The Express.
London, England, 1860-02-09 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, r EBRUA ItY 9. 1860.

LlT.6.ftd: ÜBE.

lbabisag the Oiit Off. A West• End Book for all
Renders. By JOHN HoLustcsneso. Hotten.
Is this little book, a companion to the volume en-
titled "Under B Bells," Mr. Hollingahead has
considerably widened his range of humorous illus-
tration, still keeping, however, to the field of politi-
cal economy. The city book dealt with topics, the
discussion of which, though not restricted to the
city, must be constantly referred thither. The satire,
in short, was exclusively directed against mercantile
abuses and anomalies. It is here extended to the
abuses and anomalies of the constitution. The well-
known process of ridicule adopted by Frederic
&Leila is that which Mr. Hollingsbead follows in
"Rubbing the Gilt Off" as he followed it, indeed,
throughout his pleasant allegories, " Under Bow
Bells." The reclean° ad absurdum is Mr. Holliogs-
head's very decided torte. Strongly entrenched amid
the positions laid down by Adam Smith, Ricardo,
and the other great authorities of political *cienoe,
he sallies forth in his own gay, gallant fashion, al-
ways prepared to fell back when needful on the
solid support he baa prudently secured. We have
intimated that he carries the war farther from camp
in the present than in the former expedition.
Thoroughly informed, as it appears, on commercial
subjecte, he was, in the city book, fighting on his own
ground. In venturing into the broad arena of
national polities he has of coarse laid himself opsa
to harder knocks ; but en 'weasels* he has missed no
opening through which a blow could be dealt at the
enemy. The volume is aptly styled a " west-end
book," as it embraces just that additional variety of
matter which will bo imported into political argu-
ment, through the remove from 'Change and Com-
mon Council to a freer atmosphere of thought : the
book is still metropolitan in more than two-thirds of
its character. The dedication to Mr. Bright is
perfectly in keeping with the tendency of these fresh
and lively pages.

Fear-Book of Agricultural Facts for 1859.
Edited by H. Scorr Bum W. Blackwood and Sone.

One must open this pretty little volume to see
what can be made of a design so simple u that of
collecting from agricultural magazines, reviews,
newspapers, and reports of speeches, the thousand
facts which the experience of the husbandman
ev,lves during the year. The skill and science of the
Editor have doubtless much to do with this result.
There is an indefinable charm about all that relate.
to the primary occupation of man ; and Mr. Burn
has made this volume as interesting as a novel. In 386
pages we have comprised hundreds of short practical
articles on the &Id and its cultivation, live stock and
their treatment, the dairy, poultry, machinery and
implements, building contrivances, agricultural
customs, prices of farm produce, meteorological
tables, the whole forming one of the completest and
moat unto' compilations we have seen for a long
time.

DICAMA.

i`RINCEBS'B.

Mr. HoII, for maiiiiear.Tafa;ourite actor at the
Haymarket, is the author of a three act comedy, which was
produced last eight at the Princess's with perfect MOMS&
It is called Caught in a Trap, and written in blank verse,
which, while containing no particu'arly poetic thoughts, or
any special novelty of imagery, yet flows eerily and pbsa-
seedy, and is devoid of those spasmodic rhapsodise which so
frequently disfigure similar productions of modern days.
The piece was very fairly acted. fdiw Lecleroq looked
charming, and played with tact, spirit, and vivacity. The
same remark will apply to Mr. Melville, who, however, should
endeavour to rid himself of a monotony of declamation which
commieselly is disagreeable. Mrs. Weston end Mr. Frank
Matthews gave characteristic rendering. of two small porta,
end Mr. flake: wee moeedingly humorous, though his fun
was of the broadest and most grotesque bled.
The scenery and app,intoitents were •:osilent. The curtain
fell amidst loud applause, and the author on being called for
bowed his thanks from his box,

The very interesting exhibition of the Architec-
tural Photographic Assoeiation, at No. 9, Conduit-street,
was opened yesterday with complete mamas, a numerous
atteadance of vieitors bring attracted by the varied display
of more than des bemired teal:Lind works of art, both
English and foreign, which have been collected there.
Mit. HINRY IRVING'S DRAMATIC READINGS.—
Last night Mr. Henry Irving gave a dramatic reading of
Mr. 8. Knowles's 1-irgrniw, in Crosby Hall, in presence of a
Numerous audience To keep alive the attention of the
hearer throughout the whole extent al a Eve set drama re-
qiWas recite. ire power of co ordinary bad. and such power
Mr. Irving unqueetionably enamels. la addition tea yoke
of wrest compass se well as great flexibility, Mr.
Irving being. to bear upon his arduous task a
judicious discrimination of the characters of the piece.

