The Express.
London, England, 1847-05-01 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 1, 1847.

Seth F.—Ens, J. leoloth to bo bout, erithost par., sloe Chopseas,
dee.; Ens. E. F. Vaster, tram 70th F. to MOM.
914 F.—ice boyar., without par.—R. Whale, rise MIS, tools. M
Ome Mounted linkmen ; E. J. 8. Rae, rice Lavers, prom. to Cape
Mounted Riflemen; '. A. Sounders, vice kitx-Geraid, prom. to Cope
Mounted inflame.. TO be mgt.—Staff Miry. me, Class J. Foam;
M.D.. rice Iladaway, who each.
94th F.—Major J. Paterson, from lhh F., to be major, roe Daven-
port, who each.
lUfle lisig.—See. land. r:- floarlaide to be tote Mut, without par.,
doe Glya, app. ani. A. NLcon to be sec. Ucut.; Lieut. J. id, layet to
be adj., dee Woodfield, wet
11,,srirst tir.r.—Surs. S. It ifsdeway, from 914 F., to be staff
sure. of see. Miss, rim F.rreat, who etch.
elasonutorm.—The Christian nonce of Ens. Somerset, 10th F., are
Alfred ilan...tagen net Frederick Charles.

APRIL 19. the Closes has been pleased to appoint Col. G. llama.
ton, llamado of Donegal, ti.C.11., Antrim Nutty to be one of her
Molnar. A.D.C., for the wrens, of her Mditla Force. Her Majesty
has been pleseed at the same time to direct that sold Marquis of
Donegal shall take rook se one of ant. cola. of Mail* komalionly
after j on. col. of b. Majesty's Fames.

ADMIRALTY, Aeon. 2L.
The following promotions have this day taken plea, !wet-sina
upon the death of Adm. M. Latium :—Adm. of the Blue t4tr C. Latina,
K.C.8., to be odm. of the white; Vice-ildm. of the Red the Hon. tir
T. B. Cupel, K CAS., to be adm. of the due; Vice-Adm. of the
White A. W. *bomber% to be viee-adm. of the red ; Vice-Adm. of the
Blue P. itibuulesu to be vionodra. of the white ; Re. Adm. of the
tied air C. Malcolm, Kat., to be vice-adm. of the blur ; Rea-Adm. of
the White Sir J. C. Coghill, Bert., to be mar-adm. of the red ; lkar-
Adm. of the Blue C. S. J. Hawing., to be rear-adin. of thew bite ;
Capt. Biz N.J. Willoughby; Kat., C. 8., K C.H., to be rear-atini.uf the
blue.

—Xeatt. Marinee—Ser).-Majs. 1. Christie, 0. Downer,
W. Cary, •r. Potts, L. Orme, to to see. heath

THE DAILY JEWS AND TDB TIMES.—The implicit
confidence which our brethren of the daily press place in the
accuracy of the Daily News is flattering. We cannot repay
the compliment better than by a c sndid avowal that we
sometimes commit mistakes in order to put them on their
guard. In the hurry of going to press on Thursday morning
we omitted to correct an error of transcription, by which we
made the meeting of the Pisani in Diet, to which the king's
reply to the ►ddress was read, meet at half-past eleven and
rise at a quarter past eleven. A translation of this reply
appeared exclusively in the Daily News. and was copied by
the Globe and notes, as usual, without acknowledgment.
In their implicit reliance on our infallibility they also copied
the blunder.—Daily News.

