The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-25 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST

of September, and thanks having been voted to the
Chairman and directors, the meeting separated.

THE EXPLOSION IN ALBANY-
STREET.

Last evening the inquiry, adjourned from Monday last,
concerning the death of Mary Bentley,. one of the suf-
ferers by the explosion in Albany-street, was concluded
by Mr. \Vakley, at the Chester Arms, in
.the above
street. A model was fixed in the inquest-room of nearly
the same dimension as the meter destroyed, and the Co-
roner and jury here viewed the situation; and the mode
adopted by the boy Lucas in putting in and taking out
the shutters was explained to them.
S. May said he was a gas• fitter, and worked for Mr.
in Albany-street, and had le en frequently to
\o. 60, Albany-street, to take water out of the as
pipes. There was sometimes too much water in the
meter. lie thought dry meters the best.
H. Larkin, an inspector of the London Gas Company,
said—l have been twice to Mr. Loten's to inspect the
gas; the first occasion was in June last, and I went to
take the register of the meter by order of the office. No
complaint was made. I went again on'the 20th of July
in consequence of an order from the office on account of
want of light. I found there was not sufficient water in
the meter. I put some water into it, and the gas in the
union burnt very well then, but the; light of the side
burner jumped. I sent Mr. Cogan, gas-fitter of Mun-
ster-street, to see what was required.
By the CORONER—I made no complaint about the
position of the meter. We use both wet and dry meters.
The choice of them generally depends upon the tenants.
The most modern invention is the dry meter. I should
recommend the water meter myself. There are more
of the latter used by the company than dry meters.
When I was at Mr. Loten's the second time no complaint
of the gas escaping was tmade. If there had been an
escape I must have discovered it, because I had a candle
with me.
W. Cogan, a gas-fitter, examined—Went to No. 60,
Albany-street, at the request of the last witness, to ex-
amine the meter and repair the pipes. That was about
three weeks before the accident. The complaint made
was that the gas-lights •at the side of the shop jumped.
That was caused by the collection of water in the pipe,
which was corrected. Nothing was said about the gas
escaping.
Mr. Hinde, the secretary of the London Gas Com-
pany, put in a letter received from Mr. Loten, complain-
ing of being nearly without gas for a whole week, but in
it he made no remark about the escape of gas.
Cogan was directed to examine the model, and in
answer to a juror said that it was perfectly possible for
shutters drawn in and out against the meter and the
main gas-key to turn the gas off; a violent blow might
break the cock. In answer to the Coroner, the witness
said that he never complained to Mr. Loten of the dan-
gerous position of the meter. Knew plenty of places
where there were meters situated as Mr. Loten's, but he
could not say if the shutters were placed there in the
same way.
_ _ _

By Mr. Hinde—l am positive there could not have
been any escape of gas at the time I was there, because
I tried all the pipes, and used my blowpipe to solder a
part where I took water from.
Mr. Hinde begged to observe that the company were
desirous of showing that there had been no complaints
made of an escape of gas.
Mr. Wm. Douglas, collector to this company, proved
that he called on the 28th of July for payment, but no
complaint was then made. It was his custom, if com-
plaints were made, to make a memorandum of them and
report them to the board.
George B. Petitt deposed to fixing up the gas fittings
at No. 60, Albany-street, about nine years ago. He
fixed the meter under the shop-board by direction of
Mr. Hatfield. He had fixed many meters like it, but
could not say whether the shutters were taken in and
out of the shutter-box. When Mr. Hatfield suggested
the placing of the meter, he told him that some protec-
tion of wood-work would be necessary, and he said he
would do it himself.
Mr. Richardson, the superintendent of the Imperial
Company, said he had caused the main pipes of the
London Company and also the imperial to be uncovered,
and he could assure the coroner and jury that there was
not the slightest escape of gas discernable.
This being the whole of the evidence,
The CORONER addressed the jury. He trusted that
the melancholy event would teach a useful lesson to
those who were in the habit of burning gas, and that the
moment an escape was found means would be imme-
diately taken to remedy any defect. With reference to
the fixing of the meter, it was a matter of congratulation
—if, under the circumstances, they could congratulate
one another—that although strict search had been made,
no other meter similarly fixed could be found in the
neighbourhood.
The jury, after an absence of half-an-hour, returned
the following special verdict—" That the death of Mary
Bentley was caused by a mortal fracture of the skull, oc-
casion by the accidental explosion of an admixture of
coal gas and common air in the house No. 60, Albany-
street ; and that whether the said coal gas escaped into
the said shop in consequence of an accidental blow given
to the meter or fitting thereof, by the removal of a cer-
tain window shutter, there is not before the jurors suffi-
cient evidence to show." '

