The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-19 00:00:00

WILTS, SOMERSET, AND WEYMOUTH
RAILWAY.

At a special meeting of the proprietors, held at Bath,
Sir John Awdry in the chair, Bills were approved for
constructing a railway from Bleadon to Blandford, with
a branch to Glastonbury ; a railway from Compton to
Wilton, with a branch to Gillingham; to make certain
alterations in the main line, and to authorise certain
agreements with the Great Western Company.

ALARMING FIRES AND NARROW ESCAPE.—Shortly
before midnight on Saturday a very alarming fire, by which
a young girl nearly lost her life, broke out upon the pre-
mises, numbered 107, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury.
It originated in the third floor, occupied by Mrs. IL Sov,
a milliner and dressmaker, and was occasioned thus :---It
appears that Mrs. Soy had placed her daughter Blanche,
a child about six or seven years of age, in bed, and had left.
a candle burning in the room. Some time after the girl had
been asleep she was awoke by a burning sensation in one
of her legs, and on rising found the bed she was sleep-
ing in in one complete blaze of fire, caused by a spark
from the candle lodging there. The child instantly jumped
out of bed and ran screaming down stairs, which brought
the inmates of the house to her assistance, who endea-
voured to subdue the flames, but without avail, for owing
to the firm hold they had then obtained they were pour-
ing out of the door with such fury as to threaten the en-
tire building with destruction. The residents, finding that
they were unable to extinguish the flames, sent for the en-
gines. In a very brief space of time the Royal Society for
the Protection of Life from Fire had one of their escapes at
the scene, and the engines from Crown-street and High Hol-
born stations followed immediately after. The firemen, after
considerable trouble, succeeded in getting the flames sub-
dued, not, however, until the whole of the furniture in the
apartment was spoiled, three other rooms on the same floor
fstior3n, i
war
e
the Scottish Union Fire-office. Yesterday, at noon, another
tdulani eninr'easiugnre'edd,d.aainnida'l7ete'd'o-occbu3o'pni:t.rahoteefrsieliceoUnondthfoderretaurron'oamwteisit3l.:,atMlsn su red i n
' eri
fire broke out at No. 3, Cole•street, Great Dover-road,
Southwark, belonging to Mr. John Hardinge, lucifer-match
manufacturer. It was caused by the overheat of the drying
stove at the back of the house, which set about 300 gross of
match splints in a blaze. Several of the inhabitants imme-
diately went to work, and succeeded in subduing the fire,
but not before the stock in the drying house was destroyed.
Some of the parties in rendering assistance were burned over
upset
the face. Mr. Harding was not insured.
a
FATAL evening' small
wherry,
ACClDENT.—Yesterday
Na y
s
contAaiCnCinlgDEsiNxT ;ers the Thlatmseesemotfs and a young woman namedA Anne Jervis, residing
Milbank,
at 42, Salamanca-row, Lambeth, was drowned.
thatboa t all
and h
ine ptahret
iyr
owxeerret
ounnss
tkoi
get oi nu t
the management of a
of the way of an ap-
proaching steamer the brother of the young woman who was
drowned dropped his scull in the
twhaeter, and in reaching after
upset the boat. The accident was orlbserrovseed7'riot
it fell overboard. The whole of
from
alarm,to
and they were saved with the exception of the female, whose
body has not been recovered.
TAE
—ORDEN NATIONAL TRIBUTE FUND.—Sinze
the last announcement, 978/. has been contributed to this
fund, including a sum of 2001. by Mr. James G. Marshall, of
Headingley House, near Leeds. The total amount of the
subscriptions, so far as advertised in Manchester, is now
61,6701.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
MALTA, APRIL s.—The Flamer, with the overland
London mails of the 25th ult., arrived on the 2d inst ,
but the Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamy;
Ripon having left Southampton one day later than
usual, only reached this on the morning of the 3d. She
was to hare proceeded to Alexandria at 7 P.M. the same
day, but after getting her mails on board, a leak was dis-
covered in the boiler, which took' them until the follow-
ing morning to repair, when at 10 o'clock they attempted
to move the engine in order to put to sea; but having
carried away a part of the machinery connected with
the steam-valves, the engines were found not to work,
and after having had them examined by the engineers,
it resulted that the repairs would occupy a week. Under
these circumstances, in order to avoid delay to all par-
ties concerned, the company's agent at Malta imme-
diately ordered the Ariel to get up her steam; and with
a degree of activity reflecting great credit on all parties
employed, the whole of the cargo, specie, passengers'
baggage, and passengers for Alexandria, the East Indies,
and China, were transhipped, with the exception of the
bale goods for Alexandria, which for want of room and
time were unavoidably left behind; but these will be
forwarded by the Ariel's next trip. The Flamer left for
Patras and the lonian Islands on the 3d, and at the same
time the Locust for the Piraeus of Athens, both vessels
carrying dispatches from England for the British
Minister at the Court of King Otho.
PORTSMOUTH, SIINDAY.—We are enabled to state, on
the best authority, that no court or courts martial will
take place on any officer of the Salamander, and that
that vessel was ordered to be paid off at Woolwich on
Friday last, and if not paid off yesterday, will most
probably be to-morrow. Since the 16th of March last,
when the Salamander returned from the Pacific, the
Admiralty have been engaged in sifting the numerous
ha utdh e thmeosrtesul
fragilet
is
eth°amtPtlhaeinirtsLoofrdb:htihpsofficacrenrsotanfidn dmeein'e,
„..rouenhdawraocrtker of hercm whichcapttoaifn.rame a charge prejudicial to
the
The Virago steam-sloop, Commander Lunn, was at
Gibraltar on the 4th inst.
The Hibernia, 104, Captain Richards, flag of Vice-
, Admiral Sir William Parker, K.C.8., with the Trafal-
gar, 120, Captain Nett ; the Canopus, 84, Captain
Moresby, C.B. ; the America, 50, Captain Sir S. Mait-
land; and the Phcenix steam-sloop, Commander Dennis,
were off Lisbon on the 10th.
The Gladiator steam. frigate, Captain Robb; the Nau-
tilus, 10, Lieutenant-Commander Western, were off
Oporto on the 11th.

