The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-21 00:00:00

MERCANTILE SUSPENSIONS.

A painful impression has been produced by the
announcement of a very heavy mercantile suspen-
sion. The house in question is old and respectable,
being that of Mews. Francis Ede, Son, and Co.
It appears that, although they were unable to meet
their acceptances on Saturday, some relief has
come forward at the eleventh hour, and it is
regarded as still possible that arrangements
may be effected by which the engagements of the
house may be provided for. These engagements,
however, are very extensive. It is understood that
their direct acceptances amount to about 400,0001.,
and there is a rumour that the aggregate of their
liabilities in every form will not fall short of
700,0001. or 800,000'. The firm were formerly in
the silk trade, and are said to have accumulated in
it a considerable amount of capital, but they have
of late years associated themselves more closely
' with the Levant trade, particularly with financial
transaction at Constantinople. The news of their
stoppage will produce a disagreeable impression in
that city, as well as at Marseilles, Genoa, and
other places. It is naturally asked, how have they
become committed to so heavy an amourt of lia-
bilities 1 The explanation appears to be that they
have been engaged in farnainga portion of the Turkish
revenue, and have bad much to do with pecuniary
trausaions with Turkish dignitaries. It is under-
stood, however, that the business in which they are
concerned promises lucrative results, and that the
principal cause of their immediate difficulty is ina-
dequacy of capital for carrying it on. Should
these impressions be confirmed on investiga-
tion, there would, perhaps, be little difficulty
in inducing members of the Greek interest, or other
creditors, to co-operate towards completing the
transactions now pending. Such an arrangement
would be the more satisfactory because this appears
to be one of those cases wherein a forced liquida-
tion would be disastrous to all concerned
whereas a continuation of the business may per-
haps enable it to be wound up with little or no
loss. The affair has been placed in the hands of
Messrs. Coleman, Turquand, Youngs, and Co.,
the accountants, and as much depends upon their re-
port, it is awaited with great interest.
Megan. Henry Smith and Son, railway contrac-
tors, of Birmingham, have also stopped payment.
It is stated that the liabilities amount to about
20,0001., and the assets to 8,0001. Subjoined is
the circular which has'been issued :

tipringhill Works, Birmingham, Jan. 19.
We regret to inform you that, in consequence of a
series of untoward circumstances attending some heavy
contracts which we had entered into, we have been com-
pelled to suspend payment. We have placed our books in
the bands of Messrs. Quilter, Ball, Jay, and Co., of London,
who will lay the statement of our attain before our credi-
ton at the earliest possible moment.—We axe,
HINNY SMITH AND SuN.

