The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-06 00:00:00

MAY 6, 1854. appearance than I see him this evening. (Cheers and laugher.) The president has adverted to the opportunity that the noble lord and his colleagues posers& of advancing the fine arts iu this country. (hear, hear.) I think that the expressions of sympathy on the part of the noble lord and of the Chancellor of the Exchequer are not phrases only to be remembered on the anniversaries of the Royal Academy. I know that it is easy to say that at the present period it is almost impossible either to call public attention ur to apply pnblic resources for the furtherance of the interests of the fine arts, or to support th e efforts that may be made to form and reifine the public taste. But it la a great fallacy to pretend, be cause a nation ie unhappily at war, that the arts of peace ought not to be cultivated. Yon will rather find. if you appeal to history, that it is when a nation feels an thinks the most deeply that the arts moat flourish—(Hear, hear)—and we ought to feel at this moment that we aggravate the evils of war if, while it is our determination to make those efforts that are necessary to vindicate the honour and in terests of this country, we do not also do ell in our power, by our sacrifices and by our energy, to advance the cultivation of the human mind and the refinement of the human intellect. (Cheers.) After all it is a marvel how little is required greatly to assist the public taste. We have had many occasions to mourn over those opportu nities which we have lost from the want of a very small sum advanced by the Government to purchase works which would have improved the public taste. I can ima gine the despair of a public servant when he sees millions expended for the operations of war, and the arrangements of a campaign, and feels that a gallery must be sacrificed, and that the opportunity of obtaining works of art of price less value must be foregone when they might be obtained at a slight expenditure compared with the vast coat that is entailed by the policy which we from a sense of duty pur sue. (Hear.) We ought not to tolerate the opinion that it is necessary to pass those opportunities which may pre sent themselves of advancing the public taste, and we ought, on one day in the year at least, to look forward to the time when it shall be considered the duty of a states man to serve his country and to advance the arts. (Loud cheers.)" " The health of the Lord Mayor and prosperity to the city of London " was accompanied by the expres sion of a slight hope that at some future time the well-being of the City would not be found incompa tible with the external beauty of the metropolis. The toast of the Home Secretary was then given, to which Lord Palmerston replied by a speech in which he mo destly limited his own claim to service in the cause of arts to the passing of a bill for consuming the smoke that destroyed its productions. Other toasts of less interest followed, and the company about ten o'clock dispersed through the rooms to take a passing glance at the pictures. ROYAL LITERARY FUND. THE 65th anniversary of this institution was cele brated on Wednesday evening by a dinner at the Albion Tavern. Viscount Mahon took the chair, supported by a numerous circle. The CHAIItHAN, in proposing the toast of the day, " Prosperity to the Literary Fund," expressed his respect for the motives of the founders and his gratitude for their exertions. He proceeded to enumerate the various advantages of a collateral and adventitious kind which the institution had occasioned : " Among the subservient advantages of a meeting like the present might be numbered the friendly communion which it established between different classes of literary men. A poet who should live only with poets, a novelist who should live only with novelists, an historian who should live only with historians, would acquire but a very slight and imperfect knowledge of the great field of litera ture in which there were so many labourers. flat by a friendly communion of different classes of writers in a meeting like the present, they were each of them enabled to form a juster appreciation of the merits of the rest. And it was not merely the different classes of literary men that were brought together at a meeting like this. It had also the advantage of eliciting the sympathy of various nations. They saw among them not Englishrhen merely, but men who had come from the furthest regions of the earth, all ready like themselves to testify, by taking part in the meeting, their love and their respect for literature. He thought it was a great advantage that these meetings should give an opportunity of union to those who were no strangers to each