The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-06-11 00:00:00

LONDON lIIBERNIA.N SOCIETY.

The Anniversary meeting of the members and friends clam
Liverpool Auxiliary Branch of the London Hibernian So-
ciety was held in the Music-hall on Tuesday. There was
but a very thin attendance.
The Rev. Dr. TATTLISHALL having been called to the
chair, opened the proceedings by stating that they were, it
was true, a small company collected together, but neverthe-
less they might expect, if they looked to God for his grace
and blessing, that both would be bestowed upon them. In
fact, they had the promise that where two or three were
gathered together in Christ's name, He would be in the midst
9f them. Relying on this promise, it well became the meet-
ing to commence the proceedings by asking for that assistance
which God had promised to bestow.
The Rev. Mr. ICKox having offered up an appropriate

prayer,
The CHAIRMAN proceeded to observe that it was generally
expected that a president of a meeting should, at the com-
mencement of its proceedings, offer a few words in explana-
tion of the nature and object for which it had been called to-
gether. Happily this course would be unnecessary in the
present instance, both because the nature and objects of the
society were well known and also because whatever want of
information on those subjects might exist would he supplied
by the speeches of the day. He would, therefore, content
himself by calling on the Rev. Mr. Knox to read the report.
The Rev. Mr. KNOX, previous to proceeding with the re-
port, observed that it was matter of regret that so few were
present at the meeting. Morning meetings had been fre-
quently tried in Liverpool, but they were almost always found
to fail. Those interested in such a cause as the present were
so much engaged in business that they found it impossible to
devate their time to meetings of the kind. The reason why
the present meeting had been held in the morning was simply
because the Music-hall could not be obtained in the evening,
and also because the deputation were unable to remain in
town. He trusted, however, that the support of the society
would not be diminished by any want of numbers at the
meeting. The rev. gentleman then read the report, which
is as follows : _ _ _

" The committee of the Liverpool Auxiliary to the London
Hibernian Society cannot feel satisfied to present their annual
statement of accounts without endeavouring to impress upon
their friends and the public the value of this society, and the
importance of liberally supporting it at this eventful crisis,
when the demand for sound scriptural instruction is greater
than it ever has been. Of all the education societies in ope-
ration there is none so peculiarly suited to accomplish this
work, under the blessing of God, in Ireland. Thirty-six
years experience has clearly proved this. Its simple scrip-
tural system has been pursued in that country with the hap-
piest effect ; honouring God in making his Sacred Word the
basis of the education communicated, it has been specially
honoured of Him, as the means of leading many benighted
souls to the knowledge of the Saviour. Notwithstanding
the moat determined opposition from the priesthood of the
Roman Catholic Church, since its commencement upwards
of five hundred thousand children and adults have been
taught to read the English or Irish languages ; and, during
the past year, there have been 35,000 children of Roman Ca-
tholic parents receiving instruction in the schools. The
number of schools in operation, day, Sunday, and adult, are
9167 containing, of all denominations, 108,805 scholars.

The number of Bibles and Testaments put into circulation
by the instrumentality of the society. since the commence •

