The Sun. — London, England, 1844-11-28 00:00:00

.......••••••.......'. }'- )' , l f } ~, ~` ~',. i p., MILE-END. i? ... . ej,*; 3sti A 5 rote COURT CFR C ULA.R. .1- '? lisok. WEDNESDAT.--The following was the oMer in which her MAjesty and her illustrious guests eilt.l% , ii the IV:iterhlo GoAn-11-wr At the ha.nquet yes- OVFI , II , . • • . c.o.,;"—C. 11. Vtin \V, her. — "gio, Allegro, Andante e ,llinuetto, Op. 24, Sep• t ett", arranged tor a fud orchestra by J. R. 'Patton 1.„--13Qethoven. ' n i 'de, first ac e, •°Moun'ain Sylph"—Barnett. ‘al . e Queen, P r i nce Albe r t, a l d the Duk.... ( l:rnest ) of ti:rteniberg, t oo k an ear ly wa lk th is morning. n return of the royal party the Prince went out in the royal preserves, accompanied by the 11 -8 Of Saxe Coburg and Gotha and Wurtemberg, p p ee ar. o f Li verpoo l , an d t h e Ri g h t H on. S ir R o b er t l W ' and attended by Baron de Alvenslehen and Col. Ide. w ai i k er Majesty and Prince Albert took an afternoon „-- ifds Roy a l Hi g h ness t h e D u k e o f C am b r id ge l e ft r Riew this morning. A r . T Ee Earl o f Ell en b oroug h , th e E ar l o f Cl aren d on , zsco unt Strangford, Sir Edward Codrington, the br! b urn Jersey Lord Ernest Bruce, Sir George Cock ]) Sir Georg e M u rray, the Right Hon. George al4s c'n Darner, and Sir Arthur Aston, took their departure t'rom the Castle to-day. It Tile Pri nce o f \Vales, P r i nce Alf re d , t h e P r i ncess ° , 1 3.41, and the P r in c ess Alice, were taken for pony ar , w alking exercise in the course of the morning. .„ lthyal F - amil were again taken airings in the aft ern oon he Earl and Countess Couper, Lord and Lady th e 411 "glibY Eresby, and Lady Peel, arrived at Castle to-day, on a visit to her Majesty. xAr th Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent visited - I ‘lleen and Prince Albert this afternoon. b :'ne Duke of Wellington accompanied the Mar e iciness of Douro in an early walk in the pleasure grounds of the Castle. at band of the Scots Fusilier Guards was in litsr-ltdanee during dinner at the Castle to-day. Her ' a i"tY's private band afterwards attended. Isr-uis Royal Highness Prince Albert honoured Mr. t r Y o n , of the Royal.. Mint, with a sitting for the por ait of hi s Royal Highness, for a medal. Aesterday was the birthday of her Royal Highness the princess Mary. The Duke of Cambridge arrived at b l e - ,ew 4t an early hour, from Windsor Castle. The v ",• 11 ss of Gl ouces t er arr i ve d i n th e fjrenoon, to pay af t ; s4 q cong ra t u l a ti on , from town. The royal party Ilwards left Kew for town. g a y ex. Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester li e grand dinner in the evening at Gloucester e u se, in honour of the auspicious event. Their . nighnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cam liekAge, the Her e dit ar y G ran d D u k e a nd Duchess of _t .lenbur g h S tre li tz, t h e P r i ncess M ary, an d a leet party, were present. 11, h B ir Frederick Trench had an interview with the t Hon. W. E. Gladstone yesterday, at the office ,t"e hoard uf Trade. oPispatclies were received yesterda at the Colonial mee from the Governor of Gibraltar.y rr RE LATE DOUBLE SUICIDE AT INQUEST ON THE BODIES. l' e , terday, a t h a lf- past eleven o'clock, Mr. Baker the Coroner f,r East Middlesex, commenced an inquiry at the Fox Tavern, Repel-street, Mile-end, respecting t he melancholy deaths of Charles William Duckett, %Red 21, and Elizabeth Williams, aged 27, who com ic itted self-destruction on the night of Sunday last, in tho arms of each other, from the effects of prussic acid. l'h e jury having been duly sworn in, they proceeded '" view the remains of the unfortunate couple, which laid ie about the same state as when the shocking occurrence *.'is discovered, both bodies being stretched on the end tif the bed. That of the female was rather pleasingly ate red, havin,e; on a black silk dress, dark rich skawl, Ler hair done up in ringlets, and otherwise neatly clad ; her bonnet was (AT, lying behind her head on the bed, as if it had fallen there. at the moment of her taking the tleedly draught. The body of the young man was also very w ‘ll dressed, having on a black frock coat, light Vaistee e a, with a black satin stock, fastened by a pin, and a pair of dark trousers. Both countenances appeared quiteplaei 'l. On the return of the jury the evidence wits gone into. The prlncip,V facts conrected with th e sa d a ff a ir ad , "Q ecl before the Coroner, were al m o s t th e same as those "at ha ve a l ready at ppeared in this journal. The de ;eased, Duckett, 'lees, as has been before stated, most rle ntly attach e d to. 'the young woman. On Sunday se en; 'ng, at half -past re o'clock, he proceeded to her tnOther'e residence, and Fosok her out for the purpose of going to church. At this period almost certain it is t tll at they had d e t erm i ne d Von committing suicide, for "eY must have returned to ;Us own home, and having ”t°red unknown to his famii tr, and secured themselves 11 2 his be.d-roote, took the deadly' draught, and were dis ;?vered, as has already been described. Dr. Letheby, t u ft e surg t 0 i at the London Hospitol, proved that they d died from the effects of the acid. As regard ti etr state of mi n d , i t appeare d t h at t h e deceased for some m e it), Past h a d b een out of employment, ,N n d b een rat h er 4 ,, e deaponding st a t e o f m i n d, an d thinking' his prospects apeeting his un i on w i t h the decease d were bli g ht e d, it ;%"tcl effected him so much as to induce him, who no doubt t rsu "ecl the u n f or t unate g i r l , to commit self-des rt action, f : t U v he lett ers spoken of in another part of this journal t• re ad by the constable, and both from their execu te and th e ci d extraordinary nature of the language, ex eqnsiderable interest. RON'AI, GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY, Nov. 25. Ise -lir. March; son, President, in the Chair. "le new members were elected into the Society. /.li The pk,,nr read was " An Account, by Lieut. Selby, ti h f hit; .Ascent of the s.uvaii in the Assyria steamer." 0h,,,-.,e.Seeetary prefaced ;he reading . of this piper by i n , ~." , 4 16 ' tl ust it was one of varticular spirit shone: j tI Z "."at naitAt be done by an enterprisingin co . th et l with professional ability. The Kuvan rises in I, e ?iOerd !kelt Mountain near IsPahan' and, after tra fe',r,i'njug: lilte N . :J.11, 1 - s of the Bochtyari mountains, emerges e i t fi " tre hills tlzrue miles north-east of Shuster, whence and ill a south• -west direction to the sea by a direct tiornanedir.et channel. At about two...thirds of the way the sea 1 Shuster the river is traversed by a tuol towels. s Phi s 4t 4 Place ealle•Cl Ahwaz. Up to this spot the Eu sio,''" steamer had ascended in 1836, when it was d hs;„ 1-ue 's 1 iluprzeticable to proceed further. 'Phis March,buri 44,)evee, Lieut. beiby succeeded in passing in . ,the wh o : 1-12. ving pushed tor the build," says this officer, . . e was - P it .' - ' w "' of strain was unavailing, and twit, Co / " d e ves3el driven back. Finding steam ZP 'e un l,"ailin I sent a large hawser to the r P e ci'ite -ailic, ailing, by the application of tackle offered th e p„ sa ,4e, Which till then had been supposed to wasias'lrLtsurrneutitable obstacle to the perfect navigation reach ed Proceedin ► onwards the town of Bend Ikii gar, ett;ried, where an artificial canal, the Aub I Gar vild h +Blthe s tresae spot is 35 miles from Ahwaz, ere the D-, . —; this int;* th e e lzlul river falls into the Kuvan. Ascend htis 'ter, U lil, the steamer cane to within a mile of Ik ‘" ll) %ige‘` i b w os li t ere a bend prevented further progress, d own a Imi --.1 g o up into the town. Having dropped . use -- cn to the confluence, the Kuvan itself . wes , va e nded to wn five miles. After which, the Dizful 1 3 31 u,iviga;cel to beyond .Kalah Bander, which is about t aw inites fr °u 3 I'L'Et town of Dizful. The waters getting ti - u i e n °rl Velled the' traveller to return, but not until he s t , 1 .`liulpleted his s,"rvey of these rivers, N% ti .l to the which, easily as they are ti9vv proved to be, and penetrating e v erY heart of the southern province of Persia, ihi, -I. ' the climate is admirable, the soil fertile, and the ~, abitants particularly well disposed, cannot fail to offer 1 1, 1 e 60 (1 for the extension of our Commerce in the east. take t o h od fur the steamers is everywhee`e abundant, and t i,,-. hurt er with provisions remarkably cheap. The i ascen ,z 1 er, from Mohammera, by the . 1 .1.11) I Gargar, 4 4 4 5. ! e effected in three days, by such a vess." as the _ 1 , 0 •Y - - la, and in two and a half by such steamers a,: are W s 1 uilt. „111 - t paper was a long one, and could only be read in qt:•", Shuster, w hi ch contains a population of 8,0 i 0 0, 4 i i ,„, ,U serebed i n detail, and the good feeling of the n -2?ta nts highly extolled. e o._"en oral Mo n t e i th, who had himself surveyed that ,otil e u "tl . ' r, and k iterestingdnewetails. it well, favo ure d t h e meet i ng w i t h AN v .N. IVRItStitY DINNER, OF THE FOXONIAN 1311N13 , . t h ,..EN. , T INS.IITUTION, FINSB URY.—O n Tuesday evening .: Iws, onian - 41 4 • Benevolent Institution, celebrated their ...... avers% ry at tho Fox Tavern, Paul-street, Finsbury. 