The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-03 00:00:00

LONDON,
.1111 V SUN- i
TILEBARTLEY COLLIERY ACCIDENT, 1 as we may call them, thoroughly acquainted with
.RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.
..
ee
the why and wherefore of eVerything they have to
NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, SATURDAY. do would greatly increase their value and diminish COCKERMOUTHAND WORKINGTON.
Was
The half-.yearly meeting of this company
the risk of accidents, particularly thee which arise
Among other expedients for securing the greatest
amount of vigilance on the part of owners and from deficient or impeded Ventilation. There is, I
viewers, and for compelling them to take ever held at Cockermoitth on kriday-Mr. Steel, M.P.,
y believe, a mining. college established in this town, the chairman, presided.
which has already done good service ; and it would the receipts. . possible precaution to protect the lives of the men The report stated that
from the manifold perils they encounter in their be a great public advantage if other such colleges half-year ehoted a bensiderable falling 01l as com-
pared with those of the eorresponditig half of the
daily labours, it has been proposed to invest coro- were established at convenient places in every
ners' juries with the power of returning what are previous year. The de:mese had occurred ih the
district where mining operations are carried
called intermediate verdicts. At present, they can on. Not a vessel leaves our ports but its cap-
coal, lithe, and merchandise traffic, The gross re-
only find a verdict of „Accidental Death" or" Man- lain and chief officers have passed through nom© ceipts for the half-year amounted to £6,613, the
slaughter," and, without wishing to go so far as to sort ordinary working expenses to £2,463, and the ex-
incriminate any particular person, they may be of of examination and have received a certificate
of competency. The miner's calling is infinitely traordinary expenses to £321, making,with £1,903
opinion that there has been neglect somewhere;
for interest on bonds, preferehtial dividend, rates,
but when they append an expression of such opi- more hazardous than the sailor's, and surely he
has a right to require that those into whose hands taxes, arc., a total expenditure of £4,687. The
nion to the verdict, coroners will often tell them
net balance amounted to £1,926 for the half-year,
that it amounts to a finding of manslaughter, and ho intrusts his life should have given equal proof of
their ability to cope with the perils which hourly out of which the directors recommended the
object to receive a verdict in an ambiguous form, threaten him, payment of a dividend of 10s, per share, less
There are few of these accidents in which a prose- lam income-tax, on the ordinary shares of the company.
cation for manslaughter could be sustained, and out I hale gone bineytehnedsatfheegureagrdusirlemhaztepeofintthede
The engineer reported that considerable progress
it has been suggested that coroners' juries should present accident;
had been made in rebuilding the bridges on the line,
have the power, in cases where there has been a but public attention has been so
forcibly directed to the subject that there never con The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
neglect of obvious precautions, to inflict a:pecuniar7 be a better
report, said the prospects of the company were im•
flue on the owners or managers, in proportion to opportunity for pressing the adoption of
every precaution for the protection of those brave proving, and that if the new dock were made at
the extent of the negligence. This fine might either
men to whose patient and arduous toil this country Workington, for which Lord Lonsdale had obtained
take the shape of an obligation to pay the average owes so much. An accident like that at the Hartley powers, and the new line made eastwards to Kes-
wages of the men to their relatives for a certain pit can never occur again if Parliament will only wick and Penrith, the traffic would bo much in-
period, or it might be levied in a lump sum. In this insert in the present Act an additional general rule creased in value.
district, which contains some of the most extensive that no pit shall be worked until two shafts have Mr. H. FLETCHER seconded the motion, which
and best-managed collieries in the kingdom, con- been sunk, or at least until there are two indepen- Was carried unanimously, and a dividend of 108. per
ducted by the most experienced viewers-there ap- dent ways in and out provided. That this will be share, being at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum,
pears no ground for asserting that owners as a rule, done in the ensuing session no one here seems to was declared.
do not take every care to prevent accidents, but it doubt. In a former letter I quoted the authority of The CHAIRMAN, in reply to a question, stated
is, unfortunately, far different in other parts of the George Stephenson against the single-shaft system, that he had no doubt that when all the contem•
country, where the principles of scientific mining are and I take the opportunity here to give his exact plated now works were carried out the line would
not so well understood. But the strict observance words :-" I think," he says,- pay 8 pnr cent.
of these principles so :often requires large prepara- e The ventilation of coal mines would be much more cer-
tory outle SEVERN VALLEY.y, and interferes so much with the " get" tain if two pits were sunk instead of one. The air for yen-
West Midland at
This line, extending from the. ,
of co':si, that in every district there will be men who tilating the mine (in a brattice shaft) descends on one side,
a distance of about 40
and, afterpassing throu h the workings,ascends Hartlebury, to Shrewsbury,
up the
'neglect the necessary precautions, turn a deaf ear
other.,
The partition is frequently wearing out of order, miles, was, on Friday, opened throughout for public
to the inspector's suggestions, and work their mine
and the air oozes through from the downcast to the
ast traffic, amid the usual rejoicings. The first train
on the very verge of danger for the sake of an addi- there being a difference in the weight ofthe atmosphereuPc' ' started from Worcester with the officials of the line,
111
Ilona' return. To place before such men the pro- ono shaft and the other, arising from the one being
heated
at 11 o'clock, and proceeded along the new line past
spect of a pecuniary penalty of this sort, it is urged, by the furnace while the other is not, and whatever air
would be the most effectual preventative of aeci- passes from the downcast to the upcast will diminish the Hartlebury, to Stourport, Bewdley, Arley, Highley,
N Iconsider Hampton, Bridgnorth, Coalport, Ironbridge, and
dents. They would at once take steps to work their quantity passing through the workings. Now,
that much
adopt the most stringent rules, and the
mines on the most approved principles, they would
tion would be carried on by having two pits instead of one. on returning to Bridgnorth a public dinner was pro-
y would take . . . . All the wooden partitions are saved, which will vided, at which the Mayor presided. The line is con-
care to select for their officers the steadiest and most make up the difference of the cost." gauge, and is a single line
structed on the narrowhh
experienced men, who would watch with thelgreatest Air. 'r. E. Forster, next to Mr. N. Wood the brid esandviaductsar b *lt
throughout,
line.t oug
i‘tire
vigilance over the execution of those rules. It is largest viewer in the coal trade, when questioned on J. Fowlerg is the engeineuelr,
for a double
Brasses
said that all attempts to obtain compensation in the point before the committee of the House of Com- and Field are the contractors.
and Messrs.
ee
cases of colliery accidents-and there have been se- menus in 1852, says, " I would not depend on a brat- generally good, but there are
The
veral made-under Lord Campbell's act, have alto- tice in a shaft ; I would have two distinct shafts-a gradientsrves on the line, occasioned by its
some sharp cu
gather failed, because the judges have held that a downcast and an upcast shaft." These two autho- course of the Severn, for a consider-
following the
lt
servant on his hiring undertakes as between him rities ought to have settled the matter long ago, I enters the valley of the Se en at
able distance.
and his master to run all the ordinary risks of think it may be taken for granted from what I have e b iron bridge vr
of
Bewdley, and crosses the river. y an
the service, including the risk of negligence on heard that no such trust will again beplaced • in feet span. The line continues on the
one arch 200 .
the part of a fellow-servant, presuming always that castings, however massive. Every beam which may and Cl itinto the
