The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-31 00:00:00

"The Alps," &c., is a description of the country
surrounding them, which has reached the seventh
number. It is to be completed in twelve monthly
parts. " Cassell's Natural History" in the present
part describes the feathered tribes. Numerous
illustrations aro given, and every variety of bird
described, with interesting and. appropriate quota-
tions. Many birds, littlo known, such as the
tailor bird and the umbrella bird, find a place in
these pages.

DEATH FROM LIGHTNING.—On Saturday night an
inquest was held by Mr. Baker, at St Katherine's
Docks Hotel, on Jasper Allen, aged 38, a book-keeper
in the employ of Messrs. Pickford and Co. The de-
ceased had just left the London Decks during the storm
on Thursday evening, after booking somo goods to go
by the railway, and was 'al front of the waggons outside
the gates, when a vivid flash of lightning was observed,
and he suddenly fell. When picked up he was lifeless.
Medical aid was resorted to, but without effect, and it
was the opinion of the medical man that he had been
struck by the lightning. Verdict—Natural death.
REPAVING OF GRACECHURCH-STREET.—This important
thoroughfare is closed for the purpose of being repaved.
Notwithstanding the substitution of granite blocks for
wood paving in many thoroughfares of the metropolis,
of equal importance, as better suited to their great and
constant traffic, this street is being repaved with new
blocks of wood, as before.
MR. ABRAHAM, ARCHITECT.—We are requested to
state that the following gentlemen were in attendance at
the Central Criminal Court on Saturday, when the case
against Mr. Abrahams, the architect, came on, and
were ready to testify in the strongest terms to the care,
professional experience, and ability of that gentleman :
Sir Richard Bethell, Q.C., M.P., Sir Charles Barry,
R. A.; Mr. P. Hardwicke, R. A. ; Mr. William Tite ;
sPiriaofwess(oorffiDoioanl arledfseorne
e;)
;Mmr.r.T
jli.o maa sßHuooopipnegr
;;
AlViirr..
j_Ja
mo hens
Pinnethorne, of her Majesty's Woods and Forests ; Mr.
Ambrose Poynter, (official referee) ; Mr. George God.
win, F.R.S. (district surveyor) ; Mr. Henry A. Hunt ;
Mr. George Pownall ; Mr. H. Maltby; Mr. Benjamin
Ferrey ; Mr. Thomas Little ; Mr. H. Holland ; Mr.
John Addison, C.E. ; Mr. J. H. Hakewill, Mr. A. E.
Frend ; Mr. E. Horne, Mr. W. Nixon, as well as several
district surveyors.
DREADFUL EXPLOSION AT A LICENSED VICTUALLER'S.
--Last evening (Sunday), between si:: and seven o'clock,
the inhabitants of Hatton-garden and Hatton-wall, were
greatly terrified in consequence of a tremendous ex-
plosion taking place in the Rose and Crown tavern,
the property of Mr. J. Keinps, situate at the angle of
the two before-named thoroughfares, which was at-
tended with a great destruction of property, and very
serious injuries to the landlady. It appears that Mrs.
Keinps, who was behind the bar, was in the act of draw-
ing some spirits from one of the taps, when a tremendous
explosion of gas took place, resembling in sound the dis-
charge of a large cannon. At the same moment bottles
filled with spirits, various liquor casks, tumblers, cue.,
were scattered about and broken as if discharged from
some projectile used in war. The pieces of glass from the
broken vessels were hurled about, and the unfortunate
female had her face, and other portions of her body
fearfully cut. Three men who were standing in front of
the bar were much shaken by the force of the explosion,
and two of them were triflingly injured by the shower
of broken glass. The whole house was quickly placed
in darkness, and those who were able made a precipitate
retreat into the street, expecting that the building was
about to fall. In the course of a second or so afterwards
it was found that the bar-parlour had become ignited.
Two or three of the nei,ghbours therefore rushed into
the place and succeeded in extricatinftogollopianlMwaisrdertdgaistr..keianKtgedmiopf
and in extinguishing the fire. Mr. Bartlett, the
surgeon, of Hatton-garden, was sent for, and he
promptly attended, and found blood streaming from the
injuries inflicted on the female. He at once adopted
measures to alleviate her sufferings, but she still remains
in a very precarious condition. Her husband wooun,
at the time. Several police-officers of the G division,
however, soon
nsdooornedarcl-iiivriendg,
which
nothing posi-
ensued. As to the cause of the accidentme
elerations
thean d
confusionpi
tive could be learned, but it seems that see; 1
•even.ted the house
sy
posed that the gas had escaped from
of ted behind the walls,
in the gas fittings had recently been msaodm
of the pipes, and that it had accu
omnutaet with the lighted
and at length had come in
chandelier, and hence the mischiefA e defect iisn sup-
in
RANK-NOTE.--011
SINGULAR RECOVERY
Wednesday last a poultry
and.,
. class refreshment-room ,
ceded by a train about
at the Shrewsbury-
c, Wellington. After d. •
isposm
the middle of the dt g
some refreshment ins:at sec2ee
51. bank note. lle remembered8-
that he had lost a
for what
may
this when lie paid for what he had had at
having seen .
and in the forlorn
Shrewsbury station, and hope of hearing
something of his lost property, be returned to this town
of his goods in that place,
by an afternoon train. He went at once to the refresh-
ment-room, and there, trampled upon and dirty by con-
tact with many feet, he found, to his surprise and infi-
nite gratification, the note he had dropped three or
four hours before.—Shrewsbury Journal.
RECOVERY OF A WIFE THROUGH THE ELECTRIC TELE-
GRAPIL—A few days since a telegraphic
ceived at the Strood. Station of the
to the following effect :—,,
PI a North Kent Railway,
e. se to detain two ladies, one
short and the other tall, and a man very much marked
with small-pox." The parties were stated to be in a first-
class carriage. In consequence of this communication,
on the arrival
locked, and. the parties ptahret
itersa ill
were
Ol'
a: t discoveredl
iei gh dealer,
detaineda thatm after
, theon their
Sta ood. A message back to London brought down a
gentleman who claimed one of the ladies as his wife, who
t was said had eloped with his managing man. After
some parleying the lady joined her husband, and the
parties departed in cabs, taking different directions.—
KeW A Observer.