The Express.
London, England, 1859-10-26 00:00:00

TO TNT EDITOR OF TILE !TIMM.

Eta,—All who share the political faith of Joseph
Msemni are by him invited (auk Izpreas of the
24th) to subscribe to General Garibaldi's Fund for
the purchase of muskets.

I will, therefore, subscribe 101. towards this fund,
and enclose you my cheque for that sum.
When Mazzini and Garibaldi—" the soul to dare,
the band to execute "—combine for the achievement
of the unity of Italy, no friend of liberty should hang
back.

I feel aasured, from my recent personal interview
with Garibaldi at Bologna, that the object of the
two is the same.—l am, &c.,

W. H. ASHURST.
el, Old Istrry, Laudon, Ost. 2h.

STA.Ms.

THE DUEL BETWEEN A SENATOR AND A

JUDGE.
Miow ova ows ooaal

VENT.)

NEW YORK, Ocr. 12.

- - -
One is rarely at a loss for something in the shape
of a " seneation" to give spice to letters from this
side of the water, and I have this week to chronicle
one which is tolerably striking. Senator Broderick,
of California, was killed in a duel on the 13th of
September, at San Francisco, by Judge Terry, the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of that state.
The career and character of the two principals in
this unfortunate affair afford so excellent an illustra-
tion of the state of society in California, u well is of
the sort of men into whose hands politica have fallen
during the latter days of the democratic party, that I
cannot help saying a little more about them than any
interest the English public is likely to take in them
or their fate would seem to warrant.

