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    nriae mto is , labour at the command of skill . ( ' Hear , hear , ' Lad app lause . ) Our first father was ordained to live by tfhe sweat of the brow ; but the brow is the domain of ( though * , and the moment that labour begins , thought is ^ wakened . Not that we value all labour alike ; we estimate its worth , not according to the amount of work that 5 s done by the hands , but according to the degree of intelligence which is brought ; to bear upon the work . If labour Is ° origin of all capital , bodily labour is only the raw material , and mind is the great manufacturer . Gentlemen wherever we look , we shall find that even the commercial prosperity of the people is proportioned to the decree in which mental energy controls physical force . It ni this intelligence which has enabled England to grasp

    * he wealth of the world with one hand and to diffuse it T ^ ith the other throughout thousands of reproductive channels . If , at this moment , we could annihilate in the . interior of Eussia a number of people equal to the population of Manchester , the loss would bo scarcely felt beyond a province ; but if we could strike Manchester from the map of these isles , the link that unites together the ends of the world would be snapped asunder . In one case Tve should only destroy men , and in the other case we should destroy ideas . ( Applause . ) The ships that carry your goods from haven to haven bear with them not only cotton—they bear civilization . And here it is that we

    authors may boast that we contribute even to the material wealth that freights those vessels ; because you owe snore of that wealth to the ideas which you and your forefathers have gathered from books than you do to all the mines of Peru . "Well , then , gentlemen , if it is to mental labour that kings owe their purple , and havens their vessels , and markets their merchandize , you cannot wonder that we , a handful of authors , not craving honours or needing aid for ourselves , are still inspired with a sense of the dignity of our class , in the great hierarchy of mental labour , and do desire to lift above the chance of degradation all those who adorn and ennoble the order to which we belong . This is the main object of the guild . "

    After setting forth in detail the main purposes , he wound up as follows : — " Gentlemen , you all remember that story of Aladdin , which we have read in our childhood , in which a poor youth descended into a cavern , and brought back from its recesses an old lamp . Accidentally he discovered that by the mere friction of the lamp a mighty genius appeared at his command . Awed by the terrors of the spirit he had summoned , he at first only ventured to apply its powers to satisfy his common and his humblest wants—to satisfy mere hunger and thirst . But gradually accustomed to the presence of the gigantic agent , he employed it to construct jmlaces , to amass treasures , to baffle armies , and to tri - umph over foes , until , at the close of the story , the owner

    of the wonderful lamp is the sovereign of a peaceful empire , assured to his remote posterity . Gentlemen , that story is the type of labour at the command of knowledge . ( Hear , hear . ) When we first find the'lamp , we are contented to apply its genius solely to our common physical wants ; but as we are accustomed to the presence of that spirit we have summoned , wfe find we hare obtained a secret which places the powers of earth , air , and ocean , at the command of man . ( Applause . ) That genius , left to itself , would be a , terrible and a threatening minister , because that genius hero is only rudo physical force , but to him who possesses iho lamp , the eemus is a docile and a benignant minister ,

    because hero physical force is the slave of intellectual will . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) Now , gentlemen , in th a t Biuno physical ft > rce— -which in the phrase of the day is sometimes called the ' power of tho masses '—lies a grave problem for all thoughtful men to resolve . ( Hear , hear . ) Knowledge has brought us face to face with it ; and knowlod ge must either instruct that force , or it will destroy tho invoker . May , then , therefore , all those who possess that knowledge , who are gifted with tho lamp , use it only for } T < . > norous and useful purposes , so that the genius whose strength could rouse the earthquake , and whose breath could bring down tho ' storm , may only como to enrich the treasury and assure tho empire . ( Cheers . )"

