The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-01 00:00:00

PRELIMINARY SAVINGS' BANKS.
In Mu last we notictcl a plau of Mr. Charles W.
Sikes, of the Huddersfield Bank, fur making Mechanics'
Institutions the means of festering provident habits

among the working classes, as well as -places of instruc-
tion and amusement. The mode which Mr. Sikes sug-

gettcd was, that Preliminary Savings' Batiks should be
formed within each institution, for the purpose of col-

iecting pennies, and twopences, and such small sums as
would not be received at the Government Savings'
Banks, from its humbler members, and that when my

do positor's accumulations should reach s sufficient sum
to bier interest, the amount should be paid over to the
Government Savings' Bank in the neighbourhood, in the
name of the owner. The machinery proposed for this
Purpot.e was very simple, and such as every Mechanics'
Institution has as its command; a few of the leading

memht rs might form a Savings' Bank Committee, the
treasurer of any institution would, in all probability,
conies t to act as treasurer to the preliminary bank, a lew
inexpensive pass-books would be provided for the de •
posit ors, the bookkei ping requisite would be of the
simplest possible kind, and the liability would be very
limited, as each depositor's money, so soon as it reached
11. Is., or 21. 25., would he pail over to the Government
Institution, and its control entirely left to the depositor.
The feasibility and practicability of the plan seem d
to us at the time to ensure its adoption by many of the

more advanced lecitanics' Institutes, because the atten-

tion ot the public seems to be extensively directed to the
power ot the pinnies of the millions, and the wisdom
of providing some trelns to enable those who occasion-
ally have a few pence, bnt seldom a few shillings to
spare, to safely accumulate their small savings. From
this direction of public feeling have sprung up the penny
banks, which within the last few months have been

established in the metropolis, and other large cities and
towns of the kingdom, and whose operations might be
so much, and so beneficially extended by calling into
;lemon the facilities at the disposal of the managers of
Mechanics' Institutions.

