The Express. — London, England, 1848-04-26 00:00:00

parti reviOUS of this Andon. iety, to on the t they elation. amply al aunt @I. leas tot be the tafl 11 by In tim the hich the instead of vanOull her of an 1 in lien r ellarae nil of 10 a for die- w bilia tool( e Board a 0,4 that eo take ewzl sconld be e Board of Wits of tbe tained ro wing bye coated to IS5* and buted shall art, %T rai l " rd'erult of ootnroalta n all eubse. brill consist' pandroperuna 1851, r.e or an/ f the meta• the annual Sc Board of which the Feet of this reretl, the ter to the hndhh. hcl a the cb.ut, lipheas for th'9 of luhilhl - Xtihtlo m anly ascribe, untweitathigly, to the roast Wahiawa on the poet of the Lords of the Committee of Pray Osamull ter Tads, widel led . disw ebendon, and to a feeling of dealt and tenacity la the wide fOttlJet tUblennerts Ind so has ptervesad ton kin eon . Bening their rapport to the erudition. 'Ha Meggekigi Ws es erase of their duty , here contracted very sileenhe Meei This secereerily nteTtllte• the anxiety with whisk they essanwiels a fur ther dimmunuo 07 the amount of sebeedgfigell ant year se shook eeten to result from the proceeding' et the amenetase • d thee .. lege, waiving for the time the question subtle.ladde right to alter the constitution of the society (whisk IM b erasidw it the duty still snenuomll to dray), they committee to Ml pad Use requirement of an y themsisof sleeting the prizes Otte year. They venture to sak tY kre sot el an early reply, as use con.ider it of the utmost Usporames that the determination of the committee should be annourged at the ant annual meet ing of the subscribers, which le axed to take plan In the 23th lint. On the 14th the lollowiag reply was ressisail : "Otitee of tbmaiittee of Privy Council fur Trade, Whitehall, April 14,1575. —To ceorlie Godwin, kaq.,-B.lr, lam Wrested W the LOrdS of the Committee of the Privy Council for Trade se sdarelelge the receipt of your letter, dated April 11, 1848. My lards sense o law that the amount of the subscriptions to the Artellien ef lamas Ws decreaud coneidcralde in the present year ; hat they apgrahmil that Nis diminution us to be attributed mainly to the iskralmsteass of the depresoloa of trade, which has so unfortunately prevallail of late, rather than to any other cause. I am further directed to eats, that my lords cannot abandon their tatention of desiring to sue the prin. tilde, which they believe to be a sound one, tatted:red into the edection of prie, after the expiration of the meat year, into the Art-Union of Loaders m well as into other Medlar institu tions in vicious parts of the Sountry. But that, provided the principle is recomueed end a beginning made towards lag it into rfbct, my lonta will most readily madden tlltf of the attuned with regard to any further modilsatises, b NMI= to those which they have already avowed their willtagness to adapt, to which it may bethought advisable that It should be subieeted in thin instance. I am dirested, in conelusion, to assure the council that while my lords feel that they cannot abandon the functions with which the legislature has thought at to invest them for the regula tion of Art-Unions, yet that they continue to be most anxious to set In a point of oa.operation and harmony with the council of the Arts Union of London as far as they can do 93 consistently with their public duty.-1 um, sir, your obedient fervent, Joe. Larzval." The report stated, that the matter had rested et the point to which the above correspondence brought it, and then pro raised to reason upon the question, and to state that it was the intention of the council to contest with the Board of Trade the principle upon which alone the association was based—namely, the right which each prizeholder pas seated of as. letting his own prize from one of the public exhi bitions of the day. The report says, on this head:—" The vital question et present, then, between the Bard of Trade and the Art-Unien of London, is simply whether the council shall select the prizes for the prizeholders, or the prizehoklers select them for themselves : and to make the opinion of the society on this point clear to those who have no: that oppor tunity of otherwise learning it which your council have, a resolution will presently be submitted for your considera tion." Loud applause followed the reading of this passage. With respect to the very inferior engravings distributed to the subset ibets the council offer the following remarks : "The council will not shut their eyes to the fact that the prints last 5i at out have not been wholly satisfactory. (Hear, hear.) It must he remembered that they are, in this respect, in the bends of the engravers. It is due to themselves to state, as regards the engravings for 1817, that the propriety of refusing to distribute the impressions from tho plates when finished was seriously discussed by the council ; but it was thought that such a course would be scarcely consistent with their duty es trustees. In respect of the engraving for 1845, I the council considered that when they had obtained one of the best pictures of one of our most esteemed artists, and had placed it in the bands of an engraver of the highest reputa tion in England, giving him his own terms and his own time, that they had taken all the means in their power to ensure a perfectly satisfactory result." (Hear, hear.) Of the future distributions of engravings the report states: — The engraving for the current year, " The Prisoner of Gisors," b 1 Ale. F. Bacon, after Mr. Withosrt, is at press, snit will be ready for distribution in the autumn. Very con siderable progress has been made in the preparation of the illustrated edition of " L'Allegro" and " 11 Pcnsereso," also due to the subscribers of this year, which promises to be • very satisfactory production. Some of the illustrations already completed may be safely pronounced equal to any similar works ever produced. " Sabrina," engraved by Mr. Lightfoot, after Mr. Frost, A.R.A., is nearly completed. It is proposed to appropriate this plate to subscribers for the next year, who will also receive a series of etchings or wood engravings, not vet decided on. Mr. W. Finden is proceed ing with " The Crucifixion," after Hilton. For some en suing year the council have commissioned the execution of several plates on steel, as an experiment to test the advantage or otherwise of such a course, instead of electrotyping one capper-plate.—the particular print to which each subscriber will be entitled to be decided by lot. The number of plates required would, of course, depend on the number of subscribers carolled. The following pictures are already in hand: —" The Burial of Harold," by Mr. F. it. Pickersgill, A.R.A. (which received the first premium in 1817 from the Royal Commissioners of Fine Arts), to be engraved by Mr. B-.con; " Richard Cccur de Lion pardoning the Archer, ittc.," by Mr. John Cross (which received the second premium from the commissioners), to be engraved in line by Mr. Sbenton . • " The Irish Piper," by Mr. F. Goodall, to be engraved by Mr. Edward Goodlall." It also states that —" For the current year it is proposed to produce in bronze a bunt of her Majesty Queen Victoria, In commemotation of the grant of the charter. The opinion of Prince Albert being taken, the bust by Chantrey, depo sited in Windsor Castle, was adopted as the best, and a cast having been obtained for the society, with her Majesty's gracious permission, it was reduced, and will be executed in bronze forthwith. Thirty of these busts will form part of the distribution." (Applause.) Four new members of the council have been added to the former list—namely, Earl Compton, J. Martin, Esq., Capt. B. Vernon, and Mr. Serjt. Tenoned. The reserve fund amounts to 2,8071. The receipts for the year have amounted to 12,8371., being upwards of 5,0001. short of the last year's subscription. The disbursements are stated as follows : Set apart for the purchase of pictures Ditto for the execution of bronzes, mcdala, 755 Cow of engravings, including copper-plates, paw, Sc. Nice ezpenditure, clerks' salaries, stationery, klta of reams and gallery, arc. Amount of reserve 521 Making n rough total of These accounts, the report stated, had been duly audited. The sum of 5,3351., set apart, according to the foregoing statement, for the purchase of works of art by the prize holders themselves, will be thus allotted : 15 works of 101. each, 1501. ; 21 of 151., 3151. ; 18 of 201., 3601. ; 18 of 2.51., 401. ; 14 of 301., 4101. ; 14 of 401., 5601. ; 10 of 501., 5001. ; 8 of 601., 4801. ; 6 of 701., 4101. ; 6 of 801., 4801. ; 4 of 1001., 400/. ; 2of 1501., 3001. ; 1 of 2001., 2001. ; 1 of 3001., 3001. To these are to be added : 30 bronzes of " The Queen," 50 statuettes of " The Dancing Girl," 30 medals commemora tive of " Hogarth," and 300 lithographs of " St. Cecilia," making in the whole 554 works of art. The total sum ap. propriated to the purchase and production of works of art, including the cost of the engraving and illustrated book is 9,8991. The bronzes will be allotted to the first 30 names drawn consecutively at the close of the general distribution, the statuettes to the neat .50 names similarly drawn, and the medals to the following 30. The lithographe will be appro priated to the names standing fiftieth in the list preceding and succeeding after each of the prizeholders in the general distribution, and to the name standing the fiftieth in the bet after each of those entitled to a