The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-24 00:00:00

MR. LEIGR HUNT'S NEW WORK.

On the 14th was published, in post Bvo., price 9s. boards, or 10s. Gd.
elegantly bound in cloth (milli= with " Imagination and Fancy"),
Wtr AND HUMOUR, Selected from the
English Poets : with an Illustrative Essay and Critical

Comments.

HURRICANE at NEWFOUNDLAND.
The following account of the severe hurricane with
which the island of Newfoundland has been recently
visited is printed from a letter received by the Bishop of
Newfoundland, immediately after his Lordship's arrival
in England:—
" Rectory, St. John's, St. Matthew's. day, 1846.
"My dear Lord Bishop,—You know how fine a day it
was when you set sail from this, but we sincerely hope
that you do not know what a fearful day the next was.
I can find no worts which would convey to you an
adequate idea of the fearful storm of wind and rain
with which we were visited on Saturday. The
morning, from about six o'clock, was gloomy, with
fog, wet, and a stiff breeze from the south-east. The
wind increased from that quarter until, about noon, it
became E.N.E., and blew with greater and greater vio-
lenee, until it raged with all the fury of a hurricane,
backing by degrees into the north and NNW., the rain
pouring down more and more as the gale increased. It
was at its height about five and six o'clock, p.m., and
began to moderate shortly after nightfall. There has
been great destruction of life and property here, and
everywhere else along the coast, whence we have yet re-
ceived accounts. In St. John's, several buildings in
course of erection have been either wholly or partially
thrown down ; among them, the greater part of Mr.
Archibald's new brick house, and the unfinished

' Natives' Hall.' This fell without warning, and the un-
happy people who had found a shelter in it since the
fire were buried beneath the ruins. One child was taken
out dead—a sister, a grown-up young woman, I saw ex-
pire shortly after she was extricated, and, in the course
of yesterday, their mother and a, second young female
died from the injuries they bad received. Several of •
were hurt, but not dangerously. One family, of eight
persons, belonging to-the church, escaped with only a
few slight bruises, and I am happy to say were all pre-
sent in the school-room yesterday morning, and re-
turned thanks for their merciful preservation.
" The most astonishing effect of the wind I have wit-
nessed, and which, perhaps, will give you the best notion of
its violence, was the bodily moving of St.Thomas's Church,
between 2 and 3 inches from north to south, and that so
equably, that there is scarcely any difference in the dis-
tauce it has been ' pushed' along the whole length, in-
cluding the tower, from east to west. The church does not
appear to ha'e received any twist,' and so is uninjured.
Some of the largest stones in the foundation-wall on
the south side have been broken in pieces, and
" " intended to tor- —ll •
build it under vire church in its new position.
It being thought by some that the weight of the congre-
gation might injure the building, and the seats on the
noth side being very wet from the beating in of the rain,
there was no service on Sunday ; and in the afternoon
Mr. Blackman preached for me in the school-room. Mr.
Tuckwell did so in the morning, and said the prayers in
the evening, as he could not get out of town, most of the
been carried away, and the roads being
impassable from the immense floods and
ofbrt:hi•sdehgrewetssis.e having
The lighthouse on Cape Spear was swayed
backwards and forwards during the gale, being lifted, as
the gusts came, an inch or two from its foundations, but
it received no serious injury, except from the falling of
one of the chimneys, which broke in the roof. Of trees
torn up by the roots, and of fences laid prostrate, it were
long to tell. The brick houses at the head of the har-
bour, which were in course of restoration after the fire,
also received considerable injury. In the harbour much
damage has been done among the shipping and craft;
and it is feared that the loss of both property and life
along the coast has been great.
" At Vidi several stages and flakes were thrown
down by the wind, and the immense rush of water from
the lake; and the oil and fish in and on them were lost.
Numbers of boats broke adrift, and were carried out to
Eel. I regret to say that the chief, if not only, sufferers
were among our Church
people. Similar calamities were
experienced in the other out-harbours. In the small
settlement of Logy Bay eighteen boats were lost; great
damage was done at Torbay to craft and fishing-rooms;
and at Ponah Cove only one boat and one flake escaped.
In short, one history, suits all places over which the storm
passed—Portugal Cove, Petty Harbour, South Shore, &C.
" At Petty Harbour one man was killed and two others
dangerously wounded by the fall of a flake. In the Bay
of Balls two young men were killed, and their father, an
aged man, so hurt that his life is despaired of, by the
falling of the roof of their house or store. In Fleet's
Mission a young woman was severely injured by a flake
coming down upon her.
" Poor Coyle had a most merciful and narrow escape.
He was off the Narrows in the height of the gale, but
could not attempt to enter, and, as his only resource, bad
to run his vessel ashore in Freshwater Bay. Providen-
tially he hit the beach at the head of it, and though with
considerable difficulty and risk, all on board, with the
exception of one poor lad, the son and chief support of.
his widowed mother, and a member of the Church, saved
their lives by means of a rope thrown to them from the
shore. This lad lost his self-possession, and, as soon as
the vessel touched the ground, leaped off the jibboom
arid was killed. The cabin passengers were Mr. Col-
bourne and the two Misses Peytono, of Twillingate.
The conduct of these young ladies was most heroic. A
brig, belonging to Houells, commanded by a Churchman,
was driven into and lost at Ponah Cove. One of her
crew, an Englishman, perished. Mr. Hoyles and his
wife, who, as your Lordship knows, were to have come
by Coylo, returned thanks on Sunday for a providential
escape from shipwreck.

