The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-09-08 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

TOWN COUNCIL k Gs.

to take goods from the Albert Warehouses to their own
warehoil,ts c..uld do so at all hours ?

On Wednesday, the usual monthly meeting of the
Council, was held at the Town-hall.
FINANCE COMMITTEE.-THE ST. GEORGE'S HALL.

Mr. MOORi replied that they could get them at any
hour they pleased.
Mr. AIKIN said the fact was, that although the Albert
Dock and Warehouses might be of übe hereafter, yet
until the rates were made conformable to the wishes of
the public, both were remaining unoccupied ; for the
other day in that, fine, large dock, there were only two
vessels. He had urged in committee that the rules and
rates were not conformable to the feelings of the buyers ;
he had said that they were contradictory, and a mass of
absurdity, discreditable to the Dock Committee ; and he
suggested that the associated bodies of the town ought to
have been consulted prior to their adoption.
Mr. MANN said it was very easy to find fault, but
when there were upwards of 500 articles brought before
the committee, upon each of which there were four de-
scriptions of rates, and upon each three or four different
descriptions of weight and size and quantity, the Council
would have some idea of the difficulty under which that
committee had laboured. He wished the rates to be as
low as possible to cover the expenses ; but he hoped the
merchants would bear in mind that there must be a
charge over and above the mere porterage rate, for there
was an expensive staff to be kept up, in the shape of
landing clerks, wharfingers, &c.
Mr. HORSFALL said he had transmitted to the Dock
Committee the unanimous opinion of the African Asso-
ciation, that the charge on palm oil was cent. per cent.
higher at the Albert Dock than elsewhere ; and that rate
had excluded vessels altogether, The original rate set
down was 3d. per ton, but it had been altered to 4d.
Mr. AIKIN was prepared to show that the rates for
rent were 100 per cent. as compared with other ware-
houses. _ _ _

