The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-08-20 00:00:00

KELLETT V. HEAP AND OTHERS

In this case William Kellett was plaintiff, and John and
William 'Walker Heap were defendants. The action was
brought for the recovery of money lent on account stated.
Mr. MARTIN stated .the case. The plaintiff was an inn-
keeper at Leyland, and the defendants were cotton manufac-
turers, but had subsequently resigned business. The ques-
tion the jury had to decide was one of considerable import-
ance, as a great number of other cases would depend upon the
fate of the present one. It was whether the defendants were
liable to pay money which had been borrowed by a person in
their employment, named Joseph Edge, and for their use
and benefit. In Lancashire it was the practice for manufac-
turers to put out work to be woven by weavers, and to send
a person, who was called the " putter out," to the different
towns to collect the work done, and to deliver out materials,
and there was generally some appointed place where the

weavers met the " putter out" on certain stated days. The
loom, which was the subject of the present action, had been
made during the time the defendants had been manufactu-
rers. They had a warehouse at Leyland, where the weavers
in the neighbourhood were in the habit of assembling to pro-
cure work, and to he paid for what they had executed; and
the defendants were in the constant habit, when they fell
short of money, to go to the plaintiff, and to borrow money
to pay their weavers. The question for the jury to decide
would be in respect of a loan made by the plaintiff on the
26th April, 1829, upon a note received in this form :
" Please to lend us £5 until next Friday. _ _

" JOHN HEAP and Co.
"JOSEPH EDGE."

"Mr. Kellett.
It would be proved by the person who took the note and
brought back the money from the plaintiff, that the sum so
borrowed had been paid for work done on account of the
defendants; and it would be further proved that the defen-
dants were cognizant of this mode of conducting their busi-
ness, that various persons who bad held the same situation
as Mr. Edge had pursued the same course, and that the
money they had borrowed had been subsequently repaid by
the defendants. Evidence so irresistible would entitle the
plaintiff to a verdict. There was one difficulty in the case,
namely, that Mr. Edge had been subsequently guilty of
misconduct in the defendants' employment ; but as the
plaintiff had nothing to do with the acts of that gentleman,
and as the money had been unquestionably advanced by him,
there could be no doubt of the fact that he ought to be re-
paid. _ _

Several witnesses were then examined to prove the case ;
after which,

Mr. CRESSWELL contended that the authority given to
Edge to borrow money was conditional, and that the plain-
tiff was bound to show that the defendants had failed to sup-
ply him with sufficient money to pay the weavers, before he
borrowed any from the plaintiff.
The point was argued at some length, and eventually the
jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for .±:5, subject to a
motion for a nonsuit, if the court above should be of opinion
that there had not been sufficient evidence to sustain the
action.

GAsrcELL V. YATES.
In this case, Henry Gaskell was plaintiff, and Elizabeth
Yates defendant, and the action was brought for the recovery
of the amount of a promissory note for £B4 19s, payable by
instalments. The defendant pleaded that she had been in-
duced to make the note by fraud upon the part of the plain-
tiff.

Mr. CRESSWELL stated the case. He said the plaintiff
felt himself aggrieved at the form the proceedings had taken,
and was extremely glad at having an opportunity to refute
an imputation on his conduct in. the matter. The defendant
had thought fit to plead fraud and cunning, but the circum-
stances would amply prove- that no such means had been
used. It appeared that the defendant's late husband had
been indebted to the plaintiff, who treated him with the
greatest possible indulgence, but at last brought an action,
and got a judgment, which he allowed to remain over. The
defendant's husband died worth money, and the defendant
possessed herself of his stock in trade. The plaintiff, con-
ceiving that she ought to pay him the amount due, proceeded
to her residence at Waterloo, in company with Mr. Cross,
an attorney, where she gave the promissory note, and subse-
quently refused to pay the first instalment, which made her
liable to the full amount.

Verdict for the plaintiff for the sum claimed
HALL V. PROCTOR.

In this case Thomas Hall was plaintiff, and James Proctor
defendant. The declaration was on the case. It stated that
the plaintiff was a colour-manufacturer, and that the defen-
dant had spoken certain slanderous words, which imputed
insolvency to him in the way of his trade.

Mr. CRESSWELL stated the case. The plaintiff in the ac-
tion was a person carrying on the business of a colour-mer-
chant, of respectability and good credit. The defendant had
formerly been in business in Liverpool, but was at present
living on his own means. The plaintiff was under the neces-
sity of seeking the reparation of his character at the hands of
the jury, it having been affected by a very gross and injurious
imputation cast upon it by the defendant, under circum-
stances which showed that the latter had not been labouring
under the effects of passion at 016 time. When a person said

to a trader that he was an insolvent man, unable to pay for
purchases made, it shewed a deliberate intent to do an injury.
Such had been the course of conduct pursued by the defen-
dant in this instance: but what added to the enormity of his

offence was this, namely, that after saying he was sorry for
what he had previously said, he afterwards retracted, and
repeated the offence, without the slightest provocation on
the part of the plaintiff. The first occasion upon which the
offensive language had been used was in the month of April
last, The parties met by accident at a public-house called
.

the Robert burns, situated in Brownlow-hill. The plaintiff
happened to be there with his friends, when the defendant
entered. They had previously dealt together, but had ceased
to do so for some time. The defendant came up to the plain-
tiff and said he wanted to sell him a quantity of ochre, upon
which the plaintiff said he had no great objection to deal with
him. The conversation immediately after dropped. The

defendant then proposed that some of the company should
play at drafts with him. None of the plaintiff's friends agreed
to play; the defendant got displeased at their refusal; and
in his passion he struck the table with his hand. The force
of the blow broke one of the glasses. The defendant ex-
pressed a hope that the company would subscribe a penny a
piece to pay for it. The plaintiff refused to subscribe, where-
upon the defendant, addressed the plaintiff, said he was not
like him, a poor scrawl ; that be could pay his way, a thing
the plaintiff could never do ; that he had been watching the
plaintiff of late ; that the plaintiff was one of the biggest
scoundrels and wastrels in Liverpool ; that he had heard the
fact from a thousand ; that he was acquainted with a party
who would do the plaintiff up before long ; and that he should
have rapped at the plaintiff himself, but that he was not
worth powder and shot. This language was calculated to
injure the feelings and circumstances of the plaintiff. The
defendant, however, never retracted it, but, upon the con-
trary, boasted afterwards that he had succeeded in driving

the 'plaintiff out of the public-house. The plaintiff said at
once that the language was insufferable, and requested his
companions to take notes of what had been said, whereupon
the defendant observed that it was all true, and that he was
ready to prove it. Subsequently the defendant had notice
served upon him, that an action of defamation of character
would be commenced. A friend then interfered, and after
some negotiation, it was arranged that the defendant should
give a dinner to a party of twenty persons,. and make an ac-
...

nowledgment in their presence, of having done a wrong to

the plain-tiff; but, when the day for sending round the invi-
tations arrived, the defendant refused to comply with the
terms of the arrangement. Accordingly the action pro-
ceeded, and since it had been brought, the defendant not only
refused to make any reparation, but he actually said over and
over again, that the plaintiff was a swindling scoundrel, and
that he was ready to prove the fact.
After the examination of several witnesses, to prove the
facts, the jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff—damaged
£5.

