The Press.
London, England, 1856-01-26 00:00:00

V roinntial.

THE NIGHTINGALE FUND was brought hefors the
notice of the inhabitants of Oxford at a public meet-
ing held on Wednesday at the Town-hall. The
Bishop of Oxford, who presided on the occasion, with
considerable eloquence alluded to the noble exertions
of Miss Nightingale, and pointed out the expediency
of uniting in the acknowledgment of her services.
The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert, who attended on
behalf of the London committee, explained th A views
and objects of those who originated the scheme;
and, in reply to the objection that it was doubtful
whether Miss Nightingale would undertake the
responsibility of the s Amme, he begged to read an
extract from a letter he had just received from Miss
Nightingale herself, in which she said :
In answer to your letter proposing to me the, under.
taking of a training school for nurses, I will first beg to
say that it is impossible for me to express what I have felt
in regard to the sympathy and the confidence shown to
me by the originators and supporters of this scheme,
exposed as I am to be misinterpreted and misunderstood
in a field of action in which the work is now complicreed.
Distant from many who sit in judgment upon it, it is
indeed an abiding support to have such sympathy and
such appreciation brought home to me in the midst of
labours and difficulties almost overpowering.
Resolutions approving of the foundation of a hos-
pital for nurses, and expressive of the high sense
entertained by Oxford of Miss Nightingale's ser-
vices, were unanimously passed, and the meeting
separated.
SIR JAMES KAY SHUTTLEWORTH, BART., at the
annual distribution of prizes of the Manchester
School of Medicine, on Monday, delivered an address
to the students upon the characteristics and benefits
of the medical profession. At the conclusion of his
address Sir James Shuttleworth spoke of the pre-
liminary training required before commencing the
study of a particular profession, and observed that a
complete reformation of middle-class education was
rendered inevitable, by the foundation laid for, a
thoroughly efficient system of primary schools for
the peasantry and working classes. The neces-
sities of the age demanded that an acquaintance
with science and art should be diffused through
every class of society ; and hence a comprehensive
and efficient system of middle class education was
essentially necessary, and could not be neglected
sit bout a great national risk. The whole system of
middle class instruction required reorganisation—
the grammar schools should be reformed, and bo-
rough and rural schools founded, in which the
modern discoveries of exper;ruental philosophy
should be taught as part of a course of collegiate
education, to be hereafter followed up in provincial
colleges, where the most liberal learning, the higher
philosophy, and universal science, should be com-
bined :

Such a scheme ( continued the worthy baronet) of
middle-class education, comprising borough and rural
schools, with efficient and comprehensive courses of in-
struction—preparing scholars fur the completion of their
studies in the provincial colleges of cities like Manchester
—might be made to harmonise well with the habits of cur
middle classes. By combining home education with the
public discipline of the schools and college, the parent
would have security, not only for the moral training of his
son, but that the traditional maxims and habits of his class
should retain at least such hold upon him that the resources
of literature, science, and art would, if he were destined to
trade or commerce, be exerted within that sphere. For
there is a natural jealousy that schools and colleges chiefly
frequented by children of the classes not connected with
manufacturers may engender tastes and habits, if they do
not establish maxims, which may wean the scholar from
commercial pursuits. These dangers would be avoided if
private were combined with the pUblic education, and if
the discipline of trade and commerce were in the latter
part of the student's career combined with that of the
college.

The address has been printed for circulation.
THE SABBATH DEFENCE ASSOCIATTON held a
crowded meeting at St. George's-hall, Liverpool, on
Tuesday last, when Mr. Horsfall, M.P., and Pr.
M'lsTeill addressed the audience upon the attempts
lately made in various quarters to infringe upon the
observance of the Sabbath. Mr.Horsfall, in noticing
the various motions brought before and about to be
laid before the House of Commons having for their
object the opening of public places of amusement on
Sundays, said that the question was one peculiarly
nffecting the working classes, for, if the principle or
expediency of opening such places on Sundays were
once admitted, the day of amusement would soon be
substituted for a day of work, and nothing could

FOP

JANUARY 26, 1856.

prevent it. With respect to Sir Benjamin Hall open-
ing Kensington-gardens on Sundays for music, Mr.
Horsfall said:—

He may think he is the Ranger of the Woods and
Forests, and have the power pertaining to it, but there is
a power above that of Sir Benjamin Hall—public opinion
—and a power still higher found in the words, " Remember
the Sabbath•day to keep it holy."
Dr. M'Neil, who was received with great enthusiasm,
made an eloquent speech, pointing out that the
seventh day was ordained by God as essentially a day
of rest, and that if masters and others were desirous
of the improvement of the minds of the working
classes, he recommended that Saturday afternoon
should be given them, and that they should be paid
for the whole day's work, instead of being encouraged
to go out upon a day when they received no money,
and which ought to be devoted to religious worship.
Resolutions in accordance with the views of the
meeting were unanimously passed, and a memorial
to the Queen adopted.

