The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-20 00:00:00

DINNER AT AYR TO SIR JOHN ROSS.

This gallant navigator arrived in Ayr last week
on board the Felix. llis appearance was hailed with de-
light, for, after a cruise of sixteen months in the Polar
Seas in search of Sir John Franklin, the little ♦essel has
returned safe and sound, with her crew in the same con-
dition. .

As an expression of respect and esteem for the gallant
Admiral, it was resolved to honour him with a public din-
ner. Accordingly, on Monday evening, upwards of ninety
gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood met in the
King's Arms Hotel, determined to welcome in a demon-
stmtive manner the arrival of the brave old navigator. Be-
fore proceeding to the dinner table,'Bailie M'Murtric, in
name of the magistrates and council, presented Sir John
with the freedom of the town.—Ayr Adratiscr.

STRIKE AT THE GREAT NORTHERN
RAILWAY TERMINUS.

A strike of considerable importance, and which
will in all probability for a time suspend the progress of the
stupendous works now being carried on with a v:ew to the
formation of the permanent station of the Great Northern
Railway, at King's-cross, took place on Friday.
The men who have struck amount to between 300 and
400 carpenters, bricklayers, and labourers in the employ of
Messrs. Jay and Co., the contractors for works on the Great
Northern hue and its terminus, and the dispute upon which
it has arisen is in reference to the stoppage by the con-
tractors of an hour and a half time on .saturday afternoon,
it being the role of the trade that the workmen shall leave
otf at four o'clock at this period of the year on Satur-
days, instead of half-past five. The disagreement on
this point between Mr. Jay and his men has been
going on for some weeks past, and on Friday after-
noon tho men held a meeting at the Duke of
York Tavern, in Maiden-lane, and passed a resolution to
submit to the deduction of the hour and a half no longer,
and a deputation having been appointed to wait upon the
contractors, the result of the interview was deemed sultan-
satisfactory, that immediately, after it wa. resolved to
strike and, in pursuance of the usulution, a placard woi
issued of which the following is a copy. nod posted on the
walls, and circulated in the Acme throughout the entire
neighbourhood in great profusion:

"NOTICE.

"TO OUR FLLLOIT-WORILAIES.-GREAT NORTIIRRAI RAIL-

WAY, /iINO.S.CILUS4.

" Whereas, in consequence of the disagreement between
the workmen (bricklayers, carpenters, and labourers) em-
ployed on the above works and their employer, in conse-
quence of the stoppage of the hour and a half on the
Saturday afternoon, they hose Leen compelled to Ceaie
work until the disagreement is settled.—Friday, October
17,
On instituting inquiry as to the details in connexion with
the strike, our reporter was informed that it is the rule of
the trade to consider, at the present season of the year, ten
hours a day's work, and that the hour and a half less
than that amount of hours is allowed them on a Saturday
by the employers, unless the workmen lu-c time by means
of their own neglect ; but, if they lose time through una-
voidable circumstances, such as wet weather, 6:c., it is al-
ways allowed. It is stated that Messrs. Jay and Co. are
the only firm who repudiate this system ; and if a man
loses two hours and a half per diem from any ensue, then
they compel him to forfeit the advantage of payment for the
hour and a half on Saturdays. This the men consider a
very great hardship, and Wednesday last, being a
wet day, caused them to lose a vast amount of
time, and to entail on them a consequent forfeiture (in
accordance with Messrs. Joy's rule) of the payment of the
hour and a half on Saturday, and which rule, it appears, on
application, they refused to relinquish. Another ground of
complaint which the men make is this—They say that it is
the practice of the trade to pay men on the works, and it is
carried out even on the terminus of the Great Northern
Railway with regard to the masons; hut, although in the
event of the loss of limo ul,ove described, the men are docked
the hour and a half on Saturday, they state that all the
carpenters, builders, and labourers have to walk from the
works to the offices ut the Messrs. Jay, in Macelestiad-street,
Cite-road, for the payment of their wages.
The men held another meeting on Saturday, and again
sent a deputation to treat with Messrs. Jay upon the point ;
the only terms, however, the contractors would make with
the nun were that they should not Le permitted, under any
circumstances, to lose more than ten hours per week. If
the loss of time in each case should not exceed ten hours,
then they should be entitled to the hour and a half on a
Saturday, but in every case where the ten hours were en-
eeeded—or, in other words, that a man did not make a
clear five slays a week • then he should forfeit the hour and
half on a Saturday.
The men have refused to accede to this proposal, and
thus the case stand- at the pia sent moment. There can be
uo question that this unfortunate event will result in great
inconvenience and loss to the contractors, who were bound
down by the company in heavy penalties to have the per-
manent terminus of the Great Northern Railway complete
lens fit for occupation in eighteen months from the time
of making the contract, which expires about April or
May next.

DRAMA.
ST. JAMES'S THEATRE.

