The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-28 00:00:00

7 COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

liie first anniversary tanner or tins truly exceliem
society, the object of which is to clothe, maintain,
and educate the orphans of deceased, and the children
of necessitous commercial travellers, was celebrated
last evening, at the London Tavern, under the
auspices of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor. Con-
siderably more than 400 sat down to dinner, which,
notwithstanding the unusual number who congre-
gated to do honour to the institution, was served in
Messrs. Bathe and Breach's best style; in fact, the
large room--large enough one would imagine to ae-
commodate any number of persons who might feel
disposed to congregate on one occasion within its
walls—was insufficient for the entertainment of so
vast a number, and an adjoining room was called
into requisition, and afforded accommodation to up-
wards of 60 gentlemen, who, we may add, subse-
quently found seats in the large room.
Amongst those present we observed Mr. Sheriff
Cubitt, John Masterman, M.P. • Moffatt, M.P.;
Thomas Sidney, Alderman, M.P. ' • David Wad-
dington, M.P. ; Alderman Challis ; George Moore
(Treasurer) ; R. Clarke; R. Groucock, Esq. ; R.
Clarke, Esq.; J. Mercer, jun., Esq.; William Ni-
cholson, R. M. Phillips, James Walsh, Esq.; M.
Wicking, Robert Wilcoxon, J. R. Cuffley, J. D.
Carter, Thomas Roberts, S. Boothe. and the Rev.
Pelham Dale.

