The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-25 00:00:00

THE LATE PRASLIN AFFAIR.

We find the following in the Constitutiunnel
" Mdlle. Deluzy has for some days past been re-
lieved from her secret confinement. She now takes
exercise in the yard of the Conciergerie at the same
hours as the other prisoners. It is even said that she
is shortly to be set at liberty. She had a short time
before fbrwarded to the Chancellor a justificatory
memorial, which has been transmitted to the Juge
d'lnstructiel intrusted with the affair in which she was
concerned ; and it is to this, it is said, that her change
of position is to be attributed. It was rumoured at
the Palais within the last few days that certain specu-
lators had proposed to Rldlle. Deluzy a considerable
sum to allow the whole of her correspondence with
the late Duke de Praslin to be published. Mdlle.
Deluzy, it is said, at first absolutely rejected such an
offer, which, if accepted, would have the effect of
rendering public letters of an entirely confidential
character ; but, on the other hand, as the desire to
explain her conduct ought to be exceeding.ly. strong
in
her mind, perhaps she has not as yet definitively re-
jected the idea of publishing these letters. It may,
in fact, be remembered that, some time after the pro-
cess of Rhode; which for several weeks occupied the
attention of France, and indeed of all Europe, Mdme.
Manson, the heroine of that case, came to Paris to
carry out a speculation of a similar character. A
shop W2S opened at the Hotel de Nantes, near the
Carrousel, and in it Madame Manson herself sold a
ntthhifd'iuti v se
od ei)ps
eecriaassezeny. Ia tn havedi st a
that
es a ont t rthui
in
pamphlet, containing what she called the un -
omp
fruoeburl
rsi se hod ef da
mt ltaehrtert
ie Par sga
el ao if
to
head of a lady's boarding- school at London bad
made several propositions to her to come and join her
establishment."

---
SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
MANCHESTER RACES.—FRIDAY.
50
The Irwell Park Stakes of 10 soya. each, h ft, with
ruthibre;e ysirxs old,rs
31b. The
winner mares, .64c., allowed
and aged, 9st 21b;
added;6st 4 ib thefour
second
yrs,
Bstot
4saz hfiveis stake;
rs 8
sf for
(flotbSeußbrs.o)ughton Stakes 51b extra. Mile and
ham o
Captain Harcourt's Ellerdale, 3 yrs ... (Ryder) 1
Mr. Arrowsmith's Lady Hylda, 3 yrs ... ... 2
Mr. J. Clarke's Maid of Lyme, 4 yrs 3
sto 1 on Ellerdale. Won easily by half a length.
The Autum St. Leger Handicap of 10 sovs. each, h ft,
with 50 added; the second to save his stake. One
mile and three-quarters. (10 Subs.)
Mr. Disney's Keleshea, Est 71b
Captain Harcourt's Ellerdale, 7st I Ilb
Mr. Arrowsmith's Lady Hyda, 7st 81b 3
5t02 on Ellerdale. Won easily by two lengths.
A Free Handicap of 10 sovs. each, and 50 added. One
mile. (12 Subs.)
Mr. Skerratt's Romance, 4 yrs, Est (Tacker) 1
Mr. Robertson's Blackbird, 4 yrs, 6st 121 b
Mrs.
tCoo4okasgosn;s33FlacakirbiSrdta,r4, 4toylrsa,
gssstt
DlOelban
Swift,
Mr. Irwin's Dean Swift, 5 yrs, 6st 2
3
Mr. Heap's Brown Fly, 4 yrs, sst 71b
5
4 to 41
agst Romance, and sto 1 agst Fair Star. A fine race,
won by a neck; Dean swift a bad third; the others
beaten off.

