The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-23 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL ASSIZES.

MR. T. C. FOSTER,WRITER and
REPORTER for the LIVERPOOL STANDARD,
will attend daily in the Civil Court during the ensuing Liver-
pool Assizes, and will furnish VERBATIM REPORTS to
Professional Men or others, on REASONABLE TERMS, of any
Trials that may take place.—Address, Mr. FOSTER, Standard
Office.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"A House Owner's" note in our next.
The similarity which " Scrutator's" handwriting bears to that
of another party who has written on the same subject, leads
us to request his name as a voucher. If our suspicions are
unfounded, as to his identity with the party to whom we
allude, we shall cheerfully give insertion to his letter.
The letter of "One of the Public" will require pruning before
it can be published.
The communication of " A Cheshire Plough-bov" is not of suffi-
cient importance to justify its publication. Ile must, there-
fore, submit to endure a " trivial disappointment."

'be Eiberpoot gi-tanbarti.

FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 23, 1838.

The Publication of the STANDARD commenced this morn-
ing at 5 o'clock.

NEGRO APPRENTICESHIP.—We have great pleasure in
introducing the following very interesting document to
the notice of our readers. The sentiments which Sir J.
C. Smith expresses in his speech must be cordially re-
sponded to by every benevolent mind. We may confi-
dently refer to it as furnishing a complete answer to the
calumnies of the abolitionists, as fat as one of the most
important of our colonies is concerned. The evidence of
a man like the Governor of Demerara is worth ten times
more than the ex parte statements and prejudiced ha-
rangues of Sturge, Palmer, and Co. The allusion
which Sir J. C. Smith makes to the comparative condi-
tions of Demerara and Great Britain is very happy, but
it would have been still more so if he had introduced a
parallel between the comforts, and exemption from hard
labour, enjoyed by the negro, and the hardships, and six-
teen-hours-per day toil, endured by the British labourer.

DEMERARA.
SPEECH OF THE GOVERNOR AT THE OPENING OP THE

COLONIAL LEGISLATURE.
(From the Guiana Chronicle, Feb. 5,1838.)
Court of Policy, Saturday, Feb. 3.
On the opening of the doors at one o'clock this day, the
Governor delivered to the Honourable Court a long speech_
The following copy of the same is taken, for the sake of per-
fect accuracy, from the official Gazette of this evening :
"Gentlemen,—Her Majesty having been graciously pleased
to cause her royal approbation to be communicated to me of the
practice I have adopted of addressing this Court, at the opening
of the first session of this year—a summary review of the political
events and circumstances of the p'ast twelve months; a recapi-
tulation of the legislative proceedings of the same period; and
an intimation of the nature and purpose of the projectsof law
Which it is my intention to bring forward; I feel it my duty te
request your attention to the following observations upon the
present occasion :

"2. I am in the first place desirous of offering to you my sin-
cere
congratulations upon the happy, contented, and prosperous
state of this province. I challenge comparison with any county
of Great Britain; and I affirm that fewer crimes and fewer
breaches of the peace will be found to have been committed ill
British Guiana, during, the year 1837, than in any part of her
Majesty's dominions of the same extent, possessing two sea-ports,
and containing an equal population.

" 3. When I reflect upon the good conduct of the apprenticed
labourers; upon their anxiety for religious and moral instruc-
tion; when I see new churches, chapels, school-rooms rising
rapidly in every district throughout this province, it is impossi-
ble not to be sanguine in the expectation that after the expira-
tion of the apprentice system this'colony will be blessed with e,
religious, moral, and industrious race, and continue to flourish
accordingly.

