The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-12-14 00:00:00

Bisitirt Retus.

The workpeople of Me•srs. iilkington Brothers and
Co., Blackburn, have subscribed £lOO out of their earnings,
for the relief of the distressed operatives of the town.
A legacy of £25,000 has been left to the medical de-
partment of University College, London ,by the late Dr.
Holme, of Manchester.
Mr. Johnson, chairman of the Manchester Stock Ex-
change, fell over the banister and dislocated his shoulder,
and received a fracture of the skull. He lies dangerously ill.
EFFECTS OF. FREE-TRADE.—The millowners of Bolton
have given notice to faeir workmen that at the fortnight
end they will reduce their wages ten per cent. What the
operatives will do remains to be seen. A similar reduc-
tion has taken place at Chowbent and Heywood.
KENDAL.—This once flourishing town is at present in
a deplorable state, especially as regards employment for
the labouring classes. The large foundry at the Lound,
worked by Stephenson and Co., and which gave employ-
ment to a great number of men, has been closed. At the
carpet manufactory of Messrs. Whitwell and Co. little is
doing ; and the linsey-woolsey weaving, which at this sea-
son of the year was wont to give employment to hundreds
of men and women, is all but at a stand.
SINGULARLY FATAL ACCIDENT.-011 Thursday, a
man, named William Lillicrop, aged 55, an edge-tool
maker, being in the act of grinding a wood-hook on a
mill he propelled by water, near Ebsley Farm, Somerset,
the iron spindle, which had been recently fitted into a
stone, suddenly snapped near the centre of the stone,
which split into several pieces, one of which was driven
with such force against the head of the deceased as to
cause almost instantaneous de

