The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-15 00:00:00

DECIMAL COINAGE.

The committee have concluded the examination of
witnesses, and it is understood the result will be a
unanimous report in favour of the adoption of the
decimal system of coinage and currency, making the
pound aterlina the integer, and dividing it into 1,0001
units or farthings. Dr. Bowring—on whose motion
in parliament the first step was taken in 1848, by
the coinage of the florin, or one-tenth of a pound
sterling—was the last witness examined, and gave
most satisfactory evidence u to the extraordinary
accuracy, rapidity, and facility with which all cal-
culations are made and all accounts kept under a
decimal system throughout the vast Chinese empire,
with its four hundred millions of dependent subjects.
He produced the instrument (abacus) by which
arithmetic is taught in all the schools of China, and
stated that a Chinese youth after a month's instruc-
tion is far more competent to apply all the rules of
arithmetic to the business of life than a learner
on our plans of instruction would be after the teach-
ings of years. It was suggested in the committee
that the use in all our elementary schools of the
abacus would greatly facilitate and popularise the
introduction of a decimal system of currency and
account.

FREAKS or LORD MORNINOTON. The Earl of '
Shaftesbury having, on moving the second reading of the
Juvenile Mendicancy Bill in the House of Lords, made a
quotation from a decree of Lord Chancellor Eldon, which
the Earl of Mornington considers offensive and slanderous
to him, the last named peer, on Saturday last, sent a long
letter to Lord Shaftesbury, inviting his lordship " either to
explain and retract the offensive remarks with which you
introduced my name in your speech on the sth instant, or
to say whether you will give me that alternative that I am
entitled to, end which I trust that you will not refuse."
To this warlike missive the Earl of Shaftesbury returned
on Monday the following reply :--- "My Lord—l
have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of •
letter from your lordship dated the 9th of this
month. In m epeeeh in the House of Lords I simply
quoted a juftment of Lord Eldon's—a law case,
published in a law book. This I had a right to do, whether
so parliament or out of it, and every one has the same right. I
Your lordship is good enough to send me what is technically
called' a challenge.' I refer you, for a reply to this and ;
any future communication, either to the police magistrate "
in Bow-street or to my solicitors, Messrs. Nicoll, Smyth,
and Burnett, 18, Carey-street, Lincoln's-inn. Your obe-
dient servant, Suarrzenttax. The Earl of Mornington."
—The Earl of Mornington yesterday despatched • ' lag
word," of which the following is the cream :—" Your r•-
fuzing me either to a ' police magistrate' of Bow-street co
your solicitors, is but adding to your original insult, and is I
very absurdly impertinent. Thus. I must consider you ea
neither having the good feeling to explain the unfounded
imputation, made in the louse of Lords, you have passed
upon me, or the spirit to meet what you have yourself pro-
voked in the manner which regulates the conduct of gen-
tlemen. Your obedient servtuat, Mouxinotost. The Eul
of Shaftesbury."
CITY OF LONDON TRADESMEN'S CLUB.—The
annual dinner of this club, which is one of a convivial 'ha-
rector, was held last night at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-
street. The chair was occupied by Sir John Key, the newly
elected Chamberlain, who took an opportunity of thanking
the meeting for the kind assistance he had received on a
recent occasion. The lit alth of Sir John was enthusiasti-
cally received, and the evening was spent in mutual good
humour.
LIEUTENANT TICRELL, RN., has been appointed
Admiralty agent on the Southampton station.

in t Court.

The Duchess of Kent visited the Queen and Prince
Albert yesterday at Bud Ingham Palace.
The Earl of Aberdeen had an audience of her Majesty
yesterday.

The Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, and
attended by the lion. Eleanor Stanley, took a drive in an
open landau and four yesterday afternoon. The Equerries
in Waiting, Colonel Bouverie and Lieut.-Colonel the Ron.
A. Gordon, were in attendance on horseback.

