For all of you who have wondered what we've been 'eliminating' in our transcriptions, this is a fairly COMPLETE issue - minus the news of the French court, and the German military, etc. But all, or most of Cornwall, is included. This is the first of four parts - all transcribed by Lorena Loubsky, who at first had this so beautifully laid out to replicate the actual newspaper. Unfortunately, Rootsweb's servers won't allow Rich Text and great columns. It's her first try at transcribing the paper, and she's done extremely well. Hope you enjoy!! Julia ________________________________________________________ WEST BRITON and CORNWALL ADVERTISER Friday, 7 November, 1856 . POLITICAL NEWS . ....for re-election, and with them was associated Mr. S. Pascoe, merchant. Mr. Uglow, watchmaker, however issued a paper with only his own name thereon, and canvassed the electors. As the four candidates were all reformers, Mr. Passingham on the morning of the election withdrew from the contest, in order to avoid any disunion among his friends; and it was then supposed the Messrs. Davey, Pascoe, and Uglow, would have been elected without a contest. But soon afterwards it was ascertained that certain persons were dissatisfied that there should be no contest, and consequently Mr. George Hall, surveyor, was started, although he protested against his name being used for the purpose. Consequently, the poll was resorted to, and some degree of excitement created, the polling being active towards the middle of the day. . In the eastern ward there was also a contest. The retiring councilors were Mr. Spry, surgeon, Mr. George Clyma, printer, and Mr. M'Farlane Heard, printer. These offered themselves for re-election; but in addition, Mr. J. P. Endean, ironmonger, came forward, as the opponent (so he said), of "hypocritical Whiggery," and he was urged on and backed up by a certain class of Tories, it being due to the more respectable of them, to state that they held aleof from his movement. . It was perfectly clear from the commencement that Mr. Endean had not the slightest chance of succeeding. The poll, however, was kept open throughout the day, and about seven in the evening the Mayor, Mr. Stokes (contrary to the more recent practice in the borough) consented on a requisition by several electors being presented to him, to declare the poll in the Town Hall. A considerable number of people assembled, and the results of the poll were declared as follows: - Western ward – Uglow, 306; Hall, 195; Pascoe, 183; Davey, 122. Eastern ward – Spry, 301; Heard, 293; Clyma, 269; Endean, 69. The three first named in each ward were declared elected; after which all the candidates (with the exception of Mr. Spry who was not present) returned thanks to the electors. . Penryn. - Messrs. J.B. Read, G.H. Trenery, G. Bishop, and R. Rapson's term of office, as councilors of this borough, having expired on the 1st of November, they were all re-elected without opposition. . Falmouth. - The retiring councilors were Mr. W. Carne, Mr. E. Cobon, Mr. Eli Cuttance and Mr. T. H. Tilly. On Saturday last, the two first were re-elected , the other two declined to stand again, and Mr. E.C. Carne, merchant, was elected in the toom of Mr. Cuttance, and Mr. Webber, baker, in the place of Mr. Tilly. There was no political movement, and only a few papers were put in at intervals,. The poll was kept open until four o'clock , but not fifty persons voted. . Helston. - On Saturday last, Messrs. Thomas Phillips Tyacke, Jonathan Hodge, Henry Rogers, and William Caddy, were returned as councilors for this borough. The three former were elected in the place of Messrs. William Sleeman, Henry Roberts, and Thomas Julian, who had previously declared their intention to resign. The system in this borough, until within the last few years, has been for the corporate body to nominate and elect the new councilors annually, without reference to the burgesses; but this practice was about three years since put an end to by Mr. William Sleeman, who on his desiring to become a town councilor, made a personal canvass of every burgess, and for the first time gave them the opportunity of electing their own man. The same principle was followed by Henry Roberts; and to these two retiring gentlemen great credit is due for having adopted the proper mode of election of town councilors, and thus giving the burgesses the power to put the "right man in the ! right place." It was rumoured during the past week that other parties were coming forward as candidates for the above office; but it is believed that only one of the gentlemen really intended to offer himself; and it seems that his purpose was completely frustrated by leaving the matter to be managed as of old. . Penzance.