The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-26 00:00:00

THE DERBY PROPHETS.

Although " Meteor," the correspondent of the
Express, was of opinion that General Peel would come is
first, he stated that that bores had "everything to fear" hose
Blair Athol, whose good looks were described as " exteuer-
dinary." Amoopt the other prophets the only one appa-
rently who was as near the mark was a versifying con-
tributor to the Sportirig Gazette. We ought to state,
however, that Bell's Weeliy Ifessemper had the follow-
ing cautions remark. Having plead four horses, the
writer said, "We have purposely omitted Blair Athol,
who is, we believe, a first clam horse. but never having ran
in public we dare not recommend him. Should he win, it
will be no reflection on oar jadgmeet." At a great messy
sporting sad publlahousee in the metropolis an investors's t
was made yesterday morning in Birch Broom's, and in the
window wee placed one of these useful articles, having
attached to it a curd as which were isearibed the words
"The Winner of the Derby." It was curious to note the
miraculous suddenness with which these brooms dimpixared
atlas the result had become known. By a quarter to 4
o'clock not one was to be MO.

EXTENSIVE PIKE AT MESSRS. SILVER'S TELE-
GRAPH WORKS, OPPOSITE WOOLWICH
DOCKYARD.-(THIS DAY.)

The extensive manufactory of Messrs. Silver and
Coinpany's Indianibher sad Osiaa Telegraph Works,
Waste on the basks of the River Themes, North Wool-
wich, nearly opposite the Royal Dockyard, was this morn-
ing the scene of a destructive minfiegratioo, involving very
large loft of property.
The premises are probably the largest of their description
in the neighbourhood, and covered several acres of land.
The village which adjoin is wholly occupied by workpeople
and artless& employed an the establishmeat, and is called,
after the name of the firm Silvertown. The Biehope-
gateMseet Station Brigade reached the spot about
half-past 3 o'clock ; the fire wan then at it/ height, on.
of the principal maaufactories (a timber-built building. 250
feet beg by 33 breed, caetaining machinery, draining solu-
ties, opreedMg aed drew* shops, sna armoury) was in
flames from cad to mid, and almost in raise.
The repeat eiWe by the heads of the brigade to the &o-
odles' this minim Memibes the extent of the damage an
follows:—The works of Mews. Silver and Company,
ladle Rubor sad TelegraphMundbeturcligt4
gatimitreett, mitosis at North Woolwich, t firs
morals", destroying timber-built maaufactery, beildinc 250
feet in length end 40 sod 30 feet in depth, metaining
machinery for telegraph amble, dressing mints., sad droo-
ls' dapertmente, with drying and spreedingshops, armoury,
sad bailer-home severely damaged by are. The property
inured."

The---areseery essoticssel se &steeped coeteaasd the arms
sod meet Miss el the corps of velasteers below*.
to a, trio were to take part la Sheerest rime
Hyde-perk oa Saineday sort.

INPABY ORPHAN ASYLUM. WANSTRAD.
(THIS DAY.)

The annual meeting and half-yearly election in
cease:ion with this kweitutioe was held this mainieg et
the Leedom Tame, Bishopegetwetrest, fee the pep* of
burin the sport of the oumetitemi of nianegereent
rellreettullio=6:l; fee the Waiag year, sad tire
benefits el the elswiti. The prousdinip were presided
over by J. DeLeon. Seq.
Mr. Ham W. Gunn, the secretary, read the report of
the emorattese, which stated that the total receipts for the
year bed osesiderably ettoseded those of the previous year,
the increase having chiefly arisen on life eutocriptions:
Legacies had been received to the arooeot of 1,7821. At last
sued meeting the number of childrea in the wham was
567. Twenty had been sleeted daring the year, Lanai(
10 in speehl acenternorstion of the Prins* of Wales's
marriage ; three had been admitted by purchase, one by
life Utica, sad two ander role 29, makiag in all 630
children who had enjoyed the betide of the chanty dans(
the . Beuesty had left the asylum at the expiration
of thW Win, four had been removed by their friends,
and four bad died, se that there ware 651 children on the
books at the present time, while the election of that day
would inerease the number to 58L The emoroittes sagg.
gusted an alteration is the rules to the affect that they might
be empowered to retain the boys I. the asylum dunag
the same period se the girls—camely, until they
hid attained 15 years of age, a step which would be
atteaded with eouiderahly increased expeoes, bat they
railed on the iscreating eartiose of their supporters to
enable them to carry it oat snooessballv. The total receipt.
for the year had bees 19,0751. 15a. lid., and the total
expenditure 18,8201. 17a. 7d., Levin • tediums in hand of
2641. 18s. 4d.

—Tile report heat adopted and the oiLters far the
ew year e , a reaolutioo wu agreed to tut/wiring the
comesithee to retain the boys in the earylern until 15 year
of age, ea reerionseoded in the report.
The elsolioa ol the children wee thew proceeded with.