The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-03 00:00:00

SHIPPING,

AI AILS Annivon.—Dublin, 3; Waterford, 2; Donagha-
des, 1 ; Guernsey, &.., 1 ; French, 1 ; Flanders, 1.
LONDON, May 3.—Wind this day at noon, N.N.R., light
breeze, and fins clear weather.
JIALSET, May I.—The Maria, sailed from Cardiff sth Feb.,
put into Mumbles on the oth, left that roadstead on the
10th, and has not since been heard of.
A TIEItIiOTY, May I.—The sloop Sinnet was stranded near
this place, sth ult., but has been got oil, and arrived here
to-day.
DEAL, May 2.—Arrived : Osprey, Amsterdam, and sailed
C.v. New York. Arrived from the river and nailed : Tory,
Rob at Town ; S. a Witch, China; Arrow, Zanzibar; Marys,
Berbine; Alice Jane, Jamaica ; Olenlyon, and Chenango,
New York; Teaser, St. Michael's.
PORTSMOUTH, May 2.—Sailed: Hendrick Hudson, New
York.
SucrwourroN, May 2.—Sailed: Trent (et.), West
Indies.
SWANSEA, May I.—Sailed : Auriculs, Cuba.
CA/VH.I7ORM (Boattnavart), April 27.—Sailed Denby,
St. John's, N.B.
GALWAY, April 27.—Arrived : Commerce, St. John's,
N.B. 'frith: Rowena, Porto Rico.
FALMOUTH, May I.—AmMed : Wm. Metcalfe, Man-

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.—The annual
meeting of this society, which was organised in 1786, was
held on Monday in the large room of Exeter Hall, which
was, as usual on such occasions, densely crowded, persons
belonging to the Wesleyan denomination having come from
all parts of the country to attend it. Mr. Heald, M.P. for
Stockport, presided, and opened by referring to the present
unsettled state of Europe, contending that the principal
means of giving stability to nations was the education of the I
people on a sound religious basis. The secretary then read I
the report, from which it appeared that the expenditure
during the past year was 111,6761., the receipts 103,6191.;
and that, allowing for a balance of 4,934/. remaining over
from the I revious year, there was now due to the treasurer
3,993 f. There was a deficiency in the revenue of the society,
and the excess of expenditure over the receipts had been
' caused principally by the Kaffir war and a h urricane at Tobago,
which had caused great damage to the settlements of their mis-
sionaries in those parts of the world. In the Kaffir war they
' had lost 6,0001. worth of property. The report alluded to the
probable interruption to the society's labours in France,
Switzerland, and on the contftrent generally, owing to the
great changes which had recently taken place there. It also
I stated that the society had memorialised the secretary for the
I colonies to recognise the treaty of Waitangi concluded with
the natives through the influence of thesociety's missionaries,
and a most satisfactory reply had been received on the sub-
ject.
The report then took a review of the position of the
missions in different parts of the world. Hayti, it stated in
particular, was " full of encouragement ;" and in other
respects the operations of the society were proceeding fa-
vourably. It concluded by stating that notwithstanding the
deficiency in their income, consequent on the present com-
mercial stagnation, there was every ground for satisfaction.
—Oa the motion of 6. A. Hamilton, Esq., seconded by Dr.
Newton, the report was adopted.—Several addresses were
delivered, and resolutions expressive of thankfulness for the
amount of success which had attended the society's opera-
tions were unanimously adopted. A vote of thanks to the
chairman closed the proceedings, which lasted several hours.
SOIREES FANTAsTIQUEB.—Robert Houdin, who,
we are told not unwarrantably advertises himself as moats
de phaieurs soci4is sarardes, and is, we believe, the disco-
verer of some of the illusions which Herr Dobler and others
have exhibited, gave the first of his soiries at the St. James's
Theatre last evening. He developed these and many sew
deceptions with a ecisstific skill, a grace, and easy charm
far transcending even that which we had previously regarded
as perfection in Herr Dobler. It is impossible to detail on
paper complications which, to be appreciated, we will not
say understood. must be seen. A feature in the performance
beyoutl those afforded by Herr Dkbler is the esertmotage of
Houoin'. son, who exhibits a proficiency in second
sight which will rtainly bring a very large assemblage of
Highlanders to all future representations, and afford an in-
finity of new papers for the Clairvoyance Society. There is,
besides, what a called a stivension ethereenne—young
Robert Houdin suspended in equilibrium by, as the bill tells
us, " atmospheric air, through the action of concentrated
ether." We do not know how this may be, but the fact
before us is a most remarkable one. You see the boy abso-
lutely lying on thin air, supported by nothing whatever but
a walking-stick, on which his right arm rests. There was a
full house, and we venture to predict a still fuller on each of
the twelve representations announced.
, RATING FOR RELIEF OF POOR, acc.—Sir,--In
1841 we addressed the following private suggestion to Sir K.
Peel, which see new beg to submit for the consideration of
the public : " Teat property and income should also he as-
sessed to the relief of the poor, taking the present scale of
that return to the property and income tax as the principle
and basis—this to be in addition to the present unequal and
unjust mode of raising support for the poor, which latter I
would limit to occupations of 101. per annum (certainly not,
as at present, so low as 51. per annum) ; and all such par-
ties, whether in town or country, might vote thereon for
election of members of parliament" We would thus make
every grade administer according to their means, which is
the reverse of the present system—videlicit : the fundholder,
livi ig, perhaps, in lodgings, whose wealth is sustained
by, and whose income is derived from, the people ; the land-
lord, who reside' abroad, and there spends his income from
here; the shopkeeper, in a small house and premises, deriving
goodly income, &c , out of the poor. Then oomethe principal
clergy and other professionals, hereditary annuitants, sinecu-
rists, placeholdero, ate.,all of whom contribute little or nothing
to the support of the unemployed, unpaid, pauperised portion
of the community. There is no occasion for any fresh place
making nor expenditure for the machinery hereof; the
present boards of guardians would give orders, as they now
do, for the amount of money to be raised and for the applica-
tion thereof ; the collectors of the respective parishes would
collect the money and pey it to the treasurers of the different
unions, as is now done.—Yours, ARGUS ET JUSTITIA.
—Surrey, May-day, 1848.