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

THE FATAL RAILWAY 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 city 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. Menem, 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 ter case—they should confine themselves, first, to tak ing 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 oceurred ; 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, 3lr. Mallam. Mr. Mallam—l cannot, sir, be properly instructed with Out my client. In all courts of justice he is allowed to attend, aid to suggest to his attorney matters which it is desirable to get at in evidence. Tlle 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 to 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 daylast, 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 Bicester by 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 143 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 fora. 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. , - ,W3T used 'it" - for - the conveyance of stone, 13allast, - 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 eng,ine. 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 tat" '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 a t the Islip station I asked the policeman if it was all right to go on, and he said that it was. We might have for seven or t en m i nu t es a t I s lip. W e t h ere stopped 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 telegraphic 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 ° t within seventy or eighty yards from th e wooden b r idge leading to Port Meadow, we saw the right s o f an approaching passenger train. At first I was not sure thatitwas a second train, but I looked again, and bein g - , _ satisfied that it was a „ train, I immediatelyjumped off. We were then going at about six miles an hour. We were slackening speed s et o p en a gain- before we saw the train comin. • whistle before I jumped off. I called out fire man that the train was coming, and told him t o nly i v - . off. His name is Samuel Wilcox. He told me imp 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 second, 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 whale of the traffic between Oxford and Islip is now canied 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 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. Elott'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 t 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 beard the guard's whistle. I called out to stop, as 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 Ishp 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 resorted to. 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 ihere s ri:Ona tfiree o'ehiCkuntif seven: At five o'clock a telegraphic message came from Islip to know if flie coal train might come on, and I asked Mr. Blott, and he said " ; it may come on immediately," and that answer was sent back to Islip. I left no direc tions with anybody whilst I went from the platform to see if the coal train was coming in. I was gone from the platform about 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 6ne 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—We 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., c. 156, sec. 53. From these it appears that the total number of benefices in England and Wales was 11,728 in 1850, and upon 8,214 of these there was a glebe house. It also 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 house ; making the total number resident 8,077. The total number exempted from residence was 1,36.1 ; but of thes e 329 per f ormed the duties of their 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 number exempted by license, on the ground of infir mity and other causes, was 674, of whom 176 were do ing duty in their parishes. Number non-resident with out license or exemption 917 * of whom 522 were doing the duties in their parishes. The number of sequestra tioas wa,s 51 ; and from 357 benefices no return was re . ved. LAW INTELLIGENCE. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY—JAN. 5. • (Before Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque.) IN RE LORD HIINTINGTOWER. 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 bankiuptcy. 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. Hums. Mr. Nias, for the assignees, resisted the apphcation. 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 sixpence s ." Th e 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 SI'N, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 6, 1853. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. MANSION-HOUSE.—Three men named Ashenford, Rusk, 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 after` yards found in his pockets two sovereigns, two half-sovereigns, and some silver. He threw some halfpence on the ground. Upon Rogers I found IL is. 4d., and upon Rush 2s. 2d. 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 mused it. The contents were between 6/. 