The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-10 00:00:00

WHITSUN HOLIDAYS.

Nothing could have been more propitious
than the weather to-day for the pleasure-seekers to
enjoy their annual holiday, and before seven o'clock
large numbers were already astir. The first notable move
was made in the direction of the several railway stations
whence cheap excursion trains had been advertised to run ;
and it is needless to say that the 3s. fare to the giant water-
ing•place on the south coast and back proved very attrac-
tive. From London-bridge no less than four excursion trains
left for Brighton, and it is estimated that the number of
passengers thus conveyed was nearly 2,700. An early ex-
cursion train also left the same terminus for Hast-
ings laden with passengers. Altogether the num-
ber of cheap trains was considerably in excess of
that of last year. With such brilliant weather
added to the attractions of the Crystal Palace. it is not
surprising that a great rush took place in the direction of
Splenbani, and long before 9 o'clock some thousands were
proceeding across London-bridge. The trains were made
up as quickly as possible, and by a quarter past 12 the
twenty-first special had been despatched to the Palace
from London-bridge alone. Thousands also hooked from
Victoria and Kensington Stations, and the stations
in connexion with the London, Chatham, and Dover
Railway. The steamboats on the river were lite-
rally besieged. The fine built vessels the Alexandra
and Palmerston left the Swan Pier densely packed for
Gravesend and Sheerness; while other boats plying in tle
same direction were more than usually patro-
' nixed, partly perhaps in consequence of the
attractions of " a monster fete and gala" at Itcaberville and
at the Erith Botanical Gardens. The up-river traffic'
was equally great, and there can be no doubt that Batter-
sea-park, Kew, Cremorne, Lc., have been thronged
with visitors. The numbers proceeding to Greenwich
both by boat and rail were astonishing. Pleasure
vans were plying in various directions, and
in many instances school children were being
taken to enjoy their annual treat. The gap created
in London has been well filled by country visitors
from various parts. Teetotal and other societies have
used the day as one of special festivity, and the march-
l
ing out of several volunteer corps has added to the
animation of the public thoroughfares.

EXCITING SCENES AT A FIRE.

NARROW ESCAPE OF SIX PERSONS.

At an early hour on Saturday morning a scene
of an exciting character was enacted in one of the streets
of Birmingham. Smoke was slowly filling a house
in Newtown-row, the residence of Mr. James Ede, draper.
A fire had broken out in his shop, and the *smoke and
fumes were gradually filling his house, which adjoined
the shop. Mrs. Ede was awake ; she roused her husband,
who looked about anxiously for a way of escape. He got
out through a window, and in going along the roof he
slipped through a skylight, and his foot was very badly
wounded. Recovering his self-poesession he assisted his
wife out of the window with her baby, and crossing the roof
of his own and of an adjoining shop, he and his charges
gained access to • neighbouring house, the inmates of
which were aroused, and admitted the party who so
suddenly claimed hospitality. But there still re-
mained three persona sleeping in Mr. Ede's house,
and the fire was every moment gaining ground. The
persons thus imperilled were Mr. William Ede, his wife,
and a female servant. By vigorous cries of " Fire " the
alarm was happily communicated to them. Mr. William
Ede being roused, jumped out through a window in the
rear of the house, and ran for a ladder with which
to rescue the other inmates. He got the ladder,
placed it to the window, and was making his way up
it when it broke. A wall ran close to the window.
Mrs. William Ede could not jump on to it, nor could
the servant. To attempt it would have been to incur the
the imminent risk of being killed by a fall. But Mr. Wm.
Ede could bridge the chasm with his body, and he did it.
He rested his feet on the window sill and clung with his
hands to the wall, and his wife passed over him and the
servant followed. The fire engines arrived, and seeing no
prospect of beingable to save the shop or anything in it, the
firemen directed their attention to the preservation of the
premises on either side. While they were at work, Mr.
William Ede remembered that a 20f. note lay in the
pocket of his overcoat inside the burning building, and
offered, sovereign for the recovery of the coat. A young man
ventured to enter the house, and groping about in corners
where he could not wie.was thrilled by the touch of a cost.
It was the senseless body of Mr. James Ede, who had gone
to alarm his brother and his brother's wife and servant,
and in the attempt was almost suffocated. In the hurry
and confusion nobody knew that he was missing and in
danger. As soon as he regained consciousness he was sent
in a cab to the General Hospital. The fire unroofed the
shop and consumed all the goods. The damage is roughly
estimated at from 8001. to 1,000/. It is partially covered
by insurance with the Royal Fire Insurance Company.—
Birmingham Post.

