The Sun.
London, England, 1856-10-20 00:00:00

ANOTHEA ACCOUNT.

The scenes that took place last night (Sunday) in the
Surrey Music Hall attached to the Royal Surrey Gardens
wore such as can with difficulty be described, and which
will long bo remembered by the many thousands who
locked to the place for the purpose of hearing the Rev. C.
H. Spurgeon preach a sermon in the new hall. The ob-
ject of the rev. gentleman and his friends taking this
building was for the twofold purpose of making known his
religious views, and also for raising a sum of money to
build a new chapel, or, as he terms. it, a new tabernacle,
sufficiently spacious to seat the many thousands of his
hearers, Exeter-hall having been found too small to accom-
modate half of the persons who regularly attended his
ministry. The consequence was that thus the largest ball
in or near the metropolis was engaged by the gentlemen
connected with New Park-street Chapel for three or four
Sunday evenings; and, although no charge was made for
admission, •it was publicly placarded and advertised in
most of the daily papers that a collection would be made at
the conclusion of every sermon to defray the 'expenses o
the hall and also for raising funds to erect the new tabor-

ladle.

This appears not in the least degree to have decreased
the curiosity of the public, for as early as five o'clock, one
hour and a-half before the time announced for the service
to commence, thousands after thousands of well-dressed
persons, including men and women, and also a large num-
ber of children, could be seen wending their way towards
the gardens; and before the clock struck the hour of six
there must, at a moderate calculation, have been 5,000 or
6,000 persons waiting in Penton-street—the carriage-ways
leading to the entrance of the gardens, and indeed almost
every foot of vantage ground near, was literally besieged
by parties anxious to obtain admission.

13y five minutes after six o'clock the whole of the three
spacious galleries were filled, the orchestra was also densely
crowded, in front of which, it should be stated, was
erected the pulpit in which the rev. gentleman was to
prea4 from. By the time he took his neat, notwithctand•

[ e;001, 4D. STAMPED D

Jog the immense size of the place, there was not sufficient
roon i for a dozen more to enter, and when the seats were
filled there were some two or three thousand persons whe
were content to stand in the passages, and there were con-
siderably more standing on the green award outside, look-
ing through tho windows ; but whether they were able to
hear anything w hich the rev, gentleman propounded is
unknown to any one who was fortunate enough—or what
would perhaps under the circumstances be better to say,
unfortunate—to get within the building.
A hymn was given out, and the sermon commenced.
Affmor dilating at considerable length upon the Gospel, an•
other hymn was sting, when Mr. Spurgeon offered up an-
otherprayerin which he alluded to certain persons whom be
knew, ho said, to be present, who had backslided from the
house of God, when he said he could see present many
females who had departed from the paths of virtue, and
were bringing their fathers' grey hairs with sorrow to the
grave. The exciting manner that the preacher was in the
act of delivering the prayer appeared to rivet the attention
of all present, and many an eye, could be seen shedding
tears, when all of a sudden a cry was raised, " The place
is on &le." Such a scene as then ensued would be out of
the queotiou accurately to describe. In an instant the
screams of the women rent the building, thousands made
a rush to the doors, and in their anxiety
mtog,etwoernetfmoracneLyi
women and children, not even excepting en
down and trampled upon. The persons on the platform
in vain tried all they could to induce the congregation to
understand that no danger was to be apprehended pro.
vided the parties kept their places, but such was the ex-
citement consequent upon tho sudden a1arna...0314.-raised
*At not, womon, end children were forced down in ter-
rible confusion and being trampled upon. It will be seen
from the following that several lives have been lost, and
vast numbers seriously if not fatally injured.
The preacher, finding that it was utterly impossible to
quell the disturbance, called upon those under the pulpit
to sing " Praise God from whom all blessings flow." The
.choristers immediately did as they were desired, but
without the least beneficial effect, and men in the upper
galleries commenced breaking the windows and jumping
out. At the same time a general rush was made to run
down stairs, and in doing so so great was the pressure
against the banisters of the staircase leading to the north
gallery that the same were forced down, and as the par-
ties made a rush to escape they kept falling over each
other and alighted upon the ground, a distance of at least
7 or 8 feet. Hero the poor sufferers laid, being trampled
upon by those who were more fortunate to escape with
their lives.

