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

108 TOPICS,.

Commenting upon the loss which our merchant shipping
constantly sustains from wrecks, the Tines singles out one
or two practices which greatly increase the danger of the
voyage. The custom of deck-loading daily imperils the
lives of sailors. The ship is thus sent into a stormy sea
freighted almost uif she were a river barge. Besides this,
in foul weather the deck-load breaks loose ; the deck is
constantly covered by the waves ; barrels, or still heavier
articles of merchandise, are knocking about, half afloat,
and it becomes impossible for the crew to work the ship.
Many ships, again, are overloaded, and there is reason to
fear that this is the case with many even of our finest
steamers. To overload a steamer can only be described as
• wicked recklessness, prompted by an unscrupulous greed
of profits. It is gambling with nature, the losses being
paid in the lives of brave men and in the desolation of
women and children. The Board of Trade ought to look
to the matter, and subject all vessels to adequate
inspection.
The Daily Nora advocates a substantial addition to the
metropolitan police. This new body might be formed into
a special corps under temporary engagements, and be em.
ployed either on independent service or as auxiliaries. If
such a force were raised, the authorities would know
exactly at any moment upon what amount of force they
could reckon, and they would also know that it was theirs
at all hours of the day and night, and for a mouth or a
year, as circumstances might require, which is not the
ease with special constables.

the Court.

OSBORNE, Dzc. 18.

The Queen, Princess Louise, Prince Leopold,
Princess Bestrico, and Prince Christian Victor of Schles-
wig-Holstein arrived at Osborne yesterday at a quarter
past two o'clock.

- Her Majesty creased over from Gosport in the roy►l
yacht Alberta, Captain the Prince of Leiningen.
The Queen walked in the grounds this morning, accom-
panied by Princess Beatrice. Princess Louise rode at-
tended by the Hon. Flora Macdonald, and Prince Leopold
went out attended by Mr. Bahl.

Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of the West India Islands, the
Mauritius, and the Governor-General of Canada. Des-
patches were sent to the Governor of Malta.
A deputation from the guardians of the Greenwich
Union, oonsistiffir of Mr. Brown, Mr. Norfolk, Mr. Lock-
yer, Mr. Huntley, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Salter, and Mr. Law
(clerk), had an interview with the Earl of Devon at the
office of the Poor-law Board, Whitehall, yesterday.

The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, accompanied
by Lord and Lady Lindsay and the Hon. Miu Lindaay,
left Dun Echt House, Abenleenahire, on Tuesday last, for
Haigh Hall, Wigan, Lancashire.

The Earl and Countess of Fowls are enter-
taining a large family party at Yowis Castle, near Welsh.
pool.

- Lady Caroline Marguerite Stanhope, eldest
daughter of the Earl and Countess of Harrington, and Hr.
James Penrose Ingham, eldest son of Mr. Jame. Taylor
Ingham, of Soirees Court, Herefordshire, were married on
Sunday morning last at Elvusan Church, Derbyshire, at
the unusually early hour of 8 o'clock. The marriage was
strictly private.