The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-07 00:00:00

INLAND REVENUE,

In committee of the whole house, on the motion of Mr.
Onumn, the chairman wee directed to move for leave to
bring in a bill to amend the laws relating to the Inland
Revenue. Leave was subsequently given, and the bill
ins brought in and read a first time.
The house adjourned at 26 minutes to 6 o'clock.

METROPOLITAN FREE DRINKING FOUNTAINS
ARBOCIATION.—Bart Grosvenor, M.P., presided over the
seventh annual meeting of this association, held yesterday
'afternoon at St. James's Hall. Amongst those who were
guent were the lion. A. Kinnaird, M.P., the Hon. F.
Dudley Fortescue, M.P., the Hon. F. Byng. Dr. Jeaffre-
moo (London Fever Hospital), and Dr. Aldis, medical
alter of health for St. George's, Hanover-square. letters
of apology were read from Lord Ebury, Dean Stanley, Mr.
suxton, M.P., and Mr. Hanbury, M.P. The annual re-
port, which was of • most satisfactory character, stated
that ten fountains bad been erected during the past year
in the metropolis, making the total number provided by
the association 99. Troughs for cattle and horses had been
erected at Highgate, Kilburn, and Edgware. The report
then referred to the great necessity of procuring a good
istriltesure supply of water for the working classes
of the hunted quantity and poisonous nature of the
dommodity at present supplied them. That both the resi-
dent poor and the thirsty wayfarers of our crowded streets
appreciated the boon afforded by the association was suL
Saliently shown, it stated, by the fact that 8,000 people had
been known to drink at one fountain in a day. More than
300.000 people were estimatedto drink daily in the summer
at the 140 fountains already erected in London, many of
whom were working men who would otherwise be coin-
paled to resort to the public-house to quench their thirst.
The committee had expended all the funds which had
been placed at their disposal, and yet there were still en-
tire parishes without a single fountain. The contributions
during the past year included two donation/ of 1,0001.
sash, one being from a lady who was opposed tobaving her
SUMO published, and the other from an Indian prince. The
noble chairman expressed his regret at the misfortucewbich
had befallen Mr. Samuel Gurney, who, he said, was the
founder of the association, and hoped that before long that
gentleman would be restored to his former position. He
was sure the public took a lively interest in their work,
not only on account of the usefulness of fountains,but from
the fact that these fountains ornamented the metropolis.
The Hon. A. Kinnaird moved the adoption of the report.
Dr. Jeaffreson seconded the motion, and in an interesting
speech described the position of the poorer classes in re-
gard to the supply of water. Dr. Aida, in supporting the
resolution, said be was one of the executors of a lady who
bad left 5001. for the erection of a fountain in Warwick-
square Newgate-street. The motion was unanimously
adopted. A vote of thanks was passed to the committee
of the association for their services during the past year,
and a similar compliment to the noble chairman concluded
the business.

THE itELO lAN RIFLEMEN AND THE Emmen
Votorerznne.—List evening a meeting of the English
volunteers who were a* the Tip National of Belgium last
year and the year before, was held at St. Martin's-hall, to
take into consideration the steps to be adopted for giving
the Belgian riflemen who are coming to London a fitting
reception in return for their hospitable treatment of our
countrymen in Brussels. Captain Styan, of the Queen's
(Westaninsters), occupied the chair, and statements were '
made, principally by Lieutenant Purley and Mr. Doll, with
respect to communications which had been opened on
behalf of the standing committee of the English volunteers
who were at Brussels with Earl Spencer and Captain Mild-
may, and the meeting was greatly gratified at learning
that the governmenthad supplied camping stores, and that
a large camp was already formed for the visitors near the
volunteer once. It was also stated that some of the com-
mittee had visited the Lord Mayor and the directors of the
Crystal Palace, to obtain for the visitors admission to the
sights of London, and the gratifying fact was announced
that hotel accommodation, if necessary, will be open to the
visitors at exceedingly low rates, and one gentleman, Mr.
De Keyser, of Bridge-street, Blackfriars, had offered not I
only to give free quarters to the visitors, but also a
handsome sum towards any fund raised for their entertain-
ment. There will be about 150 of the Garde Civique and
Chasseurs Eclaireurs—at least this was the number first
given • but doubtless there will be more. It was finally
arranged that the whole of the volunteers who attended at
Brussels should form a committee to attend upon the
visitors, that Captain Stysn and others should confer with
Lord Spencer on the several points connected with the re-
ception and entertainment of the visitors, and, that
all the committee should be in uniform at the
Stationsi. this day shortly before 5 p.m. to receive the
Sta
canal Dm ON HORSES.—Yesterday the new
&dile on Homes to let hones or carriages on hire cane
into force. The annual duty on one horse on carriage is
51., and a scale is given in the new act (29th Vie., c. 36)
qr I. 701.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

SOUTHWARK.

