The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-21 00:00:00

JOHN FRANCIS LEATHES, ESQ., OF HERRING-
FLEET HALL, SUFFOLK.—The death of this lamented
gentleman occurred on the Bth instant, at his seat, Her-
ringfleet Hall. He was a magistrate and Deputy-.Lieu-
tk nant of the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, and
served as High Sheriff of. the former in 1827. The
family of Mussenden, of which Mr. Leathes was the
male representative, came over from Normandy in the
time of William the Conqueror, and soon acquired such
high position that Sir William de Mussenden held the
dignified office of Grand Admiral of England; A.D.,
1133. He founded the Abbey of Musenden, and dedi-
cated it to the Blessed Virgin, in fulfilment of a vow
made during a dreadful storm at sea, in which his whole
fleet were in the most imminent danger. Froin this tin-
cientlouse lineally descended Carteret Mussenden, Esq.,
M.P., for Harwich, who assumed, at the death of his
maternal uncle, William Leathes, Esq., Minister Pleni-
potentiary at the Hague, the surname and arms of
Leathes. He was father of George Leathes, Esq., of
Herringfleet, major of dragoons, whose son, John
Francis Leathes. Esq., Lord of Herringfleet and Bed-
ham, forms the subject of this brief notice. At the timo
of his death Mr. Leathes had completed his 61st year.
He was never married.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.—OXFORD, SEPT. 20.—Yes-
terday evening a most destructive fire broke out, a few
minutes before seven o'clock, on the farm of Mr. John
Price, adjoining the Woodstock turnpike-road, and about
half a mile from this city, which raged so furiously that
in a quarter of an hour after the fire burst out the whole
of the ricks in the yards were in flames, and before any
engine could arrive was one complete mass of fire. The
sky appeared illuminated for a considerable distance, and
thousands of spectators were looking on, anxious to •
render assistance, but could not for the want of water ;
and, indeed, had there been a good supply, it would have
been almost impossible, from the rapidity of the flames,
and the nature of the burning materials, to have done
so. The fire, there is no doubt, was caused either
wilfully or from carelessness. It firtt originated in a
shed, adjoining a heap of straw, to which it was soon
communicated ; and, in the course of one short hour,
two wheat ricks, a barley rick, a bran rick, two hay
ricks, a clover rick, and a stack of straw, together
with the barn and unthreshed wheat, several imple-
ments of husbandry, and the cart shed, were destroyed.
The value of the property must have exceeded a thou-
sand pounds. Several fine large ehn trees standing at
the back of the ricks, and known as " The half-mile
trees," were so much injured as to render them almost
useless except for firewood. Mr. Price is, we under-
stand, insured in the Farmers' General Insurance Office,
but not-to anything like the amount destroyed. The
engines were set to work, in the hope of saving a few
.tons of hay, and have been so during the night and
again this morning; but owing to the distance the water
has to be pumped, it is doubtful if a single ton can be
saved. Two of the'hay ricks are still burning, but the
corn ricks are totally destroyed. The house, stabling,
piggeries, and out-buildings, being in an opposite direc-
tion, were not injured.
FIRE AT CAMPSET MEI 'TIC II HOUSE.— On
shortly after four o'clock, a fire
broke Thursdayoutmorning,
at the High House, Campsey Ash, the seat of
J. G. Sheppard, Esq. The butler being awakened by
the barking of a small dog in his bedroom, found the
room full of smoke. Upon' making his way out, he
found the laundry and kitchen below in flames. An
alarm was instantly raised, and the' inmates, including
Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard, and a large circle of distin-
guished visitors who were staying with them, were
aroused. The engine from Rendlesham Park reached
the spot at five o'clock, and a good supply of water being
at hand in the moat, did such service that the fire was
subdued by half-past five, its ravages being confined to
the kitchen, laundry, and butler's room, forming a por-
tion of the east wing of the mansion. All the plate and
valuables were removed to a place of safety. The fire is
supposed to have been caused by the over-heating of a
beam in the kitchen chimney.—Bury Post.
BATTERSEA PARK.—The Act of Parliament, in
pursuance of which Battersea Park is now being formed,
was passed on the 4th instant, entitled " An Act to en-
large the Powers of an Act empowering the Commis-
sioners of her Majesty's Woods to form a Royal Park in
Battersea-fields, to facilitate the raising of moneys autho-
rised to be raised by the said Commissioners, for Metro-
politan Improvements; and to regulate and simplify the
mode of keeping the Accounts of the Commissioners of
her Majesty's Woods." This Act (11th and 12th Vic-
toria, cap. 202) contains twelve clauses. The Commis-
sioners of Woods have, under the 9th and 10th Victoria,
cap. 38, contracted to make purchases to form the park,
but the Commissioners for Public Work's have not bad
sufficient funds to advance the money requisite for the
purpose, and as " much inconvenience to the public, and
injury to individuals may be occasioned., if the completion
of the said purchases and formation of the said park be
suspended," it is enacted that the Commissioners of
Woods may raise money on the Crown revoensuateboso,
about
and
nrtmdo
give certificates of the same, provided the whole sum shall
not exceed 200,0001. Under this Act money i
be raised, and active proceedings are going n
ien.gpatrok_thaonsde
the park without delay.
SERPENTINE.—rit)Itowf
theill beair gorfautif3d'
iwnhtleorsne osEft e Sdthe inhabitants of the metropolis are not so in-
terested ?—to know that Sir John
Monday
me commenced
hisTh The
survey of
step
the
having
tohathus beeny taken, there is
now hope that ere long the bed of that river will be
cleared of its pestiferous filth, and its waters restored to
their wonted state of sightliness and purity. This is
the more desirable, threatened as we are by the approach
of cholera, and stagnant water being invariably men-
tioned by all medical 'authorities as an evil to be specially
avoided in the case of that frightful disease.
Tun MURDER AT ASWTON.—The inquiry into the
circumstances attending the murder of Bright, the un-
fortunate policeman who fell a victim to the Chartists
during the recent outbreak at Ashton, was brought to
a close on Tuesday, when the bench of magistrates,
after examining numbers of witnesses, came to the
determination to commit Ratcliffe, Constantine, Ken-
worth, and Walker, as principals in the murder; Win-
' terbottom ns accessory after the fact; and Scott, as
accessory before the fact. At the same time Tassaker
and, Sefton were committed for unlawfully assembling
and rioting.