The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-27 00:00:00

THE FATAL STEAM-SHIP COLLISION OFF

GRAVESEND.—MANSLAUGHTER.
GRAVESEND, FRIDAY EVENING.—The adjourned
inquest on the bodies of Henry Shillibeer, aged 50, and
James Emmett, aged 30, two of the unfortunate crew of the
schooner Rose, run down by the Royal Victoria London and
Leith steam-chip, on the river, off Hole Haven, on the
morning of Sunday, the 28th ult., was resumed this day at
noon, at the World's End Tavern, Tilbury Fort.
William George Wells was first sworn. He said I am
a Thames bargeman, and reside at Rochester. On the morn-
ing of Sunday, the 28th ult., about half-past three o'clock,
I vim going down the river in my barge in Sea Reach, near
Hole Haven. When *boat three-quarters of a mile above
Hole Haven I saw the steamer bearing down towards me.
The steamer paned me about a quarter of a mile above the
schooner Rose. and, as she did so, I heard a voice on her

deck sing out, " Starboard." I could see the steamer was
going a wrong course in amongst the craft ; and I remarked
to my mate, " My God ! he'll be over something." The
steamer was going at a very fast rate when ohe passed me.
After the steamer passed, her smoke prevented my sight ;
but in a very few minutes I heard a moth, as if the steamer
had run into some thing. I put my barge about, and sailed
towards the steamer, but the schooner had sunk be-
fore I could reach her —By the Coroner : I have
been enamed in navigating the Thames, on and off, for
the last fiftsvn years, and am well acquainted with that part
of the river where the collision took place. The spot where
the schooner lay is one where all small ream!' evp:ct to lay
in safety, sod protected from the cast wind. At the time the
steamer struck the schooner she was out of her proper course.
When the steamer pawed me, I saw ime man either on the
paddle.box or bridge, hut no one else on deck. Had the
steamer " ported " her helm at the time I heard the word
"starboard," she might have cleared all the craft below me.
If there had been a good look out on board the steamer, I
think the collision might have been avoided. The schooner
might he seen more that half a mile off, and I never saw
Sea Reach more clear in mid-channel, which was the pmper
course for the steamer, than on that morning. The tide at
the time was as Rear halfebh as possible. Ido not think the
tide bad set in sufficiently to prevent the steamer answering
her helm.

Mr. Geolre Brown reside at Gravesend, and have been
a Thames pilot from Gravesend, up and down channel, for
the last thirty-six years. lam perfectly well acquainted
with that part of the river off Hole Haven, where the schooner
Roae was alleged to have been run down. The proper coarse
for steamers at that paint is mid-channel. To avoid the flood
tide it is proper to Lep to the south shore. The tide sets In
at the place where the collision occurred parallel with the
shore. That would not be at all likely to prevent a ship
answering her helm.
Alexander Ross, second mate on board thp Royal Vie-
toria.--I was et the helm on the morning of the collision,
and the captain was on the bridge directing the navigation
of the vessel. The brat order I received was, " Starboard,"
the next "Steady!" then "A-port, a-port!" and then,
" Hard a-port '" These orders came in quick succession,
one after the other; and after the last order was given, the
collision tank place. I obeyed the orders of the captain as
be gave them. By the Jury.—There was not sufficient
time for the vessel. to recover from her " starboard" helm,
and answer her "port" helm, before the collision took
place. The steamer always hangs upon her " port" helm.
I ears give no opinion as to the cause of the accident. On
leaving Gravesend, it is usual to have the half of the ship's
company on deck, which is 14 in number. I don't know
who was on the look-out at the time of the eullision.—An-
other seaman having corroborated this statement, and there
being no further evidence,
The coroner proceeded to sum up. He remarked that
there could be no doubt of the fart that the deceased parties
had lost their lives by the Royal Victoria steam-ship run-
ning down the vessel in which they were. Then could
also be no doubt that the spot where the schooner Rose lay.
was one usually adopted for safety by vessels at night, and
that the steamer wee going out of her proper course. The
question was whether the captain who had command of the
vessel, had been guilty of any wilful neglect in running the
steamer so close to the north shore, or if the occurrence had
resulted from circumstinces over which he hod no control.
If the jury considered that proper vigilance had not been
observed, then it would be their duty to return a verdict of
manalaughter ; hut if they believed that those who com-
manded the steamer had no control over the circumstance,
then they would return a verdict accordingly.
The court was here cleared, and after an hour's delibera-
tion the jury returned a verdict of " Manslaueliter in both
eases against David Meiklereid, captain of the Royal Vic-
toria steam-ship." The coroner said he had also a paper
just put into his hand by the jury, which was am follows:
" The jury recommend the Leith and other steam-ship com-
panies to navigate their vessels at less speed at night up and
down the river Thames." Ho considered the supra stion a
very excellent one, and had no doubt but that it would be
attended to. The coroner haring issued his warrant for the
apprehension of Captain Meiklereid, and bound over the
witnesses, the proceeding. terminated.

but it was urged that this could not be done without con-
siderable etpense, and that it was deemed unnecessary,
seeing that so very recently a large majority of the inhabit-
ants had petitioned against incorporation. The conference
lasted nearly two hours,iv but lads to noitu definite [vault.
ivirrilit

DANOSIt 07 TURSB/1170 BY STEAW-011 Thursday a
fire occurred in the stack-yard of Mr. Roberts, of North
Raneehy, near Slesford. It appears that Mr. Roberta wu
thrashing corn out of doors with a steam thrashing machine,
a spark from which ignited some loose straw; the flames
quecaly reached the stacks, and five large wheat stacks end
one barley stack, with a quantity of straw, were totally de-
stroyed. It was with great diulty the fire Ina kept from
the house and buildings.

