The Sun. — London, England, 1856-11-14 00:00:00

THE BULLIOV ROBBERY. 'MANSION-HOUSE —YESTERDIY. A. portion of tke following appeared in our impression of yesterday : William. Pierce and James Burgess, till recently guards in the service of the South-Eagtern Railway Company, were again placed at the bar, upon remand, in custody of Sergeant Smith and Sergeant Thornton, detective officers attached to the Scotland -yard division of the sletropolitan police force, charged with having stolen 15,000/ worth of bullion from a package, in its transit frcsn London to Folkestone, last May twelvemonth. Mr. Bodkin, instructed by Mr. Rees, the solicitor t 3 the company, again appeared in support of the prosecu- tion. Mr. Wontncr attended on behalf of Pierce ; and Burgess was defended by Mr. Lewis. The prisoners were placed at the bar at 5 minu',ee to 2 o'clock, when Mr. Bodkin said the circumstances of the case were very remarkable. The witness adverted to yesterday had arrived, and be hoped to be able to prove, d with the case and prove the guilt of the prisoners. The learned counsel then detailed the position of the pri soners when in the South-Eastern Railway Company's employ, and said that for some time suspicion had fallen on Burgess, but it was thought advisable not to pro ceed against him on it. The robbery was one com mitted with great adroitness and deliberation by four per eons, the two prisoners, a man named Agar, now ander sentence for forgery, and another man named Tester, who had been in the company's service, but was not now in this country. The evidence of Agar was of course tainted with crime, and he was a man who bad for years been following crime as a source of profit ; but he had been induced to make this communication not from any desire to shirk his part of the responsibility. It ap peared that Agar cohabited with a woman, by whom he had a child, and, having a natural affection for the woman and child, before he was com mitted for trial for forgery he deposited iwith Piers. 7,000 i. in gold for the benefit of this woman and child. After A.gar's committal Pierce turned the woman adrift, and she being penniless gave what information she knew to the South Eastern Railway Company. After some far- ther remarks the learned counsel called Henry Agar, who deposed—l am at present a con vict in confinement at the Portland Works. I was con. 'riot& in Septern'oer, 1855, and sentenced to transportation for life for forgery. I am one of the persons by whom a very large quantity of gold was stolen in transitu in May, 1855, on the South-Eastern Railway. I know the prisoners Pierce sad Burgess. I have known Pierce about five or six years. and Burgess not quite so long. 'Pierce, when first I knew him, was out of employ ; but Bargees was a guard on the line. I have several times been to the United States. The last time was about three years ago, and I returned about twelve m maths before Ike rob bery. Before I went the last time to the Ilated States I had a conversation with Pierce relative to a robbery of bullion, and on my return from America I met him by accident somewhere at the West-end, and entered into conversation. That led to my seeing him on several eecaeions, in the course of wuic'a he asked me if I bad thought anything more about the robbery. I declined having anything more to do with him. He said he thought he could get an impression of the keys of the iron safe, and that might manage it. I said it was a matter requiring consideration, how many were to be engaged in it, and so on. He said if I would undertake it, that whatever was got should be divided into four. I replied that I had no objection, and au arrange ment was made to meet a man to get an impressloa of the keys, Pierce saying he knew a man who would do it. Before I had this conversation with Pierce I had gone to Folkestone with Pierce. We there took private apartments on the right hand side leading from the up station to the town, a sitting room and two bed rooms. I then went in the name of Adams, and while I was there a letter so addressed to me was delivered to an• other person of that name residing next door. We resided in the lodgings about a fortnight or three weeks. We used to walk each day to the station when the beat train arrived to look about and see where the keys were kept. We saw the train arrive several times, and the iron chest in which the bullion was carried, and on some occasions I saw it opened there. The keys were at first taken from the ticket collector's drawer, but afterwards they were removed. A town policeman having noticed cur frequent visits to the station, and mentioned the circumstance, Pierce left, but I remained about a week. No other arrangement was made between me and Pierce before he left, except that I was to meet him again in London. Alter Pierce left I mixed with Ledger, Cue. tom-house officer, Uhapmau, and other servants of the company, and visited with them Medhurst's, in Upper Folkestone town, and played a game at billiards and had a glass of grog with them. I occasionally visited the station after Pierce had left. There were two keys to the safe, and the other used to be kept is a cupboard in Chapman's office. Neither Ledger, Chapman, nor Shar man, the company's servants, participated in the robbery, nor did I get any information from them. On my return to town I had a conversation with Pierce, and I told him I thought it impossible to get an impression of the keys at Folkestone. He said he could get one, and that would be something towards finishing it. This went on for some time, and afterwards Pierce told me one of the keys had been lost, and that the chest had been sent up to be repaired. He said he knew Tester, a ticket clerk in the company's employ, who would bate possession of the keys when the safe was repaired. Pierce said that Tester would get an impres sion of the keys. I said I would rather do it myself, and I afterwards, with Pierce, met Tester by appoint ment, at a beer shop, at the corner of Tooley-street, on the left-hand side. Tester had one new key with I made an excuse to go up stairs to wash my hands, where I took several impre4sions of the key in wax. After that, I returned to Pierce, and Tester. who ware in the coffee-room, and retained the key to Tester. Pre vious to this, I had met Burpts4 several tines Sterna's public house, in Toley-atreet, and at the Green Man, near the stalen. I hid ,net hire also at D Sometimes Pierce was pr 'sent St2eue'e. Pierce used the house, and ho was the first Ulan Rho to /6". ma tile.-. No representations were made to the law:lord wrie I was, but I vra- , generall,, supp , •se.l t i have b.,en a con. mercial man. Burgers was rather against the robb,ry when first it was prope.,ed by Pierce, but he was over•taiked into It by Pierce. The four persons engaged in the r ,bbery were myst.P, Pitrev, Burgess, and Tester. Air er the keys were re turned to Tester he left the puieic-house. It sat then arranged that I should go to Foilte,t,ne, awl ”t•ip aT the Pavilion Hotel, where Pierce was to tor o.ard in' a latter, in the name of Archer, statieg that he had fir warded a box to ma to the value of or 7001. I ac cordingly went there and received the letter, which I afterwards destroyed. The box was addressed " Mr. Archer," to the care of Chapman or Ledger, railway clerks, but which I can't say. Toe box did not arrive en the Saturday, a I expected, and, on my going to the station on Sunday, I had an opportunity of seeing Chapman open the iron safe with a ke y he took from his cupboard. The box had th en arrive], and, on my sign ing a receipt, it wasgiven to me . I t contained 200 seve reiguse,which I had obtained a few dayt before at the Bank of Eogiand in exchange for notes I had given to Pierce. I returned to Lo .don on the Monday morning, and saw Pierce on n arr ival in town, who lived then in W a l nut -tree-walkly Lambeth, and I communicated to him what had taken place. I did not at any time communicate it to Bur gess. It WAS then arranged by me and Pierce that we should go to Dover, and from thence to Folkestone, and that as the railway clerks wgeensehraolulyldlewftatthche o a ffi n c o e pp w o r h t e u n . office,,saonffid coe.btain Whilstthe kaeryraonfgitnhge thus the French boa ts arrived, nit], go into th e at Sterna's, Burgess came in by accident, and it was stated "It was all right for succeeding." I and Pierce afterwards went down by a day train, but I'm not sure if Bargees went down by it. We first went to the Rose public-house at Dover. AV hen I visite, t at thisd Dover distance by myself I patronised the Flenr-de-lia. I can remember if we went to Folkestone that night. We walked over the heights from Dover to Folkestone that night or the following morning, and waited the arrival of the Boulogne boat. We watched Chapman and , • Ledger out of their office to examine the paseengers luggage. Pierce went to the office whilst I stood at the door, and seeing all clear, he unlocked the door of the °Mc; went in, took the key of the bullion chest from the elipboard, and gave it to me. I then took an im pression of it in wax, and it was replaced in the drawer. We left the station, and afterwards returned to Landon. This was done about three or four months before the robbery. I frequently in the interval—about a &Jaen times—saw the prisoners at various public-houses in Thomaiestreet, the Borough-market, and the 3larquis of Granby, near Burgess's residence at New-cross. I bave visited Burgess