struck till she totally disappeared, far exceeded
anything that I thought could be effected by the
best discipline; and it is
and it is the more to be won-
dered at, seeing that most of the soldiers had been
but a short time in the service. Every one did as he
was directed, and there was not a murmur nor a cry
among them until the vessel made her final plunge.
I could not name any individual officer who did more
than another. All received their orders and carried
them out, as if the men were embarking instead of
going to the bottom: there was only this difference,
that I never saw any embarkation conducted with so
little noise or confusion. One fact I cannot omit men-
tioning. When the vessel was just about going down,
the commander called out, 'All those that can swim,
jump overboard and make for the boats.' Lieutenant
Girardot and myself were standing on the stern part
of the poop. We begged the men not to do as the
Commander said, as the boat with the women must be
swamped. Not more than three made the attempt."
A letter written by Cornet Bond, of the 12th Lancers,
another of the survivors, contains the following striking
particulars :-

"We left Simon's Bay at seven o'clock in the even-
ing of the 24th. At two o'clock the next morning I
was awoke by the vessel striking upon a rock. I
immediately dressed myself and went on deck, and
found all in confusion. I heard the captain give
orders to back her, which I hardly think was carried
into effect, as the fires were almost immediately
extinguished. He then gave orders to Major Seaton
to get the horses up, and throw them overboard,
and I, with a sergeant and some belonging to the
12th Lancers, succeeded in doing so. I then went
on the poop, where the captain was standing. He
told me to go and get the women and children up;
The
which I did by carrying up two of the latter.
others followed, and were immediately lowered into
the boats. At this time the greatest order and regu-
larity prevailed. All the officers were then employed
with gangs of men at the pumps, and a number of
soldiers under the command of Mr. Brodie, the master,
were endeavouring to haul out the paddle-box boat
on the port side, which was nearly hoisted out when
the tackle broke, and it remained fixed in the
air. The forepart of the ship now broke off at
the foremast, and soon after she cracked in the middle,
and filled with water. A great many of the men on the
troop deck were drowned in their hammocks, not being
able to effect an escape. All those who could succeed in
reaching the poop now crowded there, and the captain
sung out to those who could swim 'to make for the
boats,' of which there were three, at a distance of 150
yards. They did not come nearer, for fear of being
swamped. A gig on the starboard side was then ordered
to be lowered, in which Mr. Rolt, of the 12th Lancers,
who was unable to swim, and several seamen, were seen
to enter; but, in lowering it, one of the ropes broke,
and she was swamped. Poor Rolt rose, but was unable
to reach the shore, and was drowned. The poop, imme-
diately afterwards, owing to the force of the water
rushing up, went down, drawing all those who were on
it, as well as myself, under water. I rose to the surface
almost immediately. I had one of Mackintosh's life-
preservers on, which may be filled in the water, which
I did. The sea at this time was covered with struggling
forms, while the cries, piercing shrieks, and shoutings
for the boats were awful. I swam astern, in hopes of
being picked up by one of them. I hailed one sixty
yards off, but could not reach it, as they pulled away, I
suppose for fear of too many attempting to get in. I
then turned round, and made for the shore, about two
miles distant, which I finally succeeded in reaching, at
a little after five a.m., by swimming only. Two men,
who were swimming close to me, I saw disappear with
a shriek, most probably bitten by sharks. I fortunately
hit on the landing-place, but, owing to the great quan-
tity of sea-weed I had to struggle through, and being
quite exhausted, I almost failed in reaching it. I then
walked up a sort of beaten track from the beach, in
hopes of finding some habitation. In doing so I per-
ceived my horse, at a short distance, standing in the
water on the beach. I got him out, and then returend

to the place at which I landed, when I saw a raft, with about nine men on it, endeavouring to land, but they did not succeed in doing so until they saw me on the rocks standing opposite to the proper spot; they then steered straight for me, and finally landed at seven a.m. Lieutenant Girardot, of the 43rd Light Infantry, was one of them. At the same time two or three other men were thrown on the rocks off a spar, and landed, very much cut and bruised, and entirely naked.'

