The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-20 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

cross or sidewise of the shears, and when they commenced
pulling on these blocks the natural consequence was that
the legs were pulled overon one side, and the bell fell with
a great crash into the vessel, bearing all before it, the legs
of the shears sweeping away foremast, bowsprit, &c.
When the shears first began to give way the bell was pro.
bably ten feet high, but the legs, in falling, gradually
lowered it, and the actual fall was from twelve inches to
eighteen inches. Had the fall been ten feet, the bell must
have gone through the bottom of the vessel. As it was,
the damage done to the vessel was very considersble, and
pumps and buckets were actively set to work. The general
impression was that she would sink. When, however, it
was found that she did not, two steamtugs were brought,
and as soon as she could be cleared from the wreck of
shears, mast, &0., she was towed to the outer basin and
run on the sands, it being then, fortunately, high water.
This was due in little more than half an hour after the
hell fell. From one cause or another the bell was kept in
suspense about two hours before the break down. The
men showed considerable activity in getting out of the
way, and, fortunately, not one casualty occurred. It is
to be hoped the bell is not injured, but this cannot be
known at present.
The bell is happily not injured.

THE POOR-LAW BOARD AND THE ST. THOMAS'S
UNION, near Exeter, have not yet saddled their
horses. The guardians contend that three relieving
officers, with increased salaries, can do the work as
efficiently, if not more so, than four officers with
smaller pay, and they have asked for a trial of three
for six months. The Poor Law Board however,
having requested the guardians to proceed to the
election of a fourth relieving officer, they held a
special meeting last week and resolved :

That as the guardians are conscious of no reason for
doubting their own judgment and discretion in a matter
of local detail, or for their being doubted by others, any
more now than when on previous occasions they have
recommended, and the Poor-Law Commissioners have
accepted, alterations in the number of relief districts;
and, as this board have three times determined upon dis-
continuing the fourth district, and have requested the
Poor Law Board to allow them a trial of three officers for
six months, which the hoard have declined to sanction,
and as during the time the present three officers have dis-
charged the duties connected with the administration of
out door relief the guardians have every reason to be satis-
fied both as regards the decrease in the number of outdoor
poor and in the amount of outdoor relief, they decline
giving any direction for the election of a fourth officer.
MESSRS SMITH'S WOOLLEN MILLS at Morley, near
Leeds, were burnt to tho ground last Friday week.
The property was insured, but several hundred work-
people are thrown out of employment.

THE PLAN OF THE RURAL POLICE FOR THE WEST
RIDING has been agreed to by the magistrates' corn•
mittee. This committee recommend that the
Riding be placed under the provisions of the 2nd
and 3rd of Victoria, the number of constables to be
460. They also recommend that the chief
constable have 5001. a year and the actual expenses
of travelling. Of the 460 constables, twenty are to
be superintendents—ten at a salary of 130/. a year,
with an allowance of 401. for a horse, and tt.n at
1241., with the same allowance. Twenty.two are to
be inspectors—ten at a salary of 75/. a year, and six
at 651. a year. The remaining 418 constables are to
be in their several classes at 2k., 20i., and 183. a
week respectively, exclusive of clothing.
A SECOND FETE took place in the park and
grounds at Aston-hall, near Birmingham, on Monday
evening. The proceeds on this occasion were appro.
priated for the benefit of the General Horpital. It
is estimated that at least 80,000 persons were assem-
bled.

A HARVEST FESTIVAL Was held on Monday at
Rockland, near Attleborou.gh, in Norfolk. A sub-
stantial English dinner was given by their em-
ployers to 119 men. After dinner game: and races
filled up the time till evening, when 210 wives and
children joined the men at a good tea of cold beef
and plum-pudding. Everything passed off with the
greatest success, and especial credit is due to the
Rev. Addison Hemsworth, who set on foot and
arranged this kindly meeting between masters
and men.

Cum OF CHILDREN having strayed and lost them-
selves in corn fields are mentioned as occurring
lately in Yorkshire. The dead body of one child
was found in a barley-field at Quarrnley, near
Huddersfield. He had lost himself and died from
starvation.

THE RIVER TYNE Common»; have determined
upon the construction of new deep river docks, but
have not yet agreed upon the site.

A SCHOOL OF DESIGN is about to be established at
Coalbrookdale. Application has been made to the
department in London for securing the immediate
appointment of a competent master. Considering
the artistic skill required in the neighbourhood, both
in the manufacture of iron and china, this institu-
tion cannot fail to be highly useful and successful.