COMMITTAL FOR CONSPIRACY.
LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY.—This day a highly re-
spectable young gentleman of the name of Martin Boshill,
who for a length of time has been manager of the firm
of Orr and Barber, well-known merchants of this port.
was placed at the bar, before Mr. Rushton, the stipen-
diary magistrate, under the following circumstances:—
In the book found at the house of Murphy, who was
committed for conspiracy 'nu Monday last, amongst other
names appeared that of the prisoner, and this circum-
stance, taken in connexion with other information in pos-
session of the authorities, induced them to issue a war-
rant for his apprehension. The warrant was executed
Yesterday at the office of his employers in South Castle-
street, and be remained in custody until he was brought
before the magistrate this morning, when the evidence
against him was produced.
Mr. Rushton said that the prisoner must be com-
mitted for trial, and stated that he much regretted to
e
a society
younguchmaiioccupyingsuch a position as he did
circumstances. He had been connected
withe
which had for its object an extensive and
placeds
siet y
deeply laid scheme of conspiracy. His handwriting had
also been spoken to, which proved that he had been a
member of the society up to the time he was taken. He
did not doubt that he had been made the dupe of older
and more designing men; but he (the magistrate) had no
alternative but to commit him for trial, and he did so
upon the evidence which had already been brought for-
ward against the prisoner Murphy.
The prisoner was then fully committed for trial at the
present assizes.
There is a rumour in town to-day that Cuddy, who
was last week committed for conspiracy, has deter-
mined to turn approver, and some curious disclosures
are expected. Preparations are now being made for the
trial, which is expected to come on at the latter end of
next week.
CAPTURE OF PIRATES.

Her Majesty's sloop Scout, on her way to Foo-chow-
foo on the Ist inst., when opposite Chimmo Bay, fell in
with a fishing boat, the crew of which pointed out two
suspicious-lookingjunks standing off the land, which
they stated had that morning attacked some trading ves-
sels working up the coast. The Scout immediately
gave chase, and fired at the smaller junk, which tacked
in shore. Three boats were then dispatched under the
command of the senior lieutenant, E. G. Blake, which
took possession of her. She was found to be armed with
a two-pounder, gingalls, matchlocks, firepots, &c., and
carried a crew of 32 men, several of whom jumped over-
board and were drowned. Four men were found
in her hold bound hand and foot, who said they
had been taken out of a fishing boat two days pre-
viously. The Scout having secured her prize, tacked
in pursuit of the larger junk, which she hailed, and
ordered to lower her sail, but as she still kept her
course the forcastle guns were fired from the Scout,
which being returned by the junk, a running fight
was kept up for nearly three hours, when the junk
got into shallow water and the wind fell. Two
boats were dispatched under Lieutenant Josling,
who commenced firing as soon as he got within
range. The boats pulled alongside under a shower
of bullets and stinkpots, by which one seaman was
killed, and Lieutenant Josling, Mr. Midshipman Stanley,
and four seamen were wounded. The wind having again
sprung up, the Scout ran alongside the junk, under
a heavy fire from gingalls and matchlocks, while
numbers of firepots fell on deck, wounding Com-
mander Johnston and two of the crew; another sea-
man was wounded by an explosion of gunpowder
on board the priz3, which on being taken possession of
was found to have a crew of 120 men, with four
6-pounder guns and an immense number of gingalls,
matchlocks, and other Chinese weapons. Shortly after
she was captured she fell over on her beam -ends and
went down. Only thirty-six of the pirates were
secured, the rest having been either shot during the
engagement, jumped overboard of their own accord, or
gone down with the vessel when she sank. The sur-
vivors were handed over to the mandarins at Amoy. It
appears these two pirates were lying in wait for the
Amoy sugar junks, now daily going northwest; and the
destruction of them by the Scout is said to be considered
by the native merchants at Amoy as a most acceptable
service.---China Mail, June 15.

