The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-29 00:00:00

Mr. Thomas Todd commenced the preceedings by
reading-the inscription on a brass plate which was depo-
sited in a cavity under the stone.
Mr. Todd, addressing Mr. Braneker, then said that he
had the honour of handing that gentleman a silver trowel
with which to lay the foundation stone of the Philharmonic
Concert Hall—a building which would be deemel an
ornament to the town, a creditable monument of public
spirit, and a living testimonial to the abilities of the ac-
complished architect. Many obstacles bad retarded the
commencement of the work, but happily they were over-
come, and now the building: would be proceeded to com-
pletion with rapidity. The want of such a ball had been
long deplored, and had given rise to a supposition that
there was an apparent want of musical taste in Liverpool.
He said apparent, for the reproach was unjust, because
so soon as they should be able to throw open the doors of
the new building, it would, he was sure, be acknowledged
that the musical taste of the town had not been more fully
developed for want of a temple for its celebration. In the
new and magnificent assize courts now in course of erec-
tion, a splendid hall and concert-room formed parts of the
Plan, and it had frequently been suggested that the Phil-
harmonic Society might use either the one or the other;
but the one was too.spacious- and the other too smah for
their purposes, apart from which a feeling of being depen-
dent upon o hers for accommodation had been severely
felt. The Philharmonic Society was in the nature of a
club or association for the amusement of music, in the
sane manner as the committee of the Wellington-rooms
was for the amusement of dancing, and the latter might
not have existed so long, or progressed so prosperously,
had their assemblies been held in public rooms, or in any
other rooms besiises those which were for their own ex-
clusive use; while in the case of-the Philharmonic Society
the evil of being dependent was the more apparent from
the necessity there was for frequent rehearsals. (Hear,
hear, hear.) It afforded him great pleasure to see Mr.
Brancker undertake the present duty, for to him the com-
mittee felt a deep debt of gratitude, not only for his past
exertions as chairman of the Philharmonic Society, but
for the very favourable position• they occupied that day.
His task in the ceremonial was-accomplished. He had
only to express a hope and conviction that the labours of
the Butl ling Committee, so auspiciously commenced,
would be brought to. a speedy and prosperous conclusion.
(Applause.)
Mr. J. B. BRANCICER having accepted the trowel, after
a few introductory remarks, said. that being a native of
the town, and a long resident in it, he must be aware, and
he must assert without fear of contradiction, that the ge-
neration of their fathers enjoyed greater advantages than
they did. both in the possession of an edifice dedicated to
musical performances, ns well as in the energy and zeal of
those who carried them on. The Music-ball. in Bold-
street, was eminently adapted for the objects to which it
was devoted, and fully adequate to the wants of the popu-
lation; but, since its appropriation to other objects, music
had sought in vain for a roof to shelter it. As a necessary
consequence, the efforts of its friends flagged and drooped,
and had it not been for the Philharmonic Society, its
name would scarcely be heard among us. It became, as
Mr. Todd said, one of the earliest convictions of the
Philharmonic Society that the possession of a building to
be erected by them, and devoted to their sole use, was an
element e-sential to their very existence—nay, that that
existence hung by a thread, and must draw to a termina-
tion, unless the object was accomplished. That it had
been accomplished this day's proceedings gave evidence.
Great difficulties had to be overcome, considerable re-
sponsibilities incurred—difficulties and responsibilities
before which the efforts of many had given way and broken
down. To the Liverpool Philharmonic Society it was
that the town of Liverpool was inchlbted for the ability to
cast off the stigma it had so long and so deservedly la-
boured under, of a want of taste in the cultivation of mu-
sic. In every respect, connected with her material inter-
ests as a commercial emporium, Liverpool had long stood
high ; and it would be also admitted, from the number of
her religious and charitable institutions, that the spiritual
and temporal wants of the people had been well attended
to. But she hart been confessedly deficient in those marks
of civilization, of which the institutions for the cultivation
of the fine arts afforded tangible evidences. Painting had
an edifice, and by that circumstance, it was known, the
success of the Liverpool Acidemy had been mainly
brought about. But it was now, arid now only, that,
after a long separation, music was once more invited to
dwell among us. It was now, and now only, on this
spot, consecrated to her service, that they were about to
give her " a local habitation and a name." Music had
been called " the handmaid of religion ;" and though it
was not intended that sacred strains alone should echo
within the walls of the new building, yet, as the tendency
of good, sound music hail, in all ages,.been admitted to
be, to so'ten the heart and amend he manners—thus,
while affording essential, rational, intellectual enjoyment,
conducing to the moral improvement of society—it would
not be presumptuous to implore the Divine -olessing on
their undertakii.g, humbly trusting that those who had
been permitted to commence the work would be spared
to bring it to a speedy and prosperous termination.
(Applause.)
Mr Brancker having used the silver trowel in spreading
the mortar. the stove was lowered into its place.
Three times three hearty cheers were given by the
specttwa too
public
bat l
ct hdei
nclnoesres owfetrhe ehceeirde mi
n they;
e;
town and in
to t
chee even-
ing
lebrat
ethe event.

