The Sun. — London, England, 1853-01-06 00:00:00

LITERATURE. CHRISTMAS BOOKS. Love in the Moon ; a Poem, with Remarks on that Luminary. By Patrick Scott, author of " Lelio." Taylor, Walton, and Maberly. The author of " Lelio " has here given evidence that his powers of fancy are of no mean order— they even extend to the verge of extravagance. As a playful extravaganza, however, this elegant little volume, with its cover of cerulean blue, illumined by a golden moon, comes appropriately among the Christmas books. The prefatory remarks contain some interesting scientific particulars respecting the actual condition of the moon as known to astrono mers, but the moon of the poem is of a somewhat different nature. The scene of action is the hemi sphere not turned towards the earth, consequently it is not within the power of Arago or Lord Rosse to gainsay the suppositions of Mr. Scott. On that distant lunar hemisphere we are to believe that human beings exist, and hence this episode of " Love in the Moon," seeing that, according to the happy fancy of Mr. Scott, " Where there's Life, there must be Love." But we shall not introduce these lunatics to our readers, furthermore than to say that their names are Lunari,- and Argentine, and that, unlike the in habitants of our world, their bodies are contained within their souls ! Having said this it is needless to repeat that the poem is purely an extravaganza, and we are inclined to think that Mr. Scott might have turned his powers of fancy to better purpose. The Inn by the Sea-side. An Allegory. By Anna Harriet Drury:, Pickering. We have on other occasions noticed some of Miss Drury's excellent works--her beautiful tale of Eastbury, and her most charming story of "Friends an d Fortune s _.one of the most charming books of its kind that we are acquainted with. This Christmas, we have no story from her pen ; but in its stead, however, she gives us an all egor y—a most felicitous example of that effective mode of truth-telling. The " Vision of Mirza " a n d others of the kind, have been familiar to us ;11 from childhood. Of a kindred spirit is this truth ful description of that Inn by the Sea-side, in which, travellers all, we make our passing abode, entering either by the Gate of Thorns, the Gate of Oak, the Flowery Porch, or the Princely Archway, but all leaving it by the same dark portal. For getting that they were travellers bound on a far journey, the visitors of this Inn too often forgot that it was not their abiding place, and the sum mons of departure continually found them with their travelling garments unprepared, and their reckoning not paid. The Picture Pleasure-Book. Addey. As a Christmas-box, or New-Year's gift, for the inhabitants of the nursery, we are satisfied that no book or toy can surpass in attractions this most attractive Pleasure-book. It has been making its appearance with the magazines for some months past in folio numbers, containing some half dozen pages of pictures, for the moderate price of six pence. One volume is now complete, • and that volume, or even one of the monthly numbers, will afford immeasurable delight to little folks. Children so love " a story and " a picture ;" and the beauty of this work is, that its pictures tell their own stories, and, moreover, they are for the most part reprints from good drawings—a most important matter, seeing that the unformed taste of children should be early accustomed to good designs. These pictures, as works of art, are excellent, and their selection will, we are confident, give pleasure to those for whom they are provided. Sketches of various animals, and representations of little do mestic scenes and adventures are the chief subjects, and sometimes a whole nursery tale is narrated in successive pictures. Some of these are admirable. Arbell : A Tale for Young People. By Jane Winnard Hooper, author of the " Recollections of Mrs. Anderson's School." Addey, Old Bond- street. This is a most desirable book for young people, and it is likely to prove serviceable to them, as it represents, in life-like manner, what would be disregarded in a series of reflections. The good character of the little heroine is made the subject of deserved eulogium, and it is especially pointed out that she could never by her own efforts have become what she was. After years of careful training, Miss Travers was enabled to rejoice in the results of the labour of love in which she had been sedulously engaged. Arbell was an orphan, thrown on her bounty, the child of an old friend. Neglected by all her rich relatives ' deserted by her friends, the poor mother, as a last resource, sought out her old playmate Miss Travers, and her dying prayer was answered. Her daughter was warmly welcomed to her new home. In that peaceful re treat she passed a happy childhood. Georgy Cas tellan, the great friend of our heroine, was a very pleasing girl : her disposition contrasted well with that of Arbell. She was perfectly natural—a merry, thoughtless girl, yet notwithstanding evincing some times great powprs of boservation and judgment. The most interesting part of the story is when the time of trial comes, when Arbell is introduced to her grandfather, who, struck by her appearance, offers to make her his heiress. However, his kind ness does not extend to the true friend who had guarded so well the early years of his grand daughter. In the following scene Arbell declares her intentions :—" Come here, I have something to say to you, and I must say it quickly, for I am in a hurry," said her grandfather. " You are my grand-daughter, and I intend to make you my heiress, and will take you home to live with me immediately. You understand that. Now, then, I should like to pay back to this schoolmistress, who has taken care of you since your infancy, all the money which she has spent on your account. I should like her to be paid double the usual price foy pupils. Sit down, and calculate how much that will be." Arbell felt the blood mount into her cheeks. She was indignant and deeply pained. " What is the matter ?" asked her grand father. "Can you not calculate a simple sum of that kind, my dear ?" " No, Sir," she replied, losing all fear in the strength of her indignation, and then finding the words come easily enough, so that she was astonished afterwards ; I cannot calculate the sum of what I owe to the lady who has been mother, father, and all relations to me. You can't do it. No one can do it ; and if you could calculate it, I should deserve never to have a friend any more, if I insulted her by offer ing to pay it in money. You cannot pay for her love and kindness to me, but I will pay her in gra titude. I would rather go back to her, and work for her when she is old, than I would be your heiress, and send her the money she has willingly spent for me since I was taken in charity into her house." The astonishment of General Dudley at this speech from a little, gentle, loving girl, can scarcely be described. After looking at her for a few moments, he burst into an ungovernable rage. Reveries of a Bachelor; or, a Book of the Heart, By Ik. Marvel. Bogue. Whether or not the first title of this book be cor rect we cannot say; but, assuredly, the second is rightly bestowed. It is a book of the heart, full to overflowing with genial sympathy and home affection. The playful fancy of the style only en hances the deep feeling that lies beneath. The bachelor, by his lonely fireside; indulges in solemn reveries, and allegories, and castle-building. First musing over a wood-fire, the " smoke" suggests a vision of " doubt," the succeeding " blaze" inspires " cheer," and then follows " ashes" and " desola tion;" the visionary home is despoiled of its trea sures, the ideal wife and children are in the grave; and so naturally, so pathetically is the loss imagined, that we can readily understand him rousing from his dream, thanking God the sad picture is not a reality. Yet more charming is the comparison of the two hearts symbolised by the sparkling, deceptive sea coal, and the steadfast glowing Anthracite, and yet more delightful is THE BACHELOR'S VISIONARIHOME. " From my soul I pity him whose soul does not leap at the mere utterance of that name. A home ! it is the bright, blessed, adorable phantom, which sits highest on the sunny horizon that girdeth Life! When shall it be reached ? When shall it cease to be a glittering day dream, and become fully and fairly yours ? " It is not the house, though that may have its charms ; nor the fields carefully tilled, and streaked with your own footpath s ; nor the trees, though their shadow be to you like that of a great rock in a weary land ; nor yet is it the fireside, with its sweet blaze-play ; nor the pictures which tell of loved ones ; nor the cherished book ; but, more far than all these —it is the PRESENCE. The Lares of your worship are there ; the altar of your confidence there; the end of your worldly faith is there ; and adorning it all, and sen di n g your blood in passionate flow, is the ecstasy of the conviction that there, at least, you are beloved ; that there you are understood ; that there your errors will meet ever with gentlest forgiveness ; that there your troubles will be smiled away ; that there you may unburden your soul fearless of harsh, nnsympathising ears ; and that there you may be entirely and joyfully yourself !" In the Third Reverie, a cigar " lighted with a coal," " with a wisp of paper," and " with a match," sug gests appropriate reflections on