The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-05-19 00:00:00

YANKEE ORATORY.

ROMANISM AND THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.—We
look with considerable apprehension to the objects'
which the Alliance may be disposed to take up. Such an
organization must to too vast, and must be constituted of
elemen'ts much too diverse, to be competent to much
practical action. There will be sharp war during the
present century, between Romanisin and r-foiesianlism

nd a still hotter conflict, so far as regards the educated
ses, between Revealed Religion and the Literary Pan-
hich is now ‘very where taking hold on the liter-
But the Evangelical Alliance will not
with these evils. Church-

,e the power to grapp

Df controversy with the Chur

In both con-

nezions, also, the difference between the educated and the
uneducated is such as must prevent their seeing alike as
to what should be conceded, and what should be denied,
n respect to the infidel, or the semi-infidel theories of the
age. Such labours may be better left to smaller and less
responsible organizations, and best of ail to that spirit of

private enterprise which, ou questions of this nature,
rarely fails of being equal to the demand. On such sub-
jects as we have mentioned, even the speech-making of
the Alliance would be likely, we fear, to do more harm
than good ; and to its publications, in relation to such to-
pics, we should look with a most painful distrust.—Bri-
tish Quarterly Review.
THE MAHOGANY TRADE OF HONDURAS.—The quan-
tity of unshipped mahogany of last season's cutting at
present in this settlement is said to be less than at the
same period last year. whilst the average demand in Eng-
land is greater, and the stock in hand less than in the
month of December, 1844. These facts induce us to in-
quire into the prospects of the present season, and ascer-
tain, as far as practicable, what results may be produced.
At no former period have so many gangs (120 to 122)
been engaged; but we doubt their proving as effective as
when la ger gangs, composed of these same men, were
employed. The high rate of wages (21 to 24 dollars a
month) may have induced some few additional hands to
join the mahogany works this season; yet there is no de-
nying the fact, that the great majority of the gangs are
but scantily manned. As an offset to this disadvantage,
however, it is said that the gangs are well supplied with
good•conditioned cattle, and that, in consequence, the
deficiency of hands will not be of material importance.
We are of the opinion, founded on information derived
from various sources, that the cuttings of the present sea-
son will not exceed thcse of the past—say 10,000,000
superficial feet.—Simmonds's Colonial Magazine.
THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCHES.—Under the Old
Testament, " all were not "Israel who were of Israel."
There were two Israels. The one—national and visible,
including subdivisions of Pharisees and Sadducees, who dif-
fered in many things one from another, but were identical
in this, that they were all separated openly and avowedly
from the Gentiles by the ordinance ot circumcision. The
other—individual and spiritual, not certainly distinguish-
able by men, but seen and known of God, who had in
special grace circumcised their hearts, as well as their
flesh. Under the New Testament, all are not Christ's
who are of Christendom. There are two Churches The
one—Collective and visible, including many sub-divisions,
who differ in many things one from another, but are iden-
tical in this ; that they are all separated openly and avow-
edly from all the rest of mankind, by the ordinance of
baptism. These are the Churches of Christ visible and
militant here on earth, and the aggregate of them all, at
any one time, is the visible Church Catholic. The other
—lndividual and spiritual, scattered among the baptized
communities, not certainly distinguishable by men, but
seen and known of God, who has, in spiritual grace bap-
tized their hearts, making them new creatures' in Christ
Jesus. This is the Church of God in Christ ; and the
true idea of its catholicity ranges not only throughout the
aggregate of visible Churches at any time, but also
throughout the history of them all, et all times, from the

eparation be-

distinction between Abel and Cain, till the
tween believer and unbeliever, at the second coming of
the Son of Man. In the spiritual sense here referred to,
which I hope has been satisfactorily shown to be one—not
the only one, but I think undeniably one—of its true
senses, the Church signifies the especial elec-
tof the Churches including in one aggre-

criptural
ion of GI

gate, all the men, women, and children, from among all
mankind, who have been and who shall be saved. These
were all chosen of God in Christ before the foundation of
the ounrlrt nr as Tanntina evnreacerl it nreripctinated he.