THE SHAESPERIAN FL ND. —The Shakspere fund has
profited to the extent of £lOu) by the " Shakspere night"
at Covent-garden, much, doubtless, to the satisfaction of
the committee, from whose pockets the money must have
come if no means could have been devised for extracting it
from the public. A balance of £5OO is now all that re-
mains to be liquidated. Part of this will be realised by
the amateur performance at Manchester, which will take
place on Monday next.
INUNDATIONS IN THE VALE OF TODMORDEN.--All
overflow of the rivers Cal and Darr occurred on Saturday
week. In consequence of the increased rain, which came
down in torrents, the river Darr commenced to overflow,
about ten o'clock on Sunday evening, and in less than
one hour, the houses erected at Patmos, called " Cobden
Row," became inundated, and the water rose to the height
of from three to four feet, in nearly all the houses, for the
space of half-a-mile on the Burnley road. The road pre-
sented more the appearance of a river than a public way.
The houses in Salford were also flooded, the water filling
the cellar houses to the very top.
GUILTY, BUT ACQUITTED.—A singular circumstance
occurred at the Manchester sessions on Tuesday. An in-
dictment had been sent up to the grand jury against a
woman for stealing music, but, deeming the evidence in-
sufficient, they found no bill against her. Instead, how-
ever, of cutting the bill, as is the usual practice at this
court, the words " no bill" were written upon the indict-
ment, and it was sent down uncut. The Clerk of the
Peace did not observe the words " no bill," and the woman
being called up in her turn was arraigned, and pleaded
guilty, and was sentenced by the Recorder to six months'
hard labour ! Shortly after she had been sent down to
the New Bailey Prison, the chief superintendent re-
marked to a member of the grand jury that there had not
been a single case yet in which they had not found a bill.
The reply was, " Yes, there has been one," and the case
of this woman was mentioned. This led to further in-
quiry, and the facts having been stated to the Recorder,
the learned gentleman immediately sent an order for the
discharge of the woman, who was so much affected on the
intelligence, that she was immediately seized with hysterics.
THE ORRELL COAL MINES.—In the year 1792 the late
John Clarke, Esq., banker, commenced working the Or-
rell coal mines, under a lease from Meyrick Bankes, Esq.,
Winstanley Hall, near Wigan, father of the present pos-
sessor. Up to that period the common coal only was used
for household purposes, and on the introduction of the
Orrell coal into Liverpool, it was sold at a lower price than
common coal, to induce housekeepers to make trial of it.
Its superior durability, added to its pleasantness and
cleanness in burning, soon gave it a most decided prefer-
ence, even at a much advanced price. This pre-eminence
it has since retained in Liverpool, and in the home and
foreign markets it is considered equal to the best Wall's-
end coal, so much esteemed in London. It has also been
proved to give out a greater quantity of gas, and make a
better cinder or coke than any other coal in Lancashire—
a further proof of its being the most durable and pleasant
burning coal for parlour and kitchen use. The Orrell
mines have been for several years exhausted in the town-
ship of Orrell, but are still sufficiently plentiful in the ad-
joining township of Winstanley; as it was stated in evi-
dence before a committee of the House of Commons on
the Liverpool, Bolton, and Bury Railway Company's bill,
that Meyrick Bankes, Esq., had 1200 acres of the Orrell
mines on his estate, which he is working on an extensive
scale, and it is calculated to yield twelve millions of tons
of coal, or four hundred tons per day for 100 years.
Within the last few years other collieries have been
started on the other side of Wigan, about three miles
from the Orrell coal field, and the coal, though the best
Wigan coal, is sold at a less price than the Orrell coal,
thereby proving the superiority of the latter.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONERS IN WALES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—Believing that you are an uncompromising ad-
vocate of justice, I have taken the liberty of addressing
this letter to you, requesting the favour of its insertion in
your paper. In glancing over the Liverpool Journal of
the 27th ult. I saw an article respecting the state of society
in Wales, and comprising an abridgment of the report,
made by the education commissioners, as to the moral
and mental cultivation of the people in that country,
which was to the following effect ; that they were in gene-
ral utterly destitute of secular education ; theology being
their only study, their Sunday schools were more composed
of discussing than of teaching classes ; that they were
inferior to the English in honesty and veracity ; having
au universal propensity to drunkenness, and that the ex-
tent of bastardy in the country was an infallible proof of
degraded morals; which latter evil they have attributed
to the frequent prayer-meetings that are held at late hours
in the country. And in taking into consideration the
inutility of the Welsh language in past, present, and
likely to be in future ages, they have recommended the
introduction of the English language as being more cal-
culated for general improvement.
In the Liverpool Chronicle of the 4th instant, I read a
letter written by a gentleman, subscribing his name
T-as D-ns, philo veritas, referring to the foregoing
report of the commissioners, and pronounces it as a ma-
licious, erroneous, and atrocious production ; also to sad-
dle one of the evils, viz. bastardy upon those districts on
the borders of England, where the influence of the esta-
blished church is most prevalent, and especially in the
immediate neighbourhood of the colleges of the establish-
ment.
And now, Mr. Editor, as a person acquainted with
Wales and its state, I feel it a duty incumbent upon me
to refer to the forementioned letter, and defend the com-
missioners from the charge of having delivered such an
incorrect report, and uphold the character of the Church
of England in those districts where its influence is most
prevalent, and which are marked out by the learned gen-
tleman as the head quarters of incontinency. In the
first place, he refers to the statement made by the com-
missioners, relative to the Sunday schools, that they were
debating societies for persons of all ages. To this, he
gives a blank contradiction, by asserting that debating
was not only discouraged, but strictly prohibited. Sir,
the commissioners did not express disapprobation of Sun-
day schools, but of the manner they were conducted ;
and mentioned the fact of their meeting together to dis-
cuss theological questions in support of their statement,
that secular education was not at all cultivated, and
through the minds of the people being so engrossed with
theological subtleties and altogether confined to the Welsh
language, they were quite destitute of general informa-
tion, which, in their opinion, no doubt was indispensable
for moral, as well as intellectual improvement. But as
to the assertion, that debating is prohibited, I, ou behalf
of the commissioners, will testify that debating is not
prohibited, and that young men and old do discuss upon
theological mysteries, together with their teachers, to
such an extent that one verse at times will produce an
hour's disputation, too often for the sake of bringing self
into note, rather than for general edification. In con-
cluding his remarks upon the Sunday school, he throws
a stigma of ignorance upon a member of the established
church, who was a parish clerk, and a schoolmaster in
Wales, and when asked by one of his pupils what was a
eunuch, the reply was, that it must be one of the evil
spirits.
Mr. Editor, I beg to return my sincere thanks to the
gentleman for supplyiny, me with a corroborative illustra-
tion of what the commissioners stated, that they were in
gross ignorance, for, if the want of education is so ap-
parent in the master, what must it be in the pupil ?
In the second place, he refers to the statement of the
commissioners as to the inferiority of the Welsh to the
English in honesty and veracity. And in contradicting
the report, he adduces the light state of the criminal
calendar, and the empty prisons, to aid him. I will con-
fess that they have been misinformed as to the extent of
those crimes which come under the cognizance of the law.
But as it is impossible that Cie)* could have a shadow of a
party feeling in delivering a report upon this point, I
hope the learned defender of his country will trace the
misrepresentation to his own countrymen. The com-
missioners most undoubtedly delivered a faithful report of
what was transmitted to them whilst in the principality.
After stating that mercantile houses give the preference
to Welshmen, of which I have much doubt, lie proceeds
to contradict the commissioners' report as to the pro-
pensity of the people of Wales to drunkenness, and ex-
presses his surprise that such a gross statement could be
made in the face of the well-known fact, that the majority
of the people are staunch teetotallers ; and that the Dis-
senters have carried their views on that point to such an
extreme length, that some of the denominations will

