The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-10 00:00:00

7,ItIDAYI ~-g-VEN I
.14 ARCH to, 1854.

terbury, Hull, Maldon, and Tynemouth, be issued be-
fore Friday, the 17th of. March next.
Mr. DISRAELI thought the noble lord had adopted '
tha best,comrse in postponing the issue of the writs till
the bills of the hon. and learned gentleman (the Attor-
ney-General) were before the house. (Hear.) Those bills-
were on the paper for that night, and he expected that
the hon. and learned gentleman would have made his
statement now.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said the bills were
placed on the paper for that night instead of Monday,
by mistake of the clerk.

The motion was agreed to.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES,

Mr. BASS moved an address for returns showing
the'various weights and measures customarily used for
the sale of corn and grain in the different unions in the
counties of Stafford and Salop.
Mr. HUME hoped his hon. friend would extend the
terms of his motion to the whole country, as from their
variety and different names it was impossible to under-
stand the language of buying and selling corn. (Hear.)
Mr. BASS said that there was a return already for
the entire of England and Wales, and he only made the
present motion because the Cierk of the Peace for Staf-
fordshire, where there were 45 different weights and
measures, said that he had no means of giving the infor-
mation required.
The motion was then agreed to.
PUBLIC PROSECUTORS BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL requested his hon.
and learned friend (Mr. J. G. Phillimore) not to move the
second reading of this bill, as he (the Attorney-General)
was in communication with his 'non. and learned friend
the Lord-Advocate, and his hon.. and learned friend the
Solicitor-General for Ireland, with a view to the intro-
duction on the part of the Government of a general
measure on this subject. If his hon. and learned friend
left the matter in the hands of the Government, he could
assure him no time would be lost in bringing in a bill on
the subject.

Mr. -PHILLIMORE having assented, the second
reading was postponed for three weeks.
MARINE MUTINY BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
CONSOLIDATED FUND (8,000,0001.) BILL.
The bill was read a third time and passed.
MUTINY BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
The house adjourned at half-past 9.

room on the first floor, and found none of the defend-
ants. The room was fitted up as a billiard room, with
the windows strongly secured. I found on the landing,
higher up, a water closet. I also found a strong door on
the upper floor, which would nrevent admission from the
top part of the house. Some of the defendants gave
their right names, three of them gave incorrect names,
and one gave a name and address which was not acknow-
ledged, and bail for him was refused. I searched the
house, hut found no igaming implements. I saw the
Persons of the defendants searched ; they had -a--good
deal of money about them, but no implements of gaming.
• Mr. Ballantine, for the defendants, made no remark.
Mr. Bingham directed all the defendants to be dis-
charged. - • • _ _ _

TVellingtom Talbot, Esq., appearqd before Mr. Bing-
ham at the instance of cabdriver George Pain for offer-
ing, as allegefl, less than the legal fare. ,
The cabdriver said the gentleman told him he would
take his cab for an hour. He drove the gentleman
round the Regent's-park, a distance of more than five
miles. He demanded 3s. The gentleman offered
Mr. Talbot said, when he hired the defendant he told
him he only wanted an hour's drive, and he might drive
as slow as he pleased.
Mr. Bingham considered that the hiring by time was
clearly established, and that the driver had no right to
charge according to distance. The decision was that
the fare was to be 2s.

SOUTHWARK.-11Ir. Richard Hawkins, an elderly
gentleman of considerable property, residing at Hack-
ney, was brought before Mr. Combe for final examina-
tion, charged with intermarrying with Clara Eliza-
beth Miller, a young female of prepossessing appearance,
aged 20, his former wife, Elizabeth Hawkins, being then
and now living.

Mr. Wontner appeared for the prosecution, and Mr.
Solomons for the prisoner.
Sarah Munden, the wife of Robert Munden, of Woot-
ton, Bassett, Wilts, said she knew a female whose name
was Elizebeth Ovens, and her father was her guardian,
and she lived in their family. She knew the prisoner,
and remembered that in the year 1824 Elizabeth Ovens
left their house with him and went to Wootton Bas-
sett Church, were they were married. On their return
from church they had some refreshment, and from that
time she answered to the name of Elizabeth Hawkins.
Witness drank her health at the time as Mrs. Hawkins
in the presence of the prisoner. They left the house the
same day, and did not return, and she had since visited
them at Cirencester, where they were living as man and
wife. She had examined the register-book of marriages,
at the residence of the minister of Wootton Bassett, and
saw an entry dated 1824 of a marriage between Robert
Hawkins and Elizabeth Ovens. She believed that it was
her signature. The signatures of the witnesses John
York,,witnesses father, and Mary York, her sister, she
identified, but they are dead.
Richard Clark, constable 223 N, said he took the pri-
soner into custody on the Ist of March, at Hackney.
He produced a certificate copy of a register, which he
examined at Wootton Bassett with the register-book of
marriages, of the marriage of the prisoner with Eliza-
beth Ovens.

