The Express.
London, England, 1855-08-17 00:00:00

AFFRAY BETWEEN THE MILITARY AND THY

POLICE AT READING.

READING, THURSDAY 31oarrtNo.
A few hours after the close of the races yesterday
• most serious affray took plies between 200 or 300 privates
in the Royal Bucks Militia and the polies of this town.
A number of @oldie, a were drinking in a booth, end two
of them turned out to fight. A policeman went up to them
and quietly requested them to go away. This interference
they resented, and began assault tag him. Other polio,-
amen ran to the rescue of their brother officer,
upon which the militiamen turned out, and com-
menced a simultaneous attack upon ell the police-
men and spacial constables who were in attendance ; the
policemen drew their truncheons and levelled some of the
soldiers &actin return were mercilessly struck with portions
of wooden fences, which were torn up from the race-
ground, and also with the *Didion' belts, to which were
attached large brass buckles. The policemen, some of whom
were fearfully wounded, finding theintelves overpowered,
beat a retreat, but they were followed by the soldiers, who
threw stones end every missile that came in their way,
doing great injury. Oa going through the Forbury towards
the station, one of toe soldiers was taken into custody for
I striking at the officers. lie was lodged in the office, and
when the fact became known to his comrades, they com-
menced en attack on the station house, and demolished the
whole of the windows. The uproar at this juncture, was
alarrehrg; policemen were brought in dreadfully cut about
the head and face, and one man was found to have received
tweet three bayonet wound,.
A communication was forwarded to the officers of the
regiment, and awn afterwards Captain Ccdd, the adjutant,
and other officers arrived. Picquets were Ilea sent for, whe
took CMS of the more turbulent to the goardlicnie.
The town remained I. a state cf great excitement until
after midnight, when the crowd quietly dispersed.
On inquiry this morning it was found that the man
Stroud, who had received bayonet wounds, was in a preca-
rious state, and a policeman named Pritchard is also suffer-
iog from severe wounds on the head.

LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY.—The
directors of this company have decided to reoommend to the
proprietore;at their neat meeting to declare • dividend for
the past half-yeerat the rate of 4 per amt. per annum, and
to carry a surplus forward of about 15,0004
TREAT TO RAGGED SCHOOL CHILDREN.—On Tues-
day morning, nearly 400 children, &Deeding the ragged
school' of the united parishes of Bt. Oiles's and St. George,
Bloomsbury, were treated to an escunion to Willesden,
about six miles on the lie:row-road, where they spent the
day in the fields adjoining the house selected fur their re-
ception. They made the trip comfortably seated in nine
vans, and took their departure from the school-house in
Oeorgeestreet, St. Giles's, amid the cheers of a large num-
ber of their parents and the inbabitente of the neighbour-
hood. At Willesden they were supplied with &good dinner
and tee, and means of amusement end exercise were pro-
vided for them its the shave of bate, balls, swinge, bows and
snows, donkey-riding, &e. In the afternoon the four
curates of the two parishes, sad several fries& of the school,
joiner the youthful throng. and helped on the soiscements.
The expenses of the treat were defrayed by special eonto-
butioce, so se to avoid resorting to the funds of the school;
and, though suftleieet funds have not been raised to pay
the whole of the expense incurred, the managers trust
—looking at the beneficial remelts likely to arise from such
a day's treat to children so circumstanced—that there will
be found, from those interested in the welfare of the poor,
' aid sufileient to prevent the deficiency felling upon the
teachers of the schools.
The three light-houen on the Casket-tracks in the
British Channel have been raised in height about 25 feet
each. Owing to this increase in height, the lights may be
discerned six or seven miles farther than was lately possible.
The Casket Vghts warn marinas from the dangerous rocks
whisk boost the Channel France. d are of great use
trading between London and The personwho has
charge of them bag reared a (easily on the small and rugged
reek on which they stand. When the sea is smooth enough,
which is rani y the ate, he effects a oormacaication with
the Isle of Alderney. The Caskets are fertile, like the
neighboaring islands of Jersey sad Guernsey, and the light-
house keeper has won poises at floricultural shows in those
ideals.