The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-04 00:00:00

THE LAKE SUPERIOR COPPER
MINES.

(From the Montreal Herald.)
The following is a chapter from the forthcoming
volume of Charles Lanman, who has recently returned
from a journey in the wilderness of the north-west.
This chapter is of a character different from the rest of
the work, which is a narrative and description, instead
of being geological. It will, however, be read with in-
terest at the present moment, when the region of copper
mines on the greatest of our lakes is an object of such
general attention:—

" THE COPPER REGION.

" I am the owner of a few shares of copper stock; but
exceedingly anxious to dispose of my interest, at the
earliest possible moment and on the most reasonable
terms. This remark defines my position with regard to
copper in general, and may be looked upon as the text
from which I shall proceed to make a few, a very few,
general observations on the copper region of Lake Su-
perior. lam curious to find out how it will seem for
the public at large to read something that is not a pur-
chased puff. Those, therefore, who are unaccustomed
to simple matters of fact, will please pass on to another
chapter of My little book, or lay it down as the most
insipid volume that was ever published.
"It is undoubtedly true that all the hills and moun-
tains surrounding this immense lake abound in valuable
minerals, of which the copper, in every variety of form,
is the most abundant. The lamented Douglas Houghton
has published the opinion that this region contains the
most extensive copper mines in the known world. The
discoveries that have been made during the last three
years would lead one to suppose this opinion to be
founded in truth.
" Not to mention the ship-loads of rich ore that I have
seen at different times, I would, merely to give my
reader an idea of what is doing here, giye the weight of
a few distinguished discoveries that I have actually seen.
" The native copper boulder, discovered by the tra-
veller Henry in the bed of the Ontonagon river, and now
in Washington, originally weighed 3,800 pounds; a
copper mass of the same material was lately found near
Copper Harbour, weighing 1,200 pounds; at Copper
Falls the miners are now at work upon a vein of solid
ore, which already measures twenty feet in length, nine
in depth, and seven and a half inches in thickness,
which must weigh a number of tons; and at Eagle River
another boulder has lately been brought to light, weigh-
ing 1,700 pounds.
"As to native silver, the Eagle River valley has
yielded the largest specimen yet found about this lake,
the weight of which was six pounds and three ounces.
These are mineral statistics from which may be drawn
as great a variety of conclusions as there are minds.
" The number of mining companies which purport to
be in operation on the American shore of Lake Superior
and on our islands is said to be 100, and the number of
stock shares is not far from 300,000. But notwithstand-
ing all the fuss that has been, and is still made, about
the mining operations here, a smelting furnace has not
yet been erected, and only three companies up to the
present time have made any shipments of ore. The
oldest of these is the Lake Superior Company; the most
successful, the Pittsburg and Boston Company; and the
other is the Copper Falls Company; all of which are
confined in their operations to Point Keweenaw. •
" This point is at present the centre of attraction to
those who are worshipping the copper mammon of the

age. his a mountainous district, covered with a compa-
ratively useless pine forest, exceedingly rocky, and not
distinguished for its beautiful scenery. As to the great
majority of the mining companies alluded to, they will
undoubtedly sink a good deal more money than they
can possibly make ; and for the reason, that they are not
possessed of sufficient capital to carry on the mining
business properly, and are managed by unexperienced
and visionary men—a goodly number of whom have
failed in every business in which they ever figured,
and who are generally adventurers, determined to live
by speculation instead of honest labour. The two prin-
cipal log cabin cities of Point Keweenaw are Copper
Harbour and Eugle River. The former is quite a
good harbour, and supports a vacated garrison, a news-
paper, a very good boarding house, and several intern
perance establishments. The latter has a fine beach for
a harbour, a boarding-house, a saw-mill, and a store,
where drinking is the principal business transacted.
The number of resident inhabitants in the two towns I

