The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-05 00:00:00

.--------------,
of the metropolis attended throughout the night by well ex-
perienced conduCtors, and two more are now being manu-
factured, and when completed will be stationed at Kensing-
ton and,
at London-bridge. It was stated, that from experi-
Moe the committee were fully convinced of the necessity of
increasing the number of escapes, and of the inutility of lad-
ders and other machines, unless ttended by those who are
fully prepared, and have a perfect knowledge of their use
and management.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND.—.
A monthly council was held at the society's house in Han-
over-square, on Wednesday, last: present, the Earl of Er
Mont, president, in the chair. After the electin of rye .
non and ofsevesai members, Mr. 11t.yr6:suu Barker presented
to the co':dicil the report of the finance committee for the
month just ended, from which it appeared, that on the 30th
of November, the invested capital of the society stood at
7,0001. stock, with a current cash-balance of 1,3951. in the
hands of the bankers. This report, and the various recom-
mendations it contained, were unaaimously adopted and con-
firmed, Mr. Put
for the best essay on the St. John's Day Rye, to Mr. \V. P.
firmmittedee,
Taunton, of seheY'adlfirdisi.ca, Chairman
tbne
soofctiehteyopurirniszeloCfolmol-.
Pym having presented, on the part of the stewards of the
cattle-yard at Newcastle, a report on the various documents
Ashley, near Stockbridge, Hampshire. Mr.
referred to them by the council, Lord Portman brought for-
ward the three motions of which he had given notice at New-
' castle, on the undue fatting of animals intended for exhibition
at the society's country meetings, on the penalties to be in-
' flicted on parties who failed to send stock and implements
entered for exhibition, and on the means to be taken to pre-
vent fictitious biddinge at the sales by auction. An inter-
resting discussion ensued, on the two latter topics, as also
Sir Matthew Riclley's and Mr. Hillyard's suggestions in
reference respectively to the removal of animals from their
place in the show-yard, and the conditions of prizes to be
offered at Northampton, which were, on Lord Portman's
motion, unanimously referred for further consideration to
the General Northampton Committee, to be summoned on
the Thursday in the following week.—On the motion of Mr.
Shaw, seconded by Mr. Brandreth, a committee was ap-
pointed to report on the practicability of appropriating,
after the year 1847, a portion of the fund subscribed towards
the expenses of any country meeting to the purpose of local
prizes, to be competed for by such parties only as are i endent
within the particular district. —Some further business having
been transacted, the council adjourned to their weekly meet-
ing on the 9th instant.
Pt/OR MAN'S GUARDIAN SOCIETY.—A public meet-
ing was held at the Literary and Scientific Institution, John-
street, Fitzroy-square, last evening, for the purpose of
forming a St. Pancras auxiliary to the above society; the
chair was taken by the Rev. Mr. Stoddard.—Mr. Cochrane,
in moving the first resolution, descanted on the recent acts
of cruelty in the parishes of St. Marylebone and St. Pancras.
One of his statement& was to the effect that in the parish of
Marylebone, out-door relief was refused to paupers under 60
years of age. A recent instance, in proof of this, had come
under his own knowledge. A poor man, named Carter, who
had been a coachman, but had nearly lost his sight, applied
to the St. Marylebone workhouse for relief, and was refused,
on the ground that he was under 60 years of age. He then
wished to go into the house, but the guardian: would not
I even permit this unless be brought his wife and daughter
with him, who were capable of earning a scanty living, and
had not applied for parochial assistance. The poor man,
having made another unsuccessful attempt, committed sui-
cide. The speaker concluded by moving the following reso-
lution, which was unanimously adopted :
ufferings pr
That this meeting is of opinion that the s
onprivations
sow endured by the labouring populaon, and
oo the
prices of all kinds of provisions, must be greatly aggravated during
the present inclement winter season, and being thereby inev
compelled to seek that parochial relief to which, by law, they are
entitled, it is the bounden duty of all boards of guardians and
relieving officers (more especially as it is strictly enforced by the
Saviour of mankind), to dispense their relief kindly, readily, and
liberally, and in accordance with the Christian principles of the good
Samaritan, and not to make such relief to the necessitous and de-
serving, dependent en their abandoning their homes, and entering the
precincts of a cheerless and harshly regulated workhouse or union.
