The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-02-06 00:00:00

THE ST. JOHN'S SCHOOLS

A meeting of a number of gentlemen holding pews in.
St. John's -Church was held last night, in the School-
room, Great Crosshall-street, to adopt measures for the
extension of the school accommodation in connexion
with that church. The Rev. Mr. Falloon, the minister
of the church, occupied the chair. He commenced the
proceedings by adverting to the object of the meeting,
which, he remarked, was known to all present, as cir-
culars had been sent round setting that forth : he fur-
ther read the minutes of previous meetings of the com-
mittee held with the same object, and which had resolved
into the present one. The rev. gentleman gave a graphic
delineation of the moral destitution of the town generally,
and the district of St. John's in particular. !
A statement, showing the urgent claims of the district
in this respect was submitted to the meeting. It appears
that the parish contains nearly seven thousand inhabi-
tants, and is bounded by Shaw's-brow, North-street,
Standish-street, Tithebarn-street, Hockenhall-alley, Sir
Thomas's-buildings, Whitechapel, St. John's-lane, and
Lime-street. The church is the only place of worship
within this extensive area, except a small Welsh chapel at
its extreme corner in Marybone, and there is no public
school for the poorer classes within its entire limits. The
neighbouringdistrict of St. Stephen's is similarly destitute
of any educational provision. Last month, after careful
inspection, it was found that there are in St. John's dis-
trict 2.292 children, of whom 1,617 attend no school what-
ever, and who, if left to themselves, will most likely
disfigure rather than adorn their station in life. The
' adult population are represented to be, in too many in-
stances, examples of depravity rather than patterns of
virtue. The congregation of St. John's have felt, and ex-
erted themselves to remedy, this sad state of things.
They have " done what they could." At the close of
1845, premises were taken in Great Crosshall-street, on a
lease of five years, and at a rent of £5O per annum,
affording accommodation for about 250 children—but
none for infants. These premises have proved quite
inadequate to supply the wants. As many as 28 appli-
cants have been reluctantly refused admission in one
week, and last year no fewer than 743 children were ex-
cluded simply for want of room. Such a state of things
must not be endured any longer if we wish our population to
becomeeither good Christians, or good citizens; to overlook
it, as was well said last night, would be impolitic, to make
light of it would be sinful. The remedy is easy,--let per-
manent and adequate schools be at once erected. The
body of the church is free—essentially a poor man's
church, and as therefore the congregation cannot do all,
we are much mistaken if our merchants and tradesmen
will not gladly supply all that is lacking.
The CHAIRMAN having read the statement, said that if
it were approved the next object would be to have it
print ed and circulated through the town, each circular to
be accompanied by a note soliciting aid.
Mr. JOSEPH ATKINSON moved the first resolution, to
the effect that the statement be adopted, printed, and
largely circulated ; and
Mr. OWEN WILLIAMS seconded it.

The second resolution was to the effect that the meet-
ing being deeply impressed with the deplorable state of
moral destitution existing in the district, pledges itself to
forward the object proposed by all the means in its
power. It was moved by Mr. HIGGINS, and seconded by
Mr. CARSON, who shewed the necessity which existed
for education, and especially religious education, at the
same time deploring the awful condition of the mass of the
lower classes in this town.

The Rev. CHAIRMAN stated that it was designed to
apply for assistance from the National Society, and also
from the government boards. He exhorted all present to
bear in mind the conditions to which they were pledged,
and shewed them that in pursuing that benevolent object
they were also benefitting the town in a temporal sense,
by training industrious labourers and workmen.

ABUNDANCE.—On Thursday, being the first day after
the abandonment of the corn-law, no less than 119,939
barrels and bags of flour, and 44,998 quarters of wheat,
were released from bond.

COMMITMENT FOR A ROBBERY IN JUNE LAST.-At
the Police-court, yesterday, a young man named George
Warrington was charged with having, on the 6th of June
last, robbed Benlamin Wilkins, of No. 90, Wood-street,
in this town, of a watch and a large quantity of wearing
apparel. He had resided in the same house, and was ap-
prehended in Manchester, wearing and otherwise in pos-
session of some of the articles. Some others of them he
had disposed of in Staffordshire. He was committed for
trial.

INQUESTS YESTERDAY, BEFORE MR. CURRY. -On
view of the body of Elizabeth Jones, aged 14 years. De-
ceased lived with her parents in Union-street, out of
Boundary-street, near Everton, and on Saturday was left
in the house with some other children, when, by some
means unknown, her clothes took fire, and she was so
much burned before assistance could be rendered that she
died on the following day.—On view of the body of a
male infant child, found on Sunday morning in the burial
ground of St. Anthony's Itc man Catholic Chapel. It
appeared that the child had been still-born.

