The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1851-06-24 00:00:00

a permanent place in the pe

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VARIE'FIES

QUICK WORK 'WITH A LIONESS : A CHAREBE DELI-
ACACY.—At night I watched a fountein, and shot an old
lioness. She came and drank within ten yards of me :
the ball entered the centre of her breast, and rested in the
skin in the middle of her back. On the 13th I despatched
=en to camp with the skin of the lioness, and held south are Inc
for Charebe, which I found still deserted by the elephants.
In the evening the natives were all busy cooking the
flesh of the lioness, which was excessively fat, and es-
teemed by them a particular delicacy.—A Hunter's Life
in South Africa.
LORD ROSSE'S DISCOVERIES OF STARRY FIRMA-
3IENTS.—As Professor Nichol very truly remarks, " inves-
tigation regarding such aggregations is virtually a branch
of atomic and molecular inquiry,"—with stars in place
of atoms—mighty spheres in place of " dust"—" the fir-
mament above" instead of " the firmament beneath."
In fact, the astronomer, in sweeping with his telescopic
eye, the " blue depths of ether," is, as it were, some Lili-
putian inhabitant of an atom itself, or rather of one little
corner of an atom, prying into the atomal structure of
some Brobdienagian world of " star-dust," organised
into spiral and other elementary forms—of life, it may be
something like our own. The infinite height appears, in
short, like a mirror of the infinite depth, and we know
not precisely where we stand between the two immensi- ,
ties of depth and height ! The shapes evolved by the
wonderful telescope of Lord Rosse are, many of them,
absolutely fantastical : wonder and awe are mingled with
almost ludicrous feelings in contemplating the strange
apparitions—strange monstrosities we had almost called
them—that are depicted on the black ground of the illus-
trations. One aggregation looms forth out of the dark-
ness like the skeleton face of some tremendous mammoth,
or other monstrous denizen of ancient time, with two
small fiery eyes, however, gazing out of its great hollow
orbits. Another consists of a central nucleus, with arms
of stars radiating forth in all directions like a star-fish, or
rather like the scattering fire sparks of some pyrotechnic
wheel revolving. A third resembles a great wisp of straw,
or twist or coil of ropes,—a fourth a corkscrew or other
spiral seen on end,—a fifth a crab,—a sixth a dumb-bell,
—many of them scrolls or rolls of some thin texture seen
edgeways, and so on. It is even a suggestion of the
author's that some of the spirals and armed wheels may
be revolving yet in the vast ocean of space in which they
are ingu!phed. Thus has the telescope traced the " bind-
ing" influences of the Pleiades, " loosened the bands of
Orion"—erst the chief of nebulous hazy wonders, once 1
and for all revealing its separate stars ; and thus, in brief.
has this wondrous instrument unrolled the heavens as a I
scroll. Yet even these astonishing results are as nothing
to the fact that those fantastic shapes which it has revealed
in the depths of this limbo of creation, are not shapes
merely of the present time,—that thousands of years have
passed since the light which shows there left the starry
firmaments only now revealed,—that the telescope, in
short, in reflecting these astonishing shapes, is liker to the
eye of a mind turned inwards on the long stored records
of an universal and etern d memory of the past, than to a
mere eye of sense looking outward on the things of passing
time !—The Builder.
THE COLLECTOR OF THE HUMMING BIRDS.—Some
twenty-five or thirty years ago, there was a young man
whose " daily walks and ancient neighbourhood" were
by the quiet creeks that branch from the Thames near
Eton, or on the verge of the adjacent forest. He is
sometimes, apparently idle, lying under the willow
branches in a little boat, with a book on his knee and a
gun by his side. There is a well-known sound—and the
gun is cocked. The kingfisher has darted upon his finny
prey, falling into the stream like a lump of lead. As he
rises with the minnow, and his orange breast and green
blue tail glitter in the evening sun, his flight is ended.
In a few days he is stuffed, sitting on a pendant bough
ready for the plunge. The unscientific bird-stuffers are
amazed that there can be life in death. In process of
time this young man has made a considerable collection.
He is the possessor of a few books of zoology, but most
especially do rewick's Birds delight him. He ear-
nestly longs to become a scentific naturalist—to attain to
something more th n the mechanical skill for which he
has gained a reputation. The opportunity arises. He
leaves his native town, being engaged by the Zoological
Society in the preparation of specimens for their museum.
He marries. His wife has a remarkable talent for
delineating objects of natural history with accuracy and
taste. They publish a beautiful example of their
joint ability ; he, as the scientific author ; she, as
the accomplished artist—A Century of Birds from
the Himalaya Moun'ains. Their success is complete.
Henceforth, John Gould—who had sold stuffed birds
at Eton—is to take rank among the best naturalists of his
age. His labours are unceasing ; his success is propor-
tionate. He commences The Birds of Europe in 1832,
completing it in 1837—a magnificent work, of which,
though the cost is astounding, not a copy now remains for 1 The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
sale. After the issue of one or two less important books 1 Foreign Parts, incorporated on the 16th of June, 1701,
he commences The Birds of Australia, and completes the having now completed the labours of 150 years, has in-
series during 10 years' labour. Here are 600 species vited all who feel an interest in the missionary operations
