The Express.
London, England, 1850-08-20 00:00:00

SRVRNTR ANNUAL CONGERS&

NANO/MST/IR, Atm. 19.
The seventh annual congress of the British Archaize
Assodatlon appointed to take place at Manetestersed
Lancaster was opened at Manchester this morning, members
and visitors assembling in the first instance in the Mayor's
parlour at the Town-hall (gratuitously ceded to their ore by
his worship as a merlon room) to enter their names, and
thence proceeding to the cathedral to join in divine worship.
The chief objects of the mewing, as set forth in the programme
of We week's proceedings, are "to prostate a personal into -
course between antiquaries and historical lc quiren w Ito rebid,
In different parts of the &unify and abroad, aid to afford a
week's instruction and amusement by the reading and die-
' classing of papaws on antiquarian and historical subj. Ms, and
in visiting and examiaing together the antiquities of the
locality." Manchester itself is not vary rick in antiquities
(though its historical associations are far from devoid at inte-
rest), and perhaps it is for this reason that three days out of
the six to be devoted to this congress are to be spent at Lan-
a' MST, and in excursions in the ceighbonehond. The county
asdosibtadly possess many handier's, relied of the olden
time and the 011111111i0t.111 filed for to-morrow and next dry
to Whalley Abbry,Ribchestar, Lancaeter Castle, Formes
Abbey, and Hornby Castle, nil no doubt be fruitful of
topics for discussion and inquiry. Manchester, however, I
perceive, from a glance at the programme, will furnish mit-
tens kr three papers—the " Architecture and History of the
Cathedral ;" on the " Philosophy of Dr. Doe,
-Warden of
Manchester College ;" and "au Account of lumphrey
Caethiun and his :oundation." _

The company began fo assemble at the Town-haU this
morning at an early hour. The greater portion of them attended
the service at the cathedral, which was conducted by the Rev.
I Careen Clifton and the Rev. C. H. Richton, M.A. At the,
conclusion of the service the company proceeded to examine
with much interest the architecture and principal objeo•s In
the cathedral Itself, and remained in the aaaed edifim for a
considerable time. The carvings and tube-neck work of the
choir of this old beeline, g (founded in 1422 by Lard
De la Warm) are in fine preeervation, and amongst the most
curious in the kingdom. The grotesque representations cf
some of these cartir go are r.ot certainly the meat appropriate
for such a place, Including a groun of men playing at bark
gammon, en ape with a b Atli., a fighting cock, a hare super
intending a culin►ry aoper►tus, among which is a spit with
with an impaled human being, &c.
At three cclook this aternoun the opening meeting took
place at the Town Hall, which was well attended, with a
number of ladies as well as gentlemen pres, nt. I shall
forward you a report of anything of intermit that may fall
Irom the speakers for insertion in your next public tion.

AUGUST 18.

The "Lancashire Central Committee for the iro-
teenon of the Ten Noun Act " resigned this day low the
hands of the delegates, who were convened for the put,-
pose, the trust with which they bad been invested,
since the measure for 101 hours having been carried in •
form making the working hours of the entire week equal
to an average of 10 per day, there was no longer a necessity
for their services. A report wlich the secretary had
drawn up was read, detailing the line of proc.eding
adopted by t►e committee in the secceseiva stage. of the
agitation. This was adored by the delegate•, and a vote
of thanks passed to the committee for the zeal and ifaciency
which had characterised their labours. A conversation
then unwed with regard to the pirspriety of reappoint:llg
the committee for the purpose of watching the opt Tilliepti
and effect of the new measure, of reporti,:g from time to
time to the operative', and calling delegate cr pudlic meet-
ings as they might deem advisable. A letter was read
from Mr. &mud Fielden, recommending such • CCIRSt
and ano her Item Mr. William', M.P. for Macclesfield,
urging the operatives to renewed efLrts to Penne a true
Ten lisurs Bill, and prorairicg his hearty support to their
endeavours. A resolution wee afterwards carried, reap-
pointing the committee for the nbiect st►ted above ; end,
after too tranuction of some other business, the delegates
separated.