west side of the river,
Railway,uni runs
mile
the master has taken reasonable care to preserve him henceforth be placed in a similar position will be of
Shrewsbury and
TheaboutWest line is worked by the
ordinary skill and care. I should have thought, tion of the prevention of accidents in coal mines, however, that where the cause of the accident could 111idland Company. -
while the work of legislation is on hand it may be
be clearly traced. to the. parsimony or neglect of the worth while to consider what amendments can be EAST INDIAN.
master, an action might be sustained, but there made in the
general rules. I should think there could The traffic receipts on the section of this corn-
appears to be an
.impression here that the Act is be no objection to the Home Secretary appointing a line in the North-West Provinces, 2431 miles
pang's
inapplicable to colliery accidents generally. Cer- commission, composed of practicalandscientific
men,
in length, for the week ending the 17th Nov. last,
tainly, to say the least of it, it does not furnish a which should draw up - amounted to £3,343, and for the corresponding
very accessible means of redress to widows and tailed, and embracing every contingency
which week of the previous year, on 123 miles, to £2,065
orphans who are indebted to public charity for their might be supposed to be common to all mines. This -showing an increase of 1201 miles, and of £1,278
daily bread, Whether Lord Campbell's Act re- might probably prevent the necessity of any eaten- in the receipts. The traffic receipts for the week
quires amendment in this respect, or whether, con- sion of the summary powers of the inspectors, which ending the 24th Nov. amounted to £3,665, against
si dering how helplessly the miner has to trust his in the face of the objections both of inspectors and £2,709 in the corresponding week of the previous
safety
to his superiors, and how little he can do of coalowners, would be a delicate task to undertake, year-showing an increase of £956.
himself to avert the dangers which surround him, No amendment, however, in this respect would be of
N O
coalowners ought to be placed under a more stringent any avail without such an augmentation of their NORTHER F CANADA.
responsibility than the rest of the community, it is strength, either in the shape of additional inspec-
The total traffic receipts on this company's line,
not for me to say, but it is easy to see that some tors or the appointment of sub-inspectors, as would 94 miles in length, fromthe Ist Jan, to the 31st
1861, amounted to £84,707, and for the cor-
such provision would act very powerfull in ascot- bl them to keep themselves thoroughly ac- Dec"
y ena 8 .
responding period of 1860 to £68,992, showing an
ing the best management. I believe the proposal quainted with the state of every in their district. increase of £15,715. -
has the support of most of the inspectors, who be- The present system of arbitration clearly requires
Hove that it would add great weight to •
their sug• alteration, and there ought to be an ultimate con- NEW YORK AND ERIE.
addition to their own powers. In France and Bel- Secretary or a Council of Mines. I have not yet miles in length, including branches, amounted for
g.ium the principle has been established for some heard any sufficient argument for removing these the month of December last to £141,627, and for
time past, and in addition to fines the Government inquiries from the coroners' juries. Every objection the same month in the previoue year to £80,855,
has also the power of imprisoning the persons re- made tothe coroner on the ground of want of requisite showing an increase of £60,772.
aponsible for the accident. Were such a power professional knowledge would apply with equal force
lodged in the hands of a coroner's jury, or any other to any judge bathe land, and,
'without referring to any TRAFFIC RETURNS FOR. THE WEEK.
tribunal, we should probably hear no more, even of the complaints I have heard made against the Miles Opened. Receipts.
-------A- -----, .-----A %
without further legislation, of the single shaft sys- coroner of the district on other grounds, I should Railways.
tam, for every coalowner would feel that '-.1861. 1860. 1861. 1860.
, after the say he had more experience of these inquiries than - ____ ,
x £
_
warning of the Hartley keit, any accident which any other judicial officer in the kingdom: The Ballymena and Pert Rush.. - -
Belfast and N. Counties.... 136 136 1,736 1,680
might happen for want of a second shaft would cost ancient law which regulates the selection of jury-
-391 500 512
. Belfast and County Down.. 1.9
him a pretty heavy sum. It is not, however, BO men might be amended with advantage, so as to Birkd., Lanc., & Utica. June. - _
22 22 1,673 1.188
-
.much in great calamities like this as in the smaller allow of their being drawn from a wider circle. In Plrlirstitior anddrlneter
106 125 5,051 5,325
16,289
accidents which are perpetually happening, and to this way the suspicion of partiality and interested Caledonian
kermouth& Workington 8
which public attention is scarcely ever directed, that motives too often entertained by the men might be (1-,3'onerk and Bandon 2O 20 325 303
the weight of such a penalty would be most felt. avoided. A higher class of jurors might be ob-
Cork, Blackrock,&Passage.i 6s i 26i 167 196
2t Cork and Yeughal • 531 63 079 928 209 214
' 1
In these great accidents, when the flooding of the tained, and perhaps there would then not be any Corny/all
17 17 226 222
mine or the destruction of the workings by the objection to intrusting them with the power ,of 113eu?lidne& Belfast Junction.. 63 63 1,289 1,300
Dublin and Drogheda
tempestuous fire stops the operations for some awarding damages, on which I find much stress is t '.4 VI 1,2327 11168:
Eaubn.d&alyico,y(i King
and Ent?' Skilleil ? 130 , 130 1,489 1,5( 9
time, the loss to the lessee is so great, often in- laid as a powerful stimulus to increased vigilance
I
volving his ruin, that a fine would bring him no and precaution. On the advanta
es of i
• Dundee and Arbroath 175 11 640 601
g gving a Dundee, Perth, & Aber. Jun 3l 31 1,150 1,180
additional smart. But the necessity of taking better education to those who are placed in charge East Anglian 6B 68 844 757
E.Counties,Nrfk.,&E.Union 499 499 23 255 22 500
every precaution andobserving the strictest vigilance of mines it is unnecessary dwell,and it • to
__
142 142 5,915 5,678
78 3,106 3,073
would be much more strongly impressed upon him object which the Government might very fairly ocillt'r :1) usrcgti,?fid'eerp,&Lunndee "A,
30 302 297
if he were perpetually being dropped upon for £5O call upon Parliament to assist. All improvements Furness Y nu
or £lOO to maintain the widow and family of some in the management of mines must ultimately add to g Ira, sa r z ,15.zt
hSeorun th-We s t e r n IV 1.380
20723
26,267
poor fellow who had perished through his negli- the profits of the owners. The best managed mines Great North of Scotland
9t.Soutlm. & Westn.(lrind.) 329 329 7,141 7,291
gence or mismanagement. Besides the cases of are not only the cheapest in the working, but give Great Western 7924 7714 41,425 41,857
Juno 55 55 653 615
deaths there are many accidents which result in the largest ultimate yield. The steady, good rrivsneo
sustnbasefedrenenJ
25
25 183 264
bodily
injury more or less serious, and of these- workers are keenly alive to the dangers of a badly Lancashire & Yorkshire 3951 3111 29,6784 34,215
Leominster and Kmgton
though they may arise from gross mismanagement mine, it
conducted and leave as soon as possible; Limerick and Ennis.
-*be public of course hear Limericktii and Foynes 26 261 126 117
nothing. It is worth where the arrangements are unsafe, and the dis-461 461 412 523
While considering whether it would not be dcsir- 'l'lit is the reckless,unreliable London'aieY& North- West ern . 10301 , 1004 71,432 78,061
cip Inc
.ax, olds
able to follow the precedent of the Factory Act,
• 400 3p,1 14,503 14,650,
who willingly remain. Where ventilation is de- London & South-Western and empower the inspectors to prosecute for penal- ficient the health of the men suffers, and they are Loud. Brighton, &S. ast. 2411 2,41 12,960 11,7
ties in cases of non-fatal accidents. It is certainl29
y not able to bring to bank the sameamount ofcoal. London,:w' ,'l itltuartyn, Chatham, o&ei tli en Doverd 45 ' 45 1,565
917 1,074
nan.,s
heffield,,S&Line,olnsh 2315 23,1 12,996 14,121
a great defect in the present system that there is At a dangerous mine, m 1,011 1,054
moreover the rate of wages Manch. S.Jun.& Altrincham 91 ,
no inquiry into the causes of these occurrences, always rules higher. Maryport and Carlisle
though in many cases it would reveal the most Subscriptions pour in from all parts of tho coun- L'lllr.l6MeNsiiil.Voitni ) V(421 Mt 3Mg 3a71
56 1,502 1,551