NEWHAM, JUN., V. GEIGER.
Verdict, by consent. for the plaintiff for £295 Gs

M'GLEN V. BROWNE.
This was an undefended case. It was brought by the plain-
tiff, Robert M`Glen, against William Browne, for the reco-
very of a bill of exchange for £192 7s. 2d. Verdict for the
plaintiff for the snm claimed.

PROCTOR V. M'ANDREW AND OTHERS.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff, James Proctor,
against the defendants, Robert M'Andrew, Joseph Roscoe,
and Ebenezer Roe, for the recovery of a puncheon of gin,
which had been lost through the negligence of the defendants.
Mr. KNOWLES stated the case. The plaintiff is a spirit mer-
chant in Liverpool, and the defendants are known by the name
of the London and Liverpool Shipping Co., and the action
had been brought to recover the sum of £4B, being the value
of a puncheon of gin, which bad been lost. The facts were
simply these :—the plaintiff sent an order to Messrs. Segar
and Evans, of Millbank, for twenty-five puncheons of gin,
the whole of which were shipped on board one of the defen-
dant's vessels, called the Fabius, in the Thames, to be brought
to Liverpool on payment of the freight. The puncheons were
placed under a quantity of oil. The ship arrived safely, and
on the 6th of March, the plaintiff received notice that the
gin was ready to be delivered to him. The warehouseman of
the plaintiff accordingly went to the dock where the ship had
been lying, to superintend the delivery. The mate of the
vessel then informed him that one of the puncheons had leaked
out ; and it was then ascertained that by some means or
other nearly the whole of the puncheon of gin
had either leaked or been taken out of the puncheon.
The other puncheons were got out comparatively safe, but
the oil had done some damage to them ; but the present
action had not been brought for the recovery of the damage
sustained by any of the puncheons except the one which had
leaked out. The question for the jury to decide would be,
whether the puncheon in question had leaked, or whether its
contents had been taken out designedly.
Several of the witnesses were then examined to prove the
case. _ _ _

Mr. CRESSWELL addressed the jury on the part of the de-
fendants. He contended that it was impossible, from the
situation in which the puncheons had been placed under the
main-hatchway of the vessel, that pilferage could have taken
place, and that the loss had been caused by leakage.
A number of Witnesses were examined for the defence ;
after which

His LORDSHIP charged the jury, who, after an absence
from court for half an hour, returned a verdict for the plain-
tiff—damages Bs.

--;The court adjourned at half-past five o'clock to nine this
morning.

MEETING OF THE DOCK COMMITTEE

At the weekly meeting, yesterday, the following members
were present :—Messrs. Benn, (chairman,) Horsfall, T.
Holt, Middleton, Smith, Mellor, Burley, G. Holt, Tobin,
Chapman, Martin, Evans, and Aikin.
The Sub-committee of Works reported that several con-
tracts had been made for excavations, and scuttling the end
of No. 1 pierhead.
Gas, from the new company, was ordered to be supplied to
the offices of the South Dock-yard.
The Sub-committee, to whom the matter of the head
keeper of the Rock Lighthouse was referred, reported that
they :had investigated all the circumstances, and having
found him guilty of neglect, of misrepresentation, and of fal-
sifying the log, besides having the assurance of the marine
surveyor that no confidence could be placed in him, they
were unable to recommend the general committee to retain
him in the service. Curwen was accordingly discharged,
but the fine of £5 imposed upon him some time ago was re-
mitted. The Sub-committee were authorised to select a fit
person to fill the vacancy thus occasioned.
The situation of clerk to the marine surveyor, salary £BO
per annum, was declared vacant, in consequence of the re-
signation of Mr. Thomas Davis. Referred to the Sub-
committee to recommend a successor.
The same Sub-committee was also empowered to make
arrangements for the working of Clarence, Canning, and
Salthouse docks, the masters of which are in bad health.
The committee then proceeded to the transaction of some
financial business and then adjourned.

CHALLENGE
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MANCHESTER CONFERENCE

GENTLEMEN,—What I anticipated has come to pass, you
have joined with the servants of " Belial," and with delusion
the most infatuated, and most arrogant, you have presumed
(see your chairman's speech of Tuesday last) that you are
able to work out the regeneration of your country ; even,
though as a body, so incongruous are your materials, you
dare not seek fur God's blessing or your efforts, through the
only channel of which it is to be obtained—namely, our
Lord Jesus Christ. How the Papist and Socinian must
have rejoiced in your weakness and wickedness ? and
what am I to think of your politeness ? I have addressed
your secretary by private letter, and yourselves, as a body,
through the public press, and yet you have not deigned to
notice either. And why? Simply because my arguments are
unanswerable. But, in order that you may have no hole to
creep out of, so that the Papists and Socinians may have no
reason to say there is none to stand up for the honour of the
living God, I engage to meet any of your body, you may de-
pute, and prove the following from the authorised version of
the Bible :-
Ist, That it is due-t o the honour of God that there should
be a national church, Upholding his word, and honouring his
name.
2dly, That the Church orEngland does so.
idly, That you are political sciismatics.
If you refuse to meet one, pray have a little modesty, and
arrogate not to yourselves the title of Christian ministers.—
I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant,
B. W. TRACEY, Lieut. R. N.

The increase in the average for the last ten years has been
nearly equal to that of the preceding twenty years!

PROPOSED UNION FOR PRAYER THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD BETWEEN THE 2D AND 11TH
OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.

It gives us great pleasure to inform our readers that the
above noble scheme for directing, concentrating, and adding
fervency to the prayers of the " children of God scattered
abroad throughout the world," in behalf of those common
interests which every disciple of our absent Lord holds
dearer than life itself, is becoming very widely known, and
the myitations to join in it are cordially responded to by
Christians of various denominations in all quarters of the
globe. The originators, who we find are resident in the
great and, it may almost be said, religious, city of Glasgow,
have taken care to circulate the necessary information over
the length and breadth of our own country, and throughout
the various dependencies of the empire, as well as in the
United States, &c. ; copies of the address have been in duo
tune forwarded to the several mission stations of all the Pro-
testant churches and societies. Au early opportunity was
embraced to bring the subject under the notice of the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which venerable court
unanimously issued a hearty recommendation of the plan to
the ministers and people within her pale both at home and
in the colonies. As one of the effects of this sanction, we
find the Synod of Canada preparing to unite with energy in
the duty and privilege to which their distant brethren affec-
tionately call them. No doubt (though unknown to us) the
heads and representation bodies of other churches are tak-
ing similar steps to prosper and join the hallowed enterprise.
We have not heard whether the archbishops of the Church
of England have been applied to a view to procuring an ex-
ercise of their authority in stimulating the work among the
bishops, clergy, and laity of our beloved and ancient branch
of the catholic church. Surely such an obviously plain
course has not been neglected. There is a want somewhere,
however. The success which has been vouchsafed the ex-
cellent Mr. Haldane Stewart in his annual appeal for a con-
cert of a similar kind on the first day of the year, points him
out as the fitting advocate of this extension of his own ho-
noured proposal. Singularly blessed as we believe that
scheme to have been, we anticipate more from this. The
present takes a wider range—it is the call not of an indivi-
dual but of a society—and is now issued and enforced, not
merely in their own name, but under the formal sanction of
ecclesiastical authority. Let us hope that the united church
of England and Ireland will manifest its zeal in the cause of
Christ, by being ready in this great work, and thus availing
itself of the means opened up in God's providence, for pro-
moting its purity and influence, and advancing the kingdom
of the Messiah.

