The Express.
London, England, 1864-07-01 00:00:00

THE SCHOOL FRIGATE CONWAY.

The Duke of Somerset, First Lord of the Admi-
ralty, delivered the prizes yesterday to the successful pupils
on board the school frigate Conway, lying in the Money.
Mr. Charles Mosley, the Mayor of Liverpool, presided.
After some remarks from the Mayor, who stated that five
years ago the school commenced with 17 pupils, and that it
cow mustered the prizes were awarded. They consisted
of books, nautical inetruramite, the gold medal of the Liver-
pool Mercantile Marine Service Association (for the greatest
general proficiency in all branches of training and edocatioo),
a naval aidetehip, presented b, the Duke of Somerset, woo
by J. Ward, and Admiral Edees C. B. nomination to a mooed-
class naval cadetship, woo by E. H. H. Bosom. There was
also a prize for proficiency in nautical astronomy, given by
Mr. Brocklebauk, end another, given by the mayor, for
practical esemaoship. The awards baying been made,
the successful boys being heartily cheered by the ladies
and gentlemen present, the Duke of Somerset addressed the
assembly. The Duke of Somerset and some of the prin-
cipal visitors were afterwards entertained on board her Ma-
jesty's ship Majestic, Lod the remainder of the afternoon was
speot in the inspection of the docks, the rams El Mammal.
and El Toulon, and the foreshore at Tranmere, which Mr.
J. Laird, M.P., has recommended to the government as au
excellent site for a naval arsenal end dockyard. In the
evening the Mayor gave a banquet at the Town•ball. The
Duke spent a considerable time on board the El Toomoo,
minutely examining all parte of the vessel. The boat's crow
from the Majestic torced the fore turret a number of times,
so as to show the speed with which it would revolve. During
this operation the Duke and some other gentlemen remained
inside the turret. The Duke and the other visitors also
inspected the Agincourt, an armour. plated vessel now build-
ing by Messrs. laird, at Birkenhead.

ROYAL COIIIIIBBION ON THE SUBJECT OF CAPI-
TAL Putrusawerra.—lt is understood that this commission
will shortly be Lamed, in accordance with the decision of
the House of Commoos. It is said that the commission
will 001111“ of the Duke of Richmond, Sir J. Coleridge,
Mr. Hardy, M.P., Mr. William Ewart, M.P., Mr. Neste,
M.P., Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Waddington, of the Home
Office, the Ationley-Cessieral for Ireland, and the Lord
Advocate for Scotland.
The number of the new joint stock companies
brought out during the first half of the present year is 17L
They represent a total capital of 116,203,500/. A large pro-
portion of them, however, invited enbeeriptions, in the first
instanoe,for only half their nominal capiteL Allowing for this
circumstance, and also for the great number that have
failed to establish themselves, and have been withdrawn,
or that have obtained only partial subscriptions, the actual
amount of shares taken would probably not represent more
than 50,000,0001. Of the total 116,000,003/, of proposed
capital about 53 per eget. was for hooka and finance corn-
parties, 14 per ant for the conversion of various industrial
ortablisbments already in existence into joint-stock 2240.
Mikes, 12 per cent for steam and other chipping enter-
prises, 6 per cent for insurance companies, 5 per cent for
railwaya, 5 per cent. for estate investments, and about 1 or
2 per cent for hotels. Lad year, although the total capital
proposed for companies seemed enormous, it did not amount
to more than 100,000,0001., while the progress of concoction
this year has been at the rate of 232,00,0001. for the
twelve mouths.

There seems to be a general burst of complaint in
all parted India, where there are many Europeans resident,
ormosenieg the high prices of every neomsary of life.
Almost every article of provision now costa twice as much
as it did a few years ago. Indian salaries seem high, but it
may be laid down se a general rule that the rupee will bey
no more in India thee a shilling will buy at boors For
some wretched bit of bedly.fed mutton the Kheouinah will
charge the price of a dish of turtle-soup. Articles of hdies'
dress fetch about five times what they would at home.
OPENING OF THE RERTORID ORMAN IF HMS-
FORD CATRIDIUL.—An interesting ceremony in connezioe
with the forthcoming festival took place yesterday is Here-
ford Cathedral, namely, the celebratioe by Divine service of
the restoratioe and »placing the very fine old organ of the
mother church of the diocese ; an event that brought to-
gether a large coocourse of the nobility and gentry. The
organ was originally erected by Regriatus Harris, in 1686;
was improved by Lincoln during the last century, and about
thirty yearn ago by Bishop, under the superintendence of
Dr. Wesley, then organist of Hereford Cathedral. It was
taken down from iii poaitioe in the choir at the commence-
ment of the restoration of the cathedral, in 1841, and
removed to the college, but wee re-enieted in the nave for
the festival of 1849, under the superiotendeoce of Mr.
Townsend Smith, at a oast of about 4201.. principally ob-
tained by subscriptions. For the lass eighteen months the
lostrnmeet has bees undergoing a series of alterations wed
additions, so as to fit it for its present position in the Met
arch west of the choir, ce the south side. Its composition is
now from CC to F, and contains the full complement of 45
stops. Messrs. Gray and Davison bare, is is believed.not only
preserved its original qualities, but have, by their addi-
tion, made it one of the finest in Ragland. The poen-
ratio touch for assisting the performer in modulation
has bets added to the great organ, the coupler., the
draw stops, and the action throughout. It is intended to
blow the instrument by hydraulic power, but yesterday
this duty was performed by the manual labour of three
men. The size of the instrument has beers doubled; the
front pips rile to the height of 20 fest, and these being
elaborately decorated in the mediseval style, it preprints •
very imposing appositive. The roaskal services yesterday
were, throughout, ably performed under the direction of
Mr. George Townsend Smith. who prided at the origami.
A collection at the aloes of the service still left a defi-
eiseoy of feeds to meet the oast of repairs, which amount
to upwards Of 1,300 i.
The funeral of the late Mr. Washington Wilke
will take place at Norwood to-morrow thermion at three
o'clock.