The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, 11117R5DAY EVENING, MAY 16, 1861

THE SUN.

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1861.

'rhe seventy•second anniversary banquet of The
Royal Literary Fund will long be remembered in
the annals of that munificent Institution. It
took place yesterday—as will be seen from an
interesting report of the proceedings given in
another column—under very peculiar circumstances.
Its chairman this year having been not as hitherto
one of our own countrymen, not some great English
Author, not some great English Nobleman, but
instead of that an exiled Prince, the member of a
fallen dynasty, in one other word a—Frenchman.
It is certainly noteworthy that one of the most
gifted and popular actors now upon the London
boards is also a Frenchman. And it is certainly very
remarkable to remember that now in this year of
grace 1861, while M. FEcirrEn, is showing us in the
midst of our tearful applause how the greatest of all
the Shaksperian masterpieces may be portrayed with
exquisite ability—H.R.H. the Due d'Aum ALE can,
in a festive assembly of lettered Englishman, dis-
close in his own person—what the public at large in
this country could never have imagined possibly
latent there—a very model Chairman. Nothing,
we hesitate not to say at once. could by any chance
have been more graceful, more worthy in every
way of the hearty plaudits accorded to it during
its delivery than the speech in which his Royal
Highness proposed the toast of the evening—" Suc-
cess to the Literary Fund," coupling with it, Health
to the Marquess of LANSDOWNE, its venerable Pre-
sident. Even in his manner of conducting the pre-
liminary proceedings alone, in the admirable
taste with which he gave the loyal toasts by which
those convivial " sayings and doings" are
always by a sort of constitutional usage intro-
duced, the Duc D'AUMALE gave evidence of the
wisdom which had dictated to the Council of the
Literary Fund his selection, for 1861, as Chairman
at the annual festivities.

His introductory words upon first rising
after the cloth had been removed, " Gentle-
men, I propose the health of Her Majesty
the QUEEN"—adding immediately, with an im-
pressive and, under the circumstances, a most
touching significance—" These are the first words
which I have addressed to you, and the first which
I have uttered in public for many years"—could
hardly do otherwise than call forth from hishearers
a cordial round of acclamations. But those few and
simple words, sufficiently significant though they
were in themselves, were, in truth, only a pre-
liminary to others in which, while giving
that hackneyed theme, the Due D'AumALE imparted
to it the freshness reflected from his 'own earnest
appreciation of the many noble qualities justifying
the loyal attachment of all Englishmen to their
SOVEREIGN. " I have no right," said his Royal
Highness, "to speak the language which is used on
these occasions by loyal Englishmen, but I may
venture to say that no one professes more respect
than myself for her MAJESTY/ or more sincere devo-
tion to her loyal person. I see in your QUEEN the
Personification of your noble and free.c institutions
--the SOVEREIGN of a country which
hope will remain, the ally and friend of my own
native land—of a country which gives shelter to all
exiles, without asking them to submit to any humi-
liating conditions, but only to respect those laws
under whose protection they live. I also admire
in her MAJESTY the most accomplished of ladies,
for I have had more than one personal occasion
to observe—nay, to feel—that extreme delicacy
and tenderness of heart which is not common among
persons born in so high a station, and of which
she has given so touching a proof on a recent
and most melancholy occasion." His Royal High_
ness concluding in these impassioned but manifestly
heartfelt terms :—" I am sure that my words cor-
respond to your feelings when I ask you to drink
with me the health of the model of constitutional
sovereigns, the most devoted of daughters, the
best of mothers, the best of wives, the safest and
most affectionate of friends, and, finally, the most
august and munificent patroness of this institu-
tion—your good QUEEN VICTORIA." Yet greater
ability in imparting a sense of novelty to another
courtly theme, also long since threadbare from
frequent usage, was displayed immediately after_ •
Wards when the Due d'AUMALE, in giving
the customary toast of "His Royal High.

