The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 20, 1849.

—Mr. Wald :We csanot Naive all that that book orm-
tains.—Mr. B.llaatiae said he was anxious to am it, on the
Part of Mr. Drones ; upoa which the seal was broken, and
the book headed to Mr. liallentine.—Mr. Warty said he
would adjourn at hell-past four of that day to Tuesda and
then it until he oescluded the inquiry ; so that, if Mr.
Draw had any witnesses he desired to examine, he should
prodan them either to-day or Tuesday.
William Mortimer was then called and examined :
lies at the Royal Fres Hospital, and am engaged in louking
after the children ea nurse. 1 read two ehi.dren at Mr.

Drown's, a boy aged three years and eizzno;lisT;;dli girl
aged flee years and nine months. I last saw them there on the
26th of December, in the lodge, and in the presence of two
or three women belonging to the asylum. They did not
come out, they were never allayed out, although I frequently
asked permission. I salted the porter, and he end he would
ask Mr. Droset; whether he did or not I do not know, but
his answer was always in the negative. The girl was not then
complaining, but the boy was very bad. They are now both
deed. I heard of their deaths last Friday for the ant time.
The Coroner asked Mr. James, the clerk of the Holborn
Union, whether he could say that these children were dead?
—Mr. James said that they died on the 6th and 7th.
Witness was reported to me that my children were ill
on the 6th instant. I was then in the workhouse. I was

not poluitte Ito go to sett them. I applied to the board
through the master, who told me nay application was
related ; but that I should hear more about it .7

Mr. James said that the goardians felt it would then be
wrong to allow persons to go to the aaylum, es it might in-
terfere with the children and breed disease.—Witness : I

tendered my discharge in the workhouse, but it was not rs-
ceired.—Mr. James, in reply to the coroner, said that if the
witness had given three hours' notice he would have been
entitled to Ws discharge.—Witnest : I did not know that
Mr. Wakley : These regulations ought to be printed and
hang up in every workhouse.—Witness : My children had
been in the ambits sines March and April km. Although
they died en the 6th and 7th I did not hear of it until
the . _

David
Kelly (an Irishman) examined ; I live at Rich-
ell-court Lamb's Conduit-etreeL I bad two grendebildren
at Kr. Drouirt's eetabliebment. names were Jere-

wish and James Doyle. Their father and mother
ware in the workhouse when they went there ; bat
we know nothing of the father new ; I believe he
is gone to America. One of the children is dead—the other
in the Free Hospital, with bad sores on his ears, his navel,
and his shins. I went to see the children at Tooting for the first
Sweat Sunday, Dee. 31: again on Monday and Thursday ;
and on Friday the chit leen were removed to the Free Hos-
When I went it was half-part 8 in the marring ; and
= permitted to
in
in, I found little Jemmy in bed along
with another child n a small ward. I stayed about an beer.
On leaving I saw young Mr. Mouse in the yard. 1 asked
him if he had any report to send by we to the workhouse ?
He said, " I believe 1 have; for our children are dying very
fast these three or four days." He gave me a note, and 1
took it to the Gray's ion workhouse, and asked the porter to
let me in, for I war anxious to deliver the note myself, for I
thought I'd make a better report nor him. (Laughter) He
refused to let me in, and I gave him the note. lam a gentle-
man's porter for going of errands and cleaning windows, and a
ladies' porter, too. (Laughter.) I went to Tooting again
on Monday, and found jemmy in the same ward, and in
bed with soother child. I walked each time, for I could not
afford to ride. I met the doctor.—How aid you know it was
the dater ? He was a big tall gentleman in black, end I
war msreover told he was the doctor; and he said to me
that my child was better and doing well. On Wednesday
the ward war much mote crowded, and there were three in
the bed. I taxed the nurse with neglecting their., and she
said she was away during the night, because her eixer bad
died. I saw the fleeter, and said to biro, "Doctor, you told
me the child was getting better, but it's worse he ts, and I
now see he is done for."—Coroner Is the doctor here ?
Mr. Popham (surgeon): Am I the pefsen ?
Witness : No. He was a big fat man with a red face,
and better fed than the children. 'Wiese,* look. d round the
room, and said (pointing to Mr. Drouet), I think that is 'he
person, but I am not c,rtain, and I won't speak anything I
am not certain of. I should know the man I gave the note
to at the workhouse if 1 ea w him.—(Witns., by direction of
the coroner, then wen: to the workhouse to identify the
porter.
Mr. Janos, in reply to the coroner, paid that when he
heard of illness being in Mr. Drouet's rot 11,1ishment, he
wrote to Mr. Drouet for an official account on the subject
That letter was Rested on Monday, the lit Jon. He got an
answer to it on W ulnesday, and, in consequence of that an-
swer he communicated to the board, and the board directed
Mr. Whitfield to I isit the establishment.
Mr. W. J. Kite examined. —I em a member of the College
and licentiate of Aprthtcaries Hall, and hold the office of
resident surgeon in Mr. Deouet's establishment. I hare h. Id
that office since the first week in November. There war no
resident surgeon previously. I had the entite medical charge
of the eetehlishment. I held no similar office previously,
nor any office in any establishment devoted to the treatment
of children. There hen lose nan outbreak of cholera in Mr.

