The Sun. — London, England, 1856-09-24 00:00:00

SIR JAMES GRAHAM AT CARLISLE. The East Cumberland Agricultural Society's Exhibi tion was held on the Cagle-green, Carlisle, beneath the walls of the old Border Fortress, on Saturday last. The show was an excellent one in every respect, the visitors more numerous than at any previous exhibition of the same kind, and the interest of the occasion was greatly augmented by the presence of Sir James Graham and many of the leading gentry and agriculturists of the county and neighbourhood. A large party subsequently sat down to dinner at the Bush Hotel. Mr. Henry Howard, of Greystoke Cagle, occupied the chair ; Mr. W. Nicholson Hodgson, of Newby Grange, the vice chair; and amongst the guests were Sir J. R. G. Graham, Tiart , M.P. ; Mr. Salkeld, of Holmehill ; Captain James, Sir John Maxwell, Bart., Springkell ; Hon. C. Howard, M.P. ; Mr. P. H. Howard, Corby Castle, Sco. On the removal of the cloth the chairman gave the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, after which the vice chairman gave the health of the county members, to which the Hon. C. Howard responded, expressing his regret tha.`, the Agricultural Statistics Bill had not received the sanction of Parliament. The CHAIRMAN then proposed " The Members for the City," remarking that a salutary rule of these societies, and an essential one to their suocess, was to avoid all political discussions at their meetings. Sir JAMES GRAEIAM, without waiting for a single cheer, immediately rose and said—The worthy baronet, "my Scotch neghbour" (Sir John Maxwell), has re minded you how objectionable it is to make set speeches —speeches cut and di ied ready for delivery. (. 'angle) I cordially agree with him in that opinion, and, moreover, believe that speeches of that description generally mark both poverty of understanding and want of warmth of heart. For 40 years I have been a careful observer of the agriculture of this county ; and for 35 years I have carefully exercised that honourable employment—the most honourable I have ever been engaged in ; it has moat occupied my thoughts, and at all times has most accorded with my affections and kalinaa You, Mr. Vice-Chairman, have described what are the duties of a member of Parliament. You have said it is his duty to represent, the feelings and wishes of his con stituents. I have always endeavoured so to regulate my conduct in the House of Commons as to attempt to meet the wishes of my constituents, subject to an ad-pervad ing rule, though I have thought it right (subject always to the account to be rendered to them) to give effect to the opinions I myself honestly entertained. Now, as a member of Parliament and as a legislator, I can look hack with vast satisfaction to the several measures I have supported. First of all, as a striking instance, of the advantages of self - government apart from the executive of the day, I gave my support to the Poor-Law Bill, which conveyed to the yeomanry, the ratepayers, and the city authorities the management of their own affairs in that particular. All that time the charges for the maintenance of the poor assumed an amount and aspect most threatening to property. The administration was not then in the bands of the ratepayers, but in those of the magistrates, Rho were not responsible to the rate payers. A great and mighty change was effected by the governor- nt of Lord Grey, by the introduction of that bill, and in that measure I took a part, when a vast re form accomplished, and th e a d m i n i s t ra ti on w a s tra ns f erred to the yeo.nen, shopkeepers, and ratepayers of the country. The change was most salutary. The it:urges for the maintenance of the poor are now mode rate; the deager to property has been arrested, and the interes.t of tlie - poor,which in my opinion is a paramount ce.. isira i eration, has not been neglected. And again I loea bac i ar. to another measure not less important in its results, w . rich has been, as I conceive, one of the great causes of `agricultural improvement throughout England, but more especially in this county; and upon that change also I look back with satisfaction. (Hear.) There is yet another mighty change which has taken place in which I was Concerned ; and although politics are very properly ex eluded from our discussions, I cannot help referring to it. I mean the change with reference to the laws re gulating the importation of foreign produce. I was long denounced as faithless to the class to which I belong —I was held up as a traitor to agriculture—as the enemy of the farmer for supporting that great change which took place in 1846. I will only refer to that as a proof that it is at times possible for members of Parliament to give effect to their (own opinions, even in opposition to the fleeting opinions of those with whom they are politically connected, and yet have the satisfaction of looking back and believing that they have promoted the permanent interests of the class to which they belong. I shall say no more than this—you are cultivators of the soil, in possession of well-founded prosperity; your prices are ample, and your prospects good. Tnose prices are not dependent upon legislation ; they fluctuate upon the supply of the commodity, and rise and fall with its scarcity and abundance. No enemy can prevent your reaping an abundant harvest; you are in the enjoyment of the fullest prosperity, and, what is of greater value, of the cordial goodwill of the community. No jealousy can arise—no exception be taken to the price of the article you raise. It is a natural price —your pros perity is sure, and the goodwill of the community at. tends you. (Cheers ) Sir J. Maxwell hopes that the Emperor of Russia may reign over a free and loyal peop'e. That he will reign over a loyal people, a cordial people, I fully hope and believe. That he will reign over a free people I do not expect, and as an agricul turist I do not much desire it ; for if there be danger to a foreigner, one thing is obvious, namely, that that danger must arise from freedom on the part of the culti utters of the soil. Excuse me if I record a sentiment which I read the other day—a sentiment which denote great and profound wisdom. Monte-quiet], in visiti.lg _England nearly a century ago, was struck with the superior produce of England in comparison with that of France, and be wondered at that superiority un per- ceiviug cur climate so very inferior. He saw at, once that our soil was not nearly so good ai that, of Frat.o.t, and he makes this relect,ion, "'moat the pro duce of land depends less on the fertility of the sail than on the freedom of the cultivator." A profound I observation, general as conceived by him, true t , I the letter in its application. Now ju , t reflect f r a moment what is the immediate cause of the iminen e produce of the United States of America ? Why, the freedom of the cultivator. What is the distinguishing mark of the success of the yeomen of Cumberland ? The freedom of the cultivator ? What is the advantage of long leases ? an advantage which I have always con tended for. The freedom of the tenant. (Cheers.) And I never shall entertain the slightest apprehension of fo reign rivalry till I see that all Europe possesses that freedom. It is, as Montesquieu says, not on the fer tility of the soil, but on the relative freedom of agricul ture it depends,. and it is our boast that in this country especially we do enjoy to the greatest extent a fair divi sion of the land. There are, it is true, twee estates in Cumberland, but they are as nothing c o mpared with the number of small estat es w hi c h are the hereditary pos sessions of the yeomanry, and also the wide-spread use, the growing use of long leases. Gentlemen, I should be sorry to read you a lecture upon agriculture, but there are three or four points to which, without im pertinence, without presuming to dictate to those who know their business so well, I may advert. I once at one of there meetings expree•ed an opinion which was much criticised at the time, which has been condemned I said, in my opinion, we ploughed too much and graz too little ; and I particularly adverted to the circum stance, which ag, icniturists in Cumberland cannot fail to observe, that in competing with the southern counties and with other milder and more genial c imetes we laboured under great disadvantage—that here the growth of wheat was more difficult and uncertain, whilst we have immense advantages in the growth of green crops and grass. Here the high price of meet renders the feed ing of sheep extremely remunerative, and next to drain ing it is ene of the most certain methods of improving the land. I also adverted to a species of culture which might have been of great benefit to the county. I allude to flax. Gentlemen, I still think that you grow too much corn, that you graze too little, and also I am of opinion that the introduction of flax to your ro tation would be a most valuable change to your crop ping. I can speak with confidence when I say that in every second rotation of five years flax would be found to answer, and that in a large portion of this country it might be introduced once in ten years with the utmost advantage. In connection with this subject the name of one occurs to me whose loss I sincerely deplore, for a more spirited agriculturist or a more thoroughly deter mined man than Mr. Rome never existed. He wa, quite prepared to act with me in the introduction of flax, to establish a flax manufactory mill in this immediate neighbourhood, —and if that experiment had been carried out it would have been of great advantage to the county. The moment it was suggested, the native for recommend ing it was suspected, but it that scheme had been carried out, I see no reason to doubt.that the trade of Northern Ireland in that article might have been transplanted here, whilst we should have had the most advantageous system of cropping, a most useful manufactory in our. own immediate neighbourhood, and a