The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-23 00:00:00

SUN, 5 LONDON SATURDAY. JANUARY 23, 1841.
Mr. DYER wished to know whether the Chair a t or made, the foundations ; have all been easiied away,
Assessor was to sum up. ki;cl tee im,d, with other coaches, leild to make a circuitous
The SOLICITOR—II the chairman felt any legal (ME route ii,rough a by-road.—Bath Chronicle.
culty, he would call in the Assessor to sum up for him. Sausanay.—Several lives have been lost, and immense
Mr. DYER OH/light it might be bettor that the As• thmage d'ue'
sessor should preside over the proceedings from the be-
ginning to the end.
The CHAIRMAN had asked that he might be permit-
ted to have such assistance on the last Court day, and
it had been refused him by the Court.
The order for the attendance of the solicitors in sup-
port of the former presentment haying been read,
Mr. LESLIE wished to know if the former present-
ment were to be shown to them without obiervatiou.
The SOLICITOR—The proceeding was in the nature
of a new trial, and therefore the former presentment
would be carefully kept out of view.
Mr. MULLINS thought that the attention cf the jury
ought to be directed to the li7w of Sewers, and to the
former presentment. He had always contended that
the charge ought to he revised by the Court before the
Chairman delivered
Mr. ADEY did not deny the right of a Conamisioner
to addrees the jury. The rule only said that it was in-
expedient. He thought the course to be pursued on
Friday was very simple. The Chairman would state
the facts to the jury, and tell them that, eating under
the advice of the Assessor, such and such was the law of

SEWERS OF WESTMINSTER AND

PART OF MIDDLESEX.

A Court of Sewers was yesterday held at the Office
of the Commissioners, in Greek-street, Sobo, T. L.
Donaldson, Esq., in the chair. The minutes of the
proceedings of the previous Courts having been read, a
long conversation, in which the Chairman, Captain
B3gue, Mr. Leslie, the Clerk, and some of the Corn-
'loners took part, as to the manner in which the col-
lectors performed their duties, and as to the best means
to be adopted as a check upon the collectors, so as to
prevent the recurrence of any deficiency, such as that
reported to have occurred at the late meeting. The
different collectors were in attendance, and reported the
various sums that each had paid in since their last re-
port. Various summonses were ordered to be issued
against defaulters.
An application was made for some distress-warrants,
and in reply to Captain Bague, the Chnirman said it
was constantly the practice of this Court to issue war-
rants without putting the applicant on their oath.
Mr. BROUGHTON doubted whether a warrant to
size a man's goods was a legal warrant, except it was
issued upon the oath of the party applying for it.
The SOLICITOR, on being applied to, said that the
impression on his mind was that an oath was necessary,
but that he would be prepared to give an opinion on the
next Court-day.

FLoOD ON SALISBURY PLAIN.

