Star.
London, England, 1828-04-24 00:00:00

FROM A PRIVATE LETTER.

Protestantism maki.s most rapid progress here at this
moment. Much zeal is shown among many of the
Ministers. Within the last few weeks an evening ser-
vice has been commenced in the Oratoire, a thing
hitherto unknown among the French Protestants, al-
though the are sermons preached almost evoy Sun-
day evenil in the Catholic churches. The Jesuits still
continue their efforts to suppress the circulation of the
Scriptures. Two weeks ago the Rev. Mr. was the
means of seceiving from their hands (jus: as they were
about to commit them to the flames !) no less than 1,500
Bibles. The French Bible Society has now circulated
throughout France about 100,000 copies. The death
of the Baron de Stael has been a most severe blow to
the cause of truth. lie was full of holy zeal, bis rank
and fortune gave him access to the highest classes, and
his upright and amiable character made him the ad-
miration of all. He seemed to be entering upon a
career of the highest usefulness, when, alas! he was
cut off.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE:

BO W-ST It E ET.

Yesterday a Gentleman named Colonel O'Brien applied to the
Magistrates fur redress, under the following circumstances—He
had, he stated, been travelling in Peru for four years, and had
collected a great number of curiosities, and among them a piece
of virgin gold, bearing in its native state a most extraordinary
resemblance to the Duke of Wellington's face. On that account
he purchased it for one hundred guineas, and placed it in his col-
lection. Jr weighed nearly 18 ounces avoirdupoise. On his arrival
in England about six months ago, he had shown it to Mr. Lawrie,
and Mr. Lawrie requested kayo to show it to his friends. The
Colonel had left it with him for that purpose, and had called sub-
sequently, and on receiving it found that the nose, the most pro.
niiitent feature of the countenance, had beers obliterated, and the
likeness which he so much prized had been destroyed.
Mr. Lawrie here explained that it was the result of sheer accident.
Ile had shown it to a Mr. Roberts, who doubted if it were gold,
and with 'Mr. Lawiies leave, took it home for the purpose of
assaying it. In the experiment, however, the accident bad occurred.
He was most willing to compensate for the injury to the amount of
any gold deficient, but Colonel O'Brien would not consent to it.
The Magistrates declined giving any opinion upon the subject,
but recommended an appeal to any member of the Society of An-
tiquaries,wbo had sten it in its original state, as t►ey could not Az a
value beyond the intrinsic one on any article.
The Colonel said, that be did not attend for the intrinsic value,
but for the injury done to the article as an antique.—He would not
have allowed such a disfigurement for fifty guineas. As it was, if

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they could give him no redress, he should say no more, but put up
with the lobs altogether. He then left the office, apparently very
dissatisfied.

Saturday, as a party of prisoners were at work on the
new ground, a short way below Chatham Dock-yard,
one of them, named James Scutt, took the liberty of
giving leg bail, while the attention of the superintendent
was ditected to some other object. The man has not
yet bees heard of, although there is reason to believe
he is concealed in some place not far from the Dock-
yard.
Waal. is ELCQUENCE ?—Eloquence appears under
so many varied shapes, that at first it may be difficult
to define it. It seems to reside in the application of
well chosen words that lead the judgment, by in-
fluencing the sympathies, or striking the imagina-
tion. Scipio (says Aulus Genius) was accused by
the tribunes of the people of having sold a peace
to the Syrian King ; " Romans," cried he, " on such
a day, I vanquished Hannibal—on such a day, I
reduced Carthage!—Let as to the Temple to offer
thanksgiving to the Gods!" The people dropped the
accusation, and crowded after the hero.—" Dew, our,
chief, is dead," cried the affrighted Arabians: " True,"
says ft.si, one of their Commanders, " true—Derar is
dead, but what avails it; Goa is living, and looks on
you." He led them back to the combat. This is
the eloquence of inspiration. Eloquence is sometimes
comprised in a single word. " Quintet!" (citizens!) said
Caesar, from his rostrum, to the seditious legions; and,
with the appellation that degraded them from military
rank, the sedition was subdued. Some years ago, when
Mr. Canning was formerly in office, an Opposition
Member, pregnant for debate, pressed him with a string
of interrogatories, full half an hour long. Mr. Canning
rose. The H fuse was all attention ;he vociferated the
the monosyllable " No!" and resumed his seat. Laugh-
ter superseded accusation, and prepared philippics
slumbered in tie pocket.