The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-08-21 00:00:00

any supply of moment for a length of time, the quantity
at sea for this country being under 20,000 bales.
P.S., MONDAY NOON.
. .

The American steamer Europa has just steamed up
the river. The accounts by her of the coming crop are
the worst we have yet received. In the south they had
had heavy rain, and further damage had been sustained
by the young plant. The overland mail is also in, and,
contrary to general expectation, the accounts of the
demand for manufactured goods and twist, both from
Bombay and Calcutta, are highly satisfactory.

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. JOHN GARDNER,
OF BIRKENHEAD.

On Friday evening last, the friends of the Rev. John
Gardner, late minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Church, Conway-street, Birkenhead, met at a soire3 in
the school-room of the United Presbyterian Church,
Grange-road. with the object of presenting to that gen-
tleman a mark of their affection and esteem prior to his
transferring the scene of his ministerial labours from
England to South Australia. The school-room, which is
of large dimensions, was decorated with evergreens and
drapery in a very tasteful style; and when the company,
to the number of 400 and upwards. were seated, and the
scene was lighted up, the coup d' cell was truly imposing—
such, indeed, as we have never seen exceeded, if equalled.
on such an occasion. The proceedings were marked by
the utmost order and unanimity, not a single dissen-
tient voice arising in the assembly, which was the
more remarkable as the occasion which led to the meeting
had its origin in an unfortunate difference somewhere as
regarded the ministrations of Mr. Gardner. It is just
necessary to add that the company were exclusively per-
sons of the superior classes of society.
Amongst the gentlemen who took a prominent part in
the proceedings were the Revds. Dr. Crichton, Towers,
Ferguson, Graham, White, Buck ; and
Messrs. Adamson, Zeigler, Blaikie. Henderson, and
Wilson. An agreeable variety was afforded in the details
of the evening's business by the introduction, at intervals,
of anthems, performed by the choir of St. Mary's Church,
who attended by the express desire of the Rev. Mr.
Knox, the incumbent ; a powerful-toned piano-forte gave
effect to these performances. Mr. Gardner opened the
business by announcing that the chair would be occupied
by the Rev. A. McLean, of Ramsbottom, the oldest
member of the Lancashire Presbytery. The rev. gentle-
man having assumed his seat, a blessing was invoked, to
which succeeded the agreeable duties of the tea table,
which were in return followed by the return of thanks,
after which an anthem was sung, and then the special
business of the evening was commenced by
The CHAIRMAN expressing his sense of the honour
conferred on him in his being placed in the chair on that
most important and interesting occasion. He was quite
aware it was no ordinary motive that had brought them
there that evening. He alluded slightly, but with feel-
ings of regret, to the trials and difficulties which had beset
the path of their friend, and observed that, having been
his friend from the beginning, it behoved him to main-
tain that friendship to the end. He testified to the high
standing of his friend in all the essentials of a Christian
minister, and expressed his conviction that, in his re-
moval from the scenes of his trials, God was making him
an instrument in bringing men from darkness to light.
If it had been so ordained that they were to meet no more
on this side of eternity, there was much happiness in the
thought that there was a home where they should meet
again, and where no apprehensions of separation would
intrude. At the conclusion of the Chairman's observa-
tions,
Mr. ADAMSON rose to present the testimonial. He
prefaced the act by a few appropriate remarks as to the
pleasure he experienced in having been deputed to pre-
sent Mr. Gardner with a mark of the respect that gentle-
man was held in by his congregation. That mark of
respect was a piece of plate, which he trusted would
remain in Mr. Gardner's family for a long time to come.
Mr. Adamson then handed to the rev. gentleman a tea
service of plate, accompanied by a purse containing 60
sovereigns, and, as he said, last though not least, an
address signed by 200 members of his flock. The pre-
sentation took place amidst long-continued applause,
after which the address was read as follows :

