The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-20 00:00:00

ASSAULT BY A SENTRY.

PORTSMOUTH, MAT 19.
The magistrates of this borough have been occu-
pied to-day in investigating the circumstances of an assault
of a serious character committed by a sentry belonging to
the 88th Regiment, quartered in this garrison.
The defendant, Thomas Ryan, was, on Thursday last,
doing duty as sentry at the end of one of the government
roads called the Milldam, and the complainant, named
C , a carter in the employ of Messrs. Carters, large
brewers in this place, was driving his cart along that road
on the above day when, having arrived at defendant's post,
the latter stopped him and told him he most ge back, as the
esters were that no cart or other heavy vehicle was to be
allowed to use that road. Complainant pointed to another
similar east that was passing along the road without opposi-
tion from defendant; but this cart, it appeared, belonging
to the contractor for the repair of ordnance works, had a pass
to use the goyemment roads. Defendant persisted in refus-
ing to allow complainant to proceed, and ordered him to turn
back, and as he did so he struck his horse, on which com-
plainant told him if he did so again he (complainant) would
strike him. Other angry words passed on both sides, and
the altercation became so warm that defendant ultimately
struck complainant a violent blow with his musket on the
side of the head, producing a frightful Rash, and felling him
to the ground. An important artery being opened by the
blow, blood flowed most profusely, complainant becoming
in consequence quite insensib,e. He was conveyed to a
surgeon and was confined to his bed since, unable to attend
before to-day to prosecute defendant. '
A witness produced for the defines declared that, prior
to defendant striking complainant with his musket, the
latter struck defendant over the legs with his whip. For
the complainant the opposite was deposed to.
The magistrates present were the mayor, G. C. Stigant,
Esq., Major Travers, G. Gillman, J. F. Pratt, and J. B.
Sayers, Esqrs. The bench, having been some time in con-
sultation, decided that the assault had been proved, and
fined defendant 40s. with 13e. ed. costs, or one month's im-
prisonment. The money was paid. The bench, however,
said the sentry, up to the actual committing of the assault,
bad confined himself within his duty.

LECTURE ON LADIES' POCKETS.—At the Liver-
pool borough sessions, opened lest Monday, the Recorder
said there was a species of offnce that seemed fast coming
into vogue in that town, and all in consequence of women
wearing pockets in their dreues. Ile found that in the year
1850, 163 children were brought before the magistrates for
picking pockets. In the present calendar, out of the 100
cases, there were eleven arising out of picking women's
dress pockets. There was a time when it was a very rare
thing for women or children to be pickpockets at all, but
now we had an abundance of them, both women, and boys
and girls. Now it was all very well for a lady who sat in
her drawing room, or who rode in her carriage, to have a
dress pocket as they were now worn, but when shopkeepers
wives and small tradesmen's wives went about the streets
and to the markets with these pockets in their dresses,
these children knew it, and they lifted no the dress, and
robbed them with the greatest ease. lie had done all he
could to discourage the practice by disallowing the costs in
all cases where ladies hid come before him to proseupte,
under the impression that it might have a tendency to
cheek or prevent this particular species of crime.
TIIE NEW CUSTOMS DUTIES ON SPlRlTS.—Yester-
day, the bill to impose new Customs' duties on spirits was
printed. From the 2lst of April last, the duty on spirits,
the produce of British possessions, if imported into Scot-
land, is 61. the gallon ; and if imported into Ireland,
3s. FM. Similar duties are to be levied on rum and rum
;shrub.

YORKSHIRE UNION OF MECHANICS'

INSTITUTIONS:

The annual conference; and meetings of this int-
portent union was held on Welnestlay, at 1 hi. sk, the
soiree in the evening being presided over by the !tight
lion Lord Walsinghans, of Thetford Perk, Norwich. Sir
Williem Oallwey, Bart., M.P. for Thirsk, was al.n precenr,
and nearly sixty delegates from different parts of Yorkshire.
The in. etings were held in the Public Rooms, the morn-
ing sitting being devoted to • conference sad matters of
formal busine.s, Edward BilitlCß, Esq., the president of the
union, occupying the chair. At this meeting the report of
the committee was read, from which we take the fel.uwi•g
particulars:
" At the last annual meeting the Union comprised 123
institute., and this year it consists of 128, notwithstanding
that eight institutes have ceased their connesien. Of the
eight institutes that have withdrawn, fire have done so only
because they ceased to exist. Moat of theta your eommitte•
regret to say, are in places wirers • population exists more
than ample for the support of a proaperous institute, and
even where a large amount of books and other property for
the purpose still remain, and, for the want of sufficient
energy have been suffered tt expire, as if, indeed, the pre-
sence or the absence of an institute was smatter 01 indif-

ference, and incapable of exereiving any influence on the
welfare and prosperity of the place. In these days of
mental activity and progress, a village of seta mode-
rate population, witbout its institute or mental im-
provrtnent society, stamps itself u in the rear of
ctviliwion: Total number of institutes in the Uuton,

123. Total number of members reported in $i in-
stitutes—males, 1i U 62; females, 1,•520; total number of
members estimated in 25 ingitutea, 2,0;35 ; total in 111 in-
-...

stituttp, 18,537. 23 institutes neither repo'rt nor estimate.
Total income reported of 81 institutes, 9,1071. 42 institutes
neither reported nor estimated. Number of volumes re-
ported in the libraries of 86 institutes, 90,109 ; number of
volumes estimated in the libraries of 21 inetitutc, 10,108;
. .

total in 107 institutes. 100,277. 1G institutes neithe'r reports
nor estimares.—Circulation of books reported for 81 insti-
tutes 300,5.53. 42 institutes neither reported nor estimated.
Numher of books added during the past year to the libraries
of 77 of the institutes, 6,o2s.—Periodicals reported in 77
institutes: weekly 3.51, monthly 507, quarterly 57-915.—
Total number of lectures delivered in 77 institutes, eitisi
Classification of 478 lectures in 67 institutes : scientific 128,
literary 325, music 25.
" During the put year, your age nt and lecturer, Mr.
Thomas John Pearsall, has delivered 45 lectures, attehoed
14 soirees and other meetings, and visited 41 illbLit.tteA, fur
the purpose of conferring with the committees. 12 insti-
tutes declined receiving a visit, 17 made no reply ; aid,
besides these, there were 15 institutes, either temporarily
suspended, discontinued, or withdrawn from the union.
Owing to an accidental fall the agent was prevented from
being so active during three or four weeks in the early part
of the present year, or the number of lectures would, doubt-
less, have been much largir. In the experiment of ;he
union agency it was to be expected that many dithcufties
would present themselves, and experience has shown these
to be neither few nor small. Your committee, however,
trust that with the continued support of the subscribers to
the agency fund, they will yet be able to render the agency
still more efficient and valuable.

" The agent has reported to your committee on the con-
dition and ttrospects of the various institutes, and the gene-
ral state of tbem appears to be very satisfactory and improv-
ing. That such is the case will be borne out by the fol-
lowing statement of the present condition of those institutes
which, having furnished returns both Leit year and this,
enable a comparison of their progress to he instituted :
1852. 1853.
Males in 75 institutes
Females in 57 „ 1,347 1,32 G
!acorn, of
.71 „

„
Books in 73 ~
Issues in 73 „
Lectures in G 8 „ 520 .. 488
” Your agent's report states:
" ' In several places new buildings, or at least means of
larger accommodation, are in contemplation. Bradford,
business like, has increased its accommodation at an ex-
pense of 8001., and paid it off. Leeds has cleared off its
mortgage debt. At Lockwood, near Huddersfield, it is
likely that some steps will be taken for a building to pro-
vide for that place and the neighbouring villages. Chur-
well and Bramley contemplate some movement in this
direction. At Batley, the foundation stone is laid
for a new building for the institute, and for town
purposes, 750 shares being subscribed out of 1,000 before
commencing. At Settle, I understand, a new and suitable
building is under consideration. At Dewsbury, the plans
aro prepared fur public ro me, and to accommodate the in-
stitute, at an expenses of between 4,0001. and 3.0001, about
2,0007. being already subscribed in sums of 2007. each ; and
other institutes•are so far well situated, that the raising of
a building has been considered quite probable. Morley,
Ripley, and Shipley are of this class. Brighouse has a
small but well-situated building, new this Pear; and, as 1
understand, built by the institute. At Kirkby Malceard
the building is well advanced. At Rotherham the new
building is nearly ready. At Skipten the land for a new
building is secured, together with several handsome sub-
scriptions. At Halifax, again, the land has just been se-
lected, on which it is intended to erect a buitding to eost
6,0001. ; and to-morrow the first stone of the Darlington
Institute will be laid, at which we trust many of the friends
of education hers to-day will be present.'
" The advantage of the exertions to raise superior build-
ings for the purpose of the Mechanics' Institute is nut re-
stricted to the locality, hut public spirit is awakened in
other towns, which elo not like to be behind their neigh-
bours, and thus the general standard of intellectual activity
is raised.

