The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-06-04 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD:

CORRESPONDENCE.

MR. BLACKBURN'S SPEECHES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SIR,—As the speeches of Mr. B'ackburn in the council
in December, 1812, and on the Bth inst. on education,
have been published in the form of tracts, one of them
under the specious title of " the injustice and impolicy of
excluding the Roman Catholics from the Corporation
Schools," and every effort made to disseminate their fal
lacious statements, I do think, sir, it becomes the duty of
those who know them to be such to endeavour to disabuse
the minds of as many as are disposed, without perhaps
much thought on the subject, to allow themselves to be
influenced by them ; this I shall now proceed to do if you
will permit me, through your respectable and influential
medium. Although far indeed below the author in abi-
lity, yet knowing that I have truth on my side, I hesitate
not to face even the " leviathan of liberalism." Before
doing so, however, allow me to say, that for Mr. Black-
burn, as a gentleman and a Christian, I entertain the
highest respect, and my only astonishment is that preju-
dice should have so much influence on so good a man. I
shall first take up his former speech ; and the first topic
which he touches on (for I shall endeavour to answer
every relevant statement as it occurs, to prevent my
omitting any, although not the course I should have chosen
for myself) is, that the schools being public property, all
have an equal right to them. He will doubtless admit
that it is the duty of the Council, as a body delegated by
people, to do what they believe to be most for the benefit
of the whole ; and where principles are at stake, if they
are true to them, no consideration can influence them to
deviate even to the right or to the left hand, even to conci-
liate! This argument, then, rests on the decision of the
point—what is their duty with regard to education ? and
this I shall now endeavour to answer. I believe that the
Bible and the Bible alone should, as far as religion is con-
cerned, be taught in the schools, and therefore agree with
him that no sectarian books should be admitted ; and the
authorised version is the only one, on this principle, that
ought to be taught there, the Douay being sectarian be-
cause it bas notes forcing some of the most important doc-
trines it contains into a meaning that fosters the errors of
Rome. Let them expunge these notes, and the question
may then be considered as to its being used by those who
prefer it to our version. But the question arises, is it
their province to interfere with the religion of the people?
The author says, no. He believes that the Bible was
given to us to teach us our duty towards God—how we
are to live to Him on earth, and attain to His infinitely
blessed presence beyond the grave. How, then, is it his
duty to educate a man for the performance of his duty to
his neighbour, and not his province to teach him those
things, which are by far the most important to him, and
which alone can make him a really good citizen? But
then he will say, " I have no right to interfere between a
parent and his child—to require of the child what the pa-
rent disapproves." Admitting for a moment that he is
right in this view ; he takes it for granted that the parent
does object, whereas in nearly ninety-nine cases in every
hundred he is coerced by his priest ; and if the parents'
real wishes were known and acted upon, we should long
ago have had our schools filled with Roman Catholic
children. This I know to be a fact, and many who sup-
port the author's views know it to be so too. But I differ
from him widely ia the sentiments which he expresses on
filial obedience. It is only in as far as the requirements
of the parents consist with what God requires, that the
child is to obey, for he is desired to obey his parents " in
the Lord." Is it not the bounden duty, then, of those
who have committed to them the education of the young,
wben the parent objects to what is due to the child, to
say, " We believe that the education which the child re-
quires most is that which will prepare him for his long
destiny, and we therefore cannot conscientiously withhold
it from him if he be under our care ?" I perfectly agree
with the author, to any length he may wish to go, in con-
demning the proposition to enjoin on the parents the
teaching of their own religious opinions to their children.
His next statement I am quite as much astonished at as
was he at the remarks which called it forth, which is to
the effect that the children of the Established Church were
not excluded from the schools when he and his party had
the conducting of them. " It is mere drivelling to deny
that they were excluded," and this by one who holds that
a person should never violate his conscience. Does he
not know that the members of the Establishment, with
many others, believe that to countenance in any way a
system that treated all religions as of equal importance,
would be (to speak of it in the mildest terms) to confirm
those in error in their views, and to lead others astray?
And was it not then excluding them to adopt such a sys-
tem ? and does he not in his late speech enforce this very
point with regard to " the present exclusion of Roman
Catholics ?" In the beginning of the sth page the author,
in a most glowing passage, endeavours, one might think,
to appease his own conscience, as well as that of others, by
an effort to show that in a sort of compromising, half-and-
half worship at the opening and close of the school, they
were in the most happy unity and unrestricted purity of
worship; while there was excluded from it what God in
his infinite mercy and wisdom, saw meet and necessary
for us ; but he, to please those, of whose errors he says,
they are " in a great many points contrary to the word of
God and dangerous to the souls of men, in the perform-
ance of eats duly to them has seen right to withhold.
But had the author been at my side on one occasion when
visiting the North School, what I beard and saw would
have detracted a little from the " thrill of joy and grati-
tude which expressed itself in tears," and the pleasure
with which he looked forward to all terminating in " union
and peace." I was in the school-room during the hour
