The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-09 00:00:00

TIM TRARSATLANTIO POSTAL SERVICE.

On the let of January considerable modifica-
tions w.h be ms le relative to the ocean postal *maim be-
tween great Britain and the Llaited States, the British
govoninieut h.s ins entered into a fresh contract with
Meters. Cunard and Maclver, and having also, for the
first time, granted subsidies to the Inman line of steamer.
Nailing from Vverpool, and those of the Bremen Company
which call at Southampton. Under the new anangements
the mails will he forwarded on Tuesdays from Southamp-
ton by the Bremen Company, on Thursdays from Queens.
town by the Inman Company, and on Sundays from
Queenstown by the Cunanl Company. This latter com-
pany have discontinued the service between New York
and Nassau, awl also the fortnightly service between
Queenstown and Halifax, which will be undertaken in
future by the Inman Company ; while the service be-
tween Halifax. Bermuda, and St. Thomas has been the
subject of a special contract with Mr. William Conant,
who will receive 14,000/. per annum from the British
government for it. Under the newentracte with the
government, Messrs. Cunard, Burns, and Blaclver
have agreed to " compound " for a fixed sum of 140,00 W.
for one year in lieu of the ocean postage ; while the Inman
and Bremen Companies have agreed to accept the ocean
1=1;, which will give to each company a fluctuating
proportionate to the number of letters carried.
This ocean postage is estimated by the Inman Company
to be worth about 20,000/. per annum. These three con-
tracts however, are only good for 180.)4, and will in all
probability be subject to revision after that period. The
United States government have made the following
leargmental for IRAS :—The Bremen Company are to
iNew York on Tuesday, the Hamburg Company on
Thursday, and the lumen Company on Saturday, the
Cunard Company retaining Wednesday—the:r usual day
from New York. In this case the various companies will be
paid by the ocean postage, worth probably about 15,0001.
a year ; but the Cunard Company will have to hand their re-
ceipts from this source to the British Post-office. In addition
to the subsidised lines of steamers, other fine steamers sail
weekly from Liverpool to North America. On Thursdays,
the Allan Company—who receive a subsidy from the Cana-
dian government—despatch splendid steamers to Quebec
or Portland, which call at the north of Ireland in both the
homeward and the outward voyager ; while Messrs. Onion
and co. and the National Steamship Company have power-
ful attain fleets plying between Liverpool and New York,
the Ismael' of the former company sailing from the Mersey
on Saturdays, and those of the latter on Wednesdays, and
touching. when practicable, at Queenstown. There are
also recently-esTabllahed lines of steamers plying to Boston,
Baltimore; and New Orleans from Liverpool; but these
steamers, like those of the Onion and National Companies,
can only carry letters at the ordinary ship rates. The
Cunard Company, in addition to their regular " mail" line
sailing for Is ew York every Saturday, will despatch extra
steamers on Tuesdays to New York, and also to Boston ;
and these first-class vessels (not being under contract) also
carry letters at the ordinary ship rates, receiving a penny
for each ; but the Cunard Company, in respect of these
extra veasels. comes under no postal obligations or penal-
ties, and merely promise to sail them with tolerable regu-
larity, makieg the voyage in about twelve .lays. It will
thus be seen that there is now rather more than daily cor-
respondence between Liverpool, &c.

SHOCKING ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH-EASTERN
BAILWAV. —On Friday evening a shocking accident occurred
en the North-Eastern Railway, a short distance from
Haworth station. It appears that a farmer named Cragge,
and a friend, a hrickmaker, named Richardson, were walk-
ing along the down line towards Newcastle, and had pro-
ceeded about half the distance between Usworth and
Pilaw Main, when observing • luggage train coming
down at a great pace, they stepped on to the up
line. Just as they did so the passenger train due in
Zilewcastle at 10.33 p.m. came dashing along, but as the
lights were at their back they did not perceive
them. The rail', with the snow that had fallen, were what
is termed " greasy," and therefore the wheels made little
noise. When 20 yards from the spot where the men were
walking, unconscious of their danger, Laidler, the engine-
driver a the passenger train, from the reflection on the
white ground, observed the figure of a man, and although
he shut off the steam instantly the effort was too late, for
in a moment the engine dashed into the poor men, just
when the two locomotives were a few yards of meeting.
Craggs WAS hurled off to one side, and fell with great force
in the ditch. Richardson, however, was thrown in • con-
trary dire Sion, in front of the luggage train. When the
paarengz.r train was brought to s stand still, the guard,
the engine-man, and fireman walked back, and discovered
Richardson lying in a frightfully mutilated state, and quite
dead. Up to this time they were not aware that twzrari
eons bad been injured, but bearing loud moans proc
from the bank side they went towards the spot from which
the sounds came, and found the poor man Craig' lying in
a deplorable condition. His skull was dreadfully fractured,
and one of his legs was entirely ant away. The night was
exceedingly dark and stormy, and there is not the slightest
blame attached to the driver. One of the unfortunate
men, which one could not be ascertained, was thrown into
the air some considerable height above the engine funnel.
—Neircerffe Chroniefe.

