The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1845-03-25 00:00:00

CONVERSION TO POPERY

TO THE EDITOR OF THE RENFREWSHIRE ADVERTISER.
Sir.—Understanding that you intend to publish a letter
from Mr. Bremner in reply to one of mine, which your
readers may not have seen, and of which they could only
form a very imperfect judgment from the garbled extracts
given of it by him, I request that you now publish my
letter entire, which I herewith send to you for that pur-
pose, along with my challenge to Bishops Murray and
Gillis, to which Mr. Bremner also refers in his reply.
Although, in many respects, the details may assume a
personal character, yet the subject is of such general in-
terest and importance, as to demand the most impartial
dealing at the hands of public journalists.
The reply of Mr. Bremner is characteristic of the man,
or rather of the priest. It will open the eyes of Protestant
fathers to the astounding fact, that they have a body of
men in the midst of them incapabl • of parental sympathy,
ready to push them out of their place, and to assume the
entire control of their children, seducing them from under
their father's roof and protection, making them to speak
and act just as they please—nay, in the true character of
lioinish priests, availing themselves of their usurped
power, and forcing the child to accuse the father, and the
father the child ; and thus, in the present case, compelling
a father, in defence of his own veracity, and in support of
the cause of truth, to undertake the painful and unnatural
task of exposing his daughter to the world. But she is
still my daughter, and as she was ever dutiful and affec-
tionate, until she fell under the blighting influence of
Rome, I may be excused for desiring to spare her as much
as po-sible. I wait, therefore, for the farther disclosures
and full statement promised by Mr. Bremner; and I de-
mand that such statement shall be supported by better
evidence than the mere averment of the priest in Paisley,
who stands convicted of triekery and duplicity ; or of his
bishop in Glasgow, who has made himself responsible for
the conduct of his subordinate. Let not, therefore, my
friends in Scotland—Protestant or Romanist—of whom, I
trust, I have not a few, be, in the least degree, alarmed at
the big swelling words of Mr. John Bremner. He is but
the tool of his bishop. Their cunning aim is to bring me
into farther collision, with my unfortunate and deluded
child, whose character, as well as their own, they have
already deeply compromised. Her denial of her engage-
ment with me—the infot mation said to be given me of her
movements, and my ready access to her presence—Mr.
Bremner's denial of his volunteered declaration—his
boasted challenge, which, after all, was but a refusal of
mine—the non-delivery of the books sent by Dr. Murdoch,
with Dr. Hutchison's alleged admonition, are all of a
piece, and are all, so far as they go, confirmatory of what
was lately said in a court of justice by a Roman Catholic
layman, who solemnly declared that he did riot know a
more dishotiour ble class of men in all their dealings and
transactions than the Roman Catholic priests of this
country ; and that, to his knowledge, other Catholic lay-
men were of the same opinion, and would make the same
avowal but for their fear of persecution.
My friends have had some experience of me heretofore ;
and I beg of them to believe that I am not off my guard,
or in the least inattentive to the difficulties or advantages
of my position, and to be assured that truth, albeit in
feeble hands, will yet triumph over all assaults and stra-
tagems of sophistry and error. Let Murdoch and Brem-
ner then complete their work, and tell out their story, and
I promise in due time to reduce these worthies to their
proper dimensions.
Let me requestithe earnest attention of every friend of
his country to the following letter of Bishop Murdoch,
and let it be read and studied by every man who regards
the great cause of civil and religious liberty. The letter
was written arid sent to me after these men had got my
daughter into their keeping, and after they bad been in-
formed that it was the particular desire of her friends
that she should not be removed to any great distance from
Paisley.
LETTER OF BISHOP MURDOCH TO MR. BREWSTER.
Glasgow, 27th Feb.. 1845.
Rev. Sir,—Allow me, at Miss Brewster's request, to
inform you, that she has good grounds to believe, that you
have come to the determination of seizing her person, and
removing her to some place where she will not have the
opportunity of practising the religion to which she con-
scientiously adheres. In 4hese circumstances, she begs
to say, that, unless you pledge your word as her father,
and as a clergyman, that you will not, either by stra'agem
or violence, attempt such removal of her person agait:st
her will, she must immediately apply for legal protection,
or withdraw herself to some place of concealment, there to
remain until you give her sufficient assurance that she
will be safe from all personal molestation. May I, in
Miss Brewster's name, request an answer to this commu-
nication at your earliest convenience.
I am, rev, sir, your most obedient servant,
(Signed) JOHN MURDOCH.
To the Rev. P. Brewster.
-The foregoing letter, which I deem unworthy of an
answer, affords another proof how heartlessly and inso-
lently these men usurp the place of a father, and set aside
the holiest ties of humanity and religion. They are afraid
lest reason and affection should resume their empire over
the mind and heart of their proselyte; and therefore it is
that, under the most groundless pretences, they have re-
moved her from her father's house, and now seek to place
her beyond tae reach and influence of her own family,
and even to put her in a place of concealment. They
know well that I could never submit to give the pledge