ANOTHER STEAMER DESTROYED BY FIRE.
The General Steam Navigation Company's steam-
ship Clarence, Capt. Laker, arrived at the company's wharf,
Poplar, yesterday afternoon, from Edinburgh, bringing in-
telligence of the loss of the Experiment steamabip, by fire,
on the same morning. It appears that about one o'clock yes-
terday morning, the Clarence, being abreast of Ala borough,
a boat hailed her, and told those on board that the Experi-
ment was ahead on fire. The Clarence immediately bore
down upon her, and, upon getting along-ide, the pa.ssengers
were found to be almost suffocated with smoke, which was
bursting forth in volumes from the burning vessel. They
were immediately taken on board the Clarence, which
vessel took the Experiment in tow, the captain and
crew remaining on board and exerting themselves to the
utmost with the pumps and all other means to save
their vessel. The Clarence kept her in tow till
about eight o'clock in the morning, at which time
they were off the Gundeet Sande. The flames were then
half. mast high, and the captain of the Es perimed hailed the
Clarence, and called her to send boats for the crew. The
captain and crew were then got on board, all further efforts
to save the Experiment being useless, and the was cast off
and loft to her fate. It is conjectured that she must have
burned for seven or eight hours after the Clarence left before
she went down. The passengers speak in eulogistic terms
of the energy and presence of mind of the captain of
the Experiment, in his attempts to save the vessel. She
was bound for London from Sunderland, and had on board
about SO persons, including the crew. lier cargo, which
consisted principallypf coals, of which there were 300 tons on
board, and a large quantity of plate glee', was insured
for 8,0001.
LONDON AND PROVINCIAL LAW ASSURANCE
Soctesrr,—The second annual general meeting of this so-
ciety was held yesterday at its temporary offices in New
Brioge-street. George Martin, E-q.. in the chair. The re-
port stated that there had been received on account of capital
up to Dec. 31 last, 35,4861. Oa. 3d., aloes received, 6721. 12a.,
total, 36,1521.125. 3d.; being, for deposits on 18,206 shares
at 54 , 4,5511. 10s. ; first instalment on 17,989 shares at 355.,
31,4601. 15.. ,• and f ir interest from the time appointed for
payment, 1201. 7s. 3d. In addition to the 18,46
120 have been lately allotted to applicants, making • total of
18,3/6, representing a capital of 9.6,3001. The whole num-
ber of shares applied for has been 10,661, but the director.,
with a view to the extension of the badness of the society,
by increasing the number of proprietors, have not allotted
the whole number of shares, and thus 1,674 remain to be
allotted to such parties as may be considered eligi-
ble. The report went on to Mate, that the num.
her of proposals for assurances has been 212, fur
sums amounting in the aggregate to 230,0381. 18e.
Of these, 160 have been approved of, and the
policies issued; 9 snore have been since accepted by the
board; 8 await its decision, and 35 have been declined or
withdrawn. The sums assured by the 160 policies amount
to 156,539/. 18s., and the annual premiums to 5,4181. 16s. fd.
No claim has yet been made on the funie of the society,
the whole of which arc invested upon government and other
unexceptionable securities. The proposals for policies
accepted do not, on the average, fall below 1,0001. each;
and it was observed that the mean rate of the simnel pre-
miums at which these contracts have been effected, prove
that encouragement has not been given to the acceptance of
risks of a speculative nature, or of liabilities involving more
than usual hazard. By the balance sheet, it appeared that
the entire receipts of the year, up to the 31st December,
1846, were 44,0721, 4s. 9d., which exceeded the expenditure
by 371. 135., leaving that balance in the secretary's hands.
The report gave general satisfaction, and was unanimously
adopted. The election of officers was next despatched;
thanks were voted to the chairman, directors, and general
officers of the company, and the meeting separated.
HOLBORN AND FINSBURY COMMISSION OF SEWERS.
—Tams HEALTH OF TOWNS BlLL.—Yesterday a quarterly
court was held at the office of the commission, Hatton-
cerden. Mr. F. Wigg presided. The commissioner
recommended that her Majesty's ministers be memo.
rialised to exempt the commissioners of that district
from the operation of the bill, and that it be referred to the
commissioners for general purposes, to communicate with
the government. The recommendation: was unanimously
adopted.
MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION POE THE
ADVANCIIMENT OF SCIENCII AT OXFORD.—The associa-
tion will hold its seventeenth meeting in this city on Tues-
day, June 22, and following days, when the proceedings
will be as follows :—The town-hall will be opened as a recep-
tion room on Tuesday, June 22, and during the session
for issuing tickets, supplying lists and prices of lodnings,
lists and addresses of members, and for giving information
concerning the proceedings of the sections, The first
general meeting will be held in the theatre, on Wedneeday,
June 23, at three o'clock, when the president, Sir Rode-
rick Murchison will open the business of the emaciation, and
resign the chair to the president-elect, Sir Robert Inelio,
M.P., who will then deliver an address on the objects end
proceedings of the association. The different sections will
assemble for the reading and discussion of reports and
other communications, on Thursday, June 24, at
eleven o'clock, a. m. ; and afterwards at the same
hour daily until the termination of the meetiag.
The section, are—A. Mathematics and Physics; meeting in
Randolph Gallery ; Rev. Professor Pow. 11, pm.; Rev. B.
Prier, see. B. Chemistry, &c.; meeting in Taylor Building ;
Rev. W. V. Harcourt, pm.; B. C. Brodie, tn., see. C.
Geology; meeting in Convocation House; Dean of West-
minster, pres. ; J. Raskin, Esq., sec. D. Natural History ;
meeting in Asbmoiean Museum; H. B. Strickland, Esq.,
pees. ; Dr. Melville, see. (Sub section). Ethnology k meet-
ing in Music School; Professor H. H. Wilson, pres_,.• Pro-
fessor Buckle/4 sec. E. Physiology, meeting in Writing
School; Dr. le, pres. • ' W. P. Ormerod, E.g., see. F.
Statistics ; meetanan Natural Philosophy Setlool Dr. Twins,
pm. ; Rev. W. IL Cox, sec. G. Mechanical Science, meet-
ing in Taylor Building; Rev. R. Walker, pees. Soirees will
be held in the Radcliffe Library; and it is expected that on
one evening Professor Faraday will lecture on his recent
researches in diamagnetism ; on another, Professor Powell,
on shooting stars; and on another, H. E. Strickland, Es+qq.
on the natural history of the dodo and other allied birds.,
One evening will be devoted to the exhibition of microscopic
objects and microscopes. Arrangements are being made for
providing breakfast and dinner ordinaries for members and
associates at the principal hotels. The concluding meeting
will be held in the theatre, on Wednesday, June 30, at three
o'clock, when the proceedings of the general committee, and
thefiranta of money sanctioned by it, will be stated.
TINCROF'T MINING COMPANY.—A general meeting
of proprietors was held yesterday at the offices of the com-
pany, 44, Finsbury-square. Mr. Hodge presided. The re-
port of the directors, with the reading of which the proceed-
imp were opened, announced the steady improvement of the
mine during the past year. Many circumstances had
prevented the payment of more than one dividend during
that period; but it was gratifying to the directors to state that
the outlay made had placed the mine in • mast efficient state
of working, and that the present returns and prospects were
such as promised the payment of future dividends with more
regularity. One item of the expenditure was for the nee-
don of an engine, and works for developing the Dwid lode,
which had not yet been wrought by the Ilnuott company,
but which was now one of the moat productive sources of re-
turn in the Cam Brea, into which the Tincroft sett extended.
Mr. Johnson, or.e of the directors, had several times visited
the mines in order to suggest improvements which are now
in epemtion, and of which an increased quantity and lees
expense would be the result. The total expenditure of the
company from October, 1846, to February, 1847, bided •
ing a dividend of 3,0001., was 16,7431.65. LL, and the returns,
including the balance of 3,2151. 10s. 6d. remaining from last
meeting, was 14.6611. 18e. 11d., which showed a balance
against the company of 2,0811. 7s. 2a. Further returns,
however, since February, amounting to 3,1291. 2s. Bd., left
a credit ;faience in favour of the comrizif 1,0471. 15s. 4d.
A discussion ensued, on the motion put for the adop-
tion of the report, with retard to •letter which bad
been received from the auditors of the accounts,
who did net consider that sufficient time had been
allowed for their arrangement. The result was the
unanimous adoption of a resolution adjourning the meet-
ing to the 2nd of Juno next, in order to give the auditors
time to examine and audit the accounts, and when.it was
desired that Capt. Paul, the manager of the mine, should be
present. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the
proceedings.
LONDON ORPHAN ASYLUM.—The annual festival
of the friends of this institution took place last evening at
the London Tavern. The Earl of Cleveland presided. The
Board of Managers, in their report, stated, that since the
orneral meeting at the commencement of 1846, 66 children,
haring completed their term, had left the institution, and

