The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-07-27 00:00:00

PROCLAMATIONS

"ewards offered in 1836-18.37. .. . ... ........., ~. D2O
at tto claimed, do. do. , l9

nel)ilpecl

It appears, then, from these returns—
' Ist. That crimes orthe inest heinous nature, and arising
fromsolitieal disturbances;: are increasing at .a rate much
beyond. fo. per cent-per annum.. „ • , .
2(/.. 'that whilst cumnuitials.ure also increasing at an equal
ratio, conrictioqs are diminishing at such. a rate' as to prove
the 7 general and pnwerful 'brganisitioa which intimidates
'witnesses from attending, and jurymen' from discharging
their duty; while, in many instances, the Crown prosecutors'
.permit the kinsmen of the accused—in .some the participators
in his guilt—to" be amongst those whose verdict is to decide
'his fate.. •This 'also is nemonstrated.hy the unclaimed rewards
of the Gazette—and_tve.believe that anore'aw ftilor4angero‘iti
phenomenon was never exhibited in any country than the-
increase' of crime 'through unbridled licentiousness, and' its
impunity through intimidation; Yet' such are the fruits of
nearly three years and a huger 0' Atulgrave government:
We must now apply ourselves., without any change of sub-
jeet,:to THESTATR-OF,THeCOLINTRY,-RS that state 14 exhi.
hiked in THE GAZETTE and PROVINCIAL. JOURNALS.

In the fortner (dated the,2,lth irisi.) we
.find but -a single
proclamation Tor a desperate assault, committed; we suppose,
..in a party scuffle on.the• 12th instant.- !Die latter ;present a
series of noriors,,iii which •murder, arson, -housebreaking,
plunder of arms, and other insurrectionary vjp.lences, dis-
play the unruly and ,desPe'rate temper of iVe conspiracy, in'
which the. Popish peasantry 4116 "noiverSally engaged. 'rhe
state'-o E- Tipperary dethands the most serious. attention, .and,
by and bye, when we shall address ourjelve.s.to the subject
of Mr. Justice Moore'VraTez-Mrrge fo the-grand jury of that
countyoce` Shall Wen Mote partieulaaly uot
Meanwhile, to prepare onr: readers for the,eltaige, we shall
'here subjoin our usual extracts-from the Gazette, and from
the provincial journals : . •
(From the Dublin Gazette of-Tuesday...) •
" DUBLIN CAST4rEf-J-.13 1-838..—Oer—T4na rsd ay, the
lith instant, a .inan named James ,Cu4tlev,.pt Tamlaght,
paVish of Annamullan, in the county 'Of "Monaghan, was
assaulted and wounded with a sl;as:p instrument intbejuicly
and thigh, by man named— Luckey, as§isted by William
White -and. Gordon.—Fifty pounds, &e.—By his
.t'.:/teellency'rcommand,. "tr.-„Dtit:ImNIOND,"'
COUNTY TIPrER AFt Y.