PXI
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they demand, which would be a vir-ual admission that I
had contemplated, or was capable of, so base and criminal
an act—an act, however, which has been done, and may
again be done, by Popish priests "educated within a few
doors of the inquisition," but which is utterly abhorrent
Iron, every principle and feeling of a Christian minister.
They surely forget in what country they are, when they
venture to make such allegations, and when they even
dare to threaten to put a child "in concealment" from
her fath'r.

Looking to the whole history of Rotnlnism up to the
present day, what security could I have for her LIFE, were
she ever to renounce her apostacy, and seek to return to
her father's house 1" *

I am, sir, your obedient servant,
P. BREWSTER

Blackbyres, March 6th, 1845

* See a Narrative of Persecutions, or Rome in the
Nineteenth Century, by Raffaele Ciocei:

RAILWAY INTELLIGEACE.

The Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle Railway Co. have de-
termined to go to Parliament, notwithstanding the deci-
sion of the Board of Trade against them.
Mr. Ormsby Gore has given notice of a motion after
Easter, for the restoration of the Shrewsbury and Bir-
mingham Railway Bit!, notwithstanding the report of the
Standing Orders Committee against it.
A deputation from the Chester and Birkenhead Rail-
way proprietors waited, on Thursday, on the Chester and
Holyhead directors, to endeavour to make better terms
for the sale of their line to the latter company, but were
met with a decided refusal or► the part of the Chester and
Holyhead Board to entertain any, proposal for re-opening
the terms of the existing agreement, which has been ar-
ranged by the directors of the two companies, and been
ratified by the shareholders of each.
MANCHESTER TO LONDON AND BACK IN ONE DAY.—
The board of trade give the following as one of their
reasons for reporting in favour of the Churnet Valley and
Tree t Valley lines :—" The time of the journey also, by
quick trains, under a prover system of combined manage-
ment, between London and Manchester, may, at the rate
of travelling which is now established upon several rail-
ways, be reduced to five-and-a.half or six hours, so as to
admit of the possibility of a person leaving Manchester
in the morning, transacting business in London, and re-
turning the same evening.

