The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-17 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 17, 1867.

reliance. This method may prevent the abuse
of the provision for the relief of the poor,
but unfortunately it also prevents its use.
It has, however, been so far adopted that
the administrators of the Poor-law, both local
and central, are constantly in danger of for-
getting that the relief of helpless distress is, after
all, the one object for which their offices exist. A
system of relief under which people die of starva-
tion, or to which they prefer death, is a mockery.
If the art of Poor-law administration does not con-
sist in relieving distress, we are maintaining
a moat expensive machinery for nothing. The
funds raised by rates must be jealously protected
from encroachment, but in order that they may be
the more freely and confidently applied to the ob-
jects for which they have been collected. A general
and systematic contraction of expenditure must not
be confounded with true economy. And yet as long
as the administration of relief is practically aban-
doned to an officer who is unable to examine indi-
vidual cases, the work must resolve itself into a
daily contest between that officer, as the guardian
of the rates, and the crowd of applicants, deserving
and undeserving, who seek access to the fund.
The consequence is that the very object of a poor-
law is frustrated. Dr. STALLARD, whose expe-
rience in the official treatment of the London poor
has been considerable, undertakes to affirm,
in his instructive work on London Pauperism,
that one individual dies weekly in the metropolis,
either from starvation or by suicide, rather than
take the relief offered in our workhouses. We
believe the statement is not at all exaggerated. It
is not three weeks since CHARLES Ma•uAox died
of want in this same parish of St. Luke's. Let no
one suppose that this inhuman system has the
merit of cheapness. London pauperism is in-
creasing, and it will increase until we think fit to
provide that the administration of Poor-law relief
shall be guaranteed and made effectual by that
strict examination of individual cases which is
impossible under the present arrangements.

Thomas and St. John, has been to acquire war porta as a
security against European enemies. The islets lie in the
very centre of the West Indian group, and nearer England
than soy of our own colonies. This move on the part of
the Americans has unquestionably altered all the relations
between the countries in the event of a war, and is of fifty
times more importance to England than all the manreuvres
which have taken place about Turkey for the last hundred

The Standard quite approves the conduct of Dr. Kenenly
in abandoning the defence of Burke and Casey.

Vitt Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Die. 16.
The Queen walked in the grounds this morning,
and drove, accompanied by Princess Beatrice.
Princess Louise went out walking, attended by the Hon.
Flora Macdonald.
Prince Arthur, attended by Major Elphinstone, left the
Castle this morning for Greenwich-park.

Despatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-office
to the Governors of the West India Islands, British
Columbia, and British Honduras.
The lords present at yesterday's sitting of the Judicial
Committee of the Privy Council, were the Master of the
Rolls, Sir J. W. Colvile, Sir E. V. Williams, Sir R. T.
Kindereley, and the Judge of the Admiralty.

DEPARTURE OF THE QUEEN YOR OSBORNE.—
(THIe DAY.)—The Queen left Windsor at 10.45 this
morning for Osborne. Messrs. Grierson, Tynoll, Higgins,
and Besant had charge of the royal train.
Viscount and Viscountess Castlerosse have
arrived in town from their meat near Killarney. The noble
viaoount and viscountess intend to go to the south of
France for the winter.

Lord and Lady Dufferin arrived on Saturday last
at Clandeboye, his lordship's seat in the north of Ireland.
The Duke of Leinater left Carlton-house-terrace
yesterday, to visit Mr. and Lady Jane Lepton at their seat
in Bedfordshire.

The Earl and Countess de Grey have left town
on a visit to the Countess Cowper, at Pansitanger, Herts.
CantyEasirt COLLEGE HOSPITAL.—The Duke of
Cleveland, LG., has consented to preside at the annual
festival, in aid of the funds of this excellent charity, to be
held at Willis's Rooms, on the `_'nth of February next.

FENIAN PROSECUTIONS IN IRELAND.

DUBLIN, MONDAY NIGHT.

John Martin, Dr. Water, and J. Lalor appeared
at the Police-office to-day to answer a charge of
taking part in an illegal meeting on Sunday, the
Bth inst. Scam was also summoned, but did not
appear.

Mr. Martin offered to facilitate the proceedings
of the crown by admitting the facts of the proces-
sion and the speech he delivered. Evidence was
however given by several policemen. Mr. Sulli-
van, proprietor of the Nation, who had been sum-
moned as a witness, denounced the crown solicitor
as having formed a determination to have revenge
on a man the government dare not prosecute, by
endeavouring to make him a crown witness. It
was an endeavour to accomplish his imprisonment
fur contempt when it could not be done by fair
means. He declared he participated in the funeral
and defied the government. He characterised the
conduct of the prosecutors as base and cowardly.
Several other persons who were summoned de-
clared they would not give evidence. Sir John
Gray, M.P., proprietor of the Freeman, said an
effort was made to subject gentlemen in his esta-
blishment to the indignity of making them crown
witnesses, but without success. He had been sum-
moned, but should refuse to give evidence. These
declarations produced great applause, and the
court adjourned in some confusion.