MA Llctous P.Esyuccriori..l)F,.24,R. ZACD A It lAH- LEDGER'S -
DWELLING-HOI*, AND .PRDPERTY BY ElliF,----Iti becomes
our duty to-day to 'record the total and wanton 'deStrUction
of Mr. ZachariatCLedger's dwelling:house, at -Kiltireetly;
in this county, With All 'the property itcontained—this dal--
ing actof incendiarism having been perpetratiett between the
hours of. twelve till one o'clock on the night td. SittltdaV
last.' 'The particulars Of:this occurrenee; as We haVe oh'..-
tained them from -unquestionable
..'autlinfit.,V, apkar,to,he:as
follow :--••- •
Between the hour; met iliAne.cLajp,p4..9l943;,, of fe.4ls-
-7sur.rdfrfitfed the hotise, (tvlirCE-was a thatched one,) and coin-
Tnenced to set fire to it in earibira places at the-Caine moment•
They-4hen- fireti-several• shuts; and denian-clecraTiii:clitit-Mr;
Ledger replied, that. 'he would never deliverr" his arm's:tin
while he had a finger to put a trigger to.' : As, the flumes in-
brOased, the, demand for the,arinsbecarne more 'tossing ;.- but,
still, Mr:Ledger firmly continued •I O rt fnSe'sayitio1 `he would
f ,-.
only give them up with his life.' : Hii ruThanly assdilantStlien
informed hill, that their intention was ' tobtiro him alive in
thn house.,'. At this inornent,4pOrtiOn Of the roof fell,, filling
the, interior witll. sulo44,,gf.t:crin cuing embers! i , Mr. Ledge:-
don opened 'Otte of the,dpors ‘xith../4„..Y.it.K....a5, tha...wiuti-Lvas
blokvin.fl'iiiitillii-liortil,'to relfeve Ininself from the .5111016'
and thereby prevent suffopitionr,as well as to comply with
the:.entreaties of the servants id take 6hance outside. He still,
hbvteyer, maintained his position- within, -until every atom of
theroof hadfallen ini.andtm.til.the heat' and smoke,reridered
it ilo longer'igia-dttiable ;,, but should have long :before given
-Ara.* if it 'were not that- Ite.was.wellsupplied,With water to
drink. ' Flaying one.. tirranged_with • his-a 9.9- and tho two-ober ,-
mien who happened to be In, the house at,the..tirne.,, to, fight
their assailants outside; the whole four sallied forth, add;after,
a severe struggle, stiCceecled in:capturing one of them, named
Dal id LyMih; whiff is MAW safely lodged in the Bridewell of:
Cluirleville, in forcing the entire liautlitti to seek refuge'by.,
.
night, and in' taking front thentrtwOhlunderbusses and a pail'
der4hornt. The house, furniture,
ei.
e n
eterbley etifi
dd(sinsgt,tnleo, y il
tilthesawu ilad'et:;"eesr):,..
thing else it ccintained,
Th,o§e-a'le„-.,*-_iWe.l.tVe said, 'shortly the particulars.. It will
ha
ofu sobceiedtr.itiLibdt,-,itifisac. at they html ni
e•
hcealanint4.lo.tititiliccclt,;il(olelligicee of a state
r,continue;:
..and particularly so when all st.h.e circumstances of Alt. 1.ed7.:
gees Case.are duly considered. It Will be recollected by Our
readers that the present is the ..se.ccind .attack that has been
causelesSly made on this respectable and unoffending gentle-
, man; but, perhaps,.we should not say, causelessly, for Mr.
Ledger and his family arepretestants, and to be of that per-
'Suasion in these times constitutes nhigh • "Critne: and utisde•
meenottr.' The-first took place in the month of. February
last. - At that time he was savagely beaten, and left for dead,
weltering in his blood on the.floor of the very house in which
the attempt was now made.to burn hitn alive: His two sons
also, (young men of undaunted spirit and bravery,) were then
very near losing their lives; but succeeded', with the aid of
their neighbours„in.capturing one of their assailants,'. Sab-
sequently,analtet. of the follows was:apprehended; . and,'at •
the Spring assizes, upoU.the evidence of Mr. Ledger, his.sons•
and assistants; they were both found. guilty and sentenced to
transportation for itiven years.- If ant cause could be a.ssigned
for the:prO'sent attack; •we suppose it would he, because the
Ales'frs:, Ledger had-the. hardihood at •that tinie to come
foiwurd. tot
.pro fellows, who, iif Providence had not
inteipOSK would have taken, away their own lives.—Limerick
....taitllord.:.. . - • • ' .--, • .
' It6DBEILY OF initE. A firsts.-On last Sunday between the
Emu* of eleven-And-twelve o'clock, two men. arrded:W:ith a
case' or 11istnIs each, • forced themselves into the house of