Drouet's asylum, I date it from Friday the 29th D. camber.
I keep a medical notebook, but I have not got it with me,
for so early a date as that. I entered into that batik the
name of the patient, the nature of the disease, the treatment
and final result. Their were then nearly 1,400 inmates, be-
sides fiftyiseven other persons. The numbers were
increased from the time the St. Pancras children
were admitted, which, I think, was about the hcginning
of December. On the 29th December, when the cholera
broke out, there were, speaking vaguely, ab:ut 200 persona
more than when I went there in November. I can produce
the medical book referred to on Tuesday next. I would
hue brought it to-day, had I thought it would have been
required. I was not consulted es to the admission of t.se in-
creased number of children. They were not admitted with
m approbation, nor against it. I war not consulted on the
subject ; and made :.o protest or remark against it. I did
not °amidst it my duty. I have no written engagement
with Mr. Drouet. I engaged, at a fixed salary, as medical
attendant, but I had notuiug whatever to ill with the diet or
clothing of the children, nor with the regulations of the
establishment, nor did I pay any attention to these things,
nor to the rise of the rooms, nor the draina3e. There was
no premium upon health nor penalty uoon sickness ia say
agreement. I did not on entering the establishment, make
an examination of all the children, but I did of some : and I
have in my both an entry of the state of those children.
I did not find any epidemic raging at the time. I found
children under ophthalmia of all sons ; I also found ecrofela
and itch prevalent, and four or five with dysentery. A few
were lame, but their lameness woe either congenital or of
long standing. One variety of the ophthalmia was conta-
gious. The children so affected were immediately separated
from the rest —Coroner: How many had the itch ?—Wit
nem: I cannot say exactly ; but a great many had skii.
dotes,. There was no separate ward for them. I made
great efforts. to cure the itch, but I found it impossible. Itch
is eas;ly cured, but it is easily caught again.—Coroner : Did
you represent to Mr. Drouet that it was absolutely
mummy to separate the children so eff.eted ?
nese : I did, and they were 113 for the most part.
But they mixed with the other children in the
day time agoio. There was no obstruction thrown
in my way for treating the children properly. Many of the
children, when admitted to that establishment, were affected
with itch, and I can answer for it that they were better
leaving it than when they entered. I examined the
children on being admitted, to see if they were healthy or if
diseased, particularly if they had a skin disease. I found
several with itch.—And you admitted them ?—I had no
power to send them away.—Did Mr. Drown know tkey were
so afflicted ?—Of noun he did. 1 have told him so. I had
no power to decline receiving such children. I had nt.thing
to do with their reception. It was a well-understood and
usual thing to receive such children.—Coroner : Why it ap-
pears to have been a nursery for the itch, for you have said
it was impossible to cure it, it beioq so easily caught again.
Had any of the children from St. Pancras the itch on enter-
ing?—Witness: Yee, two or three out of 120. The first
child who died of cholera was, I think, a glib named Frost,
and it occurred on the night of the 30th of December.
She wu aged 9, and had not dysentery when I emend the
asylum. That was the only death on the 30th. Mr. Chap-
man saw her as well as I did. She had no premonitory
symptoms. Raymond, I think, was the name of the nurse.
My medical book would not show if it was Raymond. I cannot
say how many beds were in the ward when that first death
took place. I thick it was in the infants' ward. The very
first case I saw I concluded to be cholera; that was not
Frost's case. I went round every morning at 9 o'clock, and
found the dormitori's pretty well ventilated, but never went
round at an earlier hour shortly after the children left, to
examine the state of the atmosphere. I went into them at
various times during the day, but never at night. From the
time 1 entered, to the outbreak of chclera, 1 did not remark
say change in the diet of the children. The cholera broke
out on the 29th of December, and on the 30th we had 1
death ; on the 31st, 3 ; on the Ist January, 3 ; on the
2d, 7 • on the 3d, 5 ; on the 4th, 12 ; on the
sth, 19' • on the 6th, 14 ; on the 7th, 11; on the Bth, 20 ;
on the 9th, 14; on the 10th, 10; on the 11th, 5; on the
12th, 9 ; on the 13th, 8 ; since the 13th, 9—making a total of
160. Some of thus were complicated with other diseases.
They could not be said to have all died of cholera.
Coroner: It appears the children were dying of cholera
five days before any of them were removed. Can you ssy
what parish was the tint to remove their children?
it% it ens : I cannot say. I believe Kensington, but you
must not rely upon me for information respecting the re
monde. The only parishes that have not removed their
children are St. Oeorge's-in-the-East and Chelitia; I do not
know if the bodies of children who die from these parishes
are sent home. There has been no inquest held at Toot-
ing on the bodies of any of the children. lat first sent Mr.
Carter, the coroner, word upon the subject with a certificate
of death, and he said there was no necessity for an inquest,
as the children had been under medical treatment, and the
cause of their death was known. Before the other medical
men visited Tooting I recommended a better diet, and a
better diet was immediately adopted. The other medical
men also recommended a better diet. —Mr. Chapman was
called in on the 30th, and on the Monday a better diet was
adopted ; an additional meat day was added, and rice was
substituted for arrow. root. I cannot say what was the quan
tity of arrow-root or of flour mentioned in the diet-table as
given to the children, but I know when made into a gram it
was thick, quite lilu a jelly. After the alteration in the
diet, I saw no change in the dings' that I c:.uld refer to
diet. Many of the young children died very rtpidly, some
within twelve hours after being attacked. Every symptom
mentioned by writers on cholera war observable in the chil-
dren. I have no doubt whatever myself that it was cholera.
I opened seven bodies, but could not account roe death by
the post modems examination. I found the urinary bladder
distended, and the call in the gallbladder thick—in one can'
like treacle. The intestines contained a inlay.
colourless &Wows, similar to that which had been
discharged before death.--Coroner : Having been In the
establishment for two months previously, I may ask you ti
what cause you attribute the existence of cholera ? I can find
no immediate or exeitiag rause to it —Have you heard or
known of any death from cholera in the village of Tooting,

