Liverpool.-Meeting of the Readers and Friends of the British Controversialist.-On Tuesday evening, August 28th, a meeting of the friends of this Magazine was held in Hope Hall— which, not withstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, was numerously attended. We copy the following report of the proceedings from the Liverpool Daily Times. Dr. F. J. Bailey, on taking the chair, read letters, regretting their inability to attend the meeting, from the Rev. Dr. Hume, John M'Laughlin, Esq., &c., &c.; and remarked on the great benefits that the Magazine had conferred, of an intellectual character, causing many of its readers to enter into various spheres of usefulness, and increasing materially the mental activity of all who studied its pages; and concluded by introducing Mr. J. A. Cooper, F.R.S.L., who, after explaining the reasons for holding the meeting, fully described the character and objects of the Magazine, which he characterized as unsectional and unsectarian; it belonged alike to no party, but was open alike to the opinions of all. The Magazine, he said, besides being a controversial, was also a literary work, and contained essays, reviews, &c. To literary societies it was invaluable, and was in a great measure devoted to their promotion and extension. He concluded an eloquent address amidst much applause. Samuel Neil, Esq., who was well received, next addressed the meeting in an able speech on the benefits and usefulness of controversy, and indignantly denied that the promoters of the British Controversialist had any peculiar opinions of their own which they wished by that serial to propagate. Every one ought to know that error hated controversy; they, however, believed in truth, and above all, and more than all, in God's truth. (Loud cheers) Dr. Barnes then moved the following

resolution:-"That in the opinion of this meeting the British Controversialist has been the means of imparting instruction to many, of largely promoting self-culture, and causing an increased mental activity amongst its readers; further, it has fully demonstrated the benefits attendant and derivable from written controversy." Mr. Thomas Ham, in seconding the motion (which was carried unanimously), fully agreed that the benefits conferred on the readers were great, and showed most lucidly the benefits of written controversy. Mr. Grindley moved the following motion:-"That the British Controversialist hasconferred great bene fits on our mutual improvement and literary societies by the information it has afforded, and the active interest in their welfare it has evinced, and that this meeting tenders its thanks to the editors for their valued exertions, and pledges itself to aid in increasing the circulation of the Magazine," and strongly urged the claims of the work on the members of literary societies, and earnestly recommended the same to their attentive study and perusal. Mr. Silverlock briefly seconded the motion, and Mr. Edward George supported it, when it was carried, nem. con. Mr. Cooper, in conclusion, moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which concluded a very instructive and interesting meeting.

Faversham Mutual Improvement Society. The sixth annual meeting of this institution was held in the Public Rooms, on Wednesday evening, September 12th. The President (Mr. F. W, Monk) occupied the chair, and after some introductory remarks, called upon the Secretary to read the report for the year 1859-60, and of which the following is a summary:

The number of members had in creased during the year from 360 to

487, and since the preparation of the report, several persons had been proposed for membership, so that in the course of a few days there would be upwards of 500 members. Nearly £40 had been expended upon the library, and it was gratifying to know that the circulation of books had very considerably increased, whilst through the attention and vigilance of the librarian not a single volume had been lost. Amongst the works added to the library were copies of "M'Clintock's Voyage of the Fox," "Arago's Astronomy,"" Buckland's Geology," "Tennyson's Idylls of the King," "Russell's Diary in India," "Humboldt's Life Book and Travels," "Strickland's Queens of England," and "Humboldt's Cosmos." The thanks of the society were due to Giles Hilton, Esq., for a valuable present of books. The last lecture season had been a great success; the lectures were good; the average attendance large; and, although the price charged for admission was very small, yet a profit of between four and five pounds had been realized by the course. The annual soirée held in February last was attended by a large number of members and their friends, and the results in all respects were satisfactory. It had tended to unite the members in one common cause-the cultivation of social friendship and the furtherance of intellectual advancement; and it had in no way infringed on the ordinary funds of the Society, as the amount realized by the sale of the tickets more than covered the cost of the entertainment. The attendance at the ordinary meetings had not been large, owing mainly to the inconvenience of the Society's room. At those meetings the following lectures and readings had been given :-Mr. Webb, of Eynsford, on "The Reformation;" Mr. Monk, on 66 Geography;" Mr. Kirby, on "Great Painters;" Mr. Boorman, on "The Pitcairn Islanders;" Mr. Johnson, “A Reading from Shakespeare:" Mr. Monk, A Reading on Lord Macaulay." The institution had been placed in union with the Society

