The Sun. — London, England, 1853-01-07 00:00:00

THE FATAL COLLISION ON THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. • THE INQUEST. This inquiry was resumed yesterday at the Star Hotel, Oxford. The first witness examined was Charles Gwynn, sergeant of police at the Oxford sta tion, who stated that his duty was to attend to the book ing -office and platform. He was regularly present at the departure of the trains. He had the poWer to regu late the starting of the trains after he had inquired at the office whether the line was clear. He received orders from Mr. Blott, the station-master, not from Hayes. He was on duty on Monday when the 5.30 train should have left. The coal train due at a few minutes past five not having arrived, the starting of the train was delayed. He knew it had not arrived by inquiring at the office of the telegraph clerk, whose name was Manning. He had no conversation with the driver, guard, or fireman of the 5.30 train. He had not told them not to go on. He did not hear any other officer give them directions, but he saw Mr. Blott with the guard, who was standing by his brake. on the platform. It was about half past five. It was the duty of the guard .to remain on the platform by the brake van till the train started, unless he was putting luggage on the van. The porter takes it to the guard who loads the van. Ile saw Hayes, the foreman porter, on the platform at that time. He did not see Hayes leave the platform. li b e ut ‘‘a at s not on the platform when the train started, the booking-office. The station-master was at that time in the private office, adjoining the booking office. He knew the time the train started by hearing the whistle of the engine ; not the guards. After he heard the whistle, he came on the platform, and found the train was gone. He was standing at th e door of the office at the time it started ; the door of which admitted pas sengers, and which should be closed before the train started. It was not closed when the train started. The front door and the ticket door were neither of them closed. The object of closing the deer before the train s t ar ts is to prevent passengers going in the train after it is in motion. The, doors were not closed because the coal train was not in. The doors were kept open till he received orders that the line was clear. The train started before he received orders to close the doors. He was quite surprised to find that it had started. When he got on the platform he did not see any officers in au thority, unless they were at the other end. The station master had told him that the coal train had passed the Oxford-road Station, and as soon as it arrived at Oxford, and all was clear, the 5.30 train could go. That infor mation was the cause of his not closing the door. When he went into the office to get this information, Hayes and the porters were on the platform. When he saw the train gone, he said to Mr. Blott, whe was in his office, "Has the coal train come in, for the train has gone ?" Mr. Blott said to him, "Run up, and see if the coal train is in." He went, and could see no porters, or any one on the platform, they had gone after the train, and he heard them halloing, and saw the red signal hand-lamps waving. From the time he went on the platform and returned, and found the train, was not more than a minute or so. When he saw the guard Kinch come . down from the engine towards the brake-van ho believed the train was in motion. He saw Kinch catch hold of the van. That was when he went into the office to inquire about the coal train. He did not call out to stop the train until he had gone to inquire if the coal train had arrived or not ; and then they said it was at Oxford-road, and the train seemed in motion. That was before he heard the whistle, and when he was in the office he heard the whistle. He was in the office about a minute or two. He did not then tell the station-master that the train was in motion. He did not know but that they might have seen the coal train at the other end, as the porters there might have given the signal. He always got the information as to the line being clear from the office ; when he hears that, he gives the signal to the gu ar d s , and they look to him for it. The guards look to him— he looks to the office. As soon as he waves his hand that is the signal for them to start. That is his duty. He does not give that signal till he ascertains from the office that the line is clear. On Monday when he saw the guard coming from the engine he had not given him any signal at all. If the station-master was on the platform the guard would look to him, and he would look to witness to see if the doors were all closed. The station-master would look to the telegraph clerk to cer tify that the line was clear. The station-master was not on the platform when the train started, but in his office. It was two or three minutes before that he saw him talking to the guard, Kinch. He saw the red signal light at the iron bridge at the time he went into the office. He believed the red light was on when the train started. He saw the red light after the second whistle when the train had left, and in an instant it was changed to the green light. The station-master was not then on the platform. It was before he went the second time into the office that he saw the signals changed, but he did not tell the station-master they had been changed. Ho believed that the station-master followed him out immediately. He could have heard the guard's whistle if lie had given the signal by his whistling. The red light is always up before the train starts. According to the 10th rule, the red light should have been kept up for five minutes after the train started. It was the practice for the signal-man at the iron bridge to change the light when he heard the second whistle, provided the line was clear. The guard, when he gave the signal for starting, was sometimes on the platform and sometimes on the van. He never saw the guard give any other signal to start but the whistle. He might have seen him wave his hand. The custom of the guard as to starting trains was by the whistle. He had known a ' train started without the whistle, and by the wave of the hand. He could not recollect any particular time that this happened. He had seen a guard named Turner do it. He had seen Kinch do it also ;he had seen a train started by the words " All right," and waving the ' hand. When he does that the guards are sometimes on the platform, sometimes on the brake ; most usually on the platform. At the time the train was first started the only person who had authority to stop it on the pl a tf orm were the porters. When witness saw the train in mo tion, he was certain that as he had not given the signal that it was started without proper authority, even if the guard had known that the coal train was in. It was the duty of the station-master to write a report, up to the last moment of the trains starting, and for which it was necessary for him to he in his office. That was the in variable custom and practice. Since the single line only was in use it was usual to retain this train till the coal train came in. The report or way-bill was always given by the station-master to the guard. He could not tell whether on Monday night the way-bill had been given to the guard or whether he had it ; he should have gone to Mr. Blott after he had ascertained that the coal-train was in before he started the train. The Coroner here asked if any officer of the company could point out the duties of the signal-man at the bridge. Before the question was answered, John Norman, of Devises, the father o f th e d eceased young woman, Julia Norman, was examined, and stated that he had seen the body and identified it as that of his daughter. She was 23 last June. She left his house on Monday morning, to proceed to Lady Louisa Harrison's, at Shearswell-park, in Oxfordshire, and was to have left the train at Bicester. Captain Bruyeres, the superintendent of the southern division of the traffic and the branch lines on the Lon don and North-Western Railway, then stated—The whole of the servants of the line are under his direction except those in the locomotive departme n t. Th ey are are all subject to the printed rules and .gn regulations oe iron of the company. One was give n to the signal-man bridge. It was required that he shouldaml be a The man employed there on Monday was named Bon ham. There are two at the signal. He e had been some time in the company's service. That . signa thes put up oved for b g o e ts is at that bridge as a protection of the line, as brid • a swing bridge, crossing the river and is m si gnaal to pass. When so swung, it is the duty of th man not to take the red light off' on any account the red signal was kept up at all times. and the line preached, and the bridge was not svning, When a train_ ' ap proached dear, it was the duty of the man to lower the arm le , to allow the train to pass or change the colour of the signal. This was the station signal but the bridge si g nal, when th e t ra i n passe d the red signal, was to. be r t e - - red. It is inoperative as a danger signal to the nu.except so far as regards the bridge, to show whe ther it was swung or not. The red light would not have anything to do with the starting of the train. There also anotherprecautionary signal lamp on the bridge, which could not be seen either from the platform or the line unless be shown. the e bridge was swung when its light would the starting the trains, was no station