The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-22 00:00:00

Franiley Parsonage. By Amos! TROLLOPS,
author of " Barchester Towers," &a. Smith,
Elder, and Co.
There is less sign of falling off, leas appearance
of working an exhausted vein, iu this novel than in
either " The Bertram*" or " Castle Richmond." ,
Indeed, we are not quite sure that, with the ex-
ception of " Barchester Towers " it is not Mr.
Trollope's best work. If the subject is nut so con-
genial to the author's mind as that of " The ,
Warden," the story is much more varied, and the ,
range of character much wider. If we meet some
of our old acquaintances again, we at any rate •
meet them in new relations. Archdeacon Grander, ,
as a father, is an interesting aspect of that solid
and stately pillar of the church ; and all Miss
Dunstable's friends—which is surely pretty
much, the same as saving all Mr. Trol-
lope's readers—will be delighted to learn that
such 0 true-hearted and humorous woman is hap-
pily married. Then we are introduced to several
good new characters, well worth knowing. Mr. Trol-
lope's belies are perhaps the must natural and at-
tractive to be taut with in all our recent novels, and '
Lady Lnftou, in " Frawley Parsonage," devoted to'
her son, but a little icclined to rule him ; the true
and kind friend of her parson, but a little given to
interfere with him, always, however, with window
and justice on her side, iu the choice of his asso-
ciate,
and the way he should go generally ; a little
unjust and contemptuous at first to the girl her
son chooses, but at last won over by her real excel-
lenoe, and then taking her to her heart and being '
unable to make enough of her—this Lady Lefton,
we say, is one of the very best female chi-
meters Mr. Trollops ever described ; she
is as good as Mies Dunstable herself—we cannot
say more for her. Lucy Roberts, the heroine of
the tale, though leas a finished and genial portrait,
is far from disagreeable—which is saying a good
deal for a heroine—and has a strong and marked
character. Then, among the men, Mark Roberta
is a good picture of an English clergyman, without
much sanctity about him, and with no pretence to
any, but manly, honest, and likeable. So is Mr.
Crawley, the gentleman and scholar, the only flaw'
in whose high conception of Christian duty is the
wide in which be wraps himself in the poverty in
which he, and his sick wife, and half-starving chil-
dren are steeped, and repels the charity of his more
fortimate neighbours. But, perhaps, the bestdrawn of
the men of this story is Mr. Sowerby, the tin-
printipled, ruined man of the world, "made
sour" by " a little grain of conscience—had
Mr. Trollop° the line in his mind when he gave him
his Rama 1
What strikes one in these, and indeed in all the
characters that Mr. Trollop° creates when he is
working in his proper element, is the total absence
of oFicature. Forcible, and
i peculiar, and strongly
marked as many of them are, theres nothing ex-
aggerated or unreal about them. Yon feel as if
you had wet, or at all events might have met, such
people in the world. Mr. Trollopu's incidents, too,
have the same merit as his characters. They mostly
consist of the ordinary and undramatic events which
occur, or might easily occur, in anybody's life.
Mark Roberts's great trouble is the hay*
given his note of hand to a dishonest man for a
couple of hundred pounds or so, which be is called
upon to pay unexpectedly, and when it is inconve-
nient to him. The lees does not ruin him, or any-
thing near it—the little difficulty is tided over;
but the unpleasant relations into which it brings
the thespian with Lady Lufton and the other
goad people about him, and the inevitable reaction
on his own temper and character, are so well
demeibed that the moral lesson intended to be con-
veyed is all the more forcible by reason of the com-
paratively insignificant and by no means tragical
nature of the circumstances. As an example of
. .

