The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-09-18 00:00:00

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS

We have again to apologise to our distant subscribers
for the none•delivery of their copies of the STANDARD
by the early post. They will recognise the reason
of the delay in the lengthened report which we have
furnished of the important proceedings at the tneeting
oftheCHESTER DIOCES.VN BOARD OF EDUCATION.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

" A Lover of the Fine Arts" is too indefinite in his complaints to
enable us to understand them.

Zig Eiberpool tanbarl3.

FRIDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 18, 1840.

By the arrival of the steam-ship President at this
port yesterday, we have received New York papers to
the Ist instant. They do not contain any later political
intelligence than that which was brought by the Aca-
dia. We have to express our obligations to Captain
Fayrer for a very full the of papers, from which we re-
gret it is not in our power to make any extracts in our
present publication.

The Globe states that there exists no int.mtion, at

present, to assemble Parliament at an earlier period
than usual, adding, that " all speculations on the sub-
ject are unfounded, and necessarily premature." This
intimation, which appears to partake of an official cha-
racter, is precisely what might have been expected un-
der a Whig administration. The country, for aught

we know to the contrary, may be on the eve of enter-
ing into a war, the duration or extent of which it would
be difficult to speculate upon. But what care my Lord
Melbourne and his associates, as long as they can en-
joy the emoluments of office ? To these locusts it is a
matter of utter indifference whether the country is pre-
pared or not for the contingences which may await her.
To them it is a matter of no importance whatever whe-
ther the legislature should or should not sanction their
proceedings. What care they about an adverse majo-
rity in Parliament, as long as they can retain place ?
The plain truth is, that the Whigs have shown them-
selves to be utterly regardless of the best interests of
the country. They have suffered its honour to be tar-
nished by the numberless unprovoked insults to which
our national flag has been subjected. They have suf-
fered its trade and commerce to be interrupted and sa-
crificed at the whim and caprice of every petty power
in the world. They have all but plunged us into the
horrors of that worst of all wars, a civil war : and now
they have embroiled us in a quarrel with one of the
most powerful nations of Europe, without deigning to
seek the sanction or approbation of either House of
Parliament. The time, however, may speedily arrive,
when they will he obliged to go to the House of Com-
mons for supplies. We shall then see in what degree
of estimation the Whigs and their policy arc held by
the representatives of the people. We shall feel greatly
disappointed if they are not indignantly kicked out of
office.

"Is Lord Ebrington a repealer ?" This is a question
which our able contemporary the Dublin Evening Mail
has frequently, forcibly, and pertinently proposed for
the consideration and reply of the Government hacks
on the other side of the channel. Not one of the or-
gans of the Administration has dared fairly and ho-
nestly to meet this question. The Evening Mail has
fixed Lord Ebrington between the horns of a dilemma
from which he cannot escape. It is quite evident that
Lord Ebrington dares not answer the question. If he
were to have the temerity to acknowledge himself to
be a repealer, the irresistible voice of an indignant na-
tion would soon demand his expulsion, and that of his
colleagues, from office. If, on the contrary, he were
to declare himself an anti-Repealer, O'Connell and the
Popish rebels of Ireland would, with equal certainty,
consign the administration to destruction. This is
truly an awkward predicament; but it only affords
another illustration of the tyrannical influence exerted
by the Irish demagogue over the present venal and
degraded cabinet.

" Ware, and rumours of ware' appear to be the
order of the day in almost every part of the world. In
every country, almost, the face of society seems to be
heaving under some mighty convulsion, the issue of ,

which it is impossible to predict. Everywhere the
elements of civil commotion appear to be busily at
work. Whether we look to the east or the west, the
north or the south, it is a singular fact that there is
scarcely a nation which is not either torn asunder by
internal dissensions, or threatened with foreign aggres-
lion. There scarcely ever was a
period is the history

of the world when the great family of mankind ex-
perienced so universal a convulsion in its various social

