The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-23 00:00:00

COUNTIES RAILWAY.
At the conclusion of the examination of the engine-drivel
and stoker before the county magistrates at Ilford gaol on
Monday, Captain Coddington, one of the Government in-
spectors of railways, proceeded to Stratford, for the purpose
of examining into the efficiency of the signals and other
matters relating to the accident, preparatory to making bis
report to the Board of Trade. He was attended by Mr.
Roney, the secretary, Mr Scott, the locomotive superinten-
dent of the line, and Mr. Samuels, the resident engineer.
His first object was to inspect the locality of the signals and -
the distance they could be seen ; and after a careful messure-
ment it was found that they could be discerned 220 yards
down the line—that extreme distance being 479 yards from
the station. That the signal was erected on the wrong aide
of the line was the general opinion. Had it been on the side
of the down line, it could have been seen almost double the
distance. Captain Coddington was informed that the cons
parry hadcommenced to remove the signals on the Colchester
line, which were all of the 'tune description, and to erect in
their Orce some of a similar construction to those on the
Cambridge branch. They have only been recently eGM-
pleted, and it was admitted that day and night they have
proved most efficient.
A doubt being entertained as to the possibility of Cl.a.re,
the engine-driver, being able to bring the train to a stopprge, -
from where the signal can first be seen at the Stratford
station, at the speed it was said to be travelling, Captain
Coddington, we believe, suggested the propriety of making
experimental trips; with a view of ascertaining the fact. It .
was accordingly arranged to make such trials yesterday, with
the same engine and trucks which caused the accident.
Captain Coddington accordingly visited Stratford on Tces-
day, and went on the Firefly engine (the front of which was
much knocked about), accompanied by Mr. Scott, the lace.
motive superintendent, and Mr. Samuels, the engineer..
They then proceeded with the experiments proposed,. the
result of which clearly substantiated the statement made by -
the company's officers, that the train could have been
brought to a standstill before it reached the station, had
attention been directed to the signal and the proper
appliances used. In the course of the experiments the
train was put on at the rate of thirty miles an hour:
On sighting the signal the steam was shut off; and, by
applying the breaks and reversing the engine, the train
was brought to a stoppage some yards from the Stratford _
station. It will be recollected, that at the magistrates'
inquiry, it was stated that the speed of the train, when first-
seen coming up, was about seven or eight miles an hour.
The mischief to thecarriages, however, tends to show that the
speed must have been greater. After the trials Captain Cod- -
dington left for town. It is considered probable that his re-
port to the Board of Trade will not be issued until the result
of the trial of the engine-driver and stoker.
The accounts received on Tuesday at the Shoreditch sta-
tion of the condition of the sufferers lying at the London
Hospital were of a favourable character, as regarded four of
them; but in the cases of William Prentice, the company's
porter, and Mr. Morris, of Adam-street, nnford, and not
of the Hoop Inn, Deptford, as previously reported, their
condition was far from satisfactory. The unfortunate fellow,
Prentice, who is in his eighteenth year, was, it appears, in
the last compartment of the- second-class carriage, with
Shaffington, another porter, and Henry Olive, a goods' train
guard. Shaffington states ho was lying his full length on
one of the seats, and Prentice and Olive were sitting on the
Letalolnp.fg2r..Eg_ittn was su
road between the rails, and finding the engine of true
train over him. He has sustained little injury, and is
expected to leave the hospital in a few days. In the other
compartments of this carriage were, Mr. Morris, William
Millwood, of 2, Luke-street, Turk-street, Bethnal-green
Mr. Murphy, solicitor, of Hendon; John Smith, of 2,
Cooper's-gardens, Hackney-road. the constable ; John
Keeler, of West-hill, Essex; James Stone, and Mr. Atkins,
of Hale, near Hendon. The three laidies who were in the -
carriages more in advance of the train, Mrs. Paine, of Ilford,
who had the small bones of her left leg fractured ; Mrs. Wed-
dersley, of Chigwell, thigh fractured, and Mrs. Bromley, of
Colchester, are, we are happy to say, in a fairway of recovery.
The husband of the last-mentioned lady had his shin frac.
turerl. He is also going on favourably. Those in the hos-
pital have been visited daily by Mr. Roney. the secretary,
who has directed that everything should be done which can
in anyway be conducive to their comfort. The anxiety -
evinced by that gentleman is spoken of in the most kind
terms by the sufferers.
An accident of a precisely similar character as the unfortu-
nate affair on Saturday, occurred at the same spot six. years
ago, and, though many persons were hurt, it was not of so
'earful a description as the recent one.

PROVIDENT BOOKSELLERS'
RETREAT.

