The Express.
London, England, 1865-02-28 00:00:00

EXPLORATION OP TES NORTH POLE.

At the meeting of the Royal Geographical So-
eiety yesterday cum* the subject of the proposed explo-
ration of the North Pole was again brought unbar dig-
nities.
Sir R. Mtnimusos, the president, who was in the chair,
in his introductory remarks, reed a communication from the
president of the Royal Society, stating that that body fully
mammal in the propriety of another expedition to explore
the North Pole, as he considered it calculated to be of great
advantage to the progress of mimeo-
, A paper was read by Mr. MasnuoM,
" On the Origin
and Migrations of the Greenland Diquimanx."
Captain OtIROZN read a summary of WON remarks by Dr.
Petermann, in a letter to Sir Itoderiek Murchisoo, on his
• plan of proceeding to the North Pole. He (Captain
Osborn) was strongly of opinion that the coarse by Smith's
' Sound wee the preferable one. He denied that there wee
any real danger to be appreherded from the proposed ex
peditiou, if properly organised and arranged, and he re-
. 'erred to the cue at Dr. Hayes, who had found eustenanse I
among the natives from the month of August till Christ- .
mu. There would be no lack of volunteers for such an
expedition. He believed one English admiral was prepared
to take a muldran by Spitzbergen to the North Pole. .
M'Clintock wee also perfectly ready to go, and many °then
whom he oould name were ready and willing to start. The
only difficulty appeared to be to provide Merle, but as only
1.230 th part of the expenditure of the navy was devoted to
arrieettfic purposes, he thought it was not too much to
' expect the government to grant for such an expedition,
which presented se many important advantages, ball a
; million.
Professor Owen said, as fade amortained by observe-
dot were tar pretatelde to *Wry. it MY highly derrfrable
Mid an expedition each es that proposed shoold be under-
taken so as to extend our stock of knowledge regarding the
atate of the North Pole by actual obseevatios. If there were
open water at the North Pole it was possible that valuable
additions might be made to the science of natural history,
by the discovery, for instanoe, of some trace, or mobably
the existence, of that curious creature the manitee, which
approaches nearer to a human being than any other crea-
tare living in water. Its head resembles that of a man, it
Nada on the mots on the sea-shore, it suckles its young from
breasts, and has arms like fins with five fingers on each,
with which it boffin its young like •a woman suckling her
babe. There are not more than five specks of thin creature
living, all of which are found in tropical seas; but it ap-
pears from geological evidence that the animal formerly ex-
isted in more northerly latitudes, as remains of it an
found in the tertiary strata, and about 70 years ago one was
Nen alive in the North Sea. It was possible, therefore,
that in the open water at the Pole some of thou animals
might be found, and other additions made to our knowledge
of
LilkdSiocarron mid that, as one of the trustees of the
Geographical Society, he strongly approved of the proposed
exploration, and he felt little doubt that when the matter
was clearly represented to the government they would
consent to its being undertaken.
The PIZSMINT of the Geological Society said that it
would materially add to the science of geology to ascertain
the character of the rocks and strata near the North Pole,
and he hoped the expedition would be made.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S. —A life-sine model of hie
late Eminence Cardinal Wiegman, slaked in the magnificent
robes of his order, has been added to Madame Tuseand's
exhibition in Bdrersimmi.
AGRICULTURAL HALL —OD the occasion of M.
Blondin's benefit at the Agricultural Hall last evening the
building was so completely thronged by the audience, that
the encroachments upon the Hippodromerendered that part
of the performance exceedingly-difficult. Hundred. of per-
sons wereneotasarily ref need admittance. M. Blondin has
consented to prolong his berries. for another week upon
the programme of last night ; and during that period the
tickets hold by those who were disappointed in gaining
admission kat night will be available.
THE WIDOW or JOHN THILLWLLL, —Mrs. TOW-
wall, the egad widow of the late John Thelma], has berm
differing greatly from want and disease. A few friends
proposed to race • fond by subscription to moth bar de-
alining years, but death has anticipated them. She did on
Sunday morning, at 3 o'clock. There are at present no Medal
to bury her. She died at Windsor, and her dying wish was ,
that she should be buried at Kensal-green, where other re-
mains of her family lie interred. To ninny of our radon the
namest John Thelwall may be unknown, but there must
he 06i11111 who remember his exertion' and sufferings in the
came of the liberty we now enjoy. We nederenind that
about W. will be required for the funs*, and oontri
for Ch perpoaa be seat to Mx. G. R. Viree,ilte*
Joint Stock Directory, 13, %nestle-street, KC.
