The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-09 00:00:00

TO TEI EDITOR OP THE EXPRESS.

Sut,—So far as the evidence shows, it appears to
be a debateable point, whether the directors of the railway
were to blame in fixing their rates of speed, or whether the
unfortunate engine-driver exceeded the rate imposed by the
time table, and thus induced the consequences through his

own precipitate rashness ?
If every railway paseonger possessing a good watch, and
sufficient nerve to make au of it, were to note the exact
moment when an accident took plies, it would at least
serve aa an additional element by which the rate the train
may have been proceeding from the lust station, or possi-
bly, from mile to mile, might with tolerable accuracy be
arrived at. In the confusion which ordinarily prevails on
each occasions there may be difficulties in the way of ac-
complishing this object with absolute certainty; but the
adoption of a proximate when accidents are of so frequent
occurrence as they have been of late, must tend to mitigate
the evils whisk so constantly threaten the travelling portion
of the community.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
A. M.

SUICIDE BY

few days ago a lad

resirgenik named Henry Ravi% twelve years, son „.., an agri-
cultural labourer, at Raekbeare in DesMre,
wu toned hanging to the of an elm tree quite dead.
It appeared from the ultimo Wooed at the inquest that
the led worked for the Rev. J. lilliott in his fields, and
that he was occasionally in the habit of sleeping at the rev.
gentleman's house. He left' his father's cottage in good
health and spirits, talcum with bins Ms food for the day.
The night pissed over, but the led did not rebus. It was
Imagined that be was at Mr. RUiett's house ; and on the
third day the father made inquiries lii one of the
servants, bat head that he had not been there.
On going to the 'field where be bad bees at
'work, the boy was found hanging to the bough of a tree
by his handkerchief. There were no marks of violist* on
his?, sad them ma be no dettist that he had committed

aelf4estructiou. What could. iidso;a lad of welt tender
years to commit so rash an ar'i Wm Ow question at the in-
quest ; but no cue could am* any reams for it, as be had
not evinced say distress itif mind, sad was in good health
and spirits when seen at his work. A few months ago,
howmr, his brother also committed suicide is the same
way, and it is thought that this produced a morbid offset
, upon Lim mind, which led him to cosmic a similar act.

M. VANDERBILT'S STEAM-YACHT.

The public were admitted on board the gigantic
steam yacht, the North Star, belonging to Mr. Vanderbilt,
en American gentleman, now lying is the Southampton
Dock, yesterday, for the first time, and hundreds of the
nobility and gentry availed themselves of the privilege
during the day. The American cumulate establishment
has been besieged for days past for tickets to view the
North Star, and persons have come from a great distance to
see her. Every ticket admits tea persons. The public
will be admitted fur the three days previous to the us ner's
departure for St. Petersburg, via., Wednesday (yesterday),
to-day, and to-morrow. The saloons and furniture ap-
peared yesterday magnificent in the extreme. Everything
on board the North Star is American, and it is very evi-
dent that in many of the useful and °mantes-

tai arts the Americans are our equals in
point of taste and skill. Surprise has been expressed
at the small quantity of fuel consumed on board the North
Star when her great speed is considered. She made one of
the quickest passages across the Atlantic on record, and
consumed only 60 tons of coals a day, while the consump-
tion ordinarily in such steamers is from 70 to 100 tons daily
She has been enabled to traverse the ocean with such speed
at so little expense, by her being driven by what is celled
a beam engine, an American invention, which hes
before been used in a steamer to cross the Atlantic. The
fortune of Mr. Vanderbilt is estimated in America at nine
millions of dollars, or very nearly two millions sterling.
Hs has risen from the ranks. When informed that the
people of Southamptoa would like to visit his yacht, he
I immediately consented, and only stipulated with his agents,
who were empowered to issue tickets of admission, that
poor people as well as rich should see the North Star, and
they felt every curiosity to do so. The crew of the North
Star consists of • captain, two mates, four quartermasters,
and fourteen seamen, twenty-four engineers and firemen,
and eighteen stewards and assistants. The captain's name
is Eldridge. He was for many years commander of • ship
between Liverpool end America. A deputation from the
chief inhabitants of Southampton have gone to London to
Invite Mr. Vanderbilt to • banquet at the Town-hall in
that town, and a universal feeling prevails there that the
friendly and magnificent visit from a merchant prince of
the New World should be welcomed with becoming
splendour and cordiality. All who have seen the North
Star believe that we may learn as much from her in the
building and engineering of passenger ocean steamers as we
learnt from the celebrated American sailing yacht two or
three years ago in the building and rigging of sailing ships.