The proceedings of the Finance Committee comprised
a report on the proposed embellishment of the south
portico of St. George's-hall, referred from the last
Council on financial considerations, and an application to
allow, under special circumstances, the enrolment of the
indentures of apprenticeship of Courtenay Crutenden,
Nathaniel Bethel Thomas, NVilliam Clough Borris, and
Samuel Wilson, after the expiration of the period speci-
fied by the bye-law. The treasurer was authorised to
pay the Mayor a sum of £3OOO, being the amount of ex-
penses incurred at the time of Prince Albert's recent
visit to Liverpool.
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE moved the confirmation of the
proceedings, and, in doing so, availed himself of the op-
portunity of saying just a few words with reference to the
report of the Finance Committee, touching Mr. Cocker-
ell's proposed embellishment of the south portico of St.
George's-hall. He was glad of having this opportunity,
because at one time he believed that the surplus fund of
the Corporation would not bear the expense of making
that embellishment; and he should now explain the
grounds upon which the committee bad arrived at the
conclusion that they could bear it, lest, by not explaining
it they should encourage other well-meaning proposals
which would be likely to be embarrassing. The Council
were aware that the surplus income of the year, and that
the income and expenditure of the Corporation were
estimated annually on the first of January. If there was
a surplus, the burgesses were entitled to it ; if there was
a deficiency, they were called upon to make good that de-
ficiency, by bearing the burden of a borough rate; and
while it was only fair that they should be called upon to
make good any deficiency, it was equally fair that they
should be entitled to the entire of the surplus, whenever
a surplus arose. It was well to bear in mind that the
Council could not infringe on the surplus of future years.
In January last, it was shown that the Corporation
would have an income this year of £142,000, and that the
obl;gatory expenditure would be £114,000, leaving a
balance of £28,000. Then it was not easy to say with
accuracy what the increase and expenditure of the present
year might be, but the committee had estimated the pro-
bable income very fairly and correctly ; neither had the
expenditure differed materially from the estimate ; for,
though there had been one or two items of expenditure
not calculated upon, yet, the receipts and outlays were
about the same as were expected. There was one increase
of expenditure, for instance, in the matter of cleansing the
courts of the inhabitants, to the amount of £4OOO or
£5OOO, and they had also had to incur an expense, which
none of them would grudge, consequent on the visit of
Prince Albert to the town, and that had amounted to
£3OOO. But, making these deductions, the surplus was
pretty much what the committee estimated iteat ; and
here he should observe that some of the sums voted at the
commencement of the year had not been called for. For
instance, a sum of £lOOO for the Observatory had been
voted and not ;been paid. For the Baths in Paul-street,
which were expeeted to be completed, a sum of £3500
was voted, but they had cost less by £1000; and he was
sorry to say that the contemplated improvements in
Water-street had not taken place, so that the sum voted
for these improvements had not been paid. Of the large
sum of £23,000 voted for the Assize Cf.urts, only £lB,OOO
bad been expended; and, on the w tiole. it did appear that
there was a surplus now at the dispoeal of the Council,
amounting to between £3OOO and £4OOO, which the
Council could lay out in the embellishment of the portico
if they pleased. If they chose to place their hands on
their breast, and vote away the money in this manner,
they could do so. The money ought, really and truly, to
be paid away ; because, if it became merged in the
borough fund, difficulties might arise, and he had doubts
whether any future Council could deal with it. But, be
this as it might, he would not throw any difficulties in
the way. He still entertained the opinion he had before
expressed in the Council. He thought, where so many
pressing things were claiming attention, it was hardly a
wise expenditure to incur in the shape of embellishment ;
but, however, he would give way and congratulate Mr.
Cockerell on the opportunity which was now afforded
him for carrying his beautiful design into execution. It
would be a monument of the good taste of the Council,
rather than a monument of the extravagance of the
Finance Committee. The vote could not be carried or
entertained, had it not been for the delay which had oc-
curred in the erection of the Assize Courts and St.
George's-hall ; and here he could not help expressing his
regret that greater progress in those buildings was not
being made. There had been no report from the Courts
of Law Committee for two months. When the charities
were suffering, and when so much had been realised by
the great musical festival at Birmingham, he thought no
time ought to be lost in finishing St. George's-hall. At
Birmingham, the sum of £llOO, from the proceeds of the
festival, had been given to the public hospital of the town.
A large sum had been voted for the organ for the hall, but
nothing was done ; and it ought to be proceeded with at
once, for the expense would not be thrown away, as be
bad before shown, for they should then have the means of
giving the people recreation at a cheap rate.
Mr. HUGH HORSEY thought it unfair to charge the
committee with the delay which had taken place, because
it was well known to the whole town, that the circum-
stances under which the builders were placed, when the
work-people struck for wages, had occasioned that delay.
He differed entirely from the chairman, in the remarks
which had fallen from him, relative to the disposition of
the surplus.
Mr. PARKER perfectly agreed with Mr. Hornby, that
they ought not to be cutting it very fine. If they were
like other corporations who had to adopt artificial means
for raising the wind, it might be all very right to adopt
Mr. Lawrence's suggestions, but when the Corporation of
Liverpool were concerned, the richest and the most im-
portant in the kingdom, with the exception of the metro-
polis, was it to be supposed that they could not anticipate
such a sum as £3OOO for Mr. Cockerell's design ? He
asked why the Finance Committee were not making those
improvements on the other side of the river. for that
most spirited tenant, Mr. Willoughby, which had been
promised him ?
Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE said the committee were
anxious to carry out the improvements ; and, indeed, the
surveyors had had the plans for some time in their pos-
session ; but the committee were negociating with the
Woods and Forests for the purchase of the Crown rights
opposite Mr. Willoughby's property, and, before they
commenced, they wanted those arrangements to be per-
fected.

.
-Mr. HARBORD considered the list of rates very fair.
For the last 20 years he never charged less than 3d. a ton
for palm oil in his warehouses, and he had received so
much as sd. and Gd. for the deposit of oil in bis vaults.
He defied any one to prove that 3d. a ton would be remu-
nerative for depositing oil in vaults. He advised them to
pause before they proceeded much further in their new
undertaking, because the two millions of warehouse pro-
perty in Liverpool could always go lower than them in
rates and charges.
Mr. /wax was not in favour of high charges at the
Albert Dock ; neither was he an advocate for having them
too low.

Mr. EVANS was unable to give an opinion as to the
rates, because be had not seen the book, but he felt con-
fident that if the up-town warehouses offered to take
cotton for nothing, the Albert warehouses would get the
article at a charge of a penny. He had no fear of the
competition of the warehouse owners.

Mr. TYRICS stated that one of the vessels, of 400 tons,
which had already entered the Albert Dock, had saved
£lOO by the saving of about 20 days in the time of her
discharge.

