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

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY I

land under green crops ; the proportion in Wake
being 32, Scotland 22, and England 11 per tent.
Turnips and swedes reckon in Scotland for 72 per
cent., England 58, Wales 45, and Ireland 21 per
cent. of the green crop acreage.
The acreage under wheat has declined in Scot-
land from 223,152 acres in 1857, to 110,101 acres
in 1866 ; in Ireland, from 559,646 acres in 1857, to
300,474 acres in 1866. The Poor-law Board esti-
mated the total area under wheat in England and
Wales in 1854 at 3,807,846 acres, and assuming the
correctness of that estimate, we should have a de-
creaseof 532,553acresasshownby the present return.
It seems more than probable, however, that the
estimate for 1854 was fallacious ; it was based on
returns obtained from eleven counties, and a com-
parison of the returns for those counties in the two
periods shows that while there were 790,019 acres
under wheat in 1854, the return for 1866 gives
954,492 acres—an absolute increase of 164,473
acres in the eleven counties. Thus the wheat
acreage in Hampshire in the two periods increased
from 58,959 acres to 110,824; in Wilts, from 52,871
to 96,800 ; in Berke, from 28,840 to 61,103 ; in
Leicester, from 36,207 to 43,679 ; in Worcester,
from 50,385 to 64,781; in Salop, from 70,832 to
80,326 ; in Suffolk, from 138,277 to 178,021. On
the contrary, Norfolk declined from 202,971 to
189,398 ; West Riding, from 117,200 to 102,995 ;
and the two Welsh counties of Brecon and Den-
bigh, from 33,477 to 26.565. These facts make it
necessary to exercise great discrimination in gene-
ralising upon results springing from estimates
alone. In Ireland, authentic records leave no
doubt of the decline of wheat cultivation ; in 1857
the wheat acreage was 559,646 acres ; in 1866 it
was reduced to 34)0,474.

The barley acreage has decreased in Scotland
from 219,994 acres to 213,619, and in Ireland from
217,314 to 152,777. Oats hare increased in Scot-
land from 938,613 acres to 1,004,040, but the crop
has docrease,l in Ireland from 1,980,934 to
1,697.648 acres.
Potatoes were estimated to occupy 192,287 scree
in England in 1854 ; they are now returned as
355,417 acres, but in the absence of any definite
knowledge of the principle adopted in getting
returns at both periods it is impossible to say how
much of the increase is apparent only. Potato cul-
ture has slightly increased in Scotland since 1857,
but in Ireland the acreage has decreased from
1,146,647 to 1,050,419 acres. The turnip and
swede acreage has decreased both in Scotland and
Ireland.

The following exhibits the relative acreage for
every head of cattle and cheep in Great Britain:
England and
Wales. Scotland.
To every bead of Cattle the number of
acres of total area
Ditto cultivated area 6.2 ... 4.2
Ditto arable laud
Ditto permanent pasture
To every head of Sheep the number of
acres of total area
Ditto cultivated area 1.5 ... .8
Ditto arable land
Ditto permanent pasture
.

The foreign returns show that the wheat area
of France is 17,252,386 ; of Austria, 3,662,164 ;
of Bavaria, 1,043,534 ; of Belgium, 804,758 ; of
Holland, 194,730 ; of Wurtemberg, 544,284 ; of
Denmark Proper, 140,448; and of Sweden,lls,ooo
English statute acres. But for many reasons we
are not inclined to attach much importance to these
foreign returns, some of them being quite out of
date ; and the general state of confusion which
exists about continental populations and areas
in different statistical publications is not mended
by the ambiguous reference to " latest returns" in
the Board of Trade tables.

On the whole, while we are fully alive to many
defects which we have found in the course of this
analysis, and which we may hope will be amended
in future returns, we congratulate the public on so
desirable an addition to the knowledge of our
agricultural condition as is now supplied by the
Board of Trade. But we have only got an instal-
ment of what wo want: we have yet to learn the
amount of produce yielded under the different
crops, and we urge upon the government the ne-
cessity of taking steps for ascertaining this moat
essential information in subsequent returns.