The performances of the little !humans termi-
nated on Saturday evening. when Kate, the elder, had her
benefit. These gifted cluldreu, we observe, are about to
commence an engagement at Edinburgh, atter which, and
SW= other provincial engagements, they will resume their
performances in London, and probably at the same theatre.
Every part of the theatre was toll, and the boxes pre-
sented an array of rank and fashion scarcely to have been
expected at this season and after the clo,.ing of the Exhibi-
tion. The house resounded incosantly with applause and
leughter. The sisters were twice edict for at the end of
each piece, and absolutely loaded with bouquets showered
upon them by the ladies in the boxes; and nothing could
be more engaging than the simple and natural grace with
which they made their aelinowledgments.
We cannot conclude without expressing approbation of
the manner in which these performances have been carried
on. The company has been efficient, and all the pieces
have been well got up and acted. Mr. Webster and Miss
Villars are excellent performers, and Mr. Bateman, though
he has appeared but seldom, is a comed:au of intelligenco
and talent. In all the axessories of scenery, decorations,
&c., the St. James's theatre never leaves anything to be
desired.

THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE PAOLI AND ERIN.
—An official investigation has been instituted by the go-
virnment authorities at Singapore respecting the disastrous
collision which happened between the Edit and niche
steam ships, both the property of the Peninsular and Ori-
ental Steam Navigation Company, and which terminated,
as may be generally known, in a melancholy loss of life,
and the foundering of the latter named vessel, with a
very valuable freight. The inquiry took place at the
police office, and was opened on the 28th of July ; Mr.
Anthony Hammond (magistrate), Captain Barker, of her
Majesty's ship Ane eon ; and Captain Russell, the master
attendant and marine magistrate ; presiding on the bench.
The proceedings after occupying four or five days were
then brought to a close. As yet, we understand, the gen-
tlemen who undertook, on the part of the public, to institute
this investigation have not expressed any opinion in refer-
ence to the case as it at present stands, and whether blame
is attributable to either or both of the parties who had the
charge of navigating the vessels. Respecting the fate
of the Pacha, and the probability of recovering
some portion of her valuable cargo, there is too
much reason to believe, we fear, that she is wholly lost.

AN EXHIBITION PIECE OF MACHINERY DESTROYED.
—On Saturday afternoon, as a waggon belonging to
Messrs. Chaplin and Home, drawn by three horses, was
proceeding down Wellington-street, Strand, the leader
stumbled, and the other two horses immediately losing
their footing down the incline, the waggon came with such
force upon the shafts to the ground, as to throw upon the
pavement a valuable piece of machinery, which has been on
view at the Crystal Palace. The machine (for tlrts.iaq
cotton), for which a prize bad been awarded, had been
purchased by a French manufacturer, and was consigned
to the care of Chaplin and Horne, to be taken to Woolwich
Dockyard, where it was to remain until arrangements
should be made for shipment ; and the driver states that
the accident was occasioned by the greasy condition of the
street at the moment, the rain having just set in. The
machine is said to have been worth TOOL, but the concus-
sion was so great as to reduce it to fragments, more espe-
cially those portions composed of cast metal. The shafts of
the waggon were broken short off, and the wheel horst
was severely cut on the right shoulder. _

WRECK OF A FRENCH FRIGATE.— Intelligence
reached Lloyd's on Saturday, by means of the overland
mail from India, which brought despatches from Sydney,
rid Singapore, of the calamitous wreck of a fine frigate
of war belonging to the French republic, called the
Alcmene, mounting thirty six guns, commanded by M. Le
Compte d'llarcourt, on the west coast of Sydney, New
South Wales. Towards the latter end of Juno sho pro-
ceeded on a voyage from Hobart Town, and on the 3rd of
July, when between Kiapara Head and Ilokianga Head,
she was driven ashore on a formidable ridge of sand. All
exertions proved fruitless in getting her off. Nearly the
whole of the crew succeeded in reaching the coast, but un-
happily, all were not preserved, between twelve and fifteen
poor fellows having perished in trying to reach the beach.
Several of the officers and men, after obtaining aid, pushed
their way on to Auckland, and having informed the gover-
nor of the lamentable event, his excellency instantly
adopted the most prompt measures to afford them assistance.
The loss of the frigate will reach to upwanls of 30,0001.

STEAM BETWEEN BETWEEN GLASGOW AND NEW YORK.—
The fine new screw-steam ship Glasgow, which left
Greenock on the IGth September, at six o clock p.m., ar-
rived at New York on the 30th at 10 in the evening, having
thus made the passage in 14 days 8 hours, mean time.—
Liverpool Journal.
EXTENSIVE CONFLAGRATION.—About 11 o'clock
on Saturday forenoon a fire took place mar Limehouse
Church, commeuciug on the property of Mr. W. Chapman.
It originated in the factory, and such was the progress of
the flames, that era the arrival of the Brigade engines from
the A, B, and 1) stations, all Mr. Chapman's premises aml
stock were destroyed. The fire then communicated to the
cooperage of Mr. 7Sl'Craw, adjoining, and also reached the
building of Mr. llohson, a ship-chandler, and caused much
damage • but the firemen fortunately preserved the two
latter firma from that complete destruction which it was
feared wonld beful them. By half-past one the fire was
subdued. The property was uninsured.