The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-20 00:00:00

TO THE. EDITOR or THE EXEILIISS.:

Stur•-Will you allow me to make, through your
columns, a suggestion, the adoption of which would, 1
believe, hare saved several lives in the case of the unfortu-
nate Amazon; ? The universal experience of ships lest at
sea, shows that generally a large destruction of life takil
place either in the lowering of the boats into the water, or
in the attempt to get into them after they are launched into
the sea. Crowds rush to the boat ; the tacklis are lowered
away unequally; the boat is dropped perpendicularly into
the sea ; and all in it are shovelled out into a watery grave.
Or else in a rolling sea, the boat approaches the ships side
for an instant only; a spring into it, however well-judged,
fails of reaching it at the lucky moment, and the jumper
sinks to rise no more. .

Much of this danger would be prevented by the simple
expedient of having at short intervals a row of ropes
fastened to the ship, and long enough to rash the water
when thrown over the vessel's side. They would furnish
the means to hull by whilst the boat was lowering, ur ap•
pmaching the veswl; and the knowledge of such a resource
would tend to prevent that wild rush to the boat. Miss
Smith seems to have saved her life by means of a rope so
fastened, and the stewardess to have lost hers for the want
of it. Such ropes would occupy no room, and be in no
respect in the way of the ship a company. Mope ladders
might do still better; at any rate, two or four of these
might be ready for hinting down from the stern, and
would furnish the easiest means for letting passengers into
the boats when the vessel was still moving onwards.
I remain, etc., 3.

A SKIP oN nat.—Early on Sunday morning
the inhabitants of Great Yarmouth were amused by the
unusual circumstance of a vessel on fire in the roadstead.
It appears that about quarter to five o'clock a very active
and efficient preventive guardsman named Baker, whilst
on duty at the end of the jetty, discovered flames issuing
from the deck of a vessel (which proved afterwards to be
the Jane and Margaret, a collier brig of Newcastle) which
was riding about one mile distant from the shore, and op-
posite to the residence of Lady King, to the north of the
Jetty. This officer immediately raised an alarm, and Capt.
F. A. Ellis, R.N. of the Coast Guard, and Lieut, Eyton
were speedily on the spot, and under their directions the
Emperor steam-tug steamed out of the harbour and pro-
ceeded to the assistance of the burning vessel, which by
that time was completely enveloped in flames from the
mainmast aft, including the mainsail, after-rigging, &c.,
and all chance of getting the fire under being lost, it was
deemed the wisest course, haying due regard both to life and
property, to run the brig on shore, which was accordingly
done. There were a large number of beacbmen and other par-
ties rambled, and by the aid of the buckets, &c., it was not
long before the fire was extinguished. The stern, bulwarks,
sides, and after-decks, were, however, entirely consumed,
'as was also the lower part of the mainmast. Ihe brig was
in ballast, and only left London on Thursday last. Much
praise is due to Captain Ellis, KN., and his efficient body
of coast-guardsmen, through whose exertions and instru-
mentality is mainly to be attributed the rescue of the crew
from a similar melancholy fate to that which so recently be
fed the ill-starred Amazon. . . .

