The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-03-15 00:00:00

VACANCY FOR ST. ANNE'S WARD

The TOWN -CLERK reported to the Council that it had
been duly and properly ascertained that Mr. William Slater,
one of the councillors for St. Anne's ward had become bank-
rupt, whereby the Council were required to declare the said
office of councillor to be vacant. This proceeding was founded
upon the 52nd section of the Municipal Corporations Act,
which he read fur the information of the Council.
Mr. BIRKETT enuuired whether the Town-clerk had a
copy of the Gazette containing the bankruptcy ?
The CHAIRMAN also asked the Town-clerk what proof
there was of it ?

The TOWN-CLERK, in reply, said the proof was that the
Town-clerk pledged himself to the fact, and made a report of
it to the Council. It would be analogous to the course pur-
sued under such circumstances in the House of Commons,
if some memb.tr for the same ward as Mr. Slater were to
move that the office was void.

Mr. PARKER then moved that a vacancy be declared in the
office of councillor for St. Anne-street ward.
Mr. JoNEs seconded the motion.
Mr. AIKIN said the word " thereupon" occurred in the
section, and he asked the Town-clerk what it embraced ?
The TOWN-CLERK replied that it meant the council should
proceed immediately upon the declaration of the bank-
ruptcy.

Mr.. AIKIN also observed that just previously to the word
" thereupon" there was something said about penalties.
The TOWN-CLERK said there was, but he did not think it
was applicable to the case before the council. The penalty
applied only to voluntary absence, but he would read the
words. Having done so, he proceeded to say, that if the
mayor, aldermen, or councillor chose voluntarily to absent
himself for the period mentioned in the section, [six months]
by that voluntary act he was liable to a fine ; but those
words did not apply to the present case.
Mr. Coot'Eß wished to ask the Town-clerk whether it was
absolutely requisite that the vacancy which had just been re-
ported should be filled up—whether indeed the election could
not be postponed till next November ?
The TOWN-CLERK said, in answer to that question, he
ought to state, that if the council did not proceed to declare:
the vacancy, they would be liable to a mandamus from the
Court of Queen's Bench. The mandamus could only issue
upon the ground that it was the duty of the council to de-
clare the vacancy, and to proceed to a new election. Conse-
quently their duty wus to declare a.vacancy.
Mr. BinKETT observed, that even if that were not the
case, it would not be fair towards the ward to leave it with-
out its proper representatives.
The TOWN-CLERK said the observation of the last coun-
cillor was correct and just, for it was the duty of the council
to see that every ward was properly represented. Any sub-
ject of the realm might have recourse to the process of man-
damus, and the court would grant it on the ground that it was
the duty of the council to declare the vacancy ; and the
mandamus would compel the council to discharge that duty.
Mr. PLATT added that it was also imperative upon the
council to proceed to another election within a certain time.
The TOWN-CLERK said the duty of the council was imme-
diately to proceed to a new election ; and one of the sec-
tions in the act, as referred to by Mr. Platt, prescribed that
that duty should take place within ten days. These words
were considered as only declaratory, but at the same time it
was the duty of the council to proceed to a new election.
Mr. JOHN SMITH thought this discussion was taking up
a great deal of time unnecessarily.
The CHAIRMAN then put Mr. Parker's motion, and it was
unanimously carried.

