The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-06-06 00:00:00

THE MAIDEN'S SONG. I LOVE and Love hath given me Sweet thoughts to God akin : And oped a living Paradise My heart of hearts within : 0 from this Eden of my life God keep the Serpent Sin I love ! and into angel-land With starry glimpses peer I I drink in beauty like heaven-wine, When One is smiling near ! And there's a rainbow round my soul For every falling tear. Dear God in heaven l keep without stain My bosom's brooding Dove : O clothe it meet for angel-arms, And give it place above ! For there is nothing from the world I yearn to take, but Love. GERALD 311SSEY. REVIEWS OF BOOKS. Poems by Melanter. London : Saunders and Otley. The principal poem of those published by the gifted author who gives his effusions to the world under the nom de plume of Melanter, is a drama of Swedish history named " Eric and Karine ;" besides which the volume contains also a collection of miscellaneous poems, and several admirably rendered translations. In all of them the author ' displays no small amount of poetic fancy, wedded to a delicate and well-cultured dear ; while in not a few the afflatus is of true inspiration. Among the poems which, from the place he assigns them in the volume, he seems to consider secondary, several are meritorious in a high degree, conspicuous among which is " St. Paul at Athens." In this poem, which is pervaded by a true devotional feeling, there are numerous passages of great beauty com bined with great subtlety of thought. The follow ing contains a fair exposition of his style, and will be readily admitted as imbued with the true spirit of poetry : Behold yon sister hill ! the virgin-fane Hath fenced the void from half her chaste domain, While on each side, the pillar'd vista through, Gleams in a marble verge aerial blue; In front majestic semblance breathes on high, The rival Godheads leaning from the sky ; Neighs the wild steed the mean award to brave, And monarchs shrink bet.re their destined slave. What ! can there be ambition in a god, And all it craves, to name a salient clod? Not long, I crow, shall superstitious awe From yonder pile the qnailing glance withdraw, For Paul bath marked the glorious disgrace, And all the kindling soul illumes his face; He lifts the arm by heavenly aid bested, And wakes the voice that shall reclaim the dead. Ye men of Athens, armed to fight the air. To trust the dark, and doubt where all is clear; Whose haughty reach bath quenched perception's ray, The spark of nature on your twilight way, Blind leaders of the blind, in vague default, Ye grope the maze of Superstition's vault; For you the earth, the air, the waves, are fraught With powers that menace all and promise naught. Of late I passed where crowding votaries trod, And 10, an altar "To the Unknown God!" Whom then ye worship nameless, and unproved, His gifts unthanked, his excellence unloved, Him w,ll I manifest, Supreme, Alone, The Almighty Father, the Eternal One, Realmed inaccessible, but ever nigh, The present God, the Dayspring from on high. He lited while yet there was no life but His, He made of nothing everything that is, The swift light flashing through the dazzled void, The earth unzoned, unbalanced, and unbuoyed; Her yearly voyage He shaped, and o'er her bent The unechoing arch, the crystal firmament, And shut the seas their warder capes between, And garbed the purple hills and valleys green ; Then lifted the creating arm on high, And scattered worlds like dust upon the sky, Empowered the sun, and graced the moon with light, And stars that watch the slumbering fold of night : No trident swung, nor cleft the several birth, But snake the word, and quickened the young earth, Each life astir with instinct of its kind, Unvexed by thought, yet compensate of mind. Then last, and paramount of the wondrous plan, He made of dust, in God's own image, man, At first a friend, in bliss and glory placed, Ere long a rebel, anguished and abased, From heavenly commune sunk to earthly scope, And driven beyond the verge of all but hope. This poem abounds in rich imagery, and its pictures are rendered in sonorous verse. Of his chief poem, the drama of " Eric and Karine," it is necessary to speak in more measured terms. As a poem in the dramatic form it is excellent ; as a drama, intended for theatrical representation, it is scarcely so successful. Its story is that of an impulsive and impassioned North King, devotedly attached to his queen Karine, who, in return, loves him with an affection as high and holy as it is intense and pure. Her influence over her warm hearted but somewhat blunt and barbarous hus band renders her obnoxious to the hatred of Peterson, an astrologer, who, aiming at dominion through the power he exercises over the supersti tious and credulous mind of Eric, finds himself opposed, and in some degree thwarted, by the gentle and innocent persuasions and generous feel ings of Karine, who, ever eloquent in favour of virtue and suffering, pleads, in many instances successfully, in opposition to the astrologer's designs. This wily and malignant old man, to rid himself of her authority, determines on her ruin ; and for this purpose poisons the ear of Eric with tales and foul suggestions, that Nils Sture, a young noble, is the object of her guilty love. To aid in this nefarious device he has recourse to all the machinations of his art, aided by the more dan gerous promptings of his own fiendishly fertile disposition, and succeeds in corrupting the ear of the king. The workings of Peterson's devilish devices are well put forward in the second scene of the second act. It is as follows :—. • PETERSON. Ay, yell away, good burghers !—ho nes t f oo l s I Too fat to scowl, but powerful to look blank; — Bacon unstreaked —broad beans without the eyes ! And ye, proud shop-dames, in silk kirtles puffed, And satin gorgets, rumpling back from me, As I were what ye call " vulgarity,"— I'll raise the price of widows' hoods ere long ! Well, I had rather to be knave than fool; Though knave, set in comparison with me, Is an ant-lion to the desert's lord; Me who have met, and crushed the horns of fear ! But fool's a sop, whereon to wean the wise, Born to fill gaps, and christened to supply An alias for scorn. [Enter Elm. ERIC. And what is madman? PETERSON. Nor birth, nor baptism ; but.of death is he — The death, and oft the suicide of the mind ; Which being buried, the soul, its widow, can scarce Live, or have feeling of her friends, or turn From foes; nor bath intelligence to man The ear's gate, or the embrasures of the sight. Only the body with a monster's strength, And eyes that are the hoods of fury's crest, Hugs the dull cunning of a double self, Or dungeoned, gnaws its flesh and pets its shackles. ERIC. How is my star, thou Goran Peterson, How is she, since I mortared up her foes ? PETERSON. Her foes ! What, all her foes ? Oh, rare equation, Three crowns, enemies ! ERIC. Now, Peterson, What man bath patience ? Rude be as thou wilt, 'Twill save much toil : but be not roundabout. PETERSON (aside). Now, now is the time for it ; otere she come To urge her prayer, and while he bath no arms. (Aloud) One there bath been, whom scarcely fit to pass 'Mang falling stars (the evedrops of the sky), Thy royal planet took, and set in state, To shine beside her, and to light the world. ERIC. Thy tale—what is it ? PETERSON. Would push thee thence. Bum Karine t my own Karine I PETERSON. She is in foul conspiracy with the Stares , To set Nils Sture, her lover, in thy place. ERIC. A sword I a spear ! By hell robbed of my arms ! Come here, good fellow. Oh, I will not hurt thee. PETERSON. The king shall weep (if throne he bath or eyes), So soon as e'er he ceases to be mad. [Going. ERIC. Mad ! no, come back, come back ! Now look at me. Stand closer, closer ! Wedge thy keen glance now Deep into mine, as blade-crossed duellists Plumb for the impulse in each other's eyes. Well l Am I mad ? Is there a wildness here ? A stealth of something conscious, or a lack Of reason's crystal, in the glass of thought ? What lam clear ; I tell thee lam clear : • What mean'at thou, glaring thus into mine eyes, As murderers, o'er the pool, after the plash? Stand back. It is a lie, to say my thoughts Are whirled and wandering. I will think straight. Thou art come on purpose with some tale , to try If aught could madden me : thou bast tried well. PETERSON (aside). Who tempts him further, is more mad than he. (Exit. ERIC. Now let me try if I can think ;if still Within this dark and unsurveyed fiord, Where, to the ebb and flow of sense and sleep, Trim reason, and o'er canvassed fancy ride, If still i have—of that 1 cannot think ; It is not fair to test my brain with that; Intrigues and tricks, and things that have more skies Than nature's front and hack ! But nature's self— The hillside morning, and the sunset brake, The lowing cattle, and the hush of leaves, Of these, at least, I may thi n k , and liarii;e. Karine'. 