The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-18 00:00:00

' 18, 1847.

that the Reform Act when it 141bonPussab wu was
which was considered aceeptableir "nol
the bill which the people should have 4
°":"1:led,•In 1'341
„.h2II
en as to deprive theta oft rely noxitn", qu"litits.
he Memel( had endeavoured to eltentre the `ah""'
and though
his bill had passed the House of Commons, it We. thrown
out by the House of Lords; or, ge it was called, the hospital
Of incurables. He had made did, tame attempt emblequentlyi
but was equally unsaacesatai, U. hoprd, however, that the
bill which Mr. Dancombe intended to Introduce for the pur-
pose of repealing the eat'-paying clauses, would be attended
with sums as. The brio. and ..!sllant gentletean concluded by
showing how oppressive were hhe ratepaying clauses of the
Reform Act, by the power which they gave to the parochial I
authorities to refuse the rightiof regiatering.--Mr. rearms, I
O'Connor also supported the resolution, which was unions- I
mously carried.—A petition to parliament, founded on the
above resolution, was then read to the meeting, and, being
unanimously approved of, was committed to the care of Mr.
Duncombe, fur presentation to the House of Commons.—
Mr. Dencombe having addressed the meeting, stating the
satisfaction he would feel in presenting the petition, and
coodeouning the rate-paying clauses as unconstitutional and
vexatious, a deputation was appointed to wait on Lord J.
Russell, to impress upon him the necessity of having them
repealed, after which the meeting dissolved.

SOIREE OF THE WHITTINGTON Cum.—The founda-
tion of the Whittington Club was celebrated last evening,
by a gathering of the members and tneir friend., at the
London Tavern. The room was so full that many could not
gain admission. The choir was occupied by Douglas Jer-
rold, Esq., the president and founder o( the club, round
whom were congregated on the platform a large number of
distinguished individuals, including laclik. Mr. Jerrold
opened the proceedings in a pithy address, which was
received with enthusiasm. He adverted to the intellectual
progress of the people, which an institution like the
present would encourage; and dwelt eslecially on the
necessity fur union of purpose in carrying out its objects.
He then described the Objects of the club, ind the advan-
tages which would be enjoyed by its membv-a reading,
conversation, &c. Mr. Jerrold concluded Li prophesying
the highest and most beneficial results from the institution,
both in our own, and in times to come.—Addresses were
then delivered by Dr. Mellinger, Mr. Dawson, Dr. &wring,
and other gentlemen, the entertainment being further sup-
ported by distinguished vocalists, among whom were Mi.s
Itainforth, Mi.c Banana, Miss ?dement, and Mr. Wetherbee.
A new song. written and composed for the occasion, was
warmly applauded.—Mr. William Howitt proposed a vote of
thanks to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr. Nash.
—Mr. Jerrold briefly returned thanks ; after which a large
proportioned the party dispersed, the remainder staying to
partake of various amusements, of which dancing was the
principal feature.

- -
ANTI-SLAVERY LEAGUE. A public meeting of
this association was held yesterday at the Hall of Commerce,
Threadneedle-street, D. W. Wire, Esq., in the chair, on the
subject of American slavery. The chairman, in opening the
business, said that the meeting was convened for the purpose
of interesting the public of this country in behalf of the
slave of the United States. The question was an important
one, and commended itself to the sympathies and best wishes
of every Englishman. (Hear, hear.) He trusted the meet-
ing would listen attentively to the statements which would
be laid before it by the delegates who were to address the
audience. The chairman then called upon Mr. 11. Smith,
the sectetary of the league, who dwelt upon the relation
which England sustained towards the United States. He
showed the influence which this country exerted upon the
public of the American Union, by reference to the constant
tutereoune--eoeial, commercial, and religious—which is
maintained. He then referred to the influence of the