"'Tuesday,
Sept. 22.
Sad news has reached us to-day
from Renews. The boat has brought the bodies of four
drowned men, who perished in endeavouring to escape
from their "Jack " in that harbour. They belonged to
Port-de-Grave. Many other boats from that place were
in Renews during the gale; four, with their crews on
i
hoard, were driven out to sea; and, it is feared, were
of sour ur
from Lordship
r ds
theirhp
i
And your companions
hope that the flight of the
masters, we are led to . Several vessels, which have
lost, as nothing has since been heard or seen of them.
" As the storm was so heavy here, you will believe
that we thought much of "rhe Hawk,' and I must
,Hime
dl was
encountered who
n p
nr
t g enough to keep
e ss et rr
nv
en th L
is
fearful weatherservants by ;
seaconfess
a s
in
a
me free from all anxietyuir accountownehavemade
d
comehn frinnm thesinee inquiries
' Sacer ales' had been progressive enough to have car-
ried her, if not beyond the reach of the storm, yet so
near the edge of its circle, that, comparatively, it fell
lightly upon her. These vessels were most of them
e!o.ie in upon the land ; the one that was furthest off
was only about thirty miles distant, a, d we calcu-
late you hail got much further before the gale came on.
God grant it ! The steamer which. came in this after-
noon, about four o'clock, had a stiff breeze on Friday
evening, the day she lett Halifax ; but Saturday was a
beautiful day with her. And in proof tl-at the extent
over which the storm raged was not very great, I have
learned from some of our people from Harbour
Beaufett-, and other parts of Placentia, Bay, that the
weather there on Saturday was, by comparison, mode-
rate. How thankful shall we be to hear of and from
your Lordship!
" Accept, my dear Lord, the assurance of our regard
and affection ; and that you are not forgotten in the
poor y pra es•, r ' of this family, or in those of your Lord-
' ' '• dutiful and faithful sen and servant,
sAip a , "
THOMAS F. H. BRIDGE.
" The R,:ght Rev, the Lord Bishop of Newfoundland.
" P.S. The Western Circuit vessel was lost on one of
the French islands ; all on board were saved but one,
brought in yesterday from
and they were St. Pierre in
one of the French steamers. Mr. Roberts reports that
the boat in which he had shipped his Grates Cove col-
lection of fish was lost, with all her cargo."

At the two hotels of Ballinasloe in two days last
week, during the great fair, two thousand four hun-
dred turkeys were slaughtered for the guests, and the
this grand
cpuroisyinidelesitukeert all the heads as a trophy of

BoLTifs, THunsDAY.—Yesterday evening Dr. Bow•
ring, the Linsral Mein'oer for this borough, in evazortl-
arice with kis annual cutitoni, 3. visit to Bolton, for
the purpose of explaining his ?arliamentary conduct to
his constituents. The meeting took place in the Tem-
perance Hall, which, notwithstanding the wetness of the
evening, was crowded in every part. An attempt had
been made to excite a prejudice against the Honourable
Member on account of his continual refusal to vote for
the Ten Hours' Bill, but it filled.
ROBERT HEY WOOD, Esq., was called to the chair, and
he briefly stated the chject of the meeting, and called
upon Dr. Bowring to address the assembly.
Dr. BOWILING came forward amidst cheers, and said—
Gentlemen, in one observation of my worthy friend,
whom you have honoured by calling to the chair, I do
not c,:ncur. He says he is sorry to see such a crowded
assembly. Now, in such a presence I rejoice ; for it
is my pride, my highest pride and satisfaction, to
come before so many of the good people of Boltoa as
are now gathered together, to render to them—electors
and non-electors—an account of the manner in which
I have discharged that high and honourable mission
with which they have entrusted me. When I im-

