The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-28 00:00:00

THE GREAT BRITAIN.

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY, HALF-PAST 4 P.M.—A com-
mittee appointed by the passengers on board the Great
Britain, bound for New York, on the morning following
the disastrous accident by which she went ashore, arrived
here yesterday by the Belfast steamer, together with 40
of their fellow passengers. This morning, at an ad-
journed meeting, the chairman of the committee ap-
pointed, reported the result of the interview with Messrs.
Gibbs, Bright, and Co., to the following effect :
That the committee waited upon Messrs. Gibbs,
Bright, and Co., according to appointment, and saw
Captain Claxton, from Bristol, who stated that the di-
rectors had, as soon as they heard of the accident, and
before they had received the communication of the
passengers, unanimously resolved to restore the passage-
money received from the Great Britain's passengers.
It was unanimously resolved,
1. That the passage money be received.
2. That the thanks of the passengers be given to the
Great Western Steam-ship Company for their great
prompteess and liberality in returning the money.
3. That the thanks of the meeting be given to Messrs.
Gibbs, Bright, and Co., for their liberal offer to negotiate
(as our agents gratuitously) in obtaining another ship.
4. That the Committee, with Messrs. Millbank and
Holland added to their number, wait upon Messrs. Myer
and Co. to know if they will provide a ship, and on what
terms.

5. That the meeting do now adjourn to meet again at
two o'clock P.M. this day, to receive their report.

JAMES RENNIE, Chairman.
MR. PIKELEY, Secretary.
At two o'clock the passengers again met, when they
were informed that Messrs. Mgver were from home,
but have been written to on the subject of chartering the
Acadia, and an answer will be returned on Monday
morning at ten o'clock.

The accounts received to day from the scene of the
disaster to this noble vessel are satisfactory, and an-
nounce that up to eleven o'clock yesterday morning the
steamer lay upright and uninjured on the sands in her
original position. The following communications, from
Lloyd's agent at Tyrella, contain the most authentic
report we have yet seen.—

" Great Britain steam-ship, Dundrum-bay,
Tyrella, Sept. 24.
" I arrived here yesterday at three o'clock P.m. from
Warrenpoint, and wrote to you a ;few hurried lines,
which I forwarded by express to Warrenpoint, to reach
the Hercules to leave for Liverpool last night at nine
o'clock, acquainting you of the stranding of the splendid
ship Great Britain on Tuesday night, about ten o'clock
She now lies upright on the sand, and apparently has
received no damage to the hull, with the exception of
the rudder. In consequence of the wind shifting to the
north-east last night the vessel did not alter her position,
and must now remain until the next springs. Meantime
Captain Hosken is arranging to sell all the coal on board,
and otherwise to lighten the vessel as much as possible
previously. I suppose the cargo will be landed, and re
shipped for Liverpool.
" We will require considerable assistance in the way
of steam-tugs. All will depend on the state of the wea-
ther. Ido not apprehend the vessel can receive any fur-
ther injury. A steam-tug arrived this morning from
Belfast, and is now employed securing out a bower
anchor and chain the whole length to the E.S.E., in
order to hold the vessel, and prevent her getting further
on shore. Every exertion is making in order to preserve
and save this fine vessel. Captain Hosken wrote fully
to Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and Co., yesterday. Captain
Hosken speaks in praise of his crew since he left, and
have no doubt they will continue to do their duty. I
have nothing further to communicate on this truly un- '
fortunate occurrence.---I am, Sir, Sce."
"Tyrella, Friday, Sept. 25, 11 A.m.
"I refer to my letter of yesterday's date, and have
now great pleasure to inform you that the Great Britain,
as she now lies, does not appear to have received any
damage. She was nearly drynll around this morning's ebb.
" I would strongly recommend an anchor of three tons,
with a chain 100 or 120 fathoms to correspond, to be
forwarded over and to be ready to run out, and also ad-
ditional hands on board the tug steamers, in order to have
sufficient strength on the next rise of tide. However,
we cannot depend on the hands to assist from the shore.
" To-day we commence discharging a portion of the
coals from the centre of the vessel. Captain Hosken is
preparing to get the rudder to act. The vessel will now
remain quietly until the tides put up.

" I am, Sir, yours respectfully,
"LEONARD WATSON."

A powerful steam-tug has left this port for the Bay to
render assistance. The Dreadnought has also left for the
coast.

