The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-03-20 00:00:00

s broken heac

injuries were the result
sed by the police.

The mob was u

mately dispe

SATURDAY EVENING CONCERTS.—The Ransford
family appeared before a large audience at the Concert-
hall on Saturday evening. This talented family form an
unrivalled trio, Mr. Ransford, Mr. W. E. Ransford. and
Miss Ransford—father, son, and daughter; the young
lady is a pupil of the Royal Academy, and her brother is
a member of the choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal.
Mr. Ransford possesses a powerful bass voice, which com-
bines the unusual accompaniments of sweetness and
modulations, attributes which told well in the song of the
" Fine Old Country Squire." The singing of Miss Rans-
ford is in the highest order of vocal skill, and when her
youth is borne in mind the impression that she is destined
to become, one day or other, one of our leading female
vocalists, becomes almost a conviction. She, as well as
her father, was encored several times; indeed, the per-
formances of the whole family were rapturously received.
But it is in trio that their talent is pre-eminently marked,
long practice together having perfected each in part
singing, the great secret of which is a happy adaptation of
each to the peculiarities of the other's voice and modula-
tion. The Ransford family must necessarily become
favourites in Liverpool henceforth.
GRATIFYING TESTIMONIAL.—On Wednesday evening,
the members of the congregation in Limekiln-lane Dis-
trict, Upper Tranmere, presented to the Rev. W. Francis
Taylor, 8.A., a complete silver communion service, con-
sisting of a flagon, chalice, paten, and baptismal font.
The inscription, in old English characters, a copy of which
is subjoined, speaks for itself of the estimation in which
he was held by all classes. Inscription :—" Presented to
the Rev. Wm. Francis Taylor, A. 8., upon his leaving the
curacy of St. Catharine's, Tranmere, by the members of
his congregation, and a few friends, as a small token of
esteem and sincere regard, and as a grateful acknowledge-
ment from the poor of that district for his unremitting
attention to their religious instruction ind spiritual wel-
fare. Limekiln-lane, March, 1849." "'The lecture-room
was crowded to excess, and it was truly delightful to wit.
ness the regret evinced by all, on his removal to another
sphere, having been appointed to Christ Church, Claugh-
ton Firs. Such should ever be the affectionate regard
existing between a pastor and his flock. He will have the
consoling reflection of having laboured hard in the vine-
yard of our Blessed Lord, and it is to be hoped with good
effect. The rev. gentleman, who was much affected, made
a beautiful and touching reply,

CAUTION TO"MERCHANTS" OF THE GILMOUR SCHOOL.
—At the York Assizes, on Wednesday last, before Mr.
Justice Coleridge, Henry Soulbv Melson and William
Moate, well known to the Liverpool and other guarditin
societies for the protection of trade, were indicted for con-
spiring to obtain goods under false pretences; there were
also indictments charging the prisoners separately with
obtaining goods under fraudulent pretences. The prose-
cution was instituted by the Leeds Guardian Society, sup-
ported by evidence from the Guardian Society of this
town, Mr. James Reay, the secretary, having proved the
handwriting of Melson to about 150 letters, signed by
different names. The trial lasted eight hours, and the
prisoners were convicted under all the counts. Mr. Jus-
tice Coleridge, in passing sentence, said, the prisoners had
been found guilty on the clearest evidence. He had never
met with so bad a case, and in a country like this, where
confidence in mercantile transactions was unbounded, it
was necessary, when a case was clearly proved, for the
court to mark its sense of the iniquity of the crime. The

sentence was, that each of them Amild be imprisoned one
year, with hard labour, for the conspiracy, and at the end
of that time, each to be transported for seven years on the
second indictments.

SERMONS IN
:STANT CHIT

AID OF THE

'UNDS TO BUILD A PRO
e./11. (11,12 Vll Pcnny w ..