We do not mean to advocate saving as the very highest
sort of virtue, but it is unquestionably the parent of
many virtues, and that obstacle to many evils. The
power to save with security very often produces the de-
sire to save, and that desire gives birth to a wise eco-
nomy, and stimulates habits of temperance, regularity,
and order. It is not merely that a penny is laid by, or
that a guinea is accumulated, but that the penny, if not
saved, might have been transformed into the fiery dram,
and the guinea have furnished the means for a series of
drunken frolics, in which virtue would have been sacri-
ficed, health deteriorated, domestic happiness and com-
fort broken down, and the ability and will to labour for
the future impaired. It often happens, and often must
happen, that, not only, according to the good old adage,
'` a penny saved is a penny gained," but that sickness is
avoided, miserable homes are made comparatively happy,
the police station, and the police court, and the work-
house are unvisited, and industry and intelligence are
stimulated and aroused in consequence of saving. We
most not look only at the good effected in a monetary
point of view, but also at the increased power of mora-
lity, resulting, with more or less directness, from the
establishment of well-managed saving institutions for
the humblest classes of society, to whom such efforts,
small and insignificant as they may seem, are of the
greatest importance. Nothing that concerns them is
unworthy of serious and earnest attention, not only for
their sakes but for the welfare of the whole community,
which, with all its aggregated wealth, and progressing
intelligence, rests, in fact, upon the good conduct and
the energies of those for whose immediate benefit such
institutions are proposed.
It appeared to us, and so it still appears, that Mr.
Sikes's plan was of paramount importance to the Ma-
nagers of Mechanics' Institutions, with regard to the
prosperity, stability, and usefulness of those institutions,
which have hitherto been, too often, only for mechanics
in name. They have been, in the mass, rather orna-
mental than useful, and have done little, compared with
what they might have done, for the elevation of the
many. Their lectures, libraries, and classes, are gene-
rally suited to the tastes and requirements of the middle
classes, rather than the labourers, and their halls have
been left empty, while the tap room of the public-house,
where the benefit society, or the sick-club, or the burial-
club is held, is crowded. Such habits of providence as
the people have, have been, as it were, systematically
surrounded by and associated with evil influences, which
have weakened the power of those habits, and too often
converted them from incentives to good into temptations
to evil. Members' fines have furnished the occasion for
many a debauch, and members' spending money has
laid the foundation of many a drunken fit. It is in the
power of Mechanics' Institutions in a great measure to
remedy this—to make the lecture and the reading-room
as popular and attractive, and ten thousand times more
useful than the tap-room and the singing-saloon, and at
the same time to add largely to their funds, their mem-
bers, and thtir powers for usefulness, and promote the
well-bring and heighten the moral tone of the people.
It is necessary that the means of instruction, and the op-
portunity of practising what that instruction may teach,
should, as far as possible, be offered under the same
roof, and many a family may be saved from destitution,
And many a Mechanics' Institution from decay, by a
timely attention to the social wants of the people,
evinced by offering to them provident instiutions of a
better kind, and connected with purer associations, than
those they now have.
With these views we were glad to see, by the Report for
1850 cf the " Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Insti-
tutes," that Mr. Sikes's recommendation has attracted
the notice, and secured the approval of the committee of
that body, who t xpress an opinion, " that, wherever such
a plan could be carried out, it must largely tend to in-
crease the moral influence and social importance of these
institutions," for " institutions are likely to derive an
accession of members where such a department should
be efficiently carried out, because those who went merely
to deposit their twopence or threepence, would become
aware of the other advantages offered to them." But
we are happy to find that something more has been
done, than to c xpress an opinior, for the committee add,
We are, therefore, glad to learn that the plan of Mr.
Sikes has already been adopted in conjunction with the
Institutions at Wortley, Meltham, and Keighley, at
which latter place it is found to succeed admirably. At
Iluemaeby a Provident Society has been formed, to in-
clude the benefits of Friendly Societies and Life Assur-
ance. It is also in contemplation to establish prelimi-
nary Savings' Banks at the Dogley-lane, Kirkstall, and
other institutions; we hope it will be with such results
as may enable us to recommend it still further at our
next annual meeting."
We find, from other sources, that preliminary Savings'
Banks have been established in connexion with the Man-
chester and Huddersfield Mechanics' Institutions, and
that their progress is highly satisfactory and promising.
The preliminary Savings' Bank at Iludderafield was
opened on the Bth of July last, with 57 depositors, lodg-
ing 31. Os. 7/1., and by the end of September the num-
ber of depositors had reached 205, and the deposits to
&.l. 10s. 44., averaging 73, of about one shilling and
fivepence each night, and in 19 cases individual deposits
reached the sum (seventeen shillings), to be paid into the
Government Savings' Bank. Humble as this may ap-
pear, we may draw an inference as to the good it is
Ilkf ly to effect from the information of a trustworthy
owrehlohsianysh,aitthaatd,oz"eonf('
stoheh2umosbldeeparoesittohresy,
cpoorsrseibsplyorni doetnmt,
iu life) would have thought upon the subject, but fur
the preliminary tanks;" and we are at present scarcely
in a position to estimate the social good which thousands
of such banks, at once strengthening institutions calcu-
lated to advance morality and intelligence, and benefit
ing the people, would inevitably confer upon the country.
We have had forwarded to us copies of the Manches-
ter and the Huddersfield " Depositors' Book," with
copies of the rules of each institution, and in the hope
of promoting the good work, we give those of the Hud-
dersfield Preliminary Bank, trusting that they may serve
for a,model, on which many similar institutions will be
kninded