(From the Liverpool Journal.)
We have been favoured with the following particulars
by a gentleman of Montreal, who was on board the Great
Britain when she went ashore:—

He says that he was in bed and asleep at the time the
vessel struck. He was awoke by the concussion, and,
on jumping up, heard loud screams from the ladies'
cabin. He ran on deck. The night was stormy, and tho
sea was breaking over the ship, which still continued
drifting, and it drifted, he thinks, fully a mile.
There was a light visible, and Captain Hosken said it
was about a mile and a half distant, and, in reply to a
question, said that they were near Ardglass.
An officer of the ship was examining the compass, and
the Rev. Mr. Tucker, of Bermuda, seeing that it did not
work, asked him the reason. He replied, after some
time, to the effect that there was something the matter
with it. The same officer then examined the compass in
the fore part of the ship, and an opinion prevailed that
the compass was the cause of the disaster. On hearing
this, Captain Hosken solemnly declared that there was
nothing wrong with the compass.
On the vessel striking, and during the remainder of
the night, blue lights were burnt and guns fired, and
the scene on board was most distressing. The great
majority of the passengers were very ill; the Viennoise
children kept crying violently around Madame Weiss;
and several passengers, who ought to have shown firm-
ness, betrayed lamentable weakness. Captain Hosken
continued cool and composed, and several times referred
to his charts. No one retired to rest—all were full of
fears; but it was found next day that one passenger had
never awoke until morning.
At four o'clock in the morning boats came alongside,
and several persons went ashore, and as the tide receded
men waded alongside and carried passengers ashore on
their backs; several, however, wished to remain on board,
but Captain llosken insisted on their leaving the vessel,
as he could not be answerable for their lives. _

In reply to a formal application he advised them to
repair at once to Liverpool, and apply to the agents;—he
could give them no money, guarantee nothing.
Hundreds of men appeared to act as porters; but as
several American passengers refused to pay them, re-
ferring them to Captain Hosken, dispute and confusion
were the consequence. The coast guard behaved admi-
rably, protected property and passengers, and the wife
of the watchhouse•keeper (the watchhouse was within
one hundred yards of the vessel) not only cooked for the
ladies, but gave them all the provision she had, and re-
fused to accept one farthing in return. The passengers
purpose rewarding her.

The country people around showed equal kindness,
but the porters and carters were most exorbitant in
their charges. The coaches charged only usual fares,
and the hotel-keepers and publicans were equally mode-
rate, but the housekeepers in Downpatrick charged a
guinea for a bed 1

NAV AL INTELLIGENCE.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.— The remains of the late Earl
of Yarborough were removed from Cowes on board the
Kestrel, which left about one o'clock for Grimsby or the
Humber, whence the corpse will be conveyed to the fa-
mily seat at Brocklesbury for interment. The Royal
Yacht Squadron battery and the yachts at and about the
station fired minute-guns as the Kestrel got under way
and left the port, her colours half-mast, accompanied by
the Myrtle steam-vessel, Master-Commander Balliston,
also with her ensign dipped ; the Myrtle attended as far
as the Nab light, when the breeze freshened, causing the
yacht to head her steam attendant, which then returned
to port. The Lightning steamer, Petley, master, will
meet the Kestrel in the Downs and conduct her to
Grimsby. Every vessel which passed the Kestrel, men-
of-war included, lowered their colours as a mark of
respect. Captain the Hon. D. Pelham, R.N., second son
of the deceased Nobleman, accompanied by his cousin,
Captain Tennant, R.N., proceeded in the Kestrel, and
the Earl of Yarborough, accompanied by Sir J. Copley,
Bart., proceeded to Brocklesbury by land to meet the
remains, which will be committed to the carat in the
most private and unostentatious manner, in compliance
with the wish of the deceased.

Tho Fairy tender was undocked yesterday morning,
and at noon the Champion, 18, and the Serpent, 16, were
taken into the same dock.

The Avenger steam-frigate, Captain W. J. Williams,
arrived at Devonport on Friday from Egypt, whither
she had conveyed his Highness Ibrahim Pacha from
Spithead. She has many defects to repair before she can
perform any further efficient service.
The Prometheus steam sloop, Commander Hay, put
in Ascension on the 25th of July, and left on the 31st
for a cruise.

The Dido, 20, Captain Maxwell, arrived at Madeira,
from Devonport on the 27th of August, and sailed on
the same day for Rio.
The Hecate steam sloop, Commander West, captured
a slaver on the Bth of July off Point Padron, having 500
slaves on board. The prize was sent into St. Helena in
charge of First-Lieutenant Hancock. She was a brig,
named the Relampigo.
The Larne, 18, Commander Brisbane, made prize of a
fine slave schooner, named the Segunda Concarce de
Maria, off Loando on the 6th of July. She was sent
into St. Helena for adjudication in charge of Lieutenant
Whyte.
The Maria Somes transport arrived at Algoa Bay from
the Mauritius on the Bth of July, and sailed on the 11th
for Simon's Bay.
The Naiad coal depot was undocked on Friday after-
noon, to make room for the Hastings, 72, one of the ad
vanced ships, which latter was ducked fur overhauling
yesterday morning.

