The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-24 00:00:00

MARCH 24, 1855.

AT the evening meeting of the Royal Geographical
Society, on Monday next, the following papers will
be real :—Extract of a letter received by Admiral
Smyth from Admiral Matthieu, on the progress of
the survey in the straits of Gibraltar—Despatch from
Loanda respecting Dr. Livingston's exploration in
Central Africa, communicated by Consul Brand—On
the ruins of Tical, near the Lake of Piten, in Central
America, by Don Vicente T. D. B. Castellanos.
THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL states in his last report
that the effect of a severe winter is seen in the
weekly returns for some time after a milder tempera-
ture has been restored. The mortality of London is
still high. The deaths, which had fallen from 1,560
to 1,377 in the previous week, again rose last week to
1,425. the mean weekly temperature was 40 8 deg.,
in the beginning of March, higher by 14 deg. than it
had been in the latter half of February. From
natural causes, as well as from the circumstance that
deaths are not always registered as soon as they
occur, the consequences of a change of temperature
in one week are only developed in the returns of the
wi ak following, or at a later period. In the ten cor
p )riding weeks of the years 1845-54 the average
number of deaths was 1,142, which by a correction
for increase of population is raised to 1,256. The
present return shows that 109 persons died above
the estimated number.
Tax BRITISH FLEET at the present moment in
commission counts 271 ships of all classes and sizes,
from the Duke of Wellington, 131, screw three-
decker, to the port admiral's cutter. These ships
mount 6,370 guns, and are manned with about
62,000 officers, seamen, boys, and marines. It is
estimated that at least 4,000 petty officers and sea-
men are required to complete the crews of the ships
at present fitting out at the ports.
THE report of the railway department of the Board
of Trade on the railway bills of 1855 shows that the
number of bills for railways deposited this session
amounts to 104, of which 71 authorise new works,
and a total length of line extending over 655 miles,
besides 51 miles of deviation, and 35 proposals for
enlargement of stations. Of the 33 other bills
4 are for the extension of time, 12 relate to capital
arrangements, 13 to amalgamation, sale, lease, work-
ing, and traffic arrangements, and 4 may be cla,sed
as miscellaneous. Of the 71 bills authorising new
works, 34 are introduced by new companies, and 37
by old. The number of such bills is thus divided—
in England 53, length of lines 384 miles ; in Scotland
11, length of lines 165 miles; and in Ireland 7,
length of line 106 miles.
Tax APPOINTMENT of the Right Hon. Sir John
Young to be Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Islands was officially announced in Tuesday's Gazette.
Tax EARL OF ABERDEEN, it is understood, will, in
the course of a short period, leave England, for
Egypt, in order to see his son, Lord Haddo, who
contemplates prolonging his sejour in the East for
some time to come. Lord Haddo is at present in
the neighbourhood of Cairo.
HER MAJESTY has marked her sense of the
valuable services of the late Mr. John Montagu,
colonial secretary at the Cape of Good Hope, by
making a suitable provision for his widow. A pension
of 3001. a year for life has been bestowed upon this

lady.
Ma. BARRY CHARLES HAMPTON KNIGHT—SOII of the
eminent publisher, Mr. Charles Knight—is appointed
index maker to the London Gazette.
THE HUT INTENDED FOR THE FRENCH EMPEROR
when he visits the Crimea has been already packed
up. It was inspected by his Majesty in the gardens
of the Elysees Napoleon, with other articles destined
to accompany the expedition. The but is made of
wood and is put together without nails. The windows
are so contrived as to render it difficult to see into
the little cabin, whilst it is very easy to see out of it.
A small stove is provided, and other conveniences ;
but the whole is extremely simple and devoid of
ornament.
THE 98th REGIMENT is on its passage from India,
on board the ships Sutlej, Maidstone, Prince of
Waleis and lenheim, and xp
may be expected to arrive
early n Junß
e. The 25th Regiment of Foot is on its
passage home from India.
THE 10TH Hussmts were, on the 10th inst., with
the exception of seventy men, in Egypt, awaiting
further orders to proceed to the Crimea. They had
been comfortably located at Cairo.
Tim FRENCH EMPEROR hag granted a silver medal
of honour to Edward Richard Warden and George
Edwards, fishermen, of Rye, for having rescued from
certain death, on the 14th of January last, the crew
of the French merchantman Itletre Dame du Mont
Carmel.
THE receipts of the Great Western Railway of
Canada for the week ending the 2nd of March were
5,5241. sterling, making a total of 21,3061. since the
Ist February.
A HALF YEARLY DIVIDEND of 245. per share, and
also a bonus of 565. per share, making together 41.
per share, (or at the rate of twenty per cent. per
annum), will be payable on the shares of the Bulk
of Australasia on the 17th April.

