The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-11 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1860

LIEUT. GALE'S PLAN FOR THE
DHCOVERY OF THE MISSING EXPEDI-.
'PION OF SILL JOHN FRANKLIN.
Lieutenant Gale, R.N., the celebrated aeronaut,
delivered, yesterday evening, the last of two very ex-
cellent and interesting lectures on the art and science
of terostation, at the Literary Institution, Leicester-
square. To hear an elaborate description, and a cor-
rect and able account of the history and progress of
this, the most interesting of all scienceF, from a prac-
tical man like Mr. Gale, was a treat of no ordinary
character; for though he deals somewhat in theory,
and speculates much on the probabilities of
the art, he must have the credit of having con-
siderable experience in serial navigation, and
of hesitating to advance what does not seem
to him capable of accomplishment. He says that
nearly all the serious or fatal accidents in ballooning
have hapFened with inexperienced and incompetent
aeronauts, who were unacquainted with the principles
and details of the science, and makes the rather bold
assertion that there is as much safety in the car of a
well-managed balloon as in a railway carriage, the
cabin of a steamer, or the inside of a stage-coach.
As to the practicability of aerial locomotion, he seems
to have no doubt, for he expresses his confident belief
that a motive power, sufficient to propel a machine
along the air at the rate of thirty miles an hour, might
be discovered, if the ingenuity and knowledge
of scientific men were directed to the subject.
To show that his ideas were not altogether visionary,
a small model balloon was floated in the air, and pro-
pelled backwards and forwards across the room by
means of revolving sails, bearing some resemblance
to the Archimedean screw, and worked by clockwork
placed in the car. On the subject of the missing ex-
pedition of Sir John Franklin, he complained severely
of the Admiralty having taken advantage of his sug-
gestions for its discovery without making any
acknowledgment. Experiments had been made at
Woolwich to try the efficacy of his plan, but they
had been carried out, he said, very clumsily, owing
to the parties being almost altogether ignorant of the
principles of mronautics. It bad always struck him
that balloon ascents for the purpose of reconnoitring
would be of incalculable service in exploring ex-
peditions, bat it was not until the public mind was
excited to the highest pitch as to the fate of Franklin
and his men, that he developed his plans for the dis-
covery of their whereabouts in the Artie regions. If
he got there in the summer season, he would be
favoured with continuous daylight, the peculiarity of
the sun's rays would affect the buoyancy of the bal-
loon, and as he would be able to signalize both by
fog and smoke signals, and see by means of telescopes
for an immense distance, he was confident that his
exertions would be attended with speedy and benefi-
cial results. He would make partial as well as
independent ascents ; the control of the balloon, in the
former case, being obtained by one thousand
fathoms of line or rope. He also proposed to have
supplementary paper balloons of small size, which
be would commit to the elements at intervals of an
hour, and to each Of which he would attach 100
letters, impervious to moisture, addressed to those
whom he was in search a By the aid of matches, to
be lighted at the ascent, the letters would be spon-
taneously detached in instalments, and be distributed
in all directions as they landed on terra firma. After
allusion to the abuse, ridicule, and calumny, with
which his propositions had been received, he said he
did not make them without an acquaintance with the
region intended to be explored, for he bad been as far
north as Amethyst, North Cape, that was 72 degrees
north latitude, and he therefore knew what difficulties
he had to contend against. Being actuated by no
sordid motives, and having no desire to force himself
into undue notoriety, he would rest content with the
confident assurance that the feasibility of the plan
would be ultimately recognized, though others might
reap the credit which he hoped to win.

THERE'S A SILVER LINING TO
EVERY CLOUD."
(From Eliza Cook's Journal.)
The poet or priest who told us this
'
Served mankind in the holiest way •
For it lit up the earth with the star of bliss
That beacons the soul with cheerful ray.
Too often we wander despairing and blind,
Breathing our useless murmurs aloud ;
But 'Lis kinder to bid us seek and find
"A silver lining to every eloud."
May we not walk in the dingle ground
When nothing but Autumn's dead leaves are seen;
But search beneath them, and peeping around
Are the young spring tufts of blue and green.
'Tis a beautiful eye that ever perceives
The presence of God in Mortality's crowd,
'Tis a saving creed that thinks and believes
" There's a silver lining to every cloud."
Let us look closely before we condemn
Bushes that bear nor bloom nor fruit,
There may not be beauty in leaves or stem,
But virtue may dwell far down at the root;
And let us beware how we utterly spurn
Brothers that seem all cold and proud,
If their bosoms were opened, perchance we might learn
" There's a silver lining to every cloud."
Let us not cast out Mercy and Truth,
When Guilt is before us in chains and shame,
When Passion and Vice have cankered youth,
And Ago lives on with a branded name.
Something of good may still be there,
Though its voice may never be heard aloud,
For, while black with the vapours of pestilent air,
" There's a silver lining to every cloud."
Sad are the sorrows that oftentimes come
Heavy and dull and blighting and chill,
Shutting the light from our heart and our home,
Marring our hopes and defying our will;
But let us not sink beneath the woe,
'Tis well perchance we are tried and bowed,
For be sure, though we may not oft see it below,
" There's a silver lining to every cloud."
And when stern Death, with skeleton hand,
Has snatched the flower that grew in our breast,
Do we not think of a fairer land,
Where the lost are found, and the weary at rest?
Oh! the hope of the unknown Future springs,
In its purest strength o'er the coffin and shroud,
The shadow is dense, but Faith's spirit-voice sings
" There's a silver lining to every cloud."

ELIZA COOL.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, THURSDAY.
Her Majesty walked this morning in the Slopes
and Windsor Park.
The Royal Family took their usual airings in the
grounds adjacent to the Castle.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out
shooting this morning, attended by the Marquis of
Breadalbane, Colonel Hon. C. Grey, and Colonel
Seymour.

Tne Rev. James Cartmell (Vice-Chancellor of
Cambridge University), left the Castle to-day.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
dined with her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent
at F
the Marchi more House. The royal suite consisted of
oness of Douro Hon, Caroline Cavendish,
Hon. Lucy Kerr, the Earl of Listowel, General
rog
Bowles, Colonel Hon. R. Boyle, Lord Charles Fitz-
roy, and Colonel F. H. Seymour.
The Marquis of Breadalbane and the Earl of
Liverpool had the honour of receiving invitations, and
also dined with the Royal Duchess to-day.
The Duchess of Kent had afterwards an evening
party, receiving a select circle, including the Dowager
Lady Lyttleton.

The
Ron. Miss Cavendish and the Hon. Miss Kerr
have relieved the Hon. -Miss Murray and the „Hon.
Miss Lennox in their duties as Maids of Houourin
Waiting to the Queen.

Er. Maurice Cross (Dublin), Secretary to the
Commissioners cf National Education in Ireland,
had an interview with Sir George Grey on Tuesday
at the Home-office.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had
a general meeting yesterday.
The Commissioners for inquiring into Smithfield-
market and the markets in the. city of London for
the sale of
meat, had a meeting on Wednesday.
Mr. George Cornewall Lewis, Sir Harry Verney,
and. Mr. John Wood, were present.

CO WES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
COMAS, JAN. 10.
WANTON DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AT NORTH..
WOOD Hous.a.—On Saturday morning last a number
of rare and valuable shrubs in the front of Northwood
House, West Cowes, were wantonly destroyed, and
also some beautiful vases and ornamental figures.
The miscreants did a deal of other damage. A. num-
ber of workmen have been discharged since the
present Mr. Ward came to the estate, and it was
feared that this damage must be done by some of
them, as the most valuable articles were selected. On
Tuesday, three lads, strangers to the premises, were
taken before Captain Ffarington, R.N., one of the
county magistrates, but though they were sworn to
have been seen on the premises at about two, a,ar. as
the damage was done about three, ear., still there
was not evidence enough against them to commit
them, and the further hearing was adjourned till Sa-
turday next.
The billy-boy, Francis of Hartlepool, Swan,
master, from Alderney, with returned cement and
empty casks, to discharge, arrived at this port on
Friday last. About ten, P.M., on Tuesday, the boy
and mate on board, she took fire in the forecastle, and
on discovery every means at hand were used to ex-
tinguish the same, but to no purpose; the vessel was
scuttled, and at two, p.m., the fire became extin-
guished, having burnt the whole of the spare sails and
rigging and the under part of the decks, which will
have to be shifted.

SurralssioN or BROTHELS.—We understand that
a Bill fur the more effectual suppression of brothels has
been prepared, under the direction of the Committee of
the Associate Institution, and that arrangements aro in
progress for its being submitted to Parliament early in
the approaching session.

INLAND BILLS OF EXCIIAN GE.
Inland bills of exchange are the chie f springer laid
by the low usurers and money-brokers cf the metro-
polis to catch the unwary. From the moment a man
has " put his hand"—as the phrase runs—to one of
these stamped slips of paper, he may, in ninety-nine
cases out of a hundred, bid farewell for ever to all
peace and independence of mind. The three ap-
pointed months run out as rapidly as the three last
days of a criminal left for execution. The morning
dawns at length when the victim of his follies or his
necessities must make his election between renewal
on usurious terms or a suit with the certainty of
failure, and of all the costs which can be heaped up
by the practised ingenuity of some low attorney, the
refuse and scorn of his profession. Fresh bills fir
costs, renewals cf the old acceptances, warrants
of attorney, succeed each other with dizzy ra-
pidity, until the wretched dupe, who has suffered
himself to be involved in the meshes of the money-
lender begins to perceive that the exertions of his
future life are hypothecated to his tormentors. He
cannot hope to procure for himself ultimate peace of
mind—that is out of the question. All that he can
expect to accomplish is to be enabled to throw sops
from time to time in sufficient abundance to quiet the
rapacity and silence the demands of those who are
ever threatening him with publicity and ruin, but
who understand their evil trade too well to drive their
victim too quickly to absolute despair. We fear there
may be too many persons who, on reading these few
lines, will recognise in them the story of their own
broken fortunes and broken hprts.
But there is a still further and more immediate
danger in meddling with inland bills of exchange
when the acceptor is ignorant of the character of
the parties with whom he is engaged. Net only does
he subject himself to the natural consequences of his
act, which are such as we have faintly indicated, but
in all probability he will never see a sixpence of the
sum in consideration of which he has signed away
honour, character, and the hopes of his future life.
Such is the state of the law—possibly the inevitable
state—in reference to this subject, that where a bill
of exchange has been fraudulently obtained, and is
once thrown into circulation, the acceptor is without
remedy. Nothing, naturally, is easier than to
place two or three endorsements on the acceptance,
which is ultimately presented for payment by a
person who, to all appearance, is a boxy fide holder,
and has given valuable consideration for the bill.
Of course it may well be, and generally is, the case
that such an one is but a member of the gang of
swindlers combined for a common dishonest pur-
purpose. But this will not help the unfortunate
acceptor. If the holder of the bill be ready to per-
jure himself upon a single definite point—namely,
that he has given good consideration—all the inge-
nuity of counsel the most practised in the cross-
examination of rogues will be of little avail. The
perjured witness cannot be involved in a -maze of
contradictions. "On such a day, to such a man, I
gave such a sufficient sum for the bill before the
Court." Let a witness but remain firm to that asser-
tion, and he is silk. Upon this basis it is that a -nest
of vagabonds who infest the metropolis habitually
raise a superstructure of fraud, and almost with un-
failing success. The practice is to write, in the first
instance, a letter to some person of good connexions,
whose difficulties may have got wind, offering to ac-
commodate him with a loan of money. If the per-
son who receives such a communication has not the
good sense to throw the letter in the fire, his
troubles commence. Let us suppose him to bite at
the bait, and to return an answer to the application.
He soon receives a reply ; his correspondenteare ac-
commodating enough about terms. All that is re-
quired is that he shall sign and return two bills of
exchange, enclosed for his acceptance, and on a day
named the money shall be paid in to his credit at a
particular bank. The bills are signed and returned ;
day after day elapses beyond the time when the
money was to be forthcoming, and at length a letter
is received to the effect that the writer " regrets he
could not keep his word, but- unavoidable circum-
stances over which he had no control," &c. In a
word, the money is not paid up, nor the bills re-
turned. It is needless to add that when the bills
thus fraudulently obtained arrive at maturity they
are preseenxtepdlaifnoerdr
aynmdenmt,usutpohne tdhuelysyshteenmenwreedhahvye
ry bad cases athlreeadde
Twnyluedeesd anesndf stwhiisndkliend acd_acenpdtovre.
too—
came to light the other day through proceedings
taken at the Bankruptcy Court, when the affairs of
one William Thomas Ferris were under course of in-
vestigation before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn. Of
Ferris himself, professedly a builder and carpenter,
we will say nothing. His certificate was most pro-
perly refused by the Commissioner, and he himself
driven from the court, with perpetual infamy affixed
to his name. It was the bill transactions which gave
interest to the case, and this more especially as the
dupe in one of them was the grandson of a man,
whose name can never be mentioned without re-
spect and veneration by Englishmen—the late Sir
Walter Scott. Lieutenant Scott was quartered with
his regiment at Norwich, when in the early part
of 1848 be received one of the letters we have de-
scribed, offering to accommodate him with the loan
of 1,0001. on his acceptance for six months, with an
understaneing that it should be renewed at the
xpiration kof that time on payment of interest. The
correspondence was conducted by a person signing
himself Mo reton. A short time ;Ler wards another
of the gang wrote to Lieutenant Scott, informing
him that he had been the victim of a swindle, but
that he would endeavour to procure back the bills for
him. The subsequent facts of the case, as they ap-
peared in our impression of Tuesday, occupy a column
and a half of close print, and might well be taken as
a ground-work for a few chapters by any novelist who
is meditating another " Pelham." Lieutenant Scott
came to town, when he found Ferris, the bankrupt,
representing himself as the bona fide holder of the
bills, and he was finally induced to sign a fresh bill
of exchange for 3261., and a warrant of attorney for
a similar sum ; in return for which, and 100/., he
recovered his two original bills. Finally, we believe,
in consequence of the verdict of a jury at Bristol,
Lieutenant Scott escaped from a portion of these
liabilities, but was made to suffer severely in costs.
The second ease is like the first; it is that of the
Hon. and Rev. William Curzon. In this instance a
person signing himself Prescott first appeared when
the curtain was drawn up. When the bills had been
obtained, as in the case of Lieutenant Scott, Ferris,
the bankrupt, again came forward as the bona fide
holder, who had advanced 2501. upon Mr. Curzon's
acceptance for 500/. ; and then we extract from our
report :
" Mr. Curzon, who was staying at the United Univer-
sity Club, wrote to Ferris, stating that he had received
no consideration for the bill. Mr. Curzon then went to
Welbeck•street, but Prescott was not to be found. He
then called upon the bankrupt, who expressed great in-
dignation at the conduct of Prescott. He said he had
agreed to discount Mr. Curzon's bill at 20 or 25 per
cent., and had, in fulfilment of such agreement,
actually advanced to Prescott 2501. Ferris added that
he had never aeon Prescott before ; that he was
ignorant of his character and pursuits ; and that he was
never before engaged in such a transaction. Such are
the averments in Mr. Curzon's affidavit. Ferris told
Mr. Curzon that he knew Inspector Shackell, and would
set him to find out Prescott ; and the next day Shackell
and Ferris waited upon him and told him they had
lien unable to find out Prescott. Mr. Curzon returned
to the country, but had not been there many days
before he received letters pressing for an arrange-
ment, and threatening to put the bill into circulation.
Finally, Ferris went to Derby, and had an interview
with Mr. Curzon, -who, believing he had innocently ad-
vanced the money to Prescott, gave Ferris an acceptance
for 3001. at six weeks' date, promising at the expiration
of that time to er.eoute a warrant of attorney, payable,
with interest, at twelve months' further date; Ferris, on
his part, undertakimg to cancel the 500/. bill. Ferris
again went to Derby, taking with him a warrant of at-
torney, prepared by Mr. Jones, the solicitor, who pre-
paurteLa executed."simil
ar instrument in Mr. Scott's case, which Mr.
C
Mr. Curzon ultimately succeeded in resisting
Ferris's demand, and finally compelled him to give up
the warrant of attorney.
Such are the brief outlines of two eases, which
should be sufficient to put the public upon their guard.
Let no one in want of I,oool.—end a good many
nt Bills of
exchange are very fair instruments in commerce and
peyeorepnlesninngEnnfglaaanadnanrneynninetuhsaetnprorserstrona—delis.ten to the
in the hands of men who know what they are about
and the parties with whom they are dealing, but let
ell others beware how they affix their names to slips
of stamped paper, binding them to a payment of
money at the expiration of three months—even if
there should be an understanding for renewal at the
end of'•that time.—Times.

Moat SAVINGS-BANKS DEFALCATIONS.—SCAII-
BoxouGH e--On Saturday last, Air. Thomas Smur-
waite, wine and spirit merchant, who has for veveral
years acteer,as clerk to the savings' bank, was charged
before Mr.. liobert Tindall (the mayor), and other bo-
rough mtigis,trates, with having embezzled money be-
longing to thel depositors, between the years 1838 and
li3o, to the amount of 1,0001. Mr. Smurvvaite was re-
manded in custody until Monday last, when he was
again brought up, and further remanded until Saturday
next, to allow of ass investigation being made into the
affairs of the bank. Public notice has been given to the
depositors to take in their books today and to-morrow,
until whit:: 4. time it is impossible to state the amount of
the prisom r's defalcations. The event has caused much
sensation in the neighbourhood, the more so from the
prisoner having up to the present time borne an irre-
proachabto character. It is hoped, and indeed expected,
that the deficiencies will not much exceed the above
sum. The business of the bank is ordered by the direc-
tors to he suspended until the 22d inst.—Eastern Coun-
ties Herald, dam 10.
LuscLEY.—The paragraph inserted in our
Tuesdt .y's impression, stating that Mr. Lumley had
bi:oken his arm, has caused much anxiety among his
(Tiendu , and many urgent inquiries have been made. We
are by ppy to add Mr. Lumley has only slightly injured
his left' wrist, and is now almost well.

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
On Tuesday, January 8 (Williami Cubitt, Esq.,
President, in the chair), the proceedings of the
evening were commenced by an address from the
President, on taking the chair for the first time after
his election.
After thanking the members for the honour con-
ferred on him, and modestly attributing bis election
to the fortuitous circumstance of his being "the se-
nior Vice-President in duration of office," rather than
to any peculiar fitness on bis part, he proceeded to
direct attention to some matters relating to the in-
ternal policy of the institution, and proposed that the
evening meetings should terminate at half-past
nine o'clock, in order to afford an opportunity for
the members and visitors to assemble in the library,
and to obtain those personal introductions to each
other, which constitute one of the great advantages
of all societies.
He then announced that the Council had, with
great pleasure, acceded to the recommendation of the
last annual general meeting, and had invited Mr.
Walker, Sir John Reniiie, and Mr. Field, the past
pre.idents, to take their seats at the council-table, in
the council-room, and in the theatre, as " Honorary
Councillors," and that, in future, all those mem-
bers who should fill the posts of vice-president and
president consecutively, holding the latter position for
two years, should be considered " Honorary Council-
lors ;" expressing a live, that the past presidents
might long be 'spared, to continue that assistance from
which the institution bad already reaped so much
advantage.
He then announced that, as the representative of
the Institution, he had been nominated a member of
the Royal Commission for the Promotion of the
Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations,
under the auspiees of his Royal Highness the Prince
Albert, and requested the aid and cordial concurrence
of all the members in that "real Peace Congress."
He then noticed some of the principal engineering
works which had been terminated, or had made great
progress, during the past year ; commencing with
the tubular bridges across the River Conway and the
Menai Straits, which he designated as " pre-eminent
for the boldness of the conception, the scientific sim-
plicity of the design, and the difficulty of the execution."
He then proceeded thus :—" In tracing the
original idea of the most advantageous disposition of
a certain amount of material, in a tubular form ; the
more definite conception of a hollow beam, to permit
the passage and support the weight of an engine and
train ; the experiments for determining the proper
distribution of the material, to prevent compres-
sion or disruption ; the arrangements for the con-
struction and building up these gigantic masses of
material ; the means of floating them to their situa-
tions, and of raising them t o their ultimate destina-
tion, at an elevation of one hundred and two feet
above the sea (at high water of spring tides) ; we
must feel justly proud of possessing among us the
man whose comprehensive mind could originate
this magnificent design, and so successfully perform a
portion of the work, as to leave no doubt of its
ultimate accomplishment. The world already
duly appreciates this great undertaking, and we
should not be behind hand in testifying our estimate
of the bold conception of Mr. R. Stephenson in the
original idea, his professional skill in the design and
execution, his care and caution in availing himself of
the talents and experience of Mr. W. Fairbairn and
Mr. Eaton Hodgkinson, whose scientific investiga-
tions respecting the strength of cast-iron are so well
known to the world and so highly appreciated by our
profession, and his entrusting the general construc-
tion and elevation to Mr. Frank Forster and Mr.
Edwin Clarke. Upon the merits of all these gentle-
men we may look with pardonable pride and par-
tiality—their labours speak for themselves."
The advantages which must result from the more
general use of wrought-iron were then alluded to,
and it was announced that the Commission appointed
in 1847, for the purposes of examining into the forms
and strengths of iron beams in railway structures,
had enunciated the opinion " that any legislative
enactments, with respect to the forms and proportions
of the iron structures employed therein, would be
highly inexpedient."
The harbours of refuge now constructing at Dover,
and in the Channel Islands, by Mr. Walker, at Port-
land and Holyhead, by Mr. Rendel, the docks at
Leith and Grimsby, also by the latter gentleman ; the
lighthouses at the Bishop's Rock, by Mr. Walker,
and at the Skerryvore, by Mr. Alan Stevenson, were
noticed with great commendation, as most important
works, admirably designed and executed.
Details were then given of the steam-vessels con-
structed for the Holyhead, the Folkstone, and several
other stations, in which the engines of Messrs Mends-
lay and Field, Miller, Penn, Seaward,' Rennie, For-
rester, and others, had been well allied to the vessels
built by Messrs. Scott, Russell, Miller, Mare, Wigram,
Laird, Vernon, Thompson, &c., and had enabled a
speed of from sixteen to eighteen miles per hour to be
attained, and, in conjunction with the railways, the
journey between London and Dublin to be performed
in eleven hours—and that between London and Paris
to be accomplished in eight hours and a half, giving
a death-blow to the onerous system of passport..
The large iron pontoon built by Messrs. E. B.
Wilson and Co. (of Leeds), with a deck-area of
twenty thousand square feet, to serve as a floating
landing-stage at New Holland, rendering the trains
of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Rail-
way independent of the tides and of the muddy shores
(,f the Humber, was described, and the floating
landing-stage previously constructed at Liverpool by
the President, with a deck area of upwards of forty
thousand square feet, was cursorily noticed, and an
account of it was promised to the institution.
The railway system of the country was next com-
mented on ; and it was stated, that there were now
nearly five thousand five hundred miles of railway
completed in Great Britain, at a cost of two hundred
and twenty millions sterling, derived from private
sources, and expended within the realm, encouraging
in a remarkable degree productive industry of all
kinds, and inducing a revolution in all mercantile
transactions and social relations.

The example of England was noticed, in boldly
abandoning the finest roads, and adopting throughout
the length and breadth of the land a network of iron
ways, over which, by the aid of steam, passengers and
merchandise could be conveyed with a velocity which,
at its original proposition, was deemed worse than
visionary; which, first filling the Continent with
amazement, eventually compelled imitation, and thus
would ultimately introduce wants, and consequently
civilization, to the most remote corners of the world.

"If (continued the President) this be true, we are
naturally led to inquire who were the authors of this
great revolution ? what minds conceived, and what
energies executed these vast projects? The reply,
gentlemen, must spring spontaneously from you all
—the Civil and Mechanical Engineers have been the
great actors in this most interesting chapter of the
social history of our country."
The junior members of the profession were then
addressed as to the opening now offered for the ex-
hibition of their talents in the various subjects con-
nected with the sanitary question ; and apropos of
the establishment of abattoirs, it was suggested, that
the railways afforded great facilities for bringing up
large quantities of animal food ready for sale, instead
of transporting living animals to be killed in a crowded
city, and introducing noxious and unhealthy trades.
If this system were adopted, the general prices would
be equalised, and all parties must be great gainers by
the plan.
The address then concluded, by directing the at-
tention of railway companies to the necessity of
securing the highest engineering talent for the im-
provement of the mechanical and commercial working
of the lines, and the necessity of setting at rest the
question of " depreciation"—a desideratum which was
felt to be of almost vital importance to railways, as
an investment.

The address was received with great applause, and
was unanimously ordered to be printed and circulated.
The discussion on Colonel Loyd's Paper, on the
proposed Ship Canal across the Isthn2us of Panama,
was renewed and carried on with much spirit.
The Papers to be read at the meeting of January
15th were announced to be "A Description of the
Blackfriars Landing Pier," by F. Lawrence, and
" Description of a Timber Bridge on the Line of the
Lynn and Ely Railway," by J. S. Valentine, N.
Inst C. E.

SAIRATR OBSERVANCE AND THE POST..OI.7ICE.
The following notice has been issued:—'' On and after
Sunday, the 13th instant, all post-offices in England and
Wales will be closed to the public on Sunday, from 10
for the remainder of the day; except in those cases
where the delivery commences between 9 and 10 A.M.,
when the office must continue open for one hour after the
letter-carriers are dispatched ; and except also in those
cases where the delivery commences latter than 10 aint c:
must when the office, having been closed at 10 A.m.,
re opened for one hour after the dispatch of the letter g
carriers. On and after the same date no inlandletters
will be received on the Sunday, except
such as are pre-
paidletter-box will be open as usual throughouto
M., the.
by stamps or unpaid, for the deposit of of whichth e dtal;.e.
Until the closing ofth
subsequent hour after teheoffidicsepaattehl of te:
obtained. and letters way be registered on payment of
foreign letters may be prepaid, postage stamps stamps may be
the usual registration fee; strangers, renters of private
boxes, and those who reside beyond the limits of the
letter-carriers' deliveries, may also, while the office is
open, obtain their letters at the office window. Except
at the times above mentioned, no letters or newspapers
can be delivered from the office on the Sunday,"
RAILWAY CATTLE MARKETS.--It is proposed,
should an Order in Council be passed for the abolition
of Smithfield, to establish railway markets and abattoirs
at or near the termini of the London and North-Western,
Great Western, Eastern Counties, and South-Eastern
Railways, each market to be connected with the other
and the centre of the metropolis by electric telegraph (as
in the Octroi system of Patiis), to communicate the price
of meat aed qualities of stock every hour, or as occasion
may require.