The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-14 00:00:00

ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITBRATURB.

The Rev. H. Christmas delivered, yesterday, at the
above 'mentioned Society's Rooms, his first lecture on TM
Domestic Life of Our Ancestors." Sir John Dorat was in
the chair. The inaugural lecture to the course was
Tared on Tuesday, the 6th Wet.
The particular subject of the present lecture was "Tee
Domestic Architecture of our Ancestors." The Intim'

commenced by observing that the structure of a hoes
reveals much of the mode of life adopted by its inhabitants.
The representations of the dwellings of the inhabiteau of
the lees cultivated parts of Europe, contrasted with those of
the more highly civilised countries, would afford as a mesas
of comparing their different degrees of civilisation. h
the same manses we may measure the growth of develop
meat in any one country by as attentive cossidaratioa of
the structure and arrangement of the hoarse of the peoPii
at different periods. The lecturer then proceeded to es*
mine the state of domestio architecture in the earliest periods
of our history. The low state of development
amongst the early Britons was shown by the
miserable nature of their dwelling places. The
Boman, brought their architecture with them, bet
it was • foreign plant, and it declined after the
departure of those who introduced it. The first great ise
provement of the domestic architecture of the people sew
to have taken glea in the Anglo-Norman period. Until
that period rooms had been low, windows small and nano,'
and the house seldom carried above the ground floor. Tits

illuainatioas of this period show a great improvement
The homes have advaaced from the condition is which they
were little superior to those of the New Zealander's bosses,
sad make some pretensions to architecture without sad
erashrt within. We en aow well-marked divisions oiled
sled bower and bedchamber ; and the building keel( is more
substantial, stone becoming of common use. The leases
then drew a graphic picture of the metropolis in the 12th
and 13th centuries. He said we must begin by dismissing sll
ideas of paving sad lighting, and rutty moderate our ideas
of drainage. Borne insight is gives as to the nature of the
nubby the fact that in 1170,whan the wooden steeple of Bow
Church fell down, the largest beams, by their mere weight
sank so far into the soft timid as to be lost from sight. He
then drew manna to other features of the old metro Polis.
quoting °Weaponry documents. and referring to Blow
sated amaiseceipts is proof of hie martins. The Mien
of the middle ages, he said, abounded with material' min.
land to give (atonalities oa the subject of the domestic life
of our manners.
The interior dentates etike hams were then described.
Of the three dames of deseratioa-1. Mural painting
Tawny ; 3. Armorial bonnie; the Bret was by far the
most kapertant la its revelations as to the life of the Pope'
Weis
The reminder of the lecture was occupied in illostntiag
this patios. by reformism as arming as they wen in-
structive.

It her been proposed to form a collection of worb
of sit by artiste and &mistime, to be gives by them kr di_
of sale and eshibitioe, the whole peels& lo le
=to the relief of widow. and mayhems of BMW of.
Ism who may fail in the *a widisiereis. .IThearr S
boa lama up 'with greet spirit in. arioSsende`
sore than Iva/nil ars entertained that drawings by tie, welt
important personages in the reels will give I recalls:
ia-
; the andortaidni.

Thu Queen, attended by Lady Churchill, Idtej
Gametal Deasetie, sad Capella Da Plat, %Meld du Da
of Glessesetat yesterday attermems, at Glemeeeter Rotas, ea
tbe Dashes@ of Oambeidp, at Du teeldemee la Elt. Jammer
Pakaa 1

Priam Albst redo ea horseback la the feessooa, Masud,
by Capteis Da Plat.
The Prisons Royal sad the Priam. Alice took a drive
Is ea opts adage sal bar.
Hoe llskislF sad Primes Albert, eseempaai d by the
prime of Leinheese, besearid the Obit* Theses with
their pirates ht the males. The Rept. asap
,LadyClatttill, the Kea. Lacy )tour thor
.111elor•Oeserel Bonnier sad aortas Da Plte exit •no;
• Lady Oterrehill hes eaereeded the Vhaseeleie
:0 the Lady la Waiting to her Neje*
• The Berl of Listowei sad Ciermel Sr Indira Illseht

Had is Ork
Os Quon. -

sat 01111111111 M Kos. t.
414 °WNW aWlliPag

The Priasess Naisitoiiiiiolipiddasi the Duchess of
lan yesterday is isidegion Uses.