or out of the establiduseat in that neighbourhood ?—Mr.
Chapman, the surgeons, told rim ysetarday of five suvpitions
MIN in Tooting but I have heard of no death.-Do you
robe the outbreak of shalom in the asylum to any atmo-
spheric influence ? I cannot say what was the proximate
mass. It may have been the atmosphere meting oa magi-
tenons predisposed for illness ; and if I were to attribute a
proximate cause, I should certainly say the overcrowding
was it—Do you reGr any part of the cause to the diet ? I
do not, and for this ream—that the diet has been the tame

for a long time ; at least I can answer foe the two months I
was there before the cholera broke out.—What other per-
sons than the children lived on vensely the
same diet? I cannot say; for although the nurses
were allowed the same, I cannot lay If they
linited themselves to it. Have any others than
the children been attacked by cholera? Tee. and three
died. One was &thereby, a nurse, aged nearly 60, who died
on the 11th ; Sarah Goat, aged 24, a housemaid, who died
on the 10th ; and a third, who was an attenlant en the sick,
who died before the Bth.—How do you account for it that so
few besides the children died of the disease ? It may be tint
children are more suscoptible.—Do you as a medical man
hold that to be the case, that children of from 4 to 12 years
old are more susceptible of cholera than adults? I only say It
may bee* ; and ceetanlT from what I have seen at Tooting I
would draw that eoneluston.—D you regard cholera to be con •
tasious? Ido not —lnfectious ? That is altogether another
question. Before I west to Tooting I was a non nmta•
gionist and a non-iota ctionist. But woat I have seen at
Tooting has much shaken my opinion abort um-infection.
In the direct meaning of the word, I would say it is not
contagious.—What did you fled to be the molt successful
treatment? Restoriog warmth and stimulants. We gave ether,
ammonia, brandy, and wine. After all the experience I have
had I would adopt the some treatment again; but I cannot
tome to the conclusion that it is in my power to cure a cue
of cholera.—How did you treat the premonitory symptoms?
When we discovered them we endeavoured to stop them by
astringents, and we so treated all that we perceived, which
were not nosey. —Coroner : Mr. Grainger made his visit on
Friday, the ben, and I think he reported 38 cases of premo-
nitory symptoms.—Witoess : I never heard of 38 cease, nor
of any considerable number previous to the visits of the other
medical men.

Mr. Grainger referred to his report, and said that the 33
cues were mentioned as existing on the fuUmwing Ssturday
and Sunday, and he made that report on the ri presentations
of the medical gentlemen who had been sent there. But he
had not seen Mr. Kite at all.
By the Coroner.—No other charge wu mad:: in the diet
after the period I Dave spoken of. I could tell the names ul
all that guttered from diarrhoee that passed into cholera. As
to the diarrheas Mr. Bigley examiee l 73 of the St. Pancras
children, and only one had diarrhea*. Mr. Fenny amongst
SOO boys found four cues.
Bete a short adjournment took place for refreshment,
after which,
Mr. Kite was re-examined : I have not noticed any ill
effects from drinking the water. It is the same which I con-
sume, and is procured from an Artesian well. I hate
noticed a peculiar smell. Ido not know what the analysis
wu. Since the 29th December we have used exclusively
the same water up to this period. I noticed the objection-
able smell three days ago. It was water that had been in
my room all night. I drink water myself every day.—The
Coronet: Net eultalively, I supjote ? (A laugh.)—l have
never complained of the boys' bath-room, or have any reason
to believe there is anything wrung in it. I find no objec-
tionable arne.l in it. Mr. Drouc.'s table and mine is in coin-