"One of the duties imposed upon us at the last annual
meeting was the obtainiog of legal security for the property
of institutions, in accordance with the carefully considered
recommendations which our predecessors had obtained from
competent legal authorities. The subject has not hero over-
looked ; and the committee's conviction of the ifill:7 '
of such legal protection remains undiminished. That ..
practical steps have been taken by us has arisen from the
fact that the Union of Institutes in coanezion with the
Society of Arts has devoted considerable attention .... the
same subject, and has intimated an intentioa of introdut.ing
a bill for the purpose into the legislature.
" In the last report the committee states that Mr. Traice
had undertaken to revise the priced catal,gue of books suit-
able for the libraries of mechanics' ins itusis, now out of
print. The great additions recently made to this class of
books, both in regard to their contents and rest, rendered a
careful review of the works published within the last few
years absolutely necessary. This has been carefully done,
and the committee are happy to state el.t the catalogue is
nearly ready to be placed in the printer's hands, and it will
be issued as soon as practicable.
" Another subject to which attention was directed at 'the
last annual meeting was the distrikution of selections from
the parliamentary papers amen the institutes. Since then
• committee of the House of Commons has been consider-
ing the subject, and there is little doubt that the wishes ex-
in the resolution on this subject, passed at the last
trilii:meeting, will be realised.
"One subject which has engaged a portion of your com-
mittee's attention during the past year has been the forma-
tion of village libraries. In many villages it was thought
that though there might be neither a building suitable for
a Mechanics' Institute, nor a committee able and willing to
conduct its various departne nts, it might still be possible
to indroduce one of its most valuable features—viz., a li-
brary. We felt it to be, if not one of the objects of the
Union, strictly in accordance therewith; and for these
reasons, and others which will be found in a letter from
your secretary, appended to this report, we resolved on
making an experiment to establish libraries in the villages
adjacent to Leeds. A committee was formed to collect dc.
nations for this purpose, consisting of the Rev. W. F.
Hook, D.D., J. H. Shaw, Esq., mayor of Leeds; the Rev.
Wm. Sinclair, sad Edward Baines and Thomas Wilma,
Esqrs. The result of the committee's applications was
the sum of 1341., which it will be desirable to
raise to 1601. Two difficulties, however, have pre-
sented themselves to the immediate realisation of
the plan. The first is, that several villages have
been found to possess good libraries, where lour com-
mittees had supposed none to exist. The plan was meant
only to supply books to places without them, not to super-
sede the existing libraries, which, it is to be regretted, are
very much neglected by those for whose benefit they have
been established. The other difficulty is, that even in vil-
lages, where no library at all exists, it is impossible to esta-
blish one until a person is found in each place who will take
charge of the books. This difficulty may probably be ob-
viated by your agent, Mr. retrain,. visiting such places
during the summer months, when he is not so actively em-
ployed by his institutional visits, and making arrangements
with suitable persons in each locality. At Rothwell, two
gentlemen have expressed their rmdiaem to act as local
librarians ; and your committee propose, as soon as libra-
rians are found in eight more villages, to commence active
operations. Mr. WM. Campbell has kindly volunteered
to take the general management of the libraries, under the
superintendence of the central committee. In anticipation
of the additional labour which the management of the
library will entail, and also with a Mew to the general in-
terests of the union, your committee have appointed Mr.
Washington Teasdale se co-honorary secretary with Mr.
James Hole, subject to your approval. Mr. Teesdale has
long been connected with mechanics' institutes, and we do
not doubt but that in his appointment and that of bir.eamp-
bell, the efficiency of the union will be increased. There
is one gratifying circumstance in connexion with the
' library which it would be inexcusable to omit. Owing to
' the proposal of your committee to establish the village li-
braver, your old and constant friend, Lord Carlisle, fide-
, rested himself in the subject, and through his sanction,
' and the active exertions of Mr. Ishmael Fish, no Rea than
' nine libraries are now in active operation in the villages
/ contiguous to his lordship's estate of Castle Howard.
l " Your committee would offer • few remarks upon the
miserably small propertion of the working classes who par-
t ticipate in the advantages which these institutes ought to
I confer. Is it that the working classes are not in a state to
L avail themselves of such advantages—or is it that the insti-
-1 totes are not adapted to those for whom they_ are meant ?
Probably both these causes may operate. Want of early
I Instruction, and consequent dislike to all but sensual and
• debasing pursuits, may in many instances be the
l cause. In others, late hours of employment may exercise
a mischievous influence. In some cases again, even poverty
• may be an obstacle. All those causes have been,'
and still
• are, operative ; but all are, happily, in the way of rapid re-
-1 moved. It behoves us, then, to see whether there are is ,t
defects in the institutions themselves which prevent them
attracting within their walls those whom it is pre-emimutly
• desirable to reach.
1 "In the first place, then, we believe that the institutions
• are not sufficiently educative—they do not afford the class
, of advantages, alike the most useful sod the most highly
i prised by those who need their aid. We look for the
remedy in a great increase of the class instruction.

