The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-03-20 00:00:00

EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY.

The late fine weather has been extremely favourable to the
contractors on this line. They have greatly increased the
ratio of their earth and mason work ; and, as they may
calculate on little interruption from the weather for the next
six months, this undertaking will be,greatly advanced before
next winter. The whole line-46 miles—is now contracted
for ; the last 81 miles have just been let, 41of them to Mr.
M'Naughtan, an extensive contractor on the Ayrshire line,
and 31 miles to Mr. Evans, already a- contractor for the 3
miles nearest to Edinburgh, forming miles continuously.
Mr. Evans is also a contractor of experience, having been
much employed' on the English Railroads. The letting
of these contracts confirms the statement made at the
last meeting of the -proprietors, respecting the moderate cost
of forming the line ; sod, conjoined with the saving on
the contracts for rails, which will arise from the fall on
iron, strengthens the expe,qation which the Directors slated
at a former meeting, that toe line will be executed and opened
with the means provided by the act. The public are begin-
ning to speculate on the social and commercial changes which
will be effected by immediate proximity of two such large
cities as Edinburgh and Glasgow, and of the alterations which
the railway will occasion in the communications between the
east and west coasts of Scotland, which will be connected be
it. It is difficult to estimate the influence which it will ex-
ercise on so large a population as will feel its benefits ; but,
judging from the extraordinary effects of railways elsewhere
and keeping in view that both the Ayrshire and Greenock
Railway will be'tributary to the Edinburgh and Glasgow, (it
reciprocating the benefits,) the iniinence must be great and
beneficial. The Counties of Lanark, Ayr, Renfrew' Dam-
barton, Stirling, and two of the Lothians, will thus be per-
meated, affording a new channel for the rapid transit of their
people, and of the produce of their iin:ustry ; and, developing
the energies, the wealth, and the enterprise of the principal
counties of Scotland.

At the present period there are upwards of 10,000 persona
landing every week at the Trinity Chain pier from all parts
of England, Ireland, and the Eastern Counties of Scotland,
btit what may not that intercourse be increased to, when the
tunnel of the Edinburgh, Leith, and Newhaven Railway
under the new town of Edinburgh is completed, which will
thus communicate with the Firt.h of Forth, and form the
connecting link of all the above railways.
The immense intercourse that has taken place between the
towns of Ayr and Irvine, since the partial opening of the
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Ayr Railway between
these places on the sth August last, evidently proves the dis-
position on the part of the inhabitants of Scotland to avail
themselves of this rapid mode of travelling, being a great sav-
ing of time and also of expense. The number of persons
who have travelled this short distance of only 104- miles, up
to the present time, exceeds 62,000, being equal to six times
the number calculated upon in the parliamentary estiinates.
On Monday the 25th March, a further portion of the railway
will be opened to the manufacturing town of Kilwiuuing,
and in the month of August this year the Ayrshire line will
be completed to Glasgow.
The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway will be opened in
the autumn of 1841, at which time the tunnel under the new
town of Edinburgh will also be accomplished, and the whole
communication complete.

P.S.—Any inforniation will be given by applying at No.
10, Exchange Alley, Liverpool.
RICHARD DAWSON, Agent.

CORRESPONDENCE

THE EXCHANGE NEWSROOM.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Stu,—l have observed for some time past a practice ('and
a growing one) in the Exehange Newsroom, adopted by
some of the subscribers, in possessing- ticmselves or two, and
in some cases three several papers, and of course they are
always late editions of either the London or our Liverpool
papers. lam sure no comment is necessary, but hope you
will notice a practice so nn.-;entlemanly and villainously
t a tCw

selfish.

more c
taken,

)le, tc

is true that one copy or t

stand, but the readers are those who wish to read the inside.
Please suggest that one or more copies of the advertisements
of the Times, Chronicle, Post, &c., be placed on a stand, for
the use of those who wish to see both sides.—Yours,
A SUBSCRIBER.

