The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-01-15 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We feel sorry that we have been obliged to postpone until
Friday the communication of "Observer," in common with
the favour3 of several other correspondents.
We have not been able to procure the expected information
respecting an accident at Woodside.
The letter of "5.W.8." in our next. Will he favour us
with his address.
We must request our correspondents generally to write on
one side only of their paper. They will thus save us a great
deal of trouble, and more frequently insure the insertion of
their letters.

In consequence of the late Post-office regulations, the
LIVERPOOL STANDARD is now dispatched by the
Mail which leaves at half past Two o'clock in the
morning for London, Birmingham,ManChester,4-c.
This arrangement renders it necessary that Adver-
tisements should be sent to the Office before Eight
o'clock on Monday and Thursday evenings.

iLiberpool g..tanbarti.

TUESDAY MORNING, JAN. 15, 1839.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.—The subject of popular
education having been of late the subject of much
agitation, we sincerely rejoice to find that an impor-
tant step has been recently taken to counteract the
insidious machinations of the semi-infidels of the Cen-
tral Society Committee, whose avowed design it is to
secularise the whole process of instruction, and to de-
tach the affections of the rising generation from the
Established Church. We allude to a plan which has
been for some time under the consideration of the
Chartered National Society, and which, we believe,
was originally suggested by the Bishops of London and
Winchester. This plan contemplates the establish-
ment of " commercial schools" for the middle classes,
who are generally precluded from availing themselves
of the advantages connected with our public schools
and universities. The scheme to which we refer em-
braces the following points:—First, to provide a better
class of teachers, by improving the education, condi-
tion, and prospects of schoolmasters; secondly, to as-
certain and bring into notice improvements in the
plans and management of schools; and, thirdly, to
offer to the middle classes, on moderate terms, a gene-
ral and comprehensive education, based on the religi-
ous principles of the Established Church. To accom-
plish these objects, it is proposed to appoint diocesan
boards of management, under the presidency of each
bishop, with local boards in each deanery, or other ec-
clesiastical district ; and also to form a central school,
attached to each cathedral, to train schoolmasters and
parish clerks, and to educate the choristers. It is fur-
ther proposed to establish a "commercial school" in
some leading town in each rural deanery. [t is a
subject of congratulation that the system Of education

in all these schools is to be Christian, and in strict ac-
cordance with the Church of England; to ensure

which object, the books for instruction are to be pro-
vided by the National Society, with the sanction of its
episcopal members. We cordially wish the society
success in this stupendous and truly Christian under-
taking, and trust that its plans will be speedily brought
to maturity, and as promptly carried into execution.

INCONSISTENCY OE DISSENTERS.—We have re-
marked that the Dissenters have been extremely busy
of late in urging upon the attention of the public and
the legislature the necessity of a national system of
education; that is, a comprehensive scheme of instruc-
tion on certain principles involving a compulsory tax

_ .
upon the nation for its support. They have also ma-
nifested considerable alacrity in coming forwards in
support of some legislative enactment on the subject
of the better observance of the Sabbath—likewise in-
volving the principle of arbitrary interference with the
so-called "civil and religious liberty and equality" for
which they so earnestly contend. Now all this is
grossly inconsistent with their professions in reference
to a national church establishment. In reference to
the Church of England they are uncompromising vo-
luntaries; but as regards the public observance of the
Lord's Day, and the education of the poorer classes,
they distinctly and unequivocally admit that the state
has a right to tax its subjects for the maintenance of
institutions in a way which "infringes" (to use the
canting phraseology of the Dissenters) upon the con-
sciences of those who may object to such an imposi•
Lion. These immoderately scrupulous and tenderly
conscientious Sectarians have no objection at all to the
passing of an act of Parliament to prevent the infidel
from opening his shop on the Sabbath—to preclude the
public offices of the country from transacting any busi-
ness on the same day—and to deprive the great mass
of the community of the pleasure of frequenting the
theatres and other places of public amusement on the
same day ; but they shrink with instinctive horror
from giving their sanction to any enactment for pro-
viding for the public worship of the Almighty. They
see no harm in advocating a measure of national in-
struction against which the Papist, the Socinian, the
Jew, and the Infidel equally exclaim, and against
which the members of the Church of England—em-
bracing three-fourths of the population of Great Bri-
tain—most solemnly protest ; they would impose a
compulsory tax on the public for the support of the
Lancasterian schools, thus objected to ; but against a
legislative recognition of a national church they con-
tend with untiring zeal and energy. How can they
reconcile these inconsistencies ?

PUSEY ISM AND POPERY.—We learn from the New-
castle Journal that, at a public dinner, given, a few
days since, to a Mr. R. Turnbull, of that place, the
following, amongst other toasts, were given :—" His
Holiness the Pope, the Father of the Christian
World" —" The People of England"—" Mr. Charles
Ladd n"—"—and " Mr. (Dr.) Pusey and the Church
of England Reformers at Oxford, and thanks to
them for their excellent tracts." We confess that we
felt no surprise whatever when we saw this ominous
announcement. It is just what might have been ex-
pected by • any one conversant with the " Tracts for
the Times." It is only an echo of the language and
sentiments of Dr. Wiseman and his colleagues, to
which we have already given publicity. But when
we find clergymen in the Church of England, and
those occupying high and responsible stations, thus
complimented as valuable auxiliaries to the Church of
Rome, we think it is high time that the clergy of the
Anglican Church, who hold the strong anti-Papal
doctrines of the Reformation, should publicly and ge-
nerally repudiate the dangerous tenets of the Puseyite
section. It is also highly necessary, in order to arrest
the further spread of this heresy, especially among the
laity, that the orthodox clergy 6hould denounce it from
the pulpit. The more distant from Popery we are re-
moved the nearer shall we approximate to the truth.
Let, then, the suspicious advances of the Oxford di-
vines to the apostate Church of Rome be made the
subject of reiterated appeals to our congregations.

