The Express. — London, England, 1867-12-19 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TtEuRSDAY EvENING, DECEMBER 19, 186?. OVERCOATS for the PRESENT SEASON. t OUR CON'rEMPORABLICB. Gentlemen who do not mind paling a fair 'wire for first- i daft WiNTER OVERCOATS can depend on the beat materials (THIS DAY.) at HAMILTON and K 111 PTON'S , Tailors and Overcoat-makers, --.„—__, 105, STRAND, °PPM tE EX ETER-lIALL --- - - - MR. OLADSTONZ AT OLDHAM. BREAKFAST.-EPPS'S COCOA. The Doily News congratulates the people of Oldham on having had the opportunity of giving expression to the feelings of respect and gratitude which Mr. Glad stone has earned from all classes of his countrymen. The studious silence which he has lately observed was due to his own self-respect, whilst the air was noisy with the self-gratulations of political manceuvers. But not too soon is the nation reminded of the comprehensive states manship which it has in reserve. The root of the trust in Mr. lOadstone, common alike to what is refined in our most venerable seat of learning and to the capitalists and artisans of the chief seat of our manufacturing industry, is moral as much as intellectual, and this feature of his public life is wisely recognised in the address of the Oldham Corporation. Mr. Glad stone used his opportunity to enforce upon the nation that they must divide the responsibility in political matters with the legislature and with the government, and this applies to the return so much needed to a policy of retrenchment. On the subject of Ireland and of the Fenian outrages Mr. Gladstone speaks a word of warning no less wise and timely. The more outrageous the violations of law and morality which we have to resist, the more strictly bound are we to keep our resistance within the limits of law and morality. Fenianism could have no worse effect than the communication of its characteristic temper to the English public. It is satisfactory to find that the authors of the Oldham address, and those in whose name they speak, are not so misled by just indignation at the outrages of Fenian desperadoes as to close their eyes to the real grievances of Ireland. Mr. Gladstone, in echoing and developing their suggestion, no less truthfully represented the dictates at ones of prudence and justice, or in one word, of statesmanship. VALENTINE and ORSON--the Great Panto mime of 1867—w11l be produced on eItILISTMAS4VX, Dec. f.'4, at the HOLBORN THEATKE. Scenery by Mr. MIMI. Principal Daneem•,]ldlle. Montero. Omni, the celebrated Little Box-ohice epee on Wednesday, the lath hat. THE FATAL EXPLOSION AT NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. DEATH OF THE SHERIFF AND OF TUN TOWN-SURVEYOR. (FROM OUR OWN CORREHPONDINT.) WRDNENDAT EVIENINO, 6 O'CLOCK. No hope is entertained of the reoovery of either Mr. Mawson (the sheriff), or of Mr. Bryson (the town surveyor) ; indeed, if the truth be told, the latter gentleman must suocumb before many hours per, and it is feared that Mr. Mawson, too, will die from the severe injuries he has sustained. Such is the excitement in the town and the number of inquiries at the infirmary respecting these un fortunate gentlemen, that bulletins have been issued during the day, none of which has encouraged any hope of life. Both Mr. Mawson and Mr. Bryon became worse this morning, and have been gradually sinking. Neither of them can see, the blast of the explosion having blinded them completely. They can, however, recognise the friends who come to them, by voice. The scene of the explosion was searched this morning. The police found numerous remains which had been blown several hundred yards away within a given radius on the Town-moor. Upon the roof of the hospital, which is near the place, patches of blood and scattering of brains were found, as well as shreds of Hash and pieces of bones. In one pert near the scene a man's arm was picked up, in another place a finger, here and there shreds of clothing, and remnants of human bodies, showing that the imme diate victims had been literally blown into pieces, and scattered whither the blast might carry them. This morning, Mr. John Robert Spark made a voluntary statement to the magistrates at the Newcastlepolice-oourt, showing that although having the care of the nitro-glyce rine which had been the cause of this disaster, he was not acquainted with its highly explosive character. He mid also that he received it from the neigh bourhood of Wigan, from an agent of the mann facturera, and was to receive, as agent, commission at the rate of 5 per cent. for selling it ; that he had some difficulty in finding a place of deposit, and eventually stored it temporarily in the cellar of a beerhouse near the premises of the Newcastle branch of the Bank of England. It was described to him as "bloating oil." He was away from Newcastle at the time the police took possession of the liquid and removed it to the moor in ceder to let it waste. At the outset this occurrence Su mixed up with the Fenian outrages, but there is no foundation for believing otherwise than that it waa in tended for bleating purposes in the mines, and that the explosion which attended its disposition was purely the result of accident. The inquest upon the dead men and boys will be bald to-morrow (Thursday) at noon. (Br 'TELEGRAPH.) NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, THURSDAT. Mr. Mawson, the sheriff of Newcastle, and the town our veyor, Mr. Bryson, died early this morning within an hour of each other. This raises the number of the deaths from the explosion to seven. The names of the others killed are as follows : Police-constable Donald Bain, aged 45, married, and leaves a widow and three children. James Shotten, aged 23, employed by Mr. Turnbull, White Swan-yard. Thomas Appleby, aged 20, son of Mr. Appleby. grease merchant, Carliol-street, and employed at Mr. George Hindman's, provision merchant, Cloth-market. George Stonehouse, a youth, son of Mr. Christopher Stonehouse, clockmaker, Bath-row. Samuel Bell Wadley, son of Mr. Charles Wadley, bat manufacturer, Heywood's-court, and residing at 47, Villa place. cue eramtoo. TO CORRIIitpoNDENTs. Adverttemente Intended tor " The Express," London Evening roust be at the Office, 10. liouverie-atreet. b Two on the day of publication. DRURV-LASE. hug EPISNING, THE DOGE4F VENICE. Mr. Phelps, Mess. J. C. Cowper, U. Sinclair, IL Phelps, Barrett, Tenant., &c.. Ars. Merman Vesta, MI Grattanoric.—And TILE LADIES CLUB. Mesdames Scab's Shirley, Kate Ilarffeur, H. Vandenhott, ac. ,9!k`ol/L,IZ.IIT, TN/S ETINIIIO, OUR AIiERICAN 70 . USIN. Mews. &Ahern, Raymond, Our JOU. Rogers, Rc. ; Ms lanes Chippendale. Burke, Wright, Rolxoteon, Re.—TO PIRO AND BACK FOR •S. Mr. Buckstone.