The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-12-10 00:00:00

'ticable to open the doors at six o'clock both nights
in the week, let them do so on one ; or if six o'clock
is found too early, (which I trust it may not), then
say half-past six.
This is not the idea of one person only, but of
the majority of those whOse privilege of member-
ship is-highly prized. Trusting you will consider
the importance of the subject as a sufficient reason
for the insertion of this letter, I remain, your obe-
dient servant, No. 30.
Liverpool, Dec. 9, 1853.

TEETOTALISA!.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN DAILY TIMES.

Sir,—l perceive from the perusal of your paper
that you have taken up the subject.of reformation
in all public bodies. There is one body which I
hope you will not overlook, viz : that large and
influential body of men who call themselves tee-
totallers; 'men who profess, not only to abstain
from all intoxicating liquors, but by their example
and influence to gain converts to their cause. You
know, sir, among all great bodies of men there will,
of course, be leading men. Men who either by
their superior talents or the great length of their
purses, obtain a lead. Now, sir, there is no society
in which there are more of these men than in the
societies of teetotallers, and therefore if any refor-
mation be needed, I think it is but fair to begin
with the great men first.
Now, sir, it is my belief that there is a great deal
of inconsistency amongst these men. 1, as a poor
working man, may be deemed impertinent to look
into the conduct of these great guns, who from
time to time address the public in language most
sublime, taking such lofty flights, that they find it
difficult to bring down their eloquent raphsody to
a level with the plain common sense, honest, though
maybe rough, comprehension of a less educated
man. I, sir, cannot blame them for thus
showing off their powers of language : if
they would only practice half of what
they profess, we might listen with some degree 01
eloquence to these lofty appeals. But, sir, wheu
we follow Rama of theme men home, and watch
them grinning and laughing at the way in which
they had gulled John Bull, and then see them go
to their little cupboard, and take out their glass of
port, why, sir, it is enough to disgust a man with
the cause altogether, were it not that the cause in
itself is a good one. Now, sir, I know one of these
learned gentlemen who very frequently spouts at
the Concert-hall (particularly if there happens to
be a " star" there), and tells his hearers that they
ought to avoid " all appearances of evil." Now, :4r
this said gentleman, by his spouting and .preach-
ing, makes something decent out of the teetotallers
at their grand balls and fetes. Now, this man has
no objection to spend a great part of his time in a
public house—has nobjectiont (in private) to take
his dinner there, nor o spend the money which he
has abstracted from the pockets of the believers.
Now, sir, is it fair that the money which we
working men have earned by the sweat of our brow
—I say, is it fair that this money should be taken
and given to men who cannot be honest, if hypos,
racy is dishonesty. Now, sir, I hope you will flay
these men a little, and " take the shine out of 'eni."
If you do, sir, I shall remain, yours truly,
ANTI-HUMBUG.
Liverpool, Dec, oth, 1853.

IRISH CHURCH Missle.:vs.—There was a meeting of this
society, held in Glasgow, on Wednesday night last, The
proceedings was conducted principally by the deputation
from Ireland.

PRIZE ESSAY.—The premium offered for _the best plan
for reclaiming Dartmoor and for the development of its
various resources has been awarded to Mr. Henry Tanner,
estate agent of Exeter, who was the successful competitor
,for the Royal Agricultural Society's £5O prize for his report
on the agriculture of Devonshire. There are upwards of
200,000 acres of waste land of good quality lying in the midst
of the fertile county of Devon, the property of the Prince of
Wales, which is now almost unproductive.
LOSSES AT SEA.—A 4estructive casualty, it is feared, has
occurred by the running ashore of the " Sir Edward Hamil-
ton," belonging to Mr. T. Ward, of Hull. It seems that
this vessel was on a return voyage from Petersburg to Hull,
aths
xl aor gel.
hu d,„ a valuablev c9avrfnoi n oo.f
st Russian
during par oddeuncsee.
About
fog, she went ashore on the rocks near lamooruugh
house. Immediately after striking she lost her rudder, and
so violent was the force with which she had grounded, that
sho speedily- filled with wator. Hor position was very
critical, and the crew began at once to dismantle her.
Intelligence of the casualty was at once forwarded to Hull,
and the owners dispatched a steam tug to render whatever
assistance was practicable. On Friday, such was the position
of the ship that the deck-load was hove overboard, and
every one of her three masts cut away. Some of the small
stores and a trifling part of the cargo were landed. During
the week further attempts have been made to secure the
cargo, but we believe the probabilities of saving the ship are
very small.—BasternCounties Herald.