posed upon myself this duty I voluntarily engaged, from
time to time, that I would come amongst you to discuss
those questions of public and of Parliamentary interest
in which you are concerned; to give an account to you—
I your servant, and you my masters—of the views I hare
formed and the votes I have given on public affairs; and
to endeavour to ascertain, as far as I am able, how far
those votes and how far those opinions represent the
community with which I have the honour and privilege
of being associated. And now, at the end of one of the
most remarkable, sessions of Parliamentary history—at
the end of a session in which questions of ;the greatest
importance have been discussed and passed—l come to
tell you of the part which your representative has taken,
and I come to inquire of you whether, in your judgment,
I have worthily fulfilled the engagement upon which I
- .entered--7whether,l have done whati promised to do, or
haat- in scrdaiff.- -Thessesaioh 'has beenlong and 'labo
rious—memorable I may call it. It has seen great
changes and great conversions. Your representative has
not been converted, because he was an old representa-
tive of those opinions which at last have obtained the
sanction of a Parliamentary majority. Your represen-
tative has not changed any of the views which first re-
commended him to your notice, or that influenced his
conduct, or his character and his conduct. I told you
from the first, what I now repeat, that the greatest good
of the greatest number would be the object to which my
attention would always be turned—that I considered
myself the representative of the interests of the many,
and especially of the unrepresented—for I know, as
you all know, that the rich and the mighty have many to
care about their concerns, many to legislate for their
interests, whilst I thought, and still think, that there are
too few who are now interested in the well-being of the
great mass of the community. Now representing, as I
always hope to do, the great interests of this great mass,
you will do me the justice to own that there are
some occasions on which my opinions have not always
been in accordance with them, or with the opinions of
many of them. Yet to many questions on which the
well- being of the laborious multitude is concerned, I have
endeavoured to devote a constant and religious attention;
and now I come before you to review what has been
done. I can conscientiously put my hand upon my
heart, and say that neither fear nor favour has influenced
any vote of mine; that as I never bought you, so I never
sold you, and that whatever has been, and whatever may
be the principles to which I am pledged, I am, and can
be firm; and I hope that nothing will seduce me from
the path of public duty. From time to time one great
question has engaged the community in this district.
It will be to the honour of Lancashire that the founda-
tions were laid of that great alliance and magnificenct
union, bringing together the intelligence, the activity,
and virtue of the manufacturing and labouring com-
munity, and headed by excellent men, they marched
against the great citadel of monopoly. At the be-
ginning of this session of Parliament that citadel
appeared to stand on a firm foundation, and those who
defended it treated us, the assaulters, with scorn and
mockery, but aided in the good cause, and supported by
public opinion, we have been able to tear up that castle
from its very foundations, and have marched triumphant
over its ruins.—(Applause.) Bolton was asked its opi-
nion, and Bolton demanded, through its representative,
the immediate and total, the irrevocable repeal of the
corn-law.—(Cheers.) It has been irrevocably repealed.
I wish the repeal had been total and immediate.—(Loud
cheers.) That question still presses upon you and the
community at large. Far better would it have been if
the Government had done what a small band of faithful
men attempted, instead of leaving that miserable frag-
ment of a sliding scale, which will totter during the few
years that it has to remain. Far better would it have
been if the repeal had been total and immediate (espe-
cially at this moment, when millions are menaced with
opened for the free admission of food from every part
of the known world. You have heard me say again and
avain, that what it is right to do should be done corn •
pletely, and should be done promptly. I grieve for the
delay which has taken place, and I rejoice at the move-
ment which is now taking place, entreating her Majesty
to open the ports of this country to let the corn which
the people of this country want come in free from every
part of the world.—(Cheers.) We have, at last, exhibited
a noble example to mankind. It was idle and vain for us
to talk about free trade to foreign nations. They told
us to recollect—when we went with our arguments in
favour of free trade, they pointed to our laws in favour
of monopoly, and that was a tufficient answer to all our
-hypocritical protestations. But at last the force of
argument and the effects of the urgent necessities of the
time have brought many men to our opinions. But
the principles of free trade have been strong enough to
upset and to create governments. Their mission is
being accomplished here, and it is being accomplished in
foreign lands. Mr. Cobden, than whom there is no more
worthy representative of the middle classes of this
country—the best portion of the population—that popu-
lation of whom a celebrated writer said there were the
dregs below and the scum above, but in the middle
classes of society there was everything excellent—that
man who above all men represents the feeling of the
manufacturing population, is gone forth conquering and
to conquer in other lands.—(Cheers.) By his own good
sense he forced c nviction, by his own quiet demeanour
he conducted the judgment of others, and by his honesty
and enthusiasm he will win golden opinions ; and the
time is not far remote when that which has been done
at home will be accomplished abroad, and the barriers
which have separated us from other lands will be broken
down, enabling us to communicate to them the en-
joyments of which we have a superfluity, and taking
from them the produce which they have in ex-
cess. Free trade has found an utterance in
France, free trade has found an utterance in
Belgium, and even in Spain a committee has already
been formed, and our high-minded and honoured friend
has found a welcome in that once distinguished and
heroic land. It has spread through Europe, and it is
spreading in America and England, and now the words
of wisdom and truth are echoed over the land. The
voice of England is heard, and will still be heard in sup-
port of the interests of our common humanity. That
has no doubt been the great object of the past session.
It perhaps is more becoming in me to look to the pre•
sent and to the future, which they can influence, than to
the past, which they cannot change; and snore appro-
priate is it that I should speak to you of future inten-
tions and of coming events, rather than of those which
have passed away, and which we can neither modify nor
alter. Yet there is one subject on which I have carried
your friendly opinion and support, I speak of military
flogging. I need not tell you of the horrors of that
system.—(Hear, hear.) I voted for its overthrow again
and again in days gone by. But a case occurred so
horrid in its consequences, the case at Hounslow, in
which a man was declared by the verdict of a jury to
have been punished to death, who had not been con-
demned to die. That case excited in the public mind
so strong a feeling, that I deemed it my duty to
take advantage of that feeling to struggle for the
abolition of that species of punishment—a punish-
ment so dishonouring to our country, and so dis-
honouring to our race—a punishment which implied that
the men of England were made of baser and viler stuff