The following arc additional particulars from- the Wilt-
shire Independent, respecting the loss of life and pro-
perty caused by the late flood among the villages on Salis-
bury Plain.
One of the most serious calamities with which this
country was ever visited, occurred on the evening of
Saturday last at Shreaton, Tilshead, Elston, Maddiagton,
and the adjoining parishes, by which property—belonging
chiefly to the poorer classes—the cottagers, mechanics,
yeomen, and tradesmen—to the amount of twelve or four-
teen thousand pounds has been destroyed, and the lives of
three human brings lost. The situation of these villages
is too well known here to need much description ; suffice it
to , that those parts of them where the inhabitants
mostly l;ve—the streets—arc situated in a valley, by the
side w. the high rood, and in many places are close to the
iivulet which finds its way into the Avon, above Salisbury.
The surrounding country is open and hilly, sloping
down in almost all directions for miles around, towards
tho valley. The snow-storm of last Thursday night,
which was particularly heavy in this neighbourhood, covered
the hills toe considerable depth, while the hollows were in
many instances full of da s. The earth had been for a
long time bound up with frost, so that when the thaw be-
gan scarcely any of the melted snow could be absorbed:
During the Friday, more scow fell, and on the Saturday a
most rapid thaw, accompanied by rain, set in. The brook,
which for a long time had been perfectly dry, soon filled '
with water end overflowed its banks. At Tilshcad, which
was first visited by the fleed, the water is described to have
come rushing along the street to a depth of several feet,
and mee:ing with fresh supplies from every hollow, and at
every turn, continued its irresistible course on to Shrew ton,
Elston, and Maddingten. The time sit which the water
began to rise, so as to occasion alarm, is various),
stated, but we believe that shortly after noon the inhabi-
tants began to entertain serious apprehensions for their
saf.ty.
At Tilshead six homes Were completely overthrown,
but fortunately no lives -were lost, the inmates having in
every instance escaped, although n 44 the greatest diffi-
culty, some of them having been taken out of their cham-
ber windows and removed to places of safety. In many
places the road is covered to a depth of full two feet with
the broken stones which were loosened and washed down
by the current during its ccurse.
At Shrewton the destruction of property was the great-
est ; and inelatacholy to relate, three human beings, a
father and his daughter in one family, and a little boy in
another, have fall,n victims is this awful visitation. F-,rty
houses are entirely destroyed, and with them, in le Ai)
instances, the furniture ealscie A cow, belonging to :ir.
Nichols, Was drowned. '; Vn,fat' sire)), and four fat pig:,
belonging to Mr. Williaipaathri. butcher, besides a great
number of store p'gs bOenging;st other persons, have
been lost. Walls, barni',Attklalcs,','she.ds, and outhouses of
all kinds, are every wher4. in 'ruins ; in short, such a
scene of desolation and Eaton as This village in particular
exhi;aits, is, we thank God, rarely witnessed in this coun-
try. An earthquake ceultWiut have caused greater devas-
tation.

Mr. LESLIE gave notice, that on the next Court-day
he should move that the name of every mover and se-
conder of a motion in the Court of Sewers should ap-
pear in the record of their proceedings, and that no
motion should be put from the Chair, except the same
should be reduced to writing, and signed by the mover
and seconder.

the case.
The CHAIR➢IAN raid, that as it was ❑ow so late, half-
pa: five, he shoed propose to adjourn, Mr. Leslie having
kindly consented to postpone the motion, of which he
had given notice, to some future opportunity.
The Court then adjourned.

THE LATE FLOODS.

On the warrant being handed round,
Mr. LESLIE objected to more than one person being
included in the warrant. He contend.id there ought to
be a separate warrant against each person.
Mr. BROUQIITON thought the practice would not hold
water, if the matter came to extremities.

BRENTFORD.

NEW BRENTFORD, THURSDAY EvENINc4,---The man
named Henry Correll, who was found on Sunday forenoon
on a bed in the cabin of his barge, apparently asleep, but
in reality insensible, and labouring under concussion of
the brain, is still alive, but from the dreadful injuries he
has received no hopes of his surviving are entertained. On
Tuesday night the culvert under the Grand Junction
Canal at Isbrwood burst and flooded the high-road to the
depth of sc‘eral inches, but happily did no further da-
mage. It has since been repaired. After the adjourn..
ment of the inquest yesterday on the body of William
Sruce, two other inquedts were held by Mr. Baker, the
Cormier, which arc connected with the recent calamity.
The first was held at the sign of the White Hart, in
Windmill-lane, OH Brcntford, on view of the body of
.11r. Charles Mar is, a market-gardener, residing in Brook-
lane, ad /3rentford. whose body was discovered on Mon-
day last in an armlet of the river Brent, near his own
residence.

It was ultimately agreed to rifer the matter to the
Solicitor to report upon.
Mr. Rose was then called in and appealed egainst the
assessment of the chapel in ‘Vestgate-street, Pimlico, on
the ground that the assessment was excessive.