THE CHARTIST AGITATION.—The arrest of Ste.
phens does not appear to have deterred the ultra-radical

leaders from pursuing the course of their agitation, or
to have caused them to be less truculent in their lan-
guage. A meeting was held last week at Manchester,
preparatory to a general meeting of the delegates of
the " National Convention" for Lancashire, Cheshire,
Durham, Northumberland, and the West Riding of
Yorkshire ; at which several most violent and inflam-
matory speeches were delivered. Mr. Richardson de-
nounced petitioning, and said that they would petition
no longer, but demand what they wanted. A Mr.
Peter Bussey said that they would convince their rulers
that they were Englishmen ; and that, like their fa-

thers in the days of Alfred, they had their firelock,
and knew how to use it! Well done, Peter ! This is
the first intimation we have ever seen that firelocks
sere in use at such an early period of British his-
tory. But the most outrageous harangue was deli-
vered by a man named George Julian Harney, who
was introduced as the representative of Northumber-
land. This firebrand remarked, that when they heard
of the arrest of Stephens, the " lads of Northumber-
land" sent delegates to " the canny lads of Newcas•
tle," to know if they were to begin ; and that they
had the greatest difficulty in prevailing on the dele-
gates to go back, and say they were not to begin till
their leaders should give them the signal if necessary.
They were met to petition ; but he was opposed to pe-
titioning tyrants for mercy, when they ought to take
justice themselves. He was resolved, with Bussey,
not to sign a petition ; but he held this petition to be
a demand—to be a sort of notice to quit; and if the
scoundrels did- not go forth from their house, they
would put them out. Let their tyrants understand that
they, the three millions of fighting men, demanded
this. It mattered not how many signed it, unless they

held in one hand the petition, and the pike and the
musket in the other. They must convince them by the
sword. He would tell the cotton lords the deterrnina-

tion of the spirit of the north ; and he would tell those
who would be assembled in London, in February, the
tools of the cotton lords, that if they refused to give
them justice—if they violated the hall of their national
convention—if they dispersed the assembled dele-
gates—if they resisted their chosen chieftain—if they
dared to cause the arrest of Stephens a second time—
then he would tell these cotton lords they would give
their flesh to the eagles and their• roof's• to the flames.
If their oppressors began the reign of terror, they
would bring terror on their oppressors—they would
have universal sufi•age, or war to the knife.
These cold-blooded threats of a reign of terror, with

its accompanying massacres, have been tolerated for
many months past by the present government. The
foul incendiaries who have given utterance to them
have been allowed, time after time, to escape with im-
punity. But why need we wonder? Do not the li-
beral ministers of the day connive at the more trea-
sonable and atrocious language of O'Connell and his
precursory satellites in Ireland ? Do they not offer
the premium of perfect impunity—nay, of absolute
favour—on the actual perpetration of all the horrible
deeds threatened by the chartist agitators? To be
consistent, Lord John Russell must bring his dear
friend and supporter, Daniel O'Connell, to the gal-
lows, before he can crush the treason of the ultra-ra-
dicals.

DEFEAT OF THE MANCHESTER CORPORATORS.—The
faction that recently obtained a charter incorporating
the town of Manchester, and therewith the manifold
blessings of an essentially " liberal" Town Council,
sustained last week a most signal and mortifying de-
feat. It appears that they had recently applied in
vain to the Finance Committee of the Commissioners
of Police for the use of the Town-hall. Imagining
that the committee did not speak the sentiments of the
great body of commissioners, they got up a notice,
signed by 77 of the 240 Commissioners, convening a
meeting for the purpose of considering an application
for the appropriation of the Town Hall to the meet-
ings of the medley of Socinians, Papists, Quakers, and
Infidels, who compose that august body, the corporation
of Manchester. Great pains were taken, it seems, to
muster a majority in favour of this concession ; but
all was in vain—they might as well have tried to "call
spirits from the vasty deep" as to get a majority capa-
ble of stultifying themselves by acknowledging the
validity of the Charter, which would have been the
effect of granting the use of the Town Hail for the
transaction of Police business. The application was,
no doubt, a deep-laid scheme for entrapping the Police
Commissioners into such an acknowledgment, which
would have been fatal to any opposition to the Charter
in a court of law. However, the manoeuvre has
failed: the Commissioners rejected the application by
a majority of 102 to 92. We are glad to find from
the Manchester Courier, that the opposition to the
11 charter is likely to prove successful.

INSULT TO THE BRITISH FLAG.—We are not all
surprised to learn that another deliberate insult has
been offered to the British flag by a foreign power.
Such occurrences have, unhappily, become so common
of late years, and have been submitted to by our
government with so much tameness and apparent un-
concern, that the wonder is, not that our national flag
has been insulted, but that it should, in any case, be
respected as in former times. The dishonour to which
we now allude took place at Mexico, where the French
squadron fired upon the Sl►eldrake packet, she having
at the time her ensign and pendant distinctly flying.
The correspondent of the Standard, in detailing the
circumstances, says that they must " doubtless create
no small sensation in England." So they undoubtedly
would, if we had any other than the present reckless
and pusillanimous tools of O'Connell in office. From
the same source we understand that our superlatively
imbecile ministry hole been so culpably and unpardon-
ably oblivious of the mercantile interests of Great
Britain, as to have ordered only one British man-of-
war to Mexico, where the French have now a large
squadron at anchor. What has become of our splendid
navy—our numberless ships in commission—the mari-
time force "which was never in a better condition than
it is at present ?" Can no more than a solitary man-
of-war be spared for such an important station ? Alas !
how is our country humbled, degraded, and despoiled!
When shall we again regain that proud position which
the British nation was accustomed to occupy ?

TIIE ANTI-CORN-LAW AGITATION.—Other topics of
agitation having failed in producing any popular ef-
fect, the place-loving liberals and their despicable
sycophantic adherents have flixed upon the Corn
Laws as one of the main points of • attack upon the
constitutional party, during the approaching session
of parliament. The ballot was for a season tried,—
but the British public recoiled at such a deliberate
insult to their independence. The extension of the
franchise was also proposed as a suitable topic for
popular agitation; but the electors who obtained the
right of voting under the Reform. Bill soon found out
that such a scheme must be considered as a robbery of
their dearly-acquired rights. The national education
nostrum, on the principle of excluding religious in-
struction, was next mooted by the self-styled liberal
philosophers; but this also was discovered to be re-
pulsive to the Christian feelings of Englishmen. As
a dernier resort the Corn Laws have been finally
adopted as the subject of radical agitation- Accord-
ingly, we find the leading ministerial journals—the
degraded hacks in the service and pay of ministers—
and the whole liberal press throughout the kingdom,
continually harping upon this one subject.
There can be no mistake on this point. The pre-
sent agitation against the Corn Laws is essentially a
liberal expedient to strengthen the hands of the minis-
ters by intimidating the landed and agricultural inter-
ests, and by exciting unfounded prejudices among the
town constituencies. This will be evident if we con-
sider for a moment the present position of the minis-
try. Their sole reliance at present is upon the ava-
ricious fundholders and manufacturers—backed by the
O'Connell tail, and the infidel radicals of Scotland.
The working classes of England and Wales they have
totally alienated from them, whilst the great bulk of
the landed proprietary, and all who have their capital
invested in fixed property are in hostile array against
them. What are they to do in this perplexing pre-
dicament ? Their baits have not taken—their cajolery
has been thrown away—their trickery has been too
transparent to deceive—their situation has become
more and more precarious—their bungling mismanage-
ment of the affairs of Canada, and the untoward events
which have recently taken place in that colony, have
excited the public disgust—their cowardly neglect of
British interests in all parts of the globe has produced
a redetion against theta which threatens to involve

