The Express.
London, England, 1848-07-03 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, JULY 3, 1848.

The prizes awarded to students on that aide of the coUege
were : the mathematical scholarship at the B.A. degree to
Mr. R. Baldwin Hayward ; the matriculation exhibition in
mathematics, to Mr. J. E. Routh; the gold medal at tbe:
M.A. degree of 1847, to Mr. J. Todbunter ; at which time
two M.A. degrees, out of a total of three, fell to that college.
The gold medal t the M.A. degree for philosophy in 1848
had just been bestowed en a lamer student, Mr. W. Bag-
shot. A donation of 5,0001. was acknowledged from all
anonymous benefactor, who stipulated that the prineipa
should remain entire, and that the name of Andrews should
be attached to the fund. The list of prizemen was then an•
nouneed, which was as follows :
Prizemen—Flaherty scholar (in classics), 551. a year, for four /Per;
Mr. J. 11. Taylor, of Manchester. Latin—Senior Ist prise, T. Hodg-
kin, of Tottenham; 2nd, W. A. Dash/shire of Manchester; junior
It-
ilialtrialstre7l iturreentitionrioirET.rrli,iT2rlttilt,Lioriai" Newmarket;
led, J. C. Again, of Youlmire, Cambridge ; junior Ist prize, J. Z.
Laurence ; 2nd W. Ilerbert, of Nottingham. Hebrew—Prize, A.
Bennet- English—lot prize, P. M. Martineau, of Tulsa ; 2nd,
A. Arlie, of London. French—Senior prize, J. Tharnicy, of Liver-
pool; junior, F... 1. Evans, of Stoke Newington. German—Senior prim.
Z. Merrier, jun., of Tottenham ; ionise price, R. Spurrett, of liannorY.
Comparative grammar prise, W. T. Mathison, of Brighton. Ilistary—
lat prize, T. Hodgkin; 2nd, J. 11. Forckan, or Melbourn. Philosophy
of Mind and logic-Ist prize, T. Hillier; led. J. Sloan, of
Mathematics—Extra ender prise, E. L Routh, of London; higher
senior pnze, W. Wets ,n, of London; lower senior prim, IL. Coed, of
Valparaino higher junior prize, J. Savage, at London; lower Junior
prize, E.W. Tarn, of Leaden. Natural Philosophy--Senior pi its, E. J.
Itadb ; jonlor prise, It. Canal. kepi rimental-Ist prize, E. W.
Tani ; 2nd prize (equal), T. Fox, of Falmouth; E. C. Howard, of
Stockport; C. Gillett, of Banbury. Architecture—Fine Art., second
year Ist prize, J. Norton, of London ; 2nd, J. 0. 1141, o Hemp-
edenee—in prier, C. Poland, of London;lnd J. fO. non.
Fine Arts, Ist year —let prize,
E. W. Tarn ; 2nd, I'. Hill, of London.
&lean-Ist prize, T. still; 2nd, E. W. Tan. Civil Engineering—
lat year prize 0. B. Smith, of London ; rn If. Blockore, of Lon-
don. ng—Prixe, J. Young, of Llhithare. Drawing-Ist Prise,
J. James, of London; Ind, E. W. Tarn. Botany—Junior sliver medal,
J. Z. Lawrence. Zoology—liver medal, W. H. Flower, of sitindfool-
on-Avon. Geology—Price, It. Cornell, of London. Law—let course
prise, E. 8. Ashton, of Dar win; 2nd course, Ist prize, E. S. Ashton;
2nd prize, F. J. Williams, of London; 3rd course, let prize, E. S.
Ashton; 2nd prize, F. J. Withrow, S. Y. Bolton, equal
His lordship having distributed the prizes to the successful
competitors addressed some observations to the assembly.
He commenced by expressing the pleasure which it gave
him, as an old mathematician—he believed the oldest alive—
to see the increase of students in that useful and sublime
study. The students had increased nearly in the same pro-
portion to law, the importance of which as a branch of
knowledge to all classes of the community he pointed out.