mortance
That no

It oft*n happens that many of the village institutes
base actually larger numhera absolutely, and very much
larger relatively, to population, than the institutes in large
towns. They are also producing a greater effect upon their
members, most of whom belong to the manual labour class.
The eats. is solely attributable to the fact that they have
discovered the main want of their subeeribers, and brought
ell their energies to bear upon supplying that want. They
have worked rather to make readers than to furnish books,
and the consequence is that their little libraries are turned
over many more times a year than in those institutta where
the converse plan is pursued.
.• Tim 'stunt attendance of 59 iostittates giving class instruc-
tion, and containing 11,813 mi nsb.us, is '2,810. it app.i.in
from the returns th.t even of the small proportion of mem-
bers (under one-quarter of the whole) attending evening
el mess, four-flfths are in the e:ementary classes, as reading,
writing, and arithmetic.
" It has been suggested by many persons who have
wished to give Mechanics Institutes a more practical ?eta-
ton to the pursuits of daily life, th..t certificates of merit
ahould be awarded to those pupils who have pas-ed through
a ce:tain prescribed tonne of studies. Such a plan was
ado:4 r,t in the Edinburgh School of Arts, in 1831, and has
bean continued with great success sin's that time. The
pupil is required to give en attendance of three yearn, ma-
theatatiia employing the first year, chemistry the sac ind,
sat natural philnophy the third. Any pupil who, after a
• esernination, oht sins en attestation of prof ieney in
each of the classes, obtains a diploma of life-membership,
which gives free almission to the lectures, and admission
to the Library of the Insti.ute, on payment of two shillings
aarmaily. Of rte value of such certificate as a recommen.
datioa to employers and en inducement to young men to
Mod,. it would be Impossible to speak too high:y.
" tour committee arc of opinion that uo real and great
improvements an be made in the classes without an addi-
tion to the fees pail in the large majority of Institutes.
ff fh:•. of 13,000 membirs cl.rstfk d it will be seen that up-
warJa of 8,000 pay a suns under 2.1. per week; and 6,000,
or ntarly half, mart 111 par weak. And even the small
gum IS more nominal than real, owing to the fact taut many
of tie subscribers fall off in the sulamer mouths and only
pay fur the winter season. it may he safely asserted that
scarcely any class of labourers or operatives but could afford
31. Or even 41. per week, and could this sum be obtained
it would at Once double the interne of many of the smaller
Institutes, and much more than double the efficiency of the
means of instruction."
Oa the motion of Mr. Rider, of Think, seconded by the
Rut. Theo. !Wadi, Vicar of filasham, the report was
una timously adopted and ordered to be printed. Other
resolutions were alga adopted, admitting 12 Institutions
into the union, and accepting an ins:tation from Ltradfunl
to told the neat anniversary meetings in that town. On
the motion of the Mayor of Leeds, the following resolution
was ISISO agreed to:
That this meeting rejoices to learn that a select com-
mittee of the House of Commons has been sitting during
the present session of parliament ' to inquire into the ex.
pedieney of distributing, gratis, under certain regulations,
a selection from the reports and returns printed by order of
the House of Commons amongst the Literary and Scienti-
fic Institutions and hleetimit.s Institutes throughout the
United Kingdom;' that it is grateful to the flight lion.
Henry Tufnell, the chairman for his exertions in obtaining
and conducting this committee, and it anticipates much
pull's advantage from the results of the committees
lab. ars."
The del: gates and visitors dined together at the Three
Inns las, and afterwards a soiree a.k place in the
publie.rooms, when L rd Walsingham presided, and ad-
dres ,a the meeting. Speeches were also made by Sir
Bart., M.l'., Edward Baines, Esq., the
Vital of 31..shani, and other gentlimen.
The proccidings were brought ti a conclusion a little
Ulm. 11 o'clock.