1 clutch the implements of thought, As watchmen grasp their spears to keep awake. He bath bedrenched me with some cursed I rue:, Siberian fungus, atropa, or hemp. Or blood bath fouled that pearly camera, Which shapes, and renders to the seated will, The pictured flow and landscape of the mind. Whate'er I love, whate'er I own, or am, Even those elements, which eternity Shall not impair , dejected are, a nd we, Like death-bed view of good resolve su n done, my own. Or like my funeral, and Oh sight most strange, sickening much kening and maddeningl I see my mind—a solid min d though mad ! What art thou, cloudy and unshapen thing, No more substantial than the wings of sleep, Or nightfall, or the flake in eyebal ls dim ? Yet owing duty to the sense of sight, In some half measure, as a vision cloth. Thou spawn of immortality, oh cease, Thus horribly to curdle and to melt, Now liquid, like the juggler's phial'd blood, Now pulpy, like a woman nine days drownet! Writhe on, thou dead alive worm in my skull. * * * Oh God, great God ! if for my, youthful sins, By me forgotten, but in force with thee, Cast forth I am from all self-consciousness, (Save reasonable horror of myself) Grant, in thy mercy, that she know it not, Andinat I may not die at play with death. „ * • * • [Enter K A RINS. n-AnINE. My lord, I have a favour. What, my Eric, My husband, why look you at your Karine, As if she might be arty one to you ? Speak to me,-Eric. Oh, what shall I do ? His head is burning, and his poor hands clenched,— §9 cold s oh I could Break my court-spoiled fingers, She, who shares thy throne Too weak to open them ! A pillow; quick, I A pillow for his head I There, look not so, i Not at the door so wildly. Enic. Where is Karine ? KARINE. Here, my own dearest, to thy side as close, • As even she could ever long to be. But art thou better ? ERIC I have been asleep. What was it that I dreamt of thee, Kathie ? Art thou in trouble, that thine eyelids thus Are moist, and glistening, and thy cheeks so pale ? KARINE. No, lam happy, very happy now. Thou boldest all the compass of my soul : No sorrow yet bath learned the road thereto, Nor shall, except through thee. ERIC. How strange it is ! I feel thy gentle voice repose on me, Like sunset on a shattered pine, or as A hermit's shadow on a troubled brook. Now, at thy smile, the snowdrift of my heart Melts to a flood of h ppiness, too calm, Too deep, and still, to murmur into words : lAnd it bath drowned the snake, the hissing snake KARINE. Ah, could I only keep thee ever thus ; And little Gustave, so like thee in all, His quick eyes kindling, when the maids in play Make mouths at him, or feign to threaten me : And then the laugh, which from his jutting lip, ' Breaks, like the ripple from a coral marge, Soon as his infant dignity is soothed. ERIC. Poor little man ! I trust he may not show j A darker likeness to his father's moods. KARINE. Now promise this, this little thing to me: When, at a quick affront, or hasty word, Thou art aglow to forge the sentence-brand, Remember, he. whom thou wouldst hurt, may hare His own poor Gustave, and his own Karine. ERIC. When lam chafed, my memory is short. KARI NE. And shorter afterwards : men call thee harsh, "The King is quick of mood and terrible;" But thy wife better knows her lord. And now I will entreat thee for a little proof, That s,,e bath not mistaken thee. ERIC. What is it? Long must thou search ere thou couldst find a thing, I would deny thee. KARINE. 'Tis only this : Release, and take again into thy grace, The noble Stures. Ham Woman, say that again ! If this be true, I have been always mad. KARINE. My lord, have I said harm ? I only meant Swante Sture, and his noble son. ERIC. His noble son ! • ' ris in the stars ! Thou lovest him—thou dolt 1 'I bou wouldst kill me, to set him in my throne. Not in my brain the snake, but in my heart ! [Exit ERIC. KS RIME. What, Eric ! then all I trembled at is true. Gone ! And such words as those ! Oh, gracious Heaven, Look down on her who bath no hope of earth ! My husband must be—yes, great God ! he is—mad. , . Working on the insanity he has produced, Peter son succeeds in causing the king to imbrue his hands in the blood of Nils Sture and his father, both of whom he slays in prison. This flagrant act of injustice and murder is resented by the nobles, led on by Milne, the mother of Nils and widow of the elder Sture. Eric is driven to extre mity and flies, and Karine, after enduring much ignominy, insult, and suffering, is allowed to escape in peasant garb, and to take with her their only child. She rejoins her exiled and dethroned lord, now restored to a sad sense of the wild deeds he has committed in his hours of phrenzy. There is something beautifully touching in his feeling out burst, when Karine tells him that their child is Borne, in peasant dress, Beyond the frontier. ERIC. ➢fy baby exile, God preserve the sane, • Discrowned of pride, but monarch of thy mind ! The captive king is in the hands of Maline, and, by her condemned to drink a poisoned cup, the: fatal draught of which shared by Karine, and both die together. The closing scene is one of great' power, and is finely wrought. The character of Maline is designed and filled in with masterly skill. High tempered, energetic, and unbending, when once bent on her revenge she pursues it with unswerving firmness and relentless hate ; she forms in all respects a striking contrast to the gentle and pure-minded Karine. The leading characters are well and skilfully drawn, and the piece abounds in interesting scenes and situations ; and the draw backs which will weigh upon it as an acting drama are of a technical, rather than of an artistic or poetic order. The dialogue is in general well sustained, and is full of noble sentiments. From the specimens before us we should be inclined to augur hopefully of Melanter's future efforts, and feel assured he has drank too deeply of Castalia's stream to withdraw his devotion from Melpomene. Brazil, the River Plate, and the Falkland Is- lands. By Wm. Hadfield. London : Longmans. The beautifully got-up volume before us has numerous claims upon public attention. It is par ticularly suited to the mercantile community, and must possess an especial interest in the estimation of the intelligent commercial population of Liver pool. The work, although setting up few claims to high literary character, is written in a clear, forcible, and comprehensive style ; and, from the thorough practical knowledge displayed by its author on the various and important subjects which fall under his review, it unostentatiously advances claims on public consideration, which it fully sustains and justifies. It may be termed the codified result of matured experience, in a commer cial and social sense, of the condition and prospects of Brazil and La Plata ; of a similar knowledge of the chief of the Falkland Islands, and contains in cidental, but pleasing and shrewd, remarks on Lisbon, Madeira, the Canary and Cape de Verde Islands ; and has also sagacious observations rela tive to the advantages and disadvantages of the Cape Horn route to Australia. The object Mr. Hadfield started with in planning his volume, and which object he has kept steadily in view through out its prowess, was the development of the com mercial resources possessed by the respective countries he treats of, and to show the means by and the direction in which these resources could be made available to the British people, and most conducive to the advancement of the countries themselves. Keepinc , this philanthropic purpose steadily in view, he has nevertheless had skill and tact sufficient to embellish his narrative with nu merous important historical and physical facts, which add to its liveliness without Impairing in the slightest degree its utility. In his capacity of secretary to the American and General Steam Na vigation Company, Mr. Hadfield was necessarily brought to consider attentively the wants of the important traffic of that extensive section of the world treated of in his volume, and the best means for accommodating them ; on this point it will be best to let him put his own case in his own way. This he does, after a sensible review of the existing trade between the eastern coast of South America and Europe prior to the application of steam to its navigation. In this review, he finds that, so long ago as 1851, Liverpool employed shipping to the amount of 30,000 tons annually in the Rio Janeiro and Rio de la Plata trades alone ; that the value of merchandise transported hence to these regions amounted to upwards of three millions sterling yearly ; and that that large export consisted chiefly of goods manufactured at Manchester ; and, above all, that that traffic might without difficulty be vastly increased with increased facilities for its transport. To be once convinced of a commercial improvement in Liverpool, is to secure the means of its accomplishment, and in this, as in other in stances, one facility lead rapidly to another, till the American and General Steam Navigation Company was instituted and organised under the provisions of a royal charter ; and in August last year their first or pioneer steamer sailed from Liverpool for the River Plate, which, on the 24th of the follow ing month, was followed by the Braziliera, a mag nificent ocean steamer, under command of Captain Green. Mr. Hadfield gives the following sum mary of the THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD, AND GENERAL COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER. IS LORD STANLEY A CONSERVATIVE ? TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. _ . Strc,—l was glad to see that in onerof your leading articles to-day you notice the suspicious conduct of Lord Stanley, M.P. It is certainly high time that the Conser vative press should notice it. Another instance of his lordship's backsliding was his recent speech at Ormskirk. Speaking of what books they should exclude from the proposed Free Public Library, he said, as well as I can quote from memory,— " * * And on this subject I hold a very strong opinion. * I should advise you to exclude from your library all works on religious controversy and party politics." He also voted with Lord John. Russell on the Jew Bill last year. When Lord Stanley holds such opinions, it is inconsis tent in the Lynn Conservatives to retain him as the colleague of the son-in-law and nephew of Lord Roden. His lordship's vote on the Church-rate question, although displeasing to you, seems to meet with the approval of a Romanist contemporary, who slily hints that he (Lord S.) would prove a suitable M.P. for Liverpool on a fature occasion. If he be ever brought forward, it will not be by those who voted for Liddell and Horsfall in 1833. I am, Sir, yours, &c., Liverpool, May 30, 1854. ALPHA. PROPOSED CHURCH FOR DAILY PRAYERS AND WEEKLY COMMUNION. TO THE EDITOR OP THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—A letter appeared in last Tuesday's Standard, from Mr. Hampton, of St. James's