The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-31 00:00:00

irAzaolr YPICAPZ OP THI URANIA.

The barque Urania, Captain B. Mints, which
has arrived at Liverpool from St. John's, encountered
fearful weather on the voyage to the Mersey. Captain
Minta reports that he sailed from St. John's on the 2nd of
December, and on the 6th the Urania encountered • sue-
cession of most terrific squalls from various points of
the compass, with high topping seas, causing the ship to
labour much. She shipped large quantities of water,
which washed away the deck load. The equal's continued
with unabated fury during the 7th and Bth, the ship at
times being completely submerged. On the latter day
a heavy gale set in early in the morning, increasing
towards noon, with • very high sea. The
ship was Love to, tremendous seas continuing
to break over her in rapid succession. The lee-
side, the deck-load, and the deck-house, were for some
time under water, and large quantities of the deck-load
were washed overboard, all efforts to save it being entirely
baffled. As the gale increased the side of the forward
house was driven in, and the forecastle, galley, cabin, and
state-rooms filled by the seas sweeping over the ship ; and
at the same time the spars and other movables were
washed overboard. The ship lurched heavily, jerked the
wheel loose on the spindle, and twisted the tiller on the
rudder-head. More of the deck-load was washed away.
From the Bth to Sunday, the 13th, there was a suc-
cession of furious gales, int !ripened with violent
squalls, and accompanied by thunder, lightning, rain,
Lail, and snow, the wind flying from west-north-west to
south-west and south, the ship taking immense seas, and
washing out the deals. Sunday set in with a heavy gale
and a high sea, the gale increasing in fury every moment,
and threatening to sweep everything before it. The
storm raged all day, and terrific squalls of relentless
force continued every now and then to strike the ship,
the sell making. • clean breach through the half deck
and cabin, starting the combings, driving in the front
of the poop, smashing the doors, and completely
filling the cabins. Sea followed sea, sweeping over-
board stores, charts, books, clothes, and deck load.
Nothing could resist the headlong force of the waves,
acted upon by the fearful squalls of wind. The ship was
buried in the sea, and several of the men were rendered
unfit for duty by being crushed by the drifting spars and
deals. As the gale increased the ship gave a tremendous
lurch to port,. carrying away pooprail and stanchions.
The foretopmamstay sail was blown off the stay, and the
water-casks were stove in and hurled overboard, with
everything of a movable character. After this the gale
gradually abated, and on Christmas-day the Urania
reached the Mersey, after one of the most fearful voyages
on record.

PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL EXIIIBMON.--On
Tuesday a deputation waited upon the Lord Mayor at the
Mansion-house, for the purpose of bringing before him
the subject of an international exhibition of domestic
economy, which is proposed to be held at Utrecht in
August and September next. The deputation consisted
of Baron Mackay, from the Hague ; M. Everwyn, Chargi
d'Affaires, and Mr. J. W. May, Consul-General of the
Netherlands; the Rev. Wm. lt rs, rector of Bishops-
gate, and Mr. P. Le Neve Foster. Secretary of the Society
of Arts. The Netherlands Society of Manufactures and
Industry have undertaken the conduct of the matter;
and the Netherlands government has requested its chargi
d'effuires in this country to use his best endeavours to
further the objects in view. The principal aim
of the exhibition r to bring to the knowledge of working
men such articles of household 11.43, furniture, dress,
food, work, and instruction of different countries, as at
low prices combine usefulness with solidity, so that they
may be enabled by judicious economy to improve then
erudition. Articles of luxury as well as of elegance
strictly so called will be excluded, and in this point of
view at is thought the exhibition will derive great advan-
tage from the countenance and assistance of co-operative
association in the collection of reports, statutes, and
regulations of different societies for promoting the well-
being of the working classes. The promoters flatter
themselves that an exhibition organised with these well-
defined objects will attract exhibitors as well in their own
interests as in those of the working class, especially now
that the question of cheapness begins more and more to
fix the attention of the public, a question, they say, likely
by its very nature to play an important part in the procpe-
nty of nations. A central committee has been
at the Hague. having for its president Hamel=
who is now in London, promoting the objects of the pro-
posed exhibition. With that view he has attended •
meeting at Manchester, presided over by the Mayor, and
al.o at Glasgow, at which the Provost was present, and
much success has thus resulted in making known the
objects which it is hoped to attain in the cause of the
working claws. The deputation at the Mansioa-houes
was introduced to the Lord Mayor bMr. Grethen, the
President of the Poor-law Board, and In the course of the
interview it was stated that the proposal had received the
countenance of Mr. Grant Duff, M.P., Mr. 0. S. Roundell,
and other pences of consideration. The Lord Mayor
evinced a kindly interest in the views of the deputation,
and promised to co-owate in giving them effect, for
which put pose a oomni is now is course of formation
in the City.
-——- - - -

