The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-03 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 3, 1852.

tages and 'coated these lands, there would have
been offices to promote them in every street in
London for the benefit of these poor people,
under the patronage of the philanthropic prince; but
now, if my Lord or Lady Ninccmpoop happens to be
driving through these estates, and the daughter in the
carriage happens to say, " Lor, mamma, look at
those beautiful cottages," the anxious parent Pulls
down the blinds, exclaiming, " My dear, it was that
ruffian Feargus O'Connor built them." (Loud
aughter.) Mr. Grey, who at the instance of the
House of Commons reported on the accounts of the
company, has a " sofa full" of receipts and vouchers,
and might sit on them.—(Laughter.) You are ask-
ing me the most nonsensical questions, and I know
what you want is to juggle me.
The remainder of Mr. O'Connor's evidence was
given in such a semi-serious but insulting manner as
to call frequently for the marked reprobation of the
Master, whom he turned to on one occasion with the
utmost nonchalance, and asked to have a " pinch of
snuff," a wooden box full of which he throughout the
day drew supplies from, using it every now and then
as a tatoo on the table during the pauses between
question and answer, at the close of many of which .
he deliberately shook his fist at the Learned Counsel,
exclaiming loudly, " You ruffian." He did not know
a man of the name of " Cotton," but knew a man
named " Worsted ;" and asked the Learned Counsel
if he meant " Piddlecomb" for " Biddlecomb." The
Learned Counsel (at four o'clock) must be hungry,
and if be liked he would order him a mutton chop.-_
(Laughter.) This was all that he (the witness) on
one occasion had one day at O'Connorville, when he
stuck it on the tongs and fried it for himself.
The Master—Will you be good enough to look at
these ledgers, Mr. O'Connor, to refresh your me-
mory ? Mr. O'Connor (balancing a ledger in his
arms, amid loud laughter)—But just look what
thundering books they are !
The Master—Thundering or not, you must do it.
Mr. O'Connor—Oh ! you can get it from the
Daily News and in the Stars.—(Laughter.)—All I
received and paid.
The Master—We must put you to the trouble of
looking at these books. Mr. O'Connor—Oh ! dear,
I could not look at them.—(Laughter.)
Mr. Roxburgh—We shall require you to-morrow.
Mr. O'Connor—l cannot be here. I must be at the
House.
Mr. Roxburgh—l think you will find that the
summons of this Co urt has precedence over the
House of Commons. Mr. O'Connor—Have you done
with me? Will you let me go ? You have been
examining me nearly five hours. Mr. M`Grath and
Mr. Doyle tell me that the directors have all the
books showing the wages and other matters paid.
Mr. M`Grath is one of the most amiable men in the
world—(Laughter)--and he tells me all the books
have been given up ; and M‘Grath is one of the most
honest and independent men.
Mr. Roxburgh—We are all independent men.
Mr. O'Connor—You are not an independent man.
You are a ruffian.—(Sensation and laughter).
The Master here interposed.
Mr. O'Connor, laughing—Oh no, he is a jolly fel-
low. I make him laugh. You know he wants to
juggle me. You've examined me five hours, and
have not asked me a single word connected with the
Land Company. Have you done with me now ?
Mr. Roxburgh—No, nor am I likely just yet. It
may be a long time before.
Mr. O'Connor—Oh, my God! Oh dear, oh dear !
Will you have a pinch of snuff ?—(Laughter.)
The Master—Allow me to look at that book.
Mr. O'Connor (lifting it up)—Oh dear, oh for !
Now, have you anything more to ask me? He's been
at me five hours. I'll take a hatchet and cut your
head off.—(Laughter.)
The Master—Did you take any entries from this
book to make out the account you have alluded to ?
Mr. O'Connor—No, M4Grath tells me you have
the books with all the wages paid ; and he is one of
the most amiable, and upright, and honest men in
the world.

