Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-12-22 00:00:00

HOME TEACHING FOR THE BLIND.

A meeting of the friends and members of the Society
for providing Home Teaching for the Blind was held in
Hope-hall, yesterday afternoon. The chair was occupied
by the Mayor, T. D. Anderson, Esq. ; and on the plat-
form were also the Rev. Dr. M'Neile, Rev. Mr. Harke,
Rev. Mr. Birrell, Rev. Arthur Gore, Rev. Mr. Postance,
Rev. Mr. Falloon, and Adam Hodgson, Esq. There
were also about two hundred blind persons present.
The proceedings having been opened with prayer, by
the Rev. Mr. Harke, and a hymn having been sung,
The MAYOR said—l have just left a most interesting
meeting of a most valuable society7the Mersey Branch
of the'Missions to Seamen—a society which ought to
have the cordial support of every one in this community
—and I have now very great pleasure in taking the
chair at a meeting of the Society for the Home Teaching
of the Blind. (Hear,. hear.) Of all the ills that flesh is
heir to, the greatest and most severe privation has always
appeared to me to be the loss of sight. If this be so to
those who are able to maintain themselves without labour,
how much it is increased when those who are afflicted
with that severe loss are dependent for their daily bread
upon the work of their hands. Our excellent institution
—the School for the Blind—has done much; but it
necessarily cannot reach a large number of the poor
blind in different parts of the town. It is calculated, I
see by some of the reports, that there are considerably
upwards of thirty thousand blind people in this country,
'and that there are only institutions which will accom-
modate thirteen hundred of them; and in, our own town
we have upwards of six hundred. The name of the
society sufficiently explains its object—that of supplying
teachers and books for the blind. The Free Public
Library in connection with the Corporation, at the sug-
gestion of this society, purchased a large number of
books upon Moon's system, and I am very glad to say,
and you will be interested to learn, that no less that 569
of those books have been in circulation among thirty-
five of the blind people in the town. (Hear, hear.)
The fruits of the society are being manifested in different
ways, and these will be alluded to by the different
speakers who will address you. I will only refer to
one of them, and that is an increased desire on the
part of the blind to support themselves, as far as
possible, by work, and, with this object in view, I have
been requested, to state that the society has it in con-
templation, if the public will come forward to support
them, to establish a shop to sell to the blind the raw
material at wholesale prices, and afterwards to buy what
they have made. I believe such efforts have been most
successful in London and other parts of the country,
and there is no reason why they should not be equally so
in this town. (Hear, hear.) As I know that there are
several gentlemen to address you upon the objects of the
society, I shall not detain you any longer, but call upon
'the Rev. Mr. Birrell to address the meeting. (Applause.)
The Rev. C. M. BIRRELL said—lt has been thought
desirable before beginning the practical business of the
afternoon, that a very short statement of facts should be
made which shall explain to the audience the circum-
stances which have led to the attainments on the part of
the blind which we shall all presently have an oppor-
tunity of observing. It is well known that there exists
in Liverpool an asylum for .the blind—one of the first
established in England—which has sustained and does
still sustain a very high character. But that institu-
tion, which is open to the whole country, cannot
possibly meet the, requirements of the blind who
yeside in this town alone. It has been -ascer-
tained that there are resident among us as many
its 600 or 700, a large part of whom are without
the ability of reading the Word of God in the
raised characters for themselves, or of hearing it . read
by the living voice of others. The condition of these
afflicted persons awoke the compassion of a few Christian
people about three years ago, and it was thought that if
they could be visited in'their own homes and taught to read,
nothing could be more simple and inexpensive, or more
likely, to accomplish a great and most desirable object.
Divine Providence favoured their design by bringing under
their notice a Christian woman, herself blind, who was well
qualified and full of desire to become the home teacher
of her fellow-sufferers. During the time she has been
at work, about 300 of the blind have been sought out and
visited, of whom 150 having been pupils, many of them,
though of advanced age, have- acquired the art of
reading, and now can only say "our hands have
handled of the word of life," but can add, "the life was
manifested, and we have seen it," having hecome par 7,
takers of the grace that is in -Christ Jesus. It may
be asked, what kind of books are they which they
peruse ? They are books in the raised characters of
Mr. Moon. Mr. Moon, who is himself blind, has
been one of the greatest benefactors of his class. He
ban not only constructed a letter more easily cog-
nisable . by touch than any other previously in use,
but he has stereotyped the whole Bible in. English,
and portions of it in as many as 26 languages
besides. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, India,
and Chinn have already obtained the first fruits
of his labours. Last summer he travelled,' blind as he
is, 2,000 miles on the continent of Europe, like another
loward, searching out the objects of his compassion ;
and beiag a man of great natural enterprise, and faith
in Him who so often, when he dwelt among,us, opened
the eye:, of the blind, he means to work on in the task
of giving the Divine word to every blind person in every
nation of the earth. It is believed, perhaps I ought to say
conjectured, on the most reliable data, that there are
as many as 3,000,000 of blind people in the world—
that about 52,000 of them die every year—and that
the number of them who, can read the Bible for
themselves is small almost beyond belief. Besides
the Scripturo and all. the 'necessary elementary books?
there have been published
,in the raised characters a few
such works as the "History. of England" and " Bunyan's
Pilgrim's Progres," and it is with great. pleasure that
1 am enabled to state, both because it is most honourable
to a useful institution, and a strong.proof of the inquir-
ing spirit of the blind, that the Liverpool Free Library
has liberally provided all the books in raised characters
~ in their branch libraries, aid that during the past
years as many as 6Q7 issues of them hem been

made to the blind. The work in Liverpool is still-
in its infancy, but as its machinery is of the most.
simple character, it may be, and it is hoped it
will bee expanded to the full dimensions of • the
necessity which exists for it. It is a peculiarity of all
wise, benevolent enterprises that instead of exhausting
work they develop Work—one mountain scaled, another-
comes into view.; and it is very likely that somethinc,
will be said to-day about the necessity of a perfectly
distinct organisation which shall provide for the blind.
honest means for procuring their own livelihood. I will
only further detain the neeting by saying that this 'lb*
net the annual meeting, but a Christmas gathering of
those who share the benefits of this institution, that they
might give each other mutual encouragement, and, if
not see, at least hear and meet one another, and at the
same time permit us, who have been graciously favoured
with the use of all our senses, both to see and to hear
them.
Six blind men read a chapter in the Bible, by the aid
of their fingers, after which the Rev. Mr. FM/o°n
addressed the blind people. " Little Annie," a blind
child, seven years of age, sang, in a most creditable
manner, "Beautiful Star," and Mr. Coffield, a blind
man, spoke in warm terms of the objects of the society,
and the great
_good it had effected.