EeSS the PRINCE CONSORT, ALBERT EDWARD I
Prince of WALES, and the rest of the
Royal Family," not only paid appropriate tribute '
directly to the PRINCE CONSORT as the Patron of
intellectual enterprize, and the Heir to the Crown,
whose call to the eventual fulfilment of the duties
for which he is now preparing, he trusted with all
his heart, " certainly not more sincerely than him-
self," might come " as late as possible"—not only
proferred these grateful tributes,
we sap, respectively
to the PRINCE CONSORT and to the ileir to the Crown
of England, but included in the same toast, with
admirable dexterity, no less graceful allu-
sions to the other members of the Royal
Family. " I also couple," said his Royal
Highness, " with this toast our good wishes to
all the other members of the royal family, whether
they be at the head of the army, or whether they
be learning, by active practice, the hard duties of
the sailor—whether they adorn foreign courts by
their graces and virtue, or receive at home the
good example and lessons of their parents, or add
by kind intercourse to the charm of social life in
this country" a comprehensive sentence
embracing within it allusions as direct and
comprehensible as though their titles had been
enumerated, to the Commander-in-Chief, the young
Prince-Midshipman, the Princess Royal of Eng-
land now Crown Princess of Prussia, together
with the younger members of the royal family
still under their home-palace roof, not forgetting the
Dowager Duchess and Princess MARY of Cam-
bridge.

It was in giving the toast of the evening, how-
ever, "Success to the Literary Fund," that the Due
D'AUMALE gave the happiest evidence of his
aptitude as a chairman, and of his own rare accom-
plishments as one skilled in English Scholarship.
To the speech in its entirety we would here very
earnestly refer our readers, giving them promise
beforehand that their pleasure in reading that
speech will be complete. Having read it, but few
—remembering the past and present of the accom•
plished Prince from whose lips it fell,
of whose heart and voice, of whose thoughts
and emotions it was the utterance—but few, we
say, will hesitate to echo the eloquent and
cordial words with which Mr. DisRAELI
later on last evening proposed at that Literary Fund
Banquet " The Health of our Illustrious Chairman
the Due D'AUMALE"—words thus cordial and thus
eloquent ;—" Happy the prince who, from no fault
of his own, banished from the court:and camp, can
find consolation in the library and generous occu-
pation in the rich galleries of learning and art.
Happy the prince who in a foreign land, miring
with his fellow men on equal terms, is still
marked out by the pre-eminerce of his nature
—happy the prince'who, under such circumstances,
penetrating the realms of literature, may yet per-
haps establish a throne which may defy the fate of
dynasties." With which feelings, added the right
hon. gentleman, he gave the name of his Royal
Highness.

Among the more interesting passages occurring
in the Speech of the Evening will be found those in
which his Royal Highness offers a grateful tribute
of admiration to the liberality of our political insti-
tutions! His account of his earnest love while a
boy-student for the Waverley Novels, an affection
so permanent in its influences, that while, he
says, " I will not answer now to going
correctly through all the changes of a
Greek verb, I might follow the Fortunes of
NIGEL in the streets of London, and could show
also the spot where once stood the House
of JEANIE DEANS." Admirable also is
the cumulative homage proffered by him to
our chief living noveIists—TILICKERAY, DICKENS,
DISRAELI, BULWER—when observing, " Since the
death of Sir Walter Scott, novels of this country
have not ceased to command unusual attention
abroad." He adds—" Vanity Fair,' David Cop-
perfield,'' Coningsby," My Novel,' are as much read
on the Continent as the works of GEORGE SAND or
DUMAS, and at this very day the readers of one of
the most important French newspapers, after a rapid
glance at the telegrams, hurry to look at the feuil-
leton, where they will find the continuation of
the Women in White' translated into their own
language." Enough, however, if we add now to
our foregoing comments upon the festive
proceedings of last night, in the Free-
masons' Tavern, the simple and truthful
assertion that the Literary Fund Banquet has
never been presided over by a more efficient
Chairman than the accomplished Prince whose
presence there yesterday imparted such peculiar
interest and eclat to the occasion of this last anni-
versary.