The Master—We shall have another opportunity
of judging of his amiability.
Mr. O'Connor—Don't bother me any more, you
old ruffian (understood to be directed to Mr. Rox-
burgh, who was about to resume his questions); ex-
amine M'Grath. Come up M'Grath now, and be ex-
amined.—(Loud Laughter.) Come up M'Grath.
Mr. Roxburgh—None of the books we have show
the expenditure.
Mr. O'Connor—Hold your tongue, you ruffian.—
(The witness here directed first one fist and then ano-
ther at the Learned Counsel, and was about to direct
also one of the smaller ledgers at him.)
The Master (with remarkable mildness)—Really,
Mr. O'Connor, you must not do that.
The Master here retired into one of the side rooms,
followed by the Learned Counsel; and in the interim
Mr. O'Connor, addressing some one in the crowd.
exclaimed, "Here, now, do you get on the bench."
On the return of the Master and Mr. Roxburgh,
Mr. O'Connor, addressing the latter, said, " Ab,
you ruffian ! will you have a pinch of snuff?" and, on
the Master taking his seat, " Silence, Gentlemen, for
the Noble Lord."

Mr. Roxburgh—Have you any books at all? Mr.
O'Connor—None.

The Master—Did you ever have any ? Mr,
O'Connor—l never had any. I cannot come here to-
morrow ; I must be at the House.

The Master—The Speaker will he ready to excuse
you, if there is any necessity.—(Laughter.)
Mr. O'Connor—Will you excuse me ? The Master
—No, I cannot excuse you.
Mr. O'Connor here laughed outright.
The Master—l adjourn these proceedings until to-
morrow, when Mr. O'Connor and all parties must be
present.
Mr. O'Connor (putting on his bat, and retiring
laughing)—Oh dear, oh dear !
The court then closed at four o'clock, it being
arranged that Mr. O'Connor should today be exa-
mined on the accounts as published by him in the
Daily News and Northern Star, and thus terminated
the first day of these extraordinary proceedings.
A large crowd of people followed the witness into
the Lincoln's Inn courtyard and through Lincoln's
Inn-fields.

DEPARTURE OF THE ORINOCO

STEAM-SHIP

SOUTHAMPTON, MONDAY.—The 0613000 steam-
ship, with the usual West India and Mexican mails,
in charge of Lieutenant Heathcote, R.N., Admiralty
agent, left her moorings in the river this afternoon.
The Orinoco, which is another of the splendid
steam-ships recently built for the Royal Mail Com-
pany, having been so fully described in the London,
and provincial journals, renders it unnecessary to re-
peat her description here. It would not be amiss,
however, to remark that she is nearly as long as the
unfortunate Amazon, with an additional foot in
breadth of beam. She was constructed by those emi-
nent builders the Messrs. Pitcher, of Blackwell; her
engines and machinery being supplied by Maudslay
and Sons. She is a complete specimen of what a
steam-ship ought to be of her colossal dimensions;
and every nautical man who has inspected her de-
clares her to be as fine a vessel of her class as was
ever turned out from a builder's yard.
After receiving her mails this afternoon, at three
o'clock, the Orinoco slipped from the buoy, and at
once proceeded on her voyage, attaining a good speed
immediately the engines were put into motion, in-
creasing it every revolution of her ponderous wheels;
indeed, she appeared to work as smoothly as if the
machinery had been in use for some time. It is
fully expected she will make a good and quiok pas-
sage out.
The Orinoco has been supplied with a sufficient
number of life-boats, in case of emergency, two of
which have been placed forward. She carries out
upwards of eighty passengers, the greater portion of
whom are gentlemen. There are besides on board a
company of Cornish miners, sent out under the aus-
pices of the Ave Maria Gold Company to Chagres,
en route to California, by the Isthmus of Panama.
She has also a full cargo of Manchester and other
goods, and a very large quantity of quicksilver and
specie.
Captain Chapman, who has so long commanded the
Tay steam-ship of the Royal Mail Company, has
been 'selected to take charge of the Orinoco. He was
to have commanded the Amazon, after her first
voyage, had not that unfortunate ship been destroyed.
She is also manned with as fine a set of officers and
crew as ever left this or any other port.
A large party of the directors of the Royal. Mail
Company came from town to witness the sailing of
the Orinoco.
The Trent, Captain Clark, with the West India
mails, is expected on the sth or 6th inst.
The Royal Mail Company's steam- Tay, Capt.
alup._.
Moss, will leave on the 9th with the Brazilian mails.