BRANDY AND SALT MINISTRY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—It seems that our ingenious Whig ministry, ever
ready to catch at a new plan for raising the wind, have
availed themselves of your late valuable hints respecting
Brandy and Salt, and taking it for granted that it will cure
a deficiency in the revenue, as well as every other complaint
of the constitution, have determined to follow up the sugges-

tions, by taking the duty off Brandy and putting it on Salt,
in order that they may be taken in large doses combined,
with a full expectation of witnessing the most happy results.
Trusting that as well as a nation's thanks for your seasonable
suggestions, you may receive the spirited support of our
sagacious rulers.—Yours, &c.

BRANDY AND SALT.

THEOLOGICAL PARADOX.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—It was but yesterday that my attention was drawn
to a letter in the Liverpool Mercury of the 21st February,
bearing the signature of " R. R.," and dated Manchester,
Jan. 31, 1840, the writer of which professes to be " a lec-
turer on poetry, and a humble votary of the muse." The
article is headed, " Critical Remarks on a recent Poem ;:'

and its object is, •4 the following passage, in a short poem by
the Rev. J. Raffles, LL.D.,' which it states " has been
going the round of the papers :—"
" To die to the world end to sin,
To earth with its turmoil and care;
To look on the glories unseen,
And live as eternity's heir."
The critique upon the passage points to the words in ita-
lics, and the criticising' lecturer asks, " How can he look on
what he acknowledges to he unseen"'
I confess, Sir, I am quite surprised at the gross ignorance
and destitution of poetical taste which.this criticism betrays
in its censuring author. s Had he only turned to St. Paul's
second Epistle to the Church at Corinth, chap. iv. ver. IS,
he might have there read--" While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.." This
is evidently the passage in the inspired volume which Dr.
Raffles had in his eye while writing the stanza in question ;,
and it not only fully justifies the sentiment, and acquits it of
all " solecism," hut is one of the most accurate, as well as
sublime expressions of any which adorn the inimitable writ-
ings Of that holy and illUstriOus Apostle.
In hiS apologetic explanation of the apparent " solecism,"
the Editbr of the Mercury assumes that Dr. Raffles intended
the vision of the unseen. objects to be the revelation of future
glory in another and a better world, as embraced by hope
rather than by sight. It is very possible that this idea might
have been connected with the Doctor's views, as expressecl

in the lines under consideration, but the allusion is evidently
to present experience, and to the actual enjoyment in this
world- of the blessing described, and desired. This, the
Apostle's language above alluded to," fully justifies and re-
quires ; it runs thus—speaking of the afflictions to which the
profession of Christianity exposed its early converts, and the
consolatory prospects of a future, and " far more exceeding,
and eternal weight of glory," which awaited the•nm in the
kingdom of their God and Saviour, St. Paul directs their at-
tention to that glory as a special object of their spiritual
vision, although invisible to their corporeal eye; he says,
" While we look net at the things which are seen, but at the
things which are not seen :" and the reason which the
Apostle assigns for this distinction and preference is—" For
the things which are seen are teniporal; but the things which
are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor. iv. 18.)
Yet it is at those very things, " which are not seen," that
St. Paul exhorts the Church at Corinth to " look" with a
steadfast and unwavering eye! The language adopted by Dr.
Raffles is therefore precisely that of the Apostle Paul, whom
I should hope Mr. It. R. would hardly venture to accuse of
a grammatical solecism while describir, the glories of the in-
visible world, as the objects of presenCvision. To explain,
however, this apparent paradox, it is necessary to recognise
the co-existence of two natures in man—the one corporeal,
and possessing senses corresponding with the material world
which we now inhabit; the other spiritual, and also possess-
ing senses, which are adapted to the contemplation of those
things which belong, exclusively, to that spiritual world to
which we are all hastening. It is by the light of eternity
beaming upon what the same Apostle calls " the eyes of the
understanding" (Ephes. i. 18), through the medium of divine
revelation, that the realities of the invisible world are clearly
perceptible by the human mind, which thus takes, if I may
be allowed the figure, a telescopic view of the things which
are totally invisible to the eyes of the body.

