The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-01-13 00:00:00

COLONIAL CHURCH SOCIETY.

A meeting in aid of the Liverpool Colonial Church
Society was held in the Music Hall, last night, and at-
tended by a considerable number of the friends of the
object in view. The society was represented by a depu-
tation consisting of the Hon and Rev. Baptist Noel, and
the Rev. Samuel Merrick. The Rev. D. Tattershall was
called to the chair, and around him we noticed a large
body of the local clergy. The proceedings were opened
by prayer, after which,
The CHAIRMAN said that he ought to apologize for
having been some few minutes beyond the time ; fur he
had had to attend to another meeting on another subject,
from which he had just come. This would serve as an
additional reason for his not detaining them long. He
was happy to be amongst them on such an occasion,
and to take part with them in prosecuting the ob-
ject in view. He was not so well acquainted with the
operations of the society as many of them around him,
and he would leave it to them to enter into details. But
he firmly believed the society was one well worthy of the
support of the Christian community. It proceeded dis-
tinctly on Church of England principles; and it must be
added, that it maintained no missionaries abroad, but such
as were guided by the doctrines of that church.
The Rev. A. NPComeEr then read the report. It
stated that the object of the society was to send out
clergymen, catechists, and schoolmasters to the colonies
of Great Britain, and to British residents in other parts
of the world, where they were surrounded by the Heathen
aborigines. It did not pass over in silence the efforts of
dissenting bodies. It acknowledged their efforts, and
prayed a blessing upon them. It was a rival to none. It
was one of the conditions of its constitution to place no
missionary in any part where there was a faithful mis-
sionary already of any denomination. It was, therefore,
a Church Pastoral Aid Society for Foreign parts. Its
constitution, too, was similar as well as its object, as the
members sent abroad were subject in all matters eccle-
siastical to the Colonial Bishop, and where there was
none to the Bishop of London. The report then set forth
the claims of the society, not only in promoting religion
amongst the present aCult settlers abroad, but in inducing
them to impart religious education to the rising genera.
tion. The colonies were linked to us by every tie—the
tie of worldly interest—the tie of natural affection, and
the tie of natural responsibility. The society looked also
to operations on foreign coasts and in foreign stations. It
stated, in conclusion, that a deputation from the present
society would bring the facts more fully before the meet-
ing, and expressed gratitude to the clergymen who had
kindly come forward with collections in their churches for
preaching in behalf of' the society.
The Rev. W. W. EWBANK on rising to propose the
first resolution was received with warm approbation. He
commenced by directing the attention of the meeting to
the object and institution of the Colonial Church Society.
The report which had been drawn up by his Rev. friend
Mr. M'Conkey, had in a neat and terse manner described
its objects, namely, that it was not only for the benefit of
our countrymen in the colonies, but also in all parts of
the world. He had himself experienced the advantages
of it in the course of his travels in several parts ofEurope,
when it had been his privilege to attend places of worship
where clergymen were partly supported by the Society.
(Hear, heat.) Many Englishmen had to travel in foreign
parts and were obliged to mix with persons in towns where
they happened to be located. It was, therefore, of the
utmost importance that they should have the benefit of
those ordinances which they enjoyed at home. (Cheers.)
But the great field of the society's labours respected emi-
grants from their father-land. Towards them it looked
with especial favour. It was not of their own free-will
that they turned their backs on England, and all the com-
forts of home : stern necessity compelled them to seek
their bread in some other land. There, probably, they
found an utter absence of real religion. Their children,
who had been baptised into the Church of Christ, grew
up almost heathens, and there called for their especial
attention. (Hear, hear.) The rev. gentleman then drew
attention to the state of our penal settlements. It was
in the year 1787, at the close of the American war, that
the government determined to found on the other side of
the earth the great colony of New South Wales. In that
year 1030 settlers were sent out, about 600 of whom were
convicts. Now it would scarcely be believed, yet such
was the fact, that the government of this land were about
to send out there 1030 people without a single clergyman.
However, owing to the interference of the late >lr. Wil-
berforce, with the Prime Minister (Mr. Pitt), it was
agreed to send out one clergyman, but no church was then
built, and for seven years afterwards no addition whatever
was made. (Hear, hear.) The reverend gentleman then
read a extract from a convict, who stated that he had been
fourteen years in a re al settlement without those means
of spiritual instruction which had been afforded to him
in prison in England. He, therefore, urged upon the
meeting, that as all large towns contributed most to the
number of convicts in the penal settlements, it was the
duty of the inhabitants of such towns to assist the society
in furnishing spiritual instruction to such ouncasts.
(Applause.) As regarded other portions of the world too,
where British vessels visited their shores for the purpose
of trade, they did not find them destitute of inhabitants,
but teeming with people. England had suit to almost
every portion of the world for the earth's luxuries, and
what had Englishmen done it i return ? Wherever they
had mixed with the aborigines, they had spread disorder,
vice, and disease, and gradually the original inhabithants
had disappeared. (Cheers, and cries of hear, hear.)
