The Express. — London, England, 1853-12-06 00:00:00

f ra N CERISTMAS CATTLE SHOW OF YEE SiIITHFIELD CLUB. London and Birmingham will not only maintain the credit, but extend the principles of our best breeders and feeders. The Smithfield Club Fat Cattle Show, which is this a. thrown op en to the public, is one of those exhi biona which, although an inviting subject for igno cast ridicu:e and cheap criticiem, reflects the highest :, s pa the be:knee and practice of our farmers. eriik-- - 10 t h e uninformed , to thos e who have not taken the to look into the history of early exhibitions the ca me kicks,' it is me rely a display of stock b• Artificial methods, regardless of expense, to m ost ;enema! state of obesity—of Brobdignagian r ots-- an d of implements more curious and costly tun prontably te‘eful. But in reality it is the result, the satisfactory result, of more than half a cen tve.s experiments by British agriculturists tat feeding an increasing population on a which cannot be increased in dimensions. We have wisely thrown open our ports to the produce of tk seho:e world, and thus at the same time secured tgsixt,test possible supply of food, and extinguished the Martburnings and jealousies which inevitably w ee between the food-consuming and food-producing ems as long us the latter were permitted to profit by artiric,Al scarcity ; but in the face of the most nn restricted commerce, in spite of the facilities which base tee n created by steam-boats and railways, we must always he principally dependent on our own to il ter our own food, etisecialiy for meat. The inva *ions of foreign cattle,—which filled the soul of the bee ciae Knightley with such trembling alarms; the car een ut Hamburg beef and Americas eheeseover which Newdrpte mourned in such funereal strains, as to plum a panic among stock dealers,—have found their level mid their limit, and only serve to feed an a ppetite among the working classes, which " grows by what it keelson," and to open neor pastures for the pure short horn, the mottled, Juicy Hereford, Devon, a ad Highlander, and a steadily increasing demand fur the produce of the best dairies of Cheshire, Wilt- Aire, Derbyshire, and their many successful imita tors in other counties. Perhaps in the present exhibition of live stock, th e re is nothing which shows any extraordinary a dvance over that of last year; but if instead of looking lock one year, we look back five or six, then the advance is indeed extraordinary. If we search the written and painted records of the prizes of the Smithfield Show from the period when it was originated i by Francis Duke of Bedford, we shall find that our stock breeders have completely changed the character of meat-producing animals, and suc ceeded in diminishing liy a half the time required for bringing the ox, the sheep, acd the pig to maturity. . . . . . . . THE PRIVATE VIEW-YESTERDAY. ---- - - - This great annual event ' s° interesting to grazier', butchers, and t►e meet eatiog public, more especially to the last named, seeing the enormous prices of all animal food at the present moment, comes oft to-day at the King street Baxaar, that well-known rallying point for all the fat of the land, whether ovine, bovine, or porcine. A select few were favoured with a private view yesterday evening, and on the whole were well satisfied with the year's exertions in the production of beef, mutton, and bacon. The show is one of the largest that has been for some years, and although exhibiting none of the monstrosi ties of obesity which were wont in former years to astonish the London public, yet shows marked progress in • much more useful direeion—that of producing animals symmetri cal in form, healthy in constitution, and covered equably with flesh fit for more important purposes than to be thrown into the melting pot. The entries which are in all upwards •f three hundred in number—of which 29 were pure Devons, 20 pure Herefords, and 39 pure short-horns—exhibit • goodly array of artistocratic candidates for the gold and silver medals of the club, there being amongst them IIR.H. Prince Albert, Dukes of Richmond and Bedford, Marquis of Exeter, Earls of Leicester, Aylesford, Radnor, Darnley, Harborough, and Lord Portman, together with • long list of squires of high degree and gentlemen farmers of well known reputation. The Marquis of Exeter and Lord Port man were amongst the visitors yesterday evening, and care fully inspected the various animals which had been made the subject of award. In cattle, the short-horns carried off the two gold medals. It will be sees that Mr. Stratton, who was successful last year, has again carried off the first prise for his three years and nine months old ox. In the Devons the Earl of Leicester carried away the chief prince in classes 1 sad 4, and we regret to add that in the same class Prince Albert was an unsuccessful exhibitor, and must fain con tent himself with his laurels in another direction, of which mere hereafter. With respect to the successful competi ton in this clam, as well as in the shorthorn favourites, symmetry and compactness were the desiderata with the judges, and consequently many large showy-looking ani mals were passed by, and the prizes awarded to what at lest view appeared to be r ithes under-sized cattle. In Herefords the Earl of Radnor finds reason to console him self for the comparative obscurity to which his famous Coleshill pigs are doomed this year, having ob•ained the lest prize of IV. and the silver medal; the second 251. pains in the same class being awarded to Mr. Niblett, of linen, near Bristol. For the remainder of the cattle prizes we refer to the subjoined list, but we cannot leave our bovine friends whether long-horned, Hereford, or Devon, without a line about what we consider to be a very ill-used animal, which, although his presence has been ignored by the judges, will most probably be the principal attraction with the general public during the next three days. We allude to the Leviathan " short-horn " sent in by Sir H. Verney, from Winslow, Bucks, and with the fame of which the local papers have been ringing for the last three weeks. This extraordinary animal is upwards of six feet high at the shoulder, weighs 300 atone, and is likely, as his attendant gravely informed as, to be " half as large again " before be has dose growing. He is certainly the most conspicuous salmi in the exhibition, towering high above his neigh bours when he stands up, and stretching " many a rood " when he lies down, • practice to which he is not so much addicted as might be expected from his esormona size. And yet with all these manifold attractions he was passed over by the judges, and is pronounced " vulgar " by the whole of the new school of cattle breeders, for the simple reams that it would never pay to fatten so big a beast. Of ilenesh or Welch cattle the specimens are few V number, and of Irish there is not a single beast—a rather simgaLe deeneastance, coasidering the immense numbers ei limit Sleds bred in the sister country. On inquiring the trim a person supposed to be well informed, we Me told that the reason may be found, not in any defici ency of high-bred cattle in Ireland, nor in the indisposition of the Irish graziers to compete, bat in the fact that the Irish " fancies" are made up for Baster,when the Dublin show takes place, and are all consequently exhibited and sold to the butchers long before the exhibition of the Smithfield club. Turning to sheep, we find that all the prizes in Sontbdiewns worthily carried away by the Duke of Rfaborsol. whose attention to this branch of stock-rearing his keg been well known to the public. His grace, has an samarls of breeding stock at Goodwood. His graces " poir ofthis year is said to surpass any of the same species MM hen bum exhibited for some years, sastlia7rbid Mask irspdaikp admitted not only by the judges, but what beet natallbe amen by the unsuccessful competitors. The LOINANt Olnipeleellod) sheep are also pronounced to be psMMalarly GM this