The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-21 00:00:00

LITERARY NOTICES.

•
A Sermon, addressed to the Liverpool Young Men's Esta.
bluhed Church Society. By the Rev. Hugh M`Neile.
London : Hatchard and Son. Liverpool: H. Perris,

Bruce, Lt tes& of a great king, might, like Richard the First,
have become only a kingly knight-errant.
But from this error he was saved by the love of his
country, directed by an admirable judgment, and unshaken
perseverance, and a vein of strong good sense. It is here,
although some may think it the homeliest, that we are to
find assuredly the brightest part of the character of the king.
It is these qualities •.vhich are especially conspicuous in his
long war for the liberty of Scotland. They enabled him to
follow out his plans through many a tedious year with unde-
viating energy : to bear reverses, to ealkilate his means, to
wait for his opportunities, and to concentrate his whole
strength upon one great point, till it was gained and secured
to his country for ever. Brilliant military talent and con-
summate
bravery have often been found amongst men, and
proved far more of a curse than a blessing ; but rarely in-
deed shall we discover them united to so excellent a judg-
ment, controlled by such perfect disinterestedness, and em-
ployed for so sacred an end. There is but one instance on
record where he seems to have thought more of himself than
of his people, and even this, though rash, was heroic.
DISCOVERY OF BRUCE'S BODY.
Immediately after the king's death, his heart was taken
out, as he had himself directed. lie was then buried with
great state and solemnity under the pavement of the choir,
in the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, and over the grave
was raised a rich marble runi.u:nent, which was made at
Paris. Centuries passed on, the ancient church, with the
marble monument, fell into ruins, and a more modern build-
ing was erected on the same site. This, in our own days,
gave way to time ; and in clearing the foundations for a
third church, the workmen laid open a tomb which proved
to be that of Robert the Bruce. The lead coating in which
the body was found enclosed, was twisted round the head
into the shape of a rude crown. A rich cloth of gold, but
much deeaved, was thrown over it ; and, on examining the
skeleton, it was found that the breast-bone had been sawn
asunder, to get at the heart.
There remained, therefore, no doubt, that after the lapse
of almost five hundred years, his countrymen were permitted,
with a mixture of delig4t and awe, to behold the very bones
of their great deliverer.

Dear Sister I remember thee. Words by W. Collier, Esq
Music composed by F. H. S. Pendleton. Dublin

Robinson.
This very charming ballad, arranged in three fiats (the
best key to sing in), has just made its appearance in Dublin.
Mr. Pendleton has written some very pretty music to some
tasteful words. We can confidently recommend this ballad
as a talented composition.

Farmers' Magazine.

May. Rogerson : London

Two cleverly executed plates embellish this month's num-
ber. The first, " a Leicester Prize Ram ;" the second,
" The Cover Side." There are many interesting subjects
brought before the notice of the agriculturist. Amongst
them are descriptions of the Plates :—Uses of Botany and
Chemistry, in Agriculture—On GrowingTurnips—On Vege-
table Life—Reports of Agricultural Associations and Clubs
—On the use of Nitrate of Soda as Manure—On Restrictions
in Cropping—On Thick Sowing—Plug Draining—Landlord
and Tenant—Enclosure Bills—Vegetable and Animal Nutri-
tion—The Art of Culture—On Grass Seeds—On Leases—
Rotation Crops—On the Management of Clay Laud—
Manures, Rural Chemistry—Value of Land—Effect of
Coloured Light on Plants—and many other matters.

The New Monthly Belle Assemble-e. May. London

Rogerson

La Belle contains this month a portrait of the Countess
Dowager of Errol, and three coloured plates of the straight-
nosed, spider-waisted beauties, that generally embellish this
periodical. Some of the costumes are tasteful. The tales
and poems are of all sorts. Not having had the numbers of
this periodical sent regularly, we cannot give an opinion of
the " continued" articles. Some of the poetry this month
appears of a better oharacter than usual. The magazine
would be greatly improved, if the writers of the historiettes
would finish their works off more pleasantly. There is quite
sadness enough in this breathing world, without having it
staring one in print. This month's number will serve to
amuse for a passing hour or two, and will be much relished
by the ladies for whose especial reading it is intended.

