The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-08 00:00:00

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE

The following resolutions appear in the " Minutes of Con-
ference" for the present year :

" LAW OF MARRIAGE

" Q. 28. What is the judgment of the Conference as to
duty of members of our societies in reference to the present
law of marriage ?
" A. 1. That, in unison with the general stream of autho-
rities, in both the Jewish and Christian churches, the eccle-
siastical law of this country, ever since the epoch of the
reformation, has affirmed the degrees of consanguinity and
affinity, within the limits of which the Divine Lawgiver has
prohibited marriage, to be such as are expressed or implied
in the 18th chapter of Leviticus ; and that, therefore, such
marriages alone are Godly and agreeable to the laws' which
are contracted between persons not included in those prohi-
bitions. .

" 2. That, from the same auspicious period to the year
1835, the civil or political law of England has adopted the
ecclesiastical view which is before stated concerning marriage,
by regarding all marriages within such prohibited degrees as
voidable by the ecclesiastical courts on proper process, com-
menced during the lives of the contracting parties ; and
since the year 1833, by pronouncing all such marriages actu-
ally void, without the interposition of any legal process
whatsoever.
" 3. That, on the great New Testament principle of sub-
mission to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, the
Conference is solemnly of opinion that the members of our
societies are bound by the law of Christ to conform them-
selves in all arrangements concerning marriage to the insti-
tutions of their country ; and especially because, in the very
form of their enactment, there is a national recognition of
the authority of the Divine will, as made known to mankind
in the Holy Scriptures.
" 4. The Conference, moreover, deemed itself now called
upon to declare, that by no means comely, nor of good re-
port, for members of our societies to repair to certain parts
of the United Kingdom, or to foreign countries, in the hope
of there finding facilities for contracting marriages within
the prohibited degrees, and without any intention of fixing
their permanent residence in those countries."

FRIENDSIIIP.—Thou may'st be sure that he that will in
private tell thee thy faults is thy friend, for he adventures thy
dislike, and doth hazard thy hatred ; for•there are few men
that can endure it ; every man, for the most part, delighting
in self-praise, which is one of the most universal follies that
bewitcheth mankind.—Sir Walter Raleigh.

- - -
" THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE."—At Manchester, on
Monday last, Feargus O'Connor addressed large groups in a
temperate speech. He was dressed in a fust►an jacket and
trousers, in order that he might appear as much as possible
to be a " man of the people.'
- • -

-- - - -
Our manufacturers of late years have become positively
insatiable; their avarice is unbounded—their powers of pro-
duction have increased two hundred fold—their means of
transit facilitated to an extent that has almost annihilated
time and space • three-fourths of the property that has
changed hands during the last ten years, has got into their
possession ; where they formerly lived prosperously on one
thousand per annum derived from their business, they now
drain ten; they have west-end houses, and country houses,
and villas at the sea-side, and yet they are still unsatisfied ;
we firmly believe Mammon has so completely blinded them,
that to expect them to pause in their unholy crusade against
every other class, would be to expect a miracle. Trade is
baniiiiihe
now carried on, not on principles of fair and honourable
000funapetition, but with a view to the destruction or utter ruin
opponents. Live and let live, has long since been
,_ from their vocabulary, and speculation, wild, reek-
ex tent, is the evil reck-
less, gambling speculation is now the prevailing system of
doing linable Over-production, and that to an enormous
globe—AmeriCa
that has deprived of our manufacturing system ; it is that
, tis of markets. Go into any quarter of the
Indies, North or South India, Australia, the West
Canada--or into any town in Europe, and you will
find cargoes of British manufactured goods glutting every
market ; and if everyimport duty now levied was repealed,
and you -continued to
you-now do; in twelie4no:ths, ifacture at Me same rate that
the same state you now
are, prtiomciearot! would be in eiractly
tress, for 'want Of markets for your productions. the greatest dis-

John Lacy, one of the borough police, proved being sent
for, about a quarter before seven o'clock this morning, to the
Boot public-house, in the Abbey parish. On entering the
house, the landlord informed him that a soldier had commit-
ted murder in his house. On going up stairs to a bedrdom,
the prisoner met him at the door, and said, " Lacy, take me ;
1 have cut her throat," pointing at the same time to the girl
Pearce, who was lying on a bed in the room the prisoner
came out of. Witness immediately seized him by the two
wrists, and sat him on another bed in the same room. He
trembled very much, and the upper part of his person was
covered with blood. He had no shirt on, only his trousers
and shoes. His face was so much covered with blood that
he could scarcely distinguish his features. There was no
blood on his trousers. Witness asked the prisoner what he
had done it with ? He replied, with a razor, and that it was
on the bed where the woman was lying. He looked among
the bed clothes for the razor, but could not find it, when Jane
Pearce pulled the bed a little up as well as she could, and
between the bed and the =tress he found the razor he pro-
duced. [The witness produced the razor, which was covered
with blood.] He asked the prisoner if he had any reason
for committing the act, but lie shook his head, and made
no answer. The prisoner also pointed out to witness his
shirt. On being produced, it was found to be covered with
blood, and very much torn. The quantity of blood on the
left side was the greatest. The prisoner washed himself in
witness's presence, but had no wounds on his own person.
He saw Jane Pearce lying on a bed with her throat very much
cut. There was also a cut on the right arm, another on the
right hand, and several more on her left shoulder, while the
bed and the room bore ample traces of the prisoner's crime.

