The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-29 00:00:00

WRECK OF AN EMIGRANT SHIP
-- - -

DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE,

The heartrending tidings of the total wreck of the
Hannah, freighted with nearly two hundred emigrants,
bound to Quebec from Newry, was reported yesterday
afternoon at Lloyd's, the particulars having been re-
ceived by the American mail steamer America, at
Liverpool.
The unfortunate vessel (the Hannah) was a brig ba-
tween 150 and 200 tons burthen, belonging to Maryport,
and manned by a crew, it is said, of twelve seamen,
under the command of Mr. Shaw, the master. On the
3d of April last she sailed from Newry, with the above
number of emigrants on board, having previously been
examined by her Majesty's emigration agent at that port.
The emigrants chiefly consisted of agricultural labourers
and their wives and children. The passage up to the
27th, considering the season of the year, was as favour-
able as could be expected. The vessel then encoun•
tered heavy winds and a quantity of floating ice. The
master, as well as possible, bore off in order to clear
it, but it floated round in hugo masses, and on
the morning of the 29th the unfortunate ship struck
on a reef of ice of such magnitude as to carry
away part of her bottom. It was about tour o'clock
when she took the ice. The sounding of the pumps at
once convinced the crew that the vessel was foundering,
cry
was
be
unt ship hip
assistance afloat, a
could
as there were several feet of water in her hold, and it
was rapidly increasing. As the only chance of keeping
the r aise
obtained
dt o keepfrom tos tmhee
passing
vessel, as also, it is presumed, to allow the boats being
prepared for the rescue of the emigrants. What step
were taken to secure their preservation, no mention is
made in the report received; a charge, however, is laid
against the master, and the first and second officers, of
their having been guilty of one of the most revolting acts
of inhumanity that can be conceived. They had got the
lite-boat out, and the moment they found the vessel
would inevitably go down, they jumped into it. and aban-
doned the wreck with the living mass on board. Screams
for help now rent the air, and it was with difficulty
that the remainder of the crew could induce the
frantic creatures to comprehend the only chance left
of saving their lives. Fortunately the ice was
firm under the ship's bows, and the seamen, con
vincing them as to its security, many got on it. Its
solidity being then apparent, a desperate struggle
took place amongst the emigrants to leave the wreck.
Men, women, and children, with nothing on but their
night attire, were to be seen scrambling over the mass
of ice. Many of the poor creatures slipped between the
huge masses. and were either crushed to death or met
with a watery grave. The last to leave the wreck were
some of the crew, who contrived to save a small portion
of spirits and a few blankets. Soon after they had got
clear, the ship's stern rose as it were above water, end
she went down headforemost, just forty minutes after
the collision with the ice. Tho sufferings of the wretched
creatures, exposed as they were amid towering masses
of ice, with a raging freezing gale of wind from the
S.S.E., were most harrowing. The seamen who were
amongst them humanely gave up what covering they
had to the females, who had been shockingly wounded
and bruised in their course over the ice. Thus were
they exposed the whole of that day, till five o'clock in
the afternoon, when a vessel hove in sight and bore
down to the edge of the field of ice. It proved to be the
barque Nicarque (also bound for Quebec), Captain
Marshal.

steTpshetasktaentemb
by
nbtiramandnedbhyi
s thatcre wgentlemanan
erceol
va
et irtvyh, boe otafott
eet
survivors, is to the following effect:—On the 29
half-past six, the wind blowing a strong gale from
S.S.E., and a thick fall of sleet, the ship laying to the
windward of a large field of ice, Cape Ray being S.E.
by E. about twenty-seven miles distant, discovered
something on the ice, which subsequently turned ont to
be a !lig of distress. Made all sail, and gaining the
edge of the ice, found, to his astonishment, a mass of
living people upon it. He got the ship's ice fenders
down, and prepared to take to the ice. By seven o'clock
got so close in, that in the course of two hours he and
his crew succeeded in getting hold of about fifty of the
poor creatures and placing them on board his vessel.
