The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-09-20 00:00:00

SEPT. 20, 1836

of the Rev. R. M'Ghee, who has sent over for his perusal
the " unanswered challenge," accusing him of shrinking
from that inquiry which he had ostensibly courted, by
the lowest and most unworthy artifice. These revilers
of his religion" are prepared to meet him, and have af-
forded him time and opportunity to accept their dial-
longe ; but he has shrunk from investigation, dreading
that the force of reason and sound argument would, like
the touch of IthUriers spear, strip him of his disguise,
and exhibit him to the world in his naked deformity.

Whether we are to be honOured with the chance of bringing
the long-contested controversy between the Reformed and
Roman Catholic Churches to a final issue or not, remains to be
seen. A Champion, who threatens to eclipse even the great
Cardinal Beilarmin himself, has, in these our days, thrown
flown the gauntlet in Liverpool; no one, however, as yet is
enabled to determine the quality or pretensions of this spiked
glove, nor in what way the Champion intends wielding it,—he
has, nevertheless, (as in due courtesy to the challenged he is
bound to do) been invited to state specifically his mode of com-
bat, and the weapons he means to employ in the "tilt " against
Protestantism and its doctrines,—in fact, a vague squib-like
report has been made by a certain "liberal" pop-gun, that the
Priest had buckled on his armour, and was duly prepared for
the fight.
Now, as it would have been truly mortifying even to us, who
are strongly attached to an opposing Creed, to have found so
chivalrous a Knight driven to the painful alternative of adopt-
leg the course of the hero of La Mancha, in his right valiant
assaults upon "shadows" and "windmills," when there are
abundant materials in the shape of human beings for a good
Catholic to try the quality of his spear upon,—we confess it is
Particularly gratifying to us, that the said Champion is in no
danger of incurring such humiliation and disappointment ! That
resolute defender of Protestantism, the Rev. R. 11I‘Ghee, has
anticipated the Rev. H. li'Neile's acceptance of the challenge,
in his spirited letter of Fi iday last, to which we gave insertion.
We have also the sensible letter of " Philalethes," which we
must say thumbscrews the worthy Priest to the points prelimi-
nary ; and to-day we insert the additional letter of " Candidus"
of Cambridge, who offers the benefit of a layman's disputation,
should no clergyman of the Church of England volunteer to
enter the lists on this occasion. Candidus puts the grouted be-
fore Father Maguire, in a very intelligible point of view. Cor-
respondenee is crowding in upon us from various quarters, so
that there is little fear of his wishes being frustrated; we will
even sound the trumpet of the Standard aloud—the honour of
our own church being concerned; and being also fully prepared
to assist in giving to our town of Liverpool, the credit of pro-
viding the arena for the conflict, (the AMPHITHEATRE itself if
wished for!) and undertake faithfully to record the progress of
tha priestly tournament, for the benefit of our Protestant bre-
thren throughout the united kingdom.

We have before observed that protestant England is pre-
eminently distinguished for the namber and value of her chari-
table institutions. This formed the theme of praise of a learned
foreigner, in the last century, who said that her greatness did
not so much exist in the beauty of her palaces, the riches of her
nobility or merchants, the superior industry or moral intelli-
gence of her general population, but in the " number and
variety of her monuments of national benevolence." Of all
the public establishments which claim the attention of the
philanthropist, none rank higher than our hospitals and in-
firmaries. The celebrated Indian rajah, Rammahoun Roy,
when he visited the city of Bristol, on his first coming to Eng-
land, was accompanied by a friend to the infirmary, and, arrived
in front of that noble edifice, he stopped suddenly and requested
his companion to explain to him the inscription conspicuously
displayed over its entrance, "Charity universal—open to all
nations." " And do they admit," said he, " the sick and the
helpless without distinction of country, creed or colour, with-
out fee or compensation ?" " Decidedly so," answered his
friendly interpreter. " Well," said the rajah, " I have read
that the Founder of the Christian religion commanded these
things, under the parable of the good Samaritan; it is a pleasing
circumstance, after so great a lapse of time, to find his in-
junction thus fulfilled. Come, although a rajah, I shall freely
enter your Christian's house." We record this pleasing anec-
dote as the introduction to our recommendation of a public
charity in our town of Liverpool, the "Northern Hospital,"
Leeds-street, brought before the notice of our readers in the ex-
planatory letter or report of Mr. John M. Banner, in our last
Tuesday's number. This gentleman has so clearly illustrated
the present condition and the objects of the charity, conducted
upon the principle of the " Christian's house" at Bristol, that
we trust the want of Room complained of, with regard to this
hospital, will soon be obviated by a sympathising public; then
our medical friends connected with the establishment may not
have to incur the pain of sending away cases from its doors un-
aided, which imperatively call for succour. The utility of the
institution is fully shown in Mr. Banner's explicit statement.