year, the first prize being awarded Foklambe, of Osleton-hall, Worksop, and the second tithe Marquis of Exeter. We were glad to observe that these peer animals did not exhibit those symptoms of distress which were so painful to witness in their predecessors of last year. The change, we believe, is to be attributed prin cipally to an improved system of ventilation in the bazaar, which tells meet favourably on the whole of the animals exhibited. Last, though not least in Importance, the pigs was flit in the body, as short in the mese, Gad as loud in their peculiar music as ever. Amongst these noisy patsy, the prim ameba= have been sent is by his Royal High- 1 ass Prime Albert, whose pen of three Suffolk pigs, of the {she age of 22 weeks sad 6 days, carried away the prize of 111 Set the silver medal. They have been ted oa barley riad milk, and in their perfect rotundity sad uildity of flesh do great honour to their royal exhibitor. There are numerous peas of this useful variety of the porcine family in the exhibition; but for further details we must again refer to the list. The Berk shire dope:treat is signalised by a specimen as imp la his bind as the leviathan ox before alluded to. This enormous animal is exhibited by Mr. Sadler, of Swindon, Wilts, sad Me 'outlived to accumulate, during a short life of 144 weeks, the euogmous "mount of 40 score, or 800Ibe. weight of particularly solid flesh. As he did not consider it con sistent with his dignity to leave the recumbent pasture yesterday evening, we could not form any judgment as to his shape further than a vague general idea that he bore a strong family resemblance to the young hippopotamus in the Regent's Park. It is pleasant, however, to know that the short Roses, tight skins, and stumpy legs of the modern breeds have not quite banished the famous old Berkshire hog from the Esglish farmyard. Although not forming part of the exhibition, nor being - - The pig, which forme sly required from twenty to twenty-four months to react► a profitable degree of fatness, is now made to attain equal weight in much lea time. Tho sheep acquires in twenty months the condition for which tour or five years feeding was formerly essential. The ox which formerly fed at its master's expense for six years can now be made ready for the butcher in three or four. Even so late as ls 4; a tint-rate lst ox of three years old was con sidered an exception, and excited great attention at the Christmas show among breeders and feeders— in six years, as will be seen by traversing the show in Baker-street, the exception has become almost the rule among those who compete in the short-horn classes. 'fbis shortening of the period of maturity, accompa nied by an increase of symmetry and of weight, enables the same space of ground to support double the num ber of live stock, and at the MOW time economises a large amount of manure which was wasted when stock as fed entirely on natural grasses, has been obtained by close attention and comparison of breeds, and of modes of feeding. When Bakewell made the experi ments by which he carried long horns to a degree of perfection which they have not maintained, and when we may almost say he "manufactured," if he did not invent, the Leicester sheep, ho worked in Deere% and did his utmost to keep the monopoly of excellence in his own hands. No such feeling, no such attempts at secrecy, are to be found among the stock breeders and feeders of the present day. If we wish to read a lesson on the intimate con nexion of interest between agriculture, commerce, and manufactures. we find it in the Christmas Fat Stock Show. Modern facilities of internal conveyance have had an important influence on the improvement of live stock. Arthur Young, a great apostle of agri cultural improvement, recommended the farmers of his day to mount their horses, and go and see what other farmers were doing in distant counties. That was sound but expensive advice ; and in those days, although the farmer could mount his horse, it was a long, ►nd dangerous, and costly undertaking to for sthrd choice stock from one extremity of the king- doe to the other ; but now farmers from the most remote parts of the country can not only meet and exchange the benefits of their experience, but can compete against each other in the exhibition of live stock. Thus it is that in the present Show we see collected together the fat meat raised in Somerset, in Devon, in Dorset, in Norfolk, in Lincolnshire, in Yorkshire, in Monmouthshire, and even in Aberdeenshire, competing on even terms ' with stock raised in the neighbouring counties of Surrey, Herta, Bucks, and Berks—a competition which would have been quite impossible at a period when road travelling was the only means within the reach of any except those wealthy personages who could afford vans and posthorses to convey their prize oxen and racehorses. In the present exhibition Somerset and Dorset are very large contributors, and the increase in the number and quality of Devon. and Herefords is to be solved and traced in no small degree to improved means of conveyance and the spread of the spirit of competition and improvement into districts which were a few years ago quite isolated. There is another interesting feature in these Christ ass shows—the implements and the specimens of roots which are at the same time exhibited. These are in many of them the result of the improved atten tion paid to raising live stock. A fat ox is not only the representative of so much beef and tallow—he represents commerce in the shape of guano and nitrate of soda, and other foreign manures, which have been imported to stimulate the crops grown for his use—he represents cargoes of oil cake, and various kinds of grain—he represents mechanical ingenuity, in a thousand ooatrivrces for cutting, cooking, mixing food, for erecting, filling, ventilating, warming farm buildings. And so, too, the pig has not only been crossed and improved by mixtures from Naples and China, but the United States, and Egypt and Russia, and Spain and Italy assist in supplying him with lentils, beans, peas, maize, rim, and other kinds of pulse and grain. It is only necessary to read the lists ef food appended to the various animals exhibited in Baker-street, to learn that the progress of our agriculture is intimately connected with the progress of our commerce—that it is impossible to produce meat in the quantity re quired without permitting the feeder to resort to every district in the world to find the best and cheapest food. In the present exhibition, in the distribution of prizes attention appears to have been particularly directed to quality. Very fat animals, which a few fears ago would have been rewarded, have been passed over in favour of others of lees weight and greater symmetry. This is well. Bat at the same time, we, who have an opportunity of seeing the best and choicest animals collected together year after year, must not therefore imagine that the farmers of this country are all as yet sufficiently informed on the benefits to be derived from choosing the best and most suitable breeds of live stock, of feeding them amply, keeping them warm, and indulging them with a variety of food. The regular exhibitors s i t Smithfield and at Bir mingham know all this, but there are thousands of farmers and large districts where benighted igno rance. of the first prin c iple s of stock-feeding still prevail', in spite of the exertions of the royal prince, the three dukes, the nine earls, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the crowds of baronets and mires who have contributed to Smithfield Show. The show is not only an arena of competition, it is a school of education, in which the best instruction is afforded by experienced example. We must not Ist the cry against over-fatness divert us from the meaning of this club, which was specially instituted in order to teach al who breed and feed fat stock the best breeds and the beet styles of feeding. We an happy to believe that the shows of 1833 in