The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-27 00:00:00

I AMERICAN NEWS.

LIVERPOOL, MAY 26.
By the United States' moil steam ship Baltic,
Captsia Comstock, which arrived in the Mersey
shortly before 8 o'clock this morning, we have ad-
vices from New York to the 15th inst. She brings
75,000 dolls. on freight.
The screw principle of propulsion has achieved a
triumph in the case of the Great Britain. Tnis
vessel left the Mersey on the Ist instant, and not-
withstanding very unfavourable weather, which ren-
dered her sails nearly useless, she accomplished the
passage in 13 days 4 hours. On the 12th she ran a
distance of 301 miles in 24 hours—a speed hitherto
unattained by screw steamers.
An apparently well informed correspondent of the
New York Herald, writing from Washington on the
13.1), intimates that he had seen a letter from a dis-
tinguished gentleman in Mexico to a. friend in that
airy, which contained important and interesting infor-
neetion as to the relations existingbetween the United
States and Mexico. It was understood in the city of
Mexico that President Arista had, on the 10th of
April, after the rejection of the Tehuantepec treaty,
addressed a letter to President Fillmore, stating all
the facts of the difficulty as regards the position as-
sumed by Mr. Letcher, the American Minister, who
was informed long before the treaty was rejected
by the American Congress that it had no chance
of being ratified—there being but one ' man in
either House of Congress in favour of it.
But it was intimated to him that the Government
was willing to grant the right of way across the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec to the New Orleans Com-
pany, if they would cease to press the Garay grant
claim—a claim which the Mexican people were unani-
mously opposed to, on the ground not only of its ex-
piration, but that it was obtained' by bribery, and
conveyed a vast quantity of land-10 leagues on both
sides of the road—for the purpose of colonisation.
Mr. Letcher wrote to Mr. Benjamin, the President
of the Tehuantepec Company,
requesting him to visit
Mexico and try to arrange the matter, by abandoning
the Garay grant, and accepting a new grant for the
right 'of way alone. But Mr. Benjamin did not go.
The Tehuantepec treaty was rejected by the Mexican
Congress with but two dissentient votes. Imme-
diately thereupon Mr. Letcher addressed to
the Mexican Government the ultimatum of the
Government of the United States, which declared
that the Tehuantepec treaty, recognising the va-
lidity of the Garay grant, must be confirmed by
the Mexican Government. No other arrangement
would for a moment be listened to. It was under
such circumstances that President Arista addressed
himself directly to President Pillimore. lie ac-
knowledged the weakness of Mexico, and the great-
ness of the United States, and made a touching
appeal to the magnanimity of a great nation not
to force a wrong upon a weak people. Ho de-
clared there must be some mysterious influence
which induced the United States to endeavour to
force Mexico to ratify a treaty reviving a defunct
grant. Tae Government and people of Mexico had
every desire' to throw open the Tehuantepec com-
munication, and he instanced the fact that the day
previous to his writing a Bill had been introduced
into the Mexican Congress authorising the Govern-
ment to offer the right of way across the Isthmus to
any company which would build a road; but, as for
the Garay grant, it would not be recognised, even
if the United States forced upon Mexico the full
extent of the threat contained in the ultimatum—
war. The Herald's correspondent did not know
whether Arista's letter had reached the President,
but he supposed not, as the new Mexican Minister
had not been presented.
Further details had transpiredO relative to the con-
tents of Chevalier Hulsemann s note to the President,
from which it appears that the letter is dated. April
28, and states that in November and December Mr.
Hulseinann had remonstrated with the Secretary on
account of his communications and interviews, and
their subjects, being treated with ridicule and derision
in certain public journals of New 'York and Phila-
delphia. The Secretary's treatment of the Kossuth
affair, and particularly his speech at the Kossuth
Congressional Banquet, bad made it the duty of Mr.
Hulsemann to ascertain whether such sentiments as
the Secretary had made expression of were those of
explanations
eGenoavteiarnhma Government
assurances Unitedtofthemade to him on these States. • The verbal
occasions had been followed by no . change
in the manner in which his transactions
with this Government were treated by the pub-
lic press. That, particularly, some articles pub-
lished in New Orleans had recently been the oc-
casion of the Austrian Ministry suffering considerable
unpleasantness and annoyance. Under these cir-
cumstances he considered it his duty to withdraw
from any further relations with the Government,
