The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-20 00:00:00

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITARIAN
AND PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS OF
LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE, IN MAN-
CHESTER, YESTERDAY.

CANADA.

ARRIVAL OF THE CANADIAN

The steam-ship Canadian, Captain Ballantine,
arrived in the river from Quebec this:morning, just

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
The two hundred and ten&h annual assembly of the
Unitarian and Presbyterian ministers of Lancashire and
Cheshire, opened in Manchester yesterday. The pro-
ceedings were opened by service, solemnised in the
Unitarian chapel, Cross-street. The inaugurating sermon
was preached by the Rev. W. H. Channing, of Renshaw-
street chapel, Liverpool.
The preacher selected as his text, the 20th and 21st
verses of the third Chapter of the Ephesians—" Now, unto
Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all
that we ask or think, according to the power that
worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ
Jesus, throughout all ag es, world without end. Amen.
The Rev. W. Channing, in opening his discourse, stated
that that was an occasion of the deepest interest to the
preacher, because he felt that it was once and for all in
his natural life—that once for all upon this earthly globe,
he met many of them there to utter, as in the presence of
God; what God had given him faith to do. He knew
that they would, hereafter, judge of what he said
from a position of spiritual knowledge in the
eternal world. He knew that he and they would
after their intercourse on this earth interchange their
views once more in regard to the realities on which they
were that day to meditate. He then proceeded to survey
the position of the Christian church at the present day.
Everywhere and for ever the Divine Being carried on his
great scheme for man by employing the differences of men
to balance and harmonise one another. Conservatism,
innovation, and compromise were among these means, and
each had its accompanying dangers. The danger of con.
servatism was that it strove to retain the mere form
which society had outgrown. The danger of innovation
was in rejecting the spirit of the past and the wisdom of
traditional institutions. The danger of compromise was
the committing society to falsehood, not stating purely
and freely the truths of the past or of the future, and
losing the true wisdom of observing the times by falling
into time-serving. No one could be truly wise who was
not at once conservative, innovatiag, and conciliatory, and
no one could combine all these elements who did not, out
of the very life which God gave him, and by the wisdom
which God imparted to him, recognise most distinctly
what is the position of men at the very age in which his
lot was cast. In regard to the present age there was no
danger of exaggeration in saying that Providence distinctly
pointed it out as one of transition in human affairs. Let
them now look at the elements of the age, and recognise
some of the dangers which threatened Christendom, as
well as the great hopes which were ready to aid them, as
God's guardians, if they were but faithful in the service.
In the first place, on the extreme side of conservatism,
stood the hierarchical party in the church allied to the
despotic and centralizing party in the state, taking the
control of all authority, and dictating from that autho-
rity to all modes of education, all modes of popular en-
lightenment, and exhibiting itself in the social form of
distinct castes. This was not peculiar to that or any
other nation—it was the character of that era of Christ-
endom everywhere, and there was no single township of
any nation in Christendom, where the tendencies of this
did not in some degree enter. For one, he believed that
the Roman Catholic church and the Greek church would
stand until the work which God had given them to do
was done. But he felt bound, while recognising all the
good, to point out the dangers of the hierarchical, cen-
tralising, and traditional elements. These dangers
were rife. Every one who studied the signs of the
times fairly could see that there was—and he used
the word purposely—a plot going on—a plot of the
priests and of the rulers to keep down mankind by leaden
weights, and to make them bond-slaves in spirit and in
body. Was the world to go back 'once more to the sway
of Rome ? Was it to pass under the control of the Byzan-
tinechurch.with its head, the Czar, supported by bayonets ?
No—no such future was before mankind. Let them then
look at the opposite side. Fronting the hierarchy and
the centralised power in the state stood the party of
revolution asserting the equal rights of all men, declaring
that every human being was a sovereign under God for
and in himself, responsible to no one under God. Was
then the Christian church to be shattered to the ground
by this party ? Were all the usage and custom which
surrounded Christian institutions to be pronounced a
despotism, and to be cleared away ? Was the beautiful