After describing their arrival at Captain Smale's residence, and their kind reception there, Cornet Bond speaks of what he saw on returning to the scene of the wreck. He says:

"On our way thither we met numbers of men who had landed. Some came ashore in the paddle-box boat, which had floated up; the one was full of water, and the other keel uppermost. One of the ship's quartermasters told me that there were seven others in the boat with him, which was full of water. They, however, all died from cold, having been many hours in the boat, We also met and quite naked. He had his clothes on. Captain Wright, 91st, who had landed on the sponsoon; he had been along the shore, and had picked up several Some rafts reached the shore with bodies lashed on them quite dead; other bodies washed up, some of them dreadfully mangled by sharks. The time from which the ship struck, to the period at which the poop sunk, and those on it were precipitated into the water, did not occupy more than twenty minutes."

men.

Some light is thrown on the cause of this dreadful catastrophe by the dispatches received by the Board of Admiralty, from the commander, Wyvill. "It appears," says the commander, "that her Majesty's ship Birkenhead, was duly pricked off on the chart at eight o'clock on the night of the 25th, within False Bay, by the master, Mr. Brodie, and officer of the watch, Mr. Spear, second master; that the course was shaped SSE E, and Cape Hanglip giving a berth of about four miles. The man at the wheel, J. Haynes, A.B., from ten to twelve o'clock of the first watch, states that he steered that course with directions not to go to the eastward of it. A leadsman was on the paddle-box, and look-out men were placed. The night was fine, starlight, and calm, but a long swell setting in on shore. The land was seen all the night from three to four points on the port bow. At about ten minutes before two o'clock, in the middle watch, the leadsman, Abel Stone, ordinary seaman, got soundings, in twelve or thirteen fathoms, of which he gave notice to the officer of the watch, Mr. Davis, second master. The ship was going about eight knots. Before he could get another cast of the lead the ship struck, and he found seven fathoms alongside ; there were two fathoms water under the bows, and eleven by the stern. It appears that Mr. Salmond, who was roused by the shock, went on deck, inquired the time, a few minutes past two o'clock, and the course steered; it was reported to be SSE E, which he stated was quite correct. He immediately ordered the engines to be stopped, the small bower anchor to be let go, the quarter boats to be lowered and lie off alongside the ship, the paddle-box boats to be got out, and a turn astern to be given by the engines. He ordered the military officers, who were all in attendance (Major Seaton, of the 74th regiment, and Captain Wright of the 91st), to send the troops to the chain pumps; the orders were implicitly obeyed, and perfect discipline maintained. So soon as Mr. Salmond heard there was water in the ship, he directed the women and children to be put into a cutter, in charge of Mr. Richards, master's assistant, which was done. In ten minutes after the first concussion, and while the engines were turning astern, the ship struck again under the engineroom, bulging the side in several feet, and tearing open the bottom; the water rushed in, drowned the fires, and stopped the engines; the engineer, Mr. Renwick, and stokers, making their escape to the upper deck. Instantly the ship broke in two, abaft the mainmast, and sank, leaving the maintopmast and topsail yard only visible above water. Up to this awful moment the resolution and coolness of all hands were remarkable. Mr. Salmond gave his orders with much presence of mind to the last.

There is no doubt but the course of the ship was shaped to hug the land too closely; and, as it does

not appear that either Mr. Salmond or the master had attended on deck from ten o'clock in the first watch until the accident occurred, it would infer much inattention and extreme neglect of duty on their parts; and when soundings were first struck, had the helm been put to port, this ill-fated ship might have escaped the danger. It is much to be lamented that not an officer has been saved who can give any satisfactory information upon these points. It is also to be deeply deplored that a young officer, Mr. Richards, master's assistant, should have been the only executive in command of the boats; as, from the circumstance of their leaving the scene of the wreck before daylight, the landing-place discovered on Point Danger by those who reached the shore on rafts would have shown itself, and the hapless individuals who were clinging to pieces of wreck and spars might have been picked off, and carried to the shore by the boats, and thus many more lives would have been saved. Also, when the schooner visited the wreck, had the cutters examined the coast in the locality, it is probable they might have found a few others. I can only attribute this fatal error to want of judgment, and to the excited state of the people in the boats under such appalling circumstances.'

