The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-02-06 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

morbid imagination ? One part of the statement can be
readily proved by the houses themselves; and the other
can be as readily demonstrated to be true, by your laying
down this manuscript, and walking from your office in
the Crescent to the Exchange in one direction, or to the
bottom of Lord-street in another, and I will wager you
ten to one, of any description of coin you may choose to
name, that, out of ten of your acquaintances with whom
you are on such sufficiently intimate terms as to stop and
shake hands with them, nine out of the ten will not in-
quire as to the state of your health, or speak of the wea-
ther even, but will be solicitous for " something "—" any
thiog " new, or some variation in these terms; but the
questions will all have the same unmeaning, inexplicable
purport. To this you may perhaps reply, that such a
salutation might be appropriate, and might also be ex-
pected, from your known occupation as caterer for the
public amusement, as welt as public instruction—that
" news" in some shape or other is the commodity in
which you are known to deal. Well, admit this. Then
take a friend with you, and be you a silent spectator of
the greetings which he gives and receives ; and I feel
confident that my wager, if accepted, would be quickly
won, and my observations borne out to be correct.
And now having drawn your attention to this foible in
the character of your townsmen, should you deem these
remarks worthy to be promulgated, I trust, that all who
have hitherto been guilty of this habit, will see the pro-
oriety of amending and correcting, that which when in-
dulged in, renders them so ridiculous in the estimation of
strangers, causes their conduct oft to be misunderstood,
and an insult deemed to be intended, where none is meant ;
and occasions their presence oft to be dreaded and avoided,
instead of being welcomed with a cordial reception; and
leaves also the unhappy pestered victim to entertain the
idea, that their minds are so vapid, and unstored with any
other information beyond the business of their calling,
the affairs of their counting houses, and their anxiety for
something "new,"—that they have nothing in common
to exchange or barter, with the polite and well-informed
society of the day, into which, it is imagined, their reputed
wealth alone had obtained for them an admittance.
Now this I know to be a wrong impression, but such is
oft created, and which requires a lengthened and intimate
acquaintance to remove ; for men may be found, and often
are found, who in spite of this " ruling passion" possess
vast and varied stores of learning and information, well-
cultivated minds, and high attainments, capable of con-
ferring much benefit, much pleasure, upon the society in
which they move. It is, therefore, more incumbent on
such individuals to strive against and overcome the vicious
habit they have acquired, and to use their influence in
removing the stigma on the character of their town, which
they have been instrumental in creating. I know of only
one instance in ancient, and of none in modern times,
where this peculiarity, as exhibited in Liverpool, can be
equalled ; and that is recorded of Athens in the Acts of
the Apostles, that the Athenians and strangers that were
there, employed themselves in nothing else but either in
telling or hearing some new thing" !!
I have now only further to remark, that this paper has
been written with no illnatured personality—with no sin-
gle individual in view; and, from its general applicability,
cannot be so understood, though each individual who
reads these remarks may find such a strong personal ap-
plication as to feel personally identified and delineated in
the sketch I have presented and illustrated, of the Liver-
pool " ruling passion." And should these " hints" have
the effect desired and intended, I know I shall have con-
ferred upon hundreds, the ladies particularly, and other
fellow-sufferers like myself, a boon which will be highly
valued and duly appreciated ; and were the author but
known, he would be rewarded too, I doubt not, with•
some splendid testimonial of their favour and approba-
tion. Should I, when I return, have the gratification to
witness a favourable result arising from these " hints," I
shall be amply repaid, and consider my labour to have
not been in vain, and be gratified in witnessing what
could consider in reality worthy to be deemed as Some
THING NEW !

* A fact without exaggeration or extenuationylmt not without

NOTICE.,

Ancient Liverpool. By W. G. Hardman. Part
Marples, Liverpool.
. _

Ancient Liverpool ! We fancy we hear many a voice
exclaim, " Why, what is there in Liverpool that savours
of antiquity ?" We answer, "There is nothing."' But
a few years ago, within the recollection of a man in life's
prime, there were vestiges of the olden inhabitants innu-
merable—old houses, old streets, old inns, an old tower,
and a cultivated country surrounding it. Where the mer-
chant now rattles home in his gig or carriage, and the
heavily laden cart crushes the macadamised road, but,
comparatively, a few years ago was green field, verdant
meadow, and tilled land. But to prevent the old relics
fadini altogether from memory, as well as sight, the
artist s skilful hand renews them in thought, and they
exist again under the magic touch of his pencil—and we
cannot but admit, to Mr. Herdr.ian great praise and thanks
are due.

Of the few works of interest—of real value—that have
emanated from the Liverpool press (for our townsmen do
not cultivate literature sufficiently to tempt the author—
the bard or the literary man—to much exertion) this work
of Mr. Herdman's takes a very forward position; not
only from the valuable information it contains connected
with Liverpool in olden time, but more especially for the
masterly lithographic drawing with which each number is
embellished, and which, in point of execution, broadness
of effect and faithfulness have not at any time been ex-
celled by the best metropolitan artist..
The present part is occupied by some very interesting
statements respecting the Mersey. The existence of the
estuary at the time of the Romans has been long matter
of doubt and speculation. Some authors have denied its
existence in its present form ; and there are many good
reasons for believing that by some remarkable convulsion
of nature the land, or rather marsh, was entirely inun-
dated. Mr. Herdman does not put forth his book with
any preten'ions to literary distinction, but relies entirely
upon his views to claim the attention of the public, and
truly a more beautiful work could not adorn the costly
drawing-room, enrich the library, or improve and inter-
est. It will be a shame upon us if Mr. Herdman does
rrot muster two thousand subscribers to his work, for it
is one that deserves the most earnest attention, and de-
mands, from its great merits, the patronage of them who
have any relation to what is cantingly called " the good'
old town." We recommend Mr. Herdman's work to
notice, and can safely pronounce, that instead of falling
off, it is increasing in interest and value as it draws nearer
its completion.