The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-20 00:00:00

!MOOED SCHOOL UNION.

A meeting was held yesterday evening in St
James's-hall, Piccadilly, which was well calculated to girt
an increased impulse to one of the greatest of those philm
thrupical movements of which our times can boast. It was
as announced • " 'legged School Union," at which tie
scholars to whom prizes bad been awarded, under certait
conditions, were assembled before a nvet crowded audierm
—filling every available space in a hall devoted to many
purposes, and to none better than that of last night, tore
ceive their honours at the hands of the president, tbs
Earl of Shaftesbury. With the exceptiou of the teachers,
the attendance from the schools was limited to thou
scholars only to whom prizes had been awarded. A coo•
perative estimate will show the progress of the movement.
We find, from the official returns, that in 1854 the number
of scholars who received ram was 144 ; in 1855, 327 ;
1856, 386 • in 1857, 402 ; in 18:03, 496 ; in 1859, 566 ; is
1860, 870% and in 1861, on the present occasion,
1215. The whole of these have complied with
the following conditions, certified to by employers
and school authorities which we set forth u
a testimony to the value of the movement. 1. That the
candidates for these prizes must be over twelve and under
seventeen years of age, and meet have atteoded the ragged
school giving the recommendation at least six months pre
view, to entering the situation. 2. That those scholars who
have remained in one place for twelve months, ending
Christmas, 1860, and have not before received a money prize,
will be entitled to a prize of ten shillings, as well as a card,
provided the committee of the school recommending the
scholar will pay two shilling,. and sixpence of that HIM
That if any scholar had kept his plaice for twelve months, bat
left it before Christmas for another, he shall be entitled to
his prize, provided he be iu his second place at Christmas, Pee.
3. That those *cholera who have received a money pro
moviously, end are again recommended (in accordancewith
Rule 2) for further service to thiistmas, 1860, will be ea•
titled to a prize card and a sum of provided the com-
mittee of the school reoumenending the scholar will of
Is. lid. of that sum. 4. Thom girls who are engaged
business must have been regular in attendance at the
ragged school on Sundays for the period for which they at'
recommende,L This rule does ant apply to girls employed
as domestic &eremite. 5. Apprentices, children employe,'
by their parents, and scholars earning more tills
10a per week, will be ineligible for the pew'
The total number of schools sending candidates was sl'2. h,
number of candidates being 1.349, of whom were dtelind
to be eligible for prizes 1,215 and ineligible 134. .1.1
number of boys in these eligible candidates was 717, 50'
girla'49B. The candidates were escorted to the hall by 0,1
teachers—in many instances, where the distance was gr..%
in vans and other vehicles, and each school was preel"'
by a fiat
ttithitnlege Tedheihwoo.asrotottTahniiim.a. lessaizll.La
o▪
rderly Chaviour would do nod redit to assahlisheso
with more pretentious titles. The c.hildreu soil lloi
teachers were provided with coffee and cakes, and elkr
prayer and the singing of hymns they were ress"t'tt
the noble president by passing in front of his chair. t.,
teachers taking the cards of prizes, of from 111,. to :e.
recipients of the former beim! 513 boys and 375 girls, s""
the latter 204 boys and 119 girls.

Tai GILT METROPOLITAN SEWER.—TiIe WWI 3
of this great undertaking are rapidly proceedow at Strt
ford, West Ham, awl Plaistow, extettatng to Parkingere..
From the magnitude of the works and the .kt^et o,f 4
Wends the labours of the large lodv of workm,evePe
will be extended, however, over a lengthened Pel"4