PERTH.--MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—FOUR LIVES
LOST.—Shortly after three o'clock on Saturday after-
noon a most melancholy scene was witnessed at
the wooden bridge of the Dundee and Perth Rail-
way, now being constructed here. It appears that
eleven of the men engaged at the building, after
receiving their wages, were leaving for the week,
and, as Is usual, they went into a boat for the purpose
of being convoyed from Moncrieffe Island to the Perth
shore, when seeing they could not effect a landing above
the bridge, as was their intention, in consequence of the
swelling of the river, from the rains which fell on the
previous night and Saturday morning and the bois-
terous action of the waves, lashed into fury by a tem-
pestuous wind, they went through the opening for
the draw. Here, however, there were some floating logs
of wood affixed to the
piles, swinging to and fro with
the Stream, on which their fragile barque struck, and,
turning round, shipped a quantity of water. Becoming
alarmed for their safety, from the fact that the boat
was already overloaded and rapidly filling with water,
three of the party leaped out. One succeeded in reach-
ing the shore in safety, but we regret to state that the
other two perished, while the boat itself went down with
the remaining eight, six of whom were saved, though
not without difficulty—a carpenter of the name of
Campbell, an expert swimmer, having succeeded in
rescuing one man, of the name of Bradley, while on the
point of exhaustion.—Dundee Advertiser.
Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Colo-
nial-office for the Lord High Commissioner of the lonian
Islands, and also for the Governors of Hong-Kong and Ceylon.

A HANDSOME OFFER TO

ORI)

JOHN.
(From Punch.)
85, Fleet street, Aug. 22.
My dear Russell,—l perceive that Lord Hint°, your
estimable father-in-law, has brought in his Bill for tra-
velling expenses to Rome, Naples, and Sicil: (a journey
patriotically undertaken for the abiding go( id of the em-
pire), a little bill to the amount of 2,000/.. The suns,
even for a nobleman and a Minto, is rather large; but
then, possibly, his Lordship—for the bet ter dignity or the
English name—was very liberal to bow s and waiters.
Now, my dear Lord, your guide, philosopher, and
friend, Punch, feels that he has sonic private business to
transect somewhere upon the contiv ent. And being
(14,sirous of combining public p:ttrio'isin with person :A
afiairs---he P,o,ch, will have 111 t4jection to undertake
Li»y little mission fur the -Whig Goveruniii-lit, by whi;;11
he may be enabled to lessen--or rather entirely to cover
'—the travelling expenses of himself; Mrs. Juditha Punch,
and family.
Be it understood, my Lord, Punch places himself
entirely in your hands. So that you send him a suffi.
eient letter of credit, you may send him to any part of
Europe (Russia excepted, Punch having no desire to
catch weazels in Siberia)—any part in which the affairs
of this country may be a little out of order, demanding
a delicate hand in the diplomatic art of dove-tailing.
My dear Lord, let us take a glance at the snap of
Europe. Ido feel that I might do something in Paris—
(Juditha,
who has never been there, and is at this mo-
ment at my side, sewing on a shirt-button, says " she
is sure of it")—l do think that the country would
feel the benefit of any dinner I might be empowered
to give to Citizen Cavaignac at the Trois FriTes.
It is my opinion that I could employ, say a couple
of hours after dinner, in a manner that would serve the
interest of England—at least in my own person—in the
article of French wines. And then for our iron ; I do
think that, sheathing the sword, I could induce the
French Ministry to take a knife and fork.

Leaving Paris, it strikes me that something very bene-
ficial to our interests might be effected in Belgium. At
all events I feel that I could pass, say three days, very
well at the Court of Leopold. With our present pros-
pect of a limited harvest, is it wise, is it politic, to leave
the question of the tariff unsettled in the matter of Brus-
sels sprouts?
•

I am told that the discipline of the railway service
throughout Prussia and Austria is worthy the attention
of an observing mind, with a view to a probable
improvement of the railways of England. It may
not be generally known to the people of Great
Britain, that—in Germany the trains start to the
sound of a trumpet, and not to the ring of a bell.
Now, my dear Lord, as I have no objection to take a
few of, the German cities—(Juditha will now consent to
visit Vienna, " the dear Emperor," as she says—poor
woman!—" having gone back to make it respectable")—
as I have no objection to Frankfort, Berlin, Dresden, and
so forth, I think a settlement—once and for ever—of
the bell and trumpet question, would be a considerable
boon to the railway interest—(and you know its strength
in the House)—bringing a harvest of gratitude to any
Minister.

