The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-08 00:00:00

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

Not content with providing the interesting and
varied entertainment for the Christmu holidays of wok&
we have already spoken, Mr. Pepper has added to the
repertoire of the Polytechnic a new source of amusement,
in the production of an optical illusion called the "Fairy
Casket" That charcoal and diamonds possess substantially
the same elements is a scientific deduction which is per
rally admitted, but how the Polytechnic casket becomes a box
fall of roses, how it contains a fair and next a black baby
in sucoedd on, &c., is a problem which must be solved outside
et the ll:nits of pure science. The Polytechnic has its specific
character from the plessant and popular way in which
ecieatific truths are promulgated and extended, but in the
present tontines we see that Mr. Pepper can compete with
the ivizaidd in their own arts. Bat it is hardly fair to the
character of the institution to compare its manipulations
with those of the pure illusionists, for Mr. Pepper always
informs his hearer, that the singular results he
produced are all natural, or at lust " but art
unknown" to them. He cheats the senses, but
be prepares the audience by informing them that what they
me is an illusion, thus realisiog Swift's doctrine about the
pleasure of being cheated. if we did not fear to augment
the pressure which was felt on Saturday sight by the
crowds who visited the Polytechnic, we should say by all
111,11&113 V the institution ; and even at that risk it is only
fair to as/ that the "Fairy Casket" is an agreeable addi-
tion to Coe many sources of attraction which it possesses.

THE SPECIAL SUNDAY EVENING SERVICES
AT ST. PAUL'S.

Yesterday the series of special Sunday evening
services for the present year, under the dome, was resumed,
there being. as usual on all similar occasions, especially
when the Mahone( London has been announced to preach,
an immense concourse. At six o'clock last night the great
western doom of the cathedral were thrown open, and before
the clock had struck the half-hour, the whole space hour
the choir to the west end of the nave was crammed, while
in the northern transept given to the public there was not
an Weis of room to be had. The southern transept is
devoted to the choir and their assistants. Under these
circumstances the police h►d to declare to the many thou-
sands of persons who arrived in rapid succession after that
time that no mufti:could be admitted. Since the commence-
ment of list year's services the Dean and Chapter e St.
Paul's, in conjunction with the cathedral committee, have
found themselves in a position to make some progress
towards renovating, completing, and adorning the iutvrior
of the building in accordance with the designs
of Sir Christopher Wren, its architect. The
grand arches, as those of the public who have been in the
habit of vaiting the cathedral are aware, were some time
since glided, and some alterations made in the glass win.
dows of the dome. Since that time a painting in mosaic,
representio; the Prophet Isaiah, from a design of Mr.
Alfred :itevetis, has been put up, as the commencement of
a series of eigbteimilsr subjects ; and these are to fill the
eight sl andrela. Four out of the eleven painted windows,
part of the published plan, have been presented, and two
are in a forward state. It is still, however, much to be
regretted that the 50,0001. required for the completion of
the inters al adornments of the cathedral do not come in
rapidly. Seven years have elapsed since the appeal was
first muds to the public to aid in improving what has perhaps
not been improperly called the disgraceful state of the
metropolitan cathedral, sad during thou seven years only
12,0001. have bees received. Last night's service
was as grand in its conception and its performasce
as any which hays preceded it in former years. There
was a surpliced choir of about 300, and these were
heartily sisistei 1 y a host of their friends, for whom spe-
cial places bad bees orovided. At 7 o'clock the Bishop,
woompacit,l by the Venerable William Hale Hale, M.A.,
arehdescoa of Loudon ; the R.. Henry 9lelvill, S.D.,
WIDOW rei;dentiery and rector of Barnes ; the Rev. W. W.
Champneys, M.A., canoe of St. Paul's and vicar of St.
Pancras ; the Rev. Dr. Herbert Kynastori, prebendary and
high master of St. Paul's School ; the DAY. 'tidier.' Bur-
gess, S.D., prebendary, rector of Upper Chelsea, and other
elergynies. left the esnoe's room and took their seats in
the choir. The service was then commenced by the Rev.
J. V. Push. !LA., rector of S . Anne's, Aldersgate, and
was so well performed that net a syllable of it
was lost upon the congregation, vast as it was. The
responses were sung to the music of Tanis. After the first
lesson (read by the Rev. Canon Helvill) the "Ilegnifiest"
was sung (Calkin in B flat) ; and after the wooed lesson
the "Ncnc Dimittis. After the third collect came the
anthem. " Arise, arise, for thy light is come, and the glory
of the Lord is risen upon thee" (Elroy). It was magnifi-
cently rendered by the choir, under the superintendence of
Mr. Henry Buckland. The Bishop of London was the
preacher, and be selected for his text the Ist chapter of the
Book of Revelations, the 19th verse, "The things which
thou bast seen, and the things which are, and
the things which shall be he reaf ter." After
siegiog the 19th hymn from Mercer's collection, which
is in use at these services, the congregation received
tie blvssing from the Bishop, and a most hearty and
encouraging service was thus brought to a close. The Rev.
Dr. J. S. Bewley 31°08011, of Trinity College, Dublin,
vicar of Egliain, will be the preacher next Sunday evening.
The rev. gentleman has writted many poems which have
been putlished, and is esteemed one of the moat eloquent
preachers in the Loadoo diocese.

