The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-10 00:00:00

EMBANKMENT ACROSS THE
SEVERN.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Bristol, 3d month (March) 10, 1846.

Respected Friend,—Permit me to offer to your readers
the following observations on the subject of an embank-
ment across the Severn :—Some years ago I submitted
for the consideration of our worthy representative, the
Hon. H. Berkeley, the propriety of constructing an
embankment across the Severn at or near Aust Passage,
of sufficient width to allow a railway and carriage way
to be constructed thereon, which I believe would tend
greatly to promote the convenience and benefit of the
public, and occasion but little or no inconvenience to the
navigation.
It has lately been proposed to construct at the same
situation a suspension bridge, at an estimated cost of
about one million one hundred thousand pounds. Nov
as I imagine an embankment, with all the needful re-
quirements for the navigation, draining, &c., might be
effected for a considerable less amount, I cannot but
think that it would be decidedly superior to a suspension
bridge springing from the top of Aust cliffs. The ad-
vantages would, I think, be as follows :-
1. A superior level for a railway and carriage road.

2. Superior stability and firmness.
3. The advantage of a separate spacious carriage road.
4. The advantage of preventing the occasional tide;
floods over the low land on the borders of the Severn.

5. By making a floating harbour from thence to Glou-
cester the dangerous navigation at Aust Passage would
be avoided.

6. By making proper arrangements to obviate the in-
convenience and evil of land floods, thereby increasing
the value of all the low lands adjoining.
7. By the probability of converting large tracts of
swampy and marsh land, now of little value, into valu-
able pasture or arable land.
At first sight the project may appear to some wild
and even visionary; but I feel persuaded that if the
subject be calmly considered it will not seem so pre-
posterous as some, without thinking, may be led to
imagine. I can easily suppose that some will conceive
that to effect such a work would be attended with almost
insurmountable difficulties, and enormous outlay ; in
answer to which I feel no hesitation in stating that there
is no engineering difficulty; and as to the cost, I feel
equally confident that it would not exceed one million
pounds.

It might be asked, how will you accommodate the na-
vigation, because the making locks in the embankment
will be attended with great annual expenditure to keep
in repair, and will be dangerous and inconvenient in
boisterous weather? In reply I may observe, that at
less than one mile up the river Wye there is a nick of
land (as though provided for the purpose) about 200 to
300 yards wide, which joins the Beachley Head in the
main land. At this point I propose to construct an
auxiliary basin and canal, to communicate with the
navigable part of the Severn or floating harbour, with
proper sea and harbour gates, so that vessels may pass
up the Wye and effect an easy entrance into the basin
in perfect safety, however boisterous the weather may
be in the main channel of the Severn. Of course the
water in the harbour must be kept to a proper level, so
as to enable the shipping' to enter the Berkeley and
Gloucester Canal at all times—the passage to which
canal-will be less dangerous than it is at present.
Along the embankment, at proper places and of pro-
per dimensions, weirs must be made, to allow the sur-
plus water flowing into the float to pass away, with
proper tidal hatches over the same, to pre-
vent the tide entering the float. To remove
land floods I propose to cut large drains close to the
banks of the float, into which the land flood may enter,
with proper sea hatches to allow the water to make
its exit into the Severn when the tide permits, and
to provide powerful steam or water engines to be used
when required for pumping the surplus land water into
the float or Severn. Thus I think it is clear and indis-
putable that an embankment would be infinitely superior
to a suspension bridge (exposed as the foundations of
such bridge would be to the tremendous effects of strong
tides and heavy seas, and the upper works to the un-
broken fury of tempestuous gales and storms), securing
all the advantages I have enumerated, at the same time
producing a much larger remuneration for the outlay by
an income derived (independent of railway and carriage
road tolls) from reclaimed waste land, and general im-
provement of landed property contiguous thereto; and
therefore, should it even exceed the estimated cost of
the proposed bridge, it appears obvious that the great
convenience and advantage obtained would far more
than counterbalance the difference.

Yours respectfully,
THOMAS MOTLEY.