FRIENDLY ASSOCIATION OP LONDON COSTER-
ICONGEKS.—Lest evening te large number of the costar-
mongers of London assembled at a supper and ball, given at
the City Working Mate's Hall, GAden-lane, Barbican. The
entertainment won designed to point out to the working
classes the means by which they may rationally enjoy
themselves without expense, or the use of intoxicating'
I:quora. About 100 men and women sat down to supper,
Mr. Henry Mayhew is the chair. The meal consisted of a
variety of substantial viands, without any stimulant,
imager than ginger beer. The cloth having been removed,
Mr. Mayhew observed that this was the first
attempt which had been mule to give the working
classes an opportunity of conthinining r etional enj iy•
meet with the mesas of increasing the funds of the present
association; and a similar entertainment would take place
st stated periods in did...rent parts ed the metropolis. Mr.
George Cruikshank and other gentlemen afterwards ad
dressed the company, end a variety of sentiments were pro-
posed, with a view to the permanent elevation of the work•
ing classes. The spankers were relieved by a succession of
songs and dinces, to accompaniments furnished by the'
Southwark beau band. The most perfect good humour pre-
vailed throughout the ming, and the evident determina-
tion which was shown by the guests to follow the dictates of
good taste proved that the tormation of the association of
caetennongers is a step in the right direction. In the course
of the evening a list of subscriptions was read by the Chair-
man, including donations from Lord Dudley Coutts Stuart,
M.P , Earl Stanhope, Mr. Bright. M I'., Mr. Evelyn, M I'.,
Sir Benjamin Hall, 111.1%, Mr. Wyld, hI.P., Mr. Charles
Knight, &a.
116 FISHERIES CONVENTION.—At the bench of
magistrates, at liestings, on Tnunday. Samuel Siegel.%
George Snrg or, George Jeffrey, and William Wood, the
crew of the Sarah and Friends, were charged with having
been found in a apt cified port of the British channel with an
oyster dredge on board, contrary to the convention between
England and France, binding equally on fishermen of both
ampules, an article of which makes it illegal for any boat to
hays on board, in certain limits, "any dredge or other
im-
p'ement for catching oysters" between the lot May and the
31st August, during which interval oysters are reckoned
unwholesome. Mr kinghem appeared to prosecute on be-
half of Mr. Vince ;French consul at Rye), and produced the
depositions against the prisoners taken in France; but the
magistrates held that they could not be received in evidence
without as I sprees enactment, such as was probably intended
to be introduced in the Fisheries Convention Act. Tali
I titberinen were discharged, with a caution that if they
offended again, the witnesses neoeuary to prove the case and
5. cure their punishment would be brought over from France.
The importance of this decision will be apparent when we
state that from 150 to 200 vessels, of from 10 to 50 tons, are
constantly employed in dredging for rysters: in the channel
during the whole of the prohibited Beaton. Since the CCT -
venion was agreed to between the two countries, a very
evecsive oyster bed has been discovered in the middle of
the channel on the ground common to both nations, stated
to bo abeve 30 miles long and from 6to 10 wide. So nume-
rous are the oysters that the dredging rather improves the
bank than injures it; and the oysters are in good condition
during the whole of the prohibited period when oyster
dredging is illegal. Billiegegate had, in fact, been largely
supplied, and is so at the present moment, from this very
spot.

CHICHESTER THEATRE bas been sold by
auctbn for 3501. It was built in 1796 by tontine, and
formed, with Portsmouth, Southampton, and Winchester,
what was cared the southern circuit, which did a good
business. Messrs. Collins and Davis were the original
lessees under the tontine; and it was here that Incledon
made his first appearance on the boards, and received a sum-
mary dismissal for paying his snit to a daughter of one of
the manasers. Fur many yens Chichester Theatre paid a
rent of 501. • but of late years the rent has dwindled down
to a very ;null sum, till it disappeared altogether. Tne
theatre had scarcely been opened for the last ri:x or eight
years. The purchaser concerti it into a brewhouse.

HIORWAY ROBBERY NEAR BRADYORD.—Oft Friday
• young man named Richard Petty was brought before the
county bench, on remand from Monday, charged with highway
robbery. From the evidence it appeared that about • quar-
ter to 11 o'clock. on the niuht of that day week, Mr. Wright
wee on his way home to Brown Royd Hill, having born at
the White Swan Ina, W:bsey, and as he was clueing some
Held. he was attacked by two men. The pr;soner was one of
them, and a man called Squire Greenhough, who has ab•
'tended was the other, both of whom were well known to
Mr. Wright. The prosecutor heard footsteps behind him,
and on taming round he was knocked down, his pockets
were then rifled, and hla oo: ket-book, eoatainirg 4771. 19s.
in gold, notes, and bills, taken from him. The whole of the
stolen money, except • pound or two, has been recovered
sines the robbery. The prisoner wu committed to the next
assizes.

DISTRESSING ACCIDENT.—A catastrophe by which
five men lost their lives, happened on Wednesday, the 7th
instant, off Piebs-point, Pembrokeshire. It apposes that
the ill-fated men, named Abraham James, Henry Phillips,
Willem Felland, Benjamin Phillips, and Thomas Fallend
(the latter a boy seventeen years of age), were employed at
the Hook colliery, worked under the superinte rich nee cf Mr.
James Wilson, and had been sent with other men that
morning in a mall boat to Blackpool, • distance of tour
mile., for the purpose of loading two lighters or barges with
Umber, which had been purchased for the use of the colliery.
At night, after having accomplished their work, four of the
men returned by land, being afraid to vesture by water, as
it blew very hard and rained heavily, and endeavoured to
persuade their companions to accompany them as they
were unaccustomed to the manaftement of a boat in foul
weather. They, however, duregarded the intreatics
made to them, and proceeded in the boat. It is
thought they must have reached Landshipping-ferry with
much difficulty, as they had a head wind all the way, but
when oft Picton-point (where there is always a considerable
swell, especially when the wind is high), and whilst taming
the boat's head toward Hook, she shipped sever al sou which
nearly filled her. They became alarmed at their petilous
situation, and all except the boy jumped overboard and were
Instantaneously drowned, although it Is known that some of
them were good swimmers. The boat continued to fill, and
in a short time the boy also jumped into the water, and met
with 'similar fate, notwithscondiog that the boat was at this
time within a few yards of the shore. Their distvessing
situation was observed by a poor woman named Eleanor
Francis, living in • lonely cottage on the bank of the river,
nearly opposite Landaltipping-ferry. Her miss fee assist-
'nee, however, were of no avail, as the wind was too power-
ful for her Toles to he beard, and the thick mist which pre-
vailed prevented any one seeing them from Laadshippmg.
The bodies of the poor fellows were picked up on the fol-
lowing morning in a dreadfully mantled state. their fuss
having been partially sates by deb.— Welshman.