(Foley) 1

The Selling Plate of 701.; the second to receive 10/.;
for three yrs old, 7st 51b; four yrs, Bst 91b; 5 yrs,
9st 21b; 6 yrs and aged, 9st 51b; mares, &c., allowed
albs. The winner to be sold fur 200/., &c.; if entered
to be sold for 150 Z, allowed 71bs, if fur 1001., 141bs, if
for 501., allowed 211bs. Heats. One mile.
Mr. Arrowstnith s Bedelc, 5 yrs (501.) ... 0 1
Mr. Copeland's Cheapside, 3 yrs (100/.) ••• 1 0 t)
Mr. S. L. Fox's Meaux, 3 yrs ... ... 0 0 2
Mr. Dawson's Bretwalda, 5 yrs .... 0 0 3
Mr. Heap's Delaine, 5 yrs ... ... ••• 0 2 0
Mr. Wort:iington's ch fby The Provost, 3 yrs 3 0 4
Mr. Lamb's Lady Flora, aged
AMI rr..
BMreorooknee:ss
Luminous,G o(1 a, ood,33ly(3rte•
sri)s3l:l(Et6sosot2/To.)a:l:.gßeatg_s
•
Mr. Irwin's Dean Swift, 5 yrs (1000
13Ct BETTING
agst Wood
oi to AdSlT'
PigeonA KMEAS.
FR. Warl to
bED:a4Agolddye rr(tt))
16 to 1 agst Slander (t), 20 to 1 agst Reminiscence (5),
20 to 1 agst Lady Wildair (t), 20 to 1 agst Ulysses (t),
20 to 1 agst Rufus, and 20 to 1 agst Miss Whip.

The Lord Chancellor of Ireland has appointed
Richard Nugent, Esq.,_ of Fallen Connell House, Mount
Nugent, a magistratefor the county Meath, on the TO.
commendation of the Vice-Lieutenant of the county.

