The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-16 00:00:00

DESTITUTION IN THE METROPOLIS.

Large bodies of etrong and hardy labouring men
paraded the various parts of the metropolis yesterday,
giVi!F utterance to theirdoleful complaints of being "frozen
out, and unable to get work by means of which to feed
therneelves and families, and there can be no question that
with few, if any, extractions there is too much truth in their
statements. The extreme severity of the weather, and the
comparative length of time during which it has ; already
lasted, has put a stop for the moat part to the works con•
netted with the main-drainage scheme, the uoder-ground
railway, and other great undertakings in the metropolis,
and the unfortunate men engaged upon them are thrown
upon charity for their present means of subsistence.
A public meeting, convened by the churchwardens of
Tr Chris arch, Blackfriars, was held in the vestry•rOOM of
the sh church. The meeting was held for the purpose
im of reposing measures to meet the pressing and urgent wants
of the labouring classes and the poor generally, caused by
the stoppage of employment through the severity of the
weather. Numerous influential parishioners were present,
and the Rev. Joseph Brown, M.A., the rector, took the
chair. Re called the attention of the meeting to the state of
the labouring classes, and from many letters of application
he had received, he found that the distress bad reached a
class above the poorer classes. They all knew that there was
alms)/ a certain class who were willing to accept relief, but
' the anise had now reached those who sought to maintain
, themselves by their industry and labour. Mr. Richard
Downs, one of the churchwardens, announced a list of con-
tributions, amounting to upwards of 601. Several gentle-
men oppressed a hope that care would be taken as to the
distribution of the funds, and recommended that blankets
and other articles of use should be issued on loan. A com-
mittee was than formed to canvass the pariah throughout
for subscriptions, and several additional amounts having
been handed in, Mr. Frederick James Blake, jun., was re-
quested to act as honontry secretary.
Meetings with similar results were also held in other parts
of Loudon.
Abdut 400 persona, MIA and female, attended ist the
Jlarylelmee workhouse for the purpose of obtaining relief.
elman The lions have given directions to Mr. Tubbs, the sta-
sis overseer, to afford relief to the applicants who were
in d ' ute circumstances, confining himself as far as pos-
sibl those who are residents in, and who are chargeable
to, parith. In compliance with this order on Saturday
AS as 4,000111/. of bread, lac., were distributed.
At .the guildhall Police Court Alderm.tu Mechi said he
v, hail great pleasure in announcing that in consequence
of t very seasonable gift by Mr. Swaivaton, of
the Three Bucks, Old Jewry and Grettham.street, of
one hindred soup ticket', and the publicity given to
the clamor's suggestion, other benevolent persons had
came forward with similar assistance, and among them be
must not omit to mention the very liberal contribution of
Mr. fillubbs, the proprietor of the Trade Protection esta-
blishment at the corner of King-street and Gresham-street,
who hod provided for distribution among the starving poor
of hiapwn and the adjoining wards 1,000 quarts of good
at son and 1.000 loaves of bread. Mr. Swainston he
u was also prepared to give 100 loaves of hied
with soup already provided at his own expense, and
further to make the 1,000 quarto of letup to be given by Mr.
Stubbs at the coat price of the materials, and without any
champ for fire or Lebow.
At the Thames Polioe-oourt the applicants for relief from
the poor-box fund were again very numerous, and Mt-.
Yardley, on homing that a vast number of unemployed
labourers were assembled in front of the court, gave direc-
tions ;to Mr. Livingston, the chief usher, to obtain kV.
worth of silver, and distribute it among them to the best of
his ledgrunnt. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the gates of
the illation-house yard were thrown open, and a tremen-
dous push took place. Great eagerness was manifested to
obtaM a aixpeace or a shilling, and it required the utmost
efforts of laspectare Griffin and Hayes, of the K divirkes
and a tome of twenty-five constables acting under
their 'orders, to prevent accidents. The clothes of
many were toru, and others received bodily in-
juries, but not of a serious nature. The inspectors,
wirmants and constables had a very arduous duty to per-
form, sad they acted with great forbearance and good hu-
mour, admitting the poor creatures into the passage of the
court Mu Jr twelve at a time. They were moodily disposed
of by Mr. Livingston, who was assisted by Denny, Kent,
and laplin, officers of the court, and by Mr. Proem, a cad
mete, and an influential member of the vestry of Mile-end
Olslclerrirs who is well aogupiqtotyrith the limiting damsel
of the rent of Loudon and the dortnct generally. A few
words of inquiry only were addressed to each individual, but
imposition was almost impossible. Mr. Livingston paid MO
Is. each. 100 Tel. each, and about 200 more 2s. and 36. Gd.
each. There were upwards of 100 poor women craving re-
lief in attendance, and they were directed to attend this day
with letters of recommendation from persons known to the
magistrate, and their cases would be attended to. The sub-
scriptions forwarded to Mr. Yardley fur the poor-box fund
yesterday were unusually Loge.