NEW YORK.—On Sunday forenoon, divine service was per-
formed at St. Silas's, and a sermon preached for this
object by the Rev. Alex. Crummell, a descendant of the
African race, who has visited this country to enlist the
mpathies of the Britisl, -Mic on beb-

n pm. .alf of his poor
. .
benighted and oppressed countrymen in New York,
amounting to nearly 30,000. The church was completely
filled. Prayers were impressively read by the reverend
incumbent, assisted by his reverend brother—both an-

pearing at the reading desk and communion table. The
latter took his text from the Second Epistle of Peter, 3rd
chapter, and 18th verse, " But grow in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The
preacher strongly urged the progressive improvements,
nhvciml and cniritital that —e

God endowed him, With energy and determination. He
drew an affect:ng picture of the mental and general de-
basement of the unhappy race to which he belonged in

the city he had left. He had come to ask the peciple of
England for their aid, to enable these unfortunate people
to build a church. There were in the States of America
about 3,400,000 of the negro race, in the most abject
#e. Three millions of them were slaves. He was
'e tile son of # ' -

a slave, and as such had suffered much.
ills brethren were bought and sold as cattle, for the rice,
cotton, and sugar estates. Husbands were dissevered
from their wives, children from their parents, and all the
tender ties of kindred and Affeetinn

were, inaeea, no slaves in the locality from which he had
come ; but there was a strong dislike to persons of his
and the exclusive feelings of caste were as strong

apprenti

had never tasted

he rea.

freedom until he set his foot upon the quays-of
Liverpool. Every discouragement was thrown out to
prevent their improvement and well-doing, and every
effort made to induce them to leave their native country,
though their fathers had lived there centuries back. His
people could not sit in churches, except in obscure pews,
called negro pews, and the disposition was to keep them

ruction o

he negro roc

was forbidden under pain of fine and imprisonment, and
in one state of death. His wish was to build a church in
New York for his congregation, capable of accommo-
dating from 1,000 to 1,200 persons, who could now meet
only in a hired room. He asked for their nia 4.1,;.

assisting in this work, they would bless the oppressors as
well as the oppressed—showing them that the Christians
of England gave the latter their sympathies in their spi-
ritual destitution, and that it was not colour and caste, or
bondage and freedom, by which the destinies of men were
to be ruled, but that Christ was all in all. After stating that
several of our bishops had kindly favoured his views, and
permitted him to preach in their dioceses, and also that a
committee of management had been formed in London,

3n was

to his aui

Bd. The reverend gentleman was listened to throughout
with profound attention. His manner is simple and
pleasing ; his language copious, and occasionally adorned
by apt figures of speech ; his voice clear and distinct ; but
his utterance would probably produce a de(

,er impression

and gentleman preacheclii equallyvexcellent
in St. Luke's Church, when the sum of £22
ted. We are extremely glad to learn, that the
;entleman will preach at St. James's on Sunday
?.xt, for the same object.

L MEETEN

g of the Dock (

ld on Thursday. Mi. Alderman Molyneux, it ap-
peared, had that day entered into a matrimonial alliance.
Only five members drew up ; they drank the health of the
bride and bridegroom, and retired.
The Scotland Ward branch of the National Confedera-
tion on Wednesday night, at their annual meeting, passed
a vote of thanks to Mr. Henderson, the chairman of the
Dock Committee, for his conduct under very trying cir-
cumstances. Mr. Hodson, Mr. Smethurst, and Mr.
Roxburgh were re-elected chairman, vice-chairman, and
secretary (the two former representatives at the central
board) for the current year.

THE LIVERPOOL AND LONDON FIRE INSURANCE
COMPANY.—At a special meeting of this company on
Tuesday, two resolutions were passed, repealing so much
of the deed of settlement as disqualifies for the office of
director any person who shall not reside within the dis-
tance of twenty miles from Liverpool, and anything in
the deed restraining the meeting of a board of direction
elsewhere than in Liverpool, and also for the election of
an assistant board of management in London.
RATING THE DOCK AND CORPORATE ESTATES.—The
general vestry meeting of the ratepayers, convened by the
churchwardens, on the above subject, was held on Tues-
day, in the Parish Church of St. Nicholas, the Venerable
Archdeacon Brooks, senior rector, in the chair. Resolu-
tions were proposed and carried, receiving and adopting a
report issued by the Equitable Rating Committee, and
expressing the determination of the ratepayers to agitate
for the accomplishment of the objects proposed therein.
William Earle, Esq., appeared to be the only dissentient
present. He very emphatically assured the meeting,
that, try as they would to rate the dock estate, they never
would succeed ; and he strongly recommended the Equi-
table Rating Committee to hagia nearer home, by rating
owners of cottage property to the poor-rates.
WEST DERBY BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The weekly
meeting of this body was held on Wednesday, Mr. Roskell
in the chair. The Law-clerk stated that there were seve-
ral townships which were in arrears, some of one, two,
and three calls. The townships in arrear of one call are
Bootle, Litherland, Lunt, Ford, Orrell, Sephton, Toxteth-
park, Walton, and Wavertree—the three latter only a
part. Those in arrear of two calls are Great Crosby and
Little Crosby. Those of three calls in arrear are Faze-
kerly, Ince, Blundell, and Kirby.—On the motion of Mr.
Harrison it was resolved that proceedings should be taken
against the townships which have failed in paying in the

