The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-12 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1862.

affected the seam as to cause it to give forth a con-
siderable but unobserved increase of gas, while it
may have at the same time so far interfered with
some of the delicate arrangements by which the
ventilation is directed as to have permitted the
inflammable mixture to accumulate without its
real extent being discovered. If such or any
similar explanation be the true one, we must be
content with the sad knowledge that here at least
no forethought could have prevented, nor human
precaution have availed to mitigate the calamity,
and that as the mariner may run on an unknown
reef, or the traveller may find the spring break or
the rod snap on which for the moment his safety
has depended, our fellow-men have in this case
perished in one of the natural and inevitable risks
of their always perilous trade.
But not the less—though it may be that we can
draw no useful lesson for the future from this
calamity—does it impose on us a duty for the pre-
sent. As we gather round the Christmas fire, let
us think—as we thought last year, and surely
were somewhat better for the thought—of those
who shall never more on earth form part of such
homely Christmas circles. As the flames leap up,
and the ruddy glow sheds comfort round, let us
remember those who crouch round widows' hearths,
and whose stunned hearts no happy sound of
laughter shall this winter cheer. If it be that
the danger is inevitable which those must run
whose toil yields to us the source of our enjoy-
ment, the stronger is our duty, when the stroke
has fallen, to minister such comfort as we may to
those whom it has laid desolate. It is true that
we are at this moment struggling with a gigantic
rr4sfortune, which strains all our energies to meet
it. But our exertions in that behalf ought to be
extra exertions, and ought not to stop or limit
our efforts for the ordinary and usual cases in
which our benevolence is claimed. Merely to
divert our charity from London to Lancashire—
from the sufferers by accident to the sufferers by
famine—would be to make the poor alone the
helpers of their fellows. Something of this is
happening already, for there are few charities
which are not at present struggling with dimi-
, niched means. But it is so only in a limited de-
gree, and the great heart of England has well re-
sponded to the call which demands that we
shall all debar ourselves of luxury while
men are dying of hunger. And still more we are
persuaded will be done where more is found to be
needed. Let there not then be hesitation, because
of the distress among us, in asking from Christmas
hearts and hands the help due to those whose
dearest have perished in their daily toil for our
benefit, or have fallen as true heroes in striving to
save their brethren. Let those who are nearest
to the scene and know best the circumstances tell
us what is required, and doubt not that now, as a
year ago, English purses will be opened wide
enough when the call is made to save from want
the widows and orphans of men of whom all
England is sorrowfully proud.

bt Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Dsc. 11.

The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Helena
and Princess Beatrice, and attended by the Duchess of
Athole, drove out yesterday afternoon in a carriage and
four.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. D. de Roe attended on horse-
back.

The Prince of Wales, attended by Captain Grey, went to
Claremont this morning, to visit the Qneen Marie Amalie.
Lord Camoys and the Bon. Mortimer West have sue.
oeeded Viscount Torrington and Colonel Seymour, C. 8., as
Lord and Groom in Waiting.
The Right Hon. W. Gladstone arrived at the Castle
yesterday, and had an audience of her Majesty.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived at Ws residence
OD Carltou•houee-terrace, yesterday morning, from Windsor
Castle. The right hon. gentleman after cards left town
for ilawarden Castle, Chester.
Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office
to the Governors of Canada, Gibraltar, and Malta.

His Excellency the Austrian Ambassador has
returned to Chandra House from Vienna.

The Marquis of Lansdowne is receiving a sel• A
c°-cle at his seat, Boirood Park, Wilts.
The Earl of Dudley bas arrived at 11;4 seat in
Staffordshire teen a tour of visits.

The Earl and Countess of Ayleeford have left
Claridge's Hotel for Peckiegton HIP.

The Countess of Glengall arrived in Grosvenor-
square yesterday from visiting the Earl and Countess of
Cardigan, at Dean Park, Northamptonshire.
Lord and Lady Wharncliffe have left tong fur
their met, Wortley Hall, Yorksh:re.

The Earl of Rosalyn and Lady Harriet St. Cla4.
have arrived at Claridge'a Hotel from Sootland.

Sir Culling Ear('ley has left Claridge's Hotel for
Bidwell Park.

The Bishop of Lincoln has presented the Rev.
Augustus Sutton, Rector of West Taft, Norfolk, to the pre-
bend of Bedford Minor in Lincoln cathedral, in acknow.
ledgment of the taste and munificence with which he sod
his brother have adorned the minster with so many stain( d
glass window of their own design and execution.
On Wednesday the Lord-Lieuteuaut visited the
establishment of the Irish Society for the Training and
Employment of Women in Dublin. His excellency was
accompanied by Lady Caroline LOICOOS. the Marquis and
Marchioness of Kildare, L idy Campbell, and the Very Rev.
Dean Graves. His excellency thoroughly examined the
working of the society, and took • great interest in the
specimens of lithography, engraving on metal and wood,
law writing, &c., exhibited as the handiwork of the pupils.
This institution also trains females for employment in tele-
graphic offices.

