The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-14 00:00:00

As a motto to his "Alphabet" is the following :

" The time has arrived fur the world to go to school to learn
its alphabet of knowledge, to enable it to attain the happiness
which it desires to possess."

Then commence his alphabetical sentences, after each
of which I subjoin some remarks, which I beg my young
friends to peruse.
" A—The earth is yet, except in some few places, covered
with unreclaimed wastes, morasses, and forests, for want of peo-
ple to cultivate and improve it."

As Africa contains the greatest extent of unexplored
countries, let Robert Owen diiiide his wealth amongst his
followers, and colonize a portion of them. Example is
better than precept in this, as in most other instances,
and Europe can well dispense with their presence.

" B—lt is yet far too large for the family which it has to sup-
port; there can be, therefore, no rational cause for contests be-
tween individuals or nations to apportion any part of it to
themselves."

Since the time that Adam became a grandfather the
world has been apportioned, and, indeed, before; for
Cain left the home of his parents and became the peupler
of a separate portion of the earth.

" C —The population of the world is divided into classes,
sects, parties, tribes, and nations, while it is the interest of every
one that none of thestlivisions should exist."
Who has been, and who is more indefatigable in the
pursuit of party principles, or the more eager founder of
sect, than Robert Owen himself? Else-why his great at-
tachment to the levelling portion of the community, to
the exclusion of all others ? No one more readily rides
on the shoulders of popular principle than he : while he
even descends so far as to flatter the views of the vicious
and the base, to' bring about his own ends.
" D —The population of the world is engaged in individual
and national contests for wealth, while the knowledge latterly
acquired of the sciences, when that knowledge shall be wisely
directed, will enable every part of the population to create, with
ease and pleasure, far more wealth than will saturate the desires
of all, and permanently retain a large surplus."

The followers of Robert Owen are amongst the most
strenuous devotees of gain : of course it is but to divide
it with the low and base, when his anticipated level is ac-
complished. Were it not as well that he should explain
the use of the wealth which is to be the possession of all
alike, and the method of its circulation ? But of course
such a thing as circulation cannot take place in a society
of equals; for where would one be found to work for
gain when he himself .possessed a fund of wealth? So
that it would appear that the treasures of our world are
to be divided, and that our pleasure is to lie in the con-
templation of the useless and unvarying mass. If we
are to become thus primitive, I would wish,it to take
place in Mr. Owen's day ; for he cannot deny that few in-
deed will be found to contribute to the wants of their fel-
low men, unless compelled to it by the desire of gain, or
the necessity of earning bread by labour; so that his in-
genuity might be exercised not only in the construction
of his own clothing, but also a portion for those who
would not do it for themselves. I wish Mr. Owen to
understand that what I am now going to say is not in the
remotest degree addressed to him, knowing that the
Christian's God is to him merely a creative power ; but
to fellow Christians I would remark, that, but a short
time elapsed before the paradise created by our God be-
came the scene of deceit and infamy ; and the fresh and
beautiful world, containing at that time so few, human
hearts, was the theatre of jealousy and discord, which
brought in their train hatred and bloodshed. How much
sooner then would these evils spring up in the imaginary
Eden of Robert Owen ?
" E—The world, through error, has been classed in a man-
ner the most detrimental to every individual ; while a natural
classification might now be adopted which would essentially
benefit all, without injury to any."
How easy is it to make assertions suited to our own
yiews ? But to induce belief in them, it is necessary to
give reasons for our opiniors. Mr. Owen appears to
imagine that it is sufficient for him to assert there is,er-
ror, without attempting to explain what that error is, or
how it originated ; neither does he state how the classi-
fication is to be effected, though it may be done.

" F—The existing classification produces, of necessity, po-
♦erty, or the fear of poverty, among the great mass of the peo-
ple: while under a wise direction, which would be the natural
classification of society according to age, wealth would every
where superabound without contest or competition."

Were it not for "necessity" and that "fear of Poverty,'
would not many be worthless and idle in our streets ?
And as idleness is the root of all evil, he would conduce
to the growth of it by his division of wealth, and thus
foster the very vices which he pretends a desire to abolish.
"G
—The world is now in the most grievous error respecting
the principles of human nature and of society; upon those fun-
damental principles, on the right knowledge of which the well
being and happiness of mankind depends. While, at this mo-
ment, extensive and expensive arrangements exist over the
world to keep the great mass in ignorance of these important
truths."