--Concluding with A KIM IN THE DARK. PILINCMNS. Ten lerrinwo, A LITiLII : LIRTITTON.—After which TITE COLLEEN BAWN. Mourn Bonoknelt D. Murray, E. Atkins, 0. Needle. .1. G. Snore. U. Mellon, Ac. ; Ilzs. Boaciesult, & Misses Barnett and Elsworthy.—And NO. ONE ROUND THE CORNER. trRAND. Tan reassrea, NOTHINT7O7eI7IISE. Mr. Thorne and 31111 Heeton.-11 INDTO A FAULT. Yews. Parselle. 11elfnid, and James Mesdames Johnstone Gwynn*, and Hughes.—And WILLIAM TELL WITH A vascluarcx. HMI! 1 / 1 11111, LONDON BRIDGE. tositZioisii 4 lo7: sh. fb illoasow—llorolag. lb. tth. 18.. LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19. Evzs in these days, when London has some of the aspects of a city in a state of siege, when the Guards are called to perform police duties, and when the policemencarry soldiers' weapons, it is pos sible for something else than Fenianism to produce what in the popular slang is called a " sensation." The letteeef the Directors of the Midland Railway which we published yesterday has had something of the effect of an explosion, a cyclone, and an earth quake combined. Prices have toppled down, pre miums have been blown away, and the ground may be said to be strewn with wreck. A more extra ordinary document, whether for its disclosures or its principles, has seldom boon launched upon publicity. There are some statements in it which the Directors must be called to explain ; there are others as to which no explanation is likely to be accepted without the guarantee of an independent investigation. Without raising a discussion which may be premature, we must, in justice to the whole body of railway investors, protest against the new style of handling great interests which this circular introduces. If it be true that the Directors have committed errors of the first mag nitude, the fact would of itself produce an effect sufficiently regrettable ; but when they pro ceed to state as an extenuation of their faults that "it would seem that the cost of carrying the " works of a railway into London is such as to defy " all previous calculation," they not only alarm their own shareholders, but attack the very prin ciple of railway, and indeed of all joint stock enterprise. The language of these Directors is not that of the great world of business. Calculation—which is nothing but prudent fore sight at work—is the essential and indisputable condition of all sound constructive operations, and the endeavour to throw off this primary duty is ono that cannot for a moment be tolerated. It is a culpably rash thing to tell Proprietors who have invested 26,000,0001. of money in a railway that they are embarked in an undertaking of un known extent, and under the guidance of directors who will calculate if they can, but who, when con victedof mistakes, will boldly averthatcorrect calcu lation is impossible. Apart from this most reckless declaration, there are matters in the circular which must occupy the serious attention of the Proprietors. The demand for an increase of capital to the enormous amount of 5,000,0001. is one for which nothing—certainly not the Chairman's speech delivered last August—had prepared the Share holders, and its elements must be meet strictly scrutinised. No irrevocable steps can legally be taken by the Directors without the sanction and assistance of the Shareholders, so that there should be plenty of time to negative objectionable proposals and decline unnecessary expenditure. It is to be feared, however, that the Shareholders are already committed to very large outlay, from which they cannot escape. It appears that the enormous sum of 900,0001. has actually been spent upon additional plant and rolling stock. In all pro bability this money is owing to some bank of which it has been borrowed. As an unauthorized expenditure of capital which has yet to be raised, this purchase deserves the strongest condemnation. The Directors should be called on at once for the fullest statement of their transactions. They express. their " full confidence in the resources " and continued prosperity of the Midland Rail " way," and truly it is a noble property ; but, for that reason, it deserves to be protected from mea sures which have the effect of reducing the price of the Company's ordinary stock from 112 to 100 in two days, and which, if not counteracted, may have even more serious and permanent conse quences. Sir John Gray, M.P., writes to the "Jerald re specting his objection to giving evidence ►t Dublin in the case of the procesidonists :—" I asserted my right, as a journalist, to decline, for myself, and every member of the staff of the journal I am associated with, the odious posi tion of crown witness in a political prosecution. I hope I did so in a manner not unworthy of the profession. I know that a present and a late cabinet minister are of opinion that I ought not to have been forced into a position by the service of a crown summons, which rendered the course I took essential to my professional and political honour." The Tiints is informed that Sir Henry Storks, G.C.8., has nndert.kcn the duties of Comptroller-in- Chief of the War-office, with the position of an Under- Secretary of State. Our contemporary has mason to be lieve that the government, in taking this first step to give effect to the recommendations of Lord Strrthn►irn's com mittee, are about to begin a course of reform in the admi nistration of the army, which will ultimately be attended with increased efficiency and economy. _ . The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published the following notice :—" In order to spare the persons who propose to go to France from this kingdom any vexation, awl the chance of their being sent back in the absence of regular papers, notice is hereby given that, in virtue of measures adopted by the French Ministry of the Interior, travellers will not be authorised to per the frontier, nor can they enter the French territory without passports r4l-ed by the diplomatic or consular a s ents of France. Passports for the interior of the Italian kingdom and workmen's certificates are not suffi cient." The 1,14 Ontricr (Poland) publishes the sub joined ordinance of the chief of the police of that city : " In virtue of an order of the Governor-General, I re quest the district superintendents of polio* and their sub stitutes to take immediate measures to compel children to attend the popular (Russian) schools. The authorities are principally to direct their attention to parents belong ing to the catholic and Jewish creeds, who, as has been remarked, avoid sending their children to these schools. The superintendents will forward to me every Saturday • list of the number of children