The letters of " A Liberal Dissenter," which have appeared
in our columns, place the question of the corporation schools
upon its true basis. The remote object contemplated in this
nefarioui undertaking was the advancement of the interests of
a political party hostile in all its views to the interests of the
church establishment and the present interests of the state iden-
tified therewith—the ostensible object, the introduction of a
" liberal system of instruction," as Lord John Russell calls it,
which shall " harmonize opposing creeds." Indeed ! harmo-
nize opposing creeds! Whence this preposterous doctrine
obtained the drita of its foundation, we are at loss to conjecture;
for to reconcile the creed of popery with liberal institutions,
either in religion or government, is to assimilate oil with water
or vinegar, or to change the entire character of the unchange-
able church! The "Liberal Dissenter" has grappled with the
design, and objects of the schools in a masterly manner, and his
show up of the fallacies of the voluntary principle is equally
stringent. Ile has made a breach in the "defence" which will
require many sand-bags to fill up the opening, through which
we get a full insight into the internal works of the citadel of
liberalism. We are no enemies to those w,ho are really dissen-
ters from principle ; some of the most amiable and many of the
most intellectual companions of our past life were of this order;
and we can proudly reflect that we never remember any one of
them to have warred against the established institutions of
church and state in the manner adopted by our "conscientious"
town councillors. That exemplary man, the late Dr. Adam
Clarke, who lived in our own time, is one instance, as a Wes-
leyan; the late eloquent Thorpe, the independent minister, is
another. These were staunch defenders of the union of Church
and state. Thorpe's "destinies" of the British empire put to
the blush all the sophistries of the Blackburn vocabulary of
.fine words and unmeaning theories defended, or, rather, at-
tempted to be defended, upon the false plea of increased public
advantage.

Our able corespondents have taken out of our hands the duty
of exposing the darker qualities of this deep-laid plot of the
liberals against the essence of our religion, whilst wa undertake
to prove, if needful, their utter ignorance, or their yet more
shameful mystification and petvertzion of the very truth, as re-
gards its working principle, as a protestant institution. Mus in
vice is strictly applic'able to them ;—they have got into the po-
pish pitch-tub, and all the scrubbing of their liberal scrubbing-
brush will not cleanse them. The advice of the "Liberal Dis-
senter" to avoid the contamination will not be lost upon the
respectable portion of the dissenting body, whose eyes are now
open to the irreligious compact entered into for purely worldly
purposes and the advancement of principles opposed to gospel
truth.

We will put this question in a simple form, that every con-
scientious dissenter from our church may see its merits at a
glance. The law of this laud has from time immemorial de-
creed the foundation of our established religion, that religion
being Christian, and the King, as the supreme head of the state,
its sworn trustee. Such established religion is ordained for the
benefit of the 'majority in the state, not the sections or various
parties which may exist therein, but which are subject to its
protection. Now clearly the interests of the majority are en-
Aided to the first consideration in a matter of so much moment
.as a settled provision for the maintenance of christianity in the
state. This point admitted, it is the duty of the state to provide
the means of christian instruction conformably to its establish-
ment. It will nut surely be pi Mended by any truly conscien-
tious protestant dissenter, that the majority of
,the people of
England now prefers a corrupt form of christianity, as in Ire-
land at present, and in England at the time of the reformation.
The duty of christian rulers, then, is obvious, whether it be in
the parliamentary legislature or the town council. it is clearly
the duty of a christian king and a christian government to set
before the people the full light of saying truth, leaving it to in-
dividuals after all whether they will choose as best that false-
hood which destroys the soul. MI should be taxed equally for
what promotes the general good; hone should be relieved sim-
ply because they choose schism in religion, or liberalism in
politics. Government has no right to relieve any party from
contributing to the support of religion and virtue in the state,
because they may choose to act as without the influence of either
the one or the other.