The Superb, 80, Captain Corry, was cruising off Cape
Finisterre on the 12th, steering southward.
1 he Polyphemus, steam. sloop, Commander M'Cleverty,
is reported by the Montrose, which arrived at South-
ampton on Friday night, to have let t Lisbon for England
on the 9th inst.

The Eagle, 50, Captain H. B. Martin, C. 8., is ordered
from Monte Video to Lisbon, to augment the squadron
under Sir William Parker.

The Geyser steam sloop, Commander F. T. Brown,
will come into harbour to-morrow to fit for foreign ser-
vice—it is reported, in China.
The Herefordshire transport arrived at Halifax on the
2d inst., in sixteen days from Barbadoes, with the 23d
Regiment on board ; she was to embark the 89th for
England. On her passage to Halifax she had expe-
rienced extremely foul weather, and had been thrown on
her beam-ends.

The Hon. John Rodney, the oldest captain in the world,
having held that rank in the British navy for sixty-seven
years, died at Boulogne-sur-Mer on the 9th inst. He was
third son, we believe, of the celebrated Rodney, who
fought the French fleet under the Comte de Grasse. In
September and October, 1780, he was midshipman, lieu-
tenant, commander, and captain, in the service, all within
the space of six weeks. He was tried by court-martial
and broke, was re-instated; but never rose afterwards.
The Recruit, 12 (iron), Commander Slade, was docked
yesterday to have her bottom cleaned, and it was full
time. Although this vessel has been in cbmmission only
nine months, and has been docked twice before this for
the same purpose, the growth of weeds upon her was
truly astonishing, forming a thick cluster just below the
line of flotation, more resembling a luxuriant crop of
grass in a field than the bottom of a brig of war.
The African steam-tug, and Drake lighter, came back
yesterday from Brook with the flat and boats, having
succeeded in recovering the guns, &c., belonging to the
Sphynx.

The Berkshire, dismasted, from Sydney, left this
morning in tow of the Sir William Wallace, and another
tug. for the Thames.

