The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-22 00:00:00

WOLVERTON MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.

WORSHIP-8 IREET.
Ditanto ROBlllakT. T. Smith w,s charged with hale'
Soles two watches.
On Friday night, the prisoser went into the shop of
MOM. Walker and Brawn No. 38. Whitechapel-road,
when, on seeing the assistant, said that be had hese re.
tossened to the shop by a stentlrsaa, sad that be wanted
! good strong watch worth about 44. The aseirant
ms np two watches and abowe 1 them to the prisoner,
ate reerlvsd one, restarking that he liked that ber. He
at the lase tiros said that be would not Sind purchasing one
akw ander higher in price, when another watch more
azponsirs was planed in hn hands, when be ran out of too
slot with both. He was raised by Ike assistant, who,
alter a nee of *boat half • mile, as. op with bias. He
teak seem resi.tanes till a pulicesan, 170 0,
appeared? and
be me lino tato custody. Toe watches were found in liis
Polak
The passer, who &stilled saying anything, wes ton-
those km trial.

AmosTmoos THAttx-ornattme.—Lst evening at
a imeetlatt of the friends of Kitties Collogoliospitol an away-
alas emetics of fifty pounds wee mommool as a " Thook-
OW" foe pooperestioa of heath deft lbs Ikie ol Ash-
ur;