CO 11Rp SPONDENCE.

`THE JESTER-GENERAL OF LITERATURE."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SlR,—The accusation thet the Rev. Hugh M'Neile, in
his preaching, aims at winning the admiration of his
hearers instead of producing their gond, that he preaches
him,elf and not Christ Jesus the Lord, is the most un-
fortunate, as it is the most unfounded, of all that the
malice and disappointed rage of his adversaries have yet
thrown out ag4inst him.

DISASTER TO THE STEAM-SHIP "GREAT
BRITAIN."

Great alarm was excited in this town on Thursday morn-
ing, by a report that the Great Britain had been driven
ashore.
Toe Great Britain left the Mersey on Tuesday morning
about half-past eleven o'clock, having on board 181 pas-
sengers, and a crew of 90 hands. The wind was in her
favour, and she appears to have made most rapid progress.
Captain Hosken took the north-about passage. Through
some inadvertence, not yet explained, either in the reck-
oning or in the mistaking of a light, she got out of her
course, and, at half-past nine o'clock at night, the pas-
sengers were alarmed by a sudden concussion, as if she
had struck upon a rock. The shock was repeated, and
they rushed upon deck. It was then ascertained that the
vessel was aground.
At this critical moment Captain Hosken exhibited, it
appears, the greatest self-possession. He appri3ed the
passengers that the vessel was on shore, but that there
was no danger. It was blowing hard at the time, but not
so violently as to cause any apprehension. Captain Hos-
ken inspired all around him with his own confidence, and
his orders were strictly obeyed. The Rev. Dr. Cox, with
great calmness and self-possession, also assisted in re-
moving apprehension from the minds of all persons on
board, and so successful were the efforts of Captain Hos-
ken and the doctor, that many went to bed and slept
soundly till five o'clock next morning.
No one attempted to leave the ship, and no signals of
distress were made. The passengers represent the scene
on board when the vessel struck as one of greatconfusion.
The ladies rushed from their own cabin into that of the
gentlemen, and the Viennoise children, who were on
board, aredescribed as " huddled up terrified in a corner."
'They screamed terrifically, and Madame Weiss, who was
in the midst of the troupe, clasped her bands in agonies of
despair, and cried bitterly. The poor children were all in
bed at the time of the accident, and during the period of
the alarm they were in their night-dresses.
The place where the vessel struck Fes between the
Coastguard-station at Clonmaghery and the Craigale
Rocks, the least dangerous spot in Dundrnm Bay, the
scene of the disaster. At five o'clock in the morning the
tide had so far receded that she lay in less than two feet of
water, and, as the country people soon flocked down, the
passengers were taken ashore in carts, cars, &c. Vehi-
cles were procured from Downpatrick and. other places,
and the majority of the passengers proceeded to Belfast,
others went to Newry. and on to Dublin. The Sea King
brought, on Thursday morning, to Liverpool, the marl
bags, the purser of the Great Britain, and abnur fif y
passengers. On Friday, sixty more arrived by the Wind-
sor. from Belfast.
Madams Weiss and her troupe of dancers arrived in
Liverpool on Sunday and they will appear at the. Adelpbi
Theatre this evening in three of their most popular pieces.
A letter from Mr. Leonard Watson, under date of Fri-
day last, states that the ship does not appear to have re-
ceived any damage. She was nearly dry all round that
morning's ebb. He strongly recommended that an an-
chor of three tons with a chain 100 or 200 fathoms to
correspond, to be forwarded over and to be ready to
run out, and also additional hands on boird the tug steam-
ers in order to have sufficient strength for the next rise of
tides. They commenced on Thursday to discharge a por-
tion of the coals from the centre of the vessel. Captain
Hosken was preparing to get the rudder to act. The ves-
sel would remain quietly until the tides put up.
A gentleman of M intreal, who was on board, says, that
the ship drifted about a mile before striking, the night
being at the time stormy, and the sea breaking over the
ship. The captain said they were near Ardglass. An
officer (says the informant) was exenainining the compass,
and an opinion prevailed that that was the cause of the
disaster; but he adds that Captain H ,sken declared that
there was nothing wrong with the compass. On the ves-
sel striking, and during the remainder of the night, blue
lights were burned and suns fired.. Captain Hosken con-
tinued cool and composed, and several times referred to
his charts. Notwithstanding the confusion on b eird, it
was found next day that one passenger had never awoae
until morning.