3oseph'PAlnfrir,' lf,'Sq wear Bantips,.. Mr. Palmer was at
"'church, but theremasA:sinall boy, t 44 irAidservants and the
children in the thonsecat the time. Rne,Of the fellows pre•
sented a pistol at the nursery mutt?, had ordered her to
take the children into the closet, and not either stir of speak
it Witt, or he would blow her brains out; when he got them -
!` in hel locked the door and put the key inihis pocket. • In the
. mean time, the second ruffian dispoicd.Of the other woman in
it-similar manner. ;,They then cornmenced Searching the
house. 'rhey. broke open•trunks and boxes 'arid ransacked
drawers; took a case of pistols,and a blundejinss, with ibutit
.tivoniv 'guineas,' and seemed:not to entertain.the least fear'.of.
disturbance. The small.bay, who was 'the ,:firs't, to discover
theirtapproatA upon whielrbeisecreted himself in•the stair-
' hole i liearing.them singing and cursing' up stairs, etrietge'd
',fremlitlifing, place, "and forcing himself out through a • hide
back window, ran in tire 'shade of some trees,' and "'aye
ar4aer6irti i
n..ikn
ggetnhetlecianuasne,.olFVhthe
esehlolayi,lsleu
havepwreoiti
hastilyno t)• elf:).
rl,e):,kerensedd,
• traids.lllr. Palmer's,: witir RI lbatidif gun. As lie came in
view Of the house, the robbers Were very leiusurely departing
pteo
m o,;4.eit. h
tliem,: p ute o
en: el
olifet-hqufieulkloellweSdhlilistipleilinei#nghto°Ptitnirglltr°oic:onudle u
at ol
'pied lint; titul'‘gayehiS comrade the alarm. They•hOthrthen
ril
set o ' at the top of Acir speed, and the gentleman alter
them straining
etvetry _nerve. , Fle•wts gaining cousiderabl V'
on the larger man of thc two. The miscreant finding hitn-
seltelosedon...suddenly.v.heeledround, and-snapped a pistol
at• hi; pursuer, bul 'fortunately the weapon bung:tire.. 'The
entl,nnan then coVered the fellt4' with his gun, and, he'
ag,aini betook himself speedily to.his liecls. nillowing• his
comrade,. he shaped his course in shelter of a Jarge ditch,
ilonbled into a bog, and succeeded. in .eluding pursuit. In
the •reorn in which the nursery-maid was !ricked there was the
price Uf a horse which Mr. Piltner had sold on the previOus
day:
,Though the polite Were soon on the spot, .and made a
Vigilant search, no trace of
.the robberS could be•discovered.
—Netirivli'Gtiorcliart. . . . , ,
I.3iii?rat.•Otrena6s.—On Friday last a brutal outrage was..
committed' near Galbally; in the countv-of Tipperary, on an,
unotreinding young man, named Maliony ; but whether to.
designate it as murder, trinnslaug liter,,iir homicide, we, know
not, al the authoritieS;will do.so•as hhtiYbest ' snit. their pur-
poses. It• seems •he. was on that day at the annual pattern,.
held alt the neighbourinej, clitirch-yard of Clenbeg ; and on'
his return home, he was followed by four fellows, who attacked
and b6at'itint'in'n Most savage manner, and then left him in
this mutilated state to the by the road side.. ,Had they dis-•
.
patched him at puce *Would have been a inercy., -I,t rarely
happOs that t fits pattern passes off without seine di,sgraCe-
ful outrage.. Every 20th of .lulj',; the votaries of the patron
saint, i whose name or the
,period when he flourished, are
alike hnknoWn, asSeintle to dit honour to his Memory by
fightitl g`abd.drinking, -fieni which We'must'suppose him, to
haveb en a jolly and pugnacious fellow. Tents are erected,
and i hiskey,..anti gingerbread sold in the vicinity of the
churchyard. around which thousands of the people 'assemble;
Sonic, anxiously. engaged in going throuoh their purgation,
by going on their Care feet-rind ktieesround the churchyard.
On this oceashin Major Wilcox and 'a party of police at-
. tended to preserve the peace, and were 'Obliged to remain on
the spat most of the night. Father M•Corthack. of Galbally,
.als.s3'wlits in' attendance, and 'greatly exerted ',himself to hi.-
sil,•.4_'..e tile people to..disperse arly, in which hew as partially
,:;.'e,.'e.4ful. 'lt` he could : uSe,ihe'.saine exertions. for its sup-
t . .snin, and that he Were seconded in them by the ma-
gistrates and authorities, it would be effecting much good.
ti,mi!: trsto:shit la:dvteirt,li:e filessed well filled Tali, it would be going
to
i ' •
attain this object, and he could do this .eastly.—
.

