The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 6, 1855.

into a contract for setting up 20,000 muskets; but the
sights were not ordered till the middle of March. With
respect to the 90,000 order, it was not till the 22d of June
that any part of the barrels were ordered. The first order
for locks was issued on the 30th of June, but the patterns
were n )t, delivered for two months later. A quan-
tity of bayonets were ordered on the 10th of July,
but the patterns were not delivered till the 11th of
A.u*east. The rammers were ordered en the 30th June,
but the patterns were not delivered till October. An order
for 3),000 bayonets was issued on the 7th of August, and
part of the contract was to be executed on the let of Sep-
tember. The pattern was not delivered till that day. And
yet the Board of Ordnance came down and told the house
that the arms trade could not supply them. (Hear.) The
country owed a debt of gratitude to the hon. member for
Birmingham for devoting himself to facilitate the produc-
tion of arms. Day by day, during the past year, he had
been employed merely in removing the difficulties which
the Board of Ordnance created against their arms supply ;
and there could be no doubt that but for those difficulties,
Birmingham, which had actually produced from 40,000
to 50,000 stand of arms within the year, or about double
what Sir Thomas Hastings had called the maximum of
its productions, would have produced 100,000. (Hear,
hear.) He was sorry to say that only a slight change
had been made in the Government system. Formerly
there were but four contractors employed to set up
the arms. The Government were induced to appoint 13
mere, who received an order to make a quantity of mus-
kets on the 27th of November. The 17 together employed
all the labourers in Birmingham. But in January there
was another contractor appointed. He was not a gun-
maker at all, but a sword-maker; aud, of course, he had
not a single tradesman fit for employment in his new occu-
pation. He could only do one thing, which was to entice
away the workmen of the other contractors ; and that the
Government called expediting their supply of small arms.
In short, an utter want of business management, and a total
neglect of every commercial principle, appeared in the
transactions of the Board of Ordnance with the trade.
Those whose duty it was to decide the patterns knew nothing
about gunmaking ; while, as to the inspection of small arms,
he would content himself with mentioning one fact. A late
inspector, finding that he could not defeat the Birmingham
traders by issuing impracticable instructions, actually had
crooked sights put on the 20,000 Minie rifles which were
now in the hands of our soldiers in the Crimea ; and had
it not been for the traders of Birmingham, the troops
would have left England with those inefficient arms.
(Cries of " Name.") The Government had now got an
efficient inspector; but Mr. Sumner was not properly in-
structed by the Ordnance Department. They required
him to visit all the manufactories in which Government
contracts were executed; but his proper place was else-
where. What they wanted was a first-rate workman—
which he believed Mr. Sumner was—always in the view-
ing-room in Birmingham, to be a referee between the
workman and the viewer ; but it would be absurd to ex-
pect him to perform that duty and travel through the
country too. Every foreign Government—every important
commercial house—had a well-qualified commissioner to
watch the progress of trade. This was exactly what the
Board of Ordnance required. At present their whole
connection with the arms trade was a mass of confu-
sion. There was no inability on the part of the trade.
They had produced within the last year double the
maximum assigned by Sir Thomas Hastings; and if the
Board of Ordnance employed a business man to regu-
late and conduct their connection with the manufac-
turers, they might depend upon it that they had in Eng-
land, available now, an arms trade far superior to any ma-
nufactory which they might themselves establish. (Hear.)
One hon. member had said that there was no machinery
employed in the construction of arms in this country.
Now, the most perfect machinery for making the barrel
was used at Birmingham, and that machinery was applied
to every part of the construction of the rifle except the
stock, and, by the showing of Mr. Anderson, it failed so
far as the stock was concerned, because such a pattern was
insisted upon that no machinery could be applied to it.
There was as much machinery employed as was consistent
with profit and the manufacture of the kind of arm insisted