Church, in which he is at some pains to defend himself from charges which have not been made against him, and to assure the public of his zeal and activity, which no one has questioned. He has also charged me with acting with discourtesy, and in a manner " neither English nor Christian," in not con suiting him before the committee fixed upon the site of the proposed church in the neighbourhood of his district. To such a charge, publicly made, I suppose that some answer will be considered due. I would therefore beg for myself, and on the part of the committee, to disclaim any intention to interfere with Mr. Hampton and St. James's district, or with any district or clergyman in the town, or to impute to them any neglect of duty according to their own appreciation of duty. Indeed, we thought ourselves fortunate in meeting with a site which was in no ecclesiastical district, either conventionally or legally assigned; while it was at the same time in a position which will, in a short time, be covered all round by a dense population. The object of the promoters of the proposed church, many of whom are inhabitants of Toxteth-park, is to provide for themselves and others those advantages of frequent church worship which are not to be found in any of the churches in that part of Liverpool. So that it is not St. James's district only, but all the surrounding dis tricts, comprising half the population of Liverpool, which might be benefited by the erection of such a church. We contend for a great principle, and have no wish to come into collision with individual clergymen, or to interfere with their religious prejudices. But weprotest most emphatically against a claim being set upbyany clergyman that allpeopla are bound to worship according to his individual inter pretation of the Rubrics, or his peculiar mode of " using the Book of Common Prayer in its integrity." In our opinion, those clergymen who omit one-third of the Prayer Book, in the neglect to observe the Holy Days—who omit one-half of the Marriage Service—who occasionally change the appointed lessons—not to speak of the omission, nay, disparagement, of the prescribed daily prayers—those clergymen, in our judgment, do not "use the Book of Common Prayer in its integrity." And if it is proposed to offer to the multitudes of any neighbourhood these additional services, why, because a person has no heart for them himself, should he grudge others the enjoyment of them ? Mr. Hampton takes comfort to himself that his people are not "pining after a daily service and weekly com munion." He "knows their views and tastes, and can confidently assert that no such desire exists in any con siderable number of Churchmen in the 20,000 embraced in this scheme." And we too can assert that if any of this number, nay, if any of the 200,000 inhabitants of the south of Liverpool do desire the privileges of daily prayers, or of weekly communion, they must, indeed, pine for them in vain in any of the churches of this populous neighbour hood. But what a confession is this, that the people are so far departed from the piety of primitive times as to have no taste for those Church privileges which were then in uni versal estimation and practicer The incumbent of St. James's throws the responsibility of this state of things upon the people, observing that "till they have made known their wishes, they cannot say they have been re jected." Are, then, people wont to pine after spiritual privileges until they are taught to value them ? Or are they likely to ask for more frequent communions than their pastors recommend by their own example ? It is not thus that souls will be trained upwards. Such arguing as the above is the best proof how much such a church is needed, and how little sympathy and co-operation we could expect from consulting Mr. Hampton. Without any intention to offend others, we cannot help taking a very different view of the religion of the Church of England from that which is current in this town ; and in proportion to the jealousy with which we are treated, shall be our determination to proclaim and defend our conscientious convictions ; and to maintain the right of the people to more frequent services than are at present afforded them, and that too in churches where the best places are not appropriated to the highest bidder. Mr. Hampton will pardon me for asserting that the Lord's Day cannot be duly honoured without the offering of that sacred memorial which He ordained as the peculiar service of His religion. As ton monthly 0p1ebv.+.1.,.. Supper, it is a disgraceful abridgment of the Church's office three Sundays out of four, without warrant from Scripture or antiquity, and is a reproach to us throughout Christendom.--I am, yours faithfully, CECIL IVRAY. THE PROPOSED "FREE" CHURCH. TO THE EDITOR Or THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Sru,—ln your paper of last Tuesday, I perceived a letter from the Rev. Mr. Hampton, in which, it seems, he takes offence at the laudable attempt to provide a Free Church for Daily Prayers and Weekly Communion, and at the neighbourhood of Toxteth-park being selected for the purpose. . Mr. Hampton appears to have exerted himself for the welfare of his district, for which he is deserving of all praise. He admits, also, that there is room for further and increased exertions. Then why object to a scheme for building a church where Daily Prayers may be said, and Weekly Communion administered ? What is there—what can there be—to object to in this ? One would imagine that one like Mr. Hampton, who finds so much to do, and means so few, would have been the first to hail such a design, and only too happy to promote it. At St. James's church, Mr. Hampton says, the Prayer Book is used in its integrity. As a Church of England man, I should be glad to know such to be the fact. Is there the Daily Ser vice ? Are the current Fasts and Festivals of the Church, which occupy so large a portion of the Book of Common Prayer, observed at this church ? Is the Prayer for the Church Militant regularly used ? It is some years since I was in the church, and know nothing of its services. But, unless these questions can be answered in the affirmative, it appears to me that the Prayer Boole is not " used in its integrity." It is said " that no desire exists in any consi derable number of the 20,000 churchmen, for whom this church is intended, for Daily Prayer and Weekly Com munion." Again, Sir, I would say, all honour on those to whom it is due for what has been done in the neighbour hood of St. James's ; but Mr. Hampton must forgive me for reminding him that, on his own showing, this is a field wide enough for further exertions, and, could he produce and foster such a desire amongst even a few of these 20,000 people, it would not be an unworthy part of the fulfilment of his mission. Who dare put a limit to the blessing that might descend on this busy town, if every church poured forth its daily supplications to the Throne of Grace from no matter how few worshippers. Mr. Hampton wisely avoids Mr. Radford's "long" letter. To my mind it is unanswerable, and, though a poor man, I intend doubling my mite in the list of subscriptions, and only hope the undertaking will not be abandoned. I, for one, should feel thankful for the opportunity, when practicable, of joining in the daily public prayer and praise, feeling assured that where two or three are gathered toge ther in God's name, there is He in the midst of them.— Yours faithfully, June 3, 1854. A CHURCH:WAN. ADVANTAGES OF STEAM NAVIGATION TO BRAZIL. In the space of two months a merchant can visit his Brazil establishment, and another, under three months, can look after his River Plate affair, often saving himself much anxiety and loss of time. The manufacturer can, without great trouble, make himself acquainted with the markets he wishes to trade to; the botanist and naturalist can qvickly be transported to the virgin ground of Para guay, or, now that the Brazilian government have placed contract steamers on the greatest of all great rivers, may ascend the Amazon with like certainty of reward as novel and varied, and depend on a prompt return of his newly acquired specimens. Whilst, which is equally important, the natives of those countries have an opportunity of visiting, Europe, and forming, by personal contact, those relations of amity and goodwill which tend so much to soften prejudices, and bring about a right understanding on all points mutually advantageous. His claims to consideration as an authority on the subject he grounds on practically acquired information, derived from long residence on the South American continent, and he puts those claims forward with an ingenuousness and direct ness of purpose characteristic of a man of business habits and intelligence. Although his objects are chiefly of a commercial character, he does not confine himself exclusively to topics connected with the counting-house or store—with the plantation or the wharf,—but freely illustrates his remarks upon subjects connected with them by reference to the natural and social circumstances which confer upon these the impress and tone of a distinctive traffic. He •also touches with readiness and deoision upon the habits and peculiarities of the people among whom he sojourned, and of those who by their position in life were able to sway the lead ing events of ..South American polity. In his pages we are brought into familiar acquaintance with the leading men of the republics, such as Lopez, Uriquiza, and Rosas, besides others whose names occupy prominent places in the history of those states. In addition to numerous well executed views and portraits, the volume is beauti fully, as well as usefully, illustrated by maps of South America and , its rivers, and of the Falkland lolanda. Forty-six Short Sermons on various interesting subjects, especially designed for Sabbath Even ing Reading. By the Rev. W. Dransfield. London : Aylott and Co. The volume before us is composed