signal with reference to rule 21 the platfor m. as the order was to be given from observing The way the trains were stopped was by care, and to look that no driver was to start but with done, there vma no difficulty to see that all is safe. If that was guard is 'faculty in starting a train. The responsible for the starting the train after re authorised by Min. the station-master, or some one the train on Monday was started very fast, it was in direct violation of the orders. The engine driver was not feting against orders by starting the train when the red sign a l as up on the bridge ; but if it was not changed, he would the train, because the bridge have been bound to stop a would then have been swung and the train would have gone into the canal. b The bridge signal having changed ged the driver was right in going on with caution. Th could only see three quarter s men at the bride a mile along the line. It was not required that thestation-master should see personally to the starting of each train. H e might be in his office on the platform, and, that the train was fit to start, might de thority to start the train. An engin e driver woul ie d abue- ' subject to punishment as for a heavy offence if he started without authority. The guards were ordered always to blow their whistles when they started trains. Extra pre cautionary measures had been taken for working the trains from Islip to Oxford since there had been only one line, for no train was allowed to start . from Oxford till a telegraph was sent to Islip to ascertain if the line was clear, and the answer received statin g;. that it was clear. The trains then left Oxford, and was tele graphed to Islip that they had left. No train coming to Oxford is allowed to leave Islip till the train coming from Oxford had arrived. The same steps were taken at Islip before trains were allowed to come from that station to Oxford. David Railway,Bo ham pstoaliteeedmtahnatonit the was London his duty ntdo attend North westernto the signals and points at the Oxford station, at the bridge. On Monday last lie was on duty alone. lie had charge of the bridge and two si gnals—the one on the bridge and the auxiliary signal up the l i ne. To work that he had only to go a yard or two from the bridge. He had the care of 14 points The nearest was about five yards from the bridge. His duty was to keep up the red danger signal at the bridge till the train started from the station, and when the driver whistled he put it down, after looking to see if the line was clear. The danger signal remained down while the train was passing, after which it was put up again. He had no points to attend to on the departure of a train from the station. Every train coming in is required to stop at the platform station, coal trains and ballast trains included. On Monday evening a ballast train came down at about 25 minutes past 5, and was turned into the engine shed. He did not alter the bridge signal for that ballast 'train. The coal train due at 20 minutes past five had not then arrived. The coal train had to stop at the ticket platform in order to be wheeled round into the siding. He was at his post when the 5.30 train started from the station. He saw it start, and it came on very fast. The steam was being blown off, so that he could hardly see the station. He heard the whistle once when it started, and again when it got past the next policeman, and then he changed the signal. It passed the bridge, going faster than ever he saw a train come out of the station before. He had been on the line upwards of two years. When he changed the signal, as far as he could see the line was clear. He did not see any confusion at the station for some time after the train passed on account of the steam. After that he saw lights moving about, but he did not hear any one calling out till Hayes, the ticket collector, came up to him and said the down coal train had left Oxford road. He had not seen Hayes for some little time before. A porter, named Webb, told him at twenty minutes past five that it had been telegraphed from Islip that the coal train was to leave there at five o'clock. It was merely a passing observation. He was not sent with any message. He did not say the coal train had started, nor hal witness heard it said. Several other persons came to the bridge after Hayes. They went up the line as far as the engine -shed. Hayes then said the coal train had left Oxford-road some time. Witness did not hear the collision. He did not go on, but remained at his post. The coal train did not come in before the 5.80 train started on the 24th, the 28th, and 29th of last month. If he had been told that the coal train had started from Islip he sh ou ld h ave k ep t up th e danger signal, which in that case ought to have stopped the passenger train. The driver of the 5.30 train might, in his opinion, have supposed that the ballast train was the coal train. The coal train sometimes stopped at the ticket platform to let the 5.30 train go by, and the ballast train might have been mistaken for it. The ballast train on Monday had no light on the tender which could be seen from the station. The coal train, if it had come in, ought to have had green lights. The driver might not have known but that the coal train was in the siding. The Fairy engine, which had been attached to the ballast train, stood at the points. There was a light on the chimney of the ballast engine, but there could not have been one on the chimney of the coal train. At 2 o'clock the court was adjourned till 4, when the inquiry was resumed. Henry Collingridge, policeman at the Islip station, stated that he attended to the telegraph there. Since the traffic had been on one line of rails, he had special instructions that no train should leave the station till he knew that the line was clear to Oxford, which was ascer tained by telegraph. Recollected the coal train from Bletchley coming to Islip about five on Monday last. It was stopped there. He telegraphed to Oxford before it arrived that it was in sight, and received a message from Oxford to send it on directly. It stopped about five minutes. As soon as it left he sent word to Oxford. This would be known at Oxford-road station. The ordi nary time it should have taken to get to Oxford would have been 18 or 20 minutes. The answer to the second message to Oxford was " Good." By this he knew they had received his intimation. He had, once or twice, in the last month, delayed the coal train at Islip to let the 5.30 train pass. He had no intimation from Oxford on Monday night that the 5.30 train had started. He had never known it start any other evening without his hav ing such intimation. The starting of every train fFom Oxford was telegraphed to Islip, except this one, since there had been only a single line of rails. There was no defect in the telegraph that evening up to that time. It was telegraphed from Oxford after the answer of "good," to inquire if the "line would be clear for the up-train after the coal train had passed," and he answered " Yes." Mr. Alfred Blott, the station-master at Oxford, stated that he was at the station on Monday afternoon from about three o'clock till thirty-seven minutes past five, the time when he went up the line. There was a coal train due at Oxford at 5.20 every afternoon, except Sun days. It had never been exactly punctual, because it ar rived at intervals from 5.20 and 5.30. A passenger train should leave at 5.30. From the 16th of December the traffic between Oxford and Islip had been only on one line of rails. Precautionary measures had been taken that every train starting from Oxford should be tele graphed to Islip, or vice versa. The coal train due at 5.20 on Monday had not arrived at 5.30. The 5.30 train was prepared for starting. He did not notice the driver. It was the d u ty o f the foreman of engines (Smith) to notice him. He did not know that Smith was absent from the station that afternoon. He did not ask the driver Tarry as to his character—it was not his duty to overlook the drivers. He saw the guard Kinch about twenty-seven minutes past five on the platform. He went to him to tell him the coal train had left Islip, and that his train must not start until the other had arrived. H e was aware that the coal train had started shortly after five. He was satisfied that Kinch understood him. He thought he would not tell Kinch that the coal train had left Islip till a few minutes before the time of starting, in order that there might be no mistake about it. He went back into his office to attend to some business, which ,it was important he should finish at a particular time ; it fact, some returns which were to be in London next morning. He had no way-bill or report to make up. There were only two letters given to Kinch. They were not way-bills, or anything connected with the train. There are not way-bills for every train. The guard does not take any minute of the number of pas sengers. He does of parcels when there are any. If there were any parcels, the bill would be given to him by the parcel porter. It might be six minutes before the train started, as there was no particular time for giving them to the guard. He did not go out to the guard again before he started. He gave directions to Kinch not to start, nor did he see him again before the train started, knowing he was the only person who could give the signal for starting. It was his duty to do so. Witness first heard of the train starting about two minutes after it started from Sergeant Gwynn, who came