The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-04 00:00:00

THE TEMPERANCE LEAGUE.

Mr. J. B. Gough, the American orator, was an-
nounced to deliver at Exeter Hall, last evening, the first of
• course of four lectures, to be given by him in various
parts of the metropolis this week, on the subject of tempe-
rance. The ball was well filled. Mr. George Croikahank
having been called to the chair, Mr. Gough commenced his
lecture. His object, he said, was to enlist their sympathy
in behalf of the temperance cause, and to remove any pre-
judice, if any existed, regarding it. He then, by way of
illustration, referred to his own experience, he having been
a drunkard before 1833, when he was induced to sign the
pledge; in Worcester, in the United States, by the mvita-
lion of a man who met him in the street, and who °tiered
to introduce him to some respectable people. His motive,
be admitted, was a selfish one, but the act was good. He
then proceeded to enlarge on the necessiiy of endeavouring
to reform drunkards, not by treating them with scorn, bat
by sympathising with them. But a reformed drunkard wit
not a reformed man. He felt himself that he could not
withstand temptation an hour without the restraining in-
fluence of the grace of God, end it was on this principl
that he advocated abstinence from all that could intoxicate.
Mr. Gough was proceeding to enlarge on this 'abject, when
he stopped rather suddenly, saying he was labouring under
severe illness, and the meeting was in consequence brought
to a close.

TIIE MIDLAND OBSERVATORY.—The Lords of the
Treasury have signified their determination to grant
2,0001. towards the proposed Midland Observatory, Oa
certain conditions. As a preleminary step t.,ey obtained
reports from Professor Airy and Sir John Henchell, from
which it appeared that comparatively little public be-
nefit, so far as regards astronomical observations, would
be derived from the observatory at Nottingham. The
Lords of the Treasury have, nevertheless, decided that on
other grounds they arc justified in applying the public
money to its establishment. Sir C. Trevelyan in trans-
mitting their determination says:— "It is, however,
strongly stated that, in regard to meteorological pursuits
and inquiries, such an establishment might prove
of the greatest value in a national point of TIM;
and, moreover, it is shown by Sir John Herschel'
that Nottingham possesses some psculiar advantages
for observations of this kind. It is represented that,
im-
portant for the purposes of agriculture and other national
objects as this branch of science is compared with astronomy,
it is, nevertheless, much behind, and has been compare-
' tively neglected. With regard to this branch of the sub-
ject, my lords advert to the continued efforts which are
about to be made by the government of the United States,
represented by Lieut. Maury, and by her Majesty's govern-
ment, under the sanction of this board, in order to obtain
meteorological observations at sea for maritime purposes;
and although their lordships cannot look for much aid to
that particular object from observations made at Nottihp
ham, yet they will not be wholly without value, even In
I relation thereto. My lords are, however, prepared to look
" for more important national advantages, as regards the
interests of agriculture and other pursuits, which are much
affected by climate and weather, from such an establish-
ment at Nottingham, provided meteorology may be looked
to as the main and most important objoct to be attained by
the establishment. My lords ate therefore prepared to ask
' parliament to sanction a grant for this national object, 10
the extent of 2,000!., in aid of the private subscriptions,
provided the remaining 8,0001. can be raised otherwise,
and provided also that my lords are satisfied that funds
will be forthcoming to maintain the establishment, when
once started, and that no application will be made to this
board for such purpose. My lords would repeat that it wen
chiefly with a view to the meteorological pursuits of the
proposed establishment, and on an understanding that tbol
will claim an important tortiou of its attention, that thine
lordahips have arrived at this conclusion."