The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-10-17 00:00:00

CHURCH MISSIO4ARY SOCIETY JUBILEE

The design of the Jubilee commemoration is to honour
and acknowledge the God of Missions as the Author of
all success in our work. The appropriate topics of re-
flection, therefore, at such a season, are three-fold—
gratitude to the Lord for His mercies—humiliation before
Him for the inadequacy of our returns—resolutions for
the future. Innumerable are the special mercies which
call for a grateful commemoration. In the compass of
this address we can but refer to the great outline, ex-
hibited in a contrast between the origin and the present
condition of the Society.

On the 12th of April, 1799, twenty-five individuals,
clerical and lay, not one distinguished by rank or station,
met together to institute this Society, by laying down the
principles of action, and by mutually pledging each other
to pray for, and to care for, the Heathen. They sub-
mitted their plan to their ecclesiastical superiors. For
fifteen months they waited in inaction, before they could
obtain any notice or answer in respect of their proposal.
Contrast this recollection with the scene exhibited at the
last Anniversary Meeting, when the Primate of all En-
gland presided over an assembly which the largest room
in the metropolis was scarcely sufficient to accommodate,
surrounded by a goodly numher of his suffragans, and of
the representatives of rank and influence ; all uniting in
the sentiments of cordial attachment to the principles of
the Society, and of zeal for its interests.
We may contrast, again, thefacilities for carrying out
the design of the Society, in its early days, with those
which now exist. Then, all Europe was at war with
England—lndia was virtually barred against missionaries
—New Zealand was shunned for its inhuman cruelties—
the Mediterranean sea was occupied by hostile fleets and
armaments—in the West Indies, the minds of the degra-
ded negro race were crushed with their bodies. One
spot, the colony of Sierra Leone, invited by its openness,
but repelled by its insalubrity, the benevolent enterprise
of the fathers of the Church Missionary Society.
Contrast, with these recollections, the present openness
of the whole world to missionary enterprise—the easiness
of access—the frequency of communication—lndia not
only welcoming the arrival of missionaries, but reproach-
ing our slackness in not sending more. The fragrance of
the first-fruits gathered on her soil, and already waved as
a wave-offering before the Lord, invites us to reap the
abundant harvest. New Zealand has been won by mis-
sionaries to the crown of England, and to the visible
Church of Christ. The West Indies, having anticipated
their Jubilee, permit us to withdraw our forces to torquer
new countries. From all parts of the world invitations
arrive, which the Society is compelled to decline.

Compare the means at the disposal of the Society in
its early days, both in respect of labourers and of money,
with those which it now possesses. The founders of the
Society knew not where to look for men. They dared
not call for clergymen : schoolmasters and catechists they
hoped to obtain : or perhaps the churches of Germany
might furnish the zeal which was lacking at home. The
income of the Society rose by slow degrees. At the
tenth year, the amount subscribed had only reached
£2llB.

With these recollections contrast the present goodly
number of its missionaries-166 European teachers, 14
native clergymen, and 1298 native teachers. Reflect
upon our numerous training establishments for the sup-
ply of missionaries—at Islington, Sierra Leone, Tinne-
ielly, Travancore, and Ceylon. Survey the extent of the
field already occupied by missionary agency—the rising
native churches, the schools. the numerous congrega-
tions, furnishing more than 13,000 communicants.
This review will surely force upon us the reflection,
What hath God wrought ! " and the more fully we
dwell upon each particular included in this general out-
line, the more we discover proofs of the mercy and loving
kindness of the Lord, which call for our praise and
thanksgiving.

OUR FUTURE PROSPECTS

(From the Church of England Quarterly Review.)

What, then, is to lie done ? Not to let men utter
treason under the name of patriotism—not to buy the
co-operation of a priesthood inimical to us, and who work
against us in a base and under-handed manner—not to
allow cargo after cargo of arms to quit the ports of Eng-
land in order to be distributed in Ireland—not to allow
the time of action to give place to discussion, while every
man in the country has his musket and his pike stowed
away, and grins exultingly as he hands over his rusted
weapon to the policeman's hand. Neither should the
Ministry receive hints with a supercilious curl of the lip,
in order to act upon those very suggestions afterwards.
This is what must not be done; courage, firmness, and
decision, are the necessary elements which combine to
form a power that would be respected, and supported
within, and held in salutary awe without. We cannot
have our Legislature laughed at, nor its agents brought
into contempt ; but what can we do when they will bring
this upon themselves ? Shall we say, " Get ye hence,
and let us have better, wiser men ! " It is painful to
break up a dream of power—to blow into thin air the
bubbles of a fanciful statesman, however iris-bright be
the hues of that luminous spectrum. It is, after all, un-
pleasant that the cushions of St. Stephen should be found
strewn with thorns ; but we must not—we dare not—
tolerate the blowing of bubbles when interests so vast are
at stake.