The officers and crew belonging to the Apollo troop-
ship, Commander Radcliffe, who were during the refit-
ment of their own ship at Sheerness employed in navi-
gating the Euryalus convict depot to Gibraltar, came
from that port to Devonport in the Inconstant frigate.
They were subsequently, on the arrival of the Dee
steam•transport from Ireland, transhipped to her for
passage to this port. Part proceeded by railway, and
the remainder were put on board the Myrtle steamer
yesterday, and taken to Sheerness to rejoin their ship,
which is nearly ready for sea, having been refitted by
the dockyard riggers.
The following mates have passed their examination for
lieutenants at the Royal Naval College during the past
week :—Messrs. John Henry Howard, Henry Anson
Ford, Henry Samuel Hamilton, Norman Bernard Bed-
dingfield, and John James Onslow.
During the past week the Admiralty have conferred
the following

APPOINTMENTS.
Lieutenants—C. 0. H. P. St. John, of the Excellent,
to the Albion ; W. N. L. Lockyer, of the Albion, to the
Excellent ; Frederick Marryat (who exerted himself so
admirably in the endeavour to extricate the Sphynx
when ashore), and Francis Brooke, to the Avenger ;
Thomas A. Swinburne. and Samuel Fuwell, to the Bull-
dog ; Edward Barnard, to the Vindictive.
Masters—William Archer, the Avenger ; John Cole•
borne, to be Chief Officer in the Coast Guard Service.
Paymaster and Purser.—C. H. Jones, to the Avenger.
Surgeons.—J. 11. Steele, to the Caledonia, for service
in the Avenger ; A. R. Bradford, to the Albion, vice
Tarn ; G. A. Munro, to the Growler ; T. H. Keuwn, to
the Crocodile.
___ _

Second Master—W. Betts, to the Avenger.
Assistant-Surgeon—B. Delany, to the Avenger.
Midshipmen—Graham Eden, to the Queen ; R. A.
Stupart, to the Sidon ; G. W. Rice, to the Vindictive ;
F. H. Sterling, to the St. Vincent ; W. H. Neste, to the
Recruit.

Clerk—J. A. Messum, to the St. Vincent.
Masters' Assistants—T. Bower, to the Caledonia ;C.
Renny, S. Libby, and J. Molloy, to the William and
Mary yacht.

Naval Cadets—H. J. Challis, late of the Sphynx, to
he Queen ; and F. F. Waddington, to the Bulldog.
ROYAL MARINES.

Captain Thomas Fraser, First Lieutenant J. E. W.
Lawrence, and Second Lieutenant Arthur Charles Steel,
of the Woolwich Division, have been appointed to the
Artillery Corps at Portsmouth ; First Lieutenant H.
Timpson, to the Avenger.

Wonwictr, APRIL 17. Captain Henry Mangles
Denham, Royal Navy, F.R.S., who has been recently
investigating the steam-vessel accidents in Ireland, com-
mencing with the loss of the Sirius steamer, and those
that have occurred in England since the passing of the
recent Act of Victoria, chap. c., opened his inquiry
yesterday touching the collision of the Royal Victoria
and Albert steam-yacht with the Rose.
_ _

The ship Venice sailed from Liverpool with 170
passengers, twelve of whom ditd on the passage to
Boston.

