Petitions, Lectures etc.
Horticultural Show. The autumn show of the Hastings and St. Leonards Horticultural Society was held on the 19th of September in the picturesque Subscription Gardens at St. Leonards. The weather was damp, raw and chilly, which, doubtless, militated against the attendance, and, consequently, the recipts(sic), the society being financially a loser by about £10. The summer exhibition, on June 23rd was held in the Wellington-square garden at Hastings, and although the area was much more limited and less inviting, the show was more successful in consequence of fine weather.
Petitions, signed by 246 persons in St. Leonards, and 514 in Hastings, for closing public houses on Sundays, were presented to the House of Commons by P. F. Robertson, M.P. on March 20th.
Lectures.
“Man, as a Subject of Education” was the title of a lecture in connection with the Mechanics’ Institution, delivered by Mr. Robert Mark, of St. Leonards, on Feb. 15th.
“Self Education” was the topic of an excellent lecture, also in connection with the same Institution, given in the Assembly Rooms on the 22nd of Feb, by the Rev. W. W. Hume.
“History Viewed in the Progress of Civilization” formed the subject of another entertaining lecture on behalf of the Mechanics’ Institution. The lecturer was R. H. S. Smith Esq., B.A. the place was the Assembly Rooms, and the date was the last day of Feby. The lecture was illustrated with coloured diagrams and was of an interesting and instructive nature throughout. The President (A Burton, Esq.) occupied the chair, and was supported by Vice-presidents J. A. Hatchard, P. O. Callaghan, Esq and Capt Hull. Among the distinguished company were the Marquis and Marchioness of Campden, the Earl of Brecknock, Lord George and the Ladies Pratt, General and Lady Mary Fox, the Ladies Sidney, the Marchioness of Abercorn and family, Sir W. and Lady Geary and family, Major-Gen. Sir John Eustace, Baron and Baroness Testerferrata(sic), Rev. W. W. Hume, Mrs. & Mrs. Wagner, and numerous respectable inhabitants, besides officers and members of the Institution.
“Electricity” (with experiments) was a theme on which Mr. John Banks dilated in connection with the Mechanics Institution on the 8th of March.
“Lyric Poetry”. On this subject another excellent lecture under the auspices of the said Institution was delivered in the Assembly Rooms by the Rev. Francis Garden. The lecture defined the lyric as poetry of emotion, and its primary aim as the expression of human feeling. Lyrics, like the emotions they express, should be variable, nervous, tense and emphatic. Simile was used by the epic poet, metaphor by the lyric poet. The lyric had a high rank, both intellectually and morally. The greater part of Scripture was lyrical. Among the ancients the most conspicuous was Pindar. The chorus of the Greek drama was also lyrical, and the Spanish drama itself was lyrical. The reverend lecturer then went through the lists of English poets, commenting on them as he passed on, and he particularly mentioned the late Thos. -