" 4. You are aware, gentlemen, that in a dispatch dated so
far back as on the 19th of March, 1836, (now nearly two years
ago,) addressed by me to the Right Hon. the Lord Glenelg, I
deprecated the idea of shortening the period of the apprentice-
ship. The, contents of that despatch have only been made known
to you in consequence of its having been laid before Parliament,
and been directed by the House of Commons to be printed. I
allude to these circumstances, in order to prevent the possibility
of its being supposed, even for a moment, that in communicat-
ing to the Right Hon. the Secretary of State my sentiments
upon a question of so important a nature to the future prospe- •
rity of this colony, 1 was actuated by any foolish or mistaken
desire to acquire an ephemeral popularity with any particular
class in this colony. ,The sentiments I expressed in that des-
patch I still entertain. I consider the continuance of the pre-
sent system until the Ist of August, 1840, as identified with the
future welfare of this magnificent province. It appears to me,
that if, in British Guiana, we are allowed to continue as we
are, there is every prospect of our being enabled to slide almost
imperceptibly into a state of perfect freedom. Excepting in
cases of theft, the degrading punishment of the lash is unknown.
Females are not permitted to be sent to the treadmill. The
advantages resulting from labour are becoming daily more un-
derstood, and better appreciated by the apprentice. He is,
moreover, fast acquiring a knowledge of the rights and duties
which, as a freeman, he will hereafter have in the one case to
enjoy, and in the other to perform. The proprietor, on his part,
is daily preparing to meet the coming change. A kind and a
good feeling between the employer and the labourer is every-
where rapidly gaining ground. It is no longer the master and
the slave having opposite interests; but the husbandman who
cannot effectually till hislround without the willing aid and the
extra work of his apprenticed labourers; and the apprenticed
labourer who looks to the husbandman for that money, in pay-
ment for his extra labour, which he requires to enable him to
take care of his wife and family, and to provide himself and
them with those articles of comfort and luxury to which they
have become habituated. When things are going on so well as•
in British Guiana, it appears to me, that it would be little short
of an act of folly to offer any interruption to the present system.
" 5. During the year which has elapsed, we passed 17 ordin-
ances in this court. It does not appear necessary for me to
trouble you at this moment with any remarks upon acts which
have so recently received your attention.
" 6. The first legislative measure which I wish to bring under
your notice during the present session will be one relative to,
the classification of the prmdial and non-prmdial labourers,
errors have taken place, if any individual is liable to he called!,
upon two additional years of servitude, in consequence of his,
name having been entered in the wrong column of the tegistra,
tion list, it is fit and proper that he should be placed, in that
class to which he legally belongs. I anticipate your ready, ac"
quiescence in this measure.

e *

• • •
J. CARMICHAEL. SMYTH.

POSTOFFICE REFORM.—In another column will be
found an article on this subject, copied from the Post
Circular, a stamped publication, having for its object
the diffusion of every species of useful information rela-
tive to an alteration in the fiscal arrangements of the
Postoffice department. The subject is one of the great-
est importance, and one in which every individual is
more or less concerned. It is likewise of the greatest
moment in its hearing upon all other departments of our
national policy, and in its connection with the progress
of civilization and the development of our national re-
sources.

Of the necessity of some reform in the Postoffice re-
gulations there can be but one opinion; but whether the
plans submitted by Mr. Rowland Hill ate calculated, to
obviate all the existing evils is a matter which admits of
considerable doubt. TLe principal objection against ins

MARcn 23, 1838,

plans arises from the consideration that they would pro-
duce an amount of loss to the Exchequer which would
require the imposition of some other tax as a substitute.
That an extensive reduction in the charge for postage is
called for, we believe will he generally acknowledged;
but we think the charge fixed upon by Mr. Hill is consi-
derably too low.
As Mr. Hill's plans have already been amply discussed
in the public prints we do not deem it necessary to exa-
mine any of their details. An enumeration of the ad-
vantages likely to result from a reduced rate of postage

will be found in the article to which we have referred,
and which we recommend to the candid perusal of our

readers.

Since the publication of Mr. Hill's pamphlet another
plan of " Postoffice Reform" has been submitted by the
Baron de Berenger. We have seen no notice of this
Plan excepting in the Weekly Chronicle. The only fea-
ture in this plan which is avowedly copied from that of
Mr. Hill is, the aim, by a very considerable reduction of
postages, (and perhaps by equability also,) to cherish a
sufficiently productive increase of correspondence, &c.,
to compensate for the loss which such a reduction might
otherwise occasion in the Postoffice branch of the re-
venue.