"TO THE REV. JOHN GARDNER.
"Rev. and dear Sir,—We, the undersigned, on thus pre-
senting you with, and respectfully requesting your acceptance
of, this small token of our esteem and regard, desire also, while
acquiescing in the will of God, to convey to you our unfeigned
ref, r,, that
i,eg youaasrseu
assure
otutl t )
that li
we will ever e separated.r f
cherish,ro n i us
with feelings_
of the liveliest thankfulness, the recollection of your ministra-
tions among us—your faithfulness in the pulpit, where you
never shunned to declare the whole counsel of God, by the
exhibition, in all its fulness and freeness, of the glorious
Gospel of the grace of God, and, as occasion required, by
admonition or reproof, in the Spirit of Him who said `Go in
peace and sin no more.'
But it is in connection with our homes and hearths that we
shall specially grieve over your loss—in the family circle,
where your urbanity and affection went direct to the heart—
pre-eminently as regarded the young, who have always
esteemed you as their devoted friend, and among whom your
labours have been so signally owned; and to such of us who
have been of the number, pi ivileged either to witness or to feel
the comfort and consolation which your ministrations in the
chamber of sickness and death have been the means of im-
parting, there are links of association which seem too painful
to be broken : nor would we now recal remembrances so
affecting, were they not scenes in which your duty, promp-
titude, and inanation ever seemed as one, and did we
not conceive that even such humble testimony to your past
usefulness here might lead to cheer your heart and strengthen
your hands for labour, in the vineyard of the lord, in the land
of your adoption.
Not doubting, then, that He, who said to his servants of old
Lo, I am with you alway,' will accompany you through life,
we now take an affectionate farewell or you, praying that He
who holds the waters in the hollow of his hand' will give the
winds and the waves charge concerning you, your partner in
life, and your dear little one—crown you with temporal and
spiritual prosperity. and long spare you to he an honoured and
useful minister of the Gospel of Christ, in promoting his cause
and kingdom in Australia, or wherever your lot may be cast
in the providence of God."
Mr. Adamson concluded by again wishing a long period of
health and enjoyment to Mr. Gardner and his lady.
The Rev. Mr. GARDNER trusted, in returning thanks,
that the language be emplciyed would not be measured •
with the value of such a testimonial and such a memorial
as had just been read. The rev. gentleman went on to
hint at unpleasant circumstances that had transpired in
connexion with his ministry among them, but they had,
he was sure, sympathised with him throughout the whole
course of that ministry, and had overlooked any short -
comings which might have characterised it. On his part .
he would assure them there had been but one object,
which was to preach Christ and Him crucified. He again
acknowledged himself incapable of expressing his gratitude
for so strong and valuable a proof of their affections as had
been given him by his friends. The impression made on
his mind then would not easily be effaced, and when in a
far distant land, Birkenhead and all its endearing ties
would pass before his recollection as if the scene were
really conjured up by the wand of enchantment, and its
people would never cease to ho remembered by him with
affection. He should ever feel ready to exclaim with
heartfelt sincerity, as he did then in the words of Scrip-
ture, " The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make
his face to shine upon you, and give you peace." There
were around him, his brethren in the ministry with whom
he had lived in sweet and delightful intercourse. There
never had been an occasion when he had asked their
assistance as preacher that that assistance bad been with-
held. The recollection of all this would allow him, if
ever it plea-ed God that he should reach his distant honie,
to forget all his former trials and difficulties, and forget
the acts of his enemies in his prayers for their prosperity.
He had further to say that he did not fail to cherish the
hope that in the present circumstances of that place, and
in the 'present circumstances of the kingdom, some of
them might be desirous to emigrate to a land which offered'
a greater return to labour and energy. He could only say,
if any of them should brave the dangers of the ocean and
land in the neighbourhood of his abode, if God spared
him, they might rely on receiving a brother's welcome,
and sharing in all the hospitality of a minister's home.
And further, if his position as a minister gave him the'
power of forwarding the temporal interests of such elZii
grants by his introduction of them to his flock, his ser-
vices would be willingly given. Mr. Gardner concluded
by affectionately bidding his friends farewell. tie resumed
'his seat amidst the most unmistakable burst of warm
feeling.
Subsequently the tea service presented to the reverend
gentleman was handed round the room, and greatly ad-
mired by all who inspected it. The following inscription,
appears on the tea-pot:—" Presented to the Rev. John.
Gardner, minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church,
Birkenhead, by two hundred of his attached congregation,
as a token of esteem and regard on his leaving for Ade-
laide, South Australia, August 16, 1849."
The Rev. Mr. TOWERS addressed some remarks to the'
meeting, on the relation of the colonies to Great Britain
and their religious claims on the mother country. He
might compare the platform on which he stood with his
revered brethren to our little Britain ; and the colonies
with their one hundred and twenty or forty millions of
people might be represented by the audience before him.
It was then a circumstance of which they might justly be
proud, that they found themselves able to contribute to
the religious instruction of these vast territories. Ad-
verting to the subject of the evening, Mr. Gardner, he
said he had often met him in the classes, where, as in pri-
vate, his deportment was such as to gain for him esteem
and regard ; he trusted the future would be all that his
friend could desire.
Mr. BLAIKIE, a member of Mr. Gardner's congrega-
tion, then addressed the meeting, and answered the ques-
tion which had several times been put to him, " Why did'
they not meet in their own school-room ?" by saying that
it had been withheld from them. He went on delicately
to touch upon the unhappy differences which had led to
Mr. Gardner leaving Birkenhead, and observed that from
first to last the congregation had stood by their minister
in the face of all opposition. They had notified again-
and again to his worth and usefulness. Mr. B. went on
to show that though the address had been signed by two
hundred persons, it was still in process of signature; all
the majority of these persons were communicants. Dr.
Crichton, Mr. Zeigler, the Rev. Mr. Ferguson, the Rev.
Mr. Graham, the Rev. Mr. Buck, the Rev. Mr. White,
and the Rev. Mr. Henderson, addressed the meeting in
succession. The addresses were of a superior description ;
and it is with great regret we omit them, not having space
in consequence of a press of matter. Mr. Ferguson read
letters of apology from Dr. Raffles, the Rev. Mr. Knox,
and the Rev. Mr. Birrell. Mr. Willon proposed a vote of
thanks to the chairman, and thus the meeting separated
after an evening of unalloyed enjoyment.

DEATH 73Y LIGHTNING.—On Thursday, at Sandtoft,
Bulay Eyre, a boy only six years of age, while slniine_
near to his grandfather and his two sons, watchilb WI:. PPOOt
cleanse out a drain, was suddenjy struck by the d.e*iiiciki imam
fluid, and was a corpse before lie could be remotil. " AY." Imilp
the house. It is somewhat singular that Whilst: e.lit*i-:"
Igl,
• IP
who were employed cleaning out the drain, re/44i -.i ,:.,,
tools which were calculated to attract the light titli: :4y.--,,, ..4 % :
entirely escaped, whilst the boy. who had not Dtri04V,:,7.1-nt, 4.).y.
sort about him, was struck. On being stripper:.:- '• 7, ,- #
not the slightest mark to be found upon the b ' --; - .4-.::. -'l', :';''.'l7
- \ , -,-;-,tr-(7.-"_

'13.1 Vci SMA 047