The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-06-28 00:00:00

THE BATHS

Immediately below the hotel, and at the termination of a
noble esplanade running to the south, are the baths, recently
built by a spirited body of proprietors, as an adjunct to the
hotel. This building is in a neat style of Grecian architec-
ture. It is of one story with a centre piece, having a pedi-
mental top, on each side of which is a handsome indented
colonnade of flute doric columns, terminating in wings with
elevated blocking. The interior is fitted up in a costly and
appropriate manner. There are hot, cold, and shower baths,
all constructed of fine veined marble, and each with a dressing-
room adjoining. There are also retiring rooms neatly fut-
nished, and looking upon the river. The back is tastefully
enclosed and decorated with shrubs and flowers.

THE VILLAGE,
For so we must term the congregation of villas at the Rock,
is already of considerable magnitude, and the groulids avail-
able for_ its enlargement are at once extensive and interesting.
Mr. Barton, of Mancheater, (before alluded to) is the prin-
ciple proprietor of the land, which extends from the shore,
where it is about half a mile in length to nearly a mile in the
interior, where it is bounded by a wood, on the west side
of the new road to Chester. The whole (within as it were a
ring fence) forms a gentle slope towards the river, with how-
ever

" - that variety from heaven
Of pleasure situate in hill and dale."
It comprises about one hundred and seventy acres, exclusive
of a very important central and enclosed piece of land, called
the " Rock Park." The village not only extends along the
esplanade, in villas fronting the river, but occupies each side
of the road leading from the ferry to the Chester road in a
south-west direction, where are erected a continuous range of
beautiful detached houses. The prevailing style, commenced
by Mr. Barton, is what may be termed the florid Elizabethan,
with figured overhanging roofs and pendant ornaments, ex-
hibiting that variety of taste and finish of which this species
of architecture is susceptible. Passing the south-east front
of the hotel, the visitor finds himself in this delightful lane,
with splendid houses, gardens, and pleasure grounds on each
side. Just above is the mansion of Mr. Needham, and next
to it that of Mr. Ackers, both rivalling each other in elegance
of design and finish. Close by is a detached villa in the
Grecian, and another in the Elizabethan style opposite, built
by Mr. Burland. Higher up, and more distant from the
road, is the fine stone mansion, in the Grecian style, belong-
ing to Mr. Thomas Morecroft, and surrounded by lawns and
extensive pleasure grounds. Further on is a range of cottage
houses, formerly inhabited by the boatmen of the ferry, and
which, together with the hotel and a. farm house a little to the
north, were, a few years ago, the only habitations in this part
of the Cheshire shore. These cottages are now beautified,
and converted into genteel residences. Beyond these, and
also facing the south, is a range of three handsome houses,
in the Elzabethan style, with parterres in front, built by Mr.
Weston, the spirited and intelligent manager of the ferry.
Facing the termination of the lane, at its junction with the
Chester road, stands Derby House, the property of the pa-
tron of the Rock, Mr. Barton. It was anciently a farm house
belonging to the Derby family, but has been remodelled and
enlarged in the florid Elizabethan style so as to form a spa-
cious and elegant mansion. The land in front forms an
extensive ornamental park, rising gradually to the westward,
where it is boimded by a belt of forest trees. The whole of
this land is available for building, and from the upper part
of it, under the wood, is obtained a most extensive and
splendid view of Liverpool, the river, and the shores of Lan-
cashire and Cheshire. Derby House is at present inhabited
by Mr. Jonathan -Higginson, of the firm of Barton, Irlam,
and Higginson. The gardens and pleasure-grounds are
beautiful. On the opposite side of the Chester-road a short
distance to the north, is a fine pavilion-roofed cottage, occu-
pied by Mr. Anthony Nichol, fronted by a beautiful lawn
and garden. Besides these there are several detached villas,
between this point and the ferry-house. Another road leads
from the north end of the hotel to the Cheshire-road ; and
here, a- short distance from the pier, are four fine houses, in

