The Express.
London, England, 1853-08-13 00:00:00

WHO FIRST SHAVED?

I am no friend to gentlemen who wilfully affect
external oddity, while they are within all dull and common-
place. lam not dispose 1 by carrying a beard myself to
beard public opinion. But opinion may change ; we were
not always a nation of shavers. The day may again come
when tt 'T will be m'-rry in hall, when beards wag all,"
and Britons shall no more be slaves to razors. I have never
read of aavages who shaved themselves with flints; nor
have I been able to discover who first introduced among
civilised man the tonsure of the chin. The shaven polls and
faces of ecclesiastics date from the time of Pope Anacletus,
who introduced the custom upon the same literal autho-
rity of scripture that still causes women to wear bonnets in
ouv churches, that they may not pray uncovered. Saint
Paul, in the same chapter, further asks the Corinthians,
"both not even nature itself teach you that if a man have
long hair it is a shame unto him ?" Pope Anacletus deter-
mined, therefore, to remove all shame from churchmen, by
ordering them to go shaven altogether. The shaving of
the beard by laymen was, however, a practice much more
ancient. The Greeks taught shaving to the Romans, and
Pliny records that the first Greek barbers were taken from
Sicily to Rome by Publius Ticinius in the 454th year after the
building of the city. The Greeks, however—certainly it
was so with them in the time of Alexander—seem to have
been more disposed to use their barbers for the pruning and
trimming than for the absolute removal of the beard, and of
that ornament upon the upper lip which they termed the
mystax, and which we call—using the same name that they
gave to it, slightly corrupted—moustache. In the best days
of Greece few but the philosophers wore unpruned beards.
A large flowing beard and a large flowing mantle were in
those times as naturally and essentially a part of the busi-
ness of a philosopher, as a signboard is part in these days
of the business of a publican. So there is a small joke re-
corded of an emperor, who having been long teased by an
importunate talker, asked him who or what he was. The
man replied in pique, " Do you not see by my beard and
mantle that I am a philosopher ? "—" I see the beard and
mantle," said the emperor, "but the philosopher, where
is he ? "—Dickens's " household Words."

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—The report of the
directors to be presented to the meeting on the 25th instant
congratulates the proprietors on steadily increasing pros-
perity, the receipts upon the Eastern Counties Hallway
being 300,988/. N. 5d., and the Norfolk, 64,6071. 195.; total
reeeipte, 425,6961.85. sd. The working expenses for the
like period are 180,5311. 12s. 4d, which loaves as the nett
I revenue of the company, 245,064/. 16a. Id. ; from this
must be deducted the interest upon the loans, and pay-
ment to the Newmarket and Great Northern Compa-
nies, amounting to 162,6891. 9s. 2d. ; leaving a nett ba-
lance of 82,3761. 61. 11d. ; to which has to be added
the balance to the credit of revenue from the pre-
viousl
r half-year of 4,3741. 15s. Bd., showing an available
~. —e. 221 e. I balance of 86,760/. 2s. 7d., out of which the directors po-
..
11211118111— .. ....-- w -_- w 118.6:111e. „. Mfr. ass- pose that a dividend of 51. per share be paid, which will
absorb 85,4101. 161.40 d., carrying forward 1,3391.55. 9d. to
the credit of the current half-year. As compared with the
corresponding period of last year, there is an increase in
the gross earnings of 34,421/. 6s. Sid, and a decrease in the
general working expenses of 9691. 13s. 3d., also a reduc-
tion in the interest upon the guaranteed stock of the com-
pany and loans of 1,8071. Hs. 3d. On the other hand,
there is an increase in the rates and taxes of 3,161/. 61. 41.,
and government duty of 6941.55. Bd., with an additional
payment to the Great Northern Company of 4,200/. Thus,
with an increase of traffic upon the half-year of 34,4211.
Gs. Bd., there is of nett half-year's revenue divisible
amongst the proprietors 29,1431. es. 2d. more than in the
corresponding half-year of 1852; or, in other words, that
16,0381. 4s. 3d. was taken from the rest in 1852, to pay a
its. dividend, and 3,0351. 9s. Ild. this half-year to pay the
6s. dividend now proposed.
NEWRY AND ENNISKILLEN.—SEVENTEENTII OR-
DINARY GENERAL MEETING.—The report of the directors,
to be submitted to the meeting on the 16th of August,
states that the receipts for the last half-Year amount to
1,026/. Ils. 2d., and the payments to 5,6991. Is. 81. The
directors have much pleasure in announcing that the bill in
parliament promoted by this company has received the
royal assent, and they consider it a matter of congratulation
that all questions touching the extension of their line to the
landing quay at Newry, and a junction with the line of the
Dublin and Belfast Company arc thus terminated in favour
of this company. In the passing of this bill, however, the
Board of Trade objected to the introduction of any clause
giving power at present to make working arrangements
with any other company, it being at variance with the teas-
' lusions of the House of Commons, that no such arrange-
ments should be permitted until parliament had matured a
general measure far the future government of railways.
I 'f he shareholders are aware that the sole object of the go-
-IYernment is the prevention of the amalgamation of large
companies to the prejudice of the public, but it is also
generally expected that compulsory powers and additional
facilities will be given to small companies like the present,
.to work their lines in conjunction with other companies.
FIRE AT BRENMORE HOUSE, HANTS, THE SEAT Or under these circumstances the directors have come to the
SIR CRAILLEs HULSE, BART.—'this noble mansion stan ~ cone'usion that until parliament shall have di tined the
almost at the summit of a lengthy slope, commanding al principles on which thole working arrangements can be
delightful scenery of wood and water, and occupying an carried out with safety to all concerned, it will be extremely
area of more than a thousand square yards, exclusive , r dangerous for this company to part with possession of its
ptovi -Ilion, ,dfiees. On Saturday moreiog last was it mostand have, in consequence, decided on putting on the
dentially preserved from being reduced to a heap of retrisite rolling stock forthwith.
&rhea by the presence of the scullery maid, who, on 1 fur SEA FAN —The species of this zoophyte, most
entering the kitchen, was obliged to retreat, being 1 commonly exhibited in museums, is the Gorgemia pabellum,
ei riouely alarmed by smoke and flames. Having! which has occasionally been thrown ashore on different
I alarmed tho domestics (not few in number) it was ricer- parts of the coast of En7land sal Scotia, d. As usually
tained that the ponderous dresser sad shelves were all I seen, the eerties consists of a hard calcareous material; but
but reduced to ashes, while liquid pewter was dropping originally this was covered with an irritable 'Wag mem-
in every direction. Even the glass and face of the old I brans, in the cells of which the polypi,' lived. If the Pea
chicle on the other side of this huge apartment were de- 1 fan were termed throughout of a hard unyielding substance,
greyed ; and a letter which had been duly sealed close by it must be broken to pieces by the waves; this danger is ob.
lost its impression. Otis shows the degree of heat, snit the I elated by the central axis being compote d of concrete
narrow escape of th whole building from being totally I albumen, a substance resembling horn, which bends under
e
destroyed, more especially when we say that the house the force of streams and currents, and is thus preserved.
stores were teat adjoining. The piety wall, however,) GREECE.—The Leipeic Gazette contains a letter
beiig of such immense thickness, pr. vented such a cats- from Athens of July 29, which says:—" The Lord High
strophe as would have revolted from the ignition of oil, I Commissioner of the lonian Isles has written to the British
tallow, was, and spirits. The domestics had the gad fors I Consul at Paten that be had received information that
tuna to subdue the devouring element. The loss is ME- there caieteri a plat it. that town for the purpose of attack-
paratively small ; but it is impassible to say the extent of lug the island of Cephalonia, in order to pillage it, the Con,
the damage that would have emitted had it not Ken die, *pica ors being Greeks and lonians. The Greek govern-
covered when it am. The worthy baronet being allteted meut has addressed to all the hountgues of the kingdom a
with les of sight, the fright to him and her ladyship circular enjoining them not to take any steps which might
can be heeler anticipated than expressed. We rejoice, i give room to suppose that, to present circumstances, admen-
however, to say they are going on well.—Sherburne , tage would be taken of the position of Turkey to get up
doernar. I disturbances in the frontier provinces."

