The Sun.
London, England, 1823-10-21 00:00:00

DREADFUL CATASTROPHE.

(Farther Particidort.l
WHITEII A V EN.—A most, rodatieholy accident
happened last Monday evening in the William Pitt (Colliery),
near Whitehaven, occasioned by an explosion of fire-damp; in
consequence of which thirty-two persons were unfortunately
killed, viz. fourtetri men, sixteen boys, and two girls. Seven-
teen Loma were also killed. It is impossible to ascertain the
particulars of this terrible catastrophe. That the explosion
was occasioned by an accumulation of fire-damp, is almost
all that is certainly known. The sufferers were employed in
division of the workings where the !inks are to be taken out :
around these the ventilation was excellent, and regularly kept
up, and there was not even an appearance of fire-demp, except
in the fractured parts of the workings in those places where
the pillars had been xemoved, arid into which there was no ne-
cessity for any of the workmen to enter. Every precaution on
the part of the overmen was regularly taken. The colliers
were strictly enjoined to use the Davy safety lamp ; but alas !
familiarity with 'danger commonly engenders a contempt t'or
it ; ard it now appears that some individual had disregarded
the injunctions which were repeatedly issued for the general
benefit. The unfortunate sufferers had nearly completed
their day's work, and in less than half an hour would have
lel: the pit. Id what manner, or by whose means, the damp
was ignited, must for ever remain a Secret ! not a single in-
dividual of those who were employed in that putt of the
workings is left to tell the mournful tidings. It is already
observed that a number of howl are killed, and it may
here be added that some of their drivers escaped in a
manner almost miraculous. In recording the above me-
lancholy event, it may not be irrelative to mention a re-
markable coincidence of names and circumstances which oc-
curred some years since in the County of Durham. On the
Liam Pit, a coal mine' at Felling Colliery, by which 92 persons
26th May, 11312,a tremendous explosion took place in the Wil.out of 124 lost their lives, and 32 were saved; being the exact
number of those who have perished in the IrVilliern Pit at
Whitehaven.—(Carlide Journal.)

NIIWCASTLE•UPON.TYPIE..—EDWARD JOHN
JACK lON, Eq. was imanimously elected Sheriff
of Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Tuesday last, vice
E. JonssoN, Esq. resigned. The bells rang
merrily on the occasion. On Wednesday, the
day following, the Michaelmas Sessions were
held. The dinner given on the occasion, at the
Mansion.house, by WILLIAM WRIGHT, Esq.
(the new Mayor) is the theme of ge
bation,--there was
.o.n elegant and well filled
neral appro.
table, with every thing in season, and excellent
wines. The company
sat together enjoying the
social board till a late hour.

Our Express from Paris yesterday enabled us
to anticipate the intelligence since received in
usual course, and there are no arrivals from
France by Express to-day. In our preceding
columns, however, we have given some
further extracts from the Paris Papers.—
The subjoined letter from Xeres de la Frontera
is interesting, and confirms much of the reasoning
which we have submitted to our Readers on the
present posture of Spanish affairs
XXI= DE a;. FIIOWTERA, OCT. 4.—As I had nothing
particular to arrange which demanded my immediate re.
turn to Cadiz, I decided upon accompanying his Majesty on
his journey towards Madrid, and observe the feeling expressed
by the people of the interior, respecting the recent political
change. Of that manifested by the inhabitants of Port Saint
Mary's, my letter of the 2d inst. will have acquainted you.
" Our journey here was one of triumph ; all the Smiles,
Faithful, and French, seemed to vie with each other in expres.
sions of loyalty and attachment to the Royal Family. Our
retinue was composed of the heads of Departments, the pri-
soners who had been under arrest at the Caracas, or arsenal,
for' factious" conduct and opinions, as well as those con-
cerned in the assassinations of Cadiz on the 12th March, 11120.
—Pantisco, the old factious guerilla leader ; Guerra, the
noted robber, now a Colonel of the Faithful; the Prior of the
Convents of La Victoria,-La Merced, St. Juan Dios, and many
of the Holy Brethren ; about UM of the Royal Spanish Guard,
under Cordova (who much distinguished himself in the affair
of Cadiz above-mentioned), a detachment of the Royal Cara-
bineers, under Espinosa, who commanded them on the 7th
July, and is now promoted to the rank of Major-General, a
considerable French force, Infantry, cavalry, and artillery,
commanded by Count Bourbon Bouvet, and all the rabble of
the place.