COUNTY LIMEOICK.
4,-tetureen the,hours of eight and nine o'clock in the even-
ing 'a l)esterday week, an armed body of men, with their
faces blackened,
ltyan, at Long ford, in this •cOnnty, and severely 'wounded in.
the he d Oliver Boyd;' a' carpenter in his employment; for
worki,n Andert,comtFact, After which, they fired several shots
tintl de arted. A man of the name of, tlayesvriii triurdered
at the I te.fair,of Ballyhrorid .k .A firtitsgitise'n6ar Herberts-
t
town wits dlaliciously burned down OR • Friilav night.-,Lime-
Tick Sicinilalq; .. -i T• ;-'- . ' • . ' " • "
i
1 . COUNTY MONAGHAN.
OUT'a.QE UN ,THE ULSTER CANAL.—On the 'night of the
lst inst nt, or early on the following morning' fourteen har-
rows o the' Ulster' Canal works. in the townland of Telly"
kinny,parish of Droininatt and county' of Monaghan, were
eut an broken, in a most wanton and malicious manner. D
They ere the property of William arragin, . Esq., the
1
contra or, who has offered a reward of fifty pounds for the
&wove' y of the person or persons 'who committed the same.
On the ollowingday, Mr. Parragin received a threatening
/

iliberpool ,Staoarti.

AWAY: 310a,NhyG, JULY 27, 1838.

The Publication of the STANDARD commenced this
morning at 5 o'clock.,

'I'HE C9;STFEDERA.TION OF, Gaur,:—We have in ano-
thercolumn given 'an abStraet of a most extraordinary
document, recently published.by Messrs. Ridgway, of
'‘vhich is said to have been obtained from
the secret archives of the Russian government. The
monstrous extravagance of the project to which it re=
lati,.s is by. no means to be considered as arr arguinent
against its authenticity. ''The.well-known hostility of
of the Autocrat tolhe present dynasty in France', and
.they equally notorious ambition of his views,. are sutli-
Cieint to account for the approval bestowed upon so
wild and stupid a. s.i.pOie.• editor," in a .letter
'Aid' appears in the Times, strongly, asserts, *the
genuineness 'of the.-document, which, he says, "will
be one day recognised." Indeed, Ave cannot help're,
marking that it contains internal evidence, of a very
'poWerful character, who proves that it was drawn up
under, the :direction. of the Emperor Nicholas. It is
curiningly contrived for the purpose of embroiling the
west of Europe, and calculated to excite a considerable
degree of jealous: among the rfigning monarchs of
that Part of the continent. But England has other
otOcts to contemplate.in connection with the aggres-
of Russia. The operations of: this. gigantic
power in 'the East must engage the attention of our.
.gOvettitrient far more than this stupid scheme: for the
dismemberment ofTrpnce.

STATE OF IRELAND.—There is no topic upon which
the Whiglladizals claim a larger share of credit, or
sound forth 'more loudly their own praises, than the
boasted " tranquillity" of Ireland. Our readers: will
be able to form some conception of the actual state
of that country from the details which we have given
in. another column,, and which we shall follow np• in
our next publication. The outrages which are com-
mitted, from day to day, in tliat distracted country,
are such'as to excite the utmost astonishment at the
audacity of a ministry who base• their. claims to pope-,
lark:y.4lOn the administratitina "justice to Ireland."
A pretty sort of justiceis-that %Odell deprives the Pro-
testants doll protectkon to life or property, and which
rewards and encourages the most barbarous cut-throats
that:ever disgraced humanity. _ •