The Statistics of Trade, and even the Census
enumeration of " Employments of the People" will
hardly give us an account of every branch of pro-

fi table industry. We very much doubt whether

the sharp eyes of the French Protectionists have
specified a duty for one considerable produce of
British labour. The Sheriffs' Court a day or two
ago, brought before us—not as a mere rumour, nor
as a piece of scandal, but as a plain matter of busi-
ness, in a suit for payment for goods delivered—the
existence of a " Sermon Mantifactory."
Our readers saw the report yesterday in The Sun,
and were doubtless most of them not a little sur-
prised. Stories of clergymen copying better ser-
mons than they could write, from printed books,
were common enough. One of the cloth we knew
who, when taxed with the practice, replied with
earnestness, " Heaven forbid I should make my own
sermons when there are so many ready made, better
than anything I could write." Another we know
who, when thanked by a worthy shopkeeper
during the week for " the excellent sermon
of last Sunday," replied, "" Oh, don't thank me ;
thank my good old grandfather—and you'll have
plenty more yet to thank him for." The sermons
of the dead, in print or in manuscript, are, how-
ever, by no means adequate to the demands of this
exacting age. 6, The Dissenter is abroad," he
preaches sermons on all kinds of "occasions," "im-
ra ensathe occasion," we believe the slang phrase
" occasions" appear to be a very attractive
variation from the regular routine of exhortations
to faith, hope, and charity, and of demonstrations
of the superlative excellence of our Apostolic
Church, and the beauty of our incomparable Liturgy.
No grandfather, for instance, no JEREMY TAYLOR
even, could leave " a sermon upon thanksgiving for
the termination of the Indian Mutiny." As a
general rule it may be said that the "old is better,"
but sometimes, in the matter of sermons, the
" new" is indispensable.
The manufactory seems to be a very complete
'one. There is the regular " stock sermon"—" What
have you in stock ?" is the inquiry which comes up
from a country Vicar deep down " in the Shires."
A. list is of course forwarded, "send me so and so,"
being the reply. The text we presume being taken ,
as a probable indication of what the sermon under
it is to be. In these days of Oxford Tracts and
Oxford Essays and Reviews, however, some indi-
cation must be needed of the doctrine deduced from
each text ; it being well known that Dr. RIMY
and Dr. JONVETT could make the same Scripture
speak, the former the doctrine of Rome, the latter
the doctrine of the sacred writers themselves ;
while a vast intermediate class would make it say
anything vfluiteypr which the creeds of the Church

seemed to them to teach. We may suppose, there- I
fore, that " Anglican," " Moderate," " Broad
Church," are specified in the orders from stock.
We must do the latter section of the Church, how-
ever, the justice to observe, that so far as we have
heard them, their sermons, often too extempore, '
bear evident marks of being perfectly original.
The dock sermons are it turns out " lithographed
in sets of thirty each," and his Honour seemed to
think it rather hard to be exposed to the chance, if
he went to more than one church on the same Sun-
day, of hearing the same sermon more than once.
He doubtless felt how hard it had often been to
hear the stock sermon but once. But there are ser-
mons of a very different order for which prices of all
amounts in reason, are paid. The defendant in this
case had paid a sovereign for one on the " reopening
of a church." A sermon before the Lord Mayor
was from £3 3s. to £5 ss. "A Bishop's Charge or
an Archdeacon's Address " was never less than the
£5 55., while the stock sermons could be furnished,
it seems, at 2s. Gcl. each, which we suppose was the
£3 3s. for the thirty lithographed, with a small
charge for the operation. His Honour seemed a
little incredulous about the " Bishop's Charges,"
but the witness said " I can produce the man who
' has written them."

The case turned upon a rather nice point. By
what the defendant had paid into Court
he had admitted that 2s. 6d. each was
a fair charge for " stock" sermons, but
the point was how long a clergyman might keep a
considerable number of stock orations, and after-
wards return them as not wanted. As " goods on
sale or return " he could only keep them a reason-
able time. He had received twenty stock sermons,
said he would take what he wanted—and return
the rest—but he had kept them " a very long
time;' indeed, had not returned them when the
cause came into court. Now, if he kept them only
a few weeks he could not only copy them, or as
his honour said, "pick out the tit bits," he could
even preach a considerable number of them, and
returning these, keep such as he had not made do
duty on the Sunday. Of course, his honour did
not say, nor do we, that the Rev. Mr. HAVER-
GAL, ♦icar of Cople, Bedfordshire, could or
would do such a thing. We know nothing of Mr.
HAVERGAL or of Cople, and have not yet troubled
ourselves to consult the Clergy List or the Gazeteer.
But the law, of course, only looks at the possible
misuse to which the goods of an honest manufac-
turer of Stock Sermons were liable, and they must
be protected like other goods. Mr. KERR was
plainly right in "finding for the plaintiff for the
full amount, with costs of attorney"—and we have
no doubt whatever that the defendant will indem-
nify himself for everything but the costs—which
he need not have incurred—by using all the stock
in due time.

