The Sun.
London, England, 1847-08-09 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

Captains—G. W. C. Courtenay, of the Endymion, to
succeed Captain Sir B. Walker, in command of the Con-
stance, 50; and the Hon. G. F. Hastings, to succeed to
the command of the Endymion; but should Captain
Courtenay prefer remaining in the Eudvmion, Captain
Hastings will proceed to the Pacific, and take the com-
mand of the Constance; J. H. Plumridge, to the Cam-
brian, to succeed Sir H. Blackwood, as Commodore of
the second class of the squadron in India ; P. W. P.
Wallis, to be Aid-de-Camp to the Queen, Tice Sir T.
Fellowes.
Lieutenants—H. Stewart, to the Crocodile, for ser-
vice in the Adventure tender ; and Edward Maxey, to
the Coast Guard,
Surgeons— W. Folds, to bo surgeon of Devonport
Dockyard ; James Wilson, to the Royal Sovereign
yacht, vice Folds ; Dr. John Robertson, to the Caledonia,
vice Wilson ; Charles R. Kinnear, to be superintendent
of the Cadet, convict ship ; Hugh T. S. Beveridge, to
the Imaum.
Second Masters—J. Parsons, to the Odin; N. S. Sea-
brooke, to the Antelope, steam-packet.
Mate—John J. Onslow, to the Trincomalee.
Assistant-Surgeon—James Henry, to the An
Z.
Antelope.
Clerks—Alexander Thompson, to the Sidon ; Z
Blaney, in charge, to the Antelope ; E. A. Rowe, to
Trincomalee; John Burke, to the Amphitrite.
Midshipmen—J. D. M'Crea and George Elliot, to the
Victory; Robert Beaumont, to the Trincomalee.
Naval Cadets—Charles Henry Carpenter, to the Hi-
bernia ; Frederick W. Hallowes, to the Trincomalee.
Masters' Assistants—John Ross Allen, son of Master
Commander Allen, of the tindine yacht, to the Trinco-
malee ; Charles T. Williamson, to the Fury ; J. E.
Whitehouse, to the Scourge ; Thomas Spencer Hay-
ward, to the San Josef.

STATUE or Ilusicissota. The statue of this once
.
eminent statesman has at length found a resting place.
Workmen are now employed
inditte north side of the
ing the foundation
n for the monument on the area at
Custom House, immediately opposite
the greatestofSouth Castle-
street,e
Liverpool. A more appropriatete centre
site
e could not,
ne of we think, have been chosen, being in
h
commercial transactions, and onetheuor-
zaughfares in the town. The statue, we believe, is a
metal cast of the marble one by Gibson. The position
of the figure is well suited for an open-air monument,
having all the lines boldly and well defined. The left
hand of the statesman is resting on his right breast,
which is left bare by the drapery thrown over the lett
shoulder. The right hand is placed upon the right hip,
the leg being thrown forward. The head of the figure
is left bare. When completed, which, it is considered,
it will be a for night hence, it will be a pleasing addition
to that portion of the Revenue- buildina-s, and will,
doubtless, tend to the relief of that too dull' and heavy
structure. The figure, which is nine feet six inches
high, will stand upon a base and pedestal, composed of
granite, nine feet hi h. '
—Liverpool Mercury.
DECAY OF BUILDIN
iv a fine old church, Gs fIN COVENTRY.—St. Michael's
much requiring repair ant large size
(sittirgs for 2,500),
built of old red sandstone, and
Externally it is
part, especially where the smoke
every line of the lower
by decay. This is the case w'stillas effeet, is obliterated
in Coventry, and it is greatly to
umbost of the buildings
some cases where restorations are ate regretted that in
stone is used. Experience does notttted the same
Mary's Hall, the meetiii•l; place of the c always teach. St.
very curious building, is, like other struecrtpueration, and a
miserable state of decay. According to thers here, in a
charge of the hall, " It is not open, but we personshow
it in
The interior of the hall is perpendicular, and has a good
timber roof.—The Builder.
BADGE OF THE "INDEPENDENT" PARTY (7)—The
oak leaf, combined with ears of wheat, will be worn by
the supporters of Lord Granville Somerset at the ensuing
etection.—Monmoutlad •:, lierlin.

