The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-08 00:00:00

. • .4 it ...T., .* w
S N, JANUARY 8) 1852.
N°.18,501.] LONDON,:.THURSDAY
4,
-• e.',

PUBLICATIONS.

MR. CARLYLE'S NEW WORK.
Second Edition.—This day, post Bvo., cloth, 108. 6d.,
THE LIFE OF JOHN STERLING•
By THOMAS C A RLYLE.
London : Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly,

Just published, 2 vols., Bvo., cloth, 325.,
LIFE AND LETTER 4 OF
TIARTHOLD GEORGE NIEBUHR.
jP From the German and Original Sources.
With Essays on his Character and Influence, by the Chevalier
BUNSEN, and Professors BLINN and LOEB Eh.
London : Chapman and Ilall, 193, Piccadilly.

SECOND AND CHESPER EDITION.
This day, small Bvo., with a Portrait, price 75.,
WILLIAM PENN.
An Historical Biography, from New Sources.
By WILLIAM HKPWORTH DIXON.
London Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

By a letter from the Mediterranean to the 26th of
December, we are informed of great discontent prevail-
ing among the assistant-surgeons of the squadron, owing
to the arbitrary conduct of Sir William Parker in de-
priving sundry of them of their cabins, &e. Measles
have broken out on board the Bellerophon, 78, Captain
Lead Paulet, and liberty to go on shore is prohibited to
her crew. At the date of our letter she had sent two
subordinate officers and three boys, labouring under the
disease, to Malta Hospital. A party of liberty- men at-
tacked a sergeant of marines belonging to the depot ship
Hercules, who was on shore looking for a straggler, since
which marine petrels have been furnished from the flag-
ship Queen, and the Superb and Bellerophon, for the
preservation of peace on shore by men on leave from the
squadron. One of the men of the Queen was found dead
and, r his mess-table on Christmas-day.
PORTSMOUTH, TUESDAY.—Tho examination of the
remaining stock of " preserved meat" in store at Cla-
rence-yard was resumed by the officers forming the
board this morning; but they were again obliged to
leave off prematurely, owing to the nausea engendered
by their unwholesome task. They opened 497 canisters,
varying in the amount of their contents from 101 b. to
1011 b. each, 466 of which were condemned and thrown
overboard at Spithead, and 31 only considered fit to let
pass for distribution among the poor. Each day brings
to light some item of disgust in the matter of the com-
modity sealed up as " preserved meat." To-day we
have inspected clots of hair, a piece of intestine with
the manure in it, a huge lump of gangrenous kidney,
and such like filthy items. But for the great effictcy
of the disinfecting solution of Dr. Sir William Burnett,
the Director-General of the Medical Department of the
Navy, which is profusely used in the store where the
examination is going on, it would be impossible
for the officers to prosecute their investigation for
long together, owing to the sickening stench arising
from the stuff around them. There remain about
9,600 more cases to open, which will occupy the rest of
the week. This afternoon Dr. Twynam, an experimental
agriculturist, applied to purchase a quantity of the offal
condemned, with the view of its forming the matrix of
ammoniacal manure, but no item of it was allowed thus
to escape, and the gentleman was recommended by the
authorities to make his application to the Lords of the
Admiralty.
PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—This morning the ex-
amination of the canisters of " preserved meats" was
resumed at the Royal Clarence Victualling Establish.
ment, and so far from the investigation exhibiting any
improvement in the stock as the Board progressed with
their labour, the result showed a realization of still worse
delinquency. Out of 300 canisters, of the respective
size of 101 b., lOilb-, lOtlb., and 111 b. each, only one
was suffered to pass as consumable, the rest were con-
demned and thrown overboard at sea. The contents ex-
posed to-day were chiefly loose putrid matter, now and
then varied with a few atones, entrails with the excre-
ment in them, kidneys green with decomposition, lumps
of heart, and in many cases whole hearts festering with
putridity, coagulated blood in great abundance, tallow,
lumps of tendons, garbage, grease, and offal. After
three hours' labour the officers forming the Board
were compelled to leave off, the stench was so great;
indeed, it would have overpowered them, but that a
man was ever and anon employed in well saturating
the floor about them with Sir William Burnett's
disinfecting fluid, with the extra precaution of a
blanket saturated with it being hung up imme-
diately contiguous to the bench whereon the contents
of the canisters were emptied. After standing for an
hour, I was compelled to quit the store from the over-
powering stench, and Dr. M'Kenchie (the medical
officer of the Board of Examination) also felt sick from
the influence of the noxious odour soon after commencing
his labours in the morning. The examination of the
contents of tho canisters is conducted on the fairest prin-
ciple—the top part and the bottom part of each canister
being alternately selected to commence upon, and the
contents of the whole are gradually exposed and brought
under inspection. Due notice of the intended examina-
tion was given to the contractor's agent and his sure-
ties, requesting their attendance, but no one has ap-
peared, and the contractor himself is not to be found,
At the commencement of this investigation, on Tuesday