- At the municipal election on Saturday last, Messrs. Borlase, Bellringer and House, the retiring members for the west ward were re-elected without opposition. In the east ward there was a contest between Messrs. Polklinghorne, Read, Branwell, Norton, Hemmings, Sampson, Boase, and Trembath. The last three were proposed by some party whose views differed from the majority of the electors. The numbers at the close of the poll were as follows: - Polkinghorne, 205; Read, 201; Branwell, 144; Norton, 121; Hemmings, 76; Sampson, 2; Boase, 1; Trembath, 1. Messrs. Polkinghorne, Read and Branwell were the elected members. . St. Ives. - The election of town councilors took place on Saturday last, when the retiring members were Mr. Matthew Trewhella, Mr. Tonkin young, and Mr. William Worth Kempthorne. Mr. Matthew Trewhella was re-elected; and Mr. Moses Martin, and Mr. Vivian Stevens Williams, were elected in the room of Messrs. Young and Kempthorne. . Liskeard. - Messrs. P. Clymo, Saml. Bone, James Parkyn, and John C. Isaac, the four retiring members, were re-elected on Saturday last. It was not expected there would be any opposition, but the Liberals who were on the qui vive discovered late on Friday evening that Mr. Sargent, solicitor, and a Tory, intended to offer himself, and that his partisans had been secretly at work, in the hope it be believed, of taking the Liberals by surprise. In this, however, he was defeated, for early on the Saturday morning the Liberals were at their post, and soon placed the men they had selected in a decisive majority. The result of the polling was as follows: - Mr. Clymo, 125; Mr. Bone, 104; Mr. Isaac, 104; Mr. Parkyn, 93; and Mr. Sargent, 31. . LOCAL INTELLIGENCE . INSTRUCTION OF THE BLIND. - A meeting was held at Truro on Monday afternoon last, to consider the best method of instructing the blind of Cornwall, in reading and some branches of industry. Reports of the number and condition of the blind in various parts of the county were read , and it was agreed to engage William Baker, a blind man of St. Austell, who was present, to begin the experiment of teaching the blind at their own homes, at St. Just or Falmouth, as he has been for four or five years successfully engaged in this work in his own neighbourhood. . Circulating libraries, in raised type for the blind, are also in contemplation. The following letter by William Moon, the blind teacher of the Brighton Institution, inventor of the system of raised type most in use, has been addressed to Miss Caroline Fox: . "Brighton, October 15, 1856. My dear Madam, - The receipt of your letter and prospectus rejoices my heart greatly. We have lately started a home-teaching society in London also, to form lending libraries and supply the blind with books, through the medium of the teachers. Two blind teachers are now at work in London, and the plan is found to answer admirably, and I believe if the plan can be adopted throughout the country, it will become one of the greatest boons (in respect to reading,) that the blind have ever possessed. The teachers set out in the morning for their particular portions of their district for the day, taking with them two or four books in two bags slung across their shoulders. They make their first call and change the book, taking it to the n ext reader, and so shifting each book from one reader to another, till they complete their round for the day. By this means, one set of books supplies a large number of readers, and the books are conveyed from one to an! other without any difficulty. The teacher at each visit hears them read a little by way of improvement, &c., at the same time having a little spiritual conversation and prayer with them. I find the blind are generally the best teachers, and most acceptable to the blind. I will prepare you a list of my books as arranged for libraries. I have a young man in this county that would make a very good teachers, should you be in want of such. I esteem Mr. Baker's principles and exertions very much. Would John Andrews Arthur, of St. just, make a teacher? Should you be in want of any I could soon find them for you, if your society have funds. Could you get sale for the articles your blind could manufacture, they might be made to support themselves after a time, the plan of which I purpose sending you in my next epistle." . MAINE LAW. – A public meeting was held on Monday, in Union Hall, Bodmin, to hear from Mr. Mudge an account of the proceedings of the United Kingdom Alliance, at their recent anniversary in Manchester. The speaker went rapidly through the items of the report. The past year's expenses were GBP 8516, receipts GBP 9517. The Alliance Weekly News is nearly self-supporting, with