The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-20 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE

MALTA, AUG. 12.—DISTRIBUTION OF THE MEDI-
TERRANEAN SQUADRON.—In Malta Harbour, the Cale-
donia, 120, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir William
Parker, commander-in chief; Ceylon, 12, receiving-ship,
bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Harvey, the second in
command, and Superintendent of Malta Dockyard ;
Howe,l2o,Vengeance, 84, Powerful, 84, Terrible and Odin
steam-frigates, llos.aaaond steam-sloop, Volcano steam-
vessel, and Wee Pet Dockyard tender. At Gibraltar, the
Janus steam-vessel; at Palermo, the Prince Regent, 92;
at Genoa, the Thetis, 40; at Naples, the Locust and
Spitfire steam-vessels; at Leghorn, the Bellerophon, 78;
Porcupine steam-vessel, and Bull-dog steam-sloop; at
Ancona, the Frolic, 16; at Trieste, the Racer, 12; at
Cephalonia, the Sharp Shooter steam-gun vessel; at
Corfu, the Ardent steam-sloop; at Cyprus, the Volage
surveying-vessel, with her tenders, the Research and
Auxitiar ; and on her way to the Pirmus of Athens, from
Constantinople, the Tartarus.
MAIL STEAM-PACKETS.—At Malta, the Antelope, Me-
dina, Medusa, Triton, and Oberon. On her way to
Malta, from Marseilles, the Merlin.
A rumour is current in naval circles that the Howe
will be dispatched in a few days to Corfu, whilst the
rest of the ships now in harbour will run down en a
cruise as far as Gibraltar, to meet the Queen, on her
way to this station from England, and to which ship Sir
William Parker's flag will be transferred from the Cale-
donia. No other changes of station or movements are
spoken of.
PLYMOUTH, AUG. 18.—The Nimrod, 20, Commander
Belgrave, was paid off yesterday.
The Racehorse, having been new coppered, has been
taken out of dock. She is not to be masted at present.
On Thursday the Lords of the Admiralty visited the
Royal William Victualliug-yard and the Royal Naval
Hospital, expressing themselves highly pleased with the
result of their inspection. Their Lordships also in-
spected the Plymouth division of Royal Marines in re-
view order in the barrack-square on Tuesday. The
battalion, consisting of 512 rank and file, with the hand
and colours, under the command of Colonel-Commandant
Fergusson, were formed to receive their Lordships at
ten o'clock. They passed down the front of the line,
and up the rear-rank, and then visited the barracks and
school-rooms. Several plans were submitted to the
Board of Admiralty, connected with certain improve-
ments about to made iu the barracks, with a view to
give increased accommodation for the men, all of which
had their Lordships' approval. Major-General the
Hon. H. Murray and his staff were also present. Their
Lordships were entertained at dinner on Thursday even-
ing by Rear-Admiral Sir John Louis, the Admiral Su-
perintendent at his official residence in the dockyard at
Devonport.
On Friday the Board visited the Queen, 110, Captain
Wise, in the Sound, and thence proceeded to the Break-
water, subsequently to the Eddystone Lighthouse, in the
Lightning steamer, accompanied by a select party,
among whom were the Earl and Countess Morley, Sir
W. H. Gage, Sir John Louis, Bart., the Misses Louis,
&c. While their Lordships were on board the Queen,
and in the Sound, the naval apprentices of this port had
a cruize in the Nautilus against ,the boys belonging to
Portsmouth, who were in her Mejesty's brig Rolla, 10,
Lieutenant-Commander Fenwick. There was a good
wind up, and the day being fine the sailing of the brigs
excited a good deal of interest. The boys do their
work remarkably well, and are the admiration of the old
sailors of the port. In the afternoon, the Admiralty
were entertained at dinner by Sir William Hall Gage,
the Port-Admiral.
This morning the Lords of the Admiralty paid a visit
to Bull Point, the intended site of the new powder maga-
zine. It is situated on the margin of the river near the
Kinterbury estate, and will, it is supposed, be a great
improvement. They also visited the Breakwater, and on
their return proceeded to Saltram and dined with the
Right Hon. the Earl and Countess of Morley.
The Black Eagle steamer arrived here yesterday to be
in atterdauce on their Lordships, who are expected to
leave here on Monday fur Pembroke.
The Hound will be paid off, after the court-martial on
Commander Wood, on Tuesday, if the court shall have
closed on Monday.
Mr. Jenkins, storekeeper at Woolwich, has been ap-
pointed storekeeper at this dockyard.
The Queen, 110, is awaiting the arrival of the Persian
from Portsmouth, with supernumeraries for the squadron
in the Mediterranean.
Wooewren, AuG. 18.—The Princess Royal, transport
ship, Lieutenant William C. Harris, R.N. agent,
(1811), arrived at the Royal Arsenal yesterday from
Barbadoes, and has been placed under orders to em-
bark Captain Flude's company, 7th Battalion, of the
Royal Artillery, for a passage to Gibraltar. The com-
pany was inspected this morning at the Ordnance
Hospital, and will embark in the early part of next
week fur its destination.