We take the principle of a majority upon
a very different
footing to that of the disciples of the Russell school; when we
speak of a majority we refer specifically to the entire body of
the state in the three kingdoms under the sceptre of a protestant
monarch. We do not admit one majority for England, ano-
ther for Scotland, another for Ireland; nor shall we take our
pobition abstractedly from the practical working of the Church
of England and the church against England in the sister isle.
We shall be fully prepared to meet the sophistical arguments of
those who grumble about making the many of the popish church
pay towards ‘the support of the few of the protestants in due
season ; leg owe imaintain that the dissenting principle, as a prin-
ciple, is etrAianily,thrown down 11 Jake circumstance of men of
all creeds and of-no creed—m*lp wifluirofess to love the truth,
and ,men who teach .ties,tilutt tithe sthildren of God and the
.children of the de,vilare twill stottrillyrqualified to rule over the
ataatinies dal Asidicsn aisauximr,accstaing to God's will! This

~~.r

piinciple, it appears, both the religious and the free-thinking
di,senter has adoptel,each for himself, in our town council; and
against this principle we shall. strenuously contend, under the
full conviction of right, and the certainty of being supported
therein by the upright portion of the dissenters, freed from the
influences of a spurious philosophy, the wisdom which cometh
from beneath. We do not charge all dissenters with being
schismatics—let the really religious dissenter bear in mind that
the contest is not with him purely as a godly man, but as a po-
litiqa? man, if he is now taking the same political grounds with
the mast reck:es,:, infidel—the most holloW sociuiati, and the
mosfbigoffed worsitipper.of the wafer god. We make a full
disiinetion as to the motives for dissent in one case, but we can
make no distinction in this case between him who is professedly
religious and him who denies religion altogether, whilst he ren-
ders himself a worker in evil and a political schismatic. We
consider the " Liberal Dissenter," who has so ably come forward
to entertain these views strictly with us ; but we must not spoil
the strength of his reasoning by any further commentary of our
own at present ;That reasoning is argumentative and conclusive
against our united liberal opponents of the town council.

Mulct] OF CONS&RVATISAI.—In addition to the great dinner
given at Beverley, there has been a splendid muster of the
Conservatives of North Northamptonshire, at Peterborough,
fur the purpose of celebrating the return of Al r. Maunsell, M.P.
A most respectable company assembled under the auspices of
Sir J. Trollope, Bart., as Chairman. The Earl of Winchilsea,
attended and delivered a sery powerful speech in his usual
Constitutional vein. The worthy Chairman also spoke with
due effect, followed by Mr. Maunsell and several other gentle-
men. Northampton, the strong-bold of the Fitzwilliam and
Althorpe or Spencer interest, has signally declared itself for
the cause of the Constitution.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE THOMAS FOSTER, ESQ.

The funeral of this deeply lamented gentleman, whose sud-
den demise has excited feelings of the deepest sorrow amongst
all classes of the community, will take place to-morrow morn-
ing, (Wednesday,) at ten o'clock, at Walton Church. The
funeral will be attended by a considerable number of his friends,
both clergy and laity, who have signified their intention to pay
this last tribute of respect for his memory. We are persuaded
that this announcement will also draw together a very numer-
ous portion of his fellow-townsmen, to whom he was endeattd
by his public services as well as by his private virtues.

THE LATE ARTHUR FIEYWOOD, ESQ.—Yesterday morning
the remains of this gentleman were committed to their kindred
dust. The interment took place at half-past ten o'clock, in a
vault in the centre of St. Nicholas' Church-yard. The funeral
procession .consisted of the usual cavalcade, followed by a num-
ber of carriages. A great concourse of spectators attended to
witness the mournful ceremony. The coffin was covered with
black cloth, fastened with plain black nails, and having a plain
inscription plate describing his name and age. The vault con-
tained other two coffins, and the remaining space was filled up
by the present one. The reflection caused by witnessing the
interment of this benevolent and wealthy old man, that all his
riches could purchase no more than the narrow and filthy sepul-
chre was melancholy for human nature, and strongly illustrated
the truth of the saying that "all is vanity." Many of the
spectators seemed affected with this solemn and wholesome
truth.

