The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-27 00:00:00

GREAT WESTERN RA IL
WAY ACC I DENT.
(B Y EXPRESS.)

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
The inquest on the bodies of the unfortunate
individuals who were killed by the late fatal ac-
cident on the Great Western Railway was re-
sumed this morning at theShepherds'-house where
the previous proceedings had taken place. The C-
oroner, Mr. May, arrived at nine o'clock precisely,
but some delay was occasioned in consequence
of the non-arrival of one of the jurors. I
visited the slip at Sonning-hill this morn-
ing, where the melancholy occurrence took
place. The Workmen are still employed in
clearing away the rubbish, and making good the
face of the slope. .The statement that the cut-
ting was extremely steep, appeared to me, from
the position in which I viewed it, to have been
made without good grounds. The bank slopes
away very considerably on either side, and is co-
vered with a green turf, giving it an appear-
ance of solidity, which unfortunately it
does not appear to have possessed. The patients
in the Reading Hospital are; I understand, going
on extremely well. Another was discharged
yesterday afternoon, making five out of the seven-
teen originally brought in, and it is stated that the
persons who received injuries of the spine, and
about whom the greatest apprehensions were en-
tertained, are in a fair way of recovery.
The following are the names of the Jury:—
James Millard, foreman ; Benjamin Lovegrove,
John Silver, Chas. Millard, Gyles• Dearlove,
William Manners, George Brown, William Wa-
nilow, John Wheeler, Richard Manners, Wil-
liam Bromley, George Mills, William Harling.
Mr. Saunders, the secretary of the Company;
Mr. Brunel, the engineer; the contractors, assist-
ant engineers, and other persons connected with
the railway, were present, as were also Mr. R.
Palmer, M.P., and several influential gentlemen
of the neighbourhood. When the proceedings
commenced the room was crowded in every part.
The missing juryman having arrived,
The CORONER said the. Jury were aware that
the inquest had been adjourned from Saturday
last, for the purpose of obtaining further evidence
as to whether the slip had been sudden and
without notice, or whether it had occurred after
previous indications so as to call the attention of
the Company to it. They were also to obtain
evidence to identify the bodies, and 'as there
were several strangers in attendance for that
purpoFe, it would be perhaps an accommodation
to them to take that part of the evidence first.
John Williams—l live at Ctleltenhain. lam
a stone-mason. My son accompanied me in the
luggage-train from London, on Friday-morning.
We started from Paddington between four and
five o'clock. My son's name was Charles. He
was a stone-mason, and about twenty-four years
of age. I saw my son at the time of the accident
under the wheels. The first thing I felt was a
dreadful shock, and soon after I found myself
on the ground. The carriage in which
I was riding was upset. There was something on
my arm. My son was in the first carriage ; I
was in the second. I tried to get up and fell
again, when I recovered my senses. I went to
look for my son; he was under the wheels of one
of the luggage waggons with another poor man.
The wheel was on his throat, and his arm was
through it. He and the other man were
quite dead. One carriage was on the top
of the other. I have seen eight dead bodies
lying in a hut near this' place. The bodies are
lying in a row, my son's is the second. The
stoppage of the train was very sudden, but I can-
not tell how it occurred—it was dark at the time.
Jabez Clee, a stonemason of Cheltenham, was
one of the passengers, and was about 19 years
old. George Mabbott, of Gloucester, a stone-
mason, was also one of the passengers. The
hinder carriages ran upon and crushed the ones
in front. I cannot say whether any of the car-
riages remained on the rails. I had too much on
my mind to attend to anything but my son.
George Allen—l live at No. 2, Haddington-
street, York-road, Lambeth. I am a stone-
mason, and foreman to Messrs. Grissell and
Peto. I have seen the bodies of the eight per-
sons lying dead near this place. I can recognise
three of them. One is Charles Williams, another
George Mabbott, and the third is Jabez Clee.
They are all stonemasons, and were in the
employ of Messrs. Grissell and Peto at the New
Honks Of Parliament. Clee was about 35 years
old. They were going to the country to spend.
the Christmas holidays with their friends.. Hear-
ing of the accident, and knowing the men, I was
anxious to see after it, as I was aware that many
of them were going by the train, and we always
wish to have a good feeling with our men.
A person who was prey, at said that Mr. Ar-
nold, a medical man of the neighbourhood, had
seen some of the persons killed immediately
after the accident; and it might be as well to
examine him.
The CORONER did not think it necessary. If
he was wanting he would be sent for.
Samuel Huish—l live at 58, Clarence-gardens,
Regent's Park. I am a painter. I have seen
the eight dead bodies, and know two of them,
Joseph Hands and Jabez Clee. Hands was a
painter, and lodged with me. He left my house
at half-past three o'clock on Friday morning, to
go by the luggage train. He was about 22 years
old, and a native of Cheltenham.
Susannah Ralph—l am the wife of William
Ralph, of Buttwell, in Oxfordshire. My husband
is a victualler. I have seen the eight dead bodies
and recognize that of Richard Ralph, of Har-
well, Berks, my brother-in-law. He dealt in
fruit.•
It was here stated that the witnesses to identify
two other of the bodies had not yet arrived, and'
the remaining one there was no person to identify.
The CORONER said as these witnesses had not
arrived, he would now proceed to another, and
the most material part of the case, namely, as to
whether the slip was sudden, and without notice,
or whether there were such previous indications
as required the attention of the Company. He
wished to know what evidence there was on tha
point ?

