The Sun. — London, England, 1837-11-16 00:00:00

i i -",.. *4l-1);:RIAL PARLIAMENT. (THIS DAY.) A t Teo ,TIOUSE, OF LORDS. , na mez ()Clock, the Commissioners who sat yeste l rday, th e t he Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Conyrig.iarn, b elle ar tPlis of Lansdowne, Earl Mulgrave, and Viscount tiara non, to o k t h e i r seats on the Bench in front of t h e f ( 3 41 ; b and Prayers having been read, Sir Augustus Clif reete, e Gentl eman Usher of the Black Rod, was di- T _ hu e to s ummon th e H ouse o f C ommons to t h e B ar . ar e neti re ' w ere only fi ve or s i x P eers presen t, among whom tin tdo ee tt the M arqu i s o f Redesdale, the Earl of Hun -1,11 xnd L or d D urham. l arge e SPEAKta, in a Court dress accompanied by a t h ,, bod y of Me m b ers o f th e H ouse of Commons, cenlee t "lug borne by th e S e r gea nt at Arms, on the left, app eare d at t h e b ar, an d b owe d t o the R o y a l V ira-iiis sieners. he %ai m d r EAKER then sa id, i n o b e di e nce to her Majesty's e the l e i her most F a i t hf u l C ommons h a ve proceeded to tr ee °lee of a Speak er . Th e ir choice has fallen, how 44.1inwortliv, upon me ; and I now su b m i t myse lf f or h e r festy,s Royal pleasur e . ai led t'ORD CHANCELLOR replied, I am . corn ; by her Majesty to assure you that her Majesty is for t h e ° f Your zea l f or t h e pu bli c serv i ce , a nd your anxiet y f it i 4 e tfficie n t discharge of the duties which her Majesty's th.„ Common s h ave se l ec t e d you to discharge, and •u t i p o t'er Majesty most readily approves of and confirms , B ad o c o k °. SP EAKER—I submit myself, with all humility 4 4 ,1 T 'i r atitud e , to her Majesty's Royal will and pleasure, N ee : have now, in the name and on behalf of the Coin jest °f the United Kingdom, to ask of her Ma tohi th e • of privilege of that to t , concession, by way li . Z`p..!. i .eY have been hitherto entitled, more especially th e; °it ' of debate, freedom from arrest for themselves an ti nny servants, free access to her Majesty upon all . occa- N e i e w u li , i eh may require it ; and that her Majesty will be on mi s'Y Pleased to put the most favourable construction it 4 . ' their procr_.edirrrs. For myself I have, to say, that ist(tlY of her Majesty's faithful Commons should fall p ot a nt erro r , I b eg t h at i t may b e imputed to me, and I t h : her M a j esty ' s faithful Commons. het L ORD CHANCELLOR—Mr. Speaker , we h i e it furth er i n comman d f rom h er M a j es ty to inform ti e ; that her M a j esty most rea dil y con fi rms all the libar ton; ti ght, and privileges which have been granted or o fh etred upon her - Majesty's faithful Commons by any self , s e ! Majesty's Royal predecessors. As to your 4teir' th ough you stand in no need of such assurance , her eci rumanded by her Majesty to assure you, that ell a i e sty will put th e m o s t favourable construction upon -4 your words and actions, as well as of those of h er T s,lesty's f a i t h ful Commons. he t etir,a - C ommissioners then bowed to the Speaker, who T a h the ar, accompanied by the Members that surrounded oni eLoa,. CHANcELLon having taken his seat on the th e ; 6 4 e, the Cl er k o f th e H ouse proceeded to swear in s present. 1 -er e i g the Peers to whom the oaths were admistere d, th e Earl of Minto, the Earl of Beauchamp, Lord and S ele, Lord Churchill. t 0. ." o + clock their Lordships adjourned to Two o'clock Morrow. Th. , HO USE OF COMMONS. 4,14 doors were opened at about half-past One o'Clock, a h t that tim e M em b ers b egan t o a rrive in considerable er '• Amon gs t th e fi rs t w e observed Mr. Wallace, r otherto n , M r . R o b er t St uar t, Mr. Spring Rice, Sir il- L eith Hay, Mr. Plumptre, Sir Edward Knatchbull , Mr. ti s l a w (t he Record er o f L on d on ), Mr. Freshfield, Mr. De li. ' n ' Mr. S an df or d , M r. P arrott , M r . B arnar d, Si r 14 . Rolf (the Solicitor-General), Lord William Vi enol , Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, Sir George Strickland, Mr. g n ra, Mr. Roche, Mr. Macleod, &c. Oq ° exPedite the swearing of the Members, there . being . so 5 e : 1 : 4 0 4 7 great a number already at this early period of the s ohia l i n, three large tables, covered with testaments, and t,c i e of those doeumentsw which Members ha . ve . to sign upon n,`; the oaths, were placed along the Opposition side of the NZ". This arrangement will not only enable a great t a k e (perhaps (Perhaps all) of the Members now in town to for e 1 , °atbs within the two days that intervene be placet-e bus iness opening of the Session, which will take noise on 'Monday, but it will prevent much of the seeeraland confusion which used to occupy a part of d ays at the commencement of former Sessions, c row th e f, b " oaths were taken at the Speaker's table by °f Me m b ers , a ll h o ldi ng ono book, and speaking ne breath A 4,2„, , • Wa si ' e iock pre c i se ly th e Speaker entered the House , and press nted by a ll the M em b ers stan di ng , an d there were then p ret ent about t h ree hundre d , b ot h s id es o f the House being dr ea tY n early equal. The Speaker was dressed in a Court S ' w ith a lame wig and sword, but without his go wn. le : t !en minutesppastTwo o'Clock, the Usher of the Black b ait to the House of Lords appeared - at the bar, and, ra g announc e d, approac h e d the table with the ut the''',,, fo• r mality, and addressing the Speaker , who wa s n the Ch a i r , h e sa id—M r . Sp ea ker, the Lords autho akeaby her Majesty's Commission to open this Parlia th„iitTydestre th e i mme di a te attendance of this House in - " . etlea of Lords. a ' t he Ushe r t h en re ti re d, walking backwards, and re 'e,(llY hewing till lie reached the Bar. th l,-- a un Speaker, attended by the Sergeant-at-Arms bearing by Mate on his shoulder, followed, and was accompanied 4, 1 4 great crowd of Members, of whom the first were Sir Hobbouse and Mr. Spring Rice. S PEAKER, upon his return from the House of la atl rs ' said th at h e h a d to acqua i nt t h e H ouse th a t th a t Iti ssi 4n had been to the House of Peers, and that, by per (.; °n dul y authorised in the name, and on b eha l f o f t h e t a a m o ng u of the United Kingdom, he had there laid claim th e T ., the right s an d privileges heretofore enjoyed by kt asa rt°43 e of Comaions, and more especially free re9vi_ t° Her Maje s ty's person on all occasions r i ,,he r e d for i n f ormat i on f rom h er M a j esty , an d th a t vo,4'4ajesty had been graciously pleased to confer Priyi the Commons the possession of all those rights and by I :g e s in as ample a manner as had ever been conferred Ilte su lY , of her Majesty's predecessors : and that now, Le -4 ', 'ng upon the business' of the office in which li eu ," (l been placed by the choice of the k nogl lie had again to repeat his grateful cc ia C.°lgatents for th e con fidence they had reposed atil t Ntil, and his anxious wish that their choice l ag s : n l' be attended with any detriment to the p ro ceed- The j r n ; t ' °laract.A. of the House.—(Much cheering . ) Th e - 146 need ing was t o ta k e th e cus t o mary oaths. Li tnselt oath s Were then administered to the Speaker h Y t he Clerk of the House. tt nelt, i M a en ' h era for the counties of Bedford, Berks, tea.fitra, Camb r id ge , Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumber ttes, th er bY, D evon , and the b oroug h s t h ere i n conta i ne d Po se en Called upon to come to the table for the pur ta tb or being sworn. Among those who answered t ile l e i eall w ere t h e Chancellor of the Exchequer, F011e". Mr. Law, the Solicitor-General, Sir W, f onrd t' Sir Frederick Pollock, Mr. Sergeant Tel. tie ri Sir George Grey Sir Hussey Vivian, Sir Miser(( an d % 4 ~g e t r n Mr. P ou l t e r , M r. T . F . P a l mer , M r . F res hfi e ld rile el other Il Mebers. e nse adjourmned at Four o'Clock. • ' OO L COTTON MARKET.