The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-05-24 00:00:00

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

We understand that the following petition to the House of
Commons, on the subject of National Education, has been
adopted, and is in course of signature, by the congregation
of St. Jude's Church :

Humbly sheweth, —That your petitioners feel conscien-
tiously compelled to protest against a scheme for the education
of the people, which has been recently laid before parliament
as approved by a committee of the Privy Council, and for the
furtherance of which notice has been given that a grant of
money will be proposed on the 31st May. •
Your petitioners have been, by painful experience, driven
to the conviction, that it is utterly impossible to devise any
system of education in which all parties in this country can
agree. It is obviously and happily hopeless, as well as
wicked, to propose any measure which shall not embrace, in
some way, the use of the Holy Scriptures ; and it will bq, as
it has been, found equally hopeless to suggest any mode of
using the Scriptures which can be generally acceptable.
Without the unrestricted use of the whole Bible, neither
churchmen nor true christians of any name, can consent
to the system. With the unrestricted use of the whole
Bible, neither Romish dissenters, nor infidels of any name,
can consent to the system.
A similar observation will apply to the subject of mas-
ters and mistresses. Without control over the prepara-
tion and appointment of teachers to their own schools, the
clergy of the National Church cannot (and ought not to be
invited to) consent to any system : while a system conceding
such control to the national clergy, cannot be expected to
prove acceptable to those, whose real ulterior object is the
destruction of the National Church.

Your petitioners believe, that the parties who are now
clamouring for a comprehensive scheme, themselves know it
to be impracticable in any fairness. But that seeing the su-
perior energy and power, and liberality and success of the
Established Church, under any arrangement of commonly fair
competition : they are now, under the pretext of a scheme
which shall embrace all parties, really desiring a scheme
which shall restrain, by operating so as to exclude, the
Church. By this artifice they plausibly raise the captivating,
cry of equality of privilege: while their real design is secta-
rian triumph.

Your petitioners implore your honourable House to disap-
point all such insidious designs, and to carry out the educa-
tion of the country under the superintendence of the national
clergy, promptly and vigorously, with supreme regard to the
truth and will of Almighty God as revealed in the holy scrip-
tures ; by which the prosperity and peace, as well of nations
as of individuals, must always be best secured.
And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.—We have perused with great
pleasure an admirable letter by the Rev. B. H. Kennedy,
Head Master of the Shrewsbury Grammar School, on the
subject of a petition against the proposed grant for the Na-
tional Education scheme. This address is extremely season-
able, and we exceedingly regret our inability to transfer so
valuable a production into our present publication. We shall,
however, make room in our next.

The Rev. Hugh M'Neile's late sermon at Peter's Church,
Dublin, for the relief of distressed Protestants, produced
£2BB.

THE QUEEN'S BIRTH-DAY.—Yesterday, being the day
appointed for the celebration of the birth of her most gra-
cious Majesty; the occasion was marked in this town by the
usual tokens of loyalty and affection. The royal standard
floated over the Town-hall; British flags were hoisted on
the steeples of the several churches, and flags, banners, and
streams were exhibited at various other public buildings and
and private houses. The bells rang occasional joyful peals ;
a holiday was observed at the Custom-house ; and convivial
meetings were held in several parts of the town.
BITE FROM A DOG.—A son of Mr. S. Huffam, of Harper
Cottage, Low Hill, while passing along St. Jude's Terrace,
on Monday evening last, was bitten by a black dog, sup-
posed to be in a rabid state. The dog was pursued by a
person in a black velvet shooting-jacket, and, killed. The
father naturally
_wishes to find out the party who shot the
dog, in order to ascertain what became of it, for the purpose
of having the animal examined, to see if it was actually in a
rabid state.—Courier.

The 10th Regiment of Foot, now quartered in this town,
are, we understand, under orders to proceed to Manchester
this morning by the railway, to form a further addition to
the military force now concentrate in and near that town, for
the purpose of suppressing the anticipated riot amongst the
chartists at their meeting on Kelsall Moor on Saturday next,
or any other disturbance created at any time by these mis-
guided men.