any way subject to the award of the judges, a word or toe is generally said tithe molests of the galleries manias round the Bazaar, is which those investors who consider themselves the real formers' frjeads crowd their mysterious looking sisehises, intended to perform almost by nsagie every conceivable agricultural operation. The stock is this year quite as abundant as usual. Mary Wedlake conspicu ously inquire. whether "You bruise your Oats yet," and lees to your shame you should still answer in the nega tive, coma provided with a whole host of appliances for the performaace of that indispensable preliminary. The reaping machines are in force, and ansolpt them will be seen with interest the original invention of Mr. Ball, to which the Americans owe the whole principle of their much vaunted machine. It is much simpler than any of its successors, but the whole of the principle is included, and it is satisfactory to add, that it now enters suoesestally into competition with all cozen. Another machine, called the automaton, will be much looked at for its curious eo centric motion, but of its practical value some doable are entertained, as In a recent esperinient the corn was sot delivered se quickly as was deemed accessary to make the machine a perfect meows. Of the merits of the other machines of inauserible Made with which the gallery is crewded the inventors will be the best ex ponents, and will no doubt take full opportunity during the next tk.ree days. In the same gallery the council of the Royal Dublin Society again exhibit the result of their laudable exertions to encourage the cultivation of green crops in Ireland. A stand has been erected in a conspicuous situation, and upon it are exhibited specimens of cabbages, gainsaid wortzel, beet, and other variety of green crops, oostnbuted by various Irish growers, and all exhibiting a high amount of excellence both in size and quality. The society's curates, Mr. Corrigan, attends daily, and will give every information es to the amount of yield in the various kinds sad is martens localities. To this stand Mr. Dugan contributes some Irish butter, which fully sustains the naticual reputation as regards this great staple, and will boar a comparing' with that of Holland or any other country. Subjoiaed is the list of prizes at the cattle show : DEVON'S. _ _ Claw I. First prise of 251. to No. 5, the Earl of Leine ter, Holkhant Hall, Norfolk ; Silver Medal to the brooder, the Earl of Leicester. &rood prise of 101., to No. 4. Mr. Georg* Tuner, Barton, near Easter. Class 2. First prise of 251. to No. 19, Mr. John Coate, HlllllllOOl. near Woodford ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. Edward Bond, Htiathaeld, ow Taunton. Sowed Prise of 101. to No. 9, the Earl of Leicester, Holkhani Hall, Norfolk. C 1... 3. Pint prise of 151. to No. 21, Mr. Samuel Farth ing, /Rower Court, near Bridgwater; Savor Medal to the breeder, Mr. Jobs H. Farthing, Nether &away, sear Bridgwater. THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 1853 Class 4. First prise of 201. to No. 27, the Had of Leicee• ter, Holkhatn Hall, Norfolk ; Silver Medial to the breeder, the Earl of Leicester. Second peso of 101. to No. _ti, Lord Portman, Bryanstone, near Slandford. HEREFORDS. Clan 5. First prize of 251 to No. 31, the Earl of Radnor, Cotentin llou.e , Barka; Silver Medal to tho breeder, the Lin of Radnor. Second prize of 10/. to No. 31, Mr. Josh. Phillips, Ardington, near Wastage. Class 6. First prize of 251. to No. 36. Mr. Isaac Niblett, Conygro Farm Fitton, Lear ;Bristol ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. T. L. Meire, Coons. Harbour, Shrewsbury. Second prize of 101. to No. 37, Mr. John Phillips, Aiding. ton, near Wantsge. Class 7. First prize of 151. to No. 49, Mr. Rob. Boman, Moreton in blanh, Gloucester ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. Josh. Day:toil, Kinglet. near Monter. Second prize of 51. to No. 48, Mr. Josh. Phillips, Ardington, near Wan tags. Class 8. First prize of 20/. to No. 50, Mr. W. S. Cart- wright, Stow Hill, Newport, Monmouth ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. Henry Collins, Newport, Monmouth. Second prize of 101., no competition. SHORT HOILNS. Class 9. First prize of 251. to No. 52, Mr. Richard Stratton, Broad Hinton, near Swindon ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. Richard Stratton. Second prize of 101. to No. 53, Mrßuben Lyan. Strortoo, neer Grantham. Class 10. First prize of 25/. to No. 62, Mr. Risbard Stratton, Broad Hinton, near Swindon ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. Richard Stratton. Second prize of 101. to No. 61, Mr. Edward Fruit, West Wratling Hall, Linton, Cam bridge. Class 11. First prizo of 15;. to No. 74, Mr. Joseph Phillips, Ardiogton, near %Vantage ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. Thomas Game, Broadrnore, near Nortbleach. Second prize of 51. a, No. 73, Mr. Henry Ambler, Watkin s** Hall, near Halite:. Clam 12. First prize of 20/. to No. 81, Mr. Henry Smith, the Grove,Cropwell Butler, Bingham, Notts; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. William Smith, West Rases. Second prise of 101. to N. 89, Mr. Henry Roberts, Paztord, war Mosley, Worcester. SCOTCH, WELSH, OR IRISH. Class 13. The prise of 101. to No. 100, the Rev. J. Ark wright, Mark Hell, Harlow, Essen. Class 14. The prize of to No. 105, the Earl of Leicester, Holkbam Hall, Norfolk. OTHER PURE BREEDS. - - - - Clan 15. The fame of 101. to No. 107, Mr. J. H. Gurney, Esatca. near Norwich; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. 0. S. Kett, Brooke, Norfolk. Chios 16. The prize of 101. to No. 110, Mr. James Caine,, Chesleboroe. sear Dorchester; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. James Danis, Melcotabe Horsey, near Dorchester. CROSS OR MIRED BREED. Clue 17. 11;eprize,4 iii. to No. M r. William Hewer, Severrhampton, near Highworth ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. William Hewer. Clue 18. The prize of 151. to No. 114, the Earl of Dam. Icy, Cobham Hall, Gravesend; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. John Roger., Leddicott, near Leominster. Clam 19. The prize of 191 to N 0.120, Mr. W. M. Ferrer, Kempetone Lodge, Swaffltam ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. Christopher Twiss, Swardeston Hall, Norwich. _ _ LONG WOOLLED SHEEP. _ _ _ Class 20. First prise of . hr. To NT;.145, Mr. O. S. Fol jambe, Osherton-hall, Worksop ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. G. S. Foljnmbe. Second prize of 101. to No. 147, Mr. J. Mudtord, Hoe•9elds, Thurlaston, Hinck ley. Third prise of 6/. to No. 14S, Mr. lt. F. Hall, Healey-hall, near Bawtry. Class 21. First prise of 201. to No. 155, Mr. G. S. Fol jambe, Osberton-hall, Worksop; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. G. S. k'eljambe. Second prize of 101. to No. 151, the Marquis of Exeter, Burghley-puk, Stamford. Tnird prise of 51. to No. 153, Mr. it. L. Bradshaw, Barley on-the-Hill, near Oakham. LONG WOOLLED (NOT LEICESTERS). Class 2 . 