The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-14 00:00:00

TIM LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.

tributions in aid of suffering humanity, which were known
to be frequent and large, were distributed with that unos-
tentatious liberality, that instinctive delicacy, which is
at all times characteristic of a good and generous disposi-
tion. Of him, in reference to such deeds of kindness,
such missions of mercy, it might truly be said that his
right hand knew not what his left hand did.

From early youth associated with Liverpool, and by the
prestige of his family name connected with the germina-
tion and growth of its commercial prosperity and municipal
importance, the late Mr. MorrNztYx:was deeply and affec-
tionately interested in the welfare and progress of this his
native town ; and the growing development of its public in-
stitutions found in him a gratified assistant and a powerful
friend. Eminently disinterested in his acts and aspirations,
his public services had but one object in view—the general
good,— and that he laboured zealously to secure and
enhance, while he was not less careful of the public honour;
thus he was at all times tenacious of his personal reputa-
tion. In conferring on such a man municipal rank, as a
reward for valued services, the community evinced its
gratitude in a manner which reflected honour on itself, in
a degree as obvious and creditable as it lent dignity to
the recipient. The personal worth, the urbanity, and the
integrity of Mr. Morrarzux secured for him the warm
and lasting regards of an eztensi we circle of personal
friends. His attachments were as sincere as his manners
were blameless and inoffensive.

Deeply attached to the cause of constitutional govern-
ment, and warmly espousing the advocacy of those mea-
sures, through the administration of which this country
has attained so high a degree of prosperity—so honourable
a position among the nations of the earth,—Mr. MOLT-
NEVX, at an early period of his life,,enrolled himself among
the ranks of the Liverpool Conservatives, and was by them
justly esteemed for the coniistency and ardour of his
patriotism ; while his coneiliatory spirit rendered him a
favourite with even his political opponents. The union of
these qualities, added tos.his great and deserved personal
influence, pointed him out as the local leader under whose
guidance the Conservative party_ could sustain an honour-
able and uncomproniising, though not vindictive, warfare
against those aggressive principles of democratic innovation
which threaten the -subversion of our dearest and 'most
valuable institutions. In this belief he was selected as
chairman of'the Liverpool Constitutional Association, an
office which, ante the Association was instituted, he has
held; aid-the duties of which he has discharged In such a
manner as to give confidence and courage to 'his friends,
without affording the slightest pretence for 'arcerbity of
feeling among those to whom he was opposed. Sincere in
his own'honest convictions, and honourablein their mani-
festation, 'his magnanimity enabled him to exercise a
liberality of sentiment in estimating the proceedings of
his opponents. Of such a man, and so worthy a citizen,
altjoin, as all can join, heartily in saying,

ILEQUIESCAT IN PACE.

BIRKENHEAD HOSPITAL.