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-lap, 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 Stowe, one of the servants of Mr. Games, butcher, of Cannon-street, was charged with having robbed his master. Mr. Games s aid 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 gills, who had been induced by a French man to go to Rouen, where they were subjected to ill treatment, esc aped 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 sinquireci.ifi she was the new Aervant. On her answering io the - affirmative, the de fendant remarked, " You have, no doubt, plenty of hard wprk here, wouhl'it not be better to come along with a person like me, and get 21. or 31 rather than remain starving here ?" Witness replied, "Na, sir, an honest shilling is worth, fifty ill-gotten,,g9unds." The defen-,, dant made no further observation for some minutes, when he asked her if she had ever seen a comet, as theie 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 tween 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 ade 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 testimony. Mr. Hammill said that the defendant had better re serve his evidence for another tribunal, as he had made up his mind to send the case before a jury, and the de positions having been completed, the defendant 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 Johnson, a person of gentlemanly and military appearance, who is known as Captain Johnson, was placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott, on a charge, as it appeared in the police-sheet, of conspiring with other persons not at present in cus tody to cheat and defraud Mrs. Sarah Stewart of several railway shares, of the value of 1,0001., and also with stealing two valuable gold seals, a diamond . ring, and other articles, the property o f the prosecutnx, 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 larger 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 let," 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, observing 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. Johnso n h a d b een res id en t a t h er h o t e l 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 to 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 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 101., and said if he had 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." " PA - LDIERSTON. 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. Mr. 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. Einns—He persuaded you to dispose of your shares intthe Brighton, South Coast, and the Eastern Counties Railways, of the value of 1,0001., 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 proceeds, when sold, t o 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 time, 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—lle 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. " 11. 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 ;—ln 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 week. These consist princi pally of deaths by poison, burns and scalds, hanging and suffocation, drowning, fractures and wounds ; and in this class 155 cases are enumerated in the present return. Sudden deaths also, comprising cases in which persons have been "found dead," where coroners' juries have been unable to ascertain the cause of death, or where it has been in i preperly l pir4tted to be reFoidsd, amount this, wkek to 48. ;There Ivas an fficrialie last 'week in the td mortality both of epidemic - dis eases an d o f di se ases of respiratorytire -6 and , Fatal c a k es o f ' scar l a ti na r ose again ( i ' i r o g st i:ls of . typhus to 51. Last week the births ,4 987 boys and 924 girls, in all 1,911 children, were re gistered in London. In the corresponding weeks of the ei4ht 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 10.1 deg. above the ave rage of the same week in ten years. The mean daily temperature was above the average throughout the week, and this excess on Sunday was 11.2 deg., on Monday 12.5 deg., on Tuesday, 5 . 7 deg., on Wednesday 8•1 deg., 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.—Th4managers of this interesting institution, in their second quarterly report, state the following circumstances, which in them selves, constitute 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 last report. The managers would that it were in their power to report that they had been enabled to afford employ ment to the whole of the 91 applicants ; but it is with pleasure reported that 48 have been employed, and some of them from the very first of their applying ; and their earnings have varied from 6s. to 10s. per week ; none being paid less than is. per day, even though they may not earn it, as is the case with many who are aged and infirm, and suffering from bodily disease. To those who have been employed on work sent to the Home, the sum of 401. 16s. 3d. has been paid ; and, in addition to this, several have received other sums from parties who have employed them at their own houses through the recom mendation of the institution. Out of 91 applicants placed upon the books, they have been able to afford employ ment only to 48, and that not to all constantly ; and, as will be seen by the balance sheet, they are, at the close of the quarter, indebted to the amount of 411. Bs. 2d. ; andadd, have been unable to fit up the pre mises taken, and which will accommodate 20 ie regret athey to ha ve inmates, each to enjoy a separate furnished sleeping apartment, with the use of the kitchen and workroom. They, therefore, earnestly appeal to the kind and bene volent, to help and assist them in carrying out this work and labour of love, that so they maybe enabled to afford that accommodation to 20 poor women instead of 4, which they have, at present, been only enabled to receive for which the institution is established, and which, as soon as possible, the managers are desirous of accom plishing." [ A DVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills for the Cure of Headaches, Bile, and Indigestion.