The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-04 00:00:00

THE SUB, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 4, 1865.

forward for the commencement of the enterprise ;
at its conclusion these same pretexts were disarmed,
the King of DENMARK'S right of succession to
Schleswig-Holstein was contested ; the KING, once
despoiled of the provinces he was accused of un-
justly holding, he was recognised as the sole legi-
timate proprietor of the territory he had been com-
pelled to cede." If this be not a mockery of justice
and a defiance to the public opinion of Europe,
it is difficult to say what is. A few years ago no
one could have been blamed for stating that such a
scandalous confiscation could not possibly occur in
the centre of Europe without a general protest
being made against it; but we live and learn strange
things, and it is a bitter mortification to know that
a great wrong has been done, and all that lookers-
' on have done has made matters worse instead of
better. The King of DENMARK, at all events, is
not the only victim, and the others have been
made such dupes that in some respects their posi-
tion is worse than his, for they have made them-
selves ridiculous in the eyes of Europe, and had
to descend from the sublime to the ridi-
culous. The melancholy and yet ludicrous
part which the secondary States play in
this game is well chronicled here when the writer
observes, " Once in the House, the Court of Berlin
shut the door in the face of those to whom it had
declared that it entered on their behalf, and turning
round upon them, said, ' Now turn us out.' " Such
is, in truth, the exact counterpart of the manner in
which matters have been carried on, and it is quite
refreshing to meet with so plain a statement and
powerful a description of events that are too often
told in a garbled form, and related in a smuggling
fashion, with a whole catalogue of unmeaning
phrases and stereotyped expressions.
One thing is proved beyond a doubt in this
affair of the Duchies, and that is that a
great deal to much has been made of the
independence of Germany. No wonder that
the smart commentator of events in the Revue in-
quires if the public conscience and public spirit of
Germany have gone to sleep for ever. Instead of
seeing any proof of the progress which was so loudly
vaunted, we have a marked decadence to chronicle
in the retrospect taken of this Duchy question.
There has been certainly much ado about nothing
in the way of national demonstrations and such
like, and all has ended in an indecent haste to par-
ticipate in cheating others, and a tame submis-
sion at least in being cheated themselves. Many
a solemn warning may be taken from this
Schleswig-Holstein affair. Prussia has triumphed
so far at the expense of the rights
of Denmark, the consistency of Austria, and the
reputation of the minor States of Germany. It
remains to be seen, however, if a day of retribution
is not looming in the distance when that crafty
kingdom shall discover that other's losses have not
been her gain, and that by taking an unworthy
advantage of circumstances she has overreached
herself and precipitated her fall.

A remarkable letter on the threatening approach
of that great scourge of modern times, The Cholera,
will be fodnd elsewhere in our impression of this
evening. We intentionally accord to it all
possible prominence. For, the subject, in itself,
is one essentially of national importance. It
comes home—to employ Lord Bacon's quaint
old phrase—to " men's businesse and bo-
, somes," to the hearths and to the hearts of each one
amongst us. And the letter itself—besides this at-
tractiveness of it, by:reason of the extraordinary im-
portance of the subject upon which it treats—is one
entitled to some more than usually serious attention
from the mass of the population, because of the
eminence of the names, respectively, of its author
and its recipient. The letter referred to, it will
be seen, is one addressed to JOHN BRIGHT by DAVID
URQUHART. It is a►n appeal to the common sense,
to the sound judgment, and to the loyal civism of the
foremost Tribune of the People now living, by a
man who is still (as he hasbeen now for some years
past) devoting the whole energies of his life to the
grateful labour of securing to the un-wise men of
the West one of the greatest benefactions ever con-
trived by some of the wisest among the wise'
men of the East--a benefaction designed espe-
cially to secure to humanity the realisation of
the mens sana in corpore sano—a benefaction
at once grounded upon and enforcing the old
mediaeval dogma about Cleanliness being next to
Godliness. The real value and significance of this
letter, addressed to Mr. BRIGHT by Mr. URQUHART,
upon the threatened approach to us of the
dread disease of the Asiatic Cholera, lies
in the simple fact of its being from first to last in-
tensely practical and directly to the purpose.
Hence, we publish it. Hence, while publishing
it, we thus pointedly call public attention to
the circumstance of its appearance. Mr. URQUHART
suggests a course of proceeding that, if adopted be-
times and acted upon energetically, we do firmly
believe, in our innermost conscience, would be the
all but certain means, under heaven, of saving
the lives of hundreds, of thouands, of tens of
of thousands of our adult and infant population.
That is to say, of course, if the fears latterly enter-
tained in regard to the probable advent, once more,
amongst us, of the Asiatic Cholera, should unhappily,
sooner or later, be actually realized. Whatever deci-
sion may ultimately be arrived at by the authorities
in regard to Mr. URQUHART'S suggestion—it is a
suggestion entitled at the very least (everyone must
allow that) to a calm, dispassionate, prompt,
searching, and most serious consideration. That
consideration we now demand for it in the
name of the threatening Epidemic, in the name of
Common Sense, in the name of Humanity. In ad-
dressing himself, nominally, to one eminent Eng-
lishmen, Mr. URQUHART addresses himself to All
Englishmen—in addressing JOHN BRIGHT he ad-
dresses JoHN BULL : and the least that Jour; BULL
can do in return is to give him a hearing.

