Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-09-21 00:00:00

NOR,TTFORN DAILY TIMES.

altogether been misinfiamed. He
appealed to the legislature, and they said, at the cost of sanded that she had
twenty millions, they would free the slave and compen- mentioned these instances .in order to 'shsew the Very
great ignorance which prevailed as-to %he- real position
sate the slave owner. He might go on to mention many
similar things, Which were all said to be for the public
mum y... The Rev: Dr. Atilt entered ipto ,a number of
of the Chu -eh amongst a large portion of the, cora-
--A- public -meeting- was held yesterday evening, in the
interesting statistical' statements, with" the o_bject of
St. Saviour's .Schools, Canning-street, the ()deject of which good.
,He was taxed for a free library in Toxteth-
showing that the ministers a :the Church of England
was, as stated in the placards, "To receive information park, fora cemetery,. and for baths and wash-houses,
none of which he mtendi to use ; but as they were for
on the subject of Church-rates."
Mr, J. J. Rumen took the chair, and the meeting the people's peel, he would pay for. them cheerfully, were ministerially connected with about forty-three per
opened with devotional exercises. and thank God he was able to do so. (Applause.) cent, of the cOmmuntity, who fotmed the Church-
The Cnaiiiman said, they were assembled there for
- If the Church of England, the . Church of their going portion of the population.. - lii addition to
the purpose of
hearing information on a subject that native land, the Church where they were christened,', this there were 25 per cent. of the Conimunity to
had been very much distorted. It had :mused much dis- where their parents were married, and where their parents whom they might be considered as missionaries, this 25,
per cent. being parties who attended no religious place
cuesion in the community. Uore, iadeed, than any other ;were buried—the Church where the Gospel. of Christ
was preaChed, was thought of in all its glory, he had esa oeworship ata'll. The rest of 'the- community attended
flint' had come before their consideration. The subject doubt that a spark would arise fromithat meeting in dissenting places of worship, extending to 294 per' cent:;
of,Church-rates,only required to be understood, to dispel
Liverpool that would ignite 'the wh,o.e country, and and n- par cent. frequented Roman Catholic places
agreat portion of theprejudice that existed with regard of worship. The reverend doctor showed, from a-further
to it. It was generally supposed that there was some- show that justice was on their side. (Applause.)
The Rev. JOSEPH BAIIDSVEY7 incumbent of St. Sil,ts"-s, statistical statement, that the most Roman Catholic town
t :ing in connection with Church-rates that was compul-in England was Wigan, the most Church-going town'
next came forward, and, in reference to. the 'question
was Exeter, and- the most irreligious, .so- far aS the
Wry on the inhabitants of the district. On the con-
under discussion by the meeting, he stated that it was
attendance at places of worship was concerned,
trary, Church-rates were voluntary, and it only required
said the siim collected in Cleurch-rates was a small that to be understood by those who entertained a diffe-
amount, and that it was not worth the while of Church- was Southwark. He concluded by sioiving the paro-
men to retain them, but it amounted to no less cilia' character of the Church, as distinguished from
rent view, to get rid of the objection that exists. That
any-one-should go to Parliament for a settlement of the
dissent, and expressed his opinion that the abolition of
a soinh:i £350,000. the interest of which was more , question, was altogether ridiculous. He had only to
Church-rates' would undoubtedly interfere with the
ofsi:e.ctioe, churches. But there was something more
in late years been annually raised far the remark that any one- who -webt to parliament, went on than
that was
vt.av amount involved in the question, and advantageous position ot the-Church.
a compulsory system to compel them to do what they
or were we not, to have an . ' Rev. Dr, TAYLOR, incumbent of St. John's Church
hallow the poorer of doing holuntarily.; and to
Elus"tabliel"; dwge we,
t, e hutch in this country. It was not really (who came into the room late), next addressed the eneet-
ing in an energetic speech, in the course Of which he
compel them not to exercise_ -their own judgment.
.h ques ion of Church-rates ; but the real object was to warmly advocated greater provision for the poorer
Church-rates did not exist by any act of parlia-
_eeprive the Church of the whole of her revenues.
went: The 'majority of persons in a district- had
classes in our churches, and showed that the retention
a right to frame bye-laws and
of Chureherates would facilitate that object. -
regulations for the
maintenance of the Church. But some people objected'' There was a society which had recently been formed,
,which eras
to pay, because they did not use the Church. That was . called the "Liberation of Religion ,Society n . The , Rev. Mr. Warr next came forward, nod moved.
not the fault of the Church. It was there, and the pro- and a pamphlet lately published by this society showed, the adoption of the annexed petition to both Houses of
,
Parliament :
perty of all. The services were free and open to all, and that if they succeeded in obtaining the entire abolition .
so was the churchyard_ He did not wish to detain them of Church-rates, they intended to follow it up bY Thlen.raegt;a'onnt,ofotfliteheUlltrrSigned, the Clergy, Cluwattrarclevs,
8, District, anal Members of the Congrega-'
longer, as there were gentlemen present mtzh more an agitation against all religious endowments. tion of St. Srtiqour'
competent to explain the matter than he was. This society proposed to take away all the property , HUM ELT SIT OWETIL, '
The Rev. letr. WARR rose and said that bills had been now held by the Church of England, and the thTehat your petitioners have observed with surprise and alarm
put mite calling a meeting. of those who resided within Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and_slevote it to raterse,tyntwa=littaasthregnislarteionis. on the
d subject of Church
the boundary of the district. He had met with those secular and general purposes apart from religion. There ever a large portion of the ?indpoouted°pieespterrcyvatefoitiiceie and
fished Church, without any provision by way cif compe presentwith a good motive, and not with a motive that could be no mistake at all about the pamphlet to-which