THE PUBLICANS' CLAUSE IN THE IMPROVEMENT BIM
Mr. Braxerr, in accordance with the notice he had given
at the last council meeting, now rose to bring forward an
amendment upon that which the council were then pleased,
by a large majority, to direct to be done, namely, that a clause
should be inserted in the Improvement Bill to compel
publicans to close their houses till one o'clock upon the
Sabbath day. He did not wish to take up the time of the
council unnecessarily, after what had been done, but not
having had an opportunity of then expressing his sentiments,
he now wished to state the reasons why he thought this a
question which this council ought not to meddle with, at all
events at present. He considered it the duty of government
to take up this matter if they thought it was one affecting the
morals of the people •, but at the same time he should be glad
to see an enactment like that proposed, not only for Liver-
pool but all England. It was, however, carried out to a very
great extent by many of the most respectable publicans of
this town. The late government if they had been pressed,
would have given their attention to the subject ; and the pre-
sent government said they had so much upon their hands,
and that they had no intention of taking it up this session.
The council would have to consider whether it was their duty
to take it up, and for his part he thought the clause which
they had already agreed to should be modified so as to ex-
tend to seven miles. They professed to agree to the
clause as it stood in consideration of the morals of
the people, and he objected to it because it would not
have the effect that they thought it would, and that if it had,
it was not doing it in a fair way. There were two parties to
be considered in this matter ; one was the morals of the
people, to which every thing ought to give way, and the
other the branches of trade affected by it. With regard to
the first he contended that the existing clause would not
put a stop to immorality, and if it would not be takingup too
much time, he could convince the council of it. They would
only remove the nuisance to the edge of the borough and over
the water ; and the effect of the clause would be to encourage
low beer houses to be erected just at the outskirts, and par-
ties who wished to avail themselves of it would go there.
He could not look upon this clause in any other light
but calculated to transfer what was a nuisance from
one portion of the town to another without putting a stop to
it. There were four, or rather he might class them as two,
arguments against his proposition—one which eine erned the
morals of the people, which was brought forward by Mr.
Evans and Mr. Aikin, and he should not have alluded to this
if it had not been that what he thought a most unwarrant-
able plan had been taken by Mr. Evans and Mr. Aikin, by
alluding to party motives ; because if they were upon every
occasion of difference in opinion to charge one another with
being actuated by improper motives, the effect and end would
be, that they must come into personal collision and violence.
It could not lead to any thing else. With regard, however,
to what had been said by Mr. Aikin and Mr. Evans, he
thought they had got such a quilling from Mr. Aspinall upon
that occasion, that there was no necessity for him to pursue
the subject further.
The CHAIRMAN thought if Mr. Birkett would confine
himself to the merits of the question, the council would get
through the business before them much better.
Mr. BIRKETT said he would bow to the decision of the
chair, if the chairman thought he was out of order.
Mr. Alderman EVANS : No, no; go on.
Mr. BIRKETT repeated that he would bow to the chair.
Mr. Smith, at the last meeting, had made a very start-
ling statement, and one that was really very horrifying ;
and from what he said it might be supposed that those
who took the line he (Mr. Birkett) did, were the par-
ties to agree to continue such conduct. God forbid that
he (Mr. Birkett) should ever be a party to stand up for
murder or for drunkenness ! He had been a manufacturer
for some years, and had a considerable number of men under
his charge, and he had never in his own case set them the
example of a single case of drunkenness, and he never
would. Then Mr. Robinson, the member for Great George's
Ward, said this was a case with which the council had noth-
ing to do, and that they ought not to go out of the borough
to legislate ; but if this was his view, he must say that Mr.
Robinson took a very superficial view of the subject. He
(Mr. Birkett) was for legislating for the borough ; but at the
same time, as the municipal act said that persons were eligi-
ble to sit in that council who lived within seven miles,
he thought that seven miles ought to be the boundary of this
clause. He thought that if its operation were extended to
seven miles, it would very nearly, if not altogether, put a stop
to the evil. Those who wished to get drink could not go
seven miles, and be hack by one o'clock ; and another point
was, that those who lived upon tle3 edge of the borough would
not be infested by the influx of had characters. He dwelt
tpon this the more because his plan was the best to put a
stop to immorality ; and it was not liable to the other objec-
tion of injuring trade. Mr, I3irkett then concluded by
moving a resolution to the effect that the clause as agreed
upon at the last council be rescinded, and be amended by
extending its operations to seven miles beyond the borough.
Mr. COOPER had great pleasure in seconding the motion,
from a conviction that if the clause was good which the
Council had already agreed upon, the one which he supported
was much better. As it did not interfere with the principle
of the bill which he had voted for upon a former occasion,
but rather extended it, he considered that he was not deviat-
ing from his former vote. The publicans of Liverpool felt
considerable alarm at this bill, and they had reason to be so,
for it threw them quitein to time police's hands. Now all who
had anything to do with the police must know that they were
not parties to be trusted a great deal. He had had sufficient
experience of these men, who were notorious drunkards
themselves—(Cries of " Order, order.")
Mr. JORDAN protested against Mr. Cooper thus attacking
men who were not present to defend themselves.
Mr. Coopeit, in continuation, said that if Mr. Jordan
would take the trouble to look at the police books, lie would
find charges of drunkenness brought against many of the
police, and he would say that he (Mr. C.) was not far off the
mark. There was another clause in the Improvement Act
to which he objected, namely, that which prohibited publicans
from selling spirits to persons under sixteen years of age.
The TOWN-CLYRK said that clause was another part of
the bill, which did not come within the present motion.
Mr. JOHN SMITH.—Let us confine ourselves to that which
is the business of the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN wished the Council would do so. lie
should be glad if gentlemen would confine themselves to the
immediate subject.
Mr. COOPER apprehended that be had a right to comment
upon these clauses in the Improvement Bill.
Mr. THORNHILL said Mr. Cooper had nut, as the Council
were now discussing a particular clause.
Mr. COOPER said, he was only showing, from the nature
of these clauses, that the publicans had reason to be alarmed.
The TOWN-CLERK said that Mr. Councillor Cooper must
see that the clause on which the motion had been made was
different to that on which he was speaking, and that he should
confine himself to the motion, us he had seconded it.
Mr. COOPER would confine himself to the motion. lie
was satisfied that if the clause was extended to seven miles it
would do away with the opposition of the publicans. Every
respectable publican had a great wish that the bill should be
carried ; but they did not think it right that they should
be made liable to its penalties, whilst
others just beyond
the boundaries of the borough were not,
Mr. Alderman Nicol, asked the Town-clerk whether Mr.
I3irkett's motion, if it were now carried, would be compati-
ble with the notices given of the Improvement Bill ?
The TowN-cLealc. must certainly state that it was not
compatible with the notices of the present bill to entertain
the present motion, It would be dangerous to every part of
that bill if the council were to entertain it. In the next
place the motion was, that " as soon as practicable an
enactment should be obtained to the purport of the said
clause, but extended to seven miles from the Town-Hall, to
he computed by the nearest public road by land or water."
If the council were to entertain this proposition for one
moment, the great risk would be, lest, having infringed the
standing order of the House of Commons and the House of
Lords also, they became subject to the penalty of having
their whole bill turned out of the house. At the same time
he insist point out to the council that the words " as soon
as practicable" had referelice not only to this bill but to any
other proceeding.
Mr. BIRKETT asked, if the motion were carried, whether
it would have the effect of rescinding the previous decision of
the council ?
The TOWN-CLERK said certainly. As far as the power of
the council went, it would go to the extent of rescinding the
previous determination of the council; for he conceived that
the whole bill was before the council for amendment, until it
went before the committee of the House of Commons.
Mm. BIRKETT wished to ask the Town-clerk whether or
not it was in the power of the committee to introduce any
clause they might think fit during the progress of the bill in
committee ? As he had stated at the last meeting, he thought
the council had a far better chance of carrying the clause
which he now proposed than their own. Both the members

for the borough thought it wax right the clause which he pro.
posed should be inserted, and that it would not endanger the
bill.

The TOWN-CLERK certainly thought that if a committee,
by which he understood tie committee of the House of Com-
mons—[Mr. BIRELTT :--Yes]—should be pleased to intro-
duce a clause of this kind, they could do so without peril to
the bill ; but if the council connived at any such clause being
introduced, they might be subject to the penalty which was
sometimes applied to parties before the house, of having the
bill thrown out. He recollected a case in point—the memo-
rable case of the dock bill of 1836, which was thrown out of
the House of Commons because the parties had introduced a
clause, contrary to the standing orders, seeking exemption
for Runcorn. The council might be subject to the same
penalty if they agreed to this proposition ; but, no doubt, it
would be in the power of any committee of the House of
Commons to take the liberty, if they thought proper, of in-
terfering with the standing orders, and force such a clause
upon the bill. There would then be no grounds for the coun-
cil being visited with the penalty ; but he should say that the
council was the last place to originate such a proposition.
Mr. Alderman Moor. said his reaso❑ for asking the ques-
tion was to prevent the time of the Council from being occu-
pied with discussing the merits of this question, when they
had already decided upon it. If it were impracticable for
the Council to introduce the proposed clause, it was unne-
cessary to proceed with the discussion. The Town-clerk
would bear him out when he stated that it would be an un-
usual thing to introduce a clause into any bill, of which no-
tice had not been previously given. It would he interfering
with the interests of parties who had haU no notice ; and he
believed they must have had notice of it before it could be
introduced into the bill.

