The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-07 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH,
CROYDON.

The church of St. John the Baptist, at Croydon,
was on Saturday night almost totally destroyed by fire.
The sacred edifice is situated inl the lower 'portion of the
town, at the end of Church-street, near to the old palace
of the Archbishops of Canterbury, and was of remote, if
not unknown antiquity. It has always been regarded as
one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture in
Surrey. The building was surmounted by a lofty tower
of flint and stone, and the pillars and arches in the inte-
rior formed a splendid arcade. In the chancel were some
monuments of remarkable antiquity and beauty, and
among them those of Archbishops Sheldon, Grindon, and
Whitgift. Archbishop Sheldon's monument in marblei
was considered one of the most perfect pieces of sculp-
ture in the country. Only a short time since the interior
of the church was restored and beautified at a very large
expense. The Rev. John George Hodgson was rector,
and the congregation was an extremely large one upon
all occasions. So sudden and disastrous was the progress
of the fire when discovered, that in a few minutes
after the outbreak the entire edifice was in such a de-
structive blaze that all hopes of saving it were unfor-
tunately dissipated. The fire, which is supposed to have
originated from the overheating of a flue near the com-
munion table for Sunday service, was first discovered
at about half-past 10 o'clock. As speedily as possible the
engine of the Croydon Volunteer }ire Brigade was upon
the spot, but, owing to a dangerous economy in turning
off the water from the reservoirs at night, a considerable
time elapsed before any supply could be obtained. When
the load board's engine arrived it was found to be useless,
owing to its machinery being frozen. A strong wind was
blowing during the raging of the tire, and it is certain that
but for many of the surrounding buildings being covered
with snow, immense damage might have been done to ad-
jacent property. So rapid was the spread of the flames
that in en hour the building was a complete ruin, nothing
but the almost calcined walls and the tower being left
standing. The parish papers and the communion plate
were saved, but it is needku to add that the monumental
sculpture is sadly mutilated.

THE END OF THE CHANCERY VACATION.—To-
day the offices of the Chancery Courts will be re-opened,
and the numerous winding-up matters be heard in the re-
spective courts. On }'ridgy, being the first day of term,
the courts will resume their sittings. The attars in Chan-
cery are inconsiderable.
UNFOUNDED CHARGE. —On Saturday at the
Croydon Petty Sessions, Charles Gregson Cowliahaw
appeared to answer a summons taken out by Mathes
Houle, a girl between 13 and 14 years of age, for in-
decently assaulting her in a railway carriage on the 22nd
of December. The proeecutrix had been domestic servant
in defendant's family, and on her being discharged he, at
the request of his wife, took the girl to Bromley, having
previously written to her brother to meet her at the
station. She stated that they travelled alone from Croydon
to Norwood Junction, there to Beckenham, and thence to
Bromley, changing carriages at each place, and that during
the whole journey he kept hugging and kissing her, and
also behaved meet indecently. She cried the whole of
the way, but never complained to anyone, though she
saw the station-master at two of the places, and was in the
waiting-room at Beckenham for half an hour. Besides
that she saw several people on the various platforms. She
persistently adhered to Der averment that nu one travelled
in either of the carriages but herself and the defendant.
He walked a mile and • half with her towards Down, a
village near Brumley, where her brother lived, and he had
his arm round her neck, and kept kissing her all the way.
In cross-ezatn•nation by Mr. Bury Hutchinson, solicitor,
who defended, the prosecutrii said she had made
a similar false charge against her cousin about
18 months since, and that her uncle who adopted
her had turned her out of the house on that
account. For the defence numerous witnesses were
called, who proved that there were several persons in the
same compartment of the carriages in which the defendant
and the girl travelled; that, so far from there being any
appearance of her crying, she was talkative to the porters,
and laughing at Beckeulnun about some holly she had in
her hand, and almost all her statements upon minor de-
tails as to time, &c., were entirely and completely contra-
dicted. Her uncle, a very respectable farmer at Dane-
hill, near Lewes' was also called for the defence, and
denied the girl's statement as to her cousin, and said he
had heard of it for the first time in the last week. The
chairman said the bench were unanimous in their opinion
that there was not the slightest foundation for the:charge,
and the defendant would leave the court without the
slightest stain on his character.
fHE AMERICAN RACING YACHT HENRIETTA.—
The builder of the Henrietta (Mr. Steers) is au English-
man. His father was a shipwright in Plymouth Dock-
yard, and hie emigration to America was brought about
under circumstances somewhat peculiar. A Hr. Thomas
was employed as an officer in the above-named dockyard.
An American frigate came into Plymouth Sound, and the
captain and chief officer lodged at Mr. Thomas's house. He
(Mr. Thomas) was a clever draughtsman and shipwright.
The Americans were quick to discover his talent. The
result was that he was engaged with a Mr. Merritt, also
an officer of Plymouth Dockyard, to proceed to America,
where they were made master shipwrighta. Knowing the '
ability of Mr. Steers, Mr. Thomas wrote to England, and
engaged him to go out. His (Mr. Steen') son commenced
yacht building on his own account, and constructed many
splendid vessels.—Nouthameem Times.
THE ROYAL INFIRMARY, CITY-ROAD.—SinCe the
foundation of this hospital for all chest diseases, 69,911
cases have been admitted. The number under treatment
last week was 406. Acute cases are received for in-door
treatment without any letter of admission. The winter
is already being felt, and public benevolence alone can help
the hospital to keep with the claims on its resources.
HOSPITAL MY DISEASIB OF THE CHEST, V ICTORIA•
?MIL —The number of patients relieved at this institution
daring last week was 1 001, of which 172 were new cases.
hiSTIWPOLITAN YAM HOSPITAL, DEYON.HIetf
sgMARs, Cree—The swept* number of patients relieved
during the week ending Jan. 5 was—Medical, 156; ear-
gical, 387 ; total, 943, of which 430 were sew easy