The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-13 00:00:00

THE EXP:

tating or doubtful terms the proposed breaking up'
of the Natural History collections In the Museum,
and their removal to any situation &stoat from ,
the centre of London. Of course the memorialists
fully admitted and deplored the alarming hyper-
trophy under which the building in Bloomsbury
laboured then and lingers still. The most casual
and careless of Easter Monday sight-seers must
have ls,cit struck by the plethoric and congested
appearance of the Museum. If a taxpayer, and
acquainted with Blue-books, he must have felt
aggrieved by the eternally provisional "pecking "
of antiquities, of which it may be said, with far
more truth than of the serpent at the fair, that
they " came over in two ships," and probably may
have figured in some shape 'or other in the Naval
Estimates. if a believer in the " School of
the Pi .pliets" may have derived cutistaa•
tion from the thought that the authorities of the
Museum were evidently making ready for that
momentous epoch when the last edition of " The
"(;neat Tribulation" will be committed to the
flames. if a naturalist, he must have grieved to
hear of inamemible drawers and cases crammed
with specimens, and irrecoverably consigned to the
unrelenting keys of bewildered custodians. All this is
patent, notorious, and regrettable enough, and
the memorialists of 1858 made no secret of it ; but
they insisted then, and insist still, that the malady
is not incurable, nor does it even demand a change
of scene and air to the favoured land of Gotha,
southwards of Hyde-park. There is no denying
the fact that the South Kensington interest is
powerful. AU the men of science in the United

Kingdom are hardly a match for it. Not only
does it include that distinguished sect of dikitanti
who date from 1851, and whom we will take the
liberty to denominate Lea Important., but it can
bring half a dozen Cabinet Ministers to the front
at a moment's notice, and browbeat the trustees
with considerations of "economy." The British
public is probably as desirous of economy as any
six Cabinet Ministers are likely to be ; bat it
would rather pick some other hole in the Miscel-
laneous Estimates than be duped into sacrificing
its National Museum to the caprices of ever
so sublime a clique. There is something
(specious no doubt in the proposal to
make the building in Bloomsbury a vast depo-
sitory of ancient art and universal literature, and to
transfer its Natural History collections to the
various government institutions or voluntary asso-
ciations to which they specially belong. But the
memorialists opposed this suggestion (under which
South Kensington lay in ambush) on the double
ground that these special institutions are insuffi-
cient in space for the reception and display of the
collections, and that to separate them would be
to destroy that very unity and harmony which
they are designed to demonstrate and teach, and
would necessitate a transference of a large propor-
tion of the national library, or a very expensive
purchase of a new and special one. The memo-
rialista appeal with great confidence to the ad-
mitted fact that "by far the greater number of
" visitors to the Museum consists of those who
" frequent the halls containing the Natural His-
" tory collections." To these visitors a central
locality and a single collection are indispensable,
and the memorialists are justified in demanding
that " such a vast and harmoniously related
" accumulation of knowledge gathered together
" around a library illustrating each department of
" this noble Museum," shall not be dispersed in
deference to foreign crotchets. Supposing, then,
that the testimony of all the men eminent in
science in the United Kingdom avails against the
South Kensingtonian interest, what is to be done for
the British Museum as it stands, or, rather, as it
sinks underthe weight of itstreasures—magma inter
open imps I The memorialists are quite prepared to
solve this seemingly desperate problem, and it
must be confessed that their solution has the merit
of extreme simplicity, and requires very little
"moving." It is to extend the area of the
Museum northwards by " the purchase for imme-
" diate requirements of a comparatively small
" number of leases," and a negotiation for securing
the ultimate reversion of the land. This com-
plete and comprehensive plan disposes of the
factitious economy of the six Cabinet Ministers
and their patrons, since, according to the
memorialists, "it involves only& gradual acquisition
of the land, and consequently an expenditure
extending over many years, whereas the acquisi-
tion of a similar extent of grass land at Kensing-
ton, and the building thereon, must be paid for
either "at once or in the ensuing three or four
"years." It is well that the public should be in
possession of the plain facts of the case ; for
though we have not yet arrived at that millennial
epoch in which the perfection of gunnery having
finally reduced the science of wholesale homicide
to an absurdity, we shall be able tq transfer
twenty millions from the Army and Savy Esti-
mates to the British Museum, the British people
is not so barbarous even in 1860 as to grudge to
civilization a tithe of the millions it is obliged in
self-defence to spend in powder and shot.

