The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-05 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

THE INST. CIVIL ENG. SESSION, 1840.
" Account of a Series of Experiments on Lo-
comotive Engines, more particularly on the En-
gland,' the Columbia,' and the Atlantic,'
manufactured by Mr. Norris, of Philadelphia."
By Captain Moorsom, R. E., Assoc. Inst. C. E.
-,-The engines of which the author more espe-
cially treats were constructed by Mr. Norris, of
Philadelphia, and sent by him to England, under
an agreement to supply " locomotive engines
of a higher power, greater durability, and
less weight," than could be obtained in this country.
They were to be subjected to fifteen trials within
thirty days, and prove their capability of drawing
" np a gradient of 1 in 330, a load of 100 tons
gross weight at the speed of twenty miles per hour ;
and up a gradient of 1 in 180, a load of 100 tons
gross weight at the speed of fourteen miles per
hour." The pressure of the steam in the boiler
was stipulated by the Grand Junction Company
(on whose railway the trials were made) not
to exceed 60 lbs. per square inch. The construction
of these engines is very simple, and the work
plain. The boiler is horizontal, and contains 78 cop-
per tubes, 2 inches diameter, and 8 feet long each,
with an iron fire-box. The cylinders, 10i inches
diameter, are slightly inclined downwards, and so
placed that the piston-rods work outside the wheels,
thus avoiding the necessity of cranked axles. The
frame is supported by six wheels ; the two driving
wheels, of four feet diameter, are placed close before
the fire-box; the other four wheels, of thirty inches
diameter, are attached to a truck which carries the
front end of the boiler, and is connected with the
frame by a centre pin, on which it turns freely, al-
lowing the truck to accommodate itself to the exte-
rior rail of the curve, and with the assistance of the
cone of the wheels to pass round with very little
stress upon the rails.
The weight of the engine, the boiler and Tons. Cwt.
fire-box full, was
That of the tender, with 21 cwta. of coke and
520 gallons of water, was
Total weight l5 15}
The engine, when empty, weighed 8 tons.
The trials were made on the Grand Junction Rail-
way in April and May, 1839, and were con-
tinued over the whole distance from Birming-
ham to Liverpool, except when stopping short
at Warrington, to take loads ; and occasionally
making ouble trips. so as to travel the
total distance 156 miles per day. Attention
was more particularly paid to the speed when as-
cending the gradients, which rise at the rate of one
in 330 (16 feet in a mile), or one in 177 (29 feet
4 inches per mile), and as the engines approached
these gradients frequently either at an accelerated
or a diminished speed, the observations were made
at the points most remote from the cause of varia-
tion from uniform velocity. Some of the trials
were made with such a number of empty waggons
to make up the weight, that the train attained
a length of nearly an eighth of a mile. This
required some allowance, which was esti-
mated at from one-eighth to one-ninth in ad-
dition to the actual weight of the empty
waggons. The extreme limit of working pres-
sure of the steam in the boiler was 62 lbs. per
square inch, except for a few minutes on one oc-
casion, when it rose to 641bs. The usual pressure
for the locomotive engine boilers on railways now
generally at work is from 501bs. to 751bs. per
square inch. An analysis of the tabulated results
of the several trips give these general results :
That on a plane of 1 in 330, with a load varying
from 100 to 120 tons, the speed varied from 13 miles
8-lOths to 224 miles per hour ; that on a plane of
1 in 177, with a load of 100 tons, the speed varied
from 9 miles 8-10ths to 13 miles 8-10ths per hour.
From the analysis it appears that allowing in
five of the trials the stipulated amount of
performance to have been made, and that in
fire other trials a doubt may exist, still in the re-
maining eleven trials the exact amount of duty
demanded was not pet#orined. A comparison of
the journeys up from Liverpool to Birmingham,
with those down from Birmingham to Liverpool,