and blessed form of God's beloved Son, which seemed to
be transparent with the divine light shining through it, to
be eclipsed and to pass away into darkness, and was each
human being to be thrown upon his own soul as his own
Christ? Was the world to be given up to the bloody
struggle between the hierarchy and the revolution ? He did
not believe that such a future awaited mankind. He then
proceeded to consider how the future was to be avoided and
what were the great hopes and realities presented, if
they would but open their minds and hearts. to receive
them, presented like God'slmessengers, to soothe, elevate,
and enlarge, and to assure mankind that God was ready
to lead them if they would but yield themselves to his
guidance. The preacher then proceeded to enlarge upon
the great leading realities which he declared to present
themselves in the doctrine of Christendom and the life of
Jesus Christ. These principal realities were, that every
human soul was designed to be in its degree a form of
God—the unity of each human being with God and witl
the mortal race, and that death was no separation from
the race, but that the race beyond the earth were in
union with our race here. These realities were sufficient
to assure them that Christendom would not sink under
the control of the hierarchy, that it would not be over-
whelmed by revolution, and that it would not stand half-
way, trembling between fear and hope. These were
realities which were to shape themselves into theologies
which would be adequate to the ever-unfolding reason of
man. These were realities which would organise them-
selves into institutions of Church and State, not
destructive to the past, but using the past as
a shield for the growing bud, which it should
zradually put aside to unfold in all its beauty.
One word be should say in conclusion, in regard to the
position of the Unitarian body. They were Unitarians—
they had the glorious name which; represented the unity
of man. Let them hold that name dear as a birthright.
If once they asserted the unity of God, then logically they
had asserted the unity of the church. If once they
asserted the unity of the church, then they had asserted
the unity of development through all ages. If once they
asserted that unity of past and present, then they had de-
clared that there was a unity, the principle, and the law
of which was love, and the manifestation of which must
be love. Oh, such was the mission to which the Unita-
tarian body was called—the latest born of Christianity,
the heir and legatee of all that came down from the
thoughts and aspirations of the ages—the little child upon
whom the saints and sages of the past had put their
hands in benediction. Should it not go forth to possess,
and to glory in its trust? Aye, but if from want of
earnestness, energy, and confidence, in God, that body
did not do so, some other body, honoured by God,
and worthy to do His work, would teach the
unity of the Christian church, and of Christendom.
It was given to that body to do if they wouk
do it. Let them seek for a perfect oneness in con
nection with the church of the Continent of Europe am
the United States. Each individual congregation, and al
congregations, should be linked together more closely
They had in this country a type of a national church
That type was a promise of something held out which
should become a reality. They all recognised that. that
national church, avowing and declaring itself as such, war
not adequate to the life of Christian love pouted abroad
throughout the nation. They could not in conscience
yield themselves to its limitations. They must, out of the
spirit of affinity, and of deep and reverent affiliation, like
their ancestors, go forth to enlarge its boundaries, But
there were two modes. One was the mode of life, and
the other was that of death. One was that of declaring
that there was no reality in it—the other was by saying
that in its essence there was reality, and by holding firm
to what was good in principle. The Unitarian bedy might
do a work which should be recognised in every age as a
work of blessed reformation. If they did not do it. some
others would. That work was, to stand firm as the
announcers of a larger, better, truer age of Christian faith,
hope, and love, and to declare that however others may stand
divided from the Unitarian body, that body would be in unity
with them, and so help to raise the temple of God, silent and
unseen, through the ministry of their mediation. Let them
stand firm and be faithful—unite themselves strongly and
lovingly together in single congregations. Let them change
their habits, he besought of them, in one respect—in regard to
the isolation of their congregations, and let them bring the
body of Unitarians into one living earnest communion—place
themselves in fraternal relations with the congregations of the
Continent and of the United States--place themselves, above
all, in the hands of God. He had given them a providential
work which it was for them to do, and may His blessing be
upon them !

