The Press.
London, England, 1853-10-22 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

tveeting this synagogue. and that Vienna will continue to
preserve the ehanicter ot'u t liristian capital"
A I.rarrit from Florenee, of the I.2th, in the Parla-
neenk, of Turin, states that Miss Cunninghame had
to be forced out of prison, morally at least, if not
literally, since she would not accept of her liberty as
a favour, but as a right. The official who commimi_
eated Gs her the order for her liberation was obliged
to inform her that he had full power to make her
leave her prison, whereupon alto demanded a certifi-
cate in due form, stating that she had been forcibly
ejected.
Tux Kum or rm.: Bra.otaxii, accompanied by the
Duke and Duchess de Brabant, the Count de
Flandres, anal the Princess Charlotte arrived at
1/over yesterday ( Friday) morning from 4 istend, and
palmed through London en route to Windsor Castle,
on a visit to her Majesty and the Prime Consort.
Mr. Macgregor, NIP., Chairman of the South Eastern
Railway, was in attendance en the Hoye" party from
Dover to London.
A Sue has occurred near Ilafrom's., on the
Brighton Railway, which will retard each journey a
short time liar the next few days, when the trains
• will rim as usual. The inconvenience, we are assured,
will hi but temsorary.
OEN Elm. in the service, Sir Alexander
Mackenzie, Bart., 0.C.11., die.l on the lith of t fail-
ber, at his residence, Bath, in the Wird year of his
age. Inheriting the estates of Fairbairn, Strath-
minim), and Minter, which were granted to his
ancestor by James IY. Of Scotland, Sir Alexander
received the first rudiments of his education at
Edinburgh, as an associate of Walter Scott, and his
early military instruction with the Duke of Welling-
ton, at the Academy of Angers, in France. Serving
as it subaltern in the Ist Royals, anal as a captain in
the -3'2nd Highlanders, he obtained at an early ago
the lieutenant-coloneley of the 75th. Ilighlanders—a
battalion of which regiment he commanded at the
first capture of the Cape of Good Hope, under Sir
Muted Clerk. Subsequently he served its a general
officer at. Minorca and in the Mediterranean, and,
after the rupture of the peaeo of Amiens, was con-
tinually employed to the close of the war. lie
received the timid Cross of the Order of St.
Jamtarins from the King of the Two Sicilies, and
the (rand Cross of the Ouelphic Order from I.leorge
V., by whom, and by his Royal llighness the Duke
of York, he was much esteems'.
Ripon arrived at Si all I iampton yesterday,with
the heavy portion of the Indian mails.
Tnr. Ilcrour of the Cambridge Bribery Commis-
sion was issued yesterday. It is a voluminous
ment, of which the pith may be conveyed in a single
sentence :—" That bribery, treating, and other comipt
practices have fora long period systematically pre-
vailed at elections for members to serve in Parlia-
ment for the borough of Cambridge."
Tut: Ememion of Fayset: has conferred an an-
nuity of 11,0044. (SOL) on the parents of the late
Lieutenant Bellot, whose loss of life in the Arctic
regions, in search of Sir John Franklin, has caused
such deep and universal regret. The grant is to
descend to the brothers and sisters of the deceased.
THPI Tam, of the thirty-two persons concerned in
what is called the "conspiracy of the I)peraComiire "
has been postponed to the 7th of next month before
the Court of Assizes of Paris. Twenty-seven of the
accused are in custody. According to the indict-
ment, the object of their plot was to assassinate the
Enuperor, and to destroy the form of government.

MEETINU t►F CARPENTERS AM) JOINERS
AT EXETER HALL.
A 201111101'54 meeting of mechanics of the above
trades was 11011 at eight o'clock p.m. on Thursday
last, to consider what course they should pursue in
the present slide of the labour market. The hall
and gallery were filled, and sin the platform was a
good attemlanee. The meeting consisted of working
men, and until half past nine, when we left, their con
dint was more orderly than is occasionally that of
more illustrious assemblies.
Mr. Hooper occupied the chair, and the point
chiefly dwelt upon by the speakers was that of over-
time, especially systematic overtime, which if abo-
lished, more workmen would lie emiloyed, and each
would have more leisure for mental itnpro

.....
One suggested that architecture and geometry
were brandies of knowledge essential to carpenters,
and added that he, after attempting for two years to
study them, was, owing to the present system of
working overtitne, compelled to give up the attempt.
One orator, the Demosthenes of the evening, excited
much amusement. His manner was that of the most
melodramatic of the penny-theatre-terrific-thunder
and lightning school. His matter was wrapt in such
rainbow coloured metaphorical mist that it was diffi-
cult to seise it. •• Annals of liistory—memorablei*--
carpenters of London, arrayed in their glorious
unri‘ ailed beauty, unfurled their banner and took
the field." ,f e. The honest carpenters laughed
heartily at. him. Rllll it was N most ludicrous exhi-
bitilin, the attendant.e of any one in search
of amusement. A Mr. Bowyer, connected with the
printing business, wade o good speech, in excellent

SATVRDAY,

manner and feeling. An amendment was moved in
a very sensible address by a working man to the
effect that, as carpenters were free, there was no oe.
casion for combined action on the part of the working
men to coerce their employers. "If you don't like
systematic overtime, leave your employer," he con-
cluded. He was hissed at first, but fair play soon
prevailed, and he sat down amid loud applause.
The conduct of the meeting was creditable and
honourable to the carpenters of London. The ap-
pearance of the men was highly respectable.

