The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-14 00:00:00

ACCIDENT ON THE GREAT WESTERN

RAILWAY.

Of all the accidents connected with the history of
railways in this country it is difficult to conceive of one
more singular in character, or more destructive in
extent, than that which on Wednesday night occurred
at the Reading Great Western Railway station, by
which the shed covering one of the platforms was effec-
tually lowered to the ground, but very fortunately with-
out the loss of a single life.
There are two stations standing in parallel line,
called the "up and " down ;" to each there are of
course attached the requisite booking-offices, refresh-
ment and waiting-rooms, and a long platform close to
the line of rails. Each of these platforms is covered by
a circular roof, about 200 feet long, and nearly 60 feet
wide, built of wood and zinc, forming on the south side
a part of the range of buildings, and supported on the
north by a tier of iron columns.
The goods train from Basingstoke is due every night
about ten o'clock, and on Wednesday night it made its
appearance at the usual time. The policeman in at-
tendance gave the signal for it to come in on the line of
rails running close to the outside pillars of the shed. It
appears that the side flap of one of the trucks was hang-
ing down so as to come in contact with the pillars, and
as the train was going at considerable speed, the flap
struck with great force against each successive pillar,
forcing them out of the perpendicular, and as it struck
the last, the principals across the upper part of the shed
gave way, and the whole fell in from the centre with a
tremendous crash, burying a number of empty carriages
in the debris. The conductor, driver, and stoker on
the goods train all escaped uninjured, though a portion
of the building fell on some of the trucks in that train.
It is regarded as a providential circumstance that the
accident did not occur a few minutes later, or the sacri-
fice of human life must inevitably have been very great.
The down mail was due at 10.12, and at the time of the
roof falling was within view ; it would have had to have
gone and remained under the roof whilst the passengers
alighted and the mail bags were exchanged, and the
stoppage of carriages usually occurring beneath the
centre of the shed, the result could not have been other
than most disastrous. As it was, the mail train was
stopped by the signalman, and the passengers were con-
veyed down the line, and the carriages brought back to
the platform from which the trains start for Newbury
and Basingstoke.
Without loss of time, information of the accident was
forwarded to Mr. Beynon, the resident engineer, and he
proceeded by the goods train to communicate with Mr.
Brunel, engineer to the company. In the meantime
Messrs. Orton and Child, the contractors for the main-
tenance of way, dispatched messengers for their men in
different quarters, and by midnight nearly 200 had ar-
rived to commence operations, on the return of Mr.
Beynon. The telegraphic communication is broken off,
but by the directions of the head engineer the wires will
temporarily be carried over the building, and the inter-
ruption in this respect will be very short. The damage
arising from this accident is estimated at nearly 2,0001.,
and there will no doubt be an investigation as to whether
the guard or conductor of the goods train has been
grossly negligent in not discovering the flap of the truck
hanging down before the arrival of the train at Reading.

BANK RETURNS.