WHERE. ARE THE POLICE ?—At a very early hour
on Friday morning last, &robbery took place in St.Andrew's-
road, Newington-causeway, most extraordinary in its extent
and success. It appears that on the night in question some
thieves effected an entrance into two empty houses, Nos.
13 and 21, and from thence walked each way amongst those
which were inhabited, until they had succeeded in tearing
from their settings and carrying away the coppers from no
less than ten adjoining houses. The thieves also abstracted
several live ducks from the yards, a quantity of bacon, as
well as dressed and undressed food from the larders, and
other articles ; with the whole of which they got clear off.
To effect those robberies must have occupied at least two
hours (and it may be observed that several other attempts
had been made), while the weight of the coppers alone was
not less than three or four hundredweights, which it must
have required a horse and cart to remove, and this must
have been kept waiting close on the spot for a considerable
time, at a most unseasonable hour of the night, without
being noticed by any of the police. It is understood that a
searching inqusry relative to the above is about to take
place iu Scotland-yard, particularly as from the houses of
several of the inhabitants, frequent robberies have lately
taken place. In one cue all the portable articles were
stolen from the kitchen; in another, the taps, lead, piping,
gloats, tee., from the cisterns—all of which losses are held
to indicate a great want of vigilance on the part of the
police.
DECREAsE OY PAUPERISM.—The present number
of paupers in the Holborn union is 648 • the number for
the corresponding period last year was 683. During the
last week, 1,176 poor received out-dour relief, being 52.5
less than for the corresponding. week of 18.11. Notwith•
standing this great diminution in the number of recipients.
the AUDI expended has augmented ; this is mainly attribu-
table to the numerous cases of fever and lunacy ; the former
prevailing among the Irish. while the latter are exclusively
confined to the English inmates.
PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE
ASSOCIATION AND BENEVOLF.NT FUND.—Yesterday the
annual meeting of this Association took place at the Louden
Tavern, Ilishopagateatrect. Mr. R. H. Jones in the
chair. A report was read which stated that. during the
year 3ss policies, amounting to 72.157.51., had been effected,
and five annuities had been granted amounting to
1291. 15s. 4d. The sum received in annual premiums, divi-
dends, Ite., was 15,3201., whilst the claims amounted to
2,5601. The total sum invested in the Three-and-a• Quarter
per Cents. was 32,5001., and 4,00/. was invested in other
securities. It appeared from the balance-sheet that
the receipts for the year had amounted to 15,50111.,
cud the elevenses to .5,8291., leaving a balance
of 9,6771. The meet; were set down at 38,153.1/., and the
liabilities at 1,0171. After some remarks respecting the
strict economy pmetisisl by the association, the report was
adopted. The business of the "benevolent fund was
then proceeded with, Mr. J. Abel Smith occupying the
chair. 'Elie report stated that 17 gratuities, amounting to
1101., and 97 loans, amounting to 1.521., had been granted
during the year. An annuity of 25/. had been granted to
one clerk, and LW. each to two widows. The balance sheet
showed that the receipts were 1,3771. Ils, and the expendi-
ture 923/ , leaving a balance of 4541. The report was
adopted, and after some routine business the meeting sepa-
rated.

MANCHESTER COMMERCIAL ASSOCIA-
TION.

The annual meeting of this association was held
was
steuridac
of possessing y, Tt.tiNetshoprgersei:it.td,„:tilllindtma
, was read hem the directors, embracing a review report
of the
, labours of the past year. The cultivation of cotton in India
st, suit
the Great Exhibition another. The report said :
The progrem made during the year, in developing the
reseurcex of India with reference to the cultivation of
cotton, has been on the whole satisfactory ; and your
directors have not ceased to regard the subject with the
same degree of interest as heretofore. The operations so
successfully and zealously set on foot by Mr. David Lacs, in
Southern India, to which allusion was made in the last re-
port, have during the lent twelve mouths been prosecuted
with unabated vigour by his relation. and succemor, Mr. A.
Lees, and your director/. have been gratified to lean: from the
former gentleman, who is at present in England, that the
quantity of land uuder American seed cotton was about
L3OO acres at the date of his heat advice& ; and. although
Mr. Lees ham had difficulties to contend with, they have
for the must part been only such as are inseparable from
every new undertaking at the outset, and have rapidly
yielded us his judgment has been corrected by experience;
mid he is still perfectly aatisfied of the imundnees of his
present position, and more than sanguine as to his future
prospects. The same may be said of the Messrs. Lonirshaw,
whose departure for India with a view to becoming cotton
planters, has also been alluded to. A serious obstacle, how-
ever, at one time threatened to impeile the progress of the
adventurers; but wan promptly removed by the Honourable
East India Company, upon its being reprexvted to them
by the association. It was us billows A certain vegetable,
known as the chay-root, indigenous to India, it niipears
largo ly used by the natiees as a dye stuff; end it has
always been the practice, for a trifling payment, to concede
the privilege of digging the plant wherever it can be found,
without reference as to whether the hinds in which it ii
sought may be in cultivation or a state of nature.
Application was accordingly made by the ebay-root
diggers to Mr. Lean, jot when his crop was coining up,
for permission to dig through his plantation, which he, as
a matter of course, refused ; upon which they claimed com-
pensation in money to the amount of about 600 rupees, to
which Mr. Lf-ell also obji eteil, hut on reference to the col-
lector of the district, he was inf irtned that the claim was
Ind; ctly in accordance with the law and custom of the
country. Mr. Lees, however, very properly, before acced-
ing to the demand, sent home a statement of the foregoing
facts; and your president, accompaniod by Mews. James
and David Lees, lest no time in proceeding to the India
House, and having laid the circumstances before the au-
thorities there, both verbally and by letter, they without
hesitation undertook to provide a remedy, and the obstacle
complained of no longer exists. Your directors consider it
due to the East India Company to mention another instance
in which they bate exhibited their usual readiness to set
upon the recommendations of this association. Mr.
Lees having found that there existed a scarcity of
American seed iu Tinnivay, sic, and seemg that
a large Puuply would be required, wrote home
for a quantity to be ehipped for his own ac-
count, and suggested that the Last India Company should
be requested to send out several tons additional. The Ito--
pourable Company were immediately communicated with
on the subject, and pending their reply—in order to save
time in the execution of the order, and that the aced might
if possible arrive in India belbre the sowing seaeon had
elapsed—one of your directors, Mr. John Peel, sent ont
orders to the United Stutes for thirty tone of seed, with a
view to placing it at the disposal of the Hon. East India
Company, at prime cost, on lie arrival. A letter was sub-
sequently received from the India House, stating that
although, aecereing to the information which had come to
hand from official sources, the court was not led to infer
that there was any scarcity of cotton seed in Madras, never-
theless, relying upon the correctness of the intelligence
received by the association, they proposed to avail them-
selves of Mr.
_Peel's offer ; and the seed which cost up-

