The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-22 00:00:00

THE EARTHQUAKE AT CORINTH.

TO TUB =ROE OE THE EXPRESS.

CORINTH, MARCH 7.

, .
Sta,—A few mornings ago I left the Pharos on
board her Majesty's ship Desperate, in company
with the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Isles, Lady Young, the Marquis and Marchioness of
Headfort, &c. In the afternoon we anchored eff
Calsanaki. We found that town a complete mass of
ruins. The ground in several places was rent into
gaping chasms, the fountains and springs were
dried up, and in one part a rivulet yrs+ flowing
where previous to the earthquake no water had
exiated. The inhabitants were bivouacked ia the
open gates about the town. The Greek govern-
ment had sent tent' and also planks for the eon-
strati= of sheds, to shelter the poor homeless
creatures from the wet and cold. On the following
day we visited the rains of what bat a few days
since was the town of Corinth. A seem of more
utter desolations it is seareely possible to imagine.
Not a balding had escaped. From Mesta t-walled
mansion et Geneve] Notaras, to the humblest cottage,
al/ had shared in the common destruction. Every-
where aroma were mounds of rubbish Mtn -mixed
with broken furniture and shattered house-
hold utensils. Strange to say, amidst this
wilderness of ruin there still stood erect
the remains of an older desolation. Upon •ht *light
amidst the pateal wreck stood =shaken and on-
harmed the seven huger solumns of the Tempi eof
Minerva. As they had stood forages so they e till
stand, as if destined to mark through all timr t he
fate of the antique Corinth. In the large open spa ce
before these column, the !legalese population wa to
gathered together in a dense mass. Most of then 2
were seated on the ground, silent and motionless t
others spoke together in whispers, and all samei
still under the terrifying inflaence of the late visi-
tation. As we approached those who were cronoh..
Mg on the ground rose, and the whole of the great
masa moved slowly in one direction. The sight of
this immense human wave, as it rolled toward law
with the great columns of Minerva behind, and aIL,
around the silent ruins of the fallen city, walei
strangely solemn. It reminded uof some of those.
wild conceptions of Martin. A whole population,
smitten by the anger of Heaven, the rained temple,
the fallen city, the naked crags crowned by they:
Acropolis, rising high and dark behind us, and great •
rocky mountains, their heads hid in the drifting,
clouds and covered with snow, joined to the classical.,
costume of the people, made the picture complete.
The dimarcos, or mayor—an old man leaning on a
long staff—was in front of the crowd. He thanked
Sir John Young for having come to visit them in '
' their trouble, and he hoped that we and our country-•A
people might for ever remain strangers to rein such ,
as that which had fallen upon the people of Corinth. ,
An offer of money made by the Lord High Com-
missioner and the Marquis of Headfort for the relief
of the sufferers was refused by the dimaroos. The
old man said that the King and the government
would do all that was necessary for their present
relief, but that Greece was poor, and that many a day
would pass before they would be in a condition to .•
rebuild their town ; but he added that if the English,
when they returned to their own land, would ask
their countrypeople to assist the Corinthians in re-
building their homes, they would do a generous sot. •
Sir John Young promised on his arriving in the.
lonian Islands to organise a subscription ; and I, an
a humble member of the world of letters, engaged to
make known to the British public, through your'
columns, the wants of the poor homeless sufferers.

Your readers will remember that about six months.'
ago King Otho subscribed from his privy puree 4001.
to the Indian fund, and that he also maned a pro-,,
clamation, calling upon the Greek people to re- •
member what England had done for them during
their struggle for independence, and that it was
their duty to aid in relieving those who had suffered
by the revolt in Hindoetan. That fact made a favour-4
able impression, at the time, upon the British people..
They have now an opportunity of showing that they-
are not insensible to demonstrations of sympathy,.
and that, too, at a time when the enemies of Britain
seemed to exult at the calamities which had fallen.
upon her Indian empire.—l am, &c.,

