Leicester Chronicle or Commercial and Leicestershire Mercury from Leicester, Leicestershire, England • 6

THE LEICESTER I RON If lift AND LiHilUJCil rjAOtitivu iuuuvum. -r nine o'clock in the fhi tha Maori was very si ozonk a uujssiwn wa i momi. and smnsuai worn nee a i satilanee. soreadinc abroad on the whole land abomma always open te the insertion of till three in thw and spoke of thogallant sat we Pi Guards, whan asked to) Perform a deed, which meant annihilation. Vionvillo was sea amply by sot lost, and that was aO.

an interval whton in tha fearful storm at Gravelotte, on tha 18th August. It was a terrible the slaughter was grass, ben so real end was gained, for whatever might be said to the contrary, the French bald fibs Potnt-dn-Toor whan the fighting ceased, with the advent of darkness, and withdrew voluntarily, ussier cover of night, Than earns a re-division of the armies, and the march towards Paris. On tha 25th of August, tha Kiam and tha Crown Prince heard of MaeMahon'a flank march to the north, for the rshsf of Baxaiac, and Moltks arid, "Verily the Lord bath delivered sains enemy into T'LTy a general ever did. The lecturer wen described the event which led to the capitulation of Sedan and meeting of Napoleon and Bismarck, on the and September tbo most srmssthnr1 sdttgjl fctenaJy Napoleon bore himself in a manner worthy of an Emperor. Mr.

Forbes then changed the scene to Metz, and described tha weary sis weeks be spent before the fortress. He said Bsssins had been greatly ah need for surrendering; when he did, hot ho (tbo lecturer) did not think he was much to blame for having done so. Tbo weather was atrocious, his men were living in mud, and typhoids, dysentery, small-pox, and ether ailments were dtci mating worn, while pyemia and hospital gangrene stalked into the crowded hospitals, where thousands ef wounded lay, huddled together, living on horse-flesh and a little bread. Ho could never then have hoped for a successful sortie, with weakened and disheartened men, and horses even unable to draw his guns. It waa tens that be might have held out a fortnight, or even a Kttle longer, had he been prepared to see hie huge disorganised army endure hardships to which woes they had already suffered, would have been as whips compared with scorpions.

Equally true was it, that if ho had held out for a fortnight longer, it was almost certain that the seige of Parts must have been raised. After a brief reference to one or two other movements, the lecturer said Moltks was reported to have reproached himself that he had not given the word for an assault on Tours, that crowded panic-stricken city, after tne day of fighting at ChatiUon bnt the Prince came swooping down by a forced ssssejh, and intervened between the army of the Loire and the besiegers. He waa just in time, and that was all, and he was free to go, owing to Bazaine's surrender. Had Basaine known what hinged on bis holding out, he believed he would have held out, until he had eaten the upper-leather of bis boots, and had attacked the soles. In his ignorance of the events outside, it was rather his misfortune than his fault that be acted aa he did, bnt be (Mr.

Forbes) could not bring bis mind to believe that Basaine was a traitor. The lecturer then acknowledged the kindness he had received from the Crown Prince, and described the difficulties and dangers he experienced in obtaining the information for whish ho was responsible, while outside Paris He concluded by remarking that on the second day after the armistice, he rode into Paris, and henceforth was no longer, strictly speaking, with the The Rev. Dr. Dickson proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer, for the interesting address he had delivered, which was seconded by Mr. G.

Stevenson, and carried with acc lamination. The lecturer having bowed bis acknowledgment of the compliment, a veto of thanks, proposed by the Rev. J. Ker, and seconded by Mr. G.

Anderson, was accorded to the Mayor for presiding on the occasion. The meeting was then brought to a close. FREE LECTURES AT THE MUSEUM. On Saturday evening last, an address oa The Spanish Armada," was delivered in the Lecture Boom at the Museum, by Mr. S.

Firth. The chair was occupied by Councillor W. Kempson. There waa an average attendance. In the outset of his address the Lecturer spoke of the early invasions ef this country by Romans, Saxons, Danes, and Normans, and then went on to refer to the lost attempt at the invasion of England on a grand scale, which was organised in Spain and the Netherlands.

Queen Elisabeth, he said, at irst heard the rumour of the intended invasion with indifference, but subsequently, believing in the truth of what she had heard, she declared she would herself undertake the lead of her soldiers in border to drive from England an enemy who dared to set hie foot on its soil. Mr. Firth spoke of the levies that were made upon different populations, with the view of getting together a large army, and read an extract from Thompson's History of Leicester," having reference to the excitement which prevailed in this town at that time. He then described how the Invincible Armada, aa it was called, left Lisbon in July, 1588, and eventually made its way to the English Channel was harassed by the English fleet under Lord Howard, ef Eppingham, Drake, Frobisher, and others; and, after failing in the great object ef enabling the army of the Prince ef Parma to cross the channel, sought safety in sailing northwards and rounding the Hebrides, at last made its way home. Of the 134 ships that sailed from Lisbon in July, be said, only 53, great and small, returned, and these were in such a shattered and damaged condition, as to be utterly worthless.

Of the 34,000 men who left the shores of Spain, only about 12,000 ever saw their native land again, and these were so worn out by hunger and sickness, that few were ever afterwards like the same men. The news of the defeat of the Armada was received with rapturous joy by the people, and on the day after, thanksgivings were offered to God for this country's deliverance. Dr. m-merson proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Firth for his eloquent and interesting lecture.

Mr. Ewing seconded the motion and expressed his belief that there was as much disposition to protect every inch of our soil at the present time as there was in the 18th century. Mr. Malta -and Mr. Chambers supported the vote, which was carried with acclamation.

The lecturer having briefly replied, the Chairman annouced that at the next (the final meeting for the present season) Mr. George Stevenson would del iver an address on The Free Library," and the proceedings were then brought to a close. THE TICHBORNE TRIAL. Monday was the ninetieth day of the Tichborne trial. The Attorney-General, in continuing his speech, resumed his summary of the evidence taken before the Chilian Commission, and showed by a comparison of dates end-documents that Roger had never been to Melipilla.

The claimant's story respecting the Melipilla visit waa not a true one. The learned counsel then went on to speak of the wreck of the Bella, examining in detail the piaintifPs accounts of the loss of the ship and his rescue by the Osprey, and characterizing many of them as absurd. Where, he asked, were the survivors of the Bella? This case has now been published for many months all over the world; and it waa past belief that all these persons could have vanished into space, or, if living, that they must have heard something of the case. They knew that in 1854 there was a custom-house, an emigration office, and many newspapers, sad yet from none of these sources could any reference be obtained of the saved crew. This feature of the case occupied the day, and when the Court rose it waa arranged, at the request of the Attorney-General, that, should he not have finished his speech on Thursday, an adjournment should take place from that day until the Monday following.

Continuing his speech on Tuesday, the Attorney-General dealt at length with the evidence as it affected the claimant's rescue from the wreck of the Bella, submitting to the jury that fraud and falsehood were stamped upon every part of the plaintiffs story. He next came to-the testimony given before tin Australian commission, which, he contended, amply demonstrated the fraudulent nature of the claim. It the plaintiff was recognised in Australia or Tasmania earlier than April, 1854, then undoubtedly he could not be Soger Tichborne, whoever else he might be, because Roger did not leave South America until April 1854. It would be shown by evidence that the claimant waa in Australia long before 1854. No doubt many of the witnesses would say that he then bore tiie name ef Arthur Orton, but he should put the witnesses forward simply to show that he was net Tichborne.

