The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-04-17 00:00:00

THEATRE-ROYAL, LIVERPOOL.

EASTER MONDAY, APRIL 20th, 1840.
The popular VOCALISTS, Miss ROMER, Mr. TEMPLE-
TON, and Mr. G. STANSBURY, of the Theatres-
Royal Drury-lane and Covent-garden, are engaged for Ten
Nights, and will make their first appearance here, this
Season, on
EASTER MONDAY, 20th April instant, -when will be
performed the favourite Comic Opera f
THE LOVE SPEL ;/
Being the English version of DonizetfL s Italian Opera of
d' Amour.'
Adina, Miss Romer ; Nemorino, . Templeton ; Doctor
Duleamara, Mr. G. Stansbury ; as riginallv performed by
them in London ; Belcore, Mr. P rove ; Ciiannetta, Miss
G rant.

To conclude with the Tragic Play of
DAMON AND PYTHIAS.
Damon, Mr. Stuart ; Pythias' Mr. W. Howard ; Hermion,
Miss CleaVer ; Calanthe, Mrs. W. H. Bland.
On TUESDAY, the Comic Opera of the LOVE SPELL.
After which, the Tragedy of BRUTUS.
Lower Boxes, 45.; Upper Boxes, 3s. Gd.; Pit, 2s. Gd.
Gallery, ls.—Doors to be opened at Half-past Six, and the
Performance to commence at Seven.
The Box-office will be open on EASTER MoNo.vv, when
Places in the Lower Boxes may be taken of Mr. MINSTER
t'roni Ten until Three o'Clock. ,

EJ)t itibrrpoot &tanbarii.

FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 1;, 1840.

By the Horatio, Captain Howland, we have received
New York papers to the 26th ultimo. These papers
do not contain any political news of importance. The
following is a general summary of the intelligence
brought by the Horatio :
Trade continued very dull. Litttle was doing in the share-
market. The rate of exchange had not altered in the in-
terval since the sailing of the Great Western. The transac-
tions for the intermediate packets had been limited, parties
reserving the business until the sailing of the British Queen,
The Pennsylvanian House of Representatives had passed
a resolution authorising the governor to borrow of the
United States Bank 1,000,000 dollars at 4 per cent., to be
paid in the " constitutional currency," or its equivalent, to
be applied to the payment of interest falling due before the
meeting of the next legislature, and for the repair of public
works. The Resumption Bill was still before the Pennsyl-
vanian Legislature. The Ist of October was the time likely
to be fixed for the restunption of specie payments by the
banks. It was extremelY, doubtful, however, Whether the
bill would ultimately pass.
The proceedings in Congress seemed to excite very little
attention in the newspapers, and are quite uninteresting to
the English reader. The boundary question had • not been
again alluded 'to in either house.

The latest advices received at New York from England
were to the 3d of March, by the packet-ship Stephen Whit-
ney, which arrived off New York from Liverpool on the
22nd ult.

Mexican papers to late dates had been received at New
York. General Santa Anna, it is said, had obtained his
Passports, with the view of travelling, but whether in Europe
or the United States was unknown. The Mexican Congress
had authorised the Government to borrow 1,000,000 dollars,
at not less than 80 cents for a dollar. This loan is to be one
of the ways and means of carrying on the expedition against
Texas.

The New York papers do not contain any- news from
Canada.

The day on which we publish being Good Friday,
Ave gladly abstain from our usual comments upon po-
litical affairs. There are, however, one or two subjects
Upon which we feel impelled to remark, and which,
affecting as they do the religion 'and morality of our
country, we shall perhaps he pardoned for bringing
before the attention of our readers.