Mr. Ellis then moved, and Mr. Poynder seconded, the
following resolution, which was carried with acclamation :
That taking into consideration the frightful circumstances con-
nected with the death and destruction of two of the parishionere of
S. Pancras, named Mary Ann Jones and Joseph Woodward, this
meeting is of opinion that they are to be traced to the cruel manner in
which the suffering poor are treated by the parochial authorities;
that in the preceding tenses of death, the one from suicide from appre-
hended punishment within the 'shed' of the St. Pantras workhouseo,
the other from the want of the necessaries of life, this electing is f
opinion that murder has been committed, and that the parochial au-
thorities are morally responsible for the same ; and that the best pro-
tection the poor can have against future tyranny and oppression is in
the formation of a St. Patterns Poor Man's Guardian Society.
Other resolutions, embodying the objects or the meeting,
were passed, and a committee appointed to administer the
affairs of the district society, in connexion with the parent
institution.
REFRACTORY PAUPERS ST. PANCRAS.—At a numer-
ous meeting of the rate-payers of St. Pancras, held on Thurs-
day evening, it was resolved by a very large majority to re-
commend "to the directors of the poor of St. Pancras, to make
no distinction with regard to the rations given on Christmas
day to the poor in St. Pancras workhouse," the avowed
intention being to secure to the refractory, disorderly, and
dissolute paupers the same allowance./ food, including plum-
pudding, as is given on that day to the unfortunate poor.
The proposition was enthusiastically received, and all the
spirited encomiums of the speakers on the humanity of letting
all share alike in the enjoyments of christmas were enthu-
siastically cheered.
THE DEPUTY CORONER AND THE MARYLEBONE
Vesrar.—Yesterday a meeting of the board of directors
and guardians of the poor of St. Marylebone, was held in
the board-room of the workhouse, New-road. Sir J. Ha-
milton, Bart., having taken the chair, said that the board
had to consider the steps to be taken with regard to the
communication from the poor-law commissioners, in refe-
rence to the late inquest on Louisa Mordaunt. Mr. Michie
denied the right of the poor-law commissioners to interfere
in the matter at all. Ile would therefore move " That a
reply be sent to the poor-law commissioners, informing them
that the board disputed their power of such an interference,
and therefore could not accede to their request," which
resolution was carried; and Mr. Potter moved that "The
matter be referred to a committee to draw up an answer to
the poor law commissioners," which resolution was carried.
On a motion for calling a special meeting to investigate the
duties of the inspectors of the out-door poor,Mr.Mallalieu said
that Mr. Kitchener, the foreman of the jury, had told him
that the jury generally considered there was more blame
attached to the family of the Mordauntsthan to the parochial
officers, and he (the foreman) was much opposed to the
censure conveyed by the verdict, but had a most unruly
jury to contend with. The chairman thought the foreman
of the jury ought to have expressed these sentiments to the
coroner. Mr. Potter said he thought the term unruly could
not properly. apply to the jury ; on the contrary, they were
too subservient, in submitting to be made the tools of the
deputy coroner. Mr. Mills dictated the verdict in the case
of Louisa Mordaunt, as he had since done in the case of
Joseph Woodward, in St. Pancras. Moreover, he (Mr.
Mills) had not the decency to cover his verdict by permitting
the jury to write it, but had supplied it in his own hand-
writing. (Cries of " Shame.") After some further obser-
vations on the conduct of the deputy coroner, the motion
was carried and the board adjourned.
PARISH OF KENSINGTON. CENSURE ON THE
BOARD OF GUARDIANS.--Yesterday • meeting of the in-
habitant rate-payers of St. Mary Abbotts, Kensington, was
held in the vestry-room of the 014 Church, to ascertain the
amount necessary to be raised for the relief of the poor for
the ensuing half-year, being the first rate for the year 1847.
