281 Historical Observations respecting Liverpool. No man that has past the middle point of life, can sit down to feast upon the pleasures of youth, without finding the banquet imbittered by the cup of sorrow. Many days of harmless frolic, and many nights of honest festivity, will recur; he may revive the memory of many lucky accidents, or pleasing extravagancies; or, if he has engaged in scenes of action, and been acquainted with affairs of difficulty, and vicissitudes of fortune, may enjoy the nobler pleasure of looking back upon distress firmly supported, upon danger resolutely encountered, and upon oppression artfully defeated. Æneas very properly comforts his companions, when, after the horrors of a storm, they have landed on an unknown and desolate country, with the hope that their miseries will, at some distant period, be recounted with delight. There are, perhaps few higher gratifications than that of reflection on evils surmounted, when they are not incurred by our own fault, and neither reproach us with cowardice nor guilt. But this kind of felicity is always abated by the reflection, that they with whom we should be most pleased to share it, are now in the grave. A few years make such havoc amongst the human race, that we soon see ourselves deprived of those with whom we entered the world. The man of enterprise, when he has recounted his adventures, is forced at the close of the narration to pay a sigh to the memory of those who contributed to his success: and he that has spent his life among the gayer part of mankind has quickly his remembrance stored with the remarks and repartees of wits, whose sprightliness and merriment are now lost in perpetual silence. The trader, whose industry has supplied the want of inheritance, when he sits down to enjoy his fortune, repines in solitary plenty, and laments the absence of those companions with whom he had planned out amusements for his latter years: and the scholar, whose merits, after a long series of efforts, raise him from obscurity, looks round in vain from his exalted state, for his old friends, to be witnesses of his long-sought-for affluence, and to partake of his bounty. Such is the imperfection of all human happiness; and every period of life is obliged to borrow its enjoyments from the time to come. In youth we No. 25.-VOL. III. 282 have nothing past to entertain us; and in age we derive nothing from the retrospect but fruitless sorrow. The loss of our friends and companions impresses hourly upon us the necessity of our own departure; we find that all our schemes are quickly at an end, and that we must lie down in the grave with the forgotten multitudes of former ages, and yield our places to others, who, like us, shall be driven awhile by hope or fear about the surface of the earth, and then, like us, be lost in the shades of death. Beyond this termination of our corporeal existence, we are therefore obliged to extend our hopes; and every man indulges his imagination with something which is not to happen till he has lost the power of perceiving it. Some amuse themselves with entails and settlements, provide for the increase and perpetuation of families and honours, and contrive to obviate the dissipation of fortunes, which it has been the whole business of their lives to accumulate. Others, more refined and exalted, congratulate their own hearts upon the future extent of their reputation, the lasting fame of their performances, the reverence of distant nations, and the gratitude of unprejudiced posterity. It is not, therefore, from this world, that any ray of comfort can proceed to cheer the gloom of the last hour. But futurity has still its prospects; there is yet happiness in reserve, sufficient to support us under every affliction. Hope is the chief blessing of many, and that hope only is rational, which we are certain cannot deceive. OBSERVATIONS HISTORICAL AND DE- (Continued from col. 153.) 283 Historical Observations respecting Liverpool. 284 tion, but in the same style of architec- | feet, and 178 from east to west. The ture. Subsequently to the period of its erection, it underwent several alterations, and received various additions; but in the year 1795 the interior was destroyed by fire. This led to numerous improvements, which, in the aggregate, were effected at an expense of about £110,000. The plan of the interior, since it has been rebuilt, is more extensive than the former was. The basement contains a spacious kitchen, with suitable offices. The ground story has a committee room, rooms for the magistrates and juries, general sessions room, rotation office, town-clerk's, treasurer's, and surveyor's offices. The principal story contains a suite of rooms communicating with each other: a saloon 30 feet by 26, west drawing room 33 by 26, east drawing room 32 by 26, a ball room 90 by 42, a second ball room 66 by 29, and an eating room 50 by 30. These rooms are highly finished, and elegantly adorned. A grand dome surmounts this magnificent pile, on which a colossal figure of Britannia appears in a sitting posture. From a circular gallery which ranges a few yards below, the town may be surveyed in an advantageous manner; and as the building stands on an elevated spot, many interesting objects at a considerable distance, may be distinctly observed. The entire height, from the pavement to the centre of the dome, is 104 feet; and when seen on the inside, from the floor of the staircase, it presents one of the richest views that modern architecture