[FROM OUR OWN wroarns..]
Last evening a soirfo, in aid of the funds of the
institution, took place at Wolverton, in one of the large
buildings connected with the railway station. There wen
upwards of 1,500 pewee present, including a large
proportion of the fair sew and thine was a supp:y of tea and
cabs in sufficient abundance to satisfy a much more consider-
nagesr. The building appropriated to the cia ision
was was of the " engine repairing she " belonging to the
North Western Rway Company, its dimension. being 130
fat long by 90 test wide. Th. room (or rather saloon, as
we may call it for the nonce) was brilliantly illuminated
with gas jets Isabioand iito a variety of ornamental
dunces At the upper end, immediately over the platform,
where the directors were assembled was• crown, and th op.
pate end wen two cornucopia; mealier lids of the building
were stars and wreath of flowers ; and the additional Ighta
WOO produced by gas lamps. To giro full effect to th • scene
the into paten supporting the root were tastefully decorated
with tarp ans, and flags of various colours were suspended
from the beams is all directions.
Among the mews distinguished guests won George Carr
Olyn, Esq., M.P., Messrs. Thomas Smith Richard Barrow,
Richard Creed, J. L. Prevost, 11. Ede. Sir Harry Verney,
M.P., Capt. Haigh (gement manager), Mr. Stuart. the secre-
tary, Mr J. E. M'Connell (who took On chair on the occa-
sion), Dr. Mackey, Mr. Gnus Crnikshank, and many other
weans interested in the success of the institution. On the
platform a baud of musicians were assembled, and the cere-
mony of • hie evening was ,ccasionally enlivened by songs,
glees, and duets
The CHAIRMAN 'aid, that in opening the procerlint •
of this swung, over which he bad been celled upon to
preside, be thought it would be a most gratiling and
Iskaring mew to all who were interested in the objects
they wen met to promote, when they looked around and
saw the many bled and cordial friends who appeared to
support the Wolvertoo Mechanics' Institution. Meetings
like this Was so ordinary meetings; and perhaps the pre-
ss .t might be ounsiiered the firm of any extent which bad
been held to support a railway mechanics' institution. It
was, he thought, proper that Wolverton should be
the first plata selected for such a purpose, as
Wolveritn was the first railway establishment
when the population was composed of Taloa, ser-
,vents. ii regretted, however, that te Wolverton
Mechanics" Institution had not kept pace with Similar i son
at other esubishments. Hs hoped that better timer
wi re coming, and t e looked ugoe the present meeting as
showing that it was io their power to farm a good and pros-
perous iastitation in Wolverton. It might not be generally
kn two that Wolverton Ina the peinciral repa.r.rig with-
li•linaeot on the London and North-Western Railway.
Upwards of 600 mechanics and other operatives were
en. aged in repairing the engines, and in other works cone
Beetled with the Iscomn•ive department. The working
stock belonging to peat department consisted of 220
ngines; the bust her of miles tun was upwards of three
mdliont in the coons of a year, whilst the coasumptiot of
heel was upward% of 1000 tons per week From these facts
it wee eta, that a large amount of unchain' force was re-
' gaited io attn' to thrt working stock of this company. Ern
artisans of nearly every clan wets engaged in their different
• reopetims, and if Wolverton were transferred to the wilds
of America 0 to Asia, or any other confine nt, there existed
in the p ace itself all the 'lemmas of production necessary
f r the comforts atd et:v.l4llkm*, of life. The mechanics'
institution at Wolverton had been in existence for a con-
iderable time—since the year 1840; but, unfortunately, its
• Hosts had sot been wrong, owing, perhaps, to the
want of a proper mode of action amongst the
member'. Latterly, however, they bad been more
united in their views, sad it might now fairly be believed
that their efforts would soon be rewarded with success. The
'position of arts and maantactures which was shorty to
'We place in this eouirry ws% well calculated ti stissulee
tree tnechsnios to IPSITCWO there Inventive powers ; but it
could n• t doubted that those powers would lee dormant
unless they were brought into action by mechw
nice instituti 04 such as they were aow met
to celebrate. He had the honour to propose, " Prosperity
to the Loudon and North Western Railway Company, the
chairman, and the directors." (Loud cheers )
Mr. trLYN, in returning thanks, said he sineercy
wished that his voter war strong enough to make them hear
the esprendoe of heartfelt thanks which it was his duty to
retort) for the entt somatic in which they had received
the sem insects conveyed to them by their chairman. It had
been his good fortune to be present on more then one mem
fitin et octane's ions of a similarly interesting nature, and he
had witnessed the ceremony of the cp. leg of their schools,
and the dedication of the church, but on no occasion had he
telt so much gratification as he experienced tide evening.
On the former occasions to which he bad real red hi, col.
leagut s and himself bad dischsrµed such duties as their sta-
.i n imposed noon them. They thought it right that the
act .01,1 should be tapered upon principles which wou'd admit
the children of all dem minaticiss, and the establishment of
these schools had given him very considerable pleasure aid
• eris'aet ion, but he viewed the present ceremony with !Avenger
hodinp amass it conveyed to his mind corroborative eel-
deism of the tact that they appreciated those efforts which
tliey now throw'''s spontaneonWy carried forward.
(Caren) They were engaged in a nob e work ; althou, h
he held that after spirituel in•traction, their highest duty
was not the education of themselves, but the 'dna-
tion of their children. The educati,n they received
in their childhood was the groundwork of all their actions is
future life. They must remember that they were living in a
conotty where the lowest of them, if properly eiducatod, may
rise from the humblest position to the highest ranks in life.
He seed not remind them of many instances in which this
had hen the ease hu: h could not resist the opp irtunity of
mantionims one etstimee in which the principle had been most
ful y carried out. They were honoured by the pee-
s, nee of gentlemen who would do honour to any
aremblage. He confessed that having those here who wen
not so immediately connected with railways as they were, be
was anxious to besptek their kind consideration for
the meit,nn of the gentlemen who held the masegement of
this great undortsking. They were assailed with cries in ,
tv.-ry dir ction, and be could not deny that many of the re- '
pr,aches ,sthich had been cast upon railway directors, which
were lolly deserved, bat he did not think et right that lb.'s-
who hat the control of this property, should be liable to the
same indierriminate shwa as those who sacrificed the trust
they b• td •r when for the gratifiratice of their own selfish
,aide. Re might observe duet the undertaking had now
neen brought to such a state of perfection that pametngers
could now travel from London to Montrosee withou once
ohangag their carriage, and that every endeavour
was made to shrew that then was a distinction between
the cows psreued by the Elliman of this company
red that passed by many persons whose viaduct had been
wailed. If this ware oc—was it right—was it fair that all
those who from the earliest date ofd railway enterprise had
striven bard to merit the good opiion of the public—was
it fair, Its asked, that they should be deprived of them
encomiums which they well deserted? In all that they
bad dons they had received so assistance from the go-
hs
vernment. They had not to amok parliament for t
slightest ald ; but they had to thank the wehanies for
the oo operation they had Hooded them. He was prowl to 1,
lay that the directors bad from lint to last naive& the tt-
flinch* and untiring cooperatica of Ewa
Through there mesas a system lad bees l which
government interference might rat bet WA kepis's.

