The Express.
London, England, 1868-01-04 00:00:00

TOE WORKING MIA'S COLLEGE.

The winter couvernazione of this institution was
held last evening, wimn, notwithstanding the severity of
the weather, a considerable number of the members and
friends of the college assembled in the house in Great
Ormond-street. The Ray. F. D. Maurice, the principal,
being absent at Cambridge, was unable to attend ; but in-
vitations had been issued to all the donors to the building
fund, and not a few of thellb were among the visitors
during the evening. The entertainments which had been
provided for the guests were of the usual simple and un-
pretending character. Tea was served in the librery ; the
drawings if the pupils were exhibited in the upper rooms'
and in the apartment on the first floor the members of
the singing class performed a selection of music during the
evening. 'rhe walls of this, the principal room of the
building, had been appropriately decorated for the
occasion, not the least interesting of theme adorn-
ments being the plans for the new buildings:
portfolios of drawings and illustrated works were
scattered about in odd corners ; end a collection of excel-
lent microscopes attracted a great deal of attention from
the visitors. The works of the pupils of the drawing-class,
especially the drawings from life, were characterised by a
high degree of excellence, and did great credit both to the
talent and industry of the pupils and to the teaching of
Mr. Cave Thomas. And, indeed, almost as much praise
nay be given to the drawings from still life, which bad
been executed under the direction of Mr. Lewes Dickenson.
All who are interested in the anomie of the Working
Men's College will be glad to learn that it is at present in
• highly prosperous and flourishing condition. I.'or several
years the income from students' fees has met the current
expenditure, and left • margin available for the reduction
of the mortgage debt, which at present amounts to only
400 f. The number of students is now 509, and for some
time past the college has Buffered severely for want of
space. To meet this want the council are about
to erect a new building upon ground which they
bare acquired at the back of the existing
premises. This building, which will be erected in
the simplest but most substantial style, will consist of a
museum, class rooms, and a commodious hall for general
meetings, lectures, and social purposes. The museum,
which will be 70 feet long and about 20 feet high, will
occupy the centre of the space, and will be surrounded by •
range of class rooms varying in dimensions, but all of the
same height-20 feet—and all lighted from the top. Over
the museum will be the hall, which will be the same
length as the museum-70 feet—and 35 feet high. The
cost of the building, which will be erected according to
plans prepared by Mr. Wehbe, will be from 2,000/. to
2,300/. Of this aunt the council have 1,0001. in band, and
2001. more promised, and they propose to commence their
building operations early in the spring. The sum remain-
ing to be raised would fall heavily on the immediate
friends of the college. and the council for the first time
appeal to the general publics to assist them with donations
or subscriptions.

BUNHILL-PlELDS.—Bunhill.fields burial-ground
is now safely in the keeping of the corporation of London.
The committee to whom the guardianship of the ground
has been entrusted are, we understand, prepared to re-
commend all necessary outlay for the reinstatement and
adornment of the ground. It is not possible to make it
picturesque, but trees will probably be planted round the
walls, the walks improved, gravestones replaced, persons
having vaults in the ground will be invited to repair the
family tombs, and perhaps gene may be taken to memo-
rialise some of the more distinguished men whose remains
have from time to time been brought hither to rest. The
annual charge upon the corporation for maintaining the
ground will be considerable ; but, in cheerfully accepting
it, they make most honourable acknowledgment of the
sacredness of the pledges which their predecessors have
given to the public, and show a due sense of the obligation
Imposed on them by their eminent position in the metro-
polis.—Englis• Indepcndevet.
SHOuEiNt; DEATH OP A PAUPER LUNATIC.—Mr.
W. Wooden, the coroner for Reading, has this week held
an inquest at the newly-erected union house in that town
touching the death of George Wheeler, 47 years of age,
who was a shoemaker by trade, but occasionally found
employment as a messenger under the Poet-office authori-
ties in Reading. Several witnesses were examined, whose
evidence showed that the deceased was admitted into the
workhouse on Saturday, and placed in the sick ward of the
infirmary. He was examined by Mr. T. L. Walford, the
medical officer, who considered he was a person of unsound
mind, but harken as far as others were concerned, and
he had no cause to suppose deceased bad any suicidal dis-
position. He desired the nurse, Mrs. Bloxom, to see that
the man was taken care of, end John Hamill, one of the
inmates, was directed to attend the deceased. On Monday
afternoon, however, the ward was in charge of a man
named Stone, himself an invalid, and Stone left the ward
for • minute, when the deceased appeared to be asleep.
Almost directly, however, he beard a scream,
which attracted several persons to the ward,
and the deceased was then discovered sitting
upon the fire in the ward. His shirt was in flames, sag
he was severely burnt from the buttocks up to the trunk,
both before and behind. He was instantly taken aft the
fire, and • blanket was thrown over hint. Mr. Walked
was sent for, and attended the poor man, who expired on
Tuesday, from the affects of the burns. There was but
one man—and he was at the point of death—in the ward
at the time the deceased sat upon the fire. A verdict of
" Accidental death" was returned, and the coroner, after
instituting full inquiries, said it did not appear that more
could be done than was done by the officers of the work-
house.
THE MANCHESTER CENTRAL EXECUTIVE RELIEF
Con minim—A meeting of this committee, whose lobsters
have been snapended since the cotton famine, was held at
the Town-hall on Thursday. The following gentlemen
were present :—The Earl of Derby, the president ; the
Right Hon. Colonel Wilson Patten M.P.; Lord E. Howard,
M.P., Major Egerton Lis, the Mayori of Manchester (It.
Neill, Esq.), Messrs. J. Platt, M.P.. T. Ashton, Edmund
Ashworth, G. L. Ashworth, A. H. Heywood. It. H.
Hutchinson, R. Gladstone, J. Goodsir, J. R. Kay, Hugh
Mason, W. Rathbone, jun., W. Roberts, M. Roes, S. Z.
Stern, and J. W. Machin' the hon. secretary. The only
business of public interest was the appointment of a sub-
committee, who were directed to report to an adjourned
meeting as to how the balance in the hands of tbe com-
mittee should be disposed of. The amount, with that in
the hands of the Bridgewater House Committee, is about
100,00 W.
ELEcrioN Mos-Emmen. - It is rumoured that
Mr. Tress Amhunt, of Dldlington-ball, Norfolk, and
the Hoe F. Walpole, will be invited to offer themselves at
the dissolution as conservative condidates for Norwich.
Er. A. Johnston, who has taken great pains with the
organisation of the liberal party in South Essex, is ex-
pected to be brought forward as • liberal candidate for
that oonsettessey in conjunction with Mr. B. B. Wing-
field-Baer.
CCIATAILYINT OP 8171 DAT TRAIN& —Commencing
with this month, the Great Eastern Railway Noway
has eartailed the eserley balm ea the East Suffolk divi-
sion. Oa the Lynn end Denham and Sudbury and Bury
sectiass they are entirely seepewiled.
iktou.see Colo lam Om —The First Prise,
and war *ever Medal st the Parka Mthlinam. lee bees givaala
Pow Medlar. Jar Ma Dann 240rwasks Ord Ibse Oils The
gaieties wee made trews shoat thirty esmeetikera This Bee
insists on Is earl ltatedy mod In cese• edisbEhe Ea anew}
Noe and the oentraote to the North Loden Now
are non made with Mar Moller, at -lam—
b,/ all Chainiala to St per laiiia.—(