The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-25 00:00:00

BRISTOL ATHENZUM SOIREE.

The first public soirle of the Bristol Atheneum was
held on Wednesday evening, at the Victoria.rooms, in that
elty, the entire range of which elegant and commodious build-
ing had been engaged by the directors for the purpose. The
attendance wee very large, numbering about 1,400 of the
principal inhabitants of Bristol and its neighbourhood. The
chair was takes by the Right Worstipiul the Mayor, J. K.
aiIIIIITIZLD, Req. ; and- among the company were the
Right Hon. Lord Teiunotouth, P. W. S. Mika, lisq.,
M.P., Dr. Symonds, P.F. Aiken, Rig., the Mayor of Bali,
Rey. H. I. Roper, Rev. W. James, Rev. N. Ha croft,
A.M., Sir Walter James, Bart., C. Tom, Esq., H. Vivi,'
Reg , R. H. Webb, lin ,
At 8 o'clock the tea-room wee thrown open to the visitors,
and from that hour till half peat 7 the tame wee
In promenade and converesztone the bend of the
e
Brigade being stationed is the trait gallery:
In the rooms wore placed for the inspection, amseement,
eat instructiea of tho pests a variety of models, imple-
ments, bronco testae, lte. sad during the conversation*
Mr. Warren, of Manchester, exhibited some medals of
machinery seed hi the cotton manwacture ; Masan. Binh
and Co. prod's,' and explained a pedestal .team-sa&s,
working soma model sager mills, upon the principle of aces
seed in the West Incise; while Mr. Gan and Mr. Each
exhibited and explained the sees of medical phase appa-
ratus, that of Kr. Wok protest's( many novelties and les.
0727ste, sad being capable and sleet regulation.
;de WrAvisa need the electric light, waish—
although passed only on a small enale—filled the vast
hall with its brilliant beams, rendering the most minute
objects almost es visible as in the broad coy
The Orpheus Glee Club, who had lent their oilskins
envier, next gave a series of vocal composition. This part
of the evening's entertainment appeared to give great ells-
fettles to tee assemblage the entire selection being wily
apphiaded, and many of {he glees encored. At eight o'clock
the chair wee taken by
The Right Worshipful the Mayor, who mid—The object
of the Atheseum, to place welds the reach of the
public the tallell aid most recast latermation ea all ogee*
of general latorest, resubmit aseimerse literaiL or 'mien-
tiflo—to provide as Weed el & plass sense in intervals
of businese—to ladte, eepecially Nagai pesos 111111. • taste
Ibs iosellestitel and *rating parade...a to weds She

7el kr peresgssien, by Militias for Gyms*
CO'Se various Warsolesettt knowtistalLeure.)
...miss and alas ,sf dhe Illeissies' , ass
*Salk 1111. mild Mt OW* JrA iisisty, whisk lics
laill friall 11142. lIPW. Pfidula, Sad their mambas' axial-
flemlatell was tiss i!itliazatug. At the first ithetil ;satins
the
sills its Musks It aunbered about 380 imeinbos , s e
stand, *mut KO ; st tim third, 7001 and st Plum'upwards
that it
SS* This steed/ (mg "rogrestive iner:WP !Owl
7,2vind--! ...
finfloW,Ctd.
I . THIGNMOUTH said their ebakmaa Strand II", .A
1
im: a twofold 0118111041, se the representative on .....! ..".„. 1......"--
;al44l:l47.4l".prtsiges. sab egt.:.""*b6sili litsnttirs balliAge
cani 41° eciivaisitheenoresehu:icaltto.lbalms-,0
Is them amain Y.
vast
only represented the Sweeter sad feeling! 0 that vast ow-4Mb sheeted from all
be parts of a great sky, whisk had authority 7.lth So aspire, not only
* ampere* weskit and marital* !sportsmen, bat for
its lisasnrable antiquity. Go when they would throughout
lispiedinals Whey sew monuments of the pollens Ss mania-
mom, sad *a piety of Soso great macaws of whom he saw
around his*e livisir repnissatuitres and orporate sue-
mimeo. The Rabb lord proeeeded mum Saga to point out
the slue a stbenseass, and, in eonelusion expreeaed his
hearty whims Isit the welfare et ta• initataiioll ill whose
behalf they worn sassehbkd.
P. W. 5. MU" Req., was sonvieoed that great good
would flow to hie native aty from the establishment ei the
Atheassam. (Cheers.) He was *premed with this fact
daring a sojourn in America, when he found established
la every sky and town a similar institution.
Dr. ISYMONDS boos testimony to the advantages pos.
soma by cultivated mails our those who had taken ao
pains in mental eaten. It needed hat a small experience
in his profession to have the worth of general knowledge
forced on the attention.
lama other gentlemen eddremed the useably, and the
saki did not case till a kite hoar.

