The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-09 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL STANDAR,j)

ford's instructitnlF. Worst of a, it lad been eviden'red
in the neglect to send out troops. There were soldiers
sptiicient, in the opinion of the Duke of Wellington,-,to
maintain the Canadas : but while these troops were
wholly occupied in that service, what was the state of
defence in which the neighbouring possessions of the
Crown were left? How would the interests of this
country have been able to protect themselves, if the ac-
tual government Of the United States, instead of taking
the honourable line they have actually pnrsued, had
seized on this opportunity to settle by force the question
of the disputed boundary ? He thought favourably of
the disposition of the Canadians; hut it was no wonder
that they are not conciliated, 'when, instead of dealing
with them fai'ly, you treat them with dark hints that you
are willing to give what it practically turns out that you
have no intention of giving."
In reference to this brilliant oration we cannot avoid
quoting the admirable remarks of the Morning Herald;

"Lord Stanley presented himself to the house; and delivered
a speech—which to characterise, as beyond all comparison, the
best, Which has been delivered in either house of parliament,
during the present session—is but to render feeble justice to its
transcendaut merits:!
" It may be doubted; indeed, whether a more splendid oration'
was ever delivered within the walls of parliament. When we
reflect on the profound intimacy with his subject, which the
noble lord displayed—on the logical order which his trains of
reasoning-assumed- -on the exquisite felicity of the mode,- in
which he treated the admissions, and assertions, and ironical
assumptions of the ministerial speakers who proceeded him—
together with the graces of style and manner which characterised
the whole—it becomes difficult to imagine anythingin the nature
of a speech, of which a larve portion was, necessarily, extem-
poraneous, more perfect than Lord Stanley's speech of Past:
night!
" His lordship began, by repelling the imputation on.the con-
duet of 'the conservative party, which was involved in Mr. La-
botichere's. phrasethat- "`the veil of mystery was at length
rent asunder:" lf.any mystery attached to the conduct of any
party in the house, the conduct of the conservative parly, as the
noble loid showed, was, at all events, free from it.
• ' But Why,' 'exelaitried Lord' Stanley, "-should ministers be
so sensitive on the subject of an attack, directed against that
portion of-their policy, _on which, in an especial manner, they
declare them Selves willing to.test their claims to glory ?" And,
certainly, it nrightjlave seemed inure natural, if the ministerial-
ists. instead of talking abOut " myStery."• and hinting at unna-
ral coalitions, had' expres,ed the gratitude, which must have
swelled their hos-orris, at finding public -attention so closely
rivetted to the especial "glory" of the whig system of govern-
ment ! „
" Lord Stanley, then, proceeded to make terrific havoc with
Mr. Labouchere's statement, that former administrations were
responsible for the-nresent disordered state of our Canadian re-
lations; and proved, by the most unanswerable arguments, that
the disaffection, and revolt; and bloodshed which have recently
desolated the fields of Canada, have sprung naturally from the
conciliatory, and glorious" policy of the present government.
The present government, as Lord Stanley most clearly showed,
had paltered with. the Canadian insurgents in a double sense—
had held out to their accredited agents in this country, expecta-
tions, which no Ijreced-ing government had ever held out—expecta-
tions, moreover, which the present government never meant to
fulfil! On the subject of the elective council, Lord Stanley
pointed out the wretched duplicity, the miserable shuffling, which
had characterised' the Melbourne administration—and pointed
out, moreover, how 'Completely that administration had reversed
the policy, on which he had acted while he filled the office of
colonial secretary.
"On this branch of his subject—and, also, on the vacilla-
tions of poor Lord Glenelg—the arguments of Lord Stanley
were marked by a degree of power, which ministers evidently
felt to be terrific!' _ _ _

