CHESHIRE.

The Beer Act.-The Chairman of the

Cheshire Quarterly Sessions, on charging the Grand Jury, directed their attention, inter alia, to the daily increasing evils of the Beer Bill-a bill which had been passed with a view to the benefiting of the lower orders, but which had been productive of much evil among them. In proof of this, be instanced as a fact within his own knowledge, that many of the farmers' servants who had gone into some of these houses at this season, with their year's wages in their pockets, came away plundered of every shilling, which was spent either in drinking or gambling. It was natural that such persons should resort to the commission of crime, to supply the means of indulging in the dissolute babits to which these beer-shops held out so strong a temptation. Various representations on the subject had been made (by the magistrates, as we understood) to his Majesty's Secretary of State, but still the evil not only remained unabated, but was absolutely on the increase. Now, it was the especial province and the duty of grand jurors to prevent all nuisances; and if any of those beer-houses in their neighbourhoods were, to their own knowledge, nuisances, they ought to present them as such to the Court, and that presentment would be turned into an indictment, on which the parties would be convicted and punished.

DEVONSHIRE.

The Rev, W. I. Coplestone, Vicar of St. Thomas, Exeter, regaled last week upwards of 120 children, belonging to the Sunday school of that parish, with most substantial fare. What remained after the

children had been feasted was distributed, by the excellent clergyman, among the aged poor of the parish.

The inhabitants of Plymouth presented the Rev. John Hatchard, Vicar of St. Andrews in that town (and son of Mr. Hatchard the bookseller in Piccadilly), with an elegant silver box, in testimony of their esteem for his benevolent and unwearied attention to the poor.

In the parish of Molland, the property of R. G. Throckmorton, Esq. M.P. for Berkshire, who is a large landowner in several other parishes in the northern division of this county, being the proprietor of above 12,000 acres, it has been his custom, as also that of his predecessor, Sir Charles Throckmorton, Bart., to allow the labourers and mechanics of the parish to inclose from one to two acres of land from Molland Moore, for which they pay a merely nominal rent only, and which, by proper cultivation, produces alternate crops of potatoes and corn, enabling the respective occupiers to feed one or two, and in many instances, three pigs; they are also allowed to take heath and turf at the expense only

of procuring it. By these advantages to the labourers, the poor-rates are extremely

low, as compared with the other parishes, thereby affording great relief to the nu merous tenantry, as well as affording com. fort and happiness to the labouring class. which are so strongly depicted in the cleanly and respectable appearance of themselves, their families, and their cottages. Mr. Throckmorton has also fitted up a large room as a Sunday and weekly school; and, besides being a liberal subscriber to the former, pays the whole expense of the latter.-Exeter Gazette.

DORSETSHIRE.

On Thursday, 17th Jan., the New Church of St. Paul, at Poole, Dorset, was consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Bristol. The prayers were read by the Rev. J. C. Parr, and the communion service by the bishop, assisted by the Rev. R. Fayle, rector of Wareham, who officiated as chaplain. The sermon was preached by the Rev. R. O. Wilson, the incumbent, from Isaiah lxvi. 1, 2. After the service, his Lordship, with about forty gentlemen, partook of an elegant collation at the residence of G. W. Ledgard, Esq., one of the patrons. This church has been built and endowed entirely by private subscription, under 1st and 2nd William IV.; it is a remarkably neat structure, and will accommodate between 700 and 800 persons, and is an important acquisition to this populous town, in which there previously existed only one church.

Christmas Gifts.-The worthy minister and the parishioners of Willingdale Doe, Willingale Spain, and Shellow Bowells, on Christmas-day, distributed 617 lbs. of meat to 617 persons in those parishes.

The Rev. Nathaniel Foster, on Christmas day, with the most charitable and kind regard to the comforts of the humbler orders, liberally contributed to their enjoyment, by distributing, in just proportions, a very fine bullock amongst the poor of East and West Mersea, to which he added one shilling each to many of the necessi

tous; and to others he sent useful supplies of soap, &c.

The prisoners of the borough jail beg leave to return their grateful thanks to the Rev. G. Holmes, of Copford Rectory, for a plentiful dinner on New-year's day.

During the last year, the Colchester and East Essex Auxiliary Bible Society received the sum of 1361. 19s. 3d.; the expenditure (including annuities) was 751. 7s. 10d. The sum of 1300l. was remitted to the parent institution, which is to return to the institution Bibles and Testaments to the amount of 3001.

