The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-01-20 00:00:00

DIED

Lately, at Meaulich House, parish of Croix, Ross.ahlre, aged
95, Malcolm M'Leod.

- Lately, General Hodgson, Colonel of the 4th, or King's Own
Regiment.

At Mattishall, Norfolk, Anne, relict of the Rev. T. Bodham,
in her 98th year.

On the gth September, at Benin, Africa, aged 36, Capt. Philip
Carpenter. of the barque Peru, of this port.
On the Ist October, on board the brig Limena, Captain J.
Whitehead, aged 33, formerly master of the Golden Eagle, of
this port.

On the 31st October, at Laguna: de Tenninos, Mr. Robert
Christian, formerly of this town.

On the 2nd November, washed overboard from the barque
Thomas Mellor, hence for Fernambuco, aged 23, Thomas, 5013
of Mr. Thomas Lloyd, of Gloddeth, near Conway.
On the 15th November, at St. Lucia, Mr. J. T. Ely, aged 26,
formerly of Lord-street, Liverpool,
On the 17th November, at Samuleottah, in the East Indies, in
the 21st year of his age, of jungle fever, Foster Cunliffe, Esq., of
the Madras Civil Service, second son of Brooke Cunliffe, Esq.,
of Erbistack Hall, Flintshire.

On the gth November, at Funchal Madeira, aged 21 years,
Richard, the only son of the Right Hon. R. L. Shell, M.P.

On the 3rd ultimo, iu the Island of St. Vincent,
thaniel Cropper, Esq.
On the 26th ultimo, of hooping cough
bert, son of Mr. J. Faucet, plumber, Renshaw-strec
Tuesday last, of the same complaint, aged
daughter of the above

ged 74, Na.

aged 19 months, Ito.
,nd on

2 weeks, Ellen,

On the 3rd December, et Leguan Island, British Guiana, the
Rev. Wm. Jacob Thomas Dodgson, rector of the parish, aged
42 years.

On the 31st ultimo, at Ayton, aged 73, the Rev. David Tire.
In August last, when still officiating in his pulpit, he had com-
pleted the fiftieth year of his ministerial labour over the congre-
gation there, and for the first forty years cf that time he had
never fur a single Sabbath been unable to discharge his official
duties.

Same day, aged 75, Mr. John Chandler, ironmonger,
brow.

Shaw's-

On the Ist instant, at Genluce, in his 98th year, Mr. Peter
M'Gill.

On the sth instant, at Hinderton, near Neston, Cheshire, In
her 77th year, Mrs. Mary Hough.
On the 6th instant, in Dublin, in his 7cth year, Mr. Francis
Priestly, upwards of forty-five years compositor of Saunders'
News. Letter.

Same day, aged 42, Mr. Joseph Clegg, veterinary surgeon
Same day, aged 43, Catherine Roberts, Fontenoy-street.

On the 7th instant, in Upper Park-street, Mari Alice, infant
daughter of Captain R. Bence, of the Veracity, of this port.
Same day, the Rev. Francis Dixon, the oldest minister of the
Independent denomination in Sheffield.

SaMe day, at the Old Swan Inn, near this town, aged 11, Mr.
John Aldcroft, formerly of the Wagon and Horses, Longsight.
near Manchester.

On the Qth instant, aged 40, Mrs. Mary Ann Gill, of Grafton-
street, Toxteth•park.
..._

Same day, of consumption, aged 16, Jane, youngest daughter
of Mr. Joseph Jeffries, of Kirkdale.
On the 10th instant, aged 73 years, Marion, rel'et of the late
Mr. Wm. Shankland, of Great George's-street, Liverpool.
On the 12th instant, at his residence, Hurrock-wood, Cum-
berland, Rev. John Hutchinson, at an advanced age.
Same day, at his son's house, Soho-street, aged 77, Mr. Wm.
S‘s art)? iek.

Same day, at an advanced age,' Mr. John Stealey, of Well-
street, Holy well.

Same day, at Sunside, near Ulverstone, Ellen, wife of Mr.
John Mottershead, late of this town, shipbuilder, and second
daughter of Mr. James Rose, of Halegate, in this county.

same dayf
Mr. Josiah

ged 46, Etizaheth, youngest daughtefof the late
Day, of Newton-cum-Luton, Cheshire.