—YESTERDAY. 71 9 0. 01: 1 „ n. lll)ha been a b r i s k demand for Cotton to day, and "Ic es 'o sold at *d. per lb. advance upon 'yesterday's °r kind Surall s, except Egyptians. The part . ieular_s i are at's, 4d. to 51d. ; 400 Maranhams, 9d. to 9 jd• q A tl , 4 a,,,, rn : t n : ta, 9d. to 6id.; 800 Egyptians. 81 to 101(1.; milth % • 6-1- to Sid. per lb. '2OO Surats, and 500 e4 n, are on speculation. %44ne Dutch G t lately communicated to the tikv eo l‘Cien er ,, l a Com p arative view . of the estimates of the Pe N 4e of the kingdom in a the financial year 1837, and the t j i t 4n tf t t il in g the last four months of . 1836, with the addi • 4PhA ars receipts during the first eight months of 1837. :om . this statement that the . revenue from that t „ estimated at. 44,749,915 florins,. that the actual ._ j o tlae Z 4: 45,6 34,003. Some of the estimates fell short unt of 860,655 florins, but this was 441N:6n. ,made up by the excess of some items e above the t4e!, was in all 1 ,744,743 florins ; so that on the sum total %tate: an excess in the receipt of 884,087 above the t, 4.6 ; DiAr,,rt received for seats in the Church -yard the , -Str a o, tAt ‘• as to view the royal process on on 5 ado 5 8/. 17s. The expenditure for erect ng the itcl'ileted6d., leaving a balance of 8 . 0/. loou r of the charity to which it is to be app'ted. LITERATURE. RISE AND PROGRESS OF TIM BRITISH P 0 WER rot. IL Atm, Lotidon, 1837. We noticed the first volume of this work when it made its appearance some five or six months back, and may extend to the present, and as we perceive the concluding volume, the same praise which we awarded to its predecessor —namely, that it is compiled with much skill and diligence. and contains a multi tude of valuable facts and documents, which will fur nish some future historian of our oriental colonies with useful practical data. Mr. Aubcr's—the author— incidental memoirs of some of the most ptominen: among the native Indian Princes who figured towards the close of the eighteenth century, arc well written, with tact and conciseness. The volume is embellished with an excellent map, showing the extent of our territorial possessions in India about the period of the year 1781. HISTORY OP ENGLAND.—VoL. I. Rickerby, London, 1837. A new edition of Hume's well-known history, to which is prefixed an essay on the " Study of His tory," by the Rev. Mr. Stebbing. The work is pro posed to be carried down to the reign of William the Fourth. It is cheap in price, and nearly got up. tIISTORY OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF JOINT STOCK BANKS IN ENGLAND. Morrison, London, 1837. The author of this work is Mr. D. Gavin Scott, manager of the National Provincial Bank of England at Ipswich—a gentleman perfectly familiar with all the details of the important subject which he has under taken to elucidate. To bankers, and to all who take an interest in banking affairs, his treatise will be of in calculable service. his views arc clearer, and more concisely expressed than those of Joplin ; while they have the great advantage of being all of a practical kind—based on principles of which experience has tested the utility. THE EVILS OF Q UARANTINE LA IVS. BY CAPTAIN WHITE, LATH OF THE -EAST INDIA courm's SERVICE. Effingham Wilson, London, 1837. The leading object of this work is to prove the folly of all quarantine laws, as modes of preventing the spread of cholera, or any other disease which is now deemed pestilential. We are not sufficiently acquainted with medical science to pronounce any decided opinion on the merits of a question which has baffled the ut most skill of the College of Physicians ; but from the fervour with which Captain White expatiates o►► the evils likely to be prevented by the adoption of his views by the legislature, we can have no doubt of his individual conviction that he is seeking to benefit the whole human race. We never saw his pamphlet on cholera, and therefore there is much in his present work, having reference thereunto, that we cannot fully comprehend. BRITISH COLONIAL LIBRARY, Voz. X. Whittaker, London, 1837. The volume before us, which, we understand, is the concluding one, of Mr. Montgomery Martin's elabo rate work on the British Colonies, contains, among other useful matters of information, a statistical and condensed account of the island of Ceylon, one of the most valuable, perhaps the most so, of our Oriental possessions. It is also embellished by two maps, the first of the island, and the second, of our Colonies in Southern Africa. In addition to these recommenda tions, we have a spirited engraving, from a sketch taken on the spot, of Colombo, one of the principal sea-ports of Ceylon. BRITANNIA INGRATA. Boone, London, 1837. This is a poem dedicated to the achievements of the heroes of the Peninsula, by Major William Mackie, a gallant officer, who was himself engaged in many of the battles which he recounts ; and in a well written preface expresses his regret that the veteran ac tors in the Spanish, Portuguese, and South of France campaigns, have been unjustly thrown into the shade by those who fought at Waterloo—a battle which England bears vividly in mind, while she has almost forgotten its splendid predecessors in Spain. The gallant author's poetical remonstrances on this subject are written in a bold, flowing, and nervous style, and display throughout much skill and grace of versification. FINE ARTS. PORTRAITS OP THE CHILDREN OF THE NOBILITY. Longman, London, 1837. This is a very elegant work, both as regards its em bellishments, and the poetical illustrations that ac company them. It consists of a series of portraits of the children of our nobility, and is dedicated, by per mission, to the Queen, by the fair editor, Mrs. Fair lie. Some of these portraits, those, for instance, of the youthful family of the present Duke of Beaufort, are engraved in the highest style of art, by Thompson, who in his line is one of the most skilful artists of the day. The poem, in illustration of the Beaufort por traits, are from the pen of Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley. The likenesses of the junior members o' the Somerset family are also ably executed ; and to this picture—perhaps the best in the work—is attached a copy of verses, written by James Smith, in his Sprightliest and most epigrammatic manner. We have no doubt, from its nature, that this splendid quarto will be in high favour with the aristocratic classes. William BeHairs, Esq., has been appointed Exon of her Majest)'s yeomen of the Guard, in the room of Thomas Der nzy, Esq., who has resigned. At. Annan Bank, parish of Applegarth, on th, morning of Friday last, a child of 20 months of age, be longing to Mr. White, Annan Hill, was found drowned in a ditch, a short distance from the house of its affcctionatF and now sorrowing parents. The little innocent had gone to the door unperceived, and although its absence was im mediately noticed, still it was too late to prevent the fatal resul t.—Dumfrics Courier. George the Third, for years after the commence • ment of his reign, went to the theatres in state from the Palace along the Strand, and up Southampton-street, but the progress of the procession being impeded one night ii, the latter street by the barrier being dosed, the Kiig took offence, and ever after went by the circuitous route of St. Martin's-lane, through Long-acre, and down James-street, Covent-garden. MR. GLEIG S " TRADITIONS OF CHELSEA COLLEGE."