them in still more awkward difficulties. What then
do they propose to do in order to appease the general
and increasing dissatisfaction which has been mani-
fested against them, and to extricate themselves from
the dilemma in which they are placed ? Nothing less

than this—they intend to sacrifice the landed interest
of the country—the main support of every other in-
terest—to the mammon of the monied aristocracy: in
other words, they mean to seal the ruin of old Eng-
land, for the sake of purchasing a few more years'
pay.

It is of no use to seek to persuade us that the objects
of the anti-corn-law agitators are not political, by
pointing to the numbers of highly respectable Conser-
vatives who have arrayed themselves in favour of a
free trade in grain. Such 'Conservatives may little
suspect that the cunning Whigs—whose only wisdom
lies in their low cunning—are making tools of them
to serve their own party purposes. We warn them

that they will find out their error when it is too late,
unless they immediately retrace their steps, and leave

the work of destruction in the hands of the fittest in-
struments for its performance—the Radical political

economists.

We have been led to make these remarks from per-
ceiving that the Mayor has convened a meeting, to be
held to-morrow in the Sessions House for the purpose
of taking the Corn Laws into consideration. What-
ever resolutions may be originated at the intended
meeting we feel every assurance that the liberals have
prompted the requisition. We, therefore, warn our
conservative friends that if the liberals are enabled to
carry their cut-and dry resolutions on the occasion, a
signal blow will be struck at the cause of conserva-
tism itself. If the conservatives of Liverpool mean to
be faithful to their principles THEY MUST CRUSH THIS
FRESH ATTEMPT OF THE RADICALS TO OBTAIN THE

ASCENDANCY.

What is the alleged ground for the interference with

the present settlement of the corn trade ? Is it not
that the manufacturing interests suffer from the pro-
tective duties on the importation of grain ? In what
way do they suffer ? Of course they must be in re-
ceipt of an inadequate return upon their capital in
comparison with the agricultural interests. But is
this the case ? Far, very far, indeed from this. The
statistical accounts which are considered most entitled
to credit state, that the property invested in land and
farming stock amounts to £2,971,756,670. And what
is the annual return upon this enormous capital ?
Only £470,029,688, whilst the yearly profit upon the
comparatively small sum of £201,000,000, invested in
manufactures, amounts to £262,085,199. Who, in
looking at the immense disparity of profits represented
by these figures can have the hardihood to assert that
the manufacturing interest is destitute of protection.
It is a notorious fact that landed property rarely
produces more than three or four per cent. Would
the manufacturer be satisfied with this ?

As to the cry of " cheap bread" which is addressed
to the ears of the labouring classes, to enlist then] in
favour of this liberal crusade against the landed in-
terest, we treat it with ineffable contempt. Such lan-
guage can only be uttered by a fool or a knave, and
is calculated to deceive no one but an inmate of a
lunatic asylum. The real object in view, as we have
said before, is to prop up a tottering administration.

THE VICTORIA STEAM TUG.—In another part of our
paper we have given insertion to a letter from the
Solicitor of the Steam Tug Company, relative to a
statement which appeared in our paper of Tuesday
last. On the authority of the mate of the Lockwoodg,
unfortunately wrecked during the late gales, we cen-
svred the conduct of the Captain of the Victoria Steam
Tug, for demanding remuneration for their services in
rescuing their fellow-creatures from a watery grave.
On the inquest, the mate thought proper to deny this
statement, and accused us of giving publicity to false-
hood. The fact, however, is of a simple nature, and
will be readily understood by the following explana-
tion :—The publisher of this journal was introduced to
the mate and a gentleman passenger, who willingly
offered to furnish any particulars connected with the
wreck which it might be desirable to publish. This
information was communicated in the presence of 10
or 12 persons, who have cheerfully offered to substan-
tiate the statement as it appeared in this paper. But
the general opinion is, that it was the passenger and
not the mate who complained of the Captain and crew
of the Victoria, and this complaint has been confirmed
by the gentleman himself. However, the mate was
present, and at least virtually concurred in all that was
said by the passenger, which we hope will justify the
remarks we made. Of the Captains in charge of the
company's boats, we wish to speak in the highest
terms, and we regret that we had not time to make the
necessary enquiries, but that the late hour at which we
received the statement rendered it impossible.

THE LATE HURRICANE.—We regret that we are
under the necessity of postponing until Friday our re•
marks upon the late destructive hurricane, together
with several other original articles, which we had in-
tended for insertion in our present publication. We
refer, with pleasure, to the list of donations and sub-
scriptions which appears in our advertising columns,
in aid of the sufferers by the late awful calamity. At
the same time we are constrained to exclaim, where
is the contribution of the wealthy corporation of Li-
verpool ? Alas! that radical reform should have pre-
cluded such an influential body from subscribing to-
wards such a commendable fund.

THE LIVERPOOL HUMANE SOClETY.—Upwardsof £3.000
have been subscribed towards the objects of this society.
We trust that the subscription will be rapidly and consider-
ably augmented.
EASTMAN FEnnv.—Some evil disposed person having
given rise to a statement that one of the Eastham packets
had been lost during the late gale, and such report having
gained a wide circulation, Mr. Smith, the proprietor of the
Ferry, has issued a circular contradicting the statement, and
informs the public that not one of his packets, or any person
on board of them, received the slightest injury during the
storm.

