The Express.
London, England, 1857-05-23 00:00:00

lIPBRIMENTS ON NNW DECKED COPPER
PONTOONS AT CHATRAK

On visiting Chatham on Friday morning, to ore-
orrt further operations with Major Renard, Sir Charles
Pealoy found that, owing to two days impactions of the
Royal Engineer under arms, first by the commandant of Me
=rrieon, and afterwards by hie Royal Highness the Dub of
(huntnidge, it would be impossible for the pontoons to be plot
Ina state of perfect repair Wont the afternoon of Tuesday
next, sa the injuries dose to them =re much more seer=
than at first supposed. The final expert. of testing their
pit=for transporting holm, in therefore post.
Wednesday next, the nth instant. A young and
active corporal, who was=ed for two yews as • dim
le a wet dock before he had made several
to get up the gun, but had not yet succeeded. In esoUT4
he worked from a raft of four piers of assts, capable of sup.
twice that weight, upon which the gun will be As.
and where it will remain until it is taken beck to Ur
This raft elm will be moored on the lower lido of OM
Rochester-bridge, opprite to one of the arches, next to that
cram for the raft of copper cane= about 20 feet from Me
ends ef the starlings, where both will be exposed at the rms
time to the fury of the ebb of the sume strong spring tide.
TYY win add to the interest of the experiment trot proposed
with the decked copper parrs arm
Lead= every necessery arengereent to Major
Lieutenant Philips, and the aon=mmiesimed oftl=
men ender their command, in whoosh, has perfect oonlidesee,
Sir Charles will join them at the Oun-wharf, Chatham.
where the gun and carriage from Upon will be taken =
board, there being no time to have one der, previous pros-
tics, as was at first proposed. Officers o other gentler=
who take an interest in such experiments, are recommended
to be at Rochester-bridge at or before 3 p.m. en the day ap-
' pointed, at which time it will be high water, after which the
turn of tide, upon which the result of the experiment de•
pen= will take piece.

PRIETEne' PENSION SOCIETY. The anniversary
festival of this society was celebrated last at the
London Tavern, Bishopagete-atreet ; the Dukeof W '
presiding. The guests numbered about 160 persona, amongst
whom were many distinguished members of the trade and
several gentlemen well known in the world of letters. The
teens given from the chair were unusually brief, and the
in which his Orate ;reposed mem to the Printed
7eneastilan Society did not, se Is generally the CY%
set birth the progress and present condition ef
the institution, the noble duke simply calling atten-
tion to the subject before him and requesting the
messing to drink to the proepenty of a society which merited
the esteem end rupport of all who valued the science al
printing, and the ineekelable advantages derived from IL
The toast was responded to with the greatest enthualems,
and a subsequent speech. in which Mr. James Hannay pro-
posed " The memory of William Casten," though not En-
Reed to with thet patient attention which the subject
deserved, was en interesting feature in the proceedings al
the evening. The health of the chairman was prlposed by
Mr. Robert Bell. who reminded the company of the honour
which was conferred upon them by the presence of a notes-
man whose illustrious tether had rendered such im
service. to his country. The subscriptions read Cr%
reendery amounted in all to nearly 5001. The musical part
of the entertainment was entrusted to Mr. Rodeo?, Mr.

(horse, Mr. Edney, Miss nd Miss Wells, Qs
former lady prod a more than Palmer,'nenal effect by the pa
and unelected manure in which she swag the woll-known
and soul utirring Irish melody of The kfmstrel Boy." Mr.
Higgs was the towitmaster.
TEE POOR-LAW BOARD AND THE PARIAH OP ST.
PANCILOI.—The directors of the poor of this parish have re-
ceived another order from the Poor-law Board requiring
them to appoint an auditor. The directors are to meet ma
consider what steps shall be taken on Tuesday next.
APOTHECARIES' Ilti.L.—Nacres of gentlemen who
penned their examination to the science and practice of
useditine, and received certificates to_practise, un Thursday,
May 21:—James Holt, Dastielord ; Thomas Elkanah Hoyle;
Heighington, Lineolie,bire; Henry Knagge, Huddersfield;
Thomas Jarmo Walker, Peterborough ; Edmund Lloyd.
Richmond, Surrey • Christopher Sharp, Oldlurio, Loma.
shire; Thomas Eilw'ard Ruttledp, Pamngdon, Beebe; Jona
Edwards Jour., Dolgelly, North Wales; Finlow Alexander,
East Ruling, Norfolk
THE WESTMINSTER ARCHITECTURAL COMPETI-
TIoN.—Mr. Samuel Angell and Mr. George Pownall, bode
Fellows of the institute of Architects, have been appointed
amemors to aid the judges in selecting the best clesq;uk—
Builder.

The FALL OF IiOUSES IN TOTTENHAM-rOURT-
10AD.—The inquiry into the CALLON of the fall of house, is
Tottenhare-court-road, sad, remelted yesterday at Latvion'a
Rocans, Gower-street The yrofeaidenal prentlemen engaged
in the tnquiry were Mr. Gifford, Mr. Metal.. Mr. It
Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. G. W. F. Cook, aryl Mr. Pritehniel.
Mr. B. Baker, the district ourveyar, was in ationdatus.
John Moore and S. Harrison, foremen to Mr. Jullown,
builder, end W. Barnet and W. Jones, bricklayem twee
examined, and the inquest was wain adjourned to 'Newts,
pea . .