In confirmation of this the reverend gentleman read an
extract from the evidence given by Captain Buckham be-
fore parliament some time ago, in. which he stated that he
had seen a male and female in a remote part of the island
of Newfounaland shot by Englishmen, and these were
said to be the last remaining pair of the ancient inhabi-
tants of that co'ony. (Hear, hear.) The Rev. gentleman
then referred to the constitution of the society, which he
declared to be as good as could well be expected in our
present imperfect state, and to the questions put by the
society to those who become pastors under it. One of
these questions was, " What eminent theologian do you
most coincide with ?" Now, if any one should reply that
he agreed with Archbishop Laud, he would at once say,
" You won't do for us ;" but if he said he agreed with
Thomas Scott or Matthew Henry, although he did not
altogether agree with them in everything, yet he would be
a fitting person for the agent of the society. (Cheers.) The
Rev. gentleman then urged the meeting to more strenuous
exertion in behalf of the spread of the gospel. He knew of
nothing to prevent the whole world from being evangelized
except the supineness of Christians. There was certainly
nothing in scripture which forbade such a consummation,
and the fault that it was not so rested upon man and upon
man only. (Hear, hear.) The Christian Church had
not done its duty, and therefore he trusted all would go
on increasing in earnestness and diligence in the good
cause. The Rev. Gentleman concluded with moving the
following resolutions :—" That the report now received
be adopted with those feelings of thankfulness to Al-
mighty God for the establishment of an auxiliary in Li-
verpool, which the objects, constitution, and operations
of the Colonial Church Society seem to demand from us,
and with hopeful prayer that He will make the institution
prosper by His blessing." (Cheers.)
The Rev. S. MERRICK rose to second the motion. It
would not be necessary for him to enter at any length into
details as, to what were the objects of the Society, or what
its constitution. They had been clearly detailed in the
report, and fully develoved in the speech of his rev.
friend, Mr. Ewbank, who had just sat down. He would,
however, add a few words in confirmation of the object of
the Society. The rev. gentleman then referred to its
operations in New South Wales. He had lately conversed
with the supreme judge of Port Phillip, and he found in a
country 6do miles long and 200 broad, containing not less
than 32,000 inhabitants, there were at this hour no more
than two ministers, and a similar destitution existed in all
our colonies. Great improvement, however, was to be
observed when an English clergyman had been established.
In proof of this he read a number of exceedingly interest-
ing extracts from the publications of the Society, and of
letters from its agents abroad. Ili Nova Scotia, he said,
through the instrumentality of a single scripture reader
no less than nine congregations had been formed during
the past year, composed of from 40 to 150 persons each.
(Loud cheers.)
The resolution being put from the chair, was carried
unanirr ou ly.
The Rev. F. PARRY rose to propose the first resolution,
and in doing so, said he thought he should beet serve the
interests of the society by abstaining from occupying the
time of the meeting with any observations of his own,
further than by saying it had his hearty approval and most
cordial support, as he knew they were all impatient to
hear a reverend gentleman who, after the labour s of the
previous day, had travelled all the way from the metro-
polis to advocate its claims—one whom they would all
listen to with delight, and whose praise was in all the
churches. (Loud cheers.) He therefore concluded with
proposing, " That considering the intimate connexion
which trade and emigration has established between Li-
verpool and the colonies, we recognise the strong claims
which the society has upon this community, and more
particularly on the members of the Established Church."
(Loud cheers.)
The Rev. It. DAVIES, in seconding the motion, said,
after it had been put a collection would be made in bebalt
of the society. (Cheers.)
The resolution having been put from the chair, was
unanimously adopted.
A collection was then made, during which the meeting
sung the 117th Psalm.
The Hon. and Rev. BAPTIST NOEL next came forward
amidst bond cheers, and proposed the committee and
officers of the Society for the ensuing year. Ile coin-
menced by stating that as he felt great interest in the pro-
gress of the Society, which seemed to him calculated
under the divine blessing to be of most important use in
cur extensive colonies, and calculated to bring many souls
to everlasting glory, he begged, in moving the resolution,
to express his hearty thanks to the gentlemen who had
enrolled their names among its officers and particularly
to his rev. friend Mr. M'Neile whose presence he
should have been glad to enjoy, and those members of the
society who had, by their a'tendan c, t Stifled their conti-
nued friendly interest in its • welfare. It was not as a
mere matter of form that he appeared to move this resolu-
tion ; but he felt sincerely thankful that God had put it
into the hearts of so many persons in this important town
to promote a cause with which his glory and the good of
our fellow creatures in the British colonies was in a great
degree connected. The meeting bad heard a great deal
to-night of the operatior a of the society—that they
were extended to our countrymen everywhere—to
those who were resident in foreign countries under
foreign dominion as well as those in our own colonies. The
important influence which the subjects of a country like
ours were calculated to exercise, for good or for evil must
be obvious. The numbers settled in such a place as
Smyrna, under the dominion of the Turkish empire, would
necessarily exercise a most important influence, for evil,
or for good, among the motley population:by which they
were there surrounded. Not to speak of the influence
which Mahometanism and Asiatic habits of life must ex-

