The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-05 00:00:00

RAILWAY BINZVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The anniversary dinner of this society wan held
last night, at the Freemasons' Tame ; Lord ESTAELLY,
Y.P., in the chair. The noble lord was supported by Lord
Colville, Lord Harris, Me. E. C. Egerton, ILP., and about
200 other gentlemen.
In proposing the Houses of Parliament Lord Srawurr
observed that the secret why representative institutions
bad succeeded so well in this country as compared with
other European states must be looked -for is the independ-
ence, personal, party, and pecuniary. of members of parlia-
ment. Moat of them, whether Lords or Commons,
wanted nothing from any minister. What was of
more importance very few of them got any.
thing, end thus they were able to control
the parties to which they nominally belonged. (Hear.)
Another very remarkable thing in the House of Commas
was its love of fair play. It did sot in the haat matter
how unpopular a man's °pintoes might be—it did
not in the least matter how odd or uncouth his manner,
the house, by an instiort which be could hardly
understand, but of which he daily saw illustrations, at once
discovered whether he was one of those who had got some-
thing to say, or whether he was merely mei of those
whom to listen to was only to waste time. Thus
many a man who possessed what was called
a great ciommaed of language—which commonly means that
language had a great command over hint—(a larigh)—was
enable to pin the ear of the house ; while others, whose
sentences seemed to come from than thew end first,
were listened to so attentively that you might a pin
drop. Perhaps, however, the most creditable thing in par.
Ilan:lent was the amount of hard work which was got
throagh. If the Hone* of Commons consisted, not of 610
mem but of &V orators. it would be like Bedlam let
loose ;mind he thought that they scarcely did justice to a
personage who received very little return for his really
valuable labour—the silent but hard-working member.
(Cheers.) . .

The noble CHEIMIAN next !proposed the toast of the
evening, " Prosperity to the Railway Benevolent loathe-
tion." (Loud cheers.) The railways now employed nearly
150,000 servants, who at the lowest calculation represented
5C3,003 parsons, or a sixteenth of the whole populatioa,
pendent upon the companies. These men were riot on
the whole highly paid, and they were subject to at
least their full share of the inevitable misfor-
tunes which fell upon the labouring classes. There were some
that thought all organised charities were an evil ; but he
(the noble lord) conceived that when a man had taken every
precaution that oculd be reasonaly expected of him to pro.
vide against reverses, they ought to extend their assistance
to hint freely, tibofally, and unsparingly. Nevertheless
this, though collate benevolent institution, was redly a
friendly society, in which the contributions of the railway
servants themselves were supplemented by the com-
peeks and the public. (Hear, hear.) It might
be said that Dapple ought to insure their lives ;
but that was not, e very easy or safe thing for a working
man to do ; because if he could not keep up his payments
he lost all be had paid. (Hear, hear.) The total amount
Invested by this society was 7,500/., and its annual income
was 2,2601., which, considering that this was only its fifth
year, was perhaps as much as could be expected. (Cheers.)
Hr. OAKLEY, of the Great Northern, chairman of the
society, in retarniea thanks, said that every member sub.
scribed at least half a guinea a year ; bet the demands
upon their funds were sack that its resources were
found to be wholly inadequate to meet them. He trusted,
therefore, that it would receive the assistance of the pab-
lit, who were little aware of the labour, fatigue. and damson
which were undergone by the servants of the railways in
order to enable them to travel with ease, expedition, regu-
larity, and comfort front one part of the country to the
other. (Cheers.)
Subscriptions to the amount of 1,2001. were announced in
the course of the evening.

LONDON TAVERN COMPANY.—The first ordinary
ggesneral meeting of this company weeheld yesterday at the
London
Tavern, Yr. Alderneu Abbiss in the chair. There
was a large attendance of shareholders. The secretary read
the report, which stated the result of six months' trading
at the Lades' Tavern and five months at the Alb Me.
After payment of trade and other expenses, there remained
a net profit of 2,8111. 15e. 6d., which adding T 371. 10a.
premiums realised by the sale of 1,000 shares of the second
Josue, placed the sum of 3.7491. ss. dd. at the disposal of the
directors. They had written off the sum of 1,6141. 81. 7d.
liqaidatioe of the amount of 2,6141. Bs. 7d. for prelimi-
nary expenses, and after paying a dividend at the rats of 10
per cer... per annum, a balance of 6841. would be carried
to next &menet. The chairman, in moovviinogg the
adoption of the report, congratulated the ebarebolders
upon the emcees of the oudertaking. There was every
reason to believe that at the conclusioe of the second six
months they would not only be able to pay a 10 per cent.
dividend, but also to gave a good bonus. The badmen done
both at the London and the Albion since the company had
taken possession had exceeded that dope at any former
period, with every prospect of a still further increase. fie
thee referred to reports in circulation that the company
were desirous of selling the business ; but sock was not the
OW. it was true that offers had been made, but they had
not been entertained by the board. Mr. DervOle seconded
the adoption of the report, which, after some discussion and
explanations from the chairman as to the finenciel state-
meet, was unanimously agreed to. The dividend was than
declared of JO per cost., payable on the 11th imR, aid the
retiring directors and auditors haring bean re-elected, a rot*
of thanks to the chairmen terminated the meeting.
EWER AND Co.'s MI:TINDAL LIBRARY, BRIT=
AND loaxan.—Prospector gratin. Sabieribas may sew
aft. 57. Sassawayst. Mdse.--(Advolimitral