The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-30 00:00:00

TilE SUN, LONDON, MOND AY EYE,:

The whole of the back part was driven away—he did ;
not think a single foot remained. The seat on which
he sat was blown from under him. A parcel which
he had in his hand, and his hat, were blown aw ay
and he was wounded on the hip and shoulder. The
steam struck him on the face like a slap from a hand.
When the steam had cleared away he found that all
the persons he had noticed on the seats
had been carried away—sonic were banging by
the sides; and he assisted a lady who had
called loudly to him for assistance. The Echo, a
Richmond boat, came from the middle of the river
and took some of the passengers off. A gentleman
with a white head cried out that his leg had been
broken. lie looked down into the cabin and heard a
noise like the howling of a dog. Assisted to get a
man from amongst the timbers whose mouth and
forehead were bleedir g. lie was doubled up like a
drunken man. There was no one on board con-
nected with the company to render assistance. Saw
neither the captain nor the engineer on board. Ex-
amined the place from which the boiler had been
carried, but found no one there. He apprehended
that the boat was waiting for the captain, as it was
ready to start and had its fair complement of pas-
sengers.
By the jery—Was in the habit of going down
Duke-street to the boats. On the morning in ques-
tion he met persons coming from the boat, and he ran
down the pier and got on board without loss of time,
as he thought the boat must be about to start, as they
were not in the habit of stopping long after landing.
The boat was not aground, because he felt the stern
part sink after the explosion. Travelled frequently
by the boats, and was often in the habit of standing
by the engines and admiring them.
A Juryman said the time of the occurrence was
about the period when the parties connected with the
boats breakfasted.
When the statement was read over to the witness
he added to it, that the parties connected with the
boat came down to it to inquire into the cause of the
explosion after it had happened.
Mr. Archibald Henry Hamilton was next examined.
He said he was a reporter, and that he lived at No. 6,
Francis-street, Waterloo-road, and that on Friday
morning he went on board the boat at about twenty-
three minutes past nine o'clock, and took up his po-
sition in the fore part of the vessel near the windlass.
About two minutes after, whilst talking to a fo-
reigner, he experienced a sort of oscillation in the
vessel. In a moment after the explosion took place,
and he was thrown on his face. The boat was not
aground. The captain was not on board, because he af-
terwards heard him put the question to Mr. Gilleto,
the superintendent of the boats, " How long do you
suppose I have been on shore ?" He knew the super-
intendent, and spoke to him ten minutes after the
occurrence. He did not look into the engine-room,
but he saw neither the engineer nor stoker on board.
Saw Redgrave taken out. Ile thought the last wit-
ness was mistaken, as there appeared to him (wit-
ness) to he no more than from 120 to 140 persons on
hoard. The deck was not overcrowded. There were
few on that part of the deck on which he stood. Did
not notice the after part of the boat ; there was plenty
of roam. Passengers were coming on board when
the explosion took place.
The CORONER said he did not intend to take
further evidence with respect to the explosion. He
fished now to have evidence of the parties who as-
sisted in conveying the deceased persons from the boat
to the places where they now lay.
George Silverton said he resided at 13, George-
street, Adelphi, and that he was a fisherman. He
was standing at his door at the time of the occur-
rence, and when he saw and heard the explosion he
ran down to the boat, and with the aid of the captain
extricated the boy Shade from the bottom of the boat.
He was lying in the after-cabin, and was almost
covered with fragments of wood and water. Pulled
him out by his arms, and took him into the office ;
afterwards took him on his shoulders to the hospital,
and assisted to undress him and put him to bed. He
was living at that time, and at the time he left him,
but he was unconscious. Immediate attention was
rendered to him. Had seen the engineers, but noticed
nothing remarkable in them. Knew the engineer,
but he never spoke to him about the engines. As-
sisted in extricating an elderly gentleman with white
hair from the broken fragments. (We believe this is
the person whose leg was amputated )
By Mr. Montague Chambers—The call-boy might
have been blown up and fallen where he found him,
or he might have fallen through the deck, the middle
of which was entirely broken up. The Learned
Counsel said he merely asked the question in order
that the jury might not form an erroneous opinion
with respect to what the unfortunate youth was doing
at the time of the occurrence, that they might not
consider that he was neglecting his duty.
Some discussion here ensued on the application of
Mr. Noble to inspect the engines and fire-place of the
boat.
The CORONER said he could not then give him an
order—he doubted whether he had power to do so,
but no doubt the company would offer the relatives of
the deceased parties every facility for that purpose.
On inquiry it appeared, from the statement of the
superintendent of the boats, that the ill-fated vessel
was in the custody of the police, and that he had re-
ceived directions from the company to permit no one
to see it without an order from them.
Mr. Knight (a juryman)—Do you mean to say
that the jury may not see it without the permission of
the company, if they think proper? Mr. Montague
Chambers—l dare say the company will afford the
jury every facility for inspecting the boat, and also
the relatives of the deceased parties. There is no
doubt about it.
Mr. knight—l do not claim to inspect the boat
either by favour or affection, but by right.
The superintendent promised the coroner to allow
the persons, related to the deceased, to see the boat,
and the matter dropped.
George Martin Young, house surgeon of Charing-
cross Hospital, was next examined—The deceased
Thomas Shade was brought to the hospital, and ad-
mitted about half-past nine o'clock on Friday morn-
ing, hut deceased was then in a state of collet's°. He
bore the marks of a flesh wout:d on his left cheek,
also a small cut on the top of his head. It N's as his opi-
nion from the symptoms presented that the deceased
had sustained a fracture of the skull. Every assist-
ance was afforded him. He rallied slightly, and died
about two o'clock of the sane day. No post mortem
examination of the deceastd had been made. Ile
believed that hie death was attributable to a pressure
upon the brain. There were none of the deceased's
limbs broken, though his whole body exhibited the
marks of various contusions and bruises.
By a juror—He had no doubt but that the inju
ries received had been the cause of death.
The CORONER then directed a post mortem exami-
nation of the head of the deceased to be made previous
to burial.
Mr. Shade, the. father of deceased, was then called,
and in answer to a question put by the Coroner, said
that he had no objection to the examination being
made.
Mr. Young then stated that George Shute, another
of the deceased, was brought to the hospital on Friday
morning with an extensive wound on the right side
of the head. He did not think, however, that the
wound was sufficient to cause death. He thought
that death might have ensued from drowning. He
was not prepared to say that death was caused by
drowning. No post morlein examination had been