P.S. Should the plan of compressed air for locomo-
tive engines (now exhibiting at Pall-mall East) be feund
to answer in practice, then power may be obtained at the
weirs more than ample to work the projected direct
Bristol and Liverpool and South Wales railnays at
almost no cost ! exclusive of extra power for mills and
other works, which might be constructed on the em-
bankment.

DREADFUL CONFLAGRATION IN

PORT•GLASGOW.

A few minutes before two o'cloek yesterday (Tuesday),
the ropework and sailcloth weaving premises at Port-
Glasgow, belonging to the Gourock Ropework Com-
pany, were discovered to be on fire, and the alarm
was immediately given, the steeple bell was rung, the
fire engines were sent for, and a messenger dis-
patched for the Greenock engines, but every effort at
stopping the progress of the devouring element
was fruitless in the extreme in twenty minutes
the whole range of wooden buildings on the south side
of the Greenock Railway, on which an additional story
for weaving was lately erected, was enveloped in one
line of blaze and smoke, from the bridge at the railway
station to the flax spinning-mill, which has been saved,
a distance of some hundreds of yards, presenting a scene
of most imposing grandeur, yet a dreadful and ap-
palling F peetacle. By three o'clock the whole buildings
were levelled with the railway wall, leaving 'nothing but
the burning embers, and an immense quantity of hemp,
on which the fire-engines were playing, to save
as much of it as possible. Part of the gable of a
brick building fell with a crash upon the railway, and,
although the ruins were partially cleared away, ob-
structed the down-train from Glasgow; at three, and the
up-train from Greenock at half-past three, till the
passengers *of each dismounted and walked past the
scene of devastation. The railway servants, however,
were most assiduous in attention to the passengers,
and not the slightest accident occurred. .The blaze and
Smoke were seen in awful splendour at Greenock, which
With the intelligence attracted a number from that place.
The people of t'ort-Glasgow were thrown into the ut-
most consternation, and all the heights commanding a
view of the catastrophe were crowded. Fortunately
the wind being light and from the north, the flames
and sparks were driven back toward the hill, else the
consequences to the town might have been frightful;
as it was, only one dwelling-house has suffered. Had
the event occurred during the night, the appearance,
consternation, and consequences tmust have been
awfully heightened. .As it .is, the loss must be
very great. The company of proprietors are chiefly
belonging: to Greenock, and have been enterpris-
ing manufacturers of sailcloth and ropes for a num-
ber of years, giving employment to a great number
of workmen and other persons, who will now be for a
time thrown out of employment. We understand that
the property of the company is insured—we should hope
to cover all loss. When our informant left the spot, the
only efforts being made were to save as much of the raw
material on the spot as possible, every other consumable
article being burned up.—Glasgow Chronicle. •

