The Sun. — London, England, 1852-01-10 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE AMAZON. -- PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY. —The improper stowage of some tal low on board the unfortunate Amazon is now given as the cause of the destruction of that ill-fated ship. The tallow Was in casks, placed on bags on the coal, and it is asserted that the tallow was so much heated by the engine fires that it melted through the casks, on the bags and coal, and thus rendered the whole easily ignitible. One of the passengers, fir. Allen, of the West Indies, was observed pacing the deck with his hands in prayer, patiently waiting that inevitable fate ffora which he knew there was no escape. A gentleman and lady, in their night dresses Only, both on fire, came on deck, and wit h their arms round each other, walked over to one of the ship's hatches, and fell together into the flames. After getting possession of the life-boat, no rowlocks could be found, but Mr. Vincent, the young midshipman, who re tained his self-possesion throughout, coolly took a spar, and With his knife soon cut sufficient for their purpose. It the strange barque, seen after leaving the Amazon, had borne down towards the life-boat, she could not have taken out the men, so tempestuous was the sea, and the probabi lity is, that when the crew of the life-boat thought the barque answered them she was replying to the gig, the crew of which it now seems she has saved. When the life-boat first made out the brig Marsden she was thought, probably from her name, to be a Dutch ship, and Nerenk, one of the Amazon's crew, hailed her in that language. Captain Evans on this hesitated to re ceive them, thinking they might be pirates, whereon Mr. Neilson addressed him in English, and on finding they were shipwrecked mariners he instantly received them on board, and treated them with every humanity. SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.—The investigation held here yesterday by the Court of Directors of the Royal Mail Steam Company, and the evidence then received added but little to the intelligence and particulars previously published. The facts elicited, beyond testifying to the perfect efficiency of the ship and her engines, and to the high state of disci pline of the officers, engineers, and crew, were manifestly insufficient to enable the directors to arrive at any conclu sion either respecting the origin of the fire on board the Amazon or the thrilling events which preceded the sinki-g of the ship. The prudence of adjourning the inquiry for further evidence is now fully apparent, and it is hoped that the portion of the passengers and crew who have landed on the French coast may be able to throw some additional light upon the many points which are requisite to be cleared up. Besides the testimony of the crew, we hope that of the sur viving passengers will be invited—not alone for the interest of the company, but for the sake : of supply ieg to the public the greatest amount of information that can be procured. It is thought probable that the steamer due at Southamp ton from Havre on Tuesday morning next may bring the sufferers from Brest, and in that case the investigation would be resumed in Southampton. A number of people congre gated at the docks to-day, awaiting the arrival of the French packet from Havre, but she brought no tidings whatever. We have much pleasure in having it in our power to announce that the directors of the Royal Mail Steam-packet Company have contributed 100 guineas to the proposed subscription for relieving the unfortunate sufferers by the wreck of. the Amazon, and for rendering substantial aid to the a idows and orphans left by the crew. Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P , the chairman of the Royal Mail Steam Com pany, has also given the munificent sum of 100 guineas, and other subscriptions from the inhabitants ofSoutbampton up to_the present moment swell the total amount to nearly 400/. A. large sum will be necessary for promptly and efficiently carrying out the objects of this subscription, and it is hoped that donations will flow in from all parts f the country. The following circular has been issued this afternoon, pre liminary to a public, meeting at the Guildhall, on Monday, Where a committee will be formed :7_ " LOSS OF THE AMAZON. " Southampton, January 9, 1852. " Sir,—We are requested by the Mayor to solicit your at tendance at a public meeting, to be held at the Guildhall, on Monday next, at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of adopting such measures as may be deemed expedient for the relief of the widows and fatherless children of the unfortunate suf ferers by that awful calamity. "Subscriptions will be most thankfully received by the Mayor and Hon. Secretaries, and various banks in the town. " We are, Sir, your most obedient servants, "JOHN HENRY COOKSEY,} "JOHN LEVY, Hon. Secretaries." Among the crew of the Amazon who were saved is an able seaman, named James Maylin. He arrive intelligent arrived at Southampton on Wednesday . night. H e belongs to Wisbeach, in Cam bridgeshire. He is an and apparently a trust worthy man. He states that soon after the ship left the Needles they stopped two hours off Portland to throwwater on the engines ; the captain at this time was walking the bridge. Maylin was on watch on Saturday night in the look-out at the port bow. Mowatt, another man who was saved, was looking out on the starboard bow. The second officer had charge of the watch. At a quarter to one on Sunday morning he heard the fire-bell, which was rung by Passmore, another of those saved. On turning round and seeing whereabouts th e ship was on fire, he imme diately rushed to get at the wet swabs, which had been Made ready the night before to c lean the decks for Sunday prayers, and threw them on the foregrating close to the fore funnel. He then, with another man, hove two trusses Of hay overboard, which had taken fire. At that moment the captain cam e on d ec k i n h i s shirt and trousers, and without shoes or stockings, and Marlin assisted him in throwing water down the torecabin. The captain was per fectly calm and collected, and though working laboriously, Was giving orders to the various persons who were near him. A scene of indescribable terror and confusion ensued ; and Maylin states, that the despairing and agonised screams of' the people, together with the cries of the tortured ani mals on board, seem yet to ring in his ears. He saw num bers of persona rush on deck, stricken with terror, many of them terribly burnt. Some dr o pp e d d own dead immediately, or swooned with fright and suffering. He remembers seeing a boy rush on deck in a Guernsey frock, with his face fearfully burnt. Whilegetting the boat ready in which .!ie escaped, a female pasnge rushed on dec. She ?ad only her nightgown or s , e the r bottom of which and her legs were much burnt. Three times she was placed in the boat that was saved—once by Quartermaster Danford - but she refused to remain. He 'heard several hurriedly say to her, that they would soon give her plenty of clothing when she got away from the ship, but modestly prevailed over the love of life, and she remained behind to perish. The last words Maylin heard Captain Sy mous say were, It's all up with us—there is no hope, my men—get your boats ready." He then saw him for the last time as he Went aft towards the wheel. Maylin then almost inamed;- his fell th roug h t h e d ec k, an d rece i ve d a flesh wound in 41 3 knee. What a Ided much to the disastrous consequences of the fi re , was the not being a bl e to stop the engines, on account of the terrible heat in the engine-room. Th e spee d which she was going through the sea, rend ere d i t a:most TnPossible to launch the boats without their bei ng swamped. e boat in which the 21 were saved,. most fortunately and s ingularly escaped swamping. After leaving th e s hi p :he law no livi ng t hi n g on board—he thinks that all but himself and companions must have perished in the waves in attempt , . attempt ing to es ca p e , or must have been disabled or kill e d b y the ...,natnes It was break of day before the Amazo n went down. Ite saw her distinctly when her magazine blew u p. A l arge somber of rockets mounted up in the air at the time. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,--Nothing could be more auspicious than the departure of the Amazon Irons Southampton waters on ber first voyage, On the afternoon of Friday, the 2d of January, 1852. She Was accompanied by the mail tender, crowded with the friends of the ship, the passengers, and the captain, by whom they had just been hospitably entertained on board, and who evinced by their hearty cheers at parting how sincerely they wished us a safe and prosperous voyage. The Amazon was a beautitully built ship of 2,250 tons burden, with a flush deck of nearly 300 feet in length, pro- Pelted by two splendid engines of 400-horse power each, Stored with a supply of 1,000 sacks of coal, and 1,000 tons in bulk. She had on board 165 in all, including seven women and two children—viz., 50 passengers and 106 crew and at tendants. The wind was right ahead, but she proceeded steadily on till about 9 o'clock, when the bearings of the cranks of the paddle-shaft became so hot that she was stopped until by pumping water upon them for an hour she was enabled to proceed. This operation was repeated during the night and following morning, and on Saturday, at 12 o'clock, our position was lat. 49 12, long. 4 57. Towards evening the wind increased still ahead—our course, west and by south half south. Between 8 and 9 o'clock I was walking the deck with Mr. Best, of Barbadoes, speaking of the state of the engines, on which they were then pumping. " You appear very anx i ous about those en - igmes,' Said he, "is there any danger?" " N one ," sa id I, as long as there is plenty of sea-room; but with our en gines stopped, on a lee shore, I would not give much for oar chance of escape in such a night as we are likely to have from the appearance of the weather." " I as is hope," said he, " there is no c hance o f with." " fire hOpeaswe should have two elements to contend not," I replied, " for we should have three, evidently orth i o g r e i ourng to blow a gale,, and we m ust t h en look to the fou refuge." "God forbid 1 " said he, " t h ree to one are fearful Odds. Good night," and he went below. I thelt iot proceeded to the engine-room and found the beari ngs very mn tioned to ode of the engineers my apprehensions f,r the night, and recommended to slacken speed ; while we were yet speaking the bearings became so hot that the contents of the grease -cup burst off like so much steam. Mr. A ngus, the chief engineer, who had been most constant in his atten tions, was immediately on the spot, stopped the engines, Slacked the caps, and applied the pumps