Ho undertook further to show that the plaintiff never called himself Castro until 1869. The learned counsel compared the wanderings oi the plaintiff with those ef Arthur Orton, remarking that when Castro appeared Orton disappeared. So no one person ever saw the two if two-there were together. The Attorney-General continued his speech on Wednesday, which was confined to the analysis of the evidence taken before the Australian Commission. In answer to question by bis lordship ss to the further probable length of the address, the learned counsel stated that after ho bad summarised the testimony of the Australian witnesses, he must open so much as he thought material of the Arthur Orton case.

Beyond this he bad to deal with tho question of handwriting and the story of the sealed, packet," and after that he must make some general observations, and then resume the course of the esse by calling evidence. With this work the time occupied must be more than tho two days which remained to this week. Ykltkxton p. tub Mabqtjxb or Anglesey. JChanoeBora Court yesterday (Friday) before Sir J.

Wkkesa, the ease of Yelverton e. the Marquis of Anglesey waa heard. The plaintiff brought this actios aa the executor of the late Marquis of Hsattngj to recover the sum of 500, alleged to have been lent to the defendant by the Marquis of Hastings in his lifetime. Sir John nsralake, Q.C., and Mr. Lanyon were for the plaintiff; Mr.

answers to them. The sole noint in dispute waa whether the 500 was received by the defendant as a loan or ss am absolute gift which was not to be repaid. No witnesses were called on behalf of the plaintiff, the mterrogatories X. .1 nn Kia vtaw 11... mug put awarpaa as uw uiuj iw" circumstances cr which the 500 was received by the circumstances cr wnicn mo iwi uy ui defendant were detailed in one of his answers to tho interrogatories, of which the fallowing is the substance in We year ltnto we mm maw uuuam-roont at Ttr.int.

with the, late Maruuia of Hastinm. amt In the year 1866 the defendant was the buhard-room at him to lend him 8,000. The Marquis replied that hia racing expenses were so heavy that he could not, but that would give him 500 if it waa of any use to him Thn defendant replied that it would be very useful, and th Marquis then said he would write to hia solicitor laV Blake, and ask him il he could place 500 to the daVw' ant's account at Cox's. The defendant told the MaroniTe Hastings that he was very much pressed for bomv7v had become security for a mutual friend ilnt.rJ sTi i hia inoome would remain small until father, the then Manmi. death of bis thanked the Marquis for hiaS defendant baXs, the Maputo Symgh? 3 hia not do more for hi nriT 255 aorry he ConlH that there waa never any writosVa St 5 showed 500 having been paid to theSLW ledgmant oi consideration itl efendant, nor weather.

ef the defcauw vaMaieton submitted jury, but the learned Judwav- go to tho defendant's evidence wsstTST Jon. Tho tained hia answerstotaJ aa that eon-statement that when the additional the MarquTofH.80 Mr. Justice Qnahi.lL'.'T1 rt present. 2 heWthKl 9Wr defendants tho the defendant. ihe.iury found a vorshct for xxauuiestoa, i.u., and Mr.

lnesiger lor tne aeieuuau. The plaintiff's case turned entirely upon the mterrogatories Church. Theaoggestioc was thrown out as a suggestion only. Subsequent reflection has lea mo to think that in practice it might be attended by inssnerahle difficulties. But, certainly, in making it, the fatal thought in my mind was that of diverting ecclesiastical editc from the religions was to which they are now devoted.

I think I may fairly claim to have eipresssd ay views on this subject during something upwards of 30 years, often and with distinctness enough to have shielded me from being charged with originating such an absurd proposal as that described as mine by the writer in the Leicester Journal I never in my life contemplated, even as a remote possibility, detaching from the Church of England, as such, any of the churches built, or any of the endowments given, out of private resources, since the period of the Toleration Act. I have again and again, bath on the platform and in the press, explained that, in my view of what is equitable, these modern buildings and endowments belong of right to the Church of England, and ought not to be separated from it With regard to ancient parish churches, I think, and have always thought, that they are truly national property, and may be dealt with by the Legislature as such bnt I have uniformly eon-tended for a generous and indulgent consideration of the congregations who have worshipped therein. Bat I have never desired that they should be alienated from religious uses or from the performance of Divine worship. Whatever representations, therefore, have been made to a contrary effect, may be taken as essentially untrue. I avail myself of this opportunity to state to the public as explicitly as possible that the proposal" attributed to me by the Leicester Journal in reference to the future use of church buildings under disestablishment, is not, never has been, and is never likely to be, mine, or in accordance with my views or wishes.

I am, Sir, yours, Edwasd Miale. THE NINE HOURS' MOVEMENT. to the snrroB or the chbonicle and hkkouby. Sir, A paragraph appeared in your paper last week, stating that the Master Dyers bad refused the nine hours' movement to their workmen. That such is not the case will be manifest to every one from the following resolution passed at a meeting of the masters on the 3rd of February, fifteen masters being present Moved by Mr.

A. Haw-ley, seconded by Mr. H. Joy nes, that the 54 hours per week be conceded to the men. Carried Trusting that in justice to the masters you will insert this, I remain, yours respectfully, C.

H. P. Bawkabt, Secretary to the Master Trimmers and Dyers' Association. February 14th, 1872. THE WILLOW BROOK.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE CKBOKICLB AND KBBCUBT. Sir, Will you allow me, through the medium of your columns, to call attention to a public nuisance, the Willow Brook I think it is time there was a bridge over this water, for it is dangerous as well as being a nuisance. Oh Tuesday evening last there was deposited in the brook by some person, a tub of sprats in a state of decomposition, the effluvium from which pervaded the whole neighbourhood to such an extent that people could not remain in their houses There need be no wonder that fevers rage in this locality, while such nuisances as this are allowed to exist. Had any one gone through the brook with a conveyance in the dark, serious, if not fatal, accident might have resulted, as the tub was left in the centre of the brook. I hope this may meet the eye of the Councillors for Middle Margaret's Ward, and cause them to use their influence towards erecting a bridge over the Brook, which would prevent these nuisances being deposited there, and greatly conduce to the public health ana safety.

I am, Sir, yours respectfully, Enwnt TcBKEB. 128, Syston-street, Leicester. SMALL-POX. TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHBOXXCU AJTO Sir, Having observed the gradual increase of small-pox in our town during the past few weeks. I have been anxiously waiting in the expectation of seeing some account from the officials of our noted Small-pox Hospital, concerning the admissions, discharges, and deaths of those persons who, suffering from the disease, were admitted into the above place, so that the public might not be kept in the dark respecting the true state of this disease, and the excitement be allayed consequent upon the imperfect knowledge as to its prevalence in this town as at page in your impression of last week, we are informed that the accommodation is insufficient for the number desirous of entering or being taken to the before-mentioned institution, and that two tents have been purchased to assist in the further accommodation.

