The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-03-08 00:00:00

SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB.

ANNUAL MEETING.—The annual meeting of the subscribers
to this benevolent institution was held on Wednesday, in the
school-room of the establishment. By half-past twelve o'clock
a brilliant congregation of lathes and gentlemen had assembled
to witness the examination of the children.

On the motion of Mr. Comer, seconded by Mr. Rathbone,
Mr. Thomas Brockhurst Barclay took the chair. Mr. Barclay,
in opening the meeting, regretted that in the abSence of Mr.
Campbell, the regular chairman, he was called to a situation to
which he could not do that justice which his feelings would
prompt, and which the interests of such an institution demanded.
Mr. Campbell had, however, kindly put into the shape of a
written report all the necessary information, and he (Mr. B.)
trusted that the interesting nature of the forthcoming examina-
tion of the children would amply compensate for any deficiency
to which circumstances subjected them.
Mr. CoSiEn, at the request of the chairman, read the report
and Mr. Rathbone read over the accounts for the last year.—
The report stated, that the debt due to the treasurer amounted
to £324, and that The income of the institution was still inade-
quate to its expenditure by about £6O per annum. It adverted
to the beneficial exertions of the ladies' committee, and ob-
served, that the lodgingrooms for the poorer children had al-
ready been productive of the most important benefit to those
who 'had availed themselves of their advantages. Reference
was also made to the children who had left the school to enter
into trades, several of whom are filling their situations efficiently,
and to the entire satisfaction of their employers; thus showing,
that the unfortunate deaf and dumb, after receiving due in-
struction, are found to be quite capable of acquiring the know-
ledge of handicraft trades, and thus earning an honest subsist-
ence—an object of the greatest importance. The present num-
ber of pupils is 35.
Rev. J. ASPINALL said, although about to move the adoption
of the report which the meeting had just heard, yet he could
not help remarking that its tone was somewhat desponding—
perhaps some of them would think too much so under existing
circumstances. That the last year had not been as fertile in
additional support to our shool as they fondly anticipated might
be readily accounted for. The awful visitation of the cholera,
with its attendant distress, and other causes had made an almost
unprecedented drain upon private charity. These things, how-
ever, he trusted, had only for a season turned aside from them
the channel of benevolence—not dried up its fountain. He
knew .that. it was the intention of several of the clergy to have
advocated their use 'from the pulpit; but they had been pre-
vented by the circumstance—that, besides those local charities
of long standing which hdve, as it were, an established claim
upon them, they had, during the last year, been obliged to
make three additi9nal and unusual collections—for the erection
of the New Church at the north end of the town, for the dis-
tressed Irish Clergy, and for the National Schools. But when,
from the contemplation of the past, he turned to the future, he
could not but fancy he saw a brighter prospect dawning upon.
them. He would not, therefore, say in the desponding lan-
guage of.the report that " He would hope against hope;" but
he would say that he would yet hope with a strong anlively
hope, he would hope that the tender plant just peeping above
the ground, would grow into a mighty tree; he would hope

that the little bark which was launched upon the ocean of cha-
rity, would be 'raised until it becomes a gallant vessel. He
would hope, and, indeed, doubted not, that as the merits of
the Institution, were more widely circulated and better known,
they would be universally supported with that liberality for
which the inhabitants of this great commercial town are, and
ever have been, prove' bial, when cause is shown that their
bounty is needed and deserved. And for the accomplishment
of so desirable an object, he trusted that every friend of the
school would strive to obtain one, two, three, or more, addi-
tional subscribers, according to the sphere of his influence.—
He was quite sure that to urge them so to do, no special plead-
ing was required. In the spectacle which they would pre
sently behold—the interesting spectacle soon to be brought be-
fore them—in the examination of the children, there would be
'an eloquence which would move all present to it with an impulse
which anv further words would rather deaden than increase.—
From thk spectacle, therefore, he would no longer detain
them, but move at once the resolution which he held in hi;
hand—" that the report now read be printed and circulated un-
der the direction of the Committee.'

Mr. GRANT moved ,the second resolution, That the thanks
of the meeting be preseded to the officers and the committee
for their valuable services during the past year; and that the
gentlemen, specified in the advertisement be' the officers and
committee for the year ensuing. Seconded by the Rev. Mr.
Thom.