Mr. MOORE replied ; and after Mr. Horsfall had an-
nounced that from and after the 26th instant dock porters
would be employed by the committee on all the dock
quays, the proceedings were confirmed.
George Williamson was appointed messenger at the
Town-hall, in the room of John Loader, dismissed.
The Special Committee, appointed on the 19th of May
last, to make the necessary preparations and arrange-
ments for the reception and entertainment of Prince Al-
bert, on the occasion of his honouring the town with a
visit, reported that £3500 would cover the whole of the
expenses of that visit.
Mr. TINNE moved, pursuant to notice, that it is desi-
rable to proceed with the erection of an additional num-
ber of fresh water baths and washhouses, and that it be
an instruction to the Health Committee to consider the
number and the most suitable sites.
The motion was carried unanimously.

SOUTH LANCASHIRE ASSIZES

NISI PRIUS COURT.-TUESDAY

The trial of GERARD V. MUSPRATT, for an alleged
nuisance, was tebuuluct this morning.

Mr. Samuel Curtis was called and examined.—He said
he had been engaged in the nursery business for 50 years,
during a large portion of which time he had been with the
Duke of Newcastle. Had nearly 4,000 acres of woodland
under his management, and of meadow, wood, and arable
land altogether about 20,000. Was now engaged in lay-
ing out the Victoria Park, London. Surveyed the woods
on plaintiff's estate last week. Examined the Haydock
boundary plantation. That part towards the works was
very healthy. The woods in the neighbourhood of New-
hall seem in good health. The foliage on each side of the
canal was very good. Saw some trees which were rather
bare about the roots, which were unhealthy. The gar-
den, as seen from the terrace, seemed healthy. The
woods were not sufficiently drained. There were some
portions of dry land also where the woods did not flou-
rish, from the arid nature of the soil. The roots had
penetrated as far as the soil was good, and then the tree
decayed. Thought the causes of such decay as he saw
were quite natural. The trees in that part of the country
have a list in one direction. Those on the New-hall
estate incline towards the works, and the most luxuriant
foliage is on that side. Many of the trees along the
boundary wall were ripe. They were full grown, and
would never be better. There were insects upon the
leaves of the oaks, which changed their colour. Syca-
more leaves have generally a blotched appearance. There
is a clover field just outside the boundary wall, on the
side next the works. It looked very well, and had no
appearance of ill health. In the more recent plantations
the trees have been put down when too far advanced in
growth. The young plantations are very foul. There
seemed never to have been a tool used among them. The
game on the estate seemed to be well preserved. The
Scotch firs are usually doing well. On the average of
the last few years would think they had grown on the
average a foot each, and in some cases two feet.
Cross-examined.—Did not see much injury done by
game. The crop of clover seemed a second crop. The
country was not a rich country. It was chiefly a coal
formation. Did not inquire as to the precise age of the
trees in the new plantation when put down. Should
think they had been planted when nine or ten years old.

After the examination of a number of witnesses who
held land in the neighbourhood, who stated they per-
ceived no ill effects from the vapour,
Mr. Miller, M.D., was called, who stated that he,
witb Dr. Brett and Sir Robert Kane, of Dublin, had
made a series of experiments at the works. Muriatic
acid gas is evolved in the process ; part of it is condensed,
and part escapes into the air. There is what is called a
decomposing chamber, the gas from which passes into a
tower filled with pieces of coke, and through which, from
the top, a stream of water is constantly flowing. The gas
is thus absorbed by the water. No gas escapes from the
flue at the top of that tower. There are besides six re-
verberatory furnaces on the old plan. Connected with
these was a long horizontal flue, communicating with the
main chimney. A. stream of water flowed through it,
which would condense a great portion of the gas. Tested
the air as it passed out of that flue into the main chimney
at two different periods in the process. The muriatic
acid gas, when in the greatest quantity, was in the pro-
portion of 1 to 1,866 parts of atmospheric air ; in the
second experiment, Ito 6,500 parts. The vapour has the
greatest tendency to fall in moist weather. It would pass
to a greater distance in dry. Thought the gas would be
diluted 50 times in half a mile, and that it would not be
appreciable at the distance of two miles.
In cross-examination he stated, that if the gas was
sufficiently powerful, at the distance of two miles, to
make the eyes smart, it was certainly appreciable.
In answer to some further questions by his LORDSHIP,
the witness said the gas was very pungent, and would be
perceptible to the smell in extremely minute quantities.
White vapour might arise from steam; that, however,
would be dispersed in a distance of 100 or 200 yards.
Dr. Brett gave evidence not differing materially from
that of the last witness.

The TOWN-CLERK said the negotiation had terminated,
but the conveyances could not, as yet, be obtained.
Mr. HIGGINS asked for an explanation of the circum-
stances under which the indentures of the apprentices
came now to be enrolled ?