THE WENTIHNETER ABBEY SPECIAL SREVICES.-,-.
Yeeterday evening the third of the new series of special
services was held in the nave of Westminster Abbey. Them
was an extremely large congregation, a very fair proportion
of the persons present being working men with their
families. Prayer% were intoned by the Rev. John Clarke
Haden, M.A., of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Pre-
centor of the Abbey, the lessons being read by the Very
Rev. the Dean. The preacher was the Rev. Daniel Moore,
M.A., of St. Catherine College, Cambridge, Incumbent of
Camden Church, Camberwell, who selected for his text the
12th chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romaos, verse 11.
The sermon next Suudey evening will be preached by the
Rev. James Moorehouse, 31. A., of St. John's College,
Cam-
bridge.
THE BISHOP OF LONDON'S CONIIIRYATIONN.-The
Bishop of London has made the following arrangements for
• series of confirmatious which his lordship intends holding
during the present year :-Wednesday, Jan. 30, Royal
Military Asylum, Chelsea ; Thuredai, Feb. 14, Holy Trinity
Church, lieverstock-hill ; Friday, Feb. Mineola .Pariih
church ; Wednesday, Feb. 27, St. Marelebooe parish church;
Sunday, March 3, Harrow School ; Tri‘y, Mani 8, fet.
Amie's Church, Limehouse ; Wedneaday, March 13, Christ
Church, Nereet ; Wednesda, March 20, tieJemes's
Church, wipta-st ;
Monday, lion 215, Charterhouse
School; Thursday, March 28, St. James's Church, Picca-
dilly ; Wednesday, April 10, St. Luke's Church, Chelsea ;
Friday, April 12, SR John'. Church, Hackney ; Wednes-
day,
April A 17, St. Dunstan's Church, Stepney ; Friday,
9, Kensington Parish Church ; Wednesday, April
24 St. Pancras Church ; Friday. April 26, Spite!.
fields Church ; Friday, May 3, Chapel of Ease, Isliogton ;
Wednesday, May 5, Hampstead Church ; Monday, May 13,
Woolwich Church ; Wednesday, Mayls, St. Mary's Church,
Greenwich ; same day, at Charlton ; Friday, May 17, Holy
Trinity Church, Brampton ; Wednesday, .May 29, Fulham
Church ; Monday, June 3, St. John'sChurcb, Westminster ;1
Friday, June 7, St. Peter's Church. Pimlico Sunday,
June 9, St. Sepulchre's Church. Snow-hill; Monday, June
10, St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge ; Friday, June 14, St.
George's Church, Hanover-square ; Sunday, June 16, St.
George's Church, Bloomsbury ; Wednesday, June 19, St.
Nicholas Church, Deptford ; Friday, June 21, St. John's
Church, Nutting-hill; Sunday, June El, Holy Trinity'
Church, Newington-butts ; Wednesday, June 20, Wimble-
don
Chureh ; Friday, June 28, St. Bungles Church, King- '
Figure; Thursday, July 4, Christ Church, St. Marylebone;
Wednesday, July 10, Harrow Church ; Wednesday. Au-
gust 7, Mortlake Church; Friday, August 9, St. John's
Church, Hammersmith ; Sunday, August 11, St. Mark's
Church, M'hitechapel. The bishop has intimated that in '
each of the mouths of October, November, and December,
• time and place for private continnetion will be fixed for
any candidates omitted at the general confirmation, who are
properly recommended.
THE MYNTERIOUS CASE OF POIEONING IN NOR-
robe.--The poisoning case at Diu, Norfolk, of which a
few hurried particulars were given on Saturday, is a very
strange affair, and becomes more mysterious the more it is
investigated. It is desirable to recapitulate very briefly
the leading facto, as otherwise the additional particulars
obtained will not be intelligible. A few days since, Albert,
the youngest son of Mr. It. Aldrich, • tradesmen living in
the town, was taken suddenly ill, and died in a few hours,
after suffering painful convulsions. Two other members of
Mr. Aldrich's family were attacked in a similar meaner,
but recovered. The symptoms of the deceased were those
of bilious diarrhea, and be was found by the surgeon fulled
in, in • semi-comatose condition. The surgeon gave him •
powder, and called spin in an hour or two, when he found
that another medical man had been summoned to tbe bed-
side of the sufferer, arid that the symptoms were still more
alarming, the child being convulsed, the pupils of the eyes
'very much dilated. and the thumbs curiously turned in.
The poor boy died in the course of 24 hours after
he was first attacked. A peel *orient examination
was made of hie body, which presented a perfectly
healthy appearance with the exception of a perfora-
tion in the stomach shout the size of a shilling,
such as might have been caused by the action id a strong
corrosive poison. The stomach did not present the appear.
ance generally caused by the admioistration of arsenic or
corrosive subliniate ; but the examining surgeon is of opinion
that the death of the boy was occasioned by the presence of
poison in his system, although he cannot indicate precisely
what that poison was. On these facia being stated at an
inquest held by Mr. E. S. Bigoold, deputy coroner for Nor-
' folk, the jury requested that an adjournment might take
place, in order that the stomach might undergo a per
analysis. This the deputy coroner said he should not feel it
his duty to orsler. Time jury then inquired the law on the
subject, and finding that the coroner had the option of act-
ing as he pleased in the matter, they requested that • ropy
of the depositions should be forwarded to the Home Secre-
tary. This course being also objected to by the deputy
coroner, the jury unanimously declined to return a verdict.
The inquiry was eventually adjourned, to enable the deputy
coroner to consult the coroner for the county upon the
course to be pursued. If further action is not taken in the
matter, there will be Nome public dissatisfaction.
EIPLOIIION OP GAM AT THE WBILLYAN SCHOO_I9,
WEATMUIETEIL-An explosion of a fearful character, fend
which was well nigh attended with serious consequences to
life and property, happened on Saturday afternoon, in the
immense pile of premises belonging to the Weele cow-
oexion, and termed the Wesleyaa Collegiate and Training
Schools, situate in the Horeeferry.road, Westminster. The
building is divided into sundry compartments, including
dormitories, class rooms, lecture halls, Ac. From the parti-
culars obtained it appeared that a strong smell of gas escap-
ing had been experienced during the day in No. 1 Class-
room, but from what part could not be correctly ascer-
tained, when a man foolishly took a lighted candle to look
for the spot where the leakage had occurred. The gas that
bad escaped from the pipes having accumulated in the
room, the moment the light was taken in the vapour be-
came ignited, and exploded with a noise resembling a clap
of thunder. The concussion was so great that the man was
prostrated, the maps aod other things in the room set on
fire, and from 40 to 50 squares of glass blown from the
windows. Several of the gentlemen connected with the
establishment and ninny of the neighbours hastened to the
building, as well as Mr. H. Campbell with the brigade en-
gine from the contiguous station, and owing to their joint
exertions the fire was prevented from extending beyond
that part of the establishment it. which the explosion hap-
pened, which was fortunate, for bad the Sines extended to
the ether floors the loss of property would have been groat.