The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-25 00:00:00

Ritirrpoot gPtar'oarb.

FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 25, 1840.

On this day—the anniversary of the birth of the
Redeemer of Mankind—we lay aside the ordinary topics
of political controversy, and• turn gladly to the contem-
plation of objects which possess a deeper and more
abiding interest in the human heart. Thanks to the
benignant and:blessed influence of our holy church,
the cold utilitarian practice of modern liberalism has
not yet succeeded in denuding this time-hallowed fes-
tival' of its• sacred influences. The " sound of the
church-going bell" still rises from the moss-grown
fangs of old England—still rings through every green
valley and over every heath-clad hill. The multi-
tudinous chime, from loftier temples, still peals upon
the ear of the busy denizens of our cities and large
towns; and announces to countless thousands of hum-
ble„
and happy worshippers that the star of Bethlthem
has risen above the mountain tops to guide them
through the dark night of the world to the living foun-
tain of eternal light.
We would not be the men who could turn away with
a cold heart from the ordinances of this sacred day, or
sneer at its holy keeping. We will not mar its sanctity
by the intrusion of mere wordly topics. A thousand
thousand hearths throughout Great Britain are at this
moment cheered by the presence of glad and unaccus-
tomed faces—the faces of sons and daughters, brothers
and sisters, whom the world has drawn away into its
busy whirl, but who will worship this day beneath the
same roof; and sit around the same board and by the
same fireside, with the pure fresh feelings of youth
welling up in their hearts and crowding upon their
memories ; and into such circles ours shall not be the
hand to throw the brand of discord. The very mirth,
which the Custom of our forefathers has mingled with
the holy observances of this " glad " festival, is to us
too full of kindly associations and chastened feeling
to allow of its being marred by the introduction of any
subject which partakes of the selfish character of party
and its strife.

We may, however, on this day, not inappropriately
turn our regards and those of our readers to the posi-
tion in which the cause of religion and our holy church
stands now, as compared with that which it occupied
twelve months ago. We were menaced then with
" heavy blows and great discouragements" to be di-
rected against that church. The blood-stained arm of
popery—masked, indeed, feebly by the screen of mo-
dern liberlilisrri—was raised against us. The shrines
of England—those walls within whose shelter our fore-
fathers raise& the voice of thanksgiving and prayer,
and beneath whose shade their mortal ashes rest—were
doomed by a fierce voluntaryism and its host of allies
to moulder stone by stone. But the spirit which in
past ages prostrated the power and trampled upon the
mummeries of Romanistn—the spirit of deep hatred to
the dark apostacy of Babylon, which still lies, like a
smouldering fire, in the bosom of the people of Eng-
land—has beaten back the advancing tide of mingled
popery and infidelity and stricken down the Juggernaut
which was to have levelled our altars in its destroying
course. Thanks to the indomitable courage of that
noble phalanx of Christian warriors, which the Church
of England can call her own and of which Liverpool
boasts a distinguished portion, we have laughed to
scorn alike the hostile attacks of avowed and open
enemies and
,the
.more insidious and more dangerous
machinations of hollow friends !

It is true, we admit and regret, that the feelings of

hostility to the established religion of Great Britain,
which prompted the threat of an unprincipled minister,
are not dead in the breasts of that portion of our fellow-
countrymen to whose bad passions he was so anxious
to pander. Dissent, infidelity, and popery are still rife
and rampant throughout the land—are still flattered
and caressed by its rulers. But the power of the latter
is broken, and the spirits of the former are awed. The
Protestants of Great Britain are no longer the " rope
of sand " which a drawing-room trifler can break with
a finger. We are no longer the timid herd which the
bark of a bully can scatter. The sense of a common
danger, the threat of spoliation and outrage which the
intoxication of past success elicited, has raised a spirit
of enthusiastic devotion to Protestantism amongst the
people, which no minister and no party can now put
down. The hostile feelings of our opponents still ex-
ist; bait—we are awake, and armed for the conflict !
But we shall be Psked for the fruits of this political
regeneration of which we boast ; and empty and value-
less, We are well aware, would be that boast, unless we
could show that it has been accompanied by some
degree of spiritual regeneration. In reply, we can
only say to such querists, " Look around you—look
around you, not only throughout Liverpool, but
throughout the kingdom." Are the chapels of dissen-
ters of every persuasion crowded now morning and
evening, whilst the churches of our national esta-
blishment are empty or half filled ? On the contrary,
the complaint, and the universal one, is of the want of
church accommodation for one half of her anxious
communicants. Although we have given of our means
freely to provide that accommodation ; although new
temples are rising up on every side; yet throughout
the country, as here in Liver Pool, we cannot keep up
with the increase of worshippers who throng to occupy

them, Again, we say; enter the portals through which
that living stream:pours itself on each succeeding