DISTRICT PROVIDENT SOCIETY.—We beg to refer the at-
tention of our readers to the report of the meeting of the
District Provident Society, which appears in another column.
None of our local institutions are more deserving of the sup-
port of the benevolent than this admirable society.
A Norwegian has eloped with a large sum of money, the
property of Mrs.. Towers, proprietor of the Angel Inn, Li-
verpool. The police conceive he is in the south of Ireland.

PAINTINGS BY MR. KNOX.—We refer our readers to an
advertisement, in another column, announcing an exhibition
of paintings by Mr. Knox, at the rooms in Postoffice-place.
These pictures chiefly consist of representations of Scottish
scenery, copied from nature, by Mr. Knox. They include
several exquisite specimens, indicating great proficiency in
the art. No charge is made for admission.
SINGULAR AND OMINOUS COINCIDENCE.—Yesterday was
appointed to he kept as the anniversary of the Queen's birth-
day, and yesterday also was the anniversary of the Irish re-
bellion in 1798. Why the 23d should have been preferred to
the 24th, (the day on which the Queen was born,) it is diffi-
cult to comprehend, unless it has been done out of com-
plaisance to O'Connell and his Popish myrmidons. We
learn from the Dublin Evening Mail that two terrific demon-
strations were to take place yesterday in Dublin and through-
out Ireland—the one in commemoration of the rebellion, and
the other in celebration of her Majesty's natal day. The
coincidence is remarkably significant. The epoch of a traitor-
ous, but unsuccessful, effort to shake off the dominion of the
British crown, has been chosen for a mock display of loyal
enthusiasm ! A greater insult could not be offered to the
loyal protestant inhabitants of Ireland. We have no doubt
that it was premeditately designed to be an insult to their
feelings.

LAUNCH.—On Tuesday last a beautiful barque, named the
Maid, was launched from the building yard of Messrs. Steel
and Son. She is the joint property of J. Mondel, Esq., and
Captain B. Sproule.
Our readers will perceive in our advertising columns the
announcement of a meeting to be held in the Music-hall,
Bold-street, on Monday evening next, in aid of the Sunday
School Society for Ireland. Independently of the attraction
which the Rev. Dr. Cook's advocacy of scriptural education
must afford, we would give the following gratifying state-
ment furnished by the report of the number of schools con-
nected with the Society, in the year after its establishment,
and for several subsequent periods, 'and showing its progres-
sive increase :

1810—November 2 schools and 87 scholars.
1817—April.... 418 „ 49981 „
1824—March .. 1640 „ 157184 „
1831—January.. 2581 „ 202332 „
1838—January.. 2075 „ 214164 „
1839—January.. 3006 „ 226650 „
We sincerely hope that the friends of the bible and scrip-
tural education in Liverpool, will not fail to respond cordially
and liberally to the appeals about to be made in behalf of
this excellent institution.

The Royal Sovereign, iron steamer, left Liverpool on Mon-
day evening last, at half-past four o'clock for Glasgow, and
arrived here yesterday afternoon at four o'clock, thus per-
forming the voyage from Liverpool to Glasgow and back in
the short space of 47i hours, eight hours of which must be
allowed for discharging and loading at Glasgow and Greenock.
The passage from Greenock to Liverpool was made in 17
hours 15 minutes.

EVERTON AND KIRKDALE FLORAL AND HORTICULTU-
RAL SOCIETY.—This society will hold its first exhibition for
the present year on Thursday next, at Mr. New's hotel, Kirk-
dale. Notwithstanding the hitherto uugenial season, a very
fine show of tulips and other early specimens is confidently
expected. A spacious marquee will be fitted up on the
pleasant grounds behind Mr. New's house ; and should the
weather prove propitious, the fair ones of our town and its
vicinity will, doubtless, assemble in as great numbers as
heretofore.

THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL.—One of the most interesting
objects with which a stranger visiting Liverpool can be grati-
fied is the Blue Coat School. A considerable number of our
townsmen, educated at this institution, have become re-
spectable and worthy tradesmen, and there are now upwards
of 200 children under its care, who will, it is to be hoped,
bless their benefactors for the advantages conferred. In ad-
dition to the instruction and comfort afforded, the boys are
taught to perform military evolutions with a full band of
nearly thirty juveniles, under the direction of Mr. Peter
Stubbs. The institution, in the latter respect, is unquestion-
ably equal to the Duke of York's, in the metropolis.
SUDDEN DEATH.— A child, named Williams, six years
old, in its passage, with several other persons, from Aberav-
ron, in Wales, expired suddenly on Thursday morning week.
There had been no previous illness, excepting the sea sick-
ness, with which the child, as well as the other passengers,
had been greatly troubled. An inquest was held at the
house of Mr. Lewis, in Ormond-street, on Monday last,
when Mr. W. Andrew, member of the Royal College of
Surgeons, examined the body of the deceased, and found on
the left side firm and considerable adhesions of the two
membranes lining the chest and lungs, and from the disease
apparent there, together with the exhaustion produced from
sea sickness, in the close, confined state of the cabin of the
vessel, he was of opinion that the child had died from natural
causes. The jury returned a verdict of " Died by the
visitation of God."

LIVERPOOL FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY.—On Tuesday
evening last the Liverpool Festival Choral Society, under the
patronage of the Festival Committee, held their second pub-
lic performance for the present season, at the Music Hall,
Bold-street. The room was crowded with a highly respect-
able audience. We are glad to perceive that this excellent
society is becoming more and more popular at each succeed-
ing meeting. The increased appreciation of the rxertion of
its members affords a pleasing proof of the growing taste for
music among our townsmen. It is to be hoped that the
Liverpool public will soon " take the shine" out of their
Manchester neighbours, by their liberal encouragement of
native musical talent. The arrangements on Tuesday even-
ing were exceedingly judicious. The removal of the orchestra
from the gallery to the opposite end of the room is a decided
improvement. The music consisted of Haydn's Second Ser-
vice, and a selection from Handel's Oratorio, Joshua, &c.
The orchestra was well filled, Mr. Elliott being the leader,
and Mr. George Holden the conductor. The chief vocalists
were Miss Leach, Miss Stott, Mr. Lunt, Mr. Stott, Mr.
Davies, and Mr. G. Lunt. The performanc's went off ex-
tremely well on the whole, and this meeting may safely be
pronounced the best that the society has had for some time.

