The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-25 00:00:00

THE FAST DAY.

The general fast and humiliation, which sass ap-
pointed fur yesterday, was very variously observed in and
around the metropolis. The shops were closed, and business
of every sort suspended, even in neighbourhoods when
traffic is continued on the Sabbath. At the east end of
London, the shops, even those of the Jews, were generally
closed. One queker's shop, however, was observed to be
o pen.
Bo far u we can judge from the reports which have
, reached us, the churches were better attended than it is
I usual for them to ho on Sundays. On the other hand, the
same may be slid of the holiday places. These were re-
sorted to by crowds, and the steamboat and other convey-
ances reaped an ample harvest. Greenwich bad quite en
Banter-Sunday look. The steamers poured out their
hundreds, and the railway its thousands, to increase the
holiday throng. The park au thickly dotted over with
gaily dressed people; Blackheath, with its donkeys, was all
alive ; the tea-shops were crowded, and, of course, the publio-
houses were not empty. The hospital had hoes of admirers, and
the entire neighbourhood formed a picture, in which groups
engaged in eating, drinking, smoking, and dressed in their
Sunday clothes, formed prominent cbjects. It should be
noticed that these signs of festivity were chiefly imported
from the metropolis ; the good people of the town itself,
with the exception of those engaged in supplying the wants
of the visitors, showing all respect fur her Pdsje.sty's procla-
mation, by closed shops, and fell churches. The Chelsea
and Putney steamers were crowded with persons resolved
to make the fast s holiday. Itcspecting the observance of
the fast in the north suburbs of Loudon, we have received
the following communication:
Sir,—On this the " fast" day, which is all but expiring,
I had occasion to pass from the Regent's-park to R.tr
stead, over Primrose-hill, between 3 and 4 o'clock P.M., DI
that description of conveyance known in the locality by the
designation of the " marrowbone stage." On ascending the
hill, I found some two or three thousand persons, composed
principally of the " rising generation," engaged in collide
with the police, two of whom, at intervals of digests,
assailed from the rear by thousands of balls, composed alio
amalgamated atoms of the blue has of the " London BUD,"
were conveying away some wretched ragged boys to the
station-house, amidst the shouts, execrations, and what were
termed " shot firings " of the overwhelming body in pets
session of the ground. I could not ascertain what was the
nature of the offence the boys had committed • whether they
hail broken their " fast" at the expense of others, or the
" fast" at that of the royal proclamation ; but it occurred to
me on quitting this scene of tumult for the "Shepherd's
Fi. ids," that the originators of the " fast " ought to bad
responsible for its consequences.—Nor A " FAST" MAUL

FARMERS' CLUB-HOUSE.-PAROCHIAL
SETTLEMENT.

- - •
A special meeting of the Farmers' Club took place
on Monday last, at theclub-house, Bridge-street, Blackfrisiti
to consider the law of settlement, and to elicit from**
members an expres..ion of their opinion en that subject. W.
F. Hobbs, Esq. in the chair. K Chadwick, Esq., the secre-
tary of the poor-law commissioners, took part in the pro.
cosidheiap.
T CHAIRMAN said, that on the first of the preempt
month the subject of Poor-law Settlement had coots under
the consideration of the committee of the club. At that
meeting, Mr. Chadwick, the secretary of the Poor-law Com-
missioners, attended, and to that gentleman the committee
expressed their views in opposition to the present law, mar
mending a measure which would place free labour in molt
tition with the present slave labour of this country. Tao
subject of poor-law settlement being one that deserved greis
consideration, they hail therefore taken upon themselves*
call a special meeting on the occasion.
