The Express.
London, England, 1866-08-07 00:00:00

By the arrival of the above mail we have ad- 1 HAYBLIRI(L"T.
vices from Bombay to the 9th July. , Some time about ton years ago a young actress,
There has been a lull in Bombay commercial Miss Amy Sedgwick, whose merits were better known in ,
affairs, after the excitement and panic of previous Manchester than in London, appeared at the Haymarket
weeks, and some little degree of confidence has re- Theatre in a comedy written for her by Mr. Tom Taylor,
vived, the deposits having increased at the Bank of and called The Unequal Match. The spirited acting, of
Bombay and atita branches. Business, especially ex- the lady secured her a firm footing on the metropolitan
port trade, is almost at a stand-still, only two or stage for parts that fell short of high and refined comedy,
three thousand bales of cotton per week being and the success of the play was largely secured by the
shipped instead of the twenty or thirty thousand a genuine humour of Mr. Compton as a pompous serving
short time back. Failures continue to be reported, man named 13Ienkinsop. •
and many more are anticipated when two or three Last night Miss Amy fledgwick opened the Haymarket
mails hence a considerably greater influx of redrafts Theatre for a short intermediate season, with a fair work-
are expected. Another of the older banks, the lag company, gathered from many London and provincial
" Central Bank of Western India," is announced as to sources,. and the comedy in which she first secured the
be diaeolved, haviiig lost atleast all ta capital besides
all reserves. There is a great desire for the establish- good-will of the metropolitan playgoers. Many changes
have been made in the cast, which the most devoted friend
went of a new bank in Bombay, starting free of of Miss Sedgivick could hardly speak of as imprevements ;
speculation, and with the confidence of the public.
On the sth July was published in the Boinb:t for example, Mr. N•ollaire, a very excellent " old man," is
eernment Gaztfte a telegram from the Secrety Go-
ary of thrust into a part associated with the name and presence
of Mr. lluckstone., but the full-bodied geniality of the
State, dated June 15th, which authorised the local heroine remains unaltered.
government to make advances to the extent of .10 Mr. John Nelson represents the hero, and Mrs. Buck-
per cent. on government securities. Much satis- inghatti White has been judiciously engaged for her origi-
faction was felt at the willingness shown by Earl nal character, Mrs. Montressor. The comedy is put upon
De Grey to do all that could be done to relieve the stage with true Haymarket elegance, and the house
Bombay from the effects of the•panic. In Calcutta was well filled with a distinguished and popular au•
the panic has considerably abated, the strong pod- dieuce.
tion of the Bank of Bengal contributing to cheek
the excitement. Nevertheless the private suffering
in connexion with the failure of the Agra Bank is
very great, and it is thought that the realisation of
the bank's claims in indigo and other estates will
be a protracted and difficult business. In Madras,
beyond the private losses caused by the failure
of the Agra, there is nothing to report.
The stream of bullion that has during many
years past steadily flowed freest Europe to Asia
has at last turned its current ; but it is gold that
flows westward. The Peninsular and Oriental mail
steamer Carnatic, which left Bombay with the pre-
sent mail, took out 81,5001. in sovereigns. Specie
valued at 430,000/. had arrived in Bombay from
China during the week, and some of it was to be
forwarded to England.
Immense numbers of sick and starving people
from the famine-stricken districts of Bengal con-
time to flock into Calcutta. The government has
opined atemporary hospital, and the natives are MR. ALFRED DIELLON'S CONCERT.
rating subscriptions. Upon this subject the Times .
of India writes : Last night Mr. Mellon began his annual series
Strange as it may appear, it seems that the whole story of promenade concerts at Covent Garden Theatre, with a
has not yet been learned regarding the terrible severity degree of success which augured well for the season. These
and results of the famine whichhas fur months tlevastuted very popular enteitainuielits are well known •to the
and still continues to decimate the population in various musical public ; and the series now commenced promises
districts of Bengal. In the province,' of Orissa and Cut- , The theatre
tack, and the districts of Italasore and Pooree (or Jogger. to tie as attractive as those of previous years.