I was unable to learn, but the sum total, I suppose,
would amount to fifty souls. Altogether, perhaps, 500
miners and clerks may be engaged on the whole Point ;
while about as many more during the summer are hang-
ing about the general stopping places, on the shore, or
the working places in the interior. This brotherhood
is principally composed of upstart geologists, explorers,
and location speculators. From all that I can learn,
about the same state of things exists on the Canada side
of the lake. Twenty companies are already organised
for that section of country, the most promising of
which is the Montreal Mining Company ; but not a
pound of ore has yet been smelted or taken to market,
so that the subject theme,' for the present, is as barren
of real interest there as in our own territory. Ration-
ally speaking, the conclusion of the whole matter is just
this—the Lake Superior region undoubtedly abounds in
valuable minerals, but as yet a sufficient length of time
has not elapsed to develope its resources. Three quarters
of the people (the remaining quarter are among the most
worthy of the land) now engaged in mining operations,
are what might be termed dishonest speculators and
inexperienced adventurers ; but there is no doubt that
if a new order of things should be brought into exist-
ence here, all those who are prudent and industrious
would accumulate fortunes.

" I ought not to leave this brazen theme without
alluding to the science of geology as patronised in the
mineral region. Not only does the nabob stock-
holder write pamphlets (About the mines of the Ural
Mountains, and other neighbouring regions, but even
the broken down New York merchant, who now sells
whiskey to the poor miner, strokes his huge whiskers
and descants upon the black oxyde, the native ore, and
the peculiar formation of every hill-side in the country.
Without exception, I believe, all the men, women,
and children residing in the copper cities, have
been crystalised into finished geologists. It matters not
how limited their knowledge of the English language
may be, for they look only to the surface of things ; it
matters not how empty of common sense their brain
chambers may be, they are wholly absorbed in sheath-
ing their minds and hearts with the bright red copper,
and are all loudly eloquent on their favourite theme.
" But the grand lever which they use to advance
their interests is the word conglomerate,' which
answers as a general description of the surrounding
country. You stand upon a commanding hill-top,
and while lost in the enjoyment of a fine landscape,
a copper harbor bear or bull,' recently from
Wall street, will slap you on the shoulder and startle
the surrounding air with the following yell!—' That
whole region, sir, is conglomerate, and exceedingly rich
in copper and silver.' You ask your landlady for a drop
of milk to flavour your coffee, and she will tell you that
her husband has exchanged the old red cow for a con-

glomerate location somewhere in the interior,' thereby
proving that a comfortable living is a secondary consi-
deration in this life. You happen to see a little girl
arranging some rocky specimens in her baby-house, and
on your asking her name, she will probably answer—
' Conglomerate the man I my name, sir, is Jane.' But
enough. It will not do for me to continue in this strain,
for fear that my readers will, like my mining friends, be
made crazy by a remarkable conglomerate specimen from
the mineral region."

FATAL ACCIDENT AT MERTON.—A painful sensa-
tion has been occasioned in the villages of Mitcham,
Tooting, and Merton, by the death of Mr. William New-
man, of Mitcham, the well-known medical herb grower.
On Tuesday morning, about eight o'clock. some men in
the employ of Mr. B. Drewett, of Lower Tooting, were
at work in a field near the Single-gate, at Merton, when
they heard the smothered report of a gun. About eleven
o'clock, business calling them to the farther end of the field,
they perceived the body of a respectably-dressed man
lying across the ditch, with a recently-discharged fowl-
ing piece lying by his side. The roof of the right side
of his skull was blown completely off just above the ear,
and the brains lay in the ditch a few inches apart from
the head. The men immediately procured assistance,
and conveyed the deceased, who was recognised as Mr.
Newman, to the Victory Inn, Merton-lane. It appeared
that the deceased had left home early in the morning to
shoot over his fields, and from the position in which the
body was found, there is no doubt that whilst he was in
the act of leaping the ditch, which is six feet wide, his
foot slipped, and as he fell the trigger caught the hedge,
and in a moment the deceased w,ls hurried into eternity.
The deceased was 62 years of age, and has left a numer-
ous family well provided for. An inquest was held yes-
terday upon the body by Mr. Carter, and a verdict of
"Accidental Death " returned.

