The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-12-31 00:00:00

:13ottrp.

PSALM 137.

(From the Church Magazine.)
When, as we wept by proud Euphrates' stream,--,-
Thy wrongs,. lov'dlem, still our mournful theme,—
We hung our harps upon the willows nigh,
There only, ?',.respond the captive's sigh ;_
Ev:n then with scornful jest. the tyrant foe
Requir'd a song in rooekinn• of our v.•oe.
" Give us a 8011" of Sion niither bring
The. slumbering harp! 'awake its cheerful string!
When rose the exile 'I mirth, when ever broke
The strains of joy. beneath th' Oppressor's yoke?
- If ow amidst heathen babbhers shall We raise
The hymn symphonious of Jehovah's praise. ?
How, sacred Sakni, give to revelry.
Our harps, once consecrate Heav'n and Thee?
If I forget thee, let my recreant hand . _ ,
No more to mirth her tunefiil poiv'rs command ;
My tongue, PO more with skill expressive blest,
In mute obli.,ious sitenne'ever rest ! ' •
Yea, if. my so-4, inconstantin her love,
Prefer not Thee, all alien joys above !
Remember, Lord, how Edorn's vengeful cry
Exulting pierced the portals of the sky •
Thy holy Temple trembling to the sound—
" Down with it, down with it, even to the ground !"
Daughter of Babylon ! foiedoom'd to know
The just requital 'of inflicted woe, -
• Blest shall he be to whom the task is given
To deal the righteous recompense of Heaven;
And, deaf as thou to deep maternal groans
Tear from the breast thy babes, and dash them on the stones.
R... 13. ETON.

ANOTHER YEAR.-BY ROBERT STORY.

(Frmn the Preston Pilot.)
Anothie-year, another year,
0! who shall see another year ?
Shalt thou, old man, a hoary bead,
Of eye-sight dim and feeble tread ? -
Expert it not. Time, pain, and grief
Have made thee like an autumn leaf,
Ready, by blast or self-decay,
From its slight hold to drop away ;
And some sad morn may gild thy bier,
Long, long before another yea;

Another year, another year,
0 ! who shall see another year ?
Shall you, ytk young ? or you, ye fair ?.
Ah ! the presumptuous thought forbear !
Within this Chureh-yard's peaCeful bounds—
come, pause and ponder_ o'er the mounds!
Here Beauty sleeps; that verdant length.
Of grave contains was once was Strength ;
Vie child, the boy, the man, are here:
Ye may not•see another year!

Another year, another year,
0 ! who shall see another year?
Shall 1? whose burning thirst of fame
-No earthly pow& can quench or tame ?
th Alas ! at burning thirst may soon
Be o'er, and all beneath the moon—
All my tine feelings, fancy-wrought,
And all the vortex-whirl of thought,
For ever cease, and disappear,
Ere dawns on earth another rear !

LITERARY NOTICES.

The Poetical Works of the Rev. Robert Montgomery, Vol. 5,
Orford. Glasgow : John Symington and Co. IMO.

This volume is one of the most interesting in this series,
though we do not consider it' as equal to the other poetical
productions of the talented author. The subject scarcely
admitted of as wide a scope for the exercise of the imagina-
tion as the other topics upon which this sacred minstrel has
so sweetly dwelt ! but there is a dignity of thought, and a
chasteness and elegance of expression in " Oxford," which
entitle it to rank among the best silecimens of descriptive
and didactic poetryin the English language. But the great-
est charm about this volume, our opinion, is the large
.mass of interesting inforMation which it embodies respecting
the worthies who have been educated at that distinguished
seat of learning. The reminiscences which it furnishes us of
the most distinguished of ,l/liza Mater's far-famed sons,
must prove a rich treat to every Oxonian in particular, and
to every lover of literature in general.

