The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-09 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. j TERRIFIC EXPLOSION OF FIRE-
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.—The Lords of the Admiralty WORKS IN LAMBETH.
left the George Hotel yestesday morning after break- i Saturday afternoon, shortly after one o'clock, an ex-
fast in their barge, in waiting at the Sallyport stairs in plosion of a fearful character, attended with great
charge of Lieutenant Mills, of the Victory, and landed destruction of property,te workmen, occurred upon the
and it is feared fatal conse-
at the dockyard, the First Lord proceeding to hold his quences to one of the
annual levee at the Royal Naval College, and the Hon. premises belonging to Mr. Darby. Pyrotechnic artist,
Captain Berkeley and Mr. Cowper proceeding to Spit- situate a
steam-frigates, premises in question,
at
N 0.98, Regent-street, Lambeth-walk. The
although little could be seen from'
The following officers had audiences of the First
head to inspect the Amphion and Odin
the street, occupied a considerable space. They ex-
tended from the front dwelling-house nearly 100 feet
Lord :--
back, and were adjoined on either side by numerous
ear-Admirals—Brown and Searle, C.H.C..
workshops and private houses, and when the terrific
Captains—Pasco, Aplin, Pritchard, Gambier, Carter,
force of the explosion is taken into consideration, it is
surpris.ing
than it
work of destruction was not far more
and Waldis.
ye
uhpasonbet
Commanders—Mitchell, Douglass, Sharpe, Prettyman,
Seymour, Johnsoa, Fegen, Oakes, Foster, Westbrook,
jer.. exFternolveintqnuainriietsrmeaaldl
ehne spot the following par-
ticulars were obtained from Mr. Darby, and may there-
Halbrook, Lye, Sadler, Scott, NPLeod, R. Wilcox,
ningham, Twisa, and Morrell.
Lieutenants—Bamber, Hodgkinson, Mills, Brides, fore be relied upon :—lt appears that at the time
Thompson, Wolrige, Turner, Lapige, Sicklmore, 'and
.before stated, a number of the workmen were engaged
in the several compartments of the factory, when on
Stone. a sudden the entire neihbourhood was thrown into a
Surgeon—Acheson. g
Assistant-surgeons—W. Lovey, M.D. ; Saunders, state of confusion by a noise resembling the discharge
M.D.; M.Whinnie, M.D. of artillery. At the same time many of the houses
Messrs.—Moreton and Hayward, R.N. in the immediate vicinity of Regent-street were shaken
Chaplain—Rev. Ross Lewin. to their foundations. The windows and roofs were
From the levee the Earl of Auckland went to the considerably damaged, and in two or three buildings the
King's stairs to receive the Prince Consort, and accom • inmates were hurled from one side of their rooms to the
pang him in his review of the Dock and Victualling- other. At first it was generally believed that some
yard Battalions, after which the Prince expressed to convulsion of nature had taken place, and it is impos-
Rear-Admiral Hyde Parker, C. 8., the Superintendent sible accurately to describe the scene that followed. In
of the Dockyard and Virtual Commandant of the Bat- an instant a thousand or two of rockets shot forth from
talion, his warmest satisfaction at the eminently ser- Mr. Darby's factory high into the air; these were ful-
viceable state of this newly raised force. lowed by sundry other fierce explosions, which had
After the departure of the Prince, the Lords of the barely subsided when volumes of black smoke and large
Admiralty proceeded to Rear Admiral Parker's to lun- sheets of flame were to be seen curling over the roofs of
cheon, after which they inspected the interior of the the surrounding houses. It then became manifest that
Prince Regent, 120, cut down to a 92, on two decks, her the mischief had taken place in Mr. Darby's premises,
hold, &c., being illuminated for the inspection. She is and forthwith an express was dispatched for the assist-
ordered to be fitted for service on Captain Fanshawe ante of the firemen.
Martin's plan. The weather became foul while their With all possible expedition, the parish, West of
Lordships were inspecting this ship, so that they did England, and five of the London Brigade engines,
net extend their inspection of the works in progress in reached the spot, at which time the whole of Mr.
the dockyard further, but left in flys for the George Darby's back premises, with the exception of the powder
Hotel, whence the Earl of Auckland and Captain Henry magazine, were blazing, and so were the workshops ad-
Eden, his secretary, proceeded to Alverstoke to dine joining, belonging to Mr. Dalling, an engineer. Fortu-
with Lord Ashburton, returning to the George to sleep. nately, an abundant supply of water was immediately