to the office and told him. Gwynn said, to the best of his recollection, "Did you order the train to start ?" He did not hear Gwynn ask anything about the coal train. Gwynn might have said so, for the mo mefit he heard of the train starting he ran out. He found the coal train had not arrived and ran and endea voured all in his power to stop the passenger train by running with the pohcemen, Hayes and others, after the train ; but it went off at an unusual speed. He called to the men to show their red lights. The train could not be stopped. Ho followed it. He did not hear the collision. Several persons were at the spot before he arrived. He first knew of tko accident when he arrived at the spot. He found the 5.30 train and the coal train had met, as he feared they would. The engines were raised up one over another. Two passenger carriages were completely smashed, but the first-class carriage was scarcely dam aged at all. He did not see any of the dead bodies. He saw several persons assisting, but a down train being due at about six o'clock at Oxford, lie thought it his duty to go on to Oxford-road station to stop it. He did stop it at Oxford-road station. It was a passenger train. In order that the passengers might not be delayed, he sent omnibuses to take them into Oxford. He remained at the Oxford-road station to stop any other trains coming down. If the coal train had come in, it was the duty of the guard to come in to him, mid inquire if he should start the train. Hayes might have started the train without communicating with witness. No one else. Hayes had to go to the ticket platform to see the coal train in and all clear, then he had instructed him to start the passen ger train. Sergeant Gwynn could start it without wit ness being on the platform, but not without communicat ing with him. He knew of no one to look to the condi tion of the drivers in the absence of Smith. Smith might have gone away without giving witness notice. Smith was in a different department, the locomotive. If he had seen a defective engine, or a driver not fit to act, he should have interfered and stopped the train • but it was not his d u t y to inspect them. He never 'knew a train to start without his knowledge since he had been at that station. If any train had started, the guard was to blame in doing so without orders, either from himself or a p erson appointed by him. There was no s ignal between Oxford and the place of the accident to show the driver whether he ought to stop. He supposed that, as usual, Hayes had left the platform to see if the coal train had come in. It would have been the duty of the guard, even if he saw the coal train come in, to ask either Hayes or himself wh e th er the train was to start. H e would swear he did not say to Kincb, "You mast not go on yet ; but as soon as the coal-train ma y go on." Af ter the collision had ;sighted '8 you he said to Kinch , "How came the taken plac e , t ra i n to start 2,, That was after h e got up to tho place of the collision. His answer was, " I d o not know. Witness could not say w h ether Kinch said anything, he was in such an excited state hi mse lf, and Kinch was in such a state as not to be capable of ans wering. He was of opinion that Kinch did not know w hat he was saying. Kinch was standing up, but i n a trembling state, and appeared to have be en h urt. Kinch did not use the wordß, " I saw the trai n come in," and then said, "Jack, sbe's in ; it's all right ; go I He would s wear Kinch did not say an y words to on. H that effect in his hearing. He sent a policeman, named Elliott, to Oxford - ro ad. came up there in a carriag eKn to not be better to go toi meet theweetasthere. Kinch train to Bletch ley. He asked Kinch if it would Oxford for advice ; but he . sa o. ic h l o h m e e t . hou i g n h t t h h e ec r o e ul e d ne b e ea o r f to go o and Elliott, n, witnes P o r s c ai fe d " , e ' d ‘ K g ln 2lll c7.l, did you not hear s me say 1 that your train was not to start till after the coal train ca me in ?" To which Kinch replied, " Yes, I did," and I appealed to some one to bear it in mind, in case the acci dent proved fatal to Kinch. He believed it was Car rier, an engine -driver, who was with Kinch. Witness could not repeat any more of the conversation, for he was not paying attention to it, but thinking of matters relating to the accident. He did not hear any further conversation with Kinch, but he would not swear there was not any more. Witness stopped at Oxford road till Kinch went on in the train. Witness did not wish to hear Kinch say any more, as that was all that was important to him. Witness was in a very excited state ; there were so many arrangements to be made with regard to the trains. He did not hear Kinch say anything putting the blame on any one else. He might have said it, but witness did not hear him. Witness did not stay long at the scene of the accident, seeing Mr. Hood, who had much mechanical knowledge, there, be sides Hayes, and other experienced persons ; and he thought he could do more effectual service by going to the Oxford-road station, to make arrangements for the safety of the trains which were expected. From the dis tance the train had got after it started, when he saw it, he judged it must have gone off at unusual speed. The number of persons on the platform when the train ' ' started, would comprise Hayes, Gwynn, two porters, and the carriage examiner. The porters would not have had power to stop the train without coming to witness. In the absence of Smith, the overlooker of the drivers and engines, who left for Bicester, at 4 o'clock on that day, there was no one to take his place. Thomas Manning, telegraph clerk at the Oxford sta tion—On Monday night he received a message from Islip, about five o'clock, to ask if the coal train could leave there. He sent an answer back to say "Yes, if it came directly." He sent that answer by the direction of Mr. Blott, the station master. A message then came from Islip, to say the coal train had left. He answered " Good." At 5.22 a message came from Oxford-road, to say the coal train had then left there. At 5.27 he sent another message, by Mr. Blott's order, to Islip to know if the line was clear if the coal train arrived. The answer was "Yes." That was the last message. The poles of the telegraph were knocked down between Oxford and Oxford-road by the collision, and he had to go to Ox ford-road to telegraph. He saw the 5.30 train start, but heard no orders given about its starting. Mr. Robinson, the booking clerk, asked him if the coal train had arrived, but he said he could not tell. He was in the office and had no means of knowing. He had nothing to do with starting the trains, nor had Mr. Robinson that he was aware of. It was the duty of the station master to instruct him to telegraph after the starting of the trains. He had no orders to telegraph the starting of the 5.30 train, as it had gone before Mr. Blott could tell him. James Panter, engine cleaner in the company's ser vice, stated that he worked under Smith, the overlooker of drivers and engines, and it was his duty to look to the men when Smith was absent from Oxford, and see they have plenty of water and coke to take on their journies. Remembered Smith's going to Bicester on Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock. He told witness to look after the men and engines while he was gone, and see all was right. He did not say what time he should come back. No train came in while Smith was away. Witness would swear it. One went out. Having been told that Smith had sworn that he met a train at Islip, witness admitted that a train came in at half-past four. He saw that train come in. The Coroner expressed his regret that such a witness had been introduced to explain the fact of their being no one to supply Smith's place in his absence. A Juryman expressed his regret that such a person should have such responsibility in Smith's absence. Frederick Jackson, a youth of 13, stated that he was a second-class passenger in the 5.30 train on Monday night, with his brother. The carriage was next to the third class. He was in the middle compartment. There were three or four passengers in that carriage besides his brother and himself. He could not see who was in the other compartments. Two of the persons with them were two young men, about 19 or 20, and an elderly gentleman. He had been about five minutes in the carriage at the station before the train started. A person came round, who said " Show your tickets ;" and he then shut the door. All the five persons were in the carriage at that time. No one got in afterwards. He thought the door was not locked. Before the train started he did not hear any whistle, or any one say " all right," or "go on," or any signal for starting. He sat nearest the platform. He knew the difference between the guard's whistle and the engine whistle. He thought the engine whistle did make a little noise. He told his brother they were going off rather fast. He did not hear the whistle after he got out of the station ; the window was shut. It was about a minute between the shutting of the door and the train going off. The man who asked for the tickets began at the carriage next the engine, and went all the way down. He did not see him pass back again. There was no luggage van between the third-class carriage and the engine. He knew nothing more till the ca- lision. He did not hear any hall — owing. There was a jerking, as if they were quickening speed. It was not such a sensation, he