The Express.
London, England, 1846-10-29 00:00:00

THE FLOOD ON THE LOIRE.

BLOTR. OCT. 25.—This most disastrous and unex-
ampled flood is now sinking. The register of its height at
the bridge of this town stands at thirteen feet. It stood at
fifteen all day yesterday ; showing by its slow sinking what
a prodigious volume of water has flowed down this valley
of nearer 0 than 400 miles. Nantes is under water towards
the sea ; and Roanne, iu the heart of France, was on Sunday
the scene of the calamitous inundation thus described by an
eye-witness from • neighbouring village :
" Roanne is a sheet of water, cut off from this village by
the bursting of the causeway to it. The Loire here and the
canal now form one prodigious torrent ; floated with a wreck
of goods of all sorts, furniture, and animals; a sight that
makes the heart ache. We are crowded with the
fugitives ; children and their mothers in the deepest
affliction ; and the men crying like children ; whilst
the waters were furiously roaring by, and house after
house falling. The church here at mass was full of these
poor people—little infants without a rag of clothing, and
their mothers in their cloaks only ; for the tows of Roanne
had been surprised in the night. A hundred houses went
to pieces there. The destruction of property is enormous.
Three thousand barrels of wine were mils.; at one time from
the quay. The canal torn up. The coal boats, ready to start
loaded, are all swamped. The storm of rain which caused
this flood had burst in the mountains of Auvergne, above
Roanne, where the snow melted, and with the rains filled
all the rivers to overflowing. The Allier and the Loire
run almost parallel to their junction at Never,
where next day, the 19th, the following scenes
were witnessed, and account written:—' Nevers, Two
o'Clock in the Morning.—Yesterday, the most gloomy
forebodings were expressed as to the state of the
poor this winter from literal starvation. To-day •
frightful inundation brings a fresh calamity upon the
whole land. Here, in tne middle of the night, the people
who live in the lower part of the town were roused from
sleep by the Loire bursting its banks, foaming and roaring
like the sea in a storm. It was perceived, in spite of the
darkness, that the current was bringing down huge masses
of agricultural implements, and of merchandise of all sorts;
boats which had been driven from their moorings, and the
doom beams, and rafters of houses. It is an awful sight.
Water fills the whole plain around. To the extremest
horizon, the land becomes whiter and whiter. The tope
of the trees, and the roofs of the house' (the only
points seen), show the depth of the flood. At
the distant windows signals of distress are distin-
guished; and groans are heard in every direction. Boats
are being despatched to the rescue of these people, but
it is doubtful if they can get to all the houses. The two
steamers are off, bat they are entangled among the trees.
As I am writing the smaller boats are collecting the victims,
and bringing them to the steamers.-10 o'clock.—The
steamers have brought in great numbers, among whom a
poor mother is shrieking dreadfully: her infant in its cradle
slipped out of the nurse's hands as it was passed from the
window towards a boat, and was carried away on the water
before her eyes. It soon sunk.-11 o'clock.—The steamers
are off again to the flooded streets; without their help the
loss of life must have been very great. A harnessed team of
six oxen floated by; three were dead, but the other three
struggled in the stream, near us. Their eyes were seen
out of the water till they all sunk together, near the
bridge. There is the greatest fear for the neighbouring
villages along the river." As soon as the rising of the water
was seen at Nevers, the prefect sent couriers across to Blois,
and down the river. This prudent step happily put the I
authorities on their guard. At Orleans, the ravages of the
water have been dreadful. Many lives are reported to have
been lost; but as to number the accounts vary much. The
alarms for the people were so great, that boats and boatmen
were sent for to Paris by the railroad—four hours' journey
—an interesting example of the value of the railroad. The
new bridge built by the government engineers for the rail-
road to the South, gave way. The old bridge built by the
famous l'erronet, in the last century, stands firm.
The Loire is kept in by lofty embankments, which have
long been the admiration of travellers. These gave way in
many places, and so the whole valley is a sea, or rather
Eilf of a prodigious extent. The most afflicting details may
pected from the whole line of towns and villages to the
sea. Tours is still cut off from Blois, and great apprehensions
are felt for Angers, where several rivers meet. The sym-
pathy of the French public for the poor sufferers on this
melancholy occasion LS fully roused. All the authorities
have behaved well, from the highest—the ministers, who
came down from Paris to Orleans and Blois at once—to the
gendarmes,who were seen risking their lives in the dangerous
water to save the children; and the soldiers,who were;called in
to assist in the various works. The clergy opened their houses
without stint. Large subscriptions are being raised for the
victims. In a few hours 1,0001. was obtained in Blois—the
Minister of the interior putting down 4001. Yesterday, at
the railroad station there was a large quantity of corn ready
for Paris. it was thought to be wanted for the market of
Blois, since the usual supply across the river is cut off.
Accordingly the authorities resorted to the strong measure of
stopping it by a party of soldiers. The courts of law must
settle the legal question in this case.—The law of nature
and necessity will decide in favour of the government. But
tke legality of such an incident as other great questions
is obvious.