P. O'BRIEN.

PRESENTATION TO MISS NIG lITINGALE.The.
committee of walking men who have conducted the proceed-
=lf cones:lca with the monument in Sheffield to the.
and sailors from that town who fell in the Crimea,
having determined to present to Mies Nightingale a teetimo-
nial of their esteem and veneration, • deputation of five of
them proceeded to London (where Miss Nightingale is at
present residing with a relative) to make the presentation.
Thursday Let, at noon, wee fixed by her for the purpose.
The deputation accordingly waited upon Mee Nightingale,
and handed over the testimonial with an appropriate ad-
dress. The testimonial consisted of • case of cutlery. The
owe is of polished oak bound with silver, end on the top
there is en ornamental inlaid device, consisting of silver,
with a centre-piece of gold, on which is etched a representa-
tion of the good Samaritan. There is also the following
inscription:—" This CAM of cutlery, menulactured expressly
for presentation to Florence Nightingale, by the working
men composing the Crimean Monument Committee, as •
mark of their esteem for her noble and unsolicited subscrip-
tion and sympathy in aid of their monument to be erected in
Sheffield. A.D. 1867." The cutlery is of the bast steel,
with ivory handles. Each blade is stamped with the
words, " Presented to Florence Nightingale, 1867."

THE PROPOSED STRIKE OItCOIIIRES.—Mr. John..
Taft, a working collier, has addressed a long communication
to a Leeds journal in re/armee to the projected strike of colliers
in resilience to the recent determination of the masters of the
district to reduce wages to the extent of 16 per cent. The
writer takes a sensible view of the subject, refers to the re-
sults of former strikes, end earnestly appeals to the working
colliers to pursue a conciliatory course of conduct, and by
all means to avoid a strike. We subjoin an extract :
" My Mends sad fellow-workmen—Such is the gloomy state
of affairs and of our prospects at the present time, that I can-
not resist the impression that it is my bounden duty to &d-
-irer yon on this subject. A speed_y reduction in the rate
of wages is, I believe, certain. The coal masters Of the
county are almost unanimous in that decision, and I think it
will not answer our purpose to smut* a hostile position, or
get up a hostile demonstration. But if w act with are and
caution, and go about the business in a proper and legitimate
way, we may persuade our manna not to be so hard upon
us as to reduce our present rate of wages 16 per cent. I
therefore recommend that two men from each pit shall welt
upon the proprietors of such pit, and, if possible, persuade
them to recatudder their decision. If they will not, then ask
them to mitigate sa much as possible the intended seduction.
My Snn conviction is, that a strike will prove a failure
end, therefore, I have come to this conclusion, that I shall
not only work myself, but use all the influence I have to
persuade my fellow colliers to do the same. I will gives
you my seasons for this determination. My first reason Is that
we have no funds to fall back u . My second meson
is, that we as body are ' • , and if a strike were to
take piece, one-third of the co lies of the county would he
black sheep ; and without a very great improvement of the
general tilde of the country, that one-third would be able to
supply the country with coals during the summer months.
My third reason is, that a strike would engender feelings of
enmity', hatred, and bitterness betwixt masters and men that
would continue for years to come. I have noticed the
strikes for the last twenty years, and though the struggles
have been severe and keenly contested, both masters and men
have exhibited that true English mettle which has showed
itself so conspicuously to the Crimea and now in India; yet,
after all, I must confers that in four cases out of free the
osrsavas have had to succumb to wealth and inihmsos.
renew-colliers, do not misunderstand me. I do Ws agree
with the induction of Y. in the pound off my wages. I shall
feel the redaction es needy as any one of you ; boa I tie may
that we have no ellsreative but submission et the meat
des, if the masters are hard and unbending."
THE UNEMPLOYED SPITALTIELDS WZAVEBB:.
DIPVTATION TO TAII BOAMD OT TILADE....-011 8=
ahressa, • depeetedow trete the unemployed Nei
~ere hid en taterview with the Right Ron. J. W. Hen.
ler, Preedeet at the Bawd of Trade. Mr. C. S. Bader.
M.P., istredseed the doselekket. A memorial wee peesseends
witting kith the aegis of prices for lipiteileW robe
awry of whisk bed during the -bet few years fallen to caw.
WI their hamar pt. a remit which the sesserielltbs et.
tribsted Aloft to- iipr ocespetitica. The mosershd prend
for ea self prig :went for the estehliohaset of lead
aftaw Yr. Henley old tist=instie ererilem
be amid see
Maroorith..,htb:...dinti std
crrther:metwesld ma•Zsth...
dna la the kre. All govaramnis bed hied le _ thi
iretser le lower Ids well, let le seXpegilv 2.11:. Mu
used set essior le the seassaial.
Pelts= sod ether mikes. bed urged the obinis of the
peaks, the derotstios withdrew.