ry
ginterestingyou on
portions e fromf
Scripture
Mr. F a
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ing
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The Rev. flr. AVNEILB was then called upon, and
was received with applause. He said : You have re-
icneivceadteachvies
t
eyrhootr ou
issuhaot lessonttatoshvhaodasewre: haveono n;pftntur passed,
alobeyddleraueodt
intelligence
ot,of
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portions
lottilseahoweswi a satisfiedsetgbnghheeisight,ieone:
hearts.
ieue
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sdrrltayaebon.evsdpufddseremt
adopted
Antteitabeoornhi
etaitd
sfaomebhohttnlrhaiet
riathrtstvrheoai
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stiTs:,griewasoopvieym voenw,
inTouwwoo
tffnhihah consolationtdwni
This
o
It is a sight for a philosopher, while it is a joy to the
philanthropist. In what part of the human frame
does the seat of consciousness rest ? Where is
the dwelling-place of intelligence, where is the
chamber of thou.ght ? and where is the avenue
through which ideas • derived from external objects
make their way into that most mysterious chamber ?
By the eye—by they ear—by the nose? Yes, but we,
must not stop there. These are all common, these are
all familiar to us, and they are indeed wonderful ; yet
they excite no wonder. But here is a new thing; here.
are eyes in the hands—sight transferred to the touch—,
access to the brain, not by means of what is called the
retina, which is near the brain ; but all the way up the
,arms, throughout the breast and the neck, from the tips
of the fingers. The mode of proceeding is different, but
the result is , the same. The seat of intelligence is
reached; thought is excited ; feelings are awakened,
and organs of speech beingunimpaired, utterance distinct
and clear is the result of the mysterious process. Now,
I say these things are a study for a philosopher. Mr.
Mayor, does not this prove that .within the mechanism
of the human body there is an inhabitant who is not
dependent upon the physical machinery, and that when
one part of the machinery fails he may make use of
another part—that when, from 'any cause,-that ex-
quisitely beautiful organ, the eye, is destroyed, instead
of partaking of that destruction he makes use
of another part of the machine, thus showing
his own superiority, his own independence ? (Hear,
hear.) Thus a blind man reading by his fingers exhi-
bits an evidence, and supplies an argument against all
atheistical materialism. Not only was this a study for
philosophers, but it was joy to the philanthropist—that
out of the midst of ruins which seemed so fatal to all
human enjoyment, a power should be discovered and
put in exercise to reach the mind, to supply the
place of a painful want of intelligence. I say
that such an amount of gratification should have
been gathered out of such a fatal catastrophe
to human nature, cannot • but supply a high source
of pleasure and of thanksgiving to every bene-
volent heart. Not only this, for it is more than a joy
to the Christian, and I mean that Christian who is a
true believer in the resurrection of the body. I would
like to say a few words to you about the resurrection of
the body. The analogy between the gospel and the
soul, and the resurrection and the body, is very striking
and very instructive. Amongst the fallen descendants of
Adam we perceive persons as it were on different
platforms, as if some had fallen lower than others. To
all appearance, some seem as if they had only just
fallen, they are so loving, so humble, so kind, so
benevolent, so useful, so active ; they seem almost with-
out a fault, yet they are fallen. Others evidently are
fallen a little lower—there are faults to be seen, though
not very many nor very glaring ; others again are more
unmistakeably sinners, and some are openly profligate.
Now for all these, with all their difficulties, there is
but one true remedy. All of them have transgressed
the Law of God, and the Law of God may in this
respect be compared to a bell. If there was a crack in
a large bell only the size of a hair, it would spoil the
sound of the whole bell. Now, in that respect, a bell is
a very different thing. from a loaf. There might be a
crack in a loaf, or a piece taken out, and the remainder
would not be spoiled, but would be as good bread as
ever. The Law of God is like the bell—the smallest
fault breaks the law ; and you will find when you go
back to your bibles, in the second chapter of the Epistle
written by St. James, at the tenth verse, that if a man
were to keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point,
he is guilty of all—he has spoiled the bell. For all
these, then, there is but one remedy Nothing less than
the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ can be expected
for the best of them, and nothing more than
the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ can be
required for the, worst of them. In like manner
as to the body—this is what I wanted to say to you
with reference to the ladies—l mean it seems as if the
descendants of Adam had fallen as I said on different
platforms. Some seem but a little departed from the
original pattern of what a man ought to be—all their
senses perfect, every proportion 'exact, every movement
graceful ; others are a little more awkward, others
again a little deformed, and others still more de-
formed, others with only four senses instead of five,
others with only two senses, poor blind deaf mutes—l
have seen a few. For all these—for all classes the
most perfect and the most awkward, the most graceful
and the most deformed, it is found by faith in Jesus
'Christ there is but one resurrection. • Now observe this,
nothing more than likeness to the glorious body of
Jesus Christ will be given to the most beautiful,
nothing less than likeness ,to the body *of our Lord
Jesus Christ will be given to the most deformed. All
will be satisfied when they stand up in his likeness,
when they rise fashioned after the similitude of Christ's
glorious body, as if—l was going to use a simile that
you cannot 'enter into, but some of your friends will
enter into it. If a large looking-glass in which you
would see your own image if you stood before it—if
that large looking-glass were broken into ten thousand
splinters of various sizes, and you took up any one
and looked at it you would see your own likenesa---great
and small, all the same likeness. We may compare the
Church of Christ to the shattered mirror—pieces of
various sizes, 'and every one of them directly they are
presented before him and his likeness shines
upon them, will be transformed and became ,the
likeness and image of Christ—ten thousand times
ten thousand and thousands , of thousands of like-
nesses of Jesus Christ. That is what the Church,of
God will rise to. It is said of all his servants that they
shall see him. • There will be no blind eyes, no deaf ears,
no crooked,baclui or broken limbs in the resurrection of
the'body, but all beautiful like the body of Jesus Christ.
'Mary," said a poor blind boy, 'tl
"That little bird sings very long, „,t
Say,. can you see it in its joy, •
And is it pretty like its song?" 11°
"Yes, Edward, yes," the maid replied, ,
" I see the bird in yonder tree ;" , •
Alas, the pooi boy deeply sighed,
" Mary, I wish that I could see.'
"Yet I can feel the pleasant spring,
Smell the fragrance on the flowers :
I can hear. the birds that sing
So sweetly at the evening hours.
"For though He to me sight denies,
Yet God to me is ery kind •
But tell me when his children rise, ,
Will any of them then be blind?" ,
"No, Edward, no ;. they all shall see : ,
But why ask me a thing so odd ?"
" Because," he said, " 0 Mary, I
Would like to see my God.'
And he shall see him.. " Believe in the Lord Jesus
Chrhit and thou shalt be saved "—that is,:body and soul—
the soul free from vile habits and wicked practices and bad
temper, and the body' free from lameness, and crooked-
ness, and weakness, and sicknesi -*and blindness' ' end
deafness, and dumbness, to one bOdy, like Christ'sbody.
Don't', neglect those portions of your Bibles that will
tell you ' about the resurrection of the' body, and the
second coming of our dear Saviour. We' are waiting
for him to come back from Heaven, and when he comes
he will change •-our vile bodiei 1 that they 'may be
fashioned like unto his glorious body. I am very happy
of the opportunity of saying this to you and to your

friends who have assembled here -around you, and I
hope by the teachings of God's blessed spirit, you will
bear in remembrance both those teachings which our
dear friend` and brother Mr. Fallow. gave you, and the
bright and blessed hope which I have now endeavoured
to set before-you in Jesus qhrist our Lord. (Applause.)
The national anthem having been sung, and a vote
of thanks, to the Mayor being carried by acclamation,.
the company then adjourned to the lower hall where a
substantial tea was provide& and where- after that was
dilposed of, an address was delivered by the Rev. Arthur
Gore, and a numbq of hymns were sung by " Little
Annie," and other vocalists.

LIVERPOOL POLICE COURT.-YESTERDAY.

