The Express.
London, England, 1867-07-24 00:00:00

REPORT OF A P.

!ART COMMITTEE.

The select committee appointed to consider and
report on the advisability of making purchases from the
Paris Exhibition for the benefit of the schools of science
and art in the United Kindom, and any other means of
making that Exhibition useful to the manufacturing in.
dustry of Great Britain and Ireland, have conaidered the
matters to them referred, and agreed to the following
report :

"1. They are of opinion that it is desirable that par-
chases should be made ►t the Paris Exhibition of objects
of art and science, especially of each as illustrate modem
scientific inventions and discoveries, and the application of
art to manufactures, and that the exhibition of such ob-
jects in the Museum of South Kensington, and, by circula-
tion, in local museums in different parts of the United
Kingdom. would be useful to the manufacturing in-
dustry of the country, and for the artistic and
scientific instruction of the schools in connexion
with the science and art department. 2. That,
as one of the principal objects of such purchases
should be to show the progress made by other nations in
manufactures, and in the ►ppliation of art and science to
practical purposes, examples of foreign origin should, is
the first place, be secured in preference to those of British
production. 3. That it is not desirable that picture, and
modern statuary sculpture should be purchased. 4. That
considering the importance of such purchases to the de-
velopment of the manufactures and trade of the United
Kingdom, they recommend that a liberal grant he asked
from parliament for the purpose of making them. They
have nut sufficient data before them to enable them to
suggest the sum which might be advantageously expended,
but they consider that under no circumstances should it
exceed 25,000/. 5. Lastly, they are of opinion that no
objects should be purchased at the Paris Exhibition, ex-
cept such as shall be recommended by ► commission con-
slating of gentlemen, distinguished for their artistic and
scientific attainments, who should consult with the two
art referees attached to the department of science and art,
and other competent persons. They further think it dr
sirable that the referees should furnish written reports
upon the objects recommended by them for purchase."

. _
GREAT EASTRRN RAILWAY (FINANCE) (RE.

COMMITTED) BILL.

Sir Edward Colebrook° has reported from the
committee on group 13 of railway bills : That in the Clue
of the Great Eastern Railway (Finance) (Re-committed)
Bill they had agreed to the following report:
"That, in consequence of an almost unanimous resole-
tion of a general meeting of the preference stockholilere
convened since the report of the Committee on the Great
Eastern Railway (Finance) Bin, the committee hare re-
considered that report. That the bill does not authorise
the construction of any railway or new works. That itis
posed by the bill to raise 3,000,000/. by the creation of redeem-
able debenture stock, to be entitled to dividends at sigh rate
as the company may determine, rot exceeding fee and a
half per cent. per annum. That the affairs of the com-
pany were shown to have been for some tie' • past ID 01
embarrassed condition, and that the company have to
means of extricating themselves from their present finan-
cial difficulties, and cannot in the present state of the
money market issue any of the capital authorised by their
special acts ; and it was shown to the eon 111 l ittee that the
stun proposed to be so raised by the debenture stock is
required for the immediate wants of the company, and to
save them from still greater embarrassments. That cir.
calms with prints of the bill as proposed to be submitted
to the committee had been sent to all the pre-
ference stockholders on the 11th and 12th instant, and up
to the time of making this report answers hail been re-
ceived from persons holding 2,:r10.572/. of preference
stock, of whom the holders of 1,8.447 e were assenting,
the holders 11184,1 n. were dissenting, and the !,olden of
259,735/. w neuter. Under the circumstances shove
stated, the committee are of opinion that the requirements
contained in the 157th standing order ought not to be en-
forced in this case. That there are no other circumstances of
which, in the opinion of the committee, it is desirable that
the house should be informed." Sir Edward Colebrook°
further reported from the committee:--"That they had
examined the allegations contained in the pre milde of the
bill, sail had amended the same by netting forth moos
particularly the present condition of the company, soil
events which have occurred since the last report of the
committee, and hod found the same as amended to be tree;
and had gone through the bill, sal made amendments
thereunto."

Senhor Canal Ribeiro, the Portuguese Minister
for Foreign Affairs, is stated to bare arrived in Paris. 11,0
object of his misskos la understood to be to endeavour W
obtain a loan.