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shaking, in addition to the alarm. As it was so near Ferryhill most of them walked thither, and the train, being only slightly injured, soon followed, bringing the remainder.

A waggon laden with tow and other goods, forming part of a train between Dundalk and Newry, took fire on the same night, and all efforts to extinguish the flames proving futile, the waggon was disconnected, and allowed to burn out. No information as to the cause of the fire could be obtained.

A serious accident also occurred on the Tuam and Athenry Railway. In consequence of the Tuam Fair being held on that day, special trains were run in addition to the ordinary ones, and in the evening, after the ordinary train had left, a special was despatched. Ballyglunin is the only station between the two points, and here the passenger train was standing, when the special came up and dashed into it, smashing one carriage to pieces and damaging another. A gentleman seeing the special coming up had just time to leap out of the broken carriage. Another was seriously injured; and several others received severe bruises. The engine-driver and guard escaped by jumping from the train.

On the 28th a collision took place at Westbury station, on the London and North-Western Railway. The luggage train, as usual, was standing on the main line (which is a single one), and the mail was intended to go on to a siding; but in endeavouring to do so it overshot the mark, and ran into the luggage train at the other end of the platform. Two or three waggons were smashed, the engine damaged, and several of the handles of the carriages of the mail train knocked off. The passengers were severely shaken, but fortunately none were seriously injured.

NOVEMBER.

4. A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION occurred at a firework manufacturer's in Broad-street, Lambeth, by which eight lives were lost. The house is the centre one of a block of three other old and low buildings, there being an arch of the London and South-Western Railway on one side, and a narrow turning on the other. A man named Fenwick occupied the two parlours, where he, unknown to his neighbours, carried on his business of a firework-maker, having in the house a store of gunpowder and other explosive materials. He was pursuing his usual occupation at about nine o'clock in the morning, when the explosion occurred. It blew out the front parlour window, hurled Fenwick's lifeless body through the opening, cracked the walls, blew up the ceiling, killed Mrs. Fenwick, and set fire to the house. After the fire the brigade men discovered some firework-cases, the remains of a small 10 lb. keg of gunpowder, the

bottom of another keg upon which were the exploded remnants of "fizzing powder"-i. e. a composition of sulphur, charcoal, steel filings, &c.—a press for making rockets, tubes and funnels for filling the cases, and a charred piece of wood. Inspector Huskisson applied for a search-warrant against a man who was carrying on the unlicensed preparation of fireworks not far from the scene of the disaster. The magistrate, in granting it, expressed his regret that a similar step had not been taken in Fenwick's case. He was assured by the inspector that the work had been conducted so secretly that not even the other occupants of the house were aware of its existence. It is understood that at this time of the year there are other places of the kind in full operation in that densely-crowded neighbourhood.

16. STRANGE DEATH.-At the Athenæum Assembly Rooms, Temple-row, Birmingham, this evening, a spiritualistic service was being held, and a medium named Benjamin Hawkes, a toy-dealer of New-street, spoke for fully half an hour, and described with startling vividity a séance in which the Apostle Peter had clasped hands with him, so that he felt the close pressure of the Apostle's grasp. From this he argued that it was quite possible to understand how Thomas thrust his hand into the side of 66 "the Personification of Divine Love." The instant these last words were out of the speaker's mouth he fell back on a chair dead. The meeting broke up in wild confusion. At the inquest Mr. Hadley, surgeon, who had made a post-mortem examination, said he was of opinion deceased had died from syncopal asphyxia, resulting from congestion of the lungs. The jury returned a verdict of "Died by the visitation of God."