The 16th Report of the Colchester and East Essex Association in aid of the Church

Missionary Society for Africa and the East, states that the receipts of the last year were 4691. 14s. 1d.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

In the parish of Berkeley, the system of receiving small weekly deposits from the poor, aided by voluntary subscriptions from ladies and gentlemen who patronise the charity, has answered beyond the expectations of the charitable individuals who first commenced it. 1587. have been expended in blankets, flannels, and various articles of clothing, this Christmas, and 375 poor people have been supplied with the articles they most needed. The greater portion of the money was from the poor themselves.

Amongst the items in the poor's cashbook of St. Peter's Hospital at Bristol is a sum of 1,300l. paid to the Steam-packet Company for transporting Irish vagrants during the past year.

The Noble Lords Fortescue and Harrowby, and also Sir Thomas Phillips, have appropriated many acres from their estates in Gloucestershire as garden-ground; and we understand that Lord Harrowby and the Rev. William Mould have, in their benevolence, very recently accommodated all the labouring poor in the parish of Willersey, Gloucestershire, with land for the same purpose, with the exception of those few who are of the parish of Broadway, whose wants Sir Thomas Phillips has kindly promised to supply.

The Bristol Clergy Society lately held its annual meeting at that city. The meeting was well attended. The sermon at the cathedral was preached by the Rev. Arthur Matthews, B.D. canon residentiary of Hereford. It is satisfactory to learn that the collections and subscriptions together amounted to 4271. 13s. Id.

We understand that the Bishop of Norwich has resigned the living of Sapperton, in this diocese, which his Lordship had held in commendam with his bishopric 28 years.-Gloucester Paper.

A subscription has commenced in Cheltenham for the relief of the Protestant clergy in the south of Ireland. The subscription already amounts to near 2001.

HAMPSHIRE.

Lymington Savings Bank.-The annual meeting of the trustees and managing committee of this institution was held on the 29th of December last. The number of the depositors and the amount of principal have increased during the last year, and thereby prove the great benefit derived from all such institutions. The number of depositors is 501, whose deposits amount in the total to 19,804l. 12s. 1d., viz., 106 depositors not exceeding 20l., 1672l. 4s. 7d.; 177 ditto, not exceeding 50l., 54717. 14s. 6d. ; 76 not exceeding 100!., 5060l. 15s. 9d. ; 29 not exceeding 150l., 33851. Os. 9d.; 19 not exceeding 200l., 31477. 1s. 11d.; and 4 exceeding 200l., 10671. 14s. 7d. There are likewise nine charitable societies, whose deposits in the total amount to 815l. 12s. 11d.; and 15 friendly societies, 2697 l. 14s. 1d. The total funds is 23,3177. 19s. 1d. The amount received of depositors, during the last year, ending the 20th November, was 32541. 5s. 6d., and the sum withdrawn was 34077. 1s. 4d.

The annual meeting of the trustees and managers of the Andover Savings Bank was held Dec. 22nd. The committee reported with satisfaction that the objects of the institution are rightly valued by the industrious and provident classes of society. The number of depositors were represented as increased since the last report, being now 393, and the deposits 11,637 4s. 1d., namely, 194 not exceeding 201., 1645l. 9s.; 123 not exceeding 50l., 39561. 13s.; 55 not exceeding 100., 37611. 13s.; 12 not exceeding 150l., 1512l. 10s. 6d. ; 9 charitable societies, 381l. 10s. 1d.; 5 friendly societies, 3791. 8s. 6d. ; funds invested in government security and in the treasurer's hands,11,7314.10s. 4d. Deposited during the last year, 30881. 10s.; withdrawn 2576l. 9s.

The Dean and Chapter of Winchester have distributed 1000 bushels of coals to the poor.

HEREFORDSHIRE.

We understand the intention of taking down St. Nicholas Church, in this city, and erecting a new edifice in a more convenient situation, is revived, and a committee of the parishioners is formed to make the necessary preliminary arrangements for the purpose, and obtain a site for the new building, which probably will be erected on a most convenient spot without Friars' Gate. As the present church requires very extensive repairs, it is thought the erection of a new one will be the most prudent and economical plan. -Hereford Journal.

At a vestry meeting of the united parishes of St. Peter's and St. Owen's, Hereford, resolutions were unanimously agreed to, expressive of the deep sorrow felt for the loss sustained in the death of the Rev. H. Gipps, and that a monument shall be erected in St. Peter's to perpetuate the

grateful respect entertained by the parishioners and other members of his congregation for the memory of the lamented deceased.