different manner s o f affection ; and the Fourth Reverie, the longest, is in the form of a complete history — very charmi ng through out, but especially the concluding portion. The glimp ses of domestic life in its happiest phase, and the tenderly-tou c hi ng allusion to the dea th of the little child , is sufficeni to entitle its author to call his ,4 A Book of the Heart." As such, we cordially commend it. It will give pleasure to all who appreciate genuine feeling, The Poet's Dream ; a Tale of Christmas. }jou'. ston and Stoneman. A tale exemplifying the efforts, ~,,isfortnnes, and disappointments of an author. It tak es it s title from a dream or vision of the poet, which has some resemblance to the dream of Taby Veck in " The Chimes," in which he seems to live a whole life of sorrow, suffering, and despair. The style shows great ability, as the following extract will prove. The hero in his dream meets with a spirit, who shows him the two Temples of Fame and of Oblivion : " He found himself in a Temple of such immensity as the wildest conceptions of human fancy never pictured—a Temple whose roof was supported on pillars of such colossal magnitude that their summits were lost in impenetrable gloom, while on every side appeared endless avenues of dreary vastness, and the boundless receptacles and maga zines of ages, wherein were stored all the Forgotten of the Past. Here were deposited in promiscuous assemblage the forms of enormous and now unknown animals, of every monstrous and horrible shape—of singular and gigantic trees and other vegetable products which in successive eras, and through countless durations, have germinated, flour ished, and disappeared from the pre-Adamite earth. Here, too, were ranged the remains of architecture, from the in cipient and crudest erection of a barbaric age, to the pala tial magnificence of later years, with coeval relics of primi tive history. Here, too, were records of the ancient Egyp tian, Assyrian, Chinese, and Indian dynasties, and of im memorial nations who have not left even a name to indi cate their former existence ! Here, too, were deposited noble and exalted works of art, groups ofr statuary, gigan tic erections, exquisite paintings, immense engines of war fare, and military trophies and remains of kingly splendour, p o mp, and magnificence. Here, too, were to be seen in numerable idols and other objects of ? superstitions venera tion, the silent and mouldering witnesses of the debasing vanity of man ! Here, too, were domestic and warlike im plements, reared side by side, mechanical contrivances, and everything characteristic of a savage and civilised life, of every age, nation, and clime—everything that science could discover, that art could invent,. that luxury could suggest, and that necessity could require, was to be found in this immense storehouse of unrecorded Time ! In addition to all that the eye had seen, the ear had heard, and the hand had done, were lidless coffins with their ghastly tenants exposed to view, who comprised the dead of every age, race, sex, and station, from the haughty monarch—who had swayed his kingdom with the ambitious pride of power, whose end was the grave and an oblivious death—to the humble peasant, who knew of no to-morrow, and lived only in his little present ; from the aged monarch to the tender infant ; from the man of genius to the untutored boor; and from the polished beauty to the repulsive savage ! Amidst the bewilderment of this wondrous scene, and the infinite diversity of dim objects which surrounded Rob, and oppressed him with a painful sense of overwhelming vastness, were piles of innumerable volumes of ancient and forgotten records of men's thoughts and inventions. All, all, however, were fast hastening to dissolution. The worms and moths and other creeping things were preying on the ruins and mouldering forms of a departed life ; whilst rust and decay, the sure and silent followers of ne glect, were stamping the impress of eternal doom on the noblest and most enduring monuments of nature and art." A Day of Pleasure. By Mrs. H. Myrtle. Illus trated by Hablot K. Browne. Addey, Old Bond- street. Mrs. Harriet Myrtle's works are well known to juvenile readers. They are chiefly suited to the very young, being written in a simple and pleasing style, easy of comprehension. The present describes very naturally a child's adventures and mishaps during one day, on which, being his birthday, he has many unusual indulgences. It is very ably illustrated by Hablot K. Browne. The Adventures of a Bear. By Alfred Elwes. Illustrated by Harrison Weir. Addey, Old Bond-street. We here meet with a very pleasing revival of the fables of bygone days. The hero, a very cross, ill tempered bear, quarrels with his family, and starts out in the world by himself to make his fortunes. But his only talent consisted in marring his own fortunes, and others too. He tried several plans, but the foundations were all ill laid, and they soon crumbled away. He inhabited Caneville, a town set apart for animals, very amusingly described, and here he set up as a conjuror, with a learned pig, attended by a diminutive bull-dog. After ill-tempered. In success, the bear became idle and In a quarrel he killed his confederate, seized his riches, and lived in great style, under an assumed name, in a new part of the town. But soon he grew extravagant, and ruin overtook him. After a thousand adventures, all alike com menced in treachery, and closed in shame, he was cast into prison ; from there he escaped, planned to rob a house, but was made blind by the sharp claws of the vigilant porter, an old cat ; he rushed away, and was discovered by the officers in a pool of water, trying to soothe his intolerable fever. They allowed him to wander about, considering him harmless ; and after many sufferings from the gibes and insults of the town wits, who knew him well, he died of want and disease. There are nine illustrations, admirably done, to represent his devious course ; they exhibit great skill, and add to the amusement here found for all young readers. Ridden Treasures. By Frederick Hardman. This is a very interesting little story for the young, and it conveys a useful moral also, for it advocates the principles of integrity and rectitude. The foundations of the plot are afforded by the cir cumstances of the German ivar with France, during which a private soldier secured, after a battle, some chests of treasure belonging to his king. He was pursued by the French, but contrived to escape them, and for security buried his prize in the earth by a ruined castle in the forest, these to remain till happier times should enable him to restore them to his master. Connected with this incideut the other personages of the story are introduced, and the character of the young Count is very well drawn. His mother and himself were driven from their castle, through fraud and treachery, and they had to wait long years before they could reinstate themselves in their rights. Nor was it till the ter mination of the war that the old Hermann was enabled to restore to his monarch the long-lost, faithfully-guarded treasure. Thus truth and honour triumphed after many trials. The Unseen Hand. By the Rev. Stopford J. Wane. Whittaker. This little work is entitled " Events in an Event ful Life." 'lt has for its motto— " There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough hew them as we will." This sufficiently describes the whole scheme of the composition, for it adheres strictly to the text. It is an admirable monitor to the vain and trifling. It conveys; also, a solemn warning to those who tempt themselves and others in the way of wrong. The hero is actuated by the best of feelings, but his actions were not in accordance with his desires ; but at last, after many sufferings, he is led into the right path. While this work points out the influence of the Spirit, it does not, in the least, in cline to fatalism or superstition ; on the contrary, it clearly shows that the effort must be made by man before grace will be given. The tale is sim ple, but very pleasing, and doubtless many will be entertained, as well as instructed, by its perusal. THE FATAL RA IL WA Y _ACCIDENT NEAR OXFORD. CORONER'S INQUEST. OXFORD, WEDNESDAY EVENING.