cry of "Long live Napoleon Buonaparte!" till, finding their attempts personally to injure the defender of their country frustrated, they dispersed. Addresses, expressive of attachment and respect to these royal and noble persons, have been forwarded by several of the most highly respectable bodies in the country. The general appearance of the country, and the prospect of an abundant harvest, both of hay and corn, is very cheering. The commercial and manufacturing interests continue to labour under very great depression. FRANCE. The disturbed state of France, to which we have had occasion to revert so frequently, has continued to increase in the provinces; whilst in the metropolis, the spirit of insubordination has broken out into the most daring revolt. The strength of the Carlist party is evident from the fact, that the Duchess of Berri, often having traversed the southern provinces in perfect security, has entered those of the west, where she is openly acknowledged, and acts as regent of the kingdom. Several departments in each of these parts, are in arms; and those of Maine et Loire, Vendée, Loire Imperieuse, and Deux Sévres, are declared by the government of Louis Philippe, to be in a state of siege. The annunciation of a victory, and the dispensing of the honours, as they are called, do not obtain belief in Paris, where reports are circulated, that the advantages have been on the side of the Carlists; and the Orleans king is known to be sending large reinforcements of troops into the disturbed districts. No particular commotion occurred in Paris till the 5th of June, the day appointed for the interment of General Lamarque, whose attachment to republican principles, had made him a great favourite with that party. The number of persons assembled to join in the procession, is estimated at one hundred and fifty thousand, whilst the spectators are stated to have been at least as numerous. The polytechnic and military schools have been suppressed by royal ordinance; promising the benefits of a new plan of education to those pupils who have not engaged in the late disturbances. BELGIUM. Louis Philippe, and King Leopold, have had an interview at Compeigne, where the negotiations for the marriage of the latter to the daughter (Louise) of the former, and for the support of the Belgium kingdom against Holland, and any powers which may ally themselves with her in opposition to the Belgic claims, are supposed to have been concluded. Advices from various parts of the Continent speak very confidently of such an alliance having been entered into by several northern powers; and the increase of military preparations both in Holland and Belgium, since Leopold's return from Compeigne, seems to indicate in each an expectation of an appeal to arms. SYRIA. The siege of Acre is said to be terminated. On the 26th of April, Ibrahim obtained a victory over the Pacha of Aleppo, who was advancing to the relief of Acre with a convoy of one thousand camels, the whole of which were captured by the conqueror, who despatched news of his success, with several of the prisoners to confirm the truth of it, to the commander of the latter place, and with an assurance that the town should not be plundered, nor the inhabitants injured, and that himself should be permitted to retire into Egypt, where a liberal pension should be allowed him for his support. BRAZIL. The anniversary of the abdication of Dom Pedro has been marked by attempts, both at Rio de Janeiro and Pernambuco, to reinstate him in his former authority. These attempts have failed. UNIVERSITY, ECCLESIASTICAL, AND PAROCHIAL An Ecclesiastical Commission has been issued by Government, to ascertain the value of every kind of Ecclesiastical property. ST. LEONARD'S CHURCH, EXETER.-The newly erected Church in this parish was lately opened, by the Rev. R. Houlditch, father of the Rector, who preached from 1 Kings viii. 13, 27. It is a very neat edifice, and adds much to the appearance of that quarter of the suburbs. It was crowded in every part, and its capacity and mode of interior arrangement will supply a deficiency that was daily becoming to be more felt in that direction. It has not been consecrated, but will be so on the return of the Bishop to the Diocese; his Lordship having permitted its use in the interim, rather than that the inhabitants of that increasing populous district should be longer inconvenienced by being deprived of the means of attending their parish church. FALL OF STAMFORD CHURCH.