The Sun. — London, England, 1853-02-17 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE QUEEN VICTORIA AND NEARLY EIGHTY LIVES. DUBLIN. FEB. 16. It is with feelings of the deepest r egret that we have to announce one of the most disastrous sh i pwrec ks that has for many years occurred o n the coastofl d p rela a n ioi d— ui Ireland — the intelligence of which pr od u c ed our fellow-citizens a deep and sensation amongst all classes o f yes terday—and which, from thenumber of lives lost, and the melancholy c i r cu mstan ces attendant on the catas trophe, occurring as almost at our own doors, is only exceeded by the burning of the Amazon, and the more recent destruction of the Birkenhead. The particulars, as far as we have been able to ascer tain them, of thin' deplorable catastrophe, are as follow— The Queen Victoria started from Liverpool for Dublin at half-past 3 o'clock on Monday afternoon, having a general cargo and about 120 human beings on board—about 12 cabin and the rest steerage passengers; the latter in cluded a number of'cattle-dealers who were returning from England after having disposed'of their stock. The Queen Victoria was a first-class vessel, and some years ago bad been employed in carrying the mails between Kingstown and Liverpool. She was commanded by Capt. Church, an officer of great experience, high in the confidence of his employers, and upwards of 20 years in. the service. Prom the moment the vessel left the dock at Liver pool up to half-past one o'clock yesterday morning all went well ; the wind was N.E., the weather favourable, and she was making as rapid and easy passage, but about that hour some heavy falls of snow took place, which retarded her progress a little. No material abatement, however,' took place in her speed, and about two o'clock the first mate and some of the passengers perceived the Kish Light. An anxious look-out was kept for .the Bailey Light, and, we understand, that for a feii minutes they did see it, but the snow coming down in a heavy, dense, impenetrable cloud, completely shut out the view. Under these circumstances the coursewas to have slackened speed, and whether this was effected to any extent or not we are at present without any distinct or satisfactory in formation, some asserting that the vessel continued to go at full speed, and others that her " way" had been considerably retarded. However this may be, it is un fortunately but too clear that the land was hugged too closely, and the first intimation those who happened to be on deck had of their impending danger was a hurried and agitated cry from the first mate to stop the vessel. The mate, who was on the look-out at the starboard bow, Was horrified to perceive looming dimly through the snow cloud, at a distance of not more than twenty yards, the dark andrugged cliffs of Howth, a little to the north of the Bailey Light. He immediately gave the order to stop, bat it was too late, and the next instant the doomed vessel went headlong upon the rock with a fearful and appalling crash. The captain was instantly upon deck,. and gave orders to reverse the engines ; this was done, and the vessel, being released from the rocks, backed out into deep water, when, finding that , she was rapidly sinking, the captain attempted to run her ashore. In the meantime, a scene of the most melancholy and heartrending description ensued. The cabin passengers were, of course, in bee,, and being awakened by the shock of the collision, rushed half dressed, and some almost in a state of nudity upon , the deck, when, to their horror, they found the ship fast going down. The steerage passengers, affrighted and dismayed, were running in wild confusion about the deck, vainly seeking for some mode of escape—husbands were looking for their wives, wives were clinging to their husbands, and mothers, clasping their helpless children to their breasts, were uttering impassioned prayers to heaven for succour and for mercy. The dark waves dash ing round the vessel, the snow falling in thick masses, " making darkness visible," the supplications for help,the frenzied shrieks of despair, and the fearful confusion that prevailed on board the unfortunate ship, all combined to constitute a scene of the most agonising and appalling cha racter—enough to unnerve the stoutest heart—and which will ever remain engraven upon the memories ofthose who were fortunate enough to survive it. The captain,the first mate, and the other officers, preserved their presence of min d, and endeavoured to keep order, so that the passengers and crew might have a better opportunity of effecting their escape ; but such was the alarm and excitement, and so short the period that elapsed between the collision and the final destruction of the vessel, that their efforts proved quite unavailing. The confusion increased every moment, the cries for assistance became louder and louder, and a general rush was made to the ship's boats. The starboard quarter boat was immediately filled by a number of the wretched passengers, but in the hurry and confusion of the moment proper care was not taken to secure the ropes, and the great weight caused the boat to slip from her davits into the sea, when she instantly swamped, and all in her perished. The larboard guar ter boat was then lowered, fortunately with more suc cess. It contained seventeen persons, including Mr. Duffy, Queen's-squre, Mr. Walsh, of Athy, Kildare, and Mr. Charles Ralph, shipowner, of Wicklow, of whose humane and courageous conduct we cannot speak too highly. On reaching the water, however, it was found the boat was leaking fast, and must have gone down in a short time, were it not for the coolness and presence of mind of a young lad, who, having searched with his hand, found that the plug-hole was open, and immediately thrust his fingers into it. At this time the boat was almost immediately under the side of the sink ing ship, the bulwarks of which were crowded with the paissengers, whom the captain was seen endeavouring to 9 - aiet and pacify. Some of them, however, leaped into the sea, and were instantly drowned, Mr. Walsh, wham we have mentioned as being in the boat, saw his wife clinging to some of the woodwork of the vessel, and called upon her to leap down, but Mr. Ralph cried out, " For God's sake don't jump down, or you will surely be drowned—hold on, and we will return for you in a few minutes." They had no idea at that moment that the vessel was so near her final destruction, but in a few minutes afterwards she went down bodily, bow foremost, and the unfortunate lady, and nearly all who remained on board were lost. Up to the very latest moment the captain was seen upon the- deck, endeavouring to calm the agitation of the Pas sengers, and to direct their exertions into the proper channel for the preservation of their lives ; and it is sup p osed that when the vessel took her final plunge he went down with her, together with the first and second mates, who clung to their ship to the last. In the meantime the boat, which could not hold another person, shoved off ; the water was baled out with a hat, and Mr. Ralph and a young man-of-war's-man, named Kegg, being the only persons that could row, seized the oars, and after severe exertion, ultimately succeeded in landing 14 per sons on the rock about half-a -mile below the wreck. Un deterred by the danger of the enterprise, and intent only on saving as many lives as possible, Ralph, • Kegg, and the young lad who still continued to stop the plug-hole with his finger rowed back to the scene of the disaster, when they found the Queen Victoria had gone down, her masts alone being visible above the water. 12 or 14 per sons were clinging to those with all the tenacity of despair. Ralph and his companions took five off the foremast, and were proceeding to relieve those upon the mainmast from their perilous position, when the steward of the Queen Victoria, who was one of them, cried out, " Don't mind us, my dear fellow—the boats of the Ros common will pick us up." On turning round, Ralph perceived at a short distance the Roscommon steamer, the boats of which had already picked up several persons, and were proceeding as fast as possible to render further assistance. It appears that the Roscommon, chartered by the Chester and Holyhead Railway Company, was proceeding from Dublin to Holyhead with a general cargo, when the Commander, Captain Brown, observed fon': red lights in the direction of the Bailey Lighthouse. This being rather unusual, he conferred, with his mnate, Mr. Davis, on the subject, and at length re solved to make for the light. They soon arrived at the wreck, and the snow having by this time ceased, they at once p erce i ve d what had happened. The boats of the Roscommon were lowered without delay, and proceeded to the wreck, where they took off the men who wimeerere clinging to the mai nmas t,. an d rescued others then struggling in the water. A. little child was p icke d up, its bod t warns, anthe si of life faintly visible , all eff orts to res tore a nimat ionfa iled. Mr. Ralph, and those whom he re had r s e aved andlanded on the rocks, Were als o p i cked up by the Roscomme' uf o s n`s . boats, and the greatest attenti on was shown to th ferers on board. that vessel All of them had suffered intensely from the wet, cold, and fatigue which they endured, and many were reduced to the lowest state of mental and physical prostration. About 45 persons were rescued in this manner, of whom seven were fe males, and they were safely landed at Ringsto yes- I terday morni ng by the captain of th e Roscommon. They ever at once placed under the care of th e police, who did' eything in their power to minister to their necessities in whirl th ey were most kindly an d humanely assisted by , mans of the inhabitants of Kingstown. It will be seen that the entire number saved amounts to fifty-three, of Wl.min we are informed twenty belonged to the crew. When the Queen Victoria first struck, about ten or twelve of the passengers and crew scrambled over