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

-4,--e-4.-4-1,9

numbers of persons turned out from Edinbuf 47:4.73
•-• r;
the lochs to enjoy the exhilarating exercise prkiKatt;
ing. Unlike the previous day, the atmospli464444.a7iiit__ • f 3
free from mist, and a clear blue sky impart
of geniality to the day, which added zssix,,tarite42,:,,, .6/4:
pastime of the pleaEure-seekers who thronga. fb
frozen waters of Duddingston. The number tr 11
y2ople on 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,
considering the immense crowds of skaters that
had ploughed up its surface during the past few
days; but as might have been expected,
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. H's Royal Highness
Prince Alfred again visited Duddingeton Loch yes-
terday forencon, end spent some time in skating.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

The usual weekly meeting was held yesterday at
ae offices of the blarci, Spring-gardens— Mr.
'hwaites in the chair.

The cash statement showed that the balences in
the bands of the treasurer on current accounts
amounted to X 71,243 2s. Bd., on deposit accounts to
£35,122 10s. 9d., and in Government securities to
£86,729 Bs. 7d.

A deputation from the Hackney D;strict 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. The
engineer was preparing a report on the new rail-
ways, which would soon he 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
Palk- Act, 1857, at 4 per cent. per annum, for 20
years. _ _

After some discussion the report was adopted,
with an amendment that the money was to be bor4
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. Ritson and.
Co.'s contract, strangers being excluded.
The committee having deliberated about an hour,

the public were admitted, and a report of the pro.
ceedin,qs 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. Ritson 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, had 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, nemed Margaret Godfrey,
escaped from the Town-hall on Tuesday, by extra-
ordinary agility and daring. She was in the women's
yard attached to the cella, along with another
woman. The constable who has charge of the cells
was busy swilling the floors of the par: de ground
which adjoins, only divided from the women's yard
by a short passage. The officer 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 out
of the yard. On going again to the yard, soma
time afterwards, the officer became suspicious, and
called to Godfrey, without receiving any answEr.
Further inquiry proved that she had escaped. Tne
wells round the yard are surmounted by sharp-
pointed palisades, the height of both being more
than 20ft. A water pipe tuns 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 wall, which adjoins
a passage leading into Castle-green. 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-
soner had escaped that way. Her difficulties did
not end whe❑ 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 loft or 17ft, there
being no projections by the 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
became aware that ho 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 ahe 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 elaes.—Sheffield Inds•
pendent.

RECENT WILLS AND BEQUESTS.

(From the Illustrated London News.)

The will of Sir John Spencer Login, Knight, of Lancas-
ter-gate, Hyde Park, and of Felixstowe, Suffolk, was proved
in tondon, under £12,000 personalty in this country. Sir
John had held high posts in connection with the Army and
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 56, 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 Sbuttleworth, Esq., of Plaistow Hall,
Bromley, and Fenchurch-street, was proved in London,
under £60,000 personalty. The executors are his relict and
Joseph Shuttlewortb, Esq., of Hartshohne, Lincoln, toge-
ther with Henry Thompson, Mincing- lane, and W. Meld,
Fenchuren-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 resilue
of his property is to be divided amongst his children on the
youngest attaining, the age of 24.
The will of James Bu stone Bunning, Esq., F.S.A., of
Gloucester-terrace, Itegent'e Park, was proved in the Lon-
don Court, on the 15th ult., by his relict, the sole executrix
--the personalty sworn under £70,000. The testator was
for many years the architect for the City of London, which
appointment he retained until his,
he has bequeathed
His will was executed in April last,
s, death, in November last.
hie whole of his property to his wife. for leer own absolute
use and benefit.

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