The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-05-27 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney papers to the 20th of January have come to hand.
They contain no commercial or other intelligence of im-
portance.
A violent storm was experienced at Parramatta and the
neighbourhood on the 21st of December, and did considera-
ble damage.
A sale of farming stock had taken place, at which 12,000
sheep, in a sickly state, were disposed of at ls. 6d. per head,
a mixed herd of 1,100 head of cattle, at £l, and 50 horses at
£l4 each. This is given as an argument for the admission
of Coolie labour, without which, it is stated, sheep farming
cannot be carried on profitably, and consequently cannot be
carried on at all. European labourers will not be induced
to go into the interior except at higher wages than the farmer

can afford to give.
The Bishop of Australia held an ordination on the 19th of
December, the candidates being, for priest's orders, the Rev.
C. Kemp, late of Queen's College, Cambridge, licensed
minister of Pitt Town ; and for deacons, Mr. Robert Knox
Scone, late of Brazennose College, Oxford, and Mr. Thomas
Wall Bodenham, master of St. James's Grammar-school.

A SON SHOT BY
E HIS
LATTER. FATHER, AND SUICIDE
OF TH

CHESTERFIELD, MAY 24.—Yesterday evening, the peace-
ful and romantic village of Ashover, about six miles from
this town, became the scene of one of the most deplorable
and heart-rending tragedies that ever occurred in this or
any other country.
Mr. Richard Eaton, a gentleman in independent circum-
stances, about 60 years of age, in loading his gun in the
house to go in pursuit of a mad dog, accidentally shot his
son, a youth about 16 or 18 years of age ; and immediately
after, in the phrenzy of the moment, took a pistol and shot
himself through the head, and fell dead upon the spot. The
gun was loaded with slugs, and its contents first struck the
young man's arm, and after passing in an oblique direction
shattering the bone, entered his side. He instantly dropped,
but he did not expire till about seven o'clock this morning.
On seeing his son fall, the father was seized with an agony
of grief, and exclaimed, " My dear son ! what shall I do !
What shall Ido! my dear, dear son !" He took a loaded
pistol, rushed out into the garden, applied the muzzle just
bodies
below, his right ear and fired, when the bullet, after penetra-
of Scarsdale,
ininstantlltaanhead, passed out a little above the left ear, causing
bees death. Inquests were this day held over the
existence in lfiy.
ore Mr. Hutchinson, the coroner for the hundred
was accidentally
verdicts returned to the effect that the son
by an extensive shot, and that the father put an end to his
of manners and his
accident. mr.t.'4l phrensy consequent upon the previous
His melancholy end
circle
was a gentleman very highly respected
of acquaintances, to whom his urbanity
all who knew him. known worth had greatly endeared him.
resided with him at Aseho
Will be a subject of unfeigned grief to
has left a wife and daughter, who
Nottingham. The you 'ter. and a son who is in business in
the bookseller, in that town, above described, was also aaa, who has lost his life as
apprentice with Mr. Wicklin,
few weeks at home, in consequence
adds if possible, to the deploraelell
had returned to spend a
of indisposition. What
catastrophe, is the circumstance tlelacharacter of this sad
have been married this day, and the that the elder son was to
; but alas ! how
have visited Ashover, in commencing tietirintagepraerftyplweaesruereto,
and preparations were made to receive them
the scene.
changed

DEATHS BY Duow/qING.—TwO lads, the one named
about sixteen, and the other named
William
Henry Spence, a
m.cracken, about. fourteen years of age. were drowntaor:
Monday forenoon ta the Clyde.

THE GENERAL
OF ASSEMBLOTLAND.Y OF THE CHURCH
SC

The sittings of the General Assembly commenced on
Thursday week. After the roll was called Dr. Cook intima-
ted that he and his friends adhered to their protest against
the legality of the ministers of quoad sacra parishes sitting
in that house, when Mr. Dunlop immediately announced that
this declaration might be considered as a call on the house,
on a future day, to declare their determination to maintain
the rights they had solemnly recognised in these ministers.
Dr. Welsh was then unanimously chosen Moderator, after
which the Queen's commission to the Marquis of Bute and
the letter to the house were read, and ordered to be recorded.
The commissioner then addressed the Assembly. He spoke
in a pleasing manner, and the passages in which he expressed
his interest in the church of Scotland were delivered with
marked emphasis. There was no illusion iu his speech to
the present position of the church.
A discussion was raised on the claim of certain of the de-
posed ministers and an elder to sit under a commission by
the deposed ministers of Strathbogie, as members of the
Assembly. On the one side it was declared that the claim
was utterly incompetent, and even insulting, and the com-
mission ought never to have been even received by the officers
of the house. On the other, the one argument that was
pleaded was, that these deposed men were exactly in the
situation in which they would have been if no sentence had
been passed. A considerable number of members particu-
larly Dr. Chalmers, took part in the discussion, and after
it had continued for several hours, it was carried by a ma-
jority of one hundred and thirty in a house of three hundred,
that the commission of the presbytery of Strathbogie should
alone be recognised even though the opposite motion was
merely for refusing both commissions in hoc statu.,
On Friday the business of the Assembly was confined to
devotional exercises, or to matters of a more religions cha-
racter. Mr. Dunlop gave a most gratifying report of the
amount of the contributions to the schemes during the year.
Notwithstanding the embarrassing circumstances of the
church, the contributions during this year have amounted to
£30,000, exceeding by £5,900 the amount collected during
the preceding year.
The report of the Jewish scheme, replete with interest,
was then read by Dr. Keith, and adopted by the house.
The business of the day was arranged, and when the hear-
ing of the Irish deputation was entered in the list Dr. Bryce
gave notice of a motion which be meant to press to a division
before hearing the deputation with reference to certain pro-
ceedings iu the last meeting of the presbytery, " or, as it was
called, the General Assembly" of the Presbyterian Church
in Ireland. .

