The Press. — London, England, 1857-06-06 00:00:00

JUNE 6, 1857. schoolmaster is an essential agent in the work of public improvement; but, after all, he is a human invention, a secondary instrument, whose business is, in the first place, to supply the deficiencies of parents, and, in the second, to furnish a complement to the ministrations of the Church. It will be a kid day for England when he usurps the functions of the Christian minister. Let his hands be strengthened; let the system of education be more religious ; but do not let religion stop there. Even in school the influence of the clergyman must be felt, and it must continue to be exercised for the benefit of young persons long after they have left school. The right hon. gentleman concluded by expressing his warmest wishes for the success of the proposed society. Mr. HARCOURT seconded the resolution, which was carried with acclamation. The other resolw ions, which we subjoin, were moved and seconded in due order :- 2. That in many parishes a population has grown up in hamlets and places remote from the parish church, and out of the reach of ministerial superintendence ; and that a population so circumstanced is too commonly found to fall away into religious indifference and moral depravity. :I. „ That the scanty endowments of many of our parr). chial churches are inadequate to meet this difficulty by the employment of an additional clergymen. 4. That though. through the piety of liberal benefactors, much good has been effected by the erection of new churches and the formation of new parochial districts in this diucese, yet those districts, though often compre. bending very large numbers of people, are scarcely ever sufficiently endowed to maintain one clergyman, much less to enable him to obtain the assistance of a curate where necessary. 5. That it is highly desirable to provide for the supply of curates to assist the incumbents of parishes and districts where such aid is thus urgently required. 6. That the pressing, though temporary, wants of our existing parochial system might be supplied, and the working power of the system might also be greatly in. creased, if duly qualified persons could be appointed to assist, under the sanction of the bishop. such parochial clergymen as might desire their aid for special purposes or on special occasions. 7. That for these purposes there be now founded a society, to be called " The Oxford Diocesan Spiritual Help Society." THE NAVIGATION OF THE EUPHRATES. WE have heard much lately about the Euphrates Valley Railway, and of the navigation of that river. The commander of the Planet steamer, now attend• ing the Persian expedition at Niohammeraso, recently, by desire of Sir James Outram, made au attempt to ascend the Euphrates. The Planet drew only 8 ft. 8 in. water, and the following was the result :-- We proceeded onward about thirty miles higher up than Medina, and not one of the villages marked on the map as existing on the right bank of the river in ltt:lti remains, with the exception of a few reed huts belonging to the Haddadiyen, opposite the ground or rather marsh occupied by the Beni Setid. So far, however, we got on very well, and realised the soundings as Oven by Chesney. A little further on the river gradually shoaled, and in a space of four miles was reduced in depth from three fathoms to three feet. Here we stuck fast in the mud, and with diffi• culty turned the steamer (which the channel barely ad- mitted), and, after several attempts to discover deeper water, were reluctantly obliged to return. The native pilots and others had forewarned us that such would be the result, but we determined to try, and were unfortu• nately unsuccessful. The whole country hereabouts is literally under water for miles and miles on both sideq, a small low islet here and there covered with green rushes being the only visible sign of existing land. Even the ruiddling•sized bitumen boats, we were told, are obliged to transfer their cargoes into canoes, in order to their being transported over these shallows, which extend to within fifteen miles of Sook•Esh•Shyiookh, and, beginning again a little above that town, continue as high up as Diwaniyeh, taking in the Lamloom marshes. From all accounts col lected on the spot, it seems pretty certain that the old channel of the Euphrates has been destroyed, and the river now discharges an immense volume of water over the surrounding country. So much, indeed, is this the case, that the nearest actual route at this season to Basra or Zebair from the northward is through the floodings which extend to those places from about Beni &Rid, which to some parts are said to be from two to three fathoms in depth. 1 have it, moreover, on reliable anthcrity that the old channel of the Euphrates from Diwaniyeh to Sook lish Shyiookh is also unnavigable except for very small boats, the larger craft being obliged to resort to a deeper and more modern offshoot on the left bank; but even there much difficulty is experienced in tracking and poling them to Soak. As all this has taken place since Colonel Chesney's survey, and is owing to the destruction of the river embankments, it becomes rather a grave question whether it is at present practicable to construct a railway in the valley of the river. The reconstruc tion of the embankments would be a necessary pre liminary, and what would be the cost? Loran BROUGHAM was present on Monday at the meeting of the scientific section of the French Institute in Paris, and read a paper of great research, "On Paradoxes imputed to the Integral Calculus." The noble and learned lord