The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-05 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING,

ORYSTAL PALACE.—A few thousands of
N.,/ strong NIW CA113.1101-ICOMILD CHAIRS, provided kw
the Handel leadva4 sm" hand.

karthe regn rlag seats for the approaching festivities can
Ewe sem of thew chair* at to per chair, or M ISI4 per 300, on
application at the Searetary's Office, Crystal Palace. Parties
regain; OM omit sake anangements for their oarrlage.
Mame moot betake l payment.

GRAND STAND,
__ YLEZT-STREET, next @t.
Dunelen's C. ocnraum. Tins splendid Stand COM
to the Nobility and Gentry Oe following advantages: do un-
equalled View, Ishssiment Warne Clerk Res/min sod by
kind permission of the authorities) the potrileips ediFry by
Clifford's-Inn. theenred. Pries, n0.,105. 30s
The Retrsolannsio by elf Ilessover-sysaresed
Wan Opera.

NATIONAL BITLN ASSOCIATION.

The genend meeting of We mooeintion took
place yesterday, at Willis's Rome, under the presidency
of the Duke of CAYBIIIDOL who was supported b the
Duke of Marlborough, Lord Penman), Earl de Grey rod
Ripon, Lord Elcho, Lord Bury, Lord Duch, Lord Airlie,
Lord
art., Banelegh, Lord Wharncliffe, Sir John Burgoyne,

The QUI/MAN, in opening the proceedings, Adana/ the
sanction of the meeting that the report, which had been
long in the poasession of members, should be taken as re-
ceived and read. The immolation had now appeared so
oiled' before the public at its general meet-
ings
legs that it might properly be considered an
established and truly national undertaking ; end
it became his duii to make a f
lew, observations in regard to
,the
allusion Pitii.rialtite thtilitirti libliliat tPra=
all to the position of the president. According bah
rules of the society, the promisee ay elected annually.
He had the honour to fill the position the satioud Year tic
be was requested Lorrain it another .year ; ant it trete .
1 insined,for him to plata the' oleo in the hia4of the Vito-
ciatioa. ,He felt greatly favoured by the copfidence which
had been reposed in him ; bat he trusted that the rules were
such that he would now be required to deep Use honour.
He was happy to find that, on the whole, the state
of their finances was very flourishing. They
had a balsam in 'Chia hands If 'the bankers" amounting to
1,3001., and bad added to their invested money 2,00 W.,
making a toted of 3,8494 On the other hand it was to be
regretted that the annual subscribers had not increased to
the extent that was expected. The present number was
1,000, and it was certainly a sourced regret that they did
not increase from year to year. It was of course quite oat
of his power to state why that increase did not take plan,
but the reason might perhaps be found in the fact that
the privileges which belonged to officers in the volun-
teer service were not sufficiently understood, and
he appealed to them to exert themselves towards
promoting the interests of this association. There were
other subjects which be was happy to bring wider their
notice. In the first place be should state that there were
12 colonial associations in direct communication with this,
and there were, moreover, 28 county associations, making
in all 40 societies in connection with she National Rifle
Association. This was • fact of great importance, because
it showed that the public had full confidence in the regulm
ti3lll and arrangements of the association, and which regu-
blame and arrangements be hoped were becoming
the law of the land as regards rifle shooting. '
The smossdul practice of the art was progressing
very favourably, and in proof of this he might mention '
that one marksman had lately hit the bull's eye seven con-1
wicutive times at a distance of 1,100 yards. There wash)*
doubt., therefore, the society had done a great dad of good
in this country ; for it should be borne in mind that rifle
shooting was cmanpustively a modern science in England,
and yet our foreign friends had hem beaten out of the field,
for they really could not compete with our own marksmen.
This was quite sufficient to show that the principles
of this association were generally recognised and
adopted, not alone in this country, but in every
part of the world. He had to magnitude them
oaths fact that the Prioce of Wales had consented to be-
come the patron of the society. It was • compliment to
the association; not, only because it came from one in so
exalted a position, but also because it proved that the na-
tional feeling which had ipontansosely sprung up in favour
of the society was appreciated and shared in the highest
quarters of the state. The fact, moreover, went far
to show that her Majesty herself took • lively In-
terest in the propene of this 'mediation. Last year a dim
minion took place se to the manner in which the Qinan's
prize should be shot for. Upon this subject it wearied he
should my that her Majesty was anxious that
the rules laid down by the late lamented Prince
Consort (who took • great deal of trouble in this im-
portant matter) should in no way be departed from. He
erefore hoped that there weuM be no further dimmed=
upon the subject, and that they would see the neousaty of
avoiding any alterations in the existing rules upon that
point. Dear.)
Lord Eteno mid it might be irregular to propose any de-
viation from their rules, but there were many rills that
were more honoured in the breech than in the observance,
and with this feeling be begged to request that his royal
highness would consent to fulfil the office of president for
the next year: At the mine time he took that opportunity
of stating that the council proposed to form a committos to
revise their rule".