LOSS OF AN IRON STEAM-VESSEL—The Glasgow Consti•
tutional of Wednesday notices that the iron steam-boat Tor,
bert Castle, having encountered a breeze of wind in one o
the Highland lochs, had been totally wrecked. Crew saved
—Chronicle.

"THE LAND OF MY BIRTH."--This is the title of a new
patriotic song, composed by Dr. Raffles, and set to music by
Mr. George Hargreaves, whose talents as a composer are
held in high repute. The melody is beautifully simple and
well adapted to inspire those patriotic sentiments which the
Reverend author has laboured to produce. It is a sufficient
recommendation that both the writer and the composer have
endeavoured to give to this song a truly national character.
The subject is the advantages and glory of England, and
its music richly partakes of the English School.

HONESTY BADLY REWARDED.—Thomas Upsion, a 1R- 1
bouring man, well known in the neighbourhood of Wallasey,
was the person who picked up the body of Mr. Parsons, of
Manchester, and found a gold watch on his person, and
upwards of one hundred pounds in his pocket, which he care-
fully watched till the body was claimed, when the property
was delivered likewise in the state in which Upsion found it,
for which act of honesty he was only rewarded with ten shil-
lings! It is to be hoped the friends of Mr. Parsons, or the
Liverpool Humane Society, will afford him some more satis-
factory proof of their approbation of his conduct. Inquiries
may be made at the Cheshire Cheese, Wallasey, as to the
fact, and Upsion's general good character.
THE CARGOES OF THE WRECKED VESSELS.—PeopIe have
been busy, since the subsidence of the storm, in saving goods
from the vessels stranded during the tempest. Bootle Bay
has for several days, been crowded with revenue officers, por-
ters, and carters, with their lorries, unloading the Oxford and
other vessels wrecked there. Flats and other craft have pro-
ceeded to the wrecks on the Banks, for the purpose of bring-
ing up as much of their cargoes as can he saved. The cargo
of the St: Andrew will, we believe, be landed in better con-
dition than could reasonably have been expected. The
woolen goods will Ile quite spoiled, but those of silk and
cotton, though damaged, will be in tolerable condition. As
the hull of the Pennsylvania has, from the first, been under
water at flood tide, her cargo is, of course, very seriously da-
maged, whilst no small quantity of it has been plundered by
the wreckers, who selected this ship as their especial prey.
We are assured, that the value of their cargoes on board the
St. Andrew and the Pennsylvania was not less than £400,000,
and might reach £500,000. The Crusader's cargo is valued
at from £60,000 to £70,000; and other of the stranded vessels
had valuable cargoes on board.
SHREWSBURY AND LONDON RAMWAY.—We perceive,
from a long and excellent report in the ShrewsburD News of
Saturday last, that on Thursday a meeting of the projectors
of the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway was held at the
Shire-hall, Shrewsbury, at which the Mayor, (Mr. R. ) ord)
presided; and Lord Clive, Lord Hill, Sir IL Hill, Mr. R. A.
Slaney, M.P., Sir J. Edwards, M.P., Colonel Wingfield,
and many other gentlemen were present, to provide a direct
line of communication between Loudon and Dublin. The
chairman said he had received a letter from the directors of
the London and Birmingham Railway, in which they had
expressed their determination to supporta to the best of their
ability. On the motion of Lord Clive a resolution was put
and:carried unanimously to the effect, "That PorthDynllaen,
in Carnarvonshire, is the most desirable position fur a packet-
station to Ireland, (it being also strongly recommended for a
harbour of refuge, so much required on the Welsh coast,) and
that by the formation of a line of railway from that port by
Bala and Shrewsbury, to the Grand Junction at or near
Wolverhampton, the best and most expeditious railway corn
munication from London to Dublin would be obtained. The
noble lord said, that from the terrible war of elements we
have just experienced, and the great losses which have en-
sued on the Welsh coast, and in the neighbourhood of Li-
verpool, so far as we can ascertain them, it is peculiarly in-
cumbent upon us to establish, if possible, a port of refuge on
that coast. A deputation, consisting of the Mayor, the Hon.
R. Clive, M.P., Sir J. Edwards, Mr. Ormsby -Gore, Mr. M.
Williams, and Mr. 'l'. Penson, were then appointed to at-
tend the meeting in Dublin on this subject, which is fixed
for the 19th instant, and the meeting having given three en-
thusiastic cheers fur Lord Hill, separated:

CORRESPONDENCE.

ST. ANN'S CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR,—Do you not think the better feelings of our nature
were wantonly outraged by the reckless and coarse senti-
ments expressed by a certain alderman, respecting St. Ann's
Church and the burial ground, at the late council ? if the
removal he advised was ever seriously contemplated, it was
no doubt long since abandoned. as impracticable,—many,
many cogent reasons having demonstrated that such a pro-
ceeding was far indeed from being desirable. He reminds
me of a sweeping innovator who last year proposed a similar
destruction of valuable Church of England property, for the
sake of acquiring (taking Manchester for example) a retired
and unimportant locality, to be called " St. Ann's-square."
His folly, however, met with a suitable rebuff by the answer
his precious scheme elicited in the Liverpool Courier.
But, Sir, we bold that church as private property, and
even if he could repeal our title to it by a new act of parlia-
ment, certainly we could demand both a high pecuniary
compensation and every other decent arrangement, if the
strange and Herculean plan be chosen of transferring the
numbrless interments to some other place.
In conclusion, with all due deference to Alderman —,

I will ask one question, far from entertaining any other
principle than the desire to overcome evil with good. We
will suppose some of his dearest friends entombed sin St.
Nicholas' Church-yard—his own honoured father for instance,
(a gentleman who in life was highly respected by all who
knew him,)—how would he feel if ere long some inconsiderate
member of the council should labour to recommend an act
to be expedient, from our important commercial relations,
that the Old Church and the burial-ground should immediately
be converted into a new dock `a' I can only say with Hamlet,
"Angels, and ministers of grace, defend us !"—for 'tis "most
horrible

I remain, Sir, yours respectfully,
A PART OWNER. OF ST. ANN'S CHURCH.
Liverpool, January llth, 1839.

STEAM TUG VICTORIA.