Mr. SHAW said, that of all the acts that were ever paw*
by any legislature, there could not possibly be ens more
contradictory than that of the poer-lsw settlement ; indeed it
had created so much confusion, and aroused so much attend*
to the law of settlement, that there was now a chance of seer&
thing like legitimate, straightforward, reasonable legislation
upon the subject. This act originat. d in • desire to mats
certain porticoes of the community bear their isit
proportion of the weight of the pool-rates. B
was assumed that towns did not bear their faff
proportion ; that there were certain localities which
did not do so; and it was thought necessary that s
measure should be passed, to equalise the burden.
And here the framers of this bill had failed ; they had not
taken pains to ascertain what was the state of fact. beim,
they legislated, and so far from equalising burdens, the mea-
sure had had the opposite result. It had had the effect al
placing labourers at such a distance fr.= their daily***
that a great portion of their strength was exhausted beim*
testy souk C 06319140 their wash isne, ii %Liu csel tba
of degrading the labourer, and making the lartner hhnosif
the greatestaufferer in the end.
Mr. EDWI".I CHADWICK said that he had thought amps,
to attend the present meeting foe his own information as is
the regime d the tonanttanners, and he would state foal
ooanectedwith the suit** as nearly as he could. In IMS
he had publicly expressed his opie ion that the law of aerie-
ment affected the very foundations of agricultural iialasoM
was of mutual injury to employer and employed, owl osirn
to be abolished. The hon. secretary then proceeded TO

ascribe its operation on a large proportion of labourer,
who were " unsettled," as also or those who were settled.
As se instance he should first men' ion the town of Reading.
The lower districts of Reeding hae, 'seen seven ly visited with
freer during the last year, whit's called attention to the
i'teey condition of the labouring population. Whilst
;Wog inquiries upon the subject, he learned that some
a the worst-conaitioned Otiose were occupied by agri-
cultural lahowrers, many of whore, it appeared, walked
so,. seven,
• and even eight miles, in wet and snow,
fur,
to and free m their places of work, after twelve hours work
Si the farm. Why, it might be asked, were sericulture' la-
bourers in these fever nests of a town ? The answer was,
that they were driven in there by the pulling down of cot-
tie,
to avoid parochial settlements and contributions to
•
their maintenance in the event of destitution. Why, then,
should there be this displacement, so injurious to the la-
bourer and so unprofitable to the farmer ? The answer was,
it was brought shout by the law of parochial settlement.
Thee were between one sad two hundred agricultural la-
thers?' living in the borough of Reading. The following
extract from some information he had received from a re-
lieving-officer at Reading, was illustrative of the operation
of this state of thing,. After speaking of the injuries done
to the (mess ea well as the labourers, by the un-
stens and displacement of them, the extract said:
'One of the farmers to whom I have been speak-
ing, told me a fam concerning a labourer whom he
ploys, that during the week he found that his earnings
Tees 2e. less th in the other labourers, from the reamer that
he had ab rut two-aud-a-half or thee:, mile, to trove I to h:a
work; but as the mm was a rood a lbourer, he kept him on
his employ, the man not being enabl d to get a coitus,. near.
Another feet illustrative of the present unjust state of noires
was the fOlowing:—A man belonging to Maple-Durham
lived in Heading, walking about four miles per day
to his work, the some hack, frequently fretting wet,
took fever, continued ill name time, assistee by the
Reading union in hie illness; Teem ered, and could have
returned to hi, former employmert of 10s. per week,
bat found be was incapable of walking the distance : the
consequence was, he teak work that only enabled him to
per week. In Bedfold,hire ninny cases to the point
had occurred. A man. named John Freeman (says Mr.
Wing, clerk of the Bedford union), stated that in haytime
he had been obliged to leave home at 2 o'clock in the morn-
ing. and had not returned till 10 o'clock in the evening,
and that when he had reached his place of work in the mom.
frig he filt as muck fatigued as be ought to have done
in the evening. A man so circumstanced was obliged to
fare harder w ith respect to food and clothing than if living
in his village : he was subjected to logs of comfort, separated
from his wife and children, excepting in the night, and of
MUM prevented from taking his meals with them, this
losing the comforts to be derived from association with his
family. The system also tended to destroy all sympathy be-
twee the employer and employee and al identity of interests.