Alluding to the good conduct observed by the students he
said he wished to modify an unfavourable opinion with re-
gard to the students of Paris which he had expreved when
he last addressed them—a marked improvement having
been manifested in their conduct during the late
dreadful scenes which had cccurred in Paris. H.
had a remark to mai.) to the junior classes in the Greek
and Latin. In studying the history of Greece and
Rome the mind was apt to gain a tendency in favour of
republican principles. Now as metaphysical students ad-
vancing in their science soon got rid of the doubts which
were apt in the first place to arise with regard to the exist-
ence of matter, so Greek and Latin scholars in trying to
make themselves acquainted with political science, would
make very slow pro rem indeed, and display very little
either of science or sense if they did not soon get themselves
reclaimed from such dangerous theories. After a few more
observations, pointing out the benefits of the institutions of
this country as compared with the insecure position of af-
fairs in France, his lordship left the chair, and the proceed-
inge terminated.
'fits OXFORD COMMEMORATION.—The approach-
ing commemoration promises (says our Oxford cones•
imondent) to produce a great influx of company to this seat
of learning. Indeed, already immense numbers have ar-
rived. The various trains on Saturday were loaded with
visitors. The half-past four o'clock train was in such great
requisition at Paddington, that a second engine wee
attached to it. The preparations at the various colleges and
halls for receiving the visitors of the respective members are
on an extensive scale. Yesterday morning the various
churches of the city were attended by large congregations,
more particularly those that were used for the advocacy a
local charities. We subjoin a programme of the arranger
menta for the rest of the festival :
stosisev.-1 his day Nuneharn-park and Blenheim will be sources
of attraction. In the evening the procession of hoots on the Ins, and
a grand hall at the Town 11411.
TrISOST.—The annual sermon at St. Mary'
a, in aid of the Radcliffe
infirmary, by the Lord Bishop of Hertford. At 4 o'clock the per-
formance of the oratorio, " The Creation," in the theatre. Principal
vocalists Mies Birch, Miss Emma Lacombe, Miss Lackey, Mr.
Millis., Mr. t.ockey, and Mr. Benson.
Wont [SHAT.—The commemoration of founders will be celebrated
in the theatre; the conferring honorary degrees: and the delivery
of the Chancellor 'sand Sir Roger Newdegateie Prize Essays and Poems.
—At the special request of his Genre the Archbishop of Canterbury, it
will be proposed to confer the honorary degree of D.C.L. on Ales.
Bcreeford Hope, Eriq., In consideration of his munificent donation of
65,0001. for the establishment of a mlisiosiary college at Canterbury.
Sonic hesLation was felt in consequence of Mr. jlope's former con-
nection with the Romanislag party in the church ; but it is stated that
the gift has been without reserve, and the Minutes of the college ap-
proved by the present primate. 'the Right Hon. W. Gladstone,
M., is also mentioned as about to receive the honour of an hono-
rary degree; as also the Earl of liarrowby, lair Oeo. Arthur,
M. Guizot, and other distinguished personages.—Tho third ex-
hibition of the Royal Horticultural Society, in Worcester College
Gardena—Mr. Omen will ascend in his magnificent Royal Victoria
balloon, from Mr. Syinonels's close, near Woreeriter College—At four
o'clock, in the theatre, there will he a splendid miscellaneous concert;
the principal vocalist. being—Madame Tadolini, Madame Sckwarts,
Signor Labiache, Mr. Simms Reeve., Mr. Luckey, Sc., Sec.
Tneasnae.—The performance of the " Messiah," in the theatre, at
eleven o'clock; the solo parts nuitained by the tame performers as in
the "Creation."—The commemoration will conclude with a grand
tai 1, in the Town Hall, in rho evening.
EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH -WESTERN RAIL-
WAY TO WATERLOO•NRIDOE. ^ DELAY IN THE °PBX-
ING.—The South Western Railway is the only one of the
main trunk lines that has literally lodged itself in
London. This has been accomplished in shout two
years, at immense cost and labour. The City or suburban
pessenger may shortly take the train at Waterloo-bridge,
and be wafted away, without the intervention of either cab,
omnibus, or steam-hoar, to Windsor, Richmond, or South-
ampton Water," without break of gauge," or any such impe-
diment, from the very centre of the metropolis. As the event
is one of the first of its kind, it may perhaps be not uninterest-
log to observe that this extension IS about the only one out
of 19 or 20 candidates that came before the Metropolitan
Railway Commission, appointed in 1846 for inquiring into
the expediency of establishing termini in the vicinity of the
metropolis, that was not tabooed by the commission, and it
then very naturally stood its ground as a scheme of practical
utility, as interfering less with crowded thoroughfares,
and as less destructive of property, than any other
that was then propounded. Tree extent of room at
the Waterloo station is at present five acres, but the
company have purchased ground to the extent of 12 acres, so
as to provide for their own future accommodation, and that
of the South Eastern, the Brighton and South Coast, or any
other line that may ultimately join them. The whole of the
land from Nine Elms to Waterloo-bridge has cost 500,0001.,
and the total sum for the construction of the entire extension
is estimated at about 2,000,0001. The present booking-
°feces and waiting-rooms are only temporary, but the sheds,
engine-houses, and other appurtenances, are permanent.
No increase in the company's staff, consequent on the exten-
sion, will be required, the whole process being merely tanta-
mount to removing, bodily, the colony of officers and handi-
craftsmen from Nine Elms to Waterloo-bridge, the goods
business remaining undisturbed, by the river. One great
advantage to be derived from the present extension,
will be the avoidance of the notoriously obnoxious
tolls to Nine Elms station Get r the bridges; and it is
calculated that to passengers travelling by the South-
Western this alone will be a saving of some thousands per
annum. As a general principle, the trains will leave the
Waterloo station at the rime time as they have been accus-
tomed to leave the Nine Elms, while the relative distances
and time occupied will be materially reduced.—Abridged
from the Railway Chronicle.—lt had been arrangi d to
open this extension on Saturday; but, after it had been in-
spected by Captain Laffan, the government inspector, he
decided that delay was necessary, the junction with the old
line was not perfected, and the points or switches were not,
in his opinion, in such working order as to ensure safety to
passing trains. The solidity of the iron-girder bridge over
the Westminster-road has also to be tested by weights and
other experiments before passenger-trains can be permitted
to cross it. Should these experiments prove satisfactory, the
new line will, it is expected, open about the 10th inst.
THE POTATO DISEASE.—Several statements have
reached us (Gardeners' Chronicle), announcing the re-ap-
pearance of the potato disease ; we have certain knowledge
of its presence in the open ground in the neighbourhood of
Ashford, and in Sussex ; and tainted specimens are now be-
fore us from Lord Oranmore's estate in Mayo, and from
Yorkshire—the latter in asp bad a state as any we saw in
1815 or 1846. Our own imression was, first it had either
disappeared or ceased to be of any consequence for the
present.
GOODS LENT ON HIRE.—Sir,-1 fully concur in
your remarks in this day's Express, upon the necessity
of greater facilities than now exist for recovering goods lent
on hire, &c. ; but the inference you draw at the end of the
article,that in the caseof such goods being illegally made away
with the owner can take no more stringent step than a civil
action against the perpretrator of the crime, is erroneous. The
law is that the owner has a remedy by action of troveragainst
the purchaser or pawner of such goods, and it is laid down
be the late Lord Tenterden in the case of " Laeschinan v.
Mackin," reported in Markle, V. 2, p. 311," that item= buy
goods, or take them in pledge, and they turn out to be the
property of another, the owner has a right to take-them out
of the hands of a purchaser," and " it is incumlient on the
purchaser to see that the vender has a good title. The act
2 &'3 Vic., c. 71, section 27, toils° empowers magis-
trates of the metropolitan district to order restitution of
goods stolen or unlawfully obtained, or which being lawfully
obtained shall be unlawfully deposited, pawned, pledged,
sold, or exchanged. Illegally pawning, too, is an offence by
statute, punishable by imprisonment.—Ate ATTORNEY.—
July 1.