which could only be continued through the medium
of one who was a promoter of Kossuth and un-
friendly to the Austrian Government ; and there-
fore that Mr. Belmont, Austrian Consul-General at
New York, would hereafter, if occasion required,
he the means of such communications as the Austrian
Government might have to Make. The Chevalier
then thanks the President for his kindness, urbanity,
&c., and asks the secretary to accept assurance of his
high consideration, &c. The letter is said to cover
several psges of foolscap, and to be written in very
ill-humour. The reply is by the acting Secretary of
State, and is dated May 3d. It acknowledges the
receipt of the Chevalier's letter very briefly, and
merely says that such communications as the Austrian
Government may have occasion to make through Mr.
Belmont will be respectfully received. e.
Among our miscellaneous items we find' that at
Rochester the democrats had called a mass Meeting,
relative to: the enlargement of the Erie
Canal, to
carry out which project a loan was propoied to be
effected on the credit of the State. The Mount
Morris dam on the Genessee Valley Canal. had given
way and put a stop to the navigation.' It would.take
some' weeks, and a large amount of 'Money, to repair
the break. A' bridge, built at Darien, Georgia, for
the Panama Railway, to span the Ohagres river, was
a
about to be shipped to its destination. Considerable
interest had been created by
a decision in the New
York State Court of Appeals, byswhich the Canal.;
lawewleagsadteeca in laredfavtoaabreoufnEcioirnore for the Presidencynistitutional.
D
bad been elected in Tioga county. s.
The Anti-Slavery Society at
Rochester had passed
some very strung resolutions condemnatory of slavery.
The Louisiana Legislature bed passed a law pro-
hibiting the emancipation of
slaves in that State, ex-
cept on condition of their being sent out of the United
States. A Bill recently reported in the Maryland
Legislature has a similar provision. A very stringent
Bill against free negroes had
been reported in the
Virginia Legislature, the enforcement of which would
drive them out of the State.
In the New York stock market there was an active
demand for the various descriptions of securities, at
firm prices. There was no inquiry e
for specie for ship-
ment, the present rates of exchange,
with the low
price of bullion in England, not
admitting of expor-
tation, unless at a loss to the shipper, Exchange on
London was quoted at 110 to 1101; Paris, 5.161 to
Amsterdam, 40i to 41 . , h 357
36 : Bremen, 78/ to 781. Mon'eyeeamourg , to
abun-
dant than ever. The available- was more orhe
bankswere on the increase, and mach
difficultymeans o
wast t
ex e
rienced in employing their hem,—
balances. Amongp
the private bankers the same state of things existed,
and lower rates of interest were the inevitable result.
For strictly prime business paper there was no diffi-
culty in obtaining money at 41 to 5
per cent., while
loans had been effected as law as
3-• r'Or cotton there
had been a good demand, and the Upward tendency in
prices still continued. Flotir Was still depressed. For
corn there was a steady demand. For tobacco the
demand was quiet, without change in prices. Iron
l tle offering
was firm. Freights were rather heavy,
owing to the
it.
The following is from the New York
The screw steam-ship Great Britain;Captaie Mat-
thews, has arrived from Liverpool. She left that port
Saturday at half-past nine o'clock on morning, the
Ist inst.,'and has, therefore, made the Passage in thir
teen days and four hours--the shortest on record of
a screw steamer.
" The Great Britain brings one hundred and sixty
was originally called t
passengers. She
ster," but she is no
•
larger than the Collins steamers.
She is built of iron, and from a variety of circum-
stances, may be considered a famous vessel.
The following is an extract of
THE Lou OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.
May 1 —Ac 9.10 eon. left Wellington dock; docK; at 10.40
stopped to put owners, friends, and pilot board steam-
tug; 8, Pete exchanged withsalutes_ R. M. steam-ship
Africa, passed barque Argyle and shipuntress. Fine
pleasant weather; sails of no service.
h
May 2,—Wind northerly, lat. 51 25 long, 9 20, dis-
tance run 280 miles—Light, baffling 'winds throughout;
sails of little service. lat. 51 17
May 3—Wind N.W. to N.E, long. 15 39,
232 miles—Light winds and calms throughout. May N.E. to lat, 50 45- long 22
17, 252 miles—Most part light windy sad fine weather.
May s—Wind S.S.W. to W.b.v. e lat. 50 12 long.
27 58, 216 miles—Strong breezes, increasing to heavy
gales, and high cross s'a.
May 6—Wind W.S.W. to
W., lot 50. 55. long. 32 25,
170 miles—First part strong gales, latter part strong
breezes and high seas. eve lot. 49
May 7—Wind W. to S.W. by • • 48, long. 3,
19, 191 miles—Moderate gales and squally ; latter part
strong ;;ales..
May B—Wind W, to New., let. 48 53, long. 40 55,
150 miles—Fresh gales and heavy squalls ; very high
seas.