and published by a veteran labourer in the Gospel vineyard, who has already been long and familiarly known to an extensive class of the religious public. The sermons are put forth under the modest desire of being useful in "assisting the devotions of families," and they are peculiarly fitted for the domestic circle ; more especially under circumstances which preclude attendance on divine worship in the parish church. They are eminently practical in their character, and earnest in their style—enforcing with unaffected eloquence the comforting assurances of Christian hope—and commending by instructive precept the benevolence and charity of Christian love. The Dublin University Magazine. Dublin James McGlashan. The June number of this Magazine is scarcely so marked by interesting novelty as some of its predecessors have been, but it is still rich enough in this particular to claim and deserve a high place in the periodical literature of the day. It opens with a judicious chapter on the teaching and value of Alison's History of Europe, from 1815 to 1852, in which the writer, after a somewhat subtle in quiry, concludes his analysis by a compliment to the temper, industry, and unusual sagacity of the great historian. This paper is followed by an amusing essay on French Dramatists and Actors. It forms a second portion of the very interesting series, and is replete with well-told anecdotes, illustrative of French theatrical life before and be hind the scenes. In one of the figurantes of this life drama, Mademoiselle Clairon, we have another of the numerous instances in which an early predi lection for the stage has been formed by accident and fostered by unconquerable resolution under the pressure of great difficulties, aided solely by an unswerving resolution and an ardent desire for distinction. That Clairon had the true feeling for her art, was speedily manifested ; and that she duly appreciated its pretensions and necessities, she also made equally apparent, as well in the business of real life as in the mimic scenes which are made to represent its essence on the stage. According to her views, and on this point there is•much truth in them, an actor or actress should be, off the stage, to a considerable extent, the same sort of being which she or he is desirous of appearing on it. " The tragic actor," says La Clairon, " should ap propriate, in common life, the style and manners of such characters as his cast of parts most fre quently requires. If lam only a vulgar and ordi nary woman during twenty of the four-and-twenty hours of the day, whatever efforts I may make I shall only be an ordinary and vulgar woman in Agrippina or Semieramis during the remaining four." There is much sound sense in such a re mark, and although it is a maxim easily rendered ridiculous by over-effort, it is based on sound philosophy ; and though more concentrated, and more elegantly expressed in Goldsmith's happy phrase— "- Seeming blest, they grow to what they seem." Still it is an aphorism which mutatis mutandis may be safely and profitably applied through all the occupations and positions of life. The well told tale of " Sir Jasper Carew" is brought to a conclusion in the present number ; which, besides other papers of much interest in addition to those named, has one or two analytical reviews of new publications, and is concluded by a capital article under the title of " Midsummer with the Muses," in which an ably-written and eloquent, as well as generous, estimate is given of the character and quality of a considerable quantity of the current poetry of the day. NEW MUSIC. La Sultana, TTalse Brillante. London : Jullien. The composer of this exquisite dance tune, which is ;dedicated to Thomas Blake, Esq., is Mr. Wm. Spark, the organist of Leeds, who was a pupil of t* celebrated Dr. Wesley. It possesses those rare and excellent qualities of attractive melody and yet distinct measure, and cannot fail to be appreciated by every performer on the piano -forte, from the ease with which it may be played, and the delight which it is sure to afford. Mr. Spark has shown himself to be an apt scholar of a very eminent master, and the skill which he has here displayed will induce many to look forward with anxiety to his future compositions. TIIE LIVERPOOL SIIIPWRIGHTS' ASSOCIATIOII.—The annual report of this body, for the year ending on the 26th ult., has just been published, from which it appears that the number of members at present on the books is 1,718. During that period the society has disbursed in sick, superannuation, and funeral money, including a sum of £389 18s. 61d. for miscellaneous expenses, no less than £1,444 48. Oid. The association must be in a prosperous state, for the amount of "cash in bank" and in the hands of the treasurer, is £1,191 2s. Bd. The association sub scribes annually £5 bs. each to the Infirmary and the two hotpitals. Unconnected with the funds of the association, the body has also contributed voluntarily upwards of £5OO to various movements, including relief to distressed opera tives out "on strike ;" £5O to the fund for the soldiers' wives and families, and £5 to the voluntary life-boat fund. It should be stated that the "association" consists entirely of what are known in the trade as "Liverpool men." The " strangers," who number 400 to 600, are divided into three different bodies ; but their principal club is called the "Liverpool National Shipwright's Friendly Society?' ACCIDENTS IN LIVERPOOL.—In the year ending the 31st December last, 1913 persons suffered from accidents. Of these 436 were run over by carts, cars, &c. ; 48 fell from buildings, 31 were injured at dock works, 157 on dock quays, 302 on board vessels, 369 fell into docks, 24 were burned, 45 were drowned, 3 were injured by fire arms, and 488 by other means. The cases which termi nated fatally numbered 159. The police saved 80 lives in the course of the year, and 129 lives were saved by other persons. Assistance was rendered by the police in 1247 cases of accident, and by other persons in 457 cases. THE NEW MONSTER STEAMER. — The keel for the gigantic steamer for the Eastern Steam Navigation Company is now being laid in the yard of Messrs. Scott, Russell, and Co., Millwall, opposite Deptford dockyard. Her proportions are to be nearly twice the length of the great Himalaya, and more than three times her tonnage. She is to be completed in two years, and is expected, it is said, to do the distance to Australia in little over thirty days, and, if necessary, to carry sufficient fuel for the voyage out and home. She is to be fitted with paddle wheels and screw propelling power. BURGLARY AT TRANMERE. — On Saturday morning, at an early hour, the house of the Misses Pickering, Church terrace, Higher Tranmere, was broken into, and a couple of coats and some plated articles were stolen ; and the same morning the thief was apprehended on the Wood side boat, with the stolen property in his possession. He was, yesterday, committed for trial at the assizes. PICKING POCKETS.—Yesterday, Henry Williams, a boy about ten years old, was charged at the Police-court with picking the pocket of a man in Whitechapel, from which he stole a pocket handkerchief. The case was clearly proved, and the prisoner, who had been on previous occa sions before the court on similar charges, was sentenced to be imprisoned for a month. LIVERPOOL TOWN COUNCIL.— At the monthly meeting of the Council to-morrow, the following subjects will be discussed :—The proceedings of the Finance Committee, comprising recommendation to purchase the reversion of a house in Russell-street for the sum of £4B ; recommenda tion to accept the tender of Mr. Thomas Mackarell for new works required at the Tobacco Warehouse, (excepting the plumbers' - work,) and the tender of Mr. William Edward son for such plumbers' work ; and recommendation to pur chase freehold property in Hood-street, Marble-street, and Charles-street, for the sum of £4,s2o.—The proceedings of the Watch, Lighting, Fire-police, and Fire-prevention Committees, comprising recommendations to allow various sums during the pleasure of the Council, as compensation and allowance to police-constables disabled by severe bodily injury received by them in the performance of their duty, and worn out by length of service.—The proceed ings of the Courts of Law and St. George's-hall Committee, comprising recommendation that the members of the Courts of Law and St. George's-hall Committee, with nine other members of the Council, be appointed a Special Committee for making arrangements for the opening of St. George's hall by the Council.—The proceedings of the Markets' Committee, comprising, recommendation to increase the salaries of the following officers ; namely, John Radcliffe and Thos. S. Tyrer. collectors at St. John's Market, from £9O to £llO per annum each; Robert Tyrer, collector at the Fish Market, from £7B to £9O per annum ; and Wil liam Appleton, collector at Pownall-square market, from 30s. to 335. per week, the consideration of which was post poned at the last monthly Council, pursuant to the stand ing orders.—The proceedings of the Health Committee, comprising, recommendation to increase the salary of James Lothean Ascroft, in the Borough Engineers' De partment, from £l2O to £l5O per annum, and the salary of James Wilson, in the same department, from £52 to £7O per annum, the consideration of which was postponed at the last monthly Council, pursuant to the standing orders.—The proceedings of the Library and Museum Committee, comprising, report that the model of ancient Liverpool, prepared by Mr. Harding, has been offered to the Corporation for the sum of £loo.—Returns of the offi cers of the Corporation, and comparative cost of the constabulary force, pursuant to a resolution of the Council, at the meeting on the 3d May last.—The Coroner's account, amounting to £4B. es. 6d.