4., Lee, .F., Aq., took the chair, and to a certain extent his 1 1 _" ties wert comparatively light. He appeared to be 114: 4sttitt:tit ,5‘.)111' in the furtheranve of the object of the knit he was considerably assisted, we appre th 4d, in hi s fl-aisevrorthy attempt s t o di ssem i nate philan wi r oPic symp u tb V, by the very excellent dinner and neat vpi L a's with whi c jt the host, Mr. Hays, had primed those i'A. 10 had t o l oo k ui; to the chair. The object o f t h e l oca l ll: •sociation is to relievc from dire misery the very unfor tot late in the depth of i;ecessity, by the distribution of th, Is and bread. It appeared from the report to which 1,. Chairman re f erred, that from the formation of the 1.14. titution, in 1829, 60,000 tickets of relief had been tu one t ' e d. and th at t h e funds wee,? gradually increa s i ng . th 4. great feature of the effect of tho ,:i\ssoeiation was, ti, ( „ i •it had by its example been the means of !be forma- I to , o f similar institutions in a great number of other Theloyal toasts were all done ample justi t qe ,-. k i v., were to sundry ,a..cmiurial toasts ; and the evening k v .. b el A cry much enlivened by excellent singing by mem- I 9 f the Associativu. lEWS In. ?en, and bd o Paris, ;t Cloud received 0 • tb e r, the Fret the Baron u° new regt l4 : rn anti bre so a l ways to b e re only to Lit(' read is to': nted to 011 y night tvi vho receP ti ll in the incarcere.u, ?d one of 11 L k-notes F",' ['his turn Barrier' ' I nvey bins, turnkey, bank-not' ie Order )ria, Pi ciations prussic, Itive CI mpg. 0 ilation,, 11 ' it is . J ill` re C Xll v cart; eath is Ilv larg , ufisseMei ►ted to ! diipob aro to ice de • t the °";,, Titt ivo aeci pit ill 110 06$ ; of rigof; taloiO r..hr :h y sgw'oi 3 , ;vt‘ t : the I j u r: and 11 , nage , , d 0 I bretti t r. fro° ,f :hat be must trani 11y ing lie 3 4 4 1(, his Inw rroper „l o.rged s., th e is 1 0 ;i1 , yin G' '" o i le Le° 3, l ' oi l, r , le ill uPP.Tbe I,i 1 ,i :he oe' sear 11 1 It I l l ' 110 I vith 0,, h into . ass'alk e t red. P" THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY -IVIORNING, NOVEMBER 28 182“. r DRURY-LAN E THEATRE. We were led to expect great things from the pro duction of Balee's new opera, The Daughter of St. .11ork. et Drury- len, last evening, and we have riot eisep e emied. Bunn has surpassed all his for and has produrA the most splendid, the most 1 .e., in ,stt SpeCta7le that has ever repee.t.nte 'he 1n of any theatre. The , hien i. by Mr. Burin biffe.elt, is based on the p ef hi. de SA/ia. Georg, s, but the author has in . tr , uee alt,ratiens as the requirements of the •we reeidered requisite. If we mistake not, a drailielie vt.r.ien ef the saute story was produced some years s:nce at the Adelphi, under the title of The Queen (if Cyprus. It is somewhat curious that this same plot should have been recently chosen by four eminent composers as a subject—Lachner, in Gt rmany ; Halevy in France; Donizetti in Italy; and Balfe in England, have each composed an opera on the story of Catarina Cornaro. But to the opera of last evening. The opening scene represents a festive hall in the Villa Andrea, near Venice. Catarina Cornaro (Miss Rainforth), niece to Andrea Cor naro (Mr. I3orrani), a rich Venetian noble, is about to In united to Adolphe de Courcy (Mr. W. Harrison). Andrea has joined the hands of the lovers, who have left him to prepare for their nuptials, when Moncenigo (Mr. Weiss), one of the Council of Ten, enters and informs him that the State has deter mined that Catarina shall become the bride of the King of Cyprus, and commands him to forbid the nuptials. Cornaro is horror-struck, but dares not disobey. The guests arrive—the priests are there— the bridemaids commence their chorus—the proces sion is on its way to the church, when Andrea ap pears and commands the nuptials to stop. All is in confusion. Adolphe threatens revenge. Catarina entreats in vain—Andrea is inflexible. The friends of Adolphe and the partisans of Andrea are a:)ont to rush on each other, but, are restrained by Catarina, who,' overcome by the agony of her feelings, falls senseless, and the act-drop falls on the tableau. The first act consists almost entirely of concerted music ; in the second act we meet with several gems of me lody. The first scene is the oratory of Catarina, a beautiful Gothic chamber, looking like one of Trout's most finished architectural paintings. We be„-.r a very pretty chorus of gondoliers in the distance. To this succeeds a barcorolle, beautifully sung by Miss Rainforth. In her prayer-book she finds a letter from Adolphe, in which be tells her that he will come at midnight to set her free, and the gondoliers' song shall be the signal of his approach. Andrea enters, and tells her not to peril herself and Adolphe by re fusing the match which Venice has proposed. In this scene is introduced a fine solo, " When all around our path is dreary," which was most touchingly sung by Borrani, and deservedly encored, and which will no doubt be the bass song of the season. As soon as he has left Moncenigo enters, and shows her three assassins concealed in her oratory, who have orders to murder Adolphe if she does not at once reject his ad dresses. Adolphe immediately enters, and here oc curs another of those beautiful melodies, in the com position of which Balfe is so successful ; it is the air, "My bark which o'er the tide." It is exactly suited to Harrison's peculiar powers, and was rapturously encored. She rejects him, and he leaves her, believing her false. In the next scene we find Moncinego congra tulating himself on the success of his plots of revenge against Andrea's family; and then follows the concluding scene of the second act, and by far the most mag nificent scenic effect ever accomplished on any stage. The scene represents the battlements of the Palace of Famagosta, in Cyprus, with a view of the port seen under them. The stage is crowded with people making merry in honour of the mar riage of the king. There is a grand procession of the clergy ; the clergy and the people join in a preghiera ; then in the distance is heard a chorus of sailors. The Venetian fleet pass in the distance, and salute; the bells ring; there is a flourish of trumpets. The king, preceded by his pages, squires, and heralds, and followed by his court in grand procession, descend the steps of the palace ; the State galley with Catarina arrives; the pages lay down a rich ca r p e t, w hi c h t h e b r id e maids strew with flowers. Catarina, who is accompanied by Moncenigo and Andrea, is received by the king, and presented to the people ; and amidst the waving of the banners, and the shouts of the people, the proces sion still continuing to stream down the battlements, the curtain falls. The opening scene of the third_ act, the gardens of the Royal Casino at Nicosia, is also very superb. It is filled with guests merrymaking. When the guests leave, Moncenigo ' enters, accompanied by a band of masked assassins, whom he directs to murder .Adolphe, of whose arrival in Cyprus he has been informed. A clashing of swords is heard, and Adolphe enters, accompanied by the king, who has saved his life. A beautiful duet ensues, and the king leaves him, without disclosing his rank. Catarina enters—the lovers meet. She entreats his pity, and Adolphe replies, in one of the most beautiful morceaux of the opera, " Oh! smile as thou wert wont to smile," a ballad, in which Harrison is quite as great as he is in the far- famed "When other lips," and in which he will be quite as popular. It is needless to say he was encored. She explains to him that, on the night she rejected him, assassins were in waiting, who, on the least sign from her, would have taken his life; and then follows a beautiful duet, " Despite this tortured brain." Moncenigo enters, attended by the guard, arrests the lovers, and conducts them to the citadel. Moncenigo hastens to the king to accuse them, and, notwithstanding the entreaties of Andrea, they are condemned. The last scene re presents a public place in Nicosia, with a scaffold erected, and the headsman ready ; monks are kneeling around, and the stage is thronged with soldiers and ' populace. Catarina and Adolphe are led in. Andrea rushes to the feet of the king, who is on the throne, and entreats for pardon. Moncenigo urges the execu tion, when Andrea tells him that Catarina is his own child, and gives him such proof that he cannot doubt the fact. Adolphe is led forward and questioned by the king, who not only pardons him, but gives hint Catarina in marriage. The finale, by Catarina, " This spell too bright to bear," admirably sung by Miss Rainforth, and the chorus, " Envied for ever be," fol low, and end the opera. All the performers were called for at the close,. and l richly did they merit the honour, for - they one , and all exerted themselves to the utmost.--.Mr.Balfe was called for, and then Mr. Bunn ; and both author. and composer were received with loud plaudits. We have particularised the more i mp ortant portions of the music as we have proceeded. The who: of the music is in recitative, and Balfe has in general overezitne the difficulties of adapting Eng lish words to recitative admirably. The opera has been most expensively put upon the stage ; and we must conclude, as we commenced, by repeating that The Daughter of St. Mark is by far the most gorgeous spectacle ever produced. The house was crammed to the ceiling long before the rising of the curtain. ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB. A special meeting of the members of this distinguished club was held on Tuesday at the British Coffee-house, Cockspunstreet, to take into consideration the circum stances attending the resignation of W. H. Harrison, Esq., a gentleman who has for so long a period as fifteen years ably discharged the dutiee of Commodore. It may be necessary to advert to the circumstances which led to Mr. Harrison's resignation. In the course of last soa son, the cup given by Captain Cocksedge was presented on the day of the race to Mr. Wilkinson, the owner of the Phantom, but subsequently was awarded by the Sailing CommitteeJto whom the matter was referred, to Lord Alfred Paget, the owner of the Mystery. Some diversity of opinion existed on the subject, and on a gentleman moving an amendment, to the effect that " under the peculiar circumstances of the case, the club proceed to the consideration of other matters, instead of entertaining the original motion with reference to Mr. Wilkinson's conduct in refusing to deliver up the cup," the amendment was carried. Mr. 