The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 30, 1847.

ffbe Court.

ARDVEREICIR, ArG. 28.—THE PRINCE'. BIRTHDAY.
—At seven o'clock this morning a serenade took pleas under
her Majesty's and his Royal Highness's window, performed
by the sailors. At half-past two in the afternoon the grounds
or Ardverekie were thrown open to every corner, to witness
the celebration of Highand games in honour of the day, her
Majesty giving prises to all the successful candidates. The
anent games of the hammer, the hurling stone, leap-
lag, foot-racing, and dancing were displayed one after
mother. The tents were pitched close by, and at the
end of the games a substantial repast woo provided for
any one who chose to avail himself of it. About 200 persons
were present. Amongst the company we observed the
Dowager Duchess of Bedford and Lady Rachel Russell, Lord
Como Russell, Lady Georgians. Romilly, Mr. and Mrs.
M`Pkerson (of Cluny) and family, Mr. and Mrs. Davidson
(of Tulloch), the Hon. Capt. Gordon, R.N., &c., &c. The
Prince of Wales was drsesed In fa highland costume of the
Stuart tartan, sad three cheers were elevator the Duke of
Rothesay, as well as for his illustrious parent. —The royal
dinner party will include, thisevening, the Marquis of Aber-
corn, Mr. M'Pherson (of Cluny), the Hon. Capt. Gordon,
R.N., and Mr. Davidson (of Tulloch).
Despatches from the Governor-general of Canada,
and also from the governors of the other North American
colonies, were received, on Saturday, at the Colonial-office.

auditors, for their liberal allowances to the company. The
prooeediom terminated with a vote of thinks to the chair-
man and the board of 'limners.

THE EXPLOSION OF THE CRICKET
STEAMER.
On Saturday the inquiries after missing individuals
at Charing-eroes Hospital, St. Martin's Workhouse, and the
station in Bow-atreet, were numerous ; but no information
could be obtained, se no other injured person has been
brought to them establishments since Friday morning.
A widow, named Smith, made most sultana inquiries I
respecting her son, Richard Smith, aged 39, and her son.in-
law, William Beadle, aged 25. She said, as well sa she
could ejaculate, that her sons, who were steady men, having
Fgreed to • day's exerireem on the water, proceeded on
riday morning to take a steam-boat at Huogerford Market,
but at the time they left home they had sot decided where
they should go. They intended to return early in the
evenieg, but nothing whatever has since been heard
of them. Another person, named John Cole, an
office porter at the Dover Railway station, is also
naming. His wife states that he left home on Friday
morning, shortly before nine, to leave a letter near Charing-
cross, and he has not since been seen. We have heard of
several other persona being miming, and, therefore, than are
entertained that some of them may have met with a watery
grave, and their bodies having been carried down the river
with the tide.

In the course of Saturday it was ascertained that a Miss
Chattertoo, who was on board at the time of the explosion,
was very much injured. She was thrown from the boat upon
• quantity of timber, and several persons were thrown on her.
Sue is greatly bruised and lacerated, and ►er head has also
been cut and injured. Considerable fears are entertained fur
her life.