frequenting the said estab lishmenta." EXPLOSIVE BUBSTANCLB. Noting the variety of destructive means and compounds which multiply with our boasted progress, the Times observes that nitro-glycerine, this last creation of time, beats all the rest. What happened at Newcastle suggests that had the explosion taken place in the town, instead of half a dozen victims, there might have been as many hun dreds ; and that, as nobody would have lived to tell the tale, the Fenian/ might have had to answer for more than they really deserve. We may ask ourselves what we Londoners should feel if we heard that the town-hall, the principal market-house, and a scare or two of good streets in a large provincial town had been utterly destroyed, and a thousand lives lost, nobody could say how. Had there been any Fenian demonstration—had it been known that there was a Fenian committee or centre, or that there had been any threats, no argument would have shielded the Fenian cause from the suspicion of having to do with it. Fami liarity and uao breed contempt for the most dreadful of foes, the element that on the vantage ground of a few inches will cover acres with death and destruction. Un less the moral education of the people keep pace with art and science, we bid fair to be crushed under our own in ventions and destroyed by the elements we think we are learning to wield at will. If we would retain these useful servants, we must learn to be wise and careful masters. The Star says this painful narrative must make us ask ourselves what security have we that in the midst of our large towns similar cases, or canisters, or casks of highly in flammable and explosive chemical substances or compounds may not at this moment be stored? The Telegraph says the disaster warns the oommunity to maintain its self-respect, and not to take every startling disaster for Fenianistn. Probably it was the talk about Fenian that nude the Newcastle authorities muddle this deadly stuff ►bout, instead of getting some one who under stood the nature of the explosive substance to dispose of it safely and silently. Hence are lost all these valuable lives ; and, truth to say, • little of the reputation of " canny Newcastle" for self•poseaedoo. THE ABTSSINIAN EXPEDITION. The Pool observes that if the English force, or even • small portion of it, succeed by good fortune in reaching Ms./dabs before Theodore, the release of those of the pri soners who are there will be easily effected, for although the fort is represented as being of immense natural at rength, and strongly garrisoned, it would certainly not hold out without the presence of tho leader, who alone appears to be capable of imparting anything like courage to Abyeel nians. In the contrary event, however, which is but too likely to happen, the difficulties of the enterprise will have to be met by something besides mere marching and fight ing, and it will be a question how best to cajole or to frighten Theodore into giving them up in safety. For those of the captives who have been confined at Debra Tabor the intelligence now received looks very alarming. It is hardly to be supposed that they have been sacrificed with the town, but they are probably in Theodore's own camp ; and even if the Ilagdala prisoners are released by the advance of the expedition, it will still remain to pro cure the liberation of the rest. Truly if Sir Robert Napier brings us well out of all these difficulties we shall owe him • great debt of gratitude. 108 TOPICS,. Commenting upon the loss which our merchant shipping constantly sustains from wrecks, the Tines singles out one or two practices which greatly increase the danger of the voyage. The custom of deck-loading daily imperils the lives of sailors. The ship is thus sent into a stormy sea freighted almost uif she were a river barge. Besides this, in foul weather the deck-load breaks loose ; the deck is constantly covered by the waves ; barrels, or still heavier articles of merchandise, are knocking about, half afloat, and it becomes impossible for the crew to work the ship. Many ships, again, are overloaded, and there is reason to fear that this is the case with many even of our finest steamers. To overload a steamer can only be described as • wicked recklessness, prompted by an unscrupulous greed of profits. It is gambling with nature, the losses being paid in the lives of brave men and in the desolation of women and children. The Board of Trade ought to look to the matter, and subject all vessels to adequate inspection. The Daily Nora advocates a substantial addition to the metropolitan police. This new body might be formed into a special corps under temporary engagements, and be em. ployed either on independent service or as auxiliaries. If such a force were raised, the authorities would know exactly at any moment upon what amount of force they could reckon, and they would also know that it was theirs at all hours of the day and night, and for a mouth or a year, as circumstances might require, which is not the ease with special constables. the Court. OSBORNE, Dzc. 18. The Queen, Princess Louise, Prince Leopold, Princess Bestrico, and Prince Christian Victor of Schles wig-Holstein arrived at Osborne yesterday at a quarter past two o'clock. - Her Majesty creased over from Gosport in the roy►l yacht Alberta, Captain the Prince of Leiningen. The Queen walked in the grounds this morning, accom panied by Princess Beatrice. Princess Louise rode at- tended by the Hon. Flora Macdonald, and Prince Leopold went out attended by Mr. Bahl. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial office from the Governors of the West India Islands, the Mauritius, and the Governor-General of Canada. Des patches were sent to the Governor of Malta. A deputation from the guardians of the Greenwich Union, oonsistiffir of Mr. Brown, Mr. Norfolk, Mr. Lock yer, Mr. Huntley, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Salter, and Mr. Law (clerk), had an interview with the Earl of Devon at the office of the Poor-law Board, Whitehall, yesterday. The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, accompanied by Lord and Lady Lindsay and the Hon. Miu Lindaay, left Dun Echt House, Abenleenahire, on Tuesday last, for Haigh Hall, Wigan, Lancashire. The Earl and Countess of Fowls are enter taining a large family party at Yowis Castle, near Welsh. pool. - Lady Caroline Marguerite Stanhope, eldest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Harrington, and Hr. James Penrose Ingham, eldest son of Mr. Jame. Taylor Ingham, of Soirees Court, Herefordshire, were married on Sunday morning last at Elvusan Church, Derbyshire, at the unusually early hour of 8 o'clock. The marriage was strictly private. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. LORD PALMERSTON AND THE UPTEMEER CON VENTION. In the course of the debate in the Italian parlia ment M. Minghetti read a private letter which he received from Lord Palmerston a few days after the September Convention between France and Italy was signed. The following is a translation of .the letter in question. Broadleads, Sept. 25, 1864. I am very much obliged to you for your letter and. I am glad of the arrangement which it announced. The diffi culties of the situation were great and the agreement come to is excellent. I must confess it seemed to me impossible to obtain one so advantageous. It is a matter of first necessity for Italy that the French should evacuate the country. If the evacuation is honestly and completely effected at the end of two years you cannot complain of this delay. Most certainly I did not believe in so prompt an evacuation of the Roman territory. Historical traditions point to Rome, beyond any doubt, as the true capital of Italy, but putting aside these tradi tions Florence is in many respects more suitable as the head quarters of the Italian government. The engage ments of your King not to attack Rome and not to permit bands of volunteers to invade Roman territory were natu rally inevitable. These engagements will assuredly be maintained. If the Pope gets • good army of French, Speniarda, and Belgians and enough of money to pay them he will be able for a considerable time to keep down the discontent of the inhabitants of the country which is governed in his name. But unless the system of adminis tration is essentially improved, the towns and cities will gradually separate from the Pope's authority, and the priests in Rome will find themselves in consequence in the presence of grave difficulties. In fine, I moat sincerely rejoice with you upon what may be considered a grand event.—Yours sincerely, PAutiasrox. AMERICA. (ar ATLANTIC =MEATH.) NEW YORK, Dnc. 18, 6 r.u. The steamers Austrian and Africa arrived out to-day. Closing Prices :—Gold, 1332. Sterling exchange on London, 110. 5-20 United States Bonds, 108} ; Illinois, 1332 ; Erie, 74. Cotton : Middling Upland, IN. _ . _ PHILADELPHIA, Dzc. 18. Petroleum : Standard white, 25&. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. (nom ova OWN 00111tESPONDENT.) PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING. _ _ _ The Courrier du Bas Mau announces that the order has been received at Strasbourg to " arm the place." 1 do not know whether this means anything or nothing. Activity on the Strasbourg fortifications has been frequently remarked, and I thought the place was pretty well armed long age. A St. Petersburg telegram of this day's date states that M. de Budberg, the Russian ambassador in Paris, and General lgnatieff, the Russian ambas sador at Constantinople, have been granted a month's leave of absence, in order to go to St. Petersburg. This intelligence will probably be thought a confirmation of the important Dews ventilated a few days ago, that Prince Gortchakoff, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was about to be superseded by General Ignatieff, who is known to be an advocate for the speedy realisation of Russia's long-standing ambitious policy in the East. A curious instance of Count de Nieuwerkerke having been, like many as good or butter judges, taken in when he thought he was purchasing an ancient work of art, is brought to light by the t7tronisree des Arts. In the retrospective ex hibition organised in 1864 by the Central Union of arts appliqvas, there was a bust in terracotta of Jerome Benivieni, the friend of Savo narola, which was catalogued as a Florentine work of the 15th century, and attracted a great deal of attention. The owner of this bust was an amateur, who shortly afterwards bold his col lection. Count de Nieuwerkerke, the superin tendent-general of fine arts, bought Benivieni's bust on his own account, and made a present of it to the Louvre Museum, where it may now be seen among the sculptures of the Renaissance. It is now ascertained that the work in question was executed in 1864, at Fiesole, by an artist named Bastianini. It was or dered of him by M. Freppa, a Florence dealer, who afterwards sold it to the amateur, " not saying whether it was ancient or modern." These facts are attested by M. Lajarini Francesco, a sculptor, who saw M. Bastianini modelling the bust, and also by a certificate signed by several workmen in the Florence tobacco manufactory, who declare that the slammed likeness of Savona role's friend is that of a comrade of theirs named Guiseppe Ruonaiato, who sat to Bastianini as a model. It has been said that the Pope intends to create General Ksnzler Duke of Mentana ; General Zappi, Duke of Bagnorea ; and Colonel Azzanesi, Count of Viterbo. There is au equally serious report that the King of Prussia, on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of his accession, on the 2nd of January next, will make M. de Bismarck Duke of Sadowa. At present I believe there are no dukes in Prussia, but the head of the new Germanic Confederation may well make a precedent in such a matter as honorific titles. The Chctricari suggests that France, not to be behindhand, might very appropriately. on this coming New Year's Day, gazette the Marquis de Moustier Duke de Petit Etre, and M. Rouher Count de Jamais. The Bourse was weaker. Bente fell fib. for cash and 124 c. for account, closing at 68fr. 85c. and 68fr. 70c. Credit Foncier fell 7fr. 50c. ; and Mobilier 3fr. 75c. Italian, after some fluctuation, closed with a rise of 15c. FOREIGN MAILS. THE HIATT CALCUTTA AND CHINA 31AILS.— SOUTHASPTON, DEz. 19.—The Peninsular and Oriental. Company's steamship Delta, with the above mails, arrived here to-day with 69 passengers, 57,119/. in specie, and • general cargo, including 1.370 bales of silk, value 110,030/. Up the Channel the Delta experienced northerly winds and squally weather. On the 7th abe spoke the British brig John Hayes ; on the 15th, the steamer Bangalore ; and on the 17th, the transport number 17, steering north. ward. The French brig France and the English schooner Kate came into collision off Almeira. The bulwarks of both vessels were damaged. The French barque Intrepide, with 46 passengers for Monte Video, and another 'easel, name unknown, stranded off Palrnones River during • gale on the 11th ; all saved. GISRALTAIL—Exchange on London, 50 ; Paris, 5.28 ; Marseilles, 5.28 ; Madras, dis. QUEENSTOWN, DEC. 19.—The National Steam ship Company's steamship Pennsylvania, from New York, arrived off here at 5 a.m. to-day, with 67,000 dollars in specie. She landed her passengers and proceeded for Liverpool 134;1111BAY MATL.