The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-23 00:00:00

would not act. I used to say, Look to that valve
and attend to it. I never gave Edwards any instruc-
tions about fastening the valve. I have seen him turn
the rope round the nail in the beam, but not so tight
as to prevent the valve from working. I have fre-
quently tried the rope after it had been twisted round
the nail to see that it was loose enough to allow the
valve to work. I always gave as much play or space
as I considered necessary. I did not wish to hate
too much noise, or consume an unnecessary quantity
of fuel. The valves of the Ant and Bee are constantly
tied down, but the action is different to those of the
Cricket, as they worked by pullies, and the Cricket's
did not. I believe there is a mode of screwing down
the spring balance. When the valves were shook the
ropes were tied; sometimes that was when the vessel
was on her voyage, and sometimes when she was
lying at the pier. I was never charged at the Fox-
under-the-Hill with tying the valves. If any one has
stated so it is false. Messrs. Smith and Poletti men.
tioned to me about tying the ropes, and then the sub-
ject dropped. I discharged Edwards on the next
morning ; it was for calling me names ; it was not
for his telling any one that the valves were tied.
did not like to be called names.—(A laugh.) The
machinery worked well during the time I was in the
Cricket.

By Mr. M'lntyre—l_had a stoker in the Cricket
named Peter. I used at times to entrust him with
the driving of the engine. The steam would blow off
when the gauge was 27. The ropes were sometime&
untied during the voyage. Peter could work the en-
gines when I first employed him. I could see by his
action that he had been used to steam machinery.
Knight followed Peter as stoker. When the ropes
were not tied down by Edwards or Knight, I some-
times tied them myself, but they were not tied so
tight as to prevent the valves from biting. I remember
Mr. Meecham ordering the ropes to be cut away. I
said that I was put there to mind the vessel, but I
never said Mr. Meecham or Mr. Smith may say what
they please, the rope shall remain. Knight told me
that Mr. Meecham had seen the valves tied fast down,.
I said to him, "If that was so, you must have done
it." Mr. Meecham never told me to ask the stoker
whether he (Mr. M.) had not found the valves tied
fast down.

By the jury—l never noticed the boat " listing"
when on her voyage. She only " listed" when at the
pier. I never heard of the boat taking fire, and all
the passengers taking refuge at the Adelphi. I never
heard of such a thing. I am at present in the employ
of the Ant and Bee Company. I receive the same
wages es I did before the accident. lam generally
employed on repairs. I only saw Mr. Dukes, the
solicitor to the company, once on this business. I
then underwent a sort of examination. Mr. Dukes
asked my opinion as to what was the cause of the ac-
cident, and I told him the same as I have stated to.
day, viz., that the boat " listed." The ropes were let
quite loose at night.
By Mr. Le Breton—All valves are liable to stick,
and at times require shaking. The rope, although
twisted round a nail in the beam, was never tied so as
to fasten the valve or stop its action. Knight was
stoker on the Cricket about three weeks.

By Mr. James—l never drove a vessel which had
ropes attached to the lever and the valves like those
in the Cricket. I have driven the Echo and Minerva,
and other boats, but they had not similar strings to
those used in the Cricket. The rope was never tied
by myself, it was only twisted round a nail by the
stoker. It was always sufficiently loose to let the
steam escape freely.;
At the conclusion of this witness's examination, at
half-past five o'clock, the CORONER said it would
be impossible to get through the inquiry that day,
and therefore, perhaps, it would be as well then to
adjourn.
After a short conversation, the inquest was again
adjourned until ten o'clock on Friday morning next.
The room was densely crowded during the pro•
ceedings, which appeared to excite great interest.

MORTALITY in the METROPOLIS.

NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED IN
THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, SEPT. 18, 1847.
Epidemic, Endemic, and Contagious Diseases ... 383
Diseases of Uncertain Seat ... 132

Diseases of the Brain, Nerves, and Senses... ... 157
Diseases of the Lungs, and other Organs of
Respiration ...
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ... 29
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion... 106
Diseases of the Kidneys, &e.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &C. ..• ••• 14
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles 12
Diseases of the Skin, &c. ••• ••• ••• 3
Old Age, or Natural Decay ... ••• ••• 52
Deaths by Violence, Privation, or Intemperance ... 49
Causes not specified ... 2