NATIONAL TENIPERANCE SOCIETY.
Lit.t evening the annual meeting of the promoters
of Ibis society took place at Ezeter Hall, Strand, Mr. E.
Dams., of (weds, in the chair.
The proceedings having been opened wink prayer,
TM Sarsirrsav read the report, which took a rapid
surety of the actual condition of the world in its relation
to the temperance cause, and proceeded to say—" Our own
Australian &mice claim primary attention, nod though
news has not been recently received from Sydney, the com-
mittee are able to supple information concerning the
flourishing city of Melbourne, communicated by Rich it'd
tholes, Esq. Writing to the secretary since his arrival in
England, Mr. Hodes remarks, ' The Temperance Society
was established in 1842, since which upwards of 5,000
porous have raped the pledge. The society's hall,
watch is • freehold, is in • central part of the city,
and is a tine building measuring 80 feet by 25, used
tor weekly narazings and lectures, schoolroom during
the week day., and a place of worship on Sonditys."
Mr. Neale. a::erwards rcfen to the lamentable moral con-
sequences which have resulted from the Rohl mania, which
la a overwhelmed Melbourne end the aistriet round. The
report goes on to speak of the Sandwich Islands, China,
ludic the United States, Canada, New Brunswick, Conti-
nental Europe, Ireland, Scotland, and England. After
touching upon various "signs of advancement," and enu-
merating several of the " English organisations directly
amino to sustain and promote the temperance cause," the
report went on to soy that " During the year circular let-
tan have rasa addressed to missionaries of the (Impel in
sesious parts of the world, from some of whom replica have
been received, corroborating all that has been believed as to
the improved cayseity of performing onerous labour where
alcoholic drinks are avoided, end the passing importance of
conjoining total ohs:Meow with missionary operations in
order to give them their desirable efflaiency and perma-
nence."
The total amount of receipts during the year amounted
to 7041 , which, after deducting the rapenditure left a ba-
lance in the hands of the treasurer amounting to 28S.