The TOWN-CLERK said he must the force of Mr.
Nicol's observations. There was nothing in which the
Speaker of the House of Commons so guardedly protected
the House against as any attempt to legislate for parties
without notice, and that for very good reasons. He had
good reason, for recollecting—and there was an alderman
now in the Council who had also good reason for recollecting
—the very terms which the Speaker of ti e House of Com-
mons used on the Runcorn clause in the Dock Bill of 183 G.
He explained that the standing orders were enacted for the
protection of all the subjects of the realm against legislation
without notice. The Speaker was very strong on that point,
and he carried the whole house with him.

Mr. THORNHILL said that Mr. Cooper had brought a
serious charge against the police, which he was hardly justi-
fied in making. He had said that a great many of the police
were notorious drunkards, and that he would riot trust them.
Mr. Cooper had been a member of the Watch Committee.
and he should have hesitated before he used such language
unless he had good grounds for it. The Liverpool police
were allowed to be the best in the kingdom, and he hoped
that Mr. Cooper's observations were more the result of in-
advertence than from any serious opinions, for he was sure
they were not open to any such remarks. As a body of men
they were as respectable and as trustworthy as any men in
the town ; and as to drunkenness, out of a force of GOO men,
it was not to be supposed that every man was sober. but
whenever cases of drunkenness occurred, the offenders were
punished.

Mr. COOPER said he had merely referred to drunkenness';
he had said nothing else with regard to the police.
Mr. TuouNutu, insisted that Mr. Cooper had declared
he would not trust them.
Mr. COOPER said he had not. (Cries of " Question." )
Mr. 1301:1 ON considered that there wasno occasion for fur-
ther discussion after the explanation of the town-clerk.
The title of the bill was "a bill for the improvement and re-
gulation of the borough of Liverpool," but Mr. Birkett's
motion went to extend the powers of the bill beyond the bo-
rough. He might just as well have brought in a bill for the
improvement and regulation of the churchwardens of Liver-
pool. He trusted, therefore, that the mover would have the
good sense to withdraw the motion, as it was at variance
with the preamble of the bill.
Mr. BIRKETT said he should do no such thing as with-
draw the motion.
Mr. PROCTER submitted that the motion was perfectly re-
gular. If it were not, Mr. Aspinall's certainly was not.
The motion was that the clause objected to be struck out of
the bill, and that in lieu of it, as soon as practicable, an
enactment be obtained to the same purport, but extended to
seven miles. It did not follow that Mr. Birkett's clause
should be inserted in the bill. _ .

The TOWN-CLERK said there could be no doubt that the
motion was regular to the extent that the existing clause be
struck out, and that it was regular so far as it applied to the
introduction of another clause as soon as practicable.
Mr. PROCTER.—Yes ; you may go for it next year.
The Tow`-CLERK had already given his opinion, that the
clause extending to seven miles could not, upon the motion
of that council, be properly introduced into the bill without
risk of the penalty for infringing the standing orders—danger
to the whole bill. There was no doubt the council might, if
they thought proper, withdraw the existing clause from the
bill, and pass a resolution that as soon as practicable they
would introduce a clause into a public act, or sonic other
bill, as proposed by Mr. Birkett ; but he was bound, in duty,
to tell the council that they were not to be parties to an at-
tempt to introduce such a clause into this bill.
Mr. JOHN SMITH thought that after this
.Mr. Birkett
would withdraw his motion.
Mr. BIREETT declined.
Mr. BRIGHT opposed the motion at considerable length ;
and, after a few words from Mr. THORNHILL, Mr. COOPER
withdrew his charges against the police.
Mr. MELLOR contended that the motion of Mr. Aspinall,
and that of Mr. Birkett, were substantially the same, the
effect of both being to throw out the existing clause. The
council having already decided upon Mr. Aspinall's motion,
he considered that they could not entertain Mr. Birkett's.
Mr. AIKIN also argued that the present motion was sub-
stantially that which was repudiated and rejected upon the
motion of Mr. Aspinall. If the Council had known that
Mr. Birkett's motion would virtually have become Mr. As-
pinall's, he (Mr. Aikin) was sure that not one member would
have agreed to have met again to have considered a matter
which had already been decided upon by large majorities.
Mr. Aikin then proceeded to contend that those who sup-
ported the present motion. and voted against youth going to
the Northern Mechanics' Institution, where they might gain
useful knowledge, were guilty of gross inconsistency. Mr.
Birkett had chosen to read the Council a lecture which was
appropriate to him, seeing that it was unintelligible to every
one else, in which he had talked something about quilting—
Mr. BIIIKETT.-I used a term which I heard upon 'Change.
Mr. Alderman EARLE.—What was it?

