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

government. The man, he said, who once clutched the gold
of the treasury, would never dare to clench ,is hand when
the bribe of the minister was tendered. (Ch.eers.) The man
who lisped compliments at the table of the viceroy, would be
very slow to denounce his conduct towards the people from
the tribune of Conciliation Hall. (Renewed cheers.) The
career of the minister in this country was marked by pea-
sants' graves, and yet the minister was not denounced from
the tribune of Conciliation Hall; and now he asked, was
this the minister with whom they were called to coalesce?
Forbid it, heaven ! (Cheers.) The Catholic emanci-
pator deserved thee gratitude, but the leader of
the Repeal Association bad forfeited their allegiance.
(Cheers.) But gratitude to the benefactor should not
be taken as an unlimited license on his part to destroy the
liberty of the people. (Hear, hear.) Mr. O'Connell should
have our respect, but our country should have our love.
(Cheers.)—The Rev. Mr. Meehan, the Rev. Mr. O'Carroll,
and Mr. Doheny, banister, severally addressed the meeting
in a similar strain.—Dr. Hutchinson, of Liverpool, moved a
resolution recommending the genuine repealer, to hold en
aggregate meeting, which passed.—A vote of thanks was
passed to the chairman, and the meeting separated.
PUISCHABF. OF ARMS IN lIVELAND.—On this subject, by
means of which it has been sought to create a panic, the
Freeman's Journal has the following; " Whoever has con-
sidered the matter will at once perceive the sufficiency of the
cause. By an absurd regulation which sought to restrain a
fair privilege of the subject, but whose sole effect was to
encourage the clandestine possession of fire-arms, the autho-
rity to sell was vested in a few licensed gun-makers, and
very heavy penalties were imposed on the importation
of any sort of arms into Ireland. While that pre-
caution did not extirpate the desire, or prevent the
enjoyment of fire-arms by persons who required them
for illegal purposes, the honest and innocent, who re-
quired them fur the security of their persons and properties,
were deprived of the power of self-defence. The late judi-
cious alteration in the law has left the trade in fire-arms, as
in many other branches of trade, perfectly free ; and the
novelty of possessing a fowling-piece has instigated numbers
to purchase, partly fur show, and partly, perhaps, to bring
down an odd hare or cock grouse in season. That the ob-
jects of the purchasers are of this innocent character is appa-
rent from the markets in which the retail purchases are
effected. The: orders are as numerous from the north as
from the south, and the description of the required arms are
at prices which prove that glitter is of more consequence
than usefulness, and that nothing more is sought than the
possession of something resembling a gun. We have been
informed that the primary cause of the arming, as it is
called, was the natural apprehension of the farmers for the
contents of their hazgards, and the protection of their cattle,
which in many places it is become necessary to watch
through the night in the fields. Another class which has
drawn extensively on the Birmingham trade arc the game-
keepers and. domestic servants of the gentry, and much
for the same reasons as the farmers—the protection of
eatable property in a season of universal distress. It
is, too, not a little singular, and corroborative of the
view we have taken, that, while the trade has been per-
fectly open for nearly five months, no desire to possess arms
took place until the approach of winter warned the farmers
and suggested the approach of danger and the necessity of
immediate protection. If the ciket were ascribable to
any of the foolish causes with which it has been connected,
surely the Irish peasantry would have commenced opera-
tions much sooner, and proved their anxiety by immediate
fruition. But we see nothing of this kind. 'For five months
neither gun nor pistol is sought, either in the north or in the
south ; but when hunger is on the increase, and predatory
bands very naturally expected to traverse the country during
the long nights of winter in search of food, then the farmers
avail themselves of a right, and take proactive arms. Every
per-on in the country in possession of a gun is well known, a
knowledge which may render incursions into his haggard or
garden less probable and more dangerous.