'Wilmot' considered this tantamount to the ex pression of a want of confidence in the Sailing Commit tee, who had heard evidence on the matter in dispute, and had given the award as above mentioned, which had afterwards been approved of by a large vote of the club, and resigned ; and in this position a meeting of the club was specially convened for last evening. T. MEESAM, Esq., the Captain, took the cheir at a little before nine o'clock, and briefly explained the situation in which the club stood at that moment. The late hour at which the meeting separated, with the lengthened nature of the proceedings, pi event us enter ing into more than a general summary. Several gen tlemen addressed the meeting on the subject of a motion nroposed by Mr. Grimston, and seconded by Mr. Hut elni;zs, amongst whom was Lord W. Lennox, and all agreed that the resignation of Mr. garrison was a source of deep regret, and after the warmest expression of thanks for the attention he had paid to the interests of the club, for his urbanity and g entlemanly demeanour on every occasion , the motion of Mr. Griniston, "That the resignation of our worthy Commodore be not ac cepted, but that he be requested to resume the statioa be has so long filled with honour to himself and benefit to the club," was carried unanimously, and followed by rounds of applause, which occupied some minutes. deputation wits then aprinted to convey the feelings of the club to lir. Harrieon, and that gentleman, who was in the neighhourhuod, vase shortly 'mile) ed into the room by the deputation, and received with warm and long , continued plaudits. Mr. Harrison was completelyeavoure over come, and having thanked the g entlemen, or endeavoured to do so, the meeting disperse. Some observations were made with reference to the conduct of a gentleman who has cornineted himself in an extraordinary manner, to which w© shall not fur ther allude. ------------:------- On Saturday evening, Mr. and Mni. Jean made se t c ? v e a , rm in es th t e their first appearance at the Theatre Royal, Dublin, this manner,comedyand sera received in for on the fulling of the curtain, to meet with the re , : of by iV a h c n i e !) , 3 ' 'ded hotnie, and called newed pleudits of the si;Aiimpc.—Dublin Pilot. A FAcT.—ln the w indow of tit.'. Servants' Re gxstry-iqfice in Well.:, may be seen—" Place TriabtP,4, by a young woman, as cook, in a respectable family, where a plane footman is kept, of Ili s vic church principles," THE LATE FATAL RAILWAY • ACCIDENT. INOITINGHAM, MONDAY.—Thomas Dean, who was under examination when our reporter left, was cross examined by several of the jury, in order more clearly t elucidate his evidence, but no variation from his . .riginal examination was to be noticed. He stated that he had not heard a man say, that if he were master he would prevent the train going on until the other arrived, :ire! continued, " No steps were taken at Beeston to stop the London train till I heard the crash, unless turning the red side of the signal ; but it was very foggy, and the train might possibly have gone on if the crash bad taken place lower down the line. My having heard the crash, and the Nottingham train not having arrived at the proper time, were the cause of my going towards the London train with the red flag. The points of the rail way are self-acting points. Two trains going the same way are not allowed to go after each other until ten minutes elapse, The London train could not have seen the red signal to stop at a distance of 100 yards, as it was so foggy, but they would have seen it when they came up to Beeston. There are fog signals given to the engine -drivers. I never heard such a crash before as that which I heard when the two trains met. I told the station- master that it was like the report of a cannon, but not such a dead heavy sound as the report of a can non."—The inquest, was then adjourned. TUESDAY, FOUR O'CLOCK, P.X. At half-past nine o'clock this morning the Coroner and jury re-assenibld at the hospital, to pursue the investi gation adjourned from last night. Mr. Youle and other directors were again present, and all the legal gentlemen engaged, as well as the officials of the railway, were also in attendance. rho first witness called was dohn Bolton, wbe deposed as follows :—I lire at Long Eaton, and am overlooker ter the contractor. I saw a tender get off the rails at Wilford. The four wheels came off the rails, and the rails were bent in consequence. I could not calculate how long it would take to remove the tender and adjust the rails, but I think it would take an hour. I saw Kearsley at the place where the tender was off, and I heard him direct Howitt to go up the line to Beeston to stop any tr..ins from coming down. Howitt said— " What, to Beeston ?" and Ke-arsley said, " Yes," or if he did not go himself, he should send the next man on the line to Beeston." I then said to Howitt, " You may as well go yourself, for the other man has got but one leg." It was very foggy that day. Howitt started di rectly- afterwards. lie made a stop when he got about 15 yards. He was reminded again that the trains might come up, and he then went right assay. It was so foggy we could not see more than 100 y ards up the line at the time. I saw nothing of Mr. Lightfoot there, but I had seen him pass in the up-train to Beeston. I cannot say whether Howitt had any signal with him when he went up the line. The first time I saw Mr. Lightfoot was, to the best of my knowledge, when I saw him go on the train. I heard nothing said to him by any person. We got the tender off the line just as the driver of the second up-train returned to inform us of the accident. Nothing passed between Mr. Lightfoot and me at Nottingham. I cannot say how it was that the tender got off the line ; but when I examined the points before it happened I found them all right. I saw Marland and Reilly before the accident (the drivers who went on the wrong line), and they expressed no fear of any collision, nor did they appear to have the least dread of any such occurrence. Mr. 11. Youle—l am one of the directors of the Mid land Counties Railway Company. I was at the Notting ham station on Thursday. I was on horseback, and when I got to the gates leading to Wilford I perceived they were closed. On looking to the right hand I saw some men at work on the railway, and I shouted to them to know what was the matter. Immediately Mr. Light foot advanced to me and said that a tender was off the line ; and added, " As the time is now near at hand for the train to London to start, and it must of necessity go on the wrong line, I think I had better go with it to see that the line is clear, and caution the police at Beeston station before the arrival of any down train." I said, " I think you had better do so." The gates were then opened. I proceeded about ten paces, and reflecting on what Mr. Lightfoot had said, I turned round, and said again, " I think, Mr. Lightfoot, you had better go your self to see that the line is clear." I then rode away. My impression was that Mr. Lightfoot would adopt every precaution, for I had known him for years, and had the highest opinion of his experience, his caution, and pru dence, having often admired him for those qualities. I therefore calculated that he would give every necessary order to secure trains from accident. By a Juror—ls there any understanding as to which train—the up or the down train—must be kept back in case of accident interfering with the rail? Witness—l am not aware of any such understanding. CORONER—We have it in evidence that there are two sets of rails, which do not correspond with each other ; that one set (the old set) was in operation with some of the men till the day after the accident, and that the other (the new) was not in operation with the others on the gth of November. I wish you to explain this. Mr. Youle—lt is the duty of Mr. Knitley to see that the engineers have proper copies of the rules. CORONER—Do you know how it is that the whole of the drivers have not been provided with regulations of the same description? Mr. Youle—l do not. CORONER—The regulations affecting changing the rails differ materially in the two sets of regulations, and yet some of the servants had one set of regulations, and others another set. Mr. Youle—Mr. Knitley, the principal engineer, I understand, arranges that. The CORONER—I should wish very much to have it explained. A Railway Director—lt shall be explained. A Juror—Naikland (the driver of the engine which was on the wrong line) did not get the new regulations till Friday morning after the accident, so that you went to the insurance-office after the fire. Mr. John Wildy—l went down to the Nottingham station on last Tuesday afternoon, between a quarter and half •past two. I took a place at the station for the train which was to have started at a quarter to three. It did not start then. I should think it was ten minutes behind its time for starting. I was in the fourth-class ,:arriage, which is without seats. We proceeded on the proper line to Wilford, and our train was then stopped, and backed to the other line—the down line. I supposed we were going to take up some luggage. We hums diatiately started on our way up, being still on the down line. I saw a tender off the rails. As soon as we pro ceeded on the down line, I felt very much alarmed, and my alarm was greatly increased by hearing the driver constantly blowing his whistle. I had my child, about 3 years old, OR my knee. I was conscious that something serious would happen. I was in the last carriage of the train. When we arrived at about three-quarters of a mile from Beeston, I was alarmed by hearing a tremendous crash, and being at the same time thrown with great force against the door-way of the carriage. We were then going about 12 or 14 miles an hour, which I con sider to be about half the usual speed. I was stunned for a few seconds, and as soon as I recovered myself I looked round, and found that no one had been left in the carriage but myself and my little boy. The first voice I heard was that of Mr. Baker, who said, "For God's sake, come and help these poor creatures." I then laid my boy in the field, and assisted the passengers. The first person I took out was Mrs. George Dean, wife of Mr. Dean, of the Castle and Falcon. I then saw Mr. Dean lying with his head out of the carriage. I put my arms under his to lift him out, and I found that his legs had got fast in the broken wood of the carriage. I used a little extra force, and t o ok him out and laid him against a gate. Mr. Dean was able to stand when I took him out, but not able to speak. 