The Press.
London, England, 1857-01-10 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

then began a gradual and almost imperceptible descent
until one came into a valley wonderfully supplied with
rivers. The whole country was low in the centre, with
elevated sides. After an extended observation he saw
clearly that this was the shape of the country, but he found
afterwards that he hail been forestalled in this, for Sir 11.
Murchison had broached the same hypothesis in a speech,
which had been sent out to him during his travels.

Dr. Livingston concluded his description by again
referring the audience to his promised work for fuller
information.

The resolution proposed was then put and unani-
mously agreed to.
Sir R. Muncinsow then moved a resolution ex-
pressing the appreciation of the intrepidity and perse-
verance of Dr. Livingston in his extended and dan-
gerous journeys.
The resolution was seconded by Colonel SYKES and
unanimously agreed to.
Mr. J. DILLON moved, and Mr. S. GURNEY seconded,
the opening of a subscription towards a fund, to be
called "The Livingston Testimonial Fund."

The subscriptions announced in the course of the
meeting amounted to upwards of 4001, the Loid
Mayor and the Bishop of London heading the list
with ten guineas.

THE DANGER OF PLAYING WITH EDGED TOOLS was
exhibited last week rather comically. An inquisitive
medical student, while examining the guillotine in the
Chamber of Horrors at Mme. Tussaud's Exhibition,
took it into his head that the sort of yoke which fits
down on the shoulders of the criminal to hold him in
his place would not be sufficient to confine a person
who struggled. His curiosity on that point led him
to watch till the place was empty, when he actually
put himself in, letting down the yoke. He soon
found that he was quite unable to lift it, and it at
once flashed into his mind that the sharp axe sus-
pended over his neck might not he very firmly fixed,
or it would fall (as it should) with a touch. He
was afraid to struggle, lest the shaking should bring
it down and at once deposit his head in the basket
of sawdust below him, into which his eyes were of
necessity steadily looking. Having stayed some time
in this plight, he was overjoyed to hear the approach
of a visitor, whom he implored to release him. "I'm
thinking," said the gentleman (a Scotch visitor of the
metropolis) to his wife, " I'm thinking he must be
hired to show how the thing acts, and I think we'd
better not interfere." So the luckless student was
lett till M. Tussand came in and made fast the axe
before releasing him. The axe has been removed
and laid by the side, to prevent future accidents.
NOT ♦ BAD SUGGESTION with regard to the
Resolute is made this week by a writer to the Times.
The Admiralty intend to strip and lay the good old
ship up in ordinary. The writer proposes that she
be handed over to the Crystal Palace Company, to be
transported, by canal and railway, into the lake at the
bottom of their gardens. He does not tell us how
the ship is to be got under the bridges of the
railway.

THF: METROPOLITAN BOARD of WORKS held a
special meeting on Tuesday, and for three hours
warmly discussed the question of selecting a site for
the erection of suitable offices. It is perhaps need-
less to say that the board separated without coming
to any conclusion, leaving the question under dis-
cussion at exactly the same point as it was three
hours before.
THE FRAUDS ON TILE LONDON UNION were dis-
cussed this week at the board of guardians
meeting. The report of the investigation com-
mittee was read, detailing the steps taken in the
prosecution of Paul, and the inquiry instituted
into the conduct of the clerk and auditor of the
union. From what they had been as yet able to
ascertain from the accounts of the treasurer and
contractors, there was scarcely one of them in which
some fraud did not appear to have been committed
by Paul. The chairman also read two letters from
the Poor-Law Board. In the first the board ex-
pressed its concurrence in the dismissal of Paul and
Manini by the guardians, and stated that an official
inquiry would be instituted into the conduct of the
late secretary and auditor. The second letter denied
the power of the board of guardians to delegate to a
committee the power of effecting a loan on their be
half. The statement that seventy two of the guar-
dians had resigned in consequence of the investiga-
tion into the frauds now going on, was denied by the
chairman. The prisoner was re-examined on Thurs.
day and fully committed on the charge of stealing a
cheque for 3781. 15s. Od., drawn upon Messrs.
Kingsford. Another charge for stealing a cheque on
Messrs. Smith, Payne and Co. for 4551. P2s. 21 was
then gone into, and the case ultimately remanded
for a week.

ARCIIDEACON HALE, of Lmdon, has resigned thJ
living of the vicarage of Cripplegate, which he has
held for the last ten years. In the early part of last
week the venerable the archdeacon forwarded his
resignation to the Bishop of Loislo:i, and this week
received au official uotificatiou that it was au.

33

cepted. The living is in the gift of the Chapter of
St. Paul's, and is valued at 1,800/. a year.
THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S QUARTERLY SUPPLE-
MENT TO THE WEEKLY RETURNS is tolerably satisfac-
tory. The deaths of the last quart„?.r amounted to
14,118, a number, compared with previous quarters,
showing no special improvement in the physical well-
being. of the people. The Registrar-General regards
the decrease as only "temporary," and not from a
superior and permanent condition of health resulting
from sound sanitary measures. For the week past,
the deaths amounted to 1497, against 1973 births.
The mean temperature of the week was 40.6-3 7
above the average of the same week for 43 years.