the bows upon the rocks, and eight of them succeeded in obtaining-a footing. They were afterwards brought by the police into the town of Howth, and from thence for warded by railway to Dublin, where they arrived in a most deplorable condition from exhaustion and exposure, The Iron Duke (Captain Griffiths) arrived at Kings town from Liverpool about half-past ten, and was imme diately 0 7 .dered off by Mr. Howell to the scene of the catastre'ph e . Wb sn the Iron Duke had reached the spot where the ill-fs'ied vessel had gone down, nothing was to be seen b&, her funnel, ten feet of which was then above water,. P'-.r,; of the mainmast and foremast, a quantity of floating 'pars, and s ome t r ifli ng articles of clothing which had bel Egged to the passengers or crew. 17 , 1 21 e . n .t u m her of peopl e w h o were on. board the Q ueen as'f'un i o r the names o f those who perished, cannot be ned until the arrival of a vessel from Liverpool, which shall leave that port after th e i n t e lli gence o f th i s deplorabl e calamity sh all ha h ave reac h e d there. A similar accident h appened in th e year 18 4 1 to the Thames, a splendid steamer belonging to the same com- *THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 17, 1853. pany, and then on the line between Dublin and London. It will be remembered that the Thames was lost on the Scilly Rocks during a heavy gale of snow, and the cap tain and all on board, with the exception, we believe, of the stewardess and a cabin boy, were drowned. The following are the names of the eight persons who escaped by getting upon' the rocks at Howth :—John Williams, second engineer ; Patrick Dunne, fireman ; . Charles Mangan, seaman ; P. O'Brien, passenger ; John 'Bendon, passenger ; Matthew M'Guire, passenger, 3, Shelbourne-place ; Joseph Salmon, passenger, Bth corn pany first battalion Royal Artillery ; James Berming ham, passenger, Glenmore, King's County. It is probable that this tragic event would not have taken place if there were a fog-bell. at the Bailey light house. Mr. Charles Ralph, shipowner, gives the following account We left Liverpool at half-past three o'clock on Monday afternoon. The wind was N.N.E., and the weather was remarkably fine. We had a very prosper. ous voyage, and every one thought we would have arrived speedily at our destination, until half-past two o'clock, when the snow, which had been falling for some time before, came down very heavily. Before that I distinctly saw the Kish light, and also the Bailey, which was broad on our bow at two. At half-past two or thereabouts, the vessel struck right on to nor'ard of the lighthouse. The first mate had charge of the ship, and a minute before she struck he cried out 'Stop her, stop her.' I suppose he had just seen the land. There was not time to stop the ship, and she came on at full speed and dashed against the rock. I was on deck when I heard the mate sing out to stop her, and I immediately ran forward to see what was the matter ; there was no time to stop her, for, as I ran forward, she struck bow on to the rock, and I was thrown on my face by the force of the concussion. The next thing I saw was the captain, apparently much excited ; he ordered the action of her engines to be re versed.. The engineer did as he was ordered, and the vessel immediately went out into deep water. Her head was then turned towards the Bailey, and all speed put on. I think the captain wanted to make the mouth of the river, but finding the vessel fast sinking he again turned her round, and endeavoured to run her ashore. The passengers were crowding on the deck, screaming, praying, crying for help; there were a great number of women, some of whom had babies. The distress of the poor creatures was dreadful. I never saw anything to equal the horrors of that scene, and I trust in God I may never be doomed to witness another like it. Having some knowledge of seamanship, I looked about me to see if I could be of any service ; the snow was falling fast ; the greatest confusion pre vailed ; the captain called out to the people to be quiet—that there was no danger—and that all would be saved.' There was little attention paid to him, as the vessel was sinking fast, bow foremost, and the passengers were crying out, For God's sake get out the boats.' The starboard boat was lowered down full of people, tint cap sized the moment it touched the water, and all in it were drowned. A boat on the larboard quarter was then lowered, and I jumped into it. Sixteen others also got in. She immediately began to fill with water, and we all expected death. A boy who was with us felt in the bottom of the boat, and found that the plug was out ; he put his fingers into the hole, and this partially checked the leak. I then baled out the water with my hat. Then we looked about us for oars, and found that they were firmly lashed to the boat, but none of us had a knife to cut the cords. By main force we broke the lashings and got out two oars. I took one of them, and a man-of war's boy, named Kegg, another, and we pulled under the lighthouse, and landed 14 people on the rocks. I and Kegg l and the boy still keeping his finger in the plug hole, again pulled out towards the sinking ship, and in doing so we saw the Roscommon steamer, and rowed to her ; we got a cork from the Roscommon with which we plugged the hole in the bottom of the boat, and we then proceeded to the wreck. We found that she had disap peared, and that nothing but her masts were to be seen above water.'—Freeman's Journal. THE JEWS IN THE HOLY LAND. The situation of our brethren in the Holy Land is wretched in the extreme. Were they not borne up by the tenacity of their faith they would have lbng since ceased to exist, and as it is they are en tirely dependent for their support upon the charity of their co-religionists throughout the world. This is freely given, but it is bestowed in the worst pos sible manner as regards their social and moral con dition. Crushed as they are by the tyranny and intolerance of their Turkish rulers, the inevitable effect of an existence depending upon charity is to debase them still lower, and to plunge them into a state of the most abject degradation. Incapacitated by their previous pursuits and by the bigotry of their oppressors from obtaining their own livelihood, they see no issue to the misery in which they are doomed to exist, and are compelled to have recourse to the very means which have brought them to their present degiaded and impoverished condition. Their claims upon the sympathy as well as upon the more material aid of their brethren are indeed great, for it must be borne in mind that among them are many individuals whose names will re flect undying honour upon the Hebrew nation, and who prefer an existence of poverty and degradation in a, land hallowed to them, by such sacred associa- tions, to, a life passed in affluence in one of the cen tre's of modern refinement and civilisation. For this they have sacrificed the endearments of home, the pleasures of wealth, the ties of kindred ; nor do they murmur at their lot; they pass their life upon holy ground, surrounded by thi; evidences of the former grandeur of their nation, recalling the glories of a happier time, and piously awaiting the fulfilment of their promised destiny. Destitution and contempt they can bear, but they revolt against the misery ofself-abasement;and they appeal against the continuance of a method of subsistence as contemn- tible as it is unnecessary. But the Porte now happily entertains more enlightened views, and is disposed to lend its co-operation to any scheme which will convert an outcast race into useful and laborious citizens. In the present critical juncture of its affairs, it is compelled to relax the intolerance of its policy, and to vie with other powers in the respect due to the growth of public opinion. Such, in a few words, is the condition of our brethren in the Holy Land. If they are to be finally and effectually relieved, no time is to be lost ; events follow each other with such rapidity that the opportunity, once neglected; cannot be regained ; and if the plan for the amelioration of their position be deemed feasible, it must be 'carried into speedy operation. Looking upon the capabi litieS of the country, the habits of its people, and the pastoral tastes of the Oriental Jews, the Asso ciation proposes the establishment of agricultural settlements in Palestine, to be founded by native Jews, under their own internal government, sub ject, of course, to the Porte, precisely as many of the Pashalics are at present : in fact, to put the Jewish upon the same footing as the Rajah sub jects. Influence would be brought to bear upon the Sultan for his consent, by the favourable in terference—if attainable—of the European powers ; and, permission Once obtained, means would be procured to provide all things necessary for the growth and success of the colonies. A survey of the country has been made, and tracts of land have been selected as the first site of the undertaking.— From the Hebrew Observer, Feb. 4. THE DUTIES ON BUTTER, CHEESE, EGGS, &C.