The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-26 00:00:00

TO THIS EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SlR,—The following letter, excepting the parts within the
parentheses and the postscript, was forwarded to be inserted
in the Lends Intelligenear. Though a letter of the same
date with mine, sent by Dr. Molesworth against the Church
Pastoral Aid Society, has been twice inserted in that paper,
no room has been found for my communication. I trust that
yo•ar sense of justice to a most valuable but calumniated so-
ci'..qy will induce you to admit into your paper the following
r emarks.—l am, sir, yours respectfully, _

ED. EDWARDS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LEEDS INTELLIGENCER

Sia,—With the Rev. W. Sinclair I fully sympathise in
" the deepest reluctance to quit the retired and unobtrusive
round of pastoral duties," &e., as expressed by him in your i
paper of Saturday last. And t he—a resident clergyman in
the parish of Leeds—deemed it proper to apologise for offer-
ing, through the medium of the Leeds Intelligencer, his just
remarks on the proceedings of the meeting at the Music-
hall, in your town, on Monday the Ist instant, much more
ought I to feel that an apology is due from me, for venturing
to intrude on the notice of the readers of the Intelligencer,
any observations in addition to those of Mr. Sinclair—seeing
that I am unconnected with the parish of Leeds, or the dio-
cese in which that parish is situated. But since others than
those ecclesiastically connected with Leeds or the diocese of
Ripon officiated at that meeting, I may, I trust, be excused
for presuming to offer the following remarks.
It is to a part of the proceedings at the meeting in ques-
tion, that I advert—the attack made, and, as it appears to
me, gratuitously and unjustly made, on the CHURCH Pasto-
ral Aid Society ; and that under cover of meeting to advo-
cate and aid " the Society for the employment of additional
Curates in populous Places."
It occurs to me that the objections, as far as I am ac-
quainted with the objections to the Pastoral Aid Society, as
urged by its opponents, may be brought within a narrow
limit, and met on the ground so vauntingly occupied by the
objectors themselves.

I. It is.objected to the Pastoral Aid Society that it em-
ploys, or rather pays, lay persons, who are engaged as reli-
gious instructors, though by the appointment and under the
direction of the clergy of the parishes in which the lay agents
are employed.
The truly venerable and extensively useful " Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts " employs
and pays lay persons as catechists, who are religious instruc-
tors in our colonial parishes and dioceses. The National
Society also sanctions, and in some instances pays, national
schoolmasters and schoolmistresses who are but lay persons,
and are religious instructors in our parishes. The lay cate-
chists in our colonies, and the national schoolmasters and
schoolmistresses in our parishes, are not more by the ap-
pointment and under the control and direction of the clergy
in the respective parishes, than the lay agents paid by the
Pastoral Aid Society; and if the objection to the lay agency
of the latter society be valid, why is it not equally valid in
the case of the two other societies ? (Is it replied that the
laymen paid by the Pastoral Aid Society are under no epis-
copal jurisdiction, I reply that they are as much under epis-
copal jurisdiction as the national .schoolmasters and school-
mistresses in any parish (Leeds or Rochdale to wit), unless
the latter are licensed by the bishops of the dioceses respec-
tively. And are they so licensed, according to the 64th
canon? What episcopal authority or sanction had the Vicar
of Rochdale or Canon Parkinson to attend a public religious
meeting in the diocese of Ripon ? Is it replied that the Vicar
of Leeds had invited them ? The Vicar of Leeds, without
the sanction of his Bishop, cannot strictly authorise any
clergyman out of the diocese to officiate in ANY CHURCH
at Leeds, much less authorise and sanction strange clergy-
men, or any clergymen, to officiate at a religious meeting,
such as that held in the Music-hall—an unconsecrated, un-
licensed building.)
2. It is objected to the Church Pastoral Aid Society, that
it presumes to decide whether the recommendation of such
a clergyman as is to be paid by the society, be satisfactory or
not to the society ; and this decision is committed not to
laymen, but to clergymen,