♦ depstaties bs tbs litsfaedebirs bosissetare bad set
datiniew yesendey with sir Beedeada Hall, Preedsat of
*s Omen' Boarded Health, ot Ms ales, Whitehall. TM
eirjestatiess wasisted of Messrs. William Mathews, desbbs,
Mid Mslas Parkas, iatzedsseel by Mr. Thmsa namely.
ALP., sad Kr. G. F. Musts, M.P.
• Mr. Jetta Weed sad Mr. Timm had sa isterview with
the Obsaaellor of the izeheque yestardsy. Sir •Jeaaader
Illysesma had Me m {Rearview wit► the rishe has. gestM
AIM at We Wield reeidame is Dowalsomnee.

amoral Prime Andrew Clastabikoff died at
Ideas. ea tits 27t1t ult.

One of the last acts of the Emperor Nicholas was
As mom a diamoad ring to a writer Maid Roadiodf, foe
e pamphlet 'aside& t, The Truth Moat Meglesd."
The naturalist, Ch. de Meyer, 'mown to the
alisatile world by his travels among tits Altai llosatalas,
ad in the region of tint Gnome, died is the 111 tit alt.
IL de Meyer was bees in 1796 at Vitebsk. Is 1169 he
:seseaded Mount Wheats. He wee a member el the Im.
•perial dasederap er Ramie, end Dimmer of the Bends
Cisrdes as et. estinbesg.
Th. Emperor end Ewan, of the French opened
. the Inhibition of the Maid of Sobootopoi ea Tuesday, the
Bth el March, is the &mimed 1141 es, szerated by Mr.
Wykl, pographsr to the Clasen sad Prism Albert. Thar
Mojeetlea, after remaining as hoar, expreesed their peat
atiefeetko to Mr. Wyld.
Letters from Betyroat state that the proclamation
et the dogma et t►e linmeeelete Commotion had token
igloos to that VMS, NA I. ell eyrie, with peat pomp. At
!Smoot the eeremsey terminated by s discharge et Are
imeeke. The Pasha, set keowieg what was want, seat Le
)itost ►mts to rho !ma Crowd to oak if noes of the fail
41 b.Ostepol had arrived.
The Emperor Alexander 11. has presented to the
. Eerie, the Cadet Corps, mil to the *hoar row Regiments,
!the uniforms worn by If {sham L

THE SOIREE AT UNIVERSITY COLLBOB.

: The @Weals of University Collage last evssiag
•411111risteel a lug. sad distiagenhed body of persons
;bona le be !desisted to edneatima sad the pursuits of
Minn sad Hunters. Tbs otatmptice of the entertain-
. Sent wee • happy use. and does Wants nedit to the
'nsittp of the etadeate, whin it Is a proof et their intake-
71nII lendeneiee.. Re an_ant awry to see that this—the
lee relrle of the Wad—should have seem place in an in-
Winne which own its foundation to the czarina of
a large ameba of the most Maleness et the..
of our punk at who bar professed liberal
opinion. We aro glad that the liberal college, peg mai-
knee, should have, he Ohs persons of its Madmen, isms '
ward I. (retrain with other institutions protesting the
seas edasstioaal Ojeda, altbeenh perhaps following then
eat la • &feral met. The students of Univerity
lege have shows that the Jove of Mariam, the spirit of
toleration, and the aspiration after progress which animated
the ands of then who presided at the foundation of the in-
otltatien, animate then. They have displayed • coat-
nandable impatiens at beteg stagnant while all
around them is soviet. They have invited Is
their halls • gnat Ember of the rasa of spark
of no day, and have thus identified themselves with the
nese of progress, and, by their active sympathy with the
reprosentetives of oar highest cultivation, have shown that
they are not likely to be mne idle spectators in the great
drama of the Satan.

