Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-11-29 00:00:00

THE ENGLAND OF FIELDING'S NOVELS. Mr.
M'Carthy's second lecture was delivered, last night, on
the above subject; in the hall of the Royal Institution.
The attendance was much more numerous than on the
occasion of his first lecture; and, we feel sure, that Mr.
M'Carthy only requires to be more generally known to
the public of Liverpool in order to draw crowded- audi
ences. The lecture last night was one which fully sus-
tained the high estimation in which the lecturer has
been held by the literary circles of this town. Mr.
M'Carthy commenced his discourse by contrasting some
of Fielding's heroes withthose of Dickens and Thackeray.
He then proceeded with an analysis of the former, and
thus exhibited an instructive, though somewhat unpleas-
ing and very uncomplimentary picture of the state of
society in those days. The lecturer gave a 'highly inte-
resting sketch of the progress which society has since
made in education, morality, and Christianity. The
religious bigotry, which Was so characteristic of the
period, was pointed out in the most eloquent and forcible
manlier ; and the other fashionable vices of the age;. for
which Fielding wrote, received a similarly able analysis
from the cultured and sedulously-industrious, as well as
intelligent, lecturer. Mr. M'Carthy will deliver- one
more lecture; it is to be on the character and genius of
Goethe, to-morrow (Wednesday).
EVERTON COMPANIES OF TUE LIVERPOOL VOLUN-
TEER ARTILLERY AND RIFLE BRIGADE.—The meet=
ing of those who support the volunteer movement in
Everton is to take place to-morrow (Wednesday), to be
held under the presidency of his Worship the Mayor,
Thomas Darnley Anderson, Esq. This meeting prormses
to be one of unusual interest. Numerous applications
for the admission of ladies have been met by the com-
mittee in the most gallant and liberal spirit. This is as
it ought to be, for wo all sympathise with the poet in
his exclamation—

Without the smile ,from partial beauty won
What were this life—a world -without a sun 4
Prom the preparations which have been made, and
the promises which have been given, the scene on
the occasion will. unquestionably be an interesting
and delightful one, To render the whole more im-
pressive, it is hoped that a guard of honour of
the enrolled rifles' headed by their spirit-stirring band,
will give additional attraction, if any should be needed,
to the- inauguration of these district companies, who now
rank high in the brigade, and who, we doubt not, will
.do honour to the ward in which they reside. We may
add, that an excellent drilling-place has been appointed
for them in one of 'the large School4obrus connected
with the Collegiate Institution," in which they will conn-
mence drill on Wednesday week; Sand to-morrow even-
ing the enrolled men will assemble at the saine place
for the put'pose of appointing the officers for the first
company.
LITEIIAICT AND PHILOSOPHICAL SociwrH.—The usual
fortnightly meeting of the society was'held last night at
the Royal Institution,. Colquitt-street ; the Rev. H. H.
HigginS, 'president; . occupied- the chair. The minutes
of the previous meeting having been read, Messrs. J. H.
Mitchentr and Thomas DObson,
,B.A, applied for mem-
bership, and Mr. James Aiikin was elected a member
of the snciety. Professor Archer, of queen's College,
then read the paper of the evening, -4' On. the economic
products of the Quadrumana." The paper showed a
great amount of research, and a thorough knowledge of
the,subject.. As he went along, the learned gentleman
described the more prominent Characteristic of the
varinus species of monkeys, and the use made of them by
the natives of the countries in which they abounded—in
neatly all they are used as an .article of food, and in
many considered a great delicacy, The skins of some
species are very valuable for the fur, and the little
`black muffs now in fashion are -composed of monkey's
hair. At the conclusion' of the-paper, a short.discussion
'ensued, and the thanks of the meeting were awarded to
'the author. •