wards of 7001., has since boon handed over to the East India
Company, and Chipped to Madras. So much for the pro-
spects of cotton culture in Southern India. It is also satis-
factory to find that, according to the moot recent reports,
the progress is still more rapid and extensive in the north-
western provinces, the quantity of land sown with New
Orleans cotton, in the pant year, being upwards of la,tloo
acres. 2, ltio Niles of experimental cotton have Is en van-
mign(d to your secretary for sale at Manchester, abate the
laat report, a large portion of which from the Dharwar dis-
trict wee, your directors regret to state, of the most inferior
quality; so touch so, indeed, as to warrant an impression
that a fraud had been practised on the officers of the East
India Company by the natives from whom the cotton was
qiurchased ; the articles being very little, if anything, supe-
rior to what is known in the mills as ordinary waste. This
has been duly reported in the proper quarters. On the
other hand it is pleasing to state that some of the cotton re-
ceived recently from Comhatorc, was of the most excell,nt
description, ranking with mid. boweds, anal has been sold
at 40. per lb."
The CHAIRMAN, is referring to the subject of improved
Onton cultivation in India, read a communication which
he had received from Mr. l)avid Lees, who was now in this
country, but who was unable to he present, and which let-
ter corroborated the statements put forward in the report.
He understood that arrangements were making in another
part of southern India, by Mr. Fisher, who was now pre-
sent, and Mr. Campbell, a resident there, for taking from
the government the plant and shipping which had been
established. Those gentlemen were now making arrange-
ments for using that plant and shipping; and he believed
they were perfectly ready to take orders from any gentle-
man who would favour them with such, for shipping a bet-
ter description of cotton, both of New Orleans and
native growth, from the Madras presidency, than had
hitherto been sent to this country. With respect to tho
difficulties experienced by gentlemen who went out to India
in procuring land, he must say. that although it appeared
from the courtesy and attention which had been uniformly
shown by the East India Company towards this
association ; and although the directors en Leaden-
hall-street had always manifested their anxiety that
the people of Manchester should be fully aware of what was
doing iu India, by consigning to the secretary all the im-
proved cotton brought to this country, he could not speak
with equal confidence of all their officials and servanta in
India. Whether the introduction of Europeans into a dis-
trict caused more trouble, or whether they were not so easily
managed as the simple Ilindoos, he could not say, but in
various quarters the instructions of the East India Company
had failed of producing the effect they would have had, if
they bad been as efficiently carried out in that country as
it was desired to carry them out by the directors. It was
preposterous that in a yard country like India there should
be any difficulty in procuring even thousands of acres for
those who went tel that country to engage in
cotton cultivation. The accounts of Messrs. Lees
and Longshaw showed that, when a gentleman went out
to enclose such land as he might find suited to the growth
of cotton, then same old privilege or right of digging for
what was called "chat'-root " was urged by the natives,
who were to be allowed to dig all over the estate fur a root
which could never exist there if the ground was properly
cultivated. lie believed, however, that the East India
Company had sent out peremptory instructions to stop these
proceedings, and, according to the last accounts, the annoy-
ance complained of had ceasal. (Applause.)
Mr. J. T. LEES, after thanking the association for the
powerful support which they had always extended to his
brother in his efforts to establish the culture of New
Orleans cotton in the Tinnivelly district of India, expressed
his firm belief that, with a continuance of that popgun,
those efforts would soon be completely successful. Most of
the oldest plants sown two years age, though sown
too late, and at too little a depth, had yielded
abundantly in the past year. There were several
favourable circumstances also. The climate of Tin-
nivelly was well adapted for the growth of New
Orleans cotton, since the plant had a natural mode of
hearing two crops, the greater one in the six months from
December to June, and the lesser one from June to De-
cember, and continuing to yield in the same manner for
some years. (Hear, hear.) The climate, though tropical,
was more than usually favourable for the residence of the
English cotton planter; and the cultivation of cotton in
that district could be prosecuted on a large scale with a
small amount of capital, for in that part of India labour
was very cheap, anal labourers anxious for employment
everywhere abounded. (Hear, hear.)
The report having been adopted, the officers fur the
ensuing year were appointed, anal s vote of thanks given to
the retiring directors for their attention to the interests of
the association and of commerce during the past year.

