The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-04-24 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL EASTER VESTRY.

'On Tuesday the annual meeting of the parishioners. of Liver-,
~,pnol was held, as usual, in St. Nicholas's Church, for the. pug-,
poise of auditing the accounts, and transacting the other husi-
neis of the parish. The Bev. Jonathan Brooks, rector, having
'taken the chair, and the customary preliminaries hiving been
t_gone through. Mr. M. D. •Lowntles' vestry-clerk, read the re-
-port of the select vestry, and Mr. 111ackiulay the statement of
accounts. _

On the motion that the accounts do pass,
SAICTI:LY begged to call the attention of the vestry to the
discrepancies apparent, in the same items, between the trea-,
-sitiges accounts and those of Mr. Mackintay. The latter. for,
idstance; made the workhouse account £1",311 7s. Bd., while in.
the accounts of the treasurer the same item was £l,lOl. He
could "point out a dozen' cases similar. What was the reason of.
this?

'Mr. MactuNr.a T.—There are certain salaries paid weekly by,
the governor of the workhouse for servants in his house. ‘These
• were originally paid quarterly, but fur the 'benefit of the indivi-
.-claals they are-now paid out of the monthly allowance to the go-
. vernor for that-purpose. There are still some -salaries, -five, I
believe, vaid.Weekly. I can refer to the entries of the paymeuts.
S 'Mr. ‘NTLEY.-- YOU save giving yourself unnecessary trou-
' bre. I want to know how the difference between the two state-
ments arises. There is the item of insurance, in one account
- £66, and in the other £77. That is not occasioned by the pay-
ment of wages.
Mr. MAN; trmAv.—The difference has been explained more
than once. Hear.) In Mr. Dickson's account are calculated
the amount of certain stocks, the items left unpaid by the late
• clnirchwardens. My account includes only cash actually re-
ceived and paid.
Mr. SA NTLEY.—Then the accounts.should be 'drain .np so
titat they may be understood. .f Hear, hear.)
DtticsoN.—There are certain stocks of provisions, cloth-
Ikc., remaining on hand at the early part of the year, which
are handed over to the other churchwardens as so much cash.

MT:"SANTLEY.-But how is it with the insurance?

Mr. MACKINLA Y.—The additionWilealimunt paid for re-
pairs of engines, which belongs to the department, though not
•otrietly insurance.—( Hear.)

EXPENSES 0F TirE "WORKHOUSE.
74r. Ftricn said it gave him great pleasure to learn that the
poor rates had diminished about £4)00 or £5OOO. That arose,
however, principally from a reduction in the price of articles.
By the adoption of proper regulations it was possible to save a
great deal more. It would be in the recollection of many of
them that at the last annual' meeting he, had objected to a large
sum charged in the parish accounts for tobacco and snuff, as
well as for wine, spirits, ale, and porter. He did not then bring
forward any speciho motion, because that was the first time the
items had been objected fo; he had, however, given notice that
he should take up the subject on another occasion. The sum ex-
pended for the two articles he had mentioned was very large in
1833,' but it was now above £lOO more than in that year. Tobacco
and snuff were useless, to say the least; and people did not go
to' the workhouse to get luxuries. (A laugh.) He was de-
cidedly against the workhouse being made a place of punish-
ment; it ought to be an asylum for the deserving porn.; but he
objected to the distribution there of unnecessary and even mis-•
chievous articles. Not one farthing ought to be allowed for
tobacco and snuff. Nor ought £5OO and odd to be allowed for
ale and wine. He had practised total abstinence for the last two
years and a half—(much laughter)—gentlemen might laugh,
but it was no laughing matter for the poor, who more needed
parish relief themselves, to pay for these things • he Said, he
held totally abstained from such liquors, and he found himself
better than ever. (Laughter.) Since the Temperance Society
had been established inPreston—(question, question)—it was
the question ; since the establishment of the Temperance So-
ciety the poor rates had been reduced from Is. FM. in the pound
per quarter, and this quarter there was no poor rate required at
all. ( Hear, hear.) So it would be in Liverpool if half the
attention paid to the punishment of crime was paid to making
the people sober. He moved, first, that the item of £2.37 for
tobacco and snuff be struck off the account; secondly, that in-
stead of the sum of £309 for spirits and ale, £5O worth should be
allowed for medical purposes. It Was not that they were so
considerate of the bodily appetites and comforts of the poor ; he
did not believe that the liquor was consumed by the poor at all.
A great portion of it, he believed, was drank by the select vestry
themselves. (Hear, hear, loud laughter, and cries of " It's
false.")
Mr. HARBOIin.—I call upon Mr. Finch to say whether I, as
one of the select vestry, have ever drank any of the wine or ale
he speaks of ?
Mr. FINCH.-1 know none of the select vestry as indivi-
duals. •

Mr. HARI:ORD.—you know me; and rsay that your state-
ment is perfectly false. (Hear.)
The CHAtemAN.--Mr. Finch has made his motion. Does
any one second it ?
No answer being► returned the chairman declared his motion
to 'be lost.

