The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-20 00:00:00

THE PEACE SOCIETY.

The thirty-first anniversary of this society was held
on the 17th and 18th instant. The meeting of mem-
bers, on the 17th, convened by printed circular, was
in the large room at the White Hart Inn, Bishops-
gate-street, Joseph T. Price, Esq., in the chair. The
report of the committee was read by the Rev. J.
Jefferson, the secretary, and unanimously adopted,
and ordered to be read to the public meeting in Fins-
bury Chapel. The officers for the ensuing year were
appointed, and the general business of the society at-
tended to. The following gentlemen took part in the
proceedings :—John Allen, Esq., W. Astbury, Esq.,
R. Barrett, Esq., Mr. E. Clarke, R. Ransome, Esq.,
E. Smith, Esq., Mr. A. B. Stevens, and Mr. P.
Wheeler.

At the public meeting in Finsbury Chapel, on the
18th, the chair was taken by C. Hindley, Esq., M.P.,
and afterwards by J. T. Price, Esq., and the follow-
ing gentlemen addressed the meeting :—Rev. T. Ave-
ling, Rev. J. Burnet, J. Brotherton, Esq., M.P., J.
S. Buckingham, Esq., Mr. Elihu Burritt, of
Worcester, Mass., and Mr. Clapp, of Lynn, Mass.,
United States.

The resolutions were embodied in a petition which
was unanimously adopted, and ordered to be signed by
the chairman on behalf of the meeting, praying that
suitable measures may he taken to settle interna-
tional disputes by arbitration or other legal process,
without having recourse to arms,
From the report it appeared that the cause of peace
is gradually advancing. It was stated that by the
agents of the society and other persons there had been
delivered, under the immediate sanction of the com-
mittee, about 500 lectures during the past year, to
110,000 persons; half a million of tracts have been
distributed ; the pe_riodical press has been employed
both in England Wales ; the sale of the Herald of
Peace is increasing ; fairs and markets have been
visited ; Sumner's Oration and Bowring's Lecture on
the Commercial Importance of Peace have been cir-
culated ; petitions for a legalised system of arbitra-
tion have been extensively adopted ; and on the con-
tinent of Europe twenty lectures have been delivered
—some of them to as many as 1,500 persons, and
many thousands of tracts distributed.
The report referred also to the dock-yards and the
coming general election, as also to the decease of J.
J. Gurney, Esq., and T. Clarkson, Esq., and others.
Including a balance of more than 5561. at the com-
mencement of the year, the income of the society has
been 2,1471. 19s. 10d. There is a balance of more
than 1001. on hand.

BO'NESS.—MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday
morning, a little before ten o'clock, an engine stalk, which
has lately been erected by John Wilson, Esq., near the School-
yard Pits, 13o'ness, fell with a tremendous crash in the di-
rection of the School-brae ; destroying one house of four
storeys in height, and another of one storey. The inhabi-
tants of the buildings were buried in the ruins, from which
one female was taken out dead, and several others severely
injured, but who are since progressing favourably. It is re-
markable that more lives were not lost, as the road over
which the stalk fell is the one leading to the parish school,
and the accident happened at the very hour of the assembling
of the school. Some narrow escapes took place. The erec-
tion was upwards of 100 feet in height.—lnverness Journal.
ASCOT RACES.—The alterations which had been
for some time past in progress in front of the grand stand, for
the increased accommodation and convenience of the public,
have just been completed under the superintendence of Mr.
Hibburd, the active clerk of the course. A great improve-
ment has also been effected in front of the royal stand, which
is now undergoing the usual embellishments for the recep-
tion of her Majesty and the Prince Consort, who, with the
distinguished guests who have been honoured with invita-
tions to the Castle, are expected to honour the course v ith
their presence on two days during the races. It is also ex-
pected that their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
the Princess Royal will accompany the Queen and the Prince,
for the first time, to the course.
DEATHBLOW TO THE LOCOMOTIVE.—We had the
privilege yesterday of a " private view" of a new invent ion
by Mr. William Martin, the national philosopher, which,
use his own expre,mve phrase, will " hobble Iludon." It is
to "superaetle the locomotive." Mr. Martin (lispen3rs with 03`.: e
and steam. and falls hack upon hand labour. Two or tniee
men, turning a crank, will move a train at the speed (as the
Americans would say) of " greased lightning." We congra-
tulate Ur. Martin on his great mechanical achievement. Its
airoplicity ifi reellarkable.-- Gateshead Observer.