The Express.
London, England, 1863-05-18 00:00:00

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

On Saturday, the first of a aeries of faahionable
Saturday morning entertainments was given at the Poly-
technic Instituting, ►nd wu very well attended. This Sa-
turday entert►inment begins at 1 o'clock, and ends at about
are. Au effort to amuse extending over four hairs would
be a soesewhet hazardous experiment In meet plates, lest
As divertissement of the Polytechnics so varied and on
_ _

pitererieg that it may be regarded more as a snotessien at
diversions thee as • single, continuous eutertaiensenk and
therefore not the least ennui or lassitude is experienced
during the whole time. In addition to the many objects of
art and science tonally "on view" at the Polytechnic, there
IMO many novelties, such as the large plate glass sleuthed
iesehine, and the great Rhumkoff coil, exhibited os this
occasion, the nature and purport of which were well ex-
plained to the visitors by King. Then there was Mr.
Pepper's entertaining and instructive lecture on the newly
discovered metal "Thallium," which was illustrated by
many striking experiments. The " Spectre Drama,"
which has attracted such large numbers of persons to the
Polytechnic since its first exhibition, could not well be
omitted from the new entertainment, and the interest with
which it was regarded, especially by the yearnr portion of
the visitors, of whom there wen a great many present,
justified its retention as a prominent feature of the pro-
gramme. The entertainment was brought to a close by the
performance of Weber's opera of Der FreiwlttUr—the in-
strumental music by Mr. Proven and band ; the vocal
music by Mir Feebroke, Miss Champion, Master
Taylor, nc. ; the musks! arrangements being under the
direction at Mr. Sachet Champion. The optical scenery to
illustrate the opera was devised by Mews. Child and Hill.
Mr. Lionel Brough waa the humorous explanatory chorus.
It should be mentioned that on the occasion of thee° Satre-
day morning entertainments the institution will be deco-
rated with flowers by Marra Video). The works et art in
silver, 'intro-plate, gold, aluminium, and aiumialuin-trusse,

by Bunt and Soakell, Elkiagtoc, and ?Lappin, guy Om-
numbly occupy a portion of the visitor's time end eessiders.
tion in the intervals between the scientific sod epodes' sub-
jects which form the staple of the domain of instruction
and entertainment over which Mr. Pepper presides.

CORPORATION OP THE SONS OP THE CLERGY.

The governors of this corporation held a meet-
ing at their house, 2, Bloomsbury-place, on Saturday hut,
when the cases of 37 widows and 89 aged single daughters
of deceased clergymen were brought before the board,
having previously been carefully considered by the standing
committee appointed to *gamine and report upon all appli-
cations for relief from the funds of the society. Twenty-
two widows and twenty-three daughters were then elected
to life pensions of 101. per annum to supply the vacancies
which had occurred oa the pension lists during the last
twelve months, and small donations were given to 76
other widows sad daughters. The total number of ladies
in receipt of pensions from the corporation is 712, and pro.
bably there is scarcely a parish in England or Wales which
at some time or other during the 209 years of this venerable
society's existence has not thrown upon its hunts
the widow and orphans of some devoted clergyman
whose scanty remuneration when alive barely sufficed to
furnish the oommooest oecenaries of life, and could not pce-
sibly provide for the maintenance of his family when death
bed removed him from the trials and privations of life.
During the last few months the governors have distributed
about 4,5001. in donations to poor clergymen, their widows,
sod aged daughters, and in grants towards educating and
putting out in life clergy children. In June the main bene-
factions are for poor clergymen with large fernlike,
and in July vacancies are filled up amongst the
widows' and daughters' pensions of a higher amount
than 10/. a year—the highest being 251. The two hundred
and ninth anniversary festival of this society is advertised
to take place on Thursday neat, the 21st instant, and we un-
derstand the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of
London, Winchester, Durham, St. Assph, Lichfield, St.
David's, Llandaff, Lincoln. Salisbury, and Rochester, the
Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot, Lord Faversham, and
large number of clergymen and gentlemen have already an-
nounced their intention of attending the dinner at Merchant
Taylors' Hall, to be presided over according to ancient
custom by the Right lion. the Lord Mayor, M.P. Divine
service will be performed the same afternoon under the
de of St. Paul's Cathedral. The choir will consistof about
200 trained voices, including the choirs of the Chapel Royal.
Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, St. George's Chapel, Wind-
tor, and the Temple, and the anthems selected for the ones-
'ion are by Mendelsohn and Handel, and a new one by that
acoom lishedmusician, Mr. Goes, the organist at St. Paul's