The TOWN-CLERK replied that the parties had come
forward years a` o, and that the Council were under a
sort of pledge to permit the enrolment.
Mr. ROBERTSON asked whether the outlay of £3SCO
for the embellishment of the portico was now confirmed ?
The TOWN-CLERK said it had been voted already, and
that it was merely referred to the Finance Committee to
ascertain whether they had the money.

Mr. ROBERTSON asked whether the Council were bound
to Mr. Cockerell's plan ?
The TOWN-CLERK replied in the affirmative; and the
proceedings were confirmed.

Mr. Martin replied, and the Judge having summed up,
the jury, after considerable deliberation, returned a ver-
dict for the plaintiff—damages £l,OOO.

ANOTHER ALLEGED INJURY FROM AN ALKALI
MANUFACTORY.
GERARD, BART., V. CROSSFIELD AND ANOTHER

This was another special jury cause, similar to the last,
in which Sir John Gerard, Bart., was plaintiff, and Simon
and James Crossfield were the defendants. The declara-
tion stated that the defendants carried on an alkali manu-
factory at St. Helens, and that certain noxious gases and
vapours were emitted therefrom which damaged the plain-
tiff's trees. The defendants pleaded not guilty.
Mr. MARTIN stated the case, which he said was ex-
actly of the same character as the last. Sir John Gerard
was the owner of considerable property in the neighbour-
hood of St. Helens, and amongst other places he was the
proprietor of Garswood estate, which was the old pro-
perty of the Gerard family, and from which they removed
some time ago to New-hall. Garswood faced to the west,
where the works of the defendants were situated, and by
those works, it would be proved, damage to the extent of
£l,OOO had been done to the estate. In 1838 and 1839
the defendants erected their chimney, and immediately
after so much damage was done that file), agreed to allow
compensation to the amount of £l,OOO ; but the works
had since been continued, and, of course, the damage was
constantly going on, so that either Sir John must aban-
don his property altogether, or he must come into court,
and seek for damages from a jury of his country. It
would be proved that, although some efforts towards con-
densation might have been made by them, yet that as
entire condensation was impracticable, destruction to Sir
John's timber had followed. In the event he trusted the
jury would give such compensating damages as the plain-
tiff was entitled to recover.

WEDNESDAY

SIR JOHN GERARD, BART., V. CROSSFIELD

. ,
The further hearing of this cause occupied the court
nearly the whole of the day. The jury, after an absence
from court for one hour, returned a verdict for the plain-
tiff—Damages £4OO.

SIR JOHN GERARD, BART., V. GAMBLE.
This was a similar action to the last for the recovery of
damages for injuries caused by the alkali works of the de-
fendant. The case was referred.

THURSDAY.
A SITARS TRANSACTION.-LUCAS 21. HOATSON.
Henry Walker Lucas, sharebroker, of Liverpool, was
the plaintiff, and Joseph Locking Hoatson, sharebroker,
of Halifax, tbe defendant. The action was brought to
recover the balance of an account arising out of a share
transaction, amounting to £9Bl Ios., bought by plaintiff
for defendant. It appeared that in August, 1844, the de-
fendant ordered the plaintiff to purchase for him 100
shares in the London and Croydon Railway ; the shares
were obtained from a gentleman named Langdon, and
paid for by the plaintiff, but the defendant afterwards re-
fused payment. Verdict for tbe plaintiff for the amount
sought.
ALLEGED DETENTION OF A WILL.-THOIIPSON V.
HEYES AND ANOTHER.
James Thompson, of Tbingwall Farm, was the plain-
tiff, and. Messrs, Pemberton and Heyes, solicitors, of

Prescot, defendants. The action was one of detenu. ' intelligent, too well affected towards the laws of their
brought by the plaintiff to recover possession of a will country, and too hig:i soil Led to resort to illegal or op-
made by his sister, Jenny Thompson, under which he preesive itiiiinidatam. If, however, on the part of any
was entitled to three houses in Ben Johnson-street. The individuals such attempts should be made, they may de-
defendants held the will as attorneys for a person named pend upon it, that most assuredly the authorities will put
Sally Lythgoe, who alleged that the will was made in down such attempts, and the offenders will be visited by
her favour. The Attorney-General opened the case for the most exemplary punishment. I know the great ex-
the plaintiff, remarking that it would be much better perience of some of the grand jury too well to say a
to have the matter settled without proceeding to word as to the manner in which you should discharge
trial, otherwise the parties might find shemselves in your duties in the grand jury room ; bu` if any doubt or
the position of the litigants described in the fable, who difficulty should arise on any point of law, I shall be
each of them got an oyster shell, while the oyster itself happy to render you every assis'ance.
went somewhere else. A consultation then took place, The grand jury then retired, and shortly after several
and it was agreed to withdraw a juror, subject to a rule. bills were brought in.
ACTION ON A BILL OF EXCHANGE.—FLOBERTS V. On calling over the common jury list, many excuses
were made for non-attendance, principally on the ground
of sickness. Mr. Wright, the clerk of the peace, stated
that he had summoned eighty persons, and he did not
think there were above forty able to attend.