Mr. Barnes, one of the overseers, moved that • rate of thir-
teen pence in the pound on the rental of the parish of
be 164,168/. be now made. Mr. Liggins moved the following
amendment :
flat as the guardians of the parish are perseveringly and perti-
naciously opposing the recorded opinion of the rate-payers, in refer-
ence to the erection of a new workhouse, and have disrespectfully
and unwarrantably destroyed an official communication made to them
by order of the vestry, the rate-payere now present hereby express
their censure of iamb conduct, and desire to prevent as far as they can
the application of any portion of the funds to be raised for the relief
of the poor to purposes not sanctioned by the rate-payers, and to that
end grant a rate of one shilling in the pound.
After a long and inharmonious discussion, the amendment
was carried by 29 rate-payers to 12. The minority was
composed of five of the censured guardians, four parish
officers, and three rate-payers.
A CHEAP PRESS.—What numerous and rapidly
increasing agencies do we witness around, for elevating the
character of modern civilisation. At no former period have
so many influences tended to refine the tastes, to store the
minds, to develope and invigorate the intellectual powers of
the people ~ and, at the same time, to add to the comforts,
and multiply the resources of their social condition. It
should be borne in mind, too, that these increased advan-
tages have been ascompanied by an increased economy of
expense to those who are generally benefited by them.
There has been one remarkable exception to this rule. While
these ameliorating movements have been going on around,
there has been scarcely any relaxation in the cost of the
benefits supplied by the press. The inconsistency is not con-
fined to the fact, it attaches, in no trifling degree, to the
professions and principles of the press itself. Class inte-
rest has been fearlessly condemned, whilst self-interest has
been unscrupulously protected. Cheap food has been de-
manded for the body, by those who have refused it for the
mind. Knowledge has been most heavily taxed by the de-
nouncers of taxation ; and a world of eloquence has been
wasted upon the necessities that might have been lessened
or supplied. At length the public are beginning to open
their eyes upon the subject; and to discover that a cheap
lams may be rendered an important auxiliary to the work of
social and intellectual progress. The strong prejudice which
the experiment had to encounter, is rapidly giving way •
for experience has already proved that a newspaper may be
published at 3d., and still possess all the ability and effi-
ciency of one double the price. The Daily News was
the first to bring the principle to a test; and
though its career has not yet been a lengthy one, it has
been sufficiently so to render its ultimate success no onger a
apparenty
o:oanaf.nedpinstrugglei
gladly
noclorincreased
s el.titr eyaLolt
hasfl
bearu result
yapac
odttr
ibowoinlmwfocii
tlipue
mNisrlyr.iftseeehic oFou:
imcorhemerAe.
lib,`Tli
ofeni
ieonuoorratert
al
societys
osoti
poi
nulnTyoi
irt
the
orete
part,
ihTtthe
thehtheluei
matter of doubt. It has lately been opposed by the united
strength of the London morning newspapers, but the only
msoEe.Dui success
universalt r
echliej
zslswyimni
neEg:V
their:hew,
whichff
te .
_gs y,
has been the development of fresh energies, and the display
differ from many of the opinions held by the Daily News,
eiency with which it has been conducted ; and sincerely
.13ylingimA
MAN.
—tandAieseml,:anintoriaidin
awaits it, but in the success it has achieved. It is the em-
bodiment
a rt
tendencies
from nrtechi e important
se i
inhabitants
achieta
nap t
..i nk
notheir
hl e cl ge
e Isle. —of than
imee ra n-
the mere dogmas of any political creed. It has commenced
pool Weekly News.
has been presented to the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Post-
master-General, stating that a letter
Dublin in London or
on a Friday morning is seldom posted
ired in Douglas

till Wednesday morning, never before Tuesday night
whole days being consumed in the transmiesionn a ‘4l
of a letter capable of being conveyed in twice es
On these and other grounds they suggest a more Lai'
transmission of the mails to the island unit
TUE TRUCK SYSTEM. your paper te
Tuesday, I see a most extraordinary decision off
of magistrates. It is under the head of " Sussex.--y
of workmen's pay tickets." Now, I should •v °
maKistrate, if such a case were brought before me, .l
advise the workpeople immediately to apply for a
against the :::::,-nontractor fl pitying them in kind' or
tne Truck Act, for which he subjects himself to a r4no--"•'..,
~
not less than fit. for every ticket so delivered. 1.
