The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-30 00:00:00

EXETER HALL, STRAND.

Yesterday this very capacious and splendid building,
lately erected in the Strand for the accommodation of the
religious, benevolent, literary, and scientific institutions of
the metropolis, where they hold their annual or periodical
nitetings, was opened, in order that the proprietors and
shareholders might explain the purposes for which it was
built. Upwards of 3,500 persons were admitted by
tickets, and the platform contained a great number of gen-
tlemen connected with the societies referred to.
Sir THOMAS BARING, Bart., was called to the Chair.
The Rev. D. WII.soN, Vicar of Islington, offered up a
dedicatory prayer, and a psalm was chaunted by scientific
vocalists.
The CHAIRMAN then briefly stated the object of the
present meeting ; and he did so with great diffidence, be-
cause he saw before him such a crowded and respectable
assemblage as be never before had addressed ; and he
was, moreover, surrounded by persons eminent for learn-
ing, and, therefore, more capable than himself of address.
ing them. He trusted that botk at the present and all
future meetings held under that spacious roof the motto in
front of the building would be in continual remembrance
The love of the brethren."

The Rev. Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Vicar of Harrow, ad-
dressed the nice ing at great length, and gave a detail of
the rise and progress of the various religious institutions,
the anniversaries of which were in future intended to be
held in tins boil Ling.
The Rev. Mr. BURNETT, and Dr. Cox, of Hackney,
followed. The latter gentleman enumerated 336 religious
institutions in and near the metropolis, which were sup-
ported by voluntary contributions.
The Rev. and Hon. BAPTIST NOEL spoke of the various
benevolent institutions, such as hospitals, pensions, annuity
societies, &c. In the Heathen world those matters were
overlooked, and it was long before Christians had any pub-
, lic charities or institutions for the extension of religious
knowledge, or the amelioration of the condition of human

miser•.
H. DRUMMOND, Esq., then adverted to the various
literary and scientific institutions of Vie metropolis, which
were 50 in number. There were others likely to be

founded. This was a practical age, as well as the age of
intellect. The inquisitiveness of the human mind would
not be diverted from its course ; and he, for one, was
quite sure that science would never destroy, but rather
tend to promote, true religion, and destroy fanaticism
and bigotry.
Professor HOPPERS perfectly coincided with the last
speaker. He hailed the day when religion, benevolence,
and science, u ere to be advocated under one roof. He
considered the first to be the parent of gnod, the second
the daughter, and the last the handmaid. Well•directed
science was calculated to promote the ends of religion.
After an address from the Rev. Dr. MORRISON the
meeting separated.

FUSEL' AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES.—
Among other celebrated individuals of whom new and inte-
resting anecdotes and particulars are given inlMr.KNowLEs's
life of FUSELI lust published, are the following : —SIIOL-
LETT, FALCONER, GARRICK, Sir GRAHAM MOORE,
ROSCOE, COWPER, the poet, MARY WOLLSTONECRA FT,
Lord ERSKINE, Dr. JOHNSON, LASATER, ROUSSEAU,
HARLOW, Sir THOMAS LAWRENCE, STEK.NE, GIBBON,
Iloa NE TooKE, CANOVA, &c., with most of whom the
distinguished artist was on habits of the greatest intimacy.
The faithful portrait of FUSEI.I prefixed is considered a
very clever work of art.

A Court of Aldermen was held yesterday, at
Guildhall, to proceed further in the consideration of the
petitions for and against swearing Mr. SCALES into the
office of Alderman for the Ward of Portsoken.—Mr.
ALLEY, in a very long speech, argued against the power
of the Court to act in the matter. Mr. BODKIN having
replied, the Court overruled Mr. ALLEY'S objection, and
directed Mr. BODKIN to proceed in the ex imination of his
witnesses. Some witnesses were then called and examined
as to Mr. SCALES' age,and his being hound as an appren-
tice before he was fourteen years old. The examination
was continued till half•past four o'clock, when the further
consideration of the subject was adjourned to the 19th of
April next.

We are authorised to state that the new personal
novel entitled " The Premier," is not written by Sir R.
P., though it is not difficult to account for the endeavourto fix the authorship of the volumes on that individual.
It is needless to add, that the report which seeks to con.
nett the work with the coterie of Holland House cannot
for a moment be entertained. Whatever may be the effect
of the story the author has determined not to come for-
ward, but to turn a deaf ear to all inquiries whether of a,
flattering or of a hostile nature. Many of both kinds have
we hear been already made.
Ai r.
has\ l T
ILI
announcedß A II
is intention
Ali ALP. for
Cheshire,
representation of the county, in the event of a dissolution
of Parliament. Mr. EGERTON voted against the second
1E G li i 1
T of °ll'
retiring from the
reading of the Reform Bill ; and as the expence of a con-
test, under such circumstances, inevitably would be very
great, and the result by no means doubtful, it would stem
that the Han. Gentleman, by the course which he has
adopted, has manifested a proper regard for number one.
The opponents of Reform in the University
of Cambridge must he either the most short-sighted, the
most disinterested, or the niost blinded by Tory zeal of
any men living ; for not only does the Reform Bill pre-
serve their peculiar rights untouched, but by throwing
open the borough of Cambridge, will virtually transfer its
representation in future front the Duke of RUTLAND to
themselves.

DADE, THE FORGER.—This person, who
escaped from Lancaster Castle, where be was confined on
a charge of forgery, was re-taken on Tuesday last at n,
place in New Islington, near 3lanchester. We believe
that when he made his escape from gaol, he very seriously
injured himself in the back, but to what extent we are
unable to say.—Bolton Chronicle.

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