The extent of the calamity may be seen by a comparison of the number of persons known to have been on board, with the number saved. The troops on board were drafts for the various regiments now in service on the frontier, under the charge of Major Seaton of the 74th regiment. They are thus told off:-

"2nd (Queen's) Foot-Ensign Boyland and 51 privates. 6th regiment-Ensign Mitford and 61 privates. 12th Lancers-Cornets Bond and Rolt and 6 privates. 12th regiment—Lieutenant S. Fairclough and 71 privates. 43rd Light Infantry-Lieutenant Girardot and 41 privates. 45th, attached to 12th Foot-4 privates. 60th Rifles, 2nd Battalion-41 privates, attached to 91st regiment. 73rd regiment—Lieutenants Robinson and Boot, and Ensign Lucas and 71 privates. 74th regiment-Major Seaton and Ensign Russell, and 66 privates. 91st Foot-Captain Wright and 61 privates. Staff-2 surgeons and 1 assistant-surgeon. Total-12 officers, 472 rank and file, 2 surgeons, 1 assistantsurgeon."

There were also the following women and children; the rest of those who left England having been put on shore at Simon's Bay. Women-Mrs. Darkins, Mrs. Nesbitt, Mrs. Mullins, Mrs Montgomery, Mrs. Gwichar, Mrs. Spruce, Mrs. Hudson. Children, 13. The names of the ship's officers and crew are not given in detail. Of the troops on board, and their women and children, the following were saved in the boats: Officer, 1, Mr. Bowen, staff-surgeon; soldiers, 62; marines, 3; women and children, all on board, as above named. The following got on shore by swimming, or on portions of the wreck. Officers, 4: Captain Wright, 91st regiment; Lieutenant Girardot, 43rd regiment; Ensign Lucas, 73rd regiment; Cornet Bond, 12th Lancers. Soldiers, 46. Of the ship's officers and crew, the following escaped in the boats. Officers, 4: Dr. Culhane, assistant-surgeon; Mr. Richards, master's-assistant; Mr. Renwick, first class assistant-engineer; Mr. Hire, clerk. Seamen and stokers, 22. Boys, 3. The following got to shore by swimming, or on portions of the wreck. Officers, 2: Mr. Barber, assistant-engineer; Mr. Archibald, gunner. Seamen, 16. These numbers make a total of 183. But the official reports of the latest date correct the total, without giving details, by stating, as we have said at the outset, that more than 438 out of 630 were lost; leaving the number of those saved at 192. Thus, it would appear, eleven more have been saved than are accounted for in the details.

A letter from Lieutenant Girardot, of the 43rd Light Infantry, one of those who escaped from the wreck, to his father in England, has the following remarkable passage:

"I remained on the wreck until she went down the suction took me down some way, and a man got hold of my leg; but I managed to kick him off and come up, and struck off for some pieces of wood that were on the water, and started for land, which was about two miles off. I was in the water about five hours; as the shore was so rocky, and the surf ran so high, a great many

were lost trying to land. Nearly all those that took to the water without their clothes on were taken by sharks; hundreds of them were all round us, and I saw men taken by them quite close to me; but as I was dressed (having on a flannel shirt and trousers) they preferred the others. I was not in the least hurt, and am happy to say kept my head clear. Most of the officers lost their lives by losing their presence of mind, and trying to take money with them, and from not throwing off their coats."

