The Express.
London, England, 1849-06-20 00:00:00

oicnc. The residue las been invested with the Commis-
>loners for the Reduction of the National Debt. On the
10th of May, 1848, the total investments amounted to
10,3201. ss. Bd. ; on the same day in this year
they amounted to 11,3301. 14s. 7d. The committee
have mach pl. allure in reporting that the contributines
of the members alone during the yetr have exceeded 1,2001.
The numerous chews foe T* lief sot of the canal fund have en-
tirely exhausted it. The eommitteecommenced the year with
a balance in hand of 1031. Be. 2d. and have sines received
3821. 7s. ; the whole of these suss has bean expended and a
small balance left against the society in favour of the trea-
surer. Though not in existence until 1832 the society WSW
expending in actual relief more than 1,3001. a year. Increase
of veers will necessarily increase that expenditure, and for
which provision fa being credulity made a reserve fund is
slowly but safely accumulating which will guarantee she ful-
filment of its obligations whatever emergency may anse.
Mr. BETHELL then proposed the " Health of the Lord
Chief Baron " in a ve eulogistic speech, eharaoterisinF the
learned chairman ill a distinguished scholar and polished
gentles an.
The toast was :mired with great enthusiasm, and the
Chief Baron returned thanks in a brief speech.
Mr. HUMFREY proposed " The Lord Chancellor, Lori
Lyndhurst, and the other pa
The of the rodety."
31r. GOODEVE having returned thanks,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of " Mr.
Charles Dickens." In responding to this toast they
would be doing homage to genius. Mr. Dickens
was one of the profession. He WY • member of the
Middle Temple. He halt regretted the day they
made him (the Chief Baron) a judge, and drove him
from that society, because he left Mr. Dickens behind
(Cheers and laughter. )
The toast was received with loud applause and demonstra-
tions of good will.
Mr. C. DICKENS, in returning thanks, said he was
deeply tensible of the warmth and earnestness of the wel-
come he had received this evening, and of the distinguished
compliment which had been paid to him by the Lord Chief
Baron. He bed been requested to propose a tout upon this
occasion, and he did not know for what reason, noisel it
were that he was a law student without ever having studied
the law, or that he once had the honour of being
connected with a cue, which was an action for
breach of promise of saurlage—(loud laughter)—and whisk
was only reported in one book—a case in which he confessed
that the pleading, the evidence, the summing up, and
the verdict, were all equally wrong. (Great laughter.)
He was extremely g'ad to be present here, because it
afforded him an opportunity of entering into personal ex-
planations. 8 :me time ago a gentleman had written to him
stating that he thought he (Mr. Dickens) had been " rather
hard" upon the pr-ifession, and it would be an
agreeable sacrifice to uffebded justice if ho would come here
and confess that be did not mean what he said. (Laughter )
Re was now ready to plead to that aceination. Mr. Dickens
then made some amusing observations upon the subject of
pleading, and facetiously alluded to the character of Dick
Stairetkrpos as connected with the law. He concluded by
proing, "
the BAt and the profesaion," and stated tint
there was no one more sincere in wishing success to the
present society than he was.
The greeest possible e nthusiasm was exhibited by the
company throughout Mr. Dickens's spoech, and at its con-
elusion.
Mr. BALLANTINB returned thanks.
Other toss's were successively proposed, and the total
amount of subscriptions announced was 4201.
The band of the Coldstream Guards was in attendance,
and the musical arrangements were under tie direction and
Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Phillip% the Misses Williams, and
others.
The meeting passed off with great klaf, and the company
broke up at 11 o'clock.

FLOATING OF THE TUBULAR BRIDGE
OVER THE Ti STRAITS.

MENAI STRAITS, TUESDAY Events©.
This great engineering achievement eras accom-
plished to day with the meet extraordinary edit. Unfortu-
nately the morning opened unpropitiously with a high
soseh-weet wind and heavy driving showers, but as the sun
moved toward, the meridian the wind dropped, the rain
discontinued, and the weather, as well as everything else,
worked well for the experiment. The scene as early as six
o'clock presented a very busy appearance, multitudes of men
depositing the buoys, and shipping the enormous cables
from the London and Manchester platforms of the works.
The literals, consisting of different a loured flags, under the
direction of Mr. Stephenson, were placed on the different
cap tans for the guidance of the process employed in nevi
gating the great tube on the Anglers& shore,
and at other points. Early in the morning the
tube was lowered three feet cyanits pin, so
as to enable it to start earlier and take advantage of the tide
at high water. The towers for supporting the tube: are
of a like magnitude with the entire work. The great Bri-
tannia tower in the centre of the straits is 62 feet by 62 feet
at its base upon the rock ; its total height from the bottom
230 feet ; it contains 148,625 cubits feet of limestone and
141 625 of sandstone. It weighs 20,000 tons, and there are
387 tons of cast iron built into it in the shape of berms and
girders. Its province is to sustain the four ends of the four
long iron tubes which will span the straits from shore to
shore. The total quantity of stone contained in the bridge is
1,600,000 ruble feet. The side towers stand at a clear dis-
tance of 460 feet from the great central tower, and again,
the abutments stand at a distance from the side towers of 230
fast, giving the entire bridge a total length of 1849 feet, the
mthis present year of grace. The side or land towers
ask 62 feet by 62 fret at the base, and 190 feet high.
They curtain 210 tons of cast iron.
At 1 o'clock the spectators, by tens of thousands, had taken
their plus upon the piers; the tubes and shores on tither
sirle, and the straits for a mile in length, prey, nted a vast
amphitheatre of humrn beings. The pilots, to the extent of
200 or 300, took their stand on the pontoons, to ply the gi.
patio tackle. AS many more rood ready for action on the
capstans. The cables, six inches in thickness, and of leegue-
ling lengths, were attached to tho steamers that were to have
t• e towing of the tremendous freight. Multitudes of yachts,
small boats, and ether craft, filled and gaily decorated,
paused up and down the stream, and all eyes were fixed with
mingled feelings of cnntidencr and fear on the gigantic (Arlo,
upon which stood Mr. Stephens.= and Captain Claxton.
The utmost excitement ensued on the first signal, the sud•
den springing up on the Analmea side of a flag, and a shrill
strain from the trumpet of Capt. Claxton frees the ton of the
tube, a hint to the pilots to take the tide, and pipe ell bands
for the exploit. This was responded to by a loud burst of
enthusiasm frets the seamen, whose efforts, united to those
of the steam tors, told upon the screws and tackler, and
upon the hitherto motionless monver,wbich then glided eery
steely end amid iitervals of increasing cheers and salters-
tions, without irjury or jar, and with a majesty that could
only be compared to that of a mountain moving on the
wmers to the site of its final resting place.