Last night a public meeting of the electors and
inhabitants of the borough of Southwark was held at the
Bridge-house Hotel, London-bridge, for the purpose of
meeting the borough members and considering the question
of reform in its present a.pect. The large meeting hall
of the hotel was completely filled before the hour of meet-
ing, and the proceedings throughout were chsuacterised by
the greatest enthusiasm and good order. Mr. Layard and
Mr. Locke, the members for the borough were received on
enterintwith much cordiality. The chair was occupied by
Mr. A. FOCOCK.
i 7 The Cum-near opened the business by congratulating
the meeting on the e 'limbers who had assembled on
the occasion. (Cheers. He ,believed that if Earl Russell
and Mr. Gladstone coca d see the meeting of that evening
'it would gladden their hearts. (Cheers.) They knew what
they were met for. It was to consider the question of re-
form. It was to consider whether the franchise which he
himself possessed should not be extended to portions of
his fellow countrymen who did not possess it at present
(Cheers.) It was by meetings of this kind that Mr. Glad-
stone would be soon brought back to office. (Cheers.)
Southwark at least would do its duty, and, if thought ad-
visable, they would send deputations to Earl Russell sad
Mr. Gladstone on the subject, with a view of strengthen-
ing their hands. (Cheers.) He should now call upon Mr.
Locks to address them. (Cheers.)
Mr. Loess, M.P., said he regretted they had not met
under such cheerful circumstances as on the two previous
occasions when they met in that room to dimes the sub-
ject of reform. The reform and liberal party must raise the
old cry of " Peace, retrenchment, and reform." They must
take care that this country was not led into • war for
matters which did not concern either the honour or the
interests of the country. (Hear, hear.) They must see
that the money of the people was not taken out of their
pockets for any objects that were not essential to its wel-
fare and prosperity, and above all they must raise their
voices for reform. (Cheers.) And when he said they
must raise their voices for ref orm,they must not make it
a pounds, shillings, and pence reform. (Hear, hear.) They
I must not make the franchise depend on a 71. rental or a
71. rating. They. must ask for a measure of reform
founded on the principle of household suffrage. (Cheers.)
That was the principle on which he advocatedreform when
be first appeared amongst the electors of Southwark, and
it was, he was glad to say, the principle on which so able,
so eloquent, and so moderate a man as the late attorney-
general was prepared to extend it. (Hear, hear.) Let
them be firm and united, and, though the opponents of
reform were now in power, he ventured to predict
that, if
the people were only true to themselves, they would soon
again have a reform ministry in office. (Cheers.)
Mr. LiTABD, M.P., next addressed the meeting, and on
rising was most enthusiastically received. He said that
this was the most important occasion on which he had
weer addressed the electors and inhabitants of Southwark
since he had the honour of being their member. Whether
he looked at the state of things at home or abroad, they
would agree with him that this was the ease. (Hear.)
He stood lefore them in • rather new position, because
since about one o'clock that day, when he saw the present
ministers with the seal' of office, he ceased to hold the
office which he lately filled. (Hear, hear.) It would be
admitted that • general feeling pervaded the country that
when Lord Palmerston died the question of reform would
I be made a prominent question by the succeeding govern-
ment. (Hear, bear.) When, therefore, that event took
place, and when Earl Russell succeeded to office, it
was generally understood and expected that he
would introduce a measure of reform. It was
not, therefore, fair for the tones, and those who
were worse than tones—mock liberals— (oheers)—to say
that the present parliament was not elected on reform
principles. But the moment that Earl Russell came into
power and showed that he was in earnest, he was assailed
by unjust, un-English, and unfair attacks. (Hear, hear.)
Every morning every slander that a malignant mind could
suggest to • malignant pen appeared in the columns of a
great newspaper. (Hear, hear.) Every effort was made
to misrepresent and malign Earl Russell, to bring him into
contempt with his countrymen, and to render his govern-
ment impossible. (Hear, heir.) And why was this?
Why, because it was seen that he was the friend of the
worbng-classes— that with him 14:40TM meant • reality,
and not • sham and a h ' . (Hear, bear.) That
was the sole reason whyall this abuse and misrepresenta-
tion of Earl Russell was indulged in. That was
why the united enemies of reform, its avowed oppo-
nenta, and its insincere friends, compelled him and
his colleagues to retire from power. The state of things
abroad was critical, and in any re-adjustment of power
that might be proposed, be confessed he should hie to
have the liberal voice of England heard in the councils of
Europe. His hon. friend had alluded to Ireland. They
had just seen that the oppression of Venetia had been a
source of weakness to Austria, and Lord Cranborne, one of
the present ministry, denounced a united and independent
Italy. Another member of the cabinet said that they must
muscle the Roman catholice. Was that the way to conciliate
Ireland? He had heard almost all the liberal members

for Ireland say that if the measures which the late
government proposed for Irelandfwere it would do
more to cement the union and good fee=edbetween Eng-
land and Ireland than anything that bad ever beenknown.
(Cheers). It was • great mistake, therefore, to sup
po that there was no difference in principle between a
liberal and • tory government, and he said this without
any reference to himself, for there were many reasons
which made it likely that he should never be in office
again. They had now as leader a man of great eloquence
—a man who could act and work. (Hear, hear.) Mr.
Gladstone was the greatest leader of the people—of the
great mass of the people, that the English people bad ever
seen in the House of Commons. Every measure of his life
had for its object to raise the social condition of thepeople.
(Cheers.) In his noble peroration in the House of Com-
mons, he said that if the banner of freedom sank, it would
only be to rise again. It would rise again, and Mr. Glad-
stone's would be the hand to grasp it—(ebeen)—and he
would lead the people of this country to fresh victories in
the cause of English happiness and human civilisation.