upon. It was said that arms could not be made in England,
and therefore they must be obtained from abroad. Now, if
the Government had been content with an arm serviceable,
strong, with a good lock, but without any fancy finish, they
might have obtained double the quantity they were now re-
ceiving ; but when they insisted upon an expensive pattern
great impediments were thrown in the way. The plan
which had been adopted was not calculated to meet the
emergency of the war, but the truth was there existed a
determination to take the supply of arms from the trade
of England, and ho could not understand why, except from
a professional jealousy, it was the determination of the beard
to have the matter in their own hands. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. MONSELL said ho had heard many statements
frein the hon. member which were utterly unfounded. The
accusation made against tbo Ordnance was this. It was
stated that they insisted on having a most elaborately
finished gun, with a great deal of artistic devices, which
were utterly useless, and that that was the reason they had
been placed in their present position. Now the board had
consulted Mr. Westley Richards, who suggested certain
alterations, and those alterations were adopted by the
board. (Hear, hear.) A short time ago he was waited
upon by the chairman of the Gnnmakers' Association at
Birmingham, and another gentleman connected with
the town, and when he asked them if they had any-
thing to find fault with, they said " no," and yet the
hon. member was trying to raise a cry against the Govern-
ment by denouncing their dealing with the trade of Bir-
mingham, and thereby endeavouring to induce the com-
mittee to reject a measure which was of the highest import-
ance to the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Anderson and two
other gentlemen had examined the manufacturers in Ame-
rica, and had presented a most elaborate report, and he
had no doubt that by adopting their recommendations mus-
kets could be made as correct as the Minie rifle, at ono-half
the expense of that instrument. (Hear.) There would be
no real opposition between the manufactory and the gun
, trade of the country. From the number of arms required
the gun trade of Birmingham need not be afraid of having
their orders stopped for many years, and he had informed
them that the Government would receive as many muskets
as they could make. It had been stated that the proper
number of muskets had not be ea delivered because the pat-
tern was not given in time. Now, every one of the gun-
makers had the proper materials pet into their hands.
He wished to impress this fact upon the committee, that
machinery to the extent of 26,0001. had been ordered,
17,0001. of which was American machinery, and 9,0001.
machinery produced in this country. The contract had
been made, and the committee was now called upon to re-
ject a vote, the effect of which rejection would be to leave
the machinery without any factory for its reception. He
believed the establishment of this factory would have the
effect not of stifling the gun trade of Birmingham, but of
setting them an example, and inducing them to employ the
best kind of machinery ; and he asked the committee, by
a large majority, to sanction a measure which he believed
to be of the highest importance to the country, and place
it in a position to create a large number of muskets at any
time with great rapidity. (Hear.)
Mr. NE WDEGA.TE, in reference to the recommendation
of Mr. Richards, to which the hon. member had alluded,
said that the sight used was not made according to the pat-
tern of Mr. Richards.
Lord SE YMOUR said the hon. member (Mr. Monsell)
was defending a department which had been condemned
both by the house and the Government.
Mr. JOHN M`GREGOR objected to the Government
becoming manufacturers. He said that. Lord Palmerston
had, in the formation of his Government, been more un-
fortunate than was ever any other Prime Minister.
Lord PALMERSTON had heard with great sarprise and
astonishment the opposition which had been made to this
vote. We were engaged in a war which, by universal con-
sent, it required the greatest exertion to conduct with suc-
cess. It was well known that owing to various circumstances
we had for some years suffered from a great deficiency in the
supply of small arms for the army. A proposal was made for
the establishment of a factory which would not probably at
any early period enable the Ordnance to furnish the num-
ber required, but which would contribute to furnish our
army with an excellent weapon, and which might probably
