The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser

PEMBROKE READING ROOM & LIBRARY. I The following Lecture on Advanfaj es of Literary Institutions and Studv in general." wr>° delivered at the Town-hall, Pembroke, bv the Rev. H. Williams, who was mn i' applauded during its deli"crv :— Gentle r,en,—Jt gives me great pleasure to he able this day to inaugurate, by these few introductory rem irks, a boon so desirable, especially for the young men of the town of Pembroke, as a Library and Reading Room. An Institution like this is so great a desideratum for a country town, and the advantages connected with it are so many, that we almost wonder why such an institution has never been set on foot before, or, at any rate, why it has not been permanently established when once it was started. In almost every town of size and note in the Prin- cipality, a room of this nature has long been established, and I believe they are all found, when properly regulated, to flourish and succeed for when men once begin to taste the good results, nay, the pleasure and advantage of a provision of this kind, where they may a.t once usefully spend a leisure half hour, and moreover improve their own mind and inform themselves with the interesting passing events, they gladly contribute to its support, and are far from begrudgmg the little outlay which gives them in return so much amusement and gratification. Now, gentlemen, you are all aware thatman is a compound, and comprises in his organisation a body and a soul, or you may divide the last ar.d call them three, the body, the mind, and the soul: the mind being the understanding,or intellectual faculty commonly called reason. Nature provides one kind of food for the borly, but you yourselves must supply your minds with, another kind. Your body may be pampered with food whilst your mind may be actually starving the one derives no nourishment from that whicb sustains the other. Now it is necessary, for the complete happiness and wellbeing of man, that the mind should be fed and nourished as well as the body and where there has been any culture bestowed on the mind, so as to make it active and aaicken it with life, there will, in such case, be a continual craving for mental food; the intellectual appetite will seek nourishment, and until it obtain its desire, the whole man will be restless and unhappy, because of the vacuum which is ever gnawing (like the Promethean vulture) in that department of our nature which is given unto us by God over and above the animal creation but if this in- ward craving is not satisfied and fed with mental food, so remarkable is the constitution of our nature that, far from remaining inert and still, it will imperiously assert its sway over us-it will and must have our attention it will drive us to seek and find employment for its cease- less action, and the result will be, that, unless supplied with wholesome food in time, it will find itself occupation in what is evil and corrupt. There is at all times some amount of action and movement in the mind but there is no period in which movement is so ceaseless and ar- dent as in the season of youth. I feel sure that I am addressing some one among you who has, from time to time, felt this. You must all feel it more or less, for it belongs to your age, and is a provision of Providence, by which the mind may be stocked with knowledge. J feel sure that you must all have felt some times the beating of that impulse which arises from a de.->ire of information, and from a wish to enlarge your acquaintance with the wonders and the beauties of the world around you, or with the principles of these sciences whereby the age is pre-eminently distinguished, and whereby such gigantic conquests are won over time and space, and such mar- vellous discoveries made in the mechanism of the creation -in the laws of the vegetable, animal, and geological world. It was this consciousness of inward power this craving for a world beyond, which first directed the minds of some of our most most eminent men to those pursuits in whieh they ultimately won for themselves fame and distinction. It was this which inspired the mind of young Ferguson, when he thirsted to become em.nent in astromony, and as he followed the sheep on the moun- tain's brow, constructed with his knife a wooden watch, or a water mill, or, with peas upon a string, made an ac- curate map of the starry heavens. It was this which induced young Gifford (afterwards Editor of the Quar- terly Review) to work algebraic calculations on scraps of leather, for want of ink and paper, when he was learn- ing his trade as a shoemaker; and though he was acting in defiance of the sober maxim, that a cobbler should not go beyond his last. This. too, made him save his pocket money (not over-abundant in those days), to buy candles to steal from the night that leisure to acquire knowledge which the labour of the day would not allow. This ar- dour too, in our days, has made a Faraday in chemistry, a Lord St. Leonard's in jurisprudence, a Brougham in oratory, a l'axton in taste and architectural and horticul- tural inventions and improvements. Now, in all these instances, this great restlessness of mind found itself a healthy channel wherein to flow, and it produced great men. In others the same stirring of the intellectual faculty for want of due guidance, and the same fortunate or favourable opportunity, has taken an evil turn, and it has produced bad characters. It has given the world a Robespierre, a Voltaire, a Mahomet, or a Mirabeau, in these times, an Edgar Poe and a Byron. I have only glanced at these instances to illustrate what I was saying before, that the mind must find itself some employment, and where there is genius it will make its owner eminent either in a good or a bad light. Now it would be unwise of me to lead you to suppose that a similar ardour in you is going to make you all great men like those I have al- luded to. I did not allude to them to convince you that you may become great by doing as they did, and setting to work at once in order to emulate their eminence. They were men of peculiar gifts, such as only occasionally ap- pear, and theirs were extraordinary, not ordinary, en- dowments. Now, the endowments—the talents of the great majority of men, are ordinary, and therefore nc industry on their part would give them the status oJ characters endowed with uncommon parts. It is only once or twice in a generation that we have great 01 eminent men; hence it is that, in dramatic literature, we have only one Shakespeare, in the epic we have one Milton, in astronomy only one Newton, in arms very few Wellingtons, in eloquence very few Pitts, or Hales, or Foxes. It is not, therefore, possible for any one who may feel a thirst after knowledge to sit down and read him- self into greatness; and I would only flatter you to-night to no purpose, if I awoke in your minds any false no- tions that you were going to become great men, and astonish the natives, set the Thames on fire, or do any thing equally grand and striking. I would not have any of you think that, if you set to write poetry indefatigably for the next five years, that you would rival Tennyson or Wordsworth, and become poet laureate before you die nor do I mean to say that, if you practiced oratory according to the best rules of Enfield's Speaker, diligently for the next two years, that you will turn out to be men like Peel, Gladstone, or Disraeli; nor do I mean to say that, if you rose at four every morning regularly, for the next fifteen years, that you would write English like Macaulay or Gibbon, or write stories with the facility of a Fielding, with the point of Thackery, with the rich flower ef description possessed by a Charles Dickens. No, I do not mean so be guilty of any such absurdity or folly but I do mean to say this, that, with the help of such Institution as the one we to-day inaugurate, you may become well informed men, and you may become useful members of society, and blessings to the com- munity to which you belong. This is, then, what such an advantage as this can do for you, give a lovo for acquiring knowledge, and put into your hands, to some extent, and in some measure, the means of gaining it. If it is the means of giving healthful and profitable employment to your leisure hours, and of implanting in you a desire to pursue knowledge more at iarge for yourselves, it will have answered a useful end, and if it did no more it will have amply repaid the trifling outlay you may have to expend towards its support; It will have satisfied those who set it on foot, and answered the purpose for which it was established; but let me not be supposed to be discour- aging you. All I wish to avoid is not to mislead you by leading you to hope what you could not realise. At the same time, I do not wish to disparage an honest emulation, provided it be coupled with a due sense of the difficulty to be accomplished, and the vast elevation enjoyed by those whom you aspire to imitate, for though you may never rival Faraday or Sir Humphrey Davy in Chemistry, you may do much by practising the same habits of industry, close observation, and patience. It is an important thing for those whose avocation do not give them much leisure for study, to acquire some amount of information, allowing others who have more time on their hands to aspire, and if they will, attain to emi- nencce. Let the tradesman and the mechanic strive, ac- cording to their several opportunities, to gather up some of that information which cheap publications have now put into the hands of all. Let him gladly avail himself of these publications, especially if they are placed in his hands through the medium of a public