an increasing sale. Over thirty-three tons of paper have been issued in their literary department. Letters of acknowledgement had been received from many members of parliament, amongst them one from the Chancellor of the Exchequer. These and many other facts were detailed by Mr. Mudge to a delighted audience, whose sympathy seemed thoroughly enlisted on the side of legal prohibition. . "TEMPLE OF PEACE" LODGE OF ODD FELLOWS. - On Monday last, the brethren of the "Temple of Peace" Lodge at Truro , dined at the Red Lion Hotel in that town, under the presidency of the Mayor, Mr. Stokes, with Mr. John Hamilton in the vice-chair. About forty of the brethren dined together, and the usual toasts followed. In the course of the evening it was stated on behalf of the Lodge, that the finances were in a prosperous state, and that they were yearly adding to their balance in hand. The evening was spent in a very pleasant and agreeable manner. . THE REDRUTH PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY. - This society whose musical taste and talent have now become a matter of notoriety in the county, gave their first concert for the session in the Town-hall, Redruth, on Tuesday the 28th ult. The instrumental performers being violins, Messrs. Sims, J.F. Penrose, and James Hitchens; violoncellos, Messsrs. Nettell and Davey; double- base, Mr. Rodda; Flutes, Messrs. Penrose and Andrew; and piano, Mr. J. S. Mitchell. The vocalists were Messrs. J.S. Mitchell, Runnalls, N. Donnithorne, A Lanyon, and James Sims. The general impression produced by the evening's entertainment was so agreeable that we have no inclination to be critical; but we may venture an opinion that our Redruth friends, in their praiseworthy anxiety to realize the most elaborate creations of musical genius, have somewhat miscalculated the difficulty of achieving that object with the means at their command. . ODDS AND ENDS. – On Monday and Tuesday last, Messrs. Lloyd and Champion gave an entertainment of a very amusing character to a crowded audience in the Town hall, Redruth. Mr. Chamption fully sustained his reputation as a singer and performer; and Mr. Lloyd;s characters were ably and pleasingly represented. On Wednesday evening, Messrs. F. Lloyd and Champion gave an entertainment in the School-room, Hayle, to a highly delighted audience. . TRURO WORKING MAN'S INSTITUTE. - A proposition having been made by certain members of this Institution that the Reading Room should be open on Sundays as on other days of the week, a special general meeting of members to consider the subject was held on Wednesday evening last, when the chair was occupied by the president, Mr. H. S. Stokes, and about one hundred members attended. The president having stated the cause of the meeting having been called, Mr. Hockin, on the part of the promoters of the proposition, stated, that it having come to their knowledge that many of the members and officers of the institution were about to leave if the reading room were opened on the Sabbath day, and being himself as well as those who joined him in signing the requisition from which this meeting resulted, really anxious for the success of the institution, they had come to the determination of withdrawing the proposition altogether. The President, Mr. W. H. Bond, Mr. Geo. Clyma, Mr. W. H.! Jenkins, Mr. T. Solomon, and Mr. H. Patrick addressed the meeting, congratulating it on the happy termination of this important matter. A vote of thanks to the President was carried with acclamation, and the members separated pleased with the result of the meeting. We are glad to hear that the reading room is in a flourishing state. There are about 150 members, and the treasurer, after paying all demands to the present time, has a balance on hand of GBP 9. .XXXXX TRURO INSTITUTION. - On Thursday evening the 30th ult., Mr. W. Parsons, from London, delivered a lecture entitled "The Romance of the Law Courts." In this he gave notices of some remarkable trials, but the lecture was less approved of than tat of the preceding week by Mr. Parsons. It was announced that on Friday evening the 7th instant, Mr. Thomas Garland, of Fairfield, would lecture "On the Writings of Charles Lamb." . PENRYN INSTITUTION. - The members of this society were favoured on Thursday the 30th ult., with an excellent lecture by Professor Hunt, F.R. S., on the "The Life of A Plant." With the aid of diagrams, he beautifully explained the three processes which comprise the life of a plant, vis., germination, lignification, and floriation, and traced these results to their primary causes. He dwelt at length, and with eloquence, on the subjects of light, heat, and actinism, and showed the powers of each on