There has been less activity on the Stock Exchange
to-day, and the English funds, under the influence of
a weak market, gave way, and closed 1 worse than
yesterday. Consols were first called 961 to 1, from
which they fell at once to 951, but cube, qoently they
partially recovered, and were last done at 961, closing
at 96 to 1 for the January opening ex divid net. The
'lLree per Cents. Reduced marked 961 and NI. The
New Three-and-a-Quarter per Cent*. were rather
quiet; they fell from 971 the first price, to 974 the
hut and last transaction. The Three per C. nt.
Console, although shut, were done at 97 for money
with the dividend on.
Exchequer Bills maintain the advance noted yi a-
terday ; they were done in all sizes at 57a, and 545.,
;or. m. ; Long Annuities marked 81. Bank Stoat,
2031. Inds Bonds, tOls. and 891.; ditto, uhder
1,0001., 88s. and 90s. premium.
The business in the Foreign house was unimportant,
and was chieflt confihel to Mexican and Spanish
5 per cent. Actives, both of which • 'rile:mid
a slight decline. The Itemise-ions ref orted a e
Buenos Ayres at 46. Danish Five per ers.to. at 981.1
Mexican (ex January c 'upon), at 281 for money, and
from 291 to 281, being last marked 29 for account.
Itu-sian at 1091. Spanish Five per Cent. Active at
19 for money, and 191 and 181 for account ; the
Three per Cents. at 381 for money, and 381 for
account. Two-and-a-Halt per Cent. Duteh at 55/
and 561 for money, and 55:!, for account ; the Four
per CAL Ctrtificatis tor account at 85 and 841.
The fortigu exchanges for this mail wet() the same
as the last, with the exception of Hamburg, which
wee done a little lower, and on Glenna and Ti irate,
which were negotiated a trifle lower. The brokers'
rates are the following :

Primo nrigotiotod.
Prom To
13 111 l2l
11 191
12 2
204
23 131
23 05
23 421
25 611
23 65 ~
" ..... 121
... 40
******
11
11 44 ..
M
,

Hamburg
Ammentuna
Ma
I
Antwerp ........« w
braved. — "
Paris Mart.
Ditto 3 XL
MargeMee "
Pritaabet "
Vienna - ..
Marta-«"
Madrid .... .... .. ..... "
Cadiz
Leghorn ... ........ .- "
-
Genoa
Naples
111
Messina
Liebe. — !Oder. data.. ...«« U i
Oporto
The premium en g Id yesterday at Paris was 13
per mille, which, at the English mint price of
31. 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standard gold, gives an
exchange of 25.471; and the exchange at Yens on
London at short being 25.421, it foliose that g ocl is
0.19 per cent. dearer in Paris than in London.
The Bankers Magazine furnishes the returns of cir-
culation of th several private and joint-stock banks
in England and Wales f.r the four weeks ending the
10th, 17th, and 24th of November, and Ist Decemhir
inst., and gives the folinwng as the &virago we. kb.
circulation of those banks for the put montn—vis.
Private bank. £3.703 491
Joint-stock batiks 2.703,703

... N

Avenge weekly circulation
Oa comparing the above with the returns fur the previoni
mouth, ending 3rd Nov. Ist, it shows—
A decrease in the circulation of the private
banks, of L119,211
A decrease in tke circulati,.n of the joint stock
banks, of 73.713
•

Nevem on the month £l94 924
And, as compared with the month ending god 1)..c 1818,
taboos—
A decrease in the circulation of the pfaate
banks, of ... £233
A decrease in the circulation of the joint-mcck
bauks, of 35,940

Decrees' on the year L36,219
The fixed bases of the vessel banks at the preaent time
are quoted in the Basking 4imanac for 18.50, as
follows :-
181 private bank., allow. d to Woe E4.80.5 423
88 joint-stock banks, allowed to issue 3,409,987
---

£8,215,1101
The following appears, therefor*, to lit the comparative
state of the circulation :
The private barks are below their fixed issue .. £1,101.932
The joint stock banks are below their fixed issue 706,284

Total below the fixed issue
The returns of circulation to the Irish and Scotch tacks
for the lour week' ending the lit of December instser,
when added together, give the following as the average
weekly circumtion of these banks during the past month,
vie.:
Average circulation of the Irish banks
Average circulation of the Scotch becks 3,5001h6
----
Average circulation daring past month £8,174,317
On compering the above with the fixed issuer of the several
beaks es given in the Banking Almanac, the following ep•
run to be the state of the circulation :
The Irish bents are under their fixed isms
The Scotch banks are over their fixed ;sue
- --

Total under the filed irate £1,267,386
The amounts of gold and silver held at the bead aloes of the
several beak( daring the past month have been as tallows
Odd sad silver bald by the Irish beaks
Odd sad snow held ythe Scot& teaks 903,000
Total el gold sad silverbeldeee £2,388,947