(Before Mr. J. S. MANSFIELD.)
RO/3BERY TWELVE Mervrns AGO.—Mary Jane North
was brought up on remand, on the charge, as stated in
our columns yesterday, of entering a house in Burling-
ton-street, on the 29th of November, 1858, and stealing
a large quantity of wearing apparel. Mr. Black appeared
for the prisoner.—Mrs. Berry, who occupies the house,
was called, and described the articles taken away, and
afterwards found in Mr. Keogh's, pawnbroker, Vauxhall-
road. She stated that all her drawers were rifled, her
children's clothes taken away, and eighteen yards of
Coburg which was lying on the table, besides a number
of sheets.—Mr. Black contended that so long a time had
elapsed since the robbery, the articles could not be iden-
tified with any certainty.—Mr. Mansfield, however,
considered the facts elicited sufficient to warrant him in
committing the prisoner for trial.
TRAVELLING ON THE RAILWAY WITHOUT A TICKET.
—John Kelly, a most miserable-looking specimen of the
genus lunno, was brought up on, the charge of travelling
on the London and North-Western Railway without a
ticket. The person who checks the tickets at Edgehill
said that when the prisoner was asked for his ticket on
the previous evening, he said it was all right, the guard
knew the whole affair. On inquiry the guard was
entirely ignorant of the matter, and did not know where
the prisoner entered the train. The prisoner said that
he was only just out of prison, having been convicted at
Derby under the Vagrancy Act. The gaoler paid the
'bus fare to Liverpool, and committed the ticket to the
care of the guard: He had been, shifted from
train to train, so that the ticket had been
lost among them. Mr. Mansfield said every opportu-
nity should be given to ascertain the truth of the pri-
soner's statement, and would therefore remand him till
Saturday.
ATTEMPTING TO BREAK INTO A SHOP.— James
Connelly was brought up, charged with attempting to
break into a 'shop, No. 34, Percy-street. Police-con-
stable 648 stated that he found him in a passage close
by, and when asked what he was doing there, could give
no satisfactory account of himself. When ordered to
go away, he struck the officer a blow upon the ear, who
then whistled for assistance. Two shutters were taken
off the shop window, and a pane cut out. He was sent
for trial.

CHARGE OF SMUGGLING TOBACCO.—Feargus M'Ghie
was brought up on remand, charked with smuggling a
quantity of foreign tobacco, on board the ship Albatross.
Mr. Bluck appeared for the defence. Mr. Tyndal ap-
peared on behalf of the Crown ; and stated that the
searchers found 1611bs. of foreign manufactured tobacco
concealed in the lining of the ship, in the room used by
seven of the stokers, just under the dead lights. The pri-
soner was on shore at the time, and was apprehended
when he came on board. Several of the persons who
searched the ship were called, and deposed to finding the
tobacco in that place, thouglfthey would not swear posi-
tively that the prisoner put it there. Mr. Bluck con-
tended that there was no evidence to show that the pri-
soner was the guilty party ; the tobacco might have been
put there by any of the stokers, and the fact of his being
on shore did not argue that he had any knowledge of it
whatever. The prisoner was discharged.
ROBBERY FROM A RAILWAY STATION.—Robert
Bouch, the cabman who was brought up a week ago,
charged with stealing a coat from the Lime-street
•station' and committed for trial, was again brought up to
hear a further charge against him, of stealing a parcel,
containing three pairs of new trousers from Tithebarn-
street station. Mr. Penderville, the owner of the trou-
sers said that he sent a lad with the parcel to the sta-
tion on the Ist of November, about six o'clock in the
evening. It shortly afterwards disappeared, and no
trace was found of the missing articles, till one of the
pairs of trousers was found in Mr. Woodruff's, pawn-
broker, on Tuesday. Mr. Woodruff's shopman swore
positively to the prisoner being the person who pawned
the trousers on the Ist November, between eight and
nine o'clock under the name of Gibson. The prisoner
was sent back to goal.
CHARGE. OF PRACTISING AS SURGEON. WITHOUT BEING
REGISTERED.—John Hamilton, residing at 94, Mill-'
street, and described on his cards as a "Member of the
Reform College of Surgeons, Boston, United States,"
was brought up at the instance of the Liverpool Medical
Registration Association, charged with practising as
surgeon without being registered according to act of
Parliament. Mr. DeightOn appeared for the association,
and Mr. Husband conducted the defence. There were
two cases cited against the prisoner, exactly similar to
each other. In both he had attended persons, who had
died, in both he had charged- a fee (Is. 6d, a visit).
and in both he had granted certificates for presentation
to the registrar, signed, "Member of the Reform
College of Surgeons, Boston, United States." Mr.
Steel, secretary to the Liverpool Medical Registration
Association, was called, • who stated that he had
carefully searched • the register of all the surgeons
in Great Britain, and he could not find the
name of the defendant. James Caldwell was called, who
deposed that Mr. Hamilton had attended his wife on the
29th of November last. He charged for his visits, and
was paid. His wife died the same evening. He went
to Mr. Hamilton and got a certificate to • give to the
registrar. He paid him altogether. about 7s. 6d. He ,
had heard Mr. Hamilton speak of himself as a surgeon
from Boston. Mrs. Kenyon gave similar evidence
relative to Mr.
,Hamilton's attendance on her hus-
band. Mr. Mansfield said he could not, see that Mr.
Hamilton had been ,guilty of a contravention of the
Medical Act. He considered, that the fact of him
signing himself Boston College, United States, would
almost imply that he was not registered. Mr. Deighton
said, the, question is if by the taking of the fees, &c., he
does riot pretend he is qualified by law to act as a sur-
geon, he is at all events• acting as a regular surgeon.
Mr. Mansfield said, he did not think he had represented
himself as a registered surgeon under the act, and
,therefore dismissed the case. Mr. Pl eigh t mi then said
he was instructed to apply for liberty to commence a
case against the defendant. Mr. Mansfield granted the
application.
(Before Messrs. SHAND and BENN.)
SMOKE NUISANCES. ,
Messrs, Macfie and Son, sugar refiners, Bachelor-
street, were summoned, at the instance of Inspector
Wignall,. under . the Smoke Prevention , Act. NE
M'Gowan appeared on behalf of the Health Committee,
and stated that the chimney at Messrs. Macfie and Son's
works was emitting dense voluines of black smoke, on
the 19th of November, froni 10.6 to 10.26 a.m., a period
of-twenty minutes. Mr. Macfie, senior, addressed the
court at some length;stating that he did all he possibly
could to conform to the Snioke Prevention Act, and
called Mr. Nickol, of Benson-street, who saw the chimney
on the morning in question, to speak to the appearance
of the smoke which was then bemg emitted. from it.
Mr, Nickol stated that he' had noticed the chimney on
the warning of the 19th Noveinber for about twenty-five 1
e si Mgnaorf.lbei statedn,wasamy that
he minutes, and the smoke. coming from it was grey, not'
black. , The ma,gistrates said they had no wish to per-"
'Seciitk.person Who did their endeavour to keep within
the lavr, and would therefore dismiss the case.
psreallTsrhesuedmtLomo
conductol nde di fora
tdha sNie
airle
nha North-Western
ffclesumntaecnTo. -
Company
he had on the 17th November, observed the' chimney of
tb( stationary Ague belonging to this company in.
Ste ,:art-street, emitting large
'so for sine
this i ny
and
hi coin at°re in 'do
orderthinti for the
tes.The
r;vroernktsioonf
of smoke, if the firemenlve
much' coal at alime; and keep.the furnace doors a little
a jar. He had cantioned them five times in the space
re careful not to put on too
• of four Yeah. ,h answer to'-questions from Mr. Conway,
'he said the day'was not very hazy,, it was quite possible
to see to the top• of the chimney. The furnace doors
were shut when he went into the plaCe. Mr. Lightburn,
'lately a smoke inspector, and police-constable .786 de-
posed to Seeing the smoke issuing from the Chimney.
Mr., Conway then called the engineer and fireman,
whose evidence went dir-Octly to contradict that of the
complainant. They each stated that the day was so hazy
it was scarcely possible to see the top of the chimney,
that the furnace doors were wide open for the purpose
of preventing smoke when Mr. Wignall entered, and
that they had looked at the chimney both before and
' after 'MZ. Wignall had been there and could•see no dif-
' ference between the smoke then issuing from it and that
which they see every day. (The case was dismissed.