profitable addition to our agriculture. I still hope that it will be carried out. I see greater facilities in combination for such a pur pose in the limited liability of companies. I observe that a society is about to be formed for introducing iiax into England, and I am satisfied that there can be no better part of the country for the success of the experi ment than the county of Cumberland and the immediate neighbourhood of Carlisle. One word on another point. I am an advocate fur the utmost degree of freedom in the condition of leases. Ido not think it wise to hamper tenants in their leases ; still I do think there is too great a tendency to grow potatoes in this country. We have had an awful warning. It is a tender plant ; it has be come an uncertain plant, and we have only to look across the Channel, where, in the course of a few years, no less than two millions of our fellow-crea tures have paid the penalty of death or exile . for their too gr ea t d e p en d ence u p on that precar one article. If you grow potatoes, relying upon the railrowls for facility of exporting-them, you will make the most fertile land perfectly sterile. It is a ganililiog transaction. If you plant upon good land, the crop i always doubtful and the loss severe. If it is a good crop it itnpoveridies the land to an extent which no ultimate advantage can compensate. I am, therefore, extremely anxious to discourage the growth of potatoes on a large scale. Then as to grass. lam satisfied that as one of the conditions of leases in Cumberland it is most important that even on the best land there shall be a given proportion—and that a considerable proportion—laid down in permanent pasture. That is essential to the in terests both of the landlord and tenant; I should say more for the tenant than of the landlord. lam about to pro pose as a toast the health of a gentleman who is an ex emplification of all the most distinguished qualities to be found amongst country gentlemen, to the exclusion of all political objects. I hold Mr. Howard to be a bright example of an English country gentleman. Ile performs all his duties in a most exemplary manner, and I know knows no ambition of any kind except to keep all persona in every kind of public situation up to the Dollar—(laughter)—an d se e that they remain there. He THE SUrN, LO N DON, WEDNESDA is unwilling to take the collar himself, and I am not sure than, he is far wrong in that determination. (Renewed laughter.) But as a country gentleman and a spirited farmer, who has been carrying improvements almost to tile top of Saddleback, I know no one who, as a gentle maa and a magistrate, au agriculturist and a lan 4 lord, is so deserving of every mark of respect as the gentleman who now fills the chair. (Cheers.) I have infinite plea sure in proposing his health in a bumper, and, as a far mer and an old stager, to give. it as the Jockey of Nor folk would have given it. (Cheers and laughter.) The CHAIRMAN responded, observing that his agricul tural ambition had not led him quite to the heights of Saddleback, as he had been timely deterred from such a purpose by the unsuccessful attempts of Mr. Calvert to ~ro.v oats on the top of Skiddaw. Sir JOHN MAXWELL, in proposing " The Mayor and C:rporation of Carlisle," observed that Sir James Gra ham, pursuing the sentiment of Montesquieu—that the prosperity of agriculture was not so much dependent on the fertility of the soil as upon the freedom of the pe-ple, had remarked that he was not particularly anxious that the Ru.sians should attain to freedom. Now ho (Sir John) supposed that should be the very reason why the people ought to be free, and for his own part be was not affected by the dread which seemed to be felt by the right honourable baronet. The MAYOR responded. The CHAIRMAN then called for a bumper toast to the "Success of the East Cumberland Agricultural Society." He was quite sure so long as the Carlisle society, composed of its present ingredients, con tinued to show the improvements which had been exhibited that day it would go on and prosper. Now that the war was at an end, a time of trial which bad been endured with great patience and fortitude by the nation, we ought to feel thankful that there was such an abundance, and correspondingly grateful to those who had been influential in producing that abund ance. Sme weeks ago the fall of a few showers of rain almost produced a crisis in the money market, and he Was sure that scarcely any amount of commercial failures would produce so much alarm and distress as anything like the prospect of a bad harvest in this country. With such facts before them, the exertions of agricultural societies to produce a greater'amount of food ought to be duly acknowledged, and if a little additional profit ac crued to the cultivator by his increased skill and indus try, through the medium of these societies, the nation at large would not begrudge it. (Hear.) Mr. PONALD, the secretary, responded. Mr. P. 13. HOWARD proposed "The Judges and In spectors of Turnips." Mr. NICHOLSON responded, and, referring to Sir J. Graham's remarks with regard to flax, he said it would be a great benefit to the farmers if they adopted his re commendation ; mentioning the fact which had come under his observation that he had seen receipts for money paid for oilcake by a Lincolnshire proprietor, amounting to no less than 3,0001 for one year. 02ptain JAMES proposed " The Successful .Candi dates," and coupled the toast with the name of Sir J. Graham, who had gained the first prize in the class of Galloway cattle. Sir J. GRAHAM—I certainly am ashamed to acknow ledge myself Dux on this occasion. With regard to the Galloway stock, I did not expect to be at the head of the list, but as my own tenants have run me very hard, I am unwilling to comment upon the judgment. I have al ways bad a very strong opinion that with the exception of the very best land, Galloway stock is the best adapted to this county, and ought to be encouraged. As a land lord I have done my best to encourage the introduction of the true Galloway breed from the Ste wartry, and it is not from any vanity of showing a good animal that I ex hibited to-day, but for the purpose of proving to those who cultivate inferior soils that this species of stock, when properly bred, possesses both symmetry of form and excellence of quality, and can be made profitable to the farmer who breeds them. Of course I do not pretend to say that they are nearly so good as the shorthorns, but they possess peculiar fitness for this climate and soil. (Hear.) So far as I am personally concerned, it is matter of gratification to me that my animal has received the approbation of the meeting. Mr. BIBILETT responded to the same toast. Sir J. MAXWELL proposed the " Unsuccessful Candi dates,," concluding by promising the Mayor of Carlisle to buy . all the refuse of the city, if his worship would only hit. upon some plan of deodorising and conveying it to- Sprin' s gkell by railway. After a few other toasts, Sir J. GOA.HAM closed the proceedings by proposing the " Labouri.ng Classes," speaking of them in the highest terms, and espet'ially remarking upon the skill and trust worthy character of the Cumberland labourer. take to be this, that a healthy organisation, well developed, will gain in every direction by whatever it gains in one. In the physiml part of our nature the healthy body and the healthy brain are more likely at least to go together than either of them with the reverse. And e) it is with the mind and the moral sense ; when the eyes of the intellect aro opened, and imagination is summoned to fulfil her legitimate function—when the awful vastness of the universe appears, and the wonderful mechanism of man is unveiled, and the not less wonderful system of moral checks and counterchecks by which the fabric of society is rendered self-sustaining, strikes full and clear upon the view, the mere fact of familiarity with ideas so high and so wide-reaching produces a frame of mind in compatible with the taking pleasure in those low and sen sual and degrading pursuits which constitute the bulk of immorality as it exists in England. (Hear, hear, and ap plause.) But there is another point of view in which these institutions may be considered, and one to which I attach great importance. Recollect what modern society is. Recollect what modern labour is. We bring together men in masses ; we employ them in mechanical pursuits. The very perfection of the work done—the cause of that perfection, division of labour, carried to the highest point —tends to render occupation more and more monotonous ; so that the intellect, craving stimulus, asking for variety, is starved. For, to an active brain, intellectual inaction —the want of subjects for thought—is quite as painful as to the habitually inert temperament is the unaccustomed toil of thought. What, then, I ask, becomes of the vast masses of intelligent men and women whom we congregate in these towns? What are our national amusements? None—or next to none. Even the simplest of all pleasures, the enjoyment of natural beauty, is rarely possible. The leisure hours here fall mostly at night, when out-door pleasures are inappropriate, even if the neighbourhood of our towns afforded more facilities for such pleasures than they do. (Hear.) We want, then, besides teaching for those who will be instructed, rational amusements for those who only desire to be interested. (Cheers.) I am not ashamed of putting that prominently forward as an object which we ought to keep in view. Health is weakened, disease generated, life shortened, by the depression of spirits which follows upon an unstimulated existence. Men die for want of cheerfulness, as plants die for want of light. (Hear, hear.) That is a fact to which you may get medi cal testimony in plenty; and it is to this very difficulty •f finding pleasures —a difficulty arising in part out of the ac cidents of our social state, in part out of the grave, earnest, energetic, reflective, but