The Express.
London, England, 1852-09-17 00:00:00

DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT COFFINS

The Bath Chronicle says—" On Friday, the 10th
inst., while the workmen were excavating the road at the
top of Russell-street, for the purpose of enlarging the
sewer, they discovered four stone coffins, with the heads
lying to the N.B. One (the smallest) had no lid; Vie
others were covered. They were uisposed in pairs ; the
upper one, nearly parallel, •side by side, about two feet
apart; the lower pair about a yard distant. Lying imme-
diately above these was a skeleton. In the first eoffiu was
found a skeleton of large site, in the neat two skulls with
various bone,. The small eoffineontained no skull, but loon
bones. One of the coffins was preserved untouched till
Monday, when it was carefully removed by Mr. Treasure,
the contractor for the works, and afterwards examined by
Dr. Falconer, Messrs. Oore, Bagshawe, and B. Hunt. It
was covered with a regularly adjusted lid, not with a
plain slab (as was the case with the others we have
mentioned), the coffin being bevelled off at the foot, to
allow the cover to fit more closely ; the upper cod of the
lid seemed to have been slightly lifted up. The cover was
of superior workmanship. The coffin was full of a soft
clayey earth, with two human vertebra lying on it. The
earth being removed, a perfect skeleton, supposed to be
that of a female, was found ; it was lying on its left side,
with the right arm crossing the breast, the left arm ex-
tended down the side. The remaining contents of the
coffin were—part of an infant's jaw ; a metal pin, nearly
two inches in length, but much corroded, together with
the head of a smaller one ; portions of the jaws of two small
animals, and a considerable quantity of a peculiar bitumi.
nous substance, which left a greasy purple stain when
rubbed between the fingers. We may add that in the
neighbourhood of the coffin were discovered some fragments
of an earthen vessel, a coin of Constantine, several pieces
of glass of a beautifully purple green hue, with various
bones of graminivorous animals. As far as can be made
out by examination of the human bones, it is evident that
they form part of eight skeletons—three being those of
children of about the nes of two, six, and ten
or twelve ,• the remaining five skeletons were
those of adults. Subsequently, a fifth coffin was discovered.
It was found in a line with those to which we have already
referred. It contains the perfect skeleton of, apparently, a
larger body than any of those found in the other coffins,
and a small urn of dark pottery, which was placed on the
right side of the skeleton, near the ribs. The urn (which
is quite perfect, with the exception of being very slightly
chipped on the rim), is now in the posseoeiun of Mr. Tree
sure, the contractor. The contents of the urn, described by
the workmen as being yellowish earth, were unfortunately
shaken out by them, so that it cannot be ascertained what
they were. The coffin contained, also, a small quantity of
earth, but not sufficient to prevent the skeleton from being
completely seen, on the removal of the cover, which is in
two or three pieces. In addition to the above-mentioned
urn, some interesting fragments of Roman pottery continue
to be found at the excavations. A sixth stone coffin was
discovered, containing the skeletons of two children, about
eight or nine years of age.

OLD Antrous.—Let any one read the accompany-
ing extracts from a book published in 1767, nearly a cen-
tury ago (Smollett's Humphrey Clinker), and then ask
himself if at is not really wonderful that precisely the same
abuses are here spoken of and condemned which still flourish
with all their rank vigour,while we are penning these lines.
On the Milk of London, in 1767—" Tho milk Itself should
not pus lysed , the produce of faded cabbage leaves
and soar dreff, lowered with hot water, frothed with bruised
snails; carried through the streets in open pails. . . ."
Here follow some half-dozen ingredients which are pod-
tiveiy now unprintable. On Bread—" The bread I eat in
; London is a deleterious paste, mixed up with chalk,
' alum, and bone ashes ; insipid to the taste, and
destructive to the constitution. The good people are
not ignorant of this adulteration, but they prefer it to
! wholesome bread, because it is whiter than the meal of
corn. Thus they sacrifice their taste and their health, and
' the lives of their tender infants, to a most absurd gratifica-
tion of a misjudging aye; and the miller or the baker is
obliged to poison them and their families in order to live
by his profession." On Water.—" If I would drink water,
I must quaff the mawkish contents of an open aqueduct,
exposed te all manner of defilement; or swallow that
which comes front the river Thames, impregnated with all
the filth of Loudon and Westminster. Human excrement
is the least offensive part of the concrete, which is com-
puted of all the drugs, mineral'', and poisons used in
mechanics and manufacture, enriched with the putrefying
caresses of beasts and men, and mixed with the scouring. of
all the wash-tubs, kennels, and common sewers within
the bills of mortality. . . ." On Wine.—" As to the
intoxicating potion sold for wine, it is a vile, unpalatable,
and pernicious sophistication, balderdethed with cider, corn
spirit, and the farce of aloes. In an action at law laid
against a airman for having staved a cask of port, it ap-
peared from the evidence of the cooper that there were
not above five gallons of wine to the whole pipe, which
held above one hundred, and even that had been brewed
, and adulterated by the merchant at Oporto." . On
the Government in 1767.—" Ibraham the Ambassador,
who had mistaken his Grace" (the Duke of Newcastle ?)
" for the minister's fool, was no sooner undeceived by
the interpreter, than he exclaimed to this effect: Holy
Prophet ! I don't wonder that this nation prospers, see-
ing it is governed by the counsel of idiots !'—a aeries of
men whom all Food Musselmen revere as the organs of
immediate hap ration."—Dickena's " Household Ironic"
A WOMAN KILLED IN LIVERPOOL.—Thomaa Yates
was brought up on Monday before Mr. Statham, deputy-
coroner, on a charge of murdering Grace Jones, aged 67
run. From the evidence it appeared that the prisoner
lived with Ellen Stitt, the daughter of the deceased, in 13
court, Horoby-street, Liverpool. The old woman resided
in the ''ems house. On Saturday night, between 10 and 11
o'clock, the female Stitt will in a neighbour's house, when
the prisoner, who was intoxicated, came in and said to her,
" You faggot, have you no supper ready for me ?" She re-
plied that she had not the means of procuring supper. lie
struck her in the fate and kicked her on the floor. The
woman then fled into • cellar at the bottom of Largay.
street, where she remained some time, but on coming out
she was met by the prisoner, who again ill-used her. She
then went home, followed by the prisoner. On getting
into the house be offered to strike her again, when she
ran down into the kitchen, and then went into the street.
The prisoner appears to have followed the woman
Stitt, but not finding her he returned, and the
door was opened for hint by the deceased. He in-
stantly struck her a blow on the head with his fist, and
she fell down on her side inside the doorway. The prisoner
then seised the deceased by the shoulder, and endeavoured
to throw her down the steps, but she caught hold of the
handle of the door and struggled with him. Her strength,
however, gave way, and the infuriated drunkard succeeded
in throwing her down four stone steps into the yard, where
she lay seueleis. The prisoner then endeavoured to render
assistance, and offered to go for a surgeon ; but ho soon left
the place, and was not again seen until Sunday, when he
gave himself into custody at the main Bridewell. A surgeon
from one of the dispensaries was in attendanee at half-past
one o'clock, and found the woman dead. lie subsequently
made a post motion examination of the body, and found I
that death had been produced by a fracture of the base of
the skull. There was a transverse wound on the back of
the bead, besides several scalp wounds. The jury returned
a verdict of " mans/aughter" against the prisoner, and he
was committed to gaol to await his trial at the next anises.
—Liverpool Mercury.
LIBERALITY OF THE DUKE OF DEVONEIMIRL—We
have to record another instance of the prorerbialcoraolty
of his Grace the Duke of Devonshire la prom to the '
Very Rev. Dr. Fogarty, the reeposiod pole papa of
more, several several acres of land as a burial ground for the ea
*elk" of that locality. This is not all, for his grabs at his
own expense, intends erecting en this land a beautiful I
Gothic temple, the design of which we have seen,—Cork
Reporter.