GERMANS AND SCLAYONIANB.--Sir,--liaying read
in yesterday's fapress the two different reports from
Prague, allow me, for impartiality's sake, to remark that,
although it may be true that Mr. Weiss turns out not to
have been crucified, there is still no doubt that the Selavo-
nians committed other barbarous cruelties, and that I cannot
well understand the logic of the argument that, because the
been
impeached persons are all noblemen, the conspiracy
got up merely to excuse Windischgratz's bombardment of
has
Prague. I think that the noble conduct of this old veteran,
far from needing any excuse, will reap the praise of the
whole civilised world, for he fought for order against anarchy ;
he killed in the bud the monster of a cruel civil war, and
protected the peaceable German race against their Selavonian
oppressor. Those who know the countries where the two
races are mixed up together, will agree with me that the ob-
ject before us admits of no argument ; they know the high
degree of civilisation of the German settlers and the brutality
of the Sclavonians ; they know that the former have acquired
wealth and position in society by their industrious habits and
soisrtety, whilst the latter lose on Sundays, by intoxications
what they Pin in gig mine of the week; that that %hie eery

superiority of the Germans is the aouroe of the intense hatred
et the Selavonians towards them. The history of the past
and the present speaks in favour of my assertions. Of the
put I need only remind you that the war of the Hussite'
had for one of its main motives the most burning hatred to-
wards the Germans; and of the present, that the Bohe-
mians were indiscreet enough to insult the Germans in
Vienna Itself, and that in Prague it was dangerous, nay, is-
poesi.ile, for the Germans to wear their national colours. Put
this in one scale, end in the other the peaceful declarations
of the Germane in their parliament at Frankfort, and their
docile behaviour in Bohemia, and the bJlance will com-
pletely turn in their favour—A MoRAvtAN.
A SCOICH DESCRIPTION OP LONDON DIRT.—We
Scotsmen never visit London without greatly companion-
ntiog the state of the nation who dwell therein ; for not only
is London ten times over the dirtiest place we ever set foot
in, but it is a town which, apparently from the beLumbing
effect of bad habit, has lost the wish to be clean. In London
dirt is a privilege and a pooeseion. It is patriotism to protect
and defend dirt. What hope, of course, can there be that
London will ever live cleanly, whether with or without an
abjuration of sack ? Truly we regard the abject state of the
metropolitan millions with the sincerest pity. Some large
towns have dirty corners, or even districts; but to rank any
of them with omnifetid London is the grossest injustice.—
Chambers' Edinburgh Journal.
LAUNCH OP THE "MARS" LINE-OP-BATTLE SHIP.
—Since the memorable launch of the Trafalgar at Wool-
wich no similar ceremony has excited so much attention
amongst the members of the naval service as the launching
of the Mars on Saturday. She was the last ship-of the-line
designed by Sir W. Symonds, the late Surveyor of the Navy.
Her keel was laid down in 1840, and her dimensions are of
the following extent: length of gun-deck, 190 feet; extreme
breadth, 56 -feet 91 inches; depth of hold, 22 feet 4 inches;
burden in tons, 2,256; pierced for 82 guns. Ample woos.
modetion had been made by the authorities for the elite
a the visitors, the majority of whom had arrived from
London in the course of the morning. Galleries were
en cted from the base of the dock up to the main-deck of the
Mars, beautifully ornamented with Bags and flowers. The
band of the Royal Marines was stationed on the larboard
side of the ship, and that of the Royal Dock battalion on the
opposite. Shortly after 12 o'clock the Lords of the Admiralty
arrived at the yard, accompanied by a party of ladies, Their
I ardabips were escorted to a pavilion exited on a 'evil with
the tiers of seats abreast of the bow, and apparently were
much interested in the build of this gigantic vessel. At 20
minutes to one o'clock high water was announced. Sir
Thomas Bdurchier was then seen leading Miss Hood, the
grand daughter of the late gallant Capt. Alexander Hood, to
the b- wof the vessel. The lady dashed the bottle against
the ship, and proclaimed the name "Man." The next
moment the huge vessel was moving, and the united bands
playing " Rule Britannia," she majestically glided into the
Medway. After the ceremony, the Lords of the Admiralty.
with the elite of the company, repaired to the captain-super-
intendent's residence, and partook of a sumptuous dtjeiner.