The plan of the Baron de Berenger differs, in some
respects, very materially from that of Mr. Hill. For in-
stance, the Baron carefully endeavours to avoid two of the
most unfavourable and objectionable features in Mr.
plan—the stamped covers, and the compulsory
payment in advance. The former of these features is
objected to on several grounds, but chiefly because it
would be a source of constant trouble and delay—that
it would be unprofitable, from the circumstance that it
would require an increase of bulk and weight, and that
it would facilitate extensive frauds. The latter feature—
the payment in advance—would tend to counteract the
train object in view, by exciting a repugnant feeling
with the majority.
The Baron proposes to obviate the inconveniences
which would result from the adoption of Mr. Hill's plans,
and to meet the exigencies of the case, by suggesting
the following :
" No. 1. The conveyance of a much greater number of let-
ters in considerably less space than that deemed requisite at
present; thus to reduce the expenditure in what appears one of
the leading items, i. e., mail-coach disbursements.
"No. 2. Considerable reduction in matters of account—faci-
lity as to liquidating such, founded on simplification—addi-
tional security, alike as to them, and in preventing the imposi-
tions of correspondents.
" No. 3. Immense curtailment of the labour and time at pre-
sent employed in sorting, examining, taxing, marking, stamp-
ing, and delivering letters; and to an extent, to warrant the
expectation that, although the correspondence should be in-
Creased by one-half more, the consequent duties will be dis-
charged, and most amply, without the necessity of increasing
the number of persons employed at present; and in a similar
Proportion on the still greater increase fairly anticipated.

"No. 4. The addition of a novel source of revenue, as a pru-
dential security and equivalent to the post-office, for any defi-
ciency, which, for a time, by possibility, may be created in its
'revenue. If the economising alterations above alluded to, or
the reasonably to be expected increase of correspondence
either or both) should fail to compensate for any loss conse-
(pent on a material reduction in the charge of postage. Such
additional source, in an opposite case (and thereupon, instead
of being resorted to as an auxiliary) to be converted into a
lasting, although immense source of emolument, and becoming
one in addition to the post-office receipts.
"No. 5. To place at governments disposal from one to two
millions sterling, in ready money, and within from two to three
months after the adoption of this plan ; a sum, not only con-
tinuing in advance hereafter, and without detriment to the
annual receipts of the post-office, out particularly desirable, on
grounds of popularity, since it will be contributed by those, and
voluntarily, whose interest it will be to augment so desirable an
Item in ways and means.
No 6. 'l'o lead the public to adopt the mode of paying post-
ages in advance, without resorting to compulsion (highly ob-
jectionable as it would be on many grounds), not only allowing
the exercise of option as formerly, but in all respects even yet
holding out such inducements as surely will create a preference
for the post-paid letter-sending system, securing, at the same
time, compensation for the additional trouble caused by those
who adhere to an opposite course.—N.B. More frequent deli-
vieries of letters, and increased speed, with other minor yet de-
ttable results, Must obviously grow out of the cultivation of the
above measure and therefore have not been enumerated.
" The attainment of these, in every view desirable objects,
because promoting, as they must, an incalculable extension of
commerce and manufacture, the unquestioned foundation of this
realeli.greatness, and cherisiiiing also- its chief auxiliaries, the
promulgation of scientific knowledge and enlightmed views, as
Much as the furtherance of friendship and refinement, by a
greater frequency of correspondence—all these, to national
greatness so powerfully conducive objects, can actually be se-
cured, ( even to occasion an increase thereby, instead of a fall-
ing of in the revenue), by means recommending themselves
-additionally on the grounds of certain popularity, on the one
hand (since, unlike Mr. Hill's, they do not deprive the public
Or an option, and reconcile themselves also more to the execu-
tive departments by guarding against loss), and by reason of
their economy and peculiar simplicity on the other; for, surely,
-4
Slight change in the texture or colour of paper, a change so
readily to be effected, yet so firmly to be relied on for overcom-
ing all difficulties, as presently will be shown, may fairly be
pronounced a measure of great simplicity—one that, although
'the unreflecting may deem it feeble and insignificant, may hope
that, by profound and impartial investigators, it will be adopted
and cherished, as being, in reality, the main-spring of ma-
.thinery, as unerring (because devoid of all complication) as
gigantic in its operation; accordingly, and because confident
that it will confirm the adage, that ‘. the greatest result often
owes its origin to a diminutive germ,"—just as the majestic oak
does to that of an humble acorn—Baron de Berenger feels em-