The Surveyors, in the course of the examination of

this case admitted that if a piece of ground were occu-
pied by a dissenting chapel, and a similar piece of ground
occupied by a church, they should value the chapel at a
higher rate than the church, because the one was in-
:alienable and the other might be sold.
Mr. LESLIE objected to this mode, because it was
taxing people in fuluro, which the Court had no right
to do.

Capt. BAGUE moved that the rate on the premises
*bould be reduced from 9-11. to 701.

When some evidence had been taken, the Jury, after
some discussion, returned a verdict " That the deceased
was found drowned, but how he ezme into the water there
was evidence to show ;" expressing at the same time
their belief that it was purely accidental.
The second irquest was held at the sign of the George
and Dragon, at Brentford-end, on view of the body of Mr.
William Fowler, aged 69 years, an extensive wharfinger
and lighterman, residing at Brentford-end, three of whose
barges were sunk by the inundation on Sunday mornirg,
and who died on the evening of the same day. It was by
the evidence adduced clearly proved that the death of the
deceased, who was the master of William Spruce, had not
been accelerated by his loss, inasmuch as he was scarcely
conscious of it. He had for some years been ailing, and
for the last three weeks had not left the house. On Sun-
day afternoon be left his bed-room, when, a noise being
heard, he was fcund in a dying state, and before medical
assistance could arrive he t xpired. Verdict, " Natural
death."

Mr. LESLIE, on comparing this case with others,
thought that some persons were ill-used m that Court..
He should not take upon himself to propose any altera-
tion, because he denied the power of the Court to alter
the presentment.

Mr. WHITE wished to keep the rate at 941.
Mr. STARKE proposed an amendment that it be rated
at 55/.

At Winterbourne Stoke a great deal of damage is done,
one house, belonging to Mr. Poulton, is entirely de-
stroyed—furniture and all. Part of Mr. lie How's house,
the Bell, is down. Other houses have also suffered, as
well as walls and outbuildings.
At Elston the houses are not numerous, but with the
exception of Mr. Mills's and Mr. Leonard's, they are all
destroyed. A poor old woman, named Vallis, who live
in a covage near Mr. Mills's, and us ho• for years past has
beer, a pensioner of Mrs. Mills, and has had liar dinner
from that lady's table daily, was in a state of great alarm,
the water being several feet deep all round about her
dwelling ; Mrs. Mills also being very anxious about her,
Mr. Mills undertook to go to her, and after struggling in
the water, which in places was op to his chin, succeeded
in reaching the house, and in removing her fears ; the
house was built of brick, therefore it was in no danger of
falling.
At Orchcston three houses are down, besides much
damage to walls, outhouses, &c.
At Mtddington also much loss of property has been
sustained. The rise and fall of the water were remark-
ably sudden, not much above twelve hours having elapsed
between the commencement and the end of the flaod ; it
had attained its greatest height at from eight to ten o'clock
at night ; and at three o'clock in the morning the roads
were dry. Such a visitation was never before known. The
scene is said to have been awfully grand ; the whole valley
was filled with a mass of living rolling water.. extending
in length as far as the eye could reach, and in places nearly
half a mile in breadth. Fortunately the flood began during
the day ; had it commenced after the people had retired to
rest, the loss of life must have been dreadful, and many
head of cattle must have perished. The destruction of
buildings would also probably have been greater—as it is,
upwards of 300 of our follow-creatures are deprived of
house and home at this inclement season, and about sixty
houses have been destroyed.
We are happy to state that everything that can be
done for the immediate relief of the sufferers has been
done. The schoolroom at Maddington has been fitted
up for the reception of several of the destitute families.
Mr. Mills has taken into his own house as many as he
can find room for, and has turned some of his outbdild_
ings into temporary dwellings for those whose homes
are destroyed. All are doing their part—the clergy,
the gentry, the farmers, the cottagers—all, according to
their ability, are affording that relief which is so much
wanted. A local subscription has been set on foot, r.nd
about 300/. was quickly raised ; this will provide cloth-
ing ard food for a short time for the most necessitous,
but we hope and trust something on a large scale. suffi-
cient not only to relieve immediate wants, but to restore
those industrious persons who have lost so much, to their
former comfortable position, will be done. A subscription
list should be opened in every parish, and from the pulpit
of every church and chapel in the county we hope appeals
will be made to the charitable, for this purpose.
On Tuesday last inquests were held by Mr. Whitmarsh,
at Shrewton, en the bodies of three unfortunate persons
who lost their liVes in consequence of the flood on Satur-
day night. In each case verdicts of " Accidental Death"
were returned,

