The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-06 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS

Australian Agricult
'Canada

127 - -
- 280
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Copper Miners of Eng.
Do. Preference

lelystal Palace ..

.•. .... ...

Eastern Steam.

~ .-- •.•

Electric Teleg. of Ir.
Gen. Steam Navigat.
General Screw Steam
Irish Beetroot Sugar
Netherlands Land....
Peninsular & Oriental
Royal Mail Steam ...
South Anstral.Land
Univeral Emigration
and Colonization....
Van Diemen's Land
Submar. Telegraph..

4 = e;

i i - 2 O 2O

... - ...

LLOYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY.)

LONDON, Jan. 6.—Wind at Noon, S., fresh breeze, and
cloudy.
SoftquipLecaClllueemiallavbe'emanrngB:aand experience('
CoDmmiLtoLd,oreJ,an.
Demerara.s.—Win s.—Wind,
sailed—Rifleman for South Se
N.S.W. ; San Francisco, do. ;
.8
offmrfr:th:elb.Ranilkni,veer,:idean:d
Sailed
—Hendrick
LHeeellneespr
Gt,ilbMertaulremauienre;
,MarB..vWed.
Hudson, New York.
S.W. Arrived—Eclipse
Jan. esFthWind'
,Psaooilt,d
passage until she arrived off
fine weather th.t)hwe
3,11
ParalavebiT,
inst. ; Propontes, Buenos Ayres ;
Coquette, Honduras ; American
'Ton
whole of the
sHinoley,hesadt. oßnomingo ;
Union, New York ; Standard, Tatmagouche. Put back—
Ebbs Brahe, Mobile. The Mary Dickson of Belfast was in
contact this morning with the Princeton—was dismasted,
and drifted foul of the Kossuth. Jan. 6.—Sailed— Digby,
Melbourne ; Sir R. Jackson, Valparaiso ' - Virginia, Man-
zanillo.; Empress, Baltimore ; City of Glasgow, Phila-
delphia.
FALMOUTH, Jan. s.—The Lady of the West of New-
port, Bristol to New Orleans, was abandoned in a sinking
state on the 26th December, 47 N., 9 W. ; master and
fourteen of crew picked up in the long boat by the Fanny
of Salecombe, and transferred to the Esther, arrived here ;
the remaining four of the crew had left in the pinnace.
hore.
CARDIFF, Jan. s.—The Mary Cook of Glasgow is on
, FRASERBURGH, Jan. s.—The Spring of Shields was
abandoned in a sinking state ; crew picked up on the 26th
of December. The vessel which run into the Freedom on
the 29th, was the Maria, and not the Myra, as reported;
she is supposed to have gone down.
MARYPORT, Jan. s.—The Wilson, from Liverpool, is on
shore; expected off.
FLAY Jan. s.—The Clorinda, Troon to Smyrna, has
been assisted in here leaky, &c., and must partly discharge
to be caulked.
MONTROSE, Jan. s.—The Wheathill of Wisbesch was
abandoned on the 26th of December ; crew saved.
•
DUNDEE, Jan. s.—The Express of Sunderland foundered
on the 28th of December, forty miles off this port , crew
saved.
aban.
SHIELDS, Jan. s.—The Perfection of this port Was
cloned ; crew saved. foal'
YARMOUTH, Jan. s.—The Jago, Blyt
tiered on the 27th of December, off Whitby ore
ill nri wa.....ger
),
htoLw ~ 'toped.
tiered
anoNew SOUTHAMPTON,
York.
Jan. s.—Wind, S.W.

-----------
deCliVity suf.
DECLIVITY OF RIVERS.—A very Three inches
flees to give the running motion to TB47l:f4:;es a
per mile, in asmooth, straight channel,,P velocity of
which gathers the
about three miles an hour. The .g*
loftiestB,or
the in thehewi
gohrtl do,l
f its mouth, only about
waters of the Himalaya mountains'
is at eighteen hundred miles
vr°el of the sea—about twice
eight hundred feet above the le
the height of St.
_u_
Paul
burgh, and to fall these •
eight
Arthur's Seat, near in
course, the water re •
hundred feet in its long c
~ quires more
ti, The great river Magdalena, in South
than a mon •
• running fora thousand miles
America, between two
ndes, falls only
ridges of the A f five hundred feet in all
that distance. Above the commencementofthe
sand miles, igis seen descending in r •
apids and cataracts
from the mountains. The gigantic
so gentle a descent to the O Rio de in Plata has
fif-
teen hundred miles from its ocean, that in Paraguay, 'B"innt4LinG:snatdnhoen
which have sailed mouth, large ships are seen,
the force of the wind against
the current all the way, by `
the beautifully alone ; that is to say, which, on
gradually lifted inclined plane of the stream, have been
current, to an by the soft wind, and even against the
spires.—A • , elevation greater than thtt of our loftiest
7 nott 8 Physics.

LITERATURE.

CHRISTMAS BOOKS.