made. -
Edward Maddox, of 47, Queen-street, Webber.
street, Blackfriars, a coal porter, deposed, that about
25 minutes past nine o'clock on Friday morning he
was at work, levelling the ground opposite Mr.
Reeve's wharf, when he saw the explosion of the
Cricket steam-boat, at the end of the Fox-under-the-
Hill Pier. He then ran into the water directly, seeing
a number of persons jumping overboard. He brought
out of the water one person with his mouth broken
in ; he was not dead. The next person whom he
picked up was a costermonger, who was dead. He
tohokialiaoth of them to the pay-office on the pier,_ from
w
placeh he believed they were carried to the hos-
pital.
of the water a
About twenty minutes after he dragged out
gentlemanly-looking man, who had in
his pocket ii. 10s,
r.
lle
andt some other money in silver,
also a watch and a lete wpasa,yt.ooaffilleea,pp:,haerrane chee,
dead. He took him oto the
left him.
Henry Rogers,
75 F, policeman, stated that he saw
the explosion of the Crickemi
Cricket
whilen standing on Hun-
gerford-bridge, on Friday morning.
ran to render assistance, and got g.
down Ile immediately
The first person whom he assisted to the to the
was
the pier.
one whom he thought to be the engineer, who
stated
in answer to a question put to him by witnessshed,t
he was not severely hurt, but was only shook: that
he was not severely hurt, but was only shook. He
saw the call-boy taken out of the boat. He also saw
the last witness drag out of the water an elderly
gentleman, whom he assisted in carrying from the
pier to the workhouse. He had been since identified,
and he (witness) understood that his name was Lit-
tleton. He was dressed in fustian jacket and trow-
sers. After his return from the workhouse he saw
the last witness bring to the pier another person who
was quite dead, and who had since been identified.
He understood the name of that person to be Blunt.
By a juror—He assisted to bring the engineer on
shore. He was standing when he saw him by the
paddle-box of the Cricket. His face appeared splashed
with marks of dirt and soot.
William Chappell, residing at No. 34, Caro-
line•street, waterman, stated that between nine
end ten o'clock on Friday morning, while
he was standing en Somerset-heue causeway,
he saw the explosion of the Cricket steamer ; he with
his mates immediately manned the boat and pro-
ceeded to the scene of the explosion during their
passage they picked up nine bats, and shortly after
picked up the body of Littleto,,, ;tiish whom they rowed
nearly ashore, and Maddox (the last witness a • • f; ut one)
then took the body from the of head the boat up to
the pay-office on the
pier. Witness immediately