APPOINTMENTS.
11. S. Hawker, Lieutenant (Grappler).
W. 11. O'Bree, Master's Assistant (Rattlesnake).
P. C. Moss, Master's Assistant (Tartarus).
J. G. Messum, Clerk (Rattlesnake).
John Powell, Gunner (Rattlesnake).
Lieutenant Thomas Strover, Agent for Mails.
Lieutenant William Still, Agent (Mariner transport).

PT. 25. Our
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pNpVI Al{ KoEr Fwt
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apt t
hCi Os I twNe e
kiNilsAvnetir
very ET, T,
large,SE and we have an
extensive demand for this article at an advance of is. to
2s. per quarter. Barley is now more plentiful, and sales
cannot be effected 'unless at ls. to 2s. per quarter re-
duction. Beans are fully as dear. Oats are rather lower.
A Chinese, in his native costume, made his appear-
ance in the Palais Royal the other evening. lie was
followed by such a gaping mob that he was obliged to
take refuge in a cab. It was the first time that a China•
man had ever been seen in this capital.

COURT CIRCULAR.
WINDSOR, SUNDAY.—Yesterday afternoon the Queen
held a Privy Council at the Castle. It was attended by
his Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Lord John Russell, First Lord of the
Treasury; Sir George Grey, Secretary of State for the
Home Department ; Viscount Palmerston, Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs ; and Sir John Hobhouse,
President of the Board of Control for the Affairs of
India.

The Hon. William Bathurst was the Clerk of the
Council in Waiting.
Sir George Grey, Sir John Hobhouse, and the Hon.
W. Bathurst, arrived from town to attend the Council
by the Great Western Railway. The Lord Chancellor
and Lord J. Russell arrived together at the Castle, the
former from Copse Hill and the latter from Wimbledon.
Lord John Russell remains at the Castle on a visit to
her Majesty.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge took
leave of her Majesty and the august circle at the Castle
yesterday morning, and proceeded to the Slough
Station, travelling to town by the Great Western ,
Railway.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge,
and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg
Strelitz, took their departure yesterday for Kew.
This morning their Royal Highnesses the Prince of
Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the Prin-
cess Alice, took pony exercise in the gardens surround-
ing the Castle. Her Royal Highness the Princess
Helena was taken an airing at the same time.
Her Majesty and her Royal Consort took their usual
early morning walk.
The Queen and Prince Albert, her Majesty the Queen
Dowager, her Royal Highness the Princess of Prussia,
her Majesty's visitors, the ladies and gentlemen of the
Court, and the household, attended Divine service to-
day, in the private chapel of the Castle, the Hon. and
Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay officiating.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived
in town on Saturday, from Windsor Castle. His Royal
Highness went to his residence at Kew in the afternoon.
At the Chapel Royal, St. James's, yesterday, the
prayers were read by the Rev. Mr. llelmore, and the
lessons by the Rev. Mr. Hall. The sermon was preached
by the Rev Dr. Sleath. The anthem was " Praise the
Lord, omy soul" (Croft.) The solo part was sung by
Mr. Lockey The :Marquis of Thomond and Lord de
Mauley were among the nobility present.

SIXTH REPORT OF THE COMMIS-

SIONERS ON THE FINE ARTS.

TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT
MAJESTY.

We, the Commissioners appointed by your Majesty
for the purpose of inquiring whether advantage might
not be taken of the rebuilding of your Majesty's palace
at Westminster, wherein your Majesty's Parliament is
wont to assemble, for the purpose of promoting and en-
couraging the fine arts in your Majesty's United King-
dom, and in what manner an object of so much import-
ance might be most effectually promoted, humbly report
to your Majesty that, having on a former occasion, viz.,
in our report of the 7th August, 1845, recommended
that six arched compartments in the House of Lords
should be decorated with fresco paintings ; having, at
the same time expressed our opinion that it would be de-
sirable to proceed gradually with the execution of such
fresco paintings, and that, in order to judge of the effect
of the work in the locality aforesaid, one fresco should
be completed before others should be commenced ; we,
accordingly, and with the sanction of your Majesty, com-
mitted the execution of such first fresco painting to
William Dyce, A.R.A., the subject being that of the
cartoon exhibited by him, viz., the Baptism of Ethelbert.
We have now humbly to report to your Majesty that
the said fresco painting was completed in the month of
July last, in the centre compartment of the south wall
of the House of Lords, and that we have inspected the
same.