Mr. GOSLING had no charge whatever to bring
against the Company, but hbelieved there were
witnesses in attendance who 'could prove the pre
vious slip of the earth.

The following witnesses were then called in
and examined.

Robert Hatton, of Sonning-4 live Dear the
Sonning-hill cutting, and cross the bridge twice a
day. I know the spot where the slip of earth
took place on Friday morning last. It is on the
south side of the cutting. I observed it a fort-
night previously. I was goinc, over the bridge,
and I saw the slip of earth and some drain tiles.
The slip was about eight yards up the bank. I
observed some of the drain tiles dis-
placed. It was precisely at the spot
where the earth fell on Friday last.
The earth bulged and drove up some of the drain
tiles apparently. The tiles were completely out
of the ground, and laying on the top of the
mould. They did not appear to have been
placed there. I was on the wooden bridge about
250 or 260 yards from the spot. That was on
yesterday fortnight. Some of the mould had
fallen down upon the—road between the rails
and the bank. A couple ofcart loads fell. All the
sward between the cut and the road was covered.
By Mr. Brunel—l saw this on Sunday fort-
night. I pass twice a day and never saw any
men there removing it. I don't know whether
it was cast down—by shovels or not. I saw the
same thing a week ago still there. It was in
just the same state.

Thomas Goodchild—l am a bricklayer. I
live at Sonning. A fortnight ago last Thursday
I was going up to one of Mr. Palmer'sn cottages.
Between 9 and 10 in the morning, as I was crossing
the wooden bridge, looking towards Twyford,
I saw a slip on both sides of the cutting. They
were nearly opposite each other. The earth was
nearly to the rails on the south side, where the
accident took place. It had slipped down be-
tween the bank and the rails. There was more
than two cart-loads, and lay in a sort of circle.
The earth appeared to have slipped ten or twelve
feet from the bottom, and it appeared to me
very dangerous. lam not acquainted with the
nature of the soil. I saw' two men at work there

at the time, and they appeared -to be removing
the earth from the ballast. I saw no tiles. I

.00k notice every morning for six mornings, and
,he soil was put back, but the break in the slope

was not made good.
Mr. Brunel—Do you know that it is the prac-
tice to leave the slip open in order to drain it?—
I dont know.
By the Coroner—The slip on the south side
seemed to me in precisely the same place as
where the accident occurred on Friday last. I
was there shortly after the accident.
By the Foreman—l thought there was danger
when I observed the slip. I assisted when the
accident occurred, and when I had done all I
could, I was ordered off by a policeman. I re-
mained from seven o'clock till all was over.
When I got there the first waggon was dashed
all to pieces, and the second was turned up edge-
ways, and another pitched into it, and caught two
poor fellows.
[We shall give the conclusion in our Second
Edition.]

