The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-12-10 00:00:00

:11 a c01411;011 cry Y incorvuotia a corapotwd,

But; headed by the town council of Bridgenorth, tiZe
cannot fail to do wonders, let the world
say what it whether of his versatility, juvenility,
or antiquity, in free trade, love, politics, or war. Sir
Robert Peel and the Tories must look to themselves—
" The Campbells are coining."

LOCAL NEWS

DAN ciNf;.—The lovers of dancing will perceive that Mrs.
Jackson's annual ball will take place next week.
THE CHASE.—The Cheshire Hounds will meet to-morrow
(Saturday,) the 11 th, at the Three Greyhound:: ; Monday,
the 13th, at Kingsley Windmill; Wednesday, the 15th, at
Ridley Toll-bar ; Thursday, the 16th, at Hankelow ; Satur-
day, the 18th, at Hurleston Village—at half-past ten o'clock.
Sir W. Massey Stanley's Hounds will meet to-morrow, (Sa-
turday,) the 11th, at Badger Rake Gate—at eleven o'clock.
CONCERTS A LA MUSARD.—A few weeks back we took
occasion to draw attention to the pleasing musical soirees
which, under the above title, have, during the winter months,
been current at the Portico in Newington. The series was
slightly interrupted by the arrival of Jullien, the hand of
that celebrated foreigner being principally composed of the
identical gentleman who perform at the Concerts a la Musard.
Now, without intending any disrespect to Jullien, we may
take occasion, hereupon, to speak a word or two in praise of
.our townsmen. Jullien engages them, and thus they be-
come, to all intents and purposes, Jullien's band, and then
their townsmen flock to hear them and listen " with ravished
ears." We do not deny that Jullien brings other attractions
in the shape of certain highly-talented individuals, capable
of something extraordinary in the way of solo ; but is is im-
portant that our native musicians are capable of showing to
advantage, in company with such performers as Jullien brings
in his train. Now, the band to which we are anxious to
attract attention, is positively better and more complete than
that of Jullien. For instance ! the latter had no bassoons,
no oboe, but one violoncello and one contra bass, while at
the concerts a la Musard there is an ample provision of all
these instruments. The band is, in fact, exceedingly full
and complete; the members have practised together with
Jullien, and are filled with a spirit of emulation, and. in
short, they want nothing but that patronage and support
which our townsmen, we hope, will feel it their duty to give
to enable them to advance rapidly towards perfection.
The fifth concert of the season, and the last hut one of the
series, took place on Saturday night, The following is a list
of the performers, which, it will be confessed, embodies the
most promising individuals in Liverpool :—violins, Mr. H.
Aldridge, jun. leader, Messrs. Hammond, Tivendell, Hilton,
Mackenzie, and others ; violas, ,Messrs. Wilberforce and
Dando; violoncellos, Messrs. Davies .and Ball ; double-
basses, Messrs. Tavleure and Hornby ; flute, Mr. Fisher;
oboe, Mr. Scruton ; clarionets, Messrs. Leonard and J.
Stubbs ; fagotti, Messrs. Jones and Smith ; coni, Messr,,.
Edwards and Thompson ; cornet a piston, Mr. T. Fisher ;
trumpet, Mr. Hanson ; trombones, Messrs. Druce and
Brindley ; drums, Mr. Filleen, with grand casa, triangles,
cymbals, &c. One proof we have had of the good quality
both of the selections and of the performance, in the regular
attendance of a number of talented musical amateurs. Now
we have our eye on many musical amateurs of good taste,
who are connected with the fashionable world. We have
looked in vain for these individuals at the concerts a la Mu-
sard. We are sorry for this, because one word of approval
from the persons to whom we allude would fill the room.
We can scarcely think the price is too low, for it is these
moderately-priced entertainments that, in France and Ger-
many, are most fashionable. The last concert of the series
will take place on Saturday next. Let us see a change come
o'er the spirit of the musical patrons of our town, who can-
not have a more honourable or a more elevated occupation
than that of endeavouring to cherish the musical taste of our
community.—Courier.
MRS. JOHN PALMER'S CONCERT.—This accomplished
vocalist gave her annual concert at the Adelphi Hotel, on
Tuesday evening, and we are happy to say that this elegant
concert-room was crowded by a fashionable audience who
throughout expressed their warm approval of the entertain-
ment provided for them by their fair entertainer. The first
piece, " Le rans de 'aches," was charmingly sung by Mrs.
Palmer and her interesting little daughter Cecilia, who dis-
plays much budding talent ; this was followed by " sweetly
o'er my senses stealing," exquisitely given by Mrs. Palmer ;
the same praise may likewise be awarded to all her other
efforts of the evening. " Tyrant, soon I'll burst thy chains,"
and " Tell me, my heart," were splendidly executed. Our
old favourite, Mr. Davies, had only two songs, " The Night"
and " Woman," both of which he gave in his usual capital
style, especially the last, which as regards both execution,
music, and words, was a gem. Mr. William Holden sang
delightfully Russell's " Wind of the winter night," accom-
panied by himself on the piano ; we do not recollect having
been more pleased with any song than this ; it was loudly
encored. A Miss Foster, a pupil, as stated in the programme,
of Mr. G. Eyton, made a very successful effort in •` Come
where the splendid harvest moon," a very sweet song by our
old townsman !lime. Little Miss Palmer joined her mother
in the duet of the " Meeting," by Malibran, and sang her
part well, but her crowning effort was, " I'll be no submis-
sive wife," which she gave with the archness of a coquette of
twenty. Before we close this brief notice, in justice we must
mention the pleasure we received from Mr. E. F. Smith's
piano-forte playing. This gentleman possesses the most
brilliant execution we have heard since we listened to Herz.
His " Variations brillantes sur le Trio Favori du Pre aux
Clercs," were beautiful, and many of them very difficult—so
difficult, indeed, as to seem almost impossible. He was
loudly encored in his fantasia from favourite subjects from
" Les Huguenots." The concert was over before eleven,
and the numerous and fashionable audience separated, evi-
dently much pleased with their evening's amusement.
LIVERPOOL ARTISTS' FUND. —We perceive that the ex-
hibition of paintings by modern artists is announced to be
closed on Saturday week. It appears really very extraordi-
nary, that at the most festive season of the year, when even
the most sorrowful heart attempts to make itself glad—when
" the scions of our noble houses" are returning home with
joyous faces to enjoy the pleasures of the holidays—this de-
lightful resort of the intellectual, the fashionable, and the
gay, should be closed. We have no hesitation in asserting,
that if the rooms were kept open during the month of Janu-
ary, it would answer the purpose of materially adding to the
receipts, and afford children a treat they cannot enjoy, as the
holiday-time is not included at any period of its being open.
We know how jealous the sage limners of Postoffice-place
are of interference from any quarter, or any suggestion even
being made to them ; but we must and will protest against
the closing of the exhibition before Christmas-time, when so
many children would be delighted at the sight. If open
during Christmas-week even, it would he conceding some-
thing to what we know is not a solitary wish.
SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS.—The subscription concerts,
which have been the source of great gratification to the musi-
cal and fashionable world during the last few winters, are, we
perceive, about to be again undertaken. These concerts
appear to us to be of a two-fold benefit to Liverpool : they
afford satisfaction to those who are fond of music, and cer-
tainly give an impetus to trade in many ways. They cause
money to circulate; and though only a drop, as it were, in
the great ocean of the commerce of this town, yet we could
trace, if leisure permitted, in what way the benefit we have
named takes place. Amongst the engagements, many of
which will in due time introduce to us eminent and popular
performers, we perceive Madame Caredori Allan will be one
of the first. Madame Caradori Allan is a fine graceful
woman, sings well, and will be an attraction. Miss Bassano
bas been tried here, and passed favourably through the
ordeal of public opinion. Miss Whitnall is well known
amongst us. She is decidedly the best chanteuse this town
can boast of. Her voice is of fine quality and compass, with
good execution. Miss Whitnall is also an excellent musician.
Mr. Croach and Mons. Barrett (oboe) are new to us, if we
mistake not; but in the leader, Mr. Herrman, we shall
recognise a " well approved good master" of his
art. The
orchestra is promised to be filled with eminent performers;
and we do hope that no petty professional feeling will inter-
fere in any way to prevent the best players in Liverpool
being brought together. The drawing for the reserved seats
will take place on the 29th, at the pretty little Portico-room.
We have been given to understand that the subscription list
this year is unusually numerous.
AN EX-MAYOR'S NEST.—This worthy ex-functionary is
sadly in dudgeon with the appointment of Mr. Harbord as a
member of the Education Committee; and has made the ex-
traordinary discovery that he was unduly elected. And how
does the reader imagine? Why that he only received the
greatest number of votes of three members proposed, where-
as Mr. Bolton maintained that he ought to have had the
votes of the majority of the members present ;—in other
words, that, after having had the greatest amount of support
of the three, he ought to have gone again to the scale against
the second best. But a more valuable discovery still Mr.
John Smith has made. The worthy member for West Derby,
or miscalled member, as the Toxteth-park boys have it, was
of opinion that the same rule was laid down for the election
of mayor in the municipal actitself; and although on ex-
amination the town-clerk found that no such provision was
in his copy of the act, yet Mr. John Smith was quite stout
upon it that "he had it at home." We presume that the
West Derby Edition is a scarce book ; for we have seldom
teard of variorum editions of acts of parliament.