ercise upon our countrymen themselves, let us realize
how a few persons, professedly our fellow Christians might
influence those who looked upon Christ with hatred.
If they were unworthy of the name of his followers, if
they lived in the vices which degraded the debased po-
pulation around them, careless of all religious duties, and
unmindful of eternity, they must confirm the hatred and
contempt which the Turk felt for the Christian name ;
but, on the other hand, let them be religious men, walk-
ing in the fear of God, fulfilling, with blameless integrity,
the various social relations of life, living as for eternity,
holding up His banner as a sign they bad become of the
band of his faithful soldiers, and inviting all around them,

—the lai.sed Orlentalichurches as well as Mahometans—
to receive the truths which they adorned. We might
readily imagine the influence exercised by our countrymen
settled in the Greek:islands, in the neighbourhood of a
rapidly rising and important kingdom, just rescued from
the thraldom of the Turk, which had been debased for
centuries, and was now springing forward with rapidity
and order to an acquaintance with literature, to a revival
of her own magnificent language, and to a rivalry of the
other nations of Europe in all that constitutes the
civilization and prosperity of society (cheers). Our
countrymen in the lonian Islands, if marked by religion,
might teach to the population of those islands in connec-
tion with the British crown, and holding very close
relationship with the Greek kingdom, they might shew to
them the spirit of the evangelical doctrines which they
had received ; whereas if they were living in wordliness,
folly, and carelessness of their souls, then they must con-
firm the Greek in his persuasion that we are ignorant
heretics, and that they alone have the truth which con-
stitutes the Church of Christ, and marks them as
the favourites of heaven. We might realise the same facts
with regard to many hundred of our fellow-countrymen,
whom different circumstances had led to live in the in.
viting clime of Italy. Placed among Roman Catholics,
who were so ignorant as to suppose that Protestantism
was not Christianity, and that it was only another name
for universal scepticism, if our countrymen there lived
without the worship of God, without the love of it, with-
out anything to mark a religious and serious people, if
they neglected to manifest the signs of conversion with
God by zeal among their neighbours and a holy life, then
would the Italians be .c,nfirined in those prejudices to
which they viewed a faithsuperior to their own,bywhichthey
were still held in the chains of superstition ; whereas, if
they saw our countrymen living under faithful ministers
of Christ, reading the Bible in their families, and mani-
festing by their blameless life the effect which truth had
upon their consciences and hearts—then, Italy, the seat
of the most determined enmity to evangelical truth,
though to a great extent enlightened, would be rendered
curious respecting the faith that we in this country pro-
fessed. Our relations with France were increasingly in-
teresting. That nation, similar to our own, was a
constitutional monarchy. That nation, like our own, had
attained civil and religious liberty to a great extent; but
Catholic as the French were, they were disposed to view
our religion with prejudice, and having been for ages,
alas, our rivals in arts and arms, they were disposed to
view with equal prejudice our progress as a nation in pros-
perity. Now let our countrymen be marked by a want
of integrity, a want of temperance and sobriety; by the
want of anything which honoured a nation or the
Christian name, and he could easily understand how
the direst prejudices of Frenchmen against the English
name and nation were confirmed, and how they were led to