Flln ARTS. —BALI OF THE LATE Ma. EGG%
Picronm.—Meeers. Christie, Manson, and Woods will sell,
to-day end to-morrow, all the remaining pictures belonging
to Mr. Egg, LA., the most important of which is the pictn.s
celled " Past and Present," which was in the International
Exhibition. There are the cartoons of the " Lanoe sod his
Deg," and " Frederick the Great and Catherine," and some
minor works in oil painted hi 1882, but not exhibited;
amongst these is an " Algeria) Girl with a guitar," a work
the painter wee engaged upon when be died. lila studies
for pictures are very numerous., and most of them remarkably
characteristic and full of power. Two very interesting
pictures, which were bought by Mr. Egg himself of the
artists, are to be sold ; these are "The Death of Chatterton."
by Mr. H. Wallis, and the "Claudio sad Isabella," by Mr.
W. Holman Rant, one of his Ent important works, exhi-
bited at the Academy in 1853. Both these pictures were in
the Manchester Exhibition.

Mr. Toole, the comedian appeared in one even-
iag mesa Ma, fear distinct ehiracters at three different
theatres. Conatneweiag at the Surrey I. the comedietta
The Spite/tide Weiner, he afterwards played as usual at
the Adidplai In the serious play, Janet Pride, and in this
fares of /ci on perk Pranmais; aad coacluded at Sadler's
Wells with the oomicalities of the showman in the drama of
The Green Bushes. Mr. Toole in two of these cases per-
formed gratuitously for deserving benefits, making his
vehicle a dreesing-rocen for the occasion.
Haaaall'e report on Waters' pre-
paration of Quinine (so well known as "Waters' Quinine wine)
tattiterto Iu ratan Full list of testimonials forwarded by Ro-
bert Widen, 2. Ilartlielane, Cannooetreet, London, KC.—
Sold by grocers. Italian warehousemen, and others, at Ma a dome.
Wholesale mints, Lewis sad Ce., Wad
Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur
ebbing liornloaaa sassa very ebotee et Sa. 4d. and 4a.
" High Standard" at formerly 44. b the strongest
and most delirious Imported. Agents in own town supply It
pfficketi—LAdvertbalosal]

TIM MUNITION Or ALI:MINN:3I AND
ALUICINIIIM BRONZL
2000 SPECIMENS, illustrating the Appli-
cation (Ornamental sad Useful) of thins Lao-
webbing Metals, are NOW ON WSW st
MAITIN DROTHW NNW' NW ILOOMS, T 2, REONNT-STREET.
A by lXr‘l.

WERYBODY KNOWS Mr. MILES,
.2.4 mend Webb Mlles 111130190) FROM BONDATRKIIT
to 73, BROOE-84= Haneteraeuare, In 1869.
The 186. rennewsk 177 libn) IA MI the New Metes,
" REITER THAN Mv

MBE DERBY and OAKS.—The COURT
JOUILN AL —The sporting article in the " Court Journal"
is generally acknowledg,ed to be the best that appears in any
English newspaper, as being addressed to the practical question.
sod founded upon exclusive and, to others, inaccessible infoems-
lion. The nunther for Saturday, May Pi, is evsvislly worth
consulting. as the review of the Derby and fhs is not only
much longer sad more detailed, but far more accurate than that
appearing in any of the penfeseed sporting papers.—Price ;
awuped. ad, W. Thome 211, Brydgesetreet, Covent•garden,
and all newsagent&

T_
E DR AW IN G-RO 0 M.—The COURT
JOURNAL of THIS DAY (Monday onions by far the
most compkte and detailed account of the Orawieg.Room of
Saturday, the presentations, dta ebuntes, descriptions of cos-
tumes, and an especial and exclusive article on that event—[Tien
M.. stamped, ed. W. Thomas, NS, Brydgeustreet Covent-
garden, and all nelnagente_________—_

- ----_____
'POCKET BAROMETEFL—NEGRETTI and
ZAMBRAII trustworthy and reliable Instrument, the aim
of a wateh.—Partieuters byHatton.ganien . 59, Corahl ,
Itesentwlreat , and Crydal ralked,

Vte erpreoo•

TO 0011tESPONDMIS.
advertisements intended for " The Express" London WWI(
Paper, must be at the oft* 10. Boursrieetreek by Two
o'clock on the day of publication.

SAMARIUM.
THIS EVIMING, FISH OUT OF WATER. Mr. Compton.
—EI NM3E. Ileums. A. Wigan, Holm BUCkatene. Gordon, god
nwres Wgan, WI. Wilkins, ISss L Angel, sod Mini
F. Wtight —BUCKSTONE AT HORS—Amt MRS. WRITE.

LTCHUIL
Tone ZTEMIG. A BIIDD&N ATTACL Mama Shore and
Widdleoch Mtn Hounds sad Yea Lee.—And THEBayruoua DUKE'S
BLOTTO. Werra Fearer, Shore, Brougham and
Rheas C. Loam% IL Terry, sad Ilaworshy.

lIBITANNLL
Tun amnia. lux WIDOW AND OHMIC:M.—FAITH,
NOM AND CHARITY, with Professor Pepper s r.dAptatloo of
Yr. Arelufs IiPICTILAL LLLDBION.—And AURORA FLOYD.