-" In reply to a taunt that bad fallen from Mr. Labouchere—
a taunt to the effect, that the conservatives had neglected
during the discussion of the Canada hill, a more fitting oppor-
tunity than they now possessed, of censuring the Queen's go-
vernment, but that, perhaps, the storms of that period, and the
calm which marked the present, might account for the circum-
stance—Lord Stanley replied with irresistible truth, that the
storms of the first period alluded to, did account for the forbear-
ance of the conservative party. It was not,' observed the
noble lord, ' at a time when rebellion was raging, and when
the efforts of all parties might have proved ineffective, in at-
•tempting to avert the dismemberment of the empire, that the
conservatives could condescend to indulge in petty warfare.'
As to the calm of the present period, however, so pompously
announced from the ministerial benches, was that calm esta-
blished to exist; he begged to ask, by the evidence of the fact,
that it was still deemed necessary to suspend the Canadian consti-
!Liam? •
Lord Palmerston, however, was Lord Stanley's chief vic-
tim! The unfortunate foreign secretary attempted, as we have
seen, to be ironical on the subject of the coalition which he was
pleased to conjure up between Sir Robert Peel, and Sir Wm.
Molesworth,! Lord Stanley ,howed the imaginary picture to
be incomplete. The noble lord, exclaimed Lord Stanley,
has forgotten to state whether he means to be a member oftlie
Peel and Molesworth administration. If he does not, all I can
say is, that, for a period stretching beyond my remembrance.
it will be the first administration, of which the noble lord has nut
formed part."
The shouts of laughter which greeted this bitter retort--
laughter extorted even from the ministerial benches—wilt pre-
vent, for sorikotime, the poor foreign secretary from attempting
irony at the.expense of the conservative leaders!
" When Lord Stanley resumed his seat, not one of the minis-
ters dared to rise. No. They seemed rivetted to the Treasury
bench; and actually permitted Sir Charles Gres', one of the
most tearful t waddlers who ever obtruded himself on a public
assembly, to talk against time ( the period was an hour and three
quartersk until an adjournment became feusible.
"A snore flattering compliment has selduhi been paid by an-
.tagonists, than was thus indirectly paid by ministers, last night,
to the tremendous power of Lord Stanley's speech. But. al-
though Liird Stanley is silenced for the rest of this debate, Mr.
Gladstone,-Lord Francis Egerton, Sir William Follett, and
Sir Robert Peel, yet remain. Well may the miserable Whigs
tremble! Terminate the matter how it may, in other respects
—they • are certain of being crucified by the Conservatives, as
never imbeciles were crucified by their antagonists before!
We cannot.wish them a happy deliverance !"
The debate on Tuesday night, though it closed hea-
vily, was one of the most interesting that has taken
place within the last two years. The calm and divi-
fied speecii of Lord Sandon, and the scathing eloquence
of Lord Stanley will create a great sensation throughout
the .country. Whatever may be the result of the deci-
slots on the amendment, the ministers must inevitably
suffer in their reputation—if, indeed, it be possible for
them to sink lower than they are in infamy.

We had proceeded thus far when we were favoured,
through the kindness of Mr. Willnter, with a copy of the
Times of yesterday morning, containing the resumed
debate on. Sir William Molesworth's motion, and the di-
vision on Lord Sandon's amendment. 'We proceed to
lay before our readers the analysis of the debate which is
furnished ii? the Times. We have no room for any com-

ments of our own.
The Ilorfse of Lords did not sit last night. In the House of
Commons, after the announcement of the confirmation of the
City election and a few petitions, the order of the day for the
adjourned debate on Sir William Molesworlh's proposal for a
vote.of censure against Lord Glenelg was proceeded with; it