—The Mayor's communications, comprising, application from Mr. Robert John Brew, col lector of lighting, paving, and sewerage rates, for au increase to his salary ; application from Philip McGuinness, bricklayer, for an increase to his wages ; application from workmen and labourers employed by the Corporation for an increase of their wages ; and applications from join ers and stonemasons employed by the Corporation for an increase of their wages.—The following motion, of which notice has been given :—By Mr. Alderman Ben nett,-That, as the report of the Committee appointed by the Inhabitants in Public Meeting has been printed, and a copy sent to each member of the Council, a sum not placed a e u xs d ee l:in ing tin7he be report. com mittee, for defraying the expenses incurred in preparing at the disposal of such com- THE PROPOSED' DAILY CHURCH. TO THE EDITOR OP TEE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. SIR,—I was much pleased to observe, by the very able letter from the Rev. H. Hampton, in your last paper, that the bishop's objection to the proposed new church for daily prayers in Liverpool is followed up by those who have a direct interest in the question, and have opportuni ties of knowing more as to the details than may appear to the general public. It is, I am perfectly aware, an un gracious task to say anything against so apparently praise worthy an attempt as that of founding a new church, but there are in this case grounds of suspicion which demand the utmost vigilance. Why should we have a church devoted specially to daily service ? For my own part, I am content with the two services on Sundays, one in the week, and one on Christmas-day and Good Friday, and I believe that ninety-nine out of a hundred of my fellow townsmen are Hof the same opinion. I strongly suspect that the object chiefly sought by the promoters of the proposed new church is to familiarise us with Romish practices. If so, it ought to meet with the most strenuous opposition ; but whether this be the case or not, I do not see any necessity for disturbing the peace which at present happily prevails, by introducing novelties, when we have so much reason to be content with the present system.— I am, Sir, A REAL PROTESTANT. Liverpool, 3rd June, 1854. THE TEACHING OF MAYNOOTH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD. Stn,—The Cork Constitution has the following : DEATH OF WILLIAMS, THE SCRIPTURE READER.—Poor Williams, the Scripture reader, beaten some months ago a t ' Aghada died on Saturday at Milltown, county of Kerry, his medical attendant (a Roman Catholic) p stating, as we are in formed, that he died of the injuries then received. With what feelings the intelligence will be read by those whose con sciences admonish them of the share they bore in the assault, we know not ; but the man is dead—dead, in consequence, i t is medically stated, pf the cruelties inflicted by their hands or at their instigation. With respect to the above, a relative of mine, who has just returned from the same county, has supplied me with the following particulars : The deceased was a convertfrom Popery, and obtained employment as a scripture reader. Many respectable per sons in that neighbourhood can testify to his unoffending demeanour in the discharge of his duties, and can vouch for the sincerity of his motives in turning from the worship of pictures and images to that of the Living God. It was on his return from reading the Scriptures to some poor person that lie was attacked by a mob of persons, who were e; ideutly led on by the Popish priest to maltreat the unfortunate man. " His Rivirinso" stood by, and, although he, as well as any one acquainted with 'viand, Lnowl that a word or nod from Mm would have the effect of restrain ing the violence of the mob, he did not use this influence, but, on the contrary, openly encouraged them in their murderous attack. The man lay for dead, but afterwards partially recovered, and the Priest and other perpetrators of the outrage were prosecuted at the assizes, but were acquitted by a" packed jury." An application was made to the Lord Lieutenant, who " declined to interfere ;" the man lingered, and died as described in the Cork Constitu tion. Englishmen ! this is the teaching of Maynooth ! This is the use made of your £30,000, which is given annually to educate Priests, who not only stir up rebellion against your Queen and Constitution, but also against the life of every man, no matter how insignificant, who dares to think for himself, read his Bible, and turn Protestant. Facts like these show more plainly the real teachings of Maynooth College than the voluminous reports of a dozen Commissions of Inquiry. —I remain, Sir, yours respectfully, Liverpool, 3d June, 1854. G. W. M. ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE'. PREFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS, Rev. J. Boultbee, 8.A., to the Curacy of East Leake, near Loughborough. Rev. R. W. Burton, MA., Vicar of Willesden, Middlesex, to the Incumbency of All Saints, Gordon-square, St. Pancras. Rev. J. J. Cort, MA., Minister of St. Michael's Church. Birmingham, to the Incumbency of St. Andrew's, Sale Moor, Chesh ire. Rev. M. W. Currie, to the Curacy of Saitwood, Kent. Rev. J. Davies, M.A., Curate and Lecturer of Mold, Flint shire, to the Vicarage of that parish. Rev. F. Davis, to the Curacy of Louth. Rev. T. C. Dixon, D.D., to the Perpetual Curacy of Quarry Bank, Staffordshire. Rev. W. Field, M.A., to be Chaplain to the Royal Asylum of St. Ann's Society. Rev. J. C. Head, MA., to the Incumbency of O'Brien's bridge, Ireland. Rev. P. Hunt, 8.A., to the Curacy of Thurles, Ireland. Rev. W. R. Jolley, to be Chaplain of H.M. ship Amphion. Rev. W. C. Ledger, M.A., to the Curacy of St. John's, Limerick. Rev. L. Lewis, M.A.. late Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, to be Vicar• Choral of St. Asaph's, Cathedral. Rev. F. 0. Morris, MA., to the Rectory of Nunburnholme, York shire. Rev. J. Murray, M.A., to the Vicarage of Wroxton with Balscott annexed, Oxfordshire. Rev. J. R. Owen, M.A., to the Vicarage of Llanferres, Denbighshire. Rev. F. H. S. Pendleton, to be British Chaplain at Monte Video. Rev. C. Thornhill, M.A., to the Vicarage of Burwell, near Newmarket. Rev. G. It. Turner, M.A., Curate of West Tisted, Hants, to the Rectory of New Radnor. Rev. It. Welsh. 8.A., to the Curacy of Ballyrnascalon, Ireland. Rev. A. Welsh, M.A. to the Curacy of Maidstone. Rev. R. Wickham, Vicar of Gresford, Denbizhshire. and Chaplain to the Bishop of St. Asaph, to be Archdeacon of St. Asaph. Rev. J. St. George Williamson. M.A., to the Rectory of Thomastown, in the county of Kildare. Rev. A. Wightwick, to the Stipendiary Curacy of Elton, near Bury. -- DIOCESE OF CHESTER. CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY As- CENSION. — This new Church, which is situate at Upton, in the parish of St. Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester, was conse crated on Wednesday last as a Chapel of Rase to St Mary's, making the fourth church consecrated by the. Bishop of Chester in the course of last month. It is cal culated to accommodate 300 persons, but sittings have at present been provided for 274 persons only. The Marquis of Westminster has contributed £l,OOO, as an endowment to aid in providing for the regular performance of divine services, besides having subscribed a like sum towards the building. It will be a great accommodation to the inha bitants of Upton, who were previously two miles distant from any church. VAcAscv.—St. Mary's Church, Edge-hill, in the parish of Walton-on-the-Hill, Liverpool, by resignation of Rev. Frederic Barker—patron, John Stewart, of Liverpool,Esq. ACTON, CunsninE.—The Bishop of Chester has granted hislicense for performance of Divine Services in the School. room at Worleston, in this parish, on the representation of the Rev. F. Storr, the vicar. Wirsuivnunx, CHESIIIRE.—The Bishop of Chester has granted his license for performance of Divine Services in Broad-lane School, in Stapeley, in this Parish, on the representation of the Rev. J. Hayes, the vicar. THE BISHOP OF NATAL.—Dr. Colenso, who only embarked for his new Diocese at the close of last year, has already returned to England for the purpose of rais ing funds. THE ARCIIDEA.CONEY of St. Asaph, vacant by the pre ferment of the Venerable C. B. Clough to the deanery of the cathedral, has been conferred upon the Rev. R. Wick ham, M.A., vicar of Gresford. LONG-ACES CUAPEL.—The incumbent writes that his dislike to pew-rents has determined him to endeavour to defray the expenses of the chapel by the weekly offertory. liThe chapel was lately held by the Rev. Mr. Gladstone. The former congregation, with few exceptions, had relin quished their attendance. There was a new flock to gather, and the opportunity seemed favourable to try whether divine service could not be maintained, and a moderate stipend procured for the minister, by making the seats of the chapel entirely free, and appealing to the liberality of the congregation for support. The trial commenced on Sunday, May 21, and on the succeeding —a 4k. fourfold. THE Junon Blsuor II THE LORDS.—By the death of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Bishop of Salisbury will take his seat in the House of Lords immediately after his consecration; and, according to the inconvenient cus tom which still unhappily prevails, the duty of reading prayers daily in that house will devolve upon him, as the youngest bishop, during the remainder of the session. Thus, at the very moment when a bishop is most wanted in his diocese, the see having been for a while vacant, and when he himself would earnestly wish to be amongst his clergy, he is required to sacrifice his time, and to expend his money on a London residence, in order to discharge a duty which any clergyman in the land is competent to perform. A PANIC IN CHURCH.