THE COMING OF CIiuLERA.

To John Bright, Esq.

Chalet des Metezes, above St. Gervais,
Haute Savoie, France,
July 30, 1865.
Dear Sir,—Though above the region of news-
papers, rumours from the world below have
reached me of the advance from the East of the
Cholera.
I have considered to whom I could best address
myself to move the adoption of measures by which
the scourge, should it reach our shores, may be
stopped, or its fatal effects mitigated.
My choice has fallen on yourself, as I know no
one, who, if inclined to do so, could act so effectu-
ally alike on the Government and on the public
mind. You are familiar with the means to be em-
ployed. You alone have opened your mouth in
Parliament on the subject. I therefore expect from
you a quarter of an hour of serious consideration
before you reject the appeal I make to you. I will
confine myself to the merest indications.
The cholera is a malady which yields to a certain
treatment with great docility.
That treatment does not consist in drugs to be
obtained on the occasion, but requires the previous
construction of an apartment and the instruction of
attendants and others in its proper use.
The treatment consists in obtaining abundant
transpiration and in application of external force.

By first (heat) an escape is afforded for the
poison (urea), which in this malady does escape, even
when unaided external heat, through the skin.
By the second (shampooing so vehement as to
extend to blows) the cramp is relieved, breaking the
tension of the nerves, and restoring the equilibrium
of the circulation,

My conclusions as to the certainty of stopping
cholera by the Turkish Bath were formed on a
priori grounds. My own life has been saved in a
relapse of cholera by the same means when I had
no bath, and had to obtain the heat in a subsi-
diary manner. These few words contain, if you give
to them effect, protection from death and relief
from suffering for hundreds of thousands of our
fellow-creatures.

There is, however, a preliniinary objection which
cannot fail to be urged, and to it I must supply the
answer.

If the Turkish bath cures the cholera, how is
it that it comes to us from Alexandria and Con-
stantinople ?
The Turks are not in the habit of going to the
bath when attacked by cholera, and if they did they
would not be cured, because the heat of their bath
at present has descended below the necessary- point,
and the amount of vapour has consequently in-
creased, so as to neutralise in a considerable degree
the value of that heat which they still retain. What
I speak of is the Turkish bath as I have presented
it to Europe, which in case of disease must have
the heat equal to or surpassing* that of boiling
water, and in which the air must be perfectly dry.
I can recall an incident which will make the case
clear. It bears not on the cholera, but the plague.
But the value of it consists in showing that I could
obtain perfect immunity from the latter disease
whilst at Constantinople, and making use of one of
their baths, by merely taking the precaution of using
additional fuel.