—In these volumes our readers will find a treat such as they might expect to have prepared by the Author ' of" The Subaltern." The work commences with a verb curious account of the origin of the College ; having satis factorily, but briefly disposed of its history, Mr. Gleig ther proceeds to give us its traditions, which be does in his own easy and attractive style. He also puts us in possession of numerous " tales of the wars," which ho has collected from the mouths of the veteraus in the Hospital, and which en chain our attention, not more by their own intrinsic merits than by the light they throw upon the habits and conversa tion of the brave men, whose next step from the noble institu tion at Chelsea will probably be into the grave. Into the rich field of adventure which the author has here laid open, we must not suffer ourselves to be betrayed, otherwise we should find it difficult to know where to stop. Here we leave the work in the hands of our readers. Stories of military life and adventure are always interesting ; and stories of this description, which come recommended by the name of Gleig, need no eulogy from us. " Chelsea College" is worthy of general perusal, and it must secure it.—St. James's Chronicle Last night, about half-past six o'clock, a large crowd assembled in Fleet -street, and much alarm was created in consequence of a mass of flames having been per ceived to issue from the upper part of the premises of Mr. Hughes, proprietor of the ahmode beef house, about four doors to the west of Temple-bar. Two or three engine: arrived in a short time. 'lle throng, which at first had collected to an inconvenient degree in that usually crowded locality, was soon dispersed by opening one of the water• springs in the street, which flung its liquid shower to a con siderable height and distance. By the activity of the fire ' men the flames were soon suppressed. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1837. IRISH NATIONAL EDUCAI lON. The Oueeii take atidibrie94 yoterday at the new Palace, n St. James's-park, to the Earl of Millgrive; the Earl of Albemarle, and Viscount Melbourne. _ . COURT CIRCULAR: EDITOTi ar TEE Stii,—Your edlurnns being frequently occupied with arti cles devoted to elucidate the position of Ireland, with regard to the remaining portion of the Uuitcd Kingdom, and the dif ficulties the present Ministry encounter in their attempts to improve and tranquilize this portion of the British empire, I flatter myself that a few observations', on the System of National Education for the Poor, patronised by tioVernment, and vituperated by the Tory Press, will not be unacceptable, particularly when the fact is adverted to, that th e support af forded to this system is adduced as one of the strongest argu ments of the indifference of the Queen's servants to the inte rests of the Church, and is made a powerful engine to endea vour to enlist the religious feelings of the more conscientious and rigid part of the community in opposition to that Govern ment. A brief narrative of the circumstances which preceded and gave rise to the present National Board will be useful in dis pelling false notions. After the lapse of ages, in endeavousiug, by Draconian laws, to coerce the Irish Roams Catholics to change their creed, and millions spent in endowing and sup_ porting Protestant Charter Schools, and similar foundations, for the purpose of withdrawing the rising generation from the faith of their forefathers-,--the futility of these plans being proved by the increasing number of Roman Catholics in the existing population, and the misery of that population, from vicious government and ignorance, being manifest—about a quarter of a century since, an attempt was made to establish a Society for the Education of all classes of the Irish Commu nity, without religious distinction. This was the origin of what was afterwards known as the Kildare-place Education Society, which obtained large grants from the public purse. It was a fundamental rule of this institution, that no school should be taken under its protection, or obtain pecuniary aid from its funds, in which the Bible, without note or comment, should not be made a school book. It is a fundamental doe. trine of the Roman Catholic religion, that what, by those of that persuasion, is considered the Church, is the only judge of the meaning of controverted passages of Scripture, and that Church denies the propriety and right of private judgment to its members in matters of faith. From these circumstances, collisions and differences arose between the Roman Catholic Clergy and the more active favourers of the plan of Instruc tion of the Kildare-place Society. One party apprehended that children using the Bible as a school book would be neces sarily led to the adoption of the right of private judgment. Various attempts were made by honest people of all parties, sincerely anxious to improve the rising generation, to prevent these collisions, and reconcile these differences, by proposing regulations as to the hours of reading the Scriptures and the selections to be made from the unmutilated volume. Notwith standing such well meant efforts, the opposition of the Catho tic Priesthood yearly increased. Their hostility was probably aggravated by the meddling with their flocks of certain re ligious ladies, often members of the family of the peasants' landlords, who, visiting the schools from which the Priests withdrew, acquired a knowledge of such of the children as were able to read, and among these distributed Tracts, hostile to Roman Catholic doctrines, and tending to make proselytes from that belief. Thus, it appears, that the Kildare-place Society advocated the plan of educating Protestants and Ca tholics in the same schools, and received largo grants of money for promoting this object ; though through the influence of landlords, and the anxiety of the lower Irish for education, considerable numbers attended these schools, this attendance afforded a constant source of difference between the Clergy and the poor—so that though the returns presented a consi derable number of Catholic learners, and I believe these were bona fide returns—from the irregularity of attendance, and the repeated withdrawing altogether of pupils, this scheme of Educatiorkwas not working efficiently. As the desire fur education among the very humblest class of Irish is very ex traordinary, an allusion to one of its causes may not be here out of place. Perhaps the most remarkable is—that occa sionally, in that rank, smart boys were noticed by the Priests, assisted and encouraged to go on with their education, and qualify themselves for the Catholic Ministry. Some of these rose to high dignities in the Catholic Church, both in their own and foreign countries. Others, going' to Irish establish ments in France, Spain, and the Austrian dominions, before they were bound by the obligation of Ordination, changed their original intention, entered into the military service of these Powers, and many of them rose to fame and rank. Facts like these transmitted to and remembered by a peasantry, who are proud from thinking they can trace their lineage either from the royal lines of Heber or of Heremon, and imaginative by constitution, make them particularly anxious for the educa tion of their offspring. The time is not very remote, or beyond the recollection of some of the present generation, when the existing laws gave such power of interference with Popish teachers, and Popish schools, to the Irish Magistracy, and to the Clergy of the Established Church, that all Irish Catho lics, who sought a liberal education; were obliged to leave their country for a foreign land, and might exclaim, in the words of the Mantuan bard— " Nos patrim fines et dulcia linquimus arva ; Nos patriam fugimus." Such was the state of things when, during Lord Grey's Administration, in