boldenedhurnbry to recommend the general arrangement of a
Plan (yet without presuming to hint even at an adoption free
from deviation), which is based on the introduction, but for
correspondence by post only, of
" A PECULIAR SORT OF PAFER,—purposely to be manufac-
tured by or for government, and distinguished by the following
characteristics :—Additionally to being made a folio post size,
and as thin and light as bank post, Genoa post, and similar
commercial papers, the wire sieves {or, if machine paper, wire
lengths, &c.) employed in its manufacture to have, in each
quarter of the folio sheets, the words " General Post Office,"
as a water-mark. For letters where postage is to be paid in
advance, the paper not only should be coloured, but continue
invariably of the same, the original colour which H.M. Post-
master 'General may have adopted; not to be tinted superfi-
cially, however, but stained in the pulp, and therefore coloured
through and through. For letters of which the receiver is to
pay the postage, the paper to be white, although made with the
'Game sieves, &c.

" Additionally to facilitate detection, and by a mere glance
even, of any other paper submitted for government's, the white
-especially, (since the use of other paper is not prohibited,
as will appear hereafter), and because the folding of a letter
may conceal (either wholly or partially) the words of the water-
mark, the wire pattern of the sieves, or of the machine lengths,
should vary from all others, and materially, (as is the case
with paper made for Bank of England-notes) that is in any way
readily to be seen ; for example, by the formation of the coarse,
the supporting wires, say in large diamonds, their fields or
ground being filled up by fine wire of the wove, the muslin-
like pattern. Not only should the counterfeiting of either of
these papers be interdicted, but it might, perhaps, be made
felony. It must be obvious that thus the inspection of any
part of a letter will show, and most readily, whether or not it
is written oti government paper; and also whether it is paid, or
to be paid'on delivery ; and all this distinct information wilt be
secured without resorting to the troublesome, and therefore ex-
pensive mode of candleing, taxing, marking, &c., very few
cases alone excepted.

" CONIA WM A TIONS that the objects stated in the summary
will be attained, together with other advantages, by the adop-
tion of this i'dan.—That is, by issuing to the vendors such paper
is a wholesale way, yet at a price which, including the selling
Price of the paper, covers the postages of as many letters as
this Post-office paper can be converted into : for example, a
sheet of folio post to be charged (in addition to some price to
be settled of the paper) as two single letters, because, when
used as a folio sUeet, its superficial size is quite as much, if not
lure, than that of most doable letters. It can be used by being
'divided (by either vendor or purchaser) into halves, as two
4to, post sized single letters, and, when divided again, so as to
hEkennte the quarter of a folio post sheet, thus to be used as as a
cover only, it makes the postage of a letter under cover less
than that of a really double letter, nevertheless contributing to
the revenue, and in due proportion to superficial measure."
On the utility or practicability of this scheme we are
scarcely prepared to deliver an opinion, especially as we
have not seen the sequel of the above remarks. In
what way will the plan suggestea obviate forgery ?
The importance of the subject has induced us to de-
vote so large a space to the consideration of this ques-
tlon ; but as it concerns every grade of society we do
not think it necessary to offer any apology for giving it
so much prominence.