ST. BARNABAS' CHURCH AND DISTRICT.—We have
pleasure in announcing to our readers that the plan, to which
we alluded last week, for adding to the accommodation within
this church, is to be carried immediately into effect. The
committee of the Liverpool Church Building Association,
satisfied of the desirableness of the proposed enlargement,
with characteristic zeal ar►d promptitude at once resolved
upon its adoption. The intention is to erect a gallery at the
east end for the organ, singers, &c., and to extend the upper
west gallery over the space the organ was to• have occupied.
By this means an increase of free sittings will be provided to
the amount of nearly 300, and the church will afford accom-
•
dation in all to upwards of 1,600 persons, combined with as
much of architectural beauty and propriety as is to be found
in any other church in Liverpool. The entire was designed
by Messrs. A. and G. Williams, upon whom St. Barnabas'
Church reflects the, utmost credit. - Much is owing to the
happy co-operation of the congregation and churchwardens,
one of whom it is but right to mention by name—viz., Mr.
Thomas Wagstaff, to whose praiseworthy exertions and
judicious arrangements in all the details a considerable share
of that success is, under God, to be attributed, over which,
in common with all good churchmen, we do most unfeignedly
rejoice. The other churches built by this association have
been scarcely less successful,—St. Bartholomew's, Naylor-
street, and St. Clement's, Windsor, being the centres re-
spectively of a similar useful influence. The funds of the
association are, we regret to learn, nearly exhausted ; but
the committee can now come before the public of Liverpool,
as stewards approved and faithful, and can confidently appeal
.1r a renewal of that trust which they have already exercised

alike to their own credit and to the advantage of the town and
neighbourhood. We are sure that the appeal will be re-
sponded to, and that fresh funds will be forthcoming.
THE LIVERPOOL SWINDLERS.—This flash company, it
would appear, have not been deterred, by the repeated expo-
sures which have been made of their systematic frauds, from
attempting still to impose upon the mercantile portion of the
community here and in other towns. Last week a manufac-
turer in Glasgow received from the fictitious firm in question
a letter, containing three neatly clipped bits of jaconet, as
patterns, and an order for a quantity of goods of the same
description. The letter was addressed, according to the
name of the gentleman, and his designation, according to the
Old Post-office directory, but he has some time ago removed
from the premises, a circumstance which, of itself, would
naturally create suspicion. Independently of this, however,
the notices which have appeared in the newspapers of late,
respecting the existence of a company who have been more
ready with their orders than with the means of settling their
accounts, put him upon his guard ; and notwithstanding the
specious and business-like communication, he made a prac-
tical application of the maxim, " a bird in the hand is worth
twa in the bush, " by retaining his jaconets in his own pre-
mises to wait the chance of more trust worthy customers.
These impostors have, in few instances, been successful in
their attempts upon the more extensive and intelligent mer-
chants amongst us ; but, we regret to learn, that, before they
were exposed by John o' Groat's Journal, they managed to
get into their possession several large supplies of herrings,
ling, and cod, from the curers in the north, who, perhaps,
are not accustomed to see the newspapers often, and who had
not been in possession of the true state of matters until it was
too late. We are not aware whether there are any means by
which this company can be put down. It is evident that if
they get goods into their possession they can only be pur-
sued for the debt at civil law, like other creditors ; but par-
ties who are so simple as to deal with them may find that
in prosecuting them they are chasing a shadow ; and the
best way to get the better of them, after all, will be, not to
Ipt them get the substance.—Glasgow Courier.