in course of time render them independent of other sources
of supply, or at all events enable them to command those
sources on moderato and reasonable terms. And a t
this moment, when we required every exertion possible
to furnish our army and militia with arms, when it was
well known that in Ireland some regiments of militia were
doing duty with broomsticks—(a laugh)—for want of mus-
kets to put into their hands—hon. gentlemen got up, and,
upon various pretences, endeavoured to prevent the country
Irene having the advantage of the establishment which this
vote was extended to afford. Of all reasons on earth, the
reason of his noble friend behind him (Lord Seymour)
seemed to him the weakest he could possibly imagine. He
forsooth refused the vote because tho Government was going
to reorganise the Ordnance Department, to improve its or-
ganisation, aud to make arrangements by which errors and
delays which had occurred at former periods might be
prevented. For that very reason, because the depart.
ment was going to be made more efficient, and morn
capable of performing the public service with prompti-
tude end accuracy, his noble friend objected to the vote
which was now proposed. NV hat would he have said if
the contrary had been the case ; if the Government had
said that the department of which he complained was
perfect, and wanted no improvement ; if they had
announced to the house that they were net going to
snake ;ley alteration or any improvement in the arrange-
snout of the civil department ? His noble friend would
then have tin ned upon them and said, " Then Irefuse you
the vote. You won't improve your system • you won't
make a better organisation of the executive departments
which are to carry this service into practice, and therefore
I refuse." Now, because they were going to do the very
things which he had urged to do, he made that a reason for
refusing t.) the public the advantage of the establishment
which they asked the house to give them the means of pro-
viding. (Hear.) He (Lord Palmerston) did trust that the
house would rise superior to these miserable quibbles.
(Chews and counter cheers.) He trusted it would net
allow itself to bo made the victim of local interests—
(cheers)—or of interests connected with particular places
and particular branches of trade. 'We wanted all sources
of supply which we could possibly obtain. 'We wanted
all that Birmingham could afford us. We had been
obliged to have recourse to Liege to assist us in obtaining
what we required. We had been compelled to go to the
United States of America to procure an additional supply,
and he did think that that house would not be performing
the duty which it owed to the nation if it refused that
which his hon. ftiend now asked for the purpose of estab-
iishing that which weuhl be only a very partial and expe-
rimental establishment for the supply of arms. Did his
noble friend (Lord Seymour) imagine that the 25,0001.
which was voted last year was enough to establish a manu-
factory of arms ? It was only a sum upon account. No man
could imagine that for 25,0001. you could have erected an
establishment which would have afforded you the menus
of ascertaining whether you could make arms at a cheaper
rate than was charged by the private trade. He did hope
that the statement of nis hon. friend would be sufficient to
induce the house to accede to this vote, and that the Go-
vernment would not, at a time when it requires! every ex-
ertion to furnish our army, cur militia, and our colonies
with arms, be turned round and deprived of the means of
supply which the establishment now proposed would afford.
Nr. H. BAILLIE wished to know whetherthe contracts
for forage for the army had been made by the Ordnance
Department or the Treasury?
Mr. MONSELL replied that the Ordnance had been
made use of by the Treasury for- the purchase of some
oats; but that was all it had to do with the forage.
Lord PALMERSTON said the commissariat department
was responsible for the supply of forage.
Mr. MUNTZ persevered in his amendment. The noble
lord (Lord Palmerston) seemed to intimate that he was
supporting seine local interest at the expense of the coun-
try. He denied this was the case. No man was more
sincerely anxious to promote the public interest than he
pthrievlaatteteirn. interest came into cel -
7;:ctsl:dftehe ndiSaEatwYl:whAtaealnynOvspUsußabclrdiicifidac nenddo t wish to embarrass the Govern-
!nee u.st , and
na s he
suo‘tnvesdrienrtsot
favouroohdisthqoa
ettshhteei
amendment.t
question
onfe money hh aa dt been spent
done towards the establishment of this factory, hadHa I
db hadehe been

