The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-12 00:00:00

DISTRESS IN POPLAR.

"W. D. B." (Mr. W. Davenport Bromley,
M.P.), writing to the Times, says:—`. I consider that
what is now passing in the waterside districts of Rest
London claims the gravest attention, if not sympathy,
from every one who has the slightest thought or care
how his fellow-creatures and oonntrynieu live from day to
day. At certain doors in those districts are to he seen,
daily, crowds of men jostling, striving, almost fighting,
for admission—to what? Mist Is the strong attraction
A favourite actor, a popular parson, a sensational spouter,
a prizefight, or a rat-hunt ? No it is to gain the privi-
lege of ealring hard stones ice two or three hours in
• cold muddy yard attached to the parish workhouse,
for the reward of threepence and a loaf of bread !
These men, too, are not clad in the usual stone-
yard apparel, they wear good coats—rags are scarcely to
be seen. They are men who, not very long ago, were
earning from 18s. to 21. weekly, to whom the very men-
tion of the workhouse would have been oontaminatMn ;
and here they struggle and wrestle for its moat meagre
advantages. There are many other parishes, I believe,
similarly situated, but I ask attention to some brut
statistics from Poplar, where I spent some hours
yesterday. In the winter of 1863-6 the average daily
number of able-bodied men who worked in the
Poplar stone-yard was 200. In the last week of
December, 1866, it was 550 ; on the 9th of January,
1867, it was more than 1,000, with every probability
of an increase. In the last week of December, 1865, the
number receiving out-door parochial relief from the same
union was 1,974. In the last week of December, 1866, it
was 4,340. On the let of January, 1867, there were in
Poplar alone 9,499 persons receiving parochial and chari-
table assistance ; the number now is at least 12,000. If to
these are added the poor of Liwehouse, Shadwell, and
Stepney, the total number of poor receiving parochial and
other aid will exceed 27,000 persons, as stated in an adver-
tisement recently issued from the Society for the Relief of
Distress. The parochial authorities of Poplar appear to
be doing their duty and behaving liberally, though I
must say, in my opinion, the stone-yard test ought not to
be enforced at all where the men are known to belong to a
class totally distinct from that for which that test was
instituted. A penny in the pound, too, increase on the
rates would at once yield 9001., which it would take • long
time to collect in charity. But the rate is at pre-
meet 3s. lid. in the pound, and the great majority of
ratepayers being small shopkeepers and even work-
ing men, the old difficulty presents itself of how to
prevent the ratepayers being themselves pulled into
the pit out of which they would help their friends.
The more affluent ratepayers, the leading firms and em-
ployers of labour, the clergy, and medial officers have
acted promptly and liberally. The savings banks are
exhausted—no wonder, after Li, 20, and 30 weeks' absence
of regular wages. The trades' unions, we will hope, are
not keeping back large balances to pay the salaries of their
agitators, and display tawdry gewgaws at political demon-
strations, and we will assume that they have done all
they can. Indeed, at Poplar at least, they have given
5001. towards the relief of the distress. Private charity,
we know, is never wanting when required. Too surely is
it required now. It will stand in the starvation gap for
• time."

The Imperial Rerieto understands that a section
of the House of Commons still looks with favour on the
suggestion made last session by Lord Moho in favour of
appointing a royal commission to thoroughly consider the
whole question of reform, and to apply a searching scrutiny,
with the view of obtaining definite and certain facts on
which any future measure might be based. It is not im.
probable that a leading member of the Lower Horse will
introduce a resolution relative to this question at the com-
mencement of the coming session.

