The Sun.
London, England, 1848-10-30 00:00:00

11,101TDAIT EVEN_ING, OCTOBER 301 tuvt.

lieve the water would not have caused such appearances.
He believed the cause of death was the inflammation of
the uterus in consequence of abortion having been pre-
cured by the use of an instrument or instruments.
Mr. Wray, of Dulwich, surgeon, who assisted the last
witness at the examination of the deceased, gave similar
evidence.

Robert Emmerson, a policeman, was present before
the magistrates on the examination of the witness('
' sgsinst the prisoners. Linfield and Dryden made state-
ments on the first examination, and Orpin at the but.
(The statements of the prisoners were then put in and
read.)
This closed the case for the prosecution.
Mr. PARRY submitted to the Court whether there was
any case to go to the jury against Orpin?
Mr. Justice MAULS said the case was very slight
against him.
Mr. PARRY said that, under such eircurnstancer, he
would not trouble the jury on his behalf.
The COURT then adjourned for half an hour, and on
its resuming,
Mr. BALLAKTINB addressed the jury fur the prisoner
Lintield.

'I he prisoner Dryden declined saying anything to the
jury.
t‘:everal witnesses gave the prisoner Linfield an ex-
cellent character for skill and care as a midwife. Many
of the witnesses had known Linfield for upwards of 20

years.
Mr. Justice MAIILE summed up the case, and
The jury, after a short consultation, Acquitted all the

prisoners.

- There were two other indictments against the priso-
ners, but they were not proceeded with.

I MARLBMY-STREET-(THIS DAY.)
John Walker, a seaman belonging to the Devastation
steam-sloop, end George Lee, were placed before Mr.
Hardwick, the former charged with fighting and creating
a disturbance, and the latter with having attempted to
rescue him from the custody of the police-constable.
Police-constable, 65 C, stated that about one o'clock
this morning he was on duty in Oxford-street, when his
attention was attracted to several fersons who were
fighting in Market-street. lie ran to the spot and saw
the defendant Walker fighting with another man not in
custody. Witness parted them, and persuaded them to
disperse quietly. Walker refused to do so, and persit,ted
in following the man with whom he had been fightiag.
Witness laid hold of him for the purpose of detaining
him till the other man got away. The prisoner, finding
his object frustrated, became exceedingly violent, and
struggled to get away, and in the scuffle threw witness
on the ground. The prisoner Lee then came up, and,
laying hold of witness's collar, said " You —, let go
your hold." Witness, however, maintained his hold till
some other constables arrived, when both the prisoners
were secured and conveyed to the station.
In defence Walker said he was proceeding glietly
home when a man came up and struck him. He was
merely acting in self-defence, when the constable came
up and collared him. He denied using any violence.
Lee said he had hold of the constable for the purpose
of lifting off Walker, who appeared to be suffering
violently from the pressure of the constable's knees.
Mr. IlAupwicx. said, as there did not appear to be
much violence used, he should fine Walker 10s. and
Leo ss.—The money was paid.

DREADFUL COAL-PIT ACCIDENT.

(PROM A. CORRESPONDENT.)
On Saturday an accident, by which nearly thirty
persons were deprived of life, was occasioned by an
explosion of fire-damp, at a pit on Wynie 11111,
Cleaton Moor near Whitehaven. More than twenty
bodies were brought up the shaft in a dreadfully
mangled condition, and ten more were undiscovered,
of whose existence in the pit in the morning there is
the clearest evidence, namely, the statement of the
only survivor, who managed to ascend the shaft, leav-
ing below several others ready to follow him, but
whom the fire-damp suffocated instantaneously. The
bodies having been identified for the purposes of a
coroner's inquest, which will commence on Monday,
the 30th, were removed in carts from the spot, which
presented a frightful spectacle from the dead placed
around, scorched and disfigured—the piteous cries of
the wives, children, and friends of the deceased, as
the blackened remains of each were brought up from
the pit—the utter appearance of desolation which the
works themselves exhibited, and the continued fall of
heavy rain and hail. The poor fellows wereprinci-
pally Irish Roman Catholics, and have left their
fami-
lies in great distress. The cause of the catastrophe is
attributable to bad ventilation.