Despatches from Sir Charles Metcalfe, Gover-
nor of Jamaica, were received yesterday at the
Colonial-office.

EVENING SUN

.71 :1 if 0 p`' Er
E W
J'a

AND
Vutatt Opuntia.

" Who runs may read."

FOREI.
The King of the French h asG
creNated a batch of Peers.
Twenty new names are added to the Grand Hospital of
Incurables. Whenever we now hear of a French crea-
tion of Peers, we set ourselves about inquiring in wr;
way they were assisting the Court in trampling e
foot the liberties of France.
The deaths in the French Peerage during the lastyear
were nine ; and of the new creation nine were Royalists.
As an encouragement to M. Herbert, the Procureabe
General, to persevere in his exertions to extinguish tan
liberty of the press, M. Frank Carte, his predecessor
office, figures as one of the new Peers.
Three hundred Deputies had arrived in Paris on Ss'
turday, to be present at the opening of the Chambers.
The sentence of the Court of. Peers upon M. Dupety,
continues to excite an extraordinary sensation ill l'4l
In our columns of this day will ba found a surinnarY °
the opinions of the French Press upon this question..
II
The National and Commerce assert that s.g
order, order, signed by Lieut.-General Darriule, has Just ow.
read in al the barracks in Paris, calling upon the %ye
nels of regiments of the first, military division a
all the cartridges taken from the cartridge-
the
troops, and to see that none be given out except at
the
moment when the regiments are ordered under arinin
The National states that this order has been issued ps
consequence of the disclosures of Dufour, who has melts
tioned some soldiers as having sold cartridges to Pell°
amongst the working classes. Arabag-
The following is the speech of the Austrien,"isscel-
sador to the Queen of Portugal, delivered at his:r- has
lency's first audience :—" The Emperor, my twasiiction
cartridge-boxes
charged me to assure your Majesty of the a n' hich
which he has for his august niece, and the interest sa,
he feels for the consolidation of her-throne and e.pct:o,;:v
perity of the kingdom which Divine Providence has
the
fided to her care. The rights of your Majesty to
ror
crown of Portugal were never doubted by the EtaPe
my master." s that
A letter from Madrid of the 18th inst. informs It lie
there is likely to be a severe struggle as to who hall
the President of the Cortes. The Ministerial deP
ties intend, it is said, to propose M. Arguelles'. tes
Queen's guardian, but two other parties of the Cor
have each their candidate to propose. priests
The tribunal of Madrid has acquitted the 43
aith-
who were arrested in the ex-convent of Gelitess's
out even sentencing them to pay the expenses 01....""re`
although they had persisted in exercising the",,„, Go-
astical functions when forbidden to do so V "
vernment.
A letter from Constantinople of the Ist of ember,
Peeldertain
says :—" Our news from Persia this week .111Se'a— pro-
importance. The commercial treaty, so long which
jetted between Great Britain and Persiasiinsittir,,th'.i. ely
the Shah had hitherto demurred, has been ne""-witlhl it,
signed. Major Farrant is now on his way b°we,fiestP
and it is intended he should return with her 1-; *rhea
ratification. He was in the Lazaret of Trebisontio was
last accounts left that port, and, as his quart° by the
to be finished to-day, we may expect him dew
very very first steamer." Noveleber.
The Tabreez letters are to the 11th where
Things were going on very smoothly in
Sir John M'Neill and the whole mission were in d Mr.
lent odour. Mr. Tod, an attache to the mission, and the
Abbott, on their way to Persia, were attacked nY . iis
otwlt-'
Kurds on the frontier, wounded and plundered,
standing which they succeeded in reaching Tabree in
pretty good health. Business is represented as good
that country. 03d, the