THE SUN,

TERRIFIWCOREAPINLOLASMI3T.LITHO. F FIRE- .
Saturday afternoon, shortly after one o'clock, an
ex-
plosion
of
a fearfulprope r
tcyl character, ra ancdt e
itr i s
,
fatal with
destruction
conse-
quences to one of the workmen, occurred upon the
premises belonging to Mr. Darby, Pyrotechnic artist,
Situate at No. 98, Regent-street, Lambeth-walk. The
premises in question, although little could be seen from
1 the street, occupied
.a considerable space. They ex-
tended from the front dwelling-house nearly 100 feet
back, and were adjoined on either side by numerous
workshops and private houses, and when the terrific
force of the explosion is taken into consideration, it is
surprising that the work of destruction was not far more
extensive than it really has been.
From inquiries made upon the spot the following par-
ticulars were obtained from Mr. Darby, and may there-
fore be relied upon :—lt appears that at the time
before stated, a number of the workmen were engaged
in the several compartments of the factory, when on
a sudden the entire neighbourhood was thrown into a
state of confusion by a noise resembling the discharge
of artillery. At the same time many of the houses
in the immediate vicinity of Regent-street were shaken
to their foundations. The windows and roofs were
considerably damaged, and in two or three buildings the
inmates were hurled from one side of their rooms to the
other. At first it was generally believed that some
convulsion of nature had taken place, and it is impos-
sible accurately to describe the scene that followed. In
an instant a thousand or two of rockets shot forth from
Mr. Darby's factory high into the air; these were fol-
lowed by sundry other fierce explosions, which had
barely subsided when volumes of black smoke and large
sheets of flame were to be seen curling over the roofs of
the surrounding houses. It then became manifest that
the mischief had taken place in Mr. Darby's premises,
and forthwith an express was dispatched for the assist-
ance of the firemen.
With all possible expedition, the parish, West of
England, and five of the London Brigade engines,
reached the spot, at which time the whole of Mr.
Darby's back premises, with the exception of the powder
magazine, were blazing, and so were the workshops ad-
joining, belonging to Mr. Dalling, an engineer. Fortu-
nately, an abundant supply of water was immediately
obtained from the mains of the Lambeth Company, and
the engines were forthwith set to work, under the direc-
tion of Mr. Hambleton and Mr. Connorton. Before,
however, a drop of water could be thrown upon the
flames, they had communicated to the front dwelling;
and there is no doubt that, had it not been for the ex-
traordinary exertions of the firemen, this place would
also have been levelled with the ground. As it is, the
whole of the back windows are demolished, and several
of the rooms severely injured by fire. After some time
the firemen got the mastery over the flames, when a
most desolating sight presented itself—the whole of the
work-rooms in the rear, together with a two story store
house, were razed to the ground, and thousands upon
thousands of rocket-cases were to be seen amidst the
ruins.
The total loss is very considerable; it is the opinion of
Mr. Darby that the fireworks alone destroyed were
worth 2,0001. How the disaster occurred is wrapped in
mystery. The general opinion of the workmen is, that
it was occasioned by a workman taking a piece of hot
metal into one of the rooms. That party is so severely
injured as to be obliged to be removed to the Hospital.
Besides the great destruction of property at Mr.
Darby's, the following buildings have sustained damage:
—Garden place, 1,2, 3,4, 5, and 6, window glass de-
molished and roofs of premises severely damaged; Mr.
Dalling, engineer, 97, Regent-street, back of dwelling-
house and workshop severely damaged by fire.
Several of the houses some distance off are also
slightly injured by the shock. It is a most fortunate
circumstance that only an hour or two before the acci-
dent occurred a week's supply of fireworks was sent off
to Vauxhall gardens.
LATEST PARTICULARS.
Upon making inquiries, yesterday afternoon, it was
ascertained that the young man, John Davis, who was
taken to Guy's Hospital, although seriously injured, is
likely to recover. It was at first thought that he bad
inhaled the hot sulphurous vapour emitted from the fire-
works, but it his since been learned that such was not
the ease, and it is the opinion of the house surgeon, at
the Hospital, that no fatal consequences need now be
apprehended. Every person who has since visited the
premises have expressed their astonishment at the fire
being so soon extinguished and without any person em-
ployed on the works being killed. Every man at work,
when the explosion took place, had very narrow escapes.
One party, on hearing the discharge, ran out of his
workship and jumped over the yard wall, and it was ex-
ceedingly fortunate that he did, for in less than two
se,:onds after he had left, the shop was blown into a mis-
shapen mass of ruins. Had it not been for the prompt
attendance of the engines and firemen, and the immediate
supply of water that was furnished by the LambethWorks,
the whole of the front dwelling-house, together with the
stock therein, would have been levelled with the ground.
When they arrived the fire had extended to the goods in
the back parlour and kitchen, and it was at great per-
sonal risk that the firemen entered the house with their
hose, and by following up the flames, they happily suc-
ceeded in arresting the farther progress of this most
fearful and destructive element. Women and children
who were standing in the contiguous yards, although
surrounded with bricks and rubbish that were hurled
i from Mr. Darby's premises, strange as it may appear,
not one of them received any personal injury. Sub-
joined is a copy of the official report of the mischief
done .
Regent-street, Lambeth-walk.-98, Mr. H. W. Derby,
firework-maker ; two workshop and stock in trade
therein destroyed by fire and explosion. Two others
damaged by fire, and windows burned out. Store-rooms
blown down. Back parlour, kitchen, and back front of
dwelling-house severely damaged by fire and explosion.
Several squares of glass broken, and one man injured
and taken to the Hospital. Buildings and contents not
insured. Cause of explosion unknown. Ditto, ditto,
97, Mr. J. Dalling, engineer. About one-third of roof
of workshop destroyed, and contents damaged by water;
a number of squares of glass broken. Ditto, ditto, 96,
E. Perry, private. Window glass in back front broken.
Ditto, ditto, 95, G. Bonewell, similar damage to premises.
The whole of the parties are uninsured.

