The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-23 00:00:00

THURSDAY EVENING, DEC. 23, 1817. [3d.

whine saw binds them W story exertion of charity, by
whkk Sir soy pawls lie ![scent and eternal well-being
of **people eamillei W Asir care. I lay the greater
tens lipiabtstet, sews It is certain that persons m-
imed fa rtitsry and filth sre for the moat part
insomniao In the motive, and the emoolatioas of the
gogel.
Let it them be one obleet of yeer vats to observe
the sale at the pose non's ▪ with ne=e both
to its Manua sermensy, end Oaths elks
precincts. Call the attention of *sp▪
umes isle" to each
cases as may appear to require their layelreass ; and rep
mind those members of your flock, whom Providence has
entrusted with the moans of alleviating the misery of their
fellow-creatures, that a portion of their charitable expendi-
ture can hardly be more safely or profitably directed than
towards defraying the expense of cleansing and ventilating
the miserable abodes of those by whose labour they are
directly, or incidentally, benefited; and yon may add, that
• very moderate outlay, judiciously made, will accomplish a
great deal in the way of such improvements.
There is another point connected with this subject, re-
specting which it is most desirable that you should instrwet
and enlighten your parishioners, especially the poorer clamscs
seeing that ignorance or misapprehension of the real state
of the case may lead, as it has heretofore led, to a neglect
of the most obvious duties of humanity, and to a grievous
ago ravation of all the horrors of an epidemic disease. I
allude to the mistaken opinion as to the suppoeed contagions
nature of the cholera, to which the sanitary ooramissioners
refer in the following terms :
" When cholera tint appeared in this eountry, the gene- I
nil belief was, that the disease spreads principally, if net
entirely, by communication of the infected with the
healthy, and that, therefore, the main security of
nations, cities, and individual, connate in the iso-
lation of the infested hem the uninfected—a doctrine
which naturally led to the enforcement of rigorous
quarantine regulations; the establishment of military
and police cordons, the excitement of panic, and the
neglect and often the abandonment of the sick by their
relations and friend,. Since opportunities have been ob-
tained of • closer observation of the character of this disease,
and of the mode in which it spreads through continents, na-
tions, cities, towns, and families, facts have been ascertained
which are incompatible with the foregoing view of its mode
of dissemination' and of its prevention. They are of opi-
nion that the disease is not, as it was then generally sup-
posed to be, contagious, and that the practical application
of that doctrine did no good, but wet fraught with much
evil." . . •

It is stated by Mr. Greenbow, as quoted by the commis-
sioners, " that when several member, of one family have
beta attacked, it has usually been either so precisely or
nearly at the same point of time, as to forbid the belief of
one having communicated the disease to another. And-that
the true principle of the occurrence of such plurality of
cases is to be found in the common existence of predisposing
causes, natural or acquired, and a common exposure to the
efficient cause of cholera.
" That in the hospitals of Newcastle and Gateshead,
where, were there any such agent u contagion, it must have
been present in its most concentrated form, no case has oc-
curred of illness arising from attendance on the sick, either
in the persons of the nurses, the resident apothecaries, or
the attending, or numerous suocession of visiting, members
of the medical profession.
"That the notion of persons being infected by the dead I
bodies of cholera patients appears equally unfounded, since '
such suspected casts are referable to other causes, and those
most exposed to contact with the dead, as medical men, in
pursuingpost marten' examinations, have not, in any in-
stance suffered." Other evidence of a striking kind, to the
same effect, is produced in the report of the commilaioners,
who add, that " the witnesses concur in stating their belief
that the belief in contagion operates unfavourably both on
the sick and the attendant," " I daily see," says Mr.
Hoover, " the pernicious effects of their belief in contagion.
I see patients affected with typhus and other epidemic dis-
eases, neglected, and even abandoned, sometimes by relatives
and friends, and always by neighbours, from the appre-
hension that they themselves shall become the subjects of
the disease." _ .