THE BIRD IN THE STORM.
(From Eliza (gook's Journal.)
The summer noon was soft and lair
As the face of a sleeping child;
The roses dropped in the stirless air,
And Earth in its beauty seemed to wear
The garb of the undefiled.
The golden sun was looking out,
And the reaper tied the sheaf;
The bee went heavily about,
And the fine old tree so tall and stout,
Moved not its topmost leaf.
A blackbird, perched on that old tree,
Kept whistling clear and loud,
Its little heart brim-full of glee,
Seemed running o'er with joy, to be
In a spot without a cloud.
All things were beautiful and still,
In the flush of gladsome light;
And the bird with many a gushing trill
Seemed pouring thanks, to the power and Rill
That made its home so bright.
But ere another hour was past,
The thunder-scowl was round ;
The chilling rain poured cold and fast,
And the old tree bent in the sudden blast,
With a dull and moaning sound.
The flowers fell in their deluged bed,
Their glory stained with clay ;
The corn laid down, and the reapers fled,
The hardiest pilgrim hid his head,
And gloom was over the day.
But there was a blackbird still in the tree,
With its pa an not yet done;
It carolled away in its earnest glee,
As though it were sure, that God must be
In the shadow as well as the sun.
Its wings were drenched and the bough was wet,
No ray was below or above;
But it shook its dripping feathers of jet,
And hopefully resting, it carolled yet
In the tone of grateful love.
I watched the clouds and I saw the bird,
As it whistled on the bough;
And a lesson came in the notes I heard,
The spirit in my heart was stirred,
And Thought sat on my brow.
It whispered thus, "Oh, child of Earth,
Learn thou to sing with trust;
Not only in the hour of mirth,
But when the sorrowing time of dearth,
May lay thy joys in dust I
" Though gloom may gather in your way,
Yet let your faith be warm;
And while the mingling thunders play,
Let the heart still pour its fervent lay,
The blackbird of Life's Storm !"

ELIzA. CooK.