Love in the Moon ; a Poem, with Remarks on that
Luminary. By Patrick Scott, author of " Lelio."
Taylor, Walton, and Maberly.
The author of " Lelio " has here given evidence
that his powers of fancy are of no mean order—
they even extend to the verge of extravagance. As
a playful extravaganza, however, this elegant little
volume, with its cover of cerulean blue, illumined
by a golden moon, comes appropriately among the
Christmas books. The prefatory remarks contain
some interesting scientific particulars respecting the
actual condition of the moon as known to astrono-
mers, but the moon of the poem is of a somewhat
different nature. The scene of action is the hemi-
sphere not turned towards the earth, consequently
it is not within the power of Arago or Lord Rosse
to gainsay the suppositions of Mr. Scott. On that
distant lunar hemisphere we are to believe that
human beings exist, and hence this episode of
" Love in the Moon," seeing that, according to the
happy fancy of Mr. Scott, " Where there's Life,
there must be Love."

But we shall not introduce these lunatics to our
readers, furthermore than to say that their names
are Lunari,- and Argentine, and that, unlike the in-
habitants of our world, their bodies are contained
within their souls ! Having said this it is needless
to repeat that the poem is purely an extravaganza,
and we are inclined to think that Mr. Scott might
have turned his powers of fancy to better purpose.

The Inn by the Sea-side. An Allegory. By Anna
Harriet Drury:, Pickering.
We have on other occasions noticed some of
Miss Drury's excellent works--her beautiful tale
of Eastbury, and her most charming story of
"Friends and Fortunes _.one of the most charming
books of its kind that we are acquainted with.
This Christmas, we have no story from her
pen ; but in its stead, however, she gives us an
allegory—a most felicitous example of that effective
mode of truth-telling. The " Vision of Mirza "
and others of the kind, have been familiar to us ;11
from childhood. Of a kindred spirit is this truth-
ful description of that Inn by the Sea-side, in
which, travellers all, we make our passing abode,
entering either by the Gate of Thorns, the Gate of
Oak, the Flowery Porch, or the Princely Archway,
but all leaving it by the same dark portal. For-
getting that they were travellers bound on a far
journey, the visitors of this Inn too often forgot
that it was not their abiding place, and the sum-
mons of departure continually found them with
their travelling garments unprepared, and their
reckoning not paid.

The Picture Pleasure-Book. Addey.
As a Christmas-box, or New-Year's gift, for the
inhabitants of the nursery, we are satisfied that no
book or toy can surpass in attractions this most
attractive Pleasure-book. It has been making its
appearance with the magazines for some months
past in folio numbers, containing some half dozen
pages of pictures, for the moderate price of six-
pence. One volume is now complete, • and that
volume, or even one of the monthly numbers, will
afford immeasurable delight to little folks. Children
so love " a story and " a picture ;" and the beauty
of this work is, that its pictures tell their own
stories, and, moreover, they are for the most part
reprints from good drawings—a most important
matter, seeing that the unformed taste of children
should be early accustomed to good designs. These
pictures, as works of art, are excellent, and their
selection will, we are confident, give pleasure to
those for whom they are provided. Sketches of
various animals, and representations of little do-
mestic scenes and adventures are the chief subjects,
and sometimes a whole nursery tale is narrated in
successive pictures. Some of these are admirable.

Arbell : A Tale for Young People. By Jane
Winnard Hooper, author of the " Recollections
of Mrs. Anderson's School." Addey, Old Bond-

street.
This is a most desirable book for young people,
and it is likely to prove serviceable to them, as
it represents, in life-like manner, what would
be disregarded in a series of reflections. The good
character of the little heroine is made the subject
of deserved eulogium, and it is especially pointed
out that she could never by her own efforts have
become what she was. After years of careful
training, Miss Travers was enabled to rejoice in
the results of the labour of love in which she had
been sedulously engaged. Arbell was an orphan,
thrown on her bounty, the child of an old friend.
Neglected by all her rich relatives' deserted by her
friends, the poor mother, as a last resource, sought
out her old playmate Miss Travers, and her dying
prayer was answered. Her daughter was warmly
welcomed to her new home. In that peaceful re-
treat she passed a happy childhood. Georgy Cas-
tellan, the great friend of our heroine, was a very
pleasing girl : her disposition contrasted well with
that of Arbell. She was perfectly natural—a merry,
thoughtless girl, yet notwithstanding evincing some
times great powprs of boservation and judgment.
The most interesting part of the story is when the
time of trial comes, when Arbell is introduced to
her grandfather, who, struck by her appearance,
offers to make her his heiress. However, his kind-
ness does not extend to the true friend who had
guarded so well the early years of his grand-
daughter. In the following scene Arbell declares
her intentions :—" Come here, I have something
to say to you, and I must say it quickly, for I am
in a hurry," said her grandfather. " You are my
grand-daughter, and I intend to make you my
heiress, and will take you home to live with me
immediately. You understand that. Now, then,
I should like to pay back to this schoolmistress,
who has taken care of you since your infancy, all
the money which she has spent on your account.
I should like her to be paid double the usual
price foy pupils. Sit down, and calculate how
much that will be." Arbell felt the blood mount
into her cheeks. She was indignant and deeply
pained. " What is the matter ?" asked her grand-
father. "Can you not calculate a simple sum of
that kind, my dear ?" " No, Sir," she replied,
losing all fear in the strength of her indignation,
and then finding the words come easily enough,
so that she was astonished afterwards ; I
cannot calculate the sum of what I owe to the
lady who has been mother, father, and all relations
to me. You can't do it. No one can do it ; and
if you could calculate it, I should deserve never to
have a friend any more, if I insulted her by offer-
ing to pay it in money. You cannot pay for her
love and kindness to me, but I will pay her in gra-
titude. I would rather go back to her, and work
for her when she is old, than I would be your
heiress, and send her the money she has willingly
spent for me since I was taken in charity into her
house." The astonishment of General Dudley at
this speech from a little, gentle, loving girl, can
scarcely be described. After looking at her for a
few moments, he burst into an ungovernable rage.