At the meetingof the New York democrats on the
28th ult., on the platform were the Marquis of liat..ingt.oe,
Colonel Leslie, M.P., and Lord Edward Cavendish.

On Wednesday Mr. Napier attended at Chatham
Dockyard for the purpose of making the usual Ordnance
survey of the iron-cased frigate Royal Oak, 50, I,C:lhorse
power, and laying out the radius plates and sections for the
Armstrong pivot-guns. The Royal Oak is the moot forward
of the squadron of armour-plated frigates now under con-
struction, and from the manner in which the work on hand
is being pushed forward by several hundred workmen there
is every prospect of the vessel being out of the hands of the
dockyard authorities and ready to proceed on her trial trip
at an early date in the ensuing year.

The magielratee of Hide and Dukinfield have
been dealing with a number of clues of obtaining relief
under false pretences during this week, and the delinquents
have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. No
less than four women and two men have been punished for
this offence lately.

At the meeting of the Manchester Board of
Guardians, yesterday, the chairman celled attention to the
abuse of public charity among certain of the operatives,
and he quoted instances from the report of one of the
"special visitors," where persons had obtained relief at the
same time as they were in receipt of funds from other
sour -s. Thom cases were not strictly substantiated, but
there was sufficient authority for the reports to lead the
guardians to investigate them. As it was stated at the
meeting, "the guardians expressed no opinion, but con-
fined themselves to seeking information," and that they
seemed resolved to .obtain. The chairman suggested that
anybody in Manchester who stood is used of workmen, and
could not get them, should apply to the guardians,

The increase of the poor-rates at Oldham shows
bow bitterly the famine is felt them. In October. a its.
rate was granted ; yesterday, a 4a. rate in eddidon was
asked for. The first rate should have raised 16,000 i., but
6muldaral!"••• • third a that ♦mount could not be col-
lected, sod no doubt the percentage of dellcieley will be
heavier in the new rate.

THE BANK OF FRANCE.
PARIS, Dee. 12.

The Mositesw of this morning publishes the usual
monthly return of the Bank of France, which
shows the following results as compared with the
November return :

INCREABL

Cash in hand
Treasury balance

23 3-5 ma"oos.
2646 „

DECRILABZ.

Bills discounted, not yet due 38 „
Advances
Bank notes slf „
Current accounts

PRUSSIA.
BERLIN, Die. 11., Bynum.
Sir Andrew Buchanan, the new British Ambas-
sador to the court of Berlin, has arrived here.

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE TEUTONIA.
SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. 12.

The Hamburg and American Company's steamship
Teutonia, Capt. Taube, from New York on the 29th
ult., arrived off Cowes this morning, en route for
Hamburg. She brings 109 passengers, and on
freight treasure value 88,966 dole. for England,
97,356 dole. for France, and 2,220 dole for Ham-
burg.
Throughout her passage the Teutonia experienced
strong variable winds and foggy weather. On the
30th she spoke an English man-of-war ship bound
west, and on the same date the steamship Transit,
and American ship Orient.
The Teutonia did not call off Cape Race ; her
news is, therefore, anticipated.

THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, Dm 12.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ellora, Captain Kellock, with the heavy portion
of the Bombay and Mauritius mails, has arrived.
She brings 37 passengers, 4 packages specie, value
5491. 12a. ; also 583 bags corn, 1,077 sacks wheat,
50 cases oranges, 30 cases shawls, 24 cases silk,
280 bales raw silk, and 131 packages sundries.

The Elora sailed from Alexandria on the 28th
of November, Malta the 2nd, and Gibraltar the 7th
instant. She experienced fine weather throughout
her passage ; when off Finisterre she passed the hull
of a vessel, timber-laden, water-logged, and
abandoned.

Heavy gales had prevailed in the neighbourhood
of Gibraltar, especially to the westward of the
rock. The British barque Maty Catherine was
driven ashore during the morning of the 24th ult.
It was feared she would become a total wreck.

The Spanish ship Ana Teresa, bound from Cadiz
for Havanuab, sprung a leak and sank in lat. 30
16 N., long. 8 36 W. The crew and passengers
took to their boats, and were picked up by the brig
Carolina, and landed at Gibraltar.
The Dutch galliot Finns. Girarda, bound from
Leghorn for London, sprung a leak on the 26th
ult., in a gale of wind W.N.W., and stink 32 miles
east of Cape St. Vincent. The crew were picked
up by the brig Lebanon, of Sunderland, and landed
at Gibraltar.

Her Majesty's ships Trident and Firefly were at
Alexandria when the Rama left. The following
vessels were lying in the harbour of Malta :
H.M.S. Trafalgar, Marlborough, Liffey, Phoebe,
Firebrand, Scylla, and Alacrity ; and at Gibraltar,
H.M.S. Doris, Procris, and Redpole.