The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-22 00:00:00

(Stamped Id. AdditimmeL) [TWOPENCE.

TSB LADY MAYOII4B'B JUYANILII DALL AZ

TER ALANIIION EMIL

Yesterday evening the hospitalities of the Man-
: Am-home during the ensuing season were Inaugurated by
a juvenile file, to which the Lady Mayoress invited the
younger members of the families of the aldermen and the
members of the Court of Common Council, as well as
large tittle of distinguished and private friends. Ney
a thousand guests, including the parents of the 'claimer por-
tion of the vidtors, were assem►led in the receptions-maim
of the Manion-house.

y^
--
Ztisrty began to arrive by 6 o'clock, ant dancin ewe-
in the Egyptian-hall at halfist. Professor P
P.C.8., Isaias and manager of the al Polytechnic /watt-
Wien, eherwards displayed to a deli ted audience his eery
appropriate lecture, experiments of the pomliarities and &e-
-recters of the Gee family. Master)oevh Hine,. whole totally
blind, and who has had the honour of performing before fres
Majesty at Windsor Castle, performed a polo on the violin,
accompanied on the pianoforte by Miss Ada Thomems.
Dam ing was @gain resumed for some time with much spirit,
and blaster J. Hine then performed on the tibia-pipe, made
so celebrated by Piero; which was followed by a aeries of
dissolving views on the same extensive stale as at the Poly-
technic Institution, illustrating " Ye Pitifull end Divertynge
Historie of ye Blew Beard," with appropriate musk, and an
original humorous description by J. D. Malcolm, Req.
During the evening refreshments were served m the long
parlour, and at eleven o'clock the guards partook of en step&
in the bell• roam, after which dancing was rssnmsd
sapper in
with Sir Roger de Combs .
am in auendeare sad performed of the unmet sad
most faeldeashie dames. The party did not commence
Ireeldin up dB seer 'midnight, sad Mithighly gratified eta
Mill'espfift sad hospitsbie entertainment of their kind hest
sad hostas.