Clara Eliz. Miller said she was living at No. 3, South-
gate-terrace, Hackney. She knew the prisoner, and was
married to him in the church of the parish of Christ-
church on the 9th of January, 1853 ; and she received
the copy of the register produced from the clerk in the
vestry in the church, annd she had lived with the pri-
soner as his wife, until she gave him into custody.
After being duly cautioned by the magistrate, the pri-
soner admitted the marriage of himself with Elizabeth
Ovens, at Wootton Bassett, in 1824. He also admitted
the second marriage, and he did not intend to defend
the charge, as he was happy to meet it.
At the request of Mr. Solotnons, substantial bail was
accepted, and the prisoner was liberated until the King-
ston Assizes on the 27th instant.

ROYAL GENERAL THEATRICAL FUND.

On Ash Wednesday, as has been usual, the annual
general meeting of the members of this body; established
in 1339, and last year incorporated by royal charter, for
granting permanent pensions to decayed or infirm mem-
bers who may have practised the art of acting, dancing,
or singing, as a means of subsistence, in Great Britain
and Ireland, was held in the saloon of the Lyceum
Theatre. The chair was, in the first instance, filled by
Mr. Addison, afterwards by Mr. Buckstone.
Mr. CULLENFORD, the secretary, stated that a grant
of 201. had been made by the committee to the fund for
the relief of the children of Mrs. Warner, which required
the confirmation of the general meeting. The matter
had' been brought under the consideration: of the direc-
tors by Mr. Charles Kean. According to strict rule the
directors could not touch the funds except for the benefit
of the members, and therefore this grant was irregular,
but it was not without precedent, and it would be per-
fectly regular when confirmed by the meeting.
Mr. WCP.RRELL was happy to move a resolution con-
firming the grant
Mr. CIILLENFORD reminded the meeting that the di-
rectors had made the grant with the clear understanding
that, if the meeting would not sanction it, they would
themselves bear the expense, and had, therefore, contri-
buted it at the time when it had been sought, and when
perhaps it had been most needed. (Cheers.)
Mr. Yourrox seconded the motion, which was unani-
mously agreed to.
From the balance sheet it appeared that the receipts
for the year amounted to 1,1521. 16s. ld., and the dis-
bursements to 5901. 16s. Id., leaving a balance of
561/.195. Hid.
_ _ _

Mr. CIILLENFORD said that during the past year twenty
new members had been enrolled—a larger number than
in any other single year ; four members had died, and
one had withdrawn, so that there was a clear gain
of fifteen members on the year. There were now 131
subscribing members, and seven annuitants upon the
books of the association. They were now also, after the
payment of all expenses, richer by 6901. 7s. Bd. than
they had been that time twelve months—a result which
he hoped would be satisfactory to them all.
Mr. SA.VTLLE wished to know how the directors deter-
mined the sum to be allocated for the payment of annui-
ties.

Mr. CITILLENFORD informed him that they halved the
sum of the admission fees and members' subscriptions,
after the payment of all expenses, and applied a moiety
to the annuity fund. The sum of 4331. 3s. 4d., men-
tioned as annuitants' fund in the balance sheet, was the
amount so apportioned last year, but had not been alto-
gether required. The balance 1281. 7s. Bid. had been
carried to the reserve fund.
Mr. SAVILLE also wished to know if the association
paid the funeral expenses of annuitants, as it did those
of members.

Mr. WORRELL replied in the affirmative, and added
that it was optional with the representatives of the de-
ceased annuitant, either to receive the usual sum of 101.
granted for funeral expenses, or else call on the associa-
tion for the amount of annuity due to him at the time of
his death.

The report was then adopted.
The trustees, namely, the Hon. Sir F. Noon Tal-
fourd, Benjamin Bond Cabbell, Esq., and Charles Dickens,
Esq., were re-elected, as was the honorary treasurer,
Mr. Buckstone.