Reveries of a Bachelor; or, a Book of the Heart,

By Ik. Marvel. Bogue.

Whether or not the first title of this book be cor-
rect we cannot say; but, assuredly, the second is
rightly bestowed. It is a book of the heart, full
to overflowing with genial sympathy and home-
affection. The playful fancy of the style only en-
hances the deep feeling that lies beneath. The
bachelor, by his lonely fireside; indulges in solemn
reveries, and allegories, and castle-building. First
musing over a wood-fire, the " smoke" suggests a
vision of " doubt," the succeeding " blaze" inspires
" cheer," and then follows " ashes" and " desola-
tion;" the visionary home is despoiled of its trea-
sures, the ideal wife and children are in the grave;
and so naturally, so pathetically is the loss imagined,
that we can readily understand him rousing from his
dream, thanking God the sad picture is not a reality.
Yet more charming is the comparison of the two
hearts symbolised by the sparkling, deceptive sea-
coal, and the steadfast glowing Anthracite, and yet
more delightful is
THE BACHELOR'S VISIONARIHOME.

" From my soul I pity him whose soul does not leap at
the mere utterance of that name. A home ! it is the
bright, blessed, adorable phantom, which sits highest on
the sunny horizon that girdeth Life! When shall it be
reached ? When shall it cease to be a glittering day-
dream, and become fully and fairly yours ?
" It is not the house, though that may have its charms ;
nor the fields carefully tilled, and streaked with your own
footpaths ; nor the trees, though their shadow be to you
like that of a great rock in a weary land ; nor yet is it the
fireside, with its sweet blaze-play ; nor the pictures which
tell of loved ones ; nor the cherished book ; but, more far
than all these—it is the PRESENCE. The Lares of your
worship are there ; the altar of your confidence there; the
end of your worldly faith is there ; and adorning it all, and
sending your blood in passionate flow, is the ecstasy of the
conviction that there, at least, you are beloved ; that there
you are understood ; that there your errors will meet ever
with gentlest forgiveness ; that there your troubles will be
smiled away ; that there you may unburden your soul
fearless of harsh, nnsympathising ears ; and that there you
may be entirely and joyfully yourself !"
In the Third Reverie, a cigar " lighted with a coal,"
" with a wisp of paper," and " with a match," sug-
gests appropriate reflections on different manners of
affection ; and the Fourth Reverie, the longest, is
in the form of a complete history—very charming
throughout, but especially the concluding portion.
The glimpses
of domestic life in its happiest phase,
and the tenderly-touching allusion to the death of
the little child, is sufficeni to entitle its author to
call his ,4 A Book of the Heart." As such, we
cordially commend it. It will give pleasure to all
who appreciate genuine feeling,

The Poet's Dream ; a Tale of Christmas. }jou'.
ston and Stoneman.
A tale exemplifying the efforts, ~,,isfortnnes,
and
disappointments of an author. It takes its title

from a dream or vision of the poet, which has
some resemblance to the dream of Taby Veck in
" The Chimes," in which he seems to live a whole
life of sorrow, suffering, and despair. The style
shows great ability, as the following extract will
prove. The hero in his dream meets with a spirit,
who shows him the two Temples of Fame and of
Oblivion :

" He found himself in a Temple of such immensity as the
wildest conceptions of human fancy never pictured—a
Temple whose roof was supported on pillars of such colossal
magnitude that their summits were lost in impenetrable
gloom, while on every side appeared endless avenues of
dreary vastness, and the boundless receptacles and maga-
zines of ages, wherein were stored all the Forgotten of the
Past. Here were deposited in promiscuous assemblage
the forms of enormous and now unknown animals, of every
monstrous and horrible shape—of singular and gigantic
trees and other vegetable products which in successive eras,
and through countless durations, have germinated, flour-
ished, and disappeared from the pre-Adamite earth. Here,
too, were ranged the remains of architecture, from the in-
cipient and crudest erection of a barbaric age, to the pala-
tial magnificence of later years, with coeval relics of primi-
tive history. Here, too, were records of the ancient Egyp-
tian, Assyrian, Chinese, and Indian dynasties, and of im-
memorial nations who have not left even a name to indi-
cate their former existence ! Here, too, were deposited
noble and exalted works of art, groups ofr statuary, gigan-
tic erections, exquisite paintings, immense engines of war-
fare, and military trophies and remains of kingly splendour,
pomp, and magnificence. Here, too, were to be seen in-
numerable idols and other objects of? superstitions venera-
tion, the silent and mouldering witnesses of the debasing
vanity of man ! Here, too, were domestic and warlike im-
plements, reared side by side, mechanical contrivances, and
everything characteristic of a savage and civilised life, of
every age, nation, and clime—everything that science could
discover, that art could invent,. that luxury could suggest,
and that necessity could require, was to be found in this
immense storehouse of unrecorded Time ! In addition to
all that the eye had seen, the ear had heard, and the hand
had done, were lidless coffins with their ghastly tenants
exposed to view, who comprised the dead of every age,
race, sex, and station, from the haughty monarch—who
had swayed his kingdom with the ambitious pride of power,
whose end was the grave and an oblivious death—to the
humble peasant, who knew of no to-morrow, and lived
only in his little present ; from the aged monarch to the
tender infant ; from the man of genius to the untutored
boor; and from the polished beauty to the repulsive savage !
Amidst the bewilderment of this wondrous scene, and the
infinite diversity of dim objects which surrounded Rob,
and oppressed him with a painful sense of overwhelming
vastness, were piles of innumerable volumes of ancient and
forgotten records of men's thoughts and inventions. All,
all, however, were fast hastening to dissolution. The
worms and moths and other creeping things were preying
on the ruins and mouldering forms of a departed life ;
whilst rust and decay, the sure and silent followers of ne-
glect, were stamping the impress of eternal doom on the
noblest and most enduring monuments of nature and art."

