The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-05-05 00:00:00

FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 5, 1843

Sir James Graham has made the attempt to remodel
the educational clauses of his proposed factory bill, so
as to meet the objections urged against them by the
dissenting bodies; and, as any rational man might
have predicted; has failed. What definite plan could
possibly be devised, to fall in with such a strange mul-
titude of conflicting opinions ? What food could be
made palateable to so infinite a variety of tastes ?
; and the failure of the attempt does not there-
fore disappoint us, though, perhaps, we may regret
that it was ever made. A careful examination, how-
ever, of the modifications proposed does not very ma-
terially alarm us, with respect to the beneficial working
of the measure, even in its present shape, though some
of the concessions offered do appear to us to be
marked by a generous liberality, somewhat too exube-
rant, towards opponents who have deserved little con-
sideration at our hands. The dissenting conscience
has been sought to be gratified somewhat too much at
the expense of the feelings of the Church-of-England
majority of the people. The just claims of the Church
have been shuffled too far into the background, whilst
the obtrusive claims of sectarians are broadly acknow-
ledged; and especially we demur to the transfer from
the Establishment, of powers offered her by the ori-
ginal bill, to the privy council. Dissent may be safer
in the hands of the latter body than in the hands of
the clergy of our Established Church ; but we much
question whether the religious and moral teaching of
the people is more secure under such control.
As a whole, however, we repeat, our good opinion
of the measure is not materially weakened ; and
although the alterations made in it have failed in their
object, so far as that object was to conciliate all the
religious or politically religious bodies who were op-
posing it, there is one class of the religious commu-
nity, who were lately ranked amongst the numbers
of its opponents, upon whom we trust those alterations
will have' a conciliating effect, and whose DUTY, we
feel convinced it is now to devote all their influence to
its support. We refer, of course, to the Wesleyan
body. If we have understood aright the feeling of
Wesieyans upon the subject of the bill, their most ma-
terial objections were the non-recognition of their own

day schools, as competent to grant certificates to fac-
tory children; the discouragement offered to their
Sunday schools, and some objection to the composition
of the board of trustees. The competency of such
schools, and of all schools in which scriptural educa-
tion is afforded, is now fully conceded, as indeed we
always expected it would be; and, where such schools
uo not' slick reglilntions have -been made
in the mode by which dissenting children may.
receive instruction from their own pastors in their
own peculiar tenets; as must materially weaken their
disinclination to enter the government schools. With
respect to the rttendance of children of dissenting pa-
rents at the. Sunday schools of their own persuasion, a
similar enncession has. been made—pushed indeed to
an " extreme length which, it appears to us,, was quite
uncalled for. Such dissenting Sunday schools aye
not only permitted to receive the children of dissenting
parents,: attending government schools in the week
day; but, by 3.43lreteh of liberality on the part of Sir
James Graham, are permitted to receive, as well, the
children- of Church-of-England parents, thus enjoying
opportunities. for proselytising which are sedulously de-
nied to the Church herself ! -
And then, with respect to the constitution of the
boards of trustees, how can Wesleyans—who are not,
like the rancorous political religionists, the vowed
enemies of the establishment and her doctrines—en.
tertain now any very important objection? True, the
Church of England trustees will always be the prepon-
derating body ; but a "liberal" member of the Church
is not such a " rara avis in terris" that Wesleyans
ought to fear having fair play. Two members at the
board dissenters will always have. A third, in many
districts they will acquire by the privilege of election
given to donors or yearly subscribers to the ichool
funds. And, of the remaining two, elected by the
majority or the minority of the ratepayers, we much
doubt that one, even, will be,the intolerant Churchman,
whose character has formed the bugbear with which
many of our Wesleyan brethren have been frighted
from their propriety. The feelings with which the
present system of education in our own Corporation
Schools is regarded by the Wesleyan body—the per-
fect harmony with his Church-of-England colleagues

with which a member of that body at present sits upon
the Education Committee, and aids in directing the
operation of a system similar to that provided for by
the government measure—encourage us in the hope
that, every reasonable objection having now been met,
and with the conviction before them that, if this mea-
sure be permitted to fall to the ground, no measure of
education can be hoped for, the Wesleyan party will at
once disconnect themselves from the violent and fac-
tious of other denominations of dissent, and contribute

their powerful support to government on this question.
There is, by the bye, one other objection to the bill
which may have weighed with some Wesleyans, and
was alluded to as a grievance by Lord John. Russell.
It may he urged that a master of the school should not
be required to be a member of the National Church.
It may he thought hard that trained teachers, because
dissenters, should be debarred from accepting what
may be advantageous situations. But the complaint,

. -
after all, is no greater, or newer, than that a dissenter
should not be permitted to occupy the professorship
of one of our universities ; and we rather suspect that
the Wesleyan body would not, in practice, approve of
the contrary principle. It must, if extended to any
sect, be extended to all. If a Wesleyan, or an Inde-
pendent, be declared eligible for an office, in which
religious teaching is one of the duties, how can we
exclude the Non-Trinitarian ? Why not a Socinian ?

