The Press. — London, England, 1857-12-26 00:00:00

1250 THE BISHOP OF LONDON preached in St. Peter's Church, Bethnal-green, on Wednesday. He had a large audience of the poorest classes, to whom he preached from the text, "Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God." HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND has, with her usual liberality, presented an additional donation of 251. to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, of which the noble duke is the president. THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS met on Wednesday for business ; Mr. Thwaites iu the chair. A case which had been prepared for counsel's opinion, as to the liability of the city of London to pay a share of the interest and principal of the 140,000/. main drainage loan, was approved, and ordered tl be laid be fore Sir Fitzroy Kelly and Sergeant Byles. The bill for the formation of a park for Southwark was postponed sine die. A WEST•END RAILWAY TERMINUS will soon he a reality. A commodious terminus is now being cog structed at the end of the Chelsea Suspension Bridge, affording a most convenient station for Chelsea and Belgravia. The works of the statior. are now being rapidly proceeded with, and Messrs. Bidder and Fulton, the engineers, state that the railway will be opened for public traffic about the middle of March. The terminus is within a tnile of Eaton and Be!grave squares, and a pier will be attached to the station, al which:lithe Citizen steamboats will call. The public will be enabled from this station to reach the following places, viz. :—Brighton, Dover, Ports mouth, Southampton, Richmond, Windsor, Reading, the Crystal Palace, &c. It is also intended to apply to Parliament during the next session for an act to allow the extension of the West-end Railway across the river, along the Grosvenor Canal, to near the west end of Victoria street, Westminster. It is therefore intended to apply to Parliament for powers to make a loop-line between Balham bill station and West Croydon station, to avoid the Crystal Palace station, by which some distance will be saved, the heavy gradients, sharp curves, and long tunnels of the West-end line will be avoided, and thereby enable the Dover and Brighton traffic to be worked with safety and punctuality. A SALE OF CURIOUS gANUSCRIPTS and scarce books took place recently at Messrs. Sotheby's. Amongst them was a very early transcript of the " Ltber Re galls," preserved with the Muniments of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, containing the " Ordo Coronationis Regum et Reginarum Anglite et de Exequiis Regalibus," as used at the coronation of Richard 11., in 1378. This venerable volume opens with directions for fitting up Westminster Abbey, and the manner how the King, the day previous to his coronation, is ti' ride bare-headed from the Tower to Westminster Palace, " that he may be seen by all his people." Next follow the various ceremonies to be used at the crowning of both King and Queen, the various fees to the convent of Westminster, the offices to be performed, &c. At the end are direc tions for funeral solemnities on the demise of a King. One of the most authentic and interesting documents ever offered for sale produced 471. 53. Caxton's edition of Cicero's " 'l'reatises on Old Age and Friendship," printed in 1481, sold for 2751., the same copy having been purchased at 471. 55., in Trotter-Brockett's library. THE LAUNCHING of the Leviathan will not be re sumed until the next spring tides, which happen at the close of the year and commencement of the ensuing year. In the course of Saturday and yester day morning gangs of labourers were employed in driving piles for the erection of fresh buttresses nearer the cradles. The hydraulic power which will be applied on the resumption of the operation will be more than double that to which the ship has already been subjected. There are to be twelve ad ditional hydraulic rams. She continues to sit even and /air on the cradles and ways. On Saturday, at high water, she had five feet six inches of water under her bottom. 'I HE USUAL WARDMOTES were held on Monday, and the election of Common. Councilmen proceeded with. On the whole there were fewer contests than usual, and in the majority of cases the old council men were re-elected. At some of the meetings animated discussion took place on such subjects as corporation reform, the City charities, the parochial rates, Jewish emancipation, and General Ilavelock's services. THE PRESS, DECEMBER 26, 1857. distant), and had got within a mile of Charlbury when the engine broke down and the train came to a stand still. An ordinary down train leaves Handborough five minutes after the departure of the express train, and while the express was standing on the down rails the ordinary train came up at full speed and dashed into it with terrible violence. Several per sons were most seriously injured, and though none were killed upon the spot, it is more than probable that injuries for life were inflicted.