The Press. — London, England, 1856-08-16 00:00:00

'176 Mr. Fergasou concludes that the adoption of the complicaul and expensive system of guarantee, under whch every railroad in India is being con structed, i, the strongest argument in support of his statement THE BISHOPS OF GLOUCESTER AND OF CHRIST CHURCH, NEW ZEALAND—the Rev. Dr. Charles Baring, and the Rev. Dr. Harper—were conso crated of Sunday last, in the Private Chapel, Lam beth Pelace, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishops of Oxford, Winchester, and Chichester. _ _ A To Box or SPADE GUINEAS was found on Monday afternoon, in the new Victoria-street, Farring don street. The workmen engaged in levelling the rubbish in the " ruins " near Victoria street, struck upon a small square tin box, extremely rusty. They at first threw it one side, but., hearing something rattle, opened it, and di"covered inside sixty-four spade guineas, eleven half-guineas, and twelve seven shilling pieces. MRS. MEAD, the wife of a silk warehouseman in the City, residing at Hammersmith, drowned herself in the Thames last week, from a morbid fear that she should never recover the effects of an attack of smallpox. At the inquest the jury returned a ver dict of " Unsound mind." THE LONDON AND MIDDLESEX ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, in a recent examination of the monuments in Westminster Abbey, noticed the erroneous and, in some instances, absurd descriptions given of the monuments, and those they are intended to comme morate, by the guides employed. The council of the society has since addressed a respectful commu nication to the Abbey authorities, offering to prepare for the use and information of the cicerones a correct description of the monumental contents of the Abbey, in order that history may no longer be perverted by them to the stranger, nor the ear of the antiquary or archaeologist scandalised by state ments which the first principles of his studies teach him are fabulous. THE INCITIIBENCY OF CLERICENIVELL, now vacant by the death of the Rev. W. E. L. Faulkner, will be the subject of a keen contest, as several clergymen have intimated their intention of becoming candidates for the appointment. The incumbency, which is a per petual curacy, worth about 3001. a year, is in the gift of the inhabitants, who proceed to the election in public meeting in the usual manner. The district of St. James—that which is now vacant—contains a population of about 36,000, and has been held by Mr. Faulkner since 1839. Attached to the benefice is the perpetual curacy of Pentonville Chapel, which is in the gift of the incumbent of St. James's. The election will take place in about a fortnight. DURING Snavice in St. Stephen's Church, West bourne-park Road, Paddington, last Sunday, a portion of the ceiling from the right hand gallery of the church fell with tremendous noise and dust. Every body rushed out of the church, and after a suspension of nearly a quarter of an hour the service was renewed, but before an extremely diminished congregation, to whom the worthy incumbent, who had exerted him self strongly to allay the excitement, stated that providentially no injury of serious import had been sustained. THE PARIS EXHIBITION CERTIFICATES of honourable mention of workmen have only lately been received at Marlborough-house in part from the French Government, with an intimation that the remainder should be sent shortly. When a workman, producing a proper authority identifying him, applies for his certificate, it is given to him. Three several applications have been made to the French authori ties on the subject. The last answer stated that " Les diplomes feront l'objet d'un envoi spicial."_ THE GRAND STAIRCASE OF THE ARMY AND NAVY CLUB is about to be enriched by the erection of a memorial window, in commemoration of officers who have fallen in the late war. The window, in the Venetian Italian style, will be composed of brilliant cut glass, with medallions exhibiting the names and dates of the battles, and the arms of the club. The architraves will be of Sienna marble, with panels of black marble, on which will be inscribed, m letters of gold, the names of the officers commemorated. A CHURCH BATE was refused at South Hackney last week by a majority of 371 to 202, on a poll demanded by the churchwardens. 11Essas. BROADWOOD'S large pianoforte manufac tory in Horseferry-road, Westminster, was almost totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening. The fire broke out soon after the workmen left the establishment, at six p.m., and, although it was of a comparatively trifling extent, almost immediately discovered, and the mains on the establish ment at once turned on, yet, from the failure of the supply of water after a few minutes, the flames broke out afresh, and before any engine could arrive had gained such a hold that, not only were the entire premises threatened with destruction, but from the vast extent of the fire the Chartered Gas Comnany and the whole of the immediate neigh bourhood wtra in great danger. In fact, so alarmed ere the gas company that they discharged their gas, TIE PRESS. while the inhabitants of the