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—CHESTER, APRIL 7.
An inquest was held yesterday at Baekford, near this city,
on the body of Thomas Jones, who was unhappily killed on
the previous Saturday night, while rambling on the Chester
and Birkenhead Railway. It appeared from the evidence
adduced, that the deceased (who was resident at Chester,
but who was in the employ of W. Cole, at Birkenhead, as a
joiner) took a second-class ticket at the latter place for this
city. He alighted at the Hooton station, and did not return
to the carriage. Another joiner of the name of Harding
also acted in a similar manner, and was left behind just as
the train was moving off. He asked permission to walk on
the line as far as Sutton, as the next train would call there
and not at Hooton, but was refused ; he therefore went
across the fields, and continued his journey to Chester by
the mail-train, which he joined at Sutton. Of the deceased,
however, no more was then seen. When the mail-train,
which leaves Birkenhead at 15 minutes before nine o'clock in
the evening, arrived within a quarter of a mile of the Milling.
ton station, the fireman told the engine-driver that he had just
seen a man., and that a hat had blown past the train. The
alarm whistle was immediately sounded, the engine was re-
versed, and the train stopped at the Millington station. The
night was very dark, and a heavy storm of sleet was falling
at the time. Information was given of the circumstance,
and the watcher and station-keeper immediately proceeded
to the spot. where they found the corpse of the unfortunate
man Jones most dreadfully mutilated. The train came on
to Cheater, and on its arrival there Mr. Calligan, the super-
intendent, set for a medical gentleman, whom he accore-
panied on an. engine to the scene of the sad disaster. The
mangled remains of the poor fellow were then conveyed to a
farm in the neighbourhood to await the coroner's investiga-
tion. As there was snow upon the ground the footsteps of
the deceased were tracked to the Blue Gate- bridge, which
is within a short distance of the place where the accident
occurred, so that he could not have been long on the line.
He appears to have been walking between the up-rails, and
with his face towards Birkenhead ; he would, therefore,
meet the train in full career, and his death must have been
instantaneous. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned.
POST-OFFICE CHARGES AT MADEIRA.—The following
is an extract of a letter received at Lloyd's, from their agent
at Madeira, dated March 21 :—" The Health Office fees are
now levied at the rate of 10s. per mast. Say, three masts, 1/.
10s.; two masts, 1/. If without a bill of health, an addi-
tional fee of 1.0 dollars, if coming from a clean port, and 15
dollars from an unhealthy port."
The Lancaster and Ulveston mail coach has ceased
running, and the bags are now conveyed by a gig.
PETITIONS FOR INCREASED SALARIES IN TUE DIS-
TRICT PoST-ORFICE.—The sub-sorters, stampers, and letter-
carriers of the London District Post, are preparing petitions
to the Postmaster-General for increased salaries, on the
ground of the great quantity of extra duty they have to per-
form. From the precedent established by the recent rise in
the scale of the General Post sub-sorters, it is probable that
his Lordship at the head of the establishment will cause a
general arrangement of tie salaries throughout the executive
department.
BOUNTY UPON ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY.—Within
the past two or three weeks, the bounty paid to recruits upon
their enlisting in the infantry regiments has been raised from
31. 17s. 6d. to 41. The bounty upon enlistment into cavalry
regiments is now also raised, the sum paid being 5/. Formerly
the bounty paid by the infantry was 31., and by the
cavalry 41.
GRANDSON OF SIR WALTER SCOTT.—Mr. Walter
Scott Lockhart, son of Mr. J. G. Lockhart and grandson of
Sir Walter Scott, has been gazetted to a cornetcy in the 16th
Lancers, the regiment which contributed so much to our s:uc-
cess in the recent glorious victory of Aliwal.
FALL IN THE PRICE OF 13aEsD.--YeF terday the four-
pound loaf was reduced to co. in the neighbourhood of
Drury-land, and the New Cut, Lambeth, and other districts
In the Inetropollo.

THE MASTER PAPER-STAINERS

-
AND THE NEW TARIFF.
Last night, at a late hour, a numerously-attended meet-
ing of operative paper-hangers was held at Jacob's Well
Tavern, Barbican. The men assembled "for the pur-
pose of receiving a deputation of paper-stainer, and
taking into consideration the oppressive measures about
to be adopted by their employers towards the working
men," in consequence of the alleged interference of the
provisions of the tariff with the trade. The chair was
taken by Mr. Sparks, an operative.
After introducing the object for which the meeting
was assembled,

