The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-11 00:00:00

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BANIRIMI.—(Warm.)
Fast prise, the Bev. 0. F. Hodson; second prize, Mr.
Joseph Dutton.
BANTAM/.—(I3I.ACR)
First prise, Mr. J. Fairlie :second prize, Mr. J. H. Foi.
BAN T.111‘.-4131.11( It 1) asp
First prise, Mr. W. . Forrest, Greenhithe.
U . . (Ginnin OR lit Fr.)
Fast prise, Mr. Dutton.

l'ItOTOSEI) LITEItAIIY AND SCIENTIFIC
INSTITUTION IN BIRMINGHAM.
1311011NOH•11. MONDAY.
A public meeting of the inhabitants of this town
and district was held in the theatre of the OW Philoso-
phical Inatitutioo this morning, for the purpose of consider-
ne.; the desirableness of establishing in Birmingham a
L•terary and fizitnur.c Society, upon an extensive and
mprehressive scale, for the promotion and advancement
of ,cunt', lit, ratan', and the arts iu this important comma-
p;ly. It may appear strange thatin Birmingham, aseo-
ceded with the names of Priestley, Boislion, and Watt,
awl many eminent professors of the fine arts ire the present
and in which town two meetings of the British Asso-
e..;.cin have been held, such an institution does not at
.M pr,,,nt (A. The l'hilosophical Institution has re-
cently died a natural deish, the Mechanics' In-
shoetree is extinct, the Polytechnic is barely sup-
ported, and even the public newsroom appears to be in
the list throes of its existence. The meeting of to-day was
twinned by a number of most influential gentlemen. The
M-co: oecupicil the chair; and amongst these present were
Lied Lytte Iron, the e'en. Archdeacon Sandford, the Hon.
ai,d Rev. Griothatu G. Yorke, the 11ev. Chancellor Law,
the Bev. Jge, the Rev. J. A. James, the Rev. S.
Rube, 11. Liiecock, EA, W. Matthews, Esti, J. &use",
11..1 G. Datt-on, &e. Communications were read
tom Lord Dartmouth and other geutlemen, apologising for
their 'banner; and one letter in particular, from Mr.
Charlet Dickens, in which that gentleman proposed next
fhostinis to read his " Christmas Carole" in the Town
HAIL the proceeds to be appropri teed in aid of the Mai-
totem.
The Macon having shortly opened the proceedings,
Mr. IIAIIKV•ON, the secretary, read the report of a com-
mittee funned in June last, giving a sketch of the na-
ture of the proposed institution. From this docu-
ment it appeared at it is intended that the Ca-
ekty shall organise. measures for the erection of a
'parlous building, and should subscriptions fail in raising
the proposed sum for ground, erection, and furniture—
i!.—that application should be made to the
corporation (whom, it is proposed to make trustees) under the
Public Libraries Act,
.for ambiance to complete the under-
taking. In this builduif it is proposed to provide a lecture
theatre. The plan will cikewise embrace three museums ;
the best of which will be devoted to the raw materials of
the industry of this district, geological and mineralogical
specimens, &c. ; the second to articles illustrative of menu-
fscturing processes, &c., as well as to furnish specimens of
different dates and countries; and the third to machinery
and models. The other features of the scheme compnse a
chemical laboratory for lectures and classes ; class rooms, a
reading room with a scientific and general library of re-
ference; and, as an entrance to all the depart-
ments, a large hall, adapted for the reception of
sculpture, or other works of art, of which it is hoped that in a
neighbourhood so richly stored with them, donations would
Le made sufficiently numerous to form hereafter a nucleus (or
spublic gallery. Another department will be devoted to
mining teconts, showing the dimensions and position of
strata in the different mineral workings of the district. It
may be mentioned, also, that the education fur the working
claws or artisans of tho town, appears to be one of the
main features of the institution. The committee proposed
to confer no exclusive privileges upon donors ; and, in
eoncluai'n, recommended the plan proposed to the support
of the meeting.
Lord Let-Tel:roe, in proposing the establishment of the
society &Meiling to the beheu.e laid down in the report,
admitted its magnitude and comprehensiveness, but con-
tended that there was no doubt of its expediency and fea-
sibility. The whole cost would not amount to more than
20,0001.; mil when they looked at the position of Birming-
ham and the neighbourhood that bunt ought to be considered
as nothing.
Mr. Luecoex seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
Several speakers ai!dresacel the meeting in supporting re-
solutions, appointing a committee, &c., among whom were
Archdeacon Sandford, the Rev. S. Gedge, the Rev. J. A.
James, Mr. W. Matthews, and Mr. Arthur Ryland ; the
latter gentleman expre-sing a belief that the greater portion
of the money required would be raised by the ironmasters
of Sauth Staffordshire. The meeting broke up shortly
after two o'clock.

A NEW IMPLENIENT OF DESTRUCTION.
Mr. James Nasmyth, of the Patricroft foundry,
the celebrated engineer, and inventor of the all-powerlul
steam-hammer that bears his name, has communicated a
sketch of a new implement of destruction which he has just
devised, and which he asserts is capable at one blow of de-
stroying in an instant the largest ship of an invading
enemy. The title he proposes to give to this new instrn-
meat of destruction is " James Numyth's Floating Mortar,
or Short Range," and he demands !rum the authorities a
fair trial of its efficiency. The following is the rough sketch
which he communicates to the public :
DUCKIPTIWI of JAMES 'MAWS nos FLOLTINO stOILTAIt,
Ua 51101tT 'LANGE.