2. The prize of 101. to No. 160, Mr. W. Slitter, Stratton, near Cirencester ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. W. Slitter. CROSS-BRED SHEEP. Clem 23. First pries of 101. to No. 181, Mr. S. Druee, Eynshatn, near Oxford ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. S. Drum. Second prise of 51. to No. 192, Mr. John Hitch. man, Little Milton, near Wheatle• , Oxon. Class 24. The prize of 101. to No. 188, Lord Wilsingbam, Merton-hall, Thetford ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Lord Walsingham. SHORT WOOLLED SHEEP. Class 23. First prize of 201. to No. 207, the bake of Rich mond, Goodwood, near Chichester ; Silver Medal to the breeder, the Duke of Richmond. Second prize of 101. to No. 206, Mr. William ll..gdeo, Hove, near Brighton. Class 26. The prise of 101. to No. 220, the Duke of Rich mond, Goodwood ; Silver Medal to the breeder, the Duke of Richmond. Clam 27. *lnt prize of 201. to No. 229, the Duke of Richmond, Goodwood ; Silver Medal to the breeder, the Duke of Richmond. Second prize of 101. to No. 234, the Earl of Radnor, Coleshill Ileum, Berks. SHORT WOOLLED (NOT 'OUTHDOWNS). Claw 28. The of 101. •Ni "" Mr. "*. prize _ _ to No. 241, _-:. Stephen Kum, Old Hayword Farnt,Haagerford ; Silver Modal to the breeder, Mr. Stephen King. FIGS. Clue 29. First prise of 101. to No. 259, Mr. :oho Coate, Hammoon, near Blandford ; Silver Medal to Ow breeder, Mr. John Coate. Second prise of 61. to No. 267, H.R.H. Prince Albert. Class 34. First prise of 101. to No. 281, H.R.H. Pianos Albert; Silver Medal to the breeder, H.R.H. Prince Albert; Second prise of 61. to No. 272, Mr. John Coate, Hamraoon, near Blandford. Class 31. First prise of 101. to No. 284, Mr. John Coate, Hammoon ; Silver Medal to the breeder, Mr. John Coate. Second prise of 61. to Mr. E. L. Betts, Preston Hall, near Maidstone. GOLD MEDALS. - - - Gold Medal, for thebest ewer or o; in Classes 1,2, 6,6, 9, 10, 16, 17, or 18 to No. 62, to Mr. Richard Stratton, of Broad Hinton, near Swindon ; Gold Medal, for the best beihr or cow in Classes 3,4, 7,8, 11, 12, 16, or 19, to No. 81, to Mr. Henry Smith, of The Grove, Cropwell Butler, near Bingham, Notts ; Gold Medal, for the best pen of lonrwoolled sheep, in Classes 20, 21. or 2/, to No. 146, to Mr. G. S. Follambe, of 04berton Hall, Worksop • Gold Medal, for the best pen of short-woolled shot e, in Closes, 26, 26, or 28, to No. 207, to the Duke of Rishtaoad, of Goodwood ; Gold Medal, for the bast pin of pip, in Clam 29, 30, or 31, to No. 281. to his Boyal Highness Prime Albert. EXTRA STOCK. Silver Modal fur tit;;;s7Weel4, 123, Mr. Charles Barnett, of Birettas Park, Big,laiwade, Beds; Silver Me. dal, for the boot laskwoolled stump, to No. 171, Lord Bet , sere, of Keythorps Hall, Tepby ; Silver Medal, fee the best short-wooded sheep, to No. 244, tke Dake of Risk stood, of Goodwood; Silver Medal, for the beat arose-brut slap to No. 204, Mr. John 'liaise's, of Little Milton, soar WINIIISiiver Medal, for the best pig, W 771, Mr. W. J. Sadler , of Bentham Porton, sear Swin don. COMMENDATIONS. HIOHLT COMMINDID. —No. 41, Mr. Josh. Phßlips's Hereford steer ; No. 83, Mr. Isaac Nilrlsessitert hem sew ; No. 183, Mr. Charles Howard's cress had weds= I No. 195, Mr. Jima Fetcher, jua., areartmed ; N. 129, Mr. Charles Howard'. crow-bred sheep ; No. 201. Leal Berasn's craw-bred sheep ; No. 211, Mr. John Willism's South-dews within; No. 219, Mr. Wss. Rimlea's &Mk down withers ; No. 238, Mr. Wm. King's Weeemaratry dews wethen ; No. 249, Mr. John William's lientiewa sheep; No. 266, Mr. George Sextsa's Senthaews sheep N. 264, Mr. W. C. Cartwright's improved Middlesex pigs ; No. 277, Mr. Stewart Majoribealm's Sags& sad Yorkshire pMs ; No. 286, Mr. Simnel Dean, Ns., improved Oxfordshire sad Emu pigs. COMMANDID.—No. 10, Mr. W.M. Gibb's Dena steer ; No. 43, Mr. J. H. Giusey's Hereford steer; No. 63, Mr. Robert Lynn ' s short-hors ; No. 189. Earl of Leicester's Down and Leicester sheep ; N.. 206, Mr. E. F. Whining cress-bred sheep ; No. 222, Sir R. Throakatortmes purl Sneer within; No. 261, Mr. J. 0. Willis.'. im proved Leicester pigs. ANNUAL WINTER POULTRY SHOW. Nut in importance to the cattle show is the so anal winter exhibition of poultry projected by Kr. Tyler, , the proprietor of the Surrey Zoological Gardens, and hold at the New Hone Bazaar recently mead near the Elephant and Castle. The building itself is admirably adapted for the purpose, bolas of great interior extant, sad furnished with spacious galleries, rood whisk the poultry an h arranged. There is also • large and comfortable refresh malt room, easy of access, and amply supplied with area tars comforts. The show of this year affords gratifying proof of the iacroassd interest taken is the rearing of poultry, and of eh* progress mods I. bringlag each variety to perfection. The Docking. and Polaads are the best part of the exhibition. Cochin" are not so strong as at some provincial shows, sad seem going out of favour. The plumpness of the gesso is of pleasant augury for Christmas dinner, and is worthily emulated mi • smaller seals by the ducks, to which it swan Massa attsatiaa is being paid by the farmers, in semcmjusiwo of reseal whole" in the papws. Of "hussy fowl," losfaii" s., there is the usual assortmost, but their MAW= NOM to have been wisely roads subordi nate, to thourro vista kinds of poultry. The pima fan cier has beam wall psovblad fee the collection of pigsosa being this most auto . sod boot salectod we have in spected for seals time. Ameapt them Mr. Bultb splendid pouter! " take the Rummest rank, pressating all the "_PeieW nag being moreover comfort ably loossi la y pans, which an BIM oallic the eye of visitor. Next to them to sans as Kr. Wickham's specimen, sad in oddities, pens of the " fantails," " der goy," "aimed toothless," Et., may be in gr eat numbers, sod of a high order of exciellence issi"et . Bes id es the legitimate ollonstiessaf the show, several inroatsys hare taus the oppartanity of exhibiting their ingenious mashlassfir pospeolog food for paltry, sad for making sousmos their korona companion in culinary combins. lions. 000 afthass letter, exhibited by Mr. Lyoa of Wind mill-Most, appeared to us to perform its work in a highly satislastery manner, and has this advantage, as the investor inhumed cas t with peculiar emphasis, that, " We ooald ass what west in "—a thing generally considered to be • de sideratum with the consumers of sausages. Altogether the show is well worthy of • visit, and forms as admirable pendant to the cattle show, from which the Atlas mail'us sets dm axe to the gate. BANK OF AUSTRALASIA. Yesterday the half-yearly meeting of proprietors was held at the °Sees, 8, Austinfriars ; Mr. FAURE!' is the chair. The report stated—" In presenting their half-yearly statement, the directors have again to congratulate the proprietors on the prosperous condition of the bank. The latest advices received from the respective branch establish ments afford e video*, of the satisfactory progress and coo tinned increase in the general business, and fully justify the directors in stating that the profits during the year of account, ceding In October last, will exceed those of the preceding year. Under these circumstances, the directors have no hesitation in announcing that the formation of • permanent guarantee fund, which it has long been their desire to create, and which has been so strenuously urged by the proprietors themselves, is now • matter of certain attainment. The directors entertain no doubt, that after providing for the payment upon the shares for the ensuing yew, at the present rate of 16 per cent. per annum, the affeounte to be submitted in June next will show they have been enabled to separate and set apart, u a gua rantee fund, the sum of 200,0001. to be reserved as a pro tection to the capital, the interest thereof being applicable to dividends. This important object being accomplished, a larger proportion of the profits, a, they may from time to time be realised, will then b e ava il a bl e f or future division. Branch banks were established in July in the thriving set tlerneats of Port Fairy and Portland Bay in the colony of Victoria, and another at Notelet) Bay in New South Wales is in course of formation. The directors have secured a valuable and advantageous site for hank premises in Threadneedle-street, the building of which will be com menced forthwith. The directors have again the satisfac tion of recording their sense of the services of the home establishment and of the several branch establishments in the colonies." The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report, said that at this period of the year the directors usually made the probable estimate for tee year, and in doing so they rather took a mederate view of what might eventually tun out. The course of events up to the present time had been satisfactory, without any drawback, and the profits to be declared in next June would exceed thou of last year. He, for one, anticipated that