The Press. — London, England, 1857-09-26 00:00:00

H.M.S. TRANSIT. ONE or two letters written by officers on board the Transit, and detailing her wreck in the Straits of Banca, have appeared this week. We select the most interesting per.ions of a letter dated Singa pore, July 25th. The utter inefficiency of a man-of• war carrying troops in an hour of danger to convey those troops to a place of safety by her boats, is very strikingly shown. Of course a ship is not built to run upon rocks, but still, if a man-of-war is converted temporarily into a troopship, she ought to be supplied with some means to secure the safety of the trnons in ens 4 of wreck. The Transit entered the Straits of Banca on the 9th of July : Alter steaming on that morning (Friday, the 10th) about eight and a half miles an hour we passed the town of Muntok (the capital of Banca), when we saw reefs ahead. These we cleared, and along we went. About 9.30 a.m., as I was smoking a cigar with the purser of the ship on the poop, suddenly bump she went and nearly threw us overboard. The engines were stopped at once, and the water rushed into the engine-room, for she had a large hole in her bottom. After the shock I said, " Now we have finished our voyage in the Transit;" and though I am not easily frightened, I was then, for I fully expected she would break her back every moment, and then the consequences would have been too awful to contemplate. The copt Lin, seeing it was all up with the vessel, ordered the biscuits to be brought upon deck, and casks to be Slid with as much water as could be got out of the tank; meanwhile the troops and officers were sent below, and the pumps set to work ; and I assure you, though we were in the most imminent danger, the most perfect order was preserved, and not a man left the place he was ordered to remain in, and all sat down quietly, except those who were employed. T had all my thines packed up and ready to get out of the old tub if there was time, but the water poured in. I took a peep into the engine-room; the soldiers were working up to their necks iu water. The great fear was the ship would slip off the rock, and then (twin she moat have gone instantly, taking with her more than 800 souls. " Would slip off the rock and then go down." Here in a few words is the real danger of an iron ship. Iron cannot hold together like timber. If an iron ship run on a rock she tears an open hole right through her plates. A wooden ship knocks a splintery hole, and either sticks fast for ever, or is got off without any danger of going down. In three hours the boats landed the men from the Transit, and after a week's residence on a sandbank the whole were rescued and carried t) Singapore. The writer sums up his character of the Transit as follows : The Transit was nearly lost in the Southern Ocean a few days after we left the Island of St. Paul ; we had a most awful storm for three days, our sails and spars went to the winds, and it has since been acknowledged that had the gale lasted twenty-four hours longer every soul on board would have perished and never so much as have been heard of; the sea was awfully high, but the vessel hardly shipped any water ; there was a very bad leak in her, the iran having split in one part alone twenty-four feet. You will hardly credit it, but one day we pumped out of her 600 tons of water in the twenty-four hours. She leaked from the time we left Corunna, and, of course, it increased as we went on. The fact is we ought not to have proceeded further than the Cape in her. No one but those who were on board the Transit can have the least idea of the dreadful perils we have undergone. ANECDOTE OF THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPIL—I think the most curious fact, taken altogether, that I ever heard of the electric telegraph was told me by a cashier of the Bank of England. " Once upon a time, then, on a certain Saturday night, the folks at the Bank could not make the balance come right by just 1001. This is a serious matter in that little establishment : I do not mean the cash, but the mistake in arithmetic ; for it occasions a world of scrutiny. An error in balancing has been known, I am told, to keep a delegation of clerks from each office at work sometimes through the wole night. A hue and cry was of course made after this 1001., as if the old lady in Threadneedle street would be in the Gazette for want of it. Luzkily on the Sunday morn ing a clerk (in the middle of the sermon, I dare say, if the truth were known) felt a suspicion of the truth dart through his mind quicker than any flash of the telegraph itself. He told the chief cashier on Mon day morning that perhaps the mistake might have occurred in packing some boxes of specie for the West Indies, which had been sent to Southampton for shipment. The suggestion was immediately acted upon. Here was a race—lightning against steam! and steam with forty-eight hours' start given. Instantly the wires asked' whether such a vess had left the harbour.' `Just weighing anchor,' was the answer. ' Stop her,' frantically shouted the electric telegraph. It was done. Have up on deck certain boxes marked so and so; weigh them carefully.' 