According to the Frankfort Journal of the - rias
Municipal Council of Osnabruck addressed
Sao
ine,:the,
to the Legislative, body praying the assembly to ta.
King of Hanover to restore the Constitution of f
„her °-
Persia,
excel,
The Cassel Gazette states that the Second Loan pay,
the States of Hanover has put on the Orders of ti'7_,„e of
a motion expressive of regret at the exclusion of s'""
its members from taking their seats. sione °
The Emperor of Russia has been granting,: Pews
the widows of the officers who fell in resisting' the rand
rious attempt for the independence of their net'
made by the Poles in 1830. victory
The Circassians recently obtained a glorious killed
killed
over the Russians. The latter lost 28,000 we
and made prisoners.
PUBLIC OPINION. _toe on
The Morning Advertiser contains a leading.the ope-
rative resent state of the country, especially t. „teals-
classes ; and proves, by several statist:
Ger-
tions, that if a comparison be made of then
amount of comforts enjoyed by an English be
found to
man operative or labourer, the balance will
be greatly in favour of the latter.
article abound-
The Morning Chronicle observes, in an ‘ heavy drov-
ing in sarcastic allusions to the present
of their dull-
siness" of the Tory party, that the cause that " their
ness and gloom originated in a conviction
landlords and
Prime Minister will fail in satisfying the
the nation ; that, in fact, it is beyond his power' dig'
The Times has an article on a project, now under.s tor
cussion, both by the English and German Journal] the
establishing a German colony at the groupe named the
Chatham Islands, in the vicinity of New Zealand ,
object of which article is to show that the nominal ced,‘
drselative
sion to Hamburgh of the sovereignty over these isle') al
would impose on England the task of keeping a counreilo
guard, and watch over every movement of the intsy
Government and its visitors, which would soon &St' of
the effect desired by both parties of the establishment.he
a neighbourly feeling between the settlers at
Chatham Islands and our own colonists.
The Post, in the course of an article on Stade Du-
ties, states that the negotiations between ft or
En, and()
.4"
broken
Hanover on this subject, have not been have been
postponed, but that, on the contrary,
they
completion,
brought nearer than ever to a satisfactory_
made new
the Hanoverian Government having recently
the since-
proposals to Great Britain, " in order to prove
t settle-
rity of its wish"—adds the Post—" for a Prom
meat of a question which Hanover has never done
any-
thing to prolong." the
ry,
use 'ice
The Somerset County Gazette, speaking of the
amdyospt
teerdy ,
byt htuhse
Div
inage the a vdeerry
doctoines, says :—" The Puseyites wrap rel
to that
ohsriitsetia7iotYrs:legl-weiruys'
for
the first time removed religion out of the regi.'. °` They
tery, and made it plain to the meanest carel'eui front
seek to enslave the minds of men by awing at to which
thought. Such is the principle of Puseylsl
this is iLtsireerndpeoanld
its forms and lesser articles of faith are only 50eservient;
, last
Protestant operative meeting that took place society',
Caliimro.n"icle observes, in reference weak
in Liverpool It is certainly unfortunate for that
and still more unfortunate for the clerical chore_ t,ereeds),
priests, in all ages (we speak without referenceet;t:ad ufl
have been the most uncharitable, the most hit lave heal,
relenting relenting persecutors of those who hold, or disputant
opinions contrary to themselves. Cleriea,h eontealP,A
beyond all other men, delight in treating wl",cu wo't'
the divine injunction, "Do unto others es
they should do unto you." , The
We take the following from the Calnuitcinle ``speck
cloud that now:obscures us is seen rather ter,tbicdes
no bigger than a man's hand,' which J°l.- ad, to be