-Early on Friday, the 1st ult., nearly the whole of the roof and body of St. Michael's Church, in Stamford, fell into a mass of ruins. The building had been for some time under the hands of masons, who were employed to effect what it was hoped would be an improvement, by widening the span of the arches, and diminishing the number of the pillars, so as to admit a better view and hearing of the clergyman by the congregation. In the course of this work, it was discovered that some of the pillars which were removed had given support to the tower of the church; and so great was the alarm which arose for the safety of that part of the edifice, that the contract, which had been entered into with a young builder, was suspended, and more experienced architects were called in; their attention was immediately directed to shoring up and propping the tower, and this difficult job seemed to be nearly effected, when heavy rains unfortunately set in, and as part of the walls of the church, being uncovered, were exposed to the influence of the wet, the whole of the roof, and a part of the parapets fell in, and the church is now in a mere heap of ruins which it is dangerous to approach. To add to the calamity, the fall and wrench of the timbers of the roof have still further weakened the supports of the tower, which has in consequence declined from the perpendicular considerably towards the south east, and is so extensively cracked from the bottom to the top, on both the south and east sides, that it is hourly expected to come down; and it is even feared that great mischief may, by its fall, be done to the surrounding houses. The parish, on the suggestion of the newly presented rector (the Rev. C. Swain) had at first agreed to re-pew the church, with a view to increase the number of sittings; and as this improvement would necessarily interrupt the performance of divine service for some months, the further suggestion of removing at the same time some masses of ancient stone work, and giving lightness to the body of the church was entertained, and contracts were entered into for executing the whole of the work at an expense of about 6507. According to the present aspect of things, a charge of at least 3,000l. will be incurred in restoring the church and the tower, every stone of which, it seems, must be taken down! Since writing the above we are glad to find that certain steps have been taken for the restoration, or rather rebuilding, of this structure. The Boston Herald says, "Dr. Goddard, the Archdeacon of Lincoln, has twice visited Stamford on this business; and hopes are entertained that, through his representation, considerable assistance will be afforded to the parish from the funds of the Society in London for Building and Repairing Churches and Chapels." ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL.-On Wednesday, May 23, was held the apposition of St. Paul's School. A learned and highly respectable assemblage were present. The Captain (Mr. Osborne) commenced with reciting an address in Greek, in honour of the founder, Dean Colet. Mr. Dalton then delivered one of similar purport in Latin; and Mr. Windle, a third, in English. All were classical and well written, and called forth general approbation. The Captain and Mr. Howes then recited two excellent compositions, which had obtained the prizes: one in Latin hexameter, "on the Restoration of the Temple of Jerusalem by Nehemiah;" the other, "an elegy," by David, in Greek trimeter Iambic. At the conclusion, the High Master presented those gentlemen with the prizes. Mr. Swinny next recited an Essay on the causes of the Superiority of Thucydides over Herodotus, which had obtained the Head Master's prize. The proceedings terminated with recitations; amongst which was particularly distinguished a passage from the "Clouds of Aristophanes," in which Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Finch appeared as Stresiades and the Scholar. ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS.-His Majesty's reply to this customary address, on occasion of the Royal birth-day, was most satisfactory. The king declared, unequivocally, his unalterable determination to uphold the Church in the full enjoyment of all its rights and privileges, considering the unimpaired prosperity of the Establishment in which he had been educated as essential alike to the temporal and spiritual welfare of the people. This declaration His Majesty desired might be made public. The Queen, in her reply, was greatly affected, and concluded with the following: "My Lords, I am particularly obliged to you for this declaration of attachment, at a period when I am most cruelly and undeservedly insulted and calumniated upon many occasions." SATURDAY MAGAZINE.