THE VACANT JUDGISHIP.—We (Tire a) hew
7114110 D to believe that the vacant judgeship will be con-
ferred co Mr. James Wilde, Q.C.

The MITROPOLITAN iouct. —A parliamentary
return, issued this morning, shows that 18 superintendents
in the metropolitan police and 175 inspectors have been
promoted to their present situations from the force ; 21
inspectors have been in the army and 4 in the navy;
18 superintendents and 14. S inspectors have been appointed
without having previously been in the public service, civil
or military, all having joined the police as constables. The
number of police constables reported by sergeants or
acting sergeants, was 2.983 in 1857 ; 2,578 in 1858; and
2,456 in 1839. In 1857 1,318 entered the force, 257
were dismissed, and 769 retired (resigned). In 1858 the
number who entered was 1,040, the number dismissed 299,
end the number who retired 654. Last year 898 entered
the force, 213 were dismissed, and 800 retired. Of thorn
who resigner' during those years, 5013 have received pension.,
and 143 gratuities ; a large proportion of the remainder
who resigned, as well as those who were dismissed, were
men who had been but a short time in the force.

The Dublin Earning Mail gives the following
names and the amounts attached to them as the distribution
of the sum of 10,0001. which appeared as "remuneration tol
directors in paid-up shams" in the accounts of the Trans►t.
!antic Royal Mail Company, recently published :—John 0.
Lever, M.P., 2,5001.; G. 0. Lascaridi, 2,5001.; T. 0. Stock,
; Sir A. M'Nes, 7201.; Harvey Lewis, 7101.; Lord
Bury, 710/4 Sr P. IL Fleetwood, rum. ; Thomas Howard,
710/.; John A. Roebuck, M.P., 7101.
Tee NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TOIL THE Puller
VON or SOCIAL Senner..—A general meeting of the local
committee appointed to mks the neemary arrangements
for the meeting of t►e amid Seism, Asocietios, to be
held in Glasgow in the lest week of September next, was
held in the Council Chamben es Wednesday. Sir James
Campbell, in the abeence of the Iced Provost, was celled
Co the chair, and explained the objects of the ineebnfi.
Mr. sheriff Bell moved, seconded by Principal Fairbaire,
" That the General Local Committee agree to act sad
lend their infIUODOO to get subscriptions, and to ad.
vanes generally the objects of the .societies." The
Rev. Dr. Hill afterwards moved, seconded by Mr. W. P.
Paton, " That the following be appointed a sub-committee
for all purposes other than finance and accommodation :
The Lord Provost, chairmen ; Sir Andrew Orr, vice-chair-
man; Bailie Cooper, Sheriff Bell, Rev. Dr. N. Macleod,
Rev. Dr. Celia, Rev. Dr. Buchanan, Rev. Dr. Lithe, Pro-
fessor Wm. Thomson, /MO Jamieson, Esq., Jas. M'Cld.
Lad, Feq.. Alexander Harvey, Esq., John, D. Campbell,
=Ohs Carrick, Fem.. P. R. Dove, Esq.,
, &q.. with power to add to their number, and to
sub-commii" Sir A. Allmon mo►ed a vote of thanks to the
chairman, and the meeting separated. Subsoliption lists
having been plena on the table, amnia; at 440/. wea
subscribed in the room.

frbe tourt.
ROYAL PAPILION, ALDERAMOTP CAMP,
THURSDAY, APRIL 12.
Her Majesty drove out yesterday afternoon, ac-
companied by the Princess Alice and Princess Leiniagen: The
Hon. Flora Macdonald and Colonel the lion. A. Hood were
in attendance.

