The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-23 00:00:00

COTTON IR 4LOARIeI.

The Jilonitatr publishes a report made to the
Emperor by Marshal Valiant on the subject of the cultiva.
lion of cotton in Algeria, end in which he communicates the
decision come to by the jury appointed to award the annual
prize of 20,000 fr. given by his Majesty from his privy pun,
to the colonist who shall have made the greatest Esvese let
that branch of agriculture. The report begins raw(
that the season of 1867 was very unfavourable to cotton-
grounds, from the abundant rains and the lateness of um,
spring. On several points the land prepared for sowing had
been torn up by inundations, ands ethers the grow*
plants had hem washed away. In addition to this the
humidity had calmed fevers, and workmen became very some
and costly. Notwithstanding these unfavourable drum.
stances the extent of the cotton-grounds which escaped tbois
causes of destruction was not lees than in the
to Wftemots:o..
The total su amounted 1,600 hectares (2 aeon
each), di so follows:—Province of Algiers, 176 .
of Constantine, 622 beet. ; and of Oran, 903. From tile
appears that the provinces of the east and west have wog
ea much as has been lost since lest season by that of Algiers;
when the cultivation of tobacco more and more derail
ground capital and manual labour. The report of the jo4
res on to say that the number of planters among ten
colonists has not sensibly increased, but confidence
in future mama was unabated. Considerably woe,
care was evinced by them in the selection of their
ground for planting, and constant improvemutto were
being made in the mode of cultivation, irrigation, ao,
The number of native *mks* is stated by the report to be
steadily increasing, and last year had reached to 600, but
there still remains much to be done in giving them toolnio-
lion in the best mode of carrying on their agricultural epee.
time in this branch. The jury concludes its report by say.
ins There is every reason to anticipate a triumphant
future in the cultivation of cotton in Algeria. Let the
colonists persevere; let them adopt the use of instruments
worked by animals end every other means to diminish the
cost of cultivation; let them continue to attend minutely to
the selection of their seed in order to preserve the parity of
the quality, and the production will amply remunerate them
for their trouble. The government on its side will pursue
its task and continue its encouragements. Improvements
and useful experiments will always be the object of its epo-
chal care, and nothing will be neglected to make the cultiva-
tion of cotton enter into the habits of the people." The jury
concludes by recommending that the Emperor's prise of
20,000 fr., with the gold medal should be awarded to BY. Co-
lman& de Cizterra. for his cultivation of ()once at Habra, in
the province of Oran, and that honourable mention should
oleo be given to other planters who had competed for the
Prise.

ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY.

An accident occurred yesterday morning on the
North-Western line, to the Birmingham express up to Lon-
don, ate little before 10 o'clock, a short distance on this side
of the Watford station where the line is under repair.
"We were travelling at express speed—say, from forty m
fifty miles an hear," writes • paasenger," without any rough-
nese or unusual swerving of the train to indicate
when in a moment we were jerked off the rails, and
came, while we continued apparently at the same speed, a
quick succession of rapid and violent up-and-down move-
ments of the carriages very like the pitching of
vessel in • heavy am, by which, as each perms
was uplifted from hie seat, his head nearly came into eon.
tact with the roof. After this had continued for a short
time and way, there followed a loud crash of breaking ear-
risme, and es suddenly but more happily, a dead stop. I used
not say with how great thankfulness and celerity the pram-
gen jumped out, when we found that the engine had separa-
ted from its train and wee forced up to its wheel axles into
the dust and earth. The luggage van whirled round to the
right on the down line, as if placed in position to return
whence it come ; oste carriage entirely tumbled over on its
side, so that the passengers were lifted out of the win•
dows at the top and several other carriages were
more or leas mutilated and broken. By God's mercy, no
one was killed—no one apparently seriously hurt." Another
passenger mays, "The carriages were all more or lea
damaged, the axles bent, and the windows smelted.
Looking back at the ground over which we had passed,
the sleepers were dashed to atoms, the rails were bent,
the chains were broken, and broken axle and grease boxes
lay about in all directions. I was the first passeager who
ran back to look at the road, when the cause of the acci-
dent was at once apparent. A gang of men were em-
ployed in repairing the permanent way, putting new sleepers,
and doing general repairs. On looking at the work only one
chair out of every two was spiked to the deeper, and those
which were fastened were fastened with wooden page about
one inch in diameter. In one place no chair had
been placed on the sleeper to support the rail, bed
the rail was left to a distance of 6 feet 6 inches without raj
support whatever. A greater act of negligence can scarcely
be conceived. The result was, es soon as the train came on
the unsupported part of the rail the rail beaded outwards,
the chair on the next sleeper broke in two, and at the se-
cond sleeper the engine ran off the rails. From the impale.
sion of the wheel made on the rail it was quite evident the
Vcommenced to leave the rails at the spot where the
iar:
ve way for want of a chair to support it. When the
engine got off the rails It ploughed up the road for fifty or
seventy yards, dashing everything to atoms. The second
set of negligence is only equalled by the ent—namely,
when I arrived at the spot where the road was broken up,
the first martian I asked was, " Why did you not
signal to the engine-driver to slacken his speed P Where
are your signal flags F The men replied, We have no
signal nap: 'No signal flags I" I repeated. ' No, sir,' was
the reply • but we told them the state of the read at the
Waif md ;nation.' How the signals were at tie station lam
unable to may. The chief mum of our preservation undonbt-
edly was the sand bawl which was put fresh on the road,
and which checked the force of the train is It ploughed
through the send after the engine and train got off the rade.
The next cause which prevented us being hurled over the
embankment was, the company are widening their road for
three lines of rails, and our train happened to be on the
middle line. It is very seldom we can get at the canes of
the accidents on our railways, but the chief cause of acci-
dents is, generally, negligence on the part of some one er
other. In conclusion, Ido not blame either the directors at
the engineere, because I know they cannot be everywhere at
one time. The culpability in this instance rests with the
parson who had charge of the repairs, and the convey
ought to punish him most severely."

THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY'S DINNER.—The dinner
of this society took place yesterday evening in the Freema-
sons' Hall, with all the accessories of generous cheer, good
company, and spirit-stirring music. The presidential chair
on this occasion was filled by Tke Chisholm, and the ear
petty at the cross tables included the Marquis of Westmeath,
Lord H. Gordon, General 11'Neill, Sr J. H. Maxwell, Sir
J. Grant, Major M'Donald, The Clanranald, several Eng-
lish °Suers, and a large patty of Brazilian naval officers,
attired in the national uniform. A sumptuous banquet
having been disposed of, the usual loyal toasts
ensued. The cheater toast of the society, "The
memory of Abercrombie and the gallant harm
who fell with him at the battle of Alexandria,"
was drunk, as usual in the reidet of a solemn and Aland
sepulchral silence. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, is
chief of the Highland Society, wee tooted with Highland
honours—each chieftain, or representative of a clan, stand*
erect, with his right foot upon the table. Equal hoar
was conferred upon the Brazilian naval officers present, one
of whom returned thanks in a very excellent speech, end k
better English than is often heard in popular assetablise et
home. There was the usual musical entertainment by ths
band of the society, and Mr. Goes, her Mejesty's
piper, was indefatigable In his exertions tbrongtr tin
evening. The vocal ausic wax intrusted to M1:0..=
Gongs. The dinner was served at • very lets
toasts must perforce be disposed of—and dancing connoted
at oleos o'clock.
THE NEW CANON AT CANTERBURY.—We has
the pleasure to announce that the stall in Cantabory Cs.
thedraL rendered vacant by the preferment of the Bar. A.
P. Stanley, has been conferred by the Earl of Derby on
the Rev. W. J. Cheddars. To those of our readers win
live at a distance—for to such only the information to be
necessety—we may say that Mr. Cherehyre Du bell the
cures of St. Martins end St. Paul'. in this city for ;Zig
of sixteen years; that he is one of the meet indefati II
our parochial clergy, one who especially interests himself le
our local charities, and who is highly esteemed and bind
by his parishioner,. We have heard but one opinioa di
reference to this appointment ; and that is, that it wouldhes
been impossible for Lord Derby to make a selection AM
Ti on
would have given greater and more general gratificatiotille
chinas. The appointmeot is rendered still more
by the fact that Lord Derby's choice has been e a
invepectlve of political or personal influences. The
commissioners who were appointed when Lord Derby wails
office in 11152, and who made their report in 18M, nesse
mended that vacant preferment in the cathedrals should lame
frequently be given as an encouragement to the oredill
clergy ; but It was not until Lord Derby's return le ps
that we observe symptoms of that rarommendatinn OK
acted upon. Thee, while the public rejoice that a nicllolo
so well known and so highly teepsoted as Mr. Cheashned•
been chosen, the diocesan clergy will me in his appoinheset
a new stimulus to their exertions, and an endows OA
merit, which may happen to display tied( at a distance bin
the metropolis, or without the sphere of political r0...,_,
will not be, as heretofore, systamatoally overlooked.— t••••
Or:ette.
THE WEATHER AND TIE CROPS.—Since OUT lot
the moat lovely spring weather has prevailed, far 1310111 N.
ambling May than March. The sun has shone forth with
great power, and the temperature has been at a high averst&
although the nights and early mornings have been cad, gla
slight occasional frost. On the whole the country looks 19.
warkably wall. Things are here and there brown 04
nipped, and • little the worm for the late frosts end sharp
winds ; but there is no mischief of any importance; NA •
continuance of the present genial weather will go far lo 'sr
ply • rapid remedy. The coil te now in capital order W g
spring sowing; there has been so little rain that the had ill
in a condition most favourable for working, and or brief
have only to go at it as fast as they like. The wheats se•
looking extremely well, but nut a hit too forward. A
moisture, and April suns will soon clothe the motel _
general verdure. On the whole, our spring preaatrir
be pronounced to be highly favourable.—Swags