If the Premier visit Ireland with an intention of seeing
with his own eyes and hearing with his own ears the
vices and virtues of a factious and turbulent people, it is
to be hoped that he will be benefitted by such a trip ;
and if on his return we behold that he is convinced of the
folly of some favourite Whig scheme which takes a me-
dium, much in the fashion of a " short cut " to save time
and distance, we shall congratulate ourselves and him
upon his change of views and the adoption of a new mode
of action ; we are satisfied that, in every way, all parties
will.be the eventual gainers. It is said that, as in gaming,
those who win do so at the expense of those who lose, yet
here is a case in point where all are gainers : and, in the
long run, even the factious, the dishonest, and the fierce
and fearless demagogue, when brought to his senses, will
perceive his advantage, and will end by acknowledging it.
If success be the test of ability—if obstacles are re-
moved and difficulties are surmounted, while the causes of
such fearful descriptions as have visited us are no more to
be witnessed—what, then, must we think of a complete
failure in all of these ? _ .

In pinning our faith upon the sleeve of a Prime Minis-
ter, be he who he may, we after all hang but upon a loose
hook. One cannot, and another will not, aid us in a mo-
ment when we are in a manner perishing. We have for
awhile lost sight of that self-reliance which, to a great ex-
tent, will make us independent of all such factitious and
questionable aid ; and when, after all, those who trusted
so fondly in the calm weather through which the vessel of
the Constitution was to sail, now behold the blackening
sea with a fierce and ferocious howl rend the planks and
scatter the cargo, and threaten to swallow up our valuable
freight, are we to sit down in a stupor of apathy and say,
" Useless all our endeavours—we have naught remaining,
and the last star is dead in the sky ?" Not so. The still
small voice comes to man, even in his darkest hour, in his
greatest extremity. " Arise ! and faint not ; look abroad,
and behold the indestructible energy which animates all
things. Hope and faith—those bright twin harbingers of
success—are around thee and before thee." And thus
we press on, for what cannot be done at one time will be
accomplished at another; and we, therefore, trust that a
better destiny will dawn for us than has been brought to
our homes and hearths this stormy year.

_
It is in this spirit that we do not utter the sweeping
condemnation that rests upon our lips—on the tips of our
pens. Seeing how decrepid and helpless (like an old grand
sire who happens never to have been highly respected) this
imbecile ministry crawls to its dissolution, we are in a
mood to part frotn it with a feeling of pity, for we may
pity those who force us to hold them in contempt ; and,
though a sentiment of anger at its absurd obstinacy—at
its immense obtuseness—has now and then crossed us, yet
we forgive it. We bid it adieu ! We are wiling that it
should sit down in the snug chimney corner and take no
more trouble in the affairs of the world ; at the most, we
would beg it as a particular favour not to trouble itself

Oct. 17, ILO.

about matters which concern us and others—nay, all men
generally. But it so happens that, like old people who
have an obstinate determination to do you all manner of
services which lead to annoyance and error—playing a ru-
inous game—one who, in his servile generosity, expends
the money belonging to other people, and who may thereby
be ruined—it is with this feeling that we implore them to
" let well alone,' and to give place to a ministry on whose
energies, talents, and straightforward method of doing
work we can depend.

With more hopeful eyes we gaze upon the future, and
trust that there we may find what we have so long vainly
sought. By the blessing of God, wno path guarded our
beloved land, our sovereign, and our liberties so far—vvila
hatb prevented the fearful propagandism of base and de-
signing men from taking root among our leal-hearted
people—we may look towards the next session with greater
joy, and behold that what has been wanting or wrong ill
this may be remedied in that.