it might be the reverse, be cause he thought it probable, when the first flow of geld was over, that the profits arising therefrom would fall, and that they might therefore expect some drawback. Since October last the profits made did not arise so much from the purchase of gold as from the larger amount of exchange operations—(hear, hear)—which was • source of profit more likely to increase than diminish. The Chairman next referred with satisfaction to the circumstance that without trenching on the reasonable expectations of the share holders as to dividend, the directors would be able to set apart in June nest2oo,oool. as a permanent guarantee fund, which would increase the value of their shares in the mar. ket,:as was found to be the case in respect to • rival establish ment. This was smatter of safety, prudence, and expediency. Eery one remembered that some three or four years ago an imperious necessity compelled them to suspend dividends altogether. If they had a real and separate guarantee fund that calamity might never have happened. If similar cir cumstances Anne again they would be able to meet them with this gsaraatee fund to fall back upon. In April and October, 1850, they resumed the payment of dividends at three per cent. ; in 1851, they paid tour per cent. ; in April, 1852, they paid live per cent. ; in October, 1862, they paid six per cent. ; in the April and October of this year they paid fifteen per cent. ; and they fully expected, nay, they felt certain, that they would be able to pay the same amount of dividend at the nest declaration, and establish, at the same time, a g a fund of 200,0001. (Hear, hear.) The increase of business was satisfactory in every department. The money employed in the colony hitherto had been small, but within the last three months, that was to say up to July last, the increase is that branch of business was larger than in any other. Their advances increased between April aced July from 980,0001. to 1,3,50,0001. Their circulation, which in October, 1852, was 860,0001., was 916,0001. in July. Their deposits, which in October, 1852, were 2,200,0002, were in July 3,82,5,0001. (Hear.) Besides this, they had in hand a very large amount of bul lion which came over to this country as occasion required to meet the bills drawn upon them. In consequence of the increase of business, Mr. Milliken and Mr. Waterston, and the other officers of the company, both at home and abroad, had an enormous extent of business thrown on them. In proof of this, he might mention that the in surances effected en produce coming to this country during ten months amounted to 8,800,0001. They receded during the same period 620,500 oats. of gold dust, which had to be taken care of and sold. The drafts drawn upon the Londoa bank during the same period amounted to 2,800,0001. Yet all this, he was proud to say, had been dons without the occurrence of a single mistake. (Hear.) Neither was the office of director at the present time any sinecure ; for in one weak they accepted 1244 bills, amount ing to 496.2341. They must depend on their servants in the colonies for the soundness and legitimate character of their business ; and, to their credit, he must say that he was not aware of a bad debt last year to the amount of 1001. (Hear, hear.) He must also congratulate the proprietors on having, at last, secured a most convenient site for the new pre mises. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Vindots, whilst he acknowledged the satisfactory ' nature of the report, took exception to the giving • ground rent of 1,3001. for the new premises, when they could get the same extent of ground on the site of the Excise Office for 1,1001. The Cnaramats said that they were offered 1,0001. on their bargain sines they made the purchase. Besides, they mould let off a portion of the site in Threadneedle-street, which would bring them 4002 or 6001. • year. Mr. Berjeant GARBLER congratulated the shareholders on the establishment of the guarantee, but it would be an additional satisfaction if.the money were lodged in Consols. The report was then adopted, and votes of thanks passed • to the theirmaa, directors, and officers of the company. THE FOREIGN CORN TRADE. —•— (Feces the Nark-tam Brows.) Last Tuesday's advices from the Baltic state that the weather had become frosty, and Los bad already been formed es many of the riven • as early closing of the navi gation was consequently expiated, and the vessels which had not previously completed their cargoes were being loaded as fast as possible, to guard against the risk of being frozen in. " - rtLitt, bunnies had bees nearly brought to • stand ; • few were being leaded for Holland, but for Eng lund thine win hardly anything being shipped. Prime had resesisad semlselly sr blew The **Wag is of cold wea ther had inspenedthe senillies of the sew wheat. Frew SWIM woken OM the shipping season was fest drawing to s sins, and SW sleeks ladug been reduced into a very wren essegon, holders bad demanded full terms, end for good 61 lbs. rad wheat 70e. per qr , cat and freight, weediest asked. Of open °ors seemly any had ems forward._ - _ . ItcaToeicsel;ises of Tuesday state that the deliveries of grain frees des farmers had beam on a retail soak % and that stocks as the spot were by no means extreme. The I 'Feather was sold, sad ice was len&ning to form in the harbour. Further shipments from Psos are therefore not likely to be made. In prime no change had taken place @thee the preview pet day. Frees the nom costinental pert we have she accounts of the Mph' of fresh From Hamburg we learn that there was a deal of floating lee in the Elbe, sad that an early termites of the navigation was expected. Red upland wheat oa the spot, weighing 69105. per bested, had not bosa offered below 70s. 6d., and for 60ilbs. quality 75e. 6d. per quarter free en board had been asked. The offers fromonets had not been numerous, and high prises bad beenas k ed. Sln the Duteeasskets business appears to have bosoms quiet, and at Rotterdam en Monday wheat was rather easier to buy than es that day its'asight. For tarp beans 425., sad small 48s. per qr. free oa board had been paid. The reports from France are not quite so dull as they were lest week ,• sad at Paris, on Wednesday, wheat was hardly obtainable on as easy terms as on that day week. The esp quotation for wheat wee 61 francs—equal to 796.2 d. per an n i and the highest price for flour 625. ld. par sack el Min Nina the Mediterranean ports we learn that no particu lar &maim had taken place in the value of wheat. At Mannino, ea the 24th of November, Polish Odessa wheat was meth Ns. 9d. up to 60s. 6d. per qqr. free on board. At Leghon t en thole& ult., Msrihacpeli was quoted 645. 6d. per qr. free ea leas& From Teisina, advises of the 24th of November inkem us that, though there was some pres ence on that market, egiden continued la favour of a rise, and wheat was = 6, lllst i r rata for January sad Fe w label skim dem the it appears that pre- Mot, prelim wean Wig made ea bath sides to awry ea the war with vigour, end all theumble of a pacific arrangement mutt be 'bendier& Modem bed beam given by the Tura ish government that vessels under the Russian flag would be eseellmed as lawful prim: in consequence of which, many Rumba ships whisk bad been previously laden with cent at Galata, Ito., had deemed it prudent to discharge their argoes, rather than proceed en their in tended voyage and run the risk of capture. There is m oon, therefore, to conclude that supplies from the Danube will be greatly interfered with, and the probability is that the war will cause a material falling :off in the quantity of grain calculated on from the Black flea, Aka. Letters from Odessa, dated 21st ult., state that steels had been materially reduced there and that holders of prods in warehouse had shown in creased firmer. The Wt sales had been at 31s. to : 38s. per qr. foe soft Polish, according to quality. Soft (Mirka had staged in value from 295. to aZe. per qr. free On board. Freights were as high as at any previous period, 160 s. per ten (equal to 245. 