The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-09-13 00:00:00

the three estates of the realm, that it may govern the
whole people, have lifted the voice of proud defiance;
they will not have the fundamental laws of England
chan,eied, nor the birth-right possessions of Englishmen
entirely destroyed to serve the purposes of a false phi-
losophy, the dangerous spirit of perpetual innovation, or
the designs of an ambitious anti-national church, sup-
ported by an anti-national creed. And why ?—because
the conservatives of England saw clearly, without our
using any improper metaphor, that on one side yawned
the drea►y abyss of popular licentiousness and anarchy,
with all their long train of concomitant evils ; and on the
other frowned the precipice of despotism ! In one case,
departure from the rule of 'political rectitude—in the
other, the desertion of the grand foundation on which
all moral rule is to be sustained, with equity—with se-
curity—and with true religious freedom.
The Conservatives, then, have nobly met the first
assault on the Constitution ; but the battle is not yet
entirely fought; the crafty combined enemy will yet.
make one or two more expiring struggles, and their roar-
ing chief, from his lair of Derrynane, still wields the club
of papal power, and 'insolently brandishes it over our
heads. The compact by which he is upheld is not yet
broken; and. as the victory of Waterloo was not won till
after sunset, we must not attempt to leave the field at
noonday in the possession of the momentarily distracted
but crafty enemy, who bewails the want of a congenial
spirit of.evil purpose in the breasts of Englishmen. We
must not forget the advice given by Sir Robert Peel, at
the ever memorable dinner at Merchant Tailors' Hail ;
repeated to his constituents at Tamworth ; and which
has laid ns under the deep obligation of rendering the
House of Commons constitutionally Conservative. The
House of Lords has done its duty fearlessly, nay
magnanimously ; and the country, the cation at large
is grateful to the House of Lords ; but the Conser-
vatives must 'still show; ..ftc trustees for the nation,-
by their continued zeal and- increased energy, that
they are fully sensible of what has been done, and
the importance of crowning it by their own exer-
tions. This we have no doubt they will do. The
glorious scene at Newton is the earnest of a general
burst of Conservatism throughout the kingdom, which
will soon make Lord Melbourne's majority of twenty-nine,
in the lower house, a foctorn supporting hope, indeed!
Undoubtedly, we shall be again honoured by the
mauvaise plaisanterie of our Radical-whig opponents;
they may even deign to favour us with something in the
shape of Wig argument, if not in the Johnsonian style,
as the great moralist was not of their fraternity,) out of
their own vocabulary of specious sophisms and false
rhetoric!, to attempt to parry the effect of the Standard
truths we have humbly, and without any pretensions to
editorial coxcombry, or cynical self-conceit, put before our
reflecting readers. We give them the challenge and the
opportunity of making their case fair, if they can. We
are neither judge nor jury in our own cause, and which
is not the mere cause of self, but is identified with all
that is valuable and worthy of preservation in this Chris-
tian state. We are launched on the wide ocean of public
favour, or condemnation, not held fast by the narrow
minded prejudices, or capricious judgment of individuals,
nor controlled by the trammels of party faction. We
have the colours of patriotism flying from the mast head
of our vessel. She offers trusty conduct to all who will
honour her with their confidence. in support of religion
and sound moral principles; and, if she be not armed
with the heavy artillery of Whiggery, or the brass guns
of her Radical, pro-popery competitors, she has, in our
hands, the invitation of candour, the materiel for defence,
the ballast of honest intention, the canvass of resolution,
and the. invigorating and propelling breeze of loyal Con.
servatism to aid her progress; she is, therefore, equipped
for the voyage,—may that voyage be prosperous !
That the present aspect of public affairs, domestic and
foreign, presents a crisis of events, under which apathy
becomes criminal, with all those who are really anxious
for the support of sound principles, either moral, religi-
ous, p,r political, will not be denied by any man capable
of discriminating between cause and effect, and who is
not poisoned by the influence of a perverse spirit. That,
as regards our social condition, the period is slowly but
surely approaching, when another daring effort will be
made by a desperate faction, n its threatened expiring
agony, to convulse this kingdoM, with the view of en-
tirely subverting its remaining Institutions, and with
the hope of increased parliamentary strength to estab-
lish an oligarchy, is but too clearly manifest, to deceive
those who are capable of forming an ordinary judgment
upon the conduct of men and things. If this should
succeed the spoliation of the Protestant temples of our
God will be but the prelude to the general disolution of
the remaining safeguards and privileges of Englishmen.
Thus honest industry will, inevitably, be deprived of its
gains, and the rights of property be rendered subservient
to new schemes of popular advantage. Patronage will
be diverted into new channels, that our Popish-Whig
Government may garble the House of Commons to its
own will, and effectually choke the voice of its independ-
ent members,—and, should the Lords still resist, with
all their patriotism—their constancy—their legislative
acumen—it will avail but little—repeated and combined
assaults on the independence of their hereditary position,
will compel them to give way, and they will be borne
down by the torrent In such a predicament, what is
the duty of every man, rich and poor, who really loves
his country, and who is not entirely insensible to the
benefit of preserving his own freedom, upon something
like a tangible foundation ?