A terrible Shipwreck has taken place off the coast of Portugal. The Porto steamer sailed from Oporto for Lisbon on the 28th of March, with thirty-nine passengers and a crew of twenty-two men. Off Cape Mondego a furious gale came on to blow from the east, and the ship was put about, to run for Oporto or Vigo. Early in the morning of the 29th, she arrived off the entrance of the Douro; and in attempting to cross the bar, she struck upon the Toiro rock, only twenty fathoms distant from the shore; while the sea was rising rapidly, and the beach was already crowded with the families and friends of those on board. A pilot-boat was at once launched, and got near enough to receive a rope thrown from on board, one end of which it was intended to convey on shore, in a direction clear of the sunken rocks which lay between the boat and the ship. If this could have been done, no doubt many, if not all, would have been enabled to escape by means of it; but, unfortunately, the people in the vessel lost all presence of mind, and, persisting in their attempts to haul the boat alongside, the pilot was obliged to let go the rope; and though he made every endeavour to get near enough to have it thrown to him again, he never succeeded in doing so, and at last had to give it up altogether. An eye-witness thus describes the catastrophe:-" Meanwhile, the sea had got up, and was rolling in tremendous waves, which at last lifted the fated vessel and carried her towards the Forçado rock, some thirty yards further off, upon which she struck violently, and the water rushing in, extinguished the fires. The agonising shrieks of those on board now became incessant, for every hope had seemed to vanish. Many were on their knees praying aloud for mercy, while others ran wildly about, in a state of frenzy. The French consul at Oporto, M. Destrees, was seen standing upon the paddle-box, stripped to his shirt and drawers, and calling out to Manoel Francisco, the pilot, to come to his succour. Mr. Joseph Allen, another passenger, stood on the quarter-deck, with his two young daughters clinging to him. The spectators of this fearful vision, for such it almost seemed to be, did all they could to urge the pilots to venture out again. Baron Massarellos, on behalf of the wife, now the widow of Mr. Allen, offered a reward of 12,000 milreis (26007.). Many other people offered large sums. Several young men, amongst them an Englishman of the name of Brown, and two or three English sailors, volunteered to row, if some pilot would undertake to steer. But all in vain. The only answer to all entreaties was, that the attempt would only bring destruction upon those who ventured upon it. Some common sky-rockets were brought down from Oporto, and by means of these repeated attempts were made to throw a line on board the vessel, but, being of too little weight and projectile force, they were all swept away by the wind, which was blowing tremendously. At about half-past seven o'clock p. m., the vessel parted right amidships; and the passengers, the whole of whom were clustered in the after part, fell into the sea. The effect produced by the sudden ceasing of the loud yell they raised was most horrifying. Of the crew, who were forward, all but three now tried to swim on shore, but only eight of them succeeded in the attempt. In the course of another half-hour no portion of the wreck was visible, and all was silence. About two o'clock in the morning, however, one of the three men who had clung to a portion of the bows-the only part of the vessel which, though unseen from the shore, had remained above water-swam to the land. The other two had perished. Among the passengers who perished, besides Mr. Allen, were two Englishmen -a Mr. James Anderson, and his nephew, Mr. Elmsley.

A poor orange-woman was Killed by accident at Somers'-town on Sunday morning, the 11th. A recent regulation of the authorities of that district prohibits

any person vending fruit or other articles in the streets after a certain time in the morning. On Sunday morning the police, in enforcing the regulation, gave chace to the poor woman, who was selling oranges. In endeavouring to escape with her stock in trade, she attempted to cross the New-road, when she was knocked down by a cab horse. The wheel of the vehicle passed over her head, causing such severe injuries that she died almost instantly.

[APRIL.

baffled by the intensity of the heat. Almost immediately afterwards the roof feel in with a tremendous crash, burying the seven children. The origin of the fire has not been discovered.

A boy ten years old Drowned Himself in Derby on the 14th inst., from mortification at his mother having discovered that he stole sixpence.

An explosion of Fire-damp took place on the evening of the 23rd, in a colliery at Pemberton, near Wigan, by which ten persons were killed, and six others so much injured that their lives were despaired of. An inquest on the bodies has commenced.

A Frightful Accident has taken place at Ravensdale corn-mill, in Cumberland. Young Mr. Anthony Dawson was left alone in the mill by his father at half-past three o'clock in the morning. While in the act of placing the belt upon one of the wheels to set more machinery to work, he was caught by the axle, and wound up by his clothes, and crushed in the most shocking manner. Some idea may be formed of the sufferings of the unfor- SOCIAL, SANITARY, AND MUNICIPAL tunate man, and the awful pressure upon him, from the fact that his body, thus entangled, stopped all the power and machinery of the mill, and that he was held in that painful position upwards of four hours. The accident was not discovered till eight o'clock, when the sufferer was released. Two surgeons were immediately in attendance, but could render him no assistance, and he only lingered until one o'clock. He was quite sensible all the time, and gave a full account of the accident.

