The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-27 00:00:00

FATAL COACH ACCIDENT.

It is with the deepest regret we have to record one of
the most dreadful accidents that has taken place in this
town for some years past. Friday night, about half-past
five o'clock, the Norwich Union coach, on its route to
the Eastern Union station, was overturned in Nortbgate-
street, and, melancholy to relate, a lady was killed on
the spot, some of the other passengers being more or
less injured. The coach was driven by Roper, whc
bears the character of a very steady driver, and two ver-
sions are given as to the cause of the accident; one, that
the pole broke on the Woodbridge-road hill; the other,
that it snapped in turning the corner of Coleman-street,
opposite the New Assembly-room. Be this as it may,
this fact, however, is certain—that upon Woodbridge-
hill the two horses, obtaining the mastery, proceeded at
a tremendous rate down the road, and that, in turn-
ing the sharp corner of Coleman-street, the coach
fell over with a tremendous crash, scattering the pas-
sengers and luggage upon the pavement of the White
Horse Hotel. Several persons attracted by the
shrieks of the passengers ran to render assistance. A.
lady discovered under the luggage was taken up insen-
sible and conveyed into the commercial-room. Mr.
Bullen, surgeon, was immediately in attendance, but the
lady breathed her last in the course of a few minutes in
consequence of the bodily injuries she had received, it
being supposed that her ribs and spine were extensively
fractured. Her same had not, last night, been satisfac-
torily ascertained. These facts, however, transpired—
that she was taken up 'thy Roper at Fressingfield, and
that a lady's bandbox, with an umbrella, upon which
was written, upon light brown paper, " Mrs. Parker,
passenger to London," but neither of which had been
claimed, were lying at the coach-office for the owner,
who had been one of the passengers. Her age was
supposed to be between fifty and sixty. The body
was permitted to remain in the commercial-room, await-
ing the coroner's inquest. The next passenger injured
is a young man supposed to reside at Colchester, but his
name we were unable to ascertain, as he had no luggage,
and at the period of our inquiries was unable to
answer any questions. When conveyed to the White
Horse, he was bleeding extensirdy, and under the direc-
tion of Mr. Bullen was put to bed. Besides being much
bruised about the body it is feared that he has sustained
a severe concussion of the brain. The coachman and
another pessenger were also braised, the former espe-
cially being so much cut about the head and face that
be was obliged to proceed home and go to bed. Two
other passengers were slightly injured, but were able to
proceed by the train to London. The lamentable oc-
currence excited great sympathy on the part of the
public, and under the able directions of Mr. Bullen every-
thing possib!e %%as done to minister to the necessities of
the sufferers. Since writing the above, we hare been
supplied with the name of the lady, discovered among
some papers in her possession; her address is, " Mrs. A.
Parker, Mr. Rent's, Mendham, near Harleston, Norfolk."
Information of the catastrophe has been forwarded to her
friends. The name of the young man we have referred
to, is Barker, of Wickham Market; he was on the road
to pay a visit to some friends at Colchester. On Satur-
day morning an inquest was held on the body, before S.
B. Jackaman, Esq., Coroner, of the Great W bite Horse
Hotel, when the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental
Death."

IRELAND.
CASE OF MR. DUFFY.

DUBLIN, TUESDAY MORNING.—The judicial interdict
having been removed, the Freeman's Journal of this
morning publishes the proceedings in the case of Mr.
Duffy, up to the adjournment of the Commission Court,
on Saturday. The Freeman thus refers to the case:—
" The jury question—the formation of the panel—the
exclusion of Catholics—have not yet been discussed, and
the Crown hopes to avoid their discussion by the de-
murrer now being argued by counsel being ruled against
the prisoner, and the opening thereby to the Attorney-
General an opportunity of praying judgment on the in-
dictment—the transportation of the prisoner—without a
trial or ♦erdict by any jury! In this, however, he will
be disappointed. He says he will call for judgment; but
he must do it now in open court."
SLIGO CORPORATION—LORD CLARENDON.

On Friday a special meeting of this corporation was
held for the purpose of adopting a congratulatory ad-
dress to Lord Clarendon for his exertions in suppressing
the late Irish insurrection.
The MAvon said—l have called this meeting in order
that the corporation of Sligo should have an oppor-
tunity of expressing their obligation to his Excellency
the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland for the manner in which
he has governed this country during his viceroyalty, and
for his active exertions in suppressing the late rebellion.
I am now ready to hear any gentleman who wishes to
speak upon the subject.
Mr. MONDS (Mayor Elect) moved a resolution re-
turning thanks to the Irish Government for the manner
in which its powers were exercised during a period of
agitation, turbulence, and rebellion, and congratulating
his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant on the complete
success which had attended his efforts to suppress insur-
rection in Ireland.
Alderman CORDIIICES seconded the resolution.

Alderman GALLAGHER—Mr. Mayor, I will not yield
to Mr. Monde or Alderman Cordukes in loyalty. I have
as great a love for the Sovereign of these realms, and
as ardent a desire that the public peace should be pre-
served as they—or any other man—can possibly have.
But I think that an address could be adopted, less liable
to create dissatisfaction than the resolution just proposed;
an address which will not displease any party, and at
the same time, express our sense of obligation which we
owe his Excellency for his firmness and impartiality.
Alderman Gallagher then read an address in which all
allusion to the late insurrection was omitted, and which
expressed in the strongest terms, the approval of his Ex-
cellency's general policy in Ireland.
Dr. TUCKER begged leave to second the address.
Mr. MONDS—I think the amendment perfectly unob-
jectionable.
The MAIOR then put the amendment, which was car-
ried, and the meeting adjourned.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN BELFAST.-011 Saturday morn-
ing, the most destructive fire that has occurred in Belfast
for many years, broke out on the premises of Messrs.
Ferrer and Co., silk mercers, Donegal-place. The con-
stable on the beat observed a dense volume of smoke
issuing from the doors and windows, a short time before
two o'clock, and immediately gave the alarm. Before
the engines were on the ground, the flames had burst
forth, and were raging furiously. They speedily com-
municated to the adjoining buildings occupied by Messrs.
M'Ghee and Co. the Castle Emporium; Mr. Mullen,
bookseller; Mr:Magill, bookseller; Messrs. Clarke and
Allen, hatters; and Mr. Magill, woollendraper. All
those buildings, which formed a portion of one of the
finest ranges in Belfast, were quickly an entire mass of
flame. Tho destruction of property is very large, cal-
culated at from 10,0004 to 12,0001. The whole of
Messrs. Ferrar's and Co.'s stock was consumed, and
scarcely ten pounds worth was saved from any one of the
other premises. We are happy tolearn that Messrs.M'Gee
and Co. are insured; also Mr. Gunning the owner of
the houses; and Mr. Mullen, to the extent of 1,0001.
This sum will not, however, cover his loss, independent
of 4721. in notes, which were in a box in the shop, and
which were consumed. Great delay took place before a
supply of water could be procured—fully an hour, it is
stated; and even then the supply was very deficient.
The heat was so intense that it was impossible to ap-
proach within 30 or 40 yards of the burning pile ;
and the shutters on the opposite side of the street, one
of the broadest in Europe, were blistered fur 100 yards
up and down. Several persons received severe bruises,
but none appears to ,be seriously hurt. flow the fire
originated ;e unknown, rye everything appeared Pile