I'HE IRISH BOARD OF EDUCATION.—TituIar APHale
114 s issued another of his fulminating letters against the

constitution and regulations of the Irish Board of Educa-

tion, in which he labours with all his might to prove,

that no system of instruction can possibly satisfy the
Popish hierarchy, unless it inculcates Popery, and is
placed under the sole administration of the priests. This
is a fact which we have long since endeavoured to make

known—a fact of which every individual, who knows
anything of the real spirit of Popery, must be perfectly
cognizant. It has, therefore, excited no surprise in us,
that this insolent representative of the Papists of Ireland

should deal in such sweeping terms of condemnation in
reference to the conciliatory plans adopted by the Edu-
cation Board. It is just what we have all along ex-
pected. For a season it suited the crafty priests to
maintain silence on the subject. The temporising policy
of the present imbecile government led them to look for
further concessions, until at length, the instruction of all

the children in the National Schools should be entirely
monopolized by the priests. We are glad that the cloven

"oot has been shown at last. The British public are now

aware, from the testimony of a Roman Catholic bishop,
that Popery admits of no compromise—that it must have
an undivided sway—that it will submit to no controul.

The motto of Popery is " semper eadenz." Its intole-
rance admits of no change or mitigation. Would that
the people of England were more generally impressed
with this truth I Would that they would act more on
the defensive against the subtle machinations of the
Popish priests !
Before we proceed to notice the contents of this last
epistle of Dr. Mgliale, we must express our astonish-
ment—no, we retract the word—our disgust at the con-
duct of the radical press in reference to the voluminous
correspondence of the titular Archbishop of Tuam. Why
do we not find his letters to Lord John Russell quoted
and animadverted upon in the Liverpool liberal journals ?

The reason is obvious. These honest radical journalists
know that they would find in these letters a sweeping
condemnation of the system of education pursued at the
cotporatibn schools, and an ample refutation of all the
villanous calumnies which have been levelled, within the

last two years, at the clergy of the town. It would ill
suit the purpose of our self-styled liberals to show that
no system of education, excepting one exclusively Po-
pish, can, by any possibility be tolerated by the Roman
Catholic priests. It would by no means suit their pur-
poses to open the eyes of the people of Liverpool, and
to show them that it is a perfectly hopeless task to en-

deavour to conciliate the Popish priests, without throw-
ing Protestantism overboard.
But to proceed. We find Dr. M'Hale, at the very
commencement of this letter, bewailing in the most
affecting terms the diminished power and influence of
the Popish clergy in Ireland, and attributing this " re-
trograde movement" of their interests to the " transfer

of their confidence to those who prove unworthy of their
trust." He then proceeds to detail the defensive opera-
tions to which the adverse change in the prospects of the
clergy gave rise. Speaking of the Protestants he re-
marks :

" Despairing of open force, of the abortive effect of which the

vast Catholic population of Ireland was a monument, they had

recourse to fraud, and spread over every portion of the country
their religious toils, in order to catch the unwary simplicity of
the rising generation.
"They carried on for some time the insidious scheme of se-
vering the connection between the pastors and the faithful with
apparent success, and never failed to season their religious in-
structions with the most insidious insinuations against the Ca-
tholic priesthood. From covert attacks they were emboldened
to carry on a system of open aggression.
"The zeal and energy of the clergy and the people were at
length roused by a mutual sympathy far each other, and they
resolved to repel the injuries and insults which (hey respectively
sustained. The one by a display of talents and learning, which
at once astonished and dismayed their opponents, nobly vindi-
cated their insulted religion—the other determined to guard
their faith by raising up the fallen fences of their civil liberty,
without which religion itself cannot be long protected; and all,
with unanimous accord, put themselves under the guidance of an
individual, whom Providence had raised up to achieve the inde-
pendence of his country.
Here we find the exertions of those who were engaged