THE PHILHARMONIC HALL.—This spletidid building
will be opened in June, and it is expected that the in-
auguration festival will take place in October, fot which
it is hoped that Jenny Lind will be engaged. The pecu-
niary affairs of the new hall present a most cheering
aspect. The boxes are all sold, and the stalls nearly so ;
and the building will be opened, not dependent upon the
whims of a body of annual subscribers, or on casual
purchasers of tickets, but under the auspices of an aristo-
cratic and wealthy proprietary.
THE CHOLERA.—Six or seven fresh cases of cholera
have occurred here since Sunday, in the confined courts
of Chisenhale-street, extending from Vauxhall-road to
the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Three of these have
proved fatal; and in this, as in former instances, the
disease appears to have assumed a more malignant form
owing to the neglect of the surgeon in attendance on the
first fatal case (that of a rcr n), to report to the health
officers, or to ensure, by other means, the prompt inter-
' ment of the body. Of this more will probably be heard
by and bye. All the courts, thirty-seven in number, are
now under daily inspection, and are as thoroughly cleansed
as practicable in such a locality,
ST. PATRICK'S DAY.—The Roman Catholics (in defiance
of the often expressed wish of the authorities to the con-
trary) had their usual procession, and a miserable affair it
was. It was preceded by a spring cart, containing
Young Irelanders, alias dirty children, bedecked with
green ribbon, or displaying some sullied article of green
attire. Next came a large flag, having upon one side of
it the portrait of the great agitator now no more. This
was followed by a band in soiled military uniform, the
hats also en mililaire, and surmounted by red cockades.
About 100 men and boys, not more, decked with green
favours, straggled after, two and two, and accompanied
by a large heterogeneous rabble. Some of the men, but
not many, carried sticks, and all appeared more or less
intoxicated.

calls.—A letter was read from Mr. Owen, solicitor, stating
that he bad received the balance of thei bond from Mr.
David Griffiths, of Evertor', which he had paid over to
the overseers of that township.—A letter was read from
the Poor-law Board respecting the ill-treatment of two
boys by the schoolmaster. A letter from the school-

master was also read, expressing his contrition for his
offence. The following motion was made by Mr. Sidney,
and adopted, in reply to the Poor-law Board :—" That the
schoolmaster having expressed to this board his regret for
the complaints made against him, and promised that, in
future, the performance of his duties shall be agreeable to
prescribed laws, and this board feeling satisfied with his
acknowledgment, withdraws the call made upon him to
resign."