We alluded briefly in our last putilication to a• pla-
card, which has been circulated during the present
week, announcing the intended desecration of Good
Inlay by the disgusting and depraved disciples of the
Infidel Robert Owen. On this day, which is set apart
by the Church as one of solemn and deep humiliation,
and which has always been religiously observed as the
anniversary of the cross and death of the Redeemer of
mankind, the filthy and obscene professors of Socialism
have dared to fix for the opening of their temple of
Profanity and licentiousness. It was not sufficient that
their increasing influence and numbers should be pa-
raded before the public; it was not sufficient that
Socialism should be able to emerge from the kennel
and the sty ; that the foul abortion which has hitherto
been compelled to celebrate its unclean orgies in ob-
scurity should be able to raise its unsightly form in
the blaze of day and within a " Hall of Science;" but
an opportunity must at the same time be taken to out-
rage the feelings and to mock the time-hallowed asso-
ciations of a great Christian community by the wanton
and deliberate desecration of one of its most solemn
festivals.
We are aware that to_sanction such a desecration is
quite in accordance with the liberalism of the present
day. We know with what rapture the enemies of our
Established Church are accustomed to regard any oc-
currence which is calculated to impair its strength or
to wound the feelings of its supporters. But the out-
rage which is this day to be perpetrated is not directed
against the Church of England alone. It is directed
against the principles and the feelings of the entire
body of Christian religionists, who, equally with
churchmen, observe and revere the anniversary of our
redemption by the blood of Christ. The gauntlet of
the infidel is thrown down to every sect and to every
church; and although we are prepared to concede to
those who differ from us in religious opinions a right
to dispense with any portion of our observances, yet
we cannot but think that there is a point beyond which
"en toleration ought not to extend. We may allow
some latitude of religious principle to. exist amongst
us, and even the total absence of such principle we
may not visit with temporal punishment, however much
we may regret to observe it in any portion of our fel-
low-creatures ; but when the doctrines of Atheism,
mingled with disgusting profligacy and reckless blas-
phemy, are openly paraded and actively inculcated be-
fore our eyes—are allowed to insult our altars and pro-
fane our Sabbaths—we submit that it is time for the
rulers of a Christian people—for the representatives of
a Sovereign who has sworn to maintain and preserve
the pure religion of her subjects—to interpose the krong
arm of authority, and to drive howling to his den the
foul monster whose obscenities are poisoning the
springs from which they have been accustomed to
drink of the waters of life.
Under any circumstances it would have been pain-
ful to us to regard the progress of that brutalising
system of which Robert Owen is the apostle and
founder. We should have regretted at any time to
contemplate the dedication of a large and, we are told,
a costly building to the unhallowed purpose of dissem-
inating, amongst the industrious classes of this great
community, doctrines so injurious in their operation,
so prejudicial to the wellbeing of society, and so fatally
destructive to the eternal interests of their infatuated
dupes but when we notice the utter Contempt of
Christianity, and the reckless disregard of decency,
which have led to the selection of this particular day
for the purpose, our feelings of regret are converted
into those of indignation, and especially when we look
around us in vain for those manifestations of public
opinion, which in other and better days would have
been loud enough to check so gross and daring an
outrage upon religion and morality.
The hymn. of praise and thanksgiving is rising from
every spire throughout the length and breadth of our
beloved land ; the lofty swell of the organ is mingled
with the lisping notes of tens of thousands of the
children of our industrious poor; the sweet incense
of prayer, breathed from the lips of a Christian people,
ascends from every green hill and valley where a vil-
lage or a hamlet has assembled its little congregation
of worshippers, to listen to the tale of man's redemp-
tion, and to contemplate and admire the wondrous
love of Hire who gave his only begotten Son to the
,cross for man's salvation. But here, alas !—from the
heart of this great commercial town—the foul breath
of 'infidelity is allowed to ascend, like the smoke of
the burning cities of the plain, and to darken and
obscure from the eyes of mankind the cheering pre-
sence of the throne of mercy. The insulting scoff
and the ribald jeer are permitted to mock the tale of
divine love,
.and an altar to be set up and incense
offered to the impure spirit of evil, within hearing of
the song of thanksgiving which is issuing from before
the shrines of the only true God ! This monstrous
Praanation is allowed, and not a voice is raised to
deprecate its commission. The heartless philosophy
Which' sits in our high places looks calmly on whilst
the demon of infidelity offers her alluring embrace to
the young, the giddy, and the presumptuous, and by
the blandishment of her smile, and the honied accents
Of her syren lips, wins and enslaves the hearts, and
Perils the souls, of thousands of our population.
" Can such things be,
And overcome us like a summer cloud,
• Without our special wonder?"
Alas, they can ! When impurity and infidelity are

' caressed at the court of England's Queen, her subjects
need scarcely wonder if they present themselves boldly
at the doors of more humble dwellings. When the
chief priest of socialism has been an honoured guest
at the palace of the Sovereign, need we wonder if he
little fears from the authorities of Liverpool an inter-
ference with his disgusting and demoralizing orgies ?
We have deprecated on more than one occasion the
consequences of this ill-advised introduction. We
have pointed out the scandal to which it would give
rise, and the encouragement which it would afford to
the growth of that baneful system of which Owen is
the propNator and the acknowledged author. Are
those of our contemporaries who defended its propriety
prepared to acknowledge that they were in error ? We
fear not. The high tone of morality which would
prompt such an acknowledgment from the lips of a
modern liberal, is not to he found in that portion of
the press of Liverpool which condescends, week after
week, to argue against doctrines which a manly oppo-
nent would at once denounce and condemn, and which
the great majority of the community already regard
with utter loathing and disgust. The liberal press
and the liberal authorities of Liverpool will do nothing
to put down and crush this obscene thing, which has
fastened upon the hearts and the minds of so large a
portion of—we grieve to say it—the educated and in-
telligent amongst. our middle and industrious classes ;
but surely the gross and glaring insult which is this
day offered to the feelings of the moral and religious
portion of the community will not be forgotten, and
the people of England will at length be roused to a
conviction of the contamination and imminent peril,
which a false and erroneous liberalism is allowing to
approach and threaten with defilement our homes, our
altars, and our throne.

Since the above remarks were in type, we have
heard, we need scarcely say with what feelings of sur-
prise and shame; that the Liverpool Choral Society
have contracted with the followers of socialism for the
use of their hall, and that the latter are about to erect
an organ for their accommodation. Surely it cannot
be- that' a society whose objects are so far elevated
above the filthy pursuits of the disciples of Owen,
should be mad enough to degrade themselves by such
an impure association. The divine strains of Handel
and Mozart must never be allowed to echo within the
walls of a socialist temple ! At any rate we are con-
fident that the great body of the supporters of the
society will never listen to them in such a locality.