Saturday.—This has been a day of great and heart-stirring
interest in the Assembly. It having been stated that two of
the members of that Court had been interdicted by the Court
of Session from taking their seats, it was moved by Dr. Cand-
lish, who characterised this interdict as " the most direct
invasion of the constitution of the Assembly that had yet
taken place," that no attention should be paid to it, which
was met by a counter-motion on the part of Dr. Cook. On
a division, Dr. Candlish's motion was carried by a majority
of 173 to 76.
On the motion of Mr. Dunlop, seconded by Dr. Willis, it
was resolved that extraordinary collections should be made
for the relief of those who are at present suffering under des-
titution.

On the motion of Mr. Dunlop, a warrant was granted to
cite Mr. Duguid of Glass, and the ministers who had held
communion with the deposed of Strathbogie, to appear at the
bar of the Assembly on Thursday next. Mr. Robertson of
Ellon agreed to offer no opposition to this, only protesting,
that his own rights, as well as those of the others concerned,
should not thereby be compromised.
The great interest of to-day's meeting arose from the re-
ception of the deputation of the Irish Assembly. Dr. Bryce
alone, and, as he confessed, " in opposition to some of his
friends," broke the harmony of the meeting by some re-
marks upon the speech which Mr. Wallace of Derry had
made at the late meeting of the Irish Assembly ; but he was
speedily put down by the unanimous sense of the house.
The deputation consisted of Mr. Wallace of Derry, Mr.
Gibson of Belfast, ministers ; Counsellors Gibson and Grier,
elders. The last spoke very shortly, and the able and Chris-
tian speech of Counsellor Gibson was unfortunately but
imperfectly heard throughout the house; but Mr. Wallace
of Derry, and Mr. Gibson of Belfast, addressed the assem-
bly in speeches of thrilling interest, and which stirred every
tender and hallowed association. The assembly adjourned
at five till half-past six.
At the adjourned meeting in the evening, Mr. Cunning-
ham commented upon the act of 1799, whereby the hands of
ministers had been tied up from admitting into their pulpits
any who differed from the church in subordinate matters of
government, however much they were at one with them in
' the great doctrines of the gospel ; and contended that it was
high time that the restrictions of that act should be relaxed.
Dr. Candlish and Mr. Guthrie enforced the same views, the
latter remarking, what is well known to have been the case,
that " the act in question was passed, not to exclude error
from the church, but to exclude truth." Several other mem-
bers, on both sides, having spoken, the proposal was agreed
to without a vote.
Dr. Buchanan then brought forward his overture to pro-
vide for the religious superintendence of students while at
college. A numerous committee was appointed to consider
the best way of carrying the object into effect.

On Monday the overtures against patronage were taken
into consideration, when Mr. Cunningham moved a resolu-
tion to the effect that patronage is a grievance attenclod with
injury to the cause of pure religion to the Scottish church
and kingdom—is the source of all the difficulties in which
the church is now involved—and; therefore, ought to be abo-
lished. The procurator moved as an amendment that 'the
General Assembly, having considered the overtures and pe-
titions, find that it is inexpedient in present circumstances
to adopt the motion. On a division, the numbers were—
for the motion, 216 ; against it, 147 ; majority, 69. The
debate was a lengthy one, but did not elicit any novelty
of argument or illustration on the subject, and the result
was not different from what had been anticipated. On
Tuesday the Assembly was occupied with a discussion on
the jurisdiction of the church. Dr. Chalmers introduced the
subject in a very eloquent speech. Dr. Cooke made an able
statement of the position and views of the two parties in the
house, vindicating the conduct and motives of the minority,
and clearly expounding their principles, in order to show that,
though opposed to acts of the majority, they concur in the
leading doctrines of the church—the headship, spiritual in-
dependence, and non-intrusion. The discussion was conti-
nued by Mr. Dunlop on the one side. replied to Mr. David
Milne, in an able speech, who was followed by Mr. Robert-
son, of Ellon, Dr. Buchanan, of Glasgow, Dr. Bryce and
Mr. Gray. After a lengthened debate, the house divided,
when 241 voted for Dr. Chalmers's motion in support of the
overtures on the exclusive jurisdiction of the church, and 110
for Dr. Cooke's resolutions—majority 131. The effect of
this decision will be that the existing difficulties of the church
will remain as great as ever, and as far from any settlement.

