The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-09 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH. BIRKENHEAD.

The congregation of this church have presented the
Rev. A. Knox with a beautiful cover and cushions for the
communion-table, with carpet, &c., as will be seen by the
following address and reply :
" Birkenhead, 30th December, 1843.
"TO THE REV. ANDREW KNOX, INCUMBENT OF ST.
MARY'S CHURCH, BIRKENHEAD.
"VERY DEAR SIR,—It affords us no ordinary plea-
sure, and we esteem it to be a very high privilege, that we
have an opportunity of testifying our sincere and increas-
ing attachment to the venerable establishment of which
your congregation forms a part.
" We are gratified that the sacred edifice in which we
are accustomed to worship has been rendered so comfort-
able and complete in its internal arrangements, by the re-
cent alterations ; and, that the general effect may be still
further improved, allow us to present to the church,
through yourself, a new covet, &c.. for the communion-
table. In doing this, we acknowledge the obligations we
are under to a bountiful Providence, and we heartily join
with this offering our earnest prayers that you may be
long spared to minister to the church in holy things, and
especially that both you and ourselves, following on to
apprehend those things which are eternal, may receive
from the God of consolation that joy and peace which the
world can neither give nor take away.
We remain, very dear Sir,
With affectionate esteem,
(Names attached as per Subscription-book.)
" Birkenhead Abbey, January 1. 1814.
"MY DEAR FRIENDS,--I sincerely thank you for your
very affectionate address accompanying a rich and beauti-
ful velvet covering, with other furniture for the commu-
nion-table in my church. Of the numerous offerings of
affectio❑ and esteem I have received from you from time
to time, I can truly say I value this most, because it ho-
hours the house of God in which it is my happy privilege
to minister unto you the Gospel of Christ with all its or-
dinances. I rejoice in your expression of sincere and in-
creasing attachment to the National Established Church,
of which we are members, believing, as I do, that it is a
pure branch of the Universal Church of Christ, built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, as a pillar
and ground of truth, holding forth the word of life, and
protesting against heresy. It has for centuries proved,
under God, a blessing to our nation; it is daily increas-
ing in life and efficiency ; and, I doubt not, is preserved
to become a still greater blessing to our nation, and to the
ends of the earth. May we value more and more the
means of grace it, provides so abundantly for our spiritual
improvement : may we often meet around that table which
you have so liberally adorned, there, in obedience to the
command of our Lord and Saviour, to celebrate the sa-
crament of his body and blood, in remembrance of his
meritorious cross and passion, who gave himself for our
sins, and by one offering bath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified.
" Believe me to remain, my dear friends,
" With much affection,
"Your friend and servant, for Christ's sake,
"ANDREW KNOX."

MEETING OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF BIRKENHEAD.
—On Tuesday evening the usual monthly meeting of the
Commissioners of Birkenhead was held at the Town-
hail, for the despatch of business. Shortly after seven
o'clock, the chair was taken by J. H. Greene, Esq., at
which time we noticed the following members present :
Messrs. Watson, Hind, Dale, Howard, Laid, Stansfield,
Pim, M'Nicol, Appleton, and J. S. Jackson. From the
proceedings of the committees it appeared, that Mr.
Walker proposed to sell 3,096 square yards of land, on
one side of Hamilton-street, opposite the square, at 235.
each ; that Mr. John E. Brine was recommended to be
appointed as general-surveyor to the townships:; that, in
consideration of the Corporation of Liverpool paying a
certain sum of money, a sewer and a road be made, and
that alterations to the new market be agreed upon. Mr.
Mallaby suggested that the Finance Committee should be
the parties appointed to sell, subject to a consultation with
the other committees, and that certain distinctions, which
he specified, should be made between the Improvement
and Road Committees. The Watch Committee recom-
mended that the constables should subscribe threepence
a week for the payment of a medical man to attend on
them during their illness. The Ferry Company reported
that there had been a continued improvement in the re-
ceipts, and that they would have a new boat ready this
month, to be called "The Queen." Mr. Mallaby stated,
that all the purchases from Messrs. Price and Jackson had
been that day completed at Chester, and that notices had
been served upon him, as the representative of the Com-
missioners, respecting the Birkenhead docks, which related
to the proposed sewer, the opening of the waters, and the
inclosing of the shore opposite the Woodside property.
The serving of the notices was, he said, a mere matter of
form. After the several recommendations had been
adopted, the meeting adjourned.
SEAMEN'S MEETING—MERCHANT SEAMAN'S FUND.
—On Thursday evening a public meeting of shipmasters,
shipowners, and seamen, was held at Seamen's Meeting
Room, Wapping, for the pnrpose, as stated in the placard,
of appointing fifteen trustees for the management of the
Merchant Seamen's Fund for this port for the present
year. pursuant to the act 4th and sth of William Fourth,
cap. 52. There were about 100 persons present. The
placard was signed by five shipmasters and two shipowners
belonging to the port. Mr. Evans, solicitor, was in at-
tendance. On the motion of Captain Ward, seconded by
Captain Jones, Mr. George Pryde was called to the chair.
Mr. Evans stated that a meeting had been held on the
day previous at the Underwriters' Room to elect trustees,
but he gave it as his opinion that that meeting was ille-
gally constituted, as the notice had not been given in pur-
suance of the act, which required that it should be signed
by five owners or shipmasters of the port. Taking these
points into consideration, he was of opinion that the ap-
pointments were consequently illegal. Mr. Evans then
read over the act of Parliament, observing that lest the
Corporation seal should be attached to the proceedings of
the meeting held on Wednesday, he had given notice of
its illegality before a magistrate, and likewise that a meet-
ing, properly convened in accordance with the terms of
the act, would be called to elect the trustees, and a deed
forwarded to the authorities, containing an account of the
the proceedings, and that if the Corporation should con-
firm the wrong appointment, an appeal would be made