Same day, in Woburn-place, London; after a short but severe
illness, aged 49, Mrs. Cornwall Baron Wilson. The deceased
was the authoress of several very clever poems. She was

most gracious Queen, at the Cardiff Bardic Festival, in 1834 ; in
1837 she gained the prize offered by 'the Methodists' Club for
the words of a song, although there were upwards of two hun-
dred candidates; and she also wrote the words in the third vo-
lume of Mr. Parry's Wtlsh Melodies.

On the 13th instant, aged 7 years, Ed;ar, second son of Mr.
Silas H. Richards, cotton broker.

Same day, at his residence, Lower Tranmere, Cheshire, Mr

Joshua Barton

Same day, Sarah, widow of the late Mr. J. Killett, coach-

Same day, after a severe illness, aged 57, Mary, eldest daugh-
ter of the late J. Dunn, Esq., of Hartford.

Same day, in Oldhall-street, atter an illness of four months,
of abcess of the liver, Charlotte, relict of the late Mr. Hogan.
Same day, at Leamington, the Lady Ann Wardlaw, relict of
the late Mr. R. W. Ramsay, of Whitehlll, and daughter of the
late Earl of Balcarres.

On the 14th instant, Mr. Charles Harrison, officer of Excise,
Hardy-street.

On the 15th instant, at Oaklands, Rock Ferry, in his 72nd
year, John. Dodson, Esq.
On the 16th instant, aged 3), Mr. Wm. Crowe, plumber, Bev-
ington-bush, eldest son of the late Mr. Wm. Crowe, of spar-
ling-street, universally respected by all who had the pleasure of

his acquaintance.
Same day, at Foden-bank, Macclesfield, Cheshire, Alice, wife
of W. S. Newbold, Esq., third daughter of the late Rev. Rich.
Lexham, Rector of Halsall.
Same day, Arthur, infant son of Mr. W. H. Beckett, Myrtle-
street, aged 8 months.
On the 17th instant, in Seymour street, aged 40 years, John
Stewart, Esq., surgeon.
Same day, a,„.,,ed 57, Margaret, relict of the late Mr. Walnut%
Hughes, of Uniion.street, deservedly regretted by a large circle
of relatives and friends.

Same day, after a painful illness, Mary Ann, third daughter of
Mr. William Watmough, accountant, Strickland-street, Everton,
aged 15 months.

Same day, Sarah, wife of James Smith, Bsq., Clifton-park,
Birkenhead.

On the IBth instant, Ann, wife of John Smith, Esq., St. Ann-
street, aged 43, and eldest daughter of the late Richard Tomlin-
son, Esq., of Northwicb.
Same day, at her residence, Toxteth Old hall, Miss 'Yam
Backhouse.