The design having been before approved by us, our
attention was chiefly directed to the work as an example
of fresco painting, a method in a great measure new in
this country, and in which we deem it probable that
some defects, arising from want of experience, might be
apparent ; defects which time and practice might in
future efforts have removed. We have, however, the
satisfaction to state that the work in question presents
no evidence of such imperfections; that, on the contrary,
it evinces great knowledge of the process of the fresco
painting and great skill in its application; that, further,
as regards the effect of fresco painting in the locality,
we consider that it promises to agree well with the ar-
chitectural and other decorations therein adopted or to
be adopted. We therefore beg leave to confirm our
former recommendation, and to propose that the remain-
ing five compartments should be decorated with fresco
paintings, when the several designs for the same shall
have been approved. And being also of opinion that
the satisfactory effect of Mr." Dyne's fresco is io be
referred in a great degree to the style of design
and colouring which he has adopted, and considering it
desirable that a certain conformity of style and execu-
tion should pervade paintings employed in the decoration
of architecture, and which must be seen together ; we
deem it important, without wishing to impose undue re-
strictions on the invention or taste of the other artists
commissioned or to be commissioned to execute the re-
maining frescos in the House of Lords, that such artists
should be recommended to adapt the size of their prin-
cipal figures, their style of colouring, and the degree of
completeness in the execution of their works, so as to
make them agree sufficiently with each other, and with
the specimen already executed.
We have further humbly to report to your Majesty
that having, from time to time, been furnished with
drawings by the architect showing the possible extent
to which compartments in the various localities of the
Palace at Westminster might be decorated with works of
art, we are of opinion that it would not be expedient,
with reference to the encouragement of British art or
with reference to the claims which may hereafter be
urged for the commemoration of great events, to com-
plate the series of paintings on the walls of the said
palace at the present period ; that, nevertheless, in ac-
cordance with the principles which have already guided
us in deciding on the plan of decoration in the House
of Lords, viz., with reference to fresco paintings,
stained windows, and statues, proposed for that locality;
and also in the selection of statues proposed for St.
Stephen's Porch, St. Stephen's Hall, and the royal ap-
proaches; we conceive it to be the duty of this commis-
sion, for the better guidance of present and future artists,
and in order to maintain a character of harmony and
unity worthy of such a building, to determine a complete
scheme for the future decoration of the Palace. We are
of opinion that in determining such scheme, the especial
destination of each portion of the building should be at-
tended to that, in the selection of subjects, the chief ob-
ject to be regarded should be the expression of some
specific idea; and the second, its illustration by means of
some well-known historic or poetic incident adapted for
representation in painting.
We humbly subjoin as an appendix to this report some
papers treating in detail various matters connected with
the subject of our inquiry.
ALBERT. LYNDHURST.
SUTHERLAND. ASHBURTON.
LANSDOWNE. COLBORNE.
LINCOLN. C. S. LEFEVRE.
J. RUSSELL. ROBERT PEEL.
PALMERSTON. J. R. J. GRAHAM.
MELBOURNE. T. B. MACAULEY.
CANNING. ROB. HARRY INGLIS.
MA H ON. B. HAWES.
ABERDEEN. SAMUEL ROGERS.
WILLOUGHBY THOMAS WYSE.
D'ERESBY.
Whitehall, August 4, 1846.

THE CASE OF CAPTAIN RICIIARDSON.—The unex-
pected termination of one of the most extraordinary
cases of alleged forgery that has occurred for some years
in the commercial world, by the grand jury sitting at the
Central Criminal Court having ignored the bill which
had been preferred against Captain William Richardson,
must cause every fact connected with that event to be
read with interest. Although committed by the Lord
Mayor on the charge of forgery, Messrs. Bushe and
Mullins, the solicitors to the prosecution, considered that
it would be advisable to have two counts introduced in
the indictment, the first for forgery, and the second for
fraud, so that the prisoner might not escape upon any
technical informality. To support the two counts it was
found necessary to have the names of no less than thirty
witnesses upon the back of the bill, and to prevent any
failure in their attendance, Wednesday afternoon, at halt-
past two o'clock, was fixed upon to go before the grand
jury. At half-past two o'clock the first witness was called
in, and while under examination, it was discovered that
one witness was labsent, who, fortunately, turned out
to be the principal one, and to go on was to abandon
the prosecution; but
in as there was a probability
that ho would arrive, witness after witness was mar-
shalled the absence of the 'Missing witness, while
messengers were dispatched to various places for him,
who, it was stated, had to come from Brighton, and to
the terminus on that line more than one person was dis-
patched in the hope that he would be found in time.
At length the last, making the twenty-ninth witness,
was called in, and upon the yeoman who attends on the
grand jury, inquiring if there were any further wit-
nesses to be examined, a mournful negative was the
reply: Whether the absent witness was bound over in
his recognizances to prosecute could not be ascertained,
at all events he was not called upon his recognizance.
Upon this result being known, and as the grand jury
immediately afterwards broke up, Messrs. Bushe and
Mullins, and Mr. Fry, solicitor to the company, entered
the grand jury room, where they expressed their sur-
prise in strong terms. Some of the. members of the
grand jury who happened to remain said the reason
which caused them to come to the conclusion which
they did was, that they had attentively examined the
cheque, and that they were perfectly satisfied that the
word " ten " had never been written, nor had any al-
teration been made; that they were satisfied that it was
a blank cheque, and that it was in evidence that the
prisoner had authority to fill up blank cheques; that
they had caused Mr. Stephenson to be called twice.—As
Captain Richardson is discharged, he, as a matter of
course, will retain the 3,22:51 taken from his possession.
—Observer.

