Our Newcastle friends have again called us to mind. The congregation of the Rev. George Harris, though occupied with the erection of a new church, and unusual claims on their charity, in consequence of the prevalence of cholera in their town, have yet remembered those who are forbidden, by law, to worship God according to their own consciences, and whose worldly estate is such, that pestilence in their midst is esteemed a boon instead of a curse.
Leeds and Manchester have made their usual generous response to our call. All the little objects of taste and art, pictures, books, &c., contained in the Leeds box, and the Papier Maché in that from Manchester, were much valued. We should return our thanks in an especial manner to Mr. Wilson Armistead, of Leeds, for books and tracts that actually reached us. We are not the less grateful for a larger and more valuable collection which it was not our fortune to receive. The vessel in which they were sent from Glasgow was shipwrecked, and the packages lost.
In respect to the very costly and elegant collection sent from London, by Mrs. Massie, we have to regret that it should have arrived so late. Notwithstanding our utmost exertions, we were unable to obtain the box from the Custom House till the evening of the 29th, and the Bazaar closed on the 31st. The very pretty box from Cork was displayed at the same time, and the effect of their arrival was at once evinced in the greatly increased receipts; but still, as our first two days are always the best in respect to sales, we could not but regret that so many valuable and beautiful articles should have been absent at the opening. It is almost impossible to do full justice to the boxes arriving under such circumstances. They must necessarily be unpacked and examined under great difficulties. Mrs. Massie’s full and ample lists were a great assistance; but as such beautiful crochet work as that we received from Cork, is hardly known in this country, we should have been glad had our Cork friends affixed their own prices. The magnificent Ottomans in the London box, were the admiration of all beholders, but we were able to dispose of only one. The other has been carefully reserved for another sale. The beautiful Silvered Glass also met with its due appreciation, and sold readily, no specimens so fine having been offered before in Boston. But the crowning glory of the London Contribution were the very exquisite engravings presented by Thomas Agnew, Esq., of Manchester. The subjects are—“The Independents asserting Liberty of Conscience before the Westminster Assembly, 1644,” and “The Royal Agricultural Society of England.” In the former, most of the faces are portraits which have been taken at great expense and trouble from original paintings, and in the latter, the portraits are those of living individuals. Both of these attracted very great attention, and the first named was purchased by Mr. Wendell Phillips, as were also the valuable portraits of Sir Humphrey Davy, John Dalton, Esq., and Rev. Dr. Massie. “The Royal Agricultural Society” will be sure to find a ready sale next year, as it would, we think, have done this, had it been received in sufficient season, as will also the beautiful “English Lake Scenery.”
To the Rev. Dr. Massie, the Bazaar is much indebted for a little work, very tastefully got up, entitled, “Slavery, the Crime and Curse of America.” A large number of copies having been received for gratuitous distribution, the Committee have circulated them as extensively as was possible, and, as far as might be in their power, have endeavored to bring the work before the notice of members of pro-slavery evangelical churches, (if we may be allowed to depart so far from the original meaning of words, as to place them in such a collocation.)
Two of our Scotch boxes, those from Edinburgh and Glasgow, arrived in ample season, and having time for a very careful and thorough examination, we are prepared to speak of their contents in terms of high eulogy. The beautiful Embroidered Muslin, Shawls and Scarfs of different patterns, Dress Pieces, and some very elegant Aprons, are the articles that occur to us on the Glasgow table as peculiarly saleable. On the Edinburgh table, one beautiful Prize Plaid Shawl, with rose, thistle and shamrock worked upon it, and two Scarfs of the Murray pattern, were greatly admired. Scarfs of this description were in great request, and we could have sold many more than we did.
May we take the liberty of inserting here, that a handsome Highland Shawl, in which the colors are simply blue and white, would, at the next Bazaar, find a ready purchaser? Such an one has been inquired for with praiseworthy perseverance for several years, and we would gladly, by-and-by, be able to supply the demand.
We are grateful to our Edinburgh friends for some very good Autographs. Those written particularly for the occasion, by the venerable James Montgomery, were received with very great pleasure.
Owing to some unfortunate mistake in Great Britain, the abundant and beautiful collection of our Perth friends did not reach us till the second week of the Bazaar. The box was finally sent to New York, instead of Boston, and it was only by great exertion on the part of Mr. Gay, that it arrived in season. The missing box had been waited for with so much anxiety, that its appearance was hailed with the utmost delight. The abundance, variety and beauty of its contents, fulfilled our warmest expectations. The Travelling Bags, Tidies, Affghan Blankets, Crocheted Collars, Book and Flower Stands, were highly acceptable. Perhaps here is a fitting place to remark, that no Drawing-Room Cushions, however beautiful, are as saleable with us as they have been. As we are able to furnish beautiful Tidies to accompany the Cushions, said Cushions last a most unreasonable time, and hence our supply this year somewhat exceeded the demand.
We must not omit to make mention of many towns that contributed generously, through the Scotch boxes. Contributions from Reading, Bolton, Leigh, Chelmsford, Leeds, Nottingham, Maidstone and Sheffield, were included in the Edinburgh collection; from Kinross, Milnathorb, Cumrie and Crieff, in that of Perth; from Auchterarder and Montrose, in that of Glasgow.
We must not forget Dublin, which, apart from the De La Rue box, furnished, in the judgment of the Committee, the most attractive table with which it has ever presented us. Besides the usual supply of pretty and useful articles for ladies’ and children’s wear, a very handsome Bronze was greatly admired. Fish Scale Bracelets and Brooches, very pretty and tasteful, were something entirely new. The bog oak ornaments, sea weed baskets, and a great variety of toys and small articles, made this box very saleable. Of the De La Rue assortment, we need say nothing. The mere name is sufficient to commend the workmanship to the patronage of our public. The friends who contribute to the purchase are assured that in no way can they invest their money more wisely. Speaking of contributions for this fund, a friend writes, “The most affecting of these is £1 9½ pence from a young school-mistress in Waterford, made up of shillings, sixpences and half-pence contributed by her little pupils and herself.”