70 THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sr a.— D uring periods of great excitement, various rumours
are afloat as to the occurrences of the day ; some of which
are true, some partly so, and others totally without founda-
tion; and I am aware of the difficulty which the editor of a
newspaper, in catering for the information and gratification
of his readers, has to encounter, is discerning which are true
and which are false.

I am willing to make every allowance for such difficulty
when no circumstances or opportunities arise whereby the
truth or falsehood of such rumours may be easily ascertained;
but where the character of individuals is at stake, I hold it
to be the imperative duty of an editor of a newspaper before
publishing such a rumour to make strict enquiry as
.to its
truth or falsehood.

I ajn led to make the foregoing observations in consequence
of a paragraph which appeared in the Liverpool Standard of
Friday, the 11th instant, charging the crew of the steam-tug
Victoria, said to be on the authority of the mate of the
Lockwoods, with having shamefully abandoned that vessel
under a pretence of not having coal sufficient' to carry her
to Liverpool, and threatening to abandon the wreck unless a
sufficient remuneration was given them; and with using hard
and unfeeling language to the crew and passengers.
Now, Sir, the truth or falsehood of such statement might
have been ascertained had you made enquiry at the' Steam
Tug office; or if you had referred to the Liverpool Mail of
Thursday last, which I have no doubt was then lying upon
your desk, you would there have found the statement of the
master of the Victoria of what had really taken place, which
should, at least in my 'opinion, have raised a doubt in your
mind whether what you were then writing was the truth
or not.

The intuitive bravery, and fearless and humane conduct of
Captain Eccles, whenever thare is a chance of saving human

life, are too well known amongst the seamen of this port to
need my pen to defend them : but when such unfounded
calumnies are protnulgated to the world and read by those
who have not had the same opportunity of judging of the
conduct of the captain and crew of the Victoria, during the
continuance of the late gale on Tuesday and Wednesday
last; who, at the imminent peril of their own lives, saved
the lives of one hundred and four of their fellow creatures,
I think it my duty to disabuse the minds of those who have
been impressed with such acts of unfeeling cruelty, on the
part of the crew of the Victoria.
For such purpose then, I must here insert an extract from
the evidence of the mate of the Lockwoods, taken before the
coroner on cross-examination by me, on the inquest held over
he bodies of those that were unfortunately drowned.
"I never heard either the Captain of the Victoria, or any
'of her crew, ask any fee or reward for taking any person
'on board either whilst alongside of the wreck or at any
"other time. They treated me with great kindness. if any
'man has stated that I told him that either the master or the
`crew threatened to abandon the wreck. unless sufficient re-
' touneration was given, or that they used hard -and unfeeling
`language to the crew and passengers, it is false."
I make no apology for requesting the insertion•of thisletter
n your paper of Tuesday, believing it to
.be only an act of
ustice on your part to do so.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
PETER WRIGHT.

Liverpool, 14th January, 1839.

~a~l=bw

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST,IND.IRD.
hope the decision come to at,the meeting has ter
minated all differences, and that this noble and national un-
dertaking will be allowed to proceed to its conclusion without
further interruption. The directors have promised to exercise
the utmost economy and despatch, and I willingly believe
them. That the line will be opened fifty miles from London,
in a few months, I have no doubt, while the portion between
Bath and Bristol will be completed this year is equally cer- '
tain ; and if we may believe in the engagements of contrac-
tors and engineers the whole line, excepting the Box tunnel,
will be read}, for traffic early next year. The performances
of the engines on this line show what really can be accom-
plished, and facts, despite theories, assure us that a higher
rate of speed than is obtained on other lines can be obtained
on this at a comparatively t►ifling expenditure. The results
of the meeting must satisfy all,rational,minds that the, direc-
tors, in persevering with the wide guage, have decided pro-
perly and prudently. My own experience on this line con-
vinces me that it will far surpass every other already formed.
The excellent gradients, and the improvements adopted and
contemplated. with the capabilities of the engines, promise
the most profitable results. Should the line be much more
expensive than is calculated upon, such is (and when com-
pleted it must he materially increased) the traffic, that a tri-
fling addition to the fares (which would still be very much
inferior to the charge by coach) would afford an ample inte-
rest on the outlay. The revenue from goods alone must be
enormous. In addition to these prospects, I have the satis-
faction of knowing that in future all petty jealousies will be
laid aside, and the directors and their late opponents %ill
meet with friendly fellings, and that there is every proba-
bility that at the next election of directors a portion will be
chosen from the Lancashire proprietary, which would be but
just to them. The meeting next month will receive a report
which must prove highly encouraging and satisfactory to
every SHAREHOLDER.
January 14, 1838.

TO " A CLOSE OBSERVER OF THE TIMES."
SIR,—You commence lour letter iu this day's by
assuming that it is the increased value of lauded property
throughout the country which has enabled us to pay our
:axes and the interest of our national debt. You next assert
that it is commercial prosperity which increases the value
and the rent of land, and not the corn laws.
You illustrate their position by the striking fact, that the
value of Toxteth.park estate has increased from .£l7 per
annum to such an extent, that the late Earl of Sefton sold
a portion of it for £500,OCO; and you shrewdly conjecture
that the present Earl would not sell the remaining moiety for
the same large sum, (possibly not for double,) so greatly
enhanced is its value from the commercial prosperity of Li-
verpool. You select this illustration as being within the
scope of the observation of Liverpool people, but consider it
applicable to the whole country.
Forgetting or overlooking that you have now proved in-
contestably that the trade of the country has been and is in a
state of unexampled prosperity, (viewing it historically,)
and knowing as a close observer must do, the sudden and
gigantic growth of our cotton manufacture since the peace,
and now increasing wore rapidly than the raw article can be
produced, and making such immense fortunes to the manu-
facturers, that like the inflated Mr. Gregg, par example!
they must seek for new worlds wherein to employ their sur-
plus capital! Overlooking, I say, the wonderful commercial
prosperity which your fact proves, you suddenly wheel round,
and, mirabile dictu, hope that "neither her Majesty's Mi-
nisters, nor yet the landed interest of England, will persist
in the fatal policy which has almost ruined (teste Toxteth
Park) our country!
Railways and foreign. corn appear to have bewildered you
into this strange nun sequitur of a conclusion, to which no
other rational person can jump JIM CROW.
Jan. 14, 1839.

COPY OF CORRESPONDENCE
BETWEEN THE POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS AND THE EDITOR
OF THE "BURY POST."