An Account, pursuant to the Act seventh and eighth
Victoria, cap. 32, of the Average Amount of Bank
Notes of the several Banks of Issue in England and
Wales, in Circulation during the Week ending Satur-
day, the Ist day of Oct., 2853 : Average
PRIVATE BANKS. Amount.
Andover Bank, Andover—Heath and Co.
Ashford Bank, Ashford—Jemmitt and Pomfret 12,004
Aylsham Bank, Aylsham—G. and T. Copeman 4,381
Aylesbury Old Bank, Aylesbury—Z. D. Hunt 34,233
Baldock Bank and Baldock and Biggleswade
Bank, Baldock—Wells, Hogge, and Co
Barnstaple Bank, Barnstaple—Marshall and Co
Basingstoke and Odiham Bank, Basingstoke--
Seymour, Lamb, and Co.
Bedford Bank, Bedford—T. Barnard and Sons
13wdley Bank, Bewdley Nichols, Baker,
and Co
Bicester and Oxfordshire Bank and Oxford
Bank, Bieester—H. M. and G. Tubb
Birmingham Bank, Birmingham -Attwoods,
Spooner, and Co
Birmingham and Warwickshire Bank, Bir-
mingham—J. L. Moilliet and Sons
Blandford Bank, Blandford—Oak and Co.
Boston Bank, Boston—Garfit and Co
Boston Bank, Boston—H. and T. Gee and Co
Bridgwater Bank, Bridgwater—J. and J. L
Sealey
Bristol Bank, Bristol—Miles, Miles, and C 0...
Broseley and Bridgnorth and Bridgnorth and
Broseley Bank, Broseley—Pritchards, Boy-
cott, and Co.
Buckingham Bank, Buckingham—Bartlett, Par-
ro ',.,t, and Co.
Bury and Suffolk Bank, Sudbury Bank, and
Stowmarket Bank, Bury St. Edmunds—
Oakes, Bevan, and Co.
Banbury Bank, Banbury Gillet, Tawrey,
and Co.
Banbury Old Bank, Banbury—Cobb and Son
Bath City Bank, Bath— G. Moger and Son
Bedfordshire Leighton Buzzard Bank, Leighton
Buzzard—Bassett, Grant, and Co
Birmingham Bank, Birmingham—Taylor and
Lloyds
Bradford Old Bank, Bradford, Yorkshire—H
A. and W. M. Harris and Co.
Brecon Old Bank, Brecon—Wilkins and Co
Brighton Union Bank, Brighton—Hall, West,
and Borrer
Burlington and Driffield Bank, Burlington—
Harding, Smith, and Co
Bury St. Edmunds Bank, Bury St. Edmunds—
J. Worlledge
Cambridge Bank, Cambridge—Mortlock & Co
Cambridge and Cambridgeshire Bank, Cam-
bridge—Messrs. Fosters
Canterbury Bank, Canterbury—Hammond and
Co
Carmarthen Bank, Carmarthen—David Morris
and Sons
Chertsey Bank, Chertsey—La Coste and Son.
Colchester Bank, Colchester—Round & Green
Colchester and Essex Bank, and Witham and
Essex Bank, and Hadleigh, Suffolk, Bank,
Colchester—Mills, Bawtree, and Co
Cornish Bank, Truro--Tweedy and Co
Coventry Bank, Coventry—Little & Woodcock
City Bank, Exeter—Milford and Co
Craven Bank, Settle—Alcocks, Birkbecks, and
Co
Cardiff Bank, Cardiff—Towgood and Co
Chepstow OP Bank, Chepstow Bank, Mon-
mouth Old Bank, Monmouth Bank, Brecon
Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank,