PEACE SOCIETY.
•
The forty•fifth anniversary meeting of this
society was held last evening, at Finsbury Chapel, Moor.
fields; Mr. Josue Prase iu the chair.
The Bev. Henar Iticneitue, the secretary, read the re-
port, which entered into a brief retrospect of the Chinese
War, severely coadensding the Proceeding. of the allied go-
vernments, who had squande d 12,000,0101., destroyed and
ravaged vdlages, burnt the Emperor's palace, and outraged
the feeling of the Chinese people, for the sake of a treaty
worse than worthless. They hail committed a great evil to
obtain a problematical good. The raper then rehired to
the visit of the French Orpheonists last year, sod the op-
portunity afforded the society of spreading its principles
amongst the French people. It then noticed the startle=
of Mr. Cobden with respect to the new treaty with France,
and declared the conviction of the committee that nothing
would more tend to draw cheer the bop& of sympathy and
peace between the peoples of the two countries. A confer-
ence had lately been held to consider the special require-
ments of the times, and it was thought well to awaken
public opinion to the enormous warlike expenditure
of the government, by publications, lectures, fic.,
with what success might be then from the pro-
ceedings in parliament. They bad also prepared an address
to the French people, which wee taken over by a deputation
to Paris, who had obtained its insertion in most of the
Parisian journals, and it bad been copied also into many of
the provincial papers. The society had seen with deep regret
the state of affairs in America, and had prepared an address
to the American people on the folly of a fratricidal war, and
that Wares' Lad been forwarded to all the public authorities
in America. Great success had attended the agents of the
society throughout the country, many meetings had been
held end lectures delivered, and in only three towns bad
they met with opposition, and that from parties engaged in,
the volunteer movement. Large quantities of publications
and tracta had been issued. The report concluded with a
reference to the lamentable state of the East, after all the
blood and treasure spent in the Crimea. The financial state-
ment showed the receipt, to be 3,1401. 7s. 2d., the expendi-
ture 2,1011. Bs. ; leaving a balance in han and invested
of I,Mt. 181. 9d.
. _ _

The Rev. J. W. WHITTIII./RE having offered prayer,
The CHAMMILN mid the occasion on which they were met
was one of vast importance. The operations of this institu-
tion—in a social, religious, and moral point of view—were
of the utmost importance. If anything could be done for
the regeneration—he might term it—of the poorer classes,
it wee by such missionaries as this society empleyed.digging
do: as were, into the sub-strata of our population.
The test possible
amount of judgment was re-
q
in the selection of missionaries, for if in-
discreet persons were sent out they might do
more harm than good. From what be had
heard of the operations of this society, he believed that a
great deal of care was exercised in the choiceof persons who
were to be its instruments, and a peat deal of careful
supervision was constantly exercised. Some people thought
that the wealthy City of Loudon had no pour, hut he had
In hie hand some statistics showing that of the 127,889 per-
sons living in the City, nearly half of whom were of the
humbler classes, the reason of which was to be found in the
fact that the wealthy who had business in the City lived out
of it. The gross attendance at all the churches and chapels
was but 23,389, of which number only 2,106 persons out of
the 13,180 poor families were found in the free seats. The
poor wanted to have the gospel taken home to them. Half
a dozen more missionaries were wanted, and the object
of this meeting was to raise the necessary funds.
HAMMY, the secretary, read the third moml
report, which stated that the three objects with which the
Atmiltery were formed wen--First, to relieve the parent
society of the heavy barden'then existing upon he funds by
the small local support, amounting in the previous yeereet
only 481. per missionary, raised ip aid of the minima:lee
labouring within the City boundaries ; secondly, to unease,.
the number of missionaries from 18 to 30, the number re.
quired to bring to all the 13,180 poor families found to be
rarident in the City noderaystenietic domiciliary visitation ;
I thirdly, to assist the parent society in the appointment of
additional missionaries in the poor pendia imme-
diately contiguous to the City, whose funds for
the support of missionaries cannot, through the poverty of
the district, be raised locally. The committee regretted to
be under the necessity of reporting that although there bad
been no increase during the last j ear in the number of Lis-,
sionarice connected with the Auxiliary, they bad yet bee.
amide to meet their engagements with the parent society.
Twenty-four missionaries, however, still laboured in con."
oration with this society, and towards the 2,1601., reckoning
at 901. per missionary, the cost to the parent society, the.
committee could only report 1,5691. ss. 2.1. as having been
contributed by this auxiliary, thus leaving a deficiency of
5901. 14e. 10d, to be borne by the general funds of the
society, or in other words diverted from districts lees able
to pay for their own missionaries than were those within
the City boundaries. Among the contributors were the Cor-
poration of London, 1051. ; the Company of Goldsmiths,
M.; Grocers, 1101.; Ironmongers, 10/. 10e; Fishmongers.2l/.;
Salters, 10/. 10a.; Carpenters, 51. 5e.; and the City Gas Corn.
pany, 51. The committee bud to report that a graded
but a certain improvement was taking place in the moral
tone of the poor residing in the several mission districts of
the Auxiliary, of which a number of instances were given.
In addition to the ordinary meeting in their districts the
missionaries had conducted open air services in various parts
of the City. During the summer a service had been held on
Sunday mornings in Smithfleld, by permission of the Chief
Commissioner of Police. The attendance varied from 150‘
to 500, and the audience consisted nudely of the working
classes, who at tint came out of curiceith with their pipes
in their mouths, unshaven, dirty, and behithig at times un-
seemly. A change, however, had been effected, and the
audience had now become in appearance and manner as
dement as was to be expected even in regular places of
worship
J. LABOCCR2III4 Esq., in moving the adoption of the re-
port, said, though they might not he residing in that part of
the metropolis themselves, they were equally responsible for
promoting the spiritual and temporal welfare of the poor
who resided in the City. If God had blessed them with I
prosperity they ought to be desirous of promoting the wel-
fare-a the poor. With regard to the operation of their owe
society, though it might be true that they had not effected
all that they propored, yet it was no small thing that they
had twenty-four missionaries in their employ, that
13,000 families were under regular visitation, that
27,000 tracts had been distributed, and that 450 reli-
gious services had been held in houses, of chapels, at prams
where the poorcould meet. It was true that there were
many churches whichswere unfilled, hot for some meson or
other the poor would not go to them, and the free seats
were regularly oecupied by persons far superior ill station to
those who were regularly visited by the agents of this
society. He held therefore that they were conferring& vast
boon on the poor when they vivo them themeless of attending
religious services elsewhere. He rejoioad to hear that the pub-
ustead of turning the missionaries outoillowed them to
go into their houses and expound the Scripture.. He was
also that the missionaries had free access to the
aliftVla and the workhouses. lie trusted that the twenty-
tom missionaries would be increased to thirty, and that this
great metropolis, the centre of wealth and commerce, would
not be unmindful of the poor within her boundaries.
The Rey. J. W. Wimyusoaa seconded, and the Rev.
Mr. PA717.160N also addroned the meeting. 114 said fa
his district in Spitaltelds be could not get on but for the
assistance rendered him by the City missionaries, and he
bore strong testimony to the value of their labour is that
district _