In 1837 I inhabited a yali (country house) on the
Bosphorus at Arnaotet Keni. A half circle of hills
on the west enclosed the village. There not only
did the plague rage, but an encampment had been
formed just above me for the plague patients, and
thence proceeded day and night the wail of the re-
lations of the dying and the dead. I did not fly, as
others, the fatal spot. I did not take, as others,
sanitary precautions. I had long been on familiar
terms with the plague, visiting it wherever it was
to be found. My confidence was based on two con-
siderations. The one was the discovery I bad just
before made of the immediate cause of its propaga-
tion, by which I could rate the danger even to
feet. The other was the protective and curative
power of heat. The discovery was this. That
the plague extended first in places exposed to
the heavy gases evolved from the burying grounds ;
and that these escaped in consequence of a peculiar
manner of burying practised by the Mussulmans.
The plague has now disappeared from Turkey, and
I attribute its disappearance to the change in respect
to the manner of burying, even though that change
has been as yet but partial. My first precaution,
then, consisted in closing up all the windows looking
landways, or on the side of the cemeteries, and
opening those on the side of the Bosphorus.
My bath—in itself an attractive suite of apart-
ments--for it was the most beautiful private bath I
have ever seen—was kept constantly heated. It fol-
lowed that the heat was high and the air dry. I
occupied the bath as an apartment. There com-
menced the restoration of the Roman habit of taking
the bath daily. Every person in the houSe went in
daily. I explained the matter to them, and they
submitted to this change in their national habits.
Well, now as to the results. I escaped with impu-
nity. In the adjoining house to mine all died. I
had no case of sickness. Not one of servants, about
30 in number, suffered whilst under this treat-
ment. Two died ; but they were away on leave—
were smitten—and never returned.

I think I have now met effectually, and in antici-
paticn, the objection, whether arising in your own
mind, or in that of others, that the Turkish bath
cannot be a protection, since it has failed to protect
the inhabitants of Alexandria and Constantinople.
I have referred to the "Manual of the Turkish
Bath" to see what it contains on the subject. I
am rejoiced to find that I there mentioned my own
experience in the case of cholera above quoted, and
that I have given a letter which I received in 1861
from Dr. Thudichurn, which enters into the patho-
logical rationale of the action of the bath in cholera.
One passage I cannot resist quoting, referring to
Ithe introduction of the bath, "The cholera in algia
state need no longer be fatal." You will find these
words at page 212. I have directed the volume to
be sent to you with this letter, and I earnestly en-
treat you to study it.
Should the cholera visit Great Britain, I shall
consider it as a providential inspiration, the resolu-
tion I took in 1856, to apply myself to the practical
introduction of the bath in our country ; for it has
now taken Toot. Sufficient results to convince,
sufficient experience to operate, sufficient authority
to justify public measures and expenditure, have
been obtained, so as to interpose this process on a
commensurate scale between the people and the
destroying angel.
If you have not visited the Hammam in Jermyn-
street since the completion of the Radiating Cham-
ber, I beg you to do so without delay. It is the
most perfect adaptation that I can suggest. It re-
duces also the expense to a mere per centage on that
which would have been requisite had the ordinary
Turkish or Roman bath been employed. You will
see at page 112 of the Manual subsidiary means that
may be called into play at once. I beg you also to
communicate with Dr. Sheppard, the director of the
Middlesex Asylum at Colney Hatch. If you move
in the matter, you will find the military and medi-
cal authorities favourable.

It is not only kngland that has to be looked to.
The measures which you may induce the English
people to take will be the signal for the adoption of
the like all over the continent where the subject is
as yet new or unheard of.

It has, however, to be taken into account that
there is about to be held at Geneva a meeting of the
Swiss Scientific Association, which will be attended
by the learned from all countries. There the
Turkish bath cannot fail to be brought prominently
forward, as the society has this year for President
Dr. Gosse, the only medical man since Hippocrates
who has so much as articulated the word " caloric "
in reference to disease, until my preaching began.
Dr. Gosse has recently published a work, which I
send you ; it is called " The Turkish Bath Modified
by Radiating Heat and its Introduction into
Switzerland." In it he has given his experience in
reference to plague and cholera, as treated by
caloric.