Mr. AlKlN.—Quilting Pray what does it mean?
Mr. Alderman EARLE.—Tossing in a blanket, I suppose.
Mr. AixiN proceeded with his remarks, and said he would
advise Mr. Birkett, when he was commenting upon the con-
duct of others, to be a little more guarded in the phrases
which he used. He was not warranted in -using the word
" unwarrantable," in speaking of the opposition of Mr.
Evans and himself to Mr. Aspinall's motion. The majority
of the Council had decided that it was altogether " unwar-
rantable," and he (Mr. Aikin) would add that it was unjus-
tifiable in Alt. Birkett to have used such a word. In con-
clusion, Mr. Aikin, at considerable length, defended the
existing clause, on the ground that it would tend to promote
morality by preventing drunkenness.
Mr. PARKER warmly contended that those who had voted
against the Northern Mechanics' Institution and supported
the present motion, were quite as consistent as Mr. Aikin
and his friends. He (Mr. Parker) was discharging what he
conceived to be his conscientious duty t- his constituents in
supporting the present motion; and wnenever they found
fault with him for he part he took, he should be ready at
that moment to deliver up his trust. That council were sit-
ting to do justice between man and man ; and because there
were some among them who supported Mr. Birkett's mo-
tion, were they to be called inconsistent men, drunkards,
and the promoters of drunkenness? Could not one member
differ from another without having his trade referred to in
this way, " that man is a spirit merchant, and that man a
brewer." Now, although he (Mr. Parker) was connected
with that branch of trade, he went upon no such bias. He
should do his duty to his constituents in whatever situation
he was placed, and he trusted that in doing so he should have
protection of the chair.
Mr. Ms:lN.—Did you vote against the Northern Mechan-
ics' Institution being open on Saturdays, and in favour of
the other? (Mr. Aspinall's motion.)
Mr. PARKER had voted against the Northern Mechanics'
Institution being open upon Saturday nights for the exhibi-
tions that were there made, and, therefore, Mr. Aiken said
he voted for the public-houses being open all Sunday—in
short, that he voted for the continuance of drunkenness ?
Now he thought if the magistrates would but do their duty
the evil would be cured. You could never legislate to cure
drunkenness, but the magistrates might punish it, and he
called upon Mr. Aikin, as a magistrate, to see that the laws
as to the punishment for drunkenness were put into execu-
tion. Those laws were sufficient to check the evil, but they
were not carried out by the magistrates, and that was the
cause of the greatness of the evil.
Mr. AIKIN said the inconsistency was still unexplained.

The Tows-CLERIC here repeated his view of the question.
It was to the same effect as his explanations given above.
Mr. Alderman EVANS said the gentleman who had made
this motion commenced by a declaration that he did not in-
tend to go into the discussion, but so far from abstaining
from it, he run over the whole of the former debate, and
criticized the speakers after his own manner. If there were
any additional reasons wanting to induce the council to per-
severe in their bill Mr. Birkett had furnished them himself.

lie had said that the government when applied to declared
that they were too much occupied with other things to un-
dertake this, and that they could not touch it this session.
He believed from our experience of the occupations of the
government of this country, it was to be supposed that
many years might go by before they would have either time
or inclination to do anything of this sort. But after a reply
of that sort, and being convinced of the utility of what they
desired, ought the council to lose one moment in endeavour-
ing to do,that which they had now an opportunity of doing?
Was it not highly desirable that Liverpool should show the
way to the whole empire in this matter: Why should they
not to go in advance of the government instead of tailing be-
hind them ? After entering upon the question of morality at
some length, and urging that it was not the province of the
council to legislate for the whole country, he proceeded to
say that he really was not aware that either his friend Mr.
Aikin or himself had sustained the chastisement which had
been so elegantly characterised by the word " quilting ;" but
he gave his friend upon his right (Mr. Aspinall) credit for
not having very ferocious intentions with regard to either of
them. If he had a giant's grasp, he would not use it in a
giant's way. (Laughter.) The question had been so com-
pletely decided already in the minds of the council, that he
should hope there would not be even a division.
Mr. Alderman TURNER then moved, and Mr. Alderman
IsltcoL seconded, an amendment, that the propositions of
Mr. Birkett be taken into consideration that day six months.
After a few words from Mr. FRENte,
Mr. BIRKETT replied. The town-clerk had given a law-
yer's opinion when he stated that the effect of this seven

"miles clause would be to endanger the whole bill. lie thought
that was a sound opinion ; but when he (Mr. Birkett) was in
London, he took a great deal of trouble in this matter, and
he thought he had paved the way for the introduction of the
clause.

Mr. M ELLOR.—By whose authority did you do so ?
Mr. BIRKETT replied that he had done so upon his own
authority, as a burgess, and not as a member of the council.
He had stated to the mayor and the town-clerk that the
course he had adopted was not as a member of the council,
but as a private individual. .

- .
Mr. Alderman EVANS said it now appeared they had pri-
vate parties seeking upon their own authority. Mr. Birkett'e
principle, with regard to the council, appeared to be that of
" Ego el mous re.e."
After a desultory conversation, Mr. Bilucurr consented
to withdraw his motion. The amendment was also with-
drawn, and the business being over, the council separated at
half-past one.

LAUGHABLE INCIDENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
—During the discussion which followed Sir Robert Peel's
financial expose, on Friday night, Colonel Sibthorp recom-
mended to the consideration of the government the propri-
ety of imposing an absentee-tax. He thought such a mea.
sure would operate beneficially, especially in Ireland;
although, if they adopted it, they might be charged with in-
fringing the liberty of the subject. (Laughter.) Mr. O'Con-
nel said he was sorry to hear the hon. and gallant member
declaim against an Irishman, for he (Mr. O'Connell) could
prove him to be one in point of law. (" Hear, hear !" from
Colonel Sibthorp.) There was a law passed in the Itith year
(we understood) of the reign of Henry VI., which provided
that no man should wear hair on his upper lip without in-
curring the penalty of being considered an Irishman. (Loud
laughter.) Great laughter was afterwards occasioned in the
house by Mr. O Connell walking across the floor with the
'
statute-book open in his hand, and presenting it to Colonel
Sibthorp, pointing to the clause of the statute of Henry VI.
to which he had alluded, and which the hon. and gallant
member, raising his hat, commenced perusing.

MEETING OF THE PRAYER-BOOK AND HOMILY
SOCIETY.

Yesterday evening the annual meeting of this society was
held in the Music-hall. The attendance was numerous, the
room being nearly filled. On the platform were many of
the clergy of the town and neighbourhood, and a large body
of the friends of the society. _

The very Rev. Chancellor Raikes, Chancellor of the Dio-
cese, was called to the chair, and at his request the Rev.
Mr. Maynard opened the proceedings by a short and im-
pressive prayer.