at his own residence. After I had the wez impressions I had a number of keys male in blank, and I filed them down to the impression. It occupied some t i me . I did part of it at Pierce'e house, in Walnut.tree - wa ik, and finished them at my lodgings in Cambridge-terrace, Shepherd's-bush. After I had fin i she d filing ,the keys I went to Dover in the train .conveying the s a d , and of which Burgesa Was guard, try tam is the safe, an d I want teTen or timeseight to THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 14, 1856 before they would fit. After that I met Burgess and Pierc-: at the Niarqui4of Gra ,, by, and informed them that the keys fitted, and said it was time now to effect the robbery ; it was then arranged th9,t about two cwt. of shot should be got and put into bags to make up for the weight of gold to be abstracted, 12,000 i. in value. The 1 safe was in a van in which Burgess rode. The shot was RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH-EASTERN. A. special general meeting of the proprietors of this railway was held yesterday at the Bridge House Hotel, to enable the directors to submit a proposition and obtain authority for an application t 3 Parliament in the ensuing session for an act empowering the con struction by the company of a relief line between the purchased at different times by me and Pierce at the shot works near the Suspension-bridge. Oa the first purchase I waited outside whilst Pierce wade the purchase. The shot was placed in carpet bags, and we each circled one on our shoulders across L , 3cvisham and Dartford stations, on the North Kent Railway. Tke Hon. JAMES BYNG presided, and addressed the the bridge to Charing-cross, where we took the omnibus, and went to my lodgings at Shepherd's-bush. A. female named Fanny Kay was living with me at the time as my wife. I have a child by her about two years of age. I was first introduced to Fanny Kay by Burgess. Kay was at home when Pierce and I got to Shepherd's hu-h with the bags of shot. She asked what we hal in them, and we replied it did not concern her. The con tents of the carpet-bags I afterwards emptied into a trunk, and about a week afterwards Pierce made a meeting as follows :—Gentlemen---The circular which was issued to you about a fortnight ago has already fully explained to you the views of the directors as to the proposed relief line between the Lewisham and Dartford stations of the North Kent Railway. It is, therefore, scarcely necessary for me now to enter at any great length into the further discussion of the subject. A very proper and well•founded jealousy of all extensions .. . _ and branch lines now prevails amongst railway share holders, in which feeling railway directors also partici pate. But it is scarcely necessary that I should point out to you that the particular case which we have now met to consider does not fall within the class of ordinary branches or extensions ; for it is rather to be regarded in the light of an improvement of your existing railway, and as a means of doubling it at that part where the traffic bids fair shortly to outgrow the existing accommodation, if it have not already done so. It comes within the class of stations' improvement and additional works for the better conduct and safer transit of the traffic which actually exists, as well as for the satisfactory accommo ' dation of additional future traffic which is certain to come upon that part of the railway. The proposed relief line, then, beitz entirely of a different character from those usually submitted to railway proprietors, I trust that your jeaousy about extensions will, in this case at least, be effectually disarmed. Permit me, in a few words, to state the reasons which have induced us to bring this subject now under your notice. Ii is scarcely necessary that I should again remind you that the passenger traffic of the North Kent line is already about the heaviest in the kingdom. In 1855 we conveyed over it not fewer than five millions of passengers, including season ticket holders. Of course by far the largest proportion of this passenger traffic is fur short distances—that is, to and from those stations nearest the metropolis. Thus, in 1855, upwards of four millions of the whole number of journeys on tne North Kent line were between London-bridge and those stations on this side of Dartford. It hap pens, therefore, that that part of the railway, espe cially between London and Woolwich, is vary much crowded with trains. At particular hours of the day the trains require to be run very frequently, stopping at all stations to take up and set down passengers ; and the population along that part of the line is increasing so rapidly, there is so steady an increase in the number of persons taking up their residences along the railway, travelling to and from London daily for purposes of bueinees, that we feel it will be necessary shortly to increase the number of trains at certain hours in the mornings and evenings, with the object of increasing the public accommodation, and rendering the attrac tive districts of North Kent still more convenient to London men of business for the purposes of residence. We have heretofore found that every increase in the accommodatioa which we have provided has proved of marked advantage to the company, and we believe that it will be for the interest of the proprietors that we proceed in the same course. In fact, the character of the North Kent line as far as Dartford clearly points out that it should be worked as an omnibus railway (if I may use the term), in like manner as the present Greenwich line—the trains running very frequently and regularly, and stopping at ail stations. But here a difficulty arises. There is, you are aware, other very important traffic con veyed upon the North Kent line —that from Gravesend, Stroud, Maidstone, and other important districts in North Kent. This may be distinguished as the through traffic, and it is desirable that it should be conveyed to its des tination with due despatch, and without being inter rupted or delayed by the stopping trains on that portion nearest the metropolis. Now, since the opening of the Maidstone branch, which has brought a very valuable additional trafficon the North Kent, we have experienced tae 'difficulty of so arranging the trainees to work them to the satisfaction of both classes of passengers—l mean those travelling a short distance, to and from stations between London and Dartford, and those travelling to and from sta tions beyond Dartford. We were therefore compelled to come to the conclusion that it would be necessary, in order to afford that proper accommodation which the public has a right to expect from a company that holds in its hands the railway eommunicationl of North Kent—to adopt measures for the sepat ation of the through from the short local traffic, in the same manner as has already been adopted on railways similarly circumstanced. I may. men tion the case of the Brighton Railway, where the short trains, as far as Croydon, are separated from the through trains by means of additional lines of rail laid alongside the main line. But we soon found that the very expensive character of the property close adjoining the North Kent line, especially in the neighbourhood of Blackheath and Woolwich, and the costliness of the works which would be necessary - in order to duplicate the present line at those points, rendered this expedient quite impracticable. Another objection was the duplicate tunnels which it would. be necessary to construct at a very great ex pense. In additioa to these objections was the com peratively unfavourable character of the curves and gradients on that part of the North Kent Railway, which, although very conveniently laid out as respects the population of the district, and capabie of being ad vantageously worked as an omnibus line, is by no means well adapted for the safe and expeditious working of a heavy through traffic. We therefore fell back upon the original plan of the North Kent Railway, which was, as many of you may remember, laid out so that the main line passed direct from Lewisham to Dartford, with a loop line by way of Woolwich, though only the latter part of the line was actually constructed. We are not there fore now bringioi, before you an altogether new scheme, but are merely reviving a part of the plan of the North Kent Railway, which was postponed until the traffic re quirements and capabilities of the district had been aster tained. We are new of opinion that this important part of the original plan of the railway should be carried out, and that the line between Lewisham and Dartford should be constructed. We see no more economical and effec tual mode than this of giving relief to the overcrowded traffic to and from those stations nearest London, and at the same time of fully developing the valuable sources of traffic, some of which cannot now be undertaken, and others cannot be done justice to, in the district to the eastward of Dartford. Although the plan of the N .rth Kent line, which included this revived portion of the system, has already received the appro , al of the proprietors at three several meetings, in 1846 and 1847, I do not nor recommend it to you on thae ground, but on the ground of its own merits, and that the proper accommodation of the public, and the true interest of the company (which is always to serve the public in the best manner), alike require that it should be constructed, and that