The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-10 00:00:00

eiON or ToLL•BAna.—Yeatersiay a special
meeting of the vestry of St. Pawns took place, ,for the par-
pose of cotuidering the gamed= now so much agitating eke
country, viz., the abolition of toll-bars. Mr. Churchwarden
Howarth in the chair—Mr. Bray, in introducing the gar
lion, said that in the north metropolitan districts, St. Pan-
cras in particular, the inhabitants were great sufferers by
turnpikes and tollthars. With regard to the existing mode
of levying tolls, the collection was managed so clumsily that
its cost alone amounted to 600,0001. per annum, or
from 50 to 60 per cent. of the entire amount levied. By
the plan laid down by Mr. Pagan, one million per year
might be levied in the shape of a rate of one penny ups ell
the rateable property, and 124. per year upon each harem
the kingdom, and that would suffice to keep a re
roads in repair,_ and secure the abolition of t
in England and Wales. As a proof of the m=
injustice of the continuance of turnpikes, whilst one elms of
persons were compelled to pay another escaped alteggeseg__,
Mrs. Wilson, the omnibus proprietress, of Islington, kept ON
horses, upon which she had to pay 750!. per annum in the
shape of tolls, whereas Messrs. Chaplin and Horne, the
railway carriers, kept 1,200 horses, upon which they did
not pay ono single farthing —Mr. Bray proceeded to show
that this was effected by the railway carriers, with their
heavy loads, passing through the by-streets, to the great
annoyance of the inhabitants, at all hours of the night, end
depreciating the property from 25 to 35 per cent. In that
parch the highway rate was 2d. in the pound, and by the
plan of Mr. Pagan it would be reduced to one penny, there-
fore it was quite clear that the abolition of turnpik a
would benefit the rate-pavan. He moved the following reso.
lution :
That the present system of collecting the revenue for the repairs of
the turnpike roads in Englund end Wales is unequal in in operation.
pressing excessively on the population in some locilitee, while those
in other places are entirely exempt ; that It in eurabrous and °brims-
live, preventing free intercourse with the different parts of the coun-
try, wholly unsuited to the present state of eociety, and tens
patine in its economy, as full 50 per neat. to expended
in the collection ; that it is adapted only for the enrichment of
eslm
of hills and others, induces a system of Jobbing sett extravaPnee
trimees, comminaloners, surveyor*, Re.; that, in short, It ism lcu-
lated to produces great amount at evil to society, without being in
any wry advantageous. 'the members of this vestry, therefore, feel
It their duty to petition the earthman( this kingdom to abolish each
an expenrive unjust ns siva 'inn cause a moderate rate to be laid
either mall the property or all the horns in the various counties,
such rate to be collected, expended, and the turnpike and highway
roads managed bycounty boards elected by and from the general body
of rate-payers in each county.
Mr. Matthews occluded the resolution, which was likewise
supported by Mr. Churchwarden Wagstaff, and carried
unsnimously.—A committee was then appointed to draw up
a petition to parliament for the abolition of toll-bars, to be
placed in the hands of Sir B. Hall, Bart., and Lord Dudley
Stuart for presentation.
THE MERCHANT SAILORS' PROCERSION.—For a
long time put some excitement has prevailed among the
commercial marine of the port of London, owing to the con-
templated revision of the navigation laws, and the fact of a
memorial to the Queen praying her Majesty not to sanction
the proposed change, having been agreed to at a general
meeting of seamen of the port of London (at which
delegates from all the outporta in the kingdom were
present) has been already announced. The procession
commenced by an assemblage of boats towed from
below bridge by steamers, in three squadrons or divisions.
Unfortunately, however, the weather was so boisterous, and
the consequent difficulties encountered so great, that the
procession lost much of its completeness, a far less number of
sailor, taking part in the demonstration than was originally
expected. Of the Northtteet division only a very small num-
ber reached London, the steamer engaged to tow up the
boats proving altogether inefficient for the service, owing to
the boisterous weather. Four to five hundred tars
were :excluded by this acccident, and the master of
the other two divisions (those from Long Reach and
Shadwell) was very materially lessened by the same cause.
