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108

THE HOUSEHOLD NARRATIVE.

that "on the contrary (said his lordship) repeated attempts to escape have taken place-in one case with success; and that none of the persons on whose behalf my interference is solicited have expressed contrition for their crime, or manifested any sign of gratitude, or loyalty to the gracious Sovereign, whom they have so grievously offended, and to whose clemency some of them are indebted for their lives. Under these circumstances, I do not consider myself justified in recommending the prayer of the memorial to her Majesty's favourable consideration."

Mrs. Chitty, the wife of a shopkeeper at Guildford,
has, under the influence of a lunatic frenzy, Murdered
two of her young Children. A grown-up son, hearing
an alarming noise, ran into his mother's room, and
After she was
found her battering the children's heads with a wooden
mallet. It appeared at the inquest, that the poor
woman's husband had become insane, and the misfor-
tune had deranged her mind also.
arrested she attempted to strangle herself with a hand-
to "make away with her by striking her on the head
kerchief; and she asked a man who was watching her,
with anything he could get at." The jury, as a matter
of form, returned a verdict of wilful murder, and she
was conveyed to prison.

At the Central Criminal Court on the 15th, George NARRATIVE OF LAW AND CRIME. Two persons were brought before the Bow Street Terry, Joshua Tudgey, and George Cooper were tried magistrate on the 8th, charged with Writing threatening for Assaulting Eliza Coffield. It appeared from the Letters to the Earl of Derby. John Middleton, an statement of the prosecutrix, an interesting looking elderly Irishman, who rendered service to government young woman, that her father had been landlord of the some years ago, by giving valuable evidence before a Horseshoe and Magpie, in Clerkenwell, and having fallen committee on Irish fisheries, and was rewarded in a into some difficulties he had all his goods sold off at the manner which he deems insufficient, was charged with close of the last year, after which she was left in the "Wo betide those who refuse house to keep possession. Some attempts were made to writing to Lord Derby, me justice;" it appeared that he considered he was obtain possession, and get her cut, but they not succeedentitled to 859,000l. and had got but 2007. Being ing, Terry, who is a jobbing builder in Clerkenwell, were the two other prisoners, and, stating that they had obviously of unsound mind, he was placed in kindly came, accompanied with a dozen men, amongst whom custody for the present.-William Stuart Sheridan, a former offender in the same way, was charged with a been sent by the freeholder to make repairs, they, with more distinct threat: he asked restitution to an office a view of driving her out of the house, were guilty of in the Excise, with a reminder of "the fate of the the most brutal conduct. Under Terry's direction they Day lamented Mr. Perceval." For his former threat, which took out the windows, took up the floors, cut down the was against Lord John Russell, he was held to bail: stairs, and, under the pretence of cleaning the rooms, he was now sent to prison till he could find two good drenched the place so, that, to use her own expression, sureties for his keeping the peace during twelve months."the water for two days was up to her ancles." On the 10th inst., the Vice-Chancellor gave judg- and night some of them were in the house. They ment, on the application of the lessee of her Majesty's abused her, threw water over her, bricks and pails of Theatre, for an Injunction to restrain Malle. Wagner water down the chimney the moment she attempted to from appearing at the Royal Italian Opera, the case light a fire, opened the drains, and finally Mr. Terry so The door fell down. This not succeeding they had recourse having been fully heard on several previous days (see carried on the work of demolition that the house next 'Household Narrative' for April, page 87). court held that the agreement of November last was to personal violence, and after pushing and driving her binding; that the additional clause binding Mdlle. about, she was by those at the bar knocked down. Wagner exclusively to her Majesty's Theatre, though Terry said, throw her anywhere. Tudgey said, knock not originally in the contract, had been subsequently her down. Tudgey threw her into the fireplace, and the last day of the riot Terry again came, and they illacquiesced in and adopted; and that the stipulation for Terry threw a pail of water over her, and finally upon payment of 3007. was not a "condition precedent' necessary to be fulfilled at its precise day beforehand, used a young man named Hardy, who was in the house but an independent clause, which was dispensed with with her. Terry knocked her down and kicked her. by the consent of the parties themselves. The court Her screams had attracted a great crowd, and some of was, therefore, of opinion, that there was nothing to the neighbours extricated her and took her fainting to justify the Wagners in throwing up their contract with the nearest surgeon's, under whose care she was for Mr. Lumley, and making a new one with Mr. Gye, and some time. The jury found them Guilty. Terry was that Mr. Lumley retained his right of action on the sentenced to six and the others to four months' imprisoncontract. On these grounds the injunction was con- ment and hard labour. tinued. Notice of appeal was given by the defendants. The case was heard on the 26th, before the Lord Chancellor, who dismissed the appeal.

