The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-03 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.—James Dayton was
brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with attempting
to blow out his brains in Hyde-park.
Eleazer Deaning said he was in Hyde-park about
three o'clock on the 7th of February, when he heard the
report of a pistol. He turned round, and saw a quantity
of smoke curling under one of the trees. He went for-
ward, and saw the defendant fall on his back to the
ground. He had a gun-shot wound at his ear, and he
was bleeding and insensible. Witness caused him to be
taken to St. George's Hospital, where he had been ever
since.

It was stated that the cause of the dreadful act was
that the defendant had committed a larceny, which had
preyed upon his mind so strongly as to lead him to at-
tempt self-destruction. _

The friends of the defendant having succeeded in corn-
posing his mind, and inducing within him a proper feel-
ing of contrition for the crime he meditated, were allowed
to take charge of him, and he was liberated accordingly.

HAMMERSMITH.—.4Iice Scanlan, a young Irish-
woman, the keeper of a lodging-house in Hooper's,
court, Knightsbridge, was charged with unlawfully de-
serting a female child at the gate of Kensington Work-
house, whereby she had become chargeable to the parish.
The prisoner applied to Mr. Beadon on Tuesday, and
also to his colleague, Mr. Paynter, on Saturday, and
she stated on those occasions 'that a woman who she
allowed to live in her place out of charity, suddenly ab-
sconded on the 21st ult., leaving her infant child behind
her. The prisoner did not know what had become of
the woman, and she was unable to support the child, as
she had three of her own to maintain. She bad applied
to, the relieving officer of Kensington for an order for the
child to be admitted into the workhouse, but he had
refused to give her one. One of the summoning officers
of the court was ordered to make some inquiries about
the affair, and on Tuesday he reported to Mr. Beadon
that the prisoner's case had been before the Board of
Guardians, and they had refused to interfere, as they
believed that the applicant knew where the mother of
the child had gone to. In this case Mr. Beadon told
the woman that he could not assist her, and she then left
the court with the child, and at the same time declared
that she would leave it at the workhouse, as she could
not support another woman's child.
John Doward, the porter at Kensington Workhouse,
said the prisoner left the child at the gate that morning,
and he was directed to give her into custody.
Mr. Beadon said he could not do anything in the mat-
ter, as it was not the prisoner's child. He could not
compel her to keep another woman's infant. He knew
all about the case, and thought the child ought to have
been received into the house before, as it must necessarily
end in that.

The porter said he had had the child brought to the
court ; and if the prisoner chose to take it back, he would
give her the order for her to see the board on Thursday
(this day).
Mr. Beadon said he could not direct her to take th•
child back, now it was in the hands of the parochial
authorities.

The porter said this was the second child that had been
passed upon them under similar circumstances from the
same neighbourhood.
Mr. Beadon discharged the prisoner ; and said if the
mother of the child could be found he should know how
to treat her.

RAILWAY PASSENGERS' ASSURANCE

COMPANY.:

The seventh half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday, at their offices, Old Broad-street ; Sir J.
Dean Paul, chairman. After the usual preliminary pro-
ceedings, the report was handed to the shareholders.
It set'forth that the total amount received for premiums
during the half-year was 4,3561. 4s. 5d., and the entire
income for the year 1852, 7,422/. 12s. 6d. against 7,3521.
18s. for 1851. The latter sum included, however,
5491. 17s. 6d. for insurance of railway servants,
which had not been renewed, and which should be
deducted in order to estimate the actual increase
of business from passengers during the past year.
The business since the close of the year, bore a fa-
vorable comparison with the similar period in 1852,
shewing an increase of 2041. 4s. 3d. on the seven weeks
of the present year over that of last year, exclusive of
the term and life policies, the premiums on which are
2851., and warrants the belief, that notwith-
standing the numerous difficulties the company has
had to contend with during its progress, it ix
now firmly grounded in public estimation, and
its sphere of usefulness will continue to be enlarged.
The directors had great pleasure in stating that the di-
rectors of the London and South-Western Railway have
consented to the company's tickets being issued at their
stations, whereby a new and extended field is opened,
from which they have hitherto been excluded. The
chairman moved the adoption of the report. Tho direc-
tors who retired on this occasion were G. B. Harrison,
Esq. ; J. Clay, Esq., M.P. ; -and the Hon. A. Kinnaird,
M.P., who being eligible, offered themselves for re-
election, and on the motion of Mr. Beattie were re-
elected. The auditors T. C. Bates, Esq., and A. Scrut-
ton, Esq. also retired from office at this meeting, and
were re-elected nem. con. After a vote of thanks to the
chairman, the meeting then separated.