Each boat carried a union jack in the bows, and most of
the sailors bad a blue ribbon round their hats with " The
Navigation Laws" printed in gold letters thereon. The
start from Shadwell did not take place until nearly
one o'clock ; and after a stormy voyage, on arriving at
Westminster bridge the crews disembarked, and having
formed in line about 10 or 12 deep, they marched through
Bridge-street, Parliament-street, and Whitehall, to Tra-
falgar-square. This was the rendezvous, and at three
o'clock the numbers present may have been about
three thousand. The members of the committee
having arrived, the procession reformed, and headed by a
band of music returned through Whitehall to the Home-office.
The sailors walked twelve abreast, and the general effect
was greatly increased by union jacks carried at intervals of a
few yards. As the procession passed the Admiralty, Rear-
Admiral Dundee, first naval lord; Mr. Ward, aI.P.,
the secretary ; and the Hon. W. Cowper, came out on
the balcony to view it. Their presence having been signal-
ed. was greeted by a burst of cheering from the honest tars.
Admiral Sir Edward Codrington and two or three other
naval officers awaited the arrival of the deputation at the
llome.office for some time, but left shortly before its arrival t
At half-past three o'clock the damnation reached the Home- ,
office. The following are the names of the gentlemen
forming it : Mr. J. Mather, delegate from the Tyne ; Mr.
nutshell, from London ; Mr. T. Elliott, from Weymouth ;
Mr. Wright, from South Shields ; Mr. Edgar, from ;
anti Mr. J. Dunn, for Sunderland.—alr. Wawn, M.P.
for South Shields, introduced the deputation to the Home
Secretary.—Mr. Mather (addressing Sir George Grey) said
he had the honour to place in his hands a memorial from the
seamen of the various ports in Great Britain against the re-
peal of the navigation laws ; and he begged that the right
hon. baronet, in presenting the same to the Queen, would
imprets upon her Majesty the undoubted fact that it con-
tained the true sentiments of the whole body of British
seamen. [(government really did make the change raid to be
contemplated in those laws, he felt sure that, however
much the British sailors might regret it, they would be
compelled to seek employment in other countries. He hoped
that it might not be so, but he felt confident that it would
Sir George Grey said he was the son of an old naval
officer himself, and he should be very sore), to see Mr.
Wather's prediction prove well-founded. lie hoped and
believed, however, that he was mistaken in the opinion he
txpressed. Mr. Mather said he felt confident, if
the right honourable baronet's gallant father was
alive, be would not be found among the advocates
of the proposed measure. If the country forsook
its sailors, in self-defence they would be compelled to forsake
their flag.--Sir G. Grey said he hoped Mr. Mather's fears
were unfounded. This much, however, he might say, that
he would take care to lay the memorial before her Majesty,
and explain the feelings of those on whose behalf it had been
signed.—The deputation then retired, and in less than half
an hour the whole procession re-embarked at Westminster-
bridge. Nut the slightest breach of decorum occurred during
the day.
FUNERAL OF THE SOLDIER lIENRT DUCKER.—
The funeral of the murdered man took place yesterday, at
the burial-ground of St. John's, Westminster. The streets
in the immediate vicinity of the Wracks were crowded.
The remains were followed by a large number of the soldiers
of the battalion to which the deceased belonged, with all the
drums and fifes, &c. On arriving at the church the remains
were received by the Rev. Mr. Browne, 'M.A., Chaplain-
General to the Forces, who read the funeral service in a very
impressive manner, and at the conclusion the coffin was
removed to its final destination. The last military honours
were performed in the usual manner.
SUICIDE.—From a statistical account of the
accidents taken into the London Hospital during the past
year it appears that this crime is, in the neighbourhood of
that institution, greatly on the decrease, as in the year 1843
the number of suicides admitted amounted to 40, in ISI4 to
36, in 1845 to 32, in 1846 to 30, and in 1847 to only 13; and
during the same period the patients had in:teased from 5,666
to 8,277.
INQUESTS, YESTERDAT.—DEATH 11T FlRE.—Before
Mr. W. Baker, at the Falcon, High-street, Stoke Newing-
ton, on the body dairy Anne Clifford, aged 83 year,. who
died from the effects of burns. The deceased resided is
Church-street, odd lhad been very ill for some time put,
and was unable eave her bedroom. On Monday after-
noon last Mrs. Robertson, with whom she lived, rent her
daughter to the deceased, and when the door was opened
she found her aunt lying upon the floor enveloped in thrum.
