The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-28 00:00:00

MONUMENT TO JOHN BUNYAN.

Yesterdny evening a meeting wu held at the
Polytechnic lostitutien, Regent.strest, for the purpose of
ng Made to erect • utrunient to John Bunyan. Lord
811111PTINMUST occupied the chair, and ON the platform were
the Rev. Robert Maguire, Rev. Mr. Kirkgae, Rev. H.
Treenail, Rev. E. Brackettbuy, lir. Underhill, arid Mr.
limit, from Bedford. The theatre of the institution was
well filled. The meeting was preeeded by anentertrinment
is which • number of beautiful dissolving views represent.
ism the thief iocidente in Bonyan's life and in " The Pil-
grim's Prairie." were exhibited. A report wee read, which
stated that some time since a committee had been formed to
erect a monument to Bunyan in one of the leading Morough•
(woof Loe.loo. The Chairman, after explaining the object
of the meeting, pointed to John Bunyan's chair, which
occupied the centre of the platform. It had
been intended for the chairman, but as be
thought so roan in England was worthy to till
it, he had preferred that, as far as he was concerned, it
should remain vacant. It was the custom of the day to
erect monuments to great men, and it was highly fitting
that • memorial should be raised to John Bunyan. By
God's immediate inspiration, or something very clime upon
it, Bunyan bad produced a book which, after the Bible, had
conferred greater benefit on every class of society than any
other that had ever been written. The book was equally
captivating to the old and the young the learned end the
*Dorset. No other book had gone through so many ed.
none, or been circulated in so many nations. Altogether,
the book was one of the most wonderful triumph, oil
Gospel truth that had ever been produced. He hoped a
momment would be erected to John Bunyan in one of the
leading thoroughfare., and he believed all deem in society
maid willingly furnish contributions.
The meeting was afterwards mldremed by the Rev. Mr.
Kirkman, Rev. R. Magnin, and other., sod resolutions
pledging the meeting to efforts for the erection of the
monument were adopted.

FIRE IN THE BELT/DERR- ROAD.—A fire, which
beret very deredy for a short time, broke out yesterday
afternoon, at about 1 o'clock, in the range of workshops sal
stables in the Belvidere-raid belonging to John Aird and
&ea, sennactors. The premises are ou the river side, close
to the well-known Shot Tower, near the 'south end of
Waterloo-bridge, and u the dames sod smoke made the
astaistrophs very apparent, a great number of speenton
assembled on *s .brnlgs. Al, however, several land
eosin. ..oil a very powerful dieting engine were soon at
baud, the of the Sr. wee at once checked, and by
tires o'clock WM extinguished.
Ar ZXTRAORDIN ARY FIRM. —A mackerel boat
arrived at Portsmouth having on bawl a fish called a
"Thresher," manuring nearly 13 feet, and weighing between
An Ned en cwt. The fish was captured on Friday night
last during a take of mackerel. This Ash always follows the
whale, and, with the swordfish, attacks with impunity the
great Ash. It is supposed from this fact that a whale his
atoly been in the locality.
. THE &mak; MEDITERRANEAN, AND PENINSULAR
14me.-.-tiorrnenrion, MONDAY.--The Peninsular and

Orlesini Osrapeay's steamship Suites, Captain Chehalis,
sailed at 2 p.m.. with the mails for the Mediterrnases.
Egypt, Ades, Bombay, sod Upper Bengal. This paslist
Woes XI pemesegers, including Commander J. Daysema,
R.N., Captains A. Sinclair, Holt, sad Whittier. Insigne
Ramsey sad Catty, Lieutenants Heebner and Wood, Major
Little. ha. On freight she has—For Alexaadris, specie,
6,0201. ; Bomb, bar gold, 21,7001. ; ditto, bar silver.
160,87 W. Uls. it; ditto, sovereigns, 6,3111. ; ditto, gold
thread, watches sad jewellery, 7271. 14s. ; total, 612 boxes,
yaks, 197,6181.12 x. ld, The Toga; belosging to the same
sump ay, Captain Hall, also left to-day, with Peninsular
sods, 20 peaseegen and 20,0001. in spools for Lisbon.
&MTH KILNAINGTON MUSIIIIII. —Week ending
May 25, 1661 (Whitman week) : fres days, 13,892 ; three
free overtings, 5.707 ; axial *stenos cooversazione (Satur-
day evening), 176: total, 29,575. From the opening of
the saamensa. 2,068.562.