mon, and the water consumed there is the same u is con-
sumed by the boys.
Mr. W. Home Popham, examined by the Cocoon!: I em
one of the parochial surgeons of St. Pancras, and at the re.
quest of the guardians, went to Tooting to attend some of
the children on Friday, the sth, at 10 o'clock at night. (The
Coroner observed that the chil lren respecting whom the in-
quiry was made had returned before Mr. Popham went
down, and what occurred subsequently to their removal
could not be connected with the causes of their death) Ex-
amination continued : I have signed a dccumcnt In reference
to Mr. Graiugir's report. It is u follows :

Various reports baring been published In the daily journal's re.
spatting the opinions we en.erteined, as the medical officers assisting
In taking charge of the cholera patients in Mr. Drouet's eetabsi•bieent
at Tooting, whereby we are represented as having stated facts in
evidence which not only abound in incesistencies, but are not in
reality true, we gladly avail cameleer, of the pages of your journal, in
order that the public may be avenunted with the circumstances as
they really esist. In the first instance, we distinctly wish to dis-
abuse the public mind of the Wee that the cholera patients in this
establishniett were crowded rive in a bed. This statement we
have found to be entirely 'mired ; In one instance it
seemed to be so ; the close approximation of two beds
having led to the error. Such a statement haviag appeared as
evident in Mr. (Manager's report, we beg to state that it has been
corrected by Mr. Popham in his evidence on the toque-t held at diet.
sea by Mr. Wskley, As to the fact of the children hoeing been placed
too thickly together, it aunt be borne in mind that this fearful visita-
tion broke oat as a thief In the night among children presieusly cocci.
dent healthy; that from the *widener... of It. invasion, and the
rapid manner in which it spread from ward to ward, it wall utterly
impossible tossounnewn the work of separation at the moment, sad
net as soon al additianal aA was pneured, all the ewes which al.
milted of being removed were changed into separate beds.
Respective the surgery, we beg to state that for all
ordinary purposes it KM very efficient, both as regarded
medicines and elairine,s, and that from the time of our
im,aval here we have tad no difficulty in dispensing me 'trin%
have we been is want of any means necessary to the treatment of
the unfortunate patients. That the ratio of mortality has been leM
Pillte our sr. seal, we regret to say has not been the case; and it will
be a eatisfaction to the public mind to state our weeder& thin it wet,
not ham any want of medical skill that en many wet Droved fatal;
and It Is necessary for us to state our overlies that from the time we
cams here the conduct of Mr. 'Motley and the vicious DlfllltrrB
of his hounehohl, in affording en moistener in the manage-
ment of our ounce, has been such es to command our warmest
admiratii n, and we now bear our willing testimony to the
kindness., humanity, and liberality which has been unrelentingly
shown. We offer no opinion now, as medical men, as to the existing
cause of the outbreak of this dreadful malady. Thie we shall be per.
pared to give in due coarse. Having duefullyexarnined the premises
in referee's to the drainage, we have been unable to discover any
&Sok say in that respect, although the sewerage of the district eve..
rally may be defective; tv.t this must be left to the consideration of ,
the tumuli isioncre of "'ewers in their province, and not to us '
sunlit,' men. In conclusion, we or, happy in heir" age to state that
the &ease to now rapidly disappearing In this eetablislarnent, the
number of caste to-day under treatment being et, and but one death
within the last 24 how., without the =wenn of a leech cam—
Wm. Ilona rialtos, J. Goatee. hamar, it. B. Pa..NI, J. Inneele4.—
Tooting, Jan. 14.
I hay • exusOned the dormitories in the establishment
generally ; I have no 001111klit)11 whatever with Mr. Dronet's
establishment. Fr em observations made on the spot I have
not come to a satisfuteu opinion u to the cause of the out-
break of the cholera. I believe the over crowding pre-
disposed to it. I have not examined the drains to any
great extent from the premises. I tasted the water
several times, and it appeared to me to be soft water. I
have examined the diet table, but there are no quantities
specified in the diet table. I should not consider the children
who were not affected with cholera as ins bad state of health,
hut they were not robust. I did not consider them starved.
I saw some very healthy children amongst them. I saw