THE AUSTRALIAA AND GAPE MAILS, (C.c., (Pc

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The Australian steam-ship, Captain Hoseason, RN.,
Commander, which sailed on Thursday last with the
mails for the Cape of Good Hope, Australia, &c., in
charge of Commander Curtis, RN.. put back on the fol-
lowing day at 6 p.m. It appears that some repairs were
found necessary on the arrival of the ship from the
Thames, which having been completed the vessel put to
sea at half-past five on Thursday afternoon, and there
was every prospect of a prosperous voyage, at least as
far as the apparent capabilities of the ship were con-
cerned. She steamed well, making 10 and sometimes
101 knots an hour. About 10 o'clock it began to blow
exceedingly fresh from the W.N.W. with a heavy sea.
As the ship strained under these combined efforts it was
found she was making water fast, which rose, notwith-
standing all efforts at the pumps, to 41 feet in the engine-
room, putting out the port-wing fires. At three o'clock,
then 60 miles W.S.W. of the Eddystone, and the water
still gaining, Captain Hoseason determined to bear up
for this port. In wearing she shipped a heavy sea, carry-
ing away her port life-boat. She returned to the Sound,
as above stated, at 6 o'clock on Friday afternoon—having
then 3 feet water in her hold. Her return was immedi-
ately telegraphed to the Admiralty, and permission ob-
tained to take her into dock in the Royal-yard at this port,
and on the following evening (Saturday) she was taken
into the North Dock. Here she has undergone all the ne-
cessary repairs. The leaks in the hull were but few
and slight, and the increase of the water in the engine-
room was rather the result of inattention than other-
wise, in suffering the water to rise to the height of the
bed-plates of the engine-room before attention was paid
to it. Then it proved too late as in the roll of the vessel
the water washed the coal bunkers, the small stuff from
which soon choked the pumps—hence all the great diffi-
culties. The water in the cabins, and much of that
which found its way into the hold °tithe vessel, was the
result of the bad caulking of the decks, which has now
been completely remedied by the men of the establish-
ment, who did not fail to jeer these of the company who
came near them on the state of a vessel the production
of a gentlemen so very liberal in his remarks on the
efficiency of the mechanics of the Royal Dockyards.
There appears to be no slight blame attaching itself
somewhere as regards this vessel, for though it has been
proved that the leak was not so serious as from appear-
ances was first thought, yet there does not appear to
have been the necessary attention paid to securing the
engine bed-plates, the screws of which became stripped
at sea, and the plate obliged to be fastened down by
an upright timber from the beams to the plate. It is
understood she will come out of dock to-morrow, and
will no doubt take a trial trip under the inspection of
Captain Lowe, R.N., the Superintendent of Mail Pac-
kets at this port, whose great attention tq his arduous
and highly responsible duties ensures that the ship and
engines will be most fully tested before she will be allowed
to put to sea. Should this report be favourable as it may
be anticipated it will be, then the Australian will proceed
on her voyage, taking the mails, &c. ; but it is doubtful
if she is to be detained longer than to-morrow or the
next day, whether the mails will not be transhipped to
the Hellespont, Capt. Watts, belonging to the Screw
Steam Company now lying in Millbay for the Cape and
the Australian Colonies.