The convocation Will meet, according to the
royal writ, on Wednesday, February 6, the day following
the opening of parliament. The first business that will
come before the Lower House will be the discusaion of
the proposal of an Anglo-t Ecumenical Council. Ou
February 6 leak year, an address was revived from
the bishops, clergy, and laity of the Anglican
Church in Canada, asking for the adoption of
means " by which the members of our Anglican com-
munion in ell quarters of the world should have a share
in the deliberations for the church's welfare, and be
permitted to Lave a representation in one general
council of her members gathered from every land."
In accordance with their request, a committee was,
after some discussion, appointed, and that com-
mittee has prepared a report which will be debated
in the opening session of the convocation. They
recommended (lays the Imperial P rico) that a council,
comprising the American and Scottish branches of the
Anglican communion, together with all the branches of
the united church of England and Ireland, and its indepen-
dent missionary churches, should be gathered in Englaud
by the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and
they detail at length the advantages that would be derived
from such an assembly.
PROFESSOR FAWCETT ON THE ICE. —Last week
thousands of persons amused themselves neon the handi-
work of Jack Frost in the vicinity of Cambridge. The river
adjoining the colleges, Grantchester-nieadowe Sheep's-
I green by Newnhani, and the Ballast-hole at Chesterton.
were thronged with skaters, from the adept, who imagined
11 that vll spectators were taking stock of 'ais agility, to the
urchin who did nothing but tumble on the " crusted wave."
Old Father Cam WAS honoured with the meet accomplished
of men, and, doubtless, it will be gratifying to all of our
readers to hear that the form of Professor Fawcett was
conspicuous among the crowd last Friday and Saturday
afternoons. From Baitsbite to Ditton was the scene of
action, and the " willows," " greasy," and the " plough"
—renowned in history for their association with sport of a
very different character—were passed in beautiful style.
The gallant professor smiled at a brace of tumbles, which
were certainly unworthy of record, and it way be inter-
esting to know that he skates hand-in.habd with a com-
panion, or, properly speaking, the professor is linked with
a welkingstick to a guide in the person of J. Diver, who,
besides being an excellent h.md with the " pattens," is
also a skilful oarsman, and therefore thoroughly ac-
quainted with the current of the river.—Casstridge Inde-
pendent.

THE LATE OALE.-WRECKS ON THE WEL,II
COAST.

LLANELLY, SOUTH WALES, Fant v.
Information was received of a brigantine being
in the breakers on the Towyn Sands, with a signal of Ili,.
tress flying (reports C. N. Broom Esq.). The City of Bath
lifeboat of the National Lifeboat Institution, was at once
taken along the shore on her transporting carriage with
all despatch • distance of five miles from the lifeboat
station, and then launched in aline with the stranded vessel,
in the teeth of a heavy broken sea. The lifeboat soon
reached the brigantine and found her to be the Settiaint:
of Dunkirk, bound from that port to Swansea, in
Her crew of eight men gladly accepted the services of the
lifeboat, and were safely brought ashore. On the followig
morning the lifeboat was again Lunched in a gale of wind
to a French lugger, which was exhibiting distress signals
in the midst of the breakers. She was beating over the
bank of the middle Spit, with the crew in the riggiag,
the sea making a complete breach over the vessel. The
lifeboat succeeded in getting alongside and rescuing
the whole of the crew of six men, who were
safely landed. The lugger, which since sank.,
was the Espoir, of Nantes, bound to that place
from Swansea with coals. On reaching the shore after
performing this gallant service, a brig was observed with
signals of distress flying. She was apparently riding at
anchor off the Burry Holmes, at a distance of about two
miles and a half. Her foretopesil-yards, Ac., were gone.
The lifeboat at once proceeded towards her, and after a
hard pull succeeded in getting close to her, and found she
was completely under water with the sea making a fear.
ful breach over her. Thera was no living soul on board,
and it is feared the poor fellows must have left the ship
in their boat, and have been lost. She was supposed to
have been the brig Zenith of Sunderland. The lifeboat
then returned to the shore. She behaved exceedingly
well in the heavy broken sea she had to contend with for
upwards of two miles. She twice filled, but at once
emptied herself. The cost of this lifeboat was contributed
to the National Lifeboat Institution about three yeas
since by inhabitants of Bath, through Francis Bedwell,
Esq., and since she has been on her station the boat lug
several times been launched to the assistance of vessels is
distress.

CARNSMORE, IRELAND, JAN. 10.
Portions of a large ship came on shore here yesterday
(reports Mr. Jams Barrett, the officer of coast guard).
She appeared to have been quite a new ship, and her name
is the Kingston, of Quebec. She has lost all her bog*
so that the crew on board must have perished. Set
tonnage is sums 1,300 or 1,400 tons register. It Ma
been dnsdfal work on the south coast of Ireland.

