Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

GERMAN UNIVERSITIES.

The number of these institutions are nineteen, two only of which, those of Berlin and Boun were founded in the present century; there were three established in the 14th century-Heidleburg, Prague, and Vienna; six in the next century, two in that which succeeded, and three each in the 17th and 18th centuries. The earliest founded was of the Protestant religion, the last for both Protestants and Catholics. Of the whole number there are eleven Pretestant, five Catholic, and three mixed. The greatest number of professors is at Vienna, where there are seventy-nine; the least at Erlangen and Kiel, each having twenty nine. The greatest attendants of students is at Vienna and at Berlin, nearly 2000 at each; the least at Bostock, 110-the number of professors at which are thirty-four, very nearly one master to three students; and at Kiel-where there are twenty-nine professors and only 130 students. The Universities next best attended by students to those named, as having the greatest number, are Prague, Leipsic, Breslau, Halle, and Heidleburg, each of which has more than a thousand students.

MORTALITY.

The number of births is larger than that of deaths in the proportion of 24 to 20. Even when epedemics or other extraordinary causes render the number of deaths much larger than usual during the year, the births, in the following year, are inevitably more numerous in proportion. It is thus that the human race rather increases than decreases in number, and that at the same time each period of life contributes its proper proportion to the demands of the grave. Reflecting then, that the number of our years is written down even before our birth, we ought to be constantly prepared for our death, but never afraid of it. We cannot tell when the day of our death shall be, and that we cannot defer its approach becomes evident. It behoves, therefore, to be prepared for that which may come at less than an instant's warning, and to reconcile our minds to the endurance of that which sooner or later must be endured. Prince and peasant alike are borne to their last rest, and upon prince and peasant alike is the duty incumbent of so living that they may even at an instant's warning be prepared to die; and all should re-member, that even if they live to old age, their death is at at hand.

BAD NEWS FOR GAMBLING HOUSES.

The Bill for the entire suppression of gambling houses in Lousiana has passed the Legislature of that State and become a law. It was concurred in by the house of Representatives unanimously. The licensing system is abolished, and the penalties which the law inflicts on the owners and occupants of houses where gambling is permitted, are a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 dollars for the first offence, and 5,000 to 10,000 for the second, with confinement in the Penitentiary from one to five years, at the discretion of the judge. This is root and branch. Would our legislature pass such a bill as this? No; though they are the dupes.

PRESENTATION OF PLATE TO THE REV. B. GOODWIN.

We have pleasure in recording the presentation of a very elegant silver tea service to this Rev. Gentleman. The gift consists of a massive silver tea-pot, coffee-pot, cream jug, and sugar basin, of a modern pattern, beautifully chased; also an exceedingly neat and tasteful set of tea and coffee china, with necessary accompaniments, and two very elegant trays, forming a tout ensemble of the most elegant description. The rim of the tea-pot bears the following most appropriate inscription:-"This tea service is presented by the friends of the emancipated negro, to the Rev. Benjamin Goodwin, the enlightened advocate of truth and freedom, for his exertions in a cause so sacred to humanity and justice."

EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA.

The total number of emigrants who arrived at Quebec and Montreal last year, was 30,935 of whom 29,041 emigrated by means of their own resources, and 1894 by means of parochial aid; 6799 were from England, 19,545 from Ireland, and 4,591 from Scotland. In 1830, the total number of emigrants who arrived at those ports, was 28,000; in 1831, it was 50,254; in 1832, it was 51,748; and in 1833 it was 21,752. The number of emigrants who arrived at Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, &c. last year, was 339; 1833, 395; in 1832, 561; and 1830, 424. Of the emigrants who arrived at Quebec and Montreal, in 1834, 400 settled in Lower Canada, 22,210 in the Upper Province, 800 died of Cholera, 350 returned to Europe, and 3485 proceeded to the United States. The emigrants from the United Kingdom, who arrived at New York, amounted, in 1830, to 21,433; in 1831, to 22,607; in 1832, to 28,283; in 1833, to 16,000; and in 1834, to 26,540. Seventeen vessels, containing emigrants, and bound to Quebec, were wrecked last year, and 731 lives lost.

