The Express.
London, England, 1863-01-10 00:00:00

Punctually at 6 o'clock this morning the
Metropolitan Railway was opened to the public at both
ends of the line. The train. consist of three carriage', and
daring the day they have been crowded. It was calculated
that up to 12 o'clock the number of passengers conveyed had
been about 10,000. When the gates of the Farringdon-
street station were opened, a considerable number
of artisans were in waiting to be carried to their work
in the neighbourhood of the various stations on the
line. It is believed that a good deal of traffic
will be got from this source, as the operatives
will find it more profitable to pay the low fares
charged on the railway than to walk. The traffic is not con-
fined from end to end of the line. On the contrary, it is
well kept up between the intermediate stations. No
doubt something mast be allowed for curiosity; but
with all abatements the opening is highly satisfactory.
The passengers express themselves much pleased
with the general comforts and conveniences of the travel-
log. When the direct communication with the Great
Northern is completed, as it in expected to be on the lit of
March next, a new and important accession of traffic is
confidently anticipated. It is known that several builders
are now directing their attention to the expediency
of erecting dwellings for the working classes
in the suburbs of the metropolis, and in this way one of the
philanthropic ideas of the late Mr. Charles Pearson touching
the constrection of the great undertaking is likely to be to
some extent, realised. It is not unlikely that the pressure
of the traffic may compel the directors to run ten minutes
trains. The traffic arrangements are under the superinten-
dence of Mr. Fenton.

The banquet was held yesterday in a large room specially
erected for the occasion, and adjoining the Farringdon-
street station. This room was 250 feet long and 50 wide,
and constructed to accommodate 700 guests, for which
number tickets were issued. It was lined throughout its
entire length with red and white cloth, and banners of all
nation/ were suspended from the ceiling and side walls. The
tends of the City police were in attendance, and as the
trains came into the station they struck up some enlivening
sire.

Amongst those present at the banquet were the chairman
of the company, Mr. Wilkinson, who also presided at the
dinner ; Lord Harris, the Lord Mayor, ILP., Mr. Lowe,
M.P., Mr. W. Wood, M.P., Mr. Anton, M.P., Sir S. X.
Pete, M.P., Mr. H. Lewis, M.P., Mr. S. Beale, M.P., Pro-
faner Owen, Sir Rowland Hill and lady, Colonel Sir J.
Hamilton, Bart, Mr. Malin, LP., Mr. Sheriff Jones,
Aldermen Sidney, LP., Humphery, Challis, Abbies, Dakin,
Wilms, Moon, Carter, Hale, Gibbons, Mr. Soott Ruessll,
IL Du Chadic', to.

THE BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S ON SUNDAY EXCIJR-
SIONE.—The following appears in the Spectator of to-day :
"Seeing your remarks on the Memorial of the Bishops on
Sunday excursion trains, I think it right, as one of the sub-
scribers, to state that what you suppose to have been the
one object of the memorial, whether desirable or not, did
not enter into my view of the matter at all. I never
expected that the London churches would be better
filled if the Sunday excursion trains were to cease run-
ning ; nor, I imagine, was that the object of the various
dissecting bodies which have presented memorials to the
same effect. But my own motive for adding my sig-
nature was simply a conviction of the generally pernicious
effects of the Sundaymilway excursions— a conviction which
was forced upon me by the evidence laid before me. I say
fraud upon me, because, at first, I felt a strong doubt about
the propriety of the proceeding, and was inclined to believe
that it might be directed against the least of two evils. As
I have had no communication with any other bishop oa the
subject, I can only speak for myself. Bat it is not impos-
sible
that the cue may have bee, the same with allure, and
that there are more who are not chargeable with the '
im-
bedßty' of ' hoping to force the working classes into the
churches by earthing up the paths of escape.' Few, .I
think, can have been as sanguine about the mouse of the
attempt, as they must have been sure that it would being
down a great deal of obloquy as themselves.—l am, sir,
your obst servant, C. ST. Dam's."
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MirliTlNOs FOR THE
Exam° Wm.—Monday. Architects, at 8, " Building
and Sanitary Arrangements." Mr. Taybr ; Geographical, at
fli:nOceas Currents, N.E. Coast of South America,: Mr.
; " Oman Telegraphl," Captain Rowett ; ' The
Atlantic said Telegraphy, Dr. Wallieb. Tuesday,
Actuaries, at 41. Council ; Syro-Egyptian, at 74, "Sama-
ritan Pentateuch," Rev. J. Mills ; Ethnological, at 8,
" Comnsixters of Races of Man, and Civilisation," Mr.
Crawford ; "Human Skull, Rellet, Lancashire ;'• " Ancient
!Alan Antiquities from Ecuador," Mr. Bollaert • EiWseers,
at 8, " Electricity and Working of rains," 'Mr. Preece
Zoologieal, at 9. , Ornithology of Bonnie, Mr. Wallace;
" Snakes in West Africa," Dr. °thither.
cm:today,
Graphic at 8 ; Society of Arts, at 8, "Ph y sad
Magio Lantern Educationally Considered," Mr. S. bley
Microscopical, at 8 ; Archscoloxinal Association, at 84,
proceedings of Charles 1.," Sir H. Halford ; " Roman
Msrlstooe, Ideas,' Dr. Palmer; "Ancient Brand-
in:ma" Mr. Syer Coming. Thursday. Numismatic, at 7 ;
Royal Academy, at 8, " Architecture." Professor Smirk.;
Lineman, at 8, " Lorsathaceis," Professor Oliver ; " New
Species of Aber*" Dr. Anderson ; " Germination of Seeds
in Cyclamen." Dr. Masters; "Chlocon (Ephemera) Ding-
dials," Mr. Lubbock; "Japanese Species of fciostraca,"
Mr. Adams • Chemical, at 8, "Atomic Weights of Nickel
sad Cobalt," Dr. Rumen ; Royal, at ; Antiquaries, at 81.
-Friday, Pkilelogieed. at 8.

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