The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-15 00:00:00

THE CHOLERA.

Yesterday a long inquiry was gone into before Mr.
Bedford, at the Millbank Prison, respecting the deaths
of five convicts, from the effects of Asiatic cholera, alto-
gether making sixteen deaths from the same frightful
disease in the prison since it broke out on the 3d of
August.
The first inquest was respecting the death of John
Griffiths, who was received into the prison on the 26th
of May last from Brixton. He was convic;ed at the
Shrewsbury sessions for stealing money to the amount
of 35., for which he was sentenced to seven years' trans-
portation, having been previously convicted. He was
stated to have bean twenty-two years of age.
Mr. G. Attfield, resident-surgeon, said that the de-
ceased was received into the infirmary on the day of his
admission into the prison. When the cholera broke out
on the 3d of August, deceased volunteered his services as
an assistant in the cholera ward. He stated that he
was hospital-serjeant when at Barbadoes, and witness
found his assistance most valuable. In consequence of
his new employment he had a more liberal diet, with an
addition of rum-and-water. On the 7th August he ex-
hibited symptoms of cholera, and he soon passed into a
state of coil ipse. He died about half-past nine o'clock
un the evening of the 11th.
Dr. Baly, being asked his opinion by the Coroner for
the prevalence of the cholera in that prison, said that
he attributed it to the site, which was low and near the
river, while, when the wind was in the east, the noxious
vapours from bone-boilers and other injurious manufac-
tures in Lambeth were carried towards the prison. He
had observed in the bills of mortality on one occasion,
that out of 399 deaths from Asiatic cholera, 290 occurred
in Lambeth. Another cause was that the prisoners
were deprived of the stimulating drinks they had be-
fore their imprisonment. He prescribed rum, as it was
given to the convicts working at the various dockyards.
He believed the ventilation of the prison might be im-
proved, but.the diet could not now be better than it was.
Th.re was nothing local in the prison from had drainage
or nuisance to cause the disease, and everything was
done
timeslast inquiriesa to check its 'violence, while the wards and cells
are
day- w
sprinklede re
concerningwi with
the deaths ch chloride o f lime.
—T3he
of
Dy.
mock Barker, aged 31, and John H. H
labourers. Barker was seized with
nramepnds,ry&,e.a,goend
t3h3e,
iSatbu
Bth, and died on the 12th. Hendry was seized with
Premonitory symptoms
afternoon on the 7th, and died yesterday
at four o'clock. A verdict of death from
Asiatic cholera was returned in each case.
The far-

family of Mr. W. Cc k proprietor of Astley's
Royal Amphitheatre in the Westminster-road, Lambeth,
has been plunged into great affliction in consequence of
urt e visitation,plaoe
of
r depriveA
C o tkhee,
ent of one of
pthaetrfoonlls7finthgatawfafvuol
the principal performers. It appear'shthuawsteimiAl
brother of the lessee of Astley's Theatre, on Snnd'ay went
to Margate, and the train had got about' midway on its
return when he was seized with the premonitory symp-
toms of cholera. He, however, kept his seat, n
fane y'l g
that he was recovering, but upon reaching the terminus
at London-bridge he appeared considerably worse. A
conveyance was procured, and the unfortunate gentle-
man was driven to his residence in Lambeth, where Mr.
Beck and several other eminent surgeons were promptly
in attendance. Everything that surgical skill could de-
vise was done for the sufferer, but he expired between
the hours of eleven and twelve yesterday rnornlng,.
Owing to the critical state of the widow, it has been
deemed prudent not to inform her of the sad emit at
present, The deceased was only 35 years of age.

THE WAR.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

The Boscawen, 70.—The experiment ordered to be
made by the First Lord of the Admiralty in this ship by
Mr. Edward Duke Moore, of Ranton-abbey, Stafford-
shire, of brewing good beer for the men from concen-
trated wort, has proved eminently successful, as have
other experiments in soldiers' barracks ; but where con-
densed water, so abundant in steamers, has been used,
the result has been even more satisfactory.
The Black Eagle, Admiralty yacht, Master Comman-
der Petley, having had fitted to her the " velocimetre,"
'nvented by M. Droinet, a French scientific gentleman,
vent to Stokes Bay yesterday to test it, when it per-
orined 411 the duties reported of it—viz., indicating the
peed with clock-like accuracy most satisfactory.
The Asp, surveying steamer, Lieutenant Aldridge,
:as been in the nortb, employed in assisting to lay down
the electric cable between the Scottish and Irish coasts
at Port Patrick and Donaghadee.
The transport Wild Irish Girl sailed from Plymouth
on Sunday with stores for the Black Sea.
The steam transport 77 arrived at Elsinore on the
Bth of August, and proceeded.
Yesterday advices were received at the Admiralty that
the steam transport Jason, with a detachment of artil-
lery guns arid artillery horses, had passed Gibraltar on
the sth of August, for Varna, all well.
Sir William Parker has returned to Pl:;mouth from
London, and has re-hoisted his flag cn board the Im-
pregnable.
The royal yacht Victoria and Albert went down to
Cowes yesterday morning.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TRIAL OF THE
SCREW.

The Colossus, 81, screw, Captain R S. Robinson, at
1.45 p.m., yesterday, went out of Portsmouth Harbour
to the measured mile, and, considering the strong breeze
that was blowing from the westward, she did more than
could have been expected. The trial was moot satisfac-
tory throughout, whether we regard the working of her
engines or under canvas. She will be well up to ten
knots under all circums=tances. Yesterday she took her
trial under every difficulty. She was much out of trim,
was a good deal by the stern, and had a list of at least
four degrees to starboard. This was by reason of taking
in her coals on one side, and everything was a mass of
stores ; her main-deck guns were on board. With al
this she realised on the average 9 1-5 knots per hour.
Her revolutions averaged 60, and she worked up to 201 b.
pressure. The communication with the engine-room from
the poop was very well arranged, and worked well ; it
was like a telegraphic movement, and answered in a
moment. This was essential in getting alongside the
dockyard.
The results of the six runs at the measured mile were
as follow :

Ist run with tide
3 3 30 } 7'7 8'439
2d against - 6 51 8.759
3 93 24 '
3d with 3 37 55
344 5 6'lo 9.729
4th against ...... 35851 }
4 6 4 7.13 8.314
sth with
4 21 48} 6'2 9.944
6th against
4 43 8
Thus averaging 9 knots 2 as the mean of the whole. She
drew aft 23 ft. 74 in. ; forward, 21 ft. 4 in. Her helm
answered beautifully, and she turned in her own wake.
We may congratulate the country on another beautiful
and most efficient screw line-of-battle ship.