against it in the C.onrt of Queen's Bench. On the mo-
tion of Mr. Samuel Reid, seconded by Mr. William Co-
nelly, a list of fifteen gentlemen was read to the meeting,
whom he proposed as trustees for the ensuing year. The
chairman having stated the qualification which was neces-
sary to entitle parties to vote, thirteen shipmasters and
shipowners came forward and attached their signatures to
the document containii,g the list of trustees. Thanks
were then voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated.
MERCHANTS' SEAMEN'S FUND.—On Wednesday
last, a meeting was held in the Underwriters' Room, for
the purpose of appointing trustees to this fund, in accor-
dance with the act of Parliament. The chair was occupied
by Wm. Potter, Esq., who, after stating the object of the
meeting, said it would be better to read over the accounts,
and then proceed to elect the trustees, which was accord-
ingly agreed upon : it appeared the receipts during the
past year amounted to £5,755 18s. 2d., and the disburse-
ments to £7,556 35., which had been paid in pensions,
&c., and which was independently of charges. The chair-
man intimated that there would be three vacancies to be
filled up in the list of trustees, occasioned by the resigna-
tion of the Messrs. Dixon and Mr. C. Horstall. A list
of names, including those of last year, with the addition
of Mr. George Kendall, Mr. Wm. Tapley, and Mr. Jas.
Ritson, was then proposed by Mr. S. Sandbach, and
adopted by the meeting. Mr. H. C. Chapman observed
that he had heard a great deal out of doors as to the ap-
propriation of the fund for the seamen, who imagined that
the amount received was not disbursed. He thought
there was no ground for such an impression, as the sea-
men not only got the money received, but the interest of
the £50,000 which had been so often alluded to ; if that
were more generally known, any bitter feeling which
might exist out of doors would be put an end to, as it was
a great pity there should be any dissatisfaction on the part
of those who deserved so well to be provided for. He
wished to know whether the accounts might not be pub-
lished in the local and other papers, and also in the Ship-
ping Gazelle. Mr. Tyrer observed that the committee
had in one or two instances been rather niggardly in dis-
tributing the funds. The Chairman said there was a scale
laid down varying according to age, and although there
was a discretionary power vested in the trustees, who
generally took a course rather in favour of the applicant
than otherwise, he bad no doubt the trustees would adopt

the suggestion as to having the accounts published in the
Shipping Gazette, and that copies might be tinted and
sent to the Custom-house for distribution among the sea-
men, or in any way that might be considered the most
desirable. Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and
the meeting separated.
LIVERPOOL MARINE SOCIETY.--On Tuesday, the
annual general meeting of the members of the Liverpool
Marine Society was held at the Clarendon-rooms, South
J n-street , for the purpose of transacting the usual busi-
ness. The chair was taken, shortly after two o'clock, by
William Potter, Esq., at which time there were very few
members present. Mr. Moss read the statement of
accounts, from which it appeared that the receipts, inclu-
ding the balance in hand last year, amounted to £12,358
13s. 5d., and that, deducting the annuities and other ex-
penses, there was a balance remaining of £ll,BBl 19s. 6d.,
£11,834 of which was vested with the commissioners for
the reduction of the national debt. The subscriptions
from honorary members had amounted during the year to
£l9 17s. there were twenty-seven marine members on the
books; and there were twenty-three widows, three cap-
tains and one orphan, receiving annuities from the society.
It was then proposed to make the annuities somewhat
higher, and to give to the twenty-three widows £l6 each,
to the three captains £2O each, and to one orphan £B,
which would make a total of £436. The chairman stated
that the average age of the annuitants, not including the
orphan, was 68 years, and that this age was such as to
make it probable that the annuities would be increased
during the next three years, even without any additional
receipts, thereby making the society more eligible for those
to enter who had not already entered. It was remarked
by one gentleman that the captains of vessels must not
be aware of the advantages of the society, or they would
join it in great numbers; and Mr. Moss and Mr. Rowett
stated that the immense amount of the balance in hand
(nearly £12,000) prevented many from subscribing, an
opinion being abroad that with. such a balance the society
could not possibly be in any difficulty. The trustees are
the Rev. John Gladstone, M.A., Thomas Booth, and
Joseph Brooks Yates, Esqrs. The following directors
were appointed : Wm. Potter, Esq, president, Alexander
Smith, jun., and James Stitt, Esqrs ; vice-presidents,
William Rowett, Charles Cotesworth, Duncan Gibb, and
H. G. Sutton, Esqrs., Capt. Thomas Ogilby, Capt. David
Smith. Capt. Si rovan, Capt. Teske', and Capt. Tummons.
NA illiarr. Huson, -Esq., was elucted treasurer; Samuel
MOSS, Esq., secretary ; C. S. Middleton, Esq., auditor;
and William Gill, Esq., medical examiner. The meeting
then separated.