thought, as would be pro duced by putting on the break. He looked at his watch as he started, and it was 25 minutes to 6 ; the collision caused it to stop, and he afterwards found it had stopped at 20 minutes and a half to 6, making the time that elapsed four minutes and a half. The carriage he was in was broken all to bits by the shock of the collision, and he was thrown into the water by the side of the line. It was when he got home that he looked at his watch. He was not much hurt. He received a blow. The glass of his watch was broken into pieces. (The watch, a double-cased one, was pro duced, and the case was deeply indented.) They were all covered with mud. He was up to his middle in the water. He could not tell whether he fell out of the win dow or went through the roof. His brother, who was sitting opposite to him, was thrown on the other side of the line. He was not much hurt. He did not go in the water. This witness's examination was then concluded, and he was highly complimented by the coroner and the jury for the clear and intelligent manner in which a boy of such tender years had given his evidence. Captain Bruyeres informed the coroner that the guard of the 5.30 train (Joseph Kinch) was in too ill a state to be able to appear before the jury to-morrow (Friday) for examination. The jurywere continuing their inquiry at 8 o'clock p.m., when the last train for London left Oxford ; and it was understood that they would adjourn for five or six days, to afford time for Kinch so far to recover from his injuries as to be able to appear as a witness. Fortunately, no further deaths have occurred among the sufferers from the fearful catastrophe. DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE' -DEATH FROM ANGER. On Wednesday last an inquest was held, before T. M. Phillips, Esq., upon the body o f J ames Francis Gribble, at Vauxhall, in Wolverhampton, who met with his death under the following melancholy circumstances : James Richardson deposed that he was a bootmaker, and lodged with the deceased, who was about fifty-f our years of age, of the same trade, and worked for Mr. Betts, of Darlington-street. He lived at Vauxhall, and on Christmas-day, between five and six o'clock, he (witness) was in bed, and heard the deceased's son come into his father's house, make a great noise, and call him by name to come down and fight him in the yard. He got up and went down stairs, and, upon entering the back kitchen, lie saw deceased's son, with his coat off, and alone. He went into the yard, and challenged witness to come out to fight ; he would not follow him, but told him he better keep quiet, as he was drunk ; he (witness) thea went into the parlour, for the purpose of fetching his hat, when he saw the de ceased lying upon the bed with his clothes on, apparently in a dying state, and the deceased's wife and sister bathing his head with vinegar; he then went to the police station for an officer, and on returning with Sergeant Maddox, the son ran away. On re-entering the parlour he found Mr. Edwards, surgeon, applying leeches to the decased's head. Deceased died soon afterwards ; he had sometimes complained of giddiness in the head, but he never knew him to have a fit. Elizabeth Gribble, wife of the deceased, said her husband complained of apain in his head on Saturday evening last, and went and lay down on his bed in the parlour. Whilst there his son came to the front door, much the worse for liquor ; he vomited in the passage, had some water given him, appeared to be a little more sober, and asked his wife for money ; she ran out at the back door to avoid his urging his request ; he ran up the passage towards the front door, when the deceased ; jumped up and took hold of his son's hands, observing, " Come, Jimity, you shall not go out any more : I will not allow this ;" the deceased then struggled to b r i ng hi s son b ac k , and both slipped down in the passage ; her son got up and went away, and her husband then walked towards the door ; she noticed that he dragged one of his legs after him, and that his face was very much drawn on one side. She got him into the parlour, and placed! him on the bed. Mr. Edwards, surgeon, quickly attended hi m , and stayed with him until his death, which took place shortly after eight o'clock ; in consequence, as she believed, from a fit of apoplexy, caused by excitement. She was quite sure that her son neither struck nor fell upon the deceased, nor that he received any injury when he fell. He had complained of a pain in his head for upwards of a month. Mr. George Edwards, surgeon, stated that he h a d made a post mortar!, examination of the body of the de ceased. There were no marks of violence visible upon the body, and from the appearance of the interior of the skull, he had no doubt that the cause of death was apoplexy, which was probably induced by the mental emotion of anger. The jury recorded a verdict of "Died in a fit of apoplexy, caused by struggiing and the mental emotion of anger." _ On Thursday James Francis Gribble was brought up before H. Walker and W. Warner, Esqrs., at the police court. Sergeant Maddox stated that he took the prisoner into custody on Christmas day on suspicion of having caused the death of his father. Mr. Warner said it appeared that the jury had arrived at the conclusion that the prisoner's father's death was caused by apoplexy, brought on by mental emotion and struggling ; he would, therefore, be discharged, but a deep regret concerning his share in the distressing event must remain upon his mind as long as he lived. When he considered that he to whom he (the prisoner) was indebted for his life, owed his death to struggling with, and the conduct of, his son, he trusted it would act as a caution to his behavion in his future life.—Wolverhamp ton Herald. CAUTION To THEATRICAL MANAGERS.—Mr. Henry Beverley, lessee of the Queen's Theatre at Hull, has been fined in the mitigated penalty of 5/. for performing a ballet called "La Statue Blanche." A performer named Bland supported the information, THE FRENCH EIVI NUE The Government appears to be anxious to put an end to the unfounded but not the less prejudicial rumours that have been current of the existence of ideas or projects opposed to the declaration that it has made, of its determination to do everthing con sistent with honour to maintain the peace of Europe. Every act of the Emperor has been indi cative of his desire for peace ; his decrebs in favour of industrial enterprise, railroads, docks, mortgage banks, palace of industry, all alike dependent on peace for a successful result, are proofs that he had no desire for war, and are practical illustrations of the sincerity of his professions. To judge the Go vernment by its acts, therefore, there ought to be no uneasiness in the minds of the advocates of peace ; but it is certain that much has been created by insinuations in quarters where they ought not to have existed. An official repudiation of one of the attempts to excite a feeling for war has appeared in the Moniteur, and if other attempts had not been noticed in the same way it was because they had not assumed a form which rendered official dis avowal necessary. The semi-official journals, how ever, are doing what the Moniteur abstains from, evidently because the Government will not attach too much importance to the rumours in question. The Constitutionnel yesterday had a long article, showing that peace is th e policy of the Emperor, and that there is nothing in the state of Europe to render war probable. The article, though written with great vigour, is exceedingly long, but the fol lowing portion of it will no doubt prove most in teresting to the English reader " When France is satisfied the world is at peace. Thus Napoleon 111. expressed himself at Bordeaux in that magnificent harangue which was the programme of the second Empire. Facts now confirm this national and prophetic language, which, while promising peace to Europe, raised the action o f F rance so hi g h. F rance is satisfied, because she no longer fears the spectacle of Communism, because she has morally recovered from the disasters of 1814 and 1815, because she has crowned the man of her choice, because sh e h as re - es tablished a popular dynasty on the throne, and raised onits basis a patriotic Government, and she is satisfied because the world is tranquil. Let a glance be thrown over the map of Europe, and let us be told on what point of the horizon the slightest cloud can be seen. Across the strait which separates them England extends a friendly hand to France, a reciprocal esteem has replaced their mutual feelings of enmity—their rivalry has become emulation. Now, as formerly, France and England dream of fresh conquests and of new struggles, but these conquests and these struggles are not those which entail ruin on nations, and decimate the people. All the ardour and intelligence of the two nations is turned towards the pacific battles which civilisation wages against barbarism in the vast fields of science and industry. Doubtless the vessels of England and of France may meet on the same seas and on the same shores, but it will be no longer to combat and destroy eac h other. To explore seas, to colonise countries, to civilise people, to work mines, to clear land, and to open markets, and that is what the fleets which leave the ports of the Channel will henceforth seek to effect ; they will carry more workmen than soldiers ; they will be less laden with arms and ammunition than with instruments of labour, and