week, there were 6,660 canisters, varying in sine from
41b. to 121 b., and some of them of 321 b. each, and about
three months ago, when the stench arising from the
store in which they were kept made the authorities of
the Clarence-yard suspect something was wrong, the
agent to the contractor came down and took away
2,000 canisters (containing 17,0001 b. of stuff) without
opening them. This contract has long since been paid
for. The goods are warranted to last. sound and
wholesome for five years after delivery into Admiralty
store. After the 300 canisters above mentioned were
examined to-day, one of the canisters of 321 b. was
opened, labelled " Goldner's patent stewed beef." and
bearing the following directions:—" The canister
to be put into a saucepan with warm water
and boiled about 15 minutes, then the meat to
be taken out, and add to the gravy a portion of
water, rice, or any vegetables, and au admirable dish
will be obtained." This " admirable dish," without the
aid of the saucepan, rice, and vegetables, presented a
sickening mass of revolting decomposition. It was in-
tended as the food of 40 seamen, marines, or boys of her
Majesty's fleet. The examining officers intend to take
rest to-morrow from their disgusting task, and will not
resume it until Friday. About 2,000 more canisters re-
main to be examined. That " preserved meat" from
this stock had been issued to sea-going ships we know,
as Commodore Lambert, of the Fox, on the East India
station, returned a lot, with the report that after par-
taking of some of it those who had done so had been
seized with sickness, &c., and we believe Commodore
Martin, of the Prince Regent, 90, on the Lisbon sta-
tion, also had some of it, and returned it; and so doubt-
less have many other ships.
PLYMOUTH, WEDNESDAY.—Her Majesty's ship
Tweed, Captain Lord Francis Russell, arrived here at
9.30 rest. yesterday. She left Monte Video on the 3d
of November, arrived at Rio Janeiro on the 11th, and
sailed thence on the 15th. She left at Rio her Majesty's
ships Southampton, Crescent, Harpy, and Cormorant,
and the United States' frigate Congress, and the cor-
vettes Jamestown and Falmouth. The Tweed was com-
missioned on the 7th of June, 1848, and has been em-
ployed principally in cruising on the ooast of Brazil,
where she has captured one slave vessel and driven
another ashore. Dec. 5, 1851, spoke the Alexandria, of
London, all well, steering to the southward, in lat. 10.45
S., long. 32.26 W. Dec. 10, on the Equator, in long.
31.14 W., passed a brig under Bremen colours, first dis-
tinguishing pendant, 1,958; from Rio de Janeiro, on the
17th of November, bound to Bremen. Deo. 4, South-
ampton in company, lat. 14 21 W. long., 30.26 N. Dec.
2, ditto at daylight, 5.15 A.M.; distance 11 miles, N.W.
by N. Dec. 30, passed the Mount Stewart Elphinstone,
from Sydney to London, in lat. 43.38 N., long. 30.05
W. Jan. 1, 1852, boarded the Gilmore, of Bristol,
laden with timber, in let. 45.32 N., long. 38.33 W., wa-
terlogged and abandoned.
Her Majesty's ship Southampton, Captain N. Cory,
flag of Rear-Admiral Reynolds, arrived here yesterday
afternoon. She left Monte Video on the 4th of No-
vember, arrived at Rio Janeiro on the 11th, and sailed
thence on the 17th. The Southampton was commis-
sioned on the 3d of August, 1848; was twelve months
on the Capo station, and relieved Sir Thomas Herbert,
in the Raleigh, on the Brazilian station, in Sept., 1849.
The Virago towed the Southampton out of Rio on her
way to the Pacific.
The Conflict sailed on the 16th for a cruise to the
northward.
The Centaur, with the flag of Rear-Admiral Hender-
son, arrived at Monte Video on the tat of November.
having been nine days on her passage from Rio, owing
to the machinery getting out of order (air piston-rod
breaking), and being only able to work one engine.
In the River Plate everything appears to be progress-
ing favourably with Urquizas, who has crossed the water
and is making his way to the southward into the pro-
vince of Buenos Ayres. Those formerly most sanguine
supporters of Roses in the River begin now to entertain
doubts of his stability.
The Southampton, on her passage home, 25th Nov.,
passed the island of Trinidad, 5} miles. Nov. 30 passed
and signalled her Majesty's ship Tweed. Dec. 2, spoke
the British barque Abbots Reading, in lat. 13. 20 S., long.
31.10 W., steering to the S.W. Dec. 28 passed Island
3 miles. Dec. 29, lat. 41.23, long. 29.44, ex-
changedh eEnglish barquelong. Japan,3.s4 of
soi
gn
of fo
n. Flores,
Ja
Nos.n
.2 :IwhBsi
t 2,
n let. 46.18
nalised Dutch barque Australia, from Batavia, steering
to the eastward, bound to Rotterdam.
The Megacra, with the 60th Rifles, continues in the
Sound.
Captain Thomas Pinto (1840), on the retired list,
died on the 29th ult., at his residence, Lion-walk, Col-
cheater. Deceased, who was in his 80th year, had seen
much service, having been at the taking of thirty-eight
line-of-battle ships, frigates, &c. He served with Sir
Home Popham at Ostend, to destroy the sluices ; with
Sir John Jervis at the taking of St. Vincent, in 1797; at
Egypt ; at the blockade and taking of Malta, in the
Northumberland, with Sir George Martin ; at the ac-
tion of Ferrole, with Sir Robert Calder, 1815; at the
battle of Trafalgar, with Lord Nelson; taking of St.
Domingo, with Sir John Duckworth, 1806; taking of
Guadeloupe and Martinique, with Sir Alexander Coch-
rane. Captain Pluto was distinguished with a war
medal of seven bars, which he was always proud to
wear.

