The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-19 00:00:00

1215 t gout

The Queen and Prince Albert honoured the
performance of the French Plays with their presence
yesterday evening. H.R.H. the Dwhesa of Kent also
honoured the performance of the French Plays with her
presence last evening.
Count Alexander Mensdorff left Buckingham-
palace at half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning for South-
ampton, en route to Portugal.
H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent visited the Queen

yesterday morning.
Their RR. HH. the Prince of Wales, Prince
Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice took their
accustomed walks and rides yesterday in the garden of
Buekingham•palace.
H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent visited H.R.H. the
Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Gloucester-house.

Her Majesty's Commissioners for considering the
state of the several hishopricks in England and Wales, with
reference to the foundation of new bishopricks, held their
first meeting yesterday at the official residence of the First
Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street.
The Commissioners of Metropolitan Improvements
Majesty'

held a meeting yesterday at the office of her M. 's Woods
and Forests in Whitehall-place. There were present Vie.
mint Morpeth, the Lord Mayor, the Right lion. J. C.
Herries, Sir Robert Inglis, Sir C. Lemon. Lord Colbonse,
Mr. Hope, the lion. C. A. Gore, and Mr. Milne.
Mr. Archibald Cuninghame bad an interview With
Earl Grey yesterday at the Colonial-office.
Mr. Gibson Craig, M.P. had an interview with
the Right Hon. E. Watt yesterday, at the office of the Com-
missioner' of Railways in Great George-street.
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had
a general meeting yesterday at their office in Whitehall-
place.
The Muctuis and Marchioness of Queensberry have
arrived at 1. arrance's Hotel, Upper Belgrave-street, from
their sett, Kinmount, Anna, N.B.

LITERARY PETTY LARCENY.—We copy the fol-
lowing from the Mighty's Gazette:
It Is ea amebas tio Wield 'wakes eamidwed with
an
but We meek Iles isey beelealsemawiet awe than asual.
Oa see die we bore OM 1010 deems et remeeting the
aArgetrem mew walk It bet 1110111•1111.1 dme wad labour to collect,
miseidadgment by the lora men • sod on
rseaber_ , we woe mere st maw tke Thew es antmiley aseribe to
Ike 011olv is mei vadelvess lea emeetres trenslatel mad
Ewa Ike Osman ameallog ems fearful
ware .0
leafy semsdNad predaoes. We ware these Weer'
NM IPS dial sum day Tama trick like the clever one whisk lase
base issselly awmalsea the Ds* New.
Ike eseapiliat of the rightism editor exposes a trick which
mardatedligkyed by the papers he mentions on the Daily
Neese. Pkgsgraphs first obtained and carefully prepared in
thls elise are transferred to the Globe without acknowledg-
ment, aid inserted next morning in the Times with the
Globe imprimatur. It may be pleaded that the dishonesty
of the Globe deceives its morning copyist ; the practice
has become too much a system to a'lmit a supposition that
it is innocently persevered in.
THE SOUTHAMPTON DOCK COMPANY.—The half-
yearly general meeting of the proprietors of the Southampton
Dock Company was held at the office yesterday,
No. 19, Bishopsgate-street, to receive the report for the past
half-year, and to elect four directors. The report stated
that, up to the 31st December, 1846, the agsrmate amount
of shipping which entered the duke, comprised 228,777 tons,
the quantity the previous year being 158,880 tons. The
revenue account for the half-year shows • surplus that
would enaCe the directors to allow a dividend, clear of the
income-tax, of one per cent. for the half-year (10e. Per
share), being at the rate of two per ant. per annum, after
the payment of which there would remain the sum of
1,5141. 15e. &I. to the credit of the company. The directors
had executed an agreement with the Commissioners of her
Majesty's Customs, to build on the Dock Company's land,
and lease to the Crown for twenty-one years, a custom-house
on an enlarged scale, which will be completed on the 30th of
June next. Workshops are being erected for the repairs of
the ships and machinery of the Royal Mail Steam
Packet Company, and it was intended to construct
a second dry-dock adjoining the present our, for
steamers and sailiug-vesuls of- the second clue tonnage.
It concluded by stating that the directors bad called the at-
tention of her Majesty's government to the importance of
establishing the port of Southampton as the direct medium
of communication with the north, east, and west of Eng-
land for the delivery of letters. The resolution was agreed
to unanimously. The chairman proposed that a dividend of
10e. per share be paid on the Ist of March. A proprietor
inquired, as this was the first dividend, if it were likely to
continue ? The chairman replied that, judging from the
Potent before them, it would. The ships forming the line
of communication from New York to Bremen would enter
their port ; and they had the ships of the Oriental Company,
with other companies in view. The resolution was adopted.
The directors retiring were re-elected ; after which the meet-
ing separated.
THE PAM!! OF ST. PANCasa.—Yesterday, at a
meeting of the St. Pancras vestry, Gordon-square, Mr.
Churchwarden Howarth in the chair, Mr. M'Oahey, the
miry-clerk, read a letter from Mr. Lee, the master of the
workhouse, giving notice of his intention to resign that office
at Lady-day nest. A second communication was read
announcing the resignation of another officer connected
with the institution, and after some further business the
/tory,. separated.
THE RaTE-PAYING CLAUSE.—A public meeting is
*Winced to be held in the Vestry-rooms, Gordon-square,
on Monday evening nest, for the purpose of adopting a pe-
tition to parliament for the repeal of the rate-paying clauses
of the Reform Art, and to revise and to amend the registra-
tion laws generally, upon which occasion Sir Benjamin Hall,
M.P., Sir C. Napier, M.P., and other influential gentlemen
will attend.
ROYAL COLLEGE OP CHEMISTRY.—Yegtenlay after-
-110011 a general meeting of the supporters of the
above co enale was held at the Institution, Hanover-0W"/
for the purpose of receiving a cods of laws, to be presentee
by the council, agreeably to a resolution passed at the
usual meeting on the 31st of August last. The proposed