library. Let him take up Geology and learn something of the stratification and conformation of the world beneath, and the causes that led to those convulsions of nature that are every where seen. Let him take up Botany, and learn to classify and name a plant as he takes his occasional walk abroad. Let him pay some attention to Astronomy, that he may not gaze with vacant wonder at the changing phases of the moon, or lose himself in the multiplied stars that bespangle the heavens. Let him not neglect to trace the annals of history, and learn the gradual pro- gress of liberty, and the slow march, through individual sacrifice and sufferings, of those rights and privileges, of that happiness and independence, which he at length enjoys as an heir-loom and a legacy from his forefathers. Moreover, let him not fail, first and foremost to resort for guidance, amid these wonders, to that Book of Divine Revelation, where we alone come in contact with the pure and exalted mind of Godhead, and learn His attri- butes, in whom we live and move and have our being. Thus, though ambition be not encouraged to aspire, a character for respectability, information, and wisdom, can be attained, which will render each man more valu- able, influential, and useful, in the sphere in which Pro"idence bath placed him. We will now dwell a little on the babits of perseverance which those in the class of the employed must always be content to ex- ercise, in order to overcome the difficulties under which they labour. I think we cannot, in speaking of the virtue of perseverance in overcoming difficulties, help adverting to the wonderful instance of it. lately so re markably shewn by the English and French armies at Sebastopol. Surely we at home, while we are anxiously looking on, may learn some good lessun from a display of so much moral courage and fortitude, exercised in the face of the most trying hardships and privations. Win- ter and summer the work went steadily forward, in the midst of the slush and mire of the trenches—in the frost and snow- in the intense heat of the summer months, with disease and death continually occurring around—still they pushed the work on, and daily advanced a little nearer to the outworks of the enemy, each new parallel formed the basis for another still nearer, until at last the French had actually approached within 40 feet of the outworks of the Malakhoff, and the English had only a distance of 200 yards from the Redan. This gradual approach was the work of perseverance, a little day by lay, and it never ceased until, on the 8th of September, their indefatigable efforts were crowned by a complete evacuation of the Severnaia or South-side of Sebastopol, when the tricolor was seen to float in the redoubtable Malakhoff, and the Redan was scon afterward in the hands f the English. Nothing but the most redoubtable per- severance —a constant renewal of defeated efforts, brought ab );)t the happy consummation of our labours. It was not so much the work of the collective heroism of a host of men carrying victory L'tore them on the points of their bayonets, but the patient work of relays of never tiring industry, continuing ir> 1 "k dur:*?<* many long months. This is always th. 'severance. Its nature is the same, wheth the besieger or in the garret of the self-instructing student, Its successes are the rewards of continuous patient efforts. Its conquests are not won at once, but gradually one by one. Its successes, not by a coup de main of intellect— not by one grand struggle, but by constantly repeated attempts,—by gaining courage as the difficulty yields, and by groping one's WJy-by feeling one's road in the direction towards which we are tending. We are born," says Locke, ignorant of everything. The superfices of things that surround them make impressions on the negligent, but nobody penetrates into the inside without labour, attention, and industry. Stones and timber i row of themselves, but yet there is no uniform pile with symmetry and convenience to lodge in, with- out toil and pains. God has made the intellectual world harmonious and beautiful without us, but it will never come into our heads all at once, we must bring it home piecemeal and there set it up by our own industry, or else we shall have nothing but darkness and a chaos within, whatever order and light there be in things with- out us." It is clear that where difficulties have to be overcome, nothing can be done by the despondent. The despondent are borne down by the weight of those very obstacles which perseverance overcomes. Nothing but the unusual enthusiasm and resolution brought to the task, will enable those who have disadvantages to con- tend with, to attain eminence in branches of knowledge which requires time and study to master. And there- fore—to quote again the words of Locke-" the proper remedy here is but to set the mind to work, and apply the thought vigorously to the business, for it holds in the struggles of the mind as in those of war, dutn puiant se -vincere viccre. A persuasion that we shall overcome any difficulties that we meet with in the sciences seldom fails to carry us through them. Nobody knows the struggle of the mind and the force of steady and regular applica- tion until he has tried. This is certain,—he that sets out on weak legs will not only go farther, but grow stronger too, than one with vigorous constitution and firm limbs, who only sits still." He then proceeds to shew (in his chapter on Despondency, which I recommend to you:: careful study) that most of the causes of despondency are merely spectres of our own creating, and that diffijcltiof which appear formidable and sliiost insuperable, wbe:: we look at a subject in the mpas or zrcss, vanish when we apply ourselves methodically to the matter, taking one step after the other, and going on progressively from the less difficult to the most difficult, and from one line of parallel to the next, from one branch of the subject to the other, in immediate order and connection to it. Thus at last the desirec c msnmmation, tho far off citadel (the Sebastopol) thai looked so hard to approach—that seemed to defy al efforts, and appeared so impregnable, will fall into oui hands, and we shall look back with gratification at the difficulties we have conquered. Yvrhilst I am borrowing some ideas, let me recommend to your careful perusal his admirable essay on the Conduct of the Understanding. II discovers the diseases of the mind, and prescribes the cure it exposes the weaknesses and follies we are at liable to fall into, in the cultivation of the understanding. and prescribes the remedy and exposes tho secret of the evil with beautiful discernment and wonderful skill As a book of excellent advice and guidance, as well as encouragement, in the work of self culture, there is nothing in our language equal to Todd's Student's Manual, a work which no one can read without catching from it some of that enthusiasm which shoule actuate the young aspirant after mental and literary dis- tinction. As an illustration of what I have said abovi of the force of perseverance, I shall now glance at a few instances of remarkable perseverance, crowned with th< after-fruits so honourably purchased. The instance: which I shall now bring before you will be those o men who have risen to eminence solely through thei: indomitable perseverance—their strong attachment ti the otj jct they pursued, coupled with a good share o natural ability. One of the most eminent instances o this was Alexander Wilson, the famous American or nithologist. He began life as a poor weaver at Paisley in Scotland; growing tired of that, and wishing ti gratify a strong desire, even then predominant, at seeinj nature and her works, he became a pedlar, and walked; besotted and intoxicated admirer through the Ilighlans lochs and glens of Scotland, drinking in the beauties o burn and brae—of moor and mountain. Soon after happening to be in a satirical vein, he indulged in lampoon against one of the wealthy manufacturers whi had rendered himself obnoxious by some unpopular acts and fearing the consequences of the action for libel tha was brought against him, which would demand as par of the punishment the burro'-i- 0f tho offending poem a the public Cross of Pa. t "c ornithologis shouldered his musket 1.: 1 v..