We can imagine some clergyman rather sharp
upon us ; he thinks we are attacking the cloth ;
and who, he will say, are you, Mr. Editor, to smile
at our practice ? Do you never employ persons to
write for you, and especially on subjects which
they understand, as you think, better than you do
yourself—why should a privilege allowed to editors
be denied to vicars, rectors, archdeacons, and
bishops ? Our friend need not, however, be so
warm. We do not attack him. Suppose him
to be conscious that he does not understand the
subject which he was specially ordained and speci-
ally " called" to preach, why, then, lucky for him
and for his parishioners, that abler and better in-
formed men are willing to supply his deficiencies.
He may, for instance, be a youth of twenty-three,
but the son-in-law of a Bishop, and be required to
preach in a small parish which pays £1,300 a year,
or £25 per Sunday, for his services. What an
advantage to such a youth if, for an odd three or
four guineas a Sermon, he give something equal to
a sermon before the Lord Mayor each Sunday ! The
parishioners would not ask whence the "Durham
cheese" came—it would be of first-rate quality,
and that would be enough. As to the Bishop's
charges, who on the whole can better afford
to pay for them ? And if the advice be
good, why should the assembled clergy nicely scru-
tinise their paternity. We know that it is com•
monly supposed that clergymen, bishops especially,
are originals, but why should they be ? Who in
these days of powerlooms makes his own gar-
ments? The spining wheel and hand loom have
long given place to the factory. Why should not
the pulpit follow the march of national improve-
ment ? Why should not the " sermon factory "
where hands and heads competent to all kinds of
work from " stock " to a "bishop's charge" can be
kept, and deliver to order anything in a few days—
why should it not supersede the rude process of every
man making his own sermon ? The sermon factory
may eventually cause as great a revolution in its
line, as did the powerloom or the steam-hammer in
theirs.

The Washington, which brings intelligence from
New York to the 4th, does not inform us of any
important move by either party. The PRESIDENT
has increased his demands by 23,000 volunteers for
the regular army, and 18,000 seamen. Western
Virginia has definitely declared for the Union. It
is a part of Virginia from which slave labour is
practically excluded, and its declaration for
the Union has this great importance, that
it is the part of Virginia which almost
divides the Free States into two :parts,
by running up in a narrow ship northwards,
towards Lake Erie, between Pennsylvania and
Ohio ; much as through the blundering of our com-
missioners, Maine was allowed to separate New
Brunswick from Upper Canada. The Western
Virginians ask the PRESIDENT for arms to support
the Union.

The Maryland Legislature is now reported to
have shown much hostility to the Federal Govern-
ment—but Baltimore is quiet, and the PRESIDENT
has used and will use the State for his own purposes;
the Governor of Missouri, in a message, has as might
be expected strongly condemned the course taken by
the PRESIDENT ; but the latter has his turn in having
successfully relieved Fort Pickens, the substantial
emblem of Federal authority in the Gulf of Mexico.
The preparations for blockade are also going on
actively. Mr. LINCOLN seems to be treating Vir-
ginia also very cavalierly. The State has at length
appointed delegates to the Southern Con-
vention, yet sent a message to the
PRESIDENT promising not to make any
hostile demonstration. Mr. LINCOLN replies to
the message by silent contempt, by blockading
Norfolk, and declaring it to be his intention, as the
first thing, to restore the Navy yard, and the
arsenal and manufactory at Harper's Ferry. As
Virginia has chosen the South, and is the first
State in the PRESIDENT'S way to it, she must take
the consequence. Spirit and action seem now to be
on the side of the North.