At the Central Criminal Court, on the 12th, Thomas
Cathie Wheeler was indicted for the Murder of his
Mother, by cutting off her head. It was suggested by
the counsel for the prosecution that the prisoner was
not in a fit state of mind to plead, and that probably it
would be a saving of the time of the court if that
question were at once to be disposed of by hearing
medical evidence upon the point. The prisoner was
He gazed wildly round the
then placed at the bar.
court, and when the charge was read, he immediately
called out in a loud voice "Not guilty." A variety of
medical and other evidence was then given, which
appeared fully to establish his insanity, and though he
was aware of the offence of cutting his mother's head
off, with which he was charged, he was unable to com-
prehend the effect of a plea of guilty or not guilty.
The jury accordingly returned a verdict that the
prisoner was of unsound mind, and therefore incom-
petent to plead. Upon this finding, the prisoner was
ordered to be detained in safe custody during her
Majesty's pleasure.

On the same day, Richard Ambler, professing to be a
licensed surgeon, was tried for inveigling to his house a
young woman, named Newberry, with the intention of
Violating her Person. He was found guilty, and sentenced
to eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labour.

In the Westminster County Court, on the 15th, an cabinet-maker, against the Hon. Thomas Hatten George action was tried at the evidence of Mr. Bayfus, a Fermer, lieutenant in the 2nd Life Guards, for 501., due on the Defendant's Acceptance. On the part of the plaintiff it was stated that he had taken the bill in the course of his business, and upon its arriving at maturity, applied for payment, when he was referred to the defendant's solicitor, who made certain proposals which were not acceded to, and the defendant then absented himself from England. Proceedings were subsequently taken by the plaintiff in the Brompton County Court, and were defeated by defendant's absence. Upon his return to England a fresh summons was issued, which, to the plaintiff's surprise, was met by a plea of "infancy." This plea was now brought forward, and evidence was given of the defendant's birth in 1832. The judge gave a verdict for the defendant, but without costs, and strongly reprobated the practice of young officers signing bills when under age, and thus exposing tradesmen to was bad. risk without any notice or intimation that the contract

By a Parliamentary return respecting the Court of Chancery, it appears that since 1845, when the 5th and 6th Victoria, cap. 103, came into force, 294,9017. 11s. 6d. has been paid for salaries and office expenses up to the 26th November last, and the enormous sum of the late four sworn clerks, appointed taxing-masters, no 364,3551. 19s. 8d. as compensation for loss of offices. To

less than 236,2967. 11s. 3d. has been paid since 1845 to the 25th November last, as salary and compensation; and they are to have considerable annuities if they cease to hold the office, and after their death compensations for seven years are to be granted.

A shocking case of Murder and Suicide occurred at Cheadley, in Staffordshire, on the 11th instant. Stephen Walker, a young farmer, courted Fanny Walker, the daughter of a publican. He was unsteady in his habits, and therefore the girl was sent away from home for a time. After her return, Stephen went to the house, but was not allowed to see her. He went away angry, and returned with a gun in his hand. Fanny came down stairs and entered into conversation with him. On her objecting to his course of life, he snatched up the gun, and pointing it at her, said, "I will now show you what I want." The mother screamed, and got between them, pushed him out of the passage into the road, and bolted the door. He ran to the window, and thrust the muzzle of the gun through one of the panes; the mother took hold of it, exclaiming, "Don't shoot Fanny; shoot me!" -and urging her daughter to run out of the room. The poor girl ran, but in her trepidation she could not unfasten the door. Just as she was passing out of the room, Stephen discharged the gun, and the contents lodged in her left side, just below the breast, killing her instantly. The murderer ran away into the fields, reloaded his gun, and shot himself through the head, dead on the spot. A coroner's jury have ascribed the murder and suicide to temporary insanity.

At the Central Criminal Court, on the 15th, Felix M'Gee was tried for Shooting Michael Collins. There was a disagreement among the members of a Temperance Society at Westminster; M'Gee took possession of a room belonging to the society, locked the door, and, armed with two pistols and a cutlass, declared no one should enter. His brother members forced open the door; M'Gee presented a pistol, but it missed fire; the second he discharged, and lodged some fifty shots in Collins's abdomen. When arrested, M'Gee had reloaded the pistol. Collins was in danger for some time. The jury convicted on a count charging an intent to do grievous bodily harm. The intemperate tectotaler was sentenced to be transported for ten years.

