The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-08 00:00:00

THE NEW METROPOLITAN RAILWAY RENEWER.

Mr. Deputy BOWER brought up a report from the Im-
provement Committee upon the subject of the new lines of
railway projected in reference to the city of London. The
report stated that the nature of the proposed schemes had
been most carefully considered by a sub-committee, in all
their bearing; and they were of opinion that many of them
contained provisions of a very objectionable character, and
which would materially affect the interests of the citizens of
Loudon. They therefore recommended that the court
should empower the Itemembranoer to prepare a petition to
the House of Commons against the schemes that were con-
sidered objectionable, so that the corporation would have a
foraz dandi in parliament, iu case it should eventually
become necessary to oppose these projects before a com-
mittee of the House of Commons.
The motion, after some discussion, was agreed to.
THE UNION OF BENEFICIN ACT.

The LORD MAYOR said that there was a motion OD the
paper that two persons, being members of the church of
England, should be appointed members of the commission
about to be issued by thu Bishop of London to inquire into
the propriety of uniting certain benefices in the City of
Loudon, and he suggested that this motion should be post-
poned to the neat court. His lordship said that a cont.
mittee was at present engsged in the most diligent consi-
dention of this matter, and they had before them a coin.
prehenaive scheme of amalgamating the whole of the
benefices in the City of Loudon, .1 they were consider-
ing different groups of benefices with that view, soil would
shortly report upou the whole question. Under these cir-
cumstances he suggested that it would be advisable that the
present motion should stand over until the committee he
referred to had made their report.
The court at once acceded to the suggestion of his lord-
ship, and the motion was postponed.

PRufOnED itan.wAy STATION IN TINSBrItT-CIRCUS.
A petition was presented from the inhabitants of Fins-
bury:circus, which was agreed to at a public meeting,
praying the court to co-operate with them in opposing a
scheme for erecting a railway station upon the present site
of Finsbury-circus; a proposition which, they stated, they
looked upon with surprise and dismay, as this was one of
the few open spots tluit were left in the City, and which
were so essential to the health and comfort of the in-
habitants. _

The petition was referred to the Improvement Committee,
with the understanding that they should confer with the
Bridge House Estates Committee upon the subject.

ILL.NEHR OF SIR JOHN OWEN.—We regret to learn
that Sir John Owen, Bart., the member for the Pembroke
district of boroughs, lies hopelessly ill at his residence,
Tayntou House, near Newent, Gloucestershire. The venera-
ble baronet, from the latest accounts, is said to be sinking
fast, and from his extreme age no hope is entertained of his
recovery. Sir John, who is a conservative in politics, sat
for the county of Pembroke from 1806 to 1841, since which
he has represented the boroughs in the House of Commons.
DEPUTATION OF PARLIAMENTARY AGENTS TO
LORD REDDIDALE AND THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES.
Yesterday, a deputation of the representatives of the lead-
ing parliamentary firms attended before Lord Redesdide and
Mr. Massey, ILP., the chairmen of committees of the
Lords and Commons, to make arrangements with refer-
ence to proceeding with the more than usually numerous
number of bills, between 300 and 400, to be heard upon
their merits in committee, and to consoler what particular
bills should "originate" in the House of Lords, and what
bills should originate in the House of Coninions. Lust
session all the Irish railway bills were first referred
to the House of Lords, hut after considerable dis-
cussion it was determined to depart from this precedent for
the present session, and to refer for the consideration of
their lordships the numerous miscellaneous joint stock and
gas and water bills, together with sundry Scotch bills, and
those for the metropolitan railways. Altogether between
80 and 90 bills of this description will be sent up to their
lordships for consideration, and the arrangement it is be-
lieved will materially tend to facilitate the progress of publics
companies' bills through parliament.
SUeIETY FOR ENCOURAGEMENT OF TH L FINE Accts.
—last evening the Rev. Sir F. A. Gore Ouseley, Bart., pro-
fessor of music at the University of Oxford, and one of the
vice-president of this society, delivered a lecture at the
society's rooms in Conduit-street, " On the Development
of Musical Style." The room was crowded, many musical
and artistic notabilities being present. Mr. R. Lincoln
Cocks was in the chair. The lecturer illustrated his remarks
throughout by references to various works of great com-
posers of all ages, and was loudly cheered at its conclusion,
a vote of thanks being carried hyacclanuttion.
MIDDLINEX 110SPITAL.—The annual court of the
governors of this institution was held in the hoard-room,
Charloestreet, Berner-street, the Hon. F. Maude, R.N., in
the chair. It appeared from the report, which was read by
Mr. Sheldon, the secretary, that the funds of the charity re-
quire a large increase of annual subscriptions to enable them
to bear the burden of the relief of the sick poor of the
thickly inhabited district which surrounds the hospital, as
the committee had lately to sell out 10,1100 f. to enable them to
pay off the debts of the establishment, which have been for
some years past constantly iticreasiug, from the circumstance
that the income has been less than the expenditure. During
the past year the income from all sources amounted to
only 7,,n0.145. Bd., whereas the expenditure reached 7,6681.
is. 10d., showing a deficiency on the year to the extent of
3441. 19s. lid., which added to the accumulated deficiencies
of former years, made a leisure against the charity to the
extent of 4,1271. lls. 11d. As one means of saving
the sick poor from the calamity of having any of the wards
of the hospital closed upon them, her Majesty and the
Prince Consort have signified their intention to patronise
the performance of the oratorio of Abraham, under the
conduct of Herr 3lolique, the proceeds of which are to be
applied to the uses of the charity. The oratorio in quer,
tent has never been performed in this country, but its
coming performance will take place in April next, in
Exeter-hall. The number of in-patients treated kg year
was urn, and the out-patients numbered 17,724, making
in all 19,046. This report having been adopted, the com-
mittee west elected for the ensuing year, and the proceedings
closed in the usual manner.
COLLIERY EXPIAMION AND Loss OF SEVEN Lit's:4.
—On Wednesday morning a fearful explosion took place at
the Copy Pit Colliery, belonging to the Earl of Shrewsbury,
and situated in the parish of Rugeley, by which live men
and two boys lost their lives. Thu catastrophe is believed
to have been caused by an explosion of tire-damp.