WooLwICA, JAN. 7.—A number of shipwrights com-
menced taking down the scaffolding at the stern of the
Royal Albert, 120, to-day, and a gang of convict labourers
were employed in removing it to make room for the re-
quisite alterations to fit this splendid vessel for the re-
ception of a screw propeller. The required alterations
will not occupy a long time, and as the other work ne-
cessary to be done to render the Royal Albert ready for
launching will be proceeded with at the same time, there
is every reason to believe the vessel will be launched in
the latter part of the summer or autumn of the present
year.
The Monkey steam-vessel towed the Beaver lighter up
the river yesterday to Loudon-bridge, the latter being
ordered up to Whitehall [to take on board a portion of
Rear-Admiral Dundas's cabin furniture fur the purpose
of it down to Woolwich to be put on board the
Fury steam-vessel,n Commander Edward Tatham, for
the Britannia, 120, fitting at Portsmouth
cf
ship on the Mediterranean station.
The Chatham No. 9 transport ship was taken from
or ry t ihenye ga i
flagship
t

her moorings at the Royat Arsenal to-day, and towed up
the river to Deptford by the Monkey, to be made ready
for further transport service.

FATAL AFFAIR WITH THE NEGROES

At the moment that the Screw Company's C a
AT LAGOS.
Mail packet Harbinger was leaving Sierra Leone for
England, on the 17th December, her Majesta's screw-
ship Niger, 14, Commander Heath, arrived from
Lagos, and boarded her, with dispatches from Com-
modore Bruce for England.
Tnese dispatches, it was understood, contain official
informatit n to the Admiralty of a desperate and fatal
fight with the negroes at Lagos by the Niger ship's
company ; in which affair Messrs. Dyer and Hall,
mates of the Niger, were killed, and nine men were
also killed and wounded.
It appears that for some time there has been a dis-
play of some very ill feeling between those on the
coast who are desirous of suppressing slavery, and a
party whose " occupation has gone" by the activity
of the cruisers in putting down the slave trade. Tne
former party have been zealous in their endeavours to
prevent the latter from bringing slaves from the in
terior to the coast market ; and the slavers, on the
other hand, have attempted by every means to coerce
our friends, until at length they have come to bldg's.
The Niger, cruising on the coast , determined on a
demonstration against the blacks, landed her boats to
protect our allies and to drive off their enemies, when
a bloody encounter ensued, and the seamen and
marines of the Niger, being overpowered by numbers,
were obliged to retreat, fighting their way to their
boats, with the disastrous casualties above reported.
The commander-in-chief, Commodore Bruce, in the
Penelope, 16, .steam-friglae, Captain Lyster, with
' the Sealark, 8, and one or two other men-of-war, ar-
rived off Lagos, from Ascension, after the fight, and
remaining there, dispatched the Niger to Sierra
Leone, to complete provisions, and to take down a
detachment of the West India regiment, when it
was expected the commodore would commence active
operations against the slave-dealing wretches, and,
alnflict e
tphoen them such a chas-
deaths of the gallant
titiseimsenhtopaesd'shwaillll
officers and seamen of the Niger, and shall finally put
a finishing stroke to slave dealing in that quarter of
the coast.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
kappears that not only was the crew of her Ma-
jesty's screw-sloop, Niger, Commander Heath, en-
gaged with the negroes at Lagos, but the attack on
the slave traders was made by the combined crews of
a squadron of cruisers, which included the officers,
seamen, and marines of the Philomel, 8, Commander
Forbes ; Harlequin, 12, Commander Wilmot ; Volcano,
steam-vessel, Commander Coote ; Niger, 14, screw-
sloop, Commander Gardner—the force consisting of
23 boats, with 260 officers and men, under the com-
mand of the senior officer, Commander F. G. Forbes,
of the Philomel.
The King of Lagos, Co9ioco by name, had forbid-
den the men-of-war boats from coming up the river
to Lagos; but previously Mr. Beecroft, the consul at
Fernando Po, with the commanders of the Harlequin
and Waterwitch, and Lieutenant Patey, the com-
mander of the Bloodhound, steam-tender, had been
received by the King with every demonstration of
respect. They, however, failed in their object to
engage the King to promise, on the part of himself and
subjects, not to favour the slave trade. Mr. Beecroft
then determined on seeking another interview with
the King, and in order to show his sable Majesty the
hopelessness of any successful persistence in carrying
on the inhuman traffic, arranged that the armed boats
of the squadron should accompany him up the river
under a flag of truce.
Accordingly, a course over the bar having been
surveyed, the Bloodhound steamer, with a white flag,
and the following boats of the squadron, Mr. Bee-
croft in Commander Wilmot's gigs, with a large
white flag, starting 100 yards ahead, proceeded at
daylight of the 25th of November towardsthe river :
Plailomel—Commander Forbes in the whale boat ;
Lieutenant Williams, in the pinnace, withl2-pounder
carronade, and cutter and whaleboat.
Harlequin—Commander Wilmot, in the gig;
Lieutenant Boughey, in the pinnace, with cutter and
two whale-boats.

