The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-24 00:00:00

LONDON ORDINATION.

At this familiar resort of the many a programme
is provided that is stated by the managerial announce-
ments to be the " strongest ever mooned." Nor is it
undeserving of so forcible a distinction. The object of
the Royal Polytechnic Institution has always professed to
be the combination of instruction with amusement, and
the marked pecuniary success of the company may be
taken as a pretty good proof that the public do not object
to a judicious admixture of the two elements. For the
present season, however, the instructive portion is re-
duced to a minimum, while the purely amusing
is made proportionately prominent. The first en-
tertainment is a series of pictures from the
We of Scrooge, of Christmas Carol fame, the
representations being separated by drop-scenes of snow-
laden vehicles in frost-bound country lanes, town and
country life in manifold wintry garb, and portraits of
Christmas as it used to be, sufficient to remind us of the
mild, damp characteristics of these more modcan times.
The liberal supply of ghosts which Mr. Dickens invoked
for his " Christmas Carol," affords Professor Pepper an
irresistible opportunity of " working up" some of his most
skilful optical illusions. The spirits moil silently about
on the stage in continuous illustration o the selections
from the Carol that are read by Mr. Darner Cape.
In the smaller theatre Professor Pepperintroduces the Otto-
scope, as a rival of the chromatrope. Two small plates of
perforated zinc, moved about upon each other, and thrown,
powerfully magnified, upon the canvass, assume all manner
of fantastic shapes and beautiful patterns. The idea
was Professor Wheatstone's, and as it is capable of appli-
cation upon a parlour window blind, no doubt the Eido-
scope will become an amusing object of the home circle.
A number of optical illusions follow, commencing with the
novelty made familiar to the readers of play-bill hoardings
as " The Decapitated Head," and ending with a reme-
sentation of Ariel (or rather Ariel.' head) in the centre of a
brilliant star, on the principle of the Cherubs of the pest
summer. Appropriate recitations are given by Mr. Darner
Cape in accompaniment of the Shaksperian subjects. A
ventriloquial entertainment by Mr. Jester, and a new and
excellent musical tale by Mr. G. Buckland, founded upon
the story of Whittington and his Cat, are other items in
the programme. During the latter Whittington is recalled
to London to be Lord Mayor three times, not only by the
touching peals of Bow bells, but also by airy figures pro-
duced by " the ghost illusion apparatus." The instruc-
tive "—save at all times, of course, the abundant
specimens and models for which the Polytechnic is cele-
brated—is left to Mr. J. L. King, who mot
sot the
briefly and pleasantly on " the bit of balancing" —n
balancing that Christmas makes familiar to so many, but
• balancing that is illustrated by balls, slabs, wands, and
automatons. The slight superstructure of science, no
doubt, is meant to " lead up" to the entirely new feature
of the institution—" the automatic Leotard." This is a
well made figure of an athlete suspended from a trapeze
some 25 feet long, and which, by being exquisitely
balanced, is made to perform many of the astonishing
feats introduced to us by Leotard. It cannot be expected
that a mere dummy will execute such graceful flights as
those of that clever artiste ; but during its swing uf
feet it certainly is made to imitate the movements
these of a
human being with astonishing fidelity. Respecting
entertainments it is only necessary to say that the whole
resources of the establishment, and the best efforts of Mr.
Pepper and his staff, have been p forth to give the
public a bill of fare worthy of the season. The rooms
I have been redecorated, and improved in other way s, and
the comfort and safety of the visitors have been increased
by some additional means of egress from the different
• theatres to the main building and the street.

AGRICULTURAL HALL.

Sanger's nippudrume and Circus makes its first
public appearance in London today, and to judge of its
merits from a dress rehearsal which took place on Saturday
under very unfavourable circumstances, it will take a pro-
minent place amongst the attractions of the season. It
has the advantages of being the only entertainment of its
kind now in the metropolis, and of a building singularly
well adapted for equestrian perforrnances,but it has also iu
itself powerful claims to patronage. 'The old familiar ring,
round which horses of the genuine circus breed gallop and
canter, and submit to Le danced upon and jumped upon
without a sign of impatience, occupies the centre of the ball,
and in it all the time-honoursil deeds of equestrian daring
with bare-backed steeds, hoop, ribanda, and hideous, and the
jests and tricks of the clowns losing nothing by their
quity, are represented. But there is also au oval course tracing
the full extent of the ball, in which fia
t
handicapidde n raoesy
and steeplechases are run by oro-beds r b
" gentlemen" in jockey colours, and in which there are
chariot races by ladies, contests of gallant Romans on bare-
backed chargers, and races by ponies with monkey jockeys.
The principal feature of the entertainment is a proces-
sion remarkable for its extent and for the ela
hichborate and
gorgeous display of the property-maker's art wit pre-
sents. The " Congress of Monarchs," se it isld, calledrom the
, in-
troduces potentates from all parts of the wor f
sovereigns of Europe to the King of Dahomey,
gives to
each q numerous suite in recognisable, and at all events a
far as the guropeans are concerned, correct and brilliant
uniforms. The royal family of England, the Pope, and
the Sultan with his harem, figure in heavy gilded chariots,
while other exalted personages ride with dignity on horse-
back, or are jolted ungratefully on camels, dromedaries, or
elephants. The attractions of the ring include some very
graceful riding by Millie. Gaertner upon a trained horse,
the clever performance of another trained horse under the
guidance of Wale. Eclair, and marvellous vaulting and
somersaulting throwing by Messrs. Purvis and Elbin. The
trapeze occupies a prominent place in the programme, and
many truly wonderful feats of agility and muscular power
are exhibited by its aid, but the actors are some thirty
feet from the ground, and their movements have too much
the appearance of danger to give pleasure to the majority
of the audience.
On Saturday apologies were offered for the incomplete
fittings of the ball, the possible inexpertness of artistes
from want of practice in a ring fifteen feet larger than the
urinal size, and the absence of some of the promised attrac-
tions, but in spite of all these obstacles the exhibition had
scout it a promise of success, even though the Bedonin
Arabs had not arrived, and " numerous artistes" did not
'ar for " want of practice."

