The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-15 00:00:00

ER MAJEST Y'S VISIT TO THE

SALMON LEAP AT WOOD-MILL,

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY NlGHT.—Great excitement
prevailed to-day in this ancient port, by the rumours that her
Majesty had intimated her intention of visiting the Sea-lock
at Wooa-mill, for the purpose of witnessing the mode of
catching the delicate fish peculiar to that portion of the
Itchen estuary. This locality in former times was so cele-
brated for its salmon fishery, that it is on record the appren-
tices of Southampton and Winchester had inserted in their
indentures that they were not to have salmon served at the
table more than three times per week. The Itchen river,
however, has lost much of its celebrity, and, owing to the
construction of certain locks on the estate of Mr. Fleming,
Wo6d-mill has for many years enjoyed the monopoly of the
salmon supply ; but such is the demand for this fish, that it
will fetch even higher prices than the famed Christchurch,
in the eyes of the epicures. The Fall is leased out to a
Mr. Miles, of this town, and it was under his superin-
tendence that the, dragging of the pond at the Wood Fall
took place.
Gay was the aspect of Southampton at the expected visit
of royalty. The leading hotels and houses were gaily deco-
rated with streamers; not a yacht or boat on the Southamp-
ton water was without its flag; all the vessels in the docks,
comprising the colossal West India, Alexandria, and Gibraltar
steamers, &c., and innumerable small craft, exhibited the
coiours of every nation. The Itchen estuary was covered
with boats filled with the population of Southampton. The
Northam-bridge was covered with spectators. From the town
itself parties were seen at an early hour hurrying in every
description of vehicle by land to Wood Mill, a delightful
ride of some four miles, by Portswood, with the picturesque
village of Bittern on the heights. Whether by water or by
land, the approaches to Wood Mill are charming. On the
wooded banks of the Itchen are noble oaks in rich profusion,
and cultivation is visible on all the plains. At noon, from
Netley Abbey to the docks, the river Itchen, and the
scene of action, Wood Mill, exhibited one continued line
of anxious visitors. At length the Fairy steamer was
hailed with the royal emblems, and a burst of cheering
announced that it had entered the estuary. The steamer
went up as far as Northam-bridge, and here the Queen and
his Royal Highness the Prince Consort, Prince Leiningen,
and the suite, entered the royal barges, which were rowed
up to Wood Fall. At a few minutes after two o'clock the
royal barge arrived at the salmon-leap. The scenery here
is quite romantic. There is the old English villa of the
Fleming family at South Stoneham, now in the occupation
of the Rev. Mr. Beckford, at the summit of a beautiful lawn
on the verge of a noble park. A wooden bridge over a fall
of water connected the stream with a kind of table-land, on
which were placed a couch and chair, for the royal visitors,
the turf being carpeted and matted. To the left of her
Majesty was the mill and the dam, and higher up was the
lock. A central sheet of water concentrated the salmon
riches of the Wood Mill. Her Majesty, who was attended
by Lady Caroline Cocks and the Hon. Miss Devereux, re-
turnel the greetings very graciously, and took her seat on
the sofa. We thought that the Queen was looking rather
pale. Her dress was a green and white check muslin, with
a slate-coloured silk polonaise. Prince Albert and Prince
Leiningen seemed to take much interest in the labours
of the fishermen, who, under the direction of Mr.
Miles, made a complete circle of the nets in the
pond, and then, as this circle was narrowed, the
nets were drawn up. The draw was by no means great
owing to the high tide, but some thirteen or fourteen fish
were caught, thrown into a tub and inspected by the Queen,
who retained three of the largest, and ordered the remainder
to be restored to the troubled water of the mill, an act of
emancipation for which they no doubt were grateful. imme-
diately after the first drag of the nets, her Majesty returned
to the barge, and re-embarked in the Fairy steamer, below
Northam-bridge, for Osborne House, Isle of Wight.
As the visit of the Queen was strictly private, the autho-
rities were not present officially. If the tide had not served
horses from the Dolphin Hotel were in readiness for the use
of her Majesty.
The Rev. Mr. Beckford very liberally opened the grounds
of South Stoneham-house, for the accommodation of the
ladies. A luncheon had been prepared for the royal visitors,
but the state of the title rendered the return to the steamer
necessary as soon as the drag had taken place. T. Fleming,
Esq. (a brother of the owner of the property), the Rev. Mr.
Beader, the Rev. Mr. Beckford, &c., attended her Majesty
on her landing and departure. The weather was most
agreeable, and the only regret was that her Majesty did not
pass through the town, the loyal population of which greeted
her so enthusiastically this day.