Mr. FINCH.—I object further to the sum of £659 19s.
being paid to singers and vergers. A great part of that, I be-
is spent in intoxicating drink. Whether I am seconded
or not I do not care : 1 have done what I consider my duty.—
(Hear.) I gibe notice that I shall renew the subject next year,
when I am convinced reflection will have produced a change of
opinion in many who now oppose me.
Mr. GIUBON intimated that the allowance was all appropriat-
ed to the sick, under the direction of the surgeon.
The'rn'otion, not being seconded, dropped, and the accounts
were passed.

OFFICERS OP THE PARISH.

Mr. Churchwarden TURNER then proceeded to move the ap-
pointment of the various officers of the parish, Mr. Tiune and
Mr. J. Lawrence being chosen churchwardens. and Mr. Wm.
Shand'and Mr. John Marriott sidemen, fur the ensuing year.
On the motion for the select vestry Mr. William Walthew,
on.the nomination of Mr. Knapper, was substituted for Mr. S.
Holmes. _

Mr. COOPER reminded the vestry of a motion passed last
year, for keeping an entry of the times of attendance of select
vestry men, with a view to remarking their eligibility to be re-
elected. If the vestry were regular in their attendance, the
outdoor poor might be greatly reduced. Three persons ought
to be present at the pay.meut of the poor, whereas there was ge-
nerally only one. (1-lear, hear.) He had been in the vestry,
and had attended slit 'Months without a colleague. Ile thought
that if persons took biffces they ought to attend to them. Five
or six thousand pounds might be saved to the parish by proper
attention, and the poor be benefited at the same time. If im-
priver objects were admitted, the relief would, become a curse
instead of a blessing. He moved that the resolution be had
referred to' be read.

The Vaster C Leek read the resolution. It applied only to
the board meetings of the vestry, and not to the quorums, to
which Mr. Cooper alluded.
Mr. Macau%r.av read the entry which had been kept in ac-
cordance with the above resolution. The number of general
meetings had been thirty-two, and the general run of attendances
was very exeinplary, several being as high as thirty. One gen-
tleman only had attended so few as three times, and he, as an
- equivalent, had been one of the most constant at the quorum
meetings. Mr. NI ackinlay stated that for the last five years he
had not had a select vestry that had attended better. He had
• seldom been without two, and frequently had three. Never
except during the week of the election, had he been left with
one. (Cheers.)
Mr. COOPER regretted the oversight in the motion last year;
and would now move that the attendances at quorum be noted
in the same manner as the general meetings, which was agreed to.
On the motion that Mr. Wm. Dixon be continued treasurer,
'synth the same duties and salary,
HAR BOK D objected to the motion. It was with pain that"
"leozlid so; but he was obliged to state that Mr. Dickson's dis-
position had invariably led him to frustrate the good intentions
and the exertions of the select vestry. He considered him very
-unfit to be the treasurer of the parish. He was sorry to have to
• come forward and state this of a man who was old enough to be
this father. (Hear.) In justice to Mr. Dickson he would put
his objection in a specific form, and adduce a particular instance
why he ought no longer to serve the parish. In consequence of
' the defalcation of a collector, it was deemed necessary to adopt
• a more efficient check in the collection of rates. lie was one
of the committee appointed to devise a plan for theurpose,
and a check rate bookfor the collect Ors was 'adopted'. They
met with great objections on the part of the collectors, who
showed much sensitiveuess upon the subject; but they never-
theless conforMed to the 'orders of the select vestry. Up to the
. present time, however, Mr. Dickson had not done so, though
requested officially more than once. Within the last few days
he (Mr. Harbord) had paid parish taxes to the amount of about
£5OO. He requested Mr. Dickson to giVe him the book, that
he might sign the counterpart, as directed in the tax bill. He
said he had never received IL This he thought very astonish-
ing as he had called at different times for several months, and,
had been t Id that Mr. Dickson had said he did not think he
should want it. The printer, on the contrary, had said that the
book had been left at the treasurer's office a month or two back.
• (Hear.) He had no doubt Mr. Dickson had the power of per-
forniing his duty, and therefore-it must be through wilfulness he
•had neglected it, that neglect having been the means of putting.
-the parish to an extra expense of £l2o per annum. The whole
of the duties performed in that office ought to be performed by
the treasurer. Ile had gone into the treasurer'idffice—it might
be said, perhaps, in a "jerry sneak" way, but for that, so.long
as he was performing his duty, he did not care; he had gone
into the treasurer's office frequently, and he generally found
that Mr. Dickson was either absent or reading his paper in his
private office, while the parish was paying him a clerk at £lOO
a-year, which they little thought was a permanent tax, as it was
charged under the head of " incidental expenses." (Hear, hear.)
He steiuld not think it prudent to cramp the establishment for a
clerk or two; but when he saw one person lethargic while re-
ceiving a large salary, and another fagging hard for his £BO
a-v-car; he felt it to be a great shame, and if he were Mr. Dick-
-8011 he would retire from his office. (Cheers.) He would,
-therefore, move that the office of rate-book clerk be discon-
tinued.
Harbord will remember that in the
report of the select vestry it is contemplated to consolidate the
office of the rate-book clerk with that of the late Mr. Forwood.
Mr. Ha e noito.—l think I have another consolidation in view.
for-Mr.' Forwood's office, which will effect a saving of about
£5OO a Year. The late 'Mr. Forwood has Si, condensed 'the
busineei that the duties of that office might well be performed
by 31r; Black for £3OO, or, if he is thought too old; souse other
person would be very glad to undertake it. I therefore move
that the Mike of rate-book clerk be discontinued, the duties of
that office to be executed by the treaSurer, and that' such trea-
surer be the present rate-book Clerk, Mr. G. P. Forwood. The
treasurer to -havea salary of f..:,100 a year, 'and to be allowed two
clerks, One tit' £lOO and the other at £BO. As a question might
arise respecting the large security required, I beg to state, that
though, being myself a large contributor, I ought to look care-
fully to-the tine protection of the parochial interests, yet, from
what I have-seen, I do not think it at all essential that it should
be so heavy. Collectors receiving.es much in -a day as Mr.
Dickson does in a year are not required to furnish anything like
the,sarne security. Two or three thousand pouuds. with two
respectable inhaLitants, would be quite sufficient. (Cheers.)
The motion was-seconded by Mr.•Cooeatt.