serious defects in the system of working the mine try, and the list must amount to more than r 1 0 6- . -,00.,. lArounkualoaultsli. Rail. & Canal 4161 41 2,332 2,313
or in the discipline kept. The coalowners of course Subscriptions are also being raised to present testi- Newcastle and (cTsjeelkirk 78 78 3,019 3,639
cannot be expected to concur very readily in the 1 monials to Mr. Coulson and his brave band of and ualashiels)
North Devon 3.5 35 413 361
principle of compensation. They will point out sinkers, of whose courage and endurance I N-Eastern(Bedale&Leybrn) 789 764 31,543 35,526
that they are already liable to specific penalties if have before spoken. Some have proposed to
1
North London
North Staffordshire 9 9 2,261 2,270
246 246 ,6,36 n 6,104
they break certain general and special rules which strike a me
dal for them ; others, to present Oswestry and Newton l4 1,0 408 436
Ithymney B6B 677
St. Helen's Canal & Railway 52 52 1,953 1,841
Parliament and the inspectors have imposed on them with their portraits, with suitable 1118Crip-
-634 535 3,207 3,021
them, and they will object to the kind of exceptions ; but in all probability the testimonial will
I
Scottish Central
SCottish North-Eastern ll5 115 3,682 3,424
__
tional legislation which would subject them in ad- take the more acceptable shape of a donation of nrree;sturr); at Birminghamtt r. 1 4-8 Ts
1,670 1,865
dition to other undefined penalties for acts against money. It is also suggested that the valuable ser- Shrewsbury & Hereford i 51 ' 1
775 805
which the law has not warned them and of the re- vices rndered by .r. urn u-a man re-
M T bll most shroeshire Union
South Devon
306 ! 306 15,596 16,616
levancy of which to the cause of death a jury, markable in character and appearance, who I see South-Eastern
1711 i 171 f 6,605 6,485
generally totally devoid of mining knowledge, is to has been immortalised this week in the pages of the ni'tohrinaiiret%nd River Dun 118 i 118
- 7 ,
Stockton and Darling-ten
be the sole judge. From such a wide net they will illustrated papers-should be suitably rewarded. 5,159 5,135 I
Taff Vale say there is no escape for them. The force of these He is a common pitman, but possesses great influ- Ulster
51 , 51 1,601 1,62
59
6
arguments, however, must be very much weakened i mice with his mates, and when the impatience of i.,Jahieerolocelewayndd Lancaster . lg 1g 752 659
137 130
36 36 2,054 1,713
by the strong objections they have always urged ' the crowd which surrounded thepit-heap night and vale of Neath
Kilkenny...
31 , 31 t 39 356
against allowing the inspectors to interfere with day threatened at one time a serious outburst, it w
Waterfordaterfor anda
nd Limerick... 77 1 77 964 1,099
Uny opinion on their mode of working each parti- was he who calmed them down and induced them NlClTV'epitaCrremlovoa
i p Illlarbn&Itall 3794 3795 4,201 631
4,105
West Midland - -- -
cular pit. The inspectors, they contend-drawing to leave the work of deliverance to those best able 7 444 408
W'haven,Cleator,&Egrmnt. 7
certainly
12 638 683
a very fine distinction-have only to look to conduct it. The services of the medical men Whitehaven Junction l2
to the safety of the men, and can have nothing to too, ought not to be forgotten. Dr. Davidson, the Whitehaven & Fiumess Jun 35 35 671 596
say to the principles on which the coal is colliery surgeon, scarcely left the pit's mouth night FOREIGN AND COLONIAL
Antwerp and Rotterdam 52 52 885 872
won. They are
placed in this dilemma-either or day for the first four days, and ho wasnobly AustriansB2B
. 673
they must concede to inspector Belgian Eastern Junction 265 261 231 250
the greater laid- aided by Mr. Ward, of Blyth, and other volunteers Buffalo and Lake II uro
tulle of interference with petrol t and Milwaukie n
illi the workings; or they from among his professional brethren in the neigh-must be compelled, like henish
the railway companies, to bourhood. Four of them-Dr. H. Ward, Mr. Am- Eastern of France. ......
compensate those Who suffer from their mismanage- broec, of the Arctic yacht Discovery, Mr. Nichol
, Grand Trunk of Canada 970 970 18,225 12,241
ment. All the persons with whom I have con- and Mr. Lambert-when the first opening was Great Indian Peninsula 4371 2975 5,609 4,522
versed on this grave sulel2B 128 2,938 2,`20'2
ject agree that a most made in the ruins, volunteered to go down and Great Great Luxeemrbaor_
f Canada 345 , 345 12765 8638
important step towards preventing the T oil Western tG c
occurrence force their way through the stifling gas, on the .Y._
11i.adriCla Bar ,?-on , ssvaa&Alicint MI 111 - -
of accidents would be to giv,„ t -
o those who hold chance of finding some of the men alive. Northern of Canada ... .. '
responsible positions in coal mines add Northern of France
atonal means _____-_-.... Norwevian Trunk 4l 41 - -
P_
____
of education in the scientific arts of thei d • . Paris, Lyons, & Meditcrrn 879 879 97,768 73,050
do not speak of the head viewers,
Who
irtt uties. I MILITARY EsTeetATEs.-The military estimates Paris and Orleans 922 922 12,708 48,906
dis- for 1862-63 have been under consideration fur the last two Pernambuco 36a -- 811 -
trict are for the most part highly educate this
Royal Danish 69 69 360 379
d and or three weeks, and are understood to have been ready for Sambre and Meuse 6B 68 1,255 1,041
experienced men ; but of the resident officials, adoption at ;he Cabinet Council on Saturday. Every effort South Austrian . 1291 978 45,950 31,199
superintendents or overmen, and the like, on whose in the direction ofc economy has been made, and possibly in Southerntlan of France .. 777 773 23,950 ;21,171
••• 25 25 - -
daily and hourly conduct of a mine depends to a some of the items of supply a sufficient reduction may take West Flanders
great extent the safety of the men employed in it. place, so as to bring the grand total of the Estimates under W. and N.W. of France 750 750 - -
They are ordinarily men who have risen from the the sum voted last year. The battalions on home service k-
- I
ranks, and though in the country of George Ste are about to be reduced by 60 men each from the commence- OUR GREAT CENTRAL COAL FIELD.-It has been
phen- ment of the financial year. But inasmuch as four regi- calculated by Mr. Mathews that the total area of thick
son, Fairbairn, and others it is impossible to speak ments are coming home from India, and thosein Canada coal remaining unworked within the limits of the Stafford-
of the class with disrespect, yet even here-and the I are to be maintained at a strength of 1,200 men each, the shire basin does not exceed 3 915 acre. of which 1 160 acres
remark applies with much more force elsewhere- I totalw number to be provided for in the Estimates will not, lie within the eastern ' - "• . '
,acres within the western
e apprehend
great as may be their practical acquirements, as a , show a reduction -Army and NavY district of the field. Now an acre of surface yields on an '
Gazette,
rule few of them have had an :opportunity of ob• r A
L.....nvEraistmr,NT
knowledge which
taming that amount of scientific Excellent Digestion.-- 1 -Rollo.vay s Pills,-Good Appetite, first of these localities being about 11,000 tons per week,
appetite is the first • the majority of persons, loss of its probable duration '
will be 42 years. The western dis-
would enable them to appreciate the full value of should at on,. indication of dehealth and
e receive attention actinp g.
• ' will trict is worked more rapidly, about 1 500 000 tons per ,
the rules and precautions which they have to carry follpw. In the cure of ,disorde n,
.or aptual disease
being
_.
red digestion and liver coal- annum removed, which would limit the term of its i out. Long acquaintance with danger is apt to pla:nts, Holloway's excell
certainly unsurpassed. TehnotiPills are probably unrivalled, existence to some 37 years. Allowing a certain ' margin for I make merely prac`ical men foolhardy. Contin- disappointment or failure in tha.evarlid will never experience natural increase of activity in the future, it appears likely
means of these purifying Pili • red of his ailment by
geneies, moreover, arc always arising in the work- s, on reachinc, the stomach that half a century will hardly elapse before this seam of ]
they immediately correct h
thickest and most valuable of our native mineral
ing of a mine which require to he met immediately, acidity; they secure the seceraertatinrna flatulency, and undue coal-thebefore there can be an opportunity of consulting the ing into the intestinal canal, they gnetrlceeat bile,o and pass- resources-will havaemb.n.cmreesatsthinnegeofthe past; and that I
rural activity without producing pain, initatriounse it to na- the great crypto.g 1 covering. with such s
scientific officer in char ge, and there can be no tion; for these reasons Holloway's Pills are ,or exhaus-the centre' oof
wonderful luxuriance
i _