—Extract of a letter from Mr. W. Folkes, Chemist, Hyde, near Manchester, dated 10th September, 1852. To Professor Holloway. am happy to inform you, that your pills and ointment have been of the greatest service to many per sons in this neighbourhood ; one in particular, who gay me an account of your pills in the most flattering tc2rms . : for a long time he was su bj ec t t o v i o l en t pains in his head, arising from bile and indigestion, from which he could obtain no relief u n til h e took some of yourinvalu able pills : by these means he was completely restored to health. Sold by all Druggists, and at Professor Hollo way's establishment, 244, Strand, LondoD. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 5. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane, K.C.8., Com mander-in-Chief of this port, proceeded this day on Admiralty leave. Rear-Admiral Fanshawe, C. 8., superintendent of the dock-yard, is consequently Acting Port-Admiral pro tem. Mr. Alexander Henderson, midshipman of the Furious steam-frigate, and Mr. Jenkin H. Thomas, midshipman of the Blenheim, passed examinations on board the Victory qualifying for the rank of lieutenant this day. The Fury, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Tatham, came into harbour this morning. Lieutenant Yonge, flag-lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Fanshawe, returned from leave this morning. The Sidon, 22, paddle-frigate, Captain - Goldsmith, has received orders to prepare for sea, and will proceed to Queenstown, and thence, it is reported, to the Medi- ,erranean. SHEERNESS, JAN. 4, Her Majesty's screw steam line of-battle ship Aga memnon, of 91 guns, 550-horse power, Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, will be completed in her internal fit tings by the dock-yard in about seven days, and will then be ready to receive fuel, ammunition, &c. Her Majesty's ship Monarch, 84 guns, guard-ship of ordinary, Captain Charles Hope, R.N.—The following commissions have been received, and taken up for this ship—viz., Lieutenant George B. Williams, July 3, 1840, vice Lieutenant Robert S. Moore, January 10, 1851, appointed to Rattlesnake, Commander Henry Trollope, fitting here (received). Second Master, Mr. Augustus F. Mugford, Nov. 9, 1848 (taken up). Her Majesty's sloop Rattlesnake, of 8 guns, Com mander Henry Trollope. Mr. T. Bourchier acting master, yesterday took up his commission to this vessel. The sailing tender Hart, tender to her Majesty's ship Waterloo, 120 guns, left here to-day in charge of Quar ter-master William Green, for Hardwich, for the purpose of conveying volunteers for the navy from Harwich to his port. On arrival they will be borne out on the Waterloo's books as supernumeraries for general service. Some excitement is being created here in consequence of a joiner in her Majesty's dockyard threatening the principal officers of this establishment with an action for the recovery of moneys which have been mulcted from his wages for neglect of duty. A solicitor has been em ployed by the joiner to bring the action, the result of which is, that the joiner has been discharged by Ad miralty order for not conforming to the standing rules— that is, if any mechanic, or other Krson ' has cause of complaint, he or they are at all times at liberty to send their petition to the Admiralty through the office of the Captain-Superintendent, when a proper investigation will be instituted by the authorities. Several public meetings of the mechanics have already taken place re lative to the above case. Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-frigate Cyclops having grounded on the cant near the White Buoy off the Isle of Sheppey, a survey of the depth of water was made, and it has been found that the water has shoaled considerably of late. In consequence, the White Buoy has been carried out in a north-east direction about 50 fathoms, thereby giving 14 feet water at low spring tides. The buoy referred to being one of the buoys laid down at the entrance of the Medway by Admiralty order, it is under the superintendence of the master attendant of this yard for the time being, as conservator of the river Medway. JAN. 5. Her Majesty's screw steam guard-ship Horatio, of 24 guns, and 250-horse power.—Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie has returned from Admiralty leave. Clerk Mr. C. W. Motherwell took up his commission for this ship yesterday. Her Majesty's guard-ship of ordinary, Monarch, of 84 guns, Captain Charles Hope.—Lieutenant George B. Williams, July 3, 1840, took up his commission to this ship yesterday, and obtained Admiral's leave—viz., four days. Her Majesty's sloop Rattlesnake, of 8 guns, Com mander Henry Trollope.