THE POST-uFFICE 13ii.i.L—This scandalous piece of
_ 1
Whigjobbery, ivhielr we have already denoUnced, was
again brought before the notice of theliguse ofCorn—
mons :on Tuesday evening, when an unsuccessful'
attempt 'Was- made by•the Conservatives to prevent its,
being carried into execution. The change which the
'bill introduces into the management of the Post-office
will cost the country as dearly as the other schemes
set on foot by our ,“ virtuous" ministry, for the put..
pose, of giving themselves' an increased dispensation.
of patronage. It will entail an additional burden of
of £l9OO. per annum on the public, without conferring
any imaginable advantage as an equivalent. Alto-
gether it sthells most'-'rankl)i of Whiggism. It is a
fresh expedient for strengtliening the influence of the
nainiStry: The plea that this change, is necessary in
order-to carry into- effect the contemplated alteration§
in the economy of the Post•otfice is both absurd and.
fallacious., ;What-is there to prevent the introduction'
of a cheap postage under the present systeM of ma-
nagement? The alterations which have been recom-
mended by the select committee will very materially
simplify the business of the Post-office. if any change
is needed, then, it should be a reduction of the present
,number of officials::: .We feel assured that the bill Will
never, pass, even through the House of Commons, in
its present shape: If it should, the House of Lords
will most assuredly reject it,

`hit IRISH POOR-LAW 13th..—This important mea-
sure.cathe down Jot reconsideration in the House of
Comnions on Tuesday evening, when the amendments
introducedinto the bill in the House of Lords, were,
after a little .'vapouring 'on the part of the Speaker,
echoed by Lord John' ItUs. sell, with some trifling
exceptions, agreed to withoUt any division. Now
that it has passed through this final ordeal we re-
joice to find that its rating clauses have been so
framed as to "dovetail" with the enactments of the
Municipal Bill, as amended by Lord Lyndhurst. No
material alteration has been made in the principle of
the bill, which does not limit relief to the maimed and
sick, but extends it to the destitute generally. O'Con-
nell did not suffer it to Pass withouta final growl. His
opposition to it is, however, the best test of its utility.

IMPRISONMENT FOR -DEBT 8u?..,--We are glad to
find,that this bill has, at length, passed the House of
Commons: Tbough
,does not accomplish all that
could be desired, •we. hail it, (to adept the,O'Connell
phraseology,) as an instalment; and we are convinced
that the time is not far distant when incarceration for
debt will be "a tale ot other dap." The legalised
murders which have recently taken place under the
present system have done much to rouse the humanity
Of the legislature,

We have little doubt that this important measure
will confer a lasting boon upon the trading commu-
nity. It will .place credit upon a firmer basis. The

dishonest alone will suffer from its enactments, and
they alone deserve to suffer.

It will be seen from our parliamentary report that
Lord Sandon proposed several important. arnendnients,
wliich were negatived.

TITE FRENCH AND BRITISH NAVIES.--The Stand.;
and of Wednesday last contains a very important do-
,cument, stating the maritime force of the kingdom of
France, which is well calculated to excite a feeling of
mortification in the bosorn of every Englishinan, and
which justifies the most serious apprehensions regard-
ing our vaunted superiority on the ocean. From the
!statement furnished in the Standard, and which ap-
l'pears entitled to the most implicit relianCe npOn its
accuraey, we learn• that "France has 11 ships of the
line, first class, 126 guns each ; 23 of second class, 86
guns each ; 23 of third class, 82 guns each, but mount
ing 100. This forms a total of 57 ships, nearly every
one of •them built since 1811. Besides this, France
has 40 frigates, first-class, each of 60 thirty-six pound-
ers; 10 frigates, each of 46 thirty-six pounders; 15
frigates, third class, each of 32 guns; 10 frigates,
fourth class, of 26 guns; 24 corvettes, each froth 20
to 32 guns; 16 gun brigs, 7.steather's, the majority
61160-horse power, and each of them well armed. In
her arsenals there are nearly, 3000 guns and carronades
for the naval service, enough to fit out 51 ships of the
line, 20 frigates, and 20 corvettes. Every ship of the'
line is provided with four howitzer cannon, 80 pound-.
ers, called 44 la paixhans. Every frigate of the first
class is to have two of 80 ; steam-boats of 160 horse,
power, three of 80 ; frigates of the second and. third
classes, sloops and brigs, four of 30."