other in feeling, and who only desired to become better acquain'ed with each other in order to hi crease their mutual friendship and regard. (Hear, hear.) lint this meeting VMS also important from the encourage ment which it must hold out to those younger men who had just entered upon the field of literature. It must be an encouragement to them to see, as might continually be seen at these annual meetings, men who had attained to great eminence in various professions and walks of life come forward and express the delight and gratification which, in the midst of their pursuits, they had derived from the study of literature. It must be an encouragement to young men of letters to see some of the most eminent men of every profession in this country brought together by their love for that study, for it was certainly a remark able and an animating fact that we might point to some of to most learned persons, to some of those who had ined the greatest eminence in this country, as men who apart from their professional distinction, had achieved ' gr?.at renown in literature. If they looked amongst the tt-cessful physicians they would find that Halford and Idolland were distinguished, the one for his classical pro s ductions in the Latin language, while the other wag dis tinguished not in one but in many branches of literature. If to the law, he had only to mention the names of Brougham or Canning, or refer to that eminent man THE PRESS. (Sergeant TaHowl) whose loss they all so deeply de plored. (thar, hear.) In geology and classical learning they had the Deans of Westminster and St. Paul's, and it' they looked to the higher ranks of the Church they would find letters most worthily represeneed in the persons of a Thirlwall or a Whately. (Hear.) Again, iu turning to the politicians they arrived at the same results. There were politicians who read nothing but blue-hooka, some who looked down upon literature with contempt, and some who looked upon literary men from the point of view taken by Goldsmith in The Good-nairred Man. They might remember in that play that when somebody mentioned Waller to Mr. Lofty, the latter said, " Waller, is he in the house? " He feared that there were still some Loftys left, but where did they find them? Not amongst the higher classes of politicians. Fox always clung to his Dryden and Shakspeare, or indulged in the composition of Italian canzonets; and Pitt never ceased in his attachment to classical literature. But where could he find a more appropriate instance than the case of their own president, the Marquis of Lansdowne, who, having obtained a seat in the Cabinet forty-eight years since, held one in it at the present moment? (Cheers.) He believed that such a ease was wholly without precedent, but of each men it might be said, as was said of Mr. Pitt, that their love of intellectual pursuits, independent of political avocations, flowed pure and undefiled as the fabled fountain of Arethuss, through all the bitterness of party. Such were the intelt.ectual advantages of institutions like the present, bat other and more substantial ones ought also to be men tioned. The noble lord proceeded to allude to the well known cases of Milton, Otway, and the early days of Dr. Johnson, and concluded with a powerful appeal on behalf of the charity." Lord STANLEY, in proposing the health of the chairman, complimented his lordship on hie long apprenticeship in the noblest political school in the world, the British House of Commons. In that house the three great leaders of political parties, the three most eminent men in the House of Commons, were men not merely of literary sympathies, but were distinguished in the literary walk themselves. Lord J. Russell was not only an author, but an historian ; Mr. Gladstone was responsible for a great deal of pub. lishers' ink ; and Mr. Ihsraeli had, as they were all aware, made his early reputation solely by his literary efforts. The noble lord concluded with a compliment on the chair man's history of England, which he said was moot popular in all the mechanics' libraries. A list of subscriptions, considerably exceeding 1,0001., was read during the evening by Dr. Russell, the treasurer, who announced that in the course of the past year 1,4001. had been dispersed to various recipients, under the auspices of the society. THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY held their annual " May meeting" on Tuesday, in Exeter-hall, with the Earl of Chichester in the chair. From the report, read by the Rev. J. Venn, it appeared that the amounts received by the society during the past year had been as follows :—General fund, 110,4781.135. 2d.; fund for disabled missionaries, 2,0161. lls.; China mission, 8031. 