THE O'DONOGHUE,M.P., AND THE FENIAN

of Orleans which I have difficulty in believing. It
says that at the hours of the lectures to young
ladies, instituted by M. Duruy, he takes a con-
stitutional walk up and down the asphalt in front
lof the Hotel de Ville, to mark down in his black
book the girls who go in. Mgr. Dupanloup is fond
of notoriety, and does not shrink from eccentricity,
but I can hardly think, good taste apart, that his
numerous occupations, among which are the cares
of his candidature for the papacy, allow him time
to act as his own spy.
Madame Rude, 'tie Sophie Frdmyet, has just
died in Paris, at the age of 70. She was the widow
of the celebrated sculptor, and was herself a dis-
tinguished artist. She was a pupil of Devosges, of
Dijon, and aftenvards had lessons from David. She
was a constant exhibitor at the modern artiste'
salon of Paris from 1827 to 1807. In 1833 she was
awarded a medal of tho Ist class for the " Adieux
de Charles I. et aes enfants,"—a picture now in
the Ministry of the Interior. A great many of her
works are in the Dijon Museum, the Mont St.
Michel Chapel, and the D'Aremberg library at
Brussels.

At the Bourse the Rents was quoted ex div.
The last quotations, 68fr. 90c. and 6Sfr. 75c., show
(the coupon of 75c. deducted) a fall of 15c. and
123 c. Italian fell 3iic. ; Mobilier and Credit
Fonder, 2fr. 50c. each. There was an impression
that a loan is more imminent than was supposed a
few days ago. Some speculative business was done
in Mexican Bonds in consequence of the emphatic
assertion of Viscount de la Gueronniere, who pre-
sided at the meeting held in the Champs Elysdea
Theatre on Sunday, that government was studying
the means of satisfying the " just and legitimate
rights" of the bondholders. The only thing done
at the meeting was to appoint a committee to sup-
port these " rights. "

EARTHQUAKES IN THE WEST INDIES.

ST. THOMAS, Nov. 21.

The Royal Mail Company's steamer Lit Plat►, from
Southampton on the 2nd, arrived off here on the 17th
inst., and went to what is called the CregorYs, • few
miles away, and transferred her mails, cargo, and
passengers there. On the following day, the 18th, a
dreadful catastrophe occurred, which totally eclipsed the
hurricane, bad as it was. Early in the afternoon,
and without anything in the atmosphere indicating a
change, there was suddenly a whizzing and buzzing sound,
the earth shook and trembled, and went like the waves of
the sea ; the offices, stores, and buildings adjoining the
wharves waved to and fro as though they bad been made,
of indiarubber. Altogether the scene was beyond descrip-
tioa. The shock was • long one, lasting apparently about
five minutes, but only in reality being swo minutes in
duration. In the harbour the water was at the time
very smooth, but soon after an immense roller
was seen coming in from the sea, like a wall of
white glittering in the sun, and very Noon broke in
on the points of the harbour, rising to an immense
height, and driving the inhabitants to the hills to save
their lives. The La Plata was in great danger, but for-
tunately sustained little damage. The Conway held to her
anchor, but the rushing water caused her to spin round
like a teetottim. The roller completely flooded the lower
part of the town. Shock after shock was felt throughout
the night, but none like the first, and no seas. Many
places round here have suffered ; most of the houses have
been cracked, and 1/03:00 are completely down. In
such a state are affairs here, that most of the people have
gore up the hills. The shocks have since become much
lighter and far leas frequent.
The purser on board the La Plata, writing from St.
Thomas on the 19th, says :—" Yesterday we had another
visitation in the shape of an earthquake, at 2.30 p.m., and
experienced a very heavy shock on board the ship. I was
awoke by my boy telling me that the captain had ordered
all the boats to be got ready for lowering. I
went on deck, and there was an awful sight.
Men and women were rushing to the boats,
others on their knees praying, others looking for their
children and friends ; and to the seaward I saw to my hor-
ror the bore or tidal wave coming right in upon us. Fortu-
nately there was no wind. We managed to get the ship in
a better position to receive the shock. The first wave
came without much broken water, but was followed closely
by a. perfect wall of water, which came crashing and tearing
on board. On the after-quarter of the ship three boats were
carried away, one of ahem full of negroes employed coaling the
ship was immediately capsized, and the men were mostly
lost. Happily a boat containing five Lilies was not
lowered sufficiently to share the same fate, and we suc-
ceeded in hoisting them in again. The sea came into St.
Thomas' harbour, and completed the wreck the hurricane
had commenced. The company's office was unroofed : the
factory and procedure's stores were completely destroyed,
with their contents. The steamer lichen going out met the
tidal wave, and was immediately swallowed up, those on
board being drowned. A number of shocks were felt
throughout the day and night, but no more sea. All the
coaling vessels were washed ashore. Business was com-
pletely stopped, and the panto awful. Communication
with the shore was difficult. The sea damaged us con-
siderably, but nothing can be done to the ship until
reaching Jamaica." The La Plata is not expected to arrive
at Southampton until the 18th inst.

