The Press.
London, England, 1853-07-30 00:00:00

Volitual anb titntral.

THE MINISTERS IN THE CITY.
SATURDAY last, at the Mansion-house, was signalised
by the grand banquet given to her Majesty's present
advisers and a distinguished circle of guests by the
Lord Mayor. Covers were laid in the Egyptian-
hall
for 300 guests, and the tables displayed a gernine
civic array of gorgeous plate, and groaned succes-
sively under the customary relays of delicacies served
in civic profusion. The " departments " of the
State were present on this occasion in the persons
of the several secretaries; Count Walewski repre
!tented the diplomatic corps, and the Lord Chancellor
the bar, most of the judges being absent on circuit.
After the banquet the healths of the several minis •
tens elicited replies containing such details of official
conduct as could be presented under an appro-
priately festive aspect, and such indications of
Winistenal policy as were safe front touching upon
tender ground or exciting political animosities.

THE PRESS.

The Earl of ABERDEEN, coming first, acknowledged
that the duties and responsibilities attached to his
own particular office had taught him a "good prac-
tical leison of humility." His self-complacency was,
however, much restored by the spectacle of such
bright prospects as the country now enjoyed, accom-
panied by a degree of prosperity, happiness, and pro-
gress hitherto unparalleled :
" These he did not pretend to say were In any degree owing to
the exertion's of her Majesty's ministers. At the atone time he
believed they had done well and wisely in furthering and firmly
adhering to that enlightened 'system of fiscal and commercial
policy which was established by a great minister whom they bad
lost by an untimely end. If these great advantages could not
be wholly attributed to the present tiovernment, at least they
had used their uutiost endeavour* to preserve them unimpaired.
That I,‘l him to say a word, and but one word, upon a subject
which now much ensfrossed the public mind. lie
would say
that the pOley—the essential policy of her Majesty's old
a policy of peace. lbottl cheering.) And he had no
doubt that Ida distinguished friend near him, and whom he now
had ill his eye (the French minister), would re•echo those isenti-
inents. I,..ippliseine.) It could not, therefore, be a matter of in-
ditlerenee if, in that great centre of industry and commerce, he
should assure theta that no effort would be wanting, comas-
tently with the hownw and the real interests of the country, to
secure a coati 111 l !Mee it that first it earthly blessings. fife-

sewed cheers.!'
The FRENCH AMBASSADOR, whose health was drunk
next, responded to the wish for peace, and reciprocated
the sentiment of cordiality. He spoke in his own
language:—
" Oni, messieurs, Is cot-11140 qui existait dans les relations
entre l'Anuletem. et la France, et dont je me suit' relicite
derutere dims vette inMue enceinte, repose aujourdloti
cur des bases nouvelles, qui no peuvent
to
stil
uer de h
it con.
solider, et irett assurer la duree ; ect heureux ritat itoit 6tre
aceneilli HAW Joie par uiur, esr plus que touter ehoses il assure
Is paix l'Europe dame l'avetur et mime dates le present, et
lespere, my lord. que tres prochainement ler faits vieuttront
siuselio •r eette assertion. (Luisa cheers.!'
The Lana CHANCELLOR then took his turn, and,
allowing that the welfare of the nation en dehors de-
pended upon the continuance of peace, urged that
its repose and prosperity internally rested on a sound
system anti just administration of the law.
Earl GRANVILLE, returning thanks for "The House
of Lords," briefly summed up and took credit for the
labours of the passing session.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL acknowledging the toast of
"The Commons," introduced a eulogy of our new