THE LORD MAYOR. OF LONDON.—The report o
the proceedings of the Town-Council, at its specie
meeting yesterday, will be perused with more than com-
mon interest. There can be no difference of opinion as
to the token of civic respect which has been bestowed
upon the Lord Mayor of London. It will be.yuniver-
sally
_e.
recognised as an honour which hast o
beennce
an m apaictdof
served by Sir James Duke. 1
It i
graceful homage b the Scott.ho
of the
perfectiatalto th
goodEnglishowill
metropolis, and a pleasing proof
and amity which
now happily prevail
between
tialetrceiclizoern citizens
ancient
fienret prejudices.almssolong
Ndoivridisedthebyevheenretdwitiatrhy.
out significance in other points of view. It must
gratify our national pride to be thus reminded
that within a few years, another of our countrymen
has raised himself, by industry, integrity, and enter-
prise, to the high office of first magistrate of the first
city in Christendom. It must excite the ambitious to
higher aims, and animate the desponding to renewed ef-
forts, to be thus emphatically informed of the successful
career of one who began the world with so few advan-
tages, and has risen to prosperity above so many diffi-
culties. It must teach us all to appreciate still more
highly our social and political constitution, when we see
that its emoluments and honours aro open to all without
distinction of birth or degree, and that there is nothing
to forbid the poorest and the humblest youth in the
land from cherishing the hope that he may one day rise
to be an honoured guest at the table of his Sovereign,
and to entertain at his own board the princes and peers
of the realm—all that is venerable in the Church or il-
lustrious in the Senate—the veteran chiefs who have
conquered glory in the field or on the sea, and those who
have achieved renown in the peaceful domain of science
and letters.—Edinburgh Evening Courant.
SLIGO AND SHANNON.—The Master in Chancery
Senior has appointed Mr. J. E. Coleman official assignee
to wind up, on the petition of Mr. OrhmarsibnygGobneoserrde,
the affairs of this company, incorporated by Act ofli-
liament in 1846. The undertaking
estab-
lished by Act of Parliament, a
questione et. pearly can be
importance arises as to whether
Jointt Stock Companies
wound up under the Amendedel.abaPlre"
wWhiinedhi Winding-up
pg
partnerships, associations,
than ail partnerships,
except railway companies
the close of the session, and
and companies
uecipall
Act) such Act shall not apply. The pe-
titioner, Parliament,' to which companies
y extendsAct,las sed
toat
behalf of himself and others, prays that the
on
be wound up, on the ground that although
company may -
(ncoconrtpinouraestetdhob; Act
two calls to the amount of , /. per share have been made,
vet no works have ,been commenced, and no interest on
Die amount of such calls as have been paid has been given
to the shareholders. There are large outstanding
liabilities, and the engineer is suing for 5,000/. The
petitioner also represents that in the present state of the
company there is no
probability of the railway, or
ship canal, which is proposed to form part of it, being
completed.
MILITARY SAYINGS BANKS.—A return published
by order of the lioue of Commons, shows that the total
number of military depositors in savings banks on the
31st of March, IS4B, amounted to 6,365, and the depo-
sits received during the year ended on that day, to the
sum of 45,8851. The amount withdrawn by depositors
during the year was 34,4941, and the balance due by
the public on the Slst of lisroh, 1646, 61,179/.

411..E.Ww.marmo•

SUICIDE BY A HUSBAND, AND
ATTEMPT TO MURDER HIS WIFE.
Saturday Air. H. M. Wakley held an inquest in-:V
the University College Hospital, on George Morton,
a painter and glazier, late of 29, Melton-crescent,':
aged 52. The jury having been sworn, proceeded to
view the body, and upon their return, a juror said
was disgraceful to allow them to witness the hideously
disgusting spectacle which the body presented, and
which was one gore of blood.—Nnother juror: The
dissecting•room was like a slaughter-house, nothing
but the trunk lay on the table ; the bowels and blood
were scattered about.—A third juror : The spectacle
has quite sickened me.—Several jurors: We never
before witnessed so revolting a spectacle. Nothing
would induce us to view it again.—Coroner : Gentle-
men, I deeply regret that your feelings should have
been outraged. I assure you that bad I been aware
of the condition of the body, I should not have allowed
You to see it in that state. The conversation here
dropped, and the following witnesses were examined :
Mrs. Anne Brooke, landlady of 29, Melton crescent,
deposed that deceased had lodged with her two months.
He came to her house as a single man. Shortly
afterwards he brought home his daughter, aged ten.
Thursday night his wife, for the first time, visited
him. That evening witness, hearing them quarrel,
went up and knocked at the door. He said he would
not admit her. She listened at the door, and hearing
him say to his wife that he would destroy both her
and himself, she exclaimed, " What are you about ?"
He replied, " Go down, and you will hear no more
about it." Witness went down, and during the
night she heard no more noise. About ten o'clock
the following morning she heard the report of a
pistol, but took no notice of it, as she did not think it
was in the house. Soon afterwards she heard a
scream, the report of another pistol, and on looking
toward the hall door saw deceased firing at his wife
as she rushed into the street, he following her. After
pursuing her a hundred yards he returned, saying,
" Where is she ?" and asked permission to go up
to his room. Witness held him, and would
not let him go. A Mr. Rose then searched his
pocket and took from it a pistol. After which de-
ceased darted up stairs, and, putting his head inside
a cupboard, drank a tumbler of poison, gathering the '
particles at the bottom with his finger, and putting
them into his mouth. He almost instantly fell to the
ground insensible.