Chepstow—Bromage, Snead, and Co
Derby Bank, Derby—W. and S. Evans & Co
Derby Bank, Derby—Samuel Smith and Co
Derby Old Bank and Scarsdale and High Peak
Bank, Derby—Crompton, Newton, and Co
Devizes and Wiltshire Bank, Devizes—Locke
and Co
Diss Bank, Diss—Oakes, Fincham, and Co
Doncaster Bank and Retford Bank, Doncaster
—Cooke and Co
Darlington Bank, Durham Bank, and Stockton
on-Tees Bank, Darlington—Backhouse & Co
Devonport Bank, Devonport—Hodge and Co
Dorchester Old Bank and Dorsetshire Bank,
Dorchester—R. and H. Williams
East Cornwall Bank, Liskeard—Robins, Fos-
ter' and Co 111,828
East Riding Bank, Beverley—Bower and Co 54,678
Essex Bank and Bishop's Stortford Bank
Chelmsford—Sparrow, Round, and Co
Exeter Bank, Exeter—Sanders and Co
Fakenham Bank, Fakenham—Gurneys, Birk-
beck, and Co 19,179
Farringdon Bank and Bank of Wantage, Far-
ringdon—Barnes, Medley, and Co
Farnham Bank, Farnham—Messrs Knight
Faversham Bank, Faversham—Hilton and Co
Godalming Bank, Godalming—Mellersh and
Keen
Guildford Bank, Guildford—Messrs. Haydon 5,323
Grantham Bank, Grantham—Hardy and Co 27,451
Hastings Old Bank, Hastings—Smith, Hilder,
and Co.
Hereford City and County Bank, Hereford—
Matthews and Co.
Hertford and Ware Bank, Hertford—S. Adams
and Co.
Hull Bank and Kingston-upon-Finn Bank,
Hull, Smith, Brothors. and Co.
Huntingdon Town and County Bank, Hunting-
don—Rust and Veaseys
Ha,. cc,ch Bank, Harwich—Cox, Cobbold, and
Co.
Hemel Hempstead Bank, Hemel Hempstead
—Smith and Whittingstall
H ,fordshire, Hitchin Bank, Hitchin
Sharpies, and Co.
Hereford, Ross and Archenfield Bank, and
FOSS and Archenfield Bank, Hereford—
Mo -gan and Co
Ipswich Bank, Ipswich—Bacon and Co.
Ipswich and Needham Market Bank, Suffolk,
Hadleigh Bank, Manningtree and Mistley
Bank, and Woodbridge Bank, Ipswich—
Alexanders and Co.
Kentish Bank, Maidstone—Mercer, Randall,
and Co.
Kington and Radnorshire Bank, Kington—
Davies and Co.
Knighton Bank, Knighton—Davies and Co
Knaresborough Old Bank and Ripon Old Bank,
Knaresborough—Terry and Co
Kendal Bank, Kendal—Wakefield, Crewdson,
and Co.
Kettering Bank, Kettering—J. C. Gotch and
Sons
Lane End Staffordshire Bank, Lane End—C
Harvey and Son
Leeds Bank, Leeds—Beckett and Co.
Leeds Union Bank, Leeds—W. Williams,
Brown and Co.
Leicester Bank, Leicester—Pagets and Kirby,
Lewes Old Bank, Lewes—Molineux and Co
Lichfield Bank, Lichfield—Palmer and Greene
Lincoln Bank, Lincoln—Smith, Ellison, and Co.
Llandovery Bank, Lampeter Bank, and Llan-
dilo Bank, Llandovery—D. Jones and Co
Loughborough Bank, Loughborough—Middle-
ton and Cradock
Lymington Bank, Lymington—St. Barbe and
Co.