AUGMENTATION OF THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF AR-
TILLERY.—ItI consequence of the number of companies
required to relieve those on foreign stations whose period
of service has expired, it is determined to add two addi-
tional companies to each battalion, which will augment
the number of officers, viz., 20 first captains, 20 second
captains, 20 first lieutenants, and 20 second lieutenants;
the latter receiving commissions from the Royal Mili-
tary Academy in the Royal Arsenal, where they are
now studying, in order to pass an examination before a
board of officers, to receive their promotion. This im-
portant augmentation will take place in the forthcoming
quarter.
MODEL LODGING-HOUSES FOB, FEMALES.—One of
ihese, in Newton-street, Holborn, has been opened for
the reception of females. The inmates are principally
servants out of place, persons who obtain a livelihood by
needlework, artificial flower-making, clear starchers,
and workers in fancy paper, &c. The accommodation
is far superior to what might be expected, and the
greatest order prevails throughout the establishment.
Each lodger is provided with a separate bed. On the
basement there is a kitchen, with every requisite for
cooking, a good fire, and two boilers, with water boiling
every morning by seven o'clock. Round the kitchen are
small cupboards, with different locks ; one of these is
appropriated to the use of each lodger. On the ground
fbor is a work room, for persons at needlework; there
is also a washing room, with every convenience. The
eharg is eighteenpence a week. As this system has
e
been found to wink well, the promoters intend to con-
struct similar establishments in all neighbourhoods
where the industrious portion of the poor reside.
INDIAN CORN.—A large vessel, with a cargo of
2,500 quarters from Odessa, has arrived " for orders."
The demand fort and consumption of, the article here is
very great, under the influence of which, and in the
absence of supplies, prices have again advanced (silica
Friday) to the extent of 10s. per ton. The supplies of
grain of every description continue small to this market.
—Cork Examiner.
THE LADY POACHER.—We hear the information
for poaching against the Duchess of Marlborough has
been defeated on a technical point of law. The statute,
not looking to a violation of its provisions by females,
only introduces the masculine gender " he," and there-
fore "she," the Duchess, escapes its operation.

