The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-07-02 00:00:00

THE BARBERS.

Several hair-dressers and shavers were summoned before
the court for following their worldly calling on the Lord's
day, and fined five shillings according to act of parliament.

UNWHOLESOME MEAT.

J. Hesketh was presented for having, at St. John's Mar-
ket, on Saturday last, 4001bs. weight of beef, in an unwhole-
some state ; John Isherwood, for having 601bs. weight of
veal; and - Holden, for having a considerable quantity
of meat, all of which was exposed for sale. They were
severally convicted and fined for the offences.

FRIDAY.

" KNIGHTS OF THE GARTER."

On Friday three young men, John Rourke, Thos. Moor,
and William Dalton, were brought before Mr. Rushton,
charged by Inspector Poole with being found in Whitechapel
practising their gambling avocation with the " garter," and
having also upon them a brass spindle, or wire, with buttons,
by which some game is played to fleece the unwary. The
prisoners were known as bad characters, and were committed
to Kirkdale for a month each, so that they might have their
domicile there during the races.

AN ORPHAN.

A little boy, named William Edwards, was brought before
Mr. Rushton, at the police-court, he having been fognd in
the streets in a state of destitution. The officer stated that
he had reason► to believe that the lad had no home, and
that he had latterly slept in outhouses and entries. Mr.
Rushton, who is peculiarly attentive to such cases, remanded
the boy until he could see Mr. Evans, of the poor's office,
with a view to getting him in some manner permanently
provided for.

A DESTITUTE FEMALE.
Eliza Whitelegg, a girl of modest demeanour, was placed
at the bar of the police-court, she having been found in the
night sitting, with a bundle of clothes, in Brunswick-road.
Mr. Dowling, the commissioner of police, said he had made
enquiry into the case of the prisoner. The clothes were, he
believed, her own property, and she had once moved in a
respectable sphere of life, but had been driven to the last ex-
tremity by immediate want. We understood him to add,
that she had some property, which was unjustly withheld
from her, and expressed his willing to look after it. He re-
quested that she might be sent to his office. Mr. Rushton
concurred, remarking that the young woman must not be
left a prey to the temptations to which her unfortunate con-
dition might expose her. The girl, who was much affected,
was accordingly directed to go to the office of Mr. Dowling,
who said he would take care of her.

ILLEGALLY PLEDGING.
A young man, named David James Higgins, was plated at
the bar of the police-court, charged with having pledged a
silver watch that had been given him to regulate. The com-
plainant, an elderly lady, stated that she had entrusted the
prisoner with a gold watch, a timepiece, and the watch in
question to regulate ; that he had not returned the latter,
and that it was found in pledge. The prisoner endeavoured
to exculpate himself by saying that he had injured the watch
accidentally while drunk ; that he had asked the owner for
some money on account to pay for the repair, which was re-
fused, and that he had consequently pawnedit. It appeared,
however, that he had been violent and abusive to the lady in
the street, and that he was not justified in pledging the watch.
He was required to pay the: value of the article, 255„ and a
penalty of 20s. for illegally pawning it, or be committed to
gaol for one month.

EFFECTS" OF CHARTIST AGITATION.—A number of the
respectable inhabitants of Middleton and the vicinity, consi-
dering, from the recent violent proceedings of the chartists,
that the lives and properties of the well disposed and orderly
are endangered, deem it necessary -to establish a body of
armed yeomanry, or military constabulary force, from the
ranks of , the middle-and higher classes. Several meetings
have been held on the subject, and from the-arrangements-in
progress iris very probable that hi short, time this highly
use4lWaY of nkettAtiliA* .131 actroe4iidoC,—Jiaoschester.
MOrier.

STATE OF RELIGION IN STOCKPORT.

DISPERSION OF A BIBLE MEETING BY THE CHARTISTS

(From the Stockport Advertiser.
On Tuesday evening the annual meeting of the Bible So-
ciety took place, or rather ought to have taken place, at the
Court Room, James Heald, Esq., of Parr's Wood, in the
chair. The platform was occupied by the Rev. T. Nolan,
the Curate of St. Peter's ; the Rev. N. K. Pugsley ; Revds.
Messrs. Horton, Hargreaves, and Chettle, Wesleyan Minis-
ters ; Rev. Mr. Davies, of Tintwistle ; and several other
Ministers.