10 to glory.—The C
M. Neile.

?lurch and the (;hunches

by the Rev. H
INSTINCT OF NEWFOUNDLAND DOGS.—One of them,
belonging to a grocer, bad observed one of the porters
of the house, and who was often in the shop, frequently
take money from the till, and which the man was in the
habit of concealing in the stable. The dog, having wit-

nessed these thefts, became restless, pulling persons by
the skirts of their coats, and apparently wishing them to
follow him. 'At length, an apprentice had occasion to go
to the stable, the dog followed him, and having drawn his
attention to the heap of rubbish under which the money
was buried, began to scratch till he had brought the booty
to view. The apprentice brought it to his master, who
marked the money, and restored it to the place where it
bad been hidden. Some of the marked money was soon
afiefwards found on the porter, who was taken before a
magistrate, and convicted of the theft.—Jesse's Anecdotes

of Dogs.
KING JAMES AND THE AUTHORISED VERSION.—The
only revision of any importance in the time of Elizabeth

was undertaken by Archbishop Parker, assisted by his
brother prelates, whence it derived the name of the
Bishop's Bible. But evidently it was his own affair, and
quite independent of his royal mistress. It is true, that
in his letter to Lord Burleigh, Oct. 15th, 1568, he requests
that the book may be licensed and commended for public
reading in the church ; but it appears that the request was
never granted: and the version was left to stand on its
own merits. Parker's Bible never obtitined a wide circu-
lation though used by the clergy in public worship, it
rarely found its way into private families, with whom th
so for a considerable period after the publication of King
James's Bible. Of the history of that version, we shall
say but little, as most of our readers, no doubt, are ac-
quainted with it. Though it bears the royal name, it ori-
ginated in the suggestion of a puritan at the Hampton
Court Conference, and was executed at the expense of the
Company of Stationers. All that the pedantic monarch
did was to approve of the undertaking, and to write a
letter to Bancroft, suggesting the general plan of its exe-
cution, which, in justice to its royal author, must be ac-
knowledged to be sound and judicious. It is well, per-
haps that he did not meddle with the matter any further,
as he might have marred it ; but as it was, some consider-
able abatement should be made from the debt of obliga-
tion so extravagantly expressed by the translators, in the
servile dedication prefixed to our bible, where the High
and Mighty James is blazoned forth as the champion of
Protestantism and the Word of God, appearing like the
sun shining in his strength on the setting of that bright
occidental star, Queen Elizabeth. Not one farthing ever
came from the royal treasury to defray the expense of the
work, nor are there any other proofs of his Majesty's zeal
in relation to it than the words he dropped at the Hamp-
ton Court Conference, and the letter he wrote to Ban-
croft. It may be added, in the words of Dr. Symmonds,
what probably is not known to our readers in general,
that the present version appears to have made its way
without the interposit on of any authority whatever, for it
is not easy to discover any traces of a proclamation, canon,
or statute published to enforce the use of it.'—British
Quarterly Review.
__

INVENTION AND USE OF THE BOWIE KNIFI
the best of my knowledge, this instrument was devised by
Colonel James Bowie, an American, and a man of despe-
rate valour. He considered, and apparently with justice
too, that in close fighting, a much shorter weapon than
the sword ordinarily in use, but still heavy enough to give
it sufficient force, and, at the same time, contrived to cut
and thrust, would be far preferable, and more advantage-
ous to the wearer. He accordingly invented the short
sword, or knife, which has since gone under his name. It

We take the following proceedings of a " great meeting
at the Tabernacle, New York, for selecting an indepen-
nent ticket out of the three nominated as delegates for the
state convention," from the New York Herald of the 30th
ult. The secretary having stated the object of the meet-
ing, a tall, athletic looking personage rose, and in a strong
nasal accent,
infmred that Mr. Burns be appointed to act
as one of the comrniitee, on the part of the natives.