some of them stript in the wash house. Some hod the itch,
which we find in those who live badly in ill•ventilated
' places. With regard to statements relative to diarrhica
existing in the establishment, I found four emeaget the 96
I St. Pancras children. Only one passed into the state of
cholera. TllOlll with the premonitory symptoms were
treated immediately with opium, and it was effectual in
the great majority of cases. In one case there were no
premonitory symptoms at all, and the child wta strums
down. It was four or five years of age. It lived
only two hones after the attack.—(Question by Mr. Or lin-
ger Were not the particulars respecting the condition of the
surgery and dispensary in my report, given to me by Mr.
Popham, and are they not correct. —Mr. Popham admitted
that they were. Ile had always seen the bottles of a medical
establishment labelled, and should not like to take medicine
slut of bottles that were not labelled.)—By the Coroner
After the outbreak of cholera I did not think it proper that
more than one person afflicted with cholera should be in a
bed at one Cure. I found four in a bed in several beds, be.
tween 12 and 1 o'clock on Saturday, 6th January, and on
that day they began to remove them in separate beds. There
was no difficulty in getting medicines. There were two
nurses, I think, sent dawn the night I was sent down. I
do not believe the disease to be contagious, and I do not be-
lieve it to be infections. I think the children were more
predisposed to take the illness from their youth. lam cer-
tainly of opinion the children were overcrowded. I infected
the drains for about 100 yards. I refer the disease to the
state of the atm .inhere.
J. Gordon Bailey examined : I wide at 4, Penton-street,
Pentonvilla I was one of the surgeons seat down by St.
Pancras parish. I had before seen some cues of cholera in
town. In consequence of what I have seen at Mr. Dronet's
establishment, I believe the children were too closely crowded
during an eliciting MM. in the atmosphere. I attribute
nothing to the diet or clothing. The fact of those children
having been there for year., and the disease not having been
brought into operation, is my reason for believing that it
was owing to the state of the atmosphere. I consider it un-
wholeseme for a large number of persons to be crowded
together in apartments. I believe the atar.ospberic canoe
was brought into operation by the overcrowding.
Mr. R.S.Penny examined : I a am surgeon, and visitel the
establishment oa Friday, Jan. 13, having been sent for from
town by Mr. Dronet. I retsile at 16, Suthetiandiarinue,
Waluorth. I arriv:d before Mr. Popham. I did not enter
into any investigation as to the cause of the out-
break of the cholera. The opinion I form of it, from
observation I made in Lelia, is that it proceeds from
eiththepherie poison. I hove sewn cheer* in
found the disease moot frequonly mist in Innis amonest
E iropcons—amongst persons well fed, well loused, and
clothed. I have heard from the nurses at Mr. Drouet'a
that the disease only attacked pr rocas in one lice. I know
iif none of the men who were engaged in empling the
ditches being attacked ; but I know of an instance, in the
cue of the ship Java, where 400 coolies were working on one
ship, and thew oily on one side the ship were attacked.
They were sent off to the hospital i.e fest as they could be
rent. I don't consider the divoare to be contagious
or infection.. No account of the Java, belonging to
Mr. Sesames, was published; 34 of the coolica died.
I must admit that the overcrowding might be a predisposing
c :use of cholera. In answer to Mr. Grainger, the witness
said he had examined 300 or 400 boys, end only foucd three
nr four eases of diarrhea, and 150 girls, and only 11 cues of
diarrhea'.
Patrick Sheene, aged 10, of the Holborn Than, examined:
Could not sac the whole of his catechism. Wes three
times at Mr. Dronet's, at Tooting; the last time far tea
we. ks. Has a mother living in the union. Knew 311cloael
Harper, he slept with him at Mr. Drouet's, and two or three
boys slept in a bed. Michael Harper slept with him four or
live weeks before he came to the Free Hospital. Ho was
well. There was one taken bad ; his name is Quin, h' is at
this hospital now. I went to school half the day, aid the
other half to the baths. Twelve slept in the 1141112 room,
There were fear beds. Germaine waa the nurse. Boys wien
to clean the rooms; one boy need to mule one ream, ar.l
when they were smell rooms, two or three. His mother
rams to see him every three weeks. Thee used to go nut
'or a walk, but as the authorities were afraid they woad
nut away, sometimes they maid to have the girls clothes on.