The room was unusually, nay we may almost say sus-
piciously crowded by the working classes, and it appeared by
the events which subsequently transpired that the chartists
had been carefully mustering their strength for the purpose
of interrupting the proceedings of the meeting.
The Chairman, in the course of the excellent and highly-
applauded address, alluded to the progress of the Parent So-
ciety, the success of its operations during the past year, and
above all the increased liberality of its friends ; but it often
happens that just in proportion with the increased success
of an institution, the demands advance. Upon these grounds
the Christian mind could contemplate the results with no
ordinary feelings of pleasure and delight ; and hoped that
people in authority would take the Bible as the great founda-
tion for all their endeavours—to range themselves by it—to
contend for it—and are willing to be guided by it. The
friends of the Bible Society, in Stockport, included those
who had been members of it since its formation, and were
parties willing to merge their minor differences in religion for
the purposes of clinging to the hold of our common Chris-
tianity. Was it not a right of every man to possess a copy of
the Sacred Scriptures ? was it not a right of every true Chris-
tian? and as he claimed the right to search the Scriptures for
himself, he on the same principle claimed an equal right for
his fellow-creatures to search the Scriptures for themselves
and learn the way to salvation. Then as he wished every
member of his species to possess themselves of a copy of
" that knowledge which passeth all understanding," he gave
his support to the British and Foreign Bible Society.
The Rev. N. K. Pugsley, one of the Secretaries, reported
the Auxiliary Society had circulated during the past year 871
Bibles, 467 Testaments—making a total circulation since the
formation of the Society of 26,761 copies of the Sacred Scrip-
tures. The Ladies' Association has visited during the past
year 1317 families, making the number of families visited
since the re-establishment of the Society in 1833, 7983.—
They have also, after supplying the wants of the subsribers,
sent a free contribution to the Parent Society, during the
past year, of £2O.
The Rev. Thomas Nolan, of St. Peter's, was called upon
to propose the first resolution, in a very lengthy and able
speech, of which we are unable to offer more than an outline
(and that a very brief one.) He gave an interesting account
of the Greek Septuagint Translation of the Hebrew Scrip-
tures ; and of the authorised version now circulated by the
Bible Society. The chief point of his address was, to insist
upon the importance of acknowledging and valuing the word
of God at home as the first step towards an extensive circula-
lation of it abroad. He dwelt a good deal upon the peculiar
importance of sound scriptural knowledge of the present day.
The mass of the people, from recent changes, he said, were
entrusted with great political power, and unless the Bible
went hand in hand with it, there was no security that this
power would be advantageously exercised. The Bible was
the only means of ascertaining the will of God. If we wanted
to know the power of God, we might study the works of God,
but to become acquainted with his goodness and his revealed
will, we must study the word of God. He spoke of Lu-
ther, who, from the study of a Bible discovered in his
cell at Wittemburgh, received light and strength to ex-
pose the enormity and to pull down the fabric of the Pa-
pal power. That the same means, under God, were avail-
able for the maintenance of Truth now, that at the first had
been sufficient to root up error, and to plant the seeds of
Truth in its stead. He concluded a long and argumentative
speech, which was listened to with much attention, and
moved the first resolution--announcing the attachment of
the meeting to the Bible Society; and rejoicing in the num-
ber of translations into which the Bible had passed through
the instrumentality of the Parent Association.
Before the Rev. Mr. Nolanhad closed his speech, the space
behind the rails became literally crammed with the members
of the Male and Female Radical Asssociations, who individu-
ally took every opportunity of interrupting the proceedings
by various political allusions, laughters and significant ex-
pressions, to mar the unanimity.
The Rev. Mr. Davies, of Tintwistle, in seconding the re-
solution, cordially supported the speech, which had been so
eloquently brought before the meeting ; and if he werell to
follow his own feelings he would continue the strain which
the last speaker had not time to accomplish,—viz. against
Popery, the enemy of our common religion and our common
protestantism. He would not like it to go forth that he (the
last speaker) was the only Minister of the Church of God
who stood in front of the enemy of the Bible Society, and if
he (Mr. D.) could not fight the battle with equal steps, he
would do it with equal ardour. Opposed to the language of
the Bible, Popery must fly away. She could not resume her
iron sway—it was too late for her to come forward now in
England. He differed with his reverend brother, Mr.-Nolan,
on the subject of national education. He rejoiced that there
was a Bible Society in Stockport ; and although he had loved
the section amongst-whom it had pleased God to place him—
he loved Christianity infinitely more—he loved our common
Protestantism infinitely more (applause)—and he called upon
the friends of that Christianity which maketh " wise unto
salvation," to go in the front of the battle and contend boldly
and manfully in defence of the Bible (" the Bastile.) Hey ?
(laughter.) It showed that when the heart was not with God
or prepared for the glorious realities of an eternity, what
trilling things take the mind away. (Hear, hear, and hisses.)
If there be a man and a christian here to night, he knew full