'I hey were weighed; and one—the delinquent—was found heavier by just one packet of a hundred sovereigns than it ought to be. Let her go,' said the mysterious telegraph. The West India folks were debited with just 1001. more, and the error was corrected without ever looking into the boxes or de laying the voyage by an hour. Now that is what may he called ' doing business.'"—Letters of R. E. H. Greyson. A ItF.Fonm in housebuilding is about to be attempted at Glasgow. The flats are to give way to the Englishman's "castle." Mr. Denuistoun contemplates erecting upon his land a new suburb to the town, consisting entirely of private self contained and detached houses, each with garlen and grounds. Architectural taste and skill are to be employed, and the , suburb not to be left to the usual " Carpenters' Gothic." A park and fountains are talked of, and an inclosure wall with gates, insuring the quiet and seclusion of the neighbour hood. _ _ _ LORD Powis objects to the removal of the Welsh Circuits. In a letter to Eddowees Shrewsbury Journal. He says :—The Judicial Commissioners are following closely in the footsteps of the Ecclesiastical Com missioners, and propose to give increased accommo dation to Lancashire and Yorkshire by taking away existing assizes from Wales, just as the latter body originally recommended that the Sees of Bangor and Llandaff should be merged in St. Asaph and Bristol, to make room for the new bishoprics of Manchester and Ripon. Thus Cardigan with a population of 97,000, Carmarthen with 94,000, and Denbigh with 96,000, are each to lose one assize, while Hereford with 99,000, and Westmoreland with 58,000, retain two. Why are Welsh prosecutors, attorneys, and witnesses to be carted from home over such an ex tent of country? Why is Welsh pool to be dragged to Delgelly, and Aberystwith to Carmarthen ! Why is Wales to lose its existing rights ? THE PRESS, SEPTEMBER 26,1857. Mom Dada artb 6itg FRIDAY EVENING. THE return of the Bank of England for the week ending the 19th instant shows the following changes compared with that for the week preced ing : Increase in Circulation Increase in Public Deposits 388,821 Decrease in Other Deposits Increase in Securities Decrease in Bullion Increase in Rest Increase in Reserve Bullion in Both Departments Circulation, including Bank Post Bills 19,703,283 THE week has been one of unexampled stagnation ; both bona fide and speculative operators holding aloof until the position of affairs in India has taken a more decided aspect. The funds remain perfectly stationary in price, and even the most extensive brokers on the Stock Exchange are complaining of an entire absence of business. There are no doubt considerable orders to purchase Consols for money, should they descend below 90, a point at which the public are generally investors; and in the absence of any disastrous news, it may fairly be presumed that this market will shortly exhibit more firmness, as public securities are undoubtedly low in proportion to other values. In the Discount Market and at the Bank there has been, during the week, a fair but by no means pressing demand. The mininum rate out of doors is still five and a half per cent., while in the Stock Ex change money has commanded from five to five and a half per cent. on Government securities. In Paris the principal feature on the Bourse has been one of decided recovery. The Rentes closed yesterday at 67.30, and the rise which was estab lished at the earlier part of the week was fully main tained, and it is evident that the floating amount of stock on the Bourse has of late been considerably diminished, and consequently the market is thus placed on a more legitimate basis. considerable interest has been created in French financial circles by the trial of Carpentier and his accomplices for the abstraction of the shares of the Northern Rail way Company, belonging to Messrs. Rothschild, which were deposited at the offices of the company. English Railways have slightly declined during the week. There has been a considerable advance in Great Northerns, owing to an idea which is enter tained in well-informed quarters of a prospect of an alliance with that and the Midland Railway Company. London and North-Western Stock, which had lately been extremely depressed, has experienced a slight recovery. North-Eastern Stocks are dull, particu larly Leeds Northern. North British are also fiat. Canadian Railways are slightly better. In the market for Home Mining Stocks a mode rate amount of business