Four boys were indicted under "Lord Campbell's Act" for a felony, as having done an act tending to Endanger the Lives of Passengers on the Great Western Railway. On several occasions a gate had been removed at an occupation-crossing at Southall; cattle might in consequence have strayed on to the line, and perilled the safety of trains. The place was watched, and the prisoners at the bar were seen to take the gate down and lay it in a field. Baron Platt stopped the case, as he did not think the offence came within the provisions of the act-the boys had put the gate into a field, not upon the rails; if a cow had strayed upon the line and a disaster resulted, the cow, not the boys, would have been the cause of the mischief. Mr. Clarkson said he expected this objection; but a magistrate had committed the prisoners, and the company felt bound to prosecute. The judge remarked that the boys richly deserved the imprisonment they had suffered though they escaped under this act of parliament, they must not think that they were not amenable under some other law.

A dreadful Murder was committed at Hull in the night of the 21st. The body of a respectable young man named Maplethorpe, a clerk in the house of Messrs. Thomas and Co, merchants, was found lying on the edge of a ditch adjoining a piece of waste ground near his father's residence. Marks of a scuffle on the pavement, and the dragging of a body across the road, were perceivable, showing that the poor youth had been attacked within a few feet of his own threshold. The external appearances of the body indicated that death had been occasioned by suffocation, no marks of violence being observed, but some scratches, as of human nails, upon each cheek. A gold watch which the deceased carried had been torn from his waistcoat pocket, and his money to the amount of about 117. had also been taken from his person. Two men, named John Snape and James Smith, were apprehended on suspicion and brought before the magistrates, by whom, after an examination, they have been remanded.

NARRATIVE OF ACCIDENT AND

DISASTER.

A WHOLE party of British missionaries have Perished by Starvation in Patagonia. They left this country in the autumn of 1850, and landed at Picton Island, Tierra del Fuego, on the 6th December following. Rumours that they had perished by the hands of the natives reached this country many months since; and Captain Moorshead, of her Majesty's ship Dido, was instructed to ascertain their fate on his way to the Pacific station. The party consisted of Commander Gardiner of the Royal Navy, superintendent; Mr. Maidment, catechist; John Erwin, carpenter; John Badcock, John Bryant, and John Pearce, Cornish fishermen; and they went out in the bark Ocean Queen, under the auspices of the Patagonian Missionary Society. Captain Moorshead, of the Dido, arrived at Picton Island, in search of them, on the 19th January last. For some time no traces of the missionaries were found; but just as the explorers were about to reembark, some writing was espied on a rock across a river, which proved to be the words, "Go to Spaniard Harbour;" and other rocks were marked with similar words. Hastening to Spaniard Harbour, they saw on the beach a boat turned upside down; and on coming near to it, they found two dead bodies, which were identified by scattered books and papers near them, as those of Captain Gardiner and Mr. Maidment. On one of the papers was written legibly, but without date

"If you will walk along the beach for a mile and a half, you will find us in the other boat, hauled up in the mouth of a river at the head of the harbour, on the south side. Delay not; we are starving."

Hurrying to the point indicated, they found the wreck of a second boat, and the remains of two more bodies, which they suppose to have been those of Mr. Williams, surgeon, and John Pearce, Cornish fisherman, other members of the expedition. The papers showed that all the others had died of starvation before these survivors, and had been buried by them, near to where the survivors were found. The tale of their sufferings was told in the diary of Captain Gardiner, the superintendent, kept by him with tolerable regularity till near the hour of his death-the last words of it being scarcely legible from the weakness of the hand which wrote them. A few extracts show the nature of their trials, and the pure religious spirit with which they were encountered. Their provisions seem to have failed through being shortened by wreck or injury of their boats, and from the first their boats were the only shelter to them from the severe climate and the inhospitable natives whom they went out to convert. The place of refuge, Picton Island, seems to have been a desert spot, presenting the sole recommendation of rocky caverns, which could be made available for shelter against the storms. extracts are compiled by Captain Moorshead, from the papers found on the beach and in the caverns:

The first

"April 23. They have provisions enough to last for two months, but some are very low; and, a fox pilfering from them, they kill him by putting a piece of pork opposite the muzzle of a gun attached by a string to the trigger; and, as they can only remainder: altogether they appear to have been very frugal issue pork three times a week, they dine off this fox, and salt the with their supplies. I find a notice of five large fish caught, and an account kept of the number of ducks shot, as, their powder having been left on board the ship, and a flask and a half being all they have, they keep it for emergencies. latterly even this having been curtailed, the party are utterly "July 4. Having been seven weeks on short allowance, and helpless. Everything found in the shape of food is cooked and eaten -a penguin, a shag, a half-devoured fish washed upon the shore, and even the salted fox, washed out of the cavern, is thrown up again on the beach and used for food. Captain Gardiner writes-We have now remaining half a duck, about little rice (a pint), two cakes of chocolate, four pints of peas, to one pound of salt pork, tho same quantity of damaged tea, a very which I may add six mice. The mention of this last item in our list of provisions may startle some of our friends, should it ever reach their ears; but, circumstanced as we are, we partake of them with a relish, and have already eaten several of them. They are very tender, and taste like rabbit.'