" The contract for the iron work and shipwright's
alterations was
,signed on the 23d of February, 1851,
and the vessel was placed in their hands on the following
day, since which time the work has been proceeding
with as great rapidity as it could safely progress. Oue
of the first operations of the contractors was to get the
vessel into the Sandun Graving Dock, where she was
placed upon an even keel. As soon as the vessel was
dry in the Graving Dock, the civil engineer struck a
straight line through the entire length of the ship, which
was duly marked, and from this line all the subsequent
workings were carried on. This is mentioned not so
much as to the fact, but as to the results arising from it,
and the consequent accuracy of the work. This accuracy
will be more apparent, when we state that the bed plates
upon which the engines rest were found not to vary the,
sixteenth of an inch from a true line. The contract em-
braoed the whole of the repairs of the iron work, and
also the shipwright's work. Its magnitude may be
judged of from the fact that thq erected a steam engine
to aid the work, and employed 350 men during the time '
she lay in .the Graving Duck,
" It is not, however, to be supposed that the Great
Britain has undergone any altcration in her form; that
is 'reels-1y as it was. before. The only alteration as re-
gards the hull is the removal of the rolling plates for-
merly attached to her sides, which were found insuffia
cient for their object. And whereas she has had for-
merly nothing more than an iron plate about two inches
deep fora keel, she has had an oak keel 17 inches deep
added, and bolted through with • iron bolts, this is
covered with ziao, to neutralize the effects of the water,
and to make its surface smooth. The object of this
keel is to prevent rolling, which it is believed it will ac-
complish.
" We have already stated that the vessel. will be un-
usually strong, and we are.correct ia saying that at the
present moment she is twice as strong as ever she was,
an amount of skill having been bestowed upon her fasten-
ings such as we believe has never been known in a ship
before. To give some ides of what has been done we
may say that her bottom, amidships, for about 150
feet in length, is entirely new, and wherever there has'
been any chafing, new plates of the best iron have
been substituted. To increase the etreegth of the
ship the floorings have been made of double 'instead
of single angle iron, as formerly. The bows and
stern of the vessel have been strengthened by
the addition of double angle iron framing, and this
has again been further secured by three tiers of iron
stringers, two feet three inches wide and five-eights of
an inch thick, riveted to the frame-work at right-epees.,
There have been ten new iron kelsons placed' n the sp9P,
running the fore and aft for the entire- length of t
to.hozrpo,
half as deep
again as those formerly in her;and 13
are box kelsons to support the engines, made of one and
a quarter
inch plate. iron, and three feet six inches deep.
And not oral
have the owners made the vessel stronger
than she Was, be able of de-
tail in such a
but they have arranged allPat';
superior manner that she will
to carry a Tench larger cargo than before probably to
the extent of 1,000 tons additional.' This capacity will
be gained
partly through the spsCe saved 13
e 'CPI's a by
new boilers,
1 It h
300 inches and partly through th trtictioo of a 1. ee
feet long, and 7 feet 6 high. The deck-
house will be need for passengers, thusandmake
rgo. New bulwark.; have
the lower cabin availablde flare
cshai at an elevation of four
erected around
also been
• an these
feet six inches above thosetlshe ship,
had u
-
will be ef further use in protecting the deck-house in
W
eath e r whilst the roof of the house will form a
severe
p -enade 300 feet long, and perfectly protected from
any s
ruulseas the vessel may ship.
=The dimensions of the Great Britain nosy are as
follow:
-330 feet.
Length over all
Beano 51 feet 6 inches.
40 feet 10i inches.
&Tat from promenade deck,
Capacity for cargo, about 3,000 tone.
Ditto fur coals 1,200 taw,
40 alteration has been made in the masts of the
ship, the number being reduced to four instead of five, as
she formerly had; but this in no wise affects her sailing
power, us Ow will be able to spread 6,00 u square
yards
of
canvass. Two of her lower masts, we should say, are
especially constructed with a view to giv-
iron cylinders,
ILog them lightness and strength. The two centre masts