THE PRESS.

THE second annual statistical abstract of parlia-
mentary papers, prepared by the Board of Trade, has
been published It comprises yearly results from
1840 to 1854, arranged in a small space and with
much clearness. There are some new features—
such as the quantities of articles retained for home
consumption, the state of pauperism, dic.
THE passenger-ship Blackmail, belonging to
Messrs. Green, arrived at Plymouth on Thursday
from Australia, having left Melbourne Heads 4th
January. She has on freight about 50,000 ounces of
gold-dust and a cargo of wool, and 160 passengers,
many of whom have been successful at the diggings.
Her news has been anticipated by that of the
steamer Argo.
A MEETING OF THE NEWSPAPER TRADE was held
on Thursday at St. Martin's-ball, Long-acre, for the
purpose of considering and resisting the proposed
abolition of the newspaper stamp by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer; Mr. L. Wild, of Catherine-street,
in the chair. The meeting was but thinly attended.
MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE, says the Globe, is
about to resign his office of Junior Lord of the Trea-
sury. In taking this step the hon. gentleman is in
nowise influenced by political considerations.
Tux statement made of Mr. James Wilson's ap-
pointment to the vacant ViceTresidency of the Board
of Trade is incorrect. Mr. Wilson was offered the
office, and declined it, so that it remains unfilled.
MR. C. H. WYNDHAM A'CouRT, M.P. for Wilton,
and brother-in-law to Mr. Sidney Herbert, has been
appointed Special Commissioner of Income Tax.
The salary of the office is 6001. per annum.
PROFESSOR SIMPSON, of Edinburgh, has been re-
quested by Lord Panmure to provide the medical
officers requisite for the formation of another civil
hospital in the East. He will be required, it seems,
to select physicians, surgeons, assistant-physicians,
assistant surgeons, apothecaries, and male and fe-
male nurses.
Sir: G. BONHAM was introduced on Tuesday to the
electors of Liverpool, whom he addressed in a brief
speech. Owing to some informality in the prepara-
tion of the writ, the election cannot commence until
Monday. Mr. H. C. Ewart is brought forward by the
Liberals to contest the return, but it is questionable
whether he will go to the poll.
A FORMIDABLE OPPOSITION TO MR. SIDNEY HER-
BERT is being organised in South Wilts on behalf of
Lord Harry Thynn..? the young brother of the young
Marquis of Bath. Retainers have already been given
to several solicitors, and the contest, when it hap-
pens, is expected to be a very severe one.
SIR W. RIDDELL, BART., Recorder of Maidstone,
has consented to become a candidate, on the Conser.
vative ii terest, for the vacancy in the representation
of Kent, caused by the retirement or Sir E. Fikeen
THE VICEROY OF EGYPT has remiLted to the Bank
of France the funds necessary for paying the first
coupon of the Turkish loan, due April 10, 1855.

Yalu Rub Volta.

Ltnot Bunram.i, who stands charged with the
murder of Joseph Latham, otherwise Lambert, in
Foley place, was brought before Mr. Hardwick, at
the Marlborough-street Police court, on Tuesday,
for final examination. The woman, Mary Ann
Jeanes, with whom Latham cohabited, and who was
also fired at by the prisoner, and had a ball lodged
in her chest, from whi• h she has been suffering ever
since, was able to atend before the magistrate in
person to give her evidence. The depositions being
taken, the prisoner was fully oommitted for trial on
the capital charge.
THE Mountgarrett peerage case, " Butler v. Mount
garrett," which was commenced at Kilkenny assizes
on Wednesday week, was brought to a close on
Tuesday last. The learned Judge (Berwick) having
charged the jury, they retired, and at half-past seven
returned into czurt, and handed in a verdict for the
defendant. The announcement was received with
some manifestation of applause. By this sentence
the decision on the former trial is reversed, and the
title and estates confirmed in the possession of their
present owner.
AN important investigation took place at the
Court-house, Keigbley, on the 10th, which resulted
in the conviction of two corn-millers, carrying on
business at Keighley, in a penalty of 201. each, for
having adulterated flour in their possession. The
flour was adulterated with sulphuric acid, or oil of
vitriol, and oxide of iron.
A CHINAMAN, who would not give his name, but
who evidently understood English, was charged at
Maiylebone Police-court with begging. The charge
having been proved the prisoner was committed for
21 days. No sooner did he hear the sentence
than he drew a large clasp-knife across his throat,
and immediately fell down on his back in the dock.
He was at once taken out by the officer+, and con-
veyed down stairs, wheb a surgeon was fetched, who
examined the wound, which he pronounced not to be
dangerous, and recommended his immediate removal
to the hospital.