commercial system
" That great question had now been taken out of the range of
political discussion. It was no longer a matter which divided
political parties, although It wail a proof of how slowly nations
learned to prize the great blessings they enjoyed, that it was
only now what was taught for years, and proved
of arguntgreatest
ent as
a great abstract truth, was admitted to be one the
sources of the wealth, and prosperity, and comfort of the great
body of the people."
The Duke of NEWCASTLE, the Somerron-GENEuAt,
and other guests, having spoken, Lord I'AI.MERSTON
replied to the first really personal toast of the evening,
"The health of the Home Secretary" :
" It was a great satisfaction to him to find that the manner in
which he had endeavoured humbly to perform the duties of the
of fee which it bad been her Majesty's pleasure to confide to him
had met with their approbation, and he thought he might con-
strue their approbation into a symptom that it had not been dis-
approved of by the rest of the co ttttt ry . The office he now had
the ho ttttt tr to hold placed I • , more than that he had held
before, in direct approach and eolllleVtioll with his fellow-c •
trymett at home ; and it was a great satisfaction to I • o think
that in discharging his duties he had merited the commendation
that bad beau bestowed upon I' by the Lord Mayor. It was a
great pleasure to I • to he able to say, that there was no body
of men who were more willing or desirous of rendering effectual
co-operation to that branch of her Majesty's Government with
which they were plaeed in relay than the magistracy of the
city of London. Ile might instance the cordial support, they
had recently to in the proposed changes and improvements
in the municipal institutions of the city:'
The last toast given was "The Lady Mayoress and
the Ladies," after which the principal portion of the
guests left the table and retired to the drawing-room,
and the brilliant assemblage broke up about half-past
eleven o'clock.

THE 41)111H.10 BALANCE 14HEET OF INCOME ANI) Ex-
PESPITURE for the year ended the sth of July last
shows that the income was 54,149,141/. 35. lid., and
the expenditure 5000,5101. 75., leaving an excess of
3,560,024/. 16s. Sd. On the sth of July, 1052, the
balances in the Exchequer were 6,492,731/. Os. 10d.,
and on the sth ofJuly inst., 5,112,639/. ss. 9d.
MusErm OF ORNAMENTAL ART AT M ART:
rmoroH-HotsE closed yesterday (Friday), until
Monday. the 3rd of October, when it will be re-
opened to the public.
THE CH AROES AOAINST SIR JAMES BROOKE form
the ground of a parliamentary paper just printed.
which contains a copy of the instructions sent to the
Governor General of India. directing him "to issue
a commission to inquire how far the position which
Sir James Brooke holds in Sarawak is advantageous
to the commercial interests of Great Britain."
Mn. WILLIAM 141'8ORAVE SHERIUNOToN is ap-
pointed First Clerk in the Customs Department at
Sierra Leone. Mr. William S. Field is appointed
Sub-Collector of Customs at Port Elizabeth, Cape of
Good Hope. Mr. Thomas Graham is appointed
Crown Commissioner, Surveyor, and Engineer, Turk's
THE NEw STAMP PVT' comes into operation from
and aftcr the 10th of October next, when every
receipt for money paid, irrespective of the amount,
will require to be given on a Id. stamp.

