The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-06-26 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-SATuRDAy.

The Speaker took the chair to-day at twelve o'clock.
A number of petitions in favour and against any additiona
grant to the Church of Scotland were presented.
Dr. NICHOLL postponed the further consideration of the re-
port on the Vestries in Churches Bill until Saturday next, on
the understanding that the bill on that day was to take prece-
dence of the other orders.

In answer to a question from Sir G. SINCLAIR.
Lord J. RUSSELL said, on Monday next he should move the
third reading of the Municipal Corporation (Ireland) Bill. And
as he understood the sense of the house was to be taken against
the bill on the third reading—
Sir G. SINCLAIR.—Does the noble lord know that? (Hear.)
Lord J. RussELL.—l have heard so. ( Laughter.) And,
therefore, I shall move the third reading before any other order
of the day on Monday. The noble lord then moved that the
house go into committee on the Prisons' Bill. _

ColOilei DAVIES, agrleable to notice, called the attention of
the house to the expediency of extending the system of separate
confinement of prisoners both before and after trial. The hon.
and gallant member at considerable length read extracts, and
commented upon the report of the commissioners of prisons,
but in so low a tone of voice that not a sentence could be heard
in the gallery.
Li•rd J. RUSSELL said, he thought if the house agreed to the
bill in its present shape, it would afford him an opportunity of
making much better regulations in prisons. It was difficult,
however, to make any positive arcangements as to separate con-
finement; at the same time he begged to assure the hon. and
gallant member that his suggestions should have the best atten-
tio❑ and consideration of the government.
Mr, G►esoN expressed himself decidedly in favour of sepa-
rate confinement. -

Mr. Bs►scoE was of opinion that if the government would
order a prison to be erected near London for the adoption of
the separate system, that it would he attended with great bene-
fits to the metropolis and the country at large.
Mr. FIUME said, if men were not honestly disposed the_sil,e,,nj
system would do no good.
,•Eyery third person tArino-n'ths pre-
'be.en imprisoned for an offence, he
could not afterwards obtain work, and therefore he resorted to
his old practices. The only way to prevent the individual re-
turning to crime was transportation. It ►would he no use build-
ing a ❑ew prison, at great expense, to try the silent and sepa-
rate system ; for, as soon as the parties were released, they
would again take to their old habits.
Lord J. RUSSELL said, this bill did not refer to the subject of
transportation. Its sole object was to improve the regulations
of confinement in prisons.
Colonel RUSHBROOKE said, he could bear witness to the effi-
ciency of the silent system, from many cases which had come
under his own experience as a magistrate.
The house then went into committee.
Clauses 1,2, 3,4, and 5, after a desultory conversation, were
agreed to. _ _

On clause 6, authorising the government to issue Exchequer
bills for the purpose of building and enlarging prisons being
read, . _

Mr. HOME objected to the clause. He was confident that
raising money for a such purpose on Exchequer hills was the
most extravagant mode. Any sum of money might be borrowed
on the security of the county rate, at a much less interest than
whet must he paid on Exchequer bills. The hon. member at
considerable length opposed the issuing of Exchequer bills for
any such purpose as that contemplated by the bill. He should
divide the house on the clause.
Mr. WARBURTON opposed the clause. After a protracted
discussion, in which Sir G. Grey, Mr. Goulburn, Mr. Darby,
Mr. Kemble, General Johnson, and other members took part.
Strangers were ordered to withdraw, and the house divided,
when there appeared—
For the clause
Against it

Majority
The clause was then ordered to stand part of the bill.
Adjourned.

THE LATE DISCUSSION.

A LETTER FRoM THE REV. HUGH M'NEftE, OF LIVERPOOL, TO
THE REV. C. H. MINCHIN, SECRETARY OF THE COMMITTEE
FOR THE GREGG TESTIMONIAL.