Volcano—Commander Coote, in whale-boat; Lieut.
Reeves, in paddle-box boat; Lieut. Bobinson, in
paddle-box boat, with cutter.
Niger—Commander Heath, in the gig ; Lieut.
Dunn, in the pinnace, with three cutters and whale
boat.

Waterwitch—Commander Gardner, in whale-boat;
Lieutenant Graham, in pinnace, with cuter and whale
boat.

As the force crossed the bar, and about four miles
distant from the point, a heavy fire of musketry was
directed towards it. No notice, however, was bitten
of this ineffectual show of
of the boats, and the flags of truce were kept flying.
When within about a mile and a half of the town the
Bloodhound grounded, and as she could not be. got
ceived a heavy fire from some
off the boats formed line and proceeded up the river,
opposition to the progress.
and kept on, the flag of truce flying until they re-
shore. The fire was harmless on account of the dis-
tance ; but now the boats opened their fire with
shrapnel' shells and round shot, the Niger. at the
same time throwing a shell or two on the point near
the mouth of the river. After exchanging a
.con-
tinuous fire for nearly an hour, with a beach lined
taneously at one spot, when, leaving the
.boats
guns and musketry
.on
for more than a mile with bodies of men, ,
dashed at the shore and effected a landing amul-
et the boats, about 160 officers and men fought their
way into the. town. They were met, however, with
most determined resistance on the part of the natives,.
who disputed every inch of the narrow streets inter-
secting each other, and when beat on/ of one street.
a sufficient guard
ran round by the backways and showed front again
at the end of other streets. After some gallant
fighting in. this
Ft enemy,woorhe determined
which
_amounted to at least 5,000, and having.
officers killed and six men wounded, Captain
as they could and. retreating to the boats. Having
fired the houses in the neighbourhood they retreated
in good order, and having re-embarked, proceeded to
on setting fire to as many houses
the Bloodhound, got her afloat the same night, and
the next morning re-crossed the bar; the force having
sustained the folio win—
g loss—comparatively small
when the number of the enemy is taken into account,
and when it is considered that, in addition to their
force of half a dozen large
guns, and as many swivels,
which were constantly served, almost every house
was a fortification ;---

er, mate of
of ditto.
,Hmaanteeock KILLED.
Mr. Dy
Niger.
WOUNDED.
Charles.
, sergeant R.M.A., of Niger,
John Goulding, gunner R.M.A., of Niger, dan-
gerously.
Urbane Collett, bombardier R.M.A., of Niger, se-
verely.
erely.
v
William Hall, seaman of Niger, severely.
John M'Carthy, seaman, of Niger, severely.
Richard Gomett, seaman! of Niger, severely.
J.
A quartermaster of PhiloraeL
i onnt etro,
tAh
e. Ba.boofv
e,
Niger, s
others received hurts from
Two men of Volcano, severely.
seriously
el\ fr ellry. .t i
a 1
l
spent balls.
The Niger took the wounded to Sierra Leone, and
proceeded in search of the Commodore, and it was
In. Tad°cidihtu
understood that Commodore Bruce had proceeded to
Lagos to organize such a force as would compel the
King of Lagos to submission; the Harlequin, in the
meantime, by her presence off the coast preventing
the King of Lagos from forming any new expedition
against the missionary establishment at Badagry.

