The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-07-09 00:00:00

WEAVER CHURCH AT NORTHWICH

Yesterday, being the day appointed for the annual meeting
of the river Weaver trustees, was also fixed upon for the
interesting ceremony of laying the foundatiou stone of the
new church, now in progress of erection, for the benefit of
the waterrnen on this river.

The event furnished a most triumphant refutation of the
oft-repeated assertion made by the opponents of this measure,
viz.,—that these churches were as unpopular as they were
unnecessary in the neighbourhood for which they were
intended.

In the pit near to the stone were the trustees, and beyond
them a numerous body of ilatmen, with the flags and insignia
of their club, emblazoned with mottos of loyalty and religion.
On a stage erected for the purpose, was an assembly of
ladies, including most of the rank and influence of the
neighbourhood.
J. Tollemache, Esq. then spoke in most feeling language,
and a short address from the Incumbent expressive of the
gratitude, which he was convinced his parishioners, as well as
himself, felt to the trustees for the blessing which they had
conferred upon the district, and of his confidence that it
would not be bestowed in vain. The ceremony concluded by
the whole audience joining in the National Anthem—loyalty
and the Church of England being still ever found together.
This terminated one of the most affecting, impressive, and
beautiful sights which we ever witnessed. The children
marched down as they came, each school to be regaled with
various kinds of treats on their return—those from the Poor-
house, to Mr. Hostage's lawn, where they were soon found
sporting themselves in all the ecstacy of happiness. The rest
of the audience, after loitering for a moment to gratify their
curiosity by a closer inspection of the building or garlands,
quietly dispersed, with, apparently, but one feeling, viz.,
that of satisfaction at what they had been witnessing.
In concluding this account, we cannot but notice two cir-
cumstances :—The first is the fact that, in spite of the efforts
which have been made to render these churches unpopular
and odious, and in spite, more especially, of the inflammatory
and false statements respecting them, with which the walls
of Northwich are everywhere placarded—that such multi-
tudes (we think, without exaggeration, we may say they were
some thousands) all assembled to witness the ceremony of
laying the stone ; and that, though more than two-thirds
could neither see nor hear the chief part of the proceedings,
yet that all was silence and respect around; that there were
no interruptions, and not one found of bad taste or bad feel-
ing enough to repeat one of the hundred calumnies which
these churches have given rise to. The other circumstance
is the pure, hallowed, and noble statement of Mr. Tolle-
mache, as to the principles which induced him to propose
this measure to the trustees, and afterwards, in spite of the
handle which his enemies would make of it. to injure his
prospects as a candidate for the county (of which injury he
was fully sensible), nevertheless, that he should persevere,
and, forgetting all considerations of personal interest and
popularity, that he should detenrnine,, before every other duty,
to discharge his duty to his conscience and his God, in mak-
ing spiritual provision for these waterinen, from whose sinews
the revenues of the Weaver navigation are derived.
We think that if any thing were wanting, in his previous
character, to insure him the confidence of every Christian
elector in the county (and that character was already as high
and irreproachable as it could be) we think that his conduet,
in the matter of these Weaver churches, adds the last and
surest guarantee that to no hands better than his own can
the interests of our church and county possibly be committed.

ADMIRALTY COURT,—TUESDAY, JULY 6.
TIIE SCOTLAND—SALVAGE.
This was a claim for a remuneration for salvage services,
rendered by three steam-vessels—the President, the Albert,
and the Hero, of 100-horse-power each, belonging to a com-
pany at Liverpool, to the Scotland, a vessel of 937 tons,
laden with timber, from Quebec to Liverpool, which, on the
night of the 16th of November last, got on the Jordan-Flats,
a dangerous bank at the mouth of the Mersey, 11 or 12 miles
from Liverpool. The weather being boisterous, and the sea
high, the vessel struck heavily, lost her main and mizen
masts, rudder, forefoot and keel, and became waterlogged.
The Formby life-boat came up next morning, and there
being every appearance of a renewal of the gale, the master
and crew were prevailed upon to quit the ship. A steam-
vessel., the Elizabeth, of 45-horse-power, was the first to
render assistance, but could not move the wreck off the
Flats. The President, and afterwards the Albert and Hero,
coming up, effected the service. The value of the property
salved was about £2,000 ; that of the three steam-vessels
was £21,750 to the Elizabeth. They contended that the
aid of the three steamers was unnecessary ; that they had
encumbered the vessel with help, for which the owners were
not bound to pay, and had managed the service clumsily.
After hearing the Queen's Advocate and Dr. Nicholl for
the salvors, and Dr. Adams and Dr. Harding for the
owners,
Dr. LUSIIINGTON was of opinion that the tender was in-
adequate. The vessel had met with a most serious accident,
which placed her in a helpless condition, and she was de-
serted by her crew. It was admitted that there was no
chance of the Elizabeth being able to tow her off, and the
President was engaged for the service. Although the aid of
the two other vessels belonging to the same owners might
not be absolutely necessary, yet, considering that the vessel
being without rudder, was, as it was said, in "a wild and un-
manageable state," the services was performed more conve-
niently, expeditiously, and safely, than by the President
alone. Under all the circumstances, he was of opinion to
decree the aura of £4OO to the three vessels, instead of £250.

THIRD EDITION.

Standard-jice, Three o'clock