The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-17 00:00:00

*tihnts antt Oficncts.

SEVERAL FAMILIES were placed in great danger
on Wednesday morning by the outbreak of a fire at
Stoke Newington. Several of the Brigade and West
of England engines soon reached the locality of the
catastiophe, but in two hours three houses with their
contents were destroyed.
LIFE WAS Lear by a tire which broke out on Satur-
day last on the premises of Mr. Mustard, a baker,
in Grafton street, Fitzroy-square. Part of the house
Was let out to different lodgers, one of whom, a tra-
velling draper, named Rogers, was burnt to death,
or suffocated in his room. Considerable property
was also destroyed, and the house nearly gutted by
the eontiagation.
Two NEN WERE KILLEn and others seriously in-
jured, at the Old Excise-office in the City, on Mon-
day morning. Several men were at work in the
courtyard, clearing a pile of many thousand bricks,
and in doing so pulled out several bricks at
the bottom of the stack, which gave way, amid
almost buried the whole party, who were dreadfully
bruised and smashed. One was killed on the spot, and
another died on the road to the hospital. The ac-
cident is attributed entirely to their own carelessness.

A STA-nos-MASTER and guard on the Caledonian
Railway have been fined, one in :11. itts., anti the
other in V. for taking two passengers in custody
who protested against an undue filling of a carriage
with passengers beyond the number allowed by the
company's regulations.
Tim WIFE: of Mr. Stocker, proprietor of a respec-
table academy at Boughton, near Faversham, left her
home in company with one of the ushers, named
Chatterton. The guilty parties took with hem all
the plate, and a considerable sum of money. The
woman left three children and a husband, and her
accomplice has succeeded in victimising several
tradesmen to a large amount.
Tut: Wooowonk in a coal-pit belonging to Bush
l'ark Colliery, near Wordsley, caught fire on Friday
night in last week from some accident, anti the flames
communicating to the coal strata around produced
fumes which suffocated five men and a boy who were
at work in the pit. Three of the bodies were after-
wards extricated with much difficulty, but the fire
spread so rapidly that the shaft was covered over,
and remains closed until it can be stilled.

THE 'M1)11E-TAX C4II.I.ECTOrt for St. Clement Danes
district, Mr. T. lloulton, has lately disappeared. leav-
ing, it is alleged, very serious defalcations in his ac-
counts. An official notice has been issued by Messrs.
Twining and Wood, property and income tax com-
missioners. stating that, in consequence of Mr.
Boulton having become a defaulter to the amount, of
8,R001., they had seized upon all his property. Mr.
Boniton's securities, who are four in number, arc, as

SATURDAY,

a matter of course, accountable for his defalcations.
The appointments which he held for many years in
the parish have been already disposed of.
Soils new theatrical " thunder" having been pre-
pared for the Edinburgh theatre was tried last week
with a very unexpected effect. The Flowers of the Forest
was perbirmed, and in the storm scene the thunder
being let off produced a noise which absolutely
frightened the audience into the belief of some dread-
ful catastrophe. A panic got up in the gaUery, shrieks
and cries of " Murder !" were heard from all parts, and,
from the contagion of fear and the instinct of self.
preservation, there were symptoms of an overwhelm•
mg rush to the door. Mr. Wyndham, the manager,
aided by some of the company, vociferated that there
was no danger, and imploied the people to keep their
seats, but the pit was rapidly emptying itself, and
some adventurous youths were sliding down the pil-
lars from the galleries into tho boxes. Happily the
appeal proved, at length, successffil, and a loud cheer
from all parts of the house conveyed the assurance
that nobody was hurt and nothing was wrong, and
announced at the same time the unparalleled success
of this extraordinarily " startling effect."
AMONG several garotte robberies that have lately
been perpetrated in Manchester, the most singular
and daring was committed on the person of Mr.
Tyrrell, a wine-agent, and at his office, near the
Royal Exchange. Mr. Tyrrell had just returned to
his office at five o'clock, when, before he could strike
a light, two men, who had apparently dogged his
steps, seized him, and, while one grasped his throat
so as to prevent his calling for assistance, the other
rifled his pockets. After abstracting twenty-five
sovereigns and some silver the thieves absconded,
leaving their victim insensible, and locking the door
behind them for further precaution. They had ample
time to effect an escape before Mr. Tyrrell had re-
covered sufficiently to set pursuers on their track.