2s. ld. ; total received in the United Kingdom, 113,2981. 6s. 3d.; local funds, raised and expended in the missions, 10,(.171.125. tid. • making the gross income for the year, 123,915/. 18s. lid., being tm J.ncreitee over that of last year of 2,983/. 15e. The expenditure, including general, special, and local funds, amounted to 181,7831.135.11 d., being an excess over the income of 7,8071.155. The following were the principal statistics of the society's missions pre sented in the report : Number of stations, 11a; English clergymen, lea; foreign clergymen, 44; Native and East Indian clergymen, 24; European laymen, 30 ; European female teachers, 14; native catechists and teachers of all classes, Len ; attendants on Christian worship in the society's missions throughout the valid, esti mated at, 107,000; number of conununicants, 17,124. The report dwelt at length on the extension, effected or contem plated, of several of the society's most important missions; to the success attending the labours of its agents; the promising character of many of the converts (especially those in the Pun jab, the fifths, and the Mulrie); and the probable effects on missionary enterprise of the various movements at present agitating she world. Of the revolution in China a hopeful, yet anxious, expectation was expressed, it being stated that the in surgent leader kept 400 men constantly employed in printing portions of Gutzlaff's version of the Scriptures, making his • soldiers colportetira, and his oilioers expounders. The meeting was addressed by Lord Haddo, Lord Benholme, the Bishop of Sierra Leone, the Hon. and Rev. S. Wakiegrave, the Rev. Hugh Stowell, and other gentlemen. A ItIEETINte OF THE AUSTRALASIAN PACIFIC STEAM COMPANY took place on Tuesday, whenit was formally agreed to wind up. The sale of three vessels to a French steam company has been completed for 170,0001., and the directors intend to make a first re payment of 5/. per share in June. The ultimate li quidation is expected to show a profit. Yabr plan. ANoTrirr: " Thu." Aeries came before the Exche quer Court on Tuesday, the endorser seeking to re °over its amount, 1001., earl the acceptor pleading that he had received no consideration for the bill, and that the plaintiff knew that fact The defendant, Mr. John }halm, was it seems a young gen demon. the in 01.,issarias of large fortune in Scotland, end had, at the request of a person named Elliott, entrusted hint with a bill at two month* for KM to get discounted for him. Elliott brought this bill to one Newoome, clerk to some attorneys in Paper-buildings, and gave it to bias on the understanding that he was to "get it aura: - to akw daps. Newsome and his bro ther, who kept a betting-oMce, gave Elliott 111. as a loan to him- self, but he understood that it was to oome out of the bill. New come returned the bill ie Elliott skean Mips before it. was due and Elliott took it to a man of the name of Welshman, who re, fused to discount it at so short a date. Elliott then returned the bill to Newsome. Nothing more was heard of the bill until Sherwood, the present plaintiff, wrote a letter to hitiiklam stating that he held an overdue acceptance of his, had sued the drawer, and obtained judgment against him, but wee now obliged to pro ceed against the acceptor. The defendant's counsel now submitted that enough was shown to entitle him to call 011 the plaintiff to prove consideration. Mr. Baron ALM:II9ON, after consulting the other learned ba rons sitting in IWI meet, said that. they were of opinion that, the consideration should be proved. Mr. PrTLIMOIIII, for the plaintiff, laid that nothing mild gratify him wore than the opportunity of proving his case. Mr. Baron ALDEZION If I had known that I should not have troubled the Court. 1 thought he was a reluctant man. (Great laughter.) Mr. PtiTZMIDOIFT then eontendedthat emisidenition had beet given for the endorsement. Mr. tiherwood's cane was that New. come was In his debt to the amount of nearly Set and being im portuned for payment handed over the bill without communi cating to him the circumstances under which it was entrusted to him. Some evidence was called to substantiate this view of the case, but ultimately the plaintiff was nonsuited, the learned baron describing the case as a gross fraud. The bill was ordered to be impounded. A Nome preliminary to a new trial in a curious libel case was made on Tuesday in the Court of Ex chequer : The plaintiff is a surgeon of Bath, named Cos, and the defen dant is Mr. Carrington, the editor of the Bath Chroniele. In leail Mr. Cox was attending iu his professional character upon a boy named Bourne, who was under age, and dependent upon hie mo tber. The lad upon his recovery made arrangements to gu to Australia, and, having