The Press. — London, England, 1857-04-18 00:00:00

APRIL 18,1857. possession of qualities which, in some countries, it is supposed that long descent alone can confer? What finer proof that there now exists in England a more valuable equality than demo crats dream of, than that " The House of Stan .ey " was one of the very next toasts to that of the hero of the day? On this occasion, Mr. HORSFALL spoke for Liverpool, declaring this a fitting opportunity for the chief city of English commerce " gracefully to say to the son, " that it entertains the highest respect and regard for his illustrious " father, one who takes so deep an interest in the town of Liverpool, " and which has been shown on no occasion more than on a recent " one, when he presented to its inhabitants a must magnificent col " lection of natural history, known as the Derby Museum.' " Lord STANLEY'S reply is well worthy of notice, He spoke strongly as to the undiminished existence of local attachment and local sympathy. We who come from Lancashire," he said, " look upon one another " with mutual friendship and goodwill." The lavers of change who would substitute " electoral districts " for counties, would also, we sup• pose, substitute some abstract ideas in place of friendship and goodwill. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON took occasion to show, from the position of Liverpool itself, that the voluntary principle in its highest develop ment seldom sufficiently provides for popular education ; that very rarely, indeed, can it be expected that the will and the power to do good. should be united, as in the case of Mr. BROWN. Mr. Wir.LiAsr RUSSELL (Our own Correspondent) is announced to commence his Lectures on the Crimean War at Willis's-rooms on the 28th inst. The course will consist of three lectures, and the price of an admission for the three is announced at two guineas. Mr. Russell, has proved himself to possess great ability of a popular kind, and it is rumoured that his lectures will comprise revelations which he has not hitherto thought it expedient to publish. There can be no doubt that he will make his lectures exceedingly amusing; ut that metropolitan audiences will be found for them at the rate announced is exceed ingly problematical. Mr. RUSSELL does not, we hear, intend to avail himself of scenic accompaniments, but will exhibit ground plans to illustrate his narrative. We hope the experiment will answer his expectations. He richly deserves some substantial token of public appreciation ; and in the provinces we imagine that his lectures at a moderate price, and with agreeable accompaniments, will command great popularity. Mr. ltessELL stands on a different footing from the literary gentlemen who have lately taken up with the trade of lecturing. His attainments are of a showy kind, and may without degradation be turned to showy uses. The very eminent gentleman who has recently set up a booth for Iris personal exhibition has by this time, we believe, discovered the great mistake he has made. His error has inflicted a deeper sting than even the loss of literary reputation. We have no desire further to pursue a painful subject than to express a hope that he will at once desist from a practice unworthy his abilities, and attended by this among other evil consequences, that it leads him to court vulgar applause, and to minister to vitiated tastes, instead of giving fair play to the higher instincts of his genius. Every one must have observed with pleasure how greatly the atmosphere of the metropolis has been purified since factories of all kinds have been compelled to consume their own smoke. Those tall chimneys which formerly belched forth dense volumes of noxious vapours, poisoning the air, and pouring down showers of " blacks," are now rendered harmless—not a trace of smoke issues from them ; and though, of course, the numerous fires of private houses very sensibly and disagreeably cloud the atmosphere, yet the nuisance is mate rially abated to the great advantage of both the health and comfort of metropolitan denizens. Now, we should like to know why the same beneficial law should not be applied to the provinces. We could name some manufacturing localities, where, from the crowding together of tall chimneys within a narrow space, the nuisance is infinitely greater than it ever was in any metropolitan district. The night breeze is never sufficient to clear off the accumulations of the day, and most commonly a densely-crowded community of artisans is condemned to breathe this deleterious atmosphere in addition to suffering from numerous other unhealthy influences attached to their e mdition. Why should this great evil continue? It is now clearly proved that furnaces may, at a very trifling cost, be made to consume their own smoke ; and there can be no reason whatever why manufacturing localities should bo exempt from the regulation which has proved so salutary in the metropolis. BISHOP-MAKING. A DIALOGUE. THE PREMIER.-LORD SHAFTESBURY. The PREMIER.—Pass the wine,Anthony. Well, I wonder whether you will have to make any more Bishops for me. Lord SHAFIESBURY.—I should be sorry, as a Christian, to say that I trust so ; but there are eeveral dioceses-- The PREMIER.-Whiuh you would be glad, as an Evangelical, to see vacant. Lord SHAFTESBURY.—No, not vacant, but occupied by serious cha - racters. The PREMIER.