—A serious accident occurred to a shipwright named Edward Mockett on board this vessel, by one of the dead-eyes of the foretopmast rigging falling from the foretop, striking him on his head, lace rating the scalp, and producing severe concussion of the brain. He lies at present in a very precarious state. A large number of shipwrights are engaged on this vessel, blocking out the bows and doubling her down five strakes on her bends with African oak timber and plank, so as to resist the ice. _ _ Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-sloop Barracouta, 6 guns, 300-horse power, Commander George Parker.— Lieutenant Thomas H. Collingwood, December 20, 1852, has taken up his commission for this sloop. WOOLWICH, JAN. 5. APPOINTMENTS. Paymasters--William H. Wiseman (1844), from the Valorous, 16, steam-frigate, at Devonport, to the Odin, 16, steam-frigate, at Portsmouth, vice Ramage ; George G. Nelson (1848), to the Valorous steam-frigate, vice Wiseman. Masters-Assistants—Charles Leigh, to the Victory flag-ship, at Portsmouth ; C. W. Stevenson, to the Rattlesnake, 8, store-ship, fitting at Sheerness for the Behring's Straits expedition. Clerks—James T. Turner (1851), to the Encounter, 14, screw steam-frigate, at Portsmouth ; F. F. Evers field, to the Odin steam-frigate ; J. J. M. Lyon, to the Magicienne, 16, steam-frigate, at Devonport. Models of ice -saws, with improvements suggested by Mr. Abernethy, have just been completed at the factory at Woolwich Dockyard, by order of the Lords of the Admiralty. Mr. Abernethy was with Commander In glefield in his recent voyage to Smith's and Jones's Chan nels, in the Isabel, and with Captain Sir James Ross, as ice -master, in the Enterprise, and was four years absent in the Arctic regions ; and his long experience enables him to judge of the best description of saws for making way through the ice of the polar regions. STATE OF TRADE. (From the Manchester Guardian, of yesterday. ) MANCHESTER, JAN. 4.—The receipts of cotton at the American ports to the 22d ult. were, for the last week, 124,355 bales, against 92,815 last year, and the total, 1,126,000, against 747,000 • whilst the exports to Great Britain were, for the week, 44,000, against 24,000, and the total, 403,700, against 235,000. Advices from Liverpool, of the 4th ult., reporting a rise of id. per lb., appear to have co-operated with alleged indications of a falling off in the receipts, to occasion an advance of ie. to if c. per lb. at New York, and fully Ic. at New Orleans ; but at the same time freights receded Ad. per lb., being done at id. According to the accounts from which this statement is taken, the quotation for mid dling, at New Orleans, on the 18th, rose to 840. to 9c. ; but some letters say that later telegra phic announcements from that port show the price to have reached 9jc. People here do not well know what to make of these advices. It is felt that the improvement on this side, reported in letters of the 4th December, was hardly adequate to produce such an effect ; certainly not, if it be true that the price had risen to 91. Some parties are consequently inclined to think that there may be truth in certain state ments that the river boats are not now nearly so well filled with cotton as they were of late, and that the receipts will shortly exhibit a considerable falling off. It is also stated, in some communications, that the staple is pot,. equal to .that., of last year. The ge nera aispositkon on our ESEALaTtigI, hbwever,Jis to recur to past experience in regard to similar statements ; and the_ effect of such reminiscences it; there or lest of distrust as to the alleged facts, althoughlt is admitted that the un usually early dispatch of the crop'town to the shipboard has - probably led us to reckon upon a larger total supply. than will be ultimately realised. "While, therefore, spin ners and manufacturers are so far influenced - is - to manifest an increase of firmness in most articles, and to decline, offers for some things which would have been accepted last week, the buyers are not at all disposed to move in an upward direction. The only exceptions seem to be light 7-8 printing cloths, and 40-inch shirtings of the China quality, which are practically a fraction dearer. Domestics do not yet improve. Most other goods con tinue in fair demand, at the previous rates. The year opens with a cheerful confidence on all hands, without anything like undue excitement. ROCHDALE, JAN. 3.—The market has been thinly at tended to-day, and a very limited amount of business has been transacted. This is generally the case from Christ mas-day to the new market, which will be next Monday. Wool continues to be a little firmer, and English wool to be more scarce. HALIFAX, JAN. I.—The first market of the new year has not been numerously attended, and but few goods have changed hands, as the merchants are not willing to give the increased prices asked. Yarns are still advanc ing, though not in proportion to the advance of wool : and buyers, especially for the continent, are reluctant to accede to the demands of the spinners. There is a fair amount of business doing in wool, at improved rates. HUDDERSFIELD, JAN. 4.—Our market continues much the same as last week, not much doing in the hall, and most of the merchants being busy finishing their annual stock-taking. Parcels of job lots meet with purchasers, but at very low rates. BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 3.