FRANCE.
The National Assembly resolved on Saturday, by
a majority of 436 to 281, that the President of the
Republic should take the oath to the Constitution
previous to his installation.
The Moniteur publishes the returns of the customs
duties collected in September last, which amounted
to 8,733,654 francs, or 2,121,286, less than in the cor-
responding month of 1847. he customs produced
during the nine months of 1848, ending on the Ist of
October, 62,826,100 francs, showing a diminution as
compared with 1847 of 37,021,199 francs.
The number of French vessels which entered the
harbours of France during the last nine months was
4,897, measuring 596,806 tons ; or 815 vessels and
66,198 tons less than in the corresponding period of
1847. The number of foreign vessels which entered
those harbours during the same period was 5,359
measuring 739,807 tons ; or 5,201 vessels, and
695,321 tons less than in 184.7. The export trade,
employed during
the same interval,
4,341 French
vessels, measuring 497,626 tons, or .555 vessels and
35,083 tons less than in 1847; and 4,555 foreign ves-
sels, measuring 500,555 tons, being a diminution of
1,269 vessels and 142,529 tons.
The Committee of the National Assembly
on the
Constitution assembled on Saturday: it revised
each article of the Constitution according to the ob-
servations made in the National Assembly during the
discussion, so as to remove all the defects of the ori-
ginal draft. The National Assembly will revise the
amended draft in the course of the ensuing week,'
and the constitution will be. promulgated immediattly
afterwards by its insertion 1U the Moniteur.
It is said that the conferences on Italian attars
will be held at Brussels.

to procure abortion. Linfield said, the only instrument
she had used was to draw off the wa!er. On his in-
quiring if the young woman had given her any money,
floe said she had received 2/. 10s. from her, Bs. of which
she gave to the woman who brought her. She kept 23.
for the medicine, and recurred 21. to Elize
The letter from the deceased to Linfield was here
put in and read, in which she complained of great pain,
and requested the prisoner Linfield to send her some-
thing to relieve her.
Thomas Connor, a police-constable, took the prisoner
Dryden into custody on the 18th of September. He
found her in York-street, Lock's-fields. He told her he
was a constable, and that Mrs. Linfield was in custody
upon a charge of having used instruments to procure abet-.
Lion. Dryden said "It is through nothing that I hare
given her. I only gave her five-leaved grass, ground
ivy, and pillacocia pills." Witness asked if she had got
uny money from Mrs. Linfield, and she said none,
and knew nothing of Mrs. Linfield. She
afterwards said she received eight shillings from
Linfield and 3s. from Eliza Wilson for medicine. He
'hen took her into custody. On the following day
he apprehended the prisoner 0,-pin. He found him at
Role cottage, Chapel-road, Norwood. He told him he
was a constable, and that the prisoner was charged with
two females in custody with using instruments upon
Eliza Wilson, to produce abortion. He said he knew
nothing about it, and that whatever stuff Eliza Wilson
took to poison herself was of her own accord, and he
had nothing whatever to do with it. Ile went to ',in-
field's house on the 19th, and found a box of pills there,
and a bill for 61. 155., which Mrs. Linfield had paid
to Mrs. Dry-den.
William Merritt assisted in searching Linfi:ld's
house. Found a quantity of herbs, among which was
Basin. He also found savin at Dryden's, and a quantity
of herbs, together with two printed bills.
The printed bills were road, which contained a list of
herbs and other things sold by Linfield, who called
herself a midwife.
A certificate of Dr. Clough's was produced, certifying
that Linfield had attended his lectures on midwifery
and the diseases of women, and practised it undsr his
insia ction.
Joseph Armstrong, another policemsn, stated that he
had been stationed at Norwood for four years. Knew
the deceased Eliza Wilson, and the prisoner (?spin.
Had seen them frequently together at a late hour in the
evening, and had frequently seen him kiss her.
John Chapman, a surgeon, of Thurlow-place, Nor-
wood, was called in to see the deceased on the 14th
September, but did not see her then. Saw her on the
15th. She was very ill with great constitutional dis-
turbance, and dangerously ill. She was in great pain in
the lower part of the abdomen. She complained of con-
stant sickness. Witness .consulted with a physician
upon the case. The witness examined' the deceased on
his first visit, and described the state in which she was,
which is unfit for publiction. Witness also examined
the deceased about 36 hours after death, assisted by Mr.
May. The witness then read a paper describing the
state of the body internal and external atter death.
From the examination of the deceased, be bad
no doubt that the deceased bad been pregnant for seven
weeks. The introduction of such an instrument as the
one produced would have caused miscarriage and the ap
pearances he had described. An instrument used to re.