—I take your word for the new man being all right. only look to the horse's pedig r ee ; y ou mus t ans wer f or t h e runn i ng. Lord SHAFTESBURY (deprecatingly).—My dear Lord, we are talking of the Heads of the Church; you speak as if they came out of stables. The PREMIER —They come out of stalls, anyhow. So I'm not so far wrong, after all. 385 Lord SHAFTESBURY.—I can only wait and hope that ono of these days you may take a graver view of the subject. The PREMIER.—If I did, I might get appointing my own men. Now you have it all your own way. Let's see, Villiers, Baring, Langley, Bickersteth, Pelham—that's a pretty good haul fur your net, St. Anthony. Lord SHAFTESBURY.—AII worthy men, and it's a great privilege to be able to help them into places where the good work may be done. The PREMIER.—As I said, I suppose it's all right. But if I cared about the matter, you know, I would as soon think of arranging the Bishops in your fashion as, if i were driving a donkey to market, I'd put all his load into one pannier. Lord SuArrEstiony.—What au illustration ! The PREMIER.-4 swear it's highly Claphamite, and, what's more, it's to the purpose. One of these days—not in my time, perhaps, but hi your's—you'll have a Free Kirk in England, if you go on as you are now doing. Lord SHAFTESBURY.—We arc, I humbly trust, in the plain path of appointed duty, and if pleases Providence that offence shall come, it is out of our hands. The PREMIER.—Bother. Lord SHAFTERBURY.—Eh The PREMIER.—I say bother; you'll excuse a familiar phrase in a poor Irishman? Lord SHAFTESBURY.—WeII, it is not exactly the sort of reply one expects to a religious observation, made in all humility. The PREMlER.—Neither humility nor religion in the matter, excuse me. You are an excellent fellow, and nobody more sincere. I'm an outsider, and care for none of these things like what's his name—Gallipot-- Lord SHAFTESBURY (g►'oans).—Gallio. The PREMIER.—Him's the nigger. Well, but I can see a little that you can't or won't see. You'll have a Free Kirk. That is to say the other side in the Church will not stand being handed over to your sectarian Bishops. You'll have an emeute. Lord SHAFTESBCRY.—I can only repeat what I have said. The PRENIIER —Don't—you are told to avoid vain repetitions. I wish, in earnest, that before the next mitre tumbles oil' you'd con. sider whether one of the other side ought not to have it. lam certain that my old plan of giving the bishoprics sandwich fashion—alter nate slice of Clapham and Pusey—was the real secret of preserving the peace of the Church. Lord SHAFTESBURY.—Insincere in the highest degree. The PaEutr.a.—lnsincere as far as regards doctrines, and all that, which is of minor imports.cce, and which no two people can agree upon; but very sincere as regards friendship for the Establishment, and its permanence, a matter which you sectarians seem to consider very little indeed. Lord SHAFTESBURY.—I fully comprehend you, my dear Lord, but we are not to do evil that good may come. The PREMIER.—Who wants you to do evil? All I suggest—mind, I don't care a farthing about it, the row won't come in my time, but— I suggest that it is worth while to remember that there is a large party in the Church as zealous as yourselves, and with a great deal more learning (to say nothing to you, a non-worldly man, of immense wealth and influence), and that it seems a blunder to turn these people into enemies of the Established Church, as your tactics are doing. Lord SHAFTESBURY.—Without departing from my original ground, that there is a right and a wrong, I assure you that you are in error in detail. About zeal I say nothing, but as for learning— The PREMIER.—Come, out of your new batch is there one who knows Cyprian from Origen ? Lord SHAFrEBBURY.—Well—yes—I dare say Dr Bickerstcth does, because there was a commentator in his family : but that is of small consequence. Who was Cyprian and who was Origen, that in the nineteenth century a Bishop ought to be acquainted with them ? The PREMIER.—Nay, if you put it to me with that serious face, I can't tell you. Perhaps the less a Bishop knows of Cynrians the better ; and Origen invented original sin, which you know I have abolished—there, don't look shocked. What I mean is that you Evan gelicals are held to be very deficient in theological learning ; and as a Bishop ought to be able to defend his Church, your ignorance is thought to be a little scandalous. Lord SHAFTESBURY.—EntireIy a mistake. The PREMIER —l'm glad to hear it, but the other side have some able men, I don't believe one of our new lat would pass the Bishop of Exeter's examination. Lord SHAFTESBURY.—I trust not. The FREMIER.—Tbere you arc, you see, wrapped up in spiritual pride, and regardless of Christian charity. You are a Dissenter, and you are splitting up the Church! But if you say it's all right, and the matter is in your line. I've done, and you may give the next mitre to Baptist Noel if you like. Lord SHAFTESBUILY.—He has seen . his way clear to leaving the Establishment, dear fellow. The PREMIER.—He'II see it back again, perhaps, if you hold up a mitre; but, if not, there's Spurgeon. Lord SHAITESBURY.—WeII, well, all will be overruled for good. The PREMIER.—I don't know about your ruling, but your lines will fall in very unpleasant places if you don't mind. But it's your business. Pass the wine, Shaftesbury the bishop-maker. Ad te, Dentine. THE PRESS.