Where draw the line of prohibition—for some such
line there must be, unless we admit that the doctrines
of revelation can be safely propounded by the lips of
lity itself? On reflection, we are satisfied the
Wesleyan body will see the difficulty of the subject,
however plausible it may be at first sight; and rather

consent to the government plan, with respect to
teachers, than commit their children to the danger of

hearing the sacred truths of the Bible deformed by

the scoffing interpretation of unbelievers.
From all the indications which surround us, the war

of the political dissenters against the bill, as amended,
is to be pressed forward with all the virulence by

ch it has hitherto been characterised; and so san-

guine are they of success, that they are already pro-
phecying its withdrawal by government, and singing
Io Pcean s over their anticipated defeat of the Church,

and their successful effort to stay the progress of the

religious. and moral enlightenment of the people,
. .

-
Shall such a consummation be accomplished ? We

appeal to Churchmen, and to the WesleS'an body of

dissenters, whether they are prepared to permit such a

NIA

totiit to thit wd

hittig htla h4iipttigbd bt

We twat that they arc izbt an prttiafed abdj tatnutly
and affectionately, we implore of both to take those
prompt and vigorous steps which, if taken at once, and
taken firmly, will render it impossible for any govern-
ment, and most of all a Conservative government, to
withdraw their hand from the great work which, at
the last hour, they have commenced. Let the remon-
strances of a resolved people be poured in to strengthen
the position of that government; and we may yet
laugh to scorn the hostile efforts of our opponents !
Let those remonstrances be withheld ; and for what
a crime will this Christian community have to answer
at the bar of heaven !

If the farmers of Great Britain were bent upon de-
livering themselves up to the tender mercies of the
ultra free-trade party, it would be impossible to con-
ceive a more effectual plan than the indulgence of that
rancorous feeling, entertained by too many of them,
against the members of the present government. For
suppose, for a moment, the possibility of their weaken-
ing, by any instrumentality, the hands of Sir Robert
Peel. Suppose it in their power to drive that man,
who has reared up the Conservative party, and been
for years the prop and stay of constitutional principles
in this country, to resign in disgust his responsible
position. Suppose the breaking up, by the influence
of the agricultural body, of the present administration;
where would they look for the materials of an admi-
nistration to succeed it, and to support their absurdly-
exaggerated views of agricultural protection ? The
effort would be a hopeless impossibility. A Stanhope
or a Buckingham administration could not withstand
for three days the force of public opinion upon the
subject of a fair development for the national industry;
and, as the result of the overthrow of the Peel admi-
nistration, they would have a government which would
at once rush to the extreme length of ultra free trade—
to the abandonment of all protection to the national
industry and the national revenue—and plunge at
once the commerce, the manufactures, the finances,
the colonial and agricultural interest of the country,
into a condition of hopeless and irretrievable ruin.
Do the agricultural community imagine that it is
possible, now, for the people of this great country—
em barked, as they are, in manufacturing and com-
mercial pursuits—dependent, as are the masses, upon
the prosperity of those pursuits—dependent as is the
very peace of the country upon the continuance of the
means of employment of those masses,—to arrest the
gradual progress of that forward march, in which
every nation of the globe is at this moment involved ?
Difficult as it is to di,cern to which bourne that march
will bring us,—difficult as it is to discern by what
agency it proposes to increase the sum of human hap-
piness—there can certainly be little doubt, now, that
to stay its course is no longer within the bounds of pos-
sibility, and as little that no individual class or interest
can safely be permitted to lay in its rear and impede its
motion. When every other class of the community is
competing for existence with its fellow class ; when
manual labour is competing with the labour of the
machine; when the noblest intellectual faculties of
man are racked daily to the uttermost, to enable their
possessor to sustain himself in the struggle with the
giant power of modern days—the universal leveller—
CAPITAL; can the agricultural class, alone, claim, with
any show of fairness and consistency, to be exempt
from the general lot? We submit that they cannot;
and we maintain further, that those are false friends of
the agricultural body who instil into the minds of the
farmers of Great Britain a notion so preposterous and
dangerous to their best interests.