1 asked him where he was hurt, and he looked wistfully at me, but could not speak; I could see th a t hi s f ac e was bruised. I saw him ag ain shortly after, and he was still standing. When next I saw him he was lying in a cart in a field on the right hand side; he appeared then to be dying. My little boy who was with me escaped without any injury whatever. About half an hour after the accident Mr. Lightfoot asked me what o'clock it was, and I told him it was half past three. The driver of the down train then came to Mr. Lightfoot, and said, " Oh, Mr. Lightfoot, what a job this is; you can't blame me— it is entirely your own fault t. " Mr. Lightfoot then walked away, and made no reply. He appeared to be very much troubled. I took as much precaution as possible, by placing myself in such a position as would break my fall, in case of a col lision. By a Juror—Would you have gone if you knew the train was to go on the wrong line ? Witness—l would not have gone, if I had known it, for all the railway companies on earth. (In continua tion)—As soon as we found ourselves going up on the wrong line, all in the carriage became so mach alarmed, that I don't think an additional word was spoken amongst us from the time we had remarked it to the time of the accident. lin my own mind that th e Vile would be perfectly clear before the ten minutes before three train, the next up, would start, and never for a moment supposing the least possibility of a second train being sent off on the wrong line, without soma previous intimation, or I should never have put myself in that dangerous situation. We pro ceeded with the up-train with great caution, whistling every thirty or forty yards, until we came in sight of Beeston station, passing Howitt about 200 yards on this side of the station. Jerry, the driver, stopped the train on the departure line. I got on and the train went for ward. I crossed the line to the station-house to explain to Mr. Raven, the station-master, the cause of my com ing up on the wrong line, and I said that the two hours and fifty minutes, or next train, would come up the right line. Immediately after, Howitt came up per spiring very much and quite exhausted. He asked me for sixpence to go and get some spirits ; I think he said rum. I referred him to Raven, and he (Howitt) borrowed something from him and went to the Victoria Inn. Howitt arrived back at the station before the arrival of the train from Derby. Immediately on the arrival of that train I went to the engine -driver to inform him what had occurred at the Nottingham station, stating the caution I had used in coming up, and the same caution he was to observe in going down. We proceeded slowly on, whistling as we went. I was watching the' line to see that no person or anything was on the line, when I called out, " Good God ! there is a train coming, and on our line." The engine man did something to his engine and jumped off. I followed, but, catching my foot, I tumbled over, making a complete summersault, and lay, for a short time sense less. As soon as I recovered I sent the guard to the Beeston station, to stop the London down-train. In answer to questions from the jury, the witness said that Kearsley sent up Howitt to Beeston upon his own responsibility, for it came within his (Kearsley's) duties. If a diference of opinion occurred between Kearsley and witness on the subject of arranging the trains, Kearsley's authority would be superior. There was no imperative necessity for getting the train from Beeston. There is a notification in the office that the Company do not guarantee the arrival of the trains at the time specified in the time bills. It was certainly not stated in my hearing that Howitt was to stop all the down trains until two up trains arrived. Witness only recollected Howitt asked for six pence, but did not remember anything further having been said to him by Howitt. He (witness) felt quite satisfied that when he was coming to Nottingham there was no possibility of a second train coming up the wrong line against him. Witness left no instructions as to the second train coining on the wrong line, for he was convinced that the second train could go on its own right line, as he be lieved that the obstruction of the tender might be removed in time. Witness had no conversation with Raven as to the propriety of coming back previous to the collision, and the reason he went so slowly, being off his own line, was on account of the fog. When witness arrived at Beeston, and gave notice to stop the trains, he considered that he had done his duty. The driver of the train on which the witness came towards Nottingham from Beeston, fre quently blew his whistle. Witness thought the tender might be removed in time to clear up the line, for he never saw a tender require more than half an hour to clear, but in this case the water flowed out of the tender, and washed away the earth which was under the rails, and supporting them. The result of this was, that the rails, not having due support, became bent, and that was the cause of the unusual delay in getting the rails adjusted. Witness had seen worse cases of tenders and of engines, which are much heavier, getting off the rails, and they had been remedied in less time than this occupied. Wit ness was convinced from his experience that the tender would be on the line in time for the second train. When witness saw the engine removed from the tender, he conceived that the principal danger was over, and be said to the men engaged in removing the tender, " Now you will be soon all right." Witness did not, to his know ledge, ever ride on the engine of a passenger train before. Witness understood that there was a direction to stop the trains coming towards Nottingham until the next up-train had gone up, but he heard nothing at all, and gave no directions as to stopping the down -trains till the two next up-trains passed. The CORONER here read an extract from the evidence of Hewitt, who was the man that was sent to Beeston with the direction to stop the trains down until the next up-train arrived. Hewitt stated that he gave the mes sage at Beeston to stop the down-trains till the next up train arrived. He did not say " till two up-trains ar rived," for he was not sure that two trains would come up. It, however, occurred to him afterwards that another train might start on the wrong line. Mr. Lightfoot's examination was then continued. — Witness would not, of course, have proceeded back to Nottingham with the down-train which came into colli sion, it he supposed that there was any possibility of a second train coming up on the wrong line. The guard of a train could refuse to go on the wrong line, fur ho is the master of the train, and he could refuse to go. The engineman must obey the orders of the guard, so that, if the guard want on the wrong line, the responsibity of doing so would be on the guard. Witness is master until the guard gets the dispatches, but when the guard gets the dispatches the responsibility is immediately removed to him. Witness had no authority beyond the station. Howitt ought not to have gone with the message without letting witness know, for he (Howitt) is the servant of witness, and not of the engineer. Witness gives the dispatches to the guard, without which the train cannot go, but the guard starts it. The CORONER—You, then, really start the train, for the guard cannot go without your permission ? Witness -No, the guard starts the train. The CoitoNzn—lt might as well be said that the en gineman starts his train. You do not put your hand to it, but the guard cannot go on until he gets the dispatches from you. Witness continued—He said that he went to Beeston under the direction of his superior, Mr. Youle. Witness never heard Raven say to him that if he went down he would have a mess of it. He is quite sure that:if Raven had said so to him he must have heard it. Witness cannot exactly say whether or not he should have gone to Beeston. Kearsley sent Howitt to Beeston without witness's knowledge. If Kearsley had asked witness whether he should send the second up-train on the wrong line, witness should have said certainly not. Wit ness did not think it ,likely that Kearsley would send two trains on the wrong line, for he was a cautious man, although on this day he erred in judgment. Both trains were sent on the wrong line by Kearsley, in whose de partment that duty lies. The witness was under examination when our report left. An inquest is also in progress at Lenton, before Mr. C. Swann, coroner for South Nottinghamshire, to in quire into the circumstances attending the death of Mr. W. Varnalls. The evidence was, however, so precisely of the same character as that given at the other inquest, that it is unnecessary to repeat it. At the time that our report left the inquiry was not concluded. MIDLAND RAILWAY. DERRY, TUESDAY, HALF-PAST THREE, P.N.