A Day of Pleasure. By Mrs. H. Myrtle. Illus-
trated by Hablot K. Browne. Addey, Old Bond-

street.

Mrs. Harriet Myrtle's works are well known to
juvenile readers. They are chiefly suited to the
very young, being written in a simple and pleasing
style, easy of comprehension. The present describes
very naturally a child's adventures and mishaps
during one day, on which, being his birthday, he
has many unusual indulgences. It is very ably
illustrated by Hablot K. Browne.

The Adventures of a Bear. By Alfred Elwes.
Illustrated by Harrison Weir. Addey, Old

Bond-street.

We here meet with a very pleasing revival of the
fables of bygone days. The hero, a very cross, ill-
tempered bear, quarrels with his family, and starts
out in the world by himself to make his fortunes.
But his only talent consisted in marring his own
fortunes, and others too. He tried several plans,
but the foundations were all ill laid, and they soon
crumbled away. He inhabited Caneville, a town
set apart for animals, very amusingly described,
and here he set up as a conjuror, with a learned
pig, attended by a diminutive bull-dog. After
ill-tempered.
In success, the bear became idle and
In a quarrel he killed his confederate, seized his
riches, and lived in great style, under an assumed
name, in a new part of the town. But soon he
grew extravagant, and ruin overtook him.
After a thousand adventures, all alike com-
menced in treachery, and closed in shame, he was
cast into prison ; from there he escaped, planned
to rob a house, but was made blind by the sharp
claws of the vigilant porter, an old cat ; he rushed
away, and was discovered by the officers in a pool
of water, trying to soothe his intolerable fever.
They allowed him to wander about, considering
him harmless ; and after many sufferings from
the gibes and insults of the town wits, who knew
him well, he died of want and disease. There are
nine illustrations, admirably done, to represent his
devious course ; they exhibit great skill, and add
to the amusement here found for all young readers.

Ridden Treasures. By Frederick Hardman.

This is a very interesting little story for the
young, and it conveys a useful moral also, for it
advocates the principles of integrity and rectitude.
The foundations of the plot are afforded by the cir-
cumstances of the German ivar with France, during
which a private soldier secured, after a battle, some
chests of treasure belonging to his king. He was
pursued by the French, but contrived to escape
them, and for security buried his prize in the earth
by a ruined castle in the forest, these to remain
till happier times should enable him to restore
them to his master. Connected with this incideut
the other personages of the story are introduced,
and the character of the young Count is very well
drawn. His mother and himself were driven from
their castle, through fraud and treachery, and they
had to wait long years before they could reinstate
themselves in their rights. Nor was it till the ter-
mination of the war that the old Hermann was
enabled to restore to his monarch the long-lost,
faithfully-guarded treasure. Thus truth and
honour triumphed after many trials.

The Unseen Hand. By the Rev. Stopford J.

Wane.

Whittaker.

This little work is entitled " Events in an Event
ful Life." 'lt has for its motto—

" There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them as we will."

This sufficiently describes the whole scheme of
the composition, for it adheres strictly to the text.
It is an admirable monitor to the vain and trifling.
It conveys; also, a solemn warning to those who
tempt themselves and others in the way of wrong.
The hero is actuated by the best of feelings, but
his actions were not in accordance with his desires ;
but at last, after many sufferings, he is led into
the right path. While this work points out the
influence of the Spirit, it does not, in the least, in-
cline to fatalism or superstition ; on the contrary,
it clearly shows that the effort must be made by
man before grace will be given. The tale is sim-
ple, but very pleasing, and doubtless many will be
entertained, as well as instructed, by its perusal.

THE FATAL RA IL WA Y
_ACCIDENT NEAR

OXFORD.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

OXFORD, WEDNESDAY EVENING.—The inquest on the
bodies of the eight unfortunate victims of the lament-
able catastrophe which occurred to the down train of the
London and North-Western Railway, when approaching
this city on Monday evening last, was commenced this
forenoon, at the Star Hotel, Corn Market-street, before
Mr. Brunner, coroner for the district of theaeity of Ox-
ford, and a respectable jury. Mr. G. P. Hester, solici-
tor and town clerk of Oxford, appeared to watch the
proceedings on behalf of the railway company; and Mr.
Hayes, of the firm of Parker, Hayes, and Co., solicitors
to the company, was also in attendance. Mr. Bruyeres,
superintendent of the line, and Mr. M'Connell, super-
intendent of the locomotive department, were also pre-
sent to afford every facility to the jury and the coroner
in the prosecution of their inquiry. Mr. Mallam, soli-
citor, also appeared on behalf of Mr. Alfred Blott, sta-
tion-master at Oxford; and, in the course of the proceed-
ings, Capt. Wynne, the Government inspector, entered
the room, and remained during the rest of the sitting.
The jury having been duly sworn.
The Coroner briefly addressed them, calling attention
to the importance of the melancholy task which de-
volved upon them. No doubt there would be a great
number of witnesses brought before them, and it was
desirable that—as had been done formerly in the Bices-

