The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-27 00:00:00

ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.

Yesterday the wooed anniversary festival of the
premoters of this charity took place at the Leaden Tavern,
Bishegegatestrod, the Duke of Cambridge in the chair.
Abed 100 gesdrnmes eat down to dinner, and amoapt the
pub et thegehisipil table were Sir G. Carroll, Dr. Lashing-
toe,Ohaeiss Isublisgt "Bet , lI.P , Admiral Hawtayne, Mr.
6. M. Pets, M.P., Mr. P. M. L. Bette. Mr. J. Twining., the
Bev. Dr. Reed, Dr. Gaggenbuhl, the Hon. Mr. Spring Rice,
Dr. Cusolly, act.
7119 CLUBMAN, in proposing the health of the Prime
of Wales and the rest of the royal family, stated that her
Majesty had given 250 guineas to the institution upon con-
sideration that his royal highness should have the power of
preseating one patient to the institution so long as it eon-
Unwed to exist. (Cheere.)
Sir G. CARROLL proposed the " Health of the Duke of
Cambridge," and
HIS ROYAL HIGHNBSS, in returning thanks, said
he had been to see the establishments bloating to the
institution, and he bald not deny that, melancholy ea it was
to see the unfortunate inmates, it wee a treat comfort to
think that there was a probability of many. of them boom-
' lag uscul members of society. Previous to the formation of
this charity the poor creatures were a loss to the world, but
owing to the fostering care bestowed upon them by the
medical officers and others their health and constitutions
were improved and they ware placed in a condition to gain
their •wn livelihood. He would take the opportanity of pro
posing to them, "Prosperity to the Asylum for Idiots."
In the course of the evening subscriptions were
ansioasead amounting to nearly 3,0001. ; and it ap-
peared from • special appeal to the public from the
prometen of the institution that establishments had been
formed at Highgate and at Colchester.
Mr. CHARLES LUSHINGTON took occasion to remind
the company that this was the birthday of Prince George of
Cambridge, sad be would therefore call upon the company
to drink " The health of his Royal Highness."
The toast having been responded to with much enthusiasm,
The Duke of CAMBRIDGE returned thanks, and said
be felt much gratified by the honour conferred upon him in
drinking his son's health on this interesting occasion. He
was glad to take this opportunity of observing that his son
had never given him • moment's absences. This was •
happy thing for • father to say.
Dr. Lushint ton then task the chair, and the remaining
toasts having been disposed uf, the company separated.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.
MEETING AT LANCASTER.

On Monday e;Cani one of the largest public meet-
ings which have ever been held here assembled in the Odd-
fellows' Hall, to hear an explanation of the objects of the
National Reform Association. W. E. !lace, E.g., surgeon,
w.s requested to take the chair, and opened the proceedings
by a few remarks. He then called upon Mr. J. Baxter
Langley to explain the objects of the meeting, which he did
in an address which accept...l.6Blf an hour, and was warmly
and frequently applauded. He vindicated the National
ILtorm Asse,ciation from the objections which had been
brought against it, and argued that what that association
sought was des to the people, not as a favour, but
as a right. The chairman then called open George
Thompson, Esq., M.P., who was received with great
enthusiasm. lie spoke at great length, showing the
inequalities and injustice of the suffrage end the pre.
sent system of taxation; pointed out the extravagant
expendsture into which the country had been led by a house
which pretended to repraint them, but was nothing but a
sham. The taxation and goverhasents of other eon:dries
were compared. He concluded a long and eloqueLt address
by advising the formation of a local society, and the appoint-
ment of delegates to attend the conference in London. Oa
resuming his seat, the audience applauded inemslatly for a
considerable time.

fdr.Jatießazter. Ltneley was unanimously elected as •
delegate from the meeting to the reform conference, and
was requested to invite the Rev. J. Fleming (who had left
the room) to join hies in the representation of the reformers
of Lancaster.

(ANUFACTURING DISTRICTS.