neighbouring houses com menced to remove their furniture. The brigade engines were soon on the spot, brit they succeeded in nothing beyond preserving the private houses around, and one separate range of Messrs. Broadwood's premises. The fire burnt itself out in the four central ranges of the manufactory, destroying property worth some 150,000/. The failure of the fire-mains in the establishment, in the first instance, is regarded as the cause of the total destruction of the premises, and the Chelsea Waterworks Company, who con tracted to keep the twelve mains well charged at six p.m. every evening, will, it is said, be brought to book by the insurance companies for the neglect. Upwards of ten houses around were more or less damaged. A MusEuM is about to be formed by the City Corporation in the crypt under Guildhall. THE REBUILDING OF COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE has not yet commenced. The reported commence ment of the rebuilding of the theatre on its late site is incorrect. The site has not been taken; neither has any contract for rebuilding the theatre been en tered into. A COFFIN, with the name of Jane Rayner outside, and containing a dead child, was dug up on Wednes day in the St. Pancras-road, near the gasworks. It is supposed to have been buried three years. The police are making active inquiries. THE NIGHTINGALE FUND has not received a SUM of 1,01. X) medjidie from the Sultan as a contribution. It was erroneously paid into the Bank to the account of Miss Nightingale, and the committee naturally con sidered it was intended as they described it. It is now, however, understood that it is a gift of the Sultan to the nurses who had served in the Crimea, and will be distributed among them, for which pur pose it will be at once transferred from the Bank to the authorities at the Warotfice, with whom, of course, the distribution rests. A SANATORIUM for the wealthier classes of society, founded by Mr. Jackson, a gentleman of fortune, has just been opened at Fortis-green, near High gate. The nature of this novel institution was described by Dr. Little at the opening dinner on Tuesday : It was the object of the founder to combine all possible public and private appliances—indeed, all that could be found in the largest hospitals, with every requisite of a first class mansion, and the most perfect modern hotel. The management was to be upon the most liberal scale. Any medical practitioner could place his patient to reside there, where would be found under one roof all the the rapeutic and sanitary raids necessary for carrying out instructions for the restoration to health of his patient. The practitioners now present could testify to the great want of such an establishment, especially in convalescent cases. The learned chairman then discussed at considerable length the nature of the undertaking, and concluded by stating that— The Sanatorium would have a resident medical officer always on the spot, a carefully appointed dispensary, ex perienced nurses and attendants, a most extensive suite of baths, horses and carriages to convey the patients to their medical practitioners in town, (to. The great ad vantages added to the noble mansion—healthy situation, the pure air, for which this suburb of London is so reputed, and its easy distance from London—insured its success. WILLIAM PowELL, a clerk in the employ of Mr. Parker, Goldsmith•street, Cheapside, on being taxed by his employer with embezzlement on Thursday, and given into custody, drew a pistol from his pocket and blew his brains out on the spot. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of "Felo-de•se." AN OVER-DRIVEN BULLOCK, 011 Thursday, while going through Ratobone-place, was struck by a carter with his whip. The beast became furious, dashed through the streets, gored a child to death, got into Portland-place, rushed up and down Oxford street and Regent-street, clearing the streets as he went and causing much confusion. He wag at length secured. THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL'S RETURNS for the week show an increase in the average of deaths. 1,232 deaths occurred, of which 28 were from summer cholera, and 211 from diarrho3a. 1,585 births oc curred in the same period. VroVintial. Mr. CARDWELL, M.P., at the dinner of the Man chester and Liverpool Agricultural Exhibition last week, alluded to the subject of agricultural statis tics : Its simple meaning was the wide diffusion of knowledge, as to which the tenant farmer was the person particularly and specially concerned. It was his interest to know at the close of the harvest what was its true state, in order that he might consider whether he ought to carry his newlygarneree. crop to the first market, or whether, from a right appreciation of the circumstances of the time, he should reserve its sale for a more favorable period. The merchants could obtain that knowledge. For that SATURDAY : purpose the corn merchants of Liverpool had almost elaborate arrangements, always making journeys through the country for the purpose of ascertaiuing first the prospects and then the state of the harvest. The tenant farmer had no such agency. He must be dependent