The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-12 00:00:00

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LOMION, FRIDAY, JULY 12.

TO OUR RRADERB.
xPORTINi; INTELLIOIL\CE.

A late editi.si of the gri.frad is published every
ereuisg daring the racing maws, containing the
results of the day's rms.

Ir is not at all surprising that a number of
intt Iligunt and public•spirited men connected with
the first centre of mercantile activity in the world
should be eery anxious, both for the credit of the
City and f .r the sake of its inhabitants, to see a
Free Publi: Library established in London. The
wonder rather is Viia such a natur4 and laudable
wish shout' not already have been carried into
effect. stands almost alone amongst the
great towns of the Empire in being destitute of
such a popular and uspful institution. To say
nothing of other phlox, Birmingham, Liverpool, and
Manchester have Free Public Libraries which are
freiiiiented by crowds of diligent readers, and may
justly be considered as amongst the most effective
instruments of popular education. No doubt it
may be said, as it has been said over and over
again, that London is an exceptional case, the mass
of its population being not only widely scattered,
but without any moral centre, any common tie, any
official or civic bond of union. This is to a certain
extent true. In the City there is no large elm-
' clam of workmen. tile the artisans and
operate of great manufacturing towns, for whose
special benefit a Free Library might be primarily
designed. But the class of intelligent readers of
limited means, who would thankfully welcome
and diligently use the advantages of such an insti-
tution, ia, of course, quite as large, if not quite so
homogeneous in London, as in any town of the
Empire. Besides household and out-door servants,
artisans, and mechanics, there are multitudes of
small tradesmen and shopkeepers, and a whole
army of clerks and tradesmen's assistants. There
can be no question that to the more reflecting and
intelligent of all these cleans, a well-appointed Free
Library, like that at .4anchester for example, where
they could at once obtain any standard or popular
work they might wish to study, would be au enor-
mous boon

How or how hest can such an institution be
obtained ? That is the practical question, mooted
in the City more than once before, which was re-
discussed yesterday afternoon at the public meet-
ing held in the Guildhall, under the presidency of
the Luau Maraca. It can scarcely be said, how-
ever, that the object of this meeting was to discuss
the best means for securing • Free Library, as it
was expressly summoned to decide on a parti-
cular solution of this problem. The conveners of
the meeting and leaden of the present movement
are most anxious to introduce the Public Libra-
ries and Museums Act into the City; and a resolu-
tion to this effect was moved yesterday by Mr. C.
Reru, who has already honourably distinguished
himself by previous efforts to accomplish in other
ways the same desirable object The effect of
the resolution, if carried, would be to levy
• library rate throughout the City. This
proposal created a very divided state of feeling in
the meeting, the majority having evidently the
very strongest objection to any needless increase
of the burdens already borne by the "overtaxed
" ratepayer.' The feeling of these dissentients
is perfectly natural, and we must say that to some
extent we sympathise with their objections to the
new scheme. They did not, as we understand
them, disapprove the object in view, but simply of
the means proposed for securing it. And, while
we earnestly desire to see • Free Library worthy
of the City established in Leiden, we are by no
means convinced that • rate is the best or most
appropriate machinery to employ for the purpose.
If it were quite certain that the Library pro-
ject could not be realised in any other way, that
would be a different question ; but &) long
as other means remain untried, we share
the common objection against applying to the
ratepayers. To say that the sum is small is no
valid answer. However small, it is an addition to
the compulsory rates of the poor ratepayers as
well se the rich, end no such addition ought to be
made except on the clearest and most urgent ne-
cessity. A rate is in every case the last resort,
the It 0. Mac Aim., which, instead of being
dragged in at every tom, ought not to be Leto>
duced till every other expedient has failed. It
cannot be maintan.e.l f..r a moment that the Free
Public Library scheme is reduced to this extre-
mity. That Loudon, the richest and most richly-
endowed capital in the world, should be obliged to
fall back upon • tax to effect what Manchester and
Liverpool hare easily done by voluntary effort is
simply incredible. In Liverpool the Corporation
subscribe.' 12,000/., and • single individual sub-
seTiently doubled that subscription. lu Man-
cheater I 0,000!. wee easily raised for a
Free Library, the greater part of the sum
le mg at 01110 U contributed by a few merchants and
milloweers. And it would be a libel on the City
to *meat that the hankers, merchants, warehouse
awe, awl CorporatUdi of London are less geuerous,
and leas ready to cositribute towards an object of
great and recognised public utility, than the mer-
chants and corporations of the Northern towns.
If there ant W. other means of establishing a Free
Pe-olic Library, this ought to be done effectively,
awl at erne, by voluntary effort. A very mode-
rate contritsitien f the leading merchants and
principal trading firms in the City would be suffi-
cient. And moody the Corpnretion is not too poor
or tort penespirited to volunteer a handsome eon-
iritadwas for Neeti an nbject. lint apart from this
new and volnn!ary emit* of supply, why may nut