The blurred rade, bat honest Siccing. die aianly lades,
the stern Virginias, aad 'he lustful ARAM IMO severally
rendered wilt a ildetty which Await that Xe. Irving bad
thoroughly imbued lament( with the spiry el the piece. The
'weal ch4r4r•erietics which the gather has drawn the

perentts of the play were well delineated by Mr Irving In his
salon, nod In the intonation of his vuiee. The audience
hilly appreciated the exeellosce of the reading end apples's
rawer Llkwed dm delivery of the more striking passages
tithe draws.

PROFESSOR FRIA ELL'S ENTERTAINNRNT.—The
Professor repeats bin magic entertainment nightly with in-
ereape4 success. Last evening fit. Jmnee's Hall wee
crowded, and it would be herd to find • more fashion4ble
company than that by which every stall was occupied.
People teemed never to fire of wondering and laughing at
the Professor's legerdemain and manual dexterity. The un-
happy pigeon warn remonely decapitated in the face of the
*whence, end ea quickly restored to life with wonderful skill.
S one new manipulation with half-crowns, which were made
to talk and travel in an extraordinary manner, wee much
applauded, and all the established f.vourites of tire Profes-
sors programme were equally suroseefol. The London
=bile have but three more chances of seeing the Professor
previous to hie provincial tour, and we should recommend it
not to let them slip on any amount.
METROPOLITAN Evrinic CLASSES FOR Youteo
Mile.—At a meeting held at Crosby-hall, on Wednesday,
the let Wet., R. N. Fowler, Esq., in the chair, the following
proposal mu sgreed to •—•' That, as by the sale of Crosby-hall
Memel= dames are left without • home, • proprietary of
1,0001. la 20 shares of 501. each be formed for the pur-
ees', of the lease of Swam. hall, sad in the event of this
being done the committee of the evening clime. is ready to
take the premises at a r. ntal of 2301., which will meet the
demand for ground-rent and intiteet of the money, and pro-
vide a =Aloe fund of 501 • year towards liquidation of the
principal." In support of this prop al the following pen-
tium= have each 'spewed their willingness to take • 601.
sine:—R N. Fowler, E,q Rev. C. Mackenzie, a Friend,
pre ditto; I. P. easeint, E.g., Hairy Jobeson, Esq., E. F.
Leeks, Eaq., Wm. Faeulege, Esq. (mesh= of the ins i-
talkie). Nev. Richard Whittington, and Master Mackenzie,
Themes lt.ring, Esq., M.P., ilesere. Williams, Deacon. and
Co. Two shares will be purchased fur the institution with
the 1001. given by his Royal Highness the Prince Consort
in 1867. And three other shares its being subscribed for by
the member. of the institution.

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.- —At the evening
meeting on Monday next the &Howie; paper. will be reed
Chins--Nriere of a Cruise in the Gulfs of Pe cbe-li and Loo-
ters, in 1859. by Mr. Mick'', comniunicated by John Craw-
ford, Esq., F.R.G.S. ADire—Diroovery of a new time
flowitig to the East, in lat. 17.30 8., lop. 19.8 E., by C. J.
Andreae, El. Prorated Expedi.ion up the Congo, by
Captain N. B. Beall! gfeld, F.R.0.8.
MID-KENT RAILWAY.--The half-yearly report of
the directors states that the tratflc for the pant half-year has
maintained the viand rate of increase the gross receipts
being 4,6011. Be. Id., se cornered with 3,9991. Ots. Ild. earned
in the six months ending December 31st, 1858. The net
balance of revenue, as appears by the aaaexsd amounts,
after deducting the 60 per cent, for working mecum, pay-
able to the Rooth Hastens Company, and the other charges,
is 1,7081. 16s. 3d , which enables the ellreetere to recommend
a dividend at the rare of 41. per cent. per annum, free of
inconse-tex. eirsotors coosider it extremely satisfactory
that, although the per ravage parable to the South Eare,n
Company for working expenses has Men increased from 40
per cent. he 1858 to 60 per rent. in 1869, the growth of the
tragic should hare shady covered this increase. Borne addi-
don to the capital amount hes been caused by the pothunter. '
try tromedinp of lest region ; and the directors have re- '
eently gives orders for the construction of SOON cottages at
Lower 151 el-nhera for the staff etspl,vyed at that station, the
accommodation being mach reiiired. Th. works of the Lon
doe, Chatham and Dover C.anpazo's Extension, b torn
Bromley and &rood, are now far advenced; end the op.oieg
of this porton of their line may be careered in the mums of
the ensuing summer. The opinion of the directors as to the
dratrableneee of an improved communication with the Brigh-
ten Corppeny's mitre at Ifor•ood remain@ wealtneed, and
the an*mt matinees to engage then attends&

IMPERIAL PARMA NI ENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—WzDsuDAy, F. 8.
... . _ _

(Coeladed grew yesterday's JEspreas.)
CHURCH RATES ABOLITION BILL.

