outward shipments.
The imports of gold for the week ending the 19th
instant, are as follow :