wasliostile tot he Dissenters in the district. For thirteen he referred. Supposing they admitted that the whole parishesand
idetianl:enofanth_e deliberate verdict of ninc-i,j,-
gl d, in which a rate had be
years he had been working for God, he hoped, in that amount in Church-rates was not large, it was important 'needed.
district, and he was happy to think that neither Dissenter that they should bear in mind that. they were for the
nor Churchman could, say that he had been a bigot purpose of maintaining the fabric of the Church in
amongst them; and he felt himself that his motives had this country. He thought, with Mr. Warr, that we
been from the purest love, and of the deepest interest should look upon the Dissenters as two bodies of men—
for their spiritual and temporal welfare. (Applause.) The some of them who wished to overthrow the Church,
subject, as had been announced to them by their chair-
and others who did not. He urged that Church-rates
man, on which he was to speak, was that of Church- having been in existence from time immeniorial, and the
rates, and he woulel address himself to the popular Period when they were originated being undefinable, it
objections against levying a rate for the maintenance of was nothing less than spoliation and robbery now to
a church in this country. And here he would say, that deprive the Church of them. When a,person purchased
those who conscientiously separated themselves from the a piece-of land, he did so with the knowledge that it.
Church, had a perfect right to do so in a free country. was subject to Church-rates, and on that ground he
But, : because they did not belong to the Church of obtained it for less money than he would do if the rate
England, they urged that as a reason why they should did not exist ; and he would therefore ask what they
not pay Church-rates. There were those who had a intended to do with the money if the tax should now be
very sincere and very warm affection for the Church got rid of. Assuredly it did Rot belong to the public,
of England, and he could not believe but that the for they had it on the authority of no less a man
than the late Sir Robert Peel, that the £350,000 of
piety of the Nonconformists was owing to the influence
of the clergy or the bishops on their fathers when Church-rates belonged solely and exclusively to
the Church. But there was also another and a most
they were in the Church. He had only to name
John Wesley, who was a clergyman importait question to be taken into consideration
in the Church - ,
in discussing the subject, and that was the portion
during his life and at his death. He believed that a
very large majority of the Dissenters were not hostile of this £350,000 which was contributed by Dissenters. country
to the Church, and yet, strange to say, they took their It had been clearly proved that not More than one-tenth l
place
_among objectionists to Church-rates. They of the whole amount was paid by Dissenters, and that
said religion ought to be so spiritual and so the great balk of the whole, amounting to nine-tenths,
completely depending on God, that it should cease to was contributed by members of the Church of
hold connexion with such things. It was only a matter of • England. Yet, in the face of this fact, the advocates enema=
two er three hundred thousand pounds in the year, and for the abolition-of Church-rates boldly stated that the es closed so
the Church ought to give it up; that before they went on friends of the Church should be deprived of the .nine- ,
with the matter, they ought to ventilate the question tenths which they paid, in order. that they—the Dissen-
_,ee sold
That reminded him that by the same mode of ters—might get rid of the small portion which they at Is. "
,ament a man might curie to him and tell him that paid. (Hear, hear.) It was altogether a most un-
.peer ee'
,e attic of .his house wanted light and ventilation, reasonable proposal. He could, to some extent, imagine ..,11's P
ad ask liberty to take off a few slates to remedy the reasonableness of a Dissenter saying, "Let me be . abs
she de'fticts. But he said to the man that if he relieved of the amount which I pay in Church-rates," but is l'
gave him light and ventilation by such a process, he he could not understand the reasonableness of a man .at e'
gave him rain also, which might naturally injure his when he insisted that the Church should be deprived of .or
house. It was simply taking slates off the Church this the whole amount raised in Church-rates, merely because ao-
question of ventilation. A number of Dissenters had Dissenters wished to be relieved of that portion of them '
formed themselves into a eorporated body, not for send- which they contributed. Mr. Warr had told them
a
ing out, missionaries, not to open their own chapels and that two-thirds of a parish could legally impose a rate
make them fire places of worship, but for the purpose of for the purposes of a public library ; but the difference
teaching them that they ought to do Without Church- was this, that whereas a majority of two-thirds_might so
rates, that they should surrender two or three hundred raise a rate for such a purpose; Church-rates had
thousand a year. He would separate thein into two dis- been in existence frora time immemorial, and it
tinct classes. He acknowledged that there might be a was not in the power of any majority to refuse'
t
considetable amount of enlargement of conscience among them legally. In the case of a Church-rate, it was not
some who, either from birth, or from their fathers, or only that a minority might impose it, but the majority
from education, might have separated from the Church ;
had no right to refuse it. It belonged to the Church of
but on the other hand, he believed there existed a cer- England, and, no matter what the majority might be,
they had no _power to withhold it. In the event of
thin clique among the Dissenters, who from' no such
religious scruples were determined to rob the Church. Church-rates ceasing, the Church of England would
The Church only claimed her- right in justice and be reduced to a level with Dissenters, and then what
equity. The Church-rate question had been so far would be the result ? Why, let ,them inquire into the
misrepresented by those who had advocated its - dis- condition of the lower parts of Liverpool, and they
. . T continuance, that many people who were favourable,. might picture to themselves —1 ' t''' "

PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT ON
CHURCH RATES.

That, whilst fully admitting the rights of cot
petitioners cannot be, indifferent to the higi
Justice.

#4That,Ae.Churches of heEstablishmeni--:h,

bf:nefit Of all the peep/e--oxighl, idthe Opinion of your p
tioners, to be held by the Government of the country
sacred trust; and they implore your honourable how,
sanction any bill that may be brought before r'
which does not contain a clause for fair compenst
serious a loss as the total abolition of Church-ra
involve, or which would prevent the inhabitants of
agreeing together for a purpose so holy as that of
the sanctuaries and perpetuating the system of the reformen
faith of England.
-your petitioners also play that, should it be deemed expe-
dient to pass any measure for the redistribution of Church,.
rates, due regard be paid to the necessities of nets districts in
populous places; so that the advantages of the' parochial
system may be extended to all classes of the community.
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.
Mr. BAKER, of the Liverpool Mail, seconded, the
motion in a lengthened and appropriate speech.. He
said that had it not been for one statement made by
Dr. Hume, he shOuld have contented himself with
simply seconding the resolution. .He Stated that the
city of Exeter was the most church-going city in tho
Mr. Baker explained that in the parish
churches generally in Exeter, such a, thing as pew rents
was unknown, and that might be the reason why there
was so good an attendance at Church there. He concluded
his observations with a vote of thanks to the
which haVing been carried, the proceedings closed about
ten o'clock.

atlon for, sa
atcs would
' any. parish

HousExEErEns.---The Coffee sold- by. Thompson
Brothers, 5, Elliott-Street, at Is. 4d., is better than you
pay is. Bd. for at any other establishment. d
THE LORD MAYOR'S SALAny.—LThe Lord Mayor has
an allowance of about £7,900: it is generally cited as
£B,OOO, but is barely so much. It is variable, even to
the extent of £l,OOO a year, more or less, owing to a
portion of it being derived from dues on fruit.
household at the Mansion-house eonsiso

Its of twenty

gentlemen, and he has a good retinue of servants.
has to provide his own horses, and has to find a carriage
and horses for the Lady Mayoress. The expenses of tb
mayoralty usually exceed the allowance by about
—City Press.

£5,000

A MAN ARRESTED FOR AN ALLEGED MURDER
ELEVEN YEARS AGO.—A few days since, William
Edwards, of Raymond, was arrested for the alleged
murder of a female named Sarah J. Verrill, about eleven
years ago. The accused, at that time, resided in Port-
land. The girl, who is said to have been a low
character, also resided in that town, and Edwards is
said to have been familiar with her. One morning
both of them were missing. Edwards was seen with
the girl on the previous evening. He ret

1. to his

family in about four weeks, but denied all knowledge of
the girl, and she has never been heard of since. The
other week, Joshua Edwards, a brother of the accused,
made a confession, stating that he and William mur.
dered the girl by tying or chaining her on to a pile of
brush, then setting fire to it, and burning her alive.
Upon this confession William was arrested.—Portland
Argus.'

questioned the propriety of having Church-rates.,
The Church of England had been dedicated for ever to
God, and, could never be used for anything profane or
secular. • The Church was open to all, and there was no
distinction. The cottager had the liberty to come
with the'lind of the manor to the same sanctuary, to
worship the'same God, in the same building. The Church
was the property of the nation for the spiritual benefit of
the peopre. In the Church there was the chancel, where
the communion was administered, where the ten
.
com-
mandments were, and that In the
incumbent of'the parish, 'The other pat -nave, wag
tho property of the people or nation, and there was no
such thing as pew-rent, but it was free to all classes.
He wished them to look at the contrast between the
chapel system and the Church. He did not speak
isrez-;„;;;4'2,l)ecause he (lid not feel so; but, there was
marked distinction between the erection of a chapel,
and the dedication of a church. In Paradise-Street
there was a large building used as a public exhibition
of a questionable character, and where a large drinking
trade was carried on. That building was for years
a Dissenting meeting hotise, and it was now used as he