—An eminent minister at Nor wich made a sudden pause in his sermon : the congrega tion were panic struck. Having rivetted their attention, he addressed himself by name to a gentleman in the gal lery—" Has that poor man who stands at the back of your pew a gold ring on his finger ?" The gentleman turned round, and replied, " I believe not. sir." • " 0, then, I suppose that is the reason he musn't have a seat." The gentleman had three gold rings on his hand, and his pew was nearly empty. THE LORD BISHOP or SALISBURY.—The ceremony of inducting the newly-appointed bishop of this diocess took place on Wednesday. Precisely at ten o'clock his lordship arrived at St. Thomas's-bridge, on the London road, attended by his three chaplains (the Rev. H. Drury, the Rev. J. L. Popham, and the Rev. F. Lear). Here he was met by Mr. J. L. Alford, the receiver of the see, Mr. Fitzherbert Macdonald, his lordship's secretary, and a procession of carriages. His lordship then proceeded to a pasture field on the Bishop's Down Farm, within the manor of Milford, where a marquee had been erected for his receptien. Here Mr. Alford dug a turf from the field, and delivered it to his lordship as seisin of the temporali ties of the see. The procession then re-formed, and re turned to the city. At Mr. Smith's residence a chapter was held, to whom his lordship delivered the mandate of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and assumed his episcopal robes. At the entrance to the Close the procession was met and preceded by the choristers of the cathedral, who chanted the anthem, "Oh ! how amiable !" In this manner his lordship reached the row of noble elms below the Widows' College, where the senior boy in the Grammar School of the Close (Master J. Waller) welcomed the right rev. prelate by delivering a brief Latin address, to which his lordship feelingly replied in the same language. The procession then moved on to the west door of the cathedral, the choristers singing, " Praise the Lord, 0 Jerusalem !" and immediately within the nave an altar was prepared, where his lordship took the necessary oaths, which were admistered by the Very Rev. the Dean. The nave and aisles of the noble edifice were thronged with eager spectators, but great decorum and the most appro priate demeanour were observed throughout. As the procession moved up the nave the pealing tones of the organ burst forth, and Mozart's beautiful anthem, " I will give thanks," was performed. His lordship was then conducted to the high altar, where he knelt while the Very Rev. the Dean offered up an appropriate form of prayer. The solemn notes of the "Te Deum" then re sounded through the venerable pile, and his lordship pro ceeded in procession to the Chapter-house, whence an adjournment was made to the vestry, where certain for malities were gone through ; and the right rev. prelate, on his return to the choir, was inducted by the Dean and Archdeacon Macdonald into the prebendal stall of Pot terne, which is annexed to the see. THE NATIONAL SOCIETY.— The anniversary meeting of the members of the National Society for promoting the education of the poor in the principles of the Church of England, was held on Wednesday in the National School room, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster. Among those present were the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Earl of Romney, the Earl of Harrowby, Lord Lyttleton, Lord John. Thynne, Lord Bayning, the Bishops of London, Oxford, Ripon, Lichfield, Chichester, St. David's, Glouces ter, and St. Asaph, Mr. Adderley, M.P., Mr. Alexander B. Hope, &c. The chair was taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who observed that the cause of education had been making steady progress, and that the National So ciety had fresh reason to be grateful for the success which had attended its operations. The friends of education all over the kingdom most thankfully allowed that every thing connected with the subject had taken a most palpa ble start, and that public attention appeared to be at length steadily directed to the importance of providing sound religious education for the people. In fact, educa tion was proceeding in England at a rate which our fore fathers could not have anticipated. This fact was proved by the report of the Census Commissioners, recently pub lished. But, looking at counties with which he was him self acquainted,' he found that in the 20 years from 1811 to 1831 the number of schools establishedgn Cheshire was only 36; while in the 20 years from 1831 to 1851 the number of new shools established was 217. The schools established in Kent in the period between 1811 and 1831 were 85 (showing, however, an increase in the south over the north of England), while the number established from 1831 to 1851 was 284. The principle of training schools also was not known Anti' 1838, but at present there were no fewer than 34, in the various dioceses from which the schools of the society could be supplied. The work of progress was also apparent in the system of inspection adopted. A few years ago no one dreamt of the inspec tion of schools, but now there was a perfect organization for the purpose, irrespective of the inspection under the superintendence of the government. The report which they would now hear read would fully corroborate all he had said, and furnish additional reasons for supporting the society. The secretary read the report, which stated that the amount collected under the Queen's last letter had not equalled that of former years, but was as much as could have been expected, considering the other pressing claims upon parishes in the cause of education. The sums received under the letter had been expended in aiding the erection and enlargement of schools and teachers' resi dences. Since the last audit the school building fund had assisted in the erection of 185 schoolrooms, affording ac commodation for 22,826 children, and also 86 teachers. The total number of schools now in union with the so ciety amounts to 10,202, and of these 182 had been added during the last year. No alteration had been made in distributing the general fund of the society. The West minster training institutions had sent oat during the past year 63 masters and 88 mistresses. The receipts of the depository during 1853 amounted to £11,638, exceeding those of the previous year by £1,400. The report, having touched upon the progress made by the training schools in the provinces and the Diocesan Boards, concluded by expressing a hope that increased exertions on the part of the Church of England would enable her to supply the spiritual and intellectual wants of the rising generation. The Bishop of London moved a vote of thanks to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and congratulated the meeting that the National Society had returned to a state of peace. The proceedings then terminated. THE MOUNTAIN CLERGT.—The church of Askrigg, in Upper Wensleydale, Yorkshire, having become dilapi dated, a subscription for its restoration was raised of more than £lOOO, and a church-rate of 3s. in the pound was unanimously voted by a publsc vestry. When citizens are refusing 'id., and mountaineers voting 3s. for church purposes, it is an act of justice to that vilified body, the mountain clergy and their flocks, that such facts should be known. CONSECRATED SATIRE.—In the great window of the north transept of St. Martin's Church, Leicester, occurred one of those little pieces of satire which the monastic clergy were so fond of levelling at the predicant friars. A fox was represented preaching to geese from the text, " Testis est mihi Deus quam cupiam vos omnes visceribus meis"—a cunning adaptation of the words .of St. Paul to the Phillippian converts, with a significant change in the last word—" God is my witness how I long after you all in my bowels," instead of in the bowels of Christ.—Rev. G. A. Poole. TIIE Soxs or TICE CLERGY.—The Archbishop of Can terbury was honoured by the company of Prince Albert at Lambeth Palace, on Tuesday, at an entertainment given by his grace to the prince and the other stewards of the bicentenary festival of the Sons of the Clergy. The com pany present comprised the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Westminster, the Marquis of Abercorn, K.G., Earl Spencer, K.G., Earl Howe, Earl of Auckland, Lord Palmerston, Viscount Torrington, Lord Saye and Sele, the Bishops of London, Winchester, Bangor, Ripon, St. Asaph, Chichester, Hereford, Manchester, Peterborough, Worcester, Oxford, Lichfield, Lincoln, New Zealand, and Adelaide ; the Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford ; the Master of Downing College, Cambridge : the Regius Pro fessor of Divinity, Cambridge, and many others of the clergy and laity._ DIOCESE OH EXETER.—The Bishop of Exeter having circulated, through the rural deans, a paper stating that he was willing that any questions not doctrinal should be discussed by his clergy at his coining visitation, and that these questions should be previously forwarded to him through the rural deans for his acceptance or otherwise, on Wednesday, 17th instant, the Rural Dean of Totness and other rural deans invited the clergy under their juris diction to meet and consider if any and what questions should be discussed at the coming visitation. The follow ing subjects were proposed in resolutions and carried unanimously :—The division of the services on Sundays; the occasional celebration of the holy communion in the evening; home missions; education of the middle classes iu national schools; the improvement of the Institution for the Training of Schoolmistresses at Truro; the esta blishment of a callege for the education of the clergy; thanks to the bishop and rural dean ; proposition for the oftener and stated meeting of the ruri-decanal chapter ; au authorised hymnal desired ; and other questions were submitted. The clergy assembled were twenty-one in number. CHESHIRE AND WALES. THERE were great rejoicings last week in North Wales in honour of the coming of age of R. L. M. W. Bulkeley, Esq., eldest son of Sir Richard Bulkeley, Bart., Baron hill, Anglesey. _ CHESTER CATTLE FAIR.