The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-24 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 24, 1851.

however much it is certain that the general administration
of the state ought to be free and discmherreesed, without
personal considerations, or of a secondary order, acting as
an obstruction to it, it is right at the same time that those
suspensions or dismissals only should take place which Jus-
tice and the public iuterest sn reality demand.
That the civil governors must be very explicit in de-
claring the reasons which esthete them in the suspensions
ordered, and dismissals that they shall propose, and not lees
in the moral qualities, services, qualifications, and other
circumstances of the individuals whom they consider it to
proper to nominate to public trusts.
That if the magistrates do not find themselves possessed
of the necessary energy in this sense, faithfully and rigo-
rously to comply with the orders of the government, they
mast immediately communicate it, in order that it may be
properly remedied.
" This is communicated by the Secretary of State for
the Interior to the Civil Governor of —, for his infur-
mation.—Palace of Nceessidades, 11th of June 18.51.
JOSE FELtliElltA PESTANS."

The preamble of the circular of the minter has under-
gone considerable criticism; it is not a perfect echo of the
duke's communication, hut it implies that complaints have
been made against the removal of properly qualified be ; in one word, the complaints are supposed to be a
Cabralista trick, in order that the most cunning of the secre-
taries of that party should escape dismissal. Thus it ap-
pears the government are expressing desires to carry ii.to
effect certain intentions, while duplicity is allowed to battle
those intentions; the consequences of which will very soon
be developed. That the duke wishes to carry into effect his
programme, I believe ; indeed his tenure of office depends
upon it, but with so many conflicting iuterssts ut work, the
Maly certain way to arrive at such a desirable end, would
be to appoint a commission to investigate the qualifications,
6e., of those retained, or of the newly-appointed, which
mould be unbiassed by local or Cabralista party influence.
The Queen has signed a decree, continuing, on the re-
commendation of the Commercial Association of Oporto,
the impost established by the Law of the 19th of June, 1811,
with the alterations marked by the law of the 16th of June,
18 Id, which is to be received at the custum.house of that
city after the 19th of the present month, and delivered, as
heretofore, to the said Commercial Association, to be up-
plied to the payment of the works necessary fur the con-
struction of the Earliange and Commercial 1 ribunal.
Like every other branch, the Portuguese naval officers,
not Cabralistas, were proscribed by Cabralism; and, front
the smallness of their pay when unemployed, many of them
were in a state of semi-starvation. The Marquis of Loule,
Minister of Marine, has just dune an act which reflects
credit upon him—namely, ordered a strict observance of
former regulations, by which no naval officer shall be em-
li irked more than three continuous years, which opens the
advantages of the service to all alike; the pay of tile officer
when afloat, together with his other advantages, being very
far superior to the miserable pittance which he receives
while on shore and unemployed.
I mentioned in a former letter that the promotions male
by the Duke .A Salilanlia in miss (immix of the recent
nwiement would not cause much expense, inasmuch us the
psy of the rank would only he received by a few, hut the
duke basins found that much injustice heel been done to
old and deservin • offieers by their having been laid upon
the shelf, and their 'inspects blietlucd in consequence, he
made a general promotion placing those who are incapable
of serving ou the ret-red list; the consequence is, that the
country is burdmeil with a vast additional expense, which
is estimated at upward. of 350 comma of rids (nearly
100,0001.) annually.
the loan which I mentioned in my last has been com-
pleted and published ' • it is for 4.30 mottos, 300 whereof are
in money, and to be advanced at DM contas per month ;
one-fourth to be in notes of the extinct Dank of Lisbon,
which, as they are at a discount of about 2 or 2' per Cent.,
will appear to be but a small lass to the government; but
as the government will have the right, aecording to law, to
use them in payment, there will be no loss. The remaining
150 cantos will be in unpaid titules of pay of the servants of
the state, on and sobsequent to August,lB Pi. This withdraws
so much of a floating debt from the market, and brings up
much arrear of pay. It app-cars two gentlemen, named Gam.'
and Campus, had previously lent the government 30 comes;
this sum, therefore, is to be considered an udditional part
of the loan, for the purrs., of its being paid with the seen.
ri•ies emitted for the 440 cantos. The loan is ascend upon
the arrears of decimas Mill imposts, and to be paid by May,
1552, provision being made fur any snot which may not
then be paid by bills on the custom-houses of Lisbon and
Oporto to fall due in June and November. The bank is to
have a commission of one per cent. on the transaction.
A regulation has been made by Saldanha relative to
the municipal guards of Lisbon and Oporto—that
in future they are to be officered by officers of the line, and
in order that the officers of the former force may not be
prejudiced, they are to pass to and take their rank in the
line, being eligible for employment in either force ; this is a
severe blow to Cabralisin as the officers of the guard in
question were totally. distinct, and formed an exclusive
body, which made intrigue the more certain ; a disaffected
officer can therefore he now removed and, placed in another
regiment, without affecting his individual advantage and