for two hours before we could proceed. I had several times during the day con versed with Mr. Angus on the state of the engines, which he told me he did not expect would get settled to their bearings for at least a week. From 'the necessity of keeping the bearings constantly lu bricated, a very large ves se l of grease stood at the door of the store-room, which was under the galley. At about half-past 11 the engines were again put about and I w ent on deck and joined Captain Symons. who stated his appre hension of a heavy gale before morning, when he expected rain and a change of wi n d to the northward. We conversed till midnight, when be went below. . Being partially ,. conversant with machinery, I felt anxious !bout the state ot the engines, and walked the deck until half -past 12 when I again went t o t h e engine-room, leav i ng kr. Vin ce nt , midshipman of the watch, on deck. tjhe engines were then going at three-quarters speed, and ,',,engineer in attendance, putting his hand on the bearings ';`_"_ me all was going quite comfortable, and I accordingly etired to rest. ~.About 10 M i nutes a f ter I h a d l e ft th e d ec k Mr. Vincent qrn e ded below to set the time by the Captain's di rect i ons, he perceiv e d smo k e and fire coming up the fore-hatch to Y th P e aat the ship's galley. fie immediately gave the alarm who m ° Meer of the watch, and ran aft to inform the Captain, to th e Scantly came on deck and directed his whole energies il'atpPpression of the fire. t he ale 'L not been in bed for five minutes when I first heard 'ated b: n t hell, and the cries of " Fire," which were accompa kid r ' e !e shrieks of several of the female cabin passengers, r f e t r e u tn u g l it t g he from . my berth I saw the sparks and flames p essen main hatchway above the engines, and many th e ”Aired `Lgera hurrying ou deck in their night-clothes. re aeh l i i t a ere a COY cabin and put on part of my clothes, when Th e l a the Zeocconfusion warned me to lose no time in rn round IT ir!. ba Pen a° • id, o l l I saw on reaching the deck was Mr. Bur belt in ' whi eh anding in his night-shirt with a life-buoy tim e . T C abin uro ught to my mind that I had left e a life look whi th e main eu t ow eh I might perhaps recover if I had yet olrielYsttohree-irm" is°re Ards the flames, which were *ising from P r eseieu th e hways in so bright a mass as to con eon] cabi n, and th the fire had originated in or ne . ar the su a ' there m ilt be time to regain my an j aP e P u i r d right an e d ee iV t e d in doing though the windows were just a s "t at first la with the heat of the flames. of th e b ad cr: fou n d i t a Y my hand on the belt, Pros I volion a t tremendous crash of the glass panels it being dark ; ne t h e fire `ue end of the cabins announced the ap mu l ea af t. e . h . a Ca .. :::"1 pa ssen '' —.>" bin to regain the deck several of the ematftorwardgerB' th ei nPt the aPPalled at the approach of the fire, dared u pper d drawing,Y lavP a P i r il7 c a h nd ofthe No a ee lc• unhurt e a Pa lu n n i g on-stairs ; I urged breath I gained n _could convey any adequate impression of th e fice 'r w ri b ri , tio , which there presented itself. With the exception SUN, of the officers and men of the night watch, I was the only one even partially clothed. Whatever human exertion could effect wis attempted by Captain Symons, regardless of himself, to induce the assist ance of others to extinguish the flames; but in vain, for so:rapi I was their progress that all communications fore and aft, was already obstructed. The last order I heard him give was, " For God's sake, Mr. Roberts, put her before the wind." This Mr. Roberts immediately attempted, and young Vin cent, who was lowering down the dingy, jumped to the helm and put it hard up until the ship paid off. In the mean time the aftermost boat on the port side (I think the mail boat) was lowered down, with probably 25 people in her; but the moment she touched the water she swamped and all hands that were in her drifted astern, all clinging together with dreadful shrieks. The next boat forward (the pinnace) was also lowered full, but by some accident the after tackle alone got un hooked, acid she was dragged forward by the fore tackle with such rapidity that the sea swept round - her aides and washed every soul cut of her. The next boat on the same side was a No. 2 life-boat, at which I observed several hands trying to get her into the water, while the fire was rapidly coming aft, and on the platform of the paddle- bax was a White's lifeboat so secured as to render it almost impossible under such circum stances to get her loose. In the meantime Mr. Vincent, with three of the crew and one passenger, had got into the dingy, which was hanging over the stern. A similar number of boats were on the starboard side. The aftermost boat (which I think was the gig) was lowered only half full, and got away. A second cutter was lowering full of people. In the next boat (a Green's life-boat) were about 12 of the crew, most of them dressed, trying to get her launched, which, however, they could not effect, owing to her keel being socketed in the keel-crane, which projected from the ship's side. My first intention on coming on deck in my life-belt, and seeing the confusion that prevailed, was to wait until a boat had got clear and then jump overboard and swim to it; but, on observing the coolness, with which the men in the life boat were working, I determined to share their fate, and accordingly got into the boat to assist in launching her. Our united efforts proved ineffectual'; the fire had reached the companion, when one of the men, seizing my arm, Said, " Jump on deck, and haul away that tackle fall." We both did so at the after tackle, two other men being at the fore tackle. We raised the boat, with the men in her, out of the gripe of the crane, and one of the men loosing the bolt, I got over the ship's side and shoved the crane in, and the boat began to lower. At this time the second cutter had reached the water, when a sea struck her bow, and as the ship rose from the swell of the waves she lifted the boat perpendicularly by the' stern tackle and discharged all the unfortunate inmates but two, who hung, shrieking, across the thwarts. The flames were now rushing up the companion with such fury that they caught the two men who were lowering the fore tackle of our life-boat and burnt the hair off the face of one of them, who immediately jumped into the boat, fol lowed by the man at the after tackle. I sprang from the side, and slid down the tackle into the boat as she reached the water, and as the other man at the fore tackle did the same, I gave the word to cut away. " Hold hard !" said one of the sailors, who had far more presence of mind. " Fend her off! if we drift under the cutter, she'll stave through us. Now cut away," said he, and we drifted clear, the doomed ship rushing madly forward, the sport of the com bined fury of the three elements, so sadly alluded to in my remark to Mr. Best. But far above the roaring crash of wind and wave and fire rang the shrieks of the helpless suf ferers on hoard the ill-fated Amazon. From a moment of deep and heartfelt gratitude to Pro vidence we were roused by the cries of our drowning fel low-creatures around us, to whom, alas! we could render no instant assistance, for the oars were lashed amidships, and the rudder was stowed away. Of two loose oars that had been thrown into the boat we pushed one to a poor creature who was within five yards of us, but the shrill bubbling cry which accompanied his effort to reach it told too sadly it was in vain. We were now hailed by the dingy, which bad left the vessel about the same time as we ourselves. She was fast filling with water, which Vincent was baling out with his boots, having cut the tops off. We called them to come alongside, and took them into the life-boat, laying Mr. Sisley, the passenger, who was more dead than alive, at the bottom of the boat. We took the dingy in tow, and got our rudder shipped, threw the masts overboard (for we had no sails), got the oars out into their crutches, which we had not been able to find till then, and pulled away for the burning ship, to try to save some more lives. The fire gave us plenty of light, though the moon was obscured by clouds. The wind, how ever, had now increased to a severe gale, and before we had proceeded far on our mission a heavy sea struck the dingy nd capsized her, drove her on our stern, brcke away our rudder, and nearly half filled us with water. I was in the bow, and sang out to cut away the dingy, and get her head to wind, which Mr. Vincent, who was in the stern, had already commenced doing, and scarcely was this accomplished ere the approach of a tremendous sea through the surf, and over the top of which our boat gallantly rode, gave us ground for hope that we might still live through that awful night. It was, however, vain to attempt the rescue of those who were drowning round us. The slightest deviation from the wind's eye, in such a sea, would have swamped our boat. Behind us the burning ship shed a light which illumined the sky and sea for miles round. Before us the sky and sea seemed to meet in one dark un distinguishable mass, the immediate approach of the waves being indicated by a rushing sound as their crests broke far above our heads in a long white line of foam, glaringly re flecting the light of the burning ship behind us. In this po sition, without food or water (tor we staved our only small water-cask to bale the boat when nearly swamped), without compass or rudder, and several only half-clothed, we re mained for about three hours, Vincent in the stern and I in the bow, watching the approach of the waves and giving the orders to the men to pull starboard or pull port, so as to keep her head dead to windward. During this time we WM drifting towards the ship, which was burning broadside on to the wind. Her mainmast went first, and then the foremast, and a considerable time elapsed before her mizenmast went ' • directly after which I noticed a slight explosion of gunpowder. Previous to this a barque hove in sight, and passed between the stern of our boat and the burning ship. We judged her to be outward-bound, from her being under close-reefed topsails. As she passed, between 300 and 400 yards distant, we several times hailed her with our united voices, strengthened by all the energy of despair. She answered us, and brailed her spanker, and we thought was preparing to bear up to our rescue. I shall never forget the deep sob of hope with which I noticed these preparations, or the bitterness of feeling with which I saw him spread his canvass to the wind and wear round past the stern of the burning vessel as he left us to our fate. _ For some short time past I bad noticed a boat a short dis tance from our starboard beam, which I believe was the