The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-25 00:00:00

(Stamped. ld. Additional.) (T WOPENCE .

aNORTH MIDDLESSA ItIF4A* VOLUNTIOW.

On Saturday afternorm the 29th Middlesex was
inspected on the parade swami of the Alimayestrest Bar.
racks, by the Comparelent, Lieuteuant-Colonel Vis-
count Enfield, M.P., preparatory to no early official
inspection by Colonel Al'Murdo. There was an ex-
cellent muster, eompriaing six companies belonging
to the north-western district, and a new company
lately formed at Kensington, which is under the cornmeal
of Captain Algernuo West. Altogether there were nearly
500 of ell ranks on the ground. There were also present •
considerable body of cadets. After the inspection, m which
the gallant colonel was assisted by the adjutant of the turn%
Capt. R. Walleo Jones, the regiment, which fur once bad
throughout the benefit of retictrkehly hue weather. nurched,
beaded by the hand, to the Mornington-road Drill.ground,
where the men were dismissel. It was notiord that, in
accordance with an order issued on the previous Wednerday,
the whole of the men *ore a strip of crape on the left arm
as mourning for the Duchess of Kent. Yeateriley afternoon
about :KW men and a Lune number of cadets of the Same
corps sasembled at half-past two o'cluck iu the enclosure
of Moroingtea-cruieent, when. they marched, accent-
poled by the head playing gamed music, to Christ Church,
Blandford-square, to attend divine service. The aerate,
was preached by the chaplain of the corps, the Rev. C.
Williams, from the tod chapter of the becond Epistle to
Timothy, and the 3ed vane. In the course of his
sermon the reverend gentlenuin took occasion to
impress ow the volunteers assembled the seemaitY
el punctuality and diligerme as repueed drill, in order that
they might really learn the blueness ofd soldier strongiy
condemning the practice of wearing a unifortn semi parading
in public for the ramose of display. He gee dwelt In
forcible terms as the wspertanFo of discharging home
end social as well as volunteer duties, mid of not
injuring the chat-meter of the volunteer movement
by indulgence in dissipation aid excess. The
hymnal music of the service was performed by the
organ and the band combined, the effect of this union being
novel sod impressive. After the benedictioo the volunteers
were re-formed by the adjutant in admirable order, and
marched back to Mornington-crescent, where they were dis-
missed about 6 o'clock.

Ammon° ORNERAL BENZrozzar INSTI•

TUTION.

On Saturday the forty-Mith anniversary festi-
val of this society was held at the Freemasons' Tavern.
The Right Hoe. W. F. Cowper, M.P., was in the chair,
supported by Sir C. Eastlake, P.K.A. ; David Ito.
beats, Fag., ; David Sleaze, Fay., R.A. ; 0.
Cockrell, big. R.A. ; Messrs. Hook, ; Redgenve,
RA ; Dobson, RA. •, R. J. lane, A.M.A. ; Horsley,
A.M.A. ; Faed, A.R.A. ; Bonham Carter, W. Holman
Hunt, Hurlestone, °odium. Heary Dawson, Barlow,Wind-
ham Phillips, hoe. see., and about 160 gentlemen, chiefly,
if not altogether, artists for it is a feature
of these gatherings that the professors of art
assemble in a tell-dependent manner, to promote the in-
terests of an institution which enlists their wannest sympa-
thise. This so far from dimieisbiug the claim of the society
oe gement benevolence ought to constitute a reason foe
aiding those who show every Disposition to help themselves,
The object of the society, which was founded inllta
eannot be too often stated. It was established to e
relief to charmed meritorigul artiste, whether subscribers
to its fund or not, whose works' have been generally k dawn
and esteemed by the public, se well as to their widows and
ereheirs, went Mal deifies constituting the
claims to its benevolence. From the founehtion
the institution tap to the end of last year donations 11
in number hare bee" raided is various einem.the awe►
gate amount being J2,0i81 On amp :recut eceadoo, ileac
the discussion of a • esiellent dinner, whiela had at the
het moment tube tar ark ustejaected additlen elf
over 60-1 lahlealleaos befog unusually • tarp .tilie
you, the the usual loyal and_ patriotic
toasts, coupling witrd.
tact
of the Army and Navy that
Voluntessa, sad sepeciallrths " Corps ;" for which
Ile Wyndham Phllhps, one of its officera, returned thank".
In Oro " Presperity to the histitution," the Chair;
man etated 'it lad been' established for nearly fifty
plan, and though. he was glad to say that it bad et
caved the supped of all classes, yet it was the fact,
the aid it had obtained was by no means commensurate with
its Merit& The result had been that owing to its limited
means the sphere of its usefulness and value bad bees par
cessarily narrowed. The public, and especially the hanl-
working public, were much ita. lehte:d to she cultivators of art for
the beneficial influence which its production exercised typo,
their minds and feelings; and it was not too much to ex-
pect that all who bad enjoyed the gratifleation which was
mused by the imetemplatuan and the possestioo of the
works of artistic genius, skill, and labour, should
'something towards the relief of that misfortune which
often pressed on meritorious individuals, and which was
generated by the form of eircumeaeoes rather than by their
ewe fault. As regarded the society itself, its objects were
admirable, its rules judiciously but generously farmed,
while its management was • model of combined scones*
and meinlnese, producing the greatest pourable amount a(
good at a 'minimum expense. "The Health of the Chairman
was proposed by Sir C. Eastlake, P.R.A., and was followed
by a ewes-of masts relating to the various societies emu
meted with art. The musical arrangements comprised the
mentos, of the London Madrigal Union, including Mho
Mr, Baxter, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Lawler, and M.
lona, Who were aided by Mr. J. L. Hatton. The
ferment* of several glees and madrigals was mulled by
tbe greatest perfection on the part of the vocalists, sad was
received with great applause hythe company.

