The Press.
London, England, 1858-05-08 00:00:00

THE PRESS, MAY 8, 1858.

vidual in either house in opposition to the bill. Hie
vote had hitherto been in opposition to the alteration
of the law, but he should consider it., so far as the
Government was concerned, a perfectly open ques-
tion both in the House of Commons and in the
House of Lords. The deputation thanked his lord-
ship fur his kind reception of them, and then with-
drew.

MEETING OF LIBERAL MEMDER3 OF PARLIA-
MENT.—A meeting of Liberal members of Parliament,
convened by cireular, was held at Westminster on
Wednesday lo consider the state of the Liberal
party. Mr. Headlam was in the chair, and there
were WO gentlemen present. Mr. Bass ( Derby)
moved and Mr. Baxter (Montrose) seconded the
following resolution
That this meeting cannot express satisfaction with the
Governments that have heretufore relied upon the Liueral
party, and that no future Government will b.; worthy of
support which does not manifest earnest zeal and sin.
cerity in promoting measures of improvement and
reform.

'The resolution was unanimously adopted, as was also
the next, moved by Mr. Clay (Hull) and .secanded
by Mr. Forster ( ):
That any Government wishing t) have the confidence of
the Liberal party shout! be estisblished on a wider basis.
On the motion of Mr. Turner (Manchester), it was
resolved that two gentlemen should be appointed t
apprise Liberal and independent menibers of what
was going forward—w aa, in fact, as whips. A vote
of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.

PUBLIC MEETINGS.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIErY---Clie annual meet-
ing of this society was held on Teaslay in Exeter-
hail, the Earl of Chicnester in tae chair, with whom
there were on the platform Lord Midleton, the
Bishop of London, the Bishop of Carlisle, the Rev.
Dr. Cotton (Bishop designate of Calcutta), the Etev.
Dr. M'Neile, the Rev. Hugh Stowell, the Rev. C. F.
Childe, the Rev. D. Wilson, the Rev. Dr. Miller, the
Rev. Dr. Marsh, and other clerical and lay supporters
of the society. The noble chairman, in opening the
proceedings, said the one great topic of interest to
the society was India, where events had taken place
which, while they afforded encouragement and
stimulus to missionary work, ought to humble
British Christians in the dust for their past neglect.
Surely we ought to be more anxious than ever to
spread the Gospel in India when we considered that
the natives of that country were now, or shortly
would be, prostrate at our feet, having received at
the hand of God a righteous 'out tremendous punish
ment for their sin. Even in a political and secular
point of view the duty was paramount. The only
hope of restoring the land to peace was the adoption
of a kind and healing policy ; and there was no
process of healing, no means of restoring peace and
happiness, so effectual as the teaching of the doctrine
f Christianity. The Rev. Henry Venn read the
annual report, which announced a large increase ot•
receipts in comparison with former years. The total
ordinary income (including a donation of 10,0001.
given by a single individual at the last annual meet-
ing) amounted to 130,7661. This amount was
exclusive of the sum of 24,7171., which, up to the
31st of March last, had been raised as a special fund
for India. The ordinary expenditure amounted to
129,3211., leasing a balance in hand of 1,444/. The
local funds raised in the missions, and expended
there upon the operations of the society, but inde-
pendently of the general fund, were estimated at
9,915/. ; so that the grand total of SLIMS received at
home and abroad on account of the society's
missions amounted to more than 160000/. The nein-
ber of the society's stations is 138, as compared with
136 last year. Number of clergymen—English, 128 ;
foreigners, 30 ; natives and East Indians, 47 ; total,
225. European laymen, schoolmasters, lay agents,
printers, ttc., 42 ; European female teachers isexclu-
SIVe of missionaries' wives), 13 ; native and country-
born catechists and teachers of all classes, 2,077. On
the motion of the Bishop of London, seconded by
Viscount Midletcn, the report was unanimously
adopted.
R NAL GENERAL DISPENSARY.—On Wednesday
night a festival in aid of the funds of this institution
was held at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate•street, the
Earl of Dartmouth presiding. Its services to the
London poor have for very nearly a century been
conspicuous, and especially during the cholera visita-
tion in 1854. Unfortunately, the institution is now
in debt to the treasurer, Mr. John Wood, of Falcon-
street, Aldersgate, about 1,0001., and efforts are now
being made to liquidate the obligation. At the
festival on Wednesday night nearly 5001. was sub-
scribed, the chairman giving the sum of 501. The
noble earl discharged the duties of the chair in an
extremely genial manner, and recommended the
chums of the charity on the wealthy with an earnest
simplicity far more persuasive than more pretentious
oratory. The musical part of the entertainment was