t

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 9, 1847.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, Aug. 7.
A bankrupt, named Vander Vyer, a merchant in
Crutched-friars, applied for his certificate. He had
been in business three years, and owed about 3,5001.,
with nothing for his creditors. He was opposed on the
part of three French houses and one American house.
The complaint was, that when he was in embarrassed
circumstances he had obtained clover-seed and linseed
cakes to about 2,0001. from his foreign creditors, on
which he had raised money, and had only made pay-
ment to one house, in order to obtain other goods. It
appeared that all the capital the bankrupt possessed
when he commenced business was 1531. It was urged
against him that he had cheated the foreign houses, and
that the interests of commerce required that his certifi-
cate should be refused. _

On the part of the bankrupt it was admitted that it
was a case for a suspension. The inexperience of the
bankrupt (22 when he embarked as a merchant) was
relied upon in mitigation.
Mr. Commissioner HOLIWYD said he had serious
doubts about refusing the certificate. Almost a robbery
had been committed, and the excuse offered would not
avail. As it was, the case required a long suspension,
and his judgment was, that the certificate be suspended
from the present occasion, without protection, for a
period of three years.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.--Warwick, August 7.

CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.)
MURDER AT BIRMINGHAM.—Peter Leonard, a man
aged about 43, was placed at the bar charged with the
wilful murder of Margaret Leonard, his wife, on the
14th of May last.
Mr. WILLMORE stated very briefly the case to the
jury, and then called the following witnesses:—
Helena Ball—l am the wife of Jonathan Ball, of
Lock-street, Birmingham. Knew the wife of the pri-
soner, and knew the prisoner and his wife for twelve
months. They lived in Tanter-street, and were un-
happy together. I have seen him kick her several times
since March. On the Wednesday before the event oc-
curred I was going to see my father in-law, who livedltwo
doors past their house, when I heard the prisoner call
his wife very bad names, and say he would finish her
before the week was out. On the Friday after that, and
' the day before the event occurred, I heard the prisoner
and his wife quarrelling, and he calling her bad names.
Mary May—l live at 34, Tanter-street, and have
known the prisoner and his wife for three years, having
lived opposite for that time. They lived quietly to-
grther except when they were tipsy. On the Bth of
May, about half-past seven in the morning, I saw the
prisoner and deceased go into their house as I sat at
the window. They appeared to be intoxicated, and
were staggering as they walked along. They went into
the house and shut the door. My window was open,
and after they got in I heard the prisoner cursing and
calling the deceased bad names. He said, " Get out, you
—; get me some coals, and make me some breakfast."
She answered, " I will Peter." This was all I heard.
About ten minutes past eight o'clock the prisoner came
to my door, while Mrs. Forty was with me. The street
is very narrow. He said, " Will you come over to my
house, and get Margaret out of the cellar? I have shoved
her down there; but passion is the devil." Mrs. Forty
and I went over directly. Upon going into the house
the first thing we saw was a large pool of congealed
blood on the kitchen floor, about a pint. The cellar door
was shut. I opened it, and Mrs. Forty and I went down,
but could see nothing till we got a light. We then saw
the deceased lying with her two feet on the two lowest
steps and her body stretched out, and her head doubled
up under her right shoulder. ller face was covered with
congealed blood, and there, were also pools of blood on
the cellar floor. We asked the prisoner to come and help
her up, but he said, " No; let the devil lie and die."
He sat on the chair by the door while we carried the de-
ceased up. He seemed soberer then than when he carne
home. Mrs. Forty washed the blood off deceased's face,
and we got it off the floor. The deceased was insensible
all the while, and the blood was flowing from her ears.
I then asked the prisoner if he would let her have some-
