The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-25 00:00:00

ROYAL GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND.

Last night, the nineteenth anniversary festival,
of the Royal Genera Theatrical Fund was celebrated at
the Freemasons' Tavern, Mr. SuHaar Bawls in the chair.
Amonpt the company, which numbered about 150 per-
sons, were Mr. R. Bell, Mr. Mark Lemon, Mr. Flower,
mayor of Stratford, Mr. Backbones, Mr. Webster, Mr.
German Reed, Mr. Chippeedele, Mr. Sotharo, Mr. ere'.
wick, Mr. Lorraine, Mr. Jerwood, Mr. Swanborough, Mr.
Waller, do.
After the usual loyal and coostitutional toasts,
The CHAIRMAN in proposing the toast of the evening,
rid—lt is on record that in a serials trial at law, the
plaintiff, or shall we may the plaintive, bevies; heard the
speech of his eloquent advocate—l know not whether he is
hero—rushed from his pima, and with tests streaming from
his eyes exclaimed, " Bless you, sir—blew you ; I never
knew how ill-treated I had been noel your speech explained
it to me." (laughter.) This year, I, Lass and gentlemen,
unwillingly occupy the chair which was last year filled by
the best chairman in England. I will not do you the
wrong to delay you from the musical and oratorical pleasure
which await you by any stemma by way of supplying the
links between the drama sad the drams of those who live
by it, and make our lives glad by their own, To do so would
beabstird, to insult your understandinp,which have loneness
caught up. my foregoes oonclusioo. I stand bdoreyou as the
advocate of an institution for helping those performer" who
can noloager follow theirlprofa e. - sioThis aid is not exteaded
in any arbitrary or uncertain way; adenoids on no influence
or favouritism ' • but it has been hooontably earned by those
who receive it, for they most have contributed to the fund.
It is mid in the form of an annuity, and is carefully
apportioned according to certain fixed calculations. Aga,
sickness, or other infirmity is the actor's title to relief,n
no distioction of rack or grade is made • Macbeth is as
Flemos, Lord Ogleby as Brush, Juliet as 'hoe Nome, in the
preemie of that which levels all. And ell theatres are alike to
the fund, and it is not neamsery to have taken a degree at
Oxford Gerdes or Cambridge Lam. Let cm add that, in
the saddest hour of all, when the part in this world's play is
played out, the fund extends its aid to the moorner• ! have
mentioned these details lest any of our friends should be un-
acquainted with them; but I believe that most of you are
aware how stood is the system of the fund, and how faith-
s fully it is served by iteadmirable officers. Now, I request
say of my friends who belong to the theatrical profession to
imitate " the deaf adder, which steppe* her ears," but
not to carry the Mated= to the point of hissing. That
professioe is well represented here. I want to say something
in its praise, and it is not so well to praise people to their
feels. We will consider, if you please, that the aeon
are invisible. We have often been asked to dose to oblige
them, when we could see them perfectly well, and now they
must oblige us. Ladies and gentians's, in the &einem of
our professional [timid', will you allow me, who have had aa
intimate acquaintance of many years with members of
every portion of the theatrical world, to say that 1 know of
no class in society whose well deserve that their brave efforts
at self-help should be wooded by you. I speak of what is
within my own knowledge when I say that the noble teach-
ing of the drama is not lost upon those who deliver it, or aid
in illustrating it. Those who are rich are generous and open-
handed, and those who have yet to become rich-1 wish they
all could, and live is the Golden Home of One Thousand
Diamonds for the rest of their lives—those who have yet to
become rich help one mother with a frankness amid a kind- I
ness which I have never seen equalled. (Hear, bear.) Then, I
let the suocessof this fund be an answer to the igooranos that
retains the tradition of an actor's improvidence. That tra-
dition
has lived among foolish people Piet as the Grubatrest
notion about authors is not quite goes oat, though we go
to church, sod pay our taxes with reasonable alacrity. A
portico of the hand-earned salary goes to the fund, and
it is most honourable to those who have so many calls
on their purses that it is so. Therefore, though I disclaim
any idea of a charity sermon —thou6 I would proscribe
the word patron and banish the word besefaelor-1 appeal
to you to maamise the claims of a noble art by
assisting those who pursue it so worthily. Help
the food that helps the artist in the hour of need. A