I do not Presume to hazard an opinion of my own as to
the much °imputed question of contagion; but I am sure
that the deliberate judgment of the sanitary commissioners,
grounded upon the evidence of able and intelligent members
of the medical profession, and apparently borne out by facts,
' may well be considered to justify you, as friends and advisers
of the poor, in labouring to relieve their minds from an ap-
prehension which is calculated to chill and repress. their
natural sympathies at the very moment when they are most
needed, and to make them neglect the discharge of those
rional officm,of kindness to their sick friends and neigh-
bour', which ardtben most urgently required, to seoamkthe
exertions of medical skill. With respect to your oet dnty
in this particular, I feel that it would be something worse
than superfluous to offer anything in the way of advice or
exhortation. The fearless and untiring charity manifested
by aill• patea.Li.lli clergy daring the former prevalence of
cholera, in visiting and consoling their sick and dying
parishioners, is too well known to require from me a single
word of commendation for the past, or of direction for the
future.

I proceed now to offer some suggestions with respect to
what may be more strictly termed your spiritual duties at
the present crisis; and if these suggestions come last in
order, it is not because I deem them less important than
those which I have already made in the former part of this
letter ; but because it seemed to me to be more necessary
to invite your attention to the necessity of those charitable
exertions which are only indirectly, as it were, and coatis-
gently, a part of your duty, than to those which are obvi-
ously bound upon you by the very nature of your office. If
I advert at all to these, you will consider that I do it only in
the spirit of friendly counsel and encouragement, and, u the
Apostle says,—" To put you in remembrance, though ye
know them, and be established in the present truth."
I have before said that we have no reason, humanly
speaking, to expect an exemption from a second viitation
of the cholera ; and that it is our duty to use all the precau-
tions which science and experience have suggested for
mitigating the terrors, and checking the ravages, of that
fearful disease. Bat we are not to forget, that all events
are in the hand of an Almighty and merciful God ' • that it
may probably be His good pleasure, contrary to all human
expectation, to spare us that infliction, and that whether it
be so or not, it is our plain and unquestionable duty to
throw ourselves upon His mercy, and to implore His pro-
tection and indulgence. I would therefore suggest to you
the importance of earnestly and affectionately exhorting
your people to increased degrees of seriousness, and
vigilance, and self-restraint ; and of frequency and fervour
in prayer to God, that it may please him to avert from us
that calamity, which we most justly have deserved ; or, that
if it should seem fit to Him, in His inscrutable wisdom, to
lay the scourge upon us, we may submit ourselves with all
humility and meekness to His fatherly chastisement, and
have grace to turn it to our profit.
la urging upon the people committed to your charge this
most important duty of deprecation and intercession, you
will have many motives to suggest, which it cannot be need-
ful for me to particularise to those who are conversant with
the promises of God contained in Holy Scripture; but I
would remind you of one topic which appears to me to fur.
nish a special ground of encouragement to the performance
of that duty on the present occasion.
Yon are, no doubt, aware of the remarkable fact, that
when, 15 years ago, this deadly malady was stalking through
the land unchecked, baffling by its novelty and sudden
forte all the resources of human skill, the day of public
fasting and humiliation, on which the nation proclaimed its
dependence upon the power and goodness of God, while it
earnestly besought Him tostay the plague—was immediately
followed by a sensible abatement of the disease; and that, in
• very short space of time, its entire disappearance called
forth the voice of thanksgiving and joy.
Now we do not presume to assert that this happy change
followed from, though it followed close upon, our public
acts of humiliation and prayer; but certainly the solemnity I
and apparent devotion which marked the observance of the
day of fasting, were not more remarkable than the speedy
decline and cessation of the disease ; and I hold it to be much
more unreasonable for one who believes in God's providence
to deny the connexion between the two, than it is to admit
it, and to regard the deliverance which God then wrought
for us in the light of a distinct answer to prayer; affording
solid grounds of thankfulness for the past and of hope for the
future. _ . _

