The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-12-10 00:00:00

A SKETCH IN THE TOWN COUNCIL,

There was something positively puzzling in the appearance
of the council at its opening on Wednesday. A happy ex-
pression sate upon the countenances of the Radical portion
of the members. Bolton looked unutterable bliss ; James
Aikin laughed ever and anon with his face upon the table ;
William Earle—credite posteri 2—closed his mild eyes and
dozed during a great portion of the opening discussion ; whilst
the small fry around them—the mosquitoes which flutter in
the beams of these suns of the " Liberal" heaven—sate
mute as mice, as if waiting for some coming event of the
most delightful nature. Upon the faces of not a few of the
Conservative members, on the contrary there was an air of
stern determination—a dare-all, do-or-die look—contrasting
singularly with the chuckling expression which pervaded
those of their opponents. Altogether it was a perplexing
pieturt. ; and struck us as presenting strong symptoms of a
foregone conclusion, to the glorification of radical tactics.
We pass over, roost willingly, the somewhat uninteresting
discussions which preceded the announcement of Mr. Thomas
Bolton's motion, upon the subject of the system of Educa-
tion to be adopted in the Corporation Schools. The rising
of that redoubtable champion of the " Popish" cause, how-
ever, in a moment altered the uninteresting face of things.
What a shuffling of feet—what a rumpling and unfolding of
papers—what a drawing in of lips and opening of eyes was
the result of the first movement of the great ex-mayor ! And
yet after all this preparation on the part of the majority of
the council to " cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war"—
after all the conning of speeches and furbishing up of
apologies—after all this girding up for the encounter with the
arch enemy—after the mental exclaim from more than one
or two of the expectants of immortal honour—

" Strike, oh ye bards, the melancholy harp,
For this is the eve of death !"
how insufferably provoking, how " lame and impotent" was
the conclusion ! The trumpet was sounded, but there was
no opponent to set lance in rest against, for the cunning Mr.
Thomas Bolton coolly intimated to the gentlemen who were
big with speech, that he had no motion to make for them to
exercise their rhetoric upon. The slippery thing flourished
its forked tongue, wagged its slimy tail, and then wriggled
out of the grasp of Conservatism, leaving stupid wonder-
ment and blank dismay upon the countenances of more than
one who were on this day to have dispelled for ever the cloud
which hangs over their names and fame, by the blows which
they were to have dealt upon its prostrate body.

Reader, imagine the scene which ensued when William
Earle jumped off his seat like a cork from a soda water bottle,
and went off into hysterics of delight—when Mr. Christo-
pher Bushell tried to recall to their seats the departing mem-
bers—when Mr. John Smith, with papers in hand, inti.
mated that he too had something to say, and when the
mayor, e.e- cathedra, intimated to one and all, that they must
" live to speak another day."
It was a scene which we trust we shall never see again. We
could never get over it.
Wily Thomas Bolton ! Cunning faction ! Tricked, diddled,
easy-going conciliatory'Conservatives ! When will the for-
mer leave off their Jesuitry ? when will the latter begin to
know the serpent nature of the opposition they have to con-
tend with? Another month of Popish and. Socinian teach-
ing in our Corporation Schools ! That is all, although
quite sufficient for Thomas Bolton and his clique to chuckle
nrer, as the result of their management of conciliatory Con-
servatism in the council.

A person
,had laid some night hooks down in the river
Tivv, Cardiganshire, a little time ago, and on
going the fol-
lowinif morning to visit his lines, he found a crane attached
to one of them. An eel had taken the bait and was caught
by the hook, and the crane, afterwards took the eel as a bait.
and got hooked himself.—Carmarthen Journal.

HEAR BOTH SIDES ! !

FINAL MEETING at the QUEEN'S THEATRE,
TO-NIGHT.

As the Socialists of Liverpool have put forth what they are
pleased to call " A Life of the notorious John- Brindley,"
Mr. BRINDIEY will THIS EVENING (Friday) give a
full and faithful history of his eventul career, from childhood
to the present time. He will also take this opportunity of
reviewing the Four Nights' Discussion between Mr. L.
Jones and himself; bringing up, in a summary form, the
whole of the Evidence adduced both fur and againit Social-
ism throughout the Debate.
The Platform Gallery will be reserved for LADIES;
those, therefore, who could not with piopriety attend the
Discussion will have a good opportunity of hearing the sub-
stance of the Debate on this occasion.

ADMISSION.—To the Boxes and Platform, 6d. ; to the
Pit, 3d.; and to the Gallery, 2d.—Doors open at Seven, to
commence punctually at Half-past Seven, and close at Half-
past Nine o'Clock.

*** A most important LETTER to Sir ROBERT
PEEL, giving a brief but true History of the Birth, Life,
and Public Career of ROBERT OWEN, with the Rise,
Progress, and Decline of his various experiments, will be
found in " BRINDLEY'S GAZETTE" for this Month.
Also a great quantity of other interesting information in re-
lation to CHARTISM, and the LATTER-DAY SAINTS,
Price 3d. C. DAVIES, North John-street; STANDARD
OFFICE ; LEATHERBARROW'm ; Elliot-strcct, and all News-
venders.
Friday, December 10, 1841.