relations

If we look towards the East, we find that China is
menaced by the armaments of England, while the
population of that vast empire is supposed to be per-
vaded by a feeling of almost universal discontent—
that the Dutch are at war with their colonial subjects
—that the northern provinces of India, Persia, Cir-
cassia, Syria, and Egypt are experiencing the calami-
ties of an open warfare—and that the Eagle of Russia
is hovering over all these countries, and Turkey in
addition, ready to pounce upon them as her prey.
If we look to Europe, we witness the same spectacle.
France, our nearest neighbour, is the daily scene of
revolutionary outbreaks, which have been hitherto only
restrained by the powerful arm of the executive, but
which threaten to render her once more the theatre for
enacting the dismal drama of the great Revolution.
Spain is in a state of open rebellion. The Queen
Regent is little better than a prisoner in the hands of
Espartero and the rebels under his command. Portu-
gal is the scene of a similar revolt. We would not
give a farthing candle's end for the throne of Donna
Maria. Throughout the Italian and German states
there is a prevailing spirit of disaffection, which only
waits a favourable opportunity for bursting forth into
open insurrection. Indeed, the whole of the conti-
nent seems to he in a state of disquietude and alarm.
Again, if we cross the Atlantic, we find the same
elements at work, from the icy regions of Northern
America to the extremity of the South. The rebel
factions of Canada are panting for an opportunity to
cast off the yoke of the mother country. The Maine
boundary dispute is a bone of contention between this
country and the United States. The population of
those states are, again, divided among themselves, and
at open warfare with the aboriginal tribes. Texas and
Mexico, Bolivia, and Buenos Ayres are severally en-
gaged in actual warfare.

What the end of these things may be we cannot
divine. It is evident, however. that we are upon the
eve of some great event. The mysterious scroll of
prophecy is being gradually unrolled, and all things
conspire to work out the grand designs of the Great
Ruler of the Universe.

We desire to put the free burgesses of Liverpool on
their guard against a deep-laid plot of the Whig-Radical

faction, the object of which is the disfranchisement of
the freemen. The same game was attempted to be
played prior to the last general election, in 1837. At
that time a sum of £5OO was placed in the hands of a
sub-committee of the Reform Association, by a person
of the name of Langton, for the purpose of bribing the
freemen, in order that grounds might be afforded for
applying to Parliament for their disfranchisement as a
body. We are in possession of the names of the indi-
viduals who were employed on this truly creditable and
liberal undertaking. The disgraceful scheme, however,
proved an utter failure, and the money, owing to pecu-
liar circumstances, was refunded by means of a private
collection among the "aristocracy" and "top-sawyers"
of the Reform Association. A similar plot is now on
foot. A publican of the name of Kehoe, in Thomas-
street, has, under the specious and clap-trap name of
" The True Blue Club," called together and enrolled
176 freemen, who have been promised situations in the
Dock and Corporation employ, as a bait to secure their
votes. We have no doubt that money will he offered
these silly individuals as a further means of corruption.
Let the freemen of Liverpool beware of this and similar
traps. The Liberals only want to disfranchise them.

The splendid public meeting, of which we furnish so
ample a report this day, affords another pregnant proof
of the general interest now taken, by all ranks in the
community, in the hallowed cause of scriptural educa-
tion. When we see the great and noble of the land
devoting their wealth, their influence, and their talents
to the promotion of this sacred cause ; when we see
all classes of the clergy united as one undivided pha-
lanx for the same object; and, above all, when we find
this great mass of the middle classes, and of the Pro-
testant democracy of the empire, cordially and enthu-
siastically seconding these praiseworthy and philan-
thropic exertions, we cannot resist the conviction that
the time is not far distant when the gloomy, unsocial,
and deadly principles of modern infidelity will be en-
tirely banished from the land, and when all ranks and
classes will once more rally round the church of their
fathers, with a firm and unflinching attachment to her
scriptural rituals and her apostolical faith. We feel
justified in saying that the most gratifying results may,
under the Divine blessing, he anticipated from the
efforts now made by our Diocesan School Societies; in
connection with those of other educational institutions
connected with the church. These societies are sowing
" the good seed" which shall hereafter spring up and
and flourish on the face of society, covering even the
desert places of the land with moral beauty.
It is impossible to look back to the history of this
country for the last twenty years, without perceiving
that a mighty change has been in progress amongst
this nation. A few years ago a very great number of
our churches were comparatively deserted—Dissent
was becoming more and more prevalent—new chapels