Lae Aomice.—The Scottish newspapers give an
account of • ceremony which recently took place in the
private chapel of Duncrub, when Lord /tollo was appointed
• lay reader by Dr. Wordsworth, titular bishop of St.
Andrews r—" During the morning service, immediately after
the Litan Lord Rollo went forward to the Communion-
rail", within which the bishop was standing, who readelood
• form of appointment, which he afterwards banded to his
lordship. Lord Rollo then knelt down at the Communiou.
nits, and the bishop, delivering into his hands the Bible,
said :—'Take tbon authority publicly to read the Common
Prayer and the Holy Scriptures in the cosgregation of God's
people assembled for His holy worship ; and in this, and all
thy works begun, continued, and ended in Him, may the
blessing of Ged Almighty, the Father, the Sop, and the
Holy Ghost be upon thee, and remain with thee for ever.
Amen.'"
THE FISCAL POLICY or THE AUSTRIAN GOVERN-
MENT.—Mr. Prange, the gentleman recently deputed to
visit Vienna is company with Mr. Beaumont, ILP., for the
purpose of ascertaining the practicability of obtaining •
modification of the fisod policy at present existing in Austria,
has forwarded to the Liveepool Chamber of Commerce •
report of his efforts and inquiries. This report was read at
the meeting of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
yesterday. In it Mr. Primp states that in Vienna
the leading commercial men were folly alive to the
value of the principles of free trade ; but that the
industrial classes, who were largely represented in the
Reichsrath, were with few exceptions strongly opposed
to every attempt to diminish protection, and that this was
not surprising in the present deplorable state of trade.
Mr. Prange deprecated the immediate introduction of
free trade, unaccompanied by measures of relief from
the numerous burdens and hardships of which the
working classes justly complain. What was moat
wanted was • general comprehensive system of reforms,
and increased facilities for intercourse, accompanied by such
gradual reduction of the protective duties as will admit of
more foreign competition, stimulating home manufacturers
to greater exertions, and enabling dealers and consumers
to buy in the cheapest market. Many intelligent meadsa
burets admitted the baneful influence d the present g
that simple duties levied for pomace of revenueirtrA
that was required to meet foreign competition if the home
trade were sound and in a normal state of prosperity, and
that the artificial maintenance of sickly branches of in-
dustry at the cost of the community was a grave blunder.
l hey therefore bailed the proposed cemmiaatere to venti-
late the question as to what must be done to put the com-
merce of the empire on a sound foundation. Mr. Prange
expressed the most sanguine confidence in the result of the
proposed movement.
RAILWAY AND PUBLIC COMPANIEs IN PARLIA-
MENT.—Yasterday the standing orders were declared not to
have been complied with in the following cases :—Wexford
Junction Railway, for • railway from the Bagnalstown
and Wexford at Ballverilliare, to the Dublin, Wicklow, and
Wexford Railway. thpital, 99,000/. ; loan, 33,0001.—Car.
narvou, Beddgelert, Port Madre, he., Railways, for the
construction of railways between thee. points. Capital,
450,0001. ; loin,lso,oooL—Senitblield Market (Dublin) Bill.
In the case of the Inverses. and Path Junction, and Inver-
ness and Aberdeen Junction Railway Company's Bill, and
the East and West India Dock Company's Bill, the standing
orders were declared to have been complied with. The
other cases considered were adjourned.
THE RAILWAY COMPANIES AND LIVERPOOL.—
At the meeting of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
yesterday, it was stated that -Mr. Watkin, M.P., Chairman
of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, was
anxious that equal rates should be adopted ou the lid ; and
Mr. Macfie stated that good. were now carried on the Cale-
donian Railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow (edmo
at fa. M. per ton, not more than half the rate charged
between Liverpool and Manchester (32 miles).
KENT COAtiT RAILWAY.—The balf-yearly meet-
ing of this company was held yestesday, at the offices,
Victoria Station ; Sir C. P. Raley was in the chair. The
advertisement by which the meeting had been coeveued
having been read by the secretary (Mr. W. F. Johneoe), the
directors' report was adopted, and Mr. Holroyd sleeted
• director in the room of Mr. Laming, deceased. The
retiring directors and retiring auditor were re-elected. and •
vote of thanks to the chairman and directors closed the pro-
ceedings.
THE CHARING-CROSS Horan—The general busi-
ness of this establishment will not commence before
Easter; but in the mein time, is order to enable the
public to judge of the a:tent end quality of the accom-
modation which it will provide, the public refreshment
room will be opened to-morrow to visitors. The manager
of the hotel will be Mr. Thomas Higgs, late of the Great
Waders Hotel.
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