10d. peo i r t hr ie reat) havisy bun paid for tallow to the United The Wm MI bow en a vary ex tensive seals, sail experts &wring the muck endlag Ilth Nov. bad entenneod to the Moist unposidentedly large quantity of MAIO chetweth. The ohipmere had been mostly ler France and Italy, the pieties far Great Britain having hen comparatively unilopereist From Alexandria we learn, under date of 18th ultimo, that the Viceroy had ceneented to allow of the export of the remainder of the stocks held at that port, amounting in all to 170,000 quarters of grain and pule*; but that the boats frets the interior would be stopped at Atti until the whole of the quantity in port had been skipped, when all expert would cease. The Americas advice@ are of a somewhat more subdued tame, but prices had been well maintained, sad flour is too high on the other side of the Atlantic to leave much margin for profit in the English markets. SUICIDE AT THE PIAZZA, COVENT-GARDEN.—Te•- tarday a sine's named Tome, who was staying at the Piazza Hotel, committed nicht* in hie bedroom. The cuss of this unhappy aosurrnos is &trend unknown. DRAMA. --a - HAYMARKET. 1 Mr. Stirling Coyne's comedy, The Hope of the Family, was repeated last evening. The second night of a new play is always a more severe test than the first ; but Mr. Coyue's excellent piece went triumphantly through the trial. It was warmly applauded by a full house ; and its success is now enured. It wee followed by a farce or ex ravayanss called Any Port in a Storm ; of which we must say that we regretted to witness the performance of such apiece at the Haymarket Theatre. We cannot believe that Mr. Beekstone had read it, or paid say attention to its pro duction. Had he done so, his taste and judgment would assuredly have led him to rejects thing so utterly unworthy of his house. It was a coarse imitation of the lowest kind of fame exhibited at some of the Parisian miner theatres ; but without a spark of the wit and spirit which, on the French stage, are the redeeming qualities of pieces of very questionable propriety. The audience tolerated it to the close ; but it was then so soundly hissed, notwithstanding some partial attempts at applause, that we can scarcely suppose it will be again brought before the public. ADELPHI. Thirst of Gold ; or, the Lost Ship, and the Wild Flower of Mexico, • Dew nautical melodrama, in flee tableaus, was produced last night at this theatre with marked manifestations of suceesa. The story opens with the tableau of the ship Eugenie, Captain Jules de Valois (Mr. C. Selby), and sailors, Gali leo (Mr. Keeley), Porpus (Mr. Paul Bedford), ite., with Pedro (Mr. Webster) as a passenger. Blanche de Valois (Madame Celeste), the captain's wife and their child. Marie, are also on board. Pedro is a man of cool and calculating character and of swelling ambition. He has beard from the only survivor of some men who were wrecked on the coast of California in 1705 (the time of the story), that that place abounds in gold. With this knowledge, having stabbed the man who gave it to him, he lays the first step of the ladder on which he mounts to power and rank. He contrives to get several men, whom he inflames with the prospect of gold, as sailors on board the " Eugenie." They mutiny during the voyage, Mr. Paul Bedford, " like a tower erect," leading the " rebel hest," whilst Mr. Hotly is among the faithful found. Fortune, however, remained on the side of the strong battalions on this occasion, and De Valois, his wife and child, are lowered into the boat, and sent adrift. Guillot, after wounding Pedro in the neck, jumps overboard, and is picked up by De Valois's boat. So ends tableau the first. The next to- I bleau represents the Arctic Regions, a capitally painted scene. The boat has drifted to these deepand cold solitudes, and a painful portraiture of the misery and privations en dures' is exhibited—the too deep colouring of the seen* somewhat, however, relieved by a description of Keeley's great fight with the white bear, and pleasant recollections of Putney—his native home. At last the ice breaks up, and the child, Marie, alone on a fragment of iceberg, seems to have a possibility of escaping. The brething up of the ice and the rush of waters which concluded this tableau, was admirably executed and greatly applauded. From this to the next tableau—the Bay and Landscape of Mexico— also a flue picture—fifteen years are suppesed to have passed. Here we find Pedro decked in the richest cos tume, and abounding in gold, preparing to set sail for France, and to acquire by means of that potent weapon the power and dignity he so much covets. The Countess de Bfissac (Mrs. Leigh Murray) the sister of Madame de Valois and her niece Adele are also preparing to sail for France which is their native country. Meanwhile a fight takes place with some of the India*, who are beaten off. Bat a girl of the white skinned race is taken, who exhibits the most decided repugnance to Pedro, now the Marquis D'Arres, the moment she seas him. The marquis is struck with the resemblance of Unarita (Madame Celeste) who sow represents the young Marie, for so the wild flower is now called, to Madame dc Valois, but the difference in their ages assures him of the impossibility of his suspicion notwithstanding some vague recollections which she manifests of former seams does not leave him without anxiety. They sail for Fran*, where the next two tableaux represent splendid apartments in the Hotel de Brissac and the Hotel n'Arres, both maintained from the exhaustless funds of the Marquis, who has become passionately fond of Unarita, whilst he behaves with imperious insolence to all besides. His in fluence with the regent is unbounded, and as he has become more and more awake to the consciousness of some tie between Unarita and the De Seismic", he resolves to send them back to Mexico, in order to enjoy without fear the earnings of his villany. Meaa while Unarita is becoming, day by day, more con. Ada= of her former self. The sudden appearance of euillot, who was picked up by a Danish boat after the breaking up of the ice, pronounces the name of "Marie," end recalling other circumstances of her early voyage to lime:memory, :opens the world of her childhood ; she sees bet mother in herself, and the murderer of that mother and of her father in the man who seeks her hand—the man who sow surrounded by all the pomp and show and circum- Mows of this world. Her plans are taken; she winds nand D'Arves, obtains possession of all his secrets, unravels all his villanies, and at the very moment wham he is expecting to be united to her, blasts his fame, and his hopes, and his love, and finally hands him over to the officers of justice. In bringing about the dinossensent and the exposure, the omnipresent Keeley Imo no small share. The success of the piece was not unde served. The story, though somewhat too much drawn out, end Improbable in some parts, is well pat together as a pro whole, and the moral of the piece—that law and duty are superior to gold and power—naturally developed. The diameter of Pedro—a man of unbounded ambition, in flexible will, and insatiable avarice —cool, keen, and Galen latingt__la uniformly drawn—was admirably played by Mr. Webster, whilst Madame Celeste was equally happy in depicting the depths of woe, the wild imaginings of the lovely savage, and the indignant outbursts of the injured woman. There is one grave fault, however, which we must notice in the construc tions of her character. We can readily account from her in ters:onm wi th savage life during fifteen years for some of her strange moods and modes when brought into contact with civilised and Parisian life. Bat by no possibility could suit a being all at once divest herself of them and assume a • y and diplomacy in dealing with D'Arvez. At the ooncinsion of the play there was a call for the author, when Mr. Webster cams forward and stated that it wee the