FATAL ACCIDENT.
BIRMINGHAM, TUESDAY.—Yesterday afternoon a fatal
accident occurred upon the Bristol and Birmingham Rail-
way, about six miles from this town. The following facts
are obtained from official sources, and may he relied upon in
the main as correct :—Between Bromsgrove and the Barnt-
green Station, the guard of the passenger train (named
William Stock), which arrives in Birmingham at half-past
three o'clock, r.m., left his seat at the break en the carriage,
immediately behind the tender, to enter into conversation
with a person—a contractor for work on the line—who was
seated on the roof of the succeeding carriage. For this pur-
pose Stock walked across the roof of his own carriage, and
sat upon the roof of the one upon an outside seat of which
his friend was seated. Upon arriving near the Barnt-green
station, the engineer or stoker, whose duty it may be, gave
the usual signal by whistle, when the unfortunate man
Stock, whose back was towards the station, jumped up from
his seat, with a view to return to the break, when his head
almost instantly came in contact with the arch of the
bridge, and his body was thrown between two of the
carriages. The train passed over him, and it was not until
the train stopped at the station that the body of the de-
ceased was taken up. It was then ascertained that the
skull was dreadfully fractured ; otherwise he had suffered

little injury.
The deceased, who, although insensible, was still living,
was immediately conveyed in a compartment of one of the
carriages to the Birmingham station, and thence to the
Queen's Hospital, at Holloway-head. He arrived there about
four o'clock, and died about half-past five.
It will be recollected that a year and a half ago an acci-
dent somewhat similar happened on this line, at the Kings-
norton-bridge, only two or three miles distant from the spot
where the present one occurred. In that instance the corn•
pany were blamed for the erection of pillars on each side, for
the support of the arch of the bridge. A guard of one of the
trains,;at the time referred to, met with his death in conse-
quence of his head coming in contact with one of those pil-
lars. In the present case it does not appear that blame is to
be attributed to any improper construction of the bridge. It
is one of the highest on the whole line between Bristol and
Birmingham. So far as can be ascertained from present evi-
dence, the accident, lamentable as it is, would appear to be
the result of the deceased's own indiscretion. He was a man
nearly six feet high ; and when it is considered that his
head was struck by the centre of the arch, it does not seem
probable that the height of the bridge could be deemed
dangerous.
The body of the deceased having been removed out of
Worcestershire into Birmingham, the case is now within the
jurisdiction of Dr. Birt Davies, the borough coroner, who
has appointed to take the inquest to-morrow.
The deceased was a remarkably steady, sober man, and
much respected by the superior officers of the company. He
has left behind him a wife and five children.

ACCIDENT TO SIR ROBERT PEEL.—We regret to
learn that the absence of Sir Robert Peel from the House of
Commons on Monday night arose from the Right Hon.
Baronet's being confined to his residence by the effects of an
accident which might have been far more serious than it has
turned out. We hear that while dressing in the morning he
incautiously rested his foot on a china basin, and by the
weight of his person the bottom brake, and severely lacerated
his foot. Sir Benjamin Brodie was instantly sent for, and
was as promptly in attendance on the Right Hon. Baronet.
Although the blood was profuse from the wounds inflicted,
we are happy to hear that Sir Benjamin Brodie, after a
minute examination of the injured parts, pronounced that
no danger was to be apprehended, as not any important
vessel had sustained injury. The casualty will necessarily
confine the Right Hon. Baronet some days to the house.
BURY ST. EDMUNDS.—There has just come under our
notice a striking example of the disinterested character of the
"poor man's Church." A respectable man in this town has
recently lost his wife. It was her dying request that she
should be buried in the same grave with her son, in her
accustomed
the betlilm in
e.
In
the
year 1835
native parish, about four miles from this town. Her husband
of course complied with a request made under such circum-
stances, parish where he
he lost his son, who was buried at Great Saxham, and the
srteasnidcoess,and might requested etsht eed th a
bell of St. Mary's Church, of this town, tolled, for which he
was charged 4s. When he requested the same favour for
his wife he expected the same charge, when,
lo ! he received
a bill amounting to 18s. 6d. Our readers will feel curious
to know the particulars of such a bill. It was as follows:
First, the Minister, who did not utter a single prayer,
charges ten shillings and sixpence, and then the clerk, in
limitation of his master's example, charges 45., though he
did not utter a single amen. The sexton, who really did
commit a nuisance for a couple of hours, charged 4s. for the
unmeaning noise he made. Of this latter item, there can be
no reasonable complaint, as it was requested that the hell
should toll; but how either parson or clerk can fortify their
exactions perplexes our simple understanding. We have
not introduced this circumstance for the purpose of in-
dulging in any personalities, but simply to show that the
established system will corrupt the most amiable of men,
and convert a man, as a man distinguished for generosity,
into an unjust exacting priest, " reaping where he has not
sown, and gathering where he has not scattered."-- Suffolk
Chronicle.

SUDDEN DEATH.-It is with much regret that we
have to record the sudden death of Mr. Fraser, of tha firm of
Messrs. Neill and Fraser, printers, here, which occurred yes-
terday morning about eight o'cleck, while seated in a stage
coach, intending to join his family at Biggar for a Sew days.
He was in conversation with a lady at the time, when his
head suddenly dropped on his breast, and he almost. instantly
expired. The cause of his death we have not heard, but it
is supposed to have been an affection of the heart. Mr.
Fraser was of an amiable and obliging disposition ; lan active
man of business, and in every relation of life bore ;a highly
respectable character.—Edinburgh Advertiser.