THE ALTON MURDER. —The execution of the
wretched criminal, Frederick Baker, for the atrocious
murder of Fanny Adams, at Alton, on the 24th of August I
last, has been tired by the high sheriff of the county for
Tuesday, the 24th December inst., at eight o'clock in the
morning. It is satisfactory to state upon unquestionable
authority, that the conduct of the unhappy man has under-
gone a total change since his condemnation on Friday.
Apparently he now begins to realise the awful condition in
which he is placed, and his callous demeanour is changed
into one of deep dejection. On Saturday morning the
high sheriff, accompanied by his chaplain and the under
sheriff, and also the chaplain of the prison, was introduoed
by the governor to the prisoner, and the date of his exe-
cution was announced to him by the high sheriff. The
culprit was then addressed in the moat solemn and impres-
sive manner by the sheriff's chaplain (the Rev. C. Bowen,
rector of St. Thomas's church, Winchester), during which
he showed considerable emotion, and was even affected to
tears.

DESTRUCTION OP FISH IN THE THAMES.—CON-
TIcTioN or FISHERMEN.—Another batch of fishermen
have been prosecuted by the Thames Conservancy Board
for catching unsisable fish in the Thames. On Friday, at
the °nett Petty Sessions, on the Essex side of the river,
ten fishermen, belonging to Gravesend, named Webster,
Chandler, Nevill, Sutheeland, Clark, Look, Brown, Boor-
man, Plumb, and Warner, were summoned for being in
unlawful possession of small fish—whiting, caught in the
river. The Bench considered the case proved, and fined
each of the defendants in the mitigated penalty of 2J. 10c
and costs. On Saturday, four other fishermen were sum-
moned before the Dartford Bench for a similar offence.
Captain Tucker, the harbour-master, said be saw the de-
fendants fishing on the 23rd ult. on the Kent side, oppo-
site Purtieet. The magistrate said it was n that
the fisheries of the Thames should be protected, an fined
the defendants in half the penalty-21. 10s. and costs.
DEATH OF AM AMERICAN FORT.—The death of
the distinguished American post, Fits-Greene Halleck,
took place on Tuesday night, Nov. 19, at his residence in
Guilford, Connecticut. Mr. Halleek was one of the earliest
poetical writers of the present century who arose to fame
in this country, and together with Paulding, Dana, Bryant,
Percival, Drake, Sands, and others of inferior note, gave •
powerful impulse to the higher manifestations of American
literary art. Of that brilliant company of poets, Mr.
Ball was among the last survivors, and his death at
a ripe old age breaks another link between the present
and the past. Although living of late years in great
retirement, and seldom permitting any new pro-
duction of his pen to see the light, he has not
been lost sight of by the generation now on the stage,
and his poetry continues to be cherished as a
rend memorial of national genius and cultivation.
Mr. Halleek's longest poem, " Fanny," was published in
1819, and though suggested by the current incidents and
public men of that day, still retains to a great degree the
popularity which it instantly acquired on its original
appearance. In 1627 his poems were collected in one
volume, including " Marco &merle," " Alnwiek Castle,"
and " Burns," the two last named of which were the
fruit of an interesting European tour, from which he had
recently returned. His poems have since passed through
numerous editions, the latest having been published in
1858. Their brilliancy of thought, quaintness of fancy,
and polished energy of diction, have given them • high
rank in American literature, from which they will pro-
bably not soon be displaced even by the merry admirable
productions of • later date.—New York Tribune, Nov. 21.
STRIKE OF CHORUS SINGERS.—There was no
performance at the Academy of Music, either on Monday
or last n'; ht, the male chorus singers at a late hour on
Monday having struck for extra pay on account of
certain rehearsals of Bonen eGiulietirt hut week. The
circumstances of this affair, as our reporters have
gathered them from the statements of both parties, are
as follows : It seems that the chorus, according to their
own venion. are engaged at • salary of 16 dollars a week ;
and on Monday the entire party, 26 in number, were paid
6 dole. 40c. each for the first performanoe of Rowed e
Giuliefla end the Matinee on Saturday. They made no
objection at the thee, but at • quarter to seven o'clock in
the evening they sent word to the manager that they
would not sing unless they were paid 15 dollars each for
the Wednesday ',Amer! of the new opera. Mr. Ma etsek
holds that they agreed to sing for 3 doh. 20c. a perform-
ance (which would be at the rate of 16 dollen a week),
and had consequently received all they were entitled to,
there being only two performances last week, but he
offered 5 dollars for the rehearsal. This was refused, and,
as no compromise could he reached, the audience bad to
be sent away, and the opera is indefinitely suspended.—
Nee York Tribune, Nov. 20.

The Sacred Harmonic Society celebrate their
800th concert, given by them in the large hall, Exeter.
on Fa iday next, Dec. 13, when Catta'a oratorio
iret4lll4ll will be given. The receipts of the above per-
formance are to be handed over to the benevolent fund of
thir 'Poeta y.

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