THE FRENCH MEDITERRANEAN
SQUADRON.
The Consttutionnel states, that the report addressed
by the Prince de Joinville to the Minister of Marine, on
the operations of the Mediterranean Squadron placed
under his command, was divided into two parts. In the
one' the Prince examines the capabilities of the steam-
ships, and, in the other, those of sailing vessels. " The
steam-ships employed in our squadron," says the Con-
stutionnel, " were not constructed on the mixed system,
in which sails are combined with the steam force. We
had not even in that squadron a single vessel propelled
by the screw. The English have anticipated us
on those
two points, and the experiments they have made in that
respect have presented the most interesting results. Our
steamers could only be regarded as tug-boats and avisos,
and as such they were of great service to the squadron.
Their mission as tug-boats consisted in placing the ships
against the wind in the line of battle assigned to each
by the Admiral. They accomplished that object to the
great satisfaction of our officers. The steamers Descartes,
Asmod6e, Magellan, Cuvier, and Pluton were most
efficient in that respect, and brought up the ships
to their line of battle at the rate of three and even four
knots an hour. As avisos, the steamers executed their
service with all the rapidity desirable. They might act,
if necessary, as the scouts and advanced guard of a naval
army. Lieutcnant Nourrit de la Ronciere, in a recent
publication, compares steamers to the cavalry of an army.
That comparison, repeated in the very remarkable
pamphlet of Baron Dupin on the law granting an extra-
ordinary credit of 93,000,000 f. to the navy was justified
by the attitude of our steamers. In a word, the squadron
composed of ships of the line and steamers navigated
and manoeuvred much better than if it had been formed
of sailing vessels only.
"As respects the sailing ships, it appears that the
Admiral had not generally to complain of the manner
in which they manoeuvred, with the exception, how-
ever of the two 100-gun ships, Hercule and Jemmapes.
" In the first place, in respect to the force, it .would be
incorrect to look on them as being equal to one hundred
guns, for in this number there are many guns which are
net available for oblique pointing; if a commander of a
ship is engaged with another ship against which he
wishes to fire a whole broadside, it is necessary that the
fore and aft guns should be obliquely placed, so as to
make them converge to the same point of aim. It
follows that instead of being upon a ship having 60 guns,
attributed to the second rank, one has a ship which is
properly placed in the class to which she belongs in re-
spect to her size, but which is, in fact, by the calibre of
her guns, below a ship of the fourth class—that is, of
the lowest class. This is a very great inconvenience, and
this is what frequently increases it. When the weather,
withotit, however, being very bad, is such That the sea is not
smooth, the lowest tierof guns must he closed, because the
ports are too near the floating line. It is true this inconve •
nience in like manner applies to all vessels, but it is corn •
parativelv experienced in the highest degree in 100 gun
ships. Thus these ships of this kind lose the use of the
guns which are not available for oblique firing, and, on
the other hand one-half her guns paralysed at the least
breeze. It seems that as to sailing capabilities nothing
worse could have been conceived than the build of 100-
gun ships. The sea capabilities of a ship are usually
estimated according to her speed and her tacking about.
Now, it is well known that in fine weather and with a
speed of six miles an hour the Hercule and the Jem-
mapes seldom succeeded in tacking about, whilst this
was done without eifficulty by other vessels in company.
This is a matter of the highest importance, for suppose a
ship being near the coast or a shoal of rocks at sea, is
obliged to veer, that is, wind a-head instead of aft, she
is lost if she cannot do this quickly. 100-gun ships are
extremely slow in luffing up to the wind, because the ac-
tion of the helm is not sufficiently felt. Up to this time
a three-decker has been looked upon as being the
heaviest and the most difficult to manage. The naval
science of our time has invented a ship which is not only
less manageable, but whose sailing power is wholly in-
ferior ; for sailing in a squadron the Hercule and the
-Temmapes have always been the last. Sui•ely here are
mere reasons than necessary for laying up in ordinary
100-gun ships ; it is, therefore, not to he wondered at that
the Jemmapes and the Hercule on their arrival at Toulon
were half unmanned, which is equivalent to a disarming.
The plan on which these ships were built, as far back
as 1824, was, therefore, an unlucky innovation. If
however, the evil could be repaired by taking two ships
from our fleet, already so limited ! But there are on
the stocks 11 ships building on the same model, and
which are too far advanced to be modified. We have in
this state, at Toulon, the Eylau and the Navarin ; at
Rochefort, the Turene and the Ulm ; at Lorient, the
Wagram and the Fleurus ; at Brest, the Tage ; at
Cherbourg, the Hannibal, Austerlitz, Duquay-Trouin,
and Henri IV'. The Minister wbo has already too
much in these 11 ships, ought certainly not to have
laid it down as a principle in his ordinance on the effec-
tive force of the fleet, that there should always be ten
100-gun ships afloat. Other observations have been
made in respect to 74-gun ships, which are, by the by,
some of the best models that have come out of the
yards. Therefore it has been proposed to rater the poop
and forecastle of these ships in order to place pieces of
the heaviest metal on swivels, such as those on the
largest steamers. It is thought that this alteration,
which is easy of execution, will greatly increase the
strength of these ships, and will also add to their sail-
ing capabilities. Such are ,the chief observations to'
which the last cruise of our evolutionary squadron has
given rise. It now is well known to what use steam-
ships in a squadron may be put, as also the relative
value of line-of-battle ships. The time is assuredly
come when we ought to make the experiment of mixed
vessels, built for sailing as well as steam."
1 D

READPUL OUTRAGE ON THE CONTlNENT.—Par-
iculars have been sent to the Hue and Cry of a most
daring robbery that has been committed at Cracow. It
seems that when everything was quiet, three notorious
offenders got into the grounds by force, broke through
a treaty that stood in their way, demolished everything
of value they found in the houses of legislature, turned
the whole concern topsy-turvy, and have not left ii ves-
tige of the old place standing. One of the offenders,
who is well known to the police by the name of Austria,
is still in possession.- His two confederates have been
content with their share of the booty, and have re-
turned to their old haunts. Their designations are
Russia and Prussia. No means have been taken as yet
for the restoration of the stolen property. It is sup
posed that the authorities are holding back in the hopes
of a reward being offered.—Punch.
THE BRAZILIAN SUGAR TRADE.—A cargo or two
of new Brazilian sugar, imported under the new law of
last session, may be expected in Liverpool very shortly.
This will be the beginning of a new trade, which will
probably continue to extend until the country has be-
come a depot for the principal part of the sugars of
Brazil and Cnba.—Liverpool Courier.

