The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-01-11 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS

The Rev. Mr. Nolan begs to acknowledge a donation of £5O
from J. L., Esq., to the Liverpool Church Building Fund,
with especial reference to the enlargement of St. Barnabas'
Church, now nearly completed. ,
We presume that whatever may be the opinion of some of
our readers upon the general subject of religious contro-
versy in newspapers, we need offer no apology, in the pre-
sent instance, for the insertion of Mr. M`Neile's lucid and
conclusive letter in reply to one of the Popish priests of
this town, more especially as the statements of the rev.
gentleman. upon which Dr. Youens has founded his re-
marks, originally appeared in our columns. We hope the
rev. gentleman will have it printed in a more permanent
form than our columns.
A " Constant Reader" will, we believe, accomplish his
object most speedily and economically by taking his passage
from this port to New Orleans.
The letter of " Presbyter " shall appear on Friday.
We apprehend there is nothing to prevent a magistrate act-
ing legally upon the census which has been just completed.

(7,13 t Elbtrpool

TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 11, 1542

The recent decision of the Municipal Council on
the question of education, is so highly important, that
we shall make no apology to our readers for reverting
to it, and noticing, as briefly as we can, one or two
points brought forward by gentlemen who voted in
the minority, and by them enlarged and dwelt upon as
if they possessed much intrinsic weight and conse-

quence.
In the view of one of the adverse aldermen, the
Council have passed a decree which is fully equivalent
to an incipient reconstruction of the abrogated penal
laws against Popery; and visions of ropes, screws,
and hatchets danced through his mind in gallopes and
sarabands of varied confusion. It was somewhere
about the time when this worthy alderman was horn,
(we take his own word for the statement,) that still no
living professor of the Roman Catholic religion might
be lawful owner of one rood of his mother earth, and
that a busy informer might even unhorse him from the
horse he bestrode to fair or market, as one whom our
stern and cruel laws deemed altogether unworthy of
equestrian elevation. Oppression like this it was pain-
ful to think of in these days when profession of every
sort was so free; but it was irresistibly recalled to his
mind by the fact of the municipality of Liverpool be-
ing instantly engaged in remodelling their schools on
a strictly Protestant and scriptural basis. To do this

upon an unreserved, non-excepting, and exclusive
plan, he regarded as an absolute revival of penalties
and the intolerant principle, and he imagined it as the
most painful retrogression on the march of intellect
which it was possible to conceive. Now as our nerves
happen not to be quite so delicate in their texture as
those of the liberal alderman, we confess that we are
not terrified by this bugbear of penalism and persecu-
tion against Popery which he would conjure up to
frighten us from our propriety. To intolerance, in a
rightful construction of the term, we are as much op-
posed as the alderman himself; we are no advocates
for any, even the smallest invasion of the rights of
conscience; but we contend that the Corporation of
Liverpool are pure from that offence, and that, in the
course they have taken in remodelling their schools,
they have strictly adhered to the path of principle and
duty, and have violated no rule of toleration in its
most enlarged and liberal, but, at the same time, its
just and correct sense.
Alderman Evans—for it is to him we allude—would
not say that any penal law is an unjust law ; if this
were the case, how should virtue and honesty be de-
fended in a world where vice and dishonesty so largely
abound ? Penal laws are necessary for the preserva-
tion of civilised society; they cannot be dispensed
with ; but, beyond all question, no punishment, pri-
vation, or loss of any kind ought to attach to the do-
ing of that which is in itself right, truthful, and de-
serving of praise. An exclusive system of scripturally
religious education is, we will admit, penal; but penal
on whom, or on what ? Why penal on the irreligious,
penal on unbelievers in the Christian dispensation, or
penal on those who would mix up with truth some-
thing which is not true, and thereby corrupt and de-
file the truth itself. On all such a strictly Protestant
system of education is certainly penal; but it is not
for this reason objectionable. Here we take issue with
the objector, and we affirm that it is he who is in er-

pointing directly to it

There are ten 116 W Roman ca.