elaveholders in all departments of activity, to prove
that the politics and religion of the nation were
overridden by the pro-slavery spirit. The constitution of
the United States gave to every slavehelder three votes for
every five slaves, which were to him, in every other respect,
only what the sheep and cattle were to the resident in the
north. Thus, if a slaveholder held one thousand slaves, he
exerted the influence of tit hundred and one freemen in the
north. Mr. Smith concluded with a powerful appeal to the
justice, humanity, and religion of the British community.—
Mr. Frederick Douglas (recently an American slave) then
addressed the meeting in an eloquent and powerful speech.
He remarked, in the course of his observations, that the
slave was reduced to the condition of a chattel by the laws of
the United States. The elaveholder possessed irresponsible
power; all the rights of the slave were stricken down at a
blow, and the whole of the union was involved in the guilt;
for'every man in it was bound by an oath to contribute his
wealth and physical power, and the whole of the army and
navy was at any moment liable to be called upon,
to crush the slave into obedience should he dare to as-
sert his right to liberty. Irreligion and robbery were
the allies of each other. It was death in one of the states
for the second offence of teaching a negro child to read, and
there were 3,000,000 American slaves, all of whom were
prohibited from being taught to read the bible. The Bible
Society had circulated the Scriptures throughout the states,
but one-sixth part of the whole population was thus omitted.
These 3,000,000 of human beings were without human
rights, without marriage, the bible, ellpthe blessings of the
gospel. He concluded by calling on theilaiseting and Chris-
tians of all denominations to avow no fellowship with slave-
holders, a sentiment which was heartily responded to. The
chairman, in acknowledging a vote of thanks, commended
the Anti-Slavery League to the support of every one who
desired the extension of human happiness and the extinction
of human misery.

MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOClETY.—Yesterday,
the 13th, a general meeting of this society was held at the
King's Head Tavern; R. Godson, Esq., M.P., in the chair.
The report was read, from which it appeared that there had
been 159 proposals for new assurances, to the amount of
130,0001. The total number of policies issued up to the
31st of last December, was 1,224. The total amount at that
time in existence was 984. The capital sum assured under
these policies amounted to 688,388/. 150. ; and the annual
income of the society from assurance premiums alone was
23,5141. Ils. Ild. The capital of the society up to the same
date, consisting of money in the funds and sound securities,
amounted to 10.5,1281. Os. 3d., or nearly one-sixth of the
entire sum assured. The amount of claims occasioned by
the death of deceased members, was oonsiderahly
below the expected average, and very few members had
withdrawn. After an ample and cautions valuation of the
society's 'Willi in and assets, the directors were enabled to
declare a divisible surplus of 59,6851. Os. 3d., which was
equivalent to 7s. Bd. in every pound contributed to the funds
of the society. This surplus would enable the directors to
augment the sums originally assured to the members under'
their policies for the current year. In iv ply to la question from
a member, Mr. Hardy, the actuary of the society, said that
about eight years ago an option was given to any party to
apply the addition or bonus on his policy to the re-
duction of the annual premium, at intervals of not less
than seven years. In reply to another member, Mr. Hardy
said that only 44 deaths had occurred in the society, and that
the claims tbr these deaths amounted to 42,0001.—The
Chairman then addressed the meeting, and congratulated them
upon the prosperous cmdition of the society. He pointed
out, and illustrated in several ways, the benefits which the
assured would derive from the system adopted by the Mu-
tual Life Society, and said that the fact of there being onl
120,000 persons in the kingdom whose lives were as cared,
showed that there was something in the system formerly
adopted by assurance offices which discouraged people from
insuring in them. It was his intention to bring in a bill in
the House of Commons, to remedy certain defects which ex-
isted in the law as it stood at present with respect to sun-
rance.—The report was adopted, and ordered to be printed
and circulated, and the usual forms of voting thanks to the
directors, chairman, and officers of the society having been
duly observed, the meeting separated.
DESTITUTION OF THE SI'ITALFIELDS WEAVERS.—
On Tuesday night a meeting of the unemployed broad-
silk hand-loom weavers of Spitalfields and its vicinity was
held at the Crown and Anchor, Waterloo-town, Bettnel-
green, when the following memorial to her Majesty was
adopted :