THE PARIS EXHIBITION.—The representation of
racing plate, testimonials, dc., promises to be very com-
plete at the Paris Exhibition. The following noblemen
and gentlemen have already signified their intention of
contributing pieces of plate, /Sc.. in their possession :
The Duke of Newcastle, the Earl of Zetland, the Earl of
Annesley, the Comte de Lagrange, Colonel C. H. Lind-
say, Colonel Towneley, Mr. George Angell, Mr. W. Bien-
kiron, Mr. E. Brayley, Mr. Henry Chaplin. Mr. W. 8.
Cartright, Mr. J. H. Douglas, Mr. F. Fisher, Mr. Pitman,
Mr. J. Jackson, Mr. Laffitte, Mr. A. Lupin, Mr. A. de
Montgomery, Mr. T. Masterman, Mr. Parr, Mr. Newry
Padwick, Mr. It. Sutton. In the British Section a dia•
mina order of reward has been instituted in favour of
persons, establidmients, or localities which, by a special
organization or special institutions, have developed a
spirit of harmony among all those co-operating in the
Lime work, and. have provided for the material. moral,
and intellectual well-being of the workman. These re.
wards consist of ten prizes. of the total value of 100,000
francs (4,0001.), or 40W. each, and twenty honourable
mentions. One grand prise of 100,000 franca may, in
addition, be awarded to the person, establishment, or
locality, distinguished under this heed by • very excep-
tional superiority. A form has been published containing
questions on this subject, which must be filled up by or
on behalf of any permit, establishment, or institution in
the United Kingdom for which the reward is claimed, end
must be forwarded to the " Secretary, Paris Exhibition,
South Kensington Museum," on or before the 20th inst.
CHILDITNIAS FESTIVITIES TOR SICK CHILDREN.—
On Saturday the wards of the Hospital for Sick Children,
in Great Ormond.street, were the scene of a gratifying
Christmas gathering of about one hundred children. Fifty
of the patients recently discharged cured were invited to
take tea with their less fortunate companions still under
treatment in the hospital, about fift of whom were suffi-
ciently well to ambit in the glories of? a Christmas tree and
partake of the pleasure of • Marionette figure entertain-
ment, provided for them gratuitously by the kindness of
Mr. Cremer, jun., of Regent-stet. The sight was one not
to be easily forgotten by those who witnessed it. Children
of all sizes, between 2 and 10 years of op, were placed on
couches arranged in a semicircle, while those in a more
advanced stage of recovery were arranged with
their juvenile friends, the "visitors," to form a sort of
fringe around the cots and couches of those patients
who were compiled from recent operations or weakness
to recline. All the children partook of • substantial tea
together, sad by the generosity of friends far and near
—an ample supply of Christmas presents having been pro-
vided—every child received several articles suitable to its
age and sex. During the evening the children joined in
singing several pieces and Christmas carols ; and at the
close all joined with much spirit in "God save the Queen."
Her Majesty and their Royal Highalkees the Princesses
have on several occasions graciously condescended to
evince much consideration and sympathy fee these humble
sufferers. The " visitors " took leave of their ward friends
about seven o'clock. The hospital receives 75 in-patients,
many from distant parts of the country ; and more than
200 children are brought every morning for advice and
medicine as out-patients. We are informed that the com-
mittee of management hope shortly to effect • consider-
able enlargement of the wards, by adding other premises
to the institution.

THE HEAVY CALerTrA AND CHINA MA HA.—
SffETHANYNow. DEC. 31.—The Peninsular and Oriental
Company's steamship Pera has arrived here to-day with
the heavy portion of the Calcutta and China mails, S 5
passengers, 1,11111. in specie, and a general cargo, including
1.576 bales of silk, value 140,00 W. Across the Bay of
Biscay she experienced heavy north-westerly gales and a
high see. On the 27th inst. the Pere spoke the steamer
London, on the 21th the steamers Thessalia and Castilian,
and on the 29th the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamship Syria.
(Advertisement,)—HOLLOWAVe PILLS, for the
cure of Minna Complaints. Indigestion, and 4ffectinns of the
Liver.-Symptoms indicative of these disorders are a feeling of
nausea, distension and spasmodic pain In the stomach, sense of
oppression and sinking after eating, want of appetite, languor,
deoetion of spirits, and general debility The removal of the
cause lathe most important step. for which have recourse to tent
lowers Pills, as they posoos such cleansing properties that the
action of the liver It speedily corrected, the redundancy of bile
carried of, Use stomach strengthened, the spirits revived. and
the patient I, restored. These excellent Pills keep all the natu-
ral functions so fairly balanced, the they prevent or speedily
eubdas headache, &Weems, billow Wade, and dmilar melodist

THE GREAT FIRE AT THE CRYSTAL
PALACE.