The remainder stood crouched together in another part
of the ice some distance off, inaccessible from the posi-
tion of the ship. Captain Marshal had all sails cleared
up, and got a rope fastened to a piece of ice, and
with the long boat pushed off with his men to the
spot. After considerable difficulty, he succeeded in
getting to the edge, where they remained huddled to-
gether. The whole of them were saved. No pen,
Captain Marshal observes, can describe the pitiable
situation of the poor creatures. They were all but
naked, cut and bruised, and frostbitten. There
were parents who had lost their children, children
with loss of parents ; many perfectly insensible.
The number that got on board the Nicarque was 129,
passengers and se !men . The greater part of these were
frostbitten. As far as Captain Marshal could ascertain
from the survivors, those w perishedhosuewcee iegdhe,d
and
ib iylgbee
getting
ntigng
proceeded crushedall
l oi
in
between the ice and frozen to death were from fifty to
stbhi:eatryd.ditrAhecestisoshoniopnof as
wass
C he
Cape
o t had
under
Ray. Every comfort that his
means and the ship's capacity afforded were placed at
the sufferers' disposal.. '!'he next day, meeting with the
barque Broom, of Glasgow, twenty-seven of the poor
creatures were transferred on board of that vessel; and
in the course of the following day, forty-nine of the sur-
vivors, for the sake of comfort, were placed on board
three other vessels. The Nu:argue reached Quebec on
the 10th of last mouth, where the remainder of the
sufferers were landed. Their names were Alexander
Thompson, his wife and four children; William Tedford,
wife and one child; William Andersou, wife and four
children; John Murphy,. wife and four children; David
Gurwin and wife; Patrick James Murphy and
wife; Dr. William Graham, Peter M'Fearling (his father,
mother, and rest of the family drowned); and also the
fellowim, seamen of the Ilannah:—John Offin, John
Juhn Packer, Richard Harwin, Alexander llarris,
and David Jordan. The names of the emigrants
shipped on board the vessel from the Nicarque are not
mentioned.
The fate of the master and the others who took to
the life-boat, and abandoned the emigrants, is not known.

Tnn SINDE MORSE AT
kGeeopoJßEzr.a.—y
meritlta allin the
the
published accounts of the battle of Goojerat there ap-
pbaecakrsgraoZt.emOntnice attempt
instance of tkis is the treat-
ment which the detachment of the Sinde ii..rregular Horse
that
mentionl(
with.
eht .
no
01l
pyttiahrt a:lt Bombayao a splendid charge, &c.;
thefbtalcavalry
te9htohfL
Lancersnee
Lancers
risspresenttaoue:i
charged
geh
ebte
February
a3aitrnytai battle)ela e
lillhar ocrhas
Irregular
(however vianl
eatrrst,
Horse made yet the truth is,
l
nmSr
oaan
rad'
el
made
aiwr ir el
gallantlygi
regularn u g
la racnihndHagrfaogi
erbe,sie
that day. And Bever a)e:anastnawdt
successful.htati cch hke
e orl was
t
they
moren iil7c
have
Y mapvleoltheceglyei:ml
The facts were as follows;—The detachment of the
Sinde Irregular Horse, about 250 strong' (one squadron
being away), led by Lieutenants Malcolui, Merewether,
and Green,
was on the extreme left of th a British line,
her Majesty's Lancers being the next it cgiment to its
right. A large body.(about 4,000) of the e: nemy's cavalry,
about half of whom were Affghans, spiel Idid men, and
superbly mounted, led by a son or nephes 7 of the Amcor
Dost Mohamed, attempted to turn the British left. This
was seen by General Thackwell, who personally ordered
Lieutenant Malcolm to charge the ads ancing enemy.
