The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-13 00:00:00

MR. ALDERMAN EVANS.

Mr. ALlerman Evans is, it is well known, in profession,
liberal" of the first water. He has ever been known
as a thoroughgoing advocate of the rights of free discus-
sion—as an advocate of " the liberty of the press." Nay,
so far as this powerful engine is concerned, he has even
been known to dabble anonymously in authorship—to
creep behind the screen of the editorial chair, and thence
to fling his venom in the faces of his political opponents.
But, alas! the world has all along been mistaken in the
character of this most " liberal" man. The worthy al-
derman—the friend of free discussion—shrinks before the
first application of the knout to his acknowledged literary
offspring; and takes refuge in his abstruse knowledge of
a vocabulary which we cannot consent to imitate.
This amiable gentleman, defeated alike in the Dock
Committee and the Council, appealed last week, through
the columns of the Albion, to a higher tribunal than
either of these bodies—viz., public opinion. Upon that
letter we remarked—certainly in as respectful a tone as it
deserved—in our last publication. For so doing, we are
termed by him, in a letter since addressed to the Mercury,
(upon which we have commented at length elsewhere,) a
" mercenary scribe"—one with whom Mr. Evans would.
•not willingly descend to " bandy scurrilities." We cer-
tainly
do not complain of this. On the contrary we are
pleased to see our opponent exhibit himself in his true
coloUrs—put off the assumed garb of a gentleman. But
may we ask him—if he can keep his temper whilst we ask
him—in what respect are we " mercenary scribes ?" Such
a character, we have always thought, belonged to those
who, for yain, advocated any particular views, opposed to
their judgments and their principles. Does Mr. Alder-
man Evans mean to say that we have ever been guilty of
this baseness? We will not "descend" to use in reply
the favourite language of the alderman. We will not
"fling back the insinuation in his teeth with indigna-
tion," &c., for in truth we cannot feel indignation—we
cannot feel even contempt—we can feel only pity for the
utterer of a charge so silly and ridiculous.

Perhaps, however, we may he wrong in this. Perhaps,
Mr. Evans, in the course of his experience as a public
man, has discovered such an animal as a " Mercenary
Scribe ?" We trust however he has not been so fortunate
as to do so in Liverpool. In one sense, no doubt, he may
have found such. Editors are, we suppose, in general,
paid for their labours : but surely Mr. Alderman Evans
—this advocate for free discussion, and friend of the
liberty of the press—does not impute such payment as
disgraceful to the receiver. He would not have men who
toil in the endeavour to direct public opinion, to the best
of their poor judgement, aright, eating the bread of
charity and deprived of that feeling of personal indepen-
dence which that man must have who lives either by the
sweat of his brow or the honest exercise of his intel-
lect.

We would remind Mr. Alderman Evans that, by this
sneer against us—which is a sneer as well against every
writer for the public press—he is guilty of ingratitude the
most monstrous and inexcuseable. If there is any public
man, within the circle of our acquaintance, more
indebted than another to the patient indulgence of the
press, it is this very man, who is now angry because he
is kicked from the pinnacle to which they have aided in
raising him.

REPEAL AGITATION AND ANTI-CORN-LAW

AGITATION, ONE !

Conservatives have, as a body, been too much accus-
tomed to regard the league as a body agitating a mere
fiscal question. We have never viewed it as such. We
have looked at the constitution of that body. We have
seen amongst its ranks the most violent and bitter ene-
mies of the church and the institutions of our land. We
have detected in its proceedings a recklessness as to con-
sequences, which has convinced us that it is prepared, at
any moment, to associate itself with instruments the most
vile, and to embark in projects fraught with the destruc-
tion of the greatness, the peace, and the liberties of Eng-
land.

As a proof of the correctness of these views, we now
appeal to a witness whose evidence will be regarded as
tolerably conclusive upon the question. We appeal to
DANIEL O'CONNELL, who at a meeting of the Repeal
Association last week, thus boldly unmasked his own
views and the views of the Anti-Corn-Law-League !
" I rise," exclaimed the arch traitor, "for the purpose
of cheering you on with the assurance of success by
abstaining from violence or outrage. lam sure that what
I say will be heard and observed from the Giant's Cause-
way to Cape Clear, from Connemara to the Hill of Howth.
The ministry have set their face directly against tbeAnti.
Corn-Law League, and the Anti-Corn-Law League will
necessarily be driven to rouse the people of England—to
bring them to consider the constitution of the House of
Commons and the organic changes necessary. A reform
in parliament will necessarily follow the efforts of the
Anti-Corn-Law League to procure the enlargement of
the franchise, and not leaving the aristocracy of Eng-
land the sole dominion over the constitution of that houae,
and when they combine with Jo,eph Sturue and his com-
plete suffrage movement thei; will have ensured a triumph.
SUCH A PARLIAMENT AS TS AT WOULD AT ONCE TAKE
THE REPEAL QUESTION INTO IHEIR CONSIDERATION."
An An•i-Corn Law Parliament will at once take the
Repeal question into mnsideration ! Hear you that,
Conservatives of Liverpool? The object, for which this
conspirator against the integrity of the empire spouted
upon Anti-Corn Law platforms, in Manchester and else-
where, is now palpable—is now acknowledged. The Anti-
Corn Law League and the Repeal Association are one.
A second Lichfield House Conspiracy made them one.
The objects are common objects—the abasement of all
that is great and noble in the land before a rampant mill-
ocracy, and the prostration of your Protestant Church
Eintl your protestant liberties beneath the feet of a mix-
ture of intolerant dissent, of furious infidelity, and of
popery ! Surely you will be warned, at length, and awake
from the lethargy with which you have hitherto regarded
this instrument in the hands of Daniel O'Connell—the
Anti-Corn Law League !