DEATH FROM SYRUP OF POPPIES. - Yesterday
Mr. C. J. Carttar, the Coroner for West Kent, held an
inquest at the United Service Tavern, Woolwich, on the
bodies of two infants, named Charles Simcox, aged five
months, and Goldfinch, who, it was alleged, had died
from the effects of an overdose of syrup of poppies. The
inquiry had been adjourned several times, but the fol-
lowing is a brief statement of the facts of the case :
Some weeks since the infant child of a woman named
Goldfinch was rather indisposed, and, on the advice of a
neighbour, named Anne Simcox, she gave the child a
dose of syrup of poppies from a bottle which Mrs.
Simcox had in her possession. The child was taken ill
immediately, and upon a medical gentleman, a Mr.
Timpson, being sent for, it was found to be labouring
strongly under the effects of a narcotic poison, and,
notwithstanding every remedy, it died the next day. In
the conversation that ensued on the arrival of Mr.
Timpson, Mrs. Simcox reproached herself for recom-
mending the mother to administer the poison, stating
that it had caused the death of her own child about
eight months previous, but that she thought a little of it
would not hurt the deceased. Mr. Timpson refused to
give the certificate, and hence the
.present inquiry.
Evidence confirmatory of the above having been given,
the jury, after a long deliberation, returned a verdict in
the case of Charles Simcox, "That the deceased died,
but from what causes there was no evidence to show ;"
and in the case of the child Goldfinch, " That the de-
ceased died from a dose of syrup of poppies, administered
by the mother in ignorance."

- CITY OF LONDON ASSOCIATION FOR THE RELIEF
OF THE Pooa.—Yesterday evening the annual meeting
of the subscribers and friends of the above Association,
established for the purpose of supplying the necessitous
poor of the city of London with coals and potatoes, at a
reduced price, during the winter months, was held at the
London Coffee-house, Ludgate-hill; the Right Hon. the
Lord Mayor presided, supported by Aldermen Wilson,
Kelly, and Gibbs ; Deputies Bedford, Brown, and
Corney; Revds. J. Harding, Munro, &c. The report,
read by the Secretary, stated that the Association had
been established more than half a century. Last year
the City Kitchen opened on the sth of January, and
closed 27th of March, a period of twelve weeks, during
which was distributed 25,640 cwt. of coals, at the rate
of 6d. for 112Ibs. each ticket. Notwithstanding a grant
from the City Corporation of 200/., the balance was only
7/ 6s. 2d. The balance-sheet stated that the donations
amounted to 1,222/.; cost of coals, 1,4391.; produce of
sale, 641/ 45.; expenses, 13/. 16s. 9d. The report, on
the motion of Mr. Alderman Wilson, was unanimously
adopted and ordered to be printed. On the motion of
the Rev. Mr. Harding, it was resolved, that acting on
last yew's experiment of the comforts to the poor in
giving them a more ample supply of fuel, coals only
should be distributed during the ensuing Winter. Thanks
having been voted to the Lord Mayor, the meeting
broke up.
HIGHWAY ROBBERIES.—On Saturday evening last
two robberies were committed in the outskirts, and an
attempt was made at a third. The first was between six
and seven o'clock, and was committed on Mr. Howell, of
Broad-street. He was going along the road at the back
of the Temple, when two men came behind him, and
gave him a blow which brought him to the ground and
stunned him. They then rifled his pockets, from which
they took several keys, a gold watch, and a steel purse,
containing, as he supposes, six or seven shillings, and
then left him. Mr. Howell immediately proceeded to
I the Town- hall, and gave information of the robbery,
and Mr. Chase sent up an officer, who, on going to the
spot, found the purse, a half-crown, and a shilling, and
the chain and seals belonging to the watch. About an
hour after this robbery occurred, a youth, named Edward
Gillam, was proceeding along Clifton-hill, which is near
the same spot, when he was attacked by two men, who
knocked him down and rifled his pockets, taking about
12s. They also took from him a quantity of paper bags
of Gillam's manufacture, which he sells to fruiterers and
others. About half-past nine o'clock the same evening,
a man named Brown, one of Mr. Streven's porters, was
going to Mr. Bright Smith's with a basket of game,
when he was attacked near the same spot by one man,
who laid hold of his basket, and said, "Give me this:."
Brown called out, and a gentleman who was on his way
home in Montpellier-crescent, hearing him, came to
his assistance, on which the thief made off.—Brighton
Guardian.