The Sportsman. May. London : Rogerson

gradual in coming into operation.
Mr. MATHEW united in the policy of the West Indian
proprietors, of whom he was unfortunate enough to be one
—and with the landlords, in rallying upon this occasion for
their mutual preservation. When he perceived the same
persons who had advocated the abolition of slavery now
supporting the proposed alteration of the sugar duties, he
could scarcely help thinking that the abolition of slavery
was carried for party purposes alone.
Sir B. H ALL said, that a property tax was the only alter-
native to the adoption of the measures proposed by Govern-
ment. He sincerely hoped that if Government should be
beaten, as no doubt they would be upon the present ques-
tion, that they would, notwithstanding, bring forward their
proposition respecting the corn-laws ; and if defeated, as
they would also be upon that proposition, he trusted they
would appeal to the country for its opinion upon their pro-
jected measures.
Mr. STILUTT contended that if there was any weight in the
argument that the consumption of slave-grown sugar would
lead to an increase or continuance of slavery, the parties
who adduced it should, in common consistency, advocate the
passing of an act to prohibit intercourse with slave-holding
countries.
Mr. M. PHILLIPS said that no constituency in the king-
dom was more ardent in the cause of the abolition of slavery
than that of Manchester, and yet they were favourable to
the propositions of the Government. He had that day re-
ceived a letter from the secretary of the Anti-Slavery Society
of Manchester, who informed him that out of the whole
society there were but two individuals who advanced a single
objection to the importation of foreign sugar under the pro-
posed restrictions. The honourable gentleman entered into
details of the mode in which the trade with Brazil and other
foreign countries was carried on with the view of showing
that in carrying on that trade the people of this country
could not be considered as lending auy aid in promoting the

slave trade.
Mr. BARRON contended that Lord Sandon's proposition
would, if carried out, perpetuate slavery in every country in
which it now existed, and as a friend of humanity, therefore,
he would support the financial measures of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer.
Mr. 'W. WILLIAMS advocated the measures proposed by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. T. D U NCOMB E characterised the motion of Lord San-
don as one unparalleled in inconsistency, in barefaced dupli-
city, and in matchless hypocrisy, by any that he ever remem-
bered to have heard proposed in parliament. He gave hon.
ger tlemen on the opposite side of the house credit being
able to keep a secret, for there was no getting from any of
them what it was that they thought ought to be done. His
object in rising was to endeavour to procure for the poor
distressed operatives of this country a portion of that sympa-
thy which they seemed so ready to lavish on the blacks. In-
stead of going to Cuba and Brazil for objects upon which to
exercise their sympathies, they need not leave the metropolis
to find au ample field in which to display their desire for ame-
liorating the condition of the poor. The hon. member read
some accounts of the distress in Bethnal-green, Marylebone,
and also in Birmingham, Burton-on-Trent, Loughborough,
Nottingham, and other places, and said these were the people
whose interests were overlooked in that house, while profess-
ing to extend protection to those in our colonies who did not
require it.
Mr. BRISCOE said that the country had arrived at an
alarming crisis in its manufacturing prosperity, and unless
some change took place in our commercial policy, he feared
some most overwhelming consequences would supervene. If
ministers had acted with less honesty, and proposed to deal
with the sugar duties only, without saying anything about
the corn laws, they would have escaped much of the opposi-
tion to which they were now exposed.
Mr. MUNTZ said no man was more convinced than he was
of the necessity of altering the import duties, but he doubted
if the proposed alterations would increase the revenue to the
extent supposed. lie thought, however, the government
should not confine itself to timber, corn, and sugar, but
should extend their reduction of duty to all other articles.
The only way in which the repeal of the corn laws could save
the commercial interests would be by a reduction of wages,
and by thus enabling them to compete with foreign coun-
tries ; but still it was impossible that things should remain
in their present condition, and they must therefore either
reduce the price of corn, and wages with it, or they must
elevate the price of money to keep pace with that of corn.
It they repealed the corn laws without altering the monetary
system, the result would be that the lands of the country
would pass from the hands of their present owners. The
really honest course would be to lay on a property tax, both
on land and on money, and to repeal a proportionate quan-
tity of the indirect taxation which pressed heavily on the