h.q., .ilaw each day at I o'clock
k.t*maa be had at MmtGardena. Finn t h Ken.ingt..n . Mewing.
A dillsoa wed 6.4.9 N Md. Retreat atreet Metars. Leader and
New Itoadatriset: Mr. Marla 11.14q.d Library. 33. 411:1
street . Mr. R. M. Mllieleri, lv, lii i it,.n.i.street Mr mama's.
I. M. James's-greet: Mr. Weetenoua Library. Knialit.hridige
KOMI, Pnitrae. &WC.* 4N cheaWi i sad Vacher end s..ria,
Pariliunrntatreet

Tickets 'mid on days of the shows .111 he chanted ti. Cd. titre.
All the Mona will he livid under
After the opening, .in June li.inds will ploy, on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. In June and Jnly.
As the won. In the garden are still In weer. sa, the Council
have ileyliled that the right of entry to these Promenades mild,
for the present ,arm, he limital to relloes. who inn pt on
Fete Days may personally Introduce two friends : the holden
of Ivory tickets: who may Introduce tau frien.l•2 en I to those
pereins whose names an registered 1111.1er the bolbtlllUTe Agree.
stout . and on setordays, after 1 cielnet: by Tickets: price ta W.
*. • Bad lota for Election of Fellows will take place on the 24th
anal Slat of Eley.—By. order of Council. .

ANDREW WtRRAY.