began languidly with a speech from Mr. Leader, who, though
the hero of-the -Whig party at the last Westminster election,, was
unhonouredi;as far as we could discern, by the presence of any
of his friends, the ministers, with the exception only of the
Right lion. Poulett Thomson. Several short speeches were
made, among which were some having reference wholly to Ire-
land ; that topic being considered by Irish members as appro-
priate to 'every debate, on what subject soever. An official
gentlernan,-.-named Rich, was then heard at considerable length,
having been requested, as was whispered in the house, to speak
fur ministers, in order to occupy time till the house should be
fuller. The debate then began to improve. Mr. Praed com-
menced this 'better order of things in an acute diisection of
the Canadian pOlicy of ministers.. By the time when he had
finished; the season was come for making their case, and Sir
George Grey, the Under Secretary for the Colonies, rose to
state it He was very angry indeed, and began with hard
words; called Sir W. Molesworth's speech miserable, and Mr.
Praed's unserupokus; and complained that after giving large
powers to government at Christmas, the tories were trving in
March to acqUire those powers for themselves. They ought not;
in his opinioftz to have first adopted the policy of goveiument,
and then arktigned it. Ile attempted to answer some of Lord
;.Stauley"sStateinents, vindicated the non-transmission of troops,
and observed:, that the.portion of the ministerial policy which
this amendment went to condemn was their conciliatory, not
their coercive, dealing. In all the colonies except Canada, the
administration of-LordGlenelg had. been a successful and a sa-
tisfactoryside; and he believed the real question to be, not as
the opposition would have it supposed, the colonial, but the
domestic, policy of the government.
Mr. Gladstone defended the opposition from the charge of
coufederMing with the radicals. Such a combination would
have been a-dishonourable course for the conservatives, though
not without precedent among the whigs, who, on the Irish
church question, had met the Irish party and framed a joint
resolution' 'on the words whereof both sections could agree.
The true reason why, on acceding to office in 1835, they had
abandoned the more manful policy of their predecessors as to
Canada Was, that adherence to sounder principles would have
committed them with their then new allies. In a full review of
their Canadian measures, he commented with especial severity
upon their delays. to which they had become so much.accustom-
ed, that they seemed to think when they had put otT a subject
they hart settled it. Their minds were actually become insensi-
ble to the. distinction between settlement aril procrastination.
Mr. Spring Rice, like Sir George Grey, attempted to answer
Lord Stanley; but with as little success. lie had not left his
, Canadian plan to his successor, because it had not been sub-
Milted to the cabinet, who were to haiie deliberated upon it the
very day they went out of office. Lord Stanley might cen-
• sure ministers for being dilatory; they might, with better
reason, censure him for being too precipitate The tory leaders-
on this occasion were forced on by their followers. The two
last diVisiOvs had stimulated the present. Lord Maidstone;
like a valiant young knight, had earned his spurs well; he
seemed to have used them well since. It was a struggle for
Power—not for office simply, but for the principles of the re-
spective parties. The ministers had, indeed, been lately beaten;
but how often had tory governments been beaten, and yet ad-
hered to office? Mr._ Rice then enumerated various instances
of divisions unfavourable to tory administrations, and discussed
the materials for forming a new cabinet it the whigs should
• he turned
.out: It could not be a radical, and must be a tory,
administration.
.After some conciliatory explanations 'from Lord Stanley to
Mr. Rice. rind a few words from Lord Howick, doirg rather
tardy, justice to Lord Abei-deen as a Colonial Minister, Sir
Robert Peel rose, and in a powerful speech justified and enforced
the pursued on this occasion by the conservative party.
Ile coarsebegan by expressing his surprise at the tone of Mr. S. Itice's
retaliation on Lord Stanley, remembering, as he did, how the
whigs, when Lord Stanley left them, deplored his secession as
the hiss of their brightest ornament. Th e subject of the debate,
he said was two-fold—the amendment and the policy impeatherl
by it. The amenduieut embodied his own. principles, and dif-
fered from theits, for it was not ambiguous or irresolute—it
asked nit conferietacy with obnoxious opinions—no ceinproinise
with adver-e principles—it founded no compact, nor " compact
alliance.; but declared loyal sentiments, and expressed a just
wopt of confidence in the.whig ministry. It was ascribed by

ministers toil pressure taiin behir•d; they were so uncharitable
as to judge others by themselves Then talked as if their Ca-
nadian policy had been arbtpted by him and his friends; whereas,
every occasion. he bait ;ascribed the late misadventures to
their dilatory and irresolute conduct. The Under. Secretary
had asked why the amendment had not been inured when the
address was moved at Christmas? Why, because Lord John.
then begged the house to be unanimous, and reserved to every
member his future right of raising the question. The conser-
vatives were accused of having waited till all was tranquil.
Sorely this was just the fairest course. However, when the
Canada Bill was in progress, some weeks since, he had not
shrunk from respunsioility of proposing the needful amendments.
The noble Lord at that time said, that if those amendments
should lie pressed, he must consider whether it would not be
necessary for him to resign; they had been pressed,. and the
noble Lord had given way.
The Conservatives were now blamed for having been con-
nected with the Administrations which had existed before
1828, and to whose errors the distractions of the colony had
been mainly owing. But of those administrations not a few
members had been the colleagues of these very Whigs—for ex-
ample, Lord Palmerston, Lord Ripon, who had been actually
their colonial secretary, and Mr. 'Wilmot Horton, whom they
had made governor of Ceylon. Now, his case was, not that
past governments had been exempt from error, but that if the
whigs had used ordinary foresight, the recent bloodshed might
have been prevented.
Sir ROBERT PREL then proceeded to contrast the Colonial
Administration of Lord Aberdeen with that of Lord Glenelg,
and showed that the adjustment of differences had always been
prevented by some unlucky accident, connected with the blun-
ders of the whigs. As to his views on the present motion, he
looked not to the formation of a government, but to the honor
of the Conservative party, who could not properly absent them-
from such a discussion, nor properly move the previous ques-
tion, nor properly vote with Sir William Molesworth, in fixing
upon a single Minister a charge appertaining to the whole
Cabinet. He had expected that Ministers would relieve him
from that embarrassment by proposing, according to all prece-
dent, a. counter-resolution, declaring that the conduct of Lord
Glenelg had the approbation of the House. If they would do
that, even now, he would wave the amendment and fight them
0