yes what woulG Je the result.
Diisenters were continually removing their schools 'and
chapels from these localities—they had not by any means
so many as belonged to the Church; and, in the event of
the abolition of Qhurch-rates, there would be the same
danger to the schools hi connection with the establish-
ment which now existed in those poor localities. Could
Dissenters deny, if there were any present, that there
were very few schools or chapels in what might be called
the lower parts of the town ? Dr. Hume had published
a statistical statement which, conclusively showed that
there were very few of these schools in the localities to
irilkh- he (Mr. Bardsley) referred, and that statement
had never been contradicted, If this robbery, if this
plunder, if this spoliation be accomplished, the result
would be, that the parochial character of the Church
would be shaken, if not altogether destroyed. (Hear,
hear.) The rev. gentleman, in continuation, addr-,ed
number of instances amongst the leading members of
Di;isenters themselves, in proof of his statement that
Chureh-rates were legally the property of the
Church, and that it would be nothing less than
robbery to take them' away. Amongst these
he named Baxter, Chalmers, Owen, and others, and to
these he might add no less an authority than Dr.,Pye
Smith ; who, in an appendix to a s'ermon published by
him in February, 1854, declared that to apply the pro-
perty of the Church to any other but Church uses, would
be nothing less than direct plunder. It was important
that Dissenters should reflect upon such a statement as
that, coming from a man full of piety, and so much
looked up to as Dr. Pye Smith undoubtedly was by
the dissentingt, portion of the community. They were
asked what the Church of England was doing for
the Church-rates which they at present received ? His
answer was, that 'they were educating three-fourths of
the children which were at present educated in our
schools. And the Church had done more, for she had
given to Dissenters the translation of the Scriptures.
The clergy of the Church of England were doing
many things in return for Church-rates, which
Dissenters did not do, and which they they had
not the power of doing. They did not ask for the
retention of Church-rates as a favour,—they claimed
them as the Church's right, and they said that the Dis-
senters were not justified in asking the legislature_to take
them away. He believed that the more the question
of Church-rates was ventilated and understood by
the public, the sooner would it be admitted that church-
rates were legal and correct in principle ; and he be-
lieved that the question would be settled, not by the
abolition of church-rates, but by their modification.

7rifE LATE JAMES STEPHEN, K. C. 8.--Wa
announced yesterday the death, on Wednesday last, at
Coblentz, in 71st year, of the Right Hon. Sir James
Stephen, K.C.8.; Professor .of Modern History at the
University of Cambridge, and formerly. Under-Secretary

• J
of State (or the COlonies; The decea;ed was the
Mr. James Stephen, Master of Chancery (well known
for his writings and exertions between 1815 and 1830
on the subject of colonial slavery), and was born
about the year 1790. " He was educated," sir a
biographical sketch in the ,English Colopredia, "at
Trinity-hall, . Cambridge, 'where he graduated 1.1.
ix 1812. Having chosen the legal profession, . he was
called to the bar at Lincoln's-inn. He had hardly
begun practice as a Chancery barrister when, in 1-812 or
1813, he became connected officially' with the' public
service as counsel of the Colonial department. For eleven,
years he was at once counsel for this department, and a
Chancery barrister in extensive practice, -Ile then
retired from the liar, and became 'at the same time both
counsel to the Colonial Departinent and counsel to the
Board of Trade: He held these offices jointly for ten
years • after which, during the Whig Government whieh
succeeded the Reform Bill, he left the -Board of Trade)
and beCame Assistant Under-Seciety for the Colonies.

had stated.-No chu;ch could be used for such purposes.
The moment the bishop's signature was affixed to the -
deed, it remained sacred from all profane and secular
purposes. There was also a great difference between the
clergy of -the Chureh of England and the Dissenting
ministers. The clergy of the Church were the
responsible - pastors of the whole. of the parishio-
ners. God forbid that he should boast what he
had done but he would say that he had visited
Roman Catholics and others on beds Of sickness and
distress, when called upon to do so-; and the reason was
simply that certain streets were within the ecclesiastical
boundary of the district. It would be at his peril, in
the eye of the law, and in the eye of his bishop, if he
refused to visit a sick man's bed, to reject a child that
was brought for baptism, or, to administer the cony.
munion to any one who desired. They were not to
exercise an undue authority, but to discharge their
duty as pastors to the people. With all respect,
it could not be said that any Dissenter was
called upon to do such alp. The ques-
tion before them did not altogether relate to large
towns. lie had nothing to do with the Church-
rates in Liverpool. The loss or gain- did -riot affect him
in any way. But he was only one of a body, and, as
the Scriptures said, that one member should 'suffer with
a'iother, he felt it his duty, as a member of the church,
to take Isis place in connection with the subject. In
the diocese of Chester there were 365 Churches. About
65 of these were situate in' large towns, as was his
own. The remaining 300 were in small
parishes, in poor hamlets, and in districts where
it would be almost impossible to collect voluntary rates ;
and were the Churches possessing means to allow the
doors of these 300 Churches to be closed against the poor
members of the flock of Christ ? (Applause.) The
question came before them in the light of justice, and
that was the word be loved most of all. Ile was
willing to try the question of Church-rates by that
word justice, and 'he had no doubt it would come
out of the ordeal perfectly free fr9m stain. Was it
a just thing to propose that nine-tenths of the
parishes in England should be prevented from mending
t'aeir own churches if they would ? The chairman had
said that every parish might decide but no, it was to
be considered illegal, to put the question, whether there
should be a Church-rate or not. If there was a parish
willing to maintain its church, was it a crime to main-
tain that church which their fathers before them had
maintained ? , Suppose a bill having such an effect were
to pass, would that.be a just thing ? But then it was said,
that for the sake 'of £200,000 or £300,000 a-year, it was
not worththe Chiirch!s while to contend for. He thought
if it were worth the while of others to attack, it was
worth the ChUrch's while to defend. He did not believe .
that the voluntary principle was equal to the work which
God had given the Church. of England to do; and even.
America, with all the boast, had done nothing by volun-
tary movement for the evangalisation of the people. It had
done a great deal in getting up buildings ;•-but the people
were perishing in ignorance and darkness. If justice
was only asked for, it wouldbe had. They had examples
enough in the emancipation of slavery. Common justice t