On the motion of the Bev. ROE= HAMILTON, of Brighton,
the report was adopted.
The following resolutions were afterwards agreed to :
"1. That in presence of the deplorable prevalence of the
war spirit now manifesting itself in various parte of the
world, both by actual war and by enormous preparations
for war, it is more than ever the duty of the Peace Society
faithfully to uphold it► testimony against all war, with a
view to imprese upon mankind a sense of its aupeeme folly,
cruelty, and costliness, and especially to produce in the
minds and consciences of Christian men a conviction of its
utter and eternal antagonism to the whole spirit and
tendency of the religion they profess.
"'2. That this meeting rejoices in the satisfactory result.
of the commercial treaty between England and France, con-
chided by the wisdom, patience, and courage of klr. Cob-.
den ; congratulates the committee of the Peace Society oa.
the kind reception accorded to their recent mission and ad-
dress to the people of Prance; and expreeses its earnest
conviction that such measures as theee—measures for pro-
moting commercial intercourse, and for cultivating kindly
feeling between the two nations, will do far more to pre-'
serve peace than any amount of warlike preparations with•
which they may menace and irritate each other.
" 3. That this meeting regsnls with the deepest sorrow
and pain the fratricidal struggle commenced between the
Northern and Southern States of America, and earnestly
hopes and prays that a spirit of wise and Christian for-
bearance may speedily subdue the puaionate excitement
which now prevails, so that each party may he led to cul-
tivate a temper, and to adopt a policy, more worthy of a
greet civilized and Christian community."
A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.

the same kind of thing we may point to the
machinery set in motion and the ho pm and fears
excited by such a simple matter as Lord Dumbello's
going to Paris. By the way, the archdeacon's be-
haviour on this occasion is very good ; his hearty
English desire to inflict open and summary chasline-
meut on the man who, he thinks, has jilted hie
daughter, struggling with his sense of his position
as a clergyman, is both natural and eminently
humorous.

Of the plot of a story which must be familiar to
all Mr. Trollope's now very numerous readers, plus
the ter7 large constituency of the Cornkill Maga-
rine, it is not necessary to say a word. One soene
iu the book, however, we wish to single out for
special approbation and that is the one
in which Lucy Roberts carries off the
proud, starving curate's children from the house
where their mother is ill with scarlet fever, and
then returns and nurses the sick woman. Thee is
• pathos in this description, quite free from all sen-
timentality or commonplace philanthropic twaddle,
that the tone of Mr. Trollopes novels seldom rises
I to. It is, perhaps, the more effective from the
level and conventional scenes of which they usually
consist. At any rate it shows clearly enough that
Mr. Trollop. has it in him to touch deeper chords
in the human heart than he generally does, and
we think his always shrewd, clever, and readable
stories would gain much by his doing so.

The motion having been carried,
Alderman HALM moved a vote of thanks to the Lord
Mayor for his 000 duct in the chair.
h. C. L. BEVAN, Eeq., in seconding, said the chief magis-
trate of the City of London could not be better employed
than in presiding over the meeting of such a society am this.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said, a great cha-
racteristic of the age was the establishment of institutions to
send missiouaries among the poor, to gather ragged children
in schools, and generally to promote the welfare of a class
wbo might otherwise be a pest to the community. If they
bad a sufficient number of missionaries, if they had the
power of taking the poor children and giving them educa-
tion, and finding employment for them, we could not ima-
gine what a happy state society would be in. Of comae,
such aspirations as these would be utopian, hut it did not
follow that because they could not do all they wished they
should not don't they could.
The ascetic; then separated. A collection was made at
the doors in aid of the funds.

MUSIC.

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 22, 1861. (Stamp d, ld. Additional.) '1 'NCB
t...
• .
-,lal meeting of the City of London The forty-fifth awn.
• the London City Mission was held at the society was held last evening, a.
..... ;airW. Cunrr, the Lord Mayor, fields ; Mr. Joann. Peen,: iu tho cha,
The Rev. liner 11Jcitenue, the metre.
`,Ting offered prayer,
port, which entered imo a brief ratios 1 ~.
ar, severely conslentding the ' eta t- 1
-.hick they were met vemmenta, who had squawk 12,000,0110/., deem., -s 0f this institu-
view—were .
ravaged vdlages, burnt the Emperor's palace, and outs, i "no for the feelinp of the Chinese people, for the sake of a treaty
worse than worthier. They bad committed a great evil to
I obtain a problematical good. The report then referred to
`,. visit of the French Orpheonists last year, and the . op. i
-;tv afforded the society of spreading its principles
`, French people. It then noticed the exertions
-Ali respect to the new treaty with France, , ,
”fiction of the committee that nothing
.thaer the beads of sympathy and f
- 4he two countries. A confer-
'-ler the spatial require-
--ht well to awaken
expenditure , ? I
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