Mr: DICKSON said, he felt himself in a very unfavourable
--situation, having been taken so totally unprepared by Mr. Har-
bord. In such a situation it was not only difficult but might be
unhecoining in an individual to speak of himself. But having
been a quarter of a century in various.public offices in the town,
he could confidently appeal to every one who knew him, whether
he 'had ever shown anything of alethargic disposition in his.
public capacity. (Ilear.) No man hail devoted more time, and.
he hoped effettually, to the public service than he Lad. (Hear.)
El e was rather surprised, at the commencement of Mr. Harbord's,
-imPlications, that that gentleman should have asserted that he
hartopposied the vestry on any point. He denied it in totu, and
'he appealed to the majority of the vestry whether it was so or
,not. With regard to the check-book, he did not even know at
that mnmeut that the book was ready, or had aver been left at
his office. On the contrary, he had been lOW by the printer
thatit•would 'require a month or more to prepare it. And as a
proof that he was perfectly inclined to adopt the suegesti,,,,, he
had Made every othbV preparation for enabling the public to,
sign acknowledgments for receipts taken out of the book and
those of the collectors. (Heat-,) kle would just mentionovithout
intending to cast arty .that three-fourths of the
parishioners refused to 'sign any aeknoWledginents,of the kind.
Harhord had said,' that when he called to pay his rates he
had been told that the check-book wiyi nut ready. The printer
daad toll him' (Mr. Dic6orl)''that Mr. llarbord *as himself
Aivkitorders abont the boOk; and thatit would not be ready far

some time. He'had oSered Mr. Ilarbord an old check-book
with which they hadbeen going on in the meantitne. This he
declined. In conclusion, he repeated, that he doubted much
whether the•book was yet at kis (Ace; a messenger might easily
he sent to ascertain. _ .