HISTORIC SOCIETY OF LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.
—The seventh meeting of this society was held on Thurs-
day evening last, Thomas Avison, Esq., treasurer of the
society, in the chair. Two new members were elected,
and the certificates of eight others were read for the first
time. Among the articles presented was a portion of an
oak tree, which in all was about fifty feet ling, and which,
with the roots attached, was procured a few days ago,
from the submarine forest, by the Hon. Sir Edward Cust,
of Leasowe Castle. Several coins, from the same locality,
were also exhibited, of gold, silver, and copper, supposed
to have formed part of the contents of a treasure chest of
William 111., in 1690. An extremely curious piece of
sculpture, in white marble, was exhibited by John James
Moss, Esq., of Otterspool, accompanied by an interesting
description. It represents most of the facts in the legend
of St. George and the Dragon, and probably formed a
portion of the Birkenhead Priory. It was procured from
the chimney-piece of a boatman near Rock Ferry, where
the sculpture was almost entirely concealed by a mass of
pipe-clay. A representation of it, for insertion in the
Transactions, is in preparation by Mr. Pidgeon. Four
other short papers were read by Mr. Brooke, Mr. Pidgeon,
and Dr. Hume, one of which was the notice of a valuable
mineral spring, within the limits of the " port of Liver-
pool." Specimens of the water were placed upon the
table, and a qualitative analysis of it was read, which had
been kindly undertaken for the society by Dr. Sheridan
Muspratt.
MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.—The annual meeting was
held on Wednesday evening, Mr. James Riley in the
chair. The following prizes were delivered to the most
successful pupils of the evening school during the last
three months :—Lower `elementary : J. M'Farline, J.
Almond, and P. Woodfine. Higher elementary: J.
Martin, Thomas M'Nally, and William Briggs. Lower
Slnglish : William Fitzpatrick. Higher English : John
Lawson. Lower arithmetic : J. J. Tasker, and J.
M'Carthy. Higher arithmetic : H. Johnson and James
Dixon. Mathematics : Richard Madge and Richard
Rider. Writing :A. Armour and P. Mc. F. Neill.
Adult landscape drawing; J. Davies and J. Williams.
Several of the pupils received certificates of merit, and
others were honourably mentioned. A long report was
read and adopted. The chairman said that although there
had been a loss during the past year, still the deficiency
was not such as to dishearten the directors. The di-
rectors thought that the pupils of the evening schools
had been receiving instruction for less than it cost ; and
they also thought that the pupils did not expect that the
evening schools should be considered as charity schools,
but that they should be placed on the same footing as the
day schools, and pay their own expenses. On these
grounds they recommended their successors to raise the
subscription. Several formal votes of thanks were then
passed, including one to the teachers, which was proposed
by Mr. Geoege Holt, and seconded by Mr. Thomas
Blackburne. The officers for the year were then ap-
pointed, Mr. George Holt being elected president. In
returning thanks for his appointment, Mr. Holt announced
that he had received from W. Brown, Esq., M.P., an
order for £250 ; and he held out the confident expectation
that the institution would ere long be out of debt. A
vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Brown for his munifi-
cent gift.

JENNY LIND IN THE " CREATION."-0111* readers will
see, from an advertisement in another column, that we
shall have another opportunity of hearing Jenny Lind in
oratorio, in which she is decidedly the greatest singer that
ever lived. The Oratorio on this occasion in Haydn's
master-piece, the " Creation," in addition to which she
will sing Handel's song from " Sampson," " Let the
bright seraphim." The other vocalists are Miss M. Wil-
liams, Mr. Travers, Mr. Whitworth. The chorusses will
be sung by the members of the Liverpool Philharmonic
Society. We may here mention that Jenny Lind has not
yet sung in the " Creation" in London, and that she is
positively going to leave England in three weeks, so that
It is very likely the last time that the inhabitants of Liver-
pool may ever have of hearing this inimitable vocalist.
UNSUSTAINED CHARGE.-At the adjourned borough
sessions, on Tuesday last, Mr. Samuel Mitchell. formerly
a partner in the firm of Mitchell, Heaton, and Mitchell,
printers, was put upon his trial upon a charge of embez-
zlement. It was stated for the prosecution, that in June
1847 the prisoner ceased to be a partner, but was em-
ployed as foreman and manager, and, as such, was autho-
rised to receive moneys, to be handed over to the cash-
keeper. The allegation was that he had received various
sums, to the amount of £5 6s. in all, which he had not
accounted for. Mr. Heaton, the principal witness for the
prosecution, was strongly cross-examined by Mr. James,
and admitted that the dissolution of partnership was
merely verbal, and that he and prisoner afterwards re-
ceived moneys mutually, and gave instructions relative
to the business. The prisoner, too, was still liable for
the old partnership debts. The Recorder, on hearing
the evidence, stopped the case. stating that there had
been a laxity in the management of the concern, but no
felony or misdemeanor on the part of the prisoner, and
directed the jury to acquit the prisoner on all the counts.
The result was hailed in the court with manifestations of
applause.

