The Sun.
London, England, 1856-06-25 00:00:00

Charlotte Trusts stated that she was general servant
to Mrs. Solomons, who was a widow, carrying on
business as a clothier and _general dealer, at No. 2, Le-
man-street, High-street, Whitechapel. The building
was of small codstruction, and only consisted of two
,apartments,. namely, the shop, and bedroom on the
first floor. The family consisted of MI.'S. Solomons,
the four children, and, witness. They retired to rest,
about 12 o'clock on Saturday night, at which time 1111
the, lights in the house were safely extinguished. About
two o clock on Sunday mornikg. witnels was aroused
by the barking of a dug, but she did not observe any-,
thing at that time to excite her suspicion. Shortly
afterwards she beard a cry of "Fire, police." She got
out of bed, and wrapped a blanket round her body.
At that time smoke was issuing through the crevices
of the bedroom door. She raised the front window,
and on looking into the street she saw a female, who
said " The house is on fire, jump out"- Witness rushed
to the bad whera Mrs. Solomons was lying, and awoke
her, when the smoke became so intense that witness was
compelled to run to the window to avoid being suffo-
cated. She put her head forward, when the flames from
the shop window burnt her face and ignited her hair.
While witness was endeavouring to get the children,
Mrs. Solomons leaped out of the window on to the pave-
ment, when the police raised her up and carried her
away. Witness then rushed down stairs with the view
of opening the shop door, but the flames and smoke
were so much increased thatl she was compelled to re-
treat into the kitchen, where she made her way into the
front area and called for help. She was rescued by the
firemen and the police. When she was rescued she was
up to her waist in water. The engine from Whitechapel
Church and the fire-es-cape were then present, and
Wood, the conductor of the latter machine, was trying
to rescue the children, •who were shortly afterwards
found suffocated in the bed-room. Witness believed
that the children were never sesible of the fire, but had
perished from the smoke.

Mr. Wilson, the foreman of the jury, said it was very
remarkable that such a sacrifice of life should take place
when the house of Mrs. Solomons was within a few yards
of the police-station, the fire-escape, and the engine-
houQe.

The Coroner observed that from what he had heard he
believed that the jury would be satisfied when they had
received the evidence of another witness. The fact was
that the flames travelled with such fearful rapidity that
although the firemen and police were promptly in at-
tendance after the outbreak of the fire, they had no
chance of saving the children. The only means of escape
would have been by jumping out of the first floor win-
dow.

Mr. Webb, the summoning officer, here said that Mrs.
Solomons was so much injured by the fall from the win-
dow, and the shock she had sustained by the fright, that
she was not in a condition to attend to give evidence.
Inspector Gernon, who was present at the fire shortly
after the outbreak, informed the coroner that Police-
constable Wigley, 141 H,' and the female, Mary Ann
Sadler, who made the first discovery, were present to
give evidence.
The Jury, after a short consultation, were unani-
mously of opinion that the attendance of Mrs. Solomons
was necessary in such an important investigation, and
ultimately the proceedings were formally adjourned.

PROPOSED SELF-SUPPORTING
UNIVEhSITY.

Ainongst the many societies the formation of which is
contemplated immediately on the Joint Stock Compa-
nies Bill becoming law, is one which deserves the largest
possible amount of encouragement from the working-
man, and indeed from the employ 6, in every department
of our commercial and industrial world, its object being
the foundation of a Self-supporting University, in which
every facility will be given for those engaged in the
ordinary business of life to acquire as liberal an
education as could be obtained by completing the
prescribed course of study in the Universities of
Oxford or Cambridge. The ordinary degrees will
be conferred on such as prOve themselves deserv-
ing ; and whilst every precaution will be taken to
prevent any member from receiving such a distinction
unless his knowledge would insure him an equal honour
at Oxford or Cambridge, the fees will be such as to suit
the means of all ; and we do not hesitate to assert that
such an institution would tend much to incite the love
of learning in the minds of many who now employ
their leisure time in less profitable and less praiseworthy
pursuits.

