The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-28 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICES.

An Universal History of Christian Martyrdom ;
composed by the Rev. John Fox, M.A. With
Not;,,, Commentaries, and Illustrations, by the Rev.
G. 'Milner, M.A. I.4iverpool: Lacy. 1836. pp. 64.

It will be consiuered no mean recommendation of this
book, when we state that the Rev. H. M'Neile recently
pronounced it, frari the pulpit, to be "a work which no
'Christicn fataill should be without." An opportunity
for obtainiog possession of it on such reasonable terms,
-as those upon which Mr. Lacey now offers it to the public,
has never before occurred. It has hitherto been a scarce
book—frequently cut of print—and, generally, to be met
-with only in clerical libraries. But i:s intrinsic merits
are such, as to entitle it to an instant introduction into
very family in Liverpool. No other work extant so
forcibly and convincingly exhibits the unalterably fero-
-eious spirit of Popery, and its unmitigable hatred of the
truth, as the quaint and simple annals of Fox's Martyro-
logy. It is further valuable for the striking summary
which it affords of the false doctrines, prejudices, bias-
mherf.ies, and superstitions of the modern church of Rome.
`tie wish the spirited publisher every success in this un-
dertaking.

.Analysis of the Bible, with Reference to the Social Du-
ties of Man. By Montgomery Martin. London :
Whittaker and Co. 1836. pp. 134.
This volume forms a very suitable present for youth,
.comprising, as it does, in scriptural language, a code of
social duties. The subjects are alphabetically arranged,
and each is illustrated by an, appropriate selection of
texts. The plan is capable of considerable extension, so
as to embrace our moral and religious duties, as well as
the chief truths of the Christian religion. We wish the
work a general introduction into the family circle, being
convinced that no system of morality which is not, like
the m e. ur.-!er. consideration, based upon. the word of
Ged, can have arky durable 'or practical influence upon
the cha..acter.

A Second Letter to Air. Councillor Blackburn, contain-
ing a Scriptural Refutation of his " Defence of the
System adopted in the Corporation Schools." By a
Bible Christian. Liverpool: Davenport. 1836. pp. 82.
TUe paroplet contains a complete reply to the crude
nonsense contained in Councillor Blackburn's ." De-
fence." We suspect that this aspirant for fame has very
little reason to felicitate himself upon his success as a
theological gladiator; and we sincerely hope that he at
length perceives the necessity of confining his attention
to his own proper business, instead of annoying the pub-
lic in the character of a literary quack.
The subject so ably handled in this " Letter" has been
amply discussed in our columns. We venture, however,
to give the following extract, illustrative of the advan-
tages resulting from the system of instruction sanctioned
by the Church of England :
But, air, this very Book, (lightly as you may possibly regard
it, and imperfect enough as it must be admitted to be,) will
afford a standing testimony against your Irish Education system;
for here, lon have before you, an humble individual LAYMAN
OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, possessing no one earthly ad-
vantage or qualification whatever, except such as he has derived
from the instruction obtained in the Schools connected with the
Establishment, enabled, by God's help, without resorting to men,
or books, or human aid of any kind, to scatter to the four winds
all the ingenious crudities and laboured sophistry %Inch you have
jumbled together in your " Defence" of your non-religious sys-
tem; and this, by the simple application only of the WORD OF
GOD' Now, sir. I will beg you to tell me honestly, whether any
such result could possibly have been produced, had the writer
received his " religious instruction," (according to your system,)
from scraps of Scripture only, instead of the ENTIRE BIBLE ?
Or could he even have known, much less have had the requisite
experience to select and apply them, as he has been enabled,
through the grace and mercy of God, to do in this letter? And
must he not consequently have been, (as every poor child edu-
cated in your schools unquestionably will be,) the easy dupe of
any false doctrine or erroneous Creed, which might have been
attempted to be palmed upon him, in lieu of the pure and hea-
venly doctrines Of THE BLESSED GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST :
Olt Gospel. which was ushered in the world by the united
voices of the cartslial choir, as "GLAD TIDINGS OF GREAT
JOY TO ALL PEOPLE," and the Harbinger of " PEACE on earth,
and GOO)) WILL towards men." Is it not manifest, then, as
the sun in the firmament, that you are "sowing the wind," and,
as the reward of your labours, will assuredly " REAP THE
WHIRLWIND."

A Chart of the Histories of Rome, Friatce, and Britain.
By Edward Ward Foster.
This is a very curious and ingenious record of the
events connected with the histories.of Rome, France, and
Great Britain, with their respective dates attached. It
is calculated to save much trouble, and will enable the
most cursory observer to become tolerably well acquainted
with the outlines of these portions of history. We haie
only to add that the price is extremely moderate.