Even in Lincolnshire, where agriculture is of a high
order, and the wages of the labourer ceesequently not of the
lowest, .similar displacements htd been made, to the preju
dice of the farmer as well as the laborer, and, as will be
OM, of the owner himself. Near Gain borough, Lincoln,
and Louth, the labourers walked even termer distances than
near Reading. He woe informe I or inatenoes where they
walked as far as six miles, that is, twelve miles daily, to and
from their places of work. The whole of this mileage, paid
partly by the farmer and partly by the labourer, and in part,
eventually, by the owner himself, might be set down to the
law of parochial settlement. The census returns showed
mkultiaral labourers within the precincts of boroughs,
whin they ought not to be, or if any, in far smaller num-
ben. From the like cause the evil of overcrowding wan
going on is the ill-conditioned villages of open parches.
The effect of these displacements appeared to be to reduce
the efficiency and the value of the best conditioned
labourers, thole who were free from the parochial
influences and habits to the level of the parish labourer.
The effect of the law of parochial settlem, nt was to beget
a servile aid inferior e inditioned labour,,. Before, how-
ever, he adverted to remedies, he wished to censult the meet-
* as to its view of the correctness of his impression as to the
continue" operation of the law of parochial settlement on
the conditioe of what is called the " settled" parish la-
boater. It was admitted and made manifest in extensive
evidence given before a committee of the House of Lords
by poetical farmers, that when an agricultural labsurer
applied for work, the first question put to him was not what
had been his experience, what he could do, but to
what parish he belonged. If he did not belong to the
parish of the occupier, the reply was usually an ex-
pression of regret tnat he could only einpl re the labourer
of his own parish. Hence wages were inevitable re
dated. Waecs rose in places out of tho direct
influence of the law of parochial settlement, sad
where the employer and the employed were both free
In free districts, and with high cultivation by free and
skilled lakeur, he could adduce instances of skilled agricul-
tural labourers paid as highly as artizens; theic was no rea-
son peculiar to agriculture why skilled labour should not be
as productive to the employer, as much in demand, and the
average profits of capital as high, if the agricultural labour
market were as free. The first step to this freedom would
be the abolition of the law of parochial settlement. Th
agricultural considerations of having labourers near their
work, would have their due effect. Improved healthy cot-
tages would be bailt for their residence+ in or near the tarm ;
the single labourers might then again be taken in numbers
into the farm steading, to he at hamd and ready for their
work. The agricultural labourer would no tenger be un-
settled, but become settled in the best sense—s the 1 natu-
rally. The enterprising labourer would find, by the exten•
non of the area of chargeahility, that he was no longer in
subjection to tl•e farmers of the one pariah. And the
tenant farmer would he told by the measure, that in
the choice of hands and operations he was as free es
the manufacturer. He (Mr. Chadwick) had been three
days under examination before the commits e of the
Reuse of Commons, and he had not fully developed
the considerations involved in this important subjset.
He had not yet developed the large practical errors which
had arisen from economists and members of the legislature
confounding under the terra "an interest," the two widely
distinct elements—on interest in employing labourers to
avoid a burthen, and an interest in employing theta for the
sake of a proCt on their labour. Under free labour, the pro-
duce was greatly increased; under high cultivation, there
was more labour employed. They had been told, and many
rhad frightened themselves with the notion, • hat they
tn oscompete with the cheap Inver of the c rattier nt. The
high-priced free labour of England was, in respect to its T•iio-
dnetion, as cheap or cheaper than any in the world. r.
Chadwick concluded by asking whether the meeting agreed
with the propositions submitted in respect to the operation of
the law of parochial settlement on verges and agricultural
economy, ale' concurred in its abolition.
Mr. BAN EN said that at the last committee meeting he
had treated the question in the same light as Mr. Cr oulwick.
