The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-30 00:00:00

FUND.

" My Friends,—The treasurers having placed at my
disposal the amount of the Cobden Testimonial Fund,
particulars of which are given in the accompanying
pages, the agreeable duty now devolves upon me of
offering you my grateful acknowledgments for your mu-
nificent contributions.

" At the time of the dissolution of the Anti-Corn-law
League, circumstances had determined me to withdraw
from public life, and devote myself, for some time, to the
exclusive care of my private affairs, when the proposal
which was unexpectedly made to raise a fund for me by
public subscription, and the generous response with
vy hick it was met from all parts of the kingdom, induced
me to abandon my determination. Since my return
from the continent I have, by the advice of my friends,
withdrawn altogether from the risks and anxieties of
business. By this arrangement I have incurred some
heavy sacrifices, but through your liberality I am left in
possession of an ample competence.
" Whilst acknowledging that it is by your bounty
alone that I am placed in a position to be able to devote
myself to public business, I think it fair to guard you
from being held responsible for my future political ca-
reer. I accept the testimicnial at your hands with the
understanding that it commits the donors to an ap-
proval of my free-trade principles only, and that it
leaves me at liberty to take an unfettered course on
all other public questions. Having secured my inde-
pendence, you have a right to expect that in all other
matters affecting the public interest I shall act up to the
dictates of a conscientious conviction—that I shall not
become the slave of a party, the parasite of the great, or
the flatterer of the people; and in these expectations you
shall not be disappointed. Happy indeed shall I be to
find that my opinions generally have the sanction of
your approbation.

"I have entered upon this explanation solely to pre-
vent any attempt hereafter to place you in a false posi-
tion for want of a frank understanding upon our future
political relationship. Let it not be thought for a mo-
ment that this candour is incompatible with the most
profound and grateful sense of your generosity. I feel
an inexpressible pride in owing my fortune to the spon-
taneous contributions of my countrymen. To be thus
exalted by you, as a successful labourer in the peaceful
cause of free trade, is a distinction which I would not re-
linquish for all the honours or rewards which have ever
been bestowed upon successful conquerors.
" With the sincerest good wishes for your happiness,
"I remain, my friends,
" Your obliged and faithful servant,
"RICHARD COBDEN.

" London, May 23, 1848."

CONFLAGRATION of the INDIAN

STEAM-SHIPBEN ARES.

DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE.
The fears entertained regarding the fate of this fine
Indian steamer have, we regret to say, been confirmed
by authenticated intelligence, announcing the almost
complete destruction of that vessel by fire, attended
with lamentable loss of human life. The steam« r was
nearly 400 tons burden, and at the period of her return-
ing from Calcutta, had upwards of 150 passengers and
seamen on board. The catastrophe happened when the
vessel was about four miles below Rajmahalt
on the 20th
of April, and is thus described by Lieutenant H. 0.
Mayne, who was among the fortunate passengers who
escaped from a horrible death :
"It was about half-past seven o'clock in the evening
when the alarm was given, the fire having kindled in the
afterpart of the vessel, but from what cause it isimpos-
sible to ascertain. The whole of that portion of the
vessel in one minute became a raging blaze; and so in-
stantaneously did it spread, that those who were right
aft could not come forward. Captain Townsend, the
master, at once apprehended the whole danger, and
in
to
shallow out to the man at the helm to run the vessel
shallow water, which, luckily, was nigh, and she grounded
close to the shore.

" By this time the whole of the s eanaer abaft the en-
gine was enveloped in flames; the upper or awning deck
had caught, as well as a number of carriages which were
placed beneath it. The sc(-ne on board was most heart-
rending, and enough to appal the stoutest heart, Shortly
before the vessel grounded the impression on every
man's mind was, that she would blow up every instant;
this was increased by the fear that directly the flames
reached the boiler it would burst, and also the danger of
some gunpowder on board igniting.
" This made every one expect the worst, and one
gentleman, thinking there was no hope, ran down to his
cabin, divested himself of all but his shirt and trousers,
and sprang overboard. He was never seen after. On
the vessel foundering it was discovered that the people
could stand in the the water up to their middles a few
yards from the vessel, and this led to fearful loss of life.
In spite of the entreaties of the captain, many got out at
the bows, and were seen no more. Thoso who were
handed over to a small rock, which was partly unco-
vered, imagining they were really on terra firma, got
into deep water, and were quickly swept away by the
current. Among them were Mrs. Hartley, Captain
Whistler, Miss Nash, Captain Sneyd, Mr. Grose, Mr.
H m
ou lstoon
som(chiefe twenty
e i)
toy hr sffioe
ter eof the
All
181 eonfa r
themes) perished.
, Atr
Shanahan,The
and
fire continued burning till eleven o'clock, when it
ceased, after consuming the whole of the after part of
the ship, to the engine-room. The destruction of the
cargo was a heavy loss to the owners, it being estimated
at nearly 20,0001.

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY
.EVENING.—The adjourned
coroner's inquest, to investigate in the deaths of Jane
and Ellen Hughes, was resumed at the Masons' Arms,
Swathling, before the county coroner. F. Cooper, Esq.,
surgeon, of Southampton, was called, and said, both the
deceased lived with him as servants, but left his service
about three weeks since. lie gave the eldest warning
to leave, because she did not come home one night till
half-past twelve o'clock, and was afterwards impertinent.
The younger said she would not remain without her
sister. Did not know of any immorality in their con-
duct.—The uncle and cousin of the deceased were ex-
amined, who deposed to having seen them after they had
left Mr. Cooper's service, on the day of Southampton
fair. One of them complained of having been beaten
Sunday,
by the man who lives with their mother, and showed 2
the bruises on her arm and back. q a—ey were re-
spectably dressed : one of them had a velvet bonnet
and the' other a straw-plait bonnet, and the gowns in
would not light the fire,
which they were fouLd. They were fond of dress—Airs.
Hughes, the mother of deceased, was re-called. She was
and was impertinent. She
recollected
widow,
beating
her
daughter man named o
nir ry
b '
au and
was surprised at seeing them in her garden one morning
since the fair. They told her they came home at te
o'clock the night before, but, did not like to call her,
as
she was gone to bed. They said they had got another
situation situation in Southampton, at Mr. Lintott's, a lawyer
This last statement proved to be untrue, as their cousin
afterwards deposed to their having said to her " they
had told their mother a lie, as she was so queer to them,
and they would rather drown themselves-than go home
---The coroner then summed up, and said, although there.
was strong reason to believe they had drowned` them-
selves, yet they had no proof of the fact, as it might have
been an accident.—The jury then returned a verdict of
Found drowned."