The CHAIRMAN said, that in consequence of the pro- I
position of Sir R. Peel that the protective duty on the 1
importation of foreign paper should be reduced to 2d.,
the working classes took alarm, because it became ru-
moured that the masters intended to lower the wages of
their workmen. The operatives had waited upon Mr.
Duncombe, and then they applied to the Board of Trade.
Tne result was, that the masters fancied they were going
to be ruined by the proposal of Sir R. Peel, and they
proposed a reduction of prices. The consequence was,
that 223 men, working at nineteen shops, had turned
out, as the proposed rate of prices was reduced full one-
half, and in some instances two-thirds, on the previous
amount of pay allowed.—(flear.) This would not allow
sufficient for the support of themselves and families.
Mr. BALLARD then moved the first resolution, which
was to the following effect:—" That this meeting consi
ders the conduct of the master paperstainers unjust and
oppressive, in offering a reduction of wages to their
workmen, on account of the importation of foreign paper-
hanging, before the same has become the law of the
land." He was well aware that the interests both of
masters and men were identical, and lie was surprised
that the masters should attempt to force upon the men
such an unjust and oppressive reduction. It was his be-
lief that it was not because the masters were afraid of
the introduction of French papers, and this fact was cor-
roborated by a master, who was of the first standing in
the trade. He told him (the speaker), that this was not
their object—that there was no necessity for the course
pursued by the masters, but that the majority of the
employers desired to reduce the wages, under the pre-
tence of the proposed reduction in the tariff. He had been
in the trade for forty years, and never during the whole
course of his life had he known such an infringement of
the rights of labour as the (eduction now submitted to
them.—(Cheers.) There was no reason in the propo-
sition. In consideration of the reduction of the price
paid per score for the manufacture, the masters had
said they could take an unlimited stock. This was
a fallacy on their part, which they employed in order
to delude the men.—(Hear, hear.) He hoped the
working men would open their eyes, and unstop their
ears. He believed there was a possibility of their ob-
taining as much as 6d. on gold papers, if they were only
united—(Cheers)—and be believed that the present at-
tempt, on the part of the masters, to lower the wages of
the paper-stainers, was only a subterfuge and a snare,
calculated to increase the profits arising from capital, at
the expense of the rights and comforts of the working
classes.—(Cheers.) He cordially moved the resolution.
Mr. THOMPSON, in seconding the motion, said in ex-
planation of the unjust proposition of the masters, that
the following was the proposed and present scale of
wages
Present—Nine score at 11. 10s.

Proposed—Nine score at 135. 6d. if under 50 pieces. •If
over 50, the price of painting nine score would be I ls. 3d.
He considered that at these prices it was not possible for
a man to live ; and from the poisonous ingredients used
in the business, so destructive as they were to human
life, he considerod it was not right that the man should
thus be ground dawn to prices of such a character that
the Union fare was far better than it would be possible
for them to obtain.

The resolution was passed unanimously, amidst
thunders of applause.
Mr. TAPwonrit proposed the second resolution—
" That this meeting views the reduction of wages pro-
posed by the masters as of so overwhelming a character,
being in some casts two-thirds, and in others one half
of their present prices, that it is utterly imcossible to
earn a subsistence.. He considered the reduction pro-
posed of the most unparalleled character ; the decline
in price, in fact, was from 3s. 6d. per piece to h. 6d. per
piece of goods. The idea of fear, on the part of the
masters, of the importation of French papers for hang-
ing, was a perfect trade absurdity. He maintained that
the English could compete with the foreigner at any
time. Then, if this was the fact, why should they fear
the productions of the home market ? fie felt con-
fident they were in a right cause ; they had not
struck, they were not the aggressors, they had left their
employment because the proposed prices would not
enable them to earn subsistence for themselves and their
families. He contended that they were entitled to insist
upon a fair remuneration for their labour.—(Herr.)
The motion was seconded in a few words by Mr.
M'Doual, and unanimously carried.
Mr. PARROT then moved the last resolution—" That
this meeting most earnestly submits, that every paper-
stainer resists to the utmost of his ability the present
attempt to reduce the scale of prices, and that all pre-
sent pledge themselves to unite to maintain the present
rate of wages, so that they may continue to hold a re-
spectable place in the scale of society."
This was seconded by Mr. DARRANT in a neat speech,
and unanimously carried.
Thanks being voted to the Chairman, and three cheers
being given for Mr. Duncombe, M.P., and three cheers
for the "Press," the numerous assembly separated.