bronze. Notice will be sent to the subscribers entitled to the lithographs in the Mint of two days. The other prineholders will receive in timation of the result by to-night's poet. With regard to the selection of prizes, the council were given to understand that the uifficulty with which informa tion concerning pictures was obtaibed at the Royal Academy by prizeholders had prevented many purchases there, and had led to the return of fine works to the studio of the artist, which would otherwise have been bought. They accord ingly addressed a communication to the council of the Royal Academy, pointing out this feet ; that body, in consequence, resolved that a room in the u per hall should be given up dining the exhibition, and that a clerk should be specially employed to answer the inquiries of subscribers to the Art- Union. (Cteers.) The remaining passages of the report consisted of general observations on the pounrese of art in England, and on its influence over the minds of a nation. When the report was emeluded, Mr. J. MARTIN rose and said he knew nothing of the re port beyond what he had learned during its perusal by the secretary. He lamented the interference of the B oard of Trade in the affairs of the association—(hear) —and in order to give expression kis opinion on this subject, he begged to move the following resolution That this wetting cordially concur* in the efforts made by the Maned of the Art Union of London to maintain the fundamental pm eiplea of that institution, and that they hope the council will persevere In their endeavours, and that the thanks of the association are due to the council for their conduct during the past year. Mr. B. B. CAMIELL seconded the motion, and in doing so observed, amidst the loudest applause, that the royal chair man was entitled to the warm thanks of the meeting for the constant and unflinching friendship which he had shown the institution. It was to his perseverance that the Art Enloe was indebted for its prolonged existence. The impediments interposed by the Board of Trade were neither eanetionPd by law, by propriety, nor by that very doubtful course called expediency. As well might the committee of the Board of 'trade claim a right to select for each lady her ?Om in the matrimonial lottery as that of selecting her price picture. (A roar of laughter rewarded this parallel.) The principle upon which the society was based was that of investing each prizeholder with an indefeasible right to choose that work of art which pleased him, and that right, lie trusted, would be secured intact. (Cheers.) The Duke of CAMBRIDGE put the resolution, when A SthSCILIDER rose, and after stating that he was the inouth.piem of some ten or a dozen other subscribers, Proceeded to amount for the falling off in the amount of sub "i'lfdions by referring to the very bad class of engravings distributed by the council. lie then characterised the report m being deficisnt in plain, honest speaking, for not having 'Wed this fact more broadly, and concluded by moving an amendment xpr, solve of his sentiments. • lir. G. GULIWIN directed the last speaker's attention to the terms in which the report (as will be seen above) referred oxprewly to this subject, upon which the gentleman with drew his am, ndment, and expressed himself satisfied that the wholnome castigation suggested by him had already been administered.—The resolution was then agreed ta. Mr. berjeant Tnomrsox nest proposed (in a very length ed sPeeeh) a vote of thanks to the secretaries , Messrs. 0 . Godwin and Poozck, which was carried and afterwards acknowledged by those gentlemen. The Duke o f CAst liftman then rose, and excused hi s leasing the chair previous to the conclusion of the business, on the plea of an engagement elsewhere. He fully Iclinted in the report, and regretted that the Board of Trade should have created any difference with the Arts Union and the executive govem !!ol. His principle was to let well alone, and he w ashed that maxi m h a d b een a little more attended to latterly, (Cheers and a l aug h.) Ile hoped next year to have 1.2 . _ pleasure of 'gala meeting them, and of announcing t hat Ike hands were on the ineretsg. (Cheers.) lie wished them 7 . ±( good fortune. He got a good prize last time, but he had f s, ed ao tricks to obtain it. (Loud laughter and cheers.) His royal highness then left the chair, which was taken by ' Mr. B. B. Cabbell. The drawing of the pponwam than commend. The follow in is • list of the prise-holders:M r. Mr. Taylor, 11,114181. A. Hatt std, meet, Yiddlera H0i.164 ; 1 reinnim. Gensainal. llmhem. 150 L ; C. MA Nerwiela 1301.; 196. Coassa. Ma; Mr.. Bialim.itt MAL •F. Noire% MS.; 1. Manila. Rork 71= Aso lha n i ggi l ragigg: Iseell, Atte B. A. Moak Bewa ii. litl. I M1W.‘ 79195 = 1 4 Mom am" 13L ; Awe BerrwrseYwat, ROL; W. ilswird. abisiseel. 991.; JIM 1 1 1hItsti e ll . 1 .7 60t.; B. Yenliewma. Clowaliebessl, OIL ,• W. et 70t. •J. IL Jars. MAR MA% OM; J. Jain" Llesela, ; L. if. Petty, lAseabesalml, 904.; AWleate. 411 .1 Vi• P• Brown, CaMbdilip.llllLl Ital Basta blerekla; Dr. , 2514 Met. Revett, ard.llo, Indlard, onia =4in 601.; Rev. H. Gardner, Meta, 901.; Hackney, 601. ; Capt Berattbee. 101.; L. Powlielak ill imkaMarliade 104 ; Mote. Mr. Ration at, 104; J. W. Freemen, Trey, Sew ark. 701.; lies. W. Lee, Norwich, 701.; O. Saviors, llferleJsma, 301.; P. Croable, Liverpool, 151. ; Rev. W. H. Yam^ estblkAterfel, SOL J. Routh, Faster-lane. 254. ; 7. Joan, Patslems, Welsbpoo‘ 251. ; J. Powell, Wenn, Sol.; R. Tvrentyman, Wwwl-etreet, 601.; T. Martin, Jaramestreet, Buckingham-gate, 301.; Mutes Steltart, Trinity-atneet, Qunbeidge, 601.; W. Digby, gigs Dorset-street, 255.; W. Hogg, C'rutcbed.friare. JoinhOlniA, Carmarthen, 251. • S. J. Wood, Tradegsratquare, 201. ; 0. Lamb, St. 205.; D. Roberta, Old Kent-road, 411.; R. Allen, Trinity-house, 705.; A. Search, Whitehall-place, 505. • F. W. Oaks, Liverpool, 1344 W. FAwards, Leeds, b 01.; the }lei. C. Remble, 30/.; James Cherry, Post-oeke, Derry, 255.; Mtea Gold. York, 605. ; P. Green, North Buxton, 238.; A. Lewis, King William street, City, 305.; J. Davie, New-road, L ewis, 605. • Mr. Sherwin, Hackney-road, 251.; C. Roberta, Minci-lane, 40/.; L. Mapleton, Newton Abbott, 401.; John Beckett, Destine. 3 04 . • IL Turton, Way.oface. Wt. ; W. W. Parry, Cardigan, 231.; Th omas Chamberlain, Winchester, 231. ; E. Calver4 Walton, near Preston, 204. ; H. J. Hare, Leeds, 505.; John Botta, Gateshead, wl.; James Maurice, Denbigh, 501.; J. W. Jewett, East-street, 501.; C. Clarke, Twickenham, 801.; W. Brown, katbourne,John Hayes, 251. ; W. Hoppington, Derry, 301.; D. R. Note, Ireland, 40J. ; J. C. Walker, Hobart Town, 701.; J. A. Davie, Boston, Msarseburetus, SOL ; Mr. Murphy, Dublin, 801.; J. Cloves, Great Yarmouth, 361. ; W. Squire, Lie 01 Wight, 201. ' - R. Bambara, Regent'wpark, 101. ; A. Hawkins, British Mantua, 505. ; Dr. Cenquert, Yinaleury.spare, 2171.; H. F. Rom, Cowes, 3' 1. • W. F. Hob!" Cl'llehefter, 205. • J. Winkfleld, Leeds, ISt.; J. Bedney, Pancrawlane, 401., R. D uck, Higb-street, Manchester. 401.; Mile Baker, Stratford, Pars, 301.; Dr. Keene, Limerick, 104 ; I. H. Burk, King's-parade, Cambridge, 601.; 8. Pilbrow, Newry, 2.51.; Mine Bedford, Perebore, 151.; Mrs. Beale, l'Ass T : ute lor bronzes, deni. engravings, and bunts, were also awarded, after which the meeting broke up. TILE SHARSTRATFORD-UPON A PEARE BIRTH DAY. FVON.ESTIVAL AT S The twenty-fourth festival of the Royal Shakspe ', rein Club of Stratford-upon-Avon, a club instituted to ob serve the natal day of William Shakspeare, " who was born at Stratford-upon-Avon on the 23rd of April, 1564," was held on Monday last, the 24th inst., In the town-hell of the ancient borough. This year's festival drew a larger and more distinguished gathering than the club had been able to bring together on any previous anniversary, many of the London committee for the purchase and preservation of the poet's house resolv ing, on this oceseke, to re-visit Stratford, to inspect their recent purchase of the poet's house, and after a stroll in the pleasant fields of Stratford and its neighbourhood, to dine with the members of the Royal Shaksperean Club on the reputed anniversary of the poet's birthday— for it is unfertu netelv nothing more thane pleasant fiction to suppose that the "immortal bard" of the ancient borough was really born on the 23rd of April. In truth nothing more is known about the precise period of his birth than the date of his baptism, the 26th of April, and it was Malone's conceit in pleasure to suppose that the poet he delighted to illustrate was really born on Sr. Grorgi 'a day, the 23rd of April, so that the day of his birth and the day of his death might be one and the same. It is a pleasant fiction, however, which the Stratford people delight to maintain, in common with their right] of using the ordinary appellations of "im mortal bard," "sweet swan of Avon," and other epithets and descriptions which are usually Mond in the handbooks to Stratford and its ioteresting neighbour hood. There were, however, very few expressions of the kind indulged in on the present occasion. Lord Brooke, the eldest son of the Earl of Warwick, and one of the county members, occupied the chair; and (to use the re porter', stereotyped phrase for such occasions) was supported by Viscount Morpeth, M.P. : Viscount Villien, M.P. ; the Earl of Buchan, the Hon. Mr. Leigh (the eldest son of Lord Leigh), Mr. Lucy, of Charlecote, Mr. Mark Ph ili p s, o f Soitterfield, Mr. John