Now, if the objection to a body or committee of clergy-
men such as the Pastoral Aid Society employs as its com-
mittee, to judge of the propriety of the appointment of a
candidate for a curacy, be valid ; it must be at least equally
valid against a lay patron, or lay trustees (as at Leeds) of a
church living, who judge and determine on the fitness of a
clerical candidate for that living: and yet such an exercise of
judgment in the latter case is never denounced or objected
to, as being unecclesiastical, or as invading the " episcopal
authority. And they who, for the sake of obtaining a
curacy, would disdain to submit their recommendation to
the examination and decision of a body of clergymen, such
as the Church Pastoral Aid Committee, would not probably
hesitate, for the sake of obtaining a church living, to submit
their recommendation or qualification to be judged and de-
cided by a single layman, or several laymen, as trustees and
patrons—e. q., the lay trustees as patrons of Leeds vicarage,
or the lay trustees of the Haberdashers' Company's chap-
laincy. To possess a legal right or authority to present any
clergyman to a living by a lay patron or patrons, is a distinct
thing from examining and deciding on the fitness of such a
clergyman for that living : and it is against this latter prero-
gative as exercised by the Pastoral Aid Clerical Committee,
that the objection of the opponents of this society is directed ;
though, without any objection, the same prerogative is exer-
cised by lay patrons of church livings.
To assert that in the late rejection of Mr. Briarley Brown,
the " CHURCH Pastoral Aid Society " interfered with episco-
pal authority or judgment, exhibits some degree of ignorance
or bad faith. For, in this case, the Lord Bishop of Chester
in countersigning the testirnonium, previously signed on
behalf of Mr. Briarley Brown by the clergymen in the Ches-
ter diocese, did not recommend Mr. Brown, or express any
opinion as to his qualification, but simply testified that the
clergy who had signed the testirnonium, were such clergymen
in his lordship's diocese as they had subscribed themselves to
be. This, and no more, is the object of everyof episcopal
countersignature to the testimonium on behalf a candidate
either for holy orders, or for a curac What then becomes
of the objection, that in this or similarany). case, the society
supersedes the " authority"
ooirea`w` judgment of the bishops ? '
(Would Dr. Hook or Dr. gvetlnteitle to a can-
didate for holy orders, or a curacy to an ordained clergyman,
on the simple testimonium signed by three clergymenand
countersigned by the bishop, without a prior enquiry and de-
cision as to the fitness of the candidate? And have these
antecedent enquiries and decision any more episcopal authority
than the antecedent enquiry and decision made by the Pastoral
Aid Society ? The veto exercised by the society supersedes
no " episcopal authority ;" interferes with no " episcopal
judgment ;" it is a salutary veto to guard the funds of a
charitable institution from being appropriated to pay and
support such persons as would cause damage to the church
by withdrawing from its ministry.)
3. It is objected to the CHURCH Pastoral Aid Society that
it is not ecclesiastically constituted ; and, therefore, is not a
church society. What in the view of the objectors may le-
gitimately constitute a " church society," being, as far as I
am aware, undefined by the objectors themselves, renders an
answer to their objection somewhat more difficult.
They will scarcely maintain, I suppose, that the united
concurrence or patronage of the Archbishops, Bishops, and
Clergy of the Church of Christ in this realm, will be sufficient
to constitute legitimately a CHURCH Society ; since, as it
appears to me, the whole clerical body of the three orders
have no authority (apart from royal authority) to make or
direct to be made, public collections of money in the respec-
tive parishes, in aid of any societies, even when those societies
are incorporated by royal authority; or, according to the
twelfth canon, to " make rules, orders, or constitutions in
causes ecclesiastical without the king's authority." Are all
the " five societies," so strenuously advocated by the oppo-
nents of the CHURCH Pastoral Aid Society, constituted by
the required authority, more than the CHURCH Pastoral
Aid Society, or the any
CHURCH Missionary Society? If not,
what becomes of the ground of objection to " the Pastoral
Aid Society, that it is not a Church Society."
And here I may, I hope,
be permitted to express my igno-
rance of the " ecclesiastical authority" (or " episcopal autho-
rity") by which such a meeting for religious purposes and
worship* as that which was convened and held at the Music
Hall, at Leeds, on the Ist of February. It was not autho-
rized by the rules or canons of the church, or by any statute
of the realm, but rather comes under the prohibition both of
the twelfth canon, and of the penal statute of 52d Geo. 111,
c. 155. It would seem somewhat more candid and consistent
to abstain from charging the Church Pastoral Aid Society
with ecclesiastical irregularitY, at a meeting not very regularly
convened and conducted, if the above-mentioned canon or
statute have any meaning and application to such a meeting.
1 forbear commenting on the extreme modesty with which
individual clergymen indirectly, but publicly, impugn the
conduct of their respective and excellent diocesans, for sup-
porting the Pastoral Aid Society. (But I would just enquire
whether such indirect attacks on the bishops made by
Ppres-
byters at public meetings and printed
lated to support "episcopal authority, or are caleu-
or to 4.
produce respect
for the episcopal office ? If the clerical supporters, and I
have the honour to be one of the supporters of the Church
Pastoral Aid Society, are ecclesiastically irregular in support-
ing that society, it is the province of their ecclesiastical su-
periors to correct them : to the directions and authority of
those superiors, officially given, they will, I doubt not, yield
obedience ; while they may hesitate to recognize authority,
or yield to the opinions, of two presbyters—the vicar of Leeds,
and the vicar of Rochdale.)
My hope and prayer is, that all impediments may be
* " Prayers having been offered."--/Atedi intelligeneer,
p. 7, Feb. 64A.