PerhapS one of the finest illustrations of this sublime sub-
ject to be found in human language will appear in the follow-
ing beautiful lines, by a truly evangelical poet:—
" The things unknown to feeble sense,
Unseen by reason's glimmering ray,
With strong commanding evidence,
Their heavenly origin display:
Faith lends its realising light,
The clouds disperse, the shadows fly ;
Th' invisible appears in sight, •
And GOD is seen by mortal eye !"
(Wesleyan Hymns, No. 95.)
What, I as':, Sir, but the most pitiful iznorance and desti-
tution of true poetical taste, could induce the cold. pedantic,
and, I had almost said, contemptible criticis •.11 would

by te

attempt the censure of this noble sentime:, ~ng us,
what every school-boy knows, that an invLible object cannot
be seen !" It is this very fact, which is illiNtlly tree, that
constitutes the peculiar glory, and exquisite sublimity of the
admirable passage in question, the production of that faith
which, in its glorious omnipotence, soaring far beyond the
boundaries of human power,
" Laughs at impossibilities, and cries,
It shall be done!"
I am, Sir, most respecfully, yours,
S. Tuck En.
Sutton, near Prescot, 15th March, 1840.

ANCIENT CoNcimrs.—His Royal Highness Prince Albert
has consented to become a director of the Queen's Concerts
of Ancient Music : the other directors are the King cf Ha-
nover, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Wellington, the
Archbishop of York, Earl Fortescue, Earl Howe, and Lord
Burghersh.

THE LANCASTER AND PRESTON RAILWAY.—This work
is making capital progress. The fine weather of the past few
weeks has enabled the contractors to get on beyond their
expectations, and we believe there is no doubt whatever that
the line will be open at the appointed time in June next.—
Lancaster Gazette.
CHURCH ACCOMMODATION FOR THE SOLDI Ern' AT
WINDSOR.—The soldiers at present quartered at Windsor
amount to 2,000, and for this vast number of persons there
is no church or chapel of any description. The only reli-
gious service they can attend, is one which lasts about ten
minutes, at eight o'clock in the morning, which is performed,
winter and summer, in the open court-yard: As there are
two barracks, the service is performed once a fortnight at
each. In the parish church and chapels of ease there is no
room for the soldiery, and they, consequently, never have
the advantage of hearing the word of God preached. A very
short time since £70,000 was voted by parliament for build-
ing stables at Windsor, and this while the soldiers attending
on royalty have no place of religious worship. Are they to
attend the projected Popish chapel ?—ilforning Herald.
DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—Nothing is yet finally decided
upon as to the re-opening of this house. Two or three par-
ties are spoken of as anxious to wear the perilous honours of
management; and an operatic company, it is said, is ready
to take the field. The demands of the committee in the
matter of rent are, as they should be, moderate.
ELOPEMENT.—BRIGHTON, MARCH 17.—The universal
theme of conversation here to-day, has been the reported
elopement of the wife of Captain Heaviside, of Brunswick-
square, a magistrate for the county, with Dr. Dionysius
Lardner, the popular lecturer on the steam-engine,
&c., and
railway experimentalist. Immediately on the unhappy hus-
band discovering his dishonour, he' set off in pursuit of the
fugitives, accompanied by Mr. T. N. Wigney. We hear
•
the frail pair were traced to London, whence they had sailed
for Ostend, whither the pursuers have followed. Mrs.
Heaviside is a most elegant woman, somewhere about 30
years of age, and, we regret to add, is the mother of three
children.—Evening paper. [We always thought Dr. Lardner
a very foolish person, but he has
at last met with a person
more foolish than himself. So true is the observation of
Boileau—
. "Un sot trouvc toujours un plus sot qui l'admire.]

U-