The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-01-07 00:00:00

a Conservative, into the Council

Thus all our great questions in this great town are
now brought to a happy consummation—and all is
homogeneous in our institutions. We are Conserva-
tives in every respect, and long may we continue so !
And here no taunts, no sneers, no vilification of the
adversary shall prevent us offering our most unre-
served acknowledgments to one individual, to whom,
under God, we do believe these great results are in the
most eminent degree owing. We need not name him;
all Liverpool, which is indebted to him in an amount of
obligation that it never can repay, will with one voice
proclaim the Rev. Gentleman to whom we allude.

The " Lion of St. Jude's" is indeed our Wellington.
He, it is, who has led us on frwn victory to victory,
until all is now ours, and we have no more enemies to
conquer. There is as yet no column, nor statue to
record his services; but they are fresh in the memory,
and in the hearts of thousands. We could say much
upon this agreable theme, but much it is not necessary
to say at present to the thinking and observing people
of Liverpool. They fully appreciate all the disinterested,
and incalculably valuable labours of this gifted Champ-
ion, and we trust are grateful for the essential benefits

which he has been the means of conferring upon their
locality.

It is justly observed by Lord Aberdeen, in his offi-
cial correspondence with the American minister, Mr.
Stephenson, that if America were anxious to protect
and encourage the African slave trade, instead of be-
ing, as she professes to be, exceedingly desirous of
suppressing it, she could not take a more suitable
course for such purpose than that which she has taken
with respect to the right of search ; and there is no-

the communications

in. any C

e republic loves

lie observatio

o disport

the lofty pinnacle of his nation's absolute independ-
ence—her right to navigate the globe by her merchant
ships, unquestioned by European or any other power—
her freedom of choice, and her ability to defend it;
but he evidently shrinks from meeting the question on
the ground of plain and practical common sense. He
leans upon the opinion of an eminent jurist of this
country, that the slave trade is not, (or was not in his
time,) by the law of nations, piracy; and that though
conventional engagements between any given number
of independent states may make it such, so far as those
states are themselves concerned, yet that the ancient
international law still continues in force, and " dealing
in slaves" does not, even now, constitute an act of
piracy by the subjects of a state which has not en-
tered into the alliance. Lord Aberdeen does not ab-
solutely deny this proposition ; but he evidently thinks
that such " law" is getting somewhat musty, and
would be far more honoured " in the breach than in
the observance." But is it not a suspicious circum-
stance to find the representative of America hunting
out a judgment pronounced by Lord Stowell, many
years ago, and availing himself of this loophole to re-
lieve American subjects from the consequences of an
act of piracy, supposing them to be caught in the fact
of trading in slaves, and transporting them as mer-
chandize in vessels of their own ? Is not the argu-
ment, so far as it goes, an argument in favour of sla-
very, and is not the whole course of the American
proceeding manifestly calculated to invest the abomi-
nable traffic with an important and dangerous amount
of protection—the protection which it would derive if
the simple hoisting of the American flag should at
once forbid all inquiry respecting the papers or owner-
ship of vessels engaged in the service ?
Mr. Stephenson is anxious to establish that slave-
trading is not, by the old law of nations, a piratical
offence; but is international law like the law of the
Medes and Persians ? It is the desire of the present
day to change the law in this respect, and the American
envoy cannot deny that it is perfectly competent for
civilised nations to make the desired amendment; the
question is, why America alone recedes from the con-
vention, why she is found contending against it, and
standing out upon that very antiquated law which it is
the wish of all other states not only to render obso-
lete, but entirely to abrogate ?
The right of search, as explained by Lord Aber-
deen, which is claimed on our part, is one which it is
necessary to maintain and insist upon, if it is intended
that our convention with other states respecting the
African slave trade shall not be rendered nugatory.
The American flag must not be used as a passport to
piracy. To admit that it should serve as a signal to
warn off our cruisers—as a noli me tangere to all in-
quirers—would be tantamount to giving up the sup-
pression of the slave trade altogether. But on the
other hand, with all the caution which could be exer-
cised—all the desire possible not to cause trouble or
delay to bona fide American citizens when encountered
in the African seas under suspicious circumstances—
it is not at all unlikely that collisions of an unpleasant
kind might take place which would endanger that re-
lation of peace and friendly alliance which ought to
subsist between the countries.