Assistance was immediately rendered and the fire was quickly
extinguished. The deceased was burnt in a most dreadful
manner, and her clothes were almost burnt off her body.
It is supposed that the deceased was sitting in a chair before
the fire, and her clothes ignited with a cinder. The chair
was consumed to ashes and a portion of the wall was
burnt. She was very feeble and unable to call for &subs-
tance. The jury returned &verdict of " Accidental death."—
Tux SUaFICIOVIS DEATH OF A BARMAID.—Before Mr. W.
Carter, at the Marlborough Arms, George-street, Camber-
well, respecting the death of Sarah Davey, aged 25 years,
late barmaid to Mr. Wm. Barnett, landlord of the Crooked
Billet, public house, Johnson's-change, Rosernary.lane.
The deceased for the last twelve months had been in the
THE PROTECTIONISTS.--The protectionist members service of Mr. Barnett ;on the 19a, of January the deceased
of the lower house had a second meeting yesterday at the telt her master's residence in company with a Mrs. Chem-
residence of Mr. Donkey, M.P., in Old Palice-yard. About bees, of No. 4, Cork.street, Camberwell, whom she tad sent
sixty attended. It was generally understood that the sub- for by letter. Mrs. Chambers proceeded to the Crooked
ject considered was that of the appointment of a successor to Billet, as directed, where she found the deceased very ill and
Lord George Bentinck in the lower house, and that the complaining of rheumatism. They left the house, and after
Marquis of Granby, son to the Duke of Rutland, was the calling cab, got i Lotus irected the driver to convey them
hapey man. Mr. Stafford, M.P., was also mentioned. to Mrs. Chambers' ligetAreaching the dwelling of the
NATIONAL DEFENCES. A numerously attended out by the cabman and
latter the deceased was
mating, in which we observed many members of the So- Placed in the passage. He subsequently handed in a box and
sixty Friends, was held last evening at the Horns As- a bundle of linen, and having received 4s. drove off. The
sembly-room, Kennington, for the purpose of petitioning deceased was led up stairs by Mrs. Chambers, who, on find-
parliament against any increase of the existing naval and in g the deceased get worse called in Smith, a surgeon,
military forces, the enrolment of the militia, or the establish• who, being kept ignorance other baying reeyeeurtelyeljui•aehn
meat of additional fortresses. Mr. G. W. Alexander was birth to a child,.treated her o.
Mbo let, sidre an rilr breve. te.e Her bosom ,
voted into the chair, and declared war to be a barbarous
practice belonging to the dark ages, and wholly inennsis-
weeni•
w e cold. E presenteditself, and
tegetheurewhitsh swollen, but t not hard. He thought her state '
tent with the religion of Christianity. After some further had arisen from *Pia, Presen
causing her
remarks the Rev. J. Burnet moved the following resolu- fever, which produced great debility, ultimately
death on the 30th ult. He did not consider that the eryaipelas
tion
That this meeting believing the spurn and practice of war to be was the result of any excitement. He never had any anus
utterly at varnuoe with the spirit and e ity and the mation, until after her decease, that she had lab ly been
true interested mankind* deeply etasregr site attempts which base confined.—Mr, J. S. Flower, surgeon, of Camberwell-peen,
bee mak., and are *tin making, to excite in the public mind the be- said he had made a post-mortem examination of the lody,
lief that war and Invasion are imminent, raid to ground upon this by order of the coroner. Witness found she had recently
pretext an addition to the present naval and military establishments s .
given birth to • child. Upon cutting into the tneut, be
ot the country.