ment of its operations, amounts to 445,499. These are facts
which clearly prove its utility, rind loudly call for the cordial
support of all who love the truth. Those who are acquainted
with Ireland must be aware that the first cause of all the
moral evil which abounds in that country is ignorance of the
Word of God. They do err, not knowing the Scriptures.
It is asserted, by those who love darkness rather than light,
and whose aim and interest it is to keep the poor of Ireland
in ignorance of the Scriptures, that they do not desi-e, nor
will they accept, the education offered to them ; but expe-
rience has fully proved the assertion to be false ; they rejoice
in the establishment of schools, readily send their children,
and nothing but the most violent and oppressive persecution
will induce them to withdraw them. The demand for schools
increases every year ; there are at present applications from
120 places ; and the funds are so low, being encumbered
with a heavy debt, that, so far from meeting these demands,
it is feared it will be necessary to abandon some of the schools
already in operation. Can the friends of scriptural education
hear this and not bestir themselves ? So far from allowing
the labours of such a valuable society to languish or be im-
peded, shall they not rather do everything to increase its
operations and efficiency ? Let them remember that the
claims of Ireland on this favoured country for religious
instruction are just, and not less urgent than ever ; still
darkness covers a large proportion of that land, and gross
darkness millions of the people ; still may it be said in the
language of the prophet, Hosea 4 c., 6 v., My people are
destroyed for lack of knowledge.' Never can we hope to see
the evils which now agitate, demoralise, and desolate that
unhappy country effectually removed until the healing waters
of the gospel of salvation flow abundantly throughout it ! As
we have freely received of God in this country, let us freely
give. And while the demands for scriptural education are
numerous, loud, and increasing every year, let each who calls
himself a christian keep before him this valuable christian
motto—' Stedtist, unmoveable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord !' "
The Rev. Mr. CONNOR moved that the report be received
and printed unier the directing of the committee, in order
that it might be generally circulated. He said that he had
seen the working of the Hibernian School Society in Ireland;
it was going forth with the blessing of God upon its exertions;
it was welcomed by the peasantry ; and thousands of children
were being taught through its instrumentality. It was a
mistaken idea to suppose that the Roman catholics of Ireland
were unwilling to read the scriptures. He (Mr. Connor) had
been recently conversing with two Romanists. One of them
told him that he would willingly read the Bible, but that he
was afraid he should get some harm by it. Another said,
after he had read to him out of the Roman catholic version of
the New Testament that there was but one Mediator, " I saw
that ; I observed it when at school ; and I asked my master
what it meant ; whereupon he told me to put it out of my
mind, or else some harm would come upon me." Thus it
was (continued Mr. Connor) that the people were kept from
the fountain of living waters. The Hibernian Society, upon
the other hand, placed the Bible in the hands of the people.
He was sure, therefore, that the meeting would aid such a
society with their prayers, and bid it " God speed."
The Rev.M r. H conies, one of the secretaries of the parent
society, seconded the motion. The London Hibernian Society
had been in existence 36 years, and it was established in
the first instance in order to diffuse scriptural knowledge in
Ireland through the means of establishing schools and circu-
lating the word of God. Its object was not so much to esta-
blish schools as to afford assistance to those who were anxious
to establish them. In places where protestant landlords
assisted, only part of the funds came from the society, its
object being to assist the local patrons of scriptural instruc-
tion in Ireland; supplying the whole of the funds where no
local aid was given, and supplying part of the funds where
local aid rendered assistance. By the adoption of such a
system, great economy was practised. The average cost to
the society of each school amounted to not more than £lO
per annum, while the average cost of each scholar for the
same length of time did not exceed 2s. 61 As long as any
friend of scriptural education contributed £lO to the support
of any particular school he was desirous of establishing, so
long would the society aid in keeping up that school. Many
schools existed in Ireland at the present moment which had
been thus established. The fundamental rule of the society
was, that no assistance should be given to any school wherein
the scripturesiwere not taught. This rule never had been
and never would be compromised. Various difficulties
had been thrown in the way of the society, and various
applications had been made to forego this rule, but it never
had been compromised. (Hear, hear.) The society also re-
quired that every scholar should submit to a quarterly exa-
mination by the inspectors of the society. Every scholar
was examined by the district inspector four times each year,
and the remuneration to the master depended entirely on the
result of such examination. The inspector only " passed"
(to use the customary phrase) those children who had made
that progress which the rule of the society required should
have been made, and this rule applied to scriptural informa-
tion ; so that the roaster could receive no remuneration un-
less the child were instructed in the contents of God's word,
arid had committed to memory such portions of sacred scrip-
ture as were required by the society. It became a matter of
impossibility, therefore, that any child could remain at the
schools without obtaining a competent knowledge of the word
of God. With the view of showing that the blessing of
rested on the society, the rev. gentleman here detailed in-
stances in which whole families had been led to abandon the
idolatrous rites and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church,
and to embrace the pure doctrines of Protestantism, owing to
the instruction communicated in the society's schools. Dur-
ing the past year (he continued to observe) the society had
circulated 21,940 copies of the word of God in Ireland, through
the machinery of its schools. The mode was as follows :
Every child in the schools, who was capable of reading the
scriptures, had a copy of the Bible presented to him or her,
and premiums of large Testaments arid Bibles were offered to
those children who displayed an acquaintance with the sacred
volume. Copies were also presented to the parents of the
children, and others who might be expected to make a proper
use of them ; and in this way the number that he had men-
tioned had been distributed. The children were, moreover,
required to commit certain portions of the word of God to
memory, not at school, but at home ; and often, by the light
of the winter's fireside, they conned their little tasks, and
learned the lesson of eternal life. In this way access was
gained to the parents' heart—by degrees prejudice was sub-
dued, and instances were not wanting in which the parents had
read, the Bible for themselves, and had been converted to
God. He ought not to forget to mention that almost the en-
tire of the uumber of copies of the word of God which had
been Circulated had been gratuitously supplied to the Hiber-
nian Society by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and
that it was to the latter society it looked for aid. The rev.