The address that has been published is a document worthy
of diligent study. We content ourselves here with a short
recapitulation of its purport. After stating the fundamental
truth that believers are one with Christ, the head of the
church, and one with each other as the members of the
church, it deduces the conclusion, " that as there is thus a
a community of privilege established among Christians, so
there ought to be a community of feeling and of aim in the
exercise of that privilege." The design of God in constitu-
ting the church and calling a people to himself is next:brought
forward—their glorifying of his name, first as subjects and
specimens of his grace, and, secondly, as channels or instru-
ments whereby grace is communicated to their fellow-men.
" In respect of their active agency, they are appointed in and
under Christ to deal with men on behalf of God, and to deal
with God on behalf of men." It is to the latter of these high
functions the proposal is directed—that of being " the Lord's
remembrancers." And the humiliating confession is made
that professing Christians have too generally lost sight of this
duty, and even given occasion to our Lord to say, in a re-
proachful sense, " Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my
name." The leading subjects of petition are then narrated :
1. Each believer should pray earnestly for himself.
2. He should pray for all other believers, that they, in like
manner, should be living Apostles of Christ.
3. Christians should pray for all connected with them by
relationship, neighbourhood, dependency, or otherwise.
4. They ought to pray for the Sovereign, magistrates, and
commonwealth under which they live, that Christian princi-
ple may regulate all the national proceedings ; and for their
fellow-subjects, that they may be joint heirs of the kingdom
of heaven.

5. The purity, unity, and increase of the visible church
should be prayed for. Connected with this subject is prayer,
for the raising up of highly qualified men for the ministry,
and for the strengthening, prospering, and multiplying of
missionaries.

6. Special prayer should be made for the conversion of
Israel, as the most remarkable event which is to take place
previous to the coming of our Lord. It is to be life from the
dead to the world and the chureh.

7. Along with prayer for Israel, supplications should be
made for the outpouring of the spirit on all flesh, the destruc-
tion of Antichrist, the abolition of idolatry, the universal
overthrow of Christ's kingdom, and the universal diffusion of
the gospel and its blessings.
8. Believers should, in their prayers. look forward to the
kingdom of glory itself. It may be found best to follow the
model left us in the Lord's prayer, and begin with the high-
est subject—the coming of Christ, and descend in the scale
of general importance, following the inverse order of the fore-
going heads, till each individual terminate in his own per-
sonal case. Confession of sin and giving of thanks will, of
course, be intermixed with his supplications by the devout
and humble Chrsitian.

It is satisfactory to find, notwithstanding their deplorable
dissensions on the important question of ecclesiastical polity,
there is still such a prevalence of right feeling between church-
men and dissenters that they can unite as they do in the
present instance in any judicious scheme that is brought
forward to advance the cause of truth. The deficiency of
brotherly love and the want of unanimity is aggravated by
want of sufficient zeal in the prosecution of those objects in
which all Christians are alike interested.

The present is pre-eminently a time for throwing aside dis-
cord and uniting in prayer and effect. The past and recent
history of missions is beyond measure encouraging. The
state of the Jews presents the promise of their speedy return
from their dire apostacy. The walls of China are tottering
to their foundation that the heralds of the gospel may be wel-
comed. Heathen superstition in India, and wherever it has
been assailed however feebly, ceases to offer effectual resist-
aye. The church is decidedly in an expectant attitude, yet,
alas, averse to move forward ;—and the world, the careless
world, is impressed with a dread of coming wants speaking
terror to the gospel, peace to the saints of God.
Our readers will observe that the period of ten days, com-
mencing on the 2d and ending on the 11th of next October,
is the time appointed for this prayer union. What a blessed
thought that then thousands and tens of thousands of God's
people, widely dissevered as the places of their habitation
may be—some in the regions of hyperborean cold, others on
the burning plains of India—some in the vast regions of
Australia, others in the recesses of the Canadian forests—
some in the densely-peopled cities of Europe and America,
others in the isles of the South Sea and on the trackless
ocean—will bend their knees at one and the same time at the
same throne of grace, to present the same petition in the
same all-prevailing name. And they will not ask in vain,
for they only seek the fulfilment of what God has promised
to do in answer to earnest, united, believing prayer. " If,
when the primitive church assembled with one accord in one
place at Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit was remarkably poured
out in answer to their united prayers, what might we not
expect if all Christians throughout the world were to agree
together as concerning what they should ask! If, in answer
to the prayers of the 120 disciples, the Pentecostal first-fruits
were given, might we not hope that a full harvest would be
reaped when thousands or tens of thousands came in one
body to the throne of grace—all guided by the same spirit of
adoption—all pleading the finished work of Imtnanuel—and
praying that the adorable Redeemer might see of the travail
of his soul, and be fully satisfied?"
We extract the following "Plan of the Proposed Union
for Prayer" :

1. During the time specified in the accompanying address,
that is, for ten days from Saturday the 2d, to Monday the
11th October, 1841, inclusive, it is understood and agreed
that the hour betwixt eight and nine in the morning and
eight and nine in the evening, or as near that as possible,
shall each day be given to prayer for the objects mentioned
in the address. On Saturday, the 2d October, it is strongly
recommended that fasting should be conjoined with prayer,
and as much of the day as circumstances will admit given to
religious exercises ; and that Monday, the 11th, being the last
of the ten days, should be observed, as far as may be, as a
day of thanksgiving. In reference to duties of this kind, let
the gracious encouragement, applicable to them as well as to
deeds of charity, be remembered—that a man is accepted ac-
cording to what he hath, and not according to what he bath
not. 2d Cor. viii. 12.

2. It is very earnestly desired that where ministers approve
of the proposed concert, they would, some time previously,
direct the minds of their people to the subject, and that they
would meet at least once on a weekday during the proposed
period, along with their congregations, for the purpose of
praying together for the various objects mentioned.
3. Heads of families should also bring these objects before
their households, and make them in an especial manner
matter of prayer in their family exercises during the specified
time.

4. Thereafter, Christians everywhere are requested to re-
member, that the hour betwixt eight and nine every Sabbath
morning is already observed by many in Scotland and Eng-
land, as a season of united prayer for the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit, and are respectfully invited to join therein.

ILLUMINATED CLOCKS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—I beg to draw the attention of the authorities to the
clock of St. George's Church. It is called " illuminated;"
but it is suffering under an eclipse at present " as the hours
wax great." It would be a great convenience if a little more
light were thrown into it. By half-past eleven and twelve
the figures are scarcely distinguishable. Apropos of clocks :
—lt has been stated that the Town-hall clock cannot, in con-
sequence of the construction of the dome, be lighted from
within. Could not it be so contrived as to be lighted from
the outside—the light being thrown upon the face of the dial ?
P. S.—St. George's clock all this evening has been scarcely
visible.
19th August, 1841. PEDESTRIAN.