•;< Employing himself at first as a schoolmaster, ne sooi acquired a love of drawing, and early discovered hi enthusiasm for bird collecting. He was encouraged an< supplied with books through the kindness of a Mr Bartram who was himself a naturalist. But it is time to comi to his astonishing instances of perseverance. On on occasion he walked more than 1200 miles on a an ex cursion to the falls of Niagara on another occasion h > rode a distance 01 678 miles, alone through a trackles wilderness between Natclies & Lexington in South Ame f rica on another, he sailed 700 miles in a skiff down th Ohio in quest of rare specimens of birds, which he sho with his own musket. He was subsequently employed as; sub-editor of Rees's Cyclopoadia and was; then enables to retain the services of the engraver Lawson, and brin; out bis book on American Ornithology, which was hailei as an honour to the country which had hitherto don nothing for science, and acknowledged as a valuabi addition to the science of ornithology, containing, as i did, fifty-six new specimens of birds, some of which wer so rare that those from which the figures were drawn wen the only ones he was ever able to obtain. I need no add that, during these immense rambles, he had difficul ties of every kind to overcome—torrents and swamps ti cross, the tender mercies of Indians and wild beasts tl encounter. Sometimes he travelled for miles througl dangerous cane swamps, shutting out the light of day Sometimes hi* horse sank up to the belly in mud ant clay. Sometimes rain, wind, and lightning of the mos terrific nature encountered him, and drenched him ti the skin. He depended for food on what chance and hi rifle brought across his path. Alexander Murray, th great Oriental scholar, was the son of a shepherd, in thi county of Kirkudbright, and was for some time em ployed as a shepherd himself. His father taught hin to read and write by drawing letters with the burnt en( of a heather root upon an old wool card. Being a sickh boy, he did not make a good shepherd, and a kind unclE discovering his propensity for books, put him at schoo where, however, he was only able to remain thre< months, being attacked by a lingering fit of ill health For five years he was kept at home by illness, still re, taining his love of books and his thirst for knowledge He then found employment in teaching the sons of two farmers, receiving as remuneration about 40s. and his keep. In short, the period of his education was com- prised in about thirteen months, scattered over a period of eight years. In spite of this Alexander Murray died Professor of Oriental Languages in the University of Edinburgh, having mastered, besides Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, almost all the Oriental and northern lan- guages. Of the six or seven dialects of the Abyssinian language he made himself more completely master than any other European had done before. His History of European Languages, though left by him (owing to his early death) in an imperfect statej is still a splendid monument of his ingenuity and erudition. Sir Hum- phrey Davy was the son of a carver in wood, in Pen- zance. His first experiment was made to ascertain the nature of the air contained in the sea-weed picked up during his rambles on the coast of Cornwall. His laboratory in those days was composed of his master's (for he was apprenticed to" a surgeon) cast-off vials and gallipots with the additional aid of some pots and pans from the kitchen. The skill and contrivance which this shifting obliged him to use, called forth the ingenuity of mind which afterwards Igave rise to the disco- very of the Safety Lamp. Mr. Davies Gilbert, afterwards President of the Royal Society, saw and noticed him as he was leaning on his father's gate, and entering into conversation with him, discovered his great taients, and his intense love for, and progress in chemistry. He was the means of bringing voung Davy out. He was introduced to a Dr. Beddoes, then:conducting a Chemical Institution at Bristol, and he, discovering his talents, entrusted him with the superintendence of the Institution. From this time forward young Davy rose rapidly. In 1806 he began to deliver the Balerian lectures, which hecontinuedto do severalsuccessiveyears. j In 1812 he was knighted. In 1820, on the death of Sir f Joseph Banks, he was unanimously elected President of the Royal Society. Among Painters there have been instances of wonderful and enduring perseverance emanating from a love of art. Among these instances none are more eminent than West, and Opie. Benjamin West The first colouring material which chance pro- cured for young West were charcoal and chalk, mixed with the juice of berries; and with cat's hair drawn through:a goose quill, he used to make portraits of his neighbours, which were immediately recognised by those who knew the originals. This wonderful man never recived a day's instruction. Through the kindness of of friends he was enabled o to I -horn, and the same friends sent orders to I. ;a-x rl Le^h^n to let him have unlimited credit. After making a tour cf the towns of Italy, where the most celebrated paintings were collected, he came over to England, arriving on the 20th of June. 1793. His fame and good fortune followed him. He was introduced to the King, and continued on intimate terms with him the rest of his life. In 1792 ho was elected President of the Royal Academy, which position ho held to thejday of his death. So great was his fame that he could afford to decline the offer of knighthood which was made to him by the King. —Opie was the son of a poor carpenter, who lived near Truro, and used to get flogged by his father for painting caricatures on the deal boards in his shop. He was for some time a servant in the employ of Dr. Wolcot, alias Peter Pindar, the satirist. Under his patronage he went to London, and there achieved both fame and fortune. His industry in painting was indefatigable. He was always," says his wife, Amelia Opie, "in his painting room by halfrpast eight in winter, and by eight in sum- mer, and there he generally remained closely engaged in painting till half-past four in winter, and till five ia summer." He was aways seeking to attain a higher mastery and perfection in his url; and during the nine years she was married to him, his wife never once heard him declare himself satisfied with any even of his most successful paintings. lie became Professor at the Royal Academy, and was courted by all the beauty and mobility of England. This was pretty well for a poorCorn- ,vall farmer's b JY. I have already alluded to Fergusson md Gifford. The names of Benjamin Franklin, James .Vatt, and Adam Clarke, arc so well known that I need do no more than refer to them as instances of successful self-culture and indomitable perseverance. Dr. Hunter, the great discoverer of Comparative Anatomy. was making chairs and tables as a cabinet-maker when he was twenty years of age. Falconer, the author of the Shipwreek," was a poor sailor on 'board of a Leith merchant ship. Le was eighteen years of age when he was wrecked oft' Cape Colons liich afterwards be3ani" the scene of his beautiful poem. Robert Bloomfield worked at his last while he wrote the Farmer's ;>oy." John Lcyden, the Scotch. used to study six hours a day at the Oriental languages when he was too ill and feeble from fever and liver-complaint to stand, and had to be bolstered up with pillows. In six months he pre- pared himself to take a Medical degree, which was the only means íhe had of going out to India to study the languages and customs of that vast continent. He there became a Judge and a Paymaster of the Mint. He at last fell a victim' to his inextinguishable zeal in an expe- dition to Java, in company with Lord Minto. Through his own unaided exertions he had become master of about twelve Eastern languages, besides Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, and Icelandic. All these vast stores of knowledge he acquired by his habits of constant perse- verance, industry, perseverance, and patience in stud}*. Having now dwelt long enough on these instances of successful perseverance, I think it will be well for me here to say a few words on the best method of acquiring general information. The book that contains the best advice to lollow on the subject, and the most copious | and the most minute directions, is the one I hare re- ferred to before—Todd's Student's Manual.—1. What kind of books is the young mechanic or shopman to read ? This will depend mainly on his own taste. I mean his taste may lead him to make a choice of some particular favourite branch of study. But there are certain subjects that every one, to be well informed, ought to have studied. Whatever his predilections may by, everybody ought to know something of the history of his own country at least, to say nothing of other coun- tries. Such books as Alison's History of Europe, Gib- bon's Decline and Fall, Thiers's Consulate and the Em. pire, Lamartine's books, Prescott's works, Macaulay's History of England, and many separate biographies, are now, by the cheap form in which they are pubished, put in the power of all, with a little self-denia!, to pro- cure. There are now plain books introductory to all the sciences. Professor Balfour has simplified the study of Botany. Profes- or MfHcr and many more have made Chemistry xrore ca-rlly j,e*t-taJle. David Pnge and i j Professor J.-yell "«a»e jreatly *.v.v.-VSo<l and poju'Iarized Geology, tar. Gope rac lately been greatly simplifying Natural History and Marine Zoology. Thus every young man who has resolution enough to put a few shillings by out of his earnings, and which he might L otherwise squander on useless follies, has it in his p nver to acquire information at the purest sources. He is wooed on all hands by science made easy, and it must I be his own fault if he does not get engaged. As to L Novels—avoid as poisonous and pernicious all the dis- t tortcd rubbish that grows up like weeds every month. r Before you read a new novel, be sure to let the world first decide as to the character it bears, that you may not be the first to make the discovery if it turn out to rn be intolerable trash. However, I am not so squeamish t about all novels. The Waveriey Novels have, I have no > doubt, from the pure spirit they breathe, and the accu- l rate way in which they illustrate history and custom, done a vast amount oi good. The excellent man, their i author, could partly console himself with the reflection, L in his declining days, that he had never indited a line he would wish to expunge, or ever given any other than a strictly sound and moral tendency to all his > works of fiction. Some of Cooper and those of Dickens t and Thackeray, are all books so preeminent in their line, 1 and pure and even, exalting in their principles, that I see no objection to their being read universally, pro- 3 vided they are not allowed to leave behind a morbid T inclination after other novels less sound and healthy 3 than they are. With regard to Poetry—English poets s i in general are so pure and elevating that no caution