The Express.
London, England, 1866-12-04 00:00:00

THE FENIAN MOVEMENT IN IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MONDAY NICHT.
Stephen J. Meaney, who was arrested in Lon-
don, was charged before the magistrates to-day
with being a member of the Fenian association.
He was remanded until Wednesday. He protested
strongly against his imprisonment on the evidence
of policemen who merely suspected him.
A meeting of the county Cork magistrates was
held this day in the Court-house, under the presi-
dency of Lord Fermoy, to take steps in the present
emergency to preserve the peace of the country.
Two hundred and forty magistrates were present.
It was decided to present a memorial to the go-
vernment praying them to swear in special con-
stables throughout the country during the present
crisis. Lord Fermoy strongly urged the gentlemen
present to give all the aid in their power to the
government in the present circumstances of the
country.

PoLvrEcliNsc INszucrioN.—The afternoon en-
tertainment at the above institution was varied yesterday
by the introduction of a startling novelty, which we under-
stand is now quite the rage in Paris. It is called the
"Decapitated Head," and the illusion consists in snaking
a head which has just been separated from the body answer
certain questions in a very sepulchral and supernatural
manner. Great pains have been taken to make the illu-
sion as effective as possible. The stage is converted into
the dimly lighted cellar of the executioner, who himself
keeps guard on one side with his terrible two-handed
sword. On a table at the back lies the head, apparently
just as it had been cut off, and in front a seer asks it
questions. The head turns slowly, the eyes open, and the
lips begin to move. In another minute the seer gets the
desired response, and the head falls back inanimate and
deathlike as before. The illusion is exceedingly well
managed, and was at its first representation yesterday
enthusiastically received by a numerous and fashionable

audience.
ROYAL INSTITUTION OP GREAT BRITAIN.—At
the general monthly meeting yesterday—Mr. William
Pole, F.R.S., in the chair—Messrs. John Augustus
Seymour Morse Davies, Thomas Dell, F.R.A.S., Frederick
Thomas Elworthy, Robert Pilkington Linton, Alfred
Sandilands, and Mrs. Ellen Hawkins were elected mem-
bers of the Royal Institution. The presents received
since the lost meeting were laid on the table, and the
thanks of the members returned for the same.
HAILEYBCRY COLLEGE, HERTFORD.—The Hon-
.

rishing condition of this college, under the able presidency
of the Rev. H. K. Butler, assisted by a competent staff,
may be inferred from the difficulty there is in obtaining
vacancies. Professor Pepper, F.R.S., concluded his
course of lectures on Saturday evening last, selecting for
his subject, " The Munitions of War and Explosive Com-
pounds," and illustrated with very interesting experi-
ments. The Profeeors arranged and exhibited three
explosions on a very grand scale. No. 1. Large mine
under the earth containing 201bs. of mining gunpowder,
with Abel's fuzes attached ; this was perfectly MC-
ceasful, shaking the earth like a miniature earthquake.
No. 2. A large door, twelve feet high, eight feet lowed,
and two inches in thickness, supported by poets five
inches square, was blown to atoms with sandbags and
14th.. of gunpowder. No. 3. Charge of nine pounds
of gun cotton ; this was sunk under the water, in
a pond, at the distance of 110 yards from the college. It
exploded with tremendous effect, and as the water in the
pond was not very deep the concussion in the air was so
great that twenty-five windows were broken in the chapel
of the college, with which exception no casualty occurred,
owing to the judicious arrangements made by the lecturer.
The young collegians were delighted with the experiments,
and perhaps no one succeeds better in making the sciences
palatable to the uninitiated than this popularlecturer. The
mines were fired by a vulcanite machine, made by Elliot,
of the Strand, and one supplied by an eminent German
en veer, Mr. A. Begg, who attended in person.
THE BISHOP OF LONDON'S VISITATION.—The
Bishop of London's quadrennial visitation at St. Paul's
Cathedral was brought to a close yesterday, Archdeacon
Hale receiving the clergy of the east and west city, Spital-
fields, Stepney, and St. Sepulchre's. There were present
the Rev. Prebendary Rogers, M.A. rector of Bishopsgate;
the Rev. Gillen Champneye, the Rev. James Jackson, and
a large number of other clergymen. The churchwardens
of Bwhopsgate made a presentment, appended to which
was the following resolution, adopted in vestry That
this vestry requests the churchwardens on making their
presentment to the Bishop of London at the forthcoming
visitation to convey to his lordship the expression of their
feelings that the use of the creed called Atbanasius is an
offence to a considerable number of the members of the
church of England, and tends to keep from the pale of her
communion many who would gladly unite on her other-
wise catholic basis." The other presentments had refe-
rence simply to business matters connected with parochial
affairs.
We understand that his Excellency Mr. Edward
John Eyre, late governor of this island, is engaged in
writing a "History of the Jamaica Insurrection," and that
a list has been opened at the establishment of Messrs.
M. De Cordova, McDougall, and Co., of this city, for the
reception of subscribers' minim—Jamaica Mawr, Nov. &