appropriated to religious exercises. The Roman Catho-
lics being about eight or nine-tenths of the whole were
kept in the school-room, and the Protestants, &c. &c.,
were taken into another. When the hour had expired
they were brought back and ranged along the one or two
first seats on the platform (all the others, to the top, be-
ing occupied by the Roman Catholics), and as they came
in, the Roman Catholics commenced " hiss," " hiss,"
" hiss,". I was standing before the platform, and the
Roman Catholic teacher (Kearney) beside me, who s:Trned
very angry ; and although he threatened and did all he
could to prevent it, yet they loved their little schoolfel-
lows so much that they could not be prevented giving this
fond expression of their feelings in an occasional hiss,
hiss," till all were come in. Now sir, I give you my
name and address, and am prepared to testify to this on
With reference
bout shutting up private schools,
to what the author says a
oath, if that be necessary. So much for the unity which
those schools were calculated to inspire
to
fill those of the Corporation, I believe the fact
i to be,
positively, that they were opened n con-
sequence o
f the system which they introduced into the
public schools, and of
course were longer required when
but cannot speak
they were restored to their original constitution. In page
6 he " asserts boldly, and defies contradiction," that no
child was prohibited from reading the Bible." Why, who
ever said they were? This is all bombast. No one ac-
cuses them of having prohibited its being read at all, or
by any one at any time, for this is what his denial implies.
but we blame them for not having required it—for not
having made it a sine qua non in admitting children to the
schools, that they should learn that Boole which alone
can teach them to be not only truly good citizens, but
billy wise for eternity ; and as this life is but a preface to
our existence, surely, surely, sir, this must be the duty of
those who have committed to them the training that will
in all probability lay the foundation for their unchangeable
destiny. Of his personal attack upon Mr. Hodgson, I
say not a word, but would ask the author the next time he
repeats the LORD'S prayer, to pause at the petition,
" forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that tres-
pass against us," and think of this passage. No man is
without his faults; but it would more become the charac-
ter and dignity of a Christian to have forgiven him than
to retaliate. The next passage respects the extent of se-
cular education which it is proper to give : with this I
shall not meddle. The following one is quite foreign to
the point at issue ; and next his explanation of the line of
argument he has pursued. And then he proceeds to lay
down his panacean scheme ; but it is all nonsense to be
seeking for some new scheme so long as the principle re.
mains untouched ; therefore this plan is as visionary as the
rest. And by allusions to the conduct of some good men
with regard to this question, and by long extracts from
the writings of others, he seems to endeavour to hood-
wink his hearers ; and winds it up with, as he appears to
think, a triumphant reference to the support which the
present government has given, (alas !) and is likely to give,
to a plan similar to his own. But he has often and often
condemned in strong language those in the Conservative
ranks who have accused him of being in league with
Popery, becau e they were acting in concert to obtain one
object. How can he reconcile this with his elaborate
essay to prove that because a Conservative government
approve of his scheme, therefore all Conservatives are
bound to support it. If his party will thus bind themselves
in blindfold pertinacity to their leaders—and his treating
the matter as if it were a matter of course that we should,
would imply that to him at least this was no new thing—
t careral not
and who
delusive.
And i t forwardaa
I can assure him he is very much mistaken if he thinks
.0
n s NCI iep
u
ediot
as s
Igo u will
c
w a t;
we that
length he comes, in page 12, to the real point at issue—
d
" Is secular education alone an evil or not
?" and intro-
duces it with a most animated and confident
anticipation
of the fast approach to the ultimate rejection,
minded men, of those " antiquated e and narrow-
minded prejudices," that children shoulidonnsot
be
educated
without the Bible—more becoming
an infidel than a
Christian. I must beg the author will
allow me to court
his admiration of chivalry with which he greeted Mr.
Hodgson, when that gentleman said that he believed that.
education without religion was a curse. I say it is —not
not
by an effort to " pluck up courage," but from —
sober, deliberate conviction of its truth, and 1,1
lal
I now proceed to prove. Will the author, will
man point me to a people or nation that was e any
ever be.
nefitted by secular education alone? Was Athens? Wit-
ness the Apostle Paul's success there; and be it remem-
bered that his labors there were almost entirely confinec
to the educated—as far as we can learn, at least, from
the account given of his sojourn there. And hear what
that same Apostle says in addressing a church formed in
the midst of another of the most educated people of that
day—the Corinthians—" Ye see your calling, hrethrei
how that not many wise men after the flesh, (and then,,
lest it should be thought that he meant here the rich and
powerful, he adds,) not many mighty, not many noble are
called ;" and this is expressed in a way which leaves no
doubt that it was his constant experience. And look at
those countries in the present day that boast of their
wide-
spread education—France, Germany, &c. &c.—and com-
pare their morals with England, where they say, and truly,
that learning is not so widely diffused : lamentably bad
though oar own country be, it stands far before them in
morality and religion. There are few criterions that bet-
ter attest this than the observance of the Sabbath;
and
will they bear any comparison in this respect ?
I might refer also to the success which has attended
missionary exertions. Look at the South Sea Islands. It
will not do to say that it was after many years of arduous
labor that success was apparent there, for some of the
islands where Christianity was most cordially received had