Non Nobis Domine having been chanted, and the
usual loyal toasts responded to with the customary
enthusiasm,
The LORD MAYOR rose to propose the toast of the
evening. In doing so he said—Gentlemen, you are
requested to charge your glasses, in order that you
may drink a bumper toast; for the toast I am about
to give you is deservedly the toast of the evening. It
is one, I am sure, that cannot fail to afford the greatest
gratification to all who have assembled here to-night.
—(Hear.) I shall not, gentlemen, detain you for one
moment—l shall not take up your time in entering
at length into my own opinion of the institution
which we have met to do honour to.— (Hear.) Such
a task would be useless, because I see assembled
around me so numerous, so respectable a company—
a company who have come here prepared, I am satis-
fied, to do honour to the purpose for which we have
met, and who, from the zeal which they have
manifested in support of the institution, must be well
acquainted with its history and its wants.—(Hear.)
So well are you acquainted with these matters, that
however eloquently I might enlarge upon them, my
influence, I feel, would not weigh one iota in the scale,
because as it is poised it inclines towards the institu-
tion.—(Hear.) I have been within the last few
hours looking at a little treatise which heralds the
rise and progress of the institution; and I confess I
have been greatly surprised in my own mind at the
efforts which have been made by its supporters—
efforts of so great, so good, so Christian a character—
so well directed, and appeals so enthusiastically
responded to, that their result has perfectly surprised
me ; for let it be borne in mind that they were
begun, continued, and carried out to the extent you
now behold, within the short space of two years.—
(Cheers.) I confess that my surprise was great that
so much had been done; but, gentlemen, when I look
round this room and behold the vast numbers as-
sembled—and further, when I know that there is a
very large company outside this room unable to get
admittance, merely because it is not sufficiently large
—(Cheers)—l repeat, that I am not surprised.—
(Continued cheering.) My surprise no longer exists,
and, though its progress has been great and steady
in the past, I am convinced that nothing can stop the
progress of any institution—more especially an insti-
tution like this—when I know it has so many warm and
enthusiastic supporters.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, allow
me to say that you could not, by any possibility,
have assembled to promote a more praiseworthy
cause—(Renewed cheering)—as it embraces in every
point of view charity of the highest and holiest kind.
If you look, gentlemen, at the necessity of such an
institution, and consider for a moment the condition
of those whom it nurtures, if it had not extended
them a helping hand—if you look at the comforts
which it bestows, you cannot fail, I am persuaded, to
feel the utmost consolation at being instrumental
in promoting so good a work.—(Loud cheers.)
I am quite satisfied, therefore, that it needs
no eloquence—it needs no rhetoric—it needs no
power of language to advocate with success the
benefits of this institution, the anniversary of whose
establishment we have congregated to celebrate.—
(Hear, hear.) It needs, I may say further, nothing
on my part to recommend it to your warmest sym-
pathies and your cordial support.—(Hear.) The
institution, gentlemen, is but in its second year, and
already thirty children are clothed, educated,
and maintained, and before sunset to-morrow the
society will have earned the proud boast—and a proud
one it is—of having provided in the same way for
35 children. Thirty-five children, you may say, have
already been fostered by the institution !—(Loud
cheers.) What a stimulus this is for you to continue
your exertions in its behalf, and let me trust that that
feeling of charity which is truly said to expand the
more it is indulged in—that that charity which
begets charity, and leads us, the more we do,
to feel disposed to do still more, may be ex-
emplified to the letter in this institution.—(Applause.)
Some extensive donations have already been given
and it is my duty to tell you that these subscriptions'
will be devoted to a particular purpose, and I wish
especially to impress this fact upon your minds,
because I feel that it cannot fail to be a great induce-
ment to you to promote this great cause among your
friends. It is very desirable, gentlemen, that the
building which has been engaged for the reception of
the children should be purchased—(Loud cheers)—
and therefore it is very necessary to raise a fund to effect
that object. It is also most desirable to still further
augment the means of the institution, in order that
it may afford an asylum for all the orphans of
commercial travellers who may be driven to need
its aid. Your enthusiasm in the cause amply demon-
strate that your zeal in such good service will not
cool, and that you will lose no opportunity of induc-
ing your friends and others to aid your labours, so that
the school may be placed on a secure and broad foot-
ing.—(Hear.) The support which you have given
it, and the zeal which you have evinced, convinces
me that in promoting the objects of the institution
you feel as you do after obtaining a good customer
who has given you a large order.—(Laughter and
cheers). Gentlemen, I want you to consider this
institution an order of the right sort—an order that
shall be registered in that ledger in which we are
all solicitous to have a good place.—(Loud cheers.) I
think I have said enough to win your sympathies
towards this institution.—(Cries of "No, no.") I am
persuaded that I have done so. Let us, in conclu-
sion, gentlemen, put our shoulders to the wheel, and
by our united efforts this evening and elsewhere
accomplish a great work, the effects of which will
be felt in ages yet to come.—(Cheers.) I call uppn
you to drink " Prosperity and long life to the
Commercial Travellers' School." Lung may it pros-
per; may it increase in power year after year, and
thereby be enabled to afford the children of the
necessitous commercial traveller succour in the hour
of their distress.

The toast was drank with the utmost enthusiasm,
and the children who had been introduced into the
gallery, and who looked extremely well, sang some
pretty lines, written for the occasion by Mr. J. B.
Walker.
Mr. MASTBRMAN, M.P., proposed the health of the
Lord Mayor. His Lordship had received at the hands
of his fellow-citizens the highest honours which it
was in their power to give. That fact alone was
sufficient to commend him to them ; but the way in
which he had proposed the toast of the evening, and
the charitable sentiments he had enunciated must
have endeared him still more to them. It gave him
the greatest gratification to see the chair so well filled,
and he felt, therefore, the most unfeigned pleasure in
proposing his Lordship's health.
The toast was warmly responded to, like the last.
The LORD MAYOR returned thanks. He trusted that
the proceedings of the evening would stimulate those
who had taken a part in them to increased exertions.
He should, in that case, feel the utmost happiness at
having presided at the first anniversary, and contri-
buted, in however small a degree, to that prosperity
which be confidently looked forward to.—(Cheers.)
Glee—" The though and crow."
The LORD MAYOR proposed the
__health of the