THE HEALTH COMMITTEE.-At the meeting on Thurs-
day there were present eleven members, and Mr. Tinne
occupied the chair. The inspector of nuisances presented
his usual report on their removal. Amongst other mat-
ters, 121 notices had been given to whitewash and cleanse
unhealthy dwellings, and 17 other notices to tenants rela-
tive to the abatement of nuisances ; 5 notices had been
given to drain cellars of stagnant water; 14 notices to va-
cate cellars, and 10 cellar informations, had been heard,
and convictions obtained; 16 lodging-house notices had
been issued ; 82 had been registered, and 226 tickets issued ;
and, on Wednesday, 17 lodging-house informations were
heard, and fines of 40s. and costs were inflicted in each
case.—On the suggestion of Mr. Parker, advertisements
and placards were ordered for the Corporation Baths, in
order that their advantages might be more generally
known.—The Chairman said he visited Paul-street Baths
the other day, and he was never more delighted with any
thing than with the cleanliness and order of the establish-
ment.—A letter was read from Mr. James Thomson,
councillor, addressed to the
_chairman, as follows :—" I

intend to build a house, stable, &c., at Great Crosby.
Three Liverpool builders have offered to execute the work
and find all materials for £1,500; but as you state that the

nine fewer deaths thaii on the.p4revious
of Asiatic cholera. But since the meeting of the com-
mittee there had been seven such cases, five of whom

week, and no case

proved fatal. They occurred chiefly in crowded courts
The other business was of a routine nature.

PRINCE'S PARK

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

EVENING SCHOOLS

A commodious and well-appointed school-room has re-
cently been erected in Miles-street, Peel-street, Toxteth-
park: Its purpose is that of affording the means of sound
religious and secular instruction to a class which at nre-

sent is very indifferently supplied with what has been
rightly estimated beyond price, knowledge. The school
is in the immediate vicinity of Dr. 111`Neile's church, and
e direct superintendence of the rev. doctor, a
e that must ee far to inqiirp itg yiprmAnpnt

is under

usetulness and prosperity. The locality, though until re-
cently decidedly rural, is, at the present moment, thickly
populated, and is daily increasing its inhabitants. It
is to be hoped therefore the wealthy portion of this com-
munity will see the duty they owe towards their poorer
neighbours, and that the latter, rightly estimating the gift
extended to them, will show their thankfulness by avail-
ing themselves of the opportunity thus afforded them of

_t high respectability in the neigh-
bourhood. Among this class were E. Cropper, Esq., (the
patron,) William Jones, Esq., John Grantham, Esq., Mr.
Campbell and family, Mr. Edwards and family, and Mr.
Arthur Steains, (the treasurer.) It was gratifying to see
that several persons of the humbler grades in society had
appreciated the design of the new institution by attending
to hear an exposition of its purposes and objects.
Dr. M'NEILE, having offered up a prayer, broached
his subject by saying that they were aware of the design
to establish an evening school in that place. The object

s was tc

descriptions to the working classes in that part of the
town ; in so doing they had announced their intention
and determination to supply such instruction on Christian
principles, and the immediate object of that evening's
address was to state what they meant when thpv cam

in on Christian principl
M'Neile) should make a f
iting on the general object of th
Knowledge is good for the human mir
• ---

place, he (Dr

to be w

igf is not good" : thatvv

W1111;11 .applieu ausolureiy. mind was made to be
employed, and it was right that all its mysterious powers
should be employed on the works, the character, and
wonders of Him who made it. And this duty was still
more urgent in a country like this, for if sound and useful
" " "ed, unsound would be. If they—

the friends of

ous educatio

that prominent place which ought to be occupied by them,
that place would be occupied by others. The working
man's school ought to be near his home, for, besides the
additional labour a long walk would entail on him after a
hard day's toil, there was the temptation which it was
impossible for him to avoid encountering. This should
be provided against. It was also an object to give his
wife and family access to the room, and thus additional
good would be conferred, inasmuch as what transpired
there might afford a worthy subject fir a fireside conver-
sation. These wero the general objects the promoters
had in view. The rev. and learned lecturer then pro-
ceeded to review the special design of the School. The
first great Christian principle they held was that all scrip-
ture is given by inspiration of God. Of this there was
evidence both externally and internally : it had stood
the test, and had resisted all assaults, and had come out
clear and strong, and they would not allow this principle
to be gainsaid at all : this was a fixed point with them,
and siiould any phenomenon in the heavens or fossil in
the earth suggest a difficulty, they would not admit the
fault to be in the Scripture but in man's perceptions—
this was another principle. Man's dependence on his
Maker was another principle—" None of us liveth to
himself, and no man dieth to himself." For whether we
live we live unto the Lord ; and whether we die we die
unto the Lord ; whether we live, therefore, or die we are
the Lord's" Romans, 14 c., v. vii. The dependent re-
lation of man to his God was powerfully exhibited—ap-
plying as truly to the inmates of the parish poorhouse
as to those of the Queen's Court. Man's life was not his
own, and what was more to the immediate purpose of the
lecture, his reason was not his own, not even that rem-
nant which had been left to him by which be compared
temporal things with things that are not temporal. The
impotence of man mentally, physically, in his various
positions of wealth and poverty, was clearly shewn. To
teach the pupil that his faculties were his own, was to
teach the natural principle, and what they objected to, it
was to prepare him for this present world only which he
mustsoo
of temporal k
But while instructing
to himctintgeach him that in the
thrioues
branches
power by which he acquired these was God's, was to
teach him on Christian principles, to prepare him for s
better world, to destroy discontent in the poor man at the
very root, and to shew the rich man his responsibility to
God. This principle inculcated that the end of knowledge
was not limited to this life, which is but a passing scene.
They taught man to consider himself as a creature pass-