vegetation. Mr. Hunt himself was the first who made known to the world the three classes into which the prismatic colours may be divided, with the effects of each on the vegetable world. In speaking of the observations of the late Professor Forbes in the Egoean, he remarked that vegetation was found to exist in that sea at the depth of 300 fathoms from othe surface, whereas around our own coast it ceases to exist at the depth of seventy fathoms. This difference is to be attributed to! the inequality in depth to which light penetrates in these latitudes. After a very brilliant conclusion, the lecturer sat down amidst the warmest applause of the audience. Some inquiries in connection with the subject having been most kindly answered, a vote of thanks was unanimously given to the able lecturer. The next lecture will be delivered on Monday the 10th instant, by Mr. Henry Lowry, of Truro, entitled, "An evening with Alfred Tennyson, the Poet Laureate of England." . PENZANCE INSTITUTE. - On Monday evening last, Mr. J.T. Blight gave his second lecture on the antiquities of Cornwall. The lecture was confined to the eastern part of the county, and many illustrations were given from the lecturer's own sketches, he having spent two months during the past summer in examining and making drawings of the most valuable ancient remains found east of Truro. There was a large audience, and a very interesting discussion after the lecture. . GRAMPOUND LITERARY INSTITUTION. - A very interesting and instructive lecture was delivered on Tuesday evening last, by Mr. Bond, of Truro, on "John Howard the Philanthropist." The lecturer ably reviewed the life of Howard, and the privations and dangers to which he was exposed in his visits to the prisons, and his journeys to distant lands in the cause of suffering humanity. A hearty vote of thanks was unanimously presented to the lecturer for his very able and instructive lecture. At the close it was announced that the next lecture would be given by the Rev. T.B. Hart, of Tregony, on "The Coals We Burn," with experiments. . LAUNCESTON MECHANICS INSTITUTE - On Monday last Mr. Robbins, one of the tradesmen of the town, delivered before this institute a very able and interesting lecture on "The past, present and future of the town of Launceston." In treating the subject he gave an epitome of its ancient history before the conquest, under William and his successors, and its first appearance as a representative borough in the time of Edward the First. He then treated of its financial and commercial state from the year 1820 to the present (a period within his own recollection), noting the various losses which the town had sustained in the removal of the assizes, and cessation of Manganese works, the loss of traffic by means of the South Devon Railway, &c. As to the future, he strongly urged the importance of a line of railway to Plymouth, either by way of Tavistock or Saltash. On this part of the subject there was considerable unanimity of opinion in the audience, but from the former part of the lec! turer several dissented. The subscription room was crowded, and more than one hundred could not gain admission. A night specially devoted to a discussion on the lecture is talked of by many, and it is probable that the committee will accede to the request. . SIR JOHN ST. AUBYN'S LIBRARY. - We are indebted to Mr. John Camden Hotten, bookseller, 151 Picadilly, for the following account of some of the more interesting articles disposed of at the recent sale of the valuable library and paintings of the late Sir John St. Aubyn, at Lime Grove, Putney, near London. The late Sir John. St. Aubyn was one of the principal patrons of Cornish literature and art. Opie, the painter; Wolcott, the rhyming satirist; Borlase, the historian; and Pryce, a mineralogist and philologian, all found in him a friend - and what is more, a purchaser of their works. . Of Opie's paintings, Sir John was a great admirer, and possessed six fine specimens; according to the catalogue they were,- . "A Portrait of Opie painted by himself;" "A Child feeding a Spaniel;" a large gallery picture (which hung in the staircase), entitled "A subject from Spenser's Faerie Queen;" "A Portrait of Opie when young, by himself;" and two "Family portraits of members of the St. Aubyn Family." Of Opie’s lectures on painting published after his death by his widow, we find that Sir John took twenty copies - double the number of any other subscriber. Pryce's Cornish Grammar was dedicated to him, and as some copies were in his library it is more than probable he was a good purchaser. Borlase's works were patronized by him, and the great historical of Cornwall thanks Sir John more than once in his prefaces for