The Press. — London, England, 1855-03-24 00:00:00

• But as Mr. Parry was quite contented for the space of twelve years with that system which he now denounces as dishonest., may we not suppose that be will be equally disgusted with Rome alter the same period of trial ? We looked into Mr. Parry's pamphlet with some expectation of finding the Romish religion upheld by the most potent argu ments of sophistry. But nothing of the sort is there. The author at great length attempts to prove Protestantism a mere human system ; but the only passage in support of the Church of Rome is the following:- - - - The Roman Catholic Church has no rival as a divine teacher, no limit to her power. She points you to the mighty works she performs, to the Scriptures in which you think you believe, to the certainty of her own children, to the testimony of her adversaries, and to the wants of human nature. If uncertainty suits you, you will reject her, because she allows no doubt ; but if it is a supreme wit;:ess that you seek, you will tall down in gratitude at her feet. You will not examine into her doctrines before you believe in her, for that would be making yourself her judge ; nor will you be trying those doctrines by any standard whatever that men way set up, for she is the only divine standard of truth. She brings you the revelation, and you accept it on her supreme authority; and you cannot, therefore, interpret that revelation against herself. It you leave her, there is no other to whom you can go ; and if authority is wanted for your faith, yon cannot have it out of her. She has the words of eternal life, and teaches, without permission to doubt, the most momentous doctrines. She unfolds them, in due season, as God sees good. You may doubt her if you choose, but you cannot supply her place. All over the world she has but one creed—one majestic system. if she is in error, it is the most gigantic error the mind can imagine. If she is in error, there can be no certain truth. Here we stop in amazement, and ask who is Mr. Charles E. Parry, 8.A., that he is to give us a page full of dogmas on his cwn authority ? Rome's only claim to infallibility is that no one may examine into her doctrines. Why ;nay not every other Church demand the same privileg -? The enlistment of "common sense " into the ranks of Rome is certainly a novelty ; but we believe it will be found but an incon venient recruit. Mr. Parry has acted wisely in leav ing any that he possessed behind him. American Liberty and Government Questioned. By Thomas Ryle. London : Longmans. THE purpose of this volume is to set forth the un favorable opinion which many eminent American authorities have expressed of the democratic govern- Ment of their country. That government, in Mr. Ryle's judgment, though favorable to the material progress of America, is adverse to the moral and in tellectual cultivation of the people. The cheap un licensed press is set down as one of the " cardinal corruptions " of the States. The following remarks deserve attention at a moment when a great change in our newspaper press is proposed : In America there are many journals and periodicals that would do honour to any land ; but alas! these are few compared to the legion of halfpenny firebrands, in bad small print, with calumny, slander, licentious tales, party faction, and demagogism for their principal stock in trade. From this foul source the general information, knowledge, anti literary taste of the "majority" is almost entirely taken. We add an extract from Mr. Fenimore Cooper's opinion of the American press : The press tyranises over public men, letters, the arts, the stage, and even over private life. Under the pretence of protecting public morals, it is corrupting them to the core, and under the semblance of maintaining liberty, it is gradually establishing a despotism as ruthless, as grasping, and one that is quite as vulgar, as that of any Christian state known. With loud professions of freedom of opinion there is no tolerance; with a parade of patriotism no sacri fice of interests ; and with fulsome panegyrics on pro priety too frequently no decency. In America, while the contest was for great principles, the press aided in eleva ting the common character, in improving the common mind, and in maintaining the common interests. It is employed, as a whole, in fast undermining its own work, and in preparing the nation for some terrible reverses, if not in calling " down upon it a just judgment of Uod." The volume is intelligently compiled, and may be usefully consulted for competent authorities on the practical working of democratic government in a country where it can be tried under the most favor able circumstances. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. BOOKS. Frank 11 - adman's Adventures. F. Gerstacker. Routledge. The Court of England under the Stuarts. Vol 111. Bentley. History of Modern Italy. R. H. Wrighton. Ditto. The Vicar of Wake fi eld. Van Voorst. Hart's Army List for 18.55. Murray. ACCORDING to common acceptation, Jenny Lind (Mrs. Goldsmidt) has resumed professional life for a time. in order to raises thereby an endowment fund for an hospital in kl -t OC-.10.M. A r a meeting of the Distressed Needlewomen's Committee, held on Thursday, it was resolved that all females employed by the society should receive ls. rid. eaob, as a remuneration for observing the Fast-day. THE PRESS. UStC. SIR HENRY BISHOP-EEETER-HALL. - A concert on an extended scale, exclusively selected from the works of our eminent English composer, Sir Henry Bishop, and under his immediate superintendence and direction, is announced to take place at Exeter hall on Tuesday evening next, which we cordially recommend to all lovers of music thoroughly Eng lish—moreover executed by English artists. On this occasion the arrangements appear to be on a scale much more extended than that of the After noon Vocal Concerts at the Hanover square ROOMS ; and will engage, in addition to the vocalists em ployed in those agreeable entertammens, Mr. Sims Reeves, Miss Birch, and a chorus of two hundred voices. We are, however, gratified to know that Mr. Mitchell has the intention of resuming the Afternoon Concerts after Easter. HARMONIC UNION.— Handel's Messiah is an nounced for performance by this society next Wednesday at the Hanover• square Rooms. The principal vocalists are to be Madame Clara Novello, Miss Lascelles, Mr. Sims Reeves, and Mr. Weiss. Mr. H. Blagrove is the leader, Mr. Rea the organist, and Herr Molique the conductor. MR. THACKERAY'S LECTURE. ON Thursday evening Mr. Thackeray delivered a lecture at the Marylebone Literary and Scientific In stitution, on " Humour and Charity." As was to be expected, such a speaker on such a subject attracted a oonsiderable audience, and we hope that the unfor tunate and most worthy Utarateur to whose aid our charitable humorist so generously came will reap a plentiful harvest from the exertions of his great bro ther writer. Mr. Thackeray, with his somewhat caustic humour, commenced what he well styled his "lay sermon " by exposing the cheap cant of many senti mental authors, which he graphically contrasted with the genuine flesh-and-blood humour of true humorists. Addison, whom he so delights to honour, came in for a graceful tribute. Dick Steele, whom he 83 heartily loves, was spoken of in terms of genuine affection. Fielding, " that erring but noble spirit," as he called him, was alluded to with heartfelt veneration. Swift, whom Mr. Thack eray thanked God he did not love, but whom he ad mired so intensely, met with stern justice from our modern satirist, who did not conceal his scorn for a man who blasphemed all home charities, who had no kind greeting for young children, and who so foully ridiculed the sanctities of wedded love. The lecturer forcibly contrasted the sham pathos of the clerical sentimentalist, whimpering and pumping up unreal tears overthe dead ass, with the genuine humour which ' has made generations weep over the story of Lefevre, love dear Uncle Toby, and exult over the charming anecdote of the noble of Rennes. Passing rapidly on to contemporary literature, he read Charles Lamb's charming sketch of Captain Jackson, and spoke in such terms of that dear genuine humorist as made the dense mass of poor Elia's admirers assembled within those walls thrill with delight and sympathy. Poor Hood claimed a manly tribute of' affectionate admiration. Some of Mr. Thackeray's collabarateurs, Mr. Jerrold and Mr. Lemon, of Punch, were spoken of with perhaps more kindness than s sober, impar tial critic would be inclined to award to them ; and even Charles Divkens was extolled by the generous humorist, with whom he is often so uniesthetically compared or contrasted, in terms of greater eulogy than we are prepared to endorse, or than posterity, we fancy, will sanction. But, beyond doubt, the por tion of Mr. Thackeray's lecture which attracted the greatest attention, and which was received with the warmest sympathy by his auditory, was that in which he quoted from some serial of ancient date a paper of his own called " The Curate's Walk." As he closed his book, after reading that touching story, he said that the extract was by a man who bad been accused of cynicism and cold-heartedness, whom the Times had stigmatised as ajaundiced sceptic who saw no beauty on earth, no holiness in heaven, to whose vision the sky was green and his fellow men miserable sinners. " And so we are," said the lecturer, " we are miserable sinners—we are weak and erring; and let us humbly ac knowledge it, and pray to God that we may go on help ing and loving one another." He wrote, he said, as his thoughts were given to him, and he should be sinning against Him who gave him power so to write, and against his own conscience, if he wrote otherwise. Not so much the hearty cheers and sturdy thumping of sticks and umbrellas evinced how thoroughly his hearers agreed with him as the flushed faces and glistening eyes which we saw before, behind, and around us.