gent. then proceeded to reply to some of the objections which
had been brought against the Hibernian SPwety, and in par-
ticular to the one raised on account of
employment of
Roman catholic teachers in the schools. 'Lle exhibited a list
to the meeting, containing the names of 339 Roman catholic
teachers, who, from being employed in teaching the Bible in
the schools, were led to renounce the errors of the Roman
catholic church, and to embrace
the
sAo t.
present there were only 42 schools in
connexion
ciety which had Roman catholic masters
over them. At one
time there had been 500, but, by
grace, most of the
masters had become protestants! The rev. gentleman
tat the society was
con-
cluded an interesting speech by stating that
schools in Ireland,
ofi
about to discontinue no fewer than
100
which could be because of a want of funds, not one
dis-
continued without prejudicing the cause of
Protestantism ;
whilst at the same time they had applications for assistance
from no less than 70 others.
The Rev. EDWARD G. TOTTENHAM, of Bath, proposed
the second resolution as follows :—" That this
noineeting are
anxious to express their decided conviction thatsystem of
education can be really beneficial to a people thata n
take for its basis a knowledge of the word of God,
its chief attention to the inculcation of its principles. In
moving this resolution, the rev. gentleman delivered an
speech, in the course of which he dwelt at some length
the so-called " national system of education" in Ireland,n
and upon a recent examination of the teachers in Dub-
lift before the lord-lieutenant, Dr.• Murray, &c. &.., , to_
gether with Dr. Murray's speech and present upon that. oc-
casion.oc: He also read a copy of the following document,
he said was extensively circulated in Cork, in order
to show that the people were in a state of deplorable igno-
rance and
" It is necessary
: laens upon
ablerenotct
the miracles Performed that we should give an account of some of
Performed by the Bev. Father Matthew, who,
by the assist
blind the use of
of his Divine Master, is restoring to the
limbs. He
o°lll their sight, and to the lame the use of their
a benefit by
lays his hand on their eyes, when they re-
ceive
loves God. Yrhoini----the scales fall off, and the poor per-
soncoming from all this pious divine many thousands are
of their hearing,p parts. He has restored to the deaf the use
When he has done and
to
the dumb the use of their speech.
and walk home. Atlso office, the cripples leave their barrows
to their sight, and mone mass seven persons were restored
Those creatures who rat,ny more have found a benefit by him.
to pay; he bestows it f.,(:eive comfort from him have nothing
of May to the 20th of July,
rulhe love of his God. From the 4th
miracles performed by hi y, there have been upwards of 400
commenced curing these n*Since this reverend gentleman
objects from everY part. creatures, one city (Cork) is full of
three o'clock, visiting and He is every day, from twelve to
relieving
long life !" the poor. Pray for his
The rev. gentleman concluded by
moving the resolution.
The Rev. Mr. KNOX secondedcarried. the motion, and it was
The Rev. cHAIRMAN then Pronounced a blessing, and the

---
PROTESTANT BISHOP FOR. MALTA.—It now appears cer-
tain that in the course of another year a Protestant bishop
will be appointed for Malta.—Malta Times.

ARRIVAL O THE " BRITANNIA" MAIL-SHIP.

