The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-03-26 00:00:00

CHILD.-OLI

AGGRESSIVE PROGRESS OF RUSSlA.—Within a period
of 54 years, the total acquisitions of Russia equalled her
whole European empire before that time. The acquisition
from Sweden equalled the now kingdom of Sweden ; from
Poland, a territory equal to the Austrian empire ; from
European Turkey a country equal to Prussia, exclusive of
the Rhenish provinces ; from Asiatic Turkey, a territory
equal to.the German small states, Rhenish Prussia, Holland,
and Belgium ; from Persia, an extent of country equal to
England; and from Tartary, a country equal to European
Turkey, Greece, Italy, and the whole of Spain. The Russian
frontier has been advanced by these acquisitions about 700
miles towards Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Vienna and Paris,
500 miles to Constantinople, 60 miles to Stockholm, and
about 1000 miles to Teheran. The estimated population of
Russia in 1689, at the accession of Peter 1., was 13,000,000;
at the accession of Catharine 11. in 1762, it was 23,000,000,
and at her death in 1792. it was 36,000,000, whilst at the
death of Alexander, in 1823, it was 38,000,000.—MaltaTitnes.
IMMENSE ARTESIAN WELL.—At the sitting of the Aca-
demic des Sciences on Monday, M. Arugo made a report on
the Artesian well at Grenelle, which showed the great diffi-
culties attending the undertaking. The first time the borer
fell into the cavity was when the perforation had been to the
depth of 115 metres-377 feet. This was soonafter the com-
mencement of the operation, was soon recovered, and was in
fact as nothing to what occurred in 1837. Then the length
of the bars united together measured 384 metres-1,260 feet.
Not only these broke, but the enormous metal spoon used to
bring the materials to the surface, also fell to the bottom of
the cavity, from a height of 80 metres-262 feet, and it re-
quired extraordinary exertions to recover it and draw it out
again. The operation, which could only be worked by means
of a windlass, with horse-power working on the surface, oc-
cupied the whole time from May, 1837, to August, 1838.
The immensity of this labour for 15 successive months may
be well conceived, when it is reflected that it had to act to a
depth of 460 metres—upwards of 2,000 feet. This difficulty
being overcome, the works were continued without any fresh
misfortune until the Bth of April, 1840, when the alesoir,
another part of the borer, fell from a considerable height
with such force that it penetrated the chalk below to the
depth of 26 metres-85 feet. This created great delay. In
fine, a fourth accident occurred shortly before the successful
termination, when the metal spoon again fell to the bottom
of the bore, having nearly attained its extreme depth. This
time M. Mulot thought it better not to attempt to draw it
out, but to put it on one side by forcing it horizontally into
the earth, so as not to obstruct the passage.—French paper.
ORIGIN OF THE COTTAR'S SATURDAY NIGHT.-1311t how
have we been able to refrain from saying a few words about
the Cottar's Saturday night? How affecting Gilbert's ac-
count of its origin !—" Robert had frequently remarked to
me, that he thought there was something peculiarly venerable
in the phrase, ' Let us worship God,' used by a decent sober
head of a family introducing family worship. To this senti-
ment of the author the world is indebted for the Cottar's
Saturday Night. The hint of the plan and title of the poem
were taken from Fergusson"s Farmer's Ingle. When Robert
had not some pleasure in view in which I was not thought
fit to participate, we used frequently to walk together, when
the weather was favourable, on the Sunday afternoons (those
precious breathing times to the labouring community), and
enjoyed such Sundays as would make me regret to see their
number abridged. It was on one of those walks that I first
had the pleasure of hearing the author repeat the Cotter's
Saturday Night. Ido not recollect to have heard any thing
by which I was more highly electrified." No wonder Gil-
bert was highly electrified ; for though he had read or heard
many things of his brother Robert's of equal poetical power,
not one among them all was so charged with those sacred
influences that connect the human heart with heaven. It
must have sounded like a very revelation of all the holiness
for ever abiding in that familiar observance, but which cus-
tom, without impairing its efficacy, must often partially hide
from the children of labour when it is all the time helping to
sustain them upon and above this earth. And this from the
erring to the stedfast brother ! From the troubled to the
quiet spirit ! out of a heart, too, often steeped in the waters
of bitterness, issuing, as from an unpolluted fountain, the
inspiration of pious song ! But its effect on innumerable
hearts is now electrical—it inspires peace. It is felt vet, and
sadly changed will then be Scotland, if ever it be noffelt, by
every one who peruses it, to be a communication from brotl,
to brother. It is felt by us, all through from beginning
end, to be Burns's Cottar Saturday Night; at each succeed
ing sweet or solemn stanza we more and more love the in.
—at its close we bless him as a benefactor; and if, as the
picture fades, thoughts of sin and sorrow will arise, and will
not be put down, let them, as we hope for mercy, be of our
own—not his ; let us tremble for ourselves as we hear a voice
saying, "Fear God, and keep his commandments."—Pro-
fessor Wilson's Essay on Burns.