than the men of other nations who had not felt it neces-
sary to employ the scourge in order to preserve what is
called military discipline.--(Loud cheers.) I gave notice
in the House of Commons that it was my intention to
move for the total abolition of this abomination. I was
requested to delay. I was assured that I might " em-
barrass" the proceedings of the authorities if I mooted a
question so ticklish, and upon which the public mind was
so sensitive. I thought it my duty to persevere and to
test the House of Commons, and to ascertain whether
there was in a House of Commons, calling themselves
the representatives of the people, a majority who would
consent to tolerate the longer continuance of this wicked
and unworthy mode of punishment. The Duke of Wel-
lington became a little alarmed, and I was assured that
if I would only wait, everything should be done that
could possibly be accomplished in the existing state of
things. My answer was, that if• any fragment was left
of the system, that system I would still denounce, and
endeavour to overthrow.—(Cheers.) The Government
came forward, and declared that they had reduced the
punishment to only fifty lashes, and they hoped that
would satisfy me and satisfy others. My answer
was, " No—(Loud cheers)—while there is the power
to inflict one lash on the back of a soldier,
I will still protest, and divide the House"—(Chetrs)—
and to that pledge and promise I continued faithful. I
did not carry my motion; but be assured that this tor-
turing scourge will ere long be laid aside; for only three
nights after my motion was rejected in the Howe of
Commons, I myself had the pleasure of hearing the Duke
of Wellington say he rejoiced that ho had been able to
modify the punishment, and that he hoped the army
might be disciplined without flogging, and that he
trusted he might be able to see the day when it would
be for ever and finally abolished.—(Cheers.) In acting
as I have done on this occasion and upon this topic, I
feel sure that I shall not have forfeited your good opi-
nion.—(Loud cheers.) And now we stand surrounded
by many embarrassments and many difficulties. True
it is that the government of Sir Robert Peel has pissed
away, and has been succeeded by another, respecting
which I moo, sly, that if my individual affections only

were to be consulted, I should look upon them with
greater confidence. But I have learned to distrust pub-
lic men.--(Hear, hear.) I am bound to inquire, and
:1311 inquire, from whet Minis:ry most ec.n be cb-
shied fix the people. I hone that Lord JAin
outbid Sir Robert Peel in his elicits for the well
being of the community. I hope he will' uproot abuses
more courageously—that he will introduce reforms more
rapidly and more perseveringly—that he will give more
ample effect to those liberal principles which he
professes, than we could exptct from a Gouernment
,s,llich called itself Conservative. But if he fail, lam
not the servant of' the Government. And if Sir Robert
Ikel can outbid Lord John Russell, Sir Robert Peel
shall have my support.—(Cheers.) Parties, as you are
aware, are broken into pieces. The very Parliament
that was sent to support monopoly was the instrument
for its destruction—the very Parliament that was sent
together to oppose the demands of' the people ceded
those demands—the very Parliament with whose advent
Toryism triumphed has given Toryism to the winds.—
(Loud cheers.) But now what is to be done I,x Ireland?
fh.er2 are millions of men famishing in that country.
No one who holds a seat in the Legislature can consider
the question of Ireland without feeling the high and
awful responsibility which attaches to him. Let the
laws which govern Ireland govern England.—(Cheers.)
Let us have no separate legislation.—(Cheers) Let
Irishmen, and Scotchmen, and Welshmen, and English-
men be held equal in the judgment of the law. I would
not impose on Ireland any peculiar burdens, because I
love Irishmen ; I will not give to Ireland any peculiar
benefit, because I represent the English. But let us
have justice for all—(Cheers)—the same rights, the
same laws, the same recognition of privileges which in
every free country belong to every free man. I know
that there are many amongst the Irish landlords who
think that the representatives of England will give them
a poor-law in Ireland to be paid for with English money.
I don't think that fair. Ido not think it fair for us to
put our paupers upon them. There are some who think
that it would become England to endow the Irish
clergy. I strop ly dissent from that. lam not for exi-
le* MO -ay PO°
r-.. .