can afford. The new Exchange appears, from the effect which a general survey produces, to have an immediate connection with the Town Hall, and no doubt they mutually augment the grandeur of each other. This vast work was undertaken by the inhabitants, to facilitate their commercial transactions. The money was raised by a subscription of 800 shares, at £100 each; but the accomplishment of the task vastly exceeded the original calculation. This masterly undertaking was begun in 1808, and finished in about three years and half, by Messrs. Hetherington and Grinrod, from the designs of John Foster, Esq. The area which is enclosed by the four fronts, one of which is formed by the northern elevation of the Town Hall, measures from north to south 197 whole space contains 35,066 square feet. It is more than twice the dimensions of the London Exchange, and is, without exception, the largest and most commodious building of this description that England can furnish. Of this magnificent fabric, the decorations are superb, and never fail to excite the admiration of every beholder. From the ground to the summit, the whole height is 60 feet; and its extent coincides with that of the area which the fronts enclose. The three fronts have each a fine piazza, fifteen feet wide, extending the whole length of the building, under which the merchants are sheltered from the inclemencies of winter, and the intense heat of a summer's sun. In the eastern wing of this building, is a news and coffee room, 94 feet by 52; and immediately over it, another spacious room, 72 feet by 36, which is occupied by the underwriters. The front and west wings contain many elegant and commodious countinghouses, behind which are several spacious warehouses. Of the Corinthian and Doric orders of architecture, this splendid pile contains many beautiful specimens; but combining together its plan, dimensions, and execution, it may be ranked among the finest specimens of Grecian architecture that was ever erected in this kingdom. The Custom House is an ancient fabric, which, although commodious as to its situation and demensions, is by no means adequate to the expectations of strangers who visit Liverpool, and view it as a large commercial town. This building is situated near the Old Dock, and, no doubt, when it was erected, was sufficiently large for every purpose of commerce. A few years since, it was considerably enlarged and improved; but with every acquisition it is unworthy of the rank it sustains among the public edifices of Liverpool. Should the design of filling up the Old Dock be carried into execution, and a new Custom House be erected on part of the site, there can be no doubt that its dimensions and elegance will add to the splendour of the town. The Excise Office, the Dock Office, and the Post Office, though in some respects falling under the character of public buildings, have nothing to entitle them to any particular description. The new Tobacco Warehouse stands 285 Historical Observations respecting Liverpool. on the west side of the King's Dock, and extends the whole length of the quay. This extensive range is built of brick; it is without ornament, but is exceedingly strong, the walls being eighteen inches thick. Its dimensions are 575 feet by 239. The entrance to the quay on which it stands is guarded by a gate at each end, and between its outer wall and the river is a pleasant walk. In this warehouse all the tobacco imported, is examined, and lodged until the duties claimed by government are paid. Prior to its erection, the old Tobacco Warehouse, which faces the northern end of the King's Dock, was appropriated to this purpose. It was erected by the corporation, and rented by government; but since the building of the new one, it has been applied to private purposes. Although Liverpool may be considered as the second corn market in England, it had no Corn Exchange until 1807, when the present was raised by subscription, in shares of £100. each, amounting to £10,000. It is situated in Brunswick-street, and is a handsome structure of plain Grecian architecture. Liverpool has two public libraries, the Athenæum and the Lyceum. The former took its name from the ancient Athenæa, where the professors of the liberal arts held their assemblies, the rhetoricians declaimed, and the poets rehearsed their performances, and which, built in the form of amphitheatres, were numerous in Athens: and the latter, from the Lyceum at Athens, in which Aristotle explained his philosophy. The Athenæum, situated in Churchstreet, is a neat stone building, consisting of a news-room and library. It was erected at an expense of £4000, and was opened in 1799. The proprietors are 500 in number, each of whom pays two guineas and a half annually. The news-room, which occupies the ground floor, is handsome and commodious, including 2000 square feet, and is well supplied with all the London, and most of the provincial papers, magazines, reviews, maps, &c. The library, which is over it, is more lofty, but has a narrower base. It contains upwards of 10,000 volumes, among which are many works that are both scarce and valuable. No one is permitted to take any book from the library; but the room is fitted up for 286 the accommodation of the subscribers, who may both read and take extracts, from any publication. Adjoining the library is the committee room and correspondent apartments. Of this extensive and valuable selection of books, a new catalogue has recently been published