The Britannia, one of the four royal mail steam-ships
running between this port and Boston and Halifax, arrived
here on Wednesday evening, after a fine passage from Hali-
fax of eleven days and five hours. The almost mail-coach
regularity with which the line of packets to which she be-
longs have hitherto made their ports, both on this and the
other side of the Atlantic, had led the public mind to expect
her on the 28th or 29th of the last month ; and her delay so
long beyond that date—•coupled, as it unjustifiably was, with
the still pending fate of the unfortunate President—had be-
gun to excite considerable anxiety. In common with thou-
sands of our townsmen, who could not from "hope deferred"
entirely divest themselves of some apprehensions of fatality,
we feel heartily gratified that she is again at home, and that
too all safe and sound, having made another splendid passage
from her last port (Halifax), after meeting with an accident
which in all probability would have involved the destruction
of any less seaworthy vessel.

The Britannia started from Boston at her usual time, on
Thursday afternoon the 16th ult., at three o'clock, and pro-
ceeded on her voyage to Halifax, having on board Captain
Boule, whom she had taken on board at the latter port on
her outward voyage, and who is one of the ablest pilots on
that coast, and commander of one of the mail packets thence
to the Bermudas. She arrived off Halifax on the 18th ; but
on entering the outward harbour, in a thick haze, though all
possible precautions were used, she struck a rock over which
thc sea was breaking, at Morris's Point, within three or four
miles of Sombro Island. The accident occcurred about half-
past four in the afternoon. The first and third officers were on
the look out, with most of the crew forward at the time, and
the cry being " breakers a-bead," the engines which were
going at half speed, were instantly stopped and reversed.
She had, however, too much way upon her to be altogether
checked, and touched the rock with her forefoot, causing in-
jury that produced a considerable leak. The alarm, as might
naturally be expected, was great amongst the passengers.
The bell was rung continuously, and guns were fired from
the steamer, which were returned ;from the lighthouse on
Sombro Island, as well as from a local pilot pilot boat which
was looking for the vessel. She was soon backed off, and
when the harbour pilot, after a long delay in the fog, got on
board of her, she was taken up direct to Halifax. On arriv-
ing at the wharf the passengers were landed, and the vessel
was hauled into the dock yard, and lightened of her coals ;
but the tide did not so far leave her as to enable Captain
Clelland to come at the leak, though he endeavoured, by
himself diving, to ascertain the extent and nature of the
damage. It was then determined to proeeed to St.
John's, where it was known better accommodations for re-
pair would be found. The vessel, accordingly—after receiv-
ing a reinforcement of men from the military, and extra
Pumps being provided in case of accidents—proceeded to
that port, a distance of about 350 miles, on Thursday, the
20th. The tide at St. John's rises from 20 to 30 feet, and
at the head of the Bay of Fundy from 40 to 50. Here she
was placed on the gridiron, which no vessel of her length
having ever been at the port. had to be lengthened 15 feet to
receive her. The damage was ascertained to be very incon-
siderable, the fore-foot, or the fore-part of the keel only
being a little shattered. In two tides the whole was made
good, and the Britannia was again " fit for sea," and has
ever since been " as tight as a bottle," not requiring any
further repair here.
At the time the accident happened in the fog, Captain
Clelland and Captain Boule (the pilot) were anxiously look-
ing out, one on one paddle-box and the other on the other ;
and not the slightest blame can be attached to either. The
harbour pilot, who boarded them after groping his way for
an hour and a half, had the advantage of having recently
seen the land, and knowing how it lay. It should also be
noticed, that in addition to the haze, those on board were
perplexed by the sudden and almost inexplicable variation of
the compass, caused by local attraction, and amounting to
upwards of two points in the distance of a mile, as shown in
clear weather by the land.

We may here state all the vessels of Cunard's line are built
of the very best materials, and put together under admiralty
surveyance. They are remarkably strong ; and being autho-
rised in the event of a breakage in their machinery, to get
rid of their coals, if required, so as to put them in train,
they are provided wits extra spars and sails, which will ena-
ble them to compete in sailing, in anything like fair weather,
with the best sailing packet ships afloat.
After a necessary delay of about three days at St. John's,
the Britannia returned to Halifax, where she arrived on the
27th ult., to take up her passengers and receive her comple-
ment of coals. A few of the passengers, as might be sup-
posed, did not come up, owing to the delay, and the change
in their own views ; but an accession of others amply made
up for this deficiency. The whole number who came across
by her was, we learn, 104. They formed an exceedingly
pleasant assemblage, and (including several individuals of
rank, in this country, and many foreigners), were highly
gratified by the conduct and attention of Captain Clelland
and his officers, all of whom both during the trying occasion
related, and the after voyage, did what England expects every
man to do.