We understand from our metropolitan contempo-
raries that Joseph Hume has succeeded in opening the
doors of the British Museum to the public this day—
a day consecrated by the universal voice of Christen-
dom to the most hallowed purposes. We live in fear-
ful times. The strongest and the most systematic
efforts are now being made to eradicate from the minds
of the public every vestige of Christianity. There are
men to be found, even amongst our senators, who
openly sneer at every religious observance, and
who laugh at the solemnities of the present sea-
son as antiquated and narrow-minded prejudices.
The remembrance of the passion, cross, and death of
the Redeemer of mankind must give way to the
gratification of a paltry taste for the mouldering ruins
of Egyptian and Grecian mythology. The sanctifying
exercises of piety and devotion must be superseded by
an idle lounge among the curiosities of the British
Museum. Such is the way in which modern legiSlators
wish the people to he employed. can such things be
without entailing upon us a national curse ?

Owing to the late hour at which we received our re-
port of the proceedings at the Anti-Slavery Meeting
last night, we are unable to offer any remarks on the
subject this day. On Tuesday we shall endeavour to
do Mr. Scoble justice.

KENSINGTON PEDESTRIAN STEEPLE CHASE.—Since the
event of the grand national steeple chase at Aintree, the sport-
ing spirit of many of our young townsmen have been stimu-
lated to perform similar feats, but, judiciously, in a more
innocent and less hazardous manner. One of very great in-
terest to the immediate friends of those concerned in the
chase, took place on Wednesday last, at Kensington, near
Liverpool. Although no publicity was given to this intended
sport, the colours and flags hoisted at the winning-post and
at the different leaps, excited the curiosity of many on the
London-road, so that the ground became unusually tilled.
The distance was about three quarters of a mile, consisting
of eight teazing leaps, chosen by the umpires, and accom-
plished in the short space of four minutes. Nine gentlemen
entered for the race, but six only started, and came in in the
following order :

L. J. Bird (blue).
J. R. Wiseman (black) 2
•
C. Came (white)
W. Carne (blue and white)..
Scott (pink)
Bolderson (white) 6
The stakes were deservedly handed over to Mr. Bird, who
gallantly kept the lead the whole time. The genial state of
the evening, and the good condition of the ground, added
materially to the success of the contest, which terminated to
the satisfaction and amusement of all present.
" ELLIS'S SODA WATER."—We have rarely tasted a more
delicious and refreshing be-verage than our worthy friend
Ellis's compound under the above name. We are glad to
find that this exhilarating draught is becoming increasingly
fashionable. It richly merits the patronage bestowed upon
it.—See Advt.

THE APPROACHING FANCY BALL.—We rejoice to find
that the preparations for this ball are " progressing " most
satisfactorily- under the able direction of the Committee of
management, who have been indefatigable in maturing all the
necessary arrangements. We trust that their zeal will be re-
paid by a numerous attendance on the occasion, and that the
charities of the town, which are now, we regret to state, in a
very depressed condition, will be greatly benefitted by the
proceeds of the ball. We understand that Mr. Lynn will
provide the refreshments and the supper, which will be given
in the Exchange news-room;, and we have authority to state
that they will be on a more liberal and sumptuous scale than
at any public ball ever vet given in Liverpool. An early ap-
plication for tickets is recommended, as a great number have
already been taken.

THE IRISH CORPORATION BILL—The Liverpool peti-
tion against the Irish Corporation Bill, after receiving 7740
signatures, was presented on Monday night, by the Earl of
Winchelsea, we deem this a little more important than the
miserable failure in the attempted movement in favour of
the measure at the sessions house a few weeks back, which
terminated as it began, in absurdity ; the petition having
been received only as the petition of that oracle of wisdom,
Mr Joshua Walmsley, our would-be representative.
DoNs.—The Marquis of Waterford has disposed of his
two famous black-rnained lions to Mr. Wm. Batty, of
the Royal Amphitheatre, Liverpool, for a very considerable
sum of money. They are the same which the noble Marquis
brought from Africa, he having hunted and killed the mother,
secured.her two cubs, and brought them over to his estate
near Waterford, where he domesticated and made them his
drawing-room and even his bed-room companions. They
are considered by persons conversant in national history who
have seen them, to be two of the finest of their species in
Europe. Mr. Batty intends to exhibit them together with
his other groups of wild animals.

