The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-11-26 00:00:00

MR. BRINDLEY'S LECTURES ON SOCIALISM

On Tuesday evening, pursuant to notice, Mr. Brindley,
the celebrated opponent of socialism, commenced a series of
lectures at the Queen's Theatre, in Christian-street, in which
he had proposed to shew the declining state of that pestilent
and abominable system, and to prove, in especial, the swin-
dling character of the community, established by the social-
ists of Liverpool, at Pant Glas, in Wales.
The proceedings commenced at eight o'clock, at which
time, notwithstanding a very insufficient notice of the lec-
ture, a considerable audience was collected. The Rev. Mr.
Connor, on the motion of Mr. Crisp, was called to the
chair ; and Mr. Brindley proceeded at once, in that rapid
and effective style for which he is distinguished, to lay before
his audience an account of the past and present condition of
the heresy of Owen and his fellow-atheists. In the midst,
however, of an eloquent and most cutting exposl of the do-
ings of these profound and philosophic scamps, (which was
listened to, we are glad for the honour of our town to say,
with unqualified disgust,) Mr. Brindley was interrupted by
the dissentient voices of two individuals—a Mr. Westwick,
formerly, it appeared, secretary of the socialist body in Li-
verpool, and a Mr. Stewart, of Whitechapel, a couple of
gentlemen for whose peculiar " organisation " and address
one would almost imagine was especially intended the ex-
pression of " old Will "

" Hence, cream-faced loon!
Whence got'st thou that goose look ? "
and, after a short pause, the two socialists were introduced
upon the stage, to fulfil the purpose for which doubtless they
had conveyed their " most sweet persons " to the place of
meeting, viz., to engage the lecturer to hold a discussion
with a notorious missionary of their dishonest craft, who is,
we believe, known to the socialist public under the eupho-
nious Welsh-sounding name of Lloyd Jones.
To the proposition made by Mr. Westwick in his behalf,
Mr. Brindley at once acceded—nay, he declared that he was
delighted to accede to it ; but he was anxious to know whe-
ther the worthy who made the proposition was fully autho-
rised to do so. Upon this point, however, he was satisfied,
by the production of a letter from the socialist missionary
himself ; and, after a little shuffling (and much of this espe-
cial instrument in social tactics is not practicable where Mr.
Brindley is concerned), an arrangement was at length come
to for a discussion, to be held upon the following terms and
question, the latter of which was dictated by Mr. Brindley,
and committed to writing by the rev. chairman. Upon the
result of this discussion with their favourite oracle—for poor
Robert Owen appears to be shelved by his own dupes—the
two socialists pledged themselves, in behalf of their whole
body in Liverpool, to " sink or swim "—a pledge which it
is just possible that the " external circumstances " with
which they are surrounded, viz., the contempt drawn upon
them by Mr. Brindley's exposure of the fraudulent character
of their doings, and the impious and odious nature of their
principles, will not allow them to shuffle out of.
The following are the terms of the discussion agreed upon:
—" Mr. Brindley will prove, and Mr. Lloyd Jones will dis-
prove, socialism to be a lying, swindling ?fraudulent scheme,
which has robbed the working classes, and is now robbing
them, under false pretences ; and that it in theory denounces
all marriage and all religion, and denies the existence of a
personal intelligent God." The discussion is to take place
in the Queen's Theatre, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday, the 6th, 7th, Bth, and 9th of December,
under the management of a committee chosen on each side,
with a moderator chosen by the meeting. The proceeds to
be handed over to the mayor, for the benefit of the Infirmary
and Dispensary.

. -
On Saturday evening the chartist question is to be dis-
cussed, when we feel sure it will meet with the same fate
that befals the other abominations of the day under Mr.
Brindley's searching investigation. We rejoice to see the
staunch support afforded that gentleman by our working
men.