The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-25 00:00:00

THE DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BEDFORD.

THE DOUNE, PERTHSHIRE,—MONDAY.—It is with deep
regret I forward you intelligence of the death of the Duke of
Bedford, which took place yesterday morning, at half past
one. His grace had an apoplectic fit (the third) on Friday,
after which the noble duke never spoke. The Duchess of
Bedford, Lady Georgiana Russell, Lady Rachel Russell,
Lords Cosmo and Alexander Russell, and several other mem-
bers of the family, were present at the melancholy dissolution
of his grace.
The late duke, who was Duke and Earl of Bedford, Mar-
quis of Tavistock, Baron Russell of Cheneys, in the county
of Bucks, Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, and 'Baron Hough-
land, of StreAham, in the county of Surrey, in the peerage of
the united kingdom, was born the 6th July, 1766, and mar-
ried in March, 1786, to the Hon. Georgiana Byng, daughter
of the late Lord Torrington, by whom his grace had the Mar-
quis of Tavistock, Lord George Russell, and Lord John
Russell. In 1801, the above lady died, and in March, 1802,
the late duke succeeded to the title and estates on the death
of his brother the fifth duke.
In June, 1803, the late duke married the Lady Georgiana
Gordon, the daughter of the Duke of Gordon, by whom his
grace has left issue the Lady Georgiana Russell, Lord Henry
Russell, Lord William Russell, Lords Cosmo and Alexander
Russell, Lady Rachel Russell, the Marchioness of Abercorn ,
&c. His grace, in addition to his before mentioned titles, was
a knight of the Garter, F.S.A. F.L.S. Recorder of Bedford,
&c.

The Marquis of Tavistock, now Duke of Bedford, is in his
51st year, having been born in 1788, and married Lady Anna
Maria Stanhope, daughter of the late Earl of Harrington, in
1808, by whom his grace has issue Lord Russell, now Marquis
of Tavistock, born in 1808.
The Duchess of Bedford was at *Windsor Castle, in attend-
ance on the Queen, as one of the ladies of the bedchamber,
when the intelligence of the late duke's sudden death was re-
ceived from Scotland. The Duke of Bedford is at Oakley
House, Beds.—Correspondent of the Morning Herald.

NOVEL IMPORTATION.—A vessel just arrived at Aberdeen
from Hamburg, has brought over a ton and a half of comb
honey!

THE ST. HELENA RAT.—One of the most gigantic
specimens of the rat breed is now to be seen in Glasgow at
the premises of Mr. L. Smith, 141, Saltmarket. The animal
is a female, and was brought from St. Helena about fifteen
months ago, when she was about_eight months old, and
weighed the same number of pounds. Now her weight is
13 lbs., sixteen ounces to the pound, and she measures 2 feet
9 inches between the tip of the nose and the point of the
tail. Her incisors are fully an inch in length, and from the
girth of limb, which is nearly equal to that of an otter, the
animal must possess immense power. She is of the water
tribe, and her hind feet are webbed. In every respect she
has the appearance of an ordinary rat, though of immense
magnitude, and as the beast is visited by many who are curious
in natural history, almost all instinctively start back when
she is placed at liberty on a table. Yet she is as gentle as a
rabbit, and has never tasted flesh or fish, though she is very
fond of a plunge in the Clyde. Her food is vegetables, and,
strange as it may appear, the drink which the animal prizes
above all others, is ale or porter, while she rigidly eschews
whisky. Occasionally she allows the " malt to get aboon
the meal," and cuts curious antics while in merry mood.
Specimens of the same breed have not before been known
in this part of the country, and an addition of the tribe to
our present list of vermin is a matter more to be " honoured
in the breach than the observance."—Glasgow Mail.
FAVOURABLE RESULT OF THE RECENT REVISION IN
MARYLEBONE.—It appears from a very elaborate table of
the recent revision, drawn out by Mr. Rook, the assistant
secretary to the Loyal and Constitutional Association of the
above borough, that the result of the revision is extremely
favourable to the conservative cause. The number of voters
on the register for 1838, was 11,481 ; for the present year it
is 11,626—an increase of 145. On the present register there
are 2,798 voters, who were 'not on that of 1838, and the pre-
sent register loses' 2,653 voters who were on the register of
last year. Of the latter number, 593 voted for Lord Teign-
mouth, 559 for Ewart, and 22 for Thompson ; 512 did not
vote at all, and 977 of them were on the register only of 1838.
Of 411 who voted in March, 1838, disqualified that year, but
now registered, 228 voted for Lord Teignmouth, 177 for
Ewart, and 6 for Thompson. Therefore the increase of new
electors is 2,798 ; so that abating the number who voted in
March, 1839, now registered, and adding Thompson's 16 vo-
ters gone off, there remained on the register of 1838, who
voted, 3,513 for Lord Teignmouth, and 3,298 for the liberals ;
leaving on this year's register, who voted, 3,158 for Lord
Teignmouth, and 2,900 for the liberals, being a majority for
his lordship of 258—a clear gain of 40 in favour of the con-
servative majority of 218 over both the ,liberal candidates at
the election of 1838. Besides such majority, it is to be ob-
served that a large number of conservative voters has been
recently added to the Paddington list. In this parish, during
last year, a great many of the first-rate and respectable houses
recently built have got into rate, and it is well known that,
of the occupants, a decided majority are conservative.—Morn-
ing Herald.