gig, with apparently about half a dozen hands in her. She now began to call for assistance, which also we could not attempt to offer, the sea was running so high. This continued for some time, when the hailing suddenly ceased, and as I never saw her afterwards, though I often looked most anxiously in that direction, I cannot resist the sad conviction that she shared the fate of the other boats. About 4 o'clock it began to rain heavily, - which beat down the sea, and as the wind, which had hitherto been S.W., got round to the N., it bleW more steadily and with less violence. We according'y put.the boat's head down the wind and pulled away astern of the burning ship. Her chimneys were red hot, and as we crossed her stern at the distance of about half a mile, her magazine exploded, discharging a consider able number of rockets, and in about half an hour after her funnels went over her side she sank beneath the waves, and the red lurid light which for the la,t five hours had illumined the dreary expanse of ocean, and formed the strong ground of hope for the attraction of succour, was succeeded by a gloomy darkness. Remeinbering Captain Symons's observation as to the change of wind in the event of rain, and having frequently noted our course by the compass during the previous day, I was enabled to form some notion, though a vague one, of the position of the coast of France and the British Channel, and we pulled away in that direction during the remainder of the night. The morning broke bright and clear, and never was a rising sun hailed by an eastern devotee with more fervent gratitude than th a t w i t h w hi c h we b lesse d Al m i g hty Pro vidence for havi ng preserved us from the complicated daws,ers of such a night. And though our position and prospects from mre cbhyonicoo,mtheeanhsuotyhaeny se c w o h f ic h h op w e o in u d ld uce h rt av u e s t b o ee t n hin se k le o c n te ly d of the chance of bei ng picked up - by a passing vessel. I joined Vincent in the stern, and we procee led to con over our probable distance from land, and as we knew that unless picked up we could not make it for five or six days, even with a favourable wind, we arranged for a division of the men into watches, taking one each. The wind considerably abated, and we pulled steadily on for about three hours lager, when the man on the look-out forward cried out that he saw a sail. At least a quarter of an hour elapsed before it could be again sighted, and still longer ere it showed by its increased size that it was outward bound. We immediately altered our course, and commenced pulling dead to windward, so as to intercept her, which with a couple of hours' hard pulling,we managed to accomplish, and hailed her before she was aware of our approach. She was an outward-bound brig. and from her white sails and green caboose we took her for a foreigner, and one of our men hailed her in the Dutch language. As we had been approaching tier, thinking of the barque that had left us during the night, we were speculating on our chance of obtaining assistance, but we little expected to saw way that our first hail would be followed by every exertion to get I rsvay fr om us . Th e w i nd had, however, comp l ete l y l u ll e d ; s t hatw a e n h d ad w t e h l e vo s u p l e d ed bo o n f r her, e h r, e a r n b d y l fo s r h o o e. uted to the men h berthand w indt when we first hail e d, now came on d ec k, b ac k e d alongside, was dow cas rope main-topsail, and calling us to come up the w it a difficult rnatt ne; to make fast to o u r b oa t. Though there was so mu c h sea on as t o re nder were thrown over, one board the b r i g . S evera l ropes n its only beinar p ll , y eof which I sei ze d, but,, from mediately picked to not s e c ua i r e I fell overbp ar d, b u t was im b c eeded in getting on b oard theththe worse, and we all suc co could Marsd en from Losidon, bound to Carolina. Nothi ng ll ir ec!ed the ki n d ness w i t h w hich Captain Evans treated giving up his beds and providing the best resour ces hi s vessel first tried to land us on the coast of France,coul d afford. H e shifting, he was obliged to stand out to see in the wind falling in with f en inward-bound shi • the hope of 1 5 - This not occurring he determined to lan d us on the coast of England, an d tr i ed ' for Falmout The watherbaebleae hazy, the wind b egan to blow, and as h be had not been weather thickening in the di rection of the English coast, towards evening he st oo d up Channel, made the Eddystone Lighthouse ab out eleven and anchored in Plymouth Harbour betweentwelve and one o'clock. It seemed as if every vestige of the unfortunate Ama zon was destined to destruction, for the lite-boat in which we had been saved—and a better boat never was built—after bein g towed to within thirty miles of the Britisq coast, wore through the rope and went adrift. We all bewailed her lots for the moment like that of a true friend. We landed at Plymouth, and found our way to the Globe lintel, where we were received b Mr. Radmore , notwith standing our very questionable a ppearance, with the most hospitable attent ion. Supper, beds, and money were at once offered to us, and the following morning he received our 18 fellow-travellers with the same kindness. The Mayor of Plymouth also called the following morning with oilers of every assistance, and I take the opportunity through your columns of acknowledging the grateful sense I entertain of the kindness si e have received. But a far deeper debt of gratitude then can be thus acknowledged is due to that Almighty Power who by His mercy has thus preserved us from the perils which that awful night saw so fearfully combined against us. I cannot close my narrative of this event without ad verting in the str onge st terms of praise and admiration to the conduct of young Vincent. Throughout the whole of the dreadful scenes through which wepassed, he never showed the slightest symptom of fear or hesitation, or uttered a sin gle murmur or complaint. His whole care seemed for the men, of whom lie took the command with the calmness of an oid officer, and having on him, as ono of the officers of the watch when he escaped, the LONDON, full complement of clothes, he gave his pea jacket to one of the men who bad only a shirt on, a flannel shirt to another, and his handkerchief to a third. I have been in scenes which have tried the nerves of hardened men, but never in any more calculated to try them than those through which this young officer passed unruffled. I must speak also in the highest terms of the steadiness, firmness, and unwearied exertions of our boat's crew, who, notwithstanding the heavy sea and . the crowded state of the boat, with 21 in her, were most eager to brave every danger for the chance of offering still further aid to their drowning comrades, while the possibility of a chance still remained. There are two or three points to which I wish to call atten tion in connexion with all steam vessels. There ought to be some means available on the upper deck of opening the feed-cock of the boilers (the man who did it on board the Amazon gave me a fearful account of his narrow escape), and also of woiking the fire hose from the upper deck, but still more the means of being able to stop the engines. Had this last been done, and half the energy displayed by the gallant commander in lowering the boats that was ineffectually expended in attempting to check the progress of the fire, there was ample boat accommodation, and of first- rate quality, to have saved all hands. There were two of White's lite boats on the platforms be hind the paddle- boxes, capable of holding thirty-five men each, but they were so stowed .away as to-render it difficult for any ship's company to have lowered them under ten minutes each even in broad daylight; two other life-boats, in one of which we were saved,which would carry safely twenty five men each, a mail boat, pinnace, and cutter twenty men each, a gig fifteen men, and the dingy. Seven of these at least, and perhaps the gig if well managed, would have lived through that night if proper crews had been appropriated to each so as to lower and take charge of them ; yet of all these, as far as I can judge, only one survived the wreck. Though T know little or nothing of nautical affairs, I can not help thinking that the two best life-boats might have been sufficiently secured and more available when wanted. Of the origin of the fire I can say but little. There was a number of new coal sacks very much tarred lying between the steam chest and the oil store, above the grated pathway over the coals; but at half-past twelve I stood opposite to this, and all was safe, and at that time the engines were quite cool. No blame can attach to the engineers, who were particu larly attentive, and Mr. Angus, the chief engineer, was almost constantly on duty. All the lights abaft the en gine-room were out when I retired to rest, and I had bid good night to the officers of the watch and several of the men on deck when I went below, at half-past twelve. The fire first appeared coming up the fore hatchway, and within two minutes of the first cry, before the bell was sounded (for I was wide awake), I saw the fire rushing up the main engine hatchway. When on deck the second time I had intended to leap overboard and swim to the first boat that got clear of the ship, and I stood there for a short time before turning to the life-boat in which I escaped, and had there fore an opportunity of watching the heroic cenduct of Cap tain Symons and several of his officers and men in attempt ing to suppress the flames, in which, if human exertions could have availed anything, he would have succeeded: Fate, however, had decreed otherwise, and unless the other life-boat was got away, or the gig escaped, I have too much reason to fear that our party of twenty-one who were landed at Plymouth on Tuesday morning, are all that are left of those who had sailed from England on Friday afternoon in the ill-fated Amazon.