IthDUCTION OF THE LANCASHIRE COUNTY
CONSTABULARY.

In the Standard of the Ist ult. we gave a brief report of
the proceedings at an adjourned annual session of this county,
held in the Court-house, Preston, on the previous day. At
this meeting it may be remembered that a motion of Mr. P.
E. Townley for the discontinuance of the force was lost, and
resolutions were adopted, that each hundred in Lancashire
should be formed into a separate police district, corres-
ponding with the petty sessional division, and that, when the
magistrates for the different petit sessions had arranged as to
the number of men considered sufficient for each division,
the result should be communicated to the Secretary of State
for approval. In compliance with this, a letter and state-
ment were transmitted to Sir James Graham, of which the
following are copies :
Clerk of the Peace's Office, Lancashire,
Preston, 17th May, 1842.

" Sir,—We have the honour to transmit for the Secretary
of State, a copy of resolutions passed at the adjourned an-
nual sessions for this county, held on the 31st of March last,
relating to a new arrangement of the county constabulary
force.
" In pursuance of the resolutions, the magistrates have
held meetings in their respective petty sessional divisions,
and have intimated the result to the clerk of the peace for
transmission to the Secretary of State for final approval as
to the number of constables required for this county : this
result appears by the paper which we have the honour to
enclose.—We are, sir, your most obedient servants,

GORSTS & BIRCHALL,

" S. M. Phillipps. Esq."
" Lancashire—County Constabulary.
" Number of constables required in each petty sessional
division, as reported by the magistrates in petty sessions,
pursuant to the resolutions of the annual sessions of 31st
March, 1842:—
No. of No. of
Names of Divisions. Townships. Cons. required
Lonsdale, North Sands ... ..... 27
Lonsdaie, South Sands 45 ...... 3
Amounderness
Blackburn Higher....
Blackburn Lower 34
Leyland
Bolton 36
Middleton
Ashton-under-Lyne 4
Manchester....
Kirkdale ..
Ormskirk
Prescot
Warrington
General Staff—Chief Constable 1
Assistant Chief Constables 2
Chief Clerk 1
Assistant Clerks
Storekeeper 1
Messenger

Present strength of the force ....
Total reported by the magistrates

Contemplated reduction ....
" GonsTs and BIRCHALL,
" Deputy-clerks of the Peace."
In reply, Sir James Graham expresses his " approval of
the proposed districts, and of the reduction of the consta-
bulary force consequent upon the resolution of the justices."
On this the Manchester Guardian remarks as follows :
" We regret to find, that Sir James has given his sanction
to a plan which we cannot but think will lead to numberless
abuses. It is not of the large reduction in numbers, which,
however, amounts to more than one-fourth of the whole, that
districts,rs at t
si oo nt
a e
we complain ; but 9f the apportionment of the force into
petty sessional districts—the expense to be borne in propor-
tion to the number of men serving in each. It will soon be
, that the expense will fall very
in every other respect simi-
larlyave retained a sufficient num-
ber of constables to protect them, other and neighbouring dis-
fuonuencidusiatliulnyatpoerndac;dttiihfrcaaeltrewonhpt
tricts have reduced their numbers so considerably:as to afford
encouragement for the dishonest to abide there, as in a place
of sanctuary, whence they can sally out to commit depreda-
tions around, counting upon the ease with which they can
elude the police when they are thinly scattered over a consi-
derable extent of country. Take, for instance, the divisions
of Higher and Lower Blackburn. In the former, there are
to be only 10 constables to 45 townships ; in the latter, 25
constables to 34 townships. To come nearer home, 13 con-
stables are deemed sufficient to protect 17 townships in the
Middleton division ; while in that of Ashton, 14 constables
are required for four townships. Deducting the eight indi-
viduals called ' the staff, the great county of Lancashire,
with the sole exception of the municipal boroughs, which have
a police of their own, is to be watched, and its property
g uarded, by a constabularyfor in the
something likefour-fifths
of a constable to each township the county."

, as much of the
A Sandwich Islands paper, the Polynesian, says—" Typo-
graphical errors cannot altogether be avoided
type-setting is done by the natives, who are unacquainted
with the English language."
KINSALE PETITION.—This petition is not prose-
cutedtoubnesatisc
:---why, is a question which, except on rumour, we are
unable to answer. It is said that Mr. Watson is, at a time
specified, to retire, and that the seat is then to be left to the
chances of a new election. If any such arrangement has
been made, we think it will be regarded as a very fa
tory conclusion. Mr. Watson, it is to be presumed, would
neither have proposed nor agreed to it unless he felt himself
unsafe ; and why, this being so. the petition should be now
abandoned, we cannot comprehend excetopt
the we are
ti to adopt
an explanation not very complimentary constuency,
but which, however, has, we understand, been offered,—.
Cork Constitution.