The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-12-17 00:00:00

CIVIC BANQUET.—On Thursday, his Worship the
Mayor, John Bent, Esq., entertained a party of gentle-
men to dinner at the Town-hall. The company numbered
upwards of forty. Amongst the guests were Baron Al-
derson, Mr. Justice Talfourd, the Bishop of Chester,
Wm. Brown, Esq., M.P., and his brother, J. Brown,
Esq., Wm. Jackson, Esq., M.P., Thomas Thornely,
Esq., M.P., La vrence Heyworth, Esq.. M.P., the Yen.
Archdeacon Brooks, Rev. Mr. Royds, the sheriff's chap-
lain, Rev. Mr. Haggitt, of Wallasey, Abbot Lawrence,
Esq., the American minister, and his two sons ; Edward
Rushton, Esq. ; the gentlemen comprising the grand
jury, &c.
On Monday afternoon as an empty waggon was descend-
ing the inclined plane at the north dock, Bootle, it sud-
denly slipped off the rails. A labourer of the name of
Oakden, whose duty it was to remove the waggon, was
immediately knocked down. One of his horses was killed
on the spot, and another severely injured. Oakden was
taken to the Northern Hospital, where it was found be
had sustained a fracture of one of his legs, with severe
contusions in other parts of the body. It appears that
the accident arose in consequence of the check chain not
being attached to the waggon, and that Oakden, who saw
the impending danger, was endeavouring to place his
horses out of the way when the accident occurred.
CIIINESE CURIOSITIES.—The Messrs. Littledale will
sell by public auction, to-morrow and Thursday, the
largest and most veluable collection of Chinese curiosities
ever imported into this country, consisting of China were,
lacquered ware, screens, fans, rice-paper drawings, glass
paintings, paper hangings, gongs, matting, carved balls,
ivory work box, images, silver filagree bracelets, painted
Chinese lamps, arquebuses, silk handkerchiefs, grass cloth
ditto, silk and satin dresses, crape shawls, nankeens,
carved chessmen. cross-bows, preserved ginger. &c., &c.
During the week the large room in which they are ex-
hibited has been daily filled by crowds of ladies and e'en-
tlemen, whose admiration at all the wonderful and beau-
tiful articles they saw was unbounded.
PRINCE ALBERT'S YORK BANQUET CUP.—We have
seen a letter from the Hon. Colonel Grey, his royal high-
ness's private secretary, acknowledging, in extremely flat-
tering terms, the receipt at Windsor of the beautiful ruby
cup, in the new patent glass manufacture, used by the
Prince in the York banquet, it having, by the royal
owner's permission, been since retained for exhibition in
London, where it has attracted universal admiration, in
common with the other products of the same unique and
striking process. Much as we have read in the Times
and elsewhere of these articles, we had no idea of their
extraordinary brilliancy and elegance till we had seen
some of the collection at Mr. Livingstone's, Lord-street;
and the highest possible panegyric we can pass upon them
is, to say tnat they constitute a feature of special interest
in that gorgeous establishment.
" TAKE TIME BY THE FORELOCK."—On Saturday
Baron Alderson and Mr. Justice Talfourd, accompanied
by W. Brown, Esq., M.P., Edward Rushton, Esq., Capt.
Greig, and Mr. Town-councillor Neill, paid a visit to the
splendid :steam-ship Baltic, lying in the Slovne. Long
before the sun was up these " wide awake" gentlemen
were steaming it, up the Mersry in the tender by starlight.
They were received by the captain and officers of the ship,
and conducted over its magnificently arranged vastness.
Truly it is a splendid vessel. At eight o'clock they par-
took of a splendid and profuse breakfast—hominey,
broiled pheasants, broiled partridges, broiled teal, and
Baltic sauce! Never were judges so breakfasted before.
At a quarter before nine their lordships were again afloat
in the tender, the British ensign was hauled down from
the foremast, where, as a mark of honour, it had been
hoisted during the judges' visit, and at a few minutes after
nine o'clock their lordships were seated in their courts,
arrayed in wigs and ermine.

CHEAP TRIPS.—It affords us great pleasure to inform
our readers that the directors of the London and North
Western Railway Company have re-appointed Mr. Mar-
cus, for the SIXTH SEASON, to the conduct of the excur-
sion traffic over their lines for the year 1851, (with the
exception of the cheap Exhibition trains,) and for these
we have no doubt the company will avail themselves of
Mr. Marcus's experience. Mr. Marcus, if not the origi-
nator of excursion trains, has, without doubt, been the
improver and most successful manager in these matters.
His systematic arrangements, and the safe conduct of his
numerous trains, have inspired the public with confidence
in these trips, which did not exist before he undertook
them. For the last five years he has devoted his whole
time and attention in arranging plans for the comfort of
his patrons. during which time upwards of 100,000 persons
have travelled by his various trips, and when we announce
the fact, that all has passed off without the slightest acci-
dent, no better evidence can be given of his careful ma-
nagement and indefatigable exertions.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH SCHOOLS.—The annwil sermons
in behalf of these schools, were preached at St. John's
Church, on Sunday last, in the morning and evening, by
the Incumbent, the Rev. W. Falloon : the collections
amounted to £47 19s. 4d. This sum is applicable to the
current expenses of temporary schools in Circus-street,
occupied until the new schools, now erecting in Great
Croshall-street, are completed. We regret to learn that
the funds necessary for the completion of the latter are
still deficient by at least £3OO. The rev. gentleman, in
bringing the case of the temporary schools before the
congregation,:stated, that for want ofroom, the Commit-
tee had, since the Ist of January last, been obliged to
refuse admittance to 286 boys, and 304 girls (and no
names had been counted twice), making a total of 590
children. We do trust that when this fact becomes
known, there will he found generous individuals, friends
of sound scriptural education in this community, who will
cheerfully provide the small amount necessary for the
completion of the new schools, which will afford accom-
modation for 500 children.