If the effectual fervent prayer of one righteous man
availeth much—if the intercession of Abraham would have
sufficed to rescue from destruc'ion the devoted cities of the
plain, bad ten righteous men been found therein ; who shall
, presume to set a limit to the efficacy of those prayers which
ascend to the mercy-seat from the lips and hearts of a peni-
tent and humbled Christian people?
Seek, them, to impress upon the minds of those whim you
are appointed to teach, that by earnest and persevering sup-
plication. in their private devotions, in the offices of domestic
piety, and in the public worship of the sanctuary, made
effectual by lII§ intercession in whose name end merits they
are offered, they may do much towards the safety and hap-
piness
of those amongst whom 'they live, as well so their
own. Teach them to look upon the warnings and visitations
of Almighty God in the light of solemn calls to repentance
and amendment, and of invitations to strengthen their trust
in Him, and to animate their piety; according to the
Apostle's exhortation, " Let us have grace, whereby we may
serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear; for our
God is a consuming fire." Admonish those who Sr. sta-
tioned en the vantage-ground of life, that after the most
strenuous exertions of benevolence on their part to avert the
threatened scourge from their brethren, they themselves may
fell under it ; and that the best preparation for all classes is
to do their duty, and to put their trust in God.
I need hardty remind you, that while you endeavour to
impress upon your people the duty of a special attention to
prayer ; they are also to be admonished, that no prayers will
be effectual but those which are dictated by truly penitent
heart', sad seconded by godly, self denying charitable lives.
Increased fervency in prayer will be vain and profitless, if
there be not a oorresponding increase in the fruits of the
spirit—love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance. If, as is but too probable,
the visitation, which we apprehend to be drawing near,
should actuall come upon ue, it will be specially
needful to inculcate upon those who axe connected the
tics of family or neighbourhood, the duty of acting fully up
to the spirit of the Apostle's precept, which indeed relates to
the sins and weaknesse of erring brethren, but Is not less
applicable to their bodily wants and diseases, " NW ye one
another's burden, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

Trusting that the peculiar circumatanoes of the present
trials will be thought to justify me in addressing to you the
foregoing suggestions, and earnestly praying that the hands
of my feDow-labonrers in the ministry may be strengthened
by larger sauenres of grace to meet the increased and /n-
-uts:inn difficultiu of their gamed calling, 1 remain,
reverend and dear brethren, your affectionate friend and
servant, C.. 1. LONDON.
Fulham, Dec. 10.

ELECTION OF COMMON COUNCILMEN.
PARRINODON WITHOUT.
FINAL CLOSE or VIE POLL.— (16 members.)—
Thep lling was resumed this morning in the New Court,
Old Bailey, at 11 o'clock, and finally closed at two, when, the
numbers being as follows, Mr. Lees was returned in the
room of Mr. Prendergast.
Mr. Battled

Bernard
Purser 26.3 '
—re=
Wwiama 314
Prendergast
Taylor
Ituekatester 179
Anderten 3lO
COLEMAN-ST
FINAL CLOSE.—(B mem
this morning, In the Ward-scl
closed at two o'clock, when th
Mr. Atka 133
11all
Hide

Obbard 33;
&OW 981
Bata 278
Hadpon 269
Lr 269
Walter 289
(IW:Wm lB2
264
FLEET WARD.
ben.)—The poll re-opened
ooh, London-wall, and finally
numbers were:
Mr. Bracher
NM=

... 137
12
151

Daum l4O
l
The dMonaist eight were then declared daly elected.
LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Tate DAY.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
Baton Mr. Oceushaioner Evans.
Ix as KitAPP.—TSI ADIXODON BARK.—To-clity wu
appointed for the last examination of this bankrupt, who
had carried on business as • banker at Abingdon, under
the style or firm of the Abingdon. Bank. On the
first meeting for the choice of sniper the bank-
rupt did not surrender, but had dose dose so, and
was now in attendance, but no accounts had yet ban Sad.
A great number of proofs were admitted, principally a sates
of the bank; and, after some discussion, the examinatiamwas
adjourned until the bastion-sheet is filed. The debts ere
stated to be about 70,0001. or 80,0001., but the amount of the
dividend is very uncertain.