The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-15 00:00:00

FINANCIAL AND
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

MEETING IN THE CITY.
A meeting of gentlemen connected with the south-
eastern wards of the City was held at the Bum: Hall on
Menday evening, May 14, W. J. HALL, Esq., in the chair.
It was resolved that it is desirable to form a district sex cia.
tine, uniting the ward wards of the south-rest of the City,
Aldgate, Langbourn, and Lime-street, Porttokin, the Tower,
and Billinpgate, upon the principles of the Metropolitan,
Financial and Parliamentary Reform Association.—Mr. H.
Person, who attended as a representative of the central aro-
sigh's, was requested to communicate this resolution to
the several wards more at large,. and summon a general
resitting for Monday nut, with a new to organising the luso-
.

- -
ROYAL SOCIETY F
FRO OR
/4 THE PROTECTION
OF LIFE FIRE.

Yesterday, the Inniverrary meeting of this institu-
tion was held in the council chamber of the Guildhall, which
was very much crowded on the occasion, the auditory con-
sisting chiefly of ladles.
The LORD MAYOR prodded.
The annual report, which contained a minute statement of
the proceedings of the conducton empbyed by the society at
the various fires attended, was read. The committee
expressed regret that, notwithstanding the frequent proofs
given of the public benefit accruing from fire escape stations,
they were unable, from want of sufficient funds to carry out
the original design contemplated by the society,vis., to have sta-
ting; through the whole of London within about half smile of
each other, and each attended by a conductor. The utility of
the present system, imperfect as it necessarily was, was at-
tested by the fact that altheush the number of fires had in-
creased, the number of deaths in consequence of fires lad
considerably decreased. In the 15 months ending March
1845 the stations were increased from 8 to 11, the number
of fires attended was 116, and the lives laved 13. In 1846
the stations were increased to 16, the fires attended were
98, and the lives saved 7. In 1847 the stations amounted
to 21; in 1849 to 25 ; and in 1849 to 26 ; and the number
of fires attended, and of lives saved in these three years
respectively was-139, 197, and 223. and 11, 17, and 31.
The expenditure in 1849 was .1,9991. 6s. 2d., which amount
was received in subscriptions and donations, of which 1001.
was contributed by the Corporation of the City of London.
The expenses of conducting the society were 1981. 19e.
and the remainder, with the exception of a balanee oa band
of 751.75. 9d., was expended for carrying out ita immediate

objects.
The report having been adopted,
The LORD MAYOR presented the fire-escape con-
ductors, police attestable', and other individusis who had dis-
tinguished themselv-s by their intrepidity, promptitude, or
persevering exertion in saving human life from fire during
year, with the prices awarded to them by the society. The
silver medal of the society and a sovereign each were pre-
sented to Conductor Chapman, in the society's service, and
to William Trafford, pollee constable 344. The silver
medal alone to police constable Smith, 240 0, and to Con-
ductor Wilson. The society's testimonial, accompanied by a
sovereign was presented to John Riches, Conductor Sun-
shine, end Conductor Chapman. The following person
were awarded testimonials and half a soweign sash, for
active sad judicious exertions at several fires, In consequence
of which meny lives were saved:—City Pollee Constable
Russell, 69 ; Conductors Chapatis, Wood, Low, Clamant;
Smith, and Police-sergeants Fowler, 115, end Wood, R 18.
His lortblip elm presented the society's silver model to
Anne Cullen, a young woman under 18 years of age, for
her heroic and praiseworthy conduct at the fire at 112,
Gray'. inn-lase on the night of the 30th Nov. when, at
great personal risk he iruceeeded in saving two littliaildren
of Mrs. Powell, one of the inmates.
Mr. Sheriff FINNIB moved, and Mr. H. PAZWILL
seconded, a resolution, in whi* the benevolent wen ap-
pealed to, to furnish funds for the estakdieimasnt of four
additional stations for fire emotes and mid* wm also
adopted. A committee was then *misted fir the ease*
year, and thanks having been given is the lawartay ease»
of the institntios, and to the Lord Mayer for lie madam is
the chair, the proceedings terminated.
Subsequently to the meeting, the various kinds of ire-
mopes built for the society were exhibited in the pert-
yard of the Oundhall, and their utility practioally demon-
strated by the conductors.

WESTMINSTER
CIATIO FREN.EHOLD LAND
WESTMINSTER

Yesterday evening at 7 o'clock a meeting of elec-
tors of the city at Wesurdnster and the entity of-Xiddleees
Was held at the York Hotel, Upper Wellington-street,
Strand, "for the purpose of forming the Westminster Frs
hold Land Aosociatiou, ant to enable its membete to
acquire freehold land to roan the franshise in
Kiddies.: and the other oosatiss." Xr. Cox In the *hair.
Xr. G. RUGGETT said that is the mum of the last
twelve months some of the WA* TOSCOMISO of the sity of
Westminster had bees in colessaaleation with him, being
desirous to assist in the heiniViou of a gosiety by which to
suable its members to obtain the heashim2 end thus to ex-
tend the reform interest in the mat, Xiddieou and the
adjoining counties. The recent astablishiamt of associations
for a similar object In various parts of the washy bad led to
steps losing taken in the metropolis. He concluded by re-
fade; to the report of a messing in the Express of Nay
12, which was held at Cheltenham upon a similar subject.
Ifs. BETTS moved the fret :solution :—" That this meet-
ing resolve itself into a society, to be galled the Westminster