The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-25 00:00:00

" OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.

"The morning express train from Bristol reached the
Ealing cutting at the usual time, 11.15, and had passed
the Ealing station on its way to Paddington, when the
travelling porter, who sits on the tender looking back on
the carriages, observed one of the first-class carriages to
sink at one corner and to run off the rail. He instantly
called to the engine-driver, who, on looking back upon
the train, saw the gravel flying about, and shut off the
steam, reversing the engine. When this was done, but
before the train could be stopped, the three first-class
carriage's broke away from his coupling, and were dis-
covered running up the left slope of the cutting.
" The foremost of them, after reaching the summit
of the slope, fell over, and the second carriage, coming
into violent collision with it, also fell over on its side.
"The last carriage was but slightly injured, and the
passengers in it escaped without injury.
"In the second body of the middle carriage four of
the Great Western directors were seated, coming to at-
tend the weekly meeting of the board. One of them
(Mr. James Gibbs, of Bristol), we lament to say, was
killed on the spot. Dr. Prichard Smith was severely
injured by a dislocation of the shoulder. The other di-
rectors (Mr. Potter, of Gloucester, and Mr. Simmonds,
of Reading), escaped unhurt. Three or four of the
passengers met with some injury by cuts or contusions,
but not in any case to a serious extent, and all were en-
abled to proceed on their journey.
"The only cause which can be assigned for the acci-
dent is the breaking of the scroll iron and axle guard of
the first-class carriage, and it is difficult to distinguish
whether either or both of these were fractured before the
carriage left.the rail or when it was upset.
"The wheels and axles prove to be entire, one axle
only being bent, which was obviously occasioned by the
blow when the carriage was thrown over from the slope
of the cutting."

IMPORTANT POST-OFFICE REGULATIONS FOR
THE EARLY DELIVERY OF LETTERS. &c.

The following new regulations respecting the early
delivery of letters and newspapers within the London
district will come into operation on and after the 28th
inst., when the time for posting letters at the receiving-
houses in London will be extended from 8 p.m. to 10
p.m. In the morning, commencing on Tuesday next,
the Ist of March, the receiving-houses throughout the
metropolis will be cleared at 9 and 11 a.m., instead of at
7.45 and 10 a.m. At the following.places in the neighbour-
hood of London, the time for posting letters at night will
be extended to 9.30 p.m., and they will be dispatched the
same night to the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-
Grand, instead of at 7.30 on the following morning, as
at present—viz., Camberwell, Camden-town, Hackney,
Holloway, Islington, Kennington, Kent-road, Kentish-
town, Kingsland, Newington-butts, Somers-town, South
Lambeth, Vauxhall, and Walworth. Letters and news-
papers intended for dispatch by the morning mails, if taken
to the receiving-offices, must be posted the previous night,
before the hours named above ; but if taken to the chief
or branch offices, they may be posted on the morning
of dispatch up to the following hours :—For the day
mails, which leave Euston-square, if posted at
Charing-cross, Old Cavendish-street, or Borough branch
offices, newspapers at 6.45 a.m., letters 7.15 a.m. ;
at the chief office and Lombard-street branch office,
newspapers at 7 a.m., ;and letters 7.45 a.m. ; for
the other day mails, as at present, viz., newspapers at
7.30 a.m., and letters at 8 a.m., at the branch offices,
and at the chief office and Lombard-street, newspapers
at 7.45 a.m., and letters 8.30 a.m. Letters and news-
papers for London and the neighbourhood intended
for the 8 a.m. dispatch, if taken to the receiving
offices, must be posted the previous night, but if taken
to the London District Office, St. Martin's-le-Grand,
they may be posted on the morning of dispatch at the
following hours :—Newspapers up to 7 a.m., letters
7.45 a.m.

The second dispatch to the country places within the
London district will be made at noon, instead of at 1
p.m., as heretofore, and letters and newspapers to be
forwarded by it can be. posted at the London receiving-
houses up to 11 a.m., or at the windows of the chief
office up to 11.45 a.m. It must be understood that the
letter-receivers will not be required to keep their houses
open after 8 p.m. for the sale of postage stamps, nor for
the receipt of registered letters nor foreign paid letters.