The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-08 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE THUNDER STORM.

Yesterday morning, during the raging of a terrific
storm which passed over the metropolis between one
and two o'clock, many accidents occurred, but no
report of actual loss of life has reached us; but the fol-
lowing casualties occurred:—About half-past one o'clock,
as police constable S 6 L was on duty the New-rut, Lam-
beth, during the storm, be wu struck by the lightning on
to the side of his head, and felled the earth. He wasin-
stantly picked up by 121 L, who was on duty on the opposite
side of the road, and conveyed to the station-house in a state
of insensibility, when it was ascertained that the left side of
his head and several parts of his body were much injured,—
so much so that he will not be able to return to his duty for
several days. At nearly the same hour a poor women named
Flynn, residing in Broad-street, Golden-square, was return-
ing home, accompanied by her husband, when the electric
fluid struck her to the ground. As soon as possible Mrs.
Flynn was conveyed to the Cock public-house close at hand,
but in a lifeless state, and on medical assistance being procured
her recovery was deemed hopeless. Strange to say Mr. Ilya
did not receive the slightest injury, although his wife was
holding his arm at the moment she received the shock.
BURSTING OF THE VAUXHALL BALLOON DURING THE
STORM.-MIRACULOUS AND PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE OP
THE AERONAUTS.-Mr. H. Coxwell, editor of the A erostat:e
Magazine, has furnished the lessee of the Royal Gardens,
Vauxhall, with the following particulars relative to the
accident which occurred to Mr. Gypeon's, the " Albert Bal.
loon," which ascended with fireworks from Vauxhall on
Tuesday night, taking up Mr. Albert Smith, Mr. Pridmore,
Mr. Coxwell, and Mr. Gypeon. "After rising from the
gardens with an ascending power calculated to ensure •
clear start, and to give full effect to the fireworks which
were suspended by means of a line from the hoop, the bal-
loon took a course at first across the river, in the direction of
the new Houses of Parliament. A few seconds had scarcely
elapsed, before the first whir and flash indicated the
combustion of the pyrotechnics. In a moment they
burst forth with great precision and brilliancy. Fires
of every hue lit up the balloon, while from the
frame shot forth myriads of gerbs and jets, gold and
silver rain, —in fact, ever, artifice known in pyro-
techny. The concluding display was a bouquet of flowers in
coloured fires, which elicited from the spectators the most
rapturous applause. Our attention was then directed to the
balloon, which was ascending rapidly. Mr. Gypeon acceded
to my wish to stand upon the hoop above the ear, in order
to closely observe the state and action of the balloon, while
he attended to the fireworks. I particularly specified the
various degrees of rarefaction which marked our ascension.
For an hour and a half before we started the lightning was
incessant, which elicited from our friends and several
of the spectators apprehensions for our safety, and
no sooner had the fireworks been discharged than
a vivid flash occurred, and for the moment it appeared as if
the heavens were on fire, and that our destruction was cer-
tain. The appearance of the regions above was awfully
grand. The expansion that succeeded was immense, and
we all were convinced that the gas was escaping from the
neck. Mr. Oypeon immediately took the valve line, with
a view of relieving the upper part of the balloon. That
operation was, unfortunately, delayed a few seconds too
late, for notwithstanding that the lower valve was fully
open, the silk sustained a fracture which occasioned us to
drop and hang • considerable distance under the balloon.
In an instant the ballast was discharged, and the line con-
necting the lower valve to the hoop immediately cut. I
The silk then formed as it were into • spacious and perfect
parachute, and we descended with gyrations indicative of
rapidity and also danger. Presently myriads of the gas
lights which shone so brilliantly but a moment before
appeared to be rising to us, and instantly the car and the
ground came into fearful collision. The spot where we
descended was cluee to some unfinished houses and building
materials in the Belgraveroad, Pimlico, about a mile from
the gardens, our course having been semi-circular. Provi-
dentially we all escaped without injury, and the balloon is
but slightly damaged. I have no hesitation in stating that
the accident was entirely attributable to the state of the
atmosphere, influenced by the lightning. The immediate
cause of the accident was the bursting of the I alloon in the
upper hemisphere, in consequence of the expansion of the
gas having been greeter than the means of escape."

THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY gave yesterday, their
third ani last exhibition for the season, at their gardens in
the Regent's-park. The weather, though threatening, did
not prevent the assemblage of a large company of distin.
Ruislip(' people; amongst whom the Duke of Cambridge,
Hapartero, and the Archbishop of. Canterbury, were cozier-
' cuoue. The show was characterised by the large quantity
and excellent quality of the fruit, and by the abundance and
beauty of the collection of roses. The calceolarias, heaths,
and pelargoniums were likewise in strong array ; whilst the
specimen plants included many rare and charming products
of the stove and greenhouse. By the award of the judge,
Prises were given for crolketlons of thirty specimens to Mr. Truer
and Mr. Arne; for smaller collection. to Messrs. Green, Catleuolt,
Malyen, Barnes, Hunt, Taylor, and Bruce. Is the class for "Ninon '
plants there were many cetubitors.—lst prize, to Mr. Green, for
Lisianthus rumellianue, and to Mears. Veltch and Son for cowrie
niiniata ; 2nd, to Mr. Barnes for echites splendesss. For tall growing
cactl.:l et prim, Mr. Green. In the class for alpine plants, Mr. Smith
took Brat prize; 2nd, to Mr. Wood of Norwood. For collections of
SO species of British ferns: let prize, Mr. Smith; 2nd, to.
Mr. Taylor. For 25 cut specimens of British exorense : let
prize, to Mr. Smith; 2nd, to Mr. M`lvor ; and 3rd, to Mr. Spare.
For single specimens of orchids: let Wee, Mr. Williams; 2nd, Mr.
Hunt; 3rd, Mr. Green. For sew or care orchids let prize, Messrs.
Veitch and Son; 2nd and led, Masers. Bullion and Som. For new
or rare plants in bloom: Ist neisq Meows. Lacombe and Co.; 2nd,
Mears. Velteh and Son; Sr 4 Mr. Green. Far new or rare plants
not in bloom 2ud and fed prim, Messrs. Vetch and Son ; and en
estca prize to Mews. Lacombe, Hear, and Co. For collection. of
6 pelargoniums: Tod prize, Mr. Stanley. For collections of 15 cape
heaths let prise, Mr. Ayres Ind, Mr. Hunt; 3rd, Mr. May For
collections of cape heaths, prizes were given to Messrs. Falibairn, '
Epps, Veitch, Green, Barnes, Jack, and Bruce. For 10 gemeramoas
plants 2nd prize, Mr. Wilshire. For 4 clerodendrons Ist prim, Mr.
Freest; 2nd, Mr. Ayres. For *rebid. prizes to M mere. Roll ison and Wil-
liams. For collection of pelargoniums: amateurs' prizes, to Mesas.
Cock, Staines, Robinson, esh, and Bennett; nurserymen's prism, to
Messrs Dobson, Oatieugh, Gaines, Beek, Ivory, and Veneto. For
collections of 6 calceolariez: amateurs' class, 2nd prize to Mr. Ben-
nett; 3rd prize to Mr. Stanley; nurserymen's elms, let prize to
Messrs. Henderson and Co. For collection, of fuchsias, prima to
Messrs. Kendall, Robinson, Wilshire, and Gill. For collections of
rotes, prizes to Messrs. LaDe and Son, Dobson, Francis, Paul and
Soa, Pampa, Teas, Williams, and Betteridge. For collections of
fruit, consisting of 4 dishes let prise to Mr. Ingram, Royal-gardens,
Frogmore, and Sad to Mr. Fleming, gr. to the Duke of Sutherland:
pine apples, collections of 6 fruit, Ist prize to Mr. Elphinetone, gr. to
the Speaker of the House of Commons; Snd to Mr. T. Bray. Prince
were also given to Memos. Spencer, Fleming, Ingram, Spencer,
Brewirt, and Bray for melons, to Mews. Fleming, Munro, Davy,
Tillyard, Busby, and Boyce : for grapes, to Megan. TUlyazd, Drewett,
Barnes, Davy, end Forgo.
