NUMBERS OF CHURCHMEN AND DISSENTERS.-So much misconception on the part of our friends exists as to the numbers of the Church of England men, and so much exaggeration is listened to by our enemies as to the strength of the Dissenters, that we wish to lay before our readers a statement, which is as nearly correct as it is possible to make it. The population of England is about thirteen millions, of which are Church of England Independents Baptists Socinians Roman Catholics Smaller sects 4,000,000 1,019,560 515,000 266,800 38,700 300,000 300,000 One-fourth of the population are too young to attend, and perhaps another fourth attend at no place of worship, and are attached to no sect. The total number, then, who attend places of worship is about (in round numbers) six millions, of which two-thirds are Church of England. But we may safely assume that the great body of the Wesleyans are not Dissenters, but actually friends of the Church, and would support it against its enemies. From conversations with many of that body, and from investigation, and also from their conduct in many recent Church-rate contests, we are convinced that this is the case. We may therefore say, that five-sixths of the whole religious population of England are in favour of the Established Church! And this, too, even allowing that all Dissenters (strictly so called) are hostile to it, which is not the case. We trust that a knowledge of these facts will encourage our friends. Numbers they have; all that is necessary is energy and zeal; energy not intolerant, zeal unwarped by bigotry. POPISH PRIESTS.-That son of thunder, Dr. Mac Hale, who used to subscribe himself "John Maronia," has, since his elevation to the Archiepiscopal throne of Tuam, resumed his secular title, and now signs his name "John Mac Hale," with a cross before it. His spirit, however, is not at all mitigated by his return to the use of that patronymic, but for an Archbishop he is the most furious agitator in the king's dominions. There is a letter of his, enclosing 57. for the O'Connell tribute, and breathing sentiments of that anti-Protestant and anti-gentleman hatred which seems to have animated this writer from the first day that he became a public character to the present. He calls for "the legal doom of that Establishment which justice has so long and loudly, but so vainly, condemned;" and concludes with these notes of almost savage triumph:-"I am delighted that the Government is not lending itself to the schemes of the parsons, in sending out police and military to collect the tithes, but that they are leaving them to the ordinary protection of the law. I am glad, too, that the landlords of this part of the country are not so infatuated as to mix up the tithes with the rents, and to bring upon themselves that odium which hitherto fell upon the Establishment. These are symptoms of better times; they are pledges that Mr. O'Connell will not have much difficulty in achieving the utter annihilation of that impost which has been hitherto the curse of Ireland. I trust, therefore, that after the next session of Parliament, tithes shall be only known as a historical tale, to tell posterity of the unparalleled tyranny of an anti-national Establishment, as well as the unparalleled patience of a most Christian and generous people." PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC CHARITY.-We learn from Mr. Inglis's admirable work, just published, that at the Mendicity Society in Dublin, which is almost wholly supported by subscriptions from the middle classes, 50%. are subscribed by Protestants to every 11. contributed by Catholics; yet, on a late visitation, the Catholic inmates were in the proportion of ten to one. ST. OLAVE'S AND ST. JOHN'S SCHOOL.-On Monday, Nov. 17. being the anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth, by whom this school was chartered, the first stone of the new edifice about to be erected was laid by C. Barclay, Esq. The site of the new building is in Bermondsey-street. The style of architecture is to be that of Henry VIII.'s time, and somewhat assimilated to that of St. John's College, Cambridge. The great school-room will be in length 70 feet, by 35 in breadth, and will be in the style of an ancient collegiate hall, the roof being of oak, with corbells and pendants, something in the manner of Westminster-hall. Nearly 600 boys are now educated by the funds of this noble institution, and the only qualification necessary to procure admission is to be a resident either in the parishes of St. Olave, or St. John, Bermondsey. DR. RICHARDS AND ST. MARTIN'S PARISH.