Bury St. Edmunds, 6th January, 1839.
GENTLEMEN.—AS I have seen in the newspapers no een-
tradiction of the monstrous statement lately made by Mr.
Stephens. as to some work written by a poor law commis-
sioner, containing.a 'project for destroying all the children of
the poor over three in a family. I take the liberty of urging
upon you the necessity of giVing well contradiction, being
satisfied from my own observation that there is no possibility
of stating any thing, however absurd, which will not be cre-
dited by many' of the opponents of the poor laws, and the
particularity of the asset lion—that he himself had seen the
book—giving it a weight which any attempt at meeting it by
ridicule will fail to remove. As an ardent supporter of the
general principles of the new poor law, I ant anxious to be
enabled to accompany the statement by a contradietien! from .
authority in my paper, ( Bury Post,) printed liii`T4sday
uexs. I trust this will be deemed au excuse forms-intrusion.
I am, gentlemen, yours most regpettfully,' '• • ..-
(Signed) JOHNSON•GEDGE.
To the Poor Law Commissioners, &c. Ste, &c.
•
Poor Law Commission (Vice, Somerset. Howse,
7th farinary,lB39.
Stn.—The poor -law commissioners acknowledge the. re-
ceipt of your lettelr of the 6th instant, and. they -desire to
express their thanks to you for the communication. It ds
impossible for them to describe the feelings of astonishment
with which they have seen the statements made by Mr. Ste-
phens, to which you allude, as to some work, represented by
him to be written by a poor law commissioner, containing a
project for destroying all the children of the poor over three
in a family. Not only are those statements utterly abhorrent
to their feelings, and also totally at variance with any opi-
nions which they have ever held or expressed, but they are
unable even to guess what it is to which he alludes.
Of the three poor law commissioners one has never pub-
lished any work whatever, either with his name or without
it; and the only publications which have emanated from the
others appeared many years ago, long before the poor law
commission was even thought of, and contained neither a
statement nor an expression which could by any ingenuity
he tortured into a resemblance to such opinions as are put
forth by Mr. Stephens.
It cannot but be painful in the ext.retne to the commis-
sioners, that they should be called upon to disavow what they
would willingly believe no human being could impute to
them ; but if such a disavowal is necessary, they declare that
no such publication has ever emanated from them, and that
there do not exist persons on the face of the earth who more
entirely abhor the sentiments imputed to them by Mr. Ste-
phens than they do.
Signed by order of the hoard,
E. CHADWICK, Secretary.
Johnson Gedge, Esq., Editor of the?
Bury Post, Bury St. Edmunds. S

SABBATH LABOUR IN THE TOWN-HALL.

TO THE WORSHIPFUL HUGH HORNET', ESQ., .Ii✓IFOR.

Sta,--:-Some of the barbers of Liverpool having been de-
sirous of enjoying the Sabbath as a day of rest, resolved to
close their shops on Sundays; but were not willing to do so
whilst those. less scrupulous would keep open. They then
called upon the magistrates to enforce the law, so as to oblige
all in the trade to abstain from business on that day. For
my own part, though 1 revere'the Sabbath, I confess that
my conscience did not impeach me for smoothing the chins

of a few persons before church time, thereby rendering them
more comely objects for a ,house of ,worship. Compare our
crime, in so doing, with that whitti ram about to state,' and
you will be surprised that the latter had not the attention of
the magistrates long before the " barbers' shops."
Perhaps, Sir, you are not aware that the Sabbath is weekly
-desecrated within the precincts of the Tovvn-fiall;„that the
lower servants are actually engaged, on S'undays-, in clean-
ing and scouring, in such a way as you will find in no house
in Liverpool, save in that establishment. I have witnessed
these facts with my own eves, and hundieds have seen and
can prove the same. Is the cleaning of that mansion so dif-
ficult, or of such importance, that it cannot be done either
on Saturday or Monday ?—is it a case of such necessity, that
the object can only be accomplished by a violation of the
Lord's day? I myself can offer no reply except a downright.
negative one.

I am bound to conclude that you, Sir, are ignorant of such
proceedings,—proceedings which would not be tolerated in
any respectable house in Liverpool, or any part of England ;
for I am convinced that, if von were cognizant of the facts,
the practice would be instantly prOhibited. I would ask any
reasonable person, whether it is not a less crime to shave a
man on Sunday, thereby renderink his appearance more re•
spectable and more worthy of that sacred day, than to per-
form that household drudgery which ought to be done on any
other day than the Sabbath ?

I have taken the liberty of thus freely. addressing your
Worship on this not unimportant subject;- especially as
many of my,profession, who would wish to keep open on
Sundays, feel indignant that they should be made the victims
of a law which, they insist, applies not more forcibly to bar-
bers than it does to the ►ower servants in the TOwn-hall.—
I am, with great respect,
Your Worship's most obedient servant,
A BARBER AND HAIR-DRESSER.

THE WOODSIDE FERRY-BOATS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST./INDARD.

Sin,—On Wednesday last I forwarded a basket containing
a hare to a friend at Woodside, accompanied by a note. The
note was safely delivered without the hare; and on the follow-
ing morning I send another basket to the same party, which
the crew of the steamer refused to take charge -of, I suppose
in consequence of the complaints made respecting the loss of
the hare. •Now, I should like to know the use of these ferry
boats unless they can be made available for the safe trans-
misssion of parcels, &c., across.the water. Do the company
always insist upon the necessity of a messenger to accompany
each parcel sent by their boats,, to.see that it is safeh con-
veyed ?—I am, Sir, &c., . , I. J.

MEETING OF THE OPERATIVE PROTESTANT

ASSOCIATIQN.

