commercial influences of the Exposition, &c. Before the
banquet, about a quarter past six o'clock. Prince Albert
held a levée in the grand drawing-room of the
Mansion-house; the Lord Mayor presenting the Magistrates
of two hundred and two English cities and Boroughs, ten
Scotch Provosts, and five Irish Mayors. The company
included the Archbishop of Canterbury, Foreign Ministers,
leading statesmen of all parties, the Commissioners of the
Exposition, the Aldermen, Masters of Companies, Chairmen
of Committees in Common Council, and some leading
gentlemen connected with the City. Prince Albert, the
principal ministers, and former ministers, were among
the speakers. His Royal Highness's speech excited
great interest. His leading idea was, that the modern
developments of science and art, commerce and industry
—the intercommunication of language, the lightning
interchange of thought, the publicity of discovery—
are all rapidly tending to realise "the unity of
mankind;" and that man, "himself a divine instrument,"
is using "his reason, created after the image of God,"
to fulfil "that great and sacred mission." As one of the
commissioners, Sir Robert Peel invited all the Mayors,
who had shared the hospitality of the Mansion-house,
to attend at Whitehall next morning, and receive
the information with which the commissioners would
be glad to supply them. The Lord Mayor has since
received a letter written by the order of Prince Albert,
expressing the gratification which his Royal Highness
derived from the banquet given in promotion of the
Industrial Show, and congratulating him on the
complete success which bids fair to attend this endeavour
to unite all parties and classes throughout the kingdom
in its support.

At the general meeting of the corporation of the
Royal Literary Fund on the 13th, the report of the
auditors stated that the sum of £1325 had been
distributed during the past year, among forty-one
applicants, making a total of £37,865 applied to the relief
of distressed authors, their widows and orphans, since
the institution of the Society in 1788.

A meeting of Hertfordshire Farmers was held on the
16th, for the purpose of Reducing the Payments for
work done by Tradesmen. The resolutions adopted
were as follow:—"As the value of agricultural produce
is greatly lessened by the free importation of foreign
corn, it is the opinion of this meeting that farmers in
general must adopt a system of wise and vigilant economy,
extending to every branch of expenditure unavoidably
incurred. And as those employed in trade are reaping
considerable advantage from the cheapness of food, it is
thought that the tradesman should now be able, without
injury to himself, to make a considerable reduction in
his charges. This meeting is also of opinion that the
tradesman, artisan, and labourer dependent on agriculture
should be made sensible that free trade is a labour
question, and that they are affected by it, on account of
the serious difficulty and distress of their employers,
arising from foreign competition. Resolved,—That the
tradesmen in this neighbourhood be requested to reduce
their charges in the following ratio:—Blacksmith, to 6d.
per shoe, 3d. removes, 6d. coulters; all ordinary work,
15 per cent.; collar-maker, reduced by 15 per cent.;
wheelwright, 20 per cent.; carpenter, reduced to 3s. per
day; bricklayer, 3s. per day; ditto labourer. 1s. 8d. per
day; hurdle-maker, 3s. 6d. per dozen; thatcher, 9d.
per square foot. Resolved,—In order to carry out the
above resolution, an association be formed in this
district—(here about twenty parishes are named.) That
the tenant-farmers in the neighbourhood be invited to
become members of the association. That the members
determine not to employ any tradesman whose prices do
not conform with the above scale. That the landowners
be requested to give their assistance in furtherance of
the object of this association."

The fifth anniversary dinner of the General Theatrical
Fund institution took place on the 25th, at the London
Tavern, Mr. B. Webster in the chair, supported by
Lord E. Bruce, Mr. R. J. Tennent, M.P., Sir P.
Joddrell, Bart., Mr. Charles Dickens, Mr. Mark Lemon,
Mr. F. Stone, Mr. Buckstone, Mr. J. Leech, Mr. T. P.
Cooke, &c. Mr. Webster, in the course of the evening,
enlarged on the merits and objects of the fund, and
recommended them with much earnestness and ability.
Mr. Buckstone stated that the fund was in a state of
increasing prosperity. The invested capital amounted
to £5300. It was still in its infancy, but there were
already five annuitants in the receipt of £30 a year each,
and during the last year £23 had been given to the widow
of a deceased member. A list of subscriptions was
announced, amounting in all to about £400, her Majesty
being a donor of £100.

The royal commission of inquiry into the administration
and management of The British Museum has
agreed on a report of their proceedings. The
commissioners appear to be unanimous in condemning the
present system and management, and in recommending
an important modification in the duties and objects of
the trustees rather than reduce the number. The
evils of a board of 48 trustees unpaid, irregular, and
individually responsible, were too clearly made out in
the evidence to leave a doubt, and it is gratifying to
learn that individual responsibility has been a leading
principle with the commission. So far the commissioners
are unanimous, and also in recommending an executive
council under the control of the Home Secretary of
State, but they do not appear to be all of one mind as to
the details of appointment. Some advise a chairman
and two members of council appointed by the Crown,
and two other members to be named by the board of
trustees; others recommend a chairman named by the
Crown and four members in council to represent the
trustees; and a third recommendation was discussed for
a chairman and two members in council to be all
appointed by the Crown. In regard to the catalogue
the recommendation of the commissioners leans to a
manuscript alphabetical catalogue with a printed index.

Mr. Baron Lefroy, in opening the commission at
Galway, congratulated the grand jury on the marked
Decrease of Crime, not only in that county but in the
whole of the circuit through which he had travelled.
The offence of cattle and sheep-stealing had in Galway
diminished from 500 or 600 cases last year to 12 at the
present assizes. Another topic of congratulation was
the improved condition of the people, and the state of
the land as regarded the progress of tillage. The learned
judge also passed a high eulogium upon the very evident
instances of the growth of industrious habits amongst the
peasantry of the west.

The Monthly Returns of Trade and Navigation
continue to be satisfactory, and prove that employment is
steadily increasing. The return for the month ending
February 5 is the first month of entire free trade in the
carriage and import of foreign commodities. The
comparison in the table is with the corresponding months of
1848 and 1849. The table shows a great increase in the
materials of industry, though there has been a decrease
on several important items. The diminished import of
coffee is ascribed to short crops and increased adulteration.
There has also been a considerable falling-off in
the importation of timber, in all its shapes, owing
chiefly to the diminished amount of railways in the
course of construction. The corn returns show an
increase against the corresponding month of 1848, but a
very great decrease, in the proportion of three to one,
in the comparison with 1849. This is sufficiently accounted
for by the notorious fact, that now for several months
the prices have been higher comparatively in foreign
markets than in our own. In the importation of various
foreign manufactures there has been a considerable
increase; but it is proper to observe that these articles are
subject to duties. The total declared value of all the
articles enumerated in the table for the three months
compared in the return is, for the month ending—
       February 5, 1848 . . . . £3,373,713
              "            1849 . . . .    3,211,146
              "            1850 . . . .    4,069,431

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

The Queen and Prince Albert left town for Windsor
on the 25th, and have maintained a comparative privacy
during Passion week; the Duchess of Kent being the
only guest at the evening circle. Her Majesty has taken
daily exercise on foot, or in the open carriage.

The Royal Charities customary at Easter were distributed