need f here be given with regard to reading them. With a r very few exceptions it would do us all good to read more ) of them, and as accessories to other studies Tennyson, f and Longfellow, Wordsworth and Coleridge, Pope and f Cowper, Milton and Shakspeare, are all books that belong to man, and to read which tends to improve our ■, hearts, elevate our ideas, and exalt our lovo of virtue, 0 nature, and nature's God. How is a young man to im- prove by what he reads? The surest rule is—dou't a read thoughtlessly, tax your mind to understand the J drift and connection of tho author's arguments, if the f work is unusually difficult, read it over several times, and make a careful epitome or analysis of arrangements a and proofs. Put the conclusion down first. and then a make a tree of tue proofs by which that argument is supported, a,nd again go on with the other proofs by t which the First proofs are shown to be correct. In this t way you can reduce a long book to a few sheets, and thave a clear nrd distinct view of the whole subject ,t before you at 't glance. If any of you should hapnen to possess a Whoatly's gic, you will there a specimen of this method oi analysis. If the Wk is 3 your own, make pencil marks of passages tha. biniic you 1 \a Ewrgin, an 2 the argument does not satisfy jot down your reason why. This method will not im- 2 prove the look of a good book; but it seems to me that e the beauty of a book ought to yield to its usefulness, and this is the only way of keeping your attention from e being lulled by the perusal of a long work, (Locke' 8 s j Chapter Oil Reading). Here let me again quote an exccl- lent passage out of Lockc's Chapter on Reading—"The e mind," says he, is backward in itself to be at the pains t to trace every argument to its original, and to see upon a what basis it stands and how firmly but yet it is this d which gives the advantage to one man more than another r in reading. The mind should by severe rules be tied i down to this, at first uneasy, task; use and exercise will e give it facility so that those who are accustomed to it 3 readily, as it were, with one cast of the eye, take a view t of the argument, and presently in most cases see where o it bottoms. Those who have got this faculty, one may e say, have got the true key of books, and the clue to t lead them through the maze of a variety of opinions and authors to truth and certainty." He here supposes 3 that it will be objected that this weighing of argument 0 by argument this process of line upon line and precept J. upon precept-will make reading too desultory to this he replies "This is a good objection, and ought to I weigh with those whose reading is designed for much talk and little knowledge, and I have nothing to say to j it. But I am here enquiring into the conduct of the s understanding in its progress towards knowledge; and 3 to those who aim at that I may say that he, who fair and 3 softly goes steadily forward in a course that points right, will sooner be athi3 journey's end than he that runs after 1 every one he meets, though he gallop all day full speed." I Two causes are especially pointed out by Locke as hindrance to a profitable and impartial perusal of a book, j The one is coming with party prejudice to its perusal— I the other having preconceived notions of one's own j both of which make us see only what makes for our own crotchets, and prevent the fair and candid impression that the argument might have on our minds. How is a young man to form a good style ? Perhaps the method pursued by Dr. Franklin when a boy is the best for all self-instructors. He tells us that his custom was to read carefully a good number of the Spectator, then lay the book by a day or too, write out what he remembered [ cf it, and then compare the two, and correct his copy ? by the original. In this way he became an extremely pure writer, and avoided all vices in style by having always before him a model so pure and correct. It will be necessary, of course, to read and observe good books, and to be frequently using the pen for in composition, • more eminently than in any work of labour, the adage is true that practice, and practice only, makes us perfect. In order to supply yourselves with a vocabulary of the best and purest words, there is nothing like committing passages of good English, either prose or verse, to memory, and then repeating them aloud. Your ear will soon become accustomed to the beauty of the cadences, and you will learn where to apply each word in its proper place, when it is elegant to use it and when not; for there may be ten different words synonymous in mean- ing, but still to a nice discerner they will all have their own peculiar force, and it is only by familiarizing your- selves with the style of the best authors that you can discover this. Much depends on a quick refined ear, for very often a nice distinction in the peculiar force of a word cannot be defined although it can be felt. When you write strive to express clearly what you think. He, who conveys to the hearer or the reader the most clear and perspicuous impression of his own ideas, is possessed of the true secret of eloquence. Avoid redundant words. Place the most important words first or early in the sentence. Avoid too frequent a repetition of such words as which or it or "that." and eschew also too many copulatives, too many "ands"and "so's." Try to balance your sentences evenly, so that one clause may answer another, especially in comparison or contrast. Avoid condensing a sentence with an adverb or a prepo- sition or any other inconsiderable word; for the mind rests a little on the last word in a sentence, and it cannot but be painful to have to rest on words that present no idea to the mind. In Cicero we generally find th- im- portant word last, or if not this, be generally contrives to end with a word of two or three syllables. Our modem languages, however, differ essentially from the ancient. They invest their words so as to give the sentence the most musical and harmonious flow. You will find their verb in one place—their noun in another—their adjective and adverb in another-the practised eye sees the con- nection of all, and puts the sentence together. This we cannot do in anything like the same degree, because our words run on directly and regular order. However, we may make a sentence musical by attending to tue choice and arrangement and composition of our words. This we must do by the hr..ppy distribution not of the words so much as of the members of sentences; for we cannot separate words from each other in the way the classical authors do. In the distribution of the several members of a sentence, it is of importance to observe that whatever is easy and agreeable to the organs of speech, always sounds grateful to the ear. While a period is going on the termination of each of its members forms a rest or pause in the pronouncing, and these pauses should be so distributed as to make the breathing easy, and at the same time should fall at such distances as to bear a certain musical proportion to each other; but the rests should not be too numerous or placed at intervals too numerous or regular, lest the style should savour of affectation. Avoid letting all your sentences be long or all short, but mix the long and the short together, and thus give the ear a pleasing variety. I have been speaking long of the desirability of education, and of some of the means by which its difficulties may be overcome by those who have to educate themselves, or who, at any rate, begin only with the rudiments of know- ledge. I know how sweet knowledge is when once we acquire it. Hut in those who, by their own efforts, attain to a certain amount of knowledge, there is one particular evil into which they may fall. The unusual degree of knowledge in a self-taught person, is very apt ,0 make them arrogant and vain, and to set them to com- pare themselves with their superiors. Of all the dis- agreeable creatures in the world, I think there is none 1 more so than a clever self-taught smatterer. He is al wavs parading what he knows he never fnils to let t/ou know that he thinks himself by far your better be- fore he parts with you. Now, to all such persons there is one sure law. Let them only think only for a moment of what they d. rot know, in comparison with the little they know. Lot them scan, with a calm and deliberate is;i>t the science of wl.L they know nothing: the books they have injve- reau, :(1 tue eouiu.ies they have never seen: and the language which they know not. even by name and then see what a mite that little stock of learning is which they are thus allowing to puff them up. Advance in learning only makes us more conscious of our ignorance and the most learned men have generally been the most humble also. Conceit only detraets from the beauty of a cultivated mind, and in- stead of making you intelligent and useful, it serves only to make you disagreeable and mischievous. Now, let me intreat you, in conclusion, not to suppose that. in ad- dressing you, on the advantages of reading and study, I am insensible to the difficulties that lie in your way. I know you will have to contend with little leisure, weariness, and fatigue, and, perhaps, narrowness of means, and other obstacles and that, if you would im- prove yourselves at all, you must do it in spite of these. I am too well acquainted with the rugged road to learn- ing and knowledge, not to sympathise with others who are travelling the same road. But -with these opposing obstacles to contend with, whatever you master, whatever progress you make, will be all the more honourable to you. The more the difficulty, the greater the merit of succeeding in spite