M a meeting of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows,
held last week at the house of Mr.. Jones, Lime.street, a
handsome silver watch was presented to Mr, Parry,
for his exertions in forwarding the interests of the order.
THE INFIRMARY. —On Sunday last, a sermon was
preached at Trinity Church in behalf of this institution, by
the Rev. Thomas Briggs Dickson, B.D. The sum collected
was nearly £2l.

POCKET PlCKlNG.—Yesterday, at the police-office, two
youths—James Burns and Michael Duffey—were charged
with picking a gentleman's pocket of a silk handkerchief, at
St. John's Market. They had both been previously com-
mitted, and the case being proved, they were committed for
three months each.

Mn. ALDERMAN EARLE'S CONSTITUENTS. —At the
council meeting, on Wednesday, in reply to a remark of Mr.
Sandbach, the alderman for Abercromby Ward was strongly
of opinion that members ought to be sent back to their con-
stituents every year. Very kind of Mr. Alderman Earle ;
but who are the alderman's constituents?
CONCERT.—Mr. George Eyton, a very talented musician
and clever teacher, has appointed Monday next for his annual
concert to take place. From Mr. Eyton's connection with
the Mechanics' Institution, and his repute in teaching the
pupils there, it is to be expected that there will be a very full
and fashionable attendance on the occasion.
AMPHITHEATRE.—We perceive Mrs. Carman's benefit is
announced to take place on Monday next. Mrs. Carman is
a lady of much ability, not only as a dramatic authoress, but
as an actress ; her mode of playing the charity girl, in the
Yew Tree", proves her the latter. A new piece from her
pen will be represented on Monday night, under the delightful
title of " Jack Ketch, or the Hangman's Bride".
THE LATE Mn. CLOUGH.—It will be seen by the advertise-
ment, which appears elsewhere, that the Philharmonic Society,
wishful to do honour to the memory of the late Mr. Thomas
Clough, intend to give a concert, the receipts of which are to
be devoted to Mrs. Clough and her child. The talents of
the late Mr. Clough, and the great respect for him entertained
by all who were acquainted with him, will, we trust, conduce
to make this undertaking one of the most successful of the
season. Many professionals have volunteered their services—
this is as it should be.
THE LATE MR. EGERTON SMITH.—A meeting of the
friends of the late Mr. Egerton Smith was held at the
Clarendon Rooms, on Wednesday last, for the purpose of
considering whether some public testimonial should nut be
erected to his memory. Mr. Thomas Thornely, M.P., was
called to the chair, and a committee was appointed to con-
sider for what sum a permanent night asylum could be
erected, or a building purchased, in honour of the memory
of the deceased.

THEATRE ROYAL.—We noticed in our last that Mr.
Hell and Miss Honner's benefit was fixed for this evening,
and we have now the pleasure of drawing attention to Mr.
W. J. llammond's on Monday night. Mr. Hammond is a
great favourite here, of long standing, and is held in high
esteem ; he has been bufletted about by fortune, and we are
greatly pleased to find that he is about to settle amongst us
permanently. We trust his friends will muster strongly for
him on the occasion, and give him a foretaste of success. He
has secured Mr. Tilbury's services, rendering the attraction
to an already powerful bill greater.
LIVERPOOL PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.—On the even-
ing of Wednesday, a sermon was preached by the Rev. Hugh
M`Neile, in St. Mary's Church, Edgehill, on behalf of the
funds of the Protestant Association. The rev. gentleman
delivered a most animated discourse from the 2nd Epistle of
St. Paul to Timothy, 3rd chaper, verses 12 and 13 :--" Yea,
and all they who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer perse-
cution; but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving and being deceived." The sermon was one
of great power, consisting chiefly of an earnest appeal to
real Christians, to stand fast by their principles. At the
close of the sermon, Mr. M`Neile alluded to the education
question, and intimated his belief that the committee of the
town-council had, or would, come to a determination that
would prove perfectly satisfactory to the friends of the Bible.
A collection was made after the sermon, which amounted to
about £25.

Ten years ago a facetious gentleman remarked that he
perceived by the newspapers that all Brighton was to be sold
by Mr. George Robins. It so happened that an estate of
moderate extent in Shropshire, of the value of £50,000, and
called Allbrighton, was placed with Mr. Robins for public
competition. Poor Theodore Hook, who was a personal
friend, could not miss so good an opportunity to display his
wit and shew his kindness of feeling • and therefore, in the
following John Bull, of which it is known he had the prin-
cipal direction, he thus delivered himself :—" Our friend
George Robins has actually announced the sale of All
Brighton • we may soon expect he will announce all London
to be sold." If this talented, this lamented, good-humoured
man had been spared to us, what would he say now ? for
half Brighton is really announced to change hands through
Mr. Robins's instrumentality. It includes Mr. Kemp's
vast property, the value of which is estimated at one hun-
dred and fifty thousand pounds.—Brighton Gazette.
We understand that a memorial to the Treasury is in the
course of signature, from the wholesale and retail dealers in
spirits in this town, to do away with the excise survey and
permit system, which has been for so many years a great
annoyance to the trade, and which would, if carried into
effect, be a great saving of expense to the revenue. The
excise survey was taken off tobacco some years since, and
has since proved to be no decrease to the revenue whatever.
As a deputation of the trade intend having an interview
with the commissioners appointed by government, which is
expected will be here next week, it is to be hoped the very
great annoyance to the trade will be removed if it can be
proved to them that no loss can accrue to the revenue by
such alteration.