March 20,1840'

ing away; he had his day's work here, but ;t ! but
his home. This world was man's field of isbnillhel
he might not expend the whole of his time in it. d beet
should endeavour to strengthen him both hand and
for his labour in the day ; and for this purpose they
to
him of the happy home which awaited him when he
ei.
labour no more. If this were the object of all on
very different would be the results of all the inew—c_„., co•
going on from what is really the case. The doctor 0
eluded with a few practical remarks having velwrif en'
the school, from which it appears that this schon.,pr,
tirely distinct from the daily school in connexion 'ffnu rej,
WlSTeile's church. Lectures will occasionally be denveTbe
and due notice of the time of delivery will be given' ;,0,.
terms of subscription to and membership of this pvens,_.ge
institution were advertised in our last number; tpf the
also fully specified in placards which were issued 1'
time.

THE WEATHER,
AS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS,

Throughout England the season has commenced most lasPv
ciously ; and accounts from all parts coincide in repartipg the
active progress of field operations. We select the follolos
from a correspondent in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as a fair sath'
pie of the whole :

" March 17.—The weather this week has been dry and fas')toll's
able for out-door operations, which are nearly broaothea
conclusion, and we may state never .was there a season ;,
the seed was sown under more favourable circumstances. t,
Letters from Ireland follow in the same strain, and in nu°to
ing the subjoined extracts, we cannot allow the opportuane
pass of putting in our protest to the remarks in the Cork le' te
about the potatoes. However advisable it may be to Pr°9l_„°
the increased cultivation of the wheat plant, we cannot see :1;10
necessity for the discouragement of the growth of potstee'
the ground that "the sad experience of the past,,, of course;
regards the disease, should operate as a curb to th.„,
cultivation in the present season, as it is clear that, 11
the manner in which last year's crop has been Preser:if,
this useful root has nearly, if not altogether recovered It 0
And it is also evident, that until some very different sYstlnt
introduced into Ireland than that prevailing at the Pres ,
time, potatoes must either be produced there to a large e.
tent, or the people must again be plunged in poverty ad std
;

01
"Cork, March 17.—The weather during the past weel,1s psi
been highly favourable for field labour, and great progrescoor
been made in the sowing of spring corn in this localiiy.
_„01,
plaints of failure in the growing wheat plant are daily becus 0
mg less frequent, and the alarm felt on this subject aPPlreid
be subsiding. Preparations on an extensive scale are
,b to
made by the farmers for plenty of potatoes, and it is roU!',o pi
be regretted that they should again revert to the cultivation
this root, and the sad experience of the past appears to 0r.:,.0
great measure overlooked by the majority of small agn'
turists in this county."
Waterford, March 17.—The weather is beautiful)" adil)
spring tillage is in a forward state: an unusually large br"
of grass land is ploughed up for oats and potatoes. It is yt
pected much more of the latter will be Planted this year tv'erf
in any previous one since 1845. Last season's crop kePt 0
well, and there will be an overplus for eating after the seed
.0
down. The wheat plant is not looking well about liere,,iiej
appears thin and weakly—in some places the seed was rti
in the ground by the excessive wet weather at sowing time:jilt!
Limerick, March 17.—The weather is all that could be cle'
for preparing the land for spring sowing. lab
Belfast, March 16.—The weather has been very favour
for farming operations, which progress rapidly.