We have been favoured with a correspondence relative to the
Teachers' Society, which we should have inserted had our space
afforded. We are, however, authorised to state that the Society
referred to is exclusively composed of teachers in connexion
with the dissenters, and that a society, under the immediate pa-
tronage of the Rectors and Clergy, has lately been established
amongst the teachers of the schools in connexicn with the
Church of England. The object of this society is to provide for
mutual instruction by the establishment of a reading room, and
especially to select such works on education as are in accordance
with their principles as members of that church. The resolu-
tions and rules agreed to at their public meeting will appear in
a few days.
THE EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS.—SinCe our last notice,
several paintings in this exhibition have been removed and re-
placed by others, and others placed in a more advantageous
light. We had prepared a further notice, but are compelled to
omit it from press of matter. We can hardly concur in the
judgment of the committee in allowing so many "portraits"
of unknown individuals to appear, occupying considerable
space in the exhibition. They never can excite the interest
which the painting of almost any subject can give, and, gene-
rally speaking, they cannot be exhibited as a fair criterion of
an artist's abilities. The genius of an artist in them can rarely
be seen. A portrait painter, only, is a mere copyist, and might
paint portraits equally as well without, as with imagination.
We would, then, ask why are these pictures so numerous in the
exhibition, if they neither show an artist's capabilities, save in
a mediocre light, nor yet are of public interest? Perhaps, the
committee can answer. The rooms have been well attended.
THE QUEEN OF THE ISLE.—This swift-sailing steamer and
excellent sea-boat continues to eclipse every thing on the
Liverpool and Douglas station, and to maintain the eminent
character she has acquired under the guidance of her attentive
and experienced commander, Captain Gill. The excitement
manifested in Douglas last Tuesday, whe❑ it was expected she
would contest the passage with the Monarch, was greater than
anything witnessed these many years in that town; and when
the Queen of the Isle made her appearance round the head,
beating the Monarch about twenty minutes, the burst of en -
thusiasm and long-continued cheering which ensued, and
which was re-echoed by every spectator along the pier, sur-
passes our power of description. The town of Douglas was a
scene of rejoicing throughout the evening, so much respected
are the directors of the company and Captain Gill. No
other contest has taken place between the two steamers.—
From a Correspondent.
PITT-STREET WARD.—A deputation from the Conservative
Association waited upon Mr. John Bibby a few days ago, and
requested that gentleman to allow himself to be put in nomina-
tion as a candidate at the next municipal election, to which he
acceded.

CHILD BURNT.—OH Tuesday evening last, abdut seven
o'clock, t little boy named George M•Clare, about four years
old, residing with his parents in Crosbie-street, was severely
burnt in consequence of his clothes having caught fire. His
mother had only left the room for a minute or two, leaving the
child standing by the grate. James Keely, a day watchman at
the railway, who was a lodger in the house, hearing the child's
cries, ran up stairs and extinguished the flames. Medical as-
sistance was obtained from the Dispensary, but he was so severely
scorched that he died on Thursday evening.

LAUNCITES.—On Wednesday a very fine ship, the Mai y
Hartley, was launched from the building-yard of Messrs. Clarke
and Nickson. She is an extremely beautiful model, 400 tons
burthen, and is intended for the East India trade under the
command of Captain Priestman.—ln pursuance of the profes-
sions of the City of Dublin Steam-packet Company, when they
were first established, in keeping up a supply of the most effi-
cient vessels that could possibly be constructed, they on Wed-
nesday added to their already numerous fleet of steamers by the
launch of the Roscommon from the building-yard of Messrs.
Wilson, of the burthen of 490 tons, to be supplied with engines
of 279 horse-power by Messrs. Fawcett, Preston, and Co., the
whole of her timber and planks being seasoned by the adoption
of Kyan's patent. She has sold floorings, and her bull is di-
vided into five sections by iron bulwarks, so that any accident
to any section will not endanger the remainder. This vessel is
the fourth of a series of first class steamers now in progress by
the same experienced builders for the above enterprising com-
pany.