of it. And however little may be the progress that you make with so many hindrances to hamper you, you will, at any rate, have made a laudable attempt at elevating yourself in the social scale, and at improving and enlightening that immortal faculty of mind and soul which God has given you, and by which alone one man is elevated above another. I would have i every one, whatever his station, do what he can to in- form his mind. My grand panacea for all social evils i", Give the People knowledge. Give them knowledge, and they will be too wise to be caught and misled by the ribald publications that steal from the Press: they will be less cpen to the empty declamations of demagogues—they will be able to understand their social comforts and pri- vileges, and they will avoid, as repugnant to them, those evil habits, and those clamorous demonstrations, and those disgraceful practices, which are all the offspring of ignorance and lack of knowledge. Teach the masses, pud they will learn to respect their superiors, for those acquirements ani virtues which they value in themselves. Whence come the vast number cf juvenile delinquents which have lately attracted so much attention ? From the most ignorant and the most neglected portion of the London world. Compare Ireland as it v as with Scotland, and whence comes the happiness, industry, and prosperity 11 the one country, and of squalor, poverty, disturbance, and agitation in the other ? In my own narrow ex- perience, the best regulated man, the most constant at Church, the most still and quiet in the discharge of his duties, and the most respectful to his superiors, has been the man who is the best instructed. Surely the more instructed a man is, the more he will be able to form right ideas and correct notions of the laws, the constitu- tion, and the religion of the country in which he lives. The way to make the poor man contented with his lot, is to give him knowledge enough to understand the pri- vileges he enjoys and excellent institutions and laws by which he is protected. But above all how are you to ameliorate or elevate the condition of the masses, unless you put the Bible into their hands, and teach them to read and understand it ? From this Sacred source they must learn their duties- discern between good and evil, virtue and vice. They will gain there healthy principles, sound knowledge, and devotion. They will learn their responsibilities as crea- tures accountable to a Just God, and they will learn to look upon this world as a school preparatory to the vast world of Eternal life. But all important and primary as religion is in the education of all classes, it will borrow help and strength from the addition of other species of knowledge, to which the natural mind is not so averse. In my opinion,everything that strengthens the mind helps it to master and realize the grand truths of religion—the incarnation, the atonement, and the mediation of an only Saviour. A certain amount of secular knowledge will, therefore, in my belief, raise the People, even in a reli- gious point of view. If I have done anything to-night towards awakening in any man a laudable thirst of know- ledge—or given any one some direction useful for his future progress and advancement, I shall have been amply repaid for my trouble in preparing this address. I hope the young men of Pembroke will not be slack in availing themselves of the opportunities for self-instruc- tion which this Institution ought to supply them with. And as an Institution tending to the good and improve- ment of the town, I conclude with with wishing the lately New Room a long life and a prosperous career, and hope it will long remain to be a source of improve- ment ar J instruction to the Inhabitants of the town of Pembroke. NEW LAW BILLS OF EXCHANGE.—A change in the law is about to take effect which, in its bearing on the internal operations of English commerce, is likely to prove very important. From and after the 24th of Octo- ber the Summary Procedure on Bills of Exchange Act is to come into operation. The object of its framers was to remove all means of frivolous or fictitious defences to actions on bills of exchange and promissory notes, and the decisive character of its provisions renders it neces- sary that every trader in the country should be well ap- prized of them. A new form of writ of summons is to be issued, after which the plaintiff may in 12 days, un- less leave to defend the action be meanwhile obtained, proceed to judgment and execution. Leave to appear is to be granted only on the defendant paying the amount of the claim into Court, or upon satisfactory affidavits disclosing a legal or equitable defence, or the necessity for the holder to prove consideration, or such other facts and on such terms as to security as to the judge may seem fit. One summons may be made to include all the parties to the bill. The Act applies exclusively to Eng- land and Wales, and not to Ireland or Scotland. TIIE TRADE CUSTOM OP SELLIXG SUGAR AT A Loss.— A large and influential meeting of the grocery trade was held at the Tontine Hotel, Greenock, on Thursday last; Mr. James Thompson in the chair. It was unanimously resolved-" That it is the opinion of this meeting that the practice hitherto of selling sugars at a sacrifice is unsound in principle, detrimental to the best interests of the trade, and causing dissatisfaction to the public gene- rally." It was also resolved that the trade ought to sell their sugars at refiners' prices, always taking the benefit of the discount; and that this alteration shall take place on and after Monday, the 8th of October next. It would seem that the grocers have at length resolved to act honestly towards themselves and their customers. The very old practice of selling sugar at a loss of several shillings per hundred weight is not confined to that sugar-refining district, and the step now said to have been taken by the Greenock grocers should be followed elsewhere. The consumers of sugar must necessarily be also consumers of tea and coffee and what boots it to them if, by paying a halfpenny per pound less than they ought to pay on sugar, they are made to pay twopence per pound too much for their coffee, or fourpence per pound too much for their tea, or, what is exactly the same thing, pay a standard price for an inferior article? It is the old relationship between six and half a dozen, or robbing Peter to pay Paul; and the grocer must either follow this conrse or go to the wall. A humorous story is told of a Greenock grocer who had another, al- though a not very clear set-off against the practice of selling sugar for less than nothing. It was jam-making season, and a lady who called at his shop and priced the article said-" Can't you make it cheaper if I take a whole loaf ?" No, my lady," was the answer, we lose a farthing off every pound we sell." Lose a far- thing was the lady's rejoinder, if so, then how can you pay your expenses ?" Oh rejoined the grocer with a cough, "entirely from the quantity we sell ma'am."—Glasgow Daily Jfail. MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN BY HER LOVER.—A cold blooded murder was perpetrated at Southampton on Sunday week, under circumstances of the most shocking depravity. The victim is a young woman named Naomi Ringswell, about 26 yeaas of age, who was living as housemaid in the service of the Rev. Mr. Poynders, of Moira Place, Southampton. The assassin was her fellow servant, living in the same house "f\ footman, and is about 29 years of age. It appears that the guilty man and his ill-fated victim had been courting for some time past, and until lately had lived upon the best of terms, but owing to a suspicion of robbery attaching itself to the murderer, whose name is Edward Baker, the female uecame uisianc in ner manner; and upon it being proved that he had robbed his master, for which he was to have been dismissed the service the next night, she became still more distant in her manner, and ultimately declined having anything further to say to him. On Sunday morning, about a quarter before one o'clock, and whilst the family were at church, the cook and housemaid (the latter the murdered girl) were conversing together in the kitchen of the house, when the prisoner entered and stationed himself about three or four yards distant from them, and a ter listening a minute or two to thoir con- versation he deliberately withdrew his right arm from behind him, where it had rested on his entering the room, and, without uttering a word, presented a pistol at the housemaid's head and drew the trigger. The ball with which the pistol was charged went immediately through the main, struck the ceiling, and glancing from flic wall of the room f-II i'ito the hairs of a brush, which • standing in a com.r, and ..here it was afterwards found by a constable. The unfortunate girl fell to the ground a corpse. The cook instantly rushed from the room and opened the street door, which she fastened after her, calling loudly for help. A constable who was passing at the time entered the house and met the mur- derer in the passage, whom he immediately secured, He had, after committing the fearful deed, gone into his room and secreted the pistol behind the box; but pro- bably feeling assured that detection was certain he pointed the weapon out to the constable. He was taken at once to the station house and locked up. On his box being searched by Serjeant Ralls some gunpowder, a quantity of caps, and six bullets were found within. The weapon with which the horrible deed was commit- ted is a rifle pistol. The parties were both natives of the Isle of Wight. SUBDIVISION OF LAND IN FRANCE.—The Constitutional, quoting a fresh volume on the statistics of France, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, under the direction of M. Legoyt, now the chief of the statistical bureau, observes that France is, par excellence, the country of middling and small properties. The eadastre shows us the soil split into 126,000 parcels, belonging to 11,05:>,000 proprietors. This refers to the mean year 1827. It results from the examination of the rules of the land tax, taken more recently, that the number of land portions was 11,51 i,000 in 1842, and that it has successively mounted to 13,122,000 in 1854. The proportion of in- crease would, consequently, be upon 1127, on a yearly iverage, more than eighteen percent, in 1854." |