Dr. Hum next came forward, and commenced his
observation by remarking;that his speeches were m9re
frequently ;made in connection with literary: subjects
than upon anything having the slightest reference to
politics. Indeed, he could venture to say what, per-
haps, few men could say—that he never, on any occa-
sion, took part in a political meeting ; but he might
say that he had long ago arrived at the conviction that
there was a great misunderstanding in the minds of
many persons, as to the position and character of our
Established Church. •He remembered, some time ago,
seeing a statement in the newspapers to the effect that
the late BishOp of London had consecrated a certain
number of churches, and received £5O for the
consecration of every church, and that, consequently,
his income, in that respect, amounted to a very
considerable amount. Thisand
crement went the
round of all the newspapers, no one thought it
worth his while to contradict it ; butat
curate in Wales wrote to his lordship for length a
thepur.pose of
ascertaining the truth of the statement, and
received
in
reply an answer to the effect that he had seen
statement, which, by its very absurdity, had caused him the
much amusement. His lordship added that he had conse-
crated the number of churches named, but that of course
he had never received a farthing on any one occasion.
Ho might name another instance. There was a lady
with whom he (Dr. Hume) had come in contact, and she
could not be persuaded that any clergyman in the Church
received less than £3OO a year. He could not persuade
her to the contrary. In another case a person, in a
conversation with him as to the number of marriages in
the diocese of Chester,
said it was a great shame
that the Bishop of Chster should receive £4 for
every marriage that took place. She could not be per-

THE COMPOSES OF THE GREAT

EASTERN

GRATIFATT PRPENTATIOIkr. TP:lifft:,tißAt

OF LIVERPOOL,

It will doubtless be in the recollection of most of our
readers, that the compasses for the Great Eaaern were
supplied by our townsman, Mr. John Gray, of Strand-
street. Mr. Gray wiis'on board the noble ship from the
time she left the Thames until her arrival in the Wey-
mouth Roads, and returned to Liverpool on Thursday
last. It is hiS intention again to join the vessel when
she leaves Portland, and remain on 'board until her
arrival in Holyhead, for the purpose of Seeing that the
compasses are satisfactorily adjusted.
On Monday evening, a most gratifying testimonial was
made to Mr. Gray by his workmen, who had invited
their employer to a dinner at the house of Mrs. Grosken,
in Strand-street: About twenty-five sat down to dinner.
consisting exclusively of the artisans in Mr. Gray's
employ.
Mr: LETTUVRE, the foreman, presided, and dinner
being over, the chairman, in an appropriate speech,
presented the testimonial, which consisted of a splendid
silver goblet, bearing the following. inscription
" Presented to John Gray, Esq., by the workmen in
his employ, as a small congratulatory token, on the
occasion of his scientific achievement, in making and'
adjusting the compasses of the Great,Eastern. Septem—
ber, 1859."

On the reverse side of the goblet, there is a beauti-
fully executed engraving of the Great Eastern, and on
the other parts it is richly enchased. The goblet was
supplied by Mr. Mayor, of Lord-street.

,
Ir. GRAY, in acknowledging the compliment. which
had been paid to him,' said thatife was entirely taken by
surprise. He assured them that h& valued it, as coming
from his own workmpn, in a ten-fold degree, to that
which it would have possessed had it come from
the general public; because it showed the kind feeling
which existed between himself and thoSe in his 'employ-
ment. lie then alluded, in feeling terms, to the anxiety
he had felt, •and the immense responsibility which he
new he had incurred, in aPf—p'

—ccpting toe commission to
supply the, compasses for the Great EaStern, And added
that he had felt it his duty to remain at his post, on
board the shin. until he hnearmi t;.A..-1 A„

L- pa,.?Livit 11.141.10 ue-
partment which he had undertaken was fully tested, and
equal to the Krvicas for which the compasses were designed
on a vessel in Which the nation. at large vas taking so
deep an interest. He concluded by thanking the men
in his employ for the kind manifestation of regard which
the presentation evinced.

• Several other toasts and sentiments Were subsequently
proposed and drunk, and the proceedings, which.through-
out were of the most interesting character, were kept up
to a late hour: -

It is worthy of remark, that the chairman, and several
of the other.. men present, have been' in Mr. Gray's
employment for periods varyiLg bqtween twenty and
thirty years.