INHUMAN CON D UCT.—On Tuesday, evening, a seafaring man,
rather advanced in years, fell into the Canning Dock. By the
exertions of dockgateman Lancaster and policeman Sherlock,
69, he was rescued from a watery grave. Having informed
these persons where he resided, they conveyed him to his
lodgings, but he was refused admittance; he was then taken to
a neighbouring tavern, where, notwithstanding his exhausted
state, he was almost as badly treated ; after another attempt at
procuring him shelter, he was taken to the Wapping Shades,
the proprietor of which gave every assistance with bed, blanket,
&c. Considerable praise is due to the men above-mentioned,
who were indefatigable in giving assistance to the sufferer,
while the conduct of the wretches who closed their door against
him is reprehensible in the utmost degree.
GIG AccIDENT.—On Wednesday evening last between seven
and eight o'clock, an accident, which might have been attended
with very serious consequences, occurred in Landon-road, A
gentleman and lady had got out of a gig to pay a visit to a
friend, in Pembroke-place, leaving a boy to take tare of the
horse. The boy, however, instead of taking hold of the ani-
mal's head, contented himself with standing by its side. Shortly
afterwards an omnibus came up, and, the guard blowing his
horn, the noise startled the horse, which immediately set off at
full speed down Pembroke-place and London-road. 'When op-
posite the Blue Bell, where a stage-coach was standing, it ran
on the parapet, which was crowded with people, dashed between
the coach and the house, and knocked several persons down.—
One of them, a little girl, was taken up insensible, and carried
into a druggist's shop in the neighbourhood. It was at first
thought she was killed, but it was found that she had only sus-
tained some severe bruises. Two or three persons were hurt,
but not seriously. In the meanwhile the horse continued its ca-
reer down Shaw's-brow, and the gig coming against a lamp-
post was dashed to pieces. The horse, thus disencumbered, ran
on with the harness, and part of one of the shafts dangling of--'
ter it, which increased its fright. Ultimately it ran against the
iron railings in front of the premises of Mr. Nowland, feather
merchant, Dale-street, with such tremendous force as to break
down the iron railing and coping stone for several yards, spik-
ing itself on one of the rails in such a manner that the ground
was immediately deluged with its blood. Though not killed on
the spot, it was so severely injured as to leave little chance of
its recovery. It was a fine spirited animal, and said to be worth
£lOO. We understand that the gig belonged to a Mr. Thomas.
BUTCHERS' GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION..—The ninth anniver-
sary dinner of the Butchers' Guardian Association was held
at the house of Mr. Thomas, Great Charlotte-street, on Tues-
day last. The toasts—" The King," " The Queen," " The
Princess Victoria," which the modern distaste for privileged
classes and constituted orders would consign to disuetude, were,
on this occasion, duly announced, and cordially hailed. in the
course of the evening frequent allusion was made to the threat-
ened removal of the slaughter-houses to the abattoir on Brown-
low-hill. By the opponents of this measure (the majority of
the guests) it was contended, that the projected attempt would
establish a monopoly in favour of one individual to the detri-
ment of the whole trade; that the act of parliament, on which
the proceeding is based, was worthless, since its powers had
been exhausted forty years ago; that the authority it conferred
had been exceeded by attaching to the abattoir an extensive
tallow chandlery and other buildings; that, since no compen-
sation is to be afforded for the abandonment of premises on
which a great outlay had been expended ; and, since the conse-
quence of their removal, to the butchers depending for their
support on the supply of meat to the shipping, would be certain
ruin, the act must he denounced as cruel and unjust. It was
further urged, that the selection of the centre of the corporate
estate, as the site of this erection, was impolitic; and, that the
building itself was inadequate to the purposes for which it was
intended, since it was unable to contain all the cattle killed for
the consumption of the town. On the other hand, it was as-
serted, that, since it was notorious that a many of the trade
were unable to obtain room for the slaughtering of their cattle,
the abattoir would afford them the accommodation they had so
long needed; that the number of these members of the trade
would contribute an ample supply of tenants, and that it was
not contemplated to remove those butchers who were provided
with their own slaughter-houses. This discussion, which was
heardjn the appearedwith t
ogreatest
give, patience,
greatgo o ( o
},amour,
o conducted
satisfaction;tlr,n Id at.
aanndeatrhiey
hour. meeting dispersed
M r. O'L oghlen, the Attorney-General for Ireland, has accepted
the appointment of a Baron of the Irish Court of Exchequer, in
the 'nom of Baron Smith, deceased. - •