The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-17 00:00:00

Vbe court.

OSBORNE, SATURDAY, MAACE 15.
The Queen and Prime walked early this morning

in Osborne Park.
The Prince of \Cults and younger members of the royal
family walked and rode as usual.
Sir James Clark arrived at Osborne yesterday afternoon,
and had the honour of joining the royal dinner party. Sir
James returned to London this day.
SUNLPAY, NIARCH 16.—The Queen and Prince, and
younger members of the royal family, walked early this
morning in o.l'time Park.
Her Nlajesty and his Royal Highness, with th^ Prince
of Wales Lud the Princess Royal, and the Duchess of Kent,
and the ladies and gentlemen of the royal hou.tehold,
attended divine service this morning. The Rev. I. Pro-
theme officiated.
There was no addition to the royal dinner party this day.

A deputation from the representatives of the Foreign
Commissions for promoting the Exhibition of 1851, consist-
ing of M. Sallandroux de Lamornaix (France), M. Bu:-
chock camitria), Mr. St. John (I:iiited Statea), M. Kamen-
sky (Itusaia), and M. Doerstling, on behalf of Councillor
Stein (the Zell ertin), had an interview with Earl Gran-
ville, on tlatarday, at the Board of Trade.
A meeting of the Finance Committee of the Royal Corn-
zillion for the Exhibition of 1841 wan held on Saturday, at
the Board of Trade. There were prevent—Earl Gransille
(chairman), Sir Alexander Spearman, Mr. T. Baring, M.l'.,
Alr. Cnbitt, Mr. Gibson, Colonel Reid, and Mr. liowring
(secretary). Mr. Nike attended.
A deputation respecting the erection of lunatic asylums
in the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, consist-
ing of the lion. Charles Howard, M.l'., Captain Lowther,
M.P., Mr. Startler, M.P., Mr. Mattson, M I'., Mr. Philip
floweret, M.P., Mr. Alderman Thom wan, M.P., and Mr.
had an interview with Sir George Grey on
Saturday, nt the Home orrice.
A deputation of parties interested in the coffoe trade,
wassiating of Mr. Coulter, of the firm of Evans, Condor, and
Thorn, Mr. StiVAIO2 (Newsom and Williams), Mr. Bowe
(Clarke and Rowe), Meaem. Alibis., Mile., Alanton, Haw-
king, W. F. Strugnell, Thome* Russell, Snowden, Allwrt
King, Dykes Barry, George Hanley, accompanied by other
influential me miser. of the trade, had an interview ou Satur.
day with the Chancellor of the Exchenuer, at his official
residence in Downing-street.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. Ibrahim, M.P., Sir Iled-
worth Williamson, M.P., the Alayor of Sunderland, Alesara.
Ilartley, Ranson, Hills, and William., members of the
Town Council of Sunderland, the Town Clerk of Sunder-
land, Mr. Itawlinoin, and Mr. Charles Parkes, had an in-
terview with Sir George Grey, on Saturday, at the Mine-
office.
'f he Transatlantic Packet Station Commission met on
Saturday, at the Board of Trude. I'resent: Earl Gran-
ville (eit..irman), the lion. William Cowper, M.P., Sir
James (surd,,,,, K.C.8., sir John F. Burgoyne, K.C.8.,
Captain Stephenson EUerby, and Lord Hobart (secretary).
The following gentlemen had an interview with the Coin-
missinners, sax.. Loral Monteagle, Mr. O'Flaherty,
Mr. O'Brien, M.l'., Mr. Blake, M.l'., Sir Lucius O'Brien,
M.P., the Knight of Kerry,Admiral Itoliinaon, Mr. W. T.
Mahon, ?Ir. Lay, C.E., and Mr. Randall.
A deputation from the Executise Committee on the Man-
cheater and Salford Borough,. Education Bill, consistirur of
Mr. William Eutwiale (chairman), Sir Jame* Kaye Shut-
tleworth, the Bev. C. 'Reborn, and Mr. John l'eel (hon.
secretary), had nn interview with Sir G. Grey on Saturday,
at the Itanne-oftice.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday after-
noon at the Foreihm-ollice, Downing-street. The
ministers asseinbled at hAlf-past three o'clock. l'ro-
sent : Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the
Earl of Moto, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmeri-
ton, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Lord Broughton, the Right Honourable Henry La-
' houehere, and the Earl of Carlisle. The council sat
two hours and a half.

Tut El.E.Othleg Firrit Inssen took place on
Saturday. The company included Lord Charles Man-
ner., Lord Barrington, Lord Alfrod Hersey, Hon. James
Linder, lion. Eliot Yorke, Right lion. Dawson Dainer,
lion. Henry Lygon, lion. Edward Stanley, Sir John
Trollops, Sir Lucius O'Brien, Sir William Joßae, Mr.
Barroughts, Mr. Robert l'ahner, Mr. Henry Stuart, Mr.
George Banda., Mr. It. Currie, Mr. Cochrane, Mr. Floyer,
It. Coles, Mr. M. litiAkell, Colonel Hall, Mr. Ilahw,
Mr. Thomas Ilildvard, Mr. Moody, Mr. Mullins, Mr.
Buck, and Mr. Alderman Copeland

Titt: EARL op At.n;xtutt.r: expired on Saturday
morning. Ilis lordship was the fifth Earl of Alhem.irle,
and was the son of the fourth Iter by his first wik, the
daughter of Lard du Clilford. life lordship WaS burn in
17N, and married in 1816 the daughter of Mr. Steer. The
earl is sllCellded in his title by his brother, the lion. Cul.
George Thema' Keppel.

DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION.-SUP.
POSED LOSS OF WORE THAN FIFTY LIVES.

On Saturday morning an explosion took place in
the Victoria Colliery, at Nithshill, be longing to the Messrs.
Coat., of Paisley. From 60 to 60 men and boys were down
at the time, and it is supposed all tore perished. The
gearing of the pit was broken to pieces by the explosion,
and lisst in a state of wreck at the bottom, preventing access
to the pit.
The following particulars arc from the Glasgow Doily
Mail:

So far as can he weeertaincel, the blast took place between
tke hours of four and live o'clock in the morning, and what
ha.' nauler“l the catastrophe the more fatal and disastrous
is the circumstance that, this happeniier to he pay Satur-
day, there was a larger number of men than usual down in
the pit. At the prieent time it appears there is what is
called a night-shift employed, and the accident happened
just as the night men were exchanging with the collier; who
wen• to lee employed during the day.
Reports vary as to the her actually down in the pit.
Some say 50, others MI, and others again upwards of 60;
hut we Iselieve there can he no doubt that the number
ranges from fill to 00 individuals.
The place where the blast his evidently been most de-
-1 gelative u in the direction of what is called the Fret-
trade l'it, which is about half a mile from the mouth of
the Victoria. The Free-trade Pit, we may explain, is used
merely as an air-shaft for the Victoria, and from it dense
Noluinot of smoke are still it-Wine, having the smell which
usually arises from bunting materials. rite report of the
explosion was heard at the distance of several miles, and
parties in Paisley state the noise resembled that of dip
tant thunder. The scene in the vleinity of the pit is most
distressing. A large crowd of female relatives of those
burned alive in the pit arc crying bitterly, and awaiting with
anxious solicitude to learn something of the fate of those
who are near and dear to them Amor.g the individual
cases of distress is that of a woman who has four sons as
well as her husband in the pit. The shock of the blast was
felt by the colliers connected with the pits of Mr. Wilson,
and they were so much alarmed that they refused to go
down to their workings.
Nttellll.L, SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
To the above there can be very little added of a definite
than/tier. The operations at the shaft are still going for-
ward under the direction of :gr. Nisei, the general mana-
ger of the works; who, along with Mr. ('outs, one of the
proprietor., was on the spot very soon after the lamentable
occurrence took place. Access bail not, however, been ob-
tained to the pit, and till the obstructions are cleared away,
of muse there can be little light thrown on the eireum-
stanee.,as the eont limed escape of choke damp from the Free
trader" shaft renders it impossible to make a descent there.
The Victoria shaft is about 175 fathoms deep—being one
of the deepest pits in Scotland. It has been wrought since 1843.
Previously to the free. trader" shaft being sunk, the V ictoria
bad both an upeast and downcast vent ; but it is now entirely
downcast. 'rhe rope. were blown off the pulleys. One of
them has been re-adjusted and put into working order. The
cage which was attached to it has been got out after the
exertions of several hour,. To all appearance, however,
some time w ill elapse err the pit bottom be reached. A few
men had been employcsl, during the night, in extra work.
Some of them lout come up. and some still remain in the
pit. Those who have ase. toted state that all was in fair
working or& r when they left. Only the first gang of the
day men hail gone down prior to the accident. The others
wen• waiting at the shah mouth. The only possibility for
the safety of any of those in the pit met, in their baying
got round near the upeast shaft, on the other aide of the
workings from that on which the explosion has occurred.
The Cato.. of this lamentable event can as yet, necessarily,
be only matter of conjecture. It is supposed, how-
ever, that a portion of the roof has fallen in, so as to
rause an obstruction in the air passages, and thus produce
it. The general ventilation of the pit is remarkably good.
We were shown a beautiful model of it. which has been pre-
pared with the view of obtaining a place in the Great Exhi-
tion, on which the air courses were well delineated. By them
the air from the down cast shalt was carried along the whole
face of the present workings in a very complete manner,
while by means of trap-doers a portion of it was circulated
through the old parts of the pit. The efficacy of the prin-
ciple is best attested by the fact narrated to us by one of the
men, that he had, on Monday last, without difficulty, ten
versed the whole workings, in scorch of specimens of alum
ore, carrying a naked lamp. In the summer months it was
customary to burn a cube for the consumption of the damp,
but this has not been done fur some time, not being thought
necessary. The area of the workings is about 70 acres.
They have been wrought up towards the rise of the scam
about 301 sands from the downcast shaft, and a little be-
yond the ventilating one. The men were, therefore, en-
gaged on the upper or north side. About 200 men were
employed in the pit altogether. Messrs. Wylie and Roger,
the procurators fiscal from Paisley, have visited the place,
and intimation of the melancholy occurrence has been for-
warded by the proprietors to the lord advocate. Numbers
of relativi.s of the uubortunate men confined in the pit still
linger around the shaft-mouth.

DEATH IIEsULTING FROM THE BITE OF A MONKEY.
—On Saturday an inquest took place at the Grey Mare Inn,
Whitworth-road, Rochdale, on the body of a child, the son
of Mr. Oaskell, the landlord of the above house. It ape
peered that Mr. GaskeU hail purchased a monkey, and, not
anticipating any danger, the animal was allowed to remain
in the house, until it made a sudden spring, and, alighting
on the head of the child, bit it so severely that, notwith-
standing the utiws.t attention of a meds.eal man, the child
iliedinewis..qu,sue. A verdict of" Accidental death" was
returned. The monkey has since been killed.