The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-18 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 1867.

lower part of the town. The situation of St.
Thomas, which is built upon three hills, that
slope to the water side, and are themselves topped
by other and highersumm its, doubtleis saved it from
the submergence which would have been inevitable
if it had been built upon level ground. The presence
of the Royal Mail packet La Plata, which was
lying at Water Island, three miles from St.
Thomas, has preserved the record of a curious phe-
nomenon. Immediately after the first shock, the
sea, as Captain Raverr and one of his pas-
image= narrate, appeared to withdraw from
the shore. It was only after the second shock,
which came five minutes after the first, that
ihe wave which we have described was seen
rising two miles out at sea. Gathering strength
as it proceeded, it burst on the shore and on the
ship, which it would have overwhelmed had
its force not been broken by rocks and bays. The
same phenomenon was observed at Lisbon in the
earthquake of November, 1735. The sea retreated,
leaving the harbour-bar dry, bet returned
in a wave of fifty feet high, which swept over the
quays and drowned the people who bad crowded
thither for refuge from the falling buildings of the
upper town. Islands and the sea-coast are the chief
seat of volcanic centres, and the same oceanic
action has been generally observed to accompany
earthquakes. The loss of life occasioned by the
convulsions at St. Thomas is not reported.
A boatful of negroes, who were coaling the ship
La Plata, have been drowned. But for the
gallantry and good seamanship of Captain Rev Err,
the commander of the vessel, it seems improbable
that the vessel which he has brought to England
and the passengers on board of her would have
survived to bring the news of the peril that they
have escaped. There is reason to hope that the
loss of life is not considerable. Society, however,
appears to be disorganized. The property which
the hurricane spared has been destroyed by the
earthquakes. A fortnight of scarcely incessant
shocks, occurring at the rate of from twenty
to thirty daily, is enough to throw men's
minds, as well as their bodies, off their
balance, and to disturb the social as completely
as the natural equilibrium. It is probable that
for a time at least St. Thomas will be deserted.
Few who can leave it will stay there. In the
meantime the relief liberally offered through the
Mansion-house and Southampton Committees to
the sufferers from the West Indian hurricane will,
we are sure, be redoubled to meet the double
calamity under which these unfortunate people
labour. The home claims upon the benevo-1
lence of Englishmen are not few or slight at
the present moment ; and the depression of trade
has for the time dried up some of the ordinary
sources of charity. But there are reserves of
benevolence and of wealth to meet all the de-1
mends that can be made upon them. Needful
help will not be wanting to just and natural
claims.

OUR CONTEMPORARIES.
(THIS DAY.)

can doubt that, when Sir Robert Napier lands in Annesley
tiny, he will find everything ready for that grand move
southward which will enable him to isolate Magdala and
deliver its captives.
The Post sums up the complaints of the diplomatic and
consular service as follows : The promotions are indepen-
dent of merit, rank, length of service, or any ocher motive
than interest or caprice. Arbitrary fines are imposed ;
accounts are refused payment or examination ; deductions
are made from salaries without justifiable reason. Officers
are suspended and degraded without cause assigned. Pro-
test and appeal are useless, and cause a man to be marked
down for punishment of a vindictive kind, amounting in
many cases to persecution ; while the only definite rule
understood throughout both services is • system of open
and undisguised favouritism by • clique, which seems to
set all public opinion and right feeling at defiance.

THE CLERRENWELL OUTRAGE.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.—(THIS DAY.)
During yesterday numerous communications
reached the City and metropolitan police to the effect
that it was in contemplation to have a general rising of
the Fenian/ last night ; that they were in the first instance
to tap the gasometers of the City and metropolitan fac-
tories, so as to put London in darkness, and then to make
an attack upon the engine-houses belonging to the metro-
politan brigade. Captain Shaw, the chief officer of the
brigade, had the fire escapee removed from their stations
in the public streets, and placed in front of the
various engine depots. This precaution was considered
necessary from the fact of the firemen and their families
for the most part residing in those houses, and the escapes
might be useful in rescuing the inmates in case any at-
tempt should be made to burn the buildings down. It is
reported that several attempts to destroy large City
warehouses have been made. On Saturday night three
buildings in various parts of the metropolis were set fire to
by some of the miscreants for whose apprehension rewards
have been offered.

During last night a great number of detective police, so
disguised by their dress that those who knew them per-
sonally were unable to identify them, were sent out on
duty into different parte of the City, as well as into nearly
every part of the metropolitan district. The South Ken-
sington Museum, the British Museum, the gas factories,
the powder magazines in Hyde-park, those at Dartford,
Faversham, and Hounslow, are all protected by offioers of
the police and milit►ry. Along the river every barge and
ship is carefully examined. Detective officers have also
been sent to the stations of the various railways, and the
telegraph in kept in constant operation in forwarding de-
scriptions of suspected persons travelling by the linen. A
full description le now sent round of the man who fired
the barreL