mint), famine has begun the dreadful work, which disease is fitted is .in the same elegant and commodious manner
and death are quickly takingup to finish. It would be as formerly; and last night's selection of music was a most
no easy matter to say whether more blame attaches to the agreeable mixture of the classical audthe familiar ; and both
government of Benpl in connection with the long-standing descriptions of music were most attentively listened to,
causes which have led to so much suffering, pestilence
death, or because of their inaction even after the existence and received with the warmest applause. The perform-
of the famine was established beyond doubt. Sad since began with Beethoven's incomparable overture to
as is the thought of a tract of country nearly Leonora, which affonled full scope for the powers of the
the size of England and Wales, though with a magnificent orchestra, and was executed in a manner of
po.pulation of only one-fourth the number, ovenwept
.oath this reflection becomes infi- which it would be impassible to speak too highly. The
th famine and pestilence.
nicely MOM OM by comparison. Orima was not always first part of the concert also included Gounod's " Medi-
one expanse of deserted fields and empty villages; fur tation" on the prelude of Sebastian Bach, in which the
not three centurieshave yet elapsed since Orissa was one of violin solo was played by Mr. 11. W. Hill, the harp by
India's fairest provinces. Where desolation anti want now Mr. Trust, and the organ by Mr. Pittman ; the " War
prevail there' then reigned smiling plenty ; on all sides .
were unmistakeable signs of wealth sad contentment unmet litarch of the Priests in liendelmohn's Athalle; the andante
with elsewhere, and that, too, when the province main- and scherzo irons "Schtunann's symphony in E fiat ; a fine
twined a population three times as numerous as of fantasia on themes from Oounod'a Faust, superbly played by
lets years. 'When the country was subdued for the Wieniawski ; and Mellon's overture, " The Jacobites," an
Akbar, the magnificence of the temples with
gallica the banks of the Mahanuddy were studded, original and effective compusition. A fantasia on the
the grandeur of its rites anti the opulence of its newt invented inatiument, the xylophone, played by
bazaars, wrung from its conqueror the exclamation that Master Bonney, was truly a marvellous performance, and
She conitry surely belonged to the gods. But Mussel:nen was rapturously applauded. The second part included Mr.
anti Mshratta swept over it, and ruled it with a rad of iffelion's arrangement from the Afriecine, containing the
iron till Lord Wellealeyinterfered, and Colonel Campbell
invested Cuttack with British troops. I.ittle, however, famous unison movement, which created so great a sons-
has boeu done since then to improve the state in which tion last year ; a fantasia on Lucia di Lammermoor, played
these despots left the country. Tanks and irrigation by the young and favourite pianist, Mille. Marie Krebs ;
works have fallen into disrepair ; inundations have gra- and severaladmirable waltzes and quadrilles, among which
dually swept off years of the fertility gained in cultiva-
Coote's Lancers' quadrille and the Marie waltz, composed
tion, while the help afforded by occasional remissions of
revenue could only provide the most temporary relief, by an amateur, Colonel Baillie, of the Guards, were especially
being wholly inadequate to provide against or to prevent the happy. The instrumental music was agreeably inter-
recurrence of any randier catastrophe. The assessment of spersod with favourite vocal pieces, sung by Male. Lieb-
the land, too, has been extremely unequal and severe, hart with her usual spirit and effect.
and the want of a fair and just system of land tenure is by ,
no memos the least of the causes that have contributed to Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Edward Mut,
bring about the present suffering. The action of govern- ray, the acting .manager, for the completeness of every
ment on the present occasion, even after the distress was arrangement for the comfort and convenience of the
known, was delayed till the eleventh hour, and was only in- audience ; and the refreshment department, under the
stituted when the unanimous voiceof the public was loudly Large of Messrs, Spiers and Pond, left nothing to Le
re
de-
raised against them. At this moment the are districts
which have not yet received a single bag of the rice sup- sired.c he in' clemency o f the weather did not seem to
plied by the government of Bengal, and a strong remon- have tiny unfavourable influence, fur the theatre was
',trance has lately been forwarded on the subject by the crowded in every part from the promenade to the moil
British lonian Association. The arningementa fell very far
lofty regions of the house.
