The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-28 00:00:00

THE ARMY.

In consequence of the increasing number of arpli-
cations made to the authorities at the head-quarters
of the Royal Engineer establishment, Chatham, for
qualified non-commissioned officers belonging to that
branch of the service to instruct the various Volun-
teer Engineer corps recently formed, orders have
been issued from the office of Col. Chapman, C. 8.,
Deputy-Adjt.-Gen., to the commanding officers
at the several stations occupied by Royal En-
gineers, directing a certain number of the most
intelligent and skilful of the non-cometussaened
officers to be selected from the several companies
for special instruction, to qualify them for the
appointment of Engineer Volunteer instructors.
The names of the non-commissioned officers selected
will be forwarded to the Horse Guards, and on
their approval they will be sent up to head-quar-
ters, Chatham, where they will be put through a
practical and theoretical course of instruction in
every department connected with the art of military
engineering, in nected wi
readiness to be transferred to those
Volunteer Corps which may make application for
their services during the approaching summer. In
addition to their other studies, the non-commissioned
officersrse of selected
go through a
u
and battalion drill, in order to
company
for instructors will
co
render them as perfect as possible in their military
duties.
In accordance with orders received from the
Horse Guards, a number of non-commissioned
officers and men, selected from
the 17th company of
Royal /Engineers, at headquarters, left Chatham
yesterday for Aldershott to assist the Royal Engi-
neers of the 24th company in completing the bloek
of stables for the cavalry now in course of erection
at the camp. The men despatched from Chatham
were chiefly smiths and carpenters, persons of those
trades being now most in request at the camp.

Thelii:Oceedings of the National Assaciatioil (or
which his Royal Highness the Commander-hi,-
Chief is president), for determining the selectiotr
! of rifles intended to be used at the forthcoming
meeting on Wimbledon-common, and which were-
commenced on Wednesday morning at ' the
Government range, in Woolwich-marsh,, were
resumed yesterday
names were given yesterday by the competitive list of
gunmakers, whose na
detail. The operations, officially announced to com-
mence on'each day at half-past 10 o'clock, were again
delayed yesterday until 1 p.m., on account of a
.rg-
ii
3.
,solution on the part of the Council to postpone 'We'
continuation of the long range firing of. 1,000 yr.rclt,
commended en the former day,--to a later period,
and to commence that day's proceedings over the
short range. On this subject an opposition I,ve.s
raised by the competitors who had alreatly borne,
the brunt of the adverse weather of Wednesday,.
and which still prev.tiled to the equal disadvantegu
of their remaining opponents' contest—Mr. Henriy
and Mr. Whitrth: , Mr. 'ferry, one of the most
eminent members of the. profession, who with thi'
rest had gone through the first day's ordeal, sug-
gested that the wind, which had-Offered a serious
impediment to their own firing, may, in all proba-
bility lull or veer round to a less objectionable quar-
ter, and thus influence considerably the flight of the
shot in their opponents' favour. This objection
occasioned a consultation and delay The two com-
petitors were at length at their posts, and the eight
trial shots on each side were fired, when.Mr—Whit-
worth signified 'his desire (most unexpectedly) that
the shed appropriated for his use should be re-
stricted to himself and his agents, and visitors were
requested to retire. Mr. Whitworth then solicited
to be allowed two additional trial shots, which re-
quest the Council had denied to his colleagues, but
which, it appears, they were willing to accord to
him, under the denomination of "preparatory shots."
This anomaly created a great sensation outside, as
the same favour had been urged by others, and re-
fused, the impression being general that Mr. Whit-
worth had been permitted to deviate in many in-
stances from the regulations to which they had sub-
scribed, and that, after the elevation of the mecha-
nical rest had been fixed, he had disturbed and al-
tered its position. This was affirmed by those who
witnessed the act and made their complaint to Gen. -
Hay, after the firing. In consequence of these nu-
merous hindrances and objections, the great portion
of the day had passed, and time only remained for
the firing of the letters A and B, viz., Mr. Terry
and Mr. Rigby, in their first contest of one rifle
each over the short range, the result of which it
is considered advisable to give at the close of the
proceedings. A number of additional visitors,
attracted by the announcements in the public
journals, were yesterday present, among whom
were Gen. Boileau, Royal Engineers (late Indian
army), Captain Blakely, Mr. Brindley Richards,
Captain Lynch, East India Company's navy, and
others, who evinced great interest in the proceed-
ings, which, it was announced, would be resumed
this morning at the same hour. His Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cambridge will take the chair
at a meeting of the association, to be held in
Willis's Rooms to-morrow, the Ist of March, at
half-past two o'clock.

