The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-03 00:00:00

TEE EXPRESS, THURSDAY

vire section 69 of the Nuisances Removal Scotland Act,
1050, relating to ►utisls in burghs, and it was afterwards
read a first time.
The house adjourned at 10 minutes to G o'clock.

ROYAL LITERARY FUND.

The Seventy-seventh anniversary dinner of this
celebrated fund was held last evening at Willis's Rooms ;
Lord lioculiro?r, one of the vice-presidents, occupied the
chair. There were about 150 guests present, including Sir
R. Murchison, Bart., Sir J. Simeon, Bart., M.P., Lord
Milton, M.P., Dr. Cheadle, Mr. Algernon Swinburue, the
Bishop of St. David's, Mr. A. Trollope, Mr. G. Cruik-
shank, Mr. B. Hope, M.P., Judge Manockjee Cursetjee,
Lord Crewe, the Dean of Canterbury, Sir T. Tancrml,
Sir F. Doyle, Professor Fawcett, M.P., Mr. W. P. Urqu-
hart, M.P., General Eyre, the President of the College of
Physicians, Mr. Heath, the Italian Consul-General, the
Chief Justice of Batavia, Professor Tndall, Mr. S. Baker,
(the African traveller), r. H. B. A&ms, Mr. 'enables,
Q.C., Mr. Forsyth, Q.C., Rev. C. Merivale, Mr. J. Hey-
wood, Mr. R. Ikll, Rev. R. Whiston, Mr. G. Godwin, Dr.
Crosland, Mr. H. Reeve, Mr. Macpherson, Professor
Cheetham, Mr. F. Leighton, A.R.A., Mr. James Spelling,
and the Rev. Charles Kingsley.
The Bishop of Sr. Davin's, in response to the toast of
" The Church," proposed by Sir W. Jones, Bart., said he
should not speak of the church as a religious, or theolo-
gical, or political, but as a literary institution. He had,
he thought, a full right to consider it in that light because
the religion of the church was pre-eminently the religion of
a book by which, he would not say the church was
bound, but which was her most precious instrument and
charter of faith. This alone constituted a connexion
between literature and the church which it was impos-
sible to sever from public opinion and sympathy. The
church was always in a defensive attitude, and literature
was the weapon she employed in her work of defence. He
trusted the time would never arrive when the ties between
the church and literature would be broken. (Cheers.)
Generd ETRE responded fur the Army ; and Captain
FORBES for the Navy. _
The CHAIRMAN proposed " Prosperity to the Royal
Literary Fund."
Mr. U. S. VE:tastrs proposed "The Historical and
Imaginative Literature of England," maintaining that Eng-
land and France were the only countries now possessing
imaginative literature.
The Rev. C. KINGSLEY responded. Of history be said
he knew nothing, for he was a professor of history, and
had therefore long since ascertained the difference between
profession and practice. (Laughter.) He would therefore
pass on to another subject. As for imaginative literature
he really thought it was hard in these days to ask a
gentleman to get up and respond to such a toast as this.
(Laughter.) If the world went on as it was going on ladies
must be called upon to reply to the toast of the imaginative
literature of England. (Hear,hear, and laughter.) Until Mr.
Swinburue arose, where, he would like to know, would
they find among men such poets as Miss Rossetti, Mies
Jean Ingelow, or Miss A. Proctor ? or who could write
such works of prose fiction as " John Halifax " or
" Romola ?" (Cheers.) Were there any men who could
beat these? No ; the Amazons hail invaded this time
not Athens, but Parnauus itself. (Cheers and laughter.
What the lesser lights were to do he knew not. (Renew
laughter.) He thought it was both creditable to the
ladies and to literature that this change had taken place.
As long as literature was the coarse and even venal thing
it was 200 and 100 years ago men alone dealt with it ; but
the more delicate the weapon became , the more delicate were
the hands which wielded it. (Cheers.) If he, in conclusion,
could give any advice to young men how they could escape
the trials and troubles that would beset their path in the
literary profession, how escape Whitecross Prison and the
workhouse, it would be to marry a literary lady, and set
himself down to the humble and chivalrous labour of re-
viewing his wife's books. (Loud laughter and cheers.)
Mr. ALGERNON SWINBURNE, the poet, also responded to
the toast, but in a voice that was inaudible.
The following toasts were then'gone through:—" Classical
and Scientific Education," proposed by Professor Fawcett,
In M.P. and acknowledged by the Rev. R. Whiston; "Our
Chairman," pro by Sir F.. Murchison •' " The Dif-
fusion of Englis Literature," proposed b 7 the Dean of
Canterburyand acknowledged bySir Manockjee Cursetjee ;
" The Pioneers of Civilisation," proposed by Mr. Anthony
Trollope and acknowledged by Viscount Milton 11. P.,
and Mr. S. Baker, the African traveller ; " The Alliance of
Art and Literature," proposed by Sir J. Simeon, Bait.,
M.P., and ackowleged by Mr. Leighton, A.R.A.
A choice selection of vocal music was given during the
evening.