suppose that the ford of religion which they had embraced
was in every respect superior to our own, if they were not
led to a more melancholy conclusion. for there were num-
bers of them who, throwing off the shackles of supersti-
tion that bound them together, might think there was
nothing better for man than a dreary and cheerless
atheism till he sank into the grave to be forgotten.
This being the influence for good or evil which our
countrymen migh exercise in foreign lands it seemed s,,me-
what strange.considering the numerous institutions which
Christian benevolence had founded in this country of late
years, their moral condition should have been so completely
overlooked ; but this society had been permitted, in some
little degree, to mitigate the evil which had been felt from
the want of instruction among our countrymen abroad.
Sometimes it had been permitted to send out an assistant-
chaplain to one of those stations, a faithful man, as at
Smyrna ; sometimes by a concurrence of circum-
stances it hae, been led to establish a faithful minister
where there was none before—which was the case at
Corfu •, sometimes the influence of the society by a small
contribution might serve to sustain a man in his labours,
which had happened to Mr. Robins at Pisa, and the con-
sequence was that two more chapels had been erected, one
at Pisa, and the other at Lucca. And at Florence, which
before was in very different hands, a successor had been
r pplied to the preacher there who was faithful and enlighten
But the case was even stronger in our colonies. These
colonies were the peculiar and by far the the larger sphere
of action which the society had, in the providence of God
been led to choose. Mr. Noel then went over the labours
of the society's agents in different colonies, and he con-
cluded by explaining the principles on which the agents
were sent out, and the means taken to secure none bu
faithful, devout, and godly man for that important ser-
vice.

The Rev. Mr. HAMPTON then addressed the meeting,
and after an excellent address from the chairman, the as-
sembly separated.

THE LATE INQUEST AT TH E HARRINGTON

WATERWORKS.

The law of " crowner's quest" is proverbially a kind of
commodity not learnt in the schools, and having more of
"glorious uncertainty" about it than any other law. We
have scarcely been surprised, therefore, at the two oppo-
site verdicts recently returned by two juries, sitting under
the same coroner, upon the same case. We refer, of
course, to the inquiry into the cause of the bursting of the
Harrington Company's tank, in Rock-street, which one
jury declared to be accidental, whilst another has just re-
turned a verdict of " manslaughter" against the foreman
of the works at which the tank in question was con-
structed. _ _

At the risk of encountering some amount of odium by
interposing between the party against whom this latter is
levelled, and the popular animosity, which has, unreflect-
ingly, we think, as is usual in such cases, set in strongly
against some one, no matter whom, so long as punishment
is inflicted, we must interpose a few remarks upon the
subject. We cannot conceive on what grounds Mr.
Howell is attainted by the verdict as guilty of so weighty
a crime. It is certainly against all the evidence adduced,
both on engineering and legal grounds. Mr. Grantham's
evidence, given at the first inquest, and repeated at the
second, fully met the views of the engineers examined on
that occasion. There were no new facts elicited, and,
above all, there was not a shadow of evidence to prove,
what is the necessary legal ground of a verdict of man-
slaughter, that either criminal negligence or incapacity of
any kind could he traced to the unfortunate accused.
A jury of his country, however, will, we trust, more
justly and sensibly regard the case.

