The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-26 00:00:00

SHIPWRECKED FISHERMEN AND MARINERS

ROYAL BENEroLENT SOCIETY.

The committee of the above institution held their
usual weekly meeting on Friday. We observed present Lord
Hailtto, Capt. the lion. Francis Maude, R.N. ; Cape Chas.
A. 11111011, R.N., C.D.; Capt. Lean, R.N.; Capt. West-
brook, It N. ; William Stuart, Esq. ; and Capt. Matthew
Dixon, It N. The minutes of the preceding meeting were
read and confirmed. Fifty-five men lately belonging to
various vessels shipwrecked on the coast were reported to
have been relieved and forwarded to their homes during the
week by the central office and honorary agents. The com-
mittee considered the cases of II widows and 14 orphans, 17
mariners applviog for help to restore their kit lost by ship-
wreck. and 5 fishermen applying fir relief on account of
the wreck of their boats. Among the several eases
88/. 61. Bd. was awarded. The attention of the
committee was called to the conduct of Captain
Ludlow, cf the American ship Monmouth, in rescuing the
survivor. of the crew and passengers of the ship Meridian,
1114 in number, from London, wrecked on the barren
Island of Amsterdam, in the Indian Ocean, from whence
he took them to the Mauritius. The following minute,
proposed by Cautain Lean, R.N., seconded by Cap-
tain Barlow, C.B, R.N., was carried unanimously :—1
That this committee view with feelings of admi-
ration the conduct of Captain Ludlow, of the Ame-
' rican barque Monmouth, in standing off and on, for
nine days, until he had rescued every sufferer, consisting
of 104 persons, men and children, alive on the Island of
Amsterdam, saved from the wreck of the Meridian, sod his
benevolent care of them while on board hie ship, consider-
ing that the manner in which he exerted himself iu the
cause of humanity does honour both to his character as a:
sailor and a man, do, therefore, award the gold medal of
this institution to him, accompanied by • copy of this
minute. And as this tommittee have been given to under-
stand that it is proposed to move • subscription in the City
to present a testimonial to Captain Ludlow, the secretary is
authorised to communicate with the movers on the subject,
that the award now made might be noticed at the head of
the list of subscribers.

GEOGRAPHICAL EXIIIIITION, LEICESTER-

SQUARE.

Mr. Wyld has enhanced the attractions of his
practically useful exhibition of the model of the earth by
adding thereto a well executed model, upon a large smile,
of the Arctic regiora and a collection of t'ae costume s,
arms, domestic utensils, and other articles, illustrative of
the habits and social position of the Tuski, a people inha-
biting a point of country at the extreme north-west of As:a,
between Cape Isfarth and Behring's Straits, and who are
unknown almost even by name to the civilised world. Fur
the several materials which compose this collection we are
indebted to the expedition of the Plover, under Lieutenant
Hooper, in 1848, a brother of whom, who was, we believe,
himself one of the exploring party, wa- present at a private
view at which we were admitted on Saturday, nod fainted
some interesting explanations of the country of the Tuski,
and of the people themselves. From his account it ap-
pears that the Tuski are an independent people—probably
ut the Esquimau: family—robust, active and ingeni,us, the
latter quality being sufficiently proved by many articles of
dress, weapons, implements of the chase, and their dwel-
hogs, in the form of one of which the room in which this
portion of the exhibition takes place is fitted up. The
crew of the Plover found them by no means unfriendly to
Eur eptana in general, bet impressed with feelings of hued-
lity towards Russia, by whose territory their own is
bounded. The country, it appears, abounds in reindeer,
bears, foxes, and other animals usually found in those re-
gions, and also possesses some valuable mines of block
lead, tome specimen' of which arc shown in the exhibition.
Altogether the collection is extremely interesting, and
proves at the present time a most appropriate addendum to
the model of the great globe.