The La; of eunsainaz said that after the complimen-
tary expression of opinion in regard to himself, it would not
become him to refuse the honour which had been offered
him. He therefore accepted it with great satisfaction
but he could not help saying that he thought the rules of
the animation ought to be adhered to, and if they were to
be changed, the sooner that idea was carried into effect the
better.

The report wu then adopted.
General Em proposed that the wine-presidents be re-
elected, and that Earl Cowper, Lieutenant• Colonel Glad-
stone, and Sir John Burgoyoe be added to the number.
Sir it. Elummos seconded the resolution, whickwas
carried.

Reeolutions were then paned at the instance of Lord
Arlie, Colonel Bigg, ho., appointing members and extra-
ordinary mambas of the council, and a cordial vote of
thanks laving been granted to the chairman, the business
terminated.

SYSTEMATIC BENEFICENCE SOCIETY.

A public meeting in furtherance of the object of
this society was held yesterday evening in St. James's-hall.
The chair was taken by Mr. Sawum, ostar, and on the
platform were Canon Champneys, the Rev. Dr. Cather, the
Rev W. Arthur, &c.

The Rev. Dr.C•rrixe entered into specific explanatioes
with regard to the objects of the gaiety, which were, he
said, summed up in the words, "The sufferiog of the
poor and how to relieve it—the salvation of the last and
how to promote it." The total annual income of the
people of this country might be assumed, he
said, to be nine hundred millions a year. That
was 301.. per head; bat probably 501. per head was
the average income of the inhabitants of the metropolis,
making 150,000,0001. per annum for the use of which they
were responsible to as stewards of what bad been 'en-
trusted to them. A tenth of this income was the lowest
amount which, in accordance with the principles of that
society, ought to be devoted to religion and chanty ; and
after making deductions on exeunt of the irreligious, the
vicious, and the selfish, there still remained a great deficiency
in the contributions for those objects. He was informed by
persons who were well acquainted with the chief religions
and charitable societies of London, that there was scarcely
one of them that was not in a position of anxiety sad per-
' plenty as regarded the openings for greater usefuloess for
want of funds, and that, notwithstanding the fact that the
wealth of the eouutry had nearly doubled in the last twenty
yews, the income of one of the most nicceesful missionary
societies had remained stationary during that period. The
time had arrived when the economics of Christianity must
be carefully studied. The specific object of that society
was to systematise the beneficence of Christian
—to substitute conviction for caprice, and for
mere solicitation the operation of internal priociple.
Its aim was moreover decidedly practical. It wanted all
to set apart at once at least a tenth of their income on the
first day of every week for religion and charity, leaving
them to select the special objects of their beneficence ac-
cording to their own jodgment ' • and if this principle were
generally carried oat, habits of liberality would be formed
and all the beneficent institutions of the country would be
strengthened.
Canon Cease:me followed with an address on impul-
sive giving and capricious withholding, in which he stated
that he himself adopted the principle of setting apart a
tenth of his Income for religious or charitable purposes
thirty-two years ago, when his income as a clergyman we
only 75!. a year, and that he had acted upon it seer since.
The Rey. W.,fiRTECII, who spoke next, said be had given a
I tenth for 28 years. during a portion of which his income
was exceedinglyounall.

A resolotton approving of the principle sod °Ned of the
society was afterwards adopted, and the proceediop termi-
nated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

WATER Coa.oua Daawnaos.—The auction at
' Yews. Foster's in Fall-mall (Noticed in our impression of
yeeterday) produced 2,1644 The prices in most instance.
ranged high. The drawisp by Duncan went from 30 to 35
gala's& The Cattennole drawings at FA IT, 56, 58, 59.
and 71 guineas. The mall Copley Fteldg' "Scarborough,"
50 pumas. The Prout drawing, "A chapel in a
gothic cathedral," 185 guises& "Bird's nest and prim.
room," W. Hutt, 102 pines& "Fruit," by the same, 127
guineas. "Como," by Richardson, 53 guinea& "Lady
Godiva," by Corbonit, 40 piano. The large *tures by
Barker and others, which were offered after the sale of
drawings. were knocked dome at tke following prices
pfelltagton," 185 guineas; "Nelson," 180 guineas;
"Garibaldi." :sine., ; "Lord Collingwood," 85
rulings ; and the of views is water-coloun of "Sebrie-
Up 4 is 1848 1854," ft 1116•116.

MARCH 5, 1863.

THE EXCEPTION OF THE PRINCESS
' ALEXANDRA.