..hat counter resolution.
Lord John Russell complained that Sir Robert Peel was over-
ruled by his supporters. Parties are now, said he, like serpents,
moved by their tails. (This untoward simile recoiled upon the
noble lord in a burst of laughter.) The ministry had not been
unsuccessful against the rebels, nor, yielded any point to them.
It was said that ministers might have prevented the revolt ;•but
that sort of hypothesis was incapable of proof. The noble lord
then recriminated on formt r governments, and put forth some
bitter, but somewhat feeble, sarcasms against Lord Stanley.
As to the present motion; its object was to eject the govern-
ment : but this had not been a usual proceediug with the House
OtCommons, except in "a very strong case of culpability. H_e
did not wish to take any but a direct course, and would beg Sir
W. Molesworth to withdraw the original motion, that the
amendment might be substantively put, and met with a flat
negative.
To this request Sir W. Molesworth agreed, with an alacrity
which looked as if he had heard of the request before that
moment: and the House then proceeded to a division, upon
which, without any Radical vote, the Opposition came within
29 of the Ministerial numbers. No fewer than 'l5 of the con-
servatives were, it seems, absent from illness or other causes.

The following is the division upon Lord Sandon's
amendment, which was put from the chair in a substan-

five form, in consequence of the withdrawal of Sir Will.
Moleworth's motion :

For Lord Sandon's proposition 287
• Against it
Majority in favour of Ministers.... -29
The house then adjourned at a quarter past 3 o'clock.;

The pairs on Sir W. Molesworth's motion were as follows:—
Conservatives. Whig-Radicals.
Archdall, M. Chapman, M. L.
Bailey, J. Potter, R.
Clive, Viscount Jervis, J.
._
Cresswell, C. Erie, W.
Cartwright, T. Hector, C.
•
Cooper, E. Mai tin, P.
Kelley, F. Talfourd. '1 N.
Rae, Sir W. Edwards, Colonel ...
Ramsey, Lord Hallyburton, Lord D.
Tyrell, Sir J. Heron, Sir R.
Pollock, Sir F. I'hillpots J.
Conservative members absent from illness and unavoidable
engagements:—
Barnes, Sir E. (ill) LoWther, Hon. H.
Blakeinore, R. (ill) Owen, Sir J.
Burdett, Sir F. (ill) Stormont, Lord (ill)
Dugdale, W. S. (ill) Vernon, G. H. (ill)
Fox, L. G. (ill) Wall, C. B.
Ker, D. Wilmot, Sir E. (ill)
Lowther, Lord County of Rutland vacant.
Whig Radicals absent from illness and other causes.
Conti•ngham, Lord A. (ill) Moreton A.
Johnson, General Wilkins, W.
Members who did not vote.
Molesworth. Grote. Leader.

We were politely favoured last. night by Mr. Willater, with a
copy of the Times of yesterday, fitim which we have given ex •
tracts elsewhere. Mr. Willmer deserves the thanks of the
public for his attention iu providing for their gratification.
Ma. BaowN's CONCERT.-Our readers will perceive that
Mr. Brown's concert, at the Templar's Hall, is announced.for
Tuesday night. It promises to be.. as 'attractive a concert as
any which has been held during the season, as far as professional
talent can make it so.