figured and described from actual observation in their of the Church of England to join in celebrating, in this
native haunts. Connected with this work of surpassing week, with thanksgiving and prayer, its third jubilee.
beauty and of necessarily large cost, there is a touching
On Monday morning a very large congregation assembled
history. The wife of the naturalist was the companion of I
in Westminster Abbey, where an appropriate sermon was
his voyage. She had drawn on stone nearly all the plates I preached by the Bishop of London. On Tuesday after-
of The Birds of Europe; but her loving industry was in- I noon a public meeting was held in St. Martin's Hall, his
terrupted. She died " within one short year after our Royal Highness Prince Albert presiding. Very great
return from Australia," says Mr Gould in his preface; interest was excited upon the occasion, and long before
"during her sojourn in which country an immense mass two o'clock—the hour for the commencement of the
of drawings, both ornithological and botanical, were made meeting—the hall was crowded to excess, with the excep-
by her inimitable hand and pencil." They went to tion of a portion of the platform reserved for the bishops
Australia in 1838 ; they returned in 1840. Mr Gould is and chief friends of the society.
now engaged on The Birds of Asia; and has also issued Precisely at two o'clock his Royal Highness came into
the first part of a Monograph of the Trochilithr, or
the hall. He was received with the most enthusiastic
Humming Birds. The industry which has got together,
cheers. He was accompanied by the Archbishop of
and the taste and science which have arranged, the col-
Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and a number of
lection in the Zoological Gardens, will be permanently re- noblemen and gentlemen. A few moments after the
presented in this book. The coloured engravings approach Prince had taken his seat Lord John Russell came upon
the brilliancy of the plumage of the birds themselves in a the platform ; his lordship was immediately recognised,
degree which is very remarkable.—Dickens Household and was much cheered. The Bishop of Oxford, who
Words. followed soon afterwards, was also warmly welcomed.
LORD JOHN RUSSELL ON THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. The Royal Chairman addressed the meet log as follows
—At the meeting of the Society for the Propagation of the
—My lords, ladies, and gentlemen, we are assembled
Gospel on Wednesday last, a condensed report of the pro- here to-day in order to celebrate the third jubilee of the
ceedings at which will be found in another part of this foundation of the Society for the Propagation of the
day's paper, Lord John Russell said—lf you look back to Gospel in Foreign Parts, incorporated by royal charter,
the time, 1701, when this society was instituted, and if and one of the chief sources of the spiritual aid which
you compare the present state of affairs with that which the established church affords to our extensive colonial
then was exhibited to the authors and founders of this so- dependencies. We are not commemorating, however, an
ciety, you will perceive over what a great extent of the isolated fact, which may have been glorious or useful
world, over how many millions of people, our operations to the country, but we are thankfully acknowledging
may have an influence which they could hardly have had the divine favour which has attended exertions which
in contemplation. We have in America alone an extent have been unremitting during the lapse of 150 years. We
of population about equal to that of England and Scot- are met, at the same time, to invoke the further continu-
land, a population of not less than 20,000,000 acquainted ance of that favour, pledging ourselves not to relax in
with our language, sprung most of them from this land,
and to whom the blessings of the Gospel may be extended. our efforts to extend to those of our brethren who are
We have in Australia again new communities—commu- settled in distant lands, building up communities and
riffles which in the last fifty years have begun their exis- states where man's footsteps had first to be imprinted
tence, but which in the next fifty years you are sure to see upon the soil, and wild nature yet to be conquered to his
use, thse blessings ofChristianity w form the
increase into large and populous communities. Now, let foundation of our commuCyisti nit and of ourhich state. This
-us consider with regard to all these people, although many society was first chartered by that great man,William 111
of them are not adherents to the Church of England, but
—(cheers)—the greatest sovereign this country has to
belong to other communions of Christians, yet the work boast of—(loud cheers)—by whose sagacity and energy
of the Church of England, the great work of our ancestors was closed that bloody struggle for civil and religious
when they founded this church, and when they translated liberty which had so long been convulsing this country,
the Bible into the English tongue, is a work from which and there were secured to us the inestimable advantages
all these millions will derive their knowledge of divine of our constitution and our Protestant faith. (Loud
truth. There can hardly be a more sublime contempla- cheers.) Having thus placed the country on a safe
tion than the consideration that the book sanctioned by 1 basis at home, he could boldly meet her enemies abroad,
the Church of England, the Bible in its English form, in and contribute to the foundation of that colonial empire
that pure and ancient and simple language, is the book to which forms so important a part of our present greatness ;
which millions in the present age, and many more mil- and honour be to him for his endeavour to place this
