The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-05-24 00:00:00

THE PIANOFORTE.

Amongst the extraordinary improvements of the present
age, we may notice, that in the manufacture of the piano-
forte the greatest strides have been taken. Our attention
has been casually drawn to an article on this subject which
appears in the supplement to the Penny Magazine for this
present mouth. We therefore take from it the following
extracts :

" It has been said, in a recent article of the Westmilater
Review—` With a little allowable flattery of the truth, the
bookcase, in an inventory of the goods belonging to any well-
ordered English house, might be designated as one of its
necessary articles of furniture—not as one of its luxuries :
the place of popularity among the latter being claimed by
the pianoforte.' Whether we rank it as an article of furni-
ture or as a luxury, it is certain that the pianoforte has be-
come diffused in an extraordinary degree in this country.
Those who can carry their recollection back over a period of
thirty or forty years, will remember the pianoforte as an in-
strument for the noble and the wealthy, sparingly seen in
the houses of the middle classes : they will remember the
gradual steps by which it has reached the domestic firesides
of the bulk of the class just alluded to; and they will be
prepared to expect that such an extension in the use must
have brought along with it extensive plans of improvement,
and equally extensive manufacturing arrangements : yet
there are probably few, even of those who are familiar with
the use of the pianoforte, who are aware of the complex me-
chanism of the modern instruments, or of the gigantic scale
on which the manufacture- is conducted."
Speaking of Messrs. Broadwood & Sons, the writer says :
—" This firm, which has existed in the metropolis for more
than a century, is one of those by whom the pianoforte has
been brought to its present state of perfection. Like most
other products of ingenuity, this instrument is indebted to
many minds for its advancement. One improvement we
owe to a Broadwdod, another to an Erard, others to Cle-
=nth Stodart, Tomkison' Collard, &c., and all have pro-
fited by the labours of each."
To form some idea of the extent of the manufactory of
these great makers, the following description of their premi-
ses will prove acceptable :
" In the Horseferry-road are two double 'gates, opening
into courts or quadrangles; and in Holywell-street, 300 feet
southward of it, are two other gates, also opening immediately
on the same quadrangles ; and the whole of the intermediate
space, spreading to a wide extent east and west, is occupied
by the factory. On entering one of the gates we find before
us a long open court, occupied principally by piles and tiers
and logs of wood, and bounded on either side by ranges of
workshops extending three hundred feetin length. Advanc-
ing half-way along the court, we find, on either side, an
archway, leading beneath the buildings to other courts or
open quadrangles, one to the east and one to the west of that
by which we enter : these quadrangles, like the first, are
bounded on both sides by long and uniform ranges of work-
shops. We are then enabled to see the extent and form of
the factory. It consists of four parallel ranges of buildings,
every ranee lighted by windows on both sides, and having in
general three tiers or stories of workshops in height. The
four ranges separated by the three court-yards, and at the
ends are four dwelling-houses inhabited by the superinten-
dents and foremen of the establishment. Each range is wide
enough to have in most parts two workshops in width ; and
as most of the ranges are three stories in height, there is an
aggregate length of workshop truly enormous, in fact it con-
siderably exceeds half-a-mile—an extent to which there are
probably very few parallel instances in the metropolis.
" In these four ranges of buildings three or four hundred
men are engaged in the four component parts of the piano-
fortes, from the first sawing of the rough timber, to the po-
lishing and regulating of the finished instruments. Besides
these there are many others engaged in the smaller branches
of the manufacture, who do not work on the premises.

The wood of which the pianoforte is manufactured is a
subject of no little interest to Liverpool, considering how
great the import of mahogany is into this port. "It is ge-
nerally known that Honduras mahogany is not so highly
valued for cabinet-work as Spanish mahogany ; it is there-
fore in the pianoforte manufacture used for some of the parts
which are afterwards veneered with Spanish mahogany, rose-
wood, or some other kind of fancy wood, But in the pre-
sent case a tree of Honduras mahogany, imported about six-
teen years ago, has far exceeded what Spanish wood could
exhibit. Spanish mahogany is decidedly the most beautiful ;
but occasionally, though not very often, the Honduras wood
is of singular brilliancy ; and it is then eagerly sought for,
to be employed in the most extensive cabinet work. Some
time ago Messrs. Broadwood, who have been long distin-
guished as makers of pianofortes, gave the enormous sum of
three thousand pounds for three logs of mahogany. These
logs, the produce of one tree, were each about fifteen feet
long and thirty-eight inches wide."
It is stated that the strings of an improved grand piano-
forte require nearly one thousand iron pins or pegs, each one
inserted in a hole made with great exactness to its dimen-
sions; but the following statement is still more surprising:—
"We find that in one of Messrs. Broadwood's most im-
proved six-and-a-half octave pianofortes (for which, we
believe, a patent has been taken out) the mechanism con-
nected with the action' consists of about three thousand
eight hundred separate pieces of ivory, ebony, cedar, syca-
more, lime-tree, mahogany, beef-wood, oak, pine, steel,
iron, lead, cloth, felt, leather, and vellum. Every
one of these has to be fashioned with the most scrupulous
exactness, and as scrupulously adjusted to its place. Many
of the pieces are not more than a quarter of an inch square,
some even less." _ _ _