RAILWAY BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The anniversary festival in aid of the funds of
this institution was celebrated last evening at the Free-
masons' Tavern, Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields,
the Right Hon. T. M. GIBSON, M.P., in the chair, sup-
ported by a large number of gentlemen connected with
the railway interest and others whose names are known
to be associated with objects of benevolence. It may be
stated that this institution was established to provide for
the necessitous members, orphans, children, and widows, of
the railway officers and servants in the United Kingdom.
Its object is to clothe, maintain, and educate necessitous
children, to grant relief by annuities and money allowances
to necessitous members and their widow., and to benefit
them in any other way which may from time to time be
thought desirable. The chairman, in proposing the toast
of " The Army and Navy and Volunteers," said that those
services were undoubtedly much indebted for their effi-
ciency to the railway system throughout the country. He
remembered it being stated, during a parliamentary in-
quiry, that whereas it took nine days, many years ago, to
bring a regiment from Manchester to London, it might be
transported now Ma few hours. In reference to the navy, it
might also be said that railways had proved a most valuable
boon, inasmuch aathrough their agency ships could be much
more quickly supplied with stores and ammunition than
formerly ; and it might also be said with equal truthfulness
that the volunteers were greatly benefited by the facilities
they derive from theoperatiof• of the ntilway system. The
toast having been enthusiastically responded to, the chair-
mangsve "The House of Lords and the House of Commons,"
coupling with the toast the name of Lord Harris. The
right hon. gentleman, in the course of his speech, took
occasion to say that in his opinion it would not be desira-
ble to take the railways, in reference to law making,
out of the house of parliament. There were some
who thought that such matters might be advan-
tageously left to the courts and theudges ; but
he thought this was decidedly a mistake. judges ought
not to be law makers ; they were only administrators ;
and his experience led him to believe that it was better
for the interest of the public that railway law making
should (as at present) be left to parliament. At the same
time he felt that, although the jurisdiction should not be
removed from parliament, there was no reason why it
should not be improved, and rendered leas expensive and
less tedious than it was at the present period. He should
like, for instance, to see • joint committee of the two
houses of parliament to bear the question of the
preamble of a railway bill ; for he did not see
why the work should be done twice over. An inquiry
properly conducted according to this principle might bene-
ficially serve the purpoees of all persons concerned ; and
he gave this opinion because he had himself been a
member of a joint committee such as he alluded to, and
that committee hail worked so far satisfastorily that
nearly all its recommendations had been carried into exe-
cution.— Lord Harris, in returning thanks, said he ap-
proved of the suggestions of the chairman, and
thought that an . amelioration of the present most
objectionable system was greatly to be desired.
—The Chairman then proposed the toast of the even-
ing—" Prosperity to the Railway Benevolent Institution."
He acknowledged that he was but very little acquainted
with the details of the management of this institution,
and must, in regard to the affairs of this society, take
much upon trust. But from the knowledge he possessed of
those gentlemen who supported the institution, he must
be content to approve of all that they did. A friend of
his, Mr. Tiild Pratt, the registrar of friendly societies,
bad told him that this institution was one of a most excel-
lent character, and although he had not certified its rules,
as it did not come under the denomination of a friendly
society, ho was an earnest supporter of it, as he felt it was
calculated to confer great benefit upon those for whose
interest it was established. He (Mr. Gibson) was neither
a director nor • shareholder in a railway ; and therefore
it might be asked why he took an interest in railway
affairs. Doubtless the servants of railway companies
were primarily under the special care of their
employers ; but every one was so far interested in
the servants of railway companies, that they were anxious
they should be satisfied with their condition. The public
were interested in knowing that they were a contented
and a vigilant and well-conducted class. They were often
called upon at the Board of Trade to bring bills into par-
liament to take certain matters out of the hands of di-
rectors. Although helium far from denying that envy
possible security should be offered to the travel-
ling public, be thought they should be very care-
ful how they interfered in the practical manage-
ment of railways. Seeing that in the year 1864
the directors of the railways throughout this country
were compelled to pay 135,0001. as compensation for in-
juries done to travellers, who could possibly have a greater
interest in the condition and welfare of railway servants
than the directors and managers themselves? Railway
travelling was found to be the safest of all modes of travel-
ling, as might be proved by reference to certain statistics
which had come within his knowledge. He should tell the
oomAny that in round numbers in 1864 there were
some 720 millions of persons taking separate jour-
neys, and out of that number there were 15
people killed ; but although this might be true in regard
to passengers it was not true of railway servants, for
during the same period it appeared that there were 103
railway servants of one class or another killed in the dis-
charge of their duty, and 70 or 80 injured. In observing
these facts they must recollect that there were 160,000
railway servants in the country, and he thought there was
no class of persons who, from their general civility, useful-
ness, and attention, were more deserving of general support
in the maintenance of such an institution as the present
The toast was received with the warmest acclamations,
and a subscription was afterwards read amounting to
about 9001.

SOCIETY FOR THZ ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE
FINE Aare.—The eoneerserioese of this society last evening
was given at the Suffolk-street Gallery, and was nume-
rously attended. Mr. Huristone, the vioe-president,
opened the proceedings by a few remarks, chiefly in refer-
we to the recently opened National Portrait :Erlibition,
and the forthcoming International Exhibition in Paris. An
entertaining mvaimA perforation followed.