Vraniurial.

Captain Walter has issued another address to the electors of Reading. As Mr. Ribton, the Conservative, has never made an appearance except in the columns of the Times, the struggle is, which of the two liberals is to have the Tory votes ? Captain Walter says, somewhat loosely, even for a liberal politician who seeks to beat a political friend by the aid of political foes- " As I am no candidate for the spoils of party warfare, I can see no reason for declining the assistance of any portion of the constituency which may be disposed to honour me with its confidence, though differing with me on some points of minor importance. "The duties of public life require wider sympathies than those of mere partisans, and the experience of the last few years has proved that no Govern- ment can exist in this country without the united support of the two great parties in the State."

On Tuesday, Mr. G. J. Shaw Lefcvre, one of the four candidates for the representation of Reading, issued an address to the electors in which he announced that he no longer intended to contest the borough.

Mr. Ribton, the barrister, has issued an address to the electors of Reading in the Conservative interest. Sergeant Pigott and Captain Walter prosecute their canvasses, and the Sergeant expresses himself with confidence as to the result.

Mr. Moffatt is undisturbed by opposition in his candidature for Honi- ton. The electionis expected to take place on Monday.

The Liverpool Free Library and Museum, so magnificently presented to Liverpool by Mr. William Brown, and Which is now completed at a cost of 40,0001., was opened with a festival in honour of its founder, on Wednesday and Thursday. The working men of Liverpool presented an address to Mr. Brown, accompanied by a testimonial-- " Sir,—On behalf of the working men of Liverpool we, respectfully pre- sent for your acceptance—First, a silver shield bearing upon it a view of that temple of civilization which you so generously purpose handing over to your townsmen tomorrow ; second, we hand you a clock, which, while it chronicles the progress of time, will, we feel assured, never indi- cate that hour in which the name of William Brown will cease to be held in reverential estimation. These emblems will not, we trust, be estimated with reference to their intrinsic worth, but as an indication of the gratitude to which we feel you are so justly entitled. We hope that the institution will confer upon the to all those intellectual and inestimable advantages which it has been your object to secure; and desire that you may be spared among us for many years to witness the fruits resulting from your own good works. 17th of October 1860." "InscriptionTha testimonial, the result of a small subscription col- lected by the working men of Liverpool, was presented to William Brown, Esq., on the occasion of the opening of the free library, as an earnest of their grateful and sincere appreciation of his magnificent gift to the town to which the j_ belong.' " Mr. Brown after modestly acknowledging the testimonial, addressed himself to the main subject- " Libraries are competitors for customers with improperly-conducted public-houses. Let us see whether we cannot attract a good many of those who resort to such places to our shops. We hope you will influence your fellow-workmen to visit the Library and Museum. We promise them spacious apartments, well ventilated, comfortably warmed, well lighted, and handsomely furnished, and most intelligent and mtelleetual society, without cost. Among those silent friends—our books—there are works that will suit every taste and pieet every requirement. It is most gratifying to see the demand progressively increasing for those of a higher class. We do net value a man in any rank of life for the fineness of his coat, but for his con- duct, and his desire to cultivate those talents, as far as in his power, with which his Maker has blessed him, and who contributes all he can to the comfort of his family and his friends, not forgetting to give them good moral instruction. Many of you will recollect the ignorance and want of thought that prevailed among a largo body of the working classes thirty or forty years ago. When they had any dispute with their master about wages, or anything else, they thought they were revenging themselves and punishing him by breaking and destroying his machinery, forgetting that his capital and his works were the instruments with which they had to earn bread for themselves and their families. Far different is their conduct now. Edu- cation has made such progress, that they are much more intelligent ; they see that such suicidal conduct would be as bad as the carpenter destroying the tools by which he lives. It is now pretty well understood that the mom we improve our machinery the more we increase our customers throughout the world, and the more hands are wanted to make articles to meet the de- mand. We do not give the present generation of working men sufficient. credit for their intelligence. They clearly see that accumulated capital is necessary to give them regular employment, and that if by any means that increase of capital was prevented, they would be the greatest sufferers."

Lord Brougham, received with three hearty rounds of cheers, eulo- gized the munificence of Mr. Brown, "whose judgment and wisdom were both manifested in the happy union of a library with a museum." John Priest, a workman, incidentally noticing some remarks as to dis- tinction of classes, made the bit of the evening in the form of a compli- ment to Lord Brougham—