A ROMAN CATHOLIC MIRACLE.' THE GOLD REGIONS of AMERICA.
(From Galignani's Messenger of the 30th Dec.) I On the 26th of October the Placer Times pub-
lt has already been stated, on the authority of a lished the following valuable article on the yield of
Lyons paper, that an alleged miracle recently took the mining regions :—" It is very difficult at the pre-
place in the church of St. Saturnin, carton and arron- sent time to collect information as to the productive-
diseement of Apt, department of the Vaucluie, con- ness of the various mines of California. Even the
sisting in the flowing of blood from a picture repre- number of persons employed upon the various rivers
renting the descent of Jesus Christ from the cross. is but to a limited extent known. Those who have
The I'ouvoir publishes a letter, dated the 24th, from travelled extensively through the country, and ex-
the Sub-Prefect of Apt, M. Grave, on the subject, in plored the various rivers high up into the raoun-
sshich he makes the following extraordinary state- tains, of course can form very correct conclusions ;
MeDtE but there are comparatively few who have done this.
" About the middle of the month he learned that Most miners have but partially explored the
the population of the district were greatly occupied country, and even those who have made extensive
by the statement that a girl of Saignon, named Ito- examinations have felt but little inclination to con-
sette Tamisier, long noted for her piety, had while vey the information to others. For this reason we
engaged in prayer in the chapel of St. Saturnin, mar- the more willingly lay the estimates which we give
tyr and Archbishop of Toulouse, seen, touched, and below before our readers, believing, although they
kissed blood which flowed from the wounds in Christ's are somewhat imperfect, that they will be of use to
body in the painting placed above the altar, represent- those who have not had the leisure or inclination to
ing the descent from the cross. It was added that make thorough examinations. The estimates
this supernatural fact' had been repeated on three shich we give include the mining regions from
following deys. Shortly after the sub-prefect re- Feather River, upon the north, to the Consurn-
ceived through the mayor the copy of minutes drawn aces, upon the south, which contains, at the least,
up by the lieutenant of gendarmerie, in which that two-thirds of all the miners employed in the country.
functionary states that having on the 16th, at the in- The mining region upon Feather River commences
vitation of the cure gone to the church, he having below the foot hills of the mountains, some thirty
with the cure got on a table close to the picture, dis- miles from Marysville, and extends back upon the
tinctly saw blood flow from the woundby the side; and mountains for something like eighty miles. There
those of the two hands and the left foot.' The blood are probably not less than 9,000 persons at work upon
on the right side consisted, says the lieutenant's re- this river. The most productive portions the past
port, of eight drops in the form of pearls, of the size season have been in the foot-hills and upon the south
of a little pea ;' on the right hand it formed a line of fork of the river. It is the general impression that the
six centimetres in length, ending in a drop ;' on the sum averaged by miners upon this river has been:about
left hand and left foot the blood was less abundant, 6 dolls. per day to the man. This, allowing 24
but still sufficient to trace a line from the two points working days to the month, would give, for five
of three or four centimetres, also terminating in a months, as much probably as most of the miners will
drop.' Six or seven hundred persons were present at labour during the mining season, for each mines 120
the time and saw all this. The cure then asked Dr. dolls. per month, and 600 dolls. for the five months,
Clement, who was present, to wipe the blood away producing an aggregate of 5,400,000 dolls. The
with a piece of white linen. Tnis was done, and Yuba, with its tributaries, Deer creek, Gold-run, &c.,
eleven marks of blood remained on the linen. After- has a population of about 30,000. The mines in this
wards the flowing of the blood recommenced, but was region have, in many instances, paid more than those
allowed to coagulate on the painting. That no doubt of any other portion of California; but there has
might exist as to the reality of the prodigy, the lieu- been a large number who have succeeded but
tenant caused the upper part of the altar and the paint- poorly, which has reduced the average to each
ing to be removed, and ascertained that it was abso- man to something less than that upon Fea-
lutely impossible that the least thing could have then River. Upon this stream we believe the
penetrated the interior of the altar or behind the average has not been over 4 dolls. to each
painting : moreover, the wall behind the painting person employed. This would give for the total
was covered with a cement perfectly intact in all amount of gold dust taken out in five months
parts.' Ia consequence of this marvellous state- 14,400,000 dolls. Bear River, the next stream upon
meat the sub-prefect went on the 17th to St. the south, contains probably a population of 3,000.
Saturnin. The cure was absent, but in company This stream, although no very large amounts have
with the mayor, Dr. ailment, and M. Gay, advocate, been realized by persons, has produced a fair average,
he visited what he calls the miraculous paint- say 4 dolls. to each miner, which will give in the ag-
ing.' These gentlemen stated to him that they had gregate 1,440,000 dolls. The American River, we
witnessed the oozing of the blood as stated by the presume, contains a population of 16,000, dis-
lieutenant of gendarmerie, and caused him to re- tributed on its tributaries as follows : 5,000
mark the coagulated blood on the painting. upon the North Fork ; 5,000 upon the Middle
At this the sub-perfect says he felt pro- Fork; and 6,000 upon the South Fork, which at 5
found emotion.' He then went to visit the young dolls. as the average, would produce, as above, in five
girl ;he found that she lived in an inn kept by a months, 9,000,000 dolls. This would give, in the
female cousin. ' She was in a state of suffering; her aggregate, for Feather, Yuba, Bear, and the Ame-
appearance was sickly ; her eyes rolled mysteriously rican Rivers, together with their tributaries, the
in their much-developed orbit, and seemed to lose sum of 30 240,000 dolls., as the product of the
themselves in a cloud ; their expression was full of labour of 57,000 persons. This sum, we believe, is