be Court.
WINDSOR, WEDNESDAY.—The unfavourable state
of the morning prevented her Majesty and Prince Albert
from taking their accustomed walk.
The Royal Family were also prevented from taking
their usual exercise.

Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, had an
interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday,
at his official residence in Downing-street.
Lord John Russell gave a dinner to the Cabinet
Ministers yesterday evening, at his residence in Chesham-
place.
The Right !lon. 11. Laboachere, Chief Secretary
for Ireland, has arrived in town. The right hon. gentleman
was present last evening at the Cabinet dinner given by
Lord John Russell.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord President of the
Council, arrived in town yesterday from his seat, Bowood.
park, Wilts. The noble marquis, after his arrival, paid a
visit to Lord John Russell.

A WHOLE FAMILY IN A STATE OF
STARVATION: _ _ _
....

Yesterday an inqaest;;;Keitibefore Mr. William
Payne, the City coroner, at the Green Dragon, Fore-street,
Cripplegate, on the body of Maria Holliday, aged 11 years,
who died from cold and hunger.
Mary Daley said that the father of the deceased, his wife
and family, occupied the first-floor room in her house, No.
35, Milton-street, Cripplegate. The family consisted of a
man, wife, and Ili% children, of whom the deceased was the
oldest but one. The deceased was first taken ill three weeks
ago, and since then another of the children had been attacked.
The deceased died on Sunday last. The whole family are
more than half naked. They are in a most destitute and
miserable condition. All that they had to rest upon was a
sack of flock thrown in one corner of the room. The father
used to sit up while the child, now dead, lay on this bundle.
It was there that it died.
The Coroner: When did he first apply for assistance ?
Witness : Some weeks ago, when became out of the hospital.
He applied to Mr. Roberts, the relieving officer, and was
allowed 2s. 6d. and four loaves per week.
The Coroner : How did you know of the child's death ?
Witness • The father cane and told me. I then went to the
room and found them, I may almost say, completely
naked. They had no blankets to cover them, nor an
bedding whatever. I sent them some off my own bed; but I
am not able to do much for them. On Monday, when I
went into their room, I found they had no fire ; and I gave
them some money to buy coals. Mr. Roberts, the relieving
officer, soon came, and gave them 2s. and some bread, and
the children, except the baby, were taken away to the work-
house.
The Coroner : What is your opinion of the mother of the
chi'dren ?—Witness: I have heard that she has been given
to drink ; but I do not know for certain. The father is a
cabinet-maker.
The Coroner: How do you account for their all living in
this miserable condition ?—Witness : His wife told me that
there had been a fire at the place where he worked, which
had burnt all his tools, and then he could work no longer.
The Coroner : Do you know why they did not go into the
workhouse ?—Witness : The wife could not bear the thoughts
of letting her children go to the workhouse. They owe me
rent, but I cannot ask them for it. All the children look
half dead.
The Coroner: What means had they of living?—Witness:
Very little. The mother used to make blouses, but now has
no work. The deceased used in her absence to mind the
baby, and I have seen them both on the stairs almost naked.
The Coroner : What do you think was the cause of the
deceased's illness ?—Witness : I think the cold in the pas-
Pv, where she sat for hours with the baby in her lap.
The Coroner: What character does the man bear .—Wit-
ness:
Very good indeed. He is now too ill to work. On
Monday he sent me for some milk, and then he told me he
bad not tasted food for three days.
Harriet Wells, the aunt of the deceased, said that the dis-
tress of the husband commenced when his tools were burnt
in the fire at Slaney's, in Skinner-street, Bishopsgate-street.
He had then just come out of St. Bartholomew's Hospital,
and his losses by the fire made him ill again. He was com-
pelled to part with his furniture, and even to his wife's and
children's clothes, to support his family. He would not
stoop to beg assistance, but lived in hopes from day to
day until at last he was reduced so low that he was ashamed
to show himself. A Juror : Did the father apply to the
parish for clothes ?—Witness : I do not think he did. He
might be blamed for that, but his spirits were so brokea that
he did not know what to do.
The Coroner said he should like to ask a few questions of
the husband.
The husband, a tall, careworm, and infirm man, who
appeared to walk with much difficulty, then entered the
room and the Coroner observing his weakness ordered him
a chair. His sister, the last witness, burst into tears
on seeing him. After stating the particulars of the