Is the fervid and impassioned tone which
Carries to the heart of that attentive assembly the di-
vine language of our liturgy—chaste in its beauty and
beautiful in its propriety7-is that, we ask, what the
slanderers of the church and its'clergy have described
as the cold and spiritless rehearsal of " an ill mumbled

Sabbath

mass" ? Is that kneeling and devout crowd composed
exclusively of the votaries of Fashion and of Folly,
who flock to a church as they would to an exhibition

Far from it. In the performance of the
services of the church , and with the spirit in which
those services are received, we have witnessed in the

or a theatre

present age—and we witness its increase year by year

ing of earnest and con

cientious devotion on

the part of
.our clergy to the performance of their spi-
ritual duties, which is not unfitly rewarded by the in-

creased attention of their flocks; and for these grati-

g evidenc

s we may, and do thank, in part, the in-

veterate hostility which has roused Protestantism from
its lethargy, in spiritual as well as in political affairs.

LOCAL NEWS

FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Friday last, while a man aged 72,
named John Hahne, a bricklayer, was at work (with others)
in -Nethertield-road, building a house, the scaffolding on
which he stood gave way a little, and he fell on his head to
the ground, from a height of about Hi feet. He was taken
home in a car, and a surgeon was called, but he continued to
get worse until Sunday morning, when he expired. An in-
quest was held on Tuesday on view of the body, and a ver-
dict was returned of " Accidental death."

DEATH BY DROWNING.—An inquisition was taken before
P.'F. Curry, Esq., coroner, on Tuesday, on view of the
body of Joham Blutnquis. The deceased was carpenter of
the Russian ship Patriot Minim, lying in the Queen's Dock.
He went on shore on Sunday afternoon. About ten the
same night be was seen, apparently in liquor, in company
with another man. About that hour, the carpenter of a
Russian barque, lying near the vessel named, heard a splash
in the water, and went towards the spot, but could not hear
anything move. The deceased was missed on Monday morn-
ing, and the body was grappled for and found at the spot
pointed out. Verdict—" Found drowned, but how the de-
ceased got into the water, there was no evidence to show."

DEATH FROM STARVATION.—On Tuesday, an inquest
was held before Mr. Curry, on view of the body of Michael
Larkin. On the previous Wednesday, the deceased went to
a lodging-house, in Hurst-street, and there engaged a bed,
for which he was to pay 3d a night. He complained of
nothing but of being very cold. He had about a halfpenny
worth of warm milk. Next morning he went out and
returned the same night. On Friday, he complained so
much of being cold, that the keeper of the house advised
him to get a note for the workhouse, and he said he would
do so on Monday. He remained at the house until he died.
At twelve o'clock on Saturday night he spoke to the woman
as usual. He was then in bed, to which he had gone about
six the evening before. He had not anything to eat or drink
from that time up to the time she brought him the water.
On four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, he was found dead
in bed. Mr. Bold Hyams, surgeon, saw the deceased, and
could not account for death from any external appearance.
Lle made a post mortem examination, and stated that his de-
cided opinion was, that the deceased had died from want of
nourishment. The usual appearances, in bodies where death
had been occasioned by hunger, were apparent in that of
the deceased.—Verdict,—" Died through the want of the
common necessaries of life."

ACCIDENT.—DEATII BY DROWNING. Yesterday, an
inquest was held before Mr. Curry, on the body of John
Lewis. It appeared by the widow of the deceased, who was
a native of Banbury, in Cheshire, and a butcher by trade,
that he was in Liverpool on the business of his employer, Mr.
Hewitt, of Sprustow. When in the town, he lodged at the
Butcher's Arms, in Cable-street; were he took tea between
four and five o'clock on Wednesday evening. About ball-
past nine the same night, the deceased was seen walking un-
steadily near the Canning Dock. He finally stepped over
the chain, and after walking a short way inside of it, walked
into the dock. Two men went immediately to his assistance
with a boat. They got him on board, and he was hoisted on
the quay by some persons who had there collected. He
appeared to be dead. He was carried to the British Queen,
receiving house, where the usual means were employed to
restore animation, but without effect. The deceased was
identified by his brother, who lives at No. 2, Roth-court.—
The jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death by
drowing."