authents ad Offnuts.

289

A raw days since the pulverising house at the
Kennel Vale Powder-works near Truro, in Cornwall,
blew up with a tremendous report. The night
police at Truro, which is seven or eight miles distant,
plainly saw the flash of light, which lit up the whole
firmament, and immediately afterwards felt a distinct
shock of the ground. Fortunately no lives were
lost; but much damage was done to the premises
where the explosion took place.
A DREADFUL ACCIDENT occurred at Bristol on
Tuesday, owing to a steam collier having come into
collision with the great iron bridge leading from
Bath-parade to the London-road. It was a cast-iron
bridge, made by the Colebrook Dale Company, 180
feet span, and comprised a single arch, with six cast-
iron ribs, trussed by iron girders, and supported by
cast-iron stanchions. It occupied from four to five yeas
in its erection (18,.5 9), and in 1808, owing to some
defects in the stonework on which it rested, fell, and
either killed or severely injured thirty-two persons.
On Tuesday morning a screw propeller barge was
descending the river Avon when she came in contact
with the iron framework of the bridge, which rests on
side piers. The whole structure immediately fell
with a tremendous crash, carrying with it every-
thing upon it. Three or four persons swam to
the banks, and were got out alive, but it is
said that a woman with a child in her arms,
and two ladies who were seen struggling in the
water, are missing, as also a little girl. Two carts
were thrown into the river, and one or two of the
horses drowned. Some hats have also been seen
floating down with the ebb tide. Several parties bad
most narrow escapes. The cause of the collision is
differently stated, but the captain of the barge has
been arrested.
As 7115 LORD CHANCELLOR was delivering judg-
ment on Tuesday afternoon in the House of Lords
an immense stone, which was being hauled up to the
ventilator tower, immediately over the house, fell with
a fearful crash upon the roof, almost immediately over
his lordship. The accident occasioned considerable
uneasiness, and the peers present did not appear at
all convinced of their security until a messenger who
had been despatched for the purpose of ascertaining
the extent of the accident returned and informed
them that there was no further occasion for alarm.
Tay NOTORIOUS GARRETT; who is Oblirged with
robbing the Victoria Bank, Melbourne, South Aus-
tralia, of 14,0001., was on Thursday evening detected
by the London police, and, without a struggle on his
part, though armed to the teeth, lodged in custody.
He was only a few days arrived from the Antipodes,
and it is supposed by the steam ship Argo. Besides
weapons for his defence, there were found on his
person two bank cheques, one for upwards of 2,0001.
and another for over SOU, together with 201. in gold.
Garrett was a ticket of-leave man, and it appears
made his first essay, alter obtaining his liberty,
by the determined robbery with which he is now
charged.
INTELLIGENCE has been received from Australia
by Mr. Gould, the ornithologist, of the murder, at
Percy Island, of his collector, Mr. Strange, making
the third patty employed by that gentleman in
pursuit of birds, tic., who has been speared by the
natives.
A FIRE, attended with the de truction of several
thousand pounds' worth of property, by which up-
wards of 100 persons will be severe losers, happened
on Thursday morning, in High- street, Homerton. The
premises in which the conflagration occurred were
in the occupancy of Mr. H. Taylor, a pawnbroker
and silversmith. The building was of considerable
extent, not fewer than eight large rooms being filled
with pledges, furniture, and other effects ; whilst the
shop, which stood in front of the house, was stocked
with plate, watches, trinkets, and other valuable
I articles.
te