The Express.
London, England, 1862-03-22 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN BOARD OP WORKs.

The weekly meeting of the board was held
yesterday, at the office in Spring•gardens ; Kr. J. Tnwarrns
in the chair
The following is the report 'of the committee appointed to
consider the clauses proposed to be inserted by Mr. Aydin]
in the Metropolis Management Act Amendmeut Bill:
" The objections to the proposed changes am twofold
first to their form, next to their substance. They are
sought to be introduced in committee, oo en unendlog
which has been thrice read a second time in the House of
Commons, and has twice passed that hou,e diet
a full investigation by a select committee, and
are of so fundamental and organic a chem.,,
u imperatively to demand that full and free
alienation which they would receive if embodied in a
bill, but which is impossible if introduced in committee.
! The substantial are even stronger and more numerous than
' the formal objections. The Metropolitan Board of Works
is chiefly an executive body, which has after much careful
study matured plans for a great metropolitan work—the
main drainage--for completion of which parliament 11.4
assigned a date, via., the 31st of December, letred, within
which period they believe their duty will be discharged,sa
Imore than half their work is already done ; but if it is et
this stage to be taken out of their hands mad confided te a
committee of 24 selected from a body of 172, many of whom
would necessary ybe new to the subject, delay would be
inevitable, and &age. probable. The utmost discontent
would proven in the districts unxptesentel in such a com-
mittee, the present obligation on aH committees of introit.
tiug their acts for the approval of the board being (livened
with. No such organic alterations as quiulrupling the num.
bars of the board. and making the ratepayers instead of the
vestries their constituents, have ever been demanded by
the public, and could only be justified on the
grounds of proved incapacity or increased duties. Their two
most important works, the main drainage and new street in
Southwark, are rapidly approseldng completion, and have
been carried on in a way to receive the confidence of the
public. The Thames embankment will, it is Shei
la con-
fided to a select committee, consequently by far rger
portion of the 172 members would have to occupy them-
selves solely with 'administrative details, involving the 'ale
portionment of heavy (taxation, interference with private
convenience for public benefit, and the necessary impose
than of burdens and restraints on their fellow citizens which
coo never income their popularity, nor offer any induce
ment to popular and busy men to devote their time and
thought to the public service, without a prospect of Taiping
any corresponding advantage. Add to this the fatigue sod
cost of an election little inferior in either respect to that for
a member of parliament, and it will be obvious that it will
be even more difficult than at present to induce men of wealth
andtposition to undergo the disoomfort of a contested election,
which will inevitably fall into the hands of small cliques.
Experience and precedent abundantly justify the mutiny
for a permanent head of an executive body, to preserve
official traditions, to advise in doubtful cases, sod to recall
attention to previous proceedings. The re-election of the
same speaker and chairman of committees in successive per.
limes* together with the permanence of the latter are
in thenpper branch of the legislature, shows that even lege.
Wive bodies acknowledge the same necessity. The.duties of
the Metropolitan Board of Works are chiefly executive, sad
to require the annual election of their president noddles
to transfer the real executive to the chief officers thin
permanent AWL"
The report was received and ordered to be printed.
Some routine business was disposed of, and the board
adjoursed.

