The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-05-18 00:00:00

CON7'E.IIPORARY PRESS.

'THE PEEL BANQUET.
(From the Morning Herald.)
All (rue- conservatives will not only accept Sir Robert
Peel's definition of conservative principles, but will, on
all occasions, with steady and unflinching fideility, act
up to them. They are the principles of that mixed and
limited monarchy under whose benignant protection ra-
tional liberty has grown up and flourished on the British
soil in a manner unknown in any other country of the
civilised world. They are the principles for which our
greatest statesmen toiled—for which our heroes con-
quered—for which our patriots bled. They are the prin-
ciples for the violation of which the traitor King, who
hawed the majesty of England at the footstool of the
Romish despotism, was driven into ignominy and exile—
they are the principles consecrated in those muniments
. of our civil and religious liberties, the Act of Settlement
and the Bill of Rights—they are, in short, the princi-
' pies whieh placed the House of Brunswick ma the throe,.
- or these realms.
- Any 'ministry in England, by whatever party name it
may he designated, that counsels the Sovereign to vio-
late those conservative and constitutional principles, not
only strikes at the hest security of that Sovereign's throne,,
'bet at the very existence of the monarchy itself. With
,that monarchy the Protestant faith is so intimately united,
,that the minister who inflicts " a heavy blow and great
discouragement" on the latter must be taken to intend a
deadly injury to that of which it is both a protection and
an ornament. At the era of the great rebellion, the
enemies of the monarchy made their way to the subver-
sion of the throne over the ruins of the church. The
.arm of revolutionary violence first dragged episcopacy
from its seat in the legislature, and overturned thealtars
altars of the Protestant faith, before it died the scaffold
'with royal blood, to cement that democratic tyranny
which was soon itself to perish by the sword of military
despotism, and the execrations of the people.
'We have seen the beginnings of such events attempted
at the present day ; hut, thank Heaven, with a success
which shows that the lessons of history have not been
read to the English nation in vain. This country was
once induced, by the arts of demagogues and agitators,
to suffer the experiment to be made of improving its con-
dition by getting rid of the church and throne together,
at an enormous cost of blood and misery, only to find
that, to recover the liberties which were buried beneath
the fall of its ancient constitution, it must retrace its
steps to the restoration of the throne and the re.esta
blishment of the church, and history records nothing more
universal and intense than the joy of that restoration.
But to protect is better than to recover—to preserve
than to restore. Therefore well did Sir Robert Peel say,
in his admirable speech to the 313 members of the House
of Commons, of whom he was the honoured guest, at
Merchant Tailors' Hall. " By conservative principles I
..mean the maintenance of our settled institutions in church
-and state-1 mean also the preservation and defence of
that combination of laws, of institutions, Of social usages,
habits and manners, which have contributed to mould
andform the character of Englishmen, and enabled this
country, in the conflicts and fearful rivalry of war, to ex-
tort the admiration of the world ; and in the useful emu-
lation of peaceful industry, commercial enterprise, me-
chanical skill, and social improvement, have endeared
the name of England and Englishmen, in every country,
to those who seek the establishment of liberty without
.licenCousness, and the enjoyment of a national and pure
form of religion, which is at once the consolation of the
virtuous mac and is also the hest guarantee which hu-
man institutions can afford for civil and religious liberty."
Yea, the maintenance of the settled institutions of the
country in ehureir and state is the preservation to Eng-
land of all those :blessings, moral, social, and political,
which the conservative orator has in this passage of glow-
ing and graceful truth sn eloquently enumerated.
It is surely better to endure the toil and vigilance ne-
cessary to preserve those blessings now, by firmly resist-
icy all wild and intemperate innovation, than to undergo
. hereafter such a struggle as our ancestors did to recover
them when lost by their .own fatuity and supineness.
The British constitution is one of those glorious works
of human wisdom, favoured by a protecting Providence
through the trials and vicissitudes of ages, such as not
only brings strength and grandeur, and honour to the na-
tion that possesses it, but sheds a glory on the history of
civilisation itself. Unlike the flimsy emanations of phi-
losophical liberalism, which we have seen sprout and wi-
-ther with mushroom rapidity, it has had the slow growth
of our native oak, striking, through long centuries of
-storm anti sunshine, its roots deeper and deeper into the
!sell, above which towers its antire strength and sturdy
magnificence. It is against the stem of this goodly or-
nament of the forest that ministers undertook to wield
the revolutionary axe. In their puny hands he instru-
ment of destruction furnished 'by their democratic allies
has yet made but slight impression upon the stubborn
grain of our ancient constitution. But should conser-
vatism, therefore, stand idly by while those attacks are
renewed, seeing that the preservanee of pigmies may
effect what the desultory efforts of a giant might not ac-
comp;iali ? No; it is the duty of conservatives—a duty
of which we have constantly reminded them—to strike.
the weapon of destruction to the ground, leaving minis-
'ers, if they will, to enjoy official power, without the
,weans of converting it to the ruin of their country.
Not only in the speech of Sir Robert Peel, but in those
of other conservatives delivered at the festival at Mer-
chant Tailors' Hall, we think we see decided indications
of a vigorous, determined, and united resistance for the
future to the anti-national and anti-protestant schemes
,and projects of a ministry the moat unprinstpled and in-
-capable that ever surrounded the tritish throne. Some
of the. ministerial journals affect to be facetious upon
exhibition of conservative union and strength;
44butilievi *-}Revery melancholy mirth—a most lachrymose
n
they are quite surprised, and not a
indignant, at observing that Lord Chandra: occu-
pied the chair or a banquet, At ,vvlaich upwards of three