The -Church Magazine. Dec. 1839. London : • Wertheim.•
We received this number at a very late period in the month,
or we should have bestowed upon it au earlier notice. It
contains a beautifully executed portrait of the Rev. John
Robinson, rector of Clifton, Westmoreland, which is accom-
panied by a well written and interesting. memoir. We have
been much pleased with the " Sketch of the .Present State
of the Romish Sect, and its Jesuits, in England." This ar-
ticle ought to be perused by every Protestant in the land.
The paper on " The Centenary of Methodism. in England"
is a cynical production, abounding in mis-statements, and
eminently calculated, from the virulent and persecuting spirit
which it manifests, to tefeat its own object. There is much
that is good in the ".Village Conversations ;" but it is ming-
led with mach that is superstitious and irrelevant to the sub-
ject. " The Chartist Riots ; and the Church the Saviour of
the Nation," is a well written article, and calculated to do
much good. On the whole, this nUmber is rather better
than the former numbers of the Churchman._

Christian Literature.—Leslie's Short and Easy Method with
the Deists.—Jeremy Taylor's Rule and „Exercises of Holy
Dying.—Chandlees Plain Reasons for being a Christian_-'-_.
Bishop Watson's Apologies for Christianity and theilible.,
Edinburgh Adam and,Charles Black ; London: Wash
bourne; Dublin: Curry.
- . .
The works which we have thus classed together form. part
of a series of .i4ublicationa of, the principal productions of
our greatest and roost eminent divines. The series 'em-
braces works in the evidences, the doctrines, and the prac-
tice of Christianity,. together with exigetical divinity, or ex-
positions of Scripture. Each publication is complete in it-
self, embracing an entire and separate work. The price, of
course, varies with the quantity dr matter in each publica-
tion ; but in every instance' it is extremely; moderate. The
series is admirably got up, as far as beauty of typography is
concerned ; but 'the chief attraction of the works before us
is their intrinsic merits. Leslie's Short Method wpth the
Deists is a masterly production. It was well remarked by
Dr. Johnson that " Leslie is a reasoner, and a reasoner who
is not to be reasoned against." The perusal of this work
has been eminently usefil to many who have wavered in their
belief in Christianity. It forms an excellent antidote to the
poison of Socialism. Jeremy Taylor's Rule and Exercises
of Holy Dying,. like all the productions of this truly elegant
divine, is characterised, by great energy of style and gor-
geousness of intagination.• Few writers have ever equalled
Jeremy Taylor in the beauty of his language, and by none
has he ever been excelled. 'The Merits of the work under no-
tice are too generally known to need our encomiums. Chand-
ler's Plain Reasons for being a Christian are characterised
by great candour /Intl ability. We cordially recommend the
perusal of this work to all who may be found " halting be-
tween two opinions." It is calculated to produce the most
beneficial consequences. Watson's Apologies have been al-
ways considered the most complete refutations of Gibbon
and Tom Paine ever published. The reasoning is cogent
and conclusive, and the style is nervous and eloquent, fre-
quently rising to sublimity; Therepublication of such works
as those which we have been noticing is very seasonable at
the present day, when so many are found departing from
" the faith once delivered to the saints," and when the insi-
dious and siitil,alestroyiug doctrines of Owenism are spread-',
ing so widely in ever}"direction.

Consideratiod4 on the increase and Progress of Crime.
By William Stamford Phillips, Cent.—Liverpool:
Marples arid Co. 1839.

This pamphlet contains a variety of documentary evidence
as to the propriety and necessity of a revision and amend—
ment of the existing penal statutes, with a view to the abo-
lition of corporeal punishment, and more particularly of tl4
penalty of death. It is scarce necessary for us to state, that
we dissent froM the conclusions to which the writer has ar-•
rived. We consider the abolition of corporeal punishment'
as one of those visionary and utopian experiments which
would, result in the frightful increase of crime. If Mr.
Philips wishes to diminish crime let hini direct all his ener-
gies to the promotion of a sound religious education. The
universal prevalence of such a system would affect ten times
more than all the prison discipline in the world. •

CONTE.MPOIIARY PRESS.

coMmEitcE.

(From Me Commercial Gazette.}
The commercial and mans interests of this
kingdom are,.•at the present moment, in a inost de-
pressed and ruinous condition, and demand riot only
the immediate attention of her Majesty's government,
but call also for the, most serious and instant interfe-
rence on the part of the leading merchants, shipown-
ers, and manufacturers in everx part of the kingdom.
The government are deeply interested in the reve-
nue, and so are the fundholderS.

