The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-27 00:00:00

TESTIMONIAL to MR. ETWALL.

70 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sut,—l am a poor man, with a very small wife, who I
has given unequivocal proofs that she will at no distant
time honour (?) me with a most tremendous family—
tremendous in numerical power: for although I have not
as yet seen thirty summers, five slices must come off the
loaf ere I can safely calculate on touching it, so that if
matters go on at this rate I shall be compelled, in a few
years more, to place myself under the fatherly (?)
guardianship of the Poor-law Commissioners ; and it is
with such a dim shadowing of the future, that I beg to
call your attention to a proposal for a suitable testi-
monial from all who are similarly situated to myself, in
humble and sincere acknowledgment for the persevering
exertions of Mr. Etwall, M.P., in the cause of outraged
humanity and oppressed poverty, as disclosed at the
Andover inquiry. Sir, I feel, and every labouring man
feels, that had it not been for the worrying of Mr. Etvt all
for an investigation, those dreadful cruelties would still
be in operation against the unfortunate victims of poverty
and want, whose sufferings would have been treated by
another Six James Graham as " a workhouse squabble in
the south of England." But Mr. Etwall has unkennelled
the lot—he is the terrier of the " House"—and, backed
by the all-powerful aid of the press, has succeeded in
drawing these filthy badgers from their holes (the Right
Hon. Baronet amongst the number), and exposing their
meanness to the world. Well, Sir, having said :o much
by way of preface, I'll now tell you my proposal. Let a
penny subscription be entered into for the purpose of
presenting Mr. Etwall with a piece of plate, as an humble
testimony of gratitude from the working men of Eng-
land, for his disinterested advocacy in their behalf. I
know there are thousands who are anxiously waiting
for such a mode of thanking the Hon. Gentleman for his
services, as well as to prove to the legalised oppressors of
the helpless in their adversity, that the labouring classes
have souls that feel, and heads that can appreciate the
services of their friends ; nor must the press be omitted
in such thanksgiving. The press is the great lever that
directs the battering-ram of public opinion against the
statute-bound citadel of cruel misgovernment and official
wrong. Honour to the press—the dreaded scourge
of all who turn a deaf ear to the wailings of
misery, and sneer at the wretchedness of their
fellow creatures—the free and unbonght press—and
there honour is given only where honour is due.
This is the suggestion of a working man—will you give
it publicity, that the labouring classes of this kingdom
may see that the proposal emanates from one of their
own order, who, like themselves, wishes to testify his
sense of gratitude for the triumph over consolidated
tyranny by one of the few humane and disinterested
champions of the poor.
If you should feel inclined to aid in such a praise-
worthy object, when it is completed, I have a design in
my mind's eye that might not be deemed inappropriate.
ONE OF THE MILLION.
Chenies-street, Bedford-square, Aug. 25.

THE GERMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCIT.

On Sunday afternoon, the Rev. Johannes Czerski,
whose name from its frequent association with Dr. Rouge,
in his mission through several of the German States, to
procure converts to the recently formed sect of Pro-
testants, must b.? familiar to the English public, delivered
an address on the subject of the religious movement in
Germany, at Trinity Chapel, John-street, Edgware-road.
From three o'clock, when the address commenced, until
its close at half-past four o'clock, there was scarcely
standing room in the chapel, and several persons went
away unable to obtain admission. The greater part of
the congregation was English, from an announcement
that the address, which was spoken in the German lan-
guage, would be interpreted ; but there were also
many Germans, members of the various German Roman
Catholic and Protestant chapels in the metropolis.
The service commenced by the delivery of a prayer
for the success of the movement in Germany, after
which a portion of the Gospel of St. John was read, and
an English hymn sung. The Rev. J. Czerski then pro-
ceeded with his address, taking as his text, the 32d verse
of the Sth chapter of St. John, containing the following
words:—" And ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free." The Rev. Mr. Herschel', minister
of the; chapel, also stood in the pulpit, and interpreted
the discourse sentence by sentence. M. Czerski observed
that he came amongst them, a stranger in habits and
customs, but was their brother in inward union and
fellowship. He came to bear testimony to the truth
which had made him free, and the freedom he had re.
ceived from truth, and through which thousands upon
thousands had arisen from the torpor in which they had
long been slumbering. Great was the spiritual sleep
from which the people had been raised, and he did not
deny that his eyes had been closed in that sleep. Be-
fore he awoke, he sought for salvation not from God,
but from man and human institutions. He was brought
up very strictly in the Roman Catholic religion, and
intended for the priesthood, but was early struck with
the fallacy thrust upon him, that none but those
within the pale of that Church could be saved.
He described his inward struggles before he renounced
his religion, and gave the arguments which had de-
termined his change. After his conversion he looked
around and saw millions in the same chains which had
formerly bound him. He found, instead of confession to
God, prostration before man ; saw a religion in force
which undermined the wealth of kingdoms, and had set
nation against nation for centuries. Contrasting Catholic
countries with Protestant England, he saw the fault was
not in the people, but in their guides. Now that he had
freed himself he had been followed by the anathemas
and persecutions of Rome, but truth gave him power to
dare the punishment of men. This was not only his
case but that of many others. There were now 200
congregations in Germany, which had been converted
from the Roman Catholic Church. In conclusion, he
addressed himself to such Roman Catholics as might be
(resent, urging them to renounce their religion, and
,e free.