production of a gentleman in Paris in connexion with himself, who wished his name to remain unknown. A novelty was produced here yesterday evening, entitled the Wise hatts of the East, or the Magic Gong, a Chinese spectacle in three acts, written by Mr. G. Almar. The chief attraction was the introduction of two elephants, which had been most carelully trained in the parts assigned to them and which throughout almost monopolised the applau se of the evening. The plot or story of the piece, so far ma it could be made out, does net require to be much dwelt upon. At the commencement Nubian's, surnamed the Sunbeam, is being forced into a marriage with Terme the Tartar or Tiger, a worshipper of the aven ging deities of evil, a sort of Cksifee Froatdebenf, who hoe previously em loyed a follower to assassinate ea English husband of the Pad in the name of the Hon. Capt. Sir Ernest A veiled prophet—he of Khoraassa having, it is presumed, been transported to China for the occasion— vainly attempts, is the interest of Arden, to rescue the unwilling bride, though, by mesas of a magic gong, the symbol of his he strikes terror into the guilty soul of Tirane. The vi ctim is ultimately sonveyed to a castle of her oppressor ; and just as her little son by the lost Englishman is, by order of Tararre, about to be blown to atoms as part of the ammunition of a Chi nas mason, Ardea appears on the battlements at the head of a larp force, and after a brief sad very noisy struggle, sitermination and a tableau are presented which both mo rally and pictorially are entirely satisfactory to the spec- tators. The piece depends for its modicum of fun on the mishaps and adventures of an Hibernian traveller, named Sir Gulliver Munchassen Wide-awake O'Leary, who, to gether with a Mr. Azainadahl Huum-Sarum Stripes, a Yankee adventurer, manages oat of small materials to keep the house sufficiently amused. As before intimated, how ever, the elephants justly occupy the first place. Beginniag with the simple picking up of a pocket handkerchief, the ani mals advance in their tests till they spin round on small tubs like a testotum, and rival the feats of the posture-master. At the end of one of the seta, the curtain having dropped , and • cry of " encore " being raised, it was responded to by an elephant kicking up its two hind legs and standing for some seconds on his two fore-limbs. The spectacle was followed by a fair amount of equetriaaism, and this again by the first act of the extravaganza, entitled " Jupiter's Decree." The audience was quite as large a one as could have bun expected on a damp dismal night. MR. ALBERT SMITH'S ASCENT OF MONT BLANC. and as well worth hearing as any of the old. The sisoond part is occupied entirely by the ascent, and is, of course, unwind, relating as it does purely to circumstan tial narration. The third part is devoted to the Simplon. In this we come across more eccentric travellers—old and new friends. Mr. Brown, a pedestrian, who walks ell over the world with no other luggage than two shirts and four socks, is a capital contrast to the overloaded gentleman, whew knapsack was packed up by his sisters last year. We meet also the ill-fated Mrs. Seymour, whose black box laid so heavily on her heart, after it was lat. She was very nearly finding it this ti me , b ut not quite ; and she left the raconteur unde r th e impression that it had fallen into the hands of the Russians —in which cue there was of course no hope. The song of " Galignsni's Messenger '• here takes a new shape, being adapted to the immediate topics of the day. The new scenic views, especially those in the last part, are a wel come addition. That of the Lago Maggiore, the last of all, was perhaps tirst as a piece of effect. Everything, in fact, went off in a satisfactory manner, and to the pertect con tentment of a numerous audience, which, it is said, would have been twice as numerous, but for the limited dimen sions of the room. SINGULAR CASE OF SUFFOCATION.-FOUR LIITS LOST. On Saturday, Mr. Badger held an inquest at Elsecar, en the bodies of Pticcbe Sadler, aged 53; her daughter and son, Ann Sadler, aged 19, and John Sadler, aged 15 ; and a lodger, named William Warrick, aged 48, all of whom had been suffocated in their bedrooms during the night of Thursday last. Elsecar is a populous village situate between Rotherham and Barna!ey. The Elsecar Iron-works are close to the village, and about a miltdistant are the Milton Iron-works. Bath properties belong to Earl Fitzwilliant, and are occupied and worked by Messrs. W. 11. and G. Dawes. The must northern of a short row of houses abuts upon one of the blast furnaces at the Elsecar Iron-works. This house was occupied by the four deceased persons. Benjamin Sadler, &gel 12, son of Phoebe Sadler, was employed at the Milton Iron-works, and, being on the "night shift," left home to go to his work a little after six o'clock on Thursday evening ; the rest of the family retired to bed about ten o'clock, being then in their usual health. Mrs. Sadler and her daughter and son, the latter of whom was lame, occupied a bed in the front bedroom, and Warrick, the lodger, slept alone in the back bedroom. Benjamin Sadler returned from his work at half past seven o'clock on Friday morning. His knocks for ad mittance received nn answer, and after alarming some of the neighbours he entered the house through the kitchen window. The spectacle which met his sight on going up• stairs emote his young heart with dismay. Mother, sister, brother, and lodger—all were corpses. The lodger was lying upon his back on the floor at the foot of his bed; Mrs. Sadler and her son Xilin were lying at the foot of their bed clasped in each other's arms ; his sister lay en the bed, having to all appearance passed undisturbealy from the slumber of repose to that of death. All the rooms were filled with a white vapour, and the air was strongly impregnated with sulphur. Several persons who entered the house shortly after the buy, observed white vapour issuing from crevices in the kitcueu jest above the floor in both the house and kitchen. The bodies appeared to have been dead about bill hours. e following is the evidence of Mr. Janice Haywood, professional chemist, Sheffield: " I have this (Saturday) afternoon examined the pro mises where the dead bodies are lying. The house consists of two lower rooms and two bedrooms; the north wall of the lower rooms being built against the aide of the stack of the bleat furnace, and the same wall of the upper rooms being connected with the furnace by an arch and a quantity of brick work three feet thick. The level of the giound floor is about twenty feet from the bottom of the furnace. At this point, immediately connected with the house-wall, there is a large crock, discharging vapour, in which I could recognise the odour of cyanide of I:otassium. There is an other crack in the brick work of the house-wall, through which also this vapour is passing. The brickwork of the wall is so loose that any discharge of vapour or gas from the furnace might find its way not only through this crack but through m-ny others. I have no doubt, from the evi dence I have heard, that the deaths of these parties have resulted from inhaling the vapour of cyanide of potassium. my opinion is confirmed by the following facts :—There , being fire burning in the house all night would show , that the parties have not died from Whaling combustible gases, as the fire would have inflamed any such gases issuing from the furnace in a sufficient quantity to cause death. To my knowledge, there is always a large quantity of vapour of cyanide of potassium in the lower port of a smelting , furnace, which vapour is highly poisonous. A very small r quantity, I should say an ounce, of cyanide of potassium , converted into vapour would kill the deceased." ; The furnace stack is old and dilapidated, being screwed , together with girder rods to prevent its opening from being ; expanded with beat, but it does not appear any annoyance had been