The Cllantslas said that the first communication he had
to make was, he regretted to say, of a painful nature. It was
a letter from their esteemed and respected triiend, the Rev.
Hugh M'Neile. The language of hiS note, and the request
which it conveyed, would, he felt assUred, meet with the ut-
most attention. Mr. M'Neile stated, in allusion to a late do-
mestic calamity, that in the present state of his feelings he
must apologise for not attending the meeting, as he felt that
he could not expose himself to the gush of sympathy that
would, doubtless, be evinced towards him by the numerous
warm friends who would be present ; but that the society had
his prayers for its success, and when occasion offered he should
do everything in his power in its behalf. He (the Chancellor)
said, that however much they lamented the absence of his
rev. friend and some others, the cause was one whicht
stood on its own merits, independently of mortal aid. That
cause was one which God himself would prosper, for its ob-
ject was the dissemination of formularies founded on his
holy word. The simplicity of the object of the society, had
not obtained for it that popularity which other religious soci-
eties enjoyed, for it did not so strongly as some others
appeal to those feelings and associations which were more
immediately interesting to the community. But it could
riot be denied that there was a great and growing necessity
for the dissemination of the doctrines and formularies of the
Church of England, which was the object of the society.
If any one thought that the homilies were written for
the peculiar age in which this had first appeared,
and were not suited for the present, they had but to
look around, and mark the different forms of error that
had lately risen up, to be convinced that the formularies
and articles of the ChurCh of England were still the great
standards of a pure Christian faith. It had been well said by
physicians, that we should not leave off our great coats too
soon in the spring, on the supposition that because we had a
few genial and mild days, we had fairly got into the summer,
and might with impunity take to lighter garments—trusting
unwisely to a treacherous climate. In like manner, in mat-
ters of religion, we should not throw aside those securities
that protected it in its early propagation, and were still re-
quired to shield it from error and innovation. The doctrines
and formularies of the church were founded on the scrip-
tures; and they were drawn from the fountain of truth, and
the homilies, in particular, were the grand standard by which
they ought to abide.
Mr. MAYN Atm, the secretary, then read the report, from
which it appeared that great numbers of the prayer book
and homilies had been distributed. many families and ships
visited, and much good done. Within the ten years ending
1841, the loss in the distribution and sale of books, and the
expenseofagencies Scc.,.had been so much beyond the income
in subscriptions, that the society had incurred a deficit of
£275 to the Parent Society. The committee urged the com-
munity to increased efforts in behalf of the society. The
secretary related several affecting anecdotes relative to the
beneficial effects of the society'. _ _

The Rev. J. H. STEWART moved the first resolution—the
printing of the report—in a very forcible address, in which he
related many instances of its beneficial effects both on shore
and at sea. He lamented that, in a town containing 10,000
sailors, so small a sum had, for the last few years, been col-
lected to promote the desirable objects in view.
Mr. T. SEWARD ably seconded the resolution, also sup-
porting the objects of the society as admirably suited to
arrest the progress of socialism, popery, and infidelity. He
stated the remarkable fact, that the first homily the society
had printed in Hebrot was seen by the present bishop of
Jerusalem—a converted Jew—who inquired how it was to be
disseminated ; and, strange to say, he was shortly afterwards
consecrated, and became himself the bearer.of it to that
city.

The resolution was unanimously carried.
The Rev. Mr. JAMES moved the second resolution, in an
admirable and most argumentative- address, in the course of
which he noticed, with great effect, the conduct of those ene-
mies of the Church who had recently impugned her doctrines
in the Oxford Tracts. He pronounced a warm appeal in be-
half of the prayer book and other formularies, as suited for
every class and every circumstance in life, and concluded by
reading some extracts from a recent Catholic book, in which
the Virgin Mary was held to be the principal mediator.
The Rev. Mr. \VIIITNE seconded the resolution, for which
see the advertisement.

The Rev. Dr. TATTERSH ALL moved the next resolution,
which.was seconded by the ltev. Mr. PA RKlig, and carried.
Mr. HOWARD moved the thanks of the meeting to the
chairman, after some cogent remarks, on the peculiar
privileges of the laity of the Church of England. The mo-
tion was seconded by Mr. CARPENTER, and carried by ac-
clamation.

, •
The en AinsirAs returned thanks, and spoke at some
length, and with great eloquence, on the peculiar advantages
and adaptation of the Litany, the Prayer-Book, and the Ho-
milies, concluding by a warm appeal to the audience for
aaditional support to the society.
" Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." was then
sung, and the meeting dispersed. A collection was made in
the room, which amounted to about £7.

CORRESPONDENCE,

PIIILO JUSTITIA AND ADMIRATOR

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

" Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matt. vii., 20.
SIR,—I am aware of the great demand for space in your
valuable columns at the present time, but, as some " would-
be wit " or Romanist priest has, after a lapse of near two
mouths, attempted to throw ridicule on the hypothesis, on
which my argument against the popish system of education
was founded contained in a former letter, I crave as a parti-
cular favour the insertion of a few lines in reply to the goes-.
tions " Admirator" has addressed me. I beg to inform him
that my knowledge of the devil is founded on his character
as revealed in the written Word of God. Thui; I find the
devil was a liar from the beginning, and his children are
known by their fruits : for instance—the Word of God gives
me a second commandment against idolatry ; popery tells me
it is of no use ; therefore I know popery to be a lying system.
The Word of God tells me that the body of Christ shall not
see corruption ; popery tells me that, after the priest has said
" Hoc est corpus meum " over a bit of paste, it becomes the
body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, and yet it sees
corruption; therefore I again know popery to be a lying
system. The Word of God tells me not " totrust in roan
whose breath is in his nostrils " ; popery places man's 'salvo-,
tion on the intention of a wretched, miserable prieit ; and I
again know it to be a lying system. Being obliged to be brief,.
I cannot now go on multiplying instances; buti cannot find
it in my heart to leave off without calling " Admirator's
attention to the brazen effrontery of popery in asserting that
the Douay version of the Bible, after having been translated
from two languages, gives as true a version of the minds of
the sacred writers as our authorised version translated from
the original Greek. Does not common sense pronounce
this a glaring, barefaced, detestable lie? To conclude, does
not the "written Word" and history call to our notice three
important facts'?—lst. That when the devil could not con-
tend against the growing power of Christianity, he because
one in order to corrupt it, and the man of sin beCime re-
vealed in the Pope of Rome.-2sid. When he could not
contend against the demand for reform in his own peculiar
church, he turned reformer, and in the creed of Pope Pius
IV. is to be found his " brutuni fulnien" of all that he
thought requisite to ensure for his followers what it is so re.-:
plete with, viz., curses.—Lastly. When he could not control
Christian exertions for education, he turned schoolmaster ;.
and to shew that he was the same as of old, he piously (he is.
a much-maligned old gentleman, after all) preferred Scrip-
ture extracts, that he could pervert, to the whole Bible, that
lie could not resist.—Your obedient servant,