THE ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—At this theatre a splendid
equestrian fete, called the " Conquest of Jerusalem," has beets
performing, with a number of other attractive pieces. Mr.
Needle, the stage manager, we perceive, anuounces his benefit
for Monday evening, and has put out a p.-ograsmue that must
draw him a good house.
THE- LIVER THEATRE.—This little' theatre is putting out a
most attractive bill of tare this week. Mr. NV. J. Hammond,
who has been earning fresh laurtJis for buntelf at the Theatre
Royal, Covent Garden, has paid the theatre a visit, and last
evening added his rich fund of humour to One or two laughable
little dramas. Next week he makes his appearance as Sans
Weller, in a new drama of that name; and takes his benefit
with that play on Monday evening. His acting in this charac-
ter-has been highly spoken of as the best fat: simile of Chasrles
Dickens' ideal Sam
,ireller that has yet appeared.
THE WIND.—OO Tuesday, the wind, which has been blow-
ine. from the east and south-east almost instantaneously during
the last nine weeks, veered round to the west, with a smart
breeze, The consequence was that in the course of the day, up-
wards of fifty vessels from foreign ports, exclusive of coasters,
arrived in the Mersey.
RousE Ronaßuy. Some time betwixt Monday n;ght and
Tuesday morning, the house of Mr. I'. Allister, Chatham-place,
Edgehill, was entered, and the following articles stolen :—one
£lO note, k number not known,) one silver teaspoon, a small
purse containing one shil;iug and a bunch of keys. The thieves
had effected an entrance by getting on the top of the house and
opening a garret window.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Monday afternoon informa-
tion was conveyed to the police inspector at the Clarence Dock
that two children were drowning in a pit near the canal. Ward,
one of the officers, was immediately despatched to the spot,
with the grapoell, which he threw Into the pit, and drew up
the body of ahoy named Halliday, the youngest of two brothers,
both of whom had, by some accident, fallen into it. The eldest
boy, about eleven years of age, bad been got out by another
man before Ward arrived. They were both dead. The unfor-
tunate parents who have been thus bereaved of their children,
live in St. Martin's-street, near New Scotland-toad.
THE MAILS.—The mercantile community, as well as the
public generally, have been .seriously inconvenienced by the
non-arrival of the mails during the past week. The detective
state of the roads, and the impediment of the snow, have caused
obstructions and annoyances quite equal to any thing ve are
told of by Miss Martineau, during her recent travels through
the United States. A heavy fail of snow occurred on the 27th
ult., between Dunchurch and Birmingham. In Yorkshire, in
several paits the snow lies very deep. The inspectors on ; the
western road report the snow to be in some places nearly 13
feet deep. Indeed, the roads in alt parts of the kingdom are
in a rotten condition. In Liverpool and the neighbourhood
scarcely any snow has fallen. • During 'the winter there have
not been above three or four falls of snow, and never' has it
been above three inches thick on the ground.
A NEW STEAM-VESSEL.—The City of Dublin Company
have made another addition to their numerous fleet by a splen-
did new vessel called the Royal Adelaide, which was tried in
the river on Friday last, previous to her first voyage to.,Dublin
on Monday last, in,company with the mail packet. The Royal
Adelaide was built by Messrs. Wilson, with magnificent en-
gines of 200 horse power, by Messrs. Mather, Dixon, and Co.,
and is, in every respect, of the very first order. She is the
fourth of a new series of vessels built by the City of Dublin