MEM WATT& AT LONDOS BILDOB.
ow DAT —Monde& tda....Afterooos. Oa
taisoiulow—liceslag. Vs. 67......At1ie5ak is 15a.

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 18.

THE news from the army of General Hoomia is
not only interesting, but important. Contrary to
some loud predictions made in this country, the
North has once more conclusively shown that
it is determined to persevere in its enter.
prise ; and it is clear that notwithstanding any
number of partial reverses, the Northern
armies are still ready to fight with a gallantry
and perseverance equal to that of any people
who ever accepted the arbitrament of the sword.
It would be premature to anticipate the ultimate
result of the great battle which has just been
fought for three days, or perhaps more, near Fre-
dericksburg ; but even if the result be adverse
to the North, it is idle to suppose that they will
be content to accept it as a conclusive
test of the superiority of their adversaries.
Since the opening of the war no battles have been
fought with more determination ; and it is ob-
vious that, as time advances, the skill and courage
of the North, instead of diminishing, acquires
fresh force. In the meantime, it maybe interest-
..

ing to note the various steps which immediately
preceded the battles in question, and to explain
the movements of the three days' action.

About seventy miles north of Richmond lies
Fredericksburg, on the southern bank of the Rap-
pahannock. A railway running directly south
connects those two cities. At the end of last
mouth General Le with his Confederate troops
lay entrenched on the heights which overhang
Fredericksburg. Las's base of operations bei-ig
Richmond, he was of course in a posi-
tion to obtain any quantity of men and
other supplies he might require from that capitaL
Opposite Les, at Falmouth, lay HOOKER, with the
army of the Potomac. He communicated with
Washington by sea. By glancing at the map it
will be observed that the Rappahannock, coming
down from the north-west, is joined about twelve
miles above Fredericksburg by the Rapidan.
Thence both streams, assuming the name of the
former river, descend almost eastward to Chesa-
peake Bay. What may have been t'ie numbers
of the two opposing armies it is impossible to
state accurately. But Hoossa is said to have had
under him about 120,000 men. No conjecture
has been hazarded as to the number under the
Confederate Commander•in-Chief.
Such being the position of things, HOOKER
determined to turn General Las's left flank
by crossing the Rappahannock about twelve
miles above Falmouth, and advancing acrom
the ground which lies between that river
and the Rapidan—crossing the Rapidan, and then
threatening Las's communications with Richmond.
}loos= hoped that by this manceuvre he should
be able to compel Las to leave his entrench-
ments above Fredericksburg, and thus reoei ie
that officer's attack on ground selected by Fm-
self. But such a movement is by no means

easy. He might be attacked just at the moment
of crossing the Rapidan ; his right flank might be
overwhelmed before his centre or left could come
to his assistanoe ; or he might find Lac so ezong,
by reason of the concentration of all the Confede-
rate troops within a considerable circuit, that re-
sistance might be hopeless. Let us now see how
Hooxisa executed the plan which he had formed.
On Monday, the 27th of April, having left a
reserve at Falmouth, and having marched the ;
bulk of his army twelve miles up the Rappahan-
nock, be crossed that river. With an army of
100,000 men it is of course impossible to psis
by one ford, and therefore no less than three stem
to have been selected. The next three or four
days were spent by this branch of the army in
crossing the Rapidan and marching south-east-
ward towards Chancellonville. This town seems
to be about eight miles from Fredericksburg,
and is a station on the railroad connecting that
city and Gordonsville, which lies some seventy
miles to the south-west. In the mean ice Gc
neral STONRKAN, with the Federal °avidly, had
been despatched to break up the railroad between
Richmond and Fredericksburg, and was to
prevent Liz receiving his reinforcements.
Whether he succeeded in that enterprise seems I
doubtful. ft is said that after the time when '
STONEMAN ought to have accomplished his task
Liz received large reinforcements from Richmond.
Between Tuesday, the 28th of April, and Satur-
day, the 2nd of May, nothing important occurred.
Bet on Saturday morning it appears that Svoits-1
WALL JACKSON fell upon the right flank of the
Federal& The probability is that this was
the advanced guard of HOOKER, and that
the bulk of the army had not yet come up.
One division of Germans seems to have been
driven back, but even Srowcwari, JACKSON didnot
succeed in driving the right flank back over the
Rapidan. The result of Saturday's battle, there-
fore, was clearly in favour of the Federals. Bat
this is not *IL HOOKZR completely sumeeded in
his design. He compelled LEL to leave his en-
trenchments above Fredericksburg, and to assume
the initiative. This is precisely the advantage of