The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-08-24 00:00:00

41F Wig 7441141 g,

Pr POW"'

by himalf, its then organ, to a totally different causes vi?,
the action of the Bank of England upon the currency. Our
contemporary therefore sets himself forthwith to the task of
impugning the correctness of a statement so detrimental to
the vrai-semblqnce of his present line of argument.
" What Lord Sandon may have asserted," remarks our
contemporary; and the somewhat impertinent italics are
his own—" it is not for us to say ; but we are quite sure he
did not prove that the consumption of cotton in the year 1840
was 30,089 bags, or anything like that quantity. The deli-
veries from the ports during that year amounted. as appears
from the annnal circular of the Liverpool United Brokers,
to 24,721 bales. But there is no doubt whatever that these
deliveries considerably exceeded the consumption ; and we
are quite satisfied that the quantity actually used was rather
under than over 24,000 hales per week, instead of 30,089,
making the increase in 10 years 45 per cent. instead of 82, as
stated by the Liverpool Standard."

Our contemporary concludes, " we have been induced to
allude to the statement of the Standard, because appearing
as it does in a Liverpool paper, where parties connected with
the public press ought to know something about cotton, it
will very likely be copied and commented upon as being un-
questionably true, and will be accepted as fact by that large
class of persons who do not give themselves the trouble of
investigating statements of the kind."
Now we really must complain a little of the disingenuous-
ness of the Guardian, although we cannot accuse him of
actual perversion of fact. The statement from which we
quoted, but of which unfortunately we did not quote the
whole—as we should have done undoubtedly had we been
aware that we should bring against u' an antagonist so un-
scrupulous in seizing hold of seeming errors as is the Man-
chester Guardian—is, nevertheless, strictly correct. We
now give the whole, not only in justice to Lord Sandon,
whose accuracy, along with our own, the Guardian impugns,
but as well to afford the reader an illustration of the fairness
of an anti-corn-law organ. The statement of Lord Sandon,
as contained in our publication of June 22, is as follows;—
"Quantity of cotton wool taken for home consumption
during the last ten years, reduced to bags of one 'uniform
weight of 3001bs: per bag—say per week.
In 1831.... 16,513 bags in 1832.... 17,138 bags.
1833.... 18,330 „ in 1831.... 18,756 „

1835
1837
1839.

20,088 „
23,478 „
23,068 „

in 183 G.
in 1838,
in 1840,

22,239 ~
27,438 ~
30,089 „

making an increase of 82 per cent. within ten years."
Undoubtedly our contemporary would not have been
afforded his opportunity of sneezing at the accuracy, either
of his Lordship or ourselves, had we mentioned in our article
the fact that the quantities mentioned were calculated to
bags of 300 pounds weight. Our object, however, was to
show only comparative consumption, and had it suited his
purpose to consult truth only, instead of the achievement of
a temporary triumph, the Guardian would perhaps have dis-
covered that the consumption in actual bags as imported is
overstated in 1831 as in 1840, although not, owing to causes
with which he is well acquainted, to a similar extent. Our
contemporary is perfectly aware, that if the consumption in
1840 was in bags, as imported, the precise number as in 1831,
that fact would not show that a large increase of consump
tion had not taken place, arising from the largely increased
weight of a bag of cotton now imported, as compared with
the weight in 1831 ; and it was surely a little unwise in him
to venture upon his flourish of superior knowledge of the
subject, whilst suppressing this fact.
Perhaps, however, we do our contemporary wrong in im-
puting to him auy knowledge of the subject before him, be-
yond what is contained in " the annual circular of the Liver-

pool United Brokers." We have never, upon other subjects,
observed him to go very much below the surface ; and for
gentlemen who are in the habit so frequently of changing
their views of public matters, it is perhaps the safest and
most prudent course. With people who do occasionally en-
quire, the opinion of such an oracle as the Guardian has fre-
quently proved himself to be, does not, fortunately, carry

much weight, although its statement of any fact, in suppor

of a popular delusion, " may undoubtedly be accepted by that
large class of persons who do not give themselves the trouble
of investigating statements of the kind." We are compelled
to disbelieve the reason assigned by our contemporary as

having induced him to bestow any portion of his valuable
space and time upon ourselves. It was scarcely, we think,
his anxiety that any supposed error in the statement in our

columns, with respect to the increased consumption of cot•
ton in the manufacturing districts, should " be copied anc

commented upon as being unquestionably true ;" for we are
sorry to observe that such statements, however conducive to
the purpose of throwing light upon subjects which are studi-
ously enveloped in delusion by designing and interested
people, are not listened to with half the unction with which
furious party appeals, and reckless assertion, directed in a
line with popular prejudice, are swallowed. We rather think
that it was the strong pertinency of our remarks in a previous
portion of the article, in which the statement in question was
contained, which brought our contemporary " to the rescue"
of the kite-flying portion of the manufacturing body, and that
the statement itself, which has been now two months before
the public, was only attacked because an unimportant omis-
sion afforded an opportunity to an experienced controversial
tactician of creating a temporary diversion in their favour.

LOCAL NEWS.

We beg to recommend visitors to Manchester to Mrs.
Hall's. Blue Boar. We believe it is one of the most com-
fortable establishments in the town.

CERRITO.—THEATRE ROYAL.—The charming little me-
teor Cerrito continues to dazzle and delight numerous audi-
ences, and, certainly, a more brilliant star has not sparkled
before us for many a night. The Greek pas de deux is a
most elaborate and finished performance, and does infinite
credit both to Cerrito and Guerra. The former approaches
nearer to her great predecessor Taglioni in that, than any
dance we have yet seen her execute. Cerrito reminds us
very much of lierberle in her style, but her rapidity, and the
celerity with which she executes her figures, we have never
seen approached. The Italian Opera Company appear for
the second time this evening. It is a great treat, indeed, to
hear their splendid voices. The house will be brilliantly
attended.

SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM.—On Thursday and Friday
last an investigation took place before. Mr. Rushton, touch-
ing a series of extraordinary fires which
had, on the prece-
ding day, been discovered at different times in three apart-
ments of the house of the Misses Preston, three maiden
ladies who keep a boarding school in Chesterfield-street, op-
posite St. James's Church. Suspicion, in the first instance,
fell on Ellen Donolly, a girl, aged about 14, the youngest of
two female servants, but in the course of the examination it
appeared to Mr. Rushton, that she could not be the guilty
party, and she was liberated and received as a witness. The
elder servant, Catherine Redman, who had attended as a
witness, was taken into custody and placed at the bar. It
appeared from the evidence, that the girls had lived in the
service of the abovementioned ladies about six weeks. On
Wednesday morning, about nine o'clock, as Miss Preston
was passing from the breakfast-room to the school-room, she
saw smoke issuing from the apartment of her sister. She
pushed open the door and saw a blaze arise from a corner of
the bed. She gave the alarm, and, assistance being called,
the fire was extinguished. About twelve o'clock a fire was
discovered in the closet of the same room, which was extin-
guished by a plentiful application of water. Between three
and four o'clock another alarm of fire was raised, and it was
found that the straw which had been placed to stop the chim-
ney of the school-room was in a blaze. This was also, with
much labour, extinguished. Between six and seven o'clock,
Miss Preston was informed that her own room was on fire.
The rooms had been previously carefully examined by a char-
woman who had been called in, and no appearance of the
former fires remained. The last fire appears to have been
the most dangerous. Several persons were called in, and
they had much trouble in extinguishing it. The damage
done altogether is said to amount to about £5O. The affair
is still involved in mystery. No evidence to fix the crime
upon the prisoner has yet been produced, but it was averred,
that the younger servant was not throughout the day near
any of the rooms. The prisoner was remanded. On Satur-
day she was again placed at the bar, where the depositions of
the witnesses, which had been reduced to writing, were,
with the exception of that of one of the Misses Preston, who
is indisposed, were read over. The evidence was very volu-
minous, but it could scarcely be called more than a minute
detail of the circumstances attending the discoveries of the
fires and the means taken to extinguish them. The sum of
the case against the prisoner at present may be said to
amount to this, that it was not easy to see how any but she
could have committed the crime. She stands remanded for
one week, in consequence of the illness of Miss Preston.

THE REV. HUGH WNEILE AT LIMERICK.—On Sunday
last, the justly celebrated Rev. Hugh M'lsTeile, of Liverpool,
preached at the Asylum Episcopal Chapel, which was very
much crowded to hear this eminently gifted divine, and great
has been the disappointment and regret that it was not more
generally known throughout the city and neighbourhood,
th at this first of Christian ministers and apostolic orators
wa. N to occupy a pulpit in our city ; and the question now
eve' ywhere is, " Will he return ?" " Will he make this his
way back from Killarney ?" &c. His text was taken from
the w ord of God, addressed by Paul to the Galatians, Ist ch.
3 and I v.—" Grace be to you, and peace from God the Fa-
ther, ar,,d from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for
our sins,• that he might deliver us from this present evil
world, ac.tording to the will of God and our Father." Upon
this text .the learned divine was, for he could not be other-
wise than t owerful, in the energetic enthusiasm of his de-
scription of that love which induced the Blessed Saviour to
give himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this
present evil world, but also from another and worse world,
to which the ca'.-eless, the profane votaries of this globe are
hastening, and Mat is Hell, amongst whom he classed those
who, he said, would, like the poor deluded Roman Catholics,
make a bargain with God, as if anything they could do would
entitle them to that salvation which can alone be had through
the atoning blood of the Lamb of God, the only mediator
between God and elan—" the man Christ Jesus." We
cannot, in the brief notice of a sermon, which we trust will
never be forgotten by those who heard it, and we know will
not be forgotten by so me—we cannot forbear alluding to
the tenderness, sympathy,. and Christian affection with which
he spoke of this slavish degradation in which the millions of
his poor, suffering and ,deluded Roman Catholic fellow-
countrymen were held by those who call themselves their
spiritual guides, and then the earnestness with which he en-
joined upon his hearers the duty of visiting them, and car-
rying from house to house the message of mercy and salva-
tion through a crucified Saviour, notwithstanding they might
receive the rude repulse, still they are to persevere ; " but at
all events you should pray for them." We wish that every
Roman Catholic, aye and every Protestant in the Kingdom
had heard this sermon ; it would prove to the former how
tenderly they are cared for by this Christian man, whom they
are taught to despise, if not hate and abhor; and it would
still more solemnly impress
upon the latter how far they
come short of that holiness without which no man can see
the Lord. Our readers will not esteem it amiss if we inform
them that the Rev. Hugh M`Neile is son to the late eminent
banker
of that name in Ballycastle, in the county Antrim,
and is married to the fourth daughter of the late Archbishop
Magee, of Dublin ; he has,
been long celebrated as a very
powerful orator, and in England is known by the name of
the Irish Lion amongst the polemic debators ; he is in height
about six feet ; his hair which was black, is now, it may be
said, prematurely gray : no whiskers ; a face without a
wrinkle ; mild, manly, and dignified in his aspect ; his voice
is clear, musical, and distinct, capable of great power of ex-
pansion and compression.—Limerick Chronicle,