The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-11 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.-(THIS DAY.)

The Court of Queen's Bench was occupied the who'e
of the day with the Crown papers, which contained no
cases of public interest. There was a Crown case set
down for hearing in the Exchequer, but the parties not
being ready, it was adjourned until a future day. There
was no other business before the Exchequer, and the
court rose early.

CHANCERY COURT.
(Before Vice-Chancellor Sir John Stuart.)
POWDVELL V. JONES.
His Honour the Vice-Chancellor delivered judgment
on this petition this morning. Mrs. Harper, widow of
the late Mr. Harper, claimed the dower of the eopyhold
lands in which her husband was seized, according to the
custom of the manor.

Mrs. Harper's claim was opposed by the trustee under
her husband's devise.

His Honour was of opinion that Mrs. Harper's claim
was not barred by the surrender made by her husband
in favour of his trustee ; and his Honour made an order
in favour of Mrs. Harper, finding her entitled to her
dower of the copyhold lands in which her husband was
seized, in terms of the prayer of her petition, and found
her entitled to costs, to be paid out of the purchase-
money of the sale of the copyhold property.

WRECK OF THE FORERUNNER AFRICAN
MAIL CONTRACT STEAMER.

General Post-office, 10th Nov., 1854.
Sir,—l have the honour to enclose, for theinformation
of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the copy
of a letter which has just been received from the agent
of this department at Lisbon, accompanied by the copy
of a report from her Majesty's Consul at Madeira, dated
the 28th Oh/to, announcing the loss of the Contract
Mail Packet Forerunner.— I have, &c.,
(Signed) J. HILL.
R. Osborne, Esq., M.P., &c. &c. &c., Admiralty.

(Copy.)
British Packet-ofice, Lisbon, Nov. 1, 1854.
Sir,-1. I have the honour to enclose copy of a letter
addressed to her Majesty's Minister at this Court by Mr.
Consul Stoddart, of Madeira, relative to the loss of the
contract steamer Forerunner.
2. As Mr. Stoddart wishes the loss of the said steamer
to be reported to you with as little delay as possible, and
as the regular packet wilt not leave until the 9th inst., I
have deemed it prudent to send this via France.
I have, &c.,
R. REEVES, Agent.

(Signed)
Rowland Hill, Esq., &c.
(CoPY•)
Madeira, 28th Oct., 1854.

Sir,—As the Portuguese steam-packet is going to Lis-
bon, I just write a line to tell you of the total loss of the
African contract steam-packet Forerunner, on the evening
of the 25th instant, on a sunken rock close to the shore at
the extreme east point of this island, two hours after she
had left the port for England. The mails, cargo, and all
the effects of the crew and passengers were lost;
11 of the crew of 34, and 3 of the 13 passen-
gers, were also drowned. Those saved will go
home in the Brazil packet, with my reports
to the different departments, but as some previous oppor-
tunity may offer for England from Lisbon, perhaps you
will do me the favour to convey the information I now give
you to the packet agent, as well as Lloyd's agent in Lisbon,
with a request that they may report the unfortunate dis-
aster to the proper authorities at home. The Governor of
Sierra Leone, Lieut. Beddingfield, R.N., late of H.M.S.
Pluto, Mr. Evans, clerk of works at Sierra Leone, Mr. Kinell,
schoolmaster, from Cape Coast Castle, two shipmasters,
Gregory and Bennett, Mr Crosby, merchant, Lagos, Mr.
Mitchell, an engineer, late of Dover steamer, and a child,
three years old, daughter of the late Captain English, of
3d West India Regiment, were all saved. The mother of
the child, with Lieut. Child, of Gold Coast Corps, and
Mr. Virtes, merchant, Sierra Leone, were all drowned.
The master of the steamer was saved, but two mates
were lost. The weather was fine, and I fear blame
attaches to the captain for running so close to the shore. I
am writing against time, and must therefore pray you to
excuse these hurried lines, and believe me, with the
greatest respect, sir,

(Signed) GEORGE STODDART.
P.S.—The Forerunner bad a very valuable cargo on
board, perhaps worth from 30,0001. to 40,0001.

The melancholy loss of the Forerunner, screw-steamer,
and 14 of her passengers and crew, was announced at
Lloyd's on Wednesday. The wreck was described to
have taken place off Lorente Point, Madeira, some
short time after the unfortunate vessel left the island
with the mail and passengers for England, the last
American mail packet having been spoken with and the
intelligence communicated. Yesterday the loss was
confirmed by the receipt of a letter, of which the fol-
lowing is an extract, by Captain Halstead, the secre-
tary at Lloyd's, which had been forwarded by the Bri-
tish Minister at Lisbon, who had received it from the
English Consul at Madeira :

"Madeira, Oct. 28.
"I just write a line to tell you of the total loss of the
African contract steam packet Forerunner, on the evening
of the 25th inst., on a sunken rock close to the shore, at
the extreme east point of this island, about two hours
after she left this port for England. The mails, cargo,
and all the effects of the crew and passengers were lost ;
11. of the crew of 34 and three of the 33 passengers who
were on board were drowned. Those saved will go home
in the Brazil packet. Among t gem are the following :
The Governor of Sierra Leone; Lieutenant Bedingtield,
R.N., late of her Majesty's ship Pluto ; Mr. Evans, clerk
of the works at Sierra Leone ; Mr. Kinell, schoolmaster,
from Cape Coast Castle ; two shipmasters ; Mr. Gregory,
Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Crosky, merchants of Lagos ; Mr.
Mitchel, an engineer, late of the Dover steamer ; and a
child, three years old, daughter of the late Captain English,
of the 3d West India Regiment. The mother of the child,
with Lieatenant Child, of the Gold Coast Corps, and Mr.
Virtes, merchant, Sierra Leone, were drowned. The cap-
tain was saved, but two mates were lost. The Forerunner
had a very valuable cargo on board."

The Forerunner was the property of the African Steam-
ship Company, who have the Government contract for
the Africa• mad service. She was the first steamer
which the company had built, was 400 tons burden, and
bad been highly succesiiful in her passages. She was on
a return voyage from Fernando Po, Cape Coast Castle,
Sierra Leone, &c., when she met with her unfortunate
disaster. The ship, it is reported, is fully insured.