DINNF.E TO THE MEMBERS FOR
MACCLBSPIELD.

Os Wednesday wising a_grand banquet was
girth in the awslably ream tie the Town Hall, Macclesfield,
se norms. Jeer Beeekishont and John Williams, the mem-
hes Ilw the heseselt, by their anetillteate. Tao chair
ameba by Wsisass Porn, In.
Lois. go theses were roan Isom the Marquis of West-
Wismar. Lord &lathery, Lord Dudley Ratan, Joseph Stan.
dad, Sp., mid ethos 1/011thIlMill who unwise; atm& The
company sonsissed of surly 400.
At the camisoles ad the repeat, the lord and patriotic
toasts usual es such thendom wen drink. Them wen suc-
ceeded by the chairmsa propatiag liberal members of
the Houses of Lord. sad Commas." For the latter thanks
wsrr returned b
J. y
lIIIRSHAW Req., M.P., who said, nines some intro-
Amp ;jugs remarks-2A party were going about Oho country
pro a protecting duty. A more monstrous pie-
tism in these salightenth times could not emanate
from a party positheth of so little common seem.. (Cheers.)
If he were celled upon to decide between the sae of Ira
trade or protection,. he would with a clear cooseisaos, with a
heart without a mei throb, sirs his vote for the freedom
of eoetswires. Shall the renta of the aristocracy of this
country be raised at the prim of the poor man's loaf ? No,
sash a mane would be a great injustice to the great body
of this people.
The CHAIRMAN said he now rase to propel the toast
dohs evening, " The Health of the Harsugh Members."
((gnat applause.)

Mr. 13liOCKLH HURST, in rising to respond, we. torn-
ally greeted. lie said I have had 18 years uf public duty
as your repreeentative, and I am now growing an old man.
In 1824, when I first embarked I. the interest of Maccles-
field, tise trade bad been worked like the pine apple 14 the
glaschoase, very beneficially by Mr. Huskinson. I was an
advocate for protection then, and I will tall you why. Mr.
Huskinsen obtained an act of parliament bar a protestive
duty of more than 10a. per lb. on sick. I commenced tr•
silk trade, and we straggled to maintain that protection,
but found it unavailable. The borough slice then has been
dependent entirely upon the silk trade. I am, sa your rep-
resentative, deeply reap:iambi@ for your interest and Confi-
dence. I have attended in the House of Commons when-
ever anything sufficiently important drew me there;
at other time I have preferred going to bed.
(Cheers and laughter.) After a few observations on the im-
portance of education, the honourable geatleman continued
to state that he bad generally been a supporter of Lord John
Russell. He had seen many difficulties surmounted by the
silk trade; and manufacturers used to be told, when they
asked for an advance in prices, to improve their ma-
chinery—(cheen and laughuir)—and he in like manner
would say to the complaining farmers and landlords, " Im-
prove your land." (Cheers.) He would .fever vote for
pr?tectiveFton corn, _ _

Mr. WILLIAMS also responded to the tout, and said,
when the applause had subsided, that he was pleased indeed
to listen to the honest opinion., of his cal. guff that night,
and he regarded them as an earnest of what might be ex-
pected in the coming session of parliament. lie stool
amongst them not with bated breath or stooping gait. The
pledges he made to them when he was returned in 1841
have not been broken ; and if he was in any degree
changed, it was that he was more radical now than he was
then. (Cheers.) Mr. Brocklehurat bad never paid him
the slightest compliment beyond that of a mere
stranger, though he would like to see as unanimity
of feeling between Mr. Brocklehurat and himself. lie
would like to see the borough of Macclesfield contested by
two liberal men. A great deal had been said respecting re-
form, and he would tell them that reform west be effected
by the people, with the weapons of peace, union,
and temperance. It is in the power of every
mast to work out his own salvation. He wanted
an extension of the suffrage. It was the right of every man,
21 years of age, free from crime, to be placed on the consti-
tution. A man, 21 years of age, who roes been six months
in a lodging, was as much entitled to the suffrage as the
richest man in that room. Let him also have triennial par-
liaments. Since he (Mr. Williams) had given up his trade
he had invested his capital in land, and when the rents were
due and collected by his agent, he (Mr. Williams) asked Lim
if there had Wes any complaints, when there was only a
solitary one. He had asked the tenants if the rents were
too high, and they all appeared satisfied and paid their rents
most cheerfully.
C The VICEHAIRMAN propose.' "The Health of the
Mayor and the Borough htegi,trater."—Drunk with three
time three.