two detached ranges, n a state of forwardness for occupa-
tion, the property of Mr. Henry Cram. These are of excel-
lent brickwork, with the windows, cornices, &c. of stone.
They form, apparently, only two uniform mansions of great
size, in the old English style, with piqued wings, and each
having fourteen large windows in front. They are fenced
from the road by a fine stone wall, and between are gardens,
tastefully laid out in a hollow, where once ran the cart road
leading to the ferry. The chimneys of these; as well as of
all the other houses, are rendered as far decorative as the
style will admit. Resides these houses, Mr. Carter, who
has already built five houses near the Chester-road, is now
building six others of an equally handsome description.
THE CHURCH.
Immediately opposite to Derby House, on the Chester
road, is the Church, formed with much taste, and no little
expense, out of the barn formerly belonging to the farm,
and kindly given by Mr. Barton, for that purpose, until a
larger place of worship is built. It occupies the upper part
of the building only, and is very neatly fitted up, the pews
being linedthroughoutwith green baize, and the desks grained
in oak. There is a small gallery for the choir, with an organ.
The pulpit is hung with crimson, and the whole, lighted by
four large windows on the west, and by roof-lights on the
east, has an exceedingly neat, and cheerful appearance. , The
officiating clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Redhead, is a young
gentleman whose talents as a preacher, and character as
a man have rendered him " beloved by all the country
round." This little temple is, however, by no means ade-
quate to the spiritual wants of the growing and highly respect-
able population ; and it is highly gratifying to find that the
building of a handsome large church is in contemplation.
The ground has already been given by Mr. Barton, on a
most eligible site; and the munificent doner has backed the
gift by a present of £5OO to begin with. Subscriptions have
also flowed in from other, quarters, which, with the aid of
-the government church fund, will enable the projectors, to
erect, ere long, a handsome, and appropriate edifice.
-THE PARK.

We have yet to notice the " Rock Park," the " Nursery,
and Conservatory, the Marine Villas along the shore, and
the splendid Esplanade ;" but the length to which our sketch
has already entended, induces us to defer our further notice
until our next publication.