LATE

STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION.
ADJOURNED INQUEST
(Contin ned from our Afternoon Edition of
yesterday.)
+daßy Mr. James—Any
M and the bonels 'thing respecting the ma-
ierovi ace. In this case 40eg not come within my
=OA 1' myself, be„ . felt bound to investigate the
trim 14 'was jr, dan',.4ll,:e my own life and that of my
after, rna Ed, ger. Mr. Smith looks pretty sharp
Making an dards was not discharged, I believe, for
negle et r' " oration." He .was discharged for
ward" er duty. Clarke discharged Edwards. Ed-
called Clarke names in my presence. Calling
' easeke names I should think neglect of duty in the
names navy.—(Laughter.) Seriously, I consider
ithis neglect of duty. That is my idea of discipline.
1 heard Edwards say, when Clarke discharged him,
" I'll do the yet." I think Edwards went away
in the boat.after his " oration." I heard that Skinner
gave Clarke a " lift under the ear" at the Fox-under-
the-Hill, in_ a dispute about the valves. I
kept a sharp look after the valves after the
charge of Edwards, without Clarke's knowledge. I
tnay have heard it from Clarke, but I will not swear
that I did. I saw the vessel a very few minutes be-
fore the explosion, and immediately after I spoke to
the secretary about tying the valves ; but I made
en), formal report to him. I put too much
confidence in Clarke to believe that he would
tie.-tbe valves. I do not recollect giving out quan-
tities of rope for the valves. I did not find that
Clarke had been drinking that Sunday. He was
sitting down. I will swear he did not appear to be
drunk. I can't tell when either you or any
other gentleman takes a glass of liquor.
Nothing more was done than taking Clarke's
denial. I
.do not know whether Mr. Smith made
any further investigation. I make reports more
frequently to Mr. Smith than to the secretary. I
have been a stoker—l need not tell you where—but
not in this company, to which I am proud to belong.
By Mr. M'lntyre—l did not in- pect the valves on
the morning of the occurrence. Buttresi took Ed-
wards after Clarke discharged him. It was not my
business to ascertain whether he did his duty or not.
By a Mr. Morgan—l cannot tell whether steam
was blowing off in the morning: I can't say whether
it blew off or not when the captain said " Stand by."
(This witness conducted himself, during his exami-
nation, in a eery indecorous manner. His replies to
ceunsel -were excessively impertinent. His brusque
mode. of reply, however, caused much merriment.)
An •engineer could throw the strings on and off in a
moment on hearing any one coming down.
This closed the whole of the evidence with respect
to the explosion.
Mr. Thomas Meecham, Mr. Joyce's foreman, was
next examined. He said—l am an engineer. I was
mansging foreman to Mr. Joyce up to April last.
The boat was at Greenwich from the 4th till the 26th
of March last, and also on the 3el of August, to
undergo a general repair. The repairs of the 4th of
March were merely casual repairs. I examined the
boilers, they were tolerably good. A little corking
and a few ferrules were applied to the tubes.
I considered the boiler then perfectly sound. I 'just
examined the boilers. I dirt not perceive anything
wrong: I did cot observe any difference between the
tube plates from the time they were first made. The
valves were generally out of order, like the valve
produced. The effect would be a great loss of steam.
The valve Beatings of all the valves were milled.
They were put to rights. She left on the
26th of March. On the 3d of Aeigust _last
the boat came down again. Some of the
tubes, were leaky. One was replaced, and the
others were ferruled. I afterwards saw the boiler
proved at a pressure of 1501 b. to the square inch with
cold water. It was proved between eleven and twelve
at night. I noticed no injurious effect. The com-
mon hand-pump was used, and the valves were
weighted with iron bars. Nine fire-bars, weighing
from 111 b. to 141 b. each were used for this purpose;
they were placed on the extreme ends of both
levers. These bars were placed over the four valves.
At the extreme end of each lever a weight of 831bs.
was placed, which produced a pressure of from 1411bs.
to 1501bs. to the square inch. One of the valves
leaked a little and lowered the water, and I made the
man pump until the extreme pressure lifted the valve.
I considered this experiment conclusive, and I am in
the habit of pumping all the valves in a similae-
manner. I did not observe at all that the fl4.mt
plates bulged. After this I directed tht &a/lan to
repair the tube, to get up the itealjefilerFpressure I
had upon the boile , WWI& a tan to Blackwell,
to see that the boi eiris 61arke wanted them.
I don't think I have been on`bolrd the boat since. As
I was going to Italy, I offered to visit and inspect tile
boats without acknowledgment. I did soon the l'ith
of April. I found a smaller blister over the fire-
place of the larboard boiler. I got a hammer and
Chisel, and it turned out to be a mere scale not
larger than a 6d. I was examining the boilers about
two hours. I found the tubes very well ; they
were all sound. On the 23d I went on board the
Bee, and after examining her boilers I went on
board the Cricket. Whilst I was looking at
the engines during the passage of the boat
ty Mr. Chambrs—l am reading an extract from
my diary. I did not bring it, because there are things
in a diary that one does not wish to make public. I
am on my oath. This was about ten in the morning.
Buttress and Edwards were talking. I thought they
were quarrelling, as they were talking very loud. I
turned round to inquire the cause. Buttress replied
that the valves were tied down. I said " D n it,
cut the d--d strings away." I was in the act of
turning round when I said this, and they were then
hanging down in front of the boiler. I did not leave
the engine to go close to the valves to look at them.
They could not have been tied when I turned round.
I meant, when I said this, that they should dispense
with the strings altogether. I left immediately the
boat got in. I did not believe that the valves were
tied. I was merely taking the boat into the
pier when this occurred. If the valves had been
tied down I think I should have discovered it from
the working of the engines, but that does not follow.
I could not believe it. I have heard of such a thing
as valves being tied down. I had great confidence in
Clarke. I think, with respect to the statement of
Mr. Lloyd, that if one of the four valves had been
open it would be very improbable that the boiler
would burst from the pressure. I do not say that
such a thing is impossible. The aperture of
the valve of the boiler that burst was 21
inches and 1-16th. The area was 3'quare inches,
instead of 2 7-10Ws, as stated by Mr. Lloyd. The
weight on the valve of the exploded boiler cou!d not
be placed at the end;of the lever without s'Oteine; up
:waste pipe: It Auld not be placed nearer than
hree inches of the end, so that Mr Lloyd's ..taternent
is incorrect. When I'saw the lever the weight was
about an inch or an' inch and a half from
the• end, and that 'leas nearer the end than
the engineers of the company were directed to use it,
because it caused too gteat pressure—a pressure of
571b5., instead of 301b5.; it caused, with the weight
and the lever, a pressure of 591hs. The boiler was
of ordinary construction ; when Mr. Lloyd proved
it,
it had been materially strained, but if the stays
had ,been used, and the boiler was in its ordinary
state, it would have borne a pressure of
250- lbs. (A. model of the boiler was here placed
on the table, and it was suggested that the
evidence of Mr. Trotman, the person who made the
original boiler, should be taken.)
Mr. James said Mr. Lloyd's definition of the boiler
was perfectly correct.
Mr. Meecham said it was.

