The Express.
London, England, 1864-08-26 00:00:00

SHIPS ON FIRE.

The City of Cork reports that on Friday, the
11th inst., 112 miles east of Sandy Hook, at 6 p.m.,
she sighted a vessel on fire, bearing N.E. She bore
down to her, and discovered that she was nearly
burnt to the water's edge. At the same she saw
two other vessels on fire, bearing S.E., a pilot boat,
and three or four other vessels also.

(Telegram from the Tines' correspondent.)
NEW YORK. Auer'? 12.
The news from Mobile is still exclusively from
Confederate sources.

Despatches to the Richmond inquirer announce
that Fort Powell, on Dauphin Island, was evacuated
and destroyed by the Confederates on the night of
the sth ; also that Fort Gaines, through the trea-
chery of its commander, Colonel Charles Anderson,
of Alabama, was surrendered to the Federals on the
morning of the Bth.
The work was of great strength, was amply pro-
visioned for six months for its garrison of 800 men,
and Colonel Anderson bad received explicit orders
from General Payne, the commander of the depart-
ment, to defend it to the last.
It is asserted that General Beauregard has been
ordered from Petersburg to take command at
Mobile.

Deserters to General Grant's lines report the
capture of Mobile by Admiral Faragut, but their
statements are discredited.

General Sherman reports that he is shelling
Atlanta.

The situation at Petersburg remains unchanged.

An explosion occurred on board the ammuni-
tion boat, at City Point, on the James River, on
Tuesday morning, blowing the boat to atoms,
prostrating all adjacent buildings, and killing and
wounding 180 soldiers, labourers, and others.
The cause of the explosion is as yet undiscovered.
General Sheridan's forces have occupied Martins-
burg, and are marching to attack Early. Skirmish-
ing commenced near Winchester on the 10th.
Tho reported resignation of Secretary Stanton is
contradicted.

An immense and enthusiastic mass meeting, to
advocate the nomination of General M'Clellan at
the Chicago Convention, was held in Union-square
last evening. It is estimated that upwards of
100,000 persons were present. The speeches and
resolutions were all denunciatory of Mr. Lincoln,
and declared General M'Clellan the only man
capable of suppressing the rebellion and restoring
the Union. References to General Grant's military
operations met with but slight applause.

Considerable attention has recently been directed
to the exteneive frauds prat:tined twos the public by the im-
portation and sale of spurious wines purporting to be diem-
papa produced by eminent makers, and bearing upon the
corks forged brands of their trade marks, and it is believed
that the energetic measures adopted in the Court of Chaecery
by the arms whose brands were m forged bare to a peat
extant been enoemsfal in putting a cheek to the ern. As-
cording tole Mon itcor rinicolc,• similar fraudulent practice
has been prevalent in the brandy trade. The brandy pro-
ducess in the district of Cognac are alive to the importance
of the matter, and well pleased at having obtained from the
English Court of Chancery aa authoritative decision on the
moot question as to what dune of brandies come 104
within the definition of " wpm."

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
GARDENS AND THE ANNIVERSARY OF Tin.
BIRTHDAY OF THE PRINCE CONSORT.—mil'
DAY.)

The opening opening of these gardens to the pubii
day, by command of her Majesty, in commemoration tit!,
anniversary of the birthday of his Royal Higbee% 11,
Prince Consort, was heartily responded to. The Jo
were opened punctually at 9 o'clock, when crowd,
wore waiting admission at the various entracte,,
and, as the morning advanced there was a continual str%._
of visitors pouring in from all directions. By 12 o'clock
scene was most animated—the brilliancy of the weather:44i
considerably to the enjoyment. A rush was made to 4.
west Band-house, where the united bands of the (, and H
divisions of police were stationed. The mask mar
said to have constituted the fiat part of the day's au_ ,
menus. The band of the Duke of York's
then took up their position, sod the " Blues" ter-
minting their performance, the diminutive "reds "
several tunes, one of which, " God bless the P111:1",'
Wales," was warmly appreciated. The several bands .
had volunteered their eervioes performed in then- tun. !
at 1 o'clock the terms, were lined, and the conserist.,
orchard houses, Sic., were full.
Among the parochial and other schools which are. ,!
during the morning were the following :—City of
Central ; Holy Trinity, Brompton ; Wesleyan T
College; Creecent•place School, Brampton; Scotch •
Brompton ; St. Paul's Ragged School ; St. Ban.
Knightsbridge; Westminster Free School (Jews) ; 1.
ani Foreign School Society, Borough-road ; Boys' I:.
Commerciakoad, Whiteehapel (with their band
Margaret's Industrial School; the Russell School,
lotte-street, Fitzrorsquare ; Boy's Home, Wandsa,i,
(with their band) ; Royal Asylum of St. .a
(town school) ; St. Thomas, Bethnal-green ; Sunday .ad
National Schools, 814 Giles's ; All Saints, Ku.
singtou ; St. James the Less, Brampton ; St
W•PPing ; and the Spanish and Portuguese (`•
Hope* and Orphan) SchooL The children seemed tha.
roughly to enjoy themselves, each child being proval
with a small bag containing refreshments. Tome
with bands occasionally formed a ring, ti Liz;
their banners in the ground ; the several pesl
played being highly creditable to the juvenile perforate...
The highest number of children were those belonging to t 1..•
Holy Trinity, Brompton, and the Borongh•road schools- the
former being 310 end latter 320. There were few parochial
schools in London unrepresented. It was impossible ton.
rive at the total number of visitors in the gardens whe- ~:r
account left, but upwards of 12,000 hail entered the e.-; 'o
doors, independently of the children, and at th,
eatrances the arrivals were thought to be equally large.