The following resolution was moved by Mr. H. Vincent in • discovered a large asundere the pectoral muscle, extend-
very effective speech, seconded by Mr..Scoble, and adopted ing as far as the collar bone. The abscess. witnesa. attributed_
Ow was the previous one) with only eee diesentient to the suppression of milk, which might be produced from
That this meeting desires to record its deliberate conviction that fright, cold, or other causes. She had been dslivered about
the apprehuisiere of war and uwasion are unfoutuled, and that a ortnight. The immediate cauee of death was the abscess, ,
an increase of rue
existing naval aid military tomes of the empirc. I
which gave rise to a constitiecienal disturbance, eicitutg
I fever and congestion of the brain. The death was a natural
wthbeefteiritibl:ttbl'"ce
ofccenlarotworogemecnott ofof Lhceisfitoandoolingfortranne.,y,
,thoce ecnyratole,ilof
t otilnee, and he did not think It was caused by any exposure to
Id.—Mr. Smith said he had attended the deceased
mi.Rean4o7laay
tteeneedrt,oisa.notro7t on,lray uttirlir
thedanfotor
preserve
. r„...,,,r50.1Qwcr
she
co
tons, of public Morality, 10 impede the efforts mmang f the Menne- about a year since, when she gave birth to a child.—
ton and improvement of the pemee, to retard the great moral re- Verdict, " Natural death." At Die close of the inquiry, the
forma now In progress, to burden yet more heavily tb;:
coroner directed Inspector Campbell still to continue his in-
neratiou or their poetenty, and to aggravate the 001y,mersisaPresent
vestigetion. and, if anything important transpired, to take
hen of the nation. • thwietrittteuvor at
rtun once before the maipstrate, who would deal
The adoption of a petition in confer= Ay with the resolu-
tions closed the proteedings.

ebt court.
The Queen and Prince Albert, accompanied by the
Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Cobourg, and Count Arthur
Mensdorff, honoured the performance at the ilayautrket
Theatre with their presence yesterday evening. The royal
suite consisted of the Viscountess Jocelyn, Madame de
Wangenhetm, the Earl of Morley, Colonel Buckley, Cap-
tain the lion. A. Gordon, and Baron Fritsch.
The Earl of Morley has succeeded Lord Byron u
the Lord in Waiting to the Queen, and Col -nel Drummond
has succeeded Mr. R. Ormsby Gore u the Groom in Waft-
ing to ber •

Majesty.

A Cabinet Council was held at half-past two o'clock
yesterday afternoon. at the Foreign-office. The Ministers
present were Lord John Russell, t'se Lord Chancellor, the
Marquis of Lausdovene, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palm. r-
stun, Earl Urey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Esrl
of Auckland, Sir John Hobhouse, the Right lion. H. La-
bouchere, Lord Campbell, Viscount Morpeth, the tdarq tie
of Clanricarde, and the Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay. Ihe
Council sat three hours sad a hail.
Mr. Wawn, M.P., and a deputation of delegates
from the sailors, had an interview with Secretary Sir G.
Grey yesterday at the liomesoffice, to pr sent a petition ou
the subject cf the navigation laws. The deputation con- I
dieted of Mr. J. Dunn, Mr. G. Hutches], Mr. T. Elliott, Mr.
H. Wright, Mr. J. S. Grieve, and Mr. J. Mather.
Sir H. V. Huntley transacted business at the
Colonial .office on Tuesday.
Despatch's were received yesterday at the Colonial-
' office fr in the Governor of Vail Disinen's Land.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord President of her
Majesty's must hunourab:c Privy Council, gave a grand
diuner last evening, at Lanslowne-house, to the cabinet
ministers, the gte it officer' of state of the Queen's house.
hold, and the clerks of the Privy Council. The roll of
sheriffs (or the rem ut year was settled during the evening.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council eat
yesterday. The lords •,resent were the Master of the Rolls,
Lord Campbell, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall,
and the Judge of the Admiralty Court. The consideration
of Al•. Tinkus's peti:ioo for an eaten-ion of the term of his
patent occupied the court the greater part of the day.

CITY COURT OF SEWEItI3.—OAS EXPERI-
MENTS.
The commissiocers assembled in the Guildhall on
Tuesday for the purnose of pursuing the inquiry in reference
to gas, and to put the burners of Mr. Leslie, the sanitary
commissioner, to the test. Deputy Pea.totk having taken
the chair, Mr. Leslie. and Mr. Bateman, the governor, and
Mr. Lowe, the engineer, to the Chartered Oa Company,
attended upon invitation.