Mr. R. LONG seconded the amendment,
--
Sir G. C. LEWIS said that the bon. gentlemen who had
seconded the amendment had evinced considerable know-
ledge of his subject, sni shown an ability which made him
desire that he would have nom fume opportunity of
delivering his opinions to the home upon other public
questions. (Hear, hear.) But these wee sae port of boa
speech to which he wished to advert, in the hope that he
would not take the same course on another occasion. The
hon. member said that the noble lord the member for the City
of London, when he lest voted upon this subject, acted
contrary to kis sincere opinions—that his opinions were ma
way and his vote another. New the noble lord stated at
length the reasons for the change which his opinions had
undergone, and if the hon. member bad heard them he would
know there was not the smallest ground for imputing
insincerity to him. (Hear, hear.) But members on
both sides of the house hod modified their opinions upon
public questions of far greater magnitude and importance
than that of church rates, without being open to the
imputation of insincerity, and he therefore trusted that
the hon. member, after he had had some more experience
of the house, would not reek an unfair advantage for
his argument by an unfounded Marge of insincerity
against another member. (Hear, hear.) He would now pro-
teed to justify the vote he intended fogies in savour of the
second reading of the bill. (Hear, hear.) He had never
hem me of those who took utmost views on this question.
He Nether regarded the maintenance of the church rate in
eat, formes • necessary infringement of religious liberty,
ace Mimi with hem. gentlemen opposite in believing that
if chetah Noes were geoliebed the fabrics offhe thumb of
England would fall into decay. Therefore he wan afraid
that his opinions were not likely to gad favour with any
large number of members. He confessed be had loot his
faith in any probability of a reasonable compromise, and he
reluctantly came to the conclusion that the only courts for
hint to take was to support the second reading of the bill.
(Hear, hoer.) The argument used by the hon. member
opposite was that in Birmingham and some other towns In
which church rates were abolished, there was great difficulty
in getting sufficient funds for the repair of the church, and
he arguM, fortiori, that if that were so, funds would net
be obtained in rural parishes. That argument, however,
could be controverted. In towns, the system of the endow-
ment of the church, which was founded on tithe", entirely
failed. Indeed, the church of Ragland might be said
to be founded on the "yawn of tithes but this system
entirely idled in towns, inasmuch es tithes were paid out of
the annual income arising from the soil, and where the soil
was covered by home. there wet no fund out of which
tithes were payable. Therefore in towns the church might
be sail to be supported upon the voluntary system. There
were pew rents, and sometimes Easter offerings, and fees on
births, marriages, and deaths; bat in London, in conse-
quence of the abolition of intramural interment',
the source of income arising under the last head was cut
off from clergymen, and wherever the voluntary principle
prevailed there was greater difficaly in maintaining:
the fabric of the church than in merely
perishes where the clergy were supported by tithes. There-
toe be did not think that if church rates were
abolished there would be much difficulty in the mike*,
of rural perishes collecting the sum necese sry for the
maintenance of the fabric. The subjoin of church rates
had been treated with more sentiment than reason and solid
argument. (Hear, hear) There had been a good deal of
sentiment with regard to the imaginary grievance of dis-
sectors, and also a degree of spurious sentiment with
respect to the church of England being what was called
the church of the poor. (Hear, hear.) It was said that if
you aboliah church rates than would be no seats for the
poor, but how were the mate for the poor provided under
the existing law? Why, by those who were not poor pay-
ing the church raters. On the other hand, if an adequate
sum for the repair of churches could be collected in the
shape of pew rents, both in rural and town districts,
the difficulty they were now dealing with would be
at me end. The money would be collected from those
who were able to pay, and the poor would be provided with
seats as at present. He was aware throe was a sort of pre-
valent objection to the system of pew lents. (Hear, hear.)
He bad himself often attempted to argue that pew mats
would afford au adequate substitute for church rates.
They would be oonfined necessarily to thou who used the
church, and desolater' would thus be exunpted from their
payment. Nn plan could be more simple or effectual, and
he saw nothing in it contrary to religion, or piety, or any
other principle which they respected sad desired to uphold.
One of the reasons why pew rents were objected to was
that they were in some way connected with dieeent, but
what wore church rates but pew rents in another shape ?
A church rate was imposed upon the inhabitants
of a parish in respect of their occupations, and a pew
was assigned by the churchwardens to each house in the
parish, as far es the acoommodation in the church would
allow. He could not, therefore, understand the unreasoning
objections which were urged to pew rents for the main-
tenence of the fabric of the church ; and he believed that
if church rates were abolished, pew rents in rural parishes