previously suffered by the inmates of the house from sulpnur. The jury returned a verdict " that death had been caused by inhaling the vapour of cyanide of potassium.' HIGHWAY ROBBERY BY A MILITIA STAFF- SERGIAN T. On Friday night a daring highway robbery was committed near Derby by Joseph Whyman, one of the staff of the Derbyshire Militia. WEyman had met during the evening a private of the 95th Regiment of Foot, named George Jeryis, who had corn, over to Derby on furlough, and both having served in the same regiment in China, they went to a public•house and had a glass of grog to gether. Jervis was making his way to the railwaystation, intending to visit some friends at Sheffield. Whyman volunteered to accompany him to the station, but instead of taking him the nearest way, he went up Osmaston-read , and when they had reached Litehereb-lane he suddenly knocked his comrade down, and swore be would have money and his life. Jervis having his knapsack on his back, could scarcely make any resistant , -, and he told him he might have what money he had got about him, if he would oily spare his life. Whyman replied, with an oath, " I'll have your money and your life too," and gave him a severe blow on the head. Jervis called out " Murder," and a fearful struggle took place between them, but eventually Whyman, hearing some one spprosching, ran away, taking with him 18s. abstracted from Jervis's pocket. Jervis raised the cry of "Stop thief!" and directly afterwards a railway policeman, who was on duty on the Derby and Biz miagham line, close to where the assault and robbery took plat*, came up to his assistance, and they went is pursuit, but did not succeed in capturing him. Whyman however, wee apprehended shortly afterwards, and he has been com mitted for trial at the next assizes. Whystan, a sheet time ago, purchased kis discharge, in order to become one of the permanent staff of the Derbyshire militia. SHOCKING COAL PIT ACCIDENT.—An inquest was held yesterday, at Pendlebury, near Manchester, by W. S. Rutter, Est., county coroner, on the bodies of two colliers killed at the Agecroft Colliery of Messrs. Knowles, on the previous Thursday. The deceased, Robert Beckett and Robert Hilton, had gone to work by themselves in the pit on Thursday morning, and it is supposed that early is the musing they had been buried by • fall of earth from the roof of one of the workings. Their wives went in search of these at seine public houses on Thursday evening, sup pain that they had left the pit as usual, and were stopping an tie way to drink instead of returning home. Neat ewninngg they inquired at the colliery, and then it was re eaUeeted they hat sent no coal out of the pit after about nine o'clock on Thursday morning. A. search was man is the pit, and then their dead bodies were found Wiwi under a fall of earth from the roof. Verdict, acci dental death. THE MURDER ON BOARD THE REINDEER.—The widow of Captain Wilson, who was murdered on board the , Reindeer while navigating his vessel from Valparaiso to Monte Video, has received the following note from the I Board of Trade :—" Office of Committee of Privy Council, &e., Nov. 19, 1853.—Madam, In reply to your letter, I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade to acquaint you that four prisoners belonging to the late crew of the Reindeer, of whom one wee • British @object, have been arrested by the authorities at Buenas Ayres, on suspicion of being concerned in the murders on board that vessel, will in all probability be tried and dealt with according to the laws of that province.—Your obedient servant, LOUIS Bovril." THE GREAT FIRE IN THAMES-STREET.—The ex- , ertions of the differeat brigades did not succeed in com pletely extinguishing the fire which broke out about mid night on Saturday until noon yesterday. The damage is even more extensive than was feared, but very little of the property destroyed was insured. Meson. Saunders are not insured at all, and Messrs. Goeriefi and Co. axe, but to a very inadequate extent. The property of Messrs. Otley and Co., which occupied the lower stories, was not materially Mr. Albert Smith boa been ascending Mont water. The accident is attributed to the overheating a one injured try fire, but the basement is several feet deep in Blanc, conversationally and pictorially, until his entertain- of DEATH st°°°° . riot in ment has become one of the institution of the country. PROM r ElOHE.—intring a recent riot in Whendt commeneed will soya be beyond the recollection of Kirkcudbright, a young woman of the name of Mary Bar- ' the oldest man about town ; and when it will end, the clay was so much alarmed by the noise in the street, that yOttagat in his most sanguine moments dares not to anti. with a shriek she leaped on the floor, and her reason for Even at the present period, when its popularity ever fled. She died the following morning.—. North British bee sot seem to have reached its height, it has been found Mail. neemeary (according to the programme) to make THE " QUEEN'. LETTER." Means, it would Made and Persian laws restraining the impatience appear, have been found of mollifying Lord Palmerston, and of the audience, preventing loungers from interfering with of enabling the Globe to come forth, though tardily, with listeners, banishing bonnets from the stalls, end securing the declaration that the statement that the Queen's Letter seats for provincial admirers by post.effice orders, electric has been refused to the Society for Propagating the Gospel telegraph, or some process of the kind. wants truth," and that the Royal Letters will issue as Last evening—the commencement of the third season—a usual. Although the authority we had received for the great impetus was given to the original entertainment by fact was of the highest order of respectability, the fact itself the addition of various novelties. In the first place, the seemed nearly incredible. But we have since been satis decorations of the room are entirely changed. The interior fled that the original statement was literally and strictly of a Swiss chalet has given place to the exterior of a Swiss true. We believe that the Globe of Friday and village—with cafés and rock-work, and everything charm- the Times and Chronicle of Saturday did not give any tirade and complete, the front of the proscenium (which contradiction of our statement, simply because they could net be improved) still looking mystic with its water could not. In • word, up to Friday night things and water lilies, portable gas, and so forth. remained in the position in which we had described them. The material of the entertainment is also chinned. It is On Saturday, however, we apprehend that a change win divided Into three parts, the first and last of which—every- effected, and then, and not till then, the Globe was enabled thing, in short, but the actual ascent — being almost entirely guardedly to give • contradiction to the story. We say new. The first part is occupied with " The Bermes* Over- guardedly, for a more meek and gentle contradiction we land." The route from Boulogne to Basle un- never saw, all that is ventured to be said is merely that the dergoes a rapid description. Our old friend Mr. story is not true now, and that the Queen's letter will Pringle turns up at Zurich : he has "come to issue. Every word of our first statement may have been fish, and brought his flageolet with him "—need we say strictly true when it was written, and yet the Globe's state more ? Other old friends also turn up (including the per- meat may be quite true now. All that is needed to Tuna former of the " Moulin du Village," and the undecided cite the two statements is merely a change of mind. In • Mr. Parka, formerly of Cairo), in the midst of talk about word, we believe that the facts alleged by us were literally William Tall, the fall of Romberg, and other matters. The true, and that nothing has occurred sines but a little Minti ng that concludes this part—" The Feat Man "—is new, terial vacillation.—Morning Herald. I