Company, comprising. the Royal William and two others, and
promises to be at least equal to any of her predecessors.
SOUTH STACK LIGHT.—The moveable light on the South
Stack being placed so near the margin of the sea, has often
been seers when that in the Light-house was enveloped by fog,
thereby, on many occasions, found of the greatest use to her
majesty's packets, and other vessels sailing by the Head. The
honourable corporation Of Trinity-house have been pleased to
cause it, from being red, to be made a plain revolving light,
thereby more powerful, and showing in all sea directions. This
light is not seen beaming northward of N. E. by E. ; is about
forty feet above the water, and about thirty yards north of the
Light-house; is occasionally lighted, viz. when the wea!her is
not quite clear; the two lights revolving,--and when buds seen,•
are readily distinguishable from the two revolving lights.on the
Calf-of-Man, which are 187 yards distant from each Other, the
highest of which is to the northward, whereas the highe4t light
on the South Stack is to the southward. ,
DISTRESSED POOR• IN TOXTETH-PARK.--The Sum Of £l2O
having been raised by the joint exertions of the Rev. Vikl,i.am
Ilesketh and the Rev. James Hassall, amongst their.p'ettional
friends, and members of their congregation, for the relief of the
distressed poor in Toxteth-park, that sum was applied, during
the last week, to the purposed object, by means of simieuny and
shilling tickets, distributed to the poor by those persons
.who
had contributed to the rued. The number of tickets, by.which
relief was thus obtained, amounted, at the close of the following
Monday, to two thousand six hundred; of this number. eleven
hundred were relieved with potatoes and coals, and fifteen hun-
dred with shop orders, consisting of bread, meal, or small-gro-
ceries ; in the former digtribution, twenty
tons of coals, and
four hundred and thirty measures of potatoes were coasinned ;
and by the latter, the sum of £57 I7s Gil was expended. 'Of the
.
persons thus relieved, an examination was instituted, wherever
it was practicable, according. so the system adopted by the
Board of the District Provident Society. The name, residence,
and number in family of each petitioner was taken down, and
their place of abode afterwards visited; and of the number thus
examined and visited, amounting to no less than 500 families,
the inquiry tended, in most instances, to certify the real want
of the applicant.
THE CHASE.—The Cheshire Hounds will meet this day, the
9th. at lluddon-heath; to-morrow, the 10th, at Norton Priors,.'
on Monday, the 12th, at.Somerford-park ; on Tuesday, the 13th,
at Manley-mill; on Thursday, 15th, at Bradfield-greets; on
Friday, lath, at II ighway-side ; Saturday, 17th, at High•Legh ;
on Monday, 19th, at Weston Castle; Wednesday, 21st, at
Chnlmondeley Castle; Thursday, 22d, at Wilkesley Viliage
Saturday, 24th, at Windmill on Raveustnoor, at half-past ten
o'clock.—Sir Thomas Stanley's Fox Hounds will meet to-
morrowi the 10th instant, at Hawarden, at ten o'clock.—Mr.
Leche's Hounds will meet this day, the 9th, at Gallantry bank;
on Monday, 12th, at Carden • on Wednesday, 14th, at Penley
Hail; on Fri ,lay. 16th. at ll'urtas Halt; on Monday, 19,h, at
Allan Sadler's; on Wednesday, 21st, at Hampton-heath; on
Friday, 23d, at Handley ; on Monday, 26th, at Gresford;
on
Wednesday, 28th,at Egerton Arms, Broxton ; on Friday, 30th,
at W3.nnstay ; on Mondavi April 2d, at Hough Bridge, isear
Malpas at ball-nat ten o'clock.—Mr. Smythe Oweti's HoutA,
Will meet this slay, the 9,11, at Mitcham: Brid,2e,.at half-past
ten o'clock.—The Ludlow Hounds wilt meet to imm row, the
10th, at Stanton Lacy; on Thursday, 15th, at Pedlar's Rest;
On Saturday, 17th, at But:knell Wood, at ten o'clock,

