The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-24 00:00:00


MIND

11

Vottrr.

THE IMMOVEABLE KINGDOM.

A NEW-YEAR'S EXERCITATION.

BY THE REV. J. B. M'CREA.

HEBREWS, xii. 28.
since first the voice Almighty spake
The planets to their spheres,
And burning suns began to make
Their count of days and years ;
What mighty myriads of mankind
Have moved this earth upon,
That, like the snow-flakes in the wind,
Are drifted, thaw'd, and gone !
Not mind of mortal man can tell
The victims-of the flood,
When Cain's descendants, fair and frail,

Had sinn'd with sons of God ;
What untold multitudes were slain,

By vengeance of the Lord,
When on the Cities of the Plain

The fervid torrent pour'd.
Who can recount the nations gone,
When Nimrod's kingdom rose,
The germ of that " great Babylon,"
The " queen of pride" and woes ?
Where are the tyrant Pharaohs now,
That Jacob's children tried?
And Asshur, that, with haughty brow,
The King of kings defied ?
Where is the Persians' gorgeous throne,
Their armies as the sand ?
Where mighty Philip's mightier son,
Not Persia could withstand ?
Where are the hosts of sanguin'd fame,
'Neath cross and crescent led ;
Of Christendom, by sword and flame,
The pride, disgrace, and dread?
Of martyr'd millions not to think,
That died by brand and blade ,•
Their blood the mystic harlot's drink,
The church's triumph made.
With all the souls that into birth
Have burst from age to age,
Unspoken done their part o earth,
And glided off the stage.
Gone all, just as a wither'd leaf,

Or insect on the stream :
Their being, glory, history brief
As half-forgotten dream.
One kingdom, 'mid the wrecks of time,

In growing glory stands ;
Cities and palaces sublime,
Unbuilt by human hands.
Deeper its firm foundations be,
Than ocean's caves descend ;
And further than remotest sea,
Its unknown bounds extend.
Its conquering subjects daily bring
Their trophies to its gates ;
And here an everlasting King
With grace unwearying waits.
When quench'd the sun's unwasted ray,
And stars have ceased to shine,
Shall flourish through eternal day,
This kingdom all divine.

LITERARY NOTICES.

Tie Foreign Quarterly Review. January, 1840. London :
Black and Armstrong, 8, Wellington-street (North),
Strand.

It is some time since we have been favoured with a copy
of this very able review. The contents of the present num-
ber justify us in attributing to it a greatly improved charac-
ter. The first article, on " Euripides and the Greek Drama:
its Musical and Religious Importance." is very cleverly and
learnedly written ; but we cannot assent to many of the
opinions advanced by the writer. His views on the subject
of religion are very loose and theoretical. The review of
" Shubert's Travels in the East" possesses considerable
interest. The elaborate remarks on the " Indications of
Philosophic Progress in America" are evidently froin the
pen of a Unitarian, or something more. We have been
highly delighted with the excellent article on " Architecture
at Home and Abroad." It furnishes much information of
great value, both to the professional as well as the general
reader. Much curious research is displayed in the paper on
the " Identity of English, Classical, and Oriental Literature
and Interests." We think many, if not all, of the grave
questions which the writer has strung together might be
answered on reference to the Scripture history of the confu-
sion of tongues at Babel. The etymological quibbles in the
review of Deschappelles' work on whist have afforded us
much amusement. The article on " The Apocryphal Books
of Isaiah and Enoch" abounds with much curious matter,
that will give great delight to the scholar and antiquarian.
The statesman may derive much benefit from the perusal of
" Turkey, Egypt, France, Russia, Asia, and the British
Ministry." We do not concur in all the views of the wri-
ter : but he has put on record some valuable truths, to which
it will be well for this country to pay a prompt attention.
We particularly recommend a perusal of the remarks on the
relations of this country with China. Under the head of
" Music at Home and Abroad," we are furnished with a
large fund of interesting information from all quarters of
the globe. The writer has displayed great diligence in the
collection of his materials, as well as tact and judgment in
their arrangement.

Corifestious of Harry Lorrequer. No U. Dublin : W

Curry, Jun. and Co.
The inimitable Harry, much to the regret of admiring
thousands, has brought his amusing adventures to an abrupt
conclusion. The regret is not, however, unmixed with a
feeling of satisfaction at the happy termination of his trials
and anxieties. The last chapter leaves him, after all his sin-
gular " ups and downs," and " moving accidents by flood
and field," a Benedict. The scenes at Munich, described in
this part, are exceedingly droll. The ruse by which he ob-
tains the hand of Lady Jane is capitally managed. We re-
joice to find that the pen that has afforded us so much amuse-
ment in Harry Lorrequer, is now engaged in preparing
Charles O'Malley, or, the Irish Dragoon, for the press.
We anticipate a very rich treat from the forthcoming work.
We must not omit to mention that " Phiz," in the illustra-
tions of the number before us, has outdone himself.