very resolute geosa—whose name is Culleoford —sr ill
presently attend upon you for the propose of taking from
you both your money and your good names ; bat you will
not be made to feel poorer by the surrender of either. If
you do, cane here this day twelvemonth, and I hereby
pledge my successor to make you the most ample atonement:
that is au appointment. I will now deliver you up to
Mr. Culler.ford, who, hushed in grim repose, expects—that
every man will do his duty. 1 am proud that I have been
asked to plead to-night in behalf of a profession which does
itself and the country so moth boomer. The chairman
concluded by proposing the prosperity of the Royal General
Theatrical tend, coupling therewith the mine of Mr. Black-
stone, the treasurer.
Mr. Becxmons thee roes and said—Gontlemen, it is with
great pleasure that in looking towards the chair this ereniog
I can see it filled by so popular and Waited a gentleman as
Mr. Shirley Brooke, because, while acknowledging his ability
I for the position, we mutt not tape his kindlier in
coming here on this occasion, for you little know the dim.
cnity of procuring a new chairman for each of these anniver-
sary festivals; indeed, this year we found ourselves much
embarrassed, as we began to discover that we bad *early
" used up" all the remarkable men of the titce—(latigh-
ter)—at Least, those whose natural kindness will not permit
them to refuse the solicitation to do good. During the
last 18 annual diapers we have discussed here and else-
where for the benefit of our fund we have been honoured
by the presidency of noblemen, statesmen, novelists, dra-
matists, and actors ; you mayAherefore, suppose it to be
no easy matter to pick out from time to time, and from
amongst the celebrities of the day, a chairmen that can be
acceptable to you and of set vice to tll4 Many mimes
were recently suggested, while to some I took the
trouble to write the most charming ad persuasive
letters you can conceive ; but that surly monosyllable
"No," was all the reply we mold get. Easter was
fast approaching; there was the chair, but where was the
man to till it ? In this extremity I applied to my friend
Mr. Shirley Brooks, who, after expressing some proper
and pretty doubts as to his capability for the office, coo-
eluded his answer by saying, " If you can get no one better,
I'm your man ;" so, tekiog the title of one of his own
novels, he at once came to our aid, sad cut " The Gordian
Knot -" and although the last of the long list of eminent
men who have attended here on these occasions, he Is most
certainly far from the least, for not only is be an admired
novelist, but a successful dramatist, a politician, and—to
crows all—has he not been for many years ow of the prin-
cipals on the staff of what the newspapers call our " face-
tious contemporary Puarh;" and more than this, and which I
know will ;ire you great pleasure to hear, that in hie novel
of "The Silver Cord" he has sketched the character of a
Loudon manager, and has actually bad the liberality to
make him a god man —(aughter)—• compliment that I
feel acutely, although) I am afraid for which act of audit-
city he privately hopes to be forgiven. (Laughter.) I forgive
bins with all my Wait, ad sincerely thank him for hie
Me:kindness coming to the rescue this evening. I
now, gentlemen, to tell you the state of our fund,
the good we have doss, and the good we have yet to do.
During the past year we hays paid to snauitants the sum
of 9001. in amounts varying from 301. to 90/. per annum,
shout 50/. have bees given or returned to members claimist
such repayments, we have now 21 persons in receipt of
annuities, 15 of whom are ladies; and se we have received
notice of five more claimant' during the coming year, we I
shall some have 26 decayed and retired actors and actresses
to provide for • and though our invested aspilad, when this
night is over, ;ill amount to between 13,000[. and 14,000/.,
you will see that we shall have quite sooegh to do with oar
reeources—that we shall require all the help you can give
as, sided by the eased subscriptions of the members of our
fund, and which subscriptions, you will be glad to know,
have amounted, during the past year, to MT. (Hear,
bear.) It does not wear to me to be publicly
known that the Royal General Theatrical Fund is char.
tend. by which charter we are enabled to hold land and
receive legacies ; and although I have before referred to this
fact, yet I wish again to do so, in the hope that one of
these days it may attract the notice of some benevolent
person who was nom an old play-goer, sad who, remember.
mg the names of his favourite actors, and the many happy
hours he has pealed in the pit or boxes of his chosen

