The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-29 00:00:00

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Spiteful, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Parlcor, arrived
at Devonport on Saturday afternoon, from the Medi-
terranean, 18 days from Corfu, 5 days from Gibraltar.
She brings home Mr. James King, assistant-engineer,
dismissed from his ship by court-martial, nine distressed
British subjects, and a number of invalids.
The fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Deans
Dundas, left Malta on the 9th inst., for Gibraltar, where
the Bellorophon, 78, Captain Lord George Paulet,
Arethusa, 50, Captain Symonds, and Sampson, 6, steam-
frigate, Captain L. T. Jones, were to remain. The
Phaeton, Captain George Elliot, Vengeance, Captain
Lord Edward Russell, and Fury, steam-sloop, Com-
mander Tatham, were to proceed to Lisbon, the rest of
the fleet returning to Malta.
Niger, 12, screw steam-sloop, Commander Heath,
and Antelope, iron steamer, Lieut.-Commander C. H.
Young, were at Gibraltar ; and the Modeste, 18, Com-
mander John W. Compton, at Corfu.
Wasp, 12, screw-sloop, Commander Lord John Hay,
had sailed from Gibraltar for Corfu, calling at Malta.

The arrival of the Spiteful was telegraphed to the Ad-
miralty, and it is understood she will be paid.off at De-
- -pnrt—and_recommissinupsi

THE FLOOD AND THE CROPS.—Au average portion of
the late heavy rains has fallen in the fenny parts of
South Holland ; but, in addition to this, an immense
volume of high country water has passed through the
district. Upon the whole, however, it is found that less
inconvenience and damage have been sustained than in
the highlands. A considerable breadth of wheat was
sown early this season (early sowing is now in favor) :
this is well up, and has a healthy appearance : the later
sown wheats are damaged, the germinating powers of
the seed having been weakened by the cold and wet. To
use the farmer's expression, the grain is burst. Not-
withstanding the unfavorable weather the wheat seeding
has continued : the late sown, should frost set in, will
be damaged.
On Friday, in the Lord Mayor's Court, Mr. Nairn,
a sailcloth maker, of 34, Bread-street, City, claimed
compensation in respect of his premises, which were re-
quired for carrying out the improvements westward of
King-William-street to St. Paul's Churchyard. The
Attorney-General and Mr. Locke appeared for the
claimant, and the Solicitor-General, the Common-Ser-
geant, and Mr. Randall for the City Improvement Com-
mittee. Mr. Nairn claimed 3001. as compensation for
loss of trade, 1521. for repairs and alterations, 801. for
fixtures, 100 for expenses of removal, and 2501. for un-
expired term of lease, making a total of 8821. After
evidence had been given as to the items in respect of
which compensation was claimed, the Recorder summed
up, and the jury returned a verdict for 4001.

FATAL COLLISION ON THE GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.
—A very serious collision, terminating fatally to an en-
gine-driver, happened on Friday evening on the newly
opened line to Birmingham of the Great Western Rail-
way, and, considering the character of the mishap, it is
most surprising that it did not involve a greater loss of
life. The escape of the passengers in the trains which
came in contact is most marvellous. The ordinary train
which leaves Birmingham at 5 o'clock in the afternoon
for London came up to Heyford station between 8 and
9 o'clock, and, as we are informed, some 15 minutes
behind its time arising, it was said, from the many slips
which have takenl place along the road during the
late heavy rains. The setting down and taking up of
passengers having been arranged, the engine driver was
desired to back the train over to a goods shed in order
to take up a loaded truck. The building being on the
opposite side, it became necessary to cross the train
over the down line, a practice which requires the
greatest precaution, and which ought never to be
adopted when the line is not known to be perfectly
free and nothing is expected along it. The train was
being backed across the metals, when just as about one-
half of it had passed over the down line into the siding
leading to the shed, the whistle of the engine of the
express, which left Paddington terminus at 5, and was
dueat the station—where, however, it had not to stop—
was heard. The underguard instantly called out to the
driver of the Birmingham train which was being shunted,
" Good God ! bear a hand and be quick, here's the ex-
press coming !" The driver did all he could to expedite
the backing and to get clear of the main rails, but in
consequence of their greasy state, resulting from the
wet weather, the driving wheels would not bite so effec-
tually as could be desired. However, in another moment
or so the engine would have been clear of the line, when
the express came up, and the two locomotives came in
contact with fearful violence. The shock is described
to have been very severe, as may be judged by the rate
express trains on this railway generally travel. The
company represent that the passengers escaped unhurt,
but accounts from Birmingham intimate that two, at
least, were much injured. Unhappily, the driver of the
express engine lost his life. His name was George
Thompson.

ARRIVAL FROM THE CAPE.—Her Majesty's steam-
vessel Rhadamanthus, Master-Commander Belom, ar-
rived in Plymouth Sound on Saturday evening, at eight
o'clock. She left the Cape Oct. 5, and called at St.
Helena, Sierra Leone, and Teneriffe on her way home.
As she left five days before the Propontis, there is no
news by her. She brought Lieut. Brown, R.A., Lieut.
Elkington, of the 40th Regiment, and another army offi-
cer, as passengers, as also Lieut. Carrington, R.N., of
the Hydra, and Mr. Switser, second master, R.N., late
of the Gladiator. Mr. Switser was left in the hospital at
the sailing of the Gladiator, and on Thursday last, being
on duty as officer of the watch, he was knocked from
the bridge by a blow from the sail, and fell on a ring
bolt and broke his thigh. The Rhadamanthus spoke
to the Sharpshooter on Friday, at noon ; the weather at
the time was very severe. There was no coal at St.
Helena when the Rhadamanthus called there, and so she
was obliged to go on to Sierra Leone for coal.
DURHAM CITY ELECTION.—Mr. Fenwick, the Li-
beral and Free-trade candidate, and Lord Adolphus
Vane, the Ministerialist, are both engaged re-canvassing
the freemen and electors of this city for the vacant seat
occasioned by the recent death of Mr. P. C. Granger,
Q. C.

GOLD DIGGINGS.—Six seamen recently arrived at the
Sailors'Home, Wells-street, bringing with them loose
gold dust amounting in value to 2,500/., the produce of
their labour at the Australian gold diggings, The pro-
cess of melting and assaying was prepared for them
through the instrumentality of the officers of that in-
stitution, and the full value procured from the Bank of
England. The men are now returning to their homes,
and these large sums will be sent to meet them without
any risk or deduction,