The Express.
London, England, 1866-11-09 00:00:00

THE QUEBEC FIRE FUND.

The following letter, written by command 9f ater
Majesty the Queen, has been add:eared to Mr. Watkini
M.P., as chairman of the committee of the fund now being
raised in aid of the sufferers by the recent terrible con-
flagration at Quebec. The subscriptions received iu
London up to last evening amount to about 9,6001.:-
Windsor Castle, tirv.

Sir,—lt having come to the knowledge of the Queen that
a public subscription is being raised for the valid d the
sufferers by the late calamitous fire at Quebec, her Majesty
has commanded me to address you as chairman of the
committee formed in London to receive contributions, and
to express her Majesty's sympathy for the unfortun►te per.
sons who, in an inclement 1111010111, are deprived of shelter
and the means of subsistence. .

The Queen is gratified to notice the efforts which are
being made for their relief, and desires me to announce to
you a subscription of 3001. from her Majeaty.-11 have the
honour to be, air, your obedient humble servant,
T. M. BIDDOLPH.

To .W. Watkin, Frq., M.P., Chairman of the
Committee of the Quebec Fire Relief Fund.

The following is a copy of the despatch in which
Lord hlonek, Governor-General of Canada, announoes thr
great fire at Quebec :
" GOVERNOR VISCOUNT MONCIL TO Loan CARNARVON.
" Quebec, Oct. 22,1888.

"My Lord,—lt is with much regret that I have to
inform your lordship that a terrible fire took place ►t
Quebec on Sunday, the 14th inst., by which • large
portion of the city lying outaide the fortifications was
completely destroyed. Nearly all the houses in thr
district of St. Sauveur bnd St. Boob, where the fire
occurred, were built of wood, and a strong gale of win?
was blowing at the time. Consequently, the oonflr
gration soon attained such dimensions as defied all at
tempts to check it, though the most strenuous and gallant
exertions to do so were made by the troops of the garrison
under Colonel Lord Alexander Russell, and by the crew

her Majesty's ship Aurora, under Captain LiddelL The
progress of the flames could not be arrested, and the fire
finally burnt itself out, after consuming almost the whol
of the suburbs situated to leeward of the street where
commenced. These suburbs were densely iuhabited by tl
poorest class of the population, oonsisting chiefly of Freud
Canadians, and though there has not yet been time to procure
details in the matter, I have reason to believe that upwards
of 2,000 houses have been destroyed, and nearly 18,000 per
sons rendered homeless. Every effort has been =We by

Mayor and citizens of Quebec to alleviate the sufferings
these unfortunate people, and to provide the vast mul
tude suddenly thrown for support on the charity of tbi
neighbours with food, clothing, and temporary shelter ;
-
such is the magnitude of the calamity, and so wide-spread
the distress consequent upon it, that I look forward with
much apprehension and anxiety to the early approach
winter, and to the unprepared condition of the sufferers
the late disaster to meet it.
" Subscriptions have been set on foot throughout

province for the purposs of sending assistance to Quebec
this pressing emergency, and a memorial presented to
by the General Committee of Relief, praying for a grans
public money, is now under the consideration of my mi
tern. I have the honour to transmit herewith a copy of
address issued by the mayor of the city, the bishops of
diocese, and other principal persons, hommliately after t
occurrence of the lire. Precise statistical information
regard to the extent of the destruction caused by the
fiagration shall be sent to your lordship as soon as it can
be obtained.—l sin, MUNCK.—The Right lion. the
lEarl of Carnarvon, &c."
The address to which Lord Monck refers appeals to " the
I generous-hearted of all countries."