Whatever you do towards having the bath added
to dispensaries, hospitals, unions, asylums, or as
recommended to the adoptian of corporate bodies,
will not be labour lost, should England not be
visited this year by Asiastic cholera. Its value, as
you well know, does not consist in being specific
against the cholera or any other disorder. It com-
bats plague, yellow fever, typhus, consumption, &c.,
no less. Its value consists in placing the patient in
a more favourable position in respect to disease,
whether by purifying the body externally and in-
ternally, by counteracting inflammation, and ex-
tracting poisons. The fear of the cholera at this
moment may therefore be turned to account to
produce a vast benefit to the nation now and here-
after, a benefit which by its example and authority
cannot fail to be extended to the whole of Europe.
Believe me, faithfully yours,
D. URQUHART.

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES KEAA•.--.We learn from
Canada that Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean are performing
with immense success at the Montreal Theatre. Every seat
has been taken for each night of the engagement.
MR. CHARLES MATHEWS.-4 4 The ce!ebrated come-
dian, Charles Mathews," says the Opinion Nationale,
"is engaged to give some performances at the Vaudeville
Theatre. He is to play the chief part in " L'Homme
Blase," by Messrs. Duvert and Lausanne, in which Arnal
was so successful. Mr. Mathews has already played that
part in England in a piece freely translated from the vaude-
ville of Duvert and Lausanne. He has asked the authors
to make some small changes in the piece, and Las indicated
their nature. The chief change is said to be in thp part of
the English gentleman."

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

PRUSSIA.

BADEN, SEPT. 4.

The King of Prussia will lea,re on the Gth instant
for Darmstadt, where he will have an interview on
the same day with her Majesty Queen Victoria,
who is expected to arrive in that city on the pre-
vious day.

FRANCE.

PARIS, SEPT. 4.

An Imperial decree has been issued annulling the
resolutions adopted by the Council-General of the
Seine and Marne, as having exceeded the limit of
their powers.
The resolutions in question expressed the wish
that the law should afford to the Councils-General
the power of deciding contested departmental elec-
tions, and suggested to the Government whether it
would not be advisable to give the Councils-General
the right of nominating their presidents, vice-presi-
dents, and secretaries.
A despatch received here from Rome announces
the death of Joseph Bonarparte, Prince of Musig-
nano.

The express train from Paris to Bordeaux on
Saturday evening ran off the rail near Angoureme.
No serious accident resulted.

BOURSE, Sept 2.—Two o'clock.—The settlement
of railway companies, foreign funds, and of various
stocks is taking place to-day. There is no remune-
ration for capital employed in carrying over ; there
is little or no report, which generally is replaced by
more or less de'port. Prices are again much higher
than yesterday, but the fluctuations are great and
sudden ; they vary with different conditions ob-
tained for the carrying over. These conditions have
varied from par to 2f. deport on Mobiliers Shares,
from 3fr. to 2fr. 50c. deport on North of Spain
Shares ; whereas on Spanish Mobilier there is 2fr.
50c. report, lfr. 25c. to Ifr. 50c. on Lombard Shares,
and 22c. Italian Fives. Threes, after reaching 69fr.
45c., are now 69fr. 35c. for Account, with a further
advanced of 20c. Credit Mobilier, 835 fr. The
cours de compensation is fixed as follows :—ltalian
Fives, 66fr. 10c. ; Mexican, 50fr. ; Bank of France,
3,580 ; Credit Foncier, 1,350 fr. ; Credit Mobilier,
835 fr. ; Spanish Mobilier, 5221 r. 50c. ; Lyons,
880 fr. ; Lombard, 472 fr. 50c., &c. The telegram
from London gives i per cent. rise on Consols.
Three o'clock.—The settlement over, numerous
sales affectethe market and caused a heavy decline
on the higfiest prices. The closing quotations are
as follows :

4} per Cents 99
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 69 20
Do. end month 69 20
Credit Mobilier 822 50
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3570
Credit Fonder 1340
Italian Loan 66 10
Do. end month 66 50
RAIL'

Ditto Threes —
Mexican Loan 49 50
Do. Bonds —
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
Deferred
Roman

PAYS.
Cash. Amt.
.•• 855
~, ... 1090
... 878 75
570 --
- ... 550 -
- ... 532 60
255 -
- 415 -
- 470 -
- ... 225 -
- 330 --

Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern
Western

Eastern
Sardinian .

