The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-09 00:00:00

COCKERMOUTH.

The committee to inquire into the petition against
the return of Mr. Aglionby for this borough met this
morning for the first time; Mr. G. Hamilton, chairman.
Mr. Kenneth Macaulay opened the case on behalf of
the petitioners. Treating and kidnapping were the
allegations contained in the petition.
Hannah Porthwaite deposed that she was servant to
Mr. Simson, of the Crown and Mitre. She knew Mr.
Robert Benson. There were meetings in the interest of
Aglionby and Horsman held there, but the persons pre-
sent paid for their own refreshment. The flag-bearers
were non-voters, and the account for their refreshment
was made out ft Mr. Benson.

The case was proceeding when our report left.

TAUNTON.
This committee resumed this morning, when the exa-
mination of witnesses was proceeded with.

LEICESTER.
The committee reassembled this morning at 11 o'clock.
John Kirk was recalled, and cross-examined at some
length as to his communications with Holyoake, an
agent of the petitioners, with a view on the part of the
sitting member to show that attempts had been made,
by the petitioners' agents, to induce him to charge cer-
tain individuals with having bribed him to vote for the
sitting members. Witness stated that be and nine other
voters had been kept in London six weeks free of ex-
pense to themselves.
John Joshua Sampson Ludlow was also examined to
the same effect.

STATE OF TRADE.

(From the Manchester Guardian f this clay.)

MANCHRSTER, April B.—Since Tuesday, there has
been a somewhat more marked quietness in yarns and
goods than was described in our last report. In this
respect we have sympathised with the state of things
at Liverpool, where spinners have operated warily,
and only to the extent of their present wants. But, al-
though the buyers are less disposed for business, there is
no further change among spinners than a modification
of price on the part of such as were previously asking
more than could be obtained. The amount of transac-
tions is very limited. Goods are affected, as regards
demand, but not in an equal degree with yarns ; and
prices remain steady. There has been ratter more call
for longcloths, which have consequently gained 14d. to
3d, per piece in price.

GiesCow, APRIL B.—The market has been steady
throughout the week, and a fair amount of business has
been transacted at the prices current last Friday.
NOTTINGHAM, Arum 7.—There is some improve-
ment in the demand for lace goods on the whole,
although there are some sorts for which there is not so
much inquiry. We do not specify these sorts, as, when
it is know there is an accumulation of any kind of
stock, buyers are always on the look out to have them
pretty much at their own price, and we have known fre-
quent instances where manifest injury has been sus-
tained by parties so circumstanced. The hosiery trade
continues in an uninterrupted state of activity for the
home, colonial, and South American markets, and large
orders for the United States are expected ; a few have
already arrived. The cotton market is hardening in
Lancashire, especially for fine numbers, and we shall not
be surprised to hear of an advance on the price of lace
yarn very soon.—Nottingham .Tournal.

THE WEATHER IN THE METEOPOLIS.—The metropolis
was yesterday visited by a succession of atmospheric
changes, but rarely witnessed at this season of the year.
At an early period of the morning there was a brilliant
sunshine, but this was of very temporary duration, for
the wind, that had been veering between the west and
the north, settled at the latter point, and about mid-day
thick and dark clouds completely obscured the north-
western horizon, and this darkness was soon followed by
a heavy fall of hailstones, accompanied by several smart
claps of thunder. This having passed over, it was suc-
ceeded by a copious fall of rain, and gusts of wind.
After a time this subsided, and the sun again burst
through the obscuring clouds, but this was merely tem-
porary, and a second and heavier fall of hail soon fol-
lowed, which alternated with showers of rain for the
rest of the day. In the evening, between five and six
o'clock, a fearful storm of hail took place, accompanied
by rain, and although of brief duration, it has not been
exceeded in violence by any since the year 1846. The
atmosphere was so partially darkened, that the places of
business, shops, &c., had to be lighted by artificial
means, and in about a quarter of an hour the storm
burst furiously, and in a short time increased in violence,
rain and hail descending perpendicularly in sheets with
such force as to cause considerable damage to skylights,
and to premises roofed with glass of ordinary thickness ;
rain descending with the hail, the latter did not lie on
the ground, but quickly liquified, deluging streets in
consequence of the drains and sewers being for a time
surcharged, and in many instances overflowing foot-
pavements, so as to render them impassable. These oc-
currences principally took place in the northern district,
nevertheless the Surrey side of the river did not escape
unscathed. The surfaces of macadamised roads in the
outskirts were completely washed away. The roads,
after the storm had ceased, had the appearance of the
bed of a torrent after much sultry weather. Market
garden ground in the suburbs suffered severely from the
violence of the storm.

THE —COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT WIGAN.--The coro-
ner's inquiry was brought to a close at a late hour on
Thursday night, and the jury came to the following ver-
dict :—" We find the death of Henry Marsden, and
fifty-six others, whose bodies we have viewed, was
caused by an explosion of fire damp which occurred on
the 23d of March last, in the Arley Pit, situate in
Ince, belonging to the Ince Hall Coal and Cannel Com-
pany ; and that the explosion occurred from gas which
accumulated in No. 6 (Griffith's) and other drifts on the
south side of No. 2, north jigger. There is no direct
evidence to show how such gas ignited, or the accumu-
lation took place ; but the Jury are of opinion that it
arose from the door on the south side of No. 2 north
jigger being improperly left open for a longer or shorter
period. The jury cannot separate without strongly ex-
pr said theeir opinion that the rules for the regulation
ofcolliery are very imperfectly carried into exe-
cution."

A ROYAL TELL-TALE.—The poor
Spain is a sad tell-tale. A few days ago the Queenug-Consort of
the Marquis of Miraflores some questions about Political
matters, upon which he addressed her Majesty
tyat
SC:rne
length on the subject, and concluded by giving it as hi
opinion that it would be highly conducive to her es
rests if her mother and the Duke of Rianzares wereaitnii ito.
leave Spain. The King-Consort was present, n
said to have (though the Queen desired that nothing
should be said about it) repeated the whole conversation
to Queen Christina in half an hour afterwards. Queen
Christina and the Duke of Ria.nzares came to the palace
next morning, and there was a regular consejo de familia,
the first result of which is that the Marquis of Miraflores
has been forbidden the palace, while some recrimina-
tion is said to have passed between much higher parties.
A PARIS WALKING MATCII.—A man, a tinman by
trade,..recently arrived from the department of the Gers,
wagered 150 fr. two days ago that he would walk twice
round Paris by the octroi wall (29!, miles) in eight hours,
on the condition that he should be conveyed across the
river in a boat at the I3arriere de Sevres. He performed
the feat in fifty-two minutes less than the appointed

time.
ARROWROOT. —The Sydney Erni in says that arrow•
root equal to that procured from the South Sealslar de
had been prepared from some wild plants Which grow
iznanda,utly ne x Sydney.