S

A BRIEF ACCOUNT or TEE REVIVAL oFRELIGION
AT KILSYTH : IN A LETTER TO A FRIEND.

BY THE REV. W. M. HETHERINGTON, A.M.
Minister of Torphiichen Linlithgowshire.

(From the Scottish Christian Herald)
MY DEAR SIR,—As you expressed an earnest wish that I
would write to you an account of the religious reviyal of Kil-
syth, as soon after I had visited the place as possible, I shall,
without farther delay, give you an outline of what I either
witnessed myself or learned from the statements of others,—
persons whose testimony, were I to mention their names,
would command the most implicit confidence, as beyond all
suspicion. You are aware that lam not myself disposed to
admit rashly, as true, any report of a strange or wonderful
character; but having repeatedly heard it stated, that a re-
markable revival of religion; or what bore strong appearances
of deserving that designation, had taken place at Kilsyth, I
thought it my duty to take an early opportunity of visiting
that parish, that I might ascertain by personal investigation
what reality there seemed to be in the reports that had reached
me. I went, therefore, resolved to make the most minute in-
quiry in my power,—to believe nothing without what should
appear to me sufficient evidence, and to reject nothing which
should be, supported by what I might deem sufficient evi-
dence. On my arrival at Kilsyth, I had the good fortune to
meet with a clergyman, now settled in another part of the
country, who had resided several years in Kilsyth, and was
intimately acquainted with the place and its inhabitants.
Accompanied by him, I went among the people freely, from
house to house, and mingled with them while engaged in their
daily labours, in their own abodes, or in public manufac-
tories, and quite unaware of my visit, so that they could not
be in the least prepared with answers to my questions, or
with appearances arranged for the purpose of deceiving me.
.I
conversed familiarly with old and young, men and women,
boys and girls, and gathered from their own lips a plain ac-
count of their feelings, views, and entire state of mind with
regard to religion ; judging, at the same time, as accurately
as I could whether their language and conduct were those of
truth and soberness or whether they were merely the result
of some strange and temporary excitement.
But before proceeding to state what came under my own
observation, it may be expedient briefly to mention the cir-
cumstances which preceded the events which at present have
attracted, and still attract, so much of public attention. I
cannot, of course, in this be very minute, nor shall I attempt
it ; as in all probability, a full account of the matter will ere
long be given to the public by the much respectecl,minister of
the parish himself. It appears, that for many years the
utmost pains have been taken by Mr. Burns, the minister, to
promote the progress of vital religion among his people.
Sabbath schools were established as early as 1809, and have
been in operation ever since. In 1826, the parish began to
enjoy the benefit of an able, pious, and zealous schoolmaster,
all whose labours were based upon the principles, and con-
ducted in the spirit, of scriptural religion. A gradual change
was consequently effected iu the rising generation, the fruits
of which are now becoming extensively apparent. In 1829,
the kirk session appointed a fast-day to be obseryed, ex-
pressly for the purpose of humbling themselves on account
of the prevalence of vice and immorality, and the low state
of personal religion among them. Though this was opposed
by some, yet many were awakened to a degree of serious con-
cern on account of their sinful condition. From this time
forward a greater degree of earnestness in religious matters
began to appear among the people. In 1832, the terrible
scourge of the cholera excited an unusual degree of alarm in
the minds of great numbers ; and many prayer meetings were
formed, which were numerously attended. Nor did they drop
into neglect upon the termination of that awful pestilence,
but were continued ; and the object for which special suppli-
cations were offered up to God, was very frequently that He
would be graciously pleased to awaken a spirit of earnest and
vital religion among them, and throughout the Christian
Church generally. In 1835, at the March communion, many
were seriously impressed, and gave proofs of having obtained
a saving change of heart and principles. There had thus
been gradually growing a sort of serious under-current of re-
ligious inquiry, though without making any very decided ap-
pearance till of late. A short while previous to the last dis-
pensation Of the Sacrament, the people were impressed with
an earnest desire that God would be pleased to make it a
period of more than usual refreshing from his gracious pre-
sence ? and many prayer-meetings were held, expressly for
the purpose of supplicating a more than usual outpouring of
the Holy Spirit on that solemn occasion. These meetings, it
is of importance to notice, wereheld by the spontaneous im-