(Cheers.)
Dr. RIVIDALL moved the following resolution :—" That
this meeting approves of the bill introduced by her
Majesty's late government for extending the franchise to
the working classes, and strongly condemns the factious
opposition by which a measure calculated to reconcile the
conflicting interests of all classes had been defeated in
the House of Commons ; and that this meeting, while
deeply regretting the resignation of her Majesty's late
advisers, convey to Earl Russell and Mr. Gladstone the
expression of its gratitude for their manly and earnest
efforts to secure the franchise for the working classes."
Mr. O. MIX/RAVI seconded the resolution.

Professor ROGZRB said he did not mean to move an
amendment, but he thought the resolution did not go far
enough. He thought it should put forward the principle
that rt was a right and not a privilege, and should be ex-
tended to all men. (Hear, hear.)

The resolution was put and carried.
On the motion of Mr. CONLIY, seconded by Mr. BISHOP,
a deputation consisting of the two members for the
borough, Mr. Pocock, Dr. Renal, Mr. Evans, &c., was
appointed to convey to Earl Russell and Mr. Gladstone
copies of the resolution.
The meeting then separated.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORES.—The usual
weekly meeting of the members of this board was
held yesterday at their offices in Spring-gardens ; Sir
John Thwaites in the chair. The Chairman said he wished
to report to the board that, in conjunction with Mr. Ha-
milton, of the Treasury, he had paid half a year's interest
on loans to the Bank of England, amounting to 51,152/.
14s. 10d., and he redeemed seven bonds for 10,0001. each,
which had been paid off and cancelled. The total sum
which had been raised under the Main Drainage Act was
3,700,000 f., and the board bad paid off 870,0001. of that
amount. The chief engineer (Mr. J. W. Bazalgette) pre-
sented his usual report on the cost and progress of the
Thames Embankment, &c., works; and, after some fur-
ther discussion, the report was received, and soon after the
board adjourned.
METROPOLITAN BENEFIT SOCIETIES' ASYLVM.—
The Lord Mayor, with Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Gibbons,
the members of parliament for Finsbury, and other gentle-
men, will attend at Balls-pond on Tuesday, the 10th inst.,
to lay the foundation stone of the east wing, met by a
guard of honour of the 6th Tower Hamlets R.V.C. After
this ceremony, and to snit the members of friendly
societies, their wives and friends, a tea meeting is to be
held in St. Jude's Lecture-hall. Mildmay-road, by permis-
sion of the Rey. W. Pennefather, and Mr. J. Tidd Pratt
will preside. The bands of the North-East London Rifles
and Italian Unity (Garilaldians) are to attend.
At the usual meeting of the Marylebone Board
of Guardians, held yesterday, Mr. Douglas, the matter of
the workhouse, stated that last Thursday week Boyles,
the rectory beadle, caused to be brought to the dead house
the body of Elizabeth Savage, aged 40 years, and that
when brought in, the body was almost green, from Lbeing
in an excessive state of decomposition. It was not until
the following Tuesday that an inquest was held on the
body, so that it remained for six days closely adjacent to
the sick wards of the infirmary. Mr. Douglas also reported
the case of another body being nearly in as bad a state,
which had this week been removed into the workhouse
from the Christ Church district. A long discussion took
place, after which it was agreed to adjourn the matter to
next Friday, for the beadle to explain the matter, and also
to inquire why Dr. Lankester, the coroner, kad allowed
the body of Savage to remain so long in the workhouse
without holding an inquest.
Amongst the petitions presented to the Howie of
Commons last evening was one by Mr. Bearden in favour of
providing religious education for Roman catholic children
in poor-houses, poor-law schools, reformatories, and indus-
trial schools, b 7 wives and mothers of the congregation of
the Holy Trinity, Hammersmith, in the county of
Middlesex.
CRYSTAL PALACE.—The fête on behalf of the
Royal Dramatic College will be held this day. The num-
ber of ladies of the dramatic profession holding stalls is
more numerous than on any former occasion, and the
amusements mere extensive and varied. One of the
novelties will be a betting ring, in which " tips " will be
given and bets regiateredby twenty-eight ladies, dressed in
the colours of the starters for the Derby. The revels will
commence about twelve o'clock and be continued until
dusk.