on the advantages of peace; and hoped that his country
and ours would continue—in everything compatible
with the nature of their different institutions and
laws, having a common literature and language, and
their love of liberty equally strong in both nations
—to remain, subject to those circumstances of difference,
one and indivisible. The Bishop of Manchester,
in replying to the toast of "the Bishop," took leave
to extend the terms of the toast to its widest and most
catholic limits. Alluding to the recent remonstrance
against slavery, he prayed Mr. Ingersoll to tell his
countrymen and countrywomen, that if it seemed to
breathe a spirit of rebuke, we are deeply sensible that
"if there is a building raised in America which is devoted
to unhallowed uses, the foundation of that building, we
know, was raised by British hands." In the treatment
of our criminals, and the organisation of factory
education, he hoped that we should take a lesson from
America; and that she would imitate us in the adoption
of Free-trade. Mr. Bright spoke in a cordial and
conciliatory spirit, and took a friendly and favourable
view of the constitution and government of the United
States. He objected to the inference of overzealous
people in either country, and deprecated reflections,
made in the one country, tending to irritate the people
of the other.

A banquet in connection with the Literary and
Artistic Instilutions of Birmingham took place in the
Assembly-rooms of Dee's Hotel, in that town, on the
6th inst. It originated in a combined movement on the
part of the Society of Artists, the Fine Arts Prize Fund
Association, and the Society of Arts and School of
Design, together with what may be styled the floating
literary and artistic element of the town of Birmingham,
and accordingly it attracted much local interest. Invitations
were sent to a number of the most eminent literary
men of the day, and as one of the leading objects in view
was the encouragement and promotion of art in the town,
nearly all the distinguished of its artists were requested
to attend. Previous to the banquet, a meeting of ladies
and gentlemen was held in the rooms of the Society of
Artists for the purpose of presenting Mr. Charles Dickens
with a diamond ring and salver, both articles of
Birmingham manufacture, in testimony, according to
the inscription on the salver, "of their appreciation of
his varied literary acquirements, and of the genial
philosophy and high moral teaching which characterise
his writings." Mr. Councillor Brisband presided, and
Mr. G. L. Bankes read an address to Mr. Dickens
explanatory of the views of the donors in making the
presentation; and that gentleman, in acknowledgment,
made an appropriate reply. The salver formed one of
the specimens of Birmingham manufacture sent to the
Great Exhibition by Messrs. Elkington and Co. It
is manufactured in silver by electro-deposition, and
embraces a series of beautiful representations taken
from the "Iliad." The company afterwards proceeded
to Dee's Hotel, where the banquet took place. The
chair was occupied by Mr. H. Hawkes, the Mayor of
Birmingham, and the duties of vice-president were
discharged by Mr. P. Hollins. Among the company
present were Lord Lyttelton, Sir C. L. Eastlake, P. R. A.,
Mr. C. Dickens, the Ven. Archdeacon Sandford, Mr. W.
Scholefield, M.P., Mr. Muntz, M.P., Mr. Geach, M.P.,
Mr. Ward, Mr. J. Forster, Mr. J. Pye, Mr. D.
Roberts, R.A., Mr. Maclise, R.A., Mr. S. A. Hart, R.A.,
Mr. C. R. Cockerill, R.A., Mr. Willmore, R.A.,
Mr. Pickersgill, R.A., Mr. Creswick, R.A., Mr. J.
Hollins, A.R.A., Mr. D. Cox, Mr. J. Leech, Mr.
Kenney Meadows, and other gentlemen eminent in
literature and art. Archdeacon Sandlord, Sir Charles
Eastlake, Mr. Scholefield, Mr. Dickens, Mr. Forster,
and Lord Lyttelton, addressed the company in the
course of the evening.