lions in the succeeding ages, will have to look for their foundation upon the rock of the Church. The first jubilee
comfort on that subject which can most deeply interest fell in times when religious apathy had succeeded to the
them. Great, therefore, as are the numbers of the cler- over-excitement of the preceding age. Lax morals and a
gymen and of their flocks who in America and Australia sceptical philosophy began to undermine the Christian
have in the course of these 150 years belonged to the faith, treating with indifference, and even with ridicule,
Church of England, let us not suppose that the benefits the most sacred objects. Still this society persevered in
which we are enabled to give do not go far beyond the its labours with unremitting zeal, turning its chief atten-
compass of those numbers. As his Royal Highness justly tion to the North American continent, where a young and
said, wo have done right to found this society upon the vigorous society was rapidly growing into a people. The
rock of the Church, and in founding it upon that rock we second jubilee fcund this country in a most critical posi-
would hold forth a beacon by which those who may navi- tion. She had obtained by the peace of Amiens a mo-
gate the surrounding seas will find succour and safety. meat's respite from the tremendous contest in which she
One other consideration I beg to call before you, because had been engaged with her continential rival, and which
it is a consideration, I think, of hope and promise for the she had soon to renew in order to maintain her own exist-
future. After Christianity had first been promulgated, it ence, and to secure a permanent peace to Europe. Since
pleased Almighty God to allow many of those territories the last jubilee the American colonies, which bad origin-
which were under Christian rule, in which Christian ally been peopled chiefly by British subjects who had left
bishops preached, in which Christian people worshipped, their homes to escape :he yoke of religiOus intolerance
to be overrun by infidel and Mahommedan conquerors, and oppression, had thrown off their allegiance to the
and to be subdued under the sword and the power o (those mother country in defence of civil rights, the attachment
who denied, who scoffed at, and who sought to triumph to which they had carried with them from the British
over Christianity. Those parts of history are melancholy toil. (Cheers.) Yet this society was not dismayed, but
to read, and one would fain wish, in looking into the fu- in a truly Christian spirit continued its labours in the
tore, to think that from such dangers we should be here-
after free. Sir, I think those which have been spoken of, neighbouring Noah American and West Indian settle-
ments. This the third jubilee, falls in a happier epoch,
those arts which have accompanied Christianity, which
when peace is established in Europe, and religious fervour
enabled our ancestors, once rude and barbarous, to over-
come the resistance of matter, and by the art of science, is rekindled, and at an auspicious moment, when we are
have enabled us to show those wonders of civilisation celebrating a festival of the civilisation of mankind, to
which we have seen in the present year, will be a security which ail quarters of the globe have contributed their
for the maintenance of that Christianity ; and I think we productions and are sending their people, for the first time
need never dread that any barbarous or infidel power will, recognising their advancement as a common good—their
by means of the sword, again extend an empire where
I trust, therefore, in the interests as identical—their mission on earth the same,
Christianity at present rules. All this civ,ilis.ation. rests on Christianity—could only be
first place, that this Anglo-Saxon
seeing .. race is spreading raised on Christianity—can only be maintained by Chris-
over the globe,—seeinis, in the next place, that it carries tianity—the blessings which are now carried by this society
er is extends'
with it those arts with which power is joined, and seeing, to the vast territoriesg of India and Australasia, which last
with it wherever •'.
in the last place, that it carries are again to be peopled by the Anglo Saxon race. While
that holy volume a— ,
hich by means of those very arts, has we have thus to congratulate ourselves upon our state of
become within the reach of the poorest among our erni-temporal p p _
prosperity--harmony erity—harmony at home and peace abroad
these —
grants and settlers,—that seeing all .
..circumstances,
t. f that the church, whose exer-
we cannot help deploring .. . .
we may look for the
prevalence of Christianity over mil-of Christianity and civilisation we are
ions or the progress
lions more than we should be able to count, over territ .
0 to-day acknowledging,internal dis
should be afflicted by -
sentioand
ries more than we should be able to measure; and I trust ns attacks from without. 1 have no fear, how.
likewise that these conquests will be permanent, that we ever, for her safet and ultimee welfare so long as she
holds faet to whatcest lined for us at the re-
whichnever shall have again to see that influx of barbarism,byuttbaotver
formation—the Gos ourel aanu d t oer su
h gnfe,,tered right of its use.
Europe and Africa have had to mourn, h
among means of propagating the knowledge of the gospel
The dissentions andpdifficulties which right witness in this,
as in every other church arise from the natural and ne•
all those who speak our tongue and learn our language,
cessary conflict of ' principles which
we shall have fulfilled our duty not only to this genera- the two antagonistic
move human society in 't t —I mean
tion, but to those generations which after as may occupy
as s. 6 e.
the world. the principles of individual liberty, and of all "Slants and

