The Press.
London, England, 1856-12-06 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

former must have been made by officers well trained to the
task with excellent instruments, verified before the sailing
of the expedition, and in localities possessing peculiar in.
terest in reference to the theory of magnetism ; and the
latter would doubtless contain a narrative of the deepest
interest, not only to the cultivators of science, hut to the
public generally. You will not suspect me, I am sure, of
being indifferent to the fate of brave men ; but the fact is,
it is well nigh impossible to add to our stock of physical
knowledge without some risk of life. The astronomer in
his observatory, exposed night after night to the open air
at a freezing temperature; the chemist in his laboratory,
among poisonous and explosive substances; the surgeon
who handles the dissecting knife, all, equally with the
adventnrous traveller, expose their lives to peril. We
know what was the opinion of the great Athenian moralist
and martyr on this question, from that fine passage in
which the dangers of military and civil life are so beauti-
fully contrasted. " I should have acted strangely, indeed,"
says he, " if, having stood firmly in the post assigned to
me by my general at Amphipolis, Potidasa, and Delium,
and braved every danger, I had turned coward and feared
to die when God ordered me to be a philosopher and in-
struct mankind."

The medals were awarded to the following gentle-
men :—The Copley to Professor H. Milne Edwards,
for his researches in comparative anatomy and
zoology ; the Rumford medal to Professor Louis
Pasteur, of Lille, for his discovery of the nature of
racemie acid, and its relations to polarized light, and
for the researches to which he was led by that dia.
covery ; a Royal medal to Sir John Richardson, for
his contributions to natural history and physical
geography; a Royal medal to Professor W. Thom-
son, of Glasgow, for his various physical researches
relating to electricity, to the motive power of heat,
&c. At the close of the address the society pro-
ceeded to elect a council and officers for the year
ensuing. Lord Wrottesley was elected president.
SOUTH LAMBETH CHAPEL was burnt down last
Sunday evening. The hot-air pipes placed under
the flooring and used for warming the building fired
the rafters. Engines from the several distilleries
and fire brigades were soon on the spot, but in thirty
minutes the chapel was burnt to the ground. The
building and property was insured.
THE RESIGNATION in MR. CORRIE cf his seat at
the Metropolitan Board of Works left a vacancy, to
fill which Mr. Rashleigh, of SL I'ancras, was returned
on Wednesday, after a close contest with the Rev.
Mr. Eckett. The numbers were forty-three for each,
the chairman claimed the right of a casting vote,
and gave it in favour of Mr. Rashleigh. Four of
Mr. Eckett's voters were accidently shut out.
A YOUNG FRENCHMAN, Henri Fenoulet, blew out
his brains in Ilighgate Cemetery on Monday after-
noon. Some letters were found on his person
addressed to his father and mother, who reside in
Holloway. An ajfa ire du cur is said to have been
the cause of his melancholy death.

THE SHARP FROST that set in this week stopped
hunting, but put the skaters "on their legs." The
ornamental waters in the different parks have been
thoroughly frozen over, and many thousand persons
have ventured on the ice. No accidents of any
serious nature have occurred.

THE ELECTION FOR THE GOLDEN LECTURESHIP, last
Saturday, resulted in the return of the Rev. Daniel
Moore by one vote, 19 to IS, over Mr. Molyneux.
THE RIGHT REV. DR. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL TAIT
was enthroned on Thursday morning as Bishop of
London in St. Paul's Cathedral, in strict conformity
with the ritual of the Church of England. At the
conclusion of the service the Hallelujah chorus of
Handel was given with fine effect, and the Bishop of
London pronounced the benediction. The clergy
then presented their respectful congratulations to the
Bishop, who expressed a hope that he and they
might long have intercourse for the benefit of the
Church, and so the proceedings ended. The cere-
mony was by no means fully attended by the
public.

THE PROPOSED NEW STREET THROUGH SOUTH-
WARE will meet with some opposition from the rate-
payers. On Wednesday a meeting of Southwark
ratepayers was held in the Borough to protest against
the scheme as at present proposed, and to appoint a
deputation to consult with Sir Benjamin Hall upon
the propriety of running the new street in a direct
line from the Town-hall through Vine street to the
York-road, Westminster, a cheaper and more easily
constructed route. The deputation was appointed.

MR. BONAMY DOBREE, jun., was, on Wednesday
last, elected a director of the London and Westmin-
ster Bank in place of Mr. Alderman Farncomb,
resigned.
THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS had an in-
terview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on
Thursday for the purpoPe of inquiring how tar the
Government were disposed to sanction the borrowing
of 4,000,Q00/. of money, to be advanced at quarterly
periods, but not at a less rate than 1,000,0001. per
annum, the repayment of which was to extend ever
a period of fifty years, on the security of the rateable
value of the property of the metropolitan area, which
was increasing from 300,0001. to 400,0001. a year.
From the nature of the conversation which ensued,
it appeared that the Board wished to borrow the

SATURDAY,

money of Government. A rate of ad. in the pound,
Mr. Thwaites stated, would be sufficient to provide a
sinking fund and pay the interest. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer said that Government could do
nothing without going to Parliament, and that a
written statement had better be sent in for the con-
sideration of Government before Parliament inet.
THE PROPERTY AND INCOME-TAX ASsocIATIOM
have publicly stated that they have in no way autho-
rised any persons to collect subscriptions or obtain
signatures to petitions. A deputation waited upon
Alderman Cubitt at the Mansion-house on Thursday
for the purpose of making this statement.
THE ItEGISTRAR-GENERALS RETURNS for the week
are below the average. 1,158 deaths and 1,657 births
were registered during the period.