STATIONERS' AND PAPER MANUFACTURERS' PROVI-
DENT doeterv.—The eighth annual dinner of this society
took place at the London Tavern on Tuesday last, when Mr.
H. Teape presided, supported by nearly all the principal
paper manufacturers and stationers, amounting to 90 in
number. From the report it appeared that, since the last
anniversary the funds of the society, after deducting all
expenses, had been increased by 6511. 24 3d., making the
total funds of the society amount to 6,825/. 7s. Id., of which
6,754!. 13e. 9d. was invested with the commissioners for the
reduction of the national debt. A letter wu read from Mr.
Spalding, recommending the plan adopted by his own firm
of rewarding the faithful services of their assistants by
making them members also. The suggestion was accom-
panied by a contribution of 20 guineas from himself, with
further donations from his friends amounting altogethe: to
72/. ss. This was soon followed by a list of donations from
the several stewards, making a total of 6201. And no little
enthusiasm was created, when Mr. Joynsun, one of the vice-
presidents, who had contributed 50 guineas for himself, and
25 guineas for his son, in order to increase the funds to
8,0001., at once offered to the meeting to double his contri-
butions, provided the other contributors would follow his
example, and the challenge was accepted by the majority
pruent, though ultimately it was thought more prudent to
defer the further donations until the next anniversary, at
which Mr. Joynson was requested, and agreed, to take the
chair ; and most of those present pledged themselves to sup-
port him on the occasion, and there seemed to be enter-
tained but little doubt that the permanent fund of 10,000!.
would then be completed.
INCREASE OF FEVER. Mr. Curtis, one of the
district parish surgeons for St. Pancras, and registrar for
Camden-town, has died of fever. It is said that the in-
cipient symptoms of his disease were precisely similar to
those that characterised the fatal illness which carried off
Dr. Lynch. Mr. Curtis is the third parish medical officer
that within a few days fell a victim to fever in the metro-
polis. He hu only jest performed a pest modem examine-
, tion on the body of a supposed murdered child, and, had he
lived, would have had to give evidence concerning the death in

ahw days ►efore a coroner's jury. We find by the report of
the registrar•general of births, marriage., and deaths, that
during the week which ended last Saturday, the number of
deaths from typhus fever was double that of the weekly
average of the hut five summers.
INQUEST, YESTERDAY.—ALLEGED MURDER OF
AN INFANT BY ITS MUTREIL—Before Mr. W. Payne, In
the boardroom of St. Olave's Union Workhotue, South-
wark, relative to the death of Albert Wicklow., 14 weeks
old, child of Anne Blackmore, who, on the previous day, was
under examination at Southwark police-court, charged with
being accessary to the death of her child, for which she was
remanded. Several witnesses were examined, whose evi-
dence did not implicate the accused with the death of the
deceased ; and it appeared from the evidence of a widow
woman, named Donovan, residing at No. 4, Bull-court,
Tooley-street, that the accused, who lived with her, was so
severe a sufferer from fits, that she went to the union to ask
the relieving officer to take the child in, whin she was
told that, so she had taken her an a lodger, she must
get rid of her as she could. On Monday night, about 10
o'clock, she was in the court, under the influence of liquor,
where she fell with the child under her, and who gave a
!aint moan. About haltput 12 o'clock, she was led home
front the Queen's Arms, Dockhead, by a man, who, on enter-
ing the court, took the deceased from her; the child then
showed no signs of life, when she was given into custody. A
post-mortem examination since showed that there was an
extravaaation of blood on the right side of the head, and that
the skull was extensively fractured. Death was the efftct of
the fracture and of concussion of the brain, which was occa- '
aioned by the fall. Verdict—" Accidental death."

THE INSTALLATION AT CAMBRIDGE.