KENT.

Anti-tithe Meeting.-On Saturday the 5th inst., a meeting of the occupiers and owners of land in the parish of Ashurst, in this county, took place at the Bald-faced Stag, Ashurst, to petition both Houses of Parliament on the subject of tithes. At twelve o'clock, William Camfield, of Burrswood, Esq.,having been voted to the chair, opened the business of the day in a short address, and was followed by W. Saxby, Esq. of Ashurst Manor-house, who submitted a petition which was adopted, having for its object the affording to the petitioners such measures of relief with regard to the tithe system, as will place the landowners of England upon the same footing as those of Ireland. Two or three other individuals next addressed the meeting, which separated after a vote of thanks to the chairman.

From the Frant Clothing Society, during the past year, 217 poor persons have received relief.

Tunbridge Wells.-A very convenient spot of ground near to the Parade has been hired for a term of years by that spirited individual Mr. Maddock, of this place, for the purpose of erecting a permanent soup kitchen to supply the poor with soup during the winter, as last year. Preparations are making to complete the building as fast as possible.

The Rev. R. Warde, of Yalding, has distributed to the poor of Ditton, of which parish he is rector, 40 stone of meat, with a proportionate quantity of flour and potatoes.

The annual gift of the Rev. William Garnier, of Rookesbury, consisting of six sheep and sixty-four half-gallon loaves, was last week distributed amongst the poor of Wickham.

Canterbury.-A meeting of the clergy was held on Monday the 21st inst., to appoint Proctors in Convocation, when the Rev. Dr. Nares, and the Rev. W. F. Bayley, were unanimously chosen. The archdeacon having represented to the clergy there assembled the destitute condition of their brethren in Ireland, they expressed their deep concern in the calamities in which that branch of the national church has been involved; and it was unanimously resolved that the archdeacon be requested to call a meeting, when the proceedings now in progress in London shall be matured, and the intentions of government sufficiently known to enable the clergy of this diocese to co-operate effectually in measures of relief.

Fire at Boughton Church.-On Sunday night, the 30th Dec., about ten o'clock, a fire broke out in the church of Boughton Monchelsea, which nearly destroyed the

whole of that beautiful edifice. The accident originated in the circumstance of one of the flues connected with the stove communicating with some of the timbers on the top of the vestry, which, it is supposed, retained the fire in its soot from the time of Divine Service, and thus ignited the wood. The fire raged most furiously, in consequence of the scarcity of water, the engines never having more than ten minutes' supply, the only well in the vicinity being soon pumped dry. At about one, the roof having fallen in, the fire abated; and by the great exertions of the firemen, the chancels and tower, which had ignited, were saved. The elegant church of Boughton Monchelsea, dedicated to St. Peter, is described to be of the pointed or Gothic architecture, and consists of a nave and two side aisles, a low square tower in the centre, and two chancels, one of them a private chapel belonging to Mr. Rider; it is a very neat structure, and stands contiguous to Boughton-place, the seat of Thomas Rider, Esq., one of the members for West Kent, in a retired cemetery, surrounded by trees, and commanding an extensive and beautiful prospect of the Weald. The tablets and monumental inscriptions belonging to the Alchorn and Savage families, and several others in the nave, were totally destroyed. It was a lucky escape, however, for one Ricardus Alchorn (whose quaint epitaph we remember to have read on the entablature)

66

Qui, post varias in multis Europe, Asia, et Africæ regionibus peregrinationes, octo plusquam per annos longe à patria carisque penatibus, Praga, Bohemiæ Metropoliti, XVII. die Octobris, anno MDCCVII., ætatisque tricesimo octavo vita cedens sepultus requiescit;" thereby shewing that his bones are safer in the plains of Prague than in his family vault in Boughton. The ancestral monuments of Mr. Rider and his family, together with that of the Barnhams, Rushtons, Dacres, &c., received but slight injury; and the superb monument of Sir Christopher Powell, Bart., and the series of that family in the chancel, have been wholly preserved. The parish registers, which commenced in 1560, have escaped. -Maidstone Gazette.

LANCASHIRE.

A correspondent at Liverpool informs us that upwards of 20,000 emigrants have embarked at that port during the year 1832, of whom 15,754 proceeded direct to the United States.-Morning Herald.