Mr. Lowe acid, that the governor and he went to the
General Post•otlice, and made experiments in the presence
of some of the eiiitials, to ascertain whether by Mr. Leslie's
mode of purifying gas an increased power of illumination was
given, and, rater a most corelul experiment for twenty-five
minutes by two single jet burners attached to two distinct
meters, and projecting from them a shadow on a sheet of
paper, the plan generally adopted as the best practical
means of testing the power of the light, the result was ex-
actly 6 per cent. against Mr. Leslie's purified gas. They at-
tended again on Wednesday, and put on two of Mr. Leslie'. I
burners. They reversed the meters, and the result then wan
3 per cent. against Mr. Leslie—making an average of 41 per
cent. They also tested the purity by the usual chemical
tests, and found that, on the Tuesday, the gas was not so
pure—the test was slightly affected ; on the Wednesday,
however, the tests were not affected by the gas either before
or after it had undergone the proems of purification agree-
ably to Mr. Leslie's plan.
Aeon tome discussion between Mr. Lowe and Mr. Leslie,
the latter, at a subsection: stage of the proceedings, read the
following letter .
Inland Utter, Feb. ;.—Sir,—ln reply to your letter of this miming,
requesting my opinion as to the experiments now proceeding In the
various rooms of the inland department under your t
entpae fur
the purification of el., and improved combustion thereof, gto
acquaint you that three ix a ereat and man Lot improvement in the
sanitary state of the offices; the hot blare of air formerly so much
oomphuned of co longer exist. The rooms are much better lighted
than they ever were refer,. Some c f the burners ri iiMre a re.
arrangement, and perhaps halfsialoren more, may eventually be
neceseary, hut the goodness of the light is shown by the loot, that in
the largest room. the features of the officers on duty can be every.
where disUnguished, which was rot formerly the Me. The quan-
tity of gas consumed in the two works of the experiment (ending
Saturday last), is 311,050 net, being I I X,lllO feet less than in the cor-
responding weeks of hat year, notwithstanding in the interim two
large additional offices have ben added. I sou fully s aistied with
the trial that has been male, and it is my intention to recuinmead
the general adoition of your system throughout the 1,04-ONICC &part.
ment.—l am, air, your most obedient servant, W. lioansiraii, Super-
intending Fresideid.—.l. L.slie, lisq-
The CHAIRMAN informed them that Mr. Radley, who
was stated to have much experience in mutters connected
with gas, wished to make a communication.
Mr. RADLEY said that his object in waiting upon the
committee was to inform them that Mr. Leslie's gsa purifier
was an imitation of his, the patent for which he had taken
out in 1841, and thi,t the use of his plan, inasmuch as it was
perfect, would produce it, per cent. more than elr.
which that gentleman promised them would produce 2.51.
per cent. to the City more than was yielded by any other
invention. Ile then entered into a very long statement on
the subject, and said that he could produce as much gas
from horses, dogs, cats, and rats, as would light the metro-
polis, at 31. 63. per thousand feet of gas, and yield a better
illumination. Ile instanced the case of one man who had
dealt in decomposed animal matter, and made, in 13 years,
tne sum of 75,0001., which showed that " muck made
money." He assured the commissioners that horse-flesh,
which produced no more as cats' meat than about 21. 101. a
ton, yielded upwards of 31. when used to lighten the
darkness, and that the conversion of the human
beiag into gas would be infinitely more profitable;
and he did not see why we should not, particu-
larly as so fine a profit was derivable from it to the
living, adopt the noble Roman burial by cremation, which
would render our dust inflexions, instead of adhering to the
churchyard system, which could not, even with the assist-
ance of leaden coffins, prevent the existence of a horrible
nuisance. He was a poor man, whose means would not
permit him to go to a pound expense in an experimental pre-
paration, but he had had great practical experience, andhad
laboured in the very humble department of a stoker at les.
a week, to bring to the test the knowledge which he had ac-
quired in the course of a good chemical education. Ile had
in vain sought for employment in the gas manufactories.
The principals were all decidedly opposed to hint, but they
felt no hesitation in pirating his invention, and Mr. Leslie
had pirated his burner as well as his purifier, and white Mr.