as we were going to press.
The Canadian left Quebec on the 7th instant,
and brings the journals up to that date.

LONDON & NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY

STRIKE OF TILE PORTERS AND CLERKS

Yesterday evening the clerks and porters now on strike
met in the Hope-hall, at seven o'clock, Mr. Wharrie in
the chair, Mr. Pritchard, secretary. It was expected
that the meeting would have a communication to receive
from the Marquis of Chandos, the chairman of the
company, as it was known that a deputation of the men
had had an interview with that nobleman and some other
of the directors during the day, and therefore the Hall
was pretty well filled. There was a great deal of time
lost in cheering the leading persons of the movement as
they entered the Hall, and it was nearly eight o'clock
before anything material was done. At last the chair-
man proceeded to say that he had a simple duty to per-
form, namely,lto tell them that the deputation had had an
interview with the Marquis of Chandos and some other
of the directors, in reference to the respectful memorial
forwarded by the men. They had a previous interview
with the noble marquis, and the public were alreidy in
possession of the details in that respect. The noble mar-
quis received the deputation very cordially, and stated
that he had received the memorial, but that in addition
to what the directors had already stated to the deputa-
tion, he (the noble marquis) had nothing more to offer.
He (the chairman) then asked his lordship if the men were
to consider themselves discharged? and his lordship re-
plied that the men and clerks had discharged themselves.
And as to characters,'they would receive verbal char-
acters from the company. His lordship also informed
them that on the next (this) day if they attended at the
canal house, Great Howard-street, they would receive
whatever wages were due to them—that is, all the wages
due to them up to the time they left the employment.
He then alluded to two persons who had been induced to
go back, and who got a promise of 30s. a-week and he
stated that these men had tried all means in their power
to induce the other men to return, but they had failed.
(Cheers.) He (the chairman) implored them to stick
together, to commit no crime or outrage (hear, bear),
and by respectful conduct they would yet succeed in
obtaining their just rights. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Sargent then addressed the meeting, and said he
would not desert their cause, (Cheers.) He stated that
he was one of the delegates that day to Lord Chandos
and the directors, and he was bound, to say that his
lordship had given them a courteous reception. He then
alluded to a Mr. Minster, and stated that it was told
that Mr. Minster had been addressed by the Marquis at the
Adelphi, sho said to him, " I wonder, Mr. Minster, a man
like you would act as you have done." The speaker said
he mentioned this to the noble marquis, who denied it.
(Hisses.) His lordship said, however, that this Mr.
Minster called on him at the Adelphi, and stated that he
(Mr. M.) did not agree with the men, and begged to be
reinstated in his place: (Hisses.) The-speaker then went
into a brief detail of the conversation that took place
between him and the noble marquis, the substance of
which was as above.
The Secretary said, an evening or two ago, Mr. Thomas
Minster moved the following resolution at a meeting, and
after doing so, he went to the Marquis of Chandos and
betrayed the men. He merely wished this to go forward
to the public in order to show the sort of men they had to
deal with. He said the reason why Mr. Minster had
acted as described was because his name was down in the
list for dismissal before the strike. (Hisses, and "oh ")
The speaker then read the resolution as moved by Mr.
Minster, which pledged the meeting to no surrender;
yet, after all, (said the speaker) he was the first man to
betray them.
Mr. Sollon then addressed the meeting, and recapitu-
lated the conversation that took place at the interviews
between the chairman and the deputation. He alluded to
the new men got down by the company in the place
of the men on strike, and he drew a contrast very un-
favourable to the former, whom he designated the out-
scourings of Liverpool, and said they were better
acquainted with pick-locks than with waggons. The
speaker went on at some lengh, and said it was stated
that the company would get down colliers to do the work,
and he designated this as a wilful and reckless expendi-
ture of the shareholders' money, when the difference
between them was only 49 a week. (Hear, hear.) He
trusted that from the losses the company would sustain,
that the directors would send for the old and practised
hands again, as they could not do without them. (Cheers.)
He entered into details in reference to the wages paid by
the company, and the amount paid by the merchants ; the
latter paying more than the company, although the men
of the latter worked hours longer. He alluded to Mr.
Carter, and said the men had the sympathy of all people
in the town, as all they wanted was 3s 6d from six to six,
or 4s to seven o'clock in the evening. (Hear.) He urged
the necessity of alt keeping firm together, and they were
sure of victory. He sat down amid loud applause.
Mr. Spicer then addressed the meeting, and denied that
the men struck for the purpose of getting rid of Mr.
Carter, or of coercing the directors. This was not the
fact. They only wanted to have their grievances redressed,
and they asked that respectfully. (Hear, hear.) They
only wanted a fair day's wages for a fair day's work.
(Hear, hear.) He then went over the same points as
already alluded to, and exhorted the men to be firm, and
he was sure the "merchant princes" of Liverpool would
sympathise with them. He would suggest that a public
meeting of the proprietors of the company should be
invited to hear the complaints of the men (hear, hear),
as he was bound to believe the proprietors would, on
hearing the merits of the case, insist on redress being
given to the men, and for this reason—that it would be
avast loss to the proprietors if they did not . (Hear,
hear.) He suggested that an advertisement be inserted
in the papers, calling on the proprietors to meet them on
Saturday and listen to their plain story. (Hear, hear.)
He urged that all should remain quiet and show no
physical force, but act in an orderly manaer. (Loud
cheers.)
The Chairman read a document from the working men
of Liverpool, offering the sympathy of that body to the
men; and the writer of that document (Mr. Edwards)
addressed the meeting, and said the feelings of the masters
and men of Liverpool were with them, and if they stuck
together, they would get their rights. (Cheers.)
Mr. Moorsdale read a resolution, pledging the meeting
not to return until they had their grievances redressed.
Mr. Swan seconded the motion, and denied that the
men had broken the arrangement of 1853, but alleged that
the directors had broken it. (Cheers.)
The resolution passed unanimously.
Mr. Holt then proceeded to read some remarks which
he had written on the subject, which reviewed the whole

case.
A. resolution, to the effect that the meeting respectfully
called on the Press to inform the merchants that the men
were extremely sorry for the loss and inconvenience they
must suffer, but that it was not the fault of the men,
passed unanimously.
A resolution, to the effect that the men should call a
meeting (of the proprietors of the company, and state
their whole case to them, was passed unanimously.
A vote of thanks was then passed, amid loud applause,
to the Press, for the sympathy shown and the admirable
reports that had appeared of their proceedings, and it
was then resolved to hold a meeting of the body this day,
in Parliament fields.
The meeting then separated, all having passed off in
the most orderly manner.