• THE FRENCH EMBASSY has obtained from the Porte an authorisation to build Catholic churches at Trebizonde, Maelin, Mersine and Bingasi. The necessary fin:awl have been sent to the competent authorities. SA'PITUnkl t (Court aub lotion. Her Majesty returned to Buckingham Palace yester. day, from her brief sojourn at Osborne-house. The Queen will hold the first drawing-room of the season on Thursday next. Prince Albert visited Portsmouth Dockyard on Monday, and, in the course of a tour of inspection, called upon Colonel Troubridge, who was so severely wounded at the battle of Inkermann. The Prince went over the Portsmouth " Sailors' Home," to which he is a patron. He presented the institution with a gift of 500/. Her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by the royal children, and the Prince of Leiningen, em. barked on the Fairy on Tuesday a.ternoon, and went to Spithead to witness the departure of the advanced squadron of the Baltic fleet, under Captain Watson, C.B. The birthday of the Princess Louisa was cele brated at Windsor on Monday last, with the cus tomary honours. The Earl and Countess of Clarendon gave a grand dinner on Saturday at their mansion in Grosvenor crescent, to his Serene Highness Prince Nicholas of Nassau and a distinguished party of the aristocracy. The Countess Walewski had a " reception " on Tuesday evening, at the residence of the French bassy, Albert. gate- house. Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston have issued cards of invitation for a grand banquet to their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and Princ,ss Mary, on this evening (Saturday), and her ladyship will afterwards receive a brilliant circle of the aris tocracy. Lord Ward will embark next week in a steamer he has taken up, for the purpose of himself superin tending the conveyance to the Crimea of the immense quantity of game which was shot during the winter on his estates, and artistically preserved and potted. The Duke of Rutland is receiving company at Belvoir Castle, the noble duke having quite recovered from his recent indisposition. Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess Mary, will, during their sojourn at Melton Mowbray, honour the noble duke with a visit at the castle. A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday last, and another is summoned for this afternoon. On Wed nesday, the Fast day, according to the official circular, there was " a meeting of the Cabinet Ministers " at the Foreign-office. Volitual an &turd. AN elaborate statistical compilation, indicative of the progress of the wool produce of the Cape colony during the last thirty years, has been published by the French Consul, M. Blancheton. From these tables, it appears that for every five successive years, from 1880 to 1853 inclusive, the increase has been most marked. In 1830 the annual produce was 40,1221b5. ; 1835, 215,9681b5. ; 1840, 911,1181bs.; 1845, 3,194,6021b5. ; 1850, 5,912,9271b5.; and in 1853, 7,864,6081b5. The approximate value at which the clip of 1852 is estimated amounts to 323,8961. Of 7,773,5051b5. exported in 1852-53, only 2,503,63411)8, or about one-third, was the produce of the western province. In the eastern province, the division of Graaff Reinet alone produced in that year 1,695,1281b5. In another table the author compares the produce of the Australian clip with that of the Cape of Good Hope. The gross total exported from Australia, from 1840 to 1852 inclusive, was 256,008,4151b5. The Cape produce during the same period amounts to 45,859,7481b5. The grand total of sheep now pastured in both the east and western provinces of the Cape is estimated at 4,496,000, that of goats at 1,093,000. About two-thirds of these be long to the East alone. IN the United States session of Congress just terminated, among the measures connected with finance and commerce has been one appropriat ing 4,550,0001. for persons having claims on the revenues of Texas previous to the annexation of that State ; one for the better management of pas senger ships; one for granting a line of way two hundred feet in width to a private company for a tele graph from the Mississippi to the Pacific, which will enable a perfect communication to be established between New York and California; and one for altering the rates of postage, which in future is to be 3c. (lid.) under three thousand miles, and sc. (21d.) for any distance beyond. The bill for continuing the subsidy to the Collins' steamers was likewise passed with some modificati .ns. THE Loans OF THE ADMIR ray, being desirous to encourage gentlemen from the merchant service to eater the royal navy in the rank of second master, have invited such officers as can comply with the requirements of the Queen's regulations to offer them 64vim, for inch appointments. 41 %)