theatre; who, remembering the many pleasant gossiva tL,,
21* be has soyoyed after the play, and whole nor rtli,
think of the "harmless piety" of those times, and not
forget the light.hearted players who, when in their youth,
or their prime, have administered to his amusement and IL.
structios, and when be has made up his mind to mite
will—(inslithter)—will say to his lawyer—" Hang it !all. Mt.
Gmlicil, I most not forget the Gwent Theatrical t nod;
mast bequeath a hundred or two to that excellent
Um.* (laughter.) We often reed of large sums being W.,
to many &atheist charitite„ end I hope that my appeal this
wreathe may educe some one now and then to think of
for they might do won* • we certainly do not profess to
be Christian young men—(" hear, hear," and laughter)—
though we perform many Christian actions ; we vulva.,
the aged sad infirm, we help the sick, end we lmy
deed, sad surely those are sate of piety and charity, ever;
though we do not convene meetiop for the purpose of ,e;.,;_
ins out miedoessiss to convert the poor gorilla—(lau Aug)
—no, we rather adopt the more useful and practral la,.
poses of charity by soothing the declining yeah of tt-4
around us, and in making cheerful the hearts of the,..
who have so often shared you. I have again to 4LI.
110110011 the receipt of her gracions Majesty's doLati.,i.
of 100f.—(cheers)—and to inform yen that Mr. culls.
ford has this evening received a note from Marlboron4h.
house, annousting that the Prince of Wales will hence.
forth be the panne of this fund—(cbeen), and IL
' returning our thanks, and in expressing oar gratiml.. I
know there is but one wish, one hope throughout the
that the time is not far distant when we shall see her
Majesty again amongst us, and no clam of her subjects has a
more fervent desire for this event than those of the drati,at..
profession, facile actors have always been a loyal body from
the days when Major Mohan, Hart, Robinson, and other
players fought and Bled for the royal cause to the present
period ; and in these volunteering times it may no:
interesting to know that Dr. Doran, in his amusing boo'aof
"Their Majesties Servants," tells us that when the finish
Emperor, the First Napoleon, was collecting a hoot for the
invasion of this country, the ctors were among the rut
enrol themselves as volnntesrs—(cheers)—and it as not
an unusual thing to find) the theatres closed on account
of the unavoidable absence of the principal performers, Ea.
mooed to drill or other military service,then rigid],
enforced ; and I know that there are many ctors and was
of beton now in the reeks of the volunteers ; and tees,
have the honour to belong to the St. George's Piths as at
honorary member. (Laughter.) But while I appeal s
you in behalfof our fund—while I draw the most per.
suasive pictures in my power to induce you to be mem:
lon these occestoss, I have one little remark to make wham
I hope will strike home to your sympathetic bosom.. t
very well know when you come to thew festivals it is no:
the dinner —the actual sating and drinking—that you can
for; you come to hear what is said. what is sung, aad
to enjoy yourselves with the comfortable feeling that v
are engaged in an act of charity ; but let me hope ital,
in your reel for the maintenance of the decayed an, retin
actor you will not altogether forget the active sod ,ti::.
working one, and that you will often be seen patronising
the performances at our present theatres, either in the
stalls, the boxes, or pit—but not with orders ; I y
this you may prevent many deserving actors becoming re•
cipienta of our dramatic chseities, for by lessening tin
number of claimants upon them you render their excelle4;
objects more solid sod more enduring. Therefore, tbitc
sometimes of those who are still nightly before you ;
of the pleasant recollectious you have often enjoyed alto
the theatre, and when at home ; think how some of
have frequently exclaimed, " I have been so aninseet' "
" How capital Charles Mathews was " " Was not Web
star excellent!" "Didn't Hies Bateman make me ay "or
'• Oh ! that Compton," or " that Paul Bedford and Tools
or " What an ongsnal Lord Dundreery is !" and " Wasn't
Bucketthe fanny r (Loud cheers.) With these recollec.
tithe, lam gore you um think of what I have avid, for I
am certain that none of you with any grateful feelings in
your health would see the exertions of such actors, or thei•
suocemors, neglected by the public, and acting to empty
benches, or to what is technically termed ";
Though I most acknowledge that at present there is uo
canoe for complaint, for all our theatres have Leeu won.
derf ally successful this season ; while at the Chi-isms.
pieces and pantomimes, to see the crowcbi of b.autifni
young children crowing with delight) is a healthy sign tot
the drams of the future ; they are the sax nits tio
our audios= yet to come, for they will always remenil
with pleasure, and without any alloy of regret, the happy
day on which they were first taken to the theatre—for it
is a good thing to go to a good play. (Cheers.) Even the
greet Reformer, Martis Luther, has said, when speaking
of comedies, end describing their various purposes.
that no Christian may be deterred from attending them.
But I have wandered a little from the main question
of this evening. I therefore return to my supplication
for you to be very liberal on this occasion. I lan
explained all that we have done, and how much we have
yet to do ; and though I know you have all come here
with the intention of giving something, and am afraid.
however eloquent I might try to be, I shall fail in per•
seeding you to give more then you have made up your
mind to give, yet a second thought will sometimes occur to
every the. Let me then suggest a second thought to you.
Let those amongst you who have doled with the determi-
nation to give five guineas make them eight or ten. Double
your figures if you can, or at least turn the tails of your
sixes downwards sod make nines of them—(laughter)—for
aour generosity to-night will greatly help to secure to the
ctor in the decline of life his indisputable right, as a sub-
scriber to this fund, to be placed so a position of comfort
and content, and to enjoy that moderate degree of happiness
described by the poet in speaking of one so situated :