THE interests of this valuable institution are now in
considerable jeopardy, owing to an undignified dispute
among those whose position and education should have
induced a more sensible course of proceeding. It appears +
that the medical department is entrusted to honorary ,
surgeons, who are elected by the governors for a term of
years, and by one of the rules of the institution it is
provided that, on any 'honorary surgeon resigning
the office, or having hailed the terin., allowed, the
governors may, at the next annual meeting, elect him -as
a consulting surgeon. During the year 1852, 3lr.
HAMILTON, who had '-been an honorary surgeon from
June 1845, resigned his appointment, which was filled 'by
another surgeon resident in Birkenhead. At the succeed-
ing annual meeting 'Mr. HAMILTON would have 'been
proposed as a consulting surgeon, but there being two, 1
that number was thought sufficient. However, in the .
year following, a vacancy occurred by the death df "Mr.
STEVENSON; and therefore at the last annual meeting it
was proposed that, agreeably to the rule refented • to,
Mr. HAMILTON Should be appointed a consulting sur-
geon, and the motion was agreed to. This appointment,
it seems, gave umbrage to some other medical gentle-
men on the establishment, and, at the next meeting of
the committee, that body came to a decision, by :a ma-
jority of two, thatthe appointment of Mr. Hamwrow by
the governors at-the annual meeting was illegal, on the
ground that it bad not taken place at the annual meeting
next after his resignation, and, last week, a special meet-
ing was held at the Town-hall to decide upon the 'construc-
tion of the rule in question. After :desultory conversation,
in which repeated attempts to discuss the eligibility of the
appointment were -very properly repressed by the. chair-
man, the meeting, by a majority of 28 to 26, confirmed
'the decision of the annual meeting.
It is much to ;be lamented that a question,ef this 'kind
should be made the means of exciting persosial feeling, or
of arousing sensations of professional rivalry. 'The *hale
point in dispute turns simply upon the constraction•of the
rule, which says, 'that the Governors may at the next
annual meeting, .aftcr such resignation, elect the honorary
surgeon who resigns to the office of consulting -sur-
geon. On the one side it is contended thatthis power,
which is permissive, applies to any succeeding annual
meeting; whereas .on the other side it is argued that, if
the power be not exercised at the annual meeting immedi-
ately
succeisling, it ceases altogether. It has been decided
by the most eminent judges that when a law is not ex-.
pressly prohibitory it must be construed according to the
dictates of common-sense. We have no opinion-whatever
as to the merits of the. particular appointment in question,
nor its effects aeon tharelative professional position of the
gentlemen interestekbutwe cannot understand how there
can be a second opinion as to the common-sense view of its
legality. The permission to elect at the next annual
meeting necessanlyimplies any succeeding annual meeting
.or the Institution would sloe in the position of being
perhaps debarred from making such an appointment at
all. In the case of the loss .of the consulting surgeon, by
death or resignations, thee Governors would haie no power
to elect a successor, although -several who had served the
office of honorary surgeon Might be eligible, unless one of
them had resigned crithin'the previous year, while in any
ease they would be compelled tortake the junior surgeon
to the exclusion of the senior, who may have fulfilled lids
term of previous service years.before the office of consult-
ing surgeon became vacant. The -conclusion is evident,
that not only the legal but common-sense construction of
the rule is, that the term "next amine meeting" implies
any annual meeting:subsequent to the vacation of office ;
and this_opinion, we are confident,. would be corroborated
by any gentleman not interested in -the particular merits
of the appointment in question. We trust, however, that
a regard for the interests of the Instittctioli will be allowed
to predominate over other feelings of minor consequence,
and that both ;parties will suffer the question to remain
where it Is, -iiiod unite to carry out the noble objects that
both have inwiew.

FATHER .GAVAZZ.I; A DOUBTFUL
SUPPORTER OF PROTESTANTISM.

lAMONG the pecularities which distinguish society at
the present day, no one is more singular or more signifi-
cant than the pertinacit,y of that admiration it accords to
a particular class of favourites. To ensure this adoration,
ephemeral as it no doubt is, the possession of great talent
is not indispensable, while a-reasonable amount of sensitive
integrity is found to be a serious' hindrance to success.
The ,chief ingredents reviitlite to the formation of a
popular idol, whether of the Metier or humbler classes, is
indomitable self-esteem, an indiosyncracy which enables
its possessor to look on his votaries and admirers as mere
instruments to his exaltation ; and as utterly unworthy of
any consideration beyond the degree in which they con-
tribute to his aggrandisement and self-inflation. Suffici-
ently imbued with this qualification, if a little tact is
added to its management, he may abuse the public ear,
insult his audience by fierce invectives against their most
cherished prejudices, or eloquently inculcate the doctrines
they hold most in detestation, and they will listen and
applaud till echo rings again. Be the favourite of the
hour a votary of teetotalism, an advocate for the abolition
of capital punishments, an apostle of Chartism, or a dis-
seminator of the " Odilic influence," so that he can render
it clear that he will have his own swing in what he is
pleased to call his argument, and cares not a rush whether
he pleases or displeases his audience, he is sire to have
willing and admiring listeners. •

The truth of this observation is fully borne out in the
singular popularity which has been wrung by Father
GAVIAZZI from the Protestant community of Great Britain.
Everywhere his reception has been enthusiastic; and
among those professing the greatest repugnance to, and
detestation as well as dread of Popery and Popish insti-
tutions and artifices, his prelections have been the signal
for afurore of admiration. This was well attested in the
audience assembled to hear—it could scarcely be said with
propriety to listen—to his oration in the Philharmonic-
hall, on Wednesday evening. In that assembly, great and
influential as it no doubt was, were to be met with men
who are eloquent in denouncing Popery as the "mystery
of iniquity"—who describe the Romish Church as a device
of Satan—and who proclaim its ministers of every grade
as the foes of Caursr, the enemies of human souls, the
cunning and, unscrupulous instruments for entrapping