IRONMASTERS' QUARTER-DAY.
BIRMINGHAM,' THIIRSDAY.—The Birmingham meet-
ing of the iron and coal-masters of South Staffordshire
and Shropshire,.held in the Town-hall to-day, passed oil
much more satisfactorily than was expectc d
For some weeks past, as might be seen from published
reports,' the iron trade was understood to be generally
depressed; and there appears to be no doubt that, owing
to causes which I will shortly explain, such has been
the fact.
It will be recollected that between two and three years
ago the ironmasters of South Staffordshire considered
themselves in point of trade and future prospects so dis•
tressed that they appointed a deputation to Sir Robert
Peel, requesting that the Right Hon. Baronet would be
pleased, in order to afford them relief, to issue any quan-
tity of "paper money." Sir Robert's answer was to the
point. He told them that the grand evil of the system
which had recently been pursued by the iron trade was
" over production.' Such threatens to be the conse-
quence of the late extraordinary impetus given to the
trade. Prose ;t appearances confirm it.
It would appear that ever since the opening of the pre-
sent session of Parliament, and immediately subsequent
to the late ironmasters' quarterly meeting, a depression
of the trade was first felt. The mania for railways (pro-
jected) was' then at its height; an.l the natural con-
tequence was, ironmasters being as much, or more, in-
fected than the rest of the world, that works were put
on, wages raised, the price of materials augmented, and
throughout the entire district there was, to every appear-
ance, a brilliant prospective prosperity.
For a time the prospect has been dimmed. The first
blow given to the over-speculation in iron was the with-
drawal from Parliament of many of those wild railway
speculations which had no other effect than to fill the
pockets of attorneys, raise the price of the staple manu-
factures of Staffordshire, and ruin the shareholders. The
present session Of -Parliament has had the effect of weed-
ing these projects; and, at the same time, of threatening
the reduction of the price.of iron.
To-day there was an evident intention on the part of
the ironmasters to keep up the prices of the last quarter;
and, indeed, so far as the determination of the large
houses could succeed in establishing them, they were
successful. Staffordshire bars fetched 101, while Shrop-
shire pigs were certainly not lower, and, as far as I
could learn, as firm as they were in January, There
appeared to be a scarcity of them in the market. Stet'•
fordshire pigs fetched from 51. to 51. 10s.
It must be admitted that the inclination to a decline
of prices, which no ironmaster was prepared to gain-
say, was by many of them accounted fur on different
grounds to those already stated. The first was the
pressure in the money market; and the second was the
immense number of works at present in full employ.
The number Was never exceeded in the memory of man;
while at the same time it is said the lime and coal works
are inadequate to their supply.
The GovernniZnt measure introduced into the two
Houses by Sir Robert Peel and Lord Dalhousie, has also
had a most vital effect upon the trade. The great
houses think that ultimately it will prove beneficial, but
the small masters, calculating as they have been induced
to do, upon immediate consumption, look upon it as
injurious.
As I have said before in many previous communica-
tions upon this subject, the decisions of quarterly meet-
ings are in all seasons to be looked upon as purely
arbitrary. They may last for the day, tr'
,3 alt pro-
bability before the week is over some n, ma,
require cash, and the settled prices
completely thrown overboard. It is i 0 Th sday are
nder
ca omfap ivcatr,atthaet
houses o
during the last quarter many
respectability ha% e sold iron
ets
pricelt shouldfixed b
ate thementioned,
however,
per ton under the
January.
that one house in
eminentoeeto
to-day has purchased the whole of the iron
ditaywi;llarnedqutihreat er
foarntohteh
nextquarter
still m ore a t
the
prices
n o
fixed o
e
of the largest manufacturing establishments in the
kingdom—has during the last few weeks been an exten-
sive buyer.
The greatest cloud which has overhung this clay's
market is the defalcation of a large iron house in
London.

THE REPEAL RENT.—WiII it be credited that from
the Ist of January, 1840 to the 23d of February, 1846—that
is, within a period of twe years and. six months—there have
been acknowledged subscriptions paid to the Repeal ex-
chequer, amounting to the enormous sum of one hundred
and twenty-seven thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine
pounds eleven shillings and sixpence.
INDIA HOUSE.—Yesterday a Court of Directors was
held at the East India-house, when the new directors elected
on Wednesday last—viz., Mr. John Cotton, Mr. John Loch,
Mr. Charles Mills, Mr. William Henry Chicheley Plowden,
Mr. Henry Shank, and Mr. Henry St. George Tucker, took
the oath and their seats. Mr. James Weir Hogg, M.P., was
chosen Chairman, and Mr. Henry St. George Tucker Deputy-
Chairman, for the year ensuing.
Yesterday the Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the
borough of Southwark was held at the Town-hall, High_
street, before the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, the High
Bailiff; and Aldermen Lucas, Sir C. Marshall, and Gibbs.
The Grand Jury having been sworn the Recorder said there
were no bills in his office to go before them. These sessions,
he said, were obliged to be hell 1 as a matter of contingency,
but there was rarely anything for them to do, as the business
formerly done at those sessions was now transferred to the
Central- Criminal Court.—The Court then adjourned,
A clandestine gaming-house in the Rue des Moulins,
at the Batignolles, was entered by the police on Sunday night,
whilst a considerable number of persons were at play. The
two persons keeping the table were apprehended. The fur-
niture was seized, and all the visitors were compelled to give
their names and addresses.—Galignani.