A wise content his even soul secured.
By want not shaken, nor by wealth allured.
(Cheers.)
H The CITEMAN next proposed the " Drama," cmpling
therewith the same of Mr. Mark Lemon, who returned
thanks.
Mr. BELL thee proposed the toast of "Mr. Flower. the
mayor of Stratford, and the Stratford Shakespearian Com-
mittee." . . .

...
Mr. PLOWER acknowledged the compliment.
The musical arrangements were conducted by Mr. C.
Coo* and the following vocalists kindly lent their eases.
&nos to the amassment of the evening : Miss Pool.. Mies E.
Lyon, Mrs. Howard Paul, Mr. G. Tedder. Mr. W. Field.
keg, Mr. W. Coward, Mr. Donald King, Mr. F. Distill, sc.
The entemiptions amounted to 3501.

rim SHAKESPEARIAN TERCENTENARY
CELEBRATION AT STRATPuRD•ON-AVON.

On Saturday last the contractors for the erection
of the Great Pavilion (Messrs. Branson and Homy, of
Birmingham), having completed their work in the interior,
the artisans who bad been employed upon the building were
entertained therein to dinner, and about 120 workmen par-
took of the hospitality of the committee. The bnilbas
has now passed into the hands of the decorator (Kr.
Brothers, of Leamington), under whose artistic skill the
pavilion will, it is expected, be finally completed by the
middle of April; but even now, in its comparatively imper-
fect modifies, it has a singularly imposing appearance,
sad, as will be seen by those visitors who are Melted to
inspect it during the Pada. week, when viewed from the
south-east gallery, pommies, a magnitude sod appropriate-
ness of design unsurpassed by any building of a temporary
character that his ever bees erected fora great nuked
festival.
Os Saturday the chair was taken by the Mayor ( L F.
Ftownt, Esq.), and the arrangement of the tables was
similar to that which will be observed at the oommemcm-
tiou banquet, at which the Earl of Carlisle will preside, on
the r.sed of Aprils Amongst those members of the com-
mittee present were the Rev. G. Granvillo (vicar), the Rev.
W. Morton (sub-ricer), Dr. Kingsley (the honorary seem-
buy), Messrs. IL hi. Hobbes, Charles E. Flower, E. Flower,
J. Cox. jun., W. Gibbs, J. Morgen, W. G. Colbourn". R.
M. Bud, W. Thompson, W. F. Bolton, J. Atkinson, J. J.
Nemo, and J. S., Leaver. A number of ladies and gentle-
men occupied the galleries.
In acknowledging the toast of his health, the VICAR took
the opportunity of expressing his high opinion of the excel-
lent behaviour of the workmen engaged on the ouildieg.and
the truly orderly way io which such• great work had been
coodoeted. infinite credit, he said, was due to them. and to
show his own appreciation of their conduct, he intended to
provide special accommodation for them, so that they might
take part in the services of the church during the Sunday of
the festival week.
The MAYOR, in proposing the heaths of the archi-
tect' (Messrs. Thompson and Colbourn), said that
he had been assured, by • professional engineer, that.
regarded the strength of the building, it was
thoroughly trustworthy and safe. He wished that
opinion to go forth to the public, so that the timid
might have positive aseurenoe of the complete security of
the pavilion. In fact, be had been told that the buildin;
was extra strong—too strong—in every pert. It was er
celleot too for emus& All, he thought, could distinctly hest
him in the building. There was no necessity to raise his
voice to • scream, nor to speak in undertone, but he c-n:d
address them with ease in his ordinary Moe of vAce. The
meanie, too, war particularly good for the capabilities of
conveying sound is • musical point of view. as they might
judge by the performance of the excellent little Mod tbev
in the orchestre, and with those accomplished artists who
would be oo the °rehears or the stage,andwho could modulate
their voices, the effect would be much improved, and they
would be beard to the greatest advantage. This was most in
portaot and satisfactory to the public, to the artistes. to
the inhabitants. and else to the committee, because it was
no tomer doubtful whether every one who took pert in the
musical sod dramatic performances, or in the proceedinp, of
the festival dinner, could be heard is every part of that
large building without the slightest difficulty.
At the committee meeting on Wedneediv last it was
stated by the chairman (the Mayor), that William Creswiek.
Fag., who has already consented to perform the part of
Jacques, in As You Like It, had also acceded toe request
that he would undertake the arrangements for completion
the cast of characters in that plsy, and lllperinteßalßß its
performance upon the stage.

