The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-22 00:00:00

EARLY CLOSING MEETING.

On Friday evening the west district branch of
the Early Closing Association held a general meeting of its
members in the lecture-hall of the Young Men's Christian
Association (west-end branch), Great Marlboroughaireet.
Refreshments were served at eight o'clock, after which the
chair eras taken by Mr. W. Locke, of Regent-street, and
an encouraging report was raid by the honorary secretary
of the district (Mr. C. A. Brown). The chairman having
addressed the meeting, Mr. Hyde (of the City district)
moved a resolution approving the past proceedings of the
committee, which was seconded by Mr. Flanders. The
meeting having been addressed by Mr. Fitter, secretary of
the parent society, the resolution was adopted. The
local secretary thee stmounced that it was proposed,
in the course of • few weeks, to bold a public soiree in
some large and suitable building at the West-end, in order
to promote the general interests of the movement. Mr.
Lavington then moved a resolution approving of the pro-
posed soiree, which wai seconded by Mr. Luce, and adopted
with much enthusiasm. Addressee having been given by
Messrs. Parkman, Silcock, Piper, lianntlett, Marriott, &c.,•
vote of thanks to the chairman was proposed by Mr.
Thorley, which baying been carried amid prolonged ap-
plause, the proceedings terminated. It was stated in the
course of the evenings discussion that the closing of shops
at eight o'clock for the winter season had commenced in
several instances at a somewhat earlier period this year than
usual. The Saturday early closing during the summer was
also said to have been well maintained.

Up to the 31st of August the number of recruits
raised by the pest draft in the Federal states was 441,164.
The quota to he raised was 562,386. The amount of boun-
ties rained was 108,004,080 dollars, and the amount already
paid was 95,960,000 dollars.
THE Moons.—The Earl of Fife shot 2 stags last
week in Mar Forest, and the Hon. George S. Duff brought
down 3 stags in the " Alton-ower," Glendery. Lord
Powerscourt shot 2 stags ou Tuesday and Wednesday hat,
that weighed each 15 storm. On the latter day Colonel
Farquhaison was successful, and brought down a floe stag
in fuvercauld Forest, Glencallater. On Thursday last
Captain Marshall shot his first stag this season—weight, 15
stone. The herds of stags are now beginning to break and
'nix among the biotin, so that full larders may be expected
this week and following.—Dundee Advertiser.
COUNTY OF MIDDLE4EX REGISTRATION.—This
morning Mr. E. Beale held • court for the revision of the
lists of the county votes, at the Court-house, Edgware, for
Edgware, Fiochley, Great Stanmore, Harrow, Hoodoo,
Kingsbury, Little Stansiore, and Pinner. To-morrow he
will bolds court at Eufield, and on Friday at Hampstead.
EAST SURREY REGISTRATION.— I. bis morning
Ift. G. C. Addison, the banister appointed to revise the
hat of voters for East Surrey, held a court for that pur-
pose at Bermondsey, but nothing of any public interest
trauspired. To-morrow be will hotel a court at Lambeth,
and on Wades/day at Camberwell.
A TREAT TO THE POLICE—About mid-day on
Friday a strong muster of the IS division, with their braes
baud numbering between 30 sod et) performers, under the
able mastership of Mr. Adam Keightley, assembled in Kil-
burn-park, which luid been kindly placed at their dammed
by Mr. Cullum. Inspectors Coombe', Mack rell, and Ed-
moods were present, as also Inspector Steer of the X's.
The members of the cricket club played a match, in which
Bergeron Hiu-ford's side obtained 51 in the first innings,
whilst Sergeant Bedford's got 55 in two ioniap. There
were else several well contested matches at quoits between
the inspectors. The whole party were treated with the
greatest hospitality by Kr. Cullum, and they appeared
greatly to enjoy their treat, which concluded with en excel-
lent dinner at the Brandsbury Armes, Kilburn.
MAILS TO AUSTRALIA.—A telegram from Adelaide
states : —.The contractors at present carrying the mails
from England to the Cape of Good Hope, offer to put on
suitable stammers from Southampton to Australia, calling at
the Cape. The estimated passage is under fifty days. The
subsidy required is 78,000 t., and the contractors ere open to
do an extra service, so that Australia may receive her mails
fortnightly."—Sielaty Morning Herald, July 21.
DEATH OF • SON OF " SOUTER JOHNNY."—The I
Ayr Advertiser says :—" Another of the links that eon-
nected the past with the present has been broken by the
death, this week, of Mr. John Lauchlan, deacon of the
Incorporation of Shoemakers, at the advanced age of 85
years. Deceseed's father is generally believed to have
been the original flouter Johnny, immortalised by Burns
iu his ' Tam o'Sbanter.' lu has owe person, the deacon
united many titled to rasped ; and by many in the town
his loin will be greatly regretted."
THE RECENT CASE OF CHILD BURNING IN
PRESTON.—A few days ago we gave the particulars of an
atrocious act of cruelty on the part of a woman named
Margaret Marsden, the wife of a labourer residing in Presto°.
to a fit of drunkenness she threw her female infant, two
years of age, on the fire. The child was rescued by its
grandmother, and afterwards received medical attendance,
but it died on Monday night. On Friday Yr. M. Myers
held and inquest on the body at the police court in Pres-
ton. the mother of the child was present in custody.
The evidence corroborated the particulars already published.
Mr. Pilkingtot, surgeon, stated the result of the post
mortein exeniinatims made by biro. He ascribed the proxi-
mate cause of death to • sudden attack of whooping-
cough, but he was of opinion that the child would have
recovered from the attack had it not been for the serious
nature of the burns received. The primmer, who ap-
peared to be deeply distressed in mind, told the jury
that it was all owing to the curse of drink ; that she had
fallen asleep while intoxicated, with the child on her lap,
and on awaking she put the infant on the lire, imagining
that she was placing it in its cradle. The jury returned a
verdict that the death had been caused by the child being
placed on the fire, and the prisoner was therefore com-
mitted on the coroner's warrant to take her trial at the
next Lancaster Assize, for manslaughter.
USA RTLENS CASE or CHILD DESERTION. —What
seance to be a very heartless ease of child desertioe has come
uuder the notice of the police in the neighbourhood of Bath.
Two little children, who state their names to be William
and Topsy Taylor, and whose ages respectively are—the boy
twelve, and the girl eight years old, were found on Friday
hungry. tired, sod footsore, at Bath, and having &Waisted
the notice of some kind-hearted vitiates. they were isterro-
gated its to who and what they were, and bow they same to
Le wanderers unaccompanied by any one to take are of
them. They gave their names as above, and raid they be-
Waged to Cardiff. Their story was that their father brought
them to Bristol, and, levies kissed them. and gives them •
fartkag, tied them to walk to London. They stated that
they walked all the way to Bath, and their statement is to •
great extent confirmed by the fact of their having been met
whoa on the rued by we of the county police. Mrs. Shelley.
et Ueine•parege, good-naturedly took them into her house,
fed them well, rod found them beds, and they Lave sines,
we believe, been taken charge of by the police.—Briseof
Mercury.