The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-20 00:00:00

PATIDIT TAMS MAIMS.

SALMON, ODY, and Co., 299, STRAND.
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NEW HOTEL, BY TILE AUTHOR OF THE RTDDLEA-
WINK." •• MILDRED•I4 WEDDINo."
Now road at all toe Librarian. in 3 vols..
OLIVE 'V E. •
Satuuteta. 0037, sad Co.. 7. Brook-at:vet, W.

SERIOUS EITLOSIOX 47 THE UNITED HOTEL.

Yesterday afternoon, shortly after two o'clock,
a loud report was beard in the neighbourhood of the Hay-
market, which it was at first thought proceeded from the
building operations now in rapid progress at Her Majesty's
Theatre. 'lhe .cone of the disaster was, however, the
large building adining the theatre, in Charles-street, St.
Jane s's-square, known as the United Hotel, and the
cause of the report was the explosion of the boiler of the
cooking apparatus, which lies caused damage that can
hardly, without' a visit to the scene. be believed. The
premises occupied as the hotel are extensive, and but very
lately have been put in thorough repair, the basement
being divided into separate compartments; the kitchen, the
boiler room, the plate-room, store and still room, and various
other domestic offices, occupying the whole of the lower
-part of the premises. Business was going on yesterday as
usual, when about two o'clock • tremendous report,
caused by the explosion of the large boiler in the cook-
ing-room, shook the building to its foundation, and
suddenly the whole of the interior of the hotel became
filled with steam and clouds of dust. Immediately after
the shock, a rush was made by the waiters, porters, and
others to the kitchen, but their good intentions werein a
great degree fruitless, as the stain and other communica-
tions bad been deetroyed. The effect of the explosion
above the place at which it occurred bad been tremen-
dous. The flooring of the large coffee-room had been torn
up, the tables and other furniture in a great measure
destroyed, and the whole of the plate-glass in the eight
or ten windows in front shivered to atoms. The
police then arrived, and the first object was to rescue the
usdortunata .dossestice from their dangerous positions.
Six unfortunately were found to be seriously injured, and
were at once sent to Charing-cross Hospital; and then an
inspection of the damage caused was about to be made,
when a shout of fire was heard, and flames were seen
rising from below. Fortunately by this time the engines
of the Metropolitan Brigade bad arrived, and thus the
flames, which at one time seemed likely to destroy the
entire building, were extinguished. On proceeding below,
a scene that cannot be adequately described presented it-
self. Walls, partitions, windows, and every inch of glass
had been either blown down or destroyed. On examining
the place where the boiler bad been fixed, it was found
that the front, top and bottom, and aides had
been blown out. a portion only of the back
plate remaining attached to the wall. Every vestige
of the other part of the apparatus bad been destroyed, and
nothing but a heap of bricks and the broken fragments of
glass and iron remained to show the force of the explo-
sion. The front of the hotel in Charless:street shows the
eflccts of the calamity, all the plate glass in the windows
of the coffee-room have been blown into the road in front
of the house, and amongst the thousands of pieces lying
about not one larger than a shilling is to be found. The
police and salvage corps have now possessiou of the build-
ing, from which all the visitors are making is hasty depar-
ture. On inquiry at Charing-crow Illesqrital last night two
of the sufferers were found in a very precarious state—
Ellen Leonard and Eliza Lutainn, the Litter, it is
feared, being fatally injured. • The other four have sus-
tained very severe hurts, but not to the extent of the two
women named ; they are progressing satisfactorily. Whe-
ther inattention to or wear of the huller has led to the
disaster remains to be investigated.