Impenetrable secrecy still hangs over the inten-
tions of her Majesty's Government, with respect to
the nature of the measure about to be introduced for
the settlement of the corn laws. That there is to be
such a measure, and that differences with respect to
it led to the late break up of the Cabinet, there can
now remain no doubt. It is the degree and the
machinery only of the protection to be afforded to
which the public mind is now directed, with an in-
tense earnestness of mingled fear and hope, which
we never remember to have existed regarding any
political question, The merest straw thrown up,
which can he supposed to indicate the probable
course of events, is watched with anxious eyes.
Every chance word which drops from lips supposed
to be in a position to speak out upon the subject is
eagerly canvassed ; and yet all remains uncertainty,
—bewildering and painful according to the degree in
which men feel themselves affected in the question
upon which they speculate.
Beyond the mere subject of the corn laws, there
is one issue towards which a pdrtion of the public
attention and anxiety is just now especially directed.
A large body of the community have embarked their
capital in railway projects to be submitted to the
consideration of Parliament in the ensuing session.
A vast outlay has been incurred in the necessary
surveys, and the preparation of the necessary plans,
&c.; and the time is close at hand when some mil-
lions of money will have to be deposited in accord-
ance with the requirements of the standing orders of
both Houses, in the hands of the Accountant-Gene-
ral of the Board of Trade. Hence the question is
anxiously canvassed—" Will the measure of Sir
Robert Peel, with respect to the settlement of the
corn law question, be of such a nature as to excite
the strenuous opposition of his usual supporters and
compel him, in his attempt to carry it, to resort to a
dissolution of the new Parliament i" Such a step,
taken at the early period of the session, will, accord-
ing to the ordinary practice impose upon railway
companies the necessity of commencing their pro-
ceedings de novo, and thus entail upon them :vinous
expenses, besides retarding the progress of works, to
whose carrying out the country looks with great in-
terest. In addition to this evil, a dissolution would
lock up for a session the ten per cent. upon the
capital of the various companies, about to be depo-
sited in the Board of Trade. Until this doubt, as to
the duration of the present session and the ability of
the present Parliament to deal with the various
schemes before it, is cleared up, speculation, whether
for permanent investment or otherwise, must obvi-
ously be suspended. It has already paralyzed our
stock markets, and rendered any attempt to realize
the money invested in even the most promising and
legitimate undertakings an impossibility. We pro-
pose to inquire whether the fears to which we have
referred are well founded ; and, if in doing so, we
shall have to trespass upon the patience of those of
our readers who do not feel themselves interested in
the subject, we may remind them that there are
others, and a numerous class, to whom it is one of
vital concern, affecting their interests and their
position in the world more immediately than the
question of the corn laws itself.
In the first place we would submit that it is not
nece-sary or certain that a dissolution of Parlia-
ment should throw back the new companies for a
year, or involve new surveys, new plans, or new
deeds, with the repetition of the compliance already
made with the standing orders. The House of
Commons, last year, permitted the schemes, upon
whose merits they had commenced their enquiry, to
stand over, and gave them liberty to commence in
the ensuing session, at the stage which they bad
reached at the prorogation. It may be agreed,
however, that this step could not be justified in a
case where such unfinished enquiry would have
to be taken up by a new tribunal—a new parliament,
composed of men who had not heard a word of the
past evidence. Probably it would not be attempted.
But we much question whether a dissolution, if it
take place at all this year, will not come at so early
a period of the session as to render it unlikely that
the entirely new schemes can have passed through
the very first stages. There would not be the
slightest difficulty, therefore, in their corning at
once before the new• parliament to go through the
whole of the necessary ordeal, without being made
to re-survey, and comply again with the standing
orders. A short Bill would, we think, be granted
before the dissolution, enabling them to de this,
and thereby save a vast unnecessary outlay of money
and delay of time.
But shall we be destined to see a dissolution, at
all, this year ? We think not; and our reasons for
so thinking are many. In the first place, we feel
convinced that Sir Robert Peel, and the Duke of
Wellington are not the kind of statesmen likely to
stake their existence, as ministers, upon a measure
which they do not, at least, think themselves pos-
sessed of means to carry. Whatever may be the
form or the extent of that measure—whether total
repeal, or a large step that way—they will be pro-
vided with something to allay the opposition and
break the fall of the agricultural body. They have
found the present Parliament most pliant fn their
hands—most feeble in its resistance to aggression—
most conveniently forgetful of pledges and of prin-
ciples ; and they would not be likely to increase
their power of carrying any Free Trade measure by
an appeal to the agricultural constituencies, in their
present excited state, although the commercial con-
stituencies might perhaps aid them with a few addi-
tional representatives of the Anti-Corn Law League.
The premier and his colleagues will therefore prefer
to work with materials which they have tested—
whose capability of gulping down new tariffs, and
new commercial principles, they know by past ex-
perience ; and they will frame their corn-law mea-
sure with a nice adaptation to that capability, and
with such adjuncts and sauce, as will serve to ren-
der the distasteful morsel endurable to the palate.
Presuming, however, the forthcoming measure of '
government to be one of the boldest and most
sweeping description, there is, in our opinion, little
chance of such a very strenuous opposition as would
be required to drive the Premier to a second re-
signation or to a dissolution. We see ominous signs
of defection amongst the ranks of the most ultra of
the protection party. Scarcely a meeting of the
protection society takes place without some in-
fluential member, whose countenance was depended
upon by his constituents, pleading to be excused
attendance, and covering his recreant conduct under
a shower of professions and vague generalities, or,
if present, pleading for time to consider and care-
fully avoiding any specific pledge. Thus, of the
twelve Conservative members for Shropshire, who
were recently invited to a protection meeting to be
held at Shrewsbury, we find no less than five re-
fusing to attend. Mr. Tomiine declines because
he " has not the honour of being a member of the
society." One would have thought that, if con-
vinced of the necessity of opposing Sir Robert Peel,
and standing up for protection to British agricul-
ture, the present crisis was the time to become a
member. Mr. ForteFcue "waits to see what the
measures are which it is the intention of the govern-
ment to introduce." Mr. Milnes Gaskell simply
"cannot attend," but states that his principles are
unchanged. Mr. Whitmore does not think it ne-
cessary to travel to Shrewsbury when he can as
easily explain his sentiments at Bridgenorth. Mr,
Ackers has a cold, and shall be prevented attending,
but " so long as he has a seat in the legislature,
shall give his humble, but strenuous, opposition to
all measures emanating from the Anti-Corn-Law
League or its supporters." How with respect to
measures emanating directly from a Conservative
Cabinet ? Lord Clive, who was present, " would
do his best to secure them what they were entitled
to ; but, until he knew what was Sir Robert Peel's
plan, it was impossible for him .to tell precisely what
course he should pursue."
Such frigidity as the above does not at all lead to
the notion that any very strenuous opposition is to
be offered to Sir Robert Peel. The following, how.
ever, more plainly indicates that grumbling con-
cession is to be the order of the day amongst the