jumped out of the boat on to the pier, where he ,
saw a surgeon, who stated that the body was dead.
Ile then returned to the boat, and just at "flood" he,
with his mate, by the use of the grappling irons,
found the body of a prson quite dead, since iden-
tified as the body of Mr. Blunt. Witness took
charg: of the property of deceased, which amounted
to thirty shillings in gold, ten shillings in silver, a
silver watch, gold chain, and penknife.
'William Chapman, residing at Hunge4ord-mar-
ket, greengrocer, stated that at about ten o'clock on
Friday morning, while endeavouring to pass a rope
under the paddle- box of the Cricket he felt some
resistance to it, which proved to be the body of a man
who was dead, and lying close against the paddle-
box under the wheel. lie hauled the body ashore,
and gave it in charge of Poiiceman 138, after which
period he had not seen anything of the body.
John Silk, living at the Farmhouse, Mint, Borough,
said that between ten and eleven o'clock on Saturday
morning, he saw a man lying in the wake of the fourth
pier of Waterloo-bridge on the Surrey side of the
river. The man was dressed, his clothes were torn.
lie ran into the water, and, having procured some as-
sistance, he carried the body ashore, when it was put
into a shell, and carried to St. John's Church,
Waterloo-road. The right thigh of deceased was
broken, he was also much scalded, and his nose very
_ _

