The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-21 00:00:00

SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.
Sir,—l now answer the letter signed "C. D. Hackfittir_
which appeared in your paper of Friday last.
Ist. I was never discharged from the society, but
voluntarily ceased to act in any capacity about 3rd Febrility
last. On leaving this letter I showed you documents,
proving that I was secretary, and acted as such at the
second concert on the 23rd January last. At that concert-
I engaged St. George's-hall, paid Mr. Best, lot Mr.
Hackett Z 7 to help the payment of singers, and my lAMB
was appended as secretary to 1,000 circulzrs issued tojhe
subscribers. Of the £7 lent, I have had £4 18s returned.
2nd. Deficiency of accounts at first concert. This is a
serious matter, R hich must be settled in court. The first
concert took place on 30th November, when my accounts
are now said to have been wrong, Ist. I never accepted
any responsibility as to money matters. 2nd. The financial
affairs of that concert were so conducted that I should be
very much astonished if a business statement could be
made regarding it. 3rd. On the 24th December-following,
Mr. Hackett induced a near connection uf his to become

security for my intromissions to a London house, to the
extent of £l5O. On the same date, he himself joined me

nd cone

Tannary,

°tory to t

', paying money on its

account, from its own funds as well as from my owu private

These ar.:, facts hardly cot

of cid tlcation

Ile eitF

me too

o obtain

s in law to

hat his

own pecuniary condition it

nothing

new fo

;o he told
s Present

me, in presence of It third pmty

employees had been discharged from his provides situation
for dishonesty. I did not believe it at the time, and

subsequent observation has proved I was right.
As to overbearing and insultine conduct. This is raking
up the charge made against me by the Mercury, after the
first concert ; the facts as stated by in.: were, that about
1,600 people were seatA in the hail, and a, few late arrivals
demanded admission while a solo was being sang. I
refused, on the plea that it would not be just to disturb so
many people for a few late arrivals—the doors were more-
over closed by Mr. Ilaclatt's criers. " Those who live in
glass houses should never throw stones." Rebtor Campbell
duly appreciated lir. Hackett's extreme courtesy and
urbanity by lately relieving him of his duties as organist

_
at St. Peter's,
As to owing money to members of the society, it is false,
sate in one instance, where there is an account of £3 103 ;
and the same gentleman, to my knowledge, would not open
a further account with Mr. Hackett for as many shillings as
I owe him pounds—but this is paltry.
Mr. Hackett owes me £9 8s in money, and compensations
for all the injury my connection with, him has caused, and
will cause, me in Liverpool.
With reference to the joint appointment he notices. At
the office where the business was carried on, he introduced
the Sacred narmonic Society business. In February I
found that that society was injuring the interests I
represented, and I ordered him to remove it ; he did not do
so ; I then took down his plate, and insisted upon his
removing elsewhere. I also wrote fully to London on the
matter, and in order to save himself being' discharged, he

resigned.
I know Mr. Sowden, the gentleman alluded to, and
believe him to be quite as able to form a correct opinion of
the society, and to express it, as well as myself.
As to Mr. Hackett's caution to the subscribers, they wilt
take it at its proper value; let me caution them to pay no
more guineas until they are furnished with a statement of
funds.

It is an old saying, " Give the devil his due ." and con-
siderable credit must be awarded to Mr. Hackett as pro-
jector of the society. To have secured the support of the
leading gentry and merchants of the town must have
required no little amount of zeal and ingenuity, and it is
very much to be regretted that the working of the society
will not justify the approval, or meet the wishes, of its
former patrons. When I became identified with the,
society, much stress was laid upon the fact that the influence
of the town was secured in its favour, and it was upon the
respectability of its members, that I was induced to under-
take the duties of secretary and canvasser. The result of
my' efforts may be proved from the fact that I succeeded in
adding upwards of two hundred names to its previous list,
which, I am proud to think, is anything bat a proof of my
want of civility and courtesy, and must at once give-the lie
to Mr. IL's assertions respecting my want of courtesy, and
insulting demeanour.
It will be a cause of surprise to the sucbsribers to be
informed, that notwithstanding my position as secretary, I
was never present at a single meeting of the committee;
nay, more, that during my tenure of office a committee meet-
ing was never held, and I hesitate not to state that all its
offices were virtually held and discharged in the person of
Mr. Hackett. Ile was treasurer, secretary, conductor,
managing director, and, so far as I know, chairman and
committee too, the whole o

ces "being rolled into one."
That he kept no proper accounts I know, and should he
produce such a statement it must be "regularly cooked,"
(and here, again, I give him c-edit f•)r ability), for he cannot
produce Nowhere for the outlay of ,the funds. I would ask,
first, whether Mr. H. is not aware that three or four gentle-
men were served with legal proceedings for the Church-
street class-room rent? Second, if he has not been sued
in the county court for £8 17s rent of Clayton-hill, for
rehearsals, and whether time was not asked in which to
pay ? Third, whether there is not demand against the
society for printing, to the tune of, about,£ V)? Fourth, if
he has not received subscriptions for the current ye tr to the
lmvibers
ill ave-

amount of £2OO,

ge 80, which amount, ad

•ent cf Clayton-hall, and ill,
total of little short of £350,
[ am ignorant—the current expenses of
mansion inlslington-squ

d to the sum due for printing.
will make
s liabilities of which
)ciety and the

X) abov

,he
—to meet which th

re can be

no assets, time having been begged to pay
£8 odd.

)altry sum of

Having resided in Liverpool but twelve months, and my
connection with the Sacred Ha-manic Socie'y dating from
that period, it was by the specious and plausible represen-
tations of Mr. Hackett that I was induced to undertake
the duties of secretary ; indeed, I felt myself fully justified
in discharging them, knowing that the late mayor was
its president, and that its committee list represented the
wealth and respectability of Liverpool. It is matter of
deep regret to me personally, that in consequence of the
reeklessness of Mr. Hackett, a society, which was calcu-
lated, under judicious and respectable management, to be
a benefit and delight to the people, should fall to the
ground ; and I would throw myself upon the kindly
feelings of the subscribers and the public at large, in the
hope that no future injury may result to me from my recent
connection with the society.
I could take the society up in a dozen other lights, con-
fining myself strictly to fact, but must defer it, as I have
already tried your patience.
Warmly thanking you for allowing me the opportunity
of publicly vindicating my character—my sole wealth,—l
am, yours, &c., A. MACLEAN.
Liverpool, 19th April, 1856.

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