BOILER EXPIATSTON.
„ GREAT BRIDGE, NEAR —trimEY, JAN. 7.—An ex-
plosion, attended with very serious and fatal
ctly heard.
conse-
quences, occurred at Gold's-hill, in
morning. At about three o'clock a this locality, this
violent concussion
was heard throughout the neighbourhood, and for some
nW
D milesuu d
pleodyni, s
inquirytt
hau nn t
reportaround
an dw
vWu
iss einitdi nno esgtS ht
dhuierayt iest Bromwich, and
spot we ascertained the
facts to be as follow:—The works Where the explosion
Davies and Bloomer,
atijoining those of Gold's•hill,
worked by Messrs. Bagnall and Brothers. At the time
and
dk
arepla place aremeodcicautepliyed by N.lssrs.
rren. named Evans
Allman and the other
the explosion took place, a man named John Evans, the
furnace-man, was at the bailer. n
had—e is
employedstat e d to have
under
bheimentawvoeray3iisintteaadtys,
one
Osborne. Daniel Bradbury was the engineer, and there
are some singular circumstances connected with the
escape of this fine, upon the occasion. Bradbury's
duties, as engineer, were in part to superintend
the boilers; and it appears that this morning he had
not left the boiler which exploded half a minute
before the accident occurred. While standing at the
boiler-side, the bell rang for the engine to be
stopped, in order that the rolls might be changed, when
Bradbury at once repaired to his engine. He did not
reach it before the boiler exploded and the mischief was
completed. Evans and his two assistant; were instantly
killed; and a man named James, who was by trade a
shingler, died from some cause which surgeons cannot
satisfactorily explain, as there are no outward appear-
ances of injury.
Mr. Davies, one of the firm, who lives in the neigh-
bourhood, was shortly on the spot after the explosion

took place, and Mr. Haines, surgeon, of Hill-top, was
summoned to attend upon the persons injured.
The cause of the accident has this morning been in-
quired into, but, so far as we have been able to learn,
it has not been satisfactorily explained. The boilers, of
which there were three, were about five tons in weight.
They were firing boilers. The plates were said to be
half-inch plates, and to bear 401 b. pressure to the square
inch. They were high-pressure boilers. It is not a
little singular that five years ago a sirnillr accident took
place at the same works, and that the boiler which ex-
ploded this morning is the ono wh;ch was manuractured
specially to cupply the place of the boiler which exploded
on that cccasion. Special pains were taken in its manu-
facture. It was constructed on the works, first-class
charcoal iron.
It is impossible to describe in a few words the de-
tails of this accident, but the proceedings of the inquest
will sappy every fact connected with this deplorable
accident.