—This afternoon a special general meeting of the Proprietors of the above railway was held in the large room over the booking-offices at the railway station in this town, for the purpose of agreeing to a lease, in conjunction with the Manchester and Birmingham Company, of the Shef field, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Manchester Railway. There was an extremely large attendance of Shareholders, the room being completely filled. G. HUDSON, Esq., Chairman of the Directors, took the chair, and stated the terms of the proposed lease. The lease was to be for thirty y ears , t o be terminable by either party at the end of either ten or twenty years, upon a notice of three years being given. The lease to com mence in six months aft er th e completion of the line. The lease was to be subject to the payment by the lessees of seven and a half per cent. on 144,0001., as a guaran tee stock, during the period that that portion of the Sheffield and Manchester capital was entitled to that high rate of interest, being up to the 26th of September, 1853. The remainder of the share capital was to be guaranteed to five per cent„ the capital not exceeding 756,0001., the interest to increase by half per cent. for every 250/. per week increase iu the traffic, until the rental reached ten per cent. The weekly receipt to commence at 2,8001. The chairman, in the course of his observations, said that this step had been caused by the' course which the Manchester and Leeds Company had taken with reference to the London and York Com pany, and it was in self-defence that the Midland Com pany had determined upon entering upon their lease, in order that they might have an independent terminus in Manchester. He regretted that any difference should exist between the two companies, and he would be glad to submit to any personal sacrifice to put an end to them. The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated. Mr. Robert Lightfoot, the station-master of Notting ham, whose name was so frequently mentioned during the investigation, was next called, and the Coroner stated DEATH OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL THE HON. SIR to him, that if he wished to make any statement to the R. L. DUNDAS, K.C.B, ANOTHER HERO OF TUE PENlN jury, they were willing to hear him, but it was to be quite suit.—We hare to record the death of Lieutenant voluntary on the part of Mr. Lightfoot. General the Hon. Sir Robert Laurence Dundas, which Mr. Lightfoot then stated, that he had suffered greatly took place on Saturday afternoon the 23d iust., at Loftus, in mind since the accident, not having had more than a near Gisborough, Yorkshire. This gallant officer's ser single hour's sleep at one time from the period of the vices extended over a period of forty-seven years, and unfortunate occurrence to the present, and he should, by his death the colonelcy of the 59th Regiment, which therefore, read to this jury a statement of the circum- he has held since the 15th of June, 1840, has become stances with which he was acquainted in connexion vacant. Sir Robert Dundas entered the army on the with it. Ho then read as follows :—I am manager Ist of December, 1797, and as a second-lieutenant served and station-master at the Nottingham Railway stn- as an engineer officer in North Holland, at the actions of tion. I went into the yard at about a quarter to two the 27th of August, 10th and 19th September, and 2d o'clock, on Thursday last, when I met a man, who said and 6th October, 1799. Ho became lieutenant on the to me that an engine was off the line. I immediately 2d May, 1800, and in the subsequent year served in the went up, and saw J ohnKearsley, the engineer, and several Egyptian campaign, and was present in the action of the Men trying to disengage the engine f rom t h e ten d er, 21st of March. On the 6th of August, 1802, he was the tender being off the line. Kearsley informed me made a captain, and obtained his majority on the 14th of then that he had sent Howitt up to Beeston station to July, 1804. In the year ensuing he served in the north stop any train : that might be coining down the line, until of Germany with the Royal Staff Corps. In the be the quarter-past two train had passed, as he intended ginning of 1807 he was ordered to the Peninsula, where to send the quarter-past two London train up the down from that time, with the Royal Staff Corps, ho was pra line. My reply was, there was great danger from the sent and shared in the glories of Talavera, Busaco, fog. Ilis answer then was, there was plenty of time be- Fuentes d'Onor, Salamanca, Vittoria, the Pyrenees, the tore any train was due, meaning the down-trains ; and Niaelle, the Nive, and Toulouse. Sir Robert attained that he would give instructions t o J erry to bl ow his the rank of lieutenant-colonel on the 11th of April, 1811, whistle, and go with caution until he got up the line, full colpm.l ou the 19th July, 1821, major-general 22d meaning changing to the other side at Beeston. At July, 1830, and lieutenant-general 23d November, 1841 this :time Mr. Youle, the Nottingham Director, was —the last brevet, in honour of the birth:of the Prince of passing through Wilford-gates on horseback. I went to Wales. For his distinguished services he received a him to explain the situation of the engin e an d lender, cross and three clasps, and was made a Knight Com stating that Kearsley intended sending up th e d ow n line mander of the Bath. The deceased was brother to the by the two hours fifteen minutes London train. I late and uncle to the present Earl of Zetland. TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES IN POLAND.—POLISH 1„b e ngine nmg ehni stwoloysrhekiesi whistle theall asked tohrei D yw l c r ar . yw Y ta o , n h o ag u so l i d tnhge g ,r oeaonmight o 3 oe parsons crossing at the time. lige FRON'IIERS, Nov. 11.—The cause of the temperance so on the :lown line, Poland. They had been particularly successful in those cieties has received a severe blow in the kingdom of said By all means, do so," or words to that effect. I parts of the kingdom which border on the republic of then went to the men who were working at Cracow and in Upper Silesia, where the country people, the engine. Lp to this time th e eng i ne at - following the exhortation of the clergy, renounced in a tached to the 'tender was the great obstacle body the use of brandy. But the Government has lately which caused delay. After the enKi"t) yeas disengaged I said to the men , a All will be right tiow ye?" 40q9, pabiii:lied a eircqlar Prohibiting theal, and forbidding interfered to check the temperance societies, and has and the engine clear." One of the men said, "Yes, In the clergy to promote ! by addressee from the pulpit an a short time." I then got on the engine of the London object which was so beneficial to the country-people.— train - that had started from the station, fully convinced liambut gh Papers. EARLY CLOSING OF SHOPS. A meeting was held on Tuesday, in Shouldham-street Chapel, Bryanston.square, of persons interested in the above object, for the purpose of considering the pro priety of taking steps to carry it out in the district of Alarylebone. The meeting, although held at the late hour of half-past nine o'clock, was but thinly attended. Mr. Wheatley was called to the chair. The CHAIRMAN opened the business of the evening, by observing upon the effect which late hours of business had upon the morals of assistants, and said that while it had a prejudicial effect upon them, it produced no good to the employers.—(bear.) The same, or indeed a greater amount of business might be done in less time, than was now given to business, if there was only a union amongst tradesmen to close their shops at earlier hours than at present they were in the habit of doing. The object of the present meeting was to form an Asso ciation in that district of the metropolis, which would act iu conjunction with the Parent Association, and thus, by mutual action, effect the end which was so ardently desired by assistants, and which, whether it was to be regarded in a moral, a social, or pecuniary point of view, was calculated to benefit the employers as much as the employed.—(Hear.) Mr. BENGOUGH, from the Drapers' Association, then proposed a resolution, which was to the effect that late hours of business were detrimental to the morals of the assistants in shops ; and that the various relations of life could not be properly maintained so long as this great evil existed. Mr. SAVAGE, in supporting the resolution, accounted for the paucity of attendance at the meeting by observ ing that the shops in the neighbourhood did not close until an extremely late hour. This was the grievance which they were that evening met to endeavour to re medy. There was really no argument in favour of late hours of business. It was decidedly injurious to the mental and physical attributes of the assistant, and it was in no way beneficial to the employers.—(Hear.) Look at the assistants in shops. What were they doing at night ? Why, listlessly whiling away their time, waiting for, not upon, customers.—(Hear.) This was a fact that was known to every one who looked into shops in the evening. The drapers of the metropolis had, generally speaking, assented to the principle of closing their shops at an earlier hour than usual, and this had induced the assistants in other shops to make common cause with their co-assistants, and, by union, effect for all what had been gained by a particular class.—(Hear, hear.) Their purpose was not one of combination, but a desire that the employer and the employed should, by a mutual understanding, come to a determination to adopt a plan which would be satisfactory to both, and by which, the convenience of the public would also be consulted.