—The reports that have been spread of large and accumulating stocks of either raw or manufactured iron are utterly without foundation, many years having elapsed since stocks were so low, and the consumption so much in advance of the make. The result of the preliminary meeting held in Dudley on Thursday last, was the adoption of a middle course be tween those who oppose all progress and the ultra-san guine, who go for 121. per ton on maufactured iron. The prices have been declared as follow—Bar and rod iron, short weight, 11/, per ton • hoops, 121.; and sheet s, 131. It was also determined that a proportionate advance in the wages of the workmen should be given, to commencefrom the end of the fortnight required fo r giving notice. Coal and ironstone are also advancing in prices, and the wages of colliers and miners. Th e quarterly to meet ings will be held on the usua l da y s n e xt week, commence at Walsall on Tuesday the 11th inst. During the past week there has been considerable agitation in the metal market in Birmingham, and much inconvenience experienced by many manufacturers. On Tuesday, circulars were issued from the principal metal dealers, announcing an advance of 4/. 10. per ton in the price of tin. Coal advanced on the same day 2s. per ton. Iron reached 161. per ton on Thursday ; and a large ad vance on the price of copper was declared on Friday. The rise in the price of tin and copper is attributed to a scarcity of these articles. The demand for tinware for Australia is so great as to lesson the supply for home consumption, and the abandonment of the copper Agnes for the gold diggings by the workmen is assigned as a reason for the rise in that metal. The consequence of these advances has been the partial suspension of work by some manufacturers, who find it difficult to obtain a corresponding advance upon manufactured goods, or to execute contracts taken at former prices.—Aris's Bit , minghant Gazette. EMBASSIES ABROAD. (Prom. the Times.) It has been observed with some surprise that in the course of the last Ministerial arrangements, when there were avowedly more qualified candi dates for office than offices to be filled, no fresh appointments have been made in the diplomatic service, although some of the principal embassies and missions abroad are in a condition not unde serving the serious attention of the Foreign Secre tary. We do not by any means intend to recom mend that the representatives of her Majesty's Go vernment abroad should be subjected to the vicissi tudes of party warfare, and displaced by every change of Government at home. On the contrary, one of the greatest services rendered by Lord Aberdeen while he held the seals of the Foreign Department was his determination to resist mere party claims for diplomatic promotion, and to grant advancement in that branch of the public service mainly upon the ground of professional merit. The same principle has been professed, to a great extent, by his successors, and, accord ingly, Ministers like Lord Cowley and Sir H. Bulwer have continued to hold office under different Administrations, without reference to their private political connexions. But without prejudice to the undoubted claims of those distin guished persons, and of others who might readily be named, it cannot be denied that the personal qualifications of the members of the English diplo matic body might bo much higher than they now are, and that the consideration and influence of this country abroad would be raised if it were re presented by men of higher station in some in stances, and of greater ability in others. Whether we obtain the best services that can be procured or not, it is certain that the country pays handsomely for them • and though the f ore i gn Mi n i s ters of the United States, according to their own statements, invariably serve their Government at a loss, their political efficiency may be favourably contrasted with that of many of the Queen's largely remune rated envoys. If the diplomatic service held that rank in intelligence and political dignity to which it is fairly entitled, it would have been impossible for Lord Malmesbury to close his inglorious career at the Foreign -office by thrusting two members of his own family into considerable appointments, to which they had certainly no teiable claim but their relationship to the late Foreign Minister. In what other depart ment of the State would any member of Lord Derby's Government have dared to commit such ' an act of nepotism in the short interval between judgment and execution ? The Harris family owe everything to the diplomatic talents of their grand father, but their descent constitutes no claim to diplomatic employment ; and the recent nomination of these gentlemen is not so much an honour to their family as it is a stigma on the diplomatic pro fession. If our envoys and agents abroad are chosen from such motives as these, how is it possi ble that they should have the weight which their position requires ? Although we are reluctant to reflect on men who must be supposed to have laboured according to their ability, we cannot but think that under the present Government Lord John Rnssell might