Yet I can not find in any of our local papers any statement as to the admissions and deaths, consequently the public is kept in ignorance of the true state of affairs respecting the prevalence w. una uiacaee, nuu tuc uavue It is Uwaing 1U our midst. I think more good would accrue to the town if those in authority over us were to inform the public of the existence of a Small-pox Hospital, the means of obtaining admission, than by informing them that certain rooms are open on particular days, where they can be vaccinated and re-vaccinated free of expense; as the public are well aware of the inutility of vaccination, and are ashamed of medical men proposing it as a means of safety, knowing that if vaccination be their best remedy for curing small-pox, they are not fit to attend the sick, as it is a fact that it neither prevents nor mitigates the virulence of the attack, and the public do not believe in being compelled to have their children vaccinated, well knowing that it affords no protection, and that it oftentimes is a positive evil; it being the means whereby many skin diseases are introduced into the bodies of those hitherto clean and pure. Dr. Collins, in his little but valuable work entitled Have you been vaccinated states, on pages 13 and 14, that "five hundred thousand deaths occur annually ia England alone about one-half is occasioned by consumption, pneumonia, convulsions, and other strumous diseases, which are more or less, in his opinion, occasioned, or superadded by vaccination and ether exanthematous diseases.

Consumption, scrofula, and other blood diseases were comparatively unknown before small-pox and cow-pox inoculation were introduced'' And yet, in the face of all this, intelligent men are being incarcerated in our jails because they will not allow their children to be vaccinated; inasmuch as they think and believe it to be of no use in the prevention or mitigation 'of Small-pox. There is at this time in your town jail a man undergoing fourteen days' imprisonment sooner than have his child's arm cut, ana ne snows not won turust into ix is mgn time tnat all lawful means be adopted to procure the repeal of the compulsory part of the Vaccination Act; so that we may have Small-pox only to deal with, instead of Small-pox plus the effects of vaccination, which is more difficult to cure. It is to be hoped that the Allopathic medical practitioners of this town will at once rouse themselves and endeavour to make themselves equal to the task, so that they may regain the confidence of the public, which it is evident at this time they are losing. To accomplish this, they must pursue a more rational mode of treatment than the one at present used by them. They should remember that the public mind is as sensitive as theirs, and that ordering every poor patient to the hospital while the rich can stay at home, is hardly just the thing.

It shows one of two things, perhaps both that they do not care enough for the poor; or, 2, they have no faith in the efficacy of their medicine, and send them to the hospital so that they need not be further troubled with them. We hear the eld school of surgeons and apothecaries stating that vaccination is the only thing for smallpox, and yet I find the editor of the Lancet, for Feb. 3, 1872, states that "We are now passing through the severest smallpox epidemic that has been known in this country for at least thirty years probably for a period twice as long as that." What about compulsory vaccination after such an admission as this? And in the Lancet, for Jan. 6, 1872, there is the following Alarming prevalence of under which heading it states that, We are about to make a statement which, if it were not based upon stubborn, undeniable facto at this moment before us, we should certainly neither believe ourselves nor ask credence for in our pages, so lamentable is it and so discreditable to the intelligence of the people and rulers of this country. In the year 1870 there were registered in the seventeen principal cities and towns of England, 1259 deaths from smallpox; in the year just closed (1871) there have fallen victims to that disease in the same towns no less than 13,174 This ought to be sufficient to convince any unprejudiced mind that vaccination is a complete failure, and compulsory vaccination a wrong to society at huge.

Here is a statement that in the year 1870 there died only 1259 persons from small-pox, and the year following in the same towns there died 13,174 persons so that with extra vaccinations, instead of this disease being stamped out, it was ten times as total, mis cannot oe explained on the ground of the increase of the population, because the little ones are being hunted up as if they were the cause of all this mischief, and many of the poor little things injured and perhaps maimed for life, and yet there are to be found men who still say that vaccination is good. It is, doubtless, good for the doctor, but not fer the patient, as there is the fee for the vaccination, and there often folio wo the illness after the operation, so that it does them good both ways. I do not desire to be uncharitable, but each is the case as I have numbers come to my residence bringing their children, whoee health and appearance have been injured by vaccination, and the expressions of the parents are te the effect that their children were fine and healthy prior to being vaccinated, and they complain bitterly of being compelled to have them vaccinated. Small-pox has fer many years been the bugbear of the profession, they dread it with much the same fear and trembling as the timid traveller does when he sees the fang of the poisonous reptile, and is in danger of feeling the effects of it. They seem to have lost all control ana power over the disease, as well as confidence in themselves, while the remedies they use are utterly worthless in arresting its progress, and in their imbecility give up coping with it as being beyond their skill; hence, to arrest its dreadful ravages, inoculating by small-pox was the stamping-out process in the first instance that practice, however, failed, and new it is a crime by Act of Parliament to inoculate, but in its place we have the fashionable but dirty and abominable practice of Vaccination.

This miserable attempt to cure disease by artificial means was trumpeted forth to the world by the profession as the only sure mode of stamping out'the small-pox. Jenner and his followers promulgated the fallacy, and as time went on it was found that one stab in the arm of the innocent was nja umcint protection small-pox still reigned supreme, and the other arm must be stabbed also. Now, two, three, four, and five stabs are required to ensure success. This process, too, is a failure. Small-pox is still laughing at them and their puny efforts to stamp it out, and now we are having a more complete system of vaccination and re-vacci nation, with increased pains, suffering, and penalties.

Cannot the medical men see that the system of Jenner is an utter failure, that more disease and death is produced through its adoption than by small-pox in its natural form and with proper treatment. Hoping that this important subject will be taken up by abler hands, and apologizing for thus trespassing upon the space of your valuable paper, I yours respectfully, Wnxiajr. Lajcjh, M.D. COS). 16, New Bend-Street, Leicesterth Feb, 1872, to sjn kotos ot rmm tmmmmM asd ststruar.

Sir, During hat summer I used some dressings of ConayFluid in the urinals and drains at my piece in Hhmeroes-streot. The effect was magical, wherever it was used, all foul smells seemed to vanish instantly, even tne very sear, ana hereby hangs a Some tm Mki since 1 saw a pb rune its ass fat the The writer said thatl so always earned about with him either "Coneys flaid or, when that failed him, an equivalent and cheaper nnally decimate the people of the country through which he travelled. The equivalent preparation was, I behove, obtained from parotide of manganese, which, property manipulated, would yield life-giving oaone in large quantities! Now, all who have played at being chemists, know that nothing is easier than to collect oxygen over a water bath, from peroxide of manganese in a retort, but that would not be the practical thing in want Can any of your chemist readers sell as or tell ua how to get an equivalent preparation which would meat our wants without bangs deaf as "Oondfe fluid." Tours truly, J. W. Smite.

Chapel Cottage, Blaby, Feb. 14, 1872. THE at.abama QUESTION PRECEDENTS. to ran snrron or ran CHSomcts ah msrcukt. Sir, If two nations have amicably settled a dozen questions upon which they have previously disagreed, may it not be expected that a thirteenth question would be settled by them in the same amicable manner.

England and the United States have amicably settled the following questions, all of which to a greater or less extent created fears of war between the two nations. 1. Compensation for refugee slaves (1) Washington in his messages to Congress complained that the British Government had not paid for the slaves who had become free by taking refuge under the British flag in the war of 1776. The British Government, however, said that the slaves did not belong to anybody, and declined to pay anything. (2) The stipulations of the treaty between the two nations after the war of 1812, were similar to those in the treaty after the war of 1776 in reference to refugee slaves.