would provide an ample equivalent for the present sum,
which was about 280,0J01. a year. The hon. member who
seconded the amendment said it was an unheard-of thing
to abolish a tut of this nature without giving compensation ;
bat there was no analogy between the present cave and the
Palace Court, or the compensation to West India slave-
holders, and the proctors in the Ecclesiastical Court, which
be had cited. West class of persons could be said to have
any property in the church re as to have the doctrine of
oompensation melee to them 5n respect of the abolition of
eltursh rates? What be would wish to provide would be
—not compensation to any class of persons, but a substitute
for the impost abolished, certain in its collection and just in
its Weide:lee. (Hear, hoer) When that problem was solved
he did not think the objection to the second reading of the
bill would have any force or effect. Notwithstanding the
supposed light shed upon the subject by the committee of
the House of Lords, rind the opposition of hon. gentlemen
on the other side of the house so the tell, he felt it his daty
to support the motion for the second reading. (Hear.)
Mr. K. SEYMEIL thought that the friends of the church
had reason to complain that noble lords and right hon.
gentlemen opposite had, when in office, always left the ques-
tion of church rates in the hands of independent members
who were pledged to their total and unconditional &bull-
tion--(bear, hear)—and if he liplike of them in their ab-
sence it was not his fault. (Hear, hear.) He did not ism-
pleM of the absence of ministers on a Wednesday, because
be knew they had a difficulty in attending on that day,
but he did complain that they left this question of vital im-
portance in the hands of a private member, and by which
it came to be discussed on a Wednesday. Many
honourable members fancied they sew a teat dis-
til:ellen between tithes and church rates, but these far-
sighted gentlemen did not see or admit the distinction.
It should be recollected also that it was the especial Me-
nem of Dr. Foster, as chairman of the "Parliamentary
Committee," to look after the borough members, and to
see that they carried out the views of the society. (Hear,
hear.) He (Mr. K. Seymer) only wished that their repre-
sentatives to that home would meek out as plainly. (Hear,
hear.) If they were opposed to church and Mete, let
them tome forward like men, and show their true colours,
sad they would fight the matter out. (Cheers.) But they
would not do that; they preferred sapping and mining;
and they would continue to do so, he supposed, until they
had blown up the elate church. That was just what
they on that aide of the house did not want. (Laughter.)
The feeling of the meadows of the church of Engl-nd in
tuna districts was entirely mooed to the substitution of
pew ream for church rates. They all knew what the ulte-
rior views of the active diesentere were on this question ;
it was no nee to attempt to comsat them. The ultimate object
was nothing less than the *operate= of church and state.
(Hear, hear.) The choice being between the t abolition
of church reel and a fair compromise, be celled upon all
who were in favour of the connexion of church and stale to
vote against the bill before the house.
Mr. BRISTOW said the house had dealt with the pros
and cons of tole question usqus ad nauseam. He should
confine himself to one or two points. It eppeered so him
that the impaition of church rates wee an irritating and
obnoxious thing to hundreds of thousands et his fellow sub-
jeJus, and that being the cue, it was desirable on that ground
that the Medea should if possible be got rid of. On
the other hand, in the opinion of ohurchmen generally, ibre
continuance cf courote rate" was not essential to the existence
of the church. Under there circumstance. was it nut ex-
pedient by mesas of a comprehensivo endtment like that
before the house to remove this grievance from the minds of
the community? If ho thought fur a moment that the hill
would lead to the decay of churches, he should beWtate to
vote for it; bur, all was stated in the preamble, in the
greet majority of cues the perish cburchr will continued in
their pristine beauty alihough church rotes had ceased to be
eolleted. In his opinion the church would benefit by the
change, inasmuch as it would tend to increase the number of
her worshippers.
Mr. DISRAELI—I am not disposed to detain the hones
for more than a moment, but before it comes to a decision I
well to plus before it one view which I think has not been
sufficiently if at all stated, owl that is the extremely restrelio.
fog character of the measure which is before mi. The
home is called upon to isitertere with the parochial
constitution—a constitution which is not leer important
than our toothiest constitution. And what are the circurn-
steams of the ease? Above 10 pee amt. of the parishes do
not wish to be iaterfered with, while • lugs proportion of the
remainder are practically exempted frier the payment of
church rates by their own act. I look with great jealousy,
then, aria the central authority being called upon to in-
teeters with ibis will of the red body if the prober of this
country es regards the imerciee of a custom which has ex-
itsted lot (=turbo, and which, in the red majority of the
pwinbase has been productive of beneficial reeulte. I admit
Ithath le a painful anomaly tbat le s matter of mob general
interest se the mainteemes of the sacred fabrics of the
MEM" a sedum Amid he prevails is me, pert of the