-At a special meeting of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge lately held, it was resolved that 2,0001. be appropriated for the purpose of distributing cheap tracts of a religious tendency, to counteract the evil effects likely to be produced upon the public mind, by the weekly diffusion of 300,000 cheap publications which are now issuing from the press. The committee have already opened an office at the west end of the Strand, No. 445, and it is expected they will publish their first number the first Saturday in July, under the title of the "Saturday Magazine." A charter of incorporation has been granted by His Majesty, on the petition of W.Tooke, Esq. F.R.S. to the "Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge." The London general Committee is recognized as the governing body of the Society, and of which committee the Lord Chancellor is constituted the first Chairman, Lord J. Russell the first Vice-Chairman, and Mr. Tooke is named as Treasurer of the Society. THANKSGIVING PRAYER.-His Majesty held a Court at St. James's, on Wednesday, May 30. An order in council was agreed upon at a privy council, for the Archbishop of Canterbury to prepare a prayer to be used in all churches and chapels, to return thanks to Almighty God for the abatement of the grievous disease with which this kingdom has lately been visited. CLERGY ORPHAN SOCIETY.-The annual public examination of the children educated in these schools, under the patronage of their Majesties, took place on Thursday, May 24, at the school house, St. John's Wood, in the presence of the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of London, Bangor, Bristol, Carlisle, Llandaff, and Gloucester; Archdeacon Cambridge and Dr. Shepperd, the treasurers of this institution, several of the committee, many of the clergy, and a numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen. At the close of the examination, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the president of the charity, expressed himself as much gratified by the manner in which the boys and girls had acquitted themselves, affording a satisfactory proof that they had been well and carefully taught, and that they had been diligent to profit by the instruction given to them in these schools. A quarterly general court was afterwards held at the Freemasons' Tavern, where ten orphan children of clergymen-viz., five boys and five girls, were elected into this institution. ELY. A very handsome subscription has been entered into at this place, to which the Bishop and the Dean and Chapter have contributed most liberally, for the purpose of defraying all the expenses incurred by the awful visitation of cholera, with which this city has been afflicted. By this means, the tradesmen and others in the town, who have already suffered severely, will be relieved from the burden of an additional parochial rate for the purpose. The amount subscribed is about 400%, of which the Bishop and Dean and Chapter have contributed about half, The Archdeacon of Oxford begs to give notice to the Clergy, Churchwardens, and others attending his Visitation at Bicester, that the Visitation will be postponed from Wednesday, June 27th, inst. until a later and more convenient opportunity. The Lord Bishop of Oxford held his annual Confirmation in Oxford on Monday last, at which 379 persons were confirmed, all of whom appeared to be deeply impressed with the importance of the rite, and paid marked attention to the excellent charge which his Lordship delivered at the conclusion of the service. The Bishop of London will hold confirmations at the following times and places during the present month : ..... Sunbury.... : Monday, July, 2, at Eleven. at Three. 4, at Eleven. Same day, at Three. Thursday, 11, at Ten. at Three. 12, at Eleven. at Three. 13, at Ten. at Two. 14, at Eleven. at Three. 16, at Ten. Same day, at Three. Dunmow.. Bishop's Stortford Same day, 20, at Eleven. at Three. 21, at Eleven. Harlow Ongar Theydon Garnon at Three. Orset.... Rochford Great Wakering ... at Two. The Bishop of Lincoln intends to hold confirmations in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, at the places, and on the days undermentioned :: Mr. Edward Drax Free, an individual who was formerly a beneficed clergyman, and vicar of Sutton, Bedfordshire, and who obtained peculiar notice some time since from the nature of the proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Court against him, lately went before the Lord Mayor to solicit a summons to be issued against a magistrate on the following serious charge :-Mr. Free stated, that he lent the gentleman in question a valuable copy of an old edition of the Bible, containing an introductory discourse on the Revelations, by the learned Junius, assisted by his friend Crevellius. This book was particularly valuable in the eyes of the literati, on account of the scarce discourse, and also because it was the second edition of Tyndal, printed at Antwerp, for which he was afterwards strangled and burnt! The