OLD OFFENDERS.—At the Police-court, yesterday, two
men well known to the police, (Thomas Doyle and John
Henis,) were placed at the bar, on a charge of having been
found loitering about Peter-street on the previous night, and
finally about two in the morning, apparently with intent to do
something wrong. The police-officer, knowing them to be
bad characters, repeatedly told them to go home, and they
moved off for the time, but again made their appearance, so
that he finally took them into custody. It appeared, on re-
ference to the public books, that Doyle had been seventeen
times, and .Henis seven times, committed for felony. Henis
said. that if the magistrate would let him go this time, he
would never trouble him again, as he would enter the navy,
which his friends much approved of, and was willing to ac-
cosnpany an officer, who might see him enter. Mr. Itushton
said—" I cannot trust you, neither will the navy. Yov must
each go to gaol for three months."
WAGES CASE.—At the police-court, yesterday, William
Francis, who had been employed as a cooper, on board Mr.
Tobin's barque—the William Huskisson, on her late voyage
to Bonny, applied for an order for the amount of £l9 lOs 4d,
his wages, in which he was opposed on the part of the owner
by Mr. Carson. Mr. Davenport appeared for the applicant.
Captain Kelly, the sailing master of the ship, said, for the
defence, that the complainant was an indifferent workman,
and that from not sufficiently " hardening " the hoops on
the casks which he set up, they were not fit to hold palm-
oil, and that the other coppers had, consequently, to go over
his work again. An entry had been made in the log book,
(which was produced) setting forth the complainant's inade-
quacy as a workman, and which was signed at Bonny by the
officers of the ship, and also by two other coopers who were
on board. He considered £3 a month was as much as his
work was worth. 'William Kane, the mate, said the usual
wages to a competent cooper was £5 a month. Some other
witnesses were examined, who generally agreed in opinion
on the imperfect work of the complainant—one of them ad-
mitting that he was only slow. A captain of another ship,
who had been called on board to examine his work, also said,
that the work was bad, and that he should consider £2 to £3
per month ample wages for such a man. He claimed°4l lOs
per month, for which he said he had signed articles. Mr.
Siddons, foreman of the coopers at Mr. Tobin's yard, was
then called by Mr. Davenport. Witness admitted that lie
shipped the coopers for the ships of the concern ; that the
complainant had been working—on trial—in the yard some
days before the ship sailed ; that he did not consider him a
competent workman, but as men werescarce, he had told him
that £5 were the wages to workmen who had before been at
sea, and £4 lOs for those who had not, He had not men-
tioned his incompetency in the counting-house, and the man
accordingly signed articles for £4 lOs a month. Mr. Rush-
ton said, that but for the last witness's testimony he should
have awarded the complainant only £2 lOs a month ; but it
appeared that Mr. Siddons shipped the coopers, and though
he had him on trial, he had not mentioned his incompetency,
which was clearly established ; but, he being accepted after
that trial, the full amount of his wages—Xl9 lOs 4d—must
be paid.
A BALE OF COTTON MISSING FROM A CARGO.—JOhn
Garratt, mate of the ship China, appeared at the Police-court
yesterday to answer a charge of having detained, or not ac-
counted for, a bale of cotton, alleged to have been put on
board, and not delivered with the rest of the cargo. A clerk
said that there was a parcel of cotton put on board consisting
of 201 bales, for which he produced the bill of lading and also
the defendant's receipts, but 200 bales only had been received
at the warehouse. The landing-waiter who attended the ship
stated there were on board, in all, 3507 bales of cotton, and
that one bale was missing out of the parcel alluded to. On
cross-examination in behalf of the defendant by Mr. Daven-
port he, however, admitted that, on the last day of unloading,
five bales were missing, they having, as he supposed, by some
accident been taken away without being weighed on the quay.
The warehouse was in consequence examined, and four of the
missing bales were found, the one still short being that with
which the defendant was charged. The value was upwards
of £5, which the owners sought to deduct from his wages.
Mr. Rushton said that it was by no means clear that the de-
fendant was at all to blame. It appeared that no fewer than
five bales had at first been missed, four of which were found,
and if the warehouses had been properly searched perhaps the
other would also have bee❑ found. tie could have no depen-
dence on the accuracy of the custom-house officer after he
had allowed, by his carelessness or neglect, five bales to pass
without being weighed. Had none of them been found, the
defendant would no doubt have been charged with the whole
five. The defendant must have the full amount of his wages,
namely, £l7 Os. Id.
THEATRE-ROYAL.—We believe that, at the close of this
season, Mr. Clarke retires from the lesseeship of the Theatre-
Royal, the management of which he has sustained with credit
to himself, satisfaction to the public, and benefit to all. Mr.
Clarke, in his retirement into private life, will take with him
the good wishes of every one who has known him, profes-
sionally or otherwise. His strict punctuality, his honourable
mode of dealing, his liberality, and gentlemanly conduct,
will make him greatly missed in the theatrical world. His
spirit has been of the right sort : he has brought out every..
thing that has been well received in the metropolis, while his
engagement of every leading professional has shown his
willingness to please and cater well for the public. Look
over the bills this season, and where shall we find a theatre
in the three kingdoms that can boast of such engagements,
or of such a company. No doubt Mr. Clarke expected to
gain by such engagements ; but who would have run the
risks he has done, with so little chance of repayment ? Mr.
Clarke's benefit takes place the last night of the season. If
Williamson-square could be taken in it would be about large
enough to hold his friends on the occasion. Mr. Clarke is
succeeded by Mr. Anderson, (the Great Wizard of the North,)
Mr. W. J. Hammond acting as stage manager. From the
spirit, tact, and ability of these two gentlemen, much may be
expected from them. If they uphold, as no doubt they will,
the respectability of the profession with an equal firmness to
their predecessor, neither the public nor the profession need
complain.

The Bishop of London has been applied to by the Gresham
Committee to write the inscription for the first stone of the
Royal Exchange, to be laid in January next by Prince Al-
bert. His lordship immediately acquiesced in the kindest
manner. The preparations will be upon a scale of elegance
and splendour worthy of the occasion. The entertainment
to be given by the Lord Mayor, at the Mansion-house, to
Prince Albert, will be the first grand entertainment of the
mayoralty of Alderman Pirie ; the first day of which mayor-
alty has been distinguished by the birth of the heir apparent
to the crown.

