The Express.
London, England, 1851-04-17 00:00:00

WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Perth and Fremantle journals 'to the 22nd
January have rmehed us. The convicts had com-
menced being a source of uneasiness to the government,
and inconvenience to the inhabitants ; several had
managed to escape, to begin the work of bush-
men, the most dangerous class of persons in the sister
colonies: and to mend the matter, the convicts at Fre-
mantle had mutinied. On Jan. 20th, they assembled
as usual at breakfast, when, meordiug to custom, one
of their number was requested to say grave, winch
la refused to do, saying he " would nut say grace
firr such miserable bread." The bread is composed of
12 per cent. Hour, whereas they demand 20 per cent.
Some of the bread so refused was sent to the
executive commit who pronouced it to be ex-
cellent. How the matter has been disimsed of we
are not informed. but the convicts significantly in-
formed the officers of government that upon the
arrival of another batch they would he in a position
to dictate conditions ; a very unpleasant hint in the
unguarded state of the colony. With the view of
benefiting the colony, the government had notified
its willingness to emmurage the importation of camels
and alpacas, by holding out a bonus of 60/. to the
first importer of one male and two female camels, and
the sum of 50/. to the first importer of two male and
eight female alpacas, in healthy condition, within
twelve months from January lst, Mil. The pearl
fishery discoveries progressed most favourably ; pearls
of the size of peas had been 'Mind. and some even
larger at Shark's Bay. At the half-yearly meeting
of the shareholders of the bank for the period ending
Dee. 21, the report was most encouraging. After ap•
portioning one-fifth of the net profits to the guarantee
fund, a dividend was declared at the rate of 12'. per
vent. on the paid up capital. The liabilities of the
bank were 19,7631., and its assets 26,448/. An im-
mense supply of guano has been discovered at Shark's
Bay. On one island alone more than 6,000 tons of
guano was found. Several vessels had started for
the bay to take in cargoes, and the official report of
the discoveries has spread abroad a spirit of enter-
prise which promises to do good for the colony. The
ship Albatross, from South Australia, seeking cargo,
had barn taken up to convey nearly 1,500 tons of
guano.

BURNING OF THE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE IN-
DIAMAN, W ITII TROOPS ON 130AUD.-SEVERAL
LIVES LOST.

