The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-26 00:00:00

GOSSIP.

Mom the Atheneress.)
During the Jubilee of Art and Industry which is
about to be solemnly inaugurated, we are glad to see indi-
cations in many quarters of a desire to enlarge in behalf of
our distinguished visitors the sphere of private hospitality
and recognition by a series of public and professional recep-
tions. The French showed us the way of this in 1848; and
our pride and interest should alike urge us not to fall short
of expectation in this regard. Those of our readers who
happened to be in Paris in the autumn of 1848 and saw the
reception given at the Hotel de Ville to the hotly of our
countrymen who returned the visit of the Garde Nationale
to London, will not readily forget the effect produced on
all parties by the good-will displayed and the magnificent
hospitalities offered to the English nation in the persons of
of these its representatives. Now that all the world is
coming to our own capital in the same friendly *mint, to
give the homage of their presence to the principle of
peace and the genius of industry, it is due to
ourselves, 'as well as to our guests, that we endea-
vour to make our island as pleasant and profitable
to them during their stay in it as we can, and we know no
way in which this can be done so effectually as by the pub-
lie receptions and recognitions to which their habits and
education lead them to attach so great an importance. Im-
pressed with the conviction that this form of courtesy is
one that will be gratifying to our guests, we announce with
pleasure that the English bar is preparing to receive the
bar of France in a style worthy of their own resources and
of the rank and merits of our visitors. The magnificent
Hall of Lincoln's-inn is fixed on, we believe, as the scene of
a great dinner to be given early in May, in full costume, to
the French judges and barrister, who may be in London at
that time. A public reception, a breaktbst, and a grand
bull form part of the Templar,' programme. The Hall of
the Middle Temple, in which Queen Elizabeth received this
hospitalities of the benches, is to be thrown open; and our
legal visitors will he conducted over the beautiful church
of the Temple. The City municipal body intend, we le-
tiers., to give a series of receptions and star's.* at the Man-
, sion-house, to the more distinguished of our goods
connected with art, industry, and commerce. Some of the
West-end clubs have resolved to admit strangers, friends of
their present members, into their aristocratic interiors on
certain specified but liberal conditions, (luring the summer.
Among all organised bodies we bear the sound of prepare-
' dons ter doing honour to the nation's guests. Dinners to
distinguished continental and Ant rictus men of letters,
artists, generals, and statesmen, are in course of arrange-
ment ; and many of the leanied societies will probably open
their sittings to men of science and letters from all countries.
The Festival of Industry promises to be the festivel of every
species of merit.
Amid the pomp and circumstance of this great feast,—an
earnest appeal is made to the reader's humane feeling in
behalf of a class whose well-being is thought to be enilais-
gered from those very causes. The hundred thousand
shopmcn and shopwomen in London fear that the flow of
life and flush of trade during the coining summer may dis-
astrously affect the arrangements already made with em-
ployers by the Early Closing Association. These fears are
perhaps unfounded:—as the hours of closing in continental
cities are generally more favourable to the persons employed
in them than in England. In the hurry of party-giving
I there will doubtless be sonic eases of hardship,—milliners
condemned to sleepless nights, and tailors forced to Sunday
work: but much of this evil may be provided against by a
little forethought on the part of the public. During the
Festival of Industry its humblest ministers may reasonably
hope to have their toils rememliered in a kindly spirit.
A few nights ago Sir George Grey announced in the
House of Commons that St. Paul's showman would vacate
his office on the Ist of May ,—from that date the national
cathedral will he open to the public without the old tax of
twopence each visitor. This change, however, will open
only the great area of the cathedral. The publie will still,
we fear, have to pay the heavy lines so long levied fur sue—
lo g the dome, whispering-gallery, library, cluck, and vitiate.
We observe the death, on the lath inst., of Mr. J. C.
Tarver, who for a quarter of a century had filled the situa-
tion of French master at Eton College. Our readers are
aware that ut that celebrated school Prince Albert has
founded prizes fur proficiency in modern languages. Mr.
Tarver, from his ability and acquirements, was eminently
qualified to early out such improvements in the system of
education at Eton as this wise liberality on the part of the
Prince pointed to as a necessity. Mr. larver is well known
as the author of several standard elementary works. ilia
" French and English Phraseological Dictionary " has
given him a high reputation. Mr. Terser, we hear, is suc-
ceeded by his son, who was his assistant.
The Adelaide Observer records the death of Mr. John
Stephens, editor and proprietor of that paper and of the
SoutA Australian Register.
It is a good sign of our times that biographies of the
thinkers, the philanthropists, and the pioneers, thee now
coming into request, not merely as sectarian books, but as
contributions to general literature. Those from whom
" the many " stood aloof as amiable enthusiasts, the world
is now beginning to study as objects of close interest.
Among other works of the kind which are forthcoming, not
the least interesting is likely to be "'The Life of George
Fox,"—on which Mr. William Hewitt is understood to have
been engaged for many years past. The life of the great
Quaker will, in fact, involve the history of Quakerism itself.
A letter twin Capt. Meadows Taylor, dated Shorapoor
(Deccan), 24th of February last, announces the interesting
fact of his having discovered some very curious Druidical
remains in that province,—which we have reason to hope lie
will illustrate by drawings and further descriptions.