speedily removed, that now seem to prevent the union of
both societies, and of lan kindred societies within the pale of
Christ's Apostolical Church in this realm. But such meet-
ings as that held at Leeds on the Ist instant, are not calcu-
lated to effect such a union.—l am, sir, yours truly,

EDWAR,D EDWARDS

Wrexham, 11th Feb., 1841
POSTSCRIPT.
To the above objections an implied chargiis added, that
the Church Pastoral Aid Society is not CATHOLIC. It is
quite as much so as its junior sister—" The Society for the
employment of additional Curates," unless this latter society
comprises the Universal Church of Christ. But if by the
alleged uncatholicity be meant that the Pastoral Aid Society
does not pay men for substituting thepuerilities and absur-
dities of the Romish Catholic Church, for the Holy Scrip-
tures, and the scriptural doctrines of the Church of Christ
as established in this realm—to the charge, the society will,
I trust, be able to plead guilty. Or if by uncatholicity it be
meant that the Pastoral Aid Society has, in making or with-
holding its grants, a regard to the value of the living- as well
as to the population—to this charge also the society will plead
guilty. I know that an application was some time ago made
to the Church Pastoral Aid Society for a grant in part of pay-
ment to a lay reader in a parish containing a population of
eleven thousand souls. But a grant was refused, because
the incumbent received £6OO a year from his living, though,
out of that sum, he paid a liberal stipend to his curate, and
diligently shared all the duties with his curate adhering to
his parochial duties.
But, " the Society for employment of additional Curates"
is somewhat more liberal, though perhaps not more just, than
the " Pastoral Aid Society ": for, the former, I perceive, by
a resolution passed at the Music Hall meeting, maintains six
curates in the parish of Leeds; though the income of the in-
cumbent is £1,300 a-year from the living, to provide for the
religious instruction of his parishioners ; and though there
are many other churches built and endowed in the parish, by
the munificence of individuals. No doubt, under even these
circumstances, the vicar of Leeds feels himself justified in
receiving, and the committee of the " Society
for the em-
ployment of additional Curates " feel justified in appropryt-
ting, for such a purpose, part of the fund of a charitable in-
stitution—though a fund partly formed by the contributions
of clergymen who are scarcely able to provide for their own
families.

To all the foregoing remarks it may be replied, that to
prove that one society is wrong, does not prove that the other
is right. True. But it may remind the objectors of the old
adage that " they who live in glass houses should be careful
how they throw stones "; or of the more appropriate admo-
nition of our blessed Saviour,—Mat. vii. 3-5.

In reference to the lay agency paid for, but the agents nei-
ther appointed nor directed, by the " Pastoral Aid Society,"
I am not prepared to condemn or to justify the payment for
lay agency : though in doing this, the society does no more
than what is done by other approved church societies. But
I am inclined to think that if the grants appropriated to nay
lay persons, were devoted to employ regularly ordained cler-
gymen—more good would be promoted, and an impediment
would be removed, which impediment has prevented many
excellent, conscientious men clerical and lay—supporting the
" Pastoral Aid Society," a society of incalculable value.
I am, sir, late incumbent of Marsden, in the diocese of
Ripon, ED. EDWARDS.
Wrexham, Feb. 22, 1841.

t " The stipends of the 270 incumbents assisted by the so-
ciety (i. e. Pastoral Aid Society) average only £263 a year—
one half of the cases having no glebe or parsonage houses."—

Rev. J. B. Marsden at the meeting at Bradford.