The attack was made with such good v rill and vigour
that the enemy's horsemen we,re complott ly overthrown,
and driven from the field with great lass, their leader
killed, with many of his followers, who lot ,ght desperately
round him, and the right of the enemy's array was com-
pletely exposed and turned. The Affgt tans stood their
ground, and fired a tremendous volley at about 50 yards'
distance. They and their allies outnutnt 'ered the Sinde
Irregular Horse 16 to 1; but nothing Could shake the
discipline of the latter; no doubt or hesit %don was there,
and no sudden "irregular bursts of undisciplined valour
shook their formation." the horseman came on at fiery
speed, indeed, and with an individual ent)rgy which no-
thing could daunt; yet they moved lilt e a living wall,
and were as much under command as on an ordinary
field day. No mortal foe could have stoo 3 before such a
charge, which seldom has been equalled in modern war.
A squadron of the 9th Lancers advanced in rear of the
Sinde Irregular 'Horse as a support, but its support was
never needed, and this squadron of the 9th did not charge,
neither did the remainder of that regimer .t—the business
was done by the Sinde Horse alone.—Bei nbay Times.
5A1.13 OF THE IMPORTANT ESTATES C ,F SIR MASSEY
STANLEY, BART., IN THE COUNTY Or CHESHIRE.—
These magnificent estates were submitteil by auction by
Nlessrs. Farebrother, Clark, and Lye, on Tuesday, Wed-
nesday, and Thursday last, at the Stanl y Arms Hotel,
Eastharo, near Liverpool, in many lots The mansion
(Ifooton-hall) and 850 acres of land fore led the first ler,
and was bought in at 85,000/. There wet c many bidders.
and we understand the lot has been si nee sold to an
opulent banker. Various other lots were submitted, and
found spirited buyers (at nearly thirty- t hree years' pur-
chase) in Messrs. Town, Healing, Arrnu ighatu,Lingard,
Lloyd, Crackenthorpe, Briscoe, and other', to the
amount of about 65,0001. The followinig days the core.
petition was equally great, when Messrt ;. Brown, Quick,
Webster, Hanson, Green, William I 'atten, Jackson,
Streadell, Congreve, Tibbett, and °the,• gentlemen wore
purchasers to the amount of nearly 20/0,000/. Upwards
of 300 gentlemen attended the sale, which was held in
the large pavilion in the pleasure group.ds of the hotel.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
TIMES.—It was but the other day that the British
public were startled with tlle news that a se useless mei),
xetted and had by a bankrupt faction, had burnt the
Parliament House of our principal colony, with its
arallives and invaluable libraries, and had grossly in-
sulted her Majesty's representative, on about as empty
and bsggarly a pretext as ever inflated the lungs of
an egitator, or filled the hands of a ruffian. It cer-
tainly did not occur to us that so extraordinary
an incident was likely soon to be followed by a more
marvellous and more painful affair. Such, however,
is the unhappy purport of the intelligence brought
over with unexampled rapidity by the last ocean
mail. To our English readers we shell seem to speak
fables when we relate that on the pretence of an
utterly groundless quarrel got up at New York be-
tween the respective admirers of Messrs. Macready
end Forrest, the theatre in which the English tra-
gedian was performing has been besieged, stormed, and
all but destroyed, audience and all, by an infuriated mob,
which did not desist till after a collision with an over-
powering military force, in which more than twenty
lives were lust, and many were seriously wounded.
Certain it is that the most populous city of the New
World has for a day or two exhibited the aspect of those
European capitals which were last year successively the
scenes of revolution and civil war. Cordons of troops,
skilful operations, guns loaded with grape, deadly dis-
charges of musketry, barricades carried, are results that
we associate with ancient grievances, and new Constitu-
tions. In the city of New York they confer au adventi-
tious importance on the wounded vanity of an Amoric in
atior, who, having tried to do what no living being can
do to the perfect satisfaction of an English audience,
and what it only tolerates in two or three men of an age,
did not do what nobody else could do, and did not
attain to the rank of the two or three tolerated per-
formers of Shakspeare's principal characters. To
the English reader it is perfectly unnecessary
to defend Mr. Macready from the guilt of Mr.