MISCELLANEOUS. ] YfENNA, Sunday.—The Austrian correspondence asserts on the authority of a telegraphic communication from Odessa of the 17th, at the same time the Allied fleets attacked Kinlmni, 30,000 men were landed 011 the penin- sula of Teneira. Nothing certain was known of the destination of these troops. Tendra is a long spit of land a little west of Perekop. The expedition to Kinbura com^-ised an English brigade, commanded by Gen. Spencer, with cavalry, artillery, and a full equipment of rockets. Admire.l Bruatt <ives details$f the capitulation of Kinburn. The bombardment was-very severe, the Allied Kinburn. The bombardment was-very severe, the Allied Admirals offered the Russians a capitulation which they accepted. It was stipulated that the place should be given up as it was at the moment. The enemy's horses and ammunition were then taken possession of. The Russian wounded (about 80) were attended by surgeons from the ships. The number of prisoners is 1,-ioo to 1,400. The Admirals were going lo occupy themselves with forming at Kinburn a solid establishment. The Daily News says, that according to Crimean advices of the 11th, via Yarna, it was thought that a grand encountre between the two armies would take place about the 20th instant, for it appeared quite im- possible that the Russians were able to prevent the French from advancing against Bakshi-Serai. Gorts- chakoff had therefore only the alternative of accepting battle, or making a retrograde movement behind the Belbee, or endeavour to reach Simpheropol. The booty taken at Tainan was very large. The Times says, that by the skilful capture of Kinburn we have opened a path into an important district of Southern Russia, and may inelulge a seasonable hope o penetrating into the building arsenal of the Russian fleet The Times reviewing our successes, congratulates the country upon its escape from the peace contemplated at the Vienna conferences. Russia would then have come out of the conflict with all her powers wholly unbroken. The lessons is instructive. The 'limes is perfectly aware that since the fall of Sebastopol, both Austria and Russia felt the way and tried to make advances respcciing peace, which had they been received in a corresponding spirit would have spe- cially ripened into proposal. If Russia wants peace, she must treat with the principals and not with powers, whose mediation, pdviee, or assistance in any way what- ever we do not require. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by prolonging the war, and shall never lay down our arms till we have finished our work and received such quarantees from the aggressor, as will convince us that there will be no need to take the field against the common foe for half a century at least. The Times gives details showing that in 1848 Count Cavour emgigrated from Lonibardy and became a Sardinian subject. His son was sent attached to the Sardinian Embassy at Florence, but the Tuscan Govern- ment, instigated by Austria, begged he might be recalled. The Sardinian Government took the matter up but en- deavoured to bring the matter to a friendly conclusion. The Tuscan Premier then demanded the recall of the Sardinian Minister, Kirnself. A rupture was the conse- quence, and at present here the matter rests. Sardinia can do without Tuscany but the results of this affair demand attention. Sardinia is threatened, and the Aus- trian Premier carries matters with a high hand. He intimated to the Sardinian Minister at Vienna that the Emperor was determined to eonsider the question a per- sonal to himself, and a time would be fixed in which the difference ought to be made up, and if not then made up His Majesty, looking at it as a personal affair, would take measures. The question is now whether Anstria shall be allowed to take measures in tha matter. Is Piedmont to suffer for her alliance with us ? The courts of Vienna has formed a high resolve. It is for Europe to say whe- ther it carried out. The Tuscan Government doubtless though but by Austria's instigation, will listen to nothing. The British Ministers at Turin tendered his mediation, it was accepted by the Sardinian Cabinet, and a proposi- tion was made inviting great concessions to Tuscany for the Duke of Peace, but the latter peremptorily refused them. The Grand Duke relies on Austria, and Austria relies on her superior strength to bring Piedmont into compliance. A storm of this kind has been long foreseen Austria can r.evcr forgive Piedmont for being the ally of France and England. She cannot see without appre- hension the faint dawn of Italian independence. It is not impossible that she may seek to regain her ascen- dency by something more than high words and it is for this reason that the Times calls the attention of the English people to this maLter. The public will be astonished to hear that the British Minister at Florence, the Marquis ofNornaanby, thinks that the Grand Duke is quite right, and that Count Buol and his master only exercise a proper influence. The Marquis of Normunby has openly censured the conduct of the Sardinian Guvernment in appointing to Florence the son of a refugee. If the Times be correctly informed, a diplo- matic agent, instructed by the English Government has been sent to Florence to bring Lord Noamanby to views more worthy of his position. The Ti nics trusts his efforts may be ultimately success- ful. In the meantime, our minister gives his support to the Grand Duke and Count Buol, who have thus been encouraged in this violent and insulting course. What- ever may be the result, it will be the duty cf the nation to see to this. It cannot allow any man to deter the first duties of this office, as Lord Normanby will doubt- less be called upon to defend his conduct. The Times will say no more, but he may be assured that this is no small matter, and that the examination will be as severe as the charge is serious. NICOLA.IF.FF AND THE WAY TO IT.-Sailed from Odessa in a Russian steamer. The distance to NioolaoifF is about 80 miles. The entrance to the Liman river is shown by a light vessel, which we left on our right hand. The channel is buoyed by red on one side and white buoys on the other. Ockahoff is on the left, and appears to have no other defence than a 3-gun mud battery; opposite to it is a battery of 21 guns. The passage did not appear difficult to find. We passed the Selafiel, a large 84-gun ship. They were warping her through the soft mud at the rate of a cable's length in twenty- four hours, she drawing 22 feet abaft; generally there was 21 feet of water, but in many places not more than 17 feet. About 15 miles above Ockahoff the Dnieper (ancient Borysthenes) and Bug (ancient Hyparus) rivers fall into the Liman. We anchored for the night in the latter. After rounding the peninsula upon which Nicolaieff stands, we left the Bug and found the admiral's house and dockyard, a short distance from the mouth of the Ingul river, which is very narrow and shallow at the entrance. The Ouriel, a new 84, similar to the Selafiel, was fitting at an establishment at the mouth of the Ingul. Off this place is the road where ships anchor preparatory to going down the river to the dockyard. The dockyard is on a large space of ground, and the buildings far detached from each other. There is no dock, and the slips are very imperfect. There are two 84's building, and another just laid down. A 50-gun frigate, a corvette, and the Twelve Apostles three-decker, have just been launched. Several smaller vessels and a steam-boat have been commenced. The model room has many objects of interest in it, &c.—Extract from a Journal of the late Surveyor of the Navy. GERMAN SOCIAL LIFE IN THE OLDEN TIME.—Among the instances of German social life in the higher classes at this period may be cited the case of the Duke of Mecklenburgh-Schewrin, who, driven out of his duke- dom by the hatred of his oppressed subjects, took up his residence in Paris, about the year 1G72. The duke bad been married to a Protestant princess, of whom, growing weary, he divorced himself from her, for no other reason than that he had seen a Catholic princess who pleased him, for the moment, better than his own wife. He married this second lady, after first making public pro- fession of his conversion to the Church of Rome. Not a very long period had elapsed before he became more weary of the new love than he had ever been of the old. He was as tired of the faith, by accepting which he had gained the lady and in an effected horror of having committed some terrible sin, he immediately set about procuring a divorce. It was no difficult matter; and no less a man, judge and philosopher, than the great "Leib- nitz," less influenced, it is said, by a desire to disarm his foe than by certain juristic sophistries, decided in favour of the divorce, in violation of all law, and to the ineffable disgust of all honest men.—Dr. Do-ran's Queens of England.—House of Hanover. A NICR POINT.