no missionaries till recently. Now, these are facts. It
is vain to picture the happy results that might arise from
secular education, and would, doubtless, arise from it, if
imparted to holy beings; but it is quite a•different matter
with us, whose every tendency is to sin, and, therefore,
the enlarging and invigorating of our " mental powers"
must have the effect of strengthening and confirming these
tendencies, without having counteracting principles simul—
taneously instilled into the mind ; to do which, in faith
and prayer for that "blessing which alone maketh rich,"
is our duty :--whether that blessing be bestowed or not is
quite beyond our sphere. The author, in illustration of
his views, draws a picture of a boy first allowed to grow
up in ignorance, and then of one educated : it would be an
easy matter for one who had as imaginative a mind as he
has, to depict, in as strong terms and with more truth, the
awful end of an infidel, whose education but cherished and
strengthened his unholy dispositions, besides having his
capacity for misery greatly increased. I recollect having
heard Mr. M`Neile express this sentiment beautifully
some time since. But the author, in representing what
education would in his opinion do for a boy completely,
" begs the question ;" for it is not on the secular educa-
tion which the boy would receive that he founds his argu-
ment, but by the religion which by a sort of sidewindhe
contrives to steal into his sketch. Is his " receiving
much valuable religious instruction of an elementary cha-
racter—learning much about the being, perfections, and
character of God, his responsibility to Him, the value of
His favor, and the value of His displeasure," secular edu-
cation ? Let secular instruction stand on its own basis,
or let tfiem give up the point. I must object to his manner
of stating the difference between what is now required of
the children, and their training under the late system.
He says in page 13, " Will any man of sound mind say
that this course of school training and tuition is a curse to
this child, merely because he did not attend at prayer
time, and read with others the authorised version?" Now,
I candidly put it to the author, is this a fair statement of
the case ? One would suppose he looked upon the reading
of the Bible as of no moment whatever, and had nothing
to do with either the moral or religious training of the
children. This is an evident straining throughout the
whole of his address to bolster up as strong a case as he
could ; I do not say intentionally at the expense of truth,
but clearly under the influence of strong prejudice.
The author, as he draws to a close, indulges in the
happy prospect which his imagination pictures before
him of the genial prevalence of his own views, which he
sees gradually developed in the progress of events around
him—and truly a curious way they take to exhibit them-
selves. Perhaps the doctor views it, as he seems to do
the whole of this subject, inadvertently ; for I should like
him to point to that part of the Liverpool horizon where
it has appeared. It may be, however, that he only means
that the seed is sown now, and we may soon expect to see
it sprout and flourish under the disinterested, cultivating
care of Popery.
There are many more points which I felt tempted to
touch on, but was compelled to refrain ; and, indee3, I
have to apologise for the length to which 1 have already
extended these remarks. I wish truly that your space
would permit the to follow the author through the inge-
nious sophistries which his late speech contains; but, as
the principles which I have above endeavoured feebly to
advocate meet most of them, it is the less necessary that I
should do so. If some of your many able correspondents
do not in the interim take it up, I may perhaps, ere long,
trouble you with a few remarks on them.
M.
Liverpool, 25th May, 1844.