TO THE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE

LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL

GENTLEMEN,—AIIow me to address a very few words to
you on the important subject of education, which is now
anxiously occupying your attention, and on which. I grieve,
both for your own and the town's sake, to see that you con-
tinue to be divided.

After a careful perusal of your rather angry debates, it
appears to me that the reasons, which seem to influence cer-
tain members of your body in their hesitation to vote the
expulsion of the Douay Bible with note and comment and
the introduction of prayer, may be reduced to the three fol-
lowing heads :

1. They think that they will lie under a charge of bigotry,
if they presume to decide arbitrarily what is truth, in oppo-
sition to the conscientious opinions of others. They con-
ceive, therefore, that, in thus hesitating, they are manifest-
ing a very graceful modesty.

2. The priests of the komish schism in this town have
assured them, that, if they venture to expel the Douay ver-
sion and introduce prayer, no Romish child will attend the
schools. In that case, say our kind-hearted friends in the
Council, hundreds of poor little Roman Catholic children
will be turned out into the street, to pick up their education
where they can, or rather where they cannot. The hesitation
of these gentlemen assumes the delightful form of charity.
3. Some gentlemen are on their legs, declaiming, that,
since the money by which these schools are to be supported
conies indiscriminately from the pockets of all religionists, it
is very unfair that all sects should not be equally educated.
These persons are, therefore, hesitating under the banner of
justice.

Under these imposing heads—modesty, charity, and jus-
tice—suffer me respectfully to make a few remarks.

1. With regard to the modest hesitaters, I observe, that
they are supposing themselves to be in a position in which
they are not now placed, unless, indeed, they have chosen
voluntarily to place themselves in it. The question which
they look upon themselves as now called upon to decide has
been already decided, as far as this country is concerned.
The legislature of this land has already made its selection
amongst the conflicting bodies of professing Christians. It
has chosen that church of Christ, which was originally
planted in England, and is now happily purified from Latin
superstition, as the keeper of the truth, and has established
it that it may hold forth the truth to the subjects. The state,
therefore, has answered the question, " What is truth ?" by
replying, " That Scriptural system of doctrine, which is set
" forth in the formularies of the Established Church of this
" realm." Our modest hesitating councillor, may, therefore,
throw himself for support upon his country. Surely, thus
encouraged, unless he mistakes the veriest mauvaise honte of
awkward bashfulness for commendable modesty, he will hold
up his head like a man, a conservative, and a Christian. If,
on the contrary, lie will still have it, that the great question
of truth is not settled, and persists in placing himself wilfully
and unnecessarily in the chair of decision and arbitrement,
he can scarcely suppose that one, who thus, without the
slightest occasion, elevates himself to so prominent and judge-
like an eminence, can be entitled to the respectable character
of a modest man.

11, But what are we to say of our charitable hesitaters?
Why, we say just this. Shew us that it is charitable to teach
children doctrines which you acknowledge to be essentially
false, and, therefore, destructive to the eternal happiness of
your fellow-creatures. Prove this to us, and then we will
request you not to hesitate, but unhesitatingly to deluge your
schools with Popery and Socinianism. Let us see whether
your charity will bear the light, which a very simple illustra-
tion often throws on puzzled and misunderstood matters.
We will suppose that, from the pressure of the times, the
poor of your town are grievously suffering from famine. You
are entrusted with certain funds to be expended for them in
food. It has been decided that meat, flour, and potatoes are
proper and wholesome nourishment. You accordingly dis-
tribute them. You do not force them down the throats of
the starving, but you simply offer them for their acceptance.
Many thankfully receive them, but there are some whose
vitiated palate rejects this wholesome nourishment which
you have provided for them and offered to them, and demand,
instead of your meat, flour, and potatoes, ardent spirits and
opium. They tell you, that unless you give them exactly
what they choose to consider wholesome, but which you
think poisonous, they cannot benefit by your charity, and
that, therefore, you are uncharitable. What would you say
to such reasoners ? Why, you would say something of this
sort, " My good people, we offer you what we ourselves eat,
" and what we believe to be the most wholesome food for
" you. The articles you mention would be poisonous to us,
" and we therefore naturally conclude that they would be
" poisenous to you. If you wish to poison yourselves we
" cannot help it, but you must not expect us to assist you in
" doing it. We would rather set before you what we know
" to be good and useful viands, in order that you may be
" weaned from your present dreadfully vitiated taste."
Would it be uncharitable in returning such an answer ? " Cer-
tainly not," you reply. Then do not, I entreat you, under
the guise of charity, assist in poisoning the souls of Papists
and Socinians. Keep yourselves pure.
But our charitable friends, who rather too suddenly sup-
pose that the expulsion of the Douay Bible is synonymous
with the ejection into the streets of all the Roman Catholic
children at present in the corporation schools, should read
the second annual report of the Church Education Society
for Ireland. It is the report for this present year. That
society, which has only been lately established, has at present
59,067 scholars in 1,015 schools. In all those schools the
authorised version of the Scriptures is read by all the
children ; the Douay version is completely excluded; prayers
are offered up by all the children unitedly, and all the
children are bona fide members of the Church of England
and Ireland. Now, out of those 59,067 children, who are
thus strictly educated in this uncharitable system, how many
are Roman Catholics? No fewer than 21,420. Moreover,
of the year's increase of 15,440 scholars, over and above
those enumerated in the first report of the society, 10,562
are Roman Catholics. Facts are stubborn things. 'rake
courage. Do not be so nervously afraid of being called un-
charitable by those who are attempting, by practising on na-
ture's kindliness, to liberalize good, soft hearted, and easy
conservatives. Remember that words smoother than oil
may proceed from a very warlike heart.