Lord Mostyn and Sir Stephen Glynne, Bart., have recently
made considerable additions to their estates in Flintshire.

A tradesman in London recently employed a professional
gentleman to recover a debt of thirty shillings; he suc-
ceeded, and the costs were seventy pounds !
A woman died in Guernsey on Tuesday week of the extra-
ordinary stature of seven feet two. She had been exhibited
as a giantess by her brother, who is seven feet seven inches.

There is not a solitary pawnbroker in the town of Carmar-
then ; " a fact," says the Welshman, " which illustrates the
virtue and prudence of her inhabitants." For a very simple
reason—the Welsh pawnbrokers are particularly fond of so-
ciety.

At the late Wesleyan conference a document was read from
the committee on education, shewing that they have under
their care in Great Britain 3,444 Sunday schools, and 13. 1
day and infant schools,—including a total of 390,627 chil-
dren ; with about 64,250 teachers, and nearly 1,000 school
libraries.

It is reported that Sir Michael O'Loghlen and Mr. George
Evans, late member for the county of Dublin, are to be
raised to the peerage.
Lord Congleton (Sir Henry Parnell) is about to be ap-
pointed a commissioner of the Irish poor laws.
- '

S IGNIFICANT- —At a meeting of the Dublin Repeal Asso-
tion on Tuesday, an attempt was made by Mr. John O'Con
nell to bring forward a resolution repudiating any intention
of Catholic ascendancy in the event of their obtaining a re-
peal of the Union. The proposition was opposed by Mr.
O'Connell as unnecessary, and of course was not persevered
in.

The next Wesleyan Conference is appointed to be held in
London, on the last Wednesday of July, 1842. _ _ .

On Sunday last the Hon. and Rev. Edward H. Gritnston,
late M.P. for the borough of St. Albans, officiated for the
first time as minister of St. Michael's Church. The hon.
and rev. gentleman has a living at Great limey, near Sudbury.
Essex Herald. • -

At the Limerick assizes, Thomas Barkeley was sentenced
to 15
years' transportation, for administering sulphate of
copper and Spanish flies to his wife (only a fortnight married)
with intent to kill her, and Catherine Ryan, a paramour of
his, was sentenced to the same punishment, for inciting him
to the deed.
MAKING THE MOST OF A MURDERER. The skeleton
of Corder, the murderer, stands in a glass case, in the mu-
seum of the Suffolk Infirmary, Bury St. Edmund's, with a
money-box below, to which, by an ingeniously contrived
spring, the grisly anatomy points the attention of visitors,
when they approach the spot. The receipts are said to
average £5O per annum.

CONFERENCE OF POLITICAL PREACHE'ItS AT

MANCHESTER

The first act of the comedy called " The Conferent 'e of
Clergy and Ministers on the Corn Laws," was perform' din
the Manchester Town-hall, on Tuesday, the second onli 'ed-
nesday, the third yesterday, and the fourth is no doubt I iro-
ceeding at this very moment. When all is over we supp ose
the whig and radical journals, and those who act upon th eir
principles, will shout as if the battle was won, and the ag.ri-
cultural interest laid prostrate. To accomplish that, hoi v-
ever, more will be required than has yet been accomplished.
The proceedings commenced a few minutes after ten
o'clock, by the Rev. Mr. WKERROW reading some commit-
tee arrangements. After that he said they had received 1500
replies to their invitations, and only six were decidedly op-
posed to them. There was about an equal number who had
expressed hesitation as to the propriety of attending, but by
far the greater number had expressed their entire concur-
rence in the important objects which they considered they
had in view. The speaker then mentioned the names of se-
veral ministers, who, he said, had been taken ill at the ele-
venth hour, and could not attend. On producing a letter
from the Rev. W. M. Bunting, he said he could only read a
part of it, on which there were loud cries of "read all," but
the rev. gentleman resolutely declined complying with the
wishes of the meeting. There was also a letter from Dr.
Chalmers, in which the same method of giving favourable
portions of it only was adopted. It, however, escaped in the
reading that it was the doctor's opinion that the repeal of
the corn laws would not be of permanent advantage to the
oountry.

