The Express.
London, England, 1860-04-30 00:00:00

(Stamped Id. Additional.) [TWOPENCE.

P►ul, Antwerp." Mi. Colliugwood Smith also stands well
as a painter of interiors.

In, landscapes there is an extremely original and re-
markable drawing of "Mountain Gloom—the Pass
of Glencoe" (69), by Mr. Newton ; and that the works of
the following artists are also conspicuous, viz. : Mears. B.
Foster, Davidson, Duncan, Hodgson, Richardson, Naftel,
W. C. Smith, and W. Callas.
Amongst the company at the private view were the
Amber of Sutherland, Duchess of Wellington, Marquis of
Lansdowne, Berland Counter they, Earl and Countess Am-
herst, Earl of Carlisle, the Speaker of the House of Com•
mons, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Win.,
cheater, the Dean of St. Sir Geo. Cornwall and
Lady Lewis, Lord and Lady Helper, Lord and Lady Mont-
eagle, Lord St. Leonard's end the Hon. Miss Sugden, Lord
Richd. Cavendish, Lord and Lady Taunton, Lord Brough-
ton, the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer, Sir
George Grey, Right Hon. Sir Chas. and Lady Wood,
Colonel the Hon. Douglas Pennant, M.P., 'Lord Clarence
Paget, John Lewis Mitordo, M.P., and Lady Catherine
Ricardo, Colonel Sykes, M.P., W. Stirling, M.P., C. Paget,
M.P., 14 L. Dillwyn, M.P., Jzo. Rolt, M.P., the Hon.
Frek. Byron, Mrs. Sidney Herbert, Sir Robt. Buxton, Lady
Louisa Pennant and Miss Pennant, Richd. Melina, M.P.,
Sir Edwin Landseer, the President of the Royal Academy,
Tom Taylor, Eaq., Professor Owen, M. Thackeray,
Lady Charlotte Denison.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE 47' THE SAILORS HOYE,
LIVERPOOL.

(Prom the Linerpool Albion of to-day.)
This Magnificent building, one of the most beau-
tiful specimens of architecture which graced our town, has
been completely destroyed by a fire which broke out yester-
day morning, and in the course of • few hours left little
more standing than the outside walLs. Shortle./store one
o'clock • police-officer, on duty et the Post-olliCe, observed
Ikons issuing from a ',Mow in the top story. and immedi-
ately ran acres to give the clans tothe superintendent. He
Iced, however, been anticipated by the night porter, who had
informal Mr. Williams of the fire, and a hose within the
building was at once got into play. The alarm was promptly
conveyed to the various fire stations, and in a comparatively
short space of time the constable, Rardarre on. 0, arrived
with the reel from the Salthouse bock, followed soon after.
wards by Mr. Hewitt, with the engines and brigade from
the central station, by the West of England fire brigade,
and the reels from Seel-street nail &sex-street. But
before even this short time had elapsed the flames had
spread so rapidly that it was evident no human exertions
could save the building from total destruction. The
to efforts were then directed to the saving of life. In all
there were in the institution when the fire broke out up-
ward's:lf 120 inmates, most of whom had retired to the
dormitories, and were in imminent danger. They appeared
at the windows of the upper stories, and, so La as can at
present be weetsaned, were all rescued ; but, while this is
Loped to be true, it is feared that many are buried amidst
the ruins. Hy means of about twenty engines, and between
twenty and thirty hove, an immense volume of water was
poniedupon the burning pile, but, notwithstanding this,
tlLhss 117zses estemded with great rapidity, until at length the
whole of the immense building was in dames. Cesstable
Hardens, the man who was first upenthe scene, had ascended
a tall ladder for the purpose of paring a hose into the build-
ing, when the ladder upon which be rested broke, and he fell
with great violence to the ground. Helms Monte conveyed to
the Southern Hospital, where be died soon after his arrivaL
The exertions of the fire-brigade were continued without in-
termission, but with very little success. About two o'clock,
Mr. Hanmer, the secretary, determined termite an attempt
to save the books and money in the seamen's bank, and em-
tloyed several men for this purpose. One of them entered
he building in spite of the warning Superintendent
Hewitt and several others, and while he was inside, the
upper roof tell, brought with it 'Very floor beneath, and
buried the poor fellow iu the ruins. A number of men vo-
Innteeeed their assistance to extricate the man, and a jack-
screw, which the men of her Majesty's ship Hastings had
brought with them, was employed to raise the debris ; but
this, after several hours had elapsed, not being successful,
Mr. Divisional Superintendent Quick sent for four more.
jack-screws, by means of which the poor fellow was extri- '
cited, after being under the ruins for four hours. The ulti-
mate success of the praiseworthy exertions to rescue the
sufferer from this dreadful position was received
with a cheer so general and spontaneous, that its
effect was moat theilling. Long before this the
fire had °shoveled itself, and by about four o'clock
had as it were gone out for the want of fuel.
The origin of the fire is, as usual, inrolved in mystery, but
there is DO way of accounting for the rapid spread of the
dames but by supposing that there was an explosion of gas.
It is feared that there are many buried in the ruins, and it
was said that the roll was called over yesterday, and runny
found to be missing.
A circumstance adding much to the feeling of regret at
the destruction of this magnificent building is that it was
only insured to about a third of its value. The cost of its •
erection was 30,0001., and the amount for which it is in-
sured 10,000/. The interior fittings were insured for 3,000/.
The foundation stone of the Sailors' Home was laid in July,
1846, by Prince Albert, who contributed • handsome sum
towards its erection.

Hankers, the man who bet his life in the discharge of
hie duty, had been in the force many years, and bore an ex-
cellent character. He has left a wife sad six children, to
which another is likely Noon to be added. It is hoped that
they will not be neglected by the public, but that they will
be provided for in such a way as to encourage those who
have a task so dangerous to fulfil to persevere in the per-
formance of their duty. We shall be glad to receive sub-
scriptions on their behalf.

Temporary offices have been opened in the Cuotom•honse
Arcade, in which the business of the shipping office will be
couchicted. The exiuninations of masters and mates will
take place in the rooms of the Mersey Docks and Harbour
Board. No provision has yet been made for the boarding
of seamen, and it is feared that, for some time, the evils of
the old system of boarding houses will be renewed.