pulse of the people themselves,—not got up by the impor-
tunity of their minister, as is generally the case in America,
and sometimes elsewhere ; and the tenor of them was chiefly
that God would bless his servants, the minister, and their
ministrations, for the promotion of his own glory. Along
with this spirit of prayer, there was a dim, indefinite, hope
that it might be granted,—a wish ripening into an expectation
that the prayer of faith would be heard. The ministrations
of the Sacrament Sabbath was attended to with deep and
earnest seriousness, and great solemnity ; but not beyond
what had been-the case on former occasions. On the Mon-
day after the Sacrament, a stirring of the mind of the con-
gregation began to appear. Next day Mr. William Burns,
son of the minister, preached to those young persons who
had been his own early friends and companions. His sermon
was a sort of farewell discourse, as he was about to depart to
another scene of labour, and ere long to enter upon the mis-
sionary enterprise. At the close of some urgent_ and affec-
tionate appeals to their conscience, the impression became
manifest. From countenance to countenance, from eye to
eye, from heart to heart, it spread, like the thrilling of the
electric spark, or the rapid gleam of lightning. Tears
streamed'down many a face, and many a bosomheaved with
strong emotion ; yet the excitement was, upon the whole,
mental rather than bodily; or if bodily; only so because the
mental emotion could not be concealed. The state of mental
feeling was also purely scriptural. It could not be more ac-
curately expressed than in the account given of the Pente-
costal converts,—" They were pricked in their heart, and
said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do ?" Or, in the language of the
jailer of Philippi, they cried out, " What shall 1 do to be
saved ?"
Next day, numbers came to the minister, desiring to in-
quire how their souls might obtain relief from the deep con-
victions of sin, by which they were wrung even to agony.
Nor did this awakened state of feeling pass away like a mere
transient emotion. Day after day, they requested that the
word of God might be preached to them. They did indeed
" hunger and thirst after righteousness ;" and could not be
satisfied till they obtained an interest in the perfect righteous-
ness of Christ. From that time, till now, there has been
preaching every evening in the church, neighbouring minis-
ters willingly lending their aid in so good and important a
cause. -these particulars I learned from various persons who
had been personally cognizant of the whole matter, from its
commencement till the period of my visit. I must now state
1 a few particulars of what I myself witnessed. -
I conversedvvith many who had experienced these impres-
sions, and endeavoured to ascertain their beginning, progress,
and present state. I found they had been invariably impresses"
with a deep conviction of sin ; and that not in the vague
manner which too often leads to nothing, nor merely on ac-
count of some individual sins of peculiar enormity, but of
the sinfulness of the• heart, the deep depravity of human
nature, and of their own in particular, which they felt to be
the source of all actual sins. They felt intense, almost over- -
whelming sorrows on account of their sins ; but chiefly on
account of their heinousness in the sight of God,—their
aggravated character when viewed as committed against infi-
nite goodness, mercy, and redeeming love.
They sought not to shelter themselves under the frivolous
excuse, that they had not been worse than others ; nor under
a searching sermon did they evade its force, by imagining
how well it might apply to others ; but each took the admo-
nition to himself,—each felt the plague of his own heart,— _
each felt his own burden to be greater than he could bear,—
and yet entirely his own.
Some endeavoured to shake off the impression, betaking
themselves with double assiduity to their worldly pleasures or
labours ; -but were again arrested by the power of Divine
truth, and compelled to flee for refuge to Christ finding all
their devices ineffectual. Those who thus sought relief found
it after a longer or shorter period, where alone it is to be
found ;—in contemplating with earnest faith, the " Lamb of
God who taketh away the sin of the world ;"—only in that
complete " change of heart" which is the result of being
" born anew of the spirit."
In all of them with whom I conversed, I found the main
features the same, yet diversified in conformity with the va-
ried shades of character and circumstance of those who had
experienced the power of the same Divine truths. They all
expressed deep humility,—entire abandonment of all trust in
themselves,—faith in the finished work and perfect rigteous-
ness of Christ, as the only and the all-sufficient ground of
salvation,—deep and grateful adoration of their great God and
Saviour.—and love to every 'Christian, accompanied by pity
for every sinner, and an earnest desire for the extension of
the Redeemer's kingdom,—the reign of peace, of holiness,
and love.