Amongst the important personages present were M. Guizot,
Mr. Bancroft (the American minister), Count de J ranee,
Capt. and Miss Bien, Capt. and Miss Charlotte Berkeley,
Sir Thomas and Lady Thompson, and upwards of 100 officers
and ladies connected with the garrison. There could not
have bees less than 30,000 pen ins in the yard and on the
shores.
INQUEST, SATURDAY.—SUICIDE IN QUEEN CHAR-
Lorrn'n LYINO-IN HOSPITAL.—By Mr. Mills, in Queen
Charlotte's Lying-in Hospital, on Anne Fetcham, aged 23, I
deceased, who was safely delivered of a child • few dep.
previously. As the nurse was giving her some tea last
Wednesday she pulled aside the bedclothes and exposed a
wound on her throat, which she bad inflicted with a small
penknife. At first deceased regretted she had not effected
her ebyi ct, but afterwards repented the act. She died next
day, and shortly before her death complained of having been
ill-treated by some person. Verdict—" Deceased destroyed
herself, but there was no evidence of her slate of mind at
the time she committed suicide."

THE STAMP DUTY ON NEWSPAPERS.

BY A LANCASHIRE MAN.
There is no maxim in financial politics less open to
controversy than this,—that all taxes should be levied in
such a manner ea to press least heavily upon those who have
the smal'est mean ; yet there is no maxim leas reg. rded in
practice. If a man can only afford to purchase black tea at
3s. 6.1. per pound he pays the same amount to the govern
meat that he would have to pay if he could afford Its. per
pound. It a man lives in a house having a small number of
windows, he pays considerably more per window than he
would if he lived in some such princely mansion as Chats- '
worth or Clamber; and, to come to our immediate object,
if a man can only purchase cheap newspapers, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer takes care to dip as deeply into his pocket
as if he was able to pay the highest price that respectability
chooses to demand. Apart from the injustice of this mode of
raising the revenue we will endeavour to show that policy
dictates a eitferent course ; and if we can prove that a reduc-
tion in the newspaper stamp will not only add to the reve-
nue, but elm afford greater facilities for circulating the
better descriptions of literature, and thus give an impetus to
popular improvement, there will be no excuse left for main-
taining the present unjust, unequal, and exclusive system.
It is well known to government oflieials, as well as to
private traders, that high roles of taxation or profit do not
produce the greatest aggregates, but on the contrary it has fie
quently happened that a reduction of the rate has resulted in
a considerable increase in the total receipts, showing that the
principle of " small profits and quick returns" s es well
worthy the attention of • government as an individual. A
graduated scale of stamp duty, amounting to one-sixth of the
selling price of newspapers, would not only augment con
, siderably the number of London dailies and increase the cir-
' culation of those already in existence, but it would, doubt-
, less, cause to spring up daily papers in most of the large
towns in England and Scotland, where the utmost frequency
of publication is three times • week, and where altogether
' there are not half-a-dozen that reach twice • week.
