The Express.
London, England, 1860-09-07 00:00:00

MANCHESTER UNITY OP ODD PILLOWS.

A large number of members of the Manchester
Unity of Odd Fellows mumbled on the 30th ult., at Ander-
ton's Hotel, Fleet-street, to do honour to Mr. V. R. Bur-
gess, corresponding secretary of the South London District ;
Net Poiyincial Grand Muter Fisher in the chair, and .Mr.
NV. F. Bruty, the present grand master of the district, in
the vice-chair. There were also present several well known
members of the metropolitan districts.
An excellent dinner was provided ; after disposing of
which,
Thu CHAIRMAN ours to the real business of the even-
ing, which was the presentation to Mr. Burgess, of a gold
watch and chain, of the value of forte guineas. The
watch, which was manufactured by Mr. J./. elismpien, of
Wslwurth, bore the following inscription -" 1.1.0. F.
Presented to V. S. Vincent Robert Burgess, by the
members of the South Landon District, se a
testimouial of their esteem, and in acknowlsdimaset
of his eminent services rendered to the shove district,
Amput 3!, IMO." In presenting the testimoniel the
chairman dwelt with oonsiderablo eloquence on the great
gissl which Mr. Burgess had been instrumental in effecting
in connexion with friendly societies, especially the vast
soli flourishing tees slat ten known as the Manchester Unity
of Odd Fellows, which consists of upwards of 305,000
nu:ethers, with a capital of about 6/. 10a per member, or
nu less in the whole than 1,002,0001. And this, too, with-
out reference to the widow and orphan, dietaries., and nee
!segment funds. In speaking of the services Mr. Burgess
had rendered, it should never be forgotten that It was to
him and to such men as he that the friendly societies of
Great Britain owed their present proud position. The chair-
man then, in • few brief and totmhing words, presented the
watch and chain.

BIJRU/0114, who was received with immense cheering,
said he received that expressiom of their kind regard for him
as even more touching than the valuable gift he held in his
hand, and which hid been purchased with the subscriptions
of hi. friends and fellow members. After expressing, in suit-
able terms, his options to the district for the substantial
testimonial he had received, Mr. Burgess dwelt at some
length on the progress that lied been made in the South Lon-
don district during the last twenty years. The society was
then without the pale of the law, and the weekly aubserip-
tion of its members was insuMcient to ensure the benefits
promised. But uow the South Loudon district, to which
he particularly referred, pommies! about 4,2M1 members,
with a capital of more than 37,0001. The prosperity of the
district was due to strict sittentiou to their funds, a proper
valuation of their gamete awl liabilities, • good understand-
ing of the science of vital statieties, end the judicious she.
ration they had made in the widow and orphan fund, 'aiming
it from a state of insolveuey to a safe and prosperous con-
dition. He had been seeretery to the district for eleven
leers, and it had been hi. main object and ambition to place
it in o safe floaecial position. He was proud to say that
he had achieved that object : but he bad dons no more
than his duty—uo more than any other good Odd Fellow,
similarly circuinetaumd, would have been happy to have
au opportunity of doing. He should reflect on this night's
Cr;hogs as the most important end gratifying in the
of his life. The speaker then agate thanked the
meeting, and resumed his seat amid great applause.
Several other toasts appropriate to the meeting were given
in the course of the evening. Mr. G. F. Pardon, editor of
the "Odd Fellows Magariut," responded for the "Press,"
and Mr. Jones, of Pimlico, for the " Metropolitan Die-
tricts." It may be stated that the present 14 the third
testimonial which has been preseuted to Mr. Burgtss, one
being • handsome snuff-lox, and the other • valuable
silver iukstand.

THE ROAD MCILDIS.—There appears to bo a
difficulty io complying with the prayer of the memorialists
fur the I...suing of a special etseississiow to inrehtigate this
mysterinua vase, such commianousheini accompeuied with
au ind,innity to the witnesses examined under them.
Under these circumstances Marrs. Slack and Stannous, soli-

citors, of Both, hove been instructed to re-esainine the
witnesses who have been prisluced before the coroner and
ntagietratos, and to report the result of their inquiry to the
Boum eiecretary. As we have already stated, the inquiry
was coninieseed en Monday, and is being conducted in
private.

TYE CONT OP A GAOL Ban.—At the County
Hell, on Friday lest, James Turner, whose name is always
before the public during the poaching sews. was charged
with trespassing in earth of pose at Bckington, on the
214th of Juue last. The prisoner has only just been lila-
rated at the expiration of his 34th term of imprisonment
for the seine kind of offence. He was ordered to pay 40s.
sod oats, sad iu default was again committed to his old
quarters for two mouths. Among aiker offences commit-
ted frees the year 1833 till the prment month, be has been
oonvieterl fur stealing coal, lireakiug a fence, annudta,
stealing chicks, trespass (seven time.),posching (aightem
times), mid sundry misdemeanors. He has been in poi
36 timeA, bud his sentences hare meg: 1 from fourteen dam
to Ave mouths. Altogether he has in 28 years spent 65
mouths iu prison, and the following figures show the ep.
pmiimme met this vagsbond lea inflicted on the county
and his prom-rotors : 360 weeks' maintonaace, 143 f. ;
36 oomietoms, Ms. ; total cost, 16?!. 10s. It is quite
clear that the gaol has no terrors for James Terser.—
' Derby Aferniry,