CAMBRIDGE, JULY 7.—The great interest which
this ceremony, combined with her Majesty's ride, had ex-
cited, may be said to have subsided with the events of yes-
terday, for although there still remained some ceremonies to
be performed, yet these being for the most part of a formal
nature, were objects of attraction only to those who were to
take part in them. The tows this morning presented •
marked contrast to the scene of bustle which had existed
during the three previous days. The ordinary business of
the place, which had since Saturday last been all but sus-
pended—most of the shops having been closed both on
Monday and Tuesday—was to day resumed. The
streets were comparatively clear. Special constables were
sent back to their homes—the troop of Life Guards
which had been doing duty as the guard of honour since Mon-
day morning, were mustered early in the day, and marched
off to Royston, en route to town, leaving the Whittleses
Yeomanry to escort her Majesty to the station. The tem-
porary galleries which had been erected in various parts of
the town, for the accommodation of those who were willing
to pay for a sight of the sovereign and her consort, remained;
but instead of being, as on the two previous days, ere sded
with well dressed people, their only occupants to-day were a
few children, who of course were non-paying tenants. The
Nags and banners still waved from the triumphal
arches and the windows of the houses ; but the assem-
bled thousands, the loud hums, and the enthusiasm,
without which liege and banners are but so many pieces of
coloured drapery, were wanting. The business of the vaca-
tion bad in fact commenced, and, except for the passing to
and fro of those members of the university who remained to
attend the Chancellor'. levee, which took place at 9 o'clock,
and the presence of the yeomanry and the armed pensioners,
who formed the guard at Trinity, Cambridge presented the
dull appearance it usually assumes out of term.
PUBLIC BUISAKFAST.—But, though comparative elands
reigned in the town, the colleges of Trinity and St. John's
were still the scene of festivity and pleasure, for, in the
beautiful grounds of these colleges, in order to bring the
proceedings consequent upon Queen Victoria's installation
visit to an appropriate termination, a public breakfast was
given upon a scale of unusual costliness, the cost,
however, being more than compensated by the more than
liberal, the profuse manner in which the guests were
entertained. Upwards of 4,000 tickets, at one guinea each,
were issued for this
,f'te, and the circumstance of its being
within the reach of the visitors' purees, occasioned many per-
sons to doubt whether Queen Vittoria and her consort would
attend it. However, all doubts on this score were set at rest
by the apparition, at 1 o'clock, of the royal couple and their
suite in Trinity-gardens, where the festivities were arranged
to take place. It would scarcely be possible accurately to
describe the varied features of the scene that presented itself
in the walks and grounds which environ and bound the
royal college, without affording cause for an accusation of
hyperbole. The breakfast was laid out under the two sides
of the inner quadrangle and the piazza under the library.
On the two sides of the court, tables, extending from
the hall to the library, were spread with viands and
wines, and under the library (where there is a spa-
cious area) three rows of tables similarly provided,
and decked with great taste, were ranged, the whole
affording accommodation for upwards of 800 persons.
In the centre of the second court of Trinity, a marquee was
pitched, wherein the band of the Ist Regiment of Life
Guards was stationed; and in the grounds beyond the
library a second pavilion was erected for the reception of the
Queen and Prince-Chancellor, of a much more elaborate and
extensive description than that provided for her Majesty at
the horticultural fie. In this pavilion the royal d,jeeiner
was spread, covers being laid for about 40 persons, who
formed the elite of the assemblage, though it would require
considerable skill and judgment to have selected these
favoured few (out of the privileged circle of royalty) from
amongst the multitudes of distinguished personages who were
present at the fate. But the most pleasing feature of the
scene consisted not so much in the preparations for gratify.
log the palate as in the comhination of rural with courtly
and artificial life, which the grounds presented. The royal
pavilion and its immediate precincts were bounded by the
River Cam, whiA flows sluggishly past the college lawn;
and beyond the river nothing but a woodland avlvan pros.
pet presented itself, the foreground being filled in with two
military bands, and the richly-habited promenaders, who
were strolling about the walks, enjoying the music and the
festal scene that lay before them. On her entrance into
this part of the grounds, Queen Victoria and the Prince, at-
tended by a numerous suite, took a turn over the bridge, and
thence proceeded round the gravel walks, returning the same I
way. The procession thus incidentally formed was a very
striking object, and the company were sufficiently acquainted
with the etiquette observed on each occasions as to abstain from
that inconvenient pressure on her Majesty which, on a pre-
sinus day, caused so much embarrassment. It is, however,
due to Mr. Shackell, the gentleman in charge of this part of
the arrangement, to state that it was partly owing to his
timely injunctions that so much decorum was observed.