At the close of the address, the Rev. Mr. Herschel!
said that he had made the closest scrutiny into the re-
ligious opinions of M. Czerski, and felt assured that the
important object he had at heart—the reformation of
Germany—was well worthy the support and encourage-
ment of England. M. Czerski arrived a week ago, and
would leave London next week.

HERRING FISHERY.

---
DUNBAR, AUGUST 25.—The fishing for the last two
days has been good • better this morning than in any
morning during the season. From the number of
curers, and the season being far advanced, prices still
keep ; about 15s. a cran is generally given.
BERWICK, AUGUST 21.—Our herring fishing this
week has still been very light, and no general take of
herrings has taken place sincelour last. Although a few
boats have got from twelve to twenty crans this week,
yet the greater part have not taken ten crans for the
whole week.

lIOLY ISLANDS, AUGUST 19.—The good appearances
from which we expected so much at the beginning of the
week have not been realised, the highest shot of her-
rings on Monday being eleven crans. On Tuesday the
fishing was general. but no great shot. This morning
there was a great falling off, the highest being three
crans, with the exception of one strange boat, which
had 24 crans. In consequence of the thick fog only
three boats are out to-night.
NORTH SUNDERLAND, AUG. 20. —Since OUT last the
fishing has been progressing, but with little success,
and the quantity of fish taken is far short of last week.
Some few boats have fallen in with from two to twenty
crans, but upon the whole the fishing has not been
good. The fishermen say they expect the fish yet to
set in as the tide comes to hand. The Customhouse
officers have ordered all the French vessels to sea, and
will not allow them to cure their herrings in the har-
bour without paying one shilling on each barrel, be-
sides an additional penny for landing on each empty
barrel. The result will be that no Frenchmen will
enter the English ports to buy herrings, which will be
the means of greatly reducing the price in the English
market. _ _

BURGIIEAD, Ann. 20.—The fishing at this station
has been very irregular since last report. On Friday
there was a good fishing ; average 9 crans. Saturday,
4 crans. Tuesday was almost a failure, and from the
appearance of the weather a very few boats ventured
out that night. This morning (Thursday) a few boats
only will go to the cran. There is still an excellent ap-
pearance of fish ; but the weather is too fine, and the
water too clear.
IVwx, Auo. 20.—Our fishing has not, this week,
been accompanied by that degree of success which
could be wished—still, however, no day has been an
entire blank. The average for the week is 14 crans, and
for the season, 72. Along the coast, as far as Helms-
dale, the fishing is • much behind. That station now
averages about 65 crans, or 15 cram under 1845, and
five under 1844, which was a bad year. At the inter-
mediate stations, however, matters are more backward,
and the general average is very low indeed.—Caledonian
Merciey.

ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE
Ausurr's BlRTHDAY.—Yesterday being the anniversary of
the natal day of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the
salutes were fired from St. James's-park, the Tower, and the
other metropolitan forts, at all of which the royal standard
was displayed. The Italian Opera House, most of the
theatres, and the Colosseum, as well as the houses of the
Prince Consort's tradesmen, were illuminated in the evening
THE OIL OF BITTER ALMONDS.--On the 10th inst.,
a youth named Robert Grant, residing at his father's in Whaf-
street, died suddenly from incautiously taking a dose of oil
of bitter almonds. Mr. Denton, surgeon, found in his stomach
a quantity fully sufficient to cause death. How the deceased
got hold of the poison was at first involved in some mystery ;
at length a bottle was found in the father's house, contain-
ing the oil of bitter almonds, a portion of which it was now
plain the deceased had drunk. The mother had never used,
and knew nothing of the nature of the liquid, except
that it was given to her by a lady as " something good
to put into puddings." On inquiry, it was found that this
lady had received this bottle from her daughter, now in
Manchester, who told the same tale, and said she found it in
a house in St. Peter's-lane ; but none of them knew the
poisonous nature of the liquid. This house was formerly oc-
cupied by a chymist and druggist, as a drug warehouse,
and amongst the bottles was one containing the essential
oil of bitter almonds, which (when the drugs were looked
over after being removed) was missing. There was, there-
fore, no doubt that the bottle from which the deceased drank
was the identical one belonging to the chymist. An inquest
was held on deceased the same evening, and, after two ad-
journments, and the whole of the facts had been most pa-
tiently investigated, the jury returned the following verdict:
—" That the deceased died from the effects of essential oil of
bitter almonds, but whether taken by himself or adminis-
tered by any other person, there is no evidence. The jury
wish, however, to add, that there is no evidence before them
that any one about Robert Grant's (the father's) house, was
aware that the essential oil in question was of a poisonous
nature."—Leicester Mercury.
A RELIC OF OLD PARIS.—The demolition of the old
house on the Quai Napoleon, No. 9, which is said to have
been formerly inhabited by Heloise and Abelard, after
' having been suspensed for a short time, to see if any one
l would purchase the building for the sake of preserving it,
has been resumed. In a few days the house will be 1”4110d
to the 6macle.G4ll4aB tiktonenger.