with bales of merchandise. On this ground the victory will belong not to the strongest, but to the most intelligent and most active ; and what will result from this competition will be no longer the ravages and misfortunes of war, but the advantages of industry and the conquests of civilisation, which always tu rn t o th e profit of the human race. in the south and in the north there is nothing which threatens Europe with those corn plications which are calculated to excite a fear that the peace of the world may be disturbed. We every where see the most profound repose ; a repose which each government employs to consolidate order and strengthen authority, and which each nation devotes to develope the sources of its riches, and to increase the sum of its intelligence. Spain, Portugal, and Italy, under different characters, and with different means, exert all the efforts of this twofold object, to conciliate at home the spirit of conservatism with the spirit of progress, and to ally abroad the national honour with European peace. Thus Prussia, Austria, and Russia, after the example of the powers of the second rank, bail in the Emperor the elect of a great nation and the saviour of Christian civilisatiou. It is no longer looks of terror but of benediction which Prussia, Aus tria, and Russia direct towards the Government of France, for they well know that this Government has spared them from one of those terrible struggles which no one is ever sure of surviving. Europe is neither so blind nor so ungrateful as not to hail with sympathy the Government which preserves it, and the man who saves it ; it is on the contrary as clearsighted as• grateful, and it proves it by the sincerity of the marks of esteem and of friendship which it gives to France in the person of her sovereign. There is therefore not the slightest germ of war either in the present or in the future, and unless in the case of one of those unforeseen events which dis concert all the provisions of human wisdom, civilised Europe is assured of one of those durable periods of peace which give time for great ideas to ripen, and for great things to be accomplished ; for grand works to be completed, and for grand enterprises to fructify." The Pays adopts a similar tone, and nearly the whole of its first page is filled with a letter from M. Capefigue, in the form of a leading article, and the object of which is also to show the importance of a peace policy, and the little danger that exists of its being disturbed. It is evident, therefore, that there is a manifest disposition on the part of the Government and people of France to remain at peace with all the world, but more particularly, it would seem, with England and America. The Moniteur states that " the Emperor received on Wednesday at the Tuileries, from M. de Kisseleff, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, the letters which confirm him in his position at the Court of the Emperor of the French. M. de Kisseleff was conveyed to the audience of the Emperor in a carriage of the Court, and was presented to his Majesty by the master of the ceremonies introducer of Ambassadors. The Mi nisters of the United States, Bava ria, Tuscany, Hanover, Baden, an d S axon y, h ave also received their new letter s o f cre d en ce, and will be immediately admitted t o presen t th e m t o his Majesty." — - Wurtemberg, The Germanic Diet has not yet recognised in the usual diplomatic form the F renc h Empire w ith it s Emperor Napoleon 111. But the Diet has taken all the preliminary steps which were necessary to bring about this result. It expects that an Im perial Ambassador will p resent letters of credence to it, and at the same ti me t h e formal recognition will take place. It is evid ent that this line of con duct has been prescribed to the Diet, and this is the reason why the Diet informed M. de Tallenay that it expected that an Ambassador from France would be accredited to it. We learn that the letters of credence will soon arrive, and that they will be addressed to M. de Tallenay. The same journal contains decrees of the Em peror, approving of modifications made in tha statutes of different insurance companies at Pari3, Melun, Bordeaux, and Toulo use . and another de cree authorises the Soci e t y of Mutual Assurance against the non-success of cocoons of silk -worms recently formed at Valence. -The Moniteur upon the same subject remarks, "that a report has been curr en t t h at the Govern ment intended to establish a general system of general insurance by the State.ln its just solici tude for everything that affects the general inte rests of the country, the Government had included this question among those which it has caused to be examined ; but after this e xam i nat i on it h as decided that the present state of thi ngs wou ld b e maintained. The interests which the report in therefore, be com pletely question tr h an ad quil alarmed may now, on the Plebiscite for W t h h e e n E th m e tu p r i e re f v ns ere of de th el e ar v e o a te bsy the Legislative Body they were not quite complete. Those which were wanting from Algeria and the Navy have since arrived, and the total number (those of the distant Colonies have still to be received) i s pub lished by the Moniteur as follows : — 4. Voters, 8,157,752—Ye5, 7,839,552 ; . - rsT —o) 251,501; Null, 63,699. The Presse announces that M. Proudhon has been refused permission to publish a new philoso phical review. Under the laws which at present regulate the press, no journal can be started with out permission from the Government. A Rennes journal announces that a prosecution has been commenced against Count Chatton des Morandais, on the charge of having disturbed the elections and prevented electors from voting. Prince Lucien Murat in a letter to the Presse con tradicts the report that he has made claims upon the King of Naples in respect to certain private pro perty which was alleged to belong to him in right of succession. Dr. Conneau has, by decree of the 31st ult., been nominated First Physician to the Emperor and Chief of the Medical Service of his Majesty's house- hold. By decree of the Emperor dated the 31st ult., it is enacted that the mortgage notes (lettres de gage) of the Societe of Credit Foncier, can only be issued after having been examined and registered by the commissary of the Government. A Chamber of Commerce, consisting of nine members, is to be established at Dijon, in virtue of an imperial decree of the 31st ult. France will not for the future receive any foreign refugees. The authorities of Schildberg (Posen) having expelled two refugees, and given them a passport to France, the French Ambassador at that court declared to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the name of his Government, that for the future no foreigners of that category will be received in France. Formal orders have therefore been given not to deliver any more passports for Franco to Polish refugees. The Prefecture of Police has just published the statistical returns of mortality in Paris for the month of November. The number of deaths was 1,171 males, and 1,136 females. Of these 637 were under three months old, 476 under 15 yearo, 81 under 20 years, 245 under 30, 115 under 40, and 227 under 60. The number of deaths between 50 and 60 was 228, between 60 and 70 184, between and 80 154, - and. between 80 and 100; 6 . 3. The chief causes of death were pulmonary disease, enteritis, typhus fever, brain fever, and apoplexy. The number of deaths from apoplexy was 97. M. Vassal, director of the Journal des Faits, was tried by the Police . Court of Paris yesterday for having deposited a copy of his journal with the Imperial law officers which was not signed by the editor, and for having " wilfully published false news" to the following effect :—" One of our sub scribers informs us that the offerings consecrated to the memory of Louis XVI. have been removed from the expiatory chapel, and that those deposited on Monday, All Souls' Day, were refused." M. Berlez, the Chaplain of the Church, deposed that the offerings made by the piety of the faithful were neither removed nor refused. M. Vassal was sen tenced to pay a fine of I,ooof. and the costs. Charles Cornillet and G-uyot, operative carpen ters, were tried yesterday before the Police Court of the Seine, for having used offensive language towards the Chief of the State, and for having made an insulting mark on the Emperor's effigy on a sf. piece. Cornillet was sentenced to six and Guyot to two months' imprisonment. _ The Government has determined that the Garde ) de Paris, the late Garde Republicaine, shall be in- L creased from two squadrons to four of cavalry. A • Lieutenant-Colonel has been appointed to its corn • mand. This guard can at present bring 1,200 bayonets and 300 sabres into line ; it is, moreover, composed exclusively of picked men. A letter from Moulins states that the ancient Chateau of Bourbon l'Archambault, the cradle of the house of Bourbon, and a type of feudal archi tecture, with its colossal towers and the ruins of the chapel, has been sold to Viscount Des Roys. The papers have announced that the Duke of Hamilton is likewise Duke of Chatelherault in France. The Duchy of Chatelherault was con ferred, in February, 1548, by Henry 11., on James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, Regent of Scotland. The Earl of Arran was appointed Regent of the kingdom at the death of James V. He subse quently resigned the Government to the Queen Mother, Marie de Lorraine, sister