-At the fair on Tuesday there was a good show of milking stock, and a large quantity of sheep and lambs. Pigs were numerous. Of fat beef there was scarcely any in the fair. Calving beasts sold from £l6 to £l7 each, and ewes and lambs about two guineas the couple. MILITIA.--Commissions signed by the Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Denbigh :—Royal Rifle Regiment of Denbighshire Militia : Second Lieut. Robert Myddelton to be First Lieut., vice Roberts, who retires, retaining his rank ; and Second Lieut. Godfrey Fitzhugh to be First Lieut., vice Ward, deceased. . _ CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAILWAY.—The traffic for the week ending 28th of May, 1854, was as follows : Passengers, parcels, &c., per railway, £2,549 9s. 3d. ; steam-boats, £426 Bs. 9d. ; total, £2,975 IBs. Od.: goods, £1,672 lls. 5d.: total, including Carnarvon traffic, per rail, £4,222 Os. Bd. ; steam-boats, £426 Bs. 9d. Cor responding week last year, per rail, £3,652 7s. ld. ; per steam-boats, £359 ss. 4d. Increase, £636 17s. Od. BIRKENHEAD COLLECTOR.—On Wednesday, a meeting of the overseers of Birkenhead was held at their office, Chester-street, for the purpose of recommending a proper person as assessor and collector of government taxes for the township. There were several candidates for the situation. Mr. H. P. Priest was placed at the head of the list, and in all probability he will be selected by the magistrates to fill the office. MUSICAL PROMENADE AT WOODSIDE.—The Woodside ferry committee have L....n..4-0 the tute their prome nade to an excellent German band, who will perform on Thursday evenings, between the hours of six and nine, a variety of marches, overtures, polkas, and other popular music. Rules and regulations for the proper conduct of the promenade will be strictly enforced, and there is no doubt that the entertainments will be patronised by a large portion of the public. BiNKRIIPTCY.—On Wednesday, in the case of George Pearson, grocer, Birkenhead, the certificate was suspended for 18 months, protection generally being refused, and a second class certificate then to be granted.—ln the case of W. Jones, builder, Shaw-street, the commissioner sus pended the certificate for six months—the certificate to be of the second class. _ SUDDEN DEATHS.--011 Thursday an inquest was held before Mr. Churton, coroner, on the body of Ann Moseley, aged 55 years, who died suddenly at her residence ; Brunswick Avenue, Birkenhead, on Tuesday morning. The deceased was apparently well in health up to a few minutes before her demise. A verdict of "Died from natural causes" was returned.—An inquest was held, on Tuesday last, at the Mersey Inn, Tranmere, on the body of James M'Cormack, aged three years, who died suddenly on Monday. The jury returned a verdict of "Natural death." EMIGRATION FROM BIRKENIIEAD.—The following are the particulars of the emigration from the Birkenhead Docks during the past month : _ . May 3 Araminta Sydney...29o adults principally Irish ~ 13 Monsoon Mort'nß. 336 ditto. „15 Columbia Sydney ...350 ditto. „ 18 Stamboul Melbonrue3Bo Irish and Scotch. „ 26 B. of the Sea Geelong...4oo ditto ditto. „ 28 China Sydney ...214 Irish. „ 31 Genghis Khan Mort'n B 406 Scotch and Irish. June 1 Arabian Melbourne... .220 Highlanders. GREAT WESTERN ♦ND SHREWSBURY RAILWAYS.— The committee of the House of Commons have decided in favour of the bill for the amalgamation of the Great Western, the Shrewsbury and Birmingham, and the Shrewsbury and Chester Railways. They have so decided, they state, such decision " being of a special character, and of great importance to the public interest, inasmuch as without such amalgamation it appears to the committee that the smaller companies cannot effectually carry out the traffic within their several districts, and that the result of such amalgamation will be improved economy of manage ment, and greater facility of communication to the public at large." The Chester Courant expresses a hope that the shareholders will unanimously support this decision at the meeting, pursuant to standing orders, which will have to be held in that city on the 13th instant. The London and North-Western Railway Company threaten to renew their opposition in the House of Lords. WALLA SEY LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH.—The last general monthly meeting of the old board was held on Thursday. Mr. Penny in the chair. The time for the completion of the survey of the parish was extended to the Ist of July. It had been recommended that the members of the board should form themselves into visiting com mittees, to inspect the sanitary condition of the districts they represented. The surveyor's report set forth that in Wallasey the practice of whitewashing was common. In Seacombe directions had been given for whitewashing and cleansing. A great scarcity of water prevailed. In Liscard the greatest prevailing evil appeared to arise from sewage matter being allowed to fall into ditches. A want of water was also felt in the district. A memorial was read com plaining of the nuisance arising from brick-kilns. The matter was referred to the law-clerk, with instructions to take proceedings against the owners. Some conversation ensued respecting the establishment of a scavenger force in connexion with the parish, which was referred to a com mittee. BIRICENHEA.D LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCI ETY.—The monthly meeting of this society was held on Wednesday, at the Concert-room, Hamilton-street. The chair was occupied by Dr. Macdougal. Mr. Hugh Gawthrop read a paper on " The Literature of the Eliza bethan Era," there being, he considered, no other period in the history of the world to which an Englishman re verted with greater pride, from the large number of first class poetical writers who then existed, whose works were marked by originality of conception, and si mplic i ty . of language. After referring to the mighty genius of Shaks peare, he gave short biographical sketches of Spenser, Gascoyne, Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir John Harrington, Lilly, and others, besides quoting from poetical productions, and pointing out the beauties which marked the works of these eminent poets. The chairman announced that the society would not meet again until September, in which month they would hold two meet ings. He expressed the thanks of the society to those gentlemen who had kindly favoured them with th e i r lectures, and observed that the object of the committee had been to meet the wants of the town of Birkenhead and the wishes of the members of. the society. Their means had been limited, but he hoped the time was not far distant when a regular periodical would be commenced, and published with spirit, in which their proceedings would be recorded. After urg i ng upon the audience the necessity of endeavourin g t o i ncrease the members of the society, and thereby to augment its funds, the chairman enumerated the various scientific and other lectures which had been delivered, showing that the society had gone over a vast field, not only of literature, but of science, and all the subjects had been brought before them in a philo sophical and pleasing form. He thought no fault could be found with the general management of the committee in their attempts to gratify and instruct. He called attention to the desirability of selling the books.of the society, and with the proceeds to purchase apparatus, for it was their intention to secure lectures of a highly interest ing character, combined with experiments, so as to rudee them perfectly intelligible to every one. At their next they would take the subject into cousideratr.n.— The session then terminated, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1054• THE EARL OF CHESTER'S regiment of yeomanry cavalr2'' terminated their annual period of training on Tuee last, at Chester. Nessow ESCAPE.—Dnring the recent festivities a! Llanelidan, near Ruthin, the largest bell fell with its fro; from the belfry into the churchyard, which was crow with children, but no one was hurt. AN UNFEELING SON.—John Norman, stated to be 2 contractor, was summoned on Thursday, before the magi; trates of Birkenhead, by the overseers of Great Neston,_te the payment of £1 Bs. and 6s. cost s , the amo unt beta° incurred by the parish in support of his father and mother' An order had been made on the defendant, some time ag e ; for the payment of 4s. a week towa r d s th e maintenance e' his aged parents, and he was in arrears seven weeks. Th e defendant maintained that he would not pay, and appe 3r .; to think that he had no right to do so. Th e bench sal" the defendant stood committed for • a term not exceediag twelve months until the claim was paid. BIRKENHEAD COMMISSIONERS' BONDS.—On 3lonclat' last week, a sale of Birkenhead Commissioners' Bonds, fe r a sum of £3,300, with arrears of interest, which made the gross total amount to a sum of £4,290, or thereabou ts ' was announced to take place at the Clarendon-rooms ,l l Messrs. Walker and Ackerley, who were instructed to se by the assignees of William Green, auctioneer, &e., e f Birkenhead, a bankrupt. The first bid offered was £1, 0 :1 which was gradually increased to £1,750, when the reserll,, price was stated to be £2,500 ; and no advance hale been made upon that sum, the sale was adjourned. THE CANADA WORKS.