EUROPEANS ENTERING CHUSAN ON ITS BEING CAP-
TURED.—The ramparts were found strewed with pikes,
matchlocks, and a species of fire-rocket, arrow-headed; and
on the parapets, packets of quick-lime were packed up, to
blind the eyes of the barbarians had they endeavoured to
mount the walls. The main street was nearly deserted, ex-
cept here and there, where the frightened people were per-
forming the kowtow as we passed. On most of the houses
was placarded " Spare our lives ;" and on entering the jos-
houses were seen men, women, and children, on their knees,
burning incense to the gods; and although protection was
afforded them, their dread appeared in no manner relieved.
Many were posting down the back lands into the country
with their spoil, for we afterwards found the goods princi-
pally carried away were taken by plundering natives, not by
the' legitimate owners. At last we came to the Churnpin's
house : the gates leading to the entrance yard were painted
with huge ungainly figures, denoting, they
said, Justice and
Punishment. On one side was the Room of Justice, and
thumbscrews and rations were seen lying about. The path to
the inner apartment, called the Hall of. Ancestors, lay
through an open court, round which were the offices of the
government clerks. Some letters and papers half finished
showed the haste with which they had evacuated the town.
Passing through the court we entered a guardhouse, which
led to a trellised walk, at the south end of which was the
hall. Here on the couches were the pipes half smoked, and
the little cups filled with the untested tea ; cloaks, manda-
rin's caps, and swords lay about in confusion. Following up
our research we at last came to the apartments of the ladies :
these rooms were curiously furnished, and strewed with
clothes of all descriptions and for all purposes. Silks, fans,
china, little shoes, crutches, and paint_Pots—the articles of a
Chinese lady's toilette—lay tossed in a sad and telltale
macre ; and many of these fairy shoes were appropriated by
us as lawful plunder.—Jocelyn a Chinese Expedition.
ST. ASAPH CATHEDRAL.—St, Asaph Cathedral appears,
from the style of its original features, to have been built in
the thirteenth century, in what is called the Early'English,
verging into the Decorated ; but like every other edifice of
so distant a date, has in the course of centuries undergone
a variety of changes, in architectual conformity with the
taste of the times. The most conspicuous of these changes
is in the enlargement of the windows, which. followed the
general introduction of stained glass into this country. -Al-
though almost every ancient ecclesiastical building presents
the spectacle of a mixture of styles, which would be deemed
inconsistent if adopted by the modern architect, yet in all
these variations there breathes the spirit of beauty and of
science, which lamentably contrasts with the innovations of
the present times ; in illustration of this remark, the anti-
quary has merely to glance at the miserable inroads which
have been made upon the purity of this cathedral, within
the last half century. In the
.1-ear 1783, the choir was in a
great measure rebuilt by Turner, the then county architect,
in grievous defiance of all character and taste. In the year
1810, the nave and transepts underwent an internal modifi-
cation by Gumnio, by no means creditable to that architect;
the introduction of a coved and plastered ceiling under the
old oak roof, with fantastic
of the unique and beautiful cle-
restory ribs of stucco, and the
blocking up for this Purpose o
windows, accord very badly with all notions of taste
and propriety. It would be a compliment to any dignitary,
to restore this portion of the edifice to its pristine state. At
the intersection of the nave and transepts rises a plain, lofty,
square tower, supported by magnificent arches. The piers
which sustain the arches of the nave have no capitals ; but
the mouldings run pontinuously through, producing a very
rich and harmonising effect. In the year 1832, the choir was
extended westward under the tower, and beneath the western
arch of which a stone screen and organ loft was erected
under the superintendence of Mr. Jones, of Chester. Al-
though the style of this screen is of too late a date to asso-
ciate with that of the rest of the edifice, Yet the masonry is
beautifully executed, in a superior stone from the quarry of
Llanasa. Since the extension of the choir the dry rot has
very unfortunately made its appearance in this edifice, and
is yearly making great ravages among the old and new work.
This may be attributed to the want of proper ventilation,
and the insufficient seasoning of the new timber.—From
Roscoe's Wales, new edition, now publishing in monthly
parts.