case—they should confine themselves, first, to tak-
ng the evidence which could be given by parties who
certainly could speak from a knowledge of the facts, but
who at the same time could not be supposed to be re-
sponsible for the management of the line, as it might
happen, although he did not know that it would, that
the course of the inquiry would show that certain officers
of the company were to blame. He was sure, however,
that the jurors would dismiss all extraneous circum-
stances and all prejudices from their minds, and would
spare no pains or time in thoroughly, investigating the
cause of the calamity, and endeavouring to arrive at a
conclusion which might be satisfactory to the public.
He might observe that one of the bodies, that of Samuel
Wilcox, a stoker, was lying at the Radcliffe Infirmary.
The name of the woman who had been killed by the
accident had been mistaken for Caroline Davis, whereas
her real name was _Julia Norman. There were two
bodies which had not yet been identified, besides which
were the bodies of the two drivers and the two stokers,
which lay at the public-house in Horse and Jockey-lane.
The jury had better first go to view the bodies, and
afterwards inspect the scene of the accident ; and he had
no doubt that the engineers of the railway company
would furnish them with a map of the part of the line
between Islip and Oxford, in order to aid them in arriv-
ing at a perfect knowledge of all the circumstances bear-
ing on the inquiry. _ _

The jury then proceeded to view the bodies, and also
the part of the line at which the catastrophe occurred ;
and on their return they were about to call the wit-

nesses, when

Mr. Mallam applied to the coroner for permission to his
client, Mr. Blott, to be present during the investigation.

The Coroner—lt would be better that he should not
be here. He will, I am sure, be well represented by
you, Mr. Mallam.
Mr. Mallam—l cannot, sir, be properly instructed
without my client. In all courts of justice he is allowed
to attend, and to suggest to his attorney matters which
it is desirable to get at in evidence.
The Coroner—Mr. Blott is one of the responsible-ser-
vants of the railway company, and assuming that the in-
quiry should take a turn which should render it necessary
for the jury to examine him hereafter, it would be objec-
tionable that he should be in the room now ; and, on
the other hand, if the inquiry should turn against him,
it was still more desirable that he should be absent.

Mr. Mallam—l only think that his presence would
better enable me to discharge my duty ; but I bow, of
course, to the coroner's decision.

A Juryman—l cannot see, Mr. Coroner, how Mr.
Blott will be able to defend himself if he is excluded,
should anything be adduced tending to criminate him.
Mr. Mallam—l well renew my application at another
stage, should it be desirable.
The following witnesses were then called in and ex-
amined :