May 9—Wind N.W. to N.N.W,, lat. 46 09, long. 45
38, 254 miles—Strong winds and decreasing.
Patty 10—Wind S.W. to S.W. by W., lat 45 21, long.
51 29, 248 miles—Strong winds and hazy ; drizzling
ruin.
May 11—Wind S.W. by W. to N.W., lat. 44 06, long.
57 04, 268 milea—Strong winds and hazy.

May 12—Wind N.W by W., lac. 42 33, long. 62 55, aro rigged as in a ship, carrying sails as high as' royals,'
301 maps—Calm and clear ; ends moderate, with rain. and the first and last masts are rigged with fore and aft
May 13—Wind S. to E., /at 41 01, long. 68 27, 264 snits, as in a schooner.
miles—Fresh bre; zss and gloornY, with fogs ;at 3.45 '• The cabins of • the vessel are commodious and do-
took pilot on hoar). •
ganr. The eabias of tho captain and chisf officer are
May 14—Wind W. to N., lat. 40 28, long 74 02, 256 upon deck, and Save besn so arranged that they entirely
miles—Strong winds from the northward ; passed Sandy overlook the operations of the ship.
Hook at 10 50 A M.—making the passage in.l3 days 5i ,4 The next, and one of the most important cons.dera-
hours.
bons in the vessel, is her motive power. The old engines
This speaks well for the G. B. It will he scan that were nominally of' 1,000-horse power, bat it is a ques-
in one day she accomplished the distance of three hundred lion if they ever worked over 500 horse power; the new
and one miles. The Canada, one of the Cunard line, I engines, on the other hand, are nominally of 500-horse
which has made the shortest run on record to Halt- power, but there is every reason to hope that they will
fax, sailed from Liverpool on the same day with the work up to 600-horse power. The Great Britain has
Great Britain, and therefore must have bad pretty much been fitted with a pair of oscillating engines, by John
the same weather; yet she only anticipated the G. B. Penn and SOD, engineers, Greenwich, and are of the
seventeen hours and thirty minutes.
collectivo power of 500 horses. The cylinders are 82}
ANNEXED AnE TWO SUORT STATEMENTS OF TnE. VOYAGE, inches in diameter, and six feet length of stroke, and,
"Oa board the steam-ship Great Britain, by
May
the interventioni of ca.' wheels, the screw shaft
"New York,
makes three revolutions to one of the engine. The
"My dear Sir,—lt affords me great 14, 1852.
pleasure to inform screw or fan has three arms or blades, and is fifteen
you that I have been deputed by my fellow passengers feet six inches diameter and nineteen feet pitch. There
to offer you their sincere congratulations on the very are six boilers, either of which can be used independ-
satisfactory result of the application of your patent screw ently of the other if necessary. About seven hundred
propeller to the Great Britain steam-ship, on her re-up- tons of coal can be stowed in the baekers in the engine
pearance on the broad waters of the Atlantic, room, and provision has been made to take about
Our voyage of thirteen days has not only been accona- 500 tons in other parts of the vessel—in all more than
plished in less time then might have been anticipated, enough to take the ship to New York and back. The
when the small proportion of power (500 horses) to the ton- engines are of the most beautiful workinanship, and do
nage of the ship (3,500 tons) is considered, but it has been credit to their constructors. To lessen the vibration
performed both in rough add smooth sea with a comps- formerly experienced from the motion of the screw and
rative degree of freedom from that disagreeable vibra- machinery, eight new wrought iron beams have been
ton which is_so generallycomplained of in padole-wheel placed transversely through the vessel, which lock her
steamers. sides firmly together. The bases on which the machi-
Individual'y, I have been a close bat quiet observer nery rests are much stronger than formerly, and she has
further been strengthened by the addition of your untiriug exertions in the cause of steam-screw
of massive
proprulsion, and most of the subscribers to this teatime- iron entablature beams to the engines, which again are
have heard from your own lips something of buttressed by a framing of teakwood,' each is' .e being
the difficulties and prejudice that you have had to en- 20 inches deep and 3 feet wide, • le('
•
running on each side of
into the
counter in the
and mercantile seor 'introduction of yur invaluable invention the engines, transversely and diagonally, to the sides of
naval vices' of 'your country, the ship (the distance in which this solid timber extends
which lam sure cannot fail to render, yoUr present suc- being 17 feet 6 inches on each side of the engines), and
cess the more gratifying. the whole of this framing being bolted together, and
In conclusion, lam to thank you for your ready and through the sides of the ship, by wrought iron bolts,
so
straightforward explanations its to the arrangementand as to form a solid mass of timber."
working of the beautiful machinery with which the Great
Britain has been fitted by the eminent firm which you
represent on this occasion, and before we part, to wish
you a continuance of the well merited gratification
which you have experienced on this, your first trip to
the United States.
" EDWARD FRANKLIN, Commander, R.N.
" Mr. F. P. Smith, &c., Sac.
" On board steam-ship Great Britain,
New York Harbour, May 14, 1852.
" We, the undersigned passengers on board the Great
Britain screw steam-ship, beg to offer our sincere con-
gratulations to you on the very successful termination of
this your first trip, as commander of the largest steam-
ship afloat, and through you to the spirited proprietors,
who have so efficiently restored to Atlantic navigation
One of its finest ornaments.
" Of the performances of the vessel, we feel we cannot
speak too highly. They have been such as we believe
must call for official inquiry from the highest naval
authorities both of England and America, and that the
great merits of its improved machinery will thereby be
brought under the notice of the public in the most em-
phatic manner.
" We have much pleasure in bearing testimony to
your unceasing vigilance and ability in the command of
your noble ship, and to the very satisfactory conduct of
your officers and crew throughout our passage."
Signed by the whole of the passengers.
'"
To Captain B. R. Mathews."
HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.
• (Eros} the Liverpool Courier.)
With regard to the Great Britain, it may be truly
said that she made and lost a reputation; and that now,
her
under more favourable auspices, she is recovering
character again. The early history of the Great‘v
Britain
was not unmarked by features of interest. When
o.
servers; and
she
was building at Bristol, she was the observed of all h
even then, in what might be called the
in-
cipient state of the vessel, she was the theme of conver-
sation in this and every other civilized country.
On Saturday, the 26th of July, 1845, the Great
first Bri-
tain took her departure from this port on her
voyage for New York,and
with forty-five passengers,
520 tons of goods. The vessel took the north passage,
and arrived at New York, on the 10th of August at
noon. On her return voyage she left New York on the
30th of August, and arrived at Liverpool on the 15th of
September, at 8 A.m. Tae Great Britain was gradually
working up her way, and her reputation was established
as a matchless vessel. The race, however, was short. On
Tuesday, the 22d of September, 1846, the Groat Britain,
under the command of Lieut. Hosken, R.N., left Liver-
pool at half-past eleven in the morning, with 185 pas-
sengers, and a crew of 90 hands. The vessel had been
adapted to give her superior speed, and the circum-
stances under which she left this port were of the most
auspicious character. The wind was fair and free, and,
immediately after she discharged the pilot at the North-
west light-ship, the whole of her sails were set, and she
ran at a speed of eleven knots per hour. In due time
the Calf of Man was sighted, and the vessel continued
her course without deviation, and -with a strange infatu-
ation, until half-past nine o'clock, at night, when she ran
aground in Dumdrum Bay. The disaster was never suf-
ficiently explained. In Dundrum Bay she remained
during a severe winter, and endured the buffetings of the
ocean in a manner which bespoke her qualities. She
was finally released from her awkward position, and was
towed to Liverpool by steamboats, arriving here on the
25th of August, 1847.
" The ill success which had attended the vessel dis-
pirited her owners from further proceedings, and the
Great Britain lay in the north docks literally a sheer
hulk.' Her dilapidated appearance was not calculated to
lead to the hope that she was capable of anything more
than being kept in port 89 a momento mori of herself. To
the eye of the sailor, however, and the lover of a fine
ship, there was much to admire under her unsightly
exterior. Her beautiful lines and evident capabilities
were so apparent to the practised eye, that it was felt to
be a pity that she should lie a wreck in port; and with
these views we have oft times urged that some capitalists
should purchase her, and again place her in that position
she ought to occupy. A peculiar purchaser was evidently
required to do what seas necessary. Those who bought
the vessel would requires in the first place to effect their
purchase for much less, than,she eget originally, and.they
would also require to be men of capital and enterprise,
to plan and execute hew arrahgenients in the ship. For-
tunately Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., of this town,
who had, formerly acted as agents for the company,
coincided in the epinions just expressed, and became the
owners of the vessel: As soon as the contract was com-
pleted, the new owners set to work with energy to carry
out their views. Three large contracts were immediately
entered into for the principal part of the work required,
and the' contractors wrought at the same time with each
other in their different contracts.

EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS FOR
THE PEOPLE.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal )
An exceedingly praiseworthy scheme of public lectures
for working men has recently been set on foot in con-
nexion with the Museum of Practical Geology, where
the directors and professors of the Government School
of Mines have undertaken to deliver a series of Penny
Lectures on special subjects in science and art.
We remember very well when Mr. Simpson, the
Edinburgh advocate, got up a Working Man's Institu-
tion in that city, for the delivery of a course of lectures,
the admission to which was a Penny, that a very loud
guffaw of laughter was raised thereat. Such phrases as
"penny wisdom," "a little learning is a dangerous
thing," " penny philosophers," and such like, were very
much in vogue then, as applied to Mr. Simpson and his
lectures.

It was certainly a startling innovation! The idea of
bringing the lore of colleges, the wisdom of philosophers,
the speculations of savans, the scientific knowledge of
great practical thinkers, within the reach of working
men, for the small price of a penny a lecture!
But the laugh is now on the other side. We have
now learned to smile at much that formerly went by the
designation of " wisdom of our ancestors." There may
have been "great giants in those days;" but we have
advantages which they did not enjoy. The giants may
have seen far; but we, who sit upon the giant's
shoulders, see still further than they do. We have the
advantage both of their knowledge and of our own too.
The power of the Penny has only been discovered of
late years. The Penny Magazine, and the Penny Cy-
cloriia, fairly inaugurated the discovery. Penny lec-
tures are the necessary corollary from it; and before
long the Penny Newspaper may fairly complete it.
It is true, the special lectures on practical science, now
being delivered at the Museum of Practical Geology,
are not designated as Penny Lectures, though in reality
they are so. Six lectures iu all are to be delivered—
the first on Glass, by Dr. Lyon Playfair; the second, on
" The reason why Fossils are collected and exhibited,"
by Professor Forbes; the third. on " Photography and
its applications," by Robert Hunt; the fourth, " An
Explanation of Geological Maps," by Professor Rain-
say; the fifth, on " The occurrence of Mstals in Na-
ture," by Professor Smythe; and the sixth and last, on
"Iron," by Dr. Percy. In announcing the lectures, a
register was opened, in which the occupation of each
artizan who applied for admission to the course of lec-
tures was enrolled; and he then paid sixpence for regis-
tration, which entitled him to admission to the six lec-
tures. It is gratifying to be able to state that the de-
meads of working men for admission to the course were
far greater than it was possible to grant; and the disap-
pointment of those who were too late in their applica-
tion induced the professors to announce a repetition of
the course for their accommedation.

It will bo observed that these lectures are of a very
special character, being calculated to impart accurate
scientific instruction on several branches of trade in
which a considerable number of artizans are more im-
mediately interested. In fact, the object is educational,
practical, and definite. The lectures are such as might
have been delivered from a professor's chair in any of
the universities. The lecturers are all first-rate men of
their class; and they havo no other end in view bat to
improve the scientific culture of the artizan class. This
object is very admirable, and the lectures, as a whole,
are calculated to prove of great value to working men,
not merely to the actual extent that they may impart
knowledge, but by putting them into the way of work-
log out knowledge for themselves, and informing them
as to the methods by which a true scientific culture is to
be attained.