Good Effects of New Churches.-The village of Lamberhead Green, near Wigan, has long been notorious for fighting, swearing, gaming, and sabbath-breaking; and I am sorry to say that many of the inhabitants never were in a place of worship, except on the occasion of some wedding. Those who were desirous of attending divine worship were annoyed by groups of

people collected together, making all the remarks possible; but, since the erection of the new church, the observance of the Lord's day has been very generally attended to. The minister, the Rev. J. Paley, who never ceases labouring to reform them who travels from door to door and house to house, inviting the inhabitants to attend divine worship, together with the exertions of the churchwardens and sidesmen, who patrol the streets, avenues, and resorting places for gamblers, compelling all dirty, filthy, and disorderly people to keep within the bounds of their own doors, or to go to some place of divine worship, has done much good. A Sunday school has been established, and several hundreds of children are now learning to read and know the word of God. I am sorry to say the present Sunday school will not hold more than half the children in attendance; and I do hope the benevolent public will assist the minister in raising a fund for building a school upon an enlarged scale.- Correspondent of the Manchester Courier.

Preston Temperance Society.-On Christmas day the members of this society, to the number of about 950, sat down to tea together in the large Cloth Hall, Exchange Buildings. The decorations were tasteful, the arrangements well conducted, and the company appeared to be highly delighted with the cups "that cheer but not inebriate." The admission was by ticket, for which sixpence was charged to members, and one shilling to the public. The teathings and preserves were furnished by a number of ladies, each of whom provided a service for ten persons, and served them with the tea. After tea three songs were sung, two of which, we understand, were composed for the occasion. The people then removed to the front rooms, the doors were thrown open, and a public meeting held, at which Mr. Grundy presided.The meeting was addressed by several reformed drunkards and others, on the evils of intemperance and the blessings of sobriety. The greatest harmony prevailed, and the whole affair seemed to give universal satisfaction-Preston Pilot.

LEICESTERSHIRE.

St. George's Church, Leicester.-On Sunday 30th ult.,two sermons were preached in the above church, and collections made toward defraying the expenses of an organ, lately erected. The Rev. A. Irvine, Vicar of St. Margaret, preached in the morning from Psalm cxlvii. The members of the Leicester Choral Society attended, and performed several pieces of sacred music. The Rev. T. Barnaby, of Misterton, preached in the afternoon, and the collections altogether amounted to about 401.

One of the most valuable pieces of preferment in England, connected with public education, is now in the gift of the Mayor

of Stamford. By the death of the Rev. R. Atlay, who had been for more than half a century the Head Master of the Grammar School of the town, that important office is vacant; the income of the master (from real estates) has for some time exceeded 600l. a year, and will be further considerably increased as leases expire.

MIDDLESEX.

Some new Schools were opened on Tuesday, 1st inst., at Kensington Gravel Pits, for the children of the poor, who abound there, and were very ill provided with the means of instruction. The expenses of fitting up the school rooms have been and will be defrayed by Lady Mary Fox, Lady E. Whitbread, Lady Holland, the Hon. Miss Fox, Mrs. Calcott (late Maria Graham), the Ladies Greville, Warwick, and Fitzpatrick, the Duke of Richmond, Lord Melbourne, Earl of Essex, Lord Holland, Sir Jas. Graham, Col. Fox, Mr. Archdeacon Pott, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Chantry, and other distinguished persons, who are desirous of putting to fair trial a plan for schools which may, it is believed, ultimately support themselves, the education designed for the poor children in them being one in the way of industry. The habits of pauperism contracted by the labouring classes are so deep rooted, that it is doubted if they can be destroyed in any other way than by the formation of schools of this description, in all the parishes of the country; uniting wealthy, intelligent, and benevolent persons in a steady and well directed effort to break up those habits of dependence which the abuses of the poor laws have created. The parents of the children brought them to the schools in great numbers; and several of the ladies who have assisted in their formation were present at the opening, and expressed themselves highly delighted with the appearance of the children, and the prospect of good which the schools afford. Majesty has also been graciously pleased to patronize them, as also his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex. The Dukes of Bedford and Norfolk, and the Lord Chancellor, have also become subscribers. The number of children admitted already is 195. They are to be called, "The Royal Schools for the Education of the poor in a way of Industry."

His

By a reference to the account of mortality of the year just ended, we find that the burials within the "Bills" exceeded those of the former year by 3269, and that the deaths from cholera are stated to have been 3200. It thus appears that the annual mortality has been increased almost in the direct ratio of the ravages of that disease, a fact which some have altogether denied. The total number of burials last year is reported to have been 28,606, being about 550 per week.-Medical Gazette.