Forrest's comparative want of success on the boards of
this metropolis. Oa this side the Atlantic it will hardly
be credited that the proprietors and editors of London
journals have been required to send over their solemn
" affidavies " that they did not conspire against Mr.
Forrest, did not take bribes against him, or admit inte-
rested critiques, or bow to Mr. Macready's dictation. It
will hardly be credited that whole columns of the
American papers are full of letters pro and con. on the
question, whether Mr. Macready's malignity did not
pursue Mr. Forrest from the principal to the minor
theatres, from the metropolis to the provinces, from
Great Britain to France, and from Europe to America.
We will not attempt to repeat ever so briefly what will
be set down at once as the reveries of a monomania.
The whale event is not only groundless in fact; it is
utterly irreconcilable with the usage and taste of this
country. If Mr. Forrest could establish his charges of
inhospitality, persecution, subornation, and Heaven
knows what, against Mr. Macready, he would drive that
gentleman from every stage in this country,
as well as from the Opera House at New
York. We in England know no such practice.
There is rivalry and jealousy enough, as there ever must
be when diversity of tastes conspires with an opposition
of interests, and when personal consideration., aro allied
with the mysteries of the beautiful and sublime. But
these inevitable tumults of feeling are confined to green-
rooms, to coteries, and as much as possible to the bosoms,
be they manly or fair, of the rivals in this keen though
graceful competition. Mr. Forrest has mistaken not so
much Mr. Macready as the dramatic and literary society
of this country when he imagines an organised attempt
to depreciate his merits emanating from any man high
in British estimation. Mr. Forrest has no reason what-
ever to suppose either that Americans in general lie
under a prejudice in this country, or that his own re-
ception was not such as his credit at home entitled him
to expect, or that our native actors enjoy special favour
and protection. In the principal cities of the United
Sta'es Mr. Forrest often plays Macbeth and Lear to half-
filled benches; and the house only overflows when he ap-
pears as a champion of the masses; in the characters of
Cade, Spartacus, or Metamora. He has become " the pet
" of the Bowery boys," in consequence of the agrarian
spirit which breathes through his prize representations;
but " his Shaksperian characters," says a Boston writer,
" are not those with which he is identified in the public
opinion." It has been precisely the same in this coun-
try. Mr. Forrest was admired in Metamora, and if the
admiration was not quite so rapturous or so productive
as on the soil of the savage hero, that is not to be won-
dered at. He was not admired in his Shaksperian cha-
racters. But Mr. Forrest ought to know that many
others than he have tried this high walk, and tried it in
vain. To a Macready, or a Kean, there aro twenty who
have made a desperate push for that rank, and imme-
diately sunk into the crowd, under bitter ridicule or
chilling indifference. Our theatrical annals suffi
ciently answer the imputation that we are jealous of
American merit, as we showed last Thursday, by a
reference to the success of Messrs. Hackett and Hill,
Mrs. Mowatt, and Miss Cushman, who triumphed the
same evening that Mr. Forrest suffered his alleged
" defeat." But where is the prejudice in favour of
native talent? Two great London theatres are lost to
the drama for want of encouragement. At the present
moment we have two Italian operas, a German opera,
and a French theatre; and it is only by the greatest
exertions that a few small theatres can he kept open for
native taleat and the vernacular eongue. If Mr. Mac-
ready possessed the spell of popularity, ho would rescue
Drury-lane or Covent-garden from horsemanship, Ger-
man operas, concerts, bazaars, and miscellaneous per-
formances. And as for Shakspere, it is only now and
then that he has a run of public favour. Last year the
Queen gave him a fresh start by attending in state Mac-
ready's farewell representation of Cardinal Wolsey; and
Shakspere's plays have since been all the fashion from
the Haymarket to Sadler's Wells; but the taste of the
metropolis does not often range so high as the " legiti-
mate drama," and, as we have already observed, it
is not everybody—not more than two or three in
un age—that we care to see in the almost impossible
characters of Hamlet or Othello, Lear or Macbeth.