The Queen Dowager, whom Heaven long preserve, islino
longer a source of public anxiety as regards her health. She
has surmounted the afflicting visitation, and her medical
attendants have announced their intention to withhold any
further bulletins of her majesty's gradual progress to conva-
lescence. Amongst the first acts of her majesty, on directing
her thoughts to her people, was to order the transmission of
a check for £lOO, for the relief of the sufferings of the poor
Spitalfields weavers.

The Queen has been pleased to order letters patent to be
passed under the Great Seal, for creating his Royal Highness
the Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land (Duke of Saxony, Duke of Cornwall and Rothsay, Earl
of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Great
Steward of Scotland), Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester.

OUR PORTFOLIO.—No. XI

Self-destruction is said to be the crime of old con utlittag.
and to be rare in new states. We believe the position to be
well-founded ; it would seem to be consistent with what we
know of the act. In new communities the spirit of enter-
prise is awake—hope is young, and disappointments, hard-
ships, and trials of great severity, fail to subdue the elastic
nerve, because there is yet beyond all, a " hope" that better
times will come. In the advanced stages of society, the
ground has been all surveyed—the depths and shallows of
life have been sounded—men know better what they have to
expect, and when the plans and arrangements by which they
had calculated on the attainment of certain ends of happiness,
break down without results,—there is no yet lingering spark
to reanimate their drooping spirits—the world becomes a
void to their imagination, and they hasten to relieve them-
selves from the dreary consciousness of hopeless misery, by
self-destruction.

There dawns not a morning of the three hundred and
sixty-five days of our year, in which the functionary ap-
pointed to take charge of such matters, in London and Paris,
may not, if he should give himself the trouble to think on the
subject, feel the most perfect assurance, as he rises out of
bed, that there is work provided for him in his line of busi-
ness for that day. Vice and misery are his unfailing cater-
ers .; and it is probable that accustomed to the mortality of
suicide in every conceivable form, this worthy personage
enters upon the daily labours of his vocation, with the least
possible amount of disturbance from any sensitive or senti-
mental causes. A very short course of experience in his
office, most likely, sufficed to present him with a recurrence
of the same agencies ending in similar results. Here the
lifeless corse of a once fair and lovely being dragged from the
river, and layed in the dead-house, awaits his inspection, and
the examination of evidence. It is a sad sight, and the story
is a lamentable one ; but your Coroner is well versed in these
affairs, and seems all up in a few words, as thus—love, se-
duction, a career of infamy, destitution, suicide. He has no
time for further particulars; there is another corse lying for
him in another part of the town, and he must not keep gen-
tlemen waiting ; so away he goes. And here there is a dif-
ferent form of that quietus which the impatient of injury,
calamity, or suffering procure for themselves ; here a gentle-
man in a well-furnished house, with no apparent want of
friends or comforts, and a man of good repute in the world,
has terminated his existence by a pistol shot, and great is
the wonder—loud the lamentation of relatives and anxious
inquirers ; but again, your man of business is on the wing,
there he perceives that, however fair things might have
looked on the outside, there was a certain derangement c-
affairs within that dreaded disclosure, and portended ban's
ruptcy—that the picture was appalling to one who had bee
long accustomed to a certain degree of consideration in so
ciety, and that to escape its realities, he had merely take
that irrevocable steps which thousands have rashly don
before. Your inquisitor of self-destroyers must agail b
moving; the gaming table, penury, crimes of various kind:
remorse, bodily anguish, blighted hopes,—
" The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay"—
and many other heart-stinging incidents have provided mor
subjects for him ; so he just briefly jots down each case, am
by a prudent economy of time, 'speech, and sensibility, get.
through his work.
" Englishmen in November" did for a long space enjo3
unenviable distinction in this ungracious mode of making
their exit from sublunary affairs; but late statistics of crime
prove that they no longer possess a monopoly in this re.
spect. It now appears that the suicidal mania is quite a:
common among our lively neighbours the French, as it is
among ourselves, and if we were to travel to other old states,
we dare say it would be ascertained that this great act of re-
bellion against the Most High, is by no means monopolised
by either.
The tendency of states as they advance in years and com-
plexity of internal relation, is to corruption; they rise and
fall, flourish and decay—and have their epochs as the life of
an individual. This crime increases as others do in the
crowded city—in a high degree of luxury and refinement, lust
for the reason that the temptations which lead to it are more
common in such circumstances. It will, of course, be more
rare in the earlier stages or society, or in a new state—such
as the North American republic—where the field of enter-
prize is still wide, and where, as we have said, scarcely any re-
verse of fortune, leaves a man entirely hopeless. It only re-
mains to inquire how it continues to prevail, as if the opinion
of society had undergone no change, since it was regarded,
at least by some, as a virtue rather than a necessity. " Self-
murder," says our excellent Blackstone, "the pretended
heroism, but real cowardice of the stoic philosophers, who
destroyed themselves to avoid, those ills which they had not
the fortitude to endure, though the attempting it seems to be
countenanced by the civil law,* yet was punished by the
Athenian law with cutting off the hand which committed the
desperate deed. And also the laws of England wisely an
religiously consider, that no man hath a power to destro
life, but by commission from God, the author of it : and, a
the suicide is guilty of a double offence ; one spiritual, in in
vading the prerogative of the Almighty, and rushing into hi
immediate presence uncalled for; the other temporal, agains
the king, who hath an interest in the preservation of all hi
subjects—the law has therefore ranked this among the highes
crimes—attaching to it the penalty of an ignominious buria
in the highway, with a forfeiture to the king of all the
suicide's goods and chattels. The party must be of years o
discretion, and in his senses, else it is no crime. But thi
excuse ought not to be strained to that length to which on:
coroner's juries are apt to carry it, viz., that the verS, act o
suicide is an evidence of insanity ; as if every man who act
contrary to reason, has no reason at all : for the same argu
went would prove every other criminal non compos, as wet
as the self-murderer." Our laws then give their support tt
the divine canon against self-slaughter, but whether in thi
manner wisely—is a point concerning which we may reason.
ably entertain somedoubt. Certain it is, that the coroner':
inquest now does rarely any more than ascertain the cause
and manner of the death, without giving to it that descrip-
tion which would involve those penalties which the law at-
taches to thefeto de se. Juries are induced to stretch their
consciences rather than be instrumental in giving efficacy to
a statute which inflicts its ',punishment on surviving friends
and relatives—that is to say, upon the innocent rather than
the guilty—whom, indeed, it cannot reach. The statute
could only have been intended to operate as a terror to the
meditators of the crime ; but if the statute be rarely or never
enforced, that terror, whatever it might have amounted to at
any period, must have ceased altogether, and the law become
a dead letter. We would not say that human laws may not,-
in some few instances, have an effect in checking the impi-
ous intent ; we can conceive a man with little fear of God
before his eyes, who might be deterred from laying violent
hands on himself, solely by regard to that loss of property
which he would entail upon his family by the deed ; but such
cases have ever been, and will probably continue to be, ex-
ceedingly rare compared with the great mass in which hu-
man laws must be wholly inefficacious. The man who makes
up his mind to destroy himself, must, generally speaking,
have but small regard to any consequences that may follow
in this life, after he has ceased to be. There can he no effec-
tual terror against this madness, but that of an eventual
reckoning at the dread tribunal of an angry God. Else, as
our inimitable bard has argued—
" Who would fardels bear
To groan and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death—
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn
No traveller returns—puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have,
Than fly to others that we know not of?"
That Christianity has done much to mitigate this, as well as
innumerable other evils in the world, there cannot be the
smallest doubt; and we can only say that it would be much
more efficacious if its principles were more widely diffused.
Of all the systems ever proposed to mankind—not to speak
profanely—it is that which peculiarly and above all others
offers balm to hurt minds, and teaches the way to heaven
through patient suffering, and consequently presents at once
the only true antidote to that poison which lurks insidiously
in the veins, and ferments in the mind when calamities be-
come suggestive of suicide. It is the genuine elixir vitce for
old as well as new communities, and happily sets at nought,
as an element with which the world is as yet but imperfectly
acquainted, all old calculations upon the decrepitude or de
cadence of kingdoms.