T

PIIILO JUSTITIA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

perceive that the liberal Editor of the Liverpool
Chronicle is mightily offended because a few Orangemen, out
of respect to a departed brother, accompanied him to his grave
on Sunday last. He calls the attention of his readers to it,
on Saturday last, in a leading article, from which I extract
the following passage :—" On Sunday last, a number of indi-
viduals dared to parade themselves before their fellow-citi-
zens, wearing the party colours of this detestable order. True
it is, that the pretext was to accompany to the grave the re-
mains of an Orange news-vender, but we warn the authori-
ties
that it was probably intended to try the disposition of
the magistrates. if they appear disposed to permit them, we
have no doubt that on the next 12th of July, or perhaps
peace of the town invaded by
earlier, we shall have the
Orange riots." You perceive, sir, he calls the Orange order
a " detestable order," and no doubt they are, and ever will he,
a very " detestable order," in the estimation of all radicals,.
papists, and revolutionists. And why ? Simply because they
are a loyal body, attached to our glorious constitution in
church and state, and united together for the support and
maintenance of those good, great, and Christian principles,
for the defence of which, " the glorious, pious, and immortal
William," Prince of Orange, was called to the throne of these
realms. This, I repeat, is enough to make them detestable
in the estimation of the enemies of our Protestant constitu-
tion. But he says, " They dared to parade themselves before
their fellow-citizens, wearing their party colours." There
was surely no great parade in quietly walking in a funeral
procession, and as it regards their !! party colours," they bad
no need to be ashamed of them, for they are not the badge of
treason or rebellion, but the badge of loyalty to their Queen
and country. But he insinuates that the funeral procession
was a kind of feeler as to whether the magistrates will allow
Orange processions, and says, that " no doubt on the next
12th of July, or perhaps earlier, we shall have the, peace of
the town invaded by Orange riots." Now I, for one, have
no very great desire to see Orange processions in Liverpool ;
but if the authorities of 'the town will allow the feelings of
this loyal Protestant community to be outraged year after '
year on St. Patrick's day, by large processions of Irish pa-
pists, carrying " party colours" and banners, I think, in
common justice, they ought not to prohibit a procession of
loyal men, who are united together for the laudable purpose
of protecting those privileges which they hold dearer than life
itself. Why does not the Editor of the Chronicle call the
attention of the magistrates to the notice of the Popish pro-
cession to take place on Thursday next? He seems to be
much afraid of the peace of the town being disturbed by
" Orange riots," but seems to apprehend no fear from Po-
pish riots. But this is quite in keeping with radical liberality.
Radicals in general are mighty liberal towards popery and
rebellion, and as illiberal towards Protestantism and loyalty.
But, sir, I tell the Editor of the Chronicle that the Orange-
men of Liverpool are not to be frightened, or deterred from
doing what they conceive to be their duty, by ally, or all, the
radical papers in the kingdom. Many of them are the de-
scendants of the poor Protestants of Ireland, who were butch-
ered in the rebellion of 1798, at Enniscorthy, Virregar-hill,
and Scellabogue ; and they do not, and cannot forget the
wrongs inflicted on their fathers ; and though they do not
wish to return evil for evil to any man, on the contrary, they
can and do pray for their "enemies, persecutors, and slan-
derers," yet knowing by better experience the persecuting and
intolerant spirit of the apostate church of Rome, and that
she only wants the power, not the will, to " compel heretic:
to be of the true church," they conceive it to be their duty to
their God, to their Queen, to their country, to themselves
and to their children, to endeavour, with the blessing of the
Almighty, to preserve their religion and liberties, for the
preservation of which their forefathers spilt their blood ; and
should the time unhappily ever arrive, when the spirit o f re-
bellion should again break out and threaten us with destruc-
tion, 1 trust that the Orangemen of Liverpool would rally
round the altar and the throne, anti, like their fathers before
them, sooner die than surrender.—l am, sir, yours, &c.,
Liverpool, March 14, 1842. AN ORANGEMAN.

t 1
11.10 US WAGER.—We e are informed thatof the
principals of the American equestrian company, onevi,hich ar-
rived at this port on Tuesday last, has undertaken to drive
ten horses, tandem fashion, through the streets of Liverpool,
in the course of a few days. We are informed it is a favour-
ite feat of the party who has undertaken the wager.
SOMETHING ODD.—Lord John Russell, who f°ll°wed
O'Connell jn the debate on Mr. Duncombe's motion,
-
stated, " that in the county Middlesex it Was peculiarly re
quisite that Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to
visit the prisoners in the jails, as the great proportion of
them were Roman Catholics !! !" Query.—ls it not odd
that in Protestant Middlesex, where •the Protestant popula-
tion is twenty to one, it should happen that there aro more
Itoiaan Catholics than Protestants moil!

Thetrp.

14 .1

J ■
s~~ P

ADDRESS TO THE LION OF ENGLAND,
ON THE RECENT ATTEMPT TO INTRODUCE POPISH INNO-
VATIONS INTO THE NATIONAL CHURCH.