THE WEATHER IN THE METROPOLIS.--{THIS
DAY.)—Last night there was hard frost, which has been
succeeded this morning by a fall of mow. There *4
fact, every appearance now of a recurrence of the weather
which caused co much damage and inconvenience a few
days ago.

An unpublished novel by the late Nathaniel
Hawthorne is retained by the widow of the eminent
author. Mrs. Hawthorne gives as her reason for keeping
it from the publics the fact that the manuscript is full of
sentences that its writer had marked for correction or
alteration.

FOILEION-OTIFICZ, JAN. 3. —The Queen has been
yradoualy pleased to appoint Richard LeringeSwift, Faq.,
now her Majest 's Consul at Oporto, to be her Majesty's
Consul at The Queen has also been graciously
pleased to appoint Oswald John Frederick Crawford,
Esq., to be her Majesty's Consul at Oporto.—Ga:ette.

WHITEHALL, Jeri. 10. —The Queen has been
pleased to present the Reverend George Cook to the
church of the united parishes of Borgne, Kirkander,. end
Senniok, in the presbytery and stewartry of KirkoudbnOt,
vacant by the death of the Reverend William Reid, late
minister thereof.—Gazette.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. —The preacher at the
special Sunday evening servioe beneath the dome, it 7
p.m. to-morrow, will be the Rev. W. F. Erskine Knoll's,
M.A., preach'? at her Majesty's Chapel Royal, Whitehall,
and chaplain to the Bishop of London.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR TEE
ENSUING Wars.—Monday—Architects, at 8 ; Gears*.
cal,, `Journey to Kano, from the Niger," Dr.
Baikie ; "North East Province of Madagascar," the Bishop
of Mauritius ; " Diary of a Hill Trip, Burmah," Lieu*
nant Lewin. Tuesday—Engineers. at 8, "Ships of War,"
Mr. Bourne ; Statistical, at 8, " Prison Statistics, India,"
Dr. Mouat. Wednesday—Meteorological, at 7 ; Society of
Arts, at 8, " Mercantile Marine Legislation and British
Seamen," Captain Toynbee. Thursday—Zoological, at(;
Numismatic, at 7 ; Linnean, at s, " Diatoms: Clavatom,
from Sword-fish ;" " Experiments with Trichina Spirals,"
Dr. Cobbold ; Chemical, at 8, " Amount of Carbonic Acid
in Sea-air," Mr. Thorpe ; " Synthetical Researches on
Ethers, Part II.," Dr. I. ninkland and Mr. Duppa ; "
eatery Contributions," Professor Wauklyn ; Royal, at Si ;
Antiquaries, at Bi. At...hewed )a.
EXETER-HALL—Mr. G. W. Martin announces
a performance of Jticiaa Maroabteas for Thursday nest,
with a band and chorus of 70J.

THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE Hot.Nos.—All those con-
nected with the Cambridgeshire hounds will be sorry to
hear that Mr. Barnett, after having the pack thirty-eight
years, has determined to resign the mastership at the
end of the present moon. Everyone will, we are certain,
hope that he may have health and strength for many year'
to participate in a sport which he loves so well. A meet
ing is hoed for Saturday, the 26th inst., at the Lion Hotel.
to take into consideration the retirement of " the
--Castbridfx Independent.
A FARMER FROZEN TO DEATH ON THE HAMBLE-
TON HILLS. —intimquest was held on Thursday, before J.
Ness, Eaq., coroner, on the body of Mr. Thomasfarmer, Broom Flat, Itisedale, Itilsdale. The decevel,
who was 48 years of age, attended stokesley market oa
Saturday last, and on his way home fr m that place he
was accompanied by a man from Co-':.::. a village dim
miles from Stokeeley. Before part'Jac they went into*
public-house and had a glass or two. ...fter which Hugill
set off on his journey home. This was the last time he was
seen alive. In going home he had to as, cal the Hambleton
Hill. at Carlton Rank, which bezias near the village, sad
is about a mile in length. He had reached the top, and
perhaps being exhausted, had seated himself down to roes
in a sheltered place with his back against a heap of refute
thrown up by some jet diggers. In this position he was
found on Monday afternoon about half-past 4 o'clock.
The jet workers had passed him in the morning, but he
would be covered by snow at that time ; several other
persons passed him also, but did not see him. The snow,
however, melted off before the return of the jet workers,
so that he. being close to the road, was easy to see. Ver.
diet, " Died from exposure in the cold from the inclement',
of the weather." The deceased was about a mile from
home when he breathed his last, and the place ma be
seen from his own door.—Yorkshire Ga:,tte.