The Hon. Mr. Cowper, M.P., the Junior Lord of the obtained from the mains of the Lambeth Company, and
Admiralty, proceeded by the South-Western Railway at the engines were forthwith set to work, under the direc-
the same time, to dine with Viscount Palmerston, at his tion of Mr. Hambleton and Mr. Connorton. Before,
seat at Broadlands ; the other members of the board, however, a drop of water could be thrown upon the
Rear-Admiral Prescott, Lord John Hay, Captain the flames, they had communicated to the front dwelling;
Hon. M. F. F. Berkeley, and Mr. Woolley, together and there is no doubt that, had it not been for the ex-
with Colonel Irvine, Royal Engineers, dined at the traordinary exertions of the firemen, this place would
George, the latter gentleman proceeding afterwards to also have been levelled with the ground. As it is, the
town. whole of the back windows are demolished, and several
of the rooms severely injured by fire. After some time
the firemen got the mastery over the flames, when a
most desolating sight presented itself—the whole of the
work-rooms in the rear, together with a two story store
house, were razed to the ground, and thousands upon
thousands of rocket-cases were to be seen amidst the
ruins.
The total loss is very considerable; it is the opinion of
Mr. Darby that the fireworks alone destroyed were
worth 2,0001. How the disaster occurred is wrapped in
mystery. The general opinion of the workmen is, that
it was occasioned by a workman taking a piece of hot
metal into one of the rooms. That party is so severely
injured as to be obliged to be removed to the Hospital.
Besides the great destruction of property at Mr.
Darby's, the following buildings have sustained damage:
—Garden-place, I, 2,3, 4,5, and 6, window glass de-
molished and roofs of premises severely damaged; Mr.
Dalling, engineer, 97, Regent-street, back of dwelling.
house and workshop severely damaged by fire.
Several of the houses some distance off are also
slightly injured by the shock. It is a most fortunate
circumstance that only an hour or two before the acci-
dent occurred a week's supply of fireworks was sent off
to Vauxhall-gardens.
LATEST PARTICULARS.
Upon making inquiries, yesterday afternoon, it was
ascertained that the young man, John Davis, who was
taken to Guy's Hospital, although seriously injured, is
likely to recover. It was at first thought that he had
inhaled the hot sulphurous vapour emitted from the fire-
works, but it has since been learned that such was not
the case, and it is the opinion of the house surgeon, at
the Hospital, that no fatal consequences need now be
apprehended. Every person who has since visited the
premises have expressed their astonishment at the fire
being so soon extinguished and without any person em-
ployed on the works being killed. Every man at work,
when the explosion took place, had very narrow escapes.
One party, on hearing the discharge, ran out of his
workship and jumped over the yard wall, and it was ex-
ceedingly fortunate that he did, for in less than two
seconds after he had left, the shop was blown into a mis-
shapen mass of ruins. Had it not been for the prompt
attendance of the engines and firemen, and the immediate
supply of water that was furnished by the Lambeth Works,
the whole of the front dwelling-house, together with the
stock therein, would have been levelled with the ground.
When they arrived the fire had extended to the goods in
the back parlour and kitchen, and it was at great per-
sonal risk that the firemen entered the house with their
hose, and by following up the flames, they happily suc-
ceeded in arresting the farther progress of this most
fearful and destructive element. Women and children
who were standing in the contiguous yards, although
surrounded with bricks and rubbish that were hurled
from Mr. Darby's premises, strange as it may appear,
not one of them rezeived any personal injury. Sub-
joined is a copy of the official report of the mischief
done .
Regent-street, Lambeth-walk.-98, Mr. H. W. Darby,
firework-maker ; two workshops and stock in trade
therein destroyed by fire and explosion. Two others
damaged by fire, and windows burned out. Store-rooms
blown down. Back parlour, kitchen, and back front of
dwelling-house severely damaged by fire and explosion.
Several squares of glass broken, and one man injured
and taken to the Hospital. Buildings and contents not
insured. Cause of explosion unknown. Ditto, ditto,
97, Mr. J. Dalling, engineer. About one-third of roof
of workshop destroyed, and contents damaged by water;
a number of squares of glass broken. Ditto, ditto, 96,
E. Perry, private. Window glass in back front broken.
Ditto, ditto, 95, G. Bonewell, similar damage to premises.
The whole of the parties are uninsured.