"July 22. They are reduced to living on mussels, and feel the want of food; and sometimes the cravings of hunger is distressing to them. Captain Gardiner writes-'After living on

mussels for a fortnight, I was compelled to give them up, and
my food is now mussel-broth and the soft part of limpets.'
"July 28. Captain Gardiner writes of the party in the other
boat-They are all extremely weak and helpless; even their
garden-seeds, used for broth, are now all out.'
"August 14. Captain Gardiner takes to his bed; but a rock-
weed is discovered, which they boil down to a jelly, and find

nourishment from.

"August 23. John Erwin dies.

both in one grave.

"August 26. J. Bryant dies; and Mr. Maidment buries them "John Pearce, the remaining boatman, is cast down at the loss of his comrades, and wandering in his mind; but Mr. Williams

is somewhat better."

The succeeding extracts are verbatim from Captain

Gardiner's own notes:

to draw up in the road to allow an omnibus to pass; Mr. Sutton's horse reared, threw his rider, and ran away. It was found that Mr. Sutton had been hurt in the abdomen; he gradually sank, and died on Tuesday morning. From an outward examination of the body, the surgeons had no doubt that the pelvis had been fractured behind the wound, most probably by a kick from the horse. The horse was a hired one: it had run away for some distance just before the accident. An inquest resulted in a verdict of "Accidental death." In running away, after having thrown Mr. Sutton, the horse knocked down a crossing-sweeper, and hurt him so badly, that it was necessary to take him to the hospital. A court-martial of admirals and captains assembled "Sept. 3. Wishing if possible to spare him (Mr. Maidment) under Rear-Admiral Prescott on board the Victory. the trouble of attending on me, and for the mutual comfort of on the 5th inst., to investigate the conduct of certain of all, I purposed, if practicable, to go to the river and take up my the survivors from the Wreck of the Birkenhead. The quarters in the boat. This was attempted on Saturday last. Feeling that without crutches I could not possibly effect it, individuals presented formally for trial were Mr. R. B. Mr. Maidment most kindly cut me a pair (two forked sticks); Richards, master's assistant; J. Bowen and T. Dunn, but it was with no slight exertion and fatigue, in his weak able seamen; A. Stone, ordinary seaman; and John state. We set out together, but soon found that I had not Ashbolt, stoker. The witnesses called were Thomas strength to proceed, and was obliged to return before reaching the brook on our own beach. Mr. Maidment was so exhausted Coffin, who had the first middle watch on the night of yesterday that he did not rise from his bed until noon, and I the wreck; Thomas Daly, the first watch, and look-out have not seen him since; consequently I tasted nothing yester-man on the forecastle; Colour-Sergeant Drake, on the day. I cannot leave the place where I am, and know not poop when the ship struck; John Archbold, gunner, in whether he is in the body, or enjoying the presence of the bed when the accident happened; and Mr. W. Culhane, gracious God whom he has served so faithfully. assistant surgeon, in his cabin at the time. All of these! witnesses were closely examined; but they did not state anything materially altering the main incidents already put before the public in the official reports forwarded to the Admiralty by the civil and naval authorities at the Cape of Good Hope. The proceedings were closed on the 7th, when a full and honourable acquittal was given.

Thursday, Sept. 4. There is now no room to doubt that my dear fellow-labourer has ceased from his earthly toils, and joined the company of the redeemed in the presence of the Lord, whom he served so faithfully. Under these circumstances, it was a merciful providence that he left the boat, as I could not have removed the body.

"Friday, Sept. 5. Great and marvellous are the loving kindnesses of my gracious God unto me. He has preserved me hitherto, and for four days, although without bodily food, without any feelings of hunger or thirst.'

These were the last entries of the nature of a diarythey were weakly and indistinctly written. But a note was found, dated the 6th, from Captain Gardiner to Mr. Williams, the surgeon; whose body was discovered with that of John Pearce at the other place:

"My dear Mr. Williams,-The lord hath seen fit to call home another of our little company. Our dear departed brother left the boat on Tuesday afternoon, and has not since returned. Doubtless he is in the presence of his Redeemer, whom he served faithfully. Yet a little while, and though the Almighty to sing the praises throne. I neither hunger nor thirst, though days without food. Maidment's kindness to me heaven.