EXPORTATION OF BRITISII MACHINERY

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,-It is satisfactory to learn that the important subject
of the exportation of machinery is now introduced into par-
liament, although brought forward by Machine Machine,
by petitioning for the removal of all restrictions ; yet the
investigation and discussion must be beneficial, as it will
elucidate one important fact, that, the removal of all duty
and restriction on the exportation of British invention may
benefit machine makers for a short time, but the measure
will inevitably ruin the cotton and woollen manufacturers of
Great Britain, and bring certain misery and want on many
thousands of our countrymen. It is an undeniable fact, that,
the great commercial pre-eminence of this country arises
solely from the astonishing invention and great superiority
of machinery adding such unbounded facility to our manu-
factures. It is that alone that has enabled us to compete
with foreigners, notwithstanding their advantages of cheaper
food, lower wages, and fewer taxes. Au exemption from
all restriction will consequently give to foreigners an unfair
and undue preference over the honest and industrious work-
ing classes of Great Britain. There is recently a lamentable
deficiency of orders from the United States and many of the
European States; the reason is too evident: the rapid ex-
tension of manufactories for cotton and woollen goods in the
United States, France, Saxony, Belgium, Switzerland, and
other countries. The manufactories are entirely indebted to
the promptitude they have been supplied with all our new
inventions in machinery, which has lead to their establish-
ment, and which is operating against our great liberality.
The advocates for unrestricted exportation of British ma-
chinery urge it principally on the ground that restriction
produces smuggling. Granted that it does to some degree,
is that a reason that other countries should be almost over-
whelmed with our machinery. But it is ascertained the
greater proportion of our fine mechanism has passed the
customs under the name of tools, and by other evasive means,
entirely owing to the undefined and inoperative acts of par-
liament. _ _

It is surely an excess of free trade liberality that would
bestow on other nations the fruits and benefits of British in-
vention, thereby depriving of employment a large portion of
our fellow-subjects.—Yours, &c., L.
Neweastle-on-7'yne, Feb. 24.

THE EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS AT THE
POST-OFFICE GALLERY.

Some very beautiful paintings have been added to the gal-
lery this last two or three days, which we now take an op-
portunity of describing. We recommend our readers to
visit this very excellent collection : they will be greatly de-
lighted. The first work of art we shall notice is numbered
10. " The Transporting the Holy Casa de Loretto."—
This very remarkable picture was obtained by Rosasphina,
a Bolognese painter, from a convent in Tuscany, who sold
it to Prince Beauharnois. It was then purchased by Lucien
Bonaparte, who sold it to the Queen of Etruria. She left it
to her eon, the Duke of Lucca. It has just been resold to a
foreign potentate for 2000 guineas. The subject of the pic-
ture is the Virgin and Infant Christ being transported to Lo-
retto, attended by angels. St. John and two saints are look-
ing up with rapture and reverence on the miracle. This
picture bears about it all the remarkable style, touch, and
tone of the Caracci School. In the figure of St John it is
especially exhibited, as the drapery is precisely the same
as that of the cap of the boy in the " Curing the Blind," and
that on the man's head who is leaning over the end of the
bier in that of " Raising the Widow's Son." The folds are
broad and massy. The fleshing is natural and of a clear
tone, and the limbs are finely proportioned. The head of St.
John is replete with intellect. The figure is in a kneeling
posture. The centre figure represents one of the Saints who
is invested with sacerdotal garments. The head is expres-
sive of sanctity and veneration. The attitude is graceful and
dignified. The folds of the white garment are beautifully ar-
ranged. The white is very pure, and the light thrown upon
it is very clear. The figure to the right represents another
Saint in a dark robe. The face is in profile, and is a fine
study. The hands in all the figures are charmingly expressed.
There is a lovely cherub at St. John's feet, who is handling
some jewels and chains in a golden salver. This little crea-
ture has a most exquisite expression of face. The landscape
is of a blueish cast. At the top of the picture is the Virgin
with the Saviour in her arms seated on a chest, surrounded
by clouds and cherubims. The glory is very brilliant. This
fine picture will only remain on view a month. It will be
greatly admired for its excellent colouring and execution.
17. " Virgin and Child"—Paris Bordone. A deeply-
coloured, rich picture.—Bordone was a pupil of Titian.
22. " Holy Family"—Parmegiano. A very delicious pic-
ture, equal almost to Raphael. The Holy Family is repre-
sented in the wilderness, with a friar holding an open book
or missal. These figures doubtless are portraits, and this
strange anachronism has been introduced to suit the fancy of
those for whom the picture was originally painted. The dra-
pery and fleshings are most exquisite. The purity and bright-
ness of the tones are astonishing. The arm and hand of the
Virgin are very graceful : the fingers are remarkable for their
length and symmetry. The depth of the background forci-
bly brings out the beautiful colours of the figures. Their
arrangement is also most graceful. This pure and chaste
work of art will be highly admired by all who have an eye to
beauty in design and delicacy of colour.—Francisco Mazzu-
oh, commonly called Parmegiano, was born at Parma 1503,
and died 1540, aged 37. The Italians, who highly admired
him, styled this artist Parmegianino (darling little Parmegi-
ano). He was, it is believed, the scholar of Correggio, and
closely studied his works. Parmegiano is celebrated for his
correctness of design, and the harmonious softness of his
colouring. Without being an imitator of Correggio, he is
almost his equal. It is to be regretted that a painter en-
dowed with such talent should have been so early cut off.
His works are now very rare.