ENDOWMENT OF THE ROMISH PRIESTHOOD

IN IRELAND

There is every reason to apprehend that the endowment
of Popery in Ireland has been fully resolved upon by her
Majesty's Whig Government. That negotiations were
going on between members of the Cabinet and certain of
the Popish Prelates in the sister isle, we have more than
once taken occasion to state; and it is now understood
that the recent visit of Lord John Russell to Dublin had
reference to that among other matters. One of the Rom-
ish journals has had communicated to it calculations of
the cost of this endowment of that which as Protestants
we cannot but regard as a corrupt and hostile religious
system ; and the following are given as the results :
Three thousand Curates, yearly salary each, £lOO per
annum £300,010
One Thousand Parish Priests or Rectors, yearly salary
each, £l5O per annum 150,001

Seven hundred and fifty town Rectors, yearly salary
each, .300 per annum 225,000

Two hUndred dignified and metropolitan Clergy, yearly
salary each, .e5OO per annum lOO,OOO
Twentu
ny-five Deans, &c., yearly salary each, £lOOO per
25
anm
_ - 000
_
,

Twenty-five Bishops, &c., yearly salary each, £3OOO

• 875,00 a
This we may consider as a very moderate computation.
The greater probability is that, with all its contingencies, at
least a million sterling will be required for the purpose.
Nor can we doubt that this will be granted—unless, in-
deed, a much more determined spirit of resistance is shown
to the wretched device, than has been manifested against
other liberalizing expedients of the same political school
during the last twenty years, whether in or out of Parlia-
ment. Many of the so-called Conservative party are
known to be favourably inclined towards it, including Sir
Robert Peel himself ; nay, some of them have already
pledged themselves to support it. And we suspect, from
an article on Ireland in the current number of the Quar-
terly Review, that this taint of that sad distemper which
has destroyed so much of the constitutional principle
which formerly actuated the Country party is spreading`
fearfully throughout its ranks. The arguments of tiler
Review are of the most self-contradictory character that
can well be conceived ; and yet there is a plausibility about
them which will captivate the weak-minded, as readily 85
they will suit the hollow-principled, of both the leading
parties in mere politics.

LIVERPOOL DISTRICT COURT OF BANKRUPTCY

(Before Mr. Serjeant Ludlow.)
IN RE BARTON, IRLAM, AND lIIOGINSON.-RE

;FIJSAL

OF MR. HIGGINSON'S CERTIFICATE.
On Saturday, the bankrupts in this case, M. R. Deane
and Mr. J. Higginson applied for their certificates.
Mr. Lowndes, solicitor to the assignees, appeared in
opposition to the application. As regarded Mr. Deane,
he considered that, as the managing partner resident at
Barbadoes, he ought to have shown more vigilance ill
allowing the house to go on, knowing it was insolvent, and
he, therefore, pressed that the certificate should be sus-
pended. He then, at considerable length, adverted to
the application of the bankrupt, Mr. Higginson. lie
opposed the application, for the Royal bank of Liverpool,
and other creditors, including Messrs. Hinds, of London,
on the grounds of reckless trading, and improperly pledg-
ing goods consigned to him for sale. Mr. Lowndes, at
considerable length, then entered into an exposition of
his grounds of opposition, and concluded by stating that
he was sure his honour would act with lenity ; but he-
trusted that, on the other hand, he would not be wanting
in firmness. He (Mr. Lowndes) hoped he would mark
his dissatisfaction at the bankrupt's mode of trading by
suspending the certificate of Mr. Deane for a reasonable-
period, and altogether refusing the certificate of M.
Higginson. He hoped his honour would pursue this
course, in order to show the world that even such princely
firms as that of Barton, Irlam, and Higginson, could not
conduct themselves as the bankrupts had done with
impunity.
Mr. Deane, on the part of the bankrupts, contended
that the opposition from the Royal Bank came with a bad
grace, as they were the parties who, by their extraordinary
advances, had been the means of placing Mr. Higginson
in his present position. They had led him into an exten-
sion of his West India trade, and had also induced him to
open a trade with China. Mr. Deane then applied for an
adjournment, in order that he might be able to produce
evidence in contradiction of the allegations made by Mr.
Lowndes.

His Honour declined to adjourn the case, on the ground
that the bankrupts had not been taken by surprise, and
that the examination being on the face of the evidence as
given by the bankrupt himself, nothing new could be
elicited. His Honour went at considerable length into
the chdrge brought against Mr. Higginson of overtrading,
reckless railway speculations, and extravagant personal
expenses, and then observed, that however blameable he
might be in this respect, it was still not sufficient to jus-
tify him in withholding the certificate as applied for by
Mr. Lowndes. if the case had rested there, he should
have only suspended the certificate for some time ; but
when the case of Mr. Hinds, of London, was considered,
he could not but listen to the application of Mr. Lowndes.
His Honour then pointedly referred to the pledging of the
goods of Mr. Hinds by the bankrupt, to whom they had
been consigned, and said, that when he found that in
July, 1847, the bankrupt owed Messrs. Hinds from £40,000
to £50,000, and had at that time property belonging to
the Messrs. Hinds consigned to him, he did consider that
the pledging of that property was a flagrant breach of the
Factor's Act. After some further strong remarks, his
Honour concluded by saying, " It has been said that this
is an ordinary practice. All I can say is this, Ido not
know many of the Liverpool merchants, but I cannot be-
lieve that it is a practice amongst them to pledge goods
consigned to them, as in this case. I therefore feel bound
to take cognisance of the objection urged by Mr. Lowndes.
I cannot in my conscience sign the certificate of Mr. Hig-
ginson, and I feel truly sorry to be compelled to say so.
The certificate of Mr. Deane was granted, and protec-
tion extended to Mr. Higginson for six months.