--- ,
MUSEUM OF PRACTICAL GEOLOGY.—LTOVERNMENT I 1
SCHOOL or MINES AND Or SCIENCE APPLIED TO THE 1
Axis.—We are happy to see that a series of lectures to
working men, illustrative of the collections in the museum,
are about shortly to be commenced. The series will corn.
mence on Monday next, and will be continued upon each
successive Monday during the session. The following are
the subjects announced, with the names of the lecturers :
Glass and its composition, by Lyon Playfair, Fits. • why
A .
fossils are collected and exhibited, explainmedy
by Ed
ward
Forbes, F.R. S. ; photography and its applications, by
M .
mode of
Robert Hunt, keeper of mining records; on the utility of
-
geological maps, by A. C. Ramsay, F.R.S. • on the
occurrence of metals in nature, by W. W. Smyth.
iron, by John Percy, M.D.. F.R S. The lectures •; on
given on each evening at eight o'clock ; and as
they will be
tended for working men only it will be necessary are in-
who apply for admission to show that they for those
artizans. Admission cards may, be obtained at the
are really
daily, from ten A. 31. to four r.m, and on blondsathe museum
Fri-
days, from six to eight r.m., on paymentof
ys and
fee of 6d. for the whole cousre. The le a registration
ac-
commodate only about 450 persons, and
lecture theatre will
already,
applications have been made for the larger we believe,
tickets. proportion of the
The Sheffield Times states that M. Thier
week the guest of Earl FiwyfithitDA iiii 4 a was last
toult9n4

THE ARMY.
AMMUNITION FOR PORTSMOUTH.
One mounted non-commissioned officer, 1 trum-
peter, 12 mounted gunners and drivers, with 4 wag-
gons, each drawn by 6 horses, and having 1 non-
commissioned officer and 6 dismounted gunners as an
escor', under the command of Lieutenant Strover, of
the E Field Battery, left the Royal Arsenal at 8
o'clock A.M. to-day for the Bricklayers' Arms Rail-
way terminus with ammunition to be sent by train
to Portsmouth.

1 RECRUITING FOR THE ARMY.
Instructions were forwarded from the Horse
Guards tor day to a number of line regiments to send
out recruiting parties to enlist men for the immediate
augmentation of the army, it hiving been resolved by
Government to increase the number of men in the
regiments of the line to the extent of 5,000 as early
as recruits can be obtained to make up that number.
It is also fully expected, as we originally stated, that
when the army estimates for 1852 8 are brought
before Parliament a vote will be called for of an addi-
tion of 10,000 men, and that the other 5,000, or
nearly that number, will be added to the Royal Artil-
lery and Cavalry Regiments.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—The Britannia, 120, Cap-
tain Goldsmith, flag of liar-Admiral Dundas, has taken
on board her powder and shells at Spithead to-day.
The Victory, 104, Captain G. B. Martin, C. 8., flag of
Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, G.C.M.G, was paid six
months' wages to-day.
The Hydra steam-sloop, Commander Be!grave, has
shipped her powder and shells in harbour to-day.
SnEEnisEss, JAN. 31.—Her Majesty's ship London, 90,
Captain the Hon. Montagu Stopford, has been removed
abreast the tow
from the flag-n-pieship'sr. moorings to those immediately
Her Majesty's ship Waterloo, 120, flag-ship of Vice-
Admiral the Hon. Josceline Percy, Commander-in-
Chief, will come out of the basin on the approaching
spring-tides, and be moored off the north end of the
dockyard. She is reported to be complete in her fittings
by the Bth proximo.
The Myrtle paddle-wheel steam-vessel, 50, Mr. W.
S. Bourchier master, proceeded to-day to Chatham, re-
turning in the afternoon with money, in charge of Mr.
D. Morgan, Chief Clerk in the Pay-office, for the use of
the dockyard.
The Goodwill, Government lighter, Patrick master,
arrived late last evening from Chatham, with stores for
the dockyard, and is alongside the wharf unloading.
The following gentlemen have been selected by the
Board of Admiralty for the purpose of testing the merits
of ships' anchors:—Mr. Duncan Dunbar, chairman, and
Mr. Anthony Ridley, deputy-chairman of the Local
Marine Board; Mr. William Drew and Mr. W. S. Lind-
say, member of the Local Marine Board; Mr. George
Marshall and Mr. William Phillips, shipowners; Captain
C. Hope, of the Monarch, Superintendent of the Dock-
yard; Captain the Hon. Montagu Stopford, her Ma-
jesty's ship London ; Mr. J. Aylen, Master-Attendant
of this Dockyard; and Mr. JamesTorken, of her Ma-
jesty's ship Waterloo. They assembled at the Dockyard
on the 27th ult. (being conveyed to this port by a steamer
placed at their disposal) for the purpose of consulting on
the tests to be applied .to the various anchors now in use.
After a deliberation of more than two hours, various re-
solutions were agreed to, which have been submitted to
the Lords of the Admiralty for approval. The visit,
although official, was strictly private; hence the parti-
cular tests to be adopted have not been made public.
The trial of the anchors, which is not, it is said, to take
place until April, is expected to continue several days.