rather sombre east of mind which for many centuries has distinguished the people of this na- tion—that I ascribe the habit of excessive social indul gence which is still the principal reproach upon our na tional morals and manners. (Hoar.) I affirm, then, that to every point of view intellectual, moral, even sanitary 'institutions, such as this is intended to be—partly social, partly literary, useful to the few who study in earnest, at tractive to the many whose chief aim is amusement—have in both those cr.paci ties a real and substantial value. (Hear.) Your lectures, your reading rooms, your evening classes, your lending library—for that essential element of popular usefulness I hope it is not proposed to omit—will each draw to you subscribers, each probably subscribers of a different class. The establishment of an athenmum, a ly ceum, an institute, call it which you will, in every large town of England is no longer a mere luxury which may be enjoyed or dispensed with at pleasure, but has become an essential and integral part of our social organisation. I know all that has been and may be said against these institutions; and it is possible that their actual results may disappoint unreasonable expectations on the one hand as they have dispelled worthy fears on the other. But I deny in toto what is sometimes affirmed,—that the experi ment of their establishment has been hitherto a failure. (Hear, hear). Bear in mind that it is only of late years that the prejudices once entertained sgaisst them have been overcome, and that they have ceased to bear a distinctively party character. Bear in mind that only within the last few years has there issued from the press that vastness of cheap and valuable publications which have so much facilitated the formation of provincial libraries. Remember too, that while churches, schools, colleges, and hospitals are endowed, institutes have been almost universally felt to live from hand to mouth with little or no capital in re serve, dependent for their very existence upon every tem porary fluctuation of popularity. (Hear, hear.) Recollect lastly, that if official statistics may be trusted (and the private experience of most of us will, I believe, confirm them), school attendance in England is only one-half of what it should be in order to give every young person growing up a fair elementary training. Under these dis advantages, with prejudices to combat, with inadequate means, with no permanent funds, and with only one-half the people prepared to receive their teaching, these lite- rary institutions have increased until they now number more than 800, and new ones are being founded daily. In my belief, their sphere of action admits of vast enlarge ment. I hold that they are destined to perform, as ro g trds the more numerous class of society, the same func• tions as these which the universities discharge towards the wealthier. They combine two advantages of which it is scarcely possible to over-estimate the value—first, that members of every religious denomination meet here upon ' equal terms; next, that they start unencumbered with traditions; and taking as their point of departure the educational ideas not of any former, but of the present age. Here, gentlemen, let me express a hope that you will not rest content with what has been or is being done—not even with the success and progress of this institution—but that you will couple with it, either as part of the same esta blishment or separately under the act of Parliament, a free, or nearly free, library for the use of the 10 ),000 per sons who inhabit this town and its neighbourhood. Man chester, Salford, Liverpool, Bolton, even Warrington, have set you the example. (Cheers.) Out of 18 places where it has been proposed to put the act in force it has been carried in 13; and having watched the movement dating four years I can bear witness that, though difficulties are often made about the setting up of a free library, no instance has occurred within my knowledge where, one having been established, it has failed to command popular support, or to answer the purpose of its establishment. (Hear.) If, as has been the case in some places, a rate bo objected to, the thing may be done by private means. A capital of 2,001. will give, at the lowest estimate, a collection of 10,000 volumes to begin with, and 1,000 subscribers of only 49, yearly will supply an income amply sufficient to defray a ll necessary expenses. But a rate-supported library is pre ferable, first, because in that case alone can it be absolutely free; secondly, because that mode of support gives to it a more public and popular character. Next comes the ques tion—when you have got your athenmurn, what is it there intended to teach ? That is a vast subject, and one which, in deference to your time, I shall touch on in the shortest possible manner. First, I thick it is desirable that intel lectual competition should be stimulated in every possible manner ; and I heard, therefore, with peculiar pleasure some words which fell from the president of the institutio❑ this morning, as to the propriety of establishing-examina tions and rewarding efficiency with prizes. (Hear, hear.) What is read with some definite and tangible end is view, is apt to be more carefully studied and longer remembered than nLA is read in a vague and general idea of improve ment. (Hear.) Next, I hold that a wide latitude should be given to in tividual taste. What a man wishes to learn ha will learn better, more quickly, and with more profit to himself than what he undertakes to learn merely upon the recommendation of others, even though the latter may be more generally useful. Subject to this qualification, I will mention those topics which seem most likely to be of service. I see in a prospectus which has been issued mention of French classes and others for the teaching of languages. I am far from depreciating such studies; their interest is great, their use is great even for those who stay at home, much more for those who travel ; but where time and opportunity are limited, and where no special inducement exists, I doubt whether the acquiring of languages is the most necessary or profitable Iranch of knowledge. Words, after all, are only vehicles of thought ; the stores of thought accumulated in our own tongue are already immense ; and if much of life be passed in that which is rather prepara tion for study than study itself, little time may remain to complete the building for which such wide and ample foun- datiOns have been laid. It seems to me—iput remember that I give my opinions on these subjects with the utmost deference—that the foundation of a complete and rational education lies in the knowledge of natural laws, as deduced from recorded facts ; a knowledge, first, of those laws by which the inorganic world is governed—as those which re gulate astronomical, geological, and chemical phenomena ; next, of those laws which control organised existences —a branch which includes physiology in all its departments ; lastly, a knowledge of that which, for want of a more re cognised term, I must call sociology, embracing the hives tigation of social problems, and enabling us to trace the paths along which human action has moved in all countries and ages. I cannot go far into these topics here, or else I think I could show that the order which I have named, from the study of the simplest structure —inorganic mat ter —up to that of the highest and most complex—the hu man mind—is no arbitrary progress, but one which Nature herself dictates and directs. (Hear.) I may be asked what man, unless solely and professedly a philosopher, can find leisure for such inquiries ? I reply, it is not necessary to be au astronomer, a geologist, a chemist, a physiologist, in order to learn what have been the principal results of human thought in those departments, or what is their inter-con nection one with another. The slow progress of discovery affords no measure of the time required to appreciate the results of discovery. It takes ages to make the road which when made may be travelled over in a few years. (Hoar.) If interrogated as to the use of such investigations, I would point out that the two great questions which an intelligent mind on beginning to reflect naturally puts are these, " What am I?" and " What is this universe around me ?" To give au answer, however partial and incomplete, to these queries has been the effort of the human intellect during more than 3,000 years, and may be for 3,000 more. (Hear.) No man is so dull that they do not interest him ; nouo ever has been or over can be so acute that they do not perplex and baffle him. (Hear.) In comparison with such reflec tions to talk of what we call the practical a pplications of science is indeed descending low ; yet these applications — never the first object, often not in any degree the object of the philosopher—have doubled the wealth and power of England, and incalculably lessened the pressure of human suffering from material causes. In concluding on this head THE O,r4DHAM LITBUM. In The Sun of yesterday we gave a report of a great edu cational gathering at Oldham on the occasion of the open ing of the Lyceum. Lord Stanley, M.P., presided at the meeting in the evening, with which the proceedings closed ; and there were also present Sir J. K. Shuttleworth, Mr. W. Brown, M.P., Mr. J. Heywood, M.P., Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P., and Mr. J. M. Cobbett, M.P., besides other gentlemen of local standing. Lord STANLEY, M.P., in taking the chair, said—l had last year the pleasure to see the first stone laid of this building, the inauguration of which we celebrate to-day ; it is therefore doubly gratifying to me to witness the cor diality with which Oldham has seconded the design of its founders, and the rare rapidity with which a work of such magnitude has been con pleted. We cannot as yet pretend to estimate the number of those who may hereafter attend your lectures, avail themselves