The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-19 00:00:00

THE EXPLOSION OP NITRO-GLYCERINE Ar

NEWCASTLE.

A second edition of the !cantle Daily Jourttal of yes-
terday says :—" The excitement canoed by the dreadful
calamity of yesterday has not yet abated. The most in-
tense sympathy is expressed on all sides for the unfor-
tunate sufferers by the dire calamity. Throughout the
livelong night active search was made on tho moor for any
temente of the poor fellows who fell victims to the um-
dent. At three o'clock this morning a human leg was
found : it is supposed to have belinged to Police-constable
Bain. The force of the explosion may be imagined when
we elate that the coneuesion wee most distinctly felt at
Walker, and even as far down the River Tyne as
Howdoo, Jarrow, and the higher parts of Shields. To
the north it was felt for miles, whilst in the west as far
at Walbottle the shock was distinctly beard. On making
inquiries at the infirmary this morning we were informed
that the sheriff (Mr. W.wson) had passed a favourable
night, and that there wee some improvement in his con-
dition. It is, therefore, hoped that his valuable life may
yet be spired to the services of Newcastle. Of Mr.
&Toon, we have to report that his condition is gradually
getting worse, and that he is rapidly sinking. Mr. Bryson
is an old and faithful servant to the corporation. For
many years he was assistant to the late Mr. Robert
Wallace, *ad on that gentleman resigning his post as tows
surveyor he was succeeded by Mr. Bryson. The inquest
on the bodies will be held before the borough coroner, Mr.
J. T. Hoyle, to-morrow morning."

The second of a series of lectures under the
auspices of the Reform League, with a view to the diffu-
sion of politked educetion among the people. wee held last
night at St. James's-hall. The subject chosen was Arbi-
tration against Strikes, the lecturer being Mr. A. J. Man-
dolin, of Nottingham, president of the Chamber of Com-
merce in that town, and also chairman of the Council of
Conciliation. The chairman of the evening was Mr. S.
Morley.
THE IRISH CATHOLICS AND THE EDUCATION
Quvenos.—We learn by telegraph from Dublin that at •
meeting of the Irish clergy of the Dublin diocese which
was held yesterday, presided over by Cardinal Cullen,
resolutions were adopted protecting against the state
forcing on catholize any system of education restrictive of
the doctrines of the church, condemning monopoly of
education enjoyed by the existing protestant universities
end schools, denouncing the mixed system on which
Queen's colleges and model schools are founded, and call-
ing on the government to aid catholic educational institu-
tions from the public exchequer.
SOUTH KENSINGTON MUMEIJK.—The relict of the
late Dr. Woollaston has just presented to the art library
of this museum • valuable series of drawings of Greek and
Roman mosaics to be found in Spain, France, Pompeii,
Prussia, Halicarnauus, Switzerland, Rome and Italy gene-
' rally, Constantine, Carthage, and also in various counties
of England, which had been executed for Dr. Woollaston.
THE LATE MR. EDWARD JAM'S, Q.C.—A reso-
lution was pared at • meeting of the members of the
northern circuit at the recent Manchester *anises, express-
ing " their deep sense of the loss sustained by the circuit
in the lamented death of Mr. Edward James, Q.C., M.P.,
the late Attorney-o*nm' for the county palatine of Lan-
caster, whose integrity and independence of character,
joined with great abilities and remarkable powery as an
advocate, had secured for him a distinguished position in
his profession, and the admiration of his brethren at the
bar." Another resolution directed "that the above be
transmitted to Mrs. James, with the expression of the
sympathy and condolence of the meeting. This has been
done, and the receipt has been suitably aok.n2wledged.

THE LATE FENIAN EXECUTIONS AT MANI4ENTER.
—THE Polies 6.IIIIANOZHENTS.—The justices of the peace
for the borough of Safford, in 'pedal session assembled,
have offered their " best thanks" to Captain Sylvester,
chief constable of the borough, "for the very effective
arrangements made by him on the occasion of apprehended
riots in tie borough during the execution of the Fenian
convicts, as well as for the sea and ability which he
evinced in niaraballing and controlling the large body of
police-constables from the adjoining boroughs, as well as
the special and police constables of this borough, on that
occasion." And the Watch Committee of the Town
Council have decided to entertain the entire force at
dinner at Christmas, in acknowledgment of the zeal and
fidelity with which both officers and men discharged the
onerous extra ditties which devolved upon them at the
time of the trial of the Fenian prisoners, and of the execn.
thin of the convicts.—Yotterday afternoon a deputation of
Orangemen presented to the Mayor of Liverpool a resolu-
tion, which was rased at *general meeting of the body on
Monday, expreanee of the thanks of that body for the
repressive measures taken in reference to the proposed
Fenian demonstration.

---.---- -
Mr. Bradlaugh was tendered as a witness in one
of the courts on Tuesday in an action upon a foreign hill
of exchange in which he was plaintiff, and was objected
to by the other side as en atheist, a•ml so incompetent to
be sworn. Mr. Keane, Q.C., who made the objection, said
he did it with great pain, but his client had left him no
option. Mr. Justice Smith raid he would take upon him-
self, if the objection were premed, to allow Mr. Bradlaugh
to make affirmation. The difficulty was got over by the
admission on the part of the defendant of the facts which
Mr. Bradlaugh's evidence waa to have proved.
A Sr MIERGED Tonee torpedo experiment
was made yesterday at Portsmouth, in the presence of Ad-
mirals Bit Thomas Feeley and G. G. Weiitaley, Captains
A. Hood, C. 8., W. C. Chsmherlsin. awl other offieers, eo
prove the effects that would be prods's& on a Seas launch
by firing a submerged torpedo containing a charge 41001 b.
of gunpowder, when suspend.' front the out spar pry-
jecting over the bows of the launch, and supposed to be
in contact with the bottom of en enemy's vessel ore =mine
obstruction of any kind. The torpedo was red by one of
the Excellent's boat batteries, the construction and ma-
nipulation of which is now taught to all .comet 'su-
llen passing through the ship as part of their ordinary
drill. 7'be ajar, with the torpedo attached to its
outer end, was slung and fitted with a running rope fall in
the same manner as was applied, or nearly so, in the first
experiment of the kind when the captain of the Excellent's
gig wee converted into a temporary but very formidable
torpedo beat. The experiment yesterday proved mei-
' neatly enooessfuL The torpedo was exploded at the de-
sired moment, throwing up an immense mushroom.sharied
column of water, while the only effects felt by the steam
launch from the explosion was the taking in of a quentity
of water over the bows. This was of no moment, how-
ever, as endangering the Boating power of the boat ; hut
even its entrance could have been prevented, if desired, by
simply covering in the boat forward with canvas, es is
done with gigs and other small boats in all experiments of
the kind sande with them.