Some other business was then about to be proceeded with

when
The Rev. W. GADSBY said, lie had felt a little astonished
that, in au assembly of that nature, seeking the benefit of
starving thousands, it should not be introduced by prayer.
To him it seemed a shame, as pious ministers of the gospel,
not to think it worth while to call upon God to bless them.
A MINISTER said, he thought, as ministers, that on all
questions that were deemed of importance to bring them to-
gether, they should acknowledge God.
The Rev. Mr. NOLAN observed that the importance of
imploring the divine blessing was not overlooked; that as
one of the Manchester ministers, he felt it his duty to say,
that, in previous meetings of ministers, this subject had been
considered ; and that when the gentlemen composing the
provisional committee had returned, and the meeting was
regluarly commenced, the proceedings would be introduced
with prayer, or any other means they might think proper.
The subject had been previously under the serious consider-
ation of gentlemen in Manchester, and he had no doubt the
gentlemen below were considering the matter while he was
speaking. The matter would be decided when the temporary
committee came before the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said, in his mind the series of engagements
to which they had devoted themselves should commence with
prayer. He was told, however, that prayer would most
likely be the course proceeded in, when the gentlemen who
were appointed on the committee returned to the conference.
He confessed that this appeared to him a situation so serious,
and the conference, consisting of ministers of different de-
nominations, so important, that it would be in perfect har-
mony with that meeting, and that preliminary meeting tco,
that they should engage in prayer. If it were important that
they should present themselves before the throne of divine
majesty, when, as it was said, they regularly commenced
their proceedings, he saw no reason, convened as they now
were, and while their committee was sitting, they should in
this instance, and while other business was preparing, first
begin their work in prayer to God in that feeling of harmony
in this object, which, he trusted, pervaded that assembly for
that blessing from on high without which nothing could
prosper. He then called upon the Rev. Dr. Vaughan to en-
gage in prayer.
The Rev. Dr. VAUGHAN then engaged in prayer.
The Rev. E. H. NOLAN, of Manchester, thought it right
to say, that, privileged as they were in the society of mem-
bers of the society of friends, of Roman Catholic clergymen,
snd even, he believed, of dignitaries of that church, it might
be that some held views different to the rest in reference to
the commencement with prayer. (Hear.) Tne Manchester
ministers, feeling the responsibility resting with them, had
not introduced this, lest even a slight difference of opinion
should exist. They were all happy at what had taken place ;
and confident that all would feel it was no want of spirituality
on their part, but a mere feeling of responsibility resting
upon them previously to the meeting being fully constituted.
The Rev. JAMES BLAIR, of Dunfermline, thought what
was just said very excellent; but he would suggest, that one
hour be spent in prayer every morning. If it was agreed
for the conference to meet at ten, let the prayer meeting be
at nine, or as the conference might think proper.
The CHAIRMAN said, that, as no one seconded that sug-
gestion, he might say that the general feeling around him
appeared to be, that it was most desirable to wait the com-
munication of the committee already appointed, who would
probably take this amongst other subjects into consideration.
The Rev. Mr. PARSONS, of Stroud Water, suggested that ,
those who wished to engage in prayer might do so previously
to the meetings of conference; perhaps a chapel in the town
might be obtained for the purpose, where those who agreed
in sentiment might meet to pour forth prayers to the Al-
mighty for his blessing to rest upon these meetings. No
person who felt the least objection would attend, and thus it
would meet the views of all parties.
The Rev. Mr. CROMPTON, of Henley-in-Arden.--I think
one great means of preventing discussion would be, if, during
the sitting of the committee below, some of the brethren
present would engage in prayer.
Dr. VAUGHAN suggested, that instead of discussing the
question, it was better to wait until the temporary committee
had returned, and made their report; after which it would
be open to every gentlemen to express an opinion on the
subject.
After a lapse of a few minutes, the committee returned,
and gave their report, recommending the Rev. Messrs.
Atkinson, Chaplain, Cox, and Spencer to act as chairmen of
the conference during its sittings. No allusion, however, '
was made to the subject of prayer. 1
The Rev. Mr. ATKINSON, being the first president selected,
took the chair, which was vacated by Dr. Cox. In opening
the proceedings, he said, they had met together at the call of
suffering humanity, and that call reached them, not across
the briny deep, but through the green fields and populous
streets of our own beloved country. They were met at the
very outset of their procedure with the question—" What had
Christian, and more than all what had Christian ministers,
to do with temporal politics ?" He had yet to learn, that
when they became denizens of that kingdom which was not
of this world, they were to forego all the privileges and for-
get the duties of the present. He had yet to learn that when
they began to be Christians they ceased to be men. Mr.
Atkinson proceeded in this strain, justifying himself and
others who had assembled on the occasion to oppose the
corn laws : the rev. gentleman concluded by calling on his
rev. brethren to avoid as much as possible anything which
might commit them to a particular line of party politics ;
to confine themselves entirely to the question of a repeal of
the corn laws ; and, while they showed the courage of lions,
to exhibit the gentleness of lambs.
Several of the conference here again began to be clamorous
to have the question decided, as to whether they would be
allowed to pray or not, in the midst of which
Dr. PYE SMITH rose. Dr. Vaughan was anxious to know
upon what subject the doctor was about to speak ? but the
doctor being afflicted with deafness did not hear him, but
took from his pocket a memorandum book, from which he read
a long speech prepared for the occasion, and with which we
have been furnished in print. It condemned the corn laws
as unjust, and as being contrary to the laws of God, and ini-
mical 'to the interests of tne country at large ; and that as
Christian ministers they were justified in using all their
efforts to procure their repeal.
The Rev. Mr. MASSIE, of Manchester, then moved
"That the conference in all its deliberations should confine
itself exclusively to the laws restricting the importation of
food."
This, however, he withdrew, on its being announced to
him that that was the subject for which the conference had
been brought together.
The Rev. Mr. FLETCHER then announced that the con-
ference would meet every morning at nine o'clock, and it be-
ipg the custom of Manchester families to dine at one, they
would adjourn at the latter hour until four, and the conference
would be continued from four till eight.
Mr. FLETCHER in continuation observed, that it depended
upon the result of the conference whether there was to be "a
rebellion" or " a glorious revolution," and concluded by
announcing that the committee had left the question of devo-
tional exercise to the whole body of the conference.
Dr. VAUGHAN thought he could see a mode by which any
difficulty might be obviated, and which made no invasion on
the feelings or opinions of any party. The chair might be
taken at nine o'clock, and the first half-hour appropriated to
devotional exercises. It would then be optional with those
who could not conscientiously join in those exercises to stay
away until half-past nine. The reverend gentlemen then
moved a resolution to that effect.
The Rev. Mr. FLETCHER suggested, that the matter
might be left to the decision of the committee.
The Rev. Dr. Cox considered the subject of such para-
mount importance, that he was unwilling to have it thrown
back on the consideration of the committee. He felt as
much respect as any man in the room for the gentlemen
composing the committee ; but to no committee on earth
should the meeting delegate the power of determining whe-
ther they should present their united supplications to the
throne of Heaven. He would warmly second the motion of
Dr. Vaughan, for he thought prayer to God should precede
every other consideration.
The Rev. TIMOTHY EAST supported the motion. He
thought that those Christian friends who could not unite in
those exercises of prayer, might not come at the commence-
ment of the proceedings. if they met as a body without
prayer, he was of opinion that they would be held up to
public disgrace.
The Rev. R. W. HAMILTON, of Leeds, said their was a
simple method of reconciling the opinions of all—namely,
by opening their proceedings with the Lord's praper ; in
which a petition would arise very much in congruity with
the object and feelings of the meeting—" give us this day "
(or " day by day," if you please) " our daily bread." (Ap-
plause.) Nobody could see any invasion of religious or
political feeling in that prayer. He would, therefore, suggest
that they would open their meetings with that form of prayer
which our Lord had taught his disciples.
The Rev. Dr. RITCHIE, of Edinburgh, thought the
question should not have been mooted at all. He wished it
to be understood, that the first exercise in which they should
engage when they met was prayer ; and that if, from any
cause, any gentleman could not join with them, no distinction
should be drawn,—" To his own master be standeth or
falleth." (Approbation.)
The CHAIRMAN then rose to put the question, but was
interrupted by—
Dr. HALLEY, who objected on the ground that the meeting
was composed of persons of different religious denominations,
some of whom could not conscientiously join with others in
such a sacred exercise. He was surrounded by several Roman
Catholic priests ; and he thought that, in fairness to them,
if gentlemen of other denominations were allowed to offer
up extemporaneous prayers, they (the priests) should be al-
lowed to commence by the celebration of the mass. Before
he would join in such a prayer-meeting himself, he would
like to know who were the parties uniting with him. If, for
instance, Mr. Beard, who was a unitarian minister, should
be called on to pray, he (Dr. Halley) would not think it
right to unite with him. But why should he be excluded
more than him (Dr. Halley) ? Why should those who agreed
with him arrogate to themselves any right to conduct the re-
ligious services ? Was it because they constituted a majority ?
He trusted the meeting would not be influenced by any such
reason. They had met to consider the wants of the poor ;
and he hoped the apple of religious discord would not be
. thrown in to mar their efforts at removing them. Those
who desired to pray might do so at their homes and respective
chapels ; and by this means ministers of different denomina-
tions might for once come together on common grounds,
without having their harmony interrupted by the introduction
of topics on which they could not agree. (Hear, hear.)
The Rev. F. .1. ARCHER, P.P. of Hillsborough Hall,
Blessington, begged to put his decided negative on a resolu-
tion which had a tendency to turn the attention of that great
meeting from the question they had met to consider, by in-
volving them in a religious warfare. As a catholic Clergy-
man, he acknowledged that prayer was good; but, as the
meeting was neither of a political nor religiousnature, he
, thought it better to confine their attention to the question
which they had met to discuss—a question on which the hap-
, niness of so many thousands of their fellow-creatures de-
pended. (The rev. gentleman made some further observa-
tions, but the noise which prevailed prevented his being
heard. The authority of the chairman was exercised to pro-
cure his being heard, but in vain, until, at length, he was
forced to his seat by some friends near him, and shortly after
order was in some measure restore
The CHAIRMAN said, with all respect for the feelings of
those who had proposed the resolution—if that were the oulV
place where they could meet for religious worship the case
would be different, but it was not—le therefore fervently

desired that those who had proposed the motion should re-
call it. They could meet in their own classes—in their own
coteries—for social worship. (Hear, hear.) He asked it
not only on behalf of the consciences of their Roman Catho-
lic brethren, but also on behalf of their suffering fellow-
creatures. (Cheer.•.) He had every respect for the motives
of those who introduced the subject, but he trusted they
would leave that as an arena in which they could join as
brethren linked together in the cause of suffering humanity.
(Hear.)