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Captain Moorshead is of opinion that Mr. Williams and John Pearce did not survive Captain Gardiner; and that none of the missionaries were alive after the 6th September. His report to Rear-Admiral Moresby, the Commander of the Pacific station, from whom the Admiralty has received the whole news, concludes with these remarks:

"I will offer no opinion on the missionary labour of Captain Gardiner and the party, beyond its being marked by an earnestness and devotion to the cause; but, as a brother officer, I beg to record my admiration of his conduct in the moment of peril and danger, and his energy and resources entitle him to high professional credit. At one time I find him surrounded by hostile natives and dreading an attack, yet forbearing to fire, and the savages, awed and subdued by the solemnity of his party, kneeling down in prayer. At another, having failed to heave off his boat when on the rocks, he digs a channel under her, and diverts a fresh-water stream into it; and I find him making an anchor by filling an old bread-cask with stones, heading it up and securing wooden crosses over the heads with chain."

The official comment on the mission itself is significant: "Their lordships deeply deplore the fate of these devoted missionaries; but this lesson of experience will have its effect. The earnest application of sanguine minds for the propagation of Christianity must, in a climate like Cape Horn, first consider the locality where existence can be insured."

Mr. Gunning Sutton, a commander in the Royal Navy, brother of Sir Robert Gunning, has been Accidentally Killed at Knightsbridge. He was riding on Saturday evening, the 1st inst., with his daughter; as they left Hyde Park by Albert Gate, it was necessary

The village of Alldreth, in Cambridgeshire, has suffered from a Calamitous Fire. It is supposed that | the wadding of a gun fired at a sparrow set fire to the thatch of a cottage; thence the flames rapidly spread through the village. Two farm-steadings, eleven cottages, and some out-buildings, were consumed.

At Soham, in the same county, the farm premises of Mr. Taylor (except the dwelling-house), with much agricultural produce, have been Burnt-altogether a loss of 12007.-in consequence of two Irish labourers having laid their jackets, containing their pipes with burning tobacco in them, under a straw-stack.

A man named Brooks was Burnt to Death at Walworth during the night of the 5th. He was employed to watch the brick-fields behind the Surrey Zoological Gardens. He had been left at his post in the evening, and next morning his dead body, partly consumed, was found lying at the top of a large brick-kiln which was burning furiously.

The schooner "Titania," the property of Robert Stephenson, Esq., was Destroyed by Fire in Cowes harbour on the 5th. The fire appears to have been occasioned by the over-heating of a flue.

Several fatal Colliery Accidents have taken place this month. A most frightful explosion occurred on the 10th at the Duffryn pit, in the valley of Aberdare, in Glamorganshire, and was attended with the loss of sixtyfour lives. At four o'clock on the morning of the explosion, a careful investigation appears to have taken place, and the mine was reported free from gas. A few hours afterwards another fireman was sent down, who discovered symptoms of an approaching fall in a certain section of the mine. When the intelligence was conveyed to the agent above, orders were immediately given to a party to descend and use the necessary means to prevent the anticipated fall. This was about seven o'clock, and two hours afterwards a report was heard which gave token of the terrible tragedy which had occurred below. Mr. Skipley, the agent, descended by the winding shaft, and passed some poor wretches who had just escaped from the terrors of the explosion. At the bottom of the shaft eight of the men who had been despatched to prop up the roof were found dead. As he proceeded to grope his way, he next encountered a few half-suffocated men who were staggering to the mouth of the pit, if it might be found. He then found a heap of dead bodies, the one piled upon the other, scarcely at a hundred yards' distance from the pit. In trying to

!

MAY.]

on railways. There was one suicide. The length of rail-
ways open on the 30th June, 1851, was 6698 miles,
and on the 1st December last, 6890 miles, being an
increase during the half year of 192 miles.

PROGRESS.

escape, it would seem the people had fallen upon each
other and blocked up the passage. A little further on
-about fifty yards-Mr. Skipley and his companions
came upon just such another pile as the first. The two
together contained the bodies of about sixty men and
children. A father and his two sons were found among
one of the heaps of the dead. The poor man in his SOCIAL, SANITARY, AND MUNICIPAL
frantic eagerness and anxiety to save himself and his
two sons,
had clutched one under each arm, and thus
had in vain sought to escape. Sixty-four persons have
perished altogether, and twenty-eight were brought out
alive, making the total number who were in the pit at
the time of the explosion ninety-two. It appears that
no blame can attach to any of the officials of the colliery.
The coal worked here, however, is of a highly gaseous
quality, insomuch that numerous cargoes which have
recently gone from the shipping port (Cardiff) have
exploded, and destroyed the vessels bearing them.