reappeared in the House of Lords on Thursday, in the full onjoymaut of his usual vigour and good spirits, THE PRESS. THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE AT BIR MINGHAM. CUTIIORPE-PARK, about a mile and a half out of Birmingham on the Pershore•road (presented by Lord Calthorpe as a place of public recreation to the artisans of Birmingham), was formally inaugu• rated on Monday by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. The day was unusually fine, and observed as a general holiday in the manufactories, for whose inmates the grounds are intended as a place of out-door pleasure and amusement. His Royal Highness arrived from town about half past twelve, and, after a short stay, accompanied the mayor to the Town-hall, where a brilliant company, including the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord Calthorpe, Lord Leigh, the Bishop of Worcester, Earl Talbot, Lord logestre, the Earl of Lichfield, Lord Hatherton, &c., were invited to meet his Royal Highness at luncheon. The entertainment being concluded, the Duke of Cambridge proceeded from the ante-room into the hall, and received addresses from the Corporation, the Committee of Small Arms, the Proprietary School, and the Society of Arts. That from the Corporation, as a matter of course, tock precedence. His Royal Highness, replying to the corporation address, observed: — The expressions of goodwill towards myself as head of the army are the highest compliment that, as a soldier, could be paid to me, and it will ever be my earnest endea vour to do justice to the confidence reposed in me by a gracious Sovereign, and thus to merit the good opinion of yourselves and the country. But I appear among you to day more in my social position in civil life, anxious by my presence to do honour to a great work judiciously designed, and, thanks to the liberality of a generous nobleman, suf ficiently completed to be inaugurated on the present occasion. Undertakings of this description must tend to the improvement and general advancement of all classes of the community ; and it is a great pleasure and happi ness to see so many joining in their various ways towards furthering so useful and excellent a design. May its objects be fully and completely attained, and may they conduce to the happiness of thousands of our fellow countrymen who inhabit the important borough in which we are now assembled. The public are indebted to all of you, gentlemen, who have assisted in this good work, and I am happy to be permitted to congratulate you on the success of such an occasion. Again I thank you for the honour you have done me in asking me to become your guest, and for the loyalty of the sentiments expressed in your address towards her Majesty and her family, and for the warmth of your reception of myself. When these presentations were concluded his Royal Highness proceeded at once to open the park. A procession of carriages was formed, and made its way amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the populace to the New Park. The appearance of the Duke, Lord Calthorpe, and the mayor, elicited the most enthusiastic cheering. Every street upon the whole line was decorated with banners, and densely crowded with the working classes of the town. Upwards of 100,000 persons were present. The arrival of the Duke was announced by a dis charge of cannon, and his Royal Highness at once proceeded, in company with Lord Calthorpe, to plant "inauguration cedars," and so soon as that ceremony was concluded his Royal Highness, amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the multitude, declared the park "open to the people." In the eveninglhis Royal Highness was entertained at a banquet by the mayor at the Deer Hotel. Upwards of 200 noblemen and gentlemen were invited. His Royal Highness, in replying to his health, said:— Gentlemen, it may in some respects appear strange that I, a soldier, should come among you on such an occasion as that we have this day witnessed. I venture to think there is nothing very extraordinary in that fact. When my worthy friend, the mayor, and a deputation from your selves, waited upon me, and invited me to attend at so interesting a ceremony, I did not for one moment hesitate. Why did 1 not hesitate? Because I conceived that you, gentlemen, and my noble friend on my right (Lord Calthorpe), to whose liberality I know you are much indebted, were engaged in a good work, and I wanted, in my humble capacity, or in any capacity I could, to bear my testimony, and the testimony of the many noble friends I am happy to see around me this day, to so useful, advan tageous, and excellent an undertaking. We live, thank God, in the greatest commercial country of the world. To you it is owing that this country is the respected and glorious and great country which England is at this moment. But to whom, gentlemen, do you look for assistance in carrying out the great projects you have con stantly, hourly, and daily in hand, but to those artisans, those men we haw in the streets to-day, without whose assistance you would be unable to carry on your great undertakings. At the same time they could not live in the comfort and enjoyment we could wish to see them in without the reciprocal assistance and mutual support they receive from you. A great nation, a great empire based on such principles, founded on the mutual support of all classes of the community in their proper sphere, a country so circumstanced cannot but thrive. The Duke passed Tuesday in inspecting the dif ferent factories, and returned to town highly gratified Wio bje rea43oon at pirmiughtp, 