Mr. HA RBORD.--I certainly declined signing on the back of
a book where there was no writing opposite the figures, and
which might have.been made anything of.
Mr. DICKSON.—YOU must be aware, as the father of the sys-1
tem, that you might have signed every individual check. Tbe
vestry should understand •that this system is intended as a check
upon the collectors. After the collector gives a receipt, be gets
from. the individual paying a receipt for that receipt. Out of
SOO persons paying, 249 only signed, 551 declining.
Mr. Hatteoen.—That was chiefly owing to the collectors,
who did everything to.frustrate the working of the-plan, aided"
by the manoeuvres of the treasurer.
-Mr. DlCKSON.—lnjustice to the collectors, as well as to my-
self, I again repeat that they have done everything to forward
the new measure.
Mr. C HOLM LEY "WOOLOW A R D.—Sir, I had not the least idea
that any opposition would be made to the reappointment of the
treasurer • but, in seconding the nomination of Mr. Church-.
warden iuruer-for that purpose, the Chairman then said it was,
seconded by Mr. G. Lawrence. I, sir, was not aware of that;,
but it will not prevent my doing what I consider an act of jus-
tice to Mr. Dickson. Sir, in the year 1628-9 I served the office
•of churchwarden, and for two years before and two after that
time I was a' member of the Select Vestry ; therefore I think
myself fully competent to judge of the merits of every officer"•
connected with the estabiishment, and I do not think that there
is one person of more sterling honour and integ•rity than your
present treasurer. Since I was in office there has been an alter-
ation in the mode of keeping the accounts introduced by each
succeeding vestry, some of which I consider most arbitrary and
unjust; audit is hard to expect that Mr. Dickson, after the length
of time he has been in office, would willingly accede to each,
new alteration. I beg to move that the present arbitrary sys-
tem be abolished.
Mr. Churchwaiden TURNER had never 'seen any disinclina-
tion on the part of Mr. Dickson to listen to any suggestion from
the churchwardens or select vestry. At the same time he must
say that it was not at all desiratile to abolish the check-book..
(Hear.)
The CHAIRMAN remarked that, as the question was growing
rather personal, it would be well to put it to the vote.
A show of hands was then taken, which the chairman declared
to be so equal that he could not decide. On a second show he
declared that the majority was decidedly in favour of the mo-
tion.

SUCCESSOR TO MR. FORWOOD.
Mr. Churchwarden TURNER then moved that the office of
overseer of the illegitimate department, vacant by the death of
Mr. Forwood, should devolve upon his son, in conjunction with
his present duty as rate-book clerk, and that his salary should
be ..CZO per annum.
Mr. GODFREY BARNSLEY, in seconding the motion, spoke
highly of the merits of Mr. G. P. Forwood and his fitness for the
office.

Mr. HARBO&t met the motion by a proposition, of which he
bad already spoken, for cotnbining the two situations under the
superintendence of Mr. Black. _
Mr. BARNSLEY -humorously remarked that his friend Mr.
Harbord was what was technically termed nonsuited on a point
of law—he was out of court. (Laughter.) They bad already
sanctioned and passed the appointment of Mr. Black, " with
the same duties and salary," therefore it was too late to think
of overhauling him. (Much laughter.)
The CHAIRMAN suggested that the better course would be to
wait in order to see whether the duty was properly performed or
not.

--To this Mr. Harbord consented, and the motion accordingly
passed.
SECRETARY'S SALARY.
_

The motion for increasing Mr. Mackintay's salary was then
brought forward and carried unanimously.

_ .
STATE OF THE WORKHOUSE.
Mr. BARNSLEY wished to ask one or two questions. With
respect to the looms for weaving at the workhouse, as a practi-
cal man, he wished to know whether it was in contemplation to
order new ones, and to adopt a more efficient system of ma-
nagement. If any alteration were to take place in the work-
house in particular, the sooner the better. The machinery now
in use, which was only fit for firewood, ought to be destroyed
forthwith, and uew machinery ordered, with competentpersons
to superintend it. They would not then be told, when they sent
their cotton to Manchester, that it was the very worst that ap-
peared in the market—the vilest possible description of the ar-
ticle. (Hear.) This was the fault of the bad machinery; for
he _could say, as a practical man, that the basis of all success in
that trade, in the pi esent day, was to destroy all machinery, and
adopt the •most recent improvements. He hoped the church-
wardens would take this subject into consideration.
Mr. GIBBON observed that the parish Lad obtained by weav-
ing last Near £6OO.
Mr. BARNSLEY expressed himself satisfied.

STIPENDS TO THE CLERGY.
Mr. WOODWARD wished to know, in case the contemplated
bill was nut obtained, how the clergy were to obtain their sti-
pends for the present year. He should move that the usual
stipends to the rectors and curates be granted for the present
year.
Mr. HENsn AIN seconded the motion, which was carried una2
nimously.