must therefore suppose that the Ordnance had done so
little that it could not be stated.
Mr. MUNTZ s.iit. it was b.;c3.vie the o... Nance ‘lcp::rt-
went had spent money which they had no right to expend
that lie proposed the reduction of the vote.

For the vote
Agaitist
Majority
The vote was therefore agreed to

170
. 31
.--133

The next vote was of 22,34 G officers and non-commis-
sioned officers and men for the servica of her Majesty iu
the several Ordnance corpa and departments for the service
at home and abroad during the year 1855-SG.
Mr. W. WILLINMS complained that the sum of up-
ward 3 of one million had been expended during the last
and present years in barracks. He was glad to hear that
the vote for the Ordnance-office was to be withdrawn, and
he was sure that a great amount of saving might be effected
by the consolidation of that office and the Commissariat
Department with the office of the Secretary at War.
Colonel GILPIN said as the question bad turned upon
barracks, he wished to ask whether any arrangements had
been made for the better accommodation of married men in
barracks ? Ho believed that they were still is the same
disgraceful state which he had pointed out last year. He
was sure the public would agree to any sum to lodge there
men in a manner more consistent with decency and with
their comfort.

Captain SCOBELL said ho had seen a most excellent
suggestion for floating hospitals. There were a great many
line-of-battle ships lying useless inurdinary, which might
be easily ventilated, and made otherwise available for the
purpose.
Mr. M. SMITH urged upon the Government the neces-
sity of adopting a better system of ventilation in the medi-
cal hospitals.
Mr. OTWAY wished to know if, on the formation of
the camp at Aldershot, it was intended to exercise the
troops in the construction of huts ? He thought that, in-
stead of employing labourers iu constructing the huts, ten
thousand men might bo exorcised in constructing them.
Colonel KNOX would like to know where the hon. mem-
ber would get his ten thousand soldiers ? Why, they were
not in existence. _

Mr. MONSELL said these huts were wooden barracks,
and if taken proper care of, they would last a long time.
They would be partiedlarly useful in respect to the nasve-
ments of tho militia in Ireland.

Mr. OT WAY could not see why ten thousand men
should not be empleyed at Aldershot constructing the huts.
Mr. MONSELL said the reason was that they would be
too much occupied learning the goose step.
The vote was agreed to.
The vote of 1,117,8131., to pay allowances and contin-
gencies for the Ordnance, was agreed to.
On the vote of 1,460,817/. for commissariat and foreign
supplies,

•
Colonel KNOX thought the sum of 90,0001. for clothing
the foreign legion, which existed only in the imagination
of the Government, was a large one. With respect to the
great coats served to the army nothing could be more use-
less. The cloth was little hatter than baize. He did not
know if they were surveyed ; but if so, the person who
surveyed them should be dismissed. They were disgraceful
to the country, and a fraud on the soldier.
Mr. MONSELL took the same view as the gallant mem-
ber of the great coats. They wore not made of the sort of
cloth they ought to be, and they were altogether out of
the pattern. The real fact was they were made as light
as possible.
Lord W. GRAHAM called attention to the shell-jacket,
out of which the Ordnance had struck the lining.
Lord ELCHO drew the attention of the Government to
a process by which the lightest tweeds were rendered wa-
terproof. He had observed that on very cold days the
soldiers here were on sentry in their red coats ; whereas
when the weather grew warmthey had on their grey coats.
Why had they not their great coats hung up in their sen-
try boxes, like the soldiers in foreign countries ?
Mr. PERCY complained of the wretched parsimony in
the making of the coats. From Gid. to 10d. was the price
paid for making the coats, and it was impossible they
could be well made.

Mr. E. BALL said it was exceedingly scandalous that
our soldiers, who had undertaken such arduous duties in
the Crimea, should be supplied with such wretched coats,
after the enormous sum. voted by the country for supply-
ing them with proper requisites.
Colonel. DUNNE thought the quality of clothing for the
soldiers was disgraceful, except in the Guards and some
other favoered corps.
Lord ELMO called attention to the ammunition boots
sent to the Crimes, which were much too small for the
men ; they were also objectionable on account of having
smooth soles without nails.

Mr. MILES sai.l another objection to the boots was, that
they were so badly put together that the soles separated
from the body of the boots. There wore several items taken
in the estimates for the foreign legion, but he understood
there was not a man yet raised for it. He wished, there-
fore, to know whether it was the intention of the Govern-
moat to take up the Turkish contingent as the foreign
legion. At present the latter was an imaginary body, but
he should have no objection to vote the 90,000'. for the
Turkish contingent, which he believed would be a really
effective auxiliary form._

Lord PALMERSTON assured the hon. gentleman that
no money would bo spent on the foreign legion if it should
not be raised ; but the Turkish contingent was totally
different from the foreign legion.
Mr. MONSELL repeated the explanation he had before
given respecting the size of the boots seat out to the
Crimea, but observe! that the ammunition boots were not
supplied by the Ordnance.
The vote was thee agreed to.
On the vote of 303,149/. for establishments at home and
abroad,

Sir J. ANDERSON expressed a hope that the establish-
ments at home would be used fur lodging the militia. The
inhabitants of Stirling had the militia billetted on them ;
though there was accommodation for them in the Castle
Barrcks.

