The Express.
London, England, 1868-05-14 00:00:00

FESTIVAL OF THE SONS OF THE CLEINY.

The 214th anniversary festival of this corporation
was celebrated yesterday with all the usual formalities. In
the afternoon divine service was performed in St. Paul's
Cathedral, when a large number of distinguished persons
were present, amongst whom were the Lord Mayor, the
sheriffs, and other civic dignitaries. A sermon appro-
priate to the occasion was preached by the Very Rev.
John Saul Howson, D. D., dean of Chester, and a full choral
service assisted, in which the choirs of her Majesty's
Chapel Royal, St. Paul's, 11'estminsier Abbey, and St.
George's Chapel, Windsor, and members of other choirs,
numberlag about 200 voices, were engaged, and the effect
was of that solemn sod imposing character which those
who have been accustomed to attend these festivals can
fully appreciated.
_

In the the annual banquet took place at Mer-
chant Taylor's-ball, Threadneedle-street, ander the presi-
dency of the LORD MAYOR ; and amongst the company
were :—The Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishops of Lon-
don Llandaff, Carlisle; the Earl of Chichester, Lord
Fiawalter, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, Hon. and Rev.
H. Legge, Sir Roderick 1. Murchison, Sir Henry Holland,
Sir Geo. Baker, the Provost of Eton, the Dean of Chester,
the Attorney-General, M.P. ; Rev. Canons Blomficld,
Jennings, Pilkingtoo, Archdeacon Bickersteth, Revs. Dr.
Vivian, Mortimer, and Currey, Sir C. D. Croeley, Alder-
man Sir R. W. Carden and B. S. Phillips, Messrs. W. H.
Barrow, M.P., Henry Pownall, J. R. Kenyon, (I.('.,ColoneiWilkinson, Mr. J. E. Johnson, President of Beth-
lehem and Rridewell, Revs. B. M. Cowie, W. H. Haman,
Rev. H M. Birch, Rev. T. J. Rowsell.
Mr. BAKER, the registrar of the corporation, said that
the society was now distributing annually in charity
20,0001., whereas a very fewyears ago the amount was only
13,000/. The average number of persons assisted yearly is
about 1,300, and of these 712 are widows and aged single
daughters. _ _

Other toasts were successively proposed and responded
to, and a list of donations and subscriptions was announced
amounting iu all to 3,4951., of which sum 1151. was col-
lected at St. Paul's. and ir2sl. at the dinner.

EEPRZI4ENTATION OF EAST WORCESTERNIIIRE.—
Yesterday, an address was ileued by Mr. Linden, of Ab-
berton hall, formerly 6L P. for Worcester, expressing his
willingness to come forward as a candidate, " if I thought
such was the general desire." He adds :—" I should
come forward as the friend of the farmer, and on purely
independent principles. I am for representation of the
ratepayers in the levying of county rates, and the disposal
of them. I am for every measure calculated to diminish
local burdens, and for a more equitable apportionment of
them ; for the maintenance of the protestant church, on
strictly protestant principles, bit in favour of religious
liberty. lam for strict economy in government expendi-
ture, and retrenchment in every branch of the public
service. What the rate-payers in counties want is some
one who will look after their interests, rather than be
casting his vote always with this party or that." In
conclusion he says if these ideas are in accordance with
theirs, his services are at the disposal of the electors.
HisePING PKTROLZUM.—A bill to amend the act
for the safe keeping of petroleum, which has already passed
two readings in the House of Commons without the atten-
tion of the mercantile community having been sufficiently
directed to it, is likely now to encounter a strenuous re-
sistance, as seeking to impose restrictions alleged to he
wholly useless and nnalled toren a trade that is gradually
becoming one of the most important in the country. A.
deputation )esterdsy waited on Sir James Fergusson at
the Home-offioe, consisting of Messrs. T. B. Korea',
M.P., John Laird, M.P., Andrew Maris (lise-
' lean Maris, and Co.), Thomas Hilton, Wil-
liam (lame (G. Bowes and Co.), 0. P. John-
son (Pinchin and Johnson), W. Odium, and A. G. Kemp,
with a memorial on the subject, signed by the houses
most largely interested. As they are stated by these
parties, the leading features of the ease appear to be as
follows :—Befined petroleum le always sold in this market
as good merchantable oil, and to make it this the petro-
leum must not ignite under • temperature of
100 deg.
Fahrenheit. The bill Sir J. F has intro-
duced raises the standard from 100 to 110 deg. Fahrenheit,
the igniting point to be from the first Sash or inflammable
vapour given off, which would be equal to 120 or 126
deg. permanent ignition, and this, it is affirmed, will
almost put an end to the petroleum commerce of the
United Kingdom, sines, unless it were maned expressly
for our consumption, it would be useless to ship cargoes to
an English output for orders as they could only go to a
°estimate! market. Furthermore, it is stated that no
accident has ever been traced to reined petroleum, the
meirmaption of which has largely intommed, the deliveries
in London alone during the winter being from 80,000 to
100,000 gallons weekly, chiefly among the poorer classes.
Thee:Wing act of parliament will not allow isms aim
40 gallons of spirit to be stared ia any warehouse near
dwelling, and our present standard of ignition for refined
petroleum is far above the oontinenial and American
markets, where mere than double the qamitit, is stored
and consumed. Accordingly, it is contended that the
measure is based neither on tU results of experience nor
the caleidations of sidenes, and can have no other effects
than theirs raisinXashe piles of English mineral oil aa
substitute, thus the publis pay higher terms for
an inferior article, and ho mfewbg is ether sountrim a
brew& of commixes of the possible hwelepment ell width
it would be vain at present to form an selhathe.
Tin AITISIDUAN Viaroirr. —On the receipt of
the news from Abyssinia in this city yeeterdsy, lisp were
displayed ha the gay, sail el aisle •
inistheir of tong were on the skeet& Is the
afternoon the bells el St. James'. 0141111111111 swig est a
'sorry path —lsxweis aek,
his Boar roe Does. —Mildke's Tablet &arm
lees, theme the aldn. rosivis Not glimlss.ei 11=r
coal lres fro. piss—Pric• ;
teflon:tar =glen. PaedagliardiML.4Advicllsonni.]