the
directed by Mr. J. L. Hatton, and the style
in wilic
Mr. Young sang the fine air of " Good-be e' h
Sweet-
heart," at one part of the evening,
chrtned
whole company.
BRIT LS LI AND FOREION BIBLE SOCIETY. Tha
annual meeting of this society was held on Wedne
day in Exeter-hall. The chair was taken by us
-
President, the Earl of Shaftesbury, supported 1a
the Marquis of Cholmondeley, Lord Henry Chol-
mondeley, Earl Ducie, Lord C. Russell, the Bishop
of London, the Bishop of Ripon, the Bishop of Car.
lisle, the Bishop of Cashel, Canons Stowell, Cairns,
and Miller, and several of the leading Dissenting
ministers. Prayer having been offered by
Mt.
Bergue, one of the secretaries, and a passage of
Scripture read, the chairman, in opening the pro-
ceedings, referred to the late Indian outbreak, as
having afforded iu the first instance a discouraging
prospect to the society, but as now presenting an
enlarged field for its operations, and urged upon the
society's friends the circulation of the Word of God
in all parts of India. They should be encouraged in
doing this; by the fact that the presidencies in which
the Bible was circulated were those which had been
almost or entirely free from mutiny, while the
greatest atrocities were perpetrated iu the petted
Brahminioal Presidency of Bengal, where the circu-
lation of the Scriptures among the native troops was
forbidden, and even the chaplain debarred from
giving scriptural instruction, and where so much
apparent ignorance of Christianity prevailed that a
ready ear was lent to the assertion that they were to
be converted to it by the diffusion among them of hogs
lard, bears' grease, and other similar condiments.
The report was then read, from which it appeared
that the receipts of the year had exceeded those of
any preceding year, excluding the special funds.
The amount applicable to the general purposes of
the society was 70,0401. 18s. 2d., and the amount re-
ceived for Bibles and restatnents 70,2671. 104. 111,
making the total receipts from ordinary sources
149,308/. 7s. Id., being 11,5511. 12s. 21 more that
in any former year. There had also been received
fur the Chiuese New Testament Fund 1,3791.135.71,
and 1,8861. 2s. 101, for the special fund for India,
making a grand total of 152,5741. 3s. 81 The
society had issued during the year from the home
depot 076,563, and from the depots abroad 025,021—
total, 1,602,187 copies; an increase of 81,329 copies
over the issues of any preceding year. The total ex-
penditure, amounting to 153,1171. 44.81, was 4,1361.
in excess of the expenditure of previous years. The
society was under engagements to the extent of
83,8 lti/. 17s. 4d. The meeting was then addressed
by the Bishops of London and Ripon, Canon
Stowell, the Rev. W. Cadman, the Hon. B. W. Noel,
Dr. Cumming, and the Rev. W. Brock, who severally
enforced the society's claims.
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.—On Wednesday a meet-
ing for the presentation of degrees, dm, at this Uni-
versity, took place at Burlington-house, Piccadilly.
Lord Granville, the Chancellor of the University,
presided, and there was a large attendance of ladies
and gentlemen. After a report had been read by the
registrar, detailing tae progress of the University
during the course of the last academical year, Lord
Granville addressed the company. He alluded with
satistitetiou to the results which had been obtained
from the establishment of the University of London,and
expressed his opinion that some part of the increasing
attention given to the education of all classes within
the last few years, and which had led to great im-
provement, was owing to the impetus given by that
University. He believed that a new epoch was open
to the University, and that a glorious future was
reserved fur it. The noble lord, referring to the
extension of the honours of the University to those
who had not heretofore enjoyed them, said the
Senate had not been actuated in the slightest degree
by any want of respect to the cause of public educa-
tionlT
in this country.
—a could say that, out of
thirteen scholars, no less than seven had risen from
the middle class to the peerage. Those honours
were not only a passport in life but a letter of credit;
and, speaking as Chancellor of the University, he
ventured also to remind them that the University
had a claim upon them to maintain her honour and
proclaim her utility. His lordship made some
further remarks on the advantages of University
education, and concluded by saying he trusted they
would persevere, and derive from temporary failure
an incentive to further exertion. The presentationhs
to the Chancellor for degrees then took
was succeeded by the presentation to the Chancellor
of the successful candidates for scholarships, exhi-
bitions, medals, and prizes. place, which

