The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-06-14 00:00:00

LECTURE ON NATIONAL EDUCATION,

On Wednesday evening last the Rev. J. B. M'Crea, of
Dublin, delivered an address on the above important sub-
ject, to a numerous and respectable audience, at the Music
Hall, Bold-street. The rev. gentleman inveighed in strong
terms against the anti-christian scheme recommended by the
present ministers, and, after offering some valuable sugges-
tions for effecting a sound scriptural education amongst the
people, proposed for adoption the following petition to the
House of Commons, which, after lying for signature for a
few hours yesterday afternoon, obtained 1,086 signatures. It
was forwarded for presentation last evening.
NATIONAL SCRIPTURAL EDUCATION.
To the Right Houourable and Honourable the Knights, Bur-
gesses, and Citizens, in Parliament assembled.
The humble petition of the undersigned Inhabitants of Liver-
pool, of different religious denominations, adopted at a
Meeting called for the purpose,
Sheweth,
That Petitioners have been surprized to find, after an in-
timation by Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, that
the Scheme of Education, proposed on the 16th of April, was
abandoned, that a system still more obnoxious to Protestant
Principle is to be submitted to your Honourable House, on
the 14th day of the present month.
That so long as the constitution of these realms is essenti-
ally and by statute Protestant, your petitioners regard it as
a most alarming and dangerous precedent for the ministers
of the crown to ask a vote of supply for an undefined system
of public instruction ; and the rather because of the precipi-
tate announcement of the undeveloped scheme, and the
already declared sentiments of the right honourable persons,
who constituted the committee of council upon this subject.
Your petitioners therefore beg your honourable House to
reject a scheme which they feel assured, is repugnant to the
general feeling of the nation ; and to grant no portion of the
public funds for any plan of national education, of which a
systematic tuition in the pure word of God is not an indis-
pensable part.
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.

" Y PROTESTANT."—We are glad to find that our con-
servative neighbours in the county of Flint have just started
a newspaper in the Welsh language, to be published every
fortnight, in which constitutional principles will be promi-
nently advocated. From the specimens which we have seen,
we think that this undertaking must command success.
OLD MORTALITY AND HIS PONY.--We were highly gra-
tified yesterday with a view of the beautiful specimens of
statuary, representing Old Mortality and his Pony, now ex-
hibiting in 80ld-street. They were executed by Mr. Currie,
and reflect the highest credit upon his skill. The figures are
admirably pourtrayed, the attitudes extremely natural, and
the general expression is highly characteristic. The drapery
of Old Mortality struck us as being very well arranged. We
do not remember to have seen any similar work which has
so much pleased us since the statues of Tam O'Shanter and
Suter Johnny were exhibited.
SUNDAY SHAVING.—We rejoice to find that our new sti-
pendiary magistrate, Mr. Rushton, has announced his inten-
tion to enforce the law against those refractory individuals
among the barbers, who have refused to comply with the
praiseworthy regulation adopted by the great majority of
their fellow-tradesmen—that of closing their shops on the
Sunday.
ST. MARK'S CHLRCH SCHOOLS.—An appeal in behalf
of these schools will be made on Sunday next ; that in the
morning by the Rev. F. Ould, and in the evening by the Rev.
N. C. Dunscombe, at St. Mark's Church.
THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.--The fete on Wednesday
evening at these delightful gardens passed off remarkably
well. The weather was extremely fine, and great numbers
were induced to avail themselves of this opportunity of wit-
nessing the attractive exhibitions of the evening. The gardens
were crowded at an early hour, in almost every part, by a
very respectable company. The imitative sea engagement
was exceedingly well managed. The firing, both from the
fort and the vessels, gave a very correct idea of the reality of
such a battle. The burning of one of the vessels also served
to impress the mind with a lively idea of such a catastrophe
on the sea. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius elicited general
admiration. We never witnessed the effect of this exhibition
to greater advantage. The vast assemblage present con-
ducted themselves with the greatest order and decoruhl, and
separated without any confusion. We may add, that these
gardens present a greatly improved appearance this season.
We understand that Mr. Atkins has made arrangements for
having the fetes for the remainder of the summer on the
Monday evenings in each week.
SHOCK OF AN EARTHQUAKE IN BLACKBURN AND THE
NEIGHBOURHOOD.—Yesterday morning, betweeu eight and
nine o'clock, a considerable degree of alarm was, for a short
interval of time, excited in the minds of the inhabitants of
Pleasington, by the unusual visitation of an earthquake.—
The shock was providentially but slight, and of not more than
six or eight seonds in duration. Those who witnessed its
effects, describe the floors and ceilings of the houses, with the
various articles of furniture in them, as being for a time in a
state of violent agitation ; the tremour of the surrounding ob-
jects being accompanied with a loud rumbling noise resem-
bling that of the wheels of a heavy cart over rugged pavement.
Witton Stocks had also a similar visitation, about the same
instant of time, and was attended with the same effects. In
various parts of Blackburn, a tremulous motion of the earth
was observeable ; particularly in King-street, where the shock
was so great that a number of books were shaken from the
desk in a school room.—Blackburn Standard.
THE MAIL FROM LONDON.—For the last few weeks, the
mail train from London, due here at eight o'clock p.m.
has seldom arrived before half past eight or nine o'clock.
We trust that greater punctuality will be observed after the
intended acceleration of the mails is carried into effect.
MR. GREEN'S BENEFIT AT THE AMPHITHEATRE.--WC
beg to remind our readers that the spirited projector of the
popular concerts at the amphitheatre takes his benefit this
evening, when we hope he will be indemnified for the losses
which have been entailed upon him by his exertions in cater-
ing for the Liverpool public. Mr. Green has put forth an
excellent " bill of fare," and we have no doubt that all who
may attend this evening will be highly delighted with the
performances. Mr. Davies will sing some of his favourite
songs by particular desire.