If he might be allowed such a liberty, he would say of the learned and noble and venerable lord who had addressed the meeting, that, much as he valued his distinguished rank, he did not think for a moment that it could. beplaced in comparison with the distinction which he had earned by his in- tellect. (Cheers.) The festivities in connexion with the Free Library were continued on Thursday. A levee took place at the Town-Hall at 10 o'clock a.m., at which all the distinguished visitors were present, together with the members of the local bodies. The streets of the town were decorated with flags and festoons. The Volunteers turned out to do honour to the occasion ; business was suspended in Liverpool, probably the greatest concession Mammon ever made to Progress. A procession was formed. of the most inclusive character ; firemen, policemen, boys from the School Frigate Conway, men from her Majesty's ship Majestic, Volun- teers, artillery and engineers, clergymen, ministers, magistrates,. judges, aldermen, councillors and boys from the industrial and public schools. An immense crowd was collected to see the proces- sion, and award cheers to Mr. Brown, Lord Brougham, and the Volunteers. Mr. Brown, on arriving at Shows' Brow, made a formal delivery of the building to the Mayor. The Mayor, accepting in the name of the town, placed in Mr. Brown's bands a gold medal struck in commemoration of the day ; on one side was a portrait of Mr. Brown, on the other a view of the Library. In the evening there was a banquet. Mr. Brown, Lord Stanley, and Lord Brougham were the speakers of the evening. Mr. Shipley, Mr. Brown's partner wound up the proceedings by presenting 10001. to the Library.

The soirée of the Leeds Mechanics' Institution and Literary Society, at which Lord Palmerston will preside, is announced for Thursday, the 25th instant.

Mr. Monckton Milnes, M.P., and Mr. Childers, M.P., addressed their constituents at Pontefract, on Wednesday. Mr. Milnes regretted the fate of the Reform Bill, which would have given him two hundred addi- tional worthy constituents; be approved of the retention of the smaller boroughs, and critically noticed the composition of the House of Com- mons— " If the representation were confined entirely to large towns and very extensive bodies of men, the effect would be to alienate from the representa- tion of the people a large body of very useful and very intelligent Members of Parliament. I do not wish that what are called the aristocracy of this country, whether connected with land or property, should be separated from the daily process of the constitution, and I should also regret very much if men of calmer thought and more retired habits were excluded from Parlia-. ment. I should be sorry to see the aristocracy of England like the Legiti- mists of France? or men of intelligence and literature excluded from a share in public affairslike those in the United States. I therefore think it ad- visable that there should be means of representation for those classes, with- out exposing them to the confusion and difficulty of the somewhat dema- gogic life necessary for the representation of large constituencies. I say this because I have observed that the representatives of large constituencies do not take that place in the House of Commons which the representation of large bodies of men would otherwise authorize them in assuming ; and the reason is that, although they are gentlemen of great intelligence, experi- ence, and common sense, they have not in their youth been accustomed to the practice of popular assemblies. They come into the House of Commons iu very mature life, and its habits and practices, which are as peculiar as those of a public school, are not familiar to them, and the result is that these gentlemen very seldom favour us with the fruits of the knowledge which they possess, because, coming so late into public life, their habits of thought are not fitted for their new sphere. I wish that the manufacturing consti- tuencies would send to Parliament some of their younger men, who would learn the habits and usages of Parliament in the same way as the upper classes connected with land have done. I am sure, if they did so, they would find their account in the favour and goodwill with which they would be received."

Mr. Milnes next discussed the French treaty and the Paper-duty, and very severely condemned the long speeches of the leaders, a fashion introduced by Sir Robert Peel : he was against the Civil Service examinations, because he did not wish to "set every man thinking how he might become an ex- ciseman." Speaking of foreign affairs, Mr. Milnes came to Garibaldi. " With regard to Italy, you have all read about Garibaldi, that wonderful man, that great and honest warrior, who went out, as it were, on his own account, and will end, by the blessing of God, in constituting a great king- dom of Italy. I have had the pleasure of seeing and shaking hands with Garibaldi, and a more simple and honest sailor I have never seen. He gave me the impression of a weather-beaten and simple-minded man who has

been raised up by Providence for a great object, and who possesses the sim- plicity of mind and honesty of purpose which could alone render him worthy of being the saviour of his country. Honour to him, honour to the King of Saidinia, and honour to that minister whose wisdom will, I trust, be crowned with the fullest and most complete success i"

Mr. Milner, eulogizing Lord Palmerston, asked for him a hearty York- shire reception next week. Mr. Childers followed Mr. Mikes through the same topics ; a vote of thanks to both members was enthusiastically carried.

