The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-26 00:00:00

4.
011AVESEND,.WEI)N1ISDAY, 10 A ".

CUSTOX•HOTAZ ItLIVRN.

Wind S., light, and fine; tido four hours ebb.
Arrived.—Hope, from Faro ; Isabella Leith, frog.
the Cape of Good Hope; Then, from Graselines ;
from Coringa ; Gratitude, from Cadiz;
Flora Kerr, from Singapore; Lord Vernon, from
Guernsey; Amicitia, from AreLangel ; Patavin
(stcaraeri, from Rotterdam.

Sa ed. 2:2l!;.—Alar steamer, for Dunkirk; Nep-
tune steamer, for Hamburg ; Seine steamer, for
Boulogne ' • Fame steamer, for Calais ; Flecha
steamer, for Ghent ; Panther steamer, for Ostend;
Uniau, for Llzbon.

-
DEAL, AVEDNESDAT, 9.14 A NI
Wind S.

PasseC..---117il1iam Connell, from Canton, for
London ; Halifax, from Madras, for Lordon ;
Countess of Zetland, from westward, for London.
Sailed.—Hiram, for Melbourne.

PE.NsioNs.—The dispensations of the mysteriour
Providence that watches over pensions puzzle us. A letter
in the Times of yesterday draws attention to the fact that
Mrs. Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd's widow, and three
" bonn.e lessee," the Eltrick Shepherd's daughteii need
the notice of those in "high quarters." "Sir Francis
Head, Lett.," him 1001. a year from her Majesty,
in eenseivation of his not invaluable services
to literituri:, and in spite of the fact that he is
not, Ike el. se whom poor Hogg has left behind
him, tota.ly unprovided for ; and the widow of Joseph
Train—w iteever homey have been—has hers ; but Mrs-Hogg,
it appears,. is too old to push her claims in person' and boo
no intiefaugahle friend in power to sue for the hale pt alien
for herself nt:d her daughters with which the niggard
bounty of the Crown recognise' deputed genius, and pays
its revel tribute to real greatness. Lord Aberdeen should
think of the, and let Scottish nationality triumph over
Scottish musitczay. Lady Nicolas we are glad to :earn,
has at leeeth been remembered. A pension of 1001.
a year, not extending, we regret to had, ever the
lifetime id any of her numerous family, has been
granted her in recognition of the devoted labours of
of Sir Harris so long and so enthusiastically toiled in a field
of labour never likely to be pecuniarily productive. This,
however, comes too late to look like an act of grace, and
appears, when we consider the date of his death, rather as
if conceded to influence in " high quarters " than as c; prof-
fur d is lamest generosity to an unquestionably worthy re-
cipient.
Qutucey's name is nog published in the pen-
sion-list. When will it be ? We suppose the pr perly
constituted authorities are investigating his claim., and
will look through his works some day. Meanwhile, they
are studyitm the publications of Mr Train, and buy.ng up
at sicced h ind booksellers (where they may be ha- very
reuouabiy) those of Sir Francis Head.—Leader.
CHANGES IN THE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.—Mr.
P. Pennines, surveyor-general of Customs, has retired from
the public service. Several promotions to high offices in the
department will take place in consequence of this geutle-
man's retirement. _ _ _

SUICIDE at LEEDS.—A female named Fisher, for
many years a professional vocalist in Leeds, has committed
suicide by hanaiog. She had previou'ly been iu a do-
sponding state of mind.
THE BREAK-DOWN OF THE. DESPATCH MAIL
BOAT.—The Governor-General of Jersey has written to
Captain Babot, the commander of the mail steams.? Des-
patch, which was nearly lost last week off Jersey, stating
that it was reported that the shaft whicn broke was in au
unsafe state before sailing, and demanding an explanaion.
Captain Bohm hu replied that the accident which oc -weed
was ths emitting of the intermediate shaft at two different
places, ate bo!ng under the strap of the eccentric of the
starboard engine and the other close to the other etc• citric,
destroyiar a: the same time both eccentrics : that ai.er the
accident a fl isr was discovered in the slia't which h...i been
covered by the eccentric, and could not have been ,aercep-
tible before. or it would have been discovered by the sur-
veyors of the Admiralty, those of the Board of Trade, and
his own engineer. Captain Babot assures his Exc. Ilency
that if he were aware of any defect in his ship's macnincry,
he would never put to sea and expose his own life and the
lives of his nassengen and crew to (larger.
THE WALRV`.—A scientific gentleman here (Wick)
has favoured us with the following extract from a letter,
received by him from • friend in Peterhead:—'• I have
little news here to give you of strange matter, execp'ing the
arrival. per the Commerce, Henry, from Spitrberg' is, of a
young stranger. in the shape of a walrus, or sea-horse, all
alive and healthy. They brought two away, a male and
female, both young.: the male was killed somehow. It
was the practice to give them • bath daily, by potting them
over board with a rope round them, and it was thought
the male had struck himself against the shin while "oda,
water. as he eaaie up dead. The other is to be sent to
one of the Zoological Guslens in Lietdon or Edinburgh.
The pleasure I had in looking at this curious, ugly, but
very likes` le creature was noised with regret that you
were not present to see it too. I had seen many pictures
of them, hut never felt before how inadequate any picture
is to glee acv one a correct idea of (not tee form) but the
manners and customs of an animal they never saw. It is
in vein for me to try to describe it; tut the first th.hg that
struck me was the illustration it aff Ads of the slung of
one specie? of ac:mal into another dissimilar ; for II) two
animals can be more unlike than a fish nnd a co a, yet this
one is like each, and it is difficult to say which it 's most
like. I had a notion that the walrus was a ferocious brute,
but this creature is gentle and affectionate, answers to the
name of Toby, and knows the voice of the captain and
mate, whom atone it will obey sod follow like a dog. On
the voyar home it fed on the fas of pork chiefly ; now it
gets fish. limpets, and mussels, which it sucks in with great
gusto It elves a short loud grunt, something between the
in reply to t .c cap-
ya vpiisrl't to it, I put my face
snorttain whenef ahhoee erpa.
speaks
the grunt
terunotnomf
to its face to no its expression, end it turned round to me
with as much seeming intelligence so a collie dog, to see
what I had to rice it or say to it, and thee left me for the
captain, who wan calling it to him, and when it got its
mouth close to his leg, it seemed contehted.—Jolt's o'Groat
Journal.
OR?Gtar or " CLIPPER" AS APPLIED TO VEssus
(v,a. vtii., p. 100).-1'or many years the fleetest sailing
vessels built ih the United States were constructed at Bal.
timere. They were very sharp, long, low; ant tit. tr masts
were inclined at a much greater angle than usual • ith
those in other vessels. Fast sailing pilot boats and
schoenen were thus rigged ; and in the last war wilt. Bu-
tane]. privateers of the Baltimore build were universally
famed for their swiftness and superior sailing qualities. " A
Baltimore clipper" became the expression among ship-
builders for s vessel of peculiar make ; in the coo ffruction
of which. flaetress was considered of mare importance than
a carrying capacity. When the attention of naval archi-
tects was directed to the construction of swift sailing ships,
they wore conr,.elled to adopt the clipper shape. Hence
the title " Clipper Skip," which has now extended [rote
America to Bnaland.—Notes and Quoin.
" -

SHREWSBURY AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. —*-
Traffic receipts for week ended Oct. les. 1953, 8141. as. Od.
Corresponding period lut year, 8641. 183. 63.