The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-14 00:00:00

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT
INSTITUTION.
The ANNUAL °WIRRAL MEETING of this Institution w:11
b• bill at the London Tavern, Blshoparateatteet, on TUESDAY
next, se 17th Instant, nt Two o'clock precisely.
Chair
Eight Hon. Lord LOVAIN6,P.C., in the .
RICHARD LEWIS, Secretary.
14, ielinntreet, Adelphi. March 11, 1116 S.

HARMONIUMS.-NEW MODEL
CRAM. BILUX sod WOOD, 2/1. Rapatairopl

Ike erpreoo.

TO 00/111:6PONDINTIL
dateallaentents Intended far " The toms
=mast be at the ogle% 10. Boma
on Um) day ad dattaleattan.

I. looks VsWag
A• crook by Two

OCIVENT GAZDEN.
Tun HYMN. THE ARMOCBIE OP HAICTE9. Madam
Wei= Bentley, Cord, W. Harrison ; Min= L. FY= and Mei--
Ai= an Allegorical Masque entitled FREYA"! 61117. MI Louisa
ligine.—Condactor. Mr. A. Mellon. Oognanceice =T.

HA YMARLIT.
rens IrsiaßlL OUR ASH:RICAN COUSIN. Mama
Samara and Bealcolam ; Kra L FItseWIara.—EASSRIAS
PSINCS Or ABYSSINIA. Mr. Oamptee sad Mir L. Beeler.
—al.sd OUR MARY ANNE Mr. Clark mad Mies Embalm.

isnrcw&

nun E'vrtord, AIIIO-Itrii OTE. Mean. R. Hosby, H.
Vadn, and Boon: Mimes Amy Bodspriek and If Henderson.
And THE HONEYMOON. Messrs. !achy, Veda. Stephens,
Edmore, and Calhava ; Mime Aylmer, Joan, and IL Oliver.

lUUTANIRAt

Tam Emma, ITLIN/13 lUSAN. Yn E Yarnold and
MM. Sopble Miles—And AEON HASSAN. Itra. 8. Anne
lienws. A.w, Lads. Hawkins. mad MOW C. Simban ; Tom
Mims and him two Males.—Oamminon at half-pint t

MOH NAT= AT LONDON SUDO&
Tin DAT —Hiram 81 18s.. ..Aftimioas. 9,1
TaimasOw—Nanabas, 9h. 48i.....Aftw0005, 108. 34in.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 14.

Tea discussion which took place in the House
of Commons list night upon the arrangements
for the public reception of the Princess ALEXANDRA
was very necessary for the satisfaction of the
public. The City Corporation had the advantage
of being strongly represented in the House by the
LORD MAYO/ and Alderman &mill and although
few people will be !convinced that their authorities
have not shown an unwarrantable self-sufficiency,
and been guilty of something approaching to badfaith
towards the Quaait, they have had an opportunity

of urging some extenuating circumstances which it
is only just should be remembered. That their
grand civic procession was a failure, owing
to their inability to marshal it, is of
small consequence ; but they ought to have
taken precautions against men clambering upon
the royal carriage and riding with their illustrious
guests. It was very unfortunate for the Corpora.
tion that it lost its able Chief Constable just be-
fore an occasion when his skill and experience were
peculiarly needed. Had Mr. Huiviy been alive,
we can hardly doubt that he would have obtained
the assistance of the Metropolitan Police, as he did
when the Emperor of the Fitxmcir visited the City.
The LORD MAYOR denied last night that the assist-
ance of the Metropolitan Police had been
offered, but he did not state that it had
been asked and refused. On the other
hand, Sir ()mum GREY stated, on behalf of
Sir RICHARD Mars; that a distinct offer to
take charge of lleet•steeet was made by him at
the meeting of the City Reception Committee on
the 28th of February. We fear the'. the key to
this misunderstanding is to be found in the spirit

of the LORD MAYORC3 very ungracious suggestion
that the success of the procession was destroyed by
the Metropolitan Police. Now that the failure has
occurred the apologists of the City speak of the
narrowness of its street', and prove that you can-
not put a quart of porter into a pint pot. Alder-
DIM SIDNRY points out that the crush would not have
been so great if the LORD MAYOR bad been al-
lowed to go with all his chivalry to Pad-
dington. All this simply leads to the fact that the
Corporation undertook to do more than was practi-
cable. They occupied more ground with their
companies, trumpeters, and banner-bearers innu-
merable, and by the promise of an imposing
pageant drew more people from all parts to see
it than were attracted to any section of the
route of equal length. Space for space, there
were probably twice as many people in the streets
of the City as elsewhere. In Pall-mall, which was
very crowded, there was, even when the PRINCiSS
passed, room to walk freely between the crowd
and the shops ; in the City it was everywhere a
struggle forbreath. The Corporation no donbtmeant
to honour the Perm.= by the display of a stately
show, such as was not attempted in any other
part of London, and which the Mime of the
Rows had evidently no mind to match with the
royal equipages; but in trying to do too much they
not only missed their aim, but even placed their
fair guest in personal jeopardy. It moreover seems
pretty clear that the Volunteers increased the con-
fusion. The City is justly proud of its Volunteer
Corps, but it has not yet learnt their use. Even if
they had got on the ground in good order they
would have done no service. Sir Dr Lew/EVANS

had good warrant for saying that they are not
(the kind of troops to keep the ground on such
occasions. The country values them, neighbour-
ing nations respect them, and in a war the enemy
would feel their prowess; but among the classes
which, for the meet part, make up our great
crowds, they have not gained the esteem that is
their due. By the many they are regarded as
holding much the same relation to the regular
army as a tradesman's token does to • real half-
penny. On the whole, we are compelled to think
that the Corporation has not so much to complain
of being unfortunate as it has to accuse itself of bad

management and neglect. The consequence is that

it is in danger of losing the administration of ita
own police. We should regard this u a real mis-
fortune at a time when oenlanlization is making a
progress far too rapid. It is for the Corporation
to avert it. The principle of local self-govern-
ment which has made Englishmen politically the
most self-helpful people in the world, like all other
principles, will stand or fall by its results. The
Corporation of the City of London have discre-
dited it on this occasion. Let them repair the
mischief by selecting for the Chief Commissioner of