At this moment we are in a state of war with China;
and the loss to the British exchequer in 1841, conse-
quent upon4his.state of things, .will not be less than
four millions sterling !
There can be no doubt but that government have ta-
ken some measures to restore. the trade with China.
What those measures are we do not, of course, pre-
tend to be-acquainted with, and must patiently abide
the time when her Majesty's ministers may deem it
proper to communicate the facts to the British public.
Lancashire, Yorkshire, Devonshire, and SCotland
have severally lost a good and profitable customer in
China ; and this loss, so long as the intercourse is sus-
pended, will continue to be felt with increasing 'Seve-
rity daily. Birmingham, too, will necessarily suffer
greatly by this event.
With such an appalling picture before us, we feel it
our duty to press upon the attention of the influential
merchants in the above districts, the necessity of con-
veriing public meetings, with a view to the adoption of
the strongest possible resolutions for the consideration
of Parliament the.moment it meets..

With reference to the loss of our trading intercourse
with China, it may be remarked, that when the manu-
facturers are shut out of, one foreign market, the usual
practice is, immediately to seek a new one.
Now, in the reign of. GeOrge the Second, several
voyages of diieovery were-undertaken by order of his
Majesty; and in the reign of his successor, George the
Third, James Cook, the celebrated navigator, (who-in-
habited the very house which the writer lives in;
and who commenced his career as a salloxAoy), left

_ .
England in- the good ship" Endeavour, in the year 1/68,
on a voyage of discovery, at the inistanca of the TNoyal,
Society, taking out with him several astronomers, to the
Pacific Ocean, for the purpose of noting the traUSit 'Of
Venus over the sun's disk ; which phenomenon, it was
calculated, would take place in 1769.
. We have said that the voyage was undertaken at the
instance of the Royal Society. The fact is, a Memorial,
rev-testing his Majesty's sanction to the expedition, was
presented to George 111. (the grtlndfather of our young
Queen), and immediately complied with.
Otaheitewas fixed upon as the place of astronomical
observation. .

Now, we have alluded to-the foregoing facts as pre-
cedents-to be imitated,. in a commercial pointoU-view,
at the present moment.
We take reaye, lien; to suggest to those 'who are
now shut out..af the. China market, to tietni_out a
freighted with such manufactures as arc suitable to the:
inhabitants of China, Tartarv,-and other nations in-the
eastern and western hemispheres.
An expedition of this kind may turn out as profitable
to the manufacturers of England, and a vast deal more
beneficial to the weavers of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and
Scotland, as Captain. Cook's voyage of discovery, with
his cargo of astronomers. to note the transit of Venus!
The. writer of this article is perfectly serious in sub-
itting the foregoing suggestions to the enterprising
merchants and manufacturers of Manchester and other
great productive districts; and he is ready to follot it
up with . his most zealous co-operation, and to take
any part in the advancement of a proposition 'which he
conscientiously belieVes would lead to incalculable ad-
vantages, both to the merchant, the manufacturer, and
the artisan.