Payne Collier (the editor of " Shale spears "), Mr. Peter Cunningham (the treasurer of the London committee), Mr. Ouvry (the honorary solicitor of the committee), the Mayor of Stretford (Mr. Sheldon), Dr. Thomson (the chairman of the Royal Shaksperean Club), Mr. C. Rohe Bracebridge, Mr. Flower, and many other gen tlemen, constituting the London and Stratford committees for the purchase and preservation of the poet's house. About 160 persons eat down—an extensive gathering for &small and still inaccessible borough. The hall was tastefully decorated. Gainsborough'a fine full-length portrait of Garrick, and Northcote's copy of Sir Joshua's "Duke of Dorset," had re ceived a canna cleaning from a " London hand." Single ton's series of paintings in illustration of Shakspeare (some one hundred and twenty in number) were tastefully disposed about the room. A lady's gallery was erected for the occasion. The identical cup, made of Shakspeare'e mulberry-tree, which the corporation of Stratford presented to David Gar rick in 1769, was brought from Bath by the Misses May, and placed again upon the very table from which it was originally given. After the loyal toasts usual on such occasions, all of which were rapturous]) received by the loyal people of a loyal borough, the Chairman gave, with a few prefa tory words, modest and to the point, " The Immortal Me mory of Shakspeare." Mr. J. PAYNE COLLIER now rose, and in a speech replete with knowledge, feeling, and occasional eloquence, proposed " The Drama." After a pleasant description of the past glories of our stage, he turned to the present depressed state of our drama, and contrasted the patronage extended to dramatic literature in the reign of Queen Elizabeth with that which it receives now in the reign of Queen Victoria. The great size of our patent theatres—the use of gorgeous scenery and equally gorgeous dresses, had done much, he said, to depress dramatic genius. When Shaaspeare wrote there was very little scenery on the stage, and it was fortunate that our theatres were then so bare of what is now so profusely com mon ; for we should certainly not have had so many fine descriptions of castles and towers as be was obliged to give to eke out the imperfections of the stage in his time. These descriptions gave an additional charm to the reader, and, therefore, we had reason to be thankful that the stage was then so very unlike what it is now, for assuredly had it been then as we now see it, we should never have had Shakspeare's drams' so complete as we now enjoy them ; and as he was in this way obliged to make them. When he reflected, therefore, on the past and present condition of our drama, he certainly could not give the toast entrusted to him with the usual honours of " three times three," but would wish to adopt the suggestion of a friend on his right, and to request that " The Drama," on this occasion should be drunk in silence. The suggestion thus impres sively made was at once assented to, and the toast of "The Drama" in Shakspeare's native town, and on Shakspeare's natal day, was, on the recommendation of the best historian of our stage, and the beet biographer of our greatest poet, drunk in solemn silence. The toast of " Wordsworth and the Poets of England," was proposed by Mr. WREN Hositoss, and very warmly responded to. Lord MORPETIL followed next, with " Moore and the Poets of Ireland ;" and, in a well-considered and well.de livered speech, won rapturous plaudits from all who beard him. It was a great treat, he observed, to escape as he had escaped from the dirty streets of the great metropolis, and to find himself on the banks of Shakspeare's Avon. He was not about to pass any eulogium on the great poet. He trussed that amid the crash of nations which we had now to witness, the Rialto at Venice, and the Castle of Elsinore, would be spared to the readers of Shakspeare. The go vernment, of which he had the honour to be a member, was far from insensible to the claims of genius. And Lord Or ford's memorable application of a well known passage in Virgil to the case of Congreve, the poet, he would wish to have thought as a true representation of the feelings of go vernment in behalf of literary men. His lordship concluded a speech of great eloquence, filled with happy quotations from the plays of Shakspeare, by concluding that in giving on this occasion the toast of " Moore and the poets of Ire land," he was asking for nothing more than " equal justice to Ireland." The next toast, "The Memory of Burns and the Poets of i Scotland," was proposed by Mr. P. CUNNINGHAM. After • few words explanatory of the toast he was called upon to give, Mr. Cunningham solicited the permission of the chair man to digress a little from the particular toast, and to offer in his capacity of treasurer to the London committee a few observations on the state of the fund and the present condi tion of the poet's house, The fund, he said, was still defi cient, but he felt assured that the profits of the ball at Willis's Rooms on the 22nd of May, and the prod uee of cer tain amateur performances by Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. John Forster, and Mr. George Cruikshank would be fully sufficient to complete the purchase-money, and to °sable the committee to do something for the endowment of the house before banding it over to the nation in her Majesty's name, as the committee had been recommended to do by the solicitors of the Woods and Forests. lie was sorry to observe, he said, that some Wardour.street curiosi ties—he could give them no better name—things quite trumpery is themselves—were still suffered to remain in the house of the great poet. He weuld rather see bare walls and bare floors. lie could furnish and people the place for himself. This, however, he did not wilh to do. He should like to raise a supplemental fund for the purchase of the Chandos portrait of Shakspeare, to be sold at Stowe during the present season. That was a fit and proper relic to place in Shakspeare's house, because it was, as he believed, the only genuine portrait in colours of the great poet. He could wish also to see in the same in teresting house the very handso m e round table .madeof o f f Shakspeare's mulberry tree, and now in the possession h friend Mr. Hunt, whom he was delighted to see present on this occasion. Perhaps Mr. Hunt would think of what he said—he could gather from his smile that be had half given it to the house already. He should a'so like to see Mr. Wheler's very interesting collection of documents relating to Shakspeare's property in Stratford, preserved in the poet's house. No better place could possibly be found to receive them; and perhaps Mr. Wheler, whom he was equally de lighted to see present on this occasion, would look upon the house as the proper repository for such treasures. Nor could he emit to observe in an enumeration like this of real Shakspeare curiosities that he should like to see in the same house the Garrick Cup from the famous mulberry tree which they were permitted to have upon the table before them, by the kind permission of he Misses May, who had it !nought from Bath for this very occasion. He was glad to think that the Mines May were among the ladies who had honoured them with their pretence, and he really hoped that they would not deem the hint he had thrown out in behalf of the nation as too boldly made. Perhaps, also, when a few good examples had been set, the Duke of Devonshire mit be induced to give us his matchless collection of 11.emble P ghlays. THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 1848. There was sue print tart' excellent speech of his friend Mr. Collier with Ada he could not concur. The drama was not so depressed u he had represented it, and the inhabitants of Stratford, he was glad to think, would have an opportuaity of seeing their little theatre re-open in the course of next month, and the "Merry Wives of Windsor," performed for the endowment of the house in the theatre (standing on part of Shake arc's garden at New.pluej, by Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. Forster. Mr. George Cruikahank, Mr. Leech, Mr. Lemon, and the covers' gentlemen amateurs smelly acting with them. Mr. Canaingham concluded by observing that u they had al ready drunk to the immortal memory cf a poet , Shakspeare, who had described, as Mr. Collier obse.ved, temale excel. Jennies the best, so he would now propose the memory of a poet, Robert Burns, who had sung of female beauty the best. The toast of "The Chairman " was proposed by the Earl of BUCHAN. Viscount VILLIERS gave "The Warwickshire lame," observing, in a neat, short speech, that it waa easy to see why Shakspeare had described female beauty better than other poets, because he had drawn his inspiration Irons the charms of the Warwickshire lasses. Mr. W. H Coons, of the Oxford Circuit, proposed " Lord Ellesmere and the Shakapeare Society ;" to which Mr. COLLIER replied, expressing, in Lord Ellesmere's name, the extreme regret which his - lordship felt at not being pre sent on this occasion. Other touts followed, of which the chief were, " Pros perity to the Royal Shakspearesn Club," proposed by Mr. Collier ; " Lord Morpeth and the London Com mittee and Subscribers to the Shakspeare House Fund," proposed by Mr. Bracebridge ; and " The Press," which was cleverly given by Mr. Mark Phillips. After the chairman's withdrawal the festivities were kept up under the able superintendece of the Mayor, who presided over a mixed circle