To-morrow the Board will inspect the whole of the
fleet in ordinary and the dockyard, and give a banquet
in the evening at the George, On Tuesday the Royal
Marines and Coast Guard will be inspected, their Lord-
ships dining afterwards with Colonel Astell, the com-
mandant, and the officers of this division. On Wednes-
day their Lordships will be joined by the chief secretary,
Mr. Ward, M.P., and proceed to the Channel Islands in
the Fire Queen steam-vessel.
Her Majesty having intimated to the Grand Duke
Constantine that an inspection of the Russian squadron
then off Gravesend would afford her much pleasure, the
Grand Duke commanded the squadron to appear at Spit-
head without delay, and yesterday it anchored in these
waters. Her Majesty, with the Lords of the Admiralty,
and the Grand Duke (who will return to this port ex-
pressly for the purpose on Tuesday) will inspect and
review this squadron at Spithead on that day. The force
consists of the Pallas, 52-gun frigate, Captain Moffet ;
the corvette Olivuzza, 20, Captain Sakaroff ; the steam
frigate Krabroi, 280 horse power, Captain Solootzoff,
and a fine cutter tender to the frigate. The squadron is
commanded by Rear-Admiral Count Heyden.
The 52-gun frigate is a fine specimen of naval archi-
tecture as ever carried a pennant, and in magnificent
trim. She is a similar class of vessel to the President,
but not so heavily armed, carrying only 94-pounders
throughout. She is manned with 450 as fine fellows as
any country can produce. The Grand Duke's apart-
ments, under the poop, are superbly yet chastely fitted
up, somewhat in the style of the Victoria and Albert
yacht. Vice-Admiral Liitke's apartments. on the main
deck, are laid out with the most refined yet service-like
taste. The officers' quarters are also most complete,
commodious, and healthy. The fighting quarters are
ample, and, indeed, the entire trim of the ship the very
example of a fine man of war. The corvette is also a
remarkably handsome and healthy ship, mounting
twenty 18-pounders. She is in admirable order for ser-
♦ice. The steamer is a fine vessel of the Geyser class,
and a very good sea boat. She towed the frigate and
corvette together when last in the Baltic, at the rate of
seven knots per hour—a feat no Symondian of her class
could perform. She carries four 68-pounder long guns.
The Grand Duke Constantine will take his departure in
the frigate after the inspection by her Majesty and Prince
Albert.
The Wolf, 18, Commander Vansittart, arrived yester-
day morning at Spithead from the East India and China
station to be paid off, having been nearly five years and
a half in commission. She is in admirable condition,
which is mainly attributable to her first lieutenant (Mr.
Thomas Heard), a highly serviceable officer, who has
served with Captain Sir E. Belcher in the Samarang.
She sailed this day at about 1 P.M. for Plymouth to be
paid off. She brings the latest news from the Cape of
Good Hope, having left Simon's Bay on the 12th of
June, at which data the predatory incursions of the
Kafirs still continued, and Cape Town was nearly de-
serted. The Agincourt, 72, Captain Johnston, flag of
Rear-Admiral Sir T. Cochrane, late Commander-in-
Chief on the East India and China station, bad arrived
in the bay a few days before the Wolf sailed, and would
leave two days after her for England to be paid of 4
touching at St. Helena and Ascension for mails, &c.,
having been relieved in China by the Vernon, 50, flag of
Rear-Admiral Inglefield. The flag-ship President, 50,
Rear-Admiral Dacres, Commander-in-Chief, and the
Brilliant, 22, Captain Watson, were also in Simon's
Bay when the Wolf left. The Rosamond steam-sloop
was at Table Bay: all well.
The Dragon steam-frigate, Captain Hall, arrived at
Spithead yesterday from the river; and it is said—but
we cannot credit it—that she is ready for sea, without
having any defects to make good here.
The Birkehead steam-frigate, Commander Ingram,
left last evening for Dundrnm Bay, with Mr. Bellamy,
the Assistant-Master-Attendant of this Dockyard, and
a party of riggers, to assist in the endeavour to extricate
the Great Britain.
Lieutenant Julius Roberts, R.M.A., has received in-
structions from the Admiralty to place himself in imme-
diate communication with the gun-carriage department
at Woolwich, for the construction of the pivot gun-
carriages and slides for the service, on a very valuable
and improved principle, discovered by him.
The following are the promotions and appointments
of the past week:—