—MALTA, Die. 18.—The M ae . cilia left at 10 a.m., and the Ceylon at 7 p.m. to.day. The former may be expected at Marseilles early on the 21st, and the latter at Southampton, about the 27th inst. Gatignani says :—" Our mourning for Her Majesty's Theatre would be turned into gladness could the conflagration produce another volume of ' Rejected Ad draws.' When Fair Augusta'. Towers and Trees' red dened under the glare of ' Drury's lane,' this volume rose like a plarnix from the ashes. We can find the capital and energy to rebuild the opera, but when are we to And a Horace or James Smith'" NITRO-GLYCERINE. In consequence of the Newcastle explosion, much interest is felt in that terrible agent of destruction—nitro glycerine. The following information respecting it is entreated from the new edition of " Ure's Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines :" " GLYCERINE, 111TRO.—" In 1847 a pupil of M. Palouse —M. Sobrero—discovered that glycerine, when treated with nitric acid, was converted into a highly explosive substance, which he called nitro-glycerine. It is oily, heavier than water, soluble in alcohol and ether, and acts so powerfully on the nervous system that • single drop placed on the top of the tongue will cause a viiihmt head ache, which will last for several hours. This liquid amnia to have been almost forgotten by chemists, and it is only recently that M. Nobet , a Swedish engineer, bas succeeded in applying it to a very important branch of his art—namely, blasting. From • paper addressed by him to the Academy of Sciences, we learn that the chief advantage which this substance—com posed of one part of glycerine and three parts of nitric acid —possesses, is that it requires • much smaller hole or chamber than gunpowder does, the strength of the latter being scarcely one-tenth of the former. Hence the miner's work, which according to the hardness of the rock repre sents from five to twenty times the price of the gun powder used, is so short that the cost of blasting is often reduced by 30 per cent. The process is very easy ;if the chamber of the mine present fissures, it must be lined with clay to make it water-tight ; this done, the nitro-glycerine is poured in, and water after it, which, being the lighter liquid, remains at the top. A slow match, with a well-charged percussion cap at one end, is then introduced into the nitro-glycerine. The mine may then be sprung by lighting the match, there being no need of tamping. On June the 7th, 186-5, three experi ments were made with this new compound, in the open pert of the tin mines of Altenburg, in Saxony. In one of these, a chamber, 34 millimetres in diameter, was made perpendicularly in a dolomitic rock, GO feet in length, and at • distance of 14 feet from its extremity which was nearly vertical. At a depth of 8 feet a vault filled with clay was found, in consequence of Which the bottom of the hole was tamped, leaving a depth of 7 feet. One litre and a half of nitro-glycerine was then poured in ; it ounipied five feet ; a match and stopper were then ap plied, as stated, and the mine sprung. The effect was so enormous as to produce a fissure 50 feet in length, and another of 20 feet ; the total effect had not been sneer. tabled, because it required several small blasts to break the blocks that have been partially detached by this. In 18..5 M. Nobet made a series of experiments with this ex plosive fluid, at Falmouth, and in Nome of the Cornish mines and granite gunnies. Its explosive powers were found to be enormous. Its tendency to change, and spon taneous combustion, from which some most disastrous so cidents have arisen, appear to place it out of general use." The two Princesses d'Albe, nieces of the Empress, with many young ladies belonging to the most distinguished families in Paris, are following regularly tho classes of secondary instruction fur girls at the So r bon ne . _ . Prince George of Prussia, nephew of King William, has just had the tragedy of Electra performed with success before the court. lie is about to publish two new dramas, one entitled The Marquise de Brim-Wier', and the other called Ph,drc. At the first Conservatoire Concerts at Paris last Sunday, Schumman's symphony in B fiat wu played and favourably received. Two fragments of a symphony by Schubert were also played for the first time at the fifth concert of Paedeloup. These concerts, attended by some four or five thousand persona, are crowded to suffocation. Signor Campana is in Paris, on his way to Milan, with a new opera in his portfolio, entitled Noire Dame de Paris. The libretto, in four acts, is from the pen of Signor Cimino. Admiral Tegethoff, according to the Gazette de Frana, paid, before quitting the city of Mexico. all the claims on the late Emperor Maximilian, comprising those which were notoriously overcharged. The Gazzetfa del Popolo of Florence has just opened a subscription to present a medal of honour to 111. Jules Fevre in recognition of the manner in which he pleaded the Italian cause in the Legislative Body. Advices from Caprera state that the health of General Garibaldi has much improved. PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN. —The following candidates yesterday passed the major examination as pharmaceutical chemists:—Ernest James Agnew, Southses ; William Bulgier, Blandford ; Silas Daniel, Holsworthy ; Edward Dunkley, Northampton ; Thomas Jefferson, Cambridge ; Freak William Steel, London._ THEGOVERNMENTAND TUE LATESERGEANT BRETT. —The Rev. W. Richardson, the rector of Miles Platting, has received a communication from Mr. G. H. Hamilton, of the Treasury, Whitehall, dated Dec. 14, to the follow. in` effect :—" Sir,—l am commanded by the Lords Com missioners of her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you th a t, upon the recommendation of the Bari of Derby, the Pay master-General has been authorised to pay to you, on be half of Mrs. Brett, widow of Charles Brett, the policeman recently murdered at Manchester, the sum of 251."