tholic chapels, he says, either in course of erection or
in embryo for-Liverpool and its neighbourhood, be-

sides a convent and some other sanctified retreat for
the devout and the needy of his communion ; and
"St. Domingo House," lately taken by the body, is
about to be converted into a Roman Catholic college
for children of the wealthier classes. These various

no matter, says Catholicus ; the priests who have (le-

nounced the new or restored system of the Corp()la-

tion Schools must be consistent—

—must act up to their

denunciations; and, cost what it may, the Catholics

must subscribe and maintain schools for themselves in
place of those from which they shall have been ex-
cluded. Now what we would observe with regard to
all these splendid projects and tokens of growing
greatness is this,—if the Romanists have become- so
many and so powerful in Liverpool, it assuredly is time
for us to look to all the defences of Protestantism, and,
by every legitimate means, to protect our church and
people against the encroachments of a system from
which we have everything to apprehend. We shall be
far better pleased indeed to find that all these magnifi-
cent schemes are• but the dreams of a restless ambi-
tion, or the vauntings of some individual a little over-
zealous for the coming glory and exaltation of his
church ; but if the describer should be right, and we
should be wrong—if the Romanists of Liverpool can
indeed realise all these fine plans, and provide substi-
tutes for the Corporation Schools in addition to all—
then we repeat that the more we hear of strictly and
exclusively Protestant institutions, and Church of Eng-
land institutions, and the less we are told of radical,
liberal, or mixed ones, the better.
If the Romanist children continue to attend the
Corporation Schools as formerly, we should suppose
that no enlightened Protestant will regret the vast im-
provement in the quality of the instruction which they
will henceforth receive therein ; .the change effected

must be a matter of congratulation to all who are any_
thing more than merely nominal Protestants. On the
other hand, if the Romanists can accomplish all they
now speak of; if they are able from their own re-
sources to provide substitutes for the free institutions
of the municipality, and their rising power, wealth,
and influence be really such as their organs describe,
we have cause to rejoice in the wisdom and prudence
which have led the Council to act in their public capa-
city on principles of religion in harmony with those of
the Established Church. With regard to the threat
held out by some, that the children of Roman Catho-
lics would be turned upon the streets in the event of
the new system being carried, there is nothing in it.
However willing the priests might be that such a re-
sult should take place, they could not eff

ect it; paren-

tal affection would prove stronger than priestly autho-
rity; there is no cause for apprehension on this

We have sincere pleasure in directing the attention
of our readers to the report, in another column, of a
meeting called by the conservative aldermen and coun-
cillors of Lime-street Ward, for the purpose of taking
steps for the alleviation of the distress existing amongst
the poor of the ward, during the present inclement
season. The division of the town, under the munici-
pal act, into districts, of which each possesses an alder-
man and three councillors as its representatives,
provides excellent machinery for the judicious distri-
bution of relief amongst the really necessitous at this
or any other similar season; and we trust that the ex-
cellent example set by the representatives of Lime-
street, and so cordially responded to by their consti-
tuents, without distinction of party, will not be lost
upon the other wards of the town.

A liberal contemporary in Manchester has made a
discovery, or alleges that he has done so, (for we know
not how the fact may be,) to the effect that some of
the members of the Factory DeputatiOn of the West
Riding are disciples of the well known Mr. Robert
Owen, and upon'that plea urges that their memorial is
unworthy of the smallest attention. Now, we put it to
our contemporary, if this, be not a very il-liberal mode
of treating the argument gravely and respectfully put
forth—an argument, moreover, which has no relation
to any one of the visionary speculations, or peculiar
doctrines, moral or immoral, of the sect of the Owen-