much chafed and bruised.
The CORONER stated that he had received a com •
munication from Mr. Carter, the Coroner of Surrey,
stating that as there was no doubt hut that the body
of the deceased was one of the sufferers by the late
accident, he requested him (Mr. Bedford), in order
to avoid unnecessary expense and trouble, to take
charge of the body. Under all the circumstances, he
(Mr. Bedford) had thought it advisable to do so, and
the body had accordingly been sent over to this
workhouse for the purposes of this inquiry.
John Watson, porter to the workhouse, proved the
receipt of the body of Buckley, the person found by
the last witness.
John Nathan Bainbridge, surgeon, of St. Martin's
Workhouse, stated that the bodies of Littleton and
Blunt were brought to the workhouse shortly after
nine o'clock. He saw them soon after their arrival.
He examined the bodies externally, and he could
find no material marks of violence on the body of
Blount. There was a slight abrasion of the skin on
the side of the nose, nothing, however, sufficient to
cause death, and he believed that the deceased came
by his death from drowning. He presented all the
appearances of a person who had died by that means.
The body of Mr. Littleton showed a considerable
wound on the right side of the temple, about an inch
and a half long and deep; there was also some
bruises aild abrasions of the skin on the arms, but
not sufficient to produce death ; and he could not
state, without a pout mortem examination, whether
the wound on the temple was of itself sufficient to
produce death. With respect to the deceased Buck-
ley, he had examined him, and found that his thigh
was br,,ken, which must have happened before death,
as the muscles had contracted to the extent of about
three inches. There were also marks of injury on
the forehead and the nose. It would be necessary to
have a poNt mortem examination, in order to ascer-
tain whether the deceased bad come by his death by
the effects of injuries received, or by drowning.
• This concluded the whole of the evidence of to-day.
Mr. Montague Chambers then stated that the cap-
tain, the engineer, and the stoker, and also the super-
intendent, were in attendance, and were ready to give
any information that might be required.
The ContesLa suggested that the better course
would be to have the beat and all the parts of the
machinery examined by a competent engineer before
any further proceedings should be taken.
A juror suggested the name of Sir J. Rennie.
The CORONER thought that the appointment would
be better to be left entirely in his hands. It would
be sufficient that a person of eminence would be ap-
pointed. Probably the Secretary of State himself
would appoint some person to examine the whole of
the machinery.
The inquest was then adjourned till eleven o'clock
on Monday.
In answer to a question by the Coroner, Mr. M.
Chambers said that the proprietors were anxious that
the vessel should be placed in the hands of the police,
or some independent party. It was at present in the
charge of the proprietors.
The vessel was then ordered to be placed in the
hands and under the care of the Thames Police, with
orders not to admit any person on board, or near the
machinery, without an order from the Coroner, or some
other person of authority.
A gentleman from Mr. Joyce's, the builder of the
engines, thought that it would be desirable that should
an inspection of the vessel take place by a third party,
that Mr. Joyce should be in attendanne at the same
time.
Mr. M. Chambers also suggested the propriety of
the attendance of an engineer on the part of the
company.
It was then ordered that a professional person for
the company, and also for Mr. Joyce, should be in at•
tendance during the inquisition.
The inquest was then adjourned till eleven o'clock
on Monday next, the 6th of September.
The jury then arranged to meet to-morrow at
the pay-office on the pier, at the Fox-under-the-Hill,
at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of viewing the boat
and machinery, in order, as they stated, to afford
them a key to the evidence which would be furnished
by the professional examination on Monday next.
LLYNVI VALLEY RAILWAY.

(THIS DAY.)
The second half-yearly ordinary general meeting of
this company, was held to-day at the offices, 449,
West Strand ; Dr. Bowring, 11. P., in the chair.
The advertisement convening the meeting having
been read, and the seal of the company affixed to the
register of proprietors,
The SECRETARY read a report, of which the fol-

lowing is an abstract:--
" The directors congratulate the proprietors on the
complete success which has attended their proceedings
from the date of the report of the 10th December, 1846.
" That report referre.l to an agretment then entered
into with the Doffryn, Llynvi, and Forth Cawl Com-
pany. for the purpose of consolidating the two under-
takings. The dirt ctors have now the satisfaction of
stating that the agreement has been confirmed by Par-
liament, and that the Act, authorising the union, has re-
ceived the royal w.sent..
" By this Act, the property and powers of the Duffryn,
Llynvi, and Perth Caw! Conip.iny, are vt sled in the
Llynvi Railway Cons any, the capital of the
llutfryn, Liyuvi, and Porth Cawl Gimpan), is declared
to b., part ot the capital of thy- Llynvi Valley Railway
Company, the proprietors of the former company re-
ceiving stock of the new company equivalent to their
shares in the Ddrryn, Llynvi, and Perth Cawl Corn party,
with the same privilege as the holders of existing shares.
" From the nature of the above, and the provisions of
the Act, the proprietors cannot tail to perceive that the
whole arraortnent between the old and the new com-
pany, has been based upon fair and liberal terms, and
are such as wid, in the judgment of your directors, pro
duce a mo.t satisfactory result to the proprietors ot both
companies.
" Toe Act for authorising the short Extension from
Castel-y-Wewa, to Angle-town, in the parish of New-
castle, has received the royal assent, an. they cannot but
regard this short extension as a most important acces..iion
to the powers possessed by this company.
" The directors have only been put into possession of
the Duffryn, Llynvi, and Port`. Cawl line, within a very
recent period, and therefore they are not able at. this
meeting to afford the proprietors any precise informa-
tion as to the adoption ot. various suggestions, which
have been made to them for the improvement ot the old
line; but they trust, by the next half-yearly meeting, to
be in a position to lay before the proprietors a statement
of the results of their plan of working it during the con-
struction of the new line."
The accounts showed the receipts up to the 30th of
June to have been 19,226/. 10s. ld., and the expendi-
ture 11,870/. 3s. id., leaving a balance in hand of
7,3561.75.
Tice CIIAIRMA.N having briefly addressed the meet-
ing, the report was received and adopted, and a vote
of thanks having been passed to the Chairman and
directors, the meeting separated.