IN THE NEW REFORM BILL the government
(the Gluon-4er Journal understand.' upon the very best
authority) mean to combine Trowbridge, Bradford, and
Westbury (in Wiltshire), in one electoral district, which
shall unitedly return two members to parliament.
A " DETECTIVE."—On Wednesday, the sth of
November last, a man named John Aridecmii, foreman
to Mr. Hutchinson, proprietor of the rhymical works at
Widness, was murdered on the way from the works to his
own house in Bob-lane. Immediately afterwards an appli-
cation was made at the Liverpool police-office for an Oliver
to institute inquiries, with a view to the discovery of the
murderer. With thi► object John Connolly, police-eousta.
hie No. 140, was sent over to the works, and with the view
of eliciting information he disguised himself as a workman,
and made application for employment. lle remained there
as a labourer tar six weeks, during which time he gained
such information as led to the discovery of a person
supposed to be guilty, and others implicated in the mur-
der. A communication was then made to Mr. Allen, the
head constable of the district, and through Ins escrtiocs
three men were captured. Their names are John Shay,
Thomas Nolan, and Ilarby Nolan, his lather. The pri-
soners were brought before the magistrati • at l'rearot, and
committed for trial at the newt nsarwr. The I,ieerpool po-
lice-officer was known by the disguised wino' of• " Jack
Callaghan," and the friends of the were rather sue •
prised when they saw him is court, and giving evidence
against them. tine of the priswiers shouted out, " Oh,
that Jack Callaghan, how nice lie has sucked us in; he as
Liverpool policeofltcrr'•• Some of the friends of the pri-
soners billowed him into the street, and promised what they
would do for him if they could lay hands upon him. John
Nolan, another son of It: Nolan, supposed to have been
implicated in the murder, threw himself into the canal
when he heard of his lather being committed to Kirkdalo,
and was drowned. It is said the conspiracy to murder the
&reseed and another foreman of the works was got up at a
beerhouse. The wife of the murdered man has since died,
and her daughter has been removed to ltaiuhill Lunatic
Asylum.—Liverpool
E t STERN UNION AND GREAT NORTOURN JUNCTION
Itsihway.—The official estimate for the new line frozne'rr.7,-0\
Norwich to East Dereham is 120,0001.
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