The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-09 00:00:00

F. W. COSENS.
16, Wster.lrae, Towerelne., 4To

Nits &Boom cos CdMligilrwst&—Yesterday
afternoon the intereetingceranoW of laying the foundation
slate of the now schools in St. Paul's (new district), Allen-
direst, Goswelbstreet, took place in the presence of a large
number el the nobility sad gentry, awnbering in all about
3,000 persons. Shortly after 3 o'clock the Marquis and
Marchioness of Northampton arrived, and were escorted to
the platform by • guard of honour of the 38th Middlesex
(Finsbury) Rifle Volunteer,, who afterwards kept the
greyed. The Marchioness of Northampton went through
the usual fornialities Incidental to the occasion of adjusting
the stone, ha, which heeled been declared laid, a hymn
entitled, "The True Foundation Stone," composed by the
Rey. R. Maguire, was sung by the whole of the children of
the district school and the charity children of the pansh.
As soon as LOUW. have been subscribed the foundation of
the new church will be laid.
Tan BUILDEIne STRIKE„—On inquiry at the dif-
ferent trade committee rooms last evening it appeared
there had been no addition reported to the liens Intro-
ducing the hour system. At Mr. Axford's works, how-
ever, on Friday last notice was given to the men
that they would be placed under the hour system
on Monday (yesterday). Immediately on receiving
this notice a general meeting of all the men on the
weeks was held, when it was unanimously resolved, that
should Mr. Axford persist in his determination the men
would all leave his employ, having obtained the sanction of
the delegate meeting to that course. This resolution was
oonveyed to Mr. Axford, end ft is understood the notice was
withdrawn. Thee has been no alteration with respect to
the position of the bricklayers, the men still keeping aloof
from the works. The masons' committer yesterday re-
ceived applications from Manchester and Preston to seed
down 100 masons to those towns, where some extensive
works are about to commence. A number of the men on
strike accordingly left town yesterday, and the remainder
will follow to-day. Including these men, and those who bad
previously quitted London, nearly one-half of the masons
who turned out three weeks since have left the metropolis.
About 50 of the MO non-society maims working under the
hour system have given in their adhesion to the new sce
ciety of non-society anon formed on Saturday last. The
conference, composed of three delegates from each trade, IN
expected to assemble this evening.
BLONDIN AT ASTON PARK.—M. Blondin
expl-
oited his surprising feat* yesterday at Aston Park, in the
neighbourhood of Birmingham, to • very large number of
visitors, assembled for the purpose of celebrating the annual
file of Odd Fellows. In spite of the rain, which fell the
whole of the time, there were no fewer than 80,000 persona
weasee Moodie will make his Ilth ascent at the Crystal
Palace to-morrow (Wednesday) at 4 o'clock. He will also
make an extra ascent on Saturday.
COTTON CULTIVATION IN INDIA.—We read in
the Bombay Telegraph and Courier :—" Government are
at length fully resolved to develop the cotton-growing
a•pabilities of this country. Each local government is to
take measures to have the lines of traffic between their
cotton-producingdistricts and the port of shipment, whether
on sea or river, examined end reported on by a competent
officer. In the North-west and Central India provinces
cotton is, for the most part, a rain crop, those lands only
which are within reach of canal cultivation being sown as
early as April, and the export of the progress goes on during
the cold weather. District officers have, therefore, been
ordered to report upon the state of the roads through the
cottoreproduang districts, and to adopt measures for their
being kept in good nosier and repair. The following
would appear to be the principal cotton-producing locali-
ties in the provinces we Lem mentioned:—Mirxa-
poks.
Gheseepore, Renares, Gercekpors, Allababad,
Banda Caseation, Agra, Retire, Etawah, Furrockabud,
Myupoorie, Bweilly, Moorailabad, Shaltjebanpore,
' Bodmoo,
' Meerut, Allygbur, Homeerpore Jaloun, Jubbul-
pme, Sanger, sod Hoshungnbad. The Road and Ferry
Fund Committee, have been required to take the necessary
mewures, at the fitting time, for repairing nod improving
all those lines of interior communication which connect the
districts of their division with the great rivers' the Grand
Trunk road, or the Great Deccan road, so as to facilitate the
export of next season's cotton in the largest possible degree.
The local officers have been desired to communicate freely
with merchants, whether European or native, who may be
engaged in the cotton trade, and to bring to the notice of the
government any useful projects they may suggest, which may
promise to subserve the object in view. On this side of India
Sir George Russell Clerk is entering into the business with
all that zeal and activity which characterise his govern-
ment. Captain Anderson, the assistant political agent of
the Southeru Reheat& eoustry„ has been ordered to report
upon the cotton-growing cap.&litior of all the districts sub-
ject to his control. hlr. Sillar, au eminent merchant of
this city, has been sent to co-operate with him in this
laudable enterprise ; and we have no doubt that between
them the latest resources of the month will soon find their
way to the sea-coast. As a London contemporary says,
' The busbruelmen of the l'unjanb, the ryota of Demgal,
the peasants of Southern India. and all the dwellers on the
Indus, the Irrawaddy, and the Ganges, have been stirred
by the tidings of approaching tra4e. A new world has
been opened to Eastern commerce, and a new stilllttlustFiVen
to Eastern industry. The impulse has been quite electric in
its rapidity and force. Not a minute has been lost in
makiog • dash for the prim which the Americans have
allowed to slip through their fingers.