The agricultural body must, of necessity, look for-
ward to the arrival of a period-7progressively we trust
—at which they must be content to depend more upon
their own energies, their own skill, the outlay of capital
in improved modes of cultivation, and upon improved
means of internal cultivation, than upon any mere
legislative protection. By these appliances the produc-
tion of our own soil may possibly become, in average
seasons, sufficient for the wants of even an increased
population. When this consummation shall have been
achieved—and it is no distant possibility—the neces-
sity of protective laws wiil be little felt; and, year after
year, as we approach that consummation, the need for
such laws will decrease. In the mean time, however,
whilst ngricultuTal science is putting forth its energies,
the wants of the consumer must be fed; and that at a
reasonable rate. We claim no undue sacrifices from
the agriculturists, but merely a submission to the
imperative circumstances of the times in which they
are hr
musti progress with the times, and
share with external producers to which
tto h thrown.
competition 'They
w
every other branch of industry is gradually being sub-
mitted. Often as we have raised our voice against the
course of virtual confiscation, to which some politicians
would gladly consign them, we claim confidence in our
perfect sincerity, when we assure our agricultural
friends that their position, and the position of the
country, is no longer one in which they can choose
their policy, and say " stand still," when imperious
necessity bids them " go on."

With what reason, then, is this pettish jealousy of
Sir Robert Peel's government manifested ? With what
truth are the ' clamours of country meetings raised
against imputed " breaches of faith," on the part
of that statesman and his supporters ? Never,
that we are aware of, did Sir Robert promise the
maintenance of prohibitory laws, or even of a sliding
scale, which, at one moment, was prohibitory, and, in
the next, deluged the country with duty-free foreign
produce. Sir Robert Peel promised justice and fair
protection to native industry. Upon these principles
the measure which he brought forward was based; and
although, during its operation we have had low prices
—(which, by the bye, we have had under the operation
of the law which it superseded)—.the agriculturists are
certainly not justified in imputing want of faith to the
Government of their choice, until they can shew, be-
yond the shadow of a doubt, that such were its
foreseen consequences, or were, at all, its consequences.
We believe that neither alternative can be demonstrated.
Neither Sir Robert Peel, nor any other member of his
administration or party, ever anticipated as its result a
state of the market such as the present; and unless
aided by extrinsic circumstances—the farmers' own
fears not the least powerful—we do not believe that
such a state could have been brought about under its
operation.

It is quite possible, and very probable too, that the
average price anticipated to be produced by it may
have been calculated somewhat higher than will result

In practice

But is this not, we ask, to be attributed,
in part, to the stimulated energies of the farmers them-
selves, and to the favouring weather which they have
had for agricultural operations ? One-third greater
breadth of wheat is said to be now in the ground tban
in average years; and if, under such circumstances,
we have continued cheapness, surely the law is not to
be blamed. Farmers ought to remember, too, that
their commodity is not the only one depreciated in
price. Within the last ten years the money value of
every article which enters into a farmer's consumption
has immensely decreased ; and we believe at this
moment, with the existing low prices, a quarter of
corn, a bullock, or a sheep, would exchange for quite
as great a quantity of the necessities of life as during
what was considered the heyday of agricultural

prosperity.
However this may be, there can be no doubt that
every effort of the agricultural body to injure the
reputation of Sir Robert Peel's Government is a blow
struck at their own interests. The unconcealed satis-
faction, with which the Anti-Corn-Law League regards
the attacks levelled by country gentlemen at that Go-
vernment, ought to be conclusive as to their tendency.
In his hands, and in his only, the progress of agri-
cultural industry towards that unaided competition
with the foreign grown, which " Liberalism " con-
templates with such exuberant glee, will he of that
gradual character which it may, perhaps, prove itself
able to endure with little detriment to its solid pro-
sperity; whilst in others, we may be destined to see it,
after a brief and hopeless struggle,
consigned at length
to a position amongst the bubbling elements which fill
the caldron of modern theoretical innovation. "Quern
Deus vult perdere, Arius dementat." Let country
gentlemen lay to their hearts the application !

...nM.1m.,.....c...,.,,.,..,.,....