admit as members into their communion only those wh°
have pledged thamselves to abstain.

.
Mr. Editor, the incorrectness of the assertion calls upon
me most loudly to protest against it. The majority of the
people of Wales are not total abstainers ; they comprise•
but a very small portion of the inhabitants, too few in
number to give the learned gentleman much pleasure to
ses it published, after stating to the contrary. I will,
also, unhesitatingly set him at defiance to prove that there
are denominations in the principality who will not admit
members into their communion unless they pledge them-
selves to abstain. Total abstinence was certainly strongly
recommended when first introduced into the country, and
some enthusiastic members of the Total Abstinence So-
ciety endeavoured to pass a rule, that none but total
abstainers should be admitted members of the denomina-
tions to which they belonged. But such a rule was never
passed when the sun of total abstinence shone brightest,
much less at present, when it is partially eclipsed with
seven or eight years declension. In justice to the Dis-
senters of Wales, I will say that they have never infringed
upon the liberty of conscience so much as to enforce any
thing of the kind; such an abitrary rule would accord
very badly with the voluntary principle which they at
present so strongly advocate. But their propensity to
drunkenness is the fact to be proved. The morals of
every country are to be judged according to its religions,
as well as secular advantages. Wales has had religious
advantage not to be surpassed by any ; still the scenes of
drunkenness in small villages, on Saturday nights espe-
cially, is degrading in the extreme, and on their periodical
fair days the public-houses are filled with country people.
With very few exceptions indeed, you will find them re-
turning home, not as members of the total abstinence
society, but as members of the total drunkenness society..
In looking at their general character, when such oppor-
tunities are within their reach, every impartial person
will say that the report of the commissioners will pay at
least 19s. 6d. in the pound.

