The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-12 00:00:00

CORONERS' INQUEST.

On Saturday an adjourned inquest was held at the White
Hart, Clifton-street, Finsbury, on the body of Jane Han-
cock, aged eight months, whose death was occasioned by
a fire, alleged to have been caused by a servant girl named
Maria Dennis, aged 20. Previous to the evidence they
made a most minute examination of the premises where the
fire had occurred. In a front room on the second floor
they found the bed-clothes of a four-post bedstead and the
curtains had been all consumed, a chair which had stood by
the bed-side was much burnt, and the mattress and bedding
partially consumed. A portion of the mattress next to the
foot of the bedstead appeared to have been cut into a hole,
in which it is supposed a candle had been placed, as drops
of grease were on the floor. Another fire was discovered
to have taken place at the same time in the back room of
the third floor ; the mattress of the bed had apparently
been fired in a similar way as that in the second floor, but
no further mischief had been done by the flames than the
burning of the mattress and the coverlid before it was dis-
covered and extinguished. Evidence was then heard.

Mr. Henderson, a surgeon, stated that the deceased was
brought to him, but it was so much burnt and blistered that
it died after a night's most agonising suffering. Mr. Han-
cock, the father of the child, deposed to his snatching the
infant from the burning bed, on the alarm of fire being given.
He then gave evidence as to the girl leavingc, his house, and
the fire being discovered shortly after. Mrs. Hancock
spoke to the violent conduct of the 'servant girl. She had
her wages about five o'clock, and bought a box for her
clothes, which before were kept in the little room on the
third story, where a fire was afterwards found to have taken
place. In the course of the evening Maria begged to be
allowed to nurse the deceased child, and played with it
cheerfully. Maria was afterwards sent for some candles,
and on her .return she inquired what candles witness usually
had. Maria said they had then made a mistake, they had
given her two short. She went back with them, and, on
her coming back again, she said she had lost them. About
eight o'clock she went up stairs to get her things, and
brought them down, Maria then said, " Good night, miss,"
and then left. About five or six minutes afterwards the
alarm of fire was given. Mrs. Hancock was under exami-
nation five hours, and at ten o'clock at night the jury ad-
journed the further investigation .until this day.

PAYMENT OF PROSECUTORS' EX
PENSES in the CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

POLICE COMMITTEE, GUILDHALL.—•-011 Saturday, a
question of considerable importance came before the corn-
mittee. Sir J. Shaw (the City Chamberlain) handed in an
order of the Judges for the payment of a bill of expenses
incurred for Counsel's fees, &c., by the prosecutor of a man
named James Allen, who was convicted at the last Sessions.
The bill amounted to 5/. 6d., and Sir James Shaw, as no.
thing of the kind had ever before been presented at the
Chamberlain's Office, thought that he was bound to inform
the committee of the fact.

A long and desultory conversation took place upon the
subject.
The RECORDER said that the order had originated in the
fact that the Judges, aware of the effect produced by the
new Bill as to the privileges of prisoners, directed that in
cases where reasonable cause existed Counsel for the pro-
secution should be paid.
Alderman COPELAND thought that the proper place for
the discussion of such a question was in the Court of Al-
dermen.

Alderman HARMER said that the appointment was not
new. Prosecutors were long allowed all necessary ex-
penses for the attainment of justice, and those who were
ordered to pay and refused were in contempt, and of course
punishable. A poor prosecutor was protected. He had
himself been paid the sum of 3001. by the city of London
on account of a great robbery of silk on the river Thames,
which he some years ago prosecuted, and he could mention
several instances in which all the expenses incurred in seek-
ing justice had been defrayed by order of the Judges.
The Committee determined that it should be left to the
judgment of the Chamberlain to pay or not to pay, as he
should think fit. .

Sir J. SHAW intimated that be should certainly pay the
amount ; and the Committee resolved to communicate with
the Secretary of State on the subject.

THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH.—Few subjects can
be imagined more tempting to the writer of historical ro-
mance, than the latter part of this misguided man's career.
His invasion of England, with a view to depose James 11.,
though it soon terminated in the Duke's decapitation on
Tower-hill, gave birth to many incidents of the most strange
and tragic character ; while the battle of Sedgmoor was one
of the most eventful conflicts ever known even in civil war. i
The whole theme is, indeed, pregnant in all-absorbing nte•
rest ; and admirably has the author of the " Munster Festil
vals" availed himself of it in his newly published romance.
The weather continues wet and stormy in this quar-
ter. Saturday and Sunday last were two of the worst days
we ever remember for wind and rain, intermixed with sleety
showers. The waters have risen considerably and flooded
many of the low-lying lands, so that the banks of the Co-
nan and soma other of our streams, have lost nearly all
traces of our Highland landscape, and bear more resem-
blance to the meadow-lands and holms of tb: South during
an autumn or winter flood. The fields are now in such a
wet condition, that it is impossible to proceed with the sow-
ing of wheat, and there perhaps was never less of this va-
luable grain sown at this period of the year than is the
case at present. The markets are rising. Recent accounts
from the West Highlands represent the state of the har-
vest there as even worse than we formerly described.---In-
verness Courier.

NAVAL INTELLIGEIcCE.

(From the Hampshire Telegraph.)