constitution and laws of the college were then read by Mr.
Johnson, the secretary. The college. it appeared, was insti-
tuted for the purpose of affording adequate opportunities
for instruction in practical chemistry, at a moderato ex-
pense; and for pr 'meting the general advancement of
chemical science, end its application to agriculture, manu-
factures, and the useful arts, by means of a well-appointed
laboratory of research. The laws u submitted were then
agreed te, the only rule which gave rise to much discussion
being that which admitted every donor of 1004 to a seat in
the council. This question hying been decided in the
affirmative, and th.tnks voted to the chairman and council
for their services, the meeting separated.
CONSEQUENCES OP THE CORPORATION CONFLICT.—
The consequences of the civic conflict by the non-election of
the corporate officers by the Court of Common Council, have
been already made apparent. Yesterday war one of the
days appointed for holding the City Sheriffs' Court at
Guildhall, but in consequence of Mr. Commissioner Bul-
lock, the judge, not having been re-elected and sworn in,
the court was obligid to be adjourned, to the serious incon-
venience of suitors and all persona having business at it, the
court being one of r cord, and having jurisdiction to hear
summonses under the Small Debts Bill.

FIRES. INTREPID CONDUCT' OF A YOUTH.
Yesterday morning, between twelve and one o'clock,
an express was received at the London engine stations
et the outbreak of a most destructive fire in the town
of Old 13rentford. In the space of • few minutes the County
engine, from Regent-quadrant, and two belonging to the
Brigade, with the Wert of England one, started for the
scene of conflagration, upon reaching which the firemen
found that the outbreak had occurred in the premises of Mr.
Grover, • boot and shoemaker, situate in the High-street.
A youth named George Best, in the service of Mr. O'Hara,
butcher, first discovered the fire, and, owing to his intrepid
conduct was the instrument of saving five lives from a hor-
rible death. Whilst be was in his master's yard, he noticed
smoke issuing from one of Mr. Grover's back windows, and
on running to the front of the houe, he saw, by peep-
ing through an aperture in the window-shutters,
that the shop was in a blaze. He immediately knocked at
the door, and shouted " fire," but without being able to
make the inmates sensible of their danger ; he therefore re-
turned to the back of the building, and after climbing over
the wall, succeeded, with the aid of • pole-axe, used for kill-
ing bullocks, in breaking open the door, when he ascended
the staircase, and made for Mr. Grover's bed-room; the
smoke and sparks were at the same moment rushing upwards,
with the greatest impetuosity. After considerable trouhle,
he entered the bed-chamber, but the smoke had obtained
such power over the inmates, that they were perfectly un
conscious of what was going on, and, in the course of a few
minutes longer, they must have been burnt to death. But
having laid hold of Mr. Grover's leg, he shook him violently,
and then took up a couple of his children in his arms and ran
down the stairs with them. Having placed them in safe
custody, he returned and saved Mn. Grover and her husband,
and a third child was saved in a similar manner. Not feeling
then satisfied, that all the parties were saved, he
returned into the burning premises for the third time, and
inspected every room not on fire, and being convinced that
all the invitees were got out, he was about to run down ashy
to escape himself, when a huge sheet of flame overtook him
on the staircase, which completely knocked him down, but
havinz recovered himself, he opened one of the back win-
dows, and leaped into the yard. When picked up, he was
quite insensible, and such • powerful effect had the smoke
upon him, that the blood issued from hie mouth and noes,
and it was some time before the youth could be restored.
had it not been for hie praiseworthy exertions, a most de-