A FIGHT IN THE WYND.—A lad named Russell was
yesterdayY fined in three guineas, and other two men named
Cogan and Noble in half a guinea each, for fighting late
on the previous evening in the spirit shop of Russell's
mother, in Old Wynd. Russell's version of the story was,
that on coming into :the shop he found Cogan making too
free with his mother, and he took him by the neck and
pitched him out:the house. That a short time afterwards Co-
gan returned with a reinforcement of up-the-country-people
(Connaught men) like himself, and kicked up a disturbance
about the shop, assaulting him and his friend Noble. But
the other version of the story, and the one the magistrate
was inclined to believe, was extracted from the evidence of
three spectators, one of whom, a young lad named Burt,
appeared in court, a strange combination of an old head
upon. young shoulders, fiom the Crown of his head having
been shaved, and a large patch of plaster covering his or-
gan of benevolence, giving him the appearance of a bald-
pated youth. He averred that while looking at the fray at
Russell's door, the lad Russell came out armed with a bar
of iron, his companion with a quart bottle, one woman with
a porker, and another with a pair of tongs, which they
flailed about them most lustily, young Russell making a
quart bottle of ginger pop smash over Burt's head in the
way a bottle of port is wont to be broken over the wooden
figure-head of a ship when launched, inflictinc, on his skull
a serious and dangerous wound. It appeared to have been
a somewhat alarming affray, bottles having been pitched
out upon the beleagering party, and the domestic weapons
of war flourished in regular Donnybrook fashion. There
were others concerned in the melee, but they forfeited pled-
ges by not appearing.—N. B. Mail.

THE POTATO IN THE NORTH.—The Banffshire Journal
has been at some trouble to ascertain, from authentie
sources, if there is really any foundation for rumours that
had got currency relative to the state of the potato stock in
the north. Circulars were addressed chiefly to parochial
schoolmasters, and answers have been received. From
Aberdeenshire the accounts are favourable. Disease has
affected the stock since pitted, but in no single case does the
loss exceed one-half per cent. From the parishes in Banff-
shire there is reported to be no diseases, and in fourteen it is
stated that dis.a.o h u 1 only appeared to a very slight extent
while in three parishes it had made considerable progress.
Thus the total is favourable. In Morayshire reports are not
quite so favourable. In Nairnshire, in so far as can be as-
certained, the disease has made little progress. From Inver-
ness-shire and Ross-shire the reports are unfavourable.
Those grown in the high districts of the country are com-
paratively free, while those grown in the low-lying damp
soils are bad. Caithness-shire is free from the disease. It
would seem that the shipment of potatoes has in some
instances had a most prejudicial effect on the article, induc-
ing a very rapid decay. and several cargoes shipped for the
London market from Inverness have been found on arrival
to be utterly useless.— .N B. Mail.
PUSEYISM IN THE CHURCH. A Mr. Jellies Bale publishes
. a remonstrance, addressed to the Bishop of London, on the
" Romish," or rather Puseyite practices followed at St.
Barnabas Church, St. James's. Incidentally we may men-
tion. that the bishop has not noticed the communication.
Mr. Bale says :—I attended there on Sunday morning last
the 4th of December, and after witnessing the miserable
spectacle of the clergy separating themselves from the laity
by rood screens and brass gates, and the absurd practice of
turning their backs to the congregation during the deli eery
of prayers, the genuflexions before the cross, and the mum-
mery by a verger at stated periods bearing a crook sur-
mounted by the figure of "St Barnabas," I was enlightened
as to the real tendency of these observances in the sermon
then delivered (and it was in manuscript, can be obtained by
your lordship), in which the preacher, addressing a Protes-
tant congregation (whose primary duty as such is to up-
hold the right of private judgment), warned us that we
migh read, but most not interpret, the Word of God, told us
that we were to believe all the "church," said, warned us
not to " wrangle" with the church, because, said he, what-
ever the 'church says, is right. These are but samples of, a
wily, insidious, jesuitical sermon, utterly at variance with
the reformed Protestant church. I have no desire to make
this unnecessarily long, but I cannot forbear remarking that
the " commandments and Lord's prayer" are nowhere to be
seen over the table (not the altar), that a " credence" table
is an appendage which you will admit to be unlawful, that
huge candles so filled the eye, that the simple forms of our
church were altogether lost, its external appearance was that
of a mass-house, and from my heart I believe the hearts of
the curates and priests internally accorded with it. The
congregation could not understand a word of the service, it
was uttered by choristers (who, as inferior clergy, ordained
by puseyite priests, are permitted to enter within the screen),
and priests, in a strange, unknown tongue (very artis-
tic), doubtless, but der gating from the Sinipliditand
purity of our mother tongue), intoned the beautiful ser-
vice.