ALLEGED DEATH FROM MORISON'S PlLLS.—Having in-
serted in the Standard a report of the inquiry touching the
decease of Mr. Mallars, who, as was alleged, died from taking
Morison's Pills, we feel it right to copy the following letter,
which appeared in the Morning Post of April 7th :
" Sir,—l am sure that your sense of justice will at once
lead you to contradict the above report, inasmuch as Mori-
son's Pills were not used by the deceased, Mr. Mallars. It
appears from the evidence on the inquest, that the so-called
Morison's Pills taken by Mr. Mallars were purchased of a
person of the name of Salmon, in Farringdon-street, who,
without any authority whatever, attaches my name on the
boxes, and also upon the stamps, in blue letters, to medi-
cines of his own manufacture, of which I know nothing, in
order' to pass them off on the public as Morison's Pills,
against which deception I have repeatedly cautioned the
public. As Morison's Pills were not used on the above
occasion, it is quite unnecessary for me to enter further into
the case. I trust you will see the necessity of giving this
letter immediate insertion.-1 am, sir, yours obediently,
" JAmts MORISON, the Hygeist.
" British College of _Health,
" New Road, London, April 6th, 1840.
" I shall of course now bring the party to justice for the
fraud and consequent injury which he has done me."

The celebrated composer Lewis Spohr has just finished a
grand oratorio, entitled, " The Fall of Babylon," upon which
he has been engaged for about six years past, and which is
to be executed for the first time at Cassel, on the 16th of this
month, by eight hundred musicians and amateurs.
The two magnificent lions captured some years since, on
the Coast of Barbary, by the Marquis of Waterford, and
trained by their noble owner to sleep in his apartments, and
even to follow him like spaniels through his demesne, have
been lately purchased by Mr. Batty, and added to his splen-
did menagerie.

There is at Holbeech, near Leeds, a single room (of two
acses), recently built, for applying the power loom to the
manufacture of lace. The whole is arched in and cemented,
and the top is to be covered with earth, so thick as to make
the top exhibit a grass field. A room, on a smaller scale,
has been similarly constructed there some time since, as a
sort of model.

A lamb was killed yesterday morning, for Mr. Crowe,
Wheat Sheaf Inn, Monk-Wearmouth, each quarter being of
the extraordinary weight of 101 tbs. The lamb was bred and
reared by John Leighton, Esq., of Grindon, near Sunder-
land.—Newcastle Journal.

The large number of two hundred and eighty persons have
been committed to Durham Gaol, duringthe three months
ending the 31st of March last, being an increase of 75 on the
number committed during the corresponding period of last
year.—Newcastle Journal.

If the people should complain that the whigs have grossly
falsified all their promises of " peace, retrenchment, and re-
form," have not the whigs provided a sufficiency of hand-
cuffs, cutlasses, and bastiles to teach them the duty of silence
and submission ?

The parishioners of St. Andrew's church, Droitwich, were
so much effected by a sermon preached by the Rev. J. Top-
ham on Sunday week, that they sent a request to the rev.
gentleman to preach the same sermon again last Sunday. This
is surely the triumph of preaching !—TVorcester Chronicle.
NEW MODE OF KYANIZING TlMBER.—lnstead of simple
immersion, the Manchester and Birmingham railway com-
pany place their sleepers in a wrought iron cylinder, and
with six men to the hydraulic pump raise the pressure from
the liquid to 173 lbs. the inch. This completely saturates
the timber in 10 hours.

'ADMISSION OF REPORTERS TO THE DOCK

COMMITTEE.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ROBERTSON GLADSTONE,
ESQ., AND THOMAS LEATHOM, ESQ.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SIR.,—You will much oblige me, by inserting in your next
paper, the correspondence between Mr. Alderman Leathom,
the Chairman of the Dock Committee, and myself, sent to
you, in the beginning of last week, for publication, in the
Liverpool Standard.

Why the publication of this correspondence has been post•
poned, will probably appear hereafter.—l am, Sir, your obe.
dient servant, (Signed)
ROBERTSON GLADSTONE.
21, Abercrombie-square, 14th April, 18.40.

have this morning read in the Liverpool Mail
newspaper, a report of what is stated to have fallen from you
in the Council room yesterday, in.which my name is intro-
duced in the most unjustifiable manner, and as to which it
is my duty to have an immediate explanation. I wish to be
informed whether that report is substantially correct ; and in
order that no mistake may arise, I now enclose it as taken
from the Liverpool Mail.-1 am, Sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERTSON GLADSTONE.
24, Abercrombie-square, 2d April, 1840.
Thomas Leathom, Esq.

(COPY OF THE ENCLOSURE.)
" Mr. Alderman LE ATROM, the chairman of the commit-
tee, objected to the above -resolution, which, he said, had
been passed during his absence, which he much regretted,
as he should have wished to have recorded his opinion against
the measure. The member for Abercromby Ward (Mr. R.
Gladstone), who he was sorry to see was not then present,
was the mover of the resolution which had been adopted.
The objections which he had to the admission of reporters
were, that their presence would tend materially to increase
the labours and embarrass the proceedings of the members.
On every committee-day subjects came before them which
were not then disposed of, and it would be inexpedient to
allow the discussions on them to go before the public, when
the matters were in an immature state. If reporters were
admitted, it would lead to the appointment of sub-commit-
tees to discuss the majority of the measures brought forward,
and thus take up a great deal of the time of the members in
attending those sub-committees, of which, according to
established rule, he should he expected to be a member.
He had, nearly every day, something to do in connexion with
the dock affairs ; and if, in addition to what he now did, he
had to sit upon sub-committees, there would be no end to
his labours. He did not know the reasons of the member
for Abercromby Ward in bringing forward his motion; but
he could say, without fear of contradiction, that that mem-
ber attended the meetings less than any other member. It
was difficult to keep him in his seat for more than half an
hour ; and it perhaps would be convenient to him to read,
next morning, in the papers, the proceedings of the commit-
tee meetings which he had not attended, and that the rest
had attended all the time."