—The inquest on the bodies of the eight unfortunate victims of the lament able catastrophe which occurred to the down train of the London and North-Western Railway, when approaching this city on Monday evening last, was commenced this forenoon, at the Star Hotel, Corn Market-street, before Mr. Brunner, coroner for the district of the a eity of Ox ford, and a respectable jury. Mr. G. P. Hester, solici tor and town clerk of Oxford, appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the railway company; and Mr. Hayes, of the firm of Parker, Hayes, and Co., solicitors to the company, was also in attendance. Mr. Bruyeres, superintendent of the line, and Mr. M'Connell, super intendent of the locomotive department, were also pre sent to afford every facility to the jury and the coroner in the prosecution of their inquiry. Mr. Mallam, soli citor, also appeared on behalf of Mr. Alfred Blott, sta tion-master at Oxford; and, in the course of the proceed ings, Capt. Wynne, the Government inspector, entered the room, and remained during the rest of the sitting. The jury having been duly sworn. The Coroner briefly addressed them, calling attention to the importance of the melancholy task which de volved upon them. No doubt there would be a great number of witnesses brought before them, and it was desirable that—as had been done formerly in the Bices- case—they should confine themselves, first, to tak ng the evidence which could be given by parties who certainly could speak from a knowledge of the facts, but who at the same time could not be supposed to be re sponsible for the management of the line, as it might happen, although he did not know that it would, that the course of the inquiry would show that certain officers of the company were to blame. He was sure, however, that the jurors would dismiss all extraneous circum stances and all prejudices from their minds, and would spare no pains or time in thoroughly, investigating the cause of the calamity, and endeavouring to arrive at a conclusion which might be satisfactory to the public. He might observe that one of the bodies, that of Samuel Wilcox, a stoker, was lying at the Radcliffe Infirmary. The name of the woman who had been killed by the accident had been mistaken for Caroline Davis, whereas her real name was _Julia Norman. There were two bodies which had not yet been identified, besides which were the bodies of the two drivers and the two stokers, which lay at the public-house in Horse and Jockey-lane. The jury had better first go to view the bodies, and afterwards inspect the scene of the accident ; and he had no doubt that the engineers of the railway company would furnish them with a map of the part of the line between Islip and Oxford, in order to aid them in arriv ing at a perfect knowledge of all the circumstances bear ing on the inquiry. _ _ The jury then proceeded to view the bodies, and also the part of the line at which the catastrophe occurred ; and on their return they were about to call the wit- nesses, when Mr. Mallam applied to the coroner for permission to his client, Mr. Blott, to be present during the investigation. The Coroner—lt would be better that he should not be here. He will, I am sure, be well represented by you, Mr. Mallam. Mr. Mallam—l cannot, sir, be properly instructed without my client. In all courts of justice he is allowed to attend, and to suggest to his attorney matters which it is desirable to get at in evidence. The Coroner—Mr. Blott is one of the responsible-ser vants of the railway company, and assuming that the in quiry should take a turn which should render it necessary for the jury to examine him hereafter, it would be objec tionable that he should be in the room now ; and, on the other hand, if the inquiry should turn against him, it was still more desirable that he should be absent. Mr. Mallam—l only think that his presence would better enable me to discharge my duty ; but I bow, of course, to the coroner's decision. A Juryman—l cannot see, Mr. Coroner, how Mr. Blott will be able to defend himself if he is excluded, should anything be adduced tending to criminate him. Mr. Mallam—l well renew my application at another stage, should it be desirable. The following witnesses were then called in and ex amined : John Smith—l am foreman over the engines and en gine-drivers at the Oxford station of the London and North-Western Railway. I have accompanied the jury this morning to view the bodies. I can identify the body shown to the jury at the Radcliffe Infirmary as that of Samuel Wilcox. He was fireman in the employ of the London and North-Western Railway Company, of engine No. 220. That engine was engaged in bringing a coal train to and from Rugby bo Oxford, on Monday afternoon last. John Lee was the driver of that engine. Lee is here. I also identified the body of John Tarry, engine-driver ; it lies at the Saddler's Arms, St. Giles's. Tarry was attached to engine No. 148, which was ap pointed to take the passenger train to Oxford, at 5.30, p.m., on Monday. Another of the bodies was that of Robert Bagden, fireman to that engine. He lies at the same place. I was not at the station when that engine started. It was not my duty to see the train start. Jo seph Kinch was guard of that train. I identified, also, the body of Thomas Landon, fireman to engine No. 124, which engine was also attached to the coal train on Mon day last, and it was the foremost engine of the two. Robert Law was the driver of that engine (124). His body lies at the Victoria public-house. Law came from Bletchley with the coal train. No. 220 was the second engine of the coal train. I can't identify either of the bodies. I knew Wilcox, Lee, Tarry, Landon, and Law. I knew nothing of the accident. I went to Bicesterby the four o'clock train on the company's business on Monday. I act under the locomotive department. I have only to see that the engines are in good working order, and that the men are in a proper state before they start. I have not to see the trains start. Any man in an unfit state, or the worse for liquor, would be seen by Mr. Blott, or somebody else at the station. I intended to return to Oxford by the coal train, but my business was not finished when that train came to Bicester ; and so I stayed and returned by the six o'clock train. There are time bills for the coal train. The four o'clock train in which I travelled stopped at Islip, and there I saw the driver of 148 engine. He was bringing the 4.5 pas senger train from Bletchley to Oxford, and his train was waiting for our's to pass. I did not speak to Tarry, but I saw him on his engine. I was on the other engine. He came to Islip at 4.15. I have known Tarry for four or five years as a driver, and never saw him the worse for liquor. When he got to Oxford, he would have first to turn his engine and take water and coke if required, and then to " shunt" his train from one side of the station to the other, which duties would take him about half an hour, and he had to leave again at half-past five. From about the 15th of last month there has been only one line of rails from Islip to Ox ford. The whole of the passenger traffic has been con veyed upon this one line of rails. We call it the up line. The contractors for the tunnel at Wolvercot had the sole use of the down-line. They used it for the conveyance of stone, ballast, and water, between Islip and Oxford. By a Juror—There was nobody on whom any res ponsibility would rest in my absence, as regards seeing that Tarry was in a sober state for the half hour that he would have to spare after " shunting" his engine. I had seen Tarry on Monday, at five minutes before 10 a.m. I also saw him at 12, but subsequent to that I had no conversation with him. When I saw him.afterwards at Islip I did not speak to him, but he was on his engine, and I was satisfied that he was in a fit state for his duty. By another Juror—l know of my own knowledge that on two occasions the 5.30 passenger train from Oxford left the station before the coal train had come in. In one of these instances two of the waggons of the coal train had gone off the line, and the circumstance was telegraphed to Oxford. I know of no other occa sion of the passenger train leaving before the coal train came in. There is a coal train due every night in the week except Sunday, at 5.20, at Oxford. I repeat that I do not know that there is any person in particular upon whom my responsibility would devolve in my absence from the Oxford station ; but I should think any of the policemen would take notice if the men were the worse for liquor. The witness then withdrew. John Lee examined—l am a driver in the employ of the London and North-Western Company, and have the care of engine No. 220, which was at work on Monday from Bletchley to Rugby, and from Rugby to Oxford with a coal train. From Rugby to Bletchley there was only my engine attached to the coal train ; but from Bletchley to Oxford there was a second engine (No. 124), which Landon drove. We started at ten minutes past three p.m. from Bletchley, which was about twenty or twenty-five minutes behind time. We should have left at 2.45. We took on the other engine because the train was so heavy. The train comprised 54 waggon loads of coal, and a break waggon, besides the two en gines and two tenders. We stopped at Winslow, Bices ter, Islip, and Banbury-road stations. When we arrived at the Islip station I asked the policeman if it was all right to go on, and he said that it was. We might have stopped for seven or ten minutes at Islip. We there crossed on to the up line—that was in consequence of some works going on at the Wolvercot tunnel. Almost. every day since the 15th November last I had driven along this line in consequence of these works. I never left Islip for Oxford without learning from the policeman that the line was clear. Our time-bill states that the coal train was due at 5.5 p.m. at Banbury-road. There is a telecrraphic communication between Islip and Ox ford. We stopped at the Banbury-road station, where we saw a green or caution signal shown, and we went along slowly, at the rate of five to six miles an hour, till we came to the tunnel, and we went through the tunnel at about four miles an hour. After we got through the tunnel we increased the speed to about seven or eight miles an hour. I know it as an incline from the tunnel to Oxford. I was driving the second engine at this time ; and when we had got within seventy or eighty yards from the wooden bridge leading to Port Meadow, we saw the lights of an approaching passenger train. At first I was not sure that it was a second train, but I looked again, and being satisfied that it was a train, I immediately jumped off. We were then going at