FAIRHURST

Richard Roberts was the plaintiff, and John Fairhurst
the defendant. The action was brought to recover the
sum of £2B lls. 6d., being the amount of a bill of ex-
change drawn by David Cooke, and accepted by the de-
fendant. Verdict for the plaintiff for the amount of the
bill.

This concluded the civil business, and his Lordship,
after congratulating the jury on the conclusion of their
labours, adjourned the Court at half-past ten o'clock.
He shortly afterwards left town for London.

THE REV. HUGH M`NEILE'S REPLY TO HIS
CRITICS.
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION OF THE SERMON ON

OCCASION OF PRINCE ALBERT'S VISIT

The author heard with astonishment that exception had
been taken against the title of his sermon, on the ground
of irreverence, and even blasphemy. He was wholly at a
loss to conjecture by what appearance of argument such
an objection could be sustained, till his attention was
called to the foPowing paragraph in a Tractarian journal.
After transcribi►•g the title page of the sermon, the writer
continues thus

" The fearful irreverence, to use the very mildest term, of
seeming to apply to the visit of an earthly prince, words wh`ch
the Holy Ghost has used to describe the awful coming of the
Prince of Heaven and earth to judgment, must be apparent to
every reverend mind."

The word seeming is certainly a saving word : but under
cover of it, this writer has contrived to accuse me of do-
ing what I never thought of, and never did. It never en-
tered into my mind, nor into my sermon, nor on my title-
page, to apply or even to seem to apply, to the visit of an
earthly prince, words which are used in Scripture to de-
scribe the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
charge is purely fictitious. I am no further concerned
with the motives which have dictated this and other simi-
lar attacks, than to pray for my " slanderers," that it may
please God "to turn their hearts."

- The title of my sermon is, " Every eye shall see Him."
The words are applied to the coming of Christ, and to
nothing else. What follows on the title-page is a descrip-
tion of the contents of the sermon—" Prince Albert's visit
to Liverpool used in illustration of the second coming of
Christ." And where, I ask, is the blasphemy, or the ir-
reverence, or even. I am bold to say, the bad taste of such
an illustration? It is of the very nature of illustrations,
that comparatively low, common, familiar things, with
which men are acquainted, are used to convey instruction
concerning higher and more important things, with which
it is desirable to make them acquainted. This is the con-
stant practice of the sacred writers. Thus, to take one
book of Scripture for example, a sower sowing corn illus-
trates in detail the Son of man dispersing the good seed
of the word of God. (St. Matt. xiii.) A vineyard let to
successive bodies of husbandmen, illustrates Jehovah's
dealings with Jews and Gentiles through successive ge-
nerations. (St. Matt. xxi.) A marriage feast, the oxen
and fatlings killed, and the invitations sent to the guests,
illustrate the atonement and the preaching of the gospel.
(St. Matt. xxii.) The arrival of a Jewish bridegroom at
midnight illustrates the sudden coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. (St. Matt. xxv.) The list may be swelled to a
volume. In strict conformity with this practice, the
visit of an earthly prince to a provincial town, creating
universal interest, putting a stop to all the ordinary avo-
cations of life, and gathering the entire population into
one congregated mass of eager listeners and spectators,
illustrates, in some very important particulars, the coming
of the Prince of Heaven arid earth to judgment.
To accuse such an illustration of blasphemy or irreve-
rence, betrays either a gross ignorance of Scripture, or a
wilful malevolence against the accused-
, Suppose a treatise written on the subject of the creation,
and published under the following title : " Now, WE SEE
THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY ;" (1 CO. xiii. 12 ;) or,
Lord Rosse's Telescope, USED IN ILLUSTRATION of the
Immensity of the Universe. Who, I ask, would accuse
the author of applying, or seeming to apply, the words of
the apostle to Lord Rosse's telescope ?
[The reverend gentleman uses one or two other similar
illustrations.]
In every such case, would it not be obvious to every
candid reader, that the enlarged description had reference,
not to the primary title, but to an illustration promi-
nently made use of in the body of the treatise ?
Had I entitled this sermon, " TICK KING IN HIS
BEAUTY ;" (Isa. xxxiii. 17 ;) or, Hezekiah's Triumph
on the Destruction of Sennacherib, USED IN ILLUSTRA-
TION of the Second Coming of Christ, no exception, I
presume, could have been taken against it—none, at least,
on the ground of irreverence or blasphemy. And if He-
zekiah, on a special occasion full of interest to the in-
habitants of Jerusalem, might be so used as an illustra-
tion, why not Prince Albert, on a special occasion full of
interest to the inhabitants of Liverpool? Is there any-
thing
more earthly about Prince Albert than there was
about Hezekiah ?