Subjoined are details concerning the destruction
by fire of the Buckinghamshire, Indiaman, while on her
homeward voyage, and was referral to yesterday in our
Bombay correspondent's letter. She was a splendid-looking
ship, nearly 2,000 tons burthcn, with high poop decks.
She set sail for England on Thursday, the Ist of March
last, under the charge of Captain Macgregor. Iler crew
amounted to nearly 100 hands, 30 being Englishmen, and
70 Lasrars. She had on board, as steerage passengers. about
70 of the 50th Regiment of hoed, with their families, and 33
cabin passengers namely, Major Cooper, Lieutenant
Swaly and Lieut. Wilkinson, who had command of the
invalids; Lieut. Turner, Lieut. Mason, Br. Pratt, Dr.
Payne, Mrs. Macgregor, Mrs. Murrey and son, Mrs. Max-
well and six children, Mr. Church and one child, a lady
name unknown and six children, Mrs. Goodell, MissClune,
Mr. W. Murree, Mr. John Wetted, Mr. Rich, Mr. Casey,
and Mr. Chambers. The passage from Calcutta down the
Ibaighley passed agreeably, and on the evening of the fol-
lowing Monday, the ith of March, she was brought up tar
the night and to diwharge the pilot off Canterbury Point,
about ten miles below Diamond harbour. The weather was
fine, and most of the passengers and soldiers were on deck,
singing, dancing, and otherwise amusing themselves ; all
seemed happy and cheerful. As night approached
they one by one disappeared below, and by half-past
nine, with the exception of the watch 1111 deck, all had
turned in and were asleep Suddeull• Capt. Margreenr
received, about 10 minutes before 10 o clock, a report that
there was something wrong in the forehold, as smoke was
coining out of the lower hatchway. Ile went instantly for-
ward, and found such was really the case, the smoke mid
heat almost overpowering the men below. The captain
suspecting that it emanated from some jute stowed away in
that pert of the hold, the pumps were got to work to pre-
vent it getting ahead, hut the smoke and heat in-
creased SO rapidly as to drive the men away from the
hatchway, and in ten minutes a busk of Humes burst
forth anti shot up through the quarter-Lek. Alnettly the
noise and mansion on deck had alarmed the troops and
passengers, and s • seeing the tire through the bulkheads,
screamed out. The scene became appalling, and tons of
water were discharged on to the burning cargo in the hope
it would be extinguished, but without producing the
slightest effect, the tire, in fact, strengthening itself, and
communicating to the fore rigging, the whole was nu:culki
in a blaze. As far as the eye could stretch nothing
be seen but sky and water, which was lit up by the glare of
the tire, the night being very dark. Capt. Macgregor, per-
ceiving the destruction of his ship was inevitable, de-
termined, if possible, to run her ashore, the only ap-
parent chance of saving the lives of those on board,
and gave orders to his men to slip the cables, whirl' was at
unit carried into execution. Although no laud could Ito
discerned, the current fortunately favoured the plan, for,set-
ting strong in shore, it drove the bunting vessel in that di-
rection,and in the course of an hour she grounded in such a
position on the shore that these who could swim mail gain
the land with little difficulty. In the meanwhile the lire
had extended to the main hold, and the whole of the fore
part of tl•e ship, with the mai 111 l 11414, 1111.41t114.11 11111. 411'11 of
flame, scorching its living freight, whoa had taken n•fugo
on the poop. Many of the passengers exhibited coolie ss,
others were almost frantic with despair, and their screams
rent the air. Seim after the wreck touched the shore a steam, r
came down to the spot, the crew of which had heanl the
firing of the Buckinghamshire signal guns, 1111111W:111 guided
to the spot by the light of the conflagration. Iler arrival at
the critical moment was beyond mcasur forcuicit••, for had
it not been the case the boats lif the burning ship could nut
have accommodated one half the number 'fiord. ('apt.
Maegregerwith his first mate, by their tool and determined
real, restored something like order among the invalid-,who,
the 111 l nem they found the ship hail struck, 1111 l 111.111.-vd to
throw themselves overboutd. Several did so and were
swept away by the current, and were drowned ; the num-
ber was not exactly known ; it was pr.-salmi!, howeser,
there were five who thus perished. Ifireetly on
the steamer bailing thou the boats were lowered,
and the female passengers and children were conserved
on board of the steamer in safety. The lauds quickly
returned and took on board the remainder Or the pas-
sengers, and lastly the crew. Captain Macgregor was
the last to leave the wreck ; it was then, with the ex-
ception of a small portion of the poop, 1111 line front end to
end, awl continued hunting the whole night and two fel-
lowing nights and days hehin• she ghat d into deep water
and auk. None of the pass, tigers saved even a change of
clothing. Many of the families were reduced by the cala-
mity to au absolute state oC air stitution.
It is as yet imposible to say how the ship caught tire. By
many it is hUllp/Ptil'd she Was *iliay set on tire Icy some Of
the Locus, but no evidence has him adduced to confirm
this report.
She was laden with a most valuable cargo, consisting of
East India produce. The total lose is calculated to exceed
120,000/.

THE WARRINGTON IMPRDER.—TIKPPITP: OF TOE
FEMALE PRISON FR.—LIVERPOOL, WEIINENDAY Evetsixo.
—The authotrities of Kirkeltile Prison received this morning
a reprieve for the female prisoner, Bridget Lyons, who
was Memel guilty of murder at the hate Lancashire Assizes.
The tier. J. 11. Murshall, it is lerstood, brought her case
under the notice of Sir George Grey, it being the acv. gentle-
mans belief, is well us that of others that she was not
directly implicated in the crime for whial she bad been con-
demned. No respite has arrived liar her husband, Patrick
Lyons, whose execution is fixed fur the 26th inst.
TOE CAM.: or NIARIA CLARKE.—AN EXECI7-•
TION ANTEI number of gentlemen in Ips-
wich having interested themselves in this ease havo
collected evidence which leaves no doubt as to the'
insanity of this wretched girl. That this evidence WAN
nut adduced at the trial was owing to the inability of her
friends to provide the necessary legal assistance, and to the
circumstance that she had more goterally loren known by
the mute of Maria Shulver. The moment this het, by a
sort of accident, was arrived at, many persms cater for-
ward (II say that they had known her well, and that they
knew her to hoof unsound mind. It was useless question-
ing the primmer herself as to who had employed her, for
she defiled all knowledge of persons with whom she had
been at service; but ott being confronted with them in pri-
son at once knew them and burst into tears. (In Sunday
last petitions on the prisoner's behalf were numerously
signed at various pIUCe% of worship; the mayor, right ma-
gistrates, Will 21.1 members of the corporution, betide other
gentlemen connected with the town, also signed it. Al-
though the first signature was not obtained until live o'clock
on Saturday, the number amounted last eve • g to 1,118.
At seven o'clock the petit' and signatures, were de-
spatchesl to J. C. Cobbold, Esq., M.P., who will at onto
present them to Sir George Grey.—lpsiricA Etpress.—
Somc days sitter Wendt, the hangman, received an intim.-
lion front the gaol authorities that his services would he