ST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER 31 January, 1851 LOCAL INTELLIGENCE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GREAT EXHIBITION [no explanation as to why this week company/donor names can be shown, when the ones from Truro could not] Amongst the contributions from the Penzance district, we understand there will be specimens of tin representing the tin districts of St. Just and St. Ives, from the mines of Balleswidden, Wheal Owles, Wheal Spearn, St. Ives Consols, Reeth Consols, and Wheal Providence. There will also be sent a very beautiful and interesting illustration of the preparation of tin for consumption, commencing with the raw tin, following it through its various stages of cleansing, smelting, refining, &c., and ending with perfect specimens of the white tin, as supplied by this county to the consumer; this is now in progress at the Smelting Works of Messrs. BOLITHO, at Chyandour, under the able superintendence of Mr. T. S. BOLITHO. The Penzance Marble and Serpentine company will also send a splendid variety of articles for exhibition. One of these is a magnificent specimen of the raw material, a quadrangular block of the red serpentine, about three tons in weight. One face is rough-quarried; one appears as it comes from the saw; one is fined or gritted down; and the other is polished, exhibiting the color of the stone; thus there will be a faithful exhibition of the various stages of the manufacture. Perhaps the most splendid specimen of the manufactured article which the company will send, is an elaborately worked and magnificent baptismal font of the architectural style of the fourteenth century, octagon shaped, and standing four feet high, on a cluster of five pillars intersected into the moulds of the centre pillar, and ornamented with elaborate carving and an inscription.  The company will also send a variety of other articles, exquisite in design and execution; also a specimen of malleable copper, fifteen inches long and a foot wide presented to the company from Trenance mine. It is a most interesting specimen, bearing a resemblance to the branches of a tree. The specimens of intermixture of serpentine and steatite with the malleable copper are produced only at the Lizard. There will also be sent the noble specimen of granite from the Lamorna quarries, which we have before noticed; likewise wood carving by Mr. HARVEY, of Penzance; and the Newlyn fishermen are said to be actively at work in preparing models of fishing boats for the exhibition. GREAT EXHIBITION TRAVELLING CLUB The Committee of the Truro Institution, having formed itself into a travelling club for the purpose of enabling the industrial classes to visit the Great Exhibition, a public meeting of the inhabitants of Truro and its vicinity, was held at the Town Hall, on Thursday evening, the 23rd  instant, in compliance with a resolution which had been passed by the Institution committee. The meeting was numerously and respectably attended, especially by artisans and others who would be likely to avail themselves of the advantages of the club. On the motion of Mr. W.M. Tweedy, (who has taken a warm interest in the matter, both as a member of the Exeter Central Committee, and in connection with the Truro Institution) the chair was taken by Mr. SOLOMON, the President of the Institution, who briefly explained the objects of the meeting. Mr. W.M. Tweedy then addressed the meeting on the subject of the Great Exhibition, and after explaining its chief features, he enforced the advantages of the club, and spoke of the facilities which were to be afforded to travelling clubs by the principal railways and other public conveyances. The railway companies had engaged to take members of a club not less than 250 in number at one time, to London and back, at less than the penny per mile fare, the one way only. This reduced fare would amount to about 17s.6d. for the journey from Plymouth to London and back. The sum of GBP 1.5s. it was supposed, would be ample to pay the expenses from Truro, leaving it to the members' option whether they would go by steamer or by land to Plymouth. With reference to the time of staying in London, it had been proposed that each party should leave Cornwall on a Monday morning, arrive in London on Tuesday morning, (thus giving to each person the whole day to seek for lodgings), remain in town till the Friday night following, and be at home on Saturday. He had good hope, however, that by the various clubs in Cornwall uniting with each other, and with the clubs in Bristol, Plymouth, and other places, the members would be enabled to remain in London longer than the time stipulated, if they wished. By the same union amongst the several clubs, the members would be able to suit their convenience as to the time of starting from home.  