SOUTH EASTERN AND CONTINENTAL
sTEAM•PACKET COMPANY.

Yesterday the half-yearly general meeting of the
shareholders in this company, was held at the Bnagc-houss
Hotel, Southwark. JAMES MACCIREOOI4, Beq., 111. P , took
the chair.

The Secarrane read the notice convening the re, et'am.
The report, which appeared yesterday in the Express
'vid .• r•ed. 1•401

The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the report,
said he would briefly recapitulate the history of the com-
pany since its formation. The cost of huildicg the eight
vessels was 131,3941. lls. 2d., and the share capitol was
111,2201. ; but a large amount had been laid out during the
last eight years out of the profits, in repairs and improve-
ments. The outlay had been in the substitution of wrought
instead of cast iron, in extensive improvement. in the ma-
chinery and the erection of brass boilers in all their vessels
but two. The gross earnings for the half•ycar ending July
31, were 14,28 IL 4s. Bd. A diminution of the working expenses
could be brought about if they reduced the speed to ten
miles an hour, but it was necessary that the passages
between Fulkstone end 13oulogne, should be done quickly
and safely. The invitation by the South Eastern Com-
pany was accompanied by the assurance that they
should receive 5 per cent., and be also able to pay a dividend
of 6 per cent., subject to increase. This was the induce-
ment held out, und the actual rate of dividend had been
M. 17s. Id. percent. The directors did not at preseut wilt
any terms to be adopt. dby the two coni;anies, but taking
all things into consideration, they recommend«l tl.n ap-
pointmeut el a committee of proprietors to be ay.oeiatcil
with the board to inter into such Legoeiations a•. would
meet with general approbation.
Mr. IlatitilLETON cud, on the subject of the directors'
muneration, that it had been stated that the connection
with Mimi( gne was only a prolongation of the line, and
because there was this eaten ion, the director, come for an
additional allowance. Ile hoped this would not be pressed
by the directors.
Mr. WRIGHT said the remuneration was given sifter
many years of service. Ile was of opinion that they should
be bound to the South Eastern. What had they got to
offer that company ? The boats it was true, and a great
deal had been spent upon them. They had also at a very
considerable sum maintained their trade with the continent.
Ile thought the proposition for tie appointment of a com-
mittee was a good one.
Lord TOKISINOTON said he felt it his duty to make tome
observations. They must au feel satisfied with the report.
The idea of bringing the two companies together was sery
valuable. At the first blush he thought they had letter re-
main where they were. Five gentlemen belonging to this
company by meeting five of the Smth.Enstern and going
into the matter would secure a guarantee. The general
management of thiacompany was highly satisfactory•.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a question, respem:eg the
directors' remuneration being higher than presimi,iy, said
it:wes owing to a change that had taken piece. The only
question which had arisen was one of moral obligation. lie
thought they would get the Post-office contract as no
other company could perform that service more efficiently
than themselves. lie would move the adoption of the
report.
The report was seconded, and passed unanimously.
The CUMBRIAN then proposed that a dividend, at the
rate of 6 per cent., be declared, free of income tax, which,
having been seconded, was carried. Also, that the ba-
lance, 1,1871. 141 Ild., after the payment of the dividend,
be carried to the reserve fund.

.....
This was also agreed to, and a committee of five gentle-
men were associated with the directors, for the purpose of
negotiating terms for the consolidation of the interests of
the two companies.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman and
directors, and the meeting separated,