Witness: The eldest of my daughters, when she was well
earned 2s. 2d. a-week, and the deceased Is. 6d.
The Coroner : Then you had for your six children, your
wife, and yourself, 6s. 2d. a-week, besides the four loaves?—
Witness : 'Yes.
The Coroner: Had you a bed ?—Witness: When I went
to live where I do now, I had ; but I was obliged to sell it,
clothes, bedstead, and all, for ;is., to get the children food.—
A Juror : What rent did you pay out of the 6e. 2d. ?—Wit-
ness : 2s. per week.
Diana Holliday the mother, was next examined, but she
cried so much while giving evidence, that her words were
very incoherent. She attributed the illness of the children
to cold, from the want of clothing, and to want of proper and
sufficient food. Her husband did not like asking fur relief,
and above all, going into the workhouse. When in work he
earned 10s. or 15s. a-week.
Mr. Roberts, relieving.offioer of the parish, said that on
the ith instant the father came to the board and said that
ho had got work, and did not want the allowance any longer.
At his own request 10s. was given to him to get some tools,
and some bread was also given to him. Witness, seeing the
miserable condition of the family, had told them they would
be better off in the workhouse, but the mother and father
refused to go in.
Mr. T. Lloyd, the parish surgeon, said he had attended the
deceased since the 20th instant, when the order was brought
to him. Deceased was suffering from an attack of diarrhma,
brought on by want of proper clothing and nourishment.
That was the cause of its death, which took place on Sunday.
The Coroner then summed up the evidence, and com-
mented with much feeling upon the dreadful condition of
the family. lie said that no doubt the child died from want
of proper food and clothing ; although the parish had given,
as the father said, as much as he could expect, still it was
very far short of what they wanted. No complaint was,
however, made against the parish.
The jury returned a verdict, " Died from diarrhoea,
brought on by want of clothing and nourishment," adding,
" that not the least blame was attributable to the paruh
officers."
The Coroner placed some gold in the hand of Mrs. Daley,
and directed her to use it as best she could to relive the
sufferings of the family.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OP BLUES.—Last evening
the half-yearly general meeting of the members of dun
society, which is composed of gentlemen who received their
education at Christ's Hospital, and which was established in
1824, fcr the purpose of relieving distressed members of the
order, by the election of pensioners and the making of
grants, &c., was held at the London Tavern, J. Perkins,
Esq., in the chair. The report stated that the receipts for
the half-year amounted to 428/. 18s. 6d., including a pre-
violas balance of 107/. ; subscriptions, 1641. 175.; interest
on stock (amounting to 6,1001.), &c. ; and, deducting the
disbursements, a balance of 1151. remained. There are at
present fourteen pensioners on the funds. After some refer-
ence to the bill for regulating charitable trusts, and' rejected
during the last session, and to the increase in the funds for
the half-year, the report added, that his Royal Highness the
Duke of Cambridge had kindly consented to preside at the
next annual festival.

NAVAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.—A meeting of the
members of this Association was held yesterday, Mr.
Drummond in the chair. The Association had its origin in a
meeting of the medical officers of the Navy, held at Bermuda
in December, 184.5. At that meeting the following resolu-
tions were passed, viz :
That it is considered expedient that an Association should be formed,
to be called the Naval Medical Association. That the first object to he
taken into consideration in this Association is the advantage that
would accrue to the corps, by their having an opportunity, through
original drays or otherwise, of diffusing the useful knowledge on me-
dical subjects, Re., which their position gives them such facilities of
acquiring. That a medical library and reading-room be established,
furnished with the medical periodicals, Re., and that a medical
officer, on permanent half-pay, be appointed to perform the office of
librarian and secretary. That a central council be formed, to rooster
of not lees than five members, to meet in London for the transaction
of the famines of the society. That the annual subscription be it., or
for life 101. That as soon as there shall be one hundred members,
those who are In London arc requested to call a meeting, for the pur.
pose of electing the council. That a treasurer be appointed to receive
the subscriptions of the different officers who are dammed to become
members of this emaciation. That the proceedings of this meeting be
laid before Sir Wm. Barnett, Director. General of the Medical Depart-
ment of the Navy, with a request that he will be pleased to give it his
support.
The meeting yesterday was convened for the purpose of
carrying out the plan then proposed. It was stated that the
number of members now amounted to 90, and that Sir W.
Burnett had consented to become the patron of the as-
sociation. The following resolutions were unanimously
agreed to :
That the association should form a junction with the United See.
vice Institution, and that a moiety of its subeci lotion be appropri-
ated to the funds of that institution. That the medical officers of the
army and the East India Company's Service be invited to join the
association. That the name of the society be altered to that of the
United Service Medical Association, and that a committee be ap-
pointed to conduct its operations.
OPENING OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE.—Yesterday,
being the anniversary of the opening of the Royal Exchange,
was celebrated by the members of the Gresham Club dining
together at the Albion, Aldersgate-street. Mr. Richard
Lambert Jones was in the chair. The club was formed in
1841, by the gentlemen composing the Royal Exchange
Committee and the Court of the Mercers' Company, to com-
memorate the occasion of her Majesty's visit.
A VERY REMARKABLE CRIME AND TRIAL.—The
Wellington Statue has now been on its trial for the last
month. The verdict that has been passed upon it by all
judges of art, has been—" Guilty of Man's-Laughter."—
i'unch. _ _

-
MANAGEMENT OF TILE BRITISH MUSECIL—Sir
When readers at the British Museum raise the frequent complaint of
the absence from the library of some world-known book, the keeper
draws a very long face, and protests that he has no available funds.
On returning a took to-day, my attention was attracted by a magni-
ficent volume, elephant folio, bound in the richeot morocco, of elabo-
rate tooling, and resplendent with gold : and, more eopccia'ly, with
a vast royal arms at the aides. On looking to see what so honoured
volume this might be, I found that It was Goldsmith's " Ikmerted
Village," illustrated by the Etching Club. It hereupon occurred to
me that if the keeper had caused this book (a very charming one,
doubtless) to be bound in reasonable glory, say at half a guinea, he
would have had a clear too guineas and a half to expend on one or
more of the books whose absence reflects such diecr, dit upon our
National Library. The royal arms alone must have cost some
extra, and have no business at all on books not belonging to the
kctlon of George llL—Your obedient servant, A Resists.
THE POOR IN ST. PANCRAS WORKIIOUSF--Dr.
Arthur Farre, senior physician to King's College Hospital,
who was recently appointed by the l'oor-law Commissioners
to accompany Mr. Hall, the Assistant Commissioner, to St.
Pancras workhouse, and inspect the oakum-room, the
females' " shed, " and other places appropriated to the
" refractory " paupers, has furnished his report to the Poor-
law Commissioners. He declares the sleeping apartments of
the workhouse to be inconveniently crowded, some of the
rooms being so full of beds that they touch each other. Of
the well-known " shed" he remarks: "The term ' shed ' by
which this room appears to be familiarly designated, does
I not seem to have been applied to it iu consequence of any
peculiarity in its construction, as it does not in this respect
differ from other rooms in the house. But the work which is
now carried on in this room, haying been at one period con-
ducted under a shed, the name has been retained,
although the place of work has been long since changed.
Of the dietary Dr. Ferro says, " In reference to the two
points relating to diet upon which I am to give my opinion,
namely, as to the sufficiency of the diet provided for the
class termed ' refractory,' as specified in the table sent, and
also as to its sufficiency when the allowance of meat is with-
held, and half a pound of potatoes substituted for it for the
period of a week, which, under certain circumstances, is
stated to be the practice of the workhouse. I think, with
reference to the first point, that the dietary is sufficient,
except in the allowance of meat, which is one-third less than
in the ordinary diet of the house, without the substitution
of any other article for it. I think this permanent reduc-
tion in the allowance of meat for the oakum wards is objec-
tionable, and I would recommend that either the proportion
should be increased, or more bread substituted for it. In
regard to the second point, I think the entire withdrawal of
meat for a week from the dietary of the oakum ward, as at
present constituted, and the substitution of half a pound of
potatoes, renders the diet too little sustaining; but I think
if more bread were added, the alteration would not then be
objectionable for persons of full growth and good health for
the period mentioned."
LATER FROM AMERICA.—The Hibernia, from Bos-
ton and Halifax, is expected hourly at Liverpool. She sailed
on the 15th, and will bring news from the United States
seven days later than that brought by the Great Western.