But persevering negotiations conducted by the United Btates at Washington, in the Chesapeake Bay, at Bermuda, and at St. Petersburg, in Russia, during twelve years, induced the British Government to pay to the United Btates more than the full market value of each slave that became free by taking refuge under the British flag during the war of 1812. (3) The brig "Creole containing a cargo of staves, was sailing on the ocean from one stave state to another. The slaves obtained the mastery of the vessel, reached the British West Indies, and went free. Daniel Webster, then Secretary of State, virtually threatened England with war if the slaves were not paid for; but no compensation was made.

(4) Forty thousand refugee staves were living in Canada. When the Ashburton Treaty was made, the slaveholders pot strong pressure upon the Federal Government requiring the staves to be sent back. But the treaty gave them full protection in their adopted home. (5) Missouri demanded that Anderson, a slave, charged with killing his master to make bis escape, should be surrendered by the Canadian authorities. But a writ habeas corpus was taken out to bring him to England.

(6) By a law of South Carolina coloured sailors visiting the State were imprisoned, and unless certain expenses were paid by the captain of the vessel in which they came the coloured sailors were sold for staves. As the result of the efforts of the British Consul, the Government of the State promised to modify its laws. 2. Boundary Lines. (1).

For many years there was a dispute between the two Governments respecting the boundary line between the State of Maine and the British possessions. The Maine troops were called out, and, I think blood was shed. The case was settled by the Ashburton Treaty. (2) There were many fears that the dispute respecting the North Western' boundary, between the United States territory and the British possession would lead to war. The election cry for the President was Fifty-four forty, or The Americans accepted forty-nine de- 5 roes of latitude and peace, lowering their claim by five egress.

(3) Cutting out a vessel. When Van Bnren was president an attempt was made to invade Canada. Some British troops crossed to the American side and cut out a vessel used by the invaders, and seat it over the Falls of Niagara. There were rumours of war, ending in an amicable settlement. (4) The Right of Search.

(1). For half a century the "right of search" was a disputed question between the two nations. It caused the war of 1812, but no reference was made to it at its close in the treaty of peace. It was sealed forty years afterwards, during the administration of President Lincoln. (2).

-Some British men-of-war, stationed near Cuba, to prevent the importation of slaves, searched some American vessels, suspected of being slavers. Loud and bitter complaints were made in the American newspapers, but the case was amicably settled. (5.) The Trent, An American officer took from the Trent, Mason and Blidell, two slaveholders, who were sent out by the Confederacy to represent it in England and France. The law officers of the Crown took a long time to ascertain whether the act was justifiable, and I think first decided that he could have taken the vessel, but ought not te have taken the men out of the vessel; and then that the vessel sailing from and to a neutral port could not be touched. Preparations were made for war.

A million pounds were spent, which had there been an Atlantic cable, would have been saved, ss the Americans had resolved to give up the men. They were given up. So the two nations were saved from war. I will add in closing, that' in the Southern States there is a large portion of the white population who are sorry that the Confederacy was a failure but are not sorry that they rebelled. They would be a mill-stone round the neck of the Federal Government should it make any hostile movement against England.

Tours obediently, Thm "Parana Dicks of Dam." Cook's Temperance Hotel, Leicester, Feb. 12, 1872. BIT BY BIT LEGISLATION. to ran snrron or ran OHsonrenn asd msbotbt. Sir, I am thankful to say that one of the great objects of my life, as act forth in my Congress paper and pamphlet, is accomplished, the plating of all brick ana tile yards under Government inspection.

The other object remains to be achieved, which is, the consolidation of between 30 and 40 Factory and Workshops Acts that hare been passed during the last 40 years, and their being placed open a sound basis; and it is with this view that I ask you to be good enough to allow me, through your' columns, to present this subject for the earnest and practical consideration of Parliament. for one, think land there are thousands' besides who agree with me), that it is high time that this important question should be dealt with in a thoroughly practical and business like manner. From 1833 down to' the present time, ssarcely a session has passed without some portion of its time being taken up with legislation in connection, with those Acts, and still it cannot be said that they work satisfactorily. In consequence of so many alterations in those Acts from time to time, and ton wilful and open violation of some of them, it is almost imnoseibU to know where we are in factory legislation, and under which Act an establishment is placed, if placed at all. I cannot, for the life of me, see what could be the reason for putting two concerns, each doing exactly the same kind of work, under different acts; excepting the fact that in one there are 49 and in the other 50 hands employed.

To my mind the only way out of thw difficulty is for the Government to appoint a commission to take into its cen-tideration the question of the employment of female labour, and the whole of these Acts, with a view to thoroughly revising all previous enactments touching these questions. My own view, after many years' practical knowledge, are briefly stated in my congress paper, viz all light ana fancy cranes unoer we r-uewry at inspected by the present staff of inspectors, and all the heavier and dirtier kinds of work under the Workshops Act to be insnected bv thoroughly practical and business like men. It is unreasonable to suppose that the present staff of inspectors (many of whom have been trained for professions) can step out of a silk factory, with their kid gloves and patent leather boots, into a brickyard, where it ia mm time to tha kneeein mud and clay. What I want to see is the Act properly carried out, and not this branch of the civil service a 6 Cave of Adnltem and all the Factory Acts of past years on their way to we dogs, and becoming" dead letters," which, to all appearance. win be we ease unless we noma escrowy Shaftesbury baste to the rescue." I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, Gnoson Smith.

Spring Cottage, Coalville, FebTlO, 1872. CHURCH AND STATE. We have been requested to publish the following cor-sespondenee addressed to the Leicester Chronicle: "To the Editor of the Leicester Chronide." "Sir, In your paper, dated January 27, you have thought proper to state that I spoke nonsense when accusing the Liberation Society of uncharitable and unchristian remarks against the Church ot England. On reading the leading article in your paper in the middle of the oDowing week, I immediately put myself in communication with a friend, who has kindly procured for me the following extracts, which I regret did not eome to hand in time for an earlier insertion iu the Leicester papers. I leave the puhhe to judge whether it is I who spoke nonsense or the authors that I have quoted.

I am, 8ir, yours respectfully, i C. BaooK." Mr. Spurgeon at the annual meeting of the liberation Society, in London, May 2nd, 1866, said "I am sorry that the Church of England is as good as she is I wish to God she were worse. I hope she will get worse from day to day till she stinks in the nostrils of men, and then we would stand eome chance of effecting her overthrow." In Mr. Miall's Nonconformist Sketch Book, page 27, he says The sacred mission of dissenting nunisters is to shatter the Established Church and give the dust of it to the four winds of heaven." The establishment, a life-destroying upas, deeply rooted in our soil, drinks up fresh vigour.

It sprouts again it puts forth fresh branches. The curse is going down to our posterity. An impious. pretence. A State Church I Have they never pondered upon tha practical meaning of that word? Have they never looked into the dark, polluted, inner chamber of which it was the door 7 Have they never caught a glimpse of the loathsome things that live, nay crawl, and gender there 7" Mr.

Miall's Sketch Book, p. 16. The Established Church ia mi abomination, to be swept away." Ibid p. M. The Established Church is an evil of frightful magnitude an evil affecting not the honour only, but the very ftonenddssotatiob.

Ibidp.VL "The Church of England is a great aristocratic i a-iWsTs. 84. The Enghah clergy are men who of necessity are hti mieal to all reform, abettors of every abase, united, organ-ised, and therefore formidable opponents of progressive improvements." Ibid p. 72. "They have been invariably the deadliest foes of liberty, civil and religions.