    Reciprocal toasts were the order of the evening ; Hrid hi response to his own health , Sir Edward proposed Hint of the Mayor , who presided over the banquet . Tho Mayor liriofly responded , and in his turn gave " The Amateur Company of tho Guild of Literature and Art , coupled with tho name of Mr . Charles Dickens . " ( Loud applause . ) Mr . Dickens thanked Manchester for what it had done in behalf of the Guild , and tho hearty reception i' had accorded to the performances of the amateur company before tho Guild was established . Ho spoke ' Iho most affectionately of his comrades , who hud proved that , on tho stage and off the btago , men of imaginative pursuits could co-operate as steadily and as staunchly un any other order of men : —•

    ' 1 liuv ' o now tho great gratification , with tho chairman's J < 'iive , of proposing | , o you to drink " Prosperity to tho Manchester Athonmum . " ( Applause-. ) I cannot disguiso i-oni you that I feel a kind ot ardent godfatherly satisnctioii in proposing tlio toast , for 1 can never forget that liiicl the honour of presiding over tho first of its groat i < i < M > liiifjrH . ( Cheers . ) 1 can never forgot that I am one of In honorary lift ) members , and that my parchment , of on-, 'olnicut in ( hat capacity occupies a proud position upon j lvy HUid y wall at homo . ( Applause , ) In short , I belong ' ¦<» the family , and J contemplate tho family greatness to-1 'i tfhl . willi a g \ ow of family pride . ( Applau . su . ) Long ¦ iicreloiv , I most sincerely pray , may the Manchester " eiiamin flourish , a pattern to the rising enterprise and nicrjry < , (• Kngland , and a vigorous branch of that great *»« ial troo which , under tho name and form of such institu' 'iis , luw happily for all sorts and conditions of mon struck .. ' ¦<><>( h « 'cop into this land . ( Applauuo . ) Long may I oiiiic al divisions } and party dittuontuonu bo forgotten hero

    —( hear , hear )—and very long may my old friend Mr . Crosby , in the character of an allegorical lion , lie down with the radical in the form of an allegorical lamb on this peaceful neutral ground . ( Laughter and applause . ) Long , very long , may the Manchester Athenaeum increase and prosper , work and strive—a noble emblem of the wonderful place in which it rears its head ; and long may its young men , generously united to advance generous objects , render such faithful public service as they have Tendered to the Guild of Literature and Art . ( Applause . ) I beg to call upon you to drink " Prosperity to the Manchester Athenaeum . " ( Cheers . ) Mr . Watkin responded ; Mr . Frank Stone acknowledged "Science and the Fine Arts ; " and Dr . Bardsley proposed the " Periodical Literature of England . "

    A more fitting respondent to this toast could not have been selected than the originator of the Penny Magazine : — - " It is not without a feeling of awe that I have looked for some time upon what is tho characteristic of the periodical literature of the present day . I have seen it from a very small beginning j and there now goes forward in the parcels from the London booksellers , which have grown throughout the land with infinite ramifications , periodical literature for which the people of England pay a million per annum . I speak not of that which is to come afterwards , " the press "—that is , the newspapers—but I speak of the periodical literature simply . It is a good

    thing , or it is an evil thing . I do truly believe it is a great thing . I do believe that what is evil in it , and there is evil in it , will be corrected by what is good in it . I do believe that the good will extinguish the evil , and that the periodical literature of England , which I have to speak of , will be an emblem of the growing refinement and educated spirit of the nation . Gentlemen , I cannot speak of literature without associating with it the great object in connexion with which I have the honour to be your guest this day . I do believe , if there is anything to be deplored in our periodical literature—if there is anything that is wanting in its character—if there is anything that has a tendency to lower the moral feeling of England , it is this : that there are some men who are so pressed by

    their necessities and their position , that they are ready to do any work that is presented to them in the shape of mere hireling service . If there be an institution which is to rescue such men from their unfortunate condition , and to rouse them to feel the great responsibility that every man ought to know that he wields—it is an institution which shall place them in independence , and say to them , ' God ' s sake , never degrade yourselves by writing against your conscience , for a mere venial payment of your pen , ' " which shall extend to these men some effectual relief . "We should teach the peoplo to discard all that is poor and mediocre in literature , and to make our periodical literature the ^ opening key , to the great body of the people , of the treasures of past times . It cannot be said of the people of Manchester ,

    that—Knowledge to them her ample page , I ( ioh with the spoils of time did ne ^ er unfold . That cannot be said of the people of Manchester , when you open the doors of your Free Library . I beg to propose to you ' The Free Library of Manchester . '" Other toasta were proposed , concluding with tho " Lancashire Witches " and Mr . Charles Dickens , and the jovial actors , painters , authors , lawyers , and manufacturers went their ways about midnight .