After the re-election of the out-going directors, Messrs.
Cowell and Youngs were elected successors to two gen-
tlemen of the direction who lead died during the year,
and the auditors were re-appointed to their office.
Mr. WORRELL rernindei. the meeting that as far back
as 1851 it had been mooted that they should present a
gift to Mr. Cullenford, their excellent secretary, for his
zealous services in endeavouring to obtain a Royal char-
ter for the association, and that it had only been deferred
until the charter should be obtained. The present was
their first meeting under the charter, and he therefore
thought no time more suited than the present to revive
the question. He should, therefore, move that a pecu-
niary gift should now be presented to him.
Mr. SAVILLE seconded the motion, and hoped that
the gift would be one worthy of his acceptance.
, The motion was at once agreed to.
Mr. WILLIAMS! then moved that the gift should be 201.
Mr. SAVILLE seconded the motion.
After a short discussion as to the amount, the resolu-
tion was adopted..
The CHAfituA4 then recalled Mr. Cullenford, who
had retired during the discussion, and informed him of
the liberality of the association.
Mr. CuLLENFoitn, in returning thanks, said that the
amount was beyond what he could have expected, but
he was proud of it, as it was to him a proof that they
continued to think him worthy of their confidence,
which he assured them it should ever .be his desire to
secure.

The thanks of the meeting were next voted to Mr.
Arnold and to Mr. C. Mathews, for the use of the
theatre.

On the motion of Mr. BRAIDE, the directors were
instructed to consider the advisability of amalgamating
with the Edinburgh and Norwich Funds.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman, who, in acknow-
ledging the compliment, congratulated the meeting on
the increasing prosperity of the association, terminated
the proceedings.

DEATH ON A TREADMILL.—An elderly man, who was
a prisoner in the New Bailey Prison, Salford, whilst
working on the treadmill yesterday morning at nine
o'clock, suddenly dropped down and expired. The cause
of death was believed to be apoplexy.
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—Fifty thousand Cures have been
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without medicine, inconvenience, or expense (as it saves
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de Decies, Major-General Thomas King, Drs. Ure,
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101 b.) and 121 b. carriage free. Barry Du Barry_ and Co.,
77, Regent-street, London ; also, Fortnum, Mason, and
Co., purveyors to her Majesty, Piccadilly.

COLLIERY EXPLOSIONS, THEIR CAUSE

AND PREVENTION.

(To the Editor of the Wakefield Express.)

