The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-02-22 00:00:00

On Saturday a very numerous meeting of the members of
the Scotch Church, Oldham-street, took place in the Cale-
donian School, for the purpose of presenting a Testimonial
to their worthy minister, on the occasion of his tleparture
from them for the pastoral care of the church and parish of
Aberdour, in Scotland. The Testimonial consisted of a
splendid silver vase, and a no less splendid silver three-
branch and centre-light candelabrum, both of elegant design
and exquisite workmanship, valued, we believe, at upwards
of two hundred guineas.
The platform was occupied by the Elders and Trustees of
the Church, and a number of other friends of the Rev. Doc-
tor—the spacious area of the school-room being filled with
the members of the congregation, end a few others desirous
of witnessing the ceremony of presentation.
HUGH MATrHIE, Esq. was called to the chair, as repre-
senting the trustees, and was supported by Alexander Smith,
Esq., on the part of the session, and by John Davidson,
Esq., on the part of the congregation. Shortly after Dr.
Ralph (having been conducted into the meeting by the sup-
porters of the chair) had taken his place on the platform, the
chairman addressed him in nearly the following words :—Rev.
and dear sir,—l have been deputed by the members of your
congregation, and a few others, to present you with the
pieces of plate on the tables before us, as a token of their
esteem for your person and character; and I need not say, I
cheerfully obey the call. All, sir, who have had the happiness
of intercourse with you, whether as a pastor or a friend, have
been deeply impressed with the faithfulness and affection with
which you have discharged the duties of your sacred office,
both in public and in private. You came amongst us at a
period and in circumstances which required of you, young
though you were, the exercise of no small amount of wis-
dom and prudence in your public capacity and private
walk ; and all that needs to be said as to your fitness for
the difficult place assigned you is, that you now leave a pros-
perous congregation, harmonious amongst themselves, and
united in affectionate attachment to yourself—feeling bitterly
the pang of separation, yet consoled in some degree with the
prospect of your enjoying a large portion of happiness in the
favourable situation to which, in the courtse of Divine Provi-
dence, you are called. They will always be gratified when-
ever your duties at Aberdour permit you to revisit the scene
of your former labours. It only remains that I, in the name
of yonr congregation and friends, convey to you the ardent.
wishes which we all entertain for the health and happiness of
yourself and yours ; while it is our earnest prayer that your
Divine Master may prosper your ministry abundantly in the
place whither you go.
Dr. Rat.Pti then rose, under manifest agitation, and spoke
somewhat to the following effect :—Mr. Matthie and my dear
friends, I never, in the whole course of my ministry, rose to
address you with the same feelings which oppress me at the
present moment—feelings to which, in words, I can give no
adequate expression. I cannot but feel the warmest grati-
tude and the highest gratification in being called into thist,
meeting to receive the magnificent testimonial which you,-
my beloved flock, have placed before me—a gift •splen-
dia in value and rich in the grace with which •it is
given. I feel at the same time deeply humbled under
the persuasion that my imperfections have so little deserved
it. I did not, indeed, require the testimonial from you to
convince me of your kindness and attachment towards
me. During the many years of my ministry in this place
I have had manifold tokens of your attachment. I have
gone out and in amongst you feeling that you regarded me
not simply as your pastor, but also as your friend and your
brgther. I have always enjoyed your warmest sympathies,
which have lightened my trials and enhanced my enjoy-
ments—cheered me in my labours, and enriched my success.
And now when, in the Providence of God, I am called to
labour in another portion of the vineyard, this mark of your
affection melts my heart, and fills me with a sorrow at sepa-
ration which I cannot utter. I know you will excuse the
feeble and insufficient wanner in which I convey my thanks
and strong attachment to you ; and of this you may rest as-
sured, that go where I may, I shall ever cherish the remem-
brance of all your kindness as a precious token from God of
good to me ; and that though absent from you as to my bodily
presence, I shall, in spirit, live and die amongst you. And
now :he thought that I shall have the privilege of revisiting
this scene in which I have enjoyed so much happiness, and
of renewing my friendly intercourse with you, greatly alle-
viates the pain of present separation. Again let me thank
you, with all the fulness of a grateful heart, for this munifi-
cent memorial of your regard, which I am enabled to take
with me, and which I value above all my possessions."

The Rev. ALEXANDER RENNISON, of Risley, offered up an
appropriate prayer. and gave out for praise the 23d Psalm.
The Rev. JOHN FERRIES having pronounced the Benedic-
tion, the meeting dismissed. _ .

Dr. Ralph was then called to an adjoining room already
crowded with the younger members of the congregation, to
receive from them, also, a token of their gratitude and re-
gard, in a massive and handsome silver inkstand—a present
made him most appropriately in conjunction with Mrs.
Ralph, who has ever taken a warm and active interest in the
spiritual welfare of the female part of this interesting portion
of the flock, and whose Christian kindness and labour of
love will long be remembered in connexion with the Caledo-
nian School. After shortly addressing them, the doctor took
an affecting farewell of his young friends, many eagerly
grasping the hand of one who had been truly a father to
them—a hand which, in silent but expressive benediction,
was placed upon their youthful heads as they passed before
him. The scene was altogether of a most interesting charac-
ter, and exceedingly moving. _

Dr. R. delivered his farewell discourse on Sabbath morn-
ing, to a crowded audience, from the parting words of Paul
to the Corinthians—" Finally, brethren, farewell."

CORRESPONDENCE,

DIVISIONS ON THE CORN-LAWS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

SIR,—As the corn-laws are the all-absorbing subject o
interest at this moment, perhaps the particulars of the vari-
ous divisions of late years may not be uninteresting to your
readers
1831-

Mr. Villiers' motion—Noes.
Ayes.