the Secretaryship for Ireland of Lord Stanley, an effort was made to obtain the influence of the Catholic Priesthood in promoting the instruction of the rising generation. It was believed, and I think correctly, that any attempt at promoting a system of education for the great mass of the Irish people to which their Clergy were opposed would be unsuccessful. It must not be lost sight of that this priestly influence was the growth, not of a few years, but of centuries ; and the most zealous for its destruction, and the most san guine believers in the probability of effecting this measure, allowed that it would be the work of time ; while others, and these I believe to be the sounder thinkers, saw no probable chance of bringing about this measure. By the co-operation of Lord Stanley (then Mr. Stanley) on the part of the Go vernment, with the aid of his Grace the Duke of Leinster, his Grace Dr. Whately, Archbishop of Dublin ; the Most Rev. Dr. Murray, Roman Catholic Archbishop ; Rev. Dr. Sadlicr, Senior Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin ; Rev. Mr. Carlyle, Dissenting Clergyman ; and Mr. Holmes, Barrister ; the pre- Sent Board of National Education, for the instruction of all classes, without religious distinction, was established, and the regulations were so framed as to obtain the aid of the Roman Catholic Priesthood. I record the names of these distinguished individuals, who gave their time and exertions for the sole purpose of promoting the civilization of the people of Ireland, because I am certain unborn generations will have reason to bless their memory. The Protestant and Dissenting members of this Board have been assailed with much political, and more religious hostility. The arguments advanced against their conduct would, if valid, prevent practical aid being af forded to improve, by education, our Hindoo or Mahometan fellow-subjects in the East, or our red brethren in the West. They would tend, were the members of the Jewish persuasion as numerous in the British isles, in proportion to the popula tion, as they are in Poland, to prevent any plan for their edu cation, founded on the precepts of the Decalogue, alike obli gatory on Jews and Christians, unless the former transferred the observance of their Sabbath to the Christian Sabbath. Surely no sane person, in the case of the Ilindoo or Mahome dan, would make any regulation essentially requisite to be conformed to, in attending school, which violently shocked their prejudices. No one sincerely desirous to improve and, promote increased civilization in our Indian empire, by extend ing education, would propose to make a strip of cow hide the instrument of correction to the one, or force the other to eat a slice of ham for his morning repast. Or, to bring it nearer home, would the most zealous member of the Church of Eng land refuse aid to the Parochial Schools of Scotland, unless on the condition that the business of the day commenced by the Master reading one of the Prayers in the Morning Service of that Church, and that all the pupils who did not reverently join in this religious act should be excluded from instruction. It is scarcely necessary to inform my readers, natives of Eng land, and members of the National Church of that country, that the believers in the doctrines-of the Church of Scotland condemn set forms of prayer. I recollect being an auditor at one of the politico-religious meetings, held annually at the Rotunda in Dublin, during the month of April. The withholding of the entire Word of God in the National Schools was a theme adverted to by several of the declaimers, and the Ministry wl:ich afforded pecuniary aid to these establishments was condemned, in nr, measured terms, as unfriendly to the Protestant religion. Several of the speakers on this occasion wore spectacles. In using my right of imivate judgment, and applying it according to the rules of common sense, I was irresistibly led to infer, that, if these gentlemen were blind, spectacles would be useless to them ; so I came to the conclusion that if they were sincerely desirous to have the Bible read by the great majority of the Irish people, and had no other object in view but their instruction and religious im provement, they would not oppose a system of education which would give the entire rising generation the advantage of being able to read the Bible. Wnen, looking at these grave spec tacled gentlemen, I compared the advantages of glasses in the case of an individual totally blind, and their advantages to a short-sighted person, in the first instance they were qui te useless • and, as useless as spectacles are to a blind m an, the Bible is, fur the purpose of being familiar with it, to a per son uninstructed in reading. Selected extracts from the Bible, inculcating the moral doctrines of Christianity, and good feeling and benevolence between the members of different creeds, are not only allowed. in the Irish National Schools, but must be used to entitle the particular establishment to receive aid from the Parliamentary grant, placed at the disposal of the Commissioners of National Education. I will appeal to any dispassionate man of sound understanding, if such extracts, besides their intrinsic value in strongly impressing moral obligations, are not calculated to excite a desi re t o be further acquainted with The Book, from which they are taken? The permanent impression made by sentences fixed on the memory, in early life, may be illustrated by considering the influence for evil which the short proposi tions, " There is but one God, and Mahomet is his Prophets" have had among the believers in the Koran. It is it fact, stated by the best informed writers on the state of China, that what ever moral superiority that people possess, over other Eastern nations, is due to their early committing to memory certain sentences of Confucius, inculcating moral conduct. I know it has been stiffly asserted that allowing Scripture extracts to be used in the Irish National Schools is a conces sion to Popery, and contrary to Protestantism. If so, publish ing the Psalms in a separate volume, or publishing the Book of Job in the same manner, is contrary to P, otestantism the toleration in our schools of the ancient lit le book entitled " Reading Made Easy," with its wood-tuts of scenes from the Bible, and its Scripture Histories, was c mtrary to Protest antism. The same might be said of the various Harmonics of the Gospel, and of every kind of Scripture History not in the exact words of the authorised version. Not to encroach on your columns, or fatigue your readers, I have only slightly glanced at what appeared to me the inost prominent objections made to the system of Irish National Education, and have been equally brief in adverting to the ar guments by which it may be supporte I. Perhaps on a future occasion I may again return to the subject. • Her Majesty went in State last evening to Drury-lane Theatre. The Royal party dined at an early hour, and at a quarter before seven o'clock her Majesty ani suite left the new relate ih teted datria t leg, with state liveries, es corted by a party of the lioyal Regiment of horse Guards ; theDuchcss of Sutherland, Mistress of the Robes:, and the Earl of Albemarle, G.C.H., Master of the Horse, were with the Queen in the last carriage. In the other six car riages were the following Ladies and Gentlemen of her Majesty's Household :—Lady Barham, the M irchioness of 'ravistock, Countess of Mulgrave, Hon. Miss Pitt, Miss Spring Rice, Miss Lister, Miss Murray, Lady Caroline Barrington, the Duke of Argyll, G.C.H., Lord Steward. the Marquis of Conyngliam, K.P., Lord Chamberlain ; the Earl of Ilehester, Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard ; Viscount