short of the efficiency promised by Mr. Chipman, secretary
to the Board of Revenue, when he proclaimed to the
public that they might now hold their hand, as govern-
ment had provided rupees and rice sufficient for all
the wants of the starving districts. In some parts of Cal-
cutta the destitution caused by the crowding in of fugi-
tives from Orissa is extreme—so much so, that the
usually stolid Bengalese have forgotten cute for once,
have organised committees, and are distributing to all,
there being no lack of opportunity. Inundations and cy-
clones have shown before now that the ryots of Eastern
India could not lay up against a time of famine, but
nothing has as yet been done to afford them permanent
help. Surely another such exemplification of the neces-
sity of legislation will not be required. Let the works of
irrigation be restored and completed, and a system of
lamp tenure established upon a just basis, and soon all
Orissa, from Calcutta to Cuttack, will be independent of
the precarious supplies volunteered by the public or wrung
from government.
A telegram from Madras, dated July 2, states
that a serious outbreak of cholera has occurred at
Kurnool. Several government officials had died
from its effects. The regimental lines were nearly
free from the disease, which, however, still pre-
vailed in the town.
Cholera and epidemic fever prevail among the
hill tribes of the north-eastern frontier, and deaths
are very numerous.
The rinderpeat in a virulent form has broken out
amongthe government cattle at Bangalore.
The court-martial on Captain Jervis, whose die-
pute with the Commander-in-Chief, Sir William
Mansfield, is attracting a great deal of attention in
India, began to sit on the 29th of June, at Simla.
Long reports are published in the Bombay papers,
but the case was not concluded at the departure of
the mail. •

RESIGNATION OF ALDERMAN ILECHL

Yesterday a Court of Aldermen, specially con-
vened, was held at Guildhall fur the purpose of receiving
a communication made to the Lord Mayor by Mr. John
Joseph Mechi, surrendering the office of alderman for the
ward of Lime-street. Among the aldermen present were
the following :—The Lord Mayor, Alderman Sr John Mus-
grove, Bart., Mr. Alderman Salomous, M.P., Mr. Alder-
man }lnnis, Mr. Alderman ROW, Mr. Alderman Law-
rence, M.P., Mr. Alderman Allen, Mr. Alderman J. C.
Lawrence, Mr. Alderman Lesley, Mr. Alderman Weber-
low, Mr. Alderman Lusk, M.P. Mr. Alderman Stone, and
Mr. Alderman and Sheriff lkibtlens.
The TowNeteita read the letter which had been ad-
dressed to the Lind Mayor by Mr. Alderman Mechi. ex-
pressing his determination to retire from City honours.
Alderman Sir J. Musozove, Bart., said that as the
senior alderman present he begged to suggest that this
I resignation ought nut to Le received without some expres-
sion of feeling in the matter by the magistracy of the City
of London. He thought his brethren around him would
I scarcely desire to do otherwise, having regard to the past
services of Mr. Alderman Meehi, who as a public man had
done much more than discharge his duties as a magistrate
.of this City. In the cause and promotion of agriculture
their colleague had done much good, and be (Alderman
Musgrove) as an agriculturist himself, felt thankful
to him for his publication of very many useful works
on that subject. (Hear, hear.) In addition to these
claims Mr. Kochi merited their thanks for his services
as a magistrate, and the manner in which he had fulfilled his
, duties, not only ea an alderman, but as a fellow citizen.
I In the belief that these sentiments pervaded the body he
now addressed, he should move the adoption of thel foi-
-1 lowing resolution : "That this court, in accepting the
. resignation of Mr. Alderman Mechi, desire to record on
their proceedings, their regret at the causes which have
indnced him to adopt the course he has taken, and at the
same time to express their acknowledgments of the is-
variable attention he has devoted to the duties of hie
, position as a magistrate and as sheriff of the City and of
the county of Middlesex, and also for the courtesy and
kindness he has at all times manifested to his brethren."