SUMMONSES FOR PARISH RATES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SlR,—Will you permit me, through your valuable
paper, to inquire who directs summonses to be issued
against parties for the payment of parish rates? My
object in asking this question thus publicly is, that I fear
the person, whoever he may be, does not make the neces-
sary inquiries before taking such a step. For instance—
a friend of mine was called upon by the collector of his
district for the payment of his rates, and not being quite
convenient to him at the time to pay the amount, he re-
quested the collector to call in about a fortnight, and he
would take care to be prepared for him. Two or three
days after he received a summons to appear before the
magistrates to show cause why he had not paid them, and
this too after having arranged with the collector positively
to pay on a certain day. It appears to me the collector
must have acted in a manner to call forth censure, other-
wise there must be some party who adopts such a course
without, I am sure, the sanction of the churchwardens,
or those who may have the power to direct such matters.
I would not have troubled you had this been a solitary
instance, but I can assure you such is far from being the
case.
Do, Mr. Editor, insert this in your paper to-morrow,
in order that the matter may be investigated and rectified
without further delay.—l am, yours, &c.,
June 3rd, 1844. FAIR PLAY.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION AT THE

BOTANIC GARDEN.

The first of the three horticultural exhibitions of the pre-
sent year took place on Friday week, a,t the Botanic Garden.
The day was sunny and warm, and the attendance, we are
glad to say, more numerous than we remember to have
noticed on any former occasion, including many of the
first families and individuals of the town and neighbour-
hood. The carriages—the greater part handsome private
equipages—lined a long length of the road on each side,
opposite the establishment; and on this occasion the
company were exempted from the usual annoyance of
dust by the judicious employment of two water-carts near
the entrance. The garden itself, notwithstanding the
want of rain, looked beautifully fresh and inviting ; the
shrubs and hedges, which have now attained an umbra-
geous height, giving it a much more shady and verdant
effect than it formerly possessed. Towards three o'clock
(an hour after the opening to the visiters generally) the
various broad walks presented a delightfully gay appear-
ance, from the presence of a fashionable throng, including
many elegantly attired ladies, who promenaded from place
to place, or paused in groups to examine the varied plants
and flowers that everywhere invited attention. The major
part of the company, however, congregated on the green
in front of the conservatory, in the centre of which the
waters of the fountain sparkled in the sunny rays; or
sauntered under the spacious marquee, admiring the com-
peting flowers, which were arranged on large tables; or
amused themselves in the well-plenished greenhouses and
hothouse. In one of the former a number of curious
specimens were exhibited for competition. In a tent, on
one side of the lawn, refreshments were served ; and at
the top of the centre walk was stationed Mr. Parker's
Cheltenham band, who played a variety of pleasing airs
throughout the afternoon.
The show of plants, flowers, and fruits, was admitted
by all to be the most extensive, select, and rare, that had
ever been submitted at this garden. The geraniums (or
pelargoniums) were many of them splendid, particularly
a collection of ten exhibited by our townsmen, Messrs.
Davies, of Wavertree Nursery, who, it will be found,
obtained four prizes. They brought five collections of
plants in all, and would probably have carried off a prize
for the fifth, but found that the class to which it belonged
was not on this occasion open to competition. There
were also some splendid geraniums and other plants from
the respective nurseries of Mr. Skirving and Mr. Cun-
ningham, and not a few sent by private growers. We
noticed several beautiful azaleas, and a fine stove plant,
the Pinzelia decusala, from Mr. 0. F. Meyrick, Angle-
sea. Mr. Charles Horsfall also produced some excellent
greenhouse plants, and obtained several prizes. There
were some beautiful roses in pots, and all the baskets of
plants were fine. Mr. E. D. Falkner sent some superb
roses, but not for competition. One of the finest of the
class, however, belonged to the Garden—a splendid large-
flowered white, produced from a comparatively very small
plant. It is called " The Duke of Devonshire," and one
of the flowers was upwards of four inches in diameter.
Mr. Johnson sent a fine specimen of the Cattleya Mossece.
The fruit shown was of course limited in quant;ty,
owing to the earliness of the season, but all of excellent
quality and large size. The pine-apples, melons, cherries,
and black grapes in particular, were very fine. Mr. C.
H. Horsfall exhibited—not for competition—a dish of
fine plump and sound apples, the growth of 1842. The
show of vegetables was also good, including some large
new kidney potatoes; but where all was superior, it were
invidious further to particularise, and we must therefore
refer to the following