At the same time a general onslaught was made on the

glass doors on the ground floor ; and after demolishing the
doors and large sheets of plate glace, parties near crowded
through the apertures thus made the best way they could,
but in so doing many persons' heads were much cut, and
several received broken legs and arms, and they were un-
able to move either ono way or the other owing to the
serious nature of the injuries they had received, and
after being trodden upon by numerous parties they were
extricated by Mr. Superintendent Lund of the P division,
and a powerful body of constables, whom he immediately
sent for. Had it not been for the aid thus rendered there
is no doubt that the loss of life would have been far more
serious than it really has been.
Mr. Spurgeon, finding that it was impossible to obtain
anything like quietude, commenced singing again, in which
the congregation on the platform joined most fervently;
but even this had no effect, and doors, windows, chairs,
and benches could be heard breaking, which had all
the effect of inducing persons in the place to believe
that the building really was on fire. This caused another
general rush towards the doors, and a, scene equally
as bad as the former ensued, and men, women, and
children were again cast down and trampled upon. The

shrieks and screams again became fearful ; and in spite
of those on the platform to convince the congregation
that the building was perfectly safe, the rush continued,

and as the persons came down stairs they continued to
fall over that part of the staircase that had been forced
away, by which it is roughly estimated that upwards
of fifty persons were injured. We regret to state

that fiom the official information furnished to the re

porter by Mr. Lund, the superintendent of police, not

fewer than five women and one man are known to have

perished by the melancholy catastrophe. One of the de•
ceased was named Grnce Skipper, of No. 40, Dobson

street, Kennington ; another was named Harriet Johnson,
but her residence could not be learned. The names of

other persons who have thus been prematurely hurried
into eternity could not be ascertained during the iutens€
excitement which prevailed.
Upon inquiry at Guy's Hospital last night at eleven
o'clock, it was learned that three men and a female had
been received into that institution, most of whom were

suffering from fractured thighs And broken heads; nurse

Patience, of the same hospital, has been so trampled upon,
that she vomits blood.

A great many other persons, both male and female, have
been also so seriously injured that they have been obliged
to be removed to their respective homes, but it is impos-
sible to tell whether they are fatally hurt or not.
The damage done to the grand hall is extensive, and will
probably amount to some hundred pounds sterling.
Whether the directors will allow the same proceedings to
take place next Sunday is exceedingly questionable ; but,
if they do, it is to be hoped that each door and window

will be unloosened, so that on the sudden alarm of fire,
tho congregation may be enabled to effect their escape
without resorting to the fearful expedient; of breaking the
windows and jumping out in the fearful manner they did
last night.

The Rev. Mr. Spurgeon, and also Mr. Olney, the great
linendraper of the Borough, who had hired the hall, upon
hearing that a loss of life had taken place, and so many
others injured, were visibly affected, even to tears.
Too much praise cannot be given to the police, under
Mr. Superintendent Lund, for the admirable manner in
which they exerted themselves under the trying and heart-
rending circumstances.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The Royal Surrey Gardens were turned to a novel pur-
pose last night, and unfortunately it resulted in the loss of
at least six lives, with injuries to others which at present
are incalculable. Mr. Spurgeon, a young man who appears
to have turned half London crazy by the force of his pulpit
eloquence, having left Exeter-hall, where ho has for some
time past been exhibiting himself, announced his intention
of giving three Sunday evening services in the grand con-
cert-room of the Surrey Gardens, last night's being the
first. The popularity of Mr. Spurgeon drew together an
immense multitude of persons, and although the time men-
tioned for the commencement of service was half-past six
o'clock, the approach to the gardens was besieged fully two
hours before that time by people anxious to obtain admis-
sion. Mr. Spurgeon made his appearance in the midst of his
vast auditory at half-past six o'clock, and gave out a hymn,
which was snug with more strength perhaps than harmony
by his auditors. He then proceeded with an " exposition"
of a portion of St. Luke's Gospel, on which he delivered a
most exciting harangue, which in some places was cheered
by those who took an interest in the proceedings. The
next business was a prayer, as exciting as the scriptural
commentary, and in the midst of this the terrible accident
occurred. From the best information that could be gathered
it appears that the catastrophe arose from a cry of " Fire,"
raised by a concerted movement on the part of a body of
London thieves at the western door, at the northern en -
trance, and in the southern entrance to the building the
cry was simultaneously raised, and it unhappily produced
its effect in each direction. From the western door, which
is the principal entrance, the people rushed in a body,
many of them were knocked down, trampled upon, their
arms and legs broken. Those iu the first gallery, who were
alarmed by the rumour, rushed down the northern stair-
case, which gave way, the result of which was, that five
women and one man were killed on the spot. Of the wo-
men killed, one was Mrs. Grace Skipper, of 40, Dobson-ter-
race, Kennington ; another, Mrs. Harriet .Johnson (address
unknown). To the other persons there was, up to a late
hour last night, no clue whatever. When the alarm was
raised in the galleries that the building was en fire, or
was falling, the people who were intimidated broke the
windows and jumped out. Of these some hundreds broke
their arms and legs, and the shrieking and crying in the
darkness, which b/this time prevailed, was certainly most
heart-rending. It is but the most ordinary justice to Mr.
Superintendent Lund and the police under his control to
state that if it had not been for their great exertions some
hundreds of persons must have been killed or maimed;
when the rush took place, they planted themselves in a
body before the door, and while large bodies of people were
lying upon the floor, and running the risk of being tram-
pled to death, resisted as long us they could the progress of
the impetuous crowd. Until eleven o'clock last night
dead and flying were conveyed to Guy's Hospital, to which
institution, by the proper directions of the superintendent
of police, they were conveyed.
Mr. Spurgeon continued his discourse after the terrible
catastrophe. He appeared to treat it lightly, remarking
that people would rush into danger to save their bodies,
while they cared little about the salvation of their souls.
ccidenth asilltcocutrhreed, circumstances.w il l
Mr. Carter, the coroner in whose district this lamentable
a
n o doub t institute a strict in-
vestigation