19. MR. DISRAELI was installed to-day Lord Rector of Glasgow University, and met with an enthusiastic reception. In the morning he addressed the students in an eloquent speech, and in the evening was entertained at a banquet in the City Hall, the Lord Provost being in the chair. About 500 sat down. In reply to the toast of his health, Mr. Disraeli spoke at some length. He began with the remark that he had always thought it to be one of the best characteristics of public life in England that we have never permitted our political opinions to interfere with our social enjoyment. "I believe it is characteristic of this country at large. I am not aware that it is shared by any other. For instance, if you were on the Continent and wished to pay your respects to a Minister and go to his reception, you are invited by the Minister, and the consequence is that you will find nobody there except those who follow him. Now, it is not so in England. I remember some years ago meeting under the charming roof of one of the most accomplished women of the time the most celebrated diplomatist of certainly our half-century, and he said to me, What a wonderful system of society you have in England! Now, I have not been on speaking terms with Lord Palmerston for three weeks, and here I am; but then you know I pay the visit to Lady Palmerston.'" Speaking of his political

career, Mr. Disraeli said, "It has been my fortune to be the leader in the House of Commons of one of the great political parties in the State for five and twenty years, and there is no record, I believe, in the Parliamentary history of this country of a duration of a leadership equal to it. There have been in my time two illustrious instances of the great parties being led by most eminent men. One was the instance of Sir Robert Peel, who led the Tory party for eighteen years, though unfortunately it twice broke asunder. There was also the instance of one who is still spared to us, and who, I hope, may be long spared to us, for he is the pride of this country as he was the honour of the House of Commons-Lord John Russell. He led one of the great parties of the State in the House of Commons for seventeen years, though at last it slipped out of his hands. Do not suppose for a moment that I am making these observations as any boast. The reason that I have been able to lead a party for so long a period, and under circumstances of some difficulty and discouragement, is that the party that I lead is really the most generous and most indulgent party that ever existed. I cannot help smiling sometimes when I hear the constant intimations that are given by those who are in the secrets of the political world of the extreme anxiety of the Conservative party to get rid of my services. The fact is, the Conservative party can get rid of my services whenever they give me the intimation that they wish it. Whenever I have desired to leave the leadership of the party, they have too kindly requested me to remain where I was, and if I made a mistake the only difference in their conduct to me is that they are more indulgent and more kind."

22. THE LOSS OF THE "VILLE DU HAVRE."-One of the most deplorable collisions at sea placed on record occurred on this date, off the Azores, between the large steamer "Ville du Havre" and the sailing-ship "Lochearn," of Glasgow. The former vessel was of the immense burden of 5100 tons, and was bound from New York for Havre. The "Ville du Havre" left New York with eighty-nine first-class passengers, nineteen second-class, twenty-seven third-class, and six stowaways, making a total of 141, besides the crew, which numbered 172 all told. Many of the cabin passengers were gentlemen with their wives and families, who were leaving America to spend the winter in France-some for pleasure, and others going there for the benefit of their health. Among the survivors are children who have lost their parents, and parents who have lost their children; others their sisters and brothers. From the time of the vessel sailing from New York a thick fog prevailed, which necessitated the most careful attention on the part of the captain and officers. On the night of Thursday, the 20th, the fog began to clear away, and on Friday a breeze sprang up, which raised a somewhat heavy swell. Friday night was a bright starlight night, and passengers and crew, relieved to some extent from the danger which surrounded them during the fog, retired to rest with hopes of a pleasant voyage to France. The captain, who had scarcely quitted