John Smith—l am foreman over the engines and en-
gine-drivers at the Oxford station of the London and
North-Western Railway. I have accompanied the jury
this morning to view the bodies. I can identify the
body shown to the jury at the Radcliffe Infirmary as that
of Samuel Wilcox. He was fireman in the employ of
the London and North-Western Railway Company, of
engine No. 220. That engine was engaged in bringing
a coal train to and from Rugby bo Oxford, on Monday
afternoon last. John Lee was the driver of that engine.
Lee is here. I also identified the body of John Tarry,
engine-driver ; it lies at the Saddler's Arms, St. Giles's.
Tarry was attached to engine No. 148, which was ap-
pointed to take the passenger train to Oxford, at 5.30,
p.m., on Monday. Another of the bodies was that of
Robert Bagden, fireman to that engine. He lies at the
same place. I was not at the station when that engine
started. It was not my duty to see the train start. Jo-
seph Kinch was guard of that train. I identified, also,
the body of Thomas Landon, fireman to engine No. 124,
which engine was also attached to the coal train on Mon-
day last, and it was the foremost engine of the two.
Robert Law was the driver of that engine (124). His
body lies at the Victoria public-house. Law came from
Bletchley with the coal train. No. 220 was the second
engine of the coal train. I can't identify either of the
bodies. I knew Wilcox, Lee, Tarry, Landon, and Law. I
knew nothing of the accident. I went to Bicesterby the four
o'clock train on the company's business on Monday. I act
under the locomotive department. I have only to see
that the engines are in good working order, and that
the men are in a proper state before they start. I have
not to see the trains start. Any man in an unfit state,
or the worse for liquor, would be seen by Mr. Blott, or
somebody else at the station. I intended to return to
Oxford by the coal train, but my business was not
finished when that train came to Bicester ; and so I
stayed and returned by the six o'clock train. There are
time bills for the coal train. The four o'clock train in
which I travelled stopped at Islip, and there I saw the
driver of 148 engine. He was bringing the 4.5 pas-
senger train from Bletchley to Oxford, and his train
was waiting for our's to pass. I did not speak to
Tarry, but I saw him on his engine. I was on the
other engine. He came to Islip at 4.15. I have known
Tarry for four or five years as a driver, and never saw
him the worse for liquor. When he got to Oxford, he
would have first to turn his engine and take water and
coke if required, and then to " shunt" his train from
one side of the station to the other, which duties would
take him about half an hour, and he had to leave again
at half-past five. From about the 15th of last month
there has been only one line of rails from Islip to Ox-
ford. The whole of the passenger traffic has been con-
veyed upon this one line of rails. We call it the up-
line. The contractors for the tunnel at Wolvercot had
the sole use of the down-line. They used it for the
conveyance of stone, ballast, and water, between Islip
and Oxford.
By a Juror—There was nobody on whom any res-
ponsibility would rest in my absence, as regards seeing
that Tarry was in a sober state for the half hour that he
would have to spare after " shunting" his engine. I had
seen Tarry on Monday, at five minutes before 10 a.m.
I also saw him at 12, but subsequent to that I had no
conversation with him. When I saw him.afterwards at
Islip I did not speak to him, but he was on his engine,
and I was satisfied that he was in a fit state for his
duty.
By another Juror—l know of my own knowledge
that on two occasions the 5.30 passenger train from
Oxford left the station before the coal train had come
in. In one of these instances two of the waggons of
the coal train had gone off the line, and the circumstance
was telegraphed to Oxford. I know of no other occa-
sion of the passenger train leaving before the coal train
came in. There is a coal train due every night in the
week except Sunday, at 5.20, at Oxford. I repeat that
I do not know that there is any person in particular
upon whom my responsibility would devolve in my
absence from the Oxford station ; but I should think
any of the policemen would take notice if the men were
the worse for liquor.
The witness then withdrew.
John Lee examined—l am a driver in the employ of
the London and North-Western Company, and have the
care of engine No. 220, which was at work on Monday
from Bletchley to Rugby, and from Rugby to Oxford
with a coal train. From Rugby to Bletchley there was
only my engine attached to the coal train ; but from
Bletchley to Oxford there was a second engine (No.
124), which Landon drove. We started at ten minutes
past three p.m. from Bletchley, which was about twenty
or twenty-five minutes behind time. We should have
left at 2.45. We took on the other engine because the
train was so heavy. The train comprised 54 waggon
loads of coal, and a break waggon, besides the two en-
gines and two tenders. We stopped at Winslow, Bices-
ter, Islip, and Banbury-road stations. When we arrived
at the Islip station I asked the policeman if it was all
right to go on, and he said that it was. We might have
stopped for seven or ten minutes at Islip. We there
crossed on to the up line—that was in consequence of
some works going on at the Wolvercot tunnel. Almost.
every day since the 15th November last I had driven
along this line in consequence of these works. I never
left Islip for Oxford without learning from the policeman
that the line was clear. Our time-bill states that the
coal train was due at 5.5 p.m. at Banbury-road. There
is a telecrraphic communication between Islip and Ox-
ford. We stopped at the Banbury-road station, where
we saw a green or caution signal shown, and we went
along slowly, at the rate of five to six miles an hour, till
we came to the tunnel, and we went through the tunnel
at about four miles an hour. After we got through
the tunnel we increased the speed to about seven or
eight miles an hour. I know it as an incline from the
tunnel to Oxford. I was driving the second engine
at this time ; and when we had got within seventy or
eighty yards from the wooden bridge leading to Port
Meadow, we saw the lights of an approaching passenger
train. At first I was not sure that it was a second train,
but I looked again, and being satisfied that it was a
train, I immediately jumped off. We were then going
at about six miles an hour. We were slackening speed
again before we saw the train coming. I set open my
whistle before I jumped off. I called out to my fire-
man that the train was coming, and told him to jump
off. His name is Samuel Wilcox. He told me after J

the accident that he did not hear me call to him. I fell
on the left side of the line, and before I got up the ac-
cident had occurred. It was a collision between the
5.30 train and the coal train. All three of the engines
were thrown off the line. The three tenders were also
thrown off the line, and both trains were brought to a
stand-still. As soon as I got up, I could not see for a
moment, on account of the steam blowing off. It was
on the Oxford side of the wooden bridge that I jumped
off. When the steam cleared I went to my engine, and
found Wilcox lying hurt on the foot-plate of it. My
engine was not overturned. I could not tell how he
was injured, but I saw him taken to the infirmary. Be-
fore he was taken there I saw him alive, and asked him
if he was very much hurt, and he said that he was, but
he could not tell me how. He was unable to speak any
more. He only asked me to take care of him, and I
said that I would. I then went to the passenger car-
riages, and I found two of them upset ; the one was a
ftecond, and the other a third-class carriage. I helped
to get the passengers out of the broken carriages.
We picked up a man and a woman, who were both
dead. I did not hear any signal from the passenger
train, not even at the time when I saw the lights.
If there had been any whistle, very likely I should
not have heard it. The whole of the traffic between
Oxford and Islip is now carried over one line of rails.
When a coal train comes into Oxford we go on to the
same line where the passengers have their tickets taken,
and then we move off the main line to the left on a sid-
ing. I have no instructions to go and report the arrival
of a coal train to the station-master, and I don't know
whether the breaksmen have such instructions. There
was a green light in front of our first engine, and a white
light on the left side of the tender. There were blue
coloured lights at each side of the break van at the end
of our train. I saw two white lights on the passenger
train that was approaching us, the one was on the buffer
of the engine, and the other was on the side of the ten-
der. It was not quite a mile from the station to the
point where the accident happened. Since there has
been but a single line between Islip and Oxford I have
known the 5.30 passenger train to leave Oxford before
the coal train arrived. Once I waited at Islip until it
came up, and once I passed it between Islip and Bices-
ter. I was stepped at Islip on that occasion by the
policeman on duty. He told me that the passenger
train had left Oxford. He had got that information by
the telegraph I suppose. I cannot understand how the
passenger train should have come on when we had our
lights on. It was quite contrary to rule. The passen-
ger trains have white lights, and goods or coal trains
green lights. There is a signal at the iron swing-bridge,
and also an auxiliary signal post about 200 yards up the
line beyond the ticket platform. There is no other sig-
nal between the wooden bridge and the Banbury-road
station. The auxiliary signal is seen from a consider-
able distance when a train is coming from the Wolver-
cot tunnel. I cannot tell whether the passenger train
had reached the auxiliary signal when I first saw it. I
was looking for the auxiliary signal when the light of
the train attracted my attention.
This witness's examination was here concluded..
Mr. Hester=Now we propose, Mr. Coroner, to put
in the Oxford station-master's evidence.