—Man dater Courier. Twenty years ago Melbourne, the capital of Vic toria, had a population of 8,000. Its population is now 128,000. In 1848 the province of one of the nine provinces into which New Z ea l an d i s divi ded, bad a popu- lation of 620, and in 1864 its population was 61,000. Twenty-three years ago the population of South Australia was 19,000, sad in 1866 it was 176,000. LAW INTZLLIGENCE. (THIS DAY.) COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. After Term Nisi Prins Sittings at GuildhalL-(Before the Lord Chief Justice and Special Jurors.) WILSON C. WALTER. The further hearing of the case, which was an action for libel against the Times, was resumed this morning. The plaintiff appeared in person. The Attorney-General, Mr.endant. Coleridge, Q.C., and Mr. Wood, were counsel for the def The plaintiff, in continuation of him statement of yester day, commented on Lord St. Leonardo speech. He said his lordship's remarks contained such glaring ab surdities that Mr. Helene must have known not only that the statement of other noble lords were false, but that Lord fit. Leonardo thought Sir Fitzroy Kelly guilty. In five minutes Lord St. Leo contrived not only to make six falsehoods but he misquoted some of his (plainti ff 's) statements, which was no • more or less than moral forgery. There was nothing in petition which approached what Lord St. Leonard, stated in his speech.' His lordship's notion of an inquiry into the charges was the withdrawal of the petition, and when he asked Earl Russell to with draw it he knew that Sir Fitzroy Kelly was guilty. Earl Rummell, after answering the absurd pro- position of the Lord Chancellor, that he ought not to have ' presented the petition, acted in a most despicable manner in not making him (plaintiff) acquainted with Sir F. Kelly's reply. Fair play was, if he might say so, Indio,- IMUII in Englishmen, and his lordship, by not referring that answer to him, had sold his petition. No man sold another without • remuneration in meal or malt. Earl Rummell did sell his petition, without doubt, and as no man did a dirty trick without being paid for it, his lordship inert have been paid for selling the petition in meal or in malt. The noble lords were privileged in what they said in parliament, and as he could not proceed against them he had taken the only person in his powerthe accomplice in their guilt. Mr. Watson then came to the editorial comments, which, he said, there was prima facie evidence to show must have been written by Mr. Helene to gratify mo tives of personal hostility against him (plaintiff) or friendship for Sir F. Kelly, for with the exception o f one daily paper beside the rime, not one of them had an editorial article on the subject the following morning, although its public importance was beyond all question fully admitted by Mr. Deane is the °eminence ment of the article, and by Eariptussell in his statement in the House of Lords, and the only answer was that they saw distinctly by the reports that it was impossible the noble lord's statements could be true. In the article Mr. Delano had mixed up falsehood with truth—what was called one of the devil's pet lies, containing • sprinkling of truth. 'When a person of bad disposition took upon himself to decide between • good or • bad act he invariably selected the bad one, because in similar circumstances such would be his own conduct. There were four instances of Mr. Delane's baseness is changing what was in his (plaintiff's) petition as quoted in the article, and Mr. Helium did it because it was impossible to give a true reply to the petition. A newspaper conducted as the Times had been in this case ought to be trampled under foot as a pest to .t.ty. Information must have been given to Mr. Delane by Sir Fitzroy Kelly or by • friend. It was false that he was called on ten years ago by the Premier to substantiate him charges, and that he shrank from doing so, as stated in the article. So far from his entertaining • rancorous feeling against Sir F. Kelly, the latter applied to him not to press for judg ment in the proceedings i n th e Q ueen ' s Bench. It was known at the time that the learned judges were divided in opinion, but th e i r j u d gmen t wou ld have been fatal to Sir F. Kelly's reputation if delivered, and when he was applied to not to pram for judgment, he replied, "He has had enough of it ; let him go. I'll not apply to the court for judgment," nor did he. The second article was published about two months after the first, and the receipt of his contradiction is relation to the ap plication at Guildhall, and that article was in aggrava tion of the libel contained in the first article. At the close of Mr. Wason's address he entered the witness-box and was sworn and crou-ciamined by the Attorney-General. [The case was proceeding when our report left.] COURT OF PROBATE AND DIVORCE. (Before the Judge Ordinary.) 1 OUNG V. DENDIr. This tedious caw still continues to drag its slow length along, and the much-enduring jury are not likely to be released before Saturday. For the last two or three days evidence has been given in support of the plea of insanity, but it does not seem to differ very materially from that tendered at the former trial, and at the time sufficiently reported. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. (Before Mr. Commissioner Winslow.) IN RI JAIIIIS HI'TTON—" THE DAT " NE%%SPAPER. The bankrupt was described as of 49, Essexatreet, Strand, newspaper proprietor, and be attributed his failure to losses incurred by him in connection with the Day newspaper, which he states he was unable to carry on by reason of insufficiency of capital. The case has been before the court on several occasions— various questions hating arisen in reference to the amount for which certain of the creditors should be allowed to prove. The point mainly involved was that of " notice." namely, whether the contributors and other gentlemen composing the staff of the Day newspaper were entitled to receive a month's salary in lieu of notice. The matter was argued and decided iu favour of the parties seeking to prove, and the various claims having been adjusted, the accountants to the estate have at length been enabled to prepare the accounts, which show the following results : Creditors unsecured, Ilia. 11d. ; creditors, as per explanation on folio 17, 3,9001.; liabilities on accommodation bills, 1537. ; and creditors to be paid in full, 50/.• against property given up to the assignees, 1321. Bs. 5d.; and good debts. 3021. 14s. At folio 17 of the accounts the following entry in reference to the item of 3,9001. appears "Lord Elcho, 23, St. James's-place, 1,5001. • Lord Grosvenor, 28, Prince's-gardens, 1,500/. ; and Ba;1 Lich field, Shegboro' Park, near Stafford, 9001.