    The Manchester Free Library was formally opened on Thursday . Sir John Potter presided over tho inaugural meeting ; and among the company the Earl of Shuftesbury , the Earl of Wilton , the Bishop of Manchester , Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton , Sir J . Stephen , Mr . Charles Dickens , Mr . Monckton Milnes , M . P ., Mr . John Bright , M . P .,. Mr . W . Brown , M . l \ , Mr . Thackeray , Mr . Charles Knight , Dr . Vaughan , and Mr . Felkin ( Mayor of Nottingham . ) Among tho ladies present were tho Countess of Wilton and tho Hon . Misses

    Egcrton . Most of tho gentlemen addressed short speeches to the audience , cither in proposing or supporting resolutions .

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    EXTRAORDINARY NARRATIVE . [ The following marvellous story is told by the Ipswich J ' Jxjrress . We submit it , without alteration or comment , to the consideration of our readers . j Many of the allegations connected with the following extraordinary narration have for some time been known to us , but up to tho present period we havo for man y reasons preferred remaining silent regarding them . Jt ih our painful duty to alludo to a very remarkable case , many of tho features of which are so abhorrent , from their apparently profane connexion with religious subjects , that avo could wihIi wo had boon spared the < hity ol detailing them . Shottuduun is a quiet' villago in Suffolk , distant , from Ipswich thirteen miles , from Woodbridgo five miles . Atiaph Squirrcll ( a small ten dealer ) and his wife havo long resided there , and were believed to be honest , industrious , and worthy people . Amongst their family was an interesting girl named Elizabeth , who , in fact , is tho heroine of our tale . Whilst a mere child thin girl gavo evidonco that hIio posfloHsod a very superior mind . At ton she was placed under the can ) of Mr . Osborno the village schoolmaster , who soon perceived that his pupil was a girl of great natural ability . Nho was attentive to her studies and whilst others wore at play she would be closely engaged in poring over tho books that composed Mr . Onborno's library . Having a religious turn of mind , she read upon all theological points . She also made herself acquainted with tho English pools , with history , with parts of botany , and with phonography . In Juno , 1850 , at tho

    age of twelve , she left the school from illness , occasioned , it is said , by too close attention to her studies . Her illness assumed the shape of a spinal affection , for which she had the best medical advice , and was subsequently sent to the East Suffolk Hospital , in Ipswich , where she remained about six weeks . She then returned home , became worse , and lock-jaw set in , depriving her , as it was alleged , _ of the power of swallowing . She lived on suction , milk being 1 poured down her throat ; but the quantities were so small that her death was daily expected . She , however , to the astonishment of her friends and tho villagers , continued to live on , although it was said she did not take a morsel of solid food . At Midsummer , 1851 , she recovered from her lock-jaw ; but it was alleged that she had previously been seized with blindness and dcafnesa—faculties which she

    did not regain . The way in which she had lived began to be talked of , and some excitement was occasioned amongst the gossips of the neighbouring villages . But at about this time the writings and speeches of the child occasioned considerable interest , which was heightened by the assertion , that she still ate no food . Persons living in the locality came to visit her , and found the patient in a humble apartment , supported on her bed by pillows , with a countenance which most of them called " angelic , " but which certainly was remarkable for its singularly devotional cast , and for the great intelligence which beamed from it . Although it was alleged she could not see , her eyes remained open , and but little defect could be observed in them . To her visitors who sympathised with her she