We have studiously avoided any reference to the
position, occupied by a certain party in the church,
with respect to the
proposed government measure of
education ; nor should we have noticed it now, hut for
the unmistakeable manner in which its organs have at

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how/ triii&i ot the opositiob; with 'rvhich tho bill of Sir
James Graham has been tnet; is attributable to the
jealousy with which the peculiar doctrines of that party
are viewed by the great mass of the people. Under
these circumstances, what should have been the course
of men, professedly ardent in the cause of education,
and in the spread of Church of England principles?
Should it not have been an anxious solicitude for the
success of a measure, by which a large amount of edu-
cational destitution is removed, and a large sphere of
usefulness opened, for the first time, to that church ?
And yet how contrary has been their course ! We
have seen a restless stickling for the recognition of the
church's supremacy in the administration of education ;
but nowhere a manifestation of zeal for the promotion
of education itself, even in its best form. We have
been met with querulous complaints of slights offered
to the church ; of powers withheld, and asserted rights
not recognised with sufficient obtrusiveness. We have
seen a cold-shouldered inactivity, at a time when dis-
sent was vigorously engaged in the effort to snatch
from the church the admitted modicum of advantage
offered her ; but nowhere have we seen, in the conduct
of the party in question, a disposition, the most faint,
to embrace that advantage, or to afford aid to the
Government by whom it was tendered.

RoYAL Ass' EMlA.v..noots.—Mr. and Mrs. irtaYthend,
Mrs. Waylett, and Mr. A. Lee, have been delighting select
and fashionable audiences at the above rooms during the
week. This evening is the last of the entertainment. A's a
long-esteemed and talented resident of this town, Mr. Ray-
mond ought to be liberally patronised.

HIGHWAY RonnEny.—At the Birkenhead Police-court,
yesterday, Joseph Forsbaw and Thomas Rodgers were com-
mitted for trial on a charge of robbing George Cooper of his
watch on the high Way at Raby, on Sunday night, the 26th of
February. Oti the application of Mr. Cudlipp, solicitor, the
magistrates agreed to take bail for their appearance.

BOTANIC GARDENS.—The first of the Horticultural
exhibitions for the season, takes place in the Botanic Gardens
this day, when, we hope, that such support may be given to
the institution as to justify the Committee in making further
efforts to secure its permanence. The weather promises to
be beautiful, and the quality of the exhibition is anticipated
to be of the first order, so that there will be every requisite
to attend a numerous assembly. It wilt assuredly be a re-
flection upon the character of Liverpool if these gardens are
suffered to decay for want of support.

IMPUDENT THEFT FROM A SHOP.—A man named Wm.
Taylor was yesterday placed at the bar of the Police-court,
on a charge of stealing a pair of boots and a pair of shoes
from a shop at the corner of Islington and Clare-street. It
appeared that he had walked deliberately into the shop, seized
the articles, and made off with them. The alarm was given,
and he was pursued along St. Anne-street by a police-officer,
and caught while endeavouring to get over the wall of a
timber-yard. He had dropped one of the boots on the
ground, and the other and the shoes were found upon him.
He was committed for trial.

ANCIENT ORDER ON FORRESTERS.—The anniversary of
Court " Pride of England," No. 1016, was celebrated on
Tuesday evening last, when the members sat down to a splen-
supper which was provided by their worthy hostess, Mrs.
Langley. After the cloth had been removed, the Chairman
prtsented (on behalf of the Court) a most elegant Star .medal
to P.C.R. Thomas O'Mally as a token of respect for his very
efficient services during the time he presided over the Court.
The song and toast went round to a late hour, and the com-
pany retired highly gratified with the proceedings of the
evening.

Such has been the course of the party until the last
few days ; but such is its course no longer. The af-
fected indifference, by which it has been characterized,
is now laid aside—now, when it is becoming too certain
that, without some powerful effort of the Church the
attempt to educate the people, by any other than vo-
luntaryism, is hopeless—and in its stead we are met
with sneers at the impracticability of any national mea-
sure, and, almost a suggestion of the abandonment of
the proposed bill as impracticable and quixotic. The
Morning Post, a somewhat indiscreet organ of the par-
ty, repudiates the bill in toto. The Times ridicules its
provisions; and whilst acknowledging the impossibilty
of refusing some toleration to other religious bodies,
and acknowledging as well, the innocuous character of
the concessions made by Sir James Graham, arrives at
the conclusion, very intelligibly hinted, that the time has
not arrived for the " modified system of money being
permitted to undertake the proselytizing of the people"
and that, therefore, the question of a national system
of education may be postponed ! The attempt to in-
duce the entire community to look with favour upon
teaching, is as yet not ripe for success ; and, therefore,
the awful destitution of religious teaching, which has
so recently been brought into prominent notice, is to
be left uncared for !