The education of the people owes nothing to them." 75. "An Established Church is built on the ruins of mental freedom Ibid p. 107. The Church of England is an engine of Satan to delude and deceive the people." Christian's Fenny Meantime (edited by John Campbell, D.D., and issued by Congregational Union), for March, 1847, Then what says a tract Of the British Anti-State Church Association, No. 27, on Separation of Church and State," by Edward Miall? "We intend the resumption by the Legislature, for strictly secular purposes of all national property, now devoted to the maintenance of religion.

That Church property is national property is not my province to prove. I may take leave to proceed on the assumption tnat tff1" funds, which Parliament has uniformly dealt with without scruple, belong to the State, and are as fully in its power as are proceeds of taxation, Of all the property which can justly be accounted national, we seek the resumption of, for secular purposes, by the Legislature, in such manner as scrupulously to respect all life interests. We ask not that a single beneficed clergyman or cathedral functionary, or bishop, shall be deprived of one farthing of his income. That upon which he has entered, let him enjoy during the term of his natural fife. All we require is, that when the present incumbent shall depart this life, a successor shall not be appointed, and the funds until now devoted to clerical maintenance shall be sequestrated for the use of the civil government." A tract, "The Liberation Society and Church Property," Lectures by E.

Miall, at Broadmead-rooma, Bristol, February 8th and 10th, 1860, proteasing to give a calm statement of the object of the Liberation Society, states (p 21.) Our object goes to the extinction of a small part of this (Church) property, to the secularisation of a much larger part, ana to the placing of that portion which cannot be fitly secularised on a different basis I come now to the body of worshippers in each church. They hare no legal claim to anything, apart from the general body of parishioners, hut I think we are bound to recognise an equitable claim, wherever it may exist. In all cases I would give them the right of electing to be occupants at a rental to be fixed by the parishioners, but on condition that the rent should cover the average expense of reparation." He also says (Tract, No. 27) which is here There remain now- only the Church edifices to dispose of, and we shall have completed our teak. With the exception of the Cathedrals, which might, perhaps, be kept up, for other public purposes than ecclesiastical we think they might be fairly made over in perpetuity to the inhabitants of the parish in which each may be situate, to be sold, rented or given as the ratepayers may determine." Again, if I am asked (Lectures, p.

25) what is intended to do with the property thus resumed by the state and what are the secular uses to which it should he applied, the only fitting answer I can give is, that this is a question which the wisdom of Parliament must determine at the proper time. My own inclination would be, to make over to every pariah a fair proportion of the paroahtal endowments for the maintenance of the poor of the pariah. If a third were thus appropriated, the remaining two-thirds might be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners." LEICESTER WATERWORKS COMPANY. An ordinary half-yearly meeting of the Shareholders of the above Company, was held at the Company's Offices, in Bowling Green-street, ar noon, on Wednesday last, for the general purposes of the undertaking. The chair was occupied by E.

S. Ellis, Esq. There were also present, J. Stafford, Esq. (Mayor), B.

Harris, Esq. (deputy-chairman), Major Knight, and Messrs. G. Baines, J. Raines, S.

Viccars, W. H. Ellis, T. W. Hodges, T.

Holyland, E. Clephan, J. Goddard, C. Bowmar, W. W.

Stretton, H. S. Jones, W. E. Hutchinson, C.

Bold, J. S. Bold, Gray, After the advertisement convening the meeting had been read. The Sbcbztabt (Mr. J.

H. Williams) read the Directors' report, ss follows: Tour Directors have to report that during the half year tha gross reoelpts amount to .47849 11 6 From which deduct Working Kxpeases MX4SA 8 9 Bates 860 17 1 Interest 1382 4 6 8025 10 4 Leaving nett profit 4824 1 2 Apportioned as required by the Company's Acts To the Shareholders 4812 0 7 To the Local Board of Health 212 0 7 4824 1 2 From the Shareholder's proportion 4612 0 7 Deduct Inoome Tax 144 8 0 4467 17 1418 16 Add Balance from last year, and Interest thereon Win leave at the disposal of the Shareholders ..11886 18 10 From this amount the Directors recommend a dividend at the rata ot 5 per cent, per annnm for the half year (free from inoome tax), leaving a balance of 1286 13a. 10a. to be carried forward to the next account. The Shareholders will notice that 1005 has been laid out on the Old Works of the Company in extension of mains and pipes to provide for the supply of new districts of the town and that an additional expenditure of 8488 has been made upon the Bradgato Works during the half year.

On the 24th of last month, the two reservoirs were for the first time filled and overflowing. The Directors have the satisfaction of informing the Share-helaara that the Bradgato Works continue to stand the test of the pressors of the large bedy ef water impounded there in the most complete and satisfactory manner, and that generally the Works of the Company are in good repair, and are efficiently maintained. The Directors retiring on this occasion are Mr. E. 8.

Ellis, Mr. W. B. Hutchinson, Mr. Joseph Goddard, and Major Knight.

They are ell eligible for election. Mr. JT. H. Williams then read the statement of the Company's aceoanta.

The capital account shows that 1005 8s. 7d. has been expended on the Old Works daring the half year, ending the fist December, 1871, making a total of 107,227 18s.4d. Aleo that during the half year ending 81st December, 187L there has been expended on the New Works including 1800 engineering, 1962 18a. general works, 144 I9s.

3d. law charges, and 888 2s. 2L land and compensation 8486 19s. 5d. making the amount expended on new works, 18806 10s.

fid. The total amount expended on Old and Now Works thus amounts to 246,088 Ss. lOd. The balance on capital, including 8686 9a. on loan aceomnt, stands at 8039 8s.

8d. There-venae account shows receipts for the half year 7849 lis. and disbursements 8026 10s. 4d leaving a balance in hand of 4824 Is. 2d.

The Cbaiskan then said, turning to the Statement of the Capital Account, and it was also mentioned in the Directors' report, they would observe that the sura of 3,435 19s. 6d. had been laid cut during the half-year at the new works at Bradgato and he might state that there was still a further expenditure to be made, and that there Weresomeaccountsto.be paid for expenditure incurred. Some small further outlay was still required in tne erection of a cottage or cottages for the men connected with the works to reside in, and in a few other small matters, but the outlay was now rapidly drawing to a close. The balance to the debit of the capital account was 3,929, at least it was on the 31st December, when the account was made op.

That amount had been paid off out of a call due en the 1st' January last, so that they had now a balance in hand on that account. The whole issue of calls had been paid up with the exception of about 80, which would shortly be paid. It might be interesting to the shareholders to know that they would not require any farther calls during the present half-year. Then as regarded the revenue account, the working expenses were very much the same this half-year as hut. The only item which appeared to be increased was the amount of the law charges, which were 75 this half-year against 17 the last hall-year.

The increase arose from the necessity the Directors were under of issuing new regulations for the management of the supply water to the town, and those regulations had to be carefully considered from a legal point of view, and some extra law charges had been incurred in consequence. The interest on debentures was necessarily more than it was in the previous half-year, inasmuch as the money borrowed to meet the outlay of capital bad been larger, but the receipts showed a steady increase in the half-year and he might mention that the gross revenue in 1871 was 15,324 against 14209 in 1870, or. an increase of 1,055. When they considered the amount of misrepresentation and prejudice that was created, or was attempted to be created, against the Company's water, he thought the result must be on the whole satisfactory to the proprietors: and showed that the public generally did net participate in the belief, which was endeavoured to be spread, as to the badness of the water supplied by the Company. The increase of 1,000 was about the average rate, and it was still going on.