CHURCH ORGAN PLAYING

A notion has always prevailed, which may more
perly be called a prejudice, that that noble instruwebi
the church organ, can only be played in perfectionjo
male performers. People have run away with the
ot,
that so vast a volume of sound requires for its produPos,
greater strength of finger and manipulation than can PA
sibly be possessed by females; and possibly, with rese;
to some instruments, of inferior or ancient construelli,
such may to some extent have been the case. The°„ce
ous improvements in the keying, however, which scie'il
has effected, have long ago done away with the necese
of great physical power in the player, if it ever existed
and we question whether the more recent extensive io;
ty
troduction of pedalling has not given an advantage t°
female over the male performer, such advantage collo
ing in the greater narrowness of the female foot, an",,ra
consequently decreased liability to touch two pedals w""
one note only is required.
The capability of the female to compete with the male
r'',o
ag
organist was proved in the trial which took place ju
the selection of an organist for St. Andrew's church,
o',
this town. On this occasion there were five compel° 0
eich of whom, whilst playing, were strictly kept Ertl
being personally recognised by the two judges, who, by
bye, were most competent to the task. Yet, with •
little hesitation, the palm of superiority was given "'iv
female—Miss Blundell—the present most efficient orgi've
ist, and a favourite pupil of the eminent Dr. Wesley.,.o
may remark, that the organ of St. Andrews, upon wil! .
ssthreumpeerfntormnsywiLth very
„proowyeerarfuelt;

. ..ne most modern imp. - .ch,
' and that it has two octaves and a half of pedals, wblo.
whilst they add greatly to its power of rendering the t'ij,
Health Committee can do work one-third less than the
Liverpool builders charge, I now make you an offer of
£1,250 to execute the work. This will leave the Health sic of our great composers, draw largely upon the 5'...
Committee £250 for profit, and also save me £250, and and the physical exertion as well, of the organist. ~ ia
will plainly prove that our Liverpool builders are a set of We had the pleasure on Wednesday evening last, impostors, and that the Health Committee can work for company with a few friends, of hearing Miss Blunu'it,
performance upon the fine organ at St. Andrew's, of a 0
so much less, and will convince me that I have been
wrong, and will set the question at rest so far as lam con- lection of sacred music, taken from Sebastian nacoil
cerned." Mr. Newland said if the Health Committee fugues, Handel's and Haydn's chorusses, Mozart's!' of
would give him the use of the staffand materials, he should Haydn's masses, a portion of Mendelsohn's Orater'c'ej
be happ3 to do it for the money. If he saved 10 per cent. Elijah, &c. ; and we have rarely had a greater Inu, st„e-
for profit, and 15 per cent. for contingencies, it would treat, and never a more convincing proof that fen:,:e 7h,
easily be understood how the work cr,uld be done cheaper.
an._ D.- lig. try, nius a A

- 7kritu to con. pot,
male for preeminence on this Instrument. In the
of this young lady this powerful instrument appears
nageable with as little effort as the pianoforte in the ba°d,
of a finished player; and her taste and precision are 40
mirable. Her full organ is as powerful as it 0)0'00
made by any performer ; and the delicacy of her P'i,„
stops is superior to anything in the art which we have
cently heard. Whilst upon this subject, we may rertia`oo
what a pity it is that so few congregations in our town in possession of opportunities of estimating either the rae,
,
rits of their organists, or the powers of the fine inSti,,r
meats under their control. With respect to St. Andrew g:
for instance, it is impossible, before a crowded congrePs
ot
introdu:m the power of the organ with all its st°P
An occasional weekday morning performance 10
the sublime sacred music of our best composers would,
a treat, which every lover of music in the congregs""4

Mistritt

Retus.

is The Rev. D. James and the Rev. H. Carpenter preach
respectively two sermons in Manchester, on Sunday
on behalf of the Church Missionary Society. itt
Last week, the Rev. H. T. Rees, curate of Holy To• ,
Church, Runcorn, was presented with a pocket cornitig
Becoming intelligent and worthy citizens. nion service, and a purse containing forty guineas, by
The school-room was first opened to the public on Tues- friends, on his leaving Runcorn, where for five years
day evening last, when the president, Dr. M'Neile, deli- has faithfully discharged his ministerial duties ; and
th
vered a lecture on the following subject :--" What we Bible class, over which he presided, took occasion to Pry
mean by giving secular instruction on Christian princi- sent him an address, and a handsome copy of the 50
pies. " Nearly two hundred persons were present, many scriptures.
of whom were re.m.„,—