Mr. Tweedy observed that, by the terms on which the club was formed, the members would have the benefit of the following provisions:   -That any depositor who shall fail to continue his or her deposits, or be unable to proceed to London, shall be entitled to receive the same (after deducting a sum for expenses as hereinafter provided for) at the General Distribution, in July 1851, and not earlier, except in case of sickness, death, or any other special circumstance, at the discretion of the Committee. -That some time after July 1851, the committee shall make out lists of depositors intending to visit London, together with the amount due to each, and shall submit the same, signed by them, to the Trustees; and a day shall be named for the repayment of the several claimants who will be required to attend personally for the purpose, at the place where the payments were made. -That on such day of repayment, the trustees or persons appointed by them shall deduct from the amount to be returned to the depositors a sum not exceeding 2 1/2 per cent, for the necessary expenses of books, printing, meetings, &c., and also any sum which may have been agreed to be paid for railway and steamer fares. -That persons joining the club after the 1st of March, pay a fine of 3d., and if after the 1st of April, a fine of 6d., which fines shall be appropriated towards paying the expenses of the club. Mr. Tweedy urged his hearers to become members of the club, and concluded by saying that he had received a letter from Mr. P. P. SMITH, stating that but for indisposition he should have been happy to have attended the meeting, and that he quite approved of the objects of the club, which he thought would be a great benefit to the members. Some questions were then asked by persons in the body of the hall, and satisfactorily answered, after  which, on the motion of MR. W. E. GILL, seconded by CAPTAIN ROUSE, the resolutions which had been agreed to by the committee of the Truro Institution, were confirmed by the meeting. Mr. HAMILTON read those resolutions, which proposed to form a committee of management, to consist of the chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary of the Local Committee, and the committee of the Truro Institution, with power to add to their number; and it was resolved that the amount to be contributed by each member be not less than 25s., to be paid by instalments of not less than one shilling each. Mr. W. M. Tweedy and Mr. W. H. JENKINS were appointed trustees, and Mr. JOHN HAMILTON the receiver of the weekly contributions of the members. Mr. H. H. DAVIS, secretary of the Truro Institution, observed that the advantages of the club over the ordinary mode of travelling would be apparent to all, for instead of paying five pounds, the ordinary cheapest cost, members would pay only twenty-five shillings. Mr. W. H. Jenkins being called upon, gave some account of the articles to be exhibited from Cornwall; after which, Mr. Tweedy again addressed the meeting, taking a rapid but comprehensive review of the arrangements of the Exhibition, and of the various articles which will be collected there from all parts of the world; concluding by saying that he earnestly wished he could as a Director of the Cornwall Railway, offer the club the advantages of a railway from their own homes, in connection with the other railways of the West of England. He hoped, however, that the day was not far distant when that important undertaking would be accomplished. The proceedings then terminated with votes of thanks to Mr. Tweedy and the Chairman. Since the meeting we understand that about fifty members have already joined the club. LISKEARD BRITISH SCHOOL The boys of this institution were examined in the school -room on Thursday the 23rd instant, before a numerous audience of the friends of education and parents of the children. The subjects selected were reading, geography, grammar, mental arithmetic, English, scripture, and natural history; also two of the pupil teachers gave gallery lessons on the sheep and on gold, with good effect, and displayed good knowledge of teaching. The geographical exercises were illustrated by the pupil teachers drawing maps of England and the world from memory, with chalk on the black board, which elicited great praise for their correctness and the rapidity of their execution. Questions on decimals, fractions, interest,  &c., were worked by mental arithmetic with great rapidity. The walls were embellished by maps and drawings done by the boys, some of which had gained prizes at the Falmouth Polytechnic Society. A great number of questions on all the subjects was proposed by the audience, and answered very readily by the boys. At the conclusion Mr. J. ALLEN addressed the meeting, and stated the pleasure he felt at the interest taken in the school by the audience, and in reviewing the state of the school since its commencement, said he felt great satisfaction in the steady progress it had made, and called on the friends present to give it the support it deserves. He also referred to the unsectarian character of its foundation, and stated that no one had to make any compromise of principle in supporting such a school. He likewise called upon the parents to second the very able efforts of the master and pupil teachers, by seeing that their children attended regularly. Mr. Giles also