without delay. It has been stated that, in proposing to adopt this measure, we have only borrowed the plans of the East Kent Company, which gave notice of their intention, to apply fir an act to construct this very line in the last session of Parliament. But nothing eau be wore incorrect, than such a statement; for, in point of fact, we are, in proposing to complete this line, merely burrowing 'row ourselves, and reviving a part of onr own oriental design of the North Kent Railway, as prepared by Mr. R bert Stephenson, the celebrate.' engineer, in 1846 and 1317 ; and, in adeerting to the Est Kent Company, I sii-h it to be understood that at this beard no feeling of hostility extote towards that undertaking. We are desi rnus of making arrangements so that we shall be able to afford every accommodation for the traffic which they stay bring to us, and the formation of the proposed relief line will enable us to do this in the most efficient manner. It would be a very short sighted policy on our part to at tempt to throw obstacles in the way of that or any other company working into our system; and we have no in tention of doing so. On the contrary, we believe it to be the true interest of this company to afford every facility for the development of the traffic of the East Kent dis trict I might also, in advocating the measure now brought under your notice, point to the fact teat the proposed relief line will have a paying traffic of its own, for it will pass through a fine district of country, admir- . ably adapted for residential traffic, and there is no line of railway within a circuit of twenty miles of London through such a country as this which does not, if constructed at a moderate cast, amply remunerate its proprietors. I might point your attention to the map, and show that a wider gap exists in the par ticular district now proposed to be opened up to railway accommodation than exists in any similar district round London. In conclusion, I will add that we have not brought this subject under your notice without the ma turest consideration We have, of course, consulted the principal officers of the company, who, I sincerely be lieve, have your interests at heart, and they are unani mon., in their opinion a , to the necessity of obtaining powers to construct this relief line. Such are also the views of.the directors, and I accordingly with confidence ask your concurrence in the following resolution. Mr. SMITH asked whether the board had ,made effec tive arrangements for raising the 250,0001. estimated capital, and from what data the engineer estimated the total cost at that sum ? Had he consulted the land owners en the line as to the terms on which they would dispose of the land ? The CHAIRISAN—As to raising the capital, when the Parliamentary power was obtained the company mint raise it on the best terms they could. With regard to the estimaee the officers of the c impany Ishd made the most diligent inquiry, and were satisfied that the line could be constructed for the sum stated. The landown ers were all favourable,to the proposed line, which would be constructed principally by the company's own officers, and therefore cheaply. A PROPRIETOR inquired if the board were unanimous in recommending this new line? The CHAIRMAN replied that one member of the board had expressed some objection in the first instance, but the resolution of the director in favour of the line was pa-sed unanimously. Mr. T. ATKINSoN inquired whether the proposal con templated a junction between the loop 'line and the Greenwich line, and if so what amount of the 200,000/, was appropriated to that purpose ? Tue CHAIR2IAN said that such a jnnctirla was intended, and the stern set apart for it was 20.0001. Mr. HERAPATH, jun., expressed a doubt of the correct noes pf the e,timate, and (reserved that the most expensive ramie of construction was by means of the company's own officers instead of by open contract. He wished to know whether any positive arrangement bad been made with the landowners ? The CHAIRMAN answered that that could not be done until the 'authority of the proprietors for obtaining the Parliamentary sanction to the line had been given. A PRO/111E10B asked whether the proposed capital second purchase of shot, which be brought to my lodg ing, in a carpetbag ; it was emptied with the other lot into the same trunk, and which trunk was found in Pierce's possession when I was apprehended. I don't think Fanny Kay knew at the time the bags emptied into the trunk contained shot, but she noticed the trunk was very heavy. She had no opportunity of seeing them emptied that lam aware of. Pierce afterwards brought a third lot, which made up 2 cwt. The shot was not taken out of the carpet-bags. After the. shot was put into the trunk I locked it and kept the key. The trunk and shot were afterwards moved to Pierce's residence, in Crown-terrace, where the shot was made up into Sib, and 41b. check bags for the canvenience of taking it to the railway. I had a ser vant living with me at this time, named Charlotte. I and Pierce calculated the gold would weigh about 1961b5. We afterwards procured carpet bags and also four courier bags, which latter we had made at a shop at the corner of Drury-lane after a pattern I drew on a board. They were ordered to be made strong to carry heavy weights. After they were made they were taken to my house, where their strength was tested by their being filled with shot, and s ruck violently. Some of the stitches gave way, and I repaired the bags with a wax end and an awl. The carpet bags were filed with hay and some shot, to pass for luggage—the courier bags with shot. They put them on their shoulders, and took the carpet bags in their hands to a coffee shop near the Eagle, Camden-town, from which place we hired a cab and drove to St. Thomas-street, when I got out, leaving Pierce with all the bags in the cab. I went to the incline, between the stati in entrance and the office, where I met Tester. From him I understood there was no chance of their effecting the robbery that night. I returned to the cab, informed Pierce of it, and they went home. This was repeated nightly for a fortnight before the robbery. On some occasions I saw Teeter, and at others Burgess, and I used to go up to the station and look round and see if the chest was in front of Mr. Wetherhead'soffice,and marked by the train it was to leave. The signal between me and Burgess was that if he could not speak to me, and that if it was alt right, and the gold was there, he was to lift his cap and wipe his face.. On the night of the robbery, we went to a coffee shop in Camden-town, where Pierce called a cab, the same that had taken us on one or two former occasions, and we proceeded with our bags and capes, or short cloaks, on to St. Thomas-street, where we saw Tester, who said it was all right. Tee cabman, at my direction, then drove to the station for the Diver train. Tester then left. We each had two courier bags on, and each carried a carpet bag in our hands. We took two first-class tickets and gave our carpet bags to Burgess, who was the guard of the train. On the platform I saw Mr. Wetherhead, the present Governor of Newgate, who was then superintendent of the station. The carpet bags were put into the van communicating with the guard's seat. Pierce then took his seat in a first-class carriage, and 1 wa'.ked towards the engine. Pre vious to the train starting I watched the op portunity of Mr. Wetherheed's back being turned, and I jumped into the guard's van, and Burgess shut the door. The train started about five minutes after ; Burgess accompanied the train in the van with me. I saw in the van the two iron chests containing bullion. Burgess said there was upwards of 12,0001. worth in these. As soon as the train started I got up and un locked one of the chests with the keys I had made. In it I found a wooden box hooped with iron, and with a wooden mallet and some boxwood wedges I had with me I forced open the box, which I found contained gold bars. I took them all out, filled up the box with shot, replaced the same nails, and fastened the box up. Pre vious to my finishing the box we arrived at Red-hill, where the train stopped. Pierce there got out of the first-class carriage and came to me in the van. Arrange. ments had been made - that Tester was to lighten their load at Red-hill by - retnrning to London with some of the gold. One bar was placed in a courier bag which had been made for Tester and left for him at Red-hill, and I afterwards understood froin.Burgess that Teeter returned with it to London. The box so emptied was replaced in the chest, and the second box I opened with the assistance of Pierce, was found to contain American gold coins and some coupons of foreign railways. There was no bar gold in that box. The box was filled up with shot and replaced, and the chest locked. I thee opened the other chest, which I found contained one large box with ropes at the ends with which to lift it. I opened it and found it to contain small short bars of what I believed to be Gelifornian gold. I did not take all the gold from the box, because I had not shot enough to make up the weight. The box was filled up, replaced, and locked up in toe chest. Whilst opening the boxes we broke the seals on them, and afterwards resealed them with seals. Wax and a taper we had provided ourselves with. The seals were bought at a shop in Shoe-lane. No particular choice wa , made of the letter or device