in the benevolent work of educating the poor of Ireland
stigmatized as "fraud," and their labour of love desig-
nated as " religious toils." Does not this language
sufficiently justify us in characterising the Roman Ca-
tholic clergy as intolerant ? But we find in the last pa-
ragraph quoted above something of. a still more objec-
tionable character. We are told that the whole Popish
population of Ireland, clergy and laity, have placed
themselves under the guidance of O'Connell, who is de-
scribed as " an individual whom Providence raised up
to achieve the independence of his country! Can there
be any mistake after this as to the object—the ultimate
design of O'Connell and the priests ? Is it not here
avowed by the Popish primate of Ireland that the end
contemplated is the " independence of Ireland ?"
After alluding to the present position of the Popish
clergy, this titular proceeds to deplore the mischief
caused by the " compromise" which be alleges the priests
entered into with the government on the subject of edu-
cation. He says—

" As my concern is at present with the religion of Ireland, I
must confess that I seldom contemplated a more sad spectacle
than to find ourselves, after such a struggle, borne down as well
by the force of the current, as by the relaxation of our own
efforts, to the same point from which we started some years ago.
And yet is this all the clergy and faithful of Ireland have
gained by the signal triumphs, in which they borne a conspicu-
ous share, that they must now submit in silence to such dan-
gerous and ignominious conditions in the religious education of
their children, as in the period of their civil and religious disa-
bilities would not be endured ?"

" Dangerous and ignominious conditions!" Hear
this, ye sage councillors of the education committee !
This is the language applied by a Popish dignitary to
the conciliatory system which you have been instrumen-
tal in introducing into our public schools. What- have
you gained by importing the Irish extracts, and by in-
sulting the Protestant population of Liverpool ? Have
you satisfied the Popish priests ? Does not titular
1114 Hale call the " conditions" of even
your system of
separate religious instruction " dangerous and ignomi-
nious ?" Hear this, ye Protestant parents who have
entrusted your children to the care of the education com-
mittee t A Popish archbishop calls it a " dangerous and
ignominious" thing for any of the children of the " faith-
ful" to be educated under the same roof with the offspring
of Protestant heretics.
On the subject of the introduction of the scriptures
into schools we
have the following very explicit lan-
guage

" What, were the, unanimous sentiments of the Catholic
bishops of Ireland in the year 1824, regarding the introduction
of the Scriptures into schools, your lordship may learn, from
the following extract of a petition on the subject of education,
which they presented to Parliament:—` That Roman Catholics
have ever considered the reading of the sacred Scriptures by chil-
dren as an inadequate means of imparting to them religious in
struction, as an usage whereby the Word of Gou is made liable
to irreverence, youth exposed to misunderstand its meaning
and thereby not unfrequently to receive, in early life, impres-
sions which may afterwards prove injurious to their own best
interests, as well as to those of the society which they are des-
tined to form.' Compare, my lord, this solemn, deliberate, and
unanimous expression of the sentiments of the Catholic bishops
of Ireland with the modification in their rule by which the com-
missioners propose the reading of the Scriptures in the schools, at
any time that will not be objected to by the parents or the guar-
dians, and you will perceive that the board or the government,
or both, vainly calculate on the hierarchy's surrendering now
those conscientious principles which they maintained under
more adverse fortunes. 1 have experienced no small share of
obloquy for asserting those ordinary duties annexed to my sacred
office, and which I cannot resign without a renunciation of the
trust which the Prince of Pastors confided to me. Over the books
used for the religious instruction of my flock, I have stated that I
shall exercise, without regard to any board, exclusive and absolute
control. It may now be necessary to add, that I shall never en-
trust their religious education to any person professing a differ-
ent faith, or whose faith shall be tainted by the religious training
of any professing a different creed. No master shall have the
control of such education who will not be appointed with my
approbation."