upon some knowledge to be otherwise acquired. He told them emphatically that it was the interest of the tenant farmer, far more than of any other person, to have such knowledge diffused. There were two opinions as to the way in which these agricultural statistics should be obtained—whether by a compulsory enactment, or by the voluntary aid of the tenant farmer. It was his privilege during the short time he held office to co-operate with the tenant farmers in a voluntary arrangement for the purpose of obtaining statis tical information ; and the result of that experiment, with regard to the shrewd, intelligent, and far•aeeing tenant farmers of Scotland, was that almost without exception there was, from one end of Scotland to the other, universal and unmixed success. By a voluntary co-operation of the tenant farmers, they knew the whole acreage of ground under every kind of crop, and the state of the crops prior to harvest; and at an early period after the harvest had been gathered in, an estimate was formed and published by the authority of Government, which by experience had been found to be reliable in regard to the quality and value of the crops. FLOODS IN LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE have lately been very severe. The lowlands in the vicinity of the Irwell were completely flooded on Saturday night, and all traffic stopped on the turnpike roads. The Manchester and Sheffield Railway, in the neighbourhood of Woodhead, was also flooded, the rails carried aw ay, and the trains compelled to return to Sheffield or stop at Hadfield; one or two lives have been lost. The Yorkshire reservoir on Holme Stynes was the subject of greal anxiety, for fear of its disruption from these floods. THE MASTER CUTLER AND COMPANY OF SHEFFIELD were on Friday week presented with the gold medal of honour awarded to the town for the excellence of its manufactures by the Paris Exhibiticn Commis sioners. The presentation took place through the mayor, at the Cutlers' -hall. The Master Cutler, in reply to the congratulatory address of the mayor, said : There had no doubt been great improvements within the past few years in the manufactures of France and other countries, but they had been unable to cope with Sheffield, and if he knew his fellow•townsmen aright, they would continue to improve as heretofore, and, with the inherent industry proverbial to English manufacturers, maintain the rank and position they had achieved. He was satisfied that the material of the articles manufactured in Sheffield was now as good as that employed thirty years ago, while the workmanship was better. The gold medal, which was exhibited to the meeting, is very handsome and massive. It has been mounted in the centre of a plate of silver, and inclosed in an ebony frame. It is profusely orna mented, and bears an inscription stating that it was awarded to the town of Sheffield for the excellence of its manufactures displayed at the Exhibition of All Nations, at Paris, and that it was received from the hands of the Emperor of the French by Mr. Fawcett, the Mayor, and presented by the exhibitors to the Cutlers' Company. SEVERAL CASES OF DROWNING have occurred lately. Mr. J. W. Winslow, of Trinity College, Dublin, was drowned at Dover last week. It appeared that he went out in a machine, undressed, jumped into the water, and nothing more was seen of him. When the machine was pulled up it was only then disco vered that he had not returned. Several hours afterwards the body was found on the beach, but life was quite extinct. Mr. Winslow was only twenty one years of age, and had given early promise of great distinction. An inquest was held on the body on the 7th inst., and a verdict of "Accidentally drowned " returned. A correspondent writing to Cue Times on the subject says the bathing ground at Dover is so abruptly deep and dangerous that every non-swimming bather runs the greatest risk, and in case of accident could obtain no immediate help from a man in the machine, as the machines are let down the incline by ropes—the ground being too dangerous for horses. At Southport, Bristol, last week, two young men, Mr. Hutstein and Mr. Jack son, were drowned while bathing. Mr. Robert Stavert, the head of a Manchester German house, was drowned on Tuesday morning, off Scarborough, while bathing. He was drowned within sight of many persons on the beach, but no assistance could be rendered him from want of boats; and at Brodrick, near Glasgow, two gentlemen, Mr. Burrell and Mr. M'Dermod, were capsized while sailing in a small boat, and drowned. A YOUNG WOMAN who contemplated suicide and yet had not the courage to commit it was saved from death in a peculiar manner last week. She designed to throw herself over Shakespeare's Cliff, but pre ferred walking down the cliff so far as she could, taking a dose of laudanum, and lying partly on the edge of the cliff to go to sleep and trust to falling over before she awoke. In this position she was seen by some Coast Guardmen, who immediately got ropes, went down, and rescued her. She struggled hard when roused, but was ultimately brought up in safety. She has since been restored to her friends.