TATTERSALL'S-THIS EVENING
HALF-PAST FIVE O'CLOCK.
LEAMINGTON STAKES.
3 to 1 agst Wolf-dog
4 to 1 agst Game Lass filly
GP.EAT YORKSHIRE HANDICAP.
6 to 4 on the field
7 to 1 agst Palma
7 to 1 agst Pilgrim
7 to 1 agst Sagacity
ST. LEGER.
5 to 4 on Cossack
6 to l'agst Planet
9 to 1 agst Van Tromp
11 to 1 agst Eryx
15 to 1 agst Philosopher

GLASGOW COTTON MARKET, 'AUG. 27.—The busi-
ness done in cotton Ibis week lnis been very limited, and
in America,
Glasgow,and holdersal e
all to the trade; but owing to the prospects of a small
cstrooepksiaprreesevnetryvaefiri:mmuinch
prices.—
National National Advertiser.
FEARFUL GUN ACCIDENT AT B ATTERSEA.—Yes-
terdily afternoon, between the hours of four and
five, an
accident of a most fearful character happened to ti.man
named Francis Jardin, aged thirty-five, under the sub.
joined circumstances:—lt appears that at that hour the
unfortunate man was in Battersea fields with a party of
' gentlemen, shooting, and Jardin was in the act of load-
ing a rift,. for one o the parti,s, which suddenly ex-
ploded, and he was shot in the hand, thus causing a
c;eyere fracture 01. the metacarpal bone of the first finger,
besides injuring hi,i face. He was snon taken to a sur-
7con in the neighbourhood, and subsequently to the
Charing;-cross Hospital, with the bullet remaining in his
hand. Mr. G-.:11. Your;;, the house surgeon, who saw
Min upon his adtnission, considered that the process of
can notion mostliea,:!.,:p;(.l.
QUARANTiNE.—'fhe select vestry of Liverpool have
resolved to discontinue the quarantine regulations, as far
as the Irish aro concerned,
the improved health of the
town haying warranted them in ao doing.

THE GREAT BRITAIN

STEAMER AFLOAT!