melancholy, her body extraordinarily thin; her atti- as near an average of the produce of the mines upon
tude excessively modest; humility was painted in all the rivers named for the past five months as can well
her movements, and reproduced in all her words ; she be ascertained at the present time. We have in our
expressed hertelf with great propriety, and spoke estimate taken but a portion of the mining region of
French more correctly than most uneducated persons.' California, as our readers will see, but we presume
To all the sub-prefect's questions, the damsel replied the quantity of gold dust taken from these streams, or
with great intelligence. God,' she said, ' had from their immediate neighbourhoods, constitutes at
effected this miracle for the conversion of sinners, least two-thirds of all the gold taken from the mines
and he had specially chosen St. Saturnin, because, of California. The quantity obtained by miners
four years ago, this locality was the witness of a during the last winter was small in proportion to what
great scandal. Her conduct,' she added, had been it ought to have been. Miners then looked forward
outrageously calumniated, as also that of a priest; but to the opening of spring, anticipating far richer dig.
she had not demanded reparation from God.' gings in the beds of rivers when the waters should
On the 20th, the sub-prefect, accompanied by M. subside. In anticipation of rich harvests the winter
Juge d'lnstruction, and M. Jacques, was suffered to pass without proper exertions upon the
substitute of the Procureur of the Republic, went to part of miners.
St. Saturnin ; the Archbishop of Avignon bad ar-
rived on the previous evening. After paying his re-
spects to the prelate, the sub-prefect went, in com-
pany with Dr. C. Bernard, an eminent physician of
Apt, towards the church. As they were ascending
the hill on which it is situated, they heard the bell
ring; this,' says the functionary, was the signal of
the commencement of the manifestation of the prodigy.'
He was much vexed at it, as he was desirous of being
in the chapel before the appearance of the oozing of
the blood.' But they hurried on. A number of per-
sons were assembled around the church. The cure
met him ; he announced that the oozing of the blood
had commenced, but that he could not open the
church until the arrival of the Archbishop. How-
ever, the sub-prefect insisted, and, at last, the cure
let him in ; he took with him Drs. Bernard and Cle-
ment. The high altar was lighted with wax candles ;
at one corner was Rosette Tamisier, kneeling in
prayer, with her hands crossed, and her head
leaning on the altar. She appeared completely
absorbed in devotion. 'I ascended the table of
the altar,' says the sub-prefect, accompanied by Dr.
Clement ; I examined the wound by the light of a wax
candle ; 1 ascertained that from those of the right hand,
the two feet, and heart blood oozed. The drop of blood
which was on the right hand visibly increased; it ap-
peared to me like a drop of blood such as arises on
the end of the finger on being pricked by a sharp in-
strument when the lower part is lightly pressed. it
was at the moment at which the drop of blood of the
right hand was about to fall or flow that I wiped it
three several times with a piece of linen. The fir.,t
two operations gave to o very red stains of blood ; in
the third the stain was clearer. After this operation
the wound remained perfectly dry. I also wiped
several times the two wounds on the feet, and I re-
marked that the drops were clearer, and the oozing
less sensible. I did the same to the wound on the
right side; there were there a dozen drops of blood,
which nearly formed the design of a heart. That of
the middle presented the same phenomenon as that of
the right hand, and it was of a darkish colour. Those
that were around resembled, on the contrary, the
drops of the feet. I took away the drop of the middle,
and one or two on the right. At this moment the
Archbishop entered the chapel. I accordingly left
untouched the other drops of the wound on the side,
and abstained from wiping the wound on the left
hand, from which no blood had oozed. I descended
from the altar. The Archbishop, followed by a numerous
body of the clergy, knelt at the foot of the altar, and
after a short prayer examined the drops of blood
which I had left at the wound of the heart, and he
wiped them with a piece of linen. This piece of linen
and mine were covered in all with about thirty drops
of blood ; and they were exhibited to the curiosity of
the population, who filled the church. The clergy
and a body of young girls sang by inns ; and we waited
in expectation of a new oozing, but none came. The
girl, Rosette Tamisier, who still remained absorbed
in prayer, was asked several times if the blood would
flow again. A first time she did not answer ; a
second, she said she did not know ; a third, that she
did not believe it would. After this last reply, about
an hour after the arrival of the Archbishop, the cure
(M. Grand) caused the picture to be displaced, and
workmen turned it round. We examined it with a
good deal of care, but I saw no particular mark.
The canvass was perfectly dry ; a thick coating of
pitch covered all the back, and it was placed against
a very thick wall. This was all the part I had in the
event. The Archbishop then proceeded to celebrate
mass, and I went away to draw up an account of what
I had seen. I then visited Rosette Tamisier, whom
I found suffering and greatly discouraged. She an-
nounced to me that she believed the prodigy would be
renewed. And, in fact, I have since received a re-
port from the Mayor of St. Saturnin, announcing
that at nine in the morning of Saturday, the 21st,
there was again an abundant oozing of blood.
In a postscript to this letter, the sub-prefect states
that a gendarme named Briol, who after his retire-
ment from the chapel had been placed to prevent the
crowd from approaching the painting too closely, had
remarked two drops of blood ocze from the right side,
that he had wiped them two or three times with his
pocket-handkercief, and that four or five stains still
remained on it. He said that he had not at first given
any account of this because he feared that his
pocket-handkerchief would be taken from him, and he
wished to seed it to his mother.
The Courrier de Lyons states that the blood which_
is said to have issued from the wounds in the side of
our Saviour, as represented in the painting in the
church of St. Saturnin, has been analysedl
_beyo3!
medical men, who have declared that its c,
D lea
that of human
composition exactly corresponds with
blood.