YORK and LANCASTER RAILWAY,'

PROPOSED WINDING-UP.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting of shaieholders in thin
undertaking was held at 53, Charing-cross, to consider
the propriety of calling upon the directors forthwith to,
dissolve the Company. Major Jelf Sharp presided, and
detailed the circumstances connected with its past his-
tory. A circular was circulated amongst the proprie-
tors, iuuuiring—L Whether the original route of the
line was not altogether altered, and that without consult-
ing the shareholders ; 2. Whether the Company had ob-
tained the consent of six landowners of the line; 3.
Whether they were not opposed on standing orders by
the Leeds and Thirsk Company, Lord Harewood, and
various landowners, and whether their attempt to p
that tribunal was not so hopeless as to create a mere
waste of expense ; 4. Whether they had not already
spent between 30,0001. and 40,0001., and accomplished
nothing ; 5. Whether the directors had not a daily
allowance for their attendance at the board, and there-
fore interested in protracting a dissolution ; 6. Whether
they would undertake to produce their banking accounts
and show what funds, if any remained, applicable to the
use of the shareholders. The circular alluded to pro-
ceeded to call upon the directors to produce their corres-
pondence and negotiations with other companies, and re-
quired to know how many shares each member of the
committee had allotted to himself, and how many had
found it beneficial to take them up.
On the motion of Mr. Pococx, seconded by Captain
ROSE, it.N., it was resolved that it would be advan-
tageous to the shareholders if the concerns of the York
and Lancaster Railway were immediately wound up. A
protest against the further continuance of the scheme
was agreed to, as was also a petition to the House of
Commons, praying that the progress of the Bill might
be arrested.

It was stated that the. expenses of the Company, up
to the present time, could not have exceeded 7s. 6d. per
share.

A vote of thanks to the chairman ch. lei the pro-
ceedings.

NUMEROUS AND SERIOUS
ACCIDENTS.

Yesterday the following serious accidents occurred,
several of which are expected to terminate fatally
The first case was that of William Whitehead, age*
fourteen years, residing at No. s,,White's-buildings'
Bermondsey-street. He had been on an errand to the
Southwark Bridge-road, and whilst on the way home he
got behind- a cab, and, endeavouring to reach the kerb
facing the Town-hall, High-street, Southwark, he was
knocked down by a heavily-laden waggon, the wheel of
which passed over his left leg, crushing it in a most
frightful manner. He ;ems carried to St. Thomas'*
Hospital, where he lies in a hopeless condition.--The
second accident occurred to a child named Sarah Wright"
aged eight years, whose friends reside at No. 3, Stockwell'
street, Old Kent-road. She was left by her mother to pre-
pare something for dinner, and during her mother's ah:
senee she set her clothing on fire. Her screams brought
several neighbours to her assistance, who, with
great difficulty, succeeded in extinguishing the flaniet
but not before she was completely burnt and charred
over the whole of her body. She was wrapped in
blanket, and conveyed to Guy's Hospital; but she an:
not survive the injury many hours.—The third accident
happened to a young man, a boiler-maker, living at
Greenwich, in the employ of Messrs. Penn and Co., She
extensive engineers. It seems he was engaged in the
boiler manufactory at Deptford, and while lifting a large
piece of plate iron, the ponderous mass fell upon his
..
right leg, by evhich it was fractured in two places. ne
was extricated with considerable trouble, 'and carried to
a surgeon near
.the premises, but the injuries he 139 P
sustained were so serious that it was deemed necessari
to remove him to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he new.
remains in on exhausted state.—The fourth happened to
Norton F. Agate, to two persons. About noon, a post-bei,
named William Keal, aged 13 years, was proceeding
along the High-street on horseback, towards the,
General Post-office, at a rapid pace, at the same momeeo
a man named John Severs, aged 49 yeari, was crossing
the carriageway, and before the lad could stop the horse
the man was knocked to the ground with fearful vice
fence, and the lad was also pitched over the horses
head on to the stones. The man was carried into f!
surgeon's, and was found to have received a compeund.
fracture of the left thigh, and other serious injurie*
The boy was taken to the same place, having sustained*
severe scalp wound and concussion of the brain. Bot!/
were speedily taken into Guy's Hospital. The lad Is
in a dangerous condition, and the man also lies with veil
slight hopes of recovery.—Another accident took place
at Tomlinson's coal-wharf, Bankside. A man Darned
John M`Shea, aged 39 years, was leaping into one of the
arges lying off the wharf, when he lost his foothold,
and fell with great violence to the lower part of the,
barge, and severely injured the spine of his back, and
also fractured several ribs on the left side. He Wsf
taken to St. Thomas's Hospital.