MELANCHOLY DEATH ?EOM BURN I No. —On Tues-
day evening Leta shocking death from burniog occurred at
Ifniweil, 2. otts. It appears that • few evenings preview
max named Thomas Bradbury, who was subject to fits, and
lived alone, while in a fit feU into the fire. He managed to
get into bed, and the next morning the neighbours were
alarmed by hearing groans proceed from his house. They
buret opus the door bad found him dreadfully buret about
the bead. Medical assistance was procured, but be lingered
in great agony up to Tuesday sight, whoa he expired. Dr
ceased wss about 29 years of so.

Thii-wii.U•sdustrated his cue by a chalk diagram.
The Coroner—Theo you are of opinion that from the way
in which the Bradfield embankment was constructed, there
wale probability of unequal pressure, which unequal pres-
sure might injure the pipes so as to cause the pipes to leak.
Witness-1 lure not the lust doubt but that it was so.
But my plan at Melbourne is more likely to occasion a frac-
ture ; and this at Bradfield more likely to occasion a drawn
joint. 1 heard yesterday the mode described of keeping
down the water in the puddle trench. The evidence of
Mr. Gums to • great extent dispelled the doubt I pre-
viously entertained as to whether the water had got under
the puddle trench, and risen immediately under the out-
side elope, isduciug a settlement sod slip just before the
burst took place. I am now inclined to think that inch
was not the case, and that the puddle trench was a good
job. But, judging from Mr. Leather's and Mr. Gunson's
evidence, it is hardly satisfactory that the puddle trench
was dry when they walked through it. Still, taking the
evidence as a whole. I think it was a good puddle trench,
and that it was upon an impervious foundation.
The Coroner—Then from your experience and observa-
tions at Bradfieldlyou think that when the reservoir filled it
mused the embankment to settle, occasioniog a spring, or
starting, or drawing in one of the jointa of the pipes?
Witness—Yes, and if a pipe was once sprung at the joint
the internal pressure of the water itself would be sufficient
to blow the lead from the pipe-joint. The promotion taken
of having the pipes east narrower at the entrance to the
socket (as described by Mr. Comm in his evidence) is very

Mr. Rawllnson—l think it is what we technically term •
dovetail joint.
wanton—lt is. It is possible that the pressure of the water
on the valve may have started a joint between the valve and
the puddle gutter, and any sudden opening or closing of the
v.aves would increase the probability. The liability of a
joint being drawn from this cause would be diminished in
proportion to the number of pipes outside the valve.
3lr. Rawlisson—And there are four or five pipes outside
of the valve in this case.
. .