deluge and the tempest. It is not a surface wou ther $
cured with the cautery of fire and bullet, hut rather I'
welling artery; not a passing complaint, biu;oetlY
chronic disorder,_ threatening dissolution. .1-4 .tba
proportion to . the conviction of the people, that rti"
several branches of their foreign trade are Pen I,ians,
pidly away into the hands of the Swiss, i;il°-
French, and Germans, one after one, do t
stria week
mends against the monopolists become more strstoweeit
Speaking of the Anti-Corn-law meeting held llov'ing
in Dublin, the Dublin Evening Post makes the f° elf aremarks :—" The very place of meeting was in Bound
striking feature in the scene. It was held in the
feSSaw
Room built twenty years ago fur the purpose O.F
rotten
George Where he was. feasted by the „al*
cele-
Corporation—now, thank Heaven, in its infaineV":
Upon the occasion referred to, the Notables
.sei.
brites of the Empire, then in Dublin, were invito eosaie
O'Connell was the only man of eminence Who's
.have
was left out of the invitations. Twenty Tycounell
passed, and are gone, and that same Daniel
and the
presides as Lord Mayor in this very room the New
tirst use to which it has been turned,
Dynasty, is to make it a hall for the
some truths, liberal sentiments, and sound sense.
is the kind of triumph that we should like to e.rJeut
of the
The Scotsman thus refers to the recent conduct
Chartists at Edinburgh :—" At an interesting 1et'41,.,
the subject of the Corn-laws on Wednesday eveu'diTieteg
Mr. Curtis, an American gentleman, these Ctelelleed
for a voice in the Legislature broke into open asemble
and turned the church in which they were is, silld
into a scene of alarming riot and confusion. -1-` eballi-
that Mr. Lowrey afterwards rebuked them ; buss theY
dons of this kind are not without instruction, tact i 3
show of what sort of men the Chartist partY lacaing
heatirnirdigr_osfe.whlalhi;
quarter is composed. The spirit of blind unreae
fury displayed by these men must gain the co-op
of every honest workman to put it down. •
MONEY—TRADE—conyretzact through
The total quantity of foreign spirits introduce e r
the port of London for home consumption for the
1841, up to last week, was 1,331,302 gallons, showrleld.,
decrease of 43,386 gallons, as compared with the p u
ing year. The decrease has been chiefly in rinn..
The distress existing in the Isle of Man is y.OO,
by an instance that occurred last week. The wife °f
respectable artisan purchased at a brewery tn.tpl
d
worth of the grains used for cattle, but not having
for them, the man followed her home. On enter"„a hef
house he beheld the poor woman,
t Clio
breast, her husband, and four children devouring
grains, not having tasted food for four days.
d oint-stack
The circulation of notes by the private an
resent bY
banks of England and Ireland is less at present scoot
1,500,0001. than it was about a month ago.. -1-1!
with s child
Bing
by 65,6241. The aggregate amount for the Unitedch notes.
iun
3,448,660/• is in Scot _ _sap
banks, on the contrary, have increased their circu .
dom is 38,110,000 i, of which
the
Ship-building in Maryport (says the Carlisl2
odJou'es
partakes of the general dullness that 1)0 been
country. A great number of hands have lately__ong
discharged from all the yards, and the distress
their families is intense.

I:•:ZECTIONEERING. ar°
The present vacant seats in the House of Common-
Lynn, Leominster, Bandon, and the University of llahliv •
NAVAS. AND IVIII.XTARir• who
Captain Steele, of the Royal Marine .Artillery,
died at i'ortsmouth on the 18th inst., served at the sieg°
of Flushing, the defence of Anhalt, the taking of
ton, the war in Canada, the service of the north coast
Spain, and lastly in Syria. ben
Two of the batteries west of Hythe are to
down in consequence of the encroachments of the ses"