The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-18 00:00:00

RMURKS.

Barometrical presume are higher in the south west of Ireland
and on the west onset of France, but have decreased on other
coasts—principally oa the south and east coasts of England. The
least prrware , 21r56 inches, is at Portsmouth, differing from that
at tia by half an inch. Temperature is lower at western and
southern stations. Strong winds from the northward prevailed yes-
terday evening in the south of England, and have increased to a
motherly gale, now blowing at Plymouth and Holyhead. At
Toulon a north westerly gale is reported. Rain has been heavy
and continuous on the Channel coast. Thunder and lightning
have occurred at Liverpool and in London. The weather is
misty in the north, sad generally overcast on other coasts.

The Registrar General for Ireland's return ex-
hibits a decrease of 46,811 acres in the total area under
flax in 1868, compared with 1867. This decrease is spread
over every county, with the exception of Wicklow, in
which there is an increase of five acres. In the province
of Ulster the decrease amounts to 42,408 acres. Of the
entire number (1,640) of scotching mills in 1867, 1,418
were in Ulster.

TRIALS OF A CLERGYMAN Is NEW SOUTH
Warta.—A correspondent of the Times, subscribing him-
self " A Colonial Chaplain," in a letter on the working of
the voluntary system in the Colonies, thus sketches the
position of a member of his own class in New South
Wales:—" I knew a clergyman who possessed the main
qualifications of the MCI. Mike, but was placed in this
unfortunate situation :—He had to minister to two small
townships that were separated by a river ; several persons
on each side of this stream refused to support him because
he would not give them the bulk of his attention. But
part of his charge was another village about ten
miles off, and a still more important part was
a small town 30 miles in another direction • while he
was also expected—when he could find time—to visit
the sheep stations down the river for 60, 60, or 70 miles.
Between the contending claims of these various places his
salary fell off and dwindled down to one half, if not one-
third, of what was considered therairriounesupport. When
I was sent to the place, in hopes of bringing matters to a
better condition, the poor man was living in a slab eoriage
with rough bark roof; and in some parts no Boor, a sickly
wife and several young children depending upon him. A
bill of 201. or 30L, if not more, was due at the neighbour-
ing store for common necessaries ; while the little farmers,
carpenters, gold-diggers, &c. around were living in
abundance. No wonder that his constitution, which was
not the strongest, but yet sufficient for fair work with fair
maintenance, succumbed at last to the pressure of various
trials, till a widow and children were left to the charity of
others. I believe that many such cases might be found
upon inquiry, not indeed ending in death, but struggling
with real hardship for want of deserved pay."
A CIIIIRCE ON FlRE.—About 3.30 on the
morning of Sunday smoke was observed to come from the
tower and spire of the parish church of Oundle, North-
ampton, and an alarm was raised throughout the town,
the inhabitants responding with great alacrity, and by
great exertions in two hours the flames were got under,
there being no scarcity of water threnighout, although
several pumps were dry. The peal of Win (the finest in
the whole county) have suffered much, the first, second,
third, and tenor being cracked, one of them, through the
heat, being literally broken in two. The tire is attributed
to spontaneous combustion, originating in a platform filled
with sawdust, which, when the church was restored was
placed there to deaden the sound of the bells on the
ringers. The whole frame work of the belfry was in a blaze;
the falling of the clock weight on the third bell caused
the beam to snap and the bell to break. The church has
only been restored within the last few years and a new and
valuable organ erected. so that the parishioners have cause
to be thankful for the extinction of the flames so soon. The
church is insured in the Imperial Fire-office.
CURIOUS EFFECT OF LIGHTNINO.—The follow-
ing singular fact has been communicated to the Academy
of Sciences by 11. A. Bobierro, a well known physicist.
About a fortnight ago the city of Nantes was visited by a
violent storm. Flashes of lightning followed each other
in quick succession, and a gentleman, who happened to
et oesing one of the bridges of the Canal de Bretagne at
the tune, suddenly found himself enveloped in a blaze of
light. The phenomenon lasted little more than a second,
and caused no unpleasant effect. On returning home,
the informant, having occasion to count the money in
his purse, arrived at the conclusion that he must
have received a piece of 50 centimes instead of a half-
napoleon. But, on a closer investigation, he discovered,
to his astonishment, that the piece of money he had taken
fur silver was really the gold one, but covered with a thin
film of silver. The following is the explanation given by
M. A. Bobwrie of this strange occurrence. The half-na-
poleon had been put into the compartment of the purse
adjoining that containing silver coin. The electric thud
had volntired part of the latter metal, which, in this state,
had penetinted through the leather partition, and depo-
sited itself on the gold piece with remarkable uniformity.
This is the first time such au effect has ever been ob-
served.