17 bed And. 63 bad takes their places; et that number, 10
bad him admitted sake mile 37, and 65 kr election. The
entire somber, therefore, under the protection of the Midi-
tattoo, was 374 ; thus raising the total number who had
received the benefit of the charity to 1,620. The board had
bean anxious to extend the usefulnese of the institution as
far as practicable, and they had therefore deemed It
mineable gradually to increase the number of ad-'
miisions as follows:—Is January, 1845, 25 candidates
were eteeted into the asylum, in June last, 30, and at the
lost election, 36. This arrangement the board had made,
notwithstanding the fact, that the subscriptions and dona-
tions of the past year were mach below the average, in the
hope that liberality on their part would be met with corre-
sponding generosity on the part of the public, especially as
applications to the charity era increasing every year. The
toaste of the evening, besides the usual loyal and patriotic
ones, included " Prosperity to the London Orphan Asylum"
(which was proposed by the chairman, and enthusiasti•
catty received); the health of the chairman, the president, and
rice-prondenta, the memben of the council ; and other+ of
the usual character, all of which were received with due
honours. The subscriptionsl amounted to 1,1521. Ile. (in-
cluding 101. annual) respectively from the Queen and the
Queen Dowager, 1061. frame Mr. Charles Fisher. and 501.
from the chairman. The vocalists lending their aid towards
the evening's amusement were Mist Thornton, Mr. Taylor,
Mr. C. Kenney, Mr. Binge, and Mr. P. Smith.
PROPOSED EMIGRATION OF PAUPER CHILDREN TO
AUSTRALlA.—Yesterday, at a very (Ay attended meeting
of the board of directors ,u 1 guardians of the poor of St.
Merylebone, h, Id in the boardroom of the workhouse, New-
road, Mr. Thorne, the secretary, read • communication from
Dr. Rutherford, a member of the vestry, calling uion thr '
board to avail themselves of the advantages now offered by
the government for sending out a number of the pauper
children to Australis and other parts of New South Wales
as agricultural servants. The communication stated that
the writer had had an interview with E irl Grey, the Colonial
Secretary, and that the eon rnmeut would take care that the
children were provided with good masters and properly
treated. It was proposed to take any number the board felt
disposed to send out. After a discussion, Mr. Potter moved
the appointment of a committee to obtain information, and
to put themselves in communication with Earl Grey, as
Secretary for the Colocies, on the subject.