Hanover-street, Thursday, 2d April, 1840.
was disappointed at not seeing you at the Dock
Committee this morning. I have since received your note,
inclosing a report from the Mail of what I said yesterday on
the subject of admitting reporters to the Dock Committee,
which appears to be substantially correct. The latter part
of it, to which I suppose your note chiefly refers, is perhaps
a little too strongly expressed, and it might have been as well
if I had conferred with you as to your motives for bringing
forward the motion, and particularly during my absence on
Dock affairs, before the meeting of the Council ; but my oc-
cupations since my return from London, after an absence of
six weeks, put it out of my mind to call on you. Seeing you in
yoar place in the early part of the Council, I concluded that
we should go into the discussion of the question, when you
would give your reasons, but I was sorry to find that you had
left the room before the Dock proceedings were read. As
to the precise time which you generally sit at the Dock Com-
mittee Meetings I cannot perhaps offer evidence, but you
must recollect my frequently expressing to you, both in and
out of the committee, my wishes thatsou could give us more
of your company, it being my constant desire that the mem-.
hers of it who are so deeply interested in the management of
the trust as yourself should assist at its deliberations, as I
have always felt that a great responsibility rests on me in the
situation which I have the honour to hold.
I gave notice to-day of my intention to move the recon-
sideration of the question as to reporters on Thursday next,
when I hope you may be able to attend, and the subject will
of course come before the Council again, when you and I can
make any observations which may a pear necessary.—l am,
Sir, yours, very truly, (Signed
HOS. LEATHOM.
Robertson Gladstone, Esq.

SIR,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
yesterday, in reply to mine of the same date, from which I
learn that the report of your speech, as delivered at the last
Council, and which I had inclosed as taken from the Liver-
pool Mail newspaper, was " substantially correct." It re-
mains for me, therefore, to make good my charge, that you
had introduced my name in the " most unjustifiable manner,"
a task which I shall find no difficulty in performing.
Now, before I comnlence my reply to your accusations, I
must remark, that I shall leave entirely to yourself any merit
that may arise from the circumstance of your having, in the
Council, made an attack on my conduct .in the Dock Com-
mittee whilst I was absent. Your letter confirms me in the
opinion I had this morning formed (for I had no intimation
previously of your statement in the Council), that you had
seen me in the Council-room before the proceedings of the
Dock Committee were read. Common courtesy on such an
occasion, recollecting the friendly terms on which we had
been in addressing each other, would at least have demanded
that I should have been informed of your intention to attack
me. Had I received that intimation, and afterwards quitted
the Council-room, leaving the course I had pursued unde-
fended, there can be no question but that the onus of respon-
sibility would have rested with myself, and I should have
done so at my own peril. In your letter, you admit "it
might have been as well if I had conferred with you as to
your motives for bringing forward the motion ;" but, in my
opinion, a candid and straight-forward mind would have sug-
gested that it would have been infinitely better that you
should have done so, and that it was only due to me that
such a communication should have been made by you.
From the very dictatorial terms in which you appear to
have expressed yourself, it might be presumed that a member
of the Dock Committee had no right to bring forward a mo-
tion without your previous sanction and presence on the oc-
casion. I own to no such surveillance as this ; but claim for
myself to think and act as I deem proper, and that quite in-
dependently of you or any other member of the Dock Com-
mittee.

What damage might have been done to the cause of the
" free press" (which was of .yore " the air we breathe in")
by your vote being recorded against the measure, it is bard
to say. There was a time when reporters were much more
in favour than they are now; but they must know that with
some people their charms are evanescent, and that with them
they are only in favour when they can be made conveniently
useful.

Now, sir, my reply to your " unjustifiable statement" will
be best expressed, as coming under the following heads :-
Ist. That, as regards myself, your statements are not
founded on fact.

