The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-06 00:00:00

HAMMERSMITH.

CATTION TO 81.10 T 22222 sts-7-Yesterday J. B. IFAito,
11. Shrew, lf'm. llumbidge, E. Gordon, and F. Field, five
tradesmen of Hammaramitts, sppeared to 'newer • charge of
exposing, printed bills in their windows reflecting on the
character of • Mr. Bird.
For some time past • petty paper warfare appears to have
been • d on in Hammersmith respectieg the public
charities, and in the bills c ,utplained of, which were without
imprint, charges of jobbing, &c., were insinuated against
complainant.
The first case called on was that of Mr. Hambidge. The
exposure of the handbill in his shop window was proved, as
well are its reference to Mr. Bird.
Mr. Beadon considered the cue fully proved, and inflicted
the full penalty olsf.
Notice to appeal to the sessions was then put in.
The same defendant was then charged to answer a second
information for publishing • similar bill a few days after-
weeds, also reflecting on the character of complainant.
Mr. Beadon *gala inflicted the tall penalty of 6i.
The remaining cases failed or were withdrawn.

NATIONAL PCDLIC SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.—An in-
fluential and interesting meeting of the general council of
this body (the council appointed at the late national confer-
'rote) was held on Wedneaday evening, at Manchester ; Mr.
Schwabe presided ; and anstmethe gentlemen present were
Mr. Richard Cobden, 31. P., and others. An interesting
letter from Mr. Lattimore was reed. Mr. Lattimore sap
" Although it will sot be possible for him to bike any '
part in the deliberations of the council, he is desirous of
conveying to its megabits his sincere coaviction of the sound
nem and great national importance of the principle advocated
by the association. He records it as the only moral mods of
removing the industrial and moral ignorance of the masses
of the people. However desirable it may be for the large
loan!, It so equally so for the rural districts. The question
now b, how is the property, or population, of any district to
be brought into harmonious contact for the purpose of dif-
fusing a sound national education ? Can it be expected
that the rack. rent tenants at will should undertake this im-
portant duty? They are where cr mpleining of the
amount they have to pay to the absentee proprietors for
tithes; and have neither mean nor sympathise to promote
any such purpose. Everything hoe beep left to the voluntary
principle; and it would appear, from put experience, im
possible to carry out any voluble system of general instruc-
tion by this means. By the national public school plan, pro-
perty will be made to perform its duties to the population of
• district, and rates will be expended for the purpose of inf.
fusing education, instead of punishing crisis, whereby security
for properl in rural districts will be promoted in subarea
for incendiarism, poaching, and houghing of cattle. He
would fain hope, too, that by increasing toe intelligence of
the mass of the people, an effectual remedy will be Mind
against the machinations of priesteralt in every form.
He as firmly convinced that the proposed expenditure will
not only tend to the promotion of the general good, bat will
ultimately prove to have been the trim% economy."
A very lengthy conversation on the principal business which
the council had mumbled for resulted in the adoption of
the following resolution (moved by Mr. ll'fferrow, seconded
by Mr. Cobden) as the basis of the National Public School
' Association: "The National Public School Association is
I formed to promote the establishment by law in England and
Wales of a system of free schools, which, supported by local
I rates =demeaned by local oossaittees, specially elected kr
that purpose by the ratepayers, shall impart secular instiller
lion only; leaving to parents, gaudiest, end 'elisions
teachers the inculcation of doctrinal religion, to afford op-
portunities for which the schools shall he closed at stated
times In each week." The council sanctioned a bode of
rules for the government of the association, and the execu-
tive committee was requested to continue in office till the
Ant meeting of the general council in next year.
HnititfOnDSHlAL RULWAYS.-000 of the most
important sad influential Meeting's was held at Hereford
ea Wednesday. It was a comity meeting omovcced with
the view to promote the extension of the Glonoester and
Dean Poreet Railway from its terminus, at the Grange, to
Rai and Hereford, to join the Shrewsbury and Hereford
lime at the latter city, and this open Herefordshire lay
means of the South-Wales line, the Great Western, sad
the Midland lines at Gloucester, to the whole railway, 6011 l
which at present it is excluded. The meeting was ad-
dressed, among others, by Lord Batsman, Mr. Broad (irks
is a shareholder in the new uadertaking), Viscount Here-
ford, Sir R. Prise, Bart., 11. P., Mr. Wpb-Prosser, M.P.,
Mr. Cornwell Lewis, M.P., Mr. Cliffad, M.P., Mr. Booker
M.P. Sir Voltam Cornewell, Bert., and others, all of when:
warmly supported the undertaking. Prom the statements of
Mr. Brunel and others, It appears that the contractors are
ready to contrast the works completefor about 230,0001,
or 13,0001. smile.

REPORTED AOCIDENT ON THIS GREAT NORTHERN
RAILWAY—It woe stated lint events; that a owl wain,
°imposed of 49 trans having two guards. and drawn by
two infinite, had run Into a goods train at Hatfield station,
both true. bang on the up fine. The guards of the good;
train were ea the line with their signals, but the driven of
the two nines weld not prevent the collision. The drivers
of the maim of lie oval train are Ruh Wand, and the
two ingion, with ems et tie Weeks, are %site fiesereyed.