DREADFUL ACCIDENT.

PEXISLES, FRIDAY.—This day having been fixed for
the nomination of the candidates for the representation
of the county, the proceedings commenced at the hust-
ings, which had been erected in front of the Town-ball,
by the Sheriff reading the writ and going through the
usual preliminary formalities. The day being fine, and
there being some excitement regarding the contest, a
large concourse of people had assembled. The hustings
were of unusual height, being made so as to admit of
access from the windows of the Town-hall, which are
twelve feet above the level of the street. Before the
proceedings had begun, Sheriff Napier had ordered and
obtained a report as to their sufficiency. Mr. Mackenzie,
of Portmore, the recent Member for the county, and his
friends, occupied half the hustings on the right hand of
the Sheriff, and Mr. Carmichael, of Stirling, the opposing
candidate, and his friends, the other half. After the
Sheriff had concluded, William Forbes, Esq., of Slipper-
field, proceeded to address the assembly with a view to
propose Mr. Mackenzie. He had scarcely got through
two sentences, when in a moment the joistings
gave way, and the entire flooring of the hustings
became separated from the front and back supporters,
and went down with a fearful crash, bearing the
whole of its occupants to the ground, except Mr.
Forbes and Mr. C. Blyth, who both clung to the front
rail. The table in front, at which two reporters were
seated at an elevation of about six feet from the ground,
was overturned by the shock, and the reporters knocked
over and injured. There were about titty gentlemen on
the hustings when it fell. After they had been extri-
cated from the wreck, it was found that no life was lost,
but that several were severely injured. The following
list contain the names of those most severely hurt, but
many others escaped with slight bruises, and some were
wholly uninjured.

PROMOTIONS.
Lieutenant—L. G. Heath (1840), to the rank of Corn
wander.

Deputy Medical Inspector—Dr. R. Armstrong, of the
Royal Hospital, Plymouth, to the rank of Medical In.
specter, and appointed to that establishment, rice Sir D
J. H. Dickson, M.D., retired.

APPOINTMENTS.
Captains—G. W. C. Courtenay, of the Endymion, to
succeed Captain Sir B. Walker, in command of the Con-
stance, 50; and the Hon. G. F. Hastings, to succeed to
the command of the Endymion; but should Captain
Courtenay prefer remaining in the Eadvmion, Captain
Hastings will proceed to the Pacific, and take the com-
mand of the Constance; J. H. Plumridge, to the Cam-
brian, to succeed Sir H. Blackwood
as Commodore of
the second class of the squadron in India • P. W P.
Wallis, to be Aid-de-Camp to the Queen, ;ice Sir. T.
Fellowes.

Lieutenants—H. Stewart, to the Crocodile, for ser-
vice in the Adventure tender ; and Edward Maxey, to
the Coast Guard, _

Surgeons— W. Folds, to be surgeon of Deronport
Dockyard ; James Wilson, to the Royal Sovereign
yacht, vice Folds ; Dr. John Robertson, to the Caledonia,
♦ice Wilson ; Charles R. Kinnear, to be superintendent
of the Cadet, convict ship ; Hugh T. S. Beveridge, to

LIST OF PERSONS INJURED.
1. W. F. Mackenzie, Esq., of Portmore, bruised in
the shoulder.

the Imaum.
Second Masters—J. Parsons, to the Odin; N. S. Sea-
brooke, to the Antelope, steam-packet.
Mate—John J. Onslow, to the Trincomalee.
Assiitant•Surgeon—James Henry, to the Antelope
Clerks—Alexander Thompson, to the Sidon ; Z.
Slaney, in charge, to the Antelope ; E. A. Rowe, to
Trincomalee; John Burke, to the Amphitrite.
Midshipmen—J. D. M'Crea and George Elliot, to the
Victory; Robert Beaumont, to the Trincomalee.
Naval Cadets—Charles Henry Carpenter, to the Hi
bernia ; Frederick W. Hallowes, to the Trincomalee,
Masters' Assistants—John Rosa Allen, son of Master
Commander Allen, of the Undine yacht, to the Trinco-
snalee ; Charles T. Williamson, to the Fury ; J. E.
Whitehouse, to the Scourge ; Thomas Spencer Hay-
ward, to the San Josef.