Since that occasion he had had opportunities of intro-
doting the question amongst farmers of his own locality, and,
tether to his surprise, he had found that there appeared to
be rather an objection to the measure, rind he thought it
arose in this way—that farmers perhaps did not look so far
forward, in reference to the result of an alteration in slaw
of thisnatare, as they slight to do ; that they looked mere par-
bealarly to in immediate operation upon their particular
interest For himself, he believed, that if the law of settle-
ment could by any means be simplified or got rid of benefi-
t:hilly, it would be a very wise thing to have an enactment
for that purpose ; but he could not understand how this new
state of things was to be adapted to the habits of the people.
After a few words from Mr. Eagle and Mr. Bennett,
Mr. Se ew moved " That parochial settlements should be
abnlithed, and that the system of arrangement by which
relief to the poor is administered he extended to the utmost
predicable limits."—Mr. FORD HAM seconded the resolution.
Mr. J. A. GoRDOS regretted that the resolution combined
two things. Upon the question "that the settlement be
extended," they might perhaps all agree ; upon the question
"than it be extended as far as possible," they might pethaps
differ. Though he was in favour of the settlement being
extended, yet he could not say that it should be extended as
far as possible,
Mr. Snow paid r If the gentlemen who seconded the reso-
lution had no objection, be would yield te the suggestion.
His great object was to come to a decision upon the pith and
marrow of the question ; and, if it KM felt by the meeting
that this resolution was clogged by the second point, he
would confine it to the question " that parochial settlement
should be abolished."
After could:table discussion, Mr. Shaw'e resolution being
put, there was a large majority in its favour; and it was
therefore adopted, with the addition of clauses.
After a vote of thanks to Mr. Chadwick, the meeting
separated.

THE GOVERNMENT EDUCATION SCHEME.— On
Monday evening a public meeting was held at Esher-street
Chapel, Lambeth, to consider the operation of the propped
government plan for grants and inspections of schools, and its
nafeir and partial operation on the interests of the dissenters.
Jtioialt Concha., Esq., was called to the chair, and the meet-
mg, which was numerously and respectably attended, was
addressed by Mr. Griffin, barrister-at-law, the Rev. T.
Runt, Mr. Richard!, Rev. J. Mirams, &c., in support of
bur resolutions condemning the inquisitorial nature of the
Insane, and the extraordinary amount of patronage it
would put into the hands of the executive and the clergy, in-
Tviftlig the payment of 88,000 persons, at a cast of about two
millions sterling per annum. It was contended that the
aPportioruncet of public money on a principle and conditions
which, while agreeable to the views of the clergy of the eata-
blished church, were highly obnoxious to those of the dia.
!enters, and who would be conscientiously compelled to forego
its advantages, was mat unfair and unjust in its operation,
and should be zealously opposed without delay by every con-
*Mahone' means. A petition, founded on these views, was
ukanimously adopted, and numerously signed at the conclu-
sion of the meeting.