THE EARL OF ALBEMARLE addressed his district
peasantry, at East Harling, last week, upon the sub-
ject of benefit clubs. His lordship, after explaining
the nature and number of these societies in England
—which he stated at 3:1,232, with a capital of
11,360,000/.—proceeded to point out some of their
obvious failings, such as the system of meeting at
publiehouses, and the societies being based upon a
uniform scale of payment, so that every member
paid the same, whatever his age might be—a mani
fest injustice to the young, and a system tending to
convert the society into a mere lottery. Touching
upon the question of provision for sickness by benefit
societies, his lordship pointed out the advantages of
Government annuities over benefit societies, and
explained the meaning of the Act 16 and 17 Vie.,
c. 45, which made every provision for the old age of
the labouring man, and did not claim any subscrip-
tion as lapsed to the general fund if not paid up, but
always returned the sum already paid. In conclu-
sion, the noble earl stated as his opinion that benefit
societies shcald not meet at publichouses ; that they ,
should have a graduated scale of payment; that
they should not insure superannuation allowances or
deterred annuities, but that their committees should
assist the members in obtaining Government an-
nuities, which could be purchased on safer and more
advantageous terms.

Mn. Jour( BRIGHT, M.P., at a public meeting
held at Rochdale on Friday week to hear a lecture by
Mr. Dymond, upon " The Abolition of Capital
Punishment," at the conclusion of the lecture ad-
dressed the meeting upon the subject. Briefly
touching upon the old system of legal penalties,
which banged a man, in the words of Sir Fowell
Buxton, "if he cut down a tree or murdered his
grandfather," and pointing out the perversion of
mind which could tolerate such an atrocious custom,
Mr. Bright proceeded to argue that capital punish-
ment at all was a doubtful policy, as it tended to
destroy all reverence for human life, and to nourish
that savage brutality of character which held life
cheaply, and hence could not, by this very reason
be regarded as insuring protection to either o
property :

I will assume (continued the hon. member)—but 1
doubt it—that the practice of hanging men has the effect
of deterring somebody, in some place, at some time, in
some degree, from the crime of murder. How many do
we save by reason of hanging, and how many are saved by
reason of an increased reverence for human life? Don't
you think that the reverence for human life that exists
more or less in everybody is s thousand times more effec-
tive in preventing murder than the fear of the gallows?
But if it should happen that the system of hanging, how-
ever it may deter to some small extent, does to a great ex-
tent diminish the reverence for liftman life—don't vo•
think that what it does in deterring is tar less than what it
&es in destroying, by diminishing the sanctity of Kaman
life? lam perfectly certain—l know from my own feelings
Had from all human history—that participation in horror of
any kind familiarises the mind to it.
As a case in point, Mr. Bright alluded to that of
Weeks, the apprentice who murdered his master in
Drury-lane, and related a conversation he (Mr.
Bright) had with a policeman at Westminster Police-
office on the morning of Weeks' capture !

" You seem to have had some very bad cases latterly,"
observed ; " I see a lad has committed a murder." He
said, " Ay, sir, as long as there's hanging there will be
murders." I thought that this would have been excellent
for a judge, and I wanted to know how he got to that con-
clusion. " They don't care ab mt it," he said ; " why,
what did Weeks do? Ile went to see a man hanged at
bewg ite in the morning. He ran at halt' past nine o'clock
the same morning to see a woman hanged at Horsemonger-
lane, and what he said was this, ` Why, it's nothing—it's
but a kick, anti it's over in a minute.'"
That this wai the effect an execution had upon thou-
sands in that class of life Mr. Bright declared him-
self convinced, and concluded by pointing out that,
although society had a right to do anything abso-
lutely necessary for its own safety, yet all experience
proved that whatever was barbarous or savage in
private practice, or in law, was not calculated to pro-
duce a humane, Christian, or proper state of miud ;

THE PRtSS.

and therefore he entreated his audience to use all
their influence to get capital punishment abolished,
and the law assimilated more to the humane prin•
ciples of Christianity.

elution itttiligturt.