THE REV. JOHN MILFORD.
A petition from the Rev. John Pulford was presented by the
R ev,. John Platt, praying that the parishioners would grant him*
such remuneration for his long services as they in their wisdom
and judgment should think fit.
Mr. PLATT brought forward a motion, founded upon the pe-
tition, but without specifying any amount.
Mr. flutist's w suggested that the suns should be the same as
was allowed to Mr. Kidd, namely, £122. 10s.
Mr. KEET understood that Mr. Pulford had been in the re-
ceipt of about £6OO a year; as.%V hat the same as Mr. Kidd?
The CHAIRMAN.—Mr. Kidd was also a surrogate.
Mr. STANLEY moved that the parish make no such grant.
Mr. HARBOR!) was of opinion that, two years ago, there bad
been a vote of the vestry against any more annual allowances.
Mr. BARNSLEY confirmed the opinion of Mr. Harbord.
Dr. BAIRD said, Mr. Pulford had been reduced to a state of
body and mind in which nothing was more likely than the error
of judgment to which he had alluded. He spoke strongly
'against the parish, which was supposed to be comprised of men
of intelligence, respectability, and feeling, disgracing its an-
nals by the refusal to grant this request.
Mr.-SANiLEY, after what had been stated by Dr. Baird,
would say that bad the strict discipline of the church been kept
up, Mr. Pulfurd would have been ejected many years ago, be-
foke he had had an opportunity of growing old in the
isses.)
The motion was carried without a division.
PUBLICITY OF CONTRACTS.

Mr. SAN•'LEY moved that the accounts of the treasurer for;
the ensuing year should specify the particulars of each item, the
quantity,' price, and by whom supplied : in case of•contiact, the
name of the contractor.

Mr. Gibbon,-lii:*oodward, Mr. Ilenshaw, and Mr. Mac-
kinlay declared it would be impracticable to do so. A host of
additional clerks would be requ►red. (Hisses.)
Mr. Santley subsequently agreed to a modification of his mo-
tion, limiting the appl►cation of tke. principle to contracts of £2O
and upwards, in which shape the motion passed.
• CHURCH RATES.

Mr. BouroN inquired if any provision had been made for the
church rates for the coming year. A proposition had been made
for continuing the payments to the rectors and curates; be
wished to know if that proposition had been carried, and if so,
out of what fund the money was to be supplied.
The CHAIRMAN replied, out of the funds of the parish. The
churchwardens did not come for a general rate. If the local
measure and the general measure were carried through the le-
gislature, there would- be no occasion for a church rate in Liver-
pool. If that should not be the case, the churchwardens must
come for a rate.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and the meeting se-,
parated.

THE IPSWICH ELECTION PETITION.

(From the Ipswich Journal.)

The committee of the House of Commons have come to the
following resolutions :
"1. Resolved, that bribery and corruption did exist and were
practise,' at the late election for the borough of Ipswich, but
that no illegal acts have been established against the sitting
members.

"2. That Arthur Bott Cook, John Dessant, Esq., and John
Pilgrim, have been guilty of bribery at the late election, and
that A. B. Cook, J. Pilgrim, J. Bond, and R. B. Clamp, have
absconded in order to avoid the service of the speaker's war-
rant."

This decision, although not final, is a great triumph to the
conservative members and their supporters, because it throwS
off at once the misrepresentations and calumnies so lavishly
and undeservedly heaped upon them by their opponents. We
understand that the investigation has disclosed circumstances
infinitely discreditable to the supporters of Messrs. Morrison
and Wason, and which cast into the shade the trumpery cases
of bribery, about which so much has been said, and in which
the greater mural offence rests with those who laid themselves
out, or induced 'others, to accept the.paltry bribes! The ulti-
mate effect of the foregoing resolutions, we sincerely hope, will
be that of fixing Messrs. •llundas and Kelly more firmly and
permanently in their seats, and to relieve the disappointed can-
didates from the necessity of meeting fresh proofs of the indig-
nation they hare excited amongst all classes in this town and
neighbeurhood,rby their frivolous and vindictive attempt. The
committee, of whose partiality to their-cause the petitioners and
their supporter's so indecently boasted, and whose love of justice
they fondly hoped would have merged in party feeling; this
committee, consisting of reformers, after the most painful, not
to say tiresome, investigation, has decided that no acts of bri-
bery or corruption were practised by the sitting members or
their agents. What becomes then of Mr. Wason's vapouring
about 'protligacv_and, corruption? Where are the great discri-
minating powers of his mind? For it 'was boasted by his less
radical colleague, that if Mr. Wason could claim credit for any
thin,, it was for the knowledge he had acquired of the law of
elections, to which he had directed the whole energies of his
mind and Understanding, and that though less sanguine him-
self, he relied, with entire confidence, on the unqualified and
decided opinion of his more gifted colleakins! And a pretty
specimen we have of all his energies, and all his attainments!
The promised Work of a few hours, with all appliances and
means to boot; with two-thirds of The purse of his too confiding
friend, Mr. Wason has failed to accomplish in a few weeks,—
and m common with our readers we sincerely rejoice at his
defeat. But we have not yet quite done with him. Since he
cannot despatch his opponents he has determined to sell his
political life dearly—he is resolved to die hard. He has now
commenced a vexatious scrutiny into the validity of votes, and
has struck off thirteen from the numbers of his'opponents, they
having twelve to strike off Mr. Wason's numbers under pre-
cisely the same circumstances. We 'are also informed, upon
authority on which we implicitly rely, that there is not a sha-
dow of a Chance that the majority of the sitting members can
he effectually disturbed. The committee has adjourned for a
month. Doehts have been entertained whether. Mr.' Wason
(for Mr. Morrison is out of the question)will persevere under
so discouraging a prospect, but knowing the constituent qua-
lities and peculiarities of his mind and disposition, of which he
has guess so beautiful an example in his complimentary ad-
dresses-to ourselves, and knowing, as, every body else Must do,
that he necessarily despairs of finding any other constituency
which would, for a single moment, entertain his absurd pre-
tensions to be a legislator! a representative of the people! we
are convinced thaf,he will not desert the radicals of Ipswich
while he can catch at the straws by which they amuse his vanity,
flatter and deceive themselves, arid would fain hope to save him
from his inglorious fate.
The church bells rang merrily on 'Wednesday, when the de-
cision of the committee was known in this town.