about six miles an hour. We were slackening speed again before we saw the train coming. I set open my whistle before I jumped off. I called out to my fire man that the train was coming, and told him to jump off. His name is Samuel Wilcox. He told me after J the accident that he did not hear me call to him. I fell on the left side of the line, and before I got up the ac cident had occurred. It was a collision between the 5.30 train and the coal train. All three of the engines were thrown off the line. The three tenders were also thrown off the line, and both trains were brought to a stand-still. As soon as I got up, I could not see for a moment, on account of the steam blowing off. It was on the Oxford side of the wooden bridge that I jumped off. When the steam cleared I went to my engine, and found Wilcox lying hurt on the foot-plate of it. My engine was not overturned. I could not tell how he was injured, but I saw him taken to the infirmary. Be fore he was taken there I saw him alive, and asked him if he was very much hurt, and he said that he was, but he could not tell me how. He was unable to speak any more. He only asked me to take care of him, and I said that I would. I then went to the passenger car riages, and I found two of them upset ; the one was a ftecond, and the other a third-class carriage. I helped to get the passengers out of the broken carriages. We picked up a man and a woman, who were both dead. I did not hear any signal from the passenger train, not even at the time when I saw the lights. If there had been any whistle, very likely I should not have heard it. The whole of the traffic between Oxford and Islip is now carried over one line of rails. When a coal train comes into Oxford we go on to the same line where the passengers have their tickets taken, and then we move off the main line to the left on a sid ing. I have no instructions to go and report the arrival of a coal train to the station-master, and I don't know whether the breaksmen have such instructions. There was a green light in front of our first engine, and a white light on the left side of the tender. There were blue coloured lights at each side of the break van at the end of our train. I saw two white lights on the passenger train that was approaching us, the one was on the buffer of the engine, and the other was on the side of the ten der. It was not quite a mile from the station to the point where the accident happened. Since there has been but a single line between Islip and Oxford I have known the 5.30 passenger train to leave Oxford before the coal train arrived. Once I waited at Islip until it came up, and once I passed it between Islip and Bices ter. I was stepped at Islip on that occasion by the policeman on duty. He told me that the passenger train had left Oxford. He had got that information by the telegraph I suppose. I cannot understand how the passenger train should have come on when we had our lights on. It was quite contrary to rule. The passen ger trains have white lights, and goods or coal trains green lights. There is a signal at the iron swing-bridge, and also an auxiliary signal post about 200 yards up the line beyond the ticket platform. There is no other sig nal between the wooden bridge and the Banbury-road station. The auxiliary signal is seen from a consider able distance when a train is coming from the Wolver cot tunnel. I cannot tell whether the passenger train had reached the auxiliary signal when I first saw it. I was looking for the auxiliary signal when the light of the train attracted my attention. This witness's examination was here concluded.. Mr. Hester=Now we propose, Mr. Coroner, to put in the Oxford station-master's evidence. The Coroner—My duty, as the officer of the Crown, is not to have Mr. Blott examined at present. Mr. Hester—We consider Mr. Blott's evidence the best evidence ; and it is only like beating about the bush to seek for all this imperfect evidence, when there is direct evidence ready to be adduced, but it is not ad mitted. Mr. Mallam—lt appears to me that the exclusion of Mr. Blott's evidence bears this construction, that there is a foregone conclusion that this gentleman is in some way responsible. The Coroner—l am satisfied that my course is the right one, and I feel that I shall be upheld by the public in refusing to take Mr. Blott's evidence first. Wm. Hayes examined—l am foreman of porters and ticket collector at the Oxford station. My duty is to see that the carriages are all marshalled ready for tra velling, and that the porters at the station are at their posts. It is part of my duty to be on the platform at the starting of every train, and I am provided, like all the other servants, with a printed book of instructions for my guidance. By those rules it is the guard's duty to give the signal to start the trains by whistling to the driver. There is a whistle provided for the purpose. The drivers of the train are therefore subject to the direction and the control of the guards. The guard, before starting, ascertains from the station-master or myself that all is ready for starting. I was on the platform on Monday evening when the 5.30 train should have started. I knew that a coal train was due at 5.20, and I was aware that it had not arrived at Oxford. I have general orders from the station-master to ascertain that the coal train is clear of the line before the 5.30 train leaves the platform. To ascertain that, it is necessary that I should go near to the swing-bridge to see that the coal train stands clear of the up-line. I left the platform on Monday night to ascertain that, and while I was near the bridge, I saw a ballast train come over the bridge and go into a siding on the coal wharf side. I knew from a telegraphic communication that the coal train had left Islip, and I ascertained that it had not arrived at the platform. I had my proper lamp with me. I returned towards the ticket platform, and just before I got to the platform, I heard the driver's whistle and saw the passenger train in motion. I had not heard the guard's whistle. I called out to stop, a's loud as I could, but the driver was blowing off his steam from the waste pipe, and that would prevent him from hearing. The lamp that I had was not a signal lamp, it was a lamp to light me up the line. As the train was going off I called to the guard and told him that the coal train had not come in ; that it was the ballast train that had come in, and the guard instantly put on his break. The guard was in the last carriage, and he would natu rally hear me last. The train went out very fast. It started about 7 minutes beyond its proper time (5.30). I had seen the driver on his engine about 28 minutes after 5 o'clock, and before his train started. His name is Tarry. He appeared sober, and I told him that the coal train had left Islip nearly half an hour, and I also told him that he could not leave until after the coal train had arrived. He said, " Can't we go, then, till that comes in ? " and I said, " Certainly not." I examined the passengers' tickets, and spoke to Kinch (the guard), and told him the coal train had left Islip half an hour, and that his train must not go on. I am sure that both Tarry and Kinch understood that they could not go till the train came in ; and Kinch said, "Would it not be better for the driver to open his whistle ?" but I said, " The line will not be clear while the red signal is on the bridge." I saw the red signal was on at the bridge. That was before I left the platform. The red signal was on at the time the train started. It was plainly to be seen from the platform. As soon as I found the train in motion I ran to the policeman (Hareby) on the line, and told him to show his red signal. He did so. The train had passed when he held it up, but the guard be ing at the end of the train might have seen it. The red signal at the swing-bridge was turned off before the train reached it, for the driver had blown his whistle twice. The whistle was used to call the attention of the guard or the policeman, or any other servant that might be on the line.. The policeman on the line (Bonham) turned off the red signal, which signifies "danger" and " stop," and it would be the duty of a driver not to proceed with his train when such a signal was up. The green signal was turned on when the red one was taken off. The green means " caution," and " proceed slowly." I had no other means of preventing the train from go ing on except those I resor t e d t o . I tried all that I could to stop it, because I was quite certain there must be a collision. Mr. Blott was at the station at the time. He was there from three o'clock until seven. At five n o o'clock e a al. trainegraphic message came from Islip to kw if the 0 might come on, and I asked Mr. Blott, and he said "Yes ; it may come on immediately," and that answer was sent back to Islip. I left no direc tionssee if the coal train was coming in. I was gone from thepla w t i f t o h aboutanrmybody whilst I went from the platform to four or five minutes. The double line is worked between the entrance of the station and the platform. I ascertained that it was the ballast train and not the coal train that had come in by the difference of the lights, and by seeing one of the contractors' men (Mr. Smith) alighting. The passenger-train consisted of one third-class carriage, next the tender ; one second class, adjoining the third-class ; one first-class, and the guard's break. There were twenty-one passengers booked by this train. There were no first-class passen gers ; but all were second and third class. I think the greater number were third-class passengers. There was no other person on the engine but Tarry and Bugden. As soon as the train had started I saw Mr. Blott, who was running towards the train. He asked, " Who started the train ?" I said " I don't know, I did not, I tried to stop it.' Mr. Blott and myself ran on, following the train, and told the policeman to put on the red signal, which he did. He waived the red signal. I and Mr. Blott still followed the train in the direction of the scene of the accident. I did not hear the collision, but I dreaded it. I know of no audible signal by which the guard could communicate the danger to the driver. The drivers are under the orders of the guards ; but a red light is a positive order to either guard or driver to stop. A Juror—The question is which is paramount, the red light or the guard's order ? The Coroner—A red light is an order to everybody. By Mr. Mallam—The coal train having been tele graphed from Islip half an hour before the passenger train was to start, the former train had time to come in before the 5 . 