PROVINCIAL.
A VERT SERIOUS COLLItIION took place on Wednesday
upon the Bolton Railway. A ballast-train, in which were •
29 labourers, in the employ of the company, was run against
by a luggage-train tray, Bing on the some line of rail, but in
an opposite direction. The engine of the ballast-train was
seriously damaged, and the carriage containing the work-
people thrown off the rails and turned Over. The engineer
and foreman of the luggage-train, seeing the opposite train
approaching, shut off the steam and had time to jump off
and escape uninjured. Assistance was procured as soon as pos-
sible, and the men, all of whom were m .re or less injured, were
sent to their homes, where some of them at present remain in a
very had state. The accident appears to have been occasioned by
the wilful disobedience of orders by one of the engine drivers.
A portion of the line near the Kearsley embankment being
under repair, the mats riots used in the works are conveyed
from near Bolton, in order that the repairs might not
interfere with the passenger traffic. The works were or-
dered to be carried on in the night time. For the better
prevention of accidents, one engine-driver, named Johnson,
was ordered to take all the luggaze trains, either to or
from Bolton, upon the "up " line, whilst Steventon, the
driver of the train conveying ballast for the repairs, was
ordered to use the "down" line. Had these instructions
been obey, d, it is obvious that there could be no possibility
of a collision ; the ballast train was, however, run upon the
wrong rail, and the catastrophe above related occurred in
consequence ; and upon Steventon being asked how it
was that he ran upon the wron line, he excused
himself by stating, that he g had done it to
save the time that would have been lost by
" shunting " the train upon the other line, as he thought
that the luggage train would not run to Bolton again that
morning, as it had already made two journeys since the pre
ceiling evening. The driver of the ballast engina was taken
into custody, and brought lip before the magistrates at Sal-
ford. The circumstances having been fully investigated, the
prisoner, in his defence, threw the blame upon one of the
watchmen at the Bolton terminus, who told him there were
no more trains coming on that line. Mr. Trafford told him
that that was no excuse, for he had clearly disobeyed his
orders, and by so doing he had endangered both life and
limb. The prisoner was then sentenced for a month to hard
' labour ; and in the event of anyof the injured parties dying,
' will be tried upon a charge of manslaughter.
YORKSHIRE.
REPRESENTATION OF PONTEIRACT.—Lord Viscount Pol-
lington, one of the members for this borough, has issued an
address to the electors, announcing that it is not his inten-
tion again to offer himself as a candid ate for their suffrages.
His lordship concludes by observing—" The circumstances
which have compelled me most unwillingly to retire from
your representation arc too well known to you all to need
any explanstion from mc." This announcement seems to
have come upon the electors by surprise, and has occasioned
a general feeling of regret. It has been promptly responded
to by an address, which is now in course of signature, re-
questing Lord Pollington to continue their representative,
and pledging themselves to re-elect his lordship without any
expense to him.

DURILtM.
A ROBRERY BY WEALTHY THIEVES.—OH Saturday two
persons, having the appearance and address of gentlemen,
went into Miss Murray's, Half Moon Inn, Gateshead, and
ordered dinner, but being told that the usual ordinary would
be ready at two, they consented to wait, and after drinking a
glass of whiskey went out. In half an hour they returned,
each bringing with him a top coat, which they left down
stairs to dry. They afterwards joined the regular customers
at the ordinary, seemed quite at home, and drank and talked
with all around. On the cloth being removed they went down
stairs, got their top coats, and were directed to a room which
was entered by a different staircase to the one which led to
the ordinary. In a short time oe of them went to Miss
Murray, and, with great politeness,n requested that lady to
oblige him with twenty pounds in notes in exchange for
that amount in gold. Of course, Miss Murray consented,
and proceeded to her room for that purpooe. In doing so
however, she had to pass the door of the room where the
companion of this " gentleman " was, and it was so situated
as to enable the person inside to observe where she went.
On her return she said she could only favour him with two
five-pound notes, which were accepted. Both almost imme-
diately after left the house, and in about a quarter of an
hour, Miss Murray having occasion to go to her room, dis-
covered one of her drawers open, and that it had been robbed
of upwards of thirty pounds in gold. Information was given
to the police, and on Monday morning, two constables, ac-
companied one of Miss Murray's servants, proceeded to the
railway tavern, North Shields, and there found the ob-
jects of their visit. One, named William Wood, was
sitting upstairs at breakfast, with a woman, supposed to
be his wife, and was apprehended. The other, named John
Shaw, was standing at the door of the inn, and on observing
the police approaching him, ran off, and went over some
fields at a very rapid rate, with a constable, in pursuit. After
they bad proceeded over several fields, Shaw, in taking &hedge
fell, and was captured. On the person of Wood was found
the sum of 61., a gold watch and chain, a life preserver, and
a gun ; and ou his wife was a purse, containing 401. in gold,
two 51. notes, and a check for 701. Shaw had in his pos-
session 191. in gold and silver, two pickloeks, some Incifci
matches, and other articles. They profess to be very indig-
nant at being apprehended for robbing ; and not a rord of
recognition passed between the men, who, however, have
been fully identified as having been in Miss Murray's house
at the time of the robWbeOßryC.
ESTERSHIRE.
A WHOLE CORPORATION DEFUNCT.—It is the opinion
of legal men that the town council of Worcester has virtually
committed an act of fel° de Sc, and has no longer an exist-
ence, in consequence of the vacancy occasioned by the death
of the mayor not having been duly filled np within ten days,
as required by the act. By this neglect, which occurred
before the recent annual election, the number of councillors
fixed by law was incomplete, and, consequently, the acts of
the remainder are said to be null and void.
REPRESENTATION OF THE EASTERN DIVISION.—It Seams
the Conservatives are too eager to wait, decently as we
yesterday said it was expected they would, for the allfune of
Mr. Barneby, before taking any active steps to secure h
representation of the eastern division of Worcestershire.
Captain Rushout, we learn, from Droitwich, has issued an
address to the electors, offering himself as a candidate on the
principles of " perfect freedom of religious opinion, with a
warm attachment to the established Protestant religion."
WARWICKSHIRE.
THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Rugby Agricultural As-
sociation was held on Tuesday last. The cattle show, which
was by far the best, both in respect to the number and
quality of the stock, that has been exhibited for many years
past, was held in a field near the town, on the road to Briton,
where were also exhibited several excellent specimens of im-
proved agricultural implements. One feature in the day's
proceeding' was a novelty ;—the stock on the field was sold
by auction, after the judges had awarded the prizes. The
sale was conducted with tolerable briskness, and the prices
offered were generally high, but we believe very few bona
,fide sales were effected.
HEREFORDSHIRE.
COMMISSION BY THE LORD-LIEUTENANT.—C. W. AECII,
Esq., to be Deputy-Lieut.