well that his mind was occupied with the solemn subject they
were met in that room to consider ; and if there were men
present who by their proceedings too plainly demonstrated
their utter callousness to the common claims and the ordinary

influence of christianity, it would require the awful sublimil
ties of the death-bcd chamber (hear,) to convince him in ter-
rible language of the dreadful precipice upon which he stood
between time and eternity. Was the subject of the meeting
for the scoff and the sneer of the infidel or the laugh of the
sceptic? (Hear, and hisses.) He asked them whether such
conduct was befitting a meeting so constituted ? Was it decent
or becoming, as men, to " take off" the solemnities of eter-
114iliikiWdeiithSSNiA 81b VrtA-Thgee"rrieTl
and where, most assuredly, the infidel will go. (Hisses.)
After a few more words, the rev. gentleman resumed his seat,
amidst great clamour.
The Chairman said it generally fell to the lot of the Chair-
man to interfere between contending parties. He was not a
stranger in the town of Stockport ; and having also conducted
meetings in different parts of the kingdom, he always found
that the good sense of an assembly would, if they wished for
any sympathy, yield to the call of the chairman ; and there-
fore for the sake of regularity, he must insist that whoever
had a desire to say anything must address himself to the
chair. In making his opening observations, he had no idea
that the business would sustain any interruption from its
friends ; and as this was a meeting of the friends and sub-
scribers to the British and Foreign Bible Society, he, as their
chairman, would stand upon his right of questioning the pro-
priety of any pe:•son addressing the meeting who was not a
member of the society. Using the privileges of the British
Constitution, in which he gloried (hear,) he never would sub-
mit to any interruption which might be thrown in the way of
the proceedings of a meeting over which he had been called
to preside. (Hear, and hisses.) He was not to be put down
by clamour either. (Hisses.) As to those who conducted
this interruption, for he had watched them, there were not
more than from six to ten ; and if the meeting was of his
opinion they would divide, and, forming themselves into a
nucleus, expose these persons to the glare of light. Ap-
plause, hear, and much interruption.) This meeting was to
protect and circulate the gopel ; and if there were amongst
them men who could deny his support to this resolution, with
him he held no fellowship—with him he would have no com-
munion. (Cheers, hisses, and marks of disapprobation.)
The motion being put, the chairman decided that it was
carried.

James Mitchell, from the Chartists.—Am I allowed to
speak ? (Hisses.) Must I speak ? (" Sit down, sir.") I
wish to say a few words to the meeting.
The Rev. Mr. Horton.—You must consult the chairman.
Mitchell.—Mr. Chairman, will you allow me to say a few
words ? lam favourable to the Bible, and an advocate for
its free circulation.

The Chairman.—Are you a member of the British and
Foreign Bible Society ?
Mitchell.—No, I am not.
The Chairman.—Are you a subscriber of this society ?
Mitchell.—No.
The Chairman.—Then you are out of order.
Increased uproar succeeded amongst the hundreds of
chartists assembled ; in the midst of which T. P. Fogg stood
up and endeavoured to obtain a hearing by addressing the
chairman on the subject of the Bible, but in terms which
were inaudible to the reporters.
Mitchell, however, in the end said that he understood by
the placard that the present was a public meeting; and upon
that footing he conceived that he had a perfect right to ad-
dress them. As the resolution had not been decided by the
meeting, he should be satisfied if the chairman would be
guided by the voice of the majority of the people, and not
by a majority of the members present.
The Chairman replied that he was going to have taken the
sense of the meeting, if he (Mitchell) would only wait while
he put it. A great number held up their hands in its sup-
port, but an interruption had prevented his putting it to the
contrary.