We are about to pursue the only prudent course left
us under existing circumstances, and that is, to press
upon the Americans, in the spirit of friendship and
true philanthropy, the fitness and desirableness of their
acceding to a treaty for the purpose of placing not only
the right, but the exercise of mutual search beyond
the reach of all petty cavils. It is another honourable
effort on our put in behalf at once of unhappy Afri-
cans, and of that peace with the nations of the world,
which, as a Christian country, it is our duty to make;
and, let the issue be as it may, no reproach will rest
upon our heads.

Wherever you. meet an unitarian, you 'will find a
griping, niggardly, selfish being who has only his own
narrow ends in view, and who cries down every thing,
however advantageous to the public, from which he
derives no gratification or emolument. We wish this
was not an universal rule, and that we had not daily
instances of its truth forced upon our notice.
Take two from our columns of to day ; an extra
servant is required at .the Town Hall, when up jumps
one of this notorious craft and wishes to push the
additional duty upon the officials already in the esta-
blishment, and who, if we mistake not, are sufficiently
occupied in their own departments. When the in-
habitants of a populous district are in need of a clock
on some conspicuous place, out shrieks another mem-
ber of this inflated body, " No, NO, I cannot see it
from my house; I cannot hear it !" Let our readers
peruse the nonsensical conversation carried on at the
last Birkenhead Commissioners' Meeting, and we
think they will find a very edifying exhibition of liber-
ality from parties who boast much of their charity and
meekness. Cannot the ratepayers of Birkenhead dis-
pense with the services of those who will fight long,
and shout loud about a few pence, and who, if we
mistake not, are not over scrupulous as to the
management of the funds of the township, when there
is no opportunity of manifesting their hostility to the
church and her devoted ministers? Let the ratepayers
try, and they will find their affairs more economically
looked after, though probably with less ostentation and
bombast.

We may observe, that if the legal adviser of our
municipal body were to assume such a dictatorial tone
as the law clerk of these commissioners, he would not
work so amicably as be does at present with those
around him.

SINGULAR HoßrmaY.—A singular robbery took place on
Monday last, at the Custon i-house in this town. A gentle-
man went in to one of the. departments to pay duty. He
placed a £lOO bank note on the counter whilst the proper
officer was calculating what was to pay. The gentleman
turned his back for a moment to the counter. On turning
round again he found, to his astonishment and consternation,
that the note had disappeared. It is conjectured that it was
stolen by some person who was at the counter at the same
time.

LOCAL NEWS,

The Liverpool grand steeple chase is fixed for the 2nl of
March.

LARGE VESSEL.—One of the largest ships which has ar-
rived in this port for some time is now lying in the Brunswick
Dock. She is called the Greenock, and is 1400 tons burthen
per register. Her length is 240 feat, her outside timber 12
inches, and her inside 10 inches thick. She is a remarkably
tine vessel, and is consigned to Duncan GM and Co.
At Shrewsbury borough sessions, on Thursday, the grand
jury unanimously found a true bill against Mr. Onseley,
editor of the Shropshire Conservative, for a series of libels
upon Dr. Mackenzie. editor of the Salopian Journal. The
Recorder immediately issued a bench warrant against Mr.
Ouseley.

A. Pi ETHNDED FREEMAN.—John Brammell, farmer, of
Allerton, appeared before Mr. Rushtim, on Tuesday, charged
with having evaded payment of the toil in the South Hay-
market, on the ground that he was a freeman. He was or-
dered to pay twopence, the amount of toll, in addition to a
fine of ten shillings and costs.