MILITARY ESTIMATES.—The military estimates
for 1862-63 have been under consideration for the last two
or three weeks, and are understood to have been ready for
adoption at the Cabinet Council on Saturday. Every effort
in the direction of economy has been made, and possibly in
some of the items of supply a sufficient reduction may take
place, so as to bring the grand total of the Estimates under
the sum voted last year. The battalions on home service
are about to be reduced by 60 men each from the commence-
ment of the financial year. But inasmuch as four regi-
ments are coming home from India, and those in Canada
are to be maintained at a strength of, 1,200 men each, the
total number to be provided for in the Estimates will not,
we apprehend, show
azette, a reduction —Army and Navy
[ADVERTSEMENT
Excellent iv • ]—Holloway's Pills.—Good Appetite,
igestion.—ln theofpersons, loss of
appetite is the first indicationmajority
should at once receive attentionof departing health, and
follow. In the cure of ,disore or actual disease will
plaints, Holloway's excellent Priel digestion and liver com-
certainly unsurpassed. The invallre probably unrivalled,
disappointment or failure in the rem will never experience
means of these purifying pills.
oa Orval ofi his ailment by
they immediately correct heartburn, natulmg the stomach
acidity; they secure the secretion of perfeceltitY, and undue
ing into the intestinal canal, they gentl de, and pass-
total arouse it to na-
tural activity without producing pain, irritation 0
r exhaus-
tion ; for these reasons Holloway's Pills are Peculiarly well
adapted for a family aperient.