Mr. Burns.—No sir— ,nd, - have come here, sir, as
a looker-on—as a spectator—ariti I do not mean to take
part in the proceedings. (Loud cries Of " Oh, don't hinch
Burns," amid much confusion.) Here there were cries
tor Tale, Bloss, Burns, Sammons, and much Confusion,
when

Mr. Cozzens was called for, and ascended the platrom
near the chairman.

Chairman.—You know, Mr. Cozzens, the gentlemen
belonging to the native party who are in attendance; do
oblige us by pointing them out to us.
A simultaneous shout from the parties named proclaimed
their determination not to act. After some considerable
parley and ludicrous merriment occasioned by the objec-
tions of several to act on the committee, eight persons
were nominated, amid considerable confusion, some ob-
jecting to the names, others hissing, and others laughing,
amid repeated cries of " no, no—hear, hear." After this
scene, some retired to the small room attached to the
building, immediately adjoining the vicinity of the chair.
Mr. Clinton Roosevelt here rose and said : I think, Mr.
Chairman, it would be well if resolutions were drawn up
expressive of the sense of the (fleeting.
Cries of " Hear, hear—oh, oh."
Mr. Matthew L. Davis considered it would he an im-
possibility to get up such a resolution, in such a meeting
as this, composed of such discordant elements. Here
were natives, whigs, democrats, and national reformers;
and among such a body it would be impossible to adopt
resolutions such as would satisfy the meeting.
Mr. ROOSEVELT was of opinion, that in such a state of
things such a meeting was a ridiculous farce ; if they were
not disposed to unite and compromise upon a ticket and
resolutions, the meeting would end in mere farce.
A tall and meagre looking personage, resembling
Irving's "Ichabod Crane," with his veritable birch, that
might have descended as an heirloom from tbis re-
nowned personage, here rose and asked if it would not be
in order to move that each party support their own ticket?
Here there were loud peals of laughter, amid cries of
" bear him—go it"—and much confusion.
Chairman.—Gentlemen, let us preserve order.
Ichabod Crane.—l wish to know if there be any national
reformers put upon the ticket? (Laughter—heor, hear—
and confusion. ) . . . .

Mr. Strahan rose abruptly, and in an exeited tone of
voice cried out—Yes, sir—yes, sir ; I did not come here
to take part in the proceedings at all, sir; I cannot sit
silent, sir, and hear, sir, the industrious working classes,
sir, maligned. No, sir.
Mr. Fessenden rose amid much confusion and cries of
order. He said he had not maligned the working men—
the mechanics ; he denied it.
Mr. Strahan.—Yes, sir, I protest. (Confusion and
cries of " question, order, order.") I did not come here,
sir, to take part in these proceedings ; I was, sir, one of
the committee who had been at Tammany Hall, and made
the nominations there ; but I did not come here—(cries of
" order, order, question," and immense confusion.)
Old Gentlemen in specs.—l move, air, that we take the
question on the ticket generally.
Ichabod Crane.—l object, sir; there should have been
some of the national reformers nominated thereon. (Ques-
tion, question.)
Mr. Strahan.—l was once a mechanic myself, sir, and
lam now nothing but a poor lawyer. (Roars of laughter
and cheers from the democratic benches, intermingled
with hisses, groans, and cries of "go it, go it.") Yes,
sir, I am proud of being a mechanic, and the attack was
unjust and uncalled for upon them.
Mr. Fessenden.—l deny, Mr. Chairman, that I have
in any way attacked the mechanic. I deny it, sir, and I
call the gentleman to order. He must not fasten it upon
me in this way. I said—(cries of " Question" renewed,
amid much hissing and cheers.) _ _ _

Mr. Strahan.-1 do, sir, consider the attack unjustifi-
able and uncalled for.