APPOINTMENT.
Mr. H. W. Row!stone, paymaster and purser, of the
Wolverine, 12, coast of Africa, to the Gladiator,
6, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, 430 horse power, Cape
of Good Hope.
The officers and ship's company of her Majesty's ship
London were inspected yesterday by Captain the Non.
Montagu Stopford.
The Adder, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, 100-horse
power, James Watt master, arrived yesterday from
Portsmouth, with engineers and seamen-gunners for the
Horatio, 24, screw steam guard-ship, Captain the Hon.
S. T. Carnegie. After putting them on board the Hora-
tio s hulk, she proceeded to Chatham.
The difficulty of procuring first-rate seamen for oar
ships has for some time past been a matter of regret,
and in none of our outports has it been more felt than at
this. On the paying off the Ganges last week a large
portion of the crew (nearly 300) volunteered for her
Majesty's ship London, whose complement as an ad-
vanced ship is only 350 (more than one-half of which
are marines), and from the circumstance of there being
no vacancies in her for able seamen, not one of them
could be entered. With the exception of a few who have
joined the Horatio, these men have been allowed to dis-
tribute themselves to find employment in other quarters,
instead of being retained, as common prudence would
dictate in the present state of affairs, in our own service.

APPOINTMENTS.
WOOLWICH, FEB, 2.—Ganners—John Powell to the
Seringapatam coal depot, at the Cape of Good Hope;
Samuel Satterly to the Tortoise, 12, store-ship at
Ascension.

PROMOTION.
Lieutenant Frederick Woollcombe (1846), serving as
Flag-Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Reynolds, C. 8., on
the south-?ast coast of America station since September,
1848, to the rank of Commander.
Commander Henry Baker (1850), who was Master of
the Gorgon steam-sloop on the south-cast coast of Am--
rica station when that vessel was saved from being a
total loss, and for which he was made a Lieutenant, in
addition to receiving a handsome reward, and subse-
quently promoted to the rank of Commander, has just
completed a course of study of steam at the factory at
IVoolvvich Dockyard, and was examined on Fridry last'
by Mr. Charles Atherton, chief engineer, and on passing
received his certificate.
Commander Wm. Morris (b, 1846), having completed
a course of study of marine steam-engines, was exa-
mined by Mr. Atherton on. Saturday last, and on pas-
sing received his certificate.
Lieutenant M'Arthur, of the Portsniouth division of
Royal Marines, embarked on board the Tyne store-ship
at Woolwich on Saturday last, to take charge of the
Royal Marines detachment previously embarked for the
Island of Ascension.
The Resistance troop-ship Master-Commander Brad-
shaw, was inspected to-day by Mr. Watts, Assistant-
Inspector to the Surveyor of the Navy, and Mr. Chat-
field, assistant to the Master Shipwright at Woolwich
dockyard, and is reported to have ample accommoda-
tion for 640 troops on board. The Resistance will be
ready for further service in about a week from this date.
The Monkey steam-vessel left Woolwich to-day for
Brighton, having on board Mr. Peake's life-boat, to try
experiments with her on the sea off that coast.
Letters have been received at Woolwich from several
of the crew of the late Reynard steam-sloop, lost on the
Patros Islands, in the Chinese sea, the Woodbridge, a
London merchant ship in which they embarked at Sin-
gapore, having arrived at the Cape of Good Hope after
a passage of two months and five days from the former
port. During the voyage the Woodbridge in a gale
lost her maintopmast and fore and mizen topmasts, kill-
ing two and severely bruising seven others out of her
crew of sixteen employed to navigate he.ri The officers,
engineers, and seamen of the late Reynard are all well,
and expect to arrive here in about three weeks, when
they will be borne on the books of the Fisgard flagship
at Woolwich until further orders.