ROBBERY.—On Wednesday, a woman named Catherine
Atherton, was charged at the Police Office, with having
robbed a man named Haworth. The complainant said, that
on Friday night, whilst looking at the shows, near the New
Custom-house, he was prevailed upon by the prisoner to
treat her to a glass of ale, which he did, at a beer-house, in
College-lane, where he had also a glass of ale himself. On
coming out with her, he felt " as if all the streets were in a
mass of tire," and was stupitied, with, as he supposed, what
he had drank. They went thence to Great Crosshall-street,
where they had some spirits. On leaving the house, he
missed his money, consisting of a sovereign, a half sovereign,
a crown piece, and about two half-crowns. The police came
to his assistance, and the prisoner was taken to Bridewell.
A crown, four half-crowns, and a shilling, were found in her
hand, and afterwards a sovereign, a half-sovereign, and a
sixpence were found concealed in her stays. The prisoner
said, that the complainant bad made her an offer of marri-
age ; that she had some half-crowns of her own, and that
be had given her the rest, that they might go decently to
church. She was committed for trial at the sessions, Mr.
Rushton remarking that there was very little doubt but some
poisonous liquor had been administered to him.
SECOND SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT.—The ballot for the
places at the second subscription concert will take place to-
morrow.. The programme for the evening is as follows
FIRST PART.

Overture,—" Fidelio."—Beethoven.
Glee,—" By Celia's Arbour,"—Miss Hawes, Mr. Bennett,
Mr. Lunt, and Mr. H. Phillips.—Horsley.
Air,—" From mighty kings,"—Miss Birch.—Handel.
Song,—" The light of other days,"—Mr. Phillips.—Balfe.
Air,—" Holy, holy,"—Miss Hawes.—liandel.
Solo, (Horn)—Motiff de " Norma,"—Mr. Jarrett.
Grand Scena,—" Ah perfido,"—Mr. Bennett.—Beethoven.
Song,—" The Mermaid's Cave,"—Miss Hawes.—Horti.
Trio,—" Soave conforto,"—Miss Birch, Miss Hawes, and
Mr. Phillips.—Rossini.

SECOND PART

Overture,—

" Semiramide

—Rossini

Glee, (by desire,)—" When winds breathe soft,"—Miss
Birch, Miss Hawes, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Lunt, and Mr.
Phillips.— Webbe.
Ballad,—" Auld Robin Gray,"—Miss Birch.—Scotch.
Ballad,—" Shall I wastynge,"—Mr.
Solo, (Horn,) introducing an English Air,—Mr. Jarrett.
Song,—" I'll speak of thee,"—MissHawes.—Missliawes.
Duet,—" Come frenar,"—Miss Birch and Mr. Phillips.—
Rossini.

Song,—" The one we loge,"—Mr. Bennett.—Romer.
Quartet,—" Ecco it fiero istante,"—Miss Birch, Miss
Hawes, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Phillips.—Casta.
There are few sopranos finer than Miss Birch's in this
country ; Miss Maria Hawes' voice is a contralto of much
compass and power; Mr. Bennett's delighttul rich tenor is
well known ; while as bass Mr. Phillips stands the very first
in the profession. We believe Mr. Jarrett, who is announced
to play a solo on the horn, is equal to Puzzi : his tone is very
smooth, and his execution rapid.
AMPHITHEATRE.—It will be seen that the Amphitheatre
will re-open on Saturday night, with a drama, the interest
of which will be very great, as it will contain the whole of
the life and the incidents connected with the death of Napo-
leon Bonaparte. The final burial ceremony of Bonaparte
will be gone through, attended by great scenic displays. A
new farce will conclude the evening's amusements.
BLINDNESS.—We are rather surprised to learn that Mr.
Baxter, the oculist, has not met with that encouragement
here as will induce him to remain much longer in Liverpool.
As we have taken the trouble to inquire
,into the merits of
several cases mentioned in his advertisement, and as we have
ascertained that the statements put forth are all perfectly
true, we can with confidence recommend him to the notice
of those afflicted with blindness. We have conversed with
several of his patients, and from all we have learnt that they
have recovered, or are gradually recovtring their sight, by
means of the remedies he applies. These are so simple, so
easily applied, and attended with so little pain, that we should
think that it amounts almost to a duty, in those who have
friends who arc deploring the loss of sight, to place them
under his care. One man he has now under his care, whom
we have seen, has been blind for many years, and can now
just discern a piece of money at a few feet distance. We are
quite confident that if Mr. Baxter were to be taken by the
hand by a few influential persons, it would be found that he
is able to fulfil whatever he professes. He is a plain kind of
man, but his system is, we think, founded upon truth, and
truth cannot err.