This is kvery important statement, especially if the
Standard is correct in asserting that all these vessels
"ate fit' for immediate service, and may be set afloat,
fiilly• manned and equipped, in six weeks," and that
"half the number of British ships could not be got
ready fOr sea in six, nor even in twelve months."
This• is a truly humiliating proof of the. misgovern-
ment of this great country. . Under Whig sway Great
Britain has declined into a second' rate maritime
ppwer, and if the imbeciles now in office should be
allowed much longer to tamper with the'hest interests
the empire, there is every prob Ability that ,Russia
will become more powerful on sea than the wonted
" empress of the ocean."

But, how comes, it to pass that. England has lost her
maritime supremacy.? Is it owing to, the poVerty of
the'country? Far froni it. Our internal resources
were never greater than they:are:at the present mo-
ment. Is it owing to the economising policy of the
Whig.-Radical Ministry ? • Tar froth it, 'The-public
.expenditure continues
,to ,be as ,great as when our
navy Was in the greatest state 'of efficiency. Why
then are the " Wooden wall's; of 'Old England" allowed
to. rot in; the docks ?. Why is it that our commercial
interests are comparatively unprotected?, Why. are
we Without a powerful .squadron ita•theEuxine to re-
sist the aggressions of Russia ? 'Shan we inform our
readers ? beCauSothe unprincipled Whigs,find it
necessary to sacrifice our navy—the best bulwarks of
British'ltberty-4or the sake of gaining the votes of
Hame,and his miserable associates. %It is because the
money which ought to be expended.in the dOckyards of
Chatham, Plymouth, and Portsmouth, is recklessly
and profligately squandered upon a horde of ‘,‘ corn—
rnissioners," and other retainers of a government
which' is carried on by means of the most intolerable.
corruption. These are the reasons why our navy suf-
fers by a comparison with that of France, and yet
there are Englishmen so devoid of patriotic feelings
as to.wish the continuance of such a, government in.
power. Shame upon the recreant slaves who, tolerate
this selfish and'anti-national policy.

FEES ON. FREEMEN'S ADMISSION.—We refer with
grOatpleasure to the report of an interesting meeting,
which was held in the Carpenters' Rooms, on Wed
nesday evening last, for the purpose of petitiOning
the Town ,Council to remit the fees usually exacted
from freemen on their admission on the roll of. bur-
.gesses.. The legislature has thought fit to abolish rhe
stamp duty payable on such admission. The act which.
confers this' boon upon the freemen especially states
that it is "expedient that all impediments to the ad
mission of persons entitled to the freedom of corpo-
rations should be removed." The only impediment
which it was competent for the legislature to remove
was the stamp duty. It.remains for our Town Conn•
cil to emulate the example set them by the House, of
Commons, and to remove the only remaining obstacle
to the free admisSion of those who are entitled to claim
the burgage. We ,have too doUbt that asense of jus-
tice, as well as of expediency, will induce our local au-
thorities to grant the prayer of the.freemen. •Tho
privileges which• were formerly in the possession of the
burgesSes exclusively, have been, by 'the reform bill;,'
-Opebed to the great mass of the householders, who
have only one shilling to pay as a registration fee," :It
should also be. ,borne in mind that, by the municipal
reform bill, the local right of voting was entirely taken i
away from the freemen. The householders.•have,
therefore, been very favourably:dealt with, while great
impediments have hitherto existed in the way of the
freemen, and a great burden placed upon their shout,
ders: The. House of Commons; feeling the justice of
'the measure, have romoved as much of this burden as
it was in its power to,' Nothing: now remains, in
order to place the freemen on an equal footing' R itli the
householders, but the..abolitiono(the customary fees.
charged upon enrolment. The prayer of the freemen
will appear the .more reasonable, when, it is reflected
that the. officers, formerly in receipt of these fees, are
,now paid a fixed salary out of the borough funds.
'Had !it been otheiWiSe, 'there might have been .some
showi, Of reason in resisting the object which was-con-
templated by the meeting on Wednesday evening.
It may, perhaps, be objected that the abolition of
these fees will give the freemen an advantage over the
householders, inasmuch as the latter have to pay their
taxes before they can establish their claims to vote for,
'members of Parliament. This objection is of a very.
futile character. Have .not the freemen, before., they
can take up their freedom, to serve an apprenticeship
of seven years, Whichis surely more than an equiva-
lent to the payment of a year's taxes? Have they
not also been deprived of the right of voting for mayor,
&c., and been thereby stripped of all their municipal.
privileges? is it not, therefore, just that the existing
impediments shosuld.ke entirely removed ? we
may further ask, have not the freemen the same bur-
'den of taxation placed upon them as the ten-pound
householders ? The granting of their present claim
to 'exemption from the, payment of these fees will not
exempt them from being taxed as .their neighbours
are.