hundred members of parliament were the hosts, and Sir
Robert Peel was the guest. This does not look very
like that disunion in the conservative body which they
had often announced to their readers as having taken, or
being about to take place. Never among three hundred
men of any party was there a more perfect agreement as
to the great principles of their political creed than was
evinced at the "Peel banquet." The firmness of prin-
ciple and energy of purpose which marked the speech of
the Marquis of Chandos, whose manly consistency of
character needs no eulogy from us, were responded to in
a similar spirit by the great leader of the conservatives,
as well as by Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham, who,
having, in whig company, promoted reform, as long as
it was practicable and safe, sacrificed the possession of
power and the allurements of ambition, rather than al-
low themselves to be made the blind instruments of re-
volution.
Never had men a nobler task and more sacred duties
to perform than have been thrown in the exigency of the
country upon the conservatives in parliament. Upon
them the fate of the greatest empire of the modern world
depends. Upon them depends the fate of all those insti-
tutions by which the character of a great empire is ele-
vated and sustained. The prerogatives of the crown,
the dignity of the peerage, the purity of the national
altars, the liberties of the people, all depend upon their
exertions to uphold onr unrivalled constitutional system
of government in its integrity. The conservation of
such a system is, indeed, a trust worthy of true patriots,
and all who are deserving of the name will appreciate it
rightly and discharge it well.

LIVERPOOL MECHANICS INSTITUTION.

Liac'rungs ON POETRY.

On Saturday evening, Dr. Shepherd delivered the fourth
of his lectures on this delightful art. After defining the mean-
ing and rhythm of lyric poetry, he showed that it was first em-
ployed in religious institutions. The most ancient instance
which we possess is the thanksgiving ode of Moses, on passing
the Red Sea, and which may be ranked as the most perfect of
its kind. The origin of the ode appears to be coeval with the
creation of man, or, mere properly speaking, with his first
civilization. The ode has been applied from the earliest period
to the purposes of that eternal passion which rules in every
clime from the snows of Nova Zembla to the burning plains of
India—the passion of love. This has ever constituted the
favourite subject of song. The sonnets of Petrarch are cele-
brated for this. Grossly as this topic has been handled by
some of the ancient poets, there have not been wanting those
who have treated it with every delicacy of sentiment. It must
be stated, to the honour of our own country, that our language
abounds with specimens of amatory poetry, in which the ele-
gance of composition vies with delicacy of feeling, and which
the most modest lady may peruse without a blush. The most
ancient lyrical compositions extant are to be found in the
Holy Scriptures. The Book of Psalms, in particular, contains
an excellent collection. The poems of Pindar were held in
high repute by his countrymen, and by all foreigners of good
taste, particularly the Romans. They all refer to the chariot
races and other pursuits at the Olympic games, which were of
intense interest to the various states of Greece. The ground
upon which these games were held was hallowed, and they were
held in sight of the Temple of Jupiter, a temple which was
adorned with all the grace which sculpture could bestow. The
men who figured at these games were men of exalted stations.
Among them were to he found kings of the various nations in
Greece which were governed by kings, as well as men of the
greatest power and talents, who ranked as equal, if not superior,
to these kings.
Dr. Shepherd concluded by a rapid survey of the English
lyric poets. On Wednesday, he considered the nature and
objects of didactic poetry, and showed the difficulties attending
the composition of a good didactic poem. and analysed. criti-
cally, the works of Lucretius, the Georgics of Virgil, Pope's
Essay on Criticism and Man, and Akenside's Pleasures of the
Imagination. To-morrow evening, he will take a rapid survey
of the beauties of pastoral poetry.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