They were kept on three or four days, sometimes a week.
The gentlemen from the Holborn Union need to mk them if
they were well. If they spoke the truth, the people used to
beat them in the house afterwards. John Walsh was beaten
for telling the guardians that he did not have enough to eat.
Mr. Brown, a school:nester forgot to beat me. I was told
he was farmed away for killing a boy. I was there when the
guardians asked these to hold up their hands who were
fligged. John Walsh was beaten for holding
for up his thumb.
I got a pint of pnel and a 'lies of bread breakfast. I
used to eat all I had for breakfast, dinner, and supper.
Sometimes I'd have enough on Mondays. I could eat
double as much as I got. I only got as much as I
could ant on Mondays. Sometimes I used to run into
the hall end get some water out of the cans. We had
a slice of bread and half an ounce of cheese for sapper.
It was said the big boys' bread was quite font ounces. We
did not feel that we had enough after we had our meals. We
used to feel as hungry as we went in. I should not like to
11 go back.—Coroner: If you were to go back, what would you
like to have altered? AU the meals, air. (A laugh.) I
k.vs enough to eat where I am now. The boys who were ill
and what it we, they thought made them ill.—
Coroner : The doctors hue a difficulty in telling what is the
cause of the choln a. What do you think is the cause ?—Not
having enough to eat. My clothes were warm enough. I
had enough covering at night on the bed. I com-
plained of the bed. They would laugh at me if I was to
complain. The meat was good sometimes. The potatoes
were black, and sometime' watery. The boys who work get
ltd. eeeek.

William Duly, aged 8 : Could not read. Went to school
at Mr. Drone'''. Would not like to go back to school.
Knows James Andrews ; slept with him. Lam slept in
the same bed. He did not have his breakfast, dinner, and
supper in the same room. Had not enough to eat and drink
at Mr. Drouet'a Did net tell the guardians because he
could nut get to them. Never had enough to eat. Did not
tell the nurse he had not enough to eat ; she would pay him
for it. Has a mother at Holborn. Told his mother he had
not enough to eat. Never had enough fur dinner. Some-
times the bread would be mouldy. The meat was good. Has
enough to eat where he ir—Several other questions were
put, to which the boy did not appear capable of giving an
answer.

`Emily Hungerford, aged 11 : Hu a father and mother
living in the union. Was at Mr. Droaet's. at Tootins, 12
months. Would not go back there on Monday. Knew
Jenny Johnson. Saw her last at the Royal Free Hospital.
Did not complain of illness. Sometimes she used to com-
plain of the headache. lied bread and gruel fir breakfast.
Complained to the mistress that she did act have enough
bread Had not enough for dinner nor supper. All had
half a plate of gruel. lied not enough of meat and potatoes.
When the guardians came down did not say she bad not
enoegb, as she was afraid of being beaten. The girl lliytes
was beaten for saying she had not enough to eat. Was not
ill at Mr. DGuot's.

Henry Bertelsen, aged 14 : Hu neither father nor mother
living, and no brothers and sis:en. Went from the Holborn
Union Workhouse to Tooting. Was there one year and
three months. Came back to the Royal Free Hospital on
Friday. Has been well ever since. He was a shoemaker,
and us, dto do five pair of uppers for a penny. Used to
spend his money and buy sweet stuff. Tho nurses used to
sell it. I could always eat my bread. I had not enough. I
could eat two more allowances. Sometimes the meat was
not good. The meat was quite hard. had bread
and cheese for eu-'per. Never had enough. Was
always hungry. Tho boys who scrubbed and cleaned
the floors got twopence a week. Thirty boys slept in the
room where I slept. I saw the gentlemen when they came
dawn, and told them I had net enough to eat. Mr. W.
Drouet said I was the ringleader of all the boys. Welsh
was the heir who war beaten. Two were beaten after the
guardians went away. I paid to the guardians, in the pre-
sence of Mr. Drouet, I had not enough to cat. Mr. Drouet
said it was not a proper question to ask the children. Did
not get more food in consequence of complaining. About
thirty sleep in the room where 1 slept. I wanted more pud-
ding and more of everything. Should not like to go back.
If a were going back I should wish for mere victuals.
Have not been ill, nor had any attack in my stomach or loose-
mu in my bowel•. I never sold cakes; sometimes I
bought cake+. Had toast and water for dinner.
Mr. Kite recalled : Had not heard of any complaint of
their wanting water.—Re-ex mined : Most boys complained
of their nos having water.
Emily Hunaerford recalled: Got water to drink from the
taps. Sometimes they would take the pot away and box
their ears for it. Sometimes she used to give bread away ter
water.

John Welsh, aged 14, was one year at Tooting. Com
planed to the guardians of not having enough to eat. had
held up bis hand when the guardians asked if they had
enough to eat. Dranet was present. The schoolmaster
11 'gest me, and said, " It you tell the guardians I'll give
Bou a little more to eat." Did not complain to Druuet that
rown had ti ',pod him, because Mr. Drouet would have
whacked him. Tho bop; used to get a cap full of potato-
peelings and sell them for a halfpenny. Could not get as
much water as he wanted. If the complainer' that they
wanted drink he whacked them all the same. The witness
gave many other instances of ill-treatment.
Sarah Skietletkorp, aged 11, said she knew all of the de.
ceased. Was at Mr. Dr.met's seven minths. Never had
quite sufficient to eat, but d'u not like to complain to the
guardians. Had not enough to eat at any meal. Used to
work at shirt-making. A dozen Aline were made a day.
Shirtmsbers were paid 44. a week. My health was good,
whilst I was there. I was not under the doctor's care. Mad
not always as much water as I could tit ink. Sometimes they
need to turn it off. Could have as much at dinner as they
wonted :o drink.