The grand review of the British fleet is appointed
to take place on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of July. The naval
force engaged will include all available ships on the home
stations, as well as the coastguard vessels and the gun-
boats, and it will assemble at Spithead on the 9th. Ac-
couimodation will be specially provided for the represen-
tatives of her Majesty's government and for the members
of both Houses of Parliament to witness the imposing spec-
tacle.

On Friday evening the theatre of the Royal
Institution was more than usually crowded by an audience
anxious to hear Mr. Ruskin deliver a lecture "On the
present state of Modern Art with reference to the advis-
able arrangements of • National Gallery." During the
lecture an incident occurred which is quite unusual in the
theatre of the Royal Institution. A person in one of the
back benches interrupted Mr. Ruskin several times by
making remarks, and it was at length found necessary to
call in the polioe to turn him out. The lecture was
announced as the last of the season ; but an arrangement
has been made for another one on the 21st hurt., to be
delivered by Professor Tyndall.

The General Assembly, which is now sitting in
Dublin, met on Saturday morning in the Presbyterian
church, Rutland-square, when it was announced that, in
consequence of the sudden death of the Rev. Dr. Gibson,
professor of Christian Ethics in the Presbyterian College,
Belfast, no business would be transacted. The Rev. Dr.
Gibson was at the meeting of the assembly on Friday
night until after 11 o'clock, and the next morning, about
3 o'clock, was discovered dead upon the Adelaide-road. His
remains were removed to the Baggot-street Hospital,
where an inquest will be held this evening. The sudden
death of the Rev. Dr. Gibson is believed to have resulted
from ►n attack of apoplexy. Deceased was about 55 years
of age.

Amongst others, Mr. Frederick Vining, the
veteran actor, was the victim of a garotte attack last week,
from the effects of which he is slowly recovering.
. _

in
A solicitor of high position society, and whose
father held a responsible government situation, was con-
victed at Dublin on Saturday of the robbery of 70f. worth
of jewellery from the International Hotel, Bray, and was
sentenced to six months' imprisonment. On the expiration
of that term other charges of the same kind will be brought
against him.

An attack was made on two Fenian informers,
who were escorted by a detective, in • public-house at
Hrumoondra yesterday afternoon. The men went in to
get some drink after walking. They were recognised—one
as having given evidence against M'Cafferty—and beaten
with the pewter vessels. The detective is dangerously
wounded, and a temple artery had to be severed to stop
hemorrhage. A posse of police suoceeded in bringing the
approvers and policeman off without further injury.
The inhabitants of Lancaster held an auto-do-ft
on Friday night, the heretics who suffered being effigies
of three gentlemen supposed to have been instrumental in
bringing about the late commission of inquiry. The dis-
franchisement of their borough has, it is rid, calmed much
annoyance and ill-feeling among the electors.
A daily steam packet communication has been
established between Littlehampton and Miaow, and be-
tween Southampton and Havre.

The Massachusetts Legislature has rejected a
license law, proposed as a substitute for the prohibitory
law, by 161 votes to 61. The Boston Adrerf iaer
" The evils which the failure of the prohibitory system is
causing among us are too alarming, and the inconsistency
and absurdity of our legislation are too shocking to com-
mon sense to escape continued discussion. The hollow-
ness of much of the pretended zeal for the present law
will also hay., its effect with the thinking public ; and
although it is not to be this year, and may not be next
year or the year after, we do not despair of set ins a license
law pained by the legislature of Massachusetts, which
shall substitute • judicious system of regulation and re-
striction for a law which barely conceals vice in the country
and finds it uncontrollable in the city."