The Marquis d'Azeglio, Sardinian Minister, transacted
business yesterday at the Foreign-dike.
A deputation from Sheffield, consisting of Mr. Isaac
Ironside, from the Board of Highways fur the Township
of Sheffield; Mr. William Wood, from the Board of High-
ways for the Township of Brightside, Bierlow ; and Mr.
George litnisden, from the Board of Highways for the
Township of Nether-Hallam, had an interview with
Viscount Palmerston yesterday. The deputation was in-
troduced by Mr. G. Hadfield, M.P. for Sheffield.
The Earl of Shaftesbury and Governor Bark:y bad an
interview with the Duke of Newcastle yesterday, at the
Colonial-office. Lord William Douglas had also an inter-
view with the noble duke yesterday.
Despatches from the Governor of the Gold Coast, and
also from the Governor of the Fa:kland Islands, were re-
ceived yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Despatches were sent off last evening from the Colonial-
office fur the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope and the
Mauritius.

Mr. Bnckstone is to take his benefit to-■fight, the close
of the reason, at the Haymarket Theatre, when he is to ad-
dreis the audience as to his future intentions.

LITERATURE AND ART.
CONVERSAZIONE AT THE MANSION HOUSE.

Yesterday evening, the whole of the magnificent
state apartments at the Mansion-house were thrown open
to the congregated representatives of literature and art in
the great metropolis. The Egyptian Hall was profusely deco-
rated with valuable paintings, amongst which we noticed
Mediae's fine picture " The Spirit of Justice," which, by
the way, would form an excellent permanent decoration
fur the justice room, and one of Linnet's finest efforts, both
contributed by Messrs. Lloyd's., Ludgate-hill. Another
great attraction was a small cabinet picture by G. Cruik-
shank, illustrating an incident in Dickens' Life of Gri-
maldi ; and, in addition there were Staafield's last plc-
tare, Roberts' " Destruction of Jerusalem," and some
choice specimens of lsabey, the celebrated French painter.
Amongst the marbles, • bust of the Duke of Wel-
lington, taken after death, by Adams, attracted gene-
ral notice. The upper rooms were filled with
educational and scientific models and apparatus, and were
constantly filled with curious and admiring spectators.
The band of the Coldstream Guards were in attendance,
and played a selection of popular airs during the eveniag,
and in the orchestra of the Egyptian-hall were a party of
vocalists, under the direction of Mr. R. G. Wesley, who
diversified the entertainment by singing some of the opera-
tic cAefs cream. As will be seen by the list subjoined the
company comprised some of the best names in fashion,
literature, and art, and was so numerous that the circula-
tion was with difficulty preserved. Amongst the more dis-
tinguished guests were the Duchess of Sutherland and the
Duke of Argyll, the Bishops of Salisbury and St. David's,
several of the legal dignitaries, and the musical composer
Spohr, who remained until the close of the conversazione.
The refreshments were abundant and in great variety,
and the most assiduous attentions were paid by the Lord
Mayor and Lady Mayoral to their numerous and distin-
guished guests. It was computed that not less than two
thousand persons were present, amongst whom were observ-
able a linger number of foreigners than we have before
seen on similar occasions. We subjoin a list of the general
company.