—total, 3,900/." The bankrupt goes on to explain :—" I received the first and second above-mentioned sums as loans to furnish me with capital to start the Day newspaper, and such sums were advanced for such purpose, and upon the condition that if the paper was successful the amounts were to be repaid within a year, and if the newspaper failed within a year the above amount, were to be treated as gifts and no claim made for the same. The third above-mentioned sum was advanced upon similar terms after the paper had started to assist in carrying it on." The Day, it will be remembered, was started on the 19th of March last as the organ of constitu tional liberalism, and in order to advocate the views of that party of politicians known as " Adullaniites," who consi dered that their opinions had been much misunderstood and misrepresented. The last number of the Day appeared on the 4th of May, so that the debts appearing in the ac e:4ll2U were incurred during the short space of 47 days. This was an adjourned sitting for examination and discharge. Mr. Bagley appeared for Mr. Wintle, the assignee. He said it was the case of a proprietor of a newspaper which had come to a very sudden termination. The assignee had examined the accounts, and could see no objection to them, and consented to the bankrupt passing his examina tion. It was also considered that the failure was at tributable to a misfortune, and the assignee did not oppose the allowance of the order of discharge. Mr. Brough, who supported, said it was very satisfac tory to be able to state that the creditors would be paid in full by the noble lords (Earls Grosvenor and Lichfield and Lord Elcho), who had undertaken so handsomely to discharge the debts. It was due fo Mr. Hutton to say that he had given ever assistance to the assignees, and had exerted himself with more than ordinary diligence. Mr. Reed appeared for Messes. Ranken and Wilson, the printers of the Day newspaper, and asked that their claim might be determined, in accordance with the recent deci sion of the court; but, it being statei that the matter was under consideration, the learned counsel expressed himself satisfied. His Honour then granted the order of discharge. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Justice Lush.) John 'Winder, 4.5. a singular looking man, was indicted for • libel upon the Common Serjeant of the City of London. Id;.1;oland conducted the prosecution on behalf of the Corporation. The circumstances under which this charge was preferred against the defendant will be fresh in the recollection of the public. He was tried in August, 1864, for publishing a libel upon a person of the Jewish persuasion named Nathan, who resided close to the defendant, who carried on the businems of an oil and colourmsn in Great Garden-street, Whitechapel, and he was convicted of the charge. He ref mini to make any apology or promise not to repeat the act, and the learned Common Serjeant ultimately sentenced him to six months' imprisonment, and also ordered that he should find sureties to be of good behaviour and to keep the peace towards the prosecutor. The defendant was unable to find the required sureties, and the consequence was that he was kept in prison alto gether for a period of 13 months, when, in consequence of • communication that was made to the Home Secretary by the Common Serjeant, he was released. This was at the end of the year 186.5, and during the present year the de fendant seemed to have published the most extraordinary and incoherent placards concerning the learned commis sioner, charging him with being a murderer, and with being bribed by the Jews to persecute him, and that he had caused the death of four of his children. The defendant was remonstrated with, and told that if he would desist from his system of aanor. slice no proceedings would be taken against him ; but he declared that he would persevere until he had obtained what he cooeideued to be justice. Tb• learned counsel for the prosecution, at the conclusion of his opening address, intimated that the prisoner had been c l ose l y watched since he had been confined in Nergate and there appeared to be good ground for believing that he was not of sound mind. Mr. Justice Lush said if that were the cue the better course would probably be to decide the question at once De to the prisoner's sanity or insanity. Mr. J. R. Gibson, the surgeon of Newgate, was acco r d. ingly examined, and he stated that he had watched the prisoner carefully since the 27th of November, when he was brought to the prison, and he was of opinion that he was of unsound mind. He had the mast extraordinary delusions, believing that he had a special mission to put down Judaism, and th►t the Jews were the cause of au the troubles that took place in this and every other country. He told him upon several occasions that the Jews were the occasion of the war in America, the Abys sinian war, and the Fenian insurrection ; and he also said that he had seen the Virgin Mary in a vision, and that she had encouraged him to persevere in his endeavour s t o destroy the Jews. He had a variety of, other delusions, and in witness's opinion the prisoner WAS decidedly insane. The jury expressed themselves satisfied upon this evi dence, and at once returned a verdict that the prisoner was of unsound mind, and he was ordered to be detained during her Majesty's pleasure. The priaoner, who had brought with him a large bundle of papers which he had carefully arranged before him on the top of the dock, coolly folded them up again when the jury had returned their verdict and walked away without saying a word. THE HAMMERSMITH MURDER John Thompson, 35, a tall powerful wee, described Al a labourer was charged with the wilful murder of George Frederick James. Mr. Rib on and Mr. Flood conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Daly and Mr. Houston. Although the charge against the prisoner was one of so serious a character the facts lay in a very narrow have compose, and as they have been fully given very recently, it will be unneosieary to give the evidence in detail on the present occasion. On the night of the 23rd of November the de ceased and two friends went into the Swan public-house, at Hammersmith, one of the last-mentioned pawns cony lug a hare and a bunch of turnips, and at the time they went in the prisoner and a man named Webb were stand. ing at the bar. The prisoner appeared to have inquired whether they had caught the hare, and the person who was carrying it said that they had not caught it, but they bad bought it. The prisoner then seemed to have made use of • very &Inane expression towards the doomed and his companions, who, fearing some act of violence, appeared to have left the house. When they had gone a short distance they stopped for the puma*e of bidding each other good night. At this moment the prisoner and Webb came up, I and after some violent language, Webb knocked down both the companions of the d e c ease d, and the prisoner was seen to give • blow to the deceased, who fell to the ground. Upon his being picked up it was ascertained that be had been stabbed through the heart, and he appeared to have died almost instantly ha consequence of that injury. Upon the prisoner, on being taken into custody, a penknife covered with blood was