— (Hear.) With the view of effecting this desirable end, it was intended to hold meetings in the different districts of the metropolis, and when the feeling of the great body of shopkeepers and the assistants had been ascer tained, then to call an aggregate meeting, when some definitive hour might be determined when trades men generally would close their shops throughout the metropolis.—(Hear.) It had been clearly as certained that the expenses of keeping open shops at night were more than the profit obtained thereby, so that there was in reality no reason why shops should be kept open. He was glad to see that the clergy were now adopting early hours for the duties connected with the Church.—(A laugh.) The higher classes also were making early hours fashionable, so that he hoped the great bulk of the people would be induced to imitate the example thus set them by people in high life.— (Hear.) He trusted also that the time was not far dis tant when the Legislature would commence their Legis lative functions about twelve o'clock in the day instead of five o'clock i❑ the afternoon. Upon every ground, both morally and socially, he gave the resolution his best support.—(Hear.) The resolution was then adopted. Upon the motion of Mr. MARSH it was next resolved that persons having authority from the Parent Society should be autherLed to obtain funds from persons in the district who were favourable to the object in view, in order that it might be successfully carried out. The motion being seconded, it was adopted, as was also another, by which the persons present were enrolled members of the district association. Thanks having been given to the Chairman, the meet ing separated. THE MATRIMONIAL HOAX AT UXBRIDGE. Seventeen young men were on Tuesday charged before the Uxbridge magistrates with assaulting a person named Stone, under circumstances which were detailed in a re cent number of this journal. It will be remembered that Stone had inserted an advertisement in the Maidstone Gazette for a wife, and that advertisement had been an swered by a shopkeeper's apprentice of Uxbridge, in the name of "Frances Gower,' and enticed Stone to Ux bridge, where the defendants and others pushed him into a pond and pelted him with mud. The magistrates fined the ringleaders twenty shillings and let the others off. The wife-hunter's appearance is thus described by our casual reporter : He was of gentlemanly appearance, rather above the middle stature, remarkably staid countenance, dark brown hair, considerably bald on the top, dark brown bushy whiskers, dark hazel eyes, and apparently nearly fifty years of age. He deposed that he lived at Camber well, and was out of business. He described himself as now "living independent." Had had charge of an old gentleman, but he had died nine months since. Before that he was an attorney's clerk. Lived at No. 4, Albany road, Camberwell. In his cross-examination he admitted that once before he had advertised in the Sunday Times. Mr. Sleep (fur the defendants) produced one of the complainant's letters. He said the paper on which it was written was of a most appropriate colour —green as the writer of it—green tipped with gold. (Mr. Sleep here turned the letter, which was on bright green satin paper' with gold edges, over and over amidst the laughter of the Court, in which the bench could not resist joiuing,) The letter was as follows : " Madam—ln answer to your kind letter of the 12th instant, I beg to say that I will do myself tho pleasure of meeting you on Sunday next, according to your ar • rangement. But at the same time I wish to inform you that, having received a letter previous to yours that has not proved serious, I beg to request the favour of an answer to know that you are really serious in your in tentions, and likewise to inform me by what convey ance I can reach Uxbridge, and at what hour of the day will suit you.--I am, Madam, yours sincerely, " Miss Frances Gower." " J. STONE. The other letters had very little of romance in them. They ran thus : " Uxbridge, Nov. 12. " Sir,—Seeing an advertisement in the Maidstone paper of your wishing to form an alliance with a young lady of property, I beg to open a correspondence with you on that subject. My age is 35. I have been keep ing my father's house fur the last ten years, and a little difference between my father and myself renders my home not one of the happiest. Aly father will be at Maidst•ne on Sunday next. I shall be glad if you will come and spend the day with me, and I will then explain to you what property I have. " Remaining, &c., yours affectionately, " FRANCES COWER." " Uxbridge, Nov. 15. " Dear Sir,—ln answer to your letter of this morning, I can assure you that my intentions are serious, and should our meeting be attended with success, you will find in me a faithful and confiding partner. You will be so good as to come by Mr. Hughes's coach, which will leave the Old Bell Inn, Holborn, at ten o'clock, and arrive at Uxbridge at half-past twelve o'clock, and I will be there to receive you. I shall wear a Leghorn bonnet, trimmed with blue ribbon, and shall wear a mantilla cape. You have in your coat a flower, and in your hand a book, so that we shall know each other, and do not let the weather prevent your coming. " Remaining, dear Sir, yours affectionately, " Mr. J. Stone." " FRANCES GOWER." IRELAND. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. DUBLIN, Nov. 25.—The elections took place in the various wards of this city to-day, to fill the vacancies caused by the going out of a certain portion of the town-council, including the aldermen of the wards on the northern side of the city. Yesterday a preparatory meeting was held in the Post-office ward, where a formidable contest has occurred between Alderman Purcell and the repeal candidate, Mr. Staunton, proprietor of the Weekly Register. Dr. Gray, one of the proprietors of th• Freeinan's Journal, and one of the late State prisoners, is also the can didate in this ward, for the vacant town-councillorship. The meeting was numerously attended by the supporters of Mr. Staunton. Mr• O'Connell, who was present, addressed the meeting in the most energetic terms, in faYour of Mr. Staunton. The result of the contest in the Post-office ward is the return of Mr. Staunton as the alderman, and of Dr. Gray as town-councillor. The only other election that excited general interest here was the Linen-hall ward, where the Lord Mayor has been roturned as alderman by a large majority, in place of the late alderman, Mr. Grace. The elections caused a general stir amongst the bur gesses, but all went off in the most peaceable manner. DUBLIN SOCIETY.—ADDRESS TO THE LORD LIEUTENANT. Oa Saturday last a deputation from the Royal Dublin Society presented an address to his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant, at the Vice-Regal-lodge, Phoenix-park. The deputation on the part of the Society consisted of Sir I:obert Shaw, Bart., Henry Kemmis, Esq., and Sir William Bothatn, Vice-Presidents of the Society ; Isaac Weld and L. E. Foot, Esqs., Honorary Secretaries ; the lion. Thomas Yesey, M.P. ; Lieutenant-Colonel Colomb, and Robert Wybrants, Esq. The address having been read, his Excellency gave the following answer : " Gentlemen, Vice-Presidents, Council, and Members of the Royal Dublin Society— " I receive with great satisfaction the congratulations you are pleased to address to me upon my arrival in this country. " I had the pleasure of visiting your Institution very shortly after I had been installed in the high office her Most Gracious Majesty has been pleased to confide to me, and of examining, in detail, the various interesting collections which it contains ; and I was convinced, by all that came under my observation, that its reputation was in no way exaggerated, but that it was an establish ment conferring equal honour on those entrusted with its management as on the nation by which it was en couraged and maintained, 't The liberality with which admissions to your valuable library are granted to the public, and the deli very of lectures, by which every one so disposed may profit, are proofs of your anxiety to disseminate as widely as possible the advantages of instruction, and by a more general diffusion of knowledge to contr,bute to the development of the industry and resources of the country. " I feel honoured, Gentlemen, by your choice of me as President of your Society—an honour which I grate fully accept. Whatever protection and encouragement the situation I hold enables me to offer will be always at your disposal. " I trust, Gentlemen, you will never have reason to believe that I feel less interest in the success and pros perity of your Institution than was felt by the distin guished nobleman who preceded me in my present office." ADVANCES IN THE PRICE OF CATTLE.—At the fair of Tullinadaly, county of Galway, there was an ad% ai.ce of 1/. per head in horned cattle, and sheep and pigs also rose in price. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, TUEhDAY.