IA understand that it is in contemplation by the friends of
the Rev. Dr. Ralph, of the Scotch Church, in Oldha►n-
street, to present him with some mark of respect on occasion
of his removal to the ministry of Aberdour, in Fife. This
testimony is abundantly merited by the excellent services of
the doctor, during his residence in Liverpool; and we are
glad to hear that the subscription is not likely to be limited
to the members of his own congregation.
Black ebony is now coming very generally into use for
window sashes and the sashes of shop fronts. It has a very
neat appearance, adding much to the lustre of the plate glass,
and, from its dark colour, does not attract the eye from the
goods exposed for sale, and is, therefore, far better than the
brass sashes for linen drapers shops, which, from its glare,
kills the brilliancy of the colours of the various articles.
CHARITABLE SOCIETY.—The visitors of this society have,
during the last month, made b7B visits to the abodes of
wretchedness and want, administering relief in bread, oat-
meal, and potatoes, and occasionally in articles of bedding,
to 331 families, consisting of 1389 persons. The continued
want of employment during the present severe weather,
presses heavily upon the labouring classes, and calls loudly
upon those who are blessed with an abundance of this world's
goods to assist this, and kindred societies, in alleviating the
distress which so extensively prevails.
UTTERING BASE COIN.—On Tuesday, Rowland Davis
was charged at the police-court with having uttered two base
shillings. It appeared that the prisoner, on Saturday night,
met two girls in Hanover-street, whom he offered to treat.
He gave one of them a shilling, and told her to go to Mr.
Aldersey's, and get a glass, which she did, and brought him
the change. He then pressed her to go and get another
glass, to obtain which he gave her a second shilling, which
she took to Mr. Aldersey, who, finding both shillings bad,
stopped the girls, and gave them into custody : they then
took him to the prisoner, who was also apprehended. The
girls were discharged, and the prisoner was remanded to
afford time for the depositions to be submitted to the officers
of the mint.

LIVERPOOL MARINE SOCIETY.—On Tuesday last the an-
nual meeting of this society was held at the rooms of the
Shipmasters' Association, Oldhall-street. William Potter,
Esq.„ presided. From the statement of accounts read by
Mr. Moss, the active and efficient secretary of the society, it
appeared that the annuities paid during the year had
amounted to £309. The receipts from marine and honorary
members, during the same period, bad amounted to £55 13s.
The balance to the credit of the society was £10,627 15s.—
£l2OO of which was out at interest in the hands of the cor-
poration, £3300 in the hands.of the dock trustees, £2330 in
the 3 and n per cent. stocks, and £731 in Leyland and But-
len's bank, leaving a small balance of £57 far the purpose of