The Contrary was taken ; and the chairman said that the
motion was carried by a considerable majority. (Uproar.)
Mitchell.—l say it is lost. (Cheers and shouting.) Then
I'll move an amendment to the motion. (Hear, and hisses.)
The Chairman.—What ! an amendment to the Bible !
(Hear, and marks of indignation.)
After Mitchell had replied, and moved (as we understood)
an amendment, which he declared to be carried, amidst the
shouts of huzzas,
The Chairman rose, and with great emphasis asked—Will
you support me?"
" We will, we will," from an hundred lips.
The Rev. N. K. Pugsley (the secretary).—l'll tell you
what, (looking at Mitchell,) if there are not one hundred
Christians to twenty socialists and infidels, then I will give
up my point. (Hisses.)
Mr. Rowlinson.—Mr. Chairman, was this meeting called
for the friends of the Bible Society?
The Chairman.—Most certainly.
Mr. Rowlinson.—Then they are out of order in their in-
terruption of our proceedings in this way.
The Chairman said he did not complain so much of the
conduct of those who were disturbing the meeting as of his
friends around him ; because they did not leave the question
to be settled by himself. He repeated that the resolution
had been carried by a large majority of this meeting—
(groans) ; and begged to introduce the Rev. Mr. Horton to
speak upon the next motion.
The Rev. Mr. Horton, however, on rising, could not pro-
ceed.

Mitchell insisted upon the success of his amendment.
The Rev. Mr. Horton said the conduct of the last speaker
was most unfair and un-English. He had attended chartist
meetings and socialist meetings, but never for one moment
dreamt of interfering with their proceedings (hear); and on
that ground it was neither decent, nor civil, nor honest, to
come down and interrupt theirs.

Mitchell.—Then we'll have another chairman.
Mr. Horton replied that that was not the place to hold dis-
cussions about the Bible ; but if they (the Socinians) would
fix a time and place, he would not shrink from a fair discus-
sion. (Cheers.) The present meeting was held for very dif-
ferent purposes. (Hear.)
Mitchell.—l am a Christian.
The Rev. Mr. Horton.—That is not now the question
(" sit thee down.")
Alitchell.—But the chairman said he would decide it.

The Chairman explained, on being referred to, that he had
already decided in favour of the resolution, according to the
principle of all public meetings ; and he would not abandon
that principle for any purpose. (Applause and hisses.)
Mitchell then asked permission to make a few observa-
tions ; otherwise he could not be answerable for the peace of
the meeting.
The Rev. N. K. Pugsley, with great earnestness, protested
against any such an attempt to frighten the meeting from its
propriety by holding out their threats. They stood upon the
principle of the Bible and the principle of British freemen ;
and after the public challenge that had been given to them
(the Socinians and Chartists) by his friend, (Mr. Horton,
for discussing religious questions at some other time ; they
were cowards if they did not accept that challenge, rather
than continue to interrupt the proceedings of the meeting.—
(Uproar.)
Mitchell.—All that I ask is for permission to say a few
words upon the general principles of the Bible and its circu-
lation ; and I maintain that the chairman has-not yet decided
the question. (Hear.)

