The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-10-31 00:00:00

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TUESDAY 31ORNING, OCT 31, 1854

THE PATRIOTIC FUND

IT is a favourite topic among the peace-mongers
that war is destructive of the kindliest feelings,
and suggestive only of the fiercest passions—
malice, hatred, and revenge. This is not only
untrue, but the fact is diametrically the reverse,
as recent events have strikingly proved. So far
from war rousing into activity the worst feelings
of human nature, the progress of it has stimulated
the fullest exercise of Christian virtues, and helped
to show that war operates as a refiner of the
grosser parts of man's disposition—presenting cha-
rity, kindliness, and benevolence, in beautiful con-
trast with the courageous hardihood by which
great victories are won. At the bombardment of
Odessa, the greatest precautions were taken to con-
fine the assault to the military works, and spare
the inhabitants ; the Russians who were taken
prisoners have been treated with a degree of libe-
rality and consideration for their personal comfort,
which have rendered their state of captivity pre-
ferable to that of their former freedom; and even
in the siege of Sebastopol, which is now the turn-
ing, point of the war, as the key to the whole of
the Crimea, Lord RAGLAN offered to let the
women, the children, and the helpless leave the
fort unharmed. There is hardly an anecdote con-
nected with the war which does not tell some tale
of kindly feeling, mingled with daring hardihood ;
and, after forty years' peace, we witness in our
gallant soldiery a return of the days of chivalry,
when gentleness and love were the distinguishing
characteristics of the most gallant knight. These
facts offer the best reply to the craven homilies of
the pretended advocates of peace, who, oblivious of
honour and virtue, would submit to tyranny and
aggression, rather than hazard a limb to vindicate
the cause of truth and justice.
But the redeeming qualities of war are not con-
fined to those who are actually engaged in the
strife of nations. At home there has been an
active emulation as to who should be foremost in

giving aid to those who suffer from the casualties
of war, adding to the comforts of the wounded,
contributing to the necessities of the wives and
children of those engaged, and providing for the
widows and orphans of those who have fallen.
The intelligence that the heights of Alma had not
been gained without a great sacrifice of human
life, led to the immediate issue of a Royal Com-
mission,_ in order that the gifts prompted by bene-
volence, which- Were being offered with sigh pro-
fusiOn by all classes, from the hundreds subscribed
by the princely merchant to the penny contributed
by the poorest, all in the same kindly spirit of
giving succour to the widow and the fatherless,
might be entrusted to responsible almoners, and
administered with judgment and fidelity.

It was enough for the public to know that such
a demand was made on their liberality, to find a
generous and hearty response ; and we dwell upon
the circumstance, because it is gratifying to be
able to refer to such a commendable quality as one
of the most distinguishing characteristics of the
English people. Throughout the country the call
has been acted upon by crowded meetings to give
effect to it ; but in our own town it is entitled to
special notice, because it formed the practical
inauguration of that magnificent structure, S?.
GEORGE'S HALL. It will be remembered that, at
the opening ceremonial, the Worshipful the Mayor,
Joux Bucic LLOYD, Esq., declared in his brief
address, that the Hall would be used for public
meetings convened by the Mayor; and the first
occasion for realising the promise presented itself
on Friday last, when the townsmen of Liverpool
assembled to respond to HER MAJESTY'S Commis-
sion, and raise a contribution to the Patriotic Fund

worthy of their reputation for loyalty and muni-
ficence.

Our pleasing duty is not, however, ended, for
we have to notice an instance of benevolence which
will prove an example for many a large establish-
ment throughout the kingdom. It had been sug-
gested that a fitting devotion to the cause would
be shown by every individual contributing the
income of one day to the common fund; and the
honour of giving practical effect to the suggestion
belongs to one of those great concerns of which
Liverpool has good reason to be proud.

The MERSEY IRON AND STEEL WORKS, which
we have more than once had occasion to notice,
are, it is generally known, carried on by the family
of HORSFALL, which gives a worthy representative
to our Borough. It will be seen by our advertis-
ing coluians, that a general meeting of the estab-
lishment has been held, from the head of the con-
cern down to the humblest employe, and, by una-
nimous resolution, the earnings of a day, amounting
in the aggregate to above £123, have been freely
surrendered, and spontaneously offered as a contri-
bution to the Patriotic Fund. We need not
enlarge upon it ; it tells its own tale. It is an
example worthy of the source whence it emanated,
and we allude to it, not only to give honour where
honour is due, but that the injunction may have
full force, " Go thou and do likewise."