The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-25 00:00:00

A BRAVE MAN ON BOARD THE LONDON.

The Cheltenham Examiner mentions the fact that
several persons well known in Cheltenham and connect id
with resident families perished with the London. Among
them is Mr. Robe' & Harris, the chief officer, who met with
his death at the age of 39 yaws, attar living through eaves-
tures such as WI to the lot of few. Mr. Harris was the
brother of the supervisor of excise for the Cheltenham die-
trict, and will be remembered is the hero of the " Tale of
the Sea," which some mouths ago caused so great an
interest throughout England and Australia, and indeed
throughout the civilised world. Mr. Harris, on that
occasion, while mate on board the Geeloog, had volun-
teered to the rescue of a man who had been washed
overboard in mid-ocean, and, accompanied by several
seamen, had put off from the ship in a small boat for
that purpose. By some strange mishap the Geelong
steamed away, and left Mr. Harris end his companions
to the mercy of a stormy sea. After beating about for
thirty-six hours, it will be remembered, Mr. Harris was
picked up end brought safely to England. Mr. Super-
visor Harris, in reference to the death of his brother,
has received the following letter from the owners of the
London :—" Blackwell Yard, Linden, Jan. 22, 1866.
Dear Sir,—We fear we have 'little to add beyond what
has appeared in the papers relative to the loss of the
London, or of those on board. All that has been told us
by those who survive, proves that all did their duty to
the utmost and to the very last. No more perfect ma* of
heroism, we feel, was ever exhibited than in this unfortu-
nate loss, where, with the complete knowledge of the posi-
tion of the ship, every endeavour was used, and complete
order maintained, to the very last. On a previous
occasion, we expressed to you our opinion of
your brother s we caa only add that everything since then
has confirmed it. Nor is it the least trying part of the un-
fortunate occurrence for us to have lost the services of so
many whom we yelped so high's. We have not thought
it worth while to contradict in the public papers the absurd
statements of the quantity of iron on board the Loadoo,
knowing that the inquiry to be held by the Board of Tn le
will completely expose the fallacy of these and similar
rumours. But to preveut such statements proving any
diem you, or your family, we say they are utterly
without foundation. Sympathising with you in the be-
reavement you have austaioeJ, we remain, yours truly.
" Mos= Viriczan sad SONS.

" Rich. Harris, Eq.. Cheltenham."
Mr. Harris has also received a letter from Mr. Edwards.
of Redford, midshipman. who was one of the few survivors
of the catastrophe, bearing testimony to the zeal with
which Mr. Robert Harris did his duty, and mentioning
that when hut he saw Mr. Harris he was busily occupied
in the forward part of the vessel, working with the axe to
remove the debris from the sinking ship.

Fluxes sr= IV WATT led LEBRITY.—The Inde-
pendanee Beige hes the following remarks on the speech of
the Emperor Napoleon :—" This document explains itself,
with a eleusese we cannot but applaud, upon ail the
question which occupy public opinion. We wish we could
deem it as satisfactory as it is clear ; but while it contains
declarations upon certain points we are happy to approve,
it contains ethers which we must deeply deplore. In fact,
though the language of the Emperor is pacific and well
inspired with regard to foreign 'dein and distant expedi-
tions, it is oa the other hand not very encouraging for the
friends of liberty in thou passages which refer to the
situation at home and the liberal aspirations of France.
Not only does it give us no glimpse of the crowning of the
edifice so long promised and still expected, but it repels as a
manifestation of unseemly impatience the liberal move-
meet which marks the new phase in which France
has entered through the general elections of 1863. In those
political liberties which M. Thiers has so truly called mi-
aow, liberties, and which alone can constitute the govern*
meat of the oonotry by the country, it refuses to see any-
thing but useless fetters, only calculated to deprive the
government of all force and of all initiative. The present
institutions of France seem in the eves of the Emperor to
appruch perfection, and in the fresh apology that he has
made for them he strives with more determination than
ever to justify, by the difference between the genius of
England and Frain* the differesoe between the Imperial
and the English instantiole. To make amends, he points
out an analogy between the Imperial institutions and
those of the United States, which is somewhat vague, and
which, for that reason, doubtless, his hitherto remained
unperceived. We should not Eke to affirm that it will
bseeelerth be mare striking."
THU LAST ANECDOTs 07 KING LZOPOLD. The
last anecdote of the late King of the Belgians is by so
lees a person than William Cornell Jewett, who lays that
when he went to Europe os his " independent pesos mis-
sion," be requested King Leopold to sot as umpire between
me ;evolvement sad the rebels, and that the astute mean*
replied that " he would Dot put hot flagon between the
bark and the tree."—Anti.Stacery Standard, Jan. 13.
OZTIITAL PLUM. Oil SHILLItite IDAT.
Witersimadr, Jam 2i—damndest as payment, 2,861;
dins by mum MO" 1.784 ; total visiesio. 4,60.