Dr. 'VAUGHAN said, he should not have proposed the re-
solution had he supposed there were any present who could
not conscientiously join with them in prayer. However, as
there appeared such a strong feeling on the subject, he would
withdraw the resolution. (Cheers.)

Dr. RITCHIE attempted to address the meeting, but was
put down by loud cries of " Chair," " Order," and " No,
no."

I'he Rev. G. ARMSTRONG thanked the meeting for not
having adopted the resolution, and he trusted they would now
become a perfectly anti-denominational meeting.
The CHAIRMAN then adjourned the meeting until four
o'clock.

At four o'clock the conclave again assembled. The chair
was taken by the Rev. Mr. ATKINS. The auditory did not
much exceed the number collected in the morning, and very
little interest was excited either within the walls of tbe Town-
hall or outside.

The lieair. SPENCER, the chairman of the executive
committee, briefly addressed the meeting, observing that
they were assembled as a jury to try a particular question.
They had heard that trade in Manchester was dead, and
they hal come to hold an inquest on it. As men loving fair-
ness, they should call a counsel to their bar, who should be
heard on the subject of the corn laws, and, if it were.neces-
sary, he should have the privilege of producing a witness
from America or elsewhere. He concluded by moving,
" That Mr. Cobden. M.P., be permitted to address them on
the subject of the repeal of the corn laws." (Cheers.)
Mr. COBDEN then delivered a long speech on the evils of
the corn laws, and argued that the removal of all protective
duties would benefit the country generally.
After this several ministers, from various parts of the
country, addressed the meeting ; every evil that presented
itself to their imaginations being attributed to the operation
of the corn laws.

The Earl of DUCIE, who was present, then delivered him-
self of a heavy speech against the Agricultural interest, and
the proceedings terminated at half-past nine.
On Wednesday and yesterday the " conference" carried
on its work ; but we really do not think the proceedings' worth'
reporting. The discussions on prayer was by far the best
part of the whole. _ _ _

As a specimen of the fairness of the "3ttry" as the confer-
ence denominate themselves, it ought to be known, that Dr.
Sleigh, an agentbf the Society for the Protection of Agricul-
ture, applied to be heard in defence of the corn laws, but no
reply was vouchsafed by this body of sot disant lovers of fair
play•

MEDICAL HINTS FOR THE PEDESTRIAN,

MUSCULAR EXERCISE IS CONDUCIVE TO LONGEVITY

(No. III.)

A word or two on points not quite indifferent to the person
who wishes to do all things well, and after a salutary fashion.
We should recommend Col. Shaw's early start and pre-
vious breakfast ; and cocoa or coffee, with meat or ens, is
better than tea to walk upon. Tea comes in with better
grace for the tag end of the day—after dinner.
It is nut well to drive dinner too late. Though circum-
stances must often have the principal meal under their sway,
yet, where practicable, a dinner of plain animal food, about
three or tour o'clock, is best. This will be generally before
all the day's work is done, and such is not amiss ; for after
the first process of digestion is pretty well over (usually
occupying about an hour after the repast), the body is not
indisposed to some reasonable further exercise, if the party
be in health ; and half-a-dozen miles wilt be done cheerily,
though not at quite the same quick pace as the morning part.
This is a pleasant division of the day's task, and by no means
hurtful. Perhaps the hungry traveller, about this period,
will feel most interest in those excellent lines in Croker's
" Legends of Killarney" :
" Quam pulchra sunt ova
Cum alba et nova
In stabulo scite legunter,
Et a Margery bella,
Quoe festiva puella!
Pinguis lardicum frustis cognuntur. •
" Ut belles in prato
Aprico et lato
Sub sole tam late renident,
Ova tosta in mensa
Mappa bene extensa
Nitidissima lance consident."
The translation of which !lath been most elegantly and fairly
rendered in the same celebrated authority :

O 'tis eggs are a treat,
When, so white and so sweet,
From under the manger they 're taken,
And by fair Margery,
Och ! 'tis she 's full of glee,
They are fried with fat rashers of bacon.
" Just like daisies all spread
O'er a broad sunny mead,
In the sunbeams so beauteously shining,
Are fried eggs well displayed
On a dish, when we've laid
The cloth, and are thinking of dining."
A glass of beer, ale, or porter during dinner, with a couple
u) uses of wine, or a tumbler of spirits and cold water, is
best in our opinion, where the party takes anything
stronger than Adam's ale. Hot water, with wine or
spirits, if you have to turn out into the air again
is bad, as it renders you more obnoxious to catching cold,
but with cold water, and in moderation, we believe
even a glass of brandy is innocent of many counts of the in-
dictment foraged up by teetotalism ! Those who relish a
cigar will put in this supererogation, of course, now and again,
perhaps, before bed-time, after tea. There is a medical ob-
jection to cigar smoking in the morning, whilst doing the
main stroke of your day, because, as a narcotic (though so
mild a one that we have on such excursions indulged at times
ourself), it depresses the system when you want all the steam
you can muster. It may be conceded, perhaps, as an accom-
plishment ornamental to the day's labour ; but it is not good
when at hard work. As to dining, don't set to and eat the
moment you arrive: wait a quarter of an hour. Tea is ex-
cellent to refresh you at the close of matters, and provided it
be not driven too close upon retiring to rest; for if this be
the case, and it be brewed strong, its most usual effect is to
banish for hours after that crown of the pedestrian's labours
—" balmy sleep."