COMMISSION OF LUNACY.
Yesterday a commission of lunacy to inquire into
the state of the mind cf Mrs. Catherine Cumming
commenced its sittings at the Eyre Arms, St. John's-
wood, before Mr. Commissioner Barlow.
Sir Frederick Thesiger, Q.C., and Mr. Petersdorff
appeared in support of the commission ; and Mr. Ed-
win James, Q.C., Mr. Sergeant Wilkins, and Mr.
Southgate against it.
The jury having been sworn, and the other cus-
tomary formalities having been gone through,
Sir Frederick Thesiger opened the case in a speech
of considerable length.
The report of the Commissioners of Lunacy to the
Lord Chancellor, the reports of Sir Alexander Mori-
son and of Dr. Monro, together with various other
documents, having been put in and proved,
Mrs. Elizabeth Browne (examined by Mr. Peters-
dorff) deposed as follows :—I reside in Roberts-
buildings, Pimlico. At one time I was living with
Captain and Mrs. Cumming as nurse. I was there
nine weeks, and I left March 16,1846. They were
living at \To. 1, Belgrave-place. When I was
first hired I saw Mrs. Cumming. Captain Cum-
ming was so ill at the time that he seldom left
his bed. It was necessary, in consequence of
his illness, that I should sleep in the same room
with him. He was between 80 and 90 years of
age, and was a man of gentlemanly habits. Mrs.
Cumming was about 60 years of age, but she was so
untidy in her habits that I could not well judge. Her
conduct to her husband was very bad. At one time
she came and put her hand under his cravat, and
afterwards broke the bellrope. The attack was accom-
panied with great violence. Captain Cumming did
nothing to provoke her. She was very abusive, and
used the worst language all the time I was there.
I said her conduct was very shocking. She often
said that she wished her husband was dead, and that
she could kill him. There was a servant of all work
in the house at the time, named Susan Clarke. She
was present when Mrs. Cumming made the attack on
her husband. Clarke and I got Mrs. Cumming from
her husband's room into the parlour adjoining. Mrs.
Cumming used to get up at three or four o'clock in
the morning and knock violently at her husband's
door, thus disturbing him from sleep, and then she
would swear at me because I would not go in and
give her more drink. I had to give the captain medi-
cine at different hours of the night. loften heard Mrs.
Cumming charge her husband with hoarding her mo-
ney. She said that she had 2,0001. worth of property in
Wales going to decay, and that she would never do any-
thing with it. She would curse and swear for a length
of time—for a full hour at a stretch—without the
slightest provocation. On one occasion she knelt
down and prayed God to send curses on her grand-
children and their parents. The grandchildren were
very young, and could never have given her any
serious offence. Mrs. Cumming said that Mrs.
Hooper (her daughter) was in the habit of going
into the park with the soldiers, and that that was the
reason she would not have her in the house. She said
the little Hoopers were very bad children. She said
that Mr. Ince (her son-in-law) had robbed her of
plate and of a copper coal-scuttle. She said there had
been an intimacy between me and Mr. Ince, that we
were as intimate as a man and his wife, and that that
was the reason why Mr. Ince was so civil to me. She
said that Mr. Inca was as intimate with all the women
as the old captain himself, and that he always gave us
7s. That charge was not true. I have twenty-four
grandchildren, and it is not likely.—(Laughter.)
She used to sleep in her boots, and keep her money
in them during the night. She was very dirty
in her habits. She kept and fed cats in her
bedroom, and never allowed them to go out.
The room consequently became very disagreeable
and unbearable. I , gave notice to leave three
times while I was there. On one occasion Captain
Gemming wished fur his writing desk, and asked Mrs.
Cumming for it. lie went up-stairs to the second
floor front room, which was locked. I was sent up
to ask him to come down. His reply was he would
come down if Mrs. Cumming would allow him his
desk, but she refused. At length he came down and
seized a poker to protect himself with, and then Mrs.
Cumming was afraid of him. She had previously
been abusing him ; and she afterwards got him on the
hearth-rug and beat him most dreadfully. Ile became
so faint and exhausted that I was obliged to send for
the doctor. I and my fellow-servant removed Mrs.
Cumming. She very frequently knocked at his door
and said I was in bed with him. He was not allowed
to have what, in the state of his health, was requisite
for him. Mrs. Cumming used to order fowls and
keep them so long that they were unfit for use, and
then they were buried. She gave Bd. per lb. for
meat for her cats, and it was served up on clean plates
with clean knives and forks and towels. The captain
used to have the liquor in which the meat was cooked.
Once she sent in some uncoked mutton, which she said
the doctor might cook.
Cross. examinned. by Mr. JAMES.-1 have been ex-
amined before. Captain and Mrs. Cumming lived
uncomfortably together. I was always quarrelling
with liar. The Captain was sometimes aggravated to
use harsh expressions towards her. I saw Mr. Ince,
the other son-in-law, about three weeks ago. I called
at his house to leave my card of address, as I am a
nurse, and wanted an engagement. Mrs. Hooper
never came to Mrs. Cumming's house. Mrs. Ince
came once. Neither of the cats used the knives and
forks—(A laugh)—but Mrs. Cumming cut up the
meat for them. She always gavo the meat to the
cats and the liquor to her husband. It was not good
enough for a sick person. Mr. Ince attended Captain
Cumming as a medical man. Mrs. Cumming drank
a great deal of brandy, and I occasionally required a
little drop of gin. The Captain drank very little, a
very little would overcome him. He might some-
times have been the worse for what he had taken.
At this stage of the proceedings a juror suggested
that Mrs. Cumming ought"to be present if she wished,
and after some discussion as to her ability to attend,
she was brought into the room. She appeared to be
suffering under severe indisposition, and to be ex-
ceedingly feeble • but in other respects she was a very
fine looking old lady, and showed no signs of mental
aberration.
Sergeant Witatnis asked her if she felt equal to the
task she had imposed upon herself (for her attendance
was of course voluntary ?) Mrs. Cumming—l should
hope so, sir.
The COMMISSIONER (pointing to the witness)—Do
you know that person ? Mrs. Cumming—Yes, but
she is dressed differently from what she was then. I
recollect her. She was a nurse.
The COMMISSIONER—Do you know her nameer
?
h
Mrs Cumming—She was very tenacious in giving
name.
The COMMISSIONER—She says her name isiza;
beth Browne. Mrs. Cumming—Then, of course, ee
must believe her.
Cross-examination resumed.—Mrs. Cumming kept
three cats. There was no sandbox in the res
them. Mr. Ince was at Captain Cummcnalg
tain had
omhoufoser
nearly every day, but it was after thseou
tor dinner.
dined. Sometimes the Captain had turtl:ut
To s passion she
for help, on
I never heard Mrs. Cumming call
was near her.
account of her husband's violence. I
would sometimes call out when novvoasne
used to converse
in her bedroom
She would scream out when she
when she was alone. Sometimes but not •he
with Mr. Ince, as a medical gentleman,Mr. I did not Inca did not
out Mrs. Cumming's knowledr
ta.
at that time say anything °°3 ll-
ki g out a commis-
genera e saw Mrs. Cum-
sion of lunacy. Mr.
ming every day. Ince
Sir F. TIIESIGER Captain
Re-examined by
very feeble state of health, and a
Cumming was in a,
• Ile was ordered to take
very little overcame
Cummingnun
brandy. Captain being an elderly person,
d it was impossible to go through
was very offensive,
an
him without
the work of nursing.. taking spirits ; but
I never took enough to intoxicate me. The meat for
the cats was net boiled so as to extract the goodness
from it. The kitchen cat was not invited to dinner
with the rest.
By the cceercsstoelrt—l never went by any other
name than Browne.. I was never unwilling to give
my name. My maiden name was Reeve.
The COMMISSIONER asked Mrs. Cumming what she
intended by saying that Elizabeth Browne was un-
willing to give her name ? Mrs. Cumming—She was
very tenacious of giving her name, and that caused a
great deal of mystery.
Susan Boyd (the Susan Clarke spoken of by the
last witness) deposed that she slept with Mrs. Con-