[A.DVERTISEMENTI—UoIIoway's Pills.—ln cases of
T. ic Duloreux these Pills are a Certain Cure.—Mr. Ben-
jawin gimmonds' of Upper Arley, near Bcwdley, in-
forms Professor Holloway that for five years he had
been a perfect martyr to tic doloreux, and during that
line he bad sought relief in every direction from the
most enakent medical men in the neighbourhood, but in
vain' and had expended several pounds in other ways
without obtaining relief. About a month since he was
induced to try Holloway's pills, and by thew, alone be is
perfectly curad.—Sold by all medicine vendors through.
out the World ; at Professor Holloway's Establishments,
244, Strand, London, and 80, Maidowlone, Now York;
by A. Stamp, Constantinople ; A. Guidicy, Smyrna ;
and E, Muir, Malta:

HAMBL TRG, -)C23. 16.
For nearly 200 years--that is, ever since the
foundation of the Bank of Hambnr, g—has the very
extensive commerce of this oP y carried on
exclusively. by means of a silver curr ency, or, more
properly speaking, silver ingots, for th a mark banco
is not a coin, but represents a certafn quantity of
bar silver deposited in the cellars of the hank.
Silver was selected for becoming the standard of
value as not being so liable to fluctuati en as gold,
and assimilating more to the. currency of Spain,
France, the States of Germany, and most other
countries of the European continent. It is trues
that for several years past voices have been raised.
in favour of gold, but they weee few and feeble,
of Hamburge
the
standard, atrnad4eno practical disadvantages have accrued to the
whilstHambutrhge
solidity
by ng
on ancientwiiieh
the ask is founded has been often tested in
ir a 1
on
fta tiiiii
basis
periods of commercial crisis, and always conies out
triumphant.
But of lat 3 it has become more and mo?e appa-
rent to our most eminent commercial and financial
firms that silver is inadequate to the exigencies of
our yearly increasing traffic, and the question
has been deeply considered whether it would not be
advisable, and in what manner possible, to revert
to gold as the unit of value. The fact that from the
year 1851 down to October, 1856, nearly eight mil-
lions of lbs. of silver—of a value amountino. to
30,030,0001. sterling—have been exported from
Europe to India and China ; that in the present
state of the markets the tendency is decidedly in
favour c f a continuation of the export of silver ;
hat in France during the above period more than
1,500 millions of francs in silver coins have found
heir way to the ma:ing pot, and been converted
into bar silver; that in Germany, and particularly-
here at Hamburg, as I have more than once in.-
formed your readers, many millions of dollars have
been melted down-, thereay disturbing to a consi-
derable extent the currency of Prussia, Hanover,
Denmark, and 'other States; and finally, that in
this city, where silver is both an article of mer-
chandise and the circulating medium, the rate of
discount has for the last twelve months risen to an
almot unprecedented height,_ without its being
caused by any particular miseredit or a commercial
casts from over speculation or other unhealthy
state of trade; all these are facts which speek more
favourably for the introduction of a gold standard,
and are a stronger and more practical arg umeut
towards dissipating long-standing opinions anal old-
tashite.td prejudices than any learned disquisitions
or theoretical essays on the subject.
In my letter of the 29th ult. I informed you the't
a petition to the Board of Commerce had been got
up and was most numerously signed by the most
respectable and eminent houses in the city, pray-
eg for the introduction of gold as the future stan-
dard of value. The Board has taken the matter an
hand with an alacrity and spirit to which we are
rather unaccustomed here, where it generally is a
work of many years to carry any measure of reform
or public utility ; but in this case they have
acted with praiseworthy energy, and have al-
ready forwarded the petition to the Senate,
accompanied by a voluminous memorial—contain-
ing no less than 35 close-written folio pages—
strongly recommending the senate to grant the
prayer of the petitioners, and entering so deeply
into the merits of the case as to show that they
must have occupied themselves with the subject for
a considerable time past.
This memorial, which goes fully into the case,
then proceeds to answer them :
1. Can the introduction of gold as a standard be re-
commended as a substitute for the silver standard in Ger-
inany generally, and more especially ;n Hamburg with
reference to the mark banco ?
2. What description of gold standard is more particu-
larly to be recommended ? and
3. In what manner is the change from the silver to
the gold standard in Hamburg likely to be effected, with.
the least possible disturbance of our commercial arrange-
ments as at present existing ?
This last is the most important of the questions to
the commercial world, and is answered by the board
in a highly satisfactory manner, and their memorial
is accompanied by a very lucid and busines.S-like
draft of a proclamation or ordinance respecting
"the introduction of gold as the future standard
of value for the Bank of Hamburg."
In drawing up the memorial the Board of