2. James Hay Mackenzie, Esq., fracture of the knee-
pan and much bruised.

3. John Erskine, Esq., of Venlaw, bruised in the back.
4. Thomai Horsburgh, Esq., of Pirn, left leg broken.
5. John Veitch, E,q., of Woodside, compound frac-
ture of the tibia, and dislocation of the ancle joint.
Severely hurt.
6. Arthur Burnett, Esq., Sheriff• Substitute, bruised
about the back, and cut about the head.
7. James Robertson, Esq., W.S., several ribs broken.
8. Captain Gray, Innerleithen, severe injury in the
ankle-joint.
9. Lieutenant Colonel Hay, left foot bruised.
10. W. M. Kerr, Esq., of Kerfield, severe bruise of
the back and shoulder.
11. Anthony Nichol, Esq., severely bruised in the

STATUE OS' HussussoN.---The statue of this once
eminnit statesman has at length found a resting place.
Workmen are now employed in digging the foundation
for the monument on the area at the north side of the
Custom House, immediately opposite South Castle-
street, Liverpool. A more appropriate site could not,
we think, have been chosen, being in the centre of our
commercial transactions, and one of the greatest tho-
roughfares in the town. The statue, we believe, is a
metal cast of the marble one by Gibson. The position
of the figure is well suited for an open-air monument,
well defined. The left
I lines boldly and
having al- the hand of the statesman is resting on his right breast,
which is left bare by the draperyiedthruopwonn
tohveerrigthhtehleiptt,
shoulder. The right hand is
the leg being thrown forward. The head
is left bare. When completed, which,it isofcotnhe figuresidered,
it will be a fortnight hence,
it will be a pleasing addition
to that portion of the Revenue-buildings,
and will,
doubtless, tend to the relief of that too dull and heavy
in
ches
high, The figure, which is nine
!feet six
high, will stand upon a base and pedestal,
composed of
granite, nine feet high.—Liverpool Mercury.
DECAY OP BUILDINGS
IN COVENTRT.—S t. Michael's
if a fine old church, of largo size (sittings for 2,500),
much requiring repair and restoration. Externally it is
built of old red sandstone, and every line of the lower
part, especially where the smoke has effect, is obliterated
by decay. This is the case with most of the buildings
in Coventry, and it is greatly to be regretted that in
some cases where restorations are attempted the same
stone is used. Experience does not always teach. St.
Mary's Hall, the meetin..z place of the corporation, and a
,ery curious building, is, like other structures here, in a
miserable state of decay. According to the person i
charge of the hall, " It is not open, but we show it.n"
The Interior of the hall is perpendicular, and has a good
timber roof.—The Builder.

back.
12. Hugh Horatio Brown, Esq., of Newhall, simple
fracture or the leg.
13. John Russell, Esq., Eshiells, severely bruised.
14. Walter Stavart, Burgh officer, severely bruised.
15. Mr. William Macnab, druggist, bruised in the
chest.
16.

Mr. J. Gibson, jun., Lochurd, dislocation of "iris'

joint.
17. Mr. Sirnson Ritchie, Blyth,
sprained ankle joint.
18. Robert S. Grieve, Esq., Edinburgh, bruised
slightly on the back.
Esq., dislocation of shoulder.
20. Dundas Murray,
20. Mr. Drummond, reporter for Witness, injured.
21. Reporter for North British Mail, also injured.
22. Provost Kerr, slightly bruised.
About ten or twelve more are slightly injured, with
sprained ankles, among whom are—Mr. John Mackenzie,
manager, Scottish Widows' Fund ; Mr. George Forbes,
banker; Mr. C. Cowan, M.P.; Mr. Blackwood, writer, &c.
The following escaped without injury:—Mr. Car-
michael, Sir Graham Montgomery, Sir Adam Hay, and
eight or ten others.
After the lapse of some time the nomination was
quietly gone through, and the polling days fixed for
Wednesday and Thursday next.
It is expected to be a very severe contest.

The uneasy feeling observable in the city on Satur-
day morning on the opening of business could hardly
have been exceeded, but it wore off in some degree to-
wards the close of the day, although the tone of affairs
was still discouraging. Consols for Account were first
done at 864 sellers, the Bank returns and the announce.
ment of further failures constituting the reasons for the
depression. They soon, however, improved, and went to
861 to 87, and from this point a purchase of stock for
Tuesday next, on account of the Court of Chancery, sent
1
them up to 87k, at which they closed. For money the
range was from 86
to 861, the last price being 86t.
After the regular hours of business so me time bargains
were effected at a decline of an eighth.