After moms other toasts, thaelts were voted tm the their
and acknowledged, and the party broke up.

RAILWAY MEETING.

SCOTTISH CENTRAL.
OP TUC DIRECTORS.
A special general meeting of the shareholders of the Scot-
tish Central Railway Company wee held at Perth on Tues-
day, chiefly for the purpose of considering and determining
what course it would be moot expedient and advisable for
the company to pursue, in consequence of the rebuild of the
London and North Western, Lancaster and Carlisle, end
Caledonian Railway Companies to continue the working of
the line, in 'terms of the working agreement entered into
with these companies.
Viscount DUNCAN, chairman of the company, submitted
the report of the directors tor the approval of the meeting,
and entered into an elaborate and able defence of the canduct
of the directors. He animadverted in strong terms on the
erroneous and unjustifiable charges advanced in a published
letter by the Marquis of Breadalbane against the board of
directors.

The approval of the directors' report wu seconded by
ROBIZT Sauce, Rel, of Kennet
The Marquis of READALBANE defended the course
he had found it expedient to pursue, and submitted the fol-
lowing amendment to the motion of the noble chairman.
That a committee of shareholders be now appointed to in-
quire into and investigate and consider the (whole affairs of
the Scottish Central Railway Company, as well the financial
as the general affairs of the company and management
thereof; such investigation into the general affairs to include
an investigation into, and consideration ot, all contracts
and agreements of every description heretofore entered
Into by the directors with railway or other com-
panies, or individuals; and to report, so far as they
deem it expedient or proper to do so, the import and
effect of such contracts and agreements, and their
opinion and views in reference thereto ; such investigation
further to include an inquiry into the general ISlADSge-
mint of the line, and the revenue, expenditure, and liabili-
ties of the company, and to report their opinion thereon, and
mto what line of conduit they would recommend to be
adopted by the company ; and that in carrying out snob in-
vestigation, the committee shall have power to call in ems.
petent accountants, counsel, and engineers to their assist-
ance, and to examine the directors, officials, and books of
this company, and have all other powers necessary for making
their investigation. That said committee shall report to a
meeting to be convened in Edinburgh or Perth, se they
think best, on a day of which due some shall be given, and,
in theism:time, that the directors shall do nothing to altar
the position in which this company now stands in selatim to
the southern or other companies.
The motion being seconded,
The CHAIRMAN stated what would be the inevit-
able result of the adoption of that amendment. The board
of directors looked upon that amendment as a vote of cen-
sure, and as honourable men they could not longer retain
their seats at that board if the adoption of the report was not
carried.

1 ---ii Viral shareholders suggested that the adoption of the
report did not supersede the appointmsat of a committee of
investigation; and other shareholden favourable to the
amendment of the Marquis of Snadalbane, proposed that
the report, in the meantime, simply lie en the table.
The directors disapproved et these suggestions, Ski con-
sequently the motion and amendment were pat to the vote,
the following being the result :
Stock. Vona.
For the notion—Present
Preain

£180,460 9,886

For the ameadneat—Pretent
Proziee

E 343,460 4,983

Mojority against the Direeton—Stoek, 103,0001. ; votes,
19107.
It is undenteod that the prang Board of Dineton rentals
is odes to aid the Conalttee of Investigation, and until
their susession can be foaad.
After the usual votes of thanks, the meeting separated,
having reutaised it dhcardou (olden, as the question of the
loothao C4144114"' agnamli) tof opwsrda ei Pt hour.

THIS DAY, Dom
ellhomset WWI 11= et MM. Sass et Itemilre.
WA.W. ssesee. Mee.
The rearm ftei
thireibre
thepeilhatisa knowing Sues did set nisi this
411se is time Ise smeiwday limey
basses the state etthe weethse W ; eeiliw at
Mae Ate&
teem ............».....i X, Glanklallressi