    would say , when lamenting her deafness and blindness , that " what she had learned during health were the tools she had to make use of during her illness . " Every hour that passed away added to the excitement , and spread her fame wider and wider from her native village . At all hours of the day parties wended their way to her cottage , and no sooner had they gazed on the child than they were interested in her—an interest that had a strange dash of mystery in it when they were assured that for nearly two years not a particle of solid food had passed her lips . But the moment she began to speak she fairly enchained the sympathies of her hearers . For the most part her remarks applied to religious subjects , on which she would descant with a beauty of language , power of thought , and devotion

    of mind , to which old divines could make little pretension , and she became to be regarded as a being who had some direct mission to accomplish on behalf of I ) eity . Her intellectual and devotional powers were developed-to their utmost whenever sceptics or infidels were within range of her voice . On secular subjects , also , her remarks were clearly and powerfully given , and also manifested an intimate acquaintance with the topics on which she dwelt . Her parents were equally astonished with others , and ever solemnly protested ttiat her assertions regarding abstinence from food were religiously correct . Her statement regarding herself and her alleged peculiar condition was , that she had seen a vision of angels , one of which number had consented to become her constant attendant and guardian .

    Lest she should not bo believed , she frequently prayed earnestly that God would grant to her and her visitors some immediate manifestation , which should convince all that she was really the object of God ' s especial favour . After a time her prayer was answered in this wise—whilst her visitors were deeply engaged in devotional exercises , a ringing noise was hoard , as if proceeding from a small tumbler glass that stood some distance from her . The sound excited the attention of thoso who wcro present , who listened in wonder to her statement , that whenever it sounded it was swept by the invisible wings of the angel that attended her , and was a direct manifestation from

    heaven of tho presence of God . Often and often did this mysterious ringing occur , and always when thoy were most devout ; but tho visitors were unablo to account for it . She often , although deaf , expressed much anxiety that it should ring , and after its peculiar sounds had been heard sho seemed bathed in a sort of ethereal inspiration , during which her thoughts flowed from her lips , burthened with devotion and religious zeal . During a considerable part of her peculiar state sho gave evidence of great sensibility of touch , being , as it was asserted , enabled to read any person ' s Jotters by running her finger over tho lines , and deciphering by tho same alleged means tho phonographic characters that wore printed on letter wafers .

    Amongst those who visited her were not a I ' ew who endeavoured to detect whether or not any imposition was practised . Some of these attended day after day , but all wcro fairly beaten , and came away convinced that it was physically , intellectually , and religiously , a genuine case . Rather more than three months since , she and her parents stated that the milk erased to afford her any nourishment , and that , in fact , from that timo she left off taking any sustenance at all , neither food nor drink passing her lips * Visitors closely watched her , and wore convinced that she was really living on from week to week without partaking

    ol any kind of nourishment . The excitement out of doors , and throughout many parts of the county , was now at fever heat . Medical men , clergymen , dissenting ministers , carriage aristocracy , gig , cart , and foot folk , alike shared in tho intense desire to gaze on this extraordinary child , and to listen to the words which fell from her with as much weight as if she really had indisputable credentials that she was an oraelo from heaven . On being asked when and how this mystic scene would end , she replied , "Oh ! in my triumphant entrance into glory !'

    home gentlemen in Ipswich , who had become- deeply interested in tho case , at length felt , that it , was quite timo that some systematic effort should h «> made to Jest it to its fullest extent . Tlietjo gentlemen judged that an eight days ' trial would settle the matter as to whether or not sho partook of any kind of nourishment . Accordingly , two females of good characler were selected , at the earnest entreaty of the father of the girl , who wcro instructed to keen watch over her for eight dayo and eight nights , it being an instruction that tho room should novor bo left without one of them being present . Throe- woeks since thoy commenced ( heir tusk , receiving their instructions from a medical inun , and at tho end oieight doyo returned to IpawicU

    Untitled Article

    September 4 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 843

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 4, 1852, page 843, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1950/page/7/