BADGE OF THE "INDEPENDENT" PARTY (?)—The
oak leaf, combined with ears of wheat, will be worn by
*e supporters of Lord Granvie Somerset at the ensuing
sleetion...Monmortthsh: Mtr n,

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVEN

PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
On Saturday night the season at this establishment
was brought to a close. The pieces selected pre-
sented no novelty beyond their being recognised as
favourite dramas, and consisted of—A Curious Case,
Used up, He would be an Actor, and the last new
farce, entitled Early Closing. Mr. Charles Mathews
exhibited his accustomed excellence in the character
of Mr. Twiggleton, Sir Charles Coldstream, and
Motley. At the conclusion of the drama of Used Up,
Mr. Maddox, the lessee, appeared before the curtain,
and delivered the subjoined address. It should be
observed that the house was well filled, and at half-
price might be fairly termed overflowing:—
, Ladies and Gentlemen,—After having, with the
exception of a vacation of ten days, kept open house
continually for two and twenty months, I, thanks to
your kind patronage, bring my season, for the seventh
time, to a successful termination. My expenditure
has been great, but your , generous support has not
only enabled me to reimburse myself, but has given
me a fair margin of profit into the bargain. Ido
not, ladies and gentlemen, make so unwise a boast as
to say that, ' This is the only theatre in which the
legitimate drama has found a refuge '—or hazard so
unfounded an assertion as that, ' even when Shaks-
pere speaks, it is to scanty audiences ;' on the con-
trary, Shakspere does speak here, has spoken here to
anything but ' scanty audiences,' as crowded audi-
ences, and my pocket can testify.
" Ladies and Gentlemen—l think that we are as
' legitimate' as anybody. Mr. Macready and Mrs.
Butler are ' legitimate,' lawful children—true repre-
sentatives of our divine bard. And is not the talented
Miss Cushman—whom I first had the honour of in-
troducing to a British public—' legitimate,' too ?
And, by the way, I am proud to tell you that I have
formed an engagement with that lady to appear in
Shaksperian plays, in conjunction with Mr. Mac-
ready, on the opening of our next campaign. If that
be not ' legitimate,' I know not what is.
" Ladies and Gentlemen—After all, the true test of
public opinion is well filled benches, such as I now
see around me, and the very first season that, in
making up my accounts, I find that I am a loser, I
shall think ' there is something rotten in the state of
Denmark,' and that my mode of catering for your
amusement is unpalateable ; but until that time ar-
rives I shall pursue my present course, exerting all
my energies to please, to give you every satisfaction ;
and, when I issue my programme for the forthcoming
season, I feel convinced that the important engage-
ments it will announce will secure a continuance of
your kind patronage. For the unvarying success
which has attended my labours as lessee of this the-
atre, I beg to tender you my most sincere thanks ;
and, furling the banner of the Princess's, for a few
weeks, in the name of myself and the ladies and gen-
tlemen of this establishment, I most gratefully and
respectfully bid you farewell."
The Grand Duke Constantine and suite, the Rus-
sian Admiral, and Count Orloff, occupied two private
boxes during the evening.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Aug. 7.
A bankrupt, named Vander Vyer, a merchant in
Crutehed-friars, applied for his certificate. He had
been in business three years, and owed about 3,500!.,
with nothing for his creditors. He was opposed on the
part of three French houses and one American house.
The complaint was, that when he was in embarrassed
circumstances he had obtained clover-seed and linseed
cakes to about 2,000/. from his foreign creditors, on
which he had raised money, and had only made pay-
ment to elle house, in order to obtain other goods. It
appeared that all the capital the bankrupt possessed
when he commenced business was 153/. It was urged
against him that he had cheated the foreign houses, and
that the interests of commerce required that his certifi-
cate should be refused.