Witness continued—The passing of the water between
the outside surface of the pipes and the puddle is s thing
veer likely to occur.
The Corooer—Yon mast understand sir. we are elides,.
outing to find all the faults we can. We are not trying to
find out good work. There has been no doubt a fault some-
where. and we must find it out in order to discover why the
embankment bunt. According to Mr. Leather and Mr.
Cuutoo, the work is so perfect that it is almost impossible to
improve upon it. But our object is to show that there is
some imperfection either in the desist] of the embankment.
or in the execution of the work. By your assistance, and
that of other engineers, I hope we shall succeed is coming to
a conclusion.
Mr. Smith reminded the coroner that Mr. Leather on the
previous day had given it as his opinion that a landslip was
the cause of the accident.
_ _

The foreman of the jury—l should like to ask Mr. Leather
wh-ther he has env other theory besides that
Thu Coroner—We will ask him that by and bye. Per-
he has found one, sir.
Mr. Jackson (continuing his evidence) said—l have exa-
mined the stratification near the reservoir. and I do not
see any objection to baring the rocks inside, sod taking
the:.cc the material with which to construct the reservoir,
Tr-v' led proper means were taken to drain off all water
might percolate through under the outside slope of
th- Lank. The question of baring the rooks inside the re-
ierr,,:r is more one of waste of water, to be considered by
the , ,noany as against the possible economy of using the
5....ter..,L No damage to the embankment would bs comp
from this cause. It by no means follows that be-
eau— the water enters the tank it would appear nodes the
ic:vt of tbe ernbaLk ment. It might appear half a mile off.
Ti... t 'oroner--Now, what do you think is the came of
f.e ' making of this embankment ?
W.trres -I have not the slightest doubt that the approxi-
r . ass the drawing of the joints of one or more of
; or the leakage on the outer surface of the
ween them and the puddle ;or both combined. I
L. fl..t add that it is possible that there might have been
thro%ll the thiourea of the rocks, which reap-
r. m.ne.iiarely under the seat of the outside slopes, or
eIL aeie adiaci.ot. This might be prevented by a proper
oi drainage, provided the bottom of the le-
I e ail pet. lam distinctly of opinion, judging from
evideoce, that this was not needed at Brad-
. I .1-n't think the water did soak through the fissures
p..k and ..ppea r under the outside of theembaokinent.
mined by Mr. Rawlinson—lf the pipe be corn-
' • eel :t dies not follow that the paddle on the top would
w.tti it. _ _

;:le:.mson said it must be remembered that whet-
' 'N•re was the slightest vacancy the water would be
'br- • sit '- find out the

The Coroner—You most remember, gentlemen, Mr.
Leather is consulting engineer, and the meaning of that is
that he is on ornamental officer—that is all. (A laugh.)
He knows nothing at all about the works. He is called in
once a year to report, but there is an end of it.
Mr. Smith, Mr. Gansu, and Mr. Leather pointed out
and argued that there was • special clause in the specifica-
tion to providefot any alterations the engineer might think
fit to order.
The Corooersaid that after all he had heard he came to the
conclusion that • specification was • mere throe, and calcu-
lated to mislead rather than to guide. Specifications
ought to be carried out to the letter, u the jury no doubt
expected. (Several of the jury assented.) Bat here the
' specifications bad not been carried out. He was oat of all
patience with the engineer', and if the lima at Agdea was
being made on the same principles it was too bad. The
engineers admitted no mistake at all, and the public would
have no oonbdence in tun who represented themselves to
be perfect.
Mr. Gunson—Perfect no far u our knowledge allows us.
The Coroner —Then lam very sorry you have so little
knowledge. (A Loeb.)
The Coroner continued in • similar stress about the engi-
neers, and upon telling Mr. Gansu that Mr. Leather ought
to he ashamed of himself, one of the jury suggested that
the Coroner ought to take things more deliberately.
Mr. Smith, in answer to a question from the Coroner,
said, if the jury were not satisfied that the reservoir had
been properly constructed the company would be ready to
call the eviduce of finteclass engineers to rapport their
case. The company would spare uo expense to have the
matter thoroughlnvestigated.
The Coroner—Well, you had better call your witnesses.
I will adjourn the inquiry for the purpose.
Mr. Smith—lf the jury wish to hear more evidence they
shall have it.
The Coroner—Can you tell us the cause of the breakage!
Mr. Smith—No ; nor can any of the witnesses. Nothing
but coojecture has been given.
TheCoroner—Then, if you cannot give us any reason, we
bares right to assume that the works have failed, and that
they have been constructed with bad workmanship.
Mr. Smith—l demur to that. One of the witnesses die.
tinctly said he thought it was caused by a luid-slip--the
natural weakness of the ground.
The Coroner—Yes; but that was only a timid conjecture.
The Foreman of the jury—l should like to ask Mr.
Leather whether he bee formed any other theory since
Yesterday. You hays said he might consider himself free
irom imputations of criminal neglect, and that may give
him a little more latitude, and relieve his mind from the
fear he would have if he thought the result would be to
fix upon him criminal liability.
The Coroner (to Mr. Lestber)—Can you form any reason-
able conjecture—not such a one as you gave us yesterday—
of the cause of the bursting of the embankment
Mr. Leather—After the evidence of Mr. Jackson this
morning I certainly think it just possible the widest was
caused by the drawing of the pipe joints. At the same
time 1 think if such an event had taken place the result
would have shown itself a long time before the accident
happened. The bank below the puddle wall was composed
of such porous materials that if there had been an escape it
would have shown itself at the foot of the beak or in the
valve house. But the evidence goes to show that there was
not the least leaking through the bank, and therefore the
theory seems to be very doubtful indeed. Mr. Jackson, how-
ever, speaks so confidently that it threw some little doubt into
my own mind. I still think the breech his been caused by
a slip of the ground which no human foresight could enter
into. lam sure 1 hope no trouble will be spared to find
out the cause.