II UNGERFORD SUSPENSION BRIDGE AND STEAM-
BOAT PIER.—The long-pending dispute between the direc-
tors of the bridge and market companies, is at length
brought to a close, and the public will be able, after Monday
next, to land from and embark on steam-vessels by means of
the bridge, instead of clambering over ricketty barges.
MATHEMATICAL INTELLIGILNCE.—A correspondent
writes to know what is the meaning of the Pons Asinorum.
We are not quite sure whether it is Westminster-bridge or
Hungerford. From the difficulty of getting over the Pone
Asinorwn we should say that Westminster-bridge must be
the bridge alluded to.—Panch.
BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES.—Sir, —I was really in
hopes that no other parish than that of St. George's could be found, to
oppose s•Tbe act for establishing Bathe and Wash-houses for the
Poor;;" but when an example is set, it is sure to be followed by
RAMC Mall parishes in London, however, to have chosen to follow
such on example, think of its being thus followed by St. Leonard's,
Shoreditch ! Why, that neighbourhood is notorious for its need of
wats,—its wretched tlithinns, and consequent depravity! And yet
the vestry there must oppose this salutary act: Shame: Shame upon
them! The public will remember, perhaps, that that parish peti-
tioned against the late Government's scheme for improving education.
It petitioned against a scheme, more lately brought forward, for
opening a wide street through its closely-crowded courts. Is the
parish in love with its dirt and its depravity, that it will thus oppose
measures for its social and moral benefit? A list of such parishes as
oppose this act for establishing baths and wash-houses fur the poor
should be given; they should be marked; and perhaps yet volun-
tary philanthropy may do something to cleanse out the Milne=
stables for them, which they will thus permit to become a nuisance to
all around them, rather than lift an arm to cleanse them themselves.
—Masrrx.--Oce. 27.

RECEIPT FOR, AND EFFECTS OP, THE GUN COTTON.
—Mr. T. Taylor, the chemist, has published the following
formula for making the best explosive cotton : Mix in any
convenient glass vessel 11 oz. by measure of nitric acid (of
the specific gravity of 1.4:5 to 1.50) with an equal quantity of
B,lphuric acid (sp. gr. 1.80). When the mixture has cooled,
place 100 grains of fine cotton-wool in a wedgewood mortar ;
pour the acid over it, and with a glen rod imbue the cotton
as quickly as possible with the and. As soon as the cotton
is completely saturated, pour off the acid, and with the aid of
a pestle quickly squeeze out as much of the acid from the
cotton as possible. Throw the mass into a basin full of
water, and thoroughly wash it either in successive portions
of water, or under a tap until the cotton has not
the slightest acid taste. Finally, squeze it in a
anon rlnth_ and dry it in a water bath. Mr. Taylor states

THE EX PRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 29, 1846.