thing to put under her head, as she was groaning heavily.
lie said, " No;" and when they asked if they should
put her to bed, he said, " No; let the be. If she
don't stop her gruntine, I.will give her as much as I have
given her already." Ile then went up stairs, and on
hearing them talk of sending fbr a doctor, he came
down. One of us then went for Mr. Bunn, the surgeon,
who ordered the deceased to be put to bed. I then went
home and did not sue her till next day, when the de-
csased was ordered by the club doctor, Mr. Kemp, to
be taken to the hospital, as she was still insensible.
The prisoner said he had no money ; but Mr. Kemp
lent him some money. A car was fetched, and Mr.
Kemp took the deceased to the hospital, the prisoner re •
maining at home.
Mrs. Forty was then examined, and gave evidence
substantially similar to that of the preceding witness.
John Taylor—l live in No. 4 court, Tanter-street, in
the house adjoining that of the prisoner. We can hear
in one house what is going on in the other. Between
seven and eight, on the Bth, I heard the prisoner say—
"lf you don't get up, you —, I'll knock your brains
out. I'll murder you." He repeated these words a time
or two, when she said, " Peter, don't murder me—don't
murder me, Peter ;" and he said, "So help me God I
will if you don't get up." In about a minute I heard the
woman tumbled down the cellar, the door slammed, and
the prisoner say, "Lie there you ." The woman
groaned once. That was all I heard.
James Ileades—l live at 19, Soutcr-street. I knew
the deceased and the prisoner. Between seven and eight
o'clock on the Bth of May, as I was coming up the pri-
soner's entry to my work, I heard loud talking in the
house between the prisoner and_ his wife. I went and
peeped through the keyhole, and saw the deceased lying
on the fluor and bleeding from the mouth. She was
saying, "Peter, Peter, don't kill me !" and he said,
"Yes, I will, you Get up end fetch me some coal
to make a fire, and get me some breakfast." I then went
to the window. The curtains were drawn on each side,
and I saw the prisoner stand over the deceased with a
dinner-knife nuseapri- said,
,e h n fsel inte m washeis getl hand,
uunpgd:, " Get up, you
paun d
the - saying
floor. "Peter, Peter,"
I'll fetch you some coal."
she
She then sat up on the floor. The prisoner was behind
her, and he put his arm round her neck, and lifted her
on her feet. She then went towards the cellar, and
reeled against the pantry-door, the prisoner pushing her
behind. He then gave her a push on getting to the
cellar door, and pushed her down. He then shut the
I then told what
Mr. MACAULEY then addressed the jury on behalf of
dlohourd, andse seen
said,to my "Lai ue ut.
there,
you
the prisoner. Ise proceeded to say that he was not
there to say that a grievous offence had not been com-
mitted;
but that he had no doubt that the jury would
find that the prisoner had not been guilty of the capital
crime,
however
served. He then commented on the evidence, showing
that it was rather improbable that any man who wished
to commit a murder would do so in the midst of a nu-
merous population, and with every act open to the eyes
of any man who might choose to look; and that the
prisoner's conduct, although undoubtedly brutal, was
nothing more than usual, and was no evidence whatever
of the intention of the prisoner to do fatal injuries
to his wife. lie then called two witnesses; the first,
named
James Brookes, who keeps a coffee-shop in Tenter-
street, said he knew the prisoner and his wife for more
than eleven years. There " were not better people on
earth" than the prisoner and his wife when they were
sober. He never lifted up a hand to touch her. Mrs.
Brookes, the wife of the last witness, gave similar evi-
dence.
His LORDSHIP charged the jury. If they believed
that he did push her down stairs with the intention of
killing, then they must bring in a verdict of murder. If
they had any doubt as to the last supposition, they would
give it to the prisoner, and bring in a verdict finding him
guilty of manslaughter.
The jury, after consulting for a few minutes, brought
in a verdict of Manslaughter.
His LORDSHIP then, after a most impressive address,
sentenced the prisoner to be transported for the term of
his natural life. .
CIVIL SlDE.—(Before Lord DENMAN and a Special
Jury.)
LONDON V. DALE.--RAILWAY