-On Thursday, 30th Oct., at a meeting of the parishioners of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, resolutions were passed for raising a subscription to present a piece of plate to their late venerable rector as a mark of their admiration for his virtues. The munificent acts and charities of Dr. Richards were eulogized by the chairman, R. Dalgleish, Esq., and by Mr. Deville, and other parishioners. It was announced that the Duke of Northumberland, Sir C. Trotter, and others of the nobility, would subscribe to the fund, which already amounts to nearly 3001. THE YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL.-It has been arranged by the Committee that the orchestra shall be erected under the great central tower. This is necessary, in order to render the powers of the organ available; but it has not been determined whether the tower shall be enclosed by a temporary ceiling or not. The side galleries are likely to be dispensed with. ROYAL MUSICAL FESTIVAL.-The following statement of the number of persons present at the various performances in Westminster Abbey, is taken from an official account of the festival, just published by Mr. Parry, secretary to the directors : First rehearsal 1,400-Performance 2,400 The expenses were :- Fitting up the Abbey 5,704 6 Principal vocal performers, semi-chorus, and chorus 3,786 4 6 Instrumental performers 2,217 13 6 Erecting the organ, printing, copying, and hiring music, porters, Leaving a surplus of upwards of 9,000l.; which was divided among the Royal Society of Musicians, the New Musical and Choral Funds, and the Royal Academy of Music. The publication to which we are indebted for these particulars will be found extremely well worthy of attention, and is absolutely necessary to every library in which music and its history are for a moment regarded. INTERMENT IN THE CATHEDRAL OF ROUEN.-On the 14th ult. a funeral service in honour of Boieldieu was performed in the Cathedral of Rouen, which was magnificently decorated for the occasion. The celebrated Mass of the Dead, by Cherubini, was performed by a full orchestra. The chorusses were chaunted by the actors and actresses of the principal theatres. From 4,000 to 5,000 persons were assembled in the church. After the mass, the heart of Boieldieu was carried with all ceremony to the chapel of the cemetery, in the midst of an immense crowd. Orations were then made by MM. Henri Barbet, Mayor of Rouen; Emmanuel Gaillard, Perpetual Secretary of the Academie des Belles Lettres et Arts of that city; Adolphe Adam, Composer, a pupil of Boieldieu; and Thomat, President of the Society of Emulation at Rouen. The whole ceremony was terminated by a cantata, executed by several voices, composed in honour of Boieldieu, by M. Berton, Member of the Institute. JUNIUS'S LETTERS.-It is said a great literary curiosity has recently been discovered. The identical copy of Junius's Letters, in two vols., bound in vellum, by Mr. Woodfall, the publisher, at the express wish of the author, which copy is particularly alluded to in the variorum edition of these letters, published by George Woodfall, Esq. a few years ago. CHARD-For several days past the streets of Chard have occasionally resounded with the ravings of tlie prophet Wroe, of Lancashire notoriety, who mounts on a chair in the market-place, and pours forth an oratorical jargon about the millennium, and other Southcotonian dogmas. He is attended by a sort of satellite, who is much younger, and follows him with a harangue. Both of them have long beards like Jews, which, with the singular dress of the old pseudo-prophet, gives him a very grotesque appearance. As their preachings generally occasion disturbance with the rabble, the authorities, it is said, intend to interfere, should they attempt again their street discourses. LAMPETER COLLEGE.-The Bishop of Bangor and the Rev. J. M. Traherne, M. A. of Oriel College, have contributed 1007. each to the Exhibition Fund of St. David's College, Lampeter. NEW CHURCH AT TREDEGAR.-Sir C. Morgan, Bart. has subscribed 500l. towards building a new church at Tredegar; the Tredegar Iron Company, 2007.; the Bishop of Durham, (Dr. Van Mildert, of Christ Church,) 1007.; the Bishop of Llandaff, (Dr. Copleston, of Oriel College,) 100%.; and the Duke of Beaufort, 50%. The church will be commenced forthwith. SCHISM AMONG THE METHODISTS.-A division has taken place amongst the Wesleyan Methodists at Norwich. Many of the leaders and preachers have attached themselves to the New Connexion. The cause of the separation is said to be the leaning of the Old Connexion towards the Church of England, as was shown by the expulsion of the Rev. J. R. Stephens, of Ashton-under-Lyne, from the ministry, for attending meetings to petition the Legislature for a separation of Church and State. It is also said that the ministers assumed too much influence in the management of the Connexion. The Rev. G. Beaumont has resigned the ministry of the Ebenezer chapel, at Norwich, to the New Connexion, and the Rev. T. Jackson, of Cambridge, has been appointed. The local preachers are to be employed in the villages as heretofore. WESLEYAN METHODISTS.