Shrivenham House, in Wilts, the property of Viscount Barrington, has been completely Destroyed by a Fire, which appears to have originated in the kitchen chimney. The building burst into flames when the doors were opened in the morning. The house was occupied by Mr. Pole: part of the contents were saved., A serious Railway Accident occurred on the night of the 10th instant, on the branch of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire line, from New Holland to the market town of Barton. A new engine was drawing the 5 o'clock train, and had, with one stoppage, brought it in safety the three and a half miles to Barton; but on arriving there, the driver and guard were unable to make their breaks act efficiently, and the engine went at the rate of twelve or fourteen miles an hour through a thick wall at the end of the line into the station house, the internal fittings being completely smashed. Mr. Taylor, the station master, was writing at his desk at the time, and had a very narrow escape. Hearing the loud shouts of the people outside, he ran out, and had not been gone a second, when the buffers of the engine smashed the counter he was sitting at into splinters. The engine driver, Vince, and the stoker, saved themselves by leaping on to the platform when they found the train could not be stopped. The former went back to New Holland, gave information of the accident, and has not been heard of since. Several of the passengers were injured. Mrs. Morley, of Hull, was most severely cut and bruised about the legs, and several others are now under medical treatment for the injuries received. The train consisted of five carriages and a luggage van, and it is singular that the persons who were riding in the carriage immediately behind the engine, which was, so to speak, "doubled up" by the concussion, escaped without the slightest injury, while those who were hurt were travelling in the last carriage of the train.

On the 15th inst., at the village of Renton, near Dumbarton, Seven Children Perished in a Fire, which destroyed two houses. About six o'clock in the evening smoke was seen issuing from the window of a garret in the front tenement occupied by a person named Loy, in which his two sons with five other children had been amusing themselves in the afternoon during his absence at work at Dumbarton, where he is employed as a labourer. The flames spread with such fearful rapidity that in a few minutes the roof was beyond recovery, and in a short time the fire had communicated with, and taken effect upon, the thatch of the adjacent dwellinghouse. The villagers were ignorant of the imminent danger of the occupants of the garret, for no attempt was made to rescue them from the flames. There is too much reason to fear, however, that the dense smoke which filled the apartment had suffocated the ill-fated children at an early period of the evening, and that they were thus prevented from continuing their calls for assistance. Several men attempted to effect an entrance, first by the door and then by a window; but they were

PROGRESS.

A DEPUTATION from the Metropolitan Sanitary Association-very numerous, and headed by the Bishop of London-has been received by Lord Derby, and assured by him, that, "short as the session would be, the government was in hopes of doing something towards settling the important question of Intramural Burial before the separation of Parliament."

Very important discoveries of first-rate Iron-Stone have been recently made in the oölite district, near Thirsk, amongst which are the beds known as the Cleveland and the Northampton. There is a great variety of ores, the iron being found in combination with the lime and sandstone as well as the clay of the geological formation.

The first triennial visitation of the Queen's College at Belfast was held on the 5th instant, by the visitors, the Duke of Leinster, Lord Chancellor Brady, Judge Green, the Bishop of Down and Connor, and Dr. Coulter, moderator of the General Assembly, in the presence of a great and distinguished company. The students were eleven more than last year; and the matriculation-fees were 14437.; they had been 13207. last year, and 12427. the year before. The Duke of Leinster, on behalf of the visitors, said that, everything they saw gave them the highest gratification.

The seventh anniversary festival of the General Theatrical Fund took place on the 5th instant, at the London Tavern, Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, who occupied the chair, congratulated the meeting on the success which had attended their efforts, and attributed that success to the recognition of two principles, on which every society which had for its object the benefit of the professors of any art ought to be founded. The first of these was the principle that every such society ought to embrace the objects of a mutual benefit association; and the second was, the recognition of the fact that art was something imperishable and universal, and was not confined to any particular buildings of brick and mortar in which it might be exercised. The peculiar feature and merit of the association the members and friends of which he was addressing was, that they recognised these principles, that they had nothing to do with associations connected with certain buildings, endowed with exclusive patents and privileges it was true, but from which the drama had long gone forth. The General Theatrical Fund was established not for the benefit of a professional party, but for the professors of an art, and the society must therefore endure because it had attached itself to two things which would endure after the Pyramids were dust-art and misfortune. Mr. Buckstone, the honorary treasurer, adverted to the balance in hand, and announced a prospective legacy from Mr. T. P. Cooke, of 10007. Among the subscriptions announced were, the Queen's annual donation of 1007.; Sir Edward B. Lytton, 107.; the Duke of Devonshire, 107. 10s.; Earl Fitzhardinge, 51. 5s.; Dr. Hastings, 51. 5s.; Mr. Webster, 51. 5s.; Mr. Montague, 57. 5s.; Mr. Lumley, 51. 5s. ; Mr. C. Kean, 51. 5s.; Mr. Phelps, 5l. 5s.; Mrs. Theodore Martin (late Miss H. Faucitt), 51. 5s; Mr. Toole, 31. 3s.; Madame Celeste, 5l. 5s.; Mr. T. P. Cooke, 37. 3s., and a number of others, from members of the profession.