There are, however, many large classes of artizans
and operatives who have no such interest in special
scientific subjects, but for whom the cheap lecture sys-
tem might be adopted with equally great advantage.
The present lectures at Mechauics' Institutes are, fur
the most part, of too cursory a character. Their object
is rather to provide an • agreeable stimulus for an even-
ing than to direct a man's mind towards higher culture.
Now, we do not see why evening lectures, of as high an
order as those delivered at our colleges, should not be
offered to the working people at a low rate. We can
imagine how instructive a course of lectures—for exam-
ple, on English History—eseight be made to such an
audience. And to hold the attention of a thousand
auditors or more, and send them away full of their sub-
ject, with their patriotism roused, their political views
enlarged, and their knowledge extended, is really a
worthy object of ambition for any public man. In the
same manner, courses of lectures on English Literature
might be delivered
on a systematic plan, and in a man-
ner that would be calculated to rivet the attention of
even the most unlettered audience.
It might be objected that unlettered men have no de-
sire to cultivate letters, and would turn aside from such
lectures. But this is a great mistake. Working men
are every day becoming more and more disposed to re-
cognise and look up to the guidance of cultivated minds.
Those who read newspapers and periodicals—and the
number of such is daily increasing—unconsciously ad-
mire thinkers and writers, who are now almost their
only recognised aristocracy. You also find that work-
look up to those of their own class
ing men especially
who have acquired some degree of literary culture, and,
in fact, the adelation of their fellows is, not unfrequernly,
the bane of self-educated men, and precociously inflates
them with a sense of their selaimportacce, which proves
injurious to their further intellectual growth and deve-
lopment.
As a sufficient proof that the taste of working men
for literary culture is grotcing, we need only reier to
the courses of lectures, on purely literary and historical
sabjects, which encli men as Thomas Cooper and
Henry Vincent hove recently been delivering, through:,
out the country, to audiences of working girt.
air
these have proved attractive,
lectures of a eitnilar kind, delivered
by
For, depend
depend
highest culture, would prove still more seor.ceive
superior
upon it, the popular mind is quick to
we doubt
men
the
excellence in any
of operatives and ar-
politics. We have seen audiencese
demonstrative argument,'
tizans follow a train of closebucck,
form,—in literature, in history, or in
with a sustained and
delivered by such men as R
stranum, break out into
stratlon; the quod erat demon
riveted attention;
showed that they had fol-
such a tumult of applause as .
and when°ehe bad reached the demon-
prove
lowed the argument,
nchesion.
publiceii_evee,vwenoueoldg
and individually shared in the tri.
uraph of its demonstrative co 0 _
There is still a
enter-
tainments which might be ,offered
believe,
working men at a
low price;
the moat attractive, thr,tProb publicloly. not the most
another
Wseenfie.srmfyd
t.
o readings
instructive, of all. We_ alludefrom the
best authors. we have often wished that public
and which,
d of laying before
lecturers, iustea . us their own feeble
should introduce to us
progeny. departed. The the undying works
of
~she great.
,_...t ebief gift wanted
here, is that / selection, .and a good utterance. Let a
se can read well,
e ho give us the best .Campbell's
Poems, -the best of B , of
poems, or 3 ron s, or the best of Tennyson's,
and we venture to say that he will ' excite a greater plea-
sure in the minds of his audience than if .
he wire to give
us
an entirely original " lecture" of his own on any of
those poets. What can be more interesting, for instance,
than Fanny Kemble's Re d•
gent readine., merely. A
/nYa? And they are intelli-
exhibition
(lour
best pros Apply the same power to the '
and equally writings, or our best poetry,
produced. delightful effects would certainly be
A series of lectures,
or readings, of this character,
was tried in p•
ens in 1850, the audience being
entirely
.composed
of the labouring classes; and
though they have, we believe, been since sup-
pressed by the iron rule of Napoleon Louis
(who smelt
something " socialism" or i else n them), their success
was, on the whole, of an exceedingly
gratifying
character; and doubtlessthey will be
revived •
again when
Peri •.
s is at liberty to take its once active part in literary
and social culture. These readings were delivered by
Men of literary distinction, in different parts of the city;
and the following are specimens of the entertainment
which they offered to their respective audiences:—At
the Charlemagne Lyceum, M. Just Olivier occupied one
evening in reading several eloquent pages from J. J.
, Rousseau, followed by two acts of MoU:re's School for
I Husbands. He offered the least possible criticism on the
i
1 passages, but by reciting them with gusto, left them to
i make their own impression. At the same time, suffi-
cient explanation was given to put the audience in a
proper position for appreciating and understanding the
true beauties of the extracts. Then, attain, ai the Pa-
lais Royal (in the lereinours Vestibule), Dr. Lemaout
read, with fine emphasis, and amidst great applause,
The Two Sons-in-law. But M. Emile Souvestre, cue of
the most distinguished poets of France, was by far the
' most saeoe'sfill in his readings. Ono of these was The
Battle of the Franks, from Chateaubriand'a " Martyrs;"
' previous to which he put his auditors in the proper
point of view by a few brief and graphic explanations.
' The reading of the passage from Chateaubriaud spoke
', for itself;

•
The readings of Emile Sauvestre were chiefly given
jat the Conservatoire de Mnsique, situated in the
Faubourg Poissonere. The place is not far from the
Clog Saint Liizare, where some of the harchist fighting
i occurred during the late revolution; and, doubtless,
many of the shaggy, wild-locking fellows, who formed
the bulk of his auelierrees' had been combatants
during the struggle. Yet, by the softening influence
ot literature, the poet was enabled, for the time, to
tame, end wolli:y; and huisOze these men. One of
his readings was -frZ:tri ..the Memoirs of Madame de la
• • ••
Rocliejaquelin, descriptive of the horrors of civil war in
La Veno6?, which he selected for the purpose of dis-
gusting his auditors with suchAnonatrous scenes. The
ct produced by this lecture was very great. But
the extracts which he gtfterwards read trona Michelet,
descriptive of the batfleS of Agincourt, Poictiers, dad
Cressy, the patriotic feelings of the audience seemed to
be frightfully shocked, and murmurs arose among them.
At the reauiog which followed, he explained that he did
not seek to probe the old wounds of his count; that
the misfortunes of their common mother were not her
shame; tut he had not coma there to flatter patriotism,
only to enlighten it. His explanation was received with
great applause.
The readings which excited the greatest interest were
the historical and dreapatie. The reading of Michelet's
chapters, descriptive of the history of Joan of Arc,
produced an immense eff‘ct, and also the reading of
Haire and Corneille's pieces. Several tales were also
read, of which those extracted from Chateaubriand and
Bernardin de Saint Pierre were most successful. Strange
to say, the songs of Beranger fell comparatively flat on
the audience—for those need to be sung. The refrain,
or chorus, so happy whets chanted, becomes almost
freezing when recited.