On Tuesday the inauguration of the Provident Booksellera'
Retreat, at Ling's Langley, the foundation stone of which
was laid in September last, took place under most favourable
auspices. A special train was engaged to the place, and
about two hundred of the friends of letters went down by it to
assist at the ceremony. The Provident Booksellers' Retreat
is an offspring of the Booksellers' Provident Fund Society,
and the manner in which its objects have been carried out
must be most gratifying to those who have taken an interest
in the cause. Some difficulty at first existed as to finding an
eligible site for the building; but this was soon removed by
the munificence of J. Dickenson, Esq., the well-known raper
maker, who gave a piece of ground, of three-and-a-half acres
for the purpose. The building already erected consists of
seven comfortable dwellings of four rooms each, well-venti-
lated, water laid on, and all that could conduce to the com—
fort of the occupants being well provided for by Mr. W. IL
Cooper, the architect.
_

The ceremony of the inauguration took place under the
auspices of Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Bart., who presided at the
breakfast given on the occasion.
The CHAIRMAN, in eloquent terms, explained the merits.
and objects of the institution, and the subscriptions of the day
:showed that the cause was well taken up by those who had
adopted it. Upwards of EOOl. was subscribed at the break-
fast, including the following sums :—Sir E. Bulwer Lytton.
'2Ol. ; Lord Verulam, 201 ; Mr. Orme, 501., in addition to
2001. previously subscribed ; Mr. T. Gardner, 501. ; Mr.
Joseph Gardner, 50/. ; Mr. Wicks, 101.; Mr. Bening, 20/. ;
Mr. Murray, SU; Mr. Dickenson, 20/. ; Mr. Duncan, 101.;
I Messrs. Chapman and Ball, 20/. ; and Mr. E. Lewis, 501.

A Bill is now before the House of Commons, and is to
be read a second time to-day, which, under the title of "Land anC

Companies Clauses Consolidation," others further facilities by whick
the winding up of railway companies may be brought about in cases
where they either ought not to go on, or it is desired by the share-

holders to suxpend proceedings. v This Bill, 'which comes into opera-
tion immediately on passing, requires that when a company has

tallied au Act ofParlianactd. the whola of the capital required for do-

fraying expenses shall be subscribed under contract within two ca.
lendar months after the passing of such Act ; that within three
mouths after the passing of such Act the register of shareholders shall
. _

be completed ; and that within lour months a copy of the register
shall be deposited with the Registrar of Joint Stock Cornpanle*. It
. .

is further provided that within three months after depositing the copy
register, a majority in value of the registered shareholders may dis-
solve the company. The Bill has given very great satisfaction to
some of the more practical men in the City, who see in it a a remedy
for the deficiencies of former proceedings on the part of the Legislature.
THE CHINESE RANSOM.—Tuesday was the last day
for the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to receive
tenders for about 840,00 ounces of sycee silver bullion lately re-
ceived by her Majesty's ship Vixen, of the value of about 1,000,000
dollars, for which it appears there were many bidders among the
bullion merchants in the City for exportation to Ilamburgh, Rotter-
dam, and France. The gold exceeding five grains per pound troy
was paid at the rate of 775, 9d. per ounce standard. No tender was
received for any quantity less than 100,000 ounces of sycee bullion.
The delivery from her Mesty's Mint commenced this morning, and
will be continued until the end of the month, within which 'mica

the whole will be delivered.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT.—Tuesday eveninz, between the
hours of five and six o'clock, an accident of a very serious description
took place at the chocolate and mustard manufactory of Messrs.
Taylor, Brothers, 211, Brick-lane, Spitalflelds. It appears that
William Paine, a youth of eighteen years of age, went into what is
called the cutting room of the chocolate department, and taking up
a cake of the prepared chocolate, was about to place it under the
" cutters," when a part of the machinery with which he was sur-
rounded caught hold of his smock frock and whirled him into the
most dangerous part of the works. The poor fellow's cries brought
several of the workmen to his assistance, and the engine was promptly
stopped, but not before his right arm was shattered in a shocking
manner. He was removed to the London Hospital, where amputa-
tion of the limb was found necessary. The operation was performed
with much skill by Mr. Curling, surgeon to the hospital.
THE GRAVESEND AND ROCHESTER RAILWAY V.
Tin REV. JAMES FoRMBY,—The dispute between the Rev. J.
Formby and the Gravesend and Rochester Railway Company has at
length been brought to a conclusion. It will be remembered that on
the Sill of November, when some labourers of the Company were