ites ? It is a liberal dogma, at least, that all men

whatever their station in life, or their private opinions
may be, who are not disqualified by any legal or social
prescription, have a right to express their opinions on
public affairs without being subject to a scrutiny as to
what opinions they may entertain on other subjects ;
and we know no reason why such indulgence should
be denied to the individuals who composed the Fac-
tory Operatives Deputation, even if it were true that
Mr. G. A. Fleming were a Socialist missionary, Mr.
Joshua Hobson, publisher of the Northern Star, Mr.
Mark Crabtree, a beer-seller; and Messrs. Brook and
Leeche of occupations unknown to the Manchester
Guardian. We have a lively recollection how very
welcome to the Anti-Corn-Law League are ministers
of "all denominations," from Unitarians to Papists,
provided these discordant elements can be made to
produce any degree of concord, however small, in
favour of their own monopoly, and in opposition to
that which they are in the habit of denouncing as the
appendage only of the landlords ; and we therefore
must take the liberty of considering the deputation as
not undeserving of a voice in court notwithstanding
the designations of trade or sect which the official
organ of the league has attached to their names.
The publication of their report has now been brought
to a close, and it will not be denied, that save in a sin-
gle point, and that one to which but little importance
can be attached—the body of deputies have met with
all the success in the discharge of the mission which
they could reasonably have expected. The excepted
point to which We allude, is that of referring the ques-
tion to any committee of parliament—a mode of pro-
ceeding to which Sir Robert Peel, and Lord Stanley
especially, objected in decided terms. Parliamentary
committees, said his lordship, have of late become a
by-word, and to refer a question of public interest to
a committee, is but another name for shelving it, or
getting rid of the responsibility of dealing with it. On
all other points the deputies received replies, or elicited
remarks which prove that their efforts were not in
vain, and that the question of abolishing all protection
to the agriculturists, and of distress in the manufactu-
ring districts, will not be finally disposed of without
at least an attentive consideration being given to the
views which they have suggested.
It is a plain and broad, but unquestionably a most
momentous question, whether the adjustment of ex-
isting derangements is to be looked for by seeking new
vents for our manufactures, or by setting some limit to
the amount of production. It is admitted on all hands
that the distress _now existing arises from the supply
being greater than the demand. "Of the causes of
the suffering of the past year," says the united broker's
circular, "that which is nearest the surface is the mis-
chievous facility for raising money afforded by joint-
stock banks, by which mills and machinery, to a vast
extent, have been prematurely called into existence,
and the production of every species of manufacture
stimulated in a most extravagant manner." In fact,
there is little difference of opinion as to the general
cause or causeg of the depression ; and for all conse-
quential reasoning, it may be said, that there is a per-
fect agreement on this head ; the discord arises when
we approach to the usore immediate and more interest-
ing question of remedies.
Follow the prescription of the Liverpool Anti-Mo-
nopoly Association, and all and every other branch of
the great central trunk of the factory metropolis, and
foreign-raised provisions constitute the only cure for
the evil. On the other hand, it is contended by more
than the Operative's Deputation, that no such exten-
sion of markets would arise from this source as to give
full work to our factories, and absorb all the at-present
unerr ployed in this or any other species of industry.
The only difference between this latter class of rerne-
dialists and others who have deserted from the doc-
trine of the league is, that the Yorkshire deputies speak
with a degree of boldness and decision on this point
which others have not used. The condition of the
operatives, say they, has been one of steady decline,
and it has not been owing so much to decreasing
demand for our manufactures, as to the introduction
of machinery for their production. We do not enter
into the question of the corn-laws or free-trade at all;
we look to the condition of the operative, and what we
know to be the productive power of machinery,—and