—Some of the houses in the provision trade are directing their attention to the duties on butter, cheese, eggs, &c., in the hope that they may effect their removal. It is pro bable that a public meeting will shortly be called upon , this subject. All these duties are strictly protecting duties, imposed for the purpose of keeping up the mar ket prices of this kind of produce. The revenue de rived from these articles is not of large amount. Butter imported from foreign parts pays 10s. the hundredweight. Cheese is taxed to the extent of , ss. The duty upon eggs is very heavy, being as much as' 100. the hundred. The duty paid last • year for butter was 167,4181. Cheese produced 83,8721. Eggs were im ported to the enormous number of 115,526,225, and produced 42,1491. Most of the articles thus imported are consumed in our large towns, and chiefly by persons in humble life. The duty upon eggs is very oppressive. Nearly all the foreign eggs are sold in poor neighbour hoods among working people. Often the duty upon eggs amounts to a fourth of the market price. But be yond the amount of duty there is an important question of trade deserving consideration. In a very short time the railways in Denmark, connected with the steam navigation to Lowestoft, will open up a large trade for dairy produce by means of the Eastern Cdunties Rail way with London. It is of great importance .that all Custom-house regulations, which impede and obstruct commerce, in addition to raising the prices of ar ticles of food, should be removed. Custom-house ar rangements take persons in this trade out of their busi ness, and occasion delays often creating great losses, which deter merchants from freely engaging in this kind of shipping speculation. The Ostend rabbit trade is an instance of the advantage to be derived from re lieving trade from Custom-house regulations, There are details connected with this branch of business of an interesting nature, which will probably be shortly brought under the notice of the Government. A STRONG' SWIMMER. A seaman named George Goff, of the brig Voyager, Hoperoft, of Sunderland, has just p er f orme d a notable swimming feat: at this cold season. On the voyage from Newcastle to Hull he fell from the foreyardarm into the sea, about 8 o'clock on the evening of Monday last ; and swam to.Filey Beach, a distance of two miles. Here 'the tar was fed, lodged, clad, and, sustenance money given to , him' by the hono rary agent of the Shipwrecked Fishsrmen Ind Mariners' Society, and -a free passage given him to Hull.—Neu castle Journal. [ADVERTISEMENTI—The Earl of Aldborough and Holloway's Pills. —An astounding cure by. this miracu lous medicine, after every other means had failed.—See extract from his lordship's letter, dated " Villa Messina, Leghorn, Feb. 21, 184 . 5. To Professor HblloWay.—Sir —I beg to acquaint you that your pills have effected a cure of a disorder in my liver and stoinach, which allthe most eminent of the faculty at home and all 'over the Continent had not been able to effect—nay, not even the waters of Carlsbad or Marienbad. (Signed) ALD BOROUGH." These wonderful pills will cure any dis orders of the liver or stomach. Sold (also Holloway's ointment) at Professor Hollow a y' s E s t a blishment, 244 . Strand, London, and by all medicine ven d o rs through out the world. IMPEE lAL PARLIA,AI ENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS-(YESTERDAY). (Continued from our First Edition of yesterday.) Mr. DEEDES, in continuation, concluded thus — Hitherto the magistrates of petty sessions had the power of appointing divisional constables, and what he pro posed to do by his bill was to make it imperative that in future each petty sessional division should have a super intending constable. The next point of novelty in the bill was that of giving power to appoint one general chief superintending constable ; but this part of the bill would not be compulsory but permissive. Another pro vision of the bill would throw the expense ofproviding and keeping in repair houses to be used by the parish constables upon the county rate, while other clauses would enable the justices to grant superannuation allowances not to exceed two-thirds of the original salaries, and allow relief to the constables in case of sickness. The hon. member having gone through the other details of his measure, concluded with moving the second reading of the bill, and stating his intention afterwards to move that the bill be referred to a select committee. LAND IMPROVEMENT (IRELAND) BILL On the motion for the committal of the bill. Sir R. FERGUSON expressed a hope that the com mittee would be postponed for a week. He was very glad that these Irish bills had been adopted by, the pre sent Government, but he thought there was no occasion for hurrying them through separately. Mr. F. FRENCH objected to deferring the bill for a week, as no object could be obtained by the delay. The bill then went through committee. DESIGNS ACT EXTENSION BILL. This bill was read a second time. TRANSFER OF AIDS BILL. This bill was read a third time and passed. GRAND JURY CESS (IRELAND) BILL. This bill was read a second time. Mr. G. BUTT moved for leavo to bring in a bill to limit the time between the proclamation and day of elec tion in counties, and between the receipt of the writ and the election in boroughs ; to limit the polling at elections for the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge ; and otherwise to regulate the proceeding of elections for members of Parliament in England and Wales. Mr. PHINN seconded the motion, and urged upon the Government the propriety of introducing some measure for the, codification of the laws relating to elections. Mr. S. HERBERT said that the Government had no objection to the introduction of this bill, although it was evident that great care and consideration must be given to the details of any such measure. It would be for the hon. and learned gentleman to consider how far it would be advisable to take up the time of the house this session •in the discussion of details connected with the subject of the representation, when it was the inten tion of the Government to introduce a great and com prehensive measure next session. Leave was then given to bring in the bill, which was read a first time. Mr. COBBETT moved for a copy of a memorial from certain millowners of Manchester, presented to the Se cretary of State for the Home Department, and men tioned in the sixth page of Mr. Inspector Horner's re port on factories for the half-year ending the 30th day of April, 1852. Mr. FITZROY said that he had not as yet been able to discover any such document, but further search should be made for it. Mr. T. DUNCOMBE obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend the act for the more effectual prevention of cruelty to animals. The bill was read a first time. Sir J. YOUNG obtained leave to bring in a bill to supply an omission in an act of the last session relating to the valuation of rateable property in Ireland, and to move it through all its stages. The bill was brought in, and leave being obtained, passed through its several stages, and was passed. The members chosen to serve on the Bridgnorth elec tion petition, having been called to the table to be sworn, and one of the members, Mr. F. Dundas, the member for Orkney, not answering to his name, Sir J. TROLLOPE, the Chairman of the General Committee of Elections, moved that he be taken into the custody of the Serjeant-at-Arms. The motion was agreed to, and the house adjourned. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday, at the London Tavern ; the Hon. Francis Scott, M.P., in the chair. The following is the substance of the report which was submitted to the meeting. It stated that— " The net revenue for the half-year ending the 31 tof December last, amounts, after deducting interest s on loans and all other preference charges, to 134,2671. to which is added 1,4071., the surplus from the 30th of ? June, 1852, I c n li a r id ect u o g rs n r s ec 6 o 7 m 4l m . applicable recommended to dividend, from which the i a n t z th o e n r 6 a , t 7 e 46 o , f 3s 4 4 p l. er to cen i t il p a g n. 7 dividend for the half-year, annum, be declared, amount over to the next half-year.' 7., leaving 7471 to be carried traffic, and the unusuallar The extraordinary amount of Great Exhibition, during the corresponding receipts, attributable to the period of the present year, prevent the arrivalaa* progress of the ordinary traffic by a comparison with a w te ith a ni th ch e an exceptional period. The corresponding period of 1850 will afford a better criterion for judging of the results of the last half-year. The increase in the mileage over the cor responding period of 1850, is 9 miles, in the number of miles run 111,510, in the receipts for passencr '' . ers 16 504/ ,in e foriereceipts, goods, 25,5591.7791, 1 The sun increasedries, 1,2761., total t increase receipts reasein t to 2,4021., rking expenses amounted to 5 3601 , and in the taxation h which being deducted from ' the increased receipts shows an increase in the net revenue of 17,7961. for the last half-year, as compared with the corresponding period of 1850. Exclusive of rates and vernment duty, the working expenses for the half year ended the 31st of December, 18t0, amounted to 35.90 per cent., in 1851 to . 30'94 per cent., and in the half-year just ended to 34 ' 90 per cent. of the receipts. The receipts from the ordinary traPc amounted to 257,0901., from season tickets to rolling , stocka n d merchandise n t 6 o , 6 1 , 6 t 6 0 2/ b . e ; i t o n t a t l h , e 3 m 29 0 s W t B e l ffi . c i T e n h t e state. The number of engines and carriages of all des criptions is greater, and that l of. those under repair ' 's smaller, than at any former period. The consumption of permanentparago te re in i ili o f mile 9 b l pe b eew . ri a perag greater engine,ne mile,eaatrerLhbaoaynnn coke during the half-year has been 9,165 tons, being at the milbeeens. re-laid, p .d o , rt t i h o o n o o o f st th o e f spending period of the year 1850, notwithstanding the mile ddlloas, the sh l l e a a consumptionb y l, 036 t tons, s, t h o o r 4 o0 •6 17. 