The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-17 00:00:00

THE NORTH-SHORE COTTON MILL.

We have on several occasions, during the last few years,
had occasion to notice the kindly feeling and liberality
evinced by the proprietors of this cotton factory (the only
one in this town) towards their work-people, as shewn
by their regard for their moral and religious welfare, and
their health and domestic comfort, as well as by their an-
nual festive rural treats given to the whole, young and old,
the last of which we had the pleasure to witness, and a
more delightful example of friendly and joyous inter-
course between employers and employed—who joined to-
gether in the dance on the hamlet green—can scarcely bP
conceived. It is deplorable to find that the gene-
rous purpose of these gentlemen should, from the
rancour of party spirit, and an ignorance of the facts,
be for a moment misrepresented, though but by an in-
sinuation; yet such has been their fate, verifying the
saying of the great dramatist, " Be thou ever so
fair and virtuous, thou shalt not escape the tongue
of calumny." They can well afford, however, to treat
their puny assaults with a smile, and, from their cha-
racter, we know it will be one of forbearance and forgive-
ness. The Mercury of Friday week stated, in effect,
" We understand that Mr. John O'Connell was last
night to put a question relative to an alleged intolerance
practiced towards dissenters in the North Shore Mill of
this town." There exists not the slightest ground for
such an insinuation, as will be shown in the sequel. We
have long had a desire to furnish some details of the ex-
emplary management of this mill in the respect alluded
to, of which we have been aware from the information of
a respectable man in one of the departments, but we were
deterred by learning that the partners entertained an
aversion to publicity. As, however, they have been
hitherto " doing good by stealth," they must now
" blush to find it fame ;" for Mr. Leonard Horner, the
government inspector of factories, has, in his last re-
port, (having argued them out of this repugnance,) fur-
nished some highly interesting particulars, demonstrative
of the benefits to the people employed of the system
pursued, and which, indeed, go far to remove some of
our main objections to the establishment of mills in our
town, if they were similarly conducted.
The inspector's statement appeared in the London Tunes
of Friday. We have but room, however, for the follow-
, ing synopsis, to which we have a few additional facts to
add, equally creditable to the humane feeling and con-
sideration of the partners, and especially of the resident
manager, Mr. North, "to whose personal Influence,
enlightened views, and unwearied zeal, (as is truly stated
by our contemporary) much of the success of their plans
is to be ascribed."

The partners are Mr. J. Aspinall Turner, and Mr. J.
Garstang, of Manchester, and Mr. R. Ford North—the
latter residing here and having the chief local direction.
There are employed about 851 hands; of whom 68 are
boys and girls under thirteen years of age; 378 young
persons between thirteen and eighteen (chiefly girls) ; and
the remainder (263 males and 186 females), from twenty-
one to forty and upwards. Mr. Callon, the certifying
surgeon appointed by the inspector, is also the medical
attendant on all the hands, young and old, and has a
surgery on the premises, where he may be consulted
daily—those confined at home being there attended. He
receives from the concern £2OO a year, to which all the
hands earning upwards of 4s. a week contribute id.
weekly, those earning less being exempt. The deficiency
in the amount thus collected, which may be from £4O to
£5O, is paid by the proprietors.
There is a long school-room on the premises, which is
daily attended by the children employed, and also by
those of the work people living in the adjoining cottages
—altogether by about 200. A night school is also open.
The school is open for two hours every Sunday morning.
Two separate rooms are appropriated to male and female
adults. instruction is given by 70 teachers, all volunteers
from among the overlookers and others employed in the
mill, some attending on alternate Sundays, others every
Sunday,—Mr. North and the book-keeper acting as
superintendents. Spelling, reading, and the church cate-
chism are taught in the Sunday school, explanations of
the lessons read, &c. After this the church service
abbreviated, and afterwards a short practical sermon, are
read by one of the proprietors, to an assemblage of 300
to 400 persons, chiefly composing the scholars, teachers,
and the inhabitants of the cottages, and amongst them
are some creditable singers, and instrumental performers
(from amongst the hands), the instruments given to them
by Mr. North, who has had them instructed. Atten-
dance at the Sunday-school is only compulsory on the
children employed under 13. After this age persuasion
alone is used to influence attendance. It is found that
those most regular in attendance are the best conducted
hands in the mill, and earn the most wages. It is worthy
of notice that Mr. North is a member of the Church of
England ; Mr. Turner an Unitarian, and Mr. Garstang
a Wesleyan Methodist—all acting together in one com-
mon Christian spirit.
There is a lending library of 300 volumes attached to
the mill, and a savings bank for 6d. to 55., for which the
proprietors allow 5 per cent.
Mr. Horner notices, at some length, the festive meet-
ings to which we have alluded, and to which all the well
conducted hands, upon their giving proof of being in th