The subject of this evening's lecture at St. Andrew's
Church is " Growth in grace."
No fewer than 55,577 persons emigrated from this port
during the past year.
On Wednesday evening, something went wrong with
the boiler of the Medina steamer on her outward passage
from this port to Dublin, and her engines being affected
thereby, she had to put back,
On Sunday morning last, after a sermon by the Rev.
J. R. Connor, the sum of £25 was collected at St. Bar-
nabas Church, in aid of the fund for erecting the new
church for St. Simon's district.
VESSELS FROM THE COTTON PORTS.—Abstract from
Mr. Court's book of the number of vessels cleared at the
following ports for Liverpol, not yet arrived. Latest
dates—Dec. 11, New Orleans, 3 vessels ; Dec. 12, Mobile,
4 ; Dec. 17, Charleston, 3 : Dec. 15, Savannah, none.
Total 10.
STEALING FROM A WAREHOUSE.—Yesterday a carter,
named John Williams, whose case had previously been
before Mr. Rushton, was again brought up ; and further
evidence being given, he was committed for trial at the
sessions. The charge was. that he had carried off in his
cart from a warehouse in Stanley-street one tierce and
and two bags of coffee.
BROTHERLY LOVE.—The Rev. J. H. Stewart's sermon
on this subject is now ready. The chief point which the
reverend gentleman has endeavoured to establish is, the
duty of Christians generally to promote, as much as pos-
sible, obedience to the commandment of the Saviour, to
" love one another," whilst he also presses on the reader's
attention the more prominent characteristics of this Chris-
tian grace.
RESTITUTION.--Mr. J. Rolls, who was dismissed,
nearly three years since, by the Commissioners of Cus-
toms, for the alleged concealment of an overture made to
him to defraud the revenue, has been restored, by order
of the Lords of the Treasury, to his former situation of
landing-waiter, and all an ears of salary, amounting to
£l,OOO are to be paid to him.
STEALING A WATCH.—An abandoned woman named
Mary Fleming was yesterday committed for trial for rob-
bing a man of his watch in the neighbourhood of Everton
Crescent, on Saturday night. The watch was not on her
person when she was given in charge, but was afterwards
found by a police-officer, hid in the area of a house in
Salisbury street.

STEALING A CHEESE.—Yesterday, at the police-court,
two men, Samuel Wilson and John Skerratt, were brought
before Mr. Rushton, charged with stealing a cheese. On
Friday night a police-officer observed the prisoners hur-
rying along, one of them with a cheese on his head. He
followed them, and seeing themselve pursued, the cheese
was thrown at him, and they escaped, but were afterwards
taken. On inquiry it was found that a cheese had been
abstracted from the shop of a cheese-factor in London-
road, whose shopman identified it as having been near the
door on Friday afternoon, and afterwards missed. The
prisoners, who were old offenders, were committed for
trial at the sessions.
FELONIOUSLY ENDEAVOURING TO SELL A SEAMAN'S
REGISTER TICKET.—At the Police-court yesterday, a
man named Angus Martin, was charged with this offence.
It appeared that lie had employed a boy, whom he found
playing in the street, to go to the shop of Mr. Roger
Dogherty, outfitter, Park-lane, and sell for him a mari-
ner's register ticket, for which he was to receive 4s. This
is a parchment document which every British seaman is
required by the new act to procure at the Register-
office, and which certifies him to be a British subject duly
registered, describing his person, &c. This every captain
engaging a seaman is bound, under a penalty, to require.
Mr. Dogherty suspecting something wrong, asked the boy
if it was himself who was designated on the ticket. He
replied no, and bronght in the prisoner, who first said it
was himself, and afterwards frequently contradicted him-
self. He was given into custody, and it was afterwards
ascertained that the ticket (for another man) had been
duly registered. The prisoner was committed for; r al at
the sessions, but it was intimated that bail would be re-
ceived—himself in £3O, and two sureties in £l5 each.

Jan. 13, 1846.

LAST NIGHT'S MAIL•

MARK LANE CORN MARKET-YESTERDAY
Notwithstanding the supply of wheat by land carriage, sera"
pies from Essex, Kent, and Suffolk, was but moderate Ole
morning, it could not be disposed of, except at a decline of 21.
per quarter upon the prices of this day se'nnight. In free
foreign there is very little doing, buyers being unwilling
comply with the demands of the holders ; in Bonded we am
not hear of any transactions, but floating cargoes, both soft and
hard, are inquired after on speculation as well as for expert'
Best Barley maintains its late value, but secondary quality is veil
unsaleable, and ls. per qr. lower. White peas are 2s. per qr. '+
maple and grey ls. per qr. cheaper. Beans sell slowly on the
terms of last week. The sale for oats is quite in retail,
they fully maintain last Monday's quotations.