Yesterday, about 300 porters, who were brought down
to supply the place of the men on strike at ;the Waterloo
station, were ordered dinner and tea by the directors,
which was supplied by Mr. Morrish, of the Merchants'
dining rooms, at the station. The new clerks were also
dined at the Expense of the directors, at Mr. Morrish's,
Tithebarn-street.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN TIMES,

_
Sir,—Can any one tell me what chance there is of this
nuisance being brought to a close. Reading the account
of the proceedings yesterday, I think the men are right,
and think also that such a powerful company as this
should not be guilty of the " cheese-paring" evidently at
work, if what we read be correct. To submit to extortion,
no one asks them ; but they should endeavour to estab-
lish some system on fair remunerative principles to their
servants, whereby the inconvenience of the last few days
may be avoided. We all know that servants may be with
you too long, and that frequently they fancy their services
cannot be dispensed with, but this has too often proved a
fallacy. Ido not wish to lay down a rule to govern the
directors of this company, but I think they should remem-
ber the amount of property confided to their care, and the
loss likely to arise from a niggardly system, saving a
comparatively small sum on the year's expenses, and
throw away ten times the amount in a few days. We
are all more or less at the mercy of the working men, who
are ahre wd enough to see where their interests lie, and are
frequently too easily led away by some firebrand among
them, at a time when there is a press of business, but it

THE BUSINESS MEETING.

The ordinary business meeting took•place in the chapel, after
the service had concluded. When the roll was called, thirty-
one ministers answered to their names. The chair was taken
by the Rev. Mr. Gaskell.
The Chairman, in a brief address, introduced the general
subjects and character of the annual meeting.
The Rev. Mr. Wright, who acted in the capacity of senator,
read the minutes of the meeting last year is Liverpool.
The Rev. Mr. Aspland moved a vote of thanks to the Rev.
Mr. Channing for his eloquent, enlightened, and truly Catholic

their :statement be correct (ind unless contradicted
the public have only this to judge by, and are bound
to believe it), there seems ground for complaint
at the favouritism and unfairness of the present system.
I should like to know who is to reimburse one for such
cases as the following ? I have some orders in hands for
goods to be shipped by a vessel for an outlandish port,
part are on board, and without the remainder these are
of no use. The vessel is on demurrage of four guineas per
diem, and must go to sea to-morrow ; I cannot get the
goods in town, and mine are in the tunnel; I am threatened-
with the expenses of detention, or have the goods left on
hand, which, being ordered for a specific market and
purpose, would have to be sold here for " what they would
fetch," and we all know what that means. lam one of a
large number of persons thus situated. Can you tell me
who is to reimburse me? The company will laugh at me
if I claim, as, if they pay one they must pay all. I have
other goods coming down for a steamer, and which I have
ordered by another route; but of course cessation of
traffic on one line will bring more work than their oppo-
nents can accomplish, and thus again there will be another
detention and loss.
See, therefore, Mr. Editor, what calling the attention
of the public to the subject will do, and oblige, &c.,
- FORWARDING AGENT.

sermon.
The Rev. Dr. Beard seconded the motion, which was carried
by acclamation.
The Rev. Mr. Charming returned thanks.
The Rev. Francis Bishop proposed a vote of sympathy and
regret from the meeting for the death of the Rev. Mr. Malcolm,
of Cheshire.
The Rev, J. B. flamin seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
The Rev. Mr. Baker moved an expression of sympathy for
' the illness of the Rev. Charles Wallace, of Altringham, and
regret for his absence, which was seconded by the Rev. Mr.
Ashton, and carried.
The welcome of the meeting was tendered to three ministers
recently attached to the body—Rev. Goodwin Bramby, Rev.
John Gilbert, and Rev. John James Bishop.
A report was then brought p from a committee appointed
at the meeting in Liverpool to consider the constitution of the
body with regard to the right of laymen to vote and take
rt in the proceedings of the annnal meeting, The report recom-
mended that all ministers and laymen present at any meeting
be entitled to take part in the proceedings, but that the right
of voting be limited to the ministers of all congreations,