—l am Sir, your obedient servant, Halewood, Jan. 8. ROBERT Ic LSOH. THE ROYAL MARIONETTE THEATRE. What we like in the intended performances at this theatre, at a private dress rehearsal of which we were present last evening, is, that though the manager has a most obedient company, a prima donna, who never has a cold, and a tragedian who is never sulky, a comic artist who never loses his voice and strikes for salary, and a premiere danseuse who cannot, by any possibility, commit a faux pas, though he is certain that there will be no squabbling or jealously in his large troupe of 150 performers, and that each lady and gentle man will accept the part allotted to them, yet, never theless, he shows no disposition to take advantage either of them or the public, but has determined that his pieces and performances shall be as excellent in literary merit as they are remarkable in the character of those who are to act them. The initiatory address is exceedingly neat and pointed, and the dramatic hits in the opening sketch, The Manager's Room, are certainly the production of no wooden head. The performances are really wondrous. Bonibastes Furioso becomes doubly funny when represented, and the ballet is capitally executed. The little people who play must surely have been cut from !airy trees, and have some natural magic in them. The whole performance is en tirely novel—no one has seen anything like it before—and all should go on Monday, when the " Marionette Theatre" opens, for anything more humourous and whimsical cannot be imagined. The theatre itself is a perfect gem, the orchestra excellent, and all the other accessories, as scenery, decorations, dresses, &c., have been got up in a manner so regardless of expense, that it is plain the proprietor has the greatest confidence in the permanent success of his very singular experiment. COURSE OF EXC Amster au, 11 18 Ditto, three months 12 0 goiterdani .......... 12 0 intwerp ............ 25 4T% Brussels."... 25 47% Bamburgh • M.D. 13 1094 41tona • Paris, 3 days'sight .. 25 32% Ditto, 3 months .... 25 50 Marseilles 25 22% 80urdeaux......... • . Frankforton 120% Vienna, effec. flo•• •• • • 12 8 Trieste, ditto.... • • .... 12 10 Petersburgh, Sil. ENG.. 36% Madrid •• •• -••• ea •• 49% CanZ •• . __. . .. •• e• •• 49 % Barcelona •• • • ........ 88 3 71110.• •• •• •• •• •• •• ;RANGE.-FRIDAY. • f.exhorn •••••••re •• •• •• 80 90 14eaoa •• •• •• •• •• •• •• (.5 Milan .• •• •• •• •• •• •• Venice— • • • • • • • • • • •• •• Naples •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 40% Palermo, peroz— .• •• 120 Messina •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 120' Lisbon • • • • • • •• •• •• • • •• 62% aporto.• •• •• •• •• 52%i Rio Janeiro •• •• • • •• guenos Ayre5........ New York, 60 days'sight Philadelphia • • • • •• • • • • PZIOEB OF BULLION, PEA Cl. Foreign Geld in bars.. £ll 17 9 ' Portugal Gold Coin .. 0 0 0 3panish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 New Dollars •..... 0 4 1 Silver in bars ........ 0 5 ON A constant associate of the Marquis of Lansdowne said yesterday, without reserve or hesitation, that the Mar quis had resigned, and merely held office until his successor was appointed.— Herald. DEATH OF SIR DAVID BAIRD.—We regret to announce the death of this well. known and highly-respected baronet, which occurred yesterday morning. As was pre viously announced, Sir David met with a serious accident while following Lord Elcho's hounds on Saturday, the 20th ult. He had dismounted to remove some obstruction, when his horse, becoming restive, gave him a severe kick in the leg. The unfortunate baronet was carried to a house in the vicinity, where it was ascertained that the injury was so serious as to prevent his removal at the time, and the symptoms became so alarming in the sequel as to render any change out of the question. The best medical aid that Edinburgh could render was given, but it has un happily proved all in vain. Sir David Baird was in his 56th year, having been born in 1795. He was a scion of an ancient family. The celebrated Sir David Baird, who distinguished himself at Scringapatam, Egypt, Copen hagen, and in the Peninsul a r war , having been the second in command at the battle of Corunna, was uncle to the decased baronet, who succeeded him in the baronetcy on his death in 1829. Sir David Baird married in 1821 Lady Anne Kennedy, eldest daughter of the late Marquis of Ailsa, and had issue seven sons and three daughters. The two eldest sons both lost their lives on the same day, having been drowned in England in October, 1845, while bathing. He is, therefore, now succeeded in his title and estates by the third son, David. Sir David Baird espoused the Liberal side in politics, and took an active interest in the contests for Haddingtonshire. On the last election he stood candidate for this county against the Hon. P. Charteris, the eldest eon of Lord Elcho, and grandson of the Earl of Wemyss, but was unsuccessful.— Caledonian Mercury. • FORTIFICATION OF THE COAST.---A battery of 100 guns of heavy metal, is ordered to be constructed at the Nab Light, off Bembridge, near Spithead, as well as a bat tery (temporary) at Lumps, also off Spithead, on the Ports mouth shore, and also for 100 heavy guns, with the least possible delay A new fort at Browndown, opposite Ryde (Isle of Wight), on the Gosport shore, is in course of con struction by two companies of Royal Sappers and Miners stationed at Fort Moncton, every dispatch being used to com plete the works in two months.—Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette. EXPLOSION OF POWDER MILLS.—AbOUt five o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, the inhabitants of Feversham were alarmed by the explosion of three powder-mills, the property of Messrs. Hall, situate at the north-west extremity of the town. The mills contained what is called green charges, but having been worked nearly twelve hours, had acquired a considerable degree of strength, and consequently the reports were unusually loud. The buildings were totally destroyed, some of the materials being thrown to a consider ab:e distance. The shocks also broke windows of houses rather distant. The accident was occasioned by sparks falling from the chimney of a steam-engine near the build ings, and by Ni hich they were worked. The workmen, having observed the danger, had escaped; but two men, who were approaching to warn the workmen, were struck by some of the materials, and slightly injured. ACCIDENT TO LADY BEDDIEGYIELD.----011 Thurs day an accident occurred to Lady Beddingfield, which for tunately was unattended with serious consequences. Her Ladyship was proceeding from Windsor Castle in one of the royal carriages to the Windsor station of the South-Western Railway, and on arriving at the bottom of Thames -street, in a very narrow part of the road, the axletree broke and let the body of the carriage on the paving. The coachman, who was driving a very spirited pair of horses, fortunately pulled them up on the instant, and thus prevented the serious con sequences which otherwise might have ensued. Her Lady ship was immediately got out of the carriage, and she after wards returned to the Castle. Thames-street has been for some time in a dangerous state, as the whole of the houses on one side are being pulled down for the purpose of widening it and lowering the hill. SEAMAN'S HOSPITAL SOCIETY.—T he quarterly court of the governors of this institution was held yesterday, at the offices, King William-street, City; Mr. John Wild, vice-president, in the chair. The report stated that the number of patients admitted into the hospital ship Dread nought, from the Ist of October to the 31st of December, 1851, was 768, of whom 155 were still under medical treat ment; 2 were convalescent; 3 fit for duty; and 608 had been discharged. The number received since the first estab lishment of the hospital, in 1821, was 65,373. The number of out-patients for the last quarter amounted to 372. The statement of accounts showed that the expenses amounted to 1,6221. 2s. 2d., and the receipts to 1,252/. 12e. ld., leaving a balance against the society of 3691. 10s. ld. The report was adopted, some routine business transacted, and after a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting separated. SOUTHAMPTON, JAN. 9 —The Royal Mail Com pany's steam-ship Teviot, Captain Revett, with the Bra- Ol z e il ed ia as n iotn m hee a d i e l bo s y , r l eft itilhae ltdohsiisoof of the She had an exceedingly Gisi a n: r ed g ee : : b g inae e naen mails, sr : a ny t wiolli e ll : lei r al g eva o iv ... f,eo s ro p n e s c , ie to the amount of 135,000/., and under pearssengers. The Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Avon, e eT, CaptainThomas on Wilson, i l on s o n i f t pu o rne filldpaa Sunday on h rg e oint hd vacancy Monday. l Y steam-ship, with the usual West evening, about eight o'clock tt t h ll , e afternoon fi re w o a f s the o b 17th ser ve n t s o t . have SHIP ON Fiat AT BELFAST.—On Wednesday d broken out in the cabin of the brigantine nor:ford, the pro perty of Mr. John Potts, now discharging a cargo of coals at Donegal' Quay. A small enginefrom the docks was promptly on the spot, and soon afterwards the town council engine, with a body of the fire brigade, arrived. The flames were soon got under, but not until considerable damage was done mto the timber -work o f the cabin, the captain's nautical ents, &C. A letter from Vienna, of the 2d, states that Intel ligence has been received in that city o f the suicide at Con stantinoplefcoornt-irtensasnwdaeds i t n h e the Artillery power at f it appears that he was at the time In prison (H under a charge of r aving that entered into a revolutionary plot with some of the other refugees. The mann er o f h i s death t C h ° e m i r s n u insurgents. was singular, he having rolled himself up in his sheets and set fire to the two ends. lie died in great agony. EVENING, JANUARY 10, 1852. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION OF 1852.—Among the volunteers to take command of the new Arctic expedi tion, to be fitted out this year, is Captain E. Ommanney, who commanded the Assistance, under Captain Austin, C.B , who has offered to give up his comfortable appoint ment as Deputy Comptroller of the Coast Guard, if his services should be accepted. The Commander-in-Chief of the West Indies was at St. Thomas's December 21, and would sail for Jamaica on the arrival of the mail from England. chief Rear n -Admiral Bmirraalzil Reynolds, station C. 8., t h e ex-commader-in , arrived at Devonport in the Southampton, 50, and haul e d hi s fl ag d own on Wednes day, and went ashore at that p or t. Commander Wood, who was promoted on paying off the Pantaloon, surveying -vessel in the Pacific, is to com mission the Pluto, es assistant to Captain Denham, in the Herald, in his survey in the South Seas. THE ADMIRALTY MAIL AGENT OF THE AMAZON. — Lieutenant Brady, who was mail agent on board the Amazon, and who took the place of Lieutenant Wil kinson on very short notice, as wo stated on Monday, was a lieutenant of 1815, and was very much respected in and out of the service. The following is O'Byrne's sketch of his gallant career:—" William Hollinshed Brady entered the navy Dec. 6, 1807, as first-class vo lunteer on board the Leonidas, 38, Captain Sir James Dunbar, on the Mediterranean station, where he joined, in November, 1808, the Cumberland, 74, Captain Hon. Philip Wodehouse. On the 28th of October, 1809, he witressed, as midshipman, the s e lf-d es truction of the French line-of-battle ship s R o b ust and Lion, near Iron tignan; and on the night o f t h e 31st of the same mont h he was slightly wounded while serving in the boats at the capture and d estruction—under