THE BUILDERS' BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.
Yesterday a special general meeting of the friends
and sebscribses to this Institution, founded for the purpose of
=penetrate and giving relief to aged and decayed
and their widows, wee bald at the Freemasons'
Tavern, Geed Queer-street, Mr. G. BIRD in the chair, for
the purpose of taking into conekleration the report of the
directors relative to the gift of • plot of five aerie of freehold
land, near Slough, by Mr. Henry Dodd, for the building of
almshouses upon, and also to consider the propriety of oore-
mnthe building forthwith.
. .O. Bantus, the secretary, read the report, which
stated that Mr. Dodd had kindly predated the land in cues-
' lion, and contained the following extract of a letter from that
gentleman I beg to say that the sooner it will be conve-
nient to the Building Committee to decide as to the ground
named by me, as • gift for the purpose of building almshouses
thereon for the institution, and to survey the same, that
I may have it off my mind, the better, and then it will
rest with the committee to persevere in =This out so &-
citable a purpose. Let a day be appointed, said I will be
there to dhow it to them. I have made it of more value, my
neighbour freeholder having kindly said that he will do all
he eau to make the boundary a straight line, and which will
be • grille advantage! The committee having viewed the
= usi.,loonsitered It in every way eligible. The report, in
stated that Mr. Dodd stipulated that he should
Lai a life panatellas to the almshouses, and also that a
person to be named by him should have the same privilege,
upon condition that that person should pay to the institution
the sum of 200 guineas within fifteen months of Mr. Dodd's
decease, and upon his nominee failing to do so the presente-
d= lame"
Mr. T. Cozens, in moving the reception of the
ll
expedited himself in grateful terms to the donor of the
and moved the following resolution That the thanks
the directors now reed be received and adopted, and that
the bast thanks of this meeting be presented to Henry
Dodd, Esq. for his munificent gift of the land near Slough
for building the almhousco, and that the directors be re-
=noted to make the necessary legal arrangements for having
the land conveyed to the trustees of this institution."
Mr. JOSEPH BIRD, in seconding the above resolution, said
there were many questions arising with respect to this grant
of land which amounted to objections, the principal
that of the distance from town, which would prevent the re-
latives from being able to visit the inmates. Having nest
alluded to the large outlay which would be n to put
the works in operation, to which their funds were • sate,
he added that he believed, however, their generous
fader did not egaim them to begin immediately, and con-
cluded by seoosdiag the resolution.
Mr. flowery (solicitor) said he attended on behalf of Mr.
Dodd, and was sure that gentleman did not wish them to
proceed immediately. Mr. Dodd would not interfere with
the rules of their institution, or inflict any stress upon their
regular proceedings. In offering the gift to the institution,
he was sure he would be the last man to wish anything that
was contrary to their rules.
Mr. lea.= Bun thought the Intentions of the donor
could not be carried out. He thought the distance from
town was too great. He instanced several institutions of •
similar description, the generality of the recipients p
an allowance of, say be. • week, and remaining with their
Mends, to retiring to an almshouse in • distant place. It
prevented the children from going to see their grandfathers.
The recipients themselves would rather live with their
children, and the money allowed would sold in
them. It appeared to him that if alinhonaes were to kblett
they ought to be had in a more convenient locality. In the
case of a recipient occupying an almhouae, the money ex-
pended in travelling expenses in visiting wouldl some
little way in providing for the comforts of the ther
and if such Baits could be frequently performed, the individual
should not some on the funds of the institution. He
wee =re that Mr. Dodd was a kind sod generous soul ;
but when be (Mr. Bird) considered that by the erection of
almshouses at such a distance as twenty miles from town,
causing the recipient of such benefaction to leave the nearest
and dearest of relatives, he was sure that it would not be the
intention, upon due reflection and consideration, to deprive
the poor man of one of the greatest and brightest ornaments
which bound families together—viz., domestic ties. He
concluded by moving the following amendment :—" That
the beat thanks of the subscribers and Mende of the Builders'
Benevolent Institution be presented to Mr. H. Dodd for ,his
noble and munificent offer to give about five mese of freehold
land, situated near Slough, Berke, for the purpose of build-
ing the almshouses in connexion with the benevolent In-
, dilution ; but, in consequence of its being situate so far
from the metropolis, it la considered by this meeting ineligible
for the comfort and convenience of toe propoeod inmates;
' they, therefore, with much regret, respectfully decline hie
generous and noble offer."
Mr. Moos seconded the above amendment, and said for
many ears past he had wished to see almshouses cite-
Method, in order that those who had fallen into decay might
be rendered comfortable and happy in their latter days. He
somewhat entered into the feelings of the previous speaker,
and thought the distance from town was too great. He
al= vary reluctantly thought the meeting must decline the
offer of Mr. Dodd's generaity under that circumstance.
Mr. Haab begged to differ with the remark of the lad
speaker, and Thought the offer ought to be accepted, and
for his own part he should support the adoption of the
Nr..BAlltArt referred to the expense. the institution would
be trammelled with in having almabouree at so great a dia-
-1 twee. They would probable have to pay a man to pump up
water end have to pay • gardeuer, and other expenses, wnich
accept
letinpsri liiituertlw."l2l7:3is:jannunkiiid.rthilomumitti°thatthatmeetifirmtheth.nineetinwoguiddid
notnot
Wes back the land, but allow them to sell it, end with the
produce perched some more convenient spot.
Mr. GRABONoouId not sit there and give • silent vote. He
was most acetone to me almshouses, and so much a week for
the inmates to live upon. They bad now 1,9001. in the Three
per Cent. Consols ; but after the prehminarr expmadi wre
=thenpaid; inthandaeyposiwog.tullodunttoundeotcohamtomvewenmosoriliban -
i'Midb,uihldeingmuift..ruanZ7alythel:t.dui;
the motion.
Mr. Cozies having spoken very warmly in favour at the
ne of the report,
Ttitnatature proceeded to give a summary of the opi-
nide ylsoed before the meeting, coneluding by placing the
meat to a show of bands, which was lost by two, and
the motion was ultimately carried by thirteen to eleven. He
(the chairman) then expressed his regret that they had not
come
tounanimous vote, and was sorry he had not entered
more largely into his own expression', as he intended to '
have submitted to the meeting the propriety of adjourning
for two months for further consideration. The report, how-
ever, was to be received and adopted.
Mr. Hawrre having replied on behalf of Mr. Dodd,
A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the pro-
ceedings.

The Rev. Richard Harvey, A.M., hae bees insti-
tuted by the Lord Bishop el Glowasetar sad Bristol to the
ommary in the cathedral alma* of Gloucester TOASIn by the
death of the V. Henry Wetherell: and the Rev. John
Guthrie, A.M., bas been instituted to the canonry in Bristol
Cathedral vacant by the death of the Roe. John Surteee—
both cm the presentation of the Queen.
Ms Furs Aare IN rim Paixa.—A suggestion
hes been made to the C0011111a1110•11“ to whisk soulptare into
the perks by gift, u *tune en acespled for the public
galleries.
BALLOT MEETING AT ATLEUVRT.—A crowded
mating was held at Aykabary on Wednesday evening, to
promote the adoption of the ballot Mr. John Gibbs occu-
pied the chair. The meeting was addressed by Mr. B. C.
Whitehorse, Dr. Lee, of Hartnett Park, end maws] gentle-
men known in the locality. The enungsamste for
taking the votes by ballot in Amman wen explain* end a
niolution was unasimowsly passed that no measure of per.
liaratatary rebrat maid te @wigwags without the ballot,