The Coroner—We have got to this position. 13e cause
of the betokens of the embankment is either bad workman.
ship or the drawing or springing of the pipes so as to came
• leak, or a landslip. It is one of those three causes. Of
coarse is to the laodalip, and the startles of the joints of the
pipes, that is mere conjecture. As to the workmanship,
whether it is good or bad, or in accordance with the specifi-
cations, that will be for you to decide when you retire.
Mr. Guosoe said them was • home opposite the embank-
ment which showed signs of • landslip having occurred in
the vicinity.
Mr. Leather, in reply to the Coroner, said he did not dis-
approve of the contract under which the Bradfield eeeervoir
was made.

Mr. Haw Union, the government inspector, having been
sworn, said-1 have carefully inspected the Bradfield em-
baokment which has failed ; the company's other reservoirs ;
and the embaukrneet now being constructed at Arden. I
think that no waterworks should have a line of pipe put
through an embankment w as to preclude the possibility of
examination and repair in case of injury, or of renewal when
the pipes are worn out. I know of many instances
of failure where pipes and culverts have been laid through
the made embankment. Cast-iron pipes having plain socket
joints, like there at Bradfield, although tested to four times
their working requirements, are occasionally fractured in
use, io the ordinary trench of a street. with only four feet
of covering. With the most careful jointing the joints ire
sometimes defective, leaky and blown. Pipes proved to be
so defective in a street mu be repaired. A defective pipe
or blown joint beneath the Bradfield embankment may have
worked this mischief. end no human ingenuity could have
prevented it under the circumstances. 1, therefore, come to
the conclusion that this is not a legitimate way to lay pipes
for the working of a reservoir. In my own practice I have
formed a tunnel or culvert through the solid stratificatioe
OD one side of the valley, and perfectly free from the loose
earth of the embankment. That culvert or tunnel is
executed in the best manner with hydraulic line, and
riddled to make it watertight on the top. Within this
tunnel the pipes are laid. and provision is made fur closing
the pipes on the inside of the reservoir, the brick-
work roiled the outlet being perfectly watertight.
Valves are placed in the usual way to work
the reservoir. Arrangements are made to prevent mischief
from the injury of the pipe, and for repairing it when
damaged. When I have laid pipes in puddle with a small
had of water I have found it neceseary to put on collars or
washers to prevent the water creeping along the pipe. Ex-
perience has taught me that, even with five or six feet of
water, I could DOC make the puddle adhere to the skin sur-
face of the cast iron. My conviction is that pipes drain as
much by their exterior surface, as by their internal capacity.
The result of my experience teaches me that a smooth line
of pipes, with the ordinary socket-joint, are not to be trusted
to make a watertight piece of work in such an embarkment
as that at Bradfield, although lined the whole length with
puddle. From Mr. Guam's evidence as to the way in
which the pipes were laid, I was surprised to learn that
an artificial trench had been made at the flat slope from the
bottom of the puddle ins* until at the surface trench it