1 b e. .. to o h a ic n h y is charged o t n o r t e h v is en ra u il e. wa Th y edruenh.nags the eeanl past no loss of the railway has continued exempt from any accident of moment. In December, 1850, the surplus property of the company was estimated at 157,5731.; since that period there has been received for sales 27,113/. ; whereof 10,3311. has been realised during the past year. Notwithstanding these sales, the annual rents of the company's property have increased from 8,9471., ending December, 1851, to 9,8611., e nding December, 1 852 , being a r ent of bout 7i per cent. on the estimated value. A shed capable of containing nearly 200 carriages has been completed at Falcon-bridge, Battersea, for 5 , 4001 . , an d at Richmond a commodious station has been erected. The Belmont estate, adjoining the Nine Elms station, con taining 3i acres, has been pur chased at a cost of 11,200/. ; this,' from its long river front age, will afford much greate r facilities for carrying on the goods traffic. A contract with Government for convey ance of emigrants for embarkation at Southampton has been entered into, and accommodation provided at Nine Elms and Southampton. In conformity with 'the practice now adopted, certain expenses formerly chargeable to capital are paid out of revenue ; and during the last half year, 5,413/. has been so charged, viz., 413/. for stations, Sze., and 5,000/. for augmentation of the rolling stock. The re- venue of the half-year is burdened with 1,6441. on account of bad debts, and with 1,7271. for back allowances to car riers, as formerly arrange d. Revenue has been further charged , in this half year with 3,0771., being the amount of defalcations due from the late traffic manager's department. In addition to the above charges on revenue is enumerated the sum of' 1,233/. for Government duty on the receipts from first and second class passengers although carried at fares not exceeding ld. per mile, n a nd the board trust that railway companies will unite in an effort to induce Parlia ment to remove an exaction contrary to the spirit of the law. The proprietors will have to consider whether they will authorise the board to take up the project from Wa s aim bledon station to Mitcham, 2i miles in length,solely branch to Mitcham, upon the understanding that the gua rantee is 1,0001. per annum. The North and South-Western Junction line is rate eady for public traffic. The directors propose to co-opwith the Brighton Company in taking the necessary preliminary steps for introducing a bill into Parliament for amalgamating the two companies, and a bill has accordingly been prepared. The directors believe that a complete union and identification of the fit teresrange ts of the two com p anies might, under proper ar ments, be very beneficial to the proprietors' in both un dertaking, and also very conducive to the public in terests. Since the last meeting of the proprietors Mr. W. J. Chaplin, M.P.. has.resigned the office of chairman to the company, and the Hon. F. Scott,. M.P., has been tehleectEedorinl ohfismpolro.cioey. "Mrd.opJlitHy.iobhbocirtnn, a ju n n . ~ has succeeded m d c ir c e e o e tn de r d s who retire by rotation a re the Count Eyre and M. M. lizielli, who, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election. There are also two. other vacancies in the board, and the following gentlemen, duly qualified, have also severally declared their, intention to become candidates for election, viz. :—Mr. G. Best, Mr. C. Castleman, Mr. T. W. Helps, Sir R. Jarvis, Captain J. G. Johnston, Mr. A. Kay, and Mr. W. P. Snell. A special report states that the directors had vigorously prosecuted the works on the line between Basingstoke and lover;An and, in order to prevent the recurrence of vexatious legal proceedings, and to enable the directors to company,pro threesumere on c o them mm e n d e tect the •property between Andover and Salisbury, a distance of 1n es, the land for nearly 15 miles of which was purchased for that steps be taken of to the works they ' that a comparatively limited extent of land remains to be 'd for if the works are resumed. The capital 38,0001., and nearly 33,000/. had been deposited for it, so bought or pal , account to the 31st of December last shows that 8,728 t 791/. ' balance of . 58,756/. The debenture account shows that had been received, and 8,670,0 W. expended, leaving a 2,131,868/. had been borrowed to the 31st of December last, of which 331,358/. was borrowed at 5 per cent., cent , 86,700/. at 4, 305,100/. at 31, and 290,000/. at 3 per * per annum. The total share capital authorised, 66,100/. at 41_ per cent., 1,000/. at 44, 1,051,400/. at 4 per cent. 6,744,714/. is ' entitled to dividend, , t. 435 393 of irrespective of preference stock, is_ 7,431,050.1., of consistswhich the 31st of December shares in the hands of the company, 239,5421. uncalled, and 14,400/• in non-converted Gosport shares. The revenue accouor 40'97 per cent., expended, ineluding rates and taxes last sh n o t wfsotrhatth3s33h,a99lf-57. half-y ear n b d ee i n n g received, and 134,9891., cent. leaving the net revenue 199,0061., out of which and Government duty, amounting to 19,989/. or 6'07 per 52,8771. is deducted for interest on loans awl preference leaving 134,2671. shares, and 11,861/. foant allowances to carriers and for defalcations , The su pplementary re p ort stated that, by a circular a ddressed to the shareholders of this company, and bear ing date the 17th (1/17 of November, 1852,. they were in formed of the int ention of this company to seek powers towards effecting an amalgamation with the Brighton company. The report to this meeting was issued on the sth instant, under the expectation that the Brighton company intended continuing their application for powers to effect such an amalgamation. On the 7th instant, at the request of the Brighton board, an inter view took place between a deputation from this board and a deputation from the Brighton board. At that interview it became known, for the first time, to the directors, that there existed impediments, not arising from any difference of opinion between the two com panies, or affecting the merits of the question, but which were sufficient to render the withdrawal of the bill for the present expedient. The bill will, therefore, not be proceeded with. This being the case, and there being no intention at this meeting to do more than call the at tention of the proprietors towards the prospective attain ment of an object certainly desirable, under due limita tions, the directors have only to express their satisfac tion at the continuance of amicable relations with the Brighton Company, and to renew their assurance that no further steps towards altering their relative positions will be taken, without due notice, and without the ex press sanction of the proprietors obtained at a special meeting convened for the purpose. The CHAIRMAN said, before he moved the adoption of the report, he felt it his duty to make one or two obser vations, but in doing sake had to claim the very favour able indulgence of the meeting on two grounds. In the first place, he followed a chairman who had presided most ably over the affairs of the company, and who was fully conversant with all railway matters ; and in the next, it was to be recollected that they had lost their secretary and their traffic manager, which had necessarily thrown great responsibility and additional labour on the board and on himself personally. It had been said that the directors were afraid to compare the company's re ceipts of 1852 with those of 1851. Such, however, was not, he begged to say, the case, although it was thought by the directors that it was only fair and just to contrast ordinary traffic with ordinary, and not with extraordinary traffic ; and it should be remembered that 1851 was altogether an exceptional year. The receipts of 1851 exceeded those of 1850 by something like 70,0001., and those of 1852 by more than 42,0001. The amounts in the respective years were as follows :-1848, 481;500/. ; 1849, 530,8771. ; 1 85 0, 559,1131. ; 1851, 656420/. (being an increase of about 100,0001.) ; and 1852 , ...611,2411. It would be found that, compared with 1848, the receipts of the last year had increased nearly by the sum of 130,0001. On the whole, therefore, the state of their receipts could not be looked upon as otherwise than favourable. It was not unfrequently supposed that the directors had an object in blinking certain questions ; but as long as he had been on the board, he had not only not shrunk or flinched from any inquiry, but had wished, and even courted, the closest and most searching 'investigation upon all matters. He was also anxious to give the fullest infor mation to the shareholders, and, if possible, to satisfy any doubts which they might entertain. In that room, and at the Nine Elms, • there had been witnessed scenes which • all must have regretted, and he hoped would never be again renewed. It was the basis of all commercial and mercantile undertakings, and a primary necessity to their success, that there should be entire confidence between the managers and the parties whose capital they had invested in these undertakings. In order to attain that end, nothing was more desirable than a clear and lucid statement of their whole proceed ings. (Hear, hear.) This he wished the shareholders to have, a n d he admitted that the reports of this corn- Pant' were not so exactly prepared as that he who ran might read ; but others were of a different opinion, and it was, after some discussion, decided by the board that they should be kept in their old form. He now came to the closing of the capital account. (Cheers.) No one was more willing than himself to join in that cheer ; but he must observe that, while it was very handy to close the capital accountsof docks or canal s, itwas extremely difficult to close those accounts altogether in connection with railways. He thought that the purchase money of the Belmont property was very properly charged to capital. It would give the finest river side property in the metropolis for goods traffic, and would confer con siderable advantages upon the company. As to the charges to revenue there was a very ugly item in the shape of defalcations and bad debts, which were chiefly occasioned by the conduct of the traffic manager. There was an old Scotch saying " let bygones be bygones," which he hoped would be observed on the present occa sion.. He sincerely trusted this item would not again appear so prominently in the charges to revenue. As to the future state of the company he did not intend to deceive the proprietors by drawing a highly-coloured picture. He wished all to judge for themselves but he could not help 'saying that he was inclined to think that