The Rev. W. Wolseley, curate of St. John's Church, in
a letter to the Courier, comrlains that two Roman catholic
priests from Holy Cross Chapel attempted, on Wednesday
week, to force their way into the Ragged School, Hodson-
street. Being refused admittance, they collected a crowd
and induced the parents of fifteen children to insist on
their leaving the school. " They then began to speak to
the mob, and priest Noble said, in my hearing, that this
was a soup school. I interrupted him by telling him that
that was false—no soup or any provision being given to
the children to secure their attendance. He said 'he was
deiertnined it should cease.' I said I was determined,
with God's help, it should not cease. He then asserted
nothing good was taught them in the school, but every-
thing bad, and tending to bad. This I politely told him
was also false. He then said that, if after that night
any parents sent their children or allowed them to go to
this Protestant school, he would not attend them on their
death-bed.' This told more upon the mob than anything
else that he said. He then told them all to go home,
which, after some little time, they did."
CLASSICAL CHAMBER CONCERTS.The third of the
series of Messrs. Thomas and Haddock's concerts was
given on Wednesday evening last. The executants were
as usual, Mrs. Beale, piano-forte : Messrs. Thomas and
Lawson, violins; Mr. Baetens, viola; and Mr. Haddock,
violincello. The performance opened with a quintet in F
flat, Op. 44 by Schumann, for piano-forte, two violins,
viola, and violincello, the first time it has been heard in
public in England. This quintet is an important addition
to our stock of classical concerted pieces, it is broad and
majestic in style, and we were glad to recognize a vein of
originality not common to the present generation of
writers ;it was admirably performed. Haydn's quartet in
D for two violins, viola, and violincello, and Beethoven's
wonderful creation, No. 7 in F, for the same instruments,
were executed with a unity and exactness rarely beard.
Haydn is always clear, bright, and in his allegros, brilliant,
his quartets were written when the first violin was consi-
dered the principal instrument. It is very justly consi-
dered so no longer, Beethoven has made each instrument
of equal importance, he has with marvellous skill so
blended all together that no undue predominance can be
given to one part without a sacrifice of the general effect.
As evidence of the departed supremacy of the first. violin
we may mention that Mr. Thomas was less certain in
Beethoven than any of his coadjutors. Mr. Baetens and
Mr. Haddock were all that could be desired. The trio by
Mayseder in A flat, op. 52, for piano-forte, violin and vio-
lincello, is well adapted to contrast with the more severely
classical compositions of the same class, and served in
some degree to exhibit the peculiar excellencies of the
executants, Mrs. Beale's sparkling execution, the neat
bowing of Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Haddock's refined tone
and faultless intonation. The room was well filled not-
withstanding the inclemency of the weather.

THE BIBLE ITS OWN WITNESS.—The Rev. J. B. Lowe,
incumbent of St. Jude's, delivered the third lecture of the
course announced by the Church of England Institute on
Thursday evening last. The Concert-hall was crowded
to overflowing, many persons being compelled to retire
for want of accommodation. On the platform were Mr.
Alderman Parker, the Revs. W. M. Falloon, Wm. May-
nard, F. Parry, W. Brewster, Wright, H. M. Mosse,
&c., &c. The Rev. H. M. Mosse, the honorary secre-
tary of the institution apologised for the absence of Mr.
Christopher Bushell, who had intended to take the chair
on the occasion, but was prevented by an urgent engage-
ment in London : he called upon Mr. Parker to assume
the presidential duties. Mr. Alderman Parker having
briefly alluded to the circumstances of the present times,
which he considered demanded that every man should be
in his place, requested the rev. and hon. secretary to offer
up a prayer, after which the Rev. J. B. Lowe commenced
his lecture. He introduced his subject by contending that
the sacred volume contained within itself the evidence of
its inspiration, that no individual could bring to the in-
vestigation of its treasures a spirit of candour and earnest-
ness without being impressed with the conviction that the
bible is the book of God. This view of the authenticity
of the bible he contrasted with that of the Church of
Rome, in which communion the truth ..f the scriptures
rests on the authority of the church ; the church's infal-
libility decides the point; they rest the claim of infalli-
bility on the alleged warranty of scripture, and rest the
authenticity of scripture on the church, and thus remove
all foundation for faith. He should ground the enquiry
into the authenticity of the bible on the simple testimony
of its own evidence, and in doing so he should draw atten-
tion to two points, the external and the internal evidence.
The rev. lecturer then proceeded with much eloquence
and argument to elucidate the various points arising out
of his subject. He remarked on the transcendent sub-
limity of the bible, and sheaved that the scheme of man's
redemption was essentially a heavenly scheme, involving
principles that never could have originated in the human
mind. The difference between the human notion of God
and his real character was this, that man supposed the
good and benevolent were the especial favourites of
heaven, whilst scripture proclaimed that the sinner was
the object of God's solicitude. And how was his salvation
effected ? Not by compromising righteousness and sul-
lying the veracity of Almighty God by allowing the
sinner to escape the merited justice, but by justification,
by combining the two principles of righteousness and love,
and causing them to meet in him who was the Lamb slain
before the foundation of the world. The rev. gentleman
with great force and ability proceeded to dilate on these
and other important points as testifying that " the Bible
is its own witness," and received the warm thanks of the
crowded audience for his eloquent address.