THE NORTHERN TIME S.---LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY.

hitherto recognised, or hereafter admitted, and to lay repre-
sentatives, not exceeding three, from each congregation.
Mr. Holbrook Gaskell moved the adoption of the report.
Rev. J. Robberds, Liverpool, seconded the motion.
Rev Mr. Ashton, of Preston, moved as an amendment,
that the report be printed and circulated for consideration
among the general body, and that the question of its adoption
be postponed, until next year.
Rev. Mr. Arpland seconded the amendment.
A lengthened and desultory conversation followed, in which
Mr. C. Beard, Mr. Avison, Liverpool, Mr. Christopher
Rawlins, Liverpool, Mr. Thomas Bolton, Liverpool, Mr.
Grundy, Mr. Mackay, Mr. H. S. Bright. Liverpool, Rev.
James Martineau, Liverpool, Rev. Mr. Carpenter, Mr.
George Melly, Liverpool, and several other gentlemen, took

The amendment was then put, when there appeared 24 for,
and 32 against. Tlle amendment was, therefore, lost. The
report was adopted by the same majority.
The next annual meeting was fixed to take place at Stand,

in Cheshire.
The Chair was then taken by the Rev. James Martineau,
and the thanks of the meeting passed to the former chairman.

THE DINNER.
The dinner took place at the Albion Hotel, Piccadilly.
About one hundred guests sat down to table. The dinner was
excellent in its quality, and all its arrangements. The High
Sheriff of the county, Robert N. Philips, Esq., occupied the
chair. _ _

The Chairman gave " Her Majesty the Queen, Duchess of
Lancaster," which was drunk with all the honours.
The next toast was " Prince Albert, and the rest of the
Royal Family ;" in introducing which, the chairman observed
that whan the deputation lately waited upon his Royal High-
ness to solicit hie patronage for the forthcoming exhibition in
Manchester, the Prince expressed the warmest interest in the
project, and in every thing conducing to the welfare
of Lancashire. The toast was drunk with the utmost

enthusiasm.
The Chairman then gave .‘ Civil and religious liberty al
over the world."
Mr. Mark Phillips acknowledged the toast in an eloquen
address, which was loudly applauded. In dwelling on the
progress made in civil and religious freedom, the speaker
remarked the coincidence that the day of their meeting, the
19th of June, was the anniversary of the day when
the English barons extorted from King John the signature
of Magna Charts- He wished that, in looking
to the continent of Europe, and other parts of the world, he
could say there were the same encouraging symptoms of
progress. (Hear, hear.) He could not but feel discouraged
on seeing states like Austria making religion once more a
system of military tyranny. Still, he had faith in the prayers
of the world, and in the example which this country would
continue to show, by keeping steadily to the free institutions,
to which she owed so much of her position, and national
prosperity. (Cheers.)
The Chairman proposed the health of the Rev. W. H.
Channing, with the thanks of the meeting for the elegant
sermon they had heard.
The Rev. W. Channing, on rising to express his acknowledg-
ment of the compliment, was loudly cheered. He stated that
he always attributed such receptions to the desire of English-
men to show their sympathy for America, and their desire for
a true fraternal union. For a union between the nations
which nothing could shake, he declared that he
felt 'a strong and indomitable hope. The principles
associated with the name of the Manchester School,
were valued by Americans, although they might not go the
full length of them, as embodying that spirit of brotherly
co-operation which they desired to see established. He
declared, that so far as he understood the signs of the times, he
believed that the hearts of the people of England and America
were never more entirely at one than now. (Cheers.) He
laid the burden of past anxieties, which pressed so much upon
the minds, the industry, and the energies of the two nations,
at the feet of politicians and of editors of the Press. The
politicians of America were blamed as being fond of office, but
were they, in this instance, an exception to the politicians of
other countries. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) No politician.
who did not religiously feel the solemnity of his office, should
be tolerated in any country. The politician who did not seek
a higher wisdom than his own to give a scope to his statesman-
ship, was unfit to hold a baton of office. He admitted the
unspeakable value of the press as the lungs of the public, bat
he urged that these lungs should be pure and healthy—that
the public should be sure they were breathing fresh
and not diseased air. (Hear, hear.) It had occurred
to him in Great Britain, and in his own •country,
that they should revive the spirit of their old chivalric ances-
tors, and let every man stand up ready to back by deeds what
be said in words. No man should ever publish what he would
not take the responsibility of. (Hear, bear.) Much of the
recent vexations with America had arisen from anonymous
publications. Let the little man not try to make himself big
by surrounding himself with the inflated prestige of a great
Pres.. With regard to the seeming discourtesy, which he felt
convinced was not an intentioned discourtesy, offered by the
United States to Great Britain in the personal of her minister,
be declared his conviction that had the Russian war continued
the British minister would never have been dismissed from
Washington. But the United States felt that they would be
compromising their position before the world if they yielded to
England, with all her assembled power, what they
demanded of her when she had but half her power
at hand. He did not think if he were to interpret
their feelings, that they would think the lose of the people
of America for that. With regard to the question of Central
America, he could tell them, what however he felt satisfied
:hey could deny, that it was whispered abroad by Mephis-
topheles, or the spirit of evil, that Great Britain was jealous
of the growth of the United States, and that although she did
not want that means of communication herself, yet she would
thwart the United States in using it. Such an impression had
gone abroad, and had caused much of the intensity of feeling
which existed upon this subject in America. He urged that
Great Britain should rather aid America and wish her God
speed in thus opening up a new road for the commerce of the
world. He called upon the people of England not to do
nything which could call away the attention of the people of
boaerica from the great problem which they had to solve in
he slavery question. (Hear, bear.) The time when
let problem must be solved, he declared to be near
it hand, and he expressed the fullest belief in its
oeaceful solution. The speaker gave utterance to
an eloquent expression of his hope in the future of peaceful
and fra ernal co.operation which would open. cp for England
and America, and in which the Canadian provinces would be
the great connecting link. Of his own country, he declared
himself proud, as the first born of Europe, which had had
difficulties to encounter such as no other land had ever met
with, and which presented an example of social and moral
'regress if not unparallelled, at least unsurpassed, in the
yof the world. The speaker resumed his seat amidst