4
CONFESSION OF A RAILWAY
ROBBERY.
The following is a statement made by Daniel Garrett,
who " was prthecutecl on several charges, to Mr. Nash,
and may be usefully made public:—
" These dishonest practices began with me about 13
months ago, when I was living in idleness close to the
railway station, and used to go on to the platform to see
the trains come in, and there it was I got into conversa-
tion with the people of the railway, and joined in con-
nexion. My first parcel was a carpet bag, which was
taken on the arrival of. a train, as if I was a passenger;
but that mode of acting became dangerous, as, on several
occasions the owners intercepted their property, and,
but for the timely assistance of a confederate, I should
not have escaped so easily. Other methods were hit
upon, which, if made known, may prevent such practices
in future. • • • •
" Mr. Hartley's box of scrip, valued at 40,000 L, and
supposed to have never reached the line, was not taken
away from the train till we reached Wolverton; and if
passengers will go away from their luggage, without,
having it labelled, or seeing that it goes with the 'Man,
and never
ewnnea sfiv
de
enr
no
wtt
of
ef tnhagei
ievnfegrbaytl
tv losehael
emt
or leave it at a refreshment room, they must expect to
:at.annd
hnper oombfleeesms eonf
an, ;
st
hlr hadlvl ei
nl travelling beenwithT
as
scrip sorely puzzled us. My first impulse was to go to
the continent, where my extensive knowledge would
disguise me. That was opposed, and we determined to
wait. A reward was offered; but difficulties presented
themselves, and in the dilemma, Maynard's services of-
fered, and he introduced a friend of his, a chemist from
the neighbourhood of Brunswick-square, and they con-
cocted the correspondence and fictitious names with Bush and Mullens; but they were very anxious to get posses-
sion of the scrip, and I believe that Mr. Hartley is in-
debted to me for its restoration. The earnest' of our
power to restore was shown Mr. Hartly by returning
him his keys, which were the 'first instalment.' Mr.
Bush paid the 150/. in gold—no notes—and was grateful
to Maynard, and shook hands with him. He came to
his house in his carriage. This gave us boldness, .and
when the box of papers (Mr. Prance's) turned up, we
had less hesitation.
" Maynard negotiated, but unguardedly, and I told
him so; but he was headstrong, priding himself on his
position' and appearances. He arranged, and went to
his lawyer friend to draw out the necessary papers for
the restoration. He and I then went to the City together
in a cab. He left at the Blossoms Inn, and went on to
Guildhall to settle the affair. I waited some hours, and
then went home to my lodgings, from which we had
started. I felt quite safe, as I was only known to six
people in connexion with Maynard, and they were in
the mess, and there was nothing against me to show
that I had not found it, as was said. In the evening I
was fetched out by Maynard's man, and went to his
lawyer friend about it and Maynard's arrest, but we all
agreed that nothing could be done to him for negotiating
a reward. I went to him next morning, with his man
Friday,' to assure him of support, and azain went to
him and provided a criminal lawyer, but finding myself
watched I did not go again, but took means to prevent
any evidence against myself, and felt secure in my in-
cognita and change of dress every day. When the dis-
covery of other matters, and especially Bush's, was made,
and I was wanted' (as I thought), but not known, I
.esolved to leave England. and began quietly to realise;
but then came the squabbles between the agents of the
companies, and their d sapnroval of what had been done
and stoppage of any other investigations. That gave
me confidence, and I determined to remain, forsook my
lodgings and old pals, and traded myselt' on several
lines, even under the very eyes of the police who wanted
me, yet did not know me except as a gentleman's ser-
vant, and above suspicion. * •
" Respecting the man Farr, he also goes in the name
of (as Lee said) Billy-go. Faster. Lee told me that Farr
was in the Cambridge affair, and the Blackheath, as well
as Mr. Woodhead's box from your railway and others.
Lee is not in the same ship as me. Parr lives at Pim-
lico, but is not known. ‘• DANIEL GARRETT."
Lee was tran'ported in 1845 for robberies. Farr was
not apprehended until May, 1845, when several robberies
were brought to light; amongst others, three on the Bir-
mingham y, Railwa • two on the South-Eastern Railway,
one on the Brighton Railway; also, the robbery of the
Post-office letter-bags, &c. He was convicted on five
indictments, and sentenced to twenty years transpor-
tation.