We regret that we have only space in our present
number to call attention to the able speech and the
elaborate and most encouraging statistics, brought
forward at the Council Meeting, yesterday, bearing
upon the progressing prosperity of our Dock
Estate, by its indefatigable chairman, Mr. J. Bram-
ley Moore. There. are few men, so blinded by poli-
tical prejudices as to deny that the present chairman,
and his colleagues, have brought, and are con-
ducting, the affairs of the Trust reposed in them to
a state of prosperity, for which Liverpool will have
to be grateful, and by which her commerce will be
provided for, and stimulated, for years to come.

There was some show of aptitude for the end, for
which it was doubtless got up, in the late meeting
of agricultural labourers, held at Goatacre, to show
to the world the extent to which the Corn Laws ex-
tend their protective shadow over that neglected
body. It was a well arranged melodrame—full of
telling points—too miserably true, we fear, in its
darker features—reminding us with considerable
force of that " happy peasantry " which we have
been accustomed to dream and to talk about, as ap-
pended to the soil of Great Britain. The notion of
seven shillings a:week, with a grinding poor-law, for
men to live upon and bring up in honesty six or
seven children, was strongly presented to the na-
tional mind by this assemblage of labourers by
mixed candle light and moon light, with a cart for
their rostrum, and the cold of a January night for
their atmosphere. It told its tale more forcibly
than the eloquence of a hundred Anti-Corn-law
meetings or a score of monster subscriptions.
But you may farcify anything—even the evidence
of misery—; and the open-air meeting of the opera-
tives of Liverpool, got up on Thursday evening in
Clayton-square has farcified even the telling meeting
of the labourers of Wiltshire. The speakers at the
latter were men with whose startling details of their
sufferings and neglected condition we could be
amazed and grieved ; the speakers at the former ex-
hibit nothing like the reality of suffering, by which
the poor agriculturists were prompted to place their
case before mankind. The one was the prompting
of those real and truthful feelings of wretchedness,
the expression of which is even eloquent ; the other
was the maudlin raving of similated suffering.

But there is even more than this difference in the
character of the two meetings. We ask of any of
our readers to refer to a report of the meeting at
Goatacre, and show us in what the poor men as-
sembled there deviated from the strict object for
which they were assembled. Which of the speak-
ers at this meeting indulged in harsh denunciation
of their superiors ? Which of them launched into
philippics against aristocracy, against the Church,
or against religion ? None. Yet our Clayton-
square spouters were not at all squeamish on such
points. Which of them came most to the real
question at issue? Undeniably the poor agricultu-
ral labourers. One speaker amongst them could
tell what his income had been for nearly two years
past—how he had expended it, and how he had la-
boured to husband it rightly. But where was the
plea of the Liverpool operative ? Where his argu-
ment or his proof that he is aggrieved by the agri-
cultural body ? The one has a direct case. He
can point to the protection which the law gives to
native agriculture and remind his landlord that
such protection only allows him pauper's wages.
The others—the Simmondses of the Clayton-square
meeting—tell us that they have plenty of bread and
to spare ; and raving is the staff of their argument.
We arc ashamed of the contrast. It is disgraceful
to the boasted enlightenment of towns, and most
creditable to the better feeling and better temper of
the men, whom our modern Solons are accustomed
to treat as so many clods or stones.
But enough of the subject. A perusal of the re-
port of the meeting, as given and, no doubt, dressed
up to the utmost in the Mercury, is sufficient to sa-
tisfy any thinking man of its real character.