The Earl and Countess Spencer leave town to-
day for Althorp Park, Northampton, for a week or 10 days.
The Countess Cowper had an assembly last even-
ing, at her residence, in St. James's-square.
The Dowager Countess of Essex's dance is fixed
for Tuesday, the 28th of May,

v.
The Dowager Viscountess Ashbrook has returned
to the Burlington Hotel, from Windsor.

Lord and Lady Charles Bruce come to town to-
day, frcin Tottenham Park, Wilts.

LATEST NEWS.

TURIN, MAY 16.

Yesterday a Government bill for a line of railway
from Naples to Ancona was laid on the table in the
Chamber of Deputies.
The Chamber then adjourned until Saturday
next.

On Monday Signor Ricciardi will put a question
to the Ministry with reference to certain events at
Naples.

NAPLES, MAY 15.

The National Guard of Naples fraternised with
the army yesterday evening, and a grand dinner
was given in the San Carlo Theatre.
More than 9,000 persons were present.
The Chevalier di Nigra will leave for Turin on
Saturday next.

It .is generally believed here that the French
garrison will soon quit Rome.
The Bourbon party at Rome is preparing fresh
expeditions to the Abruzzi.
Naples and the provinces are quiet.

MADRID, MAY 15.
There is no fear that tranquillity will be dis-
turbed in Africa.

The Correspondencia Autografa of to-day says :
—" It is not true that England has diplomati-
cally interfered in the question of Morocco."

PARIS, MAY 15.

The discussion on the petition in favour of the
occupation of Syria was continued to-day in the
Senate.

M. Billault gave a historical outline of the events
in Syria, and said that the almost powerless state
of Turkey obliges the great Powers to act with ex-
treme circumspection. He mentioned the negotia-
tions that preceded the occupation of Syria by
French troops, which was prolonged until the sth
June, notwithstanding some objections. England,
he said, only consented to the prolongation on the
express condition that it should be the last term.
With regard to the organisation of Syria, the Go-
vernment has weighty reasons for supposing that
the proposal to appoint a Christian chief only, who
would govern the whole population of Mount
Lebanon, has great chances of being adopted. The
only thing to be done, therefore, is to execute the
convention, and evacuate Syria on the sth June.
If the withdrawal of our troops has lamentable
consequences, certain persons have accepted a great
responsibility. Should blood be shed because our
counsels have been misunderstood we shall call
Europe to witness to the immense responsibility it
has incurred. (Sensation and applause.) It is not
France who evacuates Syria, it is Europe. When
France supports a cause of her own her acts are
free, and she does not withdraw. (Marks of ap-
probation.) What will now be the conduct of the
Emperor ? France will not forget her duty.
With the transports which are to bring back the
troops will leave six vessels, which will cruise in
the waters of Beyrout, and will be the terror of the
murderers. England is aware of this, and associates
herself with us. Her flag will float in the Levant
side by aide with ours and that of Russia, and then,
if necessity requires them, other measures will be
taken.

M. Billault read the circular of M. Thouvenel,
dated 3d of May, explaining the course which
France will follow, and concluded by saying that
France, being freed from the mandate of Europe in
regard to Syria, recovers all her individual liberty.
He then proposed that the Senate should pass to
the order of the day. (Great agitation.)
The Marquis Larocbejacquelein expressed his
satisfaction at the Ministerial declaration, and said
that he should vote for the order of the day.
The order of the day was then adopted almost
unanimously, there being only two dissentient
votes.

NEW YORK, MAY 4.
(Per City of Washington, via Queenstown.)

President Lincoln has issued another proclama-
tion calling for 42,000 volunteers, 23,000 for the
regular army, and 18,000 seamen.
A deputation from Western Virginia has in-
formed President Lincoln that Western Virginia
would support the union if the people were armed.

The chartered steamer Atlantic has arrived. She
reports having reinforced Fort Pickens success-
fully, and without resistance on the part of the
Secessionists.

Baltimore is quiet. A report on Federal rela-
tions very h hostile to the Federal Government has
passed the Maryland Legislature.
The Governor of Missouri, in his message to the
Legislature, condemns the action of President Lin-
coln's administration.

The steamer Northern Light has arrived from
San Francisco with 870,000 dots. in specie.

THE OUTWARD INDIA AND CHINA
MAILS.