Here, again, We are told, in terms that cannot be mis-
understood, that the Popish priests not only consider the
scriptures as " an inadequate means of religious instruc •
tion," but that the reading of the Bible is calculated to
produce impressions which may prove injurious to the
best interests of the childrens and of society. This irre-
verent language is applied to that book which emoliati-
cally maketh wise unto salvation. But the real objection
of the Popish hierarchy to the reading of the scriptures

is, that such a usage would speedily open the the eyes
the people to the unwarranted pretensions of the priests
—to the false doctrines which they inculcate—and to the

accordance of Protestantism with the oracles of truth.
The priests, we are informed, are inimical to the per-
mission to read the scriptures, even when not objected to
by the parents. Is not this tyranny ? Did we not rightly
characterise the Church of Rome as a system of spiritua
daspotism ? What does the editor of the Mercury think
of such language as the following—" over the books
used for the religious instruction of my flock I shall ex-
ercise, without regard to any board, exclusive and abso-
lute controul ?" Is such an exercise of power compati-
ble with the Mercury's notions of liberty of conscience ?
Is it not right to call the Papists slaves to their spiritual
tyrants, when we find the latter declaring, that they will
not suffer them to place their children under the me of
any one " whose faith shall be tainted by the religious
training of any professing a different creed ?"
Our readers will bear in mind that the language em-
ployed by titular M'Hale is not the expression of his
individual opinion only. It is the deliberate language
of the Popish hierarchy, as the following extract will

prove :
" Permit me, then, my lord, to lay unquestionable evidence
before you, that so far from any arrogant assumption of indivi-
dual privileges, lam only literally conveying the resolutions
adopted by that body to which I belong. In the year 1826,
January 25, at our general meeting, held in Dublin, we unani-
mously adopted the following resolutions:—
"' Resolved,—That, in order to secure sufficient protection
to the religion of Roman Catholic children, under such a system
of (national) education, we deem it necessary that the master
of each school in which the majority of the pupils profess the
Roman Catholic faith, be a Roman Catholic; and that, in
schools in which the Roman Catholic children form a minority,
a permanent Roman Catholic assistant be employed, and that
such master and assistant be appointed upon the recommenda-
tion, or with the express approval of, the Roman Catholic
bishop of the diocese in which they are to be employed; and
further, that they or either of them be removed upon the re-
presentation of such bishop. The same rule to be observed for
the appointment or dismissal of mistresses and assistants in
female schools. 4
" Resolved,—That we consider it improper that masters
and mistresses intended for the religious instruction of Roman
Catholic youth, should t,e trained or educated by or undet the
controul of persons professing a different faith.
" Resolved'—That, in conformity with the principle of pro-
tecting the religion of Roman Catholic children, the books in-
tended for their particular instruction in religion shall be select-
ed or approved by the Roman Catholic prelates ; and that no
book or tract for common instruction in literature shall be in-
troduced into any school in which Roman Catholic children are
educated, which book or tract may be objected to on religious
grounds by the Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese in which
such school is established.
" Resolved,—That, appointed as we have been by Divine
Providence to watch over and preserve the deposit of Catholic
faith in Ireland, and responsible, as we are, to God for the souls
of our flocks, we will, in our respective dioceses, withhold our
concurrence and support from any system of education which
will not fully accord with the principles expressed in the fore-
going resolutions.' "
Can any thing be more conclusive in its bearing against
the Irish system of education than this language ? The
Popish bishops will not even permit;Roman Catholics to
become teachers, if they have been contaminated by a
" training under the control of persons professing a dif-
ferent faith ;" nor will they allow any books to be used
but those of there own closing—no, not even "a tract
for common instruction in literature." Insolent dictation!
And yet it is to this species of dictation that the poor de-
luded papists are trained to submit. Did we not rightly
call them slaves
It is somewhat singular that this arrogant prelate
should furnish us with the following striking corrobora-
tion of the language employed by the Rev. H. M'Neile
in reference to the system introduced into the Corporation
Schools:—
" I trust, however, that you will not be equally indifferent to
the solemn warning of the dangers to society with which they
proclaim such a system to be fraught. it cannot be otherwise.
It is worse than mockery to strive to blend in one harmonious mass
elements that are essentially discordant and repulsive; and while
men attach a value to religion, and believe—as believe they
must—that only one is stamped with the prominent seal of the
Divinity, it is impiety to attempt to smooth away that impression
by a refining process, intended to obliterate all the distinctive fea-
tures between truth and error. That the printing-office of the
board may be turned into a theological laboratory in which all
the asperities of creeds and confessions are to be rubbed away,
may be inferred from the testimony of some of the,commjssioners,
as well as the motley character of some of their compilations."
So nearly do these terms assimilate to those employed
by the Rev. H. M'Neile that we can scarcely acquit the
titular of plagiarism. With equal truth may we say that
"it is worse than mockery" in the education committee
of the Town Council "to strive to blend, in one harmo-
nious mass, elements that ate essentially discordant and
repulsive." With equal truth may we charge Messrs.
Blackburn and Co., with the " impiety" of attempting
" to obliterate all the distinctive features between truth
and error." We thank thee, Johnny M‘Hale, for supply-
ing us with such a missive to launch against the brain-
less pates of our radical town-councillors !
We cannot proceed any further to-day with our exami-
nation of this letter. We find in it many other remark-
ble passages, to which we shall refer on Tuesday.
It has frequently been stated in the radical papers
of thiS town that " the school question has been set at
rest." They will find this to be a vain boast, however
much they may wish to have no further agitation on the
subject. The exertions which the liberals are making
to get the legislature to consent to a Board of Education
for England, require that we should follow up these
observations.

