The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-18 00:00:00

TOT® EDITOR OF THI EXPUbIi.

SIR,-With s view of adding our mite to the
fund now being raised for the poor sufferers by the recent
ezploeioa at Clerkeewell, we have decided to give a morn-
ing perform/moo on Monday next, the '23rd inst. the
entire ;mows& of which will be handed over to the inst.,
Committee. We have much pleasure in stating also that
the American champions, aed all connected with them,
have gratuitously proffered their services fm the 0000.34011.
—We are, &e., TRR PROPRIETORS.
Royal Amphitheatre and Clams, Den. 17.

AILBWRATION VERSrS Sraland.—A lecture on
this subject is to be given in St. Jams's-ball this evening
by Mr. alundelle, of Nottingham.
SocierY or ENGISEIRS. —At the ordinary meet-
ing of this society, held ea Monday, Mr. W. H. Le Fawn,
president, in the chair, a paper was read by Mr. James
Gresham, "On the most recent Improvements in the In.
near," after which a discussion on the paper took place.
The president announced the Nunes of the prank ni,
vioe-president, and council for the ensuing year. The
names of four candidates for election were announced..
THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SCHOOLS. —ln
consequence of the increasing and urgent claims on ties
institution the board of management have resolved tondd
to the present building two new wings, which shall contain
schools, dormitories, and the necessary offices, capable of
accommodating about a hundred additional children. The
works are now in active progress, and it is hoped that they
will he completed early next year. The success which Ira
hitherto attended thiso:patent charity has been most
gratifying to the numerous friends who have liberally aided
its funds, and to the members of the board, who have
devoted their time to secure its maintenance and efficiency
—hundreds of commercial travellers' orphan and necessi-
tous children have found a home in which they have been
carefully trained and educated, and afterwards assisted to
obtain suitable positions in life. This new effort to *eked
the benefits of the institution will involve MI outlay of at
least 11,000/., which has to be raised by volunt,ry subscrip-
tions, and it is earnestly hoped that commercial gentlemen
generally, as well as all others who take en interest in the
welfare of helpless orphanditildren, will respond liberally
to this new claim on their Christian philanthropy.
TEtHxfctl EritreavoN.—The ce.uncil of the
Society of Arts have convened a conference on Thursday
and Friday, the 23rd and 24th of January next, to consider
and suggest what measures may be taken to promote the
industrial and scientific education of the 'various ellipses of
the community. The object of the conference to aacer-
tain' not merely what the Society of Arts, Manufactures,,
and Commerce, bet what the nation at larie, can do to
promote technical education among the workmen; the
foremen, the overtaken, and the employers in arts, mann-
factures, and commerce • and it is hoped that nn expree-
non of opinion by this antenna may tend in some degree
to diuibuah the difficulties with which the solution of this
question of national education is at present confessedly
•nrrounded. Invitations to the conference are being sent
to the layers of the towns which are the principal seats of
manufacture in the rutted Kingdom, the presidents of the
chambers of oommerte and agriculture, the presidents of all
societies and public companies which have co-operated with
the society in respect of education or art.workmanehip,
the presidents of institutions in union with the Society of
Arts, her tlaleety'a inspectors of school., factories, mines,
and (*tholes, the English jurors at the Paris Exhibition
of the society's judges in art-worknianship, and the
society's examiners in education.
THE IRISH ltEronm LEM:UE. —The last meeting
of the Irish Reform League was held on Monday evening,
at 25, Parliament-street. The Chairman, 11r. Edward
Keevil, observed that there was little to hope for for this
country from the Imperial Parliament, and comphdued in
the most unrestricted manner of the nth erices of therior,
down-trodden country, with the Habeas Co: pus Act sus-
pended, flee expression of opinion restricted, and
informers crossing their every path. lie, bonever,
was of the class who held that tho hese in.
terests of Ireland could only be served by strict ad-
herence to peace, law, and order. After a length. tied
coudendation of the government, Mr. Keevil said that
to secure the freedom and happiness of his adopted
enuntry he would, if necessary, cheerfully off. r hill life.
However, be was one of those who did not think that that
step was necessary. He concluded by proposing that the
league should adjourn its meetings till happier eights had
come for Ireland, and the suspension of the 11.,bee. 'or-
pus Act uo longer endangered the liberty of the sabject.
Several other members alluded to the fact 16.14 tic
attetalaeLe at the meetings had been graduaily growing
thinner, on account of the fear which prevailed gmongei
members of being arrested ; and a resolution we. llnelly
passed that until the re-establishment of the Habeas
Corpus Act the league found it neoessary for the pinta-
non of the members of the council to discontinuatits meet.
Lige. The members then separated.