On the same day that the explosion took place at
Aberdare, a Dreadful Calamity occurred in the Gwend-
raeth Vale, situate near Pembrey, between Llanelly and
Carmarthen, by which the lives of all the men in the
colliery at the time, with one exception, were sacrificed.
In the evening the colliers, to the number of about
twenty-eight, were at work, and everything appeared to
go on as usual, when, about ten o'clock at night, while
busily engaged at their work, the water suddenly broke
in upon them. The irruption appears to have been so
sudden, that the poor people, with one exception, had
no time to escape. The pit was almost instantaneously
filled, and the men all drowned, with the exception of
one man, who availed himself of the aid of the machinery
It was supposed that
in operation to effect his escape.
the water broke in from some old colliery-workings in
It had been observed that the
the neighbourhood.
water in the pit itself had of late been increasing.
A Return to the House of Commons has been printed,
from which it appears that last year 611 vessels belonging
to the United Kingdom were wrecked. Of the number
600 were sailing-vessels of 110,670 tonnage, and eleven
steam-vessels, the tonnage of which was 1306.

THE first annual meeting of the subscribers to the
Cambridge Asylum for Sailors' Widows was held on
The present Duke of
the 1st. The report stated that the amount of the sub-
scriptions received was 33067.
Cambridge had conveyed to trustees land for the build-
ing at Kingston, in Surrey. A contract had been made
for the erection of the building at the cost of 37007. At
present it would be sufficient for forty widows, and when
the funds would allow the original design would be
completed.

The annual meeting of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland was held on the 3d inst., Lord D. Stuart in the chair. The report stated that the income for the past year was 14947. 6s. 6d., of which 8007. was contributed by the Poles. The expenditure for relief in distress, sickness, for the emigration of refugees, and education, amounted to 10267. 1s. 6d. The number of refugees now in England is about 820, of whom 200 receive assistance from the British government; 160 refugees had left this country, of whom 92 proceeded to America, and 13 were removed by death, showing an increase of 60 over the number of last year, during which there were nearly 1000 refugees in England. The commencement of the east wing of the Brompton Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest was celebrated on the 5th inst. by a public dinner at the Albion Tavern, Aldersgate-street. The Duke of Cambridge presided. The report stated that during the past year the number of in-patients had been 474, of whom there had been discharged, more or less benefited The financial statement showed a material reduction of 316, while 68 had died, and 90 remained in the building. In the course of the Another fatal Colliery Explosion took place on the the outstanding liabilities, as well as of the current 20th, in the Downbrow Pit, near Preston. It was found expenditure of the hospital. to be dangerous when the men came to begin work in it in evening subscriptions were announced to the amount of the morning: the overlooker stationed his son to prevent more than 33007., including 207. from his Royal Highthem from going into the dangerous parts with a lightedness, and 5001. from the Rev. D. Morel. candle; but in his absence they disregarded his son, though he threatened them with a fine; went to the interdicted spots with a lighted candle, and instantly caused an explosion. Thirty-two were killed on the spot, and at least five more dangerously and seriously burnt and wounded.

The members of the British and Foreign Society The Archbishop of Canterbury and the met at Exeter Hall, under Lord Shaftesbury, on the The society had 5th inst. Chevalier Bunsen were speakers. scattered 25,402,309 copies of the Bible in 175 languages -of which 121 were never before printed-among the peoples of the earth. But the condition of the world in these times, especially that of the despotically-governed countries of Eastern Europe, whose rulers have a notion that the Bible is fatal to their system, called for redoubled efforts. The receipts of the year had been 108,4497.; being more than 50007. beyond those of last year, and 16,000l. beyond those of 1850: the expenses had been 103,9307., and there were 52,3417. of "present engagements" to the further debit of the society.

The London City Mission assembled in the same place on the 6th, under Mr. Plumptre, member for East Kent, and were congratulated on the progress made by the missionaries and Scripture readers, "notwithstanding the malicious opposition of the Irish priests." Chevalier Bunsen was a speaker here also. The report stated that the receipts last year were 23,2167. About a million and a quarter of missionary visits were paid in that time, about a million and three-quarters of tracts distributed, and some hundreds of drunkards reclaimed and communicants received.