Last evening, the monthly meeting of this association was
held in the School-room of St. Jude's Church; the Rev. H.
iu the chair. The room was densely crowded by at
least 500 operatives and their wives:
The Rev. CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings with an ap-
propriate prayer; after which be entered into a review of the
necessity which had called for, and what were the. objects of,
the society. The society had been established in 1835, and
its object was the diffusion of Protestant information amongst
the operative classes, to counteract the effects of the prevail-
ing liberalism of the day in advancing Popery and infidelity.
One of the most fashionable arguments of the liberals of the
present day, on the subject of religion, was, that all profes-
sions of religion were alike efficacious with God in saving
men from everlasting death, if they were professed and acted
upon with sincerity. This was a grand mistake. 'Sincerity
was not identical with truth : there might be sincerity in
error. What said the Holy Ghost in Proverbs? " There is
a way which seerneth right- to a man; but it leadeth unto
death." He had an uncle who had been in India, who told
him an anecdote of a Hindoo, who made a vow, that if he
was preserved from some calamity, he Would keep his hand
shut and never open it. The man was preserved and kept
his vow; and his nails grew and grew till they entered-his
flesh, and finally came out at the back of his hand. (Ex-
pressions or horror.) The man was sincere, but was he right
in so acting? "There was a way which seemed right to the
man ; but it led him to death." (flear;•hear.) The rev.
chairman then went on to detail the origin of our title
as Protestants. There had originall been a' pure church
at Rome, to which St. Paul wrote one of his epistles—
the Epistle to the Romans ; but gradually- error crept
into it, till it became as it were one mass of corruption.
(Hear.) 'their forefathers had protested against these abuses,
and established another church on the pure doctrines of the
original church, and hence were called Protesters or Pro-
testants. 'That energy with which their forefathers bad for-
merly acted in putting down these abuses in vital Christianity,
hail, by the canting liberalism of the day,tecorne undermined,
and Popery, with all its corruption, was again creeping in
amongst us. It behoved them,;therefore-, to associate together
to convince the people of this, and again to raise a'resolute
cry rif "No Popery."—{Great cheering.) He was happy to
say-that the association was in a flourishing state; it had not,
however, been so efficient as it might have been : • but that
they might not associate Without any object, and produce no
result from their labours; the-committee-had engaged•an agent,
at a salary of 00 a-year, for which-they became personally
responsible, to strenuously forward the objects of the associa-
tion, and carry but the views of the committee, in the distri-
bution of tracts, the organization of oommittees, Sm.. The
rev. gentleman thenl adverted to the advantage of public ad-
dresses; and advised those who might have to speak to re-
frain from treading on general topics, .but to stick to facts;
to avoid hard words, and have instead soft words and hard ar-
guments; that was the way to win over those who were op-
posed to them in opinion.
The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr. Watson, Mr.
Myers, and other speakers, whOproposeclresolutions forward-
ing the objects of the society. 5
We have to regret that the la'ieness of the hour, and the
new post-office regulations, byiVhich we are obliged to go
early to press, prevent us givideany more lengthened report.

THE BOLTON POLICE.—We understand that -Inspector
Simpton, of the Liverpool police force, has been appointed
to the office .of Superintendent of the Bolton police, lately
established. • •
THE LIVER THEATRE.—Airs. Waylett has been singing
and playing during the last Week at this theatre,-in most of
her stock characters, and to excellent houses. It has been
suggested; and, we believe, +willingly acceded(' to, by• Mrs.
Waylett, that an evening should be •appropriated for-•the
benefit of the sufferers from the late, hurricane, at which
Mrs. Waylett will give her valuable services. As this-may be
the means of adding a 'cOnsiderable'sum to the fund already
raised, we hope the idea mayle Carried out. We doubt not,
also, that if the lessee of the Theatre Royal vrere,applied to,
that for one night, for such an object, he would 'grantthe
use of his theatre. There could be no doubt Of tne'object
being successful in drawing a,very crowded
bre
Da. THOIIBURN'S. LECTURES ON 1-?IIYSIOLUGYu t;ip THE
LAWS 'OF HEALTH.—Dr. Thortnirn:.cppeloe,dis„h•igl:ily in-
teresting and instructive course of leAuf#s,, 9pi .-S;Fiday,dast,
and again addressed a large audience.; ..NYR that no
course of lectures, delivered at the Institute, as; more
generally .attractive and instroctive..; "klink;h*.s,been abun-
.dantiv proved by the very crowded audiences that have at-
tended. it. From this ." touch" we. have had of .11r. Thor-
burn's :" duality," and the abundant proof of.his.capabijity
and fitness to dress knowledge and extensive infoimatiou in
the garb of beauty, and win admirers from the listleSs throng,
we venture to hope that he will not act like a jilting fair;and
• leave.us thus in regret; but trust that he.willaolluw out this
sphere of usefulness which be
.has opened.. hope soon
again to be one of his admiring, auditory. • ,

QUEEN'S THEATnii.—Mr. Parish, the manager of this
theatre, has liberally offered to the Committee of the Hurri-
cane ociety to appropriate a night for the benefit of. the
distressed suffeters by the late hurricane. The offer has been
accepted by the committee, and the nightof Friday next has
been fixed upon for the performance. It•is utterly unneces-
sary we feel assured, to call•urion- our townsmen to seize the
opportunity of contributing, by their attendance, to the fund
which is raising for so praiseworthy and charitable a purpose,
or to request that they will bear, in ,mind the generosity of
Mr. Parish. p ttstift .