LITERATURE.

Zoology for Schools. Part I. Invertebrate Animals.
Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.
The great object of intellectual education should be
the unfolding of all the powers of olservation and
thought of the human mind. That one or two sub-
jects are not capable of doing this is proved by the
constitution of the human mind itself, and its relations
to external nature. Man is surrounded by external
objects, the result of the various combinations of mat-
ter, and upon these his sensations and perceptions are
earliest employed. He learns to express these objects
by means of sounds which, on being written, become
words, and language is the result. These objects
have also certain fixed and definite relations to
each other, which he learns to express by
numbers, and mathematical science is the conse-
quence. Extend a man's knowledge as we may, we
can only go in these three directions ; and all intel-
lectual education ought to have for its object the due
cultivation of the mind in relation to these three
great classes of human knowledge. If, however, we
only take a glance at our present system of teaching
from the same school, through the British and
Foreign, the national, the day-schools for the middle
classes, boarding-schools, up to Eton, Westminster,
and our universities, we shall find that it is more or
less one.sided. The two classes of language or number
are cultivated at the expense of the other. A
boy is taught to read of things, to know
the various conventional signs for these things, with-
out any regard to his knowledge of the things them-
selves. He may be also taught, but this in most
cases only in a limited degree, the properties of num-
bers, without having once pointed out to him their
application to external objects. Such a system
of education as this cannot be defended, at a time
when the natural sciences are making the most rapid
strides. The most ordinary facts of science ought not
to be learned out of the school-room, but rather to
form a part of the education there. What reason can
be assigned that every advantage should be taken
of the -labours of men in philology and the exact
sciences, whilst the not less important labours of the
chemist, the geologist, the botanist, and zoologist are
taken no account of. We know of none, and the
cause has obviously arisen from the fact that our
university and whole scholastic system begun at a
time when the natural sciences were not cultivated,
and it has been handed down to the present day in
this one-sided form, through the influence, on the one
hand, of prejudiced teachers, and on the other of a
general disregard of the nature of education by the
public. The day is, however, we hope, passing away
when a knowledge of natural science and its practical
applications to the multiplying the comforts and
increasing the happiness of mankind, will be regarded
with contempt; when the old universities, and even
the new London one, will be allowed to dispense
their highest honours alone for a knowledge
of classics and mathematics, thus setting the seal of
the highest educational authority against the claim
of the natural sciences to be regarded not only as a
means of education, but to be studied at all. We
know that in some of our universities the natural
sciences are taught in connexion with a medical edu-
cation • but we think their claims too obvious to be
disregarded in general education.
It is very evident that if anything is to be done in
teaching natural science, we must not look for it
to be begun in our highest educational institutions.
Chairs of botany, chemistry, and geology, exist at
Oxford and Cambridge; but these subjects enter not
into the education of these places, and therefore their
chairs are almost sinecures. We must then begin
below. There is more hope of committees of British
and Foreign day-schools and national schools, and
more hope still of government boards, than our uni-
versities. Already, in Ireland, the National Board of
Education have determined to introduce the study of
Natural History into their schools ; and in Mr. l'at-
terson's little work "Zoology for Schools," we have
the first fruits.
We are glad to be able to speak well of this first
attempt at making the science of zoology a
study for schools. We say the science, for
we are aware that " Goldsmith's Animated
II Nature," and ill-arranged extracts from Buffon's
I works, have been made reading books in schools. It
is, however, quite impossible to illustrate the great
principles of classification, or direct the student to
the laws of organisation from such works. In the
arrangement of his book Mr. Patterson has followed
envier, and made extensive use of the works of our
countrymen Owen, Jones, E. Forbes, and others.
Although quite up to the science of the day, the work
is divested of a technical terminology which would be
likely to frighten the young student • and a judicious
selection has been made from the observations of na-
turalists on the habits and uses of animals : a depart-
ment which is here made subsidiary to the teach-
ing zoology as a science, but which forms the
staple of previous school-books on this subject. As a
specimen of the work we give the following extract :