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PORTING INTELLIGENCE.
THE MANCHESTER NEW YEAR'S

TO TM =NO Olt ISO WORM.
Nlit,—A most nnoomfOrtable afternoon was
spent by those who braved the elements last Monday at
Finley, when nearly everything that was raised at any
elevation from the ground was raced to the ground before
the proceedin and when one of the "sports"
found—mad- easily have been dispensed
with. The however, was rendered move
interesting then it might have been had not the ground
become so hem, end the last three noes were anything
bat the certainties they were ecesideced by the clever men.
Tally-Ho, bathed frody is the right quarter, was pumped
oat more thee halt • mile from home, and the second
favourite, Flateateber, who was not atfaekd by metallic
fever as at Bromley, could only get within a Worth of
Ace of Trumps, the winner also of the principal event on
Boxing-day,
A move will be made this week towards recommencing
business in turf circles, for the Chester Cup and Liverpool
Steeplechase clone en theist, and the publication of the
entries will bring a few of the old than to the clubs. Yet
we shall probably see and read of nothing bat billiards
for some days hews, as sixteen "creek" players are
handicapped to perform at the "Victoria" next week,
sad by the time their tournament is over, a strong band
of the heditsin of the "Albert " wig set to work.
These are private matters, I know, for they are
not advertised like the recent match played
between rename and the promoter of one of the new-
fashicsed betting dabs, and the mention of which in
these columns on Monday appears to have given offence
to somebody. My remark was that, "Fordham must
have caught the infection " (speaking of the rage for the
game), "for he was actually advertised, like Roberts or
Lefton, to play an exhibition match at the New Prince
of Wales's Club on Boxing-night." The secretary is
most indignant at the word " exhibition" being used,
but does not define what an "exhibition match" really
is. I know that an encounter between two players
for love—and the "Fate money" paid by the bolters-
on—will oars under the deectiption, and thought that the
mere fact of Fordham being announced, days beforehand,
to perfoim made a sort of " sahib:Son " of the phy, for
many • Cockney would pay the Prince of Wales's sab-
scription fee for the mere privilege of geeing on such a
replier charm ter in mufti, or brusinng against his sleeve.
But if it will ease the over-anxious mind of Mr.
Secretary &nth, the offensive word—why is it offensive,
after all ?—shall be withdrawn; and I take the orpor-
tunity at the fame time of endorsing his sentiment, that
"it was an honest and bona fide match." The winter
is that he should deem it necessary to make such a state-
ment as this latter, for the contrary could never be sug-
gested by any one acquainted with the parties conce-ned.
A very few words will suffice for the programme of the
ManchesterSteeplechacee, Flat, and Hurdle Races." to
take place on Friday and Saturday. A sorry lot are en-
gaged in the legitimate events, and such things as Prince
(hinge and Woodbine may come best off in the Tiia,
with the Prince or Artichoke in the Old Trafford Handi-
cap. Sir William and Wings of the Wind are nicely in
both the steeplechases, as is Harrington in the Hurdle
Paces, in last year's form; but I confess to knowing
little as to their present capabilities. —I am,

)lETEOR.

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

CHATHAM, Dec. XL
The 10-inch rolled armour-plates, each weighing
12 tons, for encasing tho turrets of the iron-clad shin
Monarch, 7, 6,102 tons, 1,100 hone-power, have arrived
at this dockyard, where they are being bent, bored, and
planed in readiness for fixing iu the positions they are to
occupy on the turrets. In order that the Monarch may
be completed by the latter end of March, the period
ordered by the Admiralty, an additional number of
mechanics and other workmen have been placed on board,
to hasten forward the work still remaining to be com-
pleted. On the lower deck the apparatus for manufac-
turing gas for lighting every portion of the vessel is being
fitted, while steam machinery has also been erected for
ventilating the engine-mom and stoke-holes, for pumping
water, and for steering the ship, the steering machinery
being placed between the turrets, on the lower deck.
Workman an now engaged in the erection of a lofty
conning tower, which is placed near the engine funnel,
between the two turrets. The 22 ton 600-pounders for
the turrets have not yet arrived at the dockyard from
the Royal Oun Factory, Woolwich, where they are being
manufactured.