Broderick was the son of poor Irish parents, and
was born in this city, and was, as soon as he was fit
for work, apprenticed to • stonecutter. While in
this position he displayed great bodily strength and
activity for his yeati, and as soon as he grew up to
manhood, he fell into " political life" almost as natu-
' rally as a duckling takes to water. You must not,
however, attach the ssme meaning to the phrase poli-
tical life, which it bears in England. You mast not
conjure up pictures of assiduous devotion to the
study of political economy, or international law, or
the theory of representation. Broderick simply cast
himself in among " the roughs," frequented the
public-houses, became acquainted with all the
pugilists, " loafer.," gamblers, and firemen, and so
on, who hang on the outskirts of the great parties,
and, owing to their activity, unscrupulousness, and
physical energy, absolutely control the elections in
all the large cities. He learned how to marshal the
bruisers at the polls, obstruct the voters of
the other side, smash the ballot boxes, mar-
shal the hordes of ignoramuses who are citi-
zens without knowing what " citizen" means,
and who vote five times a day for as many glasses of
whisky. He bocame prominent at the primary
meetings where the delegates are chosen who com-
pose the conventions which afterwards nominate the
candidates for the various aloes, and in which the
proceedings, though they in reality exercise a power-
ful influence on public affairs, are of course unison-
trolled by the law, or in fact by any rules and regu-
lations, except the fists and clubs of the rowdies who
frequent them. He knocked an opponent down when
the occasion required it, turned off the gas, and began
a general meth in the dark, if the voting seemed
likely to go against his aide ; shuffled the ballot so
as to make out a show of victory, gave anybody a
black eye who ventured to gainsay his decisions,
and in short did everything which a success-
ful " Ward politician" does do, or is expected
to do. The consequence was that he really
became a power in the state, and for some years was
a leading man in the " Tammany Society," as the
club is called which forms in this city the nucleus or
governing body of the democratic party. As a per-
sonage of this sort needs a headquarters or rendezvous,
where his agents and friends may make their reports
and receive their instructions, he did what people of
his class generally do, started a small grog shop in
a low quarter of the town, in which he did a thriving
business. When the California gold fever broke out,
however, he determined to start for the gold fields,
in the hope of bettering his condition, bat on arriv-
ing at the scene of action found he could do more
by turning his political talents and experience to
account than by digging at the mines. Society was
then in a state of confusion; the new state was just
being organised, and most of the inhabitants were
roving adventurers, too intent on filling their pockets
to devote either time or attention to politics. So Brode-
rick found little difficulty i oj limping at one bound into
• prominent position. He was at once elected to
the legislature, and, on finding himself there, not only
began to display talents of •higher order than before,
but to behave better. He was coarse, and slenderly
educated, but his audacity and dexterity in managing
men of his own class and calibre began to tell
rapidly. He was anything but eloquent, bat he had
that glibness and fluency which every American who
has taken much part in public affairs displays in a
greater or lees degree, and which has now become a
national trait. Finally, alter divers ups and downy,
he got himself elected one of the senators from
California in the United States Senate, the highest
dignity to which a politician aspires short of the
Presidentship itself. In this position he became the
leader of the northern section of the democracy, as
opposed to the. southern fire-eaters; lied, on find-
ing that his recommendations of candidates
for government situations were disregarded by the
President in favour of those of his colleague, Dr.
Gwyn, he joined the ranks of the opposition, and was
a bitter and violent opponent of the administration
in the conflict about the Leoompton constitution. I
should add that, ever since he went to California, his
integrity and purity of life have been above suspi-
cion, He was well known to be incorruptible,
and was the most dauntless opponent of every-
thing that savoured of corruption. These were no
ordinary virtues for a Californian politician, and
they had of late years made him a favourite with
all the respectable people of the state. He bad also
won his way into the good graces of the Northerners
by his stern opposition of late to the Southern pro-
slavery parts; and it was so vigorous that he threw
all the weiglit of Cal i forni aon the side of freedom. Con-
sidering what his antecedents were, it was wonderful
that he turned out so well, and it is no wonder at all
that he was coarse, vituperative, and gross in his lan-
guage and bearing, or that his public attacks on his
opponents were simply tirades of vulgar abuse. In
the contest which he carried on for re-election to the
Senate last summer, he and his opponents heaped on
one another's heads the vilest Billingsgate, and
finally the latter determined to get rid of him in the
De Pens fashion by • series of duels. That there
was a deliberate conspiracy to kill him there seems
to be little doubt, and it fell to Chief Justice Terry,
of the Supreme Court, to open the ball. Terry is an
old politician very much of the Broderick order,
but, though of course better educated and bred in a
proteasion, a ter worse man morally. His doings
as a politician in San Francisco were so outrageous
that he was arrested by the Vigilance Com-
mittee five years ago, who at one time, it is
said, contemplated dealing with him summarily. He
was, however, released, and, resuming his old trade,
got himself elected, by political management, Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, and occupied this
position when he received the alleged offence from
Broderick, but resigned it before fighting the duel.
As to his fate, Broderick deserves little sympathy.
He had fought duels himself before, and in all his
political "campaigns" used language towards his
opponents which no man ought to use unless he
means to fight. The whole story is a sad commen-
tary upon the morals and manners of the class into
whose hands the government of many states of the
Union has fallen. The " Sickles tragedy" last spring
was another which excited even more sensation
than this one, for obvious reasons; but I cannot say
that I see any indication of a movement amongst
the respectable clung in the cities to take
the affairs of the country out of the hands of this
tribe, and make either education, or good behaviour
and integrity, and even an ordinary attention to the
laws of morality, indispensable qualifications for
office. A meeting of the wealthier democrats in this
city—the bankers, merchants, and brokers, who sup-
ply the sinews of war to the underlings, who manage
the elections and nominations—was held the other
day, to devise means of purifying the party, at least
to the extent of excluding the " roughs " from
nomination for public offices. Their action has been
so far successful, that Mr. Dix, a man of high stand-
ing and character, has been nominated for the
mayoralty by the democrats, which is certainly
something gained; but the drawback on all these
reforms is, that they are apt to be found temporary;
that the initiators of the movement are apt to re-
lapse into their previous indifference, and let the
rapscallions once more sesame the ascendancy.