males, 222,417.
The Army in Great Britain, and the Navy, Merchant
Seamen, and other persons on board vessels in the Ports,
-.!lulled in the Return for 1851; the Navy, Merchant
Seamen, and persons on board vessels, were not included
in 1841.

The returns ;rem IRELAND are not yet made up

The first thing which will strike every one who reads
this brief table is the demonstration it affords of the
enormous growth of London. Were Cobbett living he
would have to change his imagery in reference to a city
which has now outgrown the proportions of " a great
wen." In ten veers a population of 1,048,369 has in-
creased to 2,363,141 ; an increase little short of half a
million, and upwards of 21 per cent. During the same
time the population of all Scotland has only increased
250,600 which is at the rate of little more than -9
per cent.
England and Wales (excluding London) had a population
in 1841 of 13,063,383 ; which is now increased to
15.542,690, a difference of 1,579,302, which is a little
more than 11 per cent. The single fact that in spite of
its vast population London contained on the day of the
census sixteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine
uninhabited houses, besides 4817 in process of erection,
tells of the greatness of the English metropolis and may
perhaps serve to re-assure intending visitors to the Exhi-
bition. At the average of Great Britain (which is now
established to be 5.6 souls per house) the uninhabited
houses in London on the 31st of March would accommo-
date a population of nearly 100,600.
A less obvious but more important feature of the above
table is the effect it exhibits of the rapid flow of emigra-
tion to our colonies and to the United States. This effect
will be more strikingly shown when the returns from Ire-
land are published. But taking the returns before us, we
find a rapid diminution in the rate of increase as exhibited
in former decennial periods. In England and Wales the
population increased from 1801 to 1811 at the rate of 14
per cent. In the next decennial period it rose to 17 per
cent ; between 1821 and 1831, it was 16 per cent ; and be-
tween 1831 and 1841 it had fallen to 14.5 per cent. The
present return only shows an increase at the rate of 12.4

per cent.
In Scotland where the rate of increase between 1801
and 1811 was the same as in England ; and between 1811
and 1821 was 16 per cent; it fell to 13 per cent between
1821 and 1831, and to 11.1 per cent between the latter
year and 1841. In the present year we find the rate only
9.5 per cent.