OUR GREAT CENTRAL COAL FIELD.—It has been
calculated by Mr. Matthews that the total area of thick
coal remaining unworked within the limits of the Stafford-
shire basin does not exceed 3,945 acres, of which 1,160 acres
lie within the eastern, and 2,785 acres within the western
district of the field. Now an acre of surface yields on an
average 20,000 tons of coal, and the rate of working in the
first of these localities being about 11,000 tons per week,
its probable duration will be 42 years. The western dis-
trict is worked more rapidly, about 1,500,000 tons per
annum being removed, which would limit the term of its
existence to some 37 years. Allowing a certain margin for
natural increase of activity in the future, it appears likely
that half a century will hardly elapse before this seam of
coal—the thickest and most valuable of our native mineral
resources—will have become a thing of the past; and that
the great cryptogamic forests, once covering with such
wonderful luxuriance the centre of our island, will have
finished the work for which they were designed,--ono
week.

SUN LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, VEIIIWARY 3, 1862.

ThE FEARFUL DEATH QF A LADY 1N
StINiJEALA2VP.

Our Newcastle correspondent sends us the follow-
ing additional particulars of the frightful death of
Mrs. Mounsey, briefly reported in our Saturday's
impression :--About three months ago Mr. Jasper
Mounsey and Mr. Dixon, of Monkwearmouth, en-
tered upon the extensive iron works at Bedlington,
about five miles from Morpeth, formerly belonging
to Messrs. Longridge. Since they came into pos-
sessinit of the works
,tey have been repairing
and extending them, and ereeting now buildings
and machinery, and the works were only opened la.lt
week. But a portion of the machinery, including
a circular saW for cutting iron, did not commence
until Friday. The partners hate ken residing at
Bridlington about tWo months, and on Vriclay
afternoon Mr. and Mrs. irasper Mounsey, with
three of their children, also some young ladies
staying with them, together with Mr. Dixon,
and Dr. Nichol Went over the works to see them in
full operation for the first tilt*. About 30 minutes
past four in the afternoon the party, aftef eltamin-
ing the other portion of the works, proceeded to the
new mills to witness the process of sawing iron with
the circular saW. After doing so they proceeded
to cross a spindle, connecting the saw with the
engine that drove it, and which also drove the
machinery in the rolling mill. Mr. Dixon and
Mrs. Mounsey were first to go over the spindle,
Mr. Mounsey remaining behind to help over the
young people. Mrs. Mounsey had stepped over it,
but unfortunately her dress had not cleared one of
the bolts or nuts at a joint in the spindle. The
consequence was that the Was thrown over, and in
a moment—ay, in the twinkling of an eye—she 'vas
dragged underneath the spindle by the whirling
machinery, the spindle only standing six inches'
from the ground. She was draWri tip to her breast,
and her limbs and the lower part of her person
were literally smashed to atoms, and life was ex-
tinct in a few minutes. Mr. Dixon snatched hold
of her as she fell, and the workmen rushed to the
spot. The engine was stopped, but it Was found
what but a few moments before was a noble woman
in the very flower of her days was a mangled corpse.
The consternation of Mr. Mounsey and his family
and the ladies cannot be described. The spindle
was immediately unscrewed, and the remains of the
poor lady, in a condition too horrible to describe,
were removed from under it, and taken to her home.
The place was covered with gore. Her death had
been so instantaneous that she had not time even to
scream. The deceased has left four children, and
was enceinte. Mrs. Mounsey was a Miss Waits
before she married, the daughter of a well-known
member of the London Stock Exchange.