THE WEATHER.—During the last three days—after
great humidity with little rain for about a week—the
weather has been dry and peculiarly mild for the season.
Vegetation, in some early plants, is in consequence ad-
vancing ; yet it is to be apprehended that it will be checked
by frosts and cutting east winds, which may still be
expected. A very early spring is seldom safe in this lati-
tude, but we must hope for the best. The wheats in this
neighbourhood look well and healthy, and are, happily,
not too far advanced to be injured by over-rankness.
Sunday and yesterday were as mild and pleasant as if we
were in the month of April.

ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—We witnessed the perform-
ance of the romantic play of the " Foundling of the
Forest," last week at this theatre, and were much pleased
with the ability shown by the different members of the
company in their various parts. The celebrated musical
burletta of " Midas" followed, and Miss Glover sustained
the part of Apollo in a very creditable manner. Mr.
Cony and his dogs have also contributed to make the
amusements of a pleasing variety
REPRESENTATION OF I

-STREET WARD,—Yester-
day evening a meeting of several of the electors of Lime-
street Ward was held at the Clarendon-rooms, for the
purpOse (as stated in a printed note widely distributed to
those interested) of considering the present position of
the representation of that ward in the Town Council.
Very few were in attendance, even some time after the
hour appointed ; and Mr. Reap, the secretary, whose
name was attached to the circular calling the meeting,
intimated to the two reporters present that the object of
the meeting was merely prefatory, and that as no public
advertisement had been published, he did not expect or
desire any reporter to be present. Upon this the reporters
(one of them from this office) retired.
ROBBERY FROM A LADY, AT THE MENAGERIE,
SHAW'S-BROW.—Yesterday, at police-court, three boys,
named James Fitzsimmons, Francis M•Donnel, and Thos.
Murphy (the oldest apparently not more than eleven
years of age), were charged with robbing a lady named
Pugh, of her purse, containing 75., while she was with
her children looking at the animals in the menagerie, top
of Shaw's-brow. The complainant suspected that some-
thing of the kind was to befal her, and took the best pre-
cautions she could, keeping her hand in her pocket; but
one of her children becoming troublesome, her attention
was withdrawn, and in a moment she missed her purse.
The prisoners were apprehended, and some of the money
found upon them. They recriminated upon each other,
partly admitting the theft. Murphy is known as an
adroit thief, who travels in his vocation to Glasgow and
other towns. The prisoners were committed for trial.
AN UNKIND CUT.—Our Liverpool Financial Associa-
tion is receiving kicks from all quarters. Last week, it
got anything rather than a friendly salute from Mr. Wm.
Jackson, M. P., at the meeting of the National Associa-
tion—almost a twin body. And no less a personage than
Henry, Lord Brougham and Vaux, thus denounced it in
the debate on the address in the House of Lords :
"One subject which was referred to in terms of great gratula-
tion in her Majesty's speech was the proposed large reduction
in the estimates. An agitation, to use the popular expression,
had been commenced in this country, in his opinion under very
unhappy auspices, with very que:tionable motives, and for very
unquestionable objects, namely,pernicious objects (hear, hear),
commencing in the West Riding of Yorkshire (a laugh), passing
over the county palatine of Lancaster, enthroned—as its metro-
polis of agitation—ii the town of Liverpool, with branches,
subordinate capitals of agitation, in Manchester and elsewhere,
and supported by the Chartist, or Radical, and seudo-econo-
mical press of the metropolis."
Fie, my Lord ! You are a good judge, however, of politi-
cal alliances, and know what "seudo-economy" is, viz.,
cavilling at expenditure when you are out, and maintain-
ing a convenient silence when any of it falls to your share !
SUPPOSED ATTEMPT AT INCENDIARISM.—Yesterday,
at the Police-court, two tall men, in velveteen coats,
named Kitchen and Davies, were brought before Mr.
Rushton, charged, on suspicion, with having attempted
to set fire to the extensive and valuable timber-yard of
Messrs. Henry Steele and Co„ timber merchants, in
Lower Harrington-street, and extending into Grafton-
street. They were seen on Saturday night going into the
premises, the gate of which they forced, and information
being given, they were found within, and near them three
bottles of spirits of turpentine, amongst a quantity of
shavings. Upon one of them being searched by a police-
officer, two boxes of lucifer matches were found. It was
also proved that a man resembling one of them had taken
one of the stone bottles produced to the shop of Mr.
Heath, a druggist, in the neighbourhood, and had pur-
chased the full of it of turpentine. Mr, Heath could not,
however, positively swear to the identity of the man, but
he thought he was the same, and said he had frequently
seen the other man in that vicinity, and believed him to
be a sawyer by trade. The prisoners said they had been
out of work for a long time, and finding the gate open
had gone in, glad to lie down to sleep where they could.
Mr. Rushton said that no doubt the object of the prisoners
was to set fire to the property, and he ordered the deposi.
tons to be taken, preparatory, when further evidence i$
prom .ed, to their being finally committed for trial,