LIVERPOOL CRAVEN MEETING.

The Earl of Eglinton
Stewards.
Sir J. Gerard, Bart.

Mr. Jackson (of Chester) Judge.
The Liverpool Spring meeting commenced on Wednesday with
auspicious weather. At an early hour the road to Aintree pre-
sented the usual motley groups wending their way to the attrac-
tive spot, and, as the appointed hour approached, from the slap.
up four-in-hand to the latest fashioned cabriolet, vehicles of all
descriptions, including of course Lawrence's out and out spick
and span new omnibuses, with civil and attentive Jehus, bore
their human cargoes hence to participate in the day's amuse-
ments. At Walton, those who chose to enjoy the walk, diverged
from the high road, and found their way to the racing ground by
a footpath across a delightful succession of pasture lands, and
thus avoided the dust of the road, to which others were exposed.
Front Walton to the course the country is pleasing and pictu-
resque, wooded bills and mounds, and varied by a landscape
rich in its variety ; and the picture, onKnis occasion, was height-
ened by the life and and animation given to it by the onward
movement of the pleasure-seeking Dicky Sams.
The grand stand commands an extensive view of this pleasing
panorama. But it becomes necessary that we bestow some at-
tention on the things below, and of these not the least savoury
anti useful is the ample provision which Mr. Lynn (of the Wa-
terloo Hotel), the respected secretary of the racing committee,
had !nade in the lower apartments of the stand to gratify even
the appetite of the most fastidious epicure. The company in
the grand stand was not so numerous as on other occasions, but
it was nevertheless respectable. Many ladies graced the front
of the first story, and amongst the noblemen and gentlemen pre-
sent we observed Lord Molyneux,"Sir H. Bold Houghton. Sir
Thomas mtarne, tion. cuartes Stanley, Hon. Mr. Fitzroy.
lion. E. Stanley, the Hon. E. M. Lloyd Mostyn, F. R. Price,
Esq., Captain Vaughan, Rev. Griffith Lloyd, T. W. Gifford,
Esq., W. Gifford, Esq,. tienrick Lloyd, Esq., Captain White,
Mr. Chalton, Captain Lamb, Mr. Dawson, Mr. M'Donough,
Edward Littledale, Esq., Holyoake, Esq., Patteson Ellames,
Esq., John Taylor, Esq., Coed-du, Henry Potts, Esq., Chester,
Collett, Esq., Hawkes, Esq., Wm: Earle, jun. Esq., J.
Rigby, Esq., Holywell, Edmund Hornlty. Esq., &c., &c., &c.
The other stands were crowded to their *highest point, and the
grounds also bore their wonted numbers, who had the usual
sources of gratification, besides those of the turf.
The day's snorts commenced with
The AtNTIKR STAKES of 15 says. each, loft with 20 added from
the Racing Fund. Three yrs Gst. 41b ; fair, Sat Mb; five.
Bst 131 b; six and aged, Ost2lb. Mares and Geldings allowed
31b. Once round.