Another wide field of entertainment for such evening
audiences, is to be found in the biographids of cele-
brated mer, sprung from the people themselves, and
who, by their industry and energy, have carved for
themselves a name deep in the world's core. The life
of Benjamin Franklin is a capital instance of this tort
of subject. And we speak from experience when we
say, that no.lectures, or readings, are listened so with
deeper interest than those which deal with the strug-
gles and achievements, the fortunes and histories of dis-
tinguished men. There, of course, needs considerable
compression in handling such subjects ; but by, giving
the salient points in a great man's life, the lecturer or
reader will rarely fail to produce a powerful effect. At
the same time, biographies, if well managed, enable the
lecturer to introduce a great deal of useful and interest-
ing information connected with the history of the times
in which the men lived.
Such are the evening entertainments we would re-
commend for the people. And there is nothing extra-
vagant in the plan. It can at once be tried in any town
or district.

ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.
Mr. Mitchell's benefit last evening was patronised by
one of the most fashionable and crowded houses ever
collected within the walls of the theatre in King-street.
This brilliant attendance was a tribute justly due to the
extraordinary and successful exertions of Mr. Mitchell,
in producing the elite of the modern French school, in a
style never previously approached in this country. The
performances,which were under the specisl patronage of
ber Majesty the Queen, consisted of Scribe's Yeiva, and
two new vaudevilles, Le Piano de Berthe, and Lin Ser.
vice a Blanchard. A new artist, M. Tony Blonde',
made his first appearance here last night, and must Be
pronounced a meritorious acquisition.
The Queen's box was occupied by her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Kent, her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Cambridge, the Princess Mary, attended by Lady Suf-
field, Lady Fanny Howard, Colonel Seymour, and Sitrtg.
Couper. There were also present the Belgian Minister
and Madame Van de Weyer, the Duke tend Duchess of
Beaufort, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Earl and
Countess of Grovesnor, the Marchioness of Westmins-
ter,the Sardinian Minister. the Marquis and Mar-
chioness of Worcester, the Marquis of Aylesbury, the
Marchioness of Downshire, the Marquis of Normanby,
the Countess of Lichfield, the Countess of Waldegrave,
the Esrl and Countess of Stamford and Warrington,
the Earl and Countess of Shelburne, the Comtesse de
Flahault, Earl Bruce, Countless of Buckinghamshire, •
Lord Bolingbroke, Lady W. Russell, Viscount Cannittg,
Lord Harry Vane, Lady Frederick Beauclerc, Lady
Jodrell, Sir William Abdy, Mr. and Mrs. Montefiore,
the Hon. E lward Ellice, Colo.iel Tiera...ey, Mr. Agar
Ellis, Mr. Augustus Oom, Mr. Milner Gb.on, Mr. and
Mrs. John Sanford, Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Craven,
Mr. IL Villebois, Mrs. Garwood, Mr. Henry Barieg,
Mr. and Mrs. Tunno, Mrs. Amer, Mr. W. Rose, Captain
Sartoris, Mr. Kenneth Macaulay, Colonel Haygarth.

LONDON SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY,
___

EXETER- HALL.
This society gave an extra perfAmaance last night of
Haydn's Creation, and notwithstanding the inclemency
of the weather, the Derby, Vauxball-gardens, &c., the
Hell was exceedingly well filled. The oratorio was
given in the society's usual admirable manner, and al-
though we could particularise many passages of the music
hich were really finely executed, it is almost unnees-
sary to do so, where all was so excellent. The solo
artists were the same as on former occasions, viz.. Ma-
dames Birch and Fridel, and' Messrs. Lawler and
Lockey, all of whom were in good voice. Mr. Snrtsan
conducted, and was very warmly received on making his
appearance in the orchestra.

VAUXHALL -GARDENS.
As an ancient and well recognised wind-'up to the
sports of the D irby 11)s, the Royal Property e3na-
menced its season by a Bal Masque on the usual :male
of splendour. In spite of the ungenial state of the
weather, the company was unusually numerous, and the
proportion of masques as great us we ever remember
having seen it. The crowd was of the usual description;
crusaders, Choctaw Indians, Highland chie&, Spanish
cavaliers, flower girls, court dames, tins! debardours, all
mingled together on the most amicable tooting, and
everything passed off with the greatest order and hila-
rity. Considerable additions and improvements have
been made in the gardens since last year—the circus has
been abolished, and the ring, floored over, furms a large
and elegant ball-room, which fur the future will enable
the dancers to set the weather at defiance two or three
additional supper-rooms have been added, and the lights
and the music—the two great ingredients in the attrac-
tions of such a place of amusement—are even on a more
liberal scale than ever. We believe that, as consider-
able disappointment was anticipated from the wet
rAlFrridaWy.ardli' has
an-
nwoeuanthceedr oaf
sye•ceostnedrdiya,i tmheaslgesuseeefo,