gives rather a singular result. The aggregate rise
of the gradients from Liverpool to Birmingham is
about 620 feet, that from Birmingham to Liverpool
is about 330 feet (exclusive, in both cases, of the
Liverpool and Manchester Railway) ; the differ-
ence, therefore, up to Birmingham, is 240 feet.
In seven journeys of 596 miles up to Birming-
ham, the engine conveyed 682 tons gross, evapo-
rated 12,762 gallons of water, and consumed 177
sacks of coke (li cwt. each). In seven journeys
of 596 miles down from Birmingham, the same
engine conveyed 629 tons gross, evaporated 12,379
gallons of water, and consumed 177 sacks of coke.
It would thus appear that the consumption of fuel
was the same in both cases, and the only difference
was the evaporation of 326 gallons of water more
in the journey up than in the journey down,
conveying nearly the same load both wad s.
The author remarks, that in the early stage of his
observations on the engine, he would have inferred,
that from the mode of construction, it was not cal-
culated for high speeds, such as are required for
the mail trains ; yet that he has often seen it travel
with apparent ease at the speed of 30 miles per
hour ; and he thinks that, with some slight modifi-
cation of the working parts, engines of this con-
struction may be made to do any duty now required
from locomotive engines ; and, from the small
quantity of repair required during the trials (only
renewing the firebars which were originally intended
for turning wood, and putting nine stronger ferrules
in the tubes), he is of opinion that the present
construction is exceedingly well calculated for
heavy loads—that it may be modified for attaining
high speeds—and will prove a durable and econo-
mical machine.
Captain Moorsom, in reply to some questions
from several members, stated, that although the
American locomotive engines had not strictly com-
plied with the stipulated conditions, yet he consi-
detedthem good, serviceable engines, and it was the
intention of the Directors of the Birmingham and
Gloucester Railway Company co have ten of the:
on their line. The price of the engine complete,
including the import duty of 20 per cent. is from
1,5001. to 1,6001. One of the greatest advan-
tages of the engines is the facility afforded by
the truck for going round curves—the same en-
gineers managing indiscriminately the ordinary six-
wheeled engines ; and the American ones are ob-
served to go faster round the curves with the
latter than with the former. Round a curve of
ten chains radius, they had gone at a speed of
twenty miles per hour. They run also quite as
well on a straight road. He had travelled on
them between Whitmore and Crewe at the speed of
from thirty to forty miles per hour. They appeared
less likely to be thrown off the rails than other
engiueE, as, in some instances, they had run over
the short pointers of the Grand Junction Railway—
the engineer had merely felt a slight jar, but no acci-
dent had occurred. He attributed this to the truck
adapting itself so readily to the rails. The coke
used in the trials was the same as that in daily use
on the Grand Junction Railway, and was of average
quality. The mode of attaching the tender to the
engine was peculiar, and he conceived it to be ad-
vantageous, as it threw a portion of the weight
upon the engine, and was an assistance in starting.
The engines, as they are now constructed, will do
well for all ordinary speed ; but if higher speeds
are required, a greater expense must be incurred,
and certain alterations must be made in them.
[Our readers will remember that three of these
engines were recently tried on the Gloucester and
Birmingham Railway, and failed. If, however, the
Americans, amongst whom labour is well paid, can
compete with us in the manufacture of engines, and
send them here, paying the duty of 20 per cent., it
will become the Legislature to look about it. Vari-
ous branches of industry are already leaving the
country, and, even now, it may be too late to stop
them. At least, let every thing that is possible be
done, and let our manufacturers not have to cope
with a single difficulty beyond those which nature,
and the peculiar condition of the society, throw in
their way.—ED. Sun.]