of Shakspeare admirers till put three in the morning. But the entertainments at Stratford on this occasion were not wholly confined to the attractions of a public dinaer. Many of the party arriving on the Saturday made pleasant visits together to the house of the great poet ; to the woods of Welcombe, where be roved when a boy; to the little ham let of Shottery, where he went to court Ann Hathaway; to Charlecote, where he robbed Sir Thomas Lucy of his deer, and the tomb of the poet in the noels chancel of the church. The corporation records were thrown open to visitors attending the meeting, and the " glover " document put prominently forward. Mr. Hunt exhibited his mulberry tree table, and his curious portfolio of Shakspeare prints. Mr. Whaler threw open his large and unique collection of Shakspeare documents, including the only existing letter addressed to Shakepeare, and the gold ring with W. S. upon it, found in a field at Stratford, and reasonably conjectured to have belong. dto the great poet. Mr. Lucy, too, the pro prietor of Charlecote, threw open his house on this oc casion, and allowed all who took tickets for the din ner to view his house—a very interesting structure of Shakspeare's age—containing • large and very fine llobbima, and • kind of Hampton Court gatehouse, in an unaltered state, suggesting pleasant thoughts of Shakspeare and the now more generally believed story that he really did steal the deer. The weather was good, and the whole visit something to be remembered even in these stirring times. We have only to add that Lord Morpeth held out hopes of government assistance being afforded to the committees when the nation had fully responded to the appeal made in behalf of the great poet of our nation. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.—MEETING AT MANCHESTER. A very respectable meeting of the middle classes of' Manchester took place on Monday night, at the Old Meal House, to consider the following proposition :—"That a society be formed, having for its object the obtaining of household suffrage, vote by ballot, triennial parliaments, and equal electoral districts."—J. Kershaw, Esq., M.P., presided. The exam/gals opened the proceedings by giving a short history of the movement in London, commenced by mem bers of the House of Commons itself; at the head i f whom were Mr Cobden, Mr. Hume,_ and others, and said, short as had been the existence of the present parliament, the country must have seen eneugh of it to know that it did not represent the feelings of the country. (Cheers.) He asked if it was to be supposed that the people were in favour of the army and navy estimates which ha been carried ? And though ' government might make the disturbances which had since taken place a plea for such expenditure, there could be rio doubt that they would have been carried through the House of Commons even if that plea had not seisms. lie believed this was a favourable moment to unite in some great move ment that should cement the middle and industrious classes. (Linn' cheers.) As for the charter, it had both bad points and good ones, and he thought that the chartists themselves were convinced that they had utterly failed in their objects, and, as a political body, his (the chairman's) conviction was that the chartists who advocated physical force lied placed the cause of liberty further off than before; for the middle classes, being convinced that liberty could not be attained but by peaceable means, very properly shrank from anything like tumult or bloodshed. (Hear, hear.) He was convinced that nothing could begot for the people in this country by means of physical force, and he feared that the present dis tracted state of Ireland would soon afford another proof of it. Oa the other hand, the history of the late Anti-Corn-law League showed that the peaceful but determined pursuit of a good object must eventually be attended with success. (Loud cheers.) That meeting had been convened in order to as certain whether they were willing to unite in requesting from the government an extension of the franchise, for no government would refuse it if requested in a firm and signi ficant voice. All classes—rich and poor—were asked to unite in requesting an extension of the suffrage, for the country could not be by the present system fairly and justly represented. (Loud cheers.) lie had never in his political life committed him self to any particular system of suffrage, but was willing to accept the most extensive that could be offered. lie could not be certain whether they would be united on the subject of household suffrage, hut he believed that system would be proposed for the adoption of the country at the next meeting of the reform members of Parliament; and if that was the system on which the people had Let their hearts, as the be which could be procured, he was ready to join them in seeking it with determined energy and perseverance. (Cheers) Other arrangements would naturally flow from the system of universal suffrage, which, however, he would not anticipate. With respect to the present House of Com mons, it had been well described as " the laughing house," whatever sympathy it might have with respect to the phy sical, it seemed to have none will the present degraded political, condition of the country ; though there were many honourable exeeptiona which number he believed would rapidly increase if the people showed their wish that the legislature should move onward for the political regeneration of the country. lie (the chairman) had, since he was about twenty-two years of age, been attached to the Whig party, which had struggled for various privileges and righta for the people ; but he had lately thought he perceived a dereliction of principle on the part of the Whigs, and when he was returned to parliament he declared that he should go thoroughly uncommitted or unpladged to any govern ment ; and he had never eines seen any cause to regret the course he had taken, for he was daily lining confidence in the political integrity of the wing government. (Loud cheers.) The majorities of the present government were to a large extent made up of tones; and that government must be feeble which relied on its opponent for support- (Hear.) Speaking of the conduct of the present ministry with respect to their proposed increase of the income tax, he expressed his beliet that the House of Commons would not have been so determined in it opposition if an increase of duty had been proposed on some article of consumption among the people; because the aristocracy did not like direct taxation, as it touched their pockets. (Hear.) lie believed he should never protest against the income tax, as such ; but be must protest against Its being continued in its present shape, seeing that the poor clerk with 1501. a year had to pay at the same rate as the millionaire. He (Mr. Kershaw) believed that the Crown and Government Security Bill, which he had opposed at every stage of its progress, was a severe and ui•required infringement of the liberty of the people. Mr. Kershaw then adverted to Mr. Gibson's retire ment from the ministry, aad said he believed that gentle man was an honest and consistent politician, and that though his connexion with this government might have led him astray for a short period he hail made his atonement, and he (Mr. Kershaw) hoped they would re ceive him kindly and generously. (Cheers.) The hon. member concluded by saying that they must go onward, abandoning the creed of finality. The people were growing wiser, and he trusted the time would s-son come when they would show that they were deserving of more than house hold suffrage, though that wan all they might expect to get at present, and for which they might have to work many years. (Loud cheers.) Mr, ABEL HEYWOOD moved: That in the opinion of this meeting it le desirable that an SPHOSHI. lion be formed of the burgers*e in the Collegiate Church ward, for the purpose of aiding the efforts of the reformers throughout the country in obtaining a reform in the Commons House of Parliament, by means of household suffrage, cote by ballot, triennial parliaments, and equal electoral districts. Mr. M. THACKRAY seconded the motion. Mr. JOSEPH HICHIN (late Secretary to the Anti-Corn- Law League) said, there were thirty-six boroughs with a population of 169,908, of whom 7,291 were electors, who re turned thirty-eight members; thirty-two boroughs with a population of 210.512, and electors 11,767, who returned forty-three ; and eighteen with a population of 154,515, with g,047 electors, which returned twenty-four members. In Sutherlandshire there was a population of 24,782, electors 171', who return one member; and Buteshire, with a popula tion of 15,740, and electors 420, returns one also. This gave a population of 675,457, with 27,695 electors, who re turned 107 members, or one member for each 5,378 of the population. At the same rate Lancashire should have 309 members—(a laugh)—and Manchester itself forty. In Thetford the population was 3,844, the num ber of electors 160, and they returned two members. Harwich contained a population of 3,730, electors 181, and returned also two members; or, taking them toge gether, one member to 1,893 of the population, while Man cheater has one representative for 120,183. Lancashire has a population of 1,667,000. and returns 26 members, while iltshire bas a population of only 258,000, and returns 20 members ; that is, about one seventh of the number in the latter county returns