brought before the mayor and magistrates at the Guildhall, Ro-
chester, for cutting down trees, it was then agreed that all matters
in dispute should be submitted to arbitration. The decision of the
arbitrators has been given in favour of the Rev. Gentleman, and the
consequence is that the company will have to rebuild the wall bound-
ing his property, and to pay all the expenses incurred, which, it is
said, will not be less than 1,000/.
JOURNEYMEN BAKERS —The masters and journeymen
bakers of Edinburgh have held a public meeting, at the instance of
the latter, in order that measures may be adopted to lessen their hours
of labour, to secure to them wages proportionate to their toil, and to
have an opportunity afforded them to improve themselves physically.
mentally, and morally. The men having submitted to their em-
ployers their corn-plaints, which, amongst other grievances, comprised
the frightful one of sixteen hours daily incessant toil, and having alio
proposed the plans suggested by themselves tor the improvement ofr
their condition, the masters fully acknowledged the justness othithtti.
complaints, and also expressed their unqualified ac
of who(;1 condition ; after
plans proposed by the men for the redress of th
grievances, and the general improvementgrulwesZn_geseoundett
timed to re-
which, the wlshes:of the Journeymen,
dress their complaints and comply.vri
rn athise ith Lord
the men voted thanks tot heir masters. Pron.
publ sy p
The English
to obtain the friendly interposition of the Bri-
e t •skiwhose
tlsh Governmen ant
my
of Prince zar or) , estates were
the Aust.' ian (Government after the late outbreak in
corlrnonsugchastemd
by
roiand. The generous expression of sympathy which his Lordship's
question and Lord Lansdowne's answer elicited from the English
Mouse of Peers, must have been peculiarly gratifying to the Princess
Czartoryski, who happened to be present at the moment. We trust

that such sympathy may not be without practical beneficial inflnence
upon the fortunes of her illustrious house.—Chronicle.
ROBBERY OF A CLERK OF TUE BANK OF ENGLAND:.
On Tuesday information was forwarded to the metropolitan pollee
stations, that a clerk of the Bank of England had been robbed on
Mondayof.Bailk.notes, amounting to 1,9001., and a reward of 1001.
was offered to be paid by Messrs. Freshflelds, solicitors to the Bank.
to any person giving such information as would lead to the appreliet.-
sion of the guilty party. The public were also cautioned against
taking the stolen notes, which are as follows :-1.0001., No. 94,272 ;
5001., No. 32,109; two 1001. notes, Nos. 5,721 and 6,860; two 501.
notes. Nos. 35,285 and 39,250; 401., No. 9,349; 301., No. 88,805
101., No. 7,658 ; and three 51. notes, Nos. 16,327, 21,755, and 46,740.
Prince Louis Napoleon Buonaparte left the Brunswick
Hotel, Jennyn-street, on Tuesday, on a visit to Sir John dersad.
Bart., New Hall, Warrington,:for th eNewton races.
DEATH OF SIR THOMAS GREY, 1.R.5., F.G.S., See.
—This aged Knight expired on the 17th inst., at his seat, St. Law-
rence, Isle of Thanet, aged 72. He was the son of John Grey, Esq.,
of Dryden, Selkirkshlre, by the daughter of Thomas Stanert, Esq., of
Collisford-hill, Roaburghshire, and was born in 1774. At an early
period of his life he entered the royal navy as surgeon, his date being
so far hack as 1794. In 1819, while in Ireland, he was knighted for
his professional services by the Lord Lieutenant of the periOd, sod in
the following month by the King.
SALE OF THE :BOWL BREWERY, ST. GlLES'S.—Tues-
day, this brewery, said to be the oldest it, London, was sold by publie
auction on the premises. It is to be demolised, and a handsome row
of houses erected on its site. Tradition asserts that the celebrated
" St. Giles's bowl," that was offered to convicts on their way to exe-
cution at Tyburn, came from this brewery.
THE TOWER.—In consequence of the scarcity of corn
in New South Wale., and the necessity which has arisen for sending
out a large supply for the use of the troops stationed there, it has
been found necessary to erect temporary sheds on the site formerly
the Lower Moat, for the reception of ordnance stores now deposited
in the warehouses within the fortress, in which a large quantity of
grain is to be stored, and sent out in several vessels to Australia. We
believe 250,000 quarters of wheat, in addition to rye and 'Debi, will be
forwarded fcr the use of the soldiers during the next six. months.
ST. MARY-LE-STRAND.—On Tuesday, after the labour
of several weeks to erect a scaffolding, a new ball and wind indi-
cator, both gilt, nearly simiar to St. Paul's, were placed at the sum-
mit of the church at St. Mary-le-Strand. The entire length of the
tower and steeple has been thoroughly cleaned, so that it has the ap•
pearance of being new.
BOAT RACB BETWEEN THE ETONIANS AND THIL
OXONIANS —ETON, TUESDAY Evrsixo. —Considerable in-
terest was created in the neighbourhood of Windsor and
Eton in consequence of a trial of skill having been ap-
pointed to come off between the eight Etonians who are to
compete with the Westminster School, on Thursday se'nnight,
between Putney and Mortlake, and eight of the Oxonians.
At the start, which took place between 7 and 8 o'clock, both
boats got well off together, and so continued with but little
variation for the first half mile. The Etonians then began
to draw ahead of their opponents, and after a beautiful dis-
play of skill and strength, won the match, amidst the cheers
of their friends, by twn bpsibe length.