The crowds who visited the Crystal Palace yes-
terday could hardly realise the fact that on th
previous day a great fire had destroyed a large and i
valuable portion of the building, unless they went ,
up to the north end, and were permitted to peep
through the screen by the police. It will be re-
membered that this screen, or " bed tick" as it was
contemptuously called, was loudly condemned at
the late Crystal Palace meeting, but it has had a '
noble revenge of its traducer., as it is now uni-
versally admitted that but for its lucky interpo-
sition the world-famous building would have been
almost wholly destroyed. Providentially the wind
on Sunday afternoon blew gently from the south-
west, and to this fact, and the constantly saturated
screen, is to be attributed the safety of the main
portion of the building. On our arrival at the
palace yesterday we found the screen still
standing, and completely hiding the destruc-
tion which had taken place at the north end,
whilst from thence down to the refreshment de-
partment everything was going on as usual. The
band discoursed eloquent music, the learned dogs
went through their elaborate performance, Mr.
Punch played out his comedy, and, finally, the
pantomime was performed with all its original fire
and effect. The directors and all the officers of the
palace were at their posts, and having the damages
repaired with extraordinary celerity. Both Mir.
13owley, the manager, and Mr. Grove, the secre-
tary, were actively engaged all day, and both were
full of confidence that the accident need not, and
would not, interfere in the slightest degree with
the Christmas amusements.