—So quietly, yet so rapidly, have the shores of Wallasey Pool been dotted lately with dustrial establishments, that many of our readers o re doubtless unaware that within the last twelve month s Messrs. Brassey, Peto and Co. have erected huge buildine there, in which five hundred men are daily employed making locomotive engines, railway carriages, and othe r articles required for the Grand Trunk Railway in Cansa 3 ' In these works, called the Canada Works, forty locomoti ve engines can be turned out each year, the first construct ed there being the Elgin, which made a short but satisfacholi " trial trip," on Monday, previous to its shipment for th e Canada Grand Trunk Railway, which was et satisfactorY ls all respects. The engine in question, which was the fir„ locomotive made at Birkenhead, was named the Li ll y,: Elgin, the second is to be called the Lord Elgi n , a nd bot h of them are to be dispatched by the steam-ship Ottoo?' The engine tried on Monday has a cylinder 15 inches 15 diameter and 20 inches stroke. It is a coupled engin e ' with driving and trailing. wheels. The wheels are 6 fee in diameter, and the leading wheels 3 feet 6 inches io diameter. The engine is tubular, having 178 tubes, each 18-inch in diameter, which is equal to 872 feet of heati!l,l' surface. In the fire-box the heating surface is equal to superficial feet, making a total of 950 superficial feet ° heating surface. The American principle of a " sP 3le teti catcher," has been adopted, as the steam will be genera by wood fires, which throw sparks up th e c hi mne ys, a n t which require to be intercepted so as not to damage or e: 4 fire to the forests through w hich the e ng i nes t rave l. I c) engine is a passenger engine, and it will be able to take .1 or 23 carriages at the rate of 40 miles an hour. The p 1 ,11 1; cipals of the establishment celebrated the event by dia° 9 together iu the evening, at the Woodside Hotel. FATAL THUNDERSTORMS, WITHIN the last ten days severe thunderstorms visited various parts of England, Ireland and Scotlarb unfortunately in several instances attended with fad results. ENGLAND.—On the afternoon of the 27th ult., Oldhar l ' and its neighbourhood was visited by a severe and abal ing thunderstorm. About half way between Oldham 011 .1 Rochdale the •electric fluid struck a cottage. It pass ;i down the chimney, struck a female who was sitting,ne the fire, and stunned her. On Sunday evening an alar,„: ing storm, though of short duration, p asse d over Bolts There is a footroad leading to the Ch or l e y N ew R e ad, 51 ' when the storm came on two men and a woman 0° shelter from the rain under some trees which o verhare e the footpath, and were all more or le ss i n j ure d 11 t :, lightning. On Monday a severe thunderstorm was '; perienced in North Derbyshire, proving fatal to ° I ! gentleman. Mr. George Oldham, surgeon, of Alfret on, had started off to his farm at Morton, and on his jai picked up a boy who was returning from school. 11 1 arrived a short distance from Morton when he was su— dead in the gig ; the boy was unhurt. The deceased 1134 left a wife and eleven children. On the preceding Satf t , day afternoon a violent storm of thunder and he ning passed over Bakewell. Five men, employed the Duke of Devonshire's farm, at Crackendale, bad . i refuge from the storm in an open shed near their plac e 1) 4 labour, when one of them, named Samuel Gregory , !,4 c ; struck dead by the electric fluid; three others were a' o ' n struck down, but escaped death. At Wolverhampton , b y Wednesday week, the electric fluid struck two vales horses under a tree. and killed them instantaneously. lc , IRELAND.—On Tuesday, a violent thunderstorm , companied by torrents of rain and hail, burst over Dub' r and resulted in a fatal accident to a stocking we 3s i ll named White, who was struck dead in his own hon i f,,,, Mill-street, the electric fluid having entered the top of gable. The sister of the deceased was standing close him at the time he was struck, and her escape was by sidered miraculous. Life has also been sacrificed lightning at Loughrea, Galway, a farm lad SundayaNing 11,0e7, killed by the electric fluid on Sunday. n r est the , Romant h e baptising when the a parish d i p christ, county Galway, the eastern gable was st ruc the lightning, and the electric fluid carried a portion o f ny e belfry into the body of the building, some heavy st',4' falling upon the altar, and terrifying the assembled,'" gregation. A young lad, who was holding the la, r 'f' Re CvathMoileicilOaCnelliaßpeulrkoecallS4 horec outside the eastern window, was killed on tIIV Last week there was a fall of black rain at Fresld' the county of Kilkenny. SCOTLAND.—Dumf ries was visited by a thunv, - last week. The peals were terrifically loud, and t,'` o oCe' poured for some time in torrents. At the telegrall'er railway station, the electric fluid, acting on the to e oot , wires which communicate with the testing i instcs, b exploded with a report like a gun-shot, destroying ', c ted' strument, a portion of the brass index plate being A workman employed by the telegraph company the gaged on the top of one of the poles, about a inilor o 7 , ol ll station, repairing the wires, when he was throw° d f e ll 3 the action of the electric fluid on the wires, ren dered height of twelve feet to the ground. He was insensible for nearly an hour. OPENING OF THE CHELTENHAM EXHIBITION. Ox Thursday last, the great floral exhibition and ,f i r i art display, which had been for a c onsiderable period . e , preparation at Cheltenham, was opened to the pn,"" The exhibition comprises three sections, the first erabr. 0 " ing horticultural products of all kinds; the second ~th eludes a display of all which is connected directly horticultural art and science; and the third is colnr" of designs less or more associated with horticulture. One feature of the exhibition is a museum, for si , fi t the noble music-hall of the Royal Old Wells has been t apart. There are fine fountains in the ground s , o %, in s et the the exclusive management of Mr. Freeman n vt ° S the hydraulic engineer of the Strand, London, rt, , marquees are under the chaige of Mr. R. L° ll ' e Liverpool. Of t hF The building measures 400 feet in length. , te a fur space, about 80 feet at the upper end is a pprop ll3 ,4 the a picture gallery, under the immediate directio n Pi e? "' inr fine arts' committee. This perhaps is its most a idou feature, and arround the walls are some really at l excellent pictures, painted by artists who are er °l- , e .et , `,; their profession. That the picture gallery will dnrtit of t most attractive part of the exhibition, cannot doubt. The museum contains a collection of '} o i l nr" armour, stuffed birds, and other curiosities, for wn i phile . committee are mainly indebted to the Cheitenlen n e sophical and Literary Institution. A magnificent tent is erected in the broad-walk 4,11,, to the pump-room and exhibition, under which tbeYo,ol. breakfast took place. That part of the building 0° ,1i9p 2 '.1 pied as a picture gallery, contains counters for tK se, of different manufactures, wares, and merchalialt o f ti o 'i altogether has a very pleasing appearance. 31 ° so tae ;o leading tradesmen of the town are exhibitors, an d . it oess,'l the articles are novel and unique, and exhibit rle t workmanship, and beauty in design. We mast lest he is to notice some fine specimens of modelling in :mere a t also, some very fine ancient black oak carving. . et ats,l . „ o also a good collection of horticultural and agribibityd implements. The porcelain department of the el'i o iroe'd is very rich, and contains some costly and rare sr t icleg in Dresden china, Bohemian glass, and other s r g \ curious workmanship and vertu. di At the inauguration the beauty of the rues open 01; hundreds to the grounds. Introductory tee h ,. e ,, r t a public breakfast took place under a larg," p erneg broad-walk. This was attended by about 3 ' fP. - cr, including numbers of the aristocracy and leading. Coe? of the county. The breakfast was served by Vis ' r aj of Cheltenham, and appeared to give general t h e This part of the business being disposed of, " i as, Wi a y, public were admitted at two o'clock to the gr° ° the v e r. a procession formed, headed by the president ° t he ..* th e, W. N. Skillicorn, Esq., a county mag; i s t r ate iitiro h, ra i John Brown, M.A., incumbent of Trinit iaanr,„ o li- Rev. M. oyd, who was to deliver th e ,., l •tiort address, and leading members of the c °- ' e xhi b c i the lies. The procession marched to ti le „ea. N. building, the doors of which were throw' , Ird e at, jo ha building itself was soon crowded. The Pr e '' e itec• t, Skillicorn, with the Rev. M. Boyd, and l i t he trans e y. Brown, stationed themselves in the centre ° n the B e , l ' i ca- 4 near to the fountain, on a raised dais, which, r 9 Boyd delivered the inauguration addre ss ' its Llei . etl. listened to with great attention, and duriag , the rev. gentleman was frequently: N s a r t : r ls - A , N ru a r iotpti : Previous to the address, there was a m usical Ill itut hes_i_ , o and the address was followed by the by an orchestra of 100 voices. After ne t b id/ Anthem," which was most admirably ripe "Hallelujah Chorus" was sung in effectn St 2, t -' o lloor i t This was ago , '" drew down a burst of applause. by " The Heavens are telling," " "Rule Britannia." This closed thlf ett Peof curiosities 17p, bition building, after Which the mus nt • • h a il, and P° t he works of art in the royal wells, nusic- e • room were opened. In the course of_ th were "" stati o e(; s r ' tv splendid band of the Coldstream Guards d the choltelTthe inauguration of what may now be term of Herticulture an Alrakneitnigle ollArtPe) mtheengrtdoumnusdsic.andmpeerafobromveedcoanesleuldecer tnheoferreoradeornnyiktalloe Crystal Palace for the Exhibition o Fine Arts. c ith and presented a pleasing and animated app com ,_ :ne a . !.„ The building, when filled with company, 0 ' t most The grounds were crowded with fashionaebalreauec°Bl33. t e h fr e ec e t l . ega ni nt e dr crowds to Cheltenham, the trains on each air' y o of ft the ladies,exhibition, p odu h c produced a eN T er ebr re novelty 13 , p a l la a e r rs asacseuemsseiodna obfuse;,mbpusantlyi ,nagnadsrthecet.queen r D R UNKARDS. —In an oration at Exeter !Dal, Nr.oftbe rt L e t Gough, the American temperance o rator, in sliPP ° w att London Temperance League, to show how hard a,, n per it was to save a drunkard, stated Ma t out of 60 0, u u i a te 0 ) sons who had signed the pledge hi the United ,' 4,50,000 had broken it. - . tea 1 401 ela. 11111