On Saturday night, the 22nd inst. a Collision took place on the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railway, but happily no loss of life occurred. The mail train left York about eight o'clock, and on arriving at ten minutes to eleven within a quarter of a mile of Gateshead, when speeding at the rate of 25 miles an hour, it ran into an engine and tender, which stood upon the line. The passengers were thrown with great violence from their seats, and were all much bruised in various parts of their bodies. The two tenders and engines were almost crushed to pieces. It was at once perceived that one at least, of the men who had charge of the engine standing on the line, was drunk, and incapable of taking care even of himself, and upon inquiry it was found that the engine had come from South Shields, but that the fires having been neglected the steam was exhausted, and the engine stopped just before the mail train came in sight. The usual Return relating to Railway Accidents for the half year ending the 31st December has been printed. The number of passengers was 47,509,392. The General Society for Improving the Dwellings of The number of persons killed was 113, and 264 injured. There were 8 passengers killed and 213 injured from the Working Classes was assisted, on the 6th, by a causes beyond their own control,; 9 passengers were meeting at Willis's Rooms, over which the Duke of killed and 14 injured owing to their own misconduct or Cambridge presided, and which was graced by the prewant of caution; 30 servants of companies or of con- sence of a remarkable number of ladies of rank-the tractors were killed and 17 injured from causes beyond Duchesses of Sutherland, Norfolk, and Argyll, the their own control; 32 servants of companies or of con- Countesses Grey of Rosebery, Lichfield, Wilton, Ellestractors were killed and 11 injured owing to their own mere, and Ripon, with other dames of note. misconduct or want of caution; 33 trespassers and other chairman made a speech manifesting a warm and pracpersons, neither passengers nor servants of the com- tical interest in the society, and was supported by the panies, were killed and 9 injured by crossing or walking | Bishops of London and Oxford, the Earl of Ellesmere,

The

Sir John Villiers Shelley, Mr. Monckton Milnes, Mr. Slaney, and Lord Ingestre.

The ruling body of the University of London met in session, in the rooms of the Royal Society, Somerset House, on the 5th, to confer degrees, honours, and prizes. The Chancellor of the University, the Earl of Burlington, presided; and the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. John Shaw Lefevre, with Mr. Hallam, Mr. Grote, Mr. George Cornewall Lewis, and others eminent in the professions, in literature and science, were present. 214 candidates had been admitted this year to matriculation. A doctorship in Medicine, and several bachelorships in Arts, .Laws, and Medicine, were conferred; with a large number of honours and prizes. Mr. William Roberts, medical student of University College, seems to have carried off the greatest number of medals and other honours.

The undergraduates of the University of London met at Freemasons' Tavern on the 4th, to forward their claims to have the university re-organised so as to give them a voice in its internal administration, and to have it incorporated into a parliamentary constituency.

The annual meeting of the Church Pastoral Aid Society was held in Exeter-hall, on the 11th; the report stated that many new parochial districts had been formed during the year. The society now aids 343 incumbents in charge of a population of more than 2,594,692, or each with an average charge of 7564 souls. The average incomes of these incumbents was only 2107., and 176 of them were without parsonage houses. The grants provide stipends for 317 clergymen and 115 lay assistants, at a charge to the society of 38,3831. per annum, when all are occupied. At the present time, 280 clergymen and 109 lay assistants, were supported at their important labours in the populous districts of the country, causing the estimated charges of the society to amount to 34,4381. per annum. There were now 30 applications for curates for additional churches, and 25 for lay assistants, waiting for new grants to be made. The financial statement showed the receipts to have been 34,0957. Os. 2d., and the expenditure for the year amounted to 33,0471. Os. 8d., leaving a balance of 10477. 19s. 6d. in the hands of the treasurer.

The hundred and ninety-eighth annniversary meeting of the Sons of the Clergy was held on the 12th instant, in St. Paul's Cathedral. The grand choral service by the united choirs of the metropolitan cathedrals and of the two royal chapels, was performed with great effect. At the usual dinner in the evening, in the Merchant Tailors' Hall, the company included the Archbishop of Canterbury, many bishops, the Lord Mayor of London, and several members of the House of Commons. The Bishop of London made interesting reference to the fact that he and the Lord Mayor were fellow-townsmen of Bury St. Edmunds, and left their native places nearly together, in a humble way, as brother Whittingtons. The sum accruing from this year's celebration was the largest ever known-15207.

The fifty-eighth anniversary meeting of the London Missionary Society, was held at Exeter Hall, on the 13th, under the Lord Mayor. The income of the year had been 65,3167., and the expenditure 72,8301.

On the 11th, Prince Albert laid the foundation-stone of a Training Institution for Masters and Mistresses of the Schools of the National Society, in Victoria-street, Westminster. The cost of the building will be 25,000l., and the site has ccst 14,000l. more.

