The Express.
London, England, 1847-10-14 00:00:00

exports of every commodity but gold were thensai.
(Hear.) Some had blamed the potato rot for the
the utmost value of the potatoes destroyed was X tit
and consequently the amount of mischief from that tame
could not be more. But, by the recent fall in Cattalo, tit,
holders of tke public securities had suffered to the extent of
between 80 and 90 millions ; and how could this be explained
by the potato rot ? The speaker then noticed an article is;
opposition to their views which had sppesred in the El -
miner of last week, and replied to its arguments. It wee the
opinion of most commercial men that, in December next, the
distress would be much more fearful than at present ; big
Sir C. Wood--who, whatever his faults were, was an eseelleet
hoper, for with him the worst wax always past—would,
doubtless then assure them that the distresa had completely
vanished. (Laughter.) In conclusion, he said the object of
the League was to establish • system under which a fair
day's work could always be exchanged fur a fair day's
wages. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said this was the order of proceeding
which they proposed. They wished question' to be Dr,
posed, in writing, with the names of the proposers; tbepe
question' would be considered, and answers given to then
to some of the addresses to be delivered at the fames
meeting. In this way, order would be preserved, the track
of their pr.neiples would be tested, and if there were eit,
errors they would be sure to be exploded. (Hear.)
Mr. J. %Visor), who was introduced as an eminent seri.
culturiat from Sussex, said he was convinced that, by the
adoption of the principles now advocated, the land of this
country would be prevented from going out of cultivation, a
result which must ensue if the present system was per..
vered in, to the utter ruin of the agricultural inter, at.
The CHAIRMAN said this movement could not be carried
on without pecuniary support. Ile hoped those interested
would come forward with subacriptions—Bank of England
notes would do for the present. (Laughter.)
Mr. Robert Owen wished to address the meeting, but the
Chairman declared it dissolved, and left the chair. A little
confueion ensued, when some one proposed that Mr. Loyd
Jones should take the chair. This being dune—
Mr. OWEN said he regretted that the chairman had vacated
his seat, as he had come, not to Oppose, but to support
the league. In 1819 he had made a report whitb wan
further than anything that had been said here. As an eld
merchant, manufacturer, political economist, and friend to
all classes, he knew that the making of gold the legal tender
was the rause of all this country's difficulties. Olean
hear.) The producing power of the coantry having ie.
creased. fifty-told, a like increve ought to have taken
place in the circulation. Had the increasing productive
power been properly understood and directed there would
have been no poverty in this country. ( liesr.) The gee.
tlomen who had spoken had said nothing of the qualities
indispensable in a circulating medium—that it should in.
crease and diminish with tbe increase and dimioutten of
westlth, and should be unchanged in value. Gold fulfilled
neither of these conditions. (Beer, hear.) The nation
ought to be the sole banking company of the empire; and
the national notes should be secured by the whale property
of the empire, than which no greater security was possible.
(llcar.) The circulation might then be made to inrrtme
or diminish with the increase or diminution of wealth; sad
its value would be unchanged. It was a delusion to sup-
pose that there was a farthing less of capital in the country
now than before the pressure commenced : and the existence
of such a state of things proved ignorance on the part orate
merchants and men of business. Forty sear; ago, when he
was in bueinees, a scarcity of silver having occurred, he
ironed half-crown and five-shilling notes, signed by Linea(
and secretary, which circulated readily in the place; is
fact, he hod difficulty in getting them all in again. Meat)
Celt d the pimple of this country tinier-hind their real pale
Lion, they must suffer from the exi.titig monetary system.
After a few remarks from Me. Just, the meeting sepa-
rated at half-past 10 o'clock.

CONDEMN.ITION OF TIIE MIDDLESEX SES',TON4
ROUNE.—Some time ago the county survey 5.% were ordered,
by a unanimous vote of the court of county naimmutes, to
tuke the necorsary measures for nuking a presentation
respecting the sessions-house to the grand jury ; and in the
course of yesterday the latter body presented that the ses-
sions-house is insufficient as acourtofjustiee. The magiiitrstn
who have been in the habit of attending the sessims have
been unremitting in their endeavours to obtain a new court-
house, and they, as well ea the learned assistant judge, hare
repeatedly denounced the present building as being ging*
of any actommodation for either the occupants of the bench,
counsel, jurors, or witnesses; and the cells underarath, is
which the prisoners are at present confined, pending
their trials, have been characterised as absolutely unfit
for the reception of human beings. Mr. Serjesnt Ma=
co:.gratulated the grand jury upon the presentment they
had made, and expressed the pleuure he felt on seeing a
first step taken towards the demolition of what he coaridend
an abomination to the county. It is understood that at.
rangemsnts for attaining the object for which the mum-
meat was obtained will be made as soon as possible..