But other causes have contributed to the catas-
trophe than Mr. Forrest's ridiculous quarrel—causes
which the journals of New York appear rather back-
ward to recognise. Unfortunately there is a class ques-
tion in the affair; and nowhere are class questions so
terrible as in Republics. "In New York," says the
writer we have quoted above,—
" More than in most other large cities, there are two
distinct classes of people, whose opinions, tastes, and
manner of life are almost diametrically opposite. The
class known as the Bowery boys, although not without
their good traits of character, are naturally the opponents
of the higher or more wealthy classes who reside in the
vicinity of Waverly-place, and who pay high prices for
pews iu fashionable churches, and sustain with their pre-
sence the Italian Opera. The Bowery boys have a na-
tural dislike and enmity to the frequenters of the Opera
House. The very fact that no person was admitted
within it unless in full dress and with white kids was
enough to arouse the passions of those men who nightly
fill the pits of the Bowery and the Chatham, to witness
the performance of highly wrought melodramas, in their
red shirts, and with their pockets filled with pea-nuts
and pig tail."
The Opera House, with its evening dress, and no ad-
mission under a dollar, always unpopular, was an addi-
tional crime in Mr. Macready. He had just returned
from a successful engagement at Baltimore, Boston,
New Orleans, and even Philadelphia, since the begins
ning of this quarrel, but ho had not yet encountered
the snob element in such fearful force and antagonism.
Irideed, the outrages he suffered were such as we cannot
ascribe to Mr. Forrest and his friende. When we read
of a heavy piece of wood and four chairs being hurled
on the stage on the previous Monday, we are forced to
suspect something more than a theatrical squabble. On
the fatal night the mob was proceeding to the actual de•
struction of the theatre. This was the work of a
" social" democracy pulling down everything to its own
level. The result is lamentable indeed, for the wound
cannot but rankle. It is, however, consolatory to reflect
that no blame appears to rest either on the authorities
or on Mr. Macready, or on his friends. After the
violence of the previous Monday, when he was,
in that, driven from the theatre, he wished to conclude
his engagements, but his Mends, among whom is the
illustrious name of Washington Irving, drew up an ad-
dress, urging him, for the credit of the city and nation,
not to give way. He yielded to their advice. As for
the measures taken by the authorities, though they pre-
sent a striking contrast to the details of the Montreal
riot, and though they manifest a decision and au effect
beyond what we have lately been accustomed to witness
on the part of standing armies, emperors, and kings,
they do not appear to have exceeded the necessity of the
crisis. Order was to be restored; liberty, life, and pro.
party secured; and the good name of the union estab-
lished. When these were menaced by a desperate mob,
force was to be encountered by force. Tho troops could
not throw paving stones, so they returned the volley
with bullets. Tho consequences of a deadly collision
are inevitable, and attach to those who provoke it. Wo
cannot, however, regard tho catastrophe without some
apprehension. Already wicked attempts have been
made by incendiary placards to link the " aristocracies"
of New York and England, and represent Mr. Macready
as establishing a British tyranny in the United States.
The idea is too gross even for the " Bowery boys," but
the excitement, supplied as it is with so much anti-
British material, is too likely to be renewed, unless
all the good sense of the union is exercised to extin
guish it.

TUE IRISH STATE PuxsoNEßs.—The doubts ex-
pressed—or professed—by some persons in Ireland as to
the disposal of the state prisoners, Smith O'Brien,
Meagher, and M'Manus, whose appeal against their
conviction has been finally decided by the Rouse of
Lords, are entirely misplaced, or at all events premature.
