The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-11 00:00:00

with the National Society were virtually adopted by the
promotes of national schools, though the legal efficacy of
that virtual adoption wu very questionable, if not in tact
valueless; and that practical effect was given to the ;moll.
slops of those terms of union, by the appointment of com-
mittees in numerous cases in which schools were :most
prosperously conducted by the zeal of the laity ce-operating
with the clergy. Their lord Lips have only sought to give
legal form and practical efficiency to a system, the letter of
which they found existing as a general rule, and the spirit of
which they found to be the moat effectual means of securing
the permanent success of parochial schools.
My lords have imposed no new conditions, but they have
been unwilling to participate the responsibility of sanctionieg
a virtual adoption of the letter of a rule imposing a constitu-
tion on all schools in connexion with the National Society,
which wu contradict, d by &frequent positive violation of its
letter in the legal form of school deeds ; and of its spirit in
the practical ►rrangements adopted for the management of
national schools.
The annual parliamentary grant has now risen to such
an amount, and is attended with such numerous aad accu-
mulating advantages to parochial schools, that their lordships
have been anxious you should be supplied with as full and
clear a statement u possible, both of the principles and prac-
tice adopted in this department relative to the constitution
of schools connected with the National Society.
I have the honour to be, Very Rev. Sir, your obedient
servant, J. P. KAY SHUTTLEWORTII.
The Very Rev. the Dam of Lichfield.

SANITARY STATE OP THE WARD OP PORT-
80KEN.—Yesterday a meeting of the common council it.,cl
the ward inquest of Yortsoken took place at the committee-
room, Aldgate, for the purpose of accompanying Mr. Alder-
luan Moon on a visit to those localities which had been pre-
sented to the Court of Aldermen and the Commieioners of

Sewers as places which, for want of cleanlinessa, would, on
the approach of the cholera or any other epidemic, become a
focus for the germination of fever and death.—Mr. Alderman
Moon said the presentation which had been made to the
Court of Aldermen was considered so important, that he had
been requested by the court to visit and report upon the
state of these places, and in doing this he was anxious to
have their aid and co-operation.—A deputation then pro-
ceeded to visit Seven Step-court, Stoney-lane, Lower Melior.
place, Cock and Hoop-yard, Mount-square, and the vicinity,
the state of which fully bore out what was set forth in the
petition presented to the Court of Aldermen. On the return
of the deputation, Mr. Alderman Moon, having adverted to
the various places which had been visited, said that it was
essential that some remedial measures should be adopted,
but whether that should be done by the Court of Aldermen
or the landlords of the property was for the meeting to de-
cide—Mr. Deputy Wright suggested that the vestry-elerks
of Has respective parishes in which the properties were
situated should write to the owners of the various places is
proceed immediately to carry out the necessary improve.
menu.—Mr. Alderman Moon said he had observed
tne total absence of all cisterns or tanks for
water for the accommodation of the residents.-
-Mr. Santleir remarked, that in the several coeds there
4113 a standeock which supplied the inhabitants for about
two hours daily; but the property in Stoney•lane had no
water laid on.—Mr. Ald. Moon said he wished to see tanks
or cisterns built. Although there was a daily supply of
water, a very large number of the inhabitanu must, of
course, be the greater part of the day without any. It could
not be expected that they could purchase vessels to hold
water until the next day. This was a mast important sub-
ject.—Mr. Nell said that the inhabitanta were coming hourly
t , his house to beg fJr water, which, as far as was in his
power, he supplied.—Mr. Ald. Moon said that some of the
plates they had visited were the moat disgusting, filthy Inca.
lilies he had ever witnessed. Talk of Elim Chapel, that
bore no comparison to these places. The freeholders wt re
liable, and he trusted their attention would be called to the
state of the property, that the sanitary condition might be at
once attended to. Same of the houses were totally unfit for
occupation, by reason of the vast amount of deposit in the
cellars.—Mr. Nell said he had, two years ago, called the
attention of the district surveyor to the state of the place,
but no notice was taken. lie then waited on the Lord
Mayor, and the pubiicity so given to the matter produced
the desired effect.—lt was unanimously agreed that the
worthy alderman should make •report embodying the state.
went already presented to the Court of Aldermen, and that
the ward clerk should write to the owners of the property to
comply with the clauses of the act, to prevent the spread of
infections fevers, and for such steps to be taken that were
necessary.—The meeting, having thanked Mr. Ald. Moon,
broke up.
• •