LONDON UNIVERSITY.—The winter session iris
opened yesterday, in the presence of a crowded such, nee, by
an introductory lecture from Mr. Newman, the professor st
Latin at the university. The learned lecturer and the other
professore were matt heartily greeted by the students as they
succe,sively made their appearance in the lecture hall. II;
matter of the discourse related to the importance of idea-
tion and of its tendency per se, and without the necessity of
subscription to set formularies or religious tests, to make Imes
moral and religious. It would be impossible for us ia this
necessarily brief notice, to give a circumstantial analysis of
the various topic+ by which the lecturer enforced and illus.
tented his argument. Setting out from the Bimini
aphorism that " Knowledge is power," he showed
that morality increased with intellectual develop
merit, and that wherever the intellect was allowed the
greatest freedom for the exercise of its powers, acre the
growth of a healthy morality and manly virtue was most
luxuriant. But in order to advance, knowledge mint be
diffused. It must not be circumscribed and confined to
few, for whero there was artif4rial appropriation something
wrong might always he inferred. The greensl condemna-
tion of slavery by the public opinion of modern Europe, and
its reprobation as opposed to the first principles of society,
although it was sanctioned by the most enlightened infirm
of antiquity, and was nowhere condemned by revelatien,
was a signal proof of the moral tendency of a free develop
Intent of the intellectual faculties. The liberal conduct of
England in stipulating fur the free admission of all nations
to the ports of Europe, and of the Emperor of Russia, ix
obtaining the same privilege from Turkey with respect to
the pining° of the Dardanelles, were the result of that
enlightenment which pervaded Europe. But one of in
grandest results was that it tended to reconcile good men
towards each other, to make them tolerant of etch
others' opinions, to draw closer the bonds of smut'
between adverse nations, and to connect into one whole the
mattered members of the human family. When Wine
became more enlightened, and understood that they were MO
tually dependent, that each had an interest in the prosperity
of each and of all, wars would become a moral impossibility."
and the Baconian maxim, that "knowledge is powm
might be supplanted by another, that "knowledge 11
We have only to add to this imperfect sketch of the India;
idea of the lecture, that it was seized in its entire eremite
hension and unfolded in a precise, vigorous, and book]
style, which alternately engaged the marked attention, sr
diew forth the applause, of the audience.
ABOLITION Or SUNDAY TRADING. Yesterday
evening a meeting of parishioters was held at the infant.
school-room, Three Colts-lane, Limehouse, fir the purr
of adoring a petition to parliament, in co-operation eith
other metropolitan parishes, against Sunday trading.—Mr.
Hayman and a deputation attended on behalf of the Asses
tion of the Parochial Authorities of the Metropolis. The
Itev. Mr. Reclines, curate of the pariah, was called to the
chair, and the following resolutions were carrierlt-, The
in the opinion of the meeting there exists no real necessity
for Sunday trading, and that the majority of tradesmen
themselves are most anxious to be relieved from its coat,
nuance." " That a committee be formed in this poi*,
consisting of the parochial authorities and other inhahatots.
to co-operate with other metropolitan parishes, to prepare a
bill for abolishing unnecessary Sunday trading."—Mr.
Ilan
OHM stated that it was intended to confine the bI! to Me
selling of articles, and to impose penalties on a person sell-
ing. The scale would be—for the first offence, si. for*
second, from Ss. to 20s. ; and the third offence, from Ns to
40s. ; and after that, for every separate act of selling. Its.
Several interviews had been obtained with the Seereum of
State, for the purpose of determining what trades 'lima be
excepted from the imposition of penalties. It was the opines
of the Secretary of State that the selling of fruit might he
permitted in the interval of the hours of divine service. This
will, therefore, be allowed to the shopkeepers. and to
.pcor.
people in the streets. Bakers and barbers will be permeate
to pursue their avocations, as they are rot sets of whip
The great study of the framer' of the bill has been to tall It
as liberal a measure ss possible. A petition was StlbaVrdli
adopted. Thanks were then voted to the rev. chairman
and the meeting separated.
SOCIETY FOR TILE PROTECTION OP YOUNG FEMALES.
—.Yesterday evening a meeting of salscribers and othemye
terested in promoting the objects of the above iestito
was held at the office, in the Moira Chambers, Demmer,
lane, Gresham-street, City. The report of the proceedings,'
the society, which was established in 1815 for the protection
of young females under 15 years of age, lltattd, that are
were now in the asylum at Tottenham, 72 young tonn,e.;'
who are fed, clothed, educated, and fitted for reslorr,rte.
servitude. Daring the past year 82 were remised. ot
12 were restored to their friends and sent to service.
ss
have been received since the establishment was foundrl•
The society, during that period, had caused the supper
of 195 houses of ill fame in various parts of London, IN .u 7,.
thei same el
ias.t.trufe
ern.to.in
tit; nearlycl,.,l :50 more The hu7ieubee.
,roe
w wait
modate 30 additional inmates: upwards of 20 are no
ing, want of funds preventing their admission. Thanks sore
voted to the chairman, and the meeting separated' of
PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY.—A concertos'
the members of this society was held hat night at their
ro
rooms u,
in Bloomsbury-square. The meeting was a
wnuemaet,
one, and amongst the chief objects of attraction er .
pump on a new principle; a powerful microsoop.eii by
a press, by Knight, for Ornb•USed Printing new
sick a
O
variety of coloured impressions, including • Il
stamped envelope ; and a new farm of glass fora Rial
rr:
On the latter subject Mr. Leslie made some use
tending to show how the gas might be econotnised,m4. ref
the light and heat regulated, by means of this sa
vention.
CHARING-CROSS 1109PITAL.—TuenektYhe Rooftriloo,
a meeting of the governors and committee of t
pital was held in the board-room of the institution,
is
Strand, Charing-cross. The report for the plstrPninett;o7
that the number of is-patients had begs 302; "tli egem
3,564 ; addition to which, 37 leases of accidents and
of emergency had been received: It wiz to be regretnotroun
tM
notwithstanding the utrpeet care in the expend%
resources were too limited for the full exercise of is
operations, they standing greatly in need of migrate