THE VISCOUNTESS HAEDINGE.—We are happy to
learn that her Ladyship has so far recovered from her
late illness as to be capable of being removed from
Bromham Hall to her residence in town, where she
arrived this day in one of Marks' invalid carriages,
accompanied by Dr. M'Catin and the Hon. Miss
Hardinge.

DEATH OF SIR EDWARD SMITH LEES, K.B.—
We regret to state that Sir Edward Lees, late Secretary
to tho Postmaster-General in Edinburgh, died very
suddenly on the morning of the 24th inst., at his cottage
at Broughty Ferry, near Dundee. Sir Edward had
suffered for years from a complaint of the heart, and it
is supposed that he died in his sleep without a struggle.

ITALIAN AND AUSTRIAN RAIL-

WAY.

A meeting of the shareholders in this company was
held on Satruday at the London Tavern, Mr. Jackson,
chairman of the company, in the chair.
The SECRETARY read the report of the pro-
ceedings from the date of the last report down
to the present day. From this document
it appeared that considerable progress had been made
with the works on the railroad from Florence to Pistoia.
Mr. Brunel had communicated a report to the directors
of the company, which he had received from Mr. Bab-
bage, resident engineer, which expressed a confident
opinion that the first 101. miles, from Florence to Prato,
would be opened during the next summer if the neces-
sary materials required for the plant and permanent way
shall have been received in proper time from England.
The directors having been furnished by the company in
Florence with funds for the requisite purchases, had lost
no time in entering into contracts for the proper supplies.
The Tuscan Goiernment had agreed to permit the im-
portation free of duty of everything to be used in the
construction or the working of the railway. Tile in-
terest due on the Austrian and Piedmontese bonds,
forming the deposit with the Tuscan Government, still
remained in the hands of the Government with the ori-
ginal deposit. The total amount of interest received and
due on this and other investments to the 31st of
December would amount to 8,700/. The half-year's
interest, at 4 per cent. paid and due on the company's
shares to the 30th of June last, was about 2,7001., and
a similar sum would be payable on the 31st of December
next, staking together 5,400/. Deducting this latter
sum from 8,700/. there would remain a surplus of 3,300/.
of interest in favour of the company, available in
reduction of the expenditure, which, calculated'
up to the 31st of December, 1846, would be about 8,1001.
The amount of the funds in the hands of the directors,
after paying 44,6861. 4s. 9d. instalments on the Florence
and Pistoia Railway, was 4,443/. ss. 6d. •, and as
further instalments on these shares must shortly be paid,
the directors had resolved to make a call of 11 per
share on the company's shares, payable on the 19th of
October next. It was estimated that this call, in addi-
tion to the payments already made, amounting alto-
gether to 41. a share, would afford sufficient capital to
complete and stock the line from Florence to Pistoia.
The SECRETARY then read the financial statement, which
exhibited an account of 145,0951. 105. 6d. on the debtor
side, and on the credit side a sum of 66,8092 13s. 7d. ;
deposited with the Tuscan Government, by cash in
hands of the company's bankers, at interest in Italy,
15,523/. 13s. Bd., &c.
The CIAIRMAN said 'that this report, coupled with
that before submitted to them, gave a full ac-
count of the proceedings of the directors
from the commencement of the undertaking.
The directors had obtained for the shareholders a con-
cession—a line which ran through a rapidly improving
district thickly inhabited. They had formed an al-
liance with the most wealthy capitalists of Italy,
and they now stood in a position that would
render it very difficult to shake their stability. With
respect to the portion of the line to Ancona and Rome, it
was rather a delicate subject to enter upon. The late Pope
threw obstacles in the way of all railways being intro-
duced into his dominion:. The present Pope, however,
took a different view, and they had now every proba-
bilty of success for the undertaking in the states of the
Church. He thought it right to mention that it was
the intention of the directors to call the company
together, probably in a short time, and he could assure
the meeting that they would take no steps with-
out consulting the wishes of the shareholders in
that company.—(Hear, hear.) The only liability
to which they were subjected was the retaining of the
shares, and if this were not complied with the shares might
be forfeited. By paying the present call of 1/. a share,
they would have two-thirds of the stock in their hands.
The directors had stipulated to deposit 60,000/. in
Tuscany. The line would be opened in August next,
and would be completed in eighteen months at the
farthest. The Chairman concluded by proposing that
the present as well as the preceding report should be
adopted.