Majority against

1838.—Mr. luotion—Noes

Majority against

1839.—Mr. Villiers' motion—Noes,
Ayes,

Majority against,

124h1 a house of 3 02

1840.—Mr. Villier's motion—Noes.. 300
Ayes.. 177

1842.-

Majority against

Sir R. Peel's motion—Ayes.. 349
Noes.. 226

Majority for

Your obedient servant,

TO THE EDITOR OFTHE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

SIR,—I was highly amused upon reading, in the Liver-
pool Chronicle of last Saturday, an exquisite morceau signed
" 0 P Q," betraying as it does not only the great degree of
literary refinement to which the writer has attained, but also
his consummate research into the mysteries of Hiudoo my-
thology. He talks much of a tortoise : think you not that
he might derive an instructive lesson from the well-known
fable, where that animal is introduced as a competitor in the
race with a hare? Or perhaps he might learn a better lesson
still by committing to memory the fable of the bull and the
frog. In either case, if he can only recognise his own iden-
tity in the comparison, he will not fail to discover that he
occupies the least honourable station, whether in the simili-
tude of the vain-glorious and defeated hare, or the disgusting
envy-swollen frog. Were it not that "01' Q " seems to
chuckle with delight at giving birth to such an elegant effu-
sion, I should not, Mr. Editor, for one moment have tres-
passed on your valuable time, to notice what is in itself too
contemptible to merit a single remark, and more especially
as the attempted ridicule of such creatures is always an in-
dubitable guarantee of the esteem in which the assailed party
is held

I remain, sir, yours very faithfully,
VINDICATOR

Byron-street, 21st February, 1842

THE THEATRE lloYAL.—The pantomime continues to
prove very attractive. The house has been crammed at
second price. Last night Richard 111. was produced with
great attention to stage effect. We have heard that " M idsum -
mer Night's Dream" will be the Easter piece. This fine
play of the immortal bard having never been seen in Liver-
pool will produce a great sensation.
AM FRITH EATRE.—Novelty succeeds novelty at this
theatre. The equestrian company are now about closing
their engagement, which has been one of the most profitable,
we believe, for years, to all parties. The style in which the
dramas are got up here exhibits the taste of the master mind
who superintended them. Those who have not yet visited
the Amphitheatre must do so, or they will regret their having
allowed " Ducrow's company" to disperse without seeing it.
LlVER.—Celeste, having drawn such immense houses last
week, has been re-engaged. In the drama of Foreign Affairs
her archness, humour, and vivacity are vividly displayed.
Her Count St. Louis is highly-talented. The piece abounds
in equivoque repartee, and situation ; indeed it is one of the.
most piquante affairs we have seen for some tine. The
" Quadroon Slave" is a beautiful drama, acid is replete with in-
terest. Mr. Raymond, as Patrick Rooney, in the " Omni-
bus," is highly amusing, and his blunderings are most
comical. This farce goes off well.
The \Varspite, 50, Capt. Lord John Hay, with the Right
Hon. Lord Ashburton and suite on board, which had put
back owing to contrary winds, and sailed again on Monday
for New York.

A reinforcement of 5,000 troops is about to embark for
India without delay; and a similar augmentation of seamen
and marines has been pronounced by Sir W. Parker, to be
necessary for the China expedition.
Several of the leading corn factors in the country, although
" liberal " in politics, have been heard to express their entire
approbation of Sir Robert Peel's measure for the regulation
of the corn duties. They consider it infinitely preferable to
a fixed duty, and doubt not that it will work well for all
interests.

The Rev. Mr. Sibthorp was, on Friday, at Oscott College,
near Birmingham, ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic
Church.

PAISLEY SHAWLS.—Since the selection of the eighteen
richly-finished Paisley shawls by her Majesty, at the period
of the christening, the demand on the houses of that town
has increased greatly, and daily orders come to the manufac-
turers " for goods of the same description as those selected
by the Queen." A spur has thus been given to the trade.

QUEEN ANNE'S BOUNTY.—An account of all monies re-
ceived and disbursed by the governors of Queen Anne's
bounty, during the year ending on the 31st of December,
1810, has just been presented to parliament. It appears,
that the total receipts amounted to £192,069 ss. 4d., and the
total disbursements to £204,658 16s. 9d. ; leaving an excess
of expenditure amounting to £12,590 lls. sd.
POPISH ARROGANC,E.—The popish Tablet of last Satur-
day calls the Lord Bishop of London " titular Bishop of
London," and the Bishops generally " the titular Anglican
Bishops !! !" And on the Saturday previous, speaking of
the baptism of the Prince of Wales, it says :—" The infant
who was baptised on Tuesday—we hope he was indeed
_bap-
tised—has been born to all the splendour of the world.'
These are somewhat new features in popish controversy.
POST-OFFICE DELINQUENCIES.—We are informed that
certain persons are now in custody for intercepting or pur-
loining newspapers sent through the post-office, greatly to
the annoyance of the newspaper-offices, and to the disap-
pointment of their readers. We have had our full share 9
that annoyance, but an example will now probably be made
f
which will have a most salutary effect all over the country in
time to come.—Bath Gazette.
There is amongst the Chinese the abridgment of an En-
cyclopaedia in four hundred and fifty. volumes,_ while the
Encyclopedia itself consists of six thousand volumes. Our
dictionaries of this class are somewhat ponderous, but sink
into perfect insignificance when contrasted with these " books
of reference " for the literati of the Celestial Empire.