The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-01-18 00:00:00

adviseC

erence

,t those who had little to spend in books, Sholli

lay out that little in the purchase of WORKS OF REFER-
ENCE. This was advantageous not only in a pecuniary'
point of view, but also as being a saving in time, which
he was then considering. As an example of what one
person might do, by dint of activity and system, he stated
that an individual whom he knew (he would not state whe-
ther he was then in the room or not) had, during the past
year, taught daily 'for four hours and a half, preached
seventy-six sermons; written two octavo volumes, (one
of which had been published,) three pamphlets, and two
thousand letters ; besides which, he had emblazoned four
hundred heraldic shields (a hobby of the person's
of whom he was speaking). In
.addition to this, he
was a member of about fifteen societies, committees,
&c., and from the 'meetings of two or three he had never
once been absent. His hearers might think that this wan
sufficient for one man, even if he continually stayed in the
house ' • but so far from this being the case, the person of
whom he spoke had, during the year, sat at the tables, and
accepted the hospitality of his friends upwards of three hun-
dred times. The rev.gentleman concluded by paying some
deserved compliments to the society, whose members he
was addressing ; asserted, that if he required assistance in
carrying out any philanthrophic object, by visiting our
courts and alleys or otherwise, he could not wish for more
zealous assistants than a band of the active and enthuii-
astic young men whom he saw around him.—(Applause.)
Mr. JOHN D. FINNEY, one of the vice-presidents of the

••••••-• 11 L 1.11.1, Lll CL.LL-L LLLL", Zt:eU, 4-own in tins
society, then rose and addressed the meeting. He said society by himself, and his successors, Mr. Connon, and
the rapid spread of similar societies is peculiar to the pre- our valued friend Dr. Hodgson (Whose unavoidable ab-
sent day. The sentence of divorce formerly pronounced sence to-night we must all regret), has not fallen upon
between literature and commerce is now being revoked. stony places, or among thorns, but into good ground,
We call this an age of improvement, and proudly boast of 'arid has sprung up and brought forth abundantly, some
the progress of science; but of far more importance is the thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred fold. Mr.
diffusion of a higher education and of thought among Haylock concluded by moving " The cordial thanks of the
classes who, a few years ago, barely knew their meaning. meeting to Dr. Hume, for his able conduct in the chair
It will tend to ameliorate the most fatal disease of our cities on this occasion, and for his services generally to the
—the exclusive worship of money—and to aid-the disse- world at large."
minaiion of a-better feeling among the different classes of Mr. E. EDWARDS briefly seconded the motion, which
the social state. CoMmerce has ever been the handmaid was carried amidst much applause,
of literature: Why should they not both clang the same Dr. HUME, in returning thanks, remarked that many
man for their votary ? The time will come 'when the of the services alluded to had been matters of pleasurable
nobler traffic—the exchange of thought—will be united duty, and were not to be considered as arising altogether
with its sister. The glories of medieval Italy are not for- out of the benevolent motives attributed to him.
gotten. Commerce will gain by its alliance with litera- Thd first part of the proceedings being now closed, and
ture and liberal thought. By some the opposite is main- Dr. Hume having retired—the room was. cleared for
tamed ; but they regarded men too much froth the machine dancing-, and the con-Many tripped on the " light fantastic
point of view. Most men need some change of occuPa- toe". till a late or rather an early hour. The ball-roe in
tion, and in most instances if literature does not supply it, had a most animated appearance, the more so from the
sensuality will. And could such be judged a more befit; great beauty of the fair sex who were present ; the amount
ting alliance ? Literature will gain by its union with corn- of which, we must say, was much greater than we remem-
- A. more practical tendency will be given to it, her ever to have beheld on any similar occasion. The en-
.oy their association in one individual, who will carry joyment too, of the_whole proceedings, was very much
_.s experience into the closet, or by the mercantile man, hei,glitened by the great good humour, and friendly feeling
being fitted to associate with the literary. You will be which evidently- existed. among all, those present. The
told that such societies as these breed a captious and room was as full as it conveniently could be ; and the re-
sneering spirit. Put no faith in it. The sheer philosophy freshments, which were most excellent, and we may add,
is incurably sick. Some men do oppose all established most abundant, were.supplied by Mr. Horsfall, of Church-
truths and institutions because they are established ; but street. Mr. Gribbins's was the band which played on
culture does not increase bat rather diminish their num. the occasion, and it gave every satisfaction. The arrange-
her.
All inquiry, conducted in a spirit of 'sincerity and ments for the Whole eVening's 'proceedings were well and
•

with scientific inquiries puts your relHous faith in danger
but heed_it not,_ Hold fast the faith, that all the revela

tions of God will ultimately prove harmonious, and it will
meet with its reward. Hitherto it has been so
Mr. BLENKINSOP, a member of the

udiciously arrange

.etk, then rose

[easures and

advantages of mental culture to men of business. When
the great master of eloquence of antiquity was requested
' "

In conclusion, we must say that this soiree is most cre-
ditable to the Mental Improvement Society ; and it is one
to which we shall look back with most pleas,
cences. We shall also look forward with plc_______
pectation to the next year's soiree; and, if we are not
greatly mistaken, all who
.were present will feel as we do

ant remini