the same number as the whole county of Lancaster. (Shame.) The resolution was then put and carried, with only one dissentient, who was said not to be a burgeon of the ward. Mr. R. SHEPHEARD moved a set of rules for the adop tion of the association, which was seconded by Mr. Timm,- sos, another member of the town council, and carried unanimously. Mr. G. 11. WINDER moved a list of members to be ap pointed tee officers of the association, namiett the chairman a- president, which was sec ,-tied by Mr. P. I). SCULLY, and also unanimously passed. A vote of thanks was pawed to the chairman, and the meeting terminated a few minutes after 10 o'clock. ELECTORAL REFORK=THE PROVINCIAL PRESS. The columns of the provincial press continue to be devoted to the discussion of means by which the middle and working classes may be re-united fur the purpose of seeking further practical reforms in the constitution of the legis lature. The Devonshire Chronicle, commenting upon the fact that a meeting of chartists had been held in Exeter on Wednes day lout, to elect a delegate to the national convention, and a meeting of inhabitanu next day to vote a loyal address, throws out the following suggestion:— The experience of the part 'should teach all rulers to take the initia tive in the reform of proved abuses. We hare now before our eyes, in the present aeration, the eoeviction of many small boroughs for bribers . ; le, them be disfranchised, ad an election dinuict be formed as near to them so possible: here we should have the gradual and rate removal of one cause of discontent, that the legbdatore a itself corrupt, and made up of • elms. In our own county we have Ashburton, Tothese, sad Dartmouth, altogether containing not one thousand voter% send ing four members to parliament—es many as the metropolis itself. We do not intend to say that the four members of the Dart may not be, are not, indeed, as good and as efficient members of parliament as the member, elected on the hanks of the Themes —that is not the question ; the complainanta ray it Is a representation of a few and not of the many, and therefore not • representation of the people according to the constitution. Out of this grows the discontent pro duced by over taxation. It Is no answer to tell the ballthaped mechanic that the taxes are made by the remseenththres of the people—he denies it; he say. the taxes are made to take a may unequal portion of hie earnings when he bag labour, sad at the some time they render employment more and more premien; because the heavy amount of taxa absorbs the means of the among those who have to pay directly Into the Exchequer. orb= doe answer that can be given to this allegation; the exhavatka em weaned by our fiscal system is quite enough to cause an extends, feeling of discontent, net only among the lower but also the middle clauses of society, in this oouutry. Look at the closest the inrolvencies, the banktuptelm, and the compoeitions whisk are of every day occurrence among the trading claws; they may be COD` tent to keep the peace and compel others to do so, but they will not long allow the deed. g by an unequal taxing system to be sectioned when they see its effects in the failures constantly before their own eyes. The wise plan, therefore. is to inquire whether these things aremer not. Let us took first to our expensed. Gan we redoes them? We answer in the affirmative. Mace the year IPe gouty three millione Peed', have been added tothcmatof eolleedngthereanne; cut that off. Reduce the pay of all government edam shove 1001. per annum t nor twenty per cent. ; this thee efficiently would enable us to remove the Income and window tax, which we have no hesitation in saying would do DIMS to reopen our closed shops than any other measure that can be adopted ; end farther, that this plan may be carried out in a month, If the House of Commas were to set about it with a will to accomplish such a purpose. The Ipswich Express, published on the same day se the Devonshire CAronicle, shows that in Essex and in Suffolk, as in Devonshire, men's minds are engrossed with this impor tant question. The East Anglian Journal says : It is well known that the great body of the literal party, at the time of the Reform Bill, was in favour of hopehold suffrage; but the torten, under the influence of eenselese terror. and exaggerated fan, resisted it. Had that measure of justice then been extended to the working clams wo are pensuaded that we lover should have seen such a monstrosity as a „ Motional Convention." Here, then, is • point of union among reformers. We call upon ad claws to respond to the following resolution, which have been adopted in eeries cities and tows:—^l hat we resolve to urge upon the legislature the indisapserooble neoeseity of granting on extension of the elective franchise, in order to secure representatives who will honestly thrive fur large reductions to the public expenditure, the equalisation of taxation, and other necessary reforms; and thus pre vent, by timely concession, the fearful consequences which never fail to accompany deferred constitutional rights. That we believe the duration of parliament, as it now exists, to be too long, and therefore la:solve to petition for the shortening of its terra ; also to have • fair and equal eyetem of electoral districts, as we look upon the present mode to be unfair, as it gives to smell boroughs a preponderance over the large manufacturing cities in this country." To the working clamp we would say—lost ad of following men who would lead you to ruin, who desire to fill the land with confuethe, and perhaps with blood, who would stop trade, cheek the spread of capital, make feed scarce, and injure the manufactue es that give work to our people, juin yourselves with your fellow-citizens who do pores, the franchiee, and who arc suffering under tango l biathlon ; and who, with you, will endeavour by peaceable, legal, and cunatitutiond mane, to pro cure the changes that the exigencies of the times demand. In Scotland, as in England, electoral reform is :he topic of the day (longed for or deprecated according to the poli ties! views of the writers) with the political press. We yes terday presented to our rea:ers a sample of the terms in which the 'step taken by the member* of the House of Com mons, who met at the Free Trade Ciub, is talked of by an organ 01 Oxford high churchism ; so a pendant to that pic ture, we this day submit to them the strain of comment in which Edinburgh whiggery indulges. The organ of the party in Modem Athens, which was defeated by Mr. Cowan at the last election (the Caledonian Mercury), is thus de livered : While the great and Jeff iential section of the community, including neat ly the wnule of the noddle, and no small portion of the humble but boast a• d industrious carom are grateful for the excellence of our uinnitutloos, whore debility has of late been the envy of Europe, we fled another party who imagine that they are bound to take rather an adetta view of those in titutiona, as if by way of rendering some homage to the revoadionary principle. We do nut allude to the oratore of the chartiet convention, who point to mere anarchy, but to • very different order of enenorho desire to form the extreme phalanx of constitutional reformers. At the head of these stand Mr. Hume, and, so is dated, about fifty members of parliament, including Mr. Waidey, Mr. George Thompson, lie. Boa - ring, Mr. Bright, and then Mr.C.utoden. This combination hp been entered into to agitate for the extension of the suffrage, an equitable arrangement of taxation, a reduction of expenditure, and the general advance of re ' form principles. Following up the movement which has cripreated with thorn members of parhament, public meetings have been held here and in Glasgow, and will of course be pretty general throughout the country. Whatever we may think of the expediency of attenanting to stir tap thin discontent and agitation undsr present circumstances, we must of comae acknowledge the undoubted right of free dimunnion which le here exemplified m its legitimate constitutional form. Then follows a cent° from De Lolme, which is thus wound up : We therefore deprecate this agitation as calculated to serve no good object in the torment period of ratstruet and depression. Willingly do we give a few of those who lifOlit.itit it tl e credit for being actuated by a desire to rthengthen social order by conceding before it is too I late, to see their own pointed though inapplicable language. Its ten dency, in our apprehension, will be the very opposite, judging, ea we do, from outdraws so strongly leavened with the chartist less—the arguments used will make men rather tenacious at our institutions, with all their alleged shortcominp in details, than anxious to mingle in an agitation so enforced. We will not say that the suffrage in this country too reached that limit, where it must remain in all time coming. 