MEETING OF THE DISTRICT PROVIDENT
SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the friends and supporters of the
above named admirable Charity was held at the Savings
Bank on Tuesday, at one o'clock.
The Reverends the Rectors Brooks and Campbell, with
several of the clergy and gentry of the town and numerous
ladies were present. The Worshipful the Mayor occupied
the chair.
The MAYOR, in opening the proceedings of the meeting,
said he had attended to the invitation that had been sent to
him to preside over the meeting of the District Provident
Society, with extreme pleasure. He would not at the outset
of the proceedings detain them by any lengthened remarks,
as there were many gentlemen to address them, whom they
would hear with great satisfaction. He would first call upon
the secretary to read the report.
Mr. CARR, the Secretary of the Society, read the report,
to the following effect. The committee expressed their dis-
approbation that the appeals which had from time to time
been made had not been answered in a manner correspondent
with their wishes, either by an addition being made to the
amount of the annual subscriptions, or by an increase in the
number of visiters.
The subscriptions for the present year are £lO5O, last year
they were £1069, and in the year 1834, they amounted to
£1069, from which period they have been gradually declining.
In the visiting department, also, there has been a most
lamentable diminution. At the last meeting the number of
visiters on the society's books was 340, on the present occa-
sion only 299, showing a reduction of 57. In 1833 there
were 462, and at the commencement of the society's opera-
tions, nine years ago, more than double that number was
deemed to be barely sufficient for the performance of its
duties. When the great increase that has taken place amongst
the poor is considered, how much greater must be the num-
ber required ! It is in vain to look forward to the full effi-
ciency of the society, unless strenuous exertions are made to
obtain both these objects. The principal deficiency of
visiters is in the populous districts of St. Nicholas, St.
Matthew, St. Paul, and St. Nicholas Second. In the first-
named district there were only five, and in each of the
others only three visiters. In each of these districts froth
twelve to fifteen visiters would find ample occupation. The
committee have done all in their power to inculcate the ab-
solute necessity of strengthening this branch of the society.
The report expressed a hope, on the part of the committee,
that, though their expectations had not hitherto been re-
alised, benevolent individuals would be found, through the
efforts of those who take an interest in the society, to supply
this defect in the working of the establishment.
It was considered consolatory that, notwithstanding the
diminution in the number of visiters, there had not been any
corresponding decrease either in the amount of the sums
deposited, or in the number of the depositors. In the year
1837-38, the sum deposited was £14,570, and the greatest
number of depositors in any one month was 7,052. During
the past year the deposits were £14,605, and the greatest
number of depositors in any month 7,257. It might be said,
that, from the peculiar character of the year referred to, no
just criterion could be formed of the existing disposition to
make deposits with the society. Upon comparing the past
year with the 'year 1836-7, which had no peculiarity attached
to it, although the deposits were £594 less thari they were in
that year, the number of depositors is greater by 149, clearly
showing that there is no abatement in the inclination of the
poor to commit their trifling savings to the society's keeping.
The number of cases relieved in the past year was 4,045,
a larger number than could have been expected. This had
been caused, doubtless, by the high price of provisions, and
it was reasonable to suppose that the distress which was pro-
duced by the severity of the winter in the preceding year,
had not altogether subsided. Though the poor, the time of
the last meeting, were generally in full employment, their
rents were still in arrear, and a considerable portion of their
property had not been redeemed from pledge. Those calls
upon their wages kept them in a state of want, and obliged
them occasionally to apply to the society for that relief which
had previously been afforded to them. The costs in provi-
sions had been £6Ol 15s. 2d. In the year endinc, May 1838,
the number of cases relieved was 9902, and the cost £956
4s. 9d. In the previous year the number was 2658, and the
cost £529 13s. 11d.

In the last annual report mention was made of deficiencies
having been discovered in some of the visiters' accounts. It
was stated that a sub-committee had been appointed to exa-
mine the returns of the district secretaries. That sub-com-
mittee had continued its labours, and the committee regret-
ted to state that, upon the further investigation, the defaults
were to a much greater extent than they contemplated at the
time the subject was first brought forward. Independently
of the regulations which had recently been adopted, and
which were introduced into the report of last year, a further
check was thought necessary to prevent the possibility of
future errors, and since October the visiters books had
undergone a monthly examination at the office, for the pur-
pose of ascertaining whether the sums paid to the district
secretaries corresponded with the amounts entered in the
visiters' books as received from the depositors. The com-
mittee had been informed that this rule had been conceived
by some of the visiters to be of too inquisitorial a nature,
betraying a want of confidence. To this feeling might, in
some measure, be attributed the falling off already noticed
in the number of visiters. The committee exceedingly re-
gretted this impression. They were satisfied that to those
visiters who were guided by honesty of purpose, the altera-
tion which had been effected ought to have been a source of
comfort instead of a ground of offence, for, after the exami-
nation of the books and the correction of any errors which
might inadvertently have occurred, they became free from
all responsibility, and their minds consequently were relieved
from any doubt which might exist as to the accuracy of their
accounts. That such errors had occurred was evinced by
the result of the investigation. No fewer than 171 books
had been found imperfect during the six examinations which
had taken place. In 61 instances the visiters had overpaid
the secretary, and in 110 the secretary was underpaid. The
committee, therefore, trusted that, after the explanation
given, this regulation might not in future be represented as
a motive for a visiter receding from the society, or as an ob-
jection to any person joining it in that capacity.
The committee announced the retirement of Mr. Irving
from the office of treasurer in September last, and recom-
mended as his successor Mr. Vincent Ashfield King,
Mr. MUNCASTER proposed the first resolution, which, with
the other resolutions, will be found in our advertising
columns.