FEARFUL BOIL
D UDER EXPLOSION
LEY , NEAR

SIX MEN KILTED.

A fearful boiler explosion occurred yesterday
(Thursday) morning, at the Corbyns Hall Iron-
works (Messrs. Blackwell and Sparrow) situated
about two miles from Dudley. The boiler wag
about 30 horse power, and its main use. was the
working of a powerful steam hammer. At six
o'clock a number of men were at work in the
puddling furnaces, when the explosion took place.
The roof of the furnace was immediately
broken through by a mass of falling debris, and
the whole place presented a scene of wreck. The
boiler was carried about 100 yards from its seat,
alighting near the offices of the works. Four of
the workmen, who were buried underneath the
debris, were killed. Their names aro Thomas Had-
ley, puddler ; Christopher Morris, underhand ;
Daniel Mason, ash Tiddler; and Edward Newman,
puddler. Ten or twelve others .were seriously in-
jured—some of them so seriously-that no hopes are
entertained of their recovery. The cause of the
explosion is at present a mystery.
A later account states that two of the men in-

jured have since died, and that two others are not
expected to live many hours.

ASSIZE IN7'ELLIGEACR.

~w~y~~
_„G~

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.-NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE,

Feb. 27.
(Before Mr. Justice Willes.)
THE MURDER OF A TAX COLLECTOR.

George Clark was this morning placed at the
bar charged with the murder of Mr. Mark Frater,
tax collector.
Mr. Davison and Mr. G. Bruce appeared for
the prosecution ; the prisoner conducted his own.
defence.
The facts, as stated by the counsel for the prose-
cution,_were shortly these. Mr. Mark Frater, a
gentleman 45 years of age, had been for many years
employed in Newcastle as a collector of land and.
assessed taxes. Mr. Frater resided at a place called.
Bulman's Village, about a mile and a half or two
miles distant from the town, but for the purpose of
his business as collector of assessed taxes, he oc-
cupied in Blackett-stieet, at the time of the occur-
rence, certain offices, and his habit was to go
by an omnibus, which plies between Bulman's
Village and the town, somewhere about half-
past nine o'clock in the morning, attend to
his business during the course of the day, and
return home some time in the afternoon._ On
the morning of the Ist of October he got off the
omnibus near the corner of Blackett-street , and a
Mr. Horn approached and entered into conversation
with him, and shortly after the prisoner came up
armfrom
round
sFtrr
uateekr
hbimy putting his
hisomethlientat
in his hand. A short struggle took place, Mr. Frater
became disengaged, and Mr. Horn then. observed
blood running from bis neck. The prisoner was
apprehended, and from him was taken a knife with
blood upon it. Some observations were made by Mr.
Frater, he was got into the house, and in the space
of seven or ten minutes was a corpse.
Aswould
be
to
otill
intention of the man who struck the blow, it
be shown that malice had been ranking in prisoner's-
mind towards Mr. Frater for a considerable period.
On the 18th May the prisoner was alleged to be in
arrear for a half year's dog tax, and Mr. Frater, as
he was bound to do, issued a distress warrant upon
the tools of the prisoner's trade, for he was a
rable illwill on the part of the
chair-
maker. ,That seemed to havecapursiseodnaervteorywcaorndssitdhee-
persons engaged in the transaction, and on the first
18th of May, the prisoner said to
liifflls,m"alife you pay dearly for
bailiffs,
was told by Cook, to whom ho
you or Mr. Frater
hidtsstTpreoenktuednranytfithhaafettineihe tools had been taken to Mr.
TCouoeksci, aoyneafotefr theee
Frater's ofice. Six weeks after that time, bringing
it down to the latter end of September, and not long
before the occurrence, they heard him again
nthemspeak-
Cook
shortly
about
m
tl, tools,
make and saying's
it." On the 25th of Septembery If you don't
opuri
poanyerdweaarslysefeon
in the workshop with a knife, and sr
when asked what
he was going to do with it, he replied, " It's for my
return g to
enemies." At that time the blade of the knife was-
round at the end. And the same man afterwards
saw the prisoner knocking at it with a cold chisel.
The knife taken from him showed that it had been.
struck with some instrument of that sort, and in-
stead of a round point, one side had been taken off,
thereby le •
leaving a sharp and angular point. The
next day prisoner was seen to take out of the box
where they kept the tools something having a
handle resembling that of a knife.
During the address of the learned counsel, lie wns
frequently interrupted by the remarks of the Pri-
soner.