The cries of question were here renewed, and a scene of
shouting ensued which baffles description, when some four
or five in the crowd sprang upon their legs, and demanded
that the question on each name be taken separately, and
then put to the meeting.
Old Gentleman in specks.—l think, Mr. Chairman, at
this late hour, that if we proceed to vote on each name,
seriatim, that we will be kept here until three o'clock in
the morning. 1 think the better course would be to take
the question on the names generally, and get out of this
as soon as we can. (Cries of " no, no—separately, sepa-

rately.")
Mr. Strahan.—l am in possession of the floor, sir, and
I shall not yield, sir. I could not sit silent and hear the
mechanics maligned : but the attack from such a source
does not surprise me, sir. The man who in cold blood
would not hesitate to slander Andrew Jackson ere he was
cold in his grave, was just the sort of person to malign
the mechanics.

Mr. Fessenden.—l call the gentleman to order again,
sir. I deny it. I did not malign the mechanics. I
said—(renewed cries of " Order—question, question.")
The Chairman here rose, and said it was repeatedly de-
nied by the gentleman, Mr. Fessenden, that be had at-
tacked the mechanics ; and when this was done, it could
not be supposed that an attack was intended by the gen-
tleman.

Old Gentleman in specks.—l hale reason to expect,
from what I have seen, that there are too many lawyers
on the ticket. (Laughter.) I wish to know how the
ticket now stands. How many whigs, natives, and demo-
crats upon it ?
The Chairman here announced-that there were six de-
Old GentlemanGGentleman in specks.—How many lawyers on it ?
(Laughter.)
Chairman.—l believe six.

Here there were renewed cries of " Question, question,"
and considerable confusion, when

Stephen Sammons, who was located near a small clique
of the native party, rose and denounced the ticket. He
considered the meeting was a perfect farce—a humbug got
up for some ulterior object, and the ticket, with such
names as these, would not meet with the sanction of the
native party. (Cries of " Question, question," and re-

newed cheering.)
The Chairman here rose again to call order.
Old Gentleman in specs.—l move, sir, that the ques-
tion be taken generally on the ticket. I move a resolu-
tion to that effect.

Here there were further cries to take the question sepa-
rately.

Chairman.—l shall take the question first on the gentle-
man's motion. As many as are of opinion that the ques-
tion be taken generally, let them say " Aye." (Vocife-
rous cries of "Aye, aye," with loud shouting ; from the

opposition, " No, no.")
Chairman.—The motion is carried. I now put the
question on the ticket generally—As many as are of opi-
nion that the names here presented shall pass this meet-
ing, let them say " Aye. (Immense cries of " Aye,
aye.") As many as are of the contrary opinion will say
" No." (Immense cries of " No, no.") I think, gentle-
men, the question is carried.
Here there were several dissentient voices, when, amid
much confusion, the meeting separated.

A VOICE FROM THE CELLAR

(From Punch)

The subjoined correspondence has been handed to us.
With our customary urbanity—has it not become a pro-
verb ?—we print it. The first letter is from the Martyr
of the Cellar, Mr. Smith O'Brien, to Madame Tussaud.
The second is that distinguished lady's answer.
" The Cellar, May 11, 1846.
" Dearest Madam,—At the present moment, when Ire-
land is wringing with my wrongs ; when millions of
hearts, the property of the finest peasantry of the earth,
are beating with sympathy towards their masagr; when,
at least, the same number of swords are readon being
drawn) to flash from their scabbards for my liberation,—
it has been suggested to me by, possibly a partial friend,
that the figure of Smith O'Brien, the martyr, would
make a most attractive addition to your collection of dis-
tinguished characters. I am not particular where you
I hove put me, so I get in. You've had O'Connell for, some
led is suf- time, and (but quite between ourselves) the people have
ficient to break a man's arm. Certain it is, that I have had enough of him. All Ireland (including myself) look
myself seen skulls of Mexicans brought from the battle- up to me as the sort of Prince of Wales to King Dan.
ground of San Jacinto, on which Texas gained her inde- You may, therefore (if you are over-crowded) turn him
pendence, that were cleft nearly through the thickest part out. to make room for me.
of the bone behind, evidently at one blow, and with suf- " Yours, Dearest Madam, with every feeling of
ficient force to throw out extensive cracks, like those of a respect, " SMITH O'BRIEN!'
' " P.S. I shall be balmy to give you the earliest day for

