SATURDAY EVENINGS FOR THE PEOPLE—The committee who organise these meetings under the auspices of the Temperance Society, arranged an "evening" out of the ordinary track for last Saturday, having induced Mr. Carter to give a lecture on "Astronomy". The hall was packed, and very good order and attention was noticeable throughout. The Rev. C. J. Gordon (rector), presided, and in a few introductory remarks expressed the pleasure it gave him to take that position, and mentioned that since he had been in Rushden he had derived much enjoyment from visiting Mr. Carter's observatory.—The lecturer, in commencing his remarks, spoke of astronomy as one of the oldest and most sublime subjects which had occupied the thoughts of man. Though we ourselves were living in a world of wonders, yet when we left the earth and searched the infinite depths of space our globe sunk into utter insignificance; we were overwhelmed with the infinite magnitude of the universe, and the power and greatness of the Creator. Proceeding, the speaker touched on a few facts relating to the earth itself—described its shape, explained the law of gravitation, the causes of eclipses, its distance from the sun, and rate of motion round that body. The solar system was next dealt with, the theory of Ptolemy that the earth was the centre of the system, and the later—and correct—theory of Copernicus that the sun was the centre being illustrated. Some details of the sun were given, and Mr. Carter next touched upon the planets, their dimensions, distances, and leading features, and gave many interesting particulars respecting our own satellite, the moon, while later on the comets, the enormous distances of the nearest fixed stars, and the immensity of space were dealt with. By the aid of Mr. Powell's apparatus splendid views of the heavenly bodies were thrown upon the screen, and the speaker's remarks thus illustrated in a very effective manner. Mr. Carter, whose address lasted about two hours, and Mr. Powell, were heartily thanked at the close.