LIST OF THE PRIZES.
PLANTS.

Cape Hee:Ms.—Eight varieties-Ist prize, Messrs. T.
Davies and Co. ; 2nd, Mr. G. Cunningham.
Pucheias.—Eight varieties—Messrs. Whalley, nursery-
men.

Pelargoniums.—Best ten-Ist, Messrs. Davies ; 2nd,
Mr. Skirving; 3rd, Mr. Cunningham. Best six-Ist,
Messrs. Davies ; 2nd, Mr. Skirving ; 3rd, Mr. H. Winch,
Seacombe.

.Roses.—Ten varieties-Ist, Mr. H. Winch ; 2nd, Mrs.
Foster, of Wootton.

Stove or Greenhouse Plants.—Best six-Ist, Messrs.
Davies; 2nd, Mr. Cunningham; 3rd, Mrs. Foster. Best
of four—Mr. Horsfill. Best single specimen-Ist, Mrs.
Earle, of Speaklands ; 2nd, Mr. R. Alison ; 3rd, Mr. 0.
F. Mey rick.

Exotic Orchidacem.—Six specimens-Ist, Mr. Chas.
Horsfall; 2nd, Mr. John Moss. Three specimens-Ist,
Mr. T. johnson, of Runcorn ; 2nd, Mr. Chas. Horsfall.
Single specimen-Ist, Mr. T. Johnson; 2nd, Mr. John
Moss.

Basket of Plants.-Ist, Mr. C. Horsfall ; 2nd, Mr.W.
Blain. Extra prizes-Ist, Mrs. Foster ; 2nd, Mr. Winch ;
3rd, Mr. Skirving.
Rare Ornamental Plants.—Single specimen—Mr. G.
Cunningham.

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
Best dish of Grapes.—E. D. Falkner, Esq., Fairfield.
Best Pine.—lst, The Earl of Derby; 2nd, Rd. Alison,
Esq., Woolton Heys.
Best Melon.—The Earl of Derby.
Best basket of Fruit.—The Earl of Derby.
Best basket of Vegetables.—lst, The Earl of Derby ;
2nd, 0. F. Meyrick, Esq.
Extra prize for Rhubarb.-0. F. Meyrick, Esq.
Extra prize for Strawberries.-0. F. Meyrick, Esq.
Extra prize for Cherries.-0. F. Meyrick, Esq.

THREE LADS DROWNED.—A most distressing acci-
dent occurred on Sunday afternoon at Ma!don, Essex, by
which three youths met a watery grave. During the
afternoon eleven boys took a boat at Hythe, and went
down the river ; they bad proceeded but very little way,
when they were seen to endeavour to hoist a sail, and the
wind blowing strongly at the time the boat immediately
capsized, by which they were all plunged into the water.
Five of them managed to reach the shore, and three others
were saved by clinging to the boat. The bodies of the
other three lads, named Forster, Fairhead, and Cole,
were not picked up for nearly an hour, when life was ex-
tinct.