It is impossible to know or to answer for what may be
dons hereafter, under other circumstances or in a dif-
ferent state of the public mind; but there can be no room
whatever for doubt that the remission of the extreme
sentence will, for the present at least, be accompanied by
the condition of banishment for life. To suppose any.
thing else would be to conclude that all other political
offenders less guilty than they, who are at this moment
suff4ring the several degrees of punishment annexed to
their crimes, should also be released from all further ex-
piation of their °frames. At the same time we repeat
that the Royal clemency being at all, times paramount
eau be exercised at any future time, when it may be
considered safe or expedient. Amongst the arguments
against the punishment of death, it has always been
urged in favour of secondary punishments that in time
they can he mitigated or atoned. It would be, there-
fore, most inexpedient and improper in every point of
view to limit the future exercise of the Royal preroga-
tive, whatever imperious reasons may exist at the pre-
sent moment against its further extension.—Sunday

paper.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—The number of visitors
to this national institution yesterday was 17,370, being a
Considerable decrease as compared with the number on
Whit-Monday last year.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSM,3UTH. MONDAY.—The crew of fin. steam-tug
Royal Charter, and ut the beat Jot.Ao, 13 numb r,
seiz.hl in this harbour lately by the Coast Guard, under
Lieutenant Brown, of the Portsmouth-harbour Station,
together with the guard under Lieutenant Scott, of the
Southsea. Castle Station, having been charged before the
borough magistrates with the attempt to smuggle 150
half-ankers of spirits on the night of the 16 h inst., have
all been convicted, each respectively in the penalty of
1001., which not being provided, they are severally under-
going six months imprisonment in the borough gaol.
This was the most important " venture " made in latter
years on this part of the coast, and the officers concerned
in the seizure deserve great credit for their zeal and vigi-
lance in intercepting the parties and their illegal cargo,
The Court leaves Osborne to-morrow morning for
London.
The Cuckoo steam-vessel, Commander H. Dumaresq,
sailed this afternoon for Jersey, to resume her station
for the protection of the fishery.
The Sylvia cutter has been completely fitted and-got
ready for sea in the Camber, from which she hauled out
to day, yet she has not hoisted the pendant.
Wind-7.7.E. by N. ; moderate and dark hazy weather.
PLYMOUTH, MAY 26.—Her Majesty's steam-vessel
Gladiator, 6, sailed on Wednesday, and the Diligence
transport, with stores, on Thursday, both for Pembroke.
Her Majesty's steam-vessel Jasper arrived on Friday
from a survey, and having coaled, returned to her ground
in the Bristol Channel.
The masts of her Majesty's brig Harlequin were taken
out and sent to the yard on Wednesday. Her crew were
paid off on Thursday.
On Wednesday her Majesty's ship Albion 90, was
towed from her moorings by the Confiance steamer, in
compliance with Admiralty orders for her to be docked
and have her copper examined, preparatory to being put
in commission. On Thursday, however, these orders
were countermanded.

Her Majesty's ship Queen, 110, Captain Henry W.
Bruce, having had her copper examined and repaired,
was taken out of dock on Wednesday; she was paid off
do Friday. Her crew have beer. placed on board the
Bellona receiving ship. Yesterday the steamer Sala-
mander went alongside to take seamen and marines to
Chatham. When parting company the usual cheering
took place. One tar, on the steamer poop, was so en-
thusiastic that when waving his bat he overbalanced him-
self, and fell into the sea. He sank twice before he was
picked up, and was then so much exhausted that it be-
came necessary to convey him immediately to the Royal
Naval Hospital.
The Hibernia, 104, Captain Wise, is expected here to
be paid off in about a week, from Malta. The whole of
her officers, it is said, will be transferred to the Queen,
110, on her being recommissioned.
Her Majesty's ship llzdalus, 19, has been inspected
by Admiral-Superintendent Sir John Louis, Bart., pre.
paratory to her being reported ready for commission.
The Calliope, 26, is erdered to be fitted for foreign
service.

When the Alarm was paid off here last week, the
ship's company sent for one of their late shipmates, called
Johnson, who accidentally had his arm blown off while
firing a gun on board the Alarm last summer, and was
in consequence obliged to be discharged, and each of the
ship's company, upon receiving their pay, gave him a
present of money.