A. discussion of some length here ensued as to
the legal position of the company with reference
to responsibility, which terminated in the resolution,
which was seconded, being carried, and another resolu-
tion, that the directors should not make any further
advances with the line without the sanction of the share-
holders.

Thanks were then voted to and acknowledged by the
Chairman, after which the meeting separated.

THE MAILS: SOUTHAMPTON, SEPT. 27.—The
Peninsular steam-packet Royal Tar, Captain Hamilton,
arrived here yesterday at four o'clock P.M., and landed
the usual mails; which were forwarded to London by
this morning's early mail train. Her dates are, Gibral-
tar, Sept. 17; Cadiz, 18th; Lisbon, 20th; off Oporto,
22d; Vigo, 22d; and Corunna, 23d. The Tar brought
home a detachment of artillery, women and children, and
about forty passengers, also a cargo of almonds and
raisins, grapes, parcels, &c. Her Majesty's steamer
Phoenix was at Gibraltar. The experimental squadron,
Hibernia, Trafalgar, Queen, St. Vincent, Rodney, Van-
guard, Albion, Superb, Spartan, and Eurydice frigates;
Terrible, Retribution, Cyclops, Polyphemus, and Rattler,
were at Cadiz. Her Majesty's ship Canopus, French
brig of war Cyne, and the usual Portuguese squadron
were at Lisbon, and at Vigo the Spanish frigate Isabel
11., and Villa do Bilboa, and Cologne corvette, and
Blasco de Caray steamer. The Arid, Captain Colbeck,
left the docks yesterday for Malta and Alexandria with
a full cargo of goods and passengers; she will remain
out for the newly arranged passage between Alexandria
and Marseilles for the purpose of establishing the facts
as to which practically is the shortest route for the India
mails. The Queen steam-ship, Captain Russell, will
leave this port to-morrow with the mails, a good cargo,
and passengers for Gibraltar. A very fine new iron
steam-ship (Tiber), Captain Olive, leaves this port on
the 30th instant, en route for Italy, Florence, Rome, and
Naples; she will take out a large cargo of Manchester
and other goods, and a fair number of passengers for a
first trip. The Oriental, Captain Soy, is hourly ex-
pected at the Motherbank with the India and China
mails; she left Malta on the 16th.