, [Mr. M‘dowan at this juncture expressed his opinion in.
,rather strong terms on the decisions of the bench, com-
menting upon them as being disheartening to public
servants in the discharge of their duty., When rebuked
by Mr. Wybergh for the strong language he was using,
and the irregularity of his conduct ,in court, he charged
that gentleman with doing everything in his power to
throw obstacles in the way of the officers of the Cor-
poration. He was finally told that whatever opinion he
might hold of the decision of the magistrates, he must
for the present keep it to himself. Business was
then allowed to proceed.]
Messrs. Hill & Smith, Edwin-street, were summoned
for allowing black smoke to issue from the chimney at
their works, on the 13th of December, for the space of
six minutes. This firm had been fined on several pre-.
vious occasions, and in the present instance the magis-
trates inflicted a penalty of £5 and costs.
Messrs. Spear, Sanders, & Co., were summoned for a
like offence, on the 14th of December, and were fined
and costs.

COURT AND OFFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The late severe weather did not prevent her Majesty
and-the Royal Family taking their usual airing in the
grounds at Osborne.
Preparations were made at Windsor Castle for the re-
ception of the Court last evening (Wednesday). Her
Majesty, his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, the
Princesses Alice and Helena, with the other junior
members of the Royal Family and suite, were to leave
Osborne in the afternoon, and to arrive at Windsor at
'six o'clock.

Shortly after the return of her Majesty and the Prince
Consort and the royal family to. Windsor. Castle from
Osborne it is her Majesty's intention to invest several
officers and men to whom the Order of Valour has been
awarded, for their respective " deeds of daring."
Letters from Egypt announce the arrival at Alexandria
of the Count de Paris and the Duke de Chartres. The
princes were to remain at Alexandria until the 7th, and
at Cairo until the 11th, and then to continue their journey
into Upper Egypt. They are accompanied by the Marquis
de Beauvois, Captain Morin, Viscount de Segur, and M.
de Scitiveauz.

TEE LATE Loan HOLLAND.—The death of Lord
Holland, at Naples, took place on Sunday last, after a
short but severe illness, which baffled the most eminent
medical skill. The deceased, Henry Edward Fox,
Baron Holland, of Holland, county Lincoln, and Ba-
ron Holland, of Foxley, county Wilts, in the peerage
of Great Britain, was only son .of Henry, third baron,
by his marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of Mr.
Richard Vassall. The deceased peer was born 7th of
March, 1802, and married 9th May, 1833, Lady Mary
Augusta Coventry, only daughter of the late Earl of
Coventry. The late lord entered the diplomatic service
in 1831, and was for some time attache to the embassy
at St. Petersburg, whence he removed, in 1832, to
Turin as secretary of legation. In July, 1835, he
proceeded to Vienna in a similar capacity, and continued
there till April, 1838, when his lordship was appointed
Minister Plenipotentiary to the Germanic. Confedera-
tion. Having held that post up to December, 1858, he
removed to Florence, where he was resident minister up
to June, 1846, when, on vacating that post at the Court
of Tuscany, he retired altogether from diplomatic duties,
mainly, we believe, from the indifferent state of his
health. On the death of his father, in October, 1840,
he succeeded to the title and family estates. His lord-
ship not leaving any issue, the barony becomes extinct;
and the valuable family estate at Kensington, we under-
stand, goes to his only sister, Lady Lilford.

THE TWO BARRELS.

There's a barrel I have in a corner so snug,
Well charged with the best of good ale ;
With a tankard of that how the time will slip by,
With a pipe and a song or good tale :
If a friend from just over the way should step in,
He's hailed with a hearty good cheer,
And never repents as he tastes the contents
Of an Englishman's barrel of beer.

There's a barrel I have, but much stronger than beer
is the charge which for that I intend;
It hangs by the chimney, in readiness near,
For I mem it my hearth to defend.
If a foe from just over the way should drop in,
We'll meet him with three hearty cheers ;
But I think he'll repent when he tastes the contents
Of the barrels of stout volunteers.

And thus double-barrell'd, my boys, let us live,
Prepared for our friends or our foes ;
The band that in friendship we readily give,
Is as ready at need to give blows.
And whether the spigot or trigger we draw,
Our barrels:won't fail us, I ween ;
So tankards and rifles let's charge, hip-hurrah!
For our Freedom, our Country, and Queen!
SAMUEL LOVRR.

Mr. J. S. Mansfield, at present stipendiary magistrate
of Liverpool, will take his seat on the bench of Worship
ship-street (London) Police Court, on the sth January.
CRIME IN FRANCE.—The Journal de la Nievre states
that at Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, near Cosne, everybody
is talking of a case of child burning. A pretty girl, of
twenty, named Heloise Gitenet, after having unsuccess-
fully attempted to account for the disappearance of an
infant to which she had given birth secretly, confessed
at length that she had burnt it; but she alleges that it
was still-born. Remains of the calcined bones were
found in the ashes, and in consequence of statements
made by Heloise, her mother has been arrested as an
accomplice. Both mother and daughter are in prison
at Cosne.

WRECK ON FILEY ROCKS.—FILBY, Dec. 19.—Last
night, about 7.30, during very foggy weather and a
heavy surf, the schooner Olive Branch, from Colches-
ter to Seaham, in ballast, struck on the extreme end.
of FileY Brig Rocks. Signals of distress having been
observed, three cobles put off immediately to the vessel's
assistance, but the sea was too heavy for them to
approach her. They then returned at once to the
life-boat of the National Life-boat Institution. She
was forthwith manned and launched, and proceeded off to
the wreck. In the meantime, however, the shipwrecked
crew, consisting of seven persons, had abandoned their
vessel in their own boat. They were afterwards taken
in tow by the life-boat, and safely brought through
the surf by her to the shore. The life-boat's crew have
been paid £l2 by the institution. for their speedy and
laudable services. The Fag life-beat has, during the
present year, been several times instrumental in-saving
the 'lives of shipwrecked 'crews. The National Life-
boat Institution has life-boats at the following places on
the Yorkshire coast :—Middlesborough; Redcar,' Salt-
burn, Filey, Bridlington, Hornsea.

3porting 3uterligturt.