CONVEYANCE HOME OF 'Sijit'Enati. 'Flt 'old Tilt 'LATE
STORM.—The City of thiblin 'Steam Packet 'Company, and'
the St. George Steam Packet Company; have very liberally
agreed to convey free, by their boats, such persons as are left'
to a state-of destitution by the gales, and who wish to return
home, en a certificate being granted• by the- chdirin'aii or
secretary of the Humane Society. Such persons will 'have-
an opportunity of returning to the following places:i-To
Portrush, by the,Coleraine; Cork. by'the Margaret ,•' Lon-
donderry, by the Robert Napier;' GlasgoW, by the ikelmon,
Unicorn, Commodore, and City of Glasgow; helfast, by the
Reindeer and Falcon.
VISIT TO .rriaf SCENES or THE WIIECES.—Ever since the'
fatal morning of Monday last, the.NortlShore,,strtived as it
is with wrecked vessels, has been the scene ofgreat'attrac-
tion. On Sunday, however, the ivhule shore, from the Cla-
rence Dock to Crosby Point, literally swarmed WithAisitors.
Thousands upon thousands, on foot, on horseback,,an gigs
and coaches, visited it,
,and the beach presented a. must ani-
mated appearance. The business of discharging the stranded
vessels was carried on,, paricularly at low water, when the,
tide left them dry, with great activity, and the, spectators
around them, especially around the Oxford, were as thick-as
flies lump of sugar. The weather was rather tempe:•tu-
ous, and, about four o'clock, a heavy fall of rain came
which drenched and dispersed the multitude. The sands were
cleared by the operation of the rain in..an iucredihly short
space of time... 'Ore visitors to. the Cheshire shore, %,vue nu-
merous, but few compared with the nuMber, that visited the
Lancashire sands. "
ANOTHER INSTANCE, OF THE PRACTICAL „LIBERALITY Ok
LORD FRANCIS •EGERTON.—We understand that, the sub-
scription for the relief of 11w sufferers _by the late dreadful
storm at sea amounted, yesterday afternoon, to upwards of
.1:3000. On reference to another culumnrit will be seen that
Lord Francis Lgerion has forwarded. to the Mayor the noble
contribution of £ioo, to be added to the fund., A suggestion
has been made to us, which we think worthy of. ate deepest
attention from the committee,—namely, that any surplus,
atter the sufferers have been relieved, and the brave iellows,
who risked their lives for the rescue of the shipwreCked par-
ties, have been properly rewarded, shouldbe appropriated as
the commencement of a permaneutfund, ty meet future cases
bf,a similar:description.;. and' that, in aid of such fund, ship-
OWneri should agree to pay, when clearing acthiCustom-,
house where some officer.might tie appointed as receiver and
t reastirlithe t.elloiving sums respectively for their vessels,—
iii,eibiultigs per ship, three shillings perbrig, •and one shil-
ling, „lc', tot coasters, The charge proposed.wosild be an
ielliific4o4ritle compared with the satisfactionAlich all
~7,l4sekitthirving a fund in readiness to.ineets-vacrsencies
07,:jikciunfortunate character. We are 5ure15,4114 Lord
FrarreircEstettou would greatly rejoice were such an event
to:bellie consequence of this instance of his splendid lihera-
lity..--,Mod of Saturday,--.-The subscriptions to.this praise-
worthy fund amounted yesterday, as will be seen in another
part of our paperuto nearly £4OOO. . , •
•
Charles Kean has been 'engaged by \Vallack, the lessee of
the National Theatre in Nw York,.to act 50 nights, fur
which he is to receive at) fur each night's performance.

. _
The Commander-in-Chief in India has been pleased to
appoint Colonel J. ThackeVell,. of the 3d Light Pta-
goons, to take rank as-Major General, by brevet,An:the East
Indies only.• Commission to be-dated on the 10th-of Janu,
arv, 1837. -

Orders have been given for the sail-Makers in ifire several
dockyards to be employed by task and job froth :life Ist of
January to the 31st of March next, and to be paid unlimited
earnings.
We understand that Mr. Dunn, the Irish bargister," who
was committed fur want df sureties to keep khe.peace towards
Miss Burdett, has been liberated from pr►son, on..application
made to Lord Denman, grounded on an infuren'ality in the
commitment.—/Iforniog Chronicle.

LORD MULGRAVE'S morpt,conspicuous per-
sons at the levee yeSierthayovere, DatlielQ'o-ntiell.. Morgan
O'Counell, Robert N.,,V.y..qu, .ot; Galway', -theigi*.ed bar-
rister, Peter Purcell, ang., ex-Sheriff Veevero.,,,oWe are
obliged to postpone a uubliffiitinf the list,,lbutfit..,oall not
be lost to our readers.
Sir John Awdry, it is said; isto succeed Sir Herhett Comp-
ton as Chief Justice of Belisha3i,luctri Air. Henry' Ropet is
appointed to succeed Sir lit?aid.

ADMIRABLE RettuNE.—Lest I should forget to mention
it, I put down here a rebuke, -Which, later in- his" life, Sir
Walter once gave, in my heariWg,sto liia'daughter Anne.
She happened to say of ~,ietbing,'lTufget What, that she
could not abide it—ii wits t,i4,lar::•4ltcs4*ii7ei,".said her fa-
ther, tl speak -like 'a very voting 'ktiovr, after
all, tht, Meaning of this word 'yoty-iti,l*-7-Tis:ftiotn.l.dVecsoenti.ve to
mon.
Nothing that is common, except Wii-kedftWO,t
be spoken of in a tone of ecinterhO 'anti.. When -,Ou have
lived to my years, you will be'disposed to azree Ni,ith me in
thanking God that nothing really worth havinglir caring
about in this world is uncrmlizon.tockhart's Life of Scott.

130 et rp.

CHRISTMAS.

BY ROBIRT ROSE, THE BARD OF COLOUR.

Come, let us merry Christmas hail, with laugh and dance
and song,
And let the notes of Joy be heard resounding loud and long;
As round the blazing fire we sit, and quaff the flowing bowl,
Let Pleasure rule the festive hall, and thrill the raptur'd
soul.

See ! Youth and Age, in social glee, give pinions to the

hour,
And they are met to bask awhile in fairy Fancy's dower;
Friends whom we may not often join now glad our weary

way,—
Long years perchance may part them yet, but here they
meet to-day.
And Beauty too is gleaming here, like seraph from above,
That walks in light and loveliness to tune all hearts to love;
Fresh lustre lending to the lamps, like gilding refined gold,
While all things round a lustre take from her diviner mould.
Oh ! 'tie refreshing to the sight, to view each happy face
Now lighted up with mei riment in beaming beauteous grace :
As glance meets glance, voice echoes voice, the hours that
swiftly fly
Seem gifted with the golden hues that deck th' autumnal sky.
But where are they, our boyish friends, who in life's opening

morn
Erst started with us in its race, who did our path adorn ?
The breeze that with their tresses fair was erewhile wont to
play,
May sadly echo to our hearts the answer, " Where are they ?"
The fields may breathe their freshness round, but it is not
for them,
Whom each fair flower no more may charm, though " nature's
bonny gem;"
The sun pursues his daily course, but ne'er will shine again
On those on whom path ever closed this wide world's toil
and pain.

And therefore must we pause to weep, e'en mid Joy's rain-
bow glare,
Where whiloin will unnoticed steal the footprints of dim

care ;
We start to think of vanish'd friends, and bitter tears are shed
For the long-lost—now number'd—alas! mouldering cold
and dead.
Hush! hush the tones of revelry, and let us muse awhile
Oa what must harrow up the soul, and banish Pleasure's
smile;
Ok! shadows haunt the tender soul—bruised, weary, wrung,
and riven,
That longs to leave earth far behind, and plume its wings for
heaven.