The Australian has a full cargo, and the total amount
of specie shipped is estimated at 300,0001., including
30,0001. on account of the Oriental Bank - nearly
15,000/. of the Chartered Australian Land, Mining, Im-
porting and Refining Company, and 10,0001. on account
of the Agra United Service Company—and similar sums
on account of Messrs. Rothschild and the Great Nugget
Vein Company. Among her passengers are the com-
mander-in-chief of the forces in New South Wales,
Major-General Sir Robert Nickle, R.N., Lady Nickle,
and suite - also the numerous staff of the Chartered Aus-
tralian Land, Mining, Importing and Refining Company
—consisting of its manager, Capt. Henry Baker, R.N.
—its metallurgist and assayist, Mr. Charles Watt, the
eminent chemist of London—Mr. Charles J. Braith-
waite, engineer, and about 20 mechanics. These parties
are all under bond to serve the company for a given
time, and are to share in the profits of the undertaking.
The prospectus of this company sets forth clearly the
advantages to be obtained by mining scientifically and
upon a proper system. There can be no doubt that
notwithstanding the large quantities of gold recovered
from the auriferous fields—the mining so far has in most
cases been confined to what is technically called " pick-
ing the eyes out," and that from what is at present
wasted and neglected the greatest riches are yet to be
recovered. The company in having Mr. Charles Watt's
assistance is in possession of the knowledge necessary of
success, of which there appears to be the fairest possible
prospect.—Plymouth Mail.

STATE OF MADE.

( From the Manchester Guardian of yesterday.)

MANCHESTER, March I.—The receipts of cotton at the
American ports in the week ending Feb. 14 were
131,000 bales against 117,000 in the corresponding week
of last year ; and the total receipts since Ist September
2,066,000 bales against 1,564,000, leaving an excess
of 502,000 bales. The total exports to Great Britain
are. 848,000 bales against 526,000. The excess
of receipts will be furtliei increased next week. The
continued abundance of the receipts, holding out an en-
larging prospect of supply, still gave a downward bias
to prices, in spite of sustaining advices from Liverpool.
On the 12th, " middling" was quoted 84e. per lb. at New
Orleans, where, however, freight had risen from id. to 4d.
To estimate the total yield at 3,250,000 bags was to be
on the moderate side.

ROCHDALE. Feb. 28.—We have had a very good
attendance of buyers in the, market to-day, and for
coarse goods there has been a very good demand
at > prices much the same as those of the previous
week. The wool market has undergone little or no
change for some weeks past, either in price or demand.
MACCLESFIELD, March I.—We have a smaller amount
to note the last week in the sales of silk manufactured
goods, owing, no doubt, to the severity of the wea-
ther ; but preparation is being actively made for the
spring trade, and the prospects for the future are con-
sidered good. Some scarcity of.weavers are experienced.
Thrown silks are increasing in demand, and this remark
applies now to all descriptions, from the best to the most
inferior qualities. The market has not been so cleared
of stock for many years.
HALIFAX, Feb. 26.—Partly owing, perhaps, to the
severity of the weather, there was a very slender at-
tendance, both of merchants and manufacturers, in our
piece hall to-day, and but little business was transacted.
The yarn market is much the same. The spinners are
pretty well employed, but at rates that are not ade-
quately remunerative. In wools there is no alteration.
HUDDERSFIELD, March I.—The market for woollens
still continues brisk. There is not as much business
through the Cloth-hall at present as was done lately,
simply because makers have no goods to sell, being
principally engaged in making to order.
BIRMINGHAM, March I.—The struggle to obtain a re-
duction of prices in tire iron trace that commenced directly
after the last preliminary mee:.ng of the trade is still
continued ; but it is generally, thought with declining
chances of success. Previously to that meeting, 11/. 10s.
per ton for merchant iron had, in a few instances, been
realised, and it was thought that 121. might have been
obtained ; but after due deliberation 11/. per ton was
decided upon as the limit to which the then dominant
tendency to advance should be restricted.