Several other witnesses spoke to many other necessary
facts, and the prisoner was remanded for farther examina-
tion.

THE CASE OF M‘LEOD

(FROM THE NEW YORK INTELLIGENCER.)

On Saturday, ex-President Adams delivered a speech upon
the resolution concerning the case of M'Leod, which capti-
vated the attention of the house to a degree that might be
expected from the position of that distinguished member,
and his known familiarity with every thing that concerns the
foreign relations of the United States. Mr. Adams first
spoke of the apparent party aspects and objects of the reso-
lution before the house, and the debate in favour of it, and
of the strong condemnation which that conduct merited
which sought to make profit to a party, regardless of conse-
quences, out of a question which involved, or might be made
to involve, the issue of peace or war with a country perhaps
the most powerful on the globe. He then proceeded to say
he was opposed to multiplying issues with Great Britain.
We had one issue with that country (he was understood to
refer to the boundary question) where we were clearly in the
right, and she was clearly in the wrong ; and if we must
fight, we had better fight about such a question than about
one where we were in the wrong. For he desired to declare
in the face of the country and the world his opinion, that in
regard to the affair of the " Caroline," a due consideration
of all the circumstances might lead to the conclusion that
we were in the wrong. The question was, and always would
be, who struck the first blow ? The British, it is true, burnt
the boat and killed a man. But the question is, what was
the boat about, and what was the man doing in the boat?
The boat was engaged in hostile acts against Great Britain ;
it was employed in transporting men and arms to Navy
Island, in aid of an insurrection against the British authori-
ties in Upper Canada. We might go to war on this matter ;
and, after the blood and treasure of the nation had been
expended in support of it, we should have a peace. And
what then? The question would still be, who struck the first
blow? And were we sure we could find among all the
Christian nations an umpire, who would not say that we had
been all the while in the wrong ?

TOMKINS'S LETTER TO JENKINS,
ON THE MANCHESTER CONFERENCE AND THE CORN LAWS

(From Blackwood's Magazine for October.)
Dear Jenkins,—'Tis long since I wrote you a letter,
For which there are reasons—some bad and some better;
But I feel myself forced to unbosom my cares,
By the present position of public affairs.
The ministry, Jenkins, were not worth a thought,
But the measures that lately before us were brought
Demand on some points this familiar address,
Independent of what I may write for the press ;
For a pamphlet would pay, whether lumb'ring or limber,
With the title of " Tomkins on treacle and timber."