After making this petite promenade, the Queen and Prince
entered the pavilion, end were lost for the moment to the
admiring spectators, who repaired to the full spread boards in
order to refect exhausted nature, and to gather new
strength for a final gaze at the royal couple. At half. past
two the Queen and Prince retired to their apartments at the
Master's Lodge, and at a quarter to three the carriages con-
veyed them to the railway station.
JOURNEY TO TOTTENIIAM.—At three o'clock precisely
the Queen, the Prince, and their respective attendants, en-
tered the carriages on the railway, Mr. Hudson and several
of the directors, together with Mr. Roney, the secretary,
being in attendance, and accompanying her Majesty to town.
Mr. Honey gave the sigaal for departure, and the royal train
started easily and swiftly, being wafted to Tottenham station
in the space of one hour, twenty-three minutes, without the
shadow of an obstacle, or evea of an incident having
presented itself. On their arrival at Tottenham station the
same formalities were observed in the reception of the royal
travellers that have already been described as incidental to
the journey downwards, and on leaving the carriage, the
Prince, by the express commands of Queen Victoria, coa-
veyed to Mr. Hudson her Majesty's gracious acknowledg-
ments of her entire satisfaction at the transit to and from
Cambridge, and at the arrangements for her accommodation.
The force of this royal compliment was duly felt by his rail- '
way majesty, who bowed in silent gratification, and Queen
Victoria then stepped into the carriage at the door of the
pavilion, and, accompanied by the Prince, the Duchess of
!Sutherland, and the Countess of Desert, drove quickly off to I
Buckingham Palace, escorted by a guard of Lancers.
The Chancellor's levee this morning, as well as the recep-
tion last night, was very fully attended. In closing our
account of the ceremonies of this installation, we feel bound
to say a word in favour of the admirable arrangements made
by the authorities both of the university and the town, the
consequence of which was the avoidance of that confusion
which is the general accompaniment of ceremonies of state
when carried on in populems towns. The Eastern Counties I
Railway Company are also deserving of great praise, for the
leallities they afforded to those whom beanies& or pleasure
led to attend the proceedings.

ON THE VARIATIONS IN THE SUPPLY OF
SILVER COIN IN IRELAND DURING THE
OPERATIONS FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS

IN 1846-47.
[Professor Hancock's paper, read at the last meeting of
the British Association, on the above subject being of general
interest we have obtained a copy of it.
The variations in the supply of silver coin in Ire-
land were detailed in the correspondence on the measures
adopted for the relief of distress which had been presented
to parliament. During the greater part of the autumn, and
especially in the poorest districts, the Board of Works
found it extremely difficult, and in some places impossible,
to get silver coin for the weekly payments even in places
where they bad previously sent large quantities of coin.
This scarcity did not abate till December, and, notwith-
standing its general abatement, it continued excessive in the
poorest districts until after that period. In February the
scarcity had entirely disappeared, and the banks had not
room for all the coin which was poured in upon them.
This scarcity had been by some attributed to " board-
ing ;" but a scarcity from such a cause would have
been gradual Instead of sudden—would have been ac-
companied by a corresponding scarcity in gold and notes,
and would not have been gre►test in the poorest dis-
tricts. Others had attributed the scarcity to the mercenary
motives of she keepers and merchants. But this was only
• form of the old prejudice against merchants, founded on
the fallacy of supposing that it is their conduct which de-
termines the value of goods, instead of the value of goods
determining their conduct. The writer accounts for
the scarcity of silver coin in Ireland by the stoppage of
barter, consequent on the failure of the potato crop. This
failure stopped the conacre system, and rendered the pay-
ment of rent and other debts in labour instead of money no
longer practicable, and thus put an end to the chief source
of time extensive system of barter prevalent in the agricul-
' tura] districts of Ireland. A demand was thus suddenly
created fora large quantity of silver coin to be used as cur-
rency in the small transactions previously carried on by
barter. Such being the muse of the scarcity, it remained
to consider the measure', which were and those which ought
to have been adopted to obviate its consequences.
The government imported a large quantity of coin
direct from the Mint, and also employed the Bank of Ireland
to import large quantities from the Bank of England, and