Of the workmen in this large establishmant, and the good
feeling existing amongst them, we may take the following as
an example :
" The pianoforte manufacture is one in which nothing but
highly-skilled and manual dexterity can make and adjust
the numerous pieces of mechanism involved in it ; and those
workmen who possess this skill are 'not likely to be supplan-
ted by any automaticmachinery. Hence it happens that the
same workmen are seen year after year, occupying their old
benches, using their old tools, coming to work and leaving
work at the old hours, and seeming as if the old shop be-
longed to them and they to the shop. We noticed, not only
that many of the workmen in the factory are elderly men
who have occupied their present situations twenty, thirty, or
forty years, but that a kindly feeling prevailed among all,
illustrative of mutual confidence between the employers and
the employed. The patriarch of the establishment is a vene-
rable ci-devant foreman, not far from ninety years of age,
who has seen out two or three generations of workmen, and
whose connection with the establishment dates back through
a period of nearly sixty years. That such a man is respected
by the firm, and deemed almost part and parcel of it, need
hardly be said."

ORANGEISM

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD,

Make thyself the friend of all pious and peaceable men, avoiding
strife, and seeking benevolence, slow to take offence and offering
none, thereby, so far as in thee lieth, turning the injustice of our
adversaries into their own reproof and confusion.

SlR,—The above quotation forms part of a very beautiful
initiatory address, given upon the introduction of a new
member into the Loyal Orange Institution. A writer in the
Journal, of last Saturday, who has (although shortsighted)
adopted the title of " Argus," charges the Orangemen of Li-
verpool with a desire to create turmoil, because a neighbour
has told him that the 12th of July will be kept up by a public
procession. _

- - Now, sir, I observe in reply,—First, I believe that the
Loyal Orange Benevolent Societies will walk on their an-
niversary in honour of one of England's kings; and I hope
" Argus" will not consider it treason so to do.
Secondly,—l do not believe that there is the slightest in-
tention of wounding either the feelings or prejudices of the
Irish Roman Catholics, or to offer the smallest disrespect to
the religion which they in their consciences believe to be
true.

Thirdly,—That no tumult can arise, unless by the most
wanton and determined attempts on the part of the factious
to create a noise ; for, I believe, it is not intended to approach
any of the neighbourhoods in which the Irish Roman Catho-
lics reside, and thus, if a collision should take place, it would
be the seeking of our opponents.
Fourthly,—The banners will be all truly loyal, and unlike
some which are carried on St. Patrick's Day, which bear the
figures of the Irish rebel Sarsfield, with the motto of " Sars-
field the brave," and of an Irish agitator, with the motto,
" Repeal of the union."
Fifthly,—The loyal orangemen are determined that there
shall be no tumult ; for they will leave their cause with the
proper authorities, and will call upon the guardians of the
peace to be ready to repress any violence which may be at-
tempted whilst they enjoy their privileges as British subjects,
in acting peaceably, loyally, and determinedly, in honouring
the memory of a British king and hero. It will be seen,
should circumstances require, that the loyal orangeman is as
patient under taunt and provocation as he is brave, when
called upon by the magistrate or his Queen to put down re-
bellion. •

Lastly,—Let us hear no more of justice to Ireland, or re-
ligious liberty, from the lips or pens of pseudo liberals ; the
sons of Erin walk in our town, enjoying their own principles
and pleasures, and secure in the protection of our rulers, and
justice to England demands that Englishmen should, on their
own soil, enjoy, at least, equal advantages ; and it is most
insulting to hint, for a moment, that any one claims a right
to deprive us of our undoubted rights as Englishmen and
lovers of our Queen and supporters of our constitution.
I trust that our fellow-subjects, among the poor Irish Ro-
man Catholics, will exercise a sound discretion by minding
their avocations, and not minding such writers as " Argus,'
and I can promise them that they will never know that a pro-
cession has taken place, much less imagine that any insult
was intended. Let it be borne in mind, that formerly Irish
Roman Catholic loyalists, and even dignitaries of their
church, walked in honour of the king who freed us from ty-
ranny and gave us the bill of rights ; and so they might again
if bigots, who have more bile than charity, did not knowingly
pervert the truth, and affirm the oft-exploded falsehood, that
we have vows against men, or any animosity except against
bad principles.
We surely may be allowed to honour our own principles,
without being charged with intended insult to others. If
indiscreet and foolish men forget their obligations, and at
times deserve reprehension, we are sorry, and deplore the
circumstance, but such cases are the exception, and not the
rule. What large body of men will not contain exceptions ?
I will not notice the other confused and unfounded statements
of " Argus," as my object is to comment only on that part
which hears upon the procession ; I do not think that orange-
ism can suffer much from the pen of " Argus," when it has
stood the test of two parliamentary inquiries, and came out
of the inquiry refined and more resplendent by passing
through this ordeal.—With the best of good will to " Argus"
and all mankind, I am, sir, yours, &c.,
AN ORANGEMAN & PURPLE MARKSMAN.
Liverpool, 23d May, 1812.