on teem. After fastening up the boxes we swept up the dust, &c , by which time we had arrived at Folkestme, where the chests were put out, and I and Pierce con trived to get back to the first-class carriages and pro ceeded on to Dover. Wnen we arrived there we went to Burgess and had our bags. We w-ut to the Dover Castle U 'tel, went into the coffee-room, arid placed our carpet-hags in a o orrier. I did not see Burgess again that night Pierce vas disguised in a black wiz and whiskers. We bad our supper at the Dover Castle, and we were a.ked by the waiter if we iuteteied ,t) remain there that night. I replied no ; that we had been driven in from Deal, and were going up to London by the mail train which left at two , 'clock in the .aerning. The courier bags had been placed in the corner oi the mein with the other baea c , ver,d over with our cloaks, and as there was a diffi en ty In geitieg th-in eii, fr,eu the ,utter being, inin Lila ro without exciting su.piei n, I sent him oat for erandy wa er amid cigars. We afterwards pros •e eti to the rteatioa where ;he porter wished to , atie our carpet bags. I refused to let him have them, but he almost forced them from us and placee teem ie the carriage. We were a.ked to show our tickee.s and we did so. Two return tickets Inn) Osteed, ~ : stained by Pierce from a roan named Gowes. The porter reinirked that the boxes were very heavy, and Coat no passenger from °vend 11,111 that day passed the Ca-tom•hou.se. I said, No, we came over the day be fere," and gave the pouter a few shillings. We returned by that traiu. Burgess was the guard, and he placed us in a first class carriage by ourselves. We threw the hay in the large carpet bags out of the carriage window, and put the gold and bars fr on the courier bags int ) sma 1 ones we had with u 4. At a station on the road Pierce jumped out and placed the empty bag behind a door of a waiting room. rhe porter said to him what are yen doing there, and he replied looking for a friend. He returned to the carriage and we proceeded to town, arriving at 5 o'clock. We then got out with our courier and other bags, hired a cab, and directed him to drive to the Great Western Railway. When near there we said we had m vie a mistake, and told him to drive to Euston-square. He did so, and we got out at a pub lic-house near the station. We remained there half an hour, and after that we called a cab and drove to near Pierce's residence. We got out and walked there. After depositing the gold in Pierce's house we met Tester near the Borough-market steps, and he gave me back the bar of gold I had left for him at Red hill-station. I and Pierce then left him, and we drove in a cab to near the East India-house. I remained there in the cab with the bar of g.)ld, and some of the Ameri can gold coins, whilst Pierce went to a silversmith's shop, at the corner of St. Mary-axe, and sold the rest. We then drove to the Ha*. market, where Pierce took the remainder of the American coins to a money-changer's, I think Spillman'., and sold teem for upwards of 2001. He was paid by cheque on the Union Bank, which we cashed immediately. We discharged the cab and re• turned to Pierce's house. It being now a quarter pant 5 o'clock, and finding it impossible to c tmplete the case that night, tee further examination of the prisoners was adjourned till Monday. During the whole of the time the court was densely cro wded, The magnitude of the robbery and the daring and adroit manner i n which it was accomplished mimed the Mansion -house to be besieged the whole of the after n 'Ou by a large crowd of persons who were unable to gain admittance to the court. "THE RATCATCHAk'S DAUGHTER." BOSTON C01777111'1-1.,4 lY uOURT—Nov. 12. l ui ts. rn u oti EsoN •. BIETON. This was a 811 destruction of vermin on the for for the paytuprit of 3a, 6d., the defendant Barton caught any premises. an alleged catching and Barton Tney never can A y „ ur g woman Stepped fermaia.r:tet rats in my place, not a r•irgle one, I can triadertale t a o ny a e te s i l l ip r p l ort the claim. Judge—Who i 9 this? Is this the r 've heard a great deal about that Bartfin—N , l, y. ur Honour, that's the ratcatchei's da , u f g h h e t eT er ulg, (A_l ‘ a v u e g o l:.l celebrated character, but I never h a d the 13 se eing her before. (Renewed laughter.) Can she pleasure Of prove that the claim is just; if not, I will p os tpone the case till next court, that the ratcatcher himself may appear. Postponed accordingly. CRYSTAL PALACE —One Shilling Day.—Thursday, Nov. 13.—Admi,aions Li) payment, 871 ; do. by Eta ," tickets, 80E. fetal vibitcrs, 1)179. would be raised by means of guaranteed or preference sbare3 The CHAIRMAN—That will be for the proprietors to determine hereafter. _ _ Mr. ADAMS did not believe that the land could be purchased and the line constructed for anything like 250,0001., nor had there been any estimate submitted to show that upon that limited amount the traffic would be sufficient to pay 5 per cent., which was the point from which they ought to begin to talk about profit. He con tended that the North Kent was fully capable of carrying GREAT CONFLAGI4ATION AT T fIR SOUTH PIETROPOLIT.4IV DIST RIC L' SOROULS„ MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF 950 PERSONS. SU rift) N, THURSDAY NIGHT. The inhabitants of this n-utl.y (pie, suhurbau district will not forge, fora con pier4ble tune ;lie diytr ssing, in fact agonising, scenes that took place this morning at the South Metropolitan District Schools, which stand upon a large plot of ground about a mile from the railway station and 14 miles from Louden. The building, which was in the DizAbetban style, was in front 3 storeys high, extending between 500 and 600 feet, with wings on either sidenearly four or five times the traffic which had as yet come upon it. But it appeared to be the policy of railway d :rectors, the memeut a dee began to pay, to reduce the dividends of the proprietors by making new branches. He believed that the extra mile of junction at New-cross would cost nearly the whole of the estimated sum. He moved an amendment, that the question be adjourned until the original shareholders receive a dividend of five per cent. Mr. T. ATKINSON seconded the resolution. He denied that the North Kent was more crowded with traffic than the London and North-Western, the Eastern Counties, and many other lines. Mr. R. BARNETT asked what guarantee the directors had that the line could be made for the 250,0001. Pro vided the cost would not be greater than that amount he would give his best support to the proposition. Mr. KAY (a director), from the body of the meeting, as the represeutattve of a large body of Manchester share holders, who held stock to the amount of about 140,0001., while he ob,erved that the mover of the amendment held only 1501., and that but since August last, and the secon der, who represented a rival company, only 1001., and that but for two days, advocated the resolution. He showed that the Maidstone traffic alone so overburdened the existing line that they were in constant dread of acci dents, and remarked that if accidents occurred the cost to the company would far exceed in the course of a few years the - expense of constructing this relief line. If they slid no go to Parliament and occupy the ground the East Kent would do so, and that was a g•iod case, for they would prove that it was impossible for the North Kent to accommo late the traffic. 100 feet deep. The principal entrance was approached by a private road leading out of the turnpike road, and on each side of the principal gateway were lofty towers, upon the top of which were tremendous iron tanks to furnish a good supply of water for domestic purposes and to be made available in case tue premises being invaded by that most fearful of all elements—fire. Unfortunately, with all these precautions adopted a fire did take place this morning, and in spite of every appliance at hand it will be seen from the following that a fearful amount of pro perty has been laid in ruins, and the lives of between 900 and 1,000 persons were jeopardised. From careful inquiries made of persons who were eye witnesses of the distressing event the reporter ascer tained that about two o'clock this morning a female nurse as she lay in bed had her attention directed to a strong light shining through the keyhole of her dour. This being a very unusual circumstance it induced her to get up to learn the cause, when to her no small astonish• merit she found that a considerable portion of what is termed the new wing was in flames. Without a moment's delay she raised an alarm, which aroused Mr. Bicknell, the master of the establishment, as well as the matron and several others in the different dormitories. . The first thing sought to be accomplished by those persons, and without waiting to fully dress themselves, was to get the children out of their beds, which vas no little task, considering that there were over 900 male and female children in the building, out of which num ber 200 were under seven years ot age. 0 sung to the rapidity with which the flames extended, seizing as they did upon several of the dormitories almost simultane ously, even the waiter and matron, who acted in as cool a manner as the trying nature of the case would permit, were apprehensive at one time that many of the children would perish in the flimes. Fortunately they managed to get the whole staff of officers together, who, with the master and