-It is evident, that the tlir(!atened consequences we
have described, should be met by efforts corre.ponding
with the magnitude and dreary aspect_ of their lowering
appearance, by a perfectly understood and well-defined
union, on the part of all loyal and good Christian men,
throughout the kingdom ; and not confined entirely to
those boroughs, districts, counties, or localities, where the
elements of evil are more actively engaged; but a counter-
poise against that evil should be sought elsewhere, amongst
the well-disposed, that the integral interests of our
Commonwealth, may be duly sustained as a whole, in
the House of Commons, and the time of independent
constitutional members, not entirely and uselessly wasted
in idle cabal and personal contention ; but the mischiefs
of evil legislation, for the most unhallowed purposes,
effectually controlled, in its own arena.

To effect this desideratum, there is need of active co-
operative energy in detail—of unanimity in design—of
energy in action—prudence in execution. It is, there-
fore, not sufficient, that public bodies should alone step
forward to meet the swelling tide of democracy—indi-
viduals, who are all personally interested in this great
moral struggle, should everywhere lend a helping hand
to maintain that which embraces all that is valuable of
earth's possessions—our moral and civil liberty, founded
upon the Christian religion,—to raise an effectual em-
bankment against the swelling surge of Atheism on the
one hand, of anarchy—sedition—and papal tyranny on
the other. Were we now to fall back, and rest contented
with that which has been done, we should retreat upon a
false security—lose the vantage ground we have gained,
and afford a greater triumph to the common enemy,—
let
us not then be deceiYed by the "lull" which precedes
the coming storm. Now, men of England—hereditary
freemen, is the time—now is the hour, to man afresh
the majestic vessel of the state—to look well to her ap-
pointments—to ascertain well the strength of her bul-
warks—every "good man and true" to his post, that he
may assist in working her to ride out the reviving fury
of the blustering waves of agitation. England's hope is
not yet broken if her sons will do their duty !
True it is that many thousands of well intentioned and
thoroughly loyal men in this united kingdom (in Ireland
especially) have been deterred by the dread of violence,
under popular clamour, from speaking out boldly their
sentiments, much more from taking a personal interest
In conservative objects. Under the rage of faction and
the threatened convulsion of society the quietude and
presumed security of private life was preferred to the
performance of a grave public duty. The season of fear
in this respect on our side of the water has passed away,
and it is incumbent now on every good member of the
state to assist actively in its preservation. The whigs
by their cwn measure have been driven to the nce,?s'si
of the registration• A passive medium for efri,cting the

THEATRE ROYAL.

Dufing.the past week, the new Tragedy, brought out tor' the
first time in Liverpool on yesterday week, of ", the Provost of
Bruges," has been several times repeated, and,each evening
with success. The tragedy contains much scope for fine acting,
anput tod,'as uch so as anytalengt' of an actor. The' traedy we ever witnessed,ct is ca
too lculate
of its
to m
the proof the,fad only last"season having been brought out in Louden, precluded
any slavish copyings of the readings of other actors.
Mr: Stuart, by his masterly representation of the character
allotted to him (the Provost) has raised still higher his reputa-
tion airiengsrhis fellow townsmen, as an actor of genius. The
proud old man, raised by his own surpassing courage and wis-
dom, from the station of a serf to that of a rulerin the land,
and afterwards borne down by trouble on trouble to the verge of
madness, partook under this actor's masterly representation,
of perfect personification; the audience forgot the actor in the
Provost, admired and pitied him. We know not that •we can
pay Mr: Stuart higher praise than in complimenting him in
thus attaining the perfection of ' his art. Mr. Cooper, as
Bouchard, played'with correctness of taste and judgment. Miss
Faucit as Constance,
forget__also played well. The more this lady en-
deavours to affectation, and to copy nature, the greater
will she find her success; she has considerably- improved of
late.
Last evening we witnessed " Richard the nird," the part of
Richard by Mr.tKean, of the Theatres Revel-Drury-lane and
Covent-garden, who has been engaged for ten nights. We un-
derstand this gentleman has been making an extremely success-
ful provincial tour in the north. We went expecting a high
mental treat, but must in justice say we felt disappointed. If
Shakspeare intended to represent Richard the Third as a
maniac, giving vent to continued ravings, and his every action
to be conceived and executed in a fury, then was Richard, last
evening; well represented; but if he intended to represent him
as an impetuous, headstrong, and plotting villain, with some
humane compunctions and misgivings—as an ambitious, design-
ing, and cautious man, with courage, energy, and nerve enough
to work out the dark broodin,gs of his brain, then was Shaks-
, peare's conception torn to shreds and tatters. The. Richard of
last night showed not the designing man of mind and the
daring villain, but from first to last the furious madman.
What great scheme was ever plotted in a fury ? What great
plot was ever worked out by the schemer in a whirlwind of
blind passion approaching to an ecstacy over which reason had
no sway? The gallery and a part of the pit applauded, of
course; it suited them; besides the actor is one of celebrity,
and therefore his acting must be fine. The more thinking part
of the pit and the boxes sat silent; they saw the effort but felt'
it not. Nature never works by contradictory rules. We, how-
ever, do Mr. Kean the justice to.say, thatin some parts of the
play his acting betrayed great talent and high finish. We have
not space to particularise, but many points told well. Mr.
Cocper, as the Earl of Richmond, 'met with considerable ap-
plause.- He played, as he always does, with steadiness, cor-
rectness, and well. The amusements of the evening were con-
cluded with the new travesty of "Master Romeo and Miss Ju-
liet," which, we understand, is about to be transferred to the
London boards. The house was full. The son of the celebrated
Rain Mohun Roy was sat in one of the boxes in eastern cos-
tume, and excited some attention.