30 started, because it takes half an hour by the time table for the coal train to travel between Islip and Oxford. The Foreman —Yes, it would just have time, but not a minute to spare. The Coroner—W e cannot discuss that point now. The examination of the witness Hayes was here brought to a close ; and the jury then adjourned the inquiry till half-past ten o'clock this (Thursday) morning. BENEFICES.—A parliamentary paper which has just been issued contains several abstracts from the latest re turns made by the archbishops and bishops in pursuance of 1 and 2 Vic., (3. 156, sec. 53. From these it appears that the total number of benefices in England and Wales was 11,728 in 1E350, and upon 8,214 of these there was a glebe house. It a lso appears that 6,132 clergymen were resident in. the respective parsonage houses, 664 in the houses appointed by the bishop in his license, and 1,218 within the limits of the benefice, there being no Parsonage hous e ; making the total number resident 8,077 . The tobal nnmber exempted from residence was 1,361 ; but o f t hese 329 performed the d ut i es o f th e i r parishes. The principal grounds of exemption are resi dence in other benefices, official chaplaincies, and offices and masterships in the universities and public schools. The e number e3zemp t e d b y li cense, on th e ground of infir mity: and oth er causes , was 674, o f w hom 176 were . th ing license duty in theiror exemption ar i s h e s . 917,0 f Number whom were w th o the dutie s i n th e i r par i s h es. Th e n umber of sequestra tions doing was 51 ; and from 357 benefices no return was re ved. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY—JAN. 5. (Before Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque.) IN RE LORD HUNTINGTOWER. Mr. Bennett made an application to the Court under the following circumstances :—His client (Mr.. Hume) was engaged in a Chancery suit connected with this bankruptcy. In 1849, 1850, and 1851 he was examined in this Court. The evidence referred to transactions extending over a period of nine or ten years past, and he wished to be now furnished with a copy of the deposi tions then given. It was impossible for any witness to recollect minutely what he had stated under such cir cumstances, and he trusted that the Court would grant a copy of the depositions ; of course at the expense of Mr. Hume. Mr. Nias, for the assignees, resisted the application. If there had been a delay in giving the evidence, that delay had been occasioned by Mr. Hume himself. The assignees had for several years sought to procure Mr. Hume's evidence touching a great quantity of property which he held under trust. They had only at length got at him by the Commissioner of this Court making a summons good when left at Mr. Hume's house. If Mr. Hume had not told the truth then, that was no reason why his memory should be assisted now, and if he had sworn the truth, he could repeat it. If Mr. Hume were allowed to possess a copy of his statements already made, it might be the means of frustrating justice. Mr. Bennett thought Mr. Nias had not correctly re presented the facts of the case. He was not aware that Mr. Hume had avoided the service of a summons of this Court, although he was not able to state that such was not the case. _ _ _ -- - - Mr. Nias repeated that the facts were as he had repre sented them. The Commissioner said that if a man had sworn the truth at one time, he could do so again. He saw no reason to depart from the practice of the Court. The application would be dismissed with costs. Dismissed accordingly. INSOLVENT DEBTORS COURT.—JAN. 5. (Before the Chief Commissioner,) IN THE MATTER OF RICHARD WARD PELHAM. This insolvent, the original Ethiopian, whose case was mentioned on a former occasion, again came before the Court. There was no further opposition offered. The case had been adjourned to insert a residence omitted. The Court named the 26th instant for the final order. • (Before Mr. Commissioner Law.) • IN RE JOHN WOLSEY. This was an application for discharge, on the ground of non-payment of " the sixpences." The insolvent had a judgment of twelve months' imprisonment, at the suit of a gentleman named Dayrell. He made an applica tion for an allowance on account of his poverty. The money had not been paid by the detaining creditor, and hence the present application. Mr. Commissioner Law made the rule absolute for the discharge. IN RE JOHN HENRY CROMWELL RUSSELL. This insolvent had been connected with a railway. The case was partially heard before, and now occupied the whole of the day. The further hearing was adjourned to the Ist Feb. THE SUN, LONDON, TITTIRSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6, 1853, Preciosa. A Tale. John Chapman. This is a volume better suited to those who pre fer thoughtful and reflective works than to the ad mirers of brilliant sketches or lively narratives. But while some may find it tedious, others will be interested in its development of character. Edward Eustace, the hero, notwithstanding his hesitation and melancholy, is more attractive to the reader than Lucy Ledyard, his " Preciosa," who is some what too bold and self-dependent to be altogether pleasing. It is an agreeable little • tale, though partaking too much of the melancholy to suit all tastes. The Charm. Almanac. Addey. An almanac for little readers, by the Editor of the Charm Magazine, embellished with twenty illustrations, for the sum of Spence, containing an almanac of the year, and various information. Grimm's Household Stories. Addey. _ _ The stories of the Brothers Grimm, newly trans lated and adorned with 240 most beautiful illus trations by Viehnert, having been issued in monthly parts, are now complete in two volumes, contain ing an amazing amount of amusing reading matter of interest and matter for laughter. A Hero. By the Author of " Olive," &c. Addey. A tale by the authoress of the " Head of the Family" must always possess sufficient attraction to excite the attention of her readers. The present volume is intended for the young, but'it is not de ficient in entertainment for those more advanced in years. The moral is an excellent one, and one generally much needed by young people, especially school-boys. It shows that the seemingly quiet, unpretending character, frequently contains more of the heroic qualities of self-sacrifice and presence of mind than the reckless and apparently fearless disposition, which, nevertheless, frequently fails in the hour of danger or difficulty. The characters are well drawn, as is always the case with this author, and the little volume contains much to in terest and improve its readers. Aladdin and Sinbad, and Far-famed Tales, Addey. _ _ _ These two little volumes contain some of the chief stories of the " Arabian Nights." These tales, in teresting alike to old and young, need no recom mendation but their juvenile admirers will find this little edition presents them in a new form, easy of attainment. The type is excellent, and we trust Mr. Ackley will complete the series. The Dial of Love. A. Christmas book for the Young. By Mary Tiowitt. Darton and Co. A very pleasing and simple little book, intended for the very -young, who are already so much in debted to Mi 7. Howitt for the charming little t a l es and verses she has given them. It is very taste fully bound, and is well suited for a Christmas gift. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE.—Three men named Ashenford, Rush, and Rogers, were brought before the Lord Mayor, charged upon suspicion of having robbed Mr. George Hiscott, a draper, of Maidstone. Baldwin (of the city police) said—l took the prisoners into custody last night, after twelve o'clock, having heard that a gentleman had been robbed by them in the Walmer Castle public-house in Clement's-lane. I asked Ashenford how much money he had. He replied only a few halfpence, and as we went along towards the station house, seeing him attempt to swallow something, I gripped his throat, and he at once spat out a half-sove reign. I afterwards found in his pockets two sovereigns, two half-sovereigns, and some silver. He threw some halfpence on the ground. Upon Rogers I found U. is. 4d., and upon Rush 2s. 2d. Mr. Hiscott said—l had come to town by rail, and been to the Lyceum Theatre. I met the three prisoners in the street, but I do not know where, and I asked them where I could get a bed. They took me to the Walmer Castle, where I called for drink and treated them. I had previously been drinking, but I found myself so much overcome after I began to treat them, that I consider I must have been drugged. After two of them had gone away, I felt for my money bag and immediately missed it. The contents were between 61. and 71. in gold and silver. The landlord caused the prisoners to be taken into custody. Mr. E. J. Dickenson, the proprietor of the Walmer Castle said—The prisoners, who were known in the neighbourhood as omnibus cads, knocked at my door as I was locking-up, and asked for a bed for the gentle man, and as it was not in my power to accommodate him, requested that I would supply him with refresh ment. I did so, and he treated the prisoners to meat and brandy and gin. He became very tipsy, and as he was about to go missed his money-bag. A friend of mine instantly ran out, and the prisoners, who had left the house in a hurry, were by his instrumentality secured and taken to the station-house. From the statement made by Mr. Dickenson's friend, it was quite evident that Ashenford and Rogers were concerned in robbing the complainant; but the Lord Mayor was not satisfied with the evidence against Rush. His lordship therefore remanded Rush and committed Ashenford and Rogers. George Stouse, one of the servants of Mr. Games, butoher, of Cannon-street, was charged with having robbed his master. Mr. Games said that having suspected the prisoner of dishonesty, he consulted a police-inspector, by whose advice he marked some silver. The silver was subse quently paid by a stranger for a joint of meat to the prisoner, who was not authorised to receive money for the concern, and who pocketed the money. A police man pounced upon him immediately afterwards and took the marked money out of his pocket. The prisoner was remanded. Two poor girls, who had been induced by a French man to go to Rouen, where they were subjected to ill treatment, escaped from his power, and reached South ampton, by the Mayor of which town they had been provided with the means of coming to London on their way to Leeds, their native place, applied to the Lord Mayor in a state of destitution. _ The Lord Mayor directed Scott, one of the active officers of the establishment, to make inquiry into the correctness of the representations made by the unfortu nate applicants and having ascertained that they stated facts which disclosed a condition of great distress, ordered the housekeeper to supply the poor creatures with comforts, and sent them home by the next train to their friends. WORSHIP-STREET.—Mr. Thomas James Johnson, a patent malt manufacturer, in Booth-street, Spitalfields, was charged with an assault of an aggravated description upon a young woman, named Anne Arnold.' The complainant stated that she entered the service of Mr. Tilney, the landlord of the Black Lion, Old Montague-street, Whitechapel, about ten days since, and while seated alone in the bar parlour, between ten and eleven o'clock on New Year's eve, the defendant entered the apartment and inquired if she was the new servant. On her answering in the affirmative, the de fendant remarked, " You have, no doubt, plenty of hard work here, would it not be better to come along with a person like me, and get 21. or 31. rather than remain starving here ?" Witness replied, "No, sir, an honest shilling is worth fifty ill-gotten pounds." The defen dant made no further observation for some minutes, when he asked her if she had ever seen a comet, as there was one visible at that time from the yard, and if she would accompany him there, he would be happy to show it to her. She declined the invitation, and the defendant then left the room, but having occasion, in the perfor mance of her household duties, to proceed shortly after wards into the backyard, he suddenly presented himself and, seizing hold of her, commenced dragging her in the direction of an enclosed skittle ground. She im plored him to let her go, and used her best efforts to re lease herself, but as the defendant pertinaciously retained his hold of her, she raised a loud outcry, which the defendant endeavoured to stifle, by placing his hand upon her mouth. She was then forced in the skittle ground by the defendant, who closed the door, and a violent struggle ensued be- Irween them, in the course of which she fell to the ground. Before she had time to recover her feet, the defen dant knelt down upon her person, and she renewed her cries of " mercy," and " murder," which he again at tempted to suppress in the same manner as before, but she contrived to bite one of his fingers, which compelled him to relinquish his hold, and enabled her to escape out of the place. On reaching the bar parlour, she found no one there but her master, to whom she refrained from communicating the particulars of the attack upon her, as she suspected at the time that he was a party to the outrage. After a short interval, the defendant followed her into the room, and rebuked her in her master's pre sence for having made such a noise, which he said was loud enough to induce people to suppose that the house was on fire. About half an hour afterwards she ap prised one of her fellow-servants of what had occurred, and after acquainting her mistress with the transaction on the following morning, she at once left the house and placed herself under the protection of her friends. Mr. Heritage, who appeared for the defence, said that he was instructed to give a total denial to the accusation, and that he was in a condition to call the landlord of the house, and other persons, who would be able to disprove some material portions of her testimon.y. Mr. Hammill said that the defendant had better re serve his evidence for another tribunal, as he had made r up his mind to send the case before a de positions having been completed, theiuy,nd the adefendant was committed for trial, but the magistrate consented to take bail for his appearance, himself in 801., and two sureties of 401. each. • LAMBETH. —Henry Goodshall Johmson, a person of gentlemanly, and military appearance, who is known as Captainwas placed at the bar before Mr. Johnson, Elliott, on on a charge, as it appeared in the police-sheet, of conspiring • with other persons not at present in cus; tody to cheat a nd defraud Mrs. Sarah Stewart of sever al railway shares, of the value of 1,000 Z., and also with stealing two valuable gold seals, a diamond ring, and other articles, the property of the procecutrix, from her house, No. 20, Brunswick-place, Barnsbury-road, Is lington. Mrs. Stewart, upon being sworn, was examined by Mr. Binns, and stated that she was a widow, and had been so for the last three years, and her house, at 20, Brunswick-place, Barnsbury-road, Islington , being l arger than she required, she let out a part of it to gentlemen, In the month of September last she had a bill in her parlour window of " Apartments to &et." The prisoner called, and having expressed a wish to occupy the draw ing-room and a bed-room, said he should want them for a twelvemonth certain. Witness told him that she was most particular in a reference, oliserving that she might have let them to fifty persons if she was not . so circumspect as to character. The prisoner did not then settle on taking the apartments, but said he should call again, and mentioned a time. On calling a second time, the prisoner apologised for not being able to wait on her at the time he before mentioned, and on this oc casion he engaged the apartments, and gave a reference to the proprietor of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Air street, Regent-street, for his character. In about an hour after, witness, accompanied by her sister, went to the Prince of Wales Hotel. She was answered by a tall, stout female, who had all the appearance of the hostess, and who, in reply to her questions, said that Mr. Johnson had been resident at her hotel for three months, that he was the nephew of Lord Palmerston, and had been always remarkable for his gentlemanly conduct, and had been visited by persons of the highest respectability. She also said he always appeared tp have plenty of money, and paid his way, but she could not, of course, say what his resources were. Witness was so satisfied with the excellent character she gave Mr. Johnson that she told the lady she should like to see him. He came forward, and she told him that the reference was quite satisfactory, and that he might take possession of the apartments as soon as he thought pro per. The prisoner came to her house, and two or three days after he spoke about her family, and appeared i to be well acquainted with them. He also spoke of her brother-in-law, who held a public appoint ment at Trinidad, and said he had been in the habit of meeting her sister in society, and his conduct appeared gentlemanly and agreeable. Notwithstanding the flat tering description she had received of his punctuality in paying his bills, she (witness) did not see any proof or realization of it ; on the contrary, he appeared to have been altogether out of cash, did not think it beneath him to wear the boots and other things belonging to her late husband, and one night, while they were at the theatre, he expressed great fears of being arrested for 10/., and said if he lad that amount it would be of great service to him, as by paying it he would make a friend of an enemy. She (witness), in