A STATUE is not much more expensive than a painting.
Let the base for the support of the one go against the
frame of the other, and a statue in marble or bronze will
be found very little to exceed in cost that of a portrait on
canvas. For the latter 8001. (often more) has been fre-
quently paid. For each of the portraits in the Waterloo
Gallery at Windsor Castle, Sir Thomas Lawrence received
IMO/. We cool(' easily supply many more cases. The
City, it is known, has commissioned six statues—the
artists bring Bade, Macnowell, Foley, Marshall, Th►upp,
and Lough—for which the City is to pay, for each, OM/. :
liaily received for his world-famous statue of "Eve at the
Fountain" COOL, and for "The Hunter" .40W.; Marshall
received from the Art-Union of London WO/. for his statue
in marble of " The Laming Girl Reposing ;" and Foley
WO/. for one of the great master works of the age, the
group of " Bacchus and Inn ;" to this list we may add the
comm►ssions of marble statues for the House of Lords to
the best British sculptors, at S(M) guineas each
_ _

Tim •Ersstax Curnett affects toleration. Of the vast
population of filly 60,000,0(0 only about 45,000,000 are
members of the regular Church ; 350,000 are heretics or
dissenters to that Church itself; 8,500,000 Roman Catho-
lics are found throughout the wide domains of the Czar,
and fully 250,000 Arminians. The Protestants of the
Augsburg Confession of Faith amount to 2,000,(X);
those of the Reformed Church to 54,000. There are
10,000 Moravians, while no less than 2,500,000 belong to
the Mahometnn creed. The Jews are 000,000 in number,
and the followers of that mysterious potentate, the Grand
Lama of Thibet, amount to no less than half that amount.
liut there are creeds still more extraordinary throughout
the enormous tract of territory which constitutes the Rus-
sian empire ; 170,000 are open idolators, and no less than
GOYS* are addicted to the disgusting practice of Fetichism,
worshipping bats, cows, and every uncouth specimen of
brute, as representative of the divinity of heaven.—Noliasal
Migeeltany.
l'AltimAN HINTS ron CAB nyton3l.—The superiority of
the French conveyances over those of London is very
striking to those who visit Paris. In the French capital
there are to be fonnd plying for hire broughams of a per-
fect description, quite as good as those of gentlemen. The
driver Is in livery, the horse very good, and the whole of
the appointments well finished. The charge for these
broughams is, of course, something more than the common
cabs ; ladies and others take them by the hour, and are
sure of civility; nothing can be more cowenient. Every
one knows if they send for a brougham in London how
enormous is the charge, so much so that few ever indulge
in sueli a dear species of luxury. Again, in Paris there
are little barouchea, drawn by one or two horses. holding
four people ; these also ply for hire, mid can be had on fair
terms. They are exceedingly convenient ;in }kir weather
families use them very much—in fact they are so much
called for that. unless bespoken, it is very difficult to get
one. Surely these carriages would be much sought for in
London, when we consider its vast suburbs, inhabited by
the very class of persons requiring such vehicles. There
is also another conveyance of great importance to families.
At all the railway stations there are in waiting small
omnibuses, which a family can hire on arrival, and which
takes them, their servants, luggage, itc., to their residence
altogether. Thus, the hiring of two or three cabs is
unnecemiarv. avoiding also the risk of the trunks tumbling
MT in the dark, and many other annoyances. A family
leaving town can send for one of these 'busses, and be
conveyed to the station. The convenience of this plan
beyond description,

DECEMBER 17, 1853.

FOUR NNW WAki STEAIIIIIS were recently launched at
different French ports, —At Cherbourg. the
Beaumanoir, brig of the Ist class ; at Brest, the Duquesne.
screw Une-otbattle ship, with engines of 00 horsepower;
at Lorient, the Annitkal, of WO guns, and 850 horse power;
and at Toulon, the Florrux, 100 gun screw-ship, and On
horse-power.
NEw FRENCH LOAN.—There are rumours that the French
Government is about to contract a new loan to the extent
of eight millions sterling ; but only a portion of this is
intended to be introduced upon the London market...