CHARGE OF ARSON.—Yesterday, John Smith, a stone-
mason, residing at Liscard, was charged, at the Birkenhead
Police-court, with setting fire to his house on the previous
evening. It appeared that the prisoner had been indulging
rather too freely, and, on his return home, quarrelled with
his wife, beat her, and then attempted to burn his furniture,
which would no doubt have caused the destruction of the
house, had it not been for the interference of the neighbours.
It appeared, however, that in consequence of some injury
the prisoner had received to his head, he lost the control of
his senses when under the influence of liquor; and in order
to make some inquiries, he was remanded for a day.

CHINESE EXHIBITION AT THE PORTICO.—There is at
present open at the Portico a very interesting and well se-
lected museum of Chinese curiosities. The objects consist
of implements of husbandry and warfare, dresses, specimens
of carvings, laces, silk, drawings, &c. There is a curious
model of the• car of Juggernauth. As illustrative of the
habits and customs of the Cehstials, this museum is well
worthy of a visit. Children ought, by all means, to be taken
to see this collection as being likely to convey to their minds
useful information. There are some beautiful dissolving
views to be seen at two o'clock and eight in the evening.
This museum requires only to be known to be extensively
patronised.

STEALING TOBACCO.—A boy, named John Dockery, was
yesterday brought up at the Police-court, on a charge of
stealing 21bs. of tobacco from the shop of Mr. John Crewe,
Scotland-road. The prisoner was distinctly sworn to by the
complainant; but two females, his friends, Cecilia Wallace
and Nabina Hanley, attempted an alibi, but failed from a dis-
crepancy in their accounts. The prisoner was committed for
trial. Shortly afterwards the two women were brought back
into court, and charged with having threatened the com-
plainant for appearing as a witness against the boy. The case
being proved, they were each required to find bail, them-
selves in £2O, and two sureties in £lO each, and, in default,
were ordered to be imprisoned for 14 days.
INQUESTS.—On Tuesday, on view of the body of William
Fitzsimmons, a child of four years old. Deceased, who lived
with his parents in New Bird-street, was left with another
child, about a fortnight ago, and his clothes taking fire, he
was so severely burnt that he died on Sunday last. Verdict,
" Died from the burning, but how caused no evidence."—
Same day, on view of the body of Henry Boardman, a child
of two years old, who lived in Lambert-street. On Sunday
the deceased was so severely scalded by a dish of hot broth
that fell upon him, that he died on Monday night. Verdict,
" Accidental death."--Same day, on view of the body of
James Smith, aged 76. On the 12th ult. the deceased,
while in Netherfield-road North, was accidentally knocked
down by a horse, and received a fracture of the left leg and
elbow, of which be died on the 29th. Verdict, "Acciden-
tally killed."

As lovers of our National Church, anxious—more
anxious than any member of the party to which we
have alluded—for the acknowledgement of her pure
doctrines and the spread of her usefulness, we cannot
but deplore the infatuation which, thus stickling for
the shadow—for the formation—of that church, loses
sight of the substance, which is the spread of vital
religion amongst the people. Much as we are disposed
to deprecate unworthy concessions to dissenting cla-
mour—much as we deprecate the yielding up of an
iota of the church's rights, we must deprecate infinitely
more that pettish stiff-neckedness, which, because it
cannot realize all its visions of authoritative rule, would
sacrifice the power of Christian usefulness which is
placed fairly and honourably within its reach. Her
legitimate position as the instructress of the people we
claim for the church. We long to behold the day
when that position shall be universally acknowledged.
But we cannot view that, as a feeling worthy of a
Christian Church, which, under any circumstances,
declares, in effect, that millions shall be left to crawl in
darkness from the cradle to miserable graves.