president, John Masterman, Esq., M.P. If he were
disposed to envy any man, he should envy the repu-
tation of his Hon. Friend. Few, whether resident in
or out of the City had not heard of his good name ; and
it was a source of much gratification to be enabled
there to state that his fellow-citizens esteemed him
as the best of men.—(Cheers.) He might differ
with him in political matters, but he could not with-
hold from him his meed of praise.—(Hear.)
The toast was well received.
Mr. MASTERAIAN, M.P., returned thanks. He had
not accepted the onerous office of president without
reluctance, as he considered there were many
men in the City more eligible for the post than he
was, but he yielded to the solicitations of the friends
of the institution, and did not regret now that ha
had done so, when he looked at the almost unexam-
pled success of the institution. He should leave
nothing undone to:promote the prosperity of the in-
stitution.
A GENTLEMAN at the end of the room here rose
and said he had been intrusted with the sum of 2001.
for presentation to the institution. The late Mrs. Beau-
ty had intended to present that amount, but she did not
live to accomplish her benevolent intentions. Her
husband felt bound to carry out her intention, and
had instructed him to present the sum he had
named.—(Loud cheers, and cries of " Long life to
him.")_

Mr: DAVID WADDINGTON, M.P., proposed " The

FLOODS IN THE TAY, &c.—SHIP

WRECKS IN THE NORTH.
We regret to say that Perth was again inundated
by a rise in the Tay, on Saturday last, nearly to an
equal extent as by the flood in October, and exceed-
ing that of the preceeding week by several feet. The
weather was very rainy and boisterous on Thurs-
day and Friday last, accompanied by violent gales
from the westward ; and in the course of forty-
eight hours nearly for inches of rain fell. In the
Highlands the fall was still greater, and as a strong
westerly wind always increases the flood in rivers
whose sources are in lochs lying east and west, which
is the case with all those in the Perthshire Highlands,
the Tay on Friday evening began to rise rapidly, and
towards morning it overflowed both Inches, and made
considerable inroads into the lower streets of the
town. The North Port, as usual, was the first to be
laid under water, and by nine o'clock it reached to
the window soles of the shops. The inmates had
previously removed most of their goods and furniture,
but !great confusion nevertheless prevailed. At
Whitehouse, Athole-place, and Rose-terrace, and
Barossa-place, the sunk areas were in most cases two
or three feet under water. The Muirton farms were
nearly all inundated, the Tay being about a mile
broad opposite Scone Palace. Along the banks of
the Tay and the Earn, large quantities of farm pro-
duce were observed floating down both streams all
Friday and Saturday, and many stack-yards were
under water both days.
The Ericht and Isla were again flooled to an equal
extent as at the great inundation in October. At
Blairgowrie, the bridge, which was in the course of
rebuilding, having been carried off on the last occa-
sion, was considerably injured; the wooden centre
upon which the main arch was to rest was entirely
swept away, although composed of the heaviest
material. The temporary wooden bridges over the
Isla, Ardle, and Keith, were also demolished in most
cases ; and various bleaching fields covered with the
debris from the river. The flax spinning mills have
sustained little damage, the injury being chiefly
confined to watercourses.

Along Strathtay, Strathtummell, and Strathgarry,
the respective haughs are much flooded, an d at Bal-
lechin a scare or two of sheep were drowned. A
good many sheep were drawn out of the Tay at
Dunkeld, and it is feared there will be few restored
to the owners. The bridges in the Highlands, along
the principal roads, have fortunately all stood. In
Strathtay the river rose higher than in the memory of
the oldest inhabitant, and at the confluence of the
Lyon and Tay the valley extending from `'Deem
Rock to Aberfeldy had the appearance of an immense
lake.—Perth Courier.