The Prince Consort and Prince Alfred rode on horseback.
The Queen's dinner party in the evening included the
Rdlowing : Prince A Prineem Alice, and Princess
Leiningen ; Lieut.-General Knollyyss ; Brigadier-General
Lord George Paget, Commanding Cavalry ; Major-General
Lawrence, Ist Bde ; Colonel t, 2nd
Brigade ; &ipd-General R 3rd Brigade ; Major-
General Forster, Deputy Adjutan ; Colonel the
Hon. A. Gordon, LC` 8., Deputy QuartennasterGeneral ;
Major the Hoe. 8. Calthorpe, 11th Dragoon Guards ; Lieut.-
Colonel Knox, 18th Human ; Lieut.-Colonel Robertson,
Military Train ; Lieut.-Colonel Lord A. Russell, Ride
Brigade • Lieut.-Colonel Carleton, Coldstream Guards ;
Colonel Brooke, 12th Regiment; Major Hood, Mth Regi-
nolt, : Lieut.. Colonel Peacoeke, Int Battalion ltith Regi-
ment ; Lieut.-Colonel Grant, King's Own Light Infantry
Jldrtia ; Major Cowell, ICE., an Major Elphinstone, K.E.
The band of the 11th Regiment played during dinner.
This morning her Majesty, accompanied by the Princess
Alice and Prince*, Leiningen, drove round the camp and
visited the hospitals and some of the officers' and sol-
diers' quarters. Her Ma' st was attended by Lady
Churchill, the Hon. Flora and the Equerries in
WThaitintrincee • Consort and Prince Alfred rode out, attended
by Captain Du Plat.
Lady Churchill has succeeded the Marchioness of Ely sa
Lady in Waiting to her Majesty.

Ou Tuesday evening the King of the Belgians
entertained his Royal Highs= the Prince of Wales at the
palace of Brussels, the company at the dinner including the
Duchess of Brabant, the Count of Flanders, the First Secre-
tary of the English Legation, and Lady Howard de Walden
and Seaford. Later in the evening the Prince of Wales and
the Duchess of Brabant and their suite, went to the
Theatre Royal, where they witnessed the Pardon de Pfoer.
vriti. On Wednesday rooming, at half-past nine, his royal
highness left Brussels for Coburg.

The Earl of Beverley is passing the season at
Torquay. His lonlabip will not arrive in town until June.

Viscount Campden has arrived at his residence
in Portaaaavequare for the 60111111:6.

Lord and Lady Feveraham are expected in town
la a few clam from Dancombe Park, Yorkshire, for the
sessoa.

Lord and Lady Lovaine come to town to-day from
Albary Park, Otuldford.

Lady Caroline Townley'a soirees &mantes are
laid to take place on Tuesday, the 24th instant, and on
Tuesday, the Ist of May.

The Countess of Cork gave birth to a daughter
at No. 1, Grafke-streat, on Tuesday last.

A grand ball, which was attended by upwards of
100 of the nobility and gentry, took place at the Town Hall,
Windsor,on Wednesday last, the lady patronage. being Mdme.
Van de Weyer, Lady Emily Seymour, Lady Mary Hood,
Hon. Lady Phipps, Mrs. Richard Howard Vywr, and Mrs.
Roberta; and the stewards included Colonel R. H. Vyae
mil the officers of the Royal Horse Guards, Lieutenant-
Colonel Baker and the °Moms of the 10th Royal Hussars,
Colonel Mark Wood and the officers of the Coldstream
Guards, Mr. William Vanaittart, M.P., Mr. G. W. Hope,
M.P., and Captain Bulkeley. Dancing, to the music of
the band of the let Life Guards, commenced at ten o'clock
and terminated at a late hour.

It is stated that her Majesty's ministers intend
during the present session to int/Woos a bll constituting
the Red River settlement, in the amain of British North
America, one of the ordinary colonies of the crown.

The Forte, 51, screw, now at Spithead, will em-
bark for conveyance to the Cap§ of Good Hope, hi, Excel-
lency the Hon. Sir George Grey, Governor madOommander-
in-Chief of that colony, and family. According to present
arrangements the Forte will sail for her destination on
Tuesday next.

The Secretary of State for War has issued a
circular, calling the particular attention of all the engineer
°Moms to the necessity of exercising the strictest economy
of the public funds in the design of works and buildings for
military purposes.

A Paris correspondent writes :—" At the after-
noon promenade on Good Friday, the gre►t crinoline strug-
gle was renewed, and the advocates on each side, of course,
hoped for the utter demolition of their antagonists. But,
in my humble opinion, the matter still rests in state quo,
the advantage remaining on the side of the evince
line wearers. It is true that some of the leaders of the
ton (amongst others the Princess de Metternich and little.
Errasse) have decided upon appearing without the much-
abused article ; but, on the other hand, the Gomtesses de
Morny and Wslewska have enrolled themselves under the
imperial banner, and persist in wearing crinoline. Can any
fashion gain that Eugenie does not sanction! It is not
very likely. And then, again, there is another motive that,
in conjunction with the convenience of the crinoline, will at
least for a time prevent its desertion by the ladies. In the
desire to appear mart', that class which in Paris is large enough
to form en army, and which is delicately but comprehensively
stigmatised by the n►me of the Devi-Monde, has entirely
left off crinoline, and its members may be seen any day in
the principal thoroughfares crinolineless, starched, petti-
°ostler—good portraitures of that renowned English dairy-
maid, Dorothy DraggletaiL This, then, is the idea to be
taken from my remarks—for carriage and for dinner and
indoor dries crinoline may be laid aside if desired; but
for walking it is de rigneer, on account of the reasons I have
mentioned above."