TER NEW SOLICITOR-0 EN KRAL FOR IRELAND.—
Mr. Chatterton has issued him address to the electors of
Dublin University, for relection, on his appointment as
Solicitor-General. lie says :—" My political principles
are, and have been conservative, and I concientiously be-
lieve that the great constitutional party to which I
belong will be found the truest friends of the people,
and that, while resolutely opposing all revolutionary
attacks upon the time-honoured institutions of the State,
they will be ready to aid, with true liberality, in all
well-considered measures for their improvement. If
elected, my best attention shall be given to the interests
of our university. I shall devote my exertions to support
and defend our church, and shall, to the best of my abi-
lity, resist the attacks with which it is threatened. I
shall be ready to aid in any practicable measures which
may be necessary for its internal regulation or improve-
ment, or for the removal of any just cause of complaint by
our clergy." It is anticipated that Mr. Chatterton, like
his predecessor, Mr. Walsh, now Master of the Rolls in
Ireland, will find no opposition in his canvass fur the uni-
versity suffrage.
BIRMINGHAM TRIENNIAL IVIFSIVAL FESTIVAL.—
A meeting of the general committee of management of this
important musical event wax held in the committee room
of the Town-hall, on Wednesday. The president, Earl
Beauchamp, occupied the chair, and it was r. solved that
the festival should be held on the 27th of August, and
three following days. in the report of the orchestral
committee read on the occasion it is stated that Professor
W. S. Bennett will produce a new work at the festival.
CANTER/IL KY WORKING M El\ 'PI eL I R.—This
club is moving along in a satisfactory manner. It has
capital premises, the rent of which several gentlemen in
the town guarantee, besides giving valuable help in the en-
tertainments, penny readings and classes established in
connection with the club. On Monday evening the Rev.
11. Kelly delivered an address on its behalf in the Guild-
hall, iii which be gave various important facts connected
with the success or failure of clubs in other parts of the
country, showing the great amount of good that was
being done, and the care requisite to avoid inh,haps and
disappointments. In the absence of the mayor, who was
unexpectedly prevented from attending, Colonel Ilorsel,
occupied the chair, and at the close of the meeting his
valuable and untiring services to the club were gratefully
acknowledged. Thanks being also voted to Mr. Say,
the meeting separated.
LEICESTER-SqUARE. —Last evening, at the usual
meeting of the vestry of St. Martin's, Mr. Scott asked Mr.
Dalton, the member for the Metropolitan Board, what
sups had been taken by that board as to the condition of
Leicester-square, its present state being a disgrace to the
metropolis. Mr. Dalton said the metropolitan board had
done all they could in the matter under the Gardens in
Towns Act, but were opposed by a Mr. Talk. Litigation
ensued, and the case was referred to the judges for
decision, and be believed it would be heard within a
mouth from the present time, when, if the :,letropolitan
board won their case, they would put the squire into pre-

per condition.
THE Loss OF THE CoNSTANTIA. --The commis-
sioners deputed to inquire into the facts connected with the
lossof the Constantin yesterday suspended the cert ificate of
Catain Wilcock for twelve months, and blamed him for
runpning too much upon his dead reekon.ng. From some
convcrastion in the court, is highly proLable that a
prompt and strenuous effort it
will be made in Liverpool to
procure an increase of lights on the east coast of Ireland,
and the establishment also of guard ships on some of the
must dangerous projecting points.
THE CATTLE I'IAG ult.—The weekly official re-
turn states that the cattle plague, which has prevailed in
Great Britain since June, lfitiri, has now so nearly ceased
to exist that during the week ending November .1 only two
animals are reported as having been attacked ; this is a
decrease of 13 on the return for the previous week. It is
hoped that this is the last weekly return that will be neces-
sary in recording the progrees of a disease which, so re-
cently as February in she present year, attacked 15,706
cattle in one week, and which in the aggregate has at.-
, tacked 2.53,725, or one in every 19 of the estimated ordi-
n stoyck of
th e n cattle living.
ary
farm;
A fresh outbreak took place in
oneumber that app- aced he last return
was four. Not any healthy cattle have been slaughtered
during the week from having been in contact with diseased
animals. The cases reported are fur the following two
petty sessional divisions of England, viz.: (Warwickshire)
Warwick, one attack ; (Yorkshire. North Riding) East
Balmer, one. No cases of cattle plague in sheep hare been
returned during the week ; the total number reported as
having been attacked up to the dated this return is G.S2G.
The mean temperature of the week at the Royal
Observatory, Greenwich, was 49.2 degrees, or 2.7 degrees
above the average of the same period during 50 yearn.
Rain fell to the amount of 0.20 inch during the week, and
the mean degree of humidity of the air was 88, complete
saturation being represented by 100. The general direc-
tion of the wind was south-west.
THE GREAT EASTERN AND THE FRENCH EITII-
RiTioN.—lt has been stated that offers on the part of the
authorities for managing the Great Exhibition in the
have been made to the directors of the Great Eastern
Ship Company, with a view to chartering that vessel to
carry passengers between New York and France during the
time the exhibition is open. This is only true in part.
Overtures were made by tile directors of the Great Eastern
Company to charter that vessel to the Compagnie Trans.
atlantique on very moderate terms, and these overtures
were at first listened to. Further consideration, however
basted the French sompany to decline the offer, sad the
enterpeim has consequently been abeedoned.—Livapool
Courier.