testified the great pleasure he had received in listening to the boys, and proposed a vote of thanks to the master, Mr. PEARSON, and the pupil teachers, for the great exertions they must have made to bring the school to its present state of efficiency. Mr. J. C. ISAAC seconded the motion, and proposed that the examination be continued annually. EAST CORNWALL DISPENSARY BALL - This ball took place on Thursday week, at the Royal Hotel, Bodmin, under the patronage of Mr. and Mrs. ROBARTES, and for the benefit of the East Cornwall Hospital and Dispensary. It went off with unusual spirit, and the arrangements were such as might be expected from the stewards, who were indefatigable in their exertions. As this ball has been so very successful, it is hoped the bachelors may gain a little confidence and follow the good example set them, that Bodmin may not be so devoid of these attractions as it has been of late years. But whether the bachelors display their gallantry or not, it is certain that this Dispensary Ball will be of annual recurrence, and have the effect of bringing this excellent charity prominently before the public, and of probably leading others to emulate the munificent examples of Miss BRUNE, Mr. ROBARTES, and DR. MICHELL, who had the honor of founding the institution, and contribute largely to its support. TRURO TRADESMEN'S BALL - This pleasant annual reunion took place on the evening of Thursday the 23rd instant, at the Assembly Room, where a large party assembled for the purpose of joining in the joyous dance. The bright looks of the ladies, the well ordered band, and the general arrangements throughout the evening were such as to render the occasion one of unalloyed gratification to all present. The choice refreshments served in the card room by MR. LENDERYOU, of the Red Lion, in his usual tasteful and liberal manner deserves especial notice. Dancing was kept up with great spirit until a late hour, when the merry throng separated in the hope of meeting for a similar purpose next year, and with a still larger accession in numbers. VILLAGE FESTIVITIES On Thursday, Antony was enlivened by a village fete got up at the instance of the Rev. J. F. KITSON, the vicar. There was a large number of visitors of various classes in the village. The children of the schools were entertained with tea and other refreshments, and other parties were made participators in the festive spirit of the day. By the aid of the Revds. Messrs. COCKS, CRAWLEY, and HEXT, Mrs. CRAWLEY, Mr. CARNE, and others there was some excellent singing and music. Dancing, and various juvenile games were also put into operation, and the whole party were evidently delighted with the entertainments. HELSTON The Penberthy Trust Charity, which was established by MR. HENRY PENBERTY, A.D. 1783, was distributed to the poor of Helston, on Monday last, in the following manner:  Seventy-six cotton gowns; twenty-nine flannel petticoats; twenty cotton sheets; nine shirts; eight flannels; seven counterpanes; six blue frocks; four pair of trowsers; one chemise; and one skirt; making in total, one hundred and sixty-one garments. BENEVOLENT AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES Every populous parish should have societies established in it for the relief of the deserving poor and necessitous, and this will apply more especially to mining parishes in this county, where there is much uncertainty in the gains of the miners. There are two of these societies in St. Agnes: "The St. Agnes Benevolent Society" and "The St. Agnes Provident Society;" in the former seventy-five persons have been relieved in sickness and distress during the last year, and since its establishment (twenty years) immense good has been effected. Being perfectly catholic in its spirit, all sects and denominations receive benefit from it. The Provident Society has been established about four years. Its rules are, that every Thursday two of the committee shall attend and receive the deposits of the poor, who have added three pence for every shilling so deposited, and at the expiration of the year receive the whole amount in warm clothing, on some particular day named. Two hundred depositors have during the last year received the benefits of this society, and MRS. VAWDREY and MISS NEWTON, being the principals of the society, have by their attention and assiduity for its promotion wrought great good among the poor, at the same time taking care of the "littles," which would otherwise, doubtless, be squandered away; and now the depositors have warm clothing for the winter defending them from the inclemency of the weather. The old people are extremely thankful for the benefits thus conferred upon them. The Vicar of the parish is also very active in the promotion of benevolent objects. THE FLOODS - During the last week, immense quantities of rain have fallen in the neighbourhood of St. Agnes, and on Saturday night, a tremendous flood went down the Trevellas valley, which washed away two valuable sheep belonging to Mr. STEPHEN TONKIN of that place. -Tuckingmill - In consequence of the heavy rains