The tercentenary commemoration of the founding of King Edward's School at Birmingham was observed, on

the 16th instant; the Bishops of Worcester and Manchester, Lord Calthorpe, and some members of the House of Commons, sharing in the proceedings. The whole debt owing by the institution three years ago-98,000l. --has been paid off; the yearly revenue is 10,000l.; and the scholars are 1460,--a noble instance of what may be done for our great public seminaries by sound and judi

cious administration.

year

A statement has been published, showing the Immense Increase in the Consumption of Sugar in this country. This increase is steady and continuous. In 1844, the last of the old system, the consumption of sugar was 207,000 tons. In 1851, its consumption had increased to 330,000 tons; and there has been a positive increase in the last month, as compared with the corresponding month in the previous year, of more than 5000 In the short space of eight years we thus see an increase of more than one-half, or upwards of fifty per cent.

tons.

object of his flight is said to be, to avoid the com-
mission of lunacy which has been issued against him.
Thomas Meagher, the Irish political convict, has
escaped from Van Diemen's Land. He had previously
given notice that he would not renew his parole.
Considerable excitement has been produced by an
account of Two Ships having been seen Imbedded in an
Iceberg about twelve months ago, which are supposed
to have been Sir John Franklin's vessels, the Erebus
and Terror. A correspondence published by the
Admiralty contains a statement by Mr. Simpson, mate
of a brig called the Renovation, then on a voyage from
Limerick to Quebec. Mr. Simpson says:—
"On the 20th of April 1851, at six A.M., I saw two
full-rigged ships (one about 500 tons, the other 350) on
an iceberg, high and dry, the larger one on her beam-
ends, head to the westward, three ships' lower masts
only standing with bowsprit, masts painted white,
apparently not housed over; the smaller one was about
350 tons, head to the south, with lower and topsailyards
across, sails unbent, topmost on end, yards very square
and black, not housed over, nearly upright: "both
vessels apparently abandoned."

The annual meeting of the friends and supporters of the Lambeth Ragged Schools was held on the 23rd, the Earl of Shaftesbury in the chair. The report was gratifying. The Sunday evening schools progress favourably; they are under the care of thirty teachers, Mr. Simpson added, that the master, Captain Coward, and are attended by 509 children, of which 260 are boys, was very sick in bed; and when Mr. Simpson called and 219 girls. Both the infant day schools and the week him, and stated that two vessels were in sight on an evening schools are in a prosperous condition, and the iceberg, he was too unwell to take any notice, and improvement is so manifest in the children as to call answered "Very well;" Mr. Simpson therefore did not forth expressions of gratitude from their parents. The like to take the responsibility of bearing up to examine former of these is attended by 255 boys and 137 girls, the vessels. He also states that the iceberg and the and the latter school by 80 boys and 115 girls, making vessels were seen by Mr. Lynch, a passenger, and in all 1096 children who are in the receipt of a sound the other mates. But the fact of the vessels having religious and moral instruction. The ladies' committee been seen, and the inference that they were Sir John have provided eleven girls with good situations, and Franklin's, have been called in question. Mr. Simpson's assisted them with suitable clothing. The financial statement, it seems, does not correspond with statements statement showed the receipts for the past year, in-made by Coward, the master, that he himself was upon cluding subscriptions and donations 1457. 16s., to have deck and saw the vessels, but did not at the time think been 2381. 5s. 04d., while the expenditure for the same of Franklin's missing ships. Further inquiries are going period amounted to 3457. 2s. 9 d., thus leaving a sum on by order of the Admiralty. Captain Ommanney has of 1067. 17s. 9d. due to the treasurer. been to Limerick, and personally examined Mr. Robert Simpson, the late mate of the Renovation. No new facts are brought out, but the former statement is made more exact; and the official report of Captain Ommanney shows that he believes the statements of Simpson, and of the lost expedition. is inclined to think the ships seen may have been those

PERSONAL NARRATIVE.

