The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-05-03 00:00:00

THE DOCK BRIDGES.

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SlR,—The inconvenience to the public from the stoppage of
the highways over the Dock-bridges, when vessels are passing
through, is so obvious a necessity, that it would not deserve a
comment. I think, however, I have a fair right of complaint
when, with two ways leading to the same point, and that of
such general resort as the Landing Stage for the Cheshire side
ferry beats, both should be stopped at the same time. On
Tuesday last, as I reached the end of the Goree, at the bottom
of James-street, I observed that my further progress was cut
off, owing to the passage of a vessel, and I immediately pro-
ceeded to the drawbridge at the other end of George's Dock,
on my way to the Woodside steam-boat ; but to my surprise I
found myself again impeded by a similar obstacle, and had to
wait until a vessel had made her way into the basin. I now
respectfully appeal to the Dock authorities, whether the public
inconvenience caused by these stoppages ought to be enhanced
by both ends of George's Dock being opened to vessels at the
same time, as a very little skill in management would obviate
much of the difficulty.—l am, sir, WOODSIDE.
2Sth April, 1853.

LIVERPOOL, WATERLOO, AND SOUTHPORT

RAILWAY.

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIRS I had hoped that the directors of this line had found
it to be tl►eir interest to consult the wishes of their contractors,
but such is not the fact. For some time past the trains have
been run in unison with the wishes of the majority of the con-
tractor's, and numerous contracts have been taken out on the
faith that, at all events, trains would not be discontinued at
the very time when the season of the year demanded an in-
crease ; but, to the astonishment of all, this morning the mid-
day train which left Waterloo at two has either been put off or
discontinued, making it quite impracticable for parties to go
home to their dinners, which numbers have done of late, by
the one o'clock train. Another grievance is also deeply felt by
the taking off the half-past four train altogether, and delaying
the five till 10 minutes past. Surely, the directors must be fully
aware that the taking off the half-past four train will be a great
inconvenience to many gentlemen, 'Change being over at four,
and it formerly allowing them just time to visit their offices,
and return home in time for a five o'clock dnner. There is an
impression with many of the contractors on this line that the
directors study to annoy them—this I can scarcely believe ;
but it would be well if all ground of such suspicion were
removed, for so long as the contractors of a local railway, like
the one in question, are dissatisfied, it cannot be for the
interest of the shareholders.—Yours, &c.,
'Change, May 2, 1653.

A CONTRACTOR.

ROMAN ISM AND SLAVERY.

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,-It being publicly announced that a lecture will be
given, under the sanction of the "Roman Catholic Institute,"
the subject being, "Protestantism the bulwark of Slavery in
America," allow me to hint, through your columns, to the lec-
turer, not to forget when he comes forward to accuse Pro-
testantism of upholding slavery in that land, that it is to his
creed that America owns the stigma, and which makes her
stars shine less brilliantly than they would if the foul spot was
wiped from off her flag.

Let it be remembered that, after Fernando Cortez had partly
conquered Mexico, by deluging the country with blood, in
order to enrich the Spanish coffers, Las Cases (a Romanist
missionary) was sent into Mexico in order to convert the sub-
dued people to his faith ; and how did he convert them, but by
making the poor deluded savages believe that there was no
difference between the two religions; after this, seeing that
the Spaniards made his precious converts work in the mines, in
order to obtain the precious metals, it touched the heart of the
pious Las Casas, and he accordingly sent home to Isabella of
Spain, and complained to her of this injustice, at the same time
telling her that she ought to send ships to Africa, in order that
they might capture the natives and send them as slaves to
to America, (as that was no harm,) which she accordingly did.
The ships went, got a live cargo, and steered for America, so
ilat thus we find that it is to Popery that America may lay
claim to this odious traffic in flesh and blood.

Hoping that you will give this a place in your next, I remain,
a hater of slavery, but

A TRUE CATHOLIC YOUTH.

THE REV. DR. M'NEILE AND PRIEST POWER,

To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR,—In the Liverpool Courier of April 27th there appeared
a letter, purporting to be from Priest Power, in reply to the
Rev. Dr. M'Neile. Anything more miserable, more melan-
choly, I may truly say, I have never read in the form of an
answer to two letters containing such grave and serious state-
ments as those of the venerable champion of Scriptural Pro-
testantism.