SINGULAR CASE OF POISONIN0"
Yesterday afternoon Mr. G. J. Mills, Deputy-Coronq
for Middlesex, held an inquest at the Adam and Byl
Tavern, High-road, Kensington, on view of the body 0;
Richard Bird, aged 45 years, whose death occurred
under the following circumstances :
It appeared that the deceased was in the occasionT
employ of Mr. Henxman, a wine-merchant, living at
6, Terrace, Kensington. On Wednesday, the Ist
deceased was sent about one o'clock with a dozen 0.
wine, in a basket, to the house of Mr. Rayner, with ds
rections to bring back with him a dozen empty bottles'
Deceased did not . arrive at Mr. Rayner's until 6"
o'clock, and while selecting the empty bottles Mr 6:
Rayner desired him not to take a dirty bottle which 8,11
pointed out to him, which she repeated three times; IP;
deceased persisted in taking it, and did so, for the sela"
evening he was brought to the Mason's Arms, Titclici
field-street in a cab, the cabman stating he had pioke_a
him up in the New-road, very ill ; and 'the deceased
told the landlord that he was very ill, that he
had drunk something out of an empty bottiej
and that the moment he had done so his mouth and
stomach seemed all on fire. Remedies were tried, $11„
deceased appeared on Saturday to be better ; but 0:
Sunday he got worse, and died about four o'clock 0:
Monday morning. Inspector Havel], T division, °_!;
learning the particulars of the case, and that decease!
was dead, sere a policeman to the Mason's Arms for the
empty bottles, when it was found that the dirty bot,t'e
had on it two 'Ales, one of which was written, in larg,.:
characters, " Poison for vermin," and on the other w
printed the name of " Mr. Wooldridge, chemist, Bath'
:
place, New-road." Further inquiries were then made,
both at Mr. Rayner's and Mr. Wooldridge's, the foraltil;
of whom said it was used to kill bugs, and the latter,tll
he believed it contained a strong mineral poison, and'
probably, some corrosive sublimate; and, it is presurafd_
that the deceased being very near-sighted, did not notice
the labels. ,
The jury returned a verdiet, " That the deceased died
from the eff, cts of some irritant poison, taken accideo,
tally, but what description of poison it was there 011°
no evidence to show.

MALLEABLE GLAss.—A correspondent remarks;
Some time since your publication contained an account o 1
the invention of a malleable glass, by some gentleman in
France. In Wanley's Wonders of the Little World,' Yt/ct
will find, as I did when a little boy, that a man submitte,,
to the burgomaster of Amsterdam a glass bottle, which 11`!
bent by violently throwing it upon the payment, and thq-
hammered it into its former state; but he was found deal
in the high road on the ensuing morning. Mr. Same
Etherege Acton, the father of the late Mr. Samuel Acton;
of of Euston-s.qu.are, discovered the method of making mall ,1
able glass; but, with a commendable though mistaken k'n.t
of feeling, he steadily refused to disclose the secret, le.
41
-- should deprive the glass manufacturers of subsistence.”" ,1,
Bgfilder.