THE COUNTY OF SUEREY.—The county of Surrey may well
be proud of the noble course of conductwhich it has pursued at
this threatening and important juncture. Almost ever` town
and village within its boundaries has breathed 'forth loyalty to
the monarch, and confidence in his able and faithful advisers,
and give strong. evidence that should another election occur
conservatism will be triumphant. Let an election come when
it will, Major Beauclerk will be discarded by East Surrey, and
a conservative colleague associated with Capt. -Alsager worthy
of his fellowship.—Surrey Standard.

INTERIOR OF A.CONVEiiT,

(From the 1304101 i Traveller.)

We have never knowt3.inquirJ so •frequent and eagerness
wrought up to such a degree for any publication, as for the
narrative of Miss Reed, which is to-be published to-Morrow.
The employments arid ceremonies of the inmates-of convents in
this country have hitherto remained shrouded in secrecy; and
-now that the veil is for the first time to be raised, curiosity is on
tip-toe to get a glimpse behind the curtain. ,We have solicited
an early examination of the volume and are'rit dilierty to detach
a few passages from which our 'readers may judge" of -the un-
affected simplicity of the style and of the nature 'of tire dis-
closures. Some individuals have ina the supposed contents
of this book the basis of a formidable "-conspiracy extending
into the neighbouring towns" and resulting in the final burping
of the convent. Others have supposed that it would disclose
terrible scenes of personal profligacy and inquisitorial tortures.
But all who indulge • such extravagant suspicions have entirely
misapprehended the character of the work and of its author.
Miss Reed is a native of Charlestown, and after the convent
was removed from Boston to Mount Benedict, she became at-
tracted by their eeremonies and the conversation of one or two
catholics, and sought an opportunity to be introduced to the
superior. She'was pleased with the interview, and soon• Visited
the convent .again, and not hing after was introduced to the
bishop. She remained under the influence of the catholics
many months before she was qualified to become an inmate of
the convent; during which time she had full opportunity to
learn their peculiarities. Of their power to work miracles she
says :
Previous to my .joining^the community, i - heard of• many'
miracles being wrought by eatholic priests. Mrs. G. brought a
lady one day in a chaise to show ,me her eyes, which were re-
stored by means of a priest, Dr. O'F. She, as. Mrs. G. stated,
was totally blind, but having faith in miracles, she knelt to her
confessor, requesting him to heal her. After touching her eves
with spittle anti. holy oil, she immediately received her sight."'
When she was told that the bishop had concluded to receive
her as a novitiate, the superior requested her to kneeldown and
take the following obligation:—
" I do with the grace and assistance of Almighty God re-
nounce the world for ever, and place myself under your pro-
tection,' from this day to consecrate myself to his honour and
glory in the house of God, and to do whatever obedience pre-
scribes, and tell no one of this obligation but Mr. B. in con-
fession."

•
After she was' faitly inducted, she was shown into the apart-
ment called the Religiense Choir; and-here the superior caused
her to kneel three times before she was suited. Miss Reed
proceeds:— _ . _

" After the performances were over,.which consisted of the of-
fice of adoration to the Blessed Virgin and prayers to the saints,
repeated in the Latin tongue, of which I knew nothing,.we
proceeded to the refectory, where we partook of our portions.
After sayint,'Latin, we kneeled and kissed the floor at a signal
given by the superior, on her snuff-box. Before eating, one of
the' religieust said, ' lu nomine domini nostri Jusu Christi,'. all
making the sign of the cross and responding Amen.' After
receiving our portions, we performed several devotions, such as
kissing the floor and repeating Latin, while the Angeltis'' was
ringing. We then went immediately to the community.' ,On
entering this room, the novices' kneel and repeat the ' Ave
Maria,' (hail Mary,) kiss the floor, and seat themselves for re-
creation according to the rules given by the superior, entitled
Rules by the Reverend Mother.' The following are the rules,
which were inclosed in a gilt frame, and suspended in the com-
munity; and it is the duty of every novice to read them,' at
least once a week:— _