Lynn Regis and Lincolnshire Bank, Lynn
Regis—Gurneys and Co.
Lynn Regis and Norfolk Bank, Lynn Regis—
Jarvis and Co
Macclesfield Bank, Macclesfield—Brocklehurst
and Co.
Manningtree Bank, Manningtree—Nunn and
Co.
Marlborough Bank, Marlborough and Wilts
Old Bank, Marlborough Old Bank, Marl-
borough Old Bank and Hungerford Bank,
and Hungerford Bank, Marlborough—Tan-
ner and Co
Merionethshire Bank, Dolgelly—Williams and
Son

24,740
11,690

17,170
34,327

10,872

16,16'

23,609

10,642
6,269
69,325
13,244

6,364
32,090

15,095

24,660

73,396

38,001
28,441
3,538

35,512

36,04"

12,506
69,451

22,704

13,038

2,435
11,780

44,445

31,245

23,915
2,820
17,181

30,555
48,476
6,070
20,865

75,086
6,976

8,640
10,627
36,245

25,30

49,288
26,228

7,651
12,243
5,057

16,739

15,587

46,920

6,020

23,675

36,055

21,768
20,278

62,435

13,594

26,334
9,075

20,548

40,588

9,190

5,220
53,253

37,002
26,689
30,735
11,200
84,504

27,459

7,345

4,106

33,443

13.856

15,801

2,445

Miners' Bank, Truro—Willyams and Co..
Monmouthshire Agricultural and Commercial
Bank, Abergavenny—Bailey and Co
Monmouth Cld Bank, Monmouth Bank, Bre-
con Bank, Chepstow Bank, Chepstow Old
Bank, and Ross and Herefordshire Bank,
Monmouth—Bronrige, Snead, and Co
Newark Bank, Newark—Godfrey and Riddell
Newark and Sleaford Bank, and Sleaford and
Newark Bank, Sleaford—Handley, Peacock,
and Co
Newbury Bank, Newbury—Bunny & Slocock
Newmarket Bank, Newmarket—Eaton, Ham-
mond, and Co
Norwich Crown Bank and Norfolk and Suffolk
Bank, Norwich—Harveys and Hudsons
Norwich and Norfolk Bank, Norwich—Gur-
neys and Birkbeck
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank, Not-
tingham, Hart, Fellows, and Co
Nuneaton Bank, Nuneaton—Craddock and Co
Naval Bank, Plymouth, Plymouth—Harris
and Co.
New Sarum Bank, Sarum—Everett and Co
Nottingham Bank, Nottingham—Samuel Smith
and Co.
Oswestry Bank and Oswestry Old Bank, Os-
westry—Croxon and Co.
Oxford Old Bank, Oxford—Robinson, Parsons,
and Co.
Old Bank, Tonbridge, Tonbridge and Ton-
bridge Wells Old Bank, Tonbridge and Ton-
bridge Wells and Sevenoaks Bank, Ton-
bridge—T. H. and S. Beeching
Oxfordshire Witney Bank, Witney—J. W
Clinch and Co
Pease's Old Bank, Hull, the Hull Old Bank
and Beverley Bank, Hull—Pease and Co
Penzance Bank, Penzance--Batten and Co
Peterborough Bank and Oundle Bank, Peter-
borough—D. Yorke and Co.
Pembrokeshire Bank, Haverfordwest—J. and
W. Walters
Reading Bank, Reading—Simonds and Co
Beading Bank, Reading—Stephens, Blandy,
Rand Co.
Richmond Bank, Richmond—Roper and Co 5,863
Rochdale Bank, Rochdale—Clement, Royds,
and Co. 5,337
Rochester, Chatham, and Strood Bank, Roches-
ter—Day and Nicholson 7,190
Royston Bank, Royston—Ford ham and Sons 13,015
Rugby Bank, Rugby—A. Butlin and Son 10,742
Bye Bank, Rye—R. C. Pomfret and Co., . 13, 912

8,216

39,765
10,553

10,436

11,660
25,862

Ross Old Bank, Herefordshire, Ross —Prich-
arda and Ailaway
Saffron Walden and North Essex Bank, Saffron
Walden—Gibsons and Co.
Salop Bank, Shrewsbury—Burton, Lloyd, and
Co
Scarborough Old Bank, Scarborough—Woodall
and Co.
Shrewsbury Old Bank and Shrewsbury and
Ludlow Bank, Shrewsbury—Rocke, Eytons,
and Co. • -
Sittingbourne and Milton Bank, Sittingbourne
—Valiance and Co.
Southampton To wn and County Bank, South-
ampton—Maddison and Pearce
Southwell Bank, Southwell—Wylde and Co
Southampton and Hampshire Bank, Southamp-
ton—Atherley, Fell, and Co.
Stone Bank, Stone—W. Moore
Stafford Old Bank, Stafford—Stevenson and

4,072

14,201

24,537

36,714

3,071

13,990
12,435

Co.
Stamford and Rutland Bank, Stamford—Eaton,
Cayley and Co.
Shrewsbury and Welshpool Bank, Shrewsbury
—Beck, Downward, and Co.
Taunton Bank, Taunton—H. and R. Badcock
Tavistock Bank, Tavistock—Gill and Rundle
Thornbury Bank, Thornbury—Rolph and Co.
Tiverton and De ionshire Bank, Tiverton --
_

3,917
390

10,182

30,276

Dunsford and Co.
Thrapston and Kettering Bank, Northampton-
shire—Thrapston, Yorke and Eland
Tring Bank and Chesham Bank, Tring—But-
cher and Son
Towcester 0. d Bank, Towcester—Percival and