vo ram 4CILF.X.B 113er

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The lomble Mel of the inempleyea WM silk bend-loom
names of nglisildna and its the meipluel Bilk
2,2"2,2 del‘l2_l6. 22d 22 visdmddly mere le e-
pees& pm2l
essmy, takes skfteasst d sir rem= li=mit
to whisk in how* am unt glaMen. Tar
haulm be vee, deremel mad= be akw dim, aging le dig
then:armee: :rod nod lasnimmdaraist
god sdiesb Ihsk eann
ad. lass Ma mud* is Me WM hi do sewhlerei id*
Are, rather Oda he an mph* Mee all the Mier des of
arms we mot ewdNda wtr mpoelist k bar heaboil. aid
the sidldisa trent** perads, modmi Mk* ea wider
every mein efldiallea and Mum ire sat* se, Mot add year
Mei* her hat enedhemsdik pert Orkin hd use that pop
Idol sad West wale be *gm be love Main um of
leer whfeseswisioselntag so meg L Test immeledits alsg.
wed,f4eaaestt diet pm Mem be hiselep
wlmane isad a
sar b empirints, dinar! with disk
impilikenrslas aid thst man die le
be
smr~teiehergosi j:
thve le that used pikes he Me they met te beaded, eat ow
etlaWa
=sTadrisowd7=7.MMTpelmir =Oh es In dab
bound, veto ewer pray."
A cossaidee was appointed to leave the esseiseisl with
Lord J. Remit for presentation to her Majesty.
THE IRISH PARTY AND THE PRESS.—The Irish
party have determined to exclude the representatives of the
press from their meetings, and have directed their secretary
to famish to one particular reporter an outline of their pro-
ceedings, who, on application, will give to the other reporters
an account of what transpires. Such is the substance of a
statement made yesterday by Mr. Godley, the secretary, to
a gentleman who attended from this °Moe. The public,
knowing the manner in which the reportsof the proceedings
of the Irish party are concocted, will rate those reports at
their proper value.—Son.
INQUEST, YESTERDAY.—SUICIDE IN A CAMTEE-
Eoree.—By adjournment, before Mr. Payne, at the Crown,
Lambeth-road, touching the death of John Davis, aged 90.
Toe deceased, on Wednesday last, hired a bed at the Shake.
'ware coffee-house, St. George's-sirens, and whilst there he
swallowed a quantity of oxalic acid, which destroyed his
life. A silk handkerchief, found round the throat of
deceased, showed that he had previously tried to strangle
himself. A letter, written by the deceased, was found in kis
pocket, in which he bade • fare well to this earth and all
contained."--John McCabe said that the deceased was •
boot-closer, and had resided for some time put at 14, Plough.
court, Fetter-lane. About a fortnight ranee a lad named
Atkinson had accused deemed of improper conduct tomes
his mother. That circumstance had prayed deeply an 11
mind, and on the 10th lost. he wrote a letter to kis Insert
at Bath, in which he dated that his panties in misty, add
also his character, had been blasted by a unlisieen mad un-
founded report, and that he could not bear up whist k any
longer; be was, therefore, determined to dielsy Ids own
hand, although he deeply regretted the ansiirspia.—The
jury haring consulted, they returned a verdict of " Topa
tau insanity.'

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Fen, IG.

There arc no accounts from the Galway'election on
which reliance can be placed to a later hoar than one
o'clock on yesterday. At that hour the numbers were
on yesterdiY's poll, Monahan, 123 ; 0171aherty, 118 ;
leaving a majority on the day's poll, at that hour, for
Mr. Monahan of 5, and a gross majority of 19. It was
not anticipated that the election would close before five
o'clock this evening; but the result of yesterday's
polling would decide the election. The constituency
would probably be then exhausted, leasing but the
gleanings of the field for this day. The Repealers,
notwithstanding the returns given above, are san-
guine of success; and 1 was assured, to-day, by the
near relative of a Young Ireland leader, that at two
o'clock yesterday the Repeal candidate had a majority
over the government officer. A ruse had been
played off in the course of the morning, which
probably contributed to this result. A rumour
was put in circulation that Lord John Russell
had positively resigned, that his administra-
tion was broken up, and consequently that Mr.
Monahan was no longer Solicitor-General for Ireland.
The falsehood was very ingeniously contrived. letters
were addressed to the several newspapers of Galway
purporting to come from the Messrs. Johnston, the
respectable news-agents, which letters contained
printed slips, stated to be copied from an express
edition of the Sun of Saturday night. I need hardly
say the name of Messrs. Johnston's firm was used
surreptitiously. They have offered a reward of 100/.
for the discovery of the forger.
Cork is the centre of destitution, and, in justice to
its press, the representatives of public opinion in that
quarter understand the value of constant repetition.
They robe everything in a dreary suit of sables ; every
village is a tigolino's dungeon ; and indeed it is sur-
prising how the population has continued to live an
long without absolute annihilation, when positive
statements declared a condition inconsistent with the
possible maintenance of human life. It is neverthe-
less impossible to under-estimate the universality and
intensity of the suffering. The Cork Examiner fur-
nishes a variety of correspondence, shaded, of course,
very strongly ; but there is sufficient truth in its
coloured pages to develops a misery still
increasing. In Coaehford, a village within
nine miles of the city, there were nine deaths
from starvation on Sunday, and an average of
three each day during the week. In one townland in
the same district, 700 are represented as starving out
of a population of 800. In Kanturk workhouse, built
to contain 800, there are 1,800 paupers; or 1,000 be-
yond the proper accommodation. In the workhouse
hospital there are 480 ; and in the fever-hospital,
built to contain only 74, there are 250 patients. The
physician says that " these patients were conveyed
from a distance of twelve Irish miles in cart-loads,"
and deposited or deserted by their friends in front of
the workhouse. He also states that on Saturday last
he found nine persons lying of fever in one email
mom, and all turning with horror from a tenth, who lay
dead among them, and remained unburied since Thurs-
day for want of a coffin; and yet in the district where
this fearful misery abounds there are many landlords,
six-and-twenty altogether, with incomes varying from
one hundred to one thousand a year, of these, it
appears, five subscribed to the relief fund—one the
proprietor of the town, Sir Edward Tierney, very
liberally—five argumentatirely—four polite but posi-
tive denials, and seventeen observed silence. In the
City of Cork the mortality is progressive. The desti-
tution in Dungarvan, in the county of Waterford, is
painted in fearful colours. " Every day is seen
issuing from the workhouse-gate the dead cart with
three, four, or five of its dead inmates. 'This day the
number of persons dead in the 24 hours were six.
In its gloomy dead-house, at this moment, may be
seen ten dead carcasses—nine inmates of the house,
and one man found lying dead on the road."
I informed your readers some days since that at a
meeting of the relief committees of Clare, Sir Lucius
O'Brien presiding, resolutions suggested by the state
of Ireland had been adopted. They urged Lord John
to open depots, and sell food therefrom—to buy seed
for the people, and to place them on their own lands
instead of the public works, paying them the while.
The following is Lord John's reply through his private
secretary, Mr. Keppel :
Lord John Russell directs me to state that the members of
her Majesty's government regard with the deepest sym-
pathy the sufferings endured by the people in the county of
Clare, as well as in other parts of Ireland, from the prevail-
ing scarcity; and although his lordship cannot give his
assent to some of the propositions contained in the resolu-
tions which you have forwarded, he driers me to assure you
that the anxious attention of her Majesty's government is
given to every measure which they consider calculated to
alleviate the distress.