(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
This immense vessel, which has kin stranded at
the head of the fatal 13:3y of Dundrum, since Sep-
tember last—now about eleven months—is at last
fairly afloat, and in a position from which, with the
appliances at the command of the engineers superin-
tending the operations for fieating her off, she may
now be removed at high water of an ordinary tide.
This we consider one of the greatest triumphs of
engineering talent, as applied to the raising of a
stranded ship, which are upon record—not even ex-
cepting those used in floating the Gorgon steam-
frigate at Monte Video, and which had engaged the
mechanical skill of the most eminent engineers at
the various Government dockyards.
Our readers are aware that Mr. I. Brunel, jun.,
*as the engineer who first undertook the task of
rescuing the Great l3ritain from her perilous situa-
tion. It was necessary to preserve her from the risk of
breaking up under the terrific surge which rolls into
the unsheltered Bay of' Dundrum, from the Irish Sea,
v.hen the wind blows freshly from any point from E.
to N. or N.N.E. In order to accomplish this im-
portant object, he caused a substantial breakwater to
be erected, about a pistol• shot astern of the steamer,
to seaward. This barrier, which was upwards of 150
yards in length, was formed of several rows of piles,
the trees for which were furnished gratuitously by
Earl Roden, from his plantations at Ravens-
dale, on the opposite side of the Bay. The
outer raw was composed of pliable piles of
green or sapwood (an improvement upon the
original plan suggested by Captain Claxton, who
has been actively engaged during the operations in
directing them, on behalf of the owners of the Great
Britain). This had the effect of resisting the most
violent assaults of the surf, the green timber yielding
to the advancing wave, and rebounding by its own
elasticity as it receded. Between the inner rows of
piles, immense bundles of faggots, formed of brush-
wood, substantially bound together, and loaded, or
moored, by vast quantities of stones, served to
" deaden" the billows as they rolled in among them.
This invention proved eminently successful in saving
the vessel from what: at one time, seemed inevitable
destruction—so much so, indeed, that when her
bottom was examined, after the first attempt to float
her had been made, her hull was found to have suf-
fered no other injury than three perforations, of no
serious importance, caused by fragments of rock torn
off in passing over a reef in the furious gale of April
last. The exquisite symmetry of the noble vessel's
"water-lines" remained as perfect as on the day when
she was floated out of the building-dock on the Avon.
It is known that, during the springs of last month,
the gigantic ship, under the directions of Mr.
Bremner, of Wick, to whom the operations for
floating her had subsequently been entrusted, she
was raised entirely out of the sand in which her keel
had been imbedded, by means of great caissons, or
"camels," as they are termed by shipbuilders, sus-
pended over rows of piles driven into the beach from
the vessel's bow to 'a point about midships, and de-
scending by means of chains and blocks as the tide
rose, and the steamer floated. The actual impulse
was given by powerful levers, acting on fulcra under
the bilges, and worked by capstans and other pur-
chases on the vessel's deck. All these appliances,
however, had been cleared away, previous to the tide
of Wednesday night last, preparatory to the final
attempt to remove the vessel from the shore, where,
for upwards of a month past, she had been resting
upon two ridges of stones under the bilges, which
permitted the workmen effectually to repair her
bottom.
On the flowing of the tide on Wednesday night,
floating operations were commenced, by means of
anchors laid out astern, and the warps attached to
which were hove upon by the vessel's windleeses aed
capstans. These were su far successful as to move
the ship about three fathoms farther to seaward, in
which position she was permitted to remain until the
following day. The Birkenhead, iron steam. frigate,
of 1,400 tons and 600-horse power, had come down
from Kingstown early in the week to act as a tug
when required; and the Scourge, steam-bomb-ship,
of 400-horse power, which had formed one of the
royal squadron in her Majesty's excursion to Scot-
land, had also been dispatched to the Bay of Dun-
drum, and anoltortd about a mile and a half to the
south-eastward of her stranded sister. A large num-
ber of the crews of those two steamers were aboard
the Great Britain, and very efficiently contributed to
the success.of the experiment. Mr: Bellamy, Second
Master Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, and
a strong detachment of riggers from the dockyards
both of Portsmouth and Plymouth, were also on
board the Great Britain, and rendered good service.
On Thursday recourse was had to the steam power
of the Birkenhead; Lut,
owing to the failure of the
floating apparatus in two large lighters alongside the
Great Britain, and to the lowness `of the tide, which,
owing to a northerly wind that had prevailed for
some days, did not rise so high as had been expected,
all the eflbrts made to remove the vessel were entirely
unsuccessful, she not having been towed out even one
foot.
On Friday, at the flowing of the tide, about twenty
minutes before noon, the final experiment to float off
the ship was made, and, we have the highest satisfac-
tion in stating, was attended with the most complete
success. Two " best bowers " had been laid out a
cable's length astern, and, in a idition to these, two
strong warps had been spliced to those of the Birken-
head. By heaving on these the mammoth steamer
was towed out to seaward upwards of eighty fathoms,
and into snug moorings, from which by this time she
has probably been safely disengaged, and floated on
her way to the Mersey. The ship, everything con-
sidered, made very little water—not we should say
more than six inches an hour—a leakage which was
easily kept under by ten out of the forty pumps
which had been provided to meet any possible emer-
gency, and some of which were of the most powerful
description.
On the entire success of the attempt becoming
manifest to all who were aboard, and to the crew of
the Birkenhead, three cables' lengths astern, the
jovial tars of the latter manned the poop, and evinced
their gratification at the great event by several rounds
of hearty cheers, which were duly acknowledged by
their shipmates, as well as by the Scourge's, and all
the persons, officers, and foremast-men aboard the
Great Britain. On the suggestion of Capt. Clextcn,
wine was then produced, and, the day being the anni-
versary of that on which the steamer was "christened"
by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the healths of
the Queen and her Illustrious Consort, of the Earl of
Roden, Lady Matilda Montgomery, Capt. Claxton,
Capt. Caffin, of the Scourge, &c., &c., were given,
and enthusiastically received.
The Great Britain was, at the close of the opera-
tions, left, as we stated, in a position of perfect se-
curity, from which, although she can be removed
with any height of tide, it was deemed expedient not
to tow her away until a further examination of her
bottom had been made.