It should be remembered that the parties who will
chiefly benefit by the abolition of
.the admission fees
will be the poorer classes of free Men, who have been
so often stigmatised by the liberals as the most " venal
and col rupt.' of the whole constituency. If our liberal.
To%dn Councillors really believe that the poorer free-
men are such. characters as the radical press has so
pertinaciously represented them to be, they are cer-
tainly bound, in order to maintain their consistency,
to exonerate this class from the payment of these fees.
By so, doing they will place it out of the power of any
individual to influence the freemen by taking up their
freedom for them. We do not say that the freemen
have been so influenced. We do not accuse them Of
having sold their votes for the paltry two pounds hi-
therto charged upon their enrolment. But our liberal
friends in the Town Council have frequently so charged
them; and they are, therefore, bound to maintain
their own consistency by placing it out of the power
of any one to exercise such a control over the votes of
those who have an inchoate right to the franchise.

We trust that the petition, which is now lying for
signature, will be very numerously signed, and that
its prayer will be complied with forthwith. We cannot
see what pretext can be urged in opposition to a re-
quest so pertinent, so just, and so reasonable.

IDOLATRY IN INDIA.—We beg to remind our readers
that a petition is DOW lying for signature, at the office
of-this paper, as well as at other places, ic:aying the
legislature to extend its protection to those christians
who are compelled by the governMent of India to as .
sist in the idolatrous celebrations of the natives. The
prayer of this petition is one which strongly-appeals
to the best feelings of every sincerelover oiliberty of
conscience—alibeitT which has been FO grossly vio.
lated in the persons:o( those British officers who, have
been foirced to participate-in the most repulsive rites
of. heatiienism.. We feel astonished that the liberal
peas 114 s not given this subject a greater degree of

prominency than it has hitherto done. We, know of
• no, topic upon which our.radiCal,cOntemporaries could
dilate With greater eloquencethan the one under con-
' sideration. What can be a more flagrant interference
with the sacred rights of conscience, than to render it
imperative upon free-born:Bri•Ams to- build and repair
temples for., the celebration of. the most filthy and dis
gusting ceremonies of Paganism—to contribute to-
Wards, the repair of the roads which lead to those
temples, which roads are Wanted for no other purpose
—to pay the priests and prostitutes Who frequent
those temples—and to maintain an organised. band of
pilgrim hunters to_collect, worshippers to those scenes
of unparalleled impurity ? If the radicals be really
the "friends of freedom," as
_they. profess to be, we
Call upon them to advocate, with all their accustomed
zeal and energy, the removal of this most abominable
tyranny over the consciences of their fellow-snbjects.
But our appeal is not exclusively directed to the ra--
dical clamourers for " liberty of conscience." We es-
pecially urge upon all who are sincerely attached to
'those principles of.. toleration, which have so long
obtained under a Protestant government, to add.their.
signatures to the petition. '.We call upon every
churchman in Liverpool to join in protesting against:
this encouragement of the worship and service' Of
idolatry on the part of the government.: ,
• We are glad to perceive that the. remonstrarrees
Which have already been addressed to- both houses of
parliament, have not been in vain. Lord Melbourne
intimated, on -TnesdaY evening last, "that it was the
intention 6f government. to issue such orders to the.
authorities in India on this snbject as would,hehoped,
satisfy the most scrupulous mihds. We are glad to
find that Such a pledge has been given : but we would
still.renrind'our readers that it is only a Whig promise,
the performance of Which sort of promise is proverb-
ially uncertain. It is,
.therefore, expedient' that the
memory of Lord Melbourne 'should be refreshed by
frequent petitions' on the sUbject, and, especially from
such important places as the town of Liverpool.