THP. IRISH POOR-LAW.—MEETING IN SUPPORT OF
The GovntxmENT MEASURIL—On Tuesday evening a very
numerous meeting of the ratepayers and others, resident at
Poplar and Blackwell, assembled at the Town-hall, for the
PurPols of petitioning the legislature to provide an efficient
Poor-4w for Ireland.—Mr. Carter, in proposing the first re-
solit)on, observed that if there was a time for goy, rnment
!areqiiire the support of the people of this country in carry-
ing a measure it was at the present period, in their efforts to
give Ireland a mound and efficient poor-law. No one could
deplore the awful calamity that had recently visited that un-
fortunate land more than he did, end it was a source of
~....11,!ch consolation to him to see the great efforts that bad
T7c, made in this country to mitieve the sufferints of thn
wk. *lmlay afraid that some atiiageti7
meatus was adopted, such aa contemplated by the govern-
ment, which would make the landlords support their own
Peer,,datrese would still prevail and continue to act as a severe
mut on the resources of this country. They knew, by thf
uunnit of rates in their own perish, the extent to which
Ls Trish distress had affected them ; and, therefore,
they
ef .ouli see the great neceraity of demanding that a pro-
CisiEtent of relief should be adopted in Ireland. Ireland
m tam like England ; it had no ameesed or income I

taxes, and yet their poor were left to famish. Give them a
proper poor-law, however ; OA • them equal laws; and he
would not fear the consequences. lie concluded by moving
the following " That this meeting participate deeply in
the sympathy felt and manifested by the whole British
listen for the awful condition of their perishing fellow-sub
jects in Ireland, and recognise cordially the obli,t,ation of
extending, in the present extremity, prompt and literal
&askance to the famishing population of that unhappy
couotry," Mr. Kemp, the vestry clerk, read the following
petition, which it was agreed upon to present to the Itgia-
lature:
To the Honourable Member. of the Commons House of Parliarn. mt.
The hurnb:e mutton of the churchwarden., °veneers, Inhabitanta,
and occupiers of the pan -b of All Saints, Ponlar
Sheweth : That lour petitioner, have heard with the utmost alarm
and dismay of the Ihightful suffering by famine of their fellow-subjects
in Ireland; and your petitioners, with parent:Mk alarm, deem it pro-
hatt:c tow infliction of Providence will not immediately put away.
That while your petitioners most cheerfully concur in the attestance
the government hare found it rightto give for the immediate wants of
the sufferers, they consider prompt measures should be taken by the
legislature for providing an em lent poor-law for Iretind, whereby
that country shook maintain its own poor, and the other parts of the
entire be relieved from the burden of excessive taxation. That your
petitioners are In conetont course of pressure for relief to the dish
poor (who seek work in the docks and shipping of this parish), at a
great annuel addition to the purr's rates. Your petitioner. consider
It m Mee of imperative right that all fixed property in each portion
of the respire should equally contribute to the support of its own
! Year pennonsrs therefore humbly pray your honourable
Iheuae forthwith to puss such poor-laws for Ireland as will provide for
the maintemune of the poor In that part of the United Kingdom.
The thanks of the meeting having been voted to the chair,
the assemblage broke up.
THE FAMINE IN IRELAND.—A public meeting was
held last evening at the City Lecture Theatre, Milton-drect,
of the society entitled "The Finsbury Society for relieving
the calamitous distress of the people of Ireland." In the
absence of T. S. Buncombe, Esq., M.P., who, it was an-
nounced was to have taken the chair, but who was " unavoid-
ably prevented by illness," the lien, James Jauch, a Swiss
Roman Catholic priest, presided. The chairman obu reed,
that it was a curious coincidence that the meeting should
take place on the day appointed for the general fast ; and he
reminded the meeting of the list which pair Ireland was
forted to observe. He beggi d also to remind them that it was
in that place, and under his presidentship, that the first
public meeting on behalf of the Irish poor had taken place.—
Sir. O'Cavanah moved the first resolution, in waich the
meeting pledged itself to subscribe to the utmost of its means
for:the purpose of ameliorating the sufferings of the Irish
prop' Mr. O'Cavanah, when he remembered the 20
millions that were expended in bringing about the emanci-
pat'on of slaves, thought it niggardly on the part of
government to hesitate to grant 10 or 20 millions for Ire-
1-nil. He thought Lord George Bentinck's suggestion (the
14 millions bill) ought to have been acted upon. Mr.