--The next day a more serious collision on the Stour Valley line, when the 11 a.m. Birmingham train, when nearing Dudley, was met by a coal train coming upon the same line to be shunted. In the collision which ensued up wards of twenty persons were more or less seriously injured.---Two days previously, a serious collision also occured on the Shields and Newcastle portion of the North Eastern Railway, a passenger train run ning into a coal train. Several dislocations and severe contusions were inflicted, but happily i no lives were lost. _ _ A COLLIERY EXPLOSION occurred at Barnsley last week, at the Stratford-main Colliery, by which two men were killed. The inquiry is pending. LORD FITZWILLIADI'S agricultural stock were sold off last week at Wentworth Woodhouse. The beasts, sheep, pigs, and farm horses, all sold well ; the com petition was spirited. The sale realis ed about 4,0001. THE CROPS IN THE SOUTH are unusually forward for this period of the year. A little frost to check their growth would be more seasonable than this continued mild weather, but there is at present every prospect of our enjoying a " green " instead of a " hoary " Christmas. THE danger of employing portable steam agricul tural machines, in the possession of persons not com • petent to take charge of them, was exemplified last Saturday ty a frightful boiler explosion which oc curred at Thornemoor-ends, near Thorne, Yorkshire. A steam-thrashing machine belonging to a person named Thomas Johnson, residing at Thorne, who obtained a livelihood by travelling about the rural districts with it, and which he let out on hire, generally superintending the operations himself, was on Saturday morning employed on the farm pre • raises of Mr. Ridgill, and was immediately afterwards taken to the stackyard of Mr. Z. Maud, where it was being got ready for work in the presence of several labouring men and boys, when the boiler suddenly burst with a tremendous noise, scattering death and destruction around. The rupture took place just above the near side of the firebox, and the engine WAS rent into numberless pieces, the lower part of the framework being twisted completely round. Johnson, who just before the accident was observed standing in front of the firebox oiling the engine, and having one hand on the safety-valve, was found a short distance from the machine quite dead—his I skull being fractured, the brain protruding, and blood flowing copiously. A son of Mr. Maud, a boy about seven years of age, was also killed on the spot. A son of Mr. Ridgill, a youth fourteen years old, had one of his legs broken in two places and his left cheek laid open, and died soon 'after the accident. Another son of Mr. Ridgill, aged sixteen, was blown completely out of the stackyard into a ditch about fifteen yards off, and was so seriously scalded that he is not likely to recover. A third son of Mr. Rid gill, aged twelve years, was blown into a neighbour ing field about ten yards off, and also sustained serious injuries in the face and neck from scalding. A haystack was blown completely over, and some men near it had a narrow escape from being smo thered. Portions of the engine were found in all directions ; the fly-wheel was broke* to atoms, and the " man-bole" door, a piece of iron about two and a-quarter stones in weight, was projected a distance of 154 yards from the engine. An inquiry is pending, but it is generally believed that the accident was the result of the grossest ignorance on the part of John son—the boiler having become worn out, and utterly unequal to such a pressure as that applied. ANOTHER QUARRY ACCIDENT occurred in North Wales, in the Vale of Nantlle, so lately the scene of a dreadful accident of a similar character. On Mon • day week six men were at work at the Dorothea Slate-works, in a pit known as the Fire-hole, work ing a fresh opening, when an immense mass of rock full on them as suddenly as an avalanche. About thirty or forty tons rested on a gallery above, over hanging the opening, and thus divided the rock in its descent into two courses, which completely cut off all escape. The sixth man was miraculously preserved. He was working apart from the others, on higher ground, and the projecting rock partially sheltered him. A mass of stone, about six • tons weight, was seen to bound over his head, and though seriously injured by being struck with frag ments, he ultimately succeeded in reaching the area I of the quarry. Blasting had to be resorted to to re • cover the bodies, for which relays of workmen searched night and day, without intermission, until • the close of last wee k. The bodies p resen t e d a frightful appearance. Some were terribly mutilated and nearly cut through, and one was perfectly fiat- robintial. A FRIGHTFUL Comastott took place on the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway on Friday night week between two passenger trains, whereby a number of persons have been seriously injured. The accident happened as follows :—On that evening the down express from Euston-square, which runs in connection with the Oxford. Worcester, and Wolver hampton Railway, reached