The Rev. Rector BROOKS proposed the third resolution;
in doing which he expressed his great gratification at halo'
the medium of conveying to the visiters the thanks of the
committee and the meeting. He regretted extremely that the
number of visiters had so much diminished, and he regretted
also the cause of that diminution, which was suggested in the
report. First, it was probable that some of the visiters, feel-
ing that certain of the measures seemed too inquisitorial, and
under these feelings, without reflecting, perhaps, on the ne-
cessity which called for it, might in some, nut, he hoped, very
few, instances, have withdrawn themselves from the society.
No one could more regret this than himself. But as he VMS
the Chairman of the Sub-committee that had come to the
conclusion of instituting those regulations, he had no hesita-
tion in saying, that they were absolutely necessary. If they
had not been instituted the society must have soon become
bankrupt. They had already heard from the report that the
deficiencies were found to be much larger than could have
been expected. When they found men of commerce shrink-
ing from the monthly examinations, as if it were impossible
that mistakes could be made, they were astonished. This
and several other circumstances operated in their minds at
first against making the attempt, and it was not until they
saw the absolute necessity of it, that they had courage to do
it. They were astonished, he• repeated, when they found
commercial men shrinking back from the examination. They
could easily understand how persons not accustomed to ac-
counts might be startled by such examinations, but that com-
mercial men, who were conversant With book-keeping, who
knew the value of correctness, and who, in their own opera-
tions, were aware how success entirely depended upon the
correctness of their books, should take notice of such a re-
gulation, seemed exceedingly surprising. If they had not
adopted those measures when they did, the society would
have broken to pieces and been given up. They had found
the difficulty much greater than they expected, though it was
usual to find the difficulties less when they came to grapple
with them. They had at length put the society on that stable
footing which it ought to he upon, and in which he believed
it would not be possible for anything of the sort named to
affect it. They had heard from the report that there were
still slight discrepancies in the accounts, and that some had
a little over, while others paid a little under. It must now,
he thought, be a great satisfaction to the visiters themselves
to know, that the making of these examinations prevented
the occurrence of anything that could be considered materi-
ally discrepant. He had thought it right to say this, in order
that if any little feeling remained that the examinations were
too inquisitorial, they might know that it was absolutely ne-
cessary for the well-being of the society that they should be
made. He was sure that those who were kind enough to de-
vote their talents and exertions to this society would be the
first to regret any material injury that might be inflicted:upon
it. In regard to the zealous exertions of the visiters in dis-
charge of their duty, no person wh Acver had a greater sense
of their value than he (the rev, rector). (Cheers.)
Mr. H. RIPLEY seconded the resolution, and expressed
his concurrence in every word which had fallen from the
Rector. _

The MAYOR trusted that, after the very able and clear ex-
planation of the rev. rector, if any one had felt any wrong
impression as to the subject alluded to, or had felt aggrieved
at the new regulations, they would now see, the great neces-
sity which existed for those regulations and acquiesce in that
necessity. The resolution was put and carried.
The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL proposed the next resolution,
which, he said, he had great pleasure in moving, from his
conviction of the very great value and utility of the ladies'
society. The rev: rector made some allusions to a benevo-
lent female friend of his, who had been a great patroness of
the society, and who had informed him of the extreme bene-
fit conferred by the assistance, which, in some districts they
obtained, from the tradespeople. He (the rev. rector) be-
lieved, that small as the number of visiters was, it would be
smaller, if it were not for that society. He understood from
the report that the number of visiters ought to be at least
1000, if it were intended effectually to carry out the principles
of the society. He believed the number was only 290. The
rate he understood should be about 25 families to each visiter.
The deficiency appeared to be most painful in St. Paul's, St.
Matthew's, St. Nicholas', and St. Nicholas' Second. In St.
Nicholas' there were only five, and in the others three. From
the distress in each of these districts, thirty or forty visiters,
he thought, would find ample occupation. At the same time
it was impossible to expect that the ladies could do the work
of districts like these, though they could use their influence
amongst the tradespeople as before suggested. Therefore it
was desirable that the ladies society should be continued.
With respect to what had fallen from the Rev. Mr. Brooks,
the lady to whom he had before alluded, bore out fully the
whole of the remarks offered. The rev. rector (Campbell)
proceeded to state, that the lady in question was somewhat
surprised to find, that after delivering in her book, she was
called to account for an error, and though she had at first
felt considerable prejudice against the system, she was now
strongly impressed in its favour. The rev. rector concluded
by proposing the acknowledgements of the meeting to the
ladies committee.