The Pera (from Southampton on the 4th of
May) arrived at Malta on the 13th, at 4 p.m.,
and left at midnight for Alexandria.

The Vectis (from Marseilles on the 12th) reached
Malta on the 14th, at 11 p.m., and left at 4 the
next morning for Alexandria.

AMERICA,

LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.

The Jura, whieh touched at Londonderry yester-
day with the Canadian mails, has arrived. Her
advices are in all important points anticipated by
telegraph.

The Southern Congress assembled at Montgomery
on the 29th, President Davis having promulgated
his Message. In this cidcument he announces the
ratification of a permanent Constitution of Con-
federate States. So soon as the elections have
taken place officers will be designated to administer
the government. The declaration of war made
against the Confederation by President Lincoln ren-
dered it necessary to convene Congress to devise
means to replenish the Treasury, and provide for
the defence of the country. After making these
statements, the President reviews the relations
which have heretofore existed between the States,
and traces the history of the events which have
led them to assume their present hostile attitude.
Referring to the visit of the commissioners to Wash-
ington, he says that the most crooked paths of dip-
, lomacy can scarcely furnish an example so wanting
in courtesy, candour, and directness as was the
course adopted by the United States Government
towards those emissaries. lie alludes to the pru-
dent caution observed by the fleet off Charleston
during the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and pays
a high compliment to the Carolinians for their for-
bearance before, and heroism, daring, and mag-
nanimity after it. Commissioners have been sent
to England, France, Prussia, and Belgium to ask
these States to recognise the Confederate States as
belonging to the family of nations, and as an in-
dependent Power entitled to make treaties of amity
and commerce. Other diplomatic agents should
now be appointed. The Confederacy, through Mr.
Stephens, has concluded a convention with Vir-
ginia, by which she has united her powers and
her fortunes with the South, and assurances have
been given by other Southern States that they
will follow the same course. Most of the Exe-
cutive Departments, it is stated, are now in
successful operation. The Postmaster-General
will soon be ready to assume the direction
of postal affairs. The President, in the conclusion of
his Message, congratulates the Confederacy on the
patriotic devotion exhibited by all classes of citi-
zens, men of high official and social position and
wealth having willingly served in the volunteer
ranks; while railway companies had, on the simple
security of bonds by the Confederacy, proposed low
rates for the transportation of the mails. United
and resolved, he says, the men of the South cannot
fail. Their cause is just and holy, and on their
behalf he protests solemnly in the face of mankind
that they desire peace at any sacrifice, save that of
honour and independence. They seek no con-
quest, no aggrandisement, no concession from the
Free States of the North. All they ask is to be let
alone, and that none shall attempt their subjuga-
tion by arms, which they must and will resist to
the direst extremity. The moment this intention is
abandoned the sword will drop from their grasp,
and they will be ready to enter into treaties of
amity and commerce, mutually beneficial. So long
as this pretension is maintained, with a firm reli-
ance on that Divine Power which covers with His
protection the just cause, they will continue to
struggle for their inherent right to freedom, inde-
pendence, and self-government.
The Secretary of the Federal Treasury had ad-
vertised for proposals till the 30th inst., unless the
whole amount offered is sooner taken up at par, for
14,000,000 of stock, under the Act of June, 1860.
Lord Lyons had contradicted a report that he had
solicited an armistice. Mr. Secretary Seward had
contradicted a similar report as follows :
" There is not a word of truth in the report of an
armistice. That sort of business ended on the 4th
of March. "F. W. BEWARD.''