The Coroner—My duty, as the officer of the Crown,
is not to have Mr. Blott examined at present.
Mr. Hester—We consider Mr. Blott's evidence the
best evidence ; and it is only like beating about the bush
to seek for all this imperfect evidence, when there is
direct evidence ready to be adduced, but it is not ad-
mitted.

Mr. Mallam—lt appears to me that the exclusion of
Mr. Blott's evidence bears this construction, that there
is a foregone conclusion that this gentleman is in some
way responsible.
The Coroner—l am satisfied that my course is the
right one, and I feel that I shall be upheld by the public
in refusing to take Mr. Blott's evidence first.
Wm. Hayes examined—l am foreman of porters and
ticket collector at the Oxford station. My duty is to
see that the carriages are all marshalled ready for tra-
velling, and that the porters at the station are at their
posts. It is part of my duty to be on the platform at
the starting of every train, and I am provided, like all
the other servants, with a printed book of instructions
for my guidance. By those rules it is the guard's duty
to give the signal to start the trains by whistling to the
driver. There is a whistle provided for the purpose.
The drivers of the train are therefore subject to the
direction and the control of the guards. The guard,
before starting, ascertains from the station-master or
myself that all is ready for starting. I was on
the platform on Monday evening when the 5.30
train should have started. I knew that a coal train
was due at 5.20, and I was aware that it had not arrived
at Oxford. I have general orders from the station-master
to ascertain that the coal train is clear of the line before
the 5.30 train leaves the platform. To ascertain that, it
is necessary that I should go near to the swing-bridge to
see that the coal train stands clear of the up-line. I left
the platform on Monday night to ascertain that, and
while I was near the bridge, I saw a ballast train come
over the bridge and go into a siding on the coal wharf
side. I knew from a telegraphic communication that the
coal train had left Islip, and I ascertained that it had
not arrived at the platform. I had my proper lamp
with me. I returned towards the ticket platform, and
just before I got to the platform, I heard the driver's
whistle and saw the passenger train in motion. I had
not heard the guard's whistle. I called out to stop, a's
loud as I could, but the driver was blowing off his steam
from the waste pipe, and that would prevent him from
hearing. The lamp that I had was not a signal lamp, it
was a lamp to light me up the line. As the train was
going off I called to the guard and told him that the coal
train had not come in ; that it was the ballast train that
had come in, and the guard instantly put on his break.
The guard was in the last carriage, and he would natu-
rally hear me last. The train went out very fast. It
started about 7 minutes beyond its proper time (5.30).
I had seen the driver on his engine about 28 minutes
after 5 o'clock, and before his train started. His name
is Tarry. He appeared sober, and I told him that the
coal train had left Islip nearly half an hour, and I also
told him that he could not leave until after the coal train
had arrived. He said, " Can't we go, then, till that
comes in ? " and I said, " Certainly not." I examined the
passengers' tickets, and spoke to Kinch (the guard), and
told him the coal train had left Islip half an hour, and
that his train must not go on. I am sure that both
Tarry and Kinch understood that they could not go till
the train came in ; and Kinch said, "Would it not be
better for the driver to open his whistle ?" but I said,
" The line will not be clear while the red signal is on the
bridge." I saw the red signal was on at the bridge.
That was before I left the platform. The red signal was
on at the time the train started. It was plainly to be
seen from the platform. As soon as I found the train
in motion I ran to the policeman (Hareby) on the line,
and told him to show his red signal. He did so. The
train had passed when he held it up, but the guard be-
ing at the end of the train might have seen it. The red
signal at the swing-bridge was turned off before the train
reached it, for the driver had blown his whistle twice.
The whistle was used to call the attention of the guard
or the policeman, or any other servant that might be on
the line.. The policeman on the line (Bonham) turned
off the red signal, which signifies "danger" and " stop,"
and it would be the duty of a driver not to proceed with
his train when such a signal was up. The green signal
was turned on when the red one was taken off. The
green means " caution," and " proceed slowly." I
had no other means of preventing the train from go-
ing on except those I resorted to. I tried all that I
could to stop it, because I was quite certain there must
be a collision. Mr. Blott was at the station at the
time. He was there from three o'clock until seven. At
fiven o o'clock
ea
al.
trainegraphic message came from Islip to
kw if the 0
might come on, and I asked Mr.
Blott, and he said "Yes ; it may come on immediately,"
and that answer was sent back to Islip. I left no direc-
tionssee if the coal train was coming in. I was gone from
theplawtiftoh aboutanrmybody whilst I went from the platform to
four or five minutes. The double
line is worked between the entrance of the station and
the platform. I ascertained that it was the ballast train
and not the coal train that had come in by the difference
of the lights, and by seeing one of the contractors' men
(Mr. Smith) alighting. The passenger-train consisted of
one third-class carriage, next the tender ; one second-
class, adjoining the third-class ; one first-class, and the
guard's break. There were twenty-one passengers
booked by this train. There were no first-class passen-
gers ; but all were second and third class. I think the
greater number were third-class passengers. There was
no other person on the engine but Tarry and Bugden. As
soon as the train had started I saw Mr. Blott, who was
running towards the train. He asked, " Who started
the train ?" I said " I don't know, I did not, I tried to
stop it.' Mr. Blott and myself ran on, following the
train, and told the policeman to put on the red signal,
which he did. He waived the red signal. I and Mr.
Blott still followed the train in the direction of the scene
of the accident. I did not hear the collision, but I
dreaded it. I know of no audible signal by which the
guard could communicate the danger to the driver. The
drivers are under the orders of the guards ; but a red
light is a positive order to either guard or driver to
stop.
A Juror—The question is which is paramount, the
red light or the guard's order ?
The Coroner—A red light is an order to everybody.
By Mr. Mallam—The coal train having been tele-
graphed from Islip half an hour before the passenger
train was to start, the former train had time to come in
before the 5.30 started, because it takes half an hour by
the time table for the coal train to travel between Islip
and Oxford.