A great fire is announced to have befallen the Austrian
town of Steijer, not far from Lintz, where 400 houses were
consumed and three-fourths of the inhabitants, who were
celebrated for their iron manufactures, were left without
shelter.

A LOCOMOTIVE IN DISTRESS.—A somewhat ludicrous
circumstance occurred on Sunday to a party who had made a
trip with an engine and tender, on the Manchester and Bir-
mingham Railway, from Stockport as far as Crewe. They
started early in the morning taking dinner at Crewe; and
having enjoyed the creature comforts of the world, they pre-
pared to return in the evening. They came at a convenient
speed to Sandbach ; but at Holmes Chapel, Billy became
somewhat uneasy ; at Chelford he began to lag ; at Alderley
be grunted ; and near Wilmslow he groaned and made a dead
halt ! Not a peg would he stir—stupid as a mule. The party,
in their extremity held a " council ;" an investigation into
Billy's grievances and complaints was duly entered into ; and
lo ! and behold ! it was discovered that all the water was
consumed, and that the vital principle of locomotive " rail "
was extinct. To get up steam without water was a problem
too diffieult for even a modern reformer to solve—and they
consider themselves no bird's meat. Here then was a regular
fix," as Jonathan would affirm. They could get no water
in that particular vicinity ; and being far from help of this
essential supply, they might as well have up to the neck in
the deserts of Arabia. Well, what must be done—they could
not release themselves ; and, therefore, like a stranded ship,
they awaited the possible arrival of another engine. Such
was their wise resolve ; and towards midnight an engine and
, 137 i lgrihstt lri
on go
foul,
ol lotl
at
twhaey
saatmt
eh et
itroo
tender were dispatched hence in the utmost alarm in quest
oo
ff
thetlr e
steam,distressed
lest Ct eeween-gs
ieor
es
expecting the usual response from the object of their anxiety
and solicitude ; but it was as vain to expect a whistle with-
out steam as to produce steam without water. They were,
however, luckily relieved from their dilemma somewhere
near Wilmslow without any accident ; and having been at-
tached to the other engine, were towed into harbour at the
Stockport station, the vessel being all right, and the creice
bpi high spirits at their safe return.—Stockport Advertiser.

ELEVENTH LECTURE OM THE CREED OF

POPE PIUS.

The eleventh in the series of lectures on the several arti-
cles in the creed of Pope Pius the Fourth, was delivered by
the Rev. Mortimer O'Sullivan, D.D., on the evening of
Friday last, in the Music-hall, Bold-street. There was a
most respectable auditory present.
On the motion of Mr. HOWARD, seconded by Mr. SHEP-
HERD, the chair was taken by Mr. MIDDLETON ; after
which, the Rev. F. PARRY supplicated a blessing upon the
proceedings.

The Rev. Dr. O'SurzivAN, who was received with great
cheering, commenced by reading the clause upon which he
was about to lecture, namely :
" I likewise undoubtedly receive and profess all other
things delivered, defined, and declared by the sacred canons
and general councils, and particularly by the holy council of
Trent; and I condemn, reject, and anathematise all things
contrary thereto, and all heresies which the church has con-
demned, rejected, and anathematised."
From the various objections which might be urged against
this clause, he should content himself with selecting four.
The first was, that the promise was too vague and extensive,
and that it imposed obligations to an extent of which he who
made it must be altogether unconscious ; the second objec-
tion was, that it enforces contradictory obligations, contain-
ing a promise to receive, as truth, propositions of which the
acceptance of one would necessarily imply the rejection of
the other ; in the third place, it contained a promise to re-
ceive as holy and true, and as essential to Christian faith,
doctrines and principles which he who swears to the Church
of Rome to receive them, has, in many instances, sworn to
the state in which he is a subject to reject as anti-Christian
and abominable; and the fourth objection was, that the
article is in itself a direct violation of the principles which
it enjoins to receive, pronounces an anathema upon all whom
every council has anathematised, and, in the very act of so
expressing its adherence to councils, committing the offence
upon which an anathema has been, by anticipation, de-
nounced. He should proceed to consider these objections,
and the validity of the replies which Romanists made to
them.