Finally, whether our pedestrian choose or not to wind-up
with a night-cap of negus, need we add that early thing (and
hard walking) deserves early rest ; and so we will attend him
to his charming little bedroom, with a modest window,
through whose crystal panes, perhaps, come streaming in the
bonnie smiling beams of the bright harvest moon, and, as
they struggle across the neatly carpeted floor, and just reach-
ing the snug little white dimity bed, in the centre of the
room, they fall upon the dazzling snow-white counterpane
with a spell only felt in the country's " stilly night." If one
pencil ray of that lovely moonbeam stray onwards to the bed's
head, and enable him to spell the grateful invitation of the
downy pillow, we will read aloud, for the reader's benefit and
parting sympathy, the lines over which he has already fallen
asleep _ _ _

" To all and each a fair goodnight,
And rosy dreams, and slumbers light !"
I am, Mr. Editor, your obedient humble servant,
Liverpool, August 3, 1841. A WALKER

RELIEVING THIRST.—A correspondent, signing himself
" A Pedestrian," has, in doing me the honour to notice ap-
provingly these letters, expressed his fears lest the plan
recommended by Colonel Shaw for remedying the evils of
thirst, viz., by plunging the legs into water or wetting them
should be fraught with danger; and he states that his expe-
rience has taught him that rinsing the mouth with cold
spring water, and the use of a soft tooth brush, is refreshing
and quenching to the thirst, without the danger or other evils
attendant on the swallowing part of the business. I can only
say that this rinsing is very good and unexceptionable where
practicable—only that where the rinsing can be put in prac-
tice the temptation to the swallowing presents itself ; and I
think there are few minds strong enough to resist a moderate
pull at a sparkling glass of cold spring water under pressure
of thirst. Now with Colonel Shaw's plan, undrinkable, un-
usable, stagnant muddy pools will afford a relief, free from
any great amount of risk, providing the immersion of the
legs and feet be not too suddenly done or too much pro-
longed. The rule may be safely laid down that this experi-
ment is free from harm, if practised for a moment or two
only, or as I would prefer by the plunging of the legs in and
out of the water two or three times, and no more, so as to
anticipate that general refrigeration of the body which is re-
cognised by a feeling of chill, and which is, I admit, the
point where danger could and would set in, whereby the
balance of the circulation is destroyed, and congestion of the
vascular (circulating) system is on the eve of taking place in
some important organ of the body—determined by the corn-
parative weakness of the various organs towards the one
with the least vital tone—in other words, the weakest.
Whilst I have thus acknowledged the possible danger, and
even attended to its mode of sitting in, so as to place the pe-
destrian on his guard, I do maintain that if he will take the
rule just broached, viz., to beware of the chill (not here
only, but under all cooling indulgencies) for a guide, he will
be ordinarily safe in the practice of this, when the nature of
the waters resorted to may be such as to put a stop to the
rinsing altogether, unless he have the limited taste of the
esquirneaux.
If any other point in my letters strikes ' Pedestrian' as
worthy of, or calling for, his animadversions, I shall esteem
it a favour if he or any other person will take the trouble to
remark upon such.

The total number of deaths in the metropolis, during the
week ending Saturday, the 7th of August, was 759, (males
377, females 382,) while the weekly average during the three
preceding years amounted to 926.

Oysters arc such a favourite dish in France, that a native
of that country often begins his dinner by swallowing half rt
hundred of them in a raw state.

®The address in the commons on the royal speech will, it is
reported, be moved, or seconded, by Mr. M. Phillips, ose ot•
the members for Manchester.—Globe.

THE OLDEN TIMES.—BiII of fare of the entertaintoent
given by Sir Watkins Williams Wynn, at Wynnstay, April
19, 1770.—" Thirty bullocks, 1 do. roasted whole, 50 hogs,
50 calves, 80 sheep, 11 lambs, 70 pigs, 51 guinea fowls, 37
turkeys,l2 turkey poults, 8 capons, 25 pea fowls, 300 chickens,
360 fowls, 96 ducklings, 48 rabbits, 15 snipes, 1 leveret, 5
bucks, 4211b5. of salmon, 30 brace of tench, 40 brace of
carp, Ni pike, 60 doz. trout, 108 flounders, 109 lobsters, 96
crabs, 10 quarts of shrimps, 200 craw fish, 60 barrels of
pickled oysters, 1 hogshead of rock oysters, 20 quarts of
oysters for sauce, 16G hams, 100 tongues, 125 plum-puddings,
101 apple pies, 104 pork pies, 30 beef pies, 34 rice-puddings,
7 venison pies, 60 raised pies. 80 tarts, 30 pieces of cut pastry,
24 pound cakes, 60 savoy cakes, 30 sweetmeat cakes, 144 ice
creams, 18,000 eggs, 150 gallons of milk, GO quarts of cream,
30 bushels potatoes, 6,000 bundles asparagus, 290 potties of
French beans, 39 dishes of green peas, 12 cucumbers, 70
hogsheads of ale, 120 dozen of ale. There was a very great
quantity of brandy, rum, and shrub. Salt butter cost £36,
besides fresh ditto, rock-work shapes, landscapes iii jellY'
blanchmange, an immense quantity of pastry, and one large
cask of ale which held 26 hogsheads. Three coaches full of
cooks were sent from London on the above occasinn.,
zi,!!:ls.
thought that there were at the least 15,000 people at uin
in Sir Watkin's Park at the same time.
money on the plea
ABSURDITIES.—To attempt to borrow
ls they gain some
of extreme poverty.—To make yourself generally disagree-
able, and wonder no one will visit you, 1111:k..n
the
cold
palpable advantage by it.—To sit shivering i
be-
cause you won't
have a fire
than the title-page reviewers generally read more
To keep your clerks on
works they praise or condemn.
a,
~...,,
robbing
you._
till Novemberi.g l'n suppose
of
ta
the
wonder
.L n'''
miserable salaries, and d and sleepy, because
you are tied
e other
Not to go to bed when y
make your servants tell lies for
" it is not bed-time."—T° rysebeerceatsuseantdliebvetiejellv lies for
tell your To render a wan a service volunta-
people will keep than].
be grateful for it.—To iv pect to
you,t
m themselves.—To vde sa.
t Ida, to
rily, and expect
honest by hardening them in gaol, and after_
wards tobe:g.,
make people
because a )ow price is asked for it.
wards send then
.adrift without the moans of getting
saywork.—
a man is charitable because he subse-ribes to an
—T°
To fancy
laPspital.—
a thing is cheap
•
any vice, folly, or absurdity, your fellow-creatures may be
g
guilty of.—To vote for a candidate at an election because he
';llakes hands with your wife and child suet admires the
baby.

Daughter of Zion ! thou bast wandered long
Amid the trackless mazes of the wild :
But thy return hath been with joy and song.
And, blissful foretastes have thy path beguiled ?
And, as the rose, the wilderness hath smiled.
To thee its store of fragrant odours bringing ;
And, as of old, for Hagar 's dying child,
Pure rills Nave gush'd amid the desert springing,
And o'er the parched waste a cooling moisture flinging

Daughter of Zion ! lone and desolate
Thy house hath been left to thee—but the sigh
Of those who long have mourned thy sad estate
Hath risen soft as incence-cloud, on high,
And been remembered. Who are those who fly
As doves to their own windows ? Not the foam
Of intervening billows, nor the sky
Of other climes, can chase the thought of home
From the sad wanderer's heart, where'er his feet may roam

Daughter of Zion ! o'er each distant isle
Brood the soft plumes of God's eternal Dove ;
Earth's fruitful breast, and ocean's countless smile,
Welcome the day of universal love.
Now righteousness hath looked from heaven above,
And Israel's countless hosts no more forsaken,
On to their land, as billowy surges move,
Though long by scorn and whirling tempests shaken,
Once more in Salem's courts the note of praises waken.

Daughter of Zion! thy Redeemer reigns-7
The banished exile seeks his native shore;

The ransomed captive casts away his chains,
And war forgotten, shall be learned no more

And earth's vast myriads joyously adore
(Under their vine and fig-tree, when the beam
Of morning doth its welcome radiance pour
Till the bright star of silent eve doth gleam)—
Him, who his life has given, his Israel to redeem.

