The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-02-08 00:00:00

our fears falsified by experience

But it certainly

s the manufacturing and industrious
classes in Great Britain are concerned, we repeat

our conviction that they may

)one their e

_
tations of an early resumption of Indian demand
for their products for some time to come, unless,
indeed, the East India Company can bring them-
selves to regard the inhabitants of India as a people
worthy of a higher lot than that of mere contribu-
tors to the dividends upon their stock. That body
has much of usefulness within its reach. Roads

may be made to facilitate the transmission of native
produce from the interior, The heavy yoke of the
salt duties may be lightened, if not removed,
though the latter is quite practicable. The culti-
vation of cotton may be encouraged; and a less
arbitrary mode of collecting rent from the Ryots
may be adopted. But any great and striking result
from such measures must be still the work of years.

THE LIVERPOOL DISPENSARIES

The general annual meeting of the governors of this in-

stitutioii was held on Friday, at the P-arish Offices. There
were present the Rev. Rector BROOKS (the Chairman),
and other governors and officers of the respective dispen-

Mr. D. H. GIBSON, the secretary, read the report, of
which the following are the heads :
"The committee had encountered unusual difficulties
during the past year, on account of the unhealthy state of
the town, and the influx of Irish paupers. The dispen-
saries had to treat no fewer than 6,258 cases of fever,
which had involved serious expense. Notwithstanding
the strictest economy, 200 gallons of wine had been used
in these cases alone. In the Southern D spensary, al-
though Toxteth-park was withdrawn from it, there had
been treated nearly 400 cases of fever more than during
the preceding year. The total number of all cases during
the year had been 37,256, and of these, 14,809 had
been visited at their own houses. Total expenditure
for the year 1847, £3,213 ; total receipts, £3,026,
skewing a deficit of £lB7, which, added to that of last
year, makes the present debt £603. Owing to the com-
mercial pressure, many liberal supporters had been unable
as before to contribute, but the subscriptions had, not-
withstanding, increased by £3o,—showing the sympathy
of a generous public. With the debt owing, however,
and the prospect of calls on the resources of the dispen-
saries, unless the friends of the sick poor come liberally
forward, a serious curtailment of their operation?, must be
the result. The committee conclude by a very forcible
appeal to the benevolent, and commend their cause to
the ministers of religion, as that there can be no purer
act of Christian charity than administering to the neces-

sities of the poor and the afflicted." -
Mr. BOOTH moved that the report read be printed and
circulated, as usual, which was unanimously agreed to.

The accounts were also passed.
Dr. SUTHERLAND moved thanks to the chairman,
which, as well as thanks to the medical officers, and the
clergy who had preached in behalf of the dispensaries,
was passed. Officers were appointed for the ensuing year,
with a few exceptions, the same as those before in office.
The CHAIRMAN said he had served for three years, and
thought that he should retire, and that the vice-presidents
should succeed him.

The meeting appreciating his valuable services, re-
quested him to continue to preside, and he consented.
After the usual thanks to the chairman, the meeting
separated.

FIRST ANNUAL SOIREE OF THE ROSCOE
CLUB.

On Tuesday last the first annual soiree of the above
club was held in the Concert-hall, Lord Nelson-street,
and a more interesting and better conducted festive meet-
ing has seldom been held in Liverpool. In one respect
alone, we believe, were the anticipations of a portion of
the members and others present disappointed, viz., the
absence of the literary and other guests of eminent rank,
who had been invited. The proximity of day appointed
to the commencement of the parliamentary session, and
the limited notice which the committee had it in their
power to give, fully account for the deprivation. The
club were, however, favoured with the presence of a good
portion of the talent and respectability of the neighbour-
hood, both upon the platform, and subsequently as par-
takers of the dance. Amongst the gentlemen on the
platform we noticed Henry R. Sandbach, Esq., the presi-
dent of the Roscoe Club, who occupied the splendidly
carved chair, belonging to Mr. Mayer, of Lord-street, and
formed out of one of the rafters of the house in which
Roscoe was born ; the late Mayor, G. Hall Lawrence,
Esq.. ; William Rathbone, Esq. ; John A. Tinne, Esq. ;
Captain Greig, staff officer of the district ; J. B. Langley,
Esq., of the Manchester Atheneum ; Rev. Dr. Booth,
Rev. Dr. Hume, W. W. Mortimer, Esq., &c., &c.
Several of our local vocalists were also stationed on the
platform during the proceedings, including Miss Whitnall,
Miss Fairhurst, Mr. Ryalls, and Mr. Roberts, with Mr
George Holden as conductor at the - ar •forte, v ''o

terspersed the various speeches with glees and songs,
During the entrance of the company, between half-past
six and seven o'clock, the excellent band of Mr. Goodall
played several pieces, amongst which one—we believe the
Nightingale Waltz—was enthusiastically applauded, and
most wonderfully executed.
The CHAIRMAN described the design and the operations
of the club since its formation, and the encouragement
which it had received. He read an interesting and appro-
priate letter from James Montgomery, the poet, and ex-
pressed an earnest anxiety for the future welfare of the
club. The audience was subsequently addressed by Mr.
Langley, secretary to the Manchester Athenaeum, Mr.
Rathbone, Mr. John Smith, Dr. Booth, Dr. Hume, Mr.
Tinne, and Mr. Mortimer.