The Ist objection arose from the extent of the obligation—
" I promise that I will receive, without any doubt, all things
defined, delivered, and declared in the sacred canons and
general councils." Now this was a very extensive under-
taking, an undertaking of which the comprehensiveness
could be understood only by those who understood what
was the extent of that mass of doctrine, discipline, and wor-
ship, which they have pledged themselves thus without mo-
dification to receive and revere. To what extent did the
works containing the sacred canons extend? He thought
he might very confidently assert that there were not within
the Church of Rome in this country ten men who had made
themselves acquainted with it ; and he remembered distinctly
that Dr. Doyle, a Roman Catholic bishop, without the least
hesitation, affirmed to committees of the parliament, that
there were but few canonists in this country. The code of
canon law (many of which he enumerated) comprehended a
vast body of divinity, if divinity it could be called, which in
some editions extended to a hundred folio volumes. It was
perfectly enormous ; and it must be remembered that he
who promised to receive them, did not merely pledge his pro-
mise as a professional person in this country would pledge
himself to respect our laws. He would pledge himself to
respect the laws because they were the laws, not binding
himself to an asseveration that those laws were necessary
and important to the church, but simply binding himself to
receive as law whatever is enacted under that denomination.
But here there was a promise—a promise implying that not
only were these documents received without any qualification,
but they are received as essential to salvation. The rev.

--------. - - .
gentleman proceeded to point out the manifold distinctions
which are made in the councils by the Italian and French

schools of Romanism, some being acjcepteciii7;;;;;drejeit:
ed by the other, by which the infallible religion was involved in
the most palpable contradictions. This difficulty, however,

was got over by the Pope of Rome propounding his claim
to be received as the interpreter of the councils. In the
next place, Dr. O'Sullivan enlarged upon the third objection
to this article, namely, because it contained a promise to re-
ceive, without any doubt, and as of necessity to salvation,
principles which many of those who swore to Romanism to

reeeive them swore to the state to reject, and to " reject,
detest, and abominate as anti-Christian." In the same style
of commanding eloquence he urged the fourth objection,
namely, that in this clause the men who make this promise
provoke upon themselves the anathema which they express

.
themselves willing to fulminate against others. We regret
that our space is too limited to report the arguments of Dr.
O'Sullivan at a length proportionate to their force and truth.
Having gone through these objections he noticed the an-

swers given to them by Romanists, and concluded nearly as

followi:

I have now gone through the arguments, briefly, by which
Romanists would reply to such objections as I have urged;
but there is one consideration without which I should leave
my subject imperfect—l mean more imperfect than I am
willing, upon this occasion, to leave it. If you were to con-
sider the promise respecting canons and councils which I
have repeated, in itself alone, you would not understand its
efficacy and its influence. You must compare it with the
promise which is made respecting Scripture and the promise
which is made respecting tradition, in order to understand
the full amount of injury contained in this engagement which
Romanists take to receive without a doubt what has been de-
livered in sacred canons and general councils. What engage-
ment does Romanism require of her victims respecting tradi-
tion? It is that they will embrace steadfastly what is called
" apostolical and ecclesiastical traditions." What promises
respecting God's Holy Scripture ? " I admit also the sacred
Scriptures in that sense in which the church delivers it, shows
itself the judge of Scripture, and I will never take or interpret
it unless according to the unanimous consent of the fathers."
The man takes to his heart traditions—"l embrace steadfastly
apostolic and ecclesiastic traditions ;" but what of Scripture ?
" I admit it." (Hear, hear. hear.) I admit it! But how
admit it? (Hear.) Is it admitted in its own inherent ex-
cellence, admitted for its own prevailing claims upon all men's
accptance ? No ; but because that in so far as the church
condescends to interpret it, thy receive it from that interpre-
ter, and,that is their admission of Scripture 1 (Hear.) And
what is the further engagement ? " I will not take and in-
terpret it unless I can do so according to the unanimous con-
sent of the fathers," that is to say, " I embrace steadfastly
ecclesiastical tradition; 1 reject without qualification all
Scripture to which the unanimous voice of the fathers has
not borne a- new and a human testimony; and while I thus
put aside Scripture with a species of contemptuous toleration,
I propose to receive without any doubt, whatever has been
delivered, declared, and defined, in sacred canons and general
councils." (Cheers.) Now, if a Roman Catholic would
my dear friends, to ask him a question,
permit any of you,
will you ask him whether he would, in his conscience and his
heart, object to see these two clauses change places—to see
the Scriptures spoken of in the language in which 'councils
and tradition is honoured, and to see the authority alone which
Romanists ascribe to the Scriptures given to
,their canons
and councils? In other words, to say this--" I receive,
without any doubt, all things declared in God's Holy Scrip-
tures, and I will consent to receive tradition or canons or
councils provided they contain nothing which is not in perfect
conformity with God's Holy Scriptures." (Loud cheers.)
This would be Catholic doctrine : the doctrine of Pius IV.
is Romish doctrine. (Renewed cheers.) And brethren, I
spoke of putting the question to Romanists : does not such
an examination as that, through which we have been steering,
teach us that we should be very gentle in our judgment, and
very earnest in our prayer, for the conversion of a people la-
bouring under such difficulties as they? Can any reasonable
man feel surprised that a Roman Catholic priest, whose con-
, science and judgment have been warped into an acquiescence
I in the dogmas of his church, shall offer stedfast opposition to
the Bible ? Remember what it is he has promised to receive,
what it is he is compelled to promise he will reject. Oh, if
a man has once been brought so low in heart and mind, as
to think that, although God is the author of all Scripture,
Scripture contains snares by which God can bring man to
destruction,—that although God is the author of all Scrip-
ture, there are parts of Scripture which it would bring the
curse of everlasting ruin for a man to contemplate. If a man's
mind and heart are brought into such a state as that, while they
believe God to have raised up a true church, and to have com-
missioned a faithful ministry, and to have given a holy word,
who could, at the same time, believe that this church and
this ministry, may exclude God's word, or interdict it to the
people, and set up as a sufficient standard, as a necessary
substitute, a word which they have framed themselves ? if
men'smindsand hearts have been brought to an acquiescence
to dogmas such as these, then, how can we be surprised to
find that their acts are consistent with these mournful pro-
positions, or how can we feel anything but a sort of mingled
wonder and veneration and thankfulness, to feel and to know
that the Scriptures, thus interdicted, have yet been preserved,
that they are with us still, that the creed against which
Romanism has so despitefully raged, still remains and re-
tains its authority among us ? (Cheers.) There are men
Whose delight it is, in their indifference to the truth, and in
their professed love of peace, to discourage all exertions to
make the truth known. (Hear.) They say that the word
from above is peaceable; they should remember that the first
attribute of it is, that it is pure. (Hear.) There are men who
tell you that efforts to disseminate truth have little result;
but are productive of ill feeling and contention, and dis-
honourable and unchristian discord. Far be it from any of
us to say that even the truth itself may not sometimes be
advocated in a spirit which generates strife ; but if the truth
sets free from acrimonious passions those who teach it, the
heart that is struck out in the controversy in its promulga-
tion, the objections to it and those who maintain the vindi-
cation of it, will not be productive of evil. (Hear.) They
tell us that there is evil ; let it be for those who delight to
shew what is evil in God's dealing, and obnoxious to God's
love, labour in the vocation to which they assign themselves.
Let them desport themselveslin discanting upon the strifes and
schisms which have disfigured and rent the church of Christ ;
let them delight themselves, if they please, in saying that
when persecution wearied of its rage against God's church,
left the church to repose, there were internal convulsions
which would not permit it to enjoy it—that strifes and
envyings, jealousies, schism, and heresies rose against it,
and inflicted evil upon it from within more than from without.
Let them say so, hut let them not deprive us of the privilege
of meeting, and from ea ul ting with joy in feeling that although
Pius may have taken their churchfromood'ti ehurch.truthwass
never taken from it. (Cheers.) Let us rejoice, that although
it did not enjoy its repose, it was compelled and coerced to
retain the truth. " When they persecute you in one city,
flee ye into another," was a precept which the apostles
illustrated in their lives and conduct ; and it is precisely the
same precept which has been illustrated in the history of the
church. In one place there may have been persecutions,
corruptions, and tyranny so fierce and fell that they silenced
the voice of those who could speak the truth ; but in
another place,—it may be at the same moment,—the
church in the wilderness, in the uninhabited parts, was
speaking the saving truth. (Cheers.) The corrupt principle
of the church might be introduced in the place which
God's church occupied; it might sit in the seat of Peter; it
might parade its corruptions in the assemblies of crowded
resort ; it might have asserteda
u decrees of power and autho-
rity not given to it ; but, at e same time, it never had the
power either to kill or to conquer truth. It could subdue
the truth ; it could reduce it into abject places, into an ob-
scure state, but it could not retain its seat of power without
having the truth besides it. It was with it, sir, sometimes
as the slave sat with the Roman general in his car of triumph,
reminding him that his triumph was transitory. Like the
two witnesses in the Revelations, I am not interpreting, I
am only reverentially borrowing an image ; like the two wit-
nesses of the Revelations,. there were witnesses throughout
the whole fold of the Christian_church ; these were the wit-
nesses of God's truth which he sent down from heaven ;
these were witnesses by which earth lent its acknowledgment
to God's word, the creed, the creed, that venerable tradition,
the ancient creed. These witnesses. testified, it may fairly be
said, against the d clip yhecbnrucTe ehwt tseilasbeni
heresybdb
li
ebt
lheteh delinquencythen
—dtith semechigri
eshemt
dobifewn the
e
whole visible church.
contests in it,
in it too. (,Loud cheers.
strifesi-
lent
h iene ;)
but the was. by none adulterated. The
creed was certainly a creed which uttered its voice amid many
corruptions of a false religion ; but the voice which it uttered
was true. (Hear.) Although there were idols in the tem.
pies wherein it was sppk.en, although there were corruptions
in the services Li which it was read, although there were
falsehoods in the hearts oft en pf those who spoke it, there
was truth in the utterance of the creed. (Cheers.) It was
a creed which inspired in men's hearts a love of truth, a
underfi recir in
cutrmiusmtapnhce;sao nfdig afternom minaynaynda
knowledge of saving truth, and which sustained many a heart
throughout the martyr's
century of struggling'
shame, can we feel other than a most deep and thank-
ful sense to God,
that he
_has. it may be said, already
given this creed the victory? Where is the spot ?—but do
not suppose I speak of the creed because it is the composition
i
truth of God's blessed word
' of maa—no, but because is a bright enumeration of that
great truth which is the central.
—this has the victory--"is there a spot, I ask, now upon
the civilised earth, in which the British tongue is not heard ?