A CHEAP TENEMENT—A Mrs. Owen was yesterday pro-
ceeded against in the Police-court under the small tenement
act, with a view to her being ejected from a good cottage-
house in Mary's-place, Gildart's-gardens, Maguire-street.
It appeared that the house had been taken by her from a
Mrs. Pritchard, her relation, at the weekly rent of 3d.—
though the defendant contended that no agreement for the
payment of rent was ever made. It appeared, however, that
she had once paid 2d. a week, and on three other occasions
3d. at a time—the whole, for weekly rent, amounting to 11d.
over a space of five whole years ; and this being considered
proof of tenancy, she was required to quit—the notices hav-
ing been duly served—in 21 days. She complained of this
decision as unfair; but Mr. Rushton said she certainly had a
kind landlady ;—he wished his landlady were equally reason-
able and considerate !
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY 'FROM A TAVERN.—At the
Police-court, yesterday, three suspicious-looking fellows—
James Lee, James Smith, and Henry Francis—(supposed to
belong to the Birmingham society of thieves), were charged
with attempting to steal a quantity of money, on Tuesday
last, from the house of Mr. Owen, the Shakspere Tavern,
Williamson-square. It appeared they had gone to the house
several times on Tuesday last, and on two occasions got
change for a sovereign, the change being taken from a chest,
where the money was kept, in the lobby. On their calling
in again in the evening, it was found that the closet had been
forced open, also a work-box inside of it, and that no one
else was near it. They had, however, missed the money,
which was lying under some papers about a foot from the
box. They were apprehended, and on one of them was
found upwards of £B, and on the others considerable sums,
which they could scarcely have come honestly by'. It is sup.
posed they were connected with a recent robbing in the town.
They were all committed for trial at the sessions,
.
A MAN FOUND DEAD ON SHIPBOARD.—An inquest was
held on Wednesday, before Mr. Currie, on view of the body
of a man named John Duke. The deceased, who Was about
60 years of age, was ship-keeper of the brig George, lying in
the King's Dock. On Wednesday morning, John White,
the carpenter of the vessel, on going on board to his work,
had occasion to go between decks for his tools, and, on opeu-
ing the scuttle of the after hatchway, saw the deceased lying
at the bottom of the hold, just under the hatchway, and a
quantity of blood about him. A police-officer was caed,
and deceased was found to be quite dead. All the hatches
LOCAL NEWS. • of the upper deck were closed, and he must have gone
through the cabin to get between decks, where the hatches
were all open. The body was taken to the dead-house. Mr.
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—Some lectures, illustrated Wood, surgeon, made a ost ion, and
by models, &c., are about to take place at the Music-hall, found an extensive fracture p
of thenzortern
skull, whichexaminat veas the cause
which may be expected to be of an interesting character. of death, and was probably caused by a fall. The jury re-
turned a verdict to the effect, that the deceased was found
THE 11TH HUSSARS.—Two troops of the 11th Hussars
dead from a fracture of the skull, but how received there was
arrived in this town on Tuesday from York. They are under
the command of Lord Cardigan, who was domiciled during no evidence to show.
the short stay of the regiment here at the Adelphi Hotel. A MAN NEARLY KILLED BY THE FALLING OF A DALE
The troops embarked on Wednesday for Dublin. OF COTTON.—At the Police-court yesterday, a man named
ST. DAVID'S CHURCH, LIVERPOOL.—On Wednesday, John Hilton, a labourer, was placed before
Mr. Rushton, on
the 3rd instant, the trustees of St. David LIVERPOOL.
s Church met pur-
a charge of having, by his careless conduct, nearly caused the
death of a man of the name of Robert Wilkinson. It ap-
cancy of that church, when their unanimous choice fell
on
suant to notice, to elect a minister to fill up the existing va-
peared that at about 11 o'clock yesterday forenoon,
Wilkin-
the Rev. Benjamin Morgan, curate of Aberystwyth, who, it sszt.ie,e a butcher in- the employ of Mr. Ethill, of Oldhall-
t, was passing along Launcelot's-hey, in front of the
is expected, will forthwith proceed to Liverpool to di
irherge
warehouse known as Davies's, when a ha'le of cotton fell
the duty of his important benefice.
- - t upon him from the first floor, and crushed him to the ground.
MODERATION !—A beerseller, for infringing the law a He was taken up apparently in a lifeless state, and conveyed
Tranmere, and a publican for the same offence, were yester- to the Northern Hospital ; but after surgical assistance he
day fined at the Birkenhead Police-court, the former ss. and revived, and it is hoped is not dangerously injured, though-
the latter 10s. Contrast this with what occurs at our Police- he was unable to appear in court. The bale, it appeared,
court every Friday; and yet the beerahops and public-houses was thrown out of the warehouse into the street, with a view
in that district are quite as orderly, if not more so, than in to its being put in cellar with some others of a similar mark.
any other part of the country—proving that severity is not The prisoner said he could not deny the fact; but that he
always the best mode of securing obedienc to the law.