CONFLAGRATION AT LIMEHOUSE..--OR Saturday
night, between nine and ten o'clock, a very extensive fire
broke out in a house, No. 71, Fore-street, Limehouse, in
the occupation of Mr. Talbot, boot and shoe manufac-
turer. The flames originated in the first floor, from
some cause which could not be ascertained. Although
an alarm was raised, and several persons were instantly
on the spot to render assistance, very few minutes elapsed
before the fire had extended throughout the whole of the
upper portion of the premises, and when it broke through
the roof, it completely illuminated, not only the imme-
diate district, but the more distant portions of the metro-
polis. With all possible expedition, several engines of
the London Brigade( with Mr. Braidwood, the superin-
tendent, attended; and a plentiful supply of water being
soon obtained, the engines were set to work; but, not-
withstanding, the flames continued to spread with more
than usual rapidity, so that before eleven o'clock every
part of the spacious building, together with the furni-
ture and stock-in-trade, was blazing away most furiously.
Whilst the firemen were engaged directing the branches
of the engines through the front windows, the floorings
gave way, and fell with a fearful crash. The shock
caused the outer walls to topple over into the street, and
it was with the greatest difficulty that several of the fire-
men escaped being crushed to death. The engines were
worked with full vigour until half past eleven o'clock,
when the firemen at length got the mastery over the fire,
but by that period the place was gutted, and several of
the adjoining premises were very extensively damaged,
more especially the residence of Dr. Barnard, next door.
HOSTILE COLLISION.—The Pilot of Saturday
evening furnishes the following piece of bellicose intelli-
gence:—" On this afternoon a hostile attack was made
upon Robert Dillon Browne, Esq., M.P. for Mayo, of a
most flagrant character, and we believe quite as unex-
pected as it was flagrant. Mr. Browne was driving up
College-green, just entering upon Grafton-street, when
he was accosted by Mr. William Thomas Kelly, of Mount-
joy-square, solicitor to the Irish West Coast Railway.
Mr. Kelly was on horseback. A few words of an un-
pleasant nature passed, when Mr. Kelly raised his hand,
and struck Mr. Browne with his whip with his whole
force over the head three or four times. Mr. Browne
sprang into the street, and seized the whip of a carman
just passing at the time, which the latter held fast, when
Mr. Browne caught at the cane of a passenger, which he
succeeded in seizing, and turning upon Mr. Kelly, he
perceived the latter, though the action did not occupy
the time we take to recount it, had ridden off. Mr.
Browne jumped on a car, and immediately drove after
his assailant. We should not omit to state that when
Mr. Kelly struck Mr. Browne, the latter, as we have been
told, remarked—" Kelly, you —, you know I am
bound to the peace, or I would annihilate you." The
fact, we believe, was well known to Mr. Kelly, for if we
be not mistaken he was Mr. Browne's attorney upon the '
occasion of that gentleman's being bound over, upon the
application of Mr. James C. Coffey, for having sent the
latter a hostile message."
FALL OF A HOUSE IN THE OLD JEWRY.—On
Saturday morning, between the hours of four and five
o'clock, the inhabitants of the Old Jewry and imme-
diate vicinity were alarmed by a tremendous crash re-
sembling the discharge of several pieces of ordnance,
and which was ascertained to have been occasioned by
the fall of a party wall and part of a large five-story
house, let out in offices, and situate at the corner of the
Old Jewry and Gresham-street. The only occupants
were the housekeeper, an elderly woman, and her
daughter, who fortunately escaped in their night-clothes
and without injury. The cause of the building falling ,
was the removal of an adjoining house in the Old Jewry,
lately the office of the Bank architect. Every pre-
caution has been adopted by the police to prevent
danger during the necessary preparations for removing
the remainder of the building.
ESCAPE FROM BRIXTON GAOL..—A reward of 10/.
has been offered for the apprehension of a man named
Thomas Finn, a prisoner who effected his escape from
the Brixton House of Correction. It appears that the
fugitive was a most desperate character, well-known on
the Surrey side of the water by the police for his dis-
sipated habits and ferocious conduct. He was convicted
at the Central Criminal Court for an assault, for which
he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard
labour. He effected his escape a few nights since by
dressing himself in some of the watchman's clothes,
which he had contrived to procure.
FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE LONDON Docx.s.—On
Saturday Mr. William Baker held an inquest at the
Royal Crown, Ratcliff.highway, on view of the body of
Henry Blohm, aged twenty-eight, a sailor on board the
merchant ship the Glory, of Hamburgh, who was
drowned in the London Docks. It appeared that on
Thursday evening last, about ten o'clock, the deceased
was at the bow=head of the vessel, in the act of raising
a pail of water from the docks, when he fell overboard.
The drags were instantly employed, but the body was
not found till the following morning. Verdict, Acci-
dental Death.

THE RECENT CHARGES AGAINST
THE AUTHORITIES OF ST. PANCRAS WORK-
HOUSE.
On Saturday afternoon, at two o'clock, a special meet-
ing of the vestry of St. Pancras was held at their rooms
in Gordon-square, for the purpose of considering the
report of the directors and guardians in reference to the
recent charges made against them at an inquest held by
Mr. Wakley, M.P., on the Bth and 9th inst., on the body
of Mary Ann Jones, aged 19, a pauper, who, it will be
remembered, destroyed herself under the painful cir-
cumstances detailed in the morning papers of the 10th.
The meeting was numerously attended, and Mr. E.
Wagstaff, the junior churchwarden, was called to the
chair.