and is there not more than an ordinary consolation in feel
ing that in every spot where England has set her foot, it is
there the pure and good water of life will gush forth, and it
is her desire to be foremost in erecting pillars of testimony !
And not alone where the British tongue is spoken, and pure
religion established, as in these realms, is it acknowledged;
but even where papal despotism is heaviest, and where spi-
ritual destitution is dreariest. Under all disadvantages, the
witnesses, the ancient venerable tradition, the creed, and
the book of God's word, are still known, remembered, and
dreaded. Popery has waged a long war with them, but she
has been condemned to feel that she could not sustain it.
She has endeavoured to entomb them in a living grave; she
has endeavoured to put aside the Bible, and put in its place
a body of the subtle and unchristian glosses and commenta-
ries of unsanetified men (hear); she has endeavoured to cast

upon the creed, the ancient witness, that mighty mass, that
huge and fluctuating mass of canons and councils; but al-
though she has erected a grave, or a tomb, as it were, upon
them (the Bible and the creed)—memorials and mementoes

of her own canons and councils, this creed, this formulary
of Pius the Fourth—even beneath this haughty structure,
there is mysterious life, and sometimes it is felt to move.
Yes; beneath, entombed and under the mass, the hideous
mass, superimposed upon them, the witnesses of God's truth
live still, and sometimes they are felt to live • and whenever
they move the mysterious mass around, all iomanism trem-
bles—trembles lest the buried witnesses shall 'come forth,
and, as they ascend from the tomb, the light go up with
them which her enchantments can no longer bind—a light
which shall shew forth the workings of iniquity in their
darkest recesses—a light which shall spread its sound, spi-
ritual, well-sustained effulgence round, until the temple in
which Romanism reigns shall shrink into its natural dimen-
sions, and expose to light the foul charnel-house,—until
the idols in which multitudes had trusted shall fall prostrate
before the cross,—and until those attractions which hal
brought into Romanism hearts unsustained by the faith,
shall be reft of the illusions that gave them power, and shall
be revealed by the light, as they are pronounced in the words
of Scripture, " dead men's bones, and all manner of un-
cleanness." (Loud cheers, during which the eloquent and
rev. gentleman resumed his seat.)
On the motion of the Rev. F. PARRY, seconded by the
Rev. W. PALLOON, the thanks of the meeting were voted
to Dr. O'Sullivan for his magnificent lecture.

A doxology was then sung, and the meeting separated

The closing lecture on the—Creed of Pius IV., by the Rev,
Hugh 111`Neile, was announced for Friday evening, June 10.

MR. NOTTINGHAM'S SECOND LECTURE ON

MESMERISM

On Friday evening, Mr. Nottingham, surgeon, of this
town, who, it will be remembered, during the stay of M.
Lafontaine in Liverpool, devoted considerable time to the task
of investigating and watching his experiments, delivered his
second lecture upon the subject of animal magnetism, at the
Literary Institution, St. Anne-street, before a highly respect-
able although not very numerous auditory. Having briefly
introduced the subject,
The LECTURER proceeded to insist on the necessity of
studying the phenomena of magnetic somnambulism, or cata-
leysy, in connection with diseases, such as hysteria, epilepsy,
and catalepsy, occurring spontaneously,—the analogy being
shown to be more remarkable than we should at first have
anticipated.