l3letchley Junction in due time, and the train thence to Worcester and Wolver hampton reached Handborongli on the Oxford line at 7.20. It teen started for Moreton (21 miles tened, the skull torn asunder, and the brains lying close by. All, with one exception, were married, and leave families of course unprovid ed for. A GOOD RUN WITH HER MAJESTY'S STAGHOUNDS took place on Tuesday. The meet was at Hilling don, and the "old woodman" was turned out at Poll-hill and gave a capital run of two hours over the cream of the Harrow country, leaving Harrow to the right, and going through Pinner and Stanmore to Cameon's Park, on to the other side, and away over a strong country to near Mill Hill, Hendon, where he was taken. Several men went well, but Miss Gilbert, on "Brilliant," was always in front, and left many a good man far in the wake of her scarlet jacket (which she has adopted as the livery of the Queen's hounds), and sets the hunt an example of going which some find rather difficult to follow; but it is a treat to see her ride, and it is needless to say she was up at " the take " among the very first. THE FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF EDUCATIONAL PRIZES and certificates under a prize scheme instituted by the Educational Association took place at the Town-hall, Birmingham, on Tuesday. The mayor, Mr. Ratcliff, took the chair, and the prizes were distributed by Lord Lyttslton, who delivered a very appropriate address. A report was read by Mr. J. T. Bunce, the honorary secretary, explaining that the prize scheme was intended to prolong the attendance of children at school by offering them prizes of sufficient value to tempt their parents to allow them to remain, and also by endeavourinr , to stamp upon education a tangible value in the labour market. The report mentioned that prize schemes are already in satis factory operation in Yorkshire, South Wales, War wickshire, and Worcestershire. Addresses were then delivered by the Rev. Canon Rutter, the Rev. G. S. Bull, Mr. W. L. Sargent, Mr. George Dawson, and Mr. Seymour Tremenheere, inspector of the mining districts. About two thousand children were assem bled in the ball, and in the course of the proceedings they sang ( accompanied by the organ) the Old Hundredth Psalm and the National Anthem. BMW anti illtilitarg THE ARMY STAFF. T►HE following important regulations in refe rence to the Staff College at Sandhurst have just been issued to the different regiments of her Majesty's army : Horse Guards, S. W., Deo. 17. The Queen having been pleased to approve the name of the present senior department of the Royal Military College at Sandhurst being changed to that of Staff College, which college is to be placed under the charge of a commandant, with a quarter master and staff non-commissioned officers on its establishment ; and her Majesty having also ap proved the following regulations for the admission to, and for the studies of officers at, the college, and for other matters connected therewith, the same are hereby published for general information : (1) The Staff College will be open to officers of all arms of the service, and will consist at first of 30 students, in the proportion of WS from the Cavalry, Guards, and Line, to five from the two Ordnance corps, admission to the college being determined by a competitive exami nation. (2) No payment will be required from students to the funds of the college. (3) The qualifications requisite for admission are 1. A previous service of not less than three years, exclu sive of leaves of absence. 2. A certificate from his commanding officer, that the candidate is an intelligent, zealous, and well•conducted officer, and thoroughly acquainted with all his duties. 3. The candidate, if not a captain, to have passed the examination for a troop or company. 4. A medical certificate of good health, and fitness for the active duties of the staff. (4) Commanding officers of regiments will, in every case, forward applications for admission to the Staff College, through the general officer in command, to the Adjutant- General. If the commanding officer of the regiment, or the general officer in command, cannot recommend the ap plication of sny candidate, the grounds of objection to be distinctly stated. (5) The competitive examination for entrance to the Staff College will comprise the following subjects, the rela tive values of each at the examination being shown by the number of marks at ached to it : Marks. Mathematics .. .. .. 1,200 Military history and geography .. 900 French .. .. .. .. 3(X) German .. .. 3(X) Fortification .. .. .. .. 300 Military drawing • • .. .. 300 Geology .. .. .. .. 150 Chemistry .. .. 150 .. Ia mathematics 400 marks will be allotted to arithmetic, the first four books of Euclid, and algebra, including ques tions producing simple equations; and of this number at least 300 must be obtained for qualification. In French 75 marks, at least, must be obtained for quali fication. The remaining subjects, as well as the higher portions of mathematics, may ba taken up or not at the option of