loud applause
The Chairman gave " The open and manly avowal of
religious belief."
Mr. Ainsworth responded.
The next toast was " The Provincial Assembly of Lanca-
shire and Cheshire."
Mr. Charles Beard returned thanks, in the absence of Mr.
Whitehead, the secretary, by whom the toast has been usually
acknowledged. The speaker traced the progress of the spiri-
tual freedom of England from its early, and at first unnoticed,
sources, and declared that while he honoured the great minds
which had adorned other denominations, he would not
exchange the spiritual forefathers of that provincial assembly
for the proudest prelate of any church. (Cheers.) Whatever
might have been the past history of that assembly, he felt con-
fident that its future would not be less brilliant, and he was
convinced that the change which had been that day made in
the constitution of the body, although viewed with distrust by
some, would tend to develope to a yet higher degree the utility
and the general objects of the association. (Cheers.)
The Chairman said they had just done honour to a body
210 years old. He had now to call upon them to drink pros-
perity to a more modern, but still well founded institution,
" The Manchester New College." (Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. Aspland, in replying to the toast, alluded to
the progress of the college, and the advantages of its principle
of education, without the fetters of religions bigotry. A combi-
nation of learned professors had rendered the recent statute for
the admission of dissenters into Oxford college practically a
dead letter. The time had not yet come when the body which
he now addressed could take down its flag. He felt the.
they would have many a conflict yet to go through before the
great principle of civil and religious liberty was established and
fully recognised, and he rejoiced to find that they Were pre-
pared to fight, and ready to combine with the true men of every
land, like the distinguished transatlantic friend whom they
had the honour of receiving that day. (Cheers).
Mr. J. Aspinall Turner, as Vice-President, proposed the
next toast, which was " The health of the Chairman, H. N.
Phillips, Esq." In proposing the toast, the speaker alluded
to the fac', that the preceding High Sheriff of Lancashire had
also been a Unitarian, which showed that that body was not
wholly neglected in public matters. He pronounced a warm
eulogium upon the public spirit and high private character of
the chairman, whose health lie called the meeting to unite with
him in drinking. (Cheers).
The toast was drank with full honor rs and amid the most

enthusiastic acelatnations.
The Chairman, in returning thanks, remarked the
singularity of the fact, that he should have gone as shertf£ to
open the doors of Lancaster Castle, which, a great number of
years ago, were locked upon his father, for holding certain
opinions upon the question of taxation and representation.
(Cheers).
The next toast was—" A theology which fears not, but
courts, the growing light of philosophy and science."
The Rev. James Martinean, who was enthusiastically ap-
plauded, was called on to reply to the sentiments. lie declared
it as his firm conviction that it was quite impossible the progress
of the hmman mind, in any ono department of cultivation,
, could be made rapidly in one direction, without its being made,
with equal rapidity, in another direction, and that to attempt
to sever it, to encourage the progress of science and of philoso-
phy, while seeking to resist the progress of theology, was as
foolish as vain, and as contrary to the purposes of God as
ever had been made. The speaker dwelt upon this point in an
address of peculiar force and clearness, declaring that the man
to whom he would most willingly apply that ignominious name,
SO shamefully misapplied of infidel, was the man who could
feel any fear of truth in the universe of God, or who had any
apprehension that the poor dreams which he entertained in his
finite mind, could prove better than the great and eternal
realities which could only come from the light of reason and