a hot fire from the batteries in the Bay of Rosas, and in face of a resistance from the various crews productive of a loss to the British of 15 men killed and 55 sounded—of the store-ship Lamporie, of 16 guns and 116 men, with three other armed vessels and seven sail of merchantmen. He continued to be very actively em ployed in the Cumberland, under the command of Cap tain Thomas Baker, in the North Sea, and in escorting valuable convoys to the West Indies and the Cape of Good Hope, until paid off in August, 1815—a few months previous to which period, on the 20th of March, he had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He • afterwards, from June 10, 1824 until 1 817 , serve d on the coast blockade as Supernumerary Lieutenant of the Ramilies, 74, Captains W. M'Culloch and Hugh Pigot; and since June 10, 1842, has been employed as Admi ralty Agent in contract _mail steam-vessels on the West India station." Lieutenant Grylls, the other naval officer lost in the Amazon, is son of the Rev. Mr. Grylls, of St. Neot's. What makes this case more distressing is, that Mr Gr)lls wished his son to remain at home, because another son was dying, who is since dead, but we` are informed that •the application was refused. The intelligence of the death of Mr. master of her Majesty's frigate Fox, 42, been re 2, Luaemwbaesrta,titnactkheed3wBitthhyfeevaerr on Oct. ofhis age, h 26, and was invalided on Nov. 7, to proceed to England for the preservation of his life, and sent on shore to sick quarters to await a passage in the mail steamer, but ulceration of the bowels came on, which destroyed his life on Nov. 13. Lieut, Henry Bacon (1841) has been appointed to the command of the naval apprentices' brig Wizard at Queenstown, vice Barnard, promoted. Mates—John P. C. Clements, to the Hastings, 72, flag-ship, China; Jamas Hardy, to the Leander, 50, Lisbon; Hon. M. B. Nelson, to the Retribution steam frigate, Portsmouth; and J. 11. Cary, to the Rapid, 8, Devonport, for the East Indies. Clerks—Thomas Bradbridge, to the Impregnable flag-ship, Devonport; C. W. Harris, to the St. George, 120, ordinary flag-ship, Devonport; G. A. Welch, to the Victory flag-ship, Portsmouth. Gunner —John Blellock, acting; Boatswain John Mellon, acting; Carpenter John Williams, acting. Paymaster Richard P. Beddek (1834) died at Porto bello, Dec. 25. Her Maje3ty's steam-sloop Hecla, Commander Beau champ, may be hourly expected at Portsmouth from the coast of Africa. She was to leave Sierra Leone, December 10. Britannia, 120, Captain Goldsmith, flag - ship of Rear Admiral Deans Dundas, C. 8., will be out of the hands of the dockyard at Portsmouth on the 15th instant, and will be ready to go to Spithead by the 27th. She is about 200 blue jackets short of her complement. Ccmet, steam surveying-vessel, Commander Otter, is ordered to Queenstown, from Scotland. Sanspareii, 81, screw-ship at Devonport, will be complete in her machinery fittings by the Ist of April, when she will be commanded by Captain Horatio Austin, C.B. Southampton, 50, Captain Cory, remains at Ply mouth Sound waiting a fair wind to Chatham, to be paid off. - Tweed, 18, Commander Lord F. Russell, is ordered to be paid off at Devonport. Rapid, 8, Commander Blanc, will go into Plymouth Sound this day, and will sail again for the East Indies, probably on Monday. PORTSMOUTH, FRIDAY.—It blew a hard westerly gale with very revere squalls last night; it still continues to blow a gale from the westward. A small steamer, sup posed to he the Fearless, anehored'in St. Helen's Roads, and the Victory had had the demand up all the morn ing, but the steamer's number cannot be made out. The examination into the preserved meats at the Royal Clarence-yard was resumed this morning, we be lieve with the same revolting results as already published by us, but w e can f urn i s h no definite report upon the subject, the Admiralty, ashamed of their responsibility in the matter, having deprived the press of obtaining authentic information. But the horse being now stolen their Lordships lock their Augean stable-door too late. Some strong additions to the defences of this port have just been ordered to be commenced and completed with the least possible delay —a battery at the linab light, off St. Helen's, commanding the approach to Spithead from the eastward, to mount 100 guns of heavy metal, and a fort at Lumps, on th e P ortsmo uth shore, also to mount 100 heavy guns. A ROW fort has b een c ommenced some tim e at Browndown, on the Gosport side, where two comp an i es of Royal Sappers and Mi ners a re at work. to compl e t e t h e i r task in two months. Th e battery at Lumps will be a temporary . .work. We are also informed a barracks for artillery is ordered to be e rected at the Powde r Magezines, Biddy's Hard, Gos port,and that the gu ar d s on the Gosport side have been stre ngthened this w ee k b y posting an officer and an a dditional number of m en at, the Double-gate, near the r ailway terminus, and a corporal and six men at t h e Haslar-gate. The Champion, Al Commander J. M. Hayes, Was paid off this day. The crew of the N e pt une, 120, Captain Yates, were paid to-day the wages du e t o them, on being remove d from the books of the Britannia. The Simeem iron troop steam-ship w i ll no t b e tried before Monday, owing to the foulness of the weather. The Dasher steam -vessel arrived in harbour to-day f r om the Channel Island s . The Retribution steam-f r i gate, Captain Warden, received orders to-day to complete stores for f ore i gn s ervice. W O OLWICH, JAN. 9..--The Fury s t eam - 8 100p, Com mander Edward Ta tham, left W oo l w i c h to-day for Portsmouth, and ultimately th e Mediterranean station. The Barracouta paddlewh ee l steam-sloop of 330 -h orse power is under orders to leave Woolwich for Chatham on Thursday next. The Black Eagle steam -vessel was taken out of the w est dock yesterday, and the Intrepid steam-vessel taken in. M ALT A, JAN. 2.—The news of the place is but scant, and limited almast entirely t o t h e fleet. The exerc i ses of Monday last were not of a very varied ' k i n d . W e give below the time occupied in the manoeuvres 1. Launches of squadron with steam anchors andcables, and barges with hawsers, to assemble round Queen.— 29th December, 185 1 e rn. s. m. s. I Queen ... ••• 6 35 Albion ... 15 30 „ Superb ... ••• 30 Traf a l gar ... 25 30 Vengeance ... 18 15 Bellerophon 50 Indefatigable ... 10 45 ... 31 yards:-- 2. Up topgallant masts; crossed topgallant and royal 120 A. biota .. m 4. s. ID. B. Queen ... ••• 4 20 Vengeance ... 6 30 Superb ... ... Indefatigable ... 7 0 1 13ellaoprop,spahrmo. Trafalgar ...... 9 0 to in agofewout °Willi go as far. apparatus .t O 'll as 11 8 01 2mble ) 3. Boats with en r g o i u n n e d s B an oi d ier ti o r p e hon:__ In. S. Queen ..., ... 3 0 Albion m. s. ••• ... 8 0 Superb* ... ... 3 0 Trafalgar... . 9 0 Vengeance ... 8 0 1 Belleroph on Indefatigable ... 4 25 1 Q .. a .l( e o n n :_ fire.) l * Superb's fire-engine did not work. Dec. 30, 1851—Boats manned and armed, and launches with field-pieces, to assemble round the In. s. Queen ... ... 7 30 Trafalgar... ... I n 6 l. 1 8 5 . Superb ... ... 10 30 Albion Bellerophon erc : is : es llos the 3 fi g eld-pieeese landedalb4rensot ... 15 0 f is op e ri e Naples. o esspltehse. Indefatigablele,ngiteear Vengeance oe y x the ship, and sent, with their crews, for edfixaeeslradc Flo rian. Boats proceeded outside the harbour. Qu l e n ee lan w d e i e n fi g r a e n t. d also in re-embarking The Th e S A p l i h t i e e f n u 1 and to d s l e e p a e v r e h p e o r r e t them, to seasillGi,nhigehr,ale,beitoreit.bWle,editneissdraeyp.owrthleotd,gisowesisalildwacitthchoeraythpeamny. a trial of bring back the Admiral, The CeyLon, the old receiving ship, has had her ballast out. She is found to be in a much better state than was supposed, and probably will still be retained as the receiving ship, while the Hercules may be ordered to England. The Medina is in dock. The Mecitnsa will be docked. Ensign the Hon. Mr. Massey, late 18th, left Malta by the Merlin for Corfu. He proceeds to join the 7th. Lienten:int Boyle, R.A., leaves to-d ay on leave. Captain Craigie, R.E., has returned to the island on leave. All the packets due have arrived except the French from Alexasndria. greater part - - Y ed by a violent night, and gale from the north-west, ac companied by occasional drifts of G.x.oEf yesterday, Liverpool r y s i d si a t hail and sleet. We have not at present heard of any serious damage sustained by the vessels in the river, b ut t e ars are entertained that numerous casualties must have ensued from the violence of the wind on the Welsh and Cheshire coasts. There have been, of course, no sailings from the port during such a state ,of the weather. PROPOSE] ) DOCKS AT MILFORD IT&VEN.-Th3 estimated cost of construction and completion of the intended wet docks an 4 eating bunt at =ford liayezy is 1,00,000!. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FRIDAY. The following had the honour of diLing with her Ma jesty last ev( ning:—His Excellency the Count and Countess Walewski, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Duke of Newcastle, the Count and Countess Lavradio, the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster, the Mar quis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, the Earl Do Is Warr, the Earl and Countess of Sefton, Lady Emily de Burgh, and Lady Octavia Grosvenor. The band of the Royal Horse Guards attended in the Castle during dinner, and plajed the following selec tion:— Overture, " Wunderwasser" ••• Flotow. Selection, " Maid of Honour" ... Balfe. Waltz, " Prop L at e" Ettiing. Fakal Tanz Meyerbeer. Quadrille, "Grenada" ... ••• D'Albert. Afterwards, in tho evening., her Majesty's private bawl was in attundance, and performed the— Overture, " Yelva" •.