prospects.
The Sovereign. line-of-battle ship; the Colon, corvette;
and the Patriot, Ini,s-of-war, all French, arc expected in the
Tagus (tom Cadiz.
'lnc heat for the last;three days has been almost insupport-
able-93 degreca in the shade.
The Nuncio gave an amalgamation dinner—that is, to all
parties—on the IGth; but it was a failure, as the gentlemen
of the various parties, it is said, sat at table without speak-
ing to each other.

'Ube Court.

Her Majesty the Queen, and the King of the Bel-
gians, accompanied by the Princess Royal and the Princess
Charlotte of Belgium took a drive in as open carriage and
four yesterday afternoon ; Lord Alfred Paget and General
Wemyss attended on horseback.
Prince Albert, attended by Colonel Bonverie, inspested
the household troops yesterday morning in Hyde-park.
Prince Albert and the King of the Belgians went yester-
day afternoon to Leice‘ter-sguare, to inspect Mr. Wyld's
large Model of the Globe. His Majesty was accompanied
by the Duke de Brabant, the Count de Flandres, and the
Princess Charlotte, and was attended by Colonel de Muer-
kerke and Count Albert de Briey. His Royal Highness
was attended by Colonel the lion. C. Grey and Colonel
Bouverie.

Thu r nnee of Wales and Prince Alfred, attended by
Mr. Birch, took a drive in au open carriage yesterday.
Prince Arthur and the Princtmes Helena and Louisa
took an airing in an open carriage and four yesterday
morning.
Prince Albert, attended by Colonel Bouverie, rode out on
horseback yesterday afternoon.
The Queen had a dinner party yesterday at Buckingham
Palace. The company included the King of the Belgians,
the Duke de Brabant, the Count de Flandres, the Duchess
of Sutherland and Lady Constance Leveson Gower, his Ex-
cellency Monsieur and Madame Van de Weyer, the Mar-
quill of Lansdowne, the Earl of Aberdeen, Viscount
Clilden, Viscount Canning, Colonel the lion. Sir Edward
Cust, Lieut.-Col. Hon. C. B. and Mrs. Phipps, Men,ieur
Quetelct, the Chevalier K iistner, Colonel de Moerkerke,
Count Albert de Briey, and Sir Robert Carswell.
The Duchess of Kent, attended by the Baroness de Speth,
left town yesterday morning for Frogmore, near Windsor.
Her Royal Highness returned to her residence, Clarence
house, St. James's, in the afternoon.

A deput 'don front Rastitv.rs, consisting of the Mayor of
Rastinqs, Mr. Alderman Scrivens' nod the town clerk, had
an interview yesterday with Lord Seymour' at the office of
her Majesty's C.7.nnuisdoners of Words and Forests.
Viscount Ehrinont hal an iutertiew with sir George
Grey yesterday, at the Route-office.
A deputation consistinT of the lion. G. ii. Cavendish,
M.P., Mr. ilohberety, Mr. l'ercy, and Mr. Wray, jun., had
an interview with the Commissioners of Railways yesterday,
at the Board of Trade.

'Jr. ltocbuek, had an interview with Sir George
Grey ye.tertlay.
Mr. Kane, of Dublin, had an interview with the Corn-
tuisAioners of Railways ye-terday, at the Board of Trade.
Mr. Pressly had an interview with the Chaveellor of the
Exelf.niter vac:L.l4., at his official residence iu Downing-
street.

GREAT FIRE NEAR LONDON-BRIDGE.-.
DESTRUCTION OF ALDERMAN lIUNIPIIERY'S
WAREHOUSES.