On the homeward passage the Brithnnia had generally fa-
vourable weather and a smooth sea—considering the general
anger of the western ocean. The only circumstance that for
a time interrupted the general enjoyment was the death of a
lady on board, who was previously in apparent delicate health.
The funeral was marked by the customary solemnities. The
Britannia, in fine, notwithstanding the accident that delayed
her, has fully borne out the high character of the line to
which she belongs.
" We, the undersigned passengers on board the Britannia,
who have been detained here in consequence of the unfortu-
nate accident which happened to that ship on entering the
harbour of Halifax on the 18th instant, feel much:pleasure
in thus publicly expressing our thanks to Mr. Cunard and
Captain Cleland, not only for their uniform kindness and
courtesy during our detention, but likewise for the efficient
and energetic measures adopted by them to ensure the most
speedy and safe continuation of our voyage, it being our
unanimous opinion, grounded on the most correct data, that
the Caledonia could not have been placed at our disposal
here before this day, even if Mr. Cunard had felt authorised
to order her from Boston, a measure not practicable without
vitiating policies of insurance on bullion, &c., effected on the
Britannia in England."
LIST OF PASSENGERS PER STEAM-SHIP BRITANNIA,
CArT. B. B. CLELAND, FROM BOSTON TO LIVERPOOL.—
General Sir John Harvey, Hon. Lady Harvey, Hon. General
Mercer, Judge Carter and lady, the Right Rev. Bishop of
Charleston, Major Arthur Bowen, Lieut. W. Harvey, Capts.
Nugent, Harvey, Cox, Dixon, Fitzherbert, Agnew, Crutch-
ley, Heale, Fairholme, Child, and Parkinson, Count Voizier,
Messrs. A. Durand, Hartley, G. Murray, G. Colby and
lady, E. Large, A. Ponti, Volontue, P. Poirier, J. Barber,
M. Vandermuhl, Whitwright, W. S. Steil, lady, and female
servant, F. Babcock, W. Bottomly, D. Pope, R. Williams,
Molson, and A. Molson, Rev. W. S. Potts, Messrs. S. G.
Potts, C. Congreve, J. Cushing and son, J. G. Davies, G.
W. Muir, C. Church, Patterson, J. Phillips, J. Van Weede,
J. Bodmer, L. Vodor, A. Rusch, J. Gourley, Schmidt,
Levy, Cranch, Hamilton, J, Shaw, C. Shaw, F. A. H.
Dickson and lady, L. Wyeth, Robertson and servant, W.
McFarlane, C. Kuhl, Valdoz, Kiera, J. Melender, J. P.
Castagna, L. H. Samuel, J. Sabine, R. Wailes, W. A.
Potter, and W. W. Clapp, jun., Mrs. Ogden, Mrs. Ogden,
daughter, governess, child, and female servant, Mrs. Nelms,
Miss M'Carthy, Mrs. James Cushing, Mrs. Gourlay and
two children, Miss Partilow, Miss Molson, Miss Davidson,
Sir J. Harvey's servant, and Lady Harvey's servant.

LETTER FROM THE PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE STEAM-

SHIP BRITANNIA, TO CAPTAIN B. B. CLELAND.
On Board Steam Ship Britannia,
ODff. Liverpool,ir 21
1811.
CAPTAIN- B. B. cLELAN —Dea Sir,—We, the under-
signed passengers on board the Britannia, on her present
voyage from Boston to this port, protracted by touching the
rocks on entering Halifax harbour in a fog while in charge o
a pilot, have much pleasure in testifying to your coolness,
decision, and intrepidity in the hour of danger, to your ge-
neral assiduity and attention to the duties of your station,
and uniform courtesy and urbanity.
As a token of the high estimation in which we hold you as
a seaman and a gentleman, we beg your acceptance of the
accompanying gold chronometer, with our cordial wishes for
your health and prosperity.
JonN, Bishop of Charleston,
The Hon. General Mr.:Reza,
. W. S. STEEL, Committee on behalf
T. H. Bonds n, of the passengers.
L. H. SAMUEL,
Count VOIZIER,