DOMESTIC,

The Ford Abbey Estate, together With the splendid
monastery, was sold on Thursday at the Auction Mart,
by Mr. George Robins, for 50,100 guineas; and Messrs..
Osborne and Ward, of Bristol, it is believed, the leading
bankers of that city, are the purchasers.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A GENTLEMAN.—On Tues-
day morning, a man named Bailey, in the employ of Mr.
Cubitt, of Thames-bank, in going to his work, discovered
the body of a gentleman lying on the shore, at Thames_
bank. The deceased was a gentleman of independent
property, and highly respectably connected ; his name
was William Johnson, aged fifty-two, of Belvoir-terrace,
Vauxhall-bridge-road. He had left home after dinner
with the intention of taking a walk. He had been in a
low and depressed state of mind for some days past.
The late Sir Charles Wetherell died intestate. Search
for a will has been made without success at the residences
of the deceased in Berkeley-square, Stone-buildings,
Lincoln's-inn, and Old House, Sussex. The personal
funded property is estimated at upwards of £200,000,
principally invested in Venezuelan, Chilian, and other
foreign stock; and there being no surviving children,
one-half of the same will be Lady Wetherell's share. The
remainder will be equally divided amongst the brothers
and sisters of the deceased. The landed and other pro-
perty is valuable, and goes to the heir-at-law, the Rev.
R. Wetherell. It consists of the mansion in Berkeley.-
square, a leasehold investment, purchased, for several
thousand pounds, from the Earl of Abergavenny, the
residence and chambers in Stone-buildings, where he
entertained the King of Hanover on two occasions during
his last visit to this country, and lands in Sussex, Surrey,
and Kent; the latter about 1500 acres. The property in
Sussex is situate near East Grinstead, and in Surrey,
near Chertsey.

But, further. It has ever been the practice of the most
successful religious teachers, to avail themselves of passing
occurrences, in which the minds of men were already
engaged, and on them, by illustration of contrast, to
ground spiritual instruction. This gives a reality to re-
ligion, connecting it with present facts, as well as with past
history ; with England, as well as with the church ;—and
this is the real secret of the hostility of those who would
confine religion, with sanctimonious hypocrisy, to canoni-
cal hours and consecrated places. Hence the outcry
against " popular Protestantism," which is but another
name for true religion, presented intelligibly and practi-
cally to the people; neither disguised by heathenism in
the garb of classical refinement, nor mystified by mediae-
val superstitions. Alas! tor tile ffectation of pious hor-
ror at the irreverence of snots a ii to as this sermon bears,
combined with soft commendations of " Sister" Rome,
with all her real antichrist'an impieties !* There was a
generation who strained at gnats and swallowed camels !
and it is not yet extinct !
I have the satisfaction to inform these critics that this
sermon is selling rapidly and circulating widely, urged
forward, doubtless, by their attacks, which, by the reli-
gious portion of the community, are considered eulo-
giums. Within three weeks it has reached a third edi-
tion. In conclusion, I ask, will the journal which first
printed my title-page, or any of its contemporaries which
have since given currency to that accusation, have the
fairness, the common honesty, boldly to meet the ques-
tion by printing and answering this preface ? Or, if they
see tbat they have been hastily guilty of a mistake, will
they candidly acknowledge it ?