Lord Eglinton's b g The Potentate, 6 yrs T. Lye 1
Lord Derby's b f Miss Bowe, 4 yrs M Jones 2
Royalty hart the pre.etninence in the betting circle, as in the
race, 3to 1 being offered, and 4to 1 in running. lie took Ihe
lead at a palfrey's canter, was never headed, and won easy.
A SWEEPSTAKES of 10 sous. each, for the produce of mares
covered in 1835; colts, Bst 41b; fillies, Bst. T.Y.C. Untried
stallions or mares allowed 3113 (*).
Mr. Dawson's hr f by Jerry, out of Prodigious, Fair Jane's
dam T• Lie 1

*Sir T. Stanley's ch c by Rowton, out of b m Iflue Bell, by
Toep's DujAicate, outof Bassetlaw'sdam....Templetnan 2
*LoWDerby's ch c by Vanish, out of Roseleaf p
*Sir R. W. Bulkeley's b c Puffin, by Birdcatcher, out of
b m by Peter Lely
*Sir T. Stanley's ch f by Battledore, out of b m by Catton,
out of Melrose
Mr. R. J. Mnstyn's (dead) by Birdcatcher, out of br m by
Grand Duke

'rite Itowton colt was a little fancied before starting at 5 to 4,
but in running he did not justify the favourable opinion enter-
tained of him, the filly by Jerry winning a slow run race in a
canter, having never been headed.
The Tradesmen's Cup, value 100 sovs. in specie, added to a
Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sort. eat:h, 10 ft, and 5 only if
declared on or before the Ist March, 1838. The second horse
to re-etve 59 sous. out of the Stakes. Two miles.

Bst 31h Mr. Fowler's br c Heron, 5 yrs Calloway 1
8 tt Captain Lamb's Chit Chat, 4 yrs Marlow 2
9 7 Hon. E. M. Ll Mostyn's Birdlime, aged ....Darling 3
7 2 Major Healey's eh g brother to ' 4 yrs Barlol 4
7 2 Lord Derby's ro c Parolles, 4 yrs 1 ye 0
8 7 Mr. J. 0. Fairlie's eh e Abraham Newland, 4 yrs.... p
8 7 Mr. C. M. St. Paul's br h Galewood, 5 vrs p
7 10 Lord Milltown's eh c Fusileer, by the Colonel, 5 yrs p
7 10 Mr. Alex. Bower's Lord Stafford, 4 yrs p
7 7 Mr. Fowler's b m Mersey, 5 yrs P
7 ti Lord Stanley's b f Miss Bowe, 4 yrs p
7 4 Mr. S. L. Fox's b c Dirmid. 4 yrs p
7 4 Lord Eglinton's b c St. Bennett, by Catton, out of
Dariole.tta, 4 yrs p
7 1 Sir James Boswell's b c Calendar, 4 yrs p
G 7 Sir John Gerard's b c Argante, 4 yrs p
The following declared forfeit and paid 5
.... sovs. each, Despot,
... . .

Doctor, Zubrab, Recluse, and Combat.

During Tuesday, business was done at the following prices :
—6 to 4 agst Birdlime, 31 to 1 agst Heron, 4 to 1 agst Chat, 4i
to 1 against Brother to Van. which was a alight variation from
the odds of Monday. Before running, the old mare rose in
estimation, and some others declined: 5 to 4 only was offered
against Birdlime, 3 to 1 agst Heron, 4 to 1 agst Brother to
Van, 6 to -agst Chat, 12 to 1 agst Parolles, and 15 to 1 -in run-
ning. Paroiles-had few friends, but the rest met with support
at the prices mentioned. The horses, with the exception of the
mare, passed the stand before starting, and then quietly pro-
ceeded to the starting-post at the end of the near straight run.
where Birdlime was being saddled. The horses all ready, Mr.
Thomas, who efficiently discharged the duty throughout the
day, got them off without a false start, but the mare's fretful-
ness, as at Chester, threw her in the rear. Chat.shnwed in front
as they passed the stand at a slow pace, Heron second, l'arolles
third, Brother to Van fourth, and the mare still last, but pulling
violently. In this order they ran along the off flat, until near
the bridge, when they took closer order, and the pace became
stronger; the mare then began to work herself forward, as-
suming the third place, and Parolles became whipper-in. From
thence the pace increased, anti Parolles' chance was bowled
out at the last turn home, for he was unable to.live with them.
The four ran well together, and Darling at the distance strug-
gled for the front rank, but the mare's superior weight told
against her, anti she could at most maintain the third place.
Heron (who, by-the-bye, is a good five-year-old, and carried
only Sat 31h, while the old mare had 9st 71b) winning cleverly
by a couple of lengths, the mere being the samedistance behind
Chat. Brother to Van, we were afterwards informed. broke
down in running near home. He was taken away as " lame as
a dog."