THE GOTRILNKIINT SCHEME OP XATIONLL EOCCATION.
—The Midload Counties Herald (one of the most extensively
circulated of the provincial journals) bee in its columns, this
week, an excellent article in support of the government plan
for promoting national education. After extracting fres the
articles which have appeared in this journal, the writer says :
The Laity News, of ail the metropolitan journal% has written the
most gay and conclusively on the subject of national education. The
articles in that paper ran hardly fail to hare a east influence on public
opinka. They are mini and well manned ; the writer, while setting
aside the "medlars of others, hart obviously none of his own. He
write. trial, the earnestness of real conviction. In several of the
papers to which we refer, it is shown that while the state has neg.
lined to provide the means of • really useful education for the people,
caseation of Loather kind is going on meet ituccessfully—Uut educe.
UM which fills our prison* and convict ships This education (it is
remarked in a late article) is not merely a negative thing—it is some-
thing more than the absence of a good edueation—it ft a positive evil;
It is the presence of • fearful 71:wk___

WAGER ON TH;.TAST-DAT..gip-111 jUSISCO to the
gentry, farmers, and other employers in this and all the
neighbouring parishes, I wish to state, that they have de-
termined to give their men wages for the fast-day, provided
they attended some place of worship, and abstained
from work.-11. CLERGYMAN RESIDING ON THE BORDERS
OP BEDFORDSHIRE AND NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Shish 2d.

WACIES ou FAIIT-DAT.--Bir : I read in your paper of
Tuesday, from a " Constant Reader "—" How are the work-
ing men of England to behave and suffer in consequence of
Wednesday's fast ? My work-people have all begged to be
allowed to work, and say that it will be taking their chil-
dren's bread out of their mouths." What upon earth does
the writer mean ? Had be no idea of having any duties of
his own to perform ? In my parish there was not a single
employer who hesitated about paying his men for the day.
No work wasdone by any one individual, and, I believe, I
may say, there was not one who did not attend Divine
wonhip.—J. T. Avert"; Aldwortls,
HAMPSII.IIIP,

ATTIMPT TO Mt:gait. -Ili; Monday, • man-servant
named Wolfe, in the service of W. Thresher, Esq., during
the temporary absence of some of the family, took occasion
to assault in s moat brutal manner the nursemaid, named
Ayling. The poor girl was engaged in an upstairs room,
when Wolfe went up and struck her with a wooden mallet,
which rendered her almost senseless ; he then with a carving-
knife inflicted serious wounds un her. He hu been
committed to Gosport, to appear for examination, when the
unfortunate girl may be well enough to appear against him,
SOMERNEISIIIi!.I,7

EAST SOIIINAET Etiscriox.—The high sheriff of',
Somerset received the writ for electing a member in parlia-
ment in the room of the late Col. Cure Langton, on Wednes-
day, and has fixed Friday the 9th of April, as the nomination
day. An earlier time would have keen named, but that the
county assizes commence on Wednesday next, and are ex-
pected to last till the middle of the ensuing week. Up to
tke present time Mr. Pinney is the only candidate, sad there
seems to b, no movement among the tory party. Mr.
Pianey's committee are, however, using means to guard
against surprise by dissecting the register, and arranging
should it be necessary, au immediate and active canvass of
the county. Under any circumstances it is felt that an
opposition to Mr. Pinney would be futile as the liberal
register never was in so satisfactory a state as at present.
The remains of Col. Gore Langton were interred yesterday
with much pomp in the family vault, in the parish church
of Newton St. Lo. There was a concourse of persons pre-
sent, amounting to several thousands including a large num-
ber of the tenants and poorer neighbours of the deceased
gentleman.
11.112-17

THR INTINDIID REMOVAL OP CONVICTS TO PORTLAND
is exciting much discussion in that neighbourhood. The
S.terborne Journal says, " We may expect soon to see loca-
ted on our common 7,000 convicts—and it is said the same
number of troops will encamp in a field midway between the
Traveller's Rest and the villages. Government has, it is I
understood, abandoned the plan of excavating the " mare "
for naval docks, but will construct the basin just above the
Ferry-bridge, and on the Portland side erect its dockyard.
The plan is preferable to the former ; the site is more out of
harm's way, and there is plenty of sea room to hold all the
ships in the navy, with ample space for timber-yards, and all I
lying under the lea of Chisel Reach. The rickety wooden I
bridge is to give way to a stone one, with a draw-bridge.
Some officials have been inspecting the various springs
round the common, for the purpose of tanking them in.
One great advantage of having the docks in the httle sea, or
backwater, will be, that the workmen will he near Wey-
mouth, where board sad lodging in the suburbs are mach
cheaper than in Portland. It has been proposed that *
steamer shall ply between Weymouth and Portland night
and morning with the officials for the breakwater.

lint ens.
EASTER EXHIBITION AT THE BRITISH Museum.
—Mr. Sydney Smirke is actively engaged in decorating in
ooloun the hall and grand staircase in the new British
Museum. It is expected that the work will be completed in
ten daysat the furthest. Great exertions are making that it
mai=a part of the London novelties in Easter week.
TER PRIZE.—The prize of 100/. offered by
the Amociation for the Promotion of the Fine Arts for Scot-
land, for the beat series of designs in outline, illustrative of
interesting events in the history of Scotland, has been awarded
to Mr. R. C. Mous, for illustrations, " Seven events in the
life of Robert Bruce." The other competitors were nume-
rous.