Ins Rev. Dr. MARSH. of Beekenham, moved the first
resolution, " That the meeting believed and rzjoiced in the
entinued extension of the temperance cattle, and judged
the present a suitable opportunity of according a warm and
respectful welcome to the Ike. Dr. Stowe, and the Rev.
Charles Beecher, the son and heir of 1):. Lyman Beecher, a
name venerable in Great Britain no less thee in his native
land: and the meeting fur:her conveys to Dr. Stowe and
Mr. Beecher its coadoent opinion that their valuably ad-
vecacy of total abstinence principls, together with the most
of their illuetrious relatives, would signally promote in this
country the interests of temperance and general philan-
thropy.
The Rey. Dr. Brass seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
'rho nee. Dr. STOWS acknowledged the compliment con-
veyed in it, end observed that the people of England were
in much the same position with regard to temperance that
the Americans occupied upon the subject of slavery. He
was glad to find that a movement had been commenced for
the pu pose of clueing the dram shops on Sundays. He had
lived fit two years in a State where there were no drum
shops, and be knew the great advantages of such a state of
society. He had seen se many public houses in this country
that it appeared to him that Great Britain was one large
dry throat. iat t which ad the filthy stuff which was sold
under the term "entire" was eoatinually being poured.
This country had made great progress within the last 17
years in all that related to ethicotton and the good of
the labouring classes, but he wondered that the strong
temptaiion to crime had not caused the natives to doge.
instead of advancing. He end his better-half
were deeply grateful for the kind and cordial reception
they had met with front every rank in life. They
had associated with people whom they never expected,
to meet, and on all occasions where they had sat at table
wine had been offered to them, bot they had always refused
it, and had drank water instead. Ile hod had on many
occasions an opportunity of explaining the operation of the
Maine law against intemperance, and he was glad to assure
the &Wittig that so beneficial bail been the influence of that
law in the United States that in one town with which he
was well acquainted, and where the dram shops had all
been clawed, the pauper tax hail been reduced in one year
from 1,600 dollars to 300, and in the following year there
was not a single pauper in the town, weilat the jails were
entirely empty. (Hear, hear.) A few evenings 'welt- bad
the privilege of bearing a debate in the House of Lords,
the subject being—what could be done with the criminals—
and he felt that if he bad b en • lord (which he was not) he
ghoul' have said shut up the dram shops ; for, in his opinion,
nothing so much interfered with the complete prosperity of
the country, as the habit of drinking and intemperance.
A coilectioa was then made in the room.
The following resole:inns were afterwards adopted, and
were spoken to by the Rev. J. C. Hutton (forming a depu-
Latin from Scotland), the It v. Samuel Ward (a black
minister from Canada), the Rev. Henry Townley, Mr.
Richard Heales (trom Australia), Mr. O. Cruikabank, and
others.
" That the meeting views with peculiar pleasure the he-
nnaed and watchful attention which, both in the United
States and this country, is now directed to the evil, result-
ing from the traffic in intoxicating drinks; fur the hest
mean of mitigating aad removing which it invites the con-
sideration of all political parties, all patriotic citisene, and
all CliTiCi.ll men.
" That the deplorable results attending the use of intoxi-
cating drinks on board passenger vessels, and the demo-
ralisation occasioned in our Australian colonii s by the faci-
lities for the purchase of epiri:uous liquors, nfford good an:l
sufficient reasons for requesting the interposition of her
Majesty's government in order that the hest pissihle mea.
series may be taken for an early and practical reform."
The meeting then separated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.

THE PEMBROKESHIRE MILITIA.—The militia for
the e runty of Pembroke has been made an artillery corps ;
and in this d, csion the authorities have, doubtless, h en
influeoted by the great facilities which eaitt et Pembroke
yard and garrison for the due and efficient tntining of
I.ige body of men in the firing and practice of greet gons.l
The large spun of open ground adj, ining the fortified
barracks will be available for the field battery volution%
and the ten batteries of artillery in the possession of the
Royal D icky.a.l Battalion will be in readiness for the
tra•idnir of the newly raised levy. The Dockyard &tirade
Lase been trained to flee at a target mound on the waters
of the 'levee ; and the awe • facilities for the :erotic
of the 'wadi' will be Worded, this gone at the tort
in the doekrird being always mailable. In the event of a
war an artillery corps world be :rralwahle tor the defence
of the arsenal; and it is generally deem, that sound dis-
cretion has M ea eaereised in the sell etion of that arm of the
service for the Pi mbrokevhir, Realm at of Mili•ia.
W 611178101 RAILWAY or FRANCE.—Truffic for the
week ending M•iy 16, 1863:—Patsengers, 4,64 U.;
1.132 i.; Me. 6,7751. Corresponding week last year, 7,8731.
NASO we, Mk