ming, and gave very similar testimony to that of
Browne. The cats lived much better than the ser-
vants. Mrs. Cumming was very stingy, and used to
drive hard bargains with the persons of whom she
made purchases. Had often seen her intoxicated.
Had heard her say that one of her daughters lvAl
married a bandsman, named Hooper, and that Mrs.
Ince had encouraged the match. Had never heard
that Hooper was one of the band at Astley's.
Herriet Browne had lived in the service of Captain
Cumuline, during the months of July and August,
1845. The conduct of Mr=. Cumming to her hus-
band was very unkind. She used to absent herself
from hini when he was ill for days together. He
often complained of it. He was never better pleased
athem than when she would come to see him and dine with
him. He had not always proper food. Her conduct
was often outrageous—generally about the cats.
Tne house was rendered very offensive by the way in
which
in which they were confined was left open, they
would naturally go
nout.
ue
She
e haveusedn thea
tghleans doors
to
of
of thera v
er o
and
nmd
d
storm at me, swear, and use bad language. Have
heard her say that Ars. Ince bad stolen a silver basket
of her.ich she
The kepCaptain it
brandy-
and water by the order of the medical man at about
seven o'clock in the evening. Mrs. Cumming de-
prived him of that, and then Mr. Ince used to send it
in bottles for him, labelled " the mixture as before."
—(Loud laughter.) Witness had left because of
Mrs. Cumming's conduct. Would have starred
rather than have stayed. When one of Mr. Ince's
children died she said it looked so beautiful in its
coffin that Mr. Ince must have it glazed all over like
a wax doll. She seemed to think that Mr. Ince had
really done something to it, and appeared to be dis-
pleased.
Cross•examined.by Mr. JAMES—The Captain used
to have for his breakfast tea and part of a penny roll.
For dinner he used to have beef-water.—(Laughter.)
Sometimes he had fish, and sometimes meat. The
beef-water was made of a pound of gravy beef boiled
for ten minutes. The cats had the meat and the cap-
tain the water. She used to say that she would not
have the goodness boiled out of the meat she bought
for her cats. The Captain was not violent, but if a
person put his fist in Mr. James's face he would
resent it.—(Laughter.) The Captain used sometimes
to say, " Confound those cats, they shall not come
here," to which his wife used to reply, " They shall
come here, for they are your superiors." Had not
heard Mrs. Cumming accuse her husband of having
illegitimate children, but had once heard him say
that she knew well her daughter, Mrs. Hooper, was
not his child, but a Captain Davis's.
Sarah Alsop bad lived in the service of Mrs. Ince
from 1836 to 1850. Mrs. Cumming appeared fond
of her (witness's) mistress, but excitable. Mrs. Cum-
ming's peculiarities had appeared to increase latterly.
The Court then adjourned until 10 this day.

THE ENGINEERS and THEIR EMPLOYERS,

ACTUAL COMMENCEMENT OF THE STRIKE.
The dispute became still further complicated yes-
terday by the closing of the establishment of Mr,
Scott, machinist, King-street, Commercial-road East,
in consequence of the refusal of the men to submit to
a new condition in connexion with overtime, proposed
to be carried out by their employer, one of the mas-
ters who on Saturday last gave notice that their es-
tablishments would be completely closed on the 10th
instant.
It appears from the statements of the men that
some of their number had lost time from the com-
mencement of the week up to Wednesday night to
the amount of a quarter of a day, in consequence of
which Mr. Scott demanded that they should work
overtime in the evening, so as to make up the time
they had lost; and, further, Mr. Scott intimated that
in the event of their failing to comply with this
demand, it was his fixed intention to stop
two hours' pay for every hour of time
which they had lost, or might lose. The men re-
monstrated against the adoption of what they
conceived to he an unreasonable proposition, and,
after some further parley, refused to submit to it,
upon which bin Scott replied that in that case they
had better quit their work at once, as he fully in-
tended to close the shop on Saturday, and the two
days intervening between that time and the present
could make little difference to either party. The
men acted upon Mr. Scott's suggestion without coin
municating their intention to the general secretary of
the society, or the executive council, and not return-
ing to their work after the dinner hour, the establish-
ment was forthwith closed.