Mr. COWAN obtorved that great dissatisfaction pre-
vailed among a certain portion of his constituents, upon
whom fell the burden of providing lodging for the militia.
Lord PALMERSTON said, that ho thought it highly
desirable, wherever it vies possible, that the militia should
pa
it3rithi
oen
o f. beginningthe mi
iotfi
al ahastd ybeeaern Icvael sl e odn
out
u rte. ason why
be in berracks ; and that the defieiency of such accommo-
odialtY'iLailvote was then agreed to ; as was that of 368,8721. for
wages of artilicere, labourers, and others employed at the
several establishments in the united kingdom and the
colonies.
On the vote of 2,792,3481. for Ordnance stores for the
land and sea service,
Mr. MUNTZ moved as an amendment that tho vote be
reduced by 40,0001., being the item for the small-arm fac-
tory at Enfield.
Lord SE YMOUR recommended the hon. gentleman, after
the expression of opinion upon the 15,000/. vote, not to
divide the committee; but oomplaiued that the Govern-
ment had not had the courtesy to state what progress had
been made with the building, and when it was likely that
some arms would be produced.
Mr. MONSELL said that he hoped to be able to com-
mence the manufacture about the beginning of July. A
great portion of the American machinery had already ar-
rived, and the building would soon be completed.
Mr. H. HERBERT called attention to the fact that the
Irish Militia were without arms, and narrated a circum-
stance which had occurred in his own county. Not having
received any printed forms, his regiment had sent a requi-
sition for arms to the Qaarter-Master General in Dublin,
in manuscript. That officer sent it back to the general of
the district, stating that the requisition ought to have gone
through him (the general of the district), and that he could
take no notice of any that was not printed. The general of
the district, therefore, transmitted it to him (Mr. Her-
bert). He had to send to London for a printed requisition
to apply for arms ; and the consequence was that two
months had passed by, and the regiment had not got a
single musket. In the meantime the general of the dis-
trict had ordered his regiment to sappy men for sentry
duty, and they were actually keeping sentry with sticks in
their hands. (A laugh.) Thoughery effectively employed
a shillelagh might be a
national weapon, and "night be v
at times, yet he thought that a limited supply of " Old
Brown Boss" would be desirable. (ffear, hear.)
Mr. MAGUIItE moved that the chairman 'report pro-
gress.

Mr. NEWDEGATE hoped, if the vote were passed, that
the noble lord at the head of the Government would take
immediate steps to assure the trade that he did not intend
to supersede them ; otherwise the vote would do more to
shake their confidence than anything that could be done.
Mr. MUNTZ expressed his determination to divide upon
his amendment.
Lord PALMERSTON hoped the hon. member (Mr.
Maguire) Would not insist upon reporting progress, but
take the discussion on the report.
Mr. MAGUIRE was only anxious to have the subject
discussed, and, on the understanding that another oppoi-
tunity would be given for that purpose, would withdraw
his amendment.
Mr. SCHOFIELD contended that this was not a mere
Birmingham question' but ono affecting the country at
large. Tile gun trade formed a very small fraction of the
trade of Birmingham, and it was not on account of the
supposed interests of Birmingham, but because he believed
the Government could not piovide themselves so well with
arms as private manufacturers could do, that he was op-
posed to this vote.
Mr. WALPOLE said, there existed a misapprehension
that on account of the resolution come to by the committee
last year, the Government had been prevented from obtain-
ing as large a supply of arms as otherwise they would have
done, but believed that had the vote baeu carried last
year it would have been imposjlle to establish the manu-
factory in time to provide the necessary supply of arms.
Mr. 3IONSELL said the right hon. gentleman was per-
fectly right in his corolusion. It would have been impos-
sible for Government to manufacture the arms required in
any circumstances.
The committee divided, and the numbers were-7_

24
110
Majority -86
The vote was then agreed to, and the house resumed.
The report on the Army Estimates was brought up ari
egrood to.
The second reading of tho Newspaper and Postage aid
Stnup Duties Bill was postponed till Friday next.
The Tea Duties Decline Suspension Dill was read a
second tithe.

For the amendment
Against... .........

The Ecclesiastical Courts Bill passed through committee.
The house adjourned at 1 o'clock.

ASSISTANT-SURGEONS' of TILE NAVY.—At a general
meeting of the students of the London Hospital, held
yesterday, Dr. Andrew Clark in the chair, resolutions
were agreed to in reference to the present condition of
the assistant-surgeons of the navy. The first resolution
was to the effect that their pesitir n was derogatory to
the best interests of the service, and the second suggested
to the Admiralty that it should follow the example set
by the India Board in the distribution of their medical
appointments. The third resolution was that the meet-
ing viewed with alarm the present policy of the Admi-
ralty in employing unqualified men as dressers in the
Baltic fleet, thus following the example already set by
the sister service in the case of the Scutari dressers, who
are now performing the duties of assistant-surgeons.