actual literary assistance rendered during their progress. . The principal rarities, apart from those relating to Cornwall, were: Les Presentes Heurs a lussige de Romme, Imprimees a Paris pour Germain Hardoyn, - printed on Vellum, and illuminated with fourteen large and twenty-two small miniatures. The date of this book was about 1510. It brought GBP 9 5s. A very fine specimen from Caxton's press - The Chronycles of England, folio, in black letter, printed in Westmynstre, 1480. It sold for GBP 28. A splendid Hebrew manuscript, "Book of the Ceremonies of the Passover," on thick vellum, with fifty large and small Miniatures. This realized GBP 20. A copy of Bartholomæus de Proprietatibus Rerum, printed by Wynken de Worde, sold for GBP 27. The Chronicles of England, &c., in twenty volumes, brought GBP 28. Gough's Sepulchral Monuments, a very fine copy, was sold for GBP 62. Romaunt de la Rose par Guillaume de Lorris et Jean de Meun, illuminated with ninety-eight miniature paintings, very spiritedly executed, and heightened with gold, the f! irst page with an illuminated border, printed on pure vellum; an early edition without place, date, or name of printer, but supposed by Verrard, about 1496. It was bought by a gentleman for GBP 210. . There were the usual large "Galleries" of Engravings found in most gentlemen’s libraries, together with good editions of the British classics, and works of reference, but the preference appears to have been given to works on Natural History, some of the finest Botanical and kindred scientific books figuring in the collection. The whole were in a very superior state, beautifully clean and insubstantial and frequently choice bindings. In short, any one could observe that the collection had been made by a man of taste and literary judgment. . All the principal works relating to Cornwall were there, together with some unique in their kind, and not to be found in any other collection. Of these latter I subjoin a short descriptive list: A Survey of the Islands of Scilly, 1652, a manuscript of thirty-two leaves. Sold for GBP 4 2s. Journal of a Tour to Upper Devon and Cornwall, a manuscript, illustrated with thirteen original drawings by H. Spence. Sold for GBP 4.8s, Autograph Letters, addressed to William Borlase, the historian of Cornwall, by Sir John St. Aubyn, Alexander Pope, Browne Willis, Dean Milles, Pennant, Dr. Stukely, Hutchins of Dorset, Ames, Gough, and other eminent antiquaries, in six folio and one quarto volumes. This very fine collection sold for GBP l50, and will, in all probability find its way to the British Museum. Copies of letters in the handwriting of Dr. Borlase, three folio volumes. Sold for GBP 13. Memoranda on the Cornish Tongue, and a large quantity of Manuscript Account Books, &c., connec! ted with the History of Cornwall; illustrated with numerous original drawings of antiquities, arms, monuments, coins, &c., nearly the whole being in the Autograph of Dr. Borlase, highly interesting and important, in eighteen vols. Sold for GBP 28. . A large quantity of Manuscript Remarks and Memoranda on Theological and other subjects in the Autograph of Dr. Borlase. Sold for GBP 16 16s. Amongst the printed books relating to Cornwall may be mentioned; - Carew's Survey of Cornwall, 1769, with manuscript additions in the handwriting of Borlase. Borlase on the Scilly Islands, 1756, with M.S. additions by Borlase. . Besides the collection of books, which numbered over 7000 vols., there was a very fine series of engravings illustrative of the art from the earliest period to the present time. The sale of this portion of the St. Aubyn collection occupied six days. It is greatly to be regretted that no large library in Cornwall was represented at the sale by an agent, and that with a few exceptions the literary labours of the St. Aubyn family will be scattered over England and America. . TRURO AND REDRUTH TURNPIKE TOLLS. - The annual letting of these tolls took place at the Town Hall, Truro, on Wednesday last. The tolls were put up by the trustees at GBP 4,200, and after a somewhat spirited bidding by several parties, they were knocked down to Mr. Bramble for GBP 4,400. It appeared, however, that some misapprehension had taken place; consequently the tolls were again put up and were ultimately knocked down to Mr. Harwood for GBP 4,412, being a decrease of GBP 93 on the last year's letting. THE PENZANCE SHIPPING COMPANY. – On Friday last the annual general meeting of this company was held at the Three Tuns Hotel, Mr. Joseph Carne in the chair. There being a balance in favor of GBP 342.18s 9d., a dividend of GBP 1 per share was declared. At two o'clock nearly forty gentlemen sat down to an excellent dinner. BANK RETURNS. - skipped