The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-21 00:00:00

THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

The noise of the hammer is now heard incessantly
and up to the latest hour within the Gloss Palace, and a
corresponding amount of achievement marks the close of
each day. The nave was never fuller of packages that it is
at present—a circumstance which is partly attributable totho
inadequacy of the wharfage. fur the reception of the goods.
There arc only two boats leaving every wick Inr Dun-
gucrgc, to which port the French guars are re-shipped, and
these altogether insufficient to meet the demand for space
made upon them. It would very much facilitato the clear-
ing of the building from the debris which now disfigures
it, if the authorities allowed the use of the Ordnance
Wharf for the reception and shipment of the goods. We
believe that an application has been forwarded to the
proper quarter for this purpose. Amongst other significant
signs of the final break up may be mentioned the fact that
the working staff at the Exhibition has been considerably
reduced, the weekly expenditure not amounting to one-
fourth of the sum at which it stood this day month.
We arc not aware that the effect of artihcial light within
the Glass Palace hut ever been noticed, but, if well lit up
with a sufficient quantity of gas, the result, judging from
the scattered and scanty jets that are now " let on " at the
approach of night, would be singularly beautiful. It is
said a ball is to be given within this Palace of Glass, the
profits of which arc to be handed over to the London
Hospitals.

Sr. PANCRAS, NIARYLEBONE, AND PADDINUTON
FIDEEHOLD LAND SUCI ETY.—A crowded meeting of the
friends and supporters of the freehold land movement as-
sembled on Wednesday evening at the Temperance Hall,
Somers-town, for the purpose of considering the enfranchise-
ment of the working classes, and of explaining the working
of the freehold laud societies, It. F. Brettingliam, Esq., in
the chair. The chairman, in opening the business, re-
marked that the time had now arrived for the people to
possess themselves of those rights and privileges to which
they. were legitimately entitled. Every man ought to have
a voice in returning members to parliament, but since, as a
' matter of fact, the law required a certain property qualifi-
cation, the Freehol I Land Society, at a cost of ono shilling
weekly, secured to the subscribers the neci.eisery possession
to entitle its members to a county vote. Mr. Spong, the
secretary, entered into a statistical account of the working
of the above society since its formation up to the present time.
It appeared that upwards of 1,600 members had been enrolled,
and that 2,200 shares had been taken ; five purchases of land
had been made, two of which had been allotted, and the society
were about concluding another purchase, which would be
divided into 600 more allotments. Thus the benefit of co-
operation was clearly shown, and the ultimate success of
the society was established beyond doubt.—Mr. Mortimore
'f impson moved a resolution, affirming that the St. Pancras,
Marylebone, and Paddington Freehold Land Society offers
advantages moral, political, and pecuniary.—Mr. Howley,
in seconding the resolution, entered into some interesting
details of the movement generally. One of the primary
objects of this society was to help men to help themselves
The rules were drawn up by working men to suit the MBAS
of those in their own class, and the whole management was
open to the inspection of every member. The demonstra-
tive year of 1851 was a proud one for the working classes,
who had shown themselves not only a credit to themselves,
but an ornament to society. The resolution was unani-
mously agreed to.—Mr. Whyman moved a resolution to the
effect that the principles of the Freehold Land Society wero
the :most efficient for extending the franchise, and for
improving the social and domestic comfort of the working
classes, and enabling them to become county electors. As
a mere pecuniary investment these societies were superior
, to say other, they yielded seven per cent. upon the best
possible security. A subscribed caoital of 800,0001. would
give in ten years four millions of allotments, and as man_ y
county votes ; supposing these allotments to be let at 21.
per annum each this would yield a net annual rental of
8,000,0001. ; this would produce labour to the benefit of the
community.—Mr. Deane seconded the resolutien, and urged
Om necessity of an immediate reform in the representative
system. It was monstrous that in Hampshire eight out of
every nine adult men were disfranchised; iu Berkshire the
proportion was seven out of eight; and in Surrey, out of a
population of 154,000 there were only 9,000 electors, thus
fifteen-sixteenths of the men of Surrey were deprived of
the franchise.—The resolution having been unanimously
carried, several new members were enrolled, and, after the
usual compliment to the chairman, the meeting broke up.
CUSTOM-HOUSE REFORM.—The agitation at pre-
sent going on for numerous reforms in the management of
the Customs, is already producing results ; as, on Monday
next, that important branch of the Customs, the Long
Boom, will be open at 9 a.m., in place of 10 a.m., at which
hour official business will commence. During the summer
months it is intended to commence business at 8 a.m., thug
• giving merchants an advance of two hours of most Tau-
, able business time.
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF LORD PLUNKETT.—This
venerable nobleman now lies under a dangerous and, it is
apprehended, a hopeless illness, at his residence, Old Con-
, naught, near Bray, about 10 miles from Dublin, where,
since he had ceased to hold the Irish seals, on the appoint-
ment of Lord Campbell to the Irish Chancellorship in 1841,
he has lived in the privacy of the domestic circle. The
noble and learned lard has nearly reached his 90th year.
He was called to the Irish bar in Hilary Term, 1787.