'fiat would be the height of dogmatical absurdity. But wo will say that see may said, all safety rest in the mean ' time at the present stage, there being no pressing cause to make any change, and no rational demand of the people which cannot be grai -1 fled by the legislature as it now exists. Neither will we assert that the expenditure of the country ought n t to be scrupulously inquired into with a view to reduction and the lightening of bantam ; on the contrary, we think this in • task which must seriously occupy a ministry who have been foiled in the attempt to increase our direct taxation. In this meat we thick Mr. Cobden may lend good aid at the fitting sewn. Then there to Ireland to be dealt "nth, toad many other questions, especially those of a social nature, and to which we deem our legislature both able and willing to render justice, as has been promised by the government, during the present session. But anxioue so we are to see the interests of the people properly consulted in all the pend ing quations of the tamp, we do not dioguive our firm and doep rated conviction, that the institutions of this great empire, and around which are entwined the happiness and security of the people, are more safely confided to Lord John Rumen, Sir Robert Peel, Oa reedon, Grey, Lanadowne, Sir Jamas Graham, Gladstone, the Baring., end men of that high stamp, us remarkable for their talents and in tegrity as for the deep sake they looms in the country—than handed over to men who are more likely to prove ambitious adventurers with nothing to hoe, and all to hope for ,• and whose advent to power, should at ever arrive, would be a woeful day for the men of the City Exchmge. We do not allude to Mr. Ilume or Mr. Cobden, whose probity we need not say ie unimpeached, nor to any one in par ticular ; we merely indicate the general thine, and which would be the meet sequence of the harangues to which wo have referred. IRELAND. DUBLIN, APRIL 24. Easter Monday is emphatically a walking day, and the streets in consequence to-day are crowded with holiday folks looking the very models of order. The vestries are at work in the churches, while some trifling poli tical meetings are going on in other parts of the city, among them the " friends of liberty, equality, and fraternity," who attract but slight attention. To guard against any possible surprise the Bank was strengthened by an additional company of infantry, for the protection of the great point of repeal attrac tion, " the old parliament house." The commercial correspondent of the Freeman suggests an improvement in the Post-otfice arrange ments which would tend much to the benefit of the Dublin merchants, and, indeed, of the whole Irish community—that the Foot-office, on the arrival of the express train, which leaves London at 5 and reaches Liverpool at 11 p.m., should start one of their new swift boats for Kingstown. By such an arrangement letters could be easily delivered in Dublin before noon ou the following day. The consumption of exciseable articles has rot lat terly improved in Dublin, which speaks ill for the condition of the middle and poorer classes. In the article of sugar, for instance, which should enter so largely into consumption at the present remarkably low prices, the total deliveries from the custom-house for the past six weeks have been less than 900 hogs heads, while in the corresponding periods of the three previous years they were respectively 1,556, 1,586, and 1,806 hogsheads, showing a decline of 100 per cent. in the present as compared with the past year. Sir E. S. Hayes, M.P. for Donegal, is entitled to take rank among the improving landlords of Ireland. He has set himself to reclaim a large portion of motm tain land, and where heath was the only crap last year, he has this year many acres of oats, with other THE REPEAL ASSOCIATION held their usual meeting to day, Mr. James Delany, T.C., in the chair. The police were present taking notes, and some curiosity was felt as to the tone which the speakers would assume at this, the first meet ing under the Crown and Government Act. This will be a matter of curiosity for your readers probably also, and there fore I forward to you an abstract of the speech of Mr. John Reynolds, M.P., which was received with great warmth. Au address was then read from the committee of th associa tion, referring to the recent declaration of Lord J. Russell against repeal, and reminding the people that similar decla rations had been made against emancipation and the reform act shortly previous to the realisation of both those great measures. The repealers, therefore, were urged to courage and confidence, and exhorted that there was no cause for de pression. Mr. Reynolds, in addressing the meeting, in re ference to the "gagging bill," said he was determined to speak as he always had done, and to denounce the wrongs of his country as he had for twenty-five years. He was ready , to maintain the rights of Ireland at the expense of time, of 1 property, and if the liberties of his country were violated, be would sacrifice his lite. He did not think, however, there was danger of any abrogation of the constitution. But having opposed that bill—having divided against it seventeen times in twenty-four hours—having eat until two o'clock in the morning to divide against it, he felt bound to give a warning to his constituents and the country. lie warned them not to be entrapped into violation of the law; to beware of the J►irwans, who make crime and de. nounee it ; to beware of those who counselled to violence, for their violence had been the excuse for this aggression upon liberty. He did not mean to my that many men who I used violent language were not honest ; he believed they I were, and that many would sacrifice their lives for the people. But he did believe they were not wise, and 1 that many of them were not honest. But he was bound to warn his constituents against suggestions to vio lanes and crime. Mr. Reynolds proceeded to say that the statement that the people were seducing the soldiers I was false. The people of Ireland always liked tke army. The army contained the eons, the brothers, and the husbands of many of the people —the people therefore I loved the soldiery, but they did not attempt to tamper with them. It was said you are traitors—you are looking to ; French aid. That was a lie. They were a nation of eight , millions, and it would be strange indeed if they wanted , foreign aid to mist in their freedom. Besides, why should they want French masters instead of English masters ? For his part he was desirous that Ireland should be an integral portion of the ure. .rßhrietils,honercLimreilartiizenhreerferown red to i independentr ece nt repeal debate, and after urging the necessity of having all the repeal members present at it, stated that he had pro mises from twenty English members, representing the largest constituencies in that country, t hat they would sup port repeal. Mr. Reynolds continued at considerable length to address the assemblage, and sat down amid loud cheers. —The repeal rent will be upwards of 301. CHARTIST MILTING IN DUBLIN, for " fraternisation" between repeaters and chartists, was held to-day in the Music-hall, Lower Abbey-street. Mr. John Mitchell pre sided. The meeting was not large in numbers, or important in any way. Mean. Kydd sad Leech, members of the national convention, addressed the meeting, and resolutions were entered into that the repeaters of the Mitchell section would act with the chartists to obtain the six points, the chartists engaging that they would give " Ireland to the Irish." WICKLOW ELECTlON.—Saturday was appointed for the election of a member to represent this county in parliament, in the room of Colonel Acton, who had accepted of the stew ardship o the Chiltern Hundreds in order to resign his seat. The candidates were Colonel Sir Ralph Howard, Bart., and Charles Stanley Moods, Esq.—Major Humphreys in a short speech proposed Sir R. Howard ; and Mr. Byrne, of Croney burn, in a still shorter speech, seconded the nomination. — Colonel Acton proposed Mr. Monck.— William W. F. Hume, of Humewood, Esq., seconded the nomination.—The can didates then addressed the meeting.—Sir Ralph Howard declared that if he should be elected he would do every thing in his power to promote the construction of an asylum harbour at Wicklow. He was opposed to re peal.—Mr. Monck then came forward : He also promised to give his best assistance towards t..e formation of a narbour at Wicklow. He said his idea of a tenant-right was, that the land was the property of the landlord, but that the tenant had a right to remuneration for bona fide and judicious im provements, from which the landlord would derive real be , nefit, or words to that effect. He expressly declared he was ' not a finality man, for he certainly thought that in some j departments reform or improvements may still be effected.— , A poll was then demanded on the part of Sir R. Howard by . It. A. Gun Cunningham, Esq., when the sheriff appointed I nine o'clack on Monday morning (or taking the poll. Filter DAY'S POLLING.—Monday, April 24.