.

Mrs. Morton, the widow, a pretty-looking and
rather fashionably-dressed woman, aged 27, stated,
unsworn, that she married deceased on the 7th of May,
and .left him on the 12th of June, in consequence of
his violent temper, which put her in bodily fear. She
visited him on Thursday, in consequence of a letter
he wrote her. (The letter was produced ;it was well
written, covered four sides, and expressed the strongest
desire for a reconciliation.) The shot struck her
shoulder, passing thus (exhibiting her gown) through
her dress, and slightly touched her left ear. The
slugs did not enter her arm.
Mr. Plover, house physician, opened the body, and
found sufficient oxalic acid in the stomach to cause
death. All the organs except the brain, which was a
little softened, were healthy. On deceased's person
he found the powder and large swa❑ shots produced,
together with some documents.
The jury, after a brief deliberation, returned a
verdict of " Insanity."

THE RECENT EXPLOSION AT
LETTLY SHE NKIN COLLIERY.
ABERDARE, GLAMORGAN, SATURDAY EVENING.—
Yesterday Mr. G. Overton, one of the coroners for the
county, proceeded with an inquiry into the recent me-
lancholy catastrophe at the Lettly Shenkin colliery,
which resulted in the loss of no fewer than fifty. two lives
It was held in the Town Hall.
Mr. Blackwell, the mining commissioner, attended to
watch the evidence, and Mr. James, an attorney of
Merthyr, to watch the interest of Mr. Thomas connected
with the colliery.
The CORONER having briefly opened the inquiry, the
bodies of the sufferers were described and identified.
Mr. Daniel Thomas, the manager of the underground
works, described the topography of the pit, the state in
which ho found it on descending immediately after the
explosion, and the situation in which the bodies of the
deceased were discovered. The men were found lying
on the ground as if they were asleep. They had done
their best to go away, but were overcome by the after-
damp.
William Williams said, I have worked in the pit for
four years, and at the time of the explosion was clearing
the road. It was my duty to follow the air course. I
only go through the headings and air-ways where the
men work. I generally go down the pit at half-past
four, and it takes me from two hours to two hours and
a half to examine it. It is sufficient time for me to go
through all the workings. If gas accumulated in one of
the old stalls or workings, it would be my duty to com-
plain of it. Ido not know that any of the old stalls be-
tween the two levels are of a great height. A fall from
the roof would certainly drive out any gas that had ac-
cumulated in them into the mains air-ways.
CORONER—Have you any opinion as to the cause?
Witness—No, I cannot form an opinion; I have not had
experience enough to judge.
CORONER—How did you escape? Witness—l first
tried to find my way out of the lower level, it was too
hot for me, and I went up to the upper level; went along
it for some distance, about sixty or seventy yards; found
I could not proceed; I returned to the same crossing and
sat down. There were many men with me, eight or
nine, however, went down to the lower level to escape,
but were killed. I told five who remained with me to
be quiet and sit still, for as soon as the explosion was
known at the top of the pit, the men would come down
an-I save them. They did so, and they were saved.
Jet this period of the inquiry, the evening having far
advanced, the inquest was adjourned.
This morning, at ten o'clock, it was resumed at the
Town Ilall.
Willi trn Williams was again called, and the Coroner
having read the previous depositions over, the witness
said, I am authorised by Mr. Thomas, when I see any-
thing of falls or obstructions in the air-ways to set
labourers about to remove them. Knew that the stalls
were larger and higher than the mouth of the crossing.
In my opinion, if there had been a large accumulation
of gas, or a strong blower in the old works to which
that crossing leads, it would have showed itself on the
lamp.
The witness gave his testimony in such a disjointed and
apparently uncollected manner, that it was difficult even
for the Coroner to make up his depositions in an intel-
ligent form.
The inquiry was proceeding when the mail left, but it
was understood that it would last till Monday, if not
Tuesday.

FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT AT THE
BRITANNIA BRIDGE.
(From the Liverpool Journal.)
We have just received the following melancholy in-
telligence from a trustworthy correspondent:—
" Bangor, Friday Evening, Aug. 17, 1849. "
All the fond and desired hopes of a successful reali-
sation of raising the monster tube of this stupendous
bridge to its final resting place are for the next two
months, at least, suspended.
" A few minutes before noon of this day the lower
part of the cylinder of the huge hydraulic press on the
Anglesea side burst with a tremendous explosion, and in
its descent on to the tube, a height of about 84 feet, fell
with a terrific crash. The press was at work at the time,
and had raised the tube about three feet during the lift
this day; and had it not been fur the very urgent and
precautionary means adopted, by packing and bricking
under with cement as the tube was being raised, the most
dreadful consequences were inevitable.
"One of the workmen was precipitated from a rope
ladder running from the top of the tube to the recess in
nesatrhl
state.e
I
which the hydraulic machine was fixed; ho was struck by
the huge mass of iron
ainnitssurdescent,vive many
a y crushed
weighing
hours,
a
y
three
greatly
fearan that dno
be
now lies
n in o
t a dreadfully
medical attendant on the works considers that, on a close
examination of his body, most of his limbs must be frac.
turgid, as well as suffering from dreadful internal con-
tusions.
" Mr. Frank Forster, the resident engineer, with his
staff, were quickly on the spot, and I am happy to add
that no other accident has happened.
"This most disastrous affair is to be attributed entirely
to a defective coating of the cylinder, and the raising of
the tube will, consequently, be delayed some time until
the completion and fixing of the new one in its place.
The tube is now raised about 2 l feet from the base. '

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE NORTH KENT RAIL-.
WAY.—The half-past eight o'clock train from London
arrived last evening safely at Woolwich, the station of
which place was much crowded on both sides, owing to
the London trains being insufficient to convey the pas-
sengers. The entrance to the platform debouches on the
down-train; this train had just begun to start for Grave-
ocvoornvheeyrecdheinst.to
the Forasta
station,
b momentu
t
tend when a frightful scream was beard—a woman had
fallen from the platform between the carriages. The
the concourse of people seemed too horrified to pick her
ul ape: tswhoewos
soon died. As the wheals of the carriages went over
carriagesio Pe:lesyseerd,
her the carriages were distinctly teen to rise and fall.
THE CONDEMNED CONVICT RESECOL SMITH.—
yesterday morning a communication was received at
Devizes, in reply to the memorial forwarded from that
ec
place to Sir G. Grey, the Rome S
the unhappy convict Rebecca sm_retary, in favour of
gret of the Right lion. Baro ith, elpressing the re.
net that " he can discover
no grounds which would
justify
him in interfering with
the due course of law."
NOWTH AMERICAN
e
MAILS.—LIVERPOOL, SATIII-
DAY.—This morning, shortly after eleven
ate am-ship Caledonia, Captain Leitch, departed
o'clock, ' c l
fromo c k,
theth e
Mersey for Halifax and Boston, with the usupl mails.
She also carried out 70 passengers, amongst whom was
Miss Cushman, the American actress. By means of the
new floating post-office receiving-house, on the Landing-
stage, letters for this steamer were posted as late as 10
50 A.m.; one hour and twenty minutes being given to
the public by the arrangement, as the letter-box at the
chief office closed finally at 930 A.M. The public is in-
debted to Mr. Brownless, of the ship-letter department
in the Liverpool Post-office, for this great convenience.
of which he was the original suggester, though the -
ar-
rangement was at once warmly taken up by
Maberly and the other authorities of
the r ffi
ost-o ce.
Tile homeward mails, &c., by the steam • Europa,
Capt.
Capt. Lott, that would leave New York onthe 8h
llalifax on the 11th inst., are
expected to ittflYo At MO
port to-Inorro, night.