matron, entered the differ nt rooms, and succeeded in the brief space of 25 minutes in getting the whole ot the affrighted children from their beds. The poor creatures, without shoes or stockings ot, and no thing to cover them but their night clothes, were forced to remain on the gravel road or green sward in front ot the building, the cold being intense, and at the same tune snow or sleet was falling freely. Before, no Newer, the whole of the children (foul be got out, the inom,npt they became aware the sleeping rooms were on fire they rushed in the direction where• it burut wort fiercely, and would no donut have lost thtir lives but for the presence of mind of the matron, who was com• pelled to blow the signal whistle as to the direction they were to take. It is stated that the screams of the chil dren nand be heard at the distance of a mile. Mr. KEET s e oke in favour of the amendment, and denounced the proposition of the directors as a gigantic job. Mr. BELL said that the proposed line was the leav ings of the East Kent, they having deposited plans for it in the last session, but had failed, and though they might apply again, t ,eir pecuniary difficulties, consequent on the state of the money market, would prevent their sue cess. The East Kent were in difficulties, and it should be the policy of the mouth-Eastern to keep them so, There was no doubt that sooner or later the East Kent must be bought up or leased by the South-Eastern, but this project for the straight ran would help that line to get into London, and thus increase its value and enhance the price which the South Eastern share holders would have to pay for it. He spoke as the re presentative of the C sy'a line, which the South Eastern directors had agreed to co-operate with and to work, and he urged that as that line would be materially injured by the relief line, the proposition of the board was a breach of faith. Thu would also by this relief line unsettle their relations with the North and Mid Keut Junction, with which they had a working agreement, but whose traffic they would to some extent abstract. Mr. G. F. SMITH had come into the room prepared tic' vote against the proposal on the ground of the insuffici ency of toe information upon which their assent was asked. As to the over-crowded traffic, he would not lay out a shilling in new lines to avoid that, for it might be done by employing additional or more efficient offs cera, and by putting on au extra number of trains ; but after the explanation of Mr. King, he thought if they negatived the resolution, some other company might occupy the ground and seriously injure the interests of the proprietors. He should, therefore, vote for the pro position of the board. Mr. MELLoit (a director), who said that he likewise re presented a large number of proxies from Manchester, amounting in the aggregate to 300,000'. of stock, spoke in support of the resolution, and replied to Mr. Bell's statements in reference to the Cray's line, by saying that the proposed relief line passed through a different part of the country, and would hot compete with the traffic of the Cray's. The reason why the beard were confident that the line could be completer; for the sum stated was that they intended to construct it themselves. He did not anticipate any difficulty in raising the requisite capi tal at a moderate rate. They were now raising money debentures at 42 per cent. Mr. COLES CHILD (a director) entered into some ex planation in reply to Mr. Ball in reference to the arrange ments between the South-Eastern and the Cray's line, which had been made at his suggestion to the directors of t-e latter company. He had given no opinion at the board on tue question of this relief line on that ground, bat he was prepared to support the recommendation of his colleagues. Mr. HERATATH and some other shareholders com plained that the resolution involved a complete change in the policy of the company, which was to abstain from extending their territory. Mr. GILPIN (a director), who bad been called upon by several shareholders, sad he fully concurred in the de cision to which his colleagues had come. Mr. RICH, M.P., followed with some observations, showing the urgency of the case in reference to shutting out competition lines. Mr. EBORALL stated that the landowners upon the line had been seen upon the subject of the purchase of the land required, and though no agreement could be come to till after the present Meeting, the result, was that there was no doubt whatever that the estimate of the directors would not be exceeded. Mr. SMITH was in favour of the resolution; but sug gested that by availing themselves of the line now con structing from St. Mary's Cray, and making a branch to unite with it from St. Mary's Cray to Dartford, they would save the making of some wiles of the line, and secure the advantage of a West-end terminus. The CHAIRMAN said the objection to that plan was the increase of distance. After some further discussion, the amendment and the origina' resolution were severally put, and the latter was carried by a large majority. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business. Mr. Overton, a farmer living hard by, on seeing the fearful sight, the chiluren who nad been rescued scream ing and nearly perishing with cold, at once got toe whole of ors horses out of the stabling, had the same covered with fresh straw, had every room in the farm house emp tied, and each room, and also toe stables, in a co'upa'a tively briet period, flied with children. Too much praise cannot, therefore, be given to a gentleman for suce a praiseworthy and humane act. The whole of his neigh bours are also deserving ot special attention for behaving with similar kiudnees ; out notwithstanding the ac commodation thus provided, it was insufficient to house the whole of the children, and about two hundred more were removed to the railway station a mile off, the infants being wrapped in blankets, sheets, or any other article of apparel that could be secured from the premises, or kindly tent by the neigh oours. It was, indeed, a paiutul sight to witness two or three of the younger chiluren huddled together in a heap in the utile of the nurses or laundresses, being borne away t i a place of security. Information ot the catastrophe was promptly despatched to various quarters for the aid of the engines and police, and in about 20 minutes afterwards the engine from Car shalto n arrived, as well as Mr. Inspector Fraser, and about 18 constables and sergeants .of the P division. Tuese parties did all that was possible to be done to ex tinguish the flames ; but its spite of all they continued their ravages, passing from one room to another, and it should be mentioned that some of the rooms were very large. Eventually the fire penetrated the roof of the new wing, forming one-third of the entire estab lishment. Atter a few ululates the roof of this part of the premises, 200 feet lung, came down with a crash resembling a clap of thunder, and the weight of this caused the several floors to fellow in rapid succes , ion to the ground. This, instead of decreasing the vigour of the lames, as is generally the case in London, where plenty of water can be discharged upon the ruins, seemed to add fresh fuel to the conflagration, for the fire almost immediately afterwards rose at least 100 feet over the top of the building, rendering the neighbourhood as light as at noon. Unfortunately, although the water towers and cisterns were prepared, there appears to have been some over sight in nut getting proper hose attached to the cisterns, for if such had been done the fire might have been ex tinguistied with the loss of one-halt of the property at least a hich has taken piece. Tee police, the neighbours, and the whole of the offi cers on the establishment did all they could in conveying water to the Cersealion eugine, whim was pumped upon the fire, hut it made nit the leastimpression upon i . , and at length it was feared by all pre. ent that eve y part it the splendid structure, erected at the cost of nearly 50,0001., independent of the furniture, would be levelled with the ground. At that cuejuncture, Mr. Rouse, a builder of the town, and a number of workmen who had been summoned by the great light, came up, and it was suggested that they should make an openez ne the build ing by cutting away about 20 feet of the flours and walls near the south tower. This was at once commenced, and in a abort time the gap required was made ; the men's heads being, duri• g the operation, exposed to showers ot sparks, and large pieces of wood in a thorough state of ignition, which were drifted in various directions by t he high wind which prevailed. During tue time this was going on a number of persons kept pouring water down the side of one of the towers which protected that part of the building, but all attempts to save any portion of the other adjoining, or even the wing that branched off behind—over 100 feet in length and two storeys nigh—was out of the question ; in tact,' in less than a couple of hours both these last-named compartments were destroyed. The gap, however, made, and the stone tower stairs prevented the conflagration from progressing any tur ther in the other direction, but even as late as 6 o'clock this evening there remained a great deal of smoulder ing embers in the walls, the only parts of that portion of the establishment where the conflagration raged that has been left standing, and they are in an exceedingly dangerous state and expected to fall momentarily. To give anything like an approximate account of the damage done is at present impossible, but great as it un questionably is, it would have been tar more serious had it not been for the extraordinary exertions of a poor lad, named Francis Tinney, who saved t•:e greater portion of the matrou's clothes, and three girls succeeded in saying the bedding of three dormitories ; butin one room alone (the needle room) upwards of 1,000 pin-cloths for thehav have h b i l e d e r n e n c , 0 n4souOtnieird.soo The e w w h o le of bonnets, th e a f nd ur r l, . It s u ff r O e shawls therein has been reduced to ashes. Eight or nine of the large dormitories, the needle-room, workshops, and about seven of the officers' rooms have been also destroyed. A number ot the children were sent off to-day to the respective parishes they belong to, and a still greater number will be sent off to-moi row, owing to the want of proper accommodation. hic b h e l t o h n e g c e h d i lwd were r e e n o w a h n o b w e e r r w e e e l N c l e t w e d . i i n thegT e n parishesil-Bfated :ane todh ools, St. (Nave's, Itotherhithe, and Greenwich ; but it will be satisfactory to their friends to know that none of them received the least personal injury. roc property was partially insured. BANK RETURNS. wi t? .!. li- '.41, U 1 :, Y a limitedSAlrT/ (FIELD.