Chambers—l think Kent told me the
flat plate was bulged, but I told him it arose from
the position in which he stood, and also that it was
originally made slightly convex; but it was almost
flat. The boilers, like all new boilers, leaked. If the
boiler had bulged out considerably, I must have seen
it when the boat came down to Greenwich. I don't
think the boilers were injured by being proved. If
they were to bear a pressure of 701bs. they should be
proved to the extent I have mentioned. I can't be
responsible for the conduct of Clarke in another situ-
ation. When he was with us he was a good man,
and if he wanted drink he could not get it, as the gates
were locked. Clarke left Mr. Joyce because he
joined others in a strike, and Mr. Smith knew this,
and also that he had been charged with drunkenness.
Ey Mr. James—By the contract I' superintended
the boat for the first six months. Kent was not paid
by Mr. Joyce for these six months, but by the com-
pany. After the six months the boat was resigned
to the company. .:When the. boat was sent down to
be repaired,. Clarke generally sent down ,what
was required to• be done. I gave Clarke
a card where •he could get a steam gauge.
I would as soon imagine that Clarke was as likely
to hang himself as tie the valves. I am of opinion
that the explosion would not have taken place if
the valves had not been meddled with. Supposing
Clarke to have tied the valves, it is impossible to
state the amount of pressure ,_which the boiler must
have undergone. One valve would have relieved the
pressure at 69. The screw valve was screwed down
to 30, which would give a pressure of 60. These
valves are intended to act last, so that if the
other valves had been tied, the spring valves,
if they had not been interfered with, would have
acted. Assufbing the valves and machinery were in
good order, and the boiler containing plenty of water,
and the fire in proper condition, I cannot give any
solution of the cause of the occurrence.
By Mr. Le treton—lt is the duty of the engineer
to look at all the valves. Some difficulty would be
experienced in keeping the valves of high-pressure
boilers out of the custody of an engineer. It does not
follow that if the valves were tied the pressure was
excessive. Haisman, as far as I know, is perfectly
aware of the nature of engines and boilers. He had
a misfortune once in the Wasp, but I have never
found him other than a sober man. Mr. Smith pos-
sesses considerable engineering knowledge.
To the jury—lf I were engineer of the Cricket I

don't think I should: use strings, because the valves
may be moved by going on the deck.
Mr. William Joyce was next examined—He said,
I live at Greenwich, and I am an engineer. I merely
present myself in order to reply to any questions
you or the jury may think proper to put. I have no
statement to make. I contracted with Mr. Smith
to make the boat and her machinery complete.
The boat and machinery were made. under
my superintendence. The boilers were made by Mr.
William Trotman, of Whitecrcss-street, in the
Borough. The boat and machinery were made to
my satisfaction, and the boat was handed by me to
Mr. Smith as sound. The front plates were nearly
flat, but there was a slight convexity which
was perceptible to the eye. It never came
to my knowledge until after the explo-
sion that the valves had been tied. .I examined the
boat with Mr. Lloyd after the explosion: I agree in
Mr. Lloyd's statement with respect to the pipe at the
end of the lever, which was a fact Mr. Lloyd could
not be aware of. I think.the pressure must have been
far more than 120 before it- gave way. Except the
boilers had been very much strained and bent, I think
the boilers would bear a pressure of 1501bs.
By Mr. M. Chambers—lf any important repairs
were required the boats used to be sent to me.
By Mr. James—l contracted for the boats and
machinery of the Ant and Bee, but I did not construct
the boiler. • I had used such boilers with my ma-
chinery for the last two years, and I believed them
to be good. The engines and boilers have to perform
exceedingly heavy work. I took the utmost pains in
the making of the machinery and no expense was
spared. Mr. Trotman had his own price for his
boiler. I did not bate him down a farthing. My
opinion that the boiler would not burst at 150 is
founded upon the assumption that the boiler had not
been strained before. When it burst at 136 the stays
were gone, and the angle-iron was very much in-
jured. I agree most undoubtedly with Mr. Lloyd,
that the explosion could not have happened unless the
valves had been interfered with in some way or other.