—At half ' past six o'clock the high sheriff, Lord Brabazon, announced the state of the poll : Mr. Monck, C. Sir R. Howard, W 195 Majority for Mr. Monck —l7 SCOTLAND. EDINBURGH, APRIL 24. There has been a sort of barricade encounter on the banks of the Clyde. It appears that the proprietors of a saw-mill at Inchbank, situated on the margin of the river, had lately built a wall to inclose their works, and thereby blocked up an old-frequented road, used by pedestrians from Glasgow, Partick, and elsewhere, fcr upwards of one hundred years—a proceeding which excited a spirit of indignation on the part of those who were accustomed to enjoy a walk by the banks of the Clyde in that direction, by the river side down to Itenfrew. The result of this proceeding on the part of the proprietors was the calling of a preli minary meeting of the inhabitants of Partick, at which the question of the right of the public to the use of the footpath in ques tion was discussed, and resolutions adopted to have it vindicated at all hazards. Before doing any thing hastily, however, the meeting agreed to appoint a deputation to wait upon the offending parties, to re present to them the nature of the encroachment and the feelings of the public on the subject ; and three persons were accordingly nominated to perform this duty. The deputation represented the sentiments of the public meeting, when they were told in answer that the company had a right to the ground down to the water's edge—that they would hold a discretionary power as to allowing persona to pass ; further, they I would close the passage at any hour they might deem unseasonable. The result of this conference was re ported to a large meeting of the inhabitants of Partick on Tuesday last, on the public common attached to the school hause, and appeared to give general dissa tisfaction. The leading indivPualis in the meeting re solved to assert the right of roadway ri et armis, and the resolution was no sooner made than acted upon. The :multitude, to the number of about 1,500 persons, including men, women, and children, having procured the services of the town drummer and a wandering piper, marched in a body , through the village to the inspiring strains of "The Camp bells are cornice," and thereafter went in procession to the obnoxious dyke at Inchbank. Here they planted a flag which had been obtained for the occasion on the top of the wall, which was as readily taken down by the proprietors of the mill and their workers, but again rescued by the besiegers, who, having procured a small log of wood, proceeded to use it as a battering ram, and in a short time knocked that part of the wall to pieces, levelling it with the ground, so as to admit of a free passage along the banks of the river. The crowd then gave three cheers for their old pathway, and quietly separated. Tee proceedings did not oc cupy more than a few minutes altogether, and seemed to give the utmost satisfaction to those engaged in the assault. APRIL 2-5. The elements have of late been singularly unfavour able for Chartist displays in the open air. Calton hill, the chosen place of assemblage, is a dreary spot in an east wind, and when rain accompanies that A'ulian scourge, Demosthenes himself would not find six auditors. sst night was of this description, and the threatened monster meeting resolved into thin air, and the leaders marched off to a hall in the Old Town, where few cared about following them. Government has declined the aid of an armed con stabulary in Glasgow, as appears from the following letter from the Home-office : Whitehall, April 20, 1848. Sir,—l am directed by Secretary Sir George Grey to ac knowledge the receipt of the memorial of the special consta bles enrolled in the city of Glasgow, informing him that a large body of the respectable inhabitants of that city are ready and willing, if they receive the sanction of the government, to form themselves into a Volunteer Rifle Corps, in order to act in support of or in place of the military in preventing any disturbances of the peace. Sir George Grey fully appreciates the valuable services lately rendered by the special constables in the city of Glas gow in the restoration and maintenance of public order, and he has received with much satisfaction the assurance that they will at all times afford their willing aid to the civil au thorities to repress disturbance. He feels that such aid is most important, and cannot fail to be of essential benefit; but while he would be happy tome an arrangement made, by some voluntary organisation, for ren dering the service of special constable available to the tallest extent at any moment of emergency, lie does not think it would be expedient that armed volunteer corps should be formed in large cities or towns for the sole purpose of repress ing internal disturbance. Should any circumst.nces hereafter induce her majesty's government to think that the public interests require the formation of such corps, Sir George Grey wiil communicate further with you on the subject. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, DENIS La MARCHANT. R. Stewart, Esq., Acting Chief Magistrate. PROVINCIAL. CIIERCII REFORM IN MANCHESTER.—Yesterday was the day appointed for the grand struggle at the Cathe dral Church of Manchester, between the clerical party and the church reform party, for the appointment of the new churchwardens. There appears to have been a compromise, however, between them, brought about at the instance of the corporate authorities, who were afraid of the excitement which it might lead to in the present disturbed state of the district (or supposed disturbed state of the district), and had proposed a third list, being an amalgamation of the two par ties. The most important feature of the meeting, however, consisted in the statement made by Mr. Brooks, one of the retiring wardens, as to the concessions already obtained from the dean and chap:et', and the promised reform in the establishment at Manchester.—On the chair being taken by the Rev. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Brooks (son of Mr. S. Brooks, the banker) rose to propose as the new churchwardens Mr.W. B. Watkins, Mr. J. Morley, and Mr. P. Coupland. In moving this list he expressed his regret that the church of the last century had not done its duty better in repair ing the church edifice and in looking after the poor. If they bad done their duty there would have been no necessity for the legislature to interfere. But this was past, and the churchwarden' could not undo it—all they could do was to look to the future; and he bad the gratifica tion of saying that the retiring churchwardens bad made an arrangement by which the stipend of the present dean and canons of Manchester should he limited to 6,000 f. per an num, the present acknowledged amount of the dean and ehapter's revenues, and that all monies which may here after accrue is the shape of reverue above that amount shall be expended in increasing the salaries of the poorer district clergy of the parish. They had also made ►rrangements that the dean and chapter should in future be bound to con stant residence in the parish, and to visit the sick. For them purposa a new statute was to be added to the charter, drawn in the most stringent terms, forbidding in future all mem bers of the chapter to reside beyond the boundaries of the parish. He read in support of this statement the following resolutions, as the basis of an arrangement between the chapter and churchwardens *freed to last year s and which had been forwarded in a petition to the ecclesiastical oom- miisioners: I. That the chapter join the churchwardens in all such steps OA may be necessary to secure all surplus funds arising from the chapter pro perty for the benefit of the parish, and to prevent any portion trues being disposed of otherwise than for ecclesissttml purposes within the purish. 2. That the chapter join the churchward ens in all such steps as may be necessary to preclude all future members or tha chapter from holding any living beyond the limits of the parish. 3. And the chapter have offered to devote one of their estates to oh. Mate in future the payment of fees to the mother church from other churches in the pariah. The answer to the petition from the ectlesiuticel commis " sinners was as follows: 5, Whitehall, April 22, 1843.—Dear Sir,—The reeoluti one parsed by the churchwar , .ens of Manchester on the 12th of July last, having been under the annsideration of the ecclesiastical Com nalssionyre, I am directed to express their entire approval of the amend of three resolution, restricting any ration hereafter appointed from holding a benefice with cure of souls situate beyond the boundaries of the parish of Manchester; and toad 4 that if It should hereafter be deemed necessary to give add.tional validity to this revolution as part of the cathedral otatute., they will be ready at any time to lay before her Majesty in council a schema for ratifying it under the 47th 'sedan of the act 3 and 4 Viet. e. 113. With respect to the first resolution, the commirsioners, with • doom to aid the dean and chapter in the laudable object which it contem plates of improving the spiritual condition of the parish of Manchester, regret that it is not in their power now to boos a resolution respecting the future appropriation of any ourplus which may hereafter arise from she corp th . rate revenues of the cathedral church. Whenever Ml' b a urpl may be found to exist they will be ready fully to consider any eommunication from the dean and chapter upon the subject. am instructed to assure you that upon the comp leti on of the inquiry which is now pending respecting the chapter property, the comons. stoners will take the earliest opportunity of deliberating upon rho proposal contained in the third rimlution for appropriating one of the estates of the chapter to the purpose mentioned in that reeolution.— I tun, be., C. K. Meariay. —The reading of this cerrtspondence was received in a very large me. ting of parishioners with considerable applause. — Mr. Richard Reilly, chairman of the Church Reform Asso ciation, seconded the list of churchwardens proposed, awl it was expected a contest would have been avoided; but Mr. R. J Riche:thou, on behalf of a third party, proposed a list, representing what be called the higher, middle, and lower classes, and this list being declared lost on a show of hands, • poll was demanded, which is e r n E commence this day YORRe. ALLEGED CLERICAL DELINQUENCY.