ABERDEEN, DEC. 22.—Our coast has again bee n
visited by a violent and protracted hurricane,
which, we regret to say, has been attended with ship-
wreck and lamentable loss of life. Towards the
afternoon of Friday last, rain began to fall, and the
wind to blow rather heavily from south by
east. By midnight, the wind had increased to a
perfect hurricane, with torrents of rain, and a raging
surf. In this state the weather continued throughout
the whole of Saturday, the fury of the elements
not subsiding until the afternoon of Sunday.
In the evening of that day there was again some
rain, but towards midnight the atmosphere again
cleared up, with bright moonlight. The rivers Dee
and Don were very much flooded, the " speat" in the
former being reported to have risen to between two
and three feet of its greatest height in the memorable
flood of leg. A great deal of timber was swept
down the Dee, but did no material damage about
the harbour. The piers of the intended railway
bridge at Polmuir, we are glad to observe, were
left unseated by the torrent, though in an unfinished
state. We regret deeply to learn, that several
vessels have been wrecked along this coast, and that
the Rontho brig, Captain Main, belonging to this
port, was totally wrecked in the South Bay of Peter-
head, early in the morning of Saturday, when all on
board perished, to the number, we believe. of fifteen
souls. Reports were current on Sunday of the
wreck of the Agenoria, also belonging to this port,
with the loss of part of ber crew, about Colliestoa,
but we are happy in being able to state that there are
accounts of this vessel not having left her port. It
was supposed she had sailed in company with the ill-
fated Rontho. There are rumours of the wreck of
another vessel, off Rattray Head, but the particulars
are not given, and we trust the rumour is also in-
correct.—Aberdeen Journal.

PETERHEAD, DEC. 20.—During the night of Fri-
day last, the gale, which had previously lulled a little,
sprung up with redoubled fury, and on the morning
of Saturday those who were first abroad found the
shore of the Kirktoun strewed with wreck. Anxiety
and dismay became generally prevalent. Parties
were engaged to collect the materials, and look
after those that were floating about as they came
ashore, but for a considerable time nothing was
cast up whereby the name of the ill-fated vessel,
or to what port she belonged, could be known. During
the forenoon, however, doubt was set at rest—the
stern-board drifted ashore, and the vessel was found
to be the schooner Rontho, of Aberdeen. It turned
out, besides, that there were passengers belonging to
Peterhead upon this vessel, and yesterday three
bodies were washed ashore. Two of them were of in-
dividuals belonging to Peterhead, who were at once
identified ; the other was that of a stranger. Nothing
can be known as to how the fatal catastrophe took
place ; but it is too certain that all kands have pe-
rished, almost, it might be said, " In sight of home
and friends that throng'd to save:'
DEC. 24.—We continue to be visited with
strong gales of wind from the south, and with occa-
sional showers of rain. On Sabbath morning, about
four o'clock, there commenced one of the most vio-
lent gales which have swept across these coasts for
many years. The wind blue with terrific fury from
the south-east, raising a most fearful sea, which drove
everything before it. Over the parapet wall of
Pulteneytown south quaT the billows made a clean
sehreerdrin no
breach, although the building was more than suf.
injury.ficient to
urpewsiasrtdstheoifr t awt
et anct ky r
s
,baanrdels nuff
were swept from off the quays, and lost ; and three
herring boats were taken off the beach, and much
injured; and great difficulty
was experienced in
saving others, as was hi hl g y dangerous to approach
them. At Duncansbay, the Pomona, of Thurso,
previously stranded there,
and till then expected to
be got off, was made a total wreck. All the places
of worship were but thinly attended, not more from
the attacks of influenza than the danger of venturing
out of doors on such a day. Since then the weather
has moderated, although it continues to be exceedingly

