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

THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Spiteful, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Parker, 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 Bellerophon, 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-
vonport, and recommissioned.

THE FLOOD AND THE CaoPs.—An 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, 1001. 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 taken 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
due'at the station—where, however, it had not to stop—
was heard. The underguarcl instantly called out to the
driver of the Birmirigham 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, RN., 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 2,5001., 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,

WOLVERHAMPTON STEEPLECHASES.
The following are the entries for the principal events St.
on the 7th of December. 5
A Handicap Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, 10 ft, and 5 St.
only if declared on or before the Ist December, with
100 added ;if the highest weight accepting be under 20
list it will be raised to that, and the others in pro- St*
15 portion.

Yrs st lb
Heroine
Clatterbox
iThurgarton a paid
(Trout
;Simple Peter
(Vengeance
Trooper
The Screw
Ringleader
Expert a 812

Yrs st
Sir Peter Laurie... al/ 4
Peter
Victress a 10 7
Half-and-Half a 10 7,
Abd-el-Kader
Vainhope
Carrig alo 5
The General
Maurice Daley a paid
Peter Simple
Bourton
A Free Handicap Hurdle Race of 5 sovs each, with 40
added ; the weights to be declared by the 26th of No-
vember.

Yrs st lb Yrs st lb
Peter all 4 Mrs, Briggs 0 9 7
Half-and-Half all 0 Slang, by Slane.... 0 9 7
Caurire alo 12 Gaylad 6 9 7
Warwick 5 10 9P. by Don John... 4 9 6
Little Queen a 10 8 Trout a 9 6
Oldham 4lO 8 Tom Gurney 49 5
Cogia a 10
Doubt a 10 6 The Nun 0 9 4
Tomboy 5 10 5 Guinan) 5 9 4
Bourton
Fazeley a 10 1 The Cardinal 5 9 2
Pysche 5 9 13 Labyrinth 4 9 0
Victress a 9 12 Jack of all Trades. a 9 0
Trooper a 9 12 Wreltin 4 8 10
Queen of the Vale 6 9 10 Gerard 3 8 9
Maria Bennett..... 0 9 9.The Sluggard 3B 7
The Selling Steeplechase of 5 sous each, p.p., with
20 added ; closes between five and eight p.m., on Mon-
day, the 6th of December, being the night before the
race. -

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.-....An inquiry under a writ
de lunatico inquirendo was proceeded with on Saturday,
at the Gray's Inn Coffee-house, before Mr. Commissioner
Winslow, relative to the mental condition of William
Crowder Trotter, aged 19, a young gentleman, ;ately
residing with his friends in Hatton-garden, and entitled
on attaining his majority to funded and freehold property,
of the value of upwards of 9n
--,000/. From his earliest
childhood, the subject of this inquiry had exhibited
symptoms of a weak intellect, and when at the age
of eleven years displayed much violence and obstinacy of
temper, his conduct increasing
riod to 1847, during which I,e in violence from that pe-
-was in the constant habit
of ill-treating his grandmother, particularly kicking her
legs, which were continually in
a state of discoloration
from the bruises thereby occasioned. This ho said he
could not help ; but he did not Wish to do so, as he was
very fond of her. At subsequent periods he had offered
to fight young females. In 1849, he had with great vio-
lence turned his grandmother into the street, and she
was afraid to re-enter. This was at eleven o'clock at
night. In February,
1850, he again attacked his grand-
mother, knocking out no less than six of her teeth ;
shortly after which it was deemed necessary to place him
under restraint with Mr. Strange,
He imagined that
everybody was the devil, and Were poisoning his food.
He expressed his fear that he had killed his grandmother,
and said the devil had told him to do it. His insanity
was occasioned by abscesses which formed on the dura
mater between the skull-cap and the brain. The jury
returned a verdict, dating the unsoundness of mind from
the Ist of January 1847.
THE GALES IN THE CHANNEL. --.10
... ORTSMOUTII, SUN-
DA-Y.—The heavy weather in the channel is causing daily
arrivals at this port of vessels which have met with
various degrees of damage. Yesterday, the Dutch
schooner Seabloem, Captain Zuglen, from Liverpool to
Amsterdam, was towed into harbour with loss of fore
and maintopmasts, sails, bulwarks, ace.
and one man,
named Dirk Lall, killed in clearing
the wreck. The
same day the Prussian ship Selma, Captain Cuske, from
Gloucester to Dantzig, put in with loss of sails, bul-
warks, &c., having been thrown on her beam-ends off
the Start on the 26th. The Amity, SYmes, from Hart-
lepool, has got on shore at the Woolsteners, and sunk;
whilst the gale on Thursday night Was so strong as to
force a heavy collier to the east of Ryde over the pier,
carrying away some 50 feet of it. The gale has con-
tinued throughout this day (Sunday), accompanied with
tremendous showers of rain.
THE LATE EARTHQUAKE.—The Evening Mail has
published the following extract of a private letter from
Virginia (U.S.) of Nov. 6, from which it appears that
an earthquake was felt in that place nearly about the
same time that the recent shock took place in England
and Ireland. The writer of the letter says :.___‘, Just as
I closed this letter, the house was so shaken by an earth-
quake that we have; all gone out of doors. It is our
first experience of such a phenomenon, and it is an
awful feeling—the ground rolling under our feet."
ACTION FOR DEFAMATION AGAINST MRS. H. B. STOWE.
—Dr. Jeel Parker, of New York, has commenced an
action against the authoress of " Uncle Tom's Cabin,"
for defamation, damages laid at 20,000 dols. It is
stated that Dr. Jeel Parker, on hearing the mention
Mrs. Stowe had made of his name as the author of an
atrocious sentiment, wrote to her, offering proof that she
had been misinformed, and that he was not the author
of that sentiment. Mrs. Stowe made no reply until a
third letter elicited from her the assertion that she had
documentary evidence of the truth of her statement.
Hereupon Dr, Parker commenced his action,

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