BELGIAN P UNDS—Bansente, JAN. 2.
Actual Delot, 2%, per Cent.
Rothschild's Lean, 5 per Cent ......«.«.«.« iRS%
Loan of Thirty Millions, 4 per Cent. ..... 88
(1640) 95%.
3per

Thirty-seven,
Loan of City, 1832, 4 per Cent..
Society of Commerce, 454 per Ce
Bank of Belgium, 5 per Cent.....
National Society
Exchange on London (short)
—Brussels Papers, Jan. 2.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—Vzstrusa, DEC. 24.
live per Cants. Metalliques • ••••••••••••••••••••••• 1064
Foar per Cents... ......... .......•••••••••••••• ........... ••• 99S
Three rr Cents. ........ ..... ••••••• ..... •••• ........
Bank ham
.... ....... 11•11110.•••••••1111.1.. 3535
...411(g6tneinc 4ilting,

110
87

OLD COURT.
The January Sessions of the above Court commenced
yesterday, at the Court House in the Old Bailey, before the
Right lion, the Lord Mayor, the Recorder, the Sheriff-,
Alderman Sir George Carroll, the Under Sheriffs, and
the usual civic authorities. The Grand Jury having been
sworn,

The RECORDER proceeded to address them ; after stat-
ing that although the calendar contained a smaller number
of offences than usual, yet that some of them were of a
serious character, he proceeded to draw attention to one
case, in which a party was accused of the offence of ex-
torting money by threatening to accuse the prosecutor of
an attempt to commit an infamous crime. Now, on read-
ing over the depositions, it appeared to him that the
prosecutor had given the party accused the money
more with a view of obtaining his conviction than
through actual fear of his threats—it did not appear
that the money had been actually extorted by fear,
that it had been parted with under an apprehension that
the character of the party would be affected by the accu-
sations threatened to be brought against him, but that it
had been given in concert with the officer purely with a
view of apprehending and convicting the party ; therefore
he was of opinion that the case did not fall under the pro-
visions of the statute of 1 Victoria, cap. 8, sec. 4 ; but by
the Act 7 and 8 Geo. IV., cap. 29, a party sending
threatening letters accusing any party of the commission
of au infamous abominable offence was liable to punish-
ment as guilty of felony ; and to constitute the offence
under the provision of the Act of Geo. IV. it was sufficient
to prove that threatening letters had been sent—in that the
offence consisted, and it was not necessary to constitute the
offence that money should have been actually extorted. If
therefore the letters set forth in the depositions, and which
would be produced before them, could be clearly proved to
be the handwriting of the party accused, and it should be
shown to their satisfaction that he was the party sending
such letters, then he would advise them to put the case
into the course of further investigation before Petty Jury.
There were other cases of serious offences in the calendar,
but as none of them involved any question of law, he did
not consider himself called upon to detain them longer
from the performance of those important duties which
devolved upra them.
The Grand Jury then retired.
The calendar contains the names of 138 prisoners.
The usual formalities having been gone through, and
the several pannels of Petty Jurors having been sworn,
the Court proceeded to business.
John Baxter Peace, 24, was indicted for stealing a
watch, value 31., the property of James Baird.
Mr. PAYNE defended the prisoner.
It appeared from the evidence that the prosecutor
was a labouring man, and that in the month of No-
vember he was lodging at the Welsh Harp public-
house, Essex-street, of which house the prisoner
was the potman. On the 15th of that month,
the prisoner being the worse for liquor, the landlord, Mr.
Eason, directed the prisoner to see him to his bed. At
this time the watch was safe, but the next morning

it was missed. Some suspicion was subsequently
created, and the prisoner's box was searched, and
among a number of other duplicates one far the stolen
watch was found, and it appeared that it had been
pledged at the shop of Messrs. Tarrant, the pawn-
brokers of Charlotte-street, Blackfriars-road, for 2/.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sen-
tenced to be transported for ten years.
Sarah Roach, 24, was i ndicted for stealing eleven
pinbefores, thirteen napkins, forty socks, and other
articles, the property of Mr. Robert Snow, the banker.
Mr. PHILLIPS appeared for the prosecution ; Mr.
CLARKSON defended the prisoner.
Mrs. Georgiana Snow, the wife of the prosecutor,
deposed that the prisoner had been in her service at the
private residence of herself and husband, 72, Portland-
place. Having missed some articles, witness asked the
prisoner if she had taken them, and she said she had
not, and that she knew nothing about them. Witness
in particular questioned her about some Irish linen,
and told her she would forgive her if she told her about
it. Slie was questioned about some other things, and
ultimately her boxes were searched by a policeman,
and several articles were found in them, which witness
identified as her property. Among the things found
were some children's frocks, a pair of silver child's
sugar.tongs, and other articles. The prisoner was pre-
sent when the boxes were searched, and when witness
recognised the property she began to cry, but did not
make any remark.
Cross•examined—The prisoner acted as under nurse
in the family, and had filled that situation for two years.
The prisoner came into her service with a very good
character from the Rev. Mr. Towers, of Essex. Some
of the things that were found had been worn, but they
were not old. Did not know that the box in which
some of the things were found belonged to the pri-
soner, but she did not deny it. The prisoner said that
things had been given to her by the head nurse, and sho
repeated that statement in her presence. The prisoner
readily consented to have her boxes searched. The
whole of the articles alleged to have been stolen ware
not of any great value.
Re-examined—The prisoner said that the children
had given her some of the things that were found.
Allen Horatio Garland, a police-sergeant, proved that
he searched the prisoner's boxes, and before he did so
he asked the prisoner whether she had any objection to
his examining them, and she said she had not, for there
was nothing in them but what belonged to her. W hen
the articles were found the prisoner cried and begged
for forgiveness.
Cross-examined—Mrs. Snow was present when this
occurred, and must have heard it.
Susan Beard, a servant in the employ of the prosecu-
tor, proved that she was present when some of the arti-
cles were found, and she heard the prisoner cry and beg
her mistress to forgive her.
Mr. CLARKSON addressed the Jury at some length,
and remarked upon the absence of the head nurse,
whose evidence he said would have been most material
to the present inquiry.
Several highly respectable witnesses were called, who
gave the prisoner an excellent character, and it also ap-
peared that she had lived for several years in the ser-
vice of the Rev. Mr. Tower, of South Weald, Essex,
by whose family she was held in the highest estimation.
The RECORDER summed up the evidence, and the
Jury returned a verdict of Not guilty.
The Learned JUDGE told the prisoner that the Jury
had taken a most merciful view of her case, and he
hoped it would prove a warning to her for the rest of
her life.
Susan Nune, 25, was indicted for stealing three
handkerchiefs, value 13s. 6d., the property of Messrs.
White and Greenwell, her employers.
Mr. Phillips conducted the prosecution, and Mr.
Clarkson defended the prisoner.
The prisoner was engaged as shopwoman to the pro-
secutors ; she was seen by another servant to take
the handkerchiefs from a box and put them in her
pocket, who gave information ; the prisoner was charged
with the robbery, and the articles taken from her person.
She was found guilty, and sentenced to six months'
imprisonment and hard labour in the House of Cor-
rection.
The recognizances of the Earl of Cardigan and
Captain Douglas were again respited until the next
session.
In