TUEMiI' lan: I.IUHARY established in the metropolis
will be ()pencil in Jaunuu'•, 1..451. It is called the Maryle-
bone Free Library, and is situated at 27, Glowester-place,
New-road. Its doors will be opened to the public gratui•
tously from ten a.m. till ten p.m. This will enable all
classes to avail themselves of its advsntages, and the
collection of books is such as to gratify a large variety of
readers.

THE LATE DUKE oF BEAUFORT possessed for many
years a stud of skewballed horses of great beauty. Ills
grace's equipage, drawn oceasionally by a pair and some
does by four of these animals, will long be remember 1
by park loungers. The demise of the duke has led to the
disposal of a portion of Ilia stud. Iris Excellency Count.
Walewski has secured four of the beautiful skowlialls, nn
acquisition which will materially add to the brilliancy of
the carriage appointments of the French Embassy.
A Den. took place at Pau on the Nth inst. with fatal
Inuits. Some dispute hat ing arisen between between M.
It. L—, AU AVOW`, RIIOI M. L. L—, a merchant, their
mutual friends did all they could to et 'et a reeoneiliat• .
Their efforts, however. were fruitless, and a hostile meeting
was appointed to take place in the commune of St.
The ratel was the welvon selected, and (levy ',recant ion
was taken by the seconds to render the meeting harmless
for both parties. The adversaries, who were phwell at an
unusually great distanee. were ordered to tire at a signal
given, and, as neither of them was accustomed to firearms.
it waa hoped that no injury would be done. l• nfori ttnately.
at the first shot M. L. I. was struck in the breast, near
the heart, and died almost instantaneously. Warranta
were the astute day issued against the remaining prineipal
and the two tweonds, who hate fled.
THE 'WEE OF BRUNSWicE sonic time ago purchased the
hotel No. 11, flue Beanjon, in Paris, formerly occupied by
the notorious Lola Montes, and the adjacent hotel, No. 9,
was at the satire time sold to M. Cohnet, an artist. The
seller was a person named Roses. Before the sale he took
IOFt yards of ground from the dependencies of No. awl
added them to No. 11 ; but this change was not mentioned
in the conditions of axle. When comielpiently 111. Colmet
entered in possession of his purchase, he demanded the
restoration of the 105 yards. or an indemnity. A sum of
3,400 f. was offered him, and he accepted it. An action
which he had commenced was then dropped, and the matter
was considered at an end. lint the I take of Brunswick,
on his part, alleged that the demand of M. ('ohnet had
prevented him from taking immediate possession of his
hotel, and had obliged him, Pn attendant the settlement of
the affair, to take apartments for himself Mel his suite;
and tie therefore brought an action before the Civil Tr'.
banal to obtain 50,004. damages. The tribunal awarded
him 7,ttOttf. M. Colmet appealed against this decision, and
the duke, on his part, not thinking the imletunity sufficient,
also appealed. The ease was heard OA Saturday last by
the Imperial Court. The Court quashed the judgment of
the tribunal, dismissed the duke's demand, twit condemned
him to the costs.
Ins. An(i.‘RFT BOIYOLAR has been tried and convicted
at Norfolk, Virginia, for teaching coloured children to
write. She was her own advocate, and spoke eloquently.
On being found guilty. she was fined one dollar ; but the
judge, in passing sentence according to the statute, will
condemn her to imprisonment fur not less than six
months.

ON THE rOIITTAND 12.►ILWAY (U.S.) there is a point
where certain trains have to cross the rails in order to get
upon a branch line. Orders are consequently given to the
station•rnaster never to allow any train to move until the
convoy previously due according to the had
actually gone by. One of these latter was lately mulch
behind time, and the passengers for the branch line grew
impatient at the delay. Three quarters of an hour elapsed
and their remonstrances became urgent. The station-mas-
ter was inexorable. " I have orders to wait until the up
train passed,- he said," and t obey them." " Ilut sup-
posing it never paws?" asked a passenger. " Why, I
should wait for a week," he replied coolly, " and then I
should consider of it!" At that moment the lagging
train (lashed by and gave the lately indignant traveller a
significant hint touching the importance of obe)ing
orders in all motets connected with railway transit.