CAMBRIDGE Usivansrry.—The Right Hon. Spencer
Walpole issued a brief address last Saturday to the
members of the Senate, appealing to his past con-
duct in support of his political opinions and principles,
and soliciting their support in consequence of the
numerous and repeated applications both from resi-
dent and non-resident members, " requesting him to
stand for the University." On the same day the
Conservative members at Cambridge held a meeting
aaXhe Bull Hotel, for the purpose of carrying such
arrangement into effect as should secure the election
of Mr. Walpole. Dr. Cookson and Dr. Corrie,
Masters of St. Peter's and Jesus, addressed the
meeting in favour of Mr. Walpole; and the usual
preliminary business was transacted, secretaries
elected, and a committee appointed, with the Rev.
Francis Martin as chairman. A London committee,
with Lord Lovaine as chairman, was also imme-
diately instituted, and the most active canvass has been
carried on during the week, with every prospect of
success. Mr. Walpole has issued a farewell address
to his Midburst constituents; and after being their
representative for nearly ten years, his resignation
of the trust B 3 reposed in him is marked with some
little regret :
Having received (says Mr. Walpole) such numerous
applications from my own University to allow myself to be
put in nomination as a candidate at the approaching
election, I felt I had hardly any other alternative than to
respond to the call which liss thus been made to me. For
no other constituency would I ever have exchanged the
honour of representing you in the House of Commons ;
and when I think of the cordiality and kindness which 1
have invariably received from you on t%]; occasions, I am
sure my gratitnde will be as lasting as it is heartfelt and
sincere.

The Hon. Mr. Denman has also issued an address to
the members of the University, and has endeavoured
to push forward a successful canvass.
HEREFORD.—Mr. Biddulph having retired from
contesting the expected vacancy, the field has been
left clear between Mr. Evans, the Conservative,
and Mr. Clive, the Liberal candida.e. Mr. Evans,
in his address, expressed himself in favour of
a vigorous prosecution of the war until we could
obtain an honourable and lasting peace. Mr. Evans
also declares himself in favour of judicious economy
in the public expenditure. Mr. Clive, on the other
hand, is in favour of "all the reforms," against
church-rates, and an ardent advocate of the ballot.
LEm)s.—The re-election of Mr. Baine!,, on his
acceptance of the Chancellorship of the Duchy of
Lancaster, will not be opposed. The election will
take place on the 6th February.
Mum:am—Mr. Warren, Q.C., has issued an
address to the electors, soliciting their support in
event of the election of Mr. Walrole for Cambridge.
Mr. Warren promises to watch well the local in-
terests, and faithfully and diligently to perform his
duty in the House.

SHEFFIELD.-Mr. Roebuck and Mr. Hadfield have
been both invited to meet their constituents before
the assembling of Parliament, in order that their
opinions upon the present state of affairs might be
publicly given. hfr. Hadfield, in reply, this week,
excused himself on the plea of a cold and numerous
engagements. Mr. Roebuck's reply has not yet
transpired.

EDINBITRGIT.—Mr. Macaulay has issued a farewell
address, dated London, 19th Jan., to the electors of
Edinburgh, announcing his retirement from parlia-
mentary lite. Alluding to the state of his health as
the principal cause influencing him in this determi-
nation, Mr. Macaulay says :
The experience of the last two years has convinced me
that I cannot reasonably expect to be ever again capable
of performing, even in an imperfect manner, those thitibs
which the public has a right to expect from every member
of the House of Commons ;

and with the conviction that he should only abuse
the generosity and delicacy of the electors, if he re.
tained his seat to the dissolution, Mr. Macaulay
intimates that he has applied for the Chiltern Hun-
dreds, and bids his friends and supporters farewell.
Upon the ireceipt of this farewell address a general
meeting of the Liberal electors was held imme-
diately, at which it was resolved that Mr. Adam
Black, the eminent publisher, should be requested
to till the vacancy in the representation, and a com-
mittee was at once appointed to secure his return.
The new writ, it is believed, will be issued on the 31st.
ARMAGH.—A meeting of the Conservative electors
was held on Tuesday, with a view to secure the
return of Sir William Verner, on the Conservative
interest, at the bent election. Various resolutions
were passed in accordance with the object of the
meeting, and a str,ng manifestation made in favour
of the county being henceforth represented by two
Conservatives.