—At the sitting of the County Magis- trates at Howe, on Tuesday last, Thomas Balchin was summoned by the collector of a turnpike-gate for refusing to pay the toll upon a load of cabbages, which he was conveying into Brighton. The case involved a question of some importance to farmers—whether the word "fodder" mean,, merely "dry food" for cattle, which is exempted from toll under the act. The gate-keeper, a young man of much intelligence, who conducted his case against Mr. D. Black for the defendant, referred to Doctor Johnson ana many other lexicographers for the interpretation of the word fodder," and contended, according to those dictionaries, that cabbages could not be considered dry food. For the defence Bailey's Dictionarv was quoted, and Bailey defines" fodder to be anv kind of meat for cattle." Craig's Dictionary, of 1852; was also referred to and that defines fodder to be food, or dry food for cattle, horses, and sheep, as hay, straw, and other kinds of vegetables ?" The magis- trates thought they ought to decide this question upon the broad grounds of common sense, and that the cab. bages formed a part of fodder for cattle; and therefore they dismissed the summons. MEMORIAL OF AFFECTION.—The late Bishop Ileber, in the narrative of his journey through the upper pro- vince of his diocese, relates that one of the boatmen every day set apart a certain portion of his rice, and bo- j stowed it on the birds saying, It is not I, but my child that feeds you." He had lost an only .1on some years before, e.nd the boy having been in the custom of feeding the birds in this way, the parent never omitted doing so at sunset. FOOD STATISTICS. — The Michaelmas contracts for several of the large unions in the western counties have just been entered into, and the prices at which the various articles have been tendered for gave a fair statement of what may be expected to be the average figures during the coming quarter. At Wells bread lias been contracted for at 7^d. per 41b. loaf, best seconds flour at os. 8d. per score; beef and mutton, at o5d. per lb., and coal at 15s. lOd. per ton. At Wincanton the prices were as follow:—lib. loaf, best seconds, 74d. and 8d. beef and mutton, Gctd.; and pork 6d. per lb. At the corresponding period last year the prices were-bread, 5id and Gd. per 41b. loaf; beef and mutton, 7d.; and pork, 6M. At Kingsbridge flour has been accepted at 54s. Gd. per sack, beef at 55s. lid. per cwt., mutton at Gd. per lb., and coals at 19s. 5d. per ton. At Okehampton the prices were-beef, 5d., 5td" and G £ rl.; butter, 7d.; and mutton 5-^d. and 6d, per lb.; 41b. loaf, best seconds, 8 £ d.; meal ditto, 8d.; flour, 57s. per sack; oatmeaJ,21:>. per ewt.; and peas, 8s. 5d. per bushel. At Totness coal has been received at 19s. lOd. per ton. At Bedmiuster the prices were—flour, 57s. per sack; bread, 71d. to 8id. per 41b. loaf; cheese, 40s. per cwt.; beef, 40s. per cwt.; mutton, 50s. per cwt.; [teas, 7s. Dd. per bushel; and Embden groats, 2ls. G. per cwi. The present average rate of wheat and meat may be quoted as follows :-Fat bullocks, 58s. to COso per cwt.; sheep, od to C-Ld. per lb. pigs, 10s. to 10s. fid. per score; new wheat, 18s. (id. to 10s. per bag; old wheat, 20s. ber bag; barley, 10s.; and oats, 0s. to lis. Gd. per bag. Potatoes are somewhat dear. GENERAL PEMSSIKR.—His character is stern and vehe- ment,- and personal courage all but unrivalled. It is narrated that on one occasion, when in command of *l corps known as the Zephyrs, lie attacked a mud fortress, occupied by Arabs. His soldiers repeatedly attempted to scale the walls, but in vain; for the vigilant foe kept a. sharp look-out, rr. "epulsed every effort. Pelissier grew weary, an'' patience. "Throw me over, and I am sure the company will follow," he exclaimed to three or four of the men around him. The order was obeyed, For some minutes he was alone among the enemy, and received several wounds. He had, however, correctly calculated the efleet that would be produced by his in trepidity; the soldiers followed him, and the mud fortress was taken. The expedition to Kertch, with the various successes in the Sea of Azoff, the occupation of the Tchernaya, the capture of the Mamelon, and, finally, the possession of Sebastopol itself-arc indications, not to be mistaken, of the superior vigor. the intellectual energy, the iron will, and the eiauntless determination of the commander. PREACHING TO THE WRoxo FLOCK.An amusing story has been current in the Wesleyan circles during the week. Last Sunday morning a local preacher, be- longing to the Conference party, a stranger to the neighbourhood, was appointed to minister to the faith- ful at Topsham. He inquired for the Wesleyan Chapel and was shown the Reform instead of the Conference building. He went into the pulpit and prepared for the service. Meanwhile the Reform preacher from Exeter came in, and seeing the pulpit occupied thought that some gifted brother" from a distance had come to re- lieve him of his duty. He accordingly took a seat, and heard the Conference preacher's discourse throughout. The Conference preacher did not, however, find out his mistake until he had finished the service, and had been asked to dine at the house of the chief of the Reformers, instead of at the house of the chief of the Conference party in Topsham.— Western Times.

THE LONDON MARKETS. LONDON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 22. T With foreign assistance our arrivals of all grain 1* week were fair. The supply of home-grown Wheat 11,058 qrs.; the foreign consisted of about 3,000 Danzic and 5,-100 from Egypt; against this there 2,213 qrs. exported. The show of samples from and Kent this morning was only moderate; but trade was dull at 2s. advance, and some quantity le unsold. Foreign was hell for an equal iHprovement, with little doing. Country Flour was in plentv, the** being 17,01-1 sacks, with only 274 sacks foreign. exports were 235 sacks. Tiie top price of Town. was confirmed at 3s. advance, the price being settled 75s. Norfolks were worth 02s„ foreign sacks and barre's 2s. dearer. The supply of Barley, exclusively Engli''0' was 7,746 qrs.—1,015 being exported. Picked sanip'6^ of malting and fresh distilling qualities found an proved demand at rather rates; but oilier sorts dull. The trade in malt was steady at ulaltered Pr*c^ There were 10,100 qrs. Oats from Ireland, G,840 qrs. the Baltic, the English and Scoth made up 2,000 <1 more; in all, about 1!00J qrs. The exports were co'is_ dcrable, viz., 1,0G8 qrs. The trade presented precis^ the appearance of Friday, when all old qualities nia1^ tained their prices, and new were Gd. cheaper. TbeI; were 1,900 qrs. of foreign Beans, mostly from Kgypb a'!j about 1,000 qrs, from the near counties; the latter s°' at rather improved rates, but foreign were net de»^' Of English Peas there were 1,100 qrs., the foreign only 22G qrs. Samples of both kinds of the for01 realised Is. more money. 1,202 qrs. of Linseed were porfed, without any arrivals. Without activity, PrlC0„ were firn both for seed and cakes. Rapcsecel", He"11! seed, and Canary very firm. Winter Tares difficul' I quit. In other seeds no noticeable change. BRITISH of. Shillings per Qr. 1 S killing'$ JTAedi—Essex and Kent, Oats—English feed *« 34 white 77 87 Ditto potato iL Ditto, red 7-1 fi i Scotch feed •• 34 Norfolk, Lincoln, and Ditto pota'.o — <K jf Yorkshire, red 76 82 Ivish feed, white Jl Barley—Malting new 37 38; Ditto, Mae <,y & Distilling 37 40 Beans—Masagan w, 4* Chevalier 40 42 Ticks 40 & Grinding 35 38 Harrow ^'V^cx'Norfolk'and-J p^-white boilers' J SuffolK new (179, M„nle Ditto, ditto old J!,$ Kingston,Wai-e,&t°An '^de'i" 6t nufnTti ne^ 'J| Households, town ti Dltt0> *"<> old Country Hi Rye 43 i7 Norfolk and Suffolk.

METROPOLITAN MARKET.—MONDAY, OCT. 22, Wc may observe that our supplies of stock from northern districts are not likely to improve either weight or condition till quite the end of November* .j we learn that the numbers of prime beasts on jji grazing farms are very small for the time of year.3| up our own grazing districts the receipts of beasts fre jrjr this morning were very moderate, but in somewhat proved condition. As the total supply was season4 large, the beef trade ruled heavy, at a decline prices obtained 011 Monday last of 2d. per 8 lbs. jo highest figure for beef was 4s. lOd. per 8 lbs. Abo"*}, good beasts e disposed of for shipment to The a' I.: from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and 0 amplo.iMiire amounted to 1,000 shorthorns; from parts of England, 400 of various breeds; and frorn land, via Liverpool, 540 beasts. There was a inodc supply of sheep 011 sale as to number, but the quahV jf. most breeds was very inferior. Prime Downs and D breds scid jlowly, at full prices; but inferior breeds very dull, and 2d. per 8 lbs. lower than on this 1!Ii' sennight. The top figure for Downs was os. per Calves—the supply of which was moderate—sold s'° jf at Friday's decline in the quotations. We had a stew demand for pigs, at fully last week's currency. J'er 8 lbs. to *ink the offals. « # Coarse and inferior B. d. o. d. l'rime eowsc woo'led »■ I i beasts 3 4 3 6! sheep 4 Second quality ditto 3 3 4 0 Prime South Doi-ii « 0 Prime large oxen 4 2 4 G sheep. 4 1° 4 I l'rime Scots, &c. 4 8 4 10 'Large! calves „ 3 ° } 0 Coarse and inferior Prime small ditto 5 1 Sheep 3 4 3 6 Large hegs « 5 Second quality ditto 3 8 4 2 Neatsmallporkers. 4 ? Sucking calves, 23s. to 30s. and quarter-old store P'R8' 22s. to 28s. each. ,—

PROVISION MARKET.—MONDAY, OCT. 2;- Wc write a good steaeiy trade in butter at formef Bacon was in small supply and limited request; tr'er« fore nearly equal to the demand. Previous rates fore nearly equal to the demand. Previous rates net supported with difficulty. In hams and lard n feature.