Co
Town and Coanty of Poole Bank and Ring-
wood and Poole Bank, Poole—G. W. Led-
gard and So as
Union Bank, Cornwall, Helston—Vivian and
Co
Uxbridge Old Bank, Uxbridge—Hull, Smith,
and Co
Wallington: Bank, Wallingford—Hedges,
Wells, a..nd Co,
Warwick and Warwickshire Dank, Warwick—
K. Gi eenway and Co.
Wellington Somerset Bank, Wellington—Fox,
Brothers, and Co
West Riding Bank, Wakefield, and Pontefract
Bank, Wakefield— Leatham, Tew, and Co
Whitby Old Bank, Whitby—Simpson, Chap-
man, and Co
Winchester, Alresford, and Alton Bank, Win-
chester—ulpett and Co
Winchester and Hampshire Bank, Winchester
—Wickham and Co
Weymouth Old Bank and Dorchester Bank,
Weymouth—Eliott and Pearce
Wirksworth and Ashbourne Derbyshire Bank,
Wirksworth—Arkwright and Co
Wisbech and Lincolnshire Bank, Wisbech—
Gurneys and Co
Wiveliscombe Bank, Wiveliscombe— P. and

W. Hancock
Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton—Good-
ricke and Holyoake
Worcester Bank, Worcester—Farley, Laven-
der, and Co
Worcester Old Bank and Tewkesbury Old
Bank, Worcester—Berwick, Lechmere, and
Co
Worcestershire Bank, Kidderminster—Farley,
Turner, and Co
Walsall Old Bark, Walsall—Charles Forster

24,949
26,069
13,062
6,610

and Sons
Wolverhampton Bank, Wolverhampton—R
and W. F. Fryer
Yarmouth and Suffolk Bank, and Halesworth
and Suffolk Bank, Yarmouth—Gurneys,
Birbeck, and Co
Yarmouth, Norfolk, and Suffolk Bank, Great
Yarmouth—Sir E. H. K. Lacon, Bart , and
Co
York Bank, York— Swann, Clough, and Co

9,108

11,958

13,505

8,230

9,472

10,193

14,758

7,661

23,042

5,838

9,473

11,784

37,660

12,170
43,091

JOINT-STOCK BANKS.
Bank of Westmorland, Kendal
Barnsley Banking Company, Barnsley
Bradford Banking Company, Bradford
Bilston District Banking Company, Wolver-
hampton
Bank of Whitehaven, Whitehaven
Bradford Commercial Banking Company,
Bradford
Burton, Uttoxeter, and Staffordshire Union
Banking Company, Burton-upon-Trent
Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Banking
Company, Chesterfield
Cumberland Union Banking Company, Work-
ington
Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Banking Com-
pony, Cheltenham
Coventry and Warwickshire Banking Company,
Coventry
Coventry Union Banking Company, Coventry
County of Gloucester Banking Company, Chel-
tenham
105,580
Carlisle and Cumberland Banking Company,
Carlisle
Carlisle City and District Bank, Carlisle
Dudley and West Bromwich Br nking Company,
Dudley
Derby and Derbyshire P ,nking Company,
Derby
Darlington District Joint Sock Banking Com-
pany, Darlington
East of England Bank, No:. wick 26,010
Gloucestershire Banking Company, Gloucester 152,165
Halifax Joint Stock Bank, Halifax 19,068
Huddersfield Banking Company, Huddersfield 37,113
Hull Banking Company, Hull 27,820
Halifax Commercial Banking Company, Halifax 13,489
Halifax and Huddersfield Union Banking Com-
pany, Halifax
Helston Banking Company, Helston
Herefordshire Banking Company, Hereford
Knaresborough and Claro Banking Company,
Knaresborough 28,925
Kingsbridge Joint-Stock Bank, Kingsbridge 3,014
Lancaster Banking Company, Lancaster 53,824
Leeds Banking Company, Leeds 26,523
Leicestershire Banking Company, Leicester 73,534
Lincoln and Lindsey Banking Company 53,923
Leamington Priors and Warwickshire Banking
Company, Leamington Priors. 9,893
Ludlow and Tenbury Bank, Ludlow
Moore and Robinson's Nottinghamshire Bank-
ing Company, Nottingham
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Banking
Company, Nottingham 28,684
Newcastle, Shields, and Sunderland Union
Joint-Stock Banking Company, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne
National Provincial Bank of England, Birming-
ham, Head-office, 112, I3ishomate-street,
London
424,475
North Wilts Banking Company, Melksham 51,229
Northamptonshire Union Bank, Northampton 75,249
Northamptonshire Banking Company, North-
ampton
North and South Wa'es Bank, Liverpool
Pares's Leicestershire Banking Company,
Leicester
Saddleworth Banking Company, Saddleworth 2,741
Sheffield Banking Company, Sheffield 34,668
Stamford, Spalding, and Boston Banking Com-
pany, Stamford
Stuckey's Banking Company, Bristol Somerset-
shire Bank, and Somersetshire Bank, Lang-
port 348,988
Shropshire Banking Company, Shiffnall 46,413
Stourbridge and Kidderminster Banking Com-
pany, Stourbridge
Sheffield and Hallamshire Banking
.Company,
Sheffield 22,329
Sheffield and Rotherham Joint Stock Banking
Company, Sheffield 51,50.
Swaledale and Wensleydale Banking Company,
Richmond .
Storey and Thomas' Banking Company, Shaftes-
bury
Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Banking
Company, Wolverhampton 35,086
Wakefield and Barnsley Union Bank, Wake-
field
Whitehaven Joint-Stock Banking Company,
Whitehaven 27,761
Warwick and Leamington Banking Company,
Warwick
West of England and South Wales District
Bank, Bristol 82,058
Wilts and Dorset Banking Company, Salisbury 74,851
West Riding Union Banking Company, Hud-
dersfield
Whitchurch and Ellesmere Banking Company,
Whitchurch 3,603
Worcester City and County Banking Com-
pany, Worcester 4,604
York Union Banking Company, York 72,310
York City and County Banking Company, 94,898
Yorkshire Banking Company, Leeds 120,556

9,254
9,540
47,145

8,742
29,564

19,853

46,733

35,666

9,178

22,843
12,875

26,273
20,956

36,546

44,232
1,634
18,405

35,934

24,941
44,069

55,201

57,274

52,504

9,297

13,567

34,595

LADVERTISEMENT.J—SPORTSMEN'S, DEER-STALK-
ERS', AND TOURISTS' EXTRAORDINARY MUNICH GERMAN
GLASS TELESCOPES.-39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly.—
Observe, opposite the York Hotel.---The Royal Exhibition.
- -A valuable, newly-invented, very small powerful waist-
oat-pocket glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person
can be seen and known one mile and a half distant ;
they answer every purpose on the race-course, at the
opera-houses, country scenery, and ships are clearly seen
at 12 to 14 miles. They are invaluable for shooting, deer-
stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers,
and tourists. Telescopes—A new and most important
invention in telescopes, possessing such extraordinary-
powers that some, 3A inches, with an extra eye-piece, will
show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the
double stars ; with the same telescope, weighing only 3
ounces, can be seen a person's countenance three miles
and a half distant, and an object from 16 to 20 miles,
They supersede every other kind for the waistcoat-pocket.
and are of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers
accordingly. Opera and race-course glasses, with wonderful
power; an object can be clearly seen, from 14 to 16 miles
distant. Messrs. S. and R. Solomons, opticians, have in-
vented invaluable preserving spectacle lenses. Immediately
they are placed before imperfect vision, every object
appears clear and distinct; the most aged, defective sight
becomes bright and brilliant, is brought to its youthful,
natural, and original state. Deafness—New Discovery—
The Organic Vibrator, an extraordinary powerful and
newly-invented instrument, for Deafness, entirely different
from all others, to surpass anything of? the kind that has
been, of probably ever can be, produced. Being of the
same colour as the skin, it is not perceptible ; it enab es
deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at public as-
semblies ; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises in ,
the ears is entirely removed; and it affords all the assist-
ance that possibly could be desired.—S. and B. Solomons,
Aurists and Opticians, 39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly.
Observe, opposite the York ibtel•