Vrotiturrys.

The Members for Oxford City—Mr. Edward Cardwell and Mr. James Langston—dined with some of their constituents, -members of the "An- gent Druids," on Monday. There were about one hundred " Druids " present, the number including the Mayor, Mr. Alderman Sadler, Mr. Alderman Daelley, and Mr. Sheriff Green. Mr. Cardwell, in his speech, made no direct artemion to foreign affairs ; but, after describing the pros- perity of 1853, he indireetly alluded to the probability of war. Should any evil circumstance occur for a time to disturb this happy course of events, you know that it will not be due to any ambitious designs or to any unreflecting interference on the part of the Government or the Sovereign of these realms. We shall not forget that maxim, the merit of observing Which truly belongs to this country—" Beware of entrance to a quarrel " ; and if we do, unhappily, beconse involved in one, to bear ourselves so that the adversary may be aware of us. "Thrice is he armed that bath his quar- rel lest"; and let the evil day come when it may, whatever the fats of England, I trust she will always be found clothed in the triple armour of justice, moderation, and truth. The aspect of foreign affairs is justifying anxious feeling. But let us hope that reason and Justice may prevail as well here as abroad, and that the danger may happily be overcome. What- ever may be in store for us, depend upon it that, under Providence, the blessings bestowed upon this people will not be withdrawn, if we continue to nerit them by industry, energy, and steady perseverance at home, and by valour abroad; a valour it is unnecessary to speak of in an assembly of Eng- ashmen, for when was that quality ever wanting to sustain the reputation of

Great Britain in any war abroad ? Let us, then, hope that in the year 1854 no circumstances, foreign or domestic, will disturb our career of industry, will disturb the operation of commerce, will prevent that diffusion of-comfort now so remarkably going on among all classes of the community. For

it is the principle of the times in which we live, that wealth is not accumu- lated for the wealthy alone, nor is prosperity to be enjoyed only by those who have worldly prosperity ; but it is to be used as the means of doing public good, of stimulating trade, and of increasing prosperity and content- ment among all classes of the people."

There was a soiree at the Lord Street Reading Room, Carlisle, on Monday week. Mr. Philip Howard of Corby presided. Among the speakers were the chairman, the Dean of Carlisle, the Reverend B. A. Marshall, and Dr. Elliott. It appears that the members of the institute number 250, nearly the whole of whom are constant attenders and readers. The income for the two years ending October last, everything included, was 163/. Os. 10d., and the expenditure for the same period, including interest on a debt of 137/., was 159/. 16s. 3d., leaving a balance of 3/. 4s. id. The room is open daily from eight a. m. till ten p. m. The committee defended its being open on Sundays, on the ground that if the institution did good at all it would do good on that day as well. They do not think that any one is kept away from church, but believe that if the room were closed the members would pass their time elsewhere, and not so profitably.

Mr. Philip Howard made especial reference to some of the remarkable events, which, allied with industry, signalized the past year.

He first noticed a stupendous work just executed under the guidance of .11r. Stephenson, the celebrated engineer—the talented son of that robust- minded man, who, by the strength of his own intellect, reached the summit of professional eminence. Mr. Stephenson had just succeeded, aided by the skill and prowess of able Piedmontese engineers, in carrying a railway from Turin to Genoa, over the reach of the Appenines. It had been found that the wonderful engine—the steam-engine—could be carried up steeper ascents, steeper gradients, than had hitherto been thought practicable ; and this too with no diminution of speed. Mr. Stephenson had now carried that railway from Turin to Genoa—the capital of a renowned republic and the birth-place of Columbus, who gave to mankind a new world and to theemigrant a home. Some other able men connected with industry—Sir Charles Fox and Sir Joseph Paxton—had lately been requested by the King of Prussia to execute some works near Berlin. These gentlemen had been received with distinc- tion by the monarch of that intelligent people, and they would no doubt be the means of spreading the reputation of Englishmen to that distant part of the world. Turning their attention to another quarter of the globe, they found a gentleman well,known to them all, and intimately connected with

Carlisle—Mr. George Mould, of Coledale Hall—employed in carrying a rail- way into the romantic region of Spain, from Santander ; a work which,

when carried out, would place that country more within the reach of the English traveller, where he will be enabled, through the efforts of English skill, to behold that interesting land, where man still retains much of the freshness of originality that has been lost to many other countries. These, then, were among the many efforts connected with English industry whieb had marked the year that is now passing away.

Referring to the "hallowed time" at which they were assembled, he- happily illustrated the fact that Englishmen find something cheerful in the recollections of Christmas everywhere, by reeniading the andlense - that Captain Cook, while wandering upon the Pacifies which at thirvery- season he was exploring, discovered an island, and called it by the name of Christmas Island.

Dr. Tait, Dean of Carlisle' addressed himself to the "real" assem- blage of working-men before him. He recommended conciliation between

masters and men—fair wages on one side and good conduct on the other. He urged the working classes to educate their children, even at the risk of pinching themselves Lord Ingestre, accompanied by Lord Elmley, arrived at Liverpool on Tuesday. Lord Ingestre is the antagonist of Lord Paget for the repre- sentation of South Staffordshire : he has issued an address, Liberal-Con- servative in tone.

A petition for a charter of incorporation has been forwarded to Govern- ment by the people of Brighton. "The Privy Council held last week at Windsor," says the Brighton Guardian, "was so composed that any re- commendation made by Lord Granville, the President of the Council, would, as a matter of course, have been approved. The noble Lord, how- - ever, made no report upon the ease of the Brighton petitioners for a charter of incorporation." The Guardian urges the petitioners to renewed exer- tions.

