The Sun.
London, England, 1869-09-23 00:00:00

A DEAN UPON SCIENCE.

On Sunday afternoon the Dean of Carlisle, preaching iu
Carlisle Cathedral to the candidates who had been
ordained that morning, warned them against the infidelity
which was prevalent at the present day, and instructed
them how they were to encounter it. Dr. Close compared
the present times with the Augustan age at the beginning
of the Christian era, when the human intellect had
attained its highest point of excellence, and inquired what
had been the result of the great development of intellec-
tual power. The moral result, he said, had been that
some of the greatest philosophers of that age had been
monsters of licentiousness, and their wisdom had given
rise to universal depravity. In the present day the direct
tendency of knowledge and science was the perversion
and destruction of God's truth. There was at this
moment a wide-spread, subtle, deadly influence of
infidelity abroad upon the earth. There was in the pre-
sent day an evil spirit of the Vottomless pit rising up
amongst us, poisoning God's truth, poisoning the faith of
thousands. He laid a large portion of that at the door of
science. Did not philosophers at the present day dig
out evidences against God out of the bowels of the earth,
and seek for evidence in the heavens, in nations, and
languages, to shake faith in the Bible? Thcre were those
who would overturn the whole Bible narrative of the creation
of man, which involved man's salvation by Christ—would
prefer any dream, however foolish or vain, to the faithful
testimony of God respecting the origin of our species.
Human wisdom landed its votaries in ignorance and folly,
and all the dreams of the Hindoos, and all the false reli-
gions—corrupted, degraded, and ridiculous that were
ever among the pagans, were not so frivolous and childish
as those to which the science of the present day had
reduced our scientific men.

TILE MINING CALAMITY IN AMERICA.

The American rapers of the Oth inst. contain further
accounts of the fearful mining calamity, and relate the
discovery of the dead miners. The worst fears that were
entertained respecting these unhappy men have been
realised, and the scenes that have taken place
in the neighbourhood of the catastrophe, as well as the dis-
closures in the mine itself, were truly deplorable.
At half- past six on the morning cf the Sth of September
a horrible sight was encountered. The eastern
gangway was penetrated, and the explorers came
to a barricade that was across the cangway. Tear-
ing this down, the lamp shone upon a heap cf
the dead. Some of the bodies presented a dis
turbed appearance, but these were exceptions. The vast
majority looked like men who were rather sleeping than
dead, or like men who accepted the inevitable with
dignified resignation; but nono had died until
they had exhausted all means of saving life
It was found that at the first alarm of danger
the miners had exerted themselves to the utmost ; tin y
had given way to no panic, but strove to keep the fre,h z it
in the mine. For this purpose they put up the barricade
which was afterwards found there. When these sixty-
three bodies were Lund, it was determined that they
should be brought to the surface at once, b.fore the rest cf
the mine was explore 1. There was great difficulty in
accomplishing the task, because the raising apparatus had
been destroyed by fire. As each body was brought up it
was identified by the superintendent of the mine, and
carried to the dead-house. The idea cf a great public
funeral has been abandoned, in consequence of the slow-
ness with which the bodies are removed from the mine.
The bodies have been delivered to the friends for imme-
diate burial, and the Mayor of Scranton has requested a
general suspension of business on the days of interimlat.
The president of the Mining Company has ordered
general suspension of work and free trains on those
days. Tho acting coroner of Plymouth has made
arrangements for taking testimony as to the calamity,
and it is intended that the most searching investigation
will take place. During later explorations of the mine it
has been found that many of the miners were struck down
while at work by poisonous gas, and thus hurried out of
the world without a moment's warning. The spirit evinced
by the miners has been one of extreme bitterness, and they
are most difficult to manage in consequence. Up to the
time of the last accounts seventy-two bodies were
found. Some most distressing scenes have occurred at'
the recognition of the bodies by the widows and orphans.
Bluch indignation is expressed that there was no means of
outlet, and the effect of the Avondale calamity will pro-
bably be that measures will be taken in all the mines to
prevent, as far as possible, any such horrible accidents in
the future.

Rear-Admiral Cbads has received the appointment
of second in command of the Channel fleet, vicellder, com-
pelled to resign in consequence of ill health.

Six fishermen were on Monday committed for trial,
at the Merthyr Police Court, for participation in the Pont-,
lottyn riots. .

It is said that Mr. Lambert, of the Poor-law De-
partment, has been named as the probable successor of Mr.
G. A. Hamilton in the office of permanent secretary of the
Treasury.

The Manchester Examiner says that a baronetcy
has boon offered to Mr. Thomas Bazley, M.P. for Manchester,
but it appears to bo uncertain whether he will accept the
distinction.

Since the summons obtained on Saturday last by
Mr. Straight at Marlborough-street, the directors of the
Albert Life Office have (says the Globe) been making pre-
parations to the charges to be brought against them. A
formidable bar has been retained, amongst whom it is stated
are Mr. Digby Seymour, Q.C., and Sergeants Parry and
Ballantine, although it is alit god that the directors them-
selves anticipate a speedy termination of the prosecution.
The committee for protecting the interests of the policy-
holders and others are very active, and held a meeting on
Tuesday at twelve o'clock.
The deaths are announced of four old univer.
city men—the Rev. Prebendary Barbut, who was
educated at Merton College, Oxford, whore he took
his B.A. degree in 18C6, and held for fifty years
the Vicarage of St. John's, Chichester ; the Rev.
Edward Wyvill, who was educated at Brasenose College,
where ho took his 8.A.. degree in 1816, and was shortly
afterwards presented to the family livings of Fingal and
Spennthornc,Yorkshire,which he ho held until his death; Mr.
Tyrrell Knapp, who was educated at Exeter College, Oxford;
and Mr. John Hogg, who was educated at St. Peter's
College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree in 1822.
Mr. Itogg afterwards became foreign secretary to the Royal
Society of Literature. Ile was the antler of aerepl
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EAGLE INSURANCE COMPANY,
LONDON.
REPORT OF TFIE DIRECTORS,
For the Year ending 30th June, 1869, read at the Annual
General Meeting of Proprietors, 13th August, 1869,
WILLIAM FREDERICK DE LA RUE, ESQ., Deputy-
Chairman of the Company, in the Chair.
The Report which the directors have now to submit to
the proprietor differs in its tenor but little save in one or
two particular from that laid before them in 1868.
fhe income of the year, it will 1 e seen, amounts t
£540,499 18s., and the total eharire t0...£.445,077 10s. 9d
The difference, £95,422 7s. 3d., added to the balance of
the surplus fund at the commencement of the financial
year, wised that item to £1,002,974 15s. 9d., its present
amount.
SURPLUS FUND ACCOUNT, JUNE 30, 1869.

X 8. d

436,187 6 9

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