Mr. WGAHAY, the vestry clerk, read the minutes of
the previous meeting ; and some other routine business
having been gone through,
The CHAIRMAN said that they had now arrived at the
special business, which was the reception of the report
of the board of directors in reference to tho recent serious
charges made against the general management of St.
Pancras workhouse by the coroner's jury.
Mr. PITT, the accountant agent of the board of di-
rectors, here read the report, which has already appeared
in the columns of this journal.
Mr. Churchwarden HOWORTH then rose and addressed
the meeting. He had much pleasure in moving the
adoption of the report just read ; and in doing so, al-
though he believed the facts were already before the
public in connexion with the late inquiry, he thought it
necessary to make a few remarks to the vestry upon the
subject. lie begged to assure the vestry that the board
of directors had entered into their inquiry with every
feeling to do justice towards the poor in the workhouse.
Their investigation had been, as the vestry were aware,
into the general treatment of the paupers, and they had
also minutely inquired into the character of the toed
provided. It was true that when the rations were shown
to the paupers there was considerable dissatisfaction
manifested ; but it would be found always amongst
paupers that if the food were of the finest quality, and
ten times the amount, yet there would still exist a
grumbling on their part, consequent upon the restraint
to which they were subjected in a parish workhouse,
and all the luxuries that could be obtained for them
would not suffice.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") The law only
compelled them to supply the poor with a sufficient
amount of good and wholesome food. As far as the
parish of St. Pancras was concerned, that bad been the
case in their workhouse. If the regulations of the house
had not been carried out in the manner they ought to
have been, he felt it did not rest with the directors.—
(Renewed cries of " Oh, oh.") He could assure the
vestry ever since be had been a member of the board
every desire had been evinced to see to the comforts of
the poor of that parish. He would confess his surprise
at the conduct of Mr. Cooper, the medical officer, who,
entertaining an opinion of the insufficiency of the diet,
ought to have reported it to the board. He (Mr.
Howorth) considered, under all the circumstances, the
hoard of directors were wholly unworthy of any censure,
and he trusted that the vestry would be of a similar
opinion.
Mr. GOODWIN seconded the motion.

Mr. MANN was much astonished at the arguments
which had been adduced, in calling upon the vestry to
adopt that report—a report which he considered wholly
undeserving of adoption by that body. He contended
that the report was diametrically opposed to the evi-
dence. From the evidence, as it had appeared in the
press, Mr. Howorth had thought fit to make a personal,
and as he (the speaker) considered, a most unjustifiable
attack on Mr. Cooper, who, he thought had given his
testimony in a fair and impartial manner. Did they
mean► to tell him that directors who had themselve been
in office for many years were not aware of the condition
of that place in which the refractory females were kept?
—(Hear). He considered it a farce to fall back upon a
medical officer, and to shrink from the responsibility
which was clearly attached to the directors themselves.
He felt it his duty to /call upon the vestry to appoint a
committee to investigate the whole management of the
" house," as well as of the duties of all the officers en-
gaged therein. It was proposed in the report to erect a
new building. Now he was strongly opposed to the
erection of the new vestry rooms, and still thought it
would have been much more creditable to the directors
if they had spent the money in food to comfort the poor.
—(Cheers.) The project of Dr. Bermingham, with re-
ference to the exhibition of diet before the board, was,
to use the words of some of the papers, " the greatest
failure that was ever attempted." He would now move,
as an amendment to the adoption of the report, that a
committee of ten or more members of the vestry be ap-
pointed to inquire into the whole management of the
workhouse, as also the duties of the officers therein em-
ployed.
Mr. BONTLING seconded it.

Mr. HATToN said, that he had at a meeting of the
board of directors moved that the master should be
brought forward to give an explanation of the difference
of the rations of food. In one of the meals there were
two very nice slices of beef and seven good potatoes,
whereas the quantity distributed on the same day to
the paupers consisted of beef of a very different natnre
and only three potatoes—(Cries of " Shame, shame")—
and the latter ration was brought into the board-
room too.

Mr. T. H. Sstrrn said, that although he had no desire
to shrink from any inquiry which the vestry might think
proper to make, he could not as a director vote against
the adoption of a report of which he had already
approved.

Dr. BERMINGHAM said, in doing as he had done he was
actuated by the desire to see the poor had proper diet,
and for that purpose he had visited the workhouse twice.
He added that the food placed before the board was pre-
cisely of the same character as that he (Dr. Berming-
ham) had tasted in the house on the days he accidentally-
called in. Now,. if such was not the case, they could
only arrive at ono of two conclusions—namely, that
either the board in having those rations placed before
them had been most grossly deceived by the master, or
that the paupers had uttered falsehoods. He then sup-
ported the character of Mr. Cooper, and complained
bitterly cf the attacks upon that gentleman in some of
the newspapers.
Mr. E. F. SMITH could not think that such a report
as that proposed by the directors could either be consi-
dered satisfactory to them or to the ratepayers at large .
The report did not say one word of any grievances which
existed in St. Pancras Workhouse—grievances which
had existed for so long a period. Mr. Smith then de-
tailed several instances of neglectful and oppressive
treatment of the paupers. Amongst other incidents, ho
stated that on going into the boys' school-room, in order
to test the quality of food, there were upwards of 95
boys at their dinner, out of which number only thirteen
had partaken of the gruel that morning, whilst not more
than fourteen were able to eat the broth.

After some further discussion, the motion was put by
the Chairman, and the amendment was negatived, there
being but 5 in its favour, and 23 against it, and out of
that number the majority contained about 18 directors of
the poor.