found, and the waistcoat in which he had placed it was saturated with blood, which was quite wet, It was elicited, during the inquiry, that the prose cutor and his companions had been to sevens! public-houses during the evening, but the witnesses declared that they were perfectly sober. The man Webb was originally com mitted with the prisoner for murder, but the grand jury , ignored the bill against him. [The trial was proceeding when our report left.] THE POLICE COURTS. (THIS DAY.) GREENWICH. _Gerxr Henry Lee, aged 24, of 27. Maynard-road, Rotherhithe; Wi/liani Wilkinson, aged 17 ; and William Smith aged 50, also of Rotherhithe ; were ch ar ged on remand, the two former with breaking into a fowl-house and stealing four geese, the property of Mr. Joseph Lee, of Croft-street, Deptford, and the latter with receiving the same well knowing them to be stolen. Inspector Warren, It division, said that acting upon in formation obtained, he went to the address of the pri soner Lee. the house being in the occupation of the prisoner Smith, and asked the latter for Lee, who was suspected of having stolen four geese and brought them home the previous night. He afterwards saw Lee, who denied having had any geese, and on witness pointing to some blood on his trowsers, he said that the blood was from some meat he had bought. Smith was present, and heard what he said, and be then told them that he was satisfied the geese were in the house, and that he meant to have them before he left. He then proceeded to search,and asked Smith how he accounted for feathers lying in the pas sage, and be implied that they were the feathers of ducks he kept, and which were accustomed to walk into the house. He next noticed feathers up the stairs and remarked to Smith that he supposed the ducks were not in the habit of walking up stairs. (Laughter.) He next asked to be shown into Lee's bedroonf ; and there found some more feathers of geese, which Smith said had come from the bed on being shaken by his wife. (Renewed laughter.) Witness afterwards went into an adjoining unoccupied room, in which there were also more feathers and marks of undried blood on the floor, and at this instant a constable whom he had left below called out that three of the geese had been found in the water-tank. Lee and Smith were then taken into custody, and on the way to the station he obtained further information, which led him to go to the house of the prisoner Wilkinson, 5, Riches-01w, Rotherhithe, where he found him and other members of the family seated at the table dining off • goose, which he took possession of, and the prisoner Wilkinson also. The prosecutor said that although of the same name he and Lee were not related, but Lee had been in his employ four days. The geese Isere killed in the fowl house, the heads being left behind and one of the wings found in field. The prisoners Lee end Wilkinson pleruled guilty, but Smith declared he twos innoceet. The i;nateorderedfiniiiii to be discharged, and Lee and Wilkinson were each sentenced to sic week►' impriwa• meat with hard labour in Wandsworth GaoL r...: WRECK ON THE SCOTCH COAST. STRANRAER, NORTH BRITAIN, Wenrreanar. I am glad to report (says C. W. Esq., inspecting officer of Geist Guard), that the lifeboat Edinburgh and It. M. Ballantyne, of the National lifeboat Institution, at Port Logan, was the providential means of rescuing 15 men from a watery grave yesterday month* The barque Stmthleven of Glasgow, bound from Demerara to Greenock, was wrecked on the previous night, a little above Float Bay, about seven miles from the lifeboat sta tion. She was under double•reefed topsails when abs struck, and the night was very dark. Au attempt was made to communicate with the land, and a boat was lowered for that purpose, but immediately broke adrift with two men in her, who were thrown upon the rocks, and after great exertion succeeded in gaining the top of the cliff half an hour after midnight. Having reached a farmhouse, where they wffe hospitably received, a messenger was sent to Port liNas for the lifeboat, the crow were at once called out, it being then about a qu►rter past 4 in the morning, the boat Ito launched, and the whole of the men wet., taken off the wreck soon after 7 o'clock. The master and crew stated that they could not have held on much longer, and owe much to the encouragement they received from the parts who assem►led on the cliffs. They express deep gratitude, and speak in high terms of the manner in which the life• boat was handled. It should be mentioned that this valuable lifeboat was the gift to the institution shoat twelve months sines of the working men and boys of Fora* burgh, through Mr. R. M. Ballantyne, and by desire si the donor the boat was named the Edinburgh and R. U. Ballantyne. The Oxford local examination for the year iSI will commence on Tuesday, June 2, at Oxford, Manzhester, Liverpool, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Boobs. Exeter, Bath, Northampton, and such other places as the delegates may appoint. Candidates' names must be sect in to the various local secretaries on or before tistarday , the ldth day of April, and no candidate's name will be received at any place after that date. The proposed new directors of the Great Eastern Railway wiU, it is believed, be Lord Cranborne, M.P., yr• Richard Young, M.l'., Mr. Watkin, M.P., Mr. Robert Stuart, Mr. George Wodehouse Currie, and Mr. James Chadwick. It is understood that the condition made IT them on joining the company is that they shall receive the cordial support of the proprietors at the meeting called for the 3rd of January, and that there shall be an official audit of the company's accounts. Mr. Watkin, M.P.. will merely assist by his advice and provincial influence in support rf Lord Crsnborue, who, it is hoped, will be ultimately tlie chairman of the company. It appears to be generally understood, says the Times, that there will again be an entire cessation of his. nets on the 25th inst., the day after Chre,tnos-.4 , agreeably to the experience of recent years, and the co' finned disposition of the public to make it a permmust holiday. An immediate agreement, however, should bo expressed on the subject by the wholesale and retail Wail of the metropolis, the absence of concert on some preys° occasions having caused inconvenience. The banking a• tablishmenta will be once more left in an anomalous po tion, and an unnecessary sacrifice of the general bohltl will thus again be exacted from a considerable number d employ& The prisoner Quinn, who is accused of the der of Waters, the farmer, near Rillytuahon, Longford, has been committed for trial. The Ind.. I the murdered man has become insane. ~. giv Cr Me