carving-knife—cast perfectly straight in the
but greatly rounded at the end on the edge
er edge at the end, for the length of about
is ground into the small segment of a circle
red sharp ; thus leaving an apparent curve of the
'though in reality the upturned point is not hi -
than the line of the back. The back itself graduall;
creases in weight of metal as it approaches the hilt, on
which a small guard is placed. The bowie•-knife, there-
fore, has a curved, keen point ; is double-edged for the
since of about a couple of inches of its le►

when in use, falls with the weight of a bill-hook
heard it stated, that a blow from one well wield

proves that old I

Bowie went to Texas during the
. ,ceded the independence of that country, " Baker-street, Portman-square, May 11.
yicg sick in bed at the fortress of the Alamo, " Sir,—Permit me to thank you for your very polite
when, on the 6th of March, 1846, it was stormed by Santa offer; but as I contemplate the immediate addition of
Anna and taken. Bowie was murdered there upon his Tom Thumb to my collection, 1 fear I shall be too much
pillcw. The hand that formed the dreadful knife could crowded to give you even a corner. Besides, Martyrs
no longer wield it. Although the act of carrying arms in are, at the best, heavy subjects. I don't think people
secret is held to be illegal, yet it is quite general, I he- would lay out sixpence upon 'ern. O'Connell has done
lie.ve; unless, perhaps. with the immediate inhabitants of pretty well for me, but I should hardly like to risk an
a tolerably well populated town. They are generally at O'Brien ; in the like way that people are very fond of
i! ,_._ ~,,_ mushrooms, are most particular to avoid toadstools.

to fight ano

,er day

lore complete, propdse
t of clotbes,worn by

me when taken to the cellar

ouT3les which pre

nanu HI Luu unijui ity ua owl co, au aitjuvi.ouvpa, 1.. 411,4 " I
remain, your obedient servant,
placed under the counter, or, more usually, behind the
ASSAUD
bar upon the wall, within reach of the individual attend- "
• - ---1 '-nmediately before the eyes of the customer. P.S. I know a man who travels with a"M. T
van
of ."
wax-
nly carried, the knife is in a sheath attached to
work. Perhaps he" may accept your offer. Shall I send
t; when secretly, either in a narrow pocket, him to the Cellar ?
4