THE BRAZILS.
FALMOUTH, OCT. 28.—IIer Majesty's packet Penguin,
Lieutenant Leslie commander, arrived this morning with
the Brazil mails. She left Rio de Janeiro on the 13:9.,
Bahia the 23(1, and Pernambuco the 29th September,
and brings about 35,000/. on freight.
The Penguin left at Rio her Majesty's schooner Spider,
which arrived on the 9th of September with the River
Plate mails; and her Majesty's ships Crescent and Alecto,
the American frigate Brandywine, the Brazilian cor-
vette Berenice, and the French corvette Alcmene. The
Brazilian frigate Constitution and the French corvette
Expeditive were also at Bahia, the Brazilian corvette
Dona Francisca at Pernambuco.
This packet brings no political news of importance.
Business was very dull at Rio, with no prospect of an
early amelioration. Coffee had hardly experienced any
alteration except the prices of superior qualities, which
had receded about 100 reis per arroba in consequence of
late unfavourable news from the United States. The
quotations were for superior 2,600 reis to 2,700 reis ;
first good, 2,400 reis to 2,500 reis ; and second good,
1,903 reis to 2,000 reis ; stock, 35,000 bags ; sugar
(white), 2,600 reis to 2,800 reis ; brown, 2,100 reis to
2,200 reis ; hides, light and heavy, 125 reis to 135}
reis per lb.
Some attempts bad been made at Rio on the 7th and
tsth of ocp4ruzbut- to dlblutb the publio tranquillity on
account of the elections, but nothing serious had talon
piece. The baptism of the young Prince had been de-
terred in consequence of the indisposition of the Em-
peror, but was expected to take place on the 19th of
September.

Exchange bad experienced a considerablo improve
meat, and about 10,0001. bad been effected by the Pen
guin, at 23i. Stock, 6 per Cent., 84i to 851.

EXECUTION.

GLASGOW, OCT. 27.—The murderer, M'Wheelan,
condemned to death at the recent Ayr sessions, for
highway robbery and murder, on the person of James
Young, at Forty Acres, near Ardrossan, expiated
his dreadful offence on the scaffold at Ayr gaol, on
Wednesday last.
The unfortunate James Young, it will be recol-
lected, was an honest, inoffensive, hard-working
young man, not more than 17 years of age. Ile was
returning home from his father's residence, when he
was waylaid by M'Wheelan, and most savagely mur-
dered for the sake of the property the poor lad had
about him.

During Tuesday night the scaffold •was erected,
and, at a quarter-past seven o'clock, yesterday morn-
ing, the magistrates and other authorities had arrived
at the gaol to see the awful sentence carried into
effect. On being prepared to proceed to the drop
he shook hands with the Governor, and said, " I
bear anger to no man. I owe no man any
ill-
will. Fare ye well !" and, with great firmness, he
ascended the scaffold, and permitted the executioner
to arrange the rope, cap, &c. The wretched culprit
then, with a calm whisper, prayed fervently to be
reconciled to God. He was distinctly heard to say—
" Lord, take me to thyself ; oh Lord ! do not let my
guilty soul die in sin." He required not the least
support, and much horror was occasioned amongst
the crowd by the culprit standing so long under the
fatal beam without dropping a handkerchief, which
had been given him by the authorities as a signal for
withdrawing the bolt, which held him in existence.
For nearly half an hour did the culprit remain in the
state described, and there appearing no likelihood of
his giving the signal, the magistrates determined on
directing the executioner to immediately comply with
the awful sentence. The order was instantly carried
out, and the unhappy man, after a few violent
struggles, ceased to live. The body, after hanging
the usual period, was cut down and buried in the
precincts of the prison.
The culprit was 32 years of age. On the night
before his execution he confessed to having com-
mitted the murder.