As to the origin or incidents of the fire itself, we
have little to add to the accounts that have already
been published. The origin of the fire is still,
as to the exact facts, a mystery, but the general
impression seems to be that it arose from an over-
heated flue situated somewhere near the Queen's
apartments and orangery at the north end of the
place. There was a large beehive stored in this
quarter, a remanet of the dramatic fife, and this
being filled with straw, it was at one time conjec-
tured that spontaneous combustion might have
'taken place. Another notion was that there had
been some carelessness in the carpenters' workshop;
but the final conclusion to which all the experts
have come is that the flues have done it all ; and
it must be remembered in corroboration that the
Itemperature of the interior of the palace has been
kept very high since the commencement of
winter, and more especially from the commence-
ment of the Christmas entertainments. A police-
man who was on duat the north end saw flames
bursting out of the Queen's apartments, and went
immediately to apprise the single fireman who is kept
on duty on Sundays. By the direction of the latter
a hose was got ready and commenced playing, and
it may be mentioned that all the statements which
have appeared as to the early scarcity of water are
incorrect, there having been ample supplies from
twogreat reservoirs, oneunderandoneoverthebum-
, ing quarter, available from the very commencement
of the fire. Immediately after the hose had been
set playing in the Queen's apartments, the fire
caught the flooring of the "Tropical Region," which
from the constant heating had become as dry as
matchwood, and ran rapidly across to the ladies
retiring room. whence it spread upwards and into
the Assyrian Court, which in a short time it com-
pletely destroyed. It is curious that, although it
had been checked in its paaaage across the build-
ing by the cotton screen, it soon pierced the
glass and melted the iron here, descending into
the beautiful Alhambra, which, we are sorry to say,
seems at present to have been irreparably injured.
It will be remembered that this was the most beau-
tiful of the courts, the chef d'irerre of Owen
Jones, and had cost more than any two
of the others. But now it is all a mass
of smouldering ruins, and dimmed and blis-
tered debris. The Hall of the Caliphs is silent, the
fountain of the Lions has ceased to play, and the
desolation so pathetically described in the Moorish
ballads seems to be completely realized. The
Assyrian Court might be spared, but every one
will regret the Alhambra, and wish that its restora-
tion may be included in the repairing plans of the
directors. On the opposite side, the Byzantine
Court has suffered considerably, but not so much
as to leave its repair a matter of doubt or diffi-
culty ; and from this spot, looking south, it may
be said that the destruction has terminated. In
the tropical region itself all is destroyed or has
disappeared. The birds, some of them of great
rarity, have been burned or have escaped into the
outer air ; a similar fate has befallen the monkeys
and, worst of all, the most recent importation, the
" Baby Hippopotamus," has been destroyed. The
body of the unhappy young monster was recovered
yesterday, and lay, a huge mass of half-
roasted flesh, close to the base of the great
water tower. At one period of the fire, great
apprehensions were entertained for the safety of
this great tower, which, it must be remembered,
is constantly kept "loaded" with thirty tons of
water in its topmost story, but although the flames
curled round its lower pillars, and twisted and
melted all the slighter iron-work in the neighbour-
hood, the tower held its ground firmly, and now
presents but the slightest appearance of injury.
Had it fallen, it would have been a most serious
addition to the accidents of the day.
The Mammoth tree has entirely disappeared, a
circumstance the more to be regretted when
we remember that the whole number of trees above
ground of this description is said to be very
limited, while their distant location in the valleys
of California renders the hope of replacing them,
except at an enormous expense, of the very
slenderest description. Monti's beautiful al-
, legorical fountain has escaped with but
slight abrasion, but sad havoc has been made
amongst the brilliantl little gold and silver fish
which so lately darted and frisked about in its
dancing waters. Men were employed yesterday
in shovelling them out, and as we passed many
I pails had already been filled with the bodies of the
victims. The noble palm which the late Sir Joseph
Paxton took pride in, as being the largest in
Europe, has entirely disappeared, and so has the
gorgeous Christmas tree on the other side of the
I screen, which had to be sacrificed to stra-
tegic necessity. A similar tale must be told of
many of the exhibitors' stalls in the upper nave,
but it is to be inferred that their loss has not been
excessive, as they had all resumed trade with full
supplies yesterday morning.
The destruction of the library and reading-room
has already been mentioned ; but it must be added,
that with it has disappeared an immense mass of
valuable music, the accumulations of eleven years
and of successive conductors. As a proof of the
celerity with which the repair of damages has been
undertaken, we may here mention that a temporary
reading-room has already been opened, and was
yesterday filled with the habitiuh who had been
burnt out " on the previous day. The Indian
Court is a heavy loss, and, what is worse, one that
can hardly be replaced ; but whatever can be done
will be done without delay by the directorate to
restore this court, as well as the other attractions
of their building which have been destroyed or in-
jured by the fire, as rapidly as possible.
Of course, in the discussions which took place in
the Palace yesterday respecting the calamity, esti-
mates as to probable amount of pecuniary loss
were not forgotten. We were at some pains to
collect the opinions of several competent judges,
land we found their estimate to range from a mini-
mum of 50,0001. to a maximum of 100,0001., the
preponderance of opinion, however, inclining to a
mean between the two. It is satisfactory to -know
that, whatever the cost, the loss will not fall alto-
gether on the shareholders, as the building is
largely insured. The repairs will be taken in hand
at once • indeed, they may be said to have already
commenced, as the ruins were covered with workmen
busy clearing away all day yesterday, and in the
meantime the whole of the Christmas programme
will be repeated daily with undiminished spirit.
The fire lasted altogether about two hours from its
first discovery until it had been completely sub-
dued. Captain Shaw and the brigade of the Board
of Works worked most energetically and success-
fully, and they were powerfully assisted by his
Grace the Duke of Sutherland, who was promptly

on the spot, attired in brass helmet and the full
uniform of the brigade. Part of his grace's salvage
was a valuable parrot, the gift of Blondin to the
Palace ; but the rescued bird was by no means
grateful, as wo understand that in the excitement
of the moment he bit his protector severely on the
wrist. The duke's prompt attendance at the fire
may be some matter of surprise, but it is under-
stood that on any important fire reeking out
in or near the metropolis a telegram is imme-
diately despatched from the brigade headquarters
to Sutherland-house.

IS AMERICAN COMMERCE TO BE EXTIN-
GUISHED.