The greater number of the more surprising features of the
magnetised state were said to remember closely the symptoms
of the diseases we have just named, affording fancied illustra-
trations of the power of art, in producing conditions of the
economy, closely allied to such as occur spontaneously, or are
the result of such accidents and causes as account for the or-
dinary appearances of disease; for not only the magnetic
sleep but also the complaints alluded to, and compared with
it, were shown to be frequently produced by nrntal emotion ;
the unnatural workings of a disturbed imagination being em-
ployed as the key which often seemed to unlock the great
difficulties of the subject, and to remove the veil from the
sanctum sanctorum of its wonders.
The lecturer noticed some curious facts observed by Messrs.
Ferrus and Rostan, and reported by the latter, whose veracity
could not be doubted respecting the condition of clairvoyance,
which appear at first sight to present insurmountable obstacles
to the progress of physiological inquiry.
On one occasion a gentleman took three young girls to the
house of Mr. Roston ; they were in a state of somnambulism
at the time, and knew nothing of the residence of M. Rostan
before, noChaving been informed respecting the place to which
they were about to be taken. When in M. Rostan's room
the question was put—Do you know where you are ? They
all answered—What a question ! we are at M. Rostan's ; and
next described the darkened chamber in which they were at
the time.

in this instance, if there weT
not detected. The following nol

points of view analagous, deServes perhaps to be placed side
by side with it.

In the year 1838 a member of the Institute of France
offered a prize of 3000 francs to any one who should produce
a case of somnambulism, in which the patient might be
able to see, to describe objects, and to read without the use
of the eyes. _ _ _

Pigeaire, or Pignaine, of Montpelier, accepted the
challenge in favour of his daughter, 13 years of age, and tra-
velled to Paris for the purpose of the exhibition..
A number of scientific men were appointed to superintend
the performance ; the young lady's eyes were tightly ban-
daged, and a book placed before her, on the page of which
she read with correctness and apparent facility, following the
lines, however, with the point of the index finger of the right
hand.
To do away with any suspicion of the reading being done
by the employment of the sense of touch, a pane of glass was
put over the page of the book, and the girl read as before.
To make the experiment more conclusive by adding to the
difficulties, a sheet of paper was now laid over the glass,
which, to the surprise of the by-standers, immediately put a
stop to the reading.
At the next experiment a gentleman present proposed to
M. Pignaire that he should be allowed to bandage the eyes
with a handkerchief which he had brought for the purpose ;
but the proposal was not acceded to. The bandage employed
by Mademoiselle Pignaire was now carefully examined by a
member of the commission of inquiry, and it was found to
contain innumerable small and not easily perceptible aper-
tures made with a needle, or some such instrument ; and the
gentleman who examined it having tied it before his own eyes,
found that through it he could distinguish the different kinds
of playing cards which were thrown on the table before him.
Here, then, the nature of the deception was tolerably obvi-

ous, and despite the great number of cases of somnambulism
with all the wonderful performances which bad been previ-
ously observed in connection with it—France could not sup-
ply, in the year 1838, a single case of seeing without eyes,
although tempted by the glittering and attractive bait of 3000
francs.

M. Rostan has reported some very interesting cases of
" clairvoyance," where magnetised patients described some
of the internal parts of their own body : one in particular,
where the position, size, and form of the heart were the sub-
ject of description ; the patient also telling the number of
blood-vessels connected with the central organ of the circu-
lation—naming the colour of the fluid which they contained,
and the rate of circulation—as quicker or slower—in different
neighbouring tubes. While M. Calmeil, a recent writer on
this subject, and long on the alert for such phenomena, has
never seen any case where anatomical descriptions given by
such people were couched in better language, or distinguished
by greater accuracy, than would have accompanied an attempt
in their normal condition and waking hours.
In all the instances observed by M. Calmeil where the
heart, liver, or any other internal organ was described by a
magnetic somnambulist, the approach to correctness was in-
variably such as could be at once associated with that degree
of anatomical knowledge (frequently not amounting to an
acquaintance with the commonest outline of things) which
the patient, as well as others in the same social position,
might be easily supposed to possess.
When the magnetize/described remedies, or suggested their
employment, a like degree of intelligence and a correspond
ing accuracy prevailed; if an ignorant person were converted
into a sleepinc, seer, the ptisans, teas, and syrups came recom-
mended by the oracle—not in any new or classic dress, but
with such names as they bear amongst the most experienced
female practitioners, or on the pages of the village Pharma-
cophtea ; in short, the new, or the fancied new, intelligence
on such occasions never went beyond the accuracy or the
science of those written medical documents which are pre-
served by the midwives of every hamlet, and now and then,
by accident, rescued from oblivion by some one raising the
broken lid of a disused teapot in the chimney corner, or
turningupside down the precious things which an antiquated
cupboard contains.
M. Rostan details one case where his patient told him—
and this at several different times without any mistake—
whether he (the doctor) had his stomach full or empty. M.
R. does not inform us respecting the possibility of the som-
nambulist knowing his dinner hour ; or attending to the
state of his circulation, or the temperature of his hand while
he was engaged (as might happen) in feeling the pulse. No
doubt he would guard against any possible source of fallacy
of this kind, and would not allow the fair sybil to discover
his condition of plenitude by his breathing the vapours of
wine.

