The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-09 00:00:00

del

N.EWSP/4 PER
44,
numbers of persons turned out from. Edinbur -c-,`.iitzr."-Ti.,
the lochs to enjoy the exhilarating er.ercise ' inip..,-.17,41-1)V
i •-• W...,--.--it,, --..1...
ing. Unlike the prervious day, the atmoeph, ..wwfal,-i tr.-A
The
free frim mist, and a clear blue sky impartec. tit 7"
$.
.•44,7
of geniality to the day, which added zistlioig ~ "1
-- • • ~V., -
pastime of the pleasure-seekers who thronged4vAcie, -4-4.-- ',....Z..'_....,
"
frozen waters of Daddingston. The number S
peopleov the loch during the day was fully larger
than on previous days, and there were a great many
ladies, most of whom entered into the sport with
•
much spirit. The ice was in very good condition, .- 1
considering the immense crowds of skaters that '
~i
had ploughed up its surface during the past few
days; but as might have been er.pceted,
considerable annoyance was caused to those
enjoying the recreation which the expanse of the
loch afforded by the large quantity of reeds and
foreign substances of all kinds that was strewed
upon it in every direction. His Royal Highness
Prince Alfred again visited Duddingston Loch yes-
terday forencon, and e!)ent some time in skating.

NETROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORM.

4.

The usual weekty meeting was held yesterdv
the offices of the bJurcl, Spring-gardens— Mr.
Thwaites in the chair.

The cash statement showed that the balences in
the hands of the treasurer on current accounts
amounted to £71,243 2s. SI, on deposit accounts to
£35,122 10s. 91, and in Government securities to
£86,729 Bs. 7d.

A deputation from the Hackney District Board of
Works presented a memorial on the subject of the
proposed new railways within the hackney dis-
trict, and calling the attention of the Board to the
fact that if the lines proposed were sanctioned, it
would very much injure and cut up the district.
The CHAIRMAN said the subject was of great im.
portance, and had given him some anxiety. Tho
engineer was preparing a report on the new rail-
ways, which would soon be presented, when they
would go into the question. However, the interests
of the ratepayers would be carefully watched over
by the Board.
A report from the finance committee was brought
up, to the effect that they were in negotiation for
a loan of £50,000, for the purposes of the Finsbury
Park Act, 1857, at 41 per cent. per annum, for 20

years.
After some discussion the report was adopted,
with an amendment that the money was to be bor•
rowed for 30 years, instead of 20; but if it could
not be obtained for 30 years, then the money was
to be raised for 20 years. _ _

The meeting then went into a committee of the
whole Board on the Thames Embankment, with
reference to the inquiries for Messrs. Ritsou and
Co.'s contract, strangers being excluded.
The committee having deliberated about an hour,

the public were admitted, and a report of the pro-
ceedings of the committee was submitted, to the
effect that the Board had considered a report from
the solicitor as to the substitution of other securi-
ties for Messrs. Rascal and Co.'s contract for the
Thames Embankment from Waterloo-bridge to the
east end of the Inner Temple, than those proposed
by that firm, and the competency of the securities
proposed, and of Messrs. Ritson's competency to
carry out the work, bad been made out to the
complete satisfaction of the board. It was therefore
recommended that the securities be accepted.

After the transaction of some routine business the
Board adjourned.