party to whom Mr. Free lent the book stated, that for a similar copy he had refused one hundred guineas from the Duke of Sussex, and begged to be permitted to make extracts from the marginal notes, and also from the discourse. Permission was granted; and applying for a return of the book, Mr. Free experienced great difficulty in obtaining it; and when he did so, he found that his friend had taken his permission to "extract" in a literal sense, and had actually extracted the most inestimable portion to a black-letter virtuoso,-viz. the discourse by Junius. He had in vain sought to recover the lost treasure, and his application, by letter and otherwise, having failed, he found himself compelled to request the assistance of a magistrate, in order to recover his property.-The Lord Mayor granted the request. And on Saturday, the 16th ult., Mr. Offer, a magistrate of the Tower Hamlets, was summoned under the following circumstances:-Mr. Drax Free said, that in 1831, Mr. Offer told him he was going to publish a work, showing the progress of improvements in the Bible. He offered to lend Mr. Offer, Tindal's Bible, dated 1600, a very rare edition, and containing a great curiosity, namely, "Preliminary Observations by Junius on the Revelations." When Mr. Offer returned the Bible, he found these Observations had been extracted. A similar edition had fetched one hundred guineas, but his was now rendered comparatively worthless. Mr. Offer, with great indignation, denied the charge, which was made, he said, for a very unworthy purpose. The Bible had never contained any observations of Junius, though it contained some curious notes, and a duplicate copy of the Revelations.- After some angry conversation, the Lord Mayor dismissed the summons, saying he had no jurisdiction in the case. IRISH TITHE REPORT.-The second report of the select committee on Irish Tithes has been printed. It repudiates the idea of any portion of Church property being held in trust for the poor, and recommends that the composition for tithes should be compulsory. It also suggests, that in future the payment of tithes should fall upon the landlord and not the occupier, and that the state should eventually become itself the proprietor and collector of a perpetual land-tax to be substituted in the place of tithe. The report concludes by recommending the abolition of Church cess, and a new valuation of Church property. CLERGY RELIEF.-Notice has been issued from the Council Office, that the fund of 60,000l. is now ready for advances to the clergy, under Mr. Stanley's Tithe Bill. TITHES IN LONDON.-At Guildhall, on Tuesday, the Rev. Mr. Beckwith, Rector of St. Alban's, Wood-street, and St. Olave, Silver-street, summoned Mr. S. Cleasby, of Broadstreet, for 267. 18s., being an arrear of twenty-nine quarters, due on three tenements belonging to him in Silver-street. The houses were burnt down ten years ago, and not having since been rebuilt, Mr. Cleasby had refused to pay tithes. The rector limited his claim to the arrears for seven years, due at Christmas last. After arguments had been heard on both sides, Mr. Alderman Kelly said he thought it his duty to dismiss the summons. He thought that so long as there was no occupation of premises there should be no tithe. No tithe was paid in the country on an unoccupied farm, and he did not see why a piece of ground on which there was no house should pay tithe. Such summonses were not beneficial to the cause of the clergy. The counsel who attended on behalf of Mr. Beckwith said he would certainly apply for a distress warrant against Mr. Cleasby to the Barons of the Court of Exchequer, as the Act of Parliament directed. An address to the King, from the clergy of the Diocese of Bristol and its vicinity, is about to be presented, praying His Majesty to enforce a more religious observance of the Lord's day among his subjects; and that His Majesty's privy council will, by relinquishing their cabinet meetings on Sundays, furnish the first evidence that the memorial in question has been productive of a good effect. MERCHANT TAILORS' SCHOOL.-The Annual Election of Senior Pupils of this excellent Institution to Fellowships of St. John's, Oxford, took place in the beginning of last month pursuant to Statute. The gentlemen elected were Messrs. S. H. Russell, J. A. Hessey, and G. K.Morrell. On the conclusion of the examination several original compositions in Greek, Latin, and English, were delivered by the eight monitors, in the presence of the Master and Wardens of the Company, the President and Senior Fellows of St. John's, and a very numerous and respectable assemblage of visitors, the whole of whom appeared to derive high gratification from the proficiency and talent displayed in these performances. |