I have now arrived at that part of the letter where he
comments very lengthy on the report relative to the want
of chastity amongst the women. He states, with reference
to illegitimacy, that the per centage in Wales is much less
than in England, except in the border district, where the
English !anguage is principally spoken—in those portions
where the influence of the Church of England is most
prevalent, and, strange to relate, in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of the colleges of the establishment. Well
may he menti„n, Mr. Editor, that the influence of the
Established Church is the most prevalent on the borders.
There is scarcely any other influence ; and. to the shame
of the Dissenters of Wales, I state this :—They have ne-
glected their countrymen who speak the English language
in those districts, to such an extent that if it had not been
for the influence of the Church of England in bringing
them even into their present state of civilization, they
would have been the most barbarous people in her Ma-
jesty's dominions. The learned gentleman, lest the public
should misunderstand him as to the fact that illegitimacy
was more prevalent under the influence of the church,
would be local in his remarks, and point out the imme-
diate neighbourhood of the colleges. Can he bring home
the charge, by pointing his finger to the members, and say
they are the men ? This would be too arduous a task for
any Dissenters in or out of the principality to perform.
The reason of the evil being so prevalent in the districts
is very obvious: They do not consider themselves as be-
longing to England ; neglected by their own countrymen,
they hardly consider themselves as belonging to any
country—hence, they are lost to all personal and national.
honour.

The learned gentleman condemns the report of the
commissioners, that prayer meetings through the country,
held at improper or late hours, was the cause of the evil,
through being informed, as I have no doubt they have
been, that young females are in the habit of spending
hours in gossiping along the lanes at late hours. It was
very natural for them to deliver such a report, but the
learned gentleman attributes the evil to the fact that
master and parent deny the female part of the household.
the privilege of associating with their intended husbands
at proper hours ; and, consequently, they must have re-
course to improper hours—even the dead of the night.
Grant the fact ; this is a very poor cloak to hide the evil.
Is not pure chastity grounded upon good principles the
same at midnight as mid-day, seen and unseen ? But. I
say, that with very few exceptions. not a master or parent
in the principality will deny the privilege of associating at
proper hours, if requested. It is all of their own choice.
In proof of this I need only mention that there are some
heads of families who will not allow them to associate
except at proper hours, which restriction is considered by
a domestic entering their service as a very heavy yoke.
And now, Mr. Editor, I must craveyour indulgence forhav-
ing occupied so much of your time and paper, as I believe
that I have said enough to exonerate thecommissioners from
having delivered such a very incorrect report as stated. I
will not trespass upon your kindness much longer ; I have
a few words to sey upon what he remarked as to the Welsh
claiming a high rank amongst ancient nations. If putting an
emphasis upon the term "high" will please the Christian
gentleman, I have no
,objection to grant him that his an-
cestors were very " high ' when floating in Noah's ark,
and more recently in a high rank on the top of Snowdon,
under Prince Llewellin, when surrounded iy the army of
Edward the Ist. Ido not question the antiquity of the
Welsh language, but its utility ; and hope ere long to see
government schools established throughout the country,
the English language better understood, general infor-
mation diffused throughout its localities, so as to enable it
to equal, and, if possible, to surpass any part of the United.
Kingdom in moral and intellectual attainments. The
state of education, no doubt, is most deplorable at pre-
sent in the country. But lam of opinion from personal
knowledge of the Welsh people, that they have the mate-
rials of refinement, and sooner the chisel of education
is applied to them the better. We have a specimen of
what they are when educated in the learned writer of the
letter; he has given us a noble specimen of his knowledge
of the Welsh, English, Latin, and French languages. I
hope the Commissioners will see his letter in the Chron-
icle, as it would be a great encouragement to them to
find that Wales has produced such a talented gentleman;
and, by what he has stated of the antiquity of the Welsh
nation, I infer that he is certainly the Cambrian Josephus,
and could give a correct history of his nation as far
back as Adam Jones in Paradise. Though, in my opinion,
he made a sad failure in supporting his charge against the
commissioners. But as no doubt his intentions weregood,
hope the people of Wales will take the will for the deed.
J----as D--ns. Philo verilas.
Yours respectfully,
AN OPPONENT OF MISREPRESENTATION.