Mr. Samuel Angiar has been appointed to fill the va-
cancy of first-class inspector of shipwrights, at the De-
vonport dockyard, vice Kemp, superannuated some
months since; salary 1501. per annum. A master and
two foremen arc to be appointed to superintend the
smiths, the former at a salary of 250/. per annum; the
first foreman 1501., and the second 1251. per annum.
This arrangement will not affect the present holders, nor
is the master to be immediately appointed. The present
system of placing the superintendent of the smiths under
the chief engineers will be discontinued.
The Grecian was unmasted and the crew paid off
to-day.
The Ranger brig was undocked to-day, masted, and
taken to the jetty to be rigged. She is to convey the
June mail to the coast of Africa.
The steamers Basilisk and Niger are to start on
Tuesday fur a trial cruise of ten days, when their rela-
tive rates of sailing and steaming are to be tested.
The artisans of the dockyard were not paid wages on
Friday, as usual, in consequence of the crew of her Ma-
jesty's ship Queen having been paid on that day. The
artisans received their pay on Saturday.
Off the Start, on Saturday morning, the 24th inst.,
the emigrant ship Aden, for Australia, ran into a fish-
ing boat, and carried away her mast and gear. The
Aden left Plymouth for her destination this afternoon,
but has put back in consequence of contrary winds.
The Derelict Galliot liermanna.—The crew of this
ship, which was brought in here abandoned on the 31st
of March last, arrived in New York on the 16th of
April, on board La Duchesae d'Orleans, Captain
Richardson, from lia.vre, for New York, which vessel
came in contact with the galliot off the Eddystone.
Wind.—S. W., fresh breeze, and thick weather.

GREAT FIRE NEAR OXFORD-STREET.--Last night,
shortly after 9 o'clock, a fearful fire, which was not ex-
tinguished until nearly midnight, and not until a quan-
tity of property had been destroyed, broke out in Bien-
heim.street, Oxford-street. The premises were formerly
in the tenure of the celebrated Dr. Brookes, but at the
present time were in the occupancy of Messrs. Alderson
and Sons, lead merchants and pewterers. The flames
originated, from some cause at present unknown, in the
warehouse adjoining the Blenheim Dispensary. That
building, containing a vast quantity of oil, turpentine,
and other equally inflammable articles, caused the fire to
progress with unusual swiftness, so that before an engine
had time to reach the place the warehouse and all it con-
tained became wrapped in one immense sheet of flame.
This caused a general turn-out of the firemen, and forth-
with the engines of the parish, London Brigade, and
West of England Insurance Company, from the station
in the Waterloo-road, arrived. The flames at that
time were progressing so fearfully that the total
destruction of the dispensary appeared inevitable;
the firemen, however, set their engines to work,
and did all that was possible to save the latter building
from the ravages of the flames. Another warehouse,
belonging to Messrs. Alderson, running under the dis-
pensary, whilst the firemen were at work, also became
ignited, when the whole force was brought to bear upon
it, but in spite of which the fire continued to spread, and
as the water was scattered upon the blazing oil and
spirits it caused them to rise still higher, until the whole
neighbourhood was in danger. The firemen, finding
that no good could be accomplished by working the en-
gines upon the vats of oil which were on fire, had the
hose from the engines conveyed round the burning pre-
mises, and by that means they were enabled to encom-
pass the flames on every side, but it was not until the
extensive warehouse in which they originated was
burned out, its valuable contents consumed, the building
under the dispensary severely damaged by fire and
water, and the lecture-room of the dispensary injured by
fire, &c., the flooring in several places being obliged to
be cut away so that the men could discharge the water
on the fire. The whole damage, it is stated by some of
the firemen, will not be far short of 2,0001.