MAYNOOTH AND THE COUNT-OUT.
As an impudent attempt has been made by the Go-
vernment journals to saddle the Opposition with the
responsibility of the count-out on the Maynooth
debate, it may be well to call attention to the facts of
make a
the case. In the first place, it was at Mr. Gladstone's
instance that the debate was enabled to come on at all.
Secondly, the debate being sojourned from six o'clock
to eight, it was the business of the Government to
make the House. Canning has defined the duties of
memberll of,
ithieenseekreeteapry
aof
uthjenselitansdurychteoer be to tmo
ininer.„
. Now, not only did the "Protestant Govern-
ment"
boned in the course of the &bate in the morn_
not make a House (though it was
cvliing that ;here was likely to be a difficulty on the subject),but it is a remarkable tact, that not a
the Administration was present when the
counted out. We leave Mr. Forbes Mu,e .. House was
business it was to make the House, tc, -Liel:/iet *whose
M‘Neile at Liverpool why he vizs ,:b "
sicxPlairl to Dr.
And no doubt Mr. Napier will have Srenl: °II
th)e°"4Bi°n.
far
mo-
ment,th et
: cr.:
miss in the list of I\L,be,,i. .:°ll'.ge, Dublin. We also
Newdegatc. The malked",, Pre,-eoz tho name of Mr.
Government which s.,sone2 of any member of the
the obstinate refusal professedof that to court the inquiry, and
DisrFscli, to give up a day for
eminent Protestant, Mr.
°lent proof th..:t the , for the discussion, are a suffi-
cient
'Bench
much a sham as antetheir _that 'their Protcstantism is as
Protection.—Chronicle.

Mr. Talbot wofasY
TII D HON.
ne
engagedesterday in
E EATII or THE
The death of this Pannounced
in The Suit
on. and Learned Gentleman was
J. C. TALBOT, sv•—•—
hasist that
pro-
fessional duties, but it is feared that a too energetic applica-
tion to them superinduced the sudden event. On Friday
Itth e‘'a'aestivoenWcuFtrioidnayofl
week the Learned Gentleman was occupied for several hoWe
in addressing the Committee in one of his usually powetful
appeals, in favour of the proposed line of the Oxford, Wor-
cester, and Wolverhampton Railway, from Oxford to Brent-
ford, from the effects of which he felt mud' prostrated, but
rallied sufficiently to attend the Committees last week,
though he had discontinued doing so for the last few days.
The _Honourable Gentleman, who was in his forty-eighth
year, died at Brighton on Tuesday evening, and since 1836
was one of the leading and most affluent members of the bar.
The last brief he held, in the case above, was endorsed with
300 guineas. It is said to be the intention of the Parliamen-
tary bar to go into mourning for his memory. The can 99 of
death was ascribed to water on the chest. Mr. Talbot, lie
was called to the bar in 1829, and belonged to the Oxford
circuit, was a bencher of the Middle Temple, Recorder of
Windsor, and Attorney-General to his Royal Highness the
Prince of Wales, as well as a member of the Council of the
Duchy of Cornwall. He was a son of the late Earl Talbot,
and brother to the present peer. He married a daughter of
the late Lord Wharncliffe, and leaves an amiable young
family to regret his loss.
A CLoCS TOWER IN THE CITY.—A: very interest-
ing ceremony took place on Tuesday by laying the fottnrdina-
tion-stone of what is a complete novelty—a clock toevrirm
the city of
London. The site is in the new street, r s
London-bridge to St. Paul's, and the historical r.ecdl .
n interesjang.
of the place and its vicinity are unusually Martin's,
The site is that on which the old church of St.
church was St. Martin's-lane, formerly stood. The an
the to
de-
stroyed during the Great Fire of London, i but
pulled down
was saved, and stood until it was rdent y.
„,,,e is puFrom the
in consequence of the City imPna•royenci a chapel was
period at which the church was dest—i"::i, but Divine ser-
vice for the use of French Prot!lstani
nearly i 40 years.
vice has not been performed therein le
the ashes of many
The churchyard adjoining
contains the
havi!,g been covered
eminent foreigners, but, the grave.numdetal record has
over with plain flag stones, no too . „
St. Alartin Ungar having been
preserved. The parish of,
,„,..„ Enatcheap, the parishioners
joined with that of St. 3'`"7 tower, and
determined on re-erecting the else a rectory
,preserving the old clock and bell. The latter bears
house
Th
~ blade by oteThomas Barton, 670
the
Theirscription,
h 8013, the rector l• -
Rev. WiHiain Jo n
in , cud the foundation
the
stone of the new tower,
beneath j)resence of a great iesimber
of the pensioners, and
~ the stone was placer a re-
cord foundation
cord of the on, ion and subsequent demolition
of the church. The remains of those interred were care-
fully preserved and re-interred in the burial-ground of St.
Mary, Eastcheap.
UNIVERsITY INTELLIGENCE.--OXFORD, MAT 26.—
The Regius Professor of Divinity proposes to begin a course
of public lectures on Thursday, the 3d of June, at one
o'clock, at Christ Church. These lectures Acre intended for
students of divinity Whr k • omaikuvauh itit
Ws passed Oita
• the doges) Of B.A.