The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-03 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN CO3IMERCIAL TRAVELLE,
AND GENERAL DRAPERY ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday evening the eighth anniversary of this
institution was held at the London Tavern, the LORD
Mayo& in the chair. The objects of the society, which is
not, in the strict sense of the term, a charitable institution,
but a self-supporting institution, are to provide against
eassalties in case of infirmity, sickness, or death, among the
sisemben. In the short time which it has been established
M hen met with great support among the trades to which it
espesially commends itself ; and it appears by the last re-
port presented, that it is remarkably prosperous. The
report stated " that the efforts of the committee to extend
the sphere and increase the usefulness of the association
have met with even more success than they_ anticipated—
the swat in the savings bank of 1,0541. ls. 6d. be-
ing an immease over last year of 1731. ss. 104., after
every skim an the association has been duly satisfied.
It as hardly be expected that a year which has pressed
heavily ea all immunities, and especially on societies of
OW doss, should leave us without some touch of calamity ;
OW/ lie sills upon the funds have been more than sufficient
begin us an serarance that we are carrying on a useful ex-
Mom; yet while every claim has been met, a large sur-
plus ha whoa to meet future contingencies, which expo-
*Sell proves must naturally arise. This state of prosperity
may be soft timed, in the fact that while more relief has
bees granted than in any previous year, the surplus, aho,
is almost the largest we have ever had."
About sixty of the supporters of the society were assem-
bled at the anniversary festival, bat a far greater number
bad taken tickets, and were prevented, from uncontrollable
eloresemetanoes, from attending personally. The Lord
=sserstsred with the greatest earnestness into the pro-
of the evening, and nothing could be more satie-
firerriptima the unanimity end good feeling towards the
lailibaliso which was exhibited by every one present. A'
umeihreubM oddities to the funds was obtained, besides
whisk sue sieuriege was derived from the meeting toge-
ther mod paseaml asesedation of the members ; es there ap-
peared to be a universal feeling in favour of the value of
the sedety, sad its claims to support.

BALE OP SHIPS IN LIVERPOOL.— The floe new
clipper ship Balding Star end Bride of the See—the for-
mer 1,476 and the latter 1,344 tons—belonging to Means.
Millen and Theatres's, were sold by auction, by order of
the mortgagees, en Thursday, in Liverpool, by Me. T. R.
Anton. The finding Star is at present en her sesead trip
to Melbourne with government enigma% and the Bride of
the See is homeward bound from Beet Indies—laving
made a rapid run from Liverpool to sad tram Cha-
lons to Bombay. The first sunned eat the latter
6,8601., or a total for the two of 14, *1 Ina dos thin
would appear a rather low figure, bet whoa ft i esedirmed
that the purchaser assumes all the expenses imps die ships
from this date until the completion of their present
withest the privilege of receiving any portion of the to
they are earning, it will be *desisted the vale& have sea.
limed their value. The freights are eettastal at AMR,
making with the parehem swat/ 10,0308 la malt awe. ,
here—aa &romp of 101. par tea.