DECREASE OF DRUNKENNESS IN LONDON.

The friends of temperance will be happy to hear that the number of persons charged at the London police offices, with this crime, in 1834, was onethird less than that of the previous year, the decrease being above 10,000.

FACTORY FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

We think, that among all the regulations for the interest or comforts of the manufacturing population which have been lately introduced, none could be of greater moment to them than the establishment of Friendly Societies, connected with the several mills, to afford them relief in case of sickness or death. As the specimen of the good working of such associations, we mention, that in one mill in Aberdeen, in which there is such a society, the small trifle of one penny per week from members have been found more than sufficient for the purpose required. When sick a member receives 3s. 6d. per week. Two pounds are paid on the death of a female, and £2..10 on the death of a male. During the year they had given five guineas to the General Dispensary, and having a sum on hand, they have been enabled to dispense with the contributions of the members for the last six months. We hope and trust that every mill will soon possess such a society.

CHINESE CHRISTIANS.

A letter from a Prussian missionary, dated Singapore, May 30, 1834, states that there are about 3,000 Chinese at Kiow, and that 2,000 more come there every year regularly by sea. Whenever a Chinese receives a book from a

missionary he reads it entirely through, never returns it, and keeps it with the greatest care. Among the 10,000 Chinese living at Singapore, and the 3,000 at Kiow, the New Testament is more read than in any of the towns of Europe. ---Swabian Mercury.

EMIGRATION TO VAN DIEMAN'S LAND, AND WAGES, &c.

The number of persons who emigrated, during 1833, to Van Dieman's Land, was 2345, of whom 782 received assistance, for that purpose, from Government. The wages of labourers at Van Dieman's Land, were last year, 2s. 10d. per day, with board and lodging; those of tailors, 3s. 9d.; bricklayers, 5s. 6d.; blacksmiths, 5s. 2d.; carpenters, 5s. Od. or 6s. 6d.; without board: millwrights, 8s. per day; saddlers, 5s. 6d.; shoemakers, 4s. 3d.; and wheelwrights 7s. all without board. The annual wages, with board and lodging, of farm servants, were £35; of shepherds, £25; of gardeners, £40; of women cooks, £18; and of dairy women £30.

GAMING HOUSES.

St. James's Street may now be said to exhibit, from one end to the other, a series of dens of infamy, adapted to all ranks and ages, and it is quite notorious, that while the man of rank is staking his thousands on the west side of the street, his servants are following the disreputable calling on the east. For, besides the hells in Pickering Place, where recent experience has shown that life is not safe in that quarter, there is a succession of houses lighted up and open all night, to some of which houses, known thieves avowedly resort, and where Jew receivers attend to negociate for the purchase of past robberies and to assist in planning new ones. It is confidently alleged, that most of the recent large robberies which have been so frequent, have been, either at first or last, connected with the owners or proprietors of one or more of these places; and yet we have a police, old and new, and we have parish authorities who, instead of routing out these hells, may be said to connive at them.

MORALS OF THE METROPOLIS.

Several gentlemen at the East end of London are exerting themselves for the establishment of a society for the suppression of immorality throughout the Metropolis. It is well known that the infamous practice of trepanning young and unprotected females form no inconsiderable part of the means by which our gaols are filled, and the morals of the community corrupted. The object of this society, if established, will be to put an end to this terrible and systematic traffic, and by punishing the guilty, to strike at the cause of the

evil.

NEW CITY OF LONDON SCHOOL.

A school, to be called the City of London School, is about to be built on the site of the present Honey-Lane Market. The estimated expense of which is £11,500. It will accommodate 500 scholars; one room will be appropriated for prayer, public examinations, lectures, &c., and a sufficient number of rooms, will be built for classes, &c. The Corporation of London will endow the school with £900 a year, and it will receive the children of citizens at a very cheap rate. The proceeds of Carpenter's charity, now not applicable to the intention of the original founder, will be applied to this institution, and it is believed that, the funds left by Sir Thomas Gresham, for lectures in the room at the Royal Exchange, will also be made available to pay for lectures in the hall of the new school.

