biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-17

CENTENARY of the DEATH of TOPLADY.

Sunday last being the centenary of the death of the
Rev. Augustus Montague Toplady, the author of the
"Rock of Ages" and other well-known hymns, com-
memorative services were held in several metropolitan
places of worship belonging to the established Church
and the Nonconformists, more especially in Baptist
chapels, as amongst that community the hymn named
is a great favourite. It was announced by the Rev.
Mr. Spurgeon that, had the state of his health per-
mitted, he would have been only too happy to do
everything in his power to stir up his brethren to a
hearty commemoration of the death of that noble
and devoted Devonshire and London divine. Top-
lady was born at Farnham, in Surrey, in 1740, and
was educated at Westminster School and at Trinity
ColleFe, Dublin, where he took high honours in
Classics and Theology. After serving a curacy in
his native county, he was presented to the vicarage of
Broadhembery, in Devonshire, which ill health com-
pelled him to resign. He afterwards came to London,
and, in addition to a faithful discharge of his
ministerial duties as rector of the church of St,
Antholin, which, like many other of the old City fanes,
has since been done away with, he embarked in liter-
ary pursuits, and started the Gospel Magazine, one of
the oldest and most successful of the religious publica-
tions of the Church of England. Mr. Toplady was
noted for the strong Calvinistic views he promulgated
both in the pulpit and the many theological and
polemical works which emanated from his pen.

A correspondence has been published between Mr.
W. E. Forster, M.P., and Mr. Illingworth, chairman of the
Bradford Liberal Electoral Association, which under its
recent reorgsmizathvn has a rule to the effect that any candi-
date proposed for the representation of the borough must
give his consent, when proposed for the acceptance of the
association, to abide by its decision. Mr. Forster declined
to give the required assurance that he would if proposed
abide by the decision of the association. He stated that
having been for seventeen years a member for the borough he
thought he ought not to be treated as a new corner, and that
he would allow no man nor any set of men to stand between
him and the constituency. A resolution formally confirming
the rule has been adopted, as well as another expressing re-
gret that Mr. Forster did not at present see his way to be-
coming a candidate in accordance with the rule, and a hope
that he might be induced to reconsider his position.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-17

THE TRADE OF 1877.

From the annual statement of the trade of the
United Kingdom for 1877 it appears that the total
value of the exports and imports last year was
£646,765,702 against 4131,931,305 in 1876, £655,551,900
in 1876, £6,7T33,165 in 1874, and £682,292,137 in
1873. The value of the imports in 1877 was
£394,419,682, of which £304,865,684 was from foreign
countries, and £89,553,899 from British Posiessions.
The value of the exports was £252,346,020, of which
£176,593 870 was to foreign countries, ani £75,752,150
to British possessions. The value of the exports of
British produce was £l9B 893,065 ; and of foreign and
colonial produce £53,452,9K
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-17

THE HARVEST.

Monday's Magnet says :—Later accounts respecting
the harvest, although in the main favourable, seem to
indicate that previous reports have been somewhat
exaggerated. Taken as a whole, however, it is believed
that the crop of wheat will be about an average.
Barley is an uncertain crop, and will probably
fall short. Other articles are generally good.
There is nothing fresh to notice in the reports
from the Continent and America. No doubt can
be entertained that the wheat crop in France
will prove deficient. American advices state
apart from complaints of damage to spring wheat in
same parts of Minnesota Wisconsin, and lowa, the
reports of the growing crop are almost uniformly
favourable.. According to the report of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture for July, the general average is
106, while that of winter wheat, owing to unfavourable
conditions in the South, is placed at 101. It is likely,
however, that the damage to spring wheat in the
sections noted above, and which has occurred since,
will bring down the general average somewhat.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-17

PRESENTATION of COLOURS to the 21st

_
ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS.
At the Phceniz Park, Dublin, on Saturday, the
Duchess of Marlborough, in the presence of a large
number of spectators. presented the 2nd battalion of
the 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers with new colours. Her
Grace, having confided the colours to the keeping of
the officers, spoke as fellows, in a clear and audible
voice :—Colonel Coßingwood. Officers and Soldiers of
the Royal Scots Fusiliers, thank you for the com-
pliment you have paid me in inviting me to present to
you these new colours, under which you are hence-
forth to serve your country. I should be unworthy
of the race from which I spring and of that to which
lam so closely united if I had not a heartfelt admira-
tion for our noble army, and I must feel a special
interest in your regiment from the fact that some of
its earliest and brightest laurels were gained under the
leadership of the great Duke of Marlborough. At the
glorious battle of Blenheim it led the attack with un-
paralleled intrepidity. In the campaigns of William
the Third, in the American war, and from that time to
the Crimean campaign, with its brilliant triumphs of
Alma and Inkerman, the Scots Fusiliers have
gloriously distinguished themselves and left you a
noble inheritance, of which lain convinced you will not
fail to prove yourselves worthy. Peace, the greatest of
blessings, has just been preserved by our Government
—not a peace at any price, but one which rests on the
heroism and efficacy of our army and navy. Never
was there a time when we defended sovast a frontier.
Never have we had so many nations dependent on us
—but not enslaved—looking up to us for protection
and good government. Never have we had greater
occasion for those fleets and armies which have placed
us in the foremost rank of the nations of the world.
More honours than you have won under your old
colours, torn as they have been with shot and shell, I
cannot wish you to earn under those I am proud to
deliver to you. I am confident you will sustain your
reputation; and not only as soldiers but as citizens
must you emulate the past glories of a regiment which
has ever been conspicuous for high discipline, good
conduct, and moral order. It is my earnest prayer
that victory may attend these labours, and that suc-
cess and good fortune may ever accompany you in
whatever service you may be called upon to perform.
(Applause.)
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-17

CYPRIAN RHYMES.

England did a grand day's work
In occupying Cyprus.
She helped to re-establish Turk
And from the map to wipe Ruu ;
Who will not fail though, if he can.
To meet, when plots are riper, us.
For Kars, Batoum, and Ardahan
Are nice seta-off for Cyprus.—Fun.