of your library, or partake of the instruction of your evening classes. If lam to judge by the accounts which have reached me to-day I believe the fact to be that, whereas in the old building where the institution was accustomed to meet the number of sub scribers was about 400, not less than 30J names have been added since the occupation of the premises which you have entered to-day. (Hear, hear.) I give you the figures as I have heard them; ycur experience will test whether they are correct. But there is eve remark which may be made even without the help of experience—that wo greatly underrate the efficacy, in point of amount, of adult instruction given in these institutions, if we take merely the number of those who frequent an Athena urn or me chanics' institution, and compare it with, or judge it by, the number of those who attend a school. The difference is this—children go to school because their parents send them, and many, as we know, with no particular desire to learn ; youths and men attend pieces of teaching of their own free choice, with the determination to profit, as well as with intellects more ripened and matured. (Hear, hear.) Thus, while in schools you must teach many in order that, comparatively speaking, a few reay benefit, in an Athenaeum you may be sure that none, or next to none, of the teaching given will be thrown away; that the words of the instructor will fall upon open ears and will be received into willing minds. (Hear, hear.) It is common to contend (end the objection weighs with many who are otherwise our friends) that the mechanic, the ope rative, the tradesman, the man immersed in business, has no time to learn anything really, that he must be a smat terer only, and will merely acquire a taste which he can never indulge. I want to say a word on that point, be cense the objection, if well founded, would be almost fatal. I believe it is not well founded, and I will tell you the reason. It is true that most, perhaps all of those whom your Lyceum will instruct, aro not men of leisure ; but it is not true that a large amount of leisure is requisite in order to obtein a considerable proportion of learning. The brain, like the body, can only bear a certain amount of active exertion—nay, of all bodily organs it is the most delicate, the most easily put out of repair, the most diffi colt to set right when once disorganised. Now, it is liable to suffer in two ways—from too little work in those whose labour is mechanical only, or who do no work at all : from too much work in those whose labour employs chiefly or exclusively the intellectual faculties. It is idle, therefore, to suppose that the majority of men, though free from any pressure of business, though independent of a profession or trade, can, whatever the amount of their leisure, or however much they may desire it, occupy anything like the whole, or even the greater part of their time in study. If no external circumstances interpose to limit their exertions, Nature will and does. The mind only retains its freshness fur a limited time; if that time be exceeded exhaustion ensues, little is learnt, and the seeds of future mischief are sown in the constitution. What I contend for then, is this—that no man willing to study need despond because ho can only command a portion, it may be, of his evenings, while others aro masters of the whole day. It is bad arithmetic in such matters to compute that four times as much can be learnt in four hours as in one. Just as reasonably might olio argue that, because one good dinner daily gives health and strength, therefore four such dinners every day would make a man four times as strong, and four times as healthy. (Laughter and applause.) Just as reasonably might one affirm, what all who have looked into the ele ments of finance know to be untrue, that if you double the rate of a tax y ou w ill d ou bl e th e amoun t it pro d uces. Th e foci is, nature intends that we should develope all our faculties, that we should work our whole organisation in turn, and not a part of it only. The man who exerts his brain only, and the man who exerts Lis muscles only, is equally viol a ti ng h er l aws, and those laws are never vio lated with impunity. I don't want to overstate my case. I am not denying that the h ours o f l a b our are many, nor that the cares of life press heavily on th e workingman w ho is also a student. (Hear.) But I affirm that the ob stacles which labour places in the way of intellectual ad vance, though real, are less formidable than they look, w hil e by their nature they save the student from oldie; langere quite as real which beset the man whose time is entirely his own—the danger, on the Quo hand, of an idle and relaxed habit ; the danger, on the other, of mental wear and tear induced by not knowing when to leave off. Even four hours ire the week, or rather mere than 200 in the year, regularly and earnestly devoted to one branch of thought, will carry tee intelligent man very far in any re rely whatever. (Hear.) Speaking in this place, I need hardly notice the old cavil raised against institutions like tlia:;o, that their promoters look only to the development of intellect, and neglect the moral faculties. No doubt there aro instances where grievous moral imperfections have been shown by able and cultivated men ; and, on the other hand, we all know that very ignorant persons may be exemplary in their conduct, although in cases where re markable ignorance is found associated with high morality I think it will usually be observed that the ignorance has not been voluntary, but the inevitable result of unfavour able circumstances, (Hear, hear.) But the general rule I EVE' i 14 , r l SEPrEMI3ER 24 1856 I would observe that in England we need to study man's works less, and naturo more ; and even where we apply ourselves to investigate the vast course of human action, we are in the habit of ascribing too much importance to an almost mechanical recollection of facts, and too little to the establishment of those generalizations, which give past facts almost their sole importance for us. I do not wish to speak in the language of accusation, or of complaint ; yet it does seem strange that a man may leave either of the great universities, after a school and college training which together have extended over 10 years, an accomplished classic, an able mathematician, yet wholly unacquainted with external nature, ignorant of the principle upon which a common steam-engine is constructed, ignorant even of the mechanism which he carries about with him in his own body, and utterly unversed in the first principles of that law of the land under which he lives. I am, I own it, one of those who say, " Give us a little more of this kind of knowledge in the first instance, and let the ornamental parts of teaching come later, if there are time and inclina tion for it." (Hear, hear.) I look in education to the practical effect which it is likely to produce on life; and, although I know well that theory is one thing, practice another, yet I do believe (to take one instance of many) that if men knew a little more about the air they breathe and the water they drink there would be a saving of many lives, now destroyed or shortened by deficient sanitary ar rangements. So again, if men understood better the func tions of the brain there would be fewer deaths from over work, from mental excitement, or even from intemperance. Generally speaking, I believe that for one person who breaks a physical law with a fall clear consciousness that he is breaking it—knowing what he is doing and foreseeing the consequences—there are 100 who break those laws in sheer ignorance, and whom a little knowledge would render cautious. So, again, when I said just now that it seemed to me unnatural that a man should be held to be fully educated who knew not the first elements of legal science, I did not, and do not, suppose that law should be studied by a layman as it is by a lawyer. But every man, though it may never happen to him to have to set foot within a court of justice, has something to do with evidence ; it is surely of use to every one to know, when an improbable tale is told him in a matter which concerns his interests, what are the chances of that tale being true or false; and in works which treat of evidence those chances are mi nutely analysed and the collective results of many men's experience is brought to bear on the subject. Again, dealing with another branch of social science, I may ven ture to say oven here that if the first rules of political economy had been a little better understood both by Go vernments and communities the worst sufferings which have prevailed in these manufacturing districts (some of them self-inflicted, some of them the faults of others) might have been avoided, or to a great extent diminished. To sum up in a word, I mean this—that the end of all human teaching is human action ; that that teaching is most valu able which tends to direct and economise action; that such teaching must concern itself mainly with two things—the laws which govern inanimate nature and the laws which govern man ; and that whatever does not add to our know ledge on one or other of these subjects is, comparatively speaking, of little value. And herein, as I think, one great merit of institutions like these consists, that, being tied down by no statutes, no founders' wills, no traditions of immemorial antiquity, they not only supply instruction to the people, but they supply that kind of instruction for which a popular demand exists. They follow the na tional taste ; they do not in attempting to direct that taste pervert it. Long may this state of things endure ; and in education, as in other matters, may the transition from past to present habits of thought take place, as in England such transitions mostly do, by no demolition of that which exists, by no sudden disruption of ancient ties* but by the greatest and almost imperceptible accommoda tion of all intelligent