ihee,
~0 thisslibjebt fof
there are some persons who think that the Irish clergy
can be bribed with English money, and that the Irish
people will be silent under whatever distress they may
suffer. I would rather that the Irish clergy should be
supported by the Irish people, and be content with the
voluntary aid which they receive from their consci-
entous followers. With regard to the education of t'.e
people, I look upon it as the foundation of the people's
happiness, and I shall aid any measure proposed for their
general instruction. I propose voluntary education ;
and I do not hesitate to say, that I would much rather
the community would do what is done in many parts of
Europe—provide for the instruction of the rising gene-
ration. I know countries in which there is not a child
who is not taught to read and write by the spontaneous
liberality of the public ; and I wish that were the case
here. I wish that everybody could be convinced that
the peace and prosperity of society depends on raising
the people higher and higher, and not in trampling them
down lower and lower.—(Cheers.) They must be edu-
cated, but not in a sectarian spirit, nor in a way that
will offend their religious prejudices. I would not
have creeds taken into the school, for this might
arouse religiOus prejudices in their breasts. If Parlia-
ment understand its high mission, it will occupy itself
in inquiring how it can improve the social state. Some
attention has been paid towards improving the dwel-
lings of the people, at:d attempts have been made to
make water cheaper and more accessible. Other laws
have been introduced for improving ventilation and
drainage, and I hope we shall see more improvement
in the recreation of the people, such as providing public
parks. One of the advantages of peace is, that men will
not be carried away into foreign regions, to have their
passions excited by tales of bloody battles and unproduc-
tive victories—tales of men brought together, not for the
purposes of mutual benefit, but of mutual destruction—
not to serve the interests of peace and love, but those of
war and hate to one another. I have great reason to
believe that the question of the improvement of the con-
dition of the people will be amongst the subjects next to
be brought before Parliament: for now a greater neces-
sity is felt for the enactment of laws that will improve
and elevate their stations in society. Such inquiries will
have my cordial aid. The other day I moved in the
House of Commons, for the third time, for a return of

the money taken from the pockets of the people, and
which never went into the Exchequer, and which was
paid again without any Parliamentary sanction. Would
you believe that it amounts to seven millions sterling?
Seven millions sterling are received by the different de-
partments of the Government, and paid out again with-
out any previous Parliamentary sanction or control. I
have known particular offices in which the parties, when
they wanted money, got it by selling old stores. I would
not allow any department to sell old stores; and if they
did, I would take care that the money which they pro-
duced should go into the Treasury. Having stated his
IvilliraPPA,,abi.q.36sfriliP,:giit'doiCaniiiist loud cheers..

In answer to a qaestion from an operative named
RIDER

Dr. BOWRING declined to vote for the Ten Hours' Bill.
A vote of thanks was then given to the Doctor for his
general Parliamentary conduct; and after a voto had
Leen pa,srd in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill, the pro-
ceedings terminated.

THE MANCHESTER ATHENJEUM
ENTERTAINMENTS.

MANCHESTER, THURSDAY. -^ The grand soirée and
ball, which have usually comprised the whole of the
annual entertainments given by the directors and mana-
gers of the Athenaeum, have been this year preceded by
a public breakfast to the principal guests, at the Albion
Hall, Piccadilly. The breakfast was given yesterday
morning in the handsome apartment denominated the
concert-room, where covers had been laid for about eighty
gentlemen. Mark Philips, Esq., M.P., President of the
Institution, took the chair, and on his right were seated
the Mayor of Manchester, his Grace the Archbishop o
Dublin, the Right Hon. T. M. Gibson, M.P., William
Brown, Esq., M.P., Dr. West, and John Potter, Esq.;
on the left of the Hon. Chairman were Joseph Brother-
ton, Esq., M.P., Charles Swain, Esq., G. Dawson, Esq.,
M.A., and James Heywood, Esq. At the other tables
were W. Chambers, Esq., A. Ireland, Esq., W. Gibb,
Esq., Malcolm Ross, Esq., Edward Blackmore, Esq.,
J. C. Prescott, Esq., D. Gaskill, Esq., T. Baker, Esq.,
Z. Leigh, Esq., J. J. Hayes, Esq., E. P. Lamport,
Esq., B. Syddall, Esq., T. S. Clayton, Esq., J. M‘Gregor,
Esq., T. B. Potter, Esq., Charles Mackay, Esq., LL.D.,
John Sudlow, jun., Esq., J. A. Turner, Esq.. W. H.
Myers, Esq., Rev. H. H. Jones, R. Leake, Esq., S.
Bamford, Esq., G. Greaves, Esq , C. Pountney, Esq., Dr.
Booth, vice-principal of the Liverpool Collegiate Institu-
tion ; Dr. Hodgson, E Chadwick, Esq„ poor-law com-
missioner ; J. Kennedy, Esq., James Burton, jun., Esq.,
E. T. Bellhouse, Esq.. Peter Thomson, Esq., H. T.
Robberds, Esq., Peter Royale, Esq., W. Marsden, Esq.,
G. Winter, Esq., W. H. Ainsworth. Esq., Dr. Satter-
thwaite, Dr. E. Holme, C. H. Cope, Esq.
Tho vice-presidents on this occasion were A. Watkin,
Esq., and James Crossley, Esq.
The breakfast covers having been withdrawn,