the searches of philosophy. He contended that the principal
influence on the mind of the present ago was not exercised by
the theologism, but by writers, cot professedly religious, and,
therefore, declared that it behoved them all to see that theo-
logical writing had its due influence by drawing to itself the
elements which enabled others to arrive at such a power. In
the search for truth, the speaker declared, that an important
and valuable change had taken place dining, the last few years.
It was better that man should possess such a desire for the
attainment of truth, than that he should believe. he
possessed it all within himself, rounded off as a part
of his own finite being. It was a great saying
of Lessing that if a messenger of God were to offer him absolute
truth on one side, and infinite search for truth on the other,
he would reverently decline the absolute truth, and take the
infinite search after it. Declaring that a profound and noble
truth was contained in this saying, the speaker enforced it in
a few brilliant sentences, and resumed his seat amid loud

applause.
The Rev. Mr. Wright, of Bury, responded to the toast of
" The Unitarian Home Mission."
Other toasts having been given and responded to, the assem-

bly broke up.
The assembly were entertained on Wednesday night by the
High Sheriff, and will be received this evening at the residence
of Mr. J. Aspivall Turner.

THE TOWN DUES.

LOCAL CHARGES ON SHIPPING

COMMITTE.

(PROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tnuasnav
The-select committee on the local charges of shipping
met to-day. Mr. Lowe in the chair. The other member,
of the committee present were, Lord Hotharn, Mr. Wat
son, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Vance, Mr. Headlam, Sir John
Duckworth, Mr. Duncan, and Mr. Beamish.
Mr. Shuttleworth,
,the Town-clerk of Liverpool, was
re-called, and commenced by reading the boundaries of
the port of Liverpool, as set out in the record in posses-
sion of the corporation, referring to the lease from the
Molyneux family in 1670, for 1,000 years. It was stated
at the trial, when the legal right of the corporation to
the Town Dues was contested by the committee of
merchants, that the boundaries were set out in order to
show the right. Though the lease for 1,000 years was
dated in 1672, an agreement was executed the year be-
fore. It therefore appeared natural to conclude, that
having executed a lease for so long a period, they were
desirous of placing on record what they considered their
boundaries to be both by sea and land. He next read a
correspondence between the offices of customs in London,
and those at West Chester, in the year 1660, which
stated that all the river Mersey, and the shores on both
sides, were, and ought to be, wider the inspection of the
customs of Liverpool.
By Mr. Watson: Have you the report and correspon-
dence presented to the corporation in 1834, when the right
to the Town Dues was disputed and tried by the com-
mitter, of merchants ?
The Town Clerk.. I have. He read the documents from
the books of the corporation, including letters received
from Mr. Joseph Horuby, the chairman of the committee
of merchants, who had disputed the right, in which the
writer stated that they were not disposed longer to inter-
pose any unnecessary obstacle to the settlement of the
question; "but we consent to a verdict against Messrs.
Bolton, Ogden and Co., from the conviction that the
legislature had in contemplation a measure to place
freemen and non-freemen ou the same footing, and also in
reliance that the corporation would act up to the resolu-
tion of the 4th of December." The correspondence further
stated that the council agreed to the terms proposed by the
committee of merchants, and a verdict was entered against
Messrs. Bolton, Ogden and Co., each party to pay their
own costs. The correspondence concluded by congratu.
lating th. corporation that the legal right to the Town
Dues was now firmly established.
The Chairman said he considered that what the Town
Clerk had read was scarcely a fair interpretation of Mr.
Hornby's letter. lie read the particular sentence from
Mr. Hornby's letter, which was to the effect that the
corporation were to undertake to reduce the rates.
By Mr. Watson : The reductions and compositions sug-
gested by the committee of merchants had be n carried
out on several articles. By the 92nd section of the Muni-
cipal Act, it was provided that it should not be lawful for
any council which had contracted debts on the security of
tolls, to make any reduct on on such tolls, without
the consent of the mortgagees ; the result was,
that s.nce that period, the corporation had made no
reductions. In 1838, the compositions expired, but acting
under advice, the council resolved to, take no steps, but
continue to levy the reduced dues as before. The trade
of Runcorn had enormously increased of late years. In
1819, the tonnage there was 10,352 tons; in 1830, 37,000
tons ; in 1840, 93,000 tons ; in 1850, 153,000 tons ; and in
185), 180,000 tons.
Mr, Watson: Do you think that the trade of Runcorn
has been drawn away from that place, as has been stated