REPRESENTATION OF TUE ISLE OF WIGIIT.—Mr.
Simeon, in retiring from the representation of the Isle of
Wight, reminds the electors that up to the present time he
hu always professed himself a member of the church of
England ' • but the events of the past year. which have its a
variety of ways so strongly complicated the position of the
establishment, have forced upon his unwilling consideration
an inquiry into the grounds upon which she claims the
allegiance of her members. 'the result of that inquiry,
honestly conducted, has been the conviction that it is his
duty "to seek admission into the body of the one catholic
church from which England was severest at the Reforma-
tion. A change of views so entire and decided, he adds,
"entails upon me, as an honourable necessity, the duty of
returning a trust which 1 ant conscious that 1 should never
have received bad I been a catholic at the time of my solicit-
ing your suffrages." Mr. Simeon has represented the Isle
of Wight since 1847.
EDMISTON'S POCKET SIPIIONIA.—This new water-
proof over-coat has man good qualities not possessed by
previous dreadnoughts," and well deserves the praises
bestowed on it by a contemporary. Its weight is only about
ten ounces; yet it is gtiarunteed by the inventor to bo
impervious iu the heaviest rain, and to resist the hottest
sun ; and it is so easy of carriage that it can he stowed in au
ordinary pocket as readily as a handkerchief. It is evi-
dently invaluable against the surprise of a storm or shower,
or as a defence tram dust. For the rail, steam-boat, coach,
gig, or saddle, and for the pedestrian, too, it will be found
a useful luxury.
G EOGRA PIIICEL DISCOVERY. —Captain auesdon,
commanding the French whaler the Salamandre, just 3c-
rived at Havre, gives an account of the discovery of a clus-
ter of islands which is not marked on any of the charts.
They lie in 172 deg. 58 min. nest longitude of the meridan
of Paris, and 9 deg. 38 min. south latitude. 'f hey are front
25 to 30 in number, three of them of some extent, and all
covered with cocoa-nut trees. On the same day hc disco-
vered the Ile Clarence.

INCENDIARISM.—WiIIiam Edwards was charged
before David Bromilow, Esq., on Saturday, with setting tire
too stack of hay belonging to John Newton, of Bold. It
appeared that about half-past eight o'clock on Friday night
last the prisoner went to Mr. Newton's farm-house, cud said
that his building was on fire. Mr. Newton run out, and saw
one of his hay-stacks burning. With the assistance of his
neighbours and the prisoner he put the fire out, and they
afterwards adjourned into the house to partake of sonic re-
freshment. During conversation Mrs. Newton said it would
be hard to suspect any of their neighbours of having set lire
to the stack of hay. The prisoner at once said, " You don't
need to suspect any of them, it was me ; I did it because I
was hard up, and thought I should get a little meat." Police-
constable Bowcock searched about the hay-stack, and found
a quantity of luciter matches. The prisoner said he had set
fire to the hay-stack with lucifer matches, and that he had
bought them in Manchester, and would like to go to New
Australia. Committed to the next a.saixes for trial.—Liver-
pool Alercury.—A barn, containing pea straw, the produce
of twelve acres, on Garnett's farm, in the above parish, and
in the occupation of Mr. E. Bennett, was wilfully fired
shortly before 8 p.m., on Tuesday last, and consumed. The
building stood not more than ten rods from the spot where
a haulm stack was on the evening of Easter Monday last
year set fire to and destroyed, and a cottage standing be-
tween the stack and the barn was in both instances in great
danger. A person living in the cottage in question was in
the garden at the time of the outbreak but saw no one,
nor was there any trace of footsteps from the barn aerie's
the fields; it is, therefore, supposed to have been caused by
some one passing down a lane by the side of which the
building stood. The barn is the property of Mr. Haggard,
of West Bradenham-hall, Norfolk, and is insured.—Chelois-
ford Chronicle.
METALS.—Mr. Moate's circular states that Welsh
Bar Iron is not quite so firm: the last advises from New
York brought much lower quotations, caused by large
speculative parcels having been forced on the market; the
demand, however, for rails, on American account, continues
great, and this circumstance must tend to keep the price of
bars from giving way very materially. Staffiirdshire Iron—.
A large local trade is doing ; but little business for ship-
ment. The last accounts from the Indian presidencies were
very discouraging to shippers. Scotch Pig Iron is firm,
several parcels having changed hands on speculation. The
shipments from Glasgow from the Ist January to the 14th
April, 18.50, were 80,500 tons; and from the Ist January to
the 14th April, 18.51, 138,000 tons; showing an increase in
18.11 over 1850 of 51,500 tons. Swedish Iron is in moderate
demand. Swedish Steel is in small request fur the Medi-
terranean. Copper—A fair business doing. Yellow Metal
i
Sheathing is in good request. British Tin s dull of sale,
especially common. The export is unusually small. Foreign
Tan is quite neglected ; a parcel of Banes was offering
the early part of the week at 811., without finding buyers.
Spelter—Not any transactions have transpired. the week;
there are buyers at 141. I,s. lid., seller! at 101. The last
accounts from India were more encouraging, and the native
houses were turning their attention to the article ; the
stock in France is unusually small ; and by the accounts
from Hamburg and Stettin, quotations were firmer. Lead •
is in good request; the United States and China arc taking
large quantities. Tin Plates may be bought on eludes, ,
U/1161. .1 •
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