habit of attending some place of instruction or public
worship on the Sunday, (nearly the whole number,) are in-
vited ; also the New Year's Day supper in the school-room
to the teachers and singers, atter which, recitation of pieces,
music and singing, with a friendly interchange of senti-
ments on both sides, " tend to make the evening pass
both agreeably and instructively to employers and em-
ployed."
To the facts furnished by Mr. Horner, and which are
correct to the letter, we could add many others equally
honourable to the " management," but must confine our-
selves to a few, as we know the modesty of these gentle-
men. All employed who may not be a member of the
Church of England are at full liberty to attend their own
places of worship, and are not the less partakers of the
general kindness dispensed. Strangers who cannot afford
sittings in churches are equally welcome to attend the
simple divine service in the Sunday-school. One of
these, an old man and constant attendant, was some time
ago missed from his accustomed seat. The worthy
resident proprietor sent to inquire about him, and
finding he was ill, indigent, and enfeebled, had him
medically attended, and has since liberally provided
for his wants. A store of wine, &c.. is kept
on the premises. for the use of the sick when recom-
mended by the surgeon, and additional supplies given
out when requisite as a matter of course, and not as a fa-
vour to be timidly solicited for. Other arrangements are
also made by the employers to conduce to the domestic
comforts of those of their people who may have pecuniary
difficulties to contend with in their families, and to in-
duce them to habits of cleanliness and providence; and,
in fine, we concur with Mr. Horner in his remarks :
" It is difficult to say whether we should most admire
the benevolence, the confiding practical good sense, or
the enlarged view of their own happiness and interest
evinced by the proprietors of this factory in these ar-
rangements. If their example were generally followed,
even in a limite I degree, one could hardly over-estimate
the sum of moral good and individual happiness that
would result."

THE INCUMBENCY OF ST. MARK'S CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Sin—Fully persuaded of the great interest which you
take in the clerical preferments of this town, may I en-
croach on a small portion of your valuable paper to con-
tradict a paragraph stated in the Albion of this day
respecting St. Mark's Church, in the which it was noticed
that " the pew-owners and others of that church would
be glad to hear that the trustees have resolved upon
throwing open• the incumbency of that church to compe-
tition." As a pew-owner (and I have no doubt all the
others will join with me in the same opinion) I am de-
cidedly against such competition, not only from being
perfectly satisfied as to the abilities and strict adherence
to Gospel truth preached by its present minister, the Rev.
B. A. Marshall, but also from its being an act of the
greatest injustice that could be shown towards the said
reverend gentleman, should any other person be appointed
to that incumbency, after hip having laboured with great
ardour and perseverance for the last seven years, and 1
may say to the satisfaction of his congregation.
A PEW-OWNER.

Liverpool, 16th February, 1846.
[Several other letters are in type, which we are compelled to
omit.]

FIRE LAST NIGHT.—Last night a fire was discovered
in the back bed-room of a boarding-house in Ironmonger-
lane, but the engines being soon on the spot, the fire was
speedily subdued. The damage done was about £5O.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, KIRKDALE.— On Sunday
morning last, after a sermon by the Rev. D. James, in-
cumbent, the sum of £l7 was collected at this church, in
aid of the Incorporated Society for the Enlargement and
Building of Churches and Chapels in England and 'Wales.
BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.—Last evening, a
meeting of the Birkenhead Commissioners was held at
their rooms, Hamilton-square, for the purpose of receiv-
ing a report from the Health Committee, on the building
of warehouses, and also a report from the Lighting and
Watching Committee, upon the proposed amendments in
the Lighting and Watching act. Mr. Greene presided ;
but no discussion took place. Upon the suggestion of Mr.
Cole, who said that the committee in question, prayed for
time to consider the important subject submitted to them,
the meeting was adjourned until Monday evening next.
On Sunday afternoon last, Mr. Frederick Edwards,
late master of St. Augustine's school, and lately promoted
to the mastership of. the Welsh Charity School, was pre-
sented by the committee of the former institution with a
handsome and beautifully bound Family Bible, together
with several other books, as a mark of respect and appro-
bation for his services during a period of seven years.
The presentation took place before the assembled chil-
dren, when the Rev. Dr. Tattershall delivered a kind and
very affectionate address in his usual impressive manner,
which was replied to by Mr. Edwards in a creditable way.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH.—An inquisition was held yester-
day, before the borough coroner, touching the death of
John Jones, aged 51. Twelve or thirteen weeks ago,
deceased was engaged, with another man, in removing
some hardware out of a shop in London-road into a cart.
He assisted in removing a grate from the cellar into a
cart, and afterwards said he had hurt his back, but did
not say in what way. He afterwards complained from
time to time of his back, and about a month ago was sent
to the Infirmary, where he died from an injury of the
spine. Verdict accordingly, but how he received the
injury there was no evidence to show.

