The Press. — London, England, 1857-11-21 00:00:00

THE PRESS, NOVEMBER 21,1857. of the people. The upper classes, though hesitating to join the ignorant Liisare, are equally unsatisfied with the clergy and their teaching. The Swedish nature is one that cannot rest content with mere scepticism or with rationalism unlightel by religion. It is inclined to reli• gious faith and consolation. It is, by temperament, almost superstitious. It will be long in taking to itself new sup. porters of its faith, or in adopting new means for imparting re ligious life, but when it does, it will be with a thorough renouncing of the old. The present clergy will become to the peasants as did the hierarchy of England to the Puritans of the Revolution. They will abhor and renounce them; and when the change comes, ono of the great things done will be the utter sweeping away of the House of Clergy and all political powers belonging there unto. The Church will be left to rest where it should, on the personal relations of pastor and people, on the sac. tion of the one, and the abilities and self sacrifice and piety of the other. Mr. Brace is better at collecting his matter than in weighing or sifting it. He uses a drag-net, and offers us worthless stones and useless sea-weed. A traveller ought to be specially careful in sorting his subjects. This volume abounds in matters which a critical eye would recognise as "quasi facts." We shall extract some parts of Mr. Brace's account of a " Sunday in Stockholm " I have been to-day to the Lutheran High Mass. The forms are somewhat complicated. The officiating cler gyman first, with his face to the people, repeats the " Holy Holy! art Thou," dtc.—then kneels and utters a prayer. The congregation do not kneel nor respond. He then rises, singing the " God have mercy upon us !" and the congregation respond. The Prayer book, or " Hand. book," requires responses when prayers are sung, but not when read. After this, he turns to the altar and sings the " Gloria in excelsia ;" this is followed by a long hymn from the worshippers, from ten to twenty verses. The clergyman then turns to the congregation and says the " Lord be with you !" they responding; next, facing the altar, he reads the extract for the day (he sings it on feast days). Here he makes another prayer, which is auc• ceeded by the reading of the Epistle, and the reading or singing of the Creed. During the first part he faces the audience, during the latter, the altar. At the name of Jesus all bow the head. Another hymn is sung, and the sermon follows, which was shcrt. After this, prayer again, and on feast-days, they tell me, the Litany ; and then the royal proclamations, notices of marriage and of death, and the like. The last exercise is a prayer by the second cler gyman at the altar, and then, after a few words, the be►utiful blessing of Moses. The principal priest is dressed in a white " mass.shirt," trimmed with lace, over which is a rich red velvet cope, with a gold cross embroi• dered on it. He recounts furthet•:— There still survive on the Swedish Church book the rules for secret confession to the pastor. It is still re sorted to for the worst class of sins ; and the clergyman is forbidden, under the strongest penalties, to disclose what is confessed. Only in cases of treason, or where assassination or murder is threatened, can the clergyman warn the objects, yet still without disclosing the names of the guilty parties. In former times, the pastor has been known to forbid the Sacrament alter such confessions. elsewhere. The fact that " there arc scarcely " any houses of ill-fame in Stockholm " cuts both ways, when we recollect the statistics already quoted ; and the following fact must not be overlooked :-- It is significant, in this connection, that the Swedish Prayer•book alone, perhaps, of all the Church•books of the world, has a prayer for " Mothers who have been deceived by promise of marriage ;" and the Swedish law recognises that the promise, if it can be proved by reliable witnesses, secures, even before the marriage, to the children the right of legitimate children, and to the woman all the rights of a wife. There is a quantity of matter, good and middling, in this volume, and it may suit the list of some book-clubs on account of its variety. Even now, after its numerous de scribers, Sweden presents a good subject to a close and quick observer like Inglis, or a brilliant painter in words like Borrow. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED-NOVEMBER 19. BOOKS. The Demon of Gold. By Hendrc. William Lay. The Life of John Banton, the Irish Novelist. ly Patrick Joseph Murray. William Lay. Normiton. A Dramatic Poem. By Mary C. Hunie. J. W. Parker and Son. Kavanagh. A Tale. By Wadsworth Longfellow. Illus• trated. W. Kent and Co. Early Struggles. By Mrs. A. Crawford. Three vols. Newby. Men of the Tims. Biographical Sketches of Eminent Living Characters. Kent and Co. The Boscobel Tracts. Edited by J. Hughes, Esq., M.A. Blackwoods. The Poetical Works of Robert Story. Longmans. Religion in Common Life. By William Ellis. Smith, and Elder. The Exiles of July. By C. G. H. Constable and Co. Echo Francais. A. Practical Guide to French Conversation. Trubner. The Three Sergeants ; or, Phases of the Soldier's Life. . E. Wilson Rides and Reveries of the late Mr. dEsop Smith. Hurst and Illackett. Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa. By David Livingstone, LL.D., D.C.L. Murray. Review of The Mectintres which have been Adopted in India for the Improved Culture of Cotton. Smith and Elder. Answers to Questions Communicated by Lord Over stone to the Decimal Coinage. HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Amongst the statistics of Stockholm we find the following table, which tallies closely with others that we have seen : ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS. 1848. 1849. Stockholm 1 to 2'20 .. 1 to 2/7 Other towns 1 to 5•07 .. 7 to 415 Provinces 1 to 1511 .. 1 to 13'08 Kingdom 1 to 11'74 .. 1 to 10'96 In Sweden, from [l7BO-85. 1800.5. 1820.25. 1840-48. Ito 291 Ito 17'1 Ito 141 Ito 111 In France, 1820. 1840. In Denmark, 1811.11 1835.39. 1 to 1 1 to 131 1 to 93 I to 87. Prisoners in Stockholm in 1850 3 394 or Ito 23 Sweden In New York State Massachusetts 1 to 2232 Nest Hampshire Stockholm has always had a very bad name for immorality amongst the cities of Europe. Mr. Brace observes : From these statistics some interesting conclusions may be drawn. In the capital, it appears that various causes consume life faster than it is produced, so that if left without immigration from the country, Stockholm, before many years, would he depopulated. The ratio of suicides is immense; in 1819, one out of every four hundred persons, or probably ono out of every two hundred adult men and women. Out of every hundred children born into the world in the city, nearly fifty are illegitimate. In the whole kingdom one out of nearly eleven. The consumption of human life in the Swedish capital, and the prevalence of vice, are facts not to be dissociated. The whole kingdom appears to have been steadily retrograding since 1780 in this regard,—in 1840 there being fifty per cent. more illegitimate births to legitimate than in the above year, and a worse ratio than in France. However, there are exte nuating circumstances in regard to Stockholm which do not appear in figures, and it is very possible that Stock holm is not materially worse than New York or Paris. lie then dwells on what he has called "ex tenuating " circumstances, but he seems to us to prove only that the evil is deeper seated, and draped in more external decencies than " HAVELOCK'S MARCH " proves very attractive. Noisy as it is. and full of the trite Jullien affectations, it is popular, and that is the great result composers who aim at present successes seek to achieve. The house is now well filled every night, and the close of the month will be marked, we trust, by that success which, in its earlier days, seemed for once to have deserted the popular maestro. The usual bal masque takes place on the 30th. THE LATE DUCHESS OF NEMOURS.—The Mats publishes the following sad particulars of the last moments of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Nemours, extracted from a letter from Claremont : " On the 10th, at nine in the morning,it pleased God to send the august Queen this fresh trial. The Duchess of Nemours felt herself much better than she had done since her confinement, and felt quite happy at the thought of getting up that day for the first time. Her children had just been brought into her, and her maid was combing her hair, when she suddenly exclaimed, Ali, mon Dieu!' and fell for ward. The duke was called upstairs and medical assistance summoned, but all hopes were at an end. I omit some further details of the harrowing scenes which followed, and will only say that every English man will be gratified to learn that the kindness and sympathy of our own gracious Sovereign did much to assuage the intensity of the feelings of the august exiles. A post-mortem examination was made, and it appears that the