THIS BONA Fin& TnAvriirri QUESTION AGAIN.
—Yesterday, two cares of considerable importance to
licensed victuallers were heard at the Highgate police-
court, against Mr. George Ballard, of the Castle public-
house, High-street, Highgate, and Mr. George Frew, of the
Bull public-house, North-hill, Highgate, who were sum-
moned, at the instance of Inspector N'tstlake, Y division,
for having their houses unlawfully open for the sale of
sine and spirits before the hour of one, on Sunday, the
11th instant, the same not being fur the refreshment of
travellers, or lodgers therein. Mr. Pater, barrister, de-
fended in the case of Ballard. From the evidence of
police-sergeants Parry, 14 Y, and Bennett, 12 Y, it ap-
peared 'that the Castle was visited at ten minutes pea
twelve on the day in question, when eighteen men were
found in the Louse—nine at the bar, and nine in the back
yard. "All the parties were drinking, and the
sergeants 'stated that the nine persons at the bar
were bona fide travellers, but the others were
residents of Highgate. The Bull was visited
about 12 at noon, and 11 nersons were found taking re-
freshments—eight in front of the bar, and six in the par-
lour. The police stated that they believed some of the
par ties iu the bar were travellers, but they knew some of
the parties as residents of Highgate. Mr. Pater contended
that the trading proved was legitimate, as the parties
served were bonii-ffile travellers. Several wituessei having
been called to confirm this statement, in addition stated
that they had travelled from town ou the day in question,
and only went in and partook of necessary refreshment.
They sad none but travellers were served. The bunch
ordered Mr. Ballard to pay a fine of SI. and 17e. costs, and
Mr. Bew to pay a fine of 21. and 17e. costs. The fines ware
at once paid.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST TWO MANCrFAO-
TORana.—On the 6th of July last • part of Mr. Wm. Dew-
son's mill, Aqueduct-street, Preston, was damaged by •
fire to the amount of 0001. The affair had some strange
bearings about it : but it passed over quietly, and the in-
surance companies made good the damage. At midnight,
however, on the 20th August following, another lire broke
out in the mill, and damages sustained. The two
fires in their surrounding circumstances left no doubt that
both were the work of some incendiary, and the insurance
offices instant! y offered • reward of SOW. for the detection
of the supposed offenders. Mr. Spittle, of the City De-
tective Department, London, was engaged to investigate
the matter, which resulted in his apprehending two men
oster day messing who have been under Iris surveillance
for • few weeks. Both of them formerly worked
at the mill, and their apprehension has been the came
of some words they let slip while drinking. Both of them
bad intimated to James Smith, an overlooker at the mill, •
fortnight before the occurrence of the fire, that they bad
had 6004 each offered if they succeeded in burning the
mill, but he, not thinking they were in earnest, never
thought anything more of the remarks passed. One of
the pritoriera said they had had three " do's " at the mill.
They both said, " The masters are away, and one is in
Ireland, and we have to send him word when it is done."
One of them raid one of the masters had told him that it
the mill was not burned they (the masters) would be
ruined, and several other statements were made, which
wade the detective feel justified in apprehending the
prisoners. They were brought up at the police court yes-
terday noon, and after the overlooker had given hie
evidence, it was derided to adjourn the ease until Wed-
nesday. The matter has caused no Ilttle excitement
throughout Preston.
—-- - .

Duirvrrma and Co., Belfaat, are the larger!
bolder' of Whisky In tho world. Their Old blob Witiotry torteost•
wooded by N. medical probooton In preforenai to Prawn Brandy.
iiiaindlod In (111411 and mow for home use or ozoortotlito. Quota-
ttalrexitnotton to wows. Dimon.
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Nauman azirrai's Aaiun.)
• SPAIN.
MADRID, Oar. IS, Evsrando.
This morning, upon their return journey from
Swarms, Marshal Serrano, Admiral Topete, and
Senor Oloraga stopped at Onadalajaro, where they
were entertained at a breakfast. Various toasts
were drunk upon the occasion.
Senor Oloraga made a speech, in which ho said
that he and his friends were of opinion that a
monarchy was a necessity for Spain. For a
republic it was neoessary that the pe
should receive a preparatory education. Spain
would enjoy freedom with a representa-
tive government based upon universal suf-
frage. Admiral Topete was of the same opinion,
but added that he would support a republic if
that form of government were established by the
Cortes. Marshal Serrano said the provisional
government would respect the national wishes.
Sen Moran, a democrat, declared that the demo-
crate) party would adhere to the republican form
of government as their beau ideal; but as the
faithful guardians of the liberty of the country
they would support and respect monarchical go-
vernment if such were voted by the nation.