REPORTED SUICIDE OF CAPTAIN DOWNY-S.—We
have received a communication from the friends of Captain
Downer, desiring us to contradict the supposition put forth
in a paragraph ',shirt' appeared in our paper on the 17th
ult., that the captain had wilfully thrown himself overboard
during a voyage from Yarmouth to London. The weather
was extremely squally when Captain Downes was missed
from the vessel, and it was t►e opinion of a naval officer that
the strongest landam in could not have kept his footing on
deck; while Capt. Downes was much enfeebled by • pre-
vious Pine's. No motive was known to exist to induce
suicide, for the captain had every reason to be satisfied with
his lot in life.

TIIE NEW HOUSE OF LORDS.—Mr. Barry, the
architect of this very beautiful building, has given a Sly but
very severe dig at the peers, for he has so constructed the
upper house that none of_the speeches of their lordships
are audible in any part of it. The peers can nei-
ther hear each other, nor hear themselves, nor
be heard by any one else; so that, according to Mr.
Barry's
.plan, a dehote has been treated as a thing to
which it is worth no one's while to listen. Considering what
a common habit it has been for several of their lordships to
talk at the some time, this new acoustic regulation will be
found very convenient, for they can all speak at once with-
oat disturbing each ether, or creating the manliest confusion.
—Punch.