___
A CHILD FELL OVERBOARD from the fore part of
one of the Ryde and Cowes boats on Wednesday, and
with singular good luck was swept by a *ate just

897

without the paddle-wheel. The sea was very rough
at the time, but the captain of the steamer tore off
his coat and shoes, jumped overboard, picked the
child up, and saved its life.

MR. ALDERMAN ROSE, on Saturday last, gave an
entertainment at his seat at Cranford to the children
of the schools cf Vintry Ward, Queenhithe, and
Cranford, together with the employes from the
alderman's London establishment, their wives, andt
children. About 250 sat down to the English roes
beef and plum-pudding, together with other good
things in which juveniles, large and small, delight.

A Itoeuz ESCAPED from one of the cells beneath
Bradford Court-house, on Thursday morning, in a
very clever and daring manner. He was safe in the
cell on Wednesday night, when his supper was taken
to him. At half past eight o'clock on Thursday
morning, the superintendent constable of' the division,
on going to the cell, found that he had escaped.
He had extracted th►ee large holdfasts which sup-
ported a box iu the corner of his cell, rolled his bed
up, and, standing on it, torn away the brickwork
above a massive arch which spans one side of the
cell. Access was thus obtained to one of the hot air
flues of the building, into which he must have
got, descended to the firing-up place, thence made
his way into the Court-house area, thence to the
outer yard, an I so got clear off. The whole of
the floes were carefully examined, but no trace of the
man could be found. Wiih the exception of his trop•
sera and stockings, he left the whole of his clothes
behind—boots, waistcoat, coat, belt, and even his
shirt and flannel.

A POLICE-OFFICER'S MISTAKE, under rsther curious
circumstances, was investigated at the Buckingham-
shire magistrates' meeting at Windsor on Tuesday.
A complaint was made against Charles Dickman,
one of the county police, with having assaulted
Mrs. Ann Sayers, of Windsor. On Wednesday
Mrs. Sayers, with four female friends, was walking
from Datchet to Windsor, when Dickman, who
wore plain clothes and was on horseback, came
galloping after the party, got off his horse, and,
placing his hand on the shoulder of Mrs. Sayers, ex-
claimed abruptly " You are the persons I want," and
ordered her, with two of the friends who accompanied
her, Mrs. and Miss Lawson, to go to the toll-house
close at hand. Mrs. Sayers was so frightened that
she fell into hysterics and fainted, but one of the
younger ladies laughed. The ladies asked him who
he was, and what he did this for, but he only told
them he would explain it to them presently. The
result was of course that the officer soon discovered
his mistake, and after a brief detention the ladies
were set free. Dickman in his defence said that five
persons concerned in uttering base coin, of whom
three were middle-aged and two young females, and
who were " dressed in silks and satins, and would be
taken by any one for ladies," hadsince been arrested,
and that he was in search of these women at the
time. He expressed sincere regret at his error, and
the charge was dismissed.

THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE VICTORIA MILITARY
HoserrAL, near Netley Abbey, in Harnpsl ire, are
now set, and the walls of the building are rising
above the ground, so that a notion of the size and
figure of the building can be formed. About 500
men are at present employed on it, but next year the
number will be increased to upwards of 1,000. The
frontage of the hospital will be 1,400 feet, or more
than a quarter of a mile in length. The general
depth will be 200 feet. In the centre, however, the
depth will be nearly 300 feet. The hospital will be
fifty feet high, and three towers, of dome-like shape,
which will grace the centre block and the two wings,
will each be 100 feet in height. The a of on wlieh
the hospital is built is about sixty feet above South-
ampton Water, and the drainage of the hospital has
been effected upon the must improved plan. The
main sewer, of great magnitude, and of an elliptio
form, runs along in the centre of the
parallel with the front. The stone dressings ann the
plinths will be of Cornish granite. The view from
the towers will be magnificent, overlooking as h will
the New Forest, the Solent Sea, the Isle of Wight,
and the British Channel. Prince Albert visits the
works often, and takes the greatest interest in them.
The hospital Will accommodate 1,000 patients, be-
sides affording a residence for a large medical and
Government staff: The centre block of the building,
projecting ninety feet from the frontage of the wings,
will contain the apartments of the staff. Behind this
block, in the rear of the building, will be the chapel.
The Government is buying up much land in the
neighbourhood. The view of the hospital from the
ships and steamers going up end down Southampton
Water will be imposing, owing to the immense pro.
portions of the structure and its nearness to the
shore. From Southampton, and from Cowes, in the
Isle of Wight, which are situated twelve miles apart.,
will be distinctly seen the largest building in Europe.
The hospital will, it is expected, be completed in tee
yeses' time. It will cost upwards of a quarter of a
million sterling. The barracks will, it is expected,
ultimately be erected in the neighbourhood.