to say another time. He must now confine himself
to questions only.
Gardner, in answer to questions by the prisoner,
said it was ten o'clock when he was stabbed. He
never told the prisoner he would kick him out:
lie did not say he would throw all his things into
the street. The prisoner disputed the account of
what was owing.
The Prisoner—Now, did you not strike me in
this room three times, and then kick me into the
street
Gardner—l never did.
The Prisoner—Did you not hit me on the breast,
atm and knock me down when you came out of
the public-house ?
Gardner—l did not.
The Prisoner—A witness saw him strike me and
knock me down.
Mr. Selfe—Where is that witness, and what is
his name ?
The Prisoner-4 do not know his name or where
he is.
Gardner said he knew he was dying, and had not
many hours to live, and he most solemnly declared
that he never struck the prisoner or gave him any
provocation whateter4 The prisoner said to a man
before he stabbed him (Gardner) that he intended
to rip his guts open.
The prisoner made no answer to this, and Gard-
ner then signed his deposition, the magistrate and
his clerk retired, and the prisoner was taken back
to Clerkenwell Prison in charge of Inspector Alli-
son and Sergeant Tighe.
The deceased Gardner was about 40 years of age.
He was formerly in the army. His wife, a respec-
table and intelligent woman, was present while her
husband was giving his evidence, and was over-
whelmed With grief.

BURGLARIES IN SIIEFFIELD.

- - ---

During the past week the operations of a gang
of burglars in Sheffield have excited considerable
attention in that town. On Tuesday morning a
dwelling-house lin Eyre-street, occupied by a gen-
Vernet' named Murfin, entered under circumstances
which show great determination and recklessness
on the part of the burglars. The back window,
which looks into an unlighted lane, was strongly
secured with an iron bar, "catered" in the ordinary
way. 'the burglars got over this difficulty by
breaking off the circular head of the cotter with a
jemmy, but then they encountered a further ob-
stacle. The window was in three-sashes, and was
nailed up so that it would not slide. The burglars,
however, were resolted on entering the house, and
in the most daring and reckless manner they drove
in the whole of one side of the framework of the
window. Singular as it may appear, the great noise
which this operation must have caused did not dis-
turb any of the inmates of the house. Having
effected an entrance, the robbers had to pass over a
sink, and in doing so one of them kicked over a
metal bowl, which fell with a great clang upon the
floor. The noise awoke Mrs. Murfin. She aroused
her husband, who ran to the head of the stairs and
called out to his sons to bring their pistols as there
were robbers in the house. Instantly a great liaise
was heard down below, caused by the efforts of the
burglars to escape through the broken window.
This they succeeded in doing before the watchmen
arrived, but in coming down the lane they met an
officer, knocked him down, and prevented any fur-
ther attempt on his part to follow them. Had
they not unintentionally themselves given an
alarm, the burglars would have succeeded in carry-
ing off a large amount of property. The next at-
tempt, supposed to be made by the same gang, was
marked by the most extraordinary escape from
the hands of justice that has taken place for some
time. In William-street, in one of the suburbs, a
Mr. W. H. Flower keeps a grocer's shop. The shop
is at the junction of two streets, and at one front
is a large trapdoor, level with the pavement, com-
municating with an extensive store cellar. It
appears that about half-past two o'clock two bur-
glars had succeeded in raising this door, and were
busily engaged in ransacking the stores in the cellar.
They had a confederate outside to give warning of
danger, but as they had replaced the trapdoor after
obtaining an entrance there was little chance of
discovery. However, the watchman on the beat, in
making his rounds, passed close to the corner of
the shop, and the burglars in the cellar, no doubt
mistaking his footsteps for those of their accomplice,
opened the trapdoor a little to reconnoitre. The
watchman saw the movement, and instantly, with
great presence of mind, jumped on the trapdoor and
pressed it firmly down. He then gave an alarm.
Here was a situation from which it seemed impos-
sible for the burglars to escape. They were hope-
lessly caged in the cellar, and the strong fastenings
of the doors leading from the cellar to the back part
of the premises barred all escape by the rear. In
three minutes their fate would have been sealed, but
at this critical juncture the aceomplice alluded to
crossed the road, and went up to the officer. He was
well dressed, had a large Inverness cape on, and
seemed a respectable man. He asked the officer if
he could assist him in any way, and was told to go
and watch the back of the house. Strangely enough,
however, this easy task appeared to be especially
repugnant to him, and he told the officer that he
would do " anything in front," but would not go to
the back, By this time several of the neighbours,
who had been alarmed by the noise, opened their
windows, and cried out to the watchman to look
after the back of the house. He seems, very incau-
tiously, to have listened to the advice thus given,
and telling the man who had spoken to him to take
his place upon the trapdoor, he hastened round the
corner to the rear of the premises. The moment he
had gone the man on the door was seen to stoop
down, and persons aver that they heard him call
out "Hallos !" three times to the men imprisoned
below. In another moment the door was raised,
two men emerged from the cellar, and went off at
score up the street, their deliverer following in mock
pursuit. Just as the party had vanished the
officer came back, and was joined by Mr. Flower
and several of th• neighbours, but the birds had
flown. The extraordinary evasion of the robbers,
when they seemed to be so securely in the grasp of
justice, created the greatest chagrin. One of Mr.
Flower's neighbours gave chase to the men, but was
baffled, after a short run, in a lane at the back of
William•street. On descending into the cellar Mr.
Flower found that the burglars must have been for
some time engaged in preparations to "convey" his
property to themselves upon an extensive scale.