THE DUKE OF LANCASTER'S YEOMANRY.

TO THE

EDITO.

OF TILE MANCHESTER CHRONICLE
iVorsley, August 10, 1841.

SIR,—I have addressed a letter to the editor of the Stan-
dard, London evening paper, which adverts to a paragraph
in one of its leading articles, on the subject of my supposed
levy of an armed force in this county. That letter contains,
perhaps, an explanation sufficient for those who are willing
to receive one ; but when it was written, I had not enjoyed
an opportunity of reading the statements to which the Stan-
dard adverted, and I could then form no conception of the
extent of error into which the imagination of the authors of
those statements had led them. I find also that, in some
respects, those who have undertaken my defence, and who
are erroneously described as having done so under instruc-
tions from me, have been as much mistaken in matters of
fact as my assailants. On collecting these publications, I
find myself charged with various offences, some against com-
mon sense and discretion, and others against the law and
constitution of the country, and with intentions of a murder-
ous and bloodthirsty description. . _

The first and most distinct charge is, that I have, on my
own authority, raised an armed force. Are the editors of
papers in large circulation, and the correspondents whose
letters they admit, so ignorant as not to know that I should
be immediately prosecuted by the attorney-general for such
a proceeding, and that my armed force, raised without autho-
rity from the Sovereign, procured through her ministers,
would be instantly suppressed by proclamation? One of the
said correspondents, in the Manchester Times, describes me,
further, as having called into re-existence a corps which bad
been dissolved in virtue of the decease of the late Sovereign.
Before he attributed to me this feat of creative power, he
might have ascertained that the armed force of this country,
of any denomination, is not, like the parliament. dissolved on
the death of the Sovereign. It happens that, in the case of
the Lancashire Yeomanry, that corps has always borne, and
therefore retains, the title of the Duke of Lancaster's Yeo-
manry, and that no Duke of Lancaster now exists. But that
circumstance has no effect upon its continuance or organiza-
tion. Whatever its title, it has never ceased to exist from its
cotablishment many years ago.

-1 .1
lam described as having made myself its colonel. It has
no colonel, because, consisting only of three troops, it is not,
by the rules of the War-office, entitled to a commandant of
higher rank than a major, and it is to that command and
rank I have succeeded, on a vacancy, by permission of the
Queen, procured as usual through the recommendation of
the lord-lieutenant. My son has filled another vacant and
subaltern commission, and after all these formidable proceed-
ings, I believe there are still some officers and many privates
wanting to complete the corps up to the establishment allowed
and provided for by the government. It was under these
circumstances that some 40 or 50 of my neighbours and te-
nants expressed to me a wish to form themselves into an ad-
ditional troop, in the hope of being commanded by my son.
The offer was made without any previous knowledge or sug-
gestion on my part.
I am described as having done that which I have not done,
on communication with Sir Robert Peel. I have had no
communication, direct or indirect, with him whatever in the
matter. . -

I have given elsewhere the reason why I have not taken
any one of the steps which would have been necessary
towards raising the additional troop I am accused of having
levied. I repeat, however, my confession and assurance,
that if the application of those who, without any suggestion
of my own, wished to form one, had reached me earlier, I
should have had no hesitation in recommending their appli-
cation to the existing government's consideration. I should
have done so on the grounds, first, that I could strongly de-
pend on the loyalty and good conduct of those who made it ;
and next, that the establishment of the force in Lancashire
is far inferior to that of any county I know of similar im-
portance. I do not believe that the corps, at the annual
exercise last June, mustered above 150 men, including offi-
cers

I have served in the Staffordshire Yeomanry when it
mustered between 700 and 800. In Yorkshire, Cheshire, and
Warwickshire, I believe this force is on a similar footing. It
is certainly possible that the present government, or any other
might not consider those circumstances sufficient to authorize
an increase—opinions of public and private individuals may
differ as to the value and efficiency of this description of force
and circumstances of time and place may affect the expedi-
ency of adding to its numbers. My own opinion is, that the
force is a valuable one, and ought to be encouraged within
reasonable limits ; and that, whether to be increased or not,
resident gentlemen do well to undertake the command of ex-
isting corps, though the task may, under circumstances of
extreme, and, I trust, rare occurrence, be responsible and
invidious. No man in his senses could think it a desirable
thing per se to command a detachment of yeomanry in a civil
conflict, which lam said to anticipate. lam quite sure,
however, that if the gentlemen of England are always to be
contemplating and shrinking beforehand from such disagreea-
ble possibilities, the interests of the country at large will
suffer-with their own. I will, however, at once admit, that
if the apprehensions of imminent disturbance which I am
supposed to entertain had ever entered my head, the raising
on my own estate at such a moment a single troop of yeo-
manry, is not a measure I should have taken for my own
protection or that of others, and that I should at least have
waited for the fullest sanction of the existing government be-
fore I for a moment entertained such a proposal from others.
As it is, the proposal has originated exclusively in the desire
of some friends and neighbours to serve under my son, and I
pledge myself has had no reference whatever to any particular
circumstances of the time. On these grounds, 1 repeat, I
should not have hesitated, at a proper period- for such appli-
cation, &c., before the estimates for the year are made up,
to state this mighty matter in all its bearings to her Ma-
jesty's present ministry, who, should they have thought fit
to reject the offer of the parties, would assuredly have done
so on better grounds than the strange and unfounded suppo-
sitions to which that offer has given rise.
I am not desirous to load your columns with a disquisition
or eulogy on the yeomanry force, but I am tempted to allude
to one of its attributes which I consider a merit ; that, like
many other institutions in this country, it brings together for
a common and legitimate purpose men of various politics.
I have served myself in the Staffordshire corps under Lords
Hatherton and Lichfield. The latter, I believe, still com-
mands it, and promotes its efficiency to the utmost by his
example and influence. That among the officers in general
my own persuasion in politics may preponderate I think pro-
bable, but in a county where I occasionally reside, Surrey,
Lord Lovelace commands the yeomanry. I see that the
Queen's escort of Hertfordshire Yeomanry, on her Majesty's
recent visit to Passanger, was commanded by Lord Cowper.
If I mistake not, I have seen addresses moved or seconded
in parliament very lately, under wbig administrations, by
gentlemen in yeomanry uniforms. At the last annual exercise
43-r the West Riding corps, Mr. Stuart Wortley happened
to be mounted on the horse of a brother officer ; the lender
was Lord Milton, his announced antagonist for the expected
election.

I believe some of the Blue and Yellow farmers present
could hardly understand this. I do, and value it.

I really hope that my friends of the whig and radical press,
whom I have usually found fair though uncompromising op-
ponents, will reduce their imaginations to a peace establish-
ment ; condemn the yeomanry, if they please, or me for join-
ing it, but in common justice acquit xue of the long-sighted,
sinister, and bloodthirsty intentions which I am bold to say
are not consistent with my general conduct or reputation.
At all events, let them acquit Sir Robert Peel, whom I am
ready to expurgate upon oath of all participation in, or
knowledge of, the matter.—l remain, Sir, your obedient
servant, F. EGERTON.