Notwithstanding that everything promised so well on Fri-
day right for the raising of the wreck, just as the operation
was completed one of the chains snapped, when the
fated boat again fell into the water, and all efforts to raise
her that tide were found to be fruitless; yet the temporary
raising had been so far successful as to enable a minute
search to be made in the cabin and other parts of the vessel,
and also under the boat ; and we are happy to say that it
was clearly ascertained there was no other sufferer there.
In the course of Saturdsy morning the starboard boiler,
which is believed to have been the caftan of the calamity, and
which was blown to a short distance from the Cricket, was got
ashore, and conveyed into the company's premises. So also
was the larboard boiler, which still remained in nearly its
proper position, and with little appearance of injury. It is
also understood that from the partial examination made of
the vessel late on Friday night, before the breaking of the
chain, it was ascertained that the afterpart from the paddle-
boxes, including the large cabin, is still nearly uninjured,
except by water and mud. On the larboard side the piddle
box as comparatively complete, but the starboard paddle-box
is broken outside, and on the fore part, and also the wheel.
During the aft. moon and evening, a number of men have
been employed in pumping the water out of the Cricket,
with a view to making another attempt at getting her afloat
as soon as the tide has sufficiently run down. She was also,
in the middle of the day, moved by means of lighters from
the east side of the gallery leading from the shore to the pier,
where she was previously lying to opposite the latter, so that
she may, if raised, be run on the high shore westward of the
pier.
Although it was stated that the halfpenny boats would not
run again until the inquest, which commences this morning,
has been concluded, they plied all yesterday, and were much
crowded. It is stated that these halfpenny boats are the
property of the following four proprietors: Mr. Alderman
Thompson, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Cory.
Many instances of miraculous escapee occurred, among
which we may mention that of Mr. George Bone, cashier to
the General Assurance Company, who was thrown into the
river by the explosion, but, fortunately, caught hold of a
projecting piece of wood or iron at the side of the vessel,
and when the boat sank, he, with great exertion, and the
aid of some persons on the pier, sacceeded in gaining the
shore, without further injury than a thorough ducking and
the loss of his hat. A sailor, who was standing by the fun-
nel at the time of the explosion, was shot up into the air,
when, on recovering, he found, to his great surprise, that he
was lying upon a heap of people, unhurt. He managed to
scramble on to the pier. The Ray. Mr. Smith, the chaplain
of St. Martin's workhouse, with his lady, were among the
parties who had paid their fares to go to London-bridge.
Mrs. Smith had got on board, and Mr. Smith was on the
pier, about to step on board, when the explosion took
place. Mrs Smith was scalded by the steam, and was blown
into the water, but was fortunately rescued. Mr. Smith
escaped unhurt.