Lord Justice Knight Bruce, Lord Justice Turner, Vice-
Chancellor Stuart, Vice-Chancellor Page Wood, Right
Hon. C. P. Villiers, Sir John Boileau, Bart., the Prussian
Ambassador, the Belgian Ambassador, Countess Dowager
of Glasgow, Colonel Sykes, Captain Beauclerc, the Hon.
A. Kiunaird, Alderman Farncomb, Alderman Sidney,
Alderman Wilson, Alderman Hunter, Mr. J. G. Barclay,
Mr. Joseph Tritton, Mr. J. C. Hoare, Mr. J. W. Boson-
quer, Mr. C. E. Fuller, Sir Charles Price, Bart., Mr. S.
Olding, Mr. T. S. Cox, Mr. R. T. Thorburn, Mr. Anthony
Ridley, Mr. Grote. Members of Parliament: Sir James
Anderson, Right Hon. M. T. Baines, John Ball, Esq.,
W. B. Beaumont, Esq., T. A. Bellew, Esq., R.
M. Bid-
dulph, Esq., W. Biggs, Esq , John Brady, Esq., H. Brown,
Eq., William Brown, Esq., C. S. Butler, Erq., W. J.
Chopin. E-q., John Cheetham, Esq., John Cobbett, Eq.,
R. P. Collier, Esq., Charles Cowan, E.q., E. H. J Cran-
ford, Esq., Joseph Crook, Esq., Frank Crossley, Esq., Sir
George Dashwood, Bart., Edward Diver, Esq., A. M.
Dunlop, Eq., Hon. J. E. Elliot, John Esmonde,
Esq Joseph Joseph Ferguson, Esq., Richard Gardner, Esq.,
J. flume, Eq., Wm. Hutt, Esq., Robert Ingham, Eq.,
' Tristram Kennedy, Esq., James Kershaw, Esq., Hon.
A,thur Kinnaird, William Kirk, Esq., Samuel Laing, Esq.,
W. U. Gore Langton, Esq., Captain Lefferts, A. H. Layard,
Esq., Pryse Loveden, Es Robert Lowe, Esq., James
Nl•Cann, Esq., W. A. q.
Mackinnon, Esq., Dr. Michell, Robt.
Milligan, Esq. Antony O'Flaherty, Esq., Francis Pigott,
Esq., James Pilkington, Esq., Sir Robert Price, Bart.,
Henry Rich, Esq., F. W. Russell, Esq., James Sadleir,
Eq., C. B. Graves Smile, Esq., Vincent Scully, Eq., J. B.
Smith, Esq., Sir George Strickland, Ban., Hon. E. Strutt,
George Thompson, Esq., George Tomlin, Esq., C. I. K.
Tynte, Esq.. W. P. Urquhart, Eq., Edward Warner, Esq.,
William Wells, Eq A. Wilkinson. Esl; Mama-
duke Wyvill, Eq., Dasiolt.Wall. Esq.. Jas. " il"a• Esq.
Literary and artistic: Mr. Harrison Ainsworth, Mr. W. irr.
Ayrton, Mr. Gilbert a'Beekett, Mr. Auldjo, Rev. T. Ma-
rkey, Sir Charles Barry, R. ' Rev. G. Bubier, Mr. Francis
Bennoch, Mr. E. H. Baily,Dr.Bowring, Mr. Edgar Bowriug,
Dr. Bernays, Dr. W. Beattie, Mr. Jacob Bell, Mr. John Bell,
Sir Henry Bishop, Dr. Boetticher, Rev. J. Brewer, Rev.
Dr. Biber, Rev. Dr. Booth, Mr. J. P. Collier, Henry Cole,
Esq., C.B. Mr. Harry Chester, Mr. Parton Cooper, Mr.
Robert Climbers, Mr. Bolton Corney, Mr. H. V. Chorley,
Professor Creasy, Mr. C. W. Cope, R.A., Mr. T. Creswielt,
It A., Mr. F. S. Cooper, A.R.A., Mr. and Mrs. Cruikshank,
Mr. Chalon, R.A., Mr. Edward Copping, Mr. Samuel
Cousins, Mr. Peter Cunningham, Mr. A. Cooper, R.A.,
Mr. and Mrs. Chauncy, Mr. Coupon, Mr. Crossland, Mr.
and Mrs. Cowden Clarke, Mr. James Dafforne, Mr. and
Miss Donne, Mr. Charles Dance, Mr. Doo, Sir J. F. Davis,
Mons. Octave Delopierre, Messrs. Jno., G., It., and T. B.
Dalsiel, Warren De la Rae, Esq., Mr. Diamond, Mr. Joseph
Durham, Sir F. Dwarris, Sir C. Eutlake, P.R.A., Mr.Eagle-
ton, Mr. Elmore, Effendi Risk Allott, Dr. Ellionson, Mr. Egg,
Rev. W. Elliott, Mr. Wm. Ellis, Mr. G. Windsor Earl, Herr
Ferdinand Freiligrath, Major French, Dr. Forbes, Miss
Fox, Dr. A. Fans, Mr. James Fellow's, Professor Forbes,
Mr. Feirholt, Professor Faraday, Mr. Foablanque, Mr.
Foley, A.R A., Mr. Frost, A.R.A., Le Neve Foster, Mr.