select some foreign ministers better qualified to transact the business of the country than those who now represent it ; and in some instances the want of abler men is glaring and urgent. Lord Stratford's long acquaintance with the East, and well-established reputation at the Porte, probably render him the fittest man we possess to be the Queen's Ambassador at Constantinople. But Lord Stratford absent from his post on leave, and was supposed at one time to be destined for other employ ment. It would therefore be highly desirable to ascer tain either that he is soon to return to his duties, or that a successor will be appointed. Already dur ing his absence several occurrences of more than usual importance have taken place in Turkey. The contest between French and Russian influence, under the names of the Latin and Greek churches, with reference to the holy places in Palestine, is flagrant. The financial condition of the Porte is precarious, and the temper of the present Ministers of the Sultan may lead to dangerous acts of indis cretion. Hostilities are going on upon the Albanian coast against a tribe in which the Court of Russia has always asserted a peculiar interest, and the intentions of France both on Tunis and on Syria are by no means clear. But under all these peculiar circumstances, the embassy has remained for some months under the sole care of Colonel Rose. At Vienna Lord Westmorland is deservedly esteemed, by the Government to which he is accre dited, but the frequent recurrence of scandalous outrages on the persons of British subjects in the Austrian dominions, and the absurd misconceptions evidently entertained by Austrian statesmen on many points of British policy abroad, are not credit able to that mission. In fact, when such things happen without the fault of the person who suffers by them, we are inclined to regard the British Minister under whose protection that person is living as fairly open to censure. He is sent _ out to afford protection to British subjects, and if he cannot obtain that amount of respect for the rights of his countrymen abroad, or even keep innocent men out of the common gaol, it is time that the mission should be altogether withdrawn, or filled by a more resolute envoy of the Crown. In diplomacy, to fail in attaining any just and proper object, when a man speaks in the name of England, ought to be an unpardonable offence. Meanwhile, however, we continue to receive fresh evidence of the unparalleled ill treatment to which Englishmen are exposed in the Austrian dominions. The case of Mr. Newton will be found, as related by himself, in another column,—and many other instances have occurred within our own knowledge, of most offensive interference with the personal liberty of travellers against whom no shadow of suspicion could be directed. Upon demanding re dress from the Imperial Government the Ministers of the Crown invariably affect ignorance of the whole transaction, and lay the blame on the police or the military authorities ; but, whoever the authors of these outrages may be, the authority thus abused is that of the Sovereign, and it is im possible to doubt that an absolute Government has the means of terminating them altogether. In the case of Austria there would probably be some ad vantage in reverting to the old practice of appoint ing an ambassador to that Court whose rank gives him personal access to the Sovereign for the Em peror Francis Joseph i s hi s own Prime Minister, and nothing is more important in absolute countries than to be able to appeal to the highest authority. tiu'psz, Lord Co w l e y h as very proper ly been con rmed by the present Ministry, ,for, he has dis charged thepifies of in — unPleasant,positivl with great tact; and has received expressions , of un bounded confidence and regard from Louis Napo leon, witholit- allowing his 'min judgment to be warped by the external aspect of affairs. Of the respective legations of St. Petersburgh and Berlin we shall only say, that at the present time the highest political capacity would not be misemployed in cementing our relations with those Courts and in sounding their views on the present state of affairs ; but the highest political capacity cannot in reason be attributed to the gentlemen who fill those offices. We wish to deal lightly with such shortcomings, if there be any, for nothing is more remote from our purpose than to give these observations the sting of personal animadversion. They are intended to apply to the inadequate power of some of those agents who are engaged in conducting the affairs of the country abroad, and who are, therefore, removed from the habitual control of public criticism. But they are also intended to urge upon the Govern ment the necessity of energetic ameliorations of the system, if the interests of our countrymen are to be thoroughly protected, and if this country is to maintain its position in the general transactions of Europe. FUNERAL OF TILE PROVOST OF ETON.—ETON, TUES DAY.