The Express.
London, England, 1859-12-26 00:00:00

/BLEU, UM A? IU 1111111117 0411111

The Teatoaie diagram of the great =trepan,
Wiwi* we their neat festive moose. at the Crystal
Pease. attempted • sensed national gathering at the honey
(under on flatanley evening last, although we cannot add
with the same meow of onoouragement, the attendance
raft far short of the expectations of the projectors. There
nem however, a oonsiderable *umber of German., principally
padrassa, prearat, sad • great gathering of children from
the Germs seise* dm latter eajoyiag themselves immensely.
TY* ewhertedaments comprised pert-singing by the childrea,
MI sin by a choir of am•Mnrs, all very ohatscanialo sad
bermosions, followed by the well-known Lanh is! asn-
MOM of plucking the Claim:mu tree. The tree,
whisk was of burp size, and well supplied with
its airbus sad fantastic fruit, wen placed in the
bend of the embeetra, end Its Wees rs. ware plucked and
asellesed by a umber of gentlemen, who performed the
piamett duty with great energy and pod humour. The
ebililma who crowded the epos in frost of the platform had
• iplendlel scramble, and there were same of larger growth
who did not hesitate to go on all-fours sad dispute the
mime with them. The tea ono eproerione, and the children
seamed highly delighted with their eoquisitkos, those of
W bitter which wane at all digestible disappearing with
estenerdiass7 rapidity. The evening's eatiefelement con-
dole' with • ball, which was sashed with much spirit
Ina Yee West hour permitted by the pada methane.
we medimetwal that to Dr. Inch, the enter of tbe iferweets,
a ewilenal amp% or published is Loadsw oar Gonna
public are indebted for the pramworthy attempt to keep up
the metkotal unity and fellowship in the stamp bad.

Tin CHRISTMAS HOLIDAT.—It wll be sen that
lb. departure of the mile for ladle and Maori& M
which were to have been dispatched to-day, I. pixaittsitill °A
to-morrow. Thie is wwmtly • ocemaidea to the general
desire that to-day should be kept as • holiday. Had the
usual course been followed, many hundreds of moons em-
*ye' in the Custom' and :other public departments must
have been detained In business To-morrow will be a gene-
tag, key day.
CHILIantAX.DAY IX THE WORKHOCatil.—Yeater-
day Wag the anniversary of Christmas, the poor, not alone
of the metropolis, bat throughout the kingdom, were, either
thrwegli the means of parochial taxation or of private and
public benevolence made participators in the usual festi-
vities adopted by the English nation in commemoration of
that event. Among the gratifying features of the report
is the toot that there will be found, ea coutgared with the
aonsepeading period attest yea., • vest deems* Opeuperiest.
In almost every pariah end district this is hood to be the
men and in the few mammon where the contrary aline,
the isareees is so trivial is to be scare* worth mention.
Another paint Is, that in most of the perishes there Is a feel-
ing that the poor, in °magnetics of Christmas-day falling
an • Sunday, should not be denuded of any extra indul-
gences, end therefore io most instances additional alloweness
ere made, and the festivities kept up in most of the work-
, homes end unions, this day (Monday). The moire returns
are most eausfectoey, end the diminution of poor Is no doubt
consequent on increased commercial prosperity, affording •
mane of greater employment to the industrious and poorer
chose, notwithstanding the recent dispute In the building
trades.

CHRISTMA 8 OBLIGATIONS.—ProbabIy never in this
world, and, If Dr. Whewelf s theory is to be believed, weer
in the universe, was there, far sad wide, such prosperity,
comfort, and happisees as are brought by this Christ-
mas to some hundred thousand homes. There are
Wring tree, abundant chose, brothers, and cousins,
yonthhal prireteen„ dancing girl., games and forfeit.,
contented servants, and everything that love and
money an bring together in this happy isle. When the
heart has been warmed, or the conscience *seed with the
service. of the day, when the plum-pudding has been coe-
snood, old and youngassembled in the drawing-room, candles
lighted, curtains drawn, fire poked, and every anxioue thought
er end recollection shut out with the frost or the rain, what
remains to make this as neer an approach to Elysium for
ens night se this earth will allow? One thing, by nature,
by Tension, by immemorisl usage, is still wanting.
It is, that something should be given where so
much is enjoyed. Charley begin, at home; but
thence it goes abroad Not a tribe in the world
but has ranctified enjoyment or pivpitiated fortune
by hospitable sacrifices. The wind whistles or howls, the
rain drops from the eaves, to remind us that there is still
an outer world, and a world of woe. They who would be
really happy most have done, not all they can, but in some
proportion to their means, for those to whom Coristnisa-day
ts only ea other days, and weave, because shorter. and
deader, and colder, ad deeper in the grave of the year.--

