The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-21 00:00:00

ETHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

A numerously attended meeting of this society
was held on 'Tuesday evening in St. 31artin's-plaos, for the
purpose of discussing the Sint implements found in the
"drift," accompanied by the fossil bones of extinct animals,
from which it is assumed that man lived on the earth M an
earlier period than bad been supposed. Many members of
the Archaeological Society, and some etilinent geologists, were
invited to join in the discussion.

Sir RoDeluca IliraciiteoN thought there could be so
doubt that the dint implements belonged to a period more
remote than had been hitherto assigned for the existence of
man. That conclusion might be arrived at eves without
their emaciation with fossil bones, from the general con-
figuration of the country, which showed that changes bad
taken place on the surface since the stratum wherein the
dints were found was deposited, that mama have required
a vast Ups' of time to effect. 7be question had been
raised, why were Do bones of etas found with the imple.
emote? That might be aooosated tor by, supposing that
whilst a manufactory of these dints erae going on near the
banks of the river, there might have occurred a sudden
flood which drowned the autmab in the valley, whilst the
men with their superior intelligence were enabled to effect
their escape to higher ground. It was probable, iadee
that some of the animals then existing might have continued
to live to more recent periods. In coufirmation of that
opinion Sir Roderick mentioned that a thrive of animals
which had been supposed to be &stied, are now living in a
small forest in Poised.

Lint evening a public banquet took place at
Willis's Boom', to honour Colonel Sir Arthur ,Cotton, the
eminent engineer whose great works of 'anal oonstructioe
and river improvement for the double purpose of navigation
and irrigation of thalami have been productive of immense
advantages to the people of India. The chair was occupied
by the Right Hon. the Earl of SHArressusy, who had the
guest of the evening on his right hand, and was supported
by Lord Mania, the late Governor of the Madras Presi-
dency; and Lord Lyveden, late Presideut of the Board of
Control; besides whom there were amongst the company
the Ron. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. Justice Hisliburton,
M.P., Mr. J. Aspinall Turner, M.P., and many gentlemen
distinguished either in the Indian army, or in the civil
service.

Pass ETrrisTAtElflETT or THE POOL—On Mon-
day evening bet the minister of Clayland's Chapel, Ken-
nington, the Rev. J. Baldwin Brown, collected in the
echool-room attached to that place of worship a company of
120 of the labouring poor of the district, for the purpose of
offering them a few hours of rational entertainment. The
guests, who were received by the minister and as many
members of the congregation as were sufficient to secure
their comfort, having been served with a liberal tea, with-
drew to the leatare-mom, which had bees depended fee the
occasion, and were mound with a display of worts of art,
stereoscopic views, and other plessure-giving objects. A
poetised choir sang a selection of old English music, and
n. Brown pve at intervals • series of readings from
=tpoets The visitors expressed their delight in the
ot meaner. The entertainment was freely provided,
even the singe their services, and all who bore •
part it as ample reward la the happiness at their
sumbi. This the third meeting of the kind which Mr.
Drown bee anceeedelly anted out during the winter.