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

MININIMENI•
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 have
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 net. 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. I
did not like to be called names.—(A laugh.) The
machinery worked well during the time I was in the
Cricket.

By Mr. APlntyre—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 sometimes
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 Adeiphi. 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 as 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 ... 221
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels ... ... 29
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion... •.. 106
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. ..• 1 4
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles ... 12
Diseases of the Skin, 84c. ... ••• ••• 3
Old Age, or Natural Decay ... ••• ... 52
Deaths by Violence, Privation, or Intemperance ... 49
Causes not specified ... ..• •.• ... 2
DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES ...

Population
Enumerated,
1841.
West Districts... 301,326
North Districts.. 376,396
Central Districts 374,759
East Districts ... 393,247
South Districts .. 502,483

Totals... ..... 1,948,2 U
Males ... ...
Females ... ...

Males
Females

1,169

Avcrage weekly Deaths
Deaths, 1842-6. in the
Five Summers. Week.
137 ... 149
, 175 ... 208
173 ... 211
212 ... 290
, 244 ... 311

... 1,169

Total

... 595
... 574

BIRTHS IN THE WEEIi.

... 1,162

BANK OF ENGLAND.
Yesterday a special general Court of Proprietors
was held to ballot for or against the resolution of the
last meeting for an increase in the dividend to 4 per
cent. for the current half-year. The Court was for-
mallyopened, the Governor, the Deputy Governor, and
some of the directors being present, at eleven o'clock.
At four o'clock the glasses were closed, the scru-
tineers retired, and on their return reported that the
question bad been decided in the affirmative, that the
said dividend should be paid, out of interest and
profits, without any deduction on account of income-
tax. The minutes were read, and the Court on the
question was adjourned. In the report of the scruti-
neers it was not stated how many of the proprietors
voted on the present occasion.

Dallor.ultg othbeines.oasAt;
A Freehold Marine Villa, of a most attractive
it is appointed in the most perfect style, and we have no
md eosrceripti on,
temptingis astibnooduen
ic.seduottot
ob be by lfdo
übuyd
doubt immediately it becomes known many competitors
will be in the field.
A NEW SCANDAL.—There has been a terrible
rumour in our literary salons for the last few days of
of
6,0
nocertaino
the approaching publication of sundry accusations, to be
than
b been
all,
lnl, corrobcrated by proofs and facts, of the unlawful sale of
sold personage.
has
beenro u
Timbertnationalheto
t heprvoapleurety, b 3- a
doo f exalted
. :o worse has
the forests of the Crown ; and,
sold to the English Government for the use of the navy.
The exalted personage, when apprised of the publicity
about to be given to the damning accusation, merely ex-
claimed in some surprise, " Ah, bah! where do they
think the money for all the embellishments and decora-
tions of Versailles is to come from? They surely
cannot expect that we should pay for them from our own
pockets." However the publication will cause regret to
all parties; it will be the last kick given to that Govern.
meat, which, according to the offensive article in the
Democratic racjfique, will not be overthrown by a
sudden commotion, nor yet crumble to decay, but will
most assuredly, sink and be stifled in the filthy mire of its
own corruption.—Atlas.
DIE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.—The month of Oc-
tober, 1847, is near at hand, the period named by Capt.
Sir John Franklin when intelligence might be expected
s e
anloewd
expect relative to the officers and crews of the Erebus and
Terror steam screw-propeller vessels,
employed in the
Arctic
t o
expedition
meet
with some
of h
; andcaptaitnse ofvess
mayhermetically
vessels
s
tin tubes, containing accounts of the vessels written in
six different languages, which were to be thrown over-
board at certain periuds, in the hop that some of them
might be picked up by vessels navigating the North
Seas.

INTREPID CONDUCT REWARDED. -- CHATHAM,
SEPT. 21.—This morning the Royal Sappers and Miners
at this garrison assembled in the parade ground in
Brompton barracks, and, on being formed into a square,
Captain Robinson of the Royal Engineers called out
from the ranks into the centre John Peat, John Coving-
ton, and Patrick Coney, privates of the 15th company of
the Royal Sappers and Miners, when Captain Robinson
addressed Private Peat, stating that by order of Colonel
Sir F. Smith, of the Royal Engineers,
he with
great pleasure and satisfaction now presented him, in the
presence of his comrades, with a bronzed medal which
had been received for him from the Royal Humane So-
ciety, for his intrepid conduct in saving the hves of two
artillerymen from drowning on the 31st of May last in
St. Mary's Creek. The medal was enclosed in a mo-
rocco purple case with an inscription in gold. The
Captain tionlfclo7l2ed them
Covington and Coney that he with
much
that their conduct on that
occasion
praiseworthy, that for their humane and
pleasure then
was
good conduct a report of them would be forwarded to
the Inspector-General of fortifications, which no doubt
would lead to their promotion. Lieutenant J. Liddell,
of the Royal Engineers, who on that occasion threw off
his sword and sash and plunged into the river, and,
with the assistance of private Peat succeeded in saving
the two artillerymen, has received a very flattering
address, written on vellum in gold, from the Royal Hu-
mane Society.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Camden during
the past week received a large family circle at the
Wilderness,' near. Sevenoaks,lKent, :the; Bishop of Ro-
chester and Lady Sarah Murray and the Misses Murray,
Lady Georgiana Pratt, &c., being among the guests.
On Thursday last the infant son of the Noble Marquis
and Marchioness was christened at Seal Church.

YARMOUTH.—It i; confidently stated by the friends
of Mr. Goldsmid that they entertain no doubt respecting
the probable success of the petition against the return of.
the sitting Members. It is.a prevalent opinionamt Lord
Lennox will retire at once•.-.ot4ry,