Evidence having been called in support of the
above facts, Clark refused to have acounsel allotted
to him to defend him, and comported himself cur-
' ing the solemn inquiry in such a strange manner,
that it would be difficult to say whether he really
was insane or merely acting. Upon being called
for his defence, he entered into a long story with
regard to the seizure of his tools for dog tax—and
alleged that when he went into Blaekett-street he
so
found that Mr. Frater had stabbner)ed
merely himself with a
knife, and that he (the pri
somewhatgood ol(lw i e .
abuassuhaeld terms.
after
of tswaoi
dh otuor st
the
en d a quarter, the
jury returned into court with a verdict of guilty,
and sentence of death waspassed in
knife out of his hand. •
After an absence
Youwho are was
a
tihudef
ge”, on leav-
ing the sentence,
An nn-
nuns° concourse of people Nv
ingTthheeperofusornte;‘,
as present.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHL-
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
360th, 361st, 362 d, 363 d, 361 th, 365th Nights of the Engage-
ment of Mr. and Mrs. DION BOUrICAULT.—Last Night
of The Octoroon and The Dublin Boy.
11118 EVENING, the great American Drama of THE
OCTOROON. Messrs. Dion Bone' cault, S. Emery, Billington,
Jamison, P. Bedford, Stephenson, Eburne, Powell, Romer,
fl. Lewis; Mrs. Billington, Mrs. H. Marston. Miss Latimer,
Miss Denvil. To be followed by THE DUBLIN BOT.
And Mrs. Boimicaplt. To conclude with MARGERY
DA'V. Messrs. D. Fisher, Billington, W. Smith; Miss Wool-
gar, and Miss K. Kelly. Commence at 7.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.—
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty.
THIS EVENING, Feb. 24, will be produced a Grand
Eastern Spectacle, fort. ing one magnificent array of splen-
dour, introducing Mr. Bell's wonderful Performing Ele-
hants, the largest in England, entitled THE RAJAH OF
NAGPORE.
To be followed by a brilliant routine of matchless SCENES
IN THE CIRCLE, supported by the most awomplished
artistes of the day.
Concluding with a favourite Farce.
Stage Manager, Mr. W. Searle.

CANTERBURY HALL
ARTS GALLERY.
Immense and conilnued success of "THE ENCHANTED
HASH " by Mr. E. Mzushall, at Ten o'clock, performed up-
wards of fifty nights, prow)unced by the press to be the most
talented performance ever attempted by a single person.
Grand Selection from "La Circassienne, " by Mdlle. Negri,
with Band and full Chorus, conducted by Mr. Jonghmans.
The Comic talent comprises Mr. Randall, Mr. Marshall,
Mr. Frederick French, Mr. J. G. Forde, and Miss Harriet
Coveney.
In consequence of a sudden attack of illness, M. VI'TOR
JULINN is unable to appear for a few days. It is expected
that he will have sufficiently recovered to re-appear on Mon-
day evening next.
AdmiBsion—Hall, 6d. ; Sta'ls and Balcony, is.