01.111MISIII blinded hilt ...nle itiMINI...LIIS IRON me.
dad
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mot to at dr Oft% 116 Boardorroola by two AIDE at dm
poldlottoo.

HIGH WATIN AT LONDON DRIDGIL
Iva DAT—Sena& Ili. Ss •~ Illi. fia.
wipncov—llnas, M. Ms. Aampsg. IL Ma

INATIDARKRT.
Tule Bywrimiwitrillli Lou (TAAL Sam 2•4
Dfh_lirs aMblrs.den-.IACILIIII/TIOAN°IOIM
OAPTOIL—PIt .AT SD AT 00011 T. Mr. Dailmes: ilkshiss•
bert4o6—Anka Till GALICIA" lllTL—Otaumire UT.

PILINOMMI.
Ls Worms,THl 001MICRN BROYHILL Mr. O. Farri.—
And ALLIKOIN WHITS OAT: or. Mr Prisms Mimi*
Mawr eirol lor Ida esiabarbira Mama Oremook. lobik
NNW Wm O. Mims. KW Hit—ON M I garl G.

LT
Tllllll lILIONUMVRRTH. Wm% DIMO4I6•I‘.
Rona& w IIRion; Wm Wester. srl YI. B. lArwle.—A HARD
RT10.01.1. Mt. 0. Dol•..—Aad RATHIRINI AID PRAM
HMO. ILA ad MAO. Dillaa—Oaßaboaas Mt T.

11171.111 T.
Tun Iverom,..TEl STILANOIR. Maws Ctwld sad LI
P06666_,. Sir OMlari-11111 TWO POLTS. Maws Soso N•rtos
lillscoalk—Aad OILDSILOT. Sham Inns Norms. Sail
1414 r. mod J. lussades .11•1116666r.—Cogsames it het past 6.

'LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 22.

Ma. 011e' Bill to disfranchise half the Electors
of the town of Galway for corruption is based upon
Pew of the most revolting political disclosures ever
beard in the House of Commons. For the interests
of justice it is fortunate that the principal actors in
the sorties now exposed have spoken out so freely,
having either so much candour or so little shams,
that we are enabled to follow their movements as
'gaily as one watches bees in a glees hive. The eon-
stitnency of Galway, returning two members, is of
somewhat peculiar composition. It consisted, at the
last election, of 1,080 electors, of whom 600 were
qualified as Freemen, voting in virtue of a Charter
granted to the town by CHARLES 11., which has
since been recognised and extended by two Acts of
Parliament. To be a Freeman of Galway one
ought properly to be of some trade or art, or a seaman
connected with the town by residence. But, prao-
tically, lees than this is required ; for, as the officer
admitting to the roU has no means of ascertain-
ing the character of applicant', all comers are re-
ceived, and, there being nothing to pay, it is not
uncommon for as many as four or five hundred new
Freemen to be made in the few days preceding an
Medico. It will at saes be seen that the compoi-
tiaa of the electoral body i. sot favourable to poli-
tical vines. Where the Franchise is neither elm-
faired with liberality se a boon nor deposited
with confidence as a newt, but is left to be scrambled
for as • private advantage, there is danger that it
will come to be regarded as a commodity, and valued
kr what it will bring.