Under the above heading the New Yolk Times,
of Dec. 17, writes u follows :

One of the most striking passages in the report of the
Secretary of therTeasury is that in which he demonstrates
the effect of high duties upon raw material, in diminishing
and almost destroying our once important business of
ship and steamer building. He shows that though for-
merly a first-clean commercial power, and apparently
destined soon to lead the commerce of the world, we have
during the last sir ears been steadily falling behind
Great Britain, and if the diminution of our ship-building
and carrying trade goes on at the present rates (of some
fifty per cent. in six years), we shall ere long cease to be a
commercial power of any importance. These serious fact.
are confirmed by figures, showing the decrease in Ame-
rican tonnage from this country, and the increase in
English, employed in our porta, such as the following:—
The tonnage of American vessels engaged in the foreign
carrying trade which entered United States ports was—in
1860. 5,921,285 tons; in 1865, 2,943,661 tons; in 1866,
3,372,060 tons. The tonnage of such vessels which were
cleared from the United States was—in 1860, 6,165,924
tons; in 1865, 3,025,134 tons; in 1866, 3,384,176 tons.
The tonnage of foreign vessels which entered our ports
was—in 1860, 2,353,911 tons; in 1865, 3,216,967 tons; in
1866, 4,410,424 tons. The tonnage of foreign vessels which
were cleared was—in 1860, 1624,005 tons ; in 1865,
3,595,123 tons; in 1866, 4,438, 384 tons. . _

.These' statements haie been strengthened by a fact
which has called forth some public remark within a day
or two—the approaching salesof two steamers of the Havre
line—they being apparently the last American steamers
on any great line between New York and Europe. So
ends our expected greet commerce in American•built
ocean steamers. Great Britain has a vast fleet of iron
commercial steamers plying over every sea, built so
cheaply and ingeniously as to drive out all competition.
In the grand business struggle of nearly a century to get
possession of or to lead the commerce of the ocean, the
United States, that seemed once on the point of victory,
must now own to defeat. She is not only a commercial
power, second to Great Britain, but she seems destined to
still further inferiority, and to be almost driven from the
ABM _ _

The explanation of this mortifying defeat is not to
be found alone in cheap labour, for labour was cheaper
in Great Britain twenty-five years ago than now, and
the difference between what wages will buy in the two
countries is not so great as it was a few years since. The
difficulty is the same as that which is gradually taking
our machine manufacture from us, i.e that machines for
South America, for instance, which used to be ordered in
New York, are now made in England. It is said that even
river steamboats will soon be plying on our waters which
were manufactured in Great Britain, because with all the
duties they can be made so much cheaper there. This,
as Mr. McCulloch wisely remarks, is a direct effect of the
high protective system, especially as applied to raw mate-
rial. It must be remembered that such a tariff as we have
now weighs upon every article which the manufacturer
uses, his iron, brass, steel, wood, coal,and tools ; and he not
only has to compete with the cheaper labour of England,
which he might do with the aid of ingenuity, but he has
to work on raw products, which are all far dearer than in
England, owing to our exorbitant duties. More than this,
the effect of such a high bounty as the present tariff offers
is to encourage, with the American producers of the raw
material, a carelessness, extravagance, and want of busi-
ness prudence and saving which gradually render their
production more expensive. There is nothing which sti-
mulates economy, ingenuity, invention, and care, like open
competition, The moment government comes in to back
up an interest with excessive duties it becomes wasteful,
and soon loses the watchful ears which before made it
successful. We have no doubt that there is something
of this effect of very high duties even on our manufac-
turers, as well as our producers of coal and iron.
It must be borne iu mind, also, that the expenses of
the labourers are greater under the high duties upon raw
materials, and of course their wages must be greater, and
thus the cost of manufacturing be increased.
Our ingenuity, even under • revenue tariff, enabled us
formerly with dearer labour to compete with Great Britain
in ship-building and in many articles of manufacture. It
will again, if the immoderately heavy duties on raw mate-
rials berewoved, and production of manufactures be thus
cheapened, and individual expenses so be diminished.
This country is especially adapted to be agreat commer-
cial country. Its forests of pines and oak, its mines of iron
and coal, its countless bay. and harbours, the hardy men
on the coasts trained to the sea, its connection in trade
with so many countries, and the new link now forming
between the east and Europe over California and the Isth-
mus, all show that, if no false syetem be adopted, we shall
become gradually and naturally the great carrier of the
world's products, and take the plume which Venice and
Holland had once, and Great Britain bolds now. But if,
on the other hand, our commerce be destroyed by our own
suicidal policy, by a fatal mistake in political economy, we
may in our youth lose that which we can never regain in
our maturity, and the trade of the world peas out of our
hands, and become merely a wealthy China, where agri-
culture alone shall be the profitable pursuit, and manu-
facture and commerce be left to foreign hands.
Commerce is the great liberaliser and civiliser of a
people. It brings a nation in contact with foreigners ;it
is the best school fora navy ; it prepares us for what is
our only danger in the future—a naval war. We must
always export our raw produce largely and import luxuries,
and we ought not to lose the vast profits of the carriage.
The American commerce of a orntury to come may de-
pend on the revenue and protective system we now esta-
blish. Let Congress see to it that it be • wise and liberal
one.