ing, and
When o

The gardener at Kew Palace complained to George 11.,
weapon discovered ;orin a similar casing down mat the people admitted to the gardens during Sundays
...,.
"
use back, between the shoulders. It is hence considered constantly plucked the flowers. They are fond of
by some individuals ag sufficiently indicative of evil inter- flowers, then ?" replied the king. " Don't let them want
them. Plant them !"
tions on the part of an opponent, if, in the•event of a warm
THE APPEARANCE OF BURRE.—Burke then rose.
dispute, or of presumed offence given, you see him pre-
Strong interest was directed to him. not merely from his
tend to scratch the back of his head, or make any other
eminent name, but from the public curiosity to hear his
equally genteel and polite attempt to conduce to his own
explanation of that estrangement which had been for some
personal comfort and private satisfaction in that significant
time spreading, under his auspices, through the leading
and suspicious region of a loafer's earthly tenement of
clay. The ruder orders of people farther south—for personages of the Opposition. Like most men who have
there, no more than in England, are the " ruder" orders made themselves familiar with the works of a great writer,
to be considered as merely synonymous with the f, lower', I had formed a portraiture of him ty anticipation. I
orders—have a custom, lam informed, of. occasionally never was more disappointed. Instead of the expressive
deciding desperate wagers of battle by hooking themselves countenance and commanding figure, which I had ima-
toeether by the bands they wear, and thus fizhting with gined to enshrine the soul of the most splendid of all ora-
the knife, since neither can get away, until one falls or tors, I saw a form of the middle size and of a homely ap.
both are killed.—Hoolon's Sketches in Texas. pearance, a heavy physionomy, and the whole finished by
two appurtenances, which would have been fatal to the
Why is a beehive like a bad potatoe ? Because one's divinity of the Apollo Belvidere, spectacles, and a wig.
a bee-holder and the other a spec-tator. His voice and manner were scarcely less prepossessing;
A FRENCH LEGEND.—A French theatre is being built the one was as abrupt and clamorous as the other war
at Algiers. The first piece will be a popular story, which rustic and ungraceful. He had the general look of a far-
has been making a great noise for years in the French mer of the better order, and seemed, at best, made to
papers, called "La Prise d'Abd-el-Kader." Rumour at- figure on a grand jury.—Dr. Croly's Soldier and States.
tributes the invention to Marshal Bugeaud.—Punch. man.

purposely made, down the straight part of the trousers'
thigh, so that the bending of the body is not incommoded
nor t

-~~~ _

SPIRIT OF FRIDAY NIGHT'S DE RATE

true that, au .4
subsequent occasion, 240 gentlemen re-
corded their .5a1..1.,,, of his conduct. (Hear, hear.) But
c!membered the considerable section
then he might I,lPvtl 'A.% 'ned, even in the last hour. (Loud
of converts that Lie owca, .
mpliment to a minister—not
laughter.) Why, stlie t• c., ,te for him against your opi-
only to vote for him, but fcr 7',. favour of opinions which
nions—(much cheering)-,--aud ,I'l . That was a scene I
he had always drilled you tadistru's,. •70mmons. Indeed,
believe unprecedented in the f-YoUse o. k•
I recollect nothing equal to it, uttess it fic

the conversion

my histori-

ious oc-

of the Saxons by i'lirlemagne, which is th
cal incident that bears any parallel to that iirrYS
casion. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Then, the'
trained from the banks of the Rhine, determined to
more movements on the part of the Great Caesar,`-
when the Emperor appeared, instead of conquering 11,3
converted them. How were they converted? In batta-
lions—converted in battalions and baptized in platoons.
(Roars of laughter.) It was utterly impossible tct bring
this nation from a state of reprobation to a state of grace
with a celerity sufficiently quick. (Laughter.) When I
saw the hundred and twelve fall into rank and file—(con-
tinned laughter)—l was irresistibly reminded of that me-
morable incident on the banks of the Rhine. (Cheers.)—
Mr. D'lsraele s speech.