THE SILENT SYSTEM OF PRISON DISCIPLINE.

This system consists in compelling the prisoners to maintain a profound silence while performing their labours on the tread-mill: neither laugh nor joke may pass, on pain of solitary confinement and partial stoppage of provisions. In Cold Bath Fields prison, this plan has been the effect of reducing the number of prisoners from 1,300 to 800.

COLLEGE FOR LADIES.

The Kentucky Legislature has conferred upon Messrs. Van Dorens Institute for Young Ladies, in Lexington, the chartered rights and standing of a college, by the name of Van Doren's College for Young Ladies. By the power granted to the board of trustees and the faculty of the college, we understand from the Daily Reporter, that a diploma and the honorary degree of M.P.L. (Mistress of Polite Literature) will be conferred upon those young ladies who complete the prescribed course of studies, and that the same honour may be conferred upon other distinguished ladies in our country, and also that the honorary degree of M.M. (Mistress of Music), and M.I. (Mistress of Instruction) may be conferred by this college, upon suitable candidates. The Messrs. Van Dorens were formerly principals of the female institution in this town.

EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA, &c.

The number of emigrants to the Australian Colonies, in 1833, was 4093; and in 1834, 2800; to the Cape of Good Hope, in 1833, it was 517; and last year, 288. The total emigration from the United Kingdom, amounted, in 1833, to 62,527 persons; and in 1834, 76,222.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this Society was held on Tuesday, May 5, at Exeter-· Hall. The Earl of Chichester, who took the chair, shortly addressed the company. The Rev. Mr. Jowett, the Secretary, then read a long statement of the proceedings of the Committee, together with an account of the funds, and the success of the Society since last year. The funds for the year amounted to £62,582, including the magnificent legacy of £11,766, given by H. Cock, of Colchester. The increase since last year was £4,790, and of the whole sum £47,759 had been sent in by the different Associations spread over the country. The expenses of the year was £55,638; those of the preceding £48,622, being an increase of £7,016. It was gratifying to find that in almost every quarter, the labour of the Missionaries had been successful; and they would all be delighted to hear, that now that the great work of slave emancipation was accomplished, they were about to provide a separate fund for the religious education of the Negroes in the West Indies. (Cheers.) The Bishop of Chichester, in a neat speech, moved that the report be printed, which was seconded by the Bishop of Ohio. The Meeting was afterwards addressed by the Bishop of Lichfield, Mr. F. Buxton, the Earl of Galloway, the Marquis of Cholmondeley, &c. and then separated.

CHILDREN'S FRIEND SOCIETY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF JUVENILE

VAGRANCY.

On Saturday, May 2nd, the annual general meeting of the subscribers was held at Exeter-Hall, Earl Grosvenor in the chair. From the Report it appeared that there were 148 boys at Hackney-Wick, and 60 girls at Chiswick. Upwards of 800 have been received into the Institution since its formation428 have been apprenticed in the Cape of Good Hope-121 have returned to their friends-44 absconded-6 were expelled-the rest (208) still remain in the asylums. The parishes of St. George, and St. Giles, Bloomsbury; St. James, Westminster; St. Olave, Southwark; Allhallows, London Wall; and Chiswick and Tottenham, had sent 131 poor children into this institution. The receipts of the past year amounted to £4521..19..9, of which, after paying the current expenses, a balance of £500 remains in hand. Donations were announced from Sir R. Peel, Lord Lansdowne, J. Hardy, Esq. M.P., &c.

LABOURER'S FRIEND SOCIETY.

At the fourth annual meeting of this Society, holden at Exeter-Hall, on the 9th ult., The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells in the chair, the Rev. Mr. Eidlemann in seconding a vote of thanks to the Right Rev. Chairman, observed that at Wimbleton, in Surrey, which he had under his charge, they had 70 persons on 8 acres, and the effects of the system was highly beneficial; and in consequence the poor-rates of the parish, as given in the overseer's account, which he held in his hand, had been £500; but since the allotment system had commenced, the amount had fallen to below £300.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME

« AnteriorContinuar »