The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-09 00:00:00

TO TNT TDITOII or THE KIPIREBB.

Sra,—For those who take an interest in the
exertions I am still making on the Arctic question, the
following letter may be worth more than emissary notice.
It gives the sentiments of one who is closely allied to the
highest personage in the realm, and there can be little
doubt also expresses the feelings of our beloved Queen her-
self. I upon the letter as encouragement to me in
renewing the search, for only the fact th►t government had
discountenanced all further efforts evidently prevented
sasistance and co-operation being afforded. I yet hope,
however, to accomplish it.—l am, &e.,
W. PARKER SNOW.
St. John's-hill, New Wandsworth, August 7.
" Osborne, July 23, 1860.
Srs,—l am commanded by his Royal Highness the Prince
Consort to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
20th instant. His Royal Highness takes the deepest in-
terest in undertakings each as that which you propose to con-
duct, and fully appreciate' the noble self-devotion that has
led you and other gallant men to endeavour to trace the
fate of Sir John Franklin's expedition. And though his
Royal Highness feels that it would be too much to hope
that any of those who belonged to that expedition still
survive, he can fully enter into the feeling which
prevents you and others from resting satisfied with-
out further efforts to ascertain what became of
them after the ships were abandoned in 1648; nor
would any one rejoice more intensely to hear that such
efforts had been crowned with success. But, as it swears
that the government of the Queen have decided t4t it
would not be right to encourage fresh enterprises of this
nature, and thus to hazard the loss of more valuable lives,
in what teems to them the absence of any hope that such
enterprises would least to the discovery of any sur►ivon be-
longing to the lost expedition, his Royal Highness, feels that
be could not, with any propriety, arum* the responsibility
of giving his support to undertakings discountenanced by
the government ; and he therefore regrets that lie cannot
comply with your request for his assistance and co-opera-
tion. —I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient ser-
vant, (signed) C. Gin. —To Captain W. Parker Snow."

A pier of a novel and elegant construction waa
opened to the public on the god instant, at Southport, •
favourite watering place on the Lancashire coast, the some
of Mr. Whitworth's experiments with his new rifled cannon.
The pier, which is nearly three-quarters of a mile long, and
varies from 20to 25 feet in height above the maid, is con-
structed from designs by Mr. James Brimless, OA, of
London. The superstructure consists of a wooden planking,
provided with iron railings (specially designed for the safety
of children) upon • triple row of wrought iron lattice
(Orders, supported at intervals of fifty feet by cast
iron columns. Them columns are in three lengths.
the lower of which, or pile, is sunk into the sand
to • depth sufficient to secure a solid foundation,
by • peculiar process, first adopted by Mr. Brunlees in
constructing the railway viaducts over the shifting ands in
Morecambe Bay. The bottom of the pile is proribd with •
large disc ; a snuelppe passes down the inutile of the pile
and through a hole in the dim., water being forced down
this pipe loosens sod washes awe the sand under the pile,
which then sinks by its own we t. At the end of the pier
there is a platform 100 ft. by ' provided with seats
and • summer-house, and • stainless gives acmes to the
sands at low water. There are also sesta at intervals along
the pier. The work has been very satisdactorily performed
by Messrs. W. and J. Galloway of Manchester, the con-
tractors, under the direction of Mr. Brunlees. The entire
cost has been 8,700 L, and we may add the singular fact, that
he expenditure is within the original estimate.
FATAL BOAT ACCIDIXT.—A lamentable accident
occurred on Monday forenoon, by which two men lost their
lives. About nine o'clock • party of Artillerymen belong-
ing to No. 5 Battery, stationed in the Plymouth Citadel,
left the garrison to proceed to Pieklecombe Battery, at
Mount bdgcumbe, where they were going for ball practice.
The party left in the artillery bast, and were on their way
to Cremyll, but when near the beach, from some unex-
plained cause, they came in contact with • barge that was
at the time beating up for the Hanicase. In their alarm
some of the men made • rush for the barge, and in so doing
four of them fell overboard. Assistance wag immediately

rendered, but it was found impossible to recover mere thsi
two of them. The other two were unfortunately clusenisd.
The unfortunate fellows who have thus found a welly
grave were Benjamin Lloyd sad James Paul Clipold. One
of them was but recently married.
COLLISION ON THE CALEDONIAN RAILWAY.—A
oolligi.m occurred at an early hour on Tuesday morning a•
the Caledonian Railway sear Edinburgh. Offi6al informs-
tion was declined, but we understand that the collision toot
place not far from Slateford, between the night mail train
from the south and the goods train. The mail trio, whisk
is due at Lothian-mad about half an hour after midnight,
was rather late, sad dashed into a train of goods trades
which were being shunted on to the Haymarket station.
Alarming niiiiiiurs were Abundant about the results of the
accident, but we lo•liere the most serious injury is that one
gentlemen, a passenger in the mail train, hail hi, leg frec-
kled, and anther rumor was severely brittle...l. °than
were injurer, but tot to awf seism ortont.—Scotomon.