had, previous to throwing it out, asked a companion if the
PORT OF MANCHESTER.—It appears that a party from street was clear, and being replied to in the affirmative, did
Manchester were in Liverpool on Friday last ascertainging did not think any one was below. He was required to find
the requisite fittings for a bonded warehouse, and that, in the bail to appear, if called upon, himself in £4O, and two secu-
present week a deputation from the Manchester Town Coun- rities in £2O each.
cil are to wait on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to mature MERCHANT SEAMENS' FUND.—A petition'to parliarnent
their scheme. Although the Lords of the Treasury have is now in course of signature in this town, by the sea-faring
power to declare Manchester a port without going to Parlia-
portion of the (mulct:amity, complaining of the distribution of
meat, yet an act must be, in this case, obtained to raise the this fund. The following are She principal clauses of the
local funds to pay for the establishment.
petition :—" Your petitioners beg to direct your attention to
Tire STONE FOR THE Assize COURTS.—The stone to be the 2nd section of the Act, whereby it is provided that the
used in building the New Assize Courts is to be brought from widows and children of such seamen only as shall have con-
e quarry in Darley Dale, Derbyshire. The workmen in the tributed to the fund for the space of twenty-one years, and
quarry from which the stone will be obtained, have recently shall die a natural death, shall be entitled to relief ; and they
discovered in it another of those caverns for which Derby- beg to suggest, that a much shorter period might be adopted
shire is already noted. The following is extracted from the with great advantage to the fan:Kies of deceased contributors,
Derby Courier of the 22d ult. :—" Last week, while some and without pressing too hard upon the funds of the Corpor-
men were ht work in the quarry of A. H. Heathcote, Esq., ation. That your petitioners are of opinion, that the present
at Stonecliff Firs, parley Dale, they discovered the mouth unlimited power of the trustees, in receiving and applying the
of a cave, which. on being entered, proved to be one of the funds, is prejudicial to the true interests of seamen and their
most wonderful discoveries ever made in a quarry of that families ; and it can be shown that such power has been fre-
sort, and satisfied every inquirer of the great abundance of quently exercised with great partiality, whereby persons have
the stone of which it is formed. The cavern is easy of ac- received relief who had no right thereto, and other just
ceas, being entered by three different landings, and extends claimants have been neglected. And your petitioners hum-
to the depth of 81 feet. The bottom is of the same valuable bly represent, that as they cheerfully contribute the funds
stone of which the sides are composed, in rocks of the great- they ought, in justice, to have a voice in the election of those
eat size. On one side is a rock. 60 feet in length, 33 feet persons by whom these funds are to be distributed ; and that
high, and of a breadth we could not ascertain. - The whole a report of the income and expenditure, with alt the partie-
quarry is esteemed by all that have seen it to be one of the ulars thereof detailed, should be printed and distributed
most wonderful productions of nature. For largeness of annually. Your petitioners beg to represent, that the mode
blocks,•superiority of quality, the colour of the stone, and of obtaining the certificates necessary to entitle claimants to
its extraordinary durability against all kinds of weather, it relief fang the fund prescribed by the said Act, imposes a
bids fair to stand superior to all other gritstone in the king- great and unnecessary trouble and delay, amountir►
in a
don, and also to be productive of much employment for the great many instances to a prohibition of the benefitsigof the
working class in this part of the country,' for whose interest fund ; and, they would humbly pray, that some more
and comfort the worthy proprietor has always shown himself method may be adopted, by which the said trouble and el simpley
solicitous. Mr. J. Vickers, jun., Darley Dale, is in posses- may be avoided, and the fund at the same time be protected
sion of some samples brought from the bottom of the cavern, against imposition. That your petitioners are of o • pinion,
which prove that there is not the slightest difference in the that a more liberal allowance should be made from the funds
quality and texture of the stone, which extends throughout to shipwrecked and destitute Seamen, to enable them to
a compass of at least 20 acres!"
reach their homes. your petitioners be to point out what
BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS.--At the usual monthly they consider a peculiar hardship, namely, that if a seaman
meeting of this Board, held on Tuesday evening last, the be drowned whilst serving on board a foreign, or even a colo-
following gentlemen were present :—Messrs. J. D. Case, nial ship, his widow and orphans lose all claim on the funds,
(chairman,) J. R. Pim. Alex. Kerr, D. Appleton, T. Gil- through such sailor may have contributed largely thereto
and never before sailed in other than British bottoms." '
bertson, C. Bentham, John Laird, Daniel M`Nichol, Wm.
Horner, C. A. Watson, Samuel Stansfield, Wm. Cole, J. S. THE FuNDS.—WEDNESDAY EVENING.—.It seems now to