SUN :,AN. EVENINGS FOR THE PEOPLE.—ruder
this title there was announced a few days ago a series
of six discourses at St Martin's Hall, on Sunday
evening. The first took place, in accordance with the
notice. yesterday evening, and attracted au immense 'wh-
ew:* ; though as regards the greater part of the room, a
portion of it having bean reserved for free sitting., the ad-
mission was by a money payment. The interest of the
occasion was enhanced by the performance, with red.
tative, trio, and chorus, of a selection from Haydn's
Creato.e : the assembly being requested, through the
medium of placards, to refrain from applause. The Mao-
gusl discourse was delivered by Professor Huxley,
Y.R.S., the subject being " The desirableness of impror.
lag natural knowledge." With this text the Professor
connected a history of the Royal Society, commencing about
the pet i id of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London,
and of the development of natural science attested by its
MIDIS( Cony, descanting, as he proceeded, on the great
Importance of such knowledge in relation to human
progress and comfort. Having explained the method of
science as distinguished from that of established religions,
especially in its reliance upon intellectual verification, and
its repudiation of faith, Mr. Huxley expressed his belief
that the same mode of inquiry would extend itself to all
departments of thought and become coextensive with
human knowledge. The audience appeared to belong
chiefly to the middle classes ; the proceediogs were marked
by the greatest order and decorum ; and it was announced
from the platform that two thousand persona were unable
to obtaia adiniesiop.

THE SOUTH YORKSHIRE COLLIERIM —ln addi-
tion to the Wombwell Main Colliery, which wia the
first ti depart from the resolution come to by the
Masters* Association, to restrict the advance of five per
cent. to May next, the Oaks has gives way, and the
owners have agreed to give the live per cent. 'draw° to
all men working in and about the mine, together with
weekly wages. Such being the case, there appears no
reason why the seine course should not be carried out at
the other collieries at present working on the " restrictive"
system. Most of the collieries, however—sod amongst
them S4MIB of the largest is the district—still adhere to the
resolution come to by the Coalowners' Association, and
kayo raf-sed to concede the five per cent. for a longer
period th,,n May, or to pay wages weekly. In the district
there are about seventeen collieries not connected with the
Masters' Association, where all the men are working full
time, having had their wages paid weekly, and increased
kr" five per cent. Amongst those working on the reatris-
trio system, are the Edmonds and the Swarths Main,
Wkarneliffe Silkstone (three pita), Mount Osborne, Agnes
Main, Thorncliffe (four pits), Stratford Main (Silkstone),
Load Hill, Clerke's Old Silkstone (three Pita), East
ginwher, High Boyd. and Smithy Bridge. With regard
to the last named colliery, the men were to meet the agents
this evening, for the purpose of endeavouring to come to an
agreement to resume full work. At Darnley Main the men
continue on strike, having brought out their tools on
rettirday week. Messrs. Chuleeworth's colliers are working
fell time, the demands of the men having been conceded. At
Hoyberg Hall, Messrs. Cooper's, and Denield Main, the
sun are in a similar position. Some surprise is felt in the
district at a few members of the association conceding terms
which the main body refuse, as it was understood by the
public that a certain scone of action had been decided on
and agreed to.

EAS T NORFOLK RAIIKAT.—Mr. W. S. Simpson,
the contractor for this line, is making arrangeniects for
.searing two acres of ground at Wrexham, fur stn 'ag rails
and other materials. There will be rather a hoarybridge
a waxam