Why should not Manchester, Birmingham, LeedP, Bristol,
Norwich, and other places, have their sheets of news every
I morning as well as London ? The only reason is the stamp will
not permit them. They may have unwieldy sheets, and
double sheets that take a week to read on • Saturday morn-
ing, but the law is so constructed as virtually to forbid the
I division of these literary leviathans into sections to be served-
up at shorter intervals ; and the consequence is, when they
do appear they contain more than the most voracious literary
appetite can consume. Taking it for granted, then, that
daily papers in the large town. would shortly follow the
adoption of the course we have indicated, let us see how the
secondary and smaller towns would be affected by the
I change. In Lancashire .lore we have no hesitation in
' saying that at least a dozen town. would have a weekly
stamped paper the; now depend entirely upon Manchester,
because the penny cannot be afforded upon a low-priced
sheet without an enormous circulation, suth as cannot be
commanded but in very populous districts. Attempts have
been made in some of the Lancashire and Yorkshire towns
to establish small papers giving • record of local occurrences
and such little essays and attempts at poetry as the talent of
the locality produced ; but the lengthy interval of a
month prescribed by the Stamp Act for all unstamped
inure containing news has effectually prevented most of
these attempts from succetding as well as they might have
done if a farthing stamp on each copy had permitted them
to appear weekly. Here, then, is a large field, from which
the government might reap • considerable harvest, and af-
ford increased facilities for the diffusion of information
amongst the people. From our own intimate knowledge of
the facts of the case we are warranted in asserting that there
is scarcely • town with 15,000 or 20,000 inhabitants that I
would be without its newspaper ; and as people will purchase
and read (or spell, as the miss may be) • paper published
in their own town, when they would not think of looking at
a paper from a distance, it seems • perfectly reasonable con-
clusi,n that the number of readers would be indefinitely
augmented. Perhaps it may be argued that the inferior
literature thus offered to the people would harm them, and
also prevent papers conducted with great talent from exer-
cising their due share of influence over the public mind. Of
Course we are prepared to admit that the new papers we are
anticipating would not be conducted with so much talent as
the leading journals are at present; but let usillustrate this point by reference to • topic of
kindred importance. A few weeks ago we were
on • visit to an artist, a friend of ours. On looking
round his studio we observed several of those beautifully
coloured French prints that have lately become so common.
" Do not these," we asked of our host, " injure your busi-
ness? are they not frequently purchased as cheap substitutes
(or paintings?" " No," said he; "itis a common notion,
even amongst painters, that these beautiful prints injure us;
but I believe they ere • great benefit to us, fur as the
humble cottager begins to discover the unsigttliness
of his blue and yellow parrots, and replaces them with
Hiltons, Shakspeares, yrons, or Jenny Linde, pur-
chased from some wandering Italian, so the admirers
of these prints are led onward and upward in their ap-
preciation of the productions of the artist, until they are
satisfied with nothing short of the highest excellence. While I
the common woodcut is awaicening a taste in three who had I
it not, the highest efforts of the burin are merely samples of
artistic lessons which lead the admirers of graceful forms and
ideal beauties to appreciate the productions of the pencil and
the palette."
So is it with literature. There is • regular grada-
tion from the lowest to the highest, and although
there is much of which we disapprove per se, there
is little that we would annihilate—little that Is
not prefetable to an entire absence of a taste for reading.
But let us not for a moment be supposed to admit that the
alteration we propose would deteriorate the productions of
ess. Their number would be increased, their prim
lessened, and the present high-priced papers brought within
the reach of those classes who now see them only by chance; '
but we have not the slightest fear of the quality being worse
when we look over some of the penny monthlies published in
Ashton-under-Lyne, Oldham, ROCHdale, and other Lanca-
shiretowns. These papers are respectably conducted, written,
edited, by men employed during the. day I n. the
mill or the mine, and who occupy their leisure in giving
such instructions and amusements as their tastes or their
talents have rendered them masters of. The reform, there-
fore, which we propose, is one that would be followed by on-11
alloyed advantages—the revenue would be increased in the
first place, an item of no mean import in the eyes of the mere
money grabbing statesmen—ti better dele.nption of new,-
papers would take the place of the most in Brier ones, and
these inferior ones would descend to • class who have not
yet begun to read at all, and who in consequence attribute
even their immoralities to bad government. The 'dewy
talents of many would be called into requisition in • moderate
and beneficial manner, instead of, as is too frequently theme
at present, in hotheaded and insane incitements to riot sad
revolution. The cool-headed, calm, thinking men amongst
the working classes, would through the press be enabled to
occupy their true position as teachers of their more ignorant
mid impatient brethren, and not as now permit themselves
to be pushed aside by men whose only qualification for popu-
lar leadership is the otravirtla of their limp. It is a well,