The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-10 00:00:00

BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES.

A highly practical and interesting lecture of the
utility and advantages of these institutions, was delivered
by Witttax HAMM Esq , Deputy Chairman of the
Committee for promoting the establishment of Baths and
Wash-houses for the Labouring Classes, before a large au-
dience, at the National Schools, Stratford, on Friday even-
ing last. The meeting was presided over by William Cot-
ton, Esq., D.C.L. (formerly chairman of the Bank of Eng-
land), one of the earliest promoters of this important system
for the promotion of cleanliness and health, and the social
improvement of the people. At the conclusion of the ex-
position, which was illustrated with many skilful diagrams,
the worthy lecturer received the hearty congratulations of all
present upon the imminent success which bad attended the
labours of himself and his colleagues, and the meeting
were unanimous in an expression of their conviction that
much good would arise from the publication and general
circulation of the most able and popular lecture. Mr.
Hawes having kindly acceded to the request of the meet-
ing, resolutions were thereupon paced expressive of the
sentiments of the meeting on this important question, de-
ciding also to obtain the signatures of the ratepayers to a
memorial calling upon the churchwardens to convene a
meeting of the vestry without loss of time, for the special
purpose of determining whether the acts 9 and 10 Vic., a.
74, and 10 and 11 Vic. c. 61, should be adopted for the
parish of West Ham. A vote of thanks to the chairman
having been carried by acclamation, the meeting broke up.
Mr. Haley, C.E , the engineer to the committee, and Mr.
Woolcott, the secretary, were in attendance.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.—ConsiderabIe ex-
citement has prevailed in Oxford during the week in con-
sequence of the mysterious disappearance of a respectable
tradesman named Robert Coaling, who carried on the busi-
ness of butcher and publican at Fritwell, near Bicester, in
that county. It appears that Mr. Culling came to Oxford
on Friday, the 30th ult., with his horse and cart, and put
up at the Plough Inn, in the Corn Market, until halt-past
11 at night, when he left with his horse and cart, as it was
supposed, to return to Fritwell. Instead of doing so, he
drove to a public-house in St. Thomas's, called the Turk's
Head, where some militia men from Fritwell were billeted.
After staying there a short time, and having something to
drink, he lett with a soldier and two women, who accom-
panied him to the Packet public-house in George street.
His horse and cart were there put up for the night, and
Cooling, who was very tipsy, treated the party with gin
and water, after which they all left the house together.
As returned to the Packet about two o'clock on Saturday
morning, when he wanted his horse and cart, but the land-
lord seeing the state he was in told him he could not have
them, but could have a bed there, which he refused, and
1 left, and has not been heard of since, although the town
has been searched and the canals and rivers have been
dragged. Mr. Couling has left a wife and seven children,
1 all of whom are in great distress at being kept in such ana-
-1 pense as to his fete.
SINGULAR DEATIL—On Monday last, an inquest
was held in this town, on the body of a young men named
Henry Steele, aged 2,5 years, muter of the National School,
Cottenham, Yorkshire. The deceased had been recently
married, and during the school vacation had come with his
wife to Birmingham to visit his friends. 'While in this
town his wife was taken ill of fever, and after a short ill-
ness expired. This had such an effect upon the unhappy
man's mind, that on the 19th of September, he attempted
to commit suicide by cutting his throat with a razor, about
12 o'clock at night in his bed-room, while his brother was
in bed, but the wound was very slight. After this he
swallowed a tooth-brush, the noise of which in his gullet
awakened his brother, whom he told what he bad done,
and that I.e had swallowed the tooth-brush. His brother
got the neighbours to his assistance, and the unhappy man
became so violent that it took five men to hold him. On
the following day he was removed to the lunatic as; lum,
where in a few days after his mind became more becalmed,
but he was suffering from dysentery on his admission to the
asylum, and notwithstanding all that Mr. Green, the medical
superintendent, could do for him, he expired on the 30th of
September. After death the tooth-brush was found in his
Birrnyi7Ehmaorrui Jtor
ELECTION.—Mr. /.
stomach. Verdict—" Died by the visitation of God."—
Peter Dixon, can-
didate for :Tynemouth, having recently lost his sister by
death, it is reported, in consequence of his bereavemen, the
hon. gentleman will retire from the contest, and it is ex-
pected Mr. W. S. Lindsay will be elected without opposi-
um—Newcastle Chronicle.