Combermere, G.C.8., Gold Stick in Waiting ; Marquis of Headfort, Lord in Waitin ,, ; Earl of Surrey, Treasurer of the Household ; Hon. Col. Cavendish, Clerk Marshal ; Hon. C. Murray, Groom in Waiting ; Colonel Greenwood, Silver Stick in Waiting ; Colonel Wemyss, Equerry in Waiting ; Sir Frederic Smith and Mr. Martins, Gentlemen Ushers in Waiting ; Master Ellice, Page of Honour ; and Mr. Charles Hancock, Exon of the Yeomen of the Guard in Waiting. The Queen arrived at seven o'clock at the royal entrance to Drury-lane Theatre, in Russell-street. A guard of honour of the foot guards received her Majesty with mili tary honours. A party of the yeomen of the guard lined the approach to the royal box. Mr. Bunn, hahited in the uniform of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, received the Queen at the entrance, and preceded her Ma jesty to the royal box, bearir'g wax lights. The Lord Chamberlain also preceded the Queen with wax lights. Sir F. Roe, Mr. Lee (the high constable), Messrs. Gardner and Leadbitter (Bow•street officers), and a party of the Metropolitan Police, were in attendance at the royal entrance. The Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by the Prin cesses Augusta and Mary of Cambridge, took a carriage airing yesterday. The Duchess of Gloucester visited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge yesterday at Cambridge House. Mr. Wallace, 111. P., had an interview with Viscount Melbourne yesterday, in Downing-street. A Cabinet Council assembled at 12 o'clock yesterday, at the Foreign-office, at which most of the Ministers were pre sent. The Council sat upwards of two hours. Sir Willoughby Gordon had an interview with Lord Glenelg yesterday, at the Colonial office. M. de Hummelauer, Austrian Charge d'Affaires, tran sacted business at the Foreign-office yesterday. The paymaster-general has arrived in town from Ireland. The Earl and Countess of Mulgrave and a small party dined with the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne on Tuesday evening, at Lansdowne House. Despatches from the Earl of Gosford, Governor of the Canadas, were received yesterday, at the Colonial-office. Despatches for Sir Lionel Smith, Governor of Jamaica, and for the Governors of the other West India colonies, were sent off last evening from the Colonial-office. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. ARRIVALS. Sir Augustus and Lady Clifford, in Belgrave-square, from Brighton ; the Hon. Edward Gardner, at Mivarts's Hotel, from Paris ; Colonel and Mrs. Colston, in Upper Berkeley street, Portman-square, from a tour ; Mr. Charles Greville from Newmarket ; Captain and Mrs. Johnstone, at Thomas's Hotel, from Berkshire ; Sir John and Lady Gambier, at ditto, from Suffolk ; Mr. and Mrs. Thorold, at ditto, from Suffolk ; Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, at Stevens' Hotel, from their seat, Ware ; Sir A. and Lady Ramsay, at ditto ; J. Quick, Esq., at ditto; the Earl of Hopetoun, at ditto, from Queen's Ferry ; Captain Inge and the Rev. George Inge, at ditto, from Thorpe ; Edward Knight, Esq., jun., and family, at ditto, from Overton ; Lord Viscount Strangford, in Harley-street, from the scat of the Marquis of Salisbury ; Lord Vernon, in Wilton•crescent, from Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire; Baron Re hausen from a tour ; the Hon. Mrs. Vernon in Hereford street ; General Sir George and Lady Murray in Belgrave square ; Lady Sheffield in Gloucester-place ; Mrs. Lane Fox and Mr. George Lane Fox, jun., in St. James's-street, from Branham Park, Yorkshire • Captain Oliphant, at the Bath Hotel, from Paris ; Colonel Robert and Mrs. Pennington, in Albemarle-street, from Vienna ; Lady and Miss Johnstone, and Captain Arthur Warner, in Gloucester-place, from Paris ; the Hon Colonel Cathcart from Brighton ; Mr. Douglas, at Mivart's Hotel, from a tour; Lord and Lady Dunally, at ditto, from Cheltenham ; the Marquis of Camden, in Gros venor-street, from Bayham Abbey, Kent ; Lord Henry Ben tinck from Scotland ; the Marquis of Douro, M. P., at Apslcy House, from Dover ; the Hon. Colonel Lygon, M.P., in Grosvenor-place, from Sussex. DEPARTURES. - - - The Earl and Countess of Beauchamp, from Worthing, for Dover ; Mr. and Mrs. Norris and family, from Thomas Hotel, for Dover ; Mr. and Mrs. Solly and family, from Stevens' Hotel, for St. Alban's ; W. Urquhart, Esq., from ditto, for Scotland ; Lieut.-Colonel Porter and Thomas Dundas, Esq., from ditto, for Brisham Abbey. --- His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George visited his Highness Prince Gagarin, yester day at the London Hotel, Albemarle-street. Lord Palmerston has been placed in mourning by the melancholy demise of his sister, the Hon. Mrs. Sulivan, lady of Lawrence Sulivan, Esq., Deputy Secretary of War. Mrs. Sulivan expired at Broom House, Fulham on Monday last, leaving a numerous family. Her eldest son, Mr. S. H. Sulivan, has been just appointed Secretary of Legation at Turin. The rent-roll of the late venerable and regretted Earl of Egremont was very large, and in the counties of Sussex, Cumberland, and Westmoreland exceeded 100,000/. per annum. The present Earl, who is the only son of the late Hon. William Frederick Wyndham, is in his 51st year. His Lordship is understood to succeed to the entailed estates, the Earl's personal property is, if is generally understood, bequeathed to Major-General Henry Wyndham, Colonel George Wyndham, the Countess of Munster, and Lady Burrell, wife of Sir Charles Burrell. Viscount Falkland arrived at the Clarendon Hotel last e vening, from his Seat, Hanwick Hall, Durham, to re sume his attendance at Court as one of the Lords in Wait- ing on the Queen. The Earl and Countess of Carlisle and the Ladies Howard arrived at their mansion in Grosvenor-place, late y v a is r i r t iv to ed tl o ie n D Fi n i k d e a3 o ,, f fr D on e i vo ll n o sl i s k ir a e r: on I tn ie CT s h a na a et t ssds oc ovr t the Earl ly('tl;efr7a: from ae Countess of Burlington. in vt Paris, have, it•h is o said,in tended England for the r r t r i q l i n e ohl relinquished their hs e e ra a r n i ta d to , eri D ,ttiiio , e ‘ n c l l o l v e f. i s no s e„ o ri leaving temporarypresent. W s e oim s ( t Irin of dl,ntele family.. near \\ailny.. dsworth, is preparing for the Lord and Lady Suffield are entertaining a large and distinguished party of friends at their seat, Gunton-park, near Norwich. The following are amongst the fashionables who have arrived within the List ten days :—The Duke and Duchess of Beaufort, the Earl and Countess of Lich field, the. Countess of Chesterfield, Mr. and Lady Agnes Byng, Mr. Edward Wodehouse, M.P., and Miss Wodc house, the Earl and Countess of Charleville, Mr. A. NVode house, Lord Burghersh, Lord and Lady Gardner, Mr. and Lady Sophia Windburn. Tire Earl and Countess of Granville are expected at Devonshire-house from Paris ; they were to-leave Paris en Tuesday. Lord Leveson, M.P., has arrived at the above splendid mansion from Chatsworth. The performances announced by command of her Majesty at Covent-garden Theatre, to- morrow evening, arc Byron's tragedy of Werner ; or Mc Inheritance; and A Rowland Ai. an Oliver. Macready of course takes the part of \Verner. The Duke of Devonshire has presented the South Sea Mission with 501. by the bands of the Rev. J. Wil liams, and expressed himself as a warm friend to the mis sionary cause in favour of the heathen. Lord Eldon has returned to town in good health ; but walks feebly in con sequence o f repea t e d a ttacks of the gout. His Lordship is in his 86th year, but his mental fa cilities are good, with the exception of his memory, which is in some degree impaired. The late Earl of Egremont was about one month older than his Lordship. The