The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-22 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JAN. 20. •
Letters patent having passed the great seal, ap-
pointing the following commissioners, viz.:—The
Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, the Right
Hon. Sir John Romilly, ant., English Master of the
Rolls; the Right Hon. J. H. Monahan, Chief Justice
of the Court of Common Pleas, Ireland; the Right
Hon. F. Blackborne, the Right Hon. A. Brewster,
Attorney-General for Ireland; Sir Richard Bethell,
lint„ Solicitor-General for England; Mountifort
Longfield, LL.D., QC.; John David Fitzgerald, Esq.
Q.C,M.P.; and Hugh M'Cal moat Cairnes, Esq., for
the purpose of inquiring into and reporting upon the
state of business in the Irish Incumbered Estates
Court, and of considering and reporting whether it
would be desirable that the said court should con-
tinue either permanent, or for any, and for what
period, and whether with any or what addition, or
alteration or modification in its powers, constitution,
and procedure; or whether the said court should be
annexed to, or its powers transferred, to the Court of
Chancery, the COW MISS ioners have, through James A.
Lawson, Esq., LL I).; their secretary, had forwarded
to each of the Akers of the court, and to other put-
ties likely. to afford information on the subject, cer-
tain queries to be answered by them. The commis-
sioners will not, it is understood, hold any viva coca
examination of witnesses. The commission is dated
23d November, 18.54, end is made returnable in one
year from that date.
The Evening Mad abut night says:—" We have
heard that a proposal is before the Treasury, having
for its object the erection of the authority of Mr.
Alfred Power foto an autceracy, by superannuating,
and, of course, pensioning the secretary and arms-
tant-eecretary, and removing one commissioner." If
this statement bur true, the two commisoisners who
are to be removed are not yet known ; but the oppo-
sition preys have taken up thesubject for the purpose
of raising the cry of an " intended job."
`The Cbrk Eiamilber thus refers to the• present
state of the local markets, as affected by peace ne-
gotiations:
As we ventured to anticipate in our last note the tone of
the maraets generally has amunied a firmer chateaus, and
prices continue to show an upward tendency. Notwith-
standing the absence of anything like positive intellgenan
from Vienna, as to the progress of negotiations for peter, or,
through the same source, the possibility el continued
hestit-
hiss, the general impression appears to be that the was will
be prosecuted for, at least, some months to come, or even if
terms compatible witb the interests or honour of the belli-
gerents be offered and accepted, many months must elapse
before hostilities will absolutely cease. The result of that
belief is that prices are now very nearly at the same Beare
they were immediately before the " panic," by which term
the .Beet of the first announcement of peace upon war
local markets has been called. Notwithstanding the firmness
which is now observable in our local provision markets,
merchants and producers still look with lively anaiety for
the receipt of decisive intelligence as to the result of the
negotiations at present in progrees.
The Curator of the Royal Dublin Society's botanic
gardens at Glasnevin.reports as follows on the ex-
periments made there during the last year in the
production of seedling potatoes, showing that the
hopes entertained for the security of such potatoes
from the influence of the blight are groundless.
He says:

The growing of seedling potatoes hail been particularly
attended to this year. Last April the assistant secretary
sent to me 115 kinds of these seedlings, raised by Mr. An.
demon, of Fermoy, at ages varying from two to tour years,
all of which had either names attached, or notes describing
their merits. It wsa stated that Mr. Anderson d ' d
to have them tried and proved in the botanic garden.
They were accordingly planted with much care, and
samples of the produce of 109 of the kinds arc now in the
exhibition of farm produce, at the agricultural museum of
the society. It affords me pleasure to upon that there are
some first•tate kiads among them, both as regards quality
and prolific yield, and I have no doubt but they will soon
take their places as standard varieties for gener►l cultiva-
tion; but so far as their being proof against blight, such is
not the case. The haulm of every ens of them was cut
down, in common with the ordinary varieties, when the
blight prevailed in August ; but when dug in October the
tubers of a good many of the kinds were quite sound, whilst
others had about one-half diseased. The remarks attached
to t►e samples sent to the exhibition will show the effects as
they occurred.

STRANGE CASUALTY IN WOOLWICH DOCK•

YARD.