LAW INTELLIGENCE, Feb. 1.

COURT OF EXCHEQUER.

(Sittings at Nisi Prius, at Westminster, before Mr,
Baron Martin and a Common Jury.)

lIALDANE AND ANOTHER T. SIR E. LANDSEER.
Mr. J. 0. Griffiths was counsel for the plaintiff,
and Mr. Sergeant Ballantine and Mr. Francis for
the defendant.
This was an action to recover a sum of £2B 14s.
6d. for goods supplied. The defendant paid £l7 16s.
6d. into court, and pleaded, except as to that sum,
I never indebted, and tender before action brought.
The plaintiffs are tailors, carrying on business at
29, Old Bond-street_ and sought to recover from the
defendant, Sir Edwin Landseer, the celebrated
artist, the sum of £lO 18s., the price of a surtout
coat and dress coat supplied to him.
One of the plaintiffs was called, and stated that
defendant gave them an order for the coats in ques-
tion, which were at once commenced, and when
basted together were taken to the defendant's house
and tried on, and found to fit remarkably well, with
the exception of one or two trifling alterations. The
coats were afterwards completed, taken home, tried
on, and the surtout coat left, of which no complaint
was made, and the dress coat brought back to be
lowered in the collar, which being done, the coat
was returned on the following day. On the 11th of
July the defendant wrote a note to the plaintiffs,
saying, "Pray send or call here, as you will agree
with me that I cannot wear the last coat sent home."
The plaintiff attended accordingly, and the defen-
dant still complained of the collar being too high.
Another alteration follewed, and then Sir Edwin
found fault with the fit of the surtout, complaining
that the collar was so high that it rubbed against
the hair of his head. The collars of both were then
lowered. Still complaints were made by letter, the
defendant saying that after numerous alterations
and many trials neither of the coats could he wear
without being uncomfortable and feeling faint, and
that he should return them unless theycould be made
to fit and button in the right place. The plaintiff
said that if he made any further alterations he must
be paid for them. The defendant replied that he
would not keep the coats, but the plaintiff declined
to take them away. The defendant sent them
back by his servant, and on the 22d of July the
plaintiffs wrote the defendant the following letter:—
" We beg respectfully to send you the two coats,
having altered them according to the direction you
last gave. The alterations you speak of as being
unsuccessful arise, we think, from your own fault.
The coats when first tried on fitted remarkably
well, but if you will place your body into unreason.
able positions it will require something more than
human science to fit you. We have most unwillingly
made the alterations you have required, believing
them to be unnecessary, and we now find it im-
possible to please you. With reference to your
desire that we should take the coat back, we cannot
think of doing so."
Upon cross-examination the witness said that the
alterations had damaged the coats. They fitted
well now, but fitted better at first. Mr. Alfred
Montgomery introduced the defendant to them, and
told him not to let them make a coat for him on
any account. The alterations that were made cost
£2 or £3 journeymen's wages.
Mr, Serjeant Ballantine, among the few remarise _

he made to the jury in opening the defendant's
case, said that the case was defended cn principle,
and on that only. The coats never fitted, and were
repeatedly altered and botched in order to try and
make them do so. The public stood a chance at one
time of losing one of the most eminent artists they
had, because his tailors thought proper to put him
into a coat which held him like a vice. The mere
fact that so much money had been expended on the
alterations showed at once that the coats never
could have fitted.

Sir E. Landseer was sworn and said that he ordered
the coats in question, and was obliged to have re-
peated alterations made in the collars of them. That
the plaintiffs expressed a desire to make a coat for
him, in consequence, as he thought, of Mr. Mont-
gomery's insinuations. The coats did not fit now.
The whole sitting of them was so contrary to com-
fort, and so disagreeable generally, that he objected
to them. When he sat down the collar went up
into his hair. He was bound to do the plaintiffs the
justice to say that some other clothes, including
shooting coats and trousers, made by them for him
fitted remarkably well. All he required was that
the coats in question might be made to fit, and
offered to refer the question of "fit or no fit" to any
tailor or one of the plaintiff's customers. _ _

When cross-examined by Mr. Griffiths, the de-
fendant stated that he might have said, "Mont-
gomery says that you are not so happy in your coats
as in your trousers. You shall make me a morning
and an evening coat." The coats pinched him under
the arms, and were generally very uncomfortable.
The coats being in court, Sir Edwin was asked
by the plaintiff's counsel to put them on, which he
readily assented to do.
It was objected that Sir Edwin might have in-
creased in size, as the coats were made in 1858, but
he said that he weighed now within 11b. of what
he weighed then.
One of the jurymen, being a tailor, was requested
to go round to the witness-box and examine the
coats on the defendant's back. A very short exa-
mination seemed to satisfy him.
After the learned counsel had made a few re-
marks to the jury on behalf of their respective clients,
His lordship summed up, saying that there was an
obligation upon a tradesman charging, as the plain-
tiffs appeared to have done, a full west-end price, to
supply a suitable article. The coat ought to be a
properly fitting coat, and the question for the jury
was, under all the circumstances, whether the plain-
tiffs had fulfilled that obligation. They had seen
the coats on, and could judge for themselves.
The jury found a verdict for the defendant.

