The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-01 00:00:00

SHIPPING.

Mats Aitatven.—Dublin, 3; Waterford, 2; Donagba-
' des, 1 ; French, 2 • Flanders, 1.
Lownots, April I.—Wind this day at noon, N.E.,
light breese, and line clear weather.
DEAL, March 31. —Arrived : Phmnii, Berhice; Magda-
lens, Gibraltar; Clemente, Honfieur ; Wischafens,—. Ar-
rived from the river and sailed : William Shand, and Eliza
Killick, Singapore; Captain, Bombay, Sea-bird, Africa;
Blargaret Elizabeth, Bahia; Berbiee, ilerbice ; Medora,
Jamaica; Wenham, New York ; Walton, Boston;
Spartan, Eglinton, Empire, Astorian, and Cumber-
land, St. John's, N. 8.; Hymen, Pugwaah; Pearl,
Montreal; Laurel, Saguenay; Barkhill, St. Johffs,
Newfoundland ' Isabel, St. Michael's ; Rival, Lisbon ;
Laurel, Cork. Sailed : Sea Bird, Africa ; Medora, Jamaica;
Wenham, New York; Orynthia, Miramichi ; Centurion,
and Wolfocove, Quebec Pearl, and St. Andrew, Montreal;
Barkhill, Newfoundland; Rival, Lisbon Robert Meddle,
Cardiff, with the mat of the outward-bound.
Lt % ERPOOL. March 31.—N.N.W.—Arrived Caleb rim-
thaw, New World, Andrew Footer New York. Sailed:
' 30th • Syria, Montreal. 31st : Zenobia, Matanzas; Ravens-
wood, Jamaica; Gipsex, New Orleans ; Mahaica, Montreal,
Ann, St. John, New 'York. Off: Washington, and Oregon,
Mobile Queen, Apalachicola ; and Royal Sovereign,—.
Ore THE NORTH FORELAND, March 26. Arrived:
Catherine, Hamburg, for Cuba.
MONTROSE, March _J.—Sailed: Henry, Quebec. The
schooner Eliza Watson, of Pistenween, in working out of
harbour yesterday, went on the rocks near Scurdyness, where
she now lies in a dismasted state.

DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOIION.—A most awfu
catastrophe took place near Neath, on Wednesday last. at
the k.....kya colliery, by which no lees than nineteen men have
lost their lives, while seven others have been so dreadfully
burnt by the explosion of foul ►ir, that considerable doubt
exists as to their recovery. As nearly all the men employed
in that portion of the works where the explosion occurred
have perished, it is exceedingly difficult to ascertain the pre-
cise cause of the accident. It is said that the state of the
colliery in question has long been the subject of complaint,
and that dining the last four years explosions on a small
Kale have from time to time taken place, in one of which,
about five weeks since, one man met his death. .

THE ATELEY FARMERS' CLUB, at their last meet-
lag. discussed the subject of the best method of draining
lead. The question was introduced by a member whose
recent practice on a farm abounding with springs rendered
bin. quite competent to speak on the subject, and entitled
his opinion to the fullest consideration. After alluding to
the beneficial effects produced on the atmosphere by raising
its temperature (sometimes as much even as ten degrees),
and thenhy rendering it more salubrious, he proceeded to
recapitulate the various advantages resulting to the owner
and occupier of the soil by thorough drainage, such as the
immense increase in its productiveness, earlier maturity of
its crops, the additional comfort to animals fed upon it, their
consequent increased propensity to fatten, and many other
important results. He then adverted to the effectual im-
provement obserluble in the soil after being drained to the
depth of five feet, the subsoil being composed principally of
seal and gravel, the drains being a considerable distance
apar., and filled' up with pipes, two inches in diameter, and
small stones picked off the land—these he preferred to any
other materials for such a purpose. Other gentlemen fur-
-1 niched satisfactory evidecce of the truth of such observations;
and the opinion prevailed that itch, wherever practicable,
and when judiciously carried out, would be the most
effectual and at the same time the most economical
system to be pursued. It was also universally admitted
that draining should be at all times followed by sub-
soil ploughing, as affording • more ready percolation
to rain water, by which the fertilising properties of the
manure in the sod would be more effectually held in solution
and conveyed to the roots of the growing crop. The follow-
ing resolution was adopted:—" That the ben: system of
draining land is by pipes and stones ; that no fixed rule can
he followed as to the depth, which must in a great mean,*
depend on the situation of the land and its various soils and
subsoils, but, when practicable, deep draining is preferable,
and is best adapted to the soils in this neigh urhised,;the
subsoil being in most instances of a pervious nature."