The Queen of ..England, we have no doubt, would
be most happy to patronise en. undertaking promising
gueri timely relief to her necessitous subjects.
If, therefor.), the hjuts now thrown grit b•. acted
uPon,by auy 14 the,apaes winch, we lime addipsed
.otirsolves, the, thing may bescommeneed,at
-The mantrfiletAtre§ -,of this country ought to be in-
trqcluced into 'every 'quarter of the globe where the
is hoisted, and that flag should wave all
ova. the World.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE Prey POSTAGE,
, ON THE Men JAN res
COPY OF A TftgASITILY
.• . • ;. Dettiq Dec. 26,_ 1839; . •
lords -readthe Minute-of- theeastssf. Auguste proposing
to receive communications from the putilhe with refersasee to
' the letter,Stamps named in the act!`2, and 3 Victoria,' ay. 52,
and offering certain rewards for the same. • ,
_ The communications (more than '2,600 in smasher) re-
ceived'-in consequence of thisaniussfe, have, for a long tin-se,
oilcepicil the attention -of their lordships. Many. otethein
display much ingenuity. They are highly satisfactory, as
evincing the interest. taken by men of.scienee, and by the
public in general, in the measure now in progress for the re-
duction of postage, and they have afforded much maul infor-
mation. with reference to thealetails of the new arrangements;
upon full deliberetion-, however, their lordships do not think
it will be advisable to adopt any one of the specific plans pro-
. posed, without modification and. combination with other ar-
rangements. • , .
After the best consideration nay lords can give the subject,
and with the view of awarding most fairly- bet Ween the par-
ties, my lords have 'decided writ to give the specific sure men-
tioned-in their: minute 0f.23d-August, but have selected four
cornmunicatioes which arc the most distinguished either for
originality or fur completeness, and from which my lords
have derived the greatest,serviee, and decided to award the
'sums of XlOO for each. .The autherrs of these four communi-
cations are as follows, the names being arranged alphabeti-
tally, viz. s-s-Messrseßogeirdus and Coffin, (who hhve acted
together;) Mr.allenjffnaise,Chiverton, Mr. Henry Cole, and
Mr. Charles Whiting.
My lords next proceeded to take into consideration the.
several points enumerated in the minute of the 23(1 of Aughst, -
and the suggestions connected therewith which occur in the
cornmemications-already.referred to.
Their lordships, upon full consideration, have decided to'
requite that, as far-as practicable, the postage of letters shall
be pre-paid, and toeetfeet..such pre-payment by -.means of
stamps. Theirdordships are-uf opinion that the convenience
of the public will be consulted,• more especially at first, by
issuing•stamps of various kinds, in order that every one may
select that descriptionaal stamp .whichis most suitable to his
own peculiar circumstances a and. With a view of affording ass
ample choice,. their lordships are
.pleased to direct that the.
following stamps be prepared?--. . • , : •
First, stamped covers.—The stamp being struck on pieces
of paper of the size of halfea sheet of 4to.letter paper. - •
Second, stamped envelopes.—The stamp being .struck on
pieces of paper of the lozenge form, of. which the stationers
and others may manufacture envelopes. •
• Third.—Adhesive stamps, or stamps on small pieces of
paper with a glutinous wash at the back, which may be at-
Lulled to letters either before or after they are written. And
Fourth.—Stamps to be struck on paper of any description,.
- which the public may send -to the stamp-office, for that pur-
pose.
The paper for.the first, second, and third kinds of stamps
to be peculiar in its watermark, or some other feature, but
to be srapplied to government by competition. •
My Ibrds direct that the commissioners of stamps anti.
taxes, and the commissioners of excise, should receive oftiee
cial directions to take the necessary steps, in conjunction -
with this board, and with the Postmaster-General, for the
preparation of the stamps herein enumerated..
• Although the necessary experiments and. investigetiOns
which have been conducted under the direction of the board
are already far advanced, my lords fear that a considerable .
time trill be required for the -preparation of the dies, plates,
and machinery (much of which is unavoidably of a 'mid
construction) necessary for the maimfacture ef stamps ; and
being desirouS of affording to the public, with the least -pos-
sible delay, the full adeantage of the intended reduction in
postage, their lordships pi:Opose at once to effect such reduc-
tiene - -
On the use of stamilselioWever, rey lords hate fall- acciacill -
They Will be- prepared with the least possible delay,.aed,
when ready, due notice will be given of -the introduction.
taerefore' comninnicated With- the- authorities of
Ptist-otfice,'.ray lords are plea:seal. to .direct that on the
TOth'el January next, the following arrangements shall conic
into Operation • • •
The' seele of weight already established for general post
lett-Crate be extended to the London district and other local
post letters.
The charges on all letters between one part_ of the United
'Kingdom and another, whether by the general. post or the.
.LondOedistriet, or other local post, to be, one penny per
single rate.
Sikh postage to be pre-paid--if not pre-paid, to be charged '
double on delivery.
Letters between the United Kingdom and the colonies'to
be charged, if conveyed by packet, and not passing through
France, at the rate of one. shilling per single rate ; and if .
-conveyed by private ship, at the rate of eightpence per single
rate, in whatever part of the.,United Kingdom they may be
posted or delivered.
Letters between the United Kingdom, and foreign coun-