PARISIAN IMPIETY.—The blasphemous and shocking
titles selected for dramatic productions within a few years
have already been referred to in your correspondence, but I
have not seen it remarked that the new favourite dance at the
fancy and masked balls at the Theatre de la Renaisance tran-
scends all that preceded it. The title of this dance is Galop
infernal du dernier Judgment ! The costumes of the dancers
and their postures are copied from Michael Angelo's picture
of "The Last Judgment !"—Correspondent of the Times.

IMPORTANT TO CARRIERS.—The following case came be-
fore the Justice of Peace Court of Edinburgh on Monday,
tke 15th instant :—A hamper was booked by Messrs. Raimes
of Leith Walk at Mr. Taylor's, the Leith carriers' quarters,
on the 17th October, for Messrs. Jefl'eriss and Co., Medical-
ball, Dalkeith, which hamper should have been conveyed to
Dalkeith that evening, but through negligence it did not ar-
rive at its destination until the 21st October, causing injury
to Messrs. Jefferiss's business and disappointment to their
customers. The carrier pleaded, in excuse, that he was en-
gaged in taking goods from the steam-boats on the first day,
and on the third day (the Sunday intervening) his man for-
got it. The Justices found bim liable in the amount of pro-
fit on the good, 25s per cent., and expenses.
THE LATE TRAGICAL OCCURRENCE AT MITCHAM.—The
prisoner, whose name, it appears, is Thomas Moss,. not
Potts, as was stated in the former account of the proceedings,
was on Wednesday brought before Mr. Elyard, at his resi-
dence at Streatham, for final examination upon the capital
charge of shooting at Emma Moss. his wife, with intent to
murder her. The unfortunate woman was brought from
Mitcham in a fly. Her face was blackened all over from the
effects of the gunpowder, and it is feared that her eyes are
very seriously injured. The prisoner, 'the moment he saw
his wife brought into the room, turned his head. away. lie
never looked up nor uttered a word during the inquiry, and
appeared to be almost in a state of insensibility. Emma
Moss was then sworn. She deposed, that on Tuesday even-
ing last she had been to chapel, and was returning home
about 9 o'clock, when near her own house she met the pri-
soner, who said, " Emma, is that you ?" She joined hint,
and asked him if he had been to her father's, and he replied
he had not, and by this time they had got to her mother's
house, and just as she raised the latch to go in, the prisoner
put a pistol under her bonnet, close to her face, and fired it
off. The prisoner had left her about a month before, and she
had not seen him till that evening. They had no angry words,
and nothing more occurred than she had stated before the
prisoner shot her. The prisoner was fully committed, upon
the charge of feloniously shooting at his wife with intent to
murder her.