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of Arts, and would derive therefrom the advantages enumerated in the Society's prospectus. The attention of the members was invited to the arrangements for the new season. And first, there was the course of lectures as follows:Mr. Barnett Blake, of Leeds, " On the Philosophy of the Breakfast Table;" Mr. Henry Vincent, on "Home Life, its duties and its pleasures;" Mrs. Balfour, on "Charlotte Brontë;" Mr. Wheeler, on "The Planets and their Attendants;" Mr. Gerald Massey, on "Robert Burns;" Mr. William Parsons, on "Old Homer and his days;" Dr. Letheby, on Ancient and Modern Alchemy;" the Rev. E. Paxton Hood, on "Kings Crowned and Uncrowned;" Dr. Lankester, on "The Sea-shore, its Products and its Lessons." To the whole of this excellent course of lectures members might be admitted to the front seats for two shillings, and to the back seats for one shilling. It was clear that nothing but a large sale of tickets would suffice to cover the expenses, and one powerful reason why a great effort should be put forth to secure this desideratum was the fact, that a loss upon the lectures would prevent the committee from purchasing many new library books. It was pleasing to know that up to the present time about thirty pounds' worth of tickets had been sold, but it was evident that the sale must continue to grow, in order to prevent disappointment. A new feature in the Society's operations was the offer of prizes to stimulate a spirit of laudable emulation in the production of works of literature or art. The following prizes had been offered:-A guinea edition of "Keith Johnson's Atlas of General Geography," for the best (and, if the competitors number ten, a twelveand-sixpenny edition of the same work, for the second best) "Map of England and Wales;" also, a guinea edition of "Longfellow's Poems," for the best (and, if the competitors number ten, a half-guinea edition of the same work for the second best) "Essay on Recre ation." Up to the present time, ten members had given their names as com▾

petitors in the construction of the maps. A special fund had been formed, by shilling subscriptions, for the purchase of the rewards. It had been arranged to hold the ordinary meetings monthly, in the Public Rooms, and the time was to be occupied by the production of the report of the Society's proceedings, discussion upon the affairs of the Institution, and readings and conversation upon the writings of great men, as Shakespeare, Longfellow, Lord Macaulay, and others. The report concluded with an appeal for renewed and mutual exertion on the part of the members, that the Society might continue the noble work it bad begun, and extend its operations to a wider field.

Mr. Bryant moved the adoption of the report, which was carried unanimously.

The chairman stated that the next business was the election of officers for the ensuing year. In accordance with the provisions of a new rule, the president, two vice-presidents, treasurer, secretary, one librarian, and four directors, were to retire annually, in rotation. As that was the first annual meeting since the forination of the rule, it was necessary to draw lots to determine upon the gentlemen who should on that occasion retire. Lots were accordingly drawn, and the result was that Messrs. J. Tong and F. Palmer, vice-presidents; Mr. W. Dobbie, librarian; and Messrs.

H. Anderson, Boorman, C. Smith, and Holloway, directors, had to retire.

S. G. Johnson, Esq., in an eloquent and complimentary speech, proposed the re-election of Mr. F. W. Monk, as president. The proposition was most favourably received by the members, none of whom availed themselves of the opportunity of moving an amendment; and Mr. Monk, having thankfully acknowledged the kind manner in which his name had been received, expressed his willingness to accept the office for another year.