• At the first glance, many of our readers may imagine
that we are departing from our usual course, in referring
to a society of this description, but a moment's consider.
ation will convince them of their error : we are even
ready to state that we feel ourselves favoured in being
the first to publish a proposition for elevating- and im-
proving the condition of the working man. The Minim,'
Journal must be considered as devoted to the spread of
Science, not only in relation to Mining, but to every
other department of industry ; and. therefore, whilst
ever willing to publish the effect, we consider that we
are but promoting it in advocating the cause. Again,
it is proposed to render as great a benefit to the miner
as to any other class of the community—here, then, is
another reason for its claiming our support ; and, in-
deed, as the majority of working miners would be happy
to receive instruction, were it placed. within their reach
with regard to price, we contend that they will be
equally, if not more than equally benefited with those
engaged in other occupations.
In conclusion, we may add that although at present
we are alone i❑ assisting to make known the intention
to establish a really useful institution, we trust the
merit of the scheme will be Eufficier.t to invite the atten-
tion of the public generally, and aid its development to
the greatest possible extent. We shall shortly be
enabled to publish more ample details on the subject,
and our readers may rest assured that we shall not
allow the opportunity to escape.—Alining Journal ,
I June 21.

A letter from Frankfort in the Post-Agrtpt Ga-
zette says :—" In the sitting of the Diet, on the
19th, the President communicated a note from the
Russian charge d'affaires, in which the cabinet of
St. Petersburg recommends the German Confede-
ration to accede to the declaration of the congress
of Paris relating to the right of neutrals."
AN AMERICAN COMPLIMENT.—In the Senate, on the
9th inst., Mr. Foster, of Connecticut, offered a resolu-
tion, directing the Committee on Commerce to inquire
into the expediency of authorising the issue of a register
to the British built bark Resolute,, winch was abandoned
by the crew and found derelict its the Arctic Ocean by
the American whale-ship George Henry, and by her
brought into the port of New London, where she is now
lying, all claim to the said vessel by the British Govern-
ment having been relinquished to the salvors. Mr.
Mason proposed that the vessel be purchased by Govern-
ment, refitted, and sent back to the British Government
as a present. Mr. Foster expressed gratification at this
suggestion, and in order that it might be carried out he
withdrew his resolution.
THE TRADE OF LIVERPOOL.—IiivEnrooL, Monday.—
The Customs' bill of entry of this; morning publishes a
return of the number and tonnage of the ships that have
entered inwards from, and cleared outwards for, foreign
ports for the week :ending the 21st of June, as well as
for the corresponding period of the year 1855. It ap-
pears that during the week ending on Saturday 72 ships
of an aggregate tonnage of 42,783 tons, have entered
inwards, against 82 ships and 35, 070 tons in 1855, being
a decrease of 10 in the number of ships and an increase
of 7,413 tons in the aggregate tonaaage. The number of
clearances outwards during the week was 123 ships, of
a tonnage of 70,845, against 107 ships and 47,638 tons
in 1855, being an increase of 15 ;trips and 23,207 tons.
The total number of ships reported inwards from foreign
ports during the present year up to the 21st of June was
1,915, of an aggregate tonnage of 1,097,342 tons,
against 1,821 ships and 928,526 tons in 1855, being an
increase of 94 in ships and 168,816 in the aggregate ton-
nage.
APPEALS TO THE irOIISE OF' LORDS.—From a re-
turn communicated by the Lords, and yesterday print-
ed, it appears that the number of appeals and writs
of errors, set down for hearing in the session of 1854.55,
was 29 ; the number of appeals and writs heard, 43 ;
and the number of days on whicih the House sat judi.
cially, 83. The highest numb sr of appeals heard in
any one session since 1845 has been 41, and the lowest
21. The house sat 78 days in 1854, 80 in 1852-53, 48
in 1852, 39 in 1851, and 41 in 1850. In 1846 it sat
79 days. Of the ex• Chancellors and other dignitaries
of the law that have sat on appeals, it is shown that
last session Lord Cranworth atten dell on 82 days, Lord
Brougham and Vaux on 53, Loral Campbell on 7 only,
and Lord St. Leonards on 48. In 1854 Lord Brougla-
ham attended on almost as many days as the Lord Chan-
cellor himself, and since 1846 he appears to have been
invariably the most assiduous. Lord Lyndhurst has
not attended since 1852.3, and the noble lord then only
attended five days. In 1850, 1851, and 1852, he did
not attend at all ; and his greatest attendance in 1846
`eerily-amounted to 34` day a: ' TO this return is prefixed
a list of appeals and writs of error heard since 1846,
with the result