The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-09 00:00:00

OLYMPIC.

Last night au amusing trifle "from the French,"
by Mr. Horace Wigan, wee produced at this theatre. It is
called Beal and Ideal, and its moral seems to be • protest
against those romantic notions which are apt to be engen-
dered by a too attentive study of literature of the London
Journal type. A Yorkshire lady who bas fallen into this
error is staying with her husband at a London friend's
named Bonus (Mr. Cooke). Bonus is much the sort of
person into whom Mr. Richard Swiveller might have deve-
loped if he had remained a bachelor, had continued his devo-
tions to the Muses, and had become a wealthy stockbroker
on the wrong side of fifty. He has living in hie house
at Bayswater a young lady named Lucy Braodon (Mile
Hughes), to whom he ia engaged to be married, the match
having been made by her deceased peps, and enforced by the
condition usual in fiction—that of forfeiture of her estates
if she does not carry out the arrangement. She apparently
assents to it, but ate has all the time a secret attachment
to one Frederick Herbert (Mr. Neville), • penniless attaehd
on leave in England. By way of warning to her romantic
friend, Mrs. Harzrave (Mrs. St. Henry), she draws •
pathetic picture of the emlarrsaament and misery
which flow from these interesting entanglements.
Scarcely has she finished when Bonus finds Her-
bert concealed on the premises, demands an ex-
planation, and is allowed to conclude that there is a dis-
graceful intrigue in progress with Mrs. Hargrave. Horror.
stricken, he begs his /Marie to lecture her soundly on the
impropriety of her conduct, which she undertakes to do.
Now, Lucy is by nature "as jealous as a Barbary cock
pigeon," and the lecture becomes in reality a downright
" row." In the meantime Herbert and Hargrave have met
and explained, and it is arranged that the former shall make
the most ferocious love he can to Mrs. Hargrave ; which he
does is accordance with • ample furnished him out
of the London Journal, and poor Mrs. Hargrave is
very naturally frightened half out of her wits. At
length, however, Boma interferes to prevent the duel
which seems impending, and in the most magnanimous
manner enures Hargrave that Herbert's visit was to Mies
Brandon. Herbert, thinking that the declaration is bond
fide, declares the true state of his heart, and is accepted at
all costs. Bonus, utterly nonplused, flies for comfort to
the very quotations by which his archetype of facetious
memory consoled himself on the collapse of the affaire
Chegge, but be is stumped out by Hargrave with the Shake-
whin dictum

THE GANZ SEARCH IN THE EA/ff.—The game
season has not opened very promisingly in the eastern dis-
trict. From Suffolk it is stated that the partridges in most
neighbourhoods are small, while the supply is scanty, the
shooting being reported to be the worst which has been ex-
perienced for the last three or four years. In Lincolnshire,
too, sportsmen complain that never were partridges eo
scarce, very few coveys having been seen even on estates en
which game is strictly preserved. Poaching and a cold no-
genial spring have no doubt induced this result.
REPRESENTATION OF CAMBRIDOF..—CAMBRIDOE,
MONDAY.-As yet comparatively little excitement prevails
here with regard to the impending vacancy in the morons-
tatioo, though both parties are risking the best of their oppor-
tunities. There is no doubt that the real struggle will be at
the approachieg revision of the parliamentary voters list,
which is fixed to commence on the 15th lust. The revision
battle in Cambridge is generally an exciting one, but on the
approaching occasion will of course possess additional in-
terest, as the present condition of the register renders every
vote of importance. To-day an answer has been received
from Colonel Adair. He states that on receipt of a requisi-
tion formally signed, he shall be happy to respond to the
call of the liberal electors. Accordingly, a meeting of the
last-mentioned has been convened for Tuesday evening,
in order to get up such requisition. The masers".
tires have had a meeting under the preside**, of
Mr. Charles Balla, the head of the conservative
party, and the following resclution was pawed:—
Mr. Steuart having by letter to the agents of the two
political parties lx Cambridge announced his intention of
I - - - - -
resigning his seat, resolved, that upon any mousey occur.
THE °FENIX° OF BOTANIC GARDENS ON SUNDAY. ring in the representation of the borough, the conserve-
-We are informed that the success of the agitation in tive party will introduce a candidate to represent
Dublin last year for the opening of the Clasnevin Gardena their interests." A committee was appauted to
has stimulated en effort in Edinburgh for the opening of the select a conservative candidate. Mr. Balls, in the
Royal Botanic Gardens. A memorial just forwarded to the course of the proceedings, said there was DO desire to with.
Lords of the Treasury received in Edinburgh, in the few hold the nuns of the candidate, but it was felt that his
days it was open for signature, 14,160 names, none but premature introductiou might lead tonnoecessaryeacitement
Edinburgh citizens being allowed to sign. Counter memo- and expense, and to other evils in coons:ion with a coo.
nate frorn the Sabbath Alliance sod Protestant Association tested election. When the proper time arrived, the con.
have blew smut. servatires would be ready with their man.