)ur position is', that the distre
hopelessly supplanted class;

sed oii-6'atives are now a

and that. whatever else

)u may do for them, it is quite out of your power, by

ay extension of markets or factories, to restore them
,) their pristine condition. That there is truth in this

asition we have, for our part, no doubt whatever; to

what extent it may involve it, is another and a very
cliffieult question to determine; that to whatever point

it may be correct, it fninishes,
against the extensionists—

so far, an argument
-with regard to the pretended

mpkteneSs of their measures, and should act as a

call upon the government to take some other means of
providing for those whom the factory has, in all likeli-

hood, Gone with for ever

Emigration, Colonitation,

n amended Poor Law, or any other form of relief may

be looked to for this purpose ; but as to the factory,
we are certainly persuaded that therein it will never be

found

STATE OF TRADE, MANUFACTURES, &c

Our Cotton market still wears a healthy tone, although
the transactions during the past two or threw days have not
been so extensive as we noticed them a week ago. The ad-
vices received by the arrival of the overland mail from India
and China do not seem to have been of a sufficiently decisive
character to create much effect upon the demand for manu-
factured goods ; and until something decisive is effected by
our forces in the eastern seas, which cannot now be for some
some months to come, we cannot expect any material impetus
to our commerce from that quarter. The setting in of the

frost too, which must impede our trade with the Continent,
will, in all probability, have an effect to retard for awhile any
improvement in our Yarn and Goods markets, although the
improved feeling in them still continues.

LOCAL NEWS

AMPFIITHEATRE.-

This theatre was crowded in all parts

. .
last evening to witness the new spectacle. The hull-fight is
one of the most extraordinary exhibitions we have st en for

some tini

TIIT: CH ASE.—The'Cheshire hounds will meet on Wednes-
day, the 12th instant, at Vale Royal ; Thursday, the 13th, at
Shipbrooke Bridge ; Saturday, the 13th, at Bradfield Green ;

at hall'-past ten

THEFT mom A SHOP,—A boy named Edward Maulin,
was yesterday charged at the Police-court with stealing a

quantity of tobacco from a shop. The prisoner was seen, in
the 2ct of going away from the counter, with a roll of
tobacco weirzhinz 9lb. He was committed to the House of
Correction for three months.

COMMITMENT.—At the j dice-court on Friday, a man
named George Agnew, who huu some days since been placed

at the bar, was finally brought up on a charge of beint; con-
cerned in robbing a man named Cox, the particulars of which
appeared in our last. It was proved that the prisoner was

seen in possession of some sovereigns, and that he was con-

nected with some of the other parties by marriage. He was

fully committed for trial

INCLUEST.—Yesterday, an inquest was held before Mr.
Curry, on view of the body of a little boy, named James
Lupton, who resided with his parents in Back Bussell-street,
Toxteth-park. It appeared that the deceased, on Saturday
last, while unobserved, drank some hot water from a tea-
kettle that was on the hob in the room where he was, by
which he was so much injured that he died on Sunday.—
Verdict accordingly.

NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES.—The New York
packet-ship of the 19th ult. was off the Great Ormshead at
ten o'clock yesterday morning, but had not reached the port
at the latest hour to which we could wait last night. In all
probability we shall receive the papers at an early hour this
morning, and we shall immediately announce the intelligence
she may bring in a second edition.
John Lloyd, Esq., of the Mount, Chester, has resigned the
office of clerk of assize, for the North Voles circuit, which
he held since the abolition of the Welsh judicature, and the
duties of which have been performed by him with honour to
himself and satisfaction to the country. Lord Abinger in
whom the patronage lay has appointed to succeed him Ed-
ward Watson Lloyd, Esq., who has for many years filled the
office of clerk of indictment on the circuit.

LAWTON'S GAmt PIES.—The following has been handed
to us as a correct statement of the contents and weight of
one of Mr. Lawton's game pies, with which he regaled his
friends on New Year's Eve :—Two large turkeys, four
capons, four grouse, four fowls, four pheasants, two hares,
two tongues, ham, veal, rump steaks, flour, butter, &c. The
weight previous to being baked was 1081bs. • length, 27
inches ; depth, 10 ditto ; breadth, 20 ditto. The whole in a
raised crust. '

EXTRAORDINARY PASSAGE.—The beautiful brig "Tyro"
of this post, the property of Messrs. Cotesworth and Wynne,
arrived here yesterday morning, (Monday,) from the Downs
in three and a half days, (and only three days and four and
a half hou'rs from pilot to pilot,) being the quickest passage
on record. This vessel we understand is hereafter to ply
between Liverpool and Lisbon, and is advertised in our
paper this day to sail as packet of the 20th instant.

