The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-23 00:00:00

ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

List evening the members of this society and
their frimit's mustered in monad number at Berlingtoo
House to hear papers read contaiaing the klieg istelligence
from ISr. Livingstone and his patty in Central Africa. Sir
H. Murchison, the vioe-peesident, acted as chairman, and
amoog the company were the Bishops of Oxford and St.
Aleph, Vice.ClanceUor Sir John Stuart, Lord Colville,
Lead Keane, Lord Strangfoed, General Padlock, Admiral
Mr Osage Reek, the Dean of Westminster, Mr. layard,
IILP., Mr. M. Miles, M.P., Mr. Childers. M.P., the Earl
01 Mbeisid Captains Murray, Collinson, Sherard Osborn,
and N R.N., and Sydney Webb rind Burton, N. 1)u
ek John Amon, and Sir Thomas Fremantle.
XL the hooorary secretary, read two annmeni.
eating fr . Livinytone, the substance of which wee
glees • few days age in a letter from Sir Roderick Mar-
Alma, Irbil* appeared in our columns
Dr. Shaw read an interesting taper, communicated by
Mr. Charles Livingstone, brother of the doctor, verities
from Kangnee, mouth of the Zambesi, en lately as the 14th
of January is the pre eat year, relating to the Betake
country in Oestrus] Atria:, which lies between the 25th and
29th decode of east longitude, and the 16th and 18th of
south latitude. The writer gives an exceedingly interest-
ing account of the Batoka people and their manners mid
customs, which was lideoed to throughout with deep atten-
tion. Tbe paper gave rise at Its coeclusion to a short,
=dimmeiris. is which Admiral Sir George Back and
11•1111011, a gelltiMila of colour, took part ; and the
eimapeny, helms separating, manifesting their gratification
by an misalseene Tote of {banks to Dr. Livioptone and his
-7.

A return to an order of the House of Commons
shows that the toad emit of the poor in the 163 unions of
Ireland for 1860 was 413,5961., the average daily number of
pompom in the workhouses being 40,369. The increased cost
of 1860 over 18.19 is 40,670/.
A parliamentary return ahoy!' that there are in
England 2,325 brewers, 64,456 victuallers. 2,961 pertains
licensed to mall beer to be drunk ea the premises, sad 41,543
licensed to mall beer not to be drunk on the premises. In
Scotland there are 10 brewers and 12,040 victuallers. The
total in the United Kingdom is 2.640 brewers. 9:t,196 vie-
limners, besides the number of beer-sellers mentioned above.
A return to parliament of hew Imported from the Ist of
°etcher. lOW, to the Ist of Oaileher lard, shows that (TOlll
the United Kingdom there were 57072 barrels exported,
at ►he declared value of 2,055,4791.—0 f th►t amount
1,804,814/. was seat from England, 150,856/. from Scotland,
and 10,0161. from Ireland.
STATIRTICAL S.WIETY.—The business Net down
for the meeting this evening is the reading of Y. Von
Busehmes paper "Oe lierf-Emancipation is Rowin," and
the Debate is Income Tar adjourned to this day on
inotioe of Yr. Nsvrwarch.

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THr NATIONAL GALL/ALT.—The alterations in
the National Gallery approach so near completion that
there is little doubt the building will he entirely clear of
the workmen by Wednesday, the let of May, the day air
pointed for the opening of the exhibition of the Royal
Academy. By utilisiug the centre of the interior of the
(formerly the apace appropriated to the hall and
staircase) a inaguificent saloon has been added for the temp-
time of the pictaree of the national collection. The land-
ing°, the ascent of the tlislit of emirs upon the level of the
old galleries, and the opposite room (in which were the
Hogarths at one time) have been thrown together, so as to
form a room 75 feet long by 21 feet wide, having • lofty
ioof, with a skylight following the curve of the crown.
The pictures are meetly all bong, ant' they are amused (as
far as practicable) .0 as to bring together the great epochs
of art as demonstrated in each century. A descent of
three daps leads to the sculpture room, which is divided
into three spiels, having a large one in the centre and
lighted by • lofty sale window, the whole forming an ad-
iiiirshle gallery for the display of the sculptures, and a re-
markable improvement in the division of the building
formerly devoted to the purpose.
BAPTINT NOME MINKION SOCIATT.—A public
meshing of the members and Meads of this society was held
lest evening is Mr. Suriname' Tabernacle, Prank Crossley,
Meg., M.P., is the chair. The meeting, as extremely
crowded own was opined with prayer, after which the '
secretary read the report, which gore • very saoouraging
slatemese ed tie operntines daring the pest year, both in
respect to the eaimioae and the schools connected with it.
derma miebesee addsmeed the meeting, sod • collection
wee made es behalf of the miasion. This is the first public
mating iabsonnectesi with Mr. Sourgeoe's congregation
whisk it been held in the Tabern., de, A series of meet-
lags connected with the dissenting interest is announced to
be held in the building.