In the Maryland Senate on the 2d Mr. Seelott re-
ported a Bill to provide for the safety and peace of
the people of Maryland :
" Whereas the present extraordinary state of the
country and disturbed condition of the people
demand that prompt and efficient measures
'should be adopted by the General Assembly to
secure peace and safety of the people, to avoid
the evils and terrors of civil war; therefore, be it
enacted by the General Assembly that Ezekiel F.
Chambers, of Kent county ; John V. M'Alahon
and Thomas Wymans, of Baltimore; Thomas G.
Pratt, of Randel county ; and Walter Mitchell. of
Charles county, together with the Governor of
Maryland for the time being, who may be lawfully
acting in the capacity, be and they are hereby ap-
pointed a Board of Public Safety to and for the
State of Maryland, a majority of whom may act
in any case wherever the said Board may be autho-
rised to act under the provisions of this or any
supplementary act. And be it enacted that the
Board of Public Safety so constituted and ap-
pointed, shall have full power and authority to
provide the better organisation of the militia of
this State, aid may remove or appoint any officer
of the militia above the rank of captain, and may
commission any such appointed in the name and
under the great seal of the State of Maryland;
and the said Board of Public Safety shall have full
power to provide for the protection, safety, peace,
and defence of the State. And be it enacted, that
if any vacancy shall occur in the said Board it may
be filled up by a majority of the remaining mem-
bers of the said Board, and the person or persons
so appointed shall hold office until within one
month of the commencement of the next session of
the General Assembly of Maryland. Provided,
nevertheless, in the event of a Convention elected
by the voters of Maryland, in pursuance of a call
of the present or of any succeeding General Assem-
bly, then said Board shall be subject to such Sove-
reign Convention, which Convention shall have
power to remove any or all the members of said
Board of Public Safety."
A private letter from Annapolis says that the
brig Caledonia had two men hanging from her
yardarms, one for smuggling powder and provisions
to Charleston, the other for piloting the 7th Regi-
ment on to Chesapeake Bar, with the intention
that the secessionists should capture Annapolis be-
fore the 7th reached there.
Senator Hunter, W. C. Rives, IV. D. Preston,
and Judges Camden and Proctor had been ap-
pointed by the Virginia Convention as delegates
to the Southern Congress.
The blockade of Norfolk, Virginia, was being en-
forced, and it is reported that the bay was dotted
over with transports. It was reported that the
Navy Yard was to be retaken and rebuilt. Governor
',etcher is said to have informed President Lincoln
that no hostile demonstration against the Govern-
ment would be made by Virginia ; that she only
intended to protect her own soil. No notice was
taken of this letter by the Government.

SOIREE TO MR. HARPER TWELVETREES.—Last
evening a soiree was given at the Princess's Concert Rooms,
Castle-street, Oxford-street, in honour of Mr. Harper Twelve-
trees, one of the candidates for Marylebone at the last elec-
tion, for his public-spirited conduct in presenting himself to
the electors, and in recognition of his having been the first
independent candidate who has enunciated the principle that
the powar for the legislative regulation or suppression of
the liquor tariff should be in the hands of the people. After
refreshments had been partaken of, Colonal Rains took the
chair, and addressed the meeting upon the circumstances
which had called them together. Mr. T. Hattersley then
moved, Mr. S. Dolby seconded, and Mr. Conquest supported
the following resolution :—" That this meeting hereby re-
cords its high appreciation of the patriotic motives that
induced Harper Twelvetrees, Esq., to offer himself as a can-
didate for Marylebone at the late election, and believing
him to be in every respect eminently qualified to occupy a
seat in Parliament, expresses its earnest hope that ere long
he may be returned to the House of Commons." The reso-
lution was carried unanimously, after which Mr. Harper
Twelvetrees entered into a detail of his personal antecedents
and of his political principles, and announced his confident
expectation of hereafter becoming member for Marylebone.
DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN IN CHURCII.--On Sun-
day morning last, as the Rev. George Barber, curate of
Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, was officiating at Divine
service, it was observed that he sat down, instead of stand-
ing up, while the choir was chanting the Te Deunt. One of
the congregation, becoming alarmed, went into the reading
desk as soon as the Te Deum was over,•and found hi rn ap-
parently quite insensible. The rev. gentlemat's collar and
cravat were immediately loosened, and his hands, temples,
and the backs of his ears bathed with cold water. He was
then conveyed, by order of Mr. Jenkjus, surgeon, to a
neighbouring house and placed upon a bed; but r.9twitk-
standing that every attention was show:* to /aim, he expired
in about a quarter of an hour, having evinced no aign.s of
consciousness. On Monday an inquest was held on the
body by Mr. Frederick Grain, bputy coroner, at the Black
Bull at Bassingbourn ; and the jury, in accordance with the
medical testimony, returned a verdict to the effect that the)
deceased died 9f wri94B apoplexy.