were springing up in every town and hamlet in the
kingdom—and infidelity, and its inseparable adjunct,
disaffection towards a Christian government, were
spreading their desolating influence in every direction.
How different is the present aspect of the country
Now, new churches are being erected by scores and

hundreds, in order to provide accommodation for the
increasing numbers which frequent the services of the
Establishment—Dissenting chapels are, one after ano-
ther, deserted—and sound scriptural principles have, in
great measure, displaced the heartless speculations
and disorganising doctrines of infidelity. Nothing,
we feel convinced, has more signally contributed to-
wards bringing round this pleasing change than the
efforts which have been made by the clergy in the work
of scriptural education. Let us hope that the success
which has hitherto attended these efforts may stimulate
the zeal of all classes in the same good work, and that
our Diocesan School Societies may be strengthened by
the liberal contributions and the devout prayers of all
true churchmen.

We this day furnish our readers with a full report of
the interesting speeches delivered at the great meeting
of the Chester Diocesan Board of Education, in con-
nexion with the National Society, held at the Amphi-
theatre, yesterday. We regret that it is not in our
power to publish a copy of the admirable report which
was read at the meeting. We made repeated applica-
tions for it, bat were met with a positive refusal. While
we cannot withhold our tribute of admiration from the
Hon. and Rev. Secretary of the Board, as an ardent
and devoted friend of scriptural education, we feel
constrained to express our conviction that he has,
from some unexplained motives, on the present occasion,
rendered but an equivocal service to the Diocesan
Society by depriving us of an opportunity of giving
additional publicity to its proceedings.

We are informed that the premises in Duke-street, belong-
ing to Mr. Henderson, lately occupied by the Herculaneum
Pottery Company, as a depot for the various articles of their
manufacture, have been purchased by government, and that
the intention is to convert them into barracks.
The Rev. M. A. Nicholson, of the University of Durham,
and late curate of Haslingden, has been presented by the
trustees with the living of Christ Church, Accrington, in this
county.

MR. HOLDEN'S LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY.—We again
call attention to the announcement, in another column, that
Mr. Holden, the celebrated astronomer, will commence his
course of interesting lectures on Monday next. We trust
that the well-known merits of the lecturer, who introduces
many tine scenic illustrations, will insure him a crowded and
respectable attendance.

LARGE STEAM-SHlPS.—There are now in the Coburg
Dock four of the finest and largest steam-ships in the world,
occupyiug the greater part of the available quay room, viz.,
the President, just arrived here from New York, the Great
Liverpool, of the Mediterranean line of Royal Mail ships,
and the Acadia and Caledonia, of the Halifax and Boston
Royal Mail line. The floating capital iu these superb ships
is immense.

DZATII laY AN EXPLOSION or Film DAMP.—Yesterday
week a collier, named Joseph Brindle, aged 40, a collier, lost
his life in consequence of an explosion of fire-damp, at Fogg's
colliery, in Darcy Lever, near Bolton. William Fray, a col-
lier who worked in the same mine as the deceased, stated at
the inquest, that shortly after seven o'clock he was at work
with the other men in the pit, when suddenly a rush of wind
came upon them from the interior of the mine. Tlis con-
vinced him that an explosion bad taken place, and he, know-
ing the danger was over, took a candle, and went about 300
yards up the mine, where he heard the deceased snoring, as
if asleep. The foul air caused by the explosion put out his
candle, and it bein". very stifling, he made all possible baste,
seized the deceased by an arm, dragged him into a tunnel,
where he was placed upon a waggon, and got out of the pit.
He was afterwards taken to Bolton, where he died on the
following•afternoon, his hands alai body being much scorch-
ed. The accident arose through the deceased having used a
candle.