A remarkable fatality scents to overhang Mr.
Alderman Humph.•ry's propeay on the Surrey side of
London-bridge. Many of the largest fires in the metropolis
during the last fifteen years have been, strange to say, those
that have happened eu sued near the alderman's water-side
premises.
The scene of yesterday's conflagration was on th_ north
side of Montague-close, the thoroughfare running it, a line
with Tooley-street, and passing under London-bridge. The
range of warehouses, which were six stories in height and
300 feet in length, adjoined a detached portion of the
Bridge House Hotel, and extended in the rear to the an-
tique and venerable pile of St. Mary Overy (Ladye Chapel)
attached to St. Saviours Church,. They also overlooked at
the back wino curious old habitations known us Overman's
Almshouses.
Th., fire broke out in the warehouse immediately adjoin-
ing what may be called the detached wing of the Bridge
House ilutel. The basement floor was let to Mr. Dresser,
a cheese factor; the next four to Mr. Hollingsworth, paper
manufacturer, of Turkey Mills, near Maidstone; and the
sixth story to Mesars.Wigan, hop merchants, of High-street,
Borough. Those occupied by Mr. Hollingsworth were filled
with rags of every description, which, had been warehoused
there preparatory to being forwarded to the mills for the
manufacture of paper. It was in the floor over that
tenauted by Mr. Dresser that the fire originated; and, from I
a variety of circumstances, it is strongly suspected
that it arose from spontaneous combustion. About
half-past three o'clock in the afternoon some la-
bourers employed about the Hibernia wharf, which is on
the opposite side of the way, observed a quantity of smoke
issuing from the door and windows of the floor, and
scarcely had a general alarm been raised, ere huge bodies
rolled forth from almost every window of Mr. Holliugs-
worth's stores, and the neighbourhood being considerably
darkened by the dense masses of smoke, speedily led to the
outbreak being made known at the respective fire engine
stations in the City and the Borough. Those from Wat-
ling-street and Southwark-bridge•road stations promptly
attended, and on the plugs in the streets being started but
a scanty supply of water was obtained to work the engines,
an inefficiency which has been experienced at some of
tke former fires in the district. The engines being to
some extent rendered useless by the limited flow from
the mains, a steamer was despatched by the brigade
authorities to expedite the arrival of the large floating en-
gine from her moorings at Southwark-bridge,. She was
brought abreast of the blazing warehouses, but it being
low water, and other difficulties presenting themselves, the
whole building was in one general blaze before the machine
could be got into operation. A greater body of flame, per-
haps, woo seldom witnessed; it rove to a considerable alti-
tude, and although the sun was shining brightly, could be
seen up and down the river for some distance. London and
Southwark, bridges were almost impassable, from the vain
concourse of person+ who crowded upon them, while both
sides of the shore were lined with myriads of spectators.
The hon. proprietor of the warehouses (Mr. Humphery)
reached the scene of destruction shortly before 4 o'clock.
He had been engaged at some committee at the House of
Commons with Mr. Freslifield, M.P., and singularly enough
was first apprised of the outbreak by hearing the rumbling
of the engines through the streets, and inquiring where
they were proceeding, he learned that his own property
was on fire. lie continued actively employed about the
vicinity, affording all the information he could to the firemen
with regard to the construction of the warehouses, and the
contents of their floors.
Already had some 13 or 14 land engines arrived from the
various district stations in the metropolis, and this strong
force was further augmented by the attendance of another
floating engine, which had been towed up by a steam-tug
from Rotherhithie. Mr. Braidwood, the superintendent of
the body, who had received information of the outbreak
while attending his usual inspection of the fire force at the
Crystal Palace, reached the spot shortly after Mr. Alder-
man Humphery, and having taken the command of the
whole of the brigade force, every spot that could secure any
position in controlling the destructive element was occupied
by the brigadiers and their branches.
By five o'clock the appearance of the conflagration
was really appalling. The flames rolled out from the I
windows of the burning warehouse in prodigious
masses, and apprehensions were entertained for the safety
of that beautiful structure St. Saviour's Church, which
appeared doomed to destruction. Some 12 or li feet only
separated the north transept of the church from the flaming
building, and the wind being from the north-west wafted
'the bulk of the flames towards the transept and the Ladye
Chapel. The extreme danger the sacred edifice was placed
in excited a meet anxious feeling amongst the thoustnds
who filled that part of the Borough opposite St. Thomas's
Hospital, and which overlooks the Ladye Chapel. With
I every expedition two brigade engines were taken round hate
the churchyard and the hose led into the church and aspl
veyed on to the roof of the north transept, while the or
gins belonging to the parish were played from the blades
of tho church through the northern buildings on to the reef
of the warehouse on fire. While this was going on a dis-
tressing scene presented itself among the aged and infirm
ethapents of Overman', Almshosuce. All of them had to
make a hasty retreat h.= their dwellings, in the flames
were fast making upon them.
The moment the floating engines were brought into full
operation their enormous powers were brought to bear both
in front and back of the warehouse, while the hose of other
engines were run up on the adjacent warehouse, No. 2,
with a view to preventing thelipme making their way ever
or through the roof by the top of the party-wall. While
this precaution was being adopted, the firemen were
snowier an finding that the destmonve element had
nay penetrated the second warehouse, which was of the
east extent as the first, and had obtained so firm a held
that it was obvious its career could not then be checked.
The stores in this warehouse were snore extensive and varied
than in the former one. It had the in daces, occupied