SELECT VESTRY

-YESTERDAY.

. .
The usual fortnightly meeting of this body was held
yesterday morning, at the Parish-offices, Bfownlow-
hill. The Rev. Rector Campbell presided ; and the
other members• -present were—MessrS: Owen, Scott,
Satchell, Peck,. Bairstow, Denton, Ambrose Byford,
Edward Byford, Cropper, Turner, Whitby, Whitty,
Smith, Williams,- and Critchley,

. .
, .
Mr. DENTON' said he had read in the papers an ob-
servation made by Mr. Whitty at the last meeting, that
a saviv.g of hundreds of pounds might be made by an
alteration in the time of contracts for parish- supplies..
He thought it was only justice to tradesmen to say, that
the amount of contracts was regulated by the markets ;-
and if they had lately made their contracts for six
months instead of three, the parish would have been a
gainer rather than a loser. ,

- Mr. SmlTH—His remarks were perfectly true.
Mr. DENTON—Certainty not. One of the contrac-
tors furnished flour at 20s. a pack under what he paid
for it ; and thus the parish was a gainer, as he was
under contract for six months.

Mir. Ow EN said it was but justice to Mr. Whitty, in
his absence, to say that his meaning was, in consequence
of persons being allowed to tender for three months, a
new man had come in, by whose tender they had saved
£4OO, and if it were for six months, they might not
have saved one, The new system of three months' con-
tracts brought in a greater number of competitors.
Mr. BAIRSTOW thought that Mr. Denton had dis-
tinctly proved the case. He had showed that one gen-
tleman ha. lost mosey by his contract. Had it been
for only three months, he should probably hive lost
none.

The subject then dropped.
The proceedings of the Workhouse Committee were
then read and confirmed.

Mr. CROPPER moved the appointment of William
Wilson and his wife as master and matron of the vagrant
sheds, at a salary of £5O a-year, with rations.
Mr. BAIRSTONV asked for information as to one'of the
minutes. It appeared that old persons were stopped
from going out of the house, and this was a great hard-
ship to those above sixty years of age.
The CHAlkoiart said they were stopped for irregu-
larities.

Mr. CROPPER said the present practice was, that any
pauper might get out once a mouth ; but when they came
back drunk, they were not allowed •to go out again.
They knew that any pauper wishing to leave the house,
V 93114 demand his'discharge, and then apply for adinis-

sion again

The'promedings of the Industrial Schools' Committee
and of the Finance Committee were then read and con-
firmed. In the former there was the following. singular
entry :—" Read-a letter from John Roan, a prisoner in
Kirkdale Williams,l, requesting that the religious designation
of Jane W" a girl in the Industrial Schools;
whom he claims as his legitimate child, may be changed
from Roman Catholic to Protestant. It appearing that
applicant is now undergoing, punishment for a criminal
assault upon the child, and that there are doubts as to
his having been married to the child% mother,—resolved,
that the further consideration hereof be deferred, pending
the production of a certificate of the marriage of the
child's parents."
The Vestry then proceeded to open tenders for the
supply of goods to the parish, ,when the following were
accepted, and they shortly, afterwards adjourned :—Ale,
porter, and barm, Isaac and James Glover, 75 and 77,
Fontenoy-street ; beef and mutton,' James Hall and Son,
76, James'-street, and 2, Preeson's-row ; boots and
shoes, John Quilliam, 107, Park-lane ; brushes, John
Robinson, 58, Berry-street ; butter and cheese, John
Rea and Co., 28, Old Haymarket ; candles and soap,
Henry Pearson, 1 and 3, Mount-pleasant ; clog soles,
William Owens, 50, Scotland road • coals, William
Harding, Whitley- street ; coffins, Cooper,
15, Sugnall-street,; drugs,. Messrs. Clay, Dod, and
Case, 52, St. Anne-street; drysalterv, J. & J. Johnson,
7, Church-street ; flour, wheat, and oatmeal, Radford
& Sons, Forrest-street; , groceries, Henry Pearson; 1
and 3, Mount-pleasant; hay and straw, James Ratliff,
Bold, near Warrington; ironmongery, James R. Cooper,
London-road; leather, Thomas Fisher, 137, Dale-street;
linendrapery, Robt. Adamson, 23 and 24, Old Haymarket;
milk and butter, James Ratliff, Bold, near Warrington;
ditto, Sim Musker, Windle ; ditto, Joseph Ledson;
Stand-park, Sefton ; ditto, Edward Rogerson, Fa-
zakerley ; ditto, Hugh Bullen, Kirby, near Prescot ;
ditto, John Tyrer, Huyton-hey ; ditto, Thomas
Birch, Netherton ; ditto, Henry Clayton Aintree ;
ditto, Thomas Rimmer, Huyton-hey. ; ditto, John
-Breeze Roberts, 11, Gill-street ; peas, Bryan Ren-
shaw, Ranelagh-street ; potatoes, Jas. Ratliff, Bold, near
Warrington ; printing and stationery, R. H. Fraser, 9,
Cable-street; salt, William Smith, Upper Dawson-street;
smallwares, Joseph Bingham, 14i, Brownlow-hill ; straw
bonnets, Margaret Robinson, 40, Prince Edwin-street ;
tinware, Benj. Holmes, 107, Islington; tobacco and snuff,
Willliam M'Millan. Surrey-street; wines and spirits,
George Bennett and Sons, 13, Fenwick-street ;' woollen
drapery, Robert Adamson, 23 and 24, Old Haymarket.
The contracts for beef and mutton, linen and woollen
drapery, flour, wheat, oatmeal, .and groceries, are
for three months, the remainder for six months each.

COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN FRANCE.-It iS asserted
that the position of commercial affairs is becoming
worse. There is nothing to indicate that there is any
improvement at hand. Speculators appear to be wait-
ing till all political differences are arranged on a basis
more in harmony with the general interests of the coun-
try. In the neighbourhood of Paris, in Normanby, and
some other ,provinces, it will require 10 to 15 per cent.
more wheat to be ground in order to produce the same
quantity of flour as last year • and, including the whole
of France, it may safely be taken that the wheat crop is
one-fifth less :productive than that of last year. The
vintage promises to beflarger, and of a better quality
than was expected. The vintage will be abundant
throughout Germany, Hungary, and Switzerland.

THE EXPLOSION ON BOARD THE GREAT

-EASTERN.

The adjourned inquest upon the bodies of the unfor-
tunate men who'weie killed in the regent explosion on
board the. Great Eastern Steam-skip was resumed on.
Monday morning, at the Town-hall, Weymouth, before
Mr. H. Locke, coroner.
Captain Robertson, of the Board of Trade ; Mr. Scott
Russell; Mr. leverson, ;solicitor to the company ; Mr.
Newman, solicitor to Mr. Russell ; and Mr. LaN;rson,
solicitor to the shareholders'• committee, were again in
attendance..

Before the proceedings commenced, - - -
The Foreman of the Jury said he was requested by
the jury to state the,ir objection to the course which the
inquiry was taking. , It oppeared toithem to be drifting
into a lawsuit, and matters were introduced respecting
contracts and other matters which were tntirely irrele-
vant. " -

The Coroner said he was very anxious that•the time
of the jury_ should not be unnecessarily occapied, but it
was essentially necessarily to ascertain not only what
was the cause 'of the. accident, but who was the cause
of it.

Mr. Jackson, M.P., was then called. In reply to the
coroner, he said he was deputy-chairman, and one of
the managing directors of the Great Eastern Company.
As deputy-chairman, he gave certain directions, in con-
junction'with Mr.-Campbell, in reference to the sailing
of the vessel.- Previous to the sailing, no arrangement
was come twas to the engines ; but it was always un-
derstood that those 'who had constructed the engines
would take their manwri'ement on the trial trip. Mr.
Campbell, on behalf of the company, was to attend to.
their interests on beard . the vessel, and witness was to'
manage matters of finance, &c., on shore. He was,
therefore, unable to say what arrangement was come to
between Mr. F.cott Russell and Mr. Campbell. He un-
derstood, however, that Mr. Scott Russell would appoint
men to the engines. He certainly understood that the
management of the engines for the trip was in the hands
of Mr. Scott Russell, and. Messrs: Bolton' and Watt ;
and that opinion was confirmed by seeing Mr. Russell
on the bridge. As, to some extent, a trustee of the
public, he never would, have. dreamt of taking over the
machinery until it hadbeen fairly tried and proved.
The steam was got up for four trials, but he' never con-
sidered the third, at, which Mr. Brunel was present, as a
conclusive trial. Witness's own impression was, that
Mr. Russell was distinctly in charge of the engines and
vessel. Mr. Ruisell had.several times stated to witness
that the vessel was complete, and witness said he thought
it was not. On the Monday. before the sailing, Mr.
Russell attended a meeting of the board with regard to
the payment of money. Witnessnccotnpanied the ves-
-sel to Purfleet, and understood that the ship and engines
were in the charge of Mr. Russell.
Mr. Newman said Mr. Russell had acted throughout
on the strongest legal'advice and he had the best opinionthat the contract was completed.
Captain Robertson—And the directors say that it was
not. I believe we have ascertained the cause of the
inquiry, and • the only matter remaining is to ascertain
who was in charge of the machinery, at the time of the
explosion.

Mr. John Arnett was then called, and having been
cautioned against criminating himself, was examined.
He said he was chief engineer on board the Great Eas-
tern, under Mr.' M‘Lennon; in charge of the paddle
engines.. He considered Mr. M‘Lennan his chief engi-
neer, but had been in the eniploy of Mr. itussell before
joining the ship. Was one of the engineers selected by
Mr. Russell to join the ship. On the day of the explo-
sion witness was in charge of the paddle-wheel engines.
Was aware there was a cock on the syphon attached to
the pipes in the water casings. Mr. Patrick acted under
his orders in the engine-room. Was never in the boiler-
room all day. It was not his duty, as engineer in charge
of the engines, to look after the boilers. The other
engineer's looked after them in their different watchei.
Did not recollect Mr. Patrick having told him at two
o'clock on the day of the explosidn, that at twelve o'clock
he had shut off the feed from the two water casinos. If he
had done so, knowing that -there were cocks on the
syphons, he should have felt it his duty to see whether
the steam was escaping in the stoke-hole, Was not
aware, up to the time of the explosion, that the feed
was shut off. Received no instructions from Mr. Dixon
on board relative to the working of the engines, nor
from Mr, M'Lennan. Witness started them, assisted by
Mr. Dixon.