This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a civil
engineer, against the defendant, an independent gentle-
man, residing at Cheltenham (the chairman of the pro-
visional committee of the projected Trent Valley Conti-
nuation Railway), to recover upwards of 7501. for work
and labour done.
Mr. Whitehurst, Mr. Humfrey, and Mr. He
were
counsel for the plaintiff ; Mr. Waddington and Mr.
Barlow for the defendant.
The principal witness called was Mr. John Smith,
solicitor, of Birmingham, who deposed that he was solici-
tor to the company, and that by order of the provisional
committee, of which the defendant was the chairman, he
made an engagement with the plaintiff to take a survey
of the line at the rate of 301. per mile. The survey was
made, and the maps duly prepared. Mr. Smith admitted
that he had himself a bill against the company, and that
he had adddressed a letter of demand against every
member, the defendant amongst the rest.
Lord DENMAN, in summing up, thought the case an
extremely clear one. The order was given by the de-
fendant, as the chairman of a small body, of which each
member was equally liable. It was a fallacious idea to
suppose that there was any particular hardship in a plain-
tiff selecting any one particular.individual as responsible
br the debt owing to him, as it was the duty of every
person entering into such undertakings to see that
his colleagues were equally competent and respon-
sible with himself. The best way, in his opinion, for
parties when they found the speculation in which they
embarked was unsuccessful, was to meet together and
come to some equitable settlement; but if they did not
to
so, persons claiming against them had a perfect right
to adopt any legal means for the enforcement of the claim.
The plaintiff in this case could make any of the members
of the committee who acted with him contribute to the
I oes which he sustainQd
Verdict for the plaintiff: for the full amount sought to
1)e recovered.

ETHELL L, 3IEREDITII,-,UREACH OF PROMISE OF
MkRRIAGE.

This was an action brought to recover compensation in
damages for a breach of promise of marriage.
Laid the plaintiff, Mr.
Mr. MILLER opened the pleadings.
114 r. WurrFaturisT,
Stephen lichen, was do upholsterer
in stating the case to the jury,
Laidi,nd dealer in furniture, carrying on bu,iness in Ann-
street, Birmingham, and the defendant, a lady, residing
.
with her brother in the village of Yardley, near that
t ,wn. The action. was . brought to recover da-
tnag,es for breaking promise •of marriage with-
cut any reason being assigned for the non-fulfilment
of her engagement. The parties were not acquainted
with each other until the July of last year,
when an intimacy was formed at the house of Mr.
Thomas Ethell, a nephew of the plaintiff. Mr. Stephen