cociety,•in the

members b

LOWS, 0

an, receiving annuities trout its iunds. It
was now proposed to allow the widows at the rate of £l3, and
the superannuated captains at the rate of £l7 per annum.
The appointment of officers was then proceeded with, most
of whom were re-elected. Applications for admission into
the society had been received from a great number of members.
STRANGERS' FRIEND SOCIETY.—The annual meeting of
this society was held on Wednesday, when the usual report
was read and adopted. From this document we learn that
through the liberality of the public, the visitors of this insti-
tution have been enabled to relieve about 3,000 families,
comprising about 15,000 individuals,) who have been found
in different stages of distress : most of them in a state of
entire destitution of the common necessaries of life, and al-
most in a state of despair. Some of them were foreign
strangers, several shipwrecked sailors, and a host of other
casual strangers in the town, who have been tempted by the
hope of employment to come and seek it at this great empo-
rium of trade, without being aware that the amount of work
to be obtained has been generally throughout the year far
less than the supply of candidates for employment. Through
the praiseworthy exertions of the visitors, however, these
cases have been relieved to the utmost extent that the funds
would allow, and the blessings of them " who were ready
to perish" have in numberless instances been invoked on the
kind and benevolent supporters of this charity. In addition
to the supply of bread, oatmeal, coals, &c., about 120,000
quarts of good nutritious and palatable soup have been like-
wise distributed amongst the necessitous poor during the
last winter, with as much care and discretion as possible.
The sum expended during the last year was £995, and there
was a balance due to the treasurer of £32
THE ROBBERY OF WATCH CASES.—On Wednesday, at
the police-court, a young man, named Irvine, shopman to
Mr. WlCenney, Paradise-street, was charged with pur-
chasing 19 pennyweights of gold at a sum considerably under
the real value, the gold being part of the valuable property
stolen from Mr. Lucas, a report of which appeared in the
Standard of the 31st ult.—Constable Ainsworth, jun., stated
that he had taken the prisoner into custody. The prisoner
had shown him a book, in which was entered the price he
paid for the gold. In examining the book, however, he found
a line bad been written at a much later date, stating that a
balance of 17s. was still due to the person who sold it. On
questioning. the prisoner respecting the insertion of this line,
he admitted that he had been told to do so, for the purpose
of giving it the appearance of a fair transaction. A Mr. Cop-
ple purchased the gold from the prisoner afterwards, and on
sending it to Mr. Cobben to be examined, that gentleman
recognised it as being part of the stolen property, and gave
notice of this fact to Mr. Copple, who, for the purpose of
clearing himself from all blame, immediately waited upon the
prisoner, and received a certificate from him, stating the
amount he had paid for it, advising him, at the same time,
that it was part of the property stolen from Mr. Lucas. The
second entry in the book above alluded to, was made subse-
quently to this. Mr. Lucas's nephew swore to the property.
The prisoner said he had purchased the property from a per-
son whose name he did not know, but who had come to his
master's shop on various occasions in the way of trade. Mr.
Rushton sent the prisoner to trial, he having been committed
on a previous occasion.

I one or):

THEATRE-ROY AL, MAN C H ESTER.--MR. CL ARKE'S
FAREWELL BEN LFIT.—As we anticipated, Mr. Clarke's
benefit, on Monday evening, was a bumper house. • The pit
was crammed, and the dress circle was quite full. The up-
per boxes overflowed, to the half filling of the side-slips
above; and the gallery was full. It was one of the most
uniformly filled houses we have seen for some time. The
play was Morton's comedy of "Town and Country," which
was very strongly cast. As soon as the curtain fell, at the
close of the play, Mr. Clarke came forward, and was received
with the most enthusiastic plaudits, with which, in renewed
rounds, the house rang for a considerable time. When these
had at length ceased, Mr. Clarke addressed the house to the
following effect :—" Ladies and Gentlemen,—l am most
grateful to you for the kind and liberal manner in which you
have responded to this my last appeal to your favour. To
the public of Manchester, during the long period in which I
have had the management of this establishment, I am indebted
for a constant manifestation of good feeling towards me, the
recollection of which will always remain impressed upon my
memory. Ladies and gentlemen, much sincerity may be ex-
pressed in a few words ; and the task now devolving upon
me is one which my feelings will not allow me long to dwell
upon. I, therefore, with a fervent hope that the new year
which has just dawned upon you,—with each succeeding one
of your lives,—may be fruitful to you in sources of increased
happiness and prosperity ; and with an earnest wish that you
may enjoy uninterrupted health, that best of all blessings,
most respectfully and gratefully bid you farewell." Mr.
Clarke appeared to be much affected during the delivery of
this brief address ; and he seemed much moved as he retired
rmidst the renewed cheering which closed upon his connec-
tion with the Manchester stage.—Manchester Guardian.