Duke de Nemours, the second son of Louis Philip, is reported, on mounting the breach, to have turned round to his men, and to have said—" For the honour of France we must take Constantine, or die under its walls !" The ordinary meeting of the Zoological Society was held on Tuesday evening, Thomas Bell, Esq., PALS., in the chair. Prince Lucien Bonaparte read a paper on his new arrangement of fishes, established on characters which lie considered preferable to the ordinary distinctions, arranging them into three great classes, according to the form of the branehia, in five subdivisions and twelve orders. Mr. Gray made some observations on the different species of sorer (shrews), premising them with some remarks on the importance of paying attention to the ext .rnal charac ters of mammalia, which he considered would form better objects of distinction even than the teeth, the form and ap pearance of which were modified by circumstances. Mr. Blyth gave some remarks on different distinctions of birds ; and Mr. Gould exhibited two small collections of birds from Mr. Abbott, of Trebizond, and Mr. Hearne of Haiti. Mr. Yarrell exhibited a large specimen of white bait, about six inches long, remarking that, although this fish was con sidered to be confined to the Thames, it was found in many of the other rivers of Great Britain, and that although more seldom, this was to be ascribed to the mode adopted for catching it. A Latin description was read from Mr. West wood, on a collection of insects sent over by Mr. Cumming, after which the meeting adjourned. DRURY-LANE THEATRE• Last night her Majesty, 'according to announcement, ho loured this theatre with her presence, There was a con eidereble crowd in Long -acre and Drury.lane' by which the Royal eiltte,gt• passed to the theatre, and the doors of the Louse were besieged from an early hour by a most alarming multitude. Ten minutes after the doors opened every available corner of the house was occupied, up to the topmast seat of the slips. Places were not to ba had in the boxes for some days. The pit was an awful spec tacle of crowded and crushed humanity, which indulged, as is the custom in such cases, in some vivid ebullitions of anger and combativeness. The royal box was the same in essentials as had been prepared for his late Majesty. It occupied the stage-box on the left, and was car ried outwards some four feet, by which her Majesty could be seen from both sides of the house. The royal arms, in rich gold relief, ornamented the crim son drapery which hung from its balcony, while a small figure of Victory, placed on the apex of its canopy, sus pended a very graceful drapery , which fellin simple festoons on each side, and upon which the letters V. and R. were conspicuously embroidered. At seven o'clock her Majesty entered. The whole house sprung up, and one mighty voice shook the building with its greeting huzza. Peal upon peal of this thunderous greeting followed, and was sustained for some five minutes, which seemed a very cen tury. Her Majesty, who advanced alone to the front of the box and stood at its corner nearest the audience, ap pear,d to be much struck with this welcome, and repeat edly curtsied to the houic. She was dressed all in white, if we except the dark lustre of the diamonds which sparkled ia her tiara, and a simple scarf of black lace thrown acrrs • he: shru ders. She appeared graceful and queenly, and it was impossible to look upon her there, young, lovely, and alone, receiving this almost fearful homage of affectionate loyal y, without feelings of far more than ordinary in terest. The tumult and waving of handkerchiefs ceased as the curtain arose, and the whole company of the theatre came forward to sing the anthem, which was warmly and well chorussed by the entire audience. The opera, The Siege of .Rochelle, was well performed, and passed off with its accustomed success. liar Majesty was attentive to it all through, and at the fall of the curtain expressed her ap plause by some gentle tappings of her fan. As the farce of Simpson and Co. was about to proceed, a general cry, of which it is impossible not to approve, arose for " Rule Bri tannia," and the company had again to come forward and sing it. It is a gross shame that any British vocalist should be unfamiliar with the words of this bold and spirit-stirring national song. We shall say no more at present on that point. " Rule Britannia" was chorused also, and after another cheer for the Queen the farce proceeded, and seemed to be greatly enjayed by her Majesty. At its con clusion " God save the Queen" was again sung, again the tumults of cheering were repeated, and so her Majesty de parted. In the early part of the evening a warm cheer was given for the Duchess of Kent, but her Royal High ness was not in the house. SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY. The powerful band and chorus of this Society met in the large room, Exeter Hall, Tuesday evening, for a public performance of Handel's " Dettingen To Deum," and Mo zart's " Twelfth Service." The announcement of this performance drew crowds to the door almost immediately on the opening, and from that time until the commence went, the meeting could scarcely be termed with propriety a harmonious one. The first tap, however, of the conduc tor's baton, the first majestic roll of the organ, hushed the tumultuous waves, and commanded a stillness and anxious attention that would do credit to the taste of those higher circles which, until of late years, have been considered as alone possessing mind to understand or feeling to enjoy the effects of grand music. The solo parts were allotted to Miss Birch, Miss Lockey, Mr. T. Young, Mr. Horncastle, and Mr. H. Phillips. Mr. T. Young, who has just retired from the choir of St. George's Chapel, Windsor, has a sweet and full voice, without, however, any great power, and sings with great delicacy and taste, which renders him particularly serviceable in the beautiful quartetts which occur in the oratorio and service selected for this per formance. After H. Phillips's chaste execution of " Thou art the King of Glory," the enthusiasm of the audience could no longer be restrained by the rules of the society, and an encore was with difficulty avoided. The trumpet obligato was played by Harper, who aided not a little the effect of the music throughout by his admirable execution of the trying parts which are given to the trumpet. H. Phillips's other solo, " Vouchsafe, 0 Lord !" was given, if possible, with greater vigour and truth. The sublime cho rus which concludes the oratorio was saluted with so per severing a call for repetition, that it could not be resisted. The depth, richness, and variety of Mozart's 12th Service seemed to be fully appreciated and enjoyed. The quartctt and chorus, " Quoniam to solos sanctus," the chorus " Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus," the " Agnus Dei," and the concluding chorus, " Dona nobis pacem," the solo part of which Mr. T. Young sang with much feeling and taste, drew forth an especial share cf applause. Between these two parts was introduced a selection, consisting of a portion of Handers " Funeral Anthem," as a tribute of respect to the late Mr. S. Wesley. The air, " Pious orgies," from " Judas Maccabmus," which Miss Lockey sang with tole rable success, although her veice is too weak for so large a space ; the recit. and air, " 0 ! worse than death ;" and " Angels ever bright," from Handel's " Theodora," which Miss Birch sang with so much truth and feeling, and so perfect execution, that nothing but compassion could have prevented an encore. Mr. Horncastle sang the solo, " Gentle airs," from Handel's " Athalia," with considera ble judgment. The violoncello obligato of Lindley was given in his most finished style, and caused a long struggle for a repetition, the band and chorus warmly joining in the applause, until they perceived the strong objection which the veteran himself exhibited. Miss Birch sang Guglielmi's air " Gratias agimus," accompanied by Mr. Lazarus on the clarionet, and Phillips the air of Pergolesi, " 0, Lord, have mercy upon me." The selection concluded with the " Old Hundredth Psalm," arranged for a full orchestra, by G. Perry, the leader. At the first notes of this ma jestic anthem the audience rose with one accord. It was given with perfect precision, and the effect was tremen dous. At the conclusion there was a slight commence ment of applause, which aas silenced in an instant, for the general impression of solemnity, arising partly from the familiarity of the old tune, partly from its own grandeur, seemed to revolt against any expression of tumultuous feeling. The performance was not conclulal until after 1 o'clock. GRAND MATRIMONIAL HOAX.