BETTING AT MANCHESTER.
THE DERBY.
8 to 1 offered on the field.
12 to 1 against Thormanby.
12 to 1 against Mainatone (taken.)
12 to 1 against Nutbourne (taken.)
12 to 1 against Bucaneer (t. and off.)
13 to 1 against Wizard (taken.)
25 to 1 against High Treason (offered.)
100 to 3 against Upperhand (taken.) •
Nothing else mentioned besides the above.
• ----

MINTING APPOINTKENTS. •
•TH.JS COAsE•
MR. SITWELL'S LUDLOW HOUNDS
WILL MEET ON
Friday, Dec. 23, at Bircher Common
At half-past ten.
THE SHROPSHIRE HOUNDS
WILL MEET ON
Thursday, Dec. 22, at
Saturday, Dec. (21, at Eaton Constantine
At half-past ten.
THE CHESHIRE HOUNDS
WILL MEZT ON
Friday, Dec. 23, at.. Cholmondeley.
Saturday, Dec. 24, at Hem
At Half-past Ten o'oloek.
SIR WATKIN WILLIAMS WYNN'S HOUNDS
WILL MEET ON
Thursday, Dec. 22, at Carden
Friday, Dec. 23, at Hawkstone
At half-past ten.
Master : Sir W. W. Wynn. Huntsman : John Walker.

COURSING.
COURSING FIXTURES FOR 1859. —Ditonmens.
Newhall Cross (Combermere), Cheshire : Mr. A. Bennett, 22.
Barton.up-n-ffumber, Lincolnshire : Mr. Warwick, 22, 23.
Pembrokeshire Club (Ilaverfordwest), Pembrokeshire : Mr.
Warwick, 27.
Kenilworth, Warwickshire : Mr. M`George, 27, 28.
Scorton, Catterick (Open), Yorkshire : Mr. Headley, 27, 21.
Caledonian Club (Open), Edinburgh : Mr. A. Da.lsell, 27, and
following days.
Bishop's Castle, Salop : Mr. Warwick, 28. •
North of England (Groenridge), Northumberland : Mr.
Colton, 28.
Great Crosby, Lonfissh#e : 21.

cuulington,litafford.shire Mr, Warwick, A 30.

6

SOCIETY FOR MISSIONS TO SEAMEN,
MERSEY BRANCH.

A aid'i P 'mi2eting,,, to bring before all who':trc inter-
tstedp7the shipping and commerce of Liverpool the
urge Ilhims of this valuable society, was h,ld in the'
large` tall of the Sailor' Home, yesterday afternoon.
The ditendanee of seafaring men was considerable; and,
nu `8 of gentlemen who take an interest in the reli=
and.social welfare of our seamen, were also
,presefir His Worship the Mayor, T. D. Anderson,
Esq., g.
resided on the occasion ; and on the platform
werei—..fessrs., J. C. Crosbie W. J. Tomlinson, S. R.
Gravd; Geo. Grant, Ralph TiFocklebank, P. A. Clint,
W. Blhn, Christopher Bushell, A. Balfunr, W. Gregson,
Jok.David Rowlands, Robert Rankin, R. A. Payne,
W. K Onnhrough, A.,Boyd, Dr. James, Geo, M'Corquo-
dale, W. Cliff, Adam liOdgson, Parnell, W. Armstrong,
BarryrSimoson„ B. Darbyshire, Andrew Conborough,
WOM, ltd. Fry, R. Wright, Chas. Bushell;
Chas. Tomlinson ; the Revs._Xector Cainphell, Dr.
M‘Neilet Thring, J. J. Butlei, B, Dandy,. Buph,
C. Lairence,i Cowan, Welsh; Maynard,' Carter,gWart,
F. More, A. Grove, Lane, Wrench.-
_