On the part of the bankrupt it was admitted that it
was a case for a suspension. The inexperience of the
bankrupt (22 when he embarked as a merchant) was
relied upon in mitigation.
Mr. Commissioner lioLnorD said he had serious
doubts about refusing the certificate. Almost a robbery
had been committed, and the excuse offered would not
avail. As it was, the case required a long suspension,
and his judgment was, that the certificate be suspended
from the present occasion, without protection, for a
period of three years.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—lVarteirk, August 7.
CROWN COUR r.—(Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.)
MURDER AT BIRMINGHAM.—Peter Leonard, a man
aged about 43, was placed at the bar charged with the
wilful murder of Margaret Leonard, his wife, on the
14th of May last.
Mr. WILLMORE stated very briefly the case to the
jury, and then called the following witnesses:—
Helena Ball—l am the wife of Jonathan Ball, of
Lock-street, Birmingham. Knew the wife of the pri-
soner, and knew the prisoner and his wife for twelve
months. They lived in Tanter-street, and were un-
happy together. I have seen him kick her several times
since March. On the Wednesday before the event oc-
curred I was going to see my father in-law, who liveditwo
doors past their house, when I heard the prisoner call
his wife very bad names, and say he would finish her
before the week was out. On the Friday after that, and
the day before the event occurred, I heard the prisoner
and his wife quarrelling, and he calling her bad names.
Mary May—l live at 34, Tanter-street, and have
known the prisoner and his wife for three years, having
lived opposite for that time. They lived quietly to-
grther except. when they were tipsy. On the Bth of
May, about half-past seven in the morning, I saw the
prisoner and deceased go into their house as I sat at
the window. They appeared to be intoxicated, and
were staggering as they walked along. They went into
the house and shut the door. My window was open,
and after they got in I heard the prisoner cursing and
calling the deceased bad names. He said, " Get out, you
—; get me some coals, and make me some breakfast."
She answered, " I will Peter." This was all I heard.
About ten minutes past eight o'clock the prisoner came
to my door, while Mrs. Forty was with me. The street
is very narrow. He said, " Will you come over to my
house, and get Margaret out of the cellar? I have shoved
her down there; but passion is the devil." Mrs. Forty
and I went over directly. Upon going into the house
the first thing we saw was a large pool of congealed
blood on the kitchen floor, about a pint. The cellar door
was shut. I opened it, and Mrs. Forty and I went down,
but could see nothing till we got a light. We then saw
the deceased lying with her two feet on the two lowest
steps and her body stretched out, and her head doubled
up under her right shoulder. Her face was covered with
congealed blood, and there were also pools of blood on
the cellar floor. We asked the prisoner to come and help
her up, but he said, " No; let the —devil lie and die."
He sat on the chair by the door while we carried the de-
ceased up. He seemed soberer then than when he came
home. Mrs. Forty washed the blood off deceased's face,
and we got it off the floor. The deceased was insensible
all the while, and the blood was flowing from her ears.
I then asked the prisoner if he would let her have some-
thing to put under her head, as she was groaning heavily.
He said, " No;" and when they asked if they should
put her to bed, he said, " No; let the be. If she
don't stop her grunting, I will give her as much as I have
given her already." He then went up stairs, and on
hearing them talk of sending for a doctor. he came
down. One of us then went for Mr. Bunn, the surgeon,
who ordered the deceased to be put to bed. I then went
home and did not see her till next day, when the de-
ceased was ordered by the club doctor, Mr. Kemp, to
be taken to the hospital, as she was still insensible.
The prisoner said he had no money ; but Mr. Kemp
lent him some money. A car was fetched, and Mr.
Kemp took the deceased to the hospital, the prisoner re •
maining at home.
Mrs. Forty was then examined, and gave evidence
substantially similar to that of the preceding witness.
John Taylor—l live in No. 4 court, Tanter-street, in
the house adjoining that of the prisoner. We can hear
in one house what is going on in the other. Between
seven and eight, on the Bth, I heard the prisoner say—
"lf you don't get up, you —, knock your brains
out. I'll murder you." He repeated these words a time
or two, when she said, " Peter, don't murder me—don't
murder me, Peter ;" and he said, "So help me God I
will if you don't get up." In about a minute I heard the
woman tumbled down the cellar, the door slammed, and
the prisoner say, "Lie there you -." The woman
groaned once. That was all I heard.
James Hyades—l live at 19, Souter-street. I knew
the deceased and the prisoner. Between seven and eight
o'clock on the Bth of May, as I was coming up the pri-
soner's entry to my work, I heard loud talking in the
house between the prisoner and his wife. I went and
peeped through the keyhole, and saw the deceased lying
on the floor and bleeding from the mouth. She was
saying, "Peter, Peter, don't kill me !" and he said,
"Yes, I will, you ! Get up and fetch me some coal
to make a fire, and get me some breakfast." I then went
" Get up, you —,
saying.
"Peter, Peter,"
she oor.
to the window. The curtains were drawn on each side,
and I saw the prisoner stand over the deceased with a
getdi n I 1
useapri•l n
,fsel
ohiten
mwheai
was lying
getl
yh iaunnpgd:oannd
the
11 fetch you some coal."
She then sat up on the floor. The prisoner was behind
her, and ho put his arm round her neck, and lifted her
on her feet. She then went towards the cellar, and
reeled against the pantry-door, the prisoner pushing her
behind. He then gave her a push On getting to the
cellar door, and pushed her down. He then shut the
door, and said, "Lie there, you
I then told what
I had seen to my aunt.
Mr. MACAULEY then addressed the jury on behalf of
the prisoner. He proceeded to say that he was not
there to say that a grievous offence had not been com-
mitted; but that he bad no doubt that the jury would
e might be, and however
amenable find that the prisoner had not been guilty of the capital
crime,
culpable
punishment
which manslaughter de
served. He then commented on the evidence, showing
that it was rather improbable that any man who wished
alhlhe eroevtehre
to commit a murder would do so in the midst of a nu
merous population, and with every act open to the eye-
of any man who might choose to look; and that the
prisoner's conduct, although undoubtedly brutal, was
nothing more than usual, and was no evidence whatever
of the intention of the prisoner to do fatal injurie,
to his wife. He then called two witnesses; the first,
named
James Brookes, who keeps a coffee-shop in Tenter-
street, said he knew the prisoner and his wife for more
than eleven years. There " were not better people on
earth " than the prisoner and his wife when they were
.ober. He never lifted up a hand to touch her. Mrs
Brookes, the wife of the last witness, gave similar evi-
dence.
HIS LORDSHIP charged the jury. If they believed
that he did push her down stairs with the intention of
killing, then they must bring in a verdict of murder. If
they had any doubt as to the last supposition, they would
give it to the prisoner, and bring in a verdict finding him
guilty of manslaughter.
The jury, after consulting for a few minutes, brought
in a verdict of Manslaughter.
His LORDSHIP then, after a most impressive address,
sentenced the prisoner to be transported for the term 01
his natural life.
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Lord DENMAN and a Special
Jury.)
LONDON V. DALE.—RAILWAY LIABILITIES.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a civil
engineer, against the defendant, an independent gentle-
man, residing at Cheltenham (the chairman of the pro-
visional committee of the projected Trent Valley Conti
nuation Railway), to recover upwards of 7501. for work
and labour done.
Mr. Whitehurst, Mr. Humfrey, and Mr. Heyes were
counsel for the plaintiff ; Mr. Waddington and Mr.
Barlow for the defendant.