Cardinal Cullen has published his opi
aw, nion
he onsays, the
Sunday sale of intoxicating liquors. The l
which forbids the sale of other articles on that day should
make no exception in favour of liquor'. Almost all the
crime of Ireland, he adds, is traceable to drunkenness,
which can never be successfully combated until the public-
houses are closed on `Sundays. In the Roman catholic
dioceses of Cashel and Ferns, the bishops have induced the
people to refrain from selling or buying drink on Sundays.
()RESEAL PALACE. -- HALY-A-CROWN DoT. --
SATURDAY. D. 22.—Adndesions on payment, 705; ditto
by season tickets, 4,452 ; total visitors, 5,157.

Yesterday morning the Right Rev. Dr. Anderson,
Chancellor of St. Paul's Cathedral, and Rector of Clifton,
formerly Bishop of Rupert's Lend, held a passel ordina-
tion at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, under a commission
from the Bishop of London. It was simply a matter of
precaution that the Bishop of London, after his severe
illness, did not come up from Brighton at this inclement
season to hold the ordination in person, as his lordship's
health has steadily improved ever since his arrival there.
To secure his thorough recovery Dr. Gall, ILr. Seymour
Haden, and Mr. Oldham (of Brighton), the bishop's medical
advisers, insist on his lordship keeping as fns as possible
from all public and official business uutil after Raster.
Morning prayer having been read, a sermon was preached
by the Rev. George Granville Bradley, SLA., of Univer-
sity College, Oxford, head-master of Marlborough School,
who selected for his text the words of Bt. Matthew's
Gospel, "Ye are the salt of the earth." The rev. pro-
fessor J. B. Lightfoot, D.D., of Trinity College, Csm-
' bridge, presented to the bishop the gentlemen who were
i admitted into holy orders.

flabsti anti iftititarg.
CHATHAM, Dze. Z.
An order hail been received at this dockyard,
directing a specimen of one each of the boats used in the
Royal Navy to be constructed at this establishment, for
transmission to the Paris Exhibition. Oils of the large
steam launches is also to be built and fitted with a pair of
the high pressure engines by Messrs. Maudslay and. Co.,
and this will also be forwarded to the exhibition. A num-
ber of the hands are busily employed in the modelling
department, executing the models of the various ships
built in this yard, to be forwarded to the Preach
Exhibition.

The subjoined general order, dated Horse
Guards, 12th December, has been issued by command of
his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commiuidinipin-
Chief :—" His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Com-
manding-in-Chief desires that it may be notified that it
has been decided, on the reoorumendatiou of the Couecil
of Military Education, and with the concurrence of the
Secretary of State for War, that (Aileen:, candidates for
the commissariat service, who obtained their commissions
in the Artillery and Engineers from the late Honourable
East India Company's Military Seminary at Addiscom,
shall be permitted to share in the privilege allowed by the
last paragraph of the General Order, No. 892, dated fith
October, 15416, under which the obligatory examination
was in certain eases reduced to qualifying in ono foreign
language only. Officers who obtained their commissions
in the Indian cavalry and infantry from Addiscombe are
not, however, to share in this conceasion.-11y cominand
of his Royal Highness the Field Marshal Coraniatalieon.
Chief, Lord Wir.i.r.or l'Aettir, Adjutant-General."
THE FooT UUARDS.—The entire division of the
Foot Guards are to be armed forthwith with the new
breech-loading rifle (Snider's), in lieu of the Enfield
muzzle-loader.
ADMIRALTY APpourrmiewrs.—The following ap-
pointments were made on Saturday :—Assistant Surgeons
—Henry 1.). Stainstreet, William Frederick Ryan, Wil-
liam Anderson (additional for disposal), Edward Mulcahy
to the Pallas. Acting Assistant Surgeons—Edward Leet,
Eugene V. de Merle to the Pallas.