• Reissiger. Romance—Airs de Ballet, L'Enfant Pro digue" Auber. The Queen walked in the Homeep a rk an d Slopes this morning. The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and younger members of the Royal Family, took their usual pony and walking exercise. _ His Royal Highness Prince Albert went out shooting this morning, accompanied by his Excellency the Count Walewski, the Duke of Newcastle, the Marquis of Clan ricarde, the Earl of Sefton, and Earl Do la W arr, and at tended by Colonel F. H. Seymour. The Hon. Matilda Paget and the Hon. Mary F. Sey mour have relieved the Hon. Beatrice Bvng and Hon. Eleanor Stanley, as Maids of Honour in Waiting to her Majesty. A deputation of merchants of Liverpool, consist ing of the Mayor of Liverpool, Mr. Hugh Ilornby, deputy chairman of the Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Charles Turner, chairman of the Dock Com mittee; Mr. Francis Shand, chairman of the West India Association; Mr. Rankin, chairman of the Shipowners' Association ; Mr. John Aiken and Mr. Bouch, accompanied by Mr. Cardwell, the Member for Liverpool, had an interview yesterday with Lord John Russell, at his official residence in Downing street, upon the subject of the present Custom-house system. The Rev. Dr. Seaman and Mr. John Benwell Seamar had an interview with the Right Hon. Sir George Grey yesterday, at the Home-office. The Atirquis d'Azeglio, the Sardinian Minister, had an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday. The Finance Committee of the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 had a meeting yesterday at the Board of Trade. A deputation from the parishes of Poplar, Saint Anne, Limehouse, and the hamlet of Mile-end Old Town, oa the subject of the intended roads to Victoria Park from Bethnal-green and Cambridge-heath, had an interview with Lord Seymour yesterday at the Office of Public Works and Buildings. The deputation consisted of Edward Stock, Esq., local: magistrate, Poplar; Mr. Samuel Tirmen and Mr. James Bowley, churchwardens; Mr. Edward Coleman, trustee, Poplar; Mr. C. C. Ceely, vestry-clerk, Poplar; William Henry Hawkins, Esq., and John George Hammack, Esq., magistrates, Mite-end Old Town; Mr. Snow, Mr. Philpot, Mr. Sadgrove, town-clerk; Thomas Henry Bluck, Esq., local magis trate; Mr. Frederick Young, trustee of Limehouse; Mr. William Nathan and Mr. James Barclay, churchwardens; and Mr. A. Norton, vestry-clerk of Limehouse. Mr. Miller, Commissary-General, had an interview with Earl Grey yesterday, at the Colonial-office. Mr. A. Baillio had also an interview with the Noble Earl. Dispatches were received at the Colonial-office yester day from the Governors of the West India Islands. Dispatches were sent off yesterday to the Governors of the North American Provinces. COMMISSION OF LUNACY. On Thursday the inquiry into the stale of the mind of Mrs. Catherine Cumming, was resumed at the Eyre Arms, St. John's-wood, before Mr. Franci s B ar l ow , and a jury of nineteen gentlemen. Sir F. Thesiger, Q C., end Mr. Petersdoiff, appeared for the promoters; Mr. leee and Mr. Hooper (the sons-in-law of the alleged lunatic), and their wives. The petition was opposed by Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., Sergeant Wilkins, and Mr. Southgate. The examination of witnesses on behalf of promoters was resumed. George Vernon Driver, a surgeon, had been from 1840 to 1847 in the establishment of Mr. Ince. Was on inti mate terms with Mrs. Cumming and her family. Mrs. Cumming was then living at Msida:vale. Had visited her two or three times in company with Mrs. Ince. Mrs. Ince's conduct to her was that of a dutiful daughter. At an evening party, at Maida-vale, witness heard Mrs. Cumming speak disrespectfully of the old captain. Cap tain Cumming overheard her, and some excitement en sued which caused th e p ar ty t o b re ak up sooner than it would otherwise have done. That, however, made no difference in her conduct to her daughter. Afterwards, when Mr. Ince was living in Belgrave-place, and when in to the Ince wa s d angerous ly ill, M rs , C umm i n g came the house and ran up to her room without being asked. That made Mrs. Ince a great deal worse. !Atter then her . conduct to her daughter beca me l e ss affectionate, and at length an estrangement took place between her and her family. Her conduct towards her husband was very improper. The house was filthy in the extreme, so much so as t o b e pre j ud i c i al to health. Mrs. Cum ming was on good terms with Mrs. Hooper and her children, but afterwards she became estranged from them. Cross-examined by Sergeant w Captain Cumming's n urses were recommended Some o by Mr. Ince, who attended him as surgeon. Thomas Ince, cousin to Mr. John Ince, the son-in law of Mrs. Cumming, had known her intimately for throe or four years, about the time her daughter was married. That was sixteen or seventeen years ago. When first witness knew her she was a person of lady like manners and appearance. She then appeared to behave exceedingly well towards her daughters and husband. About the time Mrs. Ince was married, Mrs. Cumming said she had been the best of daughters, and would be a great loss to her, but she hoped it would be for her own good. After the marriage of Mrs. Hooper, there was some estrangement between her and her mother. Mrs. Ince had exhibited great regret and sorrow at the estrangement which had taken place be tween them. Had intimately known Mrs. Ince 16 or 17 years, and had never known her behave unkindly to her mother. Had never known Mr. Ince guilty of any unkindness to Mrs. Cumming. Cross-examined by Mr. JAMES—Was aware that Ince and Hooper had taken out a commission of lunacy against Mrs. Cumming. Was not aware that they had commenced a Chancery suit against her, er charged her with perjury. G. Dangerfield, a solicitor, was applied to by Mrs. Cumming to manage her affairs. A Mr. Hawkins had been her solicitor previously, but she intimated that there was a want of confidence in her towards him. Witness recommended to her Messrs. Birch and Davies, of Newport, to manage her Monmouth property. Had seen nothing of her since October, 1844. In December, 1844, witness received a letter from her, in consequence of which he called upon her. She refused to see wit ness. Had paid over to her or on her account all the money witness had received, and had a claim against her for costs. Had certainly never robbed her of 3001., or of any plate. Found that she always objected to every body she employed. She always spoke slightiugly of her daughters and their husbands, and particularly wished that her address should not be given them. She seemed to consider Mr. Hooper was inferior to her daughter, but she made no intelligible charge against Mr. and Mrs. Ince. In 1844 witness compromised au action for her with Mr. Williams for misusing the fur niture in a house she had occupied in Maida-vale. It was a nicely furnished house, at a rent of 2001. a year. It was alleged that she had had the washing done in the drawing-room, and the ironing on the 100 table; and that the pigeons had dirtied the furnitnre. She denied the truth of these allegations, but afterwards consented to compromise the action for 121. 2s. A much larger claim had been made. She said she would not sleep cn the bed in that house because the landlord had weighed the feathers, but she would sleep in her own bed. Witness was the solicitor to the com mission of 1846. Captain Cumming was alive when the proceedings in lunacy were commenced. They were taken with his concurrence. The commission was not actually issued until after his death, hat the order for her confinement in York House was signed by the Cap tain. After the commission had sat some days, an ar rangement was come to by the counsel on both sides. Supposing that arrangement had been carried out, her property would probably have been protected. On that occasion Mr. James was in support of the petition, and Mr. Petersdorff against it.—(Laughter.) Cross-examined by Mr. JAMES—Mrs. Cumming was rather litigious, and was a good client to some persons, but not to witness.—(Laughter.) Did not know that he ever delivered her a written account except on one cc casion. Her rental was about 400/e per annum. Had given her verbal accounts from time to time. She now owed witness from 501. to 1001. Did not know whether it was usual in furnished houses to weigh the feathers in order to guard against fraud. Thought what Mrs. Cum ming did was a simple piece of absurdity. Would not go so far as to say it was a delusion. Messrs. lace and Hooper applied to witness about the commission early in 1846, while Mrs. Cumming was confined in York house Asylum. Witness went with Ince and Hooper and searched the house, but witness had no zecollectton of taking any property away. Captain Cumming had died before then. Winifred Todd had been in Mrs. Cumming's service as cook. She then lived at Gothic Villa, Queen's-road, St. John's Wood, w h ere s h e s till r es id e d. M rs . Cum ming used to borrow money of witness. The greatest sum was 308. She used to complain that she was robbed. The house was in a very destitute state, but Mr. Haynes told witness, when she mentioned it to him, that when Mrs. Cumming came into it, it was completely furnished. Mrs. Cumming was in the habit of giving orders and countermanding them. Had known her to go a whole day without giving any orders whatever, or taking any thing except a little brandy or wine and water. On one occasion she ordered dinner at six o'clock in the evening, but she did not come home till one in the morning, and then she ordered it up. Their dinners were generally cooked in her bedroom. Sometimes she would order a slice of salmon, and then she would fancy a chop, and then a stewed eel, all at the same meal. She kept four.cata and a kitten in her room, which was very disagreeable in consequence. She once told witness that she was seized with a fit, and that ; whilst in that state Mrs. Haynes attempted to take the rings off her fingers; but she said, " For God's sake, don't rob me before I sin dead." Each cat had a separate, plate placed for it, and meat and soup at the same time. Napkins were also placed for them. When they had milk they had it out of china cups. She was attended by Dr. Cardwell, who used to see her every Wednesday. One Sunday witness asked he what they were to have for the kitchen dinner. Mrs. Cumming replied that they might have a leg of mutton there was in the house. She then sent for it, and told witness to cat it in three. -- Witness, not exactly understanding her, she took the knife from her threw it violent down, and began to curse and swear; then said that she bad no dinner herself, and her servants might also go without. She once said that a servant named Clarke bad attempted to poison her. Witness left be cause her health was beginning to fail. She was some times required to stand as much as eight hours together by her mistress's bedside. Cross-examieed by Sergeant Winisnes—Afrs. Cum ming rose at different times of the day. Someti mes no till live in the evening. Her dirty habits might some times have have been involuntary. She would sometimes Tehx press sorrow when she saw it made witness ill. e house was once broken into, and the kitchen nearly stripped. A letter from Dr. Caldwell was read by the Commis sioner, stating that Mrs. Cumming had been too mush e xhausted by her attendance yesterday t o b e able to bo present to-day.. Mary Itaineyhad lived upwards of two months in the service of Mrs. Cumming, and deposed to various eccen tricities. On the Ist of February last, after a visit from n u' Mrs. Hutchinson, Mrs. Cummipg said to witness, G‘:° d God! what have -1 a d le o s ne to n c o o w il ? ect ni T y h aret . pumpkin, Pkiri v utchinson, has been here , and persuaded meNeo'. Mrs.send H h w e e r nt ee dOw d n taiowsetro Wales and her mistre ss l ocked and bolterher door. She then began to scream out " Murder!" and n o g ne w o i f th th some difficulty madhouse policemen a i entry i e n a t into e her room,lir a lied with an oath, " You effectedt hree p t e h rissolfrom a s the quiet. come to protect her, She F r f e et v ea i r cus day about destroyingcome e t m o sa ta id ke he m b e a .' d ' She had been talking on the ca ts, sad wouldonheavoer the e d herself. She had then five leadffected witness's six, but she said . that Mr. Jones kittens. The room was so filthy it to the day of her d i lien's health that she should feel and dd had d an s g o Mrs. Cummings _ death. . The cats had a medical at tendant named Dr. Williams."