Clarice, in seconding the resolution, compared what the
Enelish government had done for Ireland with what had
beet done by the Unit oil States of America. He deprecated
the large amounts' "wasted" in paying officers under the
Board of tY,rke. He said that 110 persons were employed at
21. per diem to distribute soup tothe poor.—Mr.Duane moved
:he second resolution, the purport of which was to thank the
many philanthropic Engliahmen who bad eon a'ibuted to
render Is lief to the Irish. Mr. Duane thought that, in ad-
dition to the petition presented to parliament, praying that
the Irish paupers should be obliged to remain at home,
there should be one presented, praying that the wealth,:
landlords might he (bilged to return to Ireland. The chair.
man, in puttilig the resolution to the meeting, thought that
England would be a splendid nation, if it had " the pure
religion" (meaning thereby the Roman Catholic), and
" better newspapers," and not such things as the " filthy
Times." The third resolution resolved that the society
should nit rest with the present meeting, but should con-
tinue its labours, holding periodical meetings for the fur-
therance of its object. The fourth resolution was, that the
Rev. James Jauch should be requested to accept the pre-
sidency of the society. The remaining resolutions, all of
which were carried unanimously, consisted of votes of thanks
to the United States of America, to the chairman, and to
the proprietors of the theatre.

- -
RAGGED Settoots.—On Tuesday night, the annual
general meeting of the supporters of the Ragged School, in
Vine-street, Red Lion..nuare, was held in the hall of
the workhouse, Gray's-inn-lane, J. Neck, Esq., in the
chair. The secretary read a report of the past year's pro.
c,edings, and the present state of the school. It stated that
the school was founded in February, 184.5, without any oh-
jests of a sectarian nature, and fur the purpose of imparting
moral and spiritual education to what might bo called a de
graded class of the community. Since the last meeting, the
comfort of the scholars and teachers had been considerably '
increased by the enlargement of the school-room. During
the past year the attendance of the children had been good.
and, in the majority of cases, regular, averaging 9.5; and it
was a subject worthy of remark, that the conduct and he-
haviour of the children had much improved. It was
oheerved that the attendance was greater in winter than in
summer. Several of the poorest and most deserving children
, had been provided with food and clothing, and, in many
a'see, sent to respectable situations. Reports received of
11 their conduct were moat satisfactory. The year's receipts
'for the ripport of the school, including a gnat of 81. from
the R 'aged School Union, amounted to only 20!., and the
expenses made a sum greater by IL 12-. The committee,
therefore, appealed for increased support. On the motion
of the flee. Dr. Hohy, seconded by the Rev. J. Branch, the
report was adopted. Addresses, in support of the school.,
were delivered by a deputation from the Ragged School
Union, after which the meeting separated.

THE NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.—The an-
nouncement made by Lord Morpeth, in the House of Com-
mons last week, to the effect that the new House ot Lords
would he ready for the reception of the peers immediately
after the Easter recess, has neturally excited considerable
interest no to the present state of that portion of this great
' national edifice, and the works have accordingly been visited,
during the last few days. hy a great number of the nobility
an i gentry. The admision of visitors, as announced by
Lord Morpeth, closed on Saturday, in order to afford the
artiste and mechanics employed an opportunity of pursuing
their lahsurs without interruption, the constant influx of
strangers having been found exceedingly de rimental to the
progress of the work. Without attempting any detailed
notice of the magnificent Interior now presented by the
House of Lords, a few words descriptive of its general effect
may is interesting to those of our readers who have not
been fortunate enough to have an opportunity of inspecting
the same. The general impression, on the spectator entering
the boo e, is grand in the extreme : the noble proportions ot
the apartment, the elaborately carved panels, and the bril-
liant colouring which meets the eye on every side, contribute
to produce a coup d'eil at once striking and beautiful. The
ceiling is divided into a series of square compartments, the
ground-work being elaborately coloured in blue and red,
and the cross-beams forming the square, richly gilt. The
western end of the house is occupied by the throne, which
is already nearly complete. It is a most elaborate and
tasteful design, of the Gothic order, consisting of a grand
centre and two wings—the latter to he respectively appro-
priated to the Prince Consort and the Prince of Wales. At
the first glance, it presents a perfect blaze of gold, but, on a
more minute inspection, the exquisite colouring here and
there thrown into the design, softens its tone, and produces
an admirable result. In the canopy over the centre of the
throne are niches, intended for the reception of statuettes of
the patron saints of the three kingdoms, and on the wall
imme.lietely above appears Mr. Dyee's fresco painting of
the riaptism of King R. thelbert. It is well known that Mr.