The soft-bodied animals to which the term ataltratar is applied,
constitute another of the primary groups of the animal kingdom. In
them we sec no longer the jointed or articulated structure, charac-
teristic of the crustacea and insects. The body, es the very name of
the group implies, is soft, and it is devoid of the jointed legs, which
in some of the preceding tribes were applied to such direr/4W uses.
The nervous system is also different, beinz unsymmetrical; Tt consists
of a ring surrounding the gullet, with one or two ganglions or knots
of nervous matter, connected with similar masses Mother part{ of the
body. The blood is colourless or not red, and the respiratory organ or
gill, which is never wanting, presents great diversity in position and
figure, and is, in some aped a, a very remarkable and attractive
object. The mollusc's are very A idelydiifured, abounding not only in
tropical and arctic seas, but in lakes, ponds, and rivers. Some around
our coasts are found buried in sand or mud ; others construct their
dwellings in indurated clay, and even in limestone rock. Some species
delight in quiet sunny nooks, on the margin of fresh water pools
some in rapid and mighty rivers; and others dwell in the ocean at
depths which have been but seldom explored by the dredge of the
naturalist. But though the greater number are aquatic, all are not
so. The terrestrial species, even in our own country, are found in our
pastures, our gardens., and our plantations. Some may be found on
sandy banks, others 111 moist and shady plum, some lurking under
withered leaves, and others at various heights on the trunks of our
forest trees. The beautiful variety of form observable in the shells of
different species of molluseso has in all ages attracted attention, and
the splenir of their colouring is not surpassed by that of our
brightest garden flowers; in some respects it is even superior, for
their most delicate tints become here tudading and permanent. and a
peculiar structure of the surface gives rise occasionally to iridescent
hues. Among savage tribes shells are formed into elaborate orna-
ments, and applied to numberless uses. In a part of Africa a rem
of shell called "cowry" is the current min; the "wampum belts
of some of the North American Indians, whether constituting
their records, or presented to strangers when they enter into or re-
cognise a treaty of amity, are formed of shells. the thin layers of
some large flafbiralves, when polished, are used in the south of China
and in India instead of gloss for windows. Many of the domestic
utensils of uncivilised nations are shells ; and they are converted into
drinking cups, knives, spoons, fishing-hooks, and even razors. In
Zetland one of our common univalte shells (fuser antiquas), sus-
horizontally by a cord, is used as a lamp, the canal serving to
Lerdedtdhe wick, and the rarity to nintain the oil. In former times the
scallop (pecten maxima: or opercalaris) was worn by religious
Vlgrirns : a custcm occasionally referred to by our poets. Thus
"mil
61111 t.
11c quits his
chermell, the pilgrim's staff he bore,
And tired the scallop in his hat before "
The difference in point of size is not less remarkable than that of the
form and colouring. The tridaena, or giant damp/hell, Is said to
attain, cocrionally, a weight of more than 5001b5., from which circum-
stance the story may have originated of an oyster which furnished a
dinner for a whole miment. Let un in imagination, contrast with
this microecopic chambered shells of which Soldari collected the
anonishing number of 10,454 from less than an ounce and a half of
stone found in the bills of Combine, in Tuscany. Some idea of the
diminutive size of these shells may be formed from the circuinstanoe
that immense numbers of them passed through a paper in which holes
had been pricked with a needle of the smallest AIM. Even without
going into foreign countries, or haring recourse to the microscope, we
hays on our own shores examples of shells remarkable for their
minuteness. On one occasion we gathered some handfuls of a uni-
, valve shell siefisdista 'artistica), which was lying in dark irregular
I patches on the strand near Belfast. It bare considerable resemblance.
except in size, to the common fresh water species. The weight of
four quills, when filled with these shells, was 80 grains, and as 22 of
the shells with their contained animals weighed only two grains, the
number of shells thus enclosed was 880. The weight of the quills and
their contents, when enclosed in a letter, was less than half an ounce,
and we were therefore enabled to transmit 880
one live animate and their
habitations from Belfast to Dublin, per mail, for penny.
The work is illustrated with above 70 engravings,
which are executed with care and selected from the
best authorities. It is not unworthy of notice, that
this work has proceeded not from the pen of a pro-
fessed naturalist or a member of the medical pro-
fession, but from a man in business, who has devoted
the scanty leisure of a toiling life to the cultivation
of natural history. The book is not only adapted for
schools, but all who have acquired habits of observa-
tion and thought will take an interest in its perusal.