Leslie wanted 75. for his burner, he wanted no more than
2s. 4d. for hie.
Mr. Leman declared that it was impossible to show that
in principle, or in one single feature of the inventions, there
was the slightest resemblance between his and Mr. Rad-
ley's. He would most willingly contribute 101. towards the
expence to which Mr. Radley might be put in working hie
experiments for the purpose of showing that they were
pirated. He felt the more anxious on the occasion, as Mr.
Radley had announced his inability to incur any expence ;
but the fact was, that Mr. Radley win in the habit, the
moment he heard of a new invention, of claiming it as his
own. Mr. Leslie then stated that he had applied for an
ethcial report of what was going on at the Post-office upon
his plan, for the satisfaction of the commissioners. Mr.
Leslie concluded by stating that he was moat desirous that
any of the gentlemen who denied the originality of his in-
vention should at once put his patent to the test, or show in
what respect his invention bore the slightest resemblance to
any other.
In the evening the commissioners ass...tabled in the Guild-
hall for the purpose of testing the burners of Mr. Leslie and
those of the Chartered Gas Company. There were present,
besides the commissioners, Dr. Letheby' Mr. Palmer, Mr.
Dillon, Mr. Henry Morrison, and Mr. Haywood, the sur-
veyor to the sewers company, and several scientific persons.
Dr. Letheby consented, at the request of the enmmissioners,
to make the arrangements for ascertaining at what rate the
gas was being consumed by the respective burners of Mr.
Leslie and the batswing burners (the ordinary burners in the
public lamps). Tho photometera baring been set, and the
lights in each pronounced equal, Dr. Letheby pronounced,
alter two experiments, that the results were as foliose :
The batswing (or Chartered Company's burners) burned at
the rate of 5 feet 3-10ths per hour, and Leslie's burned at
the rate of 4 feet 6-10 the and 3-teths of a tenth. Dr. Letheby
then merely exchanged the burners, placing those of Mr.
Leslie upon the lamp before occupied by the betels-Mg
burner, and sire versa, and he pronounced that the bats-
wing burned at the rate of 4 feet s.loths and a half,
and Leslie's burned at the rate oil feet 6 10ths and a quar-
ter. The total results from the two experiments were that
the batswing burner consumed at the rate of 4 feet 9-10ths
and a quarter per hour, and Leslie's at the rate of 4 feet
6.loths per hour—a difference of 3.lflths and a quarter of a
tenth in favour of Leslie's.—Adjourned.

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 1848.

IRELAND.

DIIBLIti, Pea. 8.
'Sher is no foundation for the announcement that
a meeallq of the catholic bishops would be held in
Dublin to-4.%.v. There was no such meeting sum-
moned, and noun such was or is in contemplation.
The vacancy in the iepresektion of Waterford will
not be filled up by either 4... f the late members. Mr.
Wyse refuses to present himself, and Sir Henry Bar-
ron, although named, would not subject himself to a
defeat. The good patriots of Waterford will have
none but a stiff repealer. Such is the will of the
corporate Ciceroacchio, who carries the democratic
wisdom of Waterford in his breeches-pocket. He, it
appears, has taken up Mr. Costello, late clerk of the
rules in the Queen's Bench, while on the side of the
more independent repealers appears the late M.P. for
Cork, Mr. WCarthy. Mr. Costello is likely to be the
chosen of the orbs intrarta.
Two of our most eminent physicians are in fierce
conflict. In a late number of a medical periodical one
of the conductors charged the College of Surgeons
with keeping up, at a large salary, a certain pro-
fessorship which conferred no benefit. The gentle-
man alluded to replied in the Medical Press, that his
antagonist, who is enlinent in Irish antiquities, bad ac-
quired his character for antiquarian propensity, more
particularly in reference to some recent excavations, the
knowledge lavished on which was plundered from the
academy. The chemical lecturer is on the wrong side
of the disputation. The question will be investigated
at the next meeting of the committee of antiquities.

SOIREE AT THE COLLEGE OP PUTSICIANB.—Last evening
the College of Physicians gave their annual soirie, which
was very numerously and brilliantly attended, the Earl of
Clarendon having been present. Some interesting papers
were read.