Does Priest Power imagine that, by assuming the braggadocio
style; he *lli succeed in silencing the Reverend Doctor, or
satisfy " Catholics," who are inquiring " Has Priest Power
replied to Pr. 31'Neile yet ?"
The minds of Roman Catholics in Liverpool are, I feel satis-
fied, in a very different state, since "the Papal aggression," to
what their priests would fain have them. A spirit of inquiry
has been excited. That spirit has not been "laid" yet. Roman
Catholic priests have been challenged by clergymen of our
truly Catholic Church in this town. Why have they not met
them ? Roman Catholics have asked me that question, and
have expressed themselves highly dissatisfied with their priests
for shrinking from discussion. One man went so far as to call
them " A pack of cowards."
There are Roman Catholics in this town (as I know), whose
attachment to the doctrines, principles, and priests, of their
church, will not be increased,—nor their conviction of the
Church of Rome being the only true church be confirmed by
Priest Power's reply to Dr. M`Neile.
And now, Sir, I should like Priest Power, or any other priest,
to show, on what grounds he arrogates to himself, and mo-
nopolises to the Church of Rome, the title of Catholic. Allow
me to observe, that when the Fathers use the term" Catholic,"
it is not in reference to the so-called Roman Catholic Church ;
for instance, St. Augustine, Comm. Psal. 44, " Hrec est Catho-
lica Ecclesia," &c. For the name " Catholic" is of great
antiquity, and was adopted by the early Orthodox Christians to
distinguish themselves from Heretics. It was the Christian's
surname (Heretics had party-names, yet they sometimes shel-
tered themselves under the name of Christians), so Pacian
in forms us : Ep. I. ad. Sempron Novat. Heret,—" Christianus
mihi nomen est: Catholicus cognomen; illud me nuncupat,
i stud ostendit." And Optatus observes, "That the Church of
Christ bad a just title to this name, being called Catholic,'
because it was universally diffused over all the world." Optat.,
lib. ii. p. 46—He says : "Cum inde dicta sit Catholica, quod
sit rationalis est übique ditrusa." Hence we may learn, how
utterly unfounded is the claim of Rome Papal, when she styles
herself, in her Anti-Christian pride and arrogance, " The Holy
Catholic Church."—l am, Sir, yours, &c.,

W. B. STEWART MATHIAS.
5, Ellesmere Terrace,Everton,April29,lB33.

LETTERS ON FAMILIAR SUBJECTS. No. VI.

LOVE OF CHILDREN. •
To the EDITOR of the LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

Sin,—Your readers must not presume that I am about to
weary them with a homily on the beauty and duty of parental
a ffection; for, after all, it is but an instinct, which man shares
' in common with the brutes, though too often, if we may judge
by our police reports, he loses in the comparison. The opinion,
however, prevails too much, that a numerous family is rather
an evil to be dreaded than a blessing to be desired, and It is
to this subject I would direct a little attention. One of the
most prominent reasons advanced by those who decry early
marriages is the improvidence of having a family before having
the means of providing for them; and as, one by one, the
little innocents are born into the world, we hear more of the
expense which they are likely, or almost certain, to occasion,
than of the delight and enjoyment which they will afford to
their loving parents. There is something wrong in all this,
and the evil is apparent, whether we view the question in a
religious point of view, or with minds altogether disposed to
look only to this world.
In the first place, the Scriptures have numerous illustrations
of the truth that children are sent to us as blessings, if we
would but receive them as such. We are told that children are
as arrows in the hands of a giant, and happy is the man who
bath his quiver full of them. We have repeated instances of
barrenness being considered an especial curse, demanding
fervent prayers against its continuance; and great are the re-
joicings, at all times, on the birth of a son. In the earlier
times we read of the several patriarchs being blessed with so
many sons and daughters—and the want of them, as in the
instance of Rachel, being deemed a reproach; so that the
whole tenour of Old Testament history affirms the position
which I have assumed. It should also be steadily kept in mind
that all the gifts of Providence prove blessings or curses ac-
cording as they are received, so that it rests with ourselves
whether or no we will be favoured of Heaven. The penalty of
labour, which ensued upon man's fall, has become the source
of many enjoyments; and even afflictions, when submitted to
in unrepining confidence on the goodness of Providence, are
converted into bounties; whereas the gratification of our most
ar dent desires, when 111111mill:fully received, poison the springs
of life, and become the bane of existence.
If, however, we view the acquisition of a numerous family
upon mere worldly considerations, we shall be under no diffi-
culty in assigning it a place among our chiefest blessings.
Such questions are not to be answered by the rule of three;
and the conclusion jumped at, that because it takes so much
to keep one, it will take twice as much to keep two. Many a
young man spends as much in cigars and kid gloves as would
maintain a wife, and there are a number of other items of
bachelor expenditure which might profitably be devoted to a
family of children, and leave a balance on the right side.
Children form tle proper spur to the exertions of industry,—for
of what avail is rising early and eating the bread of carefulness,
if there are none to inherit the fruits ? Labour will be mis-
spent, for man cannot work merely for his own enjoyment; it
is his children which form the stimulus of his industry, and
the solace o f his leisure, and without them he either relaxes
his exertions, or labours on with soulless instinct, and the un-
satisfactory conviction that strangers will reap the harvest that
he has SWIM When a man marries, he gives security to the