Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
18th November 1837
London Missionary Society
On Sunday last, the annual sermons for the London Missionary Society, were preached at William-street-Chapel, by the Rev.Wm.Cambell, from Bangalow[?]. A powerful appeal on behalf of India was addressed to the congregation , to which they liberally responded. On the following evening the annual meeting was held. The cash account showed that during the last year the New Windsor Branch Society had raised �124. The Rev.Wm.Wells, secretary to the Congregational Union, exhibited the facilities and motives for missionary operations at the present time, in the religious liberty, the improved state of biblical literature, the prosperity of commerce, and the spirit of colonization, by which out country is distinguished. The Rev.Mr.Hall, the Weslyan minister, expressed the interest he felt in the great objects of missionary enterprise, and the affection he cherished for other denominations of Christians. The Rev.Mr.Campbell renewed the appeal for India, and the Rev.Mr.Williams, from the South Sea Islands, related many interesting anecdotes connected with the object of the meeting.
The latter gentleman is author of a work entitled "The Missionary Enterprise," which has excited considerable attention, and has gained for the author we understand, the favour and regard of several most illustrious individuals. The Duke of Devonshire, the Earl of Chichester, Lord Holland, and many others have expressed their approbation of the work, and their respect for the author. The collections at this anniversary amounted to �95, a large sum to be raised, considering the unfavourable state of the weather, and the effect which it necessarily had on the attendance at the meeting. Missionary Societies are certainly growing in public estimation, and promoting as they do the interests of commerce - science, colonization, and religion - they deserve the support of the merchant, the philosopher, the philanthropist, and the Christian.
St.George's Chapel
The vacant Chorister's situation, occasioned by the resignation of Mr.Young, has been filled up, the successful competitor being a Mr.Hill, of Dublin.
Mutual Improvement Society - Last evening Dr.Epps delivered another of his course of lectures upon physiology, in the Town-hall, which was crowded with persons, to whom the lecture afforded the greatest satisfaction.
High Wycombe, November 17.
Church of England Sabbath Observance Society
On Friday evening a public meeting of this Society was held in the Town Hall, the Rev.J.C.Williams in the chair. Most of the neighbouring ministers were present and detailed the objects of the society, but we are not able to state what resolutions (if any) were passed.
Church Pastoral Aid Society
On Sunday two sermons were preached in our church, by the Rev.Mr.Moule, in aid of the funds of this society, and on Monday a public meeting was held in the Town Hall. But few persons, we understand, attended, and the collections on both occasions were trivial.
The Corporation
On Monday last the members of the Council gave a dinner to our late Mayor, George Harman, Esq. The chair was ably filled by Robert Wheeler, Esq., the present Mayor, who after the usual toasts had been drank, proposed the heath of the late Mayor in a neat and complimentary speech; Mr.Harman returned thanks in an appropriate address, assuring them that he had endeavoured to discharge his duty honestly and conscientiously, and was well pleased to find that his conduct had met their approbation, which was the best reward they could bestow, or he could receive. Mr.H concluded by proposting the health of the present Mayor, who in returning thanks remarked, that he had already filled the office five times, and that on each occasion there had been an election; his time and best exertions were, however, always at the service of his fellow townsman. The health's of the late justice, the auditors and assessors, the town clerk, &c., &c., followed. The dinner consisted of every delicacy of the season, and was served up by Mr.Westbrook, of the Lion Hotel, in his usual good style; the wines were excellent, and the evening was spent most convivially.
Aurora Borealis - The Heavens presented a most beautiful and grand appearance on Sunday evening last.
Staines, November 17.
On Wednesday, Mr.Field's concert took place at the Clarence Hotel in this town. The attendance was both numerous and highly respectable, and the programme of the performance displayed a good selection of pieces. Mr.Field gave "The Death of Abercrombie," in an admirable style, and "The brave Old Oak," by Henry Simmons, was deservedly and highly applauded. Mr.Starmer, from London, an excellent comic singer, was encored in all his songs, and also in the duet with Mrs.Gannon, "When a little farm we keep," which latter was most pleasingly given. Mr.Chapman afforded the greatest satisfaction by his performances on the pianoforte, and the exertions of several amateurs (who were not named in the printed list, and who had been Mr.Field's pupils,) were deserving of considerable merit. We should observe also, that a song, "Home of childhood," by Master Elstone, accompanied by his sister on the pianoforte, afforded much pleasure to the company. Upon the whole the entertainment went off exceedingly well, and gave very general satisfaction.
On Thursday a woman, named Jane Western, offered some silver spoons to Mr.Wood, of this town, for sale. The spoons were defaced by filing, so as to obliterate the letters, maker's name, &c., on them. This suspicious circumstance led Mr.Wood to send for the police, when the woman was taken into custody and there being no resident Magistrates, she was obliged to be locked up till next day. She stated that her residence was at Gerrard's-Cross, and she had relations living at the Sand-pits, Egham, and that she had found the spoons four years ago. Her husband being out of work she had attempted to dispose of them. This day she was brought up before Sir J.Gibbons, who remanded her until further inquiry could be made. Some further evidence has been obtained, which increases the suspicion of the property being stolen.
Establishment of Police by Subscription
Several of the inhabitants of Staines having witnessed the inefficiency of the constabulary force, proposed to establish a police; a subscription was set on foot by Messrs. Frederick Ashby, Ch.Finch, Holgate, &c.; one hundred guineas were readily raised, which enabled the committee (selected from the subscribers) to engage three men - a superintendent and two policemen. The success which has attended their exertions since Nov. 1st, the day they commenced their duties, fully justifies the subscribers the prejudices which were at first excited by a few who have no regard for public order.
Brentford, November 17.
Mechanics Institution
The committee appear determined more than to redeem the pledge given in their report at the close of the last season, both as to the number and character of their lectures. On Tuesday evening we were again indulged with a lecture by Professor Hemming on Pneumatics. After detailing the general properties of elastic fluids the lecturer confined his remarks to the atmosphere; its weight or pressure upon any body was stated to be equal to 15lb on every square inch, which might appear to the novice in science as merely theoretical, but (after giving us a reason why the human frame was not inconvenienced by this enormous pressure, viz., that its equilibrium or pressing on all sides exactly equal) by a series of interesting experiments, at once simple and scientific, proved his position to the satisfaction of the most sceptical. A new mode of causing vacua in cupping glasses recently brought into use by Mr.H., was exhibited, the glass being attached by a short tube (in which is a cock) to a small metal globe containing a very minute quantity of water, which being heated, condenses the air and produces a vacuum, the glass being applied to any part of the body, upon turning the cock the air immediately rushes out into the vacuum so formed and the glass immediately adheres to the part, obviating much of the unpleasantness attending the operation with the ordinary instrument. The judicious arrangement of the matter, the ease and familiarity of manner, as well as the complete success of the experiments combined to render the lecture full of amusement and instruction.