This is merely an assertion to assist in working his
own end—by inducing the people to look upon their
government with jealousy and discontent, and to rebel
against its dictates. He would level ! but who would be
the worshipped and the flattered of the grovelling
wretches he would make rich ? Why, Robert Owen !
He would stand on a pinnacle of his own rearing—and
the pride-intoxicated multitude would look up, for a
while exclaiming, "None are better than we." But how
long would it be before some daring spirit like his own, but
in the first spring of its strength and energy, would
boldly turn against him and lord it over his less gifted
brethren ?

" H—Through these errors the world is divided by oppcsing
feelings, which engender individual contests and national wars;
while the removal of these errors would speedityproduce peace,.
charity, and kind feelings over the world, and open the path to
permanent progressive improvement in every department of
life."

Who possesses these "opposing feelings " in a greater
degree than Robert Owen ) Does not he place himself,
in his alphabet, in open defiance to all which We have
been taught to respect from our earlieit childhood ? Does
not he wish us to trample on those laws and customs
which centuries have matured, and the noblest blood
flowed but to secure?

"I—The errors referred to are the origin of evil among the
human race; and if men were made to become intelligent, all
would know that it is the interest of (fiery individual of every
class, sect, and party, in every country, that the origin of evil
should be now universally abandoned."

For the intelligence which can be given by-men such
as he who wrote the•above, mankind would'quickly find
a curse sufficient thatAks, wben they Ipoked around and
saw. the "social order,".iiretended to be, advocated, en-
tirely done away, and in its stead nothing introduced but
a gloomy reign of anarchy, discord, and crime.

"J—This origin, of evil may now be easily removed from
among mankind, bfa onion of the people and governments to
effect it.
K—The removal of the'ofigin of evil froirt among mankind
will effect more for their permanent happiness thia all the'vic-
tories of all the heroes of past times; or than all the. mysterious
writings of,-all the ancients and moderns." •
If the means for removing thin pretended evil were fit
to publish, why are they not stated ? It is not sufficient,
I again remark, to make an assertion without giving the
reasons upon which it is founded ; and it is to be hoped
our world is not to be rendered the scene of vice and
misery by the " mysterious writings" of such philosof-
pliers as Robert Owen!

"L
—The errors which are the origin of evil among the hu-
man race may be proved to be such,' at: any time, by every one
in his own person, so as to•leave no doubt on the subject in any
mind."

To this letter only does the first part or Robert Owen's
alphabet extend, and in reference to it' I have to remark,
that in one instance, at least, he is deceived. For others
I cannot speak, but trust that they may experience as I
do ; I feel that his atheistical cant but compels me to look
into my own heart,to guatd it safely front the contamina-
tion of such principles as he dares to oppose to the re
ligion of his God and_the constitution of his country. I
shall trouble you with a few'reinarks on the remainder of
his alphabet, if the above'shOuldpeet your approbation.
Yours, &c. E. A. C.

EARLY EDUCATION.—ThFIwaII thought it very' unfair to in-
fluence a child's mind by inculcating any opinions before it
should have come to years of discretion, and be.abie to choose
for itself. I showed him my garden, and told him it was my
botanical garden. ' How so?' said he, it is covered with
weeds.' "Oh,' I replied, ' that is because it has not etv come
Co its age of discretion and choice. Ihe 'Needs, you see, have
taken the liberty to grow, and I thought it.mfair in me to pre-
judice the soil towards roses and strawberries.'—Coleridge.

COURT OF REQUESTS, LONDON.—A CAPITAL CALF' !—A
shoemaker ther tso u
tlinie oc f
o lsntßnissioner : The particulars
were—"
long, lank, lean-figured young gentleman vas summoned by a
Jew-looking
You
look'e 'ear, Mister; -this 'oar man has got a werry great calf,
and a werry short, thick, hugly foot; an so in course boots
ew-
itohouksi us
stated ted son
l ofq Crispin
the
what's made for him natterally won't fit nobody else. You un-
derstands I made 'em. Well, vrerry pot., He ses he karnt
git 'em on; now I ses he can; and if so be as you'll be so good
as to let me try 'ein on afore you, why you'll see, instanter di-
rectly, that they fits." (Roars of laughttr.)—Commissioner :
"Be good enongh, sir, to try on those bolts."—The defendant
here endeavoured to get on one of the hoots ; but, from the
singular immensity of his calf, it wearee evident that he could
not. The shoemaker, in his anxious, thingh Owns), effort to
assist the defendant, raised the leg so • hi4h, that both parties
,rolled upon the floor, and the poor defendant, like a ship in
•irons, could neither sail one way or the other; but; by a-despe-
rate hop, skip, and jump, reached'one cf the forms, and got
emancipated frutn the W.A. The case wss dismissed.