The subject of this evening's lecture at St. Andrew's
Church will be " The Christian's Duty in Common Life."
THE PROTESTANT ALLIANCE.—The new confedera-
tion, styling itself the " Protestant Alliance," which,
merging the name of " Orangeism," purposes to em-
brace within its ranks all classes of Protestants, has put
forth a strong manifesto or declaration of the principles
on which it has been founded. It is adopted by some of
the best men in Ireland.
THE CENTRAL BUILDING SOCIETIES.--OH Monday
evening last the anniversary of these societies was cele-
brated by a dinner at the Brunswick Hotel, Hanover-
street, at which about thirty of the members were present.
The dinner was served up in excellent style, and with a
liberality which reflected the highest credit, on the host,
Mr. Whiteman. The chair was occupied by Mr. F. F.
Chinn.
Trinity Church, Huddersfield, after having been tho-
roughly repaired, painted, and beautified, was re-opened
on Thursday, the Bth instant, for public worship. Di-
vine service was read by the Rev. N. Manning, M.A.,
the respectful incumbent. Rev. H. Stowell preached
both morning and evening to crowded and attentive audi-
ences. On the following Sunday three sermons were
preached for the same purpose, those in the morning and
evening by the Rev. T. Nolan, of this town ; and that in
the afternoon by the Rev. Mr. Haig, Incumbent of St.
Paul's, Huddersfield. The congregations, especially that
in the evening, were numerous, and the amount of the
collections exceeded £l5O.

"The general-talk is, that the Corporation got into a blunder
when they sold the land on Wallasey Pool, and nevsr got out of
it since; that mis-management was aggravated by a palpable
hostile feeling entertained towards the Birkenhead people ; that
the mistake which precipitated the sale, ought to have been
long since corrected by a re-purchase! and that it is not even
yet too late ! ! that the mercantile mind is only now awaken-
ing to the prospect before us, and that Docks in Wallasey Pool
are essential to the progress of that prosperity."

By way of inducement to theOrpo'ratio'n to buy back
again the property which they have so mistakenly parted
with, our contemporary's " talkers' iassure us that, with
a free trade in corn, Liverpool is to become not only
"the granary" of the world, but that Liverpool and Bir-
kenhead are to become successful rivals of Manchester,
even in manufacturing.

"What has been done on the banks of the canal, they say,
may be done on the extended and unappropriated banks of
Wallasey Pool. Mills may abound there, as well as on our
canal; coal can be brought from Wales to Birkenhead at a
price below that for which they are sold at Manchester;
and the Liverpool and Bury railway will, by and by, lay them
down at a charge equally moderate, at the extremity of Vaux-
hall-road. Our population is numerous; our facilities are
greater than those of any other place ; for the cotton is landed,
and when spun or woven, shipped here. We save the_ expense
of doubla transit, and, what is of greater value, time.".

Factories in' Wallasey Pool, as well -as docks and
warehouses ! There's a chance for gentlemen who wish
to specula° upon the "unappropriated banks," which
the corporation, we have no doubt, would readily be
induced to sell. It puzzles our poor heads, certainly, tl
tell where the supply of fresh water required for steam
and manufacturing purposes could be got; but such very
clever people could get over this or any other difficulty.
The next generation will, no doubt, see reservoirs erected
down the sides of Bidston Hill and Bleach Crofts,
whitening the mud and bog of the unappropriated banks
of Wallasey Pool.