PORTSMOUTH, DEC. 10.—The Melville, 74, with the
flag of Sir Peter Halkett, was at Halifax on the 14th ult.,
and was to sail on the 17th, with the Rainbow and Wan-
derer, for Bermuda, where she would remain until the ar-
rival of the mail from England, and then proceed to Barba-
does, and thence to Grenada and Jamaica. Information
having reached our cruisers that eighty vessels, loaded with
slaves, were expected at the Havannah, a sharp look-out was
kept, and much prize-money anticipated.
The Pandora packet arrived at Falmouth on Saturday,
from Mexico, with a freight of about 250,000 dollars ; also
the Reynard, from the West Indies without bringing a mail
from Jamaica, the steamer from that island to St. Thomas's
not having arrived in time. This frequently occurs, and
must occasion serious disappointment to the West India
merchants.

The Cleopatra, 26, left Buenos Ayres for Monte Viedo,
Sept. 23 ; Bonetta, 10, left St. Helena Oct. 20; the Har-
rier, 18, was at Pernambuco on the 3d Oct.
The Serpent, 16, Commander Warren, is remasted, and
will be ready for sea in about ten days.
The Atholl is to take in stores and provisions for the
Island of Ascension, and to return to England with troops
from the Cape of Good Hope.
At Spithead—lnconstant, Barrosa (transport), Sarah
(convict ship).
In Harbour—Britannia, Victory, Excellent, Royal
George, Samarang, Serpent, Pantaloon, Atholl.
PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.—Mr. J. A. Mends,
and Mr. Cyril Jackson, Mates, promoted to the rank of
Lieutenant ; Lieutenant Hon. E. It. Curzon, and Mr. N.
B. Pearse, Second Master to the Savage ; Lieutenant
M'llwaine, Messrs. R. B. Robertson and G. L. Hobblyn,
Mates, Mr. P. Brennan, Assistant Surgeon, Mr. R. C.
Allen, Second Master, Mr. Westwood, Clerk in Charge,
Mr. G. C. Hodges, Master's Assistant to the Volcano
steam-vessel ; Lieutenant J. M. Totbury, to the Flamer,
Lieut. George Davies to the Tartar ; Lieut. J. H. Worth,
Mr. James Brown, Master, Mr. Thomas Goss, Second
Master, Messrs. G. B. Williams, and F. R. J.' Balfour,
College Mates, Messrs. 0. Bentall, H. Key, C. St. John,
and F. Molesworth, Midshipmen, Mr. H. Norway, Mas-
ter's Assistant, Mr. Lambert, Assistant Surgeon, Rev. E.
S. Phelps, Chaplain, and Mr. R. J. Tucker, Schoolmas-
ter, and Mr. Sullivan, Volunteer First Class, to the Stag ;
Mr. Samuel Northcote, Master, Rev. W. Payne, Chap-
lain, Mr. J. Ball, Second Master, and Mr. J. Wilson, Sur-
geon, to Talavera ; Mr. W. T.. Rogers, Assistant-Surgeon,
to the Asia ; Mr. W. H. Kennedy, Extra College Mate,
to the Satellite ; Mr. Conquer, Clerk of Astrea, to be
Clerk in charge of the Confiance steamer ; Mr. Peers
Freeman, Gunner ; Mr. J. Stocker, Boatswain ; Mr. J.
Blake, Carpenter, to the Stag. The following Midship-
men passed for Lieutenants in seamanship on Wednesday :
—Messrs. F. A. Campbell, late Waterwitch ; W. E. A
Gordon, late Columbine ; and Mr. John Wyborn, late
Belvidera ; James Warren, Gunner's Mate,rof the Excel-
lent, passed in seamanship for a gunner.
Royal Marines.—Lieut. George Spurin, to be Captain,
vice Mallock, placed on reserved half-pay.
(From the Devonport Telegraph.)
DEVONPORT, Nov. 10.—His Majesty's ship Talavera,
will shortly come into harbour for repairs and general refit-
ment. The Britomart will be paid off here about the 16th
or 17th inst. His Majesty's ship Stag is manning very fast.
The pigeon Packet was unlocked. on Thursday, and
his Majesty's ship Stag, 36, taken in to have her copper
cleaned.

The Spitfire steamer left on Monday for Woolwich.
Piomotions and Appointments.—Messrs. J. Jorrocks,
H. Tylden, and M. Burney, Mates, to the rank of Lieute-
nants ; Lieut. G. Keith Ogilvy, to be Flag-Lieutenant to
Rear-Admiral Sir F. Maitland ; Mr. O'Brien, clerk of the
Inconstant, to be Clerk-in-charge of the Savage ; Mr.
Robert Whitmore, Assistant-Surgeon to the Opposuni ;
Mr. T. Miller, Midshipman, to the Pembroke ; Mr. A.
Hamilton, College Mate, to the Serpent ; Lieut. Thomas
Here, Assistant-Surgeon to the Royal Adelaide ; J. T.
Strong, to the Bathurst, coast-guard vessel, Queenborough ;
Mr. Conquer, Clerk to the Astrea, to be Clerk-in-charge of
the Confiance, steamer ; the Rev. W. R. Payne, to be
Chaplain to the Talavera, vice the Rev. Mr. Phillips, to
the Stag ; Mr. Charles Fox Turner, Clerk ; Henry Ley,,
Midshipman ; and Horatio Norway, Master's Assistant
from the Talavera to the Stag.
Remaining in Hamoaze.—Royal Adelaide, San Josef.
Stag, Britomart, Pigeon, and Goodwill and Duck, lighters,
In the Sound.—Talavera, Cockatrice, Catherine Stewart
Forbes, and Prince Regent, transports.