2dly. That you appear to imitate the self-confidence of
some other members of the Council, in attacking one who,
for a short time only I trust, remains in a minority in the
Council-room ; and. therefore, that you presume on a
strength which is undeniably an artificial one.
3dly. That you appear to be tinged (which I did not be-
fore suppose) with the spleen and venom (though I believe
in a somewhat more modified form) which I have myself
experienced, and which is one of the distinguishing feature,
of the party with which your name is associated.
And 4thly. I shall direct myself to the gravamen of your
objections, Why reporters should not be admitted."
I go at once to the first charge.
An impartial person would infer, from what you are pleased
to say, that I had sought some sort of evasion, by bringing
on the discussion of the question, as to the admission of
reporters, in your absence. I will state briefly the purport
of what I said on giving notice of my motion, which was to
this effect—that, as some of the members of the committee
were absent, I would, instead of a week's notice, give a fort-
night's, by which time it was stated that the deputation then
in London (of which you were one) would have returned.*
Therefore it is clear I allowed no cause for complaint on this
point. Now you say "you do not know my reasons for
bringing forward this motion." If this was the case, before
you made a charge against me, it was your duty to inquire
and satisfy yourself as to my reasons, and not to make state-
ments without having firstascertained the grounds on which
those statements were to rest. But I will tell you what my
reasons were. In my opinion, the admission of reporters is
essentially necessary, for the best interests of the ratepayers;
and I consider that necessity to be enhanced by the attempt,
on the part of the Dock Committee, to erect warehouses,
themselves to be the managers, which were to come in open
competition—a public purse against a private one—with
those who, according to this measure, have been duped, by
their purchases of land, for the purpose of erecting ware-
houses, from the Corporation ; and, in cases where the rate-
payers were warehouse-owners, positively bringing their own
funds into active opposition against their own interests,
thereby compelling them, nolens volens, "to cut a stick to
break their own heads." _

You are stated to have said—and the report has received
your seal of being substantially correct—that, " without fear
of contradiction, that member (meaning myself) attended
the meetings, less than any other member." I deny the
correctness of this statement, though in the absence of a
reference to the records of the Dock Committee, 1 am not
able to furnish particulars, but it would have been well if
you had happened to notice some other members of the
committee, of your own school, who not only do not regu-
larly attend, but when they do attend, are of no use. But
this probably might not have suited the purpose, otherwise
you would not have had to travel very far through the alpha-
bet, before the name of one individual, a political partisan,
though now no longer in the committee, would present itself,
whose visits were as few and far between as any on record,
unless an occasion offered where he was for once very par-
ticularly wanted. But, sir, I never heard you mention, or
attempt to complain, of this individual, nor even of some
who are still on the committee ; and why you venture to take
such a liberty with me, it may not perhaps be hard to infer.
In evidence, however, of a contradiction of your first state-
ment, and in support of my denial, I refer to what you say in
your letter just received ; ' as to the precise time, which you
generally sit at the Dock Committee meetings, I cannot per-
haps offer evidence." Here it is right to remark, that on
this point, you could, in the first instance speak " without
fear of contradiction." The less said of this little discre-
pancy the better.

ou proceed further to state, that " it was difficult to
keep me in my seat for more than half an hour." This I
deny ; and I challenge you to name an instance in which I
have left the committee-room, when any subject of impor-
tance to the trust either was then discussing, or to come on
for discussion, unless I except some of the details of the
Dock Warehouse Bill, which, seeing how the tide ran, it was
worse than a waste of time to oppose there. But, even
were the case otherwise, I would ask what right have you
to controul my going and coming? You are not responsible
for my actions, and, until I require your aid, I consider such
interference wholly uncalled for. I complain, as I believe
others do, of the extraneous topics introduced, the conse-
quent waste of time, and the want of better arrangement at
the meetings of the Dock Committee; and, -if mem-
bers will talk, I conceive myself no more bound to sit
through their arguments, all about " nothing," than I do
to waste my time in the council-room, listening to propo-
sals for petitions to parliament, about the privileges of
the House of Commons, abolition of the punishment of
death, the corn laws, or bills for the better protection
of oyster fisheries, lobsters, muscles, &c., either in Ire-
land or Scotland. Common sense tells me that, as a
local functionary, I have nothing to do with such matters,
and that they tread very far beyond their province, who at-
tempt to discuss them. As to your insinuation, that " it
perhaps would be convenient for me to read, next morning,
in the papers, the proceedings of the Committee meetings
this would, on the contrary, be extremely " inconvenient,"
for it would subject me, too frequently, to a repetition of
what I had heard the day before—an infliction which, with
all due deference to you, I must loudly protest against.
Now, in noticing your reasons, as adduced in the Council-
room, against the admission of Reporters, you give it as your
opinion that their presence would tend materially to in-
crease the labours, and embarrass the proceedings of the
members." But although this is your opinion, it amounts,
in sum total, after all, to only one opinion. I should like to
know how the result can be fairly ascertained but by a fair
trial? You add further—" on every Committee, subjects
came before them which were then not disposed of, and it
would be inexpedient to allow the discussions on them to go
before the public when the matters were in an immature