made application to the plaintiff as to the amount of his bill, was given to understand that it was between 21. and 31. Just as be was going to start, however, the plaint ff Lad him arrested under a claim of 211. Ss., and he was fumed to pay 151. before he was allowed to go. An action for a malicious arrest was afterwards brought at Taunton, sad a verdict wits re covered against Cox, who took no steps whatever to set it aside, and, when the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association took steps to investigate the case, Cox withdrew from the society, and the defendant gave in his paper a correct account of what took place at the meeting. Shortly afterwards • municipal election took place. Parties grew warm--Conaervatives were arrayed against Liberals—the Balk (Armtek against the Bath Journal; and Coe, it was insinuated, seized the opportunity to put down ell that had occurred to conservative) persecution. Thus pro voted, the Bath Chronicle stated in retaLation that the buy had made an affidavit before a magistrate hi Australia, denying the attendances of the surgeon altogether, or that the operation charged for was ever performed. This wan the libel complained of, sad the del i in his justification, alleged that the emu tuition atrainst the Conservatives formed a proper occasion for the publication, and that he believed the contents of the afildavit to be true. This, it was contended, was • euticient defence, al though it was not averred that the facts were absolutely true, ou which issue might be joined and the trial proceed ou the merits. The Court granted a rule to show cause. TIIE POLEMICAL CONTEST IN ST. PAUL'S, KNIGHTS BRIDGE, has resulted in some practical manifesta tions, which at length came under the cognisance of Mr. Broderip, at the Westminster Police Court. Since the election for churchwardens of the parish came off on Easter Tuesday, the excitement among the opposing parties increased rapidly, and some riotous proceedings having taken place, summonses were obtained against the functionaries of the churches in question, for taking an active part in the matter. At the hearing on Tuesday last the court was crowded by many noble and influential inhabitants of the parishes : The care heard was one against the Rev. Charles F. Lowder, senior curate of tit. Barnabait. The defendant had warmly es poused the ranee of one esadidate, and the consplsinant, a board man, named Ledwitch, was emploled on the other side. Com plainant was carrying a board in Ebury-street, where he was at tacked by several boys, who threw scores of eggs at him, the oust. tents of which covered him from head to foot. The defendant, it was stated, not only incited the boys to throw the eggs, but had also furnished the Inieelles. The rev. gentleman had ad mitted it in a letter, and had promised to make reparation to the boardman. It was thought, however, so far to concern the pub lic that a public apology was called for. There was no vindictive feeling against the defendant, and if he now made a similar apo logy to the one contained in the letter the complainant offered to withdraw the charge. The defendant said he was prepared to do en. In a moment of intemperance be had supplied the eggs to the boys, and be hoped the ease would be snowed to drop. Mr. lieoeeeir : The case is at an end, and I can only say that I hope that no more of such unseemly scenes will take place. The parties then withdrew. THE LATE FROSTS, according to the Gardeners' Chronicle, have committed terrible destruction among the fruit crops. On the night of the 24th the ther mometer fell to 18 deg., or 14 deg. below freezing, the frost being what is termed a black frost, of the most pervading description. Apple, pear, plum, and cherry blossoms were everywhere killed. There may be a few from later blossoms, and a few naturally late-blooming apples, but all the most valuable are completely destroyed. The shoots of walnuts are hanging wet, black, and soft, as if parboiled. There is no record of the thermometer having been thus low in April, near London, in the present century at least. Accounts from the surrounding counties are to the same effect. Near Tunbridge Wells the most abun dant young crop of apricots, peaches, and pearswhich bad been seen for several years was entirely de stroyed. In Hampshire the whole of the blooms on the cherries, pears, plums, and apples totally perished ; also the young apricots, which were larger than damsons, and all the greengage plums, as well as rhubarb, and every asparagus heed which was above ground. At Sawbridgeworth all the wall fruit which was not well covered, all the standard pear, plum, and cherry blossoms, and the greater part of the apples, if not an, utterly perished. • i p