W Alt-GI:FICK OCTOBER 21.
From Last Night's anew.]
3/4 Regiment of Light Dragoons—Captain Charles Fre-
vine Swims, from the 10th Light Dragoons, to be Captain,
vice Cowell, who exchauges.
10th Light I iragoons—Captain James Cowell, from the
3rd Light Drageons, to be Captain, vice Surtecs, who ex-
changes.
Scots Fusilier Guards—Lieut. the Hon. Hugh Annesley,
from the 43rd Foot, to be Ensign and Lieutenant, vice
Viscianit Bury, who exolumges.
Regiment of Foot—Surgeon Joseph Burke, from the
23rd rise, to be Surgeon, vice Stewint„removed to the
tr2iiil I4sit.
lush Foot—Captain William Knox Orme, from the Ard
West India Regiment, to be Captain, vice M'Gregor, who
exchanges.
12th Foot—Lieut. George Richard Littlehalee to be Cap-
tain, by purchase, vice Sir George Curzon Bisshopp, Bum,
who retires; Ensign John Lunan Wilkie to be Lieutenant,
by purchase, vice Litt'choler; Horatio Lloyd Williams,
Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Wilkie.
29th Foot—Lieut. Robert Cathcart Dalrymple Bruce to
he Adjutant, vice Valens Tonnochy, who resigns the Adju-
tancy only.
311th Foot—John Richard Tobin, Gent., to be Assistant
Surgeon, vice Bone, prompted on the Staff.
43rd Foot—Ensign and Lieutenant William Coutts,
count Bury, from the Scots' Fusilier Guards, to be Lieute-
nant, vice Alinesley, who exchanges.
midi Foot—Ensign Edwin William Philips to be
Lieutenant, without purchase, vice Woodford, deceased;
Gentleman Cadet Franeis Charles Hill, from the Royal
Military College, to be Ensign, without purchase, vice
troth Foot—Lieutenant Iteration Ilarbord Morant to be
Captain, by purchase, vice Needham, who retires ; Ensign
Henry White to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Morant;
lingo Shelley Light, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice
nOth Foot—Staff Surgeon of the Second Class Huntley
George Gordon, M.D., to be Surgeon, vice Cleland,
deceased.
112nd Foot—Surgenn David Stuart, from the 3rd Foot,
to be Surgeon, vice Foss, prumoted on the Staff.
feted Foot—Major William Bernard Ainslie to be Lieu-
teunnt-Celonel, by purchase, vice Rothe, who retires;
Captain Alexander Sebastian Leith Hay to be Major, by
purehuee, vice Ainslie; Lieutentuit the Hun. A. Murray
Cathcart to be Captain, by purchase, vice Leith Hay
Ensign Reginald Stewart Williams to be Lieutenant, by
purchase, vice l'atlioart; Ensign Richard Augustus
Cooper, from the 110th Foot, to be Ensign, vice Williams.
1111th Foot—John McDowell Elliot, Gent., to be Ensign,
by purchase, vice Cooper, appointed to the 03rd Foot.
let West India Regiment—Captain John Thomas
Joseph English, than half-pay, Unattached, to be Captain,
vice Bingham, who exchanges; Ensign Frederick linage
to be Lieutenant, by timeliest-, vice Hammitt, promactl;
Henry Reginald Sykes, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase,
vice I 'rage.
2nd West India Regiment—Wynne Peyton Frazer,
Gent., to lie Assistant-Surgeon, vice Pan., promoted in the
3rd West India Regiment.
3rd West India Regiment—Captain Malcolm Mae
Gregor, from the 10th Foot, to be Captain, vice Genie, who
exeluingee; Surgeon John Summers, M. 11., from the 3rd
West India Regiment, to be Staff-Surgeon of the Second
I 'hiss, vice Fergusim, deceased; Assistant-Surgeon Thomas
l'arr. from the 2ml West India Regiment, to be Surgeon,
vice Summers, appended to the Staff.
Ceylon hide Regiment—Francis Ball, Gent., to be
Second Lieutenant, by purchase, vice ltouch, promoted.
lt v .—Brevet-Itiejor William M. O. Mellfurdo, of
the istb Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army;
Captain the Hon. Francis Culburue, of the Rith Foot, to be
Major in the Army.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE.
TrtrAday, Oetobrr IS,
lIANICIWPTCY ANNULLED.—EI.IZADtTrI AOl.ll, 'fork,
grover.
NNRITTS.—ErAvvRit Arit.rwnrrE, ?itortimer.titreet,
Clifteltbuiller SAVERS, II 101.111 reel,
earlvellter-1 I E\ll2 MILER II AVILAN to, )v11114411,
Iliwkinglouncihire,enwkeeper—RAmr PAM/ Lremt,
Norfolk, grocer—WAN. IIAiNII COLLINS, Ch 'tors, Moinoutil•
shire, Frlvvems—EnwAtio li A NIVEA, Stamford, Lineoliimhire, lroper
—HENRY Tritutvii.t.t }:tocittits, Liverpool, builder—Jots
Liverpool, joilier--Wei. said 18AAG Slow', Ma4cleatielJ,
joiners.