MIS-STATEMENTS OF THE VOLUNTARY
AGITATORS DETECTED.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Siit,—Should you deem the following observations suited
to your respectable paper, please to give them insertion.
Having read. Dr. Wardlaw's lecture delivered here, on
'what is called the voluntary system, and some of those de-
livered byl him on the same subject in London, and also Mr.
King's lecture delivered here, with other lectures and speeches
on the suhject, I cannot help feeling much surprise and re-
gret that inch men should so grossly mis-state the principle of
their opponents, (which not one of them hold) and those are
religions establishments : for the fact is evident throughout all
their lectures, that they set up imaginary principles as held by
their opponents (which not one of them hold) and those are
the principles which they combat ; this I purpose to show
clearly. when I come to observe on the reasoning in the lec-
ture. Here I shall state the principles which those who ad-
vocate church establishments do hold, they hold to be cor-
rect, what our government has done respecting the present
established churches in these kingdoms. Government find
churches teaching and observing the gospel and its ordinances,
and these doctrines and ordinances they have perfectly de-
fined and published, government say to such, educate men
capable of teaching these doctrines and observing these or-
dinances, and a provision for their support shall be allotted
to such in every district of the empire—they also hold that
government is bound to enforce from all its subjects, a tax
for the support of the gospel, solely in a political point of
view, on this principle, that all are greatly benefitted by it,
for every Christian at last must allow, that a knowledge of
the gospel makes men better subjects, better citizens, and
better neighbours. As to tithes, one would think it almost
impossible that any rational man could ever imagine they
were a grievance or burden, when the fact is so plain, that
the landholder got his ground subject to tithes, that the
tenant pays the tithe as a part of his rent, and in his bargain
with his landlord it was clearly understood so. But let it be
ever kept in mind, that those who advocate government esta-
blishments, advocate only the establishment of those churches
whose doctrines are evangelical and scriptural ; the establish-
ment and support of any other, by government, is most er-
roneous and improper. But the whole subject in dispute
between' voluntaries and their opponents may be reduced to a
single point, and it is this—whether unbelievers are or are
not under the obligation of obeying all christian duties. This
applies only to such as have had an opportunity of hearing
the gospel, or of reading or hearing the word of God. I think
no voluntary will say that unbelievers are not under such ob-
ligation, otherwise they would exonerate them from the guilt
of disobeying God's commandments, and might here notice
a part of scripture bearing on this point, in Mat. xxv. 41.,
and following verses, where the reason of the condemnation
of unbelievers is stated to be, their non-performance of moral
and christian duties, but if on the other hand unbelievers are
under the obligation of obeying all moral and gospel precepts,
surely this puts an end to further reasoning on the subject,
for if it be the duty of all to support the gospel, can it be
wrong in government to enforce that duty ? And this view is
irrespective of the duty which devolves on the government
itself, to protect and support the gospel. The case might
very well rest here until voluntaries give an answer (to con-
sist with their own principles) to the question, only that I
wish to shew how far prejudice can blind the minds of simple
men, who, to establish their own pre-conceived views, will
wrest the scriptures from their most evident meaning. I
would just say to voluntaries, why do you not act on your
own principles and plans? Why do you not build houses
and preach in them, telling the public that they are all wel-
come to come and share, and that they may just give what they
please. Can you point to one congregation, or rather pastor,
who does so ? No. All are bound by the very strongest ties,
to pay—they must either pay seat rent or not hear the gos-
pel. As Mr. King's lecture lies before me, I shall make a
few observations on it, and purpose in another letter to make
some observations on the Rev. J. Kelly's published sermon,
and on some of Dr. Wardlaw's lectures. Mr. King proposes
to prove in his lecture the five following propositions :-Ist,
that a voluntary maintenance of the church is alone scrip-
tural; 2d, that the dictates of scripture agree in this as in
every case with the principles of justice ; 3d, that the gospel
is quite adequate of itself to secure such willing maintenance ;
4th, that equal benefits result from fulfilling this divine ap-
pointment; sth, that much injury must invariably accrue
from displacing it by another system, compulsory in its cha-
racter: I shall pass over all those harsh terms he uses, of
distraining, imprisoning, writs of rebellion, point of the
sword, coercion, &c. with only this observation, that if the
impost be a legal one, the whole odium of these terms falls
on the head of those who refuse to pay it. Mr. King asserts
that magistrates were then types of Christ. This is surely a
most gratuitous assertion, and calculated only to mystify the
subject. Again, he says, " still the proof is wanting that they
were authorised to exact tithes by force," if he had happened
to look to Neh. xiii. 10, 11., he would have seen his error,
for if it had not been the duty of the rulers to cause tithes to
be paid, could Nehemiah have laid the blame of non-payment
on them ? The fact is, the law respecting the support of the
gospel was given to the rulers, who of course were bound to
see it enforced ; but he says again,—" up to the new testa-
ment era, tithe payments seem to have been voluntary," al-
though in another place, he says,—" tithes were an ordinance
of God, and in some cases most culpably withheld." Surely
this is a strange kind of voluntaryism. But he seems to lay
great stress on the circumstance that no instance is recorded
in scripture of any coercive means having been used to enforce
payment, this circumstance cannot prove that none were
ever used, but it would rather prove, that the Jews did not
resist the law of the state, and the ordinances of God, as our
modern enlightened radicals do. But his quotation from
Hebrews respecting the doing away of the Jewish dispensa-
tion, is most erroneously applied, the moral precepts of the
law given to the Jews were not abrogated, this is clearly
proved, as relates to the question of support to members of
the gospel, by Paul. in 1 Cor. ix., where he proves his right
to support, by a quotation from the law given to the Jews,
surely Paul would not quote from' an abrogated law. But
again, he most erroneously applies the following quotation—
" the weapons of our warfare are not carnal," surely any
person of common understanding, on reading the passage this
quotation is taken from, must see most clearly that it relates
only and solely to the christian warfare with the powers of
darkness, and that it has not the most remote reference to
provision for the ministry. Will voluntaries never be taught
to distinguish between the gospel itself, and the support of
the gospel; but Mr. King and all the voluntaries in their
lectures, insist at great length on the duty of voluntary con-
tributions for the support of the gospel, surely they cannot
think that this in any way supports their principles, nor can
it answer any other end than endeavouring to cast an odium
on their opponents, by strong insinuations that their op-
ponents did not believe the truths they state, and yet volun-
taries cannot be ignorant that their opponents do believe,
yes, and do act as liberally on the principle as they themselves
do. Almost the whole of his second proposition, or I should
rather say the proof of it falls to the ground, if, as I said be-
fore, the impost be a legal, and would here add a just one.
But in the last paragraph, he says, " a creed is elevated irre-
spective of truth." Now I would just ask, does he not per-
fectly know that his opponents advocate the establishment
and support of the gospel or true religion only? Can he say
as much for voluntaries, who are using every exertion to put
all religion on an equal footing, by not only.giving equal sup-
port to all, but that the grossest, errors should, equally with
the truth, be taught in all public schools. His third propo-
sition is erroneous in itself, and of course all his reasoning on
it, here again he confounds the gospel with the support of its
teachers. The gospel will no doubt accomplish the purpose
for which it is sent, but the means for support of its teachers
have been also appointed by. God, and if the means God ap-
pointed be rejected, we have no reason to expect miracles
will be wrought for their support. It were easy to point out
many such errors and mis-statements in this lecture, in fact,
there is not in the whole lecture one argument which contro-
verts, or in any way opposes, the principles of his opponents;
but more of his arguments need, not be noticed, and there-
fore conclude by earnestly requektiUg an answer to the simple
question proposed, and need not inform you that as the fore-
going remarks were set down just as they occurred to my
mind, of course are without any regular order.
ALEXANDER Al' ORRERY.