Daring Escape of a Female Prisoner,

A young woman, named Margaret Godfrey,
escaped from the Town-hall on Tuesday, by extras
ordinary agility and daring. She was in the women's
yard attached to the cells, along with another
woman. The constable who has charge of the cells
was busy swilling the floors of the parade ground
which adjoins, only divided from the women's yard
by a short passage, The efficer had to go into the
women's yard for water, and missed Godfrey, whom
he had seen a few minutes before. The other women
said she was in the water-closet; the officer never sup-
posed for a moment she could possibly have got cut
of the yard. On going again to the yard, some
time afterwards, the officer bacame suspicious, and
called to Godfrey, without receiving any answer.
Farther inquiry proved that she had escaped. The
walls round she yard are surmounted by sharp•
pointed palisades, the height of both being more
than 20ft. A water pipe inns down the side of the
wall next to the men's yard, and affords the only
possible chance of climbing the walls of the women's
yard. To prevent escape by this mode, two rows
of long spikes have been fixed at the junction of this
wall with the more lofty cross waP, which adjoins
a passage leading into Castlregreen. For anybody
wearing petticoats to climb over these spikes seems "
to be impossible ; it is a feat which only a daring
and agile man would attempt. From an examina-
tion of the wall, however, it was clear that the pri.
saner had escaped that way. Her difficulties did -s
not end when she reached the top of the wall ad-
joining
the Castle-green-passage, and climbed over
the high and sharply-pointed palisades fixed on the
top of it. She had then to throw herself down the
other side, a depth of at least 16ft or 17ft, there
being no projections by tho aid of which she could
descend any part of the way before releasing her
hold. She had taken the risk of so deep a fall and
had got away. Feeling sure she could not have ac-
complished the feat without sustaining severe in-
juries, the chief constable directed inquiries to be

made, which resulted in the speedy discovery of the
woman at the Infirmary, where she was under
treatment for severe injury to the spine. She had
been taken there in a cab by a man with whom
she is connected, and it is conjectured that she had
become aware that he was on the other side
of the wall before she attempted to escape.
Possibly the " young gentleman " resorted to
the trick celebrated in so many old stories of
serenading his lady-love, in order to inform her that
he was waiting to receive her. He would probably
try to catch her when she dropped down, but if so
his services were of small avail. Curiously enough,
the dangerous feat was undertaken to secure a very
inadequate object. Men who escape from prison
are generally daring thieves, who have the chance
or certainty of long transportation or penal servi-
tude before them, but Godfrey had been committed
to prison for a month only, as a disorderly prosti-
tute—a punishment which does not generally inspire
much dread in persons of her class.—Shellield Inde.
pendent.

RECENT WILLS AND BEQUESTS.

(From the Illustrated London IVews.)

The will
Park,
ll oyfSirJoh n Spencer Login, Knight, of Lancag-
ter.gteand of Felixstowe, Suffolk, was proved
in London,
had held
under £12,000
inp inioecrsoonnnaelettyn with
b.tis
thecouAntrrmy.y
and
John
civil service in India, and was in the medical service of the
Hon. East India Company, and the guardian of his High•
ness the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, Sir John died in
October last, at his country seat, at the age of 66, having
executed his will the December previous. The executors
and trustees nominated are his relict (Lady Login), his
cousin (Thomas B. Spence), and the testator's two sons,
Edward and Spencer Login, who are in their minority.
' The whole of the property is left to Lady Login, for the
maintenance of herself and children, and is to be divided
equally amongst them upon her decease.
The will of William Shuttleworth, Esq., of Plaistow Hall,
Bromley, and Fenchurch-street, was proved in London,
under £60,000 personalty. The executors are his relict and
Joseph Shuttleworth, Esq., of Hartsholrne, Lincoln, toge-
ther with Henry Thompson, Mincing- lane, and W. Mot el,
Fenchurch-street, both teabrokers. The will bears date
July last, and the testator has directed that his business
should be carried on for the benefit of his estate. To his
wife he has bequeathed an annuity of £2,000 ; the residue
of his property is to be divided amongst his children on the
youngest attaining the ago of 24.
The will of James r, unstone Bunning, Esq., F.S.A., of
GLuoester-terrace, Regent's Park, was proved in the Le!'
don Conn, on the 15:h ult., 'oy his re7ict, the sole. executrix
—.the p:r500011.y SW,,l'll uwh r ..£70,000. The testator
iwas
for many years the architect for the City of London, which
appoirftnent ho retained until his death, in November aeta.
His will was excentr d in April last, and lie
lais bequirineto
hie whole of his property to his wile. for her own a tt u
use anti benefit.

STEAM DOOMED.—Th ere can be no doubt but
the employment of which is
that engines worked by steam,
always attended with so great a less of heat, will eventually
be superseded by air or caloric engines, where there is no ss
by condensation. 'Theoretically, air-engines are perfect, and
the practical difficulties that prevented their adoption are
being overcome.—Intellectual Observer.