* Si quis impatientia doloris, aut tredio vitae, ant morbo,
ant furore, ant pudore, mori maluit, non animadvertavit in
eum.—Ff. 49. 16. 6.

A NOTE UPON READING-ST. CAVANAGH!

(BY AN OCCASIONAL CONTRIBUTOR.)
—" And so ended the adventures of Bernard Cavanagh,
the pretended teetotal abstainer from all kinds of meat and
drink whatsoever" !—We begin at the end—we will not say
the wrong end—for if every knave were to have his due, far
should we be from saying that this fasting impostor did not
meet his desert at the hands of the magistrates of Reading.
But there was something in the wind-up of the history—and
we own we have been troubled with some scruples on the
subject. Perhaps we may find relief by giving them utter-
ance in the Standard; at all events we shall try.
We were startled then, in the first place, by finding that
the knave who had freely practised his arts in the great towns
of Dublin and Liverpool, and even in the huge "wen" itself.
and passed unscathed, the several ordeals of magistracy
therein, should have been reserved for capture and commit-
tal in the comparatively obscure locality of Reading. We
feared that the worshipful justices of this borough had taken
too much upon themselves ; we were not sure of the sound-
ness of their law, and we concluded either that the well-paid
functionaries of Liverpool, Dublin, and London, had been
singularly remiss, or that the " authorities" of the borough
aforesaid had been remarkably vigilant, astute, and attentive.
But it may perhaps be said, a rogue is no rogue till he is
found out, and that neither in Liverpool, Dublin, nor Lon-
don, did any such curious, pertinacious, officious, detections,
and obstinate old ferret of a person present him or herself on
the stage, as the female at Reading where searching optics in
disguise could deceive, who knew her man through the patch
on his eye, the kerchief tied round his head, and other vain
attempts to mark his saintship's mug—and, finally, never let
go the " patch" till she had convicted him, to the entire sa-
tisfaction of an admiring world, of buying bacon and saveloys
with villainous intent to devour the same, arid satisfy the
cravings of his hunger, like an ordinary mortal! The Ro-
man capital was saved by the cackling of a goose, and Read-
ing owes a prodigious degree of renown to this lynx-eyed fe-
male ; but her evidence, after all, was deficient in one par-
ticular.
She did not SEE the dissembler eat the saveloys, and chew
the bacon with his own undissembled jaws. Here was' a
hiatus of which the rogue took immediate advantage, saying,
that though he bought, he never did eat the articles of
which he confessed himself guilty of purchasing; so that,
after all, the proof of his being an eater, like other men,
rests only upon circumstantial evidence. It is true that
surgeon Bulley, of Reading, did afterwards most sa-
tisfactorily, and as it were, by the strength of his horns,
ascertain that the seraphin St. Bernard could no more
do without food—was, in short, no more a chamelion than
the learned lancet himself ; this he brought out to a demon-
stration ; but what then ?—is not this something like hang-
ing a man first and trying him afterwards ? The unfortunate
saint had, at this time already suffered martyrdom on the
wheel for the very crime of whose commission the evidence
would appear to have been still incomplete !
Now, we do not mean to say that the Reading bench did
not draw a legitimate conclusion from the premises established
before thaw, which, we think, amounted to somewhere about
these, viz.,—that Bernard and his company had visited their
good town as vagabonds and strollers—much like a company
of poor players who " strut and fret their hour upon the
stage '', actually, and not figuratively, or a band of itine-
rant mountebanks, showmen, tumblers, or others who live
upon the wonder—having propensities of our common nature
—that he offered himself, in consideration of a small quodarn honorarium, to the gaze of all curious lleadingites—as the
' most wonderful fasting. man as vos ever seen in those parts'
—that he was drawing houses—making fools, and filling his
coffers by this device ; and that while carrying on this trade,
and " doing the curiosity " with great effect, as a teetotal
abstainer from all natural sustenance, he was suddenly caught
in the act of secretly, and, as it were, furtively, buying sub-
stantial edibles with a view to their consumption by and upon
his own proper person—thereby proving the fallaciousness,
or, perhaps, we should say, the verity of his pretences as a
genuine Romish saint; from all which sayingsand doings the
worshipful bench declared the aforesaid Bernard and his
company to be incorrigible cheats, rogues, and vagabonds,
and pronounced upon them a sentence of board and lodging
at her majesty's expense, with a quantum sufficit of exercise
on the treadmill to aid digestion, and promote sleep.
Now, we neither dispute the premises aforesaid, nor would
we raise any cavil (as we have intimated), concerning the
strict justice of the conclusion, per se ; our difficulty arises
from what appears to us to be the inequality of the law ; we
have no objection to the penance
.appointed unto the pre-
tended lying wonder of the Pope's church ; but we are not