The course of free general lectures at the Working
Men's College has been arranged for the next three months
as follows The Meaning sad Use of the Word Ovilisa
ties," by the Rev. F. D. Maurice; "The Mexican WE,'
by J. Ludlow, Esq. ; " Life and Character of Sir John
Falstaff, Knight," by Wm. Mallssoo, Esq. • " The Gold
Coast, and the Future of the Negroes," by ihes. Hughes,
Bog. ; " A Greek Play," by J. W. Hales, Esq., or "Robert
of Bruen% and Feely English Life (1303)," by F. J. For.
nivel', Fag. ; "The Poet Wordsworth," by J. R. Seeley,
Esq. • "Thomas Carlyle, writer of books," by Verses
Liwhingtoo, Esq. ; and "New South Wales," by H. Parke;
Eaq., government commissioner from the colony.
A further heavy batch of correspondence on the
RN/A of the revised educational code, forming parts 2,3,
and 4, was lensed this morning from the malamute,
printing-odes.
A private view of the exhibition of the
Incorporated Society of British Artists was held this day
at the Gallery in Suffolk-street.
The three principal anniversary dinners in the
Art-world are near at hand. That, of the General Theatriail
Fund takes place on Monday, the 24th, with Mr. Alfred
Wigan in the chair; that of the Artists' Benevolent '
on the 25th, Mr. Charles Dickens in the chair ; while
Granville will preside for the Literary Fund, the date
which is not fixed.
The opening night of the Royal Italian
hes been fixed by Mr. Frederick Gye for Tuesday,
of April, and the full prospectus will be issued on Monday.
It is rumoured that the retirement of Dolma Grief, eV
ioduoe the director to give the lighter opera" of Resaini
other composers the prominence this mason, and that
lyric, tragedies of Norma and Lucretia Borgia will v
sa heretofore, the only features of the programme.
Patti and Signors Mario sod Tansberlik will be among
principal artistes of the Royal Italian Opera.
The first New Philharmonic Concert will
plum on April I'.
The benefit for Mr. Love, the celebrated pol)
phonist, will take piece at Bodeen Wells on Battu
the 29th inst. Mr. Henry Rumen has consented
from his retirement for this night only, and Madame Saina
ton• Dolby, Mdlle. Pampa, Miss Poole, Mr. J. E. Comm
ter, and other popular vocalists will combine to reek
the night's entertainment complete.
The Adelphi farce of Private In is to be
produced on Monday.
Mr. Fechtm is preparing for representation a pia)
entitled The Golden Dagger. It will be produced at '
Princess's Theatre in a few days, Mr. Pechter in t'
Pert.
The report of the Rev. W. Denton's speech, as
one of the deputation who waited upon Lord Sy
tire to the subject of opening the theatres in
Week, contained the following:—" In the CM)
manager in the north-we of London whom he had
Mr. Phelps, the manager of Sadler's- wells—that ger
bad said that his conscience would never allow
open his theatre in the Holy Week, whatever re{
the Lord Chamberlain might make." Mr. Phelps a..
" The rev. gentleman must have greatly misunderstood,
I do not remember during our interview to have
the subject as a matter of conscience. The a
made use of were in favour of opening the
Passion Week, not as being of so much importance to the
managers themselves as to the large body of workmen sol
women, besides actors of inferior degree, who, in the erect
of their being closed, were deprived of a week's "dam
while all other places of amusement, even those of '
questionable tendency in • wrong direction than a w
ducted theatre could possibly be, were allowed to
their calling as temples& by the law."
Monday next will probably decide the stet
will be taken by the London theatres in Passion
the Lord Chamberlain hes summoned the London a-
to meet him on that day to discuss the question.
The Memoirs left by Thomas Bewick are in
press. They are to be edited by his daughter,
trated by several vignettes not hitherto publish.
ther with the finished outs of his work oil "
Fishes."
Letters received by the last mail front Fern,
Po report that Captain Burton, in company with
Spanish Judge Senor Calve and Mr. Gustaf Mama
scaled the unknown Cameroon mountain. At I,o'
above the ma the climate was delightful, " birds tilt
in Europe, 45 deg. at night, and a sun which one may •
in." A real African-English Forget-me-Not (either
Myosotie or Cynoglostum) was found at the plaice cal
half-way house, where we (Gardeners' Mruntele)
to add that the captain was laid up by a severe cat
foot.
On Thursday afternoon, a student named Gio`
syneki was tried before the Paris Correctional Court, r
charge of having formed part of the students' modem,
in honour of M. Henan on the occasion of his " sus9vh""'
and for the graver offence of striking a police-offivz.
had collared him. The defendant pleaded that be la 4
merely acted in self-defence. It is to be supposed the O.
authorities are inclined to propitiate the schools. se. td
wart took a mild view of the cue, anal sentenced II 00
zynski to six days' imprisonment only.
The French Minister of Foreign /Miro
oeived a letter from Abd-el-Kader, in which the ex•Eroir
mama that he is sending to the Emperor Napo
horses from Yemen, of the purest breed which
Arabia, and which, according to the writer of the
are descended in a direct line from the famous mare oi
prophet. The precious stallions are shortly .9404'1
France, and it is said to be the Emperor's inteutise 10
place them in his breeding' stud in the South, who
Arab blood meows& admirably in regenerating the Fre
at
race of horses.
CRYSTAL PALAOI. ON/1 SHILLING 1:41:;:'
FRIDAY, Mason E 2.— Admissions on, parnot,
ditto by season tickets, 283—total, CO3.

wt. LW *MAY
)y Thos. Hughes,
Esq., or "Robert
)," by F. J. Far.
' by J. R. Seeley,
poke," by Fenn
les," by H. Parka,
o colony.
pondenoe on the
forming parte 2, I,
the parliamentary
dbition of the
waa held this day
r dinners in the
General Theatrical
1, with Mr. Alfred
Benevolent DIM
chair ; while Led
Fund, the date d
al Italian Opera
3r Tuesday, the eat
o issued on Monday.
Madame Grisi toll
perrui of Rossini and
,sawn, and that tie
Borgia will not to,
rrogramme. MEL
will be among the
Pert.
)oncert will take
celebrated poly.
la on Saturday nett,
consented to emerge
and Madame this.
Mr. J. E. Ceram
combine to reek
Inquiry is to be
resentation a play,
be produced at the
'echter in the lead*
lat.on'a speech, as
on Lord Sydney rely
theatres in Palos
In the case of ow
whom he had seen-
rolls—that gentleman
never allow him to
whatever regolatires
Mr. Phelps writes:-
tly misunderstood me•
riew to have brutal
a. The argumenu I
ening the theatres
each importance to Or
body of workmen al
tee, who, in the mg
d of a week's Baler!,
even those of a um
lotion than a welloor
ere allowed to points
I ceD
eeek, a
t queses
tion.
inue
wee
70, edno steps
m_w
a daughter, and Bo
[porta published, t°o'
as work on " Briink
nail from Fernando
a company with the
Ir. Gustaf Mean,
contain. At 1,000
ted
tful, "birds singings
an which one may Wk
rget-me•Not (either
i at the place called the
nen' Chronicle) Molt
by a severe cut co lo
cadent named Ml`
Tractional Court, on the
students' rnanifestaol
ion of his " ensennsion•
to'lgreignses theYt;eblPmw::'P:drlx)ew !°a7, PA:
shortly
iwt
the
e el"
e du: lyhn' ofN
t se
4‘
eel; Gt
flit;
ct: nt
abe
wh
r