THE ABOLITION OF THE SHUTTING'S
OF 2.11 E NATIONAL DEBT.

IThe press, so often styled the Fourth Estate, so often
professedly despised, yet really all-powerful when employed
to elicit truth or expose injustice, did good service to the
community this autumn when it made the English public
thoroughly acquainted with the Act of Parliament of last
session, passed to abolish the shuttings of the national
debt, and to enable the holders of stock to purchase or sell
the same at all times of the year. The stockholders
have no sooner obtained the knowledge of the
potter thus given than they have availed them-
selves of it ; and in the late shutting of the Three
per Cent. Consols in December, the transfers averaged
at least the large number of .500 per day on each
of the public days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday, representing in the week the sale and purchase of
an almost fabulous number of thousands of pounds of
stock. The State has chosen to confide to the Bank of
England the management of that important public depart-
ment, the National Debt. About £800,000,000 sterling of
capital are there invested, divided amongst 280,000 stock-
holders. The Bank of England is held responsible that
the real proprietor of stock transfers it, and that the half-
year's interest is correctly paid, with the exact amount of
income tax deducted. Should the stock be fraudulently
transferred, or the dividend erroneously paid, the Bank of
England is obliged to return to the proper party that stock
or that dividend, however large the amount, and however
ingeniously the fraud may have been executed. It is
tb erefore evident that great care must be taken to employ
proper officials, because the Bank can only see and act
through them, ana much vigilance ought to be used to
adopt a perfect system of accounts, because large unde-
tected errors, designedly made, might create embafrassment,
and would involve great loss. Hence the extreme reluct-
ance to enter upon an entire change of system, and to
make throughout the different stock offices great alterations.
Nevertheless in 1844 that large and almost perilous under-
taking was entrusted to, and successfully accomplished by
the untiring perseverance and moral courage of one man,
who appears to have had two objects in view, of which the
chief was to abolish the shuttings of the national debt, so
that the stock proprietors should be allowed always to have
control over their money. Up to this period their capital
was locked up from 32 to 36 days every six months—nearly
one-fifth of the year—and it often happened that inconve-
nience and loss, almost amounting to ruin, was thus occa-
sioned ; for urgent applications to permit a transfer were
generally refused, and this was particularly the case towards
the end of the shutting period, when this indulgence was
most wanted, from the trouble and inconvenience each
transfer gave ; so that for many years one transfer per day
during the period of closing is probably, on the average, a
greater number than was actually allowed to be made. No
person transfers his stock unless to do so is advantageous.
The necessity to transfer may be seen by the daily number
of 300 transfers last month ; and this power must confer
benefit upon those who avail themselves of it, and this
benefit, being a money benefit, will ultimately be repre-
sented in the price of the stock. Now, it is under-
stood that the estimate made at the time (1844)
of this money value was from 1 to 3 per cent.
on the price of the stock, and taking it at the lowest rate,
the abolition of the shuttings of the national debt adds
eight millions to the value of the English funds. The au-
thorities of the Bank of England in the spring of 1845, hav-
ing made all the necessary arrangements, and, as above
shown, being alone responsible, communicated the plan to
the Government of the late Sir Robert Peel, asking for a
short act of Parliament authorising it. This reasonable
proposal was, after some hesitation, refused, but the author
of the scheme, in his published letter to the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, dated Paris, February, 1861, states "he is
quite certain no one knew better than Sir Robert Peel the
vast importance to a commercial country of the constant
availability of the capital of the national debt." Dut
even this very decided opinion hardly expresses the whole
ease ; and, if we are correctly informed, Sir Robert
Peel not only was aware of its importance, but actually
opened :a negotiation with that gentleman, through
an able and conscientious man who happened to be known
to both, with the object of carrying the plan that session,and
the remarkable proposal then made would have been ac-
ceded to if the true reason for making it had been given.
On this being substantiated, another instance is furnished
of that which has been so often asserted—the excessive
timidity of this statesman, a timidity very few can explain.
The second object was a double one—to give additional profit
to the Bank of England by decreasing the expenses of the
national debt, and to benfit the employes by allowing a
small fee to be charged for the transfers made in the
shuttings. The first part is accomplished, and many thou-
sand pounds are in this way annually received by the cor-
poration, but the second has not been carried out, and the
public are allowed to make transfers during the shutting
as at any other time. On the passing of the act of -parlia-
ment the governors of the Bank of England took for the
Bank proprietors the small fee charged for transfers on
private days, Monday and Saturday, and which from time
immemorial has been divided amongst the employes, and
compensated them by adding to their salaries the average
amount the fee had latterly produced. But we
have heard the fee proposed to be charged during the
shuttings would have produced an additional £5O per an
to each person, and we allude to it hoping that some-
thing may yet be done for officials whose duties require
both judgment and intelligence, and that the funded
proprietors and the Bank of England, with the price of
its capital 242 per cent. should not alone benefit
by the scheme. At 40 years of age with the present habits
of London, it may be questioned whether any of these offi •
cials should have less than £4OO per annum, for we could
scarcely name any government department where an error
in judgment would involve more disastrous consequences or
greater pecuniary loss. It must have been a great disap-
pointment to the gentleman who had laboured so hard to
carry this public scheme in 1845 to find the government from
whom he expected honour and support fail him at the laSt
moment, and refuse to authorise the plan. It must sorely
have vexed him to see arrangements, made with the object
of benefiting the officials, turn out to their detriment from
circumstances ho could not possibly foresee nor in any way
control. But all this annoyance has passed away, and the
adoption and success of the plan must, we presume, give
intense pleasure. Might not the Government and the Bank
of England act together in this business ? Nothing can be
worse than a combination to injure, but nothing is more
honourable than a combination to do an act of justice and
confer a well-mei ited reward.—Civil Service Gazette.