-....-.
It being now near six o'clock the Coroner adjourned the
further inqairy till Tuesday next at ten o'clock.

INCREASE OE THE MIDDLESEX MAGISTRACY. —ln
.tractions hese been issued by the Lord Chancellor for the
immediate addition to the commission of the peace for the
county of Middlesex of 30; new magistrates. The names of
the gentlemen nominated by the lord lieutenant have not
yet publicly traispirod, but there is no doubt that some of,
them are very familiar to the public. Yesterday preparatory
measures to tneir qualifying were taken by the county autho-
rities, and it is understood that they will be formally Mail
in as soon as practicable.
CHOLERA.—Yesterday the following fresh ewes
wen reported to the Beard of Health :—Whitechapel, 1 ;
Kensington Workhouse, 1 fatal ; Wandsworth, 5; East and'
West Reedham, Norfolk, 11, 1 fatal; Wakefield, I; liowden '
Union Wotkhouse, ; Edinburgh, 4; Glasgow, 50, 19
fatal; Selkiik, 1 ; Old Mnnkland, 26, 11 fatal; Lioness, 2, 1
fatal ; total new cases, 111, 33 deaths.
FIRES.—AT PADDINGTON.-lAnt night, between 7
and 8, a firs, involving a destruction of property valued at some
thousand pounds, broke out at Iron-gate-wharf, Praed•street,
Pa .dington. The premises in which the disastrous event
occurred were in the occupation of Mr. Wm. Buddle, and
were well known as the steam saw mills and marble works.
The fl Imes were first perceivea by one of the neighbours
I breaking out of the mill. This building was upwards of 100
feet in length and nearly 30 feet wile. It was fitted up with
most costly machinery, and contained a great quantity of
timber. In the space of a few minutes the entire mill from
end to end was wrapp?d in one body of tire. Several en-
gines were quickly on the spot, but before they
could he set td work, the flames had extended
from the mill to a quantity of timber in the yard,
and as soon as this became ignited, the flames travelled
rapidly int, the moulding loft, and from thence into the
polishing shops. Each of these buildings was filled with pro-
perty of great value, and of the moat inflammable character,
which, the moment the flames came in contact with them,
burst forth into a huec sheet of fire. The firemen laboured
without intermission until nearly 11 o'clock, when the
flames at length succumbed beneath the great inantity of
water thrown upon them, but even at that hour they were
far from being extinguished, although ne fears were enter-
tained of their further extension. The while of the work-
men had kit the premises some hours before any signs of
fire were perceived.---Mr. Buidle informed the reporter that
the machinery, which cost him. a short time since, upwards
of 5,0001., was insured for only 1,0001., and the insurances
effected upon the stock in trade were not one tithe of his loss.
The following is the official report of the loss at the Iron-
gots Wharf Saw Mills. The saw mills and marble works,
a building 90ft. by ftOft., steam sawing, planing mills, maul
ding-loft, engineetiouse, marble-polishing shops destroyed
Roof of marble show-room damaged by fire, and contents by
removal. Water supplied from Grand Junction mans.
Insured in the Sun and Westminster Fire (MICAS. The
house of Mr. Carruthers, publican, damaged by water.
IE-tistred loss from 8,0001. to 10,0001 —ls TUB RAMP-
OTF:AD ROAU.—While the fire was still raging ct Padding.
ton, another cad came for the engines and firemen to a
destructive firs which had bniten out at No. 17, Adam-row,
Hampstead.road. The fire originated in the apartment' of
a Mr. Livennore, on the second-ft/Ir, and tout extended to
a quantity of stabling end to the adjoinieg premise, which
for some time were threatened with Vital derrulion. By
six o'clock the fire was got under. The following a
the official return of the damage done: No. 17, des•
troyed, in the occupation of Mr. Billiard and Livermore,
the whole of whose furniture is entirely destroyed. To-
&unmet not known. The shops of Mr. Clark and Mr. Hen-
rings, imn-moeecrs, stock of each damaged by fire and
weer. Insured in the Licensed Victuallers' and Sun Fire
Offiees. No IR, Mr. Evans, potato dealer—furniture and
building dulled by fire and water ; insured in the Pheenix
Fire-office. so. 16, Mr. Cuevas, baker, stock—furniture,
and building damaged by fire and water ; insured in the
Hand-in-Hand Fire-office.
THE FIRE IN NEW-SQUARE, LINCOLN'S-INN.—RE-
COVERY or PROPERTY.—During yesterday the firemen sue
ceeded in turning up amonie the ruins a parchment package,
not in the hire degree injured, which proved to be the title-
deeds of an estate,lek in Mertes. Jones, Bennett, and Bete-
man's cue, amounting to 27,0001. A mortege deed of
10,000 e bag also been recovered, quite uninjured; and
another of 12,0001., together with a vast numb'r of smaller
amounts. The whole of the original wills left with the same
firm have likewise been recovered from the rubbish, and
securities involeerg some thousand pounds' worth of property
have been taken from the basement and ground floors, velure
they had fallen from the upper part of the house. A
deal of plate end other articles of Y4lllO have
been found by the parties whilst searching the ruins.
Another inverigation took place yesterday beton the
Benchers. when the whole of the porters belongin,g to the
inn were examined, with a view of ascertaining whether
they knew anything respecting the origin of the fl-e, and
also to ascertain whether the report watt:meet:l that they had
kept the doors closed, end prevented the fire-enein,s and
escapes from entering moil the tire had gained head con-
siderably. Tee resuls of the Liqeiry went to exonerate the
parties from the least dtrelictiou of duty. It appeared that
when the pl4ise dis:overed the fire ale of the constables rae
to the gate near the grand hall, and told the porter to open
it as nor re he c as a fire had Woken out in the Build-
ings, The porter imagined that it s iu
tiekla, closed tee door, and gat as lamas Whetsteurpork,

