The Press.
London, England, 1857-07-25 00:00:00

Rittrapplitan.

AT THE ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM, SOUTH KENSING-
TON, the annual conversazione was held on Saturday
evening last. The visitors were more numerous than
on any previous occasion. The chairman, the Earl
de Grey, president of the society, opened the pro-
ceedings by congratulating the members present on
their change of premises, and contrasted their con-
fined and dirty rooms in Cannon-row with the
gallery in which their collections are now deposited.
By the kind permission of the Committee of Council
the whole building was opened to the inspection of
the visitors.
THE `WELLINGTON INIONVIIENT.—The models de-
signed in competition for the Wellington Monument
are now exhibiting to public view in Westminster-ball,
and have been visited by upwards of 6,000 persons.
Thera are nearly a hundred designs. Half the number
are contributed from England, Ireland, and Scot-
land, and Italy, Germany, Spain, and America, furnish
nearly fifty. The designs by British subjects have
black numbers; those by foreign artists red ; so that
they are easily distinguished. The exhibition of
models will be open to the public this day (Saturday)
from nine a.m. till seven p.m., and afterwards every
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, from nine
till seven until further notice.
THE ROYAL BENEVOLENT INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY has
been established for the purposes of investigating
cases of alleged distress, and of assisting deserving
destitute persons, by obtaining for them employ-
ment; by advancing them small sums of money ; by
affording them the means of emigration ; or by ren-
dering them such other relief as may be advisable ;
and also for the purpose of collecting and diffusing
information tending to ameliorate the condition of
the poor. The president is the Duke of Cambridge ;
and among the vice-presidents are the Duke of
Devonshire, Lord John Russell, and Colonel Sir
Thomas Troubridge, Bart. In an address just
issued by the council we find indication of the mate-
fiat upon which the society proposes to work. It is
remarked that while " that impulsive and indiscrimi-
nate charity which is moved to compassion by the
mere appearance of destitution, and bestows its alms
broadcast on the outward semblance of want, is in
the generality of cases productive of harm rather
than of good, there exist at this moment, both in the
higher and humbler paths of life, untended and un-
cared for, because unknown, thousands of dis-
tressing cases in the metropolis to which the bene-
volent would gladly afford relief." But to search
such cases out without a judiciously organised
system is difficult, and, when found, it is equally
difficult, without a considerable knowledge of the
industrial resources of London, to place these per-
sons, by a trifling outlay of money, in a position to
earn an honest livelihood. To meet these difficul-
ties, and to supply the various information necessary
to extricate this class of poor from their sufferings,
are the objects of this society. And to promote
such objects it is believed that the wealthy and bene-
volent will gladly lend their aid to an establishment
which has, in addition to its main charitable inten-
tions, a tendency to develop a sense of self-reliance,
and inculcate a habit of industry. Any one mode•
rawly acquainted with the metropolis will see that

very much good is to be done in the direction con-
templated by the society. At present the association
is in its infancy, but its composition, as shown by the
names of its active members above quoted, not only
guarantees the genuiness of its origin, but is also a
pledge of sound administration. Such efforts as the
society proposes is deserving of every encouragement.
SIR JOHN SIIEILLY, M.P., has been suffering from
a severe attack of erysipelas. The hon. baronet is
in a delicate state of health.

Mr. G. S. YEATEs, a stockbroker, residing in the
Crescent, Albany-road, poisoned himself last Satur-
day with prussic acid.
THE WORKMEN engaged-in pulling down the walls
of Covent-garden Theatre have discovered the founda-
tion stone at the corner of the building in Hrrt•street
and Bow-street. In a hole in the stone was found a
brass box, in which were several of the coins current
at the time the stone was deposited. The box, which
was about 44 in. square by 2, was sent to the Duke
of Bedford, the landlord of the estate, in consequence
of a condition of sale to that effect. The inscription
on the foundation-stone was " Long live George,
Prince of Wales." It is stated that the box will be
sent to her Majesty.
THE HEALTH OF LONDON continues good, though
the deaths last week exhibit an increase on those of
nine previous weeks. The number is 1,061. The
deaths from diarrhoea, which in the three previous
weeks were 33, 61, and 133, rose last week to 150.
The increase which this disease now shows is,
therefore, not so great as that which appeared in the
preceding return. Last week the births of 1,656
children were registered.