TIER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Their Royal High-
nesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended by
Lady Augusta Cadogan, Baron Knesebeck, and Mr. Edmund
St. John Mildmay honoured the performances at her Ma-
jesty's Theatre, on Saturday evening, with their presence.
In their Royal Highnesses' box were the Marqais and Mar-
chioness of Douglas; in her Majesty's box were the Hon.
Miss Las.celles, Lady Caroline Leveson Gower and party.
pati :on eildner
01:' Taylor.a Majesty
dl3iisL Excellency
the Louisa
isa
ThereQWarren,tieNrnetriDeeoat'l Dowager's
gulseisroi present,'ans
n.bi%oi Minister,xi stshw eiPs itrocinhccetuhel occupied
Louisie"d4b
BaronessyCl ap r-:
Bruno; v, and Mademoiselle Olga de Leaner, the Duke and
Duchess of Montrose, the Marquis and Marchioness of Douro.
lirtlhoef3Blaerl--
qtbueisl%offarcqiuniviitalrldue,ntltely,e.
Earlthe AolfaLrqoiniissdoafieD, otnheegarl
Bel-
fast, the Countess of Blessington and Miss Power, the Earl
of Munster, the Earl of Falmouth, the Earl of Cardigan,
the Earl of Chesterfield, the Earl of Strathmore, Viscount
and Viscountess Maidstone and Lady Adelaide Paget, Vis-
count Cantilupe, Count D'Orsay, Viscount Torrington, Baron
Reliausen, M. de Couttu, Lord and Lady Templemore, Lord
Charles Wellesley, Lord and Lady Francis Gordon,_ Lady
Fitzroy Somerset and Miss Somerset, the Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor and Lady Carroll, Lady Woodford and Miss
Woodford, Lady Jervis, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lady Dormer,
Lord Nugent, Count de Courcv, Sir R. Vivian, Sir Ralph and
Lady Howard, Sir Henry Webb, Bart., General Sir Andrew
Barnard, Sir Bellingham and Lady Graham, Hon. Cecil
Forester, Hon. Frederick Cadogan and Lady Honoria Cado-
gan, Hon. Adolphus Chichester, Hon. Mrs. Chichester. Mr.
C. de Koudriatisky, Mr. Brenton Trelawney, M.P., and Miss
Trelawney, Mr. Stewart, M.P., &c.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—Her Majesty and his
TheatrePritlce
onA Albert
rhdoanvoluasretdth withe ptherefiorrmpraensecnecaet.
Lcoa-rdp..
CRllooev3;eaMnlta.lijesaigrthsd-enwnesas attended by the Countess of Mount-Edge-
Gtheeneiriaoln.llMTeimssyKss,ertrh'ethHeonn.oCna.pAtaiiisnsGCoardvoennd, Cavendish,
tßeaulymnrobßncerkelev Drummond. There were also present his Ex-
cellency the Belgian Minister and Madame Van de Weyer,
Marquis Duke d e Satna
dc k po
Marchionessl e, Countn
eßaronester
,s da
ieti
hs,le). u
tthzee
Countessn the,vja r.
Dowager of EssiNe,axirs,leotuhinleireu:Cseo,untess de
the Earl of Strathmore, Earl Grosvenor, Viscount Miourpnsetterh,
DttihnecannEoanrl lorifccoul‘nt and
o:iseLoui7tr"ani'd
Viscountess Ebringt 0
Templetown, Lord n Viisocrocr
HtleesinsryGileenn'tsnvooxrt:hiLlp7.i,se4unrdt
Alexander Lennox,_ Lord Anson,Geol.-,
Lady Ashburton, Lads' Lvndligt'
111. p., and Lady Moleswo-rth, I a.:4
Williams, Lady Caroline Lii sarinsil.Lordi‘Si Somerville,
Jodrell, the Lashes Primrose,,i i
Drummond,
o eswortad ,
:.
(II
L,
, Harrieti
Macfarlane,
ttichard Cu- , the lon. Miss Copley, Hon.
,z, n, lion. F. Byron, Hon. Spencer Cowpnr, Hon.
A. D. Willoughby, the Hon. Dawson Darner, M.P., and Mrs.
Dawson Darner, Hon. John Fortescrie, Hon. Sir Edward and.
Lady Butler, Hon. Colonel and Mrs. Fitzgibbon, Sir F.
Trench, M.P., Sir Bellingham Graham, Sir Charles and Lady
'1 -(3 , L__adyy
Cecilia De Veaux, Sir W. Clayton, Sir Andrew Leith Hay,
Sir John H. Lowther. Sir William Abdey, Sir Charles lb-
botson, Sir Charles Kent, Sir William and Ladv de Bathe,
Sir Jasper and Lady Atkinson, Sir Augustus Porster, Zit
John Johnstone, Sir George Wombwell, &c.
SECOND AMATEUR PERFORMANCE FOR TEE BENE-
FIT OF THE PIIINTEIZS' PICCSION SOCIETY.—we have great
pleasure in drawing attention to a performance, which is to
take place on Saturday next at the Olympic Theatre, for the
benefit of the above excellent institution. me pieees selected
for the occasion are the comedy of the Poor Gentleman and
Luke the Labourer, together with a variety of singing and.
dancing.
EXTENSIVE
ROBBERY.—On Saturday the counting-
house of James Morrison and Co., No. 28, St. Mary-at-Hint
Thames-street, was plundered of a tin cash-box, containing
60 South-Eastern Railway shares, 25 Taff Vale Railway
shares, and 10 Paris and Lyons; 3721. in notes and bills of
exchange, as well as several3,d an
bill stamps,
co.,andstamps,signed
and Co., payable Jones not filled J.
MorrisonuLo