However, should your Lordship see nothing to be
done in Germany, surely myself and family may be made
very useful in Italy. I shall be very happy to go into
the thick of the Austrian garrison (my wife and daugh-
ters are delighted at the notion) in Milan or elsewhere.
Again, an advantageous visit might be made to Genoa
(Juditha having resolved upon a plum-coloured velvet for
next winter), for it is now pretty well known that Mr.
Abercrombie has lamentably failed. My patriotic ad-
vice therefore is very brief.—Try Punch.
Leaving Milan and Genoa, I feel that the country
could lose nothing were I to put up for a fortnight or so
at Florence. I have no doubt that I might pick up
something useful in the galleries there, for our National
Wigwam in Tratalgar-square. However, should it be
thought otherwise, I will push on for Naples ; and (hav-
ing taken a bath of rose water before and after the inter-
view) confer with his Perjury the King. It must, how-
ever, be distinctly understood, my Lord, that, on no
account, I am to be expected to dine with him.
• In the present feverish state of our Lucifer trade, I
may venture to suggest a visit to Sicily, with the view
of taking stock of the sulphur of Etna. My daughter
Juditha (a promising but timid artist) is quite prepared
to illustrate her papa's report with a watercolour of the
crater.

Rome, of course we must see. It is not for me to
brag of the private friendship of his Holiness the Pope;
but if Minto has failed (and, indeed, my Lord, such is
the general impression), it is only that Punch might
triumph. Pio Nono has a yearning love for my Italian
origin, and will not consent to take the hand of Sir
Robert Inglis but from the hand of Punch. To serve
my country, I should have had no objection to become
resident Ambassador at Rome. But, alas! what would
Fleet-street do without me?

And now, my Lord, as I must leave England for a
few weeks—(for here we are upon the threshold of Sep-
tember)—dispose of myself and family as you will. I
don't know that I should even object to Turkey; though
Juditha insists, for safety sake, on lodgings at the Bri-
tishEmbas!y._ _ _ _

My Lord, lam aware that—in this application—l
suffer under disadvantages. I am not in the Peerage;
my name is neither HOWARD nor STANLEY—names ex-
pressly made to denote a race of politicians—it is simply
Punch. I have, nevertheless, one recommendation—
I'll go very cheap; I'll travel at " an alarming sacrifice."
MINTO sends in a bill for 2,000/. Punch will go for
half that sum. Yes; for 1,0001. Punch feels that—for a
month—say a month—he can, in himself and family,
support the credit of England abroad, and smuggle a
few things to cut a dash with at home.

I remain, my Lord, yours with esteem (and carpet-
bag), PUNC 11.
P.S. Please send an early answer. Because, in the
unlooked-for event of Government refusing to pay my
expense to Rome, I shall be compelled to go at my own
cost to Herne Bay.