MANCHESTER, Blanca 26.
One of the principal theme* of gossip on oar
Exchange today was a visit which it is rumoured Lord
John Russell is about to pay to our neighbour Sir Benja-
min Heywood, Bat., at Claremont.
mimed as the probable day ; and it is expected that, as the
usual civic hospitalities will be tendered to the premier, his
lordship may be induced to honour the mayor of this
borough at a corporate dinner. It will not be a bad
mode of testis; the barometer of public feeling in
this great manufacturing and commercial neighbourhood
at the present moment towards the ministry. It is expected
that the noble lord will make the round of our leading manu-
factories and commercial establishments to me the " lions,"
but nothing certain is at present known pest the fact of his
lordship's visit to Claremont.
The Manchester Commercial Association, I learn, have
memorialised the government against Lord Ashley's Factory
Amendment Bill, and a very inflaential deputation are now
in London from the spinners and manufacturers on the same
subject.
The Ices by the late fire at Ham Westhead and Co.'s
upon the insurance companies is stated to be so severe as to
sweep away the whole of the profit, arising from the policies
on warehouse property in Manchester over a period of 4 years.
The matter has been conceived to be of so much importance
as to call for some special steps to be taken by way of guard-
ing the interest, of companies from such clean sweeps in
future. In my account of the fire I described how hopeles
must be any attempts to extinguish flames when they had
gained the least head in warehouses here, as they are now
constructed ,• and this matter appears to have been the sub-
ject of omiderstion among the numerous companies who
are liable to make good the loss at the fire on Thursday night
last. The result his been that they have come to the "Mu.
, tion to rase the rates of insurance ter all such warehouses to
• guinea per out., in order to protect themselves.

MUM CHILTIIICATEB.—A parliamentary return
gives the following se the net produce' of the duty paid on
game antliestes and licenses for the sale of game for
the you. ending Apil I, Iwan 849 :—Charged on persona in their
own right, 119,2881.; charges confirmed in double duty,
2,8461.; gamekeepers (not being assessed sermats), 7834 (a
considerable diminution on previous years) ; gunekeepen
(being seemed servants), 1,9031. (also 'diminution); linage*
for the sale of game, 2,0681. The total for Ragland and
Wales was 126,8821—a sum considerably lem than that re-
ceived daring each of the four previous years.
JOHN KNox's Hough in Edinburgh having been
thoroughly repaired, the legal prolgedings taken to compel
its removal altogether, have been stayed. It is stated that
the whole of these substantial repairs and alterations have
been made by the Knox monument trustees out of the fund
collected by them since the agitation against the removal of
the old building was originated, and that the trustees intend
that the money collected by the committee of inhabitants
(which is by no means so large a sum as might have been
wished and expected) shall be expended on the repair and
embellishment of interior.
Buicwie.—About 7 o'olock4erday morning an
old man, named Evans, who was at Mr. Whitmore's,
a greengrocer and fruiterer, in Char street, Westminster,
oomentted suicide by shooting hinuelf through the heart
with • small pocket pistol. The deceased, who was a oar-
pater by trade, bad been in a very danceding state of mind
for some time pest, in coneequence of his being unable to
obtain any employment. A otaroner's inquest, held this
day resulted In a verdict that the deereseddelroyed himself
whilst labouring under " Temporary insanity.'
FIRE NEAR DIWIT-LANE THBATIIIL—Lit night,
shortly after seven o'clock, • fin, attended with a great lose
of property, and Jeepardis'ng the lives of not fewer than 16
penman, broke oat in the premises of Mr. Mackerel', baked
potato merchant. No. 7, Viasgsr-pird. The premises,
which were five floors high, were adjoined by numerous
similar erections cm either side, whilst the space between the
burning property and Devi-Lute Theatre wee not more
than • few yank aPart. The outbreak, which was very
sudden, was occasioned by an escape of gas, and fortunately
all the persons who were ea the premiers succeeded in
making their way eat without Wengines Wary. Simnel were
promptly heel:, to the spot, but notwithstanding the
strenuous exert of the Armen, the flames continued to
travel, and the whale range et in which they com-
mended were burned out and those adjoiniag severely
damaged Wore the firs wee extinguished. The partite who
have lost everything they 0041111 possessed, are Mr. Ilaterell
(inswed), Mr. and Mrs. Illee and child (wet tamed), Mr.
and Moe. Atterway with threeehildren (sairaredl Mr. and
me. Weedridge with them shildres (anineared.) The
building is which the disaster *entered was lamed in the
WestaingleMAMoAft