LONDON COURSE OF EXCHANGE.—Auo. 12.
Time. Prices ea negotiate& this day
Bills and N. Money.
Anseterdant pert &tort 113. lapse ... lift. 181st?.
Ditto
Rotterdam - le nte.
Antwerp
Brunt*
Hamburg and Altona „ „ 13mra. dischl. 13mce. toot
Rt. Petersburg per ruble 33i pence ... 38 pence
Paris pert Sho„ rt 24fr. 970. ... 231 r. Otte.
Ditto „ 3 Months2Ar. 20c. ... 351 k. 221 e.
__ ..' 244 c.
kr

pCr £lO „ 1 19'
Vienna (effective) per g 1011. 34kr: 56kr.
Trieste
dollar 100. 56kr. ... 109. 58er.
tendrilpence ... 50 pens
Culls „ 50} Pence

. -
Bilbao
Raroelona ei „ 491 Prim ... 194 pens
Ilelap ..PO pence ... Ipeace
9eville ...... .........
Gibraltar peace ... 49 oerice
tt, Leghorn
tt ..291r.80e. ... 29 r. 90c.
Genoa
Naples per ducat „ 411 pence ... 41 pence
Palermo per ounce p. 1241 pence ... 121 peace
Mamba „ „ 125 peace ... 124 peace
Lisbon per einem 90 day. date pence .. 53 pence
411:ort, pence ... 2.21 mar
New Tack 49 days eight 481 pence ... 481 pestle

THIS DAY.—Two o'CLoca.

The English stock market is heavy in tone to-day,
chiefly owing to the unfavourable Bank return. Con-
sols opened 98 to 1 for money and account, and are
now quoted 971 to 984 for cash, and 98 to k for the
Bth September. 'I he Three per Cents. Reduced mark
981 to ,1 ; the Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents., 101 to
; India Stock, 237; Bank Stock, 2271 to 228;;
Exchequer Bills, 3s. dis.; India Bonds, 22a. prem.
The share settling engages attention, and prices of
railway stocks have given way.
In the foreign bond market the only important
feature is a rise of about 6 per cent in Buenos Ayreao,
consequent upon the advice. received by the Brazil
mail. Mexican is rather better, at 26 to 271. The
sales include : Buenos Ayrean at 681 to 70 ; Chilian
Threes, 79 ; Portuguese Fours, 431 : Russian Four-
and-a-half per Cents., 1011 to 102 ; Sardinian, 97 ;
Spanish Old Threes, 47; ; ditto Deferred, 234 ; Dutch
Fours, 981.