Barry's original design for the House of Peers included nix
arched compartments, three at either end, to be filled up by
(resew.. This arrangement will ultimately, be carried out,
but at present Mr. Dyce is the only artist who has completed
his subject. Another important and interesting historical
feature in the decoration of the house, is the introduction
of statues, about half the size of life, of all those barons who
were instrumental in exacting " Magna Charts" from John.
Pedestals, each surmounted by an elegant canopy, are placed
at stated intervals on either aide the house, immediately
above the peeresses' gallery, the name of each baron being
beautifully emblazoned in colours. The strangers' gallery
faces the throne, and is immediately above the peers' en-
trance. The reporters' gallery is immediately beneath the
strangers' gallery. Both these galleries are exceedingly capa-
cious, and admirably adapted for their respective purooses.
There are three rows of seats up each side of the house, one
raised Awe another. On the panelling. round the house are
painted the armorial bearings of all the noblemen who have
held the office of Lord Chancellor, from the earliest date of
that office, in the reign of Edward 111., up to the present
time, the list dosing with the arms of the present Lord
Chancellor, Lord Cottenham. The floor of the house will be
covered with a carpet of very chute design, the colour being
dark blue, with gold spots. The house is entered by a pair
of solid bras* gates of the most exquisite design and manu-
facture. The house is nearly twice as large as the present
House of Peers, and considerably larger than the new House
of Commons will be when completed. The Conde de Monte
molin, attended by a numerous au;te, visited the house on
Saturday. The Conde was received and conducted over
the works by the architect, Mr. Barry, to whom he expressed
his unqualified admiration of the whole building. Among the
nobility who have honoured Mr. Barry with visits during the
last few days, are the Doke and Duchess of St. Albans, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Aylesbury, the Marquis of Lans-
downe, the Countess of Jersey, and Lady C. Villiers, Viscount
Maidstone, Lord and Lady Colchester, Sre. Although the
general outline of the new palace has long been familiar to
the great hulk of the population, probably but few are ac-
quainted with the precise arrangements of the building—the
locale occupied by the House of Lords, House of Commons,
&c. In a word, then, the House of Lords may be described
a. situate on the northern side of the building, about 200
yards east of the Victoria Tower. On state occasions, her
Msjesty will alight under this arch, and pass up the grand
staircase into the gallery, hereafter to be devoted to the re-
ception of sculpture and other works of art. From this gallery
the Victoria Hall is entered, the latter opening immediately
into the House of Lords
i by doorways on either side of the
throne. The Long Gallery s in an unfinished state, and it
will probably be many months before it is completed.
MODEL LODGING HOUSES.—The new model lodg-
ing house, in Heorge.atreet, St. Giles's, of the Snei, ty for the
Improvement of the Labouriog Classes, is nearly completed,
and will shortly be opened. It will accommodate one hun-
dred labouring men, each of whom will have a separate
sleeping place, with the use of alarge living room, a kitchen,
store-room, washing-room, and every necessary convenience
The sum to be charged will be fourpenee per night, less in
some instances ; the rate now charged in common lodging
houses in St. Gilos• 's, and other low localities, for has
trurdee together ir. miserable and enveotaated rue..ns.
cost of the building (independent ot the site a gratina
which was purchase foe 1,27014, amount to about 5,5001., of
which little more than 3,0001. has as yet been raised by
subscription. Amongst the principal subscribers are his
Royal Highness Priam Albert, 1001., and the Corporation of
London, 300/.