—On Thursday last, while every avenue of the great city of London was sounding with the gal note of 'civic preparation, the little town of Harrow-on-the-Hill, was the scene of an incident the interest of which was second only to the joyful sensation aroused on that day by the proud procession of our youth ful Sovereign through the streets of her capital. Certain facetious wags of Harrow School having noticed in the newspapers an advertisement for a wife, resolved to answer it, which led to a series of letters between the parties to their mutual satisfaction. It was at length settled that the ad vertiser should proceed to Harrow on the day above.men tioned, by the 10 o'clock train, and, after meeting his in tended in the church-yard, should accompany her to town to witness the grand procession of the Queen. As may be supposed the scholars were on the acme of expectation, and at the appointed time a showily dressed female might be seen wending , her way up the church-yard, amidst the shouts and cheering of the spectators, who remained on the look out for the arrival of the gay speculator in matrimony. After a little time he was observed advancing by a bye-path towards the rendezvous, whither he was watched and seen to salute the fair object of his wishes, who, after the neces sary explanations, took his arm and descended the hill, amidst the tittering of the observers, freely conversing with him, and occasionally looking him in the face with a confid ing simplicity which it was beautiful to beheld. In this manner they proceeded (the adventurous votary of Hymen evidently captivated by the fascinating manners and sylph like form of his companion—ever and anon passionately gaz ing on her beauteous countenance, until they slopped at the King's Head .Inn, whither they were followed, at a suitable distance, by the whole school, and such of the town's-peord2 as were in the secret. Their arrival at this place was the signal for a general outbreak of mingled hisses, laughter, and shouting, and the astounded night on turning to his fair companion to seek an explanation, was most ineffably horri fied by seeing her tuck up her petticoats under her arms and mizzle through the crowd, which immediately closed up and effectually covered her retreat. Soon afterwards one of the school-boys, named Jervais, and vastly resembling the false fair one, was notieed . as being particularly active in the tumult. A. scene here ensued which beggars all descrip tion ; but at length the unfortunate devil was partially res cued from his painful situation by the arrival of the mathe matical master of the school, who, however, was quickly hemmed in by the crowd of boys, and experienced some difficulty in forcing his way through, which he, however, at last effected, and called in the assistance of another master, who, by his laudable exertions, and good-natured mode of arranging matters,. at length succeeded in securing the escape of the poor dupe, who was afterwards seen, with a most rueful expression of phiz, waiting at the railroad sta tion for the next train of carriages.—lllorning Paper. Some little confusion was created in Chelmsford church on Sunday morning—an individual among the con gregation suddenly elevating his voice (when he should have been silent) above that of the officiating minister, and bawling out the benediction with which the morning prayers conclude. The young man, who is very respectably con nected, but who is subject to occasional aberration of mind, was speedily remnved, and the service proceeded. We un, derstand he has since been placed under the care of Mr. Temkin, of Witham.—Essex Herald. We take the following extraordinary account of an earthquake from a letter, published it the Charge, dated Agram, in Croatia, Oct. 15 :—" Opt the first day of this month low moaning sounds began to be heard, as if f ront under the earth, which terrified the catae in the fields, brought the wild animals of the forests almost into the town ; „while birds of prey perching on the houses suffered themselves to be taken without resistance. This contintsed till three in the afternoon of the Gth, when an explosion similar to a salvo of artillery took place, and the earth be gan to quake. These detonations were repeated every half hour till the evening, during the night they were less fre quent and less violent ; on the morning of the 7th there were two successive explosions, after which the shocks cessed entirely. The inhabitants fled to the fields : all the furniture of the houses was thrown downe And several buildings were destroyed. No human life was kst by these accidents, but three women and two children died, it is said, of fatigue and alarm in the fields. The wind blew from the north, and the air was cold : the thermometer standing at 7 degrees of Reaumur, or -171 of Fahrenheit. EFFECTS OF PASsION.—A few days ago. a miner, at Auberchicourt, proceeded to inflict manual- casti gation on• his wife for having neglected to prepare his soup a t the usual dinner hour, and, whilst engaged in this con jugal operation, was in such a paroxysm of rage, that he was seized with apoplexy, and fell on the ground a corpse. The following curious incident occurred in Lisbon on Friday week :—Of all the members of the Camillo Club. none is more patriotic than Mr. S., a Portuguese merchant of this city. Of the 'advocates of the adoption of the new tariff, as a means of excluding British commerce from the n a kets of Portugal, he was the warmest, and amongst tie declaimers against England and, every thing English be was the very loudest. It happened, however, that on the day above mentioned one of the examining officers at the Custom-house having perceived something suspicious about a piece of broad cloth opened it, and found that it con tained a piece of English silk--an article, the duties on which amount to a prohibition. He then proceeded to open all the others, and in each and every one there was a piece of silk cunningly folded up together with the cloth. At. this discovery the whole Custom-house was in an uproar of indignation against England generally, and especially against the Englishman who, it was taken for granted, must bo the consignee, which only subsided when on inquiry it was found that the goods in question were not only consigned, but actually belonged to their own countryman, the patriotic Mr. S. !! Yesterday, a Court of Directors was held at the East India House, at which it was determined to discharge, on the 30th of June next, the East India Company's home bond debt, which now bears interest at the rate of four per • cent. per annum ; interest thereon will accordingly cease from that day. The holders of bonds of 1001. each, or up wards, to an extent not exceeding one half (1,760,0001.) of the whole bond debt, may, however, exchange their bonds for new bonds, bearing interest at the rate of three per cent. per annum, from the 30th of June next, up to which period the present interest of four per cent. per annum will be paid. The interest upon such new bonds is not to be reduced, nor the principal to be discharged or demanded except after a notice of 12 months. A CHARACTER.