poor.
When the hon. gentleman sat down, Mr. Swam moved
an adjournment, which was immediately agreed to.•

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY

The royal sen was given by commission to a great num-
ber of public and private bills.
Lord HASTINGS (late Sir Jacob Astley) took the oaths and
his seat for the first time.
Some petitions were presented for and against any altera-
tion of the corn laws.
Their lordships then adjourned until Monday next.

starvation, It was a cruel thing to the poor of our menu, -
faeturing districts to know that when they wanted employ-
ment the warehouses of Liverpool were bursting with Ame-
rican flour, when the manufacturers would have been glad to
have taken for manufactured goods ; and thus would have
given the requisite food and employment,.which these mono-
polising hews denied to the people. • •
Sir E. liNATcHnou. regretted the length to which the
debate had extended, because, during the eight days that it
had lasted, all the great interests likely to be affected by the
government propositions were placed in a state of incertitude,
and were of necessity at a stand still as regarded commercial
operations. He thought 'under such circumstances the go-
vernment were much 'to blame. in not inducing their sup-
porters to allow the debate -to be brought to a close at an
earlier period. The riOlt-.hon. hart.- also animadverted se-
verely on the conduct of the' government, in bringing forward
measures which they -must know they would never have it in
their power to carry out; With respect to the proposition
of laying a fixed duty of Bs. on the importation of foreign
corn, it would be, he contended, quite as well if they pro-
posed to have no duty at all, for such a duty would be prac-
tically no protection whatever. He did not deny that great
distress prevailed in the manufacturing districts, and that
distress was quite as strongly sympathised with by hon. mem-
bers on his, as by those on the ministerial side of the house ;
but he did deny that a repeal of the corn-laws would afford
any relief to the distress which was admitted to exist.—
In the hands of a strong and efficient government, he had
no doubt but the energies of the country would restore it to
its usual state of commercial prosperity.
Mr. C. 86,1,E1t designated the resolution of Lord Sandon
as a rare specimen of the most refined fanaticism, and stre-
nuously advocated the doctrines of free trade, more particu-
larly when, by adopting its principles, they were maintaining
old, and opening new markets for the produce of the indus-
try of the country. The hon. and learned gentleman praised
the ministry for their liberality in bringing forward the mea-
sures under discussion, and said that the people, in struggling
for what was most dear to them, never battled under better

The SPEAKER said he certainly was of opinion that the
motion of the hon. member for Oldham was not seconded,
and therefore he did not put it from the chair. He
paused for two or three moments, and he did not see any one
rise to second the motion ; if he had, it would have been his
duty to put it from the chair. (Hear.)
Mr. WAKLEY said he rose to second the motion, but
could easily imagine, from the noise which prevailed in the
house at the time, that the right hon. gentleman did not hear
him. (Hear, hear.)
The SPEAKER repeated that he heard no seconder, and
that was the impression of honourable members who were
near him.

Mr. FIELDEN.—In consequence of the debate being over
on Wednesday morning, I had not an opportunity of speak-
ing; hut I have written my intended speech in full, and sent
it to the newspapers. (Loud laughter.) Hon. members
might langh, but he thought a great deal of the time of that
house would be spared if members would write what they had
to say before speaking. (Laughter.) He had sent his speech
to the papers, in order that hon. members and the country
might know his sentiments on the subject. (Laughter.)