Restoration of the Ladye Chapel. -On Friday 11th inst., the committee of subscribers to this interesting object held a general meeting by adjournment, to receive a report from the sub-committee appointed to consider the propriety of having a Course of Lectures delivered for the benefit of the funds for completing, in its original beauty, this early specimen of the English ecclesiastical style of architecture, Mr. W. W. Nash in the chair. It was then reported by Mr. Saunders that J. F. South, Esq. had most kindly consented to give a course of six lectures on Zoology for the purpose, and that the large room in the Girls' National School, Union Street, Southwark, had been engaged, as being from its size and ventilation eminently fitted for the purpose. The committee unanimously agreed to the proposition, and ordered notice of the same to be advertized.

Hadley Bazaar.-On Monday 7th, and Tuesday 8th inst., a Bazaar for the sale of fancy articles was held at the retired village of Hadley, in aid of the funds of the Infant Schools, under the distinguished patronage of the Marchioness of Salisbury, Countesses of Verulam and Cowper, Hon. Misses Grimston, Mrs. George Byng, Thackeray, Hogegood, Dimsdale, Smith, &c. The Bazaar was most fashionably attended on both days, and the result has proved highly satisfactory to the Ladies who so kindly undertook the management. Several elegant specimens of needlework, by sempstresses of noble birth, excited much admiration.

The living of St. Olave Jewry, in the city, which has been vacant upwards of three months, is still undisposed of by the Lord Chancellor.

On Sunday the 13th inst., the Bishop of London preached a sermon at Hounslow Church, in aid of the Hounslow Subscription Schools. The church was crowded on the occasion; and after the service a handsome collection was made, to which his Lordship made a contribution of 5l. This is supposed to be the first time a bishop has preached at Hounslow since the Reformation, previous to which there was a priory where the church now stands. In the bishop's registry, at Winchester, are letters (dated 1507 and 1511) to the clergy of that diocese, exhorting them to make collections for "the hospital at Houndeslowe, of the Order of the Trinity, for the redemption of captives."

Several of the communicants and other members of the congregation of Percy chapel, Charlotte-street, Rathbone-place, bave, by a small subscription, provided an additional pair of sacramental cups, and presented the same to the Rev. Francis Ellaby, the minister of the chapel, on New Year's Day, as a token of Christian regard, on his entering upon the third year of his ministry there.

Royal Humane Society. At the halfyearly general meeting of the governors of this institution, Mr. Justice Gaselee in the chair, it was reported that since the last half-yearly meeting 95 cases had occurred, 86 of which had been restored to life. Ten of the whole number were attempted suicides. The silver medal of the society was awarded to nine individuals, who had been instrumental in saving as many lives, and three guineas to another. The society's income for the past year amounted to 2,234/. 11s. 6d.; its expenditure to 2,4387. 3s. 2d.

Society for the Suppression of Juvenile Vagrancy.-A meeting of the members of this society was held on Wednesday the 9th inst., at their apartments in Sackvillestreet, to take into consideration the propriety of sending out twenty of the boys now in the institution at West Ham, to the Cape of Good Hope, to be employed by the settlers in that colony as agricultural servants. The chairman (Captain Brenton, R.N.) expressed himself warmly in favour of the proposed plan, and stated that the inhabitants of the Cape seemed disposed to aid the society in providing for the boys. He (Capt. B.) had an interview with Lord Goderich on Thursday last at the Colonial Office, at which his Lordship approved of the plan of sending out the boys to the Cape. A resolution was then put and carried, that twenty boys should be elected to embark on board the Charles Kerr, and that a committee should be appointed to arrange with the colonial office for the payment of half the passage money.

King's College. There is a spirit of judicious liberality prevalent in the conduct of this institution, which promises the happiest results. Within the last two months, three separate reading rooms, each supplied with a well selected library, have been opened for the use of the three classes of students in the senior department the Law, the Classical, and the Medical. And we now hear that it is in contemplation also to form a library for the benefit of the junior pupils in the school. It is a new feature likewise in the conduct of our schools, that parents should be enabled to place their sons where the subjects of study may be varied according to the intended destination in life. This improvement in education has, we are informed, been adopted with much advantage by the head master of the school, and bespeaks his eminent qualification for so responsible an office. From a subscriber who has two sons at the College.— Standard.

The different religious societies have been unwearied in their endeavours to render the prevalence of the cholera available in checking the progress of infidelity,. and awakening the people to a proper sense of the duties of religion. Within