Austrian ..
Lombard..

North of Spain
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona
Roman

- - ... 225 -

The “Social Evil.,,

A Parson versus the " Social Evil" writes thus
to the Reader :

Is anything, he asks, to come of all the late talk
about regulating the " social evil," or is it quite
left to itself now that infanticide has cropped out
as the sensation topic of the recess ? There was I
at Plymouth, a week or two ago, with two lads of
fifteen and sixteen; and we could not take an even-
ing stroll on the Hove, to enjoy the calm beauty of
the Sound, the soft summer air, the water without
a ripple, the restless little steamers got quiet at last,
Drake's island sleeping under dark Mount Edg-
combe, and the "leviathans afloat" just within the
faintly-marked line of the breakwater, without
being pestered by buxom damsels of all ages, and
greeted with idiotic choruses of the " Slap bang"
description.

My boys are as undemonstrative a pair as you
could have found in all the " Three Towns," no-
thing " loud" about them of any kind. Perhaps
the eldest may have had a cigar in his mouth ;
boys will do it, though they did not in my day ;
but surely that ought not to have subjected us
to a persecution from which not their quiet ways,
nor even my grave face and dress, could save us.
As things are managed all over England, I sup-
pose the Plymouth girls were right in emulating
the activity shown by every other class. But
what I ask is, cannot things be better managed?
Two years ago I was in Paris at the Fête Napo-
leon. Every night a friend and I left the main
strength of our party in the Faubourg St. Honore,
and walked across to our students' lodging in the
Quartier Latin. Yet we were never once " soli-
cited." Two years earlier, several of us were at
Cherbourg (where we saw them building this
Flandre, by the way) ; we walked out everywhere,
and at all hours, but we never saw anything to
offend the eye or ear of the most prudish. Why,
then, could not my boys and I take a turn on the
Hove without being scandalised by the coarse gam-
bols of Sal and her partner for the evening, and
challenged to do likewise by the still unattached
members of the roving sisterhood? Many say this law-
lessness in such matters is somethingin thebreed. An
Irishman of my acquaintance is always quoting the
Flemish women, brought over in Plantagenet
times, and established under Episcopal patronage
in Southwark—they called them the Bishop of
Winchester's geese—to prove how weak the pure
Teuton has always been in this direction. But
surely his argument cuts the other way. There
are, we know, plenty of " geese in pens " in
every town in France to be had for the seeking.
France differs from us in an enviable absence of
the wandering fowl who go noisily about our
streets, attacking all passers-by. She has kept,
while we have lost, the mediaeval usage, based
on Roman custom. Sureiy it would be better
for the poor geese themselves, infinitely better for
us and our sons, if they were decently housed, in-
stead of being suffered thus to roam on the loose.
I know the whole question of regulation is one of
extreme difficulty ; I do not pretend to enter into
it. I only plead virginibus puerisque for our sons
and daughters, who surely cannot see without danger
what they now can scarcely help seeing. At present
the difference between an English lad who goes
about with his eyes open and a lad bred up a lycle
is just this, that the latter may escape, till man-
hood brings wisdom, the dangerous " knowledge
of good and evil," and all that it leads to ; while
the former cannot. It is almost as if we acted
on the principle, Adeo in teneris adsuescere multum
est—a very good maxim in its way, but one of which
I, the father of six suns,/question the applicability
in the present instance.
I make no apology for writing to you on this
subject. It is false delicacy which keeps men of
my cloth from facing a question which is one of the
most important social questions of the day. As I
write, the crowd parading under my hotel windows
is behaving in a way which in Paris you could not
match, except in the Jardin, or some such ques-
tionable, or rather unquestionable place.
Fortunately, my boys are asleep. I leave the
matter in your hands ; and am, Sir, your faithful
servant, the writer signing himself

A SOMERSETSHIRE RECTOR.