MISHAP AT THE ALTAR.—Lately at a village ad-
joining the town of Cardigan, a loving pair presented them-
selves, accompanied by numerous friends, at the pariah
church, to be united in the holy bands of matrimony. 'fike
rev. gentleman duly officiated, and all went well until the
ring was required, when it was discovered to be lost. Away
went the bridegroom, a true son of Neptune, to borrow a
ring, and, after many attempts, he at last found a good-
natured dame, who kindly lent the sacred circlet, upon con-
dition of his leaving in pledge his coat and waistcoat, which
he accordingly did, and, minus those useful articles of wear-
ing apparel, he returned to the church in triumph, and com-
pleted his nuptial vows. The ceremony was scarcely con-
cluded when the missing ring was found and restored to its
rightful possessor.— Swansea Herald.
Acconnie from New Zealand state that John Held,
one of the chiefs formerly engaged in conflict with the Bri-
tish, had died at a place called Karkoai, of pulmonary
disease.

TSB LONDON-lIIIIDGU RAILWAY TERMIIitTB..--Yes-
terday was the day appointed for the completion and open-
ing of the permanent termini, at Lor don-bridge, of both the
South-Eastern and Brighton Railways, and which for seve-
ral months past have been in progress of erection. It will,
however, be three weeks or a month before they are com-
pleted. A new and elegant device, not hitherto adopted in
the construction of railway k tat ions, has been adopted, that
of roofing both stations with sheet glass, which gives to the
whole range of platform, of some 300 feet long, a light and
cheerful appearance.