, 15
AN AGED PLAINTIFF.—A man, wi.ose supposed as- t
102 or upwards, named Joseph Smith, and who reside 0
Brindle, appeared at the Police Court, at Chorley, °
Tuesday last, in support of a claim of 3s. upon Mr. VT,
lor, cotton manufacturer, for weaving two cuts of do',A
On being asked his age by the chairman, he said he coin
not tell, but he was at his mother's breast when the Pv-
came into England. He wp-

MANCHESTER 80R047C
signation of Mr. James C

1 a few months old then•
CORONER.—The recent re,
n, who, since Maneliege::

iorrn upwards of 50 candidates in the &I-4
The appointment of Mr. Chapman's successor was fi!„ti
for Wednesday, at a meeting of the town-council,
Mr. Herford, deputy town-clerk, was elected to the vac.d
office. The emoluments arising from the coronership
said to be about £450 per annum

NOVEL METHOD OF CATCHING A THIEF.—AIad inthf
nuts'
ber of Rufford, near Ormskirk, having missed a "11/
ber of duck eggs, and thinking they might have been tat'',,l
,
by a dog, placed a rat-trap in the nest. Early next mor°
the family were alarmed by a cry as of some Pe"

/ersoll:
in distress, and on proceeding to the duck cote, found
lad caught by the finger in the trap, and as he had Pile
his hand through a hole only large enough to admit orl
hand at a time, it was impossible for him to release hi°.
self.

FATA I

ACCIDENT

1' ORMSICIItIC.—On WednegCl67`t
on the railway near the Mlbe
street end, was repairing the iron rails, when one of tie
eougaionteitsycaomf eup,
smoke
handa,voiongpaissssoined f
passing dercoemastehe d, aeecognioseid,cLrel.?u:ot
quantity
and his fellow-workmen were unable to see the eng'l,-0
that followed, and had just resumed their work, when ,5
was knocked down, and fourteen waggons passed over
body. The other men fortunately saved themselves w'
falling backward.

The BishopolChester consecrated, on the 9th ~ntr
the new church of St. John the Evangelist, Ashton HaYhe's
Tarvin, Cheshire. The church, which is of stone, wit;s,
handsome spire, contains three hundred and five sittioru
more than one-half of which are entirely free. It 11';'"
,
been erected and fitted up at an expense of about
.E,3, cou0
at the sole cost of William Atkinson, Esq., of
.A51,„0,
Hayes, who has also endowed it with the sum of £1,u":„,
and £l5O as a repair fund, and has, at his own expense'
erected handsome and commodious schools and a parso'
age-house.

SELF-PUNISHMENT.—A well-dressed man, but 911,i
rently of unsound mind, applied for a summons again
himself, at Manchester, on Friday. He said, "I am
swindler; I have swindled my master."—Mr. Maud.
„,
asked him if he had told his master about it—The 6/r,
plicant said he would not take him into custody.-----„it
Maude : " Then I suppose you want a warrant again
your master ?"—Applicant : " Yes ; but I have to stag
that I am a public liar, and I want to be punished for tbs
too?" Afterwards be added that he wanted to fix his °,.rif
punishment for these various crimes, and he was ultims'e
197 removed from the witness-box, and taken out of court
a constable.

ATTEMPT TO MURDER A FAMILY BY ANINFEI 4l
MACHINE.--On Tuesday James Buckley was charged
..1.,
the Manchester Police-court with firing a stone gine-cl
beer bottle, filled with gunpowder and missiles, 51b,
closely covered with a copper wire, in the house of uc
Blackburn, of Lower Houses, near Aldmondbury. A
-110 c
one o'clock on the morning of the Ist ult. the prosecute,
was awoke by the breaking of one of the window pasta,
He was proceeding to get out of bed to see what it or,t
when a frightful explosion took place, breaking seceio
other windows, and shaking the entire building 0,40
foundation. Fortunately, however, no mischief was 'SO
to life or limb. On examination, the above bottle -,ecl
found with only the neck blown off. It was Pr°l4
that the prisoner had repeatedly written threatesos
letters to the prosecutor and his daughter, by who
he had a child. He was remanded.