Truth, indeed, is strange!—stranger than fiction! Even
if we were to believe in the existence of the magnetic fluid,
which Mesmer said he demonstrated,—to suppose it capable
of the movements he described, and fancy it yielding to the
influence of his will, we should not have in all this a phe-
nomenon half as surprising as many of those which, from
their every day occurrence, and from the manner in which
they constantly minister to our enjoyments, are lost sight of
because always present, and not appreciated until we are
deprived of them. For who will compare the flight of
Mesmer's fluid with that of the invisible source of visibility
—with the light which outstrips the lightning? or allow its
asserted wonders in any way to equal the returning emana-
tions of the sun ? Yet all this has been done!
There would not be anything wonderful in all the practices
of Mesmer, supposing every fact to be real, every influence
he assumed to be really possessed, if compared with the power
of the human eye, or the endowments of its central aperture
known to every one. For that, on one hand, we should take
in the aspect of the distant celestial orbs, measure their
mighty mass, or estimate their periodic revolutions—while,
on the other, with the aid of the microscope, we aspire to cal-
culate the myriad of animalcules which a single drop of water
contains—and that not only all this, but even the wide pic-
ture of nature, and the faithful representation of all created
things, should, in travelling to the mind, have to find their
way through an organic aperture, the pupil of the eye, (at
mid-day scarcely larger than the head of a pin,) and that, be-
yond this, they should drop on a living canvas, of barely an
i inch n. diameter, which receives with equal ease, and trans-
mits with equal truth, the fascinating tints of a Titian, or the
startling gloom of a Rembrandt—is certainly to be looked
upon with more surprise, as a well-known work of God, than
are any of those productions of the hypertrophy of fancy
which are now-a-days so common amongst men.
The lecturer concluded by remarking, that any investiga-
tion which, directly or indirectly, might tend to throw light
on the hitherto half studied functions of the nervous system,
ought to be regarded as valuable and praiseworthy, and that
no inquiry or experiment connected with this subject, how-
ever fallacious it might at first sight appear, should be con-
demned as unfair, or slighted as contemptible, until it could
be associated with that dishonest intention which, in some
instances, has been mistaken for philosophical zeal. Indeed,
it deserves to be remembered, that the bold empiricism of
Panacelsus, and the reveries of Van Helmont and the alchy-
mists, did their share in paving the way to that devhlopement
of modern chemistry, which has adorned the civilized world
with its productions, and astonished man with his own power.
At the conclusion of the lecture, which was received
throughout with the marked applause of the audience, a vote
of thanks to Mr. Nottingham for his kind explanations of
this mysterious subject, was passed by acclamation.

A young man, respectably attired, shot his brains out on
Saturday morning, on Croydon Common. On the blank
leaf of a book found in his pocket was written, " Because of
not knowing how to make better use of my brain, I have
come here to shatter it."

RIGHT OF PROPERTY IN WIND.--Water-mills were at one
time, particularly on the continent, included among the re-
galia or rights of the crown; and, on the introduction of wind-
mills. this assumed right was extended over air as well as
water. A whimsical instance of the attempted exercise of
this privilege is on record. It seems that the Augustine
monks belonging to the monastery at Weindsheim, in the
province of Overyssel, were desirous of erecting a wind-mill
in the neighbourhood ; but the lord of the soil opposed their
project, on the extraordinary presumption that the wind in
that district belonged to him. Upon this the monks applied
to the Bishop of Utrecht, who decided, in a towering passion,
that no one had power over the wind in his diocese but him-,
self ; and thereupon he immediately granted letters-patent
to the good monks,—Guide to Tracy.

THIRD EDITION.

Standard-office, Three o'clock

•••-•-,..-...,•3,......---_.

ELECTION OF SURGEON TO THE LADIES' CHARITY.--A
meeting of the subscribers to this valuable charity was held
this day, at one o'clock, for the purpose of electing an accou
cheur for the institution, in the room of Mr. W. H. Bain
brigge, who was lately appointed one of the surgeons to the
Northern Hospital. There were only two candidates, Mr.
H. Canty and Mr. H. S. Taylor ; and on casting un the

votes the former gentleman was declared the successful can-

diate by a m

Mr. Taylor 134 v

votes, M

having 189, and

LIVERPOOL CORN EXCHANGE, Tats DAY

(From

Messrs. R. MAKIN

'ONS' Circular.)

Although somewhat increased sine,

Friday, the supplies