plorable loss of life would have occurred. The engines of
Brentford, Ideworth, and other neighbouring towns were
early at the scene, but the fire was not extinguished until
the whole of Mr Grover's stock in trade was destroyed, and
the premises partially gutted. The occupier, who has lost
upwards of 6001 worth of property, was only insured for halt
that amount. One or two of the contiguous premium see
also damaged by fire, but not to any great extent. —l7
OLD-STKEET.—Late on Wednesday night a fire broke out
upon the premises of Mr. Cbiswell, Old-street, St. LAN's.
Mrs. Chiswell having taken a light into a room, it le rep-
posed that a 'pork must have fallen from the candle ea Se
bedding, for shortly afterwards the fire broke out. A per-
son named Puddefoot rushed into the room. and succeeded
in rescuing an infant, but not until it was burned in a
frightful manner. Mr. Mallett, the engineer, quickly at-
tended with the brigade-engine, but the fire could not be
extinguished until nearly the whole of the furniture in the
apartment war destroyed. Unfortunately, the occupier
was not insured.
LYQUESTS, YESTERDAY.— ACCIDENT AT WF.ST-
minirrElL Bat eoz.—By Mr. W. Payee, at St. Thomas's
Hospital, on the body of Michael Hayes, a carpenter, aged
6-5. The deceased resided at No. 1, Meson-street, Cornwall-
road, Lambeth, end on the 18th of Dec. was engaged with
other men in " shoreing up" one of the arches of Westmia-
ster Bridge, to prevent its falling. About three o'clock, a
fellow-workman called upon him to give him up some
" wedges," and whilst getting up the cross beams, under
the arch, his hand slipped off the timber, and he fell back-
wards a depth of sixteen feet. on to a scaffold beneath.
From 'the scaffold he fell into the water, a depth of four feet,
but was quickly got out by • boat. He was then taken
to the hospital, where, on examination, his left leg
and the bndgs of his nose were found to be broken, and
his shoulder dislocated. He went on well at first, but
mortification of the leg supervening, caused his death
on Monday law. Verdict. " Accidental death."—
ALLzele POTSODUNG ST A WRONG MeniclNE.—By Mr.
Wakley, M.P., at the Wheatihear, Camden-town, on the
body of Miss Sarah Ellen Collyer, aged 21. The deceased,
it is stated, died in a quarter of an hour after the adminis-
tration of the medicine, and the court was very fully attended
by medical gentlemen, a very important question being, it is
understood, likely to be involved in the investigation, as to
the tendency of certain arrangements as at present practised
in the compounding of prescriptions, respecting which, al-
though the public are very ignorant, they are deeply inte-
rested. The ease was adjourned till this day (Friday), for
the purpose of completing the testimony.
THEWOOleenCli CONVICTS.—ADJOURNED INQUEST.
—Before Mr. C. J. Carttar, at the Ordnance Arms, Wool-
wich, on the bodies of Wm. Abbott, aged 27, and Win.
Wallington, aged 67, two prisoners under sentence of trans-
portation ow board the hulks at Wool wicb. On the first day
of the inquiry the evidence was confined to the identity of
the bodies. It was agreed by the jury to order a pest mortem
examination to be made by Mr. Bosley, the surgeon to the
establishment, in the presence of some eminent member of
the faculty. On the re-sseembling of the jury, Dr. Babing-
ton and Mr. A. Key, from Guy's Hospital, attended by re-
quest of the coroner. A short-hand writer front the Secretary
of State's office also attended, and took copious notes of the
proceedings. Mr. Bosseydetailed the whole symptoms and
mode of treatment pursued in the ease of Wellington, who
had been several times in the hospital labouring under
inflammation of the eyes, chronic Inflammation of the
mow= membrane of the
bowels, dyspepsia, catarrhal
affection, and various other disorders incident upon a state of
great debility. No remedial measures, either in the way of
medicine or nutriment, appear to have been spared, port
wine, isinglass, jelly, egg and brandy, stewed eels, and other