Sir John Herschel attended the review of the 37th Kent Volunteers at Cranbrook, by Lord Sydney, Lord Lieutenant. A dinner followed, and, of course, speeches, prominent amongst which was Sir John's- " In witnessing the splendid spectacle of this day, I have felt, in common with every Englishman present, sensations at once the most elevating, the most gratifying, the most ennobling which it is possible for the human bosom to experience. If I had been able I would infinitely rather have been an actot iu the scene than a mere spectator. I wish, indeed, I could join your ranks—but though I cannot do that, I may still glance around and see some of the bearings of this great national movement. As a contrast to the animated scene which we have witnessed this day, I may recall that sort or fools' Elysium in which some eight or ten years ago so many indulged—that time when the "men of peace " preached the doctrine of non-resistance, and told us that all the bad elements of human nature were extinguished, and that henceforth all nations would live iu peace and amity with each other. And for awhile we listened to the voice of the charmer. But we have now awoke from this dream of everlasting peace and commercial prosperity—we have arisen to the presence of a stern reality which has effectually dispelled all these imaginary ideas from the national mind. England has her position to maintain as one of the great Powers of Europe, and to maintain that posi- tion she must not exist on the sufferance of any other nation, or be deficient

in the means of strength when the hour of action arrives Yet Eng- land has its aspirations. What are they ? Shall I say territorial aggran- disement ? God forbid ! At the commencement of the Sicilian insurrection, it was said that England bad fostered the revolt with a view to the annexa- tion of Sicily to the English crown. England's days of annexation, I be- lieve, arc past. The Englishpeople would not wish, I am sure, for the an- nexation of even an island of Corsica or of Sardinia, even if it cost the cheapest falsehood that ever glided glibly through political lips. England has had enough of annexations—too much, perhaps. Besides the difficulty of checking the spirit of cupidity which is thus aroused, we know that the ex- pense of consolidating our rule, and governing those who are under our sway in a just and liberal manner, often renders these acquisitions very costly. The extent of the mighty empire which owns the sway of Queen Victoria is indeed astonishing. Upon it the sun never sets, and I believe that not two centuries will elapse before the English tongue will become the current lan- guage over a great portion of the globe. To preserve the freedom and great- ness which she has attained, England requires to show the military capacity of her people. I do not say that she requires military glory or prowess, for in the past ages of England's history there is enough of glory and prowess to last her for a century to come."

The hop-growers of the county of Kent met at Maidstone on Wednes- day, to memorialize the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a postponement of payment of the hop-duty. It was stated that there never was known so complete a failure in the crops as this year. Resolutions were passed in favour of a memorial to be signed by every hop-planter in Kent, and the Members for Kent were requested to support the memorial.

The Road murder was the subject of a discussion at the Wilts Quarter Sessions on Tuesday. Captain Meredith was examined as to the locking-up of the policemen in Mr. Bent's house. Mr. Saunders moved "that the chief constable should communicate with the constabulary committee, and that they report to the next sessions," but the motion was not seconded. Sir John Audry declared that he only presided at the last hearing on the understanding that a regular charge was to be brought forward ; he would not " take part in any detective examination."

At the Norfolk Sessions, on Wednesday, the appeals against the decisions of the divisional Magistrates, who fined two persons for singine in Horsey churchyard, were to be heard. The vicar, the Reverend E. P. Neale, how- ever, withdrew from the case, and by his consent, the convictions were quashed. His counsel stated, that the only object the vicar had in view was to assert the principle that no one except the clergyman had the right to perform any ceremony in the churchyard. This was admitted on the other side, but no apology was tendered or even asked for.

' The case of Mr. W. G. Gibson, of Godalming, before the, Bankruptcy Court, last week, disclosed a debt due to Streatfeild and Co. of 109,000/. Out of this large sum, 30,0001. is due far " commission" on the renewal of bills. Mr. Lawrence, when examined, declared the suggestion of the charge Of a commission to be " as great a falsehood as Was everuttered in the city Of Loudon." In 1856, Mr. Gibson was in difficulties, but was urged by Streatfeild and Co. not to stop'; he then owed them 40,0001., and the amount Of his debts and " paper" now is 148,0001.

John Davis, a traveller for the firm of White Brothers, whose connexion with alleged forgeries have given rise to criminal proceedings against one of the firm, was brought befcire the Nottingham magistrates on Thursday, charged with being concerned in the forgeries of Mr. Robert White, his em- ployer. He was remanded until Friday, when he and White will be brought up together for examination.

Bedminster Bridge, Bristol, had a narrow escape from destruction on Tuesday morning by a collision with the ship Fanny Chapman. Fortu- nately, in time, the vessel was caught by the tide, which swung her nearly broadside on athe bridge. Crowds looked on in breathless suspense ; the crisis over, they rushed upon the bridge which was thus placed in a greater peril.

The village of Kilnsea, on the east coast of Yorkshire, was invaded on Sunday week by a host of Dutchmen. They demanded food of the villagers, who were so frightened that they had to yield, and the incunibent on his way to church was obliged to interfere to prevent bloodshed. Having done considerable damage to the village, and made an unprovoked attack upon one person, they withdrew to their vessels. seventy-five in number, and put to sea. They afterwards visited Bridlington, where they conducted them- selves properly, being there in presence of a population numerous and vril- ling enough to thrash any number of Dutchmen.