Mr. POWNALL moved, That the respectful thanks of the
meeting be specially presented to the ladies' committee, for the
important services rendered by them during the past year to
the institution.. Seconded by Mr. Knowles.
Mr. RATHBONE moved the third resolution, to the, effect,
That the meetings be held monthly, instead of quarterly.
Mr. BAYNES moved, That the thanks of the meeting
.be given
to the chairman for his obliging conduct on that occasion.
The business of the annual meeting having been disposed of,
an examination of the children took place in the presence of a
very crowded and respectable auditory.
The pupils were examined in the various exercises suited to
their respective Progress•in learning. These consisted of writ-
ing, definitions of words' arithmetic,•geography, English gram-
mar, &c,,-in all of which they acquitted themselves to the satis-
faction and, indeed, the admiration of the company. One in-
cident at the close of the proceedings was uncommonly touch-
ing'. A little girl, about nine years of age, was selected to
prompt the other pupils in the repetition, on their fingers, by
signs, of the ;Lord's prayer. The little prompter gave the sign
for each word, and the children spelled the letters on their
lingers, thus proceeding, intelligibly to themselves,•thromliout
the prayer, all deeply serious, and evidently impressed with the
subject. - - -- -

The company afterwards saw the children at their dinner, a
meal which is daily provided at the expense of the institution,
and which, as the greater number of pupils are in indio•ent cir-
cumstances, is a bonus to them of the most seasonable kind.

On the whole, we trust this exhibition will tend much to in-
crease the public . sympathy on behalf of this most humane
charity.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.

BRUSSELS, March 2.—The Queen of the French is expected
in this city next week, accompanied by the two elder Princesses
and the Duke of Orleans. This Royal party is to leave Paris
.on Thursday morning, and -to arrive in Brussels on Friday.
Escorts of honour are now arranging on the Belgian part of
-the ,journey. It is thought that Madame Adelaide will, Within
some days after, follow the party to this country.
Rumour speaks to-day of a 'defensive alliance having. been
formed between France, Great Britain, and Spain. One of
the results -of the arrangement is to be that the Cortes' debt
will be placed in activity. •

RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND EGYPT.

Official intelligence has reached this city that the Russian
envoy to Alexandria has succeeded in obtaining an order from
Mehemet Ali to stay the hostile movements of Ibrahim Pacha.

SPAIN.

MADRID, Feb. 21.—The most perfect tranquillity at this mo-
ment reiois.throughout this city and the whole of Spain. The
.
seditious movement of Leon was of no importance, and, more-
over, as I have already written to you, it was immediately
stifled. The last days of the carnival throughout the country,
and particularly in this place, were much more occupied with
pleasure than with business. The Government have, this
year, either formally permitted, or at least as much as possible
tolerated, the masked balls, which they had formerly most
rigorously interdicted. Have they in doing this wished to give
a new satisfaction to opinion, or to divert the public attention,
and, by pre-occupying it, to remove it from more important in
terests ? Perhaps they have, proposed. to thentselveS this double
end: whatever may be the case, policy is no stranger to this
sort of toleration : as far as the Spaniards are concerned, all
classes and all ranks have amply profited in availing them-
selves of the ,liberty of pleasure,• so new, which has been ac-
corded them.

During the days of the carnival all Madrid was nothing
but a great masked ball; but Lent is come at length, and they,
begin to talk a little on public affairs.
It has been known for some time that the ministry do not
draw well together; one part- of them is of the " Movement,"
the other of the "Resistance." On oue side Messrs. Enchna
y Piedra', sUlloa, and Fernandez del Pine, wish to march in ad-
vance—the queen is with them; but on the other side, M. Zea
Bermudez in the first place, and after him Messrs Ofalia and
Cruz, with the king at their head, have attempted to drive back
the movement, or at least to impede its progress. There is not
simply a division in the Cabinet, there is actual war. One of
the parties must shortly gain a victory over its opponents, and
possess itself exclusively of power. Some days ago, when a
lively discussion took place on occasion of a proposition made
by Fernandez del Pino to introduce an anti-apostolic reform in
the magistracy, the ministers of the movement had nearly re-
tired. To-day it is M. Zea himself who is tottering,—M.-Zea,
the chief of the Ministry and of the resistance. His retirement
is much spoken of; they even go so far as to name the persons
:who are to succeed him—either the Duke of San Fernando, the
candidate of the queen, or M. Bardaji, formerly minister under'
the Cortes, The king is very -anxious to retain M. Zea, but
the queen leaves no stone unturned to obtain his dismissal.—
Her chief cause of complaint against him is the opposition which
he manifests to the legal formation.of a body of militia, who call
themselves Christinians, and who, at the instigation of certain
agents, have begun to enrol themselves secretly in Madrid and
in the provinces, for the defence and support of the rights of
the Princess of the Asturias, in opposition to the faction of Don
Carlos. It is true, that to authorize a militia of this sort, with-
out first dissolving and disarming the Royalist Volunteers,
would have differed very little from organizing civil war. So
says M. Zea himself. But why did you not disarm the royal-
ists ? answer his opponents.
In truth, it is time for people to think of the general applica-
tion of this measure, which has been employed with success in
some Particular places, but the execution of it is not easy in
every district. In the meantime, by a recent circular, not yet
made public in an official manner, the Captain-General Freire
subjects this body, in New Castile, to a very severe purgation.
Thus,. he declares that all royalist volunteers in his comman-
dery, who are not " honrados, and who have no regular means
of subsistence, must leave the " corps," and deliver back their
arms. If these injunctions were rigorously enforced, the Ja-
nissaries of Carlism would be very sensibly diminished iu
number.