For the amendment
Against it
The Court then divided on the original motion, when
thete appeared—
For the motion .. .
Against it
Majority

Mr. Aveline, the Vestry Clerk of Paddington, ap-
pealed against the rate assessed on St. Mary's Church,
Paddington-green, but would not press cn that subject,
but would abide by the decision which might be come
to on the general question as to the liabi,ity of churches.
lie also appealed against the assessment on the watch-
house and vestry-room, and the alms-house and the na-
tional school, on the ground of excessive assessment.
Evidence having been gone into as to the value of these
respective properties, it was dc'ermined not to inter-
fere with the presentment of the jury.

SOUTH WILTSHIRE-DESTRUCTION OF
THIRTY-SIN HOUSES.

Oa Saturday last there appeared no extraordinary rising
of the waters_ in the locality cif Shrewton till about six
o'clock in the evening, when a deep body of water sur-
rounded those villages, which lie very low, and terror and
dismay seemed to oppress the spirits of every one. About
eig:it o'clock the scene baffled description ; the night was
(ark, the wind very boisterous, the roaring of the waters
dismal, and the falling of houses in ever,' direction with a
dreadful crash truly appalling ; and twenty-five houses,
in less than three hours, were consequently either total])
washed away or reduced to heaps of untenantable ruins.
Children were heard crying for their parents, and parents
for their children, and four hundred souls were left without
house or home. At i\laddington and Orchestmi, which
adjoins Shrewton, there were eleven houses destroyed,
snaking a tutal of thirty-six houses. The whole damage
done is more than 10,0001. A subscription has been set
on foot, and temporary dwellings made in the large school-
room at Shrewton, and also in barns at that place, for the
Nameless wretched sufferers, of whom there aro 400.

Mr. Torpey appeared on behalf of Mr. Owen, to ap-
peal against the rate assessed on Albert Chapel, in
College-street, Chelsea, on the ground of the chapel
being rated beyond its value.

Evidence having been gone into, the rating was con-
firmed.

A letter was rend from the trustees of Ranclagh
Chwet, complaining of being over-rated, but no one
was in attendance to support the appeal.
A letter from the Marylebone Vestry was read, stating
their willingness to abide by the decition of the Court
of Law on the question of the liability of churches to
be rated.

Mr. T. DYER wished to know if, in accord-
ance with the order of the Court, the Solicitor had
conferred with Mr. Butt the Vestry Clerk of St.
George's and St. Giles's, Bloomsbury, with regard to
the special case to be submitted to the C'urts of Law.
The SOLICITOR said that communications had passed
between himself and Mr. Butt, but that there had been
no et-inference.

Mr. T. DYER said that it ha I been represented
to him that the Vestry Clerks were by no means in-
clined to concur in drawing up a special case.
Mr. LESLIE never expected they would. Whoever
heard of a number of lawyers agreeing together, to
deprive themselves of business 2_

Mr. I. WHITE moved that the consideration of the
petitions be postponed until the Court had entered
into a consideration of the causes of the late calamitous
accident, attended with loss of lift, at Brantford.

Mr. WILLOUGHBY thought the emergency was not
sufficient to warrant a departure from the order laid
down on the business paper.

Mr. LESLIE thought it was quite disorderly to pro-
pose any amendment of that sort. Mr. White should
wait tit tit the other business of the Court was dis-
posed of. . .