William Farr, who was convicted of several railway
robberies, and sentencel to twenty years' transportation
on several indictments preferred on behalf of several
railway companies) made the following statements to
Mr. Nasb, who acted in his prosecution :—" I was in
respectable employ as valet to a gentleman. Drink
turned me. I left and took a beer-shop at Deptford.
A fracas with Dalton, who was transported with Garratt
last winter, sent me to gaol for some months. I came
out changed and dissolute. It was at the stations all the
mischief was done. lam not the only one:left. *
If a disconery was made at a station I put it to mistake,
and as I was not known to the police I could work with
boldness. When I heard of Maynard's arrest I crossed
the water, I returned when I saw that Maynard and
Garrett were not to be prosecuted, and began again.
Mrs. is innocent of my acts, she knew nothing
of them. Dr. Robert's papers were destroyed ; I did
not have them, another party had. Too many eases were
brought up against me, some I had only second-hand,
but escape was hopeless. The whole of Mrs:
property has gone to defend me, about 8014 and more
wanted ; she is now ruined."

On Tuesday, the Ist instant, a general assembly of
the Academicians was held at theiloyal Academy of
Arts, in Trafalgar-square, when Mr. William Edward
Frost and Mr. Paul Falconer Poole were elected Asso-
ciates of that Institution.
POLITE HIGHWAYMEN. —A highway robbery, at-
tended with circumstances of extraordinary audacity,
took place on Tuesday evening, on the road from
Bourges to Chateauroux. The diligence of MM. Gher-
tier and Co., between those towns, and having at the
time ten passengers, and a sum of 44,500 francs, in five-
franc pieces, 33,000 francs of which were for a banker at
Chateauroux, 10,000 francs for the iron-works at Cla-
vieres, and the rest belonging to a merchant at Bourges,
had arrived, at about 10 o'clock, at the part of the road
called Les 'Pollees, when the horses were stopped by a
barricade of stones, raised up for the purpose. At the
same instant several men made their appearance, took
the horses by the head, and desired the conductor to
alight and deliver up his keys. The conductor, in his
fright, not being able to alight at the moment, was
forcibly pulled down, and one of the ruffians
,tabbed him with a knife three times in the
shoulder. They then forced open the chest in
which some of the money was placed, and made
the passengers alight, two of the robbers standing over
them with levelled muskets. Having taken out the
10.000 f., they said they were sure there was more money,
and they got up on the roof, where they found the larger
sum. They then desired the passengers to resume their
seats, and allowed the diligence to go on. Whilst they
were robbing the diligence M. Lebrun, a notary, at.
Charost, and his wife, came up in their cabriolet. The
ruffians ordered it to stop, and when they had finished
the plunder of the diligence, were about to examine the
cabriolet, but Madame Lebrun uttered such loud cries
that they desisted, and even took the pains of leading
his horse through the barricade. M. Lebrun, it is said,
had a large sum of money with him. On arriving at
St. Florent, the passengers of the diligence made their
declaration to the authorities. They stated that the
number of robbers was six, armed with pistols, knives,
and fowling-pieces, and wearingAr asks or false noses to
disguise their faces. They injured no other person than.
the conductor, and his wounds are not dangerous. Title
gendarmerie instantly went in pursuit, but up to
Thursday no trace had been obtained of the robbery.—
' Gationani.

