The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-29 00:00:00

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

TEE MEDITERRANEAN COMMAND.—Tho Army
*ad Navy Oaaetfe is informed that Vice-Admiral Sir
Sydney C. nacres will be Lord Clarence Paget's successor
as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean fleet. Pro-
bably the state of Mr. Corry's health, and the difficulty at
the moment to find an officer properly qualified to take
Sir Alexander !Chain place as first sea lord, may have
something to do with the change of plan.
MR. RF.Y.D AND MS REWARD.—If we were to
place any reliance upon thereporta which have been flying
about respecting the sum of money which it is stated has
been as arded to Mr. E. J. Reed, we should come to the
conclusion that nothing leas than the amount of the an-
expended navy estimates bad been poured into his pockets,
instead of being banded over to ways and means, but we
are enabled to state that the Lords of the Admiralty have
sent to the Treasury a recommendation that a few thou-
sand pounds, probably not more than five, shall be
awarded to the Chief Constructor, as a small acknowledg-
ment of the value of certain plans which had been adopted
by the authorities prior to his appointment to the office
Which he now holds.—. Army and Nary Gault..
The following promotions take place consequent
upon the death of General Sir F. Cockburn :—Lieutenant-
General John Eden, C. 8., colonel of the 34th Foot, to be
General; Major-General John Lawrenson, colonel of the
Bth Hussars, to be Lieutenant-General ; Colonel John
Wilkie to be Major-General; and Major O. B. Stoney,
staff officer of pensioners at Dublin, to be lieutenant-
colonel. _ _

ADMIRALTY, AUGUST 28.—APPOINTMMiTS.—
Commander Henry M. Miller, on paying off of the
Mecance, to the Salamis, vice Commander Francis
Snttie, invalided. Navigating Midshipman Chas. N.
White, to the Northumberland. Assistant Paymasters
David Acheson, " in charge," to the Dromedary ; Henry
W. Hunt, to the Minotaur ; Thomas W. Hall, to the
Trafalgar ; and John G. Hoar, to the Pembroke. Naval
Cadets nominated—Predk. IL P. Williams Freeman,
George T. Spencer, Dover A. Edgell, Ralph H. H. Sadler,
Arthur H. Holland, George G. Haswell, and Edward W.
Lloyd.

COUNT Louis DB CAMBACEREB.—The following
details are given of the death of Count Louis de Cam-
bathes. The count, on Saturday last, had just left the
Auberge on the summit of the Cal de Balms, with a view
of descending by the glacier of the Trent, and returning
by the valley of the Tete-Noir, when, his foot slipping on
a path bordered by a deep ravine, he fell over. The
guide, who followed leading the mule from which the
count dismounted for greater safety, sprang
forward Ito hold him ; but he was too late.
The count fell down a precipice of about 100 metres deep,
the body in its descent bounding from rock to rock. Be-
fore assistance could arrive he was dead, and the body
was taken to Chamounix where the countess was waiting
the return of her husband. The body will be conveyed
to Paris for interment.

TUX EXPLOSION AT TDB MERSEY STEEL AND
Icon Wearier.—An inquest has been hold on the bodies of
the persons whose death resulted from injuries caused by
the explosion of a boiler at the Mersey Steel and Iron
Works last week. Their names were George Lupton,
44 ; James Lynch, 15; Joseph Ellis, 18 ; Peter Fagan, 14;
William Moss, 33; and David Jones, 31. Some of than
unfortunate creatures were killed on the spot, and the
others died shortly after the catastrophe. The inquest
was a lengthened one, great pains being taken to ascer-
tain the cause of the accident. A section of the boiler was
produced in court, and it was made clear that at the time
of the explosion the under portion of it next the tire was
very thin, and very mush corroded. It was also shown
that, owing to the peculiar position of the part corroded,
the meet careful examination could not have detected it.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."
EXTRAORDINARY DEATIL—Y. vsterclay informa-
tion wan given of the death of Mr. John Curtis, aged 38,
who bad lived at 7, Chelsea-cottages, Surbiton. It ap-
peared that the deceased gentleman had a wasp's nest in
his garden, and in order to destroy it filled a piece of
lead-piping with gunpowder. He put one end of the
piping in the hole of the nest, and applied a fusee-match
to the other end. the consequence being that the powder
exploded upwards and blew off the hand of the &missed,
mortification supervening, and, finally, death. An in-
quest will be held on Monday ufteruuon.

•
THE RIRWEE PRIZE-MONEY.—A correspondent
of the MIMS rays that although a third distribution, at
the rate of 120 rupees per share, has boon " °wetted,"
and is being paid in India, the claimants here have been
coolly informed at the India Office that no issue can be
made there until fresh prize rolls are received. .8o," he
adds, " we are doomed to a further indefinite delay."
FREE PASSES ON RAILWAYS. —We are glad
to hear (says Herapalli's humid) that measures are Doing
taken by several railway boards to do away with the free
pase system, but the chthculty some of them find is how to
deal with themselves. They don't like cutting off direc-
tor.' ple,we. They say is it reasonable that the directors
should pay when travelling on the business of their oom-
pony ? It is not reasonable, but cannot the difficulty be
met by directors paying their fares like otlwr people, and
being allowed rei ayment of such fares as are for journeys
mad.' on the corer ny's business ?
" The Acorn frigate Sybille," says a Toulon let-
ter, " will leave immediately on a voyage round thu world,
going not by the Cope of tiood Hope, and retur.nng by
Care Horn. A body of 200 convicts whom this vessel is
taking out to New Caledonia have been every evening
made to practice on the quay the circular walk w'tich for
the next four months will be their sole exercise on board."