OPENING OF THE SYDENHAM LICTURE-HALL
Last evening a public meeting was held in the new Lecture-
Sydeeham, for the purpose of celebrating the opening
of that institutiou to the public. At t; o'clock in the evening
there was • *Mrs.', iu the institution, which was attended by
the beauty and fashion of the place, and soon after 7 o'clock
Sir Joseph Paxtou took the chair at a public meeting in
the large ball of the establishment, which was crowded to
ovnreowing, many lathe's and gentlemen not being able to
gam admission. Sir Joseph Paxtou, in introducing the pro.
ceedings, remarked upon the benefit's which such an insti•
tation would confer upon the neighbourhood, which was
now growing into n large population. He was sorry that
the original plan for the erection of an institution on a
large lode could not have been carried out, but he did not
despair of such being so soon, as he found that they had still
retained a piece of ground at the back of the present
building which would afford space for the erection of a
hall capable of containing six or seven hundred persons.
The expense of the present erection had beeu, independent
of the purchase of the ground, which was for the time given
to them by Mr. Harrold, 3,000 f., to make up which they bad
only gut subscriptions to the amount of 1,0001. With that
exception, therefore, and that of 5001. which the committee
drew as n ground rent for some of the superfluous property
sold by them, they had to provide for the remainder as well
as for the coin necessary for the extension of the premises.
He trusted that the parties residing in the neighbour.
hood, of whom he paw so many present, would emt them-
selves in carrying out the institution in an efficient and
prosperous manner. On the motion of Mr. Scott Hassell,
seconded by Mr. George Cruikshank, a cordial vote of thanks
was passed to Sir Joseph Paxton, fur the interest he has
taken in the matter, and the proceedings of the even-
ing closed with recitations and singing by parties interested
in the welfare of the institution.

METROPOL TAN CON V ALENCLIPT I NSTITUTION.
The twentieth annual meeting of this society wee bald yes-
terday, at the society's moms, Sackville-street,
The object of this institution is to provide an asylum in
the country for the temporary residence of the convales-
cent and debilitated poor, wheat restoration to health is
impracticable in the hospitals, sod at their own unhealthy
awl ill-provided homes, but may be 'speedily effected by
pure air, rest, and nutritious diet. Mayor W. Lyons pre-
sided. The minutes of the previous meeting having been
read anticonfirmed, Mr. Holmes (the secretary) read theire-
pat, from which it appeared that during the past year
1,420 persons, viz., 533 males and Mil females, enjoyed the
benefits of the institution ; 1,193, were discharged cured ;
147 were improved ; 47 renewed for medical treatment ,•
4 left of then own accord before recovery, 5 were discharged
for misconduct, sod '34 remain. It appeared that there were
153 new subscribers during the year and 88 donors. The
donations amounted to 7461. 15e. 7d. Two of them were
100/. each, one of which,aent under the initials V. N. H. I'
war for the chapel fund. The other was presented through
St. Ilarthuhanew's Hospital. The board legretted the less
during the past year of Farl Hoovers and his countess, who
have boar g been liberal supportars of the charity, and ex-
pressed their gratification at the general prosperity of the
institutiou. From the statement of accounts, it appeared
that the net total receipts during the year amounted to
2,6131. 18e. tid., exclusive of a Wane. of 961. A. lisL from
last year. and 7161. 2s. 3d. derived from the sale of Each..
quer.bills. The balance at present in the hands of the
hankers is M. fis. 6d. The report was unanimously adopted,
and the following gentlemen were re-elected members of
the board of management :—F. T. }Urchin, Sir J. Forbes,
Dr. H. B. Jones, awl Colonel Knox. Votes of thanks having
been voted to the different officers of the institution, the
proceedings terminated.
GltotocreaL Socirry OP In ex nos. —The next
meeting of the society will be held (at Burlington-home) on
the .led instant, when the following papers will be Ned :
—l. thi the Gravel and Boulders of the Punjaub—hy J. D.
Smithe, Fsq., P.G.S. 2. On the "Chalk flock' between
the Lower and Upper Chalk, of Wilts, Berke, Oxon, lc.
—by W. Whitaker, Fief., F.O.S. 3. On Piers/pis Dunenais
(Paireoteuthis Dunensis, Ithemer)—by Professor Huxley,
Sec. G.S.

IN RAILWAY TIAINS.—A very MC-
°awful effort has been made on the Fast Lancashire section
of the Lancashire sad Yorkshire Railway to light the car-
riages of a passenger train with gas. The invention is Mr.
Newell's (the inventor of continuoua railway brakes), and
the gas is kept in a desible receiver in the guard's van.
From the van iron tubes carry the gas over the tops of the
carriages, the connexion between the pipes on each carriage
being made of tlev.ilde tubing. From the pipes over the
tope of c►rriages short suspenders drop into each compart-
ment el the • es, to which aro Attached neat brackets,
sod ghee glohee. WI a hood of light, by which passengers
may read comfortably, in obtaioed, and considerable warmth
is imparted by the lamps. whilst all foul air et..:xpes throng's
the reef.