SCRIPTURAL EDUCATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL ST,INDdRD.
Stu,—At the memorable meeting, held in the Amphitheatre,
on the 13th of July last, in defence of Scriptural Education, the
Rev. Hugh in a strain of luxuriant and caustic irony,
exposed toe anomalies and absurdities of that system which our
sapient and liberal Town Council have introduced into the Cor-
poration Schools, for the avowed object of reconciling all con-
fileallg creeds, and removing all sectarian prejudices. I have
observed that this was a memorable meeting; and such it assur-
edly was, comprising, with one or two exceptions, the whole of
our clergy, who, with a zeal and devotion highly praiseworthy,
came forward to record their dissent from that system of educa-
tion which excludes the word of God, and, consequently,
weakens the force of moral obligation. In this sacred duty they
were supported by hundreds of our leading merchants and gen-
try; and the spirit of Protestant feeling which ourst forth from
upwards of 5000 voices carried consternation and terror into
this Council Chamber, paralysed their exertions, and gave the
death-blow to their fondly cherished hopes. To counteract the
effect produced by the exposure of this their favourite system,
it was deemed of the highest importance that measures should
be adopted which might delude the public into the belief; that
the picture was over coloured, and the charge pre.erred utterly
false. By one of our wise Councillors it was positively denied
" that the scriptures were secluded, or that ,it was ever the
intention of the Comicil to exclude them." This was a strange
assertion, and created a wonderful sensation in the Council
'Chamber, inasmuch as Many had supported the measure on
the express understanding that the scriptures were to be
excluded, and the selections introduced. The • effect produced
out of doors was somewhat different, and the natural in-
quiry arose, " How is this?" " Has there not been some
mistake ?" "Is it possible that this honourable Councillor, who
some few days before said, in reference to a charge which was
supported by the evidence of fact, "It is false," and gave fur-
ther weight to this concise and brief sentence, by repeating with
additional emphasis, "Gentlemen,it is false," shotild expose
himself to' the same reflection ?" The proof was called for,
but of course- the public were never favoured with it. The fair
and honourable mode' of substantiating a charge-was left to the
advocates and supporters orscriptural education, as the obliga-
tions of morality form no pare.of that system which excludes the
light of revelation, and regards the precepts of the moral law
as an obligation which interferes with the " liberty" of man.
The " liberty" they contend for is to believe what they like, tp
act as they like, and to say what they like, unrestrained by the
obligations of truth and honour. Such is their system of edu-
cation ! Such their code of morals ! Such their notions of
civil and religious liberty!
"Licentiousness they mean when they cry liberty."
It was impossible to believe that this sapient Councillor had asr
sorted what he knew to be false, and it was generally believed he
had prepared himself for the occasion by putting a bible in his
pocket when he visited the-schools, as I
am credibly informed
it has never been seen on the reading-desk of the scholar since
.the introduction of the new system.
Another champion who volunteered for the defence was a
member of the same Council, and distinguished fur his uncom-
promising advocacy of those principles which, for want of a
more appropriate name, are designated "liberal." This zealous
Councillor had supported the system on its introduction in a
speech which your contemporary, the Albion, pronounced "pub-
lic property," and urged its dissemination amongst all classes
of the community. The fallacies contained in this speech were
cleverly exposed by the Rev. Hugh M'Ncile, and this very
sound advice was offered to the gentleman for his future govern.
ment— •
" IVe cuter ultra crepidam."