After prayer by the Rev. Mr. Butler, the, eliaplaip of
rue ior;' Home,

T'77-
no Cum ELM A. N' said--Gentlemen and fellow-towns-
men, there is perhaps no society connected. with this
great-;seaport town---the first in the kingdom—over
whosa, proceedings the" mayor might with more Propriety'
be cal/ad:upon to preSide; and .whese- inhabitatits ought
t) beonore, ready to come • forward to 'take' a lively(
interest in than the one whoseelaims we are met 'to
advocate to-day—the Mersey Branch of the Missimia to'
Seamen; Feeling this, I have had very great pleasure
in aeeeptinc, the invitation of the committee to take the
chair Ripon this occasion, and I sincerely'trust that the
merchants of this great town may heartily respond to
the appeal that is to he 'made td them this day. I need not
say that 'there' is no community 'in the world which is
more indebted to the seamen than that of Liverpool, or
who ought 'to be more ready at all times to come' for-
ward to assist in everything that is possible to be done
fir their welfare. And, though Liverpool has done
nnethitig towards this object in establishing a Mariner's
Church, a Bethel -train, and the noble institution in '
whielf we are this day met, yet I think we must admit
that she. has- not discharged fully her obligations, or re-
-1 eyed herself of her responsibilities to those to whem the
owes soanuch, as the seamen Connected with this port.
The title' of the socktv declares its object—missions to.
seamen--and its 'printed appeal explains its character.
The society; through its chaplain, visits the seaman as
soon as he enters the river, and again immediately be-
fore h%frleaVes it. It shows an interest riot only in his
temporalivelfare;butalso in his eternal *elfare. It warns
him of-the dangers that he will meet with in coining on
shore,An'advise him to place his Money in the Savings'
bank, to recommend him to respectable lodging hones
in thelbwn, or to our own excellent' institution-=the
Sailors' Heine—and in every way tries to assist (though
I will.: not particularise -the ways referred to, for they
will IA )*ought under tour notice by other gentlemen)—
but this-lsociety in' every *ay tries- to assist the sailor
,on
coming into port. And, gentlemen, WlThil we know
there 'are 40,000 British sailors entering 'this port art-.
/really, we can at once' realise the vastness of the field
upon which this society haS to operate. and itS im-
portanee. •• will only °occupy your time fora few
minutdPlehger alluding to one thing whch, I )ravt no
doubt,- 'some !other speaker will allude to ; but I can-
not holp alluding to it also, and that is to one who was
the first originate this society, and was, I belie)* the
first to think of the establishment of a sailor's hOine in
this town ; one whose name and whose memory will be
always held in grateful remembrance by this community-,
and more especially by sailors, and those connected with
the shipping of the port. (Hear, hear.) I need not
say I allude to the lit; Mr. CeateswOrtli.. (Applause.)
It was only a few days before his 'death that, he met me
at the Underwiiteis' rooms, and he showed me the testi-
monials of the late excellent chaplain to this' institution,
aid said he tlie4ht he bad found the man that w is
exactly suited for our society ; and he was admirably,
suited indeed. Although he has left 113, I believe ,we
have got a gentlemen in every way as well fitted for the
office. I will:not occupy your attention longer, bat call.
upon the Rev. Rector Campbell to address..you:
The Rev. Rector- CAMPTiIILL was, loudly applauded.
He said: I rise to propose the following resolution :
That although, the necessity for iniproving, the
religious, moral, and "social Condition of the' British
seaman has long been felt, and many valuable efforts
have been made in the right direction, yet still,'in' the
opinion of this meeting, thecareat
.masses of oar seamen
have not hitherto been sufficiently ,reached," And the
point to which, perbalA I may be permitted to address
myself is referred to in the •followin,,' passage of the
printed appeal : The importance of elevating , the
character of our seamen is upon all grounds—religious,
national, and social--a: subject of. the. -deepest interest,
the maritime strongth and. - commercial greatness of our
nation being alike dependent upon this living machinery;
while our Christian character :and missionary work
among: the heathen natives have, been, and still are
deeply.prejadieed by the di elute and degraded habits,
of our sailors by whose`conduct we are naturally judged."
The s,tate..of the working classes ,gener4l,ly, in such a •
town #iltibis ought to be i
a matter of ,deep and serious
anxiety, pot only to the Clergy, to wham s committed
the care of souls, but to every religious aud reflecting
mind ; the-state of the seaman's class surely is, a matter
of higher,. amounting to national interest,; a matter in
which not only oar commercial, but our nationateliara.c-
ter is involved, without reference to that highest of
duties the salvation of souls. (Hear, hear.) If, as we
admitn,righteousuess exaltetb. 'a :natiOn, and, sin is a
reproagl to any people, if national honour, as Well as
national credit is a thing to be prized, then surely we
who beaakt,that commerce is not only a means of sordid
aggrandisement,,but Of spreading the blessings of ,
lisation,"Christian civilisation I may presume, through-
out tiriii.vorld, ought to ,be ashamed that so many of the
men who are employed in extruding this commerce
should be, as they are said to be, so utterly unwor-
thy the nation they . represent . or, the religion to
which, they profess to belong. It is not my wish to
exaggerate acknowledged evils, or bring railing accu-
sation against any class of men, but, speaking to those
who know_ these things_ better than I can pretend -to; do,
speaking from hearsay more than from personal know-
ledge;,kniay be pardoned perhaps from saying, that the
blasAenung drunkard and the lawless libertine are
hardlyAtting representatives of the merchant , prince,
or a ;nominally Christian people. We surely ought to
exhibit: a better sample of our home ,productiOn
than such as these are described to'be. We are justly
anxiolisifor the success of foreign missions, the diffu-
sion q(bibleat and the spread of Christianity throughout
this vast empire-, on the flag of which, as was formerly
said of Spain, the sun never sets; but the ;best mode of
proselytising is-4,&-4,&, and sincerity. -of
our faith by the purity and holiness of our lives ; the
best mode of preaChing_ Christianity is to practice what
we preach. Andbefore we can expect men to listen to our
preaching we must: consider .them as entitled to, ask us,
first, whether we are agreed, amongst ourselves as to the
form and mode of faith which we require them to,,adOPts
and, secondly, whether we not only believe but obey it
ourselves ? (Hear, hear.) It is a point of bononr,.then,
as well as a Christian duty, to show 'to the world that
we are not the selfish; greedy, money getting nationi.of
shopkeepers which our calumnious adversaries proclaim
us to be. (Applause.) That we have some nobler ob-
jects in view than the mere acquisition of ships, colo-
nies,that we have a
politics and
and cOMIner.CPA, mission to
accomplish, the ififfasionpf that freedom
religion which we enjoy at home, and Wish to extend
abroad, not by 'the battle of the, warrior; and Confused
noise, iNacl,,garments rolled in 'blood:but by the geatie,
arts of peace, that peace by which alone can commerce
flourish ; and that. while we have hearts resolved
and ,prepared. to guard what has been justly
call- .„'Li great*, noblest, and most glorious
inheritance in the world, and defend 4o the death otir
country, our religion„-and our laws. ; If attacked at
home, we are anxious to exhibit ourselves abroad as the
missionaries or peaceful civilisation and pure and wide-
filed religion. (Loud. cheers.) Let, us,- thew endeavour
that those who Trepresentlas shouki be the fitting instru-
ments of sAch an enterprise;- let-there be no ground for
the ciiiiihiAtfleontained in the appeal, no charge of
neglect in attempting a remedy forthe evils to which it
refers. The,anciety-or missions to seamen promises the
best means of remedy ; and I respectfully, but earnestly,
recommend it to the support Of the merchants and ship-
owners_ of this.. great and' wealthy town; (Hear, hear,
and applause.!Cannot conclude, sir, 'without somereference to, a leiter which I have received thii ,morning
from a gentleman named C. Edward Rawlins, in which,
he stir, that tle Perusal_ of the circular has occasioned in
him a'Aeli-ng• of great disappointment, not tO say pious
indignation, to find therein no reference 'made to the
existenV for,nearly:f4ty
years at this -port of an inati-
tutiorf WhietdUring that period hai hien'in operation
amonc, the seafaring population, Ile alluded to the
Bethel Union ; and lie says "I,,cannot imagine for... ;