By the CORONER—A very small cord tied at the
end of the,lever would .keep.it. close, against a pres-
sure of 1501bs. If it were possible to get a boiler to
bear a. pressure of 1,0001b5., it is probable the string
would give way before it reached that.
By Mr. James—l do not consider the strings
necessary to an engineer who understands
his business. The pulleys in the Ant and Bee
are for pulling the valves up for the purpose of
relieving them. Supposing the maximum pressure
to be 66, and the minimum 59, I do not think any
injury could have been caused to the boilers in
six months. Commercially, it is unusual to
make boilers to bear ten times their pressure.
Locomotive boilers bear a pressure of 100,
and they would not bear a pressure of 1,000.
I do not. believe there is a boat in the river that
would bear more than or five times the pressure for
which it,is made. Convexity is not a defect.
By Mr.Morgan—lron marked BB H, or Lowmoor,
is the. best. I believe the Cricket boiler was made
partly of it. It is only used for the furnace in com-
mercial boilers.„,, A person named Horton made the
boilers of they Ant and Bee. I don't think any
wi Lo moor iron s used in their construction. They
are thicker in some parts, as they are larger—half a
16th thicker. Ido not know whether the angle-iron
is thicker.

Mr. Trotman was next examined—l have been a
boilermaker since my youth. I furnished the
boilers of the Cricket to Mr. Joyce. He
said they were to work at a pressure of
from 40 to 50, never to exceed 50. I proposed to
prove them for a 100 with cold water, and Mr. Joyce
said he should be perfectly satisfied. I did not prove
them because Mr. Joyce said be would prove them
himself. I filled them with water to try if
they leaked. I believe he offered to prove
• them to save time. I should not have hesi•
tated for a moment to prove them for
200. I consider they would have borne that pres-
sure. I form this opinion from practical experience
in the building of other boilers. I went up and down
the river several times to see how they worked. I
heard no complaint of them. When they first set
to work I did a little caulking .•to the—front
plates._ ,1 .consider thtit some- unfair means must
have) been resorted to otherwiseAe boKer twould
not have exploded. The angle•irefitwas torn, and
it was made stronger than usual. I bought the iron
from Messrs. Moser, of the Borough, who supply the
greater part of the engineers of London. I paid them
151. per ton for the light, and 201. a ton for the two
plates. I worked tons of it, and next to Lowmoor I
prefet-this iron to any other—the B B H.
By Mr. M. Chambers—l left Mr. Horton sixteen
years ago. I have been in business seven years.
When I received the order I did not know that,
Messrs. Horton had made the engines of the Ant
and Bee. I examined them, but I did not ascertain
the thickness of the front plate. Ido not know their:
thickness. I did not know that Messrs. Horton had
been applied to to make the boilers. Mr. Joyce gave me
the dimensions and thickness of the boiler. I make
merely the boilers, without fixing the safety valves or
making apertures for them. I think I have made' as
many boilers as any ma who has been in the trade
for the same length ofme. I never made a high
pressure engine for any vessel. I would undertake
to patch up the remaining portion of the exploded
boiler, and I have no doubt it would bear a pressure
of 2001bs. If it did not, I would do the work for
nothing.