death of the unfortunate Princess was caused by an almost unprecedented accident in obstetrics. A clot of blood made its way into the pul monary artery and caused instantaneous death. It is said there is only one similar case on record, which likewise terminated fatally—that cf Mme. Bethizy, who died in 1842." Polleg Parket and dttg Intelligence. FRIDAY EVENING. THE return of the Bank of England for the week ending Wednesday last, the 18th inst., shows the following changes compared with that for the week preceding : % 1141 Increase in Circulation Increase in Public l) posits Increase in other Deposits 1,0221,821 Decrease in Government Securities 8,037,694 Increase in Other Securities Decrease in Bullion Increase in Rest Increase in Reserve _ , 6,484,096 Bullion in both I)epariments Circulation, including Bank Post Bills The notes issued have been increased 2,000,0001., under the authority of the letter from the First Lord of the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, and it appears that even this addition has been inadequate to meet the pressing demand for money, inasmuch as the Bank has been compelled to sell more than 3,000,0001. of its securities. As a necessary consequence the Private Securities have enlarged until they now amount to the enormous and totally unprecedented sum of 30,299,000/. More money has, however, evidently been borrowed than was absolutely required, as may be inferred from the large addition to the Private Deposits. In the course of the week a large amount of sovereigns, which had been sent to Scotland to meet the demand for coin made upon some of the banks there, have been returned. Sovereigns have also been forwarded to Ireland, to provide against a foolish run threatened at Cork, Limerick, and elsewhere; but they are also coming back. The bullion and specie movements during the week have been important. The imports have amounted to 738,8931., and the exports, including 318,781/. to India and China, to 450,0001. The Continental Exchanges are favourable. Those with Bombay and Calcutta are also more in favour of this country. Consols have never been lower during the week than 891 to k, notwithstanding that for some days the Bank and some other public bodies were heavy sellers for money. Last Friday they left off at 891 to f, and yesterday at 80i to The highest quota tion has been 90 to 1. The market is firmly sup ported by the continued investments of the public whenever the price declines to 89k ; and the publio appear to be withdrawing some of their deposits in the joint-stock banks, in order to invest them in stock. Taking off the dividend, Consols at 90, are at only 881. This morning they opened at 89j to 90, and closed firm at 90k to 1. Railway Shares have not materially varied since this day week; but the market to-day was firmer. The other markets have been generally steady. Exchequer Bills have improved, owing to an expectation that the Chancellor of the Exchequer contemplates a funding operation. The present price is 14s. to Bs. dis. Employment is falling off throughout the country, and in some districts much distress prevails among the operative classes. At the present moment there is not much prospect of amelioration ; but the people thoroughly understand the causes of the existing depression, and they are patiently waiting for better times. '. '"' k"'"."•• " '" """ .u - "" 11AVELOCK'S MARCH " proves very attractive. noisy sorted to for the worst class of sins ; and the clergyman as it is, and full of the trite Jullien affectations, it is is forbidden, under the strongest penalties, to disclose what is confessed. Only in cases of treason, or where popular, and that is the great result composers who assassination or murder is threatened, can the clergyman aim at present successes seek to achieve. The house warn the objects, yet still without disclosing the names of the guilty parties. In former times, the pastor has been is now well filled every night, and the close of the known to forbid the Sacrament alter such confessions. month will be marked, we trust, by that success Amongst the statistics of Stockholm we find which, in its earlier days, seemed for once to have the following table, which tallies closely with deserted the popular maestro. The usual bal others that we have seen : masque takes place on the 30th. ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS. .. 1848. Stockholm 1 to 2'20 .. 1 to 4 2'27 THE LATE DUCHESS OF NEMOURS.—The Dibata Other towns 1 to 5•07 .. 1 to 4'95 publishes the following sad particulars of the last Provinces 1 to 15'31 .. 