THE ORATORIO AT TE-IE TnEATRE ROYAL.

On Tuesday evening last, the Liverpool Choral Society per-
formed Handel's sublime Oratorio, the " Messiah," with ac-
companiment! by. Mozart, at the Theatre Royal. The oratorio
was aunounced to, be under the patronage of the Mayor, and
for the benefit of the distressed poor. Such being its meritorimis.
object we were glad to see so excellent a house, the theatre
being well tilled in every part. The orchestra was very strong,
containing upwards of 30 female anti about I(X) male choristers,
besides a very good toned organ,, which was erected in the cen-
tre of the orchestra, with the usual comPliment of other instru-
ments, to make the instrumental department complete. Mr.
George Holden acted as conductor, Mr. M. Maybrick pre-
sided at the organ, and Mr. G Eyton led the orchestra. Per-
haps as a society of choristers, strictly so speaking, there is not
a more efficient one in the kingdom than the Liverpool Choral
Society; but when we go beyond the choral singing, we know
not from what cause, but a prevailing tameness and flatness
characterises the •tostrninental department. The overture to
this sublime oratorio, which is a mellifluous movement, partook
precisely of this character, with just a sufficiency of excellence
to save it from being damned, but not enough to excite
applause. Mr. France was put forward to sing the first
recitative, "Comfort ye," and wis no saving clause to the
overture. The chorus which followed, "And the glory of
the Lord shall be revealed," was splendidly effective. The
finished effect was, however, somewhat destroyed by the
leader's violin, being heard a full minim before the rest
in tbe• middle of the chorus was completed. The simulta-
neous crash of the chums ceasing at once into complete silence
was magnificent, conjoined with the words, " For the mouth of
the Lord bath spoken it;" but this splendid effect was greatly
marred by the anti-climax of a single squeaking violin destroy-
ing the emphatic silence by a tone sufficiently long to draw at-
tention before the chorus again ruse. The recitative accompa-
niment which followed by Mr. Wearing, "Thus, saith the Lord
of Hosts," was a complete lullaby. The following chorus,
" And he shall purify the sons of Levi," was again spirited,
and a redeeming trait in the oratorio. Mr. Dutton sang the
next recitative, ".Behold, a virgin shall conceive." He posses.
ses a counter tenor voice of a very singular quality of tone,
which is sometimes almost puerile. It, however, told well in
snore passages. The next recita ice, " For, behold ! darkness
shall cover the earth," was sung with much power and sweet-
ness by Mr. Davies, who really possesses a fine bass voice, and
a voice capable of filing the house. The following chorus,
" For unto us a child is born," was exquisitely sung. •'The
charming undulating melody was dune full justice to. We
think this decidedly the most strikingly beautiful passage in the
whole oratorio. ' The pastoral symphony which followed is a
beautiful flirting melody, and was played with good taste. The
next recitative was sung by Mrs. Hiles," There were shepherds
abiding in the field." Mrs. Hiles possesses a voice of consider-
able power anti sweetness, though not sufficiently tutored to
be capable of much ornament. She sang the recitative very
chastely. The next chorus, " Glory to God in the highest," was
main a marked feature in the oratorio. Mrs. Hiles sang the
following " Rejoice greatly," very sweetly and introduced
neat ornamental cadence. She was loudly applauded. Miss
Swain sang the next recitative and air, very creditably. The
music of the air is a most beautiful melody, which accords
finely witta die words. The verse is taken from Isaiah, and is
one of those examples of fine metaphor and of the harmony of
language-with which Isaiah abounds. For instance, can there
be a inure fitting metaphor, more perfectly carried out, or the
arrangement and choice of the words of which can be more
liquid, and musical, and appropriate, than the following : " He
shall feed his flock like a shepherd; and he shall gather the
lambs with his arm, and carry them iu his bosom, and gently
lPad those that are with young." The verse is one of exquisite
beauty, as a piece of composition, and nothing could be better
adapted to it than .the beautiful passage of his oratorio to which
Handel has set it. The music and the words seemed to pos-
s,ss but one meaning—one soul, which breathed upon the
audience with the softness and sweetness of a gentle zephyr.
Mr. Brand sang the next recitative, " Come unto him," but
her voice Was greatly deficient in power. In the second part
part ML'. Lunt sang-well in a counter alto, " He was despised
and rejected of men." The following chorus was very tine ;
the cou eluding. cadence especially, "And the Lord bath laid
on him the iniquity of us all," was splendid. The recitative by
Mrs. Hiles, " lie was cut out of the land of the living," was
also well sung. The full chorus before the interval, " lie is
the King of Glory," was gloriously sung. The oratorio was
resumed after the interval, with,. " by particular desire," the
grand march and chortn, "Crown ye the altar," from
Beethoven's Ruins of Athens. We never heard a piece of
music more wretchedly played or in worse time than was this.
In vain did the couductor endeavour to get the orchestra
into something like time; for while one half was con-
ducted by him, the leader was most perseveringly leading
the other half half a bar before him, and the result was what
might be expected, a musical jumble—a discord in concert.
After this, the new instrument, the ophicleide, was introduced,
played by a soldier of the hand of the 82d regiment, stationed
io this town. The instrument is an unwieldy brass instrument,
intended as a substitute for the serpent. Its principle supe-
riority consists in its scale of notes being complete, and thereby
allowing a solo to he performed upon it. As an instrument, bowr
ever, it will never come into general use but as an accompani-
ment. The tone has a disaoreeable smothered flatness of quality
wkieh makes its solo performance anything but agreeable.
The player, however, exhibited much execution on the instru-
ment, and for that and the apparent difficulty of playing it he
was encored, though, really, it was infliction. The. following
air, "Thou art gone tin on high," was sung, or, rather, attempted
to be seno, by Mr. Hadley. We wonder that men will put
themselves in such positions without even a shadow of qualifi-
cation. Mr Hadley has neither voice nor the knowledge of the
the Of one. The concluding chorus, " Blessing and honour,
glory and power be to Him that sitteth upon the throne," was
Magnititent. As a whole, the concert passed oil' very well, hut
tediously, and rather tamely. The foolish- suggestion of the
.committee to the audience to Obstairr " from any mark of appro-
bation, or otherwise," to avoid delay, pet haps contributed to
the character of spiritless tameness which pervaded it. We
think it would have been more judicious to have shortened the
oratorio anti have given a little "breathing time" fur the public,
to applaud if they thought fit.

BUILDING SOCIETIES.
PUBLIC MEETING ON SIR lINRRY VERNEIPS BILL.