of the Guises ; and the latter, in return, prevailed on the king of France to confer the title of Duke de Chatelherault on the Earl of Arran, with a pension of 12,000 livres. The elder branch of the family became ex tinct in the person of James, fourth Duke of Ha milton, decapitated on the 9th of March, 1649. The receipts of the French railways in 1852 are not yet known ; but according to the returns pub lished down to the 25th December by the different . companies, they may be calculated to amount to 110,000,000 f., being an increase of about3,ooo,ooof. as compared with the receipts of 1851. The Bourse opened firm yesterday, under the in fluence produced by the announcement in the Moniteur that M. de Kisseleff had presented let ters of credence from the Emperor of Russia to the Emperor of the French, but, additional defaulters having been declared, the Three per Cents., which opened at 81f. 20c., and rose to 81f. 25c., fell to 80f. 40c., and closed at 80f. 50c. for the end of the month ; the Four-and-a-Half per Cents. closed at 105 f. 30c. ; Orleans Railway Shares, 1,002 f. Rouen, 985 f. ; Havre, 520 f. ; Great Northern, ex dividend, 867 f. 50c.; Bitle, 355 f. ; Paris and Stras burg, 802 f. 75c. ; Paris and Lyons, er dividend, 898 f. 75c. ; Lyons and Marseilles, 752 f. 50c. ; Caen to Cherbourg, 620 f. ; Bordeaux to Cette, 600 f. ; Dijon to Besancon, 550 ; Shares of the Bank of Credit Mobilier, issued at 500 f., 840 f. The Annuaire du Bureau des Longitudes for 1853, furnishes the following statistical details : " The number of births in Paris in 1852 was 16,349 males, and 15,975 females, of whom 21,689 were legiti mate, and 10,635 illegitimate. The deaths were 13,698 males and 13,887 females, showily/ an ex cess of births over deaths of 4,739. The mimber of marriages amounted to 10,233, of which 8,062 were between bachelors and spinsters, 645 bachelors and widows, 1,064 widowers and spinsters, and 462 widowers and widows. SPAIN. We have received the Madrid journals of the 31st ult., and Ist inst. The Madrid Gazette publishes a royal decree suspending the adjudication of the railroad from Madrid to Miranda del Ebro by Val ladolid and Burgos. The decree states that the Government requires time to prepare the conditions of the contract, and that when the period for the adjudication shall have been fixed, there will be a delay of at least four months allowed, and the con ditions will be published in foreign countries, in order that persons abroad who may wish to tender may have full time to examine the conditions and form their estimate of the probable results. There is nothing else of interest in these journals. The Government had received dispatches from . . the Captain-General of Cuba, dated the Bth ult., stating that the island continued to enjoy the most perfect tranquillity. Annexed to those dispatches were documents containing the most satisfactory accounts of the situation of the colony. The cus toms duties, which in 1850 produced 6,729,685 dols., amounted in 1851 to 8,462,834 dols. The 3 per Cents. were done on the 31st ult., at 44 7-16; the New 3 per Cents., at 441; the Debt of the First Class, at 10 9-16 ; and that of the Second at 51. BELGIUM. The Emancipation of Brussels states that M. Antony Thouret, who has not availed himself of the authorisation granted to him to return to France, has taken up his residence at Ostend, after having sojourned for some time in the Belgian capital. Some French and English capitalists have just purchased the extensive coal mines of St. Eloi and St. Aldegonde, in the Hainaut (Belgium). These mines, the coals from which are the best suited for the manufactory of coke, are situated on the very frontier of France, on the road from Maubeuze to Marremont. When the Erquelines railway, which is now in course of execution, and which will pass through this rich coal district, shall be completed, the manufacturers in the Nord will find a consi derable saving in their expenses for fuel. The working of the coal mines of St. Eloi will consider ably increase the capital of the purchasers of them. ITALY. The Committee of the Italian Academy of Philo sophy met on the Ist inst., under the Presidency of Count Terentias Mamiani, who pronounced an inaugural speech in presence of an immense audi tory. On the 2d M. Piranelli was to deliver a lec ture on the life and writings of the Abbe Gioberti. The King received, on the Ist, the deputation of the Chamber of Deputies, to whom his Majesty ex pressed his satisfaction for the numerous and im portant labours accomplished by the Chamber. " We owe thanks to that Assembly," he added, " for having overcome all the difficulties raised in our way." In the evening the King gave a grand dinner, at which the Presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, all the Ministers, the President of the Council of State, and M. Maximus d'Azeglio, assisted. After dinner their Majesties, accompanied by their guests, repaired to the Royal Theatre, where they were received with marks of respectful sympathy and the most expressive ap plause. The surveys of the Rome and Bologna Railway line, by Ancona, have. been commenced by order of the Papal Government. The fetes of Christmas this year have been fa voured by the temperature of spring ; the sun was so warm that Christmas-day felt more like Easter Sunday. The attendance in the churches was very numerous, both at the midnight mass of Christmas eve and on the following day. The Bishop . of Carcassonne officiated in the Church of St. Louis. As the church is considered as a national one, and has for protector the sovereign of the people to which it belongs, the portrait of the Emperor Napoleon 111. had been placed in it. A general subject of conversation at Rome is the recent conversion to the Catholic faith of Dr. Yves, the Anglican Bishop of Carolina, in the United States. Dr. Yves had for a long time embraced Puseyite opinions, and felt strong sympathies for the Catholic religion, which had subjected him to much remonstrance. Since ho has been at Rome he has put himself in relation with Monsignor Gill, the Catholic Bishop of Vir ginia, United States, and addressed himself to Mon signor Talbot, the private caineriere of the Pope, in order to make his solemn abjuration, and publicly profess Catholicism. The ceremony took place on the 26th, the Pope in person administering the sa crament to the convert. Dr. Yves, in abandoning the Episcopal Church of the United States, has given up a very advantageous position. His wife at first warmly opposed his intention, but it is said that she now begins to defend him against th e at tacks of some Protestant ministers who accompa nied the bishop to Rome. The Bishop of Cahors left Rome on the 27th ult. He has met with the most marked reception from the Pope, and on taking leave of his Holiness, the latter presented him with a magnificently bound book for the altar. The bishop intends making a pilgrima g e to Loretto before he returns to his diocese. The Milan diligence was attacked on the road to Mantua on the 20th ult, near Bazzolo, by eight armed men. One of the passengers was robbed of 2,000 fr. in gold ; but the money intrusted to the diligence for conveyance escaped ' the robbers I , • g _ unable, after rep ea t e d attempts, to break open the chest in which it was contained. Upon hearing a noise at a distance the robbers took to flight,. and left the diligence to continue its way. AUSTRIA. The three Northern Powers have given Napoleon to understand that, though they recognise him as Emperor of the Fren c h, it i s no t as the third Monarch of his race, Another part of the Reser vation is that the treaties of 1815 will be main tained to the letter. The sudden and remarkable improvement in the rate of exchange must be attributed rather to the recognition of the Empire than to any confidence which the new English Ministry inspires here. As some days have elapsed since the electric telegraph brought us the names of the members of the new Administration, people have had time to reflect on the matter and dis cuss it at their leisure. The result is, they have come to the conclusion that, though no British Ca binet ever contained greater political capacities, it is one with which Austria has little reason to be satisfied. The Presse says that Baron Prokesch will be sent to Rome, "in order to restore the former influence of Austria in the Papal capital, and to neutralise the present preponderance of France." The negotiations between Austria and Russia re lative to the junction of their telegraphic lines are nearly terminated. The Russian telegraphic line is to be taken to St. Petersburgh. The junction is to be effected on the frontiers of Gallicia by a spe cial line, which is not to be connected with the German telegraphs. According to the Sardinian papers Marshal Ra detsky is aboue to resign the Government of Lom bardy. The cause assigned for his disgrace aro twofold. First, lie differed in opinion with the Emperor relative to the individuals condemned to death at Mantua ; and secondly, the Marshal was charged with having too militarily treated the bishops, by enjoining them to communicate to him their correspondence with Rome, and to forbid Roman clergymen from preaching in Lombardy without the permission of the Government. M. Madiai and his wife were in daily expectation of their pardon. The Grand Duke had ordered them to be kindly treated in their prison until their liberation, for which they will be indebted to the active interference of the King of