A Letter to the Governor of the Bank of England on
the present State of Trade and influence of the Bank-
ing Institutions of the Country. By Henry Fair.
bairn. London : Robertson. 1836.

This is a very sensible pamphlet on a subject which is
from day to day assuming a more grave and important
aspect—the commercial and monetary concerns of the
manufacturing districts of the country. The following
remarks will be reed with peculiar interest :

iNT STOCK SPECULATIONS.
"The late speculations in railways have also erected much
very false alarm. These speculations, upon general principles,
have been certair ly ofa most erroneous kind; and the gambling,,
swindling, perjury, bribery, and corruptions of every descrip-
tion which have been witnessed in the late parliamentary ses-
sion, are worthy of every possible condemnation—but still their
influence upon the general monetary affairs of the nation have
been of an entirely unimportant kind. For these companies—
where shales have been the principal objects of attention during
the last few months of the excitement upon the Stock Exchange
—have only been possessed of one-tenth or twentith putt of the
money of the subs( -ibers—as appearing in the flaming prospec-
tuses of millions upon millions, which they all put forth. £l,
£2, £5, and very rarely Eli) per share, is all that is yet paid
upon account of these schemes. And allowing the entire num-
ber of the railways to have ultimately required about £10,00),000
eapoal, and the paid-up capital to be now even as much as £lO
*Pr 'Put, nnon the whole stock of the companies in the market,
lunheinchtT£e4,ooo,ol/0. is seen to be the full amount of the money
sactions
-I passmg and re-passing in the speculative trail-
of theseaailway shares. When at the same time many
Lundiectia ~r
tion in
the are being equally the subject of specula-
cause loss and aasi'a and foreign funds, which rise and fall, and
day, it is cle..r"thattotitit.'ousands of persons in every hour of the
amount amidst the entire four additional millions are of small
Then this money wa.weirlektmerations of the monetary world.
the --ianufacturing districts pin an to have come principally from
so large within the last threewneearre the accumulation has been
superabound; whence it appeyars l'httikttal capital is now seen to
peoilati,zr score in-
vested in these extraneous fa
pa4,,iffntriim but a very small
detraction from the capital of the
it is nil understood to conic; and allowing tie,,,Country, whence
wasted to the speculators, and to go into the 'i,,,i4nedineY tube all
s of the cha-
racters who will gain it if the bubbles should all burst and be
blown away, as in every probability they will, vet the capital
is
not then annihilated; it has only changed from the bands of the
fools to the hands of the rogues; and, even if annihilated alto-
gether, yet, when we have tog , without inconvenience, some

fifty or sixty millions in loans to foreign nations within so very
short a number of years, the additional loss of four millions in
railways at home is evidently of no importance whatsoever in a
national point of view."

A few Words to the Merchants and Manufacturers of
Lancashire and Yorkshire. By Mercator.

From this pamphlet we extract the following passage,
explanatory of the author's views of the proper cansti-
tution of a bank for the manufacturing districts ;

" Let us assume the formation of one general bank of issue
and deposit, having its head quarters in Manchester, with
branches (if thought desirable) in Liverpool, Preston, Leeds,
Sheffield, and Birmingham.
"That its capital be £5,000,000, in 50,000 shares of £lOO
each, the whole value of each share being paid up.
"That business be not commenced until at least one-fourth
of the capital shall have been subscribed.
"That all joint stock banks and private bankers be invited
to become proprietors of stock.
"That the company do issue notes payable at the head office,
or at the branch whence issued.

"That without interfering in the business of discount between
joint stock banks and their customers, the bank should hold it-
self in readiness to enter into contracts for rediscount, by means
of its circulation with such other banks as do not themselves is-
sue paper, giving a preference both as to amount and rate of
interest to such as are proprietors of the bank stock:
"That a weekly exchange of notes be established with all
other banks of issue, except the Bank of England, and the ba-
lances paid in cash or Exchequer Bills.
" That permanent deposits be received at a fixed rate of
interest, and current accounts kept for individuals leaving
balances free of interest.

" That the bank publish quarterly returns of its liabilities and
assets, together with an annual list of shareholders.
" That the bank do act as agent for other banks."

The Musical World. Nos. 31 and 32. London : No-

vello.