RODNEY•STItEET CHURCH.—On Tuesday, the: 20th
instant, at noon, it is the intention of the committee and
members of the congregation to proceed to the election of
a minister. We understand the choice lays between Dr.
Freeland, Mr. Brown and Mr. Frazer.

THE DOCK TRUST.—We understand it is the intention
of the shipowners to memorialize the Board of Trade with
the view to alter the present constitution of the Dock
Trust, praying that the Dock Committee should be in-
creased to twenty-four members, the rate-payers to elect
twelve, instead of eight representatives, as at present, for
the purpose of deliberating on the wants and considering
the interests of their constituents, redressing their grieve-
ances, and attending to their legitimate desires, as well as
to counteract the present preponderating political power
of the corporation in the committee ; and to lay the foun-
dation for more salutary chanzes in the administration
of the dock estate, with the view to afford due protection
to both the bond-holders and rate-payers.

Council COLLECTIONS.—A member of St. Andrew's
congregation has favoured us with the following statement
of the collections at that church during the past year,
amounting in the whole to £514, namely :
Feb. 12, Church Building Society..
Mar. 25, St. Andrew's Schools
May 21, Church Missionary Society
July 9, Church of England Schools
Aug. 27, Church Pastoral Aid Society
Oct. 8, Diocesan Church Building Society ......
„ 15, Jews Society
Nov. 5, Scripture Reader .. 5_
Dec. 31, St. Andrew's Infant School 39
schoolspreach twocon n
esermonsct
edt
ho nt h Sundaye
church,
oe next, We are informed that the Lord Bishop of the diocese will
Mayor has signified his intention of being
Suor LIFTING.--Yesterday, at the Police
Haynes, were charged with being concerioedhboei
o of
fn
ro
.s k s s o.n.
Reynolds,,e
It
td
appeared
r boyoo
er o
af thetd a
that provision
aireof Robertde a
Reynoldse r ,
oujprlington-stree,
family present.c
ne court,
ralsoccasion
enteringnfmantt hh
ee
During their absence, and about seven in the
had left the house on Sunday
to aticnd
natwlh4naooondr:ssel:Bl:di
sp .
evening, a girl who lived in the cellar under the house,
and who was playing with some others in the street, ob-
served the younger prisoner and another boy coming out
of the shop, with each a handkerchief containing something
in his hand. They closed the door after them. The elder
prisoner, a cripple, who is suspected to follow the voca-
tion of " teaching the young idea how to steal," was seen
in company with the two boys that day, and was also ob-
served going in the direction towards the shop shortly be-
fore it was broken open. The alarm was given, ard
Haynes was apprehended by police-officer M`Taggart
(279) while running across a piece of vacant ground in
making his way towards Marybone. A handkerchief, con-
taining a quantity of copper money, which he bad thrown
down to disencumber himself, was afterwards picked up
near the spot. Four skeleton keys were also found, with
one of which it appeared the shop had been opened, and
again locked. The property missed was about twelve
pounds of tea and £2 ss. in loose copper money. About
61b. of the tea was also recovered, and the copper money
in the handkerchief amounted to 30s. As there was a
chance of the other boy being found, both the prisoners
were remanded, the witnesses, however, being bound over
to appear at the sessions, to which they will no doubt be
committed for trial this day.
LANCASHIRE PRESBYTERY.—Wednesday last was the
day fixed for the meeting of this Presbytery. On that
day the Rev. Messrs. Campbell, Rennyson, Cleland,
Foster, Welsh, and several elders, members of Presby-
tery, and other gentlemen, repaired to Rodney-street
church, the ordinary place of meeting. Mr. Welsh stated
that he had received a letter from Mr. Boggle, which
stated that Mr. Boggie had been in communication with
many individuals in connection with Rodney-street church
and that " the intention of the gentlemen adhering to the
presbytery of Lancashire
to hold a meeting in that church,
on Wednesday next, is diametrically opposed to their
wishes and will give them great offence ; and further, that
in their belief all those that attend such meeting will be
acting in contempt of the Court of Chancery, and, con-
sequently at their own peril." The presbytery, in conse.
gse uence, repaired to the vestry of Oldham-street church.
The Rev. Mr. Clugston, of the Free church, Forfar, was
requested to sit as a member of court. An extract of the
deliverance of the free presbytery of Forfar was read, agree-
ityr to the translation of the Rev. D. Fergusson to the pas-
toral care of the congregation recently formed and meeting
in the Mechanics' Institution, and this induction was fixed
to take place to-morrow. The presbytery then consented
to the translation of the Rev. Mr. Rennyson to one o
the churches in Paisley, and they unanimously expressedf
" their sympathy with Mr. Munro as to the interference
of the Presbytery of Edinburgh with his position as min-
ister." Robert Barbour, Esq., of Manchester, has sub-
scribed £lOO towards the erection of the church in Myr-
tle-street, for the new Presbyterian congregation, of
which the Rev. Mr, Fergusson is to be inducted minister.

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