by Mr. Burrell, the principal librarian. In the classification of the books, he has displayed much judgment, application, and erudition; and his arrangements will stand as a directory to others who may be engaged in similar undertakings, and as a memorial of his talents and perseverance. The Lyceum is a handsome structure, and occupies a pleasant situation at the bottom of Bold-street. It was erected by public subscription, at an expense of upwards of £11,000. The proprietors are 800 in number, whose annual subscription is one guinea each. The news-room is 86 feet long and 48 wide, having a coved ceiling 31 feet from the floor. This also is well furnished with London, provincial, and foreign newspapers, and with a variety of magazines, reviews, maps, &c. The library, which is a circular room 135 feet in circumference, contains upwards of 21,000 volumes. The proprietors, among whom the books circulate, are nearly 900 in number; each of whom subscribes fifteen shillings per annum. The Union News-Room, is so called from its having been instituted on the first of January 1800, the day on which the union between England and Ireland took place. This is a plain commodious building, which was erected by public subscription at an expense of between five and six thousand pounds. It is situated on the east side of Duke-street, about midway between the two extremities. Its largest room is 46 feet wide and 49 deep, and, like the news-rooms of the Athenæum and Lyceum, is furnished with the London and provincial papers, lists, magazines, reviews, and maps. The number of proprietors is 253, and the annual subscription two guineas. The Liverpool Royal Institution was formed in 1814, in shares of £100 each. The spacious edifice appropriated to the purposes of this scientific establishment, is situated in Colquitt-street. It was formerly a gentleman's mansion, but since it has been purchased for its present purpose, the interior has undergone a variety of alterations, and the whole has been enlarged with consi 287 Review Thoughts on Baptism. derable additions. The primary object of this institution is the promotion of literature, science, and the arts; for which purpose the different rooms are well adapted. The museum which it contains, is already enriched with a valuable collection of natural and artificial curiosities. The Institution was opened in 1817 by Wm. Roscoe, Esq. who delivered an eloquent discourse on the occasion. Since that time, courses of lectures have been delivered on Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Botany, and Poetry, by several gentlemen, whose names give the highest character of respectability to this abode of scientific research. [To be continued.] REVIEW.-Thoughts on Baptism, as an CONTROVERSIAL theology, like law, is It is painful to reflect, that the most acrimonious controversies have been carried on about what the contending parties, in their cooler moments, admit to be nonessentials; and which, could the points in debate be brought to a final termination, would prove less advantageous to mankind in their various results, than the irritation of the passions, provoked in the discussion, has proved pernicious. Among these we include the fierce contentions that have originated in some doubtful questions respecting Baptism, and the time when Easter ought to be celebrated. The treatise before us can only be said in a partial manner to enter the field of Baptismal controversy, although it is to this contention that it is indebted for its existence. In page the seventh, the author thus states the design of his publication. 288 tuated from age to age? or was it appointed, in its original institution, as an ordinance of proselytism, of which, (if continued at all) Missionaries are the only proper administra tors, and Proselytes the only proper subjects? To conduct the reader to the latter conclusion, is the design of the following pages; and should the writer succeed in the attempt, and his views of the subject be generally adopted, he will consider himself as having rendered a very important service to the religious public, by removing out of the way, what has hitherto proved one of the greatest hinderances to that union of Christians, which, as stated above, versal spread of the gospel, and usher in the seems indispensably requisite to effect the uniglory of the latter day."-p. 8. To this view of the author's design, we may add his opinion of Baptism in general, which appears in the following passage. "That Baptism was originally of Divine appointment, is readily acknowledged; and so was the serpent which Moses lifted up in the wilderness. That serpent, in the hands of him to whom the command was given, to exhibit to the view of the whole camp of Israel, answered a very important purpose. But, after that purpose had been fully accomplished, when, coming at a subsequent period into other hands, it was perverted to superstitious uses, and be kiah very properly ordered it to be destroyed. came the object of idolatrous veneration, HezeAnd could our feeble voice prove as effectual in one case, as the mandate of authority did in Let this superstitious ceremony, this root of the other, we would say of Modern Baptism, error, this bone of contention, be completely removed out of sight; and let no trace of it remain, except on the records of the sacred page; where, like the brazen serpent, it may prove the vehicle of instruction, without becoming an engine of mischief."