SUDDEN DEATH THROUGH COLD.—WO regret to
say that John Dartnell, better known as " Nimble," and
whom most of the gentry of the surrounding neighbour•
hood will remember as • very efficient and trustworthy
postboy and flydnver, lam his life in consequence of et.
beure to the recent very severe weather. Dartnell but
en for upwards of twenty years in the employ of Mr.
John Carrick, Swan Hotel, and on Friday night he started
at 7 o'clock, with • pair of horses, to an evening partl.
returning home at 2 o'clock next morning, when he was so
benumbed with cold that he laid down in the stable. twirl:
unable to reach his home until assisted, which he wo
when found a few hours afterwards. The best media!
assistance was immediately procured for him, and nourish•
mat was sent by Mts. Carrick, but to no avail, as be die!
on the same evening, leaving a wife and large family
entirely unprovided for. We are glad to add that Mr.
Carrick has already opened • subscription list at the 5..:
Hotel on behalf of the widow and orphans, which
already been liberally responded to, and we have no foul,:
that many persons will gladly assist Mr. Carrick in
praiseworthy • cause.—Survey Standard.

A BRUTAL CLERGYMAN.—A singular scene
a church is reported by the Myna Adrerturr. The s-4if
occurred on Sunday evening, at the Trinity Chunk
Wangaratta, and it would seem that the greatest Borst
and disgust were occasioned amongst the members of tit
congregation by the Rev. Mr. Booth's conduct towar.i•
poor little dog, the presence of which so excited his do.
pleasure. It seems the animal in question was mows.;
a, out the church shortly after the service conies...ore&
when the rev, gentleman, who had just given out tbt
evening hymn, noticed it. He immediately left the reel
tog desk, gave chase to the dug, and having captured it.
was proceeding to carry it to tle• door when one of Os
' congregation offered to relieve him of his burden. Mr.
Booth relinquished his capture to the gentleness who
. volunteered his services, at least a portion of it- gi•ing
him the fore part of the animal to hold, but retaining its
Lind legs in his hand. It is with the greatest reluctance
we record what followed, but jostle,. compels lls. The
rev. gentleman took one of the dog's hind legs in both ha
hands, and after several attempts deliberately snapped
it in two. This act of cruelty gave rise to the most
sickening sensations amongst those in church, awl a largo
'limber rose and hurriedly left, quite 'shocked at whit
they had witnessed. Since then the Bev. Mr. l'ewth hr
resigned his cure, probably because of the strong feels%
against hits existing in the public mind.
Argue, Nov. '27.
Co-oPERATION IN THE IRON TRADE. .% 3
result of the late strike in the iron tvale,
been started at Darlingtot• which appears to here the
sanction of the iron-workers of the district, and is ens-
cipally und. r their management, to erect
the co-operative principle. The nominal capitd
500/., in shuns of 5/. each, and iis propood "t°
erect works of such size and with such machinery as weel,l
place the company in a
_porstion to compete with 01
other works in the district." One or two capitalists, It ill
understood, have joined the undertaking; but it is pro-
posed to obtain the bulk of the money from the working
men, whose delegates spoke so strongly of co-operatic"
during the late iron strike. The scheme is hardly .vet
developed, but 10,0001. worth of shares have already be°
taken up. The co-operators propose to confine their
manufacture to railway metals. As the first movement
on the part of the iron workers towards co-operation, the
project will ho watched with great interest.