The proftt and lorn account showed that there was a small balance (after making a dividend to the shareholders) to be carried over to the Local Board of Health, of 212. The balance in hand would enable the shareholders as was stated in the report, to declare a dividend of 5 per cent, and to carry over a balance of 1286. They would observe that the outlay on the new works of the company amounted now to 138.800. Now, he thought it might be stated that that, outlay of capital was producing at present very little revenue. The whole burden of capital was resting on the revenue of the company.

The Bradgato works were now substantially completed, and they had works established, and nearly fully equipped, capable of supplying the town of Leicester at a time when it might contain almost double its present population without any extreme outlay of capital. He trusted the hare-holders would be satisfied with the result of their present position, and he was quite sure that it must become more and more satisfactory to them as years passed on. and the town ana the revenue increased. Perhaps he might be allowed to say, answer to an inquiry made two or three tiniss bj IfK Hoiyland, that the amount of bad debts written offforthe year 1870, on a revenue of 14,000. amounted to 35 16s.

74, so that they might take it that we amount that stood in the books wasT with a trifling KEfS: Heboid move that the report of the Directors, and the balance sheet of the company'5accounts, signed by the Chairman and confirmed the Auditors. jTti monrt PPrietors. teeonded the motion. He had only had a nhection with the company, but lmirable mannerin which tite company's works had been managed. He was sure ISfeWW todsbtsd to the Chairman of the Com renkfteOlf0the Chairman nk.

any 000 engineering. the company paid the awmmiggjoh on the amount exMndedin th2 construction of the works, atul time to time cerUJfi Tsuma of JL paid fro 1000 was on aetThfc SeSS Tfai" the works. wQon'of ooniimssion or constructing go on increasing as it did now. income would The motion was then carried Mr. R.

Hajuus then moved that a dividend of 5 per The CBMnaum stated that they had one ztill ut Tvftrform. oamorv, so ai Mmm. Wtmr directors retired as wwA uwl fc had nleaaure in nropoains the fc. Hutchinson. Bocondod and carried.

TnsQasrsjisnnrJFfSMSSd Qoddard as a director. He was sure they obliged to Mr. Qoddard for ins sssistssrs Mm '23 during the past year, with regard to testing the thTwater. To Mr. 'Gro and his analysed the water, ho and the directors generally, feh much obliged for the trouble they took the matter.

(Hear, heir.) Ha hoped they should tfU retain Mr. Goddard on the Board. Seconded and carried. The Chaqucak then proposed the re-election of Major Knight, who, be said, was one of the original proprisra. he having been on the Board from the nrss.

Seconded and carried. On the motion of Mr. B. Habbis, seconded by Mr. J.

Bajkbs, the Chairman (Mr. E. S. Bibs) was re sleeted a director of the Board. Mr.

J. S. Bold moved, and Mr. Gbat seconded, tie reelection of the retiring auditor, Mr. J.

D. Hams, 1LF. proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the Directors, and the Auditors of the Company, for their efficient services during the pent je. They had all heard the report that morning with satisfaction fact, he thought it was one of the moat satisfactwy reports they had had since the company was established. oc-conded by Mr.

Jonns, and carried. The Chairman having briefly replied on behalf of nun-self, the Directors, and the Auditors of the Company, the meeting terminated. LEICESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The following report, ordered by quarterly meeting, December, 1871, has been issued by the Dtoeetors: The attention of the Leicester Chamber of Commerce has been called to tha arbitrary exercise of the privileges conferred by the Legislature on the area railway companies; and the spproachLg Session of Parliament wBS probably see well-sustained attempts to In or seas the already overwhehntn aower in the hands of the Directors of the companies aUnded to, by extensive amalgamations with owe smeller, though still Important railways. The extent to which these arbitrary nmeeedings are now exercised is scarcely realised by the trading pablic, as it can be shown (vide Note A) te amount to a prohibitory duty to the introduction of minerals, into districts where tho inhabitants would gladly receive them to impediM importations into ports (NoteB), where sue posts are attested an-favonrahlr for the tranto of given railroads to carrying minerals and goods, at rates so various aa to be unfair te and manufacturers Inhabiting towns whom direct railway competition does set exist.

(Notes and C) to refusing facilities for travelling by third class trains to assssssisss inhabiting saea districts (Note D) to lowering rates for mineral traffic te obtain it from competing lines, and the consequent toss of large amounts eFreveaue, thoat beaeSttmgthe publio (Note K) and, in Sne, by adopting a PcUot ef ash toeb gresten mainly for ooamhaswg with other competing fines without snmeiimtry ffgQ ramtrtanemtm, convenience, or in-terse of the publio. These results, which are complained of ia every district of the country, the Directors of the Leicester Chamber of Commerce feel are the natural eeasegaenees of placing in-sumelontry restricted power In the hands of trading companies), and they (the Directors of the Iiotosstor Chamber of Commerce) propose that the various Chambers ot Commerce and Agriculture should be invited te communicate with the Members of Parliament for the various Counties ad Boroughs in which they are situated, as the agriculturist is equally concerned with the manufacturer to procure uniform and reliable rates for carriage ot msteriala and ps sewn gen and it is suggested that, in every district, ess ss should be made out, and sent to the Members ot Parliament, and Petitions, at the proper time, bo forwarded to the Legislature for interference to lessen the evils complained of. The following propositions are submitted for consideration, as an indication of what the Leicester Chamber of Commerce think might tend to improvement That no goods, minerals or merchandise, shall ho charged on any part or a railway line at a rase ssaoossns ny cent, tne lowest price barged on any ower part ex for we same description of frame. a. That no Railway Company be permitted to make an additional charge on any goods, minerals, or merchandise, brought from the line of another company, SXOSOSWg an amount equal to five miles lowest rate charged on any part of the first-named Railway for the transit of similar articles.

8 Bvery Passenger intending to travel in a train by which third-class passengers are allowed daring any portion of its journey, shall have a right to take a third-class ticket from and to any station at which the train in question stops. The above regulations would, there is reason to believe, very much lessen the evils complained of as the first would prevent the inordinate competition which lowers rates temporarily without benefitting the publio, and taxes the non-competing district to make up the less incurred by such inordinate competition; while the seeond would provide for the introduction of any desirable importation into a given district, without either unduly burdening the consumer, or taxing the importing railway without paying for the trouble and the third would tend to neutralise the injustice of charging rates for long distances at a smaller amount than for shorter journeys. These clauses are only given as approximations to what is required, the details would of coarse have to be carefully considered, and the railway interest is sufficiently strong in the House of Parliament to ensure a full discussion before any enactment would issue. The general and long-continued dissatisfaction with the Railway management ef traffic, and the absence of any definite propositions by way of remedy has induced the Leicester Chamber to endeavour to promote an inquiry by the business part of the community and they trust the importance of the subject will ensure its discussion, with a view to improve the present state of railway management. Note A The Midland Railway Company charge Is.

7d. per ton for taking coal from the London and North-Western Junction at Birmingham to Camp HUL a distance of 1 miles at the same time they are taking coal to the same place from Derbyshire, a distance of 60 miles, for SB. 9. per ton, or about id. per mile.

fi. The Midland Railway Company charge Ss. per ton for taking granite for the repair ef roads from Bar don Hill te Manchester, a distance of 88 miles. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company charge fer taking the same material forward. Manchester to Rochdale 13 miles 4s.

Od. per ten. Ditto te Littleboro .15 miles. lOd. Ditto to Todmorden.

.30 miles. lOd. Thus charging for 90 miles lOd. per ton more than the Midland charge for 88 miles. Note B.

The carriage of oilcake from Liverpool to Melton Mowbray is 12s. 6 per ton for 180 miles from Lynno to same place, 74 miles, the charge is 10s. 5d. From Lynne to Melton Mowbray, at same mileage as from Liverpool, the charge would be 7s. Id.

only. Again, from Hull to Leicester, the charge for oilcake is 12s. fid. per ten for 184 miles; while from Lynno to Leicester it is 12s. fid.

for 80 miles. If carried at the same rate aa from Hull it would be 8a. Sid. only. But a still more striking discrepancy is te be found in the following rates from Lynn, all of which, it must be observed, come through Lynn to Leicester 89 milee 13a.

fid. per ton. Ditto to Bushton 113 18s. 4d. Ditto to Kettering 116 13s.

fid. Ditto to Isham 1284 lis. 8d. Ditto 138 milee. Od.

Ditto to Bannds 180 miles 8s. Bd. Note The rate for coal from South Yorkshire to Leicester is so. 4d. per ton, and from same place to Wiaboach it is 8s.

fitL, being carried 68 miles farther far an increased oharge of 3d. per ton only. This coal would probably sail in Leicester, if carried at same mileage rate as to Wisbeaeh. The price per ton charged for leather (which is extensively manufactured in Leicester into boots and shoes) by Midland Railway is, from London to Leicester: Undressed leather, 25s. per ton dressed leather.

80s. while, from London to Bristol, eta Birmingham (more than twice this distance), the prices are by same company: Undressed leather, 37a fid. per ton; dressed leather, 85s. per ton. A similar difference, though to a less extent, exists in the carriage of wool, which is, from London to Leicester, by Midland Railway, 35a.

while for double tha distance, by same company, or from London to Leeds, the price is 87a 6a. The price from London to Liverpool tar wool, by London and North-Western Railway, is only 3bs, being double the distance of Leicester Note D. Two fast trains leave London (St. Peneras) every day at 8.45 ami. and 11.45 by which passengers booking for Leicester must pay at least IBs.

fid. fare as second class, white those hooking for Birntinguun travel in the same carriages for third class fare, and pay for the whole distance to Birmingham via Leicester 9s. 5a. only. This train also conveys third class passengers to Manchester via Leicester for 15s.

fid. A fast train leaves Leicester far London at L46 taking only first and second class passengers, faro for Utter 18s. fid. By this train passengers from Leeds, Bradford Sheffield, Wakefield, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Darby, Sodw-ean travel at Id. per mile, which from Leicester would be 8a.

04d. instead of fie. 6d. KntA E- Tha rmta far Smut OKI hIm rnni it shire, to London was 5a. 6d.

per ton, but during the Midland ana Qreat Nortoern ngbt, it was reduced to 3s. the uum jriuan oi cost ui unaltered. Tne price has since been advanced to 4s. 7d. per ton.

The above pnose are escimnve ei uny aues in every snsmnSS THE FRANCO-OEBMAN WAB. On Wednesday evening last, a lecture, entitle the Germans in France," was delivered at the Temperance Hall, in this town, by Mr. Archibald Forbes, War Correspondent to the Daily News. The Mayor (J. Stafford, Esq.) presided, and there were also on the ntfnrm i7 addition to the lecturer, the Bars.

Dr. Dickson, B. Marie A. A. Isaacs, and J.

Ker, Aldermen Q. Baines, and oieTWHon, ouncmoru. Auaeraoa. There was hut a limited attendance. The Mayor having briefly introduced the lecturer to We meeting, he (Mr.

Forbes) proceeded to describe what should be included in the outfitf war correspondent, and said ho was ready for his journey three hours after he received his order. HavSTtha choice ss to which side ho would join in the warTand to which point he would make for, ho want to Saarbruck direct, having some knowledge of German military organization. There was, of couree, paiamasion to be obtained uiuappty io Deoenied; but atthe outset, he founwakpeinihwon to accompany 5e Trin.Ce hfd been gentlemen of aU eZLZZ wrzsrismwjrmm Mr. UD news, ana nr. Landells.

of the mustrated London ews, while only Mr. HamS of toe Sew York Tribune, bad a head-quarter permSn to act company the advance of the King. But men who had never been near Berlin had seen a battle or two before the ETSsS iuerea the Berlin circum "5 Awer a mgntts rather "auumwii, consequence of going beyond the boundary, covered by the pass he heW, hsreceived, on apphcatmn, a royal permission to accompany the troops. The lecturer then proceeded to deacrible the Comedyof Saarbruck," as the Germans termed it, but which he cut a comedy, and so he believed the Germans would have found it had the French been as ready for action, as the braggart, Le Beeuf had claimed they wetf. He then gave a narrative of the Battle of Spicheren, where the Germane won so difficult a victory, and would have been defeated bad the French been ghosts of their former selves.

He next related how Dr. Russell paid 75 for a horse, which took the rheumatism, and was afterwaads purchased by him (the lecturer) for 25, the Times thus losing 50; the Daily News, however alsosuflered, for tbeboree broke its knee, and was sold for 3 10s. He (Mr. Forbes) subsequently purchased another horse, which was the first to enter Paris after the capitulation. He then spoke of the engagement at Vienville, the heaviest day's fighting in all the war.

It was pretty certain that the Germans did not intend fighting the battle that should intercept Basaine until the following day the 17th August; but Baasine was out of Metz, with his foreposte in Mars-la-Tour, en the 15th, and when Rheinhaben cavalry came trotting on to the plateau, the imminence of the crisis was grasped in a moment, and word was sent hack to Alvesleben that brought him up at all the speed he could The lecturer graphically narrated the manner in which a single German army corps withstood all the French stated in the re- in which public questions, or proposition psblic nature, are We give "both therefore we cannot discussed temperately and idea" in all such eaaea. cannot be held roapontfhlelor any Made by oar correspondents. We reqniro ai real nsn-rr at tir hi furnish II so ss in confidence. Bejeeted oonunnnieationa be returned, nor do we undertake to siiniifv 'acceptance or rejection of any, in any other way tana by a notification under the Notices to Corre-pondeatB. All letters to be addressed to the Editor cf the Chroniclt and Mercury, Leicester.

DISESTABLISHMENT IN REGARD TO CHURCH EDIFICES. TO THE EDITOR OP THE HOXOOHTOEKIBT. Bir, I am quite aware that, in throwing the follow ing obeerrationa into the form of a letter to the Editor, and in substituting the personal for the impersonal style, I am deviating from a convenient and established custom of journalism, But not unnecessarily, I flunk. I wish to attach whatever personal authority and re-aponsibility I have to the subjoined statements of my intentions, views, and utterances, on a question on which they have been widely, and, as it appears te we, systematically misrepresented for some months part, What that question is will be best gathered from the following letter Sir, Is it true that the advocates of the separation of the Church from the State propose to take away from the anembers of the Establishment, and apply to secular purposes, the ancient parish churches and the modern churches erected and in course of erection As you are ware, these fabrics have had lavished upon them by Churchmen, within the last thirty years especially immense sums of money. A friend of mine, an admirer Of Gothic architecture, has bestowed at Least 3000 upon the repair and restoration of a very interesting parish church -within the last thirty jean.