The chief features in this proposed destructive agent are
these . .

1. A shell of great axe, so constructed as to explode, per
so the instant it is brought in contact with the side of the
enemy's ship.
2. The means by this great shell is brought in con-
tact with the enemy's Ylapcowists in placing it in the cham-
ber of a great Bray's mortar, which, as it were, forms the
prow of our destructive vessel, the chamber of the mortar
Ming us feet below water line, and the mortar being insde
•isr part end parcel of the vessel, which would weigh
11111111 U 600 tons ; the entire mass of our destructive vessel
UMW into play as a most effective means for absorbing all
&enaction consequent on the discharge of the monster
touch-and-go off *hell, so that the three or four men, who
would be all that are required to attend to the navigation
of our floating mortar, would not experience any sensible
effint from the discharge of the shell.
3. By reason of the peculiar barrel-like construction of
the vessel, on the prow of which the great mortar is deed,
and the thickness of the timber on all sides, being from nine
to ten feet, and that of poplar wood, not only would the
interior, where the steam engine and crew are placed,
be perfectly inaccessible to the effect of either red hot
or cold shot, but by reason of the barrel-like form of
the vessel it would present in most positions no sur-
face favourable to shot taking effect; and as the means of
propulsion would consist of a suitable compact steam engine,
of the most simple construction, and • screw propeller sub-
merged some ten or twelve feet below water, both the crew
and machinery would be quite out of harm's way.
4. As respects the construction of the shell, it would be
of the meet simple chancier, being somewhat in the
brat of a huge thimble, or somewhat similar to the Minie
rifle ball, containing a suitable charge of powder, and
having • selfiesploding cap at the breech end, and the shell
so arranged in the chamber of the mortar as that the
meshing action resulting on the protruding end of the shell
being brought in contact with the hull of the enemy, the
selfiesploding cap is thereby forced is contact with the
breech of the mortar, and the shell instantly explodes in
contact with the side of the enemy, into which it tears its
way, leaving a hole as wide as a church door. The result
to the enemy 1 leave to imagination to picture.
The instant before contact it would be well to reverse the
engine, so as to Week off and leave the enemy to his well-
aimed fate.

The Abell would be encased in a copper water-tight
ease, so that it might be placed in the chamber of the mor-
MT. and remain there tie feet under water-line for years
without injury of any kind, ready fur action whenever it
was wanted.
Were our harbours provided with two or throe of these
Elating mortars, which could be brought into action at any
time with half-an-hour's notice, I am confident that no in-
vading enemy would dare to insult our shores, as any
attempt on h s part to take up nosition and proceed to dis-
charge troops would be followed with certain destruction
from the first tap of the prow of the floating mortar.
A very few thousand pounds wouhl test, in the most
Complete and satisfeiltory manner, the correctness and ste-
ms of tbis proposed simple means of defending our coast
from all invading enemies, and I trust some suitable means
will be &Herded, by a must full and complete demonstration
of the efficiency of what I have proposed, for the protection
sail service of my country.
I am, yours most respectfully,
JAMBS
Bridgewater Foundry Patricroft,
near Manchester, Jan. 4.

EITRAORDINAItY MARRIAGE.-1 eaterdny morning
a most 'unordinary MAO was presented at the church of
St. Peter's, Walwortk. In King's-row, Walworth, a
small building ordinarily used as a cooper's shop, is °melon-
Illy occupied as a sort of chapel by a congregation akin to
the followers of the late Johanna Southeote. The leader
of this band, an elderly female named Vaughan, deemed it
advisable to become betrothed to a young man named Pea-
sock, said to be one of the priesthood of the above sect.
Accordingly, yesterday morning, about 11 o'clock, a proces-
sion
was formed and set in motion towards St. Peter's
Church, some of the males wore jackets of light material,
others a species of coronet, and several singular-looking
while around the waist and across the shoulders of
most were polished leather and other bands and belts, in-
scribed with, apparently, cabalistic and zodiacal characters.'
the females, about 12 in number, were attired in white,
with various singular decorationi, and from the head of each
depended lung showy veils. la this singular procession were
borne 16 various bannera,comprising the stand .rd of England,
the union jack, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel,
one of the sun, and one of the moon and stars. In the!
midst of theye was a sort of shepherd's crook, and the bride- !
groom, who, together with his venerable companioo, headed
the procession, bore on his shuulder species of mace,
surmounted by a crimson velvet cap with gold fringe. On
reaching the church porch the bridal oarty were compelled,
by order of the minister, to deposit their flags, &c. The
4(9% F P. Statham, the incumbent, performed the mar-
rta,ze ceremony, ard the entry in the register at the vestry
was John Clearlight Peacock Peacock, aged thirty years,
married to Elisabeth Fairlight Vaughan, aged airy years.
At the eonclusion the bride conversed very freely with the
Rev. Minister, whom she urgently endeavoured to convert,
declaring that it had been resealed to her that she was to
introduce Shiloh to the world. The procession then de-
part, din the same order as it arrived, amidst the hooting,
hughter, and jeering of the assembled crowd.