A MAN UNKNOWN FOUND DEAD ON BOARD OF A
STEAMER.—An inquest was yesterday held before Mr.
Curry, on view of the body of a man unknown. It appeared
that the steam-boat Glasgow, trading between Dundalk and
Liverpool, arrived here from the former port on Wednesday
morning. When the vessel arrived at the pier-head a man
was found lying dead on the top of the engine boiler. A po-
lice-officer was sent for, and the body, which was that of a
stranger was conveyed to the dead-house. The deceased was
about 5 feet 9 inches in height, and his hair of a dark gray
colour. He had on a velveteen jacket, a cloth waistcoat, two
pairs of trousers, the inside pair of blue cloth andthe other of
baragon, and a pair of strong quarter boots. Six shillings, a
tobacco box, and a comb were found upon him. It was
stated, that the heat of the boiler where the deceased was
lying was so great that a man could not bear his hand upon
it. There was no way by which the deceased could have got
upon the boiler but through the bunker hole on deck. In
order to procure evidence of the cause of death, by a pos.!
mortem examination, the inquest was adjourned until two
o'clock to-morrow.

DIIIC KS'S PATENT METALLIC RAILWAY WHEEL.
The Polytechnic Journal for the present month contains, in
an article on " Railway Improvements," a very favourable
notice of Mr. Dircks's invention. "As one step towards
the end in view," namely, the prevention of accidents on
railroads, says the writer, " we beg to call attention to a
vast improvement in the wheels of locomotive engines and
carriages, which appears to us to increase, in an extraordi-
nary degree, the power of quickly stopping a train, in rapid
motion, a power which engine-drivers evidently do not Pea-
sess at. present; if they did, several of the late accidents
L,-
would never have happened. This improvement, which
due to the skill of Mr. Dircks, is thus described by that
gentleman." Here follows a description of the wheel, ac-
companied by a diagram. The writer, after pointing out
what he conceives to be the chief recommendations of Mr.
Dircks's patent metallic railway wheel, sums up, his opinion
respecting it in the following paragraph :—.. our examina-
tion into the improvement of the wheel justifies inrecom-
mending it, upon the following grounds, in addition to those
we have already enumerated. It would diminish much of
the noise, which, at present, is a source of general com-
plaint ; the wood-facing will wear a considerable time without
requiring any repair • the wood can be re-faced, by turning
it up again in the lathe, as practised with worn iron tyres ;
the tyre can be re-faced with wood at little expellee, and at a
far less loss of time than usual: and, in the operations of
re-facing these wheels, or putting in new wood, the work can
be performed without the labour and cost of removing the
byu
wheels from the axles, which, in the keying and unkeying,
;sinag this kind
nd
of wheel,
finall the rails
and the fastenings, sleepers, and blocks, will receive consi-
derably knownmselV es t o
will be
suffervery less troublesome
wear
derably less injury, and, thereby, favour the laying of rail-
roads on stone blocks, wherever they are considered to be
most desirable. We have to add, that Mr. Dirck's wheels
have been working for the last four months with complete
satisfaction on the St. Helen's railway, and that IVIr.
Vignoles, the engineer of that line, is their warm advocate.
—Albion.
LOVE AND LAw.—A young lawyer, who had long paid
his court to a lady without much advancing in his suit, a%;
Bused her one day of " being insensible to the power of love-
" It does not follow," she archly replied, " that I am 153
because I am not to be won by the power of attorney
"Forgive me," replied the suitor, " but you should remeta'
hal'. that all the votaries of Cupid are solicitors.!!