has been doing. The chief inquiries have been for shares iu North France, East Russell, and East Bassett. Imperial Brazilian end Mexican and South American Smelting Shares have met with inquiry. Cobre Copper are 11 . lower. ___ We regret very much to announce the stoppage of the private bank of Messrs. Harrison, Watson, and Co., of Hull. The firm is an old and highly re spected one, and not the least suspicion of their embarrassment seems to have been entertained. The decision to stop was adopted yesterday afternoon. The partners are Messrs. Robert Harrison, James K. Watson, and Henry Pease. Their difficulties have arisen, if rumour may be credited, through transac tions with houses in the grain trade, which have themselves suffered severely by the late fall in corn. The London correspondents of the firm are Sir Charles Price and Co. The institution was not a bank of issue. Bank Shares have been quiet at previous quota tions. National Discount remain dull at 1j to I discount. Crystal Palace, 1 3.l6ths to 5-16ths. BANK OF ENGLAND . An Account, pursuant to the Act 7tb and fith Victoria. cap. 32 for the week ending on Saturday, the 13th day of Sept., 1857. ISRUZ DEPLIITMINT. Notes issued ....:15,009,945 Government Debt 111,015,10 Other Securities.. 3,459,900 Gold Coin & Bullion 10,534,945 Silver 526,0C9,945 A25,0U9,9e3 BANKING DICPARTMENT. Proprletors'Capitsl2l4,ss3,ollo Government Seen. Kest Public Deposits*.. 8,046,099 , Desch% eight An.) 410.523 653 Other Deposits .. ; Other Securities .. 18 262 051 Seven Day dc other lutes 6,i0a,7 Balls 436,318,019 1 A 36.318,049 * Including Exchequer Commissioners of National Debt Slaings' Banks, and Dividend Accounts. BRITISH FUNDS.— Closing Prlost. OFFICIAL QUOTAfIOAS. 5 per Cent.Coneole ditto or Account 3 per Cer_ts Reduced per lents Lug Annuities Bonk StOCh. 7 per Cent New 2; per Cent Annuit r.:tch. Luills, 20. India Bouds,(1,0001.; Mond. Tuesd. Wed. Thurs. Fridnis 90} '.loi 90; :20/ 20 k9oi - 12 2-16! --: Per Cent. 8 - 4 4; is — Bd lod 22d 1 23d , 23 IEIGN FUNDS. Mond.,Tuesd. Wed. Thure. Brazilian Danish 5 Did). (Fail Otul )21 French 3 Do. 41 Do. Bank Stock_ I ,loT;xd 66: 93e1 f e g! 70 1 Mexican Peruvian Portuguese Russian •4panish furkish A Autw. & Rttrdni Belgian East. J I Dutch Rhehish Rasa Indian Gt. Indian Pen G. NV .o f Can.,9 h Lyons & Geuev, Madras Neituur& Liege Nrthrn.of From .1 Norw. Truk. Prt. Paris & Lyous ' Paris & Orleank Paris I Rouen 64e f a; —211f.1 0 901 2103 10 6d 4O 'At »} 9 , i - 404 ; -94 i FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Woad. 7'uesday. Wednes. C}6 } c } It f g 1* 1k 3i } a 3 / of tubs )74 96a:97 d 97 lui 19; 2, 4 2.0} 1 131} 2; 7 it 18 • 7t 34e II 5 10 34e 2.1 86 26 - 7 17k 81 Gi 71 341 9 1U 33i 4 53 55 253 171 6 3 9 10 3 4 52 54 SEURES blond. Tuesd. 8 be $ 8e be 87 84 BE. 83 4, 1 83 4 las-- I 5'33 5 -- d $ll 80 e2O 1 30 b 2 30 b 2 94 94 22 4 16607 z 561 7; 96 7.96 7 96 90 96 !tat 143 e 4e 1361 8196 1 6 ai 84 11 83 87.85 87,1 84 85 ozii 4 ;1 33 5 33 _ it! d 20 4 30 32 30 32 92 4 94 4 67 58 1 5 b; 711 5 696 t .98 9S 90 98, 154 153; +1 98 1.25 g 1; 4! 103 4,103 tit 96 i 95' . zt.Ci dui 103 5 1 ,103 b-- P I 4 1 6. 5 t Ail 6 ! 96t 7, I 00 00 f -- -- I 62 CS CI ea 31 Ad 31 Ad 60 51 SO A . 41 Ad 4f 111 7A d 74 6i 32 3 32 6I 104 6 144 SI 2 74 72 74, 33 5 33 84 , , GG C 7 04 61; 91 2 9U 1 141 ,164 • 6564 65, ' 6O 2!60 C 2 3j 013 j ju 41430j1 41Ij 61; 4j * 4 i4l tC j7j 8 71 8 ' 1 32 3,32 8 1104 6 104 C ,72 74 :2 4 ,'33 36 33 33 4 , 64 6036 ta. 140 91.80 j 1,1 1 1 831 4j183j 4j 21 138 401 dOI ile 913 sj2Lju 133 40 al do I a f o f o 9St 44 94i 5 Thurs. Friday. G 1 661 1. 3 4 id L 7 6 97 8 191 4 19 i 20 201 251 61 26 7 171 181 171 14 6 4 7 4 , 64 7 611 1 34* i 9 10 9 10 341 1 i 541 54 56 41 o • Thur.; Frid. 66 6R 8.4 66 63 64 33 5 20 50 32 92 4 36; 7i wa . 97 trsi 4} 96 103 — 4 g .110 CO 2 ai Id 4di 9s 4i itl 7! ri 31 3 !Wit 6 311 as 6k 90 91 raj 4i 211 221 10 40 lk I II 21 27 2 1I 2 2 II 12 tle I 254 482 438 422 4 32 4 6240 Islo 12 10 12110 13 P.A.t 'mil a- Aberdeen Birm.Wolv.&StourVal. Bristol cid Exeter Caledonian Chester and Holyhead Cork and Bandon Dublin k Belfast Juno. East Anglian Eastern tluiot(B) East Lancashire .. Eastern Counties .... Great Northern Sth. aud Wet of Ire. Great Western Lancashire& Yorkshire Lon.,filbury,& S. Brkg. Lon. ,Brighton ,titc London and Blackwall Londonand Nrth-West. Midland Newmarket Newry and Enniskillen Norfolk Nrthrn.CountiesUniou North British North Staffordshire North-Western Oxf.,Wrcistr.,and Wuiv. , Scottish Central Scottish Midland .... South Devon South-Eastern and Dov South. Western South Wales Waterford & Limerick M tscELLAwaons— Australian Agriculturali Canada Crystal Palace Crystal Palace of Fiance North British Ans.Lan&l Feel River Land & Min. Scottish Aust. Invest. South Australian Lam: Van Diemen's Land , 57i203e 1 '7i xd; ::411 -4 i 32 10 €7:306 1 949