The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-06 00:00:00

MORNING EDITION

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTI.

TUTION.

Mr. Buckingham, who has just returned from
an extensive tour in the United States and Ca-
nada, commenced on Thursday night at this In-
stitution a course of Lectures on the history, in-
stitutions, social habits, and general character of
North America. A part of Thursday night's Lec-
ture was delivered on Saturday last, but owing to
the paucity of the audience, and the limitation of
the time for its delivery, the travelled lecturer
proposed to recommence the course on Thursday
night. Very few were present, owing to an
absurd regulation of the proprietors of the
Institution, which admits none of the visitors
to attend the Lectures without tickets.
As we ascended to the Lecture-room we met
hundreds of persons who had been refused ad-
mission, and on our entrance found Mr. Bucking-
ham preparing to address about fifty persons.
This was very wrong, for had all who wished to
hear the first Lecture been permitted to hear it,
we feel confident that there would have been
no Jheck of purchasers of tickets for the re-
mamuer of the course which is to be com-
pleted in eight Lectures. The Lecture de-
livered on Thursday night comprehended a
succinct and clear exposition of the foun-
dation, rise and progress of the states of Maine,
New Rampsbire,Vermont, Massachusets Rhode
Island,
Connecticut,New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and the district
of Columbia, with a description of their respec-
tive areas in miles and acres ; the character of
their surtlice, soil, scenery, mountains, rivers,
and lakes; the chief features of distinction in
each State ; their resources, occupations, institu-
tions, and population ; forming a very compre-
hensive picture of each. Frequently, during the
progress of the lecture, and at its close, the audi-
ence manifested their approbation by expres-
sions of applathie. We recommend every person
who wishes to become acquainted with America
and the Americans, without the expense of a
trip across the Atlantic, to attend these lectures.

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT IN

ST. BRIDE'S CHURCH-YARD.

Yesterday evening an inquest was held at the Barley
Mow public-house, Salisbury-court, Fleet-street, on the
body of Henry Thompson.
Th,e first witness called was •

Luke Cox.—He said he had been grave-digger of the
parish of St. Bride for l 7 years. The deceased Henry
Thompsoe was usually engaged as his assiaant. On
Thursday, a grave being about to be opened by the order
of an individual for a new place of family sepulture, as
was usual in such cases, the grave was to be sunk 20
feet fbr the first interment. The witness, a person
named Chments, and the unfortunate deceased,
were employed in sinking the grave, and had
about three o'clock on Thursday, got so low as be-
tween sixteen and seventeen feet, when witness went
for some planks and " strutts "—(a kind of beams going
from side to side)—and returned soon afterwards. He
(witless) went down into the groveler a short time, but
Perceiving the earth giving way he asunded, climbing
the " ehoreing" as a ladder, and the deceased descend-
ing at the same time and in the same manner. Witness
cautioned him, but be said there was no danger and
went down.

By a Juror—The grave they were sinking lry about
four feet from the wall bounding the passages leading
into St. Bride's-court ; and tl.e grave iet:rvened be-
tween these, and he observed that there was a tier of
coffins, t` e sides of which formed one,of the sides of the
grave. Planks were placed alone the sides of the
grave, and " strutts went from one to the other.
There was no ladder for them t 3 get up.
By the CORONER—Da you think if there were a lad-
der the deceased might have escaped? Witness—l do
not think he could ; it is never customary to have such
things, no matter how deep the grave may be.
By a Juror—ls it customary that any responsible per-
son sheeld see whether the nature of the ground will
allow of a grave of this depth being sunk ? Cox—l
am the only person who attends to such matters.
C:e:nents, being s.vorn, said he was employed to
assist the deceased by Cox. Was at the grave about
twenty minutes before the time the accident occurred,
and remained there wheeling up, by means of a pulley
and lasket, the clay from the bottom of the pit for
about a cuarter of an hour, when he and the last wit-
ness went for sonic planks and "strutts," which deceased
said he required, but had scarcely got ten yards from
the grave, when, hearing a cry, he turned round, and
saw the sinking from the sides of the grave, and upon
getting to it the hollow was completely filled up to
within about two feet of the surface of the church-yrd.
George Ellet Evans, a sergeant of the City pelice,
de7osed to using every exertion in conjunction
with the men under him, but notwithstand-
ing all their endeavours tour hours elapsed
before they coul I extricate the deceased, as five c.:ffins
pressed upon him. He was standing in an upright pa-
sitien, as if trying to ascend the grave when he saw the
earth giving was.
Mr. Bake-, one of the Churclivvardetas of St. Bride's
parish, said that every precaution had been obsetvcd.
He could not sit down without testifying his warmest
approbation of the conduct of the Police, more parti-
cularly that of Sergeant Evans. He ( Mr. Baker) dis-
tributed some rewards amongst them for their conduct,
and with which he hoped the parishioners wouhl feel
satisfied.

Tha CORONER. bLving summed up, the Jury, after a
short consultation, returned a verdict of " Accidental
death,"

-e-- _
the Duke of

ppoint AlcssrP. S. arid B.
larle-street, Piccadilly, his Grace's