The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-08 00:00:00

MISHAPS TO THE ROYAL TRAIN,

The train which conveyed the Queen and Royal fathily
from London to Edinburgh on Thursday last met with a
series of mishaps, which not only resulted in her Ma-
jesty having to change carriages before she reached her
destination, but unhappily, also, in the loss of life. Not-
withstanding the extraordinary precautions taken to pre-
vent even the slightest casualty, it would seem that
shortly after the Royal train left the metropolis it was
found that some of the axles of the carriages, especially
one of the last break van, were not in a satisfactory
state. When the train arrived at Peterborough, one or
two of the axle-boxes were washed out. At Grantham
matters were found to be worse, and a man was then
stationed on the footboards of the train in order to grease
the axles as it was running. At Retford a telegraphic
message was sent to Doncaster to have a fresh break got
in readiness. At Bawtry the train was delayed five
minutes to allow the axles—all of which were over-
heated more or less—time to cool. On reaching Don-
caster the last break of the train was exchanged for a
fresh one, and this operation was not unattended with
►nconvenience, for the people assembled at that sta-
tion, net having anticipated this stoppage, besieged the
State carriage as soon as the train pulled up, and climb-
ing upon engines and tenders which happened to be
standing on the sidings on each flank of the train, and
within a foot ortwo of the windows of the lt,yal Saloon,
indulged their eager curiosity without stint or scruple.
After leaving Doncaster and getting rid of the all-but
ignited break, the state of the axles of some of the other
carriages was sufficient to excite the liveliest anxiety of
the officials in charge of the train and to require the
most constant vigilance. On approaching Darlington
one of the greasers stationed en the foot-boards of the
train unfortunately came in contact with the girder
railing of a small culvert bridge ; the collision knocked
him off the train, and be was so crushed arid mutilated in
his fall that he died soon afterwards. At Darlington her
Majesty, Prince Albert, and the Princess Royal, who oc-
cupied the principal state carriage, were under the ne-
cess►ty of abandoning it, and proceeding for the remainder
of their journey in one of the blue saloon carriages occu-
pied by some of the younger branches of the family.
It was found that the heat of the axles was
so great as to endanger the safety of the carriage. The
real cause of these untoward incidents is involved in
some mystery. The State carriages, which have not
been used since last September, appeared to be quite
safe, in every respect, on their trial journey from Lon-
don to the Great Northern Company's repa►ring depot
at Doncaster, and back again. It is a very unusual
circumstance for an axletree to overheat itself in so short
a distance as that in which the occurrence wasfirst obsers -
ed in this case ; and it is a still more rara circumstance
for several axles of one train to overheat in the course of
one journey. The grease used was of the best quality,
and, we believe, the same as that used during the Royal
journey to Scotland last year. The end of the axle of
the break cast off at Doncaster was nearly worn away ;
the apertures of the brasses through which the grease
should descend were stopped up by the fusion of the
metal, after which, of count), none of the grease could
get into the axle. No doubt a rigid investigation will
be made into all the circumstances of the case at the in-
quest on the body of the unfortunate man whose life
bas been sacrificed. He was a resident of Doncaster,
and has left a wife and three children.

TIE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

AYRSHIRE.—We have been favoured with most de

lightful harvest weather during the last ten days. The
clear sunshine has been of great advantage to the wheat
crop, and the searching breezes which occasionally pre-
vailed have brought the early cut corn into good condi-
tion for stacking. Since the beginning of last week,
farmers have made good progress with the all-important
labour of the season ; but, looking at the county in gene-
ral, we cannot say that the present is a rapid harvest.
As the work goes on, our previous ren.arks on the ap-
pearance of the crops are generally confirmed. The oat
crop everywhere looks lighter in stook than the farmers
anticipated. This is not surprising when we recollect
the rapidity with which it has grown and been matured.
But we are happy to. say that the crop is giving satisfac-
tion in the barn. The general statement is that the
yield is abundant in proportion to the bulk of straw,
and that the quality of the grain is superior. Sufficient
progress has not been made in the thrashing of wheat to
enable us to form an opinion as to the yield ; the crop
looks scarcely so bulky in stook as might have been sup-
posed from its appearance, but we think it will reach a
fair average. Brans are ripening rapidly. They are
early, the pods are plump, and though 'the straw is
generally short, the appearance indicates fully an aver-
age produce.
LINCOLNSHIRE.—Tho harvest in the neighbourhood of
Lincoln is rapidly drawing to a close, the most active
it
exertions having been devoted to the gatheringhas been
and
housing of the wheat. Generally speaking
got in in good condition, and several samples have been
brought to market.
din ly favour-
neighbourhood,BosroN.—Th ethhaervweesatthiserpbroegier;sseixneerapidly in this
a scarcityblfavour-
able.
.per acre is
PThe yield,
Aefcloanhseiudreerarsb.le
Adrsainwebeahckasisa
gexupinerresia.engced in the
said to be in some cases given to reefalthee
crops seem to
and general condition, quality,
Vic., of
agreeing in their
be exceedingly varied,
thinkes t im at
likee s. e e
rThecertainty
nty wheatea cropsen e tw
mo
known,Pu 1
tsests
ebr
te ,
and we fear with
got in before any-
too much truth, that the yield w
touched with
heavy crops are slightly
will be far hem what was
SPALDING.—Growers stoutly
anticipated. The .
the shrivelled thweieseteed with. the wind, they
gprloapideralnd;
havemil mildew,
ewe, t andrip ebeeeidn
l ()ad t
generally speaking, appear-
ance of the kernel. Notwyithstandine. this, the crops are,
sufficient yg o o prove very re-
been secured in sp en 1 n i ion.—,tamford
munorative to the farmer,. alndd.ad seat deal of corn has
already
Mercury.
DIICESTEIL—The harvest in this neighbourhood is be.
ing fast got in. Most of the wheat crops have been
carried, notwithstanding a complaint of the scaalrtehiotyugohf
°annel'ast year's.
sboamndesp.
arTtihese
eysiteilmdaistecoitnsaisdemrendehanlitgtvhetreargteh
—Stamford 3i Cl'CUry.

THE PARIS EXHIBITION—A notice has been published
by the Imperial Commission of the University Exhibi-
tion, to the effect that in consequence of the shortening
of the days the hours of admission are is follows :—On
and after Sunday next the doors will be opened at half-
past nine instead of nine, and closed at half-past five in-
etaad of six. From the 20th October next the hours
Ira be I:om t,:b to iv).