The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-03-05 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

perceive that some facetious correspondent,
during the last few weeks, has been humorously com-
menting upon the proceedings recently (and, indeed, still)
being enacted at Birkenhead. His graphic and witty
sarcasms convey much both of instruction and reproof,
and will probably be read and remembered where more
sober comments would be passed over or forgotten. May
I, however, beg a corner of your journal to state that they
have not been lost, and have done some service in opening
the eyes of many in Cheshire to the madness and folly
which seems most unaccountably to hive seized upon
such numbers of persons, and who have been led away by
what I consider to be a sort of land mania that forebodes
no good. During the last few months, land at Birken-
head has risen to such an unnatural price, and so many
persons of small capital have purchased land at such
exorbitant rates, that, unless all former experience is
worthless, and unless some great miracle is to be per-
formed, I fear a revulsion will take place that augurs ill
for our future prosperity and happiness. Being myself
interested, though not very largely, iir the welfare of
Birkenhead, I must confess that it is with grief and dis-
may that 1 find many men of small means holding land,
purchased at prices which cannot, in the nature of things,
be maintained, and which, with accumulated interest upon
it, (for interest never sleeps,) will probably be their ruin,
and will do much to retard our future and permanent
prosperity. The grand schemes which have been pro-
pounded are fitter for a wealthy corporation like yours,
than for a mere suburb or adjunct of a large town, and
with a trade which has yet to be created. As to the
dock, about which our clever solicitor is now in Parlia-
ment, I would not
" Soil its honour, nor its new brocade,"

but with the opposition of the Liverpool Docks possessing
a surplus revenue of nearly .C 60,000 a-year, and with
waste and almost useless land, mere mud banks, selling
at a higher price than land in Liverpool close to many of
your docks and public thoroughfares, I cannot avoid
coming to the conclusion that many persons will be duped,
tthey are already,) and before long will inevitably be
fleeced. If men would really consider in time, much evil
may yet be averted ; but they are led away by visions
which can never be realised ; and if the present mad spirit
of speculation goes on, and the fever rages much longer,
the result must be a complete exhaustion and prostration,
or a premature pecuniary death. How is it that mankind
in these intellectual days so soon forget the terrible lessons
written in the bubble companies of 1836? Surely, if the
editors of the public press did their duty, they might dis-
courage much of that spirit of daring and tremendous
speculation which can only be called gambling.
I feel convinced that there is prosperity in store for the
whole Cheshire shore of the river, and for Birkenhead in
particular, if it is allowed to go on steadily and with
moderation. I will only add, that most ridiculous stories
have gone the round of the papers about wonderful sales
of land, which have realised a fortune at a blow; and if a
discount of 991 per cent. was taken from some of them,
they would be much nearer the truth.—l am, sir, your
most obedient servant,
Birkenhead, March 1, ]Bll.

OMICRON.

LIM HA RY Nc, TICE.

Israel's Ordinances Examined; a Reply to Charlotte
Elizabeth's Letter to the Right Rec. the Bishop of
Jerusalem. By Moses Nlaroliouth, of Trinity College,
Dublin. London : B. Wertheim, 13, Paternoster-row ;
H. Perris and A. Newliug, Liverpool ; Evans and
Ducker, Chester ; W. Curry, jun., and Co., Dublin.
THE excellent and usually intelligent lady, to whom the
pamphlet before us is addressed, is well known to many
of our readers as the talented editress of the Christian
Lady's Magazine. On a recent occasion, however, she
has gone beyond the usual duties of such a station to ad-
dress a letter to the Bishop of Jerusalem, insisting upon
the perpetuity of Israel's ordinances, and the necessity of
every converted Jew's fulfil ing bot't the letter and the
spirit of " the law" as delivered by Moses. In this
pamphlet she threw out, whether advisedly or not we
leave the world to say, a challenge to the church at Home
to answer her; and that challenge, on the part of the
Hebrew Christians of that church, has been taken up by
Mr. Margoliouth, in the pamphlet before us.
One of thechief ordinances upon whicliCharlotteEfizabeth
insists is that of circumcision, which she maintains ought
still to be the " outward and visible sign" of the converted
as of the unconverted adherent to the law of Moses. This
position is, we think, ably controverted by Mr. Margo-
liouth, who brings to bear upon it an irresistible array of
scriptural authorities, derived both from the old and new
testaments. Another ordinance insisted upon by Charlotte
Elizabeth, is that of the Jewish sabbath, which, she is of
opinion, ought to be kept up by Le Christian Jew along
with the Christian sabbath. Mr. Margoliouth, however,
maintains and proves that the old commemoration of the
day of rest, or of the deliverance of Egypt, is no longer
necessary; and that the converted Jew is bound ouly to
keep holy the Lord's day, as acknowledged in that dis-
pensation which he has embraced in lieu of the old law.
With similar scriptural weapons the author combats the
notions of Charlotte Elizabeth, with respect to the keep-
ing, by the converted Jew, of the fear: of the Passover
and other festivals of his people, maintaining that, in
Christ, all these have passed away, and that the Jew and
Gentile, who live in the faith of the Redeemer, are equal
and subject to one faith and to the same ordinances.
We can recommend this pamphlet to our readers as
one full of instruction upon the important subject which
it treats. The author has exercised great temper and
candour towards his fair opponent ; and has brought to his
task an array of scriptural facts and learning, which are
eminently calculated to throw light upon his subject. A
considerable portion of Mr. Margolionth's pamphlet is
occupied with an answer to several objections which have
been raised to statements made in Mr. M.'s former in-
teresting work, entitled " Modern Judaism investigated."

DARING ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY.-011 Saturday night
week, about half-past eight o'clock, a thief obtained ac-
cess to the vremises of Mr. Turner, liuen-draper, White-
chapel, by climbing to a stnall!landing window at the back,
through which he entered. He proceeded to a bedroom
and picked the locks of five drawers, in some of which
were valuable articles of clothing: These he strewed about
the room, his object evidently being to find cash, in which
he was, however, disappointed, as Mr. Turner always de-
posits his money safely in the bank. The villain was dis-
turbed in his occupation by a child taking a light up stairs,
when he made a precipitate retreat; leaving behind him
one of those weapons commonly called "life-preservers."
Complaints are made that the back of these premises have
long been in a very unsafe and filthy state ; and it it de-
sired that the surveyors should inspect them and cause
the owners to put them in repair.
INQUESTS.—On Friday, 'Airco inquests were held be-
fore the borough coroner. The first was on the body of
William Stevens, a child two years and ten months old,
who, whilst let alone in a room in St. Martin's-street,
came in contact with a lighted candle on the table, and
was so severely burned over the left side and face, that he
died in a short time after.—The second was on the body
of Robert Buchanan, seventeen years of age, and nephew
to Mr. Henry Cole, hatter, of 45, Blake-stre6. It ap-
peared from the evidence that the deceased was running
along North John-street, about a fortnight ago, and
struck against a cart which happened at the moment to
be passing through a gateway. He was knocked down
by the force of the collision, and had one of his hands
dreadfully crushed by the off wheel passing over it.
Lockjaw sedn
h''reisiTlay l art;st:rsTinh' tied terminated his suffer-
ings on ~y, e third and last inquest was
ihe b

med Catherine

pped and

of one

r.

arts placi

kg upon hi., iTmetwitely removed to the,
half hnd oat been- told him. Ile was eNceedingly chlivii I "
Northern Hospital anfl there died. Verdicts in accordance
to those present for the kind reception which they had I with the evidence were returned in the several cases,