The Ulster Railway pays a dividend of 17s Gd per
share, which would leave on the net profit of the half-
year, amounting to £9,777 14s 10d, a balance of £692 las 4d
to be carried to the reserved fund. Some of the share-
holders wished the declaration of a higher dividend, but
the amendment was not carried, though only lost by a
small minority. The to•al receipts from traffic during
the half-rear were £14,967 I7s 6d, and the working ex-
penses £5,190 2s Bd. The revenue of this line is also
improving, and the progress of the concern developes
satisfactory results.
PROJECTED Warewa vs.—The Board of Trade have
reported in favour of the Aberdare; Brighton, Lewes,
and H astings—Keymer Branch; Cockermouth and Work-
ington ; Dunstable, London, and Birmingham; Erewash
Valley ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Midland Junction ;
Newark and Sheffield; Nerth Wales Mineral Railway—
Extension ; Preston and Wyre—Lytham and Blackpool
Branches; Shrewsbury, Oswestry, and Chester; Sunder-
land, Durham, and Auckland; Wear Valley ; and recom-
mended the postponement until a future period of the
Ely and Bedford ; Launceston and Tavistock ; South
Devon and Tavistock.
The Glasgow, Paisley, and Greenock Railway pays
a dividend of ss. per share on the £25 shares, 2s. 6d.
per share on the half-shares, being at the rate of two
per cent. per annum. The receipts of the line con-
tinue to improve, anJ neither present revenue nor
dividend, it is stated, can be fairly taken as any index
of the real value of the property. Increased harbour accom-
modation at Greenock, and the connexion of the line with
the Clydesdale Junction, will, it is expected, give the traffic
of the railway a considerable impetus. The receipts, in-
cluding the small balance of last half-year's account, were
£23,447, and the disbursements £11,830 ss. 4d.
LOST PROPERTY IN RAILWAY CARRIAGES.—It is not
generally known that by one of the arrangements by which
the London and Birmingham Railway is distinguished, all
articles lost or left at any of the stations. or in any of the
carriages, are forwarded to the Euston Station, and duly
registered in books kept for the purpose of affording a
ready reference to the articles in question. It is necessary
that parties inquiring for any article they have lost should
be able to know the day on which it was lost, and the
train by which they travelled at the time they sustained
the loss. The hooks are open at all times to inspection,
and afford a ready reference in a room heated with hot air
to maintain a prover temperature for the preservation of
the articles deposited therein. In that room may be found
articles of all descriptions—hats, caps, bonnets, shawls.
boas, tippets, shoes, gloves, neckerchiefs, and pocket
handkerchiefs, and nearly every article of dress, jewellery
of all sorts, spectacles and eye-glasses, hooks, letters, and
bundles, parasols, umbrellas, and sticks without end.
After these articles have been a certain lime deposited at
the Euston Station, they are sold, and the proceeds may
be received by the owners on making good their claim to
the articles.

SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.—A meeting of this Com-
pany took place on Tuesday. The gross revenue for the
half-year has been £139,042 Ils. 2d. The expenses for
the same period amount to £69.288 Os. 2d., and of these
the large proportion of £28,949 15s. 2d. was for the
South Eastern share of the disbursement of the joint lo-
comotive committee, which, in the whole divisible among
the three comp enies, including the Brighton and Croydon,
was £47,871 Bs. 7d. The lease of the Greenwich line
gives great promise of being a fair source of revenue to
the South Eastern Company, and the receipts to the 14th
March, 1815, compared with 1844, show an excess of
£1,924 2s. 2d. in money, and of 68,053 in passengers.
The receipts in 1845 were £9,151 64. 3d., and in 1844,
£7,227 4s. Id. The Whitstable Railway is now com-
pletely in the hands of the company. The accounts be-
tween the Brighten and South Eastern Company are not
yet settled, but arbitrators are appointed on each side to
arrange the dispute. The South Eastern Company claim
a large deduction from the amount sought to be established
against them. The directors, in answer to numerous in-
quiries, report that they are not in treaty with any company
either for amalgamation or lease. The dividend proposed
and carried was 15s. 4d. per share on the paid•up shares,
and Is. 11d, per share on the No. 1 shares, subject to in-
come-tax, which would absorb £45,616 13s. 4d. of the
£70,444 17s. 7d. standing to the credit of the company,
thereby leaving the large reserve fund of £24,828 4s. 3d.
DECISION OF THE BOARD OF TRADE ON THE YORK
LINES.—The Board of Trade have at last decided this
most important question, and, we feel bound to say, in a
manner which has given very general satisfaction. In-
stead of permitting either party to embark in what, it
must be admitted, is a very hazardous and enormously
-pensive undertaking—making a new and independent
ie out of London to Peterborough— the decision of the
card of Trade is, that the existing line from London to
.mbridge shall (when improved by the proposed new
station at Fa.ringdou-street), be used as the approach to
London, the I,ne being continued from Cambridge to Lin-
coln, and from Lincoln to York, by the united companies
of the Cambridge and Lincoln and the Direct Northern.
In this way a new line to York is secured, having graeli.
ents of a very superior quali'y, supplying Lincolnshire with
railway accomodation, and favourable for the thorough
traffic, by the great saving of distance over the existing
route to Derby. The Direct Northern Company have,
with great good sense and discretion, announced their in-
tention of acquiescing in this decision ; and as a powerful
alliance, offensive and defensive, we have reason to be-
lieve has been formed between them, the Cambridge and
Lincoln and Eastern Counties, there cannot he a question
this well-conceived combination of the line will be sane-
tioned by Parliament, and executed. The immense say-
ing of capital effected by this arrangement, the vastly
superior entrance into London by the Farringdon-street
station, and the decidedly superior arrangements of the
Direct Northern as to their station at York and mode of
junction with the Northern Railway, combined with the
unequalled gradients of the whole line, are reasons that
will fully justify this decision of the Board of Trade ; and
however holders of London and York shares at -5 premi-
um may grumble and growl, and however much those
who went about saying " we are sure of the Board of
Trade report in our favour,'.' may now exclaim against
that Tribunal—we feel no manner of doubt that Parlia-
ment will support their decision. The uniform integral
line will be established at the cheapest cost—uniform
rates at the lowest scale ; and, besides the passenger
traffic, coals, cattle (dead and alive), agricultural produce,
fish, &c., will be brought into the very centre of Lon-
don ; and collaterally with this, the property invested in
the Eastern Counties scheme will be pn.tected and im-
proved. The present station at Shoreditch is to be re-
placed by one at Farringdon-street, the construction of
which will be guaranteed by three powerful companies—
the Eastern Counties, the Cambridge and Lincoln, and
Direct Northern—with the sanction and approval of the
Board of Trade in favour of that arrangement.—Alas.
THE TRENT AND CHURNET VALLEY DISTRICTS.—
The following abstract of the report of the Board of Trade
on these schemes we take from the Railway Record :
" The board report in favour of both lines, as forming
part of one scheme for shortening the distance of the
principal railway communication from the metropolis to
Ireland, Scotland, Manchester, and the northern and
north-western portions of the kingdom. The Trent Val-
ley line commences at 10igby, and runs to Stafford,
through Tamworth, cutting off the angle of the London
and Birmingham and Grand Junction lines. at Birming-
ham, saving nine miles of actual distance. The Churnet
Valley line, together with the above line, and with the
existing London and Birmingham, and Manchester and
Birmingham Railways, completes a railway communica-
tion between London and Manchester 19 miles shorter
than the present one, and practically, as short a line as
any that can be made between the two points. This line
runs from Macclesfield, through Leek and Uttoxeter,
joining the Trent line at Tamworth, with a branch from
Uttoxeter to Willington, near Derby. A saving of dis-
tance is not the sole object gained by the proposed line;
but a mass of population of upwards of a million will
benefit by every reduction of distance in the principal
communications, besides the local population ; Maccles-
field, 50,000; Leek, 11,500; Cheadle, Uttoxeter, &C.
The fare from London and Manchester, third-class, will
be 155., and the time of the journey 54 to 6 hours. The
Alrewas branch of the Trent Valley scheme would have
been very useful in shortening the distance between Man-
chester and Derby, but is reported against, in favour of
of the more direct route afforded by the Churnet Valley.
THE POTTEHIPA.—The accommodation of the Potteries
by means of branches, forms part of both the above
schemes—one from Leek to Stoke, and the other from
Stafford to Stoke. On this subject the board must !peak
for itself: " Considering that the scheme was originally
proposed with a view to the accommodation of the Potte-
ries district, as the result of some understood arrange-

ment with the principal Potteries interests, and thatthose
interests now object to it. and urge that the whole ques-
tion should be postponed for another year, to afford time
for consideration, and for maturing some more complete
scheme for the a-Tommodation of that important district,
it appears to us, without expressing any opinion upon the
merits of the projected line, that under these circumstan-
ces we are justified in recommend no its postponement."
The Potteries branches are therefore postponed. The
commissioners attach no weight to the objection of the
Grand Junction Company to the Churnet line, "that it
would create an injurious competition from Manchester
to the South ;" nor do they considerthat the Grand June-
tiun Company, whose traffic is from Liverpool, Ireland,
and the North, is in a position to make such objections."