A number of young women, chiefly servants in Liver-
pool and the neighbourhood, who had been educated in
the Church of England North Schools, were invited to
meet some of their former schoolfellows. and to take tea
with them on Thursday evening last. The meeting with
each other, and with their respected teacher, Mr.
McMinn, seemed to afford great delight, and, having
been addressed by the Rev. A. Tomlin, and the Rev.
Henry H. Higgins, the party broke up, highly gratified,
and, as it is hoped, encouraged to persevere in conduct-
ing themselves consistently with the sound Christian
principles in which they have been brought up.
MELANCHOLY CIRCUMSTANCE.—Yesterday morning,
the body of a young, respectably connented man, named
John Braithwaite, was discovered floating in a pit near
the village of Wavertree. The skull was, we learn, partly
fractured. The deceased retided in the neighbourhood of
Edge-hill, but had remained a short time at the house of
a friend in Wavertree. and, it is stated, was slightly af-
fected with drink when he went out. How he got into
the water, or in what way the injuries were inflicted on
his head, is yet unknown, and we refrain from giving
publicity to the mere rumours and conjectures that are
afloat. He was only eighteen years of age. The inquest
will be held before Mr. Heves, this afteanoon.
ST. THOMAS' CHURCH SCHOOLS.—We are highly gra-
tified to hear that the nett proceeds of the bazaar in aid
of these schools, which we have noticed elsewhere, realized
£52. The number ofchildren already on thebooks, although
the schools were only opened on Sunday,is as follows: boys,
140; girls, 170; infants, 90—total, 400. This is a suffi-
cient proof of the benefits likely to result from the estab-
lishment of these schools, and we anticipate from them
the happiest results. There are about 60 children in the
ragged school in Albert-street, who are fast improving.
The district is, notwithstanding all the efforts which have
been made, still in a spiritually destitute condition—there
being within it 17,149 souls, and there is church accom-
modation for only 834, with 83 free sittings.
We beg to call the attention of our readers to an adver-
tisement of a sermon, to he preached to-morrow evening
(Wednesday), at St. Michael's Church, in behalf of the
Church Pastoral Aid Society, by the Rev. Mr. Close, of
Cheltenham. Few societies are engaged in a more useful
sphere of labour than that society, and few during the
time which has elapsed since its establishment have been
more highly favoured. It has conferred, as will he seen
from a report elsewhere of the meeting last night of the
Liverpool Auxiliary, many blessings on neglected portions
of our land. It has brought to light much of the spiritual
destitution that prevails around us, and has provided
means for relieving it. We hope that so good a cause,
and so valuable an advocate as Mr. Close, will induce a
large congregation to be present.
CASE OF REAL DISTRESS.—By the falling of a ware-
house in Moor-street, on the 31st ult., a corn-porter,
named Peter Lacey, an industrious man, was killed whilst
I endeavouring, with his fellow-labourers, to make his es-
cape from the falling building. By this event, a family of
five children, of the respective ages of 18, 17, 14, 12, and
10 years, are become orphans, helpless and unpro-
vided for, their sole support arising from the wages of the
eldest boy. This appeal is earnestly made to a benevolent
public in their behalf, in the full confidence that a bereave-
ment so sudden, and distress so severe, will be kindly re-
sponded to by all who are influenced by the better feel-
ings of human nature. Subscriptions will be thankfully
received by Messrs. Ihier and Co., Goree, (the employers
of the eldest lad,) and at the newspaper-offices and news-
rooms.

FATAL ACCIDENTS. —On Friday week a man named
Richard 1-1 allows, who worked at warehouses, was em-
ployed in storing rum in a bonded warehouse at the New
Quay. He was seen to be in a state of intoxication.
Shortly afterwards, while he was assisting another man
to put down the lid of the vault entrance, his foot
slipped and he fell to the bottom, and hurt his spine.
He was taken to the Northern Hospital, where he died
on Thursday from the injuries.—On Tuesday last a man,
named Edward APOwen, went
.with another man to a
house in St. James-road to take down an iron chimney.
The lady of • the house, seeing that both of them were
affected by drink, endeavoured to persuade them from
ascending to the roof; but deceased insisted upon going
up, and when he got to the top his foot slipped and he
fell down into the yard end fractured his skull. He was
carried to the Southern Hospital, were he died in a few
minutes.

LECTURES OS THE ERRORS OF THE CHURCH OF
ROME.—The Liverpool Protestant and Reformation
Society are worthy of the highest commendation for their
exertions, on all fitting occasions, to expose religious
error, and to avail themselves, from time to time, of the
services of those devoted champions of Protestantism in
whose ministrations all true churchmen delight, and who,
responding to the exhortation of St. Jude, " Earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints." The present exertions of the society have re-
sulted in their being enabled to announce that a course of
six lectures, on the errors of Rome, will be periodically
delivered, in the Concert-hall. Lord Nelson-street, by six
of the most able and eloquent divines of the town and
neighbourhood. A well-defined subject is assigned to
each of these reverend gentlemen, and the lectures wilt
be given weekly, on Tuesday evenings,—the whole form-
ing a complete exposition of the falsehood, slavishness,
and utter apostacy of the Romish Church, as contrasted
with the saving scriptural doctrines that led to the Refor-
mation. The lecturers will appear in the following order
of their names :—The Rev. Joseph Baylee, D. James, W.
Pollock (St. Helen's), H. Carpenter, T. Nolan, and
Canon M'Neile. The first lecture will be delivered by
the Rev. Jos. Baylee, this evening (Tuesday),—subject,
"The marks of the True Church not to be found in the
Church of Rome." Seats will be reserved for ladies in
the gallery. From the interest excited on the subject the
spacious ball is expected to be crowded.