At the sixty-third anniversary of the Royal Literary Fund, on the 12th, Lord Campbell presided; and, after stating that he owed his success in law to the fostering aid of his labours in literature, he held out hopes that he may yet live to produce a work which shall give him a better title to a name in literature than he has yet earned. Speeches were made by Justice Talfourd, Mr. Monckton Milnes, Chevalier Bunsen, Mr. Abbott Lawrence, and Mr. Thackeray. It appeared that the funds of the past year had been 6007. more than in any former year.

At the anniversary dinner of the Artists' Benevolent Fund, on the 8th, Sir Charles Eastlake presided. The public contributions of the year had been 4507., including the hundred guineas which the Queen now regularly subscribes.

At the yearly meeting of the Sailor's Home and Destitute Sailor's Asylum, in the museum of the institutions, in Well-street, London Docks, Admiral Bowles presided. The receipts of the year had been 58957.; the boarders received had been 4745.

At the sixth yearly meeting of the Domestic Servants' Association, in the Hanover-square Rooms, on the 11th, Lord Robert Grosvenor presided; and Lord Lifford and the Rev. Joseph Brown were speakers. The operations and means of the society were satisfactorily increasing. The eighth yearly meeting of the Ragged School Union was held at Exeter Hall on the 10th, under Lord Ashley. At the first anniversary, in 1845, it appeared there were 20 schools and 200 voluntary teachers; now there are 110 schools, 1650 voluntary teachers, 200 paid teachers, and 13,700 children.

The Crystal Palace has been purchased for 70,000Z., by Mr. Laing, the chairman of the Brighton Railway Company, and some other gentlemen, chiefly co-directors of the railway, for re-erection on the site at Sydenham, from which railway communication will be opened with the stations at London Bridge and Vauxhall, " Crystal stations" will be built in London.

The fifth annual meeting of the Servants' Royal Provident and Benevolent Society took place on the 12th, Harry Chester, Esq., in the chair. It appeared from the report that, during the past year, 16,4117. 138.7d. had been paid by servants to the provident fund of the society, 12,1617. 19s. 9d. being on account of new contracts for government annuities. The total amount paid by servants to the provident fund of the society since its commencement has been 43,3217. 9s. 6d., the greater portion of which has been for annuities. The Department of Practical Art, recently formed under the direction of the Board of Trade, has issued an important memorandum, the object of which is to awaken in the public mind that appreciation of the rules of pure ornamentation which will not only create a demand for art-manufactures of a healthy character, but also supply a body of pupils qualified by their previous training to derive full benefit from the schools of design. The memorandum, after giving an outline of the objects of the department, and indicating the locality of the schools of art already established in London and other large cities of the empire, proceeds as follows;—

schools for drawing and modelling, in the advantages of which "Towards aiding the establishment of elementary classes or it is desirable that all classes of the community should have the opportunity of sharing, my lords are willing-1. To appoint a competent master, and to guarantee the payment to him of a certain income for a fixed period, in case the fees to be derived from the instruction of the scholars should not suffice to pay copies, models, coloured examples, and books; 3. To furnish the master's salary; 2. To lend suitable ornamental drawing samples of drawing materials, such as black boards, drawing boards, paper, slates, chalk, pencils, &c.; and to give such information as will enable the managers and scholars to obtain those materials in the readiest way; on the following conditions: -1. That a committee of management be formed, either by corporate or parochial authorities, or persons engaged in schools of responsible person come forward, who must engage to provide, any description, or by persons interested in the object, or that a keep clean, warm, and light a suitable room, at their own liability; and to give the names of not less than twenty male or female scholars who will attend the school, if opened, for a period of not less than three months, at a payment of not less than 6d. pared, at the request of their lordships, to return the exper week each scholar. 2. That such committee shall be preamples, &c., lent to them; that they will collect, and account for, the fees from the students, conduct and manage the school, provide for stated and periodical visits of inspection by members of the committee, be responsible for the attendance of the towards his salary, dismiss him for incompetency or mismaster, contribute some portion, at least, of the fees received conduct, reporting the same to this department; engage to follow the course of instruction prescribed, and make an annual report on the proceedings of the school, on or before the 31st October. 3. The hours of attendance and the amount of fees to be paid by the scholars to be regulated by the committee and the general superintendent of the department of practical art, according to local circumstances."

A meeting took place at the house of the Society of Arts on the 18th, for the purpose of carrying into effect a plan of Combining that Society with the local Literary Institutions and Mechanics' Institutes of the Country. A large number of delegates from the local societies were present; and, among the members of the London

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