THE MERCURY'S SLANDERS ON THE

MAYOR

The Mercury is, really, becoming too excruciating in
her character of the Mrs. Caudle of our local politics.
On Friday last she perpetrated a piece of slander,
which amazed us, and really made us doubt whether
there was a spark of virtue left in mankind or in Mayor,
Mr. David Hodgson, she said, and we acquit the very
respectable Cook of the Town-hall of having prompted
her, that the present Mayor had reduced the wages of
the waiters at the Town-hall dinners from 6s. a-week to
55., and thereupon she opened upon his unfortunate
Worship a volley of what, we suppose, she calls sarcasm,
which ought certainly to have annihilated him,
" He has reduced their wages (said Mrs. Caudle, pathetically)
from 6s. to 55., and not only so, but, in order to carry the eco-
comic movement a little further, he has reduced the number of
waiters from eleven (the usual number) to eight, and still fur-
ther, employs his own servants to keep a watch upon the other
waiters, lest they should be tempted to taste the good things
provided for the select few are now honoured with a seat at the
Mayor's dinner table."
Pooh ! pooh ! Mrs. Caudle. The Mayor has done
nothing of the sort. You have been dreaming, good old
lady. The waiters, how elderly females do sympathize
with the imaginary woes of flunkies ! are not reduced at
all, either in number or in price. And, as to employing
his own servants to wait at table every gentleman, and
every mayor, brings his own servants to wait at the
Town-hall, or any other public entertainment, and
thereby gives the guests the benefit of the services of the
hired waiters. Really, our poor Mercury must be
getting down in the) world when she is compelled to
invent subjects, and of so paltry a sort, for her weekly
railings. Our contemporary ought to stick to the politi-
cal vein, in which she shines as luminously as a penny
tallow. When she takes to the inventive vein, she sim-
ply makes herself ridiculous —and worse.
Seriously, and it is scarcely possible to be serious upon
such a subject—we pledge ourselves that the whole of
the improbable story of the Mercury is utterly untrue,
as it is preposterously unlikely to be so. Not a waiter
employed has received, or is likely to receive, a shillin g
less than in former mayoralties.

SOUTHERN HOSPITAL.—The annual meeting of this
excellent institution was held yesterday, and was nume-
rously attended. The Chair having been taken by J. B.
Yates, Esq., the president, the :report of the committee
was read, and was highly gratifying. It appeared from it,
that, the last January report alluded to the extended
usefulness of the hospital, and the probability of an en-
largement of the building becoming necessary. In c•.n-
templation of this, the committee had prepared plans for
raising the wings, and south end, and proceeded to solicit
means to carry their views into effect. Their efforts were
not premature, for the number of patients had since so
much increased, that it had been necessary to place a few
of them in beds on the floor. The number of patients
admitted from Ist January, 1845, to same date 1846, was
643, being an increase of 127 on the previous year. The
number of outpatients was about the same. Each year
brought new proofs of the necessity of the establishment
in the locality, and of the benefits it diffused. Had the
eight sufferers from the bursting of the tank in Rock-
street, been carried to either of the other two hospitals,
life would probably have become extinct in two of the
cases before they arrived. The committee had appointed
a chaplain of the church of England, the Rev. T. Nolan,
who most zealously ministered to all whose condition
would permit them to collect in one room, and he also
went round the wards offering spiritual consolation to
those on beds of suffering. Every patient was, however,
at liberty to call in a minister of his own persuasion, and
clergymen of every denomination were invited to visit,
and as they best could to promote Chistian feeling
piety, and resignation. The committee concluded
by renewing their earnest appeal to their townsmen, as
they are still in want of a considerable sum to enable
them to proceed with the new buildings, while the current
expenditure is yearly becoming greater. A vote of thanks
was passed to the president for his great services to the
institutiop.. Mr. Yates returned thanks, and spoke
strongly in behalf of benefits to arise from an extension
of the buildings. Thanks were also heartily voted to Mr.
Platt, the treasurer, who feelingly replied. Other reso-
lutions (which will be found in another column) were
then passed, and the meeting dispersed.
Peter Parley's name is Samuel Griswold Goodrich; he
is the son of a clergyman of Connecticut, a state which
has sent forth more literary men than any other n
America.