Mr. ADEY suggested that the Chairman ought not
to put the question.
The CHAIRMAN determined that the proposition of
Mr. White was out of order, and could not be put ;
and the Court proceeded to consider the petitions.
Various persons appeared who had been summoned
for irregular drainage in parts of Chelsea.

The Solicitor for Chelsea Hospital requested a sum-
mons for certain witnesses to be called before the
traverse jury on Friday next.
The request was granted, and the subpoena issued.
The SOLICITOR reported that Mr. Bicknell had re-
fused to concur with the Court in having a view jury.
The CHAIRMAN said he should not, on that account,
forego the view which he considered necessary, and he
should, therefore, put the question.

Mr. LESLIE thought it ought to be left to the jury
to ask the view, and whet the Court had to do with
ordering it he could not imagine. The presentment
was by the jury, and he could not think why the Court
should interfere in regard to the view.

TUC C 1 AIRMAN said that in all similar cases a view
could be demanded by either party, and it appeared to
him that the jury could not fully judge the question
without viewing the premises.

The motian for a view jury was proposed, but not
being seconded it fell to the ground.
TIIC SOLICITOR said that out of respect to the Court
the Sheriff of Middlesex had applied to know whether
the Court wished for a special or a common jury.
Mr. LESLIE said that application was the conse-
quence of the ridiculous precept they had signed.
Mr. M ULLINS moved that he be requested to return
a proper jury.

M. v r. LESLIE said they had, under the advice of Mr.
' Ogle, summoned a traverse jury under Peel's Act. He
contended that was wrong ; the Sheriff could not un-
derstand them, and now wished them to commit them-
selves further. They ought to refer the Sheriff to the
Act of Henry VIII.
Mr. WlLLouctisY looked upon this act of the She-
riff as a mere act of courtesy.
The motion of Mr. Mullins was then put and carried.
Mr. T. DYER was anxious that whatever was done
should be entered on the minutes. They were now
about to enter upon a proceeding, the like of which
had not occurred for 150 years, and therefore it was ex-
tremely important that the Chairman should be well
advised so as to avoid every thing like irregularity in
the charge. He wished to know whether the assessor
wEis to attend as Asse2.sor on the part of the Court, er
as counsel to the Ch.lirman.

Mr. WILLOUGHLY Fad the Assessor Was the
Counsel to the Chairman, as the Chairman was the
organ of the Court.

Mr. LESLIE wished to know whether the Com-
missioners were to be gagged, whether he was to be
prevented saying anything, bewever wrong he might
think what was said by the Chairman or Assessor, be-
cause if such were the case, he should not come.
Could any Commissioner be stopped by Mr. Ogle ?
Were all the Commissioners to sit like dummies and
not make any observations ?
The CHAIRMAN said any Commissioner might put
any questions, but that they would be precluded from
making any observations.
Mr. LESLIE never heard any thing more preposte-
rous than that the members of the Curt should be
bound by
the charge if they dissented from it, and that
they should have no opportunitv ofexpres g tl:cirdissent.
Mr. ADEY did not envy the jerv, if '2OO Colaurns-
moneys had ail to speak. It was invariably the practice
for the pre.!-iding Judge to sum up alone. Unless some
rule were adopted, the Court on Friday would be a bear-
garden. They had a rule preventing Commissioners
from addressing juries.
Mr. T. DYER suggested that, tl. charge should be
submitted to the Counnisroners bc for,. b,,ti.g put to 'Aie
jury, and that, for this purpose, a CJurt he held previ-
ously to Friday. lie hoped no Commissioner would
ever interrupt a Chairman, but still the charge ought
to be submitted to the Court before it should be de-
livered.

Mr. ADEY wished to know how a charge coilld be
prepared until the evidence were heard.
The SOLICITOR said the course to be tli,en
he that he, ~is ,zoiicitor,
cihasaiet a.id erdl evide, .
do the same, and the Asscszor or cli4iitodn si,ould suin
up to the jury,