The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-21 00:00:00

NAVAL.

POBTSMOUTII, SEPT. 20.—The Victoria and Albert,
royal yacht, was taken into the steam basin to-day to have
her engines, boilers, &c., taken oat, in order to have an
examination made of the midship section of her hull. Her
condition fore and aft was found to be good, or at all events
much better than was anticipated. The Barracouts,
6, paddle sloop, Commander George Parker, went out
of harbour to Spithead this afternoon. She is to sail
to-morrow for tee Bast Indian and China station.
In addition to the Barrarouta and the Encounter,
14, screw sloop, Captain O'Callaghan, the klighflyer,
21, screw frigate, Captain Moore, is reported to be under
orders for the above station. The Stromboli, 6, paddle
sloop, Commander Hall, had her compasses swung yes-
terday and to-day, and is expected to go out of harbour to
Spithead to-morrow, preparatory to sailing for the Brazils.
The Cruiser, 18, screw sloop, Commander tho Hon. G.
H. Douglas, has completed coaling to-day at Spithead, and
is having a few defects mode ;rood. The Vivid, steam ves-
sel, Master Commanding Sotithett, arrived yesterday from
the eastward, and having completed coaling proceeded on
to the westward. _

ADMIRALTY, SEPT. 2O.—APPOINTMENTS. Sur-
geon F. Nero, to Stromboli; Assistant Surgeon W.
Patrick, to I.:wettest ; Muter J. P. P. Warren, to Leander

GALE AT BEn.—The Warbler, Captain \Vested,
arrived yesterday from New Orleans at Liverpool, reports
that on the 10th September she experienced a very heavy
gale from the westward, in which she lost sails, &c. On
the 12th she fell in with the Victoria of Scarborough, from
Quebec to London, dismasted and waterlogged, and took off
the crew. The Liverpool, Coleman, arrived at Liverpool
yesterday from Jamaica, was struck by a heavy sea on the
10th September, which carried away her bulwarks and
shifted her cargo. These vessels appear to have been in the
same gale, but the position of neither vessel is known, the
latitude and longitude being omitted in the reports fur-
nished to the underwriters' rooms at Liverpool.
A SNAKE IN THE PUBLIC STREETS.—A reptile
of the snake species was encountered last Saturday by Mr.
Sutherin, one of the parochial medical officers of St. Pan-
cras, under the following singular circumstances :—As that
gentleman was on the day in question making his usual
sick calls in Agar-town, his attention was attracted by a hen
in the yard of one of his patients' houses quite paralysed,
end a short distance from it discovered a large serpent,
which had evidently stung it, and which was then in the
act of Bucking water as it dripped from the tank. Acting
upon his first impulse, dictated by personal fear, and
anxiety to destroy the reptile. which measured full a yard
long, Mr. Sutherin hastened to arm himself with a wea-
pon, but, upon returning, be may arrived in time to see it
dart into a hole under the wall. Every effort was made to
discover the locale of the snake, but without avail. It is
conjectured that it has its retreat in an adjoining dung
heap. The discovery has created the greatest dread in the
neighbourhood.
NEW OMNIBUS LlcENsEs.—Yesterday the metro-
politan omnibuses were under inspection, by order of the
police commissioners under the new act, as a preliminary
proceeding to the granting of new licenses next month.
Some improvements have been already ordered, and in a
short time a better description of vehicles will appear. It
is, however, expected that the number of omnibuses will
be diminished it is rumoured that as many as 200 will 14)
taken off the roads by the proprietors, as the omnibus busi-
ness is a losing speculation. By the expiration of the pre-
sent licensee, several sales of omnibuses and horses will
take place. Under the new law the polico commissioners
are empowered to see that proper horses as will es omni-
buses are provided for the benefit of the public.
BOILER EXPLOSION AT LEEDS.—In the Ex-
press of yesterday we gave some particulars of a terrific
boiler explosion, which had occurred at the flax mill of
Messrs. Hammond and Son, Leeds, and dreadfully injured
many of the workpeople. Since the cat•stpyhe, three of
the sufferers have died, and others remain in a precitriou
state. An inquest on the bodies of the deceased was
opened yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, and odjourned to
Wednesday next. Sixteen altogether were injured. The
dead are Thomas Ilamiltnn, aged' 2, a bric•layer's labourer,
in the employ of Mr. (Lifland, builder, who was on the
premises; Jane Middleton, 24, carder, a single person ; and
Ann M'Donsld, 13, a helper.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE ROYAL ARFENAL.—
While a number of workmen employed as excar.itorn were
engaged on Monday afternoon is making drains in a narrow
cutting about twelve feet deep and unshored up, the earth
on the north side fell is, covering one of the men, named
John Casey, entirely, and another nearly up to his head.
Unfortunately when Casey's head had been uncovered from
the sand and gravel, and there might hare b;en somo
chance of his recovery, the ground again fell in, and it was
about a quarter of an hour longer before it was dzain un-
covered, when life was extinct. The other excavator com-
plains much of the bruises he sustained by the pressure of
the sand and gravel on his body.
STRIKE EXTRAOADIXARY AT SANQUIIAR.—Tho
following was announced the other evening by the town
crier:—' A number of young women of the Tewnhead
have agreed that they will not shear for less than 2e. 6d.
per day, and those who go out and shear for a less wage
will be stoned while returning home."—Edinburg/ Wit-
MN.