THE BLUE COAT HOSPITAL.—At this particular junc-
ture, when the institutions of the land are so openly as-
sailed, and the question is about to be answered whether
education without religion can be considered a national
benefit or not, we cannot avoid directing the attention
of our readers to those excellent institutions which are
the glory of our country, and where the destitute chil-
dren of the poor are not only taught those things which
are absolutely necessary, but are grounded in those scrip-
tural principles which give to intellectual culture a right
direction, and are the sure guides to honour here and
happiness hereafter.

Every man must admit that the Blue Coat Hospital of
this town
.has for more than a century been an unspeak-
able blessing ; and, by the kindness and liberality of the
to NO, many an orphan has been snatched from penury
and wo, has been clothed and educated, and has there
received a sound and healthy culture, which has fitted
him to become a valuable member of society, and ',ena-
bled hindin after life to shine as a benefactor torthe vely.
institution where his infant years were passed. 1111 any
tradesmen of the highest respectability, and not a few
of our merchants, were educated in this school; and it
is gratifying to find that not a year passes but the trus-
tees of this valuable institution have evidence that the
benefits they are enabled to dispense are not forgotten.
Our readers will recollect that abuut a fortnight ago fifty
highly respectable young tradesmen invited Mr. Forster,
the amiable and excellent master of the institution, to
dinner, and presented him with a most splendid testi-
monial of their esteem, which was accompanied by an
address breathing sentiments honourable alike to him and
to themselves. A copy of that address having fallen into
our hands, we cannot resist the opportunity of publishing
it, and we trust that in doing so we shall not infringe the
strict rule of propriety by giving publicity to that which
was alone intended for the gratification of both pupils
and master. We are induced to do so, because we think
it bears indubitable evidence of the soundness of the
educaticn which the children receive; and we earnestly
hope that an institution which has so long been a bless-
ing to the town may be liberally supported by persons of
all ranks and classes.

The following is a copy of the address alluded to :

"TO MR. WILLIAM FORSTER

" SIR—It is with feelings of peculiar pleasure and satisfac-
tion that we meet you on the present occasion, to offer for your
acceptance a token of our esteem and gratitude, although we
must acknowledge its inadequacy. We beg leave to state to
you, who have been for so many years the Superiutendant of
the Blue Coat Hospital, the deep sense we entertain of the kind-
ness and attention which we received whilst inmates of that in-
stitution; and we desire to express our gratitude for the inva-
luable benefits we derived from our education there. We ex-
perience sincere delight when we recal to mind the happy days
we passed in the school—the friendly intercourse between our
patrons and ourselves—the aids and encouragements which

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.