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.—On Tuesday a young woman
was charged before Mr. Rushton, with having committed a
robbery. Mr. Cox, a commercial traveller, was the person
who had been robbed, but he did not appear. A Mr. Mercer
said, he was on the preceding evening, at the house of Mr.
Gradwell, in Whitechapel, when the prisoner came in and
offered him a gold seal and a gold ring, requesting that he
would purchase them. He examined them, and observing
that the seal had initials on it in Old English, he suspected
that she had not got them honestly. He asked how she be-
came possessed of that seal and ring, to which she replied
that she had found them a short time previously in the street.
He told her that she was acting illegally to offer the articles
for sale till she had endeavoured to find the owner. The
goods, he informed her, were not hers, if she had found them,
but the property of the individual who had been so ❑nfortu-
nate as to lose them. Being convinced that she had not come
honestly by the articles, he went in search of a police-officer,
with whom he returned to Mr. Gradwell's house. He met
the prisoner leaving the house, and gave her in charge to the
officer. As soon as she saw the latter, she shook hands with
a man who was speaking to her, and he (Mr. Mercer) had no
doubt, that in doing so, she had slipped the ring and seal into
his hand, as they could not afterwards be found upon her
person. He went with her to Duncan-street Bridewell, where
she was booked for the assault on him. They had scarcely
got the charge entered, however, ere Mr. Cox entered to com-
plain that lie had been robbed, and he at once identified the
prisoner as the person who had stolen his watch seal and key.
Mr. Cox was sent for, but it was discovered he had left Li-
verpool. The prisoner was remanded.
SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS.—The first subscription con-
cert this season took place at the Theatre-Royal on Tuesday
evening, under the able management of Mr. Ashton. The
lower boxes were tolerably well filled with fashionably-dressed
parties : the upper boxes were also fairly attended. While
the gallery was, as far as we could perceive, full, the pit was
almost empty. This we regretted much to see—a circum-
stance arising, no doubt, from the absence of the prima
donna, Madame Caradori Allan, whose illness, as announced
some days ago, prevented her attendance. The manager
made great endeavours to supply her place, but unsuccess-
fully. An engagement, however, was made with Mr. Miller,
of Bath, to eke out the programme. We have no doubt the
disappointment on the part of the management was as great
as that of the public. In this concert throughout the instru-
mental portions completely threw the vocal into the shade ;
and though an encore was obtained for Mr. Miller's ballad
of " Village Bells," and an attempt for a third repetition,
made by some silly, simple folks in the gallery, it was a most
undeserved compliment, for greater rubbish never was palmed
upon the ears of a patient audience. The gem of the evening
was the " Andante and Rondo Busse," from De Beriot's
Grand Concerto in B, minor, by Mr. E. W. Thomas, on
the violin, who deserves the thanks of amateurs for intro-
ducing music of a high class, and playing it in admirable
style. Mr. Thomas is a very accomplished master of the
instrument, and proved himself deserving of the applause
bestowed. He afforded us a very great treat. His tone is
firm, while his execution is brilliant and replete with feeling.
The next feature worthy of notice was the "oboe solo" of
Mons. Barret, in which he introduced several Swiss melodies
with a sweetness, tenderness of expression and skill that
must have given a Switzer an alarming attack of the maladie
du pays. Herr Koenig, on the cornet a piston, made the
" royal property" ring again with his stirring and heart-
thrilling notes. In the second part of the performance he
kept the audience waiting his appearance so long, that their
patience became exhausted, and their feeling was exhibited,
on his entrance, in a manner that must have rather surprised
him. He played very cleverly Schubert's Seranade, "Through
the night's dark shadows," on the alto trombone, accom-
panied by Mr, Miller on the piano-forte. For some cause,
the trombone was laid aside, and the cornet a piston was
assumed : a brilliant air was played upon it with orchestral
accompaniments. The overtures to " Der Freischutz" and
" La Gazza Ladra," were finely played ; the latter was loudly
encored. Miss Whitnall's " Angels whisper," and Mi#s
Bassano's "Di tanti palpitti," were much applauded. Mr.
Crouch has a good bass voice, but not of much power. Mr.
Miller (from Bath) introduced "Native worth," from the
Creation. It went off but flatly. Mr. Miller's voice is
flexible—of good tone and compass. When the next con-
cert takes place we hope no " untoward event" will mar the
complete success of the undertaking.

SCRIPTURAL EDUCATION

FOR TIIE POOR
TRIUMPHANTLY ESTABLISHED

The usual monthly meeting of the Town Council was held
on Wednesday, in the Town-hail, for the despatch of busi-
ness. Nearly all the members of the council were present.
The MAYOR took his seat exactly at eleven o'clock.