minds to that which all perceive to be inevitable in the course of events ! (Loud cheers.) The meeting concluded with addresses from various other speakers. HEALTH OF LONDOIV DURING ME WEEK. (Prom the Report of the Registrar-General.) In the week that ended on Saturday the deaths regis tered in London were 1,064. The rate of mortality that now rules is very near the average in the corresponding weeks of ten years 1846 55, if this average is reduced by eliminating deaths caused-by cholera in the epidemic years 1849 and 1854. In the last three weeks the total numbers returned have been 1,000, 1,087, and 1,064 ; and the decrease which they exhibit nearly agrees with the decrease of deaths from diarrhoea, returned in the same periods, which were 124, 116, and 95. Besides these 95 deaths of last week, there were 3 cases of cholera amongst infants, and 11 of dysentery amongst persons of various ages. Typhus and common fever were fatal in 45 cases ; scarlatina in 89. Neither of these complaints produces more than its ordi nary proportion of mortality ; they appear indeed to be rather less fatal tha❑ usual ; but the greatest number of deaths from both of them occurred in the eastern divisici of London. A man, aged 42 years, died in Basinghall street of scarlatina maligna after an illness of 5 days. Only 4 deaths occurred from small pox, all amongst children ; and 23 from measles, 2 from ague, 1 from scurvy. One person died of intemperance, one o' priva tion, 10 children from want of breast-milk. A. house painter, aged 46 years, died from "lead poisoning." Four nonagenarians appear in the registration of the week : the widowsof a captain, who died at the age o! 91 years ; two gentlemen, aged respectively 91 and 94 ; and a widow, who died in Wandsworth at the age of 95 T.ars. Of the total number of deaths returned in the week, 570 occurred under 20 years of age, 134 in the period 20 40 years, 147 and 40 60, 151 at 60.80, and 31 at a still more advanced age. 533 were deaths of males, 531 of females. Last week the births of 763 boys and 741 girls, in all 1,509 children, were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1846-55 the average number was 1,418. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the barometer in the week was 29.905 in. The moan daily reading was above 30 in. on the first three days. The highest reading in the week was 30.10 in. on Monday. The mean temperature of the week was 53.7 degs., which is 2.4 degs. below the average of the same week in 38 years (as determined by Mr. Glaisher). The mean daily temperature was below the average so much as 6 (legs. and 8 degs. on Friday and Saturday. The highest temperature in the week occurred on Mon day, and was 70 degs. ; the lowest was 40 degs., and occurred on Saturday. The mean dew-point tempera ture was 43 9 dege., and the difference between this and the mean air temperature was 9.8 dege. The wind blew generally from the north-west. There was rain to the amount of 0.25 in., the most of which fell on Thursday. MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERE IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, SEPT. 20. Zymotic Diseases Diseases of Uncertain Seat Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 36 Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of Respiration Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digestion Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Shin, &c. 1 Malformations 2 Premature Birth and Debility 33 Atrophy Old Age udden 1 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 4B Causes not specified . 283 • 43 ▪ 185 DEATHS FROM ALL CAITSES Population Deaths in corro- Deaths Enumerated. sponding week in the 1851. of 1855. Week. West Districts North Districts 490,396 Central Districts 393,256 East Districts 485,522 South Districts 616,635 .. 240 , 326 Totals Males ....................................... 532 Females ................................... 531 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males ....................................... 768 Females .................................... 741 Total .................... ...... .......... 1,509 rADvFmrsEmENT.I--The following is net the least remark able among the numerous extraordinary cures without medi cine effected by Du Barry's delicious Health-Restoring Re valenta Arabica Food, of Indigestion (Dyspepsia), Flatulency, Constipation, Nervous, Bilious,and Liver Complaints, Cough, Asthma, Consumption, and Debility:—Maastricht, Holland, Aug. 7,1854.—My daughter Virginie had long been consump tive, with diarrlicea and night sweats, and was in July last reduc ed to such a state of prostration and exhaustion, that our medi cal men agreed there was no hope of recovery left, and that she could not survive many days. Upon the recommenda tion of a friend, we tried Du Barry's Revalenta, Arabica, which, to the astonishment of all, caused an immediate change for the better in the symptoms. After the first few meals she felt less miserable, and in six days the diarrhcea and night sweats had left her. She gained strength gradu ally, and in two months time was perfectly well. This excel lent remedy deserves to be more generally known, and I consider I am only discharging a most sacred duty in recommending it to all sufferers.—S. &OTTERS. Supported by testimonials from the celebrated Professors of Chemistry Dr. Andrew Ure ; Dr. Shorland ; Dr. Harvey ; Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; •Dr. Wurzel . ; Dr. Ingram ; Lord Stuart de Deei cs ; th e Dowager Countess of Castle stuart ; Major-Gen. Thomas King, and many other respectable persons, whose health has been restored by it, after all other means of cure had failed. Suitably packed for all climates, with full instructions. In canisters, 11b., 2s. 9d. ; 2 1b., 4s. 6d.; 51bs., Ils. ; 121b 5 ., 22 5 . ; super- refined, 11b., 6s. ; 211., 11s. ; slhs., 225.; 101bs., 335. The 101bs. and 121bs. carriage free, on receipt of post-office order. Barry du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, London ; Fortnum, Mason, and Co., Purveyors to her Majesty, Piccadilly ; also at 60, Gracechurch-street ; 330 and 451, Strand; 4, Cheapside ; 68, Cornhill ; 49, Bishops gate-street; 55, Charing-cross; 54, Upper Baker-streot; 63 snd 150, Oxford-street. UNITY FIRB I.NSURANCB ,4SSOCIATION. Clio following appeared in our late edition or last night.j Ye-terday afternoon an extralr linary general meetiim of the proprietors of the Unity Fire Insurance Association was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, by adjournment from the offices in Cannon-street, for the wpointment of Mr. J. Bradshaw, of Nottingham, Mr. R. Clitherow, of Horncastle, Mr. H. Hawks, of Bir mingham, Rev. Edw. Johnstone, of Hampton, Mr. W. Salmon, of Bury St. Edmunds, Mr. J. Smitherman, of Benges, Mr. T. Vaughan, of Stoke Newington, a com mittee for the purpose of calling in a professional ac countant to inquire and examine into the past and pre sent expenditure and management of the association, and other matters connected with it specifically set forth in the notice ; Dr. Lloyd in the chair. The notice convening the meeting having been read, The CHAIRMAN stated that the meeting was ca'led in consequence of a correspondence that had taken place between Mr. Bradshaw, chairman of the Nottingham local board, and the directors relative to the expenditure imd management of the association. At the Chairman's request a lengthened correspond ence was read, the particulars of which will he found in Vlr. Bradshaw's address below. In the course of that correspondence the direct irs concurred in the appoint ment of a committee, but differed from the mode of its operation as suggested by Mr. Bradshaw. The di rectors, at a board meeting, had passed a reso lution stating their willingness to resign unless they possessed the confidence of the shareholders. The CHAIRMAN, in addressing the meeting, said the directors were desirous of having a close investigation into the affairs of the association, because they declined to act as Such without possessing the fullest confidence of the shareholders ; and on receiving the recommenda tion from Mr. Bradshaw for a committee of investiga tion the directors sent down to him and asked him to name such a committee, but he declined to do so, and the directors had in consequence called this meeting, because they courted the strictest investigation into the affairs of the association. He (the chairman) declined to take the responsibility of the legality or illegality of the meeting, and threw it entirely on the company's solicitor. He (the chairman) considered the association was now on its trial before the bar of public opinion, but he had no misgivings as to the result of the proposed inquiry, and he called on the shareholders to support the chairman, and appoint the committee. He called on the solicitor to state the object for which the meeting was called, because Mr. Bradshaw's resolution evidently was drawn up by a solicitor. Mr. TAYLOE, the solicitor, said the resolution, by the terms of the association's bye laws, must be passed or rejected in its entirety. A SHAREHOLDER—Cannot I substitute one name for another on the committee I Mr. TAYLOE—No. You cannot vary the substance of the resolution. After some discussion on the proceedings, Mr. BRADSHAW, the chairman of the Nottingham Local Board, said an impression from the first had pre vailed amongst the Nottingham Board that the expenses of the association were too much, and condemned the payment of 10/. to the agents and managers of the asso ciation for the original disposal of the shares. The Not tingham people were also much displeased at so much money being spent in bringing directors and shareholder; to Birminghamto lay the foundation•stone of the society's offices, and many of them left the association in conse quence. Oa the part of the Nottingham Board, he took exception to the inadequate amount of business done in London, in comparison with the central