THE NECESSITY OF AN EARLIER PUNLIci-

TIONoi 71751AliFiiiiitis:

•
(Prom the Money Market literier.)
The Bank returns are made up on the Wedneci-
day of emit week, and are placed before the Bout Omni at
ita usual ineetiag ou Thursday. By the favouratile or u[-
favourable nature of those returns the directors are stik
posed to be guided in raising or lowering the rate of dg`..
count.

Now there oars be no reason, save that of custom, why A
copy of these returns should not be posted up in the Bank
Hall on Thursday, after the court breaks up. The pliblic
ought not to be obliged to wait unti► Saturday morning
fore they can ascertain the motives of the Bank of
for making alterations in the value of money—a point
white affects deeply the interests of every person enpgd
in trade. The London Gazette, it is true, is not pub fished
before Friday evening, but it would be ridiculous to ail
pose that the publican to be kept in darkness for that rea-
son. It is, besides, meet unfair that the Bank direct to
should exclusively possess this valuable information two
clear days before the public.
Moreover, the public like to judge for themselves as to
the nature of the Bank returns, for it is possible that they
might sometimes arrive at a different conclusion with re-
apert them from that adopted by the directors of thb
Bank of England. On the recent occasion, for instance,
when the Bank rained the rate of discount to 8 per cent.,
the public were made very uneasy, and a great want of con-
fidence was acessioned, but when the Bank returns became
known, every man asked his neighbour what there was in
them to induce the Bank to raise the rate of intmest
' Public opinion is becoming very strong against a continua-
tion of the Bank's monopoly, and it will become stronger if
the Bank withhold information of deep importance to the
public any longer than is absolutely necessary.

RAILWAY ENGINE DRIVERS AND FIREMEN.

On Saturday a deputation from the body of
engine driven and firemen employed on the various rail-
ways of the kingdom waited upon the Right Hon. T. Y.
Gibson. the President of the Ruud of Trade, to urge the
necessity dime legislative provision against the excessive
hours of labour caplained of by this elms of operative.
The deputation included persons representing the staff of
locomotive attendants on each of the priocipal railways,
and was accompanied by Mr. Massey, M.P., and Mr. T.
. Bentham, LL. L., (of Manchester).
Mr. MAMMY, M.P., introduced the deputation, and made
a statement on their behalf. He observed that the engine
men were • very intelligent body, that they had very re-
sponsible duties, and that the public safety :was greatly
dependent on their moral and physical efficiency. He
thought their demands were well worthy of sotunderatiom
Mr. Ruinous, President of the Associatioo for Promoting
the Ten Hours Movement, said the safety of the public, as
well as the welfare of the men, dvivanded some legal control
over the kenos of work. If the Board of Trade lied no
power to interfere, an appeal would be made to parliament.
He quoted fermi return, showing that a man wu often on
his engine 18 to 18 hours at a stretch.
Mr. 01BSON, after minute inquiries into the merits of the
case, said it was undoubedly a hard one. but he could not
encourage any supposition that the legislature would at
meant ioterfen. He was nut fully sequaisted with the
extent of the powers of the Board, but would take care
that the matter should be thoroughly considered.
On the part of the deputation it was etatod that failing
the interference of the Beard of Trade or of parliament,
the only appeal was one to which the men had no intention
of resorting.