GREAT FIRE AT BERMONDSEY.
(THIS DAL)

ENORMOUS DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

This morning, about 5 o'clock, the inhabitants of
the deneoly-populated ;relish of Bermondsey wee° aroused
from their Amebas by the 'pinging of policemen'. rattles.
In the course of a few minutes nearly every window in the
district was thrown up, when the neighbours witnessol a
fearful scene. Flames, in home bodies, shot forth from
apparently several building. at the same time. yielding a
light like that of noon. The venerable chink of St. John,
Horselydown, looked as though covered with a cloth of gold.
Of the stone work of the Monument, in the City, the beau-
tiful tracery was shown in milklike whiteness. The tire.
it was found, had commenced In White's-grounds, Ber-
mondsey.
Upon a large spsoe of ground, probably 200 or 300 feet
square, stood a range of premises—mime brick and timber
built, four stories high ; others composed exclurvely of
timber. The largest of these structures bromic! to Messrs.
Garter and Palmer, carriers and army contractors, which
stood at the end of White's-ground. Flanking them pre-
mises, on the left-hand side of a Large gateway, were a range
of timber buildings about 130 feet long and of great depth,
belonging to Messrs. Sharp, leather enamellers and currier.
to the government. On the east side stood the workshops of
Mr. J. Cook, a fur dyer, and several small dwelling-houses
let out in tenements, also the premises belonging to Mr. G.
Williams, kather dresser; whilst eight private houses ran
at the side of the ill-fated property in Brunswick-
court. Before an engine had time to arrive the flames
had taken possession of property covering a space of
180 feet in one direction and 90 feet in depth. The scene
became fearful, for men, women, and children, almost in a
✓are of nudity, rushed out of the houses, carrying with tliem
at throwing out of window their humble furniture, For-
tunately Mr. Superintendent Branford and Inspectors
M'Kenzie and Reid, with a powerful body of constables,
arrived and protected the furniture of the poor people, and
also prevented them from rushing again into danger. With
all possible expedition the Royal Society's escape served,
mid Conductor Dunk, with the aid of the pollee, stmossied
In rescuing a female from one of the hawse. The
engines were at once set to work, but In spite of
vast torrents of the opposing element ecatterad upon and
into the burning property, the work of demolition continued,
and various other premises became Ignited, including those
belonging to Mr. J. Castle, a cote proprietor. Fortunately,
this person was enabled with assistance to get out the whole
of his horses jest SS the games were areaking the stable,.
The tin at 10 o'clock was far from being entirely extin-
guished, bat all danger of any further extension of mischief
VMS over.

The total loss by this die/wrong event must amount to
mend thousand pounds sterling. The quantity of leather
destroyed in Years. Outler and Palmer's, end Mesas.
Sheep's premises, alone must be enormous. The exact build-
ing in which the fire commenced remains at the present •
matter of uncertainty.

The following is Mr. Braldwoore official report of the
damage done, u far as can at present be arcertstned:
"Oct. 26, 1869, 6 a.m.—A dre took place in White's.
pound, Bermondsey, which deortroyed the timber buildings
need as workshops, the property of Mr. J. Cook, fur dyer;
contents insured In the Sun Fire-oftke, building unknown if
insured or not. Marrs. Oastier and Palmer, leather ware-
houses, brick-and•thober built, with their contents de-
stroyed. The currier,' shops, drying-abeda, and beck
connting-house, brick built, burnt down; buildings and
entente insured in the Atlas, Westminster, end other Fire-
offices. J. Sharp and Co., tanners, Az, the drying-houses
and stores on the left aide of the yard, timber built, very
seriouely damaged by tire ; the buildings and contents in-
sured in the Royal Exchange Fire-office. Nos. 5 to 13,
. .

Brcumwick-coutt, let out in taaaments, backs and fronts
seriously; damaged by fire • contents not Insured, building"
Band-is-Hand the and-in-Hand Ofllce. Non 11 and 12, Whits's-
ground, two private wooden houses, owners not known, very
seriously damaged by Ire. George Williams, leather-dresser,
drying-houses nearly destroyed ; insured for contents in the
Northern Fire-ofiloe. .1. Castle, cab touter, stables and
coach-houses all but destroyed, and front of dwelling-house
severely damaged by fire ; the building and contents were
Insured In the Royal Exchange Piro-office."