CAUTION TO MASTERS OF VESSELS BRINGING
PASSENGERS FROM IRELAND.—The Cardi Guardian
says—Jasper Travers, master of the James, of Kinsale,
appeared on Thursday last, at the Town hall, Newport,
before the Mayor and T. Hughes, Esq., to answer an
information for having carried forty passengers more than
allowed by his license, from Cartwashery, in Ireland,
to that port.—Richard Trew, assistant tide-surveyor of
the customs, proved that defendant's vessel arrived on
the 22d inst., with 119 adults and 78 children—passengers
on board; and also 16 horses and 30 sheep--all confined
together in the hold, the vessel being only 78 tons re-
gister! She was much over-crowded, and in a very of-
fensive statelm her arrival. Witness said he never saw
such starved and miserable looking beings in all his life.
Tho defendant's license allowed him to carry only 98
passengers; and calculating the children as three for one
adult passengers, he had on board 47 more than the num-
ber allowed.—Mr. Frost, tide-surveyor, produced the
vessels register and the license he received from the do
fondant; also his cargo-book, in which he had entered
only 61 passengers.—The defendant said he did
no
know the number he had on board, and produced Ni-
cholas Welsh, one of the passengers, to prove that he
(Welsh) had smuggled two friends on board.—The case
being clearly proved, Travers was fined 2001., being Si.
each for 40 passengers; in default of paymtn; he was
committed to Usk house of correction for two!months.
TUE WHITSON HOLIDAYS.—The unpropitious wea-
ther of yesterday considerably damped the ardour of the
holiday-makers. Vast numbers, however, made their
wardown to the different spots of suburban amusement.
The chief point of attraction, as usual, was Greenwich.
Here the railway and numerous steam-vessels continued
throughout the day to land crowds of pleasure-seekers,
the numbers increasing as occasional cessations of the
rain gave promise of fairer weather. R chardson's and
the Crown and Anchor both occupied their usual ground,
and the caterers for public amusement found to their
cost that their speculations had been on the losing bide.
At Stepney, Chalk Farm, Battersea, and Wandsworth,
similar preparations wero attended with a like result.
The British Museum and National Gallery did not re-
ceive one half the usual amount of patronage, the num-
ber of visitants averaging only 200 per hour. The Tower,
the United Service Museum, St. Paul's Cathedral, the
College of Surgeons, and the other scientific and popular
places of research and amusement, though not absolutely
deserted, were considerably thinned of their customary
holiday frequenters.
CORONER'S INQUEST.—SUICIDE FROM EXCESSIVE
DRINKING.—Before Mr. Baker, at the Adelaide public-
house, Hackney-road, on the body of Elizabeth Taylor.
aged 33. It appeared that the deceased was the wife of
a cab proprietor and was unfortunately addicted to very
intemperate habits. Her favourite liquor was t
gin, andt
she was in the practice of drinking half a pint of
much
as
spirit every morning before breakfast, and as muce
ten half pints sharing the day. On Friday last sh
re-
turned home in a state of intoxication, and about two
hours afterwards she was discovered lying in a bed, ap-
parently in a dying condition. On the table was found
a phial, labelled " laudanum, poison," which was quite
empty. Mr. Langley, a surgeon, was called in, and re-
cognised the deceased as having purchased laudanum at
his shop that morning. Verdict—" Temporary insanity
from excessive drinking."
REIGATE HORSE AND CATTLE FAlR.—Yesterday
at this fair the supply of horses was unusually large. The
very prime young cart was in great demand, obtaining
high prices, 60 to 75 guineas, even up to 80 guineas
being. given for some very splendid animals for London
wade; smaller sorts, suitable for farmers, 30 to 45
guineas each. Nags for riding or driving sold freely,
sound and young making from 40 to 50 guineas each,
second rata 25 to 35 guineas each. In the cattle fair the
trade was brisk, and better prices obtained, Ike Nor.h
Devens three year olds making from 9/. to 111., Sects 71.
to 9/., Herefords Si. to lot., Irish 41. to 61. per head,
Sussex cows with calves 10/. to 121. in calvers 81. to lel.
per head. The store beasts were nearly all sold, she
josbers baying bought largely to send into the marshes.