SCOTLAND.
EDINBURGH, FEE. 16.

Amongst other provisions in the Reid bequest, an
annual concert was ordered—but, like most of the
arrangements of the munificent donor, the executors
carry out the design but tamely. At the outset the
concerts did not attract paying audiences, and then the
plan was conceived which has since been acted on, of
giving the tickets to the professors, to be by them
handed to their friends. This, of course, causes great
exclusiveness, and grumbling, loud and deep, par-
ticularly from the students, continues to be mani-
fested at the return of each concert. Certainly some
tickets should be set aside for students and the public,
gratuitous to the one, and monetary to the other.
And, seeing that the professors have behaved
so stingily as to the fitting up of the music
class-room, it would have been but a fair re-
compense for their liberality had their shoals of
tickets for the current year been somewhat reduced.
With laudable kindness, Professor Donaldson accom-
modated the girls of the Blind Asylum on the orches-
tra seats, and it were creditable to all concerned if
more of this spirit were exemplified. As to the
concert itself, some of the favoured hearers have
been shedding ink in the newspapers to its dispa-
ragement, apparently forgetting the proverb as to
how a gift animal should be criticised. Besides, is it
not impossible that Professor Donaldson may be re-
stricted in his concert expenses, especially if the
Senatus has the management of the purse strings.

RENIAIIKABLIS ESCAPIL—An Thursday last, while Mrs.
Hamilton Nisbett Fergusson, of Dirleton, was coming from
Archerfield to Edinburgh, in a carriage drawn by four horses,
shortly before reaching Gosford (the seat of the Earl of
Wemyss). one of the wheelers fell, and the coachman was
thrown off the seat. The leader being suddenly checked,
reared and threw the postilion. The horse that fell,
however, soon got on his feet again; and the four
spirited animals, now left to themselves, set off at
fall speed. They left the high road, leaped over
a hedge, three or four feet high, into a turnip-field,
where sheep were &lading, dragged the carriage
after them, and pressailed at a gallop across the field, tsll
feared by a labourer eizerheyed in the field. The animals
Van wheeled shoat, a reed time made a circuit, and a
Mind time von Persed, sad had commenced a third circuit,
Ines they est aimegled in the sheep-nets and were
anuesiL MIL Fuses's, daring all this trying scene, quietly
kept her neat is Ile esmiege, lowered the windows to avoid
the risk of *Ws hem the alma, and escaped without
the slightest him. The 1:011Choun and postilion fortu-
nately did ad esetain swim injury, but the four horses
wen much htP 04 ar. act the least remarkable circum-
stance is, that sot • match could be discovered upon
the carriage.—Edesberg Adoertieer.