1. " To rise on the appearance of the superior.
2. " When reprimanded, to kneel at once, and kiss the •floor
until the signal be given to rise.
3. " When speaking of the superior, to say our mother;
when speaking to her and to the professed chair religieuse,
mamere ;to say sister when speaking to the novices—of them,
miss; and of the professed choir, Mrs.; to saroar or ours, in-
stead of my or mine.,
•
4. "To say Ave Mafia' every time we enter the community.
5. " Before entering any room, to give three knocks on the
door, accompanied by •soine religious ejaculation, and wait until
they are answered.by three from within.
6. " Not to lift our eyes while walking in the passage ways;
also never to touch each other's hands. •
7. "'l'o stand-While Spokeli.fo'bir the bishOp.dr superior, and
kneel while speaking to them; to speak in a particular tone.
8. " If necessary to speak to' the superior fluting a time of
silence' approach he: kneeling, and speak in whispers.
9. "Never to leave a room without permissionrgiving at the
same time our reasons.
10. "To rise and say the hour't every time the clock
strikes, except when the bishop is present, who, if he wishes,
makes the signal."
The following are the written "Rules and Penances of our
Holy Father, St. Augustine," together with those of Saint-Ur-
sula, as near as.l can recollect. [hey are read at the refectory
table every week.
1. " To kneel in the presence of the biihop until his signal to
rise.

2. " Never to gratify our appetites, except with his holiness
the bishop's or a father confessor's permission.
3. " Never to approach or look out of the window of the mo-
'mastery.
4. " To sprinkle our couches every night with holy water.
5. " Not to make a noise in walking over the monastery.
6. "To wear sandals and haircloth; to inflict punishment•
upon ourselves with our girdles, in imitation 'of a saint.
7. " To sleep on a hard mattrass or-couch, with one coverlet.
8. " Tu walk With pebbles in our shoes, or walk kneeling
until a wound is produced. Never to touch anything without
permission.
9. "'Never to gratify our curiosity, or exercise our thoughts
on any subject, without our spiritual director's knowledge and
advice. Never to desire food or water between portions.
10. " Every time on leaving the community to take 'holy
water from the altar of the BlesSed Virgin, and to make the
sign of the cross.
11. " If a Reliyiuese persist in disobeying the superior she is
to be brought before the bishop of the drocese,and punished as
he shall think proper. Never tOsmile except at reereation,nor
even then, contrary to religions decorum.
12. " Should the honoured mother, the superior, detect a
Relight...se whose mind is occupied with worldly thOughts,or who
is negligent in observing the. rules of the monastery, 'which are
requisite and necessary to her perseverance and, perfection in a
religious life, she should immediately cause her to retire-to' her
cell where she could enter into a retreat."
Lvery Friday the inmates were requested to assemble for
confession to the superior.
" The manner is as follows :—The room is first darkened, and
one lighted wax taper plated upon the superior's throne • and
she is considered as filling ' the place and station of the Blessed
Virgin. After taking their places in the .greatest order and
silence, the Religieuse respond. Then the lecturess reads freed
a book called •Rales for the Ursuline Order, by Saint Ursula,
about complaining of the cold,nur clothing, food; &c. &c. They
sit on their feet during the reading, a postureextreinetypoinfia-
The reading finished, the superior whispers to the sisters to
approach her separately, which they do; each one on her turn
approaches, and repeats the following :
Our mother, we acknowledge that we have been guilty of
breaking the rules of our holy order, by lifting, our eyes when
walking in the passage-ways; in neglecting to take holy water
on entering the counnunity and choir; failing in respect to our
superior and veneration to our father; failing in religious de-
corum, and in respect to our vows—Poverty and obedience, for
which we most humbly ask pardon of-God, penance and forgive-
ness of you, our holy mother." As each • one finishes the
"holy mother" gives her advice and penances, and her blessing;
they then kiss her feet, and sometimes make the cross with their
tongues on the floor; then making their inclination; they retire
to the choir to perform their penances."
" After they are all assembled in the choir, the superior says
Kyrie eleison ; and they all answer, Kyrie eleison, • the superior
says, Christe eleison, and they answer, Christe eleison, &c. &c.
She then says Litany to the Saints in Latin, beginning with
"Sancta blade," and they respond, " Ora, pro nobis,, ' &c.
&c. This ceremony is -very solemn. It is performed until
eight o'clock, a.m., when we receiveour portion sitting on the
floor."
As the priests are not allowed to marry, it would be beneath
their dignity and holy calling to manifest any feeling or sym-
pathy for children. At least we are to infer this from the fol-
lowing passage :
" 1 will here relate a conversation of the bishop with the'
superior at recreation hour, respecting the pope, &c. After
talking awhile in French he said he had received a long letter
from the pope, in which his holiness congratulated him' for his
success in establishing the true religion in the United States,'
and made him offers of money to advance the interest of the,
catholic church, and more firmly establish it in America, &C.
The bishop then spoke of the orthodox in Boston, and said, Dr.
B. had got himself into a 'hornet's nest,' from which he could
not extricate himself. The superior named-a sermon deliiered
in the North Church by an episcopalian, and said they must
look out or THEY would get themselves into hornet's nest.'
The bishop mentioned the visit of Dr. O'F. at Dr. B.'s, and
said that Dr. OT. had scarcely an opportunity to say a word,
on account of the noise and crying of the children which were
in the room, and with which lir. B. was playing; said he ap-
peared more engaged with the children than with the subjects
of religion, &c. bliss Mary John, the mother assistant, ex-
claimed, Is it possible, my lord, that a man of God is treated 1
in such a way by heretics ?" Yes,'•said the bishop, none hut
he that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the
Lord ; but he that is married careth' for the things that are of
the world, how he may please his wife.' rhe superior said; Dr.
B. possessed very little sense, and had a weak mind. The
bishop said that the dcietor by the course he had taken, had made
' many converts to catholicism; ' And perhaps,' said the superior,
'he is a weak instrument in the hands of God to bring about
good.'"
*ln the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. When opportunity
offered,.l asked the superior to explain the meaning. She said
in a very solemn manner, "You must not, my dear Sister, give
way to curiosity. Do younot recollect it is against the rules for
a Religieuse to do so ?" I answered, "Yes, Maniere!" and
complied at once, Kby kissing the floor,) when she obserYed:
"A lteligieuse should never have a will of her own : as she
grew in perfection in order, she would understand what these
words meant; it will be revealed to you when vim are deserv-
ing." She taught ine to believe that the " OtfiCe of the Blessed
Virgin," (which was in Latin, and which we all repeated,
without understanding it,) was none other than that chanted in
heaven by the saints, around the throne of the Almighty, and
called the sweet communion of All Saints.'