consequence, gave him a cheque on her banker for 101., and at this time she had a balance at her banker's of 1901. About this time the prisoner had shown her some notes from a person who, he said, was anxious that he should join him in a speculation in working a slate quarry, and represented to her that such an engagement would be most beneficial to him. He also presented to her the note then pro duced, from his uncle, Lord Palmerston, which he said he had received from that nobleman, and of which the following is a copy : " Broadlands, Oct. 12, 1852. "Dear Sir—l have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th inst., and to express my regret that I can not assist you in the matter to which your letter relates, as I have no means of obtaining appointments for anybody. " I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, " H. G. Johnson,'Esq." PAIDIERSTON. His gentlemanly manner, together with his represen tions, which she believed, induced her to give him another cheque on her banker, for 1001., and, in fact, he had the whole of the balance at her bankers (1901.), with the ex ception of 101. _ _ Binns—The prisoner, I believe, paid you marked attentions. Did he not make overtures of marriage to you ? In point of fact, did he not offer you his hand in marriage ? Mrs. Stewart—He did pay° me attentions, and talked about marriage, but I treated it more like a joke. Mr. Binns—He persuaded you to dispose of your shares intthe Brighton, South Coast, and the Eastern Counties Railways, of the value of 1,000/., I believe. Tell his worship about that. _ Mrs: Stewart said that the prisoner said he could place her shares, which were then at her broker's, where they would be much more beneficial to her, and at bet ter interest, besides being more within a focus that would enable her to know her real income. She unfortuately consented to his doing so, and the pri soner wrote a note to her broker, the purport of which was that he should deliver up the shares to him, he pro mising to place the pr ocee d s, w h en so ld , to her (Mrs. Stewart s) account at the London and Westminster Bank. This note witness signed, and her sister accompanied the prisoner to the broker, who delivered up the shares, and the prisoner informed her that they were to be sold on the 18th of November. The prisoner, about the same time, told her that he expected to be paid 2,000/. himself, and this sum he should also pay into the London and Westminster Bank. For the night of the 19th of Nov. the prisoner obtained three tickets for the dress-boxes of the Lyceum Theatre, and pressed witness and her sister to accompany her there. They did so, and in the course of the performance the prisoner addressing them, hoped they would not think it rude his leaving them for a short Vie, adding that the atmosphere, of the theatre was so oppressive as quite to overpower him, and he then left the box, since which time, until giving the charge at the station-house on the night before, she had not seen him. Mr. Binns—He left you very awkwardly placed. I believe you had to borrow from the box-keeper the money for your cab fare home? Mrs. Stewart—We had. Mr. Binns—And what did you discover on reaching home? Witness—We found that Mr. Johnson had been and carried away everything belonging to him, and on the table we discovered the following in his handwriting : "I am off for Brusselles in the greatest hurry. In six days I shall be back. As I know you fret at trifles, I did not go to the theatre to tell you. I shall write on my arrival " H. G. J.' A diligent search was made for him ; but it was not until the afternoon before any tidings could be found of him, and he was then discovered at a house, No. 22, Grosvenor-park, Camberwell. From information which the short interval enabled them to glean, it was ascer tained that he had taken the house, furnished it in a fashionable style, and had a dashingly-dressed female there, who he (Mr. Binns) understood was his wife ; and further, he understood that his apprehension was prin cipally to his changing so many 501. notes in the neigh bourhood, which excited suspicion, and led to inquiry on the part of the police. The prosecutrix denied, in her cross-examination, that she had purchased a gold watch, or made a present of the pin and seals produced. The prisoner, who seemed to treat the matter with the greatest nonchalance, was remanded for a week. HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK.—The official report says the week that ended last Saturday 1,308 deaths were registered in London. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1843-52 the average number was 1,218, which, with a correction for increase of population, becomes 1,340. The deaths returned for last week differ little, therefore, from the estimated amount. At the end of a quarter, as has been shown on former occasions, the weekly account is swelled by more than the just proportion of coroners' cases, a num ber of which occurred at prior dates, but were not for mally registered till last wee k. These consist princi pally of deaths by poison, burns and scalds, hanging and suffocation, drowning, fract ures and wounds ; and in this class 155 cases are enumerated in the present return. Sudden deaths also, comprising cases in which persons have been "f oun d dead," where coroners' juries have been unable to ascertain the cause of death, or where it has been improperly omitted to be recorded, amount this week to 43. There was an increase last week in the mortality both of epidemic diseases and of diseases of the respiratory organs. Fatal cases of scarlatina rose again to 67, and those of typhus to 51. Last week the births of 987 boys and 924 girls, in all 1,911 children, were re gistered in London. In the corresponding weeks of the eight years 1845-52 the average number was 1,522. At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean reading of the barometer on Friday was 30.027 in. ; the mean of the week was 29.643 in. The mean temperature of the week was 47 . 5 deg., which is 16 . 1 deg. above the are -I;eddneges. , day on BM.IO deg.,nd ay ave rage of the same week in ten y ears. The m ean daily temperature was above the avera g e throu g hout the week, and this excess on Sunday do w g. a , was on 11 v 2 12.5 deg., on Tuesday. 5 on Thursday 12 deg., on Friday 9.2 deg., and on Satur• day 12.2 deg. The wind blew generally from the south west. The mean difference between the dew point tem perature and air temperature was 7'4 deg. DISTRESSED NEEDLEWOMEN'S HOME.—The;nanagers of this interesting institution, in their second quarterly report, state the following circumstances, which in them selves, cons tit u te a striking appeal to the sympathies of the benevolent :—" In their last report it was announced that there had been placed upon the books 52 applicants for employment during the quarter. Since then 39 more have applied, making the total 91, and the circumstances in which most of them have been, through want of em ployment, is truly of a distressing character—many of them more distressing than was mentioned in the hest report. The managers would that it were in their power to report that they had been enabled to afford employ.') h wme i their merit to the whole of the 91 applicants ; but it is pleasure reported that 48 have been emp oa l ur o gt y ihe esdt,haendlsaoedn w o ie n t. h e earningsof them from hav t e v h a e ri v e e d ry fr first 6s. of their to i a o p s p . I p y i o n r g w ; being paid less than is. per day, even though they ; not earn it, as is the case with many who To o e aged m an ay d infirm, and suffering from bodily disease. Rome tl , i t o h s e e who sum have been employed on work sent to the of 401. 16s. 3d. has been paid ; and, in addition to this, employed o h d ay th e o r m ec a ei t y t e h d oi o r th o e w r n su h m ou s .s f e r sos urecom mendationpon th e books,of t h e they institution. i t h u a t v i o e n b . e eOut ableof9l t applicantsowho have in thr p ment only to 48, and that not to all constantly ; elalt:Pdl'oays will be seen by the balance sheet, they are, at tie close of the quarter, indebted to the amount ' of 41/. Bs. 2d. ; a r afford and regret to add, have been unable to fit up the pre mises they have taken, and which will accommodate 20 inmates, each to enjo a e para t e furnished slee p in g vl o en t apartment , to, with the u y se of the kit c hen and w orkroom. They, therefo re , earnestly appeal to the kind and bene carrying and labour o f l ove, t h at so they out this work help and assist them in c maybe enabled to afford that gcconunodation to 20 poor women instead of 4, y ed e , na a b n l d ed w to h r io e h ce , receive forwhich which they t h h e a v i n e s , t t t u p t i r n e n s e n ist e b s e t en loi p sr s n hi a n s g. p , [ADVERTISEMENT.]----- ossible, the ma na g ers are desirous of accom- Tiolloway's Pills for the Cure of . g e t H i 0 ;. d — e T e t a r r a e m t of fn Manchester, e s letter ter, fHroeiandmachnesivl.3Fileolkaezi Chemist,lndigestion.