" Youth and crabbed age
Cannot live together;"
So he is obliged to act the part of benevolent father, and
join the lianas of the young couple, in order to prove that
his years are not yet crabbed.
The piece, it will be seen, is not devoid of extravagance,
but some of the " situations" are well conceived, and all the
characters being played with much spirit, the author was
last night gratified be the plenteous laughter of the house.

FIRE AND LOIN OP TWENTY LIVES.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY MORNING.

A terrible fire broke out this morning in the
Brownlow-hill Workhouse, and before it was extinguished
about twenty lives were lost, and the church adjoining the
building was completely destroyed. The fire was first dis-
covered by Miss Kennon, the schoolmistress, about a
quarter past two a.m., who at once informed Mr. Carr,
the governor, of the fact that dense smoke was iesubag
from the windows of the children's dormitory, which is
situated in the eastern portion of the building, over the
drug store of the workhouse, and only separated
by a narrow passage running parallel with the
church. As soon as Mr. Carr ascertained the
Position of the fire he ordered all the hose of
the workhouse to be got out, and they were Mime.
diately fixed to seven stand pipes, and the water conveyed
by them at once directed on the burning interior of the
dormitory and church. Unfortunately the pressure of
water at this time was not great, and the fire continued to
spread among the combustible materials contained in the
apartments of the dormitory, which unfortunately was filled
with its mewl inmates. It was near the centre of the dor-
mitory, it is presumed, that the fire originated. The dor-
mitory Is an apartment about 10 feet in length, which ruse
north and south parallel to the east gable of the church,
from which it is separated by the passage before mentioned.
The dormitory is provided with two staircases, one
at the south end and one in the centre. From the
situation of the fire it was easy to get out all the
inmates who occupied the south end of the apartment
by means of the south staircase ; but am the fire raged prin-
cipally near the centre and around the head of the central
stairs, no means of mope could be afforded to those who
occupied the northern portion. Ladders were obtained,
and the greatest efforts were made to extricate the terrified
children through the windows. On breaking these, how-
ever, the smoke was so dense nod the beat so great that it
was utterly impossible for any one to gain an entrance with-
out the certainty of almost instant death and the most de-
monstrable evidence of the impossibility to render any effi-
cient aid.

Water, which now became more plentiful, was continued
to be poured in copious streams upon the incandescent
mass of which the dormitory now consisted, and such
was the anxiety to save life that many of these
who were employed in the praiseworthy effort had narrow
escapee with their lives. Miss Mennen bad to be carried
►way in a state of insensibility. Mr. Carr was several times
nearly suffocated ; and, painful to relate, two adult nurses
and a grown-up girl fell victims to their exertions to save
the lives of the helpless children. This sacrifice, however,
was unavailing, as the whole of the inmates who occupied
the northern portion of the apartment—numbering seventeen
or eighteen—perished in the smoke or flames.
The fire bad by this tints gained a feat hold on the church,
but the whole available force of the water was directed
in subduing the fire which was raging with such fatal
effect in the plate where it was first discovered. Under
these circumstances the conflagration in the church made
fearful progress, and soon after 3 o'clock the whole struc-
ture was one grand and terrific mem of flame, from the
floor to the top of the steeple ; the flames twisted
and twirled, presenting a picturesque but appalling spectacle,
which was visible for miles around. About half-past 4 a por-
tion of the steeple supports gave way, and the steeple itself
appeared to vibrate considerably. A moment had scarcely
elapsed when it reeled and fell, crashing through the roof
and interior timbers and supporta, including the lower floor
and all the consumable materials within the edifice down
to the school-rooms underneath. After that the fire ap-
peared to have exhausted itself, and gradually died out.
Simultaneously with the commotion of the fire in the
church that in the dormitory was got under. At one time
the fever hospital of the workhouse, which is in proximity
to the dormitory and the church, was threatened with the
fire, and the patients were got ready for removal in case of
any emergency, but fortunately the precautions taken were
not required, and 6:16 fire did nest reach the hospital.
On the subjugation of the fire the ruins presented a
distressing appearance. The dormitory roof was gone,
as were also a large portion of the floor and
the central staircase. The portions of the floor which
remained were covered with partially burned bedding, and
among the wreck were the charred and disfigured remains of
the unhappy victims of the flames. Some of these were
horribly mutilated, having evidently been smashed by the
falling debris. In the dormitory the bedsteads were all
iron, and in one row of these lay 14 bodies of Melees
children, charred and blackened, and partially covered with
fallen portions of the roof. The church, which once we.
one of the most pleasing features of the general maw of
the workhouse buildings, presented a sad appearance. Its
walls were completely burst ►nd rent asunder by the heat
and the falling timbers ; and the once beautiful spire was
broken, and lay in fragments among the smoking remnants
of the sacred edifice.