The Belgian journals publish the programme of
the National Rifle-match which is to commence on the 24th
inst., and closes on the 3d October. It will be held as usial
at the National establishment on the Cho.us6e de Louvain
at Brussels. There will be 35 targets, and the value of
the prizes (which are to be distributed on the 22d October)
amounts to about 7C,ooofr.

-London has decreased in the last
in the ten years from 1840-1849 25.1
ants; in 1850-1859 the mortality fell
that to 1,000 deaths of the first
t 946 in the second.

The mortality in •
decennium. Whilst i
died per 1,000 inhabits
to 23.6 per 1,000; so
decennium we had buf

Vaulting Ambition; or, the Pantomimist's

Summersault.

- --

Boxing night came, and the curtain rose upon Harlequin
Jack the Giant Killer; or, Old Mother Hubbard, Little Red
Riding Hood, and the Field of Fifty Footsteps. I sat in a
corner of the dress circle with feelings of mingled shame
and dread. I felt like a criminal in the dock, conscious of
his crime, and fearfully awaiting the verdict. In my anxiety
I had no ears for the words, and the first thing that at-
tracted my attention was a round of applause. I anxiously
inquired of my next neighbour what tho actor had said to
excite so much enthusiasm ? His reply was—

" What's your little game ?" and he said it through his
laughter, as if it had been a very good point indeed. Another
roar succeeded, and this time 1 heard for myself the joke
which was so much approved. It was Mother Hubbard's
exquisite witticism of " Hollo, boys, there goes another
guy !" At this point, a friend came round to congratu-
late me.

"It's going capitally," he said, ".the audience have taken
it from the first, and you will see it will be all right ;" and
he patted me on the shoulder encouragingly. My face was
like a burning coal. I could have wished the dress-circle
to open and let me quietly into the earth. My own pet-
jokes and neatly-turned witticisms scarcely excited a smile,
excepting from some undemonstrative people in the stalls,
who were too genteel to applaud.

My friend evidently took the redness of my face for the
flush of triumph ;it was the crimson of shame. But what
could I say ? Was not the piece going capitally ? 'When
the Giant said, "How's your poor feet !" a yell of delight
burst from the audience. As for the " Cure," it was en-
cored twice, and the applause continued for several minutes,
and was perfectly deafening. My friend came round again
to slap me decisively on the shoulder, and say I was a
made man.

My success was too much for me ; and amid a storm of
applause caused by Jack (entirely on his own responsi-
bility) asking the Giant "where he was going on Sunday 2"
I fled from the intoxicating scene, and went forth to cool
my fevered brain. Presently I found myself behind the
scenes, the storm of applause raging more fiercely than
ever. It was at the end of the opening, and the transfor-
mation scene was on. Thero was a call. It was for the
manager, in acknowledgment for the amount of gold-
leaf he had lavishedupon the Dell of Delight. There was
another call. It was for the artist who had designed the
Dell of Delight, and spread the gold-leaf which the ma-
nager had paid for. There was a third call. It was for
the author, and I plainly heard the voice of my friend
above all the others, and leading them.
I muttered to myself " Never !" but the manager came
up at that moment, and, pushing me towards the curtain,
said, " Go on ! go on !"

I had no time to resist. The prompter pulled back the
curtain, told me sharply to take off my hat, the manager
gave me a shove, and there I was on the stage bowing to
the public.
Ah, little did I dream that I was bowing my neck in
the dust to be trampled upon degraded ! Next morning
the critics were loud in their praises of my Pantomime.
It " sparkled with puns and parodies and smart allusions
to the topics of the day, and kept tho audience in a roar of
laughter from beginning to end." As for the author, he
was congratulated on the circumstance that he would
wake that morning and find himself famous as a writer of
Pantomime. Other writers in the same department were
warned to look to their laurels.