- -
MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, DEC. 31.—The
market to-day has been very quiet, although there is no al-
teration in prices. The upward tendency in the yarn market ,
which was beginning to be slightly felt, has received a check
in the alteration of the rate of discount by the Bank of Eng-
land. In addition to this, it has been to-day made known
that the stock of cotton in Liverpool is some 70,000 bales
more than had been previously estimated, and as it had been
all along reported that it would in all probability be as much
under the 1-üblished estimate, as it is now said to be over, the
turn in favour of the buyer is very considerable. Still the
tendency in prices cannot be said to be downward, but sta-
tionary and firm. The goods market is rather brisk, con-
sidering the season of the year.
THE &CHET OF ANCIENT PAINTED GLASS.—A.
quantity of old painted glass having been sent to Mr. For-
rest, a glass painter of Liverpool, to be cleaned, he found that
the outer surface of the whole was covered with a layer of
what appeared to be hard dried dust and rain, which was
easily retrieved by a short application of hyirofluoric acid,
or by the other means adopted for cleaning old windows.
He was struck, however, by observing that every now and
then there were perfectly clear places to which the dust had
apparently not adhered, and these were sometimes curved
lines, sometimes dots or roundish spaces, sometimes small
and at other times of considerable size. At first it simply
appeared odd that the dirt should have adhered so partially;
but at length it struck him that these clear spaces might be
intentional, and the dirt, not dirt after all, but paint burnt
in to the surface of the glass. On further examination he
found that this was really the case, and that the clear spaces
were lights taken ont of semi-opaque background, probably
obtained by burning a very thin layer of fluxed oxide of
iro into the back of the glass. The lights may either be
removed after the whole is covered, or they may be left
originally as in the drawing. Mr. Forrest has made a win-
dow upon this principle, which is placed in his warehouse;
and, making allowance for its being an early production after
his discovery, the effect is so successful as to carry strong
conviction with it. Ho states that he has observed the
same thing in all the old glass which has come under his
notice. —Builder.

K F. Denham,
ST. MART-LE-STRAND.— _ll:be ....ev.a
the
rector of St. Mary-le-Strand, has isisciliedhe pastoral.niid letterto
wnhduties. Mr. urges
. _ Denham the inhabitants of his parish, ir!
performance of the
parish has now
in-
cidentally observes tghritetathis.rrellsatgon to the
circumstance which he considers
exceeded twenty years, a co
will render acceptable some remarks on the various parochial
charities. They are all, he sa3s, prosperous ; and he adds:—
. We may congratuyi o ourselves that an unusually large
poor receive the benefits of
proportion of the children of the
education in our parochial,. infant, and Sunday schools; for I
found upon a Personal inquiry last
year, accompanied by a
parishioner, at every house, and as far as it was practicable,
at every abode of the poor, that out of 369 children, between
the ages of two al,d fourteen, there were 270 in distinct at-
tendance at our various schools. Your own zeal and kindness,
therefore, to your neighbours, render unnecessary in this
parish, any legislative enactments for popular education. Toe
benefits of this threefold system of parochial education among
us (for more than half the children now in the parochial
schools have passed through the infant school, and the
majority of the children in both these schools attend the
Sunday school) were pleasingly manifested in the course of
those public catechisings of all the schools which I have
held, throughout the greater portion of last year in church,
on Sunday afternoons. Permit me to bring again before
your notice my earnest desire that a new parochial school-
house, &c., might be built on the piece of ground belonging
to the parish, which has long ago been disused for burials,
and which, I am assured by professional persons, might be
rendered perfectly healthy and secure for the purpose. I
have reason to hope that this valuable opportunity of pro-
viding for the accommodation of the schools, and of per.. r
petuating your benevolence to the poor, as an example fo
future generations, will be speedily taken into the strenuous
MifiideEilti9U of Y 941 treitril;lei Aucl wiugatta.'

