The Express.
London, England, 1867-10-30 00:00:00

combustion of the wood forming the breaks when acting
upon the tyres of the wheels in chocking the speed of the
train as it approaches the stations. The number of trips
I made by the trains through the tunnels daily amounts to
:158, of which 294 are by the narrow.gauge trains, and 74
by the breed-gauge. Each of the nmeow-gunge
trains occupies 20,000 cubic feet of space, and
those of the bread-guage 23,000 cubic feet. The
length of time occupied by each train in pass-
ing through the tunnels and stations is ten minutes.
There are numerous openings communicating with the ex-
ternal atmosphere above, amounting in the aggregate to
:4,104 square feet, and distributed in the following man-
ner: 'mutely, Baker-street station, 1,162 square feet;
Portland-road station, Bi;3 square feet ; Gower-street sta-
tion, 939 square feet. The western end of the tunnel at
Edgware-road opens into a large area called the Yard, and
at the eastern end of the tunnel at King across an opening
has been made directly into the at mosphere.4ofeetin width,
in addition. By an extensive series of thermometric obser-
vations, we find that there is an average difference of about
P 7 dept. Fahrenheit between the temperature of the tun-
nels and that of the external atmosphere ; the mean out-
side temperature being 70 degs. Fahrenheit, while the air
in the tunnels had a mean temperature of 68•3 de a.
Fahrenheit, so that it was 11 demi. Fahrenheit colder
than the external atmosphere. During the winter
months this condition will possibly be reversed ' • but
in either case there will be a rapid change of air
by an ascending and descending current. Having
regard to the cubical volume of the trains, the short
time occupied by them in passing. through the tunnels
and stations, the large volume of air which they displace,
and the increased impetus given to the horizontal move-
merit of the air by the rapidity of their transit, we are of
opinion that the vitiation of the atmosphere cannot be of
• serious character, and this accords with the results of
our analysis. A careful inspection of the tunnels boa also
shown that they are well constructed, and are generally
dry and free from infiltration of liquid or other matter
prejudicial to health, with the exception of a portion of
the tunnel between Portland-road and Cower-street. To
this we directed the attention of Mr. Fenton immediately
after our first inspection ; and we are happy
to be able to add that the defect was at once
attended to, and it is now in a perfect sanitary condition.
We find on inquiry that the general health of the employes
is such as to afford unquestionable proof of the sanitary
condition of the air in the tunnels. From a statement fur-
nished to us by Mr. Fenton, it appears that the per-
centage of sickness and mortality of these persons is con-
siderably leas than that of the employes on the Great
Western Railway. To this fact we may add the results of
our own personal inquiries, which fully confirm it, as
many of the engine-driven and guards have we find been
in the service of the company sinoe the opening of
the line. They are to all exteinal appearance robust
healthy men, and they have assured us that since they
were first appointed they have scarcely had • day's illness.
From the foregoing facts, we are enabled confidently to
state that the atmosphere of the Metropolitan Hewn) is
not unwholesome or injurious to health.
Piffled/
" GEO. H. BALCHHOFFNEI, Ph.D., F.C.S. kc.
" Hr. Lrrimay,. 111.8., M.A., &c., Professor of
Chemistry in the College of the London
Hospital, and Medical Officer of Health for the
City of London.
"J. Wfirrhont, M.D. Ac.. Medical Officer of
Health and Chemical Examiner of Gas for the
parish of St. Marylebone."

Mr. Myles Fenton, general manager of the Metropolitan
Railway, said that previous to the death of the deceased
be had received no formal complaint of the state of the
line ; but witness's own observation bad satisfied him that
it was desirable to improve its ventilation. Openings were
made at the Gower•atreet station six months ago, and
therefore before the death of the deceased ; but
those in Baker-street were not made till afterward".
At the opening of the line some porters were taken ill ; but
that arose from the use of coke of inferior quality, and
from the want of skill of the firemen; but since the com-
pany had taken the working of the line into their own
bands, no complaints had been made. Some time ago a
number of the company's hands had retired from the
Great Western Company's Provident Society on the en•
press ground that their own rates of sickness and mortality
were much lower.

The Coroner—Then perhaps it might be contended that
small doses of sulphurous acid pa and carbonic acid gas
were beneficial to health. I dare say you might produce
doctors who would say that. (Laughter.)
Witness—l do not say it ; but it should be borne in mind
that our men are protected from the weather.
Frederick Gibbons, an inspector of the line, gave similar
evidence.