The CHAIRMAN rose and said,—As the very unworthy
individual who occupied pro tent. the office of President of
the Manchester Athenaeum, it had devolved upon him to
occupy that chair, and, with their permission, he would en-
deavour to state the object of the present meeting, and why
it was that the directors of this institution thought it de-
sirable to bring a few of the gentlemen who had con-
sented to honour them with their presence at their an-
nual soirée together this morning.—(Hear, hear.) The
directors thought that as there were many distinguished
individuals present from different parts of the empire,
many of whom would be probably unacquainted with
each other, and with the nature and history of the insti-
tution they were met to honour, that it was desirable the
directors and they should have some little opportunity of
an interchange of sentiment and conversation before we
met for the more important proceedings of the day, which
was the soirée to take place in the evening.—(Hear.) Mr.
Edwards, one of the directors of the Atheneum, was
prepared and anxious to state concisely to their friends
from a distance what were the objects of the Manchester
Atheneum—what was its present state of prosperity as
contrasted with the past—and, as to the future, they
would leave that to the anticipations of its friends ;
soliciting at the same time the assistance of their friends
who had so kiadly come from a distance, as to any sug.
gestions they might be able or willing to throw out for
promoting or increasing the welfare and usefulness of
the institution, which we in Manchester cherish with so
much pride and pleasure. It was pleasing to him, he
was sure, to think that their institution had weathered
the storm so far. It had been in peril, it had been
threatened with destruction, but it was now they had
reason to hope, besed upon a rock, and could be able to
defy every danger with which it might be assailed.—
(Loud applause.) They were not dependent upon the
support of royalty or the great; many of the institutions
of the town, such as the Infirmary, and another institu-
tion having for its object the fostering of art—the Royal
Institution—had the benefit, and well deserved it, of the
royal patronage ; but he was not aware that the support
of royalty could of itself make this a more ♦aluable or a
more useful institution.—(Hear.) We in Manchester
had been taught to rely mainly upon ourselves, upon our
own efforts, and he thought there was no town in the
kingdom which could give nobler examples of how
much might be accomplished by a reliance upon such
means.—(dear, and applause.) They did rot expect to
be complimented by strangers upon the state of
the streets, upon the architectural beau ties of
their principal edifices, or upon the sewerage or
sanatory regulations of the town; but this he would say,
that there was great progress making in that direction.
He hoped, however, that while they were thus attending
to the improvement of the outward and physical com-
forts of the community, it would not be supposed they
were neglecting that more important duty, withoutwhich
all other improvements must soon have an end, the cul
tivation of the mind. And while he spoke of mental
cultivation, he did believe that our Manchester Ache-
mum would prove one of the most valuable institutions

in the town for that purpose—(Loud applause)— and as
it was supported by the town without reliance upon any
extraneous aid, it was an instnnce of how much might be
accomplished by a reliance upon local energy and self-
exertion in a good cause.—(Continued applause.) lie
should now call upon Mr. Edwards to make his report
without further trespassing on the time of the meeting.