[ADVERTISEMENT.]-11olloway's Ointment and Pills
extraordinarY,medicines for the cure of bait legs.—Mr.
Wm. Hill, of Exeter, had for upwards cf three years an
ulcerated kg of a roost fearful description, which defied
the best medical skill to heal, having been in Guy's Hos-
pital, King's College, and the Devon and Exeter Hos-
pitals. Each pronounced it incurable, and the only
remedy he could obtain would be to have it amputated.
Notwithstanding these opinions, he made a trial of Hol-
loway's ointment and pills, which effected more good
in a few days than ad the treatment ho had heretofore
received, and subsequently the wounds on his leg were
completely healed. Sold by all venders of medicine,
and at Professor Holloway's Establishments, 244, Strand,
London, and 80, Maiden-lane, Now York.

ARMY BEFORE SEBASTOPOL COM-
JIII7'TE

(Continued from our first edition of yesterday.)

Mr. Daudas, M.P., was the. first witness examined,
but his evidence did not go beyond statements he had
already made in a speech in the house as to the results
of his observations on a visit he paid to Dalaklava and
the camp in December last—and had reference chiefly
to the defective supply of forage, clothing, food, and
fuel to the camp, and the sickness and mortality amongst
the troops. The disadvantAgeous position of the burial
grounds, and the neglect and mortality of the cavalry
horses were also amongst the substance of the matter
elicited.

General Sir De Lacy Evans was then examined by
the chairman. He stated that he joined the army at
Scutari, and remained there some time. When he joined
a proportion of the army had already landed. The men
were:comfortably provided for during transport,and when
they arrived at Varna the mon were well, and did not
become sick after landing. Ho did not know when they
embarked at Varna where they were going►,
although, from circumstances that occurred, he
had no doubt that they were going to attack the
enemy somewhere in the north. The state of his
division was by no means bad at that time, but
still there was a certain amount of depression of spirits
amongst the troops, arising from the circumstance of
their having been so long inactive. He arrived at Varna
on the 18th June, and remained there until the Ist Sep-
tember, during which time he moved his camp three or
four times. He thought it was on the 12th or 13th Septem-
ber that he arrived at Eupatoria. Some of the battalions
had knapsacks, but he believed the majority had not. An
order was issued from head-quarters, but there was a
great deal of irregularity about the matter. The Battle
of the Alma took place on the 17th or 18th of Septem-
ber, but he did not accurately remember. The French
took similar means to ours for the care of the wounded,
but he did not think they were so long in making the
necessary provisions as the English. We managed to
get up the tents by the 29th September. The weather
was fine, but the nights were cold, and the troops
suffered much in consequence. The fuel became
very damp. There was brushwood, which, in fine wea-
ther, was available for fuel, but when it rained it became
perfectly useless. No firewood was served out to the
troops. The clothing of the troops was becoming very
indifferent when he left. After a succession of com-
plaints of various kinds, he succeeded in getting new
clothing for his troops. The gentlemen sent out to con-
duct the commissariat department were utterly incom-
petent to their duty. Altercations consequently arose,
and at length he had the good fortune to get a
competent man in the person of Mr, Power, and
efficient officers were afterwards attached to his di-
vision, which accounted for its favourable condition in
comparison with others. He could not say that there
was any great deficiency in the medical department. He
had frequently known his horses to be without food for
a day in consequence of the difficulty of getting receipts
signed—a form which was observed with great strict-
ness. He was not one of those who believed

that Varna was a very unhealthy place. Of
course, if large masses of troops were brought

together in any spot in hot weather disease must

follow. In reference to the French transports, they
were very far inferior to our own—indeed there was no
comparison between them.

At ten minutes before four o'clock it was announced
that the Speaker was at prayers, and the inquiry was

adjourned.

FRIGHTENED TO DEATH.

That the popular belief in ghosts is not extinct, even
in a large town like Sheffield, is proved by a tragic cir-
cumstance of recent occurrence. It was currently re-
ported in Campo-lane, at the latter end of last week, that
a ghost, " all in white," had made its appearance in the
house of John Favell, who lives in Campo-lane, a little
beyond the parish church. The story was genuine thus
far, that a young woman, named Harriet Ward, who
lodged at Favell's house, affirmed in the most solemn
manner that she had seen an apparition in the cellar-
kitchen. This assertion was made with such an air of
credibility that the other inmates in the house—Favell,
his wife, and the wife's sister—could not altogether
disbelieie it, though they had no visual evidence of its
truth. Favell had heard strange sounds, however,
which he thought might have had their origin in super-
natural agency. On Saturday evening they felt so much
concerned on account of the ghostly presence that, for
the sake of greater security, a friend of the family, a man
named Robert Rollinoon, who lodged in court No. 24,
South-street; Park, was requested to spend the night at
Favelni house. Being neither ,superstitions nor timid,
Rollinson acquiesced. He,and the other persons went
to bed in due time, and Rollinson reported on the Sun-
day morning that he bad seen nothing extraordinary,
but towards morning had heard a strange noise that he
could not account for. He returned home to breakfast,
having first received an invitation for himself and wife to
dine with the Favells. His wife and the family with
whom they lodged were very inquisitive about the
ghost, but Rollinson assured them that he had seen
nothing of it. - His wife at once accepted the invita-
tion to dinner, and seemed to regard the apparition-
story as a pleasant jest. Sbe little knew that within a
few hours it would prove her death. She and her hus-
band kept their appointment at Favell's, and remained
to spend the rest of the day there. It should be here
stated, as a circumstance which may throw some light
on this strange affair, that all the parties concerned—
bxcept, perhaps, the ghost, of whose creed nothing is
known—were members of the community called Latter-
day Saints, whose congregational meetings are held at,
the Hall of Science, Rockingham-street. To this place
Favell and his family and friends repaired on Sunday
afternoon, leaving in their house Mrs. Favell's sister,
Mrs. Rollinson and Mrs. Johnson (the person at whose
house in South-street the Rollinsons lodged). On
the return of the party who had gone to the Hall of
Science, they were accompanied by several acquain-
tances, who had heard of the apparition and perhaps felt
curious to know more about it. Harriet Ward was elo-
quent on the subject of the vision, and several of the
visitors went into the cellar-kitchen to see the ghostly
residence and the precise spot where it had been seen.
A. number of persons had assembled in front of the
house, understanding that the ghost was "on view,"
anxious to have a peep for nothing ; but Mrs. Favell,
feeling annoyed at seeing so many individuals prying
at the kitchen window, requested her sister to fasten
a temporary blind against it with two forks. The
sister, however, had net courage to perform the
task, although several individuals had already
gone down into the kitchen, preceded by Harriett
Ward with a lighted candle. It was at this mo-
ment that Mrs. Rollinson's disbelief in ghostly mani-
festations exhibited itself in full force. " Pooh, pooh !"
she exclaimed, rather impatiently, "Give mo the forks
child !" and immediately she descended into the kitchen
to hang up the blind. She bad not been there many mo-
ments when, looking in the direction of the stairs down
which she had descended, she became suddenly terror-
stricken, and seizing the arm of her friend, Mrs. Johnson
with a convulsive grasp, exclaimed in broken ascents,
"Oh, Mrs. Johnson, I saw somethingon the steps ! Take
me away 1" This unexpected incident imparted a re-
ality to the occasion which perhaps few present had ex-
pected. Mrs. Rollinson, in an agony of terror, was
conreyed up the steps, and immediately afterwards
fainted. After a while her consciousness returned,
but for a brief interval, and she assured her friends,
in the most earnest and solemn manner, that she had
seen on the stairs a female form, dressed in white
apparel, and that it approached and rushed past
her. The fact of no one else having seen it made no
difference to her. She believed the evidence of her eye-
sight in that instance as she had been accustomed to do
on ordinary occasions, and probably nothing could have
shaken her conviction that she had seen a spectre.
Again she relapsed into a state of unconsciousness, in
which condition she was removed in a cab to her lodg-
ings, and died there about noon on Monday. Her death
had certainly been caused by the fright that she
received on the previous day, up to which time
she was in perfect health and spirits ; and her friends
concur in stating that she was by no means of a timid
disposition. A coroner's inquest was held on Tuesday,
in consequence of the poor woman's sudden death. The
bard-headed matter-of-fact jury could make nothing of
the ghost story, so they returned a verdict of " Sudden,
but natural death." We are unable to add that this ver-
dict has had the effect of exterminating the superstitious
feelings that the tragic incident of Sunday last, an-I the
ruinocrs which preceded it, have awakened.—adield
Times,