The bishop having failed to gain the people, tried to forcibly prevent Chiniquy from speaking. This was too much for the congregation, and it was only for his sake, and at his urgent request, that they allowed the unwelcome visitors to depart unmolested. They retired, defeated and annoyed, and the bishop soon afterwards became a lunatic.
Thus God preserved His servant and His people in the hour of trial, and though many other difficulties arose, His Word continued to accomplish His purposes of love and grace; and like another Luther, Pastor Chiniquy, though often in peril and doomed to death, has lived on to a ripe old age, covered and shielded by the shadow of the Almighty. There may we also live and rest.—Jottings on "The Life and Work of Father Chiniquy," by Cousin Susan.
RARE AND COSTLY BIBLES.
The special feature at the recent sale of the Earl of Crawford's library was the disposal of old and rare editions of the Bible in various languages. The most important lots were as follows:—
The "Bishops'" Bible, a revision of the "Great Bible" undertaken by Archbishop Parker and eight other bishops, black letter, folio, 1568. It is sometimes called the "Treacle" Bible, from the words, "Is there no tryacle [instead of 'balm'] in Gilead?" £70 [sold to] (Quaritch). Second edition of the German Bible, circa 1466, £86 (Quaritch); first edition of Luther's Bible, £51 (Quaritch); the Mazarin Bible, or the Gutenberg Bible—the first edition of the Bible, and the earliest book printed with movable metal types; a rare and much-sought book, two volumes, printed by Gutenberg and Füst about 1450, £2,650. This book was put up at £695, for which price this particular copy was sold thirty years ago. The book will remain in this country. Sir John Thorold's copy, a few years ago, fetched £3,900. Another Latin Bible, two volumes, first edition, with a date beautifully printed upon vellum, folio, 1462, £1,025 (Quaritch); Biblia Slavonica, the Ostrog edition, 1581, £73 (Quaritch); the Virginian Bible, by John Eliot, with Psalms in metre, two volumes in one, quarto, 1685 and 1680, £40 (Quaritch); first edition of the Welsh Bible, from the Wepre Hall Library, 1588, £60 (Quaritch); Block Book, Apocalypsis Sancti Johannis, forty-eight leaves printed from wooden blocks, in colours, and the xylographic text in brown ink, bound up with other matter in the old oak boards, folio, circa 1430. This rare and curious volume is generally considered as being the second attempt in xylographic printing, the priority being given to the Ars Memorandi. Block books are supposed to have preceded by nearly twenty-five years the discovery of printing with metal types, and the workmanship is attributed to the press of Laurence Coster at Harlem. This specimen was put up at £100, and after a keen competition between Mr. Ellis and Mr. Quaritch, it was secured by the latter for £500. The day's sale realized upwards of £7,000.
A NEW TELEPHONE.
The Times Paris correspondent describes some telephone experiments between Paris and Brussels with a new apparatus known as the "microtelephone push-button," which he believes to be the most perfect yet produced. As its name indicates, it has the form of an ordinary electric push-button. When the button has been pushed in, and has made a sound at the other extremity, it is taken out, and is found to be attached to a long electric wire. There is thus exposed the telephonic plate, which is extremely sensitive, so that when it is necessary to speak at short distances, it is not necessary to come close to the instrument. For communications in the same street, or the same house, the operator places the upper part near himself, and without changing his position he can speak with the correspondent at the opposite extremity. He is not obliged to put his ear to the part which contains the button and brings back the reply. Thus, for short distances, those who make use of this apparatus speak in their ordinary tone, without changing their customary attitudes. They may sit or walk about, and speak just as if those they are addressing were present. When great distances intervene, in which the speakers and hearers are separated by two hundred miles, it is necessary to come nearer to the apparatus, but without being obliged to speak quite close to it. What makes this apparatus the most successful of telephonic instruments is, that it can be made for half-a-crown, that is to say, for not more than the price of the ordinary push-button. As it can be fitted to the electric wire of the ordinary ringing apparatus, it follows that it introduces a complete change in our ordinary modes of intercourse. The railway companies are making experiments with this apparatus as a means of communication between compartments of carriages, and it is being fitted up on trial in hotels. The inventor is Dr. Cornelius Herz.