Mr. Charles Dickens -publicly read his two Christmas-books, the Carol and the Cricket on the Hear/h, at Birmingham, on the Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of last week. The receipts were paid over to the funds of the new Institute at Birmingham. Friday was devoted to the working classes. In a brief speech, Mr. Dickens seriously exhorted the managers of the new Institute to admit artisans to a share in its government. The read- ings were fully attended; the audience attentive, and not niggardly in applause.

Lord Guilford, Master of the Hospital of St. Cross, has recently re- signed the livings of St. Mary's near Southampton, and Alresford in the county of Southampton. Their joint value is estimated at about 4000/. It is hinted that Lord Guilford has taken this step to save, if he can, the Mastership of St. Cross, which he has now held for many years ; and from which he has received at least 90,000/. As he held two livings be- sides the " benefice " of St. Cross, the holding of the latter was illegal, and legal proceedings were taken some time ago to compel Lord Guil- ford to pay back the enormous sum he has unlawfully received.

The Anti-Church-rate rarty at Modbury has been defeated, on a poll, by two to one.

The police of Ipswich, at their own request, have been permitted by the Watch Committee to wear beard and moustache. Some of the Com- mittee, it is said, emboldened by the example, propose to wear the moustache themselves.

The contributions to the locked-out hands at Preston were larger last week than they have been for some time. The recipients of the funds have become fewer. Some men had gone to seek work elsewhere ; some had been removed by the Poor-law officials. There is no sign of giving way on either s de ; and the paper war of statements and counter-state- ments between the masters and men continues.

The progress of the factory system at Nottingham, where recently the frames which used to be scattered over the country have been in process of collection into large buildings, is checked by the want of residences for the workers—" there is not a single house to be let either in Notting- ham or the neighbonrhood under 10/. per annum,,while thousand e of them are wanted."

Last year, the.fitst,during which Southampton was a port for Govern- ment emigration, thirty-five ships were despatched by the Emigration Commissioners, with 11,191 emigrants. Six private ships . carried out 822 emigrants.

The trial ofJohn• Clark Teener, a clerk in the Ordnance Office, for the murder of Mrs: Saujon, has beau proceeding at St. Metiers, in Jersey. Mrs. Saujon lived by herself. One day her house was not opened. An entrance was effected by a window; and Mrs'. Saujon's corpse was discovered on the floor, partially burnt, while some of the wood-work of the room was on fire. The victim had been beaten on the bead; a surgeon believed she was not dead when her ;body was set on fire. - For Seven days meny witnesses were called for the prosecution; most of whom gave evidence more or less impli- cating the accused. - -Articles stolen from Mrs. Saujon's were found hidden near his house; • beak-notes which had been paid to her were traced to hum; he was shown to have been near the house on the eight of the murder. lie

was found guilty. . . . . . . . ,

There has been a collision onthe Midland Counties Railway, about three miles below Rugby: an express-train ran into another, which was stationary in consequence of the breaking of a wheel. A fog-signal Was heard to ex- plode, bet there was not space sufficient to stop the train. The passengers were not Seriously hurt.-- It is 'said that the collision might have been pre- vented had the -telegraph been med. An handed was held it Newton Heath, on the body of Miss Jane Sykes, the ladyIflled at the collision there. The evidence clearly showed that the signals were not • made to the Oldham express with sufficient promptness, and that the Rochdale train was behied time. The.foroner's Jury- found that the death of Miss Sykes was accidental; but they express their "regret at the apparent carelessness of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Coin- pany in -allowing the express-train to start at so short a time after the above train, and would Suggest that in future more cake be exercised, especially in foggy wSafher."- - . ' • -- ' -A fatal fire has occurred at Rochdale, in a woollen-mill belonging to Messrs. Kelsall. It originated, on Tuesday morning, 'Id a room occupied by the -devilling-machine, over the engine-room, and spread rapidly. The . people were at work in the floors above, and a number escaped with a slight searching.' but fat' those in the top floor the retreat was tut off: They got on the roof, and uttered appalling. dries ' for help. Some were got down by means of ropes, others seem to have fallen, and more than one jumped to the ground. Two women were kiliedFand ten-others were badly hurt, some having fractured limbs; arilfeeei!daildis considered hopeless. The mill was entirely dgetrayrdr. , A. straego.peratled,t4pa,.oecurred in the Southampton Docks. Early on Tuesday,reprpergAe immense lifting-shears on the North-east quay of the basin suddenly fql, one the dock, carrying. with them nearly 120 feet of the Solid stone Viali,-and shald* more of it. The shears were eighty feet high, end wei.' - 'Ter 'lifting such ponderous masses as the boilers of the largest

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steaniers i'tla ..-Ififd no weight on/lied at the time they fell. The steamer Maciiid,-'-whic Wee :filet' by the 4 tiii)-;- eseaped-damage, and no one was hurt. The:ciente-la the-disaster is netlet known. To replace the quay and ' sheer-sae therweretlwauW,cost,-itis estimated; • at least 10,0001. - - -Mr. Headledr,'the Memhet for Neweiretle-upon-Tyne, met with a painful aceideor,on ?Christina* ,Day, while staying with his father,_ Archdeacon Headlam,ot Wycliffe Rectory. "In going down stairs, his foot caught some obatniction, and halos* his balance ;, in struggling to reeover it, he seapped the teudoue ok the, /enee-cape of both legs.. :It is expected that no permanent bad effestimill_ortne, but the sefferer will probably be confined to his room for sever* w ,.,