ECONOMICAL GROG ON THE PLAN OP MONSIEUR
SOTilet, ECONOMICAL Sours.—Take a pint of billing
water, and put into it a thin slice of lemon. Add to this a

few grains of nutmeg. and three lumps of whits sugar.
Pour out Into wine-glasses, stir up with silver spoon, and
drink warm. The cost is so follows :
teaser
ins
Them lumps of sugar
Nutmeg
......-
Slice of luso.

ti
The above quantity will suffice for at frosts doyen people.
The flavour is something quite novel, and, besides having
the recommendation of exa ssi.e cheapness, is found to be
very refreshing, and, providing it is taken in moderation,
exceedingly heathy. It is just the thing to take before
singing a convivial song, or alter proposing a friend's health.
A person may take six tumblers of it with the greatest com-
fort, without feeling any of those boisterous effects or ner-
vous headaches the following morning, which result from
drinking grog made of gin, whisky, rum, or brandy. It is
strongly recommended for the use of families.--Punch.
THE BOOKSELLERS AND THE POST-OFFICE DIREC-
TORT.-81r, —The trade are watching with much anxiety
your strenuous and well-directed efforts on the subject of
the " Peg-office Directory." Judging from the several para.
graphs which have recently appeared in your columns, the
means by which this hook is got up are very objectionable.
Certainly the arrangements so to the sale are most unfair;
not a copy is allowed to pass to the trade until the postman
cannot sell any more. In my immediate neighbourhood,
many hundreds, perhaps thousands of copies, are sold en-
tirely by the postmen; thus, while booksellers have to pay
rest, assessed taxes, income-tax, &c., they are supplanted in
the sale of the very book for which the demand,. perhaps
more steady and regular than for any other, and all tile
profit, which in the aggregate must be very large, goes to
the pockets of a paid servant of the government, who has
none of these demand, to meet. The excuse, it appears,
made fur the continuance of the system is, that it is near
miry to have a work which may be relied upon for the de-
livery of letters. The trade cannot, of course, compete in
accuracy or is price with a book got up by means of the
compulsory employment of hundreds of public servants ;
and compiled by means of men "obliged to take their torn
at the work, twenty-eight each day," unrequited. But let
the publicotion be abandoned by the Post-ofti,e, and it will
be seen that the trade will soon make proper arrangements
for the production of &Directory of London, not at all inferior
to this much boasted volume.—A BOOYSELLIIL

The ACCIDENT TO CAPTAIN Vv SE, M.F.—We
have much pleasure in stating that Captain Vyse, who met
with a serious accident while riding with Baron Rothschild's
hounds on Thursday last, is steadily recovering, and that all
clanger is pest —Standard.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE CAMDEN STATION.—A
fatal accident took place on Tisesday afternoon at the Camden
station of the London and N6Pth Western Railway, on the
premises in the occupation of Messrs. Pickford, the railway
carriers. For some months put, a number of workmen in
the employ of Messrs. Piper and Co., builders, of Bishop.-
gate, have been engaged so erecting additional warehouses
for Messrs. Pickford, the basement of whirh is supp,rted by
arches, forming a capacious stabling. On Tuesday afternoon
the men, chiefly carpenters, were employed in finishing the
stables, when suddenly four of the arches gave way, burying
the men who were at work, In the ruins. As soon as the
consternation crested by the occurrence had subsided, a large
number of men employed at the station set to work to re
move the ruhbish, and a frightful scene presented itself. Four
of the unfortunate men were so deeply buried that a con
siderable time elapsed before they could be extricated. They
were at once conveyed on shutters to University College
Hospital, where they were promptly attended to by Mr.
Alfred Williams, the house surgeon, and subsequently by
Dr. Liston. One of them died in about half an hour after
admission. The cause of the accident is accounted for by the
breaking of a tension rod, consequent, it i.. supposed, on the
insecurity of the brickwork, occasioned by its being built
during the late frost.