The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-20 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS.

A woman named Ellen Gaunt had long resided
at Matlock, but being in the last stage of con-
sumption she came to Darby on the 24th October
last year, and remained with her sister and her
husband, Mr. and Mrs. Hadfield, at Pear-tree, till
the 24th January, when she died. The deceased
was seen by no doctor in Darby, having been told
by Mr. Brown, of Matlock, before she came here,
that she could not recover. The deceased, after her
death, was taken to Matlock, and was buried there
on tho 28th January. An official report states that
at the burial " on the sexton filling in the grave ho
fancied he heard a noise in the coffin, and he at
once informed the minister, who went out and heard
similar sounds; another person was then called, and
also eventually Dr. Cash. The body was taken out
of the coffin, and Dr. Cash attempted to bleed it,
and a drap or two of blood issued from the in
sion. The doctor pronounced her doac', and that
she had been so for some time. S'ae was again
placed in the grave and covered up." These events
naturally caused groat excitement in the town, and
as soon as the chief constable became acquainted
with the circumstances he instituted an inquiry.
Dr. Brown, who attended the deceased, says :
" For some weeks before her leaving Matlock for
Derby I attended her, and informed her friends
and herself that her case was hopeless, us she wa
suffering from tubercular disease of the lungs, and
would:only live three or four months, as she was far
advanced in the last stage of consumption. I gave
a certificate as to the cause of death, as I was in-
formed that no other medical man had visited her
after she left Matlock. I know nothing about the
funeral or the knocking in the coffin, beyond so
much disgusting and foolish talk which would
hardly have been tolerated four centuries ago." Ia
the course of the inquiry the rector of Matlock was
applied to, and in his statement he says :—" Soon
after I had .left the churchyard the parish clerk
came to the rectory to say that be had heard a
strange noise in the grave. I immediately went
with him to the spot, and after listening a short time
I heard a peculiar knocking proceeding from the
grave, and apparently in the coffin. I then went to
call Mr. John Else, one of the churchwardens who
also heard the knocking. We immediately ordered
the coffin to be uncovered, and while the clerk was
doing so I ran to the house where the friends of
the deceased were, and told them what I had heard.
I also sent for a policeman and for Dr. Cash, the
latter of whom examined the corpse, and pronounced
her to be dead, but declared ho could not say how
long she had been dead. I cannot offer any opinion
myself as to the cause of the noises—that is and
ever will be a mystery—but to Mr. Else, the parish
clerk, and myself they were more than sufficiently
suspicious to justify us in what we did." No further
explanations of the " noises" has yet been given,
and the excitement which the event had originated
has subsided.—Derby Mercury.

Vacancies, Promotions, and Appintments

in the Civil Service,

(&oin the Mil Service Gazette.)

FOREIGN OFFICE—The consulship at New Orleans,
United States, has become vacant by the death of Mr. W.
Mure.

Horsy: or ComoNs—Mr Arthur Fitzhardingo Kings•
cote has been appointed a clerk in the committee office.
BOARD or TRADE.-Mr George Francis Feek has been
appointed a temporary clerk in the Registry of Seamen's
Office.

