The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-19

nacle last night, In behalf OF the unfortu-
nate refugees from papal persecution in
the island of Madeira, now under the care
Of the American and Foreign Christian
| Union, of whom near four hundred, or
not far from two-thirds Of the whole num-
Der, were present. They we're arranged
in the seats usually occupied by the choir,
between the pulpit and organ, and formed
OF themselves most impressive sermon.
After few Introductory remarks by the
president, DIR. Witt, hymn was sung by
the exiles. Prayer was then offered by
Rev. DR.. Vermillye. AT its conclusion,
the Rev. DIR. Baird narrated the circ,lm-
stances by which those in whose behalf
the meeting was called were reduced to
their present condition, and stated that a
proposition from certain citizens of Hi
mons, inviting them to settle in that State,
where they agree to give them employ,
had been accepted; and that the larger
portion of them would 60 on this week,
and the remainder during the next week
so that they might be settled in their west
ern home by the latter part of November.
The audience was then addressed by the
Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, and after
wards by the Rev. DR.. Bethune. The
former drew striking comparison between
the condition Of those afflicted people and
that OF our foretathers, when, fugitives
from persecution, they resolved to suffer
exile, and the greatest wrongs, rather
than violate the sacred rights of conscience
The latter called to mind the great priv
leges enjoyed by the people Of the United
States, both civil and religious, of which
he thought they were not sensible, nor sut-
fciently grateful. We owed them all to
| the influence of the Bible. The European
nations had failed of success in their strug-
gle for liberty, for lack of spirit found no
where but where the Bible has long been
read. 1t is this spirit, he argues, that is
the strength of our nation. Were we for
hidden to read the Scriptures, or compelled
to receive in our mouths the idolatrous
sacrament, we would be reused to resist
ance. That is the spirit that can never be
crushed, under God. From this train of
thought he proceeded to speak of the
cruelty and meanness of prosecutions, as
exempified in the treatment Of those pre-
sent, whose case so much enlisted their
sympathies.
| He then welcomed them to this land of
christian privileges, and thought, perhaps,
it was the only land to which they could
60. We have literally enough and to
spare. The barns of our western farmers
press out with their supplies This is
Gods land, said the speaker, and He had
a right to give it to them, and no one had
a right to take it from them He thought
this occasion of christian piety was mat
ter for thankfulness. Every strong arm
that came TO this country was wealth, but
such hearts as these were inestimabe
When he had concluded, liberal colec-
ton was taken up.-Jour. Of CON-, l6M
In an address before the Agricultural
Society of Fairfield county, Connecticut,
P. T. Barnum, its president, urges upon
all farmers the consideration that agricul-
ture is the noblest of professions that
upon it all the other professions in the
greater measure depend, though all useful
professions are necessarily connected, and
in degree mutually promotive Of the
prosperity and happiness of mankind. He
argues, as we have often done, that the
farmer makes great mistake when he Sc
lects learned professions for his sons, un-
der the impression that it will make them
more respectable and more of gentlemen.
a true gentleman is only well-developed
man and if the pursuit of tilling the soil
is derogatory to that development, then
honest, creative labor is not the thing we
have always regarded il. We have no
thing to say against the utility of learned
professions but we believe where there
are most farmers and fewest profess
sional men, there is most prosperity, vir-
tue and independence. To the sturdy
farmer and mechanic country must look
for its substantial strength and wealth.
" Y. Sun.
ENGLISH RAILwAYs.-Froma an analysis
of recent returns of railroads in Great
Britain and Ireland, it appears that the
number of miles Of railroad open for use,
on the 30th June last, was 5,447. The
number Of passengers conveyed during the
preceding hall-year was 2S,76l, 1895. The
number of persons killed on the railroads
during that period was SO, and Of persons