At the Genteel Election of 1862 Lord Dritnammt,
eldest sea of the Marquis of CLASILICARDE, Lord-
Lieutenant of the county, Mr. MARTINI BLAU, and
Mr. O'Fl...tnaarv, offered themselves to the Electors
of Galway, and between them half the Freemen wars
bribed. We speak only of what is proved. The
Royal Comeniesoners report that they found that
230 Freemen had accepted bribes on that occaaioo.
Some of the witnesses stated their belief that nine-
teethe of the freemen were bribed, but however that
may be, the sale and ruckus of 230 votes is, we
believe, the largest transestim of the kind ever spe-
cifically and formally ferried to a reformed House
of Commons. Lord DIIIIKELLIII spent at that elec-
tioa 2,0001., and Mr. Matins Buzz 1,2001., sums
which allow 31. each for every vote of the constitu-
ency. But it is a remarkable fact that there
was no bribery proved except among the Free-
men, so that they moat have received an average
sum of about al. each. The practice of bribery by
candidates has developed a highly organised system
of exploitation among the local traffickers in corrup-
tion.
,It is their custom, on the approach of an Elec-
tion, to resort to an expedient which may be
briefly described as making up the votes of the
Freemen in lots for convenience of eels. They
collect groups of thaw aver whom they have,
or pretend to have, influence, make oat list
of their names, and, on the faith of than, draw
money from the agents of the candidate until the
hour when the compact ia finally completed, the
vote recorded, and the last consideration paid. The
voters themselves see little of this money ; they
are drawn from their boats or their mills,
kept in a state of excitement with drink,
to their own demoralisation and to the loss of their
wives and children, but the profit goes to the middle-
men. In 1837 Lord Donawrer and Mr. O'FLA-
weary were again candidates for Galway, and with
them for a time stood Mr. Porn Buzz. Lord
DONXELLIN was at Calcutta with Visosant CAN-
Nuso, his uncle, but at the request of the Marquis
Of CLANRICARDE, Sr Thomas BURKE, of Marble-
hill, his kinsman, represented him, constituted him
a candidate, and conducted his election.

Mr. BLAKE soon found the pace too mach for'
him, and left the field. He was made acquainted
with some of the groups of voters just mentioned.
A nice little parcel of twenty-one butchers was
offered to him for 2101., and twenty-three choice
shoemakers were to be had for 1101. " The
" Rank of Ireland could not stand such a con-
"test," exclaimed Mr. 131..txr, as he withdrew.
After him came Colonel Friesen, who soon saw how
things were going, and foUowed Mr. BLAIR. Things
began to look bad for the local purveyors of votes,
and it really seemed as if there would be no contest
after all. It was Friday when Colonel Fazirat
retired, and the Election wee on Monday. No time,
therefore, was to be lost, and the Telegraph was ener-
getically set in operation. First, Sir Ttiorus
DINOTON, and then an unnamed gentleman, were sp,
pealed to, and, lastly, Colonel FRENCH was again
urged to come forward. Without a third candi-
date and a contest no money would be forth-
coming. It would be worth while to vote for inch
an one for nothing, in order to make the other
two loosen their purse-strings. Colonel Faze=
listened to the cry, retraced his steps, and arrived in
Galway from London on the Sunday afternoon, to
Sir THOMAA Buaxe's "utter astonishment." The
gallant officer might have spared himself the jour-
ney had he known of a single line which had been
written a few days before. In a letter to hie land
agent, the Marquis of CLANRICARDE had said,
.' Whatever money is required in the town of Galway
" I will see paid." As loon as these words were
written the return of Lord Dux IC LI.LI 1 was assured.
Sir Tuoilits Boa►E, although astonished, was sot
disconcerted by the sudden arrival of an opposut.
He told the Royal Commissioure, last autena,
and the Rome of Commons hat Thursday,

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