LAW DEFARTMENT.—A vacancy for a clerkship in the
Crown-office, Court of Queen's Bench, has boon caused by
the death of Mr Frederick Cornelius Lillyman ; Mr Michael
Richard Barry has been appointed Queen's Advocate for
the Gold Coast.
THE POST-OFFICE—Mr John Thomas Beaks has been
appointed a temporary clerk, London.
CUSTOMS—Mr Charles S. Cartwright, clerk, first class,
in the receiver general's office, has been promoted to be aa-
sistant receiver general, Landon. Mr Henry R. Poole has
been promoted from the second to the first class of clerks ;
Mr James Guy, from the third to the second class of clerks;
and Mr Thomas Smart, from the fourth to tho third class of
clerks, in the receiver general's eines, London. Mr Joses
BKldy has been promoted from the third to the second class
of clerks; Mr Mark Smith, from the fourth to the third
class of clerks ; and Mr Frederick Springett, from the fifth
to the fourth class of clerks, in controller general's office,
London. Mr Sydney J. Brewer and Mr W. Peyton have
been promoted from the first class of examining officers to
be assistant surveyors, second class, London. Mr Thomas
Jcffalon has been promoted from the second to the first
class; Mr William F. Braman, from the second to the
first class ; Mr W. E. Monger, from the third to the second
class ; and Mr John J. Dean, from the third to the second
class of examining officers, London.
INLAND itEVENUß—Stamps and Tax Branch—Mr G. T.
Messovry has peen appointed a clerk in the chief account.
ant's department. Mr J. W. C. Huxham has been ap-
pointed a temporary clerk in the special commissioners' de-
partment. Mr Robert T. Donaghy has been appointed a
clerk in the Income Tax Office, Dublin. Excise Branch—
Mr Allen Routicdge, supervisor, Conway District, Wales,
North collection, has been appointed to Stockton district,
Durham collection. Mr Wm. Griffith Frees, supervisor,
Dias district, Lynn collebtion, has been appointed to Con-
way district, Wales, north collection. Mr. E. Watson
examiner, has been appointed supervisor of Diss district,
Lynn collection. Mr S. Wylde, supervisor, Whitcchurch
district, Chester collection, has been appointed to °rms..
kirk district, Warrington collection. Mr William 'fbornai
O'Reilly, examiner, has been appointed supervisor of Whit,.
church district, Cheater collection. Mr John Barwiee,
supervisor. Boston district, Grantham collection, has been
Ralphapp oia tie,dh tpo,
elxiaemn
use! r
itar
of cbt ,e a
anpc
pa so ti rt e
d collection
supervisor
.i\lofr
Boston district, Grantham collection.

IRELAND--The Right Hon. J. D. Fitzgerald and the
Hon. Thomas Preston have been Appointed commissioners
for national education in Ireland, in the room of Detra
Aleyler, deceased, and Mr Jeremiah J. Murphy, master iu
Chancery, resigned. The lion. Shapland Francis Carew
has been appointed resident magistrate for the county of
Leitrim. Mr It. Ross Todd has been appointed clerk of
the Crown for the County Down, in the room of 111 r Thos.
Courtney, deceased.

SCOTLAND—Mr James Stiven Adam has been appointed
an extra clerk, Lunacy Board, Edinburgh.

mtirfaulersl:C:RlOUS TRICK OF RIFLE SHOOTING Was
performed on Tuesday. A Swiss gentleman backed him-
self to take aim with his carbine, then support it with his
right arm, then with his left hand put his hat over the
naraid„hliatntaheed,c,ehnitsremoofnethyo. target. This he did three
HALVING THE DANGER !—A motet curtain is
being made for tho Imperial Opera of Vienna, which it is
thought will keep a fire on the stage from penetrating the
house, but doubtless protect the actors if the fire breaks out
in front of the curtain, and not on the stage.

THE LOST TRIBES FOUND.--A Jew, an officer in
the British Navy, during the last war in China, discovered
30 miles up a great rivet an immense city, surrounded ou
all aides by walls and fortifications, which contained above
a million of inhabitants, all Jews, In no other part of the
Chinese Empire are there any Jews.
A SENSATION NEWSP AP ER, palled 7hcl'o/iceArcws
with illustrations of events, is announced.
Oa Wednesday night, at tho Amphitheatre, Liver-
pool, during the last act of the " poor of Liverpool,"
ono of the bridesmaids in the last Econo wont too near the
candelabra on a table, and her white droes ignited. It tans
perceived by the audience, and a sensation was immediately
who perceived the ignition of
created ;bat Mr. Stafford,
the dress, put it out with his hands, and all anxiety was in
an instant removed. As all the ladies on the stage were
dressed in white, the results might have been vory serious
but for his ptesence of wind and promptitude.