ATTEMPT To MiliDEft.--A desperate attempt Was
made in the neighbourhood of Worcester, oa Friday night, as
the life of an old nun, named James Williams, as he was re-
turning home from his work. The would-be aesesein is hie
nephew, John William, end it appears that as the old man
was walking from hi. employer'., Mr. Webb's,. magistrate
of the city, he was suddenly attacked by • man who jumped
over the hedge sad knocked him down with a bludgeon; he
then knelt upon him, and drawing a knife from his pocket
tot him about the face and throat, inflicting in the throat one
most awful gash, which penetrated to a °Ponderable depth,
bet most fortunately missed the jugular vain and the wind-
pipe. The old man made gnat resistance sad
cowed loud cries, on which his smailant decamped.
James William. managed to crawl back to his water's,
where his wounds were dressed. About eight o'clock, the
seine night, the prisoner, Jolts Williams, wee apprehended
in bed, atter considerable difficulty experienced by the police
in getting into the house. His clothes were on the bed, and
in toe pocket of hie trauma was a double-bladed pocket..
knife, the large blade having blood upon it up to the very
hilt.. Hie trousers and waistcoat were also stained with
blood. The prisoner wee brought before the magistrates
on Saturday, and evidence to prove the above fees wee given,
and Mr. Webb proved finding a broken bludgeon on
the spot where the attack was made. The bludgeon bore
marks of blood on it. The prisoner was remanded to Thurs-
day next. The attack is attributed to revenge' the prisoner
Antrim been preseented for bigamy in marrying the old man'.
&tighter.
MONEY ORDER OFFICES.—Oa January 2, IMO,
the following alteration. will be made :—Bngland : 1.
Mosey order offices will be opened la London and its
eabarbe at Ckicheetevetreet, 1. ppm Westbourne terrace,
W. • Grove-piece, !ingots-town N.W.; Lombard-street,
lweirelmoffien E.O ; Mereenteet, Hackney, ; Perk-
lieemers, ILE. • *Prioans-terrate, in-town N.A.;
▪ Jawed Mreit, 11. W.• Barth Kensingtion W.; South
lambi& (Brediry-tenreee), S.; Western Central District-
tam (lid, High Mothered, W.C. 2. The mosey order
cease In Sherherse-leas, E.C.. and 131 (Museum-
✓eset, W.C.), will be abolished ; the Maims d the former
being transferred to the braterh-offfoe, Lombard-sheet, 8.C.,
sad that of the latter to the Western Central Distrito-office

(1%, Hilt Holborn), W.C. 8. Thor ;oug7--- arch-oHoa at
Dudley-grows (Paddington)," will is future be andel
Paddlwpas-ssern," W. 4. Hooey order officer will be
Mls Hie acentry at Aldborongh, Yorkshire; Amble.
istlatedisika Birbolletoke, Hemprhire; Bradfield,:
Beekehire; Cheinewater, Cornwall; Cheddar, Samerest-,
Airs; Deveras. Carswell ; Hans-sweet, Kent; Hatfield,
YAW:tire; Holbrook, Saffolk ; Hove. Suer: • Llantrys•
mair, Montrowerpebire•' Netherton, Worrestenbire; New
Radnerick, St. Fag.... Glamor-
; Selsembe, Devonshire; Silverdale, lstatiordshire;
Lincolnshire; Torpoint, Cornwall. 6. The
meg arise-e at " Abbey Hahne" (Carlisle), will fa
Were be mid Abbey-town." Scotland .8. A aunt,'
Mar MIN Well be ripened at Aberobirder, Banffshire. 7.
Tie emery Misr offices at Beckham', Calhvae, Lochtever,
and k Iris (Glasgow). bates bow diecesticieed. 8. The
emery 11116 P ears at Ilnwmare" (Gressoclt), will is
SAM les shad &idea:W." belied: 9. Nosey order
sir we le newel at Benson.lirrievijm= Croabasese
Cot; I) =drain, y ; lißenesse,
04wey; Seem, .—By emeeks Br Posemew-
theink Soiruse Ssereleiy.—Geeeral Pest-case,
Des.ll.