Tromp, oei. tl.
DAN fir PITY AN NULLED.—Wiwax GAMBLES, South-
ampton. bulliler.
HAN K Prt4.--Iltem an SPF.Nert.Wr end Jaw's MArrn.t.7l
Srl.Nural.EY, Wrapping, sm il-niiikers--W AN EMF.ItY, I Albums
Iltivratil, grocer Vat:l4.locm Putv.tr ItirLEy Wynn, 've-
ined-street, Merchant—\\lLMA,' iirras.l.T.S, Jan., Warwick,
cattle dealer—OkEtto.ey utItETT, Kiilderniiiirtvr, carpet manu-
facturer—Jona lIPTHEraINti i'ON, TiliimAs itraTimrathaTora. trod
HMI "is S. ‘‘liter,tlvol.
IsAAr Manclic*ter, jewelltri irtl.f.lAM 11611101.frall,
the el.ler, Warwick, Wile draleP4Olllllll Cuabet•
laud, I.rewer.

OCTOBER c.,)!2, 1853.

yittraturt.

Memoirs John Abernethy. F.R.S. By George
Macilwain, F.R.C.S. 2 vols.
NOT UllfretplCaily Inca. looking beyond life's
limit, have made provision for the keeping of
their bones: others, with wiser foresight,
have eared fOr the safety of their reputations.
For what is the disturbance Of their insen-
sible remains to the cimel mangling of that
part of them which survives after their bodies
have become dust? Not many years since
Swift's skull went the round of scientific
societies in Dublin, that it might be criticised
anti labelled, anti have casts taken from it.
This was a barbarous outrage of the tombs
sanctity, but surely slight in comptuisou to
rending his character and heapmg gibes
upon his memory for the amusement of a
polite audience. The men who have left some
sketch of their lives have partially prevented
the folly or malignity of biographers, while
enriching literature with priceless legacies.
Perhaps Johnson well knew itozzy's mission
when he smiled on his cringing,--Goethe made
preparation for his best monument when he
encouraged Eckerinann anti Soret to report
his conversations.
There was one of Johnson's sharp sayings
which Boswell missed, stud we are indebted to
" little Burney " for its preservat' . There
are two pickles, he said, in which a man's me-
mory may be presened,—in sugar and in salt.
Mr. Macilwain, in his life of Abernethy, has
used the sugar pickle, but the result is so
mawkish that we doubt its preservative
quality.
The style of his book is very bad,—con
ceited, rambling, wordy, and colourless. He
says too much of himself and too little of
Abernethy. Whole chapters are devoted to
his own philosophical and physiological theo-
ries, which he smuggles into notice under the
attractive title of his hook, as deleterious
compounds are palmed off under show of
gilded cases. Take, for example, the synopsis
of one of his chapters :
Of immoralities of trades anti professions—Of habit anti
fashion-4 tf conventional nuo nal it y—l ntloenee of fashion
—Honesty the best policy-4 If public credulity—Of legal
practice—Mischief of convent itstal notrality—Examples of
—lllustrations of conduct, &e.
This digression would be objectionable were
the matter good in itself ; but as it is stale
wordy stuff, with scarcely a gleans of original
thought,—" dry as the remainder biscuit after
a voyage,"—we marvel that it should be put
forth, when the space, even for bookmaking
purposes, might have been so much better
filled with extracts from Abernethy's works
elucidatory of his character. Abernethy was
eminently a domestic man : he lived con-
stantly within home influences, yet the glimpses
we catch of the habits of his every-day life are
extremely scanty. A degree of merit the book
has no doubt : it preserves souse traits of (hit-
meter, some facts and anecdotes which might
otherwise have been lost; and the unnecessary
digressions are occasionally enlivened by a
just remark. But we must regret that so
good a subject for biography did not fall into
.e discriminating hands.
Abernethy was bom, as would seem probable
by the registry of his christening, in 1781: but
Mr. Macilwain, on the authority of his family,
says in 1781; and was educated at the Wolves
hanspton Gnimmar School. Very likely the
boy was father of the man, but it is doubtful
whether he exhibited tints early "a polarity
of character,—an individuality,—a post-
" tivencss of type," mounding words of the
kind Mr. Macilwain delights in, though they
often fail to hide his lack of meaning.
The father of Abernethy,—a merchant in
Rood-lane, Fenchureh-street,—was the son of
a dissenting minister who settled in Dublin
from the north of Ireland, and it is conjec-
tured, probably enough, that much of Aber-
nethy's shrewdness may he traced to his des
cent. It is said that he wished to be a lawyer,
and that he was beard to declare in after life,
that if his father had suffered him to follow
his inclination "he would have known all the
" acts of Parliament by heart." It is likely,
feom what we know of his qualities, that he
would have been even more eminent as it bar-