THE AGRICULTURAL HALL. Yesterday the
morning performance of the entertainments at the Agricul-
tural Hall was very fashionably attended ; the carriages in
waiting during the afternoon extended for upwards of half
a mile along the Liverpool-road and adjacent streets. The
official returns show that during the five days of the
Christmas week upwards of 175,000 persons paid for ad-
mission. Yesterday, amongst other novelties, there was •
considerable augmentation in the ranks of the meant
including in the Russian display a large state sledge drawn
by reindeer, on which is fixed • high pole surmounted by the
Russian arms, and round which clings a fine bear. In place
also of the three obstinate animals which had previously
drawn the Moorish triumphal car, four oxen, imported
from Spain performed the duty in yokes. The only com-
plaints made are that the performances are too long with-
out an interval, which would be a convenience and comfort
to • large number of visitors.
AcCIDINTS TO RAILWAY SRRVARTII.—At all rail-
way stations to-day • collection is made on behalf of thi
accident fund of the Railway Benevolent Institution, out
of which fund all classes of railway servants may partici.
pate in the event of accident in 1867, if they contribute
one shilling. The travelling public are invited to give
their aasistance to this society for helping those who may
be injured in the performance of their duties, and as no
leas than 102 persoui were relieved in the past year, it is
obvious that this institution is doing • great and beneficial
work. We undentand from the last report that the late
commercial depression has operated seriously in diminishing
the funds of the society, and that the committee look for-
ward to increased support to-day to relieve them from pre-
sent anxieties. Contributions may be paid to the secretary
of the institution, at 123, Seymour-street, Euston-square,
as well as to the various station-masters.
FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.-011 Friday evening,
about half-put five, a labourer, named Shadrach Hop-
kins, who resided near the crossing of the Nutley Railway '
at Portswood, on the London and South-Western line, was
literally cut to pieces by a train passing over him. His
remains were collected, and an inquest war held the
following day. There was no evidence to show how the
accident occurred. There was no reason, however, to
suppose that the deceased had committed suicide, and it
was supposed that he was crossing the line—which he
had no right to have done—in order to make • short
cut home, when be did not hear an approaching train
in sufficient time to save himself from • frightful death.
It being dark at the time, the engine-driver could not
see the unfortunate man, and only knew that an acci-
dent had occurred from feeling • slight shock. The
jury, after hearing the witnesses, returned • verdict of
Accidental Death."

A singular fatal result attended a fire which oc-
curred at the village of Grantchester, near Cambridge,
on Friday night. About an hour after midnight it was
discovered that a fire had taken a strong hold upon a
public-house called the Rose and Crown. The house was
speedily burnt to the ground, and it was feared that the
maid servant had perished in the flames, as nothing what-
ever could be seen of her. When morning broke, •
labourer, while walking on the banks of the river Cam,
found a pair of woman's boots close to the river, and a
further and closer investigation disclosed the body of the
unfortunate girl who was supposed to have perished in
the fire floating lifeless in the river. It is conlectured
that she was the accideutal cause of the orudlegration, and
that fright had so worked upon her feelings that she at
once ran down to the river and committed suicide.

DEPOSIT MONEY ON RAILWAY BILLS. The
deposit money on railway bills of 8 per oent. and of 4 per
cent. on all other undertakings must be made previously
to the 15th January instant. The estimates were lodged
yesterday and the amount of deposit money will be forth.
with ascertained.

-----
SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSSUM.—Visitors during
the week ending Dec. 29, 1866 (Christmas week), free from
10 cm. to 10 p.m., 24108. Average of corresponding
week in former years, 24,743. Total from the opening
of the Museum, 6,481,232.