—Noy. 12. An Account, pursuant to the ..A. c t seventh and eighth Victoria, cap. 32, of the Average ,A.mount of Bank There was 1, 1, disposec i s o n_pply of fat beasts to day, but ' s i t n w t ee k s , ~p rices. A good supply of pigs, Notes of the several Banks of Issue in r, gland and they were read, 1 The number of sheep was Wales, in Circulation during the Week ending Satur- also small, at lt, day, tae Ist day of Ntive.uuer, 1856 : and of very excel. 44 - ' g n a 'RY. There were but few c:llves Average offered for sale. PRIVATE BANKS. A moun t. The following we ro the quotations r—Beef, s:y: tc. 6 I mutton, 6d to 7,1 ; lamb, --d to 0.1; Andover Bank, Andover—Heath and Co. Ashford Bank, Ashford—Jemmitt and Pomfret 11,185 00d per lb ; calf-skins, .4d .. Oid lb. ; pigs, Os 6d to 1 as 0,1 Per score ; rough fat, 5s 6 t ,, Os Aylsham Bank, Aylsham—G. and T. Copeman 4,509 per g ib ' ; hides, 41'i Aylesbury Old Bank, Aylesbury—Z. D. Hunt 33,272 \P e • .—......... Baldock Bank and Baldock and Biggleswade Bank, Baldock—Wells, Hogge, and Co 113,366 El GRAD Barnstaple Bank, Barnstaple — Marsha ll and Co 10,965 Sales du Basingstoke and Odiham Bank, Basingstoke — Seymour, Lamb, and Co. Bedford Bank. Bedford—T. Barnard and Sons 30 , 746 wn on the i.e top 2s Bewdley Bank, Bewdley Nichols, Baker, on the t and Co . ...................... 11,528 Bicester and Oxfordshire Bank and Oxford t IMPER] Bank, Bicester—H. M. and G. Tubb ......... 15,738 Birmingham Bank, Birmingham— -Attwoods, Spooner, and Co 25,673 Birmingham and Warwickshire Bank, Bir mingham—.J. L. Moilliet and Sons 9,045 Blandford Bank, Blandford—Oak and Co 6.040 Boston Bank, Boston—Garfit and Co Boston Bank, Boston—H. and T. Gee and Co. 15,182 Bridgwater Bank, Bridgwater—J. and J. L. EDINBITI tGH GRAIN.--Nov. 12. 7,442 35,158 Sealey Bristol Bank, Bristol—Miles, Miles, and C 0... Broseley and Bridgnorth and Bridgnorth and Broseley Bank, Broseley—Pritchards, Boy cott, and Co. Buckingham Bank, Buckingham— Bartlett, Par rott, and Co. Bury and Suffolk Bank, Sudbury Bank, and Stowinarket Bank, Bury St. Edmunds — Oakes, Bevan, and Co. Banbury Bank, Banbury Gillet, Tawney, and Co. Banbury Old Bank, Banbury—Cobb and Son 29,900 Bath City Bank, Bath G. Moger and Son - Bedfordshire Leighton Buzzard Bank, Leighton Buzzard—Bassett, Grant, and Co' 36,961 Birmingham Blink, Birmingham—Taylor and Lloyds 30,770 Bradford Old Bank, Bradford, Yorkshire —H. A. and W. M. Harris and Co. Brecon Old Bank, Brecon—Wilkins and Co 64,465 Brighton Union Bank, Brighton—Hall, West, and Borrer Burlington and Driffield Bank, Burlington — Harding, Smith, and Co Bury S. Edmunds Bank, Bury St. Edmunds— _ J. Worlledge Cambridge Bank, Cambridge—Mortlock & Co. Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Bank, Cam bridge—Messrs. Fosters Canterbury Bank, Canterbury—Hammond and Market well suppli ed. Sales dull for all sorts, and the prices much easier. Wheat, on the top , 2a (d up, and on the average 3s 9d down. Barley, is 6( 1 down on the top, and 25 4d down on the average. Oats on the top 2s 61 down—on the aver age. is 2,1 down F ;eans on the top is Od down, and on the average 2s ld u p. AvEnA.Glts PER I M P ERIAL QUARTER. Wheat 7 410-12th. Do. new ... Barley Oats Beans 12,481 Co - Carmarthen Bank, Carmarthen—David Morris and Sons Chertsey Bank, Chertsey—La Coste and Son Colchester Bank, Colchester—Round & Green Colchester and Essex Bank, and Witham and Essex Bank, and Hadleigh, Suffolk, Bank, Colchester—Mills, Bawtree, and Co Cornish Bank, Truro—Tweedy and Co Coventry Bank, Coventry—Little & Woodcock City Bank, Exeter—Milford and Co Craven Bank, Settle—Alcocks, Birkbecks, and Co Cardiff Bank, Cardiff—Towgood and Co Chepstow Old Bank, Chepstow Bank, Mon mouth Old Bank, Monmouth Bank, Brecon Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank, Chepstow—Bromage, Snead, and Co Derby Rank, Derby—W. and S. Evans & Co. Derby Bank, Derby—Samuel Smith and Co Derby Old Bank and Scarsdale and High Peak Bank, Derby—Crompton, Newton, and Co Devizes and Wiltshire Bank, Devizes—Locke 2,9`A 14,614 48,428 BOS TON—Nov. 12. We had an abun( lan t supply of wheat, the demand for wh.ch ruled exceedi mgly inactive, the best samples b'ing 2s, ‘nd inferior qur dities 28 to 3s and in some instances 4 1 per q . r. under last v reek's rates. Peas dull, at a decline 0 3s to . ts. Barley, (rats , and beans also sold at droop ing prices. Prices :—Wheat, red, 50s Od to 62s Od; new, —s totes; white, 60 • I() 65s Od extra 675. Barley, 38s 0.1 to Cs 0,1. .1, 22s to t9s. Peas, 38 co 44s Od Beans, 4511 Od to 50s 6 per qr. 25,909 23,750 •*2,623 18,336 38,315 47,768 8,336 21,231 and Co Diss Bank, Diss—Oakes, Fincham, and Co Doncaster Bank and Retford Bank, Doncaster —Cooke and Co Darlington Bank, Durham Bank, and Stockton on-Tees Bank, Darlington—Backhouse & Co Devonport Bank, Devonport— Hodge and Co Dorchester Old Bank and Dorsetshire Bank, Dorchester—R. and H. Williams East Cornwall Bank, Liskeard—Robins, Fos ter' and Co East Riding Bank, Beverley—Bower and Co Essex Bank and Bishop's Stortford Bank Chelmsford—Sparrow, Round, and Co Exeter Bank, Exeter—Sanders and. Co Fakenham Bank, Fakenham—Gurneys, Birk beck, and Co Farringdon Bank and Bank of Wantage, Far ringdon—Barnes, Medley, and Co Farnham Bank, Farnham. - Messrs Knight .. Faversham Bank, Fav : ersham—Hilton and Co. Godalming Bank, Godalming—Mellersh and Keen Guildford Bank, Guildford—Messrs. Haydon Grantham Bank, Grantham—Hardy and Co Hastings Old Bank, Hastings—Smith, Hilder, and Co. Hereford City and County Bank, Hereford— Matthews and Co. Hull Bank and Kingston-upon-Hull Bank, Hull, Smith, Brothers. and Co. Huntingdon Town and County Bank, Hunting don—Rust and Veaseys Harwich Bank, Harwich—Cox, Cobbold, and 72,861 9,384 10,051 42,072 26,965 9,930 10,022 72,284 83,274 9,547 [d'& WAS K —Noy. .12. To-day we c.'nd a good supply of grain of all kinds,wh ich met a heavy sa l e, but wheat in particular at a decline °f 2s to s. Wheat, white 68i to 70s, red 60s to 6 ts; barley, waltie 46s to 503, grinding 4 0s to 14 s; oats, , 4st. 5s to 378, 2,4 t 32s to 34s ; beans, 50 s to 53 s ; malt, 7 2 s to 7 4 s ; p ees, to .6s ; tares, 40s t. 3 44s per qr. 48,246 94,994 52,561 47,321 27,481 7,690 12,348 6,067 4,732 13,445 30.028 Co. Hertfordshire, Hitchin Bank, Hitchin Sharpies, and Co. Hereford, Ross and Archenfield Bank, and Ross and Archenfield Bank, Hereford— Morgan and Co Ipswich Bank, Ipswich—Bacon and Co. Ipswich and Needham Market Bank, Suffolk, Hadleigh Bank, Manningtree and Mistley Bank, and Wo idbridge Bank, Ipswich— Alexander and Co. Kentish Bank, Maidstone—Mercer, Randall, and Co. Kington and Radnorshire Bank, Kington— Davies and Co. Knighton Bank, Knighton—Davies and Co Knaresborough Old Bank and Ripon Old Bank, Knaresborough—E l rri,44in and Co Kendal Bank, Kendal—Wakefield, Crewdson and Co. Kettering Bank, Kettering—J. C. Gotch and Sons Lane End Staffordshire Bank, Lane End—C Harvey and Son,.. Leeds Bank, Leeds--Beckett and Co. Leeds Union Bank, Leedz Williams, Brown and Co. Leicester Bank, Leicester—Pagets and Kirby, Lewes Old Bank, Lewes—Molineux and Co Lichfield Bank, Lichfield —Palmer and Greene Lincoln Bank, Lincoln—Smith, Ellison, and Co. Llandovery Bank, Lampeter Bank, and Llan dilo Bank, Llandovery—D. Jones and Co Loughborough Bank, Loughborough—Middle ton and Cradock Lymington Bank, Lymington—St. Barbe and 31,020 20,301 • 1 . AOUTEI —NOV. 12. The market was 'lepressed to-day, the samples bell , much out of conditiou, and consequently difficult V) se", i Wheat declined 2s to 3 s per qr., barley a, and oats ail"' beans is each. Wheat, red 59s to 625. white 675; barley 45s to 48s; ott" 21s to 2 s; beans 43s to 46s p , r qr. 18,720 52,064 5,185 31,133 24,464 21,038 - Co. ................... .......... Lynn Regis and Lincolnshire Bank, Lynn Regis—Gurneys and Co. Lynn Regis and Norfolk Bank, Lynn Regis— Jarvis and Co Macclesfield Bank, Macciesfield—Brocklehurst and Co. Manningtree Bank, Manningtree—Nunn and Co. Marlborough Bank, Marlborough and Wilts Old Bank, Marlborough Old Bank, Marl borough Old Bank and