MORA SUPERSTITION IN THE 19TH CENTURY.—
Last week a man, of the town of Axbridge, sold his horse to
a person of Cheddar for the dogs. After the horse was shot
and skinned, the companion of the person to whom it had
formerly belonged asked for the heart. " What do you want
it for?" said the person who had purchased it. " Ta'nt I,"
said the man, " but, 'tis Tom there; he da want to raust un."
" What ! to eat?" " Noa, but he's a going to stick im we
pins, and roast un, for vaulk do tell he that nif'so be he do
do that there, his horses will be better aterwards, for this is
two as he've been 'bliged to kill a'thin two months, and he
da think he's overlooked."— Sherborne Mercury.
SECESSIONS.—We understand that Mr. Sergeant
Bellasis has been received into the Roman Catholic Church.
The French papers announce likewise the conversion to that
church of the Rev. Mr. Laprimandaye, who has made his
profession at Marseilles.
Father Ignatius (the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Spencer)
was assaulted in Liverpool last Friday. Whilst passing from
St. Patrick's Chapel, he wee met by two men, one of whom
cast his arms around his neck, whilst the other tripped him
up. One of the party subsequently attempted to kick the
A few blows passed between the
rev. gentleman whilst he lay on tl!‘s groUnd, but was pre-
we bystanders, but the arrival of the
vented by a female, who struck him a severe blow with a
basket across the head.
attacking party and so
police put an end to the disgraceful scene.
TIRE ROYAL NAVEL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.—The
itadstock, C. 8., in the chair. There were pre-
special meeting of the court took place yesterday, Rear-Ad-
miralzent y
b!gredee 30 and 40 officers, including some of the most
A cm omr
Captain i r C .
Dickinson a t n
BCa'pdistinguished and prominent members—Admiral Sir Charles
tiraiince-sAhdemrwirialn,
Lieutenant Lean, Lieutenant Gardiner, kc. At this meeting
gifi Charles ar,
M adl
it was most sensibly decided that in the election of the suc-
cessor to the late and much-lamented Captain Dickson, no
restrictions as to age should be imposed, and ultimately it
was agreed that a committee should be appointed to examine
the testimonials of the candidates, and to select three officers,
from which a general quarterly court may elect their new
secretary. Under those circumstances, we feel assured that
Commander Holbrook, of Portsmouth, will be the able suc-
cessor of Commander Dickson.
Tux COURT OF. JUSTICIART.—The winter Court of
Justiciary in Scotland terminated its proceedings in two
days, having commenced on Monday morning, and concluded
by six o'clock the next day. This is said to be unprece-
dented. The Glasgow Post, in mentioning this fact, sere
" a remarkable circumstance connected with the business of
the court, and deserving of remark, is the severity of the
sentences, in comparison with those which have been in-
flicted by the same high tribunal for a considerable time
previously. Delinquencies of a less aggravated nature than
many which at previous courts were atoned for by twelve or
eighteen months' confinement in Perth penitentiary, have at
this time been met with the sentence of seven and ten years
transportation."
We earnestly hope that the
Can RCH DECOR ATION.—
Pope will not now be allowed to steal all our church decora-
tion from us as he did before, leaving little else than mere
bare walls and whitewash as good enough for Protestant
worship. Seriously, we should not be surprised to find some
now again indiscriminately attempting to check the en-
deavour, of late, to render Protestant places of worship
worthy of the name, as a reflex and exponent of the honour
and glory felt to be due to Him whose palatial dwellings they
ought, even outwardly, and to the best of poor human ability
and grandeur, to show themselves, in the eyes of men, to be.
It was a false step, as well as a gross absurdity, to give up
such a reflex of the honour and glory due to the King o f
Kings and Lord of Lords, whose "glory" even the starry
firmament above and the flowery earth beneath display, in
outward show, to mortal eyes—and that too for no rea
reason but because Popes and Papists had the revereneeivi
and the good taste too, to encourage the display of decant
art is ecclesiastic architecture. —Dui/der.