POTOTO MARKET. During the past week there has been a few from Scotland, Kent, and Essex, but as yet n°neke{ f Yorkshire, and although the supply at this iaat*.■ small, other markets have been well supplied by rai. {>iic land carriage from the neighbourhood of there lias been less demand, at a reduction of Pr^cCtri^ the previous week. Five Scotch cargoes have this week, which, in addition to free supplies fro111 and Kent, has kept trade steady. DREAD. fiofl The prices of wheaten bread in the Metropolis ar jpj. iojd. to lid.; of household itto, 8id to lOd. Per loaf.

RAIL WA Y T I ME TAB L K. SOUTH WALES RAILWAY WKF.K DAYS.—UP TRAINS. Stations. j*.1^ 2 1, —, 3, llxp. 1,2, 'V*'1 2, class. class. 1 & 2 class, olass. Starting from a.m.\a.m. a.m. a. m. p- >"■ 3' Haverfordwest 9 15 12 30 4* Clarbeston ltoad 9 27 ..]. 12 45 1 Narberth Road 9 47 1 5 JS Clarbeston ltoad j 9 27 ..]. 12 45 1 Clarbeston ltoad 9 27 ..]. 12 45 1 Narberth Road 9 47 1 5 JS Whitiaud 9 57 1 20 34 St. Clears 10 11 1 35 « jj Carmarthen 6 45 6 45 10 35 2 5 g j? Llanelly 7 36 7 36 11 16 2 56 ji Swansea 8 5 8 5 11 35 12 45 3 45 jtf Neath (deu.) 8 42 8 42 12 2 1 10 4 12 g 4% Cardiff 10 23 |10 23 1 9 2 45 5 54 g \i i Newport 10 53 |l0 53 1 30 3 12 6 2» g 4i Chepstew 11 32 HI 32 1 53 3 55 7 » 0 4J Gloucester (an\) 12 30 12 30 2 32 !l&2 8 il Glouoester (dep.) 12 50 !12 50 2 37 5 30 8 20 Cheltenham (arr) 12 50 12 50 3 0 5 55 8 35 j jJ Swindon (arr.). 2 17 2 17 3 50 7 15 2* Swindon (dep.). 2 29 5 30 4 15 1 25 4 5^ l'addington 5 5 9 5 6 0 10 15 Narberth Itoad is the Station for Tenby and PeiP^x^ WLEK DAYS —DOWN THAINS. 1,2,3,1 & 2;1,2,3, Exp. Stations.. 'la's; lass<; c'la^s; x 2, f. *■ Starting from a. m. a. m. a. m. a, m. a- >"• g Paddington 0 0 6 50 9 40 10 » ,0 f. Swindon (arr.) 8 40 jl2 30 jll 20 1 'i0 J* Swindon fdep.) 8 50 |12 40 -11 32 1 jij 1$ Gloucester (arr.) 10 15 2 10 ,12 35 2 40 Cheltenham (dep 6 SO 1.2.3 2 20 '12 0 2 5 Gloucester (deu.) 6 45 110 25 3 0 12 38 3 jj 5 J* Chepstow 7 48 jll 24 4 18 1 22 4 8 *? Newport 8 18 '12 22 5 2 1 45 5 4 Cardiff S 42 [12 45 5 32 2 6 5 8; j 9» Neath (dep.) 10 25 2 18 7 27 3 12 7 2' 5 J* Swansea. 10 47 2 50 8 10 3 25 7 6 ?? Llanellv 11 40 8 34 4 5 8 £ 1 Carmarthen 12 27 9 26 4 45 9 "b 1$ St. Clears 1 0 5 2 7 S Whitland 1 20 5 22 7 J? Narberth Road. 1 49 5 37 3 i/i Clarbeston Road 12 9 5 52 Haverfordwest. 2 :U I i 6 4 1" C a.0 The G.O a.m. Train from Paddir.^ton takes Third senders for the South Wales Railway nlY- 1#0 Stt\PAVS.—U? TRAINS, S l: X II AYS.—DOVSj^^i w; ■s.fS.T, stations* 3>, V' class, class. class. class. class. 0^^ From a. 7ii, a.m. p.m. From a.m.a.m. P" "j A n.West 9 0 P;ul.1 5 04 'j)J Clar. Rd 9 15 Swin.ar f, fV Nar.Kd* 9 35 Swin. de\ J ,5 Q? "Whit 9 50 Glou. ar\ J: 4O StClearsf 10 5 Chel. de\ 'J 0 q j4 Carmar.j 10 35 6 0 Giou. del 9 20 J ,5 '$, Llanellv! U 6 51 Chep, ;io 43 0 j4 Swan.RFC 8 HO 7 35 New.| 7 38 11 21 04 Neathrfr- 30 8 0 Cardiff 8 3 b ,ti }? > Cardiff Yo 42 2 58 9 41 Xeathdc] 9 50 I 4o New.. 11 11 3 20 10 10 Swan.6V|l0 20 i 23 •' Chep, .|U 51 4 10 Llanellyl 10 55 9 Glou. ar 15 5 16 Carmar. 11 42 ? o<J Glou. (if! 5 25 StClears „ 46 Chel. ar\ 6 47 Whit ? 0 Swin. ar' 1 & 2 Nar.Rd* }); i9 ''[..j. j Swin.tfcj 7 10 Clar. Rd 34 1" 0 II.West | ^L^IE^M<III^RAII^NIIIS^THE^SAME^AS^O^

„ AGE~K T S Cradigan Mr. Cloujher, bookseller. 7h Carmarthen White and Sons, printers, &c. Fishguard Mr. Thomas Davies. London Mr. Joseph Clayton, 320, Strand- e Mr. G. Reynell, 42. Cliancery-l°n „ Mr. S. Deacon, 3, Walbrook. t f Mr. Hammond, 27, Lombard-stre lftt" „ R. Barker and Co., 33, Fleet-stree-3ttO ^9* Mr. H. Adams, 0, Parliament-st, .j, 5 Mr. "W. Thomas, 21, Catherine-Sl Milford Mi. T. Perkins, Custom-house. Narberth Mr. Wm. Phillips, Registrar. Newport Mr. John Harries. Pembroke Mr. Ormond. Pembrokc-Dofck .Mr. V. Trewent. „ .Mr. Barrett. Solva Mr. John Howell. h> Newport Mr. John Harries. Pembroke Mr. Ormond. Pembroke-Dock .Mr. F. Trewent. „ .Mr. Barrett. Solva Mr. John Howell. h> Tenbv Mr. Thomas, opposite the Churo^g j £ l^ Anil bvall Post-Masters and News-Agents through yie«l and filed at Peel's Coffee-house aod Johnson's Bote and D^aoon's Coffee-house, 3, Valbrook, LondoP- j r—— U p Printed and PuKhyliad by JOSEVH in High-Street, in the parish of Saint fri County of the Town of Haverfordwest, t the 26th dav of OCTOBER, 1855.