—Pierre Gondre, the French seaman who had his arm shot off whilst saluting his royal master on his late visit, left Haslar Hospital yes terday quite recovered from the effects of his calamity. He expresses himself most grateful for the kindness with which he had been treated ; his own vessel, La Heine Amelie, carrying no surgeon, he was removed immediately after the accident on board the Victory, where the surgeon of that ship, Mr. J. 11. Acheson, per formed amputation above the elbow in a most skilful manner ; he was then removed to Hasler, and placed under the care of Mr. James Allan, the surgeon and storekeeper of that establishment, for whose kindoess he could never be too grateful. Ile acknowledges with feel ings of very apparent pride and gratitude the receipt of 101. from our benevolent Queen, through tho hands of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir C. Rowley, and also the pension of 600 f. per annum, conferred by his King. A seaman of the Espiegle, 12-gun brig, one of the ex perimental squadron, who had the three last fingers of his right hand blown off, and arm shattered, whilst saluting at the same time as the above, has also received 101. from her Miijesty, and is doing well in Haslar Hos pital. The Albatross, 16, Commander Yorke, was at Sierra Leone on the 20th of September. The Cleopatra, 26, Captain Wyvill, was at Simon's bay on the 16th of September. The Pickle, 2, Lieutenant-Commander Bainbridge, left Port Royal for Honduras on the 17th ult. The Wasp, 16, Commander Usher, was at Sierra Leone on the 25th of September. The Conway, 26, Captain Kelly, arrived at Algoa bay, from the Cape of Good Hope, ea the sth of Sep tember, all well. The Dolphin, 3, Lieutenant Hoare, was at Rio on the 13th ult., as were also the Alfred, 50, Commodore Purvis, the Racer, 16, Commodore A. Reed, and the Crescent, 42, receiving ship. The Vestal, 26, Captain Talbot, arrived at Simon's bay on the 9th of September from the River Plate. The Gorgon steam-sloop was still ashore at Monte Video on the 20th of September. The St. Vincent, 120, Captain the Right Hon. the Earl of Hardwicke, arrived this day at noon, and brought up at Spithead, where she saluted the Commander-in- Chief, Sir C. Rowley, with 17 guns. The St. Vincent beat her two three-decked competitors, the Queen and Caledonia, in the late cruise, which lasted 34 days. The squadron did not fall in with the Albion, 90, Captain Lockyer, until two or three days after touching at Lisbon, when the four ships sailed in company to within about 80 miles of Madeira. They experienced very heavy gales during the early part of this month, but latterly the weather was fine. The trial has fully proved the great inefficiency of Sir W. Symond's (the Surveyor of the Navy) ship Queen, which has been beaten by long odds upon every tack. The St. Vincent weathered upon the Albion, but the latter, carrying more canvass, carried off the palm. The Albion parted company with the rest of the squadron, and mode for Lisbon on the 20th inst. The Excellent, gunnery ship, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings, struck the flag of Admiral Sir Charles Howley, at sun set, and it w.ll be re-hoisted on board the St. Vincent to-morrow. Seamen gunners from the Excellent were exercised in rocket practice this morning on Southsea common, the rocket being of a new description, and constructed on board that ship. The result, we are informed, was highly satisfactory. There has been no shell practice upon the Swiftaure from this ship since Thursday. We are informed the next shell tried will be Colonel Dansey's, Orders have arrived at this port from the Admiralty for the officers' cabins on the gun-deck of line. of-battle ships to be in future fitted upon a different plan to that hitherto practised. The mode adopted hitherto has been to construct them of mere frames of wood, with panels of canvass, secured to cants below and aloft. The new instructions are, to form them of canvass exclusively, nailed to the deck above, and secured below by a cordage to staples; this will be at once more simple and portable, and give infinitely less trouble in clearing decks for action. The Scourge, steam-sloop, has been jury masted, an d is now being rigged with all speed, in order to get her into the river by the time specified in the contract between her engine -makers and the Government. The Snipe, cutter, Lieutenant-Commander Raymond, arrived from Devonport on Monday, with seamen paid off from the Cornwallis and Nimrod, and sailed this morning for Sheerness and Chatham, with supernume raries fur the Amazon and Eagle. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TOWER OF LONDON. This ancient fortress is about to undergo extensive alterations and improvements. For months past Govern ment surveyors have been engaged, at the direction of the Board of Ordnance, in surveying different parts, and for the better guidance of the Honourable Board an elaborate working model has been formed, under the superintendence of Major Hall, of the Royal Engineers. A new grand entrance will be made facing Upper Thames-street, and will be approached by a draw bridge. To effect this alteration, the well-known Spur Gate is to be demolished ; that part of the old ditch be tween the Warders' Hall and the Spur Gate filled up, and a new one in a line with the ditch that runs along the water side is to be made, so as to run outside the grand entrance, in accomplishing which a large space of ground will be added to the fortress, although no en croachment on the public right of way on Tower-hill. The Spur Gate barracks, the well-known menagerie buildings, the New Ticket-office, the Spur guard-room, and the ramparts adjacent, are all to be razed to the ground, and on their site to be built substantial erections for public offices. The Warders' Hall, now fronting the Stone Kitchen, is to be destroyed, and a new one to be erected, which, together with the ticket-office and guard-room, will form the buildings at the grand entrance. The two archways almost at the extreme eastern end of the fortress, leading to what is termed the Irish bar racks at the south-east angle, are to be removed, and the Irish barracks, now used for the accommodation of the troops, are to be converted into store-rooms. The en tire row of buildings on the opposite side of the way are also to be demolished, and the whole space to the ram part wall will be cleared away, affording a commodious thoroughfare. At the end of the Irish barracks are a number of smiths' shops and lofts ; all those are to be levelled to the ground as far as the Old Mill barracks, to the end immediately beneath the Jewel House. The houses fronting the barracks in a line with the King'", Arms public-house, about forty in numher, are to share a similar fate; at least those as far as what is called the School-room. Nearly opposite to those buildings are the officers' residences, and which are intended to be appro priated fur the accommodation of the warders. A large building, between the Beauchamp T ower aL d t h e officers present quarters, is to be converted into an in firmary for the troops, an institution so long required in the garrison. The alterations intended immediately adjacent to the grand parade are equally as extensive. The houses on the right, after passing under the Bloody Tower to the parade, now the residence of some of the warders, will be destroyed, also the guard-room, and all the buildings, in fact, contiguous to the White Tower aro to be swept away, so as to throw that interesting and stately struc ture open to the view of the spectator, many of its beau ties being hidden by the unsightly buildings that are attached to it. The carriage-way is to be abolished and raised level with the parade, which will certainly be one of the finest exercising grounds any fortress can boast of. It will be approached by a wide flight of steps close under the Bloody Tower. On the ruins of the grand store-house is to be built a magnificent building for the accommodation of 800 soldiers, the style of which is to be in strict keeping with the White Tower. Extensive excavations are now going on in order to secure a good foundation, for which purpose the whole of the burial ground attached to St. Peter ad Vincula has been de voted, the bodies therein having been removed and de posited in a spacious vault. Some of the buildings to the west of the parade are to be pulled down to make room for more substantial erections. The houses on the terrace, known as the Map-office, are to be used as officers' residences, the roofs of which will be made to correspond with the White Tower and the intended new barracks. The Beauchamp Tower, which stands on the west side of the parade, will be thrown open to public view, and when the records are removed to the new houses of Parlia ment, the White Tower will be open for public in spection. ATTEMPTED ROBDERT AT TDB LONDON DOCKS.— Two or three days since, several bladders were disco vered lying in a craft, which was at the time full of bonded goods, which had been shipped override from a vessel recently arrived in the dock, to be housed else where, and as the appearance of their being concealed in such a place was very suspicious, they were taken pos session of by the dock authorities, to await any further particulars which might come to light on the subject. It has since been found that a cask on board a ship recently arrived, and lying near theoraft in question, has been plundered of a eonsiderable quantity of Grandy, to the amount of several gallons ; although it is not known by whom, or in what manner the abstraction has takenplace, there is very little doubt but that the brandy pillaged from the cask alluded to, formed the contents of the bladders in question, and a representation has been made to the Commissioners of Customs, requesting that it may be so considered and the spirit returned to its original place of deposit. Tho matter is at present under the considera tion of the Board. The case is somewhat suspicious, as it is extremely difficult to conceive in what manner, or at what time, the spirit could be so ta ke n and deposited in the barge to await its exit from the dock, without the knowledge of the parties concerned. It was very fortu nate, however, that the attempted robbery was so dis covered before the craft had left the dock, as there is no doubt if it had been sceurely removed, it would have been very difficult to have found its place of concealment, and in consequence the brandy would have been entirely lost to the owner and the duty to the revenue. SINGULAR TRIAL 0 FOR KILLING HIS CI IF AN ARAB ONCUBINE. A trial for murder, peculiarly interesting from the party accused, the circumstances leading to and at- .' tending its perpetration, the witngssei exanained,_ and: the nature of their evidence, was - heici-lea-tfri 15 and 16th inst., before the Court o&-1.4isi'zlecifbi.