Hungerford Bank, and Hungerford Bank, Marlborough —Tan ner and Co Merionethshire Bank, Dolgelly—Williams and Son Miners' Bank, Truro—Willyams and Co Monmouthshire Agricultural and Commercial Bank, Abergavenny—Bailey and Co Monmouth Cld Bank, Monmouth Bank, Bre con Bank, Chepstow Bank, Chepstow Old Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank, Monmouth- r -Bromage, Snead, and Co Newark Bank, Newark—Godfrey and Riddell Newark and Sleaford Bank, and Sleaford and Newark Bank, Sleaford—Handley, Peacock, and Co Newbury Bank, Newbury—Bunny & Slocock Newmarket Bank, Newmarket—Eaton, Ham mond, and Co Norwich Crown Bank and Norfolk and Suffolk Bank, Norwich—Harveys and Hudsons... Norwich and Norfolk Bank, Norwich—Gur neys and Birkbeck ,•• Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank, Not tingham. Hart, Fellows, and Co Nuneaton Bank, Nuneaton—Craddock and Co Naval Bank, Plymouth, Plymouth—Harris and Co. - New Sarum Bank, Sarum—Everett and Co Nottingham Bank, Nottingham—Samuel Smith and Co. Oswestry Bank and Oswestry Old Bank, Os westry—Croxon and Co Oxford Oid Bank, Oxford Robinson, Parsons, and Co. .... . .. . .............. Old Bank, Tonbridge, Tonbridge and Ton bridge Wells Old Bank, Tonbridge and Ton bridge Wells and Sevenoaks Bank, Ton bridge—T. -f Oxfordshire i. .. wHit. ne yßank, Witney and S. Beeching ..... Clinchand Co. Pease's Old Bank, Hull, the Hull Old B an k and Beverky Bank, Hull—Pease and Co. . Penzance Bank, Penzance—Batten and Co. Peterborough Bank and Oundle Bank, Peter borough---D• Yorke and Co. Pembrokeshire Bank, Haverfordwest—J. and W. Walters. R ea di n g Bank, Reading—Simonds and Co Reading Bank, Reading —Stephens, Blandy, and Co. Richmond Bank, Richmond—Roper and Co. Rochdale Bank, Rochdale—Clement, Royds, and Co. Rochester, Chatham, and Strood Bank, Roches ter—Day and Nicholson Royston Bank, Royston—Fordham and Sons Rugby Bank, Rugby—A, Butlin and Son Ry e Bank. Rye--R. C. Podafret, & Co R o ss Old Bank, Heredf ,, rdshire, Ross Allaway and Itlacdougal Saffron Walden and North Essex Bank, Saf fron Walden-..Gibi0123 and Co 68,985 17,960 26,028 21,610 43,889 9,552 5,223 52,276 36,950 31,636 29,055 94,150 '32,209 7,213 3,359 40,231 13,640 15,234 3,078 10,361 17,207 27,830 15,117 26,796 51,671 19,793 22,122 47,069 90,900 11.078 3,150 19,719 9,694 32,374 11,011 34,899 11,321 10,937 4%030 10,955 11,615 12,323 32,489 29.752 6,221 4,583 8,263 15,410 9,429 15.977 5,761 27,940 WEST FLANDERS. The u3ual half•ytarly mee ing of this company was head yesterday at the offices of the company in Moor. gate-street. The report„ from which we Interact the following, was unanimously agreed to : " The receipts of the whole line from the Ist of January to the 30th of Jane last exceed those of the corresponiiing period by 6J21., while the expenditure amounted to 14,016/. against 13,612/. in the same period, which is explained by the increased mileage open. The aggregate length of the lines is now 74 miles, and they are worked at a cost of somewhat less than 2401. per mile for the half year. The balance of receipt over expenditure is 2,853., which, added to the balance in hand, the Govern t ment guarantee, and other small matters—and providing for the fixed charges on the revenue—will enable the directors to declare a dividend of 2s. 3d. per share, and leave a ba lance of 801. The directors have appled the interest on the preference stock brought up under the resolution of the general meeting of the 7th of last November, in pur chasing some of the company's shares, and have em ployed the dividande accruing from thew in the same mariner, so that the number of shares now hel in trust for the company amounts to 541 preference and 200 original shares, and a further purchase of 35 original shares has since been made. The dividend of 2s. 3d. per share will be declared at the meeting at Bulges on the 19th iust., and will be paid at the offices of the company in London or Bruges un and after the 27th inst. The report of Kr,. Chan. trell, the resident director, states that the receiptson the old line, from Bruges to Courtrai, -mounted to 249,315 f. (9,9731.); on the new lines, from Courtrai to Poperinghe, 1 n 1 (5,6451.) ; and, from Ins,telmunster to Deyuze, 3il i g,3 , t l h22et 7 ' t .rlle,i2pst3B/2n; thetog e o t l h d e l r ine 42 w l i , t , h B t i h f. o, ( o l o 6 f ,B t 7 h l e ).Compar correspond ing period of 1855, an it.crease of 536 f. (21/4 is shown, while, on the Courtrai and Poperinghe line there is a de crease of upwards of 5001. arising from passenger and mer chandise traffic, but since June the traffic has improved. The balance tire by the Belgian Government for the year 1855, of 131.311 f. (5,2521.) was duly received and accounted for. The ;ompauy's claim on the guarantee for the first six months of 1856 is 170.176 f. (6.803.), which will be paid shortly, the accounts having been agreed to at the corn. mencement of this month. The whole of the lines are in the best working order. On the 3d of January last the Deyuze line was opened, since which time the bridge over the Lys has continued to work perfectly. The construction account may be considered as closed. The servants of the company continue to fulfil their respective duties to the satisfaction of the public. The construction account shows that 601,9131. had been received, and 591,9611. expended, leaving a balance of 6,9521. FEARFUL EXPLOSION OF A LOCOMO- TI YE. TYNEIIOIITH, Wednesday.—Shortly before dark yes. terday evening a fearful locomotive explosion took place upon the Blythe and Tyne Railway , at Percy Main, a short distance from this town. A small pilot engine, No. 1, was in stearn standing near to the work shops, and according to the best accounts that can be gathered, the pressure was at 60, and the engine was blowing off steam plentifully. The driver and fireman had been o ff th e eng i n e about a quarter of an hour , and the fir eman etas in the act of s t e pp in g on to the tender, when an explosion took place, and the whole of the end of t h e flues of the boiler and tubes rushed through the fire-door, and crushed him against the end of the tender. And when what remained of him was dragged out from the debris, nearly all appearance of humanity had been destroyed by the steam and fire. The shell of the engine was disconnected from the tender by the explosion, and drive.. wiin tearful- vel city down the line. In its flight it came in contact. with another engine, also in steam, and, springing up, drove one of its wheels into the sue.ke-box of the engine ; but it fortu nately did not injure the boiler, else another, and pro bably more fearful explosion must have taken place. The shell o f th e p il ot engine then toppled over, and the machinery seems to be totally destroyed. The engine the shell ran into is very much injure J, and the whe..l of the pilot engine, which was left in its smoke-box, is nearly aq broken to pi. ces. The name cf the unfortu nate fireman was Joseph Percy. He was a young man. rne ruins o f th e eng i ne bad been examined by Mr. Lundy, th e cause, so far, can be te•signed for the exp losion. The manager of she line, this mor nin g , but no end of the t u b e p l ate h a i w ino away at the rivets , but the plate be held on th e b ody o f P erc y this afternoon. appears to have been sound. An in q uest will SOUTH.*ESTERN RAILWAY EXTENSIO N FROM YEOVIL , Exeter, miles from TO EXETER...2r corltraC tun Mr. Taror, of Manchu ter, has c ommenced the work 4 of this l in e . He has and has c ,,minaced there the heavy es - ahlished hi s h ea -quartrrs H niton, about sixteen works in Connection with the tunnel tb be made near that town. LETTER OF ROBERT BURNS. The following paragraph appears in the Ladies' Journal of. Saturday last We are requested to correct an error which appeared in this paper of the 18th October, wherein it was stated that the original letter of the poet, of date the 25th June, 1796, to his friend Mr. Clarke, therein published, was in the possession of Robert Napier, Esq., of Glas gow. This is a mistake. Mr. Napier's copy is not the original letter, which belongs to, and is in th e possession of, James Hay, E-q., Leith, who has kindly sent it to us for inspection, a,.cl about , the genuineness o f which ' there cannot be one moment s doubt." The letter here alluded to, in the possession of Mr. Hay, is a relic so interesting iu itself, and so fa vourably characteristic of Burns, whose nature has been so grossly misunderstood by dullards and libelled by bigots, that 115 publication here will not be unacceptable 2 MY Dear Clarke, —Still, still the victim of affliction. Were you to see the emaciated figure who holds he pen to you, you would not know your old fi iend. Whether I shall ever get about again is only known to Him the G'eat Unknown, whose creature I am. Alas ! Clarke, I begin to fear the worst! As to my individual self I ain tranquil. I would despise myself if I were not; but Burns's poor widow and halfasiinzen of helpless orph ans — t h ere I am wie tears. Enou g h o f t hi s ; ' t i e ha lf my I duly received you r l ast, including .the note. It dsaehkaiss as e d l a ear woman's little came extremely in 'time, and I was much oh iged to your punctuality. Again, I must request you to d me the same kindness. Be so very good as by return of post to inclose me another note;—l trust 3 . 