MADRID, Oer. 19.
A decree has been issued appointing Senor Rios
Rosa President of the Conned of State.

A decree issued by the Minister of Justice orders
the immediate suppression of all monasteries, con-
vents, colleges, congregations, and other religious
establishments, of both sexes, founded since the
29th July, 1837. All their property, movable and
immovable, is to become the property of the State.
The monks and nuns belonging to these insti-
tutions will not receive any pension from the
government. The convents established before
1837 are to be reduced in number by one-half, and
those left are forbidden henceforward to receive
novices. The monks and nuns thus released from
thcircloisters can enter the conventual establish-
ments which are not suppressed, or return to
secular life. In this case they are to addreis a
petition to that effect to the civil government, and
they eau claim buck the money made over by them
to the convents at the time of their entry.
The civil governors will decide by arr.mgements
with the bishops which convents are to be allowed
to continue in existence.

AU congregations of women who have devoted
themselves to the education of youth will be
prtiervi.d.

A democratic meeting was held at the Circus
yesterday. The discussion was very animated,
and a resolution was adopted to the effect that a
federal republic was the only form of government
in consonance with democratic principles. It was
also resolved to propose to the government to
declare that all Spaniards twenty years of ago are
entitled to exercise political privileges; further, to
collect resources for publishing pamphlets ex-
plaining all forms of government, and to establish
political schools for the people.
A meeting of the Association for obtaining the
Reform of the Customs Tariff was held on the
Bourse yesterday, and an address was drawn up
and approved, congratulating the Minister of
Finance on the measures recently adopted by him,
and urging him to carry out his intentions of re-
forming the tariffs.
General Novaliches is very ill.
PARIS, Ocrr. 19.

Letters from Madrid of the 17th say that the
two real eanclidatos for the throne will be the
King of Portugal and the Duke de Montpenaier.

PARIS, Ocr. 19, EVI:111110.

The Gal,loia of this evening states that General
Prim bat; declared to a correspondent of that paper
that he has never dreamt of assuming the crown
of Spain, and, even if it were offered to him, he
would refuse to accept it.
THE HAGUE, Ocr. 19.
The Spanish envoy in this city has resigned.
He will leave hero shortly, and the business of the
legation will be carried ou by the First Secre-
tary until a new Minister Plenipotentiary is ap-
pointed.

FRANCE.
PARIS, Ocr. 19, Evextvq.

M. Malaussena has been elected deputy to the
Legislative Body for Nioe.
The Frauee of this evening announces that the
waters of the rivers in the houth of France have
risen very considerably, and that the telegraph
ee n.niunicution between Lyons and Marseilles and
Marseilles and Niue has thereby become inter-
rupted.

BELGIUM.
BRUSSELS, Oor. 19.

A bulletin of the health of the Prince Royal,
issuo d to-day, announces that his highness passed
a restless night.

DENMARK.
COPENHAGEN, Ocr. 19.

The rneniFers of the agricultural party in the
Follatleng who arc opposed to the idea of a united
Scandinavian kingdom have moved an amend-
ment to the address in reply to the speech from
the Throne, with the object of modifying the
paragraph which made reference to Scandinavia,
while congratulating the Xing upon the betrothal
of the Danish Crown Prince with the Princess
Royal of Sweden. They also propose to add an
allusiou to the importance of preserving friend-
ship with Russia to the paragraph of the address
which expresses hopes for the reunion of North
Schleswig with Denmark.