the prospects of 1853, and of succeeding years, were not of a gloomy character. If he looked especially to what was now going on at Southampton, there were many grounds for congratulation. That port was now occupied in preference to Plymouth by a great steam-boat company, whose ramifications ex tended to the furthest parts of the globe. The South- Western Railway formed a link in that great chain of communication which commenced at London and belted the world, and it would derive the greater portion of the traffic which annually came to Southampton. The Pe , ninsular and Oriental Company had doubled the number of their boats sailing beyond the Isthmus of Suez, the General Screw Company had extended their lines of ves sels to Australia, and the Royal Mail Company were only waiting for a canal through the Isthmus of Panama to send their boats across the Pacific as well as the Atlantic. He was happy to state, also, that there had just been opened a short branch on the South-Western, Which would link together Southampton, which was undoubtedly becoming the port of London, and the great manufacturing dis tricts -of the North. Ve alluded to the junction with the North-Western Railway. Various rumours had been circulated/as to the reasons which led to the con struction of the branch. It was but justice to the late chairman, to say that he persevered in advocating the making of it at a time when it was most unpopular, owing to unfortunate dissensions among the sharehold ers, respecting the further outlay of capital. There could be no doubt that this branch would materially California wealth augment the traffic to the main line. But in their future prospects there were shadows as well as lights. If in creased ibrought wnetearlctbourtsoe thorn, itA uwstorualfdia to others, and if money became plenty, they might rely on haying to encounter a good many also and bring competing schemes. He, therefore, trusted that the di rectors would so cond uc t the business of the company as to obtain the confidence of the proprietors in regard to what measures they should support and what oppose. (Hear, heal%) A delay, even of only a few hours, or the calling of a meeting was prejudicial to the success of un dertakings and 'negotiations, because it awakened. alarm. He, however, personally, wanted no more power than he now possessed. He was forced into the chair, with out expecting or even desiring the honour, and he did not care how soon he quitted his present position, for there was no more unsatisfactory office, or one less attended with reward than the chairman of a railway company. (Hear and laughter.) Yet, he considered that a man might feel a just and honourable pride in being solicited to preside over a body of men either in political or commercial undertakings, but he hoped he would have an opportunity of relinquishing the post for a more able and experienced man ; for to speak the truth, he had put up with a great amount of inconvenience, and to undergo much slavish toil day after day, and sometimes night after night. (Hear.) The South-Western Railway was said to be a "slow line," but they might congratulate themselves that it was at least a safe one for travelling. Every pre caution had been taken to secure the safety of passengers, and the directors had already put into operation a sim ple invention for a communication between the guards and the engineers of the trains travelling along the rail way.. During 10 years not a fatal accident had hap pened to a single passenger, though two millions of miles were run over in the course of every year by the trains. Great praise was therefore due to the officers of the company, for it was chiefly to them they were indebted for this comparative exemption from accidents. The chairman concluded by moving that the report be adopted. Mr. UPHAM complained that the frauds and irregu larity of the servants of the company had become a gene raljGecrteatot N s V uc e b ste co rn nd n uc o t r NororltolissNeVsestrntiCieorapaprtanioefs their matter of rep roac h aga i nst th e managers. N e i ther on s th ub e employers. He thought the office of treasurer, who, it was reported, received 1,000/. a year, should be abolished, as he did not appear to operate as any check against losses. He desired to know if the temporary share loans to the late Mr. Chadwick had been repaid ? - The CHAIRMAN said the accounts of fraud by their servants that had got abroad were very exaggerated. Mr. J. HIBBARD, the deputy-chairman, observed that the treasurer, Mr. Morgan, only received 4501. a year, and no gentleman could be more zealous or indefatigable in the discharge of his duties. As to the 3,5211. owing from the late Mr. Chadwick, it was secured on land, and would most likely not appear again in the accounts. Sir R. JARVIS complained of the want of accurate information in regard to -the steam-boats of the corn Mr. HERATATH said he understood that the boats were rented at 7,0001. a-year, and that, according to the contract, the directors were compelled to return them in the same state in which they were received. The CHAIRMAN observed that the rent was 5,00 C/., and not 7,000/. a-year. Mr. HERAPATH continued. If the contract was as he stated, the company might yet have to sustain very great loss in regard to these boats. After making some desultory observations upon the various topics in the repart, he said he admitted that he was on the whole very well pleased with the document as well as with the statement of the chairman. Mr. 1:10yEs, auditor, said the rent paid to the steam-boat company was at the rate of 51. per cent. on their capital of 100,000/.—that would be about 5,0001. a-year. - , Hr. BAKER wished to know whether the boats were a prcfit or loss to the company. The CHAIRMAN said lie could not reply otherwise than that they were remunerative to the South-Western Company, but he admitted that arrangements might be made to make them contribute more to the receipts of the company.. Mr. CHAPLIN (director) said, Ant during the last five years they had netted by means of these packets no less a sum than 47,0001. He thought it would be most inju dicious to unfold the precise state of their relations with the stea.m-boat company at the present moment. Colonel HENDERSON assured the meeting, from his personal experience of the working of the packets, that it would be a most unwise step to get rid of them, as' tie profit they yielded to the railway was very consi derable. Captain MOORSOIf said, though he was no Sabbata rim, he hoped something would be done by the directors to afford an opportunity to the servants of the company to attend divine worship on Sunday. The CHAIRMAN replied that the directors were not insensible to the propriety of making some arrangement for that purpose. The subject had already occupied the attention of the board, and he hoped they would shortly be able to meet the views of the hon. proprietor. After some further discussion, the report was agreed to, and a dividend for the half year declared at the rate of 4 p3r cent. per, annum. The CHAIRMAN then proposed a resolution sanctioning the agreement which had been entered into for leasing the line proposed to be made between Wimbledon and Mitcham. Mr. BASER moved an amendment to the effect that the agreement be not sanctioned. Mitcham was only celebrated for its, geese, and now the directors proposed to make the shareholders geese, by getting them to sanc tion a branch, the only object of which was to benefit certain landowners in the neighbourhood. (Laughter.) He hoped the meeting would decide against proceeding with such an improvident undertaking. Mr. BEATTIE defended the scheme, and maintained that the refusal of the shareholders to confirm the agree ment would amount to a vote of want of confidence in the board. (Hear, and "No.") If repudiating the arrangements entered into by the directors became the order of the day, they would no longer possess honour and integrity as a railway company, and be enabled to keep in good terms with other companies. Mr. MORTIMER, a director, opposed the scheme, be ing of opinion that the company had already quite enough of branches in connection with the main line. A long discussion ensued, and on the question being Put the amendment was carried by a very large ma jority. _ A resolution was then passed authorising the direc tors to take such steps as they thought necessary in re gard to other projects. It was then proposed that the four vacancies at the board be filled up, upon which an amendment was moved, that the number of directors be reduced from 14 to 13. The resolution was lost on a show of hands. The amendment was then put as a substantive reso lution, upon which another amendment was proposed, that the four vacancies should be filled up, and that it should be a recommendation to the board not to fill up the next vacancy that should occur. The resolution diminishing the number by one, was carried by a considerable majority. The CHAIRMAN proposed that the poll on the question then before them, and for the candidates to be elected, should take place at the same time, it being understood that if the poll was in favour of the number being thir teen, the fourth on the poll would consent to retire. Another very irregular discussion took place on this subject, in which the Chairman was continually calling various shareholders to order ; and ultimately it was resolved that the poll should be taken upon the ques tions before the meeting separately, and that the meet ing be adjourned to Saturday next, to receive the report of the scrutineers as to the result, and then proceed to the transaction of the business left unconcluded. SPECIAL MEETING. The meeting was then made special, to consider the propriety of resuming the works on the Basingstoke and Salisbury line between Andover and Salisbury, and of applying to Parliament in the present session for an act to sanction the completion by this company of the entire line as authorised by the act of 1846. The . CHAIRMAN moved that the directors be authorised to complete the line between Andover and Salisbury, and to make such arrangements relative thereto, and to prosecute such applications in Parliament for the neces sary powers for its completion, as they should see fit. (Cheers.) Mr. WOOD opposed tho motion. - - - Upon the que;tion being put, Mr. LOCKE suggested that the further consideration of the question should be adjourned until Saturday, maintaining that unless the line was further extended into the west of England it would never pay one shilling to the company. After some discussion on the subject, in which it was contended that if they did not make the line some other party would, and most probably in opposition to them, the resolution was carried with two dissentients. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceed ings, which lasted nearly five hours and a half, and were only hastened to a conclusion by one or two messages that a party of 400 gentlemen were to dine in the room at half-past five o'clock, and that a large portion of the company had arrived. The Poll takes place this day and to-morrow, at the York-road station. EAST LANCASHIRE. The eighteenth half-yearly meetin g o f the East Lan cashire Compa n y was h e ld a t B ury , yes t er d ay afternoon• Mr. John Dugd a l e , of Blackburn, chairman of the di rectors, presided. The report, of whi c h we have 'before given an abstract, was taken as read. The Chairman said, when he last had the honour of addressing the shareholders, he stated that the property of this com pany was in a sound and improving condition, he trusted that they would now consider that that estimate was verified by the reports and accounts which had been placed in their hands. During the past half-year, all the arrears of calls upon shares had been received, and the account for all calls made up to that time had been closed. The mortgage-debt of the company had been increased during the past half-year by 13,9741. at 3 1 per cent. During the same peried they had paid off loans of 57,8901., at 5 per cent. ; 2,050/., at 41 per cent. ; and 24,8251., at 4 per cent. ; making a total of 24,7651., which had been replaced at 34 per cent. ; thus reducing he average rate of interest on the whole of their Mortgage debt by about one-eighth per cent. since June last. The directdrs were now refusing to take money at 31 per cent, for any period less than five to seven years. The chairman, after some further remarks in elucidation of the report, , concluded by moving the adoption of the report and accounts. Mr. Riley (di rector) seconded the motion, -which was carried with one dissentient. The chaitman then moved the divi dend' of 3 per cent, per annum on the ordinary capital stock to be payable, less dividend, on the 25th instant. Mr. Blacklock, a director, in seconding the motion, said when it was recollected that three years ago the com pany could hardly pay one per cent.--at least, he be lieved they , did not honestly.earn so much at the time— and that 'now they were able to divide 3 percent., which eernhad ofb but 90,0001. 10 w . ; hi a ls n t d the he was hone s tl y earned, there was sufficient evidence of the i mproving condition o f th e i r property. A shareholder 4 1 oilltohnis aclio dmpNanoyrthba-Wst had a reserve proposed they should divide 4 per cent. The original motion was c arr i e d unanimously. This concluded the business of the meeting, and a vote of thanks was given to the chairman. TAFF VALE. The half -yearly meeting of proprietors in this under taking was held yesterday (Wednesday) at the White Lion Hotel, Bristol ; W. Coffin, Esq., chairman of the company, presided. There was a numerous attendance. The report stated—" The balance of accounts enables your directors to declare a dividend of 41. 10s. on each original share of 1261., payable on the 7th of March next, and a dividend in the same proportion on the quarter and 101. shares. They have also applied the usual half yearly sum of 7501. to the depreciation fund." The report was adopted ; and the meeting having been made special for the purpose, a series of resolutions was then passed for converting the shares into capital stock. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the pro ceedings. RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. • in, • Tins GREATNORTHERN n.A.ILWAY.—TraffiC return for the week ending Feb. 6, 1853 (285 miles) £14,212 15 0 Correspondin g wee k l ast year (2414 miles) 11,491 10 0 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSIHRII RAlLWAY.—Traffic rer turn for the week ending Feb. 13, 1853 £17,038 10 9 Corresponding week last year 16,056 2 5 CHESTER AND . HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for railway and steam-boats for the week ending Feb. 13, 1853 Corresponding week last year 2,514 12 3 Increase in 185.3 £633 3 5 CORK AND BANDON RAILWAY.--Traffic return for the week ending Feb. 12, 1853 £147 19 9 Corresponding week last year 124 8 6 BATHING •IN THE DEAD SEA. ---Beyond Mebbee Moussa we came out upon the last heights overlookingthe Dead Sea, though several miles of low hills remained to be passed. The head of the sea was visible as far as the Rasel Feshka on the west, and the hot fountains of the Callirhoe on the eastern shore. Farther than this all was vapour and darkness. The water was a soft, deep, purple, hue, brightening into blue. Our road led down what seemed a vast sloping causeway from the moun tains, between two ravines, wa ll e d by c liff s se v e ral hun dred feet in height. It gradually flattened into a plain, covered with a white, saline incrustration, and grown with clumps of sour willow, tamarsh, and other shrubs, among which I looked in vain for the osier, or Dead Sea apple. The plants appeared as if smitten with leprosy, but there were some flowers, growing almost to the margin of the sea. We reached the shore about two Sea is 1,300 f ee t b e l ow th e M e dit eranean , an d without air so d T en he se h a ent sto by nen t as hi i s on tim pa e in w a a i s n m m o y st ea s r e a y . ere T , h a e n h D d e t ad e doubt the lowest part of the earth's surface. I attribute the oppression I felt to this fact and to the sultriness of the day, rather than to any . exhalation from the sea itself. Francois remarked, however, that, had the wind my face. The sea was moderatelneinwegalss: which by this time was veering round to the north east, blown from the south, we could scarcely have en dured it. The sea resembles a great cauldron, sunk be tween mountains from 300 to 400 feet in height, and, probably, we did not experience more than, a tithe of the summer heat. I proposed a bath, for the sake of experi ment, but Francois endeavoured to dissuade us. He had tried it, and nothing could be more disagreeable; we risked getting a fever, and, besides, there were four hours of dangerous travel yet before us. But by this outsbytleeet tO OO Iff sink te Ithexle. time we were half undressed, and soon were floating on the clear bituminous waves. The beaoh was fine gravel, t t n li ' di o neat lt a t . body ets w sb a e r i s s o e : i l e m iTq p hu half ia s t s : i and shelved gradually down. I kept my turban on my th , Vr te aon U t d o ld n g g r t a u i c ' e y ef l u t ik l l i l e y e head, and was careful to avoid touching the water with and soft evenan d sooth ing while swimming, to othe shtt s eah k ante i water. I should think it possible to dive for a short wdiasttearneise,sablutyt parnedfeprutnha]nst,omanedo experiment. With a log of wood for a pillow one might vpw sleep ieoi discomfort fo s r n t iar w ti li .n i:h s m en o s s a t ti t o r n a : . saltpetre. We were obliged to dress with all haste, r i t n i s o n , yuac as bruised vn v u e i e o e r r lll e y d e little wipingthi‘there r ie o o w f pfl a a t . Yellers have remarked.. Where the skin had been pre- ' and my body, felt clammy and glutinous, ' but the bath was rather refreshing than othepvisq.,A Journey from, i New York to Nineveh. _ POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET.—Mary Ann Evans, the keeper of a coffee-house and brothel in Wych-street, Strand, and Matthew Moore, her paramour, were placed at the bar before Mr. Henry, charged upon a warrant with vio lently assaulting and beating Jane Power, a servant-girl in their employ. Mr. Isaacson the vestry-clerk of St. Clement Panes, with the churchwardens and overseers of the parish, at tended to watch the case, with the view of founding an indictment against the defendants, upon the evidence elicited, for keeping a brothel. The prosecutrix, 'a young Irish girl, under 20, stated that she went to Mrs. Evans' service, at 42, Wych street, about a week ago. She was to be paid according to her " chances," receiving what mi g ht b e g i ven h er by the gentlemen who visited the house, some of whom came to see the ladies living there, while others brought ladies with them. She was in the habit of supplying coffee to the parties, and showing them into rooms. At about two o'clock yesterday morning two gentlemen came to the house, and they got drinking with the defend ants. Witness saw Mrs. Evans take up one of the half sovereigns which the gentlemen put down for gin, and no change was given back at any time. Mrs. Evans desired her to go to bed, but she and another servant both stopped up. They all went out, and came in again at about six o'clock, when her master (Moore), finding that she had not gone to bed, commenced beating her in a shameful manner—knocking 'her' about the face and head, and preventing her from going out of the room. At that time her mistress tried to prevent his beating her. They were both drunk. At length she got into the strdek, where a mob had assembled. She told the police what had happened, and was advised to apply for 'a warrant, but after going back to the house her mistress (Evans) laid hold of her by the hair of her head and dragged her about the room, beating and kicking her t all the while, until her cries of murder brought people to her assistance. It was evident that the witness (who was taken to the hospital) had been severely bruised and beaten; and a little girl, who ran into the house on hearing the screams, confirmed her statement as to the assaults committed tiy Evans. Mr. Henry fined each of the defendants 51., or two months' imprisonment in default. Evans, producing a box full of sovereigns, paid the fine immediately, upon which, Mr. Isaacson, on behalf o f th e parish, applied to have the woman held to bail to answer an indictment at the sessions. There was every desire on the part of the pa 'rochial authorities to suppress these horrible dens of infamy, but it was usually a matter of - difficulty to get the requisite evidence to enable them to do so. Mr. Henry, considering the statement 'of the witness Power to be conclusive on this point, ordered the woman to find two sureties of 201. each, and enter into her own recognisance in 401. to appear at the sessions. A tradesman, residing at the back of the house occu pied by the defendants, and who, with his neighbours, were kept in a constant state of alarm by the disturb ances going on in their place, stated that the male de fendant had threatened "to do for him, at any cost, within six months," for interfering with the affray ; and as he was a dangerous person, witness wished to have him bound over to keep the peace towards him. Moore was then ordered to find sureties in the same amount to keep the peace for six months. The defendants were both committed to prison in de fault. A coal dealer, named Hubert, living in the Adelphi, was summoned for having sent out a quantity of coals without a weighing machine. The defendant was convicted and fined 51., his wor ship having mitigated the penalty to one half. Mr. Henry has received an intimation from Mr. Sheriff Croll that 25 chaldrons of coke would be placed at his disposal (for the use of the deserving poor), at the works of the Central Gas Company, on Bow-common. We believe it is the intention of his worship to have the coke (about 300 sacks) carted to some convenient spot in the neighbourhood of the court. MARYLEBONE. Thomas Machett was ags r in brought up, charged with having murdered Eliza Lee by drowning her in the Regent's canal. The prisoner was remanded for the production of a bargeman; who, it was reported to the police, could . throw some further light upon the case. LAMBETH. —Mr. William Anthony Friend Burlton Bennett, of 14, St. James's-place, St. James's, attended to answer to a summons, which charged him with assault ing Mr. John Hastings Touchet, a gentleman of fortune, residing at Parkston, near Poole, in Dorsetshire, and also making use of abusive and threatening language. When the case was called on, Mr. Davis, on the part of his client, consented to his client's entering into his own recognisances to be of good behaviour towards the complainant for twelve-months, if that would satisfy the complainant and his legal advisers. Mr. Clarkson thought that Mr. Davis had exercised a sound discretion in making the proposition, but he feared the magistrate could not order the defendant to find the required bail without first hearing a statement of the circumstances ; but this he (Mr. Clarkson) should make as briefly as possible. Mr. Davis observed that the whole question, and that which they were most anxious to avoid, was the state ment. Mr. Elliott intimated that he could not call on the defendant to find bail until some circumstances were stated before him to justify his doing so. The complainant, Mr. Touchet, was then called into the witness box, and the oath having been administered to him in the usual form, he deposed that on the after noon of Monday, the 24th of last month, he was at the Waterloo station of the South-Western Railway, and while in conversation with Mr. Paul, who, like himself, was waiting for the train to start, he received a violent push, which drove him with great force against Mr. Paul, and the consequence was, that gentleman was driven with considerable violence against the train. On turning round, he found the defendant close to him, making use of the most violent and threatening language towards him. Mr. Elliott _From the defendant's conduct and the language which he used, do you go in fear, or apprehend further violence from him ? Mr. Touchet—Certainly I do. Samuel Norwood, an officer in the employment of the South-Western Railway Company, confirmed the com plainant's evidence. Mr. Davis--Did you see Mr. Touchet speak to a lady in the railway carriage ? Witness —No, no t M r. Touchet, but M r . Paul,' I think, was speaking to a lady in the coupe. , Mr. Davis--Was that Lady l—Witness —Yes, sir, I believe it was. . Mr. Clarkson—For God's sake, don't mention the name of the lady, when she had nothing on earth to do with the present case, or the causes from which the pre sent complaint has arisen, Mr. Elliott here said he had heard quite enough to call on the defendant to put in bail • and as th e comp l a i nant and his legal a d v i sers were satisfied with his own recog nisances' he would m ere l y request that he enter into his personal surety in 1001., to keep the peace towards the complainant for twelve months. The defendant entered the required security, and the parties left the court. The parties engaged used every effort, when applying. for the summons, and during the hearing of the case, to conceal the real cause of dispute and annoyance, but sufficient oozed out to show that, some time ago, the complainant eloped with the wife of the defendant, and the latter had since recovered large damages in an action of trim: con, from the former. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT BRISTOL.—BRISTOL, FEB. 15. —Last night, about half-past 10 o'clock, a very alarming and destructive broke out on the premises occupied by Messrs. King and Coombs, opticians, and Mr. Ha m . mond, solicitor, in Clare -street. The flames spread with fearful rapidity, and, notwithstanding an alarm was im mediately given at the different stations of the insurance companies, and a large body of police was also promptly on the spot, the entire building was speedily one mass of fire. An observatory at tached to the premises, and which was chiefly com posed of wood, was rapidly destroyed, and it was not till the whole place was completed gutted that the con flagration c louts e bagot under, an d nothing but the bare walls wereeding. The inhabitants of the adjoin ing pemist remises, Mr. Morgan, statione r , an d Mr. Dyer, ch, were greatly alarmed, and the former had a large amount of property removed from his house, as at ono time it was thought impossible to save it ; but, by the efforts of the firemen and police, beyond slight in juries, the destruction of property was confined to the premises in which the fire first originated. The cause of the fire has not been ascertained, nor the precise the amount of th e d amage done. We are informed both stock and premises were insured. SUICIDES ON WATERLOO -BRIDGE.— wanted to know about ? said Waterloo. Ha ! Well, he had seen a good deal of that work, he did assure us. He had prevented some. Why, one day a woman, poorish looking, came in between the hatch, slapped down a. penny, and wanted to go on without the change! Water loo suspected this, and says to his mate, "Give an eye to the gate," and bolted after her. She had got to the third seat between the piers, and was on the parapet just going over, when he caught her and gave her i the police-office next morning she said it was n charge. At trouble and a b a d husband. "Likely enough," along ofobserved Waterloo to P ea and myself, as he adj us t e d hi s c hi n i n his shawl. " There's a deal of trouble about, you see— F and b a d h us b ands too I" Another time a young woman, at twelve o'clock in the open day, got through, darted along, and, before Waterloo could come near her; jumped upon the parapet, and shot herself over sideways. Alarm given, watermen put off, lucky escape. Clothes buoyed her up. " This is where it is," said Waterloo. "If people jufnp off straight forards from the middle of the parapet of the bays of the bridge, they are seldom killed by drowning, but are smashed, poor things ; that's what they are ; they dash themselves upon the buttress of the bridge. But, "you jump off," said Waterloo to me, putting his forefinger in a button hole of my great coat, " you jump off from the side of the bay, and you'll tumble, true, into the stream under the arch. Wh a t y ou h ave go t to do, is to mind how you jump in 1 There was poor Tom Steele from Dublin. Did n 't di ve Bless you, didn't dive at all I Fell down so flat into the water, that he broke his breastbone, and lived two days !" asked Waterloo if there was a favourite side of his bridge for this dreadful purpose ? He reflected, and thought yes, there was. He should say the Surrey s id e. Three decent-looking -1 kin men went through oils day, s o b er l y and quietly, and g and went - on abreast for abo'ut a dozen yards ; when the middle one, he sung out, a ll o f a sudden, "Here goes, Jack !" and was o ver i n a m i nute. Body found ? Well, Waterloo didn't rightly recollect about that. They were compositors, they were.—Diekenir " Household Words." MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS' ST NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REG IOP 33 IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, ro • Zymotic Diseases ......................................... • ..... 9 4 Diseases of Uncertain Seat Tubercular Diseases ....................................... 14 / Diseases o f th e B ra i n. N erves, an d Senses ......•••••' 4o Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels .............. Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs ° sli Respiration .............................. . Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other 01'P' 56 of Digeston . . ... 16 ......................................... •• Diseases of the Kidneys, &c. ........ . ................ 16 Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus &c. ............... Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles ... . ... .• Diseases of the Skin, &c. , .... • Malformations ............................................... Premature Birth and Debility ........................... 1 1 Atr0phy................................................. .•••• Old Age Sudden . Violr ..... 0 ••••• IS iolenee, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance--• Causes not specified DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES .................... • 71 Population Deaths in cone'lo ; 10 Enumerated. sponding week Ife e of l* 2. 1 09 376,427 490,396 393,256 485,522 616,635 I, l° 623 613 West Districts North Districts Central Districts East Districts South Districts . Totals 970 Males... Females BIRTIIS IN TIIE WEEK. Males Females.. 849 804 _1,653 Total . COUNTRY MARKETS. EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET—FE B ' 16.' 0 1 There were in the market to-day, 5 sacks ostn letili weighing 2801bs imperial, which sold at 308. MARg' EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW , FEB. 15. lsrg e ' Supplies of all kinds these last six days again 16 ito Oat straw, from 6 s Od t o 7 s 6d per k em ple to ol , tron ; wheat do., 6s Od t o 7 s Od ; b ar l e y do., 4s u a Hay from 8d to 10d per stone. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET—F .O . 14 ' 0 4, 1 There were in the market to-d a y 18 bags ° OO e i v bag of barleymeal, and 2 b ags . p o t-b ar ley ; ,11. _alit! 001 The top of oatmeal 6d per b ag u p, sec ond clut ir be t y per bag up, and the lowest 2 s 2d p er b a g up ; " — A lso the same as last week on the top, and pot -bailey .4 same as last week. , 0 1 41 Oatmeal / per sack of ' 2801bs First. SecunZ tri 0 imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto ° Flour, per ditto — s Od. —0 ,Od ...4 Pot-barley, per ditto KIRKCALDY—FEB. 12. The following are the quotations for grain :--- pi Wheat. I Barley. Oats. lOs 6 4 First Second sos Od 1 Sls Od ' 20s Od 108 Third 468 Od 29s Od 19s Od „„„ Bi3 Oatmeal, per bag of 801bs imperial, 29a Od to uv" COAL MARKET—IrEs. 16. . • Prices of Coal per ton at the doss of the Inar ke ' • f• lg Hetton .................. • • • 1 9 Haswell ............•••" Lambton ............... ••1: Pensher .. . .... . .......... Russell's Netton•• .... Stewart's .. . ............. Heugh Ha 11....... •••••". 1: South Kenos .......... Whitworth ............. •••''l6 •Clavering Tees . ..... ••• :19 Tee 5..................... d. H01ywe11...... . l7 6 North Percy Hartley .„ _l7 3 Tanfield Moor l6 0 Wylam.. 16 3 WaWe End, &c. Gosforth 17 9 Harton l7 9 Riddell l7 9 Eden Main 18 0 Lambton Primrose lB 0 Bell .. .. ..................... 18 0 lmont .................. .. 18 0 Ships at market •4 I Sold ............ RAILWAY SHARE' MARKETS• LIVERPOOL, FEB. 16. trong orj STOCK EX O HAN4B.—The share market was ';s good at the opening, . but the transaction s boo, 0 , day were dull, and geerally at prices slightlYwearv-114 quotations of yesterday. The .closing isles th a t , '..1": 4 4 cashire and. Yorkshire, 79A ; Lancaster and C,,sr,.""Qa* s hares, 131 p. ; Lancaster and Preston, 51; N or th p ier , shares, issued at 4/ 14s d., 26A •; London and ern, 1201 ; Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln, a '9° ..;› land, 78i ; North British, 9 ; South Eastern h an it her Dute 24k; York and North Midland, 30A ; dn. MANCHESTER, FEB• 16 ' tof un STOCK EXCHANGE.There was is fad' 3 be tter, ness, but .prices though the ed l' ther tion 6 i not so firm a the close. 7ci,laireosJ'Ec tilhe°l Caledonian, 32k . • Eastern Couuti , 1 0 g,;_ I,2 a joi 19 546 ; Leeds Block, 79A ; London stoeK, ;Shed 31; ; Midland, 791 ; Dovers, 241 ; whitehave n ness, 7i. LEEDS, FEB. 16. 0 STOCK EXCHANGE.—There was a still fa .. 4. .-1 er oso'• went in shares thi s morn i ng, an d th e market -.T el r at the followin g quo t a ti o ri s : —L aneas hire and I° 2ll. 79i ; Caledonians, 33 ; Northern Counties irnil: dis. ; Midland stock, 1198 ; L ee d s N o rtherns, 1v BIRMINGHAM, FEB. 16. a. . me r ci STOCK EXCHANGE.—This market was ; A n r ei and prices advanced a s h a d e . Birmingham A • Junction (calls duly paid) were done at 301 bury and Birmingham Preference share° av galn i , South Staffords at The "report" of th e t be °4,11' Sheffield, and Lincolnshire h a s not y e t reache, " "" ar e t° o o l ' holders, but pa r ti cu l ars o f it b ecame known and caused some dis a pp o i n t men t ; sufficient, it W to further depress the old stock. • (N signifies that the mail s are s e n t fr ont the Gen d el rP° by the night—and I[ by the morning —dispatch.] SEABORNE MAILS. dy the night—and X by the morning--dispatch. ] r" tt wilitt Y • . Day when made up non' COUNTRIES. in General Post - r ° 4 o d. Office, London. 1211 5 V5.........- o il' .... - ...,n0 l ." America(byßrit.pack)N Every Friday .... Live b , 6 1 America (by,United Sts. ". le packes) ... •. .. ..N Feb. 24 ........ .., LiverPu hl _ 5 , ~,, re America (13 . 3 , U States P t bani I ' . 4 packet) •••• • ~ ..N Feb. 16 .......... Son ril l 1 Australia (via South. • TharaP taa lg t .1 ampton) .....• ....M 4th of March .... Son.. . .. Ditto (via Marseilles) N Bth of March .... Dover .... gialf Ditto (vla Cape o f Good uth .• fe lt ' 0 Hope) .. .. .. • ....N 22d of February .. Piro° 0 .. Africa (West Coa s t).. N 23rd of the month. Plru°tl .• sOO ..IP, of t Alexandria...... ....N 8,9, 24,& 30 of m. DoYer "pia' . 0 0 ' Belgiumß Alexandria . aham u. : .. ... .... ... ... ... ... ... .. ~. „M M IT 4th & 20th of mon. Soutlidut4oo i d i Buenos Ayres „... , „ 2nd of the month South/ 111 w .. V 5,1; Id 9th of the month:. Sou thal l •• l ei M 9th of the m .• 0 . i . it . h . .. • DSoitiTtebraul.:rig fly -D . 116 0 4 Cape of Good Hope ..N 14th of the month F ly i no.- . . .. 00 , Cape of Good Hope _l4 2nd of Apr a ...... plynion t i; .. 0 Cape de Verds .... .N 14th of the month. FlYt° °a elt , ~, Ceylon (se.e India) .. . oath 0 I Ceylon.— ... .. ...N 14th of the month Mut , i tel OP Channel Isles.: ......N Mon ,Wed ,&Fr'd. Sonat a — 40 0 .6 Chili Id id Bcl7th of month Seutharor .. 1 fe h ° China (see India) Constantinople... .. ..N 7,8,17,24,&27 of m ...* jee 7 ' Dover ::ton TO l 4 Constantinople .... „IA 4th & 20th of mon South''' . • r elP Cont. of Europe M & N Twice daily .....• M yer .• .. . 1 41-16 Egypt (see India) ...- t .., Fiance Gibraltal: .: .. : . :!. & ..3I N 4 Tw , 7 1 , c 1 e 7 d , 2 a 0 11 , y 2 . 7 . 0 . im .. . o . l)2ulth--irarn..P : o o :4 l oo t a- ' l6# ( Greece, (see India) • fitban til ofc a l/ Greytown ..........M 2nd & 17th of mon. , o- n. • l it ' /. Hamburgh , ..........N Tuesday & Friday L ondo_ . „40 00 0. 1 , Flavannah ..........M 2nd of the month South" 7 fet''.o, Holland ............ M Wednesday & Sat. Lonelt ri ptouyeDio ' Honduras .........M 17th of the month. So ut „ort °a . )4° .0 India (viaSouthampt.)M 4th & 20th of mon . Sont" .. .• „el . ' India (via Mar se ill es )M Bth&24th of month Dover . to ' 1 1, lonian Isles (see India). • a.. e l '' 1 6 an1y4 1,4 toll' . P. li Ireland .......X & N Twice daily .....• -- e i n urP - „ye rep Li iben ..............M 7,9, IT, & 27 of m. Sou•:, aro pto ) 14 Madeira .... • ........M 9th of the month goo tu ou tp •• ~ 0 tg, Madeira ............ N 23rd of the month VI M ~ e- 6 f Malta (see India) .•• .. 1 D. f 0 4 1" Malta ..............N 7,17,19,27, 30 of m. borer 4 14 , Mauritius (see India) ~,011 „ , 14'„ 9; in- to.. ti' to Mauritius ..........N 14th of the month 11 . 3 %. hu inP O JO Mexico ............M 2nd of the month.. S°u— r,,,ver • "i:vt ' ce.„ Naples.... N sthlsth2sth,oftnon ~- . h oP _ t o) D ?. . ........ s o w. ..., le •ie New Granada .. .. .. M 2d & 17th of month rio u. r•• int , 0 New Zealand.. .. . • •• .. By private ship • • _ Va , ye r • • ';0 . 1 .1' ,.' o'l6 Papal States ........ N sth ls th2sthofmon. u" . , 0 01 , , 00 r ep , I Peninsula .. .. .. .. .. M lth l 7th27tholmon. So!: th nin P . f. D , 9 0 Peru ..............3.1 2d & 17th of mon 40 " „ o ut* .. 4 . : 0 , . 1 Port Natal ..........N 14th of the month Do v er '.' f et ,, , Sicily ..............Nsthlsth2sthofmon, er • • 02 . 1 1 1 ar Tu'cany ............N sth l sth2sthofmon. , v ~s tn un, p ,6 Venezuela ........ —ld 2d & 12th of month ''' f op' Van Diemen's Land (see ptoi3, West Indes Austral i a) .......... h ° ........M 2d & 17th of month Sou f) e" .tcrig ° ' e tt l W yatt, DIED. , o f '' 40 0 On the 14th in.st at Puckpool, I sle 0 06, 0103 ' 0 , Tat, E sq . aged. ;i 6. On the 14th inst at Da lesford-boue°' 6g go r, . A 0 Sir Charles Imhoff. " Y On the 15th inst ,at Stocks, near Bryn 9a ag e- .1 Gilbert Winter, Esq.. _.:ncuo , r ei i vitrx- ; ger On the 13th inst. ,at Woodlands, . ,1 0 Ao John Haslam, Esq ;OP' 100 On the 14th inst . at Little WoolWl' ta e -0 fie " aged 51, John Stuart Esq j . b 8 0 , 20 4 , 1 Child, °a Esq., 1 ., 2th inst , at "Tei gool on.- , 00 , _,, e l, eldest daughter of the late Sir a ff . 11° Or race' ag ed On the 10th inst ,in Gloucester-to/4c, 1), formerly . a distiller in 8° y 6 ll .. „ 0 .. g 90 j.low, ..—.—......___ LONDON : Printed and Published by f t ; - 0 , -. -4 1'ciA r of No. 112, Strand,. griOer, o , t D te it( W . Strand, ix the Precinct of the Safut /44411107-s Thursday, Irobrtual 14 ".-- ...... __----,.....- / 10 BIRTHS. 4.1 ' ii , y i de OF A SON. ~ f t, , On the 14th inst., a t Wimbledon, t . ' - ''' . r Oliphant. . f C aPWI3 On the 31st nit., r -wife 0 , at Corfu, the j Y r Hamilton. X l9. OF A DAUGHTER. I, 0.. f On the 14th i ns t., a t S ou th se a, the / v 1 A. Boyle. P i : A. A' vn zne ittn inst., at Southsea, i'i l ' . ' I , '' A. Boyle. lio6, , e''' 1 / . MARRIED. b, Is oo _churc of th ° lf ter l ii, On the 10th inst., at St. Mary's Smart, the youngest son of Mr. Snlar t fA , s t dstig .vs f, io ,l road, to Caroline Martha French, '',l s th• be r ot';te French, Esq., surgeon, of Cambridgeill °te r, ,r,bt ,vi On the 13th inst., at St. James's, -r- '‘ r te , Aug'' M. Stracey, of Hatherleigh, to Char p oos daughter of Charles Woodleigh, Esc!" f,ll° Exeter. , r e ,