—Died, at his house in Queens berry-street, on Monday, the 6th current, Mr. James Ro. bison, late billet-master. The deceased was altogether a character in Dumfries, and; 'during a space of nearly 80 years, was never permanently absent from the chiming of the mid-steeple bells. For a long series of years Mr. Ro bison—or as he was better known as Jamie Robisonkept bachelor's hall in company with a brother recently deceased, and both were distinguished by strong eccentricity of cha racter, though in every sense of the word, men of honesty and probity. Jamie was a perfect chronicle of Dumfries in the olden time—could detail every remarkable incident during a period of half a century—such as the burning of the mills, the hanging of desperate criminals, and the oc currence of riotous " siller guns ;" and knew not only the pe digree of every family.in town, but could detail the progress of their sons in distant lands, and the distinction or fortune which had attended them. If we are not mistaken, he was in Kirkcudbright at the time St. Mary's Isle was visited by Paul Jones, in •the Ranger, and the plate of the Earl of Sel kirk carried off by his crew ; at all events we have often heard him speak of the consternation of the citizens upon that occasion, and their hasty preparations of defence, had that daring and extraordinary man visited the burgh in hi: wrath. Upon the last occasion of the " Riding of the marches" by the incorporated trades some years ago, Mr. • Robison's services were in requisition to point out the boundery line of the olden burgh roods, and in doing so he distinctly recollected the localities where cogs of ale and ginger-bread had been distributed some sixty years before, when a boy, and when the same drama was enacted by the convener and deacons of a departed age. Altogether Jamie Robison knew everybody and everybody knew him, and Dumfreisians far away will learn that the living land marks of the good old burgh are being fast numbered with the things that were. —Deg fries courier. Joseph Guarnerius, the violin maker, the nephew of Andrew Guarnerius, and pupil of the renowned Stradu arius, died early ; his end being precipitated by the series of ea:emetics which befel him. His great reputation did not begin to blossom till he was in his grave. Thrown into prison when very young, and for causes that - have not tran spired, he languished there for many years. So sharp was his misery, that it was with the utmost difficulty he could procure a few wretched implements to enable him to pro ceed in the manufacture of his violins. Those which were made during the long term of his captivity are distinguished under the name of " Maiden violins ;" the following being the anecdote which gave rise to that designation :—The gaoler's daughter had fallen in love with Joseph Guarne rius, and she secretly supplied the unhappy artist with ma terials requisite for his labour. She would go round to the violin-makers of the city, and request, as for charity, the re fuse of their varnish. With this amalgam of various de scriptions of varnish, were covered those instruments which are now known as the " Maiden violins ;" and they are easily recognised by the peculiar granulations in the layers of the varnishing. The mistress of the captive then went and sold, for the meanest sums, and to mitigate the misery of a celebrated artist, those very instruments which now fetch their weight in gold.--Musical World. Sstinday morning about nine o'clock, the town of Middlesboroug-on-Tees was thrown into a state of alarm by a report that an hour before one of the steam -boats cm ployed in towing had blown up. It appears that a boat, named the Freedom, the property of Messrs. Strong, was towing down the river three small vessels, and when they reached the eighth buoy a sudden squall came on front the north-east, that prevented the progress of the steamer, the engine of which stopped on her centre. The steam was immediately blo vn off with all possible rapidity, but. not so fast as it was generated in the boiler, which in a short time burst under the feet of Captain White, who was at the helm, and, blowing out the stern, hurled the unfortu nate man into the river. The shattered vessel immediately sunk. The eng.ne-man could fortunately swim, and was shortly after picked up uninjured. The other person on board, named Strong, one of the sons of the proprietor of the boat was at the time of the accident on the engine-hens - LI cover, on which he floated till another boat, the Harvest Haw, came up, and ,:With considerable difficulty rescued him from his perilous sittiatiol. His cap had been knocked off by something flying through the air at the time of the explosion, and he bad received a bruise on time cheek-bone, but was not otherwise injured. 'lite body of the captain has not. yet been found.—Darbant Chr:nticle. Mr. Robert Wilson, of the Compass Inn, Sp3ld wick, has in his possession a cow, whose milk or rather cream, has during the summer months produced good but ter without any churning, or going through any other pro cess than simply putting the cream together,—Cambridge Chronicle. Mats. WILKINSON, TIIE ACTRESS.—Our readers may recollect that upwards of' a year ago a paragraph ap peared in this paper, which was given on what, at the time, appeared to be good authority, that Mrs. Wilkinson, and her husband, and children had perished in their voyage to Van Diemen's Land. There appeared a few days , lifter a letter from a respect ed relative of Mr. Wilkieson s, which contradicted the certainty of the account ; but at that time it stii, remained doubtful. We are now enabled to set the matter a t r e st, having seen a letter • from Mch h r. Wilkinson, dated from Hoba: t Town, May 16, in whie states his family to be in goy mentions that o the health. and his prospects in He fever thefeett three r. business Icing rather pro misin ; :. v n , o e ) c t k g s e . s been r o a v t e t r a 3 c , k h e i s eldest d with O:t hi for soil ug Mr. Wilkinson ices subsequeatly a tt a cked with brain fever. But the tenour of the letter, deducting these detractions, rn:my be c onsidered rather gratifying to his frien&..--3lortt lay I ldvcrtiser We perform a very gratifying duty in again (meet public attention to the progress which is tem making towards the execution of the railway between this own nod Glasgow. The name of Mr. Joseph Locke. as engineer, gives the hest assurance of the speedy and masterly cisme. tion of the work, which, we understand, will ha ecnanenced with .vigour at various parts of the line as soon as the weether will permit. We may thus hope to see part of it ,open within a short time, and - the whole line completed in little more than two years. This we hold to be. a subject of sincere =gratulation to the west of Scotland generally, and to the dwellers on the Clyde in particular. Our rail. road is the first link in the connecting chain of rapid corn. mud:cation throughout Scotlan d from west to cast, and we cannot conceive any work better c alculated to insure great and certain advantages to all c oncerned.—Greenock • L NY.V 4 SP WO Ad vertise. The Abbe Nialot, expressing a douht to" .tuenftot„..-- -- how many in asses would save the soul, the Cardinal —" Pile ! you're a blockhead .—as many as it we' snowballs to heat an oven." et t tg -- -- . JTA - "N •'e.'1.,,--- 1 f A K.., .4 S