expenditure, and generally as to the expenditure, and the want of prompt and undivided attention of the management at the central office so early as 1854 ; and he read resolu tions passed by the Nottingham Board in reference to it, and referred to the correspondence that ensued in conseqnence, and to an interview that took place be tween Dr. Lloyd and another director, a deputation to the Nottingham Bo2rd, when the deputation pledged themselves to use greater economy for the future. He next alluded to the directors neglecting to publish their accounts the following year, but they sent to the Not• tingham Board a statement of the accounts• for their perusal, who were so much astonished at the expenditPre that on the 12th December, 1855, the Nottingham Board passed a resolution, and forwarded it to the Direc- tors, to the effect that they saw with dismay and regret an expenditure of 29,0001. for 23,0001. worth of busi ness, and called for the appointment of an independent commissioner to investigate the affairs of the associa tion. They also condemned the mode of producing the accounts by the directors at so long a period after they were made up. He regretted the directors had gone to the expense of convening this meeting, because it could have been otherwise by the deed. In 1854 the associa tion did business to the amount of 13 millions, and in 1855 to 19 millions, which was satisfactory, so far as it went; but he was at a loss to know how it was that when the association did but four millions of business the ss. shares were at is and 2s 61 premium at Notting ham, they had now fallen to 2s discount, except it was that the expenditure was beyond the society's means, and that public confidenc3 was wavering. He justified the conduct of himself and friends at Nottingham for the course they had taken with reference to this meeting, and expressed surprise at the conduct of the board in not calling this meeting without a requisition, and their incon sistency in requesting their names to be added to therequisi tion calling on the directors to convene a meeting for the appointment of a committee of inquiry. Seven-eighths of the capital had been raised, and seven-eighths of the busi ness done had been in the provinces, and with provin cials, and as at least seven-eighths of the dissatisfaction existed in the country he had thought it right to take the majority of the committee from the provinces, and to get rid of the insinuation that a London committee had been appointed to exonerate the London board. He concluded by moving the appointment of the follow ing gentlemen as a committee of inquiry, viz : Job Bradshaw, of Nottingham, gentleman, Richard Clitherow, of ITorneastle, in the county of Lincoln, gen tleman, Henry Hawkes, of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, EQq., the Rev. Ed ward Johnston, of Fla-Upton, in the county of Middlesex, clerk, William Salmon, of Bury Ssint Edmunds, in the county of Suf folk, Fsq. ' John Smitherman, of Benges, in the c minty of Hertford, eentleman, and Thomas Vaughan, of Stoke Newington, in the c innty of Middlesex, Esq. The Rev. Mr. HIND seconded the resolution, though he disapproved of the persons named from their being un knovvn to most of the shareholders. He wished the resolution had been drawn by a non professional man, because then they would not be in such a fix as now, and compelled to take it or not. He thought with two evils it was better to take the least, and with that feel ing he seconded the resolution. If it had been compe tent for him to have done so he should have moved an amendment to it. Mr. T. Vaughan (d rector) said he had no knowledge of his name being on the committee until the resolution was sent t the directors. Mr. LANCASTER (Southampton) condemned the con duct of Mr. Bradshaw in sending circulars all over the country in reference to the association, which bad bad the effect of depreciating it in the opinion of the public. He was anxious for the appointment of a committee of inquiry, and came to the meeting prepared to support such a committee as they might select, but not a self nominated or constituted one, such as they were told they must appoint or reject. He entered into a full statement of the business done at Southam?ton, and the expenses thereon, which amounted to 15a per cent., whilst that of Nottingham amounted to 29i, and be asked Mr. Bradshaw why he did not com mence reform and retrenchment in management at home instead of beginning with the London board. In Birmingham the expenses amounted to 2,5281. 2s. 11d., for the receipt of 3,2131. 3s. Bd. of premiums. With these facts he was astonished that any man should select a committee comprising members taken from local boards, to praise, in effect, each other's management. The business at Norwich amounted to 5,3131. 6s. 10d., and the expenditure 1,1891. 4e. 6d., or 22} per oent. At Hertford the receipts were 1,9821. ls. 7d., and the expenditure 4281. 2s. 10d. ; and at Leeds the receipts were 3,0641. Ns. 2d., and the expenditure 8981. 2s, These receipts showed that the local boards were valu able, and that with the right man in the right place this would be the best institution in England. The gentle. men named on the committee could not, and ought not, to sit on their own accounts. Mr. MECHI—In addition to the expenditure you have named is the usual 121 per cent. commission paid ? Mr. LANCASTER—Yes. He objected to the powers to be vested in the committee, and if it had been com petent for him to do so he should have moved an amend ment. One of the clauses of the resolution empowered the committee to draw on the institution for any amount they pleased for the expenses of this investigation, and he called on the meeting to reject the resolution. Mr. HAIVIIES (of Birmingham) defended the business done at Birmingham. He said that an invidious com parison had been made with regard to the expenditure and business done there, and that the expenditure now did notamount to more than 6001. on 1,800/..receipts. The buildings erected at Birmingham returned 7? per cent. After what had been said of the committee investigating their own accounts he should vote against the resolution, not wishing to be placed in such a painful position. t Mr. GODDARD addressed the meeting at great length, in the course of which he entered into the details of the management. He urged on the meeting to support the resolution, a committee of inquiry being essentially necessary. He asked Mr. Baylis if he had not foreseen what had now happened, and if a finance committee was not appointed in December last, and that he had acted in contravention of the principles laid down in their re port to the directors for the future management of the association ? He wished also to be informed what special services Mr. Baylis performed for the 1,0001 paid him I Mr. MECHI defended the conduct of the directors, which, he said, had been straightforward and honest. Mr. SALMON said that the number of pamphlets that had been published in reference to this association had been a great injury to it, as also had been the irrita• bility of Mr. Baylis, their managing director. The appointment of a committee of inquiry was necessary before they changed their directors, and if the com mittee were appointed, he as one of that committee should insist on an accountant being called in, to tho rou:zlily investigate the affairs of the association. Mt. llyttig said he had hoped the meeting would have agrcea to the resolution wi - .hout oppo ition. It WWI a popdar mode of damaging a man to rake . up all his little defects of management and produce them before a meeting of that kind ; bat he assured the meeting he courted inve,ti2ation into his conduct, and he was determined to have it. Ia the mean time they ought to su,perid their judgment. The directors had always courted inquiry. His income from this institu tion was 5001. pet annum, and was reduced to that amount at his own reqUest. He denied having received a check for 1,0001. as referred to. After advert to many of the statements put forth against the in stitution, he said there were just reasons fol . much that had been said, but that was not a place to enter into them. Let them apppoint a committee, and if he did not satis factorily explain his conduct be would withdraw in stantly from the management. (Hear, hear.) Any in firmity of temper was no fault of his, and whatever it was he strived to do his best for the institution, and if he had failed he should be happy to see his place filled with a better and abler person. As it appeared impos sible to carry the resolution proposed, he suggested that the meeting should separate with the reliance that the London Board, having in their board room the power to appoint a committee, would do so, and that the corn mittee should comprise the following gentlemen ;--Mr. J. Bradshaw, of Nottingham ; Mr. R. Citherow, of Horncastle ; Mr. H. Hawkes, of Birmingham ; Mr. S. Stnitherman, of Hertford ; Mr. Salmon, Bury St. E linunds ; Mr. J. Mechi, of London ; Dr. Lancaster, of Southampton ; and Mr. Parker, of Northampton.. Dr. LANCASTER objected to his being one of the com mittee. _ _ After some further discussion relative to the non publishing of the balance sheet at the last meeting, Mr. J. RICHARDSON said there must be a change of the directors and the management, because it was from a want of commercial confidence in them that so little business was done in London. The CHAIRMAN, before putting the resolution, said that the Board of Directors had no objection to Mr. Bradshaw's 'committee, and that if the resolution was negatived the shareholders were alone to blame. Tne resolution was then put and negatived by a large majority. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, after which the shareholders nominated several gentlemen as a committee for the Directors to appoint to investigate the affairs of the Institution. The meeting did not terminate till half-past 4 o'clock. NARROW ESCAPE OF TWO MEMBERS OF TI Ifl LITIIRPOOL TOWN COUNOIL. On Monday week, an accident of an alarming nature took place ion the sands, .at Morecambe bay. It appears that Mr. Alderman Richard Cardwell Gardner is atlpresent entertaining a party of friends at his summer residence at Preesail, near Fleetwood. On the day in question an excursion to Cockerham was resolved upon, and three vehicles were provided. There are two ways of reaching Cockerham—one round by the highway' and the other direct across the sands, at a distance of four miles. Two of the carriages took the highway, but Mr. Gardner, who is well acquainted with the locality, pre ferred the road across the sands. He drove a horse and whitechapel, and with him the lady of Mt. Alderman Bennett, two of his own children (a boy and girl, six and eight years old), a youth of about the same age, and Mr. Oliver Holden (a member of the Liverpool town council)—six in all. The road across the sands, when the.tide is out, is distinctly marked by posts, and even when the tideiis akfull, on ordinary occasions, the water is not more than two feet deep. On each side of the road, however, there are in several places pits of water six or seven feet deep. When the tide is out these pits can of course be seen and avoided ; bat when the water covers the sands there are no means of detecting the exact whereabouts of these dangerous pitfalls. The tide on Monday week was one of the highest of the year a fact which had probably been overlooked by the excursionists, and before the party had got half way across the sands the water was up to the horse's belly. At a turn of the road Mr. Gardner in mistake pulled the wrong rein, and the horse was immediately immeried in one of the pits dragging the vehicle after him. For tunately the whitechapel, when floating on the tide, turned gradually over, but the whole party were cap sized into the water. The vehicle took a slanting direc tion, and appeared to rest on the shelving side of the gully into which the party had been thrown. The chit dren were enabled to climb up to the top of the white chapel, and, by the assistance of Mr. Holden, Mrs. Bennett, who had been several times overhead, was placed in a position where she could stand up to the middle in the water. The perilous position of the party was observed from the other side of the sands, and with the assistance of one man Mr. Gardner was enabled to cut the traces and so relieve the poor horse, who had been floating for some time up to his neck in the water. In his efforts to extricate himself, the horse had kicked &b'. Gardner with one of his feet and knocked him over head in the water, the blow bruising his back, but not seriously injuring him. After all the party had regained their feet they took hold of each other's hand, and started to wade across the sands. As they proceeded they en countered some deep holes, and every now and . then one of the party had a plunge overhead. After consider able difficulty they succeeded, however, in reaching the solid land in safety, and having been carefully attended to at the hospitable mansion of their entertainer, they soon recovered from the effects of their thorough drenching and the fright occasioned by the perils they encountered in their endeavour to cross the dangerous sands in Morecambe Bay. The escape of the whole of the party must be looked upon as almost miraculous, and great credit is due to Mr. Gardner and Mr. Holden for the coolness which they displayed and the assistance they rendered to their unfortunate companions.—Liver pool Mercury. From the London Gazette of Last Night. FOREIGN-OFFICE, SEPT. 10. The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint Briga dier-General William Rose Mansfield to be her Majesty's Consul-General at Warsaw. FOREIGN-OFFICE, SEPT. 23. The Queen has been pleased to approve of Don Jose Maria Martinez y Rosado as Consul at Belize for the Re public of Mexico. The Quee❑ has been pleased to approve of Senor C. F. Halle as Consul at Manchester for the Republic of Vene zuela. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, SEPT. 22. The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, enclosing a copy of a French Imperial Decree, fixing as follows the duty on tobacco imported into Algeria. Tobacco in leaf : From French entrepots, 20 fr. per 100 kilos, without 10 per cent. assessed. From foreign parts, 25 fr. per ICO kilos, without 10 per cent. assessed, Manufactured tobacco, 40 fr. per 100 kilos, without 10 per cent. assessed. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, SEPT. 22. The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, en closing copy of a French Imperial Decree, prolonging the period fixed by the decrees of Bth Sept. and 13th Oct., 1853, respecting provisions, until the 31st Dec., 1857. BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, SEPT. 22. The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's consul at Vigo, reporting the outbreak of yellow fever at Oporto. COMMISSIONS SIGNED BY LORDS-LIEUTENANT. 2d Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Militia— Lieut. Chas. Garraway to bo Captain, vice Hughes, ro signed. Huntingdonshire Militia—Arthur Tillard, Gent., to be First Lieutenant. BANKRUPT. William Stuart Findlater, coal merchant, Plymouth, to surrender, Sept. 29 and Oct. 27, at one, at the Exeter District Court. Hirtzel, official assignee, Exeter ; Ed monds and Sons, Plymouth; Simons, Merthyr Tydvil. S's Benjamin Hall has returned to town from Scotland. EARLY CLOSING ASSOCIATION.—A public meeting of the Early Closing Association; and for the promotion of its objects, was held on Monday evening at the Literary and Scientific Institution, Carter-street, Walworth. The meeting was numerously attended, and was presided over by Mr. John Corderoy. [A.DVEH.TISSIKENT. J SIORT AND HEARING SPECTACLES, POWERFUL TELESCOPES, OPERA, RACE, AND PERSPECTIVE GLASSES. —Messrs. S. and 13. Soloruous, opticians. 39, Albe marle-street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite the York Hotel By her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Racecourse, Opera, and Per spective Glasses, to know the distances. These telescopes possess such extraordinary powers that some three and a-half inches, with an extra eye-piece, veil show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the double stars. With the same teieseope can be seen a person's countenance three miles and a half distant, and an object from 16 to 20 miles. They are of larger and al. sizes, with increasing powers accordingly.--Ta e Royal Exhibition, 1851. Valuable, newly-invented, very sma ll , powerful waistcoat-pocket glass, the size of a walnut, by whici a person can be seen and known 1i miles distant ; they answer every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera houses, country scenery, and ships aro clearly seen at 8 to 10 m il es. They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, ga,rnekeepers, and touri s t s . O pera, ace-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wond er f u l power. Newly-constrnated Spectacle Lenses of the great est transparent power. '_no valuable advantage derived from this invention is, that vision becoming impaired is preserved and strengthened, and very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occe pation- can see with these lenses of a much less magnify lug power—and they do not require the frequent change • to the clangorous effects of further powerful assistance. persons can be suited at the most remote part of the world, by sending one of the glasses out of their spectacles in r letter, and stating the distance from the eyes they can read small newspaper print with it; and those who have not made use of spectacles by stating their age. Deaf ness. New Discovery. The Organic Vibrator, an ex tracrdinary powerful, small, newly-invented instrument for deafness, entirely different from all others, to surpass any thing of the kind that has been, or probably ever aan be, p r oduced. Being of the saute colour as the skin, is not per ceptible ; it enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church snd at public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises in the ears is entirely removed; and it affords all the assistance that possibly could be desired.-39, Albemarle- Sroot. Piccadilly. 01)80XTO—opposite the York Hotel. Count ,- t7 N!arke LIVERPOOL-SEPT. 93. There was a good attendance to-day. Fine wheats again met with an extensive demand at 3d per 701bs under tho rates of this day week, whilst inferior w 9fiJ comparatively neglected. Prime flour fully as dear, but inferior is per sack and barrel lower. Oats at late rates, as was old oat meal, but new was is per load lower. Barley, beans, and peas unchanged. Indian corn must be noted Gd to Is per qr. lower. LEEDS-SEPT. 23. A fair supply of new wheat, in moderate condition, and selling at irregular prices —the finest dry samples fetohing about Friday's rates, but the trade inactive. Old wheat final. Barley rather gives way iu price. Oats and beans steady. Other articles unchanged. Average price of grain —Wheat, 66s 5d ; barley, 49s 10d ; oats, 30s 9d ; beans, 46s 6d ; peas, -s. Od. HULL-SEPT. 23. A small supply of new wheat (no old) which met a fair sale at is to 2s decline upon last week's aates. The con dition was generally bad. A good retail demand for old foreign. The yield of new wheat much complained of. Barley in demand and is dearer—in other sprinc , corn no alteration. Linseed is is dearer, and cakes fetch 108 per ton more money. Rape cakes scarce, and fetch full prim*: ES a. lb. Wheat, English, red 63 to 74 Peas, grey and black to ..-• Ditto white... Dantzic and Konigs- Ditto Petersburgh ... 48 to 54 berg 72 to 79 Ditto Rigaand Arch- Pomeranianandllam- angel _ burgh Danish, Holstein, and Friesland 6O to 65 Russian and Odessa 58 to 65 1 Oats, English Ditto Danish Ditto Friesland Ditto Russian 27 to 291 Barley, malting Ditto grinding, 36 to 40 Beans Ditto foreign PeaS, white and yel 4O to 42 Ditto Konigsberg and . Memel 4O to 98 Per Ton ,Lins.c., Hull 9/ 15s to 10/ 0., Od Ditto fine for. 81 5s 9: lOs Od Ditto inf. for Ol Os Od to 01 Os (Rape 001 Os to 0 01 Os Rape cakes —s Od to 1350 Od :Pares, English O/. to --s Ditto foreign , TGuano OOl Os 81 tol2/ 15s ilßones ',Flour, per brl. .355. 