LOYAL SEA BATHING INFIRMARY.—The quarter
general court of the governors of this charity, established rbr
the purpose of affording to poor invalids the means of sea
bathing, with medic& attendance, was held yesterday at tt
London Coffee-house, Robert Pugh, Esq., in the chair. From.,
the report read by the secretary, it appears that her Majesty
still continues her patronage of the institutiou, and that the
r
funds are in a flourishing state. The infirmary at Marga,L,_4
which is capable of affording accommodation of from 200 If
300 inmates, will be opened on Monday, the 11th of Mai'
and continue open until Septemker. B. Curling, Esq., en
geon to the London Hospital, and Thomas Thornton, Fero
having been elected directors, a vote of thanks was given
the chairme-. and the meeting separated.
From Pa liamectary paper issned on Saturday, it
appears tha li i the year 1844 the number of Acts of Parlia7
meet suppl el to the public under the promulgation orde,r,
was 505,849 in Great Britain, and to. public departnie,
45,313. e h ghest number in any year since 1835 suppliel
to the public eras in 1842, when 549,128 were so supplied,
~
to public departments in 1837, when they were 111,731.
The Duke de Nemours and the Prince de
Wur-
temberg proceeded on March 31 to the forest of Kalatte, 1."
hunt the wild boar. Their Royal Highnesses were acceel-
panied by the Sub-Prefect of Senlis, and several sportsmen
of the neighbourhood. Two boars were wounhed ; one by
a keeper, and the other by M. Lacour. A third
was killed
Senlis
by M. Chamnion, jun., lieutenant in the sapners-pemPiers
-f
. It WS a young boar of three years of age, one °
those kno\ 111 oy:the name of bete de campagnc, because, 01.1-
trary to the habits of the old boars, which always remacin
alone in the depths of the woods, the' young ones stay
company with some of their fellows. The Princes appoint°
-
yesterday for another day's hunting, in the forest of Ernie )
nonville.—Galignant.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE BY JUMPING OFF WEST,-r¢
STER-BRlDGE.—Yesterday evening, between six and seveao
o'clock, a desperate attempt at suicide was committed hy.
young woman, nineteen years of age, named Charlotte
sell, who threw herself off the top of Westminster-bridge lel'eri
the river. It appears that she and a companion had 1)
drinking with some cabmen in Westminster, until they; be-
came intoxicated. Returning home over Westminster-bridle'
she suddenly left her companion, and mounted the top of
,f
bridge, on the Surrey side, and instantly precipitated her'ilt
into the river. An alarm being given, some waterinen P
off in their boats, and succeeded in saving her as she waste
the.point of sinking. She was removed to the Westnia'
Hospital.
--•••
We read in the Journal du Havre of SaturdaY '
" The Prince de Joinville arrived here yesterday evenitlibe
from Caen, by the Calvados steamer. After witnessing the
launch of the Passe Partout, at Nantes, and paying a tact
visit to Lorient and Brest, his Royal Highness left the •'Arit
port by a Government steamer for Cherbourg. He at Aile„
intended to come direct to Havre, but the fear of being ,er..
tamed in his voyage by the regulations of our port tlelibe
mined him to land at Cherbourg. After sleeping at It
Hotel de l'Amirautd, he started this morning for Paris.
e_ „f
is needless to add that in this place, where the featur,3o;o
the Prince de Joinville are so imprinted in the memory
a
inhabitants, his incognito was nothing more than rine .11
de convenance."
RICHMOND ELECTION.—The nomination of canaide°_,.or,
for the borough of Richmond took place on WretinTwas
when, there being no opposition to Mr. Rich, a show
08°13-
taken, and he was declared elected. The Hon. Gentle
briefly addressed the electors, and the proceedings term'
NlBO-
- TINPLATE WORKERS' STRIKE IN B I.ll_ 5
HAM.--The tin-plate workers employed in Birminssjoa
about seventy in number, have struck against a proptoyp_er ;
made by their masters to reduce their prices tvren
•
cent.
Bat have
The Post-office clerks and distributors at of the
made an appeal to the public against the continuance
Sunday delivery.