In common with our contemporaries, we have been
obliged to avail ourselves of the accounts of passengers,
which ought to be received with caution. Captain H os-
ken will no doubt state publicly the cause of the acci-
dent.

We learn that at Downpatrick some of the gentlemen
were compelled to pay as much as 10s. for a bed, and
even a guinea was not considered to high a demand for
the cormorants, who hoped to make a harvest out of the
calamity. This conduct is contrasted by that of the men
of the preventive service and their wives—some of the
latter actually refusing pay for their services in housing
and protecting the luggage. The usual fare to Dowripa-
trick is 2a. ; but one young lady had to pay 14s. by one of
the conveyances._ The poor dancing girls. forty in num-
ber, were sheltered in the school-house. at Dundrum,
where they remained for want of friend.; a suggestion
had been made if they were taken to Belfast they would
be enabled to obtain sufficient by performing to bring
them home: A teport was current that they were to be
taken to their destination for £2OO. half of which had
been deposited prior to embarking ; the remaining half
was to have been secured to the cautain out of the pro-
ceeds of their engagement at New York, which was £5O
a night.
The following account from a passenger, of this melan-
ch,lv accident will be read with painful interest :
" The ship left the dock about 11 o'clock on Tuesday
morning, and, after clearing the Bell buoy, bore away
under considerable canvas direct in a course for the Calf

of Man and the scene of the disaster, and at from 4 to 5
o'clock in the. afternoon the island was distinctly visible

on the starboard bow. Shortly after it set in to r; in, and
the wind increased, the ship making excellent prcgress,
aid the passengers uncommonly delighted with the vessel
and her admirable qualities as a sea boat. Night then
closed in, dark and wet, and the wind gradu lly trevhened
into a half gale. The log was repeatedly taken. About
half-past 9 o'clock we were startled by a cry and active