lie had felt that it was a mistake en the part of the
Atheneum to have done him the honour of electing him
their president.—(No, no)--because he knew that his
public avocations were such as to call him from town,
and to prevent him attending their meetings and giving
his attention to the general business of th institution ;
he was, however, when he accepted that office, perfectly
satisfied that the office was an honorary one, so long as
! • it was in the hands of more able directors, and he had no
doubt that the report which Mr. Edwards would lay
before the meeting would show that the institution was
cherished and conducted by a body of men who desired
to make it as useful as possible, and who, along with
' that desire, also possessed the means.—(Applause.)
Mr. EDWARDS then read the report, which detailed the
origin and progress of the institution, and stated that
the number of members at present was 2,504.
The CHAIR:IAN said he had been requested to state
thott7h Lord Morpeth hat{ not been rlie to honour
them with his company to breakfast, he was neverthe-
less in the town, and though absent in person was with
them in spirit.—(Cheers.) In stating what was at this
time occupying his Lordship's attention, he might ob-
serve that he was! experiencing a difficulty which was
often fi It by others—the impossibility of being every-
where at one and the same time.—(A laugh). His
Lordship, as one of the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests, however, was anxious to look at the new pub-
lic parks which had been opened in Manchester—(Ap-
plause) —his Lordship btit.g at the present time engaged
in laying out one himself under the direction of the
Woods and Forests, and which contained what in the
view of the Manche: ter people was a great desideratum
in grounds of this kind, no less than nine acres of
cricket ground.—(Applause.) Ilis Lordship had re-
quested Mr. James Heywood to communicate these
facts, so that it might be understood it was from no
want of sympathy he was not with them this morning.
—(Applause.) He now begged to call on Mr. Charles
Mackay to say a few words.
CRARLES Maesa.v, Esq., immediately rose, but spoke
in so low a tone that but few of his observations reached
the reporter. He was understood to say that he was
called upon most unexpectedly, but he c.eued not help ex-
pressing the deep satisfaction he felt as one interested in
the education and improvement of the people, in being
present on this occasion. As regarded the education of
the people, the foundation of such institutions as this,
perhaps, was hardly connected with it in the sense to
which the public attention was now being generally di-
rected; but at the same time, if education on a broader
basis was to be attempted, and we were to have a
Minister of Education, he hoped institutions like this
would rt.ceive his attention; that he might be inducel,
tor instance, where such an institution had expended a
thousand pounds, to give another thousand. In a large
and wealthy_ town like tbis„..perhep4, there might be
L.ktuts need-,forsueh litaiehlalL*4ll4*llyouraitinamt but in
smaller towns, not blessed filthiirosperity like this, there
was very great occasiou for it. In the town with which
he himself was connected (Glmsgow) there was no such
institution as this; no public library, no athenaeum, no
public parks ; such institutions had been tried, but had
not flourished. Disgrace attached to them, perhaps, for
taring failed, but nevortheless it was a fact, showing the
desirability of aid such as he lead hinted at.—(Hear,
hear.) He again expressed his gratification in being
present on this occasion.