moment that yen have been the rector of this parish
during the whole Of the period, and have been ignorant
olthig 'society ; although I have lookedin vain for your
name among the Hit of its 'subscribers Or that of any
clergyman .)" NoW, I. am afrnidsindividnally I must
plead guilty to that which this gentleman will consider
a great act of delinquency; for although I must
confess I had heard of the 'Bethel Union, yet I
• certainly do know' nothing about its operations,
however aware I might have been 'of its existence.
Being a man, like most . other men, of very
limited time, a somewhat limited' purge, and a still more
limited capacity.' I really cannot co-operate with all
the 'charitable institutions in such a town as this, and,
moreover, I made it a-point of daity-to co-operate in no
religious societies whatever ,but these, who were •cen-
nected With the church at_ whose altars I serve.
ItApPlause.) And, I haye done this as.a matter of duty,
and 'a matter of peass-its-. Tt is impossible for a man to
join with every one wbd wishes to do '''(eed, and my
principle has,been to do 'OA to the best of my ability,
in my own Way, and to. allow others to do good to the,
best of their ability in theirs. (Applause.) Wishing,:
therefore, God speed to the Bethel Union for the mood
which it has. done; I have confined Myself,. and.ssill
continue to confine myself, in inyeneleavoursto do good,
particalerly religions good; to that way in which the
Church of England prescribes. I trust that I shall not
be aucesed of bigbtry, in this. As I said beforetisne,
purse and ability are very limited, arid I can only_con-.
tine myself to those objects which .I can conscientiously
and unreservedly approve, (Applause.) I must apolo-
gise for having trespassed so long on rthe time of the
meetings and I now conclude. (Applause.),
,-Mr`.
ItINKIN, who was next called upon, .
saecl and gentlemen,—l have very great
pleasuse iri, Seconding the motion which has now been
proposed by our
_Worthy and much respected Rector, thes
object in view being to improve the religious, moral, and
social position Of the numerous 'seamen frequenting ,this
port, by whose service§ I venture to say every individual is
direetly or indirectly benefited; and as a merchant .and
:shipowner, I feel it to be a duty incumbent on. me to
aid in this lendable endeavour. I am not, however,
insensible to the difficulties which
,surround the ques-
tion ; and if I allude' to them, it is not to throw ob-.
stades in the way, but in order that the subject may be
well digested, so that . the missionary labours may be as
usefully applied as pessible, whether on the river. or on
the shore. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Rankin went on to say,.
that when ships arrived at this port, their object was to,
enter into tlie docks as early as poisible. Therefore, it
was not upon every occasion that a missionary going on
board could have a full, opportunity of performing his
duties with sntisfactien. ,When the vessel came to the
dOck gates; the "seamen generally left it. , Again, on eM-
barking, the case was even worse.. They could not come
to the seamen till,the very 'moment the vessel:was going
out of the' dtick gates; and the confusion which pre-'
veiled' at that moment would prevent, religious instruc-
tionlheing ,properly given. He therefore felt that a
great proportion of the labour must be performed on
shore ; and it would lie worih''While considering 4),
what extent they could visit the seaman in his lodgings..,
In conclusion, 'he would venture, to say that, as a
reerChant and a shiponer, he should be most happy '
to siubscribe a certain .amount of his means for so
'deserving an object. (Applause.)
Mr. W. knows, who was loudly applauded on rising,.
proposed,the following resolution That the imports
ance of Wvating the character of. our seamen, whether
considered on national or social grounds, is a subject of
the deepest interest : since the maritime strength and
commercial greatness of oar nation. are alike dependent
,Upon the physics"' and moral welfare of this. most
important class. of' the community." He thought there '
could be no doubt at all that every line of the motion
conveyed tethem truths that called upon them to make
exertions in order to increase the efficiency of the' ociety. ,
We were; indebted to the seaman on more grounds .than
one., They feared no danger which duty called them to.
Without those hardy sailors, where. should we be ? •• If
they had' not fought the battles of the Nile, of .
and orCopenhagen, and many other glorious victories
which they had achieved, what would have beep our:
position now ? The chances were, if fluise'victieriesalind
not been gained, we might . have been sant under the
despbtie rule of the first Emperor of the French. The
services which they had rendered, not only in defending
us from a fereign foe, but in increasing the social pin-
forts and, prosperity of the country,, entitled the sea-
Merit to the greatest consideration. We should do.-
all in ' our power to lseneflt. them ' = and he knew
of no means more efficacious, than in having a
staff that:_svould give the
_sailors good advicecand
keep them out of the hands of What. were called Ind-
sharks. ID was sure it would be a great boon to 'every
shipewn'er the' Oort, to contribute to the ftindi of the
society; and it would be a light tar indeed, if each.
those ship Owners wonldpaYl'sa. to the
he knew the Custom-house woida'reollect it with the
greatest pleasure—for the benefit of the seamenof the
port. (Fleas, hear.). When they considered the number
of ships that came toS this port, they .would that the'
small contribution of ss. each would furnish a large sum,
and enable the - society to do a great deal ;of good.
(Hear,' hear.) Ile could not too strongly impress p,pon
his fellow-townsmen and all present on this occasion,
the impedance of the object which' the society had in',
view ; but the resolitiOn spoke so fully for itself,- that
he would, be wasting ,their time in saying anything more
on the subject:
.(Applause,)
Mr: R. BROCKLEBA.Ni seconded the resolution. He
said that he came forward on thiS ground, thatlid wished
to identify himself,m.ore particulariY.th an he had 'fifth Orto.'
done with this 'soCiety. (Applause.) He' Might sat:
that he had been a subscriber to this society from the,
very beginning ; and although self-praise was no.recOML
mendatioa; he had `something-to do in the 'commence-
ment of that institution \in which they were to-day
'assembled.' He had taken some part, too,:in fostering
another. institution-s-the 016 rd-frigate Conway. _But
he still, felt in his Cunicience that he had .not done as
much as he ought to have done to promote the' moral,
religious, and social comfort of the seamen. (ApPlause.)
Now, he was not 'going 'to flatter the seamen. He
knew that many of his brother shipowners had
,been put
to serious inconvenience—to great loss by the ,reckless-
tress of, individual seamen. He did not speak of them
as a body, but he spoke of individual seamen having mit
him and others to a very great loss from their reckless-
ness, particularly in foreign ports. Now, he thought that
was the best proof he could .give them of the necessity
of a most determined effort to carry this society very
much further than it had been carried hitherto. (Ap-
plause.) He considered thataailorg naturally were not
more corrupt than other men. (Hear, hear.) . They
were Subjected to greater temptation than most of other
men. Arriving from a foreign 'port into a place like
Liverpool, they were surrounded by men whose- only
interest was to, plunder them. - They had, not' those
domestic comforts that fell to the lot of most People.
But this,society was intended to direct those men when
they ;Owned from their long voyages' to such horses,
and; to such places, and especially to this Home,
where ..they could -live in security ; and where, if they
thought, proper =sand he hoped those who heard:him
would 'think proper —they. could deposit their money
in a safe,•bank. . (Heart, hear.): Now, a sailor
considered, he was .afraid, by the great mass of the
people, as a grogsdrinkingsamphibious sort of being ,
that helonged to nobody. He did not like to be per
but they must excuse him if he spoke of himself.
It was now more than twenty rears since he determined
that the vessels of which he had the management should
on, go to sea without any. grog ,board. board.. (Hear, hear.)
They had previously been ,accnitoMed - to take large
quantities, and.* saw. no, need of their doing so. He
determined that,it should not be carried on any longer;'
and he:Aeyer, from that period to this, found a sailor
who was unwilling to .go to sea in a tempesance ship.
(APPlause,), If they treated _ them liberally, and
gave them a reasonable allowance of °then' lignOrs,
. they Perfectly satisfied. He, would give them a,
case in. point. .1A vessel of his arrived from. Calcitta on
the previous day,She had upwards of forty people on
board, and there was onlyone single case of a manbei
drunk, and that was, unfortunately, from a temptation
put inthe man's •waywheniti a foreign port. lie thong&
that this society would be the Jneana Ao a certain extent
of putting a stop to intemperance. I (Hear hear.) He
must say, too, that good commanders and 'good officers
made good men—(hear, .hear,)r—for if a.csailor- Was well
treated,lthere was no man more amenable ,to kintinese.:
With s these few words, be ,begged to Secimd•
the resolution which had been propysed.,,
The resolution was put,i and carried unanimously.
Mr., S. R. Gnaws, who was received with hiud ap-
platthe, said--The resolution, which, has been placed in,
my bands to propose to-day is—" That the influence for.
good or.for evil of such a body of men, both in their
native land and when scattered over the,world, has not,
hitherto, :been sufficiently regarded, and now calls for
the practical consideration of the Christian phila:nthrO-
pist.', It is but a few days since that I had the
'privilegh of being present at the, distribution of 'prizes
on board the Conway,: • which Mr. Brooklebank has .
slightly referred to. The object of that institution,