—The mortal remains of the late Francis Hodgson, 8.D., Provost of Eton, were this day interred in the -- same vault in which lie the ashes of the late Marquis of Wellesley and Pro vost Goodall. The funer al obsequies wer e of a strictly private character , in compliance with th e e xpressed wishes of the deceased. The procession left the Provost-lodge at twelve o'clock, passed through the quadrangle and by the Long-walk to the east entrance of Rev. s Coke, the Hon. the College Chapel. The chief mourner George Coke, and the other relatives a n d Was the inirollalinecin, Henry deceased who followed were—Mr. Francis friends of the als o th at e te H nd o e n d . C G a e p e t r a g i e n D D en e m nm an a , n oap th ta e Mr. Thos. A. Soley. The procession Taylorwas gerivall' and by all the officers of the college. thedral it was met at the entrance On arriving at the ca- Francis Plumptre, M.A., the _ ranee by the Rev. John John Dupois, M.A , and the Rev. John Wilder, the Rev. George Rowney Rev. Thomas Carter, M.A., Green, M A , the Rev. George the Rev. Charles S. ' II M.A., fellows of the college • the Rev. Stirling F. Mea,,l;he.;'. Ad the a d ward Craven Hawtre arrirn, conducts ;th d -n , Edward Coleridge, M.A.,D.D., the Hon. and Rev. Henry. C. „C ust and the Rev. William Canning, canons of 'Windsor. The Rev. head muster, the Rev. William Griffin Cookesley, M.A., the Rev. Stephen Thomas Ha wtre y , and other as sistant masters w ere also present. The service was im pressively read by the Rev. Jo hn Francis Plumptre, assisted by the Rev. Stirling Frederick Mars h a ll . T he following is i nscr ib e d on the plate of the coffin :—" Fran ciscus Hodgson, 5.T.8., hujusce collegii prwpositus, natus die Novembris decim o sexto, A.D. 1781 ; obit die Decembris vicesimo nono, A.D. 1852." CARLOW.—A Mr. John Alexander has accepted the invitation of some of the ultra-Tories of Carlow, and offers himself as their champion in opposition to Mr. Sadher in that borough. That the Tories are serious in their opposition would appear from the selection they , have made, Mr. Alexander enjoing some share of popu larity as a good Protestant landlord, and being, therefore, a man who might be able to decoy a few Liberal votes ; but he has not the slightest chance mind Mr. Sadlier. MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS. NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JAN. 1. Zymotic 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 3l Atrophy 2l Old Age Sudden 43 Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 155 Causes not specified 228 64 189 170 66 DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES Population Enumerated. 1851. . 376,427 ~ 490,396 393,256 . 485,522 ~ 616,635 Deaths in corre sponding week of 1852. 205 ... 250 ... 194 ... 285 363 53 16 6 9 West Districts . North Districts . Central Districts East Districts ... South Districts . Totals Males Females 2,362,236 1,297 . 1,308 Deaths in the Week. . 171 . 240 . 220 . 335 . 342 BIRTHS IN THE WEEK, Males.... Females, 1,308 • 715 • 593 Total 987 924 1,911 RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS. THE GREAT NORTHERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic return for the week ending Dec. 26, 1853 (2851 miles) £15,527 15 8 Corresponding week last year (2414 miles) 10,080 2 6 LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. —Traffic re turn or 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-buts for the week ending Jan. 2, 1853 Corresponding week last year 2,476 16 8 Increase in 1853 21,04012 0 GLASGOW AND SOUTH-WBSTERN RAILWAY.--Traffic Te. 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-lAN. 4. There were in the market to-day, 5 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801bs imperial, whereof 4 sold thus :-1 at 11 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 7s Od to 8s Od per kemple of 16 stones tron ; wheat do., 6s Oct to 7s Od ; barley do., 5s Od to Os Od. Hay from 8d to 10d per stone. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET-JAL 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 Pot-barley, per ditto —a Od. I—s Oct I --s Od 28s Od I—o Od —s Od :ET—JAN. 5. Le close of the market : a. (1. ..19 3 ..19 3 ..19 3 ..18 0 _l9 0 ~.19 3 ~19 0 ~.19 3 _l6 0 COAL MAR Prices of Coal per ton at t Bate's West Hartley.— Carr's Hartey Davison's West Hartley Tanfield Moor West Hartley West Wylam Trader Wall's End, &e Northumberland Walker s. d. 16 0 Braddyll 16 0 Hetton 16 0 Lambton 16 0 Lumley 10 6 Russell's Hetton 15 0 Stewart's Cassop 16 0 Heugh Hall.. 18 0 Whitworth Ships at market 3B I Sold RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 5. STOCK EXCHANGE. Quotations were rather lower to-day, and closed as follows :—Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Cheshire (late Chester and Birkenhead), 22i ' • Chester ' and Holyhead, 231 • Eastern Counties, 13$ ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 85 ; ditto, Fifths, 3$ dis. ; Lancaster Preston (three-fourth shares, issued at 12/ 10s) ; 43 a . ditto (fel - 1,-th shares, issued at 4/ 14s), 244 ; rb .nnt " Crosby, ani Southport, 18,i ; London and North Western; 126 ; Manc heater, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 31; Midland, 804 ; North. British, 10 3-16; South Eastern and Dover, 254 ; York., Newcastle, and Berwick, 184 ; York and North Midl wid, ; Great Northern (10/ scrip shares, 4/ per cent.), .g p. ; London and South Western Thirds, 9 : i prem. MANCHESTER, JAN. 5. STOCK E KCHANGE.