Mr. MuLLENEUX seconded the resolution with great plea-
sure. He thought the warmest thanks were due to the
visiters, but particularly the ladies. He had always thought
that if the full objects of the society could be carried out, it
was one of the best charities in existence.

The Rev. Mi. MONK proposed the next resolution. He
presumed that the prespnce of the Mayor was a guarantee
that he would accept the office proposed. He wished to
make a remark on a subject that had been suggested by the
treasurer's accounts. There seemed to be a great difference
in the amount of premiums given by visiters in the different
districts. Some had kept them down as much as possible ;
others had kept them far too high. He (the reverend gen-
tleman) thought it proper to keep them as low as possible.
This would be found the true way to encourage economy.
They were rather to encourage the poor to hoard their money,
than to merely deposit money with the society and draw it
out again, because they would get a profit on it. He thought
the premium should never exceed the per tentage given at
the Savings' Bank. It was desirable to have the premiums
all alike, for it would be found that there was a great diffe-
rence.

Mrs. LANGTON thought, from experience and observation,
that it would be exceedingly desirable to do away with the
deposits altogether. She thought it might be done at once
without the slightest injury to the society, and with the high-
est advantage to the poor.
The Rev. Mr. MONK said, in such case, the society would
be greatly relieved, and he felt convinced, the objects of its
benevolent exertions would not feel much difference.
Mrs. LANGTO:4 thought there would be a difficulty in any
single visiter doing it on own individual responsibility, as
others would at the same time continue it.

The TREASURER thought it was desirable that the poor,
and particularly those who had been addicted to improvident

habits, should be taught the value of money, and instructed
in the great
_principle, that money begets money.
Another LADY opposed Mrs. Langton's views, and the
latter replied with much ability and cogent reasoning.
The MAYOR put the resolution, and signified that he felt
great pleasure in accepting fhe office. This society, of all
others with which he had ever been acquainted, he looked
upon as founded upon the soundest principles. He thought
it was best adapted for doing away with the poverty, destitu-
tion and vices which too frequently beset the labouring
classes.

The Rev. Rector CAMPBELL moved the general committee,
and concluded by returning the thanks of the meeting to the
Mayor for Lis attendance, and for having kindly consented
to take the chair.

CORRESPONDENCE.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Sin,—l beg to direct the attention of your readers to the
subject of national education, which is to be brought before
parliament on the last day of this month, and I believe that
if ever there was a time in the history of this country when
it was necessary for the friends of Protestantism to put forth
all their energies, it is the present time. An attempt is now
being made by, her Majesty's worthless ministry, at the com-
mand, and under the direction of that Jesuitical influence,
which, by reason of the unaccountable apathy of Protestants,
is now steadily undermining our most valuable institutions—
to inoculate the country with the virus of Popery, under the
assumed mask of liberalism; and to make the funds of the
country the means of spreading the evil. No subject, of all
those which at present engage the attention of the nation, is
at all comparable with this, for danger to the true interests
of the land : and as petitions are now prepared to represent
the opinions of the inhabitants of Liverpool on this vital
question, I trust that no man, rich or poor, will lose a mo-
ment in affixing his signature to it, and declare his dissent
from the revolting doctrine, that it is right for England to
abandon truth—scriptural truth—and endow, and conse-
quently spread, those pernicious errors which have in every
land been the forerunners of national discord and decay. As
the ministry, under the dictation of their wily taskmasters,
make the measure a mere money grant, the House of Lords
have nothing whatever to do with it, and unless the voice of
the nation be promptly and indignantly raised against the
grant, it will pass the Commons as a money vote, and the
mischief will be irreparable. I trust that every clergyman
will deem it his duty to call the attention of his flock on Sun-
day next to this subject, and that the petition will receive the
names of every man who deems the Protestant religion and
the best interests of the country worth preserving.
I am, yours, &c.
A PROTESTANT.