'ERSALL'S-THIS EVENING

Lzx O'CLOCK.

DERBY.
16 to 1 agst Osterley
40 to 1 agst Strongqow

WORCESTER STEEPLE CHASE.
7 to 1 agst Peter Simple
7 to 1 agst Miss Burns
8 to 1 agat Abd-el-Fader
10 to 1 agst Royston Rower
10 to 1 Proceed
10 to 1 any other.

POST OFFICE ARRANGEMENTS.—Arrangements have
been made by the Post-office authorities for the convey-
ance of the Tavistock and Launceston post from London
and the intermediate town, by the London mail train to
Plymouth, whence they are forwarded to Tavistock by
a two horse conveyance, arriving in that town at halt-
past eight, railway time. Tho coach returns in the
afternoon with letters in time for the London mail, thus
giving the Tavistock people the advantage of answering
their London communications by the return of post.
The Cornish mail in the afternoon still continues to run
via Tavistock.—Devexport Independent.
TREATMENT OF PRISONERS..---.We observe that a
prisoner who died of cholera in Milbank Penitentiary
had been deprived of his dinner (as a punishment for
talking in coming from church) four days before his
fatal seizure. The unfitness of such a punishment, as
the privation of a meal should be obvious at this time,
when it is necessary to maintain as healthy and ♦igorous
a state as possible. Long fasts have been expressly
mentioned as a predisposing cause of disease, and how
then can it be justifiable to make them a part of prison
discipline? We hope orders will be given to discontinue
the punishment of withholding nourishment as cruel and
dangerous in present circumstances, and very question-
able at any time.—Examiner.
Lord Palmerston left Town on Saturday after-
noon to visit Lord Melbourne at Rocket Hail, Herts.
His Lordship is expected to return to town to-day.
THE CHOLERA.—WOOLWICH, OCT. 29.—The
Medical report up to 12 o'clock to-day, gives one new
case since yesterday's report, being the only one since
Monday last. The total number of cases is, 44 at-
tacked, 14 deaths, 14 recoveries, and 10 canvaleEcent, all
convicts.

CITY OF LONDON LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC
INSTITIITION.—The forty-ninth public quarterly meet-
ing of the English Elocution Class of this excellent In-
stitution was held on Saturday evening, in the theatre
of the building, Lord John Manners in the chair. The
theatre was densely crowded. The Noble Chairman ex-
pressed the great gratification which he felt in being in-
vited to preside over the business of the evening ; and
having eulogised the objects which such institutions
have in view, and the benefits which the instruction im-
parted in them are calculated to confer on society, he
introduced the young gentlemen of the class respectively
to the notice of the meeting. The pieces chosen for the
exercise of their various talents afforded a good range
for display, and most creditably did they acquit them-
selves, each in the part assigned him, indicating high
proficiency in the art of eloquence, a just appreciation of
its advantages, and a degree of preparation for the stage
of "public life, honourable to the training and cha-
racter of the institution. Among the young men of the
class who took parts and distinguished themselves on the
occasion, were—Messrs. G. H. Law, Graham, Leta-
ford, Surridge, Hornby, J. Broughton, G. Grosswith,
Brind, G. S. Nottage, W. C. Rowton, J. R. Bailey, and
Heylin. The recitations and scenes being varied, "from
grave to gay, from lively to severe," produced corres-
ponding effects on the auditory, who were alternately
moved to the utmost pitch of laughter and the deepest
and most touching pathos. Harmony of feeling cha-
racterised the proceedings throughout, and thanks have
ing been voted to the Noble Chairman, the assembly
separated.
SHARSPERE.—Under this attractive title bills were
a day or two ago circulated by a gentleman who signs
himself "Edward S. Dickson, Barr. Lint. Inn," an-
nouncing his intention to " demonstrate" that William
Shakspere and crowds of other names in English and
foreign literature are all "spiritual ideas," and never
belonged to earth-born mortals who ate beef steaks and
smoked their pipes in the chimney corner. Friday
evening, at eight o'clock, was the time appointed for this
learned and ingenious lecturer to " demonstrate" his
case, and, accordingly, at that hour, " A good few," as
the Scotch have it, of curious visitors might be seen
stumbling over the benches of the basin-shaped lecture
room in anxious anticipation of the bright idea that was
to fall from the honied tongue of this redoubtable "Barr.
Line. Inn." The lecture by aforethought was a dirty
ore, so that females and youths were delicately recom-
mended not to come. This " Barr. Lire. Inn" kept
—as far as this portion of the announcement was
concerned his promise to the letter, for a more
grattetously disgusting affair we Lever had the
misfortune to listen to. As regards the " demon-
stration," characterised as it was by self conceit, inter-
spersed, in the most rambling and incoherent manner,
with etymology of which the merest tyro might have
been ashamed, divested of everything promising even a
semblance of careful and dispassionate inquiry, and
evincing a helpless ignorance of the very points most
material in entering upon such an insane enterprise— we
have merely to observe that it is a pity the managing
people of the place do not ascertain beforehand the
nature of the lecture by which the "Members" are to
be instructed.