TILE OAS QUESTION.—Last evening n public
meeting of the inhabitants of Lambeth and Southwark was
held at the Literary Institution, Borough-road, to take into
consideration the measures to be adopted for obtaining a re-
duction in the price charged for gas by the various compa-
nies; Charles Pearson, Esq., M.P., in the chair. Mr.
Savage read a report, which stated that, in consequence of
the high price of gas in the metropolis, compared with the
price paid in provincial towns, a committee was appointed to
inquire into the matter, and to consult the large consumers
in the district, in order to ascertain whether they were pre.
pared to take any measures for remedying the evils com-
plained of. The committee had gathered a great quantity
of information, and had waited upon the board of directors
of several gas companies, who had declared their intention
of reducing the present charge to 75. per 1,000 cubic feet,
after Christmas next; but the committee considering that
price too high, had come to the following resolution ;
This committee, on looking at the position It has taken, with the
view to obtain a reduction in the price of gas from Oa. to 6s. per
1,000 cubit feet, feel that the more information they collect, and the
further they prosecute the inquiry as to the comp ,native charges of
other companies, the more evident la it, that de. is a price that ought
to command a good supply of nisi.-rate gas, especially when they take
Into conaiderakion that the gas compiudes charge 6s. in Greenwich,
supplying the railways at Se. 6d. and the eastern end of the metro-
polis at be. The prise of ma in large country town. ie only Se. Sid.
per 1,000 feet.
Mr. Thwalten moved " That the report meets with the
cordial approbation of this meeting, and that the proposal
made to the several companies of 6.. per 1,000 feet is a just
and liberal one." It would be understood, Mr. Thwsitee
remarked, that the gas movement was becoming a most im-
portant one, and it would ere long take a strong hold on the
public mind, in consequence of the vast amount of the in-
terest involved. He proceeded to call attention to receipts
of several gas companies, and he found that in Rateliff, and
the east end of London, the price was 6s. per 1,000. The
resolution was carried, and a committee was appointed to
carry out the objects of the meeting. A vote of thanks to
the chairman closed the proceedings.
GAS UNDER SANITARY LAw.--The Act should re-
quire every public place, whether street, court, or alley, to
be lighted with good gas, at a moderate price ; and should
the existing companies refuse to do this, or in places where
no gas works exist, the sanitary commission or commissioners
should be required to establish works of their own; and the
profits derived from this source should be applied to the re-
duction of the rates. Electricity might he applied to the
lighting of the public lamps with advantage. Oxygen gas
might, perhaps, be manufactured on a large scale, and sup-
plied by means of pipes, &c., in the same way as the carbu-
retted hydrogen now is, for the purpose of producing the
brilliant light known by the name of the Buds light, or for
increasing the combustion in furnace., ike., for which pur-
pose bellows are now used ; and the underground ways
already urged by you would afford great facilities for laying
the pipes along the streets, and communicating them with
the houses, without the least occuion for opening the ground
or taking up the paving
.and stopping the traffic. Should
electric clocks ever come into general use, these ways might
also be available for this purpose. A supply of oxygen to
improve the air in some buildings would be valuable, if it
could be properly regulated.—Builder.
MILITARY COLLEGE, ADDISCOMBE.—Yesterday,
deputation from the East India House proceeded to the
Company's Military Seminary, at Addiseombe, for the pur-
pose of distributing the prizes. The rewards gained by the
cadets were distributed as follows: First Clam—Mr. E.
Southey : Second prise in mathematics, second fortification,
first Hindustani, military drawing, and first Latin ; Mr. J.
E. Donne: First prize in mathematics ,• Mr. D. J. Nasinyth
First prise in fortifications, second good conduct and military
surveying ; Mr. L. Russell: Prize in mathematics, and first
good conduct, with an artillery sword; Mr. 3Goddard:
Prize for military drawing ; Mr. D. C. Henchy : Prize in
geology. Second Clam—Mr. A. Boulnois: Prize in civil
drawing, in good conduct, Hindustani, and fortifications •
Mr. E. C. G. Williams: First prize in mathematics ; Mr. P.
Salteld: Prize in French ; Mr. J. Goddard : Prize in mili-
tary drawing and surveying. Third Clam—Mr. J. A. Bal-
lard : Prize good conduct. The following were appointed
engineers: Means. Donne, Nasmyth, Russell, Goddard,
Jervis, Dennison, C. Scott, and Henchy.—Artillery: Messrs.
H. Manion, T. Graham, R. Pittman, L. Heathorri, T. C.
Crone, A. Gillespie, P. A. Agnew, J. H. Grant, W. Wilson,
W. Dallas, and J. A. Vanrenen. The chairman addressed
the cadets generally, pointing out to themtheneemnity of the
closest attention to their studies, to fit themselves for the
important duties they would be called upon to perform. The
company then broke up.

- -
DISASTERS AT SEA.—From radatowe we learn by
aocountithat the Mild storm has resulted in the lose of a
very fine ship, amdi one thousand tons burthen, and a por-
tion et bre mew, lk kw Mims from Trevose Head. Durum
:as= it wee respereai that a large vessel in a distressed
vise in the lam end at daybreak, on Thursday
insming, sunk was howl to be the we. She seemed to be
• rot-rate ship, and Itor elate showed the havoc she had
imained in the plo. Her maintopmest was carried away,
and her was Weak Wows to ribbons. Her position was
VIM Alla four er fw miss to N.W. of Trevose Heed. To
ramise Yt awl mmilmmse st that period was next to an ba-
ne MS Ira hit residing, and as she was drift-
glaYstmetwaird it eon booliaiev 'dent that she would go
like did so within • 'bort thlas of low water at a
paint called Gannet Creek, between Pedstowe port and Tre-
vose Head. She was tbut assorisined to be the Marchioness
of Aberoorn, helm& tgiblarmiderry. She was bound to
the Thames, from She touched at Cork,
and from that port ozperlasoed dreadful weather.
The crew being minor le gain the lan's eight of the SW
men attempted to land by the t, whist is wee cogoised by
the surf, and four of the men perished. The wain drew of
the ill-fated skip amounted to twisty-Ma% the nandaing
tweatrese of whom chin gto the wreck, mad Woes awousts
left thirgets they wa ealb bobble to It. It Is her=
they wHi be name& Ls aillidas to being so much
by tin 110.8.111111111 611 be wahriagged.—The
Weadervel hot lA* atileullmielm, milk** •
Channel
lan& malls, am OM • maw Mae, salted the
Miry and hueM Jersey aimed the Jersey
Oar =7 IMMO. thew ma flier, afore,
and a total meth. The dz is brought
and her crew were eared. • Zambia camel, able* 660 tp
from Odessa, bound for Fabliau* hr Missyeb
to run into Quemoy yesterday fig, having shifted er
cullo•