—Extract dated 10th September, 1852. To Professor Holloway. s• to inform you, that your pills and ir,— - sons in this neighbourhood ; one in particular, who gay ointment have been of the greatest service to many per• me an account of your pills in the most flattering terms : for a long time he was subject to violent pains in his head, arising from bile and indigestion, from which he could obtain no relief until he took some of your invalu able pills : by these means he was completely restored to health. Sold by all Druggists, and at Professor Iloilod, wAy's Etstabliohment, 244, Strand, LondeD. MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JAN. 1. Zimotie Diseases Diseases of Uncertain Seat Tubercular Diseases Diseases of the Brain. Nerves, and Senses Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of Respiration l9l Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs of Digeston Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus ,&c. Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles Diseases of the Skin, &c. Malformations Premature Birth and Debility. Atro p h y 2l Old Age Sudden 43 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 155 Causes not specified 66 . 189 . 170 . 65 58 16 6 9 1,308 DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES Population Deaths in cone- Enumerated. spoiding week of 1552. . 376,427 . 490,396 . 393,256 485,522 616,635 West Districts North Districts Central Districts. East Districts ... South Districts . Totals Males Females 2,362,236 1,297 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK. Males... Females Total . Deaths in the Week. 171 240 220 335 342 1,308 715 593 • 987 924 1,911 RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return kir the week ending Dec. 26, 1853 (285 A miles) £15,527 15 8 Corresponding week last year (2414 miles) 10,080 2 6 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAlLWAY.—Traffic re turn for the week ending Jan. 2, 1853 £17,818 16 7 Corresponding week last year 16,299 14 1 CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for railway and steam-boats for I he week ending Jan. 2, 1853 Corresponding week last year 2,476 16 8 Increase in 185.3 £1,040 12 0 GLASGOW AND SOIITH-WESTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re turn for the week ending Jan. 1, 1853 £4,754 9 10 Corresponding week last year 4,538 14 1 Increase in 1853 COUNTRY MARKETS. £215 15 9 EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET-JAN. 4. __.. _. There were in the market to-day, 5 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801bs imperial, whereof 4 sold thus :-1 at 1/ 12s, 3 at 1/ lls Od. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET — JAN. 4. Supplies of all kinds these last six days again large. Oat straw, from Is Od to 8s Od per kemple of 16 stones tron ; wheat do., 6s Od to 7s Od ; barley do., 5s Od to Os Od• Hay from 8d to 10d per stone. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET-JAN. 3. There were in the market to-day 75 bags oatmeal, 20 bags of barleymeal, and 2 bags pot-barley ; sales ready. The top price of oatmeal .9d per bag up, second 3d, and, the lowest 6d ; pot-barley up 2s per bag on the prices of last week. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs First. Second. Third. imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto ' Flour, per ditto — s Oct - s Od --1 uu, Pot-barley, per ditto COAL MART Prices of Coal per ton at t] .ET—Jmr. 5. Le close of the market :- s. d. Bate's West Hartley ......16 0 Braddyll Carr's Hartey l6 0 Hetton Davison's West Hartley 16 0 Lambton Tanfield Moor l6 0 Lumley West Hartley 13 6 Russell's Hetton.. West Wylam Trader 15 0 Stewart's Wall's End, &e. Cassop . (1 ; 19 " 4 ...19 16 0 Haigh Hall. 18 0 Whitworth.. Ships at market BB I Sold Northumberland Walker RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 5. STOCK EXCHANGE.— Que,tations were rather kl i f e a r , to-day, and closed as follows :—Birkenhead, Lan Chef and Cheshire (late Chester and Birkenhead), 224 • ChS,i t o and Holyhead, 2n • Eastern Counties, 13g ; L'anCao, a and Yorkshire, 85 ; 'ditto, Fifths, .3$ dis. ; Lancaster .p..; Preston (three-fourth shares, issued at 121 10s) ; •4 31 ditto (fourth shares, issued at 41 14s ), 24i • Li v erP`-- Crosby, and Southport, 18A ; London an d NI - 04h westerV 4 126 ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 31 ; MK - trawl, sog ; North British, 'lO 3-16 ; South Eastern and Dover, 25g ; York, Newcastle, and Berwick, 18g ; York anti North Midland, 29i ; Great Northern (101 scrip shares, 41 per cent.), g p. ; London and South Western TWO' , 9i prem. MANCHESTER, JAN. 5. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was a rather large businell but prices were a shade lower at the close. Dublin al , Belfast Junction, 24 dis. ; Leeds, 854 ; ditto, Fifths, 31,;`4 East Lancashire, 191: London stock, 126 ; Sheffields, 3 u; Dovers, 2.51 ; Chesfiire Junction, 6 dis. ; Midlands, SN Blackburn Pref., 25g • Caledonian Prof., 10a ; Easteg i a Counties, 13i ; •Edinb'urgh and Glasgow, 394 ; Shofar"' new Pref., Ap. ; Great Northern, 4i per cent., P. BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 5. STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was not much business eb in this market to-day, but prices were firmer. LEEDS, JAN. 5. , STOCK EXCHANGE.—There has been no great fluctust l ,l in the share market this morning, though former plin are barely supported. The closing prices were as folloia —Lancashire and Yorkshires, 81g ; Midland stock, North British, 10/ 3s 9d. SEABORNE MAILS. (N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post -ow by the night—and 31 by the morning—dispatch.] Day*when made upl in General Post- Office, London. From what Port Dispatched. When due• COUNTRIES. America (byflrit.pack.N America (by United Sts. packet) America (by U State• packet) ..........N Australia (via South ampton) Ditto (via Marseilles N *Ditto (via Cape of flood Hope) Africa (West Coast) .. N Alexandria* ........N Belgium ............N Brazil .. Buenos Ayres M California . - ..111 iCape of Good Hope ..N Cape de Verds ......N Constantinople.... ..N Central America ....lig( Channel Isles ..N France ........ M & N Greece* .. ....N Hamburgh ..........N Holland .... Honduras .......... N Ireland ..... M SeNT India (viaSoutilampt.)M India (via Marseilles) N India (via Cape of Good Hope)... .. ........N Mauritius ..., ..N Mediterranean (via Southampton „ . N Ditto (via Marseilles).N Mexico Madeira „ Malta*..... •.••••• Jar:. i ......... Jan. 11 ......... Jan 5............ 20th of each month 24th of the months 2d of February.... 23rd of the month. 19th&30th of mon. ta11y............ 9th of the month.. 9th of the month.. d & 17th of month I4thof the month.. 4thof the month.. 7thl7th27thof mo. ?nd & 17th of mon. Mon.WedAtFriday rd & 17th cdmonth Twice daily 7th 1 7th27th ofmon. Tuesday & Friday Wednesday se Sat I g 7th of the month. Twice daily 20th of the month. • th& 24th of month 4th of the month. 4th of the month, 20th of the month , ith& 24th of month 2nd of the month . 9th&23dof the mon• 'th,'7th,l9th, 27th • &30th of the mont h sthisth2sthon n o o n • ithlbth2, '"rmon. 'thl7o27th o fmontb 2d & of month . 2d 80 7 511,2'1501a mon, sthl Liverpool ... Liverpool ... ISouthamptonl Southampton Dover ...... Plymouth Plymouth .. 'Dover ...... Dover ...... Southampton Southampton Southamp or Southampton Southampton Dover .. southdmpton Southampton outh arnpton Dover ...... Dover • • • • • • L0nd0n..... London ..... Southampton Holyhead Southampton Dover Southampton Southampton IJan. 10 lArrived qouthar":7 Dove h r a ;;,p u ' ton Zufijarnptoril pover • • .. Dover uover Jan• 2 ; Jan• 1 Noi. 3° Jan. 19 Daily Jan. 1 Jan. 1 . Jail. 1 Jan. 2. Jan. 2 6 Jan. 1 0 Jan. 1 0, Jan-1 rwicedsof Jan• 10 0 , Tues.' sun.T Jan 1. o f Jan. Twice Jan . 11 Jan. 2 q Jan. 26 Jan. 24 Jan. IT Jan. 1 Jan 16 Naples* Papal States*.. •• • • 14 Pen insula ... • • ••• M I Peru .... •• • • ...m TUReany# 1:::::..1 , 7 apeTohfoGseoodmalopueparen illth3el:toi West Indies .... • • •• M ton and AI - o Tl' - 'Van Diemen's Land (qee I Australia) .. ...... • • I 1 , - The mails for Aleixr. eac h mon i ona sin Mar are se, l ys and 24th of t pr esent r gapoie, but next year they 1. sailing vessels a for sent in steamers. d arc also Illa e up on the 2d of every alternate month - on the 2d of everY t Mails f Good Hope. the CaPo ° d Pf . t c - e i al v i i • a a te s s ri o l ut o t h i h i a t e m h C . p mails to those countries thus marked r*) . , are =vele . The French pi cket to cketMarseilles. _...04 Jan. 10 Jan. 12 Jan. 12 Jan. 16 Jan. 1 Southampton outhampton Dover outhampton Jan. I ' 4 Jan. 1 DIED. On the Ist inst., at 8, New Cavendish-street, Por tj" place, Sir W. Waller, Bart., O.C.H„ aged 84. oo d ' On the 2d inst., at 6, Caroline-place, Fulhavl Capt. R. B. Brown, late 53d Regiment, aged 45. , .. f ee On the 2d inst., a t W aver l ey - p l ace , St. J o hn 9" C O pt. R. B. Shettler, H.E.1.C.5., aged 56. JOn the B oth inst., at Walpole-street, Chelsea, J. , Esq., aged 89, l a t e a sen i or c l er k i n th e Admiral On the 4th in s t., a t H as ti ngs , age d 43, R. H. Fai n Esq., of Lewes. (5 14 LONDON : hinted and Published by liITIRDO 10 0 i of No. 112, St ran d, P r i n t er , a t The S u n Office, 1 ' 4° ,4 Strand, in the Pr ec inct of the Savoy in o n " Middlesex, Thursday, January BIRTHS. OF A SON. _../ OP On the 3d inst., at Manch es t er, prematurely, the 1 " . ° 1 Captain Barttelot Royal Dragoons, still-born. OF A DAUGHTER. ,P On the 31st ult., at Woolwich, the wife of Capt. S' Radcliffe, Royal Hors e A r till ery. J MARRIED. 4 On the 29th ult., a t th e ( l urch of St. John, rill' l 14 R. Paterson, E sq ., o f Bi rthwood, Lanarkshire? to Anna, daughter of A. C. B ourne, E sq, 1, pa , & Hackney. On the 3rd in s t., a t Ch ar i ng, K ent, Mr. W. Whittl e ' s Westwell, to Mary, only daughter of the late All' Norwood, solicitor, Charing. _.../. I