Mr. Nathaniel 13eardmore, G.E., mid he was sent down
by government to assist Mr. Rai/Imams, with the object of
reporting upon the bursting of the reser►oir. The puddling
at Bradfield was excellent. The probabilities pointed to the
pipes being the source, if not the cause of theaccident. Mr.
Beardmore generally confirmed Mr. gewlinson's and Mr.
Jackson's endenee.
Mr. Smith said, under the circumstances, the company
would not offer any evidence. If the jury did not Mink
there was a criminal charge against my one it was no um to
occupy further time.
The Foreman of the jury asked the coroner to retire
with them, to consult on the subject of criminal responsi-
bility.. . . . . .

Uo their return into court,
The Coroner mid—Mr. Rawßoson and Mr. Smith (the
chairman of the Water Company), the jury have come to a
verdict in this matter, and it will be unnecessary for me to
make any further remarks, and I am glad of this, bemuse
if I had entered into the 'video", I should have spoken
very strongly, and in a manner some people would not like.
I should very likely have expressed my opinion in such
language as, in many people's opinions, would out have been
fit from this bench, but would, I think, have been peifectly
justified under the circumstances.
(During the coroner's speech there were one or two at-
tempts at applause, which were at once checked. j
The Foreman of the jury then read the verdict :—" We
find that Thomas Elstou came to his death by dr°. Wog in
the inundation caused by the bursting of the &shield
Reset +mon the morniog of the 12th of March instaut. That
in our opinion there has not been that engineering skill and
that attention to the coostroction of the works which their
magnitude and importance demand. That in our opiniori the
legislature ought to take such steps as will result in •
governmental inspection of all works of this character, and
that such an isspectiou should be frequent, sufficient, and
regular. That we cannot separate without expressing our
deep regret the fearful loss of life which has ocouited
from thedisruotiou of the Bradfield Reservoir."
This ClOdt.i the proceedings, and the formal business yet
remenieg ass iixed by the coroner to be disposed of on
Monday.

THE BRADFIELD RE4ERVOIR.—It appears the
company were absolutely attempting to form • large reser.
voir to hold Ili millions of cubic feet of water, in *district
when no water-retaining material could be found, and the
substrata of the sides and bottom were rock, with, it is
asserted, numerous open fissures and springs in it, which
fissures would probably afford • passage for the water, as
fast almost as it would How off the gathering ground. is
it not knoao, if not it should be, that the proper site and
substrata generally selected by our engineers for reservoirs,
meals, &c., are compact, close, and impervious, such as will
not permit water to percolate through or escape, even in
infinitesimal quantities ; and that if a spring is found
within its area, it is generally carefully stopped or diverted
(as was the case at Holuthrth, by Mr. Leather). Our
canals are lined with puddle, &e., throughout, bottom and
aides, in porous strata, so that they hold water like a dish ;
and why should Dot reservoirs be so also ! We hear it elm
aunosuced that the works of this reservoir bad been ex-
amined and passed by a government inspector, and that, as
• consequence, it is stated the company are sot liable for
the damage occasioned by the Whim—Bat/dm

throozh-: Thee were sitting to find out the
f al. thsaater, and he had no desire to say one
azainst any parties concerned. It was 'Mown
• .' • e%,i ~nktuent had been destroyed, and there was
•n,ewnere.
•r-,e, -And that cause is • fault of some sort.
'I. I: °Co.- Ido not go so far as to say that.
r •,ren,.o of the jury said they bad hoped the gen-
in the formation of the ressevoir would
;:,en their opinion unreservedly. But they were no
- th to they were before.
•••,-.. in reply to questions from the jury, said-
-1 ,ve been better to have had some other more
r • of discharging the dam than the two 18-tech
I ..,141 have devised better means than those
at ”radfieltl. I should stagiest the malting of
. •111,c completely through the solid, and to my
~r the beat way is to lay the pipes in such a
...ill never again. if I could help it, lay pipes
Another method is this—the stream sup-
- r-servoir might have been detoured round the
' to the bye,nudf, as it wee when the reser-
. •• ' :-t started on. I apprehend, a higher level.
n.:,n of the Jury—ln other words, you would
• -..:he
w,.er as you wanted to come into the reservoir,
•• ft •t tt. iIOW away.
.Intl sea.
acid the principle of diverting the stream