Charles Pountney, Esq., Wm. Chambers, Esq , of
Edinburgh, and several riper gentlemen, having spoken,
His Grace the Archbishop of DUBLIN was next called
upon, and was received with much applause. He said it
would be superfluous to detain them with expressions of
sympathy, because his presence here on this occasion ex•
pressed all that sufficiently.—(Applause.) He certainly
should not have left the very numerous and pressing
calls he had upon his time in Dublin, to come here for
the purpose of looking at a mere raree-show, or attend-
ing a dance.—(Laughter.) He bad thought it incum.
bent upon him tai show the interest he had in everything
which concerned the diffusion of knowledge, and with
that view he had great pleasure in attending the present
proceedings, and he must say that, from everything he
had seen and everything he had heard in the inquiries
he had made, he had no reason to repent; for everything
had come up to the opinion he had formed of their in-
stitution.—(Applause.) He need not say anything about
his anxiety to promote education, because his life had
been occupied in official or non-official efforts of that
kind; but he must say that he thought it important to
a town like this that they should have an institution
like the Athenaeum. It might not be the warmest pane-
gyric to pass upon them for having such an institution,
but he would say that it not only did the town credit,
but that the previous want of it did them great
discredit.—(Hear, bear.) He thought it incumbent
upon a town like this to see that the progress
of knowledge kept pace with the progress of num-
bers and wealth; or it must follow that what had been a
sufficient amount of knowledge or education for a small
population would be disgracefully small for one very
much increased in that respect.—(Hear, hear.) Of
course he did not expect, nor should he ever suppose,
that an institution like this would famish to its mem-
bers a complete education. The members of such an
institution were already engaged in professional pursuits
of life, and he did not wish, nor had they any means of
giving their time to the going through a regular course
of education such as was given at the universities; but,
considering that they had a good library, which afforded
the means, to those who were desirous of it, of acquiring
knowledge and of improving their minds, making up for
what had been previously left imperfect in their educa-
tion, he thought this institution a most valuable one. He
was sorry to say that they were very deficient in this
point in Ireland. They lied been, till a late period, very
deficient in the means of education generally, and thoueh
chTs•es, their systell;l:.'-'l,lll_ been made among the Itglolm
had long been, as the company was: aware, a university
fo. the education of the upper classes, but it appeared to
him that they were cultivating the highest and the lowest,
and leaving the middle classes comparatively neglected.
—(hear.) There was some provision for those who
were to be brought up to the learned professions, and
for those who belonged to the class of labourers
and paupers; but for those who were to become
clerks, and shopmen, and apprentices. the despised
class alluded to by a gentleman who bad pre-
viously addressed the meeting—(Loud laughter)—
for those there was so great a deficiency of the means
of education, that he was afraid the common labourers
would surpass them. They wanted better schools for
the middle classes, and institutions to furnish books, and
for encouraging a taste for reading. as well as to supply
lectures. He considered lectures without a library, and
a library without lectures, a very imperfect means of
conveying instruction. The means of access to lectures
and books together furnished, he would not say a perfect
education, but the best means perhaps that could be
supplied to those whose main time was occupied in the
pursuits by which they were to earn their living, and
maintain their position in society.—(Hear.) He could
suppose that there were many who thought it a *rude
sort of education, and that they did not pursue such a
means of education under the best circumstances ; he
could undertake to say that the means of education the
Athena um possessed might not be the best that could be
bestowed upon those who looked fur a learned education ;
but the question was, not whether it was the best, but
whether the young men for whom it was designed should
spend their time in card-playing and drinking, or per-
haps worse, or whether they should have some kind of
mental culture.—(Hear, hear, and applause.) With
respect to the books with which the library was stored,
he supposed they were well chosen ; but as to the
periodicals and newspapers on their tables, of course
they took in those of all sects and parties. No doubt
the person who had these before him had a vast quantity
of trash. There was no kind of misrepresentation the
public might not find in newspapers—(Much laughter)—
but what would become of that individual who read
only one kind of newspaper !—(Hear, hear.) He would
become associated with some party clique, and his mind
would become embued with narrow sentiments ; but if
he had the %hole, even if he did not choose wisely, he
had at all events the best chance of doing so.—(Hear.
hear.) It was the will of Providence that men should
be subject to good and evil, and because this earth was
not heaven men must not be left without hope. All
that could be done by such an institution as this was to
give light„—(Applause.) We ought to lay knowledge
before their members, and if they made a bad use of it,
withinthe
ycolled
mnoetanhselopf it.e—n (tloleaerh,oohseear.)If
between they
evil, they pursued the system which the Almighty him-
self had pointed out. We must guide ourselves with the
oodpu and
itd
faculties he has endowed us with. We must say as the
inspired prophet said, " Behold, I have set before you
this day good and evil ; now, therefore, choose the
good."—(Loud cheers.)
Several other gentlemen briefly addressed the com-
pany, which broke up at a little before twelve o'clock.

EAST INDIAN FLOUR.—A ship, just arrived at
Liverpool, from Calcutta, had on board, in addition to
the usual description of cargo from the place named.
100 bags of flour. We believe this to be rather a novel
description of importation from the East Indies, amongst
the almost numberle-s productions of that rich and fer-
tile soil ; at least, a similar one does not recur to our me-
mory, and therefore we deem it our duty to make this
the subject of especial mention for the information of
the numerous parties who will necessarily feel interested
in the matter.
whom he
Lord Ribblesdale, at Christ Church, with
forTd.hemPerewmenietrrohrasobeepenurpspoesendoifnegn
taerifenwg
hdia.sysswat
_o3oxn-
dined in the noble hall of that college .
whichbli, in
bliiasurds of passage. Likeperiods
the
i
NEWSPAPER CURIOSITY.--
t is not generally known
treft reference eleven
.ren to the years, a news-
opt that ap
itste
paper in
ph ue
cahar atrisoo
wnbge,
aertnee,s.
em
es
swallows, it makes its appearance each successive season
with the commencement of the summer months, and with
the swallow it disappears at the close of the season. Its
existence each year varies according to the state of the
weather, from four to five months. As a few fine days
in the beginning of the summer summons it from the
sleep of winter, so a few unpropitious days towards the
close of autumn consigns it anew to the grave. The
earliness and long contonuance of the fine weather have
given to the Harrowgate Advertiser an unusually pro-
tracted existence this year. Its term of life in the year
of grace 1846 extended to five months. The broken
weather of last week put an abrupt termination to its
days, the " Visitors" to the celebrated watering place in
which it is published having suddenly taken flight on
the setting in of the heavy rains. The proprietor, at
the close of each season, gives a farewell address to his
supporters, in imitation of the lessees of theatres, thank-
ing them for past patronage, and bespeaking future fa-
vours. The editor closes his valedictory address on
Saturday last in these words:—" We sincerely regret
to part with so many kind patrons and supporters, but
we are cheered during the winter months of separation
in the hope of meeting them again, should Divine Pro-
vidence spare us to renew our acquaintance and pur-
sue our humble labours." This newspaper curiosity
consists of a small single sheet. It has five columns in
each page, is published at fourpence, and is tastefully
got up.