The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-14 00:00:00

ALARM!.

tU ACCIDEN7'.FRWI INCAUTIOUS
USE OF GUNPOWDER.
' Yesterday morning, about eleven o'cloci, the inha-
bithnts of 'Thomas greet, Kennington, and vicinity,
were much alarmed by .a loud explosion, which nearly
resembled the discharge of a piece of ordnance, and
producing a violent trembling in the surrounding
houses. On endeavouring to ascertain the cause vo-
lumes of smoke were seen to issue from the windows
of Mr. Dixon's, No. 3, Surrey-place, near the Surrey
Arms. Shortly after Mrs. Dixon was observed to
rush from the house in a state of great excitement,
and it was then understood that her husband had shot
himself. On inquiry it appeared that a youth named
Alfred Dixon, aged 15 years, a son of the foregoing,
had, while his mother was engaged in the kitchen,
gone up stairs and procured from an upper room a
powder flask which belonged to his elder brother.
The flask contained previous to the explosion nearly
a pound of gunpowder. This the lad, Allred Dixon,
held in his left hand, and in his right a small toy•
cannon, which he was in the act of firing over one
of the hobs of the front parlour fireplace, when
some of the grains falling upon the live coals caused
a communication with the flask, and the contents ex-
ploded. The poor lad was thrown on the floor by the
Violence, but shortly recovering himself, rushed into
the garden with both hands bleeding, exclaiming
" For God's sake take me to a doctor's." He was
instantly conveyed to Mr. Brown's, surgeon, of
Camber well New-road, and eventually to St.
Thomas's Hospital, when it was found both hands and
arms were dreadfully lacerated, the left thumb being
nearly severed. From the great hemorrhage which
had taken place, it was feared lockjaw would ensue,
but there is no doubt amputation of one or both hands
will be necessary. The room in which the occur-
rence took place presented a scene of devastation. A
great portion of the mantel-piece, brickwork of the
chimney, soot, and rubbish were scattered on the
floor; the pictures and other articles of furniture were
dashed down and destroyed ; squares of glass were
broken in the windows, through which had been
driven into the street, to a distance of several yards,
the; cap and neck of the powder flak, the remaining
scattered fragments of which were found under the
sofa, at the opposite side of the apartment. The ceil-
ing of the kitchen in the rear was thrown down by
the explosion, and other parts of the house and furni-
ture materially damaged.

General Cavaignao is about-to marry Mdlle. Odier,
daughter of the banker of that name. The lady is said to
possess a fortune of one million.

REUNION DES Aras.---This society re-opened its
winter27Q
Queen
seasoneen A u
Anne-street,
-us t lastr e
e t
CWednesdayavendnight,squar e
werea and
crowded
a .very elegant and fashionable company; h
opened by Mozart's quartets, No. 1, which was played most
y
admirably by Messrs. Golemick, w Gofrie, Booset,aenrd soirée was
o,
icidooeoodmdwbsai
tanht.
Mdlle. Garcia's solo, sung from Meyerbeer's "Robert le
Diable," was most exquisite, and drew most enthusiastic
applause, as well as that of Mdlle. Magner, Miss Young,
Mr. Stoffregen, and a new German singer, Herr Jabns. Mr.
KlOgS'i solo on the piano, and the fine performance and deli-
cate fingering also were much appreciated and applauded.
Between the first and second parts one of the directors, Mr.
Goleinick, addre3sed the company in a few'words of great
feeling, congratulating the society on their success, and en-
treating the company to continue with their patronage and
support. The second part was opened by a trio from Beet-
hoven by M. and Mme. Goffrie, and Mr. Goodban which
was most masterly executed, and was followed by Mdlle.
Garcia's beautiful French song, which was most enthusias-
tically encored, with many other performances. The most
agreeable rvening was prolonged to a late hour, in the
course of which it was announced by the Hon. Secretary,
Mr. Detkens, that next Wednesday the celebrated Beethoven
septet will be performed on stringed and wind instruments.
THE INLAND REVENUE.-0° Saturday afternoon
the immediate neighbourhood of White Swan-yard, White.
chapel, was alarmed in consequence of the sudden appearance
of Tyson and Blackmore, two Inland Revenue officers, and a
large posse, of ,police constables, who, from previous informa-
tion, proceeded straight to No. 9, White Swan-yard, where,
after having forced an entry, they found in the cellar a re-
cently set copper still, capable of holding about thirty gal-
lons, and a large quantity of molasses wash in a state of fer-
mentation in a great number •of barrels and other vessels,
evidently prepared with 'the view of carrying on a very ex-
tensive contraband trade. The wash was thrown down the
common seer er, and the still, which had not been used except
for warming the liquor, was, with the other effects, removed
to Old Broad-street, and condemned. 'The owners 'of the'stllt
however, appeared to have received some information of their
detection, and decamped before the approach of Tyson and
Blackmore, whose extraordinary exertions in that district,
and the peculiar measures adopted by them to discover these
revenue defrauders, have so astonished them that they will
be deterredfrom pursuing their illicit practices in that quar-
ter, at all events for some time to come.
REPRESENTATION OF BRISTOL.---It is said that
the Liberals of Bristol have some notion of uniting with the
Hon. F. H. Berkeley, Mr. Frederick Peel, as a candidate for
the representation of that city.—Cheltenham Examiner.
CORPORATION OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.....The
general annual court of this ancient society, chartered in
1768, under the title of the Charity for the Relief of Poor
Widows and Orphans of Clergymen, was yesterday held at
the Corporation-house, Bloomsbury-place, for the election of
officers for the ensuing year, and the transaction of general
business. Sir R. H. Inglis, Bart., M.P., in the chair. The
Archbishop of Canterbury and Lard Denman were unani-
mously re-elected as President and Vice-President, and the
vacancies in the Court of Assistants occasioned by death or
retirement, were filled up with the names of the following
noblemen and gentlemen :—Lord Robert •Grosvernor, Lord
Justice Knight Bruce the ,Lord. Bishop of Chester, Master
Tinney, Archdeacon Sinclair, and the Lord Bishop of Lin
cola, The report stated the income arising from dividends
on 8,6501. Ccnsols, subscriptions, donations, and the collec-
tions at the annual sermon at St. Paul's, and their dinner at
Merchant Taylors' Hall, to be 1,1641. lls. 5d., all which was
expended in carrying out the objects of the charity. The
proceedings terminated with the usual complimentary vote
to the chairman;

ABsEricE"Or MIND.-.-The' ast " modern instance"
recorded in the Yankee paper+ is that of a' Vermont wag-
goner going to madietorbokftedihislorse into the waggoi,
and tackled himself up in the traces, and he did not dis-
cover his error until he endeavoured to neigh.