The preliminary portion of the proceeedings having
been concluded, the Chairman requested the assembly,
whilst the forms in the body of the hall were being re-
moved for the dance, to adjourn to the refreshment room
below. This department—not the least entertaining on
such an occasion—was superintended by Mr. Horsfall,
confectioner, of Church-street, and, both for the abun-
dance provided and the excellence of the various viands,
tarts, jellies, pastes, cakes, fruit, &c., did great credit to
his catering. We need not say that the room in which it
was set out remained accessible during the whole evening,
and was visited pretty regularly in the intervals between
the different darces. As soon as the room was an-
nounced to be cleared, the earnest business of the evening
began with a country dance—the Triumph—which was
succeeded by quadrilles, polkas. galloppes, and waltzes,
until a somewhat late hour in the morning, when the old
favorite English dance, Sir Roger De Coverley, closed
the scene of gaity.
The band was one of the finest which it has ever been
our fortune to hear, and gave unbounded satisfaction,
comprising as it did some of the first solo performers in
the provinces, and under the able leadership of one of the
most talented violinists of the day, Mr. Goodall. The

lished compositions of the able leader. Amongst them
was a set of polkas, composed expressly for the occasion
by Mr. Goodall, entitled the Roscoe Club Polkas, which
were played as beautiful and effective music deserves to be
played, and will, when published, carry the name of
the club, to whom we understand they are to be dedicated,
to many a circle in which it might otherwise remain un-
known.

The introduction is a beautiful clarionet solo, played by
Mr. H. George, and containing -a cadenza in half notes,
which was very finely played. The polka commences with
a piano movement, followed by a very effective forte. The
second polka contains an introduction by the full band in
unison, the subject being afterwards taken up by the
orpheiclide and cornet solo, and flageolet and clarionet
alternately. The third is introduced by the trumpet solo ;
the first part is a piannissino movement for cornet and
orpheiclide and flageolet and clarionet. The second part
is a very beautiful and original, movement executed by the
violins. The fourth contains an introduction by the cor-
net, after which the subject is taken up by the flageolet.
The second part is composed for the full band, and the trio
is a solo for the first and second cornet. By many who
did not mingle in the dance it was remarked that they felt
sufficient delight in listening to such music, and in gazing
upon the happy scene with which they were surrounded.
Altogether this soiree was most successful ; and in these
dull times it must have been a delight to every one present
to witness the buoyancy of spirit which was everywhere
perceptible. The arrangements made by the stewards and
the honorary secretaries were most excellent, and their
attentions to their guests worthy of all praise. We do not
care, and many will echo the sentiment, how soon we have
another Roscoe Club Soiree ; and have only to regret of
it that, like Christmas, " it only comes once a year."
Unlike that sacred festival, however, it might be made to
come oftener, by which we should be saved from the dis-
tressing reflection on each recurring celebration, that we,
had become a year older,

=EIP

THE TEA DUTIES

A deputation of a very influential character, appointed
at a recent public meeting held in this town, had an in-
terview with Lord John Russell, at his official residence
in Downing-street, on Wednesday last. The two mem-
bers of parliament for Liverpool introduced the deput
tion, and strong'

upported their object. The deputa-
tion consisted of Mr. R. Gladstone, on behalf of the

terested in the tea trade; Mr. J. R. Jeffery, on behalf of
the tradesmen and shopkeepers ; Mr. R. Crossley, as the
President of the Tradesmen's Guardian Society ; and Mr.
H. Littledale, as the representative of the commercial
and general public of Liverpool.
Mr. GLADSTONI assured the noble lord that the depu-
tation represented the unanimous wish of a community

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

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WATER TO LIVERPOOL.—Part of the men employed in
ganging the water on the line of this great undertaking,
from Waddlesworth Brook to Rivington, still continue at
work, and it is probable that extensive operations will be
proceeded with ere long, and be the means of affording
employment to a considerable number of hands.
It is in contemplation to establish a new periodical, to
circulate almost exclusively among the fellows and mem-
bers of the learned societies, for the purpose of reporting
to each body the proceedings of its contemporaries. It is

said to bave originated with Dr. Hume, of this town, and
that be is to be the editor.

DISTRESS ING ACCIDENT.—On Thursday, an inquest
was held on the body of a young man, twenty years of
age, a plumber and painter, in the employ of Mr. James
Gildred, of Stirling-street. The unfortunate young. man

T whilst working in