On Tuesday evening last at seven o'clock, a public meeting
of the members and supporters of the building associations of
this town was held at the Crown Inn, in Lawton-street. The
meeting was convened by printed papers, in which were very
concisely set forth the reasons that urged the interference of the
building societies with the measure in question. It was stated
" I.—That the great bulk of property which is purchased by
members of building societies out of the funds which their con-
nexinu with the building societies enables them to command
is of that description which will be affected by this bill.
"2—That as the rates and taxes will be' laid on the owner, he
must either add them to the rent, and collect them along with
it, or he must sustain the loss out of his own pocket.
"3.—That as those persons mainly rely on the income they
derive from the property purchased out of the funds of building
societies to enable them to pay their subscriptions, and thereby
to repay the money advanced by the societies, any measure
calculated to reduce their income must materially tend to em-
barrass and inconvenience them, if not, in many instances to
deprive them of that which otherwise might become a perms-.
cent provision for old age, or other casualties to which all per-
sons are necessarily exposed.
"4—That as the interests of all the members are so intimately
connected together, whatever has a tendency to injure one de-
scription of members, consisting as all such societies do, of
lenders and borrowers of money must necessarily injure the
other, and under such circumstances the members of building
societies should unite in opposing a measure which would pro-
duce such an effect."
The address proceeded to urge to immediate action, as a com-
mittee of the House of Commons is now inquiring into the ef-
fect which Sir H. Verneys bill is likely to produce, which com-
mittee might close its business before the association could
stale their reasons for objecting to the measure. The address
concluded as follows:
"As to the propriety of sending a deputation to oppose the
bill, there are two difficulties in. the way, viz.—To fix upon a
proper person, and to provide the expenses attendant upon the
sending of such a deputation. When there are so many persons
in the town who have been connected with building societies for
so many years, it would appear strange if sonic person could not
be found capable of giving evidence before a committee, and
when it is considered that there is now so much property invested
in building societies, a trifling contribution voluntarily sub-
scribed by each, would be sufficient for such a purpose. If, there-
fore, a committee could be formed, composed of two or more
Members from each society in the town, and a small sum of mo-
ney supplied by each society, leaving to that committee either
to .select a person or not, at their discretion, and to adopt any
other measure which that committee might think proper to sug-
gest, a body competent to meet the necessity of the ease would
be ealled into existence to be dissolved only when the immediate
Causes of such compination shall cease.
"It is extremely gratifying to state that since the above was
written, a letter has been forwarded to this town from the secre-
tary of a committee elected by the members of building societies.
in Manchester, to oppose Sir H. Verney's bill—with that letter
the form of a petition to parliament adopted by them in opposi-
tion to the bill, has been sent ; the following is au extract from
the letter:—
" "rhe committee are confidently of opinion, that if the bill
in question shenbl ever become a law, (which, unless great and
uncommon efforts he made to prevent it, is by no means im-
probable.) the property of members of building societies will be
confiscated. The committee have, however, done their duty ;
they have succeeded in making all the landlords of all the neigh-
bouring towns for thirty miles round Manchester, sensible of
the danger threatened to their property, and have induced them.
to petition against the measure.' "

THE MAYNOOTH COLLEGE PETITION.—This petition, which
is now lying for signature at various places in the town, has
already received a large number of signatures. Our readers
are aware that its object is to petition Parliament to refuse the
annual grant for the support of Maynooth College out of the
National funds; on the ground that it is inconsistent in a
Protestant government to support an establishment for the
nurture and encouragement of dogmas, against which it pro.
tests; as well as on th- ground of the mischievous tendency of
the college on the education of the population of Ireland.
THE CHURCH LEASES PETITION.—A petition to both houses
of Parliament is now lying in this town for signature, praying
the legislature not to apply any excess of revenue which may
be derived from the church leases to other than church pur-
poses, for the spiritual instruction of the people in the doctrines
and principles of the estatriished church.
The City of Durham is in a state of great excitement on the
subject of the petition which has been presented by Mr. Gran-
ger agaiust Mr. Harland. The ballot for the committee took
place on Thursday, and every preparation for a hard fight ap-
pears to have been made by the contending parties. Upwards
of seventy witnesses have been sent off by coach to Loudon
within these three days from Durham. There is little doubt
that both Whig and whig-radical will be foiled. The conserva-
tives are ready for action, and will put in their man in gallant
style.
CAUTION.—An unusual number of fatal accidents have lately
occurred to labourers while attending to thrashing machiuss
when at work, at which times the utmost caution is requisite.
WEST LENT,—Sir Edmund Filmer hasbeeu returned for the
western division of the county of Kent, in lieu of Sir William •
Geary, who retires, on account of ill health. They are both
conservatives, so that the change makes nu difference in the
strength of parties.
In illustration of the working of the Ballot system, it may
be mentioned, that the Common Council of Loudon, a few
years ago, this famous nostrum was found to he such a cover
fur fraud and deception, that it was abolished, the proposition
for that purpose havingcome from the `.` Liberal" party, bitterly
disappointed at the result of an election wherein they had the
majority of the promises, but the minority of the votes
FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.—'The 12th ult., as some labouring
men at St. Juliet, near lioscast le, were coursing a hare on the
cliffs, William Orchard fell on the snow, Which being very slip-
pery and sloping* ground; be rolled several times till lie fell' over
a precipice on the cliff above 100 feet high. When his compa•
nioos got to burn, he aas seusille, but his limbs were. paralysed
though no hones appeared broken. Ile lingered t ill next even-
ing, wten dealt) put a period to his sufferings. He was a single.
man, about 40, living with his mother.— West BT inn.