The principal witness called was Mr. John Smith.
solicitor, of Birmingham, who deposed that he was solici-
tor to the company, and that by order of the provisional
committee, of which the defendant was the chairman, he
made an engagement with the plaintiff to take a survey
of the line at the rate of 301. per mile. The survey war
made, and the maps duly prepared. Mr. Smith admitted
that he had himself a bill against the company, and that
he had adddressed a letter of demand against every
member, the defendant amongst the rest.
Lord DENMAN, in summing up, thought the case an
extremely clear one. The order was given by the de-
fendant, as the chairman of a small body, of which eacti
member was equally liable. It was a fallacious idea to
suppose that there was any particular hardship in a plain-
tiff °electing any one particular individual as responsiblefor the debt
Owin to him, as it was the duty of every
person entering into such undertakings to see than
his colleagues were equally competent and respon-
sible with himself. The best way, in his opinion, for
parties when they found the speculation in which they
embarked was unsuccessful, was to meet together and
come to some equitable settlement; but if they did not
do so, persons claimings
for the enforcement of the claim.
against them had a perfect right
to adopt any legal mean
The plaintiff in this case could make any of the members
of the committee who acted with him contribute to the
loss which he sustained.
Verdict for the plaintiff for the full amount sought to
be recovered.

ETIIELL V. MEREDITIL—RREACH OF PROMISE OF
MARRIAGE.
, This was an action brought to recover compensation in
damages for a breach of promise of marriage.
Mr. MILLER opened the pleadings.
Mr. WIIITERURST, in stating the case to the jury,
said the plaintiff, Mr. Stephen Ethel!, was an upholsterer
and dealer in furniture, carrying on business in Ann-
street, Birmingham, and the defendant, a lady, residing
with her brother in the village of Yardley, near that
town. The action was brought to recover da-
mages for breaking promise of
marriage with-
out any reason being assigned for the non-fulfilment
of her engagement. The parties were not acquainted
with each other until the July of last year,
when ,an intimacy was formed at the house of Mr.
Thomas Ethel], a nephew of the plaintiff. Mr. Stephen