There are at Paris at the preeent time 19 pro-
testant churches in fall operation, 97 protestant clergymen,
and 2,500 children regularly attending protestant Sunday
schools.

A letter from Berne of the 9th Bays :—" Sir
Robert Peel, who arrived here the day before yesterday, is
the object of great attention from the leaders of the two
political campi— now one party—for the conservatives are
not a whit less ardent in the maintenance of the national
rights than their old antagonists."
FEHTIVITIZE IN STAPPORDSHIRE. —Tag PERKINS
EARLDOM—The festivities were resumed on Wednesday
evening with another ball at the Shire-hall, to which Lord
Shrewsbury's tenantry and tradesmen were invited
to meet his lordship and his guests. The corn.
piny wee scarcely so numerous as on Tuesday night,
but the dancing was of a more spirited cha-
racter. The ball was opened at about ten o'clock by
Lady Gertrude Talbot and one of the principal tenants.
The Marchiouess of Lothian, the daughter of Lord Shrews-
bury, also danced in the opening quadrille. Her ladyship
was magnificently attired in the diamonds inherited from
the peat Lord Castlereagh, the uncle of her husband.
Yesterday most of the Earl of Shrewsbury's visitor. en-
in the sports of the hunting field. The Earl, Lord
tre, and moot of the visitors returned to the hall about
2 o clock, after the ran across the chase, and then coin.
menced the other principal feature in the day's rejoicings.
The labourers on the estate and the school children from
seven adjoining parishes, amounting together to between
1,600 and 1,800, were supplied in the farm buildings ad-
joining the hall, and in temporary erections put up there
for the purpose, with a dinner of meat, bread, plum-
pudding, and ale. The remaining pastimes have foe some
years been sinking into disum. The greased pole wait to be
climbed, and there pinto
ruse.
be jumping us the sack, and other
kindred, and, if only by repute, well.knovrn village pastimes
of the middle ages. The bane at the hall sat with Lady
Shrewsbury in front of the hall, and witnessed the gambols
of the villagen and their children. At night there we to
be an exhibition of fireworks. To-day (Friday) Lord Shrews-
bury makes his public entry into Alton, and takes formal
possession of his newly-inherited estate.
THE MANCHESTER WORKING MAN'S COLLROZ.
A general meeting of the council and students of this, col-
lege was held on W
Wednesday evening in the large room of
the college of the Mechanics Institution. Mr. Oliver Hey-
wood preeided. Mr. A. Ransome (one of the honorary
secretaries) made the following statement of the position is
which the college stands at the present time :—The number
of students entered for the last term was only 89, showing
a decrease of 46 as compared with the filet term of the
present session. The new students numbered 18 against
24 entering during the corresponding term Let year. Of
the 46 new members who registered in October last 21 only
again joined the classes. The number of members of the
Mechanics' Institution was 15, showing a decreaw of 12 as
compared with the last term. There were 135 members of
chime as spurt 195. This number was thus distributed :
Mechanics
Fil;ealgebra 10, arithmetic 11, chemistry 11,
soologi:e. lah history 12. English la nguage 37, Greek 5,
Latin elementary) 18, Latin (advanced) 18. -Geometry and
logic (e had been propmed) were not formed, be-
came a sufficient number of names had not been banded in.
The discontinuance of the logic class led to the withdrawal
of eight or ten members. The student.' committee, elected
at the last term in accordance with the regulation, had been
I working very well in securing that bond of union within the
college and amongst the members which it was so very de-
sirable to see
_prevailing. Several lectures had been deli-
vered by the Rev. Canon Richson, the Rev. W.
Kr. Thomas Turner, F.R.C.S., and two by 11;31.=
Nelda ; but the average attendance had not been more than
30 or 40 out of 480 students altogether. He hoped the
leetweve in the present term would be better Weeded. The
teachers of the various classes then made statements with
regard to the operation of the classes under their tuition.