Refugees continue to flow into the capital; the greater num-
ber, without any resources, come to reclaim their ancient em-
ployments, or to solicit new ones; there are truly/ very many
exigencies to be met which embarrass the Government not a
little. For my part, I will not vouch for the wisdom or the mo-
deration of all these refugees; but, on the other Side, the active
partisans of absolutism affirm, that these poor annuitants have
returned more exalted in their opinions, and more revolution-
ary than ever. Don Francisco Rodriguez de la Vega and
some others having been charitably designated as apostles of
the Republic, the King himself caused their names to be laid
before the director-general of the police, and wrote to him to
cause them to remove themselves from Madrid; but the direc-
tor, an honorable man, Martinez de san Martin, having repre-
sented in strong terms that such a proceeding was to a certain
extent a revocation of the amnesty, His Majesty insisted no
further in his purpose.
The new ordinance, by which the army is to be increased
25,00 men will furnish the means of replacing the greatest
number of the military refugees. It is evident that this is the
end which the Government has proposed to itself, and for this
the moderate Liberals are thankful. They are not the less
thankful for the last ordinance concerning the Ayuntamientos.
This ordinance, which calls upon the principal proprietors (pro-
prietairee) to concur in the election of the municipalities
(triunicipalites), is of the highest importance. The first effects
of its application will be soon observed, for at this very mo-
ment the Ayuntamientos are renewing themselves throughout
all Spain by the operation of this new electoral system.
Nothing has transpired here of the result of the negotiations
of Sir S. Canning; it is, however, strongly doubted whether he
has obtained anything of M. 'Lea; this arises from the fact that
he has asked not a little; he has demanded not only the recog-

nition of the rights of Donna Maria, but also of the indepen-
dence of the Spanish colonies.
But if M. Zea does not appear much disposed to accord these
things, 1 repeat that M. Zea does not feel himself firm in his
seat.

(From the New .York Gazette.)
MAJOR DOWNING AND GEN. J,A.CKSON IN THE SAME PEE.,
DICAMENT! The Portland Courier of Saturday contains a
most indignant letter from the clebrated Major Jack Downing,
from which it appears that the same wicked attempts are now
being made to deprive him of the authorship of his letters, that
have been already made to wrest from the President the credit
of his own official. documents.
The major says, " To have it said that I dont't write my own
letters, is too bad. It's what I call a rascally shame. I was so
boiling over with it last night that I couldn't hold it;' and so I
took the papers and went in and showed them to the President.
I always go to the President when I have got any difficulty,
and when he has any he comes to me • so we help one another
along as well as we can. Whcn the President Lad read it, says
he, It's strange to,see how this world is given to lying. The
public papers is beginning to slander you jest as ti ey always do
me. I haven't written scarcely a public document since I've been
President, but whatits been laid off to Mr. Van Bruen cr M 'Lane,
or. Mr. Livingston, or Mr.-Talley, or somebody or o har. And
how to help this slanderous business I don't know. But its
too provoking, Major, that's certain. Sometimes I've a good
mind to make Congress pass a law that every editor who says
I don't write my proclamations and messages, or that you don't
write your letters, shall forfeit his press and types, and if that
don't stop him, that he shall be strung up by the neck without
Judge or Jury.' "

A meeting has been 'held at Montreal for the purpose of erect-
ing a memorial to the memory of Sir Walter Scott, at which
Chief Justice Reit presided. It was very judiciously submit-
ted, " that no monument *Ovid be so permanent as one asso-
ciated w:th sow useful design, and seeing that the life and writ-
ings of Sir Walter Scott eminently shewed the benefits of graft-
ing practical, usefulness upon pleasing recreation. Therefore,
that by endowing in the name of Sir Walter Scott, an institution
for purposes connected with literary pursuits and inNt)uction,
we should carry his usefulness even beyond the period of his
own life ; we should raise a most appropriate merpcnio of his
name, and the particular application of his talents; we should
ensure a constant regard to the renewal and preservation of the
monument, and'we should probably carry down to distant ge-:
nerations the name of Scott, associated with the e'xpr.ession of
the liberal feelings of the citizens of Montreal." Measures
were then adopted to carry this design into erect. •