HER MAJESTY held an investiture of the Order of the Bath, at Buckingham Palace, on the 22nd. Lord Broughton was invested with the riband and badge of a Civil Knight Grand Cross; General Sir Peregrine Maitland, Admiral Sir Thomas Capel, and LieutenantGenerals Sir Alexander Woodford, Sir Henry Frederick Bouverie, and Sir John Fox Burgoyne, were invested with the insignia of Military Knights Grand Cross; Major-General Sir John Owen, Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Downman, Vice-Admiral Sir Anthony Maitland, Lieutenant-Generals Sir Archibald Maclaine, George Charles D'Aguilar, Henry Goldfinch, John Bell and George Brown, and Rear-Admirals Phipps, Hornby and William Farebrother Carroll, were invested as Military Knights-Commander.

The successor of Prince Schwartzenberg as Prime Minister of Austria, is Count Buol Schauenstein, who has been for some months the Austrian Minister in London.

The Earl of Mansfield is appointed to be her Majesty's High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

The Queen and Prince Albert have authorised their names to be put at the head of a subscription-list for the sufferers by the loss of the Birkenhead; and the members of the Cabinet have also subscribed.

Professor Wilson has resigned his Chair of Moral Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh. In his letter of resignation, addressed to the Magistrates and Council of Edinburgh, he adverts to his declining health, which he had hoped would have been sufficiently restored to enable him to resume his duties; but, he says, as the year advances, these hopes decay, and he feels that it is now his duty to resign the chair which he has occupied so many years. The communication was received with expressions of deep regret.

Mr. Feargus O'Connor has suddenly left London, and embarked at Liverpool for the United States. The

The new expedition to search after Sir John Franklin, consisting of the steam-ships Intrepid and Pioneer, and the ships Resolute and Assistance, under Captain Sir Edward Belcher,-started from Woolwich on Thursday, on their voyage to the Arctic regions. They have among their apparatus charges of gunpowder in copper tubes, for blasting the Arctic ice, when it may be important to save time by hastening the break-up of detaining masses; harpoon-guns, for striking large cetacea at a distance; and Minié rifles for bringing down deer at four times the present range of Arctic fire-arms.

Obituary of Notable Persons.

THE DOWAGER QUEEN OF DENMARK, SOPHIA FREDERICA, widow of Frederick VI., and daughter of the late Landgrave Charles of Hesse Cassel, died at Copenhagen on the 21st ult., in her eighty-fifth year.

SIR JOHN SHELLEY, BART., died suddenly on the 28th ult., at Lonsdale House, Fulham, in the eighty-first year of his age. mother of his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, HER SERENE HIGHNESS THE DUCHESS IDA OF SAXE WEIMAR, and sister of the late Queen Dowager of England, died very suddenly on the 3rd inst. at Weimar, in the fifty-eighth year of her age.

PRINCE FELIX SCHWARTZENBERG, the Austrian Prime Minister, died suddenly of apoplexy at Vienna, on the 5th inst. He was born on the 2nd of October, 1800, and was consequently in the fifty-second year of his age.

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR JOHN HARVEY, K.C.B., Lieut.-Governor of Nova Scotia, died at the Government House, Halifax, on the morning of the 22nd ult., in the seventy-fourth year of his age. LORD DYNEVOR, who had been for some time an invalid, died at his seat, Barrington Park, Oxfordshire, on the 9th inst., in his eighty-seventh year.

the 7th inst. at Dunsany Castle.
LORD DUNSANY, one of the representative Irish peers, died on

LORD PANMURE died at Brechin Castle, on the 13th inst., at

COLONIES AND DEPENDENCIES.