If the most homely truths, delivered in the most eon- movements upon deck, arid a general fear prevailed that
vincing manner,—if the most profound observations, the ship was in collision with some other vessel. The
simplest words of the preaching of the ship, however, had stranded. The night was dark and
naked
Christ, without those artifices of style stormy, the ship beat incessantly uuon the sand, the
and
graces
language which win the auplause of the breakers repeatedly breaking heavily over her, and o, e
conveyed
Gospel
o i
sn p
oethel f
of
multitude, can belie this barefaced assertion, let the re- of the life-boats was carried from its fastenings on the
vilers of unaffected simplicity and pious zeal receive their quarter. Alarms and cries instantly pervaded the ship,
rebuke from their own consciences (if they have any), by and apprehensions were general amongst the passengers
themselves attending, with a right and unprejudiced spi- that the ship would break up during the night beneath
tit, on his preaching. It is indeed, sir, a fine exhibition the force of the breakers which constantly burst over her
of humility and zeal, to see the most exalted talents and decks. Throughout the emergency Captain Hosken be-
the most refined genius laid at the cross of the Redeemer, I hayed wi4i admirable self-possession and energy ; and
and he who, on the platform, electrifies every audience he I immediately after the ship struck, he went down below,
addresses by his graceful oratory and winning eloquence, arid, by his assurances, quieted the excited apprehensions
disclaiming all these graces and qualifications, leaving ( f the passengers. His efforts were successful. A por-
them at the threshold of the pulpit, mid preaching that. tion 01 the passengers returned to 'heir berths and slept
Gospel " most adorned when unadorned the most," not until morning. Toe anxious hours Of darkness being
with " excellency of speech or of wisdom," but with the passed, towards daylight preParations were made to land
determination " not to know anything amongst his people the passengers and their luggase, and then it was disco-
save Jesus Christ and him crucified ;"—he indeed may vered that the ship had struck upon the s.,ft sandy beach
be said, like the Christian preacher's high example, Paul, of Dundrum Bay, near the watchhouse of Tvrella, a little
to labour " not with enticing words of mail's wisdom," to the west of the Cow and Calf Rocks. Providentially
that his people's " faith should not stand in the wisdom the vessel cleared these dangerous spots; for, had it been
of men, but in the power of God." Never, indeed, was otherwise, it is more than probable that few, it any, would
heard any address or hsrangue more free from display have escaped. The landing of the passengers was aecom-
than the rev. gentleman's. Every thought is brought olished between the hours of 5 and 7 o'clock on Wednes.
captive to Christ—his is the eloquence of earnestness and day morning, and, from the protected position of the ship
of feeling: and the remarks of his electrified hearers are and the nature of the beach, with perfect safety; arid a
not "What a beautiful sermon !" " What a fine display number of them afterwards, wi.ls their luggage, which
of oratory !"—but " What a convincing, what a soul- was protected by the arrival of a magistrate with a body
telling, what a touching discourse!" The man of taste of police, departed. and dispersed to the neighbouring
may not be gratified, or the man of fancy tickled ; but towns of Do.vnpatrick, Dundalk, Newry. and Belfast.
the sinner's heart is melted, the trembling inquirer in- Several of them have since returned to Livertio .1 by the
structed, and the Christian's hope encouraged. Channel steamers. The Irish on the spot behaved like
Turn we to a different pic.ure—from the Christian savages.
preacher, living in faith, hope, and charity, but withal " The steamer is high on the beach in but a few inches
near the armoury of God, covered by his Almighty shield of water, in an oblique direction, heading nerth•esot, and
and wielding his Almighty sword, supported by a friend would appear to have sustained little damage. No leak-
whose friendship never slackens, and whose power never age has been observed, arid do p rticular injury is so .ar
fails,—to the petty snarler of the world, jealous of his known to have hr en r, crised, excepting the loss of her
peace, and who, though he knows it not, promotes Satan's rudder and the befitting of her propelling fans. No effort
dearest work when he falsely calumniates and maliciously . will be made until the next spring tides. early in Octoier,
reviles the man of God. Turn we to his reviler, and what I to get her off ; but mean% bile every r flirt is be rig math
do we see? A man wasting his time, the value of which to I, niter her position as secure as possible. The absurr

it seems only the pr

aright, in weaving miserable j -sts and teiailing hackneyed

puns, whose puerility belies his manhood, and whose
emptiness disgraces his talents—a fortune-hunter in what c
is call, d ►iterature, who caters for the joie and vicious
tastes of the community, at the low charge 0f.... three-
pence!—a man whose highest aspiration finds its level in
the compass of a tortured pun, and whose highest anib
tion seeks its satisfaction in the character of a Merr
Andrew or a Clown I

The villain, perhaps, has a sort of wild greatness in n
him, and extorts admiration of his talents, while his al

principles► meet condemnation ; but h who brings his d
manhood on a level with the child, and whose wh le life
is spent in enacting the _ grimaces of a puppet or a I
" Pon(

io can bear? He brings manhood itself t
into disgrace, and each person feels personally aggrieved a
and is personally indignant. Ridicule is said to be the t
weapon of fools, and he who is orced to use it you may 1
be confident has been driven from the post of argumrni ,
and sense, either because it is untenable, or because he
cannot maintain it. '1 he weapon of the noble adversary
is truth and reason ; but, says our terse port,

" All fools have still an itching to deride

And fain would he upon the laughing side."

We can well understand and fondly admire the man
tint, like the busy bee, extracts honey from every flAwer,
and culls a moral from every passing circumstai.ce; but
what shall be said of him, who watches for the most seri-
nue subject that be may create the funnier (!) contrast by
his? What shall be said of the miserable driveller who
" rushes in where angels fear to tread," and dtfiles the
most sacred things by his rile and paltry ribaldry ?
But, sir, we may well treat with contempt, an-I that
rev. gentleman at whom they are aimed wirli pits, these
shafts of petty malice and unmeaning folly. The world
has learnt to estimate both patties at their real value, and
tilst one shall leave the scene of his earthly labours rt-A

w.
triumphs covered with honour and full of self-satisfaction,
remembered as a zealous advocate for tint!) and ot.ponent
of error, as a benefactor to his race and a faithful servant
if his Master, the others will leave n,) void when they
depart, but, if they are recollected at all, will he remem-
bered as unprincipled scribtlers, aho would slander their
nearest friend fora groat, and who poisoned the minds of

1g... •
best of earthly treasures, that they might catch a sale fo
a cheap arid worthless publication
Sept. 23d. 181 b

NIGEL