The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-07 00:00:00

THE STEAM-SHIP AUSTRALIAN.

PLYMOUTH, SUNDAY.
The result of the trial trip yesterday, which did not
finish until the evening, was, as far as regards the en-
gines, not satisfactory to Captain Lowe. To-day that
officer, assisted by Mr. Stewart, engineer of her Majesty's
dockyard, Devonport, and Mr. George Turner, the
assistant-master shipwright, will make a minute inspec-
tion of the machinery and engines, to facilitate which
the crew have been engaged in clearing the water from
beneath the engines, to enable the surveyor to make a
complete examination. It is stated that " the bed-
plates of the Australian's engines became loose on the
last voyage, and that the braces which were put to sup-
port them work from three-eighths to half an inch at
each stroke of the 'piston." It is further said, that the
bed-plates of her engines are insufficient in size and
strength. Whatever decision the surveyors may arrive at
to-day, it is not at all profitable that the Australian can
proceed before Tuesday or Wednesday.

8 P.M.
Captain Lowe concluded his official inspection this
afternoon. It is stated that a vibration has always ex-
isted in the after-engine, and it was believed that the
sleepers on which the engine-plate rests were insufficient
in strength, or that the rivetting was unsound. When
put under full steam to-day no vibration of any conse-
quence was discovered, but a lifting motion occurred at
the turn of the stroke, and on examining the feet of the
columns it was found they had worked loose, and that
there was no draught in the keys for tightening them
down. The strength of the kelsons is satisfactory. It
is said that the new keys and adjustments will be com-
pletely fitted by Wednesday, and the ship be ready to
sail on Thursday.

UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION.—The twenty-second
annual meeting of this institution took place on Satur-
day, in the theatre of the Museum, in Whitehall-yard,
the Duke of Northumberland presiding. The report
stated that 133 new members had joined during the
year ; the total number of life subscribers on the Ist of
March was 810 ; and of annual subscribers, 2,291. There
was an excess in the ordinary expenditure over the in-
come of 781., which had been paid out of capital. This
excess had been occasioned by an unusual heavy poor's
rate, extra printing and advertisements, and an omission
brought forward from the last year's accounts. The
council had received of the 1,2001. awarded as compen-
sation for the damage done to the building by the opera-
tions of the Commissioners of Sewers 8551., the law costs
having absorbed the remaining 3451., and the rebuilding
of the premises had cost 8591., in addition to which 2901.
had been expended in furnishing and fitting up the
library. Another item of extraordinary expense
was an arrear of poor rate, which had been
appealed • against, and decided against the in-
stitution, and which, with the solicitor's bill,
een
amounted to 3231. The whole of the stock
(Three-and-a-Quarter per Cents.) which the institution
possessed at thei
ofh t
hr
thee
eyear
was
a balancehad been
ofrea 621.1isin gin6t7hBeLn commencement
ce
to mwenhtie
bankers' hands from last year's account ;
1141. had been received for life subscriptions, and 1121.
from the Waterloo Medal Fund committee • making
together a gross total of 966/.-695/, of which 'had been
appropriated to the liquidation of the charges alluded
to, and 2001. had been re-invested. The estimate of the
current year's expenditure was 1,2551., and the receipts
were estimated at 1,2811. Lord Rastock moved the
adoption of the document, and its circulation amongst
the subscribers. He dilated on the advantages the in-
stitution was calculated to confer upon the army and
navy, and expressed his astonishment that it was not
more generally appreciated by those services. Colonel
Lindsay, in seconding the motion, drew attention to the
present state of the institution, which he said exhibited
a falling off in the receipts from annual subscribers.
After some conversation the resolution was put. and car-
ried, and the ordinary formal business of filling up the
vacancies on the Council, thanking the retiring council.
lors, the auditors, and the president, having been trans-
acted, the meeting separated.
SINGULAR DELUSIONS.—On Saturday a commission
of lunacy was opened at the Maidenhead Tavern, King's-
cross, before Mr. Commissioner Barlow and 19 special
jurors of the county of Middlesex, to inquire into the
state of mind of Miss Julia Hutchinson, a maiden lady,
of Russell and Grosvenor-squares, and for some time
past residing with her brother-in-law, Thomas Henry
Hall, Esq., at No. 49, Tavistock-square. After the re-
ception of some medical evidence of very decided cha-
racter, the unfortunate lady was introduced. She ap-
peared to be about 50 years of age, and in good bodily
health ; she was elegantly attired, and upon takirg a
seat said, in answer to questions put to her by the com-
missioner, that all her property was now gone, and she
herself had been buried, and was to be burnt ; she was
buried before she was born. Her house in Grosvenor-
square was worth 30,0001. a year, but she had let it for
2001. She had at one time spent 25,0001. per annum,
when she lived in Grosvenor-square, where she had set
up a theatre. Her head had been cut off, and there
were epaulets upon her shoulders. After, other answers
of the same incoherent description, she was led out of
the room. Further evidence was then adduced to fix
the period of the commencement of the insanity, and the
learned commissioner having summed up, the jury re-
turned a verdict dating the insanity of Miss Hutchinson
from the 18th of November, 1834.