SIR ROBERT'S DEFENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT

MEASURES

My first consideration was, what was the best means
for averting a great calamity ; and, secondly, to relieve
the people, I was bound to protect from the temptation
of famine and misery. I cannot charge myself or my
colleagues with having been unfaithful to the trust I have
undertaken. Ido not believe that the great institutions
of the country have suffered from this administration.
The noble lord who has just spoken has expressed a hope
that the discussions which have threatened the main-
tenance of amicable relations between this country and
the United States would be brought to a happy conclusion.
I think I can appeal to the course which we have pursued
as evidence that we have not abandoned the honour of
this country; and I can appeal to past experience as
showing an earnest desire, by any effort consistent with
my honour, to maintain friendly relations with every
country on the face of the globe. (Hear, hear.) These
principles will ever continue to influence me so long as I
have a share in the management of the affairs of this
country. If I look to the prerogatives of the crown—if
1 look to the position of the church—if I look to the in-
fluence of the aristocracy, I cannot charge myself with
having tarcen any course inconsistent with Conservative
principles, or calculated to interfere with the high prin-
ciples of any branch of the legislature, or any institutions
established in the country. My earnest wish has ever
been to impress the people with the feeling that the legis-
lature is animated by a desire of carrying on their ina-
portant proceedings on the principle of justice. I have a
strong belief that the great object we all contemplate is to
alleviate the social condition of that class of the people
with whom we are brought into no direct relations by the
exercise of the legislative franchise. (Hear, hear.) I
wish to convince them that our object is to apportion
taxation in such a way as to relieve industry and labour
from any undue burden,—(hear, hear)—and transfer it,
as far as is consistent with the public safety, to those who
are better able to bear it. I look at the ab'ence of any
commitment for sedition—l look at the calm that prevails
in the public mind—l look at the increased and growing
confidence on account of the course which you have taken
in relieving trade from restrictions and industry from un-
just burdens—l see that where there was dissatisfaction
there is contentment—where there was turbulence I see
there is peace—where there was disloyalty I see there is
loyalty—l see a disposition to confide in you, and not to
agitate questions that are at the foundation of your con-
stitution. Deprive me of power to-morrow, you can never
deprive me of the consciousness that I have exercised the
powers committed to me from no corrupt or interested
motives,—(cheers)—from no view to the gratification of
personal ambition or any personal enmity ; that I have
laboured to maintain peace abroad consistently with the
national honour, and defending every just institution to
increase the confidence of the great body of the people in
the justice of your decisions, and by the means of equal
law to dispense with all coercive powers,—(" hear, hear,"
from the Irish members)—and to maintain attachment to

the throne, and loyalty to the constitution, fr.'m a con-
viction of the benefit that would accrue to the great body
of the people. (Che rs.)—Sir Robert Peel's speech,

THE C-URT Ljr FASHIONABLE WORLD

On Tuesday forenoon, the Queen and Prince Albert,
with the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, left
Buckingham Palace for the old palace at Kew, whence
they returned the following day. The Court is now at
Buckingham Palace.

Her Majesty gave a concert on Thursday at Bucking-
ham Palace. All the singers engaged were German or
Italian.

The Duchess of Kent, attended by Lady Augusta
Bruce, honoured Sir Robert Peel with a visit on Thurs-

On Monday afternoon Prince Albert laid the foundation
stone of the church for the seamen of the port of London.
In the evening the Queen and Prince Albert, with the
Duchess of Kent had a coneert.

The Queen Dowager will leave Marlborough-house for
Bushy on Wednesday ; and, according to present arrange-
ments, her Majesty will take her departure from England
for Germany on the 19th proximo. Cashiobury, the seat
of the Earl of Essex, bas been refurnished, and is now
ready for her Majesty's occupancy.
The venerable Earl of Harrowby, although still some-
what infirm from his advanced life, is in improved health,
and intends to pass the season in town.
A handsome satin dress, surmounted with lace, and in-
tended as a present to her Majesty for the use of the Prin.
cess Royal, was exhibited at the Victoria Asylum for the
Blind, Newcastle, a few days ago. The dress was worked
exclusively by blind persons, inmates of that institution.

A.OO 0(7 0 11bx.5.13,4,-. The' near ap-
proach of an interesting event, to which the public look
forward with intense interest, may perhaps be inferred
from the fact that the messengers of the Home-office
have received directions to be in attendance, night and
day, on and after to-morrow (Monday), so that the fact of
the Queen's indisposition may be communicated without
loss of time to the Cabinet Ministers.—Observer.
DINNER PARTIES.—A custom has come in, and seems
to be gaining ground, instead of sitting at the top and
bottom of the table, the host and hostess sit opposite each
other at the middle ; by which means they are more at
ease, more in the centre of their guests, and better able
to communicate with each other. George IV. adopted the
practice twenty years ago ; it is followed by Queen Vic-
toria. According to this arrangement, two persons can
be accommodatsd at each end of,the table—not a bad point
where there is limited accommodation.