INQUESTS, YESTERDAY.— DISEASED POTATOES.
By Mr. Mills, at the Elephant end Castle, opposite the St.
Pancras workhouse, on W. T. 1/errv, aged forty-four, a
coach-painter.—Deceased's widow stated that on last Friday
nialit her husband returned to his residence in Agar-town,
St. Paneres, very ill, and said that he had suffered intense
agony since he had eaten potatoes at his dinner in a dining-
home in Holborn. Although several medical gentlemen
were called on to attend him, he continued to endure the
most excruciating agony until Tuesday, when death put a
period to his sufferings—Mr. Pratt, surgeon, who attended
deceased, could not give his disease a norologieal name. In
his opinion deceased died of an effusion on the chest, and au
inflammation of the pleura. Verdict, "Natural death."
—A WORKHOUSE Pitesometroo.—By the same coroner,
at the same place, on Mary Read, aged sixty-four,
cook to the workhouse.7Tillio, one of the beadles,
stated that he was dining in the kitchen of the
workhouse lest Wednesday, when he entered into
conversation with deemed concerning the death of one of
the overseers, who was buried that day, of whom de cees.•d
said, that " He was gone, and would have to answer for
all." She had scarcely uttered the words when she fell to
the ground a corpse. Deceased, who was a great eater,
weighed 16 stone, sad measured three feet three quarters
across the chest. Verdict, "Natured death."—Desen or
A SAILOR PROM STARTATION.—Before Mr. Mille, in the
Royal Free Hospital, Gray's-inn-road, on Charles Stuart, a
mariner, aged 41. Elisabeth Starr, the infirmary nurse, de-
posed, that on last Friday the deco used, who was in a moat
filthy state, presented himself at the hospital for relief.
Having got a warm bath, he was put to bed, and bad sup-
plied to him proper nutriment, but his stomach was so weak,
he found the greatest difficulty in taking food. He stated
that he had not tested food for three dace, and that he had
not slept in a bed for weeks. Two documents were
found on his person, one of which was signed
by T. R. Bremer, commodore of her Majesty's ship
Wellesley, which stated that the deceased had been
captain of the mast of the Wellesley, bearing the coremo-
dore's broad pendant, that he served in her for five years in
China and the East Indies, and that he bad aright to a share
in the prize' and bates to which she was entitled. This
document was dated Jan. 14, 1847. The other document,
which bore the signature of Boatswain Seagrove, of H.M.S.
Groan, stated that the deceased served in H.M.S. Werspite
las an able-bodied seaman, and that he was a sober, well.
conducted man. Mr. Cooke, housesurgeon, deposed that,
when admitted, deceased was evidently suffering from star-
vation and exposure to cold. He had hopes of his recovery
until Monday night, when a body of policemen brought into
the ward where he lay a man whose limb had been frac-
tured. The sight had such an effect upon deceased, that he
instantly feinted, and never afterwards recovered the syn-
cope, but died the next morning. In his opinion deceased's
death was the result of previous starvation. Upon opening
the body after death, he found the internal organs quite
healthy, but could not trace a particleiof food in the stomach.
Verdict, "Deceased died from exhaustion, and the want of
the common necessaries of life."—Witrui Memos& OP
A CHlLD.—Before Mr. W. Carter, at the Tankerville Arms,
Carolinettreet, Lambeth, on the body of a female child,
fouud under the following circumstances:—Early on Tues-
day morning, as a lamplighter of the name of Bowen was
returning home through Carlislestreet, Marsh-gate, he die.
discovered a bundle lying in the fore court of the house No.
3.5, which, on opening, was found to contain the body of a
female child. Mr. Wagstaff, of Walcot place, Lambeth, sue.
gem, who bad opened the body, found the viscera of the
chest perfectly healthy, and the lungs inflated; they floated
in water. There was tome fluid blood in the heart, and the
umbilical, which was two feet long, having been cut, and not
tied, he inferred that the child had bred to death, as he
considered it had bees born alive, and a spoonful would be
sufficient in one so young. Tl'ere was very little blood in
the body. This being all the evidence, the jury returned a
verdict of " Wilful murder against some person or persons
unknown." The wrappers remain at the workhouse.—
ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER Or AN OMNIBUS DRIVER.—
Before Mr. W. Carter, at the Greyhound Inn, Dulwich, to
investigate the death of Samuel Jones, aged 29 years, an
omnibus driver, lately residing at Dulwich, who, it was
alleged, had died from the effects' of violence received in a
fight on Friday, the 23rd, briefly detailed in the following
evidence :—W. Cade proved, that on the afternoon of Friday
week the cleansed drew up his omnibus to the usual plying
place where he got down from the box, and went into the
Red 'Cap with a gentleman. Shortly afterwards witness
heard a disturbance, and, upon entering the place, saw the
deceased, in a stooping position, ever a man named David
Dow, the driver of another omnibus. The latter was in the
corner, lying on his back, as if he had been thrown there by
the deceased. While witness was speaking to them, a young
man, named Henry Mills, ran in, and seised the deceased,
whe steepled to be released, when they fell heavily to the
ground, the deceased being underneath. When they fell,
the knee of Mills premed on the groin of the de-
ceased's person. He did not seem to be injured, but
got on the omnibus, and drove towards the city.—
C. Copper, an maaibus driver, corroborated the testimony of
the last wanted, sad added that when the men fell to the
ground the head of the deceased struck against the wooden
partition of the bar. —D. Dow said that be was standing in
front of the baron the day of the affray, when the deerosed
said to wittier, " Do you recollect what you said to me the
other day ?" and immediately began kicking him; and if it
had not been for timely aid he would have been killed.—Mr.
E. Ray, surgeon, of Dulwich, deposed that be was called to
see the deceased on Saturday last at his residence. He was
suffering from fever ; be likewise showed symptoms of
approaching delirium tremens. His opinon was that his
state arose from exposure to the cold in his occupation.
There were strong symptoms of active inflammation existing
in various parts of his body. He continued to sink gradually,
and died at twelve o'clock on Monday night. Witness made
a post mortem examination of the body and found that loth
had arisen from severe inflammation of the left toe, by which
the pus, or matter, arising therefrom had been absorbed into
the system, ending in death. There was no appearance of
violence, and the other parts of the body were in a good Mate
of health. The deceased never made any complaint of the
conduct of any one. The jury immediately agreed to a
verdict of " Natural death."

INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS.
NEW MODE FOR SUPPRESSING THE DANGER
CAUSED BY CASUALTIES CM RAILWAYS. —The newly.
formed inititation of meshmthal engineers usembled at
Binniseha, ea at Wednesday eweidas,J.C. M'Connell, Em.,
is Ms *sir. The math' was resded by the chi Is of
the lassessekw dapelmams of wises railways, and by the
saysthommisats of sumsrom sailsthring emtblidthata in
all pets d tar Isaatry. lirowthss wow as" sikeittsd, bat
no eansepamisst lhoodihed by ths oserstmy with a
notice et the pooesdiap, d wYei is solidamt is so out-
line :—A gager was mod, sappembe impsommests to be
applied leiallway esnalmms, for the payer el messing the
deism Mending wollidens. The fammter i Ns. C.
Moshe% of Birmephem. Hares sot Ow& ths Mike
Pudwfasi bf of Mains am in id maim,
and the mem the writer sf Ihs pope males es
feet that the span wow ht assmea us me Weida
to reset wise the tosireibe earth's' to tea sae
towards ssellare, sad to Moss We shooks resshais there-
from ; that to a erase admit they ham that sink bat ia
rams of mil ties, tram ems abssevietthe earthess els ask
tend to roe 'maims:dm mother h grater lbw the MIMS

spring buffers are adapted to resist. In • •übecquent
part of it the paper sets twit that the iraprovemeuts
are intended to preserve the passenger and other car-
riages of a train from the first violence of a collision, anti to
transfer the shock either to the tend, r and the engine in the
.front, or she to a strong luggage-van Whine, which should
invarlaNg form the hinder ends of every train. To
effect each traasfer of the shock, it is proposed to apply be-
smith all the length of the body of each pn.sengcr and other
earrings of every train an infletible unyielding rod, which
is tueatd " a safety buffer ; " it may be made of
wrought iron, and it may be a tube plugged
with wood. It is to be supported in suitable bear-
lag sockets beneath the framework of the carriage,
at the middle of the br.adlh thereof, and left
tooth in those sookets further then by a slight t}ing to the
carriage by a cord or chain, which will break easily, and
permit an endway motion of the safety buffer in its rockets,
in case of collision. The safety buffer terminates at each end
with an enlarged had, like the se of ordinary buffers, and
the heads of these of each carriage correspond to the like
heads of the safety buffer of the preceding and following car-
riages. When the usual coupling links are 'crewed up, to
bring the ordinary buffer hemis of the several carriages into
elastic *Detect one with soother, as is usual, there will be
vacant space between the surety buffer head of each carriage
and that of the next adjacent carriage, varying from three
to six inches, more or less according to circumstances, and
the safety buffers will nut have any effect or operation in
the ordinary course of travelling, but only in the case of a
collision. 'the safety buffers in the van at the hinder end
of the train, and in the tender at the front end, ore net to
extend throughout the whole length of those carriages, ani
need not have any endway motion, but may be firmly
fastened to the frame-work of thus • carriages, or they may
be applied against strong elliptical springs, placed end to
end for expending some of the force cf the collision. The
von is to be lower than the passeneer and other carriages in
order that its centres of gravity may he nearer to the level of
the rails. The van at the hinder end of the train is to have
its ordinary buffers, with easy 3 ielding spring., which with
the same force applied to them, will allow those buffers to
move through • much greater spare in respect to the van
thou the ordinary buffers of the carriage of the train, so
that in case of a collision from behind, the ordinary
buffers of the Tan being so yielding, they will not act with
iamb force agaiust the cerrt•epon•ling buffers of the hind-
most carriage of the train. Another passage in the paper
set, forth that the coupling iron, or cou•ectingliak, which is
applied between the hindmost earrieee of the train and the
van is to be vostructed sufficiently slight, that it will break
ed in case of • collision, at the foremast cud of the train, and
allow the van to to come disconnected. Finally, it is sug-