By Mr. James—ln my opinion the boiler which
exploded would have worked for years if it had been
fairly worked—with a fair pressure. I understand
the Cricket's engines have been worked at as high a
pressure as 80 degrees. I never knew an ordinary
boiler that would stand a working pressure of ten
times its proof pressure. I cannot account for this
boiler bursting, unless it had been overpressed. The
shell of the boiler, which weighed a ton and a half,
was driven through the stern of the boat, and 40
yards through the water. That shows there must
have been an extraordinary pressure of steam. I
never knew Lowmoor iron used without a special
order.

Robert Rettie, of Ham, civil engineer and practical
mechanic, deposed—l have frequently keen on board
the Cricket as a passenger. I have not examined the
exploded boiler. My opinion is, from a model of
the engine and boilers I have seen, that if the quantity
of water in the boiler was not sufficient to cover all
the tubes, the tubes would become overheated, and
would generate steam faster than the valves could
deliver it, and would, thereby cause an explosion.
The listing of the boat would assist in producing such
an effect. The great heating surface would increase
the risk of an explosion. The lifting val ch as
were used in the Cricket, are apt to " gag* then
would not move ; they would • require •-eblow -to
slacken them. If all the' valves had• been tied down
with such spun-yarn as has been describeckl consider
that they would not all have resisted the pressure. I
do not think five-plin spun-yarn would haviOkeld
down the valves till the boiler burst.

By Mr. James—The valves might have been tied
down in such a way as to cause the bursting of the
boiler. I think if the levers were tied down with
three-yarn spun yarn they might resist a pressure
of 3001 b.

Charles Sedge, engineer, of Greenwich —I was
employed by Messrs. Joyce while the engines of the
Cricket were being put on board. During our expe-
rimental trips we proved the boiler, by steam, to a
pressure of 301 b. more than she would ever work at.
'We proved her by hydraulic pressure at 1301 b. 'We
then, by steam, worked her at 801 b. the square inch,
and saw no indication of the boilers giving way. 'We
applied a straight-edge to the front plate, and found
both boilers slightly convex to the extent of a quarter
of an inch. I screwed down Salter's valves to 21b or
31b. above the weight which the other valves would
bear.

Mr. Smith wished to correct an error in his former
evidence, in which he had stated that the present pro.
prietors were Mr. W. Corry, Mr. Alderman Thomp-
son, Mr. W. Forman, and himself. He found that
he had made a mistake in mentioning the names of
Alderman Thompson and Mr. Formats; he found
that their partnership ceased in July last.
Mr. Hearne, juryman, said that Mr. Smith had
first sworn that Alderman Thompson and another
gentleman were partners with himself and Mr. Corry.
The jury ought to be satisfied by some written docu-
ments who were the real proprietors of the boats.
Mr. Smith explained how the circumstances had
arisen. The two gentlemen in question had the op-
tion of retiring from the proprietorship on giving a
certain notice, which he had since found they had
given • so that they had ceased to be co-proprietors in
, July fast. The proprietors of the Cricket steam-boat,
at the time of the explosion, were himself and Mr. 'W.
Corry.
There being no other evidence,
The CORONER then addressed the jury. He said
that, although they had arrived at. the termina-
tion of their labours, their chief duty was now about
to commence ; yet by the patience, intelligence, and
perseverance which they had displayed throughout the
course of this long and arduous inquiry, they had
shown themselves fully qualified for the
ffice which
had devolved upon them. They would none of them
forget the scene which they had witnessed in entering
upon the inquiry, and it was unnecessary to repeat
that they were impanelled to inquire into the
causes of the death of Thomas Shed, John Littleton,
John Blunt, George Shute, and John Buckley. Their
duty was to inquire by what means the death of these
persons had been caused, whether it had been produced
by the criminal act or neglect of any other person,
and if so, by what persons. They would remember
thatif they were not satisfied that the explosion had
been caused by the acts of any one particular indi-
vidual, it would not, therefore; be their duty
to pronounce that it was caused by accident.
They would collect from the evidence generally that
certain highly respectable persons had become the
proprietors of certabl steam-boats. The mere fact of