The Foreman—Yes, it would just have time, but not
a minute to spare.
The Coroner—We cannot discuss that point now.
The examination of the witness Hayes was here brought
to a close ; and the jury then adjourned the inquiry till
half-past ten o'clock this (Thursday) morning.

BENEFICES.—A parliamentary paper which has just
been issued contains several abstracts from the latest re-
turns made by the archbishops and bishops in pursuance
of 1 and 2 Vic., (3. 156, sec. 53. From these it appears
that the total number of benefices in England and Wales
was 11,728 in 1E350, and upon 8,214 of these there was
a glebe house. It also appears that 6,132 clergymen
were resident in. the respective parsonage houses, 664 in
the houses appointed by the bishop in his license, and
1,218 within the limits of the benefice, there being no
Parsonage house ; making the total number resident
8,077. The tobal nnmber exempted from residence was
1,361 ; but of these 329 performed the duties of their
parishes. The principal grounds of exemption are resi-
dence in other benefices, official chaplaincies, and offices
and masterships in the universities and public schools.
The e number e3zempted by license, on the ground of infir-
mity: and other causes, was 674, of whom 176 were.
th-
ing
license duty in theiror
exemption ar i s h
e s
. 917,0 f Number
whom
were w tho
the duties in their parishes. The number of sequestra-
tions doing
was 51 ; and from 357 benefices no return was re-
ved.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY—JAN. 5.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque.)
IN RE LORD HUNTINGTOWER.

Mr. Bennett made an application to the Court under
the following circumstances :—His client (Mr.. Hume)
was engaged in a Chancery suit connected with this
bankruptcy. In 1849, 1850, and 1851 he was examined
in this Court. The evidence referred to transactions
extending over a period of nine or ten years past, and he
wished to be now furnished with a copy of the deposi-
tions then given. It was impossible for any witness to
recollect minutely what he had stated under such cir-
cumstances, and he trusted that the Court would grant
a copy of the depositions ; of course at the expense of Mr.
Hume.

Mr. Nias, for the assignees, resisted the application.
If there had been a delay in giving the evidence, that
delay had been occasioned by Mr. Hume himself. The
assignees had for several years sought to procure Mr.
Hume's evidence touching a great quantity of property
which he held under trust. They had only at length
got at him by the Commissioner of this Court making a
summons good when left at Mr. Hume's house. If Mr.
Hume had not told the truth then, that was no reason
why his memory should be assisted now, and if he had
sworn the truth, he could repeat it. If Mr. Hume were
allowed to possess a copy of his statements already
made, it might be the means of frustrating justice.
Mr. Bennett thought Mr. Nias had not correctly re-
presented the facts of the case. He was not aware that
Mr. Hume had avoided the service of a summons of this
Court, although he was not able to state that such was
not the case. _ _ _

-- - -
Mr. Nias repeated that the facts were as he had repre-
sented them.

The Commissioner said that if a man had sworn the
truth at one time, he could do so again. He saw no
reason to depart from the practice of the Court. The
application would be dismissed with costs.

Dismissed accordingly.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS COURT.—JAN. 5.
(Before the Chief Commissioner,)
IN THE MATTER OF RICHARD WARD PELHAM.
This insolvent, the original Ethiopian, whose case was
mentioned on a former occasion, again came before the
Court. There was no further opposition offered. The
case had been adjourned to insert a residence omitted.
The Court named the 26th instant for the final order.
• (Before Mr. Commissioner Law.)
• IN RE JOHN WOLSEY.
This was an application for discharge, on the ground
of non-payment of " the sixpences." The insolvent had
a judgment of twelve months' imprisonment, at the suit
of a gentleman named Dayrell. He made an applica-
tion for an allowance on account of his poverty. The
money had not been paid by the detaining creditor, and
hence the present application.
Mr. Commissioner Law made the rule absolute for the
discharge.
IN RE JOHN HENRY CROMWELL RUSSELL.
This insolvent had been connected with a railway.
The case was partially heard before, and now occupied
the whole of the day.
The further hearing was adjourned to the Ist Feb.