_ .
BARNEYS BANK.

Mr. Church, the chief clerk of the Master
of the Rolls, in giving his decision on Saturday,
with reference to the application fora call of -10/. on the
shareholders of Ranted Banking Company, satil—l haveto
looked into this ease, and I have made up my mind as
what is the proper course for sue to adopt. This is a
summons as to a call for the purpose of paying a dividend.
This is usually a simple matter enough, because the list
clef
ooutributosite shows who are to pay, and the list of
,liters shows who are to receive. In the preseut case,
however, the list of contrilimeries is imperfect, and there
is no list of creditors. That, however, is nut by any
means indispensable, because if it was shown that great
inconvenience would &lbw were the calls to be
delayed till the lists were deposited it would
be productive of great earthier. rids question has
been settled by the Lords Justicen. In the case of
then
Cont
Corporation, they determined that the
court might intik° a cull, provided it was made out to the
satisfaction of the court that a call was, in the state of the
think I the bank, indispensable. The only question I
think I have got to consider is whether the affidavits
lodged in this case do intiafactorily show that a call on the
amount required is a proper step to be taken. The official
liquidators have brought before me two affidavits. They
go into egad deal of detail, into which I do nut propose
to follow them. The result of the affidavits is simple
enough, awl it is comp
rised in three etate
4170ent. They say
that the nominal :tkiii't% 4 heoo4N,i
thero resultlikab,lbeilititof the of taerallbanwokutlarebe ;. andjuthtent
the first of these sums, the nominal assets-
-1 -
tho,ooo/.—l have not the slightest doubt that that
is perfectly correct. The official liquidators have
the books and documents on the subject. It is to be
observed that that is the amount of the nominal assets,
but the real meets will, I am afraid, fall considerably short
of the amount. Su far as that goes that is an additional
reason in favour of a call. I see nreason to doubt that
tint is as good an estimate as can be made. The third
figure is liabilities, 1;00,000/. As to that, I do not see
my way clear, and the real question I have to consider is
whether that figure is correct or not. Now, Mr. Emanuel
in the observations he made drew attentim to three points.
I First of all, be said that debts to a large amount of J.
Waned and Co. had been taken over by the bunkin
id tg comat
-
pany, now being wound up ; end, seneelly, he sah
during the course of its period of trailing, the bank now
in liquidation--or rather the directors of that bank—
, had contracted debts to a large :mount beyond
their powers as directors. There is very little in
support or in opposition to these two statements. There
are, however, two important facts which are not dis-
puted. One is, that at the time when the banking company
took over the business of J. Beamed and Co. they took
over liabilities to the extent of eOO,OOO/.; and the other
fact is this, that the bank—tile joint stock company—was
formed in ISOS, with a subscribed capital in cash of
400,000/., and stopped in April, 1800—eight months after-
warda—and that during the eight mouths in which it
carried on business the whole of that 404000
'eoo/. was lost,
the liabilities exceeding the assets by ,000/. ; and
this, as you know, is not all, because, as I said
just now, that is assuming the nominal assets to be
good. Now what is the real value of the nominal assets
the official liquidators do not profess very acourately to say,
but from what Mr. Burton has told me, 1 think that the
amount of these nominal assets must certainly be reduced
by a sum of not less than during hit may
beam good as that. The result is that he eight
months of trade the bank incurred iw.ws to the extent of
1,000,000/. at least—that is to say, at the rate of 200,000/.
per month. Now, this is a fact which has struck me as
being very important. In the course of the judgment
which he gave so the case of the Contract Corpocautiration,
Lord Justice Turner said—" I think that great on
and great care ought to be exercised by the court in work-
ing out the provisions of this act of parliament, and if
there were reasonable ground for supposing at
would not bean establishment of debt againstth thisthere com-
pany to the amount which will probably be raised by the
call, it is possible that the court might be in-
clined not to make the call." New, looking
to these facts and objections, and to that state-
ment, I do not think I should be exercising that caution
and care which the Lord Chief Justice says ought to be
exercised by the court if I were to make the call before
the list of creditors is brought in. I think the proper
course is to let this summons stand over, and to let the
liquidators bring in the list of creditors at the e.rliest
possible moment.
Mr. llandson, from the office of Freshfielil and Newman,
the official liquidator, said this decision amounted almost
to an indefinite postponement of the question.
Mr. Church—l do not exactly think so. If the official
liquidators think it undesirable to do as I have suggested, I
should not feel sorry then if you were to take the case be-
fore the judge himself.
Mr. Hudson said he would take it into court.
Mr. Church said in that case he would put it down be-
fore the judge on the fist Saturday after term.
-- - 1 This was accordingly done.
all the

ANOTHER STRIKE IN LIVERPOOL. —The men
connected with iron shipbuilding, boiler making, and en-
gineering, are now on strike in Liverpool. the masters
having been obliged to lower the exceptionally high wages
hitherto paid, in order to compete with the iron asZg
t-
builders of other porta. The masters are, in consequence,
advertising forrreah hands.