380. COURSE OF EXCHANGE.-YESTERDAY. Am5terdam............ 11 15 Gibraltar •• •• Ditto, three months 11 17 Leghorn .. • • •• • .. 29 DO Rotterdam ............ 11 17yq Genoa •• •• •• 25 75 Antwerp .............. 25 35 Brussels .............. 25 35 Hamburgh •• •• .• •• •••• 13 7►% Altona •••••••••••••••• 25 323 Milan •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• Venice • • •• •• •••• •• ••• ••• Naples • • .. 44 '4 Palermo .... Messina ... Ditto, three months .. 25 65 Marseilles 25 65 Bourdeaux ........ Frankfort-on-Maine .... 119% Berlin •• •• •• •• • • •• •• Vienna 10 31 _______ Lisbon .. Oporto ................ 62,4 Rio Janeiro . . ... . •• .•.• Buenos Ayros...••• New York,6o days' sight Philadelphia •• ...... trieste • 10 32 Petersburg ............ Madrid ••••• • • • • .• •• 49% Cadiz •••••••••• • • • •• •• 50% Barcelona .. ••••• • • • .• Seville .. . • •• •• a • PRICES OF lII7LLICN, PER OE. Foreign Gold In Bars £3 17 01 Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0, Mexican Dollars .... 0 5 L New Dollars ...... 0 0 Silver in bars 5 11.4 RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. LONDON AND SOUTH-BABTERg RAlLWAY.—Traffic r turn for the week ending Sept. 20,1856 £25,910 16 1 1 Corresponding week last year 25,717 0 1 Increase in 1856 £163 16 10 LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOTJTH COAST RAILWAY:". Timflie return for the week ending Sept. 20, 1856... £18,979 17 2 Corresponding week last year 17,872 18 7 , Total of the half-year to this date, 1856 225,37 1 18 " K Total of the half-year to this date, 1855 213,30 1 3 ' - - GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAlLWAY.—Trafflo re turn for the week ending Sept. 20,1856 £6,737 11 Corresponding week last year 6,033 lir 1 Increase in 1856.., £7o3 1.3 8 , GREAT LUXEMBOURG RAlLWAY.—Traffie return for th° week ending Sept. 21, 1856 £B2l 0 6 LOCAL SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, SEPT. 23. STOOX EXCHANGE. This market was doing a very quiet business to-day, and quotations are a shade lower than yesterday. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 95i London and North Westerns, 102 A i—Caledonian, 'Au —Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 6/. new 6 per cent., p. 6 c.—Great Western of Canada, 231 A—South Eastern, 21 I R —Eastern Counties, 9.3.9.—Blackbirn, 7.18.9.—Mi d ' lands, 77i—Preston and Wyre, 46—Luxemburg Constit.. 101 die. MANCHESTER, SErT. 23. STOCK EXCHANGE.- - The transactions in every desoriP" tion of stock were quiet to•day, and prices were rather lower. Sheffields, 311 —Boyers, 21i—Midlands 771- - Leeds, 95I—Great Western, 60I—London and North Westerns, 102—Caledonian, 261. LEEDS, SEPT. 2s. STOCK EXCEIANGS.—There has been a alight depression to-day again. The sales were—NorthWestern ' 61.185., 6i —Midland, 78—Great Western of Canada, 23i—Nertk Eastern, Leeds, 17g. BIRMINGHAX, SEPT. 23. 6TOOK EXOHANGE.—The market was flat as regarded business done, but prices were a.bout stationary. North Staffords, 5i dis.—London and N G ,rth-Westerns, 1011 to 102 —South Staffords, 38 dis.—Bit,mingham and Stour Valleys, 81. _ SEABORNE MAILS. cr_ signifies that the mails are sent from the General Putt-OftlC4 vy the night—and at by the morning—despatch.) Jay when made up Mtn whs. ' `.._" CIOUNTRIE in General Post- 4 , , , r: due Is . . Office, London.*: Dispatohe . E'• tau a ...„, . ............-,..a .... ‘lnorica(byilrit.pack)/q America (by United Sts. o:very Friday , Liverpool .... Weal? ..., ~ ....2s Every Tuesday • • allll_th_anl ,/ or A•n Pa o c r t i:a t) (hy U. Stage packet) ..........N •• v. ••, • OM ZiiVerPOO ••• Weekly Australia (via Liver- sol poo l) .. ~ ........ at 4th and 19th Liverpool .. Teti Jitto (via Marseilles) N futto (via Cape of Good ••• -Incertsme Hope) ............N Africa (West Coast) „N. 13,i of the mollu Piyne ,u`. .. 6th of no kicmandria .......... N 10th & 26th of it •. Dover ...... ,-,rl t 19th , Alexandria ..........M s th & 20 th of moo. iouthampto, '4 & 210 1 al 3ahamas ...........hi 17th of the month Southamp•or. 16th aelgium .• • ........N Daily - .... - - Dover ...... ..h... ,y 3razil -.. .......... hi 9th of the month 33t1thampi o, it , tb. I3uenos Ayres ........M 901 ,f the month 3ontitim, ,, r 16th Cape of Good Hope ...N Uncertain ~ Cape of Good Hope . N ~ 71, _ re de Verde .... „7 , ; .th .), ~ , -oo -itt, ioutharn,rcr 16th Of Ceylon (see 11-111 a) 10th and 26th l5 & 2941 7 Ceylon - . ... .....—..r. 4th and 20th Ciiannel Isles .. ... „ ~.N. 4..:„., o - e , i.,&erl , , Sluthampm t u.Tn7;` at C;11111..- ...... - - ..11.1 M & 17th of month iouthamp'ot 1 and 10_, China .... 4th and 10th ... 4 and 21l : 9 - Constantinople .....„N 10th and 26th Dover -- - 2 and 2. t .;enstantinople ........ ith & 20th of la , n 3"tharnl''''" i and del _ Cont. of Europe M 8,... N Cwice daily .„ ~ „ Dover ...... twice dal Egypt (see India) Twiceds Prance - ~.... M & 14 rwice :tally .... 'libraltar ..........Di 4, 7,17, 20, 27 r , fM So athamp. o• 4, 7,14,26 - ken:: (see India) 4roytown ..........M 2[141 & 17th of mon. 3).10 grnpi, , I and ISI Gamburgh ~.. - .. _l'4 Dail. , London ....... Da g, ~„ .lavannah ..........14 Ind of the month Soaciamp:in 1 111 2 1 l iolland ...„....... - --_ __ M Daily. Do ve r ~ .. Daily Genduram .......... hi 17ta of the month. Southampton 16th; _ _ India (viar3outhampt.)M tth •' 20th of mon. Plymouth .. 1 and 91 0 10 India (via Marseilles) AI 10th&lGth of moth Dover ...... A ' 29 lonian Isles (sae In ilia) •• • • •• • • D0ver...... ....), Ireland ........M & N Cwice daily' .. _ _ Holyhead ... I.i'h)n*• '• •. ••...... hi 2d or . o , . Southampton viadcira ...... ,„ .., _A tth of .:100 - i Aadeira ........ „ . , I= 231 of month • Liverpool ... ..laita (see India) el 7 Kalta ......... ~..N 1, 10, 20, and 26 Dover ........ 4. 114 .., lauritlus (see India) 51auritins ..........N 20:0 of the month • Kexlco 3l 2nl of the month.. Soathampt,n INC, , - tga2l " •• .= --,•• •• -N . Dally•• •••• • • ... • Dover . , I • New Granada ......1)' 2d t :Ith of month , S3 ••• •- Ist and " uthamptoh new Zea1and........... Twice a month .. Various po r t ;I.?, Papal States .., ~. .. -Is Daily.. ..... ..... D ow 4 OW , . •••••• w Peninsula ...., ......N , 4th .5.,nd I -_ Southampt(i Peru .... -,.........M Id & 27th of mon. South= tt r. Ist & 16111 '. Pe: t Natal ...... - .l'i ay private ship... Various tiori 3'cilY ~............N Every Saturday.. ever ...... Weekl7: Tuscany .............N Dai1y.......... • • Dover ... Venezuela ...... Ai 2d& 17th Ofmonth Flouthatnp;o; 1 a 161* Van Diemen's I,snd (set i Australia) ...... sth of mon. .. .. imon:11 1 .7: West Indies .. _ ..I' to •:. r 7th .. - m o o.. Southumine - I i and 15 ___....... A WOMAN POISONED BY MISVAKE.—A patient in the lunatic asylum at Lancaster, named Martha Lento'', met with her death on Tuesday last in consequence of the accidental administration to her of two tablespoons' full of a preparation of opium, instead of an aperient medicine, which bad been prescribed for her. The poor woman was 37 years of age, 13 of which had been spent in the asylum. She was unmarried. BIRTHS. Or A SON. On the 22d inst., at 8, Upper Bedford-place, Russell* square, the wife of John Carey, Esq. On the 23d inst., at Arborfield, Streatham-hill, the wife of Edgar Lutwyche. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 17th inst., the Marchioness of Winchester -- stillborn. On the 23d inst., at Albion-square, Dalston, the wife a Edward Henry Ellen, Esq. MARRIED. On the 23d inst., at St. John's Church, Paddington , Captain Sweedland Mainwaring, of the Madraa Army, to Mary Augusta, the daughter of Philip Melvi.l, Esq., of Clarendon-place, Hyde-park-gardens. On the 18th inst., at St. Thomas's, Stamford-hill, A. F. Clark, Esq., of Dalston, to Mary Rosiaa, daughter of J. Scorer, Esq., of Sunderland. DIED. On the 22d inst., at Torquay, the Rev. Thomas Master man, the youngest son of John Masterman, Esq., MX' , aged 32. On the 22d inst., at 13, Westbourne-terrace, Hyde-park, William Hunter, Esq., one of the Aldermen of the City of London, and a Magistrate for the county of Middlesex , aged 75. On the 22d inst., LI Jermyn•street, St. James's, Major' General James Jones, K.H., aged 74. On the 22d inst., John Knight, Esq., of Weybourne house, Farnham, Surrey, aged 60. On the 22d inst., at Ramsgate, Mr. Edw ar d Ellis, 47 years in the service of the London Dock Company, aged 62. On the 23d inst., Rebecca, wife of Edwa r d Di g by, Egg.), surgeon, 205, Fleet-street, aged 36. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG , of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the iavoy, in the coußaY o f Middlesex, Wedues.lay, September 24, 1856. engage of a street, Rooms Lauren Boulcoi fashion, recess. sion On D' only) fr and pre health 2; and by - Dr. W the :ea! cent Mu first app 18.—M. culars Ito Sept. 22, the Sout Platforn Grand ] Illumlna for Pros N: E ~ engaged n'elllngto vinetal G Young at lieent ne ALMA, e, n ow ti *traded Correa, ui tornmani experlenc THI L, fold Irela 0 tober r pat up to 14 t3 of eansistinP Ocbam, LlaTtnnocl Person: f or notes . ,Catalog lard. T HI Loi td Irelin ;YE ONE 'ft`, the I Clarence 84 ,d Tram Col . 9pointrn Person lOr notes ? ca talog aid. 0 111 -on on 1 Capital to ini ItEs 11 le lion Benga :Captai 1 Utfiam /Jinni JouN Lieut. 4 Zent in Colone Capt. • Major- Aioxre 4 9. 1 1 are. ft „ . .Lieut.- gpore i rgineer `t• MAT, laaci 'Cale Colons ILLIAGIII J !wins] Botacr] I This c it i s w ... 4 th em , in Lit cheap " 4 thoi , l earded xlze last "I it, pa h ay on la far to htiglish Rill rem Prosi 4 btain.ei lag eve: it Jot Banli lair Jan The tieutel of Li ei(AIRII the I Alexa] I c;1- Vii,. • A' SU Alt Pars] Jui for Jame Fu Soi Thon SOLIc