THE GREAT BRITAIN AFLOAT.—We have received
by express from Dundruin, the
. gratifying intelligence
(Friday),.
Passage across the
of Mr. Bremner's success, in setting afloat the Great
Britain steam-ship. This magnificent vessel was got
heYreessteherd:'Yill remain a feNN7ddanyosr‘t'oliceos'min-
odffeepthweatsetrra,n:,
for the
pchleatnenehle.t
uapispeoeirntriaezirtitse.
___...------

The following is a copy of a private letter which
was posted at Lloyd's this morning (Monday);_
"Belfast, Aug. 28, 1847.

"Dear Sr post,
and .beg i r l—a NI T h
to a
informb pleasure
o f h
to-day
Britain
you,the
ay per
having arrived here this afternoon in tow
with her 11.1ajesty's steamer Birkenhead, being rather
leaky, to proceed to Liverpool. Captain Cl txton ex-
pects she will be in a fit state to proceed to Liverpool
in a day or two.
" I am, dear Sir, yours truly,
(Signed) " N. FITZSDION.
" P. J. Reeves, Esq."

o
e—inly;utarilei
fdoi:trreeisnisediidint
tine tr!DJaptLtpliollfo°uNTncl'
!Ane of the houses in Middle•rorr. Can 6othing, be done
tuation of this great obstruction in such an important
(the Builder very'------
properly ask) to preventl the perpe-
thoroughfare as Holborn ?
,Itilt(4),LsnaorßeNb.

AMERICAN AFFAIRS..

NEW Yoits, AUG. 14.—During the last three or
tour days this city has been inundated with rumuars
din relation to General Scott and his command. It
Mat been confidently stated that an action had taken
~pluoa between his army and the troops of Mexico,
war that city, in which the latter had been defeated
Mid completely routed. It is further stated that
General Scott, after the action, had received Mexican
commissioners, who in due form had surrendered the
city to the conquering General, he pledging himself
Chat the private property, &c., should be respected.
He entered the city, it is said, on the 17th of July.
Another account states that no opposition was made