TIIE MURDER OF A WOMAN, AND ATTACK ON A
CLERGYMAN IN WILTS. PEWSEY, WILTS, AUG.
22.—The coroner's jury empannelled to investigate
the circumstances attending the murder of
Eleanor Laurance, near Collingsbourne, have been
placed in rather a difficult position as regards their
closing the inquiry, by the suspected murderer,
John Smith, having been transported for seven years
at the last Devizes Assizes, for a murderous attack on
the Rev. George Hadow. The evidence against the
prisoner touching the crime of the murder will be
apparent from the following summary of the prin-
cipal points :—lt appears that the murder was com-
mitted at Luggeshall, on the morning of the 9th in-
stant. The prisoner was proved to have been directed
towards the place where the body was found a short time
previous to the murder. About two hours after the oc-
currence, he presented himself at the door of the
reverend gentleman, and committed the assault for which
he has been convicted. He appeared agitated, and to have
been running. He had been seen coming in haste from
the direction in which the murder had been committed.
When apprehended for the assault, on being asked if he
was not ashamed at what he had done, he replied,
"No; I have lately committed murder, and you will
soon hear of it." The police afterwards found a bundle
belonging to him in a field of oats close by the mur-
dered woman. He further made an admission to
the policeman who had him in custody, to the effect
that he had committed the murder, but that he did
not violate the deceased's person. Why the prisoner
was forthwith committed for trial for the attack on
the reverend gentleman, instead of awaiting the close
of the coroner's inquiry relative to the death of
the woman, has not transpired. As before stated,
however, he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to
seven years' transportation, and the difficulty now
experienced is, the identification of the accused by the
witnesses. It has been at length arranged that the
coroner shall communicate with the Secretary of State
as to the necessity of directing the prisoner to be pro-
duced before the jury, and the investigation has been
accordingly adjourned to await his reply.
THE STORM ON TIIE EAST COAST Or SCOTLAND.—
ABERDEEN, MONDAY, AUG. 21.—T0 the disastrous
results of the terrific gale of Friday morning, as realiz2d
on the east coast, we have now to add at least as deplore
able an account of the effects of the storm at Wick and
other seaport towns on the opposite shores of the Mur-
ray Frith. From letters received_ here tonight, it
appears that the storm overtook the fishermen when at
sea, about two o'clock in the morning, and there being
upwards of 1,000 boats exposed__ to the fury of the ele-
nts, many of them well lad en with herrings, the loss
could not be otherwise than great. At the break of day
the coast was literally strewed with wreck. At the port
of Wick four or five boats crews perished within sight
of their relatives and friends, and altogether more than
50 fishermen were drowned within a short distance of the
harbour. At all the other ports along the coast wrecks
have been cast ashore, and at the date of the last ac-
counts no true estimate could be formed of the actual
loss of life that had been occasioned by the storm. One
tlairg appears certain, that by the gale of Friday morn-
ineoo fishermen have perished, about 150 boats have
been wrecked, and, taking into account the value of the
nets and other fishing gear, as well as the herrings de-
stroyed. 20,0001. wouldunot cover the damage done by
this awful gale. From A. eterhead we learn that 70 boats
aro wrecked or missing, and the estimate of the sad con-
sequences of the gale is fully as large as was at first
reported.
FATAL ACCIDENT.--A melancholy accident oc-
curred in the neighbourhood of Dairy on Monday morningt
last, by which Mr. James Patrick, of Thirdpartfa
o
Captain W. F. Blair, of Blair, lost his life. Mr. Patrick
had
r.ev
had left his home for a day's grouse-shooting, accompleantiNo
ed
by his cousin, Mr. David Patrick, banker, Dalry
gentlemen had reached Blairpark moor, and
were' Tt
walking
in company with the gamekeeper and another individual,
when Mr. Patrick, crossing hastily before the party, his leg
came in contact with the muzzle Of his cousin's gun, whereby
the deadly weapon was discharged, and the contents lodged
in the calf of his right leg, a little below the knee joint.
The main artery was fatally lacerated, producing violent
haemorrhage, followed, of course, by a thorough prostration
of strength. Mr. Patrick was carried to the Park farm, on
the estate in a very exhausted condition. Messengers were
dispatched to Largs and Dairy for medical assistance. Dr.
Caskie, of the former place, arrive I in about an hour, and
was joined by Drs. Peebles and Young, of Dairy ; but the
sufferer was beyond the reach of their skill. Lockjaw
supervened, and he survived only four hours. He has left a
widow and four children to lament his fate.—Ayr Advertiser.
TIIE HIGHLAND MOORS.—The coaches, driven off
the south roads by the railways, have found abundance of
work on the Highland roads, no less than nix plying daily
between this and Dunkeld. independent of those in con-
nexion with the Midland Railway. The accounts front the
moors continue to be favourable for the sportsman, especially
on the higher grounds; and the Inverness-shire shootings are
expected to give the highest return they have made for many
seasons. On the lower range of the Grampians the epidemic
last year thinned the parent birds so much that the coveys
are less plentiful. They are, however, healthy, and so tar
advanced that the young birds nearly equal the old in size,
and second broods are not uncommon, so that this year's
crop is likely to be divided into the two extremes of wag
birds and cheepers.—Perth Paper.