" On our approach to Xeres, a deputation from the Corpo.
ration, with the Corregidor at their head, followed by a host of
priests, nobility, and the lowest of the low, met his Majesty,
and in a short address congratulated him on his great
achievements; as we ascended the hill, the bells ning, flags
were displayed ; and on entering the city, the same frantic
maddened joy was evinced by the mob, as on our landing
at Port St. Mary's. The procession passed the ancient and
magnificent dwelling of the Duke of San Lorenzo ; this
Nobleman had been Ambassador at Paris under thu Consti-
tutional Government, had been firm in the cause of liberty,
and I believe is still resident in London ; thousands of
imprecations burst from the mob as we passed ; The Cars-
hinters remembered that before this Palace they had been com-
pelled by Freyre, in 11120, to acknowledge the Constitution ; a
murmur which threatened destruct-ion to the building circulated
among the crowd, but General Bevas billited there, and his
guard restored tranquillity ; at length, after much delay, we
arrived at thy Plaza or spare called Arena!, and latterly de la

Conitilution ; a band of music welcomed our approach,
tapestry adorned the balconies, and continued vivps to El Rcy
absoluto, la Inquisition, tic. &c. rent the air. The inferior
orders paraded the streets, dressed in their best, and adorned
with white favours and pink ribands, on which were painted
numerous mottoes, such as " Iritm cl Rey ! Viva la Religion !
Viva la Ley ! Viva la Inquisizion !" on others " Viva la 1Y 1
Viva el Rey I Muera la Nacion Moen: la Condit:scion !
Viva el Despatismo .%fueran los Libcrales &c. &c. strongly
demonstrative of the lowest state of dejadation into which
mankind can sink.

" Turning with disgust fr In this scene of absolutism and
superstitious frenzy, I was surprised to ohs rve the almost total
absence of genteel and respectable people, particularly females.
I, however, feared to inquire, lest I might excite suspicion,
and restrained my curiosity until I reached the Plaza de Artar-
oxcart, where our friends, and indeed I may say the friends of
Englishmen in general, received me most kindly; and a young
Spaniard present gave me all the information I wished upon
the state of the public opinion, which I will give you in his
own words :-6 Xeres (he said) is a place of about thirty thou-
sand inhabitants, many of them rich merchants and agricul-
turalists; under the Constitution it was improving rapidly,
from the reduction of tithes and taxes; many of our prin-
cipal, and really the whole of the middling class of people
are compromised. The Clergy and the mob are most in-
veterate persecutors;. we are under their rule, and worse
than we should be in Barbary ; persecution and vengeance
have reached their utmost. One of my companions rejoined
his family a few days since, thinking himself safe under the
Proclamation by which emigrants were invited to return, but
was obliged to fly instantly to avoid being arrested, and all
his property has been confiscated. Every thing here is ex-
plained according to the Evangelists ! ! Other Patriots, with-
out any othei crime than that of being so, have been impri-
soned, and are in the public gaol, not as we confined the Pam-
tious, but as the Moors kept their slaves in bondage. These
Holy Brethren, who wept when they heard any one of the
confederates of Zaldivar was condemned more as thieves than
as conspirators, laugh now, and rejoice that their fathers, eons,
and wives of the prisoners are abandoned to the greatest mi-
sery, and at the same time never cease talking of religion.'
This tragic picture was confirmed to me by all the respectable
inhabitants, whose houses I frequented; each had to deplore
the loss of some near relation or dear friend, 'When this scene
of woe will terminate I will not pretend to predict, but the num-
ber of Constitutionalists increases under persecution ; even the
children appear to participate in the feeling. The Royalists
may confiscate, hang, burn, and banish ; but let the French
troops leave the country, and a most Lloody counter-revoluticn
will ensue, from which no Priest will escape. I shall write,
again from Seville.
" P. 9.—1 had almost neglected to mention the fine English.
feeling, and independent principle shewn by our countryman
M—s—g, at Port St. Mary's. He refltsed to wait upon the
King, or Angouleme, with his brother representatives; they
sent him two Officers of the Faith to be billetted on him ; he
would not admit them, saying, he was employed under a Go•
verntnent which had acknowledged the Constitution, and would
not recognize any other, without instructions from England."