551 THE DUKE OF CLEVELAND ON THE REFORM BILL. THE Duke of Cleveland presided at a Conservative dinner, in Darlington, on Monday, given to Mr. Ferrer, the late member for South Durham. About 450 electors were present. In giving the toast of the day, viz., "The health of Mr. Ferrer," the Duke expressed at some length his opinions respecting the prospect of a new Reform Bill. Professing his readiness to give the proposals of Lord Palmerston his most careful consideration, the noble duke said : What most people are anxious for is, an extension of the franchise. But to begin with, I hope all anomalies will be got rid of, and that the small constituencies, of which there are so many, and which I cannot help saying are a dis grace to the country, will he done away with, and their members given to larger bodies of persons. Now, gentle. men, so far from holding that an extension of the franchise in counties would be injurious, if extended in the way it ought to be and amongst those who ought to have it— those who from their education ani station in life ought, according to the spirit of the age, to be enfranchised—l hold that the Constitution would be materially benefited. What are the classes to which I allude? Well, there are many with large money qualifications resident in counties, but who, from various causes, are not qualified now to be on the register, who ought, in my opinion, to have a vote for the county in which they reside. I will not only say that every man that has 1001. a year, but I would even go lower, and say that those who have 501. a year, no matter from what it comes, are fully entitled to the franchise in counties. This would include all curates, almost every village schoolmaster, clerks in mercantile offices, barks, and railways, and others; and it cannot be denied that all these persons are entitle to the franchise and ought to have it. There is another class of persons whom it has been attempted to bring in, but who, I hope to God, never will be brought in, and that is the renters of 101. houses. Rely upon my words, if that is once done, the landed interest in every county in England is extinguished for ever. Upon whet principle, let me ask, is the journeyman mason or carpenter, who resides in one town in one county this year, and in another town in another county next year, who has no permanent residence or stake in any county—upon what principle is be to claim a county vote? The noble duke proceeded to remark that with only one noticeable exception all the great landed proprietors of the district supported Mr. Farrer, and then asked, "Is the landed interest to be ex tinguished or not, or is it to have its due share in the representation ?" Gentlemen, this is 4 question more for you than for me, but whatever may be your opinion, and whatever your actions, you may always rely upon my support. We have heard some talk of coalitions between candidates. I think them unjustifiable, but they are within the law, and it is not at present posbible to prevent them. lam not without hopes, however, that in the new Reform Bill this may be remedied. Lord John Russell, seeing the hardship of 3,500 out of 6,000, for example, monopolising the whole representation by split votes, indicated a way in which this could be obviated. The only way—and though it was not his own proposition, he hoped it would be adopted—was to allow electors in counties returning three members to give only two votes. In Berks, Herta, and other counties, it had before now happened that by coalescing, three agricul• tural candidates have kept out their opponent, call him Whig, Radical, or what you will. Now, a Reform Bill should not have regard to particular interests, but should have for its object justice to all, and he therefore hoped it would be enacted that no county voter should be enabled to vote for more than two out of three members, or for more than one out of two. This would be the most effectual bar to coalitions, and the most popular men would then be elected. " The health of the member for North Durham having been drunk, Lord A. VANE 'rEmrEsr responded, and ridiculed the pretensions of the Whigs to be a popular Govern ment : The present Liberal Government was composed of one duke, one marquis, five earls, four viscounts, three lords, and nine baronets. He was proud to see the great families of the country taking their share in the government, but in what sense could any peerage of this sort be styled the Government of the people? The time was coming when people would no longer believe thatthere could be no liberty or happiness except under Whig oligarchical rule, and when they would see that men of great Conservative name were as much actuated by love of country as the few fami lies who had long held alethargic monopoly of rule and a real monopoly of patronage and place. THE YOUNG AUSTRIAN ARCHDUCHESS SOPHIA, who died last week, was a great favourite with the ladies of Vienna, who had always some little story to tell about her. One of her peculiarities was well known. She had a great antipathy to her gloves, but never failed to have them put on before she came to the gate of the city which leads to the Prater (the Hyde park of Vienna), as she had been told that the guard had received orders not to turn out and beat the drum when children passed with a pair of un covered hands dangling out of the window of the carriage. _ . THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT have appointed the Rev. H. I. Swale, M.A., Queen's College, Oxford, to the office of Chaplain to the British Embassy, Paris i ygeiglt t 7 09 death Of the gev, Jule, p.p,