Prussia. TURKEY. The Journal de Constantinople, of the 19th, con firms the news already communicated relative to the blockade of the Albanian coast. The semi-offi cial organ of the Turkish Government says, that it is to extend " from Ulcinia (no such place is to be found in any of the maps) to the extremity of the Turkish frontiers." Austria will not permit the Turks to land either in the Bay of Cattaro or near Stagno, and the military force in Dalmatia is being much increased. The argument employed by the Austrians in defence of their policy is, that they have as much right to prevent the Turkish ships entering " their" bays and creeks as the Turks have to consider them selves masters of the Bosphorus. A remark that both the coasts of the Bosphorus belong to the Turks, but that the Austrians are willing to deny the right of way of the Turks to their own property, had been received with burst of indignation. A letter from Constantinople states that, by order of the Sultan, the Council of State will be for the future divided into sections, that of Roumelia and of Anatolia, that is to say, European and Asiatic. MONTENEGRO AND ALBANIA. The Rajahs who are to be forced to serve against Montenegro are said to be in a state of great excite ment, as they have paid the " Hara,cs' in order to be exempt from military service. Things are by no means quiet in the neighbourhood of Antivari. In the recent proclamation of the Porte, the Mon tenegrines are not only entitled rebels, but " male factors, robbers, and murderers." Advices from Scutari in the Osservatore Triestim state that the visier of that province has assembled an army of 20,000 men against the Montenegrines. MARKET NEWS-(THIS .DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE. The general quality of the English wheat on sale here, to-day, was very inferior, owing, chiefly, to the long con tinuance of wet weather. The total arrivals, coastwise, this week, have ammutted to 2,730 quarters. Fresh up, the receipts by land carriage wore small. The attendance of buyers was by no means large ; yet the finest picked samples sold at Monday's prices. Low and middling kinds were a mere drug, and offering on somewhat easier terms. For forward delivery, scarcely a transaction took place. From abroad, 5,020 quarters of wheat have reached us, chiefly from the westward. All descriptions were a very slow inquiry, but no actual change took place in the quota tions. Floating cargoes of wheat were heavy. The show of English barley was good—of foreign limited. Fine malting samples moved off freely, at very full prices. Grinding and distilling sorts were a dull inquiry. Malt commanded very little attention ; nevertheless, prices were steady. We had a fair inquiry for oats, at full currencies. The fresh supply was only 50 quarters of English. Beans, peas, and flour were dull, at barely stationary prices. ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat. Barley. English .. I 2,730 I 4,470 Irish •• • • Foreign .. 5,020 Malt. Oats. Flour. 3,590 st) 2,340 7.710 SMITHFIELD. The supply of beasts in to-day's market being very limited, the demand for that description of stock ruled steady, and, in some instances, the primest breeds ad vanced 2d. per 81bs. The very best Scots were worth 4s. 2d. per 81bs. Sheep, the number of which was on the decrease, moved off steadily, at prices fully equal to those obtained on Monday. Although the supply of calves was seasonably large, the veal trade was somewhat active, and most qualities were 2d. per 81bs. higher than on Friday last. The top figure was 4s. 6d. per 81bs. There was an improved sale for pigs, at full currencies. Milch COWS were a slow sale, at from 141. 10s. to 191. 10s. each, in cluding their small calf. Per 81bs by s. d. s. d. Inferior Beasts ...2 Bto 3 0 Second quality ...3 2 3 4 Prime large oxen 3 6 3 8 Prime Scots, dm 310 4 0 Inferior sheep ...3 8 310 Second quality ...4 0 4 4 Prime coarse-w11d.4 6 4 8 to carcase. s. d. s. d. Prime Southdown 410 5 0 Large crse. calves 3 0 4 0 Prime small do 4 3 4 6 Large hogs 210 3 6 Small porkers 3 8 310 Suckling calves 19 0 24 0 Quarter old pigs 19 0 23 0 FOREIGN SUPPLY. 661 Reasts 230 4,206 Sheep 6OO 334 I Calves 2BO 360 Pigs Beasts Shoop Calves Pigs TOTAL SUPPLY. • NEWGATE AND The general demand ruled ► LEADENHALL. steady, and in some instances ;ho carcase. prices had an upward tenden Per 81bs by I s. d. s. d. s. d. 8. d. Beef, inferior 2 4 2 6 Mutton, Inferior 3 2 3 6 Do.,middling 282 10 Do.,middling 3 8 4 2 Do., prime largo 3 0 3 2 Do., prime 4 4 4 8 Do., do. small ....3 4 3 6 Veal 2 10 4 4 Pork, largo 2 8 3 0 Pork, small 3 2 4 0 BOROUGH HOP. New Sussex hops were in improved request, and some. what dearer than last week. All other qualities are steady, at extreme quotations. Mid and East pockets, 90s to 1508 ; Woad of Kent, 85s to 108 s ; Sussex, 85s to 105 s per cwt. COLONIAL. SUGAR.—British Plantation has been very firm, the rise being 6d. to ls. per cwt., and the demand being princi pally for the lower and brown sorts. Since Tuesday there has been rather a quieter tone, but holders have been firm. Barbadoes, by auction, realised 395. to 44)5. for fine yellow, and 35s Gd to 38s 6d for common to good ; Demerol a crys talized sold at 41s to 42s for fine, and at 33s Gd to 40s for other sorts ; refined brown lumps have been at 45s to 45s Gd. East India—A large parcel of Mauritius, partly of the new crop, found ready buyers at Gd to is advance ; good to fine yellow 36s to 38s Gd, low to mid 31s Gd to 35s Gd, and good to fine brown 32s to 345, ord to mid 28s to 31s Gd. Bengal sold is higher for grainy, and at full rates for Bonaros. Fino yollow 38s to 42s Gd, ord to good 37s to 395, and Mauritius sorts 36s to ' 37s 6d. Madras, only a small parcel, wont is better, low to mid grocery 32s to 355, and good to fine brown ditto 22s to 31s. Penang was in demand at Gd to is advance, ord to fine yellow 32s to 36s Gd. Foreign—white Bahia has boon taken in at 21s to 24s Gd for low to good, and brown at 30s Gd to 33s Gd, for ord to good, yellow, low, and mid 34s Gd to 36s Gd. Privately yellow Havannah has been sold at 36s to 40s. COFFEE.—Tho demand has boon brisk for plantation Ceylon at an advance of 2s per cwt, and holders are firm, very little having );43n offered by auction. Low mid and mid colory sold at 55s to 60s, and for fine ord at 50s to 54s ; triage 45s to 50s. A large business has been done in native, and the tendency is still upwards. Sales of good ord have been made at 48s Gd. Mocha has been in request privately at fuller prices. Of Costa Rica the supply is limited, and prices aro up 2s per cwt. CoooA.—Vory little has been done. Trinidad was taken in at 33s to 37s Gd for low and mid greyish rod, and at 40s Gd for good red. Rwici—Full prices aro asked, though the demand has not been active. Mid to good mid white Bengal sold at lie 6d to lie 9d per cwt, Java was taken in at L5B for good, Madras sold at lOs to lOs 6d for ord to mid. spicEe.—For pimento a slight advanceand nhaustmbeeegns apta2itadfid good ord to mid mi xe d realising qd to sild per lb, mace sold 2s 7d for at 2s 4d to 28 7d for mid. wormy, t mid brown, and 28 4d to 2s White popper went at 7id toi d for mid, ra 5 d for s ma ll . rather sh r i velled. Black partly sold a t 3d for mid light. SALTPETRE.—The emand has been brisk at extreme rates. Bengal good and fine 2to 5 per cent. refraction, 298 25s to 30s, and ord and l ow 141 to 221 per cent., 25s to 6d. Rum.—Several purchases have been made at full p r i ces . COTTON.—This arti c l e h as been inactive a. COCHINEAL.—Advanced rates have been obtained. TEA.—The superior qualities have been in fair demand, and of low to good common congou there have been free buyers at lOid to lOid per lb. Green has been dealt in more freely. TALLOW.—This article has been advanced to 46s Od and 47s per cwt. for P.Y.C. GREEN FRUIT. --The market is well supplied, and the stock of all kinds being light, no disposition is shown t• give way in pri ce. Two cargoes oranges from St. Michael, and a parcel by ste amer f rom Lisbon, sold by Keeling Hunt, went at prices similar to those obtained before Christmas. The merchants'conneeted with the Azores and Lisbon orange trade having come to the determination instant. Black o a ß s fl s acL imi okn l sd a po ti na n n, g itsh t n h e e terms, of selling at the outporta ine E d r ut4 n jug in first haunds al u t :t o e nt ai t v io i n n e d o e n i l n iar o d u f e ro c m arg tr o Isty those INCRJASE OF •DISCOUNT. At the breaking up of the Bank Court yesterday, it was announced that the rate of discount had been advanced . from 2 per cent., at which it has stood since the 22d of April, to 21 per cent. The measure was still in a great degree unexpected, and the necessity for it has been very widely questioned. Its best recommendation is, that it cannot do much harm, while, under certain i contingen cies, which are possible but not probable, t may pre vent future inconvenience. The state of the weather is the chief justification for the step, but the public have been too often deceived by anticipations, both of pro lific and unfavourable harvests, to attach great import ante to any distant conjectures on such subjects. The existing speculations in wheat, moreover, are calculated to strengthen our prospects; and the knowledge that supplies from America can, as a general role, be depended upon, and that purchases in that country are invariable met by a proportionate increase in the demand for our ma. nufactures, gives likewise an assurance against