AND FINE

THE OXFORD. 6, OXFORD-STRERT.-
" LES MERVEILLES GYMNASTIQUES"
By HENRI (aged Eleven years), and PFAU (aged Nine years),
From the " Cirque Napoleon," Paris,
Whose Double Feats on the Flying. Trapeze are unsurpassed
for daring, skill, and grace, EVERY EVENING.
Their perf ofTnances do not in any way interfere with the
Musical Entertainment, which as usual consists of Two
Operatic Selections alternately from "P Trovatore," " Er-
nani," "La Traviatg," " Simon BoccanegTa," " Macbeth,"
Arc., by the entire Compny, Full Band and Chorus—(Con-
ducted by Mr. F. Jong; h mat;)—And Varied Vocal and Instru -
mental Attractions, the Col:lic portion by Miss Harriet
Coveney, Messrs. Sam Collins, Virood and Son, M. P. Foster,
and W. Randall.
Hall, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, ls. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d.

frHE OXFORD 6, OXFORD-STREET
A Grand Morning Entertainment, on THURSDAY
next, March 6th,
" LES MERVEILLES GYMNASTIQIJES,
By 'MYR' and PFAU (aged Nine and Eleven years) whose
doeble feats on the Flying Trapeze arc unsurpas- ed. Verdi's
•' I 1 Trovatore " Miss Russell, Miss Harrison, Messrs, Mor-
ley, Green, and Albert.
Full Band and Chorus.
Conductor—Mr. F. Jonghnrns. Ballads, Duets, &c., by
Messrs. Herbert, Tivoli, Sesselsburg, and 'Madame Enders-
sohn. Solos—i ianoforte—Miss Bryant. Violin—Mr. Viotti
Collins. Scotch Duets— Miss Stuart and Miss M. Stuart.
The "Porter's Knot" and "Jones's Sister," by Mr. W.
Randall, and other varied entertainments.
is. Balcony and Stalls, 25. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d.
Doors open at Two o'clock ; Carriages at Four.

_HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.-Morning, lb. 51m.—Afternoon, 2h. 10m.
To-MORROW. -Morning, 2h. 30m.—Afternoon, 2h. 50m.

THE WEATIiEII.--SuN OFFICE, FEBRUARY 28, 1862.
Tnzma,fOMETEH, IN THE SHADE.
34—highest since noon ye.aterday.
31—lowest this morning and during the night.
35—this day at /loon.

BAROMETER--30.08.
WIND—North-Easterly ; fresh, with brighter weather
than usual, but very cold.
_ _

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THE SUN.

LONDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 28, 1862.

What can Lord DERBY be driving at ? Does he
himself really believe in the authenticity of the
" ferocious proclamation " against which he expen-
ded so much of his burning eloquence last night.
His lordship lectured away as if the assumption
ought to be that a proclamation, which every one
would denounce as outrageous, was one for which
that not very outrageous minister Baron RICASOLI
was directly responsible. His only authority for
such a fancy was, that the proclamation was attri-
buted to the Government, by the Armonia, a Turin
Paper, and one which Count CAVOUR had determined
to Permit to libel the Government to any extent,
lest it should appear as if the Government cared
to put down misrepresentation by force, not by
argument and truth. The Arrnonia is notoriously
an organ
also of the Jesuits, indeed of the fanatical
opposition to the Government of the Ling of ITALY.
Lord DEBBI, Nve
must presume, knew all this ;
bow, theretore,on the unsupported testimony of one
witness, and that, too, a witness capable of any-
thing, he could make a stir about the document, is
really surprising.
Was Lord NORMANBY his
prompter ? or, did the Earl of xi
~ALMESBURY wish
for an opportunity to illustrate the superior dili-
gence which would have been shown I •
n the Foreign-
cffice had a HARRIS instead of a ItossELL presided

over its management?

On 'Tuesday the Earl of DERBY first eomtnuni-
cltc3d to Earl RUSSELL and the Lords the results

studies is the Turin Jesuit paper; Lord RUE_
SELL had heard nothing about it himself, being,
perhaps, too busy to ransack the Opposition papers
of Turin. Lord DERBY, therefore, sent him his
own ccpy of the Armonia—and now again having
allowed him one night'sgrace, be assails the Foreign
Secretary for information. :Earl RUSSELL, it
seems, had telegraphed the next day, Wednes-
day, to Turin, to our Minister there, but, alas, r.O
answer had arrived. One would suppose that the
two Lovas are not such strangers, or foes, that the