The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-13 00:00:00

MR. SPURGEON AT BRISTOL.

Mr. Spurgeon was on Wednesday last announced
to preach at the opening of the City-road Baptist
Chapel, Bristol, and for several days previous there
was an immense demand for tickets of admission.
The tickets were distributed gratuitously, to the
full extent of the limits of the chapel, and in the
evening the Circus was engaged as a more commo-
dious place of meeting.
The opening sermon was announced to begin at
2.30, but crowds began to assemble an hour earlier,
and when the doors were opened there was a tre-
mendous rush of eager and anxious ticket-holders.
In a few minutes every seat was occupied, and
afterwards the passages were blocked up by a crowd
that occasionally showed itself noisy and restless.
The congregation, as usual in such circumstances,
was highly excited, and when Mr. Bosworth (King-
street Chapel) gave out the first hymn his voice
could scarcely be heard. The singing, however,
brought composure, and the service was in due
course proceeded with.
The evening service commenced in the Circus at
half-past six. Mr. Spurgeon arrived at a few
minutes before that time, and was warmly greeted
by the friends who partially blocked up the pas..
sages to the platform from which he was to deliver
his discourse.
Divine service commenced by Mr. Spurgeon
giving out the hymn beginning with—
" Come' let us join our cheerful songs
With angels round the round,"

and after it had been sung by the audience, the rev.
gentleman urged them to remain as quiet as pos-
sible. He then read the 32d Psalm, commenting
upon each verse as he proceeded. Before he had
concluded the Psalm a loud knocking was heard on
the outside, and it was stated that although the
avenues were crammed with anxious listeners, there
were still thousands outside desirous of being ad-
mitted. This caused a little commotion, and Mr.
Spurgeon expressed an opinion that the services of
the police should be secured to restore quietness, and
prevent any further disturbance. The confusion,
however, continuing, Mr. Spurgeon called upon the
Rev. E. Probert to engage in pray*. Mr. Probert
accordingly offered up a fervent prayer, during
which the knocking at the doors and the wooden
sides of the building was continued with unabated
vigour; and the heads of men who had climbed up
the " stays" were seen peering through the venti-
lators at the base of the ro3f.

Mr. Spurgeon, finding it impossible to proceed,
said he should be glad to preach outside if he could,
but the state of his health would not allow him to
do so.

A person in the centre of the arena, who had
evidently not heard the rev, gentleman's remark,
said there were thousands of persons outside, and it
would be better if Mr. Spurgeon could preach to
them.

Mr. Spurgeon repeated that he could not preach
out of doors. He was in the predicament of a
man who had too many to hear him, and wished
that some other man would come forward to take
one-half of them to himself. His nerves were
thoroughly shattered by a late accident. He
hoped that some person would go to the police sta-
tion for assistance. He would endeavour to preach
as well as he could, and summon all the courage he
had to do so. (Hear, hear.) He wished, however,
he had the strength he possessed a few years ago,
but he had preached ten times a-week ; was
thoroughly knocked up, and was getting old before
he was young. The rev, gentleman then selected
for his text the 14th verse of the Bth chapter of
Job :—" Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose
trust shall be a spider's web."
The rev. gentleman was proceeding with his
address, when a voice from the entrance shouted,
" Here is no police here." (Order, order.)
Mr. Spurgeon—Some of you strong men will have
to go and battle with the crowd. (A. slight con-
fusion.)

Mr. Probert—Retain your seats, please.
A Voice—Could not Mr. Spurgeon speak briefly
to them ?

Mr. Spurgeon—lf there was a possibility of
preaching to the same congregation at another
time, I would do so. Have you all tickets ?

A Voice—Preach oat of do-ors to-morrow.

Mr. Spurgeon—l will come again in any rea-
sonable distance of time to preach. I will do any-
thing if I have the opportunity to preach, but I
cannot control myself now ; therefore I cannot
preach to you to-night. (Signs of disappoint-
ment and regret.)
The rev, gentlemen on the platform held a con-
sultation together for some moments. It was in-
terrupted by
A Voice—l propose that we sit still for half
an hour. I think the mob will disperse by that
time.

The Rev. J. Davis, however, instantly gave out
a hymn, which was sung by the congregation.
Mr. Spurgeon—lf there's any possibility of
preaching at all—
A Voice—There's only one remedy. I will under-
take to go down from the building by a rope and
'etch the police. (Hear, hear.)
Another Voice—Don't be afraid. There's an
inspector of police outside; and Mr. Spurgeon might
consider himself safe.

Mr. Spurgeon (to the gentleman who had volun-
teered to be let down by a rope)—Will you kindly
do it?

Another Voice—P:l go with you. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Probert—You can't go ; if you go out they
will rush in.

A Voice—We can drop ourselves down.
Another Voice—We have an inspector of police
outside, who has made the necessary arrangement
for keeping order. If we are now quiet Mr. Spur-
geon might preach for half an hour; but it would
be well that he should not continue too long.
Mr. Spurgeon—Cwho seemed to be labouring
under illness, and frequently had recourse to salts)
—Preaching is not like plying a pump handle—
merely moving it, and out it flows. (Hear, hear.)
Whatever I say will be rambling ; and I almost
feel I shall not be able to preach. I feel I can
hardly stand upright (expressions of sympathy).
A Voice—Dismiss us. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Spurgeon (after a little rest)—l will try
again. (Hear, hear.) I will commence again—
and oh ! that the Lord may be pleased to strengthen
me, so that I may be able to address you. ("Amen"
from many of his hearers.) The rev, gentleman
then proceeded with his discourse. After a brief
sermon on the text, Mr. Spurgeon begged his
hearers to excuse his short address. He had done
all he could, and he would be glad to come down
again if there could be means found of his preaching
quietly to the people.

One of the Ministers on the platform made some
observation to him in a low tone of voice.
Mr. Spurgeon—lt's impossible I can do it (then
turning to his audience): our friends want me to
preach to the people outside—(no, no)—but I can-
not do it. I think you had better sing a verse or
two and then be quietly dismissed.
A collection was then made, and the proceedings
terminated with singing and prayer.
Mr. Spurgeon left the building before the mass
had attempted to move, and thereby escaped any
inconvenience which he might otherwise have ex-
perienced in threading his way through the crowd
outside. The greatest order was observed by the
audience in making their exit, and the outsiders
finding that Mr. Spurgeon had gone, gradually
dispersed.
The net proceeds of the day's services amounted to
£l4O.

IRON-CLAD STEAMSHIPS.--We understand that
Messrs. Laird, Sons, and Co., of Birkenhead, have received
a commission from the Lords of the Admiralty to build one
of the three new iron-clad ships which it has been resolved
to construct. It is said to be the intention of Messrs. Laird
to build this powerful and stupendous vessel in one of their
large graving docks, which it is stated will be covered with
a glass roof, to protect the ship
effects of the weather, anti the workmen from the