THE MERCHANTS' COFFEE AND DINING-
ROOMS, TOP OF EXCHANGE-STREET EAST.

This superb establishment is, assuredly, whether as
regards architectural exterior ornament, or interior deco-
ration and magnitude, a magnificent novelty in " the good
old town," and, we may add, without risk of contradiction,
is not in any point, in accommodation or cheapness as a
genteel refectory, equalled even in the metropolis. The
exterior, entitled " Lancaster Buildings," presents a fine
facade to Exchange-street East, of five stories in height,
in the Italian style, and rich in classical embellishment.
The coffee-house extends over the lower story of the pre-
mises, covering an area of about 200 feet in length, by
about 50 feet in breadth. There is also a neat back en-
trance from George-street, to which the premises
extend. The magnificence of the interior must be seen to
be appreciated. It reminds the beholder, on a first en-
trance, of the descriptions given in Eastern tales of fairy
palaces. The whole is divided into a number of compart-
ments, large and small, to accommodate large companies,
or smaller knots of private friends ; yet all is contrived,
with glazed partitions, that the entire space presents but,
as it were, one magnificent hall of entertainment, the roof
supported by two rows of elegant columns, with foliated
capitals, painted in marble, highly polished, while the
ceiling is formed in compartments or panels. The mould—
ings of the doors and cornicing are delicately gilded, and
when the walls (not yet perfectly seasoned) are prepared,
the effect will be splendid. It is well lighted by day from
front and back windows, and also by a large roof-light in
the centre : by night it is brilliantly illuminated by a
multiplicity of gas-lights, with globular frosted glasses,
which produce a bright yet subdued volume of light.

The establishment is intended for the accommodation
in food, wines, &c., of mercantile gentlemen and travellers,
and the charges are peculiarly moderate. The whole is
admirably ventilated, through the embellishment of the
ceiling, on scientific principles. The dining saloon is suf-
ficiently spacious to accommodate 300 visitors at a sitting,
and the premises altogether will accommodate about 500
persons. Besides the rooms stated, there are, on the same
floor, an extensive kitchen, fitted up with apparatus for
cooking by pure and unsmellable gas, a large bar, a chine
and glass room, and a room for the plate, which is costly
and elegant. The whole of the furniture is in keeping, and
is of polished mahogany, &c. In the smoking-room are
elegant marble tables and American easy chairs. The
plate, the delph ware, and the glass are all designed and
made for the establishment, by the most celebrated ma-
nufacturers in the several departments of art. The whole
bear the coat of arms of Liverpool, and the name of the
establishment. In the dining saloon, there are four beau-
tiful bronze female figures, elevated on marble pedestals,
and " acting" as lamp supporters. These figures are each
above four feet in height, and are truly classical in " per-
son" and in drapery. There are also four chimney-places,
or " Englishman's firesides." The rooms were opened
for the gratification of visiters in inspecting them from
Thursday to Saturday nig-tit, and during that short time
such was the attraction that at least 3000 persons visited
the premises, including many of the magistrates and
" merchant princes" of the town, who expressed their
high approval of the arrangements.
The waiters employed are all from London, and are at
once expert and attentive. They are provided with small
neat silvered coins, representing sixpences, and intended
as a check in giving change, &c. The wines are of the
best vintages, from the most celebrated houses, and are
supplied at extremely moderate prices. No expense has
been spared by the spirited proprietors in the fittings UP
in every department, and we may add that Mr. Feeney',
who is the manager, was the originator of this splendid
house of entertainment. _

The establishment was opened for business yesterday,
and through the day no fewer than one thousand gentle-
men there dined, or partook of refreshments, but at sow°
times, so great was the rush of company, that it could not
have been possible for the best waiters to supply all th°
immediate wants of such a multitude of visitors. Ili?'
will be remedied hereafter, the great success so far justi-
fying even the " doubling" of the number of attendants.