1 to 13•08 moments of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kingdom 1 to 1174 .. 1 to 10'96 Nemours, extracted from a letter from Claremont : In Sweden, from [l7BO-85. 1800.5. 1820-25. 1840-18. " On the 10th, at nine in the morning,it pleased God Ito 291 Ito 171 Ito 14'3 Ito 110 to send the august Queen this fresh trial. The In France 1820. 1840. In Denmark , 1811.15 1835.39. Ito 1 , 4 Ito 13'3 Ito 03 I to 87. Duchess of Nemours felt herself much better than she had done since her confinement, and felt quite Prisoners in St oc kh o l m I n 1850 3 394 or Ito 28 " Sweden In New York State Massachusetts lto 2232 her, and her maid was combing her hair, when she Kew Hampshire Stockholm has always had a very bad name ward. The duke was called upstairs and medical for immorality amongst the cities of Europe. assistance summoned, but all hopes were at an end. Mr. Brace observes : I omit some further details of the harrowing scenes From these statisti c s som e interesting conclusions may which followed, and will only say that every English- be drawn. I n th e cap i ta l , i t appears th a t var i ous causes man will be gratified to learn that the kindness and consume life faster than it is produced, so that if left sympathy of our own gracious Sovereign did much to without immi grat i on f rom the country, Stockholm, before assuage the intensity of the feelings of the august many years, would he depopulated. The ratio of suicides exiles. A post-mortem examination was made, and is immense; in 1819, one out of every four hundred it appears that the death of the unfortunate Princess persons, or probably one out of every two hundred adult was caused by an almost unprecedented accident in men and women. obstetrics. A clot of blood made its way into the put- Out of every hundred children born into the world in the monary artery and caused instantaneous death. It city, nearly fifty are illegitimate. In the whole kingdom,. is said there terminated fatally—that a Mme. Belhizy, there is only one similar case on record, which one out of near l y e l even . Th e consump ti on o f h u man life in th e S we d is h cap i ta l , an d t h e preva l ence o f vice, likewise are facts not t o b e di ssoc i ate d. Th e w h o l e ki ng d o m who died in 1842." appears to have been steadily retrograding since 1780 in this regard,—in 1840 there being fifty per cent. more illegitimate births to legitimate than in the above year, and Etoneg ll:lariat and 1 611 Inttlligenct. a worse ratio than in France. However, there are exte- nuating circumstances in regard to Stockholm which do not appear in figures, and it is very possible that Stock FRIDAY EVENING. holm is not materially worse than New York or Paris. THE return of the Bank of England for the wee k lie then d we ll s on w h a t h e h as ca ll e d " ex - ending Wednesday last, the 18th inst., shows th e tenuating " circumstances, but h e se ems to us to prove only that the evil is deeper seated, following changes compared with that for the week and draped in more external decencies than preceding : BANK OF ENGLAND. An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Atli Victoria, for the week ending on Wednesday, the leth day of Nov., 1857 !SAUL PrPARTMLNT. note. i slued .... 1.22,654 .59S Government Debt X 11,015,100 Other Securitiee .. 3,40,900 Gold Coin & Bullion 13,079,b95 Silver Bullion .... --- 422,564,695 122,554,595 BkNICINO DICPARTIIENT. Proprletors'CapitalSl4,ss3,oo9. Government Seen. Rest Public Deporilto*.. 5,483,cc1 j DeadVt eight An.) .13.107,134 Other Deposits Seven Day tt other Notes Bills 138,269,090 1 i 38,259,090 1 Including Exchequer Commissioners of National Debt Savings' Banks. and Dividend Accounts. BRITISH PIINDS.--.Closing Prices. 5 per Cent.Consols Ditto for Account 3 per Cer..ts Reduced 3 per Cents Long Annuities Bank Stock, 7 per Cent New 2$ per Cent Annuit Exch. Bills, 201. India Bonds,(1.0001.) FO] Per Cent. Brazilian 6 1 Danish 5 Mai. (Ex 12 Guil )211 French 3 Do. 4i Do. Bank Stock Mexican 3 Peruvian 44 Portuguese 4 Russiau 4i Spanish 3 furkish Aco.6 OFFICIAL QUOTATIONS. ..._ Mond. Tueed. Wed. Thurs. Fridnp I, 81if 1 831 a 891 a 994 89J .90 89i . ;89a i 851 891 1 903 8 :11 tBri t 11:t li 41 41 1 171 171 iWM 211 2115 214 214 214 13 4 17d 1731 10d 8d 304 30(1 , 4041 1 40d 35d SIGN FUNDS. Mond I Tuesd. Wed. , nuts Friday. ;39 , 9(.1 V 8 9B 10 4 M Go; I . bti 64 ;6:'4,7, CO! usc 67f10071 05c f a f c 1 4 f a —f. f. —f.) f. f 18 181 18} 1 Of ) 76 74 751 251 2 - 14 1 24 i 1 24 - 3 i 254 25 -. en cat c , —.