A scene occurred in Woolwich dockyard, between
two and three o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday last.
which will not be soon forgotten by those who witnessed
the complete taming over on her beam ends of the Peru-
verance iron screw steam troop ship, Commander William
J. S. Pollen, in the east dock, in which she had j ur t completed
her rigging, and a great part of her fittings, and was ex-
pected to be ready for sea before the end of the present
month. The Perseverance was built by Meteors. C. J.
Mare and Co., it was said on similar lines to
the Prince, loot off Balaklays, and purchased by
government, with the intention of sending her to Sheerness
to be masted and rigged at that port. A subsequent order
was issued that she should be muted and rigged at Wool-
wich, and the masts were consequently sent up from Sheer.
nese to Woolwich, and on their being put in under the
sheers she was taken into the east dock to be completed for
BM As the rigging progressed towards completion every
one could see that the masts and rigging were more suitable
for a frigate than a long narrow iron screw steamer, and
remarks were freely made that it would not be a wonder
if she proved so top heavy as to upset on her entering the
water. Unfortunately the surmises proved too true, ss on
letting in the water into the dock as the tide rose on Satur-
day afternoon for the purpose of taking her out to be plaited
alongside the coal depot ship, to take on board 400 tons of
coals, she was scarcely floated and the shores taken away
than she gave three or four sways from side to side and
turned completely over on her beam ends in the dock, the
foremast resting on the roof of the chapel over the saw
mills, knocking down between 20 and 30 feet of the parapet.
It was a most remarkably fortunate circumstance that she
turned over in the dock, as there were about 150 persons on
board at the time, several of them at work in the cabin.
As it was a number were thrown into the water, and three
persons were injured by being jammed, but, on being taken
to the Royal Marine Infirmary, it was found that no bones
were broken. The Perseverance has had her rigging all

stripped, and her fore, main, and wizen top masts takes
down, a number of relays of workmen and of the crews of
the Fisgard and of the steam vessels at Woolwich being at
work all day yea,. rday (Sunday) upon hrr. She has her
engines, of 300 horse power, on board, and some idea of her
position may be formed when it is stated that the funnel is
within 12 or 16 degrees of being in a horizontal line. The
engines have been examined, and, so far as can be ascer-
tained, have sustained no injury. The seamen and riggers
have commenced laying large cables under t►e Perinea.
ranee, and other preparations cue in progress to endeavour
to raise her, which, as iron vessels are so unmanageable
will, it Is expected, be a task of no ordiscry Minsky:
Ever since the accident the authorities, both naval and civil,
have been unceasing in their exertions to get her righted.

Tan Turman Exaisiviore.—The proprietors of
this interesting and popular exhibition having come to the
tlletstruiseition, we thick very jediciously, that a two noes
rieworinnitry would impart lits and variety to the waxen
Illastradeas of the Osmanli. their manners and customs.
now "ea view" at Hyde-park.cornar, Mr. W. Knight
dame forward on Saturday last and delivered a lecture "Oa
Task*, and the Turks." The subject pould nos have been
entrusted to better hands ; Mr. Knight, besides the advan-
tage of a lensed education, being able to speak with the
authority of one who bee been long resident in Turkey, who
knows the language, and who has made himself intimately
sorpaintell with tae social forma of Turkish life. We only
regret that • larger number of visitors was not present to
reap the advantage of his instractiva and entertaining
lee-
ture—a circumstance for which the state of ihe weather
may probably acconut.
CRYSTAL PALACE:FIVE-SHILLING DAY.—IAN.
20.—Admiselea at the doors, 63; admission by season
tickets, 209; total, 272.
THE AMERICAN MAIL.LIVERFOOL. SATURDAY.
—The British and Honk American R ysi mail steamship
Africa, Copt. Wm. Harrison, soiled from the Kersey fee
Bolton and Bellies, with the usual mails for the United
States and the British possessions in North America, 99
oessengenr, and • fall cargo of merchandise on freight.
The incoming steamer with the mails from the States is
the Collins steamship Atlantic, Capt. West, which is es-
pirated to arrive to-morrow evening. Her dates from New
York will be to the 10th last.
TEE WEST INDIA MAIL PACKET is nearly a week
overdue. In ease of a delay in the inter-colonial steamers
reaching St. Thomas, the homeward packet is allowed to
wait a week there. It is thought, however, that some mad-
dest hu happened to the Atlantic steamer, rather than to
the iatareolonial muskets ; and it is feared tlat in come-
queues some didieuity will arise as to the despatch of the
next West'lndis and Brewlian packets.
The sailing ship, Himalaya, left Southampton
Saturday, with government emigrants for New SouthW
The Omega is expected at Southampton in a few
take out government Warsaw to Melbourne.