He said to me the other day, Mr. Miall proposes to take this fabric away from us, I infer from his speeches." Another church, standing in the centre of the town of Leicester, has been repaired, Metered, and rebuilt in parts, on various occasions (as a former churchwarden once told me) at an outlay which would have sufficed to erect a cathedral. This, too, we are told, Mr. Miall and his party Would wrest from the hands of the Church-people, in order to hand it over to the miscellaneous public for secular purposes. Again, on the outskirts of the town stands a stately structure, erected at the sole cost of a wealthy country gentleman and his sister, an amiable and pious lady, much respected for her lifelong benevolence it is is said Mr.

Miall proposes that this church also shall be taken away from the Church of England, and handed over to the general public, to be awed for some moral or social purpose, instead of being reserved for the worship of Almighty God therein. These awe the statements of Mr. Miall's opponents, upon the dis-- semination of whish the enemies of religious equality rely te rouse the people to antagonism to that great principle. I leave them te Mr. Miall's consideration and treatment, and remain, Sir, Yours truly, A Nonconformist, Leicester, Feb.

5, 1872. A leading article, cut out of the Leicester Journal of Feb. 2, was enclosed in the the above letter. It is headed, Mr. Miall's defenders in trouble," and its ostensible purpose is to criticise certain comments of the Leicester Chronicle and the Free Prett, upon a lecture in defence of the National Church of England, delivered by Mr.

Harper in the Temperance Hall, Leicester, a few days before. I have no means of aecorUiniiig, at the present moment, what this gentleman said, nor is it of the slightest importance, as far ma my immediate purpose is concerned. I need only remark that the Leicester Chronicle, in explaining with substantial accuracy the object of the Liberation Society, says, If, then, the Church of England were disendowed to-morrow, she would still retain her social Status, the attachment of her members, and her hold on the property which has been conveyed to her by private endowments since the Reformation." This statement, the article in the Leicester Journal contradicts, and bases his contradiction upon a speech of mine delivered at Leicester about twelve months go-That speech, Sir, has had an accidentally unfortunate treatment. After having done what little service to the cause of disestablishment it was intended to do, it was quietly consigned to the oblivion which, at any sate during the progress of the Parliamentary session, Usually awaits provincial proceedings. It was disinterred, however, by the Rev.

Geo. enables, of Lei-coster, at the Nottingham Church Congress last autumn Kir, perhaps I should rather Bay, a supposed fragment of it, so altered that I could not recognise it, was presented to that assembly, as furnishing to constructive minds, like his own, a guide to the whole system of which it was taken to be a part. The Nottingham papers, which more than one of the London papers copied, so reported the speech of this rev. gentleman at the Congress, as to make him attribute to me a pro- C'tion to convert all church edifices into musics'' or dancing-saloons." It was to very little purpose that I extracted from him by subsequent correspondence an admission that the words were not mine, but his own interpretation of the meaning they included they were adopted as mine by not a few Church Defence lecturers, and letters from all parts of the country poured in upon me inquiring whether, in form or in substance, they had been rightly attributed to me. I collect from the article in the Leicester Journal which, in prolixity of style, and imaginativeness in constructing for his opponent a case which is to be triumphantly refuted, marvellously resembles the written productions of Mr.

Venables that Mr. Harper, in his lectures at Leicester, advanced much the same charge against me namely, that I insist upon diverting the churches of England to moral, social, and refining purposes only henceforth and for ever excluding existing ecclesiastical edifices, by law, from being used for purposes of religious worship." This, the article says, is part of my programme," my proposals," my plan," openly enunciated from the platform of the Temperance Hall," the meaning of which I made clear and unmistakeable." His proposal is that after the Church has been disestablished the inhabitants of each pariah should meet for the purpose of deciding to what moral, social, or refining' purpose the church building (say the fine old parish church of St. Martin's, Leicester) shall be applied. Mr. Miall's proposal, which is to be made part and parcel of tiie statute law of the land, is, that under no circumstances whatever shall the ecclesiastical buildings of the Church of England be used for the purposes of religious worship, it the inhabitants of a parish cannot agree upon any moral, WOeial.

Ar rafininr nnnviaA tr wliili fn ik. church, the only alternative will be to put the building up to public auction, and to knock it down in one or more lots to the highest bidder to do anything he pleases with it, save and except using- it for the purposes of religious worship the produce of such sale to form a parish fund, the application of which would still have to be applied to seme (moral, social, or refining purpose which the inhabitants of the parish may afterwards resolve upon. If the Churchmen of any parish, desirous of saving their parish church from desecration, actually purchased their own church by public auction out of their own private resources (and of course they would only do so for the purpose of continuing to use the building for the religious uses to which it had been dedicated), Mr. Miall and his act of disendowment would interpose between them and any That shall not be done. You may have the most tender and conscientious belief that it is a sacrilege and a sin that a building solemnly dedicated to the service of God should be used for secular, or what I term refining1 purposes; you may have the most cherished religious associations cennecied with your parish church you may be willing to pay the full market value of the building eonaidered as a building nay more, for the privilege of retaining to its proper uses the Church in which you and your forefathers have worshipped God for generations, out in me name oi religious equality i eject yeu by law go you.

and build your church elsewhere wherever vou can find a spot for your purpose this building shall never again ecno tne services ot the Church of England which I abhor its associations are too dangerous they conflict with my policy towards the Church of England, which is uiMCMiisnroeni, uisenuowment, ana, possible, irremediable destruction Now, Sir, I need hardly say thai all this is pure imagination a bubble blown by the passion of the writer from the smallest atom of soapsuds that oonld well be converted to such a use. The narrow foundation for this supposed plan of mine for dealing with Church edifices in any act of disestablishment and die-endowment, is to be found in the following extract from my speech at Leicester, as reported in the Leicester Chronicle at the time For his own part he spoke merely on his own personal responsibility, and not in the name of any society or asso ciation of men the mode in which he would propose to carry out the disendowment of the English Church would be this that every parish should retain the funds set apart by the State in that parish for ecclesiastical purposesnot retaining them for ecclesiastical purposes-after satisfying every vested interest that was associated with them, and should do with that fund that which the parish felt to be most necessary in order to develop its social welfare (hear, hear) separate it only from religious use an was done in the case of the Irish Church, and let each parish decide for itself to what other use it would pot its mm fund. (Hear, hear.) Give them the church building give them whatever property the Church had in her own right give them the tithe, give them the glebe let them be parish property, to be used for the moral advantage of the parish in all future time but not to be used in such a way as that one denomination of Christians should obtain the benefit of them, to the exclusion of others. (Loud cheers.) There was no mode in which that could be carried out except by excluding religion altogether as an object on which such moneys should be expended, and he felt perfectly convinced that the five or six millions a year now devoted te what might be called sectarian purposes, might be devoted te moral and social purposes in each of their villages with very great effect, and with beneficial results to the inhabitants." There is some ambiguity in this passage, I grant, arising out of the linking together of churches and the productive property attached to them, as if they had been susceptible of the same treatment. What I meant was, that the ecclesiastical property lying within the parish should become vested in the parish, so far as it was national, for non-ecclesiastical purposes.

Anybody intelligently cou suiting the context will see that the restriction of sucu property to non-religious uses applied only to funds, money," and annual income jpowirg out of what may be culled the estates of the.