the existing resources of the City be utilised
for this most needful and popular purpose?
There are already a number of public Libraries in
London, Dr. WILLIANN% Sion College, and the
Guildhall, and most of these, especially the last, the
Corporation Library, must have funds devoted to
their support. Why may not these funds, and
the accumulated stores of learning now practically
lying kilo, be turned to public account? Take the
Guildhall Library for example. It is no doubt
quite true that the existing stock of books are
unfit for the purpose of a lending library ; but
they would be invaluable for reference. And
they might thus be made the nucleus or founda-
tion of a noble Free Library worthy of the City.
The funds already available for the Library,
augmented by voluntary subscription, would soon
add to the ponderous learningof the existing shelves
those popular scientific and historical works which
must constitute the bulk of a useful lending library
at the present day. Surely in this way, or in some
such way as this, the needed work might be done
without the aid of the taxgatherer. The City
is, we are convinced, generous and public spirited
enough to do for itself what other large towns
have dune, without resorting to the unpopular
and desperate expedient of ir rate.

VW enn.

~_

0611011.1111, JOLT IL
Tln• Queen anti Prince Consort, the Crown
Prin..• and Ptineess of Pruasie, Princess Aliee, and Prisons
Helena, dims to St. Clare, near fty.le, yesterday afternoon.
The Connie,. of Gaiesborough, L.4y A. Bruce, Countess
Muhl, Ittmoess Too Dobenecit, Count Furstenstein, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Voo I kberuitz, were iu attendance.
Lon' A. P.igct attended on bon.eback.

Her Majenty'A rommeiiieoers for the loternatimial Exhi-
bition of Isis bare received a communicatioe front the
Norwegian government, iatimating that the following
patienra hid been aimoieted to nun tent the intereata of
exhibitors from that country :—Capton Lieutenant Steen.
Arno. Chairman ; liana H. Waded Jarl.herg, M. H.Schow,
N. 0. l ibl, H. !ichubeler, and H. H. Christie, Secretary.
Hr. E. Tniernand, of the Royal Department for the Interior,
will be ..at to London as eutniniwioner.

A cosnaiuoicatiwo h.a Leen rewired from the Duchy of
Nanso, .tatie• that the Central Authority for the Admiois-
trati.w of the interior will act as a onerientssioti.

It bo, al.n been intimated to her Majesty'sConimisaioners
that Monvieur A. .tuthoine, of NO. 2, langhamplace, Lon-
,loo. Isa.l liven appointed the medium of communication for
tie .late of 11.1ifiA nod that a conunisaioci had been ap-
pointed at Mindy Video, of which Dr. Don Manuel Herrera
y U e. w.ui the President, aad Don Xavier Alvarez, the
stet-Mary.
A;ba Mebili, chief of the merchant., has been instructed
by the Pero., gnvernment to commuuiusto with the intend-
In: exhibitors (nab thatcountry.
The Judicial C.onm:ttee of the Privy Council eat yester-
day. Au appeal from Use High Court of Admiralty, the
Anises and Black Prince was heard.

The Lords present were Lord Kingedown, Sir Edwanl
Rv.in, and Mir J.Caleridge.
Sir J. Emma Teuseet has left town for Ireland.
Despatches were met yesterday from the Coloaial-odlos to
the novenae, of Gibraltar and Malta.

The l'rince Cousurt and the Crown Prince of
Pramia landed at Southampton Lanka this morning at 10.20
a.m, from I hdrorne, sad proceeded by railway to the Wel-
lington Cullen.

We believe we are correct in Mating that it is
not the present intention of his Royal Highness the Prince
of Weiss to visit the 80.-Al Agricultural Show of Ireland,
to be 1,111 this year in Belfast on the ith, Bth, and 9th of
August. Hie blzotillency the Lord. Lieutenant of Ireland
will be present at the public dinner and ball on the lest two
days, and will stay at BrAvnlow-house, the seat of Lonl
MI Lady Larsen.

The Duke and Duchess d'Espert and family have
left the Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn.street, far the Isle of
Wight.

The Marthionesa of Sligo Lae issued cards fur
dame for Mooday, the 220tl inst.

The Earl of ilornington has left the Clarendon
Hotel for Droycott Howe, Chippoohem.
. .

The Earl of Dalhoueie and Lady C. Maule have
We Claridge 's Hotel for Scotland.

I*dy Emily Fuley has left the Clarendon Hotel
for Mahan.

Sir Thomas and Lady Arabella Hesketlt have
left Claridge'. Hotel for Raiford House, Omekirk.
Lady Llauorer has had three afternoon aasem-
blies and dancing parties during the past and present week
at ber mans 1•11 in Great Staahope-street, Mayfair.

Lieut.-Cu:onel Hicks has made a special appeal
to employers t.. obtain for all volunteer. employed in com-
mercial mid official pursuits, lc., permission to leave their
place• of !Amoco to-morrow at such an hour as will enable
them to atteud the review.

Tlo 11e, ah *ape :—" We understand that an
active preliminary canvass is being nude on behalf of Sir
Stafford Northoote, among the electors of the Uni-
versity of Oxford, on the success of which depends his
resignation of his mat for Stamford, which he naturally
will Dot relinquish unless ho is scoured of success for
Oxford. That asourance the conservative electors of
Oxford should at mice afford him. The acceptance of olSoe
by Mr. Roundel' Palmer has completely altered the state
of affairs. Previously to his joining the government Sir
Stafford Northooto had retailed to allow his name to be
brought forward in competition with en old friend profess-
ingeonservative prat:nate., but now the question is one of
cos fideoce or so coofidence in Lord P•lmerstou'n govern-
snerat."