-A special district meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist preachers has been held at the chapel in Oldham-street, at which Dr. Warren was summoned to attend, to defend himself against a charge of having violated the essential principles of Wesleyan Methodism, in a pamphlet published by him against the proposed establishment for the education of young Wesleyan preachers. The Rev. Mr. Trefroy, president of the Conference, was in the chair; and, after the pamphlet had been read over, and the charge formally preferred, Dr. Warren was called upon for his defence. A gentleman, who attended as a friend of Dr. Warren, having made some observation which was disapproved by the members of the meeting, was requested to quit the room; whereupon Dr. Warren refused to proceed with his defence unless his friend was allowed to remain. An adjournment of the meeting shortly afterwards took place to Thursday morning, and, in the meantime, a deputation waited upon Dr. Warren, to endeavour to prevail upon him to re-consider his determination; but he still persisted in his refusal to proceed with his defence in the absence of his friend. Eventually, Dr. Warren was suspended from his office as preacher: but if, in the course of one month, he should wish to come forward and conclude his trial, he will be allowed to do so. Rev. Robert Newton has been appointed to take the superintendence of the circuit over which Dr. Warren presided, and the president of the Conference is to send a preacher to supply his place in the week-day services of the circuit. The CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT JERUSALEM.-JEWS' SOCIETY.-A meeting in behalf of the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews, was held lately, when it appeared, from the statement of one of the secretaries, to be the intention of the Society, if their means would justify it, to erect a church at Jerusalem, and that a subscription had already been commenced for that purpose. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.-This venerable and fourishing Society has just sent forth its Annual Report, from which it appears that "a very considerable augmentation of its income, and a proportionate increase in the circulation of its publications, have taken place in the past year. During that period the Society has attained, in both these respects, to a higher degree of prosperity than it ever before reached. Its income has amounted to the sum of 74,000l. 16s. 5d., being an increase upon the preceding year of more than 3,000. The total number of its publications circulated during the past year has amounted to 2,152,073, being an increase of 72,000 upon the preceding year." This statement is exclusive of the books circulated by the Committee of General Literature and Education. The number of publications circulated by that committee alone in one year, including the Saturday Magazine, has amounted to 5,163,929. "Of the Saturday Magazine, which was their earliest work, an increase of the amount of nearly fifteen thousand numbers in each week has taken place. And the average of the weekly circulation, including the Supplements, is now more than ninetyfive thousand. The total number of copies sold in the past year, is four millions nine hundred and fifty-seven thousand and eighty-four. Nor has the influence of this publication been confined to Great Britain or the British Colonies. Most of its principal articles have been translated into foreign languages; stereotyped Metal Casts from its Woodcuts have been supplied to respectable Publishers residing in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and South America; and communications which have been made from other countries, leave the Committee to anticipate a diffusion of good principles through the medium of this work, over no inconsiderable portion of the globe. "With regard to the other works, which their means have enabled the Committee to put forth, may suffice to state, that all of them have been remarkably successful, and that the greater part have reached new editions. The total number of the publications sold in the past year, exclusive of the Saturday Magazine, is two hundred and six thousand eight hundred and forty-five." Joseph Phillimore, D.C.L. of Christ Church, Professor of Civil Law, and Chancellor of the Diocese, has been appointed by the Lord Bishop of Worcester, Vicar General and Official Principal of the Consistory Court and Diocese of Worcester, void by the resignation of the Right Hon. Sir Herbert Jenner, who has been promoted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Judgeship of his Grace's Prerogative Court. ORDINATIONS.-The Bishop of Winchester will hold an Ordination on the 14th of December; and the Bishop of Chichester on the 21st of December. The Lord Bishop of Gloucester will hold his next Ordination in that city on the 21st of December. |