;tested that, t• by means of the safety buffers • COmmonicii-
tion is established between the lan at the hiider end of the
train and the tender of the foremost end, from a direct trans-
mission of the chief force of violent shocks along all the
length of the several carriages, without materially affecting
them, fur thej will be pron. cted from so much of the
force of such shocks of collision as is thus trans-
mitted by the salety-buffers, when they become conjoined.
For instance, the ease of a collision taking place at the fore-
most end of the train, the motion of the engine and tender
being thereby suddenly stopped, the tendency of the hind-
most van to continue its own onward motion, in-teed of act-
ing with collision on the carriages of the train, will be
resisted by the safety-buffers of the several carriages of the
train ; as soon us those satetyibuffees become esnjoined with
one continuous length of int!, able and unyielding rod. and
the motion of the hindmost van being suddenly
stopped, by the resistance of such a long conti-
nuation of the several safety-buffers, • recoiling
action will instantly succeed, and will (according
to the degree of force thereof) cause the hindmost van to re-
bound. When inch rebounding takes place with any mode-
rate degu e of force, it will operate to pull back the last of
the carriages of the train, and will operate so instantaneously
alter the collision as to have an advantageous tendeney for
holding beck, and stopping the rimaining motion of the
carriages of the train ; for, in consequence of the elasticity of
their present ordinary buffer-springs, by which their motion
will be stopped, those carriages will not stop so soon as the
engine and tender will be stopped by a collision, nor will
they be stopped so suddenly as the hindmost von will
be stopped by the aid of the above improvements ; and that
in cue of any violent collision, when the rebounding and re-
sisting of the van would be violent, then it would be better
that it should break away from its connexion with the last
of the carriages, which it will do, by breaking the coupling
iron, if the same is made slight in the manner beforeimen-
tioned." _ _

A considerable diseession took place with reference to
the plans suggested in the foregoing, and in which Al r. M'Con-
nell (chairman) and others took part; ultimately it was agreed
to adjourn it until the next meeting. Amodel of an invention
for disconnecting speedily the carriages from the engine in
eases of accident, was produced by Mr. Johnson, of the loco-
motive department of the Manchester and Leeds Railway.
The mode was, by placing a self.acting disconnecting coup-
ling chain between the tender and the luggage van, so that
in the event of the engine running off the rails, it could
be immediately disengaged (rota the train. The inventor
acid he had had a working model twelvemonths in operation,
and it was found to answer all the purposes required. All
the speakers on the subject agreed as to the utility
of the invention, and the matter was adjourned for future
consideration, and to allow time f.r the collection of infor-
mation on the subject. A model of a railway axle was next
produced by Mr. H. Besemere, of London. A paper was
also read from Mr. F. Knight, mechanical engineer, of Bir-
mingham, suggesting an ingenious plan for au improvem.nt
in the affixing and construction of the breaks of railway car.
risges. The cen.ideration of these matters was also ad.
jounced. This institution promises to become exceedingly
usefuL It has been established under the moat favourable
auspices. Mr. Robert Stephenson has accepted the intim of
president, end haa given 1001. towards its funds.