" While Behrpravian matrons," hays the Critic,
"are pouring forth their laments in the columns of the
Times, that eligilde suitors do not offer themselves in
greeter tiambers for their daughter., it nay be some con•
solatiou to mach-makers, whether dowager or not, to learn
that the 0011110 of matrimony is progressing slowly but
surely on the bouts of the Csrn. There are now not
less thau three colleges at Caiiihrillp, where it has
been decided by a majority of the fellows that soy one of
their nuniber may marry on the condition of vacating his
fellowship at the mil of ten years from the tune of his
induction. This decision also, we helloes, renders it im•
perative, at the three colleges in question, that every
siewlymiaile fellow should vacate his fellowship, whether
he marry Ur not, at the end of ten years. The Names of
the innovating colleges are Clare, Trinity Hall, and
quisee'.."

The mercantile community of Ilarro are endea-
vouring toget establritic.l a doily mail coin own inztioo between
that port and Southampton by means of the South Western
Oarapaey's streams for the purpose of facilitation the
hunch limas to and from the West holies, the Basile, and
Ibis limited States. The French government bare offered
to exempt the company from harbour awl other dues, which
would amouot 4r upward. of 5,000 f. a year, provided such
daily elnorkinot,4tion is eetoldishod. At present the com-
munication only triweekly.

Adviecii from Egypt state that Mr. Lange, the
English 'gent of the Sues Canal Company, reached Alex-
andria ou the 104th of June, and that 11. de Loweps left the
next day for France. Mr. bingo wan about to .tart fur
Port Staid, and then to traverse the track along which the
canal works are going on. The Viceroy had granted his
steamer, and Mr. C.ilquhoun, the British Consul. General,
with Mr. Saunders, having agreed to join in the expedition,
it was now definitively arranged that they should all leave
on the 211th. The necessary instructions bad been sent to
prepare camels, horses, Ac., to meet them, and Mr. Lange
hail full powers to inspect the book. and everything con-
nected with the project. According to last reports there
were_tt,ooo men at work. _

WIIPOTKINRITA PALAtir. —From parliamentary ra-
tans Mined this morning it appears that the met of ps
in lighting the Houses of Parliament in the year ended
March la last was 3,1521. ss. 2.1. ; the cost of oil,
2.376 f. ts. 1 ; and of was, 3781. 10s. 11. The cost of
the clock and bell:, subsequently to t pril, 1859, has been
1,687/. lels. 6d. The whole sum expended iu the building,
flannelling, lighting, and ventilating the new palace at
Westminster since December :11, 187..9, is 35,769/. 154. ld. ;
east this amount does not include the cost of &malice
of the building with fresco paintings and statuary, the ex-
penditure for maintenance and repairs of the buildings and
furniture, nor the current expenses of lighting and se:Al-
ba/nig.

LATEST INTELLIGENFILt-
AME RICA.
• -

ARRIVAL OF THE BALTIMORE.
LIVERPOOL, limo►r.
The Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia
Company's screw-steamer City of Baltimore, Cap-
tain Jeffrey, which left New York on the 29th
ultimo, arrived in the Mersey about midtiight:
The following details of the position of affairs
are taken from the Neat, risk Herald, of the 28th
and 29th of June :
The moat important events that have occurred aim* oar
last have been the arrest of Marshal !Line, of Baltimore,
by General Banks, and the proclamation and establishing
of a virtual martial low in that city.

The Secretary of the Treasury is busily engaged in pro.
paring his report for the next Congress. Plans are pro-
posed therein for the rni.ing of money to carry on the war.
The amount to be asked fur will not exceed two hundred
and fifty millions of dollars, and it is believed now that
sum can be reduced twenty-five millions. Several regi-
meets of General Patterson's command, under Colonel
Thomas, United States army, have moved down the banks
of the Potomac towards Falling Waters.

The progress of the Union forces through Missouri ap-
pears, from what meagre information we me obtain, to be
favourable to the government and disastrous to the rebels.
The eying flotilla on the Putomse,which has done so mach
service in keeping that important water highway open,
for the government, has had another skirmish with a rebel
ambuscade at Aqua Creek, and, we egret to say, with the
kw of as experienced sad valiant odieer, Captain Ward,
of the gunboat Freeborn, who commanded the flotilla.
SOUTHAMPTON. JULY 12.
The Hamburg and American Company's steamer
Bavaria, from New York on the 29th ult., has ar-
rived. She brings 62 passengers for Havre and
England, and 143 for Hamburg.
On the 30th ult. she mpoko the Etna, standing
west, and on the same day panted a steamer sup-
posed to be the Hantinonia. On the 6th inst. she
spoke the British barque Indiana, from London for
Quebec, and on the 11th off Scilly Wanda the
steamer New York, bound for New York.
News anticipated.