‘te
to you, for I do trust that it will thus be publishedthronuet
country. I have myself detected the practice in my 00.
&;
neighbourhood, and hope I have put it dawn. Ile g '
s—
ame that all wages paid in kind are looked on by e °sei
unpaid, and the informer gets half the penalty.—j,, li 4
ARE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES EXEMPT FROM T.
vioN ?—Sir : One of the 'many disputes that have in eitsh.
arisen out of that act of parliament, of 6 and 7 Vie
by which certain societies, established fur scientific pa
are released fr em local rates, was, I observe by repen
Espress,. decided by Mr. Hardwick on Saturday last, g
Marlborough-street. The act in question declares shit
societies " established exclusively for purposes of
literature, or or the fine arts, shall be exempt from the cl
county, borough, parochial, and other local rates,' ,'n'w
vided that such society shall be supported wholly nr is part
by annual voluntary contributions, and shall not, nag by it,
laws may not, make any dividend, gift, division, or Ifani,
money, unto or between any of its members?' Lbtel" the
authority of this act, the London Library refused to Da, it.
poor rates ; the parish officers summoned the msnaeris:w—
the magistrate, after hearing the evidence, decided that lye
library is not liable. Ido net at ail impugn tb
decision ; in fact we are not in possession 0( the
evidence on which it was grounded, a very careful c • '
tion of which would be indispensable to the riAt twit,
standing of the case, considering the nutnencos aisr
culties by which the interpretations of thisact L sinninded
I shall assume that Mr. Hardwick was right, notartini;
ing the contrary decisions which have been given
My present purpose is to call attention to the act it 4.4
was little leis than a job in its beginning, has proiediferb
source of squabbling in its operation, and is most
its spirit and intention. This act of parliament vat Isseig
at Birmingham, when some literary society, not sned!4
ported as it supposed that its merits desened, wassui,47;,
improve its pecuniary position. There was but tea vir
effecting this object : the one by the society beeo"mie
popular with its neighbours ; the other, by levying 0011",
compulsory rate. To effect the latter purpose, sass
necessary to obtain an act of parliament. Amebae?! si
of the members for the town undertook the operation, al
conjunction with an officer of the society, applied tons*
Chancellor of the Exchequer for government support !al
what was the answer of the Chancellor? This win mak
gentlemen ; to ask us to remit the Queen's GRP. in btki
of all these societies, is to ask the public to bream,
scribers to them, whether we approve of their ot•ihr%ei
management or not. No, no ; if you like to strileved
your bill Queen's taxes, we will not oppose you; Wife*.
liament thinks fit to support your project?? with Owei►
sion, so let it." In other words, the Chancellor el*
Exchequer had no objection to the public being taiedea
vided he saved his own department from the inroad. Thu
the bill passed ; not a voice was raised in parliament Rau
it ; not a syllable, indeed, was said about it until it be*
the law of the land, whsn, for the first time, the
and literary societies of Great Britain and Ireland for*
themselves suddenly in possession of annuities whid they
never dreamed of. Such, I believe, is a subitantiilly mug
history of this snug little operation; and I think tth
more necessary to explain it because it would be tinplate*
great mass of such institutions to have the public nada rte
impression that they had any hand in this posher**,
manoeuvre. They not only were not, but I will arr,rn keit,
in the majority of eves, would not have been. Reinder.
the privilege, now that the law has thrust it on them, it
because, as trustees of property, they cannot neglect Use
legal rights ; but I venture to say, that if any member d
parliament can be found to give himself the trouble torn,
for a report of this act not a hand will be hell rap in is
favour, unless it he those of the original promoters of *
scheme. For what is the true purport of this metuarelet
to levy a forced contribution upon every body ahoetwa
within its operation ? Instead of its present title i, shackle
called " An Act to enable all private irresponsible Wks
formed for scientific or literary purposcs,to increase tbeirfash
by levying contributions upon the public, without trisinstis
said public any return." In all these societies the membenpsy
their subscriptions in consideration of certain penile*,
such as the right of being present at meetings. using *
society's library, house, or land, if it has any; mrcisins es
tronage, holding offices, and so on ; but the 6 and ; Vet
compels the whole parish in which such a society mayelams
to be located to subscribe towards its objects, sithontaq
consideration whatever. Nor is this a slight evil; indult'?
