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

undertook the office under considerable, difficulties, is
when the Mint was thrown into great confusion, in ri
the transition from the old to the new system. When el
Reentered on his unthankful duties he found great ,„lIS
discontent and disaffiction prevailing, in consequence iirt
of the arbitrary and tyrannical conduct of his prede si
-
ceasor, Captain Harness, who, at the instance of the pis.
Treasury, undertook the reform of the establishment. st...
The spirit then raised, and insuperable difficulties of 81-1
another kind, are supposed to be the reason for Sir st.l
John's relinquishing his office. 131
Wi, bout disparaging the character and great ac-
quirements of that eminent man, admitting, at si.
the same time, his desire to reconcilo coofficting ei
interests and discharge all the important functions of to
his office with scrupulous fidelity and honest inten- IS
lions, it cannot be denied that he wanted the proper 2:it
qualifications to govern such an institution. I parti tr
-
cularly allude to experience, official aptitude, decision xt
and energy of character, by no mans surprising when at.
we consider Sir John Rertcbell's antecedents. These ..81.
essential qualities to the good government of en este- 57:
blishment are as much wanting in his deputy, a yeti- 1?4
table red-tapist, the consequence of which is want of 12s
due subordination, combined with the old elements of a
discontent and want of zeal.
.
It behoves, then, the government to consider well 1 tost
whom they appoint to fill the vacancy caused by the n
resignation of Sir John Herschell. 'lO look to scien- 187..
tific attainments only would be absurd. The man of at.i
science rarely makes a good governor. What is
wanted is a man with some decision of character and t. I
sound judgment and common sense.—l am, tic., 20
March 2. OBSERVER. 114

TUE BARNSTAPLE ELECTION.—MR. LAURIE UN- elt ll
: Ida. GUINNESS ISZATLD —Yesterday, on the ren l.
arembling of the committee ; Mr 0. M. Butt, in the chair, 'V
the counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Tits, ann.-uneed that i;
ihey had determined to withdraw from any farther pro- In
nee dings against Mr. Guinness, the committee having de- 2.
tided that that gentleman's qualification was a sufficient 5 .
one. Mr. Onion.,. accordingly retains his scat. Alter some
farther proceedings, the committee intimated that they had
unanimously resolved th..t Mr. Levine had procured his
return and election by means of an illegal bargain and agree- I°„ I
meat ; that he was nut July sleeted ; and tbat the last l',;
election for Barnatapl,a—so far as regarded Mr. Laurie's re- t,.
tarn—erse • null and raid election. The committee then ° 3,
rag up. It is understood that a fresh writ will forthwith 1 3
lien... and that Mr Tire will again stand. 3
THE LONDON ASSURANCE FREEHOLD LAND So- i
CIETT had a very numerous and influential meetly' a' Haw IN
meransith, on Wednesday last. Charles Brows, Esq., ably She
filled the chair, and, after some general observations, stated 1
that he believed that the very eligible estate who.* merit/ ;.,
they bad met together to diocese' would increase in value i'
every year, it being eacellent building land, in a bealeby 1,0
situation, and having easy access to all parts of Londen, 10.9
which the proposed railway from the General Post.oflice in 20
St. Martin'ele-Grand would facilitate. The manager (Mr. !
T. A. Burr) ezplained the many advantages of the society„ i
soaking special reference to the estate in the immediate I 4
neighbourhood, which had neatly half a mile of frontage to ° 201
the Alma-road, and offered most ogee Heat investments. The , tie.
plots are ea site sari able to the locality, and can be paid too
for either is one sum or by monthly instalments extending . 11',''
over a Dumber of years. He explained how the rights of 2,N
choice would accrue to sh embolden, and stated that those of . too
the officers who were entitled to choose by seniority had con- to
seated tee waive their rights in favour of the local residents. to
Mr. Lovely, looking at it in a commercial point of view, Po
thought the price of the lots very reasonable, especially ea :
the reads. sewers, and yore' and eoliintors' charges are -
all included. Many questions of a practical character wen I
put sad answered, to the evident satisfactioleaf the 21..finz, 1
The Rev. J. V. Mummery, MOW.. Chas. §hepheard, W. i
D. Salter, and several other gentleme n addressed the meet- I
ism. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, and the ea-
rolmentof many shareholders, the meeting separated.
LAdvertierawat.)—AT MIL MEClll'e EbTatt.lBll-
seem, las, 4, Leakahall-etreet, larks. me eshlbited the finest
el DrabbillallraetllMe4 111 Ileilelesileees, Work-Nabs,
Deualwleas, sad eribersedies ei utility or homy
SSW* sw pseseasedes. • mama asprisseat ter Peva Mead
alasalleateres ad assawas Taira. Talb Wm, Pew, Below%
Pealloleswallas Paste, ba. Sligglag erdwessisaisi ke werrhasas
swieeplaaw. As extensive assiwiwas et swear lielr sad when
tease MOM& LB. The eitieslataawribialar M. isidesivest
mei triaterimo. No. 111, asawieleata en Ye ealawilai saw
"NM