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.

A little girl named .Margaret Davis, who was stated
to be no more than 14 years of age, was brought before
the Lord Mayor, charged by a policeman with having
attempted to drown herself.
The policeman stated that the girl jumped from the
pier at Queenhithe into the river, on Sunday morning,
a►►d that she must have perished if it had not been for
some bargemen who saw her floating, and picked her up.
She said, upon being questioned, that she did not wish
to go back to her master and mistress.
A person named Jones said that the girl, who, he was
given to understand, was older than had been stated to
him, was put apprentioc to him by the parish on which
her mother and she had been dependent, that she was
exceedingly lazy and sleepy, and that in fact her mistress
was obliged to look over her regularly on her work, and
even then it was not done properly. I❑ consequence of
the impropriety of her coaduct, for she committed every
impropriety with the exception of sauciness, he boxed
her cal s.
The LORD MAYOR—You ought not to have beaten
her. _ _

Jones said that she had been sent out for some meat,
and that she brought home less change than she ought
to have brought, and told falsehoods about it. She
had also thought proper to lie upon a bag in the kitchen
with a few shavings in it, rather than go to her com-
fortable hed. Indeed he could not manage her at all,
and he was desirous to have her indentures cancelled.
The Loan MAYOR said that the conduct which the
man had described appeared to him to proceed rather
from imbecility than vice. His Lordship feared that
she was not likely to be benefited by remaining at her
master's house, and asked her whether she wished to say
any thing ?—The girl said No.
The officer stated that the girl told him she
thankful not to be sent back to her master's ho
".tre e.
The LORD MAYOR—I do not think it is place
her
for her. The little girl appears to be
weak in
mind, and her master does not seem to be qualified toould be
toilerem
p
treat that sort of infirmity with skill.
Jones said that the girl wasistproesactded
to go sleep
instead anf
kindness, but she was always d
instead of work.
days, and be
that the girl should be
The LORD MAYOR ordered
for a few
taken back to the Cm"tetrliat prison.
named Eliza
incready, was visited by the Chaplain of
1.
An Irish girl,
imme-
diately afterwards brought up, chat ged with having at-
rowlbg herself from a
boat into the river.
who had
tempted to drown herself, bythrowing •
The policeman who ha the girl in custody, stated
that a waterman brought her to him, and said that she
had just escaped drowning. She had engaged him to
row her towards a steamer, which was going off, and
when they got close to the vessel, she asked a man on
board some question, to which the man replied. No."
At that instant she threw herself into the river from
the boat, It was with difficulty her life was saved,