I must confess that it was with a sense of triumph that
I read this. Not that I was proud of my Pantomime. But
I was now a dramatic author, and the market was open to
me. Now for my tragedy !
I took the earliest opportunity of trying the market with
that commodity. I offered it right and left. No one
would have it. Not that the article was not in demand ;
but no one would buy of me. "My dear sir, tragedy is
not in your line ; stick to pantomime, that is your forte."
" Tragedy ! My dear fellow, oh, nonsense ; if you have
got a good short, smart, rattling farce now—"

Such was the invariable reply ; and such has been the
reply to this hour, whenever I have proposed to do any
work of a higher order than a pantomime, a farce, or a
comic sketch. Yet I am a poet. I could prove it if I
could only find an editor to insert my verses. What was
the reply the other day when I proposed a paper on the
Sublimation of Thought as exemplified in the Philoct6tes
of Sophocles. This :

" am rather afraid of that subject ; suppose you write
something about the Pantomime—which is more in your
line." Well shore it is.—Halliday's Every Day Papers.

Collision on the London and North-Western

Railway.

Late on Saturday night a collision took place on the
London and North-Western Railway at Wolverhampton.
The train which leaves Liverpool at 6 39 p.m. is timed to
reach Wolverhampton on its way to Birmingham at 10 5.
On Saturday it was 15 minutes late; but later still was
a train due over the Grand Junction from Walsall to Wol-
verhampton. At about 10 25 the Liverpool train, consist-
ing of some eight or ten carriages, was at the platform at
the north end of the Queen-street station in Wolverham-
ton, and the tickets were being collected, when the Walsall
train came up at a rapid rate and ran into the Liverpool
train with a terrible crash. To the passengers it seemed as
if the train, after striking the first time, rebounded, and
that there were a series of collisions. The passengers wore
impelled against one another and against the framework of
the carriages with painful violence, and what appeared to
be the repeated concussions had the effect of greatly in
creasing their fears. The engine of the Walsall train dashed
into an empty horsebox which formed the tail of the Liver-
pool train, destroyed it, and forced the ruins into the
guard's van, which wasnext. The guard escaped with some
shocks. The passengers were not, however, so fortunate,
and the railway authorities have the names of eight on
their list who received surgical aid on the spot, andare most
of them at hotels in the town. So great was the force
with which the horsebox was shattered that the. upper
framework is almost entirely separated from the bottom
and wheels. The buffers at one end are doubled up, and at
the other broken off ; while the buffers at the end of the
guard's van nearest to the horsebox are similary destroyed,
one end of the van broken in by the horsebox having been
thrown up and forced in. The case of one of the families in-
jured is very painful. It is that of Mr. William Beacon,
jeweller and watchmaker, of Warrington. He was travelling
with his sister, his wife, and a child, and a nephew, to be
present at the interment of his brother at Coventry. Mrs.
Beacon sustained a severe contusion on the left side of the
face. Her husband has sustained a cut on the bridge of
the nose. Mrs. Beacon was taken to the Swan Hotel,
where she lies suffering from somewhat extensive scalp
wounds and internal injuries. Also, at the Swan, there
are the wife of Mr. Charles Savatard, of the Vesper Bell,
Chester-le-street, Lady wood, Birmingham: and the wife
of Mr. Priest, of 16, Oozel-street North, Birmingham.
Mrs. Savatard is suffering from severe contusions to the
knee of the left leg, which is very much swollen, and also
from a painful cut over the right eye. Mrs. Priest is also
similarly injured upon the face. The surgeons who are
attending these patients say it will not be safe for them to
be moved for some few days. The wounds upon the head
have been sewn up in each case. Another injured passen-
ger was Mr. Hust, surgeon-dentist, of Wolverhampton,
who is suffering from extensive injuries to the scalp and a
contused leg. Lying in different parts of the town are two
other persons, inhabitants. The accident would seem to
be unaccountable from any cause other than gross negli-
gence on the part of the driver of the Walsall train, whose
name is Edward Jarvis, and who has been a long while in
the service of the company. The signals, it seems to be
admitted, ware on at " full danger," and he could have
seen them far enough away to enable him to stop in time
to prevent an accident. Moreover, the signals at that
point are always on at " caution." The line is on an
ascent of lin 100, and he would himself have had to stop
at the platform at which the accident happened.