The Sun.
London, England, 1850-11-02 00:00:00

ASHFORD MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

On Thursday evening last, the ".introductory lec-
ture" was delivered in the Assembly Rooms, before
the members and friends of the Ashford Mechanics'
Institution, by the Rev. John Dufton, M.A., Rector
of IVarehorn. The Rev. Gentleman was greeted
during his able and eloquent address with repeated
marks of applause by a large and respectable audi-
ence. Thelecturer commenced by stating that it was
with feelings of high and heartfelt satisfaction that
he made his appearance thus in public upon the pre-
sent occasion. It had been his good fortune for some
years back to act in concert with a few right-minded
men, with the view of supporting an institution
fraught, he trusted, with cumulative blessings to the
inhabitants of Ashford. From the evening of its for-
mation to the present time, various observations had
been made, as coming from most respectable quarters,
calling in question the real utility of the establishment
of a " Mechanics' Institution" in Ashford, and im-
plying the entertainment of doubts with regard to the
needfulness, policy, and beneficial tendency of the
measure. With a view of meeting all such scruples
of this nature as may be entertained by any class of
the community, and at the same time for allowing the
public to judge how far their proceedings in this
matter are the offspring of proper principles, and of
sound and patriotic views, it had been deemed advise-
able by the committee of management, that the appro-
priate operations of their institution should this season
commence by a public lecture, explaining the objects
of its establishment.

To his individual feelings, the honour of having
been chosen to fulfil the wishes of the committee on
this head, he need scarcely say, was altogether gra-
tifying. It is true that abundant proof has been
afforded from the well-earned reputation of others who
had delivered lectures in this institution, that the task
might hare been committed to far abler hands; yet
none, he felt sure, could have brought to its execu-
tion greater willingness to do the institution service,
or more sanguine feelings with' regard to the import-
ance, success, and advantages of its future operations.
Through evil report and good report he had long en-
deavoured to enforce the peculiar claims of such an
institution upon public support, and to demonstrate the
advantages oteducation and knowledge, of wisdom, and
of truth, whether considered in relation to an indi-
vidual, a town, or a nation. The Rev. Lecturer then
proceeded to give, in deep outline, a highly interesting
and powerful sketch of the nature, design, and teaching
of the institution which they had that night met to
re-open, and wound up by a forcible appeal to his
audience. As weare unable to furnish our readers with
a report of the lecture we must content ourselves at
present with drawing their attention to the following
syllabus as previously announced and adhered to :
Definition of education—religious and secular—the
province of reason—divine revelation—mental training
—illustration knowledge and wisdom—structure
and study of language—writing—arithmetic—draw-
mg—music—reading-room and lectures—political
economy—science—mechanics—new town—its menu-
, facture—artisans—chymistry—its nature and objects
—utility—iron--stone—illustration--natural history
—geology—astronomy—literature —library—history,
—biography—geography poetry Ashford Me-
chanics' Institution, nature, design, and teaching of—
public support worthy of—conclusion. At the ter-
mination of the lecture, of the varied subjects of
which it treated the above will convey some idea, a
vote of thanks was proposed by 11. Whitfeld, Esq.,
and seconded by Mr. Keene, of the New Town, to
Mr. Dufton, for his valuable address, and carried by
acclamation. The lecture occupied nearly two
hours in the delivery. 'We have reason to think it
will shortly be published. A portrait of Mr. Whit-
feld was then exhibited, which had been presented by
the members of the institution to that gentleman for
his untiring exertions in its behalf. The likeness is
faithful and striking. As a work of art it is highly
creditable to the artist, Mr. Clarke (son of our towns-
man, Rev. T. Clarke), and gives satisfactory evidence
of steady progress in pursuit of excellence. \Ve beg
to express our cordial admiration of the ability of Mr.
Clarke, and our assurance that his rising fame will
be extended by a production of such unquestionable
merit.—Kent _Herald.

DEATH Or LORD R•NCLIFFE.--This noble Lord,
who for many years has led a retired and quiet life, expired
at his seat, Bunny Hall, in the county of Nottingham, at six
o'clock yesterday (Friday) morning. The deceased, the
Right lion. Augustus Henry Anne Parkins, was Baron
Rancliffe, in the peerage of Ireland, and a baronet of Eng-
land. He was born on the 10th of June, 1785, succeeded
his father, Thomas Boothby, first baron, Nov. 17. 1800,
and married Lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter of George,
sixth Earl of Granard, on the 15th of October, 1807. Ilis
Lordship had for many years been separated from Lady
Rancliffe (who survives him), and has died without issue—
consequently the title of baron is extinct. The English
baronetcy, however descends to Mr. (uow Sir Thomas)
Parkins, of Ruddington, near Nottingham, and with it a very
small portion of the late Noble Lord's estate. The rest of
the heirable property, between 1,0001. and 2,0001. a year, is
succeeded to by Sir Richard Levinge, Bart., of Knockdrim
Castle, county Westmeath, son of his Lordship's eldest sister,
married to Sir Richard Levinge, father of the present Baronet,
on the 3d of December, 1810. But every pennyworth of
heirable property, which is supposed to be very considerable,
is willed to Mrs. Burt, who for abOut twenty years had been
living upon intimate terms with his Lordship. Lady Ran-
cliffe, now, and for a very long period past, living in France,
has her income of 1,0001. a year increased to 2,9001., by
virtue of articles entered into at the separation.
LAST SHOTS FROM THE DEER FORZSTS:AIMOst
the last shot of the season has now been fired in the deer
forests. About the middle of this month a number of beau-
tiful heads were added to former trophies. The finest ant-
lered head we have seen this year was shot by John Balfour,
Esq., Strathconon. It is a royal head, perfect in all its parts,
the top antlers, three on each side, from 6 to 9 inches long.
The length of each horn is 33} inches, a inches thick, and
24 inches span. Another head with ten antlers, larger than
the above in some of its dimensions (particularly in the
horns, which are the stoutest we have seen for years), was
shot by Lord Ranelagh, at Ardgour, on the 16th inst. The
length of the horns is 311 inches, 7 inches in thickness, and
28A span. Richard Arabin, Esq., had two very good heads
on his last day's stalking before leaving Dundreggan. 11.
W. White, Esq., shot four red deer at. Monar ; R. S. Hol-
ford, Esq., one stag, with wide ten-antlered horns. At Ich-
nacardoch, E. Digby, Eeq., shot a large stag, weighing 21
stone clean, with a large and handsome royal head; and
another, with a royal head of horns, 25 inches span, and 30
inches long, was shot at Glendce by M. Longfield, Esq., on
the 10th inst. On the 21st inst. Felix Pryor,Esq., shot a royal
stag, and two other stags the previous week. In the Kin-
lochewe forest, Captain Codrington killed a stag with royal
antlers.— Inverness Courier.

PASSENGERS' STORES.—The revenue authorities
have directed that, when the proper officers of the depart-
ment are reporting upon applications of parties for the ad-
mission of tobacco, cigars, and snuff, brought to this country
by pa-sengers in their luggage, and consequently neither
contained in the ship's manifest nor official report of the ves-
sel's cargo, they are to state distinctly whether the proprie-
tors or their agents acknowledged, previously to
or the examiwas
-
nation of their packages, that tobacco, cigars, snuff
contained therein; and the officers are also to state whether
they be satisfied that there was no intention to evade pay-
ment of the duty due on the articles.