—The Sheffield Times publishes the following :—" The pariah of Rawmarab, near Ste-Meld, has lately been the scene of very rencarkAle doings on the part of the officiating clergyman. In Novem ber last the rector of Rawmarsh, the ltev. W. R. Mahon, having rcaolved upon spending the winter months in Ire land, took steps for procuring a gentleman to assume his pastoral duties in his absence, and through the medium of an advertisement in the Ecclesiastical Gazette, was brought into communication with an individual who represented himself as the lion. and Rev. B. C. D. F. Fairfax. Arrange , ments were speedily completed, and Mr. Mahon depart,:d for Ireland early to November, not having had an iaterview with Mr. Fairfax, but the latter gentleman having under taken to appear in the pulpit on the ensuing Sabbath. True to the compact, Mr. Fairfax arrived at Raw marsh rectory his future home —on the Saturday evening preparatory to the assumption of the im portant res t dut delegated to him. tie was • young snan—perhaPs eenty-five, or he might be a year or two older. In stature he was tall and 'lender, of dark complexion, with dark eyes and hair. He coon made cerifi dents of divers of the villagers, and upon the minds of these he moat sedulously imprinted .he fact that he was nobly born. His private fortune was represent.' at 20,0001. a year: and the profuse liberality that he began to display seemed to warrant the assertion. The children of the schools were regaled sumptuously during his first week with claret and other good things. He was incenantly active in every part of the parish, and paid marked attention to those who did not form part of his congregation, or who were known to cherish a spirit of hostility to the Established Church. All these were asked why they did nut go to church ; and if a want of suitable personal habiliments was named so an impediment, which, during the existing dull ness of trade, was no doubt in many cases the fact—the ob stacle was at once surmounted "y an order upon the village tailor, or hatter, or shoemaker, or bonnet maker, according to the necessities of the individual. Sy the time that Mr. Fairfax had been a month or so in his new quarter*, and when he found his credit among the trade-people unlimited, he began to make some important additions to his house hold, which hitherto had consisted of only one female domestic. There arrived, one day, at the rectory, a youth whom Mr. Fairfax described as his page, a youth about whom there . ppcared a gra at deal of mystery. There also arrived another personage, even more mysteriou&looking than the former, which led to a very general suspicion that it was a female in disguise. However good Mr Fair fax's credit might be, it soon became esieleut that he had very little money at command. The few payments that he made—and they were few—were mostly in fourpt nay pieces, a description of coin which the villagers brought to him in profusion once a fortnight, as contributions to a clothing club. From this source he received about 71. • fortnight. He was straitened in his finances, he said, on account of his father's steward having absconded with a very large sum of money. When allusion was made to his family connexions and acquaintances, he made the most contradictory state ments. He laid claim to America as the place of hi. birth, and raid that he bad very extensive estates there. He also stated that he was the only eurvivieg son of Lord Fairfax, who was an intimate friend of Earl Fitzwilliam ; but that nobleman, who resides in the neighbourhood, disclaims any knowledge of either Lord Fairfax or his reverend son. The time allotted for Mr. Fairfax's sojourn drawing to a clo , e, sundry tradesmen's accounts were presented for payment. Mr. Mahon returned to Rewmarsh on Friday, the last day in March, and then odd parties dropped in at the rectory, and begged that they might have a settlement of their small accounts, but not a farthing could they get—nothing bu excuses. Sespicions then arose among them thot thee had been duped, and their worst fears were soon straigth . . ned. Mr. Fairfax left the rectory on the following Monday. under the pretence of spending a few days at Whiston rectory, and saying that he should return in a few days ; but it was as cenained that he bad taken up hie quarters at the Prince of Wales Hotel, at blasborough, whence he departed by train in • northwardly direction, at four o'clock on the movniog of the following Friday, without having paid one shilling to his creditors. lie took away with Lim an immense quan tity of luggage—property that he gut from tradespeople at Sheffield, Rotherham, and elsewhere. The page and the other coa.pemion bad been dispatched by train in opposite directions. After Mr. Fairfax's disappearance from Raw marsh under such discreditable circumstances, it oc curred to one of the churchwardens (Mr. Ilan) that Mr. Fairfax had received the amount of a collec tion made in the church on Sunday, the 12th ult., in favour of the Propagation Society, in obedience to the Queen's letter. The sum collected was about '1 ; and Mr. lien, doubting whether his reverence had paid over the amount to the proper parties, has since written to make in quiries, and has received the following relay : Societe for the Propagation of the G,apel in Aweigh Parts, 76, Pall-mall, London, April 17.—T0 Mr. Gorge Hae.—sir, -Is reply to your letter of April 13, I have to inform you that nu amount big been forwarded from liawniarsh to this oftice.—l have, Co —J. Rus sell Treasurer, S.P.G. It is suspected also that a collection for the distressed Irish has shared the tame fate, but this is not certainly known to be the ease. It now turns out, too, that the money which this worthy has received on account of the c'othing club, with the exci puon of the receipts for the first fortnight vita his bare uiuns arrival,been, I i s andn t there Men is paid a de fi citin Leedsd( eo t en e f rnti d, tahte:coe. the iii:widreu residence, pr cp ethtpei E el ot or hesaio,ib tr:e appeased ; alt. ; rwqoa t iwiNu s aristo cratic IT 011 h t oho . It fax) fspa c 2 ; t r rie a ce i Lehte ti . n a c n 7:Td mi d: o 3o : : : h d. l : . e tigta r ei ,: , lL :bo . l F : : :j a ntht k ii;u : 'rf tw ai wn : x r ,upa f l a a m e,y i t.K , a ,h w im hos a e n res ,it t h t r r h to e :o f s they o were te o i.Myh willm.p t Mahon b), proposed." t doped, t ln t i t ie as a v t leteeehaatw.:l;:eat:hr,ehe the ael use :bi pd.di preferencehh to i oouw ( concludes n : words, t: ery as Times) that the missing one's creditors, feeling themselves p f he redress that civil or ecclesiastical law a ff ords them. Ni, doubt THE BI , TIOP OF HEREFORD PREACHED IfFt FARE WELL StRSON to his parishioners at Ewelme, on flit after noon of Easter Sunday. The day being line, persons from the adjoining parishes fl into the village in great num bers. Many came en foot from Oxford, a distance or fourteen miles • and the beautiful little church, which is calciested to seat about 600 persons, was crammed witn a concre. ation of nearly 2,00.). The right rev. prelate took his text from the 20th chapter of Acts, 32nd verse, " Aud cow, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of Isis grac , , which is able to build you up, and to give you an inl.er.tance among all :hem which are sanctified." The divosisse. which was impressive and affectionate, was listined to through out with deep attention. The bishop appeared to oe greatly affected, and several times his feelings well nigh overcame him. He spoke touchingly of his approaching separation from a flock that he had watched over with anxious love and solicitude for a period of 12 years, and assured them that although he was to be their pastor no longer he should continue to entertain towards them the same sentiments of affectionate regard that he had ever done durintr his long residence amongst them. We are sorry to add that, on Saturday evening, Miss Hampden, his lordship's eldest daughter, met with an accident. Whilst riding her horse stumbled, and she was thrown from her saddle and dislocated ti , r shoulder. The, newly appointed Regius Protestor of Divinity at Oxford, Dr. Jacobson. suo- coeds Dr. Hampden as rector of Ewelme. DEVONSH IRE. MURDEROUS ASq.ACLiU.ION — A SOLICITOR.—Mr. al B. mi: o :p . e: Ni: rrt ear appear, b7 u ,aa r , suhrt d a co t e t , ee oreh a t, deto andtof at to rney, maeeowyfl that aC pr o cee dings h a a t gentleman, fo. e , p.c.street,ram Drak e , anot her for B requesting x smt u t renrd, solicitor t , :ountr i o t : im in Paul.s'r,t. Mr. Turner went there, as desired, and found a part: of gentlemen had been dining together. There was smut conversation upon business, and from some muse, not explained, Mr. Ban is described as having become "sulky," and retired to bed. it should be here ststed that Mr. Bail leis in the habit of sleeping at Mr. Drake's house, ' and in the Led-room he occupied was • sword—the mud place where it was kept being well known to Mr. Ball. As we have seated, Mr. Ball retired to bed, and Mr. Tumor felt rather vexed that matters had not presented them. selves satisfactorily to the mind of Mr. Ban. With the in tention of smiotl mg ant irritation he might fe. I, at emut half-past ten o'clock Mr. Turner went up stairs to .Mr. Balls bedroom, either for the purpose of th er e giving ham explanation or persuadine him to descend to the room he had just lett to hear resions assigned, which should rotate