which had been falling through the whole of Saturday night, the river which flows through Tuckingmill became greatly swollen, and bore along great quantities of stones, mud, and pieces of timber, which blocked up the bridge under the turnpike causeway and damming back the river, caused it rapidly to rise so high as to inundate the houses in the valley south of Tuckingmill to the depth of several feet. POWER OF CONSCIENCE - An inquest was lately held on the body of JOHN VERCOE, of St. Wenn, whose death occurred from apoplexy, as stated in our paper of last week. On the day of his death, a letter directed to him (bearing the London post mark of the 19th instant) and containing six postage stamps, was received by his widow, of which the following is a copy: - "The day is coming when every thought, word, and deed is going to be brought to judgment, whether they be good or evil, and all the hidden things of darkness to be brought to light before God and an assembled world. I confess thirty years ago I defrauded you of the lash of a whip, and now make you restitution that you and I may meet at the bar of God in peace." SMUGGLING On Monday last, JANE TOMS, was charged before Mr. TICKELL, mayor of Falmouth, and MR. R. W. BROAD, magistrate, with having smuggled a quantity of cigars, coffee, and spirits. Mr. GENN appeared for the board of customs, and MR. J. DOWNING defended the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty. Mr. CHINA, the chief officer, stated that he went to the house of the prisoner in Mulberry-square, and on his going into the first room, he found twelve or eighteen empty cigar boxes, and the two produced, which had two pounds in them. In the second room he entered, he found nothing, but in the third room he found the bag of coffee now produced, which weighed 41 lbs. In the passage opposite the kitchen door he saw a small keg, and told one of his men to start the bung, which being done, he found it contained spirits. The prisoner made no remarks about the cigars, but she said she had bought the coffee in small lots; she totally disowned knowing anything about the spirit, until the officer ordered it to be taken away, when she said it was some she had bought at Mr. CARNE's; it was one gallon and thirty-two parts of a gallon of brandy. The other officers corroborated this statement. Mr. Downing cross-examined the officers as to the amount of duty payable on the quantity taken, which would only be about GBP 3. He endeavoured also to show that the brandy was some which had been taken by the officer in September, and given back; and that prisoner's husband being now in prison for a lot of goods taken in September, she ought not be convicted. The bench considered the prisoner guilty, but the quantity being small, they mitigated the penalty to GBP 25, or six months' imprisonment. The fine was paid. ACCIDENTS - On Saturday last, as a lad named TILLER of St. Austell, was getting into an empty waggon to ride home, the horse moved, and he was thrown out, and the waggon went over him. He was taken to his home when it was found that no bones were broken, but he is much bruised, and at present lies very ill. -Some days since, WILLIAM MAY, cart driver, was going from Liskeard to Delabole for slate; about two miles from Liskeard he fell, and the cart wheel went over his hand and fractured two fingers. He did not return, but proceeded on his journey, and was two days before he had the wound his return, the surgeon was obliged to amputate the two fingers at the joints. He continued ill until Monday last, and then died with a lock jaw. CORONER's INQUIRIES - The following inquest has been held before Mr. HANLEY, county coroner:  On the 27th instant, at St. Austell, on ELIZABETH HOSKEN, wife of JOHN HOSKEN, a post-boy at Dunn's Hotel. The poor woman had been unwell for some time, but she was not worse than usual on the preceding night, when she went to bed. Her husband, on awaking in the morning, found her dead by his side. Verdict, "died from natural causes." The following inquest has been held before Mr. JOHN CARLYON, county coroner:  On Tuesday last, in the parish of Kea, on the body of MARY VISICK, widow, aged 59 years. She had walked to chapel last Sunday evening apparently in her usual health, and as soon as the service was over she called on her brother's, who resided next door to her, and with whom she had left the key of her house. She remained there talking about five minutes, and then left to go home, but before she had time to unlock the door, she dropped down exclaiming "Oh, my head.", and instantly expired. From the evidence of Mr. BOYLE, surgeon, it appeared that a rupture of one of the large vessels connected with the brain was the cause of death, and the jury returned a verdict to that effect. [Under International - "An anticipated rising of the slaves in Virginia [has been] causing much apprehension, prohibiting all nuance of tranquility in the southern states of the Union. Upwards of six hundred slaves, belonging to different plantations, were suspected or implicated in the apprehended insurrection."]