A Maiden Plate, value 50 sovs, from the Racing Fund, for all
awes that have never won £SU before the day of entry. Heats,
once round and a distance. Three yrs old, 7st ; four, Bst
21b; five, Rst 71b; six and aged, Bst 101 b. Mares and geld-
ings allowed 31b.
Mr. IL I'ursell's br c Latebird, 3 vrs....G. Whitehouse 0 1 1
Mr. Chaloner's h c St. Leonard, 3 yrs. Dartwright 3 0 2
Lord Stanley's ch f Rodora, 3 yrs. Nield 1 2 d
Mr. Lacey's b e Van, 3 yrs Dodgson 2 3 d
Lard Eglinton's rh c Achilles, 3 yrs Lye 11 U d
Mr. Arrowsinith's ch f Margravine, 3 yrs.
Before starting for the first heat, the betting was 6 to 4 against
Latebird, 3 to I against Rodora. and 3 to 1 against any other.
Rodora led at starting, St. Leonard second, and Vau third;
Latebird and Achilles waiting for the heat. At the first turn
after passing the stand Rodora made an attempt to bolt, and
lost about twenty lengths in the attempt. hut Neild recovered
the lost grmind ere they had passed the bridge, before turning
to come home. The race home was an exceedingly pretty one,
St. Leonard and Van running neck and neck, with Rodora on
their haunches, until they neared the winning-post, when Ro-
dora rushed in, and won cleverly by a neck—the second place
being won by half a head only.
Second heat. 5 to 4 against Latebird, and 2 to 1 against Ro-
dora. Nothing else named. Latebird led, Rodora being held
with difficulty in the oe,cond place, and Van and Achilles close

up; St. Leonard waited. From the distance the four ran a
pretty race to the stand, but Whitehouse won in his usual clever
style by a length—having never been headed. Van was a
couple of lengths behind.
Third heat. Latebird and St. Leonard had the llela to
themselves, and the odds were the Custom house to a China
orange. Latebird took the lead and kept it, •vinning without
difficulty.

This race terminated the day's sport, and we must pay our
meed of commendation to the "powers that be," for the coder
and regularity with which the whole was conducted. Doncaster
has its Lockwood and so has Liverpool, and to the efficient ex-
ertions of the latter on the course much credit is due. From
Aintree to Liverpool, at the conclusion of the races, Ascot was
presented, not in miniature, but to the life • never was there so
great a number of the "kim-aup-do-ye-thill-1-stole-ye" sort of
animals, harnessed in crazy vehicles—dung-cart, donkey-cart,
and shandrey. with seats of rude structure, for the conveyance
of the more humble lovers of the turf back to the places of their
destination—than on this occasion. From the patient ass tot he
stout dray-horse, and carriages suitable to the animals, all were
in requisition, besides the small turns-out of the other classes of
society, from the peer to the costermonger. and we have plea-
sure in stating that we have not heard of a single accident that
could give an unpleasant retrospect to the day's amusement.

YESTERDAY-SECOND DAY.

Yesterday morning dawned gloomily, and there was every
appearance of a wet, disagreeable day; but the heavy clouds
which veiled the horizon gradually dissipated, and the morning
arose with all the freshness and beauty of May. The wind,
however, continued rather cold till the day advanced and the
sun's power began to be felt. As on Wednesday, crowds of all
classes, and in all fashioned vehicles, wended their way through
a six miles drag of suffocating dust and continuous struggle of
labouring " tits," to the scene of action. And, truly, in describ-
ing the scene, if a certain degree of mystification and indistinct-
ness increase to sublimity and grandeur, that which is of itself
imposing, the imposing spectacle of thousands of human beings
all eagerly striving for one goal, with faces flushed with excite-
ment, exertion, and the inflaming effects of dust, the jolting of
hacks, and the still worse jolting carts without springs drawn at
full trot, and all wrapped in cloudy mystification and dusty in-
distinctness, this scene above all others deserves the epithets of
grand and sublime. But we pause; its recollection overpowers
us; we shake off the dust and breathe again, and proceed to re-
late what follows.
The race course was not much crowded; and there was an
amazing proportion of the "snobocracy" and mobocracy,"
and plenty of all descriptions of thimbleriggery to amuse them.
Barouches, britskas, buggies, carriages, coaches, cars, &c., &c.
were in rather unusual numbers on the course. The grand
stand was but thinly attended; there were a few ladies on it,
but not many. Its chief occupants were young Liverpudlians,
geniuses most of them, no doubt, in their way, who sported
sporting coats, and puffed cigars, lolled about a /a cigar divan,
affecting to be ci divan/ sportsmen. Nimrod never looked half
so knowing. Amongst the distingues we noticed Lord Moly-
neux, and we heard that Lord Stanley was on the course. The
first race was for