T he establishment thus closed was a small concern,
employing not more than about sixteen or eighteen
members of the Amalgamated Society. The follow-
ing communication was received yesterday by Mr.
Allan :

i,he
John
" London, Jan. 6, 1852.
" Central Association of Employers of Operative
Engineers, 30, klucklersbury.
" Sir,—Your letter of yesterday, stating that you had
been informed this committee were desirous of seeing a
deputation of workmen, having beau considered, at the
ordinary meeting this day, lam directed to state that
whilst the individual members of this association are
always ready to receive any communication from their
workmen in their respective establishments, they cannot
recognise the executive council of the Amalgamated So-
ciety as the proper channel for effecting any arrange-
ments between themselves and those in their 'employ-
ment,this association having been formed for the express
purpose of defending themselves and their well-disposed
workmen from the dictation and pernicious interference
of the council you represent.—l am, &c.,
SIDNEY SMITH, Secretary.
" Mr. Wm. Allan, Secretary Amalgamated
Society of Engineers, &o.
The above letter will be submitted to the executive
council at its sitting to-morrow.
A meeting of the London district committee took
place last night, when reports were given in by depu-
tations from various establishments unanimously in
favour of maintaining the position assumed by the
executive council.
It is believed that work at the shops to be closed
will cease on the Friday night, the week's wages in
many establishments being then due, owing to a pre-
valent practice of keeping a day's pay in hand.
MANCHESTER, WEDNESDAY.—A step, which seems
to be an advance towards a reconciliation, has been
taken by the executive committee of the Anisiga:
mated Society, by the publication yesterday
hmo;onl-
ing, in one of the Manchester newspapers of t
Dispute:°Lon-
lowing advertisement :—" Engineers'
to inform
don, Tuesday Night, Jan. 6, 1085.21—.
never
the employers in their trade that they
present working
demanded the dismissal of persons
" atintention to do so.
self-acting machines, nor is it heir
Horafall,
a feeler, to
—(Signed) William Brown,
j Thomastts, William Powell,
Ives, William Newton, James Executive
John Reid, members of the council; , Joseph UStO,
This manifesto
from " the council of seven" is not deemed satisfac-
tory,see how much they will be satisfied with it. It is to
be observed that no mention of overtime or piece-
work is made, and thus there is a tacit admission
president ; W. Allan, secretary.
made by
them. The committee of masters meet almost daily,
oothkeus:ohnadit
beens
and yesterday the notice was brought before them,
asrateferrseonncelytol
but no step was
taken in reference thereto. Messrs.
Sharp, Brothers, and Co., it is said, have already
cleared their works, but we have not been able to
th a t demands and
the
inm
learn the truth of this. The men are assuming a
firm attitude, believing that the number which will
have to be supported by their fund will be
very small
in comparison with the whole number, not above 600
that
out of the thousandwill
be playing, should the
shops be closed.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
ASCOT HEATH.
Nominations for the New Stakes.
Rattle, c by Theon out of Louisa, Playful, f by Epirus
out of Margellina, Lotus, Pitfall, Pbarold, Valour,
Ilyhla, Gunnersbury, Pug Orrock, Petition, br c by Sir
Hercules out of Dexterous, Coomburland Lithatesuion,
Singapore, The Friar, Knavery, fby Beiram out of
Amaryllis, Chilton, Eulogist, Tavistock, Tamerlane, f by
lago out of Avelino, Koh-i-noor, Mentmoro Lass, Pre-
vention, Oak Leaf, c by Assault dam by Lanercost.
DONCASTER, 1852.
THIRD DAY.
Nominations for the Two yrs old Stakes of 10 rovs. each.
C by The Emperor out of Beguin, Elspeth, br c by
Lanercost out of his Actaeon mare, Towtoo,, Valour,
Charity, Lambton, Cassio, Belgravia, Mabella , c by As-
sault dam by Lanercost, Battery, England' s Beauty,
Straight Jacket, Nestor, Fan thorn, Auchin. ,eck, The
Hatchel, Dick Turpin, Honey Dew, Miss W, iston, c by
Don John out of Decision, Lord Lieutenant, 'I no Quern,
Tankersley.
Nominations for the Scarborough Stakes, kit .3 yrs old.
Daniel O'Rourke, Allegro, Golden Age , Phantom,
Orelio, Gossamer, The High Sheriff, Captioi
The Parkhill Stakes for 1853 closed wi th 29 nomi-
nations, and the St. Leger for 1854 with 165. ,

THE YANKEE BAR.—The fullowinp ; powe:f111,
elegant, and classic appeal was made in a col trt of justice,
somewhere in the west, by one of the learne heads of the
bar :-7" Gentlemen of the jury, do you think r ay clie theo9il
lives in a pleasant valley where the land is ric ;:h,ande
is fertile, would be guilty of stealing eleving little skeins of
cotting ? I think not—l reckon not—l calcin rte not ! And
I guess, gentlemen of the jury, that you had 'oot.ter bring my
client in not guilty, for it you convict hlm tte and his KIR
41111 will lick the whole of you ?"