DEAR SIR,--I have much pleasure in complying with the
request contained in your letter just received, and in forwarding
to your committee £5, as. my contribution in aid of the funds
already collected.
I never participated in the apprehensions entertained by
some of our brethren, with regard to the result of Mr. Gregg's
enterprise. You may perhaps have been present when, during
our meetings in April, 1 ventured more than once to predict
that the Roman Catholic party never would allow Mr. Gregg
to go fully into the subject of the confessional. The topics
hinted at in their books for young people (Philothea, e. g.)—
topics necessarily unintelligible to the young female; the
questions which the confessor is instructed to put warily, and
advancing as modesty will endure it, front the inure remote to the
more direct; the trembling bondage in which the mind of the
youthful victim is held, while uttering answers in much ig-
norance; until, in niatuter years, the chain of her moral degra-
dation is rivetted by the polluting consciousness that she stands
betrayed before a fellow sinner, or the equally enslaving super-
stition which magnifies that fellow sinner into something super-
human ; these are subjects which, in the bands of such a man
as Gregg. could not fail of terrific'effect. They required such
a man. An ordinary man could not wield them. What is
commonly called christian charity shrinks from the Augean
task. We are so occupied in cultivating love in our bosoms,
and among our fmiends, that few can now rise into the_ Godhero
dignity of righteous indignation against the enemies of
and his truth. The personal assurance necessary towards
elevation is denounced as bigotted fanaticism, and the elevationr
itself is denounced as unhumbled impetuosity. dssuch
Gregg must he prepared for such feeling
sort of our spiritual and devoted brethrek
be grieved by the unparaphrasing plank feelings
ness amongu
in o t
theme
softer
of his speech.
will
iown gentlere
m a
e d
teNay, it may even be that some, making their
ex-
perience the measure of vital chtistianity, will be
doubt his spirituality.
ttehserear t‘ diversities of
consider.the exhorta-
opßertaitt,iedeesa,r, shiyr,
thelet uesenereemeepmtrbtet.r thatLe
add to our faith valour aretenj
as well as meekness.
tion which calls upon usettio
we shall see that Mr. Gregg has
fault with him for want of
as any of them can
there
quite as much cause thoAatviendtofautilnt
find fault
many fur want of valour
be no finding fault on either side.
meekness. But let
Its of gentleness vouchsafedto his dear brethren:
Rather, as I doubt not, Mr. Gregg gives thanks to God fur the
manifold
so let them thank God for the rarer gift of boldness so etni-
nntlbestowed upon him. If there must be a preference, it
would seem undoubtedly, in a minister of God, to be on the
side of boldness; because the apostle, in imploring the prayers
of the church upon his ministry, specifies boldness, and bold-
ness alone, as the quality to be asked for—" that 1 may open
my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
for
which I am an ambassador in bonds, that therein I may speak
boldly, as I ought to speak." (Eph. vi., 19, 2U.) Compare
Acts iv. 29-31:—" Giant unto thy servants that with all bold-
ness they may speak thy word"—« and the were filled wi
the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word at God with boldnessth
."
I look upon Mr. Gregg as peculiarly fitted for the exigencies of
the time, peculiarly qualified to use the language and manner
suited to the party against whom he contends, and I thank God
upon every remembrance of him.—l eta, dear sir, very truly and
faithfully yours,
Liverpool, 23th Jane, 1838. HUGH WNEILR.

The ° Mackenzie" who made so notorious an exhibition
Burin the late Canadian revolt, has just set himself' down in
New York, and commenced the publication of a newspaper
called Mackenzie's Gazette. •
A t,w days ago, an interesting relic was discovered by the
men employed in making the new cutting, near to Stanley
Forry, near Waketie,d namely, a pei leo canoe, consisting iit.
the
cntiro piece of solid tiii,lier. It was found 20 Feet belowrurface of the gi (Wild, and, f out 11), apparent rudeness of the
wolkulanship, is very probatily of glee antiquity.