The dormitory in which the fire was first discovered was
the one apportioned to the female children and infant in-
mates, and these there were about 40—namely, 16
pretty well 1 own-up girls, and 24 of tender age. Of these,
as nearly as could possibly be ascertained, 18 or 19 had been
burnt to death or suffocated in the room, in addition to
the three nurses, who have been already mentioned as hay-
ing lost their lives.
How the fire originated is unknown, as all was reported
correct and safe as late as half-past eleven o'clock at night.
As we have already stated., it was first discovered by Miss
Rennin, who slept in a room adjoining the dormitory, and
who, perceiving thick smoke coming out of it, rushed in
and succeeded in getting three of the children out ; but
perceiving the serious nature of the fire she aroused
Mr. Carr, and he immediately called up other assistance.
He speaks his conviction strongly that if a plentiful supply
of water could have been obtained at first a considerable
saving of property and even life might have been effected.
We understand that the buildings are insured with the
Royal Exchange Insurance Company.

ROYAL SZLECTIONS. —The voltune of "Meditation
on Death and Eternity," translated from the German of
Zchekke, by Miss Frederica Rowan, and published by her
Majesty's permission, is attracting some attention from the
fact of its being understood to be composed of selections
made by her Majesty from Zchokke's " Stunden der An-
&chi," or " Hours of Devotion." An English vendee of the '
complete work wail published some years ago, but did
not then excite much notice. The preface to
the present volume informs us that the selections
have been made "by one to whom, in deep and,
overwhelming sorrow, they have proved a source of
comfort and edification." The religious writing of Hein-
rich Zcbokke having been of a kind more poetic and
emotional than theologically exact, some doubt, have
been expressed whether the present publication may not,
under the circumstances, provoke painful discussion.
The tears expreised, however, appear to be without
foundation. The work is somewhat gloomy, but is cer-
tainly not distinguished for daring speculation. The opening
passage:—" What a painful shock do we not all experience at
the intelligence of the sudden death of a friend, or even of •
mere acquaintance whom we may have seen and spoken to
but • few hours or a few days before, and whom we believed
to be in good health," does not, at least, sound like • pre.
lode to any very startling reflections. To English readers
the selections will indeed probably appear somewhat tame ;
but the circumstances under which the volume, which has
already been privately printed and circulated among the
royal family, makes its appearance, will doubtless invest it
with peculiar interest in the eyes of many readers—Pub-
lishers' Circular.

Tau HAevasr IN LINCOLNSIIIILL—In this large
agricultural county harvest work has received a temporary
check, the weather during the past week having been varied,
and there has been an abundant fall of rain. Although
farmers bare not been able to make much progress in
reaping, the moisture has been highly advantageous to the
root crops and potatoes; mangold and turnips have received
considerable benefit. A good deal of corn has already
been housed in the neighbourhood of Barton, and it as
reported that wheat will be bold and good, but rather
deficient in quantity. Barley is forward, and will yield
largely. Irish labourers are very numerous. Near Caistor
the wheat crop on the whole is well spoken of, but the late
rain has interfered with the peewees of the harvest open-
' titan. Around Bogen and several other places in the eastern
district the yield of wheat is expected to be over as avenge.
The crops already thrashed out have yielded essii&lt'Wy
more than was expected, both as 42 Tuiptitf.s*d
quality. Is one or two places is this vicinity the yield has
proved 5i quarters per sere, and barley, oats, and beans
are abundant crops. Taken as • whole, the yield of wheat
is this county is expected to be quite as average. The
week bee upload ilea, sad a large breadth of all kids of
gnus will in all probability be housed by Wonky amt.