70 J •an do it without much inconvenience, and it will seri ously oblige me. If I must go, I leave a few friends behind me, whoa) I shall regret while consciousness re mains. I know I shall live in their remembrance. Adieu! dear Clarke ! That I shall ever see you again is, I am afraid, highly koerobable. R. BURNS. Dumfrieis, June 26, 1790. This affecting letter will be better understood when it is added as, we believe, a fact quite ascer tained, that Burns was not asking a loan or a gift, but only the part repayment of a loan he had made to Clark e . I t i s k nown th a t B urns died owing no man anything —a fact which, under the circum stances of his career, throws a stronger and brighter light on his character than volumes of controversy and eulugium. The poet died three weeks after the date of the letter. L~IG'AL SHARE MARK&T.S. LIVERPOOL, Nov. 13. iTOOS EZOBANGE. — The business transacted t° 0 • was steady, and cloEied at an improvement. On the ZS re nouncement of the advance in the rates of discount, s action took place, at the following rates :—Caledonias,,t, Loudon and North Western, 103 2 4—Blackbur n. Lancashire and Yorkshire, 94 3$ 3 - Midlands, 79,,0/tb Eastern Counties, 9 84—Dutch Rhenish pram Eastern, 21 -4 20 8 7 - 4—North Eastern, Berwick, 20i. a East Lancashire, 2Qa c. §--Manchester, Sheffield. Lincoln, 334'4. BIRMINGHAM, Nor. 13 con to-day sTOOR EXCHANGE.—There was a firmer business co te-day at the opening, but closed remarkably fiat, i 0 s sequence of the advance in the rate of discount, b ! Sa Batik of England. Old Birmingham Canals, 91 D . other shares little business doing. LEEDS, Nor. 13. aOA STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market has been verb Igr again to-day but prices were better. Midlands , Caledonian, 28i—North Westerns, 6.11.3. fi. MANCHESTER, Nov. 13. , , STOUR EXOFIANGE.—The market With doing is t° l6 firm busiuess to-daat the openiug, but upon adv ic dis' the Bank of Engla nd had raised the minimum rat e ; ;le a r t count on all bills to 7 per cent. there was a sat -9° l ' cline. Closing prices : Leeds, 93—Dovers. 2 0 9 Lancashire, oi—Sheffields, Pref., Midland, 78I—Blackburn, 8. SEABORNE afAri,B. A estunes Mat the Mete. arQ sau ,corn cue General Pa the night—and ri oy tile morn.ng—.4espateh.) g l en 400 4 ,0- vlgh !we er-. IWO4II , lay rei,eu ,t 1:, )) Min 4. ° due 00'i NTILIN. in ,4enera Po, c'or Vlitll aftice, London.* ,w .tc ... „........-- -----.......... - ---- ...---.....--- e g e et.ll tmerica(byltrit.pack ;2.4 Every grida , LiverpcnP •• .. V/ 0414 America (by United 5•.5. packet) .........ai Every Tuesday goutham' '' en trderica (by U. States ... packet) ..........N •••'•'• Ltvf,r2o" tostralia (via Liver-,.. Ivilee. erp pool) ........, .. y,. , 4th and 18th Liv cOOO oitto (via Marseilles) , l Do , *' ).tto (via Cape of on 12th pacer Hope) 00 ... ••• 11.• .411 •• N an - ' ~ , , tfrica ( West Coast -, ' '', ,-, , ' , Pl ''.. " '... .• .• ". il t •orandria.. ... . 10th 26th a o. Do'"' 4v 21 Vexandrla...... . M 4 ... ~, , ~, so , r ..., ,,.. 16th lantunas ..... . •,,,, 17th of be nonth go . „J. y , ideate ..... . - ~ I) 4 i lY •. • Dee r ' , th• tramil ....,.., .... ~ ~• 9tb of the m , mth.. 5.,, ' L . 16th memos Ayre5........M ' lil , : • unrer !s.pe of Gone tie.. ,15th of the month ;ape of Good Hop , , ' Uncertain 'see de Verds ... I V s . . .. 16 4 lay:in (see [n tie 110th and 26th.... I , 8 , 1ey10n...... ... 14th and 10th .... 40 1 i ,„ ;panne' isle< . 1 . n . n g .-. p an :hilt... _........ . ~1 .2. . 7 -,1,,,,, J. ',.'' . 01 ' 4 7nd :hula ... . - .... .. 4th ar. d 10th .... 2 a nd lonstantinople , Oth at Id 26th.... 1 ' \''' ; - 7 add lanstantinople .. 4V, t nit 9 n. 3 ' ' ' ."' .. rvi lee jirl... of Europe ti Pc , '" it 711'; . fl a vor ..., • Igypt (see 111114) ' Twice , rancc —. ), ' -.)-) -''',' ,6 • ' I , braltaY . . 4, 7, FT. • , 0 27 4. . , i.".' '''' Ireece (see in Its Ist On , Ireytown .. .. . .! A ,•... ir cr., •li. ti ~,, ..... tscnhurt, . . Dail tavennah , , . 4 0 .. ,), •n, n t.lia°V.::e'ran... ~ 1„..t g 0 y ,60 loiund••"•• .• •• • M Da''Y ' • •• •• •'• ••.. londuras .. • . M 171 .of the mon. 5.,a;,-,a,ni 4 sold ndia oriaAoutbampt , t M 4th 20th of , n , .. _ 15 e ‘ Idle (via Marseilles ,M 10 #.hfie 26th of mn pover . -omen Wes (see fri,ltl) .•.. -•• • .... Dover.. • • Et, vhe, Nov. i r f1and.....: . ..: . . ..M .. * N.: ;i 4 1 , c , " - t o ail . Y . . &Wham! Lod 1:1 , 10ira ..• ' of ....... sou' hami , f , " I.9.deira ... • 234 o' month .., Liverpool - ••• -faits (see India' \faits ......... 4, 10, 20, and 26.. Pover ..... 4.16 Afturttius 043 ,, India V 4tD Aquiline .... _ 20 .n za, nun ii ilt biotic() hf 4, • +f the mon; . g mthamP' n , laples (pco , lranads , . • 2 , 1 fir; 71 - 11.1 r monthift overuth ... empilst ill' ,' !Tow Zealand ...... --, .... 4th and 19th innth l Vs rious co . e el eanAl rotate 4 0. pail ' •• • ••• • • . Do Ver ...••• Peninsula de Peru . s P , o c •i i t y q ata I ...... ~..s ni: y f i m - s on, tliamp ' o t 9 , T v tl e s n c e a zu ny ei, .. ~,,, , N t a oh t n u T r h da nl. y .e .. ' .. , D l'V iv r' 4 '' ar oo9.s .... ,'°''''' . l Vi n Xl D ily ...... .. .... I 11, )7e r. • , 15,1 .., ........ /11 2d & 1 tb ofmonr,, l soutjtainr' ov Van Dlemen'sLud (- of , 0:1 1 inio Australia) ...... ,4th and 18th of m.l Wert rudie? 4. 1 .11 S na ~, ISourkilani Coca 3 0 ' . id 9 4 'hr. 2 ' loth I 16th a unrero- t6th I , ' 1 ..410 gth -,st an d 19 , a nd 2 7 m i c edal l ,TWICe d6I 2 I 6 vir it st an d 16 ist 00 valli 16th 9 0 1 i 0 , ~9 0 ib 6" 1 6 . 6o• • 1 0 604 4. 16 1 0 4 "4 l ist „t 0 " iso °ll s l6° I Oa' ,Vre l i f y i oif .Jg J.' V 0 Vhon any of those dates fall on a Sunday, Lb ti ma tlB s t ye sAtchod on the followi ng d ay , w itb th e B a c ardi on %lot° luthampten), and the Valta. hoth of which wit 1 be 4 42‘ . Or o [ADVERTISEMENT.]—Among the 1111111e1 , 0 us e—vt ra j) cures without medicine effected by Du 1301 1 1 ' ,. 3 di: n w(1-cojcl ev Health-Restoring Ralenta Arabica Food o f pliiott , (Dyspep ia) Flatulency, Constipation, Nervous, ,d Pe 1, Liver Complaints, Cough, Asthma, Consumptio n, math g. lit the following are not the least renlorks bla : i fi clig e o street, Perth, May 2, 1648.—Thirteen yeartf co a g a Pa fr „ d ir tion, and general debility have been removed bY excellent Revalenta Arabica Food., James P° r " - ferlaFbie i ten, 2 d Nov., 1850.—Dear Sir,—l am happy t° ?ocre al bt that your excellent. food has relieved me 1 7roin a u l a st eig o accumulation of suffering, for which, during t he c eia• th e years, all kinds of medicines had been tried is °d werenc, feelings'and sufferings previous to taking your fO ss 7. 0 0 following :—lndigestion, nervousness, biliellsaa.,:vitalhe tions of the liver and kidneys, costiveness, Y g i d , of the heart, noises in the ears, pains in al u f - tooa l f t * , body, low spirits, general debility, loss a 'c o dS o , 4 " of wretchedness, thoughts of self-destruction.— bias fess e- A y; Supported by testimonials from the celebrate d Chemistry Dr. Andrew Ure ; Dr. Shorland ; D r 11 3 f110' Dr. Campbell ; Dr. Gattiker ; Dr. Wuraer ; t' Al o ble Lord Stuart do Decies ; the Dowager Couu te ' r esP., ee n the stuart ; Major-Gen. Thomas King, and many nth ar te r at'_ . ;too, persons, whose health has been restored by it, ° o il clia m- 6c1.; means of cure had failed. Suitably packed fo r .b., 41 110.; with full instructions. In canisters, Ilb., 2s. 9d. f r ee, slbs., l Is. ; 12lhs:, super-refined, !lb. ! 68. :,4 e 74 Fulbs., 225. ; 335. The n 10 nibs. and 4 2 1 b5• 0 14 on receipt of post-lee order. Barry du Boa a ° itcr i- r i e et; Regent-street, London ; Fortnum, Mason, and co i;reiro t to her Majesty, Piccadilly also at Grace° a 63 BIRTHS., iri t r ro o the w' oer lr OF A SON. r • On the 13th i ns t., a t G ray ' s -i nn - p l ace , r E. Barry, B eg ., so li c it or . ft► of On the 12th i ns t., Mrs. Barton Ravens oro; street, Lincoln's-inn. /X .PI' OF A DAUGHTER. O n the 1 9 th inat., at F.miwieh H wife CIA. C. J. COX, Q.G. ease. F° 11197.- the ( .l. Sili )°°' On the 12th inst., at DOUM4I k•hill, Mrs. txe-' tio r , MARRIED. of eri gl e ,o On the 13th inst., at St. George's, to n - r hal, George Alan Lnwinies, Esq., of Barrington - 1 -; to lot eldest son of William Clayton, Esq., of open, 2 4 . 1.1 , Emma, se and survivii.g daughter of the late Do rseAole,' Johnson Danyell, late of R.mpishatn-man'Neo. On the 12th inst , at Cray ford, Kent the 6 - 7 s 'P,400 Edward Hadow, Assistant Chaplain r " Presidency, to Jane M9ry the eldest daughte Macgregor, Esq., M.P. Co bb, D I ED. , abet b p ail. On the 12th inst.. in Fitzroy-square, 0121 fast' widow of John B. B. Cobb, Esq., late ef • t he .00P House, aged 80. ,„,,,,, r itli tt g - s rt. , On the 12th inst. at Thirkleby-park , -' 1 1,,, , ey, ' inf int daughter of Sir William Payne Ge " .••• StIO M.P. gra ter , „ l ie* On the 11th inst., at 7, 'Craven-hill, Bay s 0. : 1 ' FAni y. wife of Lieuten a nt-General Sir It. „iis' Bart., C.B ',Evier, of .. On the 11th inst.. at Brighton, Mr.Vi r . iu - " -- V' Owe, I.litigton, aged 62.lare' DI ~, p CO rtbee' On tho 11th inst , at Ennistyrnon Castle, Nugent Macnamaia . , Esq., many years ''''''. • -or IS • ' Aiii3° of Clare. Ou the 12th i ns t., a t Merton, surrey, 311.8. Skinner. /43TD CW Printed and Publighed by HURD ° 'Cy 140, - of N o . 112 , S tran d, Printer, at rue Sun the Oft 1700; T$ Strand in the Precinct of the Savo'', in o~iddi9Aex,Lido, Noyenalrx 14,181_6 to ner inniemly, rICC i Ltllly ; also at Mn. sg, 33,1 and 451, Strand; 1, Cheapside CornbilV,, r itr' crate-street; , :hari ilg•Or0814 64 tlpp" ami iriU . chrford—treat. i