tries (those passing to, or from, or throegh France excepted)
to be charged as follows :
If conveyed by packet, and posted at the port of departure,
or delivered at the port of arrival within the United King-
dom, the present packet rates. If posted inedelivered in any
other part of the United Kingdom, 2d. per single rate, in ad-
dition to the present packetrates, unless where a lower charge
shall now exist, in which case such lower charge to continue.
If conveyed by private ship, Bd. per single rate in- what-
ever part of the United Kingdom they may be posted or de-
livered.
With regard toforeign letters to and from France, or pass-
ing through France, my lords consider 'that pending such
modifications as may be introduced into the treaty with that
country, the maximum of the charge for packet and inland
poStage should not exceed that rate which is now chargeable•
on a letter to and from London, no alteration being made in
cases where the charge under the present treaty shall be less
than such before-mentioned rate.
The preceding reductions do not apply to letters passing
via France, between the United Kingdom and the Mediter-
ranean, Egypt, and the East Indies, which will continue to
be charged as at present.
Letters between the United Kingdom and foreign countries
will-continue to be subject to the same regulations with re-
, gard to pre-payment as at present.
Lord Melbourne states to the boaid her Majesty's desire
that.§uch measures may be taken with reference to her Ma-
jesty's privilege of franking as my lords may consider ad-
visable for the. public service, and in conformity with the
other...regulations which they may lay down with regard to
franks... •
My totals are pleased to direct that from and after the 10th
..Tanuary next, the privilege of franking, both parliamentary
and offiCial, shall cease.
Theeprintect votes and proceedings of the imperial parlia-
went, or of the colonial legislatures of either of her Majesty's
colonies, if sent in the manner now required- by law, to be
charged as follows, whether passing from one part 'of the
United Kingdom to another, or between the United King-
dom and the colonies, provided they 'do not pass . through
France, or to the EasClndiee via Falmouth :
Not exceeding 2.0 z. in weights-Id.
Exceeding 2.0 z. and not exceeding 4 07-2 d.
And so on, an, additional penny for every additional two
ounces• without limitation as to weight, such charge to be
the same whether pre-paid or not.
Their lordships, however, consider it will be. proper-that
the Postmaster-General- should be authorised, in cases where
it may appear necessary so to act, to postpone the despatch
of parliamentary proceedings for twenty-four hours, their
lordships being- aWarce-that the greatest inconvenience fre-
quently has arisen from the very large influx of heavy par-
liamentary papers. And their lordships therefore are pleased
to call the Postmaster-General's atteetion- to this point, with
a view of his making such regulations as maybe required.
The privileges now attached to-addresses to her Majesty,
to patliamentary petitions, to siewspapera; and to the letters-
'of soldiers and sailors engaged iti•seteivet abroad, tooe-main -
unaltered, except that a soldier's oreSailot's single letter will
be interpreted to mezin.a. letter not • exceeding half an ounce
in 'weight. .
If ant- priVileged letter or other article become liable to the
full letter rates of postage, such rates to be charged according
to the scale of rates herein established for letters. The tre-
ble duty to which newspapers in certain cases-became liable -
to be calculated according to the same scale.
All privileges, except those already enumerated, to cease.
The following are exceptions to the reguiftion which re-
stricts the amount of weight to 16 oz
1. Parliamentary proceedings, as already named.
- 2. Addresses to her Majesty, and parliamentary petitions.
3. Letters and packets received from or addressed to places
beyond the limits of the United Kingdom.
4. Letters and packets addressed to, or despatched lay the
government departments, or such officer as may now have
the privilege of franking by virtue of his office ;—and
5.• Deeds, if transmitted under such regulations as the
Postmaster-General may consider necessary to preveat abuse
of the privilege.
In consideration of the reduction now made in the posts
age of ship-letters, and the probable increase of such letters,_
the master's gratuities will be reduced to 2s. 6d. per 100 for
all letters, newspapers, and other packets conveyed between
one part of the United Kingdom and another. At the same
time, gratuities of one penny per letter or packet, and one
halfpenny per newspaper, will be given to the roasters of
ships trading to the East 'lndies, on the same conditions as
those now applying. to. other ship-letters and papers.
With reference to the arrangements herein made, the
Channel islands and the Isle of Man are to be considered as
parts of the United Kingdom, and the lonian Isles and Hon-
duras as British colonies. •
My lords are of opinion that the whole of these arrange-
ments should apply to all letters and packets posted within
the United Kingdom, or (if brought from abroad), first deli-
vered up to any post-office within the United Kingdom, on
or after the 10th of January next.
My lords will communicate with the public departments
with regard to the mode of charging the letters of such de-
partments. •
Transmit a copy of this minute officially to the Postmaster,-
~
General, and destre his lorlship will give the necessary in-
struetions to his•officers to carry the directions of my lords
into effect., •
Desire alsothat he willfdirect the solicitor of the post.,ciffiee
to prepare a draft of a warrant in conformity -with the