WIATFIER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

TUESDAY, WEEDER 17, II 41.11.

TILE WRECK OF TILE BOSPHORUS.

FORTY-EIGHT LIVES LOST.
FULL DETAILS.
(From the Cape Argus.)
_ _

The following fuller particulars of the lots .4
the Bosphorus steamer are taken from the P
El, zubrth Telegraph:

On Saturday lasi (Oct. 19) no coals being preeerabk
Simon's Town, the Bosphorus, after a splendid passage
from Liverpool, left that port for this for the pelvis! et
taking in coals to bring her on to Bombay, from whence
she was to be despatched by the Indian goverin,i,
with supplies to the base of operations of the expedisec
despatched against Theodorus, of Abyssinia. On Sit,.
day all was fair sailing, and the ship with her great
steaming qualities soon lessened the distance between bet
and this port. Early on Sunday, however, a chimp ie the
barometer indicated that it was not to be all plain sailing,
that a -.rind was rising, probably a gale cowing
which was but too truly verified as the day wore ear,
for it blew with tremendous violence from the 31e,.
the sea rising mountains high, and tossing the ship like a
cork upon the now angry but buoyant waters. On, hoe.
ever, she careered, ploughing amain, until the pall of sa;C:t
gradually covered the face of heaven, when a lull tek
place in the storm, and by degrees the wind abated, lair.
ing behind a tremendously high se• running. On, on size
kept, riding her way amid the thick darkness that pee
veiled, all on board unaware of danger other than that
threatened by the storm, when at about 1 o'clock in tt,
morning, the ship going at full speed, a terrible collision
took place that made her reel and stagger again with eit:.;
was at first unknown, but gradually the conviction gese
upon them that they had been hugging the coast to,
closely and had struck upon a reef of rocks. The order e.
" back" was given, but nothing but a dull grating seed
could be beard, and the ship remai•ed immovable. The cog
terrible anxiety reigned on board as to the nature of the
catastrophe which had befallenthem ; but,notwithstanditz.
all was order and obedience, and the voices of the eaptaii
and officers, as they gave their orders, were distinctly
heard, and their wishes as promptly executed. The sea we
now running very high, and the rumbling and roaring vi
the boiling surf, as it thundered against the barrier thr
opposed its progress, WWI but too well beard by al In
order to ascertain their exact position, as well as distance
from the land, a boat with the proper complement of men
was at once lowered, but scarcely had it touched the water
when it was taken upon the crest of a huge wave and cap-
sized, the men with the greatest difficulty making their w.,),
to the ship, where they were landed safely on board. Effort
after effort was again made, but with the like result, until
at last, after three weary hours, • worse calamity stared
them in the face. The ship was gradually beginning to
break up, and all at once split up the centre, a number or
the engineers, stewards, and stokers being engulfed be-
tween. Others got on the starboard quarter, and sank
with the hull, to rise no more ; while the remainder of the
craw, some on pieces of improvised raft, others on portions
of the wreck, made their way to the shore, where they lay
exhausted, naked, cut, torn, and lacerated by the sharp
rocks with which they came in contact, the captain, like a
brave English sailor, being the last to leave the
wreck, having stood fast to his ship while a life
could be saved ; and then, committing himself to
the boiling sea, unable to swim, and weakened
from over.ezertion, he battled manfully from raft to
raft until he at last reached the shore in safety. There
they stayed until daylight dawned, when all the horrors of
the scene were realised in their fullest intensity. In trout
of them lay their late noble ship, smashed to pieces, made
the sport of the waves as they leaped and dashed over het
now sunken hull. Around them was nothing but a rocky,
iron-bound coast, no human habitation within ken, not a
patch of vegetation to relieve the monotony of the scene ;
while torn, lacerated, without clothes or food, they knew
not whither to bend their steps to relieve their sore and
pressing wants. Some, however, as the martini
advanced, made their way inland, and having
espied a lad on horseback, hailed him, and
having to'd him their necessities, he at once guided
them to the farm of Mr. Moulman, whither the rest fol-
lowed, and everything that could be done to relieve their
sufferings and help them on to Humansdorp was cordially
done. The civil commissioner of Humansdorp was at
once made acquainted with the calamity, and as fast as
fleet horses could bring him to the scene he was there to
render any possible assistance.
Their entry into Humanedorp was • melancholy specta-
cle. As we before stated, most of the men landed without
any clothes, but having secured towels, sheets, ice., th.it
washed up from the wreck, they wrapped them roan!
their loins, and in this pitiable plight they entered the
village on Tuesday evening, the captain having a-
rived there the morning of the same day. On the fol-
lowing day the wagons with the crew left for this
place, where they arrived this morning, presenting
spectacle somewhat similar to that witnessed seine Eve
mouths ago, when the crew of the Osprey were conveyed
here, but infinitely more saddening, as 48 valuable lives
(a(out one-half of the crew) have been lost, and a deep,
settled gloom will thus be cast over many a harry
homestead deprived by the rude waves of its help aid
stay ; while the countenances of the survivors bore the
impress of deep-felt sorrow at the loss they had sustain
in their brave comrades.
Zitzekaruma Point, the scene of this dire calamity, ea
situated about fifteen miles west of where the (myrey
struck, and has been oft-times the scene of many a aimilm
catastrophe, though perhaps not so dire in their result'
as the present. On its dangerous and unmarked real
the Runnymede, some years ago, became a total wreck.
while within the last fifteen or twenty years over
a dozen vessels have met with • similar fate.
It is a locality pregnant with shipping disasters, its low
table-land surface tendiug to deceive the eye, while its
projection to an extent farther than is marked, and its low
reach of rocks beyond again, as well as the force an,i Vllll.l.
tion of the currents along the line of coast, which are
best but imperfectly known, have, alas ! afforded too many
facilities for such mishaps. It has indeed proved to be
the Scylla and Charybdis of our coast, and we ti.ink it ie
the bounden duty of the authorities to recommend she
erection of a lighthouse in order that calamities of a like
nature may be avoided for the future. The freittent oz.
currences of shipwreck and loss of life along its margin
calla for such • provision, lied we hope that a int uotnre il)
necessary and desirable will before long rear its warning
head above the Point.
We have been furnished with a correct list of the mama
of those who were drowned, as follows:

DROIA NE%
Sailing Department.

John Leigh, able seaman Wm. Nixon ord. •e.iusm
Frank Downden do. John Murphy do.
Robert Fleetwood do. Jog. Maybrick do.
Tim. Palmer do. Jos. Stephens do.
Christian Dick do. Frank Ross do.

J. Tasked T do. _ ....... _____
Henry Hutton do.
James Hopkins do. l;v_•s Alfred si ..
John Pyc do. .7,,:1n Eason do.
William Elder do. John Eye
Win. Davidson do. .7 .hn Webster .:,.

- &IA! (loy) %Vara a..

Griflins(bOi)

_ .
Engineer's Department.
Robt. Storm, chief engineer. John Clark, lire:nan.
John Martin, 2nd do. Peter 0.
David Reid, 3rd do. Owen Drlnnuin.l, Jo.
Geo. \Vllson, 4th do. Th. Peycie
John Ninon, fireman. Tho.. lock, .io.
Pat. Connelly, do. Peter C 1.4 k,
Li. Shaw, do. Daniel L.nn, no.

Steward's DepartmeLt.
Geo. Rae, chief steward
lohn Hunt, at~~c art

W. Avery, second ditto Thos.
Thos. Rissack, clerk (111. A. Jcnki, . Co
T. Wilkinson, storekeeper Lt...rn..iitt
Staunton Breard, steward no,. :•!•11-1!
Twenty bodies have been reco% er, 3 and I
beach near the scene of the wreck. Two of t'l,:it wcn:
identified : one being that of :dr. storm, the :).;,-
neer, and the other that of Mr. Wilkinson, t!::
keeper. The survivors of the crew are in a vc:)'
tressed condition, having lost the wiledr of th, it dothin;
and effects. A subscription list on their \lie, ,t
the shipping office, contributions to wLieh will le thank-
fully accepted.
(From the Cap. A rgtiß, Noe. 7,1
FORT ELIZABETH, 4.

The Court of Inquiry into the circun.stanc., 'lit:
the loss of the Bosphorus gave judgment this soornim:.
Captain Alexander absolved from blame. Court of opirion
that disaster is attributable to the strong current w;11 1,
generally runs to the westward after fresh w,telly g .
as well as to the existence of a northeasterly enner.t.
which sets directly on to the shore from Fornmsa roils; to
Cape Recif, between the Agulhas current and the c 01.4•
and which was unknown to the said master, not lgmg
stated upon the chart by which he was sailing.