The "Memorial from the Women of England to the
Women of the United States on the subject of Slavery,"
agreed to at the meeting held last month at Stafford-
house, has produced a reply from a Meeting of American
Ladies held at Milan. The following report of their
proceedings was transmitted to Mr. Joseph Hume for
publication:—At a meeting of American ladies, of
Anglo-Saxon origin, held at Milan, Lombardy, on the
20th day of December, 1852, Mrs. Catherine Howard in
the chair, the following report was read, and unanimously
adopted:—

"1. The meeting views with feelings of interest the late doings
of an assembly of ladles in London, under the auspices of her
Grace the Duchess of Sutherland and her noble coadjutors, on
the subject ot African slavery in the United States. 2. The
meeting is deeply sensible of the evils of slavery, and will use
all just and honourable means to ameliorate, and finally to
abolish it, wherever, and under whatever form, it may now exist.
But, unfortunately for the efforts of American ladies, and for
humanity, the subject of slavery in the United States, when
honestly examined, is found, just at this time, to be surrounded
with such appalling dangers, involving the happiness of their
social circles—the fortunes and the lives of their fathers,
husbands, sons, and brothers—the very existence of the federal
constitution and the union of the States—that it must not
surprise the noble ladies ot England that American ladies should
recoil with affright from the mischief which any hasty zeal might
occasion, or that they should deem it their present duty to
remain submissive in the position allotted to them by the
Almighty until time and occasion shall render their agency
useful. 3. The meeting respectfully tenders its thanks to the
noble and honourable ladies assembled at Stafford-house for their
appreciation of the value of liberty and the rights of man, and
under the present circumstances of African slavery in the
United States, would earnestly entreat them to look at home, and
examine the condition of Christian freedom in the united kingdom,
and then employ their leisure and use their amiable and
powerful influence, where it can be successfully exercised, in
gently removing those antiquated monopolies and time-worn
restrictions which now so heavily press upon and impoverish
their people. In correcting the errors and simony of their exclusive
church, in relieving the land from burdens of a complex
hierarchy, in individually adopting the liberal principles of the
Christian liturgy of the church of America, and by such efforts,
while they may gain for themselves a well-earned reputation and
an undying historic fame, they will be the means of extending
the area of freedom, and insuring to all men equal rights and
liberty of conscience. All which is respectfully submitted."

"CATHERINE HOWARD, in the Chair.
JANE GRAY, Secretary."

Another reply to the Memorial of the Women of
England has appeared in the American papers. It is
"An affectionate and Christian Address of the Women
of the United States to their Sisters the Women of
England;" and its tone is entirely that of recrimination.
It purports to have its object to point out for redress the
enormous social evils which still prevail so extensively,
and with such frightful results, in every part of this
country. Ireland, education, pauperism, religion,
morality, the dwellings of the poor, factory labour, the
case of needlewomen, journeymen tailors, and such
overstocked trades,—the circulation of the Bible, and
church-building, are the principal matters dwelt on;
without reference to the intense interest, the wide
agitation, and the long series of legislative enactments,
which have so long been in operation here to ameliorate
tlie condition of all who come within the above-
mentioned categories.

Her Majesty and Prince Albert possess several farms
in the Isle of Wight, two of which containing about six
hundred acres, the Prince farms himself. Every recent
improvement has been introduced on these farms, and
steam-engines are now performing on them various
agricultural operations.

The New Crystal Palace Company have taken on
lease, for a term of ninety-nine years thirty-five acres
of land belonging to the authorities of Dulwich College.
It is intended to form this land into a carriage-drive,
which will add most materially to the convenience of
persons visiting the Exhibition.

The Lord Mayor presided over the anniversary meeting
of the City Hospice and Soup Kitchen Society at the
London Tavern, on the 15th inst. According to the
report, the number of beggars in the City has been
reduced from 169 to 8 or 10; 56 poor destitute women
have been sheltered and protected, and several placed
in situations; casual poor amounting to 22,714 have been
fed at the Hospice, and 14,719 at their homes; 1360
casual poor and 4300 residents in the City were regaled
on Christmas Day; and on the free registry there have
been entered the names of 705 applicants for situations,
94 of whom have been placed. "During the last ten
weeks, 7727 poor destitute persons have been conducted
to the house of God on the Sabbath, by members of the
committee and officers of the institution." Sir Fitzroy
Kelly was the principal speaker: he moved a resolution
asking for assistance from the public to meet the