by a previous witness
The chairman did not rec Meet that any such evidence

had been given.
After a conversation, it appealed that the witneos referred
to was Mr. Rigby,
The Cha'rman here read from the evidence given by Mr.
Rigby, in which he stated that a great portion of the iron
trade at Runcorn, had been diverted from that place, and
had gone to Fleetwood, and the corn trade to Preston, but
that trade had been made up in other articles. Mr. Watson
was therefore putting words into the witnesb's mouth, which
he had never made use of.
Mr. Watson contended he was right, and all he wished
for was to have the evidence correct on the minutes,
The room was here cleared for the committee to delibe-
rate.
O❑ the re-admission of strangers, the examination of Mr.
Shuttle worth was resumed.
Mr. Watson : Have you any evidence to lay before the
committee as to town dues paid to the corporation of Man-
chester ? Witness: I have. Mr. Heron stated in his evi-
dence that no town dues were paid to Manchester. It may
not be so now, but I find that under an act of parliament
passed in 1841, town dues were paid in Manchester from
1849 to 1850 to the amount of £419. The act referred to
was the warehousing of goods iu Manchester, and one of
the sections of the act stated that in consequence of the
expense that the town was put to by the warehousing of
such goods, the coun.il of the borough should be empowered
to ask and demand rates in respect of all such aoods so
warehoused, and that all goods which should in any way
come under the operation of the officers of customs i❑ Man-
chester, should be charged with such rates.
By. Mr. Gibson : flow are these rates applied ?
Witness: It appears on the face of the act, to defray
the expenses which it was said the corporation were put

to.
Mr. Watson : Any surplus would go to the improvement
of streets, or other improvements in Manchester ? Wit-
ness : No doubt of it.
By Mr. Watson : There were market tolls at Manches-
ter, and Mr. Heron stated that the corporation derived a
revenue of £15,000 a year from it; and he hoped it would
increase. The tolls originally belonged to Sir Oswald
Mosley, who succeeded in establishing his rights to them at
a trial at Lancaster, and afterwrrds sold them to the corpo-
ration. In continuation, he read extracts from speeches of
the late Sir Robert Peel, Lord John Russell, Lord Howick,
and others, relative to the rights of corporations to levy town
dues. He then referred to several cases in which it
had been held by the Judgrs, the Master of the
Rolls, and the Lord Chancellor, that the reformed
corporations under the municipal act, were identical with
the old. The witness showed that from time to time, when
parliament had abolished petty customs, compensation was
given in every instance. This was the case at Southampton,
Leith, Tvnemouth, Duchy of Cornwall, Dundee and other
places. There was no borough rates, so called, in Liverpool,
but the corporation levied dues for watching, lighting,
paving, and sewerage, to a very large amount.
By the Chair man : The corporation claimed the right to
town dues on all goods exported from and imported into the
town of Liverpool. They did not claim to increase the
dues after once being 'evied, nor to reduce the dues
permanently since the passing of the raunicip.a
act, but they_ claimed to make compositions for
time, as he had before explained. They hal, in
fact, no right either to increase or decrease the dues except
by yap of 'composition. They claune I a right to enforce
the dues by action at law. That was the only form
at
present. In former days the goods were s, ized. They did
not now claim to detain a vessel or sell the goods.
The Chairman then interrogated the witness at con-
siderable length as to the exact meaning and extent of the
term "Lordship of Liverpool," which he had referred to
in the documents read by him as showing the boundary of
the port of Liverpool, and its extent. Whether it was
co-extensive with the borough, or whether the toll was
claimed as part of the lordship, or as incident or apper-
tenant to it. In answer to the Chairman's questions,
the witness declined to give an exact definition of
the term, but stated that the claim of the corporation to
Town Dues was held good by the grants which had been
made, from the time of Charles 1., and by usuage and
custom.
Mr. Watson here interposed, and said that what the
chairman was now pressing involved a matter of law, and
that the course of examination was therefore irregular. He
wished the room to be cleared.
On the re-admission of strangers, the questions bearing
on the term " lordship" was resumed, when
Mr. Watson again observed that they were irregular. It
was well known, and every judge would admit it, that
modern use, for a given time, conferred the right, and that
was the case in the present instance.
The Chairman pertinaciously continued his rigid exami-
nation on this point for some time longer, and a little before
four o'clock the room was again cleared.
During the absence of strangers, the committee decided
that they would not go further than the case of Liverpool
during the present session.
Evidence on the part of Liverpool will be resumed on
Monday, at twelve o'clock.