pleased that he Should stand a!one in his glory, Out upon
such vagabonds, say we ; but let the law be equal ; whip us
the eavanaghs, but let not the St. John Lings, the Morri-
sons, and the Mesmerisers, strut abroad unpunished.
Bernard Cavanagh is, or was, of course, an impostor; but
he was the creature of a system—the enfant trouve of popery
in one of•its dark phases. That he possesses very extra-
ordinary powers of abstinence, nobody has proved more
conclusively than Mr. Bailey, the surgeon of Reading, him-
self. These powers, the unfortunate man, most likely, dis-
covered in himself, and afterwards greatly heightened by the
practice of those austerities which are enjoined as meritorious
by his apostate church. He has been in some, perhaps we
should say, a great degree, the' victim of his own ignorant
fanaticism. The Romish priests in Ireland at first encouraged
and abetted him in his delusions both on himself and others;
they proclaimed his endurabilities as a miracle providentially
vouchsafed to do honour to their creed ; in the course of time
he ripened into a confirmed knave, and then evincing evi-
dently more concern for his own emolumentary interests
than the pure honour and glory of mother church, their
reverences discarded him. In what light they may look upon
him now that he is put up in durance vile by stranger, and
still worse by " heretic " hands, we cannot exactly say; but
we incline to think that they will take him into favour again,
as one who had suffered for the faith.
Notwithstanding the commendable promptitude a the
Reading magistrates, and the strict justice of their adjudica-
tion, we own we do expect at some future day to see the
emancipated " Saint " upon the world again, and probably
with increased eclat. He will have learned, like his com-
patriot the right honourable Lord Mayor of Dublin, how to
drive " a coach and six" through the meshes of an act of
parliament, and to violate the law, without incurring its
penalties. At Reading he proved himself a novice in this
respect, and is now paying for his inexperience ; but he may
mend his hand, and with, or without the assistance of some
pettifogging attorney, easily learn to avoid such a casualty
in future. And after all, if people will be fools, it may be as
well to let them have their way ; the maxim of our law is
caveat emptor—let the purchaser beware. Was the cannon
against cheats to be generally enforced, what would become
of half the quack doctors, false teachers, puffing traders,
cozening hawkers, bubble speculators, and " rogues" ad
infinitum, with which the world abounds? If every knave
should have "justice," who would "escape whipping?
Liberty is a blessing whose preservation we mast not en-
danger by a too vigorous, and after all perhaps fruitless
endeavour to guard the simple against the consequences of
their own folly. We may remember that though the fool
" should be brayed in a mortar amor, wheat with a pestle,
yet will not his foolishness depart from him."

EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE OPERA-
TIVE CONSERVATIVES IN TOXTETH-PARK
UPON THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

