The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-11-06 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE REV. MR. 3fATURIN.

Died, Saturday evening, after a protracted illness, the
Rev. R. C. Matutin, M.A. Curate of St. Peter's. In him
the poor have lost a kind friend, our religion a firm sup-
porter, and literature one of its brightest ornaments As
a preacher, Mr. Maturin was highly esteemed: his sermons
were masterly compositions, his reasoning incontrovertible,
and his language the most calculated to subdue the heart,
and to demand attention. His six controversial sermons,
preached during last Lent, have been lately printed, and
are now before the public. They show the author to be''
a profound scholar and en acute reasoner. Never, since
Dean Kirwan's time, were such crowds attracted to the
parish church, as during the delivery of these sermons;
neither rain nor storm could subdue the anxiety of all classes
and all persuasions to hear them ; and did he leave no
other monument whereon to rest his fame, these sermons
alone would be sufficient. But Mr. Maturin 's genius was as
expanded as his learning was deep and various; his novels
and plays, if they cannot be ranked amongst the higher pro-
' dttctions of this kind, evince wonderful power of Wuxi-
; nation, while the beauty of his language stands unrivalled.
Indeed, we have seen it observed by some of the Reviewers,
that there was no writer of the present day who had a
greater range of thought, or greater command of language
than this Rev. Gentleman.—Dsblis Oirrespindent.

EFFFCTS or MELANCHOLY:IH the hospital tot luna-
tics, founded by Dean Swift, a man was placed by his
friends in the year NOY. To converge with him would
give the impression that he was perfectly sane, nay, his ar-
guments and his eloquence were admirable. The fact is,
that he was sane in every particular except one, and that
was upon religion: this topic tiro excited enthusiasm, and
then incoherence ; he would throw himself down and weep
" fur his sins." Often has he translated Latin and Creek
lessons for a friend and fellow pupil of ours with an ele-
gance that delighted. This unhappy young man was, by
the physicians, permitted to walk about in the company of
an old man, his keeper. In one of these excursions he
went to see the salt-works at a village near Dublin, called
Rings End, and stool a few moment, gazing on a salt-pan
filled with boiling fluid. Presently he clasped Ins hands,
and cried out, " 0 God, I cannot do enough to expiate
my sins !" and plunged into the pan, where he was in-
stantly destroyed. The effects of melancholy are truly
deplorable. When the mind that becomes tinged with this
dreadful malady, is the time to make strong exertions
against it. Pleasant society, nay indulgence in moderate
drinking, should be adopted. with frequent drastic pur-
gatives. All causes should be combated. Pleasure and
change of scene are the best antidotes.--.lraliral AdricT.
Last week neatly all the colliers in Ayrshire struck
work, for an advance of wages. On Friday Se'nnight there
was a large meeting in Templeton Wood. near OM Cita:l-
-nca, which was attended by aleuntations from all the sur-
rounding coPieries ; the ohject of which meeting was to
I concert measures to indite:, the masters to raise the price of
coal, and give them a ris:• of wages. New Commack pro-
duces the best coal in Ayrshire. There are two seams. one
PI and the other 9 feet thick, partly dross and partly light
coal. There are large quantities of it sent to Dumfries,
Ayr. Kilmarnock, Sze. for the gas works and the iron-
foundries. It is sold at the hill at 4a. a-ton. The carriage
to Ayr anal Kilmarnock costs a-ton additional ; to
Dumfries the carriage is :275. El. The colliers n:akc from
ies. to wo. c-week.