fcorporation and the sheriffs." The sight he had be- r blustering. The barometer, however, seems to indi-
-- . , •- „ .-ri,, ,in ,lrilclrvn IA h ,u. triey h. i „t- a f,. vourAbl, ciimni4,! .IV/a o' Groat J
1 - ~- ~, ~,,, ~::r,:- ,lic 1r heal trelt thanks—Si as Ino, L GARMOUTH, DEC. 21. The s peat cameour
on nal.
in the
gratifying, and had awakened in him, as he was , Spey
on Saturday night, and has continued ever
, sure it had in all present, the most delightful sym- I since, accompanied with a very heavy sea. A great
' pathy towards them. It was a source of great gra- I deal of harm has been done in Kingston, and a good
I tification to him that the Lord Mayor, the President, many families have been rendered houseless. Sab-
the greatest banker of the day, and the sheriffs had i bath presented a scene such as pen cannot describe.
that day identified themselves with the commercial Recent encroachments of the river had swept awa
travellers. The institution owed them a deep debt thirty or forty houses, and several others have fol-
y
' of gratitude. Those present would return to their lowed on this occasion. Men and h were work-
' homes and say, "We have attended the ing the whole day, and women, withorses children in their
anniversary under the presidency of the arms, exposed to the wrath of the elements, sought a
Lord Mayor and sheriffs—we have enlisted their shelter where they could find one. To-day, however,
sympathies in favour of the Commercial Travellers' the storm has somewhat abated ; but it will be many
School, and it will rise under their auspices greater a day before this event will be forgotten, as it will also
than any other institution in the land before it. be ere its effects are recovered.
Mr. Sheriff CUBITT returned thanks. DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD AT SUNDERLAND.—For
' Mr. Geoncoca proposed " The Vice Presidents." several days prior to Sunday last there were heavy Mr. R. CLARKE returned thanks. rains. About five o'clock on Sunday morning the
Mr. MorvArr, M.P., next spoke. He said it ebb tide became so strong that great apprehension
was delightful to witness such a scene, when the was entertained for the safety of vessels moored in
recent disasters in trade were borne in mind—it the river. Every effort that time permitted to be
showed that such disasters ought to be looked upon made was called into requisition to ensure the safety
as nothing more than passing storms.—(Cheers.) He of the moorings ; but two or three ships at the
concluded by proposing the health of Mr. George end of the ferry- baot tier, next the bridge,
Moore , the treasurer. snapped their mooring chains, and went adrift amid
Mr. MOORE returned thanks. In doing so, he the tier, crushing and carrying away all that lay in
said the commercial travellers must not depend upon their way. The fresh was so great, and the impetus
the Lord Mayor, upon the Vice Presidents, or upon given the unmoored ships consequently so strong, that
their distinguished visitors. He wished to im- tier after tier ofthe shipping gave way, and drifting upon
press upon them the necessity of depending others, carried them away also, and thus much serious
upon themselves.—(Loud cheers.) From the best damage was done. When daylight arrived, the har-
data he had been able to collect it appeared that there bour, from the ferry- boat landing to the pier end,
were no less than 30,000 commercial travellers, whose presented a most disastrous appearance. In various
expenses could not be less than 11,000,0001. a year. places whole groups of ships ware entangled toge-
-(Hear, hear.) Now, what he wished to impress ther, and were only prevented being driven out to
upon them was this—supposing they were engaged sea either by the obstruction of a sunken vessel, or
forty-two weeks out of the fifty-two weeks, and saved laden ships aground. Almost every vessel had re-
sixpence a week, they might raise a fund of 30,0001. ceived more or less damage, some having suffered
a year.—(Loud cheers.) He confidently looked very seriously. We regret to say that loss of life has
forward to a great increase in the means of the ensued. The smack Brothers, of Shorehem, went down,
institution ; but if they even had a tithe part of this and the mate has been drowned. His body was found
sum—say 25 per cent.--it would be sufficient to dis- yesterday morning in his bed. He is said to have
charge the expenses of the largest institution in the left a wife and five children. In endeavouring to get
United Kingdom.—(Hear, hear.) His great am- one vessel into a place of safely, an accident occurred
bition was to add six children every six months to which was attended with fatal consequences, one man
the asylum.—(Cheers.) having lost his life, and other three or four being
Mr. LAWRENCE announced a subscription of 1001. seriously injured. The vessel was the brig Virgil,
from the National Mercantile Life Assurance Cora- which had arrived that morning, and which had been
pany, which institution, he said, offered eligible ad- driven down the harbour nearly to the pier end. For
vantage to commercial travellers, who assured early some time she remained bound to the south pier,
in lite. He proposed " The National Mercantile after which a rope was placed round the high cap-
Society."
sten on the pier, and she was ultimately got round
Mr. WrLcoxoN (the Chairman), returned thanks, on to the sand, within the new part of the pier, which
and said he felt great pleasure in being present, and is of a semicircular form. During the process of
of presenting the donation just announced by the heaving, the vessel pitched very much with the vio-
Secretary. lence of the waves. By this means she was occa-
Mr. WALKER then proposed the health of Mr. sionally much higher than the capstan, and the
Lawrence, the Hon. Secretary. purchase of the rope drew up the capstan, so that the
Mr. G. LAWRENCE returned thanks. palls lost their power of check. The rope being
Several other toasts followed, and the company at that moment violent jerked by the heaving of
did not separate until a late hour. the ship, the capstan ran round on the spindle
The dinner and wines were well served and good. with great violence, and the bars being shipped,
The musical arrangements were under the direction struck the persons who were near. Several were
of Mr. Sporle, assisted by Mr. Kenney, Mr. Edney driven over the edge of the pier into the river, but
Mr. J. Kench, Mr. Bruton, and Mr. G. Genge. Mr. all were got out again with great exertion. One
Harker was the toastmaster. man named John Bolton, ship carpenter, aged 55,
The donations and subscriptions announced in the was struck so violently over the forehead that he
course of the evening amounted to nearly 2,0001. was killed by the blow. A sawyer, named Robert
Layburn, had his leg broken, and was otherwise
seriously injured. Joseph Arkle, a mason, and two
or three others, are also seriously injured. The de-
struction of property has been immense—some say
15,0001„ others less. There is no doubt, however,
that the damage will very nearly include that sum.—
Sunderland Herald.