- -
APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR TO THE PRESTON HOUSE
OF CORRECTION.—On Thursday, at the Preston Christmas
Sessions, the magistrates appointed a governor to the House
of Correction there. There were twenty-three candidates,
including eight gentlemen belonging to this town and neigh-
bourhood. Mr. Gibbs, superintendent of the county police,
Chorley, was elected by a large majority. The salary, with
perquisites, is worth little, if any, short of .Z-100.
OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FRAUDULENT PRETENCES.
—At the County Sessions, held at Lancaster on Monday
week, John Henry Eaton. of this town, was brought up,
charged with having fraudulently obtained a bill of exchange,
the property of Edward Rawlinson, solicitor, Lancaster. In
consequence of the absence of a material witness, the case
was postponed until the next Lancaster Sessions.
STEALING FROM A SHIP.--Yesterday, at the Police-

court, a young man named Edward Burney, was placed at
the bar on a charge of stealing a brace of pistols. A police-
officer said that on Saturday night he observed the prisoner
and another man sauntering suspiciously about Peter-street.
He stopped the prisoner and found one of the pistols pro-
duced under his coat, and the other in his pocket. He made
inquiry belonged to Mr. Dooley. The latter
_maker in Ranelagh--street, and that
stated t
haantdbe foundwas theyagun
he saw the pistols (produced) safe in the window on Friday
morning. They were holster pistols, and were worth
£3 10s. Ile had more than once seen the prisoner and a
companion loitering about the shop. The inner glass win-
dow of the shop had, since the frost, been left partly open to
prevent the gas from causing the outer window to steam.
The prisoner said that about half-past six on Saturday night
he found the pistols in an entry in Lime-street, wrapped up
in a parcel, out of which he took them. The complainant
said they were openly exposed for sale when he had them.
The prisoner was committed for trial.
DEPARTURE OF MR. DICKENS ("Box") FOR AMERICA.
—On Tuesday last, Mr. Dickens, accompanied by his lady,
embarked on board the royal mail steamer Britannia, for
America, where he intends passing the next twelve months,
on a tour, it is said, of observation, A great many persons
were on the pier-head to see Mr. Dickens off; in fact, he
was quite " the cynosure of all eyes " ; and we are certain
there was not one present mho did not heartily wish to have
shaken him by the hand, and bid him " bon voyage." We,
in common with thousands of others, owe him much for
many an hour's pleasant occupation. Eighty-two passen-
gers, including Mr. Dickens, have gone out this trip. The
Earl of Mulgrave was amongst the number. His lordship's
literary talents are of the rushlight order compared to his
fellow-traveller's. We shall see how Brother Jonathan re-
ceives these great and lesser lights—in light literature. Mr.
Dickens in person is slim—his face pale—his features, par-
ticularly his eyes, expressive—and he wears his hair extremely
long. The portraits published are very like the original.
ANTI-MONOPOLY ASSOCIATION.—A meeting convened by
the Committee of this association, was held on Thursday
evening, at the Music-hall, for the purpose of " annihilating
all monopolies in trade and commerce, and obtaining a total
and immediate repeal of the bread and provision taxes,
together with such a revision of the import duties as would
tend to the carrying out of principles of free trade." The
room was filled by the idle followers of the party who are
anxious for some change that might enable them to enjoy the
luxuries of this life without working for them, and v,ho are
perfectly indifferent as to the way in which the revenues of
the country are to be sustained provided the claptrap orations
of their parasites can be realised. The organ of the associa-
tion, the Mercury, has published the names of the gentle-
men on the platform, which amount to the overwhelming
number of seven !—namely, . Mr. Lawrence Heyworth, Mr.
Ormerod Heyworth, Mr. C. Holland, Mr. J. D. Thorneley,
Mr. C. E. Rawlins, Councillor Mellor, and Mr. Crook ! It
will be observed, from the numerical character of this array,
that the association has commenced its futile operations
under circumstances by no means encouraging. The chair
was occupied by Mr. Thornely, M.P., who delivered a long
oration, consisting of a jumble of all the hacknied arguments
of the " free-traders" which have been uttered ad nauseam
for the last three years. Mr. Holland, Mr. Shiel, and one
or two other speakers then addressed the meeting.
CAUTION TO SIIOPKEEPERS.—Esther Riley, a young
girl, and George Mark, a boy, were yesterday placed at the
bar of the police-court, on a charge of attempting to carry off
articles from several shop doors. The officer stated that ob-
serving them make an attempt at one shop, he followed them,
and saw them try several others in more than one street.
The girl succeeded in one instance in taking some stay laces,
but was detected by the owner, and dismissed with the loss
of the articles. The officer waited until another came up in
order to secure both prisoners, and he finally succeeded.
The girl, who was known to be an old offender, was com-
mitted for three months, and the boy for a month. We
' would strongly recommend shopkeepers not to leave articles
hanging loosely at their shop entrances, affording conveni-
ence to practised thieves, and no little temptation to the
destitute persons in the the streets.

OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES.—AII
elderly female, named Ann Rogerson, was yesterday placed
at the bar of the Police-court, on a charge of obtaining va-
rious sums on false pretences. Mr. Robert Cochrane Cros-
hie stated that he was a partner with two gentlemen named
Jameson ; that they were merchants, and had their office in
Dale-street. On the 24th or 25th of October last, the pri-
soner came to his office, and said that Mrs. Brown, (the
widow of a sailor whom he knew,) was in great distress, one
of her children being seriously ill. He knew the prisoner
was a relative of Mrs. Brown's, and had before assisted her—
her husband having been killed on board of one of their ships.
He paid the prisoner half a sovereign on that occasion to give
to Mrs. Brown. On the 27th of November the prisoner
came again, and said that Mrs. Brown's child was dead, and
that she requested some further assistance to inter it. He
paid her half a sovereign and ten shillings in silver. On Fri-
day forenoon last the prisoner again came to the office, and
produced a letter, purporting to be from Mrs. Brown. Being
busy at the time he sent bet away. She returned in about
two hours. He then read the letter she brought ; took Mrs.
Brown's address as given by the prisoner, and said he would
order inquiry to be made into the circumstances. He after-
wards ascertained that the whole of the statements in the
letter were false, and sent for a constable, who took the pri-
soner into custody.—Sarah Brown said she lived in a court
in Paul-street. Her husband died 7 or 8 years ago. The
prisoner was her brother's wife. She tent her about three
months ago, to Mr. Crosbie's office, to ask him to assist her,
and she returned and gave her two shillings, saying that the
gentleman had said that " she must not be troublesome to
that office." Witness did not send her again either on the
29th of November or on Saturday last ; and the letter was
not written by her, or on her account.—Constable Kehoc
said, that on Saturday last he took the prisoner into custody,
telling her why lie did so, and cautioning her as to what she
might think fit to say. She said that Mrs Brown's child
was dead at her (prisoner's) house. He went to Prince Wil-
liam-street where she lived, but found that Mrs. Brown had
never lived there, and that there was no child dead in the
house. The prisoner, who stated herself to be the wife of
Joseph Rogerson, said, that the complainant had sent her to
several places to ask for assistance for her, and had evil
shown her Mr. Crosbie's office. Mrs. Brown, however, said
that she bad only shown her the office on the occasion when,
on coming back, she paid her the two shillings. The pil-
-1 Boner was committed for trial at the sessions.