After reading these documents, Mr. HENRY CROS-
FIELD said, that after the full account which had just
been laid before the subscribers, he felt reluctant to oc-
cupy their time, by making any remarks; but he wished
to call attention to the g reat step which the committee
had taken relative to the purchase of new premises. This
charity offered great facility to the admission of patients.
No recommendation was necessary. Poverty and suffer-
ings were the only recommendations required ; and, as
far as practicable, they were relieved. The patients had
become more numerous as the charity had become known,
and many times, during the past year, upwards of one
hundred patients came seeking relief in one day. In the
present small premises, it was impossible to find even
standing room for half that number, consequently they had
been obliged to stand in toe street, waiting their turn. They
were there exposed to influences which frequently had a
tendency to aggravate the symptoms from which they
sought relief; and, under these circumstances, the .com-
mitt:T felt they would not be doing their duty if they did
not endeavour to obviate that evil. Their first idea was
to obtain land, and erect a new building ; but they found
that would be incurring too great an expense. After
much Ansideration, and the inspection of several pieces
which had been offered, they concluded the arrangement
which the meeting had heard read. It would be observed
that £l4OO were required to complete the purchase, and
for this sum the committee now made their appeal to the
generosity of their fellow-townsmen. They made this
appeal very confidently, for they believed this charity had
good claims upon the sympathy of the public, and that
their call would be liberally responded to. Through the
past year 52 individuals had received their sight, most of
whom had not the means of obtaining relief elsewhere.
Had it not been for the existence of this charity, they
would most probably have been in darkness at this mo-
ment ; and had the charity done nothing more than that,
it would have been an ample return for the amount of
money expended. But there was a host of other cases
who had receiver! assistance here, and which, if it
had not been for the timely aid rendered to them,
the maladies which afflicted them would have increased
to such an extent that total blindness would have ensued,
and they and their families must have been thrown upon
the public for support (Hear, hear.) In an economical
point of view this charity had, therefore, great claims upon
the pub! c. He was glad to see so many gentlemen who
had hitherto rendered liberal assistance to this charity,
and he called upon them to lend another helping hand to
it, and by their exertions and influence assist the com-
mittee to make up the sum required for the building. He
made this appeal with the greatest confidence, because he
firmly believed, when the charity was once firmly in the
position they sought to place it in—free from debt—and
they could not, with their small income, afford to have
any encumbrances : they would be able to enlarge its
usefulness without materially increasing the expenditure.
He hoped, therefore, at the end of this present year, he
should be able to congratulate the subscribers upon the
oherity beibg placed in the situation the Committee
desired; namely, entirely free from (1,13t7eml the income
fully adequate to the expenditure. (Hear.)
Mr. NEILL then read the following,—

Sir, of the usefulness of the Li%erpool Eye and Ear
Infirmary the statistical table which I hold in my hand
is the proof. It is a record of some very interesting facts.
It informs us, that out of every thousand individuals of
our town community, more than one, who is poor and
needy, has been aflFcted with some serious ailment of the
eye, which has called forth the assistance of this institu-
tion in its alleviation. Even from the fact of 3,462 per-
sons having applied for relief, and having had that relief
instantly and effectually afforded to them. Now, that the
management of the institution may be clearly understood,
it will be well for me to state that the system upon which
it has been worked has been, to have the doors thrown
open to all, who are suffering from the specific diseases
which it treats, every day of the week, except the Sab-
bath ; and that the only recommendation required shall
be poverty and disease. The system is found to work
well, as I shall show to you—but it deprives the public
of the opportunity of estimating the necessity of such a
charity; because when a recommendation is required the
afflicted one is obliged to hunt about for his recommenda-
tion note, and thus calls forth to notice the want of !such
an hospital. Now as our doors are open to all who are
poor, the poor flock directly to us for relief, and the pub-
lic know nothing of their sufferings ; which would be the
reverse if a recommendatory introduction were required.
But inflammation, or injuries to the eye producing inflam-
mation, will not brook delay with impunity. The beauti-
ful transparent structures of this important organ will not
bear to be tampered with by delay—one hour of neglect
will destroy these delicate transparencies, and by delay of
relief the sufferer would be left to deplore the loss of that
sense, which of all others is the most prized, and if lost is
the most deplored. Light was the that work of creation.
How great a treasure is its reality ! How precious to en-
joy sight! How sad the loss of sight! How satisfactory
must it be to you, the friends of this charity. to have it in
your power, witl;God's assistance, in so many instances
to save so useful a sense ! _ _ _

The OPeicieois-Of the Eye and Ear Infirmary receive
those who are wounded in the great public and private
works of this huge town and neighbourhood every day.
Two hundred and eighty-six engineers and artisans con-
nected with these great works have been relieved in your
hospital in the past year. These 'pen are chiefly from the
railways and foundries, and are to their employers of so
much importance, that even in a selfish point of view,
their support of this institution is quite apparent ; and
when the master's attention has been respectfully called
to our needs for the workmen's wants, I have no doubt
that we shall have the necessary and increased support.
There are some other facts I wish to draw your atten-
tion to, deduced from this statistical table. There has
been in the past year a frightful increase in small pox
ophthalmia. I have rarely had to record more than three
cases in a single year—in the past year there were no less
than thirteen cases of great severity,—all cases where
sight was injured or lost. Now how happens this? Is
the local system of vaccination defective? Is vaccination
a preventive? lAM SURE IT Is; but is vaccination
tested in the public vaccine establishment? I raise the
enquiry ; I merely state a fact, and one of importance to
the health of towns.