Come, rouse thee, bearded monarch, from thy ocean-girded

den ;
Silent too long has been thy roar, now let it peal again;
Chill to the hearts of all thy foes that voice shall send once

more,
And drive them from the beetling cliffs which circle Albion's

They come ! but not those gallant hosts, proud Gallia's

gilded pride,
Who chronicled on Waterloo her glory as they died—

They come ! not fierce-1-li;pania has sent the o'er the deep,
In turret-like Armada ;—nor from the summit steep
Of Himmalay, nor far away from China's ancient wall,—
Thew come the hearths and altars of our country to enthrall.
Ho f to the van, old England's strength! rouse, yeoman,
from thy rest,
And thou, the son of noble sire, whose old baronial crest
Has come to thee from Agincourt and Cressy, tented fields,
Ho ! high and low, speed young and old—now woe to him
that yields!
'Tis not the crown, that glorious crown, your hundred—mo-
narch's pride,
That peril'd is, altho' for it each one had gladly died;
Nor e'en your homes, your happy homes, where lovely virtue
dwells
To guard whose heaven-encircled peace each bosom nolly
swells :
Still dearer is the guerdon now, more holy still the call
Which bids you to the battle-field, it is your Faith, your all !
Now, Britain, to thy Temple see! it stands upon thy hills,
Its shadow is thy safety guard, Jehovah's presence fills
Its walls, cemented by the blood-of all thy martyr'd sires,—
Its beacon-light, pure Faith's bright torch, enkindled at their
fires.
Guard, England, guard thy Temple well! false sons are in
its bound,
And Rome's embattled legions have its walls beleaguer'd
round.
Strange voices come at eventide adown yon sacred height,
Not heaven's accustomed psalmody ; nor is that dingy light
The holy flame which brightly burned within those sacred
walls,
When our own RIDLEY trimmed the flame which lit these
holy halls.
Those are the sounds of enemies ! the mumming Mass of
Rome,
And Superstition's deadly voice from England's Temple
come,
God's Holy Word, our charter-right, our guide, our stay,
our all,
Before Tradition's meanless page, is hidden now to fall !
Rome's myrmidons are thronging- fast around each holy pile,
And, locust-like, stein covering the green sward of our isle.
And where are those whose high behest is watch and ward to
keep, •
With mitred:brow and crozier'd- hand, o'er Christ's most
precious sheep I
Where are they ?—rouse, ye shepherds, rouse; ere yet too
late it be ;
Shame, startle I the wolf Is at the fold—will ye like hirelings
flee ?
Oh! will ye bask in silken bow'r, or rest in lordly hall,
While holiness and Gospel truth aloud for succour call ?
Thanks, gracious Heaven, it is not so !—thy servants silence
break,-7
Good CursTakieads the glorious charge, and follow in his
wake
High Canterbury, Exeter, Ripon, and Lincoln too,
Old London's shepherd, Chichester, and others brave and
true.

While, far away from Erin's shore, the noble Arrnachan
And Dublin's prelate lift their voice, nor fear the face of man.
Up, guardians all! and lead the way : truth's champions
• ready stand
To shield the faith, and far away drive error from our laud.
Come, rouse thee, England's Lion, then! no monkish cowl
• may hide
The dastard Roman from thy frown—be will not, dare not
bide.
The thunder of thy waking roar true sons shall rally round,
'Till not a hoof of Popish herd within thy shrine be found.
But hark ! " a sound of going" on the lofty hills is heard ;
Is it the tempests hidden might that on their tops is stirred ?
No ! 'tis the coming of His foot—the Lord of Hosts, llis
name ;

His ear has heard His people's prayer; and, as of old, he

came
To be their .". Strong Deliverer," and pontiff-chain to burst,
So comes He now to save them from its bitterness accurst!
Who follows in His glorious train? Ho, PROTESTANTS,
arise !
Unfold your banner of the Cross, and bid it kiss the skies!
There.plant it in the solid rock, where stands your church,
for aye;
Be Christ your King, supreme and sole! Amen !
we say

amen !

CRUCEARMIGER

SUDDEN DEATH FROM DISEASE OF THE HEART.—
Yesterday, an inquest was held before Mr. Statham, deputy
coroner, on view of the body of Mary Cannon. The de-
ceased, who was 75 years old, lived with her son, a stone-
mason, in a cellar in Henderson-street, Toxteth-park. Mary
Hale, a married woman, who lived opposite, said that on
Saturday morning, in consequence of a girl calling, she went
into the deceased's cellar, and found her lying upon the ground
upon her face. A little blood was flowing from her forehead,
and sonic also got into her mouth. She never spoke, but
breathed once, and almost immediately died without a
struggle. The son of the deceased had left her getting her
breakfast about half-past ten on Saturday morning-, and she
then appeared to be quite well, and did not complain of any
ailment. Mr. James Bruce, surgeon, said he happened to
be passing along the street on Saturday morning, and seeing a
crowd collected went into the cellar, and found the deceased
dead. He made a post mortem examination of the body,
and found the cause of death to have been disease of the
heart. The jury returned a verdict accordingly.
The Right Honourable Henry Ellis, formerly ambassador
to Persia, is mentioned
,as the probable successor to Lord
Elphiustone, at Madras. . . .„..
The Duke of Wellington has caused cards to be issued for
a grand entertainment, on Friday next, at Apsley House.
Lord John Beresford, brother to the Marquis of Water.-
' ford, haying completed his terms at Trinity College, Cam-
bridge, has entered holy orders. His lordship was ordained
.by his relative, the Bishop of Kiln4ore.
It is said that the late Marquis of Hertford died worth
nearly two millions of money.

Viscount Scabam, son and heir of the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Londonderry, will attain his majority on Tues.
day, the 26th of April.

The Earl of Lincoln, Lord Dinorben, Lord Dacre, and
Mr. Baring, have taken ground on the line of the new road
from Bayswater to Kensington, for the erection of villas.—
London paper.

It is understood the Duke of Cleveland will receive the
Appointment of Colonel of the Durham militia. The head-
quarters will probably be removed from Barnard Castle to
the city of Durham.—Durham Chronicle.
At the Sligo assizes, Mr.-Henry Irwin, the coroner, was
found " gnilbhu.of giving. an order on the county treasurer
to a surgeon foiKattendiug, an inquest that never took place,
and sentenced to transportation for seven years,
During the evening and night of Sunday se'nnight, the
neighbourhood of Barnard Castle, and the upper part of the
Vale of Tees and Lune Dale, were visited with a succession
of vivid flashes of lightning, and several tremendous peals of
thunder—a circumstance of .rare occurrence at this season
of the year.—Sunderland Herald.
Why is the peacoCk, the favourite bird of a heathen god-
dess, like a prominent feature on au Israelite's face ?—Be-
cause it's Juno'sl(Jew nose).