t 0 his entry.
It is reduced to a certainty that the date cannot be
c.arrect. In fact, although the rumour is received
froi a different quarters, yet, as no details are given,
its a ccuracy is generally doubted. The account most
dire. 3t is from a letter written by a lady in Mexico,
date d the lith of July, to a gentleman in New Or-
lean t, in which she says—" General Scott, at the
head of his army, is now marching into the city."
It would be a waste of time, if nothing worse, to
att. simpt a repetition of all the rumours that are COD..
straitly received from Mexico ; and perhaps my
opinion on the question of peace or war is more fre-
q, gently given than is necessary; but, witnessing as I
d o daily the anxiety that is evinced here to learn the
aiinions of those who are supposed to watch the
r assvements of the hostile armies, I have thought that
same of your readers might wish to know w healer
your correspondent had changed his view of the
q.nestion, which for more that. a year he has con-
-1 tei nded presented no aspect but that of unrelenting
w tirfare. On the 31st of July, by the Richmond
telegraph, we were informed that Mexico had ap-
p. Anted commissioners to negotiate a peace. I ex-
pi aessed to you my unbelief of this tale. The result
h ais proved that I was correct.
In one particular, and in one only, all parties seem
to• concur, and that is—Mr. Trist's mission has totally
ft:tied, notwithstanding the friendly interference of
the British Minister, which was volunteered. In my
litter to you of the 15th June I predicted that such
w ould be the result. It is now said that General
Scott will probably be authorised to negotiate, while
another section of the party in power speak of Mr.
B'aichanan, the Secretary of State, as the individual
wbo will be charged with the negotiation, so soon as
11Ie.xico is prepared to receive him as Envoy Extra-
ordinary for the special purpose.
But, in judging of the prospects of peace, we must
look back and inquire what are the difficulties to
be overcome, and what the probability of success.
I: will only refer to two or three points, early assumed
by the President and his followers, viz.
Ist. That the boundary on the Rio Grande must
grad should be arranged according to the will and
pleasure of Mr. Polk.
2d. That California, New Mexico, &c., should be
transferred to the United States for a mere nominal
sum.
3d. That the American claims for spoliation on
their commerce should be paid.
4th. That the Mexican Government should pay all
the expenses incurred by the United States in prose-
cuting the present water.
sth. That the American Government would hold,
and continue to hold, until the preceding stipulations
were complied with, all that district of country which
their army might conquer.
Now, it is not my intention to enter into a discus-
sion of these or any other points of difficulty. I
present them merely to show that there are difficulties
to adjust, and sacrifices to be made, before a treaty
of peace can be concluded, and, permit me to add,
not less important measures to be adopted before
it can be ratified by the Senate. There is the
preliminary question—ls the territory, which may
be acquired by conquest or by purchase, to be con-
sidered a slave-holding territory, or is it not ? This
question will be warmly debated, both in and out of
Congress, and may convulse the Government to its
centre.
Some time ago I referred to the then existing diffi-
culties in California. Since that period these
difficulties have been greatly increased, insomuch
that the present situation of the territory is adisgrace
to the American Government, which has assumed the
control of it, and appointed officers to manage its
affairs, whose duty it is to execute the laws in such
a way as best to promote the happiness and welfare of
the people. The consequences have been of a most
disgraceful character. Colonel Freemont has been
arrested by General (now Governor) Kearney, and
ordered to the United States to be tried by a court-
martial.
It is stated that the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.
Walker, has made an arrangement with Messrs.
Rothschild for all the specie the United States may
require in Mexico. The specie is to be furnished
when required, and draughts on the Treasury to be
given for the amount supplied from time to time.
Interest to commence when Messrs. Rothschild have
notified to the American Government the amount
supplied. This will probably prove a convenience to
both parties, and will certainly relieve, to a limited
, extent, the heavy draughts upon our banks for specie
to carry on the war with Mexico.
In a former letter I expressed an opinion that the
Whig party would probably have in the next House
of Representatives a majority of 10 or 12 members.
Owing to the unexpected divisions in strong Whig
districts in Kentucky, two Locofocos have succeeded,
where large Whit majorities voted for different can-
didates, both of which were defeated. I yet believe,
however, that there will be a Whig majority in the
house of eight or ten.
Times. A GENEVESE TRAVELLER.