gbr Drama.
FRENCH PLAYS.—ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.—Reg-
!Lard's comedy, " Le Legataire Universel," was produced here
yesterday evening, with various omissions and curtailments,
rendered necessary by the somewhat teste nature of the dia-
logue as it stood. Even much that remains is un peu fort,
though carried off si ith an excellent air by the accomplished
artists who fill the two principal characters, M. Cartigny
mud ALdlle. Brohan, and who, indeed, reconcile us to the
play itself, the plot of which is so extremely repulsive that,
in ordinary hands, it would almost render one heedless of the
animation and humour of the situations, and the airy grace
and wit of the language. Albeit it must be admitted,
although not of an agreeable sort, there is great comic
talent exhibited in The Legataire Universel,"—
La Harpe, indeed, pronounces it the chef-d'aeuvre of comic
literature. If, as it is said, comedy be the imitation of real
life, this comedy is calculated to give one a very disagreeable
impression of real life ; for, from beginning to end, it pia
bits nothing but utter heartlessness preying upon sordid
imbecility ; the subject being a feeble old man, who, in
the jaws of death, is teased by his nephew for his property,
and has a false will imposed upon him that has been drawn

up by the aid of a knavish valet and an almost equally
knavish femme de ehamb►e, while the poor man lay on his
death-bed, apparently is extrensis. Nor does the comedy in
any degree " point a moral," for the roguery is made wholly
successful. As to the acting, nothing could be better. hf. Car-
tigny 's Crispin wesiall that the most fastidious of the irrilabile
genus could desire as an embodier of his verses ; and as a
piece of external humour, so to speak, commend us to his
making-up and impersonation of the fat niece, whose guise
he assumes, in order to disgust the old gentleman with all
his relations, except the designing nephew. Mademoiselle
Brohan supported him most energetically. The other re-
presentations of the evening were " L'Homme de 60
Ans," and "Le Comedien d'Etampes." On Monday we
are to have "Le Bourgeois Oentilhomme," with a power-
ful cast.

UNIVERSITY AND CLERICAL NEWS.
• 01/01D, Dec. 4.—Psomitiona.—Mr. C. T. Coote, B. A., of Queen's
Col., was this morning elected to the new Medical Fellowship at this
college, founded by Mra.
tiarvnasrrT Pagacerzaagh-e-I.Nren. Archdeacon Clerke, Sunday
morning, at Cling Church ; Be.. J. L. Spencer, Worcester OA, Sun-
I day afternoon, at St. Mary's.

Destix.—The subjects for the Tice.Chancellor's prizes at the spring
commenceMente, 1847, are: In Greek, Latin, or English prose, for
graduates, " Mond Evidence." For undergraduates :In Greek, Latin,
or English verse, "The Battles on the Sutlej."—The Rev. Joseph
Cason, AI .A., F.T.C„ has been appointed an university preacher in
the place of the Rev. Dr. Lloyd resigned.—ln consequence of a decree
of the board, made on the lath November, Fellow Commcmers will be
permitted to keep their divinity terms at the beginning of their junior
*minder year, instead of their senior aophister year, se heretofore;
and by this means they can have their divinity teetimulnuin at the
time of their proceeding B.A.

rteb!ndary:of

PREFERNIENTe.--The REV. R. N. Pemberton to the Pre—__
Moreton and Whaddon, in the Cathedral Church of Hereford, on the
nomination of the Bishop of the Diooese. The Hon. and Rev. 0. W.
W. Forester, M.A., to the Prebendary of Bullinghope, in the same
cathedral church, and on the same nominnion. Rev. J. H. Butter-
worth to Stapleton I'. C., Gloucestershire, 224?. Rev. H. Howellto
Briilmtow R. w. Sourton C., Devon, 424? Rev. J. F. Witty, C. of
Besminster, to be a surrogate for the peculiar of Dio. of Sarum.
VACANT.—Awarhy P. C., Lincolaskire, dio. Lincoln; 55t., with
residence ; pat., Bishop of Lincoln; by death of the Rev. W. Ward.