OLD TlMES.—Bishop Latimer's sermons are full of in-
one of them he gives the following
formation respecting the state of England in his days; and in
picture of the comfort,
happiness, and industr of his father's family :—" My
father," says he, " was a eoman, and had no lands of his
own; only he had a farm of three or four pounds by year, at
the uttermost, and hereupon he tilled so much as kept half-
a-dozen men. He had walk for 100 sheep, and my mother
milked 30 kine. He was able, and did find the king a har-
ness, with himself and his horse, while he came to the place
that he should receive the king's wages. I can remember
that I buckled his harness when he went to Blackheath-
field. He kept me to school. or that I had not been able to
have preached before the king's majesty now. He married
my sisters with £5, or 20 nobles, a-piece ;so that he brought
them up in godliness and fear of God. He kept hospitality
for his poor neighbours the alms he gave to the poor,
and all this be , and so .
did of the same farm , where he that now
hath it, payeth £l6 by the year, or more, and is not able to
do anything for his prince, for himself, nor for his children,
nor to give a cup of drink to the poor."

red leaves of the mountain ash, the deep orange of the chest-
e pale yellow of the fading poplar mingled together.
_ling tints of the sycamore, the russet leaves of the
old oaks, the red fellows, with the interposing meadows,
comprising every • shade of green, formed the quiet media
that harmonised the whole. The little hamlets that nestled
in the mountain nooks, sent up the little blue smoke of their
peaceful homesteads in pictured columns. The stately, and
in some instances, magnificent villas that graced the river's
side, or sought the shelter of the neighbouring hills, revealed
themselves by the sparkling silver lights which they reflected
from the setting sun. Such a clear calm evening I had
scarcely before witnessed, with a landscape of so much
majesty and beauty, gathering in its range the striking con-
trasts of natural scenery, and subduing the whole with that
marvellous harmony of light and shade, through the most
softened degradations of tone, which form the true ckiaro
scuro, till the vision of beauty vanished in the long line that
stretches out of the vale over the level tract of Rhuddlan to
the rock of Diserth. and the broad sea beyond.—From Ros-
coe's Wales, new edition, now publishing in monthly parts,
PROGRESS OF LANCASHIRE IN ARTS AND COMMERCE •
—Lancashire, from being among the most backward part in
England, has worked its way into the front rank. The con-
trast between its condition up to the middle of the last cen-
tury, and the astonishing spectacle which it exhibits at pre-
sent, belongs to the transformation which a hundred years
create in a new settled country like America, far more than
to the gradual improvement and change of an old English
county. It would be curious to analyse the concurrent
causes, and marshal the successive steps which Lancashire
has advanced ;—not only succeeding in appropriating to itself
a leading interest in the creative inventions of Arkwrightand
Watt, -but connecting its name in honourable alliance with
literature and science. The very circumstances from which
a contrary presumption would originally have been drawn,
have (singularly enough) principally contributed to its ex-
traordinary progress. Lancashire owes the canals, by which
the commercial thoroughfare of that end of England had
been turned from the Humber to the Mersey, to the enter-
prise of a peer. It owes the docks, which have about them
almost a Roman presentiment of future greatness, to the
spirit of a corporation. It owes the taste and accomplish-
ments, by which the character of its wealth has been raised
above the drudgery and fanaticism of money-getting, almost
entirely to the zeal of a few dissenters. The name of Gover-
nor Clinton is not so pre-eminently united with the canal
policy of America, as is the name of the Duke of Bridge-
water with the canals of England. He staked his last shil-
ling on the chance of cutting out a north-west passage to the
Atlantic. The corporation of Liverpool, by an enlightened
application of their vast resources, have accelerated, conso-
lidated, and secured the realization of every expectation and
contingency which fortune threw in their way. They have
hastened, not to say anticipated, events. There can be as
little doubt of the effect which the light, radiating from the
assemblage of Pilestley, Wakefield, Aikin, &c. at 'Warring-
ton; from the presence of Percival, Henry, Ferrair, and Dal-
ton, at Manchester; and from that of Roscoe and Currie, at
Liverpool, spread over their circle.—Edinburgh Review.