Dr. Letheby said that sulphurous acid might be detected
when the wind was blowing against the test pawls, but
not from any quantity of the air that would be Wren
away for examination. The nose could detect sulphu-
rous acid more readily than any chemical test.
The presence of 1-100,000 th part would in sonic
cases produce coughing. In stopping the trains a
carbo-hydrogenic gas was produced by the partial
charring of the wooden breaks ; and that was far more
perceptible than the sulphurous acid. Some people would
of course be more sensitive to these gases than others ; but
in no case did witness think the most susceptible person
would be injured. Had calculated the amount of sulphurous
acid evolved by the combustion of the coke, and witness
did not believe that it would be sufficient to harm the
most susceptible person, even if the whole place were shut
up for the whole eighteen hours. It came, in fact, to
215 in 100,000 volumes, or 0.00205 per cent., which WAD
quite incapable of doing mischief, even if the tunnels
were hermetrically sealed. Dr. Letheby then tested the
air of the room by means of barrel water, and found
that it contained 44'4 volumes of carbonic acid gas for
10,000, which was three times as bad as the worst tunnel.
The Coroner said he was exceedingly glad that the
inquiry had been held, for it had conclusively shown that
however oppressive the atmosphere of the tunnel, might
at times seem it did not contain anything that was really
dangerous or prejudicial to health.
The jury, without hesitation, found a verdict of
" Died from natural causes."

THE LATE GALBS.-LIFEBOAT SERVICES.

GIR VAN, N. 8., Ocr. 28.

During a heavy gale on the night of the 26th
inst. (reports John B. Hose, Esq.) the smack Margaret
Davies, of this place, in making for the bar refused to
answer her helm, and was driven chore on a reef of
boulder stones south of the harbour. The crew expected
to get her off, but the gale increasing to a hurricane, the
vessel became a total wreck, and those on board bad great
difficulty in securing themselves on that portion of it
above water, as the sea made a clean breach over them.
The pilot-boat tried several times to get off to her, but
was unable to do so. The Girvan lifeboat of the
National Lifeboat Institution, the Earl of Carrick, was,
however, promptly launched, and succeeded, after two
hours' exertions, in saving the shipwrecked crew consisting
of three men, who were nearly exhausted. They were then
brought safely ashore. A very heavy sea struck the life-
boat after leaving the wreck, and completely filled her, but
she was all right again in • minute or two, and the crew
are highly pleased with their boat. The rescued men are
deeply grateful for the services thus rendered to them by
the lifeboat, as they are sensible that they could not have
been saved by any other means.
EXMOUTH, DEVON, TUESDAY NIGHT.
Some fishermen in running for the harbour at 1 o'clock
this morning, observed a vessel on shore on the Pole Sand,
off Exmouth (reports Mr. Hawkins, the officer of coast-
guard). Immediately on landing they oommunicated
this intelligence, and the Victoria lifeboat belonging
to the National Lifeboat Institution and stationed
at this place was launched as soon as the crew
could be assembled. It was blowing a gale of wind
at the time from W.S.W. The lifeboat was taken in
the direction pointed out by the fishermen, but could not
find a vessel ashore on any part of the sand, although
they searched for a considerable time. The lifeboat there-
fore returned to the shore, and the crew remained by the
boathouse until daylight, where they discovered that the
vessel seen by the fishermen was the sloop Industry, of
Exeter, bound from Salterton to this place in ballast.
She had struck on the nand, but after being there for about
an hour, she had beaten off into deep water, and stood off
shore until daybreak.
TENBY, TUESDAY.
During a fresh gale, with • heavy sea, on the afternoon
of the 27th instant (says Captain Drummond) a ideal awl
observed to be hoisted on a flag-staff on Caldy Island,
denoting that • vessel was in distress outside the
island. The lifeboat Florence, of the National Life.
boat Institution, immediately proceeded out to
her assistance, and found that the smack Queen
Victoria, of Brixham, bound from that port to
Saunderefoot, with a cargo of li,ueatone, was in a
disabled state, having been dismasteri by • heavy squall.
The services of the lifeboat were tendered to the master
and gratefully accepted. The vessel was then taken in
tow of the lifeboat, and with the usistance of another
boat which happened to be in the bay at the time, and
after five hours exertion, the vessel and her crew of two
men were brought safely into Tenby Harbour.

THE BISHOP OF WORCESTER ON THE RITUAL-
ISTIC PRACTICES AT ST. ALBAN's, BI EWING FI Al.f.-A letter
is published in the Birmingham Daily Poct from the
Bishop of Worcester in reply to a memorial sent to him
complaining of ritualistic practices in St. Alban's,
Birmingham, in which his lordship says:— " There
are many things in the conduct of public wor-
ship at St. Alban's, as the account which you have
sent me describes it, of which I greatly disapprove.
But I apprehend that a bishop has no power to forbid
and prevent them unless it can be clearly shown that
they are contrary to the law of our Church. I
have satisfied myself, after careful consideration, that
iota* of the practices objected to are contrary to our
Church's law, and I am supported in my view by the
opinion of eminent lawyers who have been consulted on
the subject. But as opinions have been given to the
contrary effect by other lawyers, who are also eminent,
and as it is well known that the question of the legality of
some of the practices, to which great objection has been
made, is now in process of trial before the Court of Arches,
I think it right to abstain front issuing any prohibition
until that question ha been 'settled."