TURKEY.
Letters from Constantinople of the 12th of Oc-
tober (in the Augsburg Gazette of the 25th,) an-
nounce another disaster by fire. Almost the whole
Pera lies in ashes ! No details are given of this
dreadful conflagration. Thee letters, strangely
enough, make no mention of the death of the Schah
of Persia, although the news is confirmed by advices
frJrn St. Petersburgh.

MONTE VIDEO.
A letter from Monte Video of the 221 of August
says:—
" Colonia, the second town in this Republic, and
which was bombarded and taken by the combined
English and French squadrons at the beginning of
the intervention, has again fallen into the hands of
the Blancos (the besieging army) by treachery from
within. A great many of the inhabitants have lust
their lives, being drowned in endeavouring to get on
board the French man-of-war. The French steamer
Fulton has just arrived from the scene of war.
Colonia was evacuated by the English soon after
Sir Thomas Herbert's accession to the command. Ile
has now dispatched the Harpy and Griffin thither, no
doubt to afford protection to the British residents,
such as may have escaped, or are alive.

LONDON AND NORTH-WEST ER
N
RAIL WA Y.
TO 711 E EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Srrt,—A revision of the calculations, and of the
principle up ai vt hich the estimate of weekly traffic
required to pay a dividend of 7 per cent. upon the
total capital when called up, of 21,047,747/., has made
it appear that the nominal addition to the capital
stock in the adjustment of the terms of amalgamation
with the Grand Junction Company, 1846, was, by an
omission, regarded as an asset available for reduction
of loan ; and, on the other hand, that working ex-
penses at 40 per cent. have been charged upon a por-
tion of the income to which, being net, such expenses
do not apply, viz , rents from houses, &c., ana interest
upon bankers' balances, arising from revenue. These
errors the directors hasten to acknowledge, and in-
struct me to request that you will publish in your
paper of Monday the following corrected statement :
" From the summary it will be seen that the tota
ultimate expenditure is expected to be 25,862,012,
" The account will therefore stand thus :
" Dividend upon total share capital of £, X.
21,047,7471, at 7 per cent... • • ..
Leans, .i,775,1411., at 4}i per cent. ••
Less hil crest at 3% per cent. on 4,945,2311.
ass: trued return on capital hyrosted on
sabsidiary lines, as per schedulo 3 • • 173,083
In crest on ban:;ers' balances, as par re-
ports yonr ending 30th of Jane, 1848 ..
Rents, net receipts, ditto • • • • X 13,887
Estimated increase by y:_s.ar 1552 4,000 per ann
17,887

,473,342

• • 2 G 0,06 I

22,270

- 213,210

Werkinz expenses 40 per cent. on gross receipts from
trnitie ..