Os the evening of the 13th instant, a selection of Readings in Prose and Verse was offered to the foreign community of Ningpo, in place of the usual fortnight-
that the subscribers to the Ningpo Book Club, fully Lecture. That readings seem to be popular, and appreciate the entertainment and instruction afforded em during the long winter evenings, was fully manifest by the large audience present on this occa sion. J{. M's. Consul occupied the chair, and after a few preliminary remarks, called upon the Rev. Mr. Butler. This ge leman then read some passages from ' Othello," his wooing, defence, and finally his mistaken revenge, in a manner which showed how thorongiily he understood and how conscientiously he had studied the character. The ling was received with loud applause. Mr. Butler was followed by the Rer. J. Mara, who read with much force, Eamourus taliads, and on being called upon a second phasis and appreciation one of Thackeray's inimitable
time real Longfellow's poem of the "Builders." Mr. Price then followed with a most humourous and laughter provoking sketch of the troubles and adyentures of alody well known to the nisdern Literature Fun, Mrs. Brown. We have reason to believe that Ketch presented to the Ningpo Book Club was original, and offered for the fist time to the public on Wednesday night. However that may be. the delicate touches of humour and the broad' grin of farce, mingled in the conception and expression of the character with the gleams of common sense in the lady's words and conduct, were rendered with a fidelity and a power of representation which fairly convulsed the audience, and established beyond doubt thatin Mr. Price the Ningpo Book Club possess a reader and elocutionist of no ordinary merit, and one from whom it is to be hoped more frequent readings and representations may be obtained. A loud and not to be evaded "encore" greeted the reader on the conclusion of Mrs. Brown's adventures, and in acknowledging the call Mr. Price read with humour and adaptation quite equal to his first casey. a few pages from Charles Lever's novel of the "Dodd Family
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.