The Art-Union. No. 12. London :W. West, 1, Cathe

rine•street, Strand.

This excellent periodical is expressly devoted to the fine
arta, and contains a succession-of ably-written essays, cri-
tiques, and reports, on matters connected with painting,
sculpture, engraving, and architecture. It furnishes a de-
tailed account of all the exhibitions, metropolitan and pro-
vincial ; of the progress of foreign art ; and of all new pub-
lications, at home and abroad, connected with the fine arts.
Many of the lighter articles in the Art-Union are from the
talented pen of Mrs. S. C. Hall, whose husband, we believe,
is the editor. The extended circulation of this spirited jour-
nal must have an unfailing tendency to improve and elevate
the national taste.

NORWICH UNION FIRE INSURANCE SOCIETY

ESTABLISHED 1821.

At the Annual Meeting of the Proprietors of this Society,
held at the Office in Surrey-street, Norwich, on Tuesday, the
15th day of January, pursuant to notice in the Gazette, and
also in the Norwich newspapers, called to receive the Report
of the Board of Directors, Edward Temple Booth, Esq. Pre-
sident of the Society, in the Chair—
, The Secretary (Samuel Bignold, Esq . )
Michaelmas
cash ac-
counts for the eighteenth year, ending at
last,
and also a statement as collated with the returns furnished
to the Stamp Office of the aggregate amount of the property
insured by this Society.
The President then addressed the Members, and stated
that he had the high gratification of meeting them with a
most favourable Report. That the Directors, after the most
careful consideration of the present state of the affairs of the
Society, had resolved to appropriate the sum of £30,000.
profits for the past year, of which £lB,OOO. would be devis-
able at the next triennial return amongst the Insurers, and
£12,000. became the exclusive property of the Proprietors,
46000. thereof being put to their reserved fund, and £6OOO.
being applied for the annual dividend, which for the present
year would be £3. 15s. per share, or £l2l. per cent. on the
Paid-up capital. The President then adverted to the present
state of the Office, which he stated was in every respect most
prosperous, for the reserved fund, belonging_exclusively to
the Proprietors now amounted to £45,434• over and above
the original capital £66,000.and that this had accrued wholly
from the past profits of the Institution. That there was
£36,000. in the insurance fund, Also consisting of realized
profits, applicable to future returns to the policy holders, he-
' surplus balance of £12,800. after providing for .every
contingency to the credit of the Society on its accounts at
the commencement of the current year, which would end at
next.
Michaelmas
' fhe President further called attention to
the fact, that the premiums of
years increased on an average insurance had in the last ten
year's increase exceeding 4(1)0. £2OOO. per annum, the last
Mr. Joseph Stannard inquired when the term of the So-
ciety's partnership expired, and an,,wered that it termi-
nated on the 6th of August, Ism, which period all the
savings now forming the reserve funnaia,d as
thereto,
whatever ad-
ditions might in the mean time be ereto, would be
distributed pro rata amongst the holders of the £2,200.
shares.
The Secretary (Mr. Bignold) entered at great lengltl.h into
the concerns of the Society, which he described, bot
as to
the extent of its business and in its results, to be prosperousu
beyond all former precedent. Mr. Bignold dwelt
111.1 y on the fact that the business now amounted to
i-
fifty-
seven millions, of which upwards of nine millions was (
agricultural property alone, being one-fifth of the whole sum
insured by all the offices collectively (45 in number) on that
species of property. That the yearly premiums had risen to
£77,766. That the nrotits of the Office had in the two last
years enabled the Directors to apportion between the Insured
and the Shareholders £60,000, three-fifths belonging to the
former class, and two-fifths to the latter. That the Proprie_
tors' dividend had now for two years amounted to £l2i per
cent. on the capital paid up, causing an annual distribution
of £8250, whilst the prospect on the year iu which we were
now entered gave promise, from the small amount of losses,
to equally favourable results. The Secretary added, "We
have had no litigation; all is smooth and tranquil over our
vast connexion. The particulars spoken to are facts on which
t he Norwich Union Society may challenge comparison with
tiny other similar Society in the kingdom."
It was then moved by John Stracey, Esq. (one of the So-
ciety's Trustees), seconded by William I{ackham, Esq., and
unanimously resolved—
That it be referred to the Directors togite into consider-
ation the services of the Secretaries, w
ss, whichkfies great increase of the Society's business, reference to thei
millions
sn
sinceear y
fifty-seven millions, and has advanced twelve in
any addition has been made to their remuneration.
E. T. BOOTH, Chairman.
The President having left the chair, it was moved by Ed-
ward Browne, Esq., of H.ethersett, seconded by Wm. Martin
Seppings, Esq., and unanimously resolved—
That the thanks of this meetiug be given to the Directors
and Officers of the Society, for their successful coiiduct of
its affairs, and particularly to the President (Mr. Booth), for
thh ability with which he has discharged ,the duties of Chair-
as'this day.—Norwieh Mercury.