The event of the day is our great convocation,
To express the dissenting desires of the nation ;
And ne'er since the ark, if the truth be confess'd,
Entertain'd every species of beast in her breast,
Have there met such distinctions of horn and of hoof,
Such a motley menagerie, under one roof.
We had Presbyter, Papist, Socinian, and Quaker,
Quite unable to join in a prayer to their MAKER,
Yet as Christian divines here assembled together,
To inflame discontent, and to wish for bad weather.
What an atmosphere hover'd all over the place,
Showing equal abundance of grease and of grace !
What an odour of sanctity rose on the breeze,
Intermix'd here and there with that strong smell of cheese,
Which we friends of free trade often strangely exhale,
From our last night's debate over Cheshire and ale!
The whole thing was imposing—at least HEAVEN knows
There were plenty among us who tried to impose.
By-the-by our friend Stiggins was found every day
At the Temperance Tavern well moistening his clay ;
And few wonder'd to see how he stagger'd along,
When the flesh was so weak and the spirit so strong.
I had almost omitted the chartist dispute,
Which had very near pluck'd all our plans by the root.
But 'tis now quite arranged for our next celebration,
That we throw the door open and waive revelation ;
So that Socialist, Southcotist. Gipsey, and Jew,
With each sect and division of Turk and Hindoo,
Indeed all who believe in a god—or a goddess,
Be it mere naked REASON, all neck and no boddice—
Shall be suffer'd to spout, and invited to vote,
Without any distinction of creed or of coat.
It is thought that as yet it would scarcely be civil
To have such as confess to adoring the devil,
Though some hundreds were here, who, without any gammon,
Make scarcely a secret of worshipping Mammon.
The harangues of our speakers were well worth attending,
And the pictures they painted were truly heart-rending. I
Stiggins told us of many a family board, 1
Where of old he was oft entertain'd like a lord,
But, though one of the few whom they still kept a place for,
He now found the dinners not worth saying grace for.
Rich church-going folks might be pleased with their fate,
But dissenters were all in a pitiful state.
It would really have melted the ribs of a rock,
Thus to hear the good shepherd bemoaning his flock ;
Never hinting (to construe his words by the letter)
That he wish d the sheep fatten'd to fleece them the better.
In the course of discussion one point was made clear :
That if corn became cheaper 'twould not be so dear.
Perhaps nothing else was conclusively proved,
But from that proposition we cannot be moved.
Yet stay ! we demonstrated also, I'm sure,
That in this cursed country some persons are poor ;
And that, if both your cash and your credit are fled,.
There are few who will sell you beans, bacon, or bread.
Here perhaps you exclaim, "Why we knew this before,
And your friends have done nothing unless they do more !"
But Jenkins, my jewel, just mark what will follow,
Though here we'll tread soft, for our ground's getting
hollow :
Suppose that A. B. has a shilling a-day,
Which in bread and in beer goes a very short way :
Now, if bread become cheap, then his profit is plain,
Assuming, of course, that his shilling remain ' •
For no doubt if his shilling to sixpence should fall,
Why his gain on the bread might be nothing at all.
But assume, first of all, that these infamous laws,
Of a high price of corn are entirely the cause ;
Then assume, too, our wages and work still the same,
And I'll bet ten to one on our winning the game.
But to this, though quite right, I have one smaßobjection ;
It don't go far enough in the proper direction.
My plan, my dear Jenkins, cuts many milts deeper :
Pass an act to make EVERY THING just One:half cheaper.
Then you'll see, when the new golden age is begun,
That the poor man at once has his two loaves for one ;
While, instead of the gig that has long been my care,
I shall trundle along in my phaeton and pair,
And, Ten-Tumbler TOMKINS my nickname no more,
I shall shine as the hero that swallows his score.
Here again I assume, amid changes so pleasant,
My commission, and credere, still as at present ; -.1.
Yet the question comes back, our ideas to jumble,
Will our pay be as high when all other things tumble ?
In our corn-law discussions, a strange sort of puzzle
Has lately been meeting us right in the muzzle.
" You may injure the landowner farmer, and reaper,
" But your bread will be never a:halfpenny cheaper !"
These opponents admit all our rules of free trade,
Nay, they summon Ricardo and Smith to their aid.
" But at present," they say, " with so slight a demand,
" Foreign wheat only grows on the best of the land :
" Take away the high duties, and then in a trice
" Poorer soils come in play, and that raises the price."
I reply—that supposing the prices to rise,.
We'll export manufactures to meet our supplies ;
Thus at home and abroad we shall deal the same way,
Giving cotton for corn—with one difference you'll say,
That our farmers must buy from us—foreigners may.
How the balance may stand when we square our accounts,
Of our losses and gains the respective amounts—
If, in search of a market, 'tis prudent to roam
After poor Polish serfs, when we 'ye yeomen at home—
Whether, beating about at Odessa for barter,
We shall ever catch any thing else than a Tartar—
What would happen some day if on every wheat cargo
The Czar or the Sultan should lay an embargo—
Are points which at present I leave undiscuss'd,
But which
c Jenkins,ia ie sv earryi
ylfreeaolui
dt
srheaoedl
,de
we've
rwes i,
slylae
yt at
what
eeh
btat
tep
sot
thn
oe tyf r
iuwt si
still,tl
l.
.
TtheTtehnlougsl how shall we speak of the government scheme,
This hoax, this imposture, delusion and dream !
Which has done near as much as M'Culloch himself
To assign us a place on obscurity's shelf.
With their eight shilling duty paid year after year,
It is plain that our bread would be shockingly dear.
Then the change was mixed up with a plan of finance,
Where its fraud and its folly were seen at a glance.
But the thing that has fatally clench'd it and closed it,
Is the damaging name of the men that proposed it.
I for one never hoped to come speed in a trip,,
Wtth such Jonahs on board fit to sink the best ship.
No description can tell the sad mess that they 'ye made,
They have ruin'd reform—they have ruired free trasig—
They have ruin'd the business of Rag, Tag, and Co.,
And in search of new principals Tomkins must go !
Such a hatred and rage at the wretches I feel,
That to-morrow I send my adhesion to Peel ;
Though I grudge that rank tories, and rude country bump-
kins,
Should gain such a supporter as,
Yours,
Manchester, 10th Sept., 1811

ISAAC TOMKINS

The Leicester Chronicle, in noticing the effects of railway
facilities, states that not only are immense quantities of prime
butcher's meat regularly sent to London on Saturdays, from
that town, but potatoes, apples, pears, plums, &c,, are now
also sent weekly from Leicestershire to Hull. Sheffield, and
other large towns, in great abundance, to supply the wants
of the market gardeners of those places. "We last week
heard (says our contemporary) of one gardener only who had
a contract to supply upwards of two thousand strikes of
apples, plums, &c."