Jackson, and J. H. Greene. The Watching and Lighting be generally admitted that the offer to settle the last dividend
Committee's Proceedings, including the appointment of five on Mexican stock by a third of the amount in money and the
persons as special constables on the Sunday, were read and remainder in stock ar par, has proved a complete fa:lure, and
confirmed without observation, as were also the proceedings that the holders will naturally prefer retaining their coupons
of the Road Committee. The Market Committee recona- and the entire claim which they represent to the relinquish-
mended that the market-looker should be appointed inspec- ment without consideration of more than a third of a chaini,
tor of slaughter-houses, under the act, and the Board which would of course take place if they effected a stock at
adopted the recommendation. The Ferry Committee re- par which is worth less than a third of its nominal value in
ported that the profits of the ferry were steadily increasing, the market. But even this is a more favourable version of
notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, and they requested the projected operation thane s given on the Stock Exchange
the sanction of the Board to allow them to have a new boat where it is considered that the sacrifice would be equal to two
built. Mr. J. S. Jackson, the chairman of this committee, thirds of the claim, on account of the great uncertainty
showed the necessity there was for providing a new boat, in which pils as to the new k when issued
consequence of the increase of the business, and after the would
bereva marketable.wh Theether Committeestoc of the Stock Etc
chairman and several other members of the Board had ex- change, have as yet pronounced no opinion on the subject ;
pressed their entire confidence in the Ferry Committee, a but from their known dislike to defaults On the part of Go-
new boat was ordered to be provided. The annual statement verntnents, it is thought highly probable they will not allow
of the accounts of the treasurer was read and approved. the new stock to be marked should it make its appearance.
The receipts of the township, during the year, were As yet, however, there is no occasion to take any such re
£43,583 17s. 31d. ; the expenses, £43,232 16s. 6d., leaving a caution, as it is understood not a single dividendas yet been.
ther for a
balance of cash in hand of £353 18s. Old. The property of claimed, and the holders are waitiinleg
the township vested in the commissioners, including the full or for some proposition thatst yeci an deem preaaysmoenzatlien
Spanish American stockhol-.
cash in hand, is £94,617 18s., whilst the liabilities are only A meeting of the cornmitee of
tee matter into consideration.
£90,566 17s. 51d., leaving a balance to the credit of the ders is already convened to
take
better to-day : there was more
township of £4051 Os. 61d. A letter from Mr. Henry Cole The English securties
was referred to the next meeting. On the motion of Mr. J. business transacted, andwOrnetAlle whole the market presented
n advance of ne'arly one quer-
S. Jackson, the Road Committee were authorised to meet a much firmer appearance.
,tslOrlel reduced.
oceil i
the sub-committee of the Finance Committee, with regard ter per cent. occurred in Consols, several good purchases
investment. Their final quota-
to the continuation of Conway-street. and the Corporation having been made for private
road. It was stated that Mr. Mallaby had just returned tion,for money was 961 to and for the account. 96;1 buyers.
per
ru
cceedn
from London—that the Improvement Bill had received the Bank Stock left off at 180ift'IO
el:3cl
e;
nTtsh.reeßpe Royal assent, and that the Cemetery Bill had passed the 95k to i ; Three-and-a-ha p
committee, and would be read a third time that night. The New Three-and
to 267 ; India Bonds, 755. to 775.
Board then adjourned till Tuesday week, when it will meet ties, 12k ; India Stock 2562
for the 3d issue, and
675. pm.
to give directions to the Finance ConaMittee to complete the pm. ; ExChequer-bt ,
'lls 65s to
-a-half per, Cents., 1021 to L' ; Long Annui.
contracts under the new bill. 675. to 69a. pm. for the lid issue.

Henceforth let Oxford cease to proclaim her supe-
rior pretensions to regard for the interests of the
Church—we use the word in its broad significance—
the Church of Christ—that Church whose Founder
left upon his true followers the impressive injunction—
" Suffer little children to come unto me." Truly, Were
she tried by the conduct of her members upon this
question, she would be found sorely and lamentably
wanting !

The following extract from a letter recently received
in this town, from a gentleman now resident in
Switzerland, is an unanswerable reply to the absurd
theories of -the anti-coin-law philosophers, who so
confidently assert that in countries where there are no
corn-laws, the price of bread is considerably reduced
beyond the price at which it is obtainable here.

Berne, 24th March, 1843.
Surely it is discontent which calls for repeal of the Corn
Laws, or else it is a vain fancy, for we have scarcely any duty
on corn, and that a fixed one; yet bread is just as dear with
us, if not dearer, for the beat bread is 2d. per lb., whilst
yours you say is only id. ; the lowest, indeed, only lid. per
lb., but the value of money is much greater with us, and no
one complains. The Corn Laws in England are the scape
goat of rebellion, and woe to them who make people believe
that their misery has its source there.