the deck since the vessel left New York, went to his cabin about twelve o'clock, leaving the second officer in charge. The passengers were all in bed, and everything seemed going on well. About two o'clock on Saturday all were startled from their slumbers by a dreadful crash, which seemed to shake every part of the vessel. Men, women, and children rushed on deck in their night-dresses to see the bows of a large vessel projecting over the deck of the "Ville du Havre," and to hear the rushing of the water into their own illfated vessel. The terror which prevailed among the passengers paralyzed their efforts to save themselves. From the force of the collision the mainmast and mizenmast fell, smashing in their fall the two large boats of the steamer and killing numbers of passengers, and from the rapidity with which the vessel went down the crew were only able to launch the whale-boat and the captain's gig. The most intelligible account of the collision is given by Alcide Lalanze, who was one of the French stewards on board the ill-fated ship. He says, "The night was clear and starlight, but there was no moon shining. We had our head-sails and topsails set, and were going before the wind at about twelve knots an hour. I went to bed at about half-past nine, and was awoke by the collision. I immediately rushed on deck, saw the 'Lochearn' astern of us, and heard some one call out that we were sinking. I went back to my bunk for the purpose of putting on a pair of pants, and found it already up to my knees in water. On returning to the deck, I went to help get one of the long-boats over the side. The passengers were all rushing backward and forward, some crying, Save me! save me!' while others fell down and prayed. They were all so excited that we could do scarcely anything. I tried to help some of the sailors to get a boat off, but the passengers were all jumping into it and frustrating our efforts. As soon as our ship began to fill she commenced to lean over on the port side. This, I think, accounts for the snapping of the mainmast, which brought down the mizenmast with it. The captain just happened to come out of his room before the collision took place, and as soon as he opened his door he saw the Lochearn's' jibboom over the bulwarks. After going on the bridge, he made every endeavour to keep the people quiet and to get the boats over, but the passengers all seemed so terror-stricken that we could do nothing scarcely. It was fearful to see the women and children running about the deck crying and entreating us to save them. We did all we could for them, but the time was so short that that all was very little. As soon as I saw her going below water, I jumped off the rail astern and swam towards the Lochearn.' The cries of the struggling people behind me I never, never can forget, and I seem to hear them now ringing wildly in my ears. After being in the water a few minutes I got hold of a buoy, which enabled me to keep afloat for nearly an hour, when I was picked up by one of the 'Lochearn's' boats. From what I have heard, I should think the Lochearn' was seen five or six minutes before she struck us." The "Ville du Havre" sank in

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about fifteen minutes; but two of her boats, with the boats of the "Lochearn," saved eighty-seven of the persons on board her. They were transferred at noon of the next day to the American ship "Trimountain," Captain Urquhart, which brought them safely to Cardiff. The " Lochearn," on her part, was so much damaged by the collision that it is a wonder how she kept afloat. Her bowsprit was knocked quite out of the keel, and the entire bow of the vessel was shattered, being crushed flat, so that she would have filled and gone down but for a bulkhead 25 feet aft of the stem. In this condition she was unable to sail a mile, but drifted 210 miles, until the 28th, when she was met by another ship, the "British Queen," Captain Marsters, bound from Philadelphia to Antwerp. This was in mid-ocean, 1300 miles from land. The crew and officers, with two passengers, thirty-three in all, were then glad to quit the "Lochearn" and seek refuge on board the "British Queen," which brought them to Plymouth. The "Lochearn" was left to founder Both the French Government and the Board of Trade in Great Britain instituted official inquiries, to find out who was in fault, and what was the cause of this lamentable affair, which occasioned much distress at New York among the families of the passengers drowned. The result of the inquiries was curious. The English verdict acquitted the "Lochearn " of all blame, while silent about the French ship. At the same time the French decided that the "Ville du Havre" was not in any way in fault, but proceeded to impute the catastrophe to the "Lochearn."

at sea.

25. SALE OF THE "MURILLO."-This notorious steamer, which last mid-winter ran down the "Northfleet" off Dungeness, and then sought to escape the consequences of the act by steaming away into the darkness, without making an effort to rescue any one amongst the hundreds which the collision sent to a sudden grave, was sold at Lloyd's Captains' Room, Royal Exchange. For the last two months the ill-starred vessel, which was taken possession of in Dover by the marshal's deputy on the 23rd September, has, in custody of officers of the Court, been lying at her moorings in the West India Import Dock. As might have been expected, no proprietary claim has been made upon her, and thus this Glasgow-built boat, only seven years old, 738 tons and 502 register, fitted with the most improved machinery, was brought to the hammer. Notwithstanding the vast number of persons present, there were but few bidders, so that in nine minutes from the time the auctioneer opened the proceedings his hammer declared that Messrs. Salcedo and Co., Spanish merchants, Gracechurch-street, City, were the purchasers of the "Murillo" for the sum of 70507. One-fourth of the purchase-money was at once placed in the hands of the marshal of the Court, the remainder to be paid up within fourteen days.

30. FAST LIFE. The following curious epistle was written by a young man named George Haymen, who was committed a day or two ago to take his trial from one of the police-courts upon the charge of robbing his employers, a firm in the City, of a large sum

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