(Loud applatiee.) •
Mr. Alderman BALOMMIA, M.P., claimed as the next
j senior alderman in attendance to second the resolution
just moved by Sir John Musgrove, with whose sentiments
on the occasion he entirely concurred. The services of
Mr. Alderman Mechi in the cause of agricultutal improve-
ments had been universally acknowledged, and he (Alder-
man Selomons) only regretted be had not remained
amongst them, in order that, on attaining the chief
magistracy, he might as Lord Mayor have received
the agricultural body as guests at the Mansion-
; house. There could be no doubt that Mr. Mechi had limn
a most useful man, not only in the county in which he re-
sided, but also in the metropolis, where he had honourably
discharged many important public duties, and therefore
deserved well of this court, of which he had been so long a
member. But Mr. Mechi had a further claim upon their
recognition of him. He had been seen by them under mast
trying circumstances ; but even then no individual had
attempted to raise the finger against him as having done
anything unworthy of his character as a man of honour.
(Hear.) He only retired from a feeling of true delicacy,
that should he retain his gown end succeed to the office
of Lord Mayor, he could not maintain that cake with that
degree of dignity and extent of hospitality which had
characterised some of his predecessors in that high posi-
tion. He was a worthy example as an honourable man,
and it was with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction that
be (Mr. Alderman Salomon) seconded the resolution.
(Applause.)
The resolution, which was briefly supported by Mr.
Alderman Rose end Mr. Alderman Finn* was carried
unanimously. and ordered to be drawn up, signed by the
town elect, and forwarded to Mr. Mecbl.

BREST Arra. 6.—The Compagnie General Trans- I
atlantic steamer' Pereire, from New York on the 28th
July, arrived here to-day. .
Tae New SUBSTITUTE FOR GENEOWDER. —A
highly interesting official report has just been made by
Colonel Shaffner of a series of experiments conducted by
him at Washington, for demonstrating the use of nitro-
lean'(which it should be explained is the new and far pre-
ferable name by which the colonel designates the compound
which hen idtbato been called slim-glycerine) in the
explosion of mines. The results fully confirm the fact
that the explosive qualities of Blinder= are far in advance
of gunpowder. Two similar cast-iron pieces, weighing each
300 lbs., had a hole 1 inch in diameter and 15 inches deep
bored is them, end were charged one with powder and the
other with nitrolewn. The powder discharged through
the fuse-vent 3-lithe inch diameter did no injury. The
nitroleum tore the iron to pieces, the force extending
downward from the bottom of the charge, leaving a cone
with its apex at the bottom of the drill-hole. Four musket.
barrels were placed in wrought-iron cylinders, two filled
with gunpowder, and two filled one-third full with nitre-
learn. The musket-ls charged with powder were ex-
plodsd.by simirieity they beret open, tearing the iton to
pieces. The explosion of the barrels charged with nitro-
lowa produced a vexy different effect ; they were flattened,
and not so much broken to pieces ; the force was so sudden
and greet that after the barrel bad irreeelarly broken up
and dews the inisterrized like relied Plato—area and
polished. The ex tram
appear is dornmeteate that
nitroleum can, with ordinary precautions, be handled
and employed without caster danger than is common to
gunpowder, and for blasting operations, at inset, ft preemie
undoubted advantagea.—lfienag Journal.
TRIO LITIRPOOL ROSIAN CATHOLICS AND TRI
Cool tea —Thu Bight Bev. Dr. Goes, the Roman catholic
Bishop of Liverpool, has panted an immunity from fasting
and abWDOISCIP). Flidayll included, until the let October
next. This indulgence is in 0011111V101300 of the very high
price of animal food, is order that the-poem of the
catholic population may not ruder themeelvre more liable
to dimes by abetheenee myna from the small amount of
animal food they am able to obtain.

The accounts of the London and North-Weston
Hallway, though not yet finaily audited or approved by
the board of direrwra, indicate a dividend, for the past
half-year, at the rate of 6 per rent. per annum.