The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-11-19 00:00:00

THE REV

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Rev. Mr. Whitfield

HUGH M'NEILE'S LECTURE ON

THE LIFE OF DR. FRANKLIN

On Wednesday evening the Rev. Hugh IVl`Neile de-
livered a lecture in the Royal Amphitheatre, Great
Charlotte-street, on "The Life . and Character of Dr.
Franklin," in behalf of the Printers' Pension Society
in London. The circumstances under which the re-
verend gentleman consented to lecture upon a subject
at once so novel and interesting are explained in the
course of the report. Too much credit cannot he given
to him for the promptitude with which he acceded to
the request made to him to appear before the public
upon such a topic.
The announcement of the lecture, as soon as it ap-
peared, caused great excitement, and the demand for
tickets soon became universal. In fact, had the place
been able to accommodate double the number, all the
tickets would have been disposed of.
At seven o'clock, half an hour after the opening of the
doors, the house was densely filled in every part with a highly
respectable auditory, including a considerable number of
American gentlemen. The stage was appropriately and
tastefully decorated with the national flags of England and
America. Over the proscenium, on the right, was appended
a large British ensign, and on the left the American—the
two conjoined in the centre. Other colours, including the
British Union Jack, the American flag, and broad pendants
of both countries, were also displayed at the back and
from the side scenes. The stage was enclosed and carpeted,
and a number of reserved seats thereon were appropriated
to a limited and select number of ladies and gentlemen.
Each box was in charge of one gentleman, who was distin-
guished by a white' badge, and who rendered every facility
which lay in their power in providing the public with seats.
The equestrian circle was made to form part of the pit, and
was well furnished with seats. The galleries were entirely
thrown open, and formed one immense semi-circle, including
all the seats above the boxes. No person was admitted to
the lecture without a ticket under any pretence whatever,
and a body of police was present for the double purpose of
enforcing the regulations of the committee, and of affording
every possible comfort to the audience. The identical
printing press at which' Dr. Franklin worked in London as
a journeyman in the year 1725-6 (which for the last three
weeks has been gratuitously exhibited to the public by John
B. Murray, Esq., of New. York, prior to its being taken to
America, and deposited with the Philosophical Society of
Philadelphia,) was placed upon the right of the stage, and
excited general attention. It was worked for some time
before the lecture commenced under the superindendence of
Mitchell, Heaton, and Mitchell, of Duke-street, and im-
pressions of a verbatim copy of a letter written by Dr.
Franklin to the Rev. George Whitfield, copied by the afore-
said Mr. Murray from the original which is in the extensive
and valuable collection of autographs belonging to the Rev.
Dr. Raffles, were supplied to the audience. The copy was
taken on the table which once belonged to Lord Byron, and
accompanied him in his travels, (being made to fold up and
lie in the imperial of his travelling carriage;) and on which
there is every reason to believe he wrote the poem of
" Childe Harold." The table is now the property of Dr.
Raffles. The following is a copy_ of the letter referred to :

". New York, July 2, 1756

_
" Dear Sir,—l received your favour of the 24th of February
with great Pleasure, as it inform 'd me of your Welfare, and
express'd your continu'd Regard for me. I thank you for
the Pamphlet you enclos'd to me. As we had just observ'd
a Provincial Fast on the same Occasion, I thought it very
seasonable to be publish'd in Pensilvania, and accordingly
reprinted it immediately.
" You mention your frequent Wish that you were a Chap-
lain to an American Army. I sometimes wish that you and
I were jointly employed by the Crown, to settle a Colony on
the Ohio. I imagine we could do it effectually, & without
putting the Nation to much Expence. But I fear we shall
never be called upon for such a Service. What a glorious
thing it would be, to settle in that fine Country a large
Strong Body of Religious and Industrious People ! What
a security to the other Colonies; and Advantage to Britain,
by Increasing her People, Territory, Strength and Commerce.
:Might it not greatly facilitate the Introduction of pure Reli-
gion among the Heathen, if we could by such a Colony
shew them a better Sample of Christians than they
commonly see in our Indian Traders, the most vicious and
abandoned Wretches of our nation? Life, like a dramatic
Piece, should not only be conducted with Regularity, but,
methinks, it should finish handsomely. Being now in the
last Act. I begin to cast about for something fit to end with.
Or if mine be more properly compared to an Epigram, as
some of its first Lines are but barely tolerable, 1 am very
desirous of concluding w!th a bright Point.—ln such an
Enterprize I could spend the remainder of Life with Plea-
sure; and I firmly believe God would bless us with success,
if we undertook it with a sincere Regard to his Honour, the
service of our gracious King, and (which is the same thing)
the Public Good.

" I thank you cordially for your generous Benefaction to
the German Schools. They go on pretty well, and will do
better, when Mr. Smith, who has at present the principal
Care of them, shall learn to mind Party-Writing & Party
Politicks less, and his proper Business more ; which I hope
Time will bring about.
" I thank you for your good Wishes and Prayers, and am,
with the greatest Esteem and Affection, Dear Sir,

"Your most obedient humble Servant,
" B. FRANKLIN."

John Shaw Leigh, Esq., Mayor of Liverpool, accompanied
by James Aspinall, Esq., Christopher Bushell, Esq., and
many other members of the corporation, took his seat on the
platform, about a quarter past seven, amidst general and
protracted cheering. There were also present near the
mayor, John Moss, Esq., Samuel Sandbach, Esq., the Rev.
F. Parry, the Rev. F. Ould, the Rev. D. James, &c., &c.
The rev. lecturer on taking his seat was greeted with many
rounds of applause. Exactly at half-past seven he rose and
delivered the following