results such as were always to be dreaded before the repeal of the corn laws. As regards the exportation of specie to the Continent, a movement of that kind was to be ex pected, irrespective of any transactions in grain, since the great and sudden increase of our consignments to Australia must have diminished our ability to ship to other markets, and, consequently, have rendered it ne cessary to make up the deficiency with bullion. This, however, would not have been felt if the arrival of the Australian steamer had taken place, and there had been a certainty also of other vessels getting away from the colonies with regularity. As to the share specu lation now going on, it is altogether unworthy of no tice in any view bearing upon the general trading inte rests of the country. The amount of foreign schemes introduced has been very small, and for a consider able time the market for them has not been such as to threaten an increase, while with regard to disreputable cuinpanies at home, they merely involve in a majority of oases the transfer of money from the pockets of silly gamblers to the hands of those who p rey upon t h em, and have nothing to do either with a diminution o aug mentation of the general wealth of the country. - u n d er these circumstances, it is seen that although the course adopted by the Bank may be defended as a timely p re caution, there is nothing that should cause it to be regarded ag a measure imperatively called for by any direct apprehension. At the time when they . reduced the rate from the point to which they have now raised it their stock of bullion was nearly 1,200,0001. below the amount at which it at present stands ; their reserve of notes was smaller by 350,0001. ; Consols were at 991 ; the revenue, although highly favourable, was less p than at this moment ; and the extent of the gold dis coveries in Australia had been only very imperfectly appreciated.—Timer. HUNTING' APPOINTMENTS. STAG HOUNDS. Bath—Tuesday, &Citing-ton ; Friday, Farrington Gurney—at half-past elev en. Hon. F. Petre's—Monday, Beaumont Oats, Broom• field ; Thursday, Moreton— -at half-past eleven. FOX HOUNDS. Atherstone Monday, Cladely-gate ; Wednesday, Moira-station • Friday, Ullesthorpe ; Saturd a y, Mari den—at a quarter to eleven. _ Badsworih—Tuesday, Darton Inn ; Thursday, Marr. village ; Saturday, South Hiendle v—at half-past ten. Duke of Beaufort's—Monday, 'Trouble-house ; Wed nesday, Dyrham-park ; Friday, Ro , od Ashton : Satur day, Yate Rocks. Bramham-moor—Monday, Woodleall ; Wednesday, Bramham-moor Cross-roads ; Friday, Marston ; Satur day, Pool—at half-past ten. Lord Hy. Bentinck's--Monday, Linwood-by-Rasen ; Tuesday, Fristhorpe; Wednesday, l3lanitney ; Thurs day, Potter-hill-bar ; Saturday, Bardney— eleven. Craven Monday, Tottenham-park ; Wednesday, Knightsbridge ; Friday, Aldbourne Chase ; Saturday, Chaddleworth-village—quarter to eleven. Crawley and Horsham—Monday, Rowfa ut-lodge ; Wednesday, Dencombe ; Friday, Paxhill-park-gate-- - quarter to eleven. - Colonel Conyers's—Monday, Abridge ; Wedniesday, Blacionore ; Saturday, Easton-lodge—at eleven. Mr. Dr►x's—Monday, Yarlington ; Thursday, tong burton. East Essex—Tuesday, Finehinfield-town ; Thursd'ay, Felix-hall ; Saturday, Gosfield, King's Head—half-past ten. Essex Union—Wednesday, Hazeleigh-hall ; Saturday,. Hadleigh-common—half-past ten. South Essex—Tuesday, Dunton Blacksmiths ; Satur day, South Ockendon—half-past ten. Mr. Farquharson's—Monday, Brondley-wood ; Wed nesday, Duncliffe. . EaziFitzwilliam's—Mond a y, H o l me - woo d ; Wed nes . day, Titchmarsh—at ten. Herefordshire —Tuesday, Hall court ; Friday, Mynde park-r-at eleven. Holderness—Monday, Tickton ; Tuesday, Locking ton ; Thursday, Rose-park ; Friday, Beverley Queen's gate—at a quarter to eleven. Heythrop—Monday, Heythrop ; Wednesday, Lough borough-gate ; Friday, Farmington -grove ; Saturday, Blenheim—at half-past ten. Mr. M. Ingram's—Monday, Chartley-castle ; Thurs day, Swarkstone-bridge ; Saturday, Needwood-house--- at a quarter to eleven. East Rent—Monday, Sandling-park ;Thursday, Rein.; den—at half-past ten. Ledbury—Monday, Loughborough ; Friday, High nam7-at half-past ten. Ludlow—Tuesday, Munslow-gorse ; Friday, Bircher common—at half-past ten. Mi. Lushington's—Tuesday, Rainham ; Friday, Dod dington—at eleven. Mr. Lumley's—Monday, Jockey-house ; Tuesday, Sandbeck-park ; Thursday, Shooter's-hill-gate ; Friday, Darlton-bar—at half-past 10. Monmouthshire—Thursday, Tregare Church ; Satur day, Llandewry-court. Mr. Morgan's—Monday, Pentillie-lodge-gate ; Thurs day, Long-cross —at half-past 10. Rufford—Monday, Grapwell • Tuesday, White-posts ; Thursday, Saxt on ; Saturday, Moresby-park—at half past 10. - Duke of Rutland's--Monday, Staunton ; Tuesday, Ropsley-kennel ; Wednesday, Croxton-park ; Friday, Gipple—at half-past 10. Shropshire—Tuesday, Bicton-heath--at half-past 10 ; Friday, Atcham-park—at 11. Mr. A. Smith's—Monday, Tedworth-kennels ; Tues day, Oare-hill ; Wednesday, Pill-heath ; Thursday, Or enwood ; Friday, Netheravon ; Saturday, Roche-court —at 11. Somerset Subscription Tuesday, Buncombe-hill ; Friday, Cleeve-hill--at half-past 10. Sir R. Sutton's—Monday, Shearsby Inn ; Tuesday, Widnierpool Inn; Wednesday, Beaumanor-park ; Thurs day, Barkby ; Friday, Ratcliffe —at 11. Sir Tatton Sykes's—Monday, Whinmoor Baild ; Wed nesday, half way betw een G a t e H e l ms l ey and Stamford bridge ; Friday, Racethorp—at half-past ten. Suffolk—Tuesday, Rougham-hall ; Thursday, Sylver ley-tower ; Saturday, Brockley-green—at a quarter to eleven. Essex and Suffolk—Tuesday, Weeley-street ; Friday, Ashington-hall-gate--at a quarter to eleven. Cottesmore--Monday, Wing ; Tuesday, Tilton Wood ; Thursday, Grimsthorpe-park ; Saturday, Ayston— at eleven. Warwickshire—Monday, Henley in Arden ; Tuesday, Mitford Bridge, at a quarter to eleven ; Thursday, Newbold Pacey, at twelve ; Friday, Burton Toll-gate ; Saturday, Cubbington-gate, at a quarter to eleven. Wheatland—Tuesday, Wenlock ; Friday, Lodge-cop pice. Worcestershire Monday, Witley ; Wednesday, Bramsgrove, Lickey ; Friday, Grafton-wood, at half past 10. . HARRIERS. B. V. 11.—Wednesday,Kingcomb-barn, Chesilborne ; Saturday, Toomer-gate, at half-past eleven. Brighton—Monday, Patcham; Wednesday, Thunders• barrow ; Saturday, Dyke, at a quarter to eleven. Brookside Monday, Newmarket-hill ; Th urs d ay, Telscombe-tye, at half-past ten. Thanet—Monday, Updown ; Wednesday, Minster mills, at half-past ten. THE MURDER:NEAR iIYTHE.—Two men, named George Dumper and Thomas Wran underwent a lengthened ex amination on Wednesday, at Hythe, Hants, before the magistrates of th e county, on su s p ic i on of' being con cerned in the brutal murder of Joseph Wran, a sawyer in the service of Mr. A. It. Drummond, of Cadlands, who met with his violent end late on Christmas eve. The deceased was between 50 and 60 years of age, and, on the night in question, after receiving his week's wages, discharged some trifling debts and repaired to the Nelson Inn, of this town, when!. he indulged rather freely, and departed, about half-past 11 o'clock, somewhat inebri ated. On the followin g morning, a little before day light, his body was discovered lying in the road leading to Frood-lane common,, near , which he resided. It was shockingly mutilated ; the scalp was cut in a variety of e co direction s , t h e skull WEWS fractured right across the head, as if it h a d been split Fin two by a viol en t ki c k from a. th heavy ironed boot. Tbie state of the gr oun d near w h ere had corpse lay, taken pl ace, and portions of the brains of the de evidentlty showed th a t a severe s t rugg l e ceased were strewn about the ground. There was_ a large pool of bl oo d ab out a foot from the head of or the deceased, an d, sp li nter ed to pieces, a heavysoti o e d k b ludgeon, with po r ti ox is o f h uman h a i r an d blood tached. It transpired 'that the prisoners hadbeen se ct far from the spot where his remains which h e di with the deceased late qm the night of his death s y co g v n e d r : c r much rescni: Dumper had been seen with a stick u , ixac ter indifferent ea ` r ning the unhappy man. W.le bore a very " and on thew f or a and had often been is a " trouble, left his home, turne d bled the weapon which; had been used w abo t the 1 d °I after the murder he suddenly es of copses in the and c a s °Pse at length out in search of him. The nd he vi- Sunday,the searched, a ... __ neighbourhood were' s an d fin.oL e 'ou in the public time defied all search_ All classes driven frora his hid ei •pi_g_ place,_e Yth captured On his room being parish coi.istable . 1% _ „ mu. be saturated with road lea ding to DI di , limb re fauna iro wsers ''' e his under frock and en searebeil, his tro also marks on blood ; there we7ll h. lead recently been washed. Subse : the she ,ulder, e which u -rested the other prisoner, Thomas quen.fts the 1 police the deceased, on suspicion of being inhah Wra'n' nephew Dumper in the commission of the atro cious Lte d w The prisoners were committed for trial at CiOUS ( lee d. . on the charge of wilful murder. rt 3 OF A FLOOD.—The fine viaduct at Halt- BEI ' so t y , which carried the Alston branch of the Newcastle whi s 4, Rai Tway across the Tyne, had been reduced to a total wre ck by the recent floods. The amount of damage the ue xt assizes done its enormous. The bridge cost 20,000 i., and a moi .ety 0 - 4 f that sum will not restore it. I THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY-'EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1858.