MILITARY EXPERIMENTS AT CHATRAM.--OR
Tuesday, the Ist instant, the Royal Sappers and Miners,
under the command of Colonel Sir Frederick Smith,
K.H., repaired to the field-works near to the Casemate
Barracks, at Gillingham, where they have been for a
' considerable time forming works, mining and counter-
mining, representing the actual siege of a citadel. The I
day was densely foggy and cold, and Tory few persona
were present, the only officer unconnected with the
military on the ground was Captain Sir Thomas
Bouchier. K.C.8., Captain Superintendont of Chatham
Dockyard. The commencement of the experimenUil
operations was that of the first parallel, where two four-
gun batteries are erected, and upon two different prin-
ciples, for the purpose of testing the difference of their
rivements, one with fascines, and the other with gabi.ons,
filled with earth. The first firing commenced 'with
4 12-pounder gun from the field battery, when the
embrasures were formed with faseines, and after
firing 20 rounds, the cheeks began to budge from a the
pickets that held them, and the continual firin .g at
length caused the fascines to give way. The firing
party then retired, and commenced firing from the other
battery, when a 24-pounder gun was placed at one of the
embrasures, its rivements being formed with g abions
filled with earth. Here were also fired c)o rounds.. The
repeated firing shook the-cheeks on erAch side, trod from
the repeated flashes of the gun causer 3 some of them to
ignite. The gabions are pronounceil to be decidedly the
best, and will stand longest in aritual service. These
experiments were for the purply; of showing the yonng
officers the practice of firing guns through these
rive-
scents. The firing being conclueted, Colonelth eSifireFld..Swmeirtkeh,
with the officers and men, pre eeeded up
in front of Prince Frederick and the Duke of Cumber-
land's bastions
opera-
tiontehrepeseor
Effecting a passage for troops. The stockade was about
o
f breaching a n d a raveling..
a double veiul., .
stoacnkdateloemforaenrtheeed purpose
fir balks; each pin of tiraioar was 12 feet out of the
e
20 feet in width, and finial y built with oak timber
f anhd.
ground, and 4 feet in, firmly united with earth, and
held together at top and bottom by ribands of
oak plank, secured by 10-inch spikes. Owing
to the immense strer4 ;th of this stockade, and to
effect an entrance of the outside line of the erection,
two charges of gunpowiler of 601 b. each, in bags, were
placed on the ground, close to the building. On the
top of them was a larire sand-bag, and two others were
firmly jammed against- the charges. Everything being
ready tor firing, a fuse, about 6 feet in length was fixed
to the charges, which allowed three minutes to burn,
giving time to the par ty to retire, when an explosion
took place which shoolAc the earth for a considerable dill-
tance, smashing the ,balks of timber into fragmsrats.
Some of the pieces of timber were thrown up into the
thefee in-
terior 9-
air, and fell about 30th feet from the spot. Some of the
splintered timber was :forced into the interior lines of the
tr stockade.ior line
wasA
drivenbreach w -eaustof
made
itsl2perpendicular
feet wide.ide. ass?i 2
inches, and one of its ribands forced out. One of the
officers commenced taking a sketch of the ruins. The
result of the operatioit was very satistar.tory to the Co-
lonel. Another stockade :s to be imm. diately raised.
The steamer Antwerpen, Captain Jackson, arrived
here very early yesterday morning, having -made her
passage from Antwerp in twenty flours with wind and
tide against her. The Baron de Hochepied Lawent and
family were passengers, by her.