The election of the other officers was then proceeded with in the most pleasant manner, and the result gave the following as the committee of the present year: Mr. F. W. Monk, president; Messrs. S. G. Johnson, V. Court, C. Smith, and T. Goff, vice-presidents; Mr. J. Tong, secretary; Mr. H. Kirby, treasurer; Messrs. R. Mills and W. Dobbie, librarians; and Messrs. Boulden, W. Tong, Paine, J. A. Anderson, H. Anderson, C. F. Dane, A. Bate, and Stevens, directors. Messrs. Difford and Hood were next elected auditors.

Mr. Hood proposed that a vote of thanks be given to the president, secretary, and committee, for their services during the past year, which was carried unanimously, and acknowledged by the chairman, who then declared the meeting at an end.

The King of Saxony has translated "Dante."

Jules Janin has issued an edition of 'Horace," text, translation, and notes. Horace Mayhew is understood to be engaged in preparing "Transatlantic Sketches ; or, Model Men and Women of Canada and the United States," from a tour in which lands he has but recently returned.

Oehlenschlager, the Shakespere of Deamark, born 14th November, 1779; died 28th January, 1850; is to have a monument raised to his memory.

Professor C. Lobeck, author of "Aglaophamus," and other critical works composed in severe Latin, died at Konigsberg-where he was professor of eloquence and Greek Literature-on 27th August, aged 80. Having been appointed in 1802, he was two years the colleague of Kant.

An Art-Biography of Michael Angelo has been issued by Herman Grimm; and Professor Springer, of Bonn, is preparing a "Life of Albert Durer-whom his tombstone at Nurnberg characterizes as "light of the arts-sun of artists

painter, engraver, sculptor without equal."

Kosegarten, the philologist, expired at Griefswald.

R. W. Emerson, "On the Conduct of Life," is announced.

The sequel to Sir William Hamilton's "Dissertations on Reid," for which the philosophic world has so long and so patiently waited, is promised shortly by Messrs. MacLachlan and Stewart.

The editor of the "New Quarterly Magazine has obtained from a relative of the famous Scottish poet, Motherwell, some of his unpublished pieces, which he intends to insert from time to time in the "New Quarterly Magazine." One or more of these will appear in No. IV. for November.

Gustave Liebert has written a work entitled "Milton; a contribution to a History of the English Mind." It is published by Meissner, Hamburg.

Madame Ida Pfeiffer's "Autobiography," edited by her son, is announced. There are 2,000 booksellers in Leipsic.

A monument to Duncan Ban Macintyre, a Gaelic poet, was inaugurated at Dalmally, New Brunswick, on the 14th ult.

Napoleon III.'s" Julius Cæsar" is in the press, and it is to be republished in a translation executed from an advance copy by Miss Mary Booth.

Joseph Locke, Esq., M.P. for Honiton, President of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and joint author with Robert Stephenson of "Observations on Fixed and Locomotive Engines," died at Moffat, on the 18th ult.

Carthage and its Remains" is shortly to be issued by Bentley, from the pen of Mr. Davis.

Dr. Roscher, the explorer of Central Africa, was killed by two natives of Zanzibar with poisoned arrows.

Several letters of Napoleon I. have been published in the Moniteur. They refer to the Egyptian expedition; but are evidently issued with what logicians call-a second intention.

Mr. William Bain, the distinguished psychologist, has been appointed by Sir G. C. Lewis-for the Queen-to the Professorship of Logic in the University of Aberdeen.

The Hon. James Wilson and Sir Henry Ward, both literary men and statesmen, are now names of the dead yet living exponents of finance, politics, and government.

C. G. Leland (translator of Heine's Poems) is editor of "Vanity Fair,” the American Thackerayish Punch.

Dickens is said to be employed on a new monthly serial story.

F. von Wessenberg, a historian, essayist, and poet, one of the most learned of the bishops of the Roman Church, died at Constance, 10th ult., aged 86.

Miss Vandenhoff (Mrs. Swineburne), authoress of "Woman's Heart," &c., died in Liverpool, on 15th ult.

A. A. Knox, one of the Times' staff, has been raised to the magisterial bench.

We understand that Her Majesty is a subscriber to Mudie, "the Napoleon of librarians;" and that the Prince of Wales took with him, to Canada, a finely selected stock of books from the Oxford-street bibliotheca.