‘thi. 7 department of the Var, sitting at Drago , .lnan. The prisoner was Abdel Kader Ben Aottti, formerly Dacherchaour, or chief of the armed police of the. Emir Abdel Kader, and the charge against him was the murder of one of his wives, named Fathwa Beni Aball Kader. At an early hour the Court was crowded; includ ing a great number of ladies, for whom seats were specially reserved. But the most striking part of the scene was a numerous body of Arabs, en camped as it were in the enclosure reserved for the witnesses. They were almost all very fine men, tall, handsome in features, though deeply embrowned by the sun of the African deeert, their eyes shining brilliantly through the white burnous with which they were cavered fi om head to foot. Each, as a true believer, wore a chaplet or rosary on his arm, or round his neck, eel sit ting crouched, seemed to take no notice of what was passing around him, but from time to tr..ne re peated verses from the Koran. Among them was only one woman, a negress, so covered with her white kack, that she might have been taken fur a man, but for the delicacy of her legs and f et, arms and hands, which were naked. They were all prisoners of war brought from Algeria, and cone fined in the island of Ste. Marguerite, sum moned as witnesses for or against the prisoner. Ben Aoufi is a man of about forty-five years of above the middle size, with a healthy complexi,al high forehead, aqualine nose, and most brilli,nt eves, but a countenance expressive of the greatest mildness and strong intelligence, and his de meanour was grave and dignified. Two interpreters were sworn. The prisoner had always shown great veneration for his mother, who, with his son, was at his request brought from the Island of Ste. Margue rite to he present at his trial. After the usual formalities the indictment was read. From this it appeared that, two years ago, after the capture of the sinalah of the Emir, Abdel Kader Ben Aoufi and his family were then taken prisoners, and, being brought to France, %vela , sent to the depot in Sainte Marguerite. Two otie r families were made captives with them, and at their own request were placed together in one apartment of five rooms. Ben Aoufi formed a close intimacy with another Arab cap tive, Abdel Kader Ben Rebah, who had been an aga or captain in the Emir's regular cavalry. For some time their friendship remained undisturbed, and Ben Aoufi appeared to have full confidence in the fidelity of his No wives. Afterwards, however, he became jealous of them, and accused one of them, Fathina, of a guilty intercourse with Ben Rebah, with whom 1.6 broke off all connexion. In October or. Novem ber, 1843, Ben Rebah assumed a seat in the mosque to which Ben Aoufi claimed to he en titled, and demanded it in insulting terms. Ben Rehah retorted, saying that Ben Aoufi had no light to talk so high, as his house was nothing but a house of debauch, and that he, Ben Rebah, had the night before lain on one side of_Fathina, while he, Ben Aoufi, was on the other side of her. He used, indeed, terms which we cannot repeat. Their quarrel became desperate, but they were separated by their friends. From that day Ben Aoufi became inveterate against both his wives, but particularly against Faili ma. One day he determined to kill h er w ith a k n if e, b ut be was deterred from doing this by the supplica tions of his mother, who represented that Patlima was with child. About a fortnight before the murder, the Marabouts, or priests of their religion, endeavoured to reconcile Ben Aoufi and Ben Rehah, and for a moment the former seemed to yield ; but his jealousy returned upon him with greater force. He every evening locked his door and carried the key about his person, depositing it at night under his pillow, sleeping between his two wives. A negro, named Mobarek Ben Mokear, became a marked obj. et of his suspicions, believing that he afforded Ben Rebah opportunities for approaching Fat hma. In the evening of July 28, he felt per suaded that his wives took the key of their room from him. He made a terrible scene, and went to bed almost in a state of frenzy. The next morning, Fathma rose before daylight, and having performed her ablutions, bent herself with her head to the ground in prayer. He, hearing her, sprung also from the bed, and reproached her with infamous conduct. She protested her innocence, and he, having ascertained that there was no strange person in the room, anti that the door was still locked, went out to perform his ablutions. Returning, and find ing her in the same attitude, he took up a log of' wood, and beat her with it on the head until she expired, notwithstanding his mother, who was present, did all in her power to p-eify his rage, in fact, was so ungovernable, that he male a blow with the log at his other wife ; lut the avoided it, and it fell upon a female sli.ve who was near her. At this moment the negro Mobarek Ben Mokear crossed his path, and was knocked down by him. Believing he had killed him, Ben Aoufi exclaimed, " I have but an ether to destroy, and then I shall be at rest." This was Ben Rebah, and he was going out in search of him, when the concierge of the fort, hearing the noise, arrived at the moment and stopped him. While being taken to the prison he struck an Arab who was in his way on the face with the log, which he still re tained. At his previous examinations he acknowledged his crime, but stated that he was under the i n fl uence o f a frightful dream, and when he woke he believed he heard the rattling of keys. On being interrogated in court, however, he changed his tone, and, insistin that Fathma had violated the law, her hour, he said,g was come, and the Prophet allowed him to kill her. After the examination of some of the witnesses, Ben Rebah was called, and gave an account of the quarrel between him and the prisoner in the Mosque, and partly admitted his having thrown imputations on the fidelity of the two wives, but greatly softened the language said to have been used by hi m . H e gav e an account of the reconciliation between him and Ben Aoufi, in consequence of the desire of the commandant of the fort that they should live together in peace. He stated that they met at a religious festival, and being seated at the same repast they reciprocally put into the mouth of each other, in sign of oblivion of the past, a small quantity of vermicelli, and the wit ness by desire of the Marabouts, as being the youngest, first kissed the head of Ben Aoufi in sign of amity. lie protested that he had never had any intimacy with Fathma, and he said what he did because Ben Aoufi had provoked him by first saying that his own wife, who remained in Africa, led a disorderly life with the French soldiers. Ben Aoufi insisted that the evidence of Ben Rebah was false, and affirmed that. Fathma, having deeply insulted him for the scandal he had thrown upon her, by avowing her in discretion, he had caused her to he killed by the negro named Mobarek. In the course of the exami nations, the President of the Court cited passages from the Koran, contradicting the assertion of Ben Aoufi that he was authorised by the Law of the Pro phet to kill his adulterous wife. At the conclusion of the evidence the Procureur du Poi delivered his requisitory, and the counsel for Ben Aoufi replied. The President tlult asked the prisoner if he had anything to add in his defence. Ben Aoufi required that his judgment should be post poned. Being told that this was impossible according to the course of justice in France, he asked that his mother might be allowed to sit by him while his sen tence was pronounced. The President refused, say ing that an innocent person could not be placed on the bench with one under accusation of crime. Ben Aoufi then turned to the interpreter, and said, " If I am condemned to death, pray that I may be buried according to my religion." The President then summed up, and the jury withdrew. After three-quarters of an hour they returned with their verdict, and at the entrance all the Arabs rose from their crouching position, and from their white burnous, seen by the dimlight of evening (it being near six o'clock), they looked like so many ghosts rising from their graves. The jury negativeil the question of murder, but declared tLe prisoner guilty of giving blows and wounds causing death, but without premeditation, and also found that there were extenuating circumstances. The sentence pro nounced by the Court was four years' imprisonment. On hearing this judgment, Ben Aoufi said that it was too much for him to bear. But he retired smiling ; for, although he had been repeatedly told that he could not be condemned to death, he was always con vinced that that would be his fate. When the Pre,i dent went to the prison after his condemnation, he and his mother both expressed their gratitude for the leniency which had been shown to them. We understand that at the Privy Council to be held by her Majesty at Windsor Castle to-morrow, • proclamation will be Agreed upon for the proroguing Parliament from Thursday, the 12th of December, to Tuesday, the 4th of February, then to meet for the dis eyenngt,., M according .P. , to a dis patch of business.—Evening paper of yest er d ay . At r 2 en i t ., a a u n d d it 3 , ( :N l. l l r 7.e . 1 I 3 . re duction th o e f last 101., 0 exigencies of his tenantry. Count de Kalnoki, Count Neiney, and Baron Van genheim, arrived in London y esterday afternoon, by the General Steam Navigation Company's steam-ship Earl of Liverpool, from Ostend. DEATH OF SIR A W. CAI.LCOTT, R.A.—This RR complished artist died at his residence at Kensington Gravel-pits, on Monday last, in his Gsth year. He was the son of T. Calleott, Esq., by the daughter of Wall, Esq., of Kensington. Married, 1824, the daughter of Ezar-Admiral G. Dundas, sad relict of eqtaiLl Tilollllls Graham, R.N.