—There was a rather large business, but prices were a shade lower at the close. Dublin and Belfast Jun cation, 2A dis. ; Leeds, 85/ ; ditto, Fifths, 31 d ; East Lancasb ire, 191: London stock, 126 ; Sheffields, 30i ; Dovers, 25f ; Chesfiire Junction, 6 dis. ; Midlands, 80r ; Blackburn .P.ref., 251 ' • Caledonian Pref., 101; Eastern Counties, 1:4 ; Edinburgh and Glasgow, 39/ ; Sheffield new Pref., p. ; Great Northern, 43 per cent., 3 p. BIRMINGHAM, JAN. 5. STOCK EX.CHANGE.—There was not much business doing in this market to-day, but prices were firmer. LEEDS, JAN. 5. STOCK E:KCHANGE.—There has been no great fluctuation in the share market this morning, though former prices are barely supported. The closing prices were as follows : —Lancashire and Yorkshires, 81i ; Midland stock, sob North British, 10/ 3s 9d. SEABORNE MAILS. (N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-ofilc by the night—and M by the morning—dispatch.] Day when made up From what When COUNTRIES. in General Post- Port due. Office, London. Dispatched. --------- America (byßrit.pack.N Jan. 7 - - ... ... Liverpool ... Jan. 10 America (by United Ste. packet) ..........N Jan. 11 America (by U States packet) ...........N Jan 5. Australia (via South ampton) ... ........ hi 20th of each month Southampton Jan. 24 Ditto (via M*nrseilles N 24th of the month Dover ...... Jan. 17 'Ditto (via Cit,ne of Good . Hope) ............N 2d of February Plymouth .. Nov. 30 Africa (West C oast) .. N 23rd of the month l 3lyrrou.ti .. . ' Alexandria. .. ...... N 19th&30th oftion Dover ~.....lan. 18 Belgium ...... ......N I laily.:•.: :: - Daily Brazil ............ - 31 9th of the month Southampton Jan. 16 Buenos Ayres .........M '9th of the month.• Southampton Jan. 16 California .. - ......31 d & 17th of month SouThamp.or Jan. 1 ............ Nvicedarly lCape of Good Hope ..N 14thof the month Couthampton Jan. 26 Cape de Verde ......N 14thof the month Southampton Jan. 26 Constantinople -.....N ..N 7thl7th27thof mo Dover ...... Jan. 10 Cen.ral America ....1W 2nd & 17th of mon Southamptor Jan. 1 Channel Isles .........N Mon.Wed.&.Friday Southampton Tu.Th..l3a. Chiki......... ...... .31 2d& 17th ormonth southampton Jan. 1 Greece* . - Jan. 10 France .. .. . 1.. ld & N N 7 T t w t, l i c 7 e th daily h o . in; . o IV. Dover Dover H amburgh . . . . . . . . ... „ N i Tuesday Wednesday& r s ci a a t. y London Lond on . . ..... .. . Tues. sun. T ,htir Sat. Holland .... • . - • • • • • Honduras .... ..... . N 17th of the month. Southampton Jan 16 Ireland ........ M Sc:N Twice daily India (viaSoutharapt.)3l 20th of the month Southampton Jan. 24 India (via Marseilles) N Bth&24tliof month Dover „Jan, 17 India (via Cape of Good Hope)... ~........M 14th of the month.. Southampton Jan. 2§ Mauritius ..........N Hilt of the m ont h .. Southampton Jan. 26 ' ' '• Mediterranean (via Southampton ......11 20th of the month., Southampton •T6ll. 17 Ditto (via Marseilles).N ith& 24th ofmonth Dover ' .. • :,:• 77 - n . . I Malta* .............N r Mexico •••• • • • • ....31 21.1 d of the month. SouthamPL' p r Jan 16 P r a e p n a ins l S ui ta a te,S .. 2 . . .. .. .......... N N Madeira ...... ..... .311 9th&23dof hemon. Southall :l P .- Napless ... ........N sthlsth2sthofmon. D 7 th,17th,19th,27th, ..... Jan. 10 &30th of the month 1 21 .1". ', - Jan. 12 Zuthampton Jan. 16 °-vver7.. .. Jan. 12 it , .outhampton Jan. I Peru • • .• • . ...... . -Ai 2d & 17th of mon - Dover Jan 12 Tuscany* -thisth2sthofmon: „D Southampto nJan, 1 West Indies ... „AI zd & 17 , o f ino.- Van Diemen's Lan el (see Australia) . ........ . tthillls7tthli227statho°ffinmo°: D ' v 1., the Cape T o h f o Good Hope are ps a ora are e m t hs a ee d n2 e to u bt up on next year they will be t v i l rom siagapo.e, but * The mails for as alternatean month for s a a n il d in 2 g 4t r i e lf e e ls ac a h t on the 2 d o f every i n a ls t at e d r7:4 • o9:u t o h n a th m . p ion :L y n:: sent hi steamers. the 2d of t ➢Sails are _ p _ no c• the Cape a Good (5) are conveyed by * The + to Marseilles. French Packet mails to those countries thus marked mprocsnethn BIRTHS. OF A BON. On the 3d inst., at Manchester, prematurely, the wife of Captain Barttelot, Royal Dragoons, still-born. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 31st ult., at Woolwich, the wife of Capt. R. 1 ) . il a ticliffe, Royal Horse Artillery. MARRIED. On the 29th ult., at the church of St. John, Hackney, R. Paterson, Esq., of Birthwood, Lanarkshire, to Sarah Anna, daughter of A. C. Bourne, Esq, 1, Paragon, Hackney. On the 3rd inst., at Charing, Kent, Mr. W. Whittle, of Westwell, to Mary, only daughter of the late Mr. W. Norwood, solicitor, Charing. DIED. On the Ist inst., at 8, New Cavendish -street, Portland place, Sir W. Waller, Bart., G.C.H„ aged 84. On the 2d inst., at 0, Caroline-place, Fulham-road, Capt. R. B. Brown, late 53d Regiment, aged 45. On the 2d inst., at Waverley-place St. John's-wood, Capt. R. B. Shettle r , H.E.1.C.5., ageds6. On the 4th inst., at Walpole-street, Chelsea, J. Boeby, Esq., aged 89, late a senior clerk in the Admiralty. On the 4th inst., at Hastings, aged 43, R. H. Faulcener, Esq., of Lewes, LONDON : Printed and Published by 311:TRDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun, Office, No. 112 Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the county cf Middlesex. ThursdaT, January 6,181 F trPN