3. A single word to the friends of justice. The funds at
your disposal find their way into your hands from all sorts
of pockets, and therefore you must teach all sorts of reli-
gions. Now, if you will jump so unnecessarily to such ex-
traordinary conclusions, be consistent. Carry your princi-
ples of justice fairly and manfully out. Chartists, as well as
Papists and Socinians, pay their proportion. Let their chil-
dren, if they respectfully request it of you, be diligently
taught and catechised in the equalising doctrines of chart-
ism. Let the socialist obtain the same boon for his young
ones. And why should not thieves put in their claim for
the instruction of their children in their fathers' moralities
of pocket-picking? In short, if you once begin fairly to act
out your principles of justice, I know not where you are to
stop. If you stop at all, it will he from the necessity of self-
preservation, not certainly from principle.
But, in truth, the whole matter is a very simple one. The
corporation is one of " the powers that be " in England.
As one of " the powers that be," they have the right, within
certain limits, to obtain funds from the subject. The duty
of the subject is to pay his tribute, simply because it is de-
manded by the power, which God has placed over him, for
purposes of government. He is not to dictate the mode of
its application, nor is he responsible for that mode, whatever
-it may be. The powers that be are to determine that, on
their own responsibility ; and their determination must be
guided by their conscientious and unbiassed desire to pro-
mote the general good. The party who were lately in power
in the council did act conscientiously, and, according to their
apprehension of the matter, justly. They taught Popery
and Socinianism in the schools, even though the consequence
was the expulsion of the clergy. They deserve commenda-
tion for having acted according to their professed principles
of conduct. Let every conservative councillor act according
to his professed principles likewise. " Fas est et ab hosts
doceri.'

I am, Gentlemen,
Very respectfully, your faithful *.ervai,t,
A Cll APLA I N

Dec. 9, 1841

COURT OF REQUESTS JUSTICE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANAIRD,

Sitt,—A decision has this day been given in the Liverpool
Court of Requests which induces me publicly to ask is there
no responsibility attached to, or no appeal from, the parties
who professedly administer justice, or as they term it, equity,
in those courts? If such be the case, the absolute power
which such parties possess, if equalled, is certainly not sur-
passed in its pernicious results by any court in the most
despotic country on the face of the globe. I was summoned
for a small debt to the Liverpool Court of Requests under
the following circumstances :—I had been the tenant of a
public-house, which I subsequently let to another party.
That party, after taking possession, obtained goods from a
tradesman, for which, not being able to obtain payment, 1
was summoned to the above court for the amount. In vain
1 pleaded that I never had a transaction with, or ever saw,
the tradesman in question : that having lett and let the house
to another party I was under no responsibility. : that the
party obtaining the goods was bona fide not a servant, but,
in the strictest sense of the word, a tenant ; the goods,' too
ground that
were invoiced to the tenant, yet, in the face of these ets,
judgment was given against me, on the alleged
my name was still over the door, a fact which is accounted
for by the circumstance that the license had not then been
transferred,

This decision is, 1 am sure, contrary to every principle of
both law and equity, and I would simply ask, is there against
such adminstration of justice no appeal and no redress?
Such may be the case, but, at all events, the publicity of
these facts may be of use to the public. Let me add, that
in the hearing of the case alluded to, there was hut one indi-
vidual present to hear it, and he, I believe, is the stipendiary
urn, sir, yours respectfully,
Liverpool, Dec. 9111, 1841. GEO. WEBB.

MUSIC IN CHURCHES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STAND.4Ro,

SIR,—I see by a pert and peevish letter in the Mail of
to-day, an insinuation that the musical part of divine wor-
ship, in a parish church " not a hundred miles from this
lowa,"
is (as he says) conducted in a disgraceful manner.
Now, as this may appear to attach itself to our parish church
of Walton, I, as a member of the congregation, do mostun-
equivocally state, that our organist and choir are patterns to
all the churches in Liverpool and its neighbourhood ; and if
the " Votary of good Music " will take the trouble to attend
a service—say on Christmas-day, when a good anthem will
will sun
be g—he will leave the church with very different
feelings front those on enterinz.—[loping you will give this
a corner in your paper to-morrow, 1 remain; &c.,
Walton, Dec. 9, 1841. 0. CLARKSON.
[We hope the insertion of this letter will reach the motive;
winch we are not ignorant of.—E. L. S.]

vl4l,