On Tuesday evening, a meeting of the operative conser-
vatives of North and South Toxteths, to which only voters
were admitted, was held in Toxteth-hall, for the purpose of
expressing the opinions of that body upon the course Pur-
sued by the conservative members at the meeting of the
town-council on the Ist of December, with respect to the
corporation schools. Mr. JOHN SHEPPARD was called upon
to preside ; and having briefly opened the business of the
meeting, and explained the circumstances under which they
had been called together,
Mr. HARRISON rose to propose the first resolution, which.
would at once express, without any lengthened preface or
his, the feelings which were entertained by the conservatives
of the Park with respect to the proceedings of Wednesday
last. The meeting knew well what it was that for years
they had been fighting for—the advantages of a scriptural_
education ; and although they were confident the conduct of
their own members—one of whom he was glad to see pre-
sent—would be satisfactorily explained, as conservatives they
had a right to be dissatisfied when they found the object for
which they had struggled withheld from them. He therefore
moved—" That this meeting has noticed with regret the ap-
parent schism amongst the conservative members of the
town-council, at the meeting of that body on Wednesday,
Dec. Ist; and, in consequence, they are anxious to be made
fully aware of the sentiments of the representatives of their
wards on that important subject, ' the school question.'
Mr. ROBERT M'CLAY seconded the resolution, and, la
doing so, he did not at all suspect their member, Mr. Alex-
ander Smith, of being lukewarm in the cause. That gen-
tlernan.had declared that he would support a scriptural sys-
tem of education in the corporation schools. They found,
however, that he had divided on Wednesday against their
friend Mr. Harbord and the resolution of the Education
Committee to do away with the present system, and they
thought that he ought to state what were his views in so
doing. He had himself every confidence in Mr. Smith, and
trusted that he would be able to satisfy the meeting that they
were about to have Christian education in the fear of God,
and that he would go to the council to-morrow prepared to
vote for it. The meeting had no wish to offend either of
their members present—Mr. Smith or Mr. Harbord; but
hoped, on the contrary, to strengthen their hands. He him-
self was not afraid of irreverence towards the Bible being
created by its being placed in the hands of children. Christ
himself had said that children should be taught to " read his
statutes." He would never sanction the religion of Popery
being taught, or the Douay version of the Bible being tole-
rated, in the corporation schools; for he would not be a party
to teaching the children of any other man what he would not
teach his own.
In reply to a GENTLEMAN, who considered that the course
pursued by the meeting was hasty, and that the votes of those
conservative members of the council which had been given
against the resolution of the present Education Committee
to rescind all the regulations of the late committee, was quite
justified under the circumstances that many members of the
council had never read those resolutions,
Dr. HARBORD explained the circumstances by which the
operative conservatives of the Park had been induced to take
that course. They had been taunted by their enemies on
every side, and told that they had been deserted by their re-
presentatives in the council on this question. The resolution
was then passed unanimously.
Mr. SANSON then rose to move the next resolution, viz.—
"That this meeting has viewed with deep regret the conduct
of Mr. John Smith, the mis-called representative of the bur-
gesses of West Derby Ward ; and Cat this meeting strongly
recommends to the aforesad burgesses that they demand
Mr. John Smith's immediate resignation." The speaker
contended that the conduct of Mr. J. Smith fully merited
this censure. He had gone into the council under conserva-
tive colours, and was now "going the whole hog" with po-
pery, which he proceeded to show by reading extracts from
various works, and amongst others, from the volumes of Peter
Dens, was one which could not with safety be propagated in
a protestant country. It was the duty of the electors to do
their duty even if the elected did not; and although they
would not attempt, and had not attempted, to dictate to
their representatives upon general questions, yet upon this
one of Scriptural education they could allow of no surrender.
(Applause.)
Mr. YOUNG (an operative) briefly seconded the motion.
He considered that it was awful to gull protestants with the
cry of "The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the
Bible." Why should any one hesitate, he asked, upon this
question ? If he believed the Bible he would fear no man.
A proposition was made to include other names in the re-
solution, which, however, was opposed by Mr. HARBORD,
the conservative member for North Toxteth, on the ground
that many of the gentlemen aimed at had erred from a mis-
understanding of the nature of the question before the coun-
cil. Mr. Harbord contended that the course taken by the
Education Committee in rescinding the resolutions was
strictly correct, and in taking it they had acted upon the ad-
vice of the Town-clerk, who had advised them that they
could arrive at no good conclusion unless they first got rid of
the voluminous mass of rules with which they were beset.
Mr. Harbord's explanation was received with the fullest
satisfaction by the meeting.
The resolution, after a short discussion upon a proposition
to modify its terms, which the meeting however would not
entertain, was ultimately passed in its original form.
Mr. ALEXANDER SMITH then rose, and complained that
the committee of the operatives in calling this meeting, and,
as it were, placing him upon his trial before his constituents,
had acted with a want of courtesy towards him in not giving
him sufficient notice beforehand of their intention, to enable
him to prepare himself fully with an explanation of his rea-
sons for voting as he did upon the education question. He
was as staunch as any man upon the principle of religious
education. He was quite prepared to exclude from the schools
the Douay version of the Bible, in which he found through-
out the sense perverted by notes to fsvour the views and the
doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. He should, as
his constituents would see, if they gave him time, support no
other system except one based upon the resolution which was
to have been proposed by Mr. David Hodgson, that the schools
should be opened and closed with prayer, that the authorised
version of the Bible should alone be freely used. and that the
children of Church of England parents should be taught the
church catechism. His reasons for voting as he did against
the resolution of the Education Committee were, that he
thought it inconsistent to rescind the former committee's
resolutions without time being allowed for the members to
have made themselves acquainted fully with them ; and so
many of his friends entertaining similar views, he thought
any other course would damage the cause of education, as it
he and the others had voted differently, although they might
have affirmed the course taken by the committee, yet they
would have done s 3 by so small a majority, that he preferred
virtually postponing the question, as was the case by the
result of the course which he took, and which he would take
again under similar circumstances. He was confident that
to-morrow the conservative body would have no cause left to
complain of him or the friends who voted with him, and that
the question would be decided by the result of Mr. Bolton's
motion, which he anticipated would be defeated by a majority
of at least twenty. Mr.. Smith having concluded,
The CHAIRMAN rose and said, I beg to make a remark
touching that part of Mr. Alexander Smith's speech where
he alludes to a want of courtesy—indeed I think he has
reason to complain—in not having been sent a copy of the
resolution bearing upon the subject under discussion previ-
ous to his coming to this meeting. Now, I must observe,
that the first time I heard of the meeting was this morning,
on my way-to attend my duty as a poor-law guardian. I was
accosted by a gentleman who asked if I had received a note
to attend here this evening. I replied in the negative. He
then requested my attendance, and 1 promised it. I have
done so, and was urged upon my entrance to take the chair.
This honour I at first declined, feeling that as I was not a
member of the association, some person belonging to their
body should preside; but again I was solicited, and without
further hesitation complied. How could I have done other-
wise when I reflected upon the many acts of kindness shown
towards me by the conservative electors of North and South
Toxteth Wards? And allow me here, gentlemen, to say,
that upon no occasion have I felt your kindness towards me
greater than upon a recent one, when confined to my house
by indisposition—unsolicited by me ; for indeed I did not
desire the honour—Many of you got Up a memorial to the
conservative members of the Town Council, requesting them
to appoint me an alderman, for that in your estimation none
deserved it better. I have been informed the memorial was
presented, but that ere it reached its destination the conser-
vative alderman had been selected. Once more 1 thank you,
and pray rest assured, that whether it be in this town or
elsewhere, you will always find me manfully supporting the
Protestant principles of
protestant England.
Mr. INMAN rose to propose the next resolution :—" That
this meeting begs leave to express its unqualified approbation
of, and its confidence in, the conservative representatives of
their wards upon this occasion, feeling convinced, from their
well-known conservative and Prorestant principles, that their
conduct will always be in strict accordance with their princi-
ples,"—which was passed nein. con.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman by acclamation,
when, having left the chair, he said that he could not allow
his brother conservatives to disperse without calling their
attention to the assistance which they had on all occasions
derived from the conservative press of the town. He there-
fore moved.—" That the thanks of this meeting be given to
the conservative press of this town for the zealous co-opera-
tion in the good cause, and it pledges itself to support them
by every lawful means."
The resolution having been seeonded by Mr. Robert
Cottin, and carried by acclamation, was briefly acknowledged,
on the part of the conservative press, by a gentleman from
this office, and the meeting then broke up.

GOVERNOR OF PRESTON GAOL._ Captain Anthony, the
governor of the Preston House of Correction, has given
notice of his wish to retire from his office in March next.
We have authority to condradict a paragraph which has
appeared in several of the public journals, that his Royal
Highness the Duke of Sussex is about to resign the Grand
Mastership of the ancient order of Freemasons. That his
Royal Highness has no such intention is evident when we
state that he was unanimously proposed at a meeting of the
Grand Lodge on Wednesday last to fill the distinguished
office for the ensuing year.—London Times.