state." In contradiction to this, I maintain that such sub.
jects, and so adjourned, do not occur " on every Committee"
day—that they do sometimes so happen I admit; but I can
see no more risk by the adjournment of a subject in the
Dock Committee, than there is in the Council-room, where
they are so much more frequent. But the real sore seems to
be, not so much that the admission of Reporters is an im-
proper measure, as that it will add to the duties of the
Chairman of the Committee. That it will compel him to
look to the arrangement of his matter for the consideration
of the Committee, and to place it before them in a more
businesslike form, I can have no doubt • but beyond this
point, as regards your assertion, I can admit nothing; and
this would at least secure to every one, unless the Chairman
be excepted, an economy of time.
I must now be permitted to say, that, although you may
give up much of your time to the Dock Committee and its
concerns, you do not give more than I do to the public, for all
useful and practical objects. To me the hour of meeting of
the Dock Crrumittee is very inconvenient, as it clashes with
the Paving Board meetings, which I have to attend; and
when a proposition was some time ago made for changing
the hour, I was, I believe, amongst the number who sup-
ported the measure, though it was unfortunately lost. In
consequence, it rarely,occurs that I can be punctual to the
hour of meeting of the Dock Committee.
Now, I think I have made out a pretty strong case, and
have fully supported what I set out with, that you had made
use of my name in " the most unjustifiable manner."
It is for you to explain the course you have entered upon,
which has been unprovoked on my part, though most un-
gracious on yours. I have cm one or two occasions given
you my aid, when, as chairman of the committee, others
have attacked you. But, when I find statements such as
yours touching me individually, I usually look to the source
from whence they proceed. In your case, they come before
the public in the garb of respectability, and, therefore, I must
look to you to contradict as publicly what you have advanced,
or, failing which, it will be my duty to publish this corre-
spondence, so as to enable the mercantile community of Li-
verpool to judge between us • not that I dread at all the re-
sult of your attack, for I think the effects of that will only
recoil upon yourself. You have, it is plain, all the will, but
not the power, to injure me, otherwise it is pretty clear as to
the use you would make of it.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
ROBERTSON GLADSTONE.
24, Abercrombie-square, 3d April, 1840.
I have omitted to state that I should have remained in my
place in the Council-room, on Wednesday, had not my pre-
sence been unavoidably required elsewhere.

SIR,—Not having received any reply to my letter of the
3d instant, my intention is, in justice to myself, to publish
the correspondence that has taken place between us; and
this course I shall adopt, unless I hear from you before five
o'clock this afternoon.—l am, your obedient servant,
ROBERTSON GLADSTONE.

T. Leathom, Esq. --
24, Abercrombie:square, 6th April,llB4o,

quarter-past two.

lianover-street, Monday, 6th April, 1840,
5 o'clock.
SlR,—Numerous avocations and calls, public and private,
upon my time, have prevented me from bestowing that no-
tice on your letter dated the 3d inst. (which was delivered on
the morning of the 4th) which you probably consider its
merits, as well as its great length, of upwards of eight
closely-written pages, entitled it to.
I had not, however, forgotten it, and was about writing my
reply, when I received your note of this day, containing a
peremptory demand of an answer on pain of your immedi-
ately publishing our correspondence.
Notwithstanding the mandatory tone of this your last com-
munication, I shall make no difficulty in complying with
your. desire to receive my answer, which I shall he enabled
the more readily to do by reducing your complaints of my
speech in council to the following heads, viz.
Ist,—My having made my charge in your absence.
2d,—My having mis-stated as to your attendance at the
Dock Committee.

And 3d,—Of having erroneously construed your motives
for bringing forward a motion for the admission of reporters.
As to the first, I beg to say that I saw you in council pre-
vious to the reading of the dock proceedings, and had no
reason to suppose that you would have absented yourself so
early, and before the important matters before the council
had been disposed of.
As to my statement in respect to your general attendance,
I can with confidence appeal to any one of the gentlemen,
whose presence at the committee has been constant and re-
gular, for the truth of what I asserted.
As to my observations in respect to your motives in bring-
ing forward, and pressing during my absence, a motion for
the admission of reporters to proceedings in which you have
ever taken a very moderate share, I think you have no rea-
son to complain. A much less charitable interpretation of
your motives might perhaps have been given than that which
I conjectured.

With this letter I trust our correspondence may close.
You are at liberty to make what use you please of it, and I
feel perfectly easy as to the opinion which the community
may form of my conduct. _

I am, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) THOMAS LEATH OM.
Robertson Gladstone, Esq.

SIR,—I received your letter, professing to be in reply to
mine of the 3d instant, about five o'clock yesterday afternoon.
I need hardly say, that its contents are wholly unsatisfactory
to me, and that you have answered no one point contained in
it. As if to add intuit to injury; you tell me, that " numer-
ous calls, public and private," prevented your bestowing
"that notice" on my letter which I probably considered
it merited. I conceive, that when I complained of injustice
towards myself, of statements having been advanced by you,
which were not borne out by facts, that your first duty, at
whatever sacrifice it might have been, was to clear yourself
of such an imputatidn.

Be assured, that your time is not more valuable to you
han mine is to me; so much so, that, if you suppose my
etter of the 3d was extended beyond ordinary limits, merely
to occupy time, and fill up a leisure hour, you are much mis-
taken.

I have appealed to facts. I charged you with having at-
tacked my conduct, when I was not present in the Council
to defend myself. What is your answer to this ? That
"you had no reason to suppose that yca would have absented
yourself so early." Does this alter the fact, that you did
attack me, whilst defenceless. Mark, Ido not complain of
" what you had no reason to suppose," but of what you did
charge me with, whilst you admit yon saw I was not in the
Council-room to defend myself.

