The Express.
London, England, 1858-09-15 00:00:00

THE COMET.

Mr. Hind, in a letter to a contemporary, says :
Prom 3 to 4 o'clock this morning (Monday), the sky
being remarkably clear, the comet of Donati presented Ocean
se a very conspicuous object in the north-eastern heavens.
Its recluse was ea bright se • star of the second magnitoda,
and, though not planetary In appearance, bore high angel-
den better than any comet I remember to have nes.
The tail, which might be traced in the ' comet-seeker,'
about five degrees from the head, connoted of a mingle
ray, very well defined on the ride preceding with re-
. frrenoe to the direction of motion, but fading away
indistinctly on the opposite aide. A very faint ray of
light emanated from the nucleus towards the sun, as
previously remarked in tenni of three objects, and I
thought at moments that a short ' horn' or • teethe
issued therefrom at right .ogles to the ar's of the tail.
The finnan In the brighlaese of this comet is so te•
conformity with theory, that than is a high probability of it
being visible with telescope* fa full sunshine about the isnot
of maximum brilliancy In October. On this matter I hope to
send you sone farther particulars In doe course. The ap-
parent diameter of the nucleus le about five seconds of aro,
and, se the oomet is still upwards of 120,000,000 miles from
the earth, the real diameter will be rather over 3,000 miles.
Taking the apparent length of the tail at five dearre it.
true length would appear to be about 16,000,000 mils..
Backe', comet was very distinct in the clear morning sky.
AI We Menu' y of comets It will always posers' interest for
the astronomer, though just new the far brighter one of
Dotted will of Loam attract room general *Unities. I may
add that the path of the comet swain to be very well re-
presented by a perabollo orbit, end, consequently, It is not
likely to revisit then parts of apace for a few hundred
years."

A 111ETEOR. SOUTHAMPTON. SEPT. 14. -- An
extraordiaary and most brilliant meteor was noticed here
last evening at about a quarter to 7. It made its appearance
in the south-east quirter of the heavens, sad ire direction
was towards the west. It laded several seconds, mad re-
sembled a hall of Ere of a brilliant tint, with a intim of light
following it, from which were emitted substrticee Wks amt.
laustars. The weather had been intensely hot all day. .••
EXTENSION OF THE PORT OF BRISTOL,—A
crowded nsestiag wee held at the Gußdhall, Bristol, yastsr-
day, the Mayor la the chair, to consider the pcsaibility of
providing eastmesoilatiou for the largest class of amen
wampum Mr. P. W. Mills moved a resolution, that the
eecoeuamistkin Should be provided; Mr. Pine 'wended the
resolution. Mr. Baker, chairman of the Great Postica
Company, addressed the meeting, sod stated his belief that
ins few weeks a company would be formed to take the
Leviathan and complete her. He also stemmed hie opinion
that with proper socommadatka Bristol would be admirably
adapted for her reception. The resolution was carried, and
a committee sppointed to co-operate with the Chamber of
Commerce to emery it into ellsot. A subscription also wee
set on foot at the meeting.
_

TAY SALMON FISHINGS.—The salmon fishing. be-
longing to the Berle of Weeps and !Elenall were exposed
to let by public roup, on Friday. and brought—the former
2,6371., Whig an Inatome of 3091. upon last yes: ; and the
letter 891., which is the same se in the prvioua 10111011.
The attwadenott of competitors wee sou i end toe
biddiap brisk.—Duly Neal.
DOG AND BARBER Swantpro MaTca.—A rather
soul mimic woke took pine on Saturday, at Fisher-
rs., betimes a lwber and Mr. Dowel.'.dog Miggie, for 51.
a aids. The diKenee was threo-quartere of a mile. The
better took We lesel, he was sest overbeken by hie mho
wyesehisk Mier a
.—MiiiierE6 geldApne stregglo, went in 'inner by
X=.a
SUNDERLAND Alen DURHAM DISTRICT BANE.o..
We (Newessat Doily CArmeiels) are authorised to state that
the Sew inealment of 160,0001. has bye paid to the liquida-
tors by the New Dement Iron Company for the purchase of
the Dereent Iron Werke, and that satisfactory security by
been given for the payment of the remaining instalments.
OVERCROWDING OF STEAMERS.—At the Justice
of Pesos Court on Monday, in presence of Joseph A.
Wright and David Smith, Eq.., lames Turnbull, master of
the steamer Thistle, was charged with a oontravention of
the Merchant Shipping Aot of 1864, particularly section
319, in ao far as on the 9th and 10th days of August, the
etyznehip Thiel., under lea ebeogs, bed on board, daring
the whole or put of her age from Londonderry to Otse-
go., end on snivel is the Clyde, 1,700 possiegere, beteg
1,174 more than the number allowed is be oanled in mid
ship by the us-going certificate hued by the Bond
of Trade, applicable to saidship, of date Algid 4, 1868,
namely, 468 deck and 68 cabin pesenagers. The defaident
had thereby incurred a penalty net entooting 201., and also
as additional penalty, .tit =maim 5a., for may pewterer
en board over and above the number allowed by the tsride-
oate. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. Douglas,
Procurator need, who made the complaint on in-
'tractions received from the Board of Trade ; end
Mr. Adam Paterson, writer, spy end for the detente.
Kr. Trevor, collector of cuatome, was also premed.
The defendant was convicted and sentenced to pay a One of
la. for each pamenger In excess of the number slowed by
the medicate, befog 681. 14a., and 101. being half of the
penalty of 201. in terms of the Aot, waking in all 68/. 144.
The justices trusted that this would pore a warning not
ewly to Captain Turnbull, but to others similarly engaged,
sod also to the masters of river beats.—North British Daily
Mai.

INNIGILATION OT PAUPER LUNATICS nox
Nur Yoan.—At the tor 'deg of the Went vestry of Liver-
ies:, yesterday, Yr. Denton stated thee the Resolate had
sivived from Bneton with thirty-five paupers on board, many
el whom were Innatioa, and that ax Cultivator, try New
York, thirty-bar more had strived, making altogether
sixty-aim Most of dues would be rtaident le the work-
house all the days at their lives, rod Yr. Denton
m
art a strobe remesistranos &raid he made to the; gortgla
Sitarstary. with a Ow to provost the exportation of all
histatice end paupers from New York, as it bad a tendons,
to harass local rates. - -

------ ---
Arrangements have been made for opening a bank
at Vasco'' is Wand, sod ultimately la Bi.vsh Columbia,
sad a pima is under conskiaratioa for van ai a fortoightly
postal communication to New Zeeland sad South Australia,
Ma Prams, with a postal lerVioll by the dams mats to Via-
envie.

Maysoroirrair TOLL Rr.roan.—The royal cow
manias ',pointed towards the aloes of the last scrods at
parliament to inquire into the practicability of providbi a
substitute for the metropolitan toil gates within six mama
Cbarimpurcos will commence its sittings early next month,
in ardor to be a►le to report at the commencement of next
eassios. Viseennt Bromley, late Speaker of the Home of
COMMIX., wilt preside over the oomealedon, and will have
the minable etwistmee of Sir J. T. Coleridge, late a judge of
the Court of QUII4Ie. Bench, in onedacting the Involtigadan.