My table tells me that the north-west wind of the past
year, and the great dampness of the atmosphere, has
caused a huge mass of disease of the outer structures of
the eye. Somewhere about two thousand cases have oc-
curred ; and as as a proof of the atmospheric enemy, our
cases returned, and returned, and relapsed, and tormented
us in an unusual way. The ordinary remedies did not
avail : and the house was crowded, and the poor creatures
had often to stand in the street, waiting for an hour to
gain an entrance to my colleagues or my own self. 18,474
times did Dr. Edwards and myself prescribe for the poor
applicants of your charity in the past year. This fact
will explain to you what already your treasurer has so
emphatically done, the absolute want of more ample ac-
commodation, both for out and in-door patients. As I
have mentioned the treasurer, permit me now, for my
colleagues and myself, to express to Mr. Henry Crosfield
the full appreciation we have of his charity in the ma-
nagement of your hospital ; and to say, how pleasant it is
to work in a good cause with the full concurrence and
hearty assistance of a zealous committee and a liberal
treasurer.
The report which has been read will have told you that
fifty-two blind individuals have had sight restored by
operation. On former occasions I have thought it well
to give you a history of some of these interesting cases :
on this occasion, although ample opportunity is afforded,
I think it better to produce for your inspection some ex-
amples of our surgery ; and, when I run over the cases.
I shall be glad if you will test the results of my simple
operation for cataract : which many of you have seen the
operation, and to its simplicity do I attribute the success,
which is greater than in any other similar hospital in the
kingdom.
I have only one word more to add. Dr. Edwards and
myself have prescribed in the past year 2,519 times in pa-
tients suffering from depreciation of the sister sense—a
loss of hearing. This will satisfy you, that in having
added the treatment of the ailments of the ear to the Old
Ophthalmic Institution, you have responded to a call
which was much required, and is now the means of com-
forting many, and alleviating much misery, without having
imposed much additional expense upon your institution.
I cannot sit down without noticing the satisfactory im-

provement made in our surgery ; and my colleague and I
have every right to express our full approval of the work-
ing in this department, and to recommend Mr. Barrow,
the assiatant surgeon to the notice of the friends of the
institution, as an untiring and most efficient assistant.
The Rev. T. BOLD moved, and Mr. JOHN CROSFIELD
seconded, the first resolution, which was to the effect,
that the report, with the treasurer's accounts, be re-
ceived, printed, and circulated.
The CHAIRMAN, in putting the motion, said he could
not anticipate any objection to it. There could be no
doubt that the report was most gratifying; and he, for
one, was much surprised to find so much good done with
such small means. (Hear, hear.) He thought, indeed,
that the same could not be said of any other institution
with which he had the pleasure of being connected, and
he had bad something to do with most in the town. It
was a most astonishing fact, that although the absolute
income arising from subscriptions did not reach £3OO,
about 18,000 cases had been under the hands of the sur-
geons ; and he thought if that single fact were made
sufficiently known, it would at once be the means
of doubling the annual subscriptions ; for really the
subscriptions were nothing in amount when we considered
the great wealth of the town of Liverpool. (Hear ) With
regard to the cases sent out as cured, he was happy to
have it in his power to speak particularly of two which he
had been the means of sending into the institution, both
from the manufacturing district in the neighbourhood of
Colne. One was the case of a female who was totally
incompetent to do any thing for her family, having be-
come entirely blind from cataract. She was 61 years of

age. She went to the institution in April, 1845. She was
operated upon the sth of April, and discharged cured on
the 7th June; and she was now enabled to go through her
family work, and to read her family bible perfectly well,
(Applause.) The ether was the case of a boy, 11 years
of age, who came from the same district. His cure was
even more rapid than the woman's, for he did not enter
the institution till some time after her, yet he was dis-
charged cured the same day. He was operated upon ber
ing then blind of both eyes, on the 3rd May, on the 7th
June he returned with the woman to his native country
also cured. (Much applause.). . _

The resolution was then carried unanimously.

Mr. SAMUEL SANBACII moved that the proceedings of
the committee in the purchase of the dwelling house in
Mount Pleasant be confirmed, and that the meeting pledge
itself to use every exertion to obtain donations to cover the
amount required. The only comment necessary on this
resolution that he should make, was, "Put down your
subscriptons." (hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN,—II would be the best plan.

Mr. ALFRED WATERHOUSE seconded the motion