THE TEE-TOTALLERS AND THE CHARTIST

MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,-Perceiving by the public newspapers that the chartist
meeting held in Queen's-square, on last Monday evening,
was interrupted by a person named McEnteer, a tee-totaller,
who made himself ridiculously conspicuous by moving an
amendment to one of the resolutions, I take leave to address

you briefly on the subject. I think, sir, that all total-
abstainers—particularly those who take a prominent part in
advocating the cause of temperance and order—should care-
fully avoid creating or exciting disorder or confusion on all
public occasions, as nothing can tend more to weaken a good
and righteous cause than such conduct. An impression has,
I understand, gone abroad, that it was the teetotallers of
Liverpool who disturbed the chartist meeting, and thus en-
dangered the public peace • but, wishing at once to disabuse
the public mind from such an impression, I beg to assure
my townsmen that Mr. McEnteer's conduct was neither
warranted nor authorised by any temperance society in
Liverpool.
Trusting, sir, that you will oblige a few friends of temper-
ance by inserting this brief communication in your useful.
journal, I have the honour to be, &c.
A TOTAL ABSTAINER.

THE ALBION AND THE CLERICAL LIBRARY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sin,—ln last Monday's Albion (the editor of which paper,
by the way, never neglects the opportunity of having a hit
at our venerable church establishment) a wiseacre, who dubs
himself A Thinker, writes a carping and malignant letter
against the exertions of the Liverpool clergy to raise funds
for the establishment of a suitable library and newsroom ;
and asks, with seeming indignation, how the clergy, so richly
endowed as a body, can have the assurance to make an ap-
peal to the public for assistance, and whether the members
of the medical and legal professions had the assurance to
come before the public with such a claim, responding him-
self to this last question with an air of triumph, that they
never did so—they appealed to their own body, and their own
body nobly responded to the call.
It is very possible that the members of the legal profession
did raise amongst themselves the funds necessary for the
support of their institution ; as a body they could well afford
to do so ; but as regards the medical profession, if this
" Thinker" (who really seems to be no thinker at all) had
exercised his thoughts a little more, he would have recollected
that the public were appealed to, and the appeal was liberally
answered ; for, last year, by means of a bazaar and collec-
tions, upwards of £lOOO was raised, and made available in
the liquidation of the debt with which the Medical Institute
was burthened.

This Thinker appears to be one of the many malignant and
spiteful enemies of the church, who neglect no opportunity
of assailing her, either by the propagation of falsehood or
otherwise, and who view with enmity and vexation any mea-
sures that her members may think fit to take either for
strengthening her foundations or spreading the blessings of
Christian instruction among the people. It is evident enough
that he is no member of the establishment, and therefore no
fear of his being called upon to contribute. Let him mind
his own business, and allow churchmen to subscribe to the
undertaking as they may think fit, for from no others is as-
sistance asked or expected, although the benefits resulting
from the proposed institution will eventually be participated
in by the public at large.
As far as Liverpool is concerned, the clergy as a body are
far from being richly endowed, and have already more claims
upon their purses than they can well meet, and they contri-
bute largely towards the support of schools for Christian
education, and other charitable objects. I trust that the
public will not be influenced by the statements of such arch
correspondents as those who figure in the Albion, but will
cheerfully support the clergy in carrying out their present
object. Let them, as the members of the medical profession
did, appeal to the public by means of a bazaar, and I will
answer for it that the " call will be nobly responded to."
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
MASTER JOHN.
Liverpool, 22d May, 1839.