This interesting and spirited periodical cannot fail in
commanding an extensive circulation; if cheapness be
any attraction. It is published weekly, at the moderate
charge of threepence ; and comprises a great deal of
very interesting reading:, which will be as much appreci-
ated by the musical amateur as by the profession. One
of the numbers before us contains a letter from Mrs. No-
vello on the last moments of Malibran. The following
is the concluding paragraph :
"Thus died this incomparable, this wonderfully giftskiwoman,
That her husband could be either ungenerous or uulEnd I do
not believe. During the whole of her illness I witnessed his
assiduous attention to her every wish. With the tenderness of
a woman he combined the fondness of the lover; chafing her
hands and feet, administering her medicine, and murmuring a
thousand giateful endearments to soothe and console her.
" It was remarked that he did not hang round her while she
was ill in the ante-room; but some husbands are chary of de-
monstrating affection in public. They hold it too sacred a feel-
ing for display; but, in proportion, are prodigal of love even to
idolatry when alone with the beloved object; and never have I
met with a woman so capable of inspiring a lasting and intense
passion as his matchless wife. So beautiful and playful, so full
of genius, devotion, and disinterestedness—her very faults had
charms, for if she uttered an impatient word her sweet smile, the
pressure of her hand instantly atoned, and you felt to love her
better than ever. She was indeed a realisation of the poet's
dream of female perfection, a specimen of nature's handywork,
excelling the utmost imagining of fiction."

IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE LOCOMO-
TIVE STEAM-ENGINE.

Messrs. R. and W. Hawthorn, the eminent engineers of
this town, have just completed, for the Newcastle and Carlisle
Railway Company, a new locomotive steam-engine, to which
has been given the popular name of " The Tyne." The en-
gine is estimated at a power of about forty horses. Those con-
versant with mechanical subjects know, however, that the usual
mode of computing such machines no more affords a criterion
of their effective working power than the real tonnage of a ship
can be judged of by its registered admeasurement. The ma-
chinery of " The Tyne" was put into operation at the extensive
works of Messrs. Hawthorn, on Wednesday, a large party of
ladies and gentlemen having been invited to witness its first per-
formance. The company, amounting to eighty or ninety, in-
cluded many engineers, architects, and others familiar with
mechanical subjecs. These scientific gentlemen had been at-
tracted to the spot from a desire to examine a new and vastly
improved arrangement, invented by Messrs. Hawthorn, of the
hand-gearing for working that portion of the mechanism called
the side valves. To the general reader it may be necessary to
explain that these valves are situated under the body of the
engine. Their construction, much less their operation, cannot,
therefore, be seen when the machinery is at work on a railway.
Even if they could be seen, the mere spectator would have little
chance of examining this beautiful mechanical contrivance,
because the engine, at every stroke of the piston, would recede
further from his view. To engineers, this explanation may be
udinecessary, but it will not be so considered by nineteen-
twentieths of newspaper readers. During the trial of the ma-
chine on Wednesday, the usual plan of suspending the body of
the engine on beams, so that the wheels were clear of the
ground, was, of course, adopted. The most uninitiated in
scientific subjects will thus, at once, comprehend that in all
trials of this description the machinery performs its evolutions,
whilst the engine itself remains stationary. The performance
was highly satisfactory, and the numerous scientific gentlemen
present expressed their unqualified admiration of the improve-
ment effected in the construction of " The Tyne." The work-
ing, of the side valves, to the machinery appertaining to which
the improvement is confined, is a highly-important portion of
locomotive machinery. This will be apparent to the reader
when we state that by it the motion of the engine is reversed—
the machine being made to run backwards or forwards on the
rails, as circumstances may requite. Upon the facility afforded
to the engineer, not only of stopping the engine, but also of
turning back, when either to advance or stand still would be
attended with danger, mainly depends the safety of railway
travelling. Much attention has, therefore, been bestowed upon
this part of the engine by various engineers: Messrs. Hawthorn
amongst others. We had the pleasure of examining the
" Comet," one of the first engines constructed for the company
at Messrs. Hawthorn's manufactory, and in which the principle
of the improvement now under notice was first introduced.
Again, the new arrangement was greatly simplified by those
gentlemen in building the " Samson," now at work at the west
end of the line. The machinery of "The Tyne," for effecting
the reverse motion, is still more effective. Several scientific
gentlemen got under the engine to view the manner in which
the change is effected when the engine is at work. The ease
and rapidity with which the motion of the engine was reversed
by the man in charge of it, and the rapidity and certainty of
operation of the machinery itself, elicited the opinions of com-
petent judges that the arrangement is as simple and perfect as
the nature of the motion will admit. On Thursday, the engine
was conveyed to Blaydon, and made her first trip to Hexham
in a highly satisfactory manner. It was ascertained that, in
one part of the journey, she ran over a mile of ground in one
minute, being at the rate of sixty miles an hour. It should be
observed that her burthen in this experimental trip consisted of
only one carriage of passengers; but she had to contend with
the opposing force of a strong west wind. At this tremendous
speed it was with difficulty that the persons in charge of the
enginecould keep their places on the tender. Yesterday morn-
ing, " The Tyne" commenced her regular work, and went from
Blaydon to Haydon-bridge and back again, with a heavy train
each way, in a manner which proves her great superiority.
" The Tyne" is a substantially-built but neat engine, and its
exterior as well as mechanical parts are of highly-superior
workmanship.—Newcastle Journal.