The Rev. Mr. Horton said he had.
Mitchell.--I deny it ; and I claim a right to speak upon
the Bible and the real principles of Christ, whose steps you
pretend to follow. (Laughter and cheering, intermingled
with hisses.)
The Rev. Mr. Horton.—But you do not unite with us.
Mitchell.—How do you know that? Hey? (Cheers.)
Here the Mayor and Mr. Thornhill, having had some con-
versation with the chairman, the latter said be would not
any longer have their proceedings interrupted ; and in order
that the business and objects of the Bible Society should not
be defeated, he put the second and third resolutions respec-
tively to the meeting pro forma ; both of which he declared
to be carried amidst an uproar and disorder that would have
reflected upon the character of Bedlam.
The meeting was then declared adjourned.
Fainting ladies were then led out of the rrom : and the
friends of the Bible Society generally retired as they best
could from the loud marks of disapproval which prevailed.
The chair having been vacated, Mr. James Mitchel was
appointed to fill the office ; and while he was wading his way
to the bench, Charles Davies addressed the meeting on the
present sufferings of the labouring classes.—(Mr. Heald—
' Call a meeting for that purpose, and we'll attend to it."
He wished that thousands upon thousands more of that
blessed book could be circulated amongst the working peo-
ple. He called it a blessed book, because it proves not only
that Christ was the first man who was persecuted for the
poor's sake, but it told them to " love thy neighbour as thy-
self."—(Applause.) Those professors of Christianity, too,
talked about the working people wanting education and
knowledge ; but they wanted time to get it first.—(Laugh-
ter.) They (the Chartists) could beat the best of them out
of the field, because they knew that they had the best of the
argument. They liked the Bible—he never denied it—but
the people will not any longer have false teachers.—(Ap-
plause and shouting.)
Here the Superintendent of Police appeared on the Bench
at the moment that the Rev. W. Hessler was about to say
something to the people, apparently in pacificatory language,
and informed the meeting that he (Sadler) had had orders
from the magistrates to clear the room, which bad only been
lent to the Bible Society.—(" But we pay for it, and we'll
have it.")
Mr. Hessler intimated that he was going to speak.
The Superintendent desired that neither he nor Mitchell
would attempt to resist the orders of the Bench.
Some person, near the dock, here cried out " Hessler,
thee go on ;" upon which Sadler said—" What, sir, do you
dare to order any person to go on after I have desired him to
desist ? lam now acting under directions of the Mayor.
The Mayor and Mr. Thornhill, hearing the contention,
came into the court-room attended by the town-clerk ; and
the people not manifesting a disposition to quit the room, a
policeman ran away with the candles, and the Mayor ordered
all special constables to assist in clearing the room.—(Groans
and considerable uproar.)
In a few minutes the court-room was empty; and the doors
were locked at about half-past nine o'clock.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

MANCHESTER-FILIDAY EVENING

Among the numerous contributions of the racing 'season,
very few command a more leading position in the provincial
circles than the Aintree race of Tuesday fortnight, and the
interest will become much greater as we approach the day of
contest. Monday next is the last day allowed for the decla-
rations of forfeit, and it is clear several parties on the qui
vive if possible to obtain any names that may now be given
in. The manner in which the Marquis of Westminster's
celebrated horse has been supported at from 10 to 12 to 1,
since his Newton victory, induced many to set his career as
premier pretty certain until at least much nearer than the
end of June. This, however, is not to be; for owing to the
weight of money in the market to back two or three other
horses, and Lye's conquest in the Northumberland Plate (for
the second time with Lord Eglinton's St. Bennett,) he has
had to resign. On Wednesday it was clear Lanercost was
first favourite ; a leading sportsman from Liverpool supported
him at 10's to 1, and we rather think St. Bennett at the same
figure, which was rather bold work, in the face of the race to
come off. The speculation, however, proved no lost one ;
for, although the distance is great from Newcastle, the result
of St. Bennett's race was known before noon yesterday. The
gentleman had seen the race, and was not shy at doing all
the business obtainable at 10's to 1 ; Lanercost and Heron
were at the same time coupled, and 6 to 1 accepted in one
hand to a good sum ; the same party had been previously not
less sweet upon Slashing Harry, booking 700 to 35. Com-
pensation at 100's to 6 has been repeatedly backed, and The
Hydra and King Cole nibbled upon at 100 s to 5. The result
of the business of the present day has been to advance St.
Bennett to 5 to 1, and at that price there is little to be got
on ; indeed, it is pretty clear that there was a rush at New-
castle to back him at 8 to 1 instantly upon his winning.
Lanercost, Heron, and Toothill have all been inquired after,
two of them on Liverpool account. We may expect still
more changes next week. The following, as near as obtain-
able in the absence of several gentlemen, are the odds against
the horses in any demand :
LIVERPOOL CUP.—Accept or not.
5 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's St. Bennett
11 to 1 „ Mr. Ramsay's Lanercost
12 to 1 „ Captain Gardnor's Toothill
13 to 1 „ Mr. Fowler's Heron
13 to 1 „ Lord Westminster's Cardinal Puff (off)
100 to 6 „ Mr. Denham's Compensation
100 to 5 „ Mr. Copeland's King Cole
100 to 5 „ Mr. Heseltine's Slashing Harry (tk 4)
100 to 4 „ Mr. Bowes's Jagger.
Goonwoon CUP.-4 to 1 against Harkaway was accepted
this morning, after 6 to 1 had been offered in vain.
Sr. LEGER.—Bloomsbury would be backed at 7 to 2; 10
to 1 offered, bar him ; 10 to 1 to about £4O was laid against
Commodore yesterday. To-day 1000 to 50 has been booked,
and 200 Provost beats him.—Manchester Guardian.