I have told you, that wiih regard to my attendance in the
Dock Committee, you have not staled the fact. How have
you met with this retort? First of all, in the Council-room,
you took upoli yourself to say, that you could speak on this
point "without fear of contradiction;" but when you had
received my remonstrance you say, "as to your general at-
tendance, you can offer no evidence." Now, you hark back,
throw the onus off your own shoulders, and state, you it can
with confidence (and of course " without fear of contradic-
tion") appeal to any one of the gentlemen whose presence at
the committee has been constant and regular, for the truth of
what you asserted." We shall see how this appeal will be
met.

What your presence or absence has to do with any motion
a member of the Dock Committee chooses to introduce, I
know not. For all I can see, one chairman is as competent
as another to conduct the business of the day, which is simple
and straightforward ; and what advantage was to be gained
by waiting another fortnight for your appearance is more
than I can arrive at.

I shall most assuredly avail myself of an an early oppor.
tunity of publishing this correspondence; for, if you feel
" perfectly easy" as to the opinion which the community may
form of your conduct, I think I do not over-estimate my
case when I say, that I rest with the most perfect confidence
as to the dedision they may arrive at.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) ROBERTSON GLADSTONE.
24, Abercrombie-square, 7th April, 1840.

Hanover-street, Wednesday Morning,
Sth April, 1840.
SlR,—Courtesy and the respect which I entertain towards
yourself induce me to acknowledge receipt of your letter of
yesterday, to which I have really no other reply to make
than to refer you to what I have already written to you, of
which, I repeat, you are at liberty to make whatever use you
please.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
(Signed) THOMAS LEATHOM.
Robertson Gladstone, Esq.

"k I originally proposed, according to the practice in the
Dock Committee, a week's notice ; but being then informed
that the deputation would not probably have returned within
that period, I immediately acquiesced in a fortnight's
notice. R. G.

Mr. Easthope is to bring into parliament after Easter,
a bill to relieve dissenters from the payment of Church-
rates.

The Earl of Arran is spoken of as the next Kinght of St.
Patrick, in place of the late much lamented Earl of Ennis-
killen.

Lord Lyndhurst is daily gaining strength, and will, no
doubt, be able to attend in the House of Lords, after the
recess.

Lord Brabazon has come under the lash of the agitator's
scorpion, for absenting himself from the division on Lord
Stanley's bill.

Mr. Bond Cabbell has accepted an invitation to stand for
Marylebone at the next election. A requisition was presented
to him signed by 1270 voters.

The Duke of Wellinuton has recommended the Rev. Henry
Melvill to her majesty to fill the vacant chaplaincy to the
tower,,of which his grace is high commissioner.
An idea has been started of constructing a tunnel under the
river Wear, so as to facilitate the communication between
Sunderland and Monk-Wearmouth shore.

The second or double line of the Newcastle and North
Shields railway is intended to be opened tomorrow. Upwards
of 500,000 passengers have been carried upon it since the
opening.

A circular has been sent by the Cambridgeshire association
to other similar bodies throughout the kingdom, recommend-
ing a fund to be raised for giving counter lectures in defence
of the corn laws.

The swallow, that cheering harbinger of a welcome season,
has thus early made its appearance in the nighbourhood ; being
sooner by some weeks than its first visits are usually paid.—
Preston Chronicle.

The cuckoo is now to be seen here and there in our neigh-
bourhood, though we have not learned that its note has yet
been heard.—.Dumfries Herald.

The Spectator designates the Duke of Wellington's " me-
morandum" " the only statesmanlike document, proceeding
from the British government, to be found in the volume of
papers relating to China.
Mr. William Villiers Stuart, M.P., has addressed a letter
to the Morning Herald, in which he states that there is no
foundation whatever for the report of his brother (Lord Stuart
de Decies) having embraced the Roman Catholic faith.
PEMBROKE.—The establishment of the Royal Dock Yard
is to be considerably augmented. An order was received last
week for the entry of upwards of 100 workmen and appren-
tices of different classes, which will make the total number
to be permadently employed about 700.—Cambrian.
Lord Moreton has opened for public inspection a model
farm at Cromhall, for the purpose of showing to his neigh-
bours the advantages of carrying on farming operations on
the most improved principles. The farm books are open to
all persons wishing to see them, and periodical reports are
made of the results of all systems of agriculture adopted.—
Bury Herald.
THE NEW PATENT OMNIBUSES.—The present omni-
buses have long been considered to require much improve-
ment, and it seems that a new form is about to be introduced,
which will obviate several existing inconveniences. The new
patent omnibus will be divided into two by a partition along
the centre, and having
.a row of seats on each side, back to
back, against the partition and facing the windows, the sides
to be entered by distinct doors, and hand rails to be fixed,
so that passengers may guide themselves to and from the
vacant places. As the windows will be in front of the pas-
sengers when seated, ventilation may then be obtained with-
out the fear of taking cold. There is to be a bell on each
side, with strings within reach of every passenger, to indi-
cate when they wish to get out, and on which side of the
way they desire to be put down, with such an extent of the
' steps behind, that passengers will not be compelled, as now,
to alight among the mud of the carriage.way.—morning
Herald.