DISSOLUTION OF THE MARTLEBONE REFORM As-
SOCIATION.—On Saturday a numerous and stormy meeting
of the Marylebone Reform Association took place. A motion
was made that a committee be appointed to revise the laws,
followed by an amendment, that the society be dissolved.
There was much discord among the members, arising prin-
cipally from the late election, and the conduct of Mr. D. W.
Harvey, who came in for a pretty considerable share of
odium. After • somewhat angry debate the amendment was
carried by two to one; subject, however, to confirmation.
COMMITTAL FOR ARSON.—On Saturday Mr. Wm.
Payne was engaged upwards of five hours, at tho George
Tavern, Beech-street, Barbican, in inquiring into the cause
of the late fire on the premises of Mr. L. Hail, fancy box-
maker, 381, Beech-street. The jury haring viewed the
premises, W. A. Ede, 125, of tho City police, said that on
Thursday morning last, about halt pest three o'clock, while
on duty in Golden-lane, he was told there was • fire in
Beech street. Witness found smoke issuing from the fan-
light of Mr. Hail's premises. Leaving Langton, 138, to
arouse the inmates, he went to call the engines. Upon his
return be learned that all the inmates had escaped. Fire
was still coming from the same 'pot as at first. A number
of persons came oat, some were undressed, but Mr. Heil lad
the whole of his clothes on. Wes quite positive Mr. Hail
wu deemed as he is now • he had every thing oa except his
hat. Langton, 138, coalirmed the above, and added that
he had smelt fire ten minutes before he saw the smoke
coming from Mr. Hail's, which he at first attributed to tracks
from 'thread's brewery. Hail was dreamed at that
time, and did not appear at all excited. Mr. Hail denied
that he was dressed, and said he dressed hinannfin the street.
The witness repeated his former statement. —H. Mallet!,
head engineer of Whiteerosestreet instron„ said he loud
Mr. Hail's and Mr. Jean's shops completely alight After
some time the flames were extinguished: the two shops
were totally destroyed. He thought the fire began at the
foot of the staircase of Mr. Munising". Hu found the re-
mains of • trunk, and else some paper °witting'. In the
trunk was • broken bottle (new, with the cuttings, produced)
that had contained oil. The bottle was amongst some
clothes, the remain, of which he found is the Wash.—Mr.
E. Jones said his premises were an eating-horse divided from
Mr. Hail's by a alight wooden partitioa. On Thursday
morning last he retired to bed at use o'clock, having pre-
viously locked the place up. He was awoke by a pohee-
constable who was present Witness ales in the second-
floor beck, and Mr. Hail slept en the first flew. When wit-
ness got up he found the lower part of the remises on fire.
The moment he opened his room doge the mete entered in
dense bodies. He and other lodgers were taken be Mr.
Gamble's public-house. He there saw Mr. Hail quite
dressed ; he even had his trousers straps fastened. Could not
form any idea of the origin of the fire. Was not insured.—
m. Pritchard, carman, said, that on the 10th of the present
be removed some paper from Mr. Hail's shop. To
the best onto recollection there were sees large bundles of
brown paper weifhing half a cwt. melt, and several smaller
ease. Hs tine it to Mr. Hopkins, 42, Hoendsditch. Mr.
Hail was not present at the time, but some foreign gentle-
men.
The same evening he Wok some coloured paper to a
house on DosegaWhill.—G. Fifteen, one of Mr. Hail's work-
men, said, his mistress and her two children were at Brighton.
—Mr. T. kiodsall, assessor for the surveyors to the Sun &&-
office, said, that Mr. Hail was insured in that office to the
extent of 5001. The insurance had been effected since Mid-
summer last. On Thursday evening, the day the fire hap-
pened, a claim for 2571. was sent in. The coroner anted if
the claim appeared correct ? Witness said, from his experi-
ence, having settled upwards of 3,000 fire casco, he had no
hesitation in saying the claim was a most exorbitant one.
Mr. Hail had charged for articles that were never on the
premises, or not there at the time of the fire. Parcels of
good' that had been taken out of the shop were put down as
burned. He had charged for 130 reams of paper, when wit-
ness could prove there were only 23 reams on the premises.
He had claimed for 88015. of brown paper, which would
not have been consumed in • fire of forty hours,
and he had since admitted to witness that it was not there.
Witness went over the place on Friday, and was with Mr
Hail nearly the whole of the day. Told Mr. Hail it was im-
possible brown paper could have been totally destroyed when
the thin paper was only scorched at the edges; told him,
also, that no jury would believe that the paper, as thick as a
mahogany table, had been burned. Mr. Hail replied, "Oh,
I have made a mistake ; give me what you please." He also
"poke very much about a box of clothes, which he said had
been burned. He found the box, with one muslin gown in
it and an oil bottle ; there was oil in it at the time. Told Mr.
Hail be had claimed 201. for this chest of clothes, while there
was nothing in it. Upon going up stairs witness pointed out
to him a number of articles of wearing apparel, which he
had charged for, and which he said ha been destroyed in
the boa. He then replied, " Oh, I am very sorry I made a
mietake ; I will give that up." He claimed for 600 lbs. of
millboard. Witness could undertake to say that that quan-
tity would not have been destroyed in less than 12 hours,
and then some remains would have been found. He had
Insured his household goods for 1801., and there was not 201.
worth in the place. Was sure there was not more than 23
reams of paper on the premises when the fire occurred ; that
is, including half reams, the remains of which were found.—
Kr. H. Baker ward beadle, said that Mr. Hail told him that
he went to bed at nine o'clock on Wednesday night, and that
Mr. Jones did not go till one; and he was surprised the
leter did D!! •An a.e Iry
12: welt
added that Ite was ignorant of how the outliers& happened.
—The learned Coroner gummed up the evidence at great
length, and the jury retired, and after consulting for about
half an hour, they returned their verdict : " That the house
was wilfully set on tire by the tenant, Leopold Hail."—The
Coroner at once made out his warrant for the committal of
the accused.

INQUEST, SATURDAY. MYSTERIOUS CASE OF
POISONINO.—Before C..J. Cutter, Eel, at the Oink"
Heed, Lower-road, Deptford, touching the death of Mary
Hutohior, aged 48, the wife of John Hutchings, a cooper,
recently employed In bet llsjesty's victualling yard, Dept-
ford, whose demise took place on Sunday night last.—
Several witneeses were examined, who de to the hus-
band's general ill-treatment dhis wife. Deswd was taken
seriously ill on Sunday afternoon, vomiting very much, and
in great pain. She said she iad taken jalap. A stir-
wwas called in in the evening, who prescribed
he thought necessary, trusting the case as one of
cholera. lon, however, having been excited, a post-
. _
marten 'on of the stomach '

tOok owe. and i °Ong-