LIVERPOOL AND NEW ZEALAND.—SAILING OP THE
BLUE JACKET.—The trade between Liverpool and New
'Zealand, under the auspices of Messrs. H. T. Wilson
.'and' Chambers, crwners of the •celebrated " White •Star"
`fleet of Australian clippers, -is now, we are glad tc,
"learn, assuming-something like the importance which it
deserves. The •extensive resources of this hrm render it
an easy matter for them duly and fully to undertake
and to develop such a trade ; and for the sake of the
" good old town" and its trade we are glafi to learn that
the traffic betweenliverpool and New Zealand is both
prosperous and promising. On Saturday last, the gentle-
men nameddespat :died their magnificent and. commodious
White Star clipper Blue Jacket, Captain Clarke, for
Auckland. This very fine—indeed, 'favourite--ship
took out 250 pazoongoro. 'The saloon, or first cabin,
was completely filled ; and the class of passengers gene-
rally were of a superior order to those to be found in
emigrant ships, except on extTaorclinary occasions. Nearly
all of them were men of capital, going out to settle on the
fertile lands to be met with so profusely in the province of
Auckland,.and not a few wore old colonists, who having
been in this country on a n isit, were returning for final
settlement in-the land of their adoption. Their selection.
of the. Blue Jacket as their means of conveyance, is of
itself one of -4the: highest cqmpliments which could be
paid. to a shiP, ' their-experience in respect to such
long voyages- must have furnished them with ample
opportunities.tforjudging of the comforts to be expected
on board of such a- ship. It shows, conclusively, that
the established renown of :the " White Star" clippers
is as fully recognised in 41.1 - Australasian Colonies, as
the charaeter of the firm is known and appreCiated in
Europe.

CHURCH DEFENCE ASSOCIATION.

. ,
Last night, 11 meeting was held in the-school-room of
Holy Trinity Church, Walton-Breck, for the purpose of
c,ommunicatint information on the sukicet of Church-
-rates, " and on the present- attempt to deprive the poor
of the rights which they have posseksecl for centuries."
The Rev. H. Lomas, IncuMbent, presided;;' and amongst
those present ,Were—The Rev. Dr. .Hume, the. Rev.
Thomas Moore, the Rev. John Stewart, and Messrs.
Fred. Harris, ,Esq., churchwarden; W. Tristram, Esq.,
Samuel Leech, .Esq., J; W. ?Barrett, Esq., A. Jones,
&c., Scc.
The CIiAIRMAN said,--Mrfriends, -all of you are
possibly aware that I have a peculiar aversion, as a
general rule, tothose, subjects which entail controversy.
That may be one reason why the attendance to-night is
not So large as we could desire; ;but there.are, times in
which, notwithstamding our natural predilections, it
perhaps becomes our duty to raise-our voice -even if it
be in 60W-defence. We are assemblerl together to-night to
cousider;the question of Church-rates, which has been of
late yearsdiscussed taa great extent in the country. Those
who oppose Church,retes have been very loud in the ex-
pression of their opposition, and consequently an impres-
sion seeinsto have gone forth that they constitute a majo-
rity of the _people of this country; and many. .of the argu-
ments which they have brought forward in opposition
to the Church-rates have such an appearance of plau-
sibility about them that doubtless the minds of those
who are not very well infcrmed upon the subject have
become to some extent prejudiced. _Accordingly we
have almost suffered -judgment to go against us by
default. We ,have allowed our opponents to have their
say while we ourselves have beep silent. The time has,
however, arrived, and probably it would have been far
better for us if we had anticipated the necessity, when
we must either speak out on the matter or
lose that which has been the inheritance of the
Church from time immemorial. I am not one
of those who would persist in levyisig a rate oppressive
to the consciences—l would almost say to the tastes-
and feelings—of men, if in justice it could be avoided
without such an imposition ; and therefore, for myieif,
I would -say that I would greatly prefer some compro-
mise, by which a fair compensation might be secured .to
the Church, than the
me
of the resent system,
which it appears to must necessitate frequent colli-
sions "between Church people and Dissenters, which in
My opinion are for better avoided. But I think, from
the remarks which will be addressed to you this
evening by gentlemen who win succeed me, that
you will be'conyinced we have a right to compensation,
that we: are willing tq surrender that plan, of collecting
Church-rates which has existed for so.many centuries—
that we ought to be met in a spirit of conciliation on
the other side—and that, at all events, a frank and
willing assent should be giver by Dissenters to some
substitute for Church-rates, either collected from time to
time or in the shape of one large sum to be given as
compensation at once. I thought it was necessary to
express
my own views this evening, that you might be
in possession of them. I believe our duty will be to
induce you and other members of the congregation who
are absent to agree to the drawing up and signing of a
Petition to the House of Commons against abolition
of ChUrch-rates without some fair and suitable equiva-
lent being provided; and I believe Dr. Hume, who will
address you, is ready to give you some account of a
Church Defence Association which has recently origi-
nated in the town, and which I do hope will be the
means, at all events on this question, and possibly, on
future occasions, affecting the interests of our Church, of
defending us from those attacks which are made upon