The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-15 00:00:00

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.

On Monday' we had the pleasure of hearing a most
admirable and scientific lecture on Metallic Poisons, b 3
Mr. limy M. Load, the v. ell known author of several
highly scientific works on natural philosophy thit,
lecture being one of a series on metallic and other
poisons, for the purpose of putting the public in possess-
sion of simple and easily executed methods of ascertain-
ing the presence of such of those virulent poisons as are
frequently met with either from the hand of the mur-
derer or by accident; with which view all the most ap-
proved investigations of modern chemistry are brought
under review, and the actions of the various tests exhi-
bited and explained, with the precautions to be adopted
in their application.
In this lecture the learned gentleman's subject was
mineral poisons, more particularly arsenic, as being the
most important, both from its deadly nature, and from
the facility with' which (unfortunately) it can be ob-
tained.
_Amongst the multitude of valuable facts which were
adduced by the talented lecturer was one which must
atartleace the reader, viz., that no less than 185 deaths took
lin the years 1837 and 1838 from this deleterious
material, and that from this
I lamentable statistical fact
has the properties of the metabeen most diligently.
studied, the researches resulting frlThlvhich invesuagnaii tion present us with information
interesting throughout. The lecture ywas important
ably fdaselivbred ; the manipulations and experiments are such
must do credit to both the lecturer and the establish-
ment.
THE L

ATE FATAL ACCIDENT
OFF THE FAIRY STEAM-BOAT.
I:1, Late last night Mr. J. Payne, the deputy-coroner,
Tavern,
a very interesting inquiry at the Green Man
-Cavern, Darkhouse-lane, Billingsgate, on view of the
body of a remarkably fine young female, aged twenty,
Game unknown, the deceased being supposed to be the
~3". young person who was drowned on Sunday evening last
Southwark-bridge, off the Fairy, a Woolwich steamer,
alitiliiiles(tome brief account of which has already been pub-
WilliamWaterta Arnold, of 12, Water-walk, Greenwich,
deposed that about half-past three o'clock
that (Wednesday) morning he found the body of de-
,,"tsed floating on the surface of the water just by Dutch
ier, and nearly opposite the Custom-house. It was
high Water at the time, and witness rowed up to it and
tiled it on shore. Deceased had no bonnet on, nor
bad she a shawl, but with these exceptions she was
completely attired, having a fine muslin de laine dress on,
tflannel petticoat, a white petticoat, and a pair of
imers, with a brooch in the dregs and two gold ear-
rings. None of the linen was marked so as to lead to
an identification of the body, but the description of the
dressti precisely coincided with the account at the police-
station of the party who was lost on Sunday.
George Arnold, son of the last witness, corroborated
the testimony given above.
City policeman, 166, William Byford, the beadle of
Mary-at-Hill, and James Martin, city police-sergeant
"I, Were examined at considerable length, but none of
theta could give such information as might eventually
lead to an identification, and, after a protracted inves-
Nation,
Mr. PAYNE rmarked, that this inquiry was one of a
bloat
n important character, because, if the deceased were
-"e Person represented to have been lost off the Fairy on
Sunday last, it would seem that her death had arisen
ora one of two causes. viz., that the steamer was so ex-
cessively crowded as to endangn the lives of the public
in such a manner, and which he regretted to say was but
onthe case with the majority of the vessels
~ the Thames; or, on the other hand, deceased may
!laye been pushed over. In the latter instance, it would
be their duty, in common justice, to investigate the
'batter thoroughly; and with regard to the overloading
of steamboats, he (Mr. Payne) considered it of such
Public importance that he was determined the present
e,ase should have a most rigid inquiry, and would, there-
fore, in consequence of the lateness of the hour, sug-
Fen to the jury an adjournment, in the hope that the
"Y would in the interim be identified.

SACRED "HARMONIC SOCIETY.—The second per-.
Tormance of Spohr's s' Fall of Baby ion," conducted by
the composer, takes place at Exeter-hall, to-morrow
rid2y) evening.
ETON COLLEGE CLIAPEL.—The Queen has been
graciously pleased to contribute loot., and Prince Albert
401., towards the restoration of this sacred edifice. The
Queen Dowager and the Duchess of Gloucester have also
subscribed liberally.
Sir Bellingham Graham has been elected Vice-
Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, in the room
of the Marquis of Donegal.
Mr. Rush, the New Minister of the United States
of•Arnerica to the Court of France, has arrived in Paris.
PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE.---A wonderful instance of
providential escape from drowning through the gallant
`oaduct of a clergyman, occurred on Monday week.
about six o'clock on the morning of that day William
Da labourer, residing in the parish of South Pool,
, went down to the Salcombe river to get a boat,
which was moored out in the tide beyond his reach. He
stripped himself, but not being able to swim, he collected
two or three oars, a spar, and gangboard, which he placed
under his chest without lashing them together; then
Paddling with his hands endeavoured to reach the boat.
The moment, however, he got into the run of the tide,
out of his depth, the timbers parted company, and he
Was at once left to his own resources. For a moment or
two he continued above water, but just as he was sink-
ing, for the second time, the Rev. E. L. Davies, of Hot-
Well House, near Kingsbridge, who had arrived at the
spot, plunged into the water with his clothes on, but
before he could reach him the drowning man had disap-
peared. Mr. Davies then took one of the oars which
Ivas floating and pushed it down upon the man, whom he
could see moving to and fro. The poor fellow grasped
it and rose to the surface. Sufficient f
life was left to
enable him to keep his hold till Mr. Davies vainedtrchse
81shore, which he did by towing the man after him.—
West
'LIE MURDER AND SUICIDE AT BERMONDSEY.
sensation which it is impossible to describe, has been
created throughout Bermondsey, since the perpetration
132. the dreadful murder and suicide, in Hickman's Folly;
during yesterday, so great was the crowd in front of
the house in which the tragedy occurred, that the police
Wthere obliged to be kept there on duty. The parents of
e unfortunete young woman are in a state of heart-
r!n,ding distress; and father is obliged to be watched,
:,,Re has several times since attempted to destroy him-
From7.l inquiries made yesterday, it appeared that
4.-q atilda Griffin and Henry Parker had been keeping
company
together for eighteen months or two 3 ears. On
nday night the female went out with a male ac-
raintance to some place of entertainment, without
tta.rker, who, on hearing of it, threatened to do somen.
,!g desperate. On Tuesday, about half•past four, the
itt,`,_ Was sent by her mother up stairs to make the bed,
'fie same time telling her, in the event of Parker com-
ea in, to leave the room, as she did not like his manner
th't day- She went as requested, and it is presumed,
at whilst she was kneeling down, making the bed,
innarker entered the room unobserved, and that he then
pagted the fatal wound. Upon examining the neck of
thr icer, there are no fewer than three gashes in his
biat",t, one of which is very extensive. Mr. Johnson, a
szt.,;ner, who lives opposite, found a letter, which it is
d I", was written by Parker, and which alluded to the
._re,adful affair. It has been handed over to the police,
7luct the contents will not be made public:until the inquest
15 held.
riv
I%TEIV
POUNDLAND PIitODUCE.-11he vessel Dart, ar-
add 11,1 the river from Newfoundland, has hr,,::vht, in
11 to a cargo of oil and other merchandise, the.
18,194 cal skins ; and another vessel,
r3uthia, arrived from the same place, besid-s
e'xtgo of oil, 17,000 of the same kind of skins. These
tetlisive importations of the skin of the seal from the
ri
sh North American province mentioned amply illus-
v'm the abundance of the creature in that district.