...._
. • I
• NEWSPAPER
'Vek
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"[TWOPENCE
i cHarziu. AND DIARRIVEA ItAi'LiILIVS.
--..---
DRAT= 10218TIZZD ON WIDNINDAT, NOV. 7, AND =PORTE, ll
i: THZ NZGINTRAI-OZNZILAL.
:PulatientOV66.lMUddie Choler*. Disminna•
West
dimm
686,021
Central districts ... 359,219
Neat dislaisee 607,945
I
1
873,548
north
diatr
0
South districts
o — ,
Total in London 3,03'7,991 14
, General Begistemoffitee, fieenerest•benes, Nov. 8. 4 • ,
i
• :
r THE WATER SUPPLY OP LONDON.
, ..
—,,—
At the usual meeting of the at. James's Vestry,
6 held on Thursday, a letter was read from the Metropo- ' ; 1
i
* than Board, requesting information and suggestions on
' i
a the subject of the present water supply to the metro-
=lt was moved by Mr. Beal, and seconded by Mr. " .' • /.1 4
w, that the following reply be sent : i A
;11 1
"'l hat the Metropolitan Board be informed that there 1
is so continuous supply in the parish. That this vestry
are of opinion that the cost of construction and repair of ma. - ,1 f ,
terns and water apparatus in houses may be most con- . .
~ i siderably reduced by the adoption of the high pressure • .
'' continuous service. That the evidence taken before the
in General Board of Health, referred to in their report of
1850, shows that the waste of water is far less index
the system of constant supply. That the constant
supply water is delivered purer and fresher, of a
lower temperature in summer and less inkiest to
to 1 trust in wlntse. That the inconveniences !prebends!
at i from the interruption of supplies during repairs are never
is experienced, the works being executed under simple and
lample precautions. That the interruptions of supply
'" I which are so constant now from neglect of turncocks, from
he I leaky butts, or, defective cisterns, are scarcely known in
ire the constant system. That there is great economy in the , 1
,
nd I constant supply in pipes, ea considerably smaller ones
is suffice. of That schemes proposing supplies water
from Wales and Cumberland should bo disoonmed,
at- having in view the evidence given to the Board of .
int Health by officers of the Geological Survey that
ion from a gathering ground of 110 miles near
,of London there is a derivable supply adequate to our most i
extended wants. That the supply of water should cease
['he to be the subject of joint stock enterprise, and should be '
fix* handed over to the municipal authority in London, by
tole • which consolidation the discontinuance of pumping eta-
a it tions, less costly management, and a very large expenditure ryry
the may be avoided. That the present defective arrangements
occasion great danger to life and property, which would Ii
rich be avoided by constant service, and would facilitate a re- . 'l/
Pure s duction in the cost of insurance. That the Westminster 11
irds I District Board of Works sometime since addressed inquiries I
per. to manytownson the question of continuous aervice,that out
of Ti towns sending information, it appeared 14 were supplied
the, by the corporations, 11 by °an ' these towns had P ,
11 of high pressure service ; it been in use at Bolton 35
alti- I years ; Nottingham, 27 years ; Preston, 25 years ; Paisley,
heir 21 years ; Leeds, 18 years. In 24 towns the supply is
carried to the tops of the houses ; n towns nee the jet
but
hose to extinguish tires, including Liverpool, Manchester,
read and Hull. In the reply from Hull it is stated that " Fire
with engines are nearly entirely superseded, as a more abundant
di of supply under a greater pressure is to be obtained from the
re by pipes by two men than from a fire engine by 30
or 40 men.' That clause 15 of the Metropolis Water
Act, 1852, has been, as far as we can learn, entirely Mope.
t the naive. The lire brigade being in the hands of the Metre-
Pee in politan Board of Works, they have a keen interest in this
byif trehepoeruvidefnmoien referred to, kewwlllk"ohrkc:MMebel-
.. . bourne, and other large cities, is correct, tire engines as a
''' rule may be displaced as antique and no longer ne
oetmoef question, as
of an That power should be secured to lay water mains in sairlK-
of the ways, as also gas mains, and the Metropolitan Board of ,
, the Works would do well to secure legislative aid in securing
on in the effective house-building arrangements in force in
Hamburg, shown at page 216, appendix No. 3to Report
' e**" on the supply of water to London, 1850."