as is well known to you all, is directly to elevate
the character of the British sailor.. We have met here
to-day to promote' the interests of a society which' is
• essentially a kindred 'society. (Hear, hear.) Welope
- through. this society to reach the hearts, the consciences,
and the reasons a the seaman—(hear, hear)—and, by
making him abetter man, to help to make him a better
sailor. (Applause.) Through the other, we hope indi-
rectly also to reach him, by placing over him superior
officers ; and I don't think it is too much to say, or
rather to expect, that,' wherever 'the Conway boys may be
placed in command, that there should be a consideration
paid 'to the social condition of the British sailor, and
that there should be a high tone pervading the disci-
pline, in Whatever ship those' boys. may command. If
we refer to the duties of the British seaman=whether as
regarcle the defence of our shores, the thonsand of soul's,
that are committed to his keeping individually and col-
lectively; the property that is entrusted to his care;the
advantages which he may possess in a foreign port in
maintaining, the dignity and character' of the Britiah
nation and Of British shipping---(heir, hear)-,-the bone
-
fit which he may be to his employer, in assisting him to
retain. his Position-in that race of competition' with the
foreigner, whioltiwe are nowlabouring under. (Hear,
hear.). lf we 'consider these duties, say it is not too
much to believe that the influence of seamen for good or
'for. evil,- in their native land or-abroad, is no' Small
influence. '(Hear, hear, and cheers.)' If, as I see on this.
,
flag before me,' aohr sailors are the' Sinews of our
commerce," I believe that it iss only a'questiefi 'of time
when their 'donclition will become a great social isuestibn,
the solving; of which will not only' rest in the handS of
the shipowners of this port, but 'will be taken by
every ;Tread interested the 'of England. ,
(Applause.) Every effort' iherefore, I say, should be
made,-and mast be Made, to raise the Condition of the
British seamen. am aware that much has been done
—that legislative aid has been Called in to interfere---.
that Bethels; which have been alluded to by our rector,'
have been established—that horneS; haVe been established
'in different parts of the country; but yet apparently
they 'have not reached, the root Of the soil.
More has to be done, and more will be . done,
I believe, by the promotion of such societies as we
are here to-day to assist ; and ;it is because I believe
that the Missionary Society, especially' the Mersey
branch, which has been established .in this port is cal-
culated to do immense good, that I think I am right in
appealing to my brother shipowners to assist in main-
taining that society, and in giving it that hearty and
earnest co-operation which I believe it deserves at their
hands.- (Applause.) I am not prepared to say from
what cause it is that the' British sailor has not kept pace
with the improvement which has taken place in other
daises around him, net- is this the, proper place to dis-
'cuss it, if I were prepared to • say it ; but it is not
the less a fact that while other classes are progressing
in the race of intellectual improvement, the British
sailor has not kept pace, and rather lags behind. I
knew there are exceptions, and there are many creep-
tions. There are exceptions in this.room ; I see them
around me-s--(applause)7s=but I speak of those whom we
are' more particularly interested in' reaching—thoSe 'men
whom Mr. Brocklebank has described as disgracing their '
flag in a foreign pert. (Hear, hear.) • It. is of these men
I speak when I speak Of the British sailor not keeping
pace with the prossresk which 'has taken place in other
, classes ; and it is progress'
- I believe that the Mission
Sciciety. is: eminently qualified' to reach those men at
the proper time and at the proper place, that I consider
it 'is entitled to the support of my.brother shipoviriers
in this town:. (Hear, hear.) .I see, on the other hand;
another flag which bears upon it the words of the im-
mortal Nelson—that " England' expects every man to do
his'duty." I don't think it wrong if I should use these
words in closing my remailis,' by applying them 'to the
shipowners- and' merchants of Liverpool. ( Applause.) I
say that their duty to society demands that they should
do their duty to the seamen; and the country will expect
it of them. (Applause.)
Mr. F. 'A. CLINT said he ;felt much pleasure in se-
'Conding"the resolution which had' been so well' laid
before the meeting by his friend Mr: Graves.; and he
'wenld say, at the outset, that he thoiight it peculiarly
'appropriate that a Meeting 'of this nature should be held
at -the Sailors' Home,' originating as the home did
in an earnest desire' to improve thee condition of the
seaman. The resolution- statedsa self-evident proposition
when it stated that the influence for 'good. or for evil
of. Such a body of men -as our sailors had not hitherto.
-been sufficiently' regarded. When they considered that
40,000- sailors entered into this port in the course of
twelve months, they' might readily conceive how great
their example was either for good or evil,'as it might: be
*.exercised. But when 'we considered :the force ;of their
example abroad, in the standard which they afforded to
other nations of judging of England generally, they
would feel the full effect of the idea expressed in the
resolution. He had heard'it said. that some aboriginal
people who-only saw the British subject through the
sailors, had exclaimed-s-" If- these are your' Christians,
then we. prefer to' remain' Is we are." (Hear, hear.).
He should be glad to find this Society's operations more
generally known,: feeling assured that the more they:
were known; the more support they would receive atthe.
hands 'of th merchants . and shipowners of the Port:
He agreed with. Mr. •Brocklebank' that the sailor. was:
not a more corrupt niati . than'any other man ; but: he
thought at the :same time that he was Subjected to'
. .
peculiar temptations. His was a very roving sort of
life ; he ,had no filed habitation, he moved about &Om,
one place, to another, and did not feel these respon-
'sibilities and obligations which' were felt by men Who
settled down into regular and quiet habits ; and, there-.
foie, he was exposed to4•greater temptationsthan other
men, and ought not to be. judged uncharitably. The
sailor was amenable to kindness, and 'much might be
done by kind treatment ; and although there were cities
of. great hardship felt by the shipowners, owing 'to' the
bad conduct of seamen; yet there were many excellent
men among 'them, Worthy of their best consideration.
(Hear, bear.) ' He felt personally obliged to thialsociety
for having Balled attention to a system which prevailed
in this:port, and, which tended much to frustrate' the
object of this society. That was the system of
crimps Visiting ships on their arrival ; enticing the
men away; supplying them with' drink, getting the
sailorS into their power, and into their own boarding-
henses, and thereby entirely frustrating-the object of this
and siniilar societies. He believed it was not generally
known that the legislature, with the desire to cure this
evil, had put it 'into the power of any captain of a ship
today hold of any man who went on board his ship
withouthis will, to take him before the:magistrate and
to get a heavy fineinflieted upon him. He-would take the
liberty to read two sections of the Merchant Shipping stet,
which had reference to this subject. Clause 237 states that,
" Every- person who, not being in her Majesty's service,
and not being' duly authorised by law for the purpose',
goes On board any ship 'about to arrive at the place of
her destination before her actual arrival in dock or at
the place of 'her 'discharge, without the permission of
the master, shall for ()Very such offence 'incur a penalty'
not exceeding t2O; and the Master or person in charge'
of such ship may take, any such person so ghing_on
board as aforesaid- into custody, and deliver him up'
fOrthivith to any. constable or 'peace officer, to be' byliin
taken before a justice or justices, or the sheriff Of the
county in Scotlandi; and' to be 'dealt with according' to
the provisions of this act." The' power is that given to
the master or the person in charge of the ship ; 'and by
the 238th clause, also referred to, it is shOwn that 'if,
within twenty-`four hour§ after the arrival of any ship
at antport rn 'the !United Kingdom, any person' then
being on board such ship -solicits any, seaman tnbecorne
a lodger at the house of any person letting ledgings 'fer
hire, Or taking out' of such ship any effects of any
seaman, except under his personal direction with
the permission of . the master, he shalt for every
such offence incur , a penalty not exceeding £s.'
.He might state that ,there was a movement going on,
on the part of the Dock Beard of this town, by means
Of which he hoped this evil would be to some extent
`remedied : and as chairman of the Watch Committee of
the Town-council, he should feel it his duty to render
every possible assistance teithe Dolls Board in their
endeavours to prevent the grievans. he had referred to.
(Applause.) If they found that the sailor, on arriving
in this river, before he could reach the Sailors' Home
or any respectable lodging, was taken charge: of by
those crimps, then he did say the object of the
Bethel Union, 'or of this society, or of any- other
society, would be almost entirely frustrated. There-
fore, as a first step, he thought, it highly important
that the provision§ of this act should lovarned, out, and
that every shipmaster should have bits !special attention
called to the power, which the act gave him. (Applause.)
No doubt this society would find many obstacles to over-
come ; but he' would urge theM to persevere, feeling,
assured that theTir effotts were well directed,' and that it
w" a, nationsH which they hid in view. e
would; in
ev,nclusion, use- for their encouragement the
words of Pas wisest-of men—" In the mormng 'sow tl4
seed, and. in the evening withhold not :thy hand, for thou
knower' not whether shall prosper this or that, or whether
both 'shall alike be geed." (Applause.)
tie resolution was then put, and 'carried unanimously.