Owilt, Miss Grafton, Mr. Charles Gilpin, Mr. George
Godwin, Mr. T. C. A. Grattan, Sir Edward and Lady
Gooch, Mr. Gould, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Hullah, Mr. J. A.
Kenai, Rev. T. H. Horne, Sir George Head, Mr. Row-
land Hill, Mr. Hardwick, R.A., Mr. Hollins, A.R.A., Dr.
Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Hailstone,
Mr. Hope, Mr. W. J. Hamilton, Mr. Hill, Dr. Henry,
Mr. and Mrs. Hindley, Rev. Dr. Hamilton, Mr. Hart,
R.A., Mr. F. Knight Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. T. K. Hervey,
Mr. Thomas Hodgskin, Mr. J. Heaps, Mr. Edward
Hughes, Mr. Commissioner Hill, Mr. Edward Hall, Mn.
and Miss Hewitt, Capt. Boseawen Ibbotson, Mr. Owen
Jones, Mr. Jerdan, Mr. J. P. Knight, Mr. Charles Knight,
Dr. and Mrs. Kinkel, Mr. Robert Knox, Mrs.
and Mies Loudon, Mr. Cornwall Lewis, Mr. Chas.
Landseer, A.R., John Leighton,un., Sir Chas. Lemon,
Mr. W. Longman, Mr. Lockhart, lir. R. J. Lane, Mr. and
Mrs. Lovell, Dr. Lankester, Mr Westland Marston, Mr.
Horace Mayhew, Col. More, Mr. R. W. Macauley, Dr.
DlPCauley, Rev. J. M'Cauley, Mr. Mowbray Morris, Mr.
Marshall, A.R.A, Sir Frederick Madden, Mr. D. Masson,
Mr. Moron, Mr. John Martin, Mr. Mien, Mr. M'Dowell,
R.A., Mr. Monti, Herr Moeller, Mr. M'Colloch, Rev. Dr.
Moore, Mr. Mulready, R.A., Mr. Martin, Mr. and Mrs.
Theodore Martin, Mr. Mldahon, Miss Muloek, Sir Den-
ham Honeys, Mr. J. A. Novello, Captain Owen, WE., Rev.
0. Owen, Mr. William Owen, Mr. John Penford, Mr.
Pickersgill, R.A, Mr. Pickeragill, jun., Mr. Frederick
Pollock, Mr. T. Pettigrew, Dr. Price, rr Charles Paley,
Dr. Phillimore, Dr. Paris, Sir Thomas Phillips, Mr. Poole,
A.R.A, Mr. George Patten, Mr. Proctor, Mr. W. H.
Pepys, Miss Pardo', Mr. David Roberts, 8.A., Sir W. C.
Ross, R.A., the Rev. E. Rudge, Mears. Airington, Mr.
Re, Mr. Raymond, Mr. J. K. Robinson, Mr. J. Ewing
Ritchie, Right Hon. Edward Ryan, Mr. Redgrave, R.A.,
Mr. Rothwell, Dr. Rank., Dr. Haase, Rev. William
Scott, Sir J. P. Shattleworth. Bart., Dr. Stebbing,
Mr. Salmon, Mr. Stanfield, HA., Mr. Savage, Mr. C. M.
Smith, Mr. George Scharf', jun., Miss Strickland, Miss
Sinclair, Colonel and Mrs. Starr, U.S., Dr. Siegfried, Dr.
Sibson, Dr. S. Smith, Dr. Saville, Major Stones, Mr. J. A.
St. John, Mr. Horace B. St. Jobs, Dr. Tod, Mr. Tupper,
Mr. Trernenbeere, Dr. Travers Twits, Mr. W. Thome, Mr.
Merton A. Thorns, Mr. W. Tcoke, Mr. E. Turner,
A.E.R.A., Mr. Tite, Mr. Thrupp, Mr. William Tweedie,
Rev. G. E. Tate, Dr. Tidman, Mr. G. E. H. Vernon, Mr.
Virtue, Mr. Vans, Captain Vetch, Mr. W. White, Sir
Gardner Wilkinson, Mr. Thomas Watts, Mr. Digby Wyatt,
Mr. Witherington, R.A., Mr. Week's, A.R.A., the Rev.
Dr. Wilson, Colonel Walton and Madame and Miss Le
Vat, U. S., Sir Charles Young.

CANCER HOSFITAL.—The King of Hanover, prior
to his departure from this country, forwarded, through
Count Kielmansegge, • handesme donation in aid of the
funds of this hospital. For the same purpose, Sir H. It.
Hoare, Bart., has, within these few days, traiumitted •
donation of 1001. A legacy of 2001. has been received from
the executors of the late Mrs. Macqurbton, of Knights•
bridge, and also a donation Crum John lirriug, Esq.
TAE ORDNANCE SURVEY STAFF are at present
engaged making minute and elaborate surveys of Clsobbam
for future military purposes. The survey embraces 200
square acre..