EXPORTATION OF IRON STEAM BOATS.—The Urania,
now lying at the N. W. side of the Prince's Dock, and nearly
ready for sea, takes with her to south America, three iron
steam boats, or rather the materials for their construction,
in large pieces of plate iron, rivetted together, each forming
a section or portion of the respective boats for which it was
moulded or fashioned, so that the whole may with facility be
put together on arrival at their port of destination. The plates
are from a quarter of an inch to three-eights in thickness, and
are beautifully rivetted. The engines to propel these vessels
(also on board the Urania) are, we learn, from 20 to 39 horses
power. The vessels are from the celebrated manufactory of
iron vessels of Messrs. Laird, of Woodside. They are des-
tined for Monte Video.
PAINTINGS OF SCOTTISH SCENERY.—Upon visiting the
Exhibition Rooms, Post-office place, where Mr. Knox's
paintings of Scottish scenery are exhibitino. we were hizhly
gratified ; which we believe is the universarieeling expressed
by those who have seen those paintings. The brightness of
the colouring was the first thing that struck us as we entered
the room, being so different from the monotonous colouring
usually exhibited in modern landscape. As far as we know
of the scenery, they are extremely correct copies of the scenes
represented, given under the best and most natural effects of
aerial tints peculiar to that country.
NATIONAL EDUCATION.—We are happy to announce that,
besides the general petition from the inhabitants of Liverpool
against the whig education scheme, signed by above 6840
persons, petitions have also been presented from the follow
ing congregations :
Christ Church, signed by ....
Mariner's Church

...............450

PP
St. Simon's Church,
All Saint's Church, „
St. Jude's Church, „
450
Ditto, against the second shuffle BlB
Multitudes were deceived by the Whig juggle ; and supposing
that the scheme had been abandoned, did not sign. The
second petition from St. Jude's was only mentioned on Sun-
day night, and on the following evening 800 names were
attached to it.

••..509
•• • 154
•....164

LIVERPOOL NORTHERN HOSPITAL.—The annual meeting
of the trustees was held in the board-room on Tuesday, the
Rev. Thomas Hornby, M.A. in the chair. A report, the
treasurer's account, and the general rules, as revised by the
committee, were read, new officers were appointed for the en-
suing year, the usual acknowledgments of past services were
made, and it was resolved, " That the value and importance
of this charity being now fully ascertained, and the necessity
for enlargement so urgent, from the number of severe acci-
dents which are refused admittance, while its funds are not
near equal to its present expenditure, call for the strenuous
exertions of every friend to humanity to aid in advancing it to
that more extended sphere of usefulness which the necessities
of the community around it are found to require."—" That
the cordial thanks of this meeting be presented to the donors
generally of last year, and those ministers of religion who
have, by their sermons, benefitted this institution ; and while
it is to be regretted that so few of them have aided in this be-
nevolent object, that a respectful and earliest appeal be made
to the remaining portion of them."

ORIGINAL CRITICISM. —JACK SREPPARD.--AllOther
number of this work has been handed us by Mr. Robinson.
We have not read it, and shall not until it comes in a volume
—but a friend who has, pays it a high conzplineent.—Balti-
more Journal.

A RECOMMENDATION.--A MOTHER'S GRAVE.—Wh
if O-
ever takes this paper in hand, he reads nothing else in it,
let him not pass unread the beautiful and touching narrative
on the first page, written by Mr. Chandler, editor of the
United States Gazette.