By the Jury—At the time the ship left Deptford, the
cocks were opened. He went round himself, and escer-
tained that fact before the vessel started. He went
round himself, and ascertained that fact before the ves-
sel started. He went round with Duncan M'Farlano
on the Tuesday before the Great Eastern left the river,
shortly after breakfast. Witness opened the door, lead-
ing to the cock, himself. Duncan M'Farlane set the
cocks right on the Monday. Witness went round with
him on Tuesday, because he understood 'that he was to
go with the ship, and he wished to see that every-
thing was right. Did not examine the cocks on the
Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, nor direct any of the
men employed under him to go 4,nd examine them.
Mr. Patrick, Mr. Marshall, and ),Ir. Jerrard acted under:
witness's directions in the engine-room. He gave Mr.
Patrick no directions about skutting off the feed. Patrick
front time to time made no-particular report beyond the
remark that everything was going on pretty fair. Never
at any time received any information from Mr. Patrick,
or any one else, that the feed was shut off. Did not
consider himself in charge of the boilers as well -as the
machinery. He could not attend both to the engines
and the boilers. It would take a minute and a half to
go from the engine-I%lom to theboiler-room. The boiler-
room was out of sight of the engine-room. Had no
'means of ascertaining in the engine-room the state of
the boilers. If there had been anything wrong 'in the
engine-room, he should have reported to Mr. M'Lennan.
Duncan M'Farlane was the, next witness. He said
he was chief engineer of the auxiliary engine. On Tues-
day before the vessel started, he accompanied Mr. Arnott
round the machinery, and showed him the return and
feed cocks. At that time they were open. Of that he'
would take his oath. The door in the easing was locked,
but he, opened it and examined the cocks. It was his
duty to attend to the cocks of paddle-wheel boiler-
' rooms, including the two syphon pipes on deck.
,Had no
charge of them after leaving the Nore, but previously he
was quite certain they were all right and in good work-
ing order, as he saw both the steam and the water

escaping.
Captain Harrison was the next witness. In answer
to Captain Robertson, he said—l am in command of the
Great Eastern, and commanded her froin the time she'
left Deptford until she, arrived at Portland. During the
trial-trip Mr. Russell was in charge of the paddle,
engines,- and gave the orders from the bridge. The
orders for:the screw engines were signalled. I saw Mr.
Russell
.give orders and- pass the word down, to the
people in charge of his own engines. The directors
gave me no information as to who was in charge of the
engines before starting. I. did not consider, however,
that they were delivered. Mr. Brunel told me he should
not certify their delivery until he could get a better rate
of speed out of them. I think the conversation occurred
on the Saturday or Monday before the start, and after
the last trial of the engines. I gave Mr. M'Lennan, our
engineer, directions not to interfere in any way with the
working of the engines, but to hand over his staff partly
to Mr. Dixon and partly to Messrs. Bolton and Watt.
At the present moment I consider 'that the engines are
in the charge of Mr. Russell. If anything had gone
wrong with reference to the engines, I should have
communicated with Mr. Ruisell, if he had been present,
and with Mr. Blake. I did not hear Mr. Dixon give
any. orders. I told Mr. M'Lennan to tell the men the
engines were in charge of Mr. Dixon; and that they
were to obey his instructions, and he told me he bad
done so. No objection was made by Mr. Russell,-or
Messrs. Bolton and Watt, with regard to starting at the
time we did. I had the navigation of the vessel under
the pilot. Of course I had .charge of the discipline of
the vessel. Sometimes he asked me to pass the word
along, and sometimes he did so himself through Mr.
Russell on the bridge. One of the reasons which
induced me to consider Mr. Russell in charge of the
engines, was the fact of his giving the orders from
the bridge. Of coarse Mr. Russell would naturally
be anxious for the proper working of his own engines.
Daring the passage, the pilot wished to go astern with
ut the
rpeadd,ld
sayinge s and aheade
would
owuiltdh therat screw.her
go Mr.ea ahead
Russellwlth
thede-
paddles and astern with the screw. Mr. Russell was ap-
hliave Mr.gvßeunsstehlel
to work
hplaidectoot, bheecaeuusoeuhethweashotindgth:
Ibrhdogoe.d
order myself. Mr. Russell was on the bridge working
the telegraph to both engines. If Mr. Russell had not
the telegraphs. If the steam from the stand-pipes had
sleepings e l was
overflowed, it might have found its way through -.the
tinymtoorffi. theeeusrs
been there, I
Ibshuhota:cdobuiheeadnvne ot hadh a
informedtvweo
gtoohfta m
czainbeinse.asinlf.