dently of its unjust operation, it is one of the wont of ps
cedeats. It is a clear justification of the Loadsi OW
houses combining to obtain an act of parliament to esess
them, too, " from local taxation,"—that is to sass to tumid
the parishes of London and Westminster to suls‘tibe their
shillings, in order to enable a few gentlemen to fee nmp•
tuously and cheaply without too large a demand *a
their own pockets. It is doubtful, indeed. whether
such • club as the Atheneum, established fir vim
tific and literary purposes, might not ere! now Chia
exemption—for it divides no money amens in calm,
and is neither used for play nor politics—link...4l4*
bad cookery should prove fatal to its pretensioes 1 usi
not say that I "would readily acquiesce in any prose 444
of promoting " science, literature, and the fine arts," 21
the method provided by this act is utterly indefersals.
is a flagrant violation of the first principle of justke.
lii
suppose that some society shall hire a farm. etreadyle
trying experiments in the science of agr:culture,sadthe
this.farm shall occupy half a parish, as it very well a*
To exempt this society from the payment of rites, isse
be to double those of the rest of the parish,not a sialladil
would have the right to set foot within the society'sbosmitit
Or let us imagine the Horticultural Society, with theirs*
garden at Chiswick, escaping from the paymeatof Mentes,
under cover of this act ; the effect would be to ompel eel
little shopkeeper to subscribe to the decoration of seis!
not a Hower in which he would be permitted to bchold.
iI
I remember rightly, this society's claim to exempt.= sa
disallowed, upon a technical objection, and had near bee
prosecuted; but it by no means follows that it may tot ti
hereafter, and, at all events, the refusal, on the put
lirf
a',
is association, to insist upon unjust rights conferred tj
,
is no sort of justification to the representatives of the.ell,
for their not taking the earliest opportunity of procrolg
repeal of such a law. •
CHILD DESERTION.—Yesterday afternoon as
.1
youth named Edward Smith, residing in Saint-streettge_m*
wark, was passing through St. Saviour's-passage,l
of London-bridge, he was accosted by • very we.o u.".;
female about 30 years of age, who offered bias styperr
hold the infant she had in her arms, whilst she called
,at
twotneighbouringo tahke the
hours,
t h
child,wo uo
hms ee
curedpeoPle,thelanne ad
Union, Surrey. It is a male child, six weeks old, and sal
comfortably clothed. carriedn not Th e
returning,li at di t consented,om eaiin ids
thep andaeiriatisftieeberri;stfouisegagr.._
w
EXTENSIVE FIRE TIIIS MORNING.—A fe
is _
edmia,,atietnheefprtohsepecintfaonft tihnitseett,tr.azesifer,
after twelve o'clock this morning a fire broke out $10;
Hitchcock and Connor's saw mills, Broaden% Stantili
street, Blackfriars-road. The premises occupy a
space of ground, extending from Broadwall to the ,_..
of Mr. Clark's house in Hatfield-street. The Milt'
were closed at nine o'clock last night,. at which timee esur.tiii
thing appeared safe, the fires, thc. , having been Vat 4
the origin of the fire is at present a mystery. I"
they were of no avail for a quarter of an hour or
belongingEt
i.
in gel,a bn
ud
taontwediCtnhogeut
on, t yr
there
°lig a
di nne soet,,
rb oegir
ene ether enar
tirlteieat
ypaa,ntunipnt
pnab e;r:
Ibtzmol.z
inti
minutes. As soon as a sufficient supply of water was
and the several engines were set fairly to work, the
very speedily checked, but owing to the very in
fle
nature of the materials it was two hours before Aaral
letely got under. The stock-in-trade, machinery. a$
12-horse power engine, are destroyed. The prenusett_
understand, are insured, but Messrs. Hitchcock and Cam

tuadred y
re active
lintests bi
Mr. Ge.