The 'standout of the committee of students who originated
the wiree wu to brieg together the representatives of the
various aGlistsd alleges which 'dente students for the
purpose of tattles degrees in the University of London.
University College and King's College are the principal
of these, but there are others—u the Independents' New
College, Stepney College, Manchester College, Hackney
College, and Cheskant College. If all these college; cea be
brought to act together in union, sonsethieg will be dose
towards making the University of London a reality. The
colleges of Os fond are In truth the University, sad the same
is true of Cambridge. Thia usurpation of the University
rights by the ealleges has been productive of enormous evil.
Nevertheless it hes bees accompanied by a portion of good.
It has generated an writ de co,,ps which adds marvel-
lamely to the esergetiosetics of the Universities. There
le room for hops that the project initiated by
the studects of University College will brie' the direordsat
elements of the Londe* University into =los, without is•
trodneing any of those evils which have does se inuelt to
damage the two greet Ilaiverities.
The company met last night is the magnificent library of
University College. Ms metre tables of the room were
coveeed with photographs, Weems, sod other works of art.
The reeseses oa cosh aide of the metro wen hong
with choice specimens of the produatises of some
of oar most selebrated artists. D. Bat" Goodall,
and other* coetributed largely, end there were net wonting
voluble specimens of the old atestois. • osoesre, in which
Benedict, H. EvostrienlitHidgepa.nderiek Chattertos
and Lawns were the isetwaimtallies, sad Weiss sati
Aureate; Brahma were the orbit* woollies, added to
the stow:time of the semis'. Bat the great sad abiding
shun to most of the visitors was the bogginess obi& met
deafly ailed the hearts of their woes heels. !long
intone la the wake of Uterecut sad slims hit
her pales quickest& as he looked sm
theta gems less%
realest with hops, sad Vastly, seaddeady la the prowisse
of as militias:lei totem. Animist the eimpasy Wien
Lord Broonitaa, Mr Edina Byes, Dr. Willinta dal* Ilk
Jowls Tyler, PJ Nedra, Morin Yield, 114. Pit
foam Heaviside. He. Cementer, Bev. Pubes, Bream
(Lag's), T Rymer Jews (Ling's), and natiwai
Mbar peeler •Ablblipbbsi In the sine". meld. The
mews ewe wouloi lee Moors. The @Weals of the wasp
lave a right to ampatalase tbansseves ea a aware which
b ealoollied is Mime west issaidelal dhoti.

The followiag distinguished pewee have lately
visited Mr. Wykll Model el tiss ILartis. la Lsieseter-equere :
Lord Jae Rem% Dike et Athol, Merl sad Lady Quo
btu Fitsvilitste, Lord Seograve, Lewd Wand. Sit MOS
Trnsbaa, Ilk Citadel Lam. II.P, AdWral
Lard Leedesbereesk, °semi Bestiack, Om Ini '1
14040 r Irides (Cttawa), Lord Willtees North, M.P., Noe
best litephuess, Esq., M.P., eeldoser, JAI Abel Smith*

t4aatliw -iiik(-4-11'1 7 a I-.
. . WOOmpp, Lady Ilyd.
Maw tap 111•110, Lady Katy Butler, Hes. C. Pow
wally, Or There, Isliy, 11. P., sad Lady lolly, eh Joseph
Balky sad Lady Balm Capella Belau (Crimes), Myer
lissaytk, Osioasi disashisa (Crimea), Captain ernes
(Criss.).
R4obielsoadtAnx OP huntrunoir.—The 6allow
les Ipsys unsnap visited the
pf taw" "Tr Wsr"—Os., Hi Orme Ow
hipp el Csatwbury, the Marquis et , the
OW
ed Daewhies sad path the awl el
Serip• MI Swim& -Osorkss d Newesse. tMGI.aiS,
Jewq.3.l of o•llmasipsmeAs...... et
'rells, Ote Ibuelels limeal sad , OW Coast*
Meatless s•O pail& Opp lied el sod party
Constar et, siek,"tbe lad Osmetse e/
,_ Lord This. Lord sad Lady Haathigashl. Lord
tltirmq Lad Keekaple sad amity lad Adolphus Vital
slareaceoe;ramprjAmp doingsliyirgaerre party;
liedy Ms*
aml pmM, ,
. Loillropoigiart• .ilb He& WeL . Met sal tarty'. Mat
KUM, Ilili *IN ek amp Webb-
• woe, lertiLaTtr Jobs Ash!, the kayos of Urrelmol.
=isorti Orme& sad party, Goma Peas sad pasty,
Beaky,
_lissdesali, Braes Withal, b. ; Admi-
ral llazwell, A. Stafford, Bp, 11.1'.,'W. eskeledsid, bit,
KZ, Mein emse,Mka W. mg rah mg. limidt, Ls.