articles being freely administered. At the conclusion of this
evidence the coroner put a number of questions to Mr.
Bossey as to the allegations made in the speech of Mr. Don-
combe in the House of Commons. In reply to these Mr.
Boseey degging, thoughenied that he had ecited one or tver threatened
wo anycases in sick rimoner
with flo
ogging, hewhich
the prisoners had for • time successfully feigned
lilacs • in the one case a prisoner I.retended to
' have afarge abscess, for which he was at Chatham twice
punctured, and also treated with caweic ; yet it was disco-
vered that the tumour was an absolute fiction, and disap-
peared on the relaxation of the muscles. In two other cases
men named Williamson and Johnson feigned the one pars-
iris, the other lameness. In these cases he had threatened,
that if the attempts at imposition were continued he would
order the men to be flogged, but they were not
flogged, nor were their cases ever reported upon
their returning to work. He had never threatened the
really sick prisoners under any circumstances whatever.
He described the appearances presented by the post mortem
examination, which proved that the deceased died of disease
of the throat which had gone on to mortification. In reply
to questions from the jury, he stated that he had no reason
to believe the prisoners ware defrauded of the extras allowed
them by the names. He did not remember more than
three or four cases of flogging during the last few years, and
he had not the slightest recollection of any man who bad
died having been flogged. The number of lashes were
generally eighteen or two dozen, and once or twice
in the lest twenty years. as high as four dozen
or five dozen. The punishment was the same as
amongst the military, only the cats were not so
many. Whipping with • birch was now substituted for
flouging. Dr. Guy Babington was next examined, and
expressed his entire satisfaction both as to the cause of
death and the course of treatment pursued by Mr. Bosley ,•
it was most scientific and excellent throughout, and be had
met every symptom with great propriety and skill. He had
visited the hospital, and though it was more crowded than
be could wish, there being 97 occupants instead of the
general average of about 60, still the treatment was
excellent, and far beyond what he could have expected.
The diet was richer and better than in Guy's Hospital,
and fax beyond what persons out of doors in poor cireum-
stances could obtain. With regard to the application of cold
water to the head, it was • perfectly scientific proceeding,
and was often used as a remedy. Mr. Aston 'Ley gave
similar evidence as to his Win approval of Mr. Bossey's
mode of treatment. The jury then rounded to inquire
into the death of Wm. Abbott, when the same nurse of
examination was pursued, Mr. Seamy detailing the dist-
onsis of the patient, and the appearances pimento'
on the post mortem examination, which established the caw
of death to be sudden and violent congestion of the beds
end lunge. Dr. Babington and Mr. Aston Key again ex-
pressed their entire approval of the course of treatment that
had been adopted. 31r. H. Masterman, the overseer of the
Warrior, and Mr. J. Strickland, master of the Unite hosed-
tal-ehip, were then examined, and spoke in favourable terms
of the condition of the prisoner and the conduct of the sur-
.—The jury, without retiring, , returned a verdict of
ddid from natural causes" in both eases.

IRELAND.
DUBLIN, Pl 3. 17.
The painful interest is alternately divided between
Cork and Mayo. One day, and Southern misery and
mortality till the public mind ; next comes Mayo and
the West with their latest reports of " Death's pro-
gress." To-day is the turn of Mayo, and most
shocking it is. The Constitution reports not fewer
than 34 deaths from starvation within one week : of
these twelve were awaiting the arrival of the coroner,
just as at Sligo, but his hands were too busy, and the
graves had to wait. In famous Castlebur, where