--p.100. In opposing the various arguments by which the combatants in this controversy have distinguished themselves, this author has shewn much adroitness, clearly pointing out that their most cogent reasonings are inconclusive, and better calculated to prolong the con tention than to bring it to an amicable termination. On these points, we whether he has been equally fortunate think he has argued successfully; but in establishing his own peculiar views of this ordinance in its exclusive application, will certainly admit of some doubt. He readily allows that the missionaries sent among the heathens can lay a stronger claim to the privilege of administering the rite of Baptism than any other: but even their claims he views as exceedingly doubtful; and even admitting that they could be fairly established, he asserts, what we think no reasonable man will be dis"Was Baptism designed to be a standing posed to deny, that the rite is by no ordinance of the Christian Church, to be perpe- means essential to salvation. The ten 289 Review The Mental Calculator. dency of his arguments is to prove, that Baptism was never designed to be a standing ordinance in the church of Christ, through succeeding generations; and we conceive that the reasonings and scriptures which he has adduced in support of this position will not easily be turned aside. There is one point, however, that he has obtruded on our notice, which we think of more magnitude and importance than all that has been either said or written on the subject of Baptism, and which will require no common share of ingenuity to rescue from the charge of Antinomianism. It occurs in the following passage. "The Lord's Supper was instituted for the Lord's people. It is the birthright of those who are the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ; a privilege from which none of their brethren have any right to exclude them, except (as must always be excepted) when they are chargeable with denying any fundamental doctrines of the gospel, or acting in a manner grossly inconsistent with their Christian profession. With this exception only, we have every reason to believe that primitive Christians never denied access to the Lord's table, to those whom they considered as belonging to the household of faith; nor is there any reason why we should.” 290 THIS is a valuable little book, replete with useful information; and is better calculated to communicate to the pupil general ideas of the subjects of which it treats, than any others with which we are acquainted, within the same compass, in the English language. In his preliminary observations, the author gives the history of the computation of time, marks the periods when variations were introduced, and assigns the reasons on which the alterations were founded. His directions how the pupil may find the Lunar cycle, the Epact, the Moon's age, the time of high water at any given place, the time when the sun and moon will either rise or set on any given day, and the place of either in the ecliptic, are simple and perspicuous, although compressed within a narrow compass. The rules by which he may find the Dominical Letter, the days of the week or month, the time of Easter, the moveable feasts which depend upon Easter, the probability of an eclipse either of the sun or the moon, the cycle of the sun, and of the Roman Indiction, are as destitute of obscurity as the nature of the subject allows, and each is illustrated by examples. A general survey of the constellations forms another part of this work; and, by the imaginary lines which Mr. Lovekin instructs his pupils to draw, the mutual relations which they bear towards one another, and a general outline of their respective situation and bearings, may be easily ascertained. The whole concludes with a miscellaneous collection of questions, adapted to the rules which precede, proposed for the pupil's solution. Whether this passage, on which all comment would be useless, resulted from the author's principles, or, as we would charitably hope, escaped him through inattention, we take not upon us to determine. If from the former, his creed requires considerable reformation; and if from the latter, we would advise him to be more careful in future of what he submits to the public eye. With this exception, the book is entitled to recommendation, from the justness of the censures which it contains, the spirit of enlightened liberality which it breathes, and the harmony throughout the Christian world, which it aims to promote" It is neither intended nor presumed and insure. REVIEW.-The Mental Calculator, being a compendium of concise, yet general rules, for the ready solution of various and interesting Problems in Astronomy; with explanatory illustrations; forming an epitome of the elements of that science. To which is added, a Guide to the Constellations. ByP.Lovekin. 12mo. pp. 147, Lackington & Co. London, 1821. Examined on the ground of nice and critical exactness, some of the rules will be found inaccurate. Of this the author makes his acknowledgments in the preface. He tells the reader, that that this work should supersede the necessity of having recourse to those scientific and excellent treatises on the globes already in the hands of the public, of whose utility none can be more sensible than himself;" but he hopes, however, that, "with the utmost deference, he may at least claim the merit of an humble assistant." Under these restrictions, the excellencies of this little work will be apparent to all who read it. |