SINGULAR ACCIDENT.—We understand that an acci—
dent of a very singular description occurred to one of our
fellow-citizens, when recently bathing at Ardentinny. The
gentleman in question, while swimming at some distance
from the shore, was suddenly attacked by a large medusa
or galley-fish, which so clogged his movements, that he
was in imminent danger of being drowned, and it was
with dffiiculty he disencumbered himself so far as to admit
of his diving, by which he freed himself for the moment
from his unwonted assailant. Unfortunately, however,
on rising to the surface, he again came in contact with the
animal, which, this time, began to sink along with him,
and, had it not been for the assistance of a fisherman,
who, attracted by his cries, rowed hastily to the rescue,
the result might very possibly have been fatal. As it is.
he was some time confined to bed, and is still suffering
from the feverish effect produced by the stings received is
his strange encounter. This accident is the more worthy
worthy of notice from the size of the medusa, which is
rarely found so large in these latitudes, being, so far as
the observer's agitation would permit him to indulge, at
leastsix feet in circumferec n Glasgow Courier.

* Take the following as a specimen. It is fresh. While I
write, there is a great concourse of nobility, gentry, &c , &c.,
assenlbled in Birmingham, in attendance upon the Triennial
Musical Festival, which has been got up upon a very magnifi-
cent scale. The object is ostensibly a very charitable one—to
aid the funds of the general hospital, The president is Lord
Wrottesley. One of the hymns to be sung on the occasion,
classified among the " select!cn," contains the following piece
of real blasphemy, in the shape of an appeal for protection in
the day of judgment made directly to a woman :

SINGULAR BEQUESTS.—The will of Mary Anne John—
son, late of Well-walk, Hampstead, spinster, who died ott
the 6th ult., passed the seal of the Prerogative Court of
Canterbury, on the Ist inst. The personal estate of the
testatrix is sworn under £25,000. The will contains, ac—
cording to a statement of a correspondent of the Church
and Stqe Gazette, the followins, bequests :—" I give to
my black dog Carlo an annuity of £3O a year during the
dog's life, to be paid half yearly. Unto each of the cats,
Blacky, Jemmy, and Tom, I give an annuity of £lO a
year; £3O a year for the three cats, to be paid half—
yearly. Margaret Potson and Harriet olly, my mother's
old servants, to take charge of the dog and cats."
Query.—What will the authorities at the Legacy Duty
Office do ? As it respects " Legacy duty," the legatees
are certainly " strangers in blood" to the deceased, and
in that capacity are liable to a duty of ten per cent. on
the value of their life interest; but the Legacy Duty Act,
on the other band, says nothing about duty payable on
legacies bequeathed to dogs and cats. Asit is nothing
uncommon "to pass an act to amend an act," we would
certainly suggest that it be done in the next session ; for
we do not see wby children should pay one per cent. upon
property they derive from their parents, and Master
Carlo, and Messrs. Blacky, Jemmy, and Tom, pay
nothing.

THE ATTENTIVE GOVERNMENT.—Various govern-
ments have had various nicknames fastened upon them.
Beyond all question the present one is entitled to be called
" The Attentive Government." To every enquiry that is
made, to every suggestion that is offered, to every plan
that is recommended, to every abuse that is pointed out,
to every deficiency that is mentioned, they have but one
answer—" they will direct their attention to it." The
inquiry they cannot answer—the suggestion they do not
understand—the plan they never heard of—the abuse they
are unable to remedy—the deficiency they cannot supply
—but—" they will direct their attention to them." What
a set of inefficient, unprovided, ignorant, unbusiness-like,
unprepared dolts they must be 1 They know nothing.
can do nothing, have no resources at hand, and can only
promise to " direct their attention" to whatever is men-
tioned. We are satisfied we speak within compass, where
we say that nearly a hundred subjects are now waiting for
their " attention" during the recess ; and if they fulfil
their promises, their time will be so fully occupied, that
the current business of the country must of necessity be
neglected. That will beallowed to accumulate and become
subjects for " attention" during the recess of 1847, if
Providence should continue to inflict upon us the " At-
tentive Government" for another year. The meaning of
all this is, that they are wholly unfit for their offices at
present, but intend to work bard and qualify themselves
before Parliament meets again. With such an awkward
squad we shall soon witness some glorious blunders.—
John Bull.

FREE TRADE CELEBRATION' AT SREFFIELD.—The
Sheffield free traders celebrated the passing of the free
trade measures on Wednesday. Lord Morpeth, M.P.,
addressed the assembly in a speech which was character-
ised by his usual elegance of expression, but which con-
tained nothing new or startling, being, in fact, a clever
lecture on the benefits in prospect from free trade. Hav-
ing alluded to the failure of the potato crop as endanger-
ing famine in Ireland, and as seeming "to bring some-
thing in the spirit of a solemn rebuke to those who, in
the earlier discussions of the present session, indulged in
sarcastic references to tLe malady in the potatoes," his
lordship said, " The most inveterate protectionist will tell
you that he is as ready as any one to meet the pressure of
any immediate evil, and that if the natural operations of
their loved sliding scale bad not of itself reduced prices,
in such a state of affairs they would have been ready in
a,. .