Cavanagh, the fasting' man, was committed by the police
magistrates of Queen-square, London, to hard labour in the
I-louse of Correction for begging in the streets.
Loss or Two ,LIVES.—A very lamentable accident hap-
pened in the river• Tees
.on :Tuesday last. On the morning
of that day, Mr.. Robinson and his son. aged five years, the
former hind to Mr. Jervis Robinson, of Darlington, were
setting the father of the former person across the river Tees,
at Rockliffe, near Hurworth, in a cart ; and on their return,
after leaving the old man on that side of the river where he
wished to be, the water rushed down suddenly, the mare in
the cart was taken off her feet, and the cart upset. The
consequence was, that Robinson and his son were both
drownul, mid their bodies have not yet been found. The
mare, which was worth £3O, was also lost.

The following are the receipts of railways for the past
week—that is to say, up to the date to which the respective
returns are made, viz. :—Birmingham, £13,416 ; Great
Western, 1:10,155; Brighton, £1,918 ; Blackwall, £646 ;
Birmingham and Gloucester, £1,433; Manchester and Bir-
mingham, £358 ; Eastern Counties, £703 ; Croydon, £326 ;
Greenwich, £846 • Northern and Eastern, £B6O ; Manches-
ter and Leeds, ' £4,133 ; Birmingham and Derby, £1,019 ;
South Western, £4,299 ; Great North of England, £l,lll ;
Midland Counties, £2,300 ; Grand Junction, £7,266 • York
and North Midland, £1,657 ; and Edinburgh and Glasgow,
£l,Ol .

VOYAGE EXTRAORDINARY.—A very singular circum-
stance, which occurred a week or two ago at Cuddalore, is
described in a letter now before us, and is not undeserving of
permanent record. A boat with three burmese on board was,
a short time since, blown in upon the coast at a distance
of about ten miles from Cuddalore. These men stated, that
they had been out on a fishing excursion on their own coast,
when a typhoon suddenly came on in the night and broke the
straw rope by which their boat was made fast, when they
were immediately blown out to sea. They had, they said.
only rice for three days on board, and for the remaining 17
days, for they drifted about fur a period of 20 days, they had
nothing more than rainwater to subsist upon. The boat in
which this extraordinary voyage was performed is 46 feet
long, made of a single tree, and it is surmised that there were
originally many more individuals on board who perished from
hunger, or may even have been sacrificed to the necessities of
their companions. This, however, is mere conjecture. Of
the three men who reached our shores, one died shortly after,
and a second within a few days ; the only survivor is, 1") r."
ever, in good health and excellent condition, not .
to have suffered at all by the unprecedented hardships he, has
undergone. The distance this boat has drifted must
muchl-1 fur-
ther.—lndia .
are
n
been at least 1000 to 1200 miles, probably, indeed,
paper,

Qv ALIFICATIoN
NititCHANT SERVICE.—Ca
A. Johnstone. IM.P. ; M•P. M" " •
M.P. ;
Baird, M.P. ; Mr. Gill
FE.lll_claPpaitaAiSnTliFnitSzrAoNy,D,M.ATls.ni.N: T;:i.:
,_ M.P. ; Lord Dalre.Vq_,_ i:" ,
i•. 1) Mr. John
Dennistoun,M r. George Duncan, Iv • • , .
Chamber of Commerce of Glasgow; Mr. A. Nl'Dowall, of
with Mr. Wardrop, chairman ot the
Glasgow ;. Mr. R. Henderson, of Mincing-lane; Mr. J.
Fleming, of Claremont ; Mr. Knox, and Mr. Deans, had a
conference with the President and Vice-President of the
Board of Trade on Thursday, on the subject of a proposed
legislative measure to establish boards in various parts of the
country for ascertaining by examination the qualifications of
masters and mates in the marine merchant service. it at,.
peared that a great number of memorials from the OUtpurts
had been transmitted to the Board of Trade in favour of this
important measure, and the
president and vice-president
took a deep interest in the statement made by Capt. Fitzroy
and other gentlemen who attended and entered with great
minuteness into the question. Their leaning seemed favour-
able, but before coming to any final conclusion they desired
to be furnished with a more full statement in
writing as to
the necessity and effect of the measure.
Lusr.—A short distance from Jericho
o named from our ' •
stands the mount • ain
of Quaratita,,v
"forty days• This is of great altitude, b
avinm passed there
of an Evangelist, an " exceeding high or, in the language
view from it is exceeding grand ofmountain ;" and the
Dead Sea, the peaks of Neb the plain of Jordan, the
°Pisgah, and
places, and which may truly be •
of time. ° • It was to this said to be seen " in a moment
bap-
tised in Jordan, had been solitude Christ, afte • b • led by I beingto its summit is most!
brushwood and briars ; ydifficult, from being covered with
and stockings, which and
more so to those without shoes
many of the religious dispense with to
come at it, in the view
of performing certain ceremonies
during the period of l
horrid precipiceslent. Besides, near to this may be seen
abode of others, , and caverns or cells hewn out of rock, the
the example of who
the Saviour
fasting in the mountain. 'magic
nation cannot
adapted for picture a more desolate spot, and better
the votaries of abstinence.—W. Rae Wilson on

he go back to the postoffice? At present new Packet ex-
pences being added, the postpffice produced no ieveuue at
all, but rather occasioned a charge; but he did not think the
recent reduction had yet a sufficient trial to justify as yet an
increase upon postage, Should he revive the taxes upon
salt, upon leather, or upon wool? Upon the faith of their
abolition various contracts had been entered into, and salt,

, had been applied to a variety of new purp
resort to locomotion for the purpos

to place the labour of

of taxatia

he means of transferring from place

labour was their o.

capital

After ridiculing tbc