The Craven Stakes. for two year olds, a Sweepstakes of 25 sovs
each, 15 ft, with 30 soya added from the Racing Fund. 13
subscribers. T. Y.C.
Sir T. Stanley's b e Apothecary Templeman 1
Mr E. Peel's br c The Dean H. Edwards 2
Lord Derby's b c Charlatan

Mr F. R. Price's br f The Lady Abbess M Jones 4
Hon E. M. L. Mostyn's b c Papineau Darling 5
Mr Giffard's ch c Corvpliceus Lear 6
Lord E7iingtnn's h c Uriah

The betting previous to starting was 5 to 4 on Apothecary,
3to I agst The Dean, and 7to 1 agst Coryphmus. There was,
rather singularly, a good start the first time. The pace was
good—the struggle short. Apothecary came in winner by a
length, followed by The Dean, and Charlatan third.
The Spring St. Leger, a Sweepstakes of '25 sovs each, with 30
added from the Racing Fund. One mile anti three quarters.
The second horse to save his stake. 5 subs.
Lord Westminster's ch c Sir Ralph Holmes 1
Mr Wilkin's borhr c Wee Willie Lye 2
Mr Fowler's ch c Gilbert Gurney Calloway 3
Mr Ogden's br c flarptirhey Edwards 4
The betting was chiefly on Sir Ralph; the Wee Willy was a
favourite, and stood 5 to 4 against Sir Ralph ; 5 to 2 against
Wee Willie; 5 to 2 against Harpurhey ; 5 to 1 against Gilbert
Gurney; all taken. At starting Sir Ralph took the lead, fol-
lowed by Giihert Gurney, and for the first half mile the pace
was nothing hut a canter, every horse holding back. On turn-
ing the corner near the winning post, the pace was increased,
and Gilbert Gurney shot a-head and took the lead., followed by
Sir Ralph, the others behind. This order was kept up round
the course, the pace getting very severe, till the horses arrived
at the straight distance, when all came up in a cluster, the race
beautiful. Gilbert Gurney tried hard to maintain his advantage,
but it was "no go." Like Cmsar's celebrated bulletin yeah vidi
vici, Sir Ralph came up, challenged, and won. The race was
a very good one, Sir Ralph winning by nearly a length, fol-
lowed by Wee Willie, Gilbert Gurney third, and Humphrey
last.

The next was a rftce for
A Sweepstakes of 50 toys. each, h ft, for the produce of mares
covered in 1831. Colts Bst 71b, fillies Bst 41b. One mile and
a distance. 31b allowed to those got by untried stallions, or
nut of mares whose produce never won.
This was walked over by Lord Westminster's b f. Pantaloon.

_
The last race was
A Sweepstakes of 5 cove each, 30 soil's added from the Racing
Fund. Three yrs old 6st 101 b. four Bst 21h, five Bst 101 b, six
and aged 9st. Mares and geldings allowed 31h. Heats, once
round. For which the following horses started.
Lord Eg,lington's h g The Potentate, 6 yrs Lye 1 1
Mr. Lacey's h h Capulet, 4 yrs Frost 3 2
Lord Stanley's ch c Ole Bull, 3 yrs . Neale 2 d
The betting on the first heat was 3to 2on Potentate. On
the race, 2 to 1 on Potentate; 4 to 1 against Lord Stanley;
sto 1 against Capulet. The first heat Potentate won easily,
followed by Ole Bull, and Capnlet last. For the second heat
Potentate and Caprilet only started. Capulet started at a
tremendous pace, and kept his advantage to near the winning
post, when Pontentate passed him cleverly, and won the race.
This concluded the day's sport. It will thus be seen that the
favourites won in each race.

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD►