yet the terminal station is a temporary manner of lecturing. The lecture was illustrated by some curious diagrams and an ingenious instrument called the kalotrope by which some very pretty effects were produced. On Tuesday the 26th ult., J. Lubbock, nearly four years since this line was com- Esq., F.R.S., President of the Ethnological menced; it is to be hoped that another two Society, &c., delivered one of his usual years more will see it completed as it ought talented lectures at the White Hart Asto be, with its line to Cannon-street, and its sembly Room-the subject being "The subway under the Strand, leading into the Bronze Age," and as might be expected cutting which will give access to the Great the room was filled with the elite of the Northern, the Euston, and the Midland stations. If the metropolitan railways do not The walls of the neighbourhood around. reduce the traffic in London streets, they at upper part of the room were covered with least check the alarming tendency it shows diagrams, which were of the greatest asto increase each year, and open out new routes sistance both to the lecturer and the audiby which the so-called thoroughfares may be ence. Mr. Lubbock said that the subject avoided. The Charing-cross line, though was not one that he would have chosen for scarcely two miles long from end to end, has, a single lecture, but it seemed to him that as we have said, been nearly four years in it would form a fitting sequel and conclusion construction, it being in some parts the most difficult line, and in all parts what is termed to the other lectures he had had the honour the heaviest, that for, for its length, has ever of delivering in that room. Still as the been built. It runs entirely on bridges or previous ones were delivered at intervals arches, there being no less 17 bridges and 190 of a year, and could not therefore be conarches, of which latter 18 are taken over sidered as forming a continuous course, he streets and the over courts. Of the 18 might be permitted to say rather more in bridges one crosses the Thames, the others introduction than would, under other circross great thoroughfares. Of the Thames bridge it is unnecessary now to speak, be- cumstances have been desirable. The stone yond saying that as a specimen of iron work age was divided into two periods, the drift it has no superior in the world, and on the period, and the polished stone age. With 11th ult., it proved as rigid as the earth itself regard to the rude flint implements prounder its growing traffic. Those over the duced, he did not bring them as evidences streets are among the longest single street of skill but as evidence of design, which spans ever built, and beyond all doubt the was the great thing they had to consider. ugliest ever yet put up by any engineer. If they took an ordinary flint and struck a When a merely nominal outlay might have made them ornamental. The quantity of blow upon it they would make a circular wrought-iron in the Charing cross-bridge is crack which would be propagated down5000 tons and of cast iron 2000, The bridges wards in a diverging direction. But in over the streets contain 3250 tons of wrought order to make a flint flake like those which iron and 250 tons of cast iron; 150,000 yards were exhibited, certain conditions were reof brickwork, with 41,000 yards of concrete quired which could hardly ever be met with were required to complete the arches, and in nature, therefore their presence was as 99.000 cubic yards of earthwork have been made. From Charing-cross in a short time, good an indication to the student, as the foot access will be given to almost every part of prints in the sand were to Robinson Crusoe. the south of England. Those flakes and axes could not be forgeries, as they would be readily detected by the colour, and a blow upon one of those flints would at once expose the inner black part. The lecturer then passed on to the polished stone age, and produced several beautiful specimens of the implements belonging to that date, and which were a very great improvement over those of the drift period, and if they considered the character of BROMLEY LITERARY INSTITUTE. On Tuesday, the 12th, Edmund Wheeler, Esq., delivered a lecture on "Optics and Optical Illusions." The audience was one of the smallest we have yet seen at these lectures, which was the more surprising as the lecturer is well known for his scientific attainments, and also for his very pleasing the stone implements that had been dis- been subsequently used as burying places; country has made lest he might lay himself open to a just accusation of flattery. But they were bound to acknowledge with humility that they were in an exceptional position owing to the rich stores of copper and tin, of coal and iron, which nature had laid at their feet. Let them, however, take Scandinavia, not on account of the sympathy which recent events had enlisted in her favour, but because, though the country might almost be said to be half rock and half sand, the moral character of her sons had raised her to a proud position in the front rank of nations. Let them compare those rude flint implements as works of art, with the master-pieces of Thorwaldsen, or as implements, with any of the recent triumphs of engineering ingenuity. Let them compare the mental condition of the poor savages, who never even thought of polishing their flint tools, with the intellect of a Nilsson, a Steenstrup or a Linnæus. Yet there seems no reason to suppose that man has reached the limits of his intellectual development, and it is certain that he had not exhausted the infinite capabilities of nature. Very much, no doubt, still remained hidden from them, but even if some of the older archæologists had substituted imagination for research, and had written rather in the spirit of the novelist than of the philosopher, still they must remember, that astronomy sprang from astrology, and chemistry from alchemy. And if, in archæology, as indeed in other sciences, there were, no doubt, some questions which they would never be able to answer, on the other hand, they might be sure that it would answer many which it would never occur to them to ask. On the motion of C. F. Devas, Esq., one of the Vice-Presidents, a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer. Mr. Lubbock in acknowledging the compliment, said that he had always great pleasure in addressing a Bromley audience. No doubt there were great differences of opinion as to the antiquity and origin of man; but he was sure that at least they were all agreed in this, that free and conscientious examination of that or any other subject could only have one tendency, and that was to serve in the cause of truth (applause.) Several of the audience then remained and examined the numerous and valuable specimens, which the lecturer had brought to illustrate his lecture. Mems for the Month 3rd-Public Lecture at the White Hart Hotel, by the Rev. Samuel Coley. 4th-Parliament Opens. 9th-County Court. 11th-Jabez Inwards, Esq., of London, will Lecture at the White Hart Assembly Room, on "The Habits of the People." 12th-Grace Egerton, at the White Hart Hotel. 15th-Bromley Fair. BROMLEY PHILANTHROPIC SOCIETY.— The annual meeting of this society took place on Wednesday the 20th ult., at the Duke's Head Inn, Bromley, when the usual routine of business was transacted, namely that of re-electing the Treasurer, Mr. John Hall, and appointing Mr.G. Leach to the office of Secretary; also nominating a Committee of management for the ensuing year. When the usual weekly business of proposing persons for relief was attended to, a vote of thanks was given to the officers for their services and attention to the interests of the society during the past year, wishing them every success in the forthcoming year. A vote of thanks was also given to the donors and subscribers trusting that none of them will slacken or grow weary in the good cause, knowing many widows and poor persons often bless the kind friends who meet their wants in times of extremities. We may also add that Mr. Wren is always ready and willing to contribute to the comfort and accommodation of those who attend weekly, as well as doing his best to make the annual meeting cheerful and pleasant. The Treasurer, Mr. John Hall, presents his compliments and thanks to the kind donors, to whom he feels greatly indebted for the courteous reception he met with, coupled with the liberal gifts that were given on behalf of the Philanthropic Society, when making a call on the 5th of January as per notice given in the Bromley Record, and as several gentlemen were not home on that occasion the Treasurer begs to acquaint them that he still holds the same office, and shall feel greatly obliged by the assistance of other gentlemen who have not yet contributed to the claim of the society. HOUSE BREAKING AT BROMLEY-Two men who gave their names Joseph Thompson and Charles Cooper, were charged at the Petty Sessions at Bromley on the 25th ult., before Coles Child, Esq. and other magistrates with Mr. Mallett, builder, on the evening of Sunday breaking and entering the dwelling house of the 24th January, and stealing therein a pair of spectacles and a silk handkerchief of the to the New Inn, to do justice to the good things provided by the liberality of the worthy host, Br. Thompson. At seven o'clock, the new Court was opened with due form, by the Chief Ranger of the London United District, Br. Wright, and a number of new members was initiated, making altogether 20 members, which bids fair to become a flourishing Court. A Ball took place in the evening. THE LONDON FORESTERS' ASYLUM. value of 12s. 6d. From the evidence of Mr. Mallett it appears that he and his family left the house to go to church at about 6.30, locking the front door and taking the key with him. On their return they were not a little surprised to find the two prisoners inside on the ground floor-the gas which had been turned down on their leaving home, was turned on full, which was the case also in other rooms into which the prisoners had entered. On Mr. Mallett entering the house, the prisoner Cooper succeeded in forcing his way into the High street, where he was pursued by Mr. Mallett with cries of On Saturday the 16th ult., a very large "stop thief," and was captured on getting near the Swan Inn. Mrs. Mallett appears to have meeting of the promoters of this noble shewn great courage on the occasion as she scheme, was held at St. James's Hall, Lonseized the prisoner Thompson, a rather power-don, to receive the report of the Central ful man, and assisted by her son and Mr. Lukey, detained him until he was handed over to the custody of the police. Both prisoners having been secured in the police station, an examination of the premises was made, and it appeared that the front door had been forced open, and almost every drawer in the house ransacked. The prisoner Thompson having been seen by Mrs. Mallett to throw something from his person which fell heavily in the road, a search was made by Mr. Lukey who found an instrument well known in the business of housebreaking, called a jemmy, which had evidently been used for effecting an entrance. On searching the prisoner Cooper, the spectacles and handkerchief were found, and a piece of black crape so often used in outrages of this kind and which would lead to the conclusion that the prisoners were no strangers to the work in which they were engaged. It is scarcely neces sary to state that they were altogether unknown at the "address which they gave," and although the case of Mr. Mallett is complete, Inspector Townsend applied for a week's remand, to make further enquiry about them, and the prisoners were remanded accordingly. Br. Buckland, Committee, with regard to the formation ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS. The interesting ceremony of opening a new Court of Forestry, took place at the "New Inn," Farnborough, on Tuesday the 12th ult. A procession was formed at Locksbottom by the members of the neighbouring courts, with their regalia and banners emblematical of the Order, headed by the band of the 18th Kent Volunteers, and LECTURE.-Mr. Coxwell, whose Balloonmarched to Keston, Bromley Common, and ing experiments with Mr. Glaisher and on to High Elms, the seat of Sir J. W. other scientific gentlemen last summer all Lubbock, Bart., where they met with a must be familiar with, gave a lecture on kind reception by Sir John, who gave them the above subject, on Thursday evening the his best wishes for the success of the Court. 28th ult., at the White Hart Assembly After giving three cheers for Sir John and Room. The Lecturer gave a very enterthree cheers for the young Duke of Corn-taining account of his numerous ascen. wall, suggested by Sir John, they returned and descents, which was listened to with Mr. so liberally subscribed to defray the legal costs incurred. Further subscriptions will be thankfully received by the Treasurers, Messrs. Nash and Lukey. A large deficiency still remaining. ST. PAUL'S CRAY.-The choir of St. Paul's Cray Church gave their annual Christmas Concert on Wednesday evening, 27th ult., in the National School room. The rehearsal was on the Monday previous, to which the poor of the village were admitted. We give the programme in extenso, and our musical readers will see what a rich feast of music from England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, was provided CHORUS CHORUS CHORUS PROGRAMME. "God Bless the Prince of Wales IRISH. QUARTETT "The Last Rose of Summer" CHORUS Second Part. RICHARDS BALFE CROUCH "Scots wha ha' wi' Wallace bled" MARTIN TRIO SOLO CHORUS "Robin Adair" "Oh! Nanny wilt thou gang wi' me" ENGLISH. "The Greenwood" (from "Robin Hood " "') S. GLOVER On the 11th ult., at the Bankruptcy Court, London, before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn, William Henry Cole, late stationer and proprietor of the Kent Times, Sevenoaks, Kent, came up for his examination and discharge. The accounts show the following figures;Unsecured creditors, £2959; against good debts, £110; property given up to assignees £1302; deficiency, £1551. The property given up to the assignees has realised £400 only. The bankrupt was supported by Mr. Lawrance. Mr. C. E. Lewis (Old Jewry) opposed for the assignees, and on behalf of several creditors who had requested him to represent QUARTETT "The Harp that once through Tara's Halls" their individual ground of complaint. Lewis entered into a long review of the bankrupt's career, and concluded by saying that this was a case calling for criminal punishment. and he hoped the powers of the Court would be exercised. He would ask for an order to prosecute the bankrupt at the expense of the estate. The commissioner said that the case was the greatest in importance he had had before him since the passing of the new Bankruptcy Act, and he thought assignees were right in bringing the matter before the Court. The Commissioner said he should express no opinion as to whether the bankrupt had been guilty of an offence under the 221st section. The question was whether or not enough had been said and proved to warrant him in coming to the conclusion, that he ought to direct the assignees to institute a prosecution. He had not a doubt they had heard abundant evidence to put this man on his trial before a criminal jury of the country. Meantime he would give no opinion on the case. He would give the assignees an order to prosecute the bankrupt as they might be advised. Mr. Lawrance asked that the order should not take effect for 21 days to allow the bankrupt an opportunity to appeal, which his Honour declined. The "Bromley Mercury" which most of our readers heard of about two years ago, published by Mr. Hodges, and which lived only a few months, was one of the nonpaying speculations of the Bankrupt. THE LATE HIGHWAY BOARD. The Committee beg to return their sincere thanks to those Gentlemen who have SOLO SOLO DUET "The Monks of Old" "The Friar of Orders Grey" CALLCOTT "The Bellringer" "A Southerly Wind" W. V. WALLACE MARTIN G. W. MARTIN We cannot give any lengthened criticism at so late an hour, but we are glad to say that all was performed in an admirable manner, and conducted as usual by Mr. E. Griffiths. The principal Quartett and Solo singers were the Misses Norton, Read, Ponton, and Udin, and Messrs. Autram, Griffiths, Harris, Herbert, and Allen. The audience (a very select and critical one) expressed their hearty approval of all the pieces, and demanded several encores. Altogether this was the most successful concert of any given by this excellent choir. BIRTH OF A PRINCE. Regarding this interesting event, the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardiana well-informed and trustworthy writer of notemakes the following remarks:-"I am happy to be able to reassure the loyal minds of your readers on the maturity of the royal babe whose birth is just now a cause of rejoicing among her Majesty's lieges. Though the little stranger is small, I have most satisfactory authority for saying that he is perfect in all those points in which seven months' children are defective |