SATURDAY,

THE BRITISH GovEaNstENT has sent three steamers
to tug the merchantmen laden with corn out of the
Sulina mouth of the Danube.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS registered in the
metropolitan districts in the week ended last Satur-
day was 971. In the ten corresponding weeks of the
years 1843-52 the average number was 1,049, which,
corrected for the increase of population, gives an
estimated amount of 1,154. Last week, therefore, the
actual mortality was less than the corrected average
by 183.
THE FIRST SUMMER POULTRY Snow in Loudon
commenced on Wednesday, when the satisfaction ex-
, pressed by the visitors testified to the interest felt
already by the public in an exhibition which it is
promised will hereafter be annually repeated in the
metropolis. Much emulation has already been ex-
cited among the rural population on the subject of
poultry-breeding; and the specimens now collected
are universally acknowledged to present a vast im-
provement over all previous exhibitions of a similar
character. The list of competitors was well filled,
and the prizes were, in most instances, declared to be
fully deserved. The show is pronounced eminently
successful.
A NEW MEDICAL. MOVEMENT is afoot, some mem-
bers of the profession having combined for the pur-
pose of starting an " Anti-Advice Gratis Society," the
precise object of which is stated to be the organisation
of the profession against all unpaid or ill-paid hospital,
poor-law, and army and navy appointments.
THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF LONDON, according to
the report presented at Monday's meeting, progresses
in a prosperous career. The net profits for the year
amounted to 30,054/4 and a dividend was declared at
the rate of 0 per cent. per annum, besides a bonus
of lOs. per share. An addition of 25,0001. has been
made to the reserve fund, being the premium of 51.
received on the 5,000 new shares issued in May.
This fund consequently amounts to 61,0'201., whilst
the paid-up capital of the bank is 200,0001. The
directors have distributed gratuities amounting to 10
per cent. on their salaries among the employes of
the bank.
THE BRlTisli ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT
OF ScIENcE will hold their twenty third meeting at
Hull, commencing on Wednesday, the 7th of Sep .
tember. The inaugural address will be delivered by
Mr. W. Hopkins, M.A., F.G.S. The secretaries for
the meeting are Mr. Henry Cooper, of the Hull Lite-
rary and Philosophical Society, and Mr. Bethel'
Jacobs, President of the Hull Mechanics' Institute.
To SECURE HAMPSTEAD HEATH FROM ENCLOSURE
AND MONOPOLY, a meeting, chiefly consisting of
artists, was held on Saturday last at the London
University. In the course of a protracted discussion
the subject was treated principally in an artistic
sense, and the expediency of preserving the heath in
its present open unviolated condition advocated on
the score of the many distinguished artists who had
resided in the neighbourhood, and of the capital
opportunity which it now afforded for study, sketch-
ing, &c. Sundry resolutions were adopted, among
which was one embodying a petition to the Crown ;
and a committee was appointed to draw up and
present the petition, and otherwise carry out the
objects of the meeting. This committee comprised
Sir C. Eastlake, Mr. Stanfield, Mr. lirokedon, Mr.
Cockerell, Mr. Fripp, Mr. Foley, Mr. T. W. Pickers-
gill, Mr. Leslie, Mr. George Cruikshank, Mr. E.
Duncan, and Mr. Eddes.
THE PRESENCE. OF STRANOERS (except in the front
galleries) at divisions of the House of Commons has
been agreed to by that branch of the legislature.
Two minutes is also fixed as the interval to
allowed, after a division is called, before closing the
doors of the house.
THE GOVERNMENT Btu. for amending the law
relating to transportation, which has passed the
House of Lords, has been printed by order of the
House of Commons. The new law is to take effect
from the Ist of September next.
THE ASSOCIATED METROPOLITAN BENEVOLENT SO-
CIETIES celebrated their united anniversaries on Wed-
nesday by a general procession to the asylum at
Ball's pond, where the first stone of a new wing to
the edifice was laid on that day. The procession
included Freemasons, Druids, Foresters, Old Friends,
Odd Fellows, &c., tie., and numbered some thou-
sands. Lord D. Stuart officiated at the ceremony,
and an address was then read describing the objects
of the institution to be the providing of a house,
with coals, candles, medical attendance. and medi-
cines, for the aged and infirm members of either sex
of all the benefit societies in London. The parent
institution was originated in 1829 by a few humble
individuals, and the first collection amounted to only
61. 10a. ; but by the continued exertions of the com-
mittee funds had been raised, freehold land had been
bought. and 120 persons permanently relieved, of
whom 32 were at present under the fostering care of
the society. The address further stated that the
enrolled members of benefit societies in London
amounted to 2110,0410, anti their invested capital
to the enormous sum of 5,000,0001. sterling.

JULY 30, 1853.

BY THE NEW HACKNEY CARRIAGES DUTIES BILL
the licences anti other taxes on all carriages plying
for hire, now amounting to 5/ per annum and
10s. per week, are to be reduced to 11. and 7s. re-
spectively.
THE NEW VACCINATION BILL, as amended, was
issued un Wednesday. From the Ist of August next
children are to be vaccinated within three mouths of
the birth, or their parents become liable to penalties.
A MIDLAND CRYSTAL PALACE has been projected
by Mr. Beale, deputy-chairman of the Midland Rail-
way Company, in Sutton Coldtield-park, near Bir
mingham. He proposes to erect a public edifice after
the plans of, and fur similar purposes to, those of the
Crystal Palace at Sydenham. A very numerous and
influential meeting of magistrates, merchants, and
manufacturers of the borough was held on Tuesday,
when the proposal was fully discussed and unani-
mously approved. Sutton-park, by road, is about
seven miles from Birmingham. It was understood
that, if the project was adopted by the corporations of
the two towns, the Midland Railway Company would
constructs branch line from their sta ion at Broom-
ford-forge, and thus provide, at nominal rates, an easy
and ready access from Birmingham to Sutton. A
rate of a halfpenny in the pound would pay the out-
lay, and redeem the building in twenty years; but the
general opinion was, that the receipts would be more
than sufficient to pay the outlay and management
within that period, to say nothing of the moral effect
it would in the meantime produce upon the neigh-
bouring population.