—(Loud laughter.) used to say that Mrs. Hutchinson came to hear all she could, and convey it to Mr. Robert HaYtes. and witness thought so too.—(A laugh.) When Mrs. Cumming spoke of a will, Mrs. H. said her h usband would mak e one f or h er , as h e h a d d one for another person, quite as well as a solicitor, and would save her six or seven pounds. Mrs. Cumming told wit ness that Mr. Robert Haynes bad made a will, which he wanted to persuadeiher was hers, but it was not so. She said that Mr. Robert Haynes bad willed over all her I property to himself and other persons of whom she know nothing. Sho stated that Mr. Robert Haynes had sent her two dozen and a half of wine, but that it was like bog-water, and that it contained poison, so she sent it back. She was of opinion that all her servants were connected with Mr. Rotert Haynes, and that ho was robbing her. She would not allow her food to be cooked down stairs for liar of poison. One day her favourite cat, which was named " Zit," escaped into the garden. She offered witness a sovereign if she would catch it. Afterwards she offered her five. Witness was in and out after the cat all night, and at last suc ceeded in catching it. Mrs. Cumming was so delighted that she cried, and kissed witness's hand twice.—( A laugh.) She afterwards gave her five farthing.— (Laughter.) Cross-examined by Mr. E. JAMES--Had introduced a person named Hickie into the house: her duty was to read to Mrs. Cumming. and to wait upon the cats. — (Laughter.) Witness had sworn in her affidavit to the Court of Chancery that she (witness) was " an extreme, !y m ild person, end not o f a quarre l some temper. (Laughter.) Mrs. Cumming did not charge her with ill-using her on the let February in the coachman's pre , once. If the coachman said so he ought to be executed. —(Laughter.) Did tell her that she (witness) could easily secure her. That was after the police had lef . Mrs. Cumming wanted to go out of the room and wit ness told her that if she did not keep quiet she would soon settle her. Witness did not know who " Dr. W.- -ti.;0111 . 1 4- • - er . , . •h,„ yin ..1...5....—,-......,...........,.-.- . A ~ 1 / 4 .....A . t .t liana" was. He was somebody in the neighbourhood l' ir .' ''\v"" t. 61 ? They would find him in the " Court Guide." In ., 1- \ , r '„...X , ~c . "'" ,( - ;ic i. , -; John Richards , a policeman, cot.firmtd,' a portioX 5' , ....' 0-, Crk ,;, v .i, .., ~, , s e , the last witness's statement. 0_ -;.. y 7 The proceedings were then aajourned. fik.AiT i ..-7.;: , : ....4„, ~,, ... _...-- . . The inquiry was resumed yesterday, and agai n A d. 4'E : ..7 4 -." journed. THE MINISTRY. (From the Times) Upon the occurrence of the late change in one im portant department of the Government, it obviously became the duty and the iuterest of Lord John Russell to endeavour, if possible, to strengthen his Administra tion by the infusion of new elements to replace those which he had lost, or those which are likely to fail him. Hence a variety of rumours have been thrown into cir culation for the lest fortnight on the probable changes to be effected in thee Government before the meeting of Parliament; and some of our contemporaries have de eignat. d the very persons and offices thus conjecturally thas certain b not ee n disposed of. W e enterta i n no doubt that home such at atenredP indirectly definite m ad made proposalsb ythe First have been Minister, ad dressed to the surviving members of that party which Lord J. Russell has sought on two former occasions to unite with himself in power. But, whatever may have been the precise extent of this negotiation, we also believe that it has now been abandoned, probably because it met with little encouragement or abSellt from the statesmen to whom these communications were made. It may here after be a matter for consideration whether the cause of this repugnance to share the responsibilities of Lord John Russell's Cabinet arose from the inadequate nature of this particular proposal at the present time, or whe ther any more permanent and insurmountable impedi ment to such an union subsists. But at present we merely state the fact, as we believe it to be, that the at tempt to effect a partial improvement in the Ministry, by the substitution of three or four new members for others of the present Cabinet, who would retire, has not led to any result. It seems, therefore, to be the determination of Lord John Russell and his colleagues to meet Parliament on the 2d of February, if that be the day announced to us by the proclamation of this evening, without any mate rial alteration in the composition of the Ministry; al though we suppose that neither the present Ministers nor any of their adherents can look with much confidence on the issue of such an undertaking. If the Government was weak last session, it is weaker now. If its authority over the Ministerial • party was small and intermittent, that authority is now likely to be assailed and divided by the hostility of a former colleague and ally. If Lord John Russell floated onwards last year, when no great or decisive dis play of power and judgment was required of him, will it be the same when he has pledged himself to open the question of Parliamentary Reform at home, and when the most sudden and violent changes on the continent may be directed against our foreign interests, or even against the security of these islands? We have no dis position to underrate the public services which Lord John Russell may render to the country in this emer gency. On the contrary, he has recently shown a deter mination to make his authority more distinctly felt in the general policy of the Government; and perhaps no man is at this time equally qualified, both as a Minister and as a leader of the House of Commons, to maintain the principles of progressive improvement vain the legitimate sphere of the Constitution. But, in the position in which he stands, and the country stands with him, we look with anxiety to the prompti tude of his measures and the extent of his resolution. Time, which it is often the object of statesmen to gain, is now working against him; and it remains to be seen whether that can be accomplished hereafter, under the pressure of necessity, and after fresh defeats, which might possibly be done at once by a vigorous and spon taneous effort. The country may be disposed, as we shall be our selves, to give the Government credit for any measures of salutary importance that may be announced upon the opening of Parliament. Bat be those measures what they may, it is a delusion to suppose that measures can impart strength to a Government which has lost the power to wield its weapons with efficiency. The Whig Budget of 1841 was a memorable example of that delu sion, which recoiled upon its authors. The doctrines of free trade, afterwards gradually and successfully applied by Lord Melbourne's illustrious successor,were powerless to prolong his own tenure of office; and the only effect of the premature discussion of a scheme which the Cabinet of that day could not carry was to render the ultimate tri umph of those measures more difficult, and their effect on parties more mischievous. No greater offence can be committed by a Minister than to let loose a force he cannot guide, or to open a question he cannot hope to terminate. It is for the Government to propose and carry its measures, not for the blind momentum of parti cular measures to support the Government; and, before Lord John Russell engages in new or arduous duties he will do well faithfully to estimate and ascertain the strength which he can bring to the discharge of them. To act without such knowledge and conviction is to set the tranquillity of the country and the (*oration of the Ministry upon the cast of a die. These and many other considerations arising out of this subject all point to the same conclusion. It seems vain to attempt, for it is already too late to effect, any partial ameliorations in the structure of the Govern ment. It is equally vain to expect that the present Administration should pass successfully through the ordeal of another session; yet, in the event of its defeat, we have an Opposition less than ever quali fied to take office, and Ministers more than ever disqua lified to return to it. Under such circumstances, the only course which seems to offer a solution of the diffi culty, and to provide, as is most necessary, for the dignity of the Crown, the efficiency of the public ser vice, and the safety of the nation, is the entire recon struction of the Government upon a broad and liberal basis. It would be most desirable on all accounts to sweep away and efface the shortcomings, the infirmities, and the heart-burnings which necessarily accumulate upon a Government of six years' standing ; to make personal merit and actual services the only recognised claim for a prolongation or renewal of power ; and to include in this renovated Administration the most able and popular representatives of all shades of opinion, which concur in the leading principles of com mercial liberty and social reform. Wh en Eng land fools th© want of a strong Government, she does not appeal to the despotic authority of military laws; but she has a right to dem and the sacrifi ce of per power, or thrust aside her cons titution, or f o rsw ear her per sonal differences, and the patriotic union of those who are not divided upon questions of vital import. W e know not whether Lord John Russell will rise to a true sense of the highest duties of his office, and whether he will choose the bold and manly course which might prove his salvation; but we are confident that partial expe dients and narrow combinations within the circle of his family connexions an d his p ersonal f riends will not suffice for the crisis now before him, and that the country asks with amazement whether all British s t atesmanship has we must b e sat i sfied that they p layed d w indled to a small coterie. Bef ore i t can be affirmed andsoughtcollected, been vernm ent has di aattr firmness headof n ecessary to unite them.yed all the The army will not be wantin g But, above all, since the strength . ff the of promote, to direct, to command. E G n e g n l e i r sh al be swif and ready to act, to Govern ments resides in their Parliaments, and in the last resort general election,la should take a p i n the nation, it i s sisuchtoof. paramount importance that the which wo are rapidly approaching, thosethn and hope. an Administration that inspires confidence To fight the electoral battle under circumstances n as the present slate of the Ministry fight sa it under the greatest disadvantages, and diminished would b . e . ". rather increased by the political passions con nected with a proposal for Parliamentary Reform. It may still be time to anticipate these evils. The next few weeks will decide whether Lord John Russell is pre pared to avert them, to encounter them, or to sink under them; and the course he adopts in this interval will show whether he be indeed one of those men of mark who have gloriously governed the British empire, or a mere Parliamentary leader raised by accident to the highest office under the Crown. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. RAILWAYS OPENED IN 1851. The following railways were opened in the year 1831:--Buckinghamshire, May 20, from Islip to Oxford, 4 miles; Cork and Bandon, November, from Ballinhas sig to Cork, 10 miles; Eastern Union, September (the Trowse Extension to the Norfolk Railway), 16 miles; Exeter and Creditor:, May, 54 miles; Great Northern, August 1 (Shepreth Extension), 5i miles; Gloucester and Dean Forest, September 19, from Gloucester to Grange Court, 12 miles; London, B r i g ht on , and South Coast (joint line at Hastings), 21- miles; Middles borough and Redcar, July 6 (branch t o Eston), 2 wiles; Midland Great Western of Ireland, August 1, from Mul linger to Galway, 76i miles; Newmarket, October 6, Eastern, from Ashford to Hastings,South from Newmarket to Cambridge, 10 miles; Tonbridge-wells to Robertsbridge, 27k 18 miles,milesa; and from 19, from Grange Court to Chepstow, Battle)—together, 42i- miles; South Wales, September Barns ; leY to ' t B al m , 2 i 3 le 2 s f ; Yorkshire, July 1, from Doncaster to 3 miles; Vale of Neatb, HarbourStirling o Tiiico Dunfermline, u, t r y Jr (3 3 ( 93 b r a m i m s n i ii c le rn e h s s i e l (branches c to o i c o h w , Allotsa nto miles, September of w h 2 i 3 c , h N B e 6 a i t h m to ile s A w b e e r r e d are, Irish,l 1424 miles English railways. The French lines opened during the year 1851 were:— The Paris and Strasbourg, May 27, from Vitry to Bar i°. Due, 19 miles; July, from Sarrebourg to Strasbourg, 54 miles; and from Metz to St. Avoid, 35 mil es _o_ Letter. 108 miles; and the Tours end Nantes, July 1, from Tours to Poictiers, 63 miles; total. 171 miles. OXFORD, WORCESTER, AND WOLVER HAMPTON. Mr. Bruners estimate for constructing this company's prUpo;rd brauchts at Tipton, the approach to Stour proposed sad the junciien at Welvc-rcut, including land ip 16,000/., and the expense of the gswinford and Dudley 56,0001, being rtiteliiieC7len'xpense of the authorised line in lieu of w idubilr h ild' il t°:fi t e h sut siesuOgpiaelfoposed deviation s are made. The cost of the extension to Wolvercot and now station at Oxford, end the branch to join tie Buckinghamshire Railway near Oxford, including laud and contingencies, is esti mated at 70,0001. .dONSUMPTION OP TEA,—It appears from the official tables of the Board of Trade, issued yesterday by order of the House of Commons, that there has been an in crease in the quantities of tea entered for home consumption. In the eleven months ended the sth December, 1849, the quantity was 46 , 0 77,6391b5.; in 1850, 47,392,1731b5. ; and in 1851,49,764,1931b5. There has been a decrease in the quantities of wines and spirits entered for home consumption 1/1 the threa years mentioned. DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE AT WINDSOR CASTLE. (FROM THE COURT NEWSMAN.) WINDSOR, FRIDAY. A dramatic performance took place at the Castle this evening. A temporary stage had bean erected for the occasion at one end of the Rubella Room, and at the opposite extremity of the apartment was placed a hard pas supporting seats for her Majesty and Prince Albert and their illustrious visitors. The piece selected was Shakspore's comedy of Twefth Night, and the parts were filled according to the following programme:— Orsino (Duke of Illyria...) Sebastian (a young gentleman, brother to Viola) Antcnio (a sea captain, friend to Sebas tian) Roberto (a sea captain, friend to Viola) Mr. F. Cooke. Valentine I (gentlemen attending on the f Mr. G. Everett. Curio ) Duke) i Mr. Stacey. Sir Toby Belch (uncle to Olivia) Mr. Bartley. Sir Andrew Aguecheek .. Mr. Keeley. Malvolio (steward to Olivia) Mr. Meadows. Fabian Mr.lJames Vining. I (servants to Olivia) ... .... Clown 1 Mr. Harley. Friar ...... ...... First Officer Mr. Paulo. 114 Second Officer Olivia (a rich countess) : ... . .. . Viola (in love with the Duke) .:..... .... . . Mrs. Charles Kean Maria (Olivia's woman )..... ..,. Mrs. Keeley. Olivia's Pages—Miss J. Love!, Miss Pevensey, Miss Hast- ings, and Miss Hendrick. Scene—A City in Illyria and the Seacoast near it. Director . Mr. Charles Kean. Assistant Director Prompter .. Mr. T. W. Edmonds. The theatre was arranged and the scenery painted by Mr. Thomas Grieve. At eight o'clock her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert entered the Rubens Room, accompanied by the elder royal children and his Excellency the Count and the Countess Walewski, his Excellency the Count and the Countess Lavradio, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Duke of Newcastle, the Marquis and Marchioness of Westminster and Lady Octavio Grosvenor, the Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde and Lady Emily De Burgh, the Earl De la Warr, and the Earl and Countess of Sefton—and the Ladies and Gentlemen in attendance. The performance immediately commenced. Her Ma jesty's private band was in attendance in an ante-room. Refreshments were served to the assembled company during the evening in one of the royal saloons. The following bad the honour of receiving invitations for the evening:_ The Countess of Mansfield and two Ladies Murray, the Dowager Viscountess Ashbrook, the Lady Emily Seymour, the Lady Caroline and Miss Barrington, the Lady Mary Berkeley, Colonel Bon. C. B. Phipps, Colo nel Hon. Charles and Mrs. Grey, Sir Charles and Lady Couper, Miss Couper, Mr. Couper, Sir William and Hon. Lady Middleton, the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, Major-General Reid, Colonel Bouverie (commanding officer, Royal Horse Guards), and Mrs. Bouverie, Hon. J. B. Dormer, Mr. Billington, Colonel Craufurd (com manding officer, 2d battalion Grenadier Guards), Lieu tenant-Colonel Lewis, Captain Rous, the R ev . t h e Provost of Eton and Hon. Mrs. Hodgson, the Rev. Frederick and Hon. Mrs. Anson, Mrs. Crutchley, Mr. and Mrs. Cox, Miss Cox, Mr. H. Cox, and Mr. and Miss Greville. THE PRESENTATION OF THE REV. MR. BENNETT TO THE LIVING OF FROME, SOMERSETSUIRE, BY THE MARCHIONESS OF BATH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,—ln your recent comments on the presentation of the living of Frome, it is stated that " the living is in the gift of the Marquis of Bath, who will be of age this year. His mother, es his guardian, exercises thus a few months before he has the power of doing so a right adverse, it is said, to her son's views of the doc trines of Mr. Bennett."—( The Sun, Jan. 7, 1852.) Perhaps, Sir, you will allow me to observe that, if the circumstances above stated be facts, the appointment made by the Marchioness of Bath as a guardian is not correct, because, although the Marquis of Bath is a minor, yet he is not only capable of presenting, but he is the only party legally entitled to present to the living. The text authorities and decisions on the subject clearly show that an infant may present to a church, and this must be done by himself; and cannot be done by his guardian.—(Co. Litt. 17 b. 29 Edw. 111., c. 5, .and 3 lust. 156.) Also, a guardian cannot present to a vacant living in right of the infant heir ("though it is sometimes prac tised," as the commentators observe), therefore the heir shall present, of whatever age.—(l Inst. 89 a., and Shapland v. Ryols, Cro. Jac. 98.) I may also observe, that the law on this subject was, to the full extent of Lord Coke's opinion, decisively settled by Lord Chan cellor King, in the case of " Heade v. Green."—( 3 Atkyns' Chancery Reports p. 710.) I am, Sir. &c., THE AUTHOR OF " THE STATUS OF THE JEWS IN ENGLAND." SARAH ANN HILLS.—The Home Secretary has granted a respite of the execution of this unfortunate woman. now under sentence of death in York Castle for the murder of her illegitimate child, for a week. Mr. Milner, M.P. for York, and Mr. Alderman Leeman, had an interview lat t e yes terday afternoon at the Home-office, and the respie was dispatched to York by a special messenger last night. PROSPECTS OF THE ENGINEERING TRADE.—It has been publicly announced that the operatives intend carting a shop of their own, in the event of the employers their works ; and of course, if the men or their advisers have discovered any improved method o sternpaint an engineer ing business, so as to make a gre profit hn previous capitalists have done, the public cannot but be benefited by the competition. One thing, at all events, is certain, th a t there is no lack of concerns in the market for them to choose from. Of these, there a re six in London and the vicinit y alone, besides others at Liver p ool, Bristol, &c. of them old established c oncerns; which would the majori ty absorb sums varying from 10,000/. to 50,0001. each, topuvetthenai n in work ing ing condition. The rea son for this is a very simple wages on the Clyde are about 25 per cent, lower than i n London, and there is no concealing tbe fact that the Scotch engineers are gradually drawing the trade away from Lon- London don, and the ultimate effect will be that the houses will have to open country establish;r a i t t it s r , g o e r give up business altogether. Messrs. Boulton and t have always had their works at Birmingham, and their office in London, and Messrs. Miller and Ravenhill have recently opened a ship-building establishment on the T yne ich T can he o Londonly h e t ra de will thus b e confined to repairs, done conveniently on the spot where they are required, and the great bulk of the workmen option of " three courses —either to work in the co h u a n y t e ry th a e t e wages, to change their trade, or to emiire. We only hope ma y reflect before it is too late.— they w e understand that the o f o " rmanby, the British Ambassador at Pa r i s , h as been ordered to leave t h a t capital for London —we ti ppc!se with the view of his Lordship's being present at the s Privy Council to be held at Wi n dsor to-day. Whether thi s h as - reference to the Minis terial arrangements now in progres we are unable to state.— ' ,Dlorning Paper. SATURDAY I ra a- • I : ode sn ;ed