CITY, Twelve o'Clock.---Consols opened at 83i,
at which price they remain steady up to this hour,
with no business of importance. We do not, hear
as yet of any Expresses from Paris, which sel-
dom .strive, on Tuesdays., We are informed by
private accounts from the above capital that the
French Ministry are much displeased with the
late Decree of. the King of SPAIN, as a great num-
ber of their capitalists, as well as ours, will be
involved by the disavowal of the Spanish Loan.
The Government of Spain, we understand, are
very eager to contract for a New Spanish Loan ;
but the old contractors, as well as the monied in-
terest of this country and of France, are deter-

mined not to have any dealings with them, until
the King of SPAIN ratifies the old one, giving as
guarantee for its bona fide payment, the security
of Russia, Austria, and France.—There is not
a single report in the City this morning.
Foattax MARKET.—Spanish Bonds opened
this morning at 24, 241, 25, '23f, and 24L—
Little is doing, except in the above Stock.

Several unpopular, and indeed injudicious
cases of conviction and punishment under the
New Vagrant Act, having recently occurred, a
clamour has been raised generally against the
exercise of Magisterial authority, and against the

propriety of investing Magistrates with discretion-
ary powers in the administration of the law.
Public writers of all parties seem to have united,
with scarcely a single exception, in contributing
to create a popular ferment upon this subject.
But although some cases, even of aggravated
hardship and apparent injustice to individuali,
may have undoubtedly occurred in the execu-
tion of a particular law, we should carefully
guard against the denger of being hurried

by our feelings into the sweeping condem-
nation of the whole principle and practice
of a legislative institution, instead of calmly
endeavouring to form an estimate of the
causes which have led to its abuse in particular
instances, and of the probabilities for and against
its future recurrence or prevention. It is not a
little singular to find that some of those who are
now exclaiming against the summary powers
entrusted to INlagistrates, are the very per-
sons from whom the loudest complaints have
proceeded against the dilatory and expel].
rive proceedings of Courts of Law ! It should
be recollected that it is impossible to con bins'
celerity in the dispatch of complaints, and ecu-
oomw in the expense of obtaining justice, with
the deliberation of judicial examinations, with
the nice discrimination and argumentative
subtlety necessary for the attainment of legal

and moral precision, and with all the para-
phernalia .which must be employed if the
ultimate'decision is to proceed from a July
of twelve persons, whom each of the parties en-
gaged in litigation is to be allowed every means

and opportunity of endeavouring to bias in his
favour by an ex-parle representation of his own

case. The latter mode of administering justice

certainly possesses great and paramount advan-

tapes; and whenever parties have the means

of encountering the unavoidable delays, anxieties,

and expences by which it is necessarily at-
tended, there can be no doubt that they
will for the most part resort to it for the ad-
justment of their conflicting claims and preten-
sions. But the practical inconveniences of this

mode of administering justice have, under the. ac-
tual circumstances of the greater part of the com-

munity, as respects their limited command both of
time and of pecuniary means, been found so ex-
cessively oppressive es almost to operate to