The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-09 00:00:00

454

was whether or not it was possible to redeem those
beings who seemed to have no sense of what was
due to themselves--either in regard to their present
or their future state—or what was due to the
Almighty who created them ?
There might be objections made to the efforts of such
societies as those they were then advocating, and it might be
said that, although in some particular instances, arising
from certain peculiar influences, a few hundreds of people
might be thus rescued, and some might find refuge in
these schools and temporary burnt s, yet the great moss
would still remain unaffected by all the efforts of these
institutions. That argument might be good at the present
moment. hilt there was no reason to think it would be the
case at all future time. On the contrary, there was every
reason to believe that if the efforts now making were to
become general, and if, not individuals only, but the whole
community and the State itself, were to take proper
methods to insure that education should everywhere he
extended, at some future time, not very remote, they might
rescue society in general from those dreauful evils which,
whether they were looked upon as physical, or as moral, or
as political, or, lastly, as religions calamities, were of the
gravest and most serious kind.

Sin WILLIAM MAGNAY'S position as Alderman of
the City of London was discussed at the Court of
Common Council held this week, by ➢lr. H. Blake,
who moved the following resolution :

That this court has learned with astonishment and
regret. that by a decree of the Court of Appeal of Brussels,
dated 27th February, , Sir William Magnay, Bart., an
Alderman and Magistrate of this City, has been adjudged,
by default, guilty of fraud, and condemned to three years'
imprisoninent and a fine of 3,001) francs.
That this court has learned from its law officers with
equal astonishment and regret that the London Corpora-
tion Act, 1819, 12 and 13 Vie., cap. fit, framed with the
especial view of securing the purity of this corporation, by
d.lelaring any of its members disqualified who shall be
convicted of fraud, is in this case inoperative, because the
conviction has 1).-en by a foreign court.
That Sir William Magnay not having taken any steps
for the revocation of the judgment against him, this court
feels bound to express its opinion that he ought no longer
to occupy the position of an alderman of this city, and to
request that he will relinquish that office.
Mr. J. G. Millard moved a comprehensive amend-
ment, and the question was adjourned.

THE NEW CHARTER OF THE LONDON UNIVERSITY
was discussed ou Tuesday, at a meeting of graduates,
at Freemasons'-hall. A resolution proposed by Dr.
Foster, and seconded by Dr. Stark, approving the
new charter, after an animated debate, was defeated
by an amendment, proposed by Mr. Waley and
seconded by Dr. Quoin, declining to accept the charter
as proposed by the Senate, on the ground that the
renunciation by the Senate of the principle of colle-
giate education in arts and law, would be a serious
blow to regular and systematic education, and
calculated to lower the value of London degrees.

THE reported reinstatement of the Rev. F. D.
Maurice in his professorship at King's College is
without foundation.
THE EXHIBITION OF GOVERNMENT-OFFICES DESIGNS,
now open on alternate days in St. George's-hall,
Westminster, presents some beautiful specimens of
architectural drawing. The number of plans sent
in by the 219 competitors amounts to upwards of
800, and these are arranged on the walls of four
compartments or parallel avenues, into which West.
minster-hall bas been divided, the works of each
separate artist being kept distinct from the rest, one
common number being extended to efl the produc
tions of one hand. Many of the designs are remark-
able for beauty of conception and ingenuity of detail.
Some of the pen and ink drawings are marvellous
even as works of art, and it seems almost incredible
that they could have been executed in the compara-
tively short period of seven months since the specifi
cations were delivered. The majority of the designs
are certainly of the Italian, or rathet what is termed
the Anglo•ltalian, style ; but there are somo beautiful
specimens of the classic, of the Renaissance, and of
the Gothic, both of the simple and florid schools.
But all kinds of arehitecture—Dorie, lonic, Corin-
thian, Composite, Saxon, Norman, Gothic, and
modern Gothic, in all their classes and subdivisions
—are represented in the exhibition. The names of
the artists are of course unknown, and will remain
so until the important question of merits is decided.
A motto is attached to each set of designs, and this,
with the accompanying number, is the limit of the
individuality at present revealed. It is understood
that the judges on whom will devolve the delicate
duty of selection will be five in number, and that of
these five one will he a peer, and another a member
of the House of Commons. None of the judges
have as yet been publicly named, but the five have
been actually appointed. The decision will probably
be given within a month or five weeks from the
present time, so as to allow Parliament to decide
whether the a o:k should be commenced next
autumn.

THE DEATHS RFAIISTERED IN LONDON, which in
tl me previous weeks in April were on the average
Loth), declined in the week that ended on Saturday
to 1,038. The present return furnishes very clear

THE PRESS.

indication that the public health is unusually good.
Las( week the births of 896 boys and 819 girls, in all
1,743 children, were registered in London. In the
ten corresponding weeks of the years 1847.56 the
average number was 1,563.