The external effects are also deserving of notice. Drunken-
ness, which formerly prevailed to a great degree, strife, rail-
ing, evil-speaking, political agitation, and animosity, are, for
the present, completely suspended. The master manufac-
turers by whom the workmen are chiefly employed, were at
first apprehensive that such a degree of religious excitement
would seriously interfere vi ith the duties of the people, but
they have found that the time devoted to religion is much
more than compensated by the greater regularity, faithful-
ness, and alacrity with which they attend to their work, and
by their increased sobriety, and the obliging and attentive
manner in which they conduct themselves. This has natu-
rally given rise to a corresponding degree of kind, considerate,
and generous conduct on the part of the masters and em-
ployers,—thereby proving that vital Christianity is the very
life and cement of society, that " godliness is profitable for
all things," and that tobe " fervent in spirit" promotes " di-
ligence in business." It should be added, that in walking
along the streets about bed-time, instead of the boisterous
din of drunken revelry, which formerly abounded, there is
now only to be heard, as I can myself testify, the solemn tones
of prayer and praise to God, through Christ, and by the

As I was desirous to explore the matter as thoroughly as
possible, I not only conversed with the people in their own
houses, but also went with them to church in the evening.
They came as they had left their work—it was a week-day
evening—grey-headed men and women, others in the prime
and strength of life, others still young, down to almost child-
hood, not a few mothers with their infants in their arms, dis-
playing at once the sweet solicitude of maternal love, and the
earnest anxiety of immortal creatures seeking the way of eter-
nal life. The deep, devoted seriousness with which they lis-
tened, the bright looks of awakened life which beamed from
their eyes, the heart-worm .earnestness end fervency with
which they sung the praises of God, surpassed any thing I
ever saw or heard.

Instead of the discouraging uncertainty whether people
are attending and receiving benefit, which too often strikes a
chill into the heart of a minister, it was impossidle not to feel
that every word found ready entrance into hearts prepared to
receive the truth in the love of it, with the simplicity and the
teachableness of little children. They seemed as if they could
never tire listening to the tidings of salvation; and I felt
(for I too addressed them) as if I could never tire proclaiming
these glad tidings. I have frequently met and conversed with
pious individual Christians, and felt my heart refreshed by
the converse, while I regretted deeply that such intercourse
is comparatively so rare. But never have I witnessed any-
thing at all to compare with what I saw and heard at Kilsyth.
I could have imagined that eighteen centuries had been rolled
back, and I had been permitted to obtain a glimpse of pure,
true, living Christianity, as it was seen in apostolic times ! I
could not help saying in ply own mind, " What hath God
wrought !" " This is the doing of the Lord, and wondrous
in our eyes !" " God hath visited his people !"
I could give you anecdotes illustrative of each and all of
these statements, from the intercourse I had with the people
both in my first and my second visits to Kilsyth,—for 1 may
mention that I made a second visit, which has only con-
firmed in my mind the impresSions produced by the first—but
I think it is premature yet to 'relate any such anecdotes, and
scarcely consistent with the- respect due to private conversa-
tions—scarcely expedient, lest it should subject individuals
to troublesome, and perhaps injurious, intrusion. I may add,
that there is, no doubt, a considerable degree of excitement
in the place, which must needs abate, for it is " first joy,
then peace in believing," but not more than this is due to a
state of mind awakened to a right sense of the respective va-
lues of earth and heaven, time and eternity, sin and holiness,
and to the infinite importance of these considerations, as in-
volving the welfare or the woe, for ever, of their own immor-
tal souls. The wonder is, not that such deep interest is oc-
casionally felt, but that it is not always felt when such topics
are brought before the mind. If this work be of God, as I
believe it is, my earnest prayer is, MAY IT BECOME UNIVER-
SAL!

Among the recent arrivals at Paris is the Countess of
Essex, formerly Miss Stephens. Her ladyship is said to be
in rather ill health.