MEETING OF THE BIRKENHEAD
COMMISSIONERS.

The adjourned general meeting was held on Tuesday
last, Mr. W. JACKSON in the chair. The annual accounts
were presented, including those of the Ferry. The gross
receipts were.X15,589, (and fractions,) the gross expendi-
ture £9,457, leaving a balance to the credit of the com-
missioners of £G,132. The ferry has yielded 73 per cent.
upon the amount laid out in the purchase of steamers and
the fee simple. The income from it was still increasing.
Mr. BENTHAM congratulated the commissioners on the
success of the ferry, and its advantages to the public under
their management. No other ferry was so satisfactorily
conducted. _

The. CHAIRMAN said the Ferry Committee had deter-
mined to recommend a reduction of 50 per cent. on the
annual contracts, or £1 ss. in place of the present amount
of £2' 10s. ; and. for every individual in addition, who be-
longed to the same family, 10s. in place of 15s. per an-
num. They also proposed to run the packets between
Liverpool and Woodside during the whole night—leaving
Liverpool at 12, 1,2, 3,4, and 5 o'clock, and Woodside
at the half hours—the ordinary boats afterwards to run at
the usual times. In accomplishing this, it was expected
that the Liverpool C ,rporation would afford the requisite
stage accommodation during the night. This would in-
volve an additional charge, but the convenience to the
public would be great ; and the receipts in the first month
of 1844 had been upwards of £lOO more than the corres-
ponding month of 1843.
The LAW-CLERK read the general accounts. The re-
ceipts of the year had been £65,826; the expenditure
£65,999; but with a balance left over last year, the ba-
lance now in the treasurer's hands was £l7B.
The CHAIRMAN said the improvement rate would, he
expected, pay the current expenses of the year; and he
might say the same of the lighting and watching rate.
The LAW-CLERK read a statement showing that the
liabilities of the commissioners amounted to £210.324;
while the value of their property, together will uncollected
rates, was £312.482, leaving a balance to the credit of the
township of £132,161.
Mr. BENTHAM said that the land of the commissioners
had been valued (for this statement) at the price it would
bring if offered for sale this day.
The CHAIRMAN said it had in fact been undervalued,
and he would be glad to purchase it at the price put down.
As to the ferry, its value could not be estimated, as it was
still increasing.
The CHAIRMAN then reported that the dock bill had
passed the committee of the Commons, and that prepara-
tions had been made to carry it through the Lords. The
formal r€port had not yet been made. The Liverpool
Corporation had petitioned against the Monk's Ferry
Bill, upon the standing orders, but had been defeated.
Subsequently they had petitioned against it on the merits,
and would no doubt carry their opposition into the House
of Lords. It was grievous that any individual in Birken-
he•+d, who had benefitted by the improvements in Birken-
head, should so far aid and abet the corporation as to sign
a petition against the bill, which would throw an addition-
al expense upon the township in the passing of the mea-
sure, of some hundred pounds. He was not surprised
that Mr. Edward Willoughby, who was a tenant of the
corporation, should put his name to such a petition; hut
he was indeed surprised when he found such men as Mr.
Hughes (with several others) who had profited by the
public improvements which had been made, putting the
township to unnecessary additional expense in obtaining
a measure so useful.
Mr. BENTHAM said he was not surprised at anything
those individuals
The CHAIRMAN said he should lay a copy of the peti-
tion before the Commissioners, so that they might see who
had signed it.
Mr. J. S. JACKSON said he expected as much trouble
from them in the Lords as in the Commons. If the cor-
poration of Liverpool had money to throw away in a
fruitless contest, he hoped their constituents would call
them to account. _ _ _

The CHAIRMAN referred to the present prosperous
state of the affairs of the Commissioners. The township
had more property than would discharge all its liabilities;
streets were made, slaughter-houes, cemetery, and mar-
ket; and he trusted the ferry would soon be all clear. The
progress of the township was, indeed, unprecedented.
The meeting then adjourned to Monday.