DISASTER AT SEA.
We have this week to place on record one of those
melancholy disasters at sea, which unfortunately are
but of too frequent occurrence during the full voy-
ages of the timber-laden vessels trading to our
northern colonies. The following are the particulars :
—The barque Lord Canterbury, of Bridgewater,
from Quebec, bound to Bristol, on the night of Sun-
day, the sth inst., encountered a tremendous gale
from N.W.W., which caused her to make sufficient
water to keep one pump constantly going. At 9 a.m.
the following morning it was discovered that the
after part of the rudder had separated from the main
piece. As one pump was found insufficient to keep
the leak under, at 4 p.m. both pumps were set going.
Things went on in this manner till midnight, when a
heavy sea broke on board, carrying away stanchions,
bulwarks, boat, and everything moveable on the deck.
The leak gradually increased until 8 a.m., when the
barque became full of water. The topmasts, yards,
and all the light spars were now cut away, and the
crew, twenty in number, took to the tops, where they
remained, subsisting on half a pint of water per day,
and little bread, until 13 of them were rescued by the
barque John, of Bideford. This vessel fell in with the
wreck on the 16th instant, when it was blowing a
double-reefed-topsail breeze, and the wind W.S.W.,
Cape Clear bearing N.E., distant about thirty-five
miles. It was at 6.30 when they were first discovered,
during an interval of moonlight. Never was there a
mere melancholy sight. From the stern, when the
vessel would rise to the sea, was issuing a perfect
cascade, some of the planks in the side and stern
gone, the vessel breaking up, and the sea making a
fair breach over her. On hailing, those on board the
John were informed that the ship was water-logged,
that they were short of provisions and water, and that
one of their number (the cook) had died from ex-
haustion, and they asked if the John would lay by
them for the night, it never entered their minds, from
the sea which was running, that an attempt would be
made at least that night. They were answered that
their request should be complied with if possible.
The master of the John fearing, however, that unless
immediate measures were adopted to get them off
the wreck the weather might come on again squally
and prevent him from carrying out his humane in-
tention, called for volunteers. The appeal was
responded to instanter, and Mr. W. M. Hallman, the
chief officer (a most skilful and intrepid young man)
accompanied by three brave tars, jumped into a little
boat only 14 feet long and pulled for the wreck.
Here a formidable obstacle presented itself. In
addition to the ordinary difficulty of bringing a boat
alongside under such circumstances, there was escap-
ing from the stern a stream of water sufficient to
overwhelm the boat. How true it is that we cannot
tell what we can accomplish until we try! The tiny
boat approaches the wreck, six jump in, and are
safely brought to the bark. Another trip is made—
seven are now taken, but, unfortunately, one of
the apprentices falls short in his leap, is sucked
under the counter of the wreck and disappeared.
These trips occupied an hour and a half. The
apprehensions of the master were now ful-
filled. The weather became worse, and the sea
began to " top," consequently any further attempts
would to all human appearance, have only involved
the loss of life ; the rescuers were therefore reluc-
tantly cotmpewlleeadteor
becameforegot so bad,heir
h
generoustat th
eexertions.bariue
At
was obliged to be placed close-reefed foretopsail and
treble-reefed main, and to leave the wreck for safety.
She arrived at Milford on Sunday afternoon last. A
few days previous to their being taken off, a barque,
apparently British or American, outward-hound,
shortened sail and remained for a short time, but
went away without making any attempt to save their
lives. She was under topgallant sails, and the at-
tempt would have been practicable. A brigantine passed
by them in the daytime, also outward-bound, only
four or five miles from them ; but did not even alter
her course, although. she was so close to them that the
poor fellows could perceive a small flag at her mast
a t
oMediterraneanseleft
on the
trader.
wreck
head.w e should S h e
havehad theadded, cut of t
h a t
those
were the master, two seamen, and two apprentices.
Relief has been afforded from the Shipwrecked Mari-
ners and Fishermen's Society, and the Merchant
Seamen's Fund.—Cambrian, of Saturday.