The Legislative Body bas been for some mouths
occupied with a problem which has fairly puzzled
French sagacity—how and by what inaclauery
usurped titles could be checked. flie project at last
i
adopted is simply prohibitory of any aiteraiiou n a
family name from what is inscribed ou the civil
register of birth, under penalty of from I,oooi. to
10,000 f. This bill if now drawn out. As registers
are kept in France with exemplary care, reference 10
them is always feasible.

rontu Parket gab Cttg

FRIDAY EVENING.
THE return of the Bank of England for the week
ending Wednesday last, the sth inst., shows the
following changes compared with that fur the week
preceding
Increase in Circulation
Increase in Public Deposits
Decrease in Other Deposits
Increase in Government Securities
Decrease in Other Securities
Decrease in Bullion
Increase in Rest
Decrease in Reserve
Bullion in both Departments
Circulation, including Bank Post
21,415,911
Bills

some rather important changes appear in this comparison.
Among others, is the large decrease in the Private De.
posits. This is believed to be only temporary, and to
have been mainly caused by the demand for money upon
the banking and discount houses in connection with the
India and other bills at maturity in the early part of the
week. In part it is also owing to withdrawals by the
India Company. The Public Deposits show a satisfactory
increase. The limited extent of the applications fur dis-
counts at the Bank is illustrated by the continous running
cif of commercial paper, until this item now barely exceeds
fifteen and &quarter millions. The bullion is considerably
reduced, and the drain is not yet arrested, as since the
return was made up more than 200,0001. auditiunal has
been taken out for export. The Reserve is lower in con.
sequence of the large return of private deposits. Alto.
getner the present return appears to indicate that the con-
dition of the Bank is likely t 3 be less favourable during
the next week or two than it has been for some time past.

The Money Market has, on the whole, been active during
the greater part of the week. The inquiry, however, has
been of an exceptional character, having chiefly arisen in
connection with the ordinary commercial acceptances for
which provision has to be made in the eatly days of the
month, but more especially from the India bills that were
renewed during the pressure of the late crisis. All were
provided for without serious difficulty. There is, however,
more paper afloat connected with the trade to the East, but
in the course of the current month it will be cleared off,
and the trade will then resume its ordinary footing. The
demand has now relaxed, and it is principally confined to
transactions in the re ;ult. r course of business. It is certainly
very quiet, but it is slightly expanding. Rates are about
the same as last week, but as the Bank has parted with a
considerable amount of gold for the Continent, and the
demand is not yet satisfied, the expectation of a reduction
to two and a half per cent. is, for the present, abandoned.
The supplies of money waiting employment are ex-
tremely large, and they will receive large further additions
in the course of next week by the redemption to-morrow of
2,000,0001. of Mr. Gladstone's Exchequer Bonds. Instead
of renewing these securities, the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer has made arrangements with the Bank for their pay-
ment. One moiety is provided for by an appropriation of
1,000,0001. from the balances in the Exchequer, and the
other by au issue of 1,000,0001. to the Bank at three and A
quarter per cent. for a period of four years—that is, until
1802. If the 1,000,0001. provided for out of the Exchequer
balances should hereafter be required, the Bank is to take
Bonds at the same price ; but it is anticipated, from
the improving character of the revenue, that it will not be
necessary to make this engagement available. The
arrangement has been reproached as a time bargain. It
has, however, none of the real elements that exist in such
transactions ; but if it had it is just such a one as a Finance
Minister really desirous of reducing the floating liabilities
of the nation is justified in adopting. The wheie of the
2,000,0001. is thus expected to be placed in the Money
3larket, and as it is impossible for trade to absorb it at
present it will contribute to lower the rates and to enhance
the value of public securities.
About 372,0001. in gold has been withdrawn from the
Bank, Principally for France. The demand from this
'limner has principally been one arising out of settlements
with America, and not from any increase of trade with
onrselves or from the operations of the Bank of France.
This amount, however, dues not by any means represent
the sums transmitted there during the week. Fully
200,0001. more have been sent, after having been purchased
in the open market. The supplies out of which this
demand has been met have arrived from Australia, the
w
est Indies, and the Peninsula, aggregating 251,0001.
Besides, 294,8041. is en route to Southampton from Ana-
itrslia by the mail steamer, exclusive of Nearly 700,0001.
11 'ailing vessels, must of which is now due. There is ,