t The Hour.-0 sacred heart of Jesus! always united 'to the
will of thy Father, grant that ours may be sweetly united in
thine. Heart of Mary, an asylum in th!land of our captivity,
procure for us the happy lihertyof the children of Jesus. May
the souls of the faithful departed through the merits of Christ,
and the mercies of God, rest in peace. -Amen." The above
is what is called an Hour; there is a different, though similar
one, for each of the twenty-four hours in the day. They are
written and placed in two gilt frames, over the mantle-piece;
twelve over the' heart of .Mary in one, and twelve over the heart
of Jesus in the other. Every time the clock strikes, the one
whose turn it is to lecture vises and says one of them.

SIR ROBERT PEEL—If we may judge by the 'enthusiastic
applause with which' the toasts of "The Duke of Wellington"
and "Sir Robert Peel" were bailed last night at the Mansion-
house, with Out a single dissentient voice, we should pronounce
that the regret for the loss of the late Ministers, is unbounded.
The circumstance was the more striking, as a previous toast
(which is one of routine), of his Majesty's.present ministers,
was loudly hissed by a considerable portion of the company,
which, however, was composed of people of all shades of:politics.
In point of fact, there is not a -single name in fhe present
'cabinet which the publiC has ever looked upon with regard, or
esteem, or admiration. It has, from its manifest mediocrity,
already acquired the title of the humdrum cabinet.—(Times.)
MAIER'S THEATRICALS.—At Algiers, the French papers tell
us, M. Decosta has relinquished the management on account of
the weather being too hot and the public too cold !—Le Pandora.
CootNEy •KnowLEDGE!—The other day a cockney bagman,
'beatiling intelligence from both eyes, daikened the door of a
respectable' house in Queen-street, and making his best bow to
the partners, hoped they were " wery Well." After business
matters had been dispatched, our friend pf Cockaigne, rubbing
his hands,'"and looking exceedingly knowing, entered into a
familiar disquisition anent the grandeur and picturesque sub,
limities of Scottish scenery,—the heights of various of the
mountains, &c.,. concludedthus-'--" by the way, gentlemen, I
have never been at the 'summit of Ailsa Crag, Lo.hfomund, or
lienlomond, which of the three is the highest?"