when he met the policeman returning, after having called
the Holborn engine; and it was not till then that he knew
the exact locale of the Are. lie returned and found the fire
coming from the basement windows of No. 2, New•square.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, JAW. 18.
By the decision of the judges to-day, Mr. Daffy
hes been allowed to plead over, and accordingly lus
6n31 trial is again put off, and will not take place
until agar Feb. 6 at the next commisaion. I subjoin
a report of the proceedings :

COMMISSION COURT.—THUBWD&Y.
THE QUEEN V. C. O. DUFFY.—The prisoner having been
placed at the bar, and counsel for the crown and I.r the de-
fence being present,
Jadge Perrin said the court hag already pronounced judg-
aunt on the demurrer, to the effect that the demurrer to the
first and third counts should be overruled, and the demurrer
to all the overt acts, except those of the first and third,
should be allowed. In this cue, the crown prayed for final
judgment on the demurrer; but the prisoner contended that
he was entitled to plead. There hail been several cases cited
in the asguments had on the demurrer, and be and his bro-
ther Richards having regard to those authorities of an old
standing, as well as to one of the latest cares on the subject
which occurred in 1845. which ha I been under the con-
sideration of the English Jud„; .e, and in which the demurrer
havine been overruled the prisoner wan allow,d to plead, he
and his brother Richards thought it necessary to follow that
course, and, purauioo the precedent referred to by Mr.
Butt, after pronouncing judzm •nt on the demurrer in the
form already stated, they would allow the prisoner to plead
over to tho felony. The learacd Judge then desired the
Clerk of the Crown to ask the prisoner whether he were
guilty or not guilty.
The Clerk of the Crown put the question in the usual
form, to which Mr. Duffy replied—Not guilty.
Judge Perrin said they would adjourn the court until the
6th of February. They could net have a trial now for many
reasons—one of which was that the jurors at the present
commission had been summoned for the 12th of December,
and were not in attendance, and it was out of their power to
have a trial now.

Sir Colman 0 Loghlen begged to remind the c3urt that
counsel, on the part of the prsow r, bad put in an applica-
tion to be admitted to bail. lie submitted that if then lord-
ships would hear the motion is chamber, he and his learned
friends fur the defence would be ready to mi.ke the applies-
tion tomorrow. _ _

Judge Perrin said that the learned baronet would recollect
that, from the ccemnenoement of the second week of the
comminion the court had been engaged with several matters
which caused delay. It was the prtsonsr himself, and not
the awns, that caused the delay which had arisen on the
plea of abatement.
Mr. O'Llattan said be had a strong me to be admitted to
bail, if the court would allow him to bring it prop.rly before
them.

Judge Perrin said he would be happy to hear Mr.
O'llagat's motion to that effect in the Court of Quem's
Bench—the proper place to make it.
Mr. Dully, addressing the court, said the delay had not
been caused by him, but by the Crown. He was ready to go
to trial but for the decisions it was necessary to arrive at on
the several questions argued, and he ought not to be delayed
by things which he a:a not cause. If permitted t i submit
his applic►tion, h• would bp able to make out an irresiitible
case to be admitted to bail. The literal tact was that he
should sustain great injury—his property would be ruined if
not permitted to get out on bail, end he would make that so
plain that it could not be coatuted if the court would give
him an opportunity of doe .g so. He asked them to adjourn
the court tin to-morrow morning, for the purpose of s,iving
him an opportunity of putting in affilavits to thatedfect—
The Court made no reply.
Proclamation was then made adjourning the commission
until the 6th of February• next.