The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-11 00:00:00

ZOt court.

CROXTETH, OCT. 8.
lice Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by
the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Princess Alice,
and Prince Alfred, left Edinburgh this morning at 9 o'clock,
and travelled by the Caledonian Railway to Croxteth Park,
the scat of the Earl of Sefton. At Lancaster her Majesty
anal his Royal Highness, accompanied by the royal chil-
dren, left the railway train and drove to the Castle, salter°
two addresses were presented to her Majesty, one from tho
magistrates of the county, and one from the mayor and cor-
poration of the borough. The royal party afterwards took
luncheon in the Castle. At halfixoit War the special train
arrived at the Itainhill Station, whcre the Earl of Sefton
was in readiness to receive her Majesty and his Royal High-
nws, and accompany them to Crusted'. The saito con-
sisted of the Viscountess Canning, the lion. Beatrice Brig,
Miss Iliblyard, Earl Grey, Colonel lion. C. 11. l'hapPgt
Colonel lion. A. Gordon, Sir James Clark, and the Rey.
Mr. Birch.

The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National
Debt had a quarterly meeting yesterday, at the official resi-
dence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in Downing-
street. The commissioners present were the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, the Governor of the Bunk of England, and
the Deputy Governor. Sir Alexander Spearman, Secretary
and Comptroller-General to the Commissioners, attended.
The Oxford University Commission had a meeting yes-
terday, at the official residence of the First Lord of tho
Treasury, in Downing-street. Present: The Bishop of
Norwich, the Dean of Carlisle, the Master of Pombroke,
the Rev. 11. U. Liddell, J. L Damplv, Esq., the Rve. Pro-
' feseor Powell, the Rev. G. 11. S. Johnson, and the Rev. A.
P. Stanley (secretary).
Lord John Russell arrived at his residence in Chesham-
place yesterday evening, from Rhyl, North %Vales.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer and lately Mary Wood
arrived in Downing-street yesterday evening, from 'tickle-
ton Hall, near Doncaster, .

Gespatehci were sent off yestenGy evening from the Co-
lonial-ottice, for the Governor of Canada, stud also ;or the
Governors of the other North American colonies.

(From last nishA's
WHITEHALL, OCT 8. The Queen has been
pleased to direct letters patent to be missed under the Great
Seal of the United Kingdom, appointing the Right Honour-
able Sir Janes Lewis Knight RI uee and the Right Honour-
able Robert Mooney Lord Cranworth, to be Judges of the
Court of Appeal in Chancery.
CROWN-OFFICE, Ocr. J.—Member returned to tservo
in this present parliament for the Couutv of York, East
Riding:—The Hon. Arthur Duncoinbe, of Kilnwick Percy,
in the county of York alert:and, in the room of lleury Broad-
ley, Esq., deemed.

STRANGE STORY .thour sm JOHN

FRAN:i LIN.

A correspondent who dates " Gloucester, Friday,"
writes as follows :
't Some extraordinary circum.tanees have just happened
here, which I hasten to communicate. They are almost
incredible, but for the fact that the authority is undoubted,
and the circumstances are such as have induced the Admi-
ralty to order an official inquiry, which is now being pro-
ceeded with. These arc the tarts :—Last Sunda) afternoon
Mrs. Russell, a lady living at Wootton, near this city, ob-
served something fall in the garden while at dinner. On
sending out the gardener, he found it to be a ,mall balloon,
iu the car of which was a card bearing the following inscrip-
tio°:—

" ' Erebus, 112 W. long.
71 deg. N. lut.
September, 3, ltl3l.
Blocked in.'

" The matter was at first looked upon an a hoax, but sub-
sequent events led to a communication being made with tho
Admiralty, who sent for the, balloon and card, and imme-
diately on their receipt sent over Captain Beechy, U.N., to
Gloucester, with another officer, to make inquines. Theso
inquiries are now being prosecuted, Captain Beeehy having
been here at Wootton examining all parties resident there.
The balloon is believed to be of exactly a similar kind to
those sent out with the Erebus when sho sailed from Eng-
land."

REPRESENTATION OF EAST RETFORD.—A rumour
has been in circulation that Sir Charles Napier is
likely to become a candidate for the representation of tho
hundred of Bassetlaw, vacant by Captain Duncombe's elec-
tion for the East Riding. We arc assured that there is no
probability of such an event, the Hun. W. E. Buncombe
having made a canvass, the result of which would render any
opposition futile.—Lincoln Mercury.
REPRESENTATION OF LINUSEY.—Mr. R. A. Chris-
topher, M.P. for North Lincolnshire, in a letter to his con-
stituents, contradicts the rumour that in consequence of Hr.
Banks Stanhope having accepted a requisition to become a
candidate at the next election, it was his (Mr. Christopher's)
intention to resign. lie considers that to abandon his con-
stituency at such a crisis would be a base dereliction of
public duty."—Doncaster Gazette.

DEATH OF AIR. ALEXANDER LEE.—This
known and popular ballad composer, we regret to state,
died on Thursday morning. lie was well known amongst
our vocalists as one of the sweetest and best song composera
of the present day. lie was in his career connected, as
musical director, with the leading London theutr.s, and at
ono period was the lessee of Drury-lane Theatre in con-
junction with Captain Polhill. lie never recovered the
shock of his wife's death, the late Mrs. Waylett, some
months back, and we regret to announce that he died in the
reverse of affluent circumstances.—Wobe.

ACCIDENT ON TIIE 11.110NE.—DEATII OF A YouNG
ENOLISIMAN.—A letter dated Marseilles, Oct. 6, says,
" You remember, of course, the old bridge of St. Esprit,
the existence of which is a disgrace to the French govern-
, ment. It offers an obstruction to the course of the river,
similar to that of old London-bridge when the tide was on
the ebb. When there is much water in the Rhone it effects
a complete rapid, so that great attention and dexterity are
Men required 'to shoot' the arch ; the passage under which
is at all times attended with more or less danger. On the
occasion to which I allude (the 4th inst.), the river, swollen
by recent rain, was barely practicable, and yet they neg-
lected to lower the chimney of the steamer on passing.
One of the crew seeing the danger (for the helms-
man was unable to keep us in the centre) ran for-
ward, but he was too late. The chimney struck the arch,
broke in the middle, and fell abaft among a number of pas-
sengers, who had assembled at its base for heat and shelter,
for the morning was cold and windy. Several English
families were among the number, chiefly young girls, whose
mothers happened to be at a distant part of the vessel. The
confusion caused by the accident was very great, and it was
increased by the smoke and soot which enveloped those in
the i.eighbourbood of the funnel. As soon as it cleared
away, it appeared that a fine boy, the son of M. Benedict
the composer, was dangerously wounded. An English phy-
sician, who was on board, gave every Jr., intoner, and the un-
fortunate youth was landed at Avignon, but spite of every
exertion he expired during the evening front the injuries
ha received."