" Inflammatos et accenstis,
Per Te, Virgo, sim defeusus

the face of famine to throw all the ports open. But we
tell them that that is not enough—small thanks to you,
that the sharp cry of a people's famine will be strong
enough to sweep away every obstacle; but what we want
to proclaim is that in every year, in every season, in every
state of the weather, the ports of Britain shall be open.
(Loud cheers.) Therefore plough now your fields, and
wastes, and prairies ; cut down your forests; grub up the
roots of your trees ; sow wheat, and maize, and barley,
and oats, and beans, and peas,—load all your boats and
barges on your seas and rivers—the Baltic, the Don,
the Hudson, the Mississippi,—come when they may, and
from whence they may, for the ports of England shall be
open to them, arid no man shall stop them. ( Loud cheers.)
The manufacturers and workmen of busy England shall
open their mouths wide for all this abundance, and no
man shall stay it. (Cheers.) And this it is mainly
which makes me rejoice, that the people and parliament
of my country have given a complete, an irresistible, an
eternal sanction to the principles of free trade, and to re-
verse which I believe will be a far harder task than to re-
move the pyramids or to step the downfall of Niagara.
(Cheers.) And I have the sanction of your chairman
and of this meeting, that if such an attempt be made, the
free traders of Sheffield will do their best to put it down.
(Hear, hear.)" The company was afterwards addressed
by John Parker, Esq., M.P., G. Ward, Esq., M.P., Col.
Thompson, and others.
DERBY ELECTION.—An unexpected vacancy in the re-
presentation of this borough has been occasioned by the
appointment of Mr. Strutt to the office of President of
the new Railway Board. The writ was moved for and issued
on Friday week, and was received the same night by the
Mayor (Mr. E. Mousley), who, as returning officer, ap-
pointed the nomination to take place on Wednesday
morning. The Mayor's proclamation, and an address
from Mr. Strutt, appeared almost simultaneously on Sa-
turday morning, and great was the astonishment of the
electors at an announcement for which they were wholly
unprepared. In fact, if Mr. Strutt's acceptance to office
was known to any one in the town before the receipt of
the writ, the knowledge was confined to some of that gen-
tleman's confidential friends, by whom the secret was
most carefully kept. Mr. Strutt arrived at Derby at a
late hour on Friday night, and on Saturday morning fol-
lowed his address. In the course of Saturday a placard
appeared, intimating that Sir Digby Mackworth (Con-
servative) had been requested to come forward in opposi-
tion to Mr. Strutt, and cautioning the electors against
ag
yby a
narrived at
Mondaythe Royal
morn-
ing he published an address to the electors, in which he
promisingH Hotel
about th
said—" Gentlemen,—Though personally a stranger to
most of you, I have been invited by a large and influential
midnight
votes.
on SSiartu Digby
body from among yourselves to stand forward as a can-
didate for the honour of being one of the representatives
.of your ancient borough in parliament. I come forward,
Gentlemen, simply as a supporter of the great funda-
mental Constitution of England—the palladium of our
Strutt
liberties—theturcuotnt Conservative—
unconnected ec te
gaved
with
great
etehaa
tl
any cuamu
political
beorlaiotgfi
ee
not: ever been Conservative-
-0 pr
amratprosperity—andyn: ;but
t tmhey
liberalaanxious
x
he s best
de-
siregilt isof t Divine Protestants Providence
of to
y p
the standard of Protestantism." It appears that Mr.
dis-
senters who formerly supported him by his conduct with
reference to Sir R. Peel's Maynooth Bill of 1845. The
election took place on Thursday, and there was great ex-
citement in the town through the day. At the close of
the pol! the numbers were—Strutt, 818; Mackwortb, 564.
Majority for Strutt, 284. The defeat of Sir Digby is
owing to many of the Dissenters, who had given an im-
plied pledge not to vote at this election, giving their votes
for Mr. Strutt.

In die judicii

Fac me cruce custodiri
Alone Christi prmmunir
Confoveri gratin."

This is very pardonable. It is only idolatry ! It is quite free
from the vulgarity and irreverence of " popular Protestantism !"
It will occasion no outcry ! It will provoke no condemnation I
" Woe, woe, unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that
put darkness for light, and light for darkneSs !"