DISCOVREY OP • NEWLY BORN INPINT tic A
RAILWAY Cutaiecm.--Yesterday Mr. W. Payne, the
Coroner, opened an inquiry at the Vestry Hall, Tooley-
street, Borough, on the body of a newly-born female
child, discovered under the following extraordinary and
sou 2t;
mysterious cireamstances :—Charles Banngoefist. eChritm
r, of 0a
Dean-street, Southwark, deposed that he was airter
at the
the Joint
Railway
oeo'clock
on
Station,
the L
London-bridge. n
afternoondon - brid
boeofotv rea n r
train came in, and he went to search the
eve, quarter
carriages after the passengers had all alighted, and
found a brown paper parcel under the seat of one of the
second-class carriages, which he delivered to the head
porter, who, upon taking it into the property-room,
opened it, and discovered its contents to be the deceased.
By the Coroner—There were two pieces of brown paper,
upon
tuhi
et e
subject.naked.
auwtpaosthe station,
throw
hvu
ret
er the n
wh eoae deceased
eylig else
ht
Dover and Folkatone, and Witness, as well as
was wholly unable to
Taht e
c train
ro3dcoanm, eb forto Lei t
stopped
was impossible to say how the parcel had been put there.
John Hudgell, head porter at the station, corroborated.
the evidence of the last witness, and added, that his
suspicions were aroused the moment he took the parcel
in hand. Mr. W.
Pettigrew, surgeon, of 200, Tooley-
street, stated that he had seen and examined the child.
The navel string had been divided by a sharp instru-
ment, which process had not, in his opinion, been
performed by a medical man. There was a mark of
violence passing very firmly across the mouth, as if the
jaw had been broken. It was found on a post mortent
lexamination that death was the result of asphysia or
suffocation, there being congestion under the scalp, and
other appearances which showed that respiration had
been slightly performed. After some further evidence,
the Coroner remarked on the extraordinary nature of
the case, and suggested the propriety of an adjournment,
and the jury agreeing with him, the inquiry Was ad-
journed for a week, in the hope that in the interim
something might transpire that would lead to the appre-
hension of the inhuman parent.
RYE ELECTION. The election of a Member to
serve in the place of the late Mr. H. B. Curteis took
place in the Town-hall on Thursday last, when, the de-
ceased's son, Mr. H. M. Curteis, was elected. without
opposition.