EXPLOSION OF GAS IN EDINBURGH.
A very alarming explosion of gas or foul vapour, ac-
cumulated under an unknown covered well at the head
of the Cowgate, took place on Thursday afternoon.
Above a dozen labourers had for some days been em-
ployed in making a side-drain to connect with the co-
vered sewer which runs down under the Cowgate, and
on Thursday forenoon, while excavating for the purpose,
they unexpectedly came upon a smoothed stone which
evidently formed part of the wall of some arched vault
or drain. Curious to know the purpose of this subter-
ranean masonry, they formed an aperture by removing
the stone, which was above a foot square. A foul
gaseous vapour gradually issued forth, and the interior
was so dark that they could make nothing of the use of
the hollow cavern. After allowing the foul air, as they
believed, to exhaust, the foreman incautiouslyprocured
a light, and the curiosity of the labourers was so excited
that they crowded together and crouched down
with their faces to the aperture. The conse-
quence was that the moment the
,
anadoo three
above
ree o
rt h
spark was
applied the gas under the arch and
aperture exploded with terrific violence
four men were dreadfully scorched by the instantaneous
flash, and forcibly thrown to the opposite
almost buriedosite side of the
drain in which they were intrenchedl and
by the fall of a heap of earth that had previously been
thrown up on either side in cutting for the drain. Most
providentially no serious injury was sustained by any
other individual from the falling the dislodged stones
or earth, but an intense alarm Nof
was created in the neigh-
bourhood by the report, which resembled that of a heavy
terious
cannon.
arch inclose It turned ouf,woenllexamination, that the mys-
d a
and about 12 or 15 feet b
aodf.ll°lltessbathsanev2idBenfetleyt
been
in
ghe noute
jogiab
of use, and broad
its existence was not known of in
neighbourhood. The foreman, named John Par-
ker, and a labourer, were so severely burnt and bruised,
that they had
to be conveyed to the Royal Infirmary;
and although theirare entertained
condition was at first considered dan-
gerous,ouranetntertained of the recovery of both.—
Edinburgh CV,

OLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS.—A coreplete outfit for
a superior order of Volunteers can be obtained, according to
an
advertisement lately inserted in the public journals by
Messrs Nicoll, army clothiers, 114, 116, 118, 120, Regent-
street,, for the moderate sum of eight guineas, at the same
timeits comfort, usefulness, and appearance will content the
well-to-do resident of any town or port in this kingdom. It
may consist of a dark Been military frock-coat and epau-
lettes, trousers to correspond, a foraging peaked cap with a
military badge and band, a sword-belt and plate, with am-
munition pouch, &c. ; together with a rifle guaranteed by
the makers of her Majesty's ordnance for safety and efficiency
(at 1,000 yards), being copied by the one now in use by the
Chasseurs de Vincennes (a correct model is at this moment
in Messrs. N.'s 'possession). The side arm proposed is a
sword which, like that of the above French corps, is capable
of being fixed and used as a bayonet. For villages, &c., on
the sea coast, where even the moderate expense now de-
scribed may be met with objections, an outfit can be supplied
for five pounds, including the above rifle— a military blouse
(or over-garment), with cap, belt, ammunition pouch, &c.—
Morning Post.
AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY:The divi-
dend declared at the annual meeting of the Australian Agri-
cultural Company, held on Friday, was V. is. per share,
free from income-tax, at the rate of 3 per cent. upon the
amount of paid-up capital. The report and accounts
which were unanimously adopted, exhibited generally
favourable results, the Surplus available for dividend being
11,495/.