What a deep but painful interest has again been excited
by another—and that the most fearful—of those periodical
explosions which has ever occurred in the coal mines of this
country. By this fearful calamity, which occurred at
Wigan on the 18th inst., near one hundred of fellow-crea-
tures have been deprived in a few moments of health and
life, and their wives and families loft unprotected. Just
12 months ago I addressed a letter to the right hon. the
Home Secretary, on the present inefficient mode of venti
lating mines. In that letter I endeavoured to show the
perilous condition of the poor miner, he always having be-
hind him, when engaged in mining operations, a Pandora's
hex, ever ready to pour forth its evils whenever occasion
offers. I also called attention to the fact that if the pre-
sent system of ventilating mines was persisted in accidents
fearful, frequent, and appalling, would continue to occur,
and in the nature of things could not bo prevented. I
know it to be a most difficult matter fully and intelligibly
to explain, so as the Goverment and people of this country
may thoroughly understand, any plan proposed for the pre-
vention of these awful explosions in coal mines. Difficult,
however, as has been this subject to explain, it has been
rendered vastly more perplexing by suggestions and plans
put forth from time to time by well meaning theorists.
But all must confess that this is a matter so deeply intri-
cate and profound, involving as it does the health an •t lives
of so many thousands of our fellow-creatures, that it de-
mands the attention, talent, and experience of the wisest
practical men, who themselves have bean accustomed to
see and know the dangers and perils of a mining life,
and whose judgment and advice ought always to claim
respect and attention on this very difficult question. I
grant that knowledge is power, the threads of which
are bound and twisted together in general theorems,
and theory, so far from being inconsistent with practise,
is indeed practice itself, and that in the most extensive
meaning of the term. But here is the great, the grand
distinction between the theorist and practical man.
The one is conversant with the fact collectively, the other
individually. The one is a wholesale dealer in experience,
the other only retails it. Amid the contrariety of opin-
ions expressed on this difficult mining question, it may
be asked can anything further be done to avert or lessen
these periodical slaughters in mines? My answer first is,
these disasters in mines have not been lessened but greatly
increased since the passing of the colleries act in 1849,
and the appointment of inspectors. I answer secondly,
these calamitous explosions in coal mines cannot and never
will be prevented by the present unscientific mode or sys-
tem of ventilating mines. These two undeniable facts
lead us to another question. Can there be a plan suggested
(if so, what are its details), by a practical man, who him-
self has been accustomed to the perils of mining, and who
understands the nature and operation of destructive gases
in mines, likely to lessen and prevent these sad explosions
in coal mines? That all-important question I beg most
humbly, yet confidently, to answer in the affirmative.
Two things I conceive of paramount importance to obtain
this great end, as follows :—First, there must be a strong
continuous current of air, say from forty to sixty thousand
cubic feet* introduced into the mine by the down-cast
per minute, by means of a furnace or some other agency
which may be determined upon by the Government. I
know the furnace, when properly fixed and regulated, by
its power of attraction fully capable of producing the
quantum stated ; but if, on experiment, some other agency
shall be determined upon as more efficient, then by all
means let it have the preference, whatever it may be.
I have had submitted to me very recently, by a clergy-
man, a plan of an invention which I believe he has pa-
tented for ventilating mines. It acts contrary to other
known agencies, by the double principle of propulsion and
attraction, fixed and worked at the top of the shaft by an
engine of five horse power. He proposes by this apparatus
to introduce into a mine from eighty to one hundred
thousand cubic feet of air per minute, a most remarkable
achievement in modern science, if what he pooposes can be
accomplished. I believe the invention has been made known
to the Home Secretary, and no doubt its merits will
very soon be decided upon by actual experiment. This
brings me to the second thing proposed or suggested to les-
sen or prevent these deplorable colliery explosions. My
firstpeoposition, as stated, being a strong continuous cur-
rent of air, from forty to sixty thousand cubic feet per
minute, my second, which is more important, is the proper
distribution of the said air at the bottom of the mine in
separate distinct winds, made to pass through every depart-
ment or place in a mine. If this precaution, as regards the
distribution of the air, be neglected, I care not what amount
of air you may have in a mine, or what number of inspec-
tors you may have to examine them, you cannot nor will
it ever be possible to prevent these awful catastrophies in
coal mines. I put it to every sensible practical man, how
can it be safe to employ in mines one and the same air to
work or ventilate two, three, four, five, six, or seven diffe-
rent lots of miners, situated in totally different places in a
mine ? Is it not an incontrovertible fact that the air from
the first lot of miners would most certainly go direct away
from them to the second lot contaminated, or charged with
dicarburet of hydrogen or fire damp, and thus it would go
on in the same ratio, increasing in danger, to the fifth,
sixth, or seventh lot, and there it might explode with
terrific power, as is often seen on these occasions, under
these circumstances, and then what is the result? why,
the fact everywhere known after these accidents, most of
the poor miners have either been awfully burned, mutilat-
ed, or killed by the fire and blast, or have died from
asphyxia, caused by carbonic acid gas, the result of com-
bustion, which immediately fills a mine after an explosion.
I ask, can no means or plan be adopted to prevent carbonic
acid from filling a mine everywhere after an explosion,
which is certainly the most fearful destroyer of life in
mines ? Most emphatically I answer it certainly can and
may be prevented. How, and by what means? I
reply, let the air be distributed separately into every
part or place in a mine, and when it has done its work
with the first lot of miners, then let it be directed as
it ought to be, and as it can be made to be, to pas•
away from the said mines directly to the up cast haft, and
in no case allowed to come again in contact with any
other miners. Will no explosion take place under this
method of ventilating a mine ? I answer, yes it may, but
here will be seen the great advantage and vast difference
as to the result. The fire-damp, and its consequences,
after an explosion, choke-damp or carbonic acid would, in
that case, be confined, as it ever ought to be, to that part
of the mine alone, and, consequently, all the other miners
in the several other places in the mine would thereby be
enabled to get out of the mine in safety. I can, and am
prepared, if required, produce undeniable evidence in
proof of this great fact, which no practical colliery steward
or manager who understands his business will attempt to
deny or dispute.
The great value of the separate distribution of the air
through a mine may •be seen at once from this known fact
that dicarburet of hydrogen, or firedamp, can only be-
come an explosive compound when mixed with from six to
twelve parts of atmospheric air, proportions ,beyond these
limits disarms this fell-destroyer in mines of its destruc-
tive power, becoming, as it then does, a non-explosive
• compound. How vastly important then it must be not
only to have a good current of air, but to have it properly
distributed to every part of the mine, so that by this pro-
per distribution it not only prevents accumulations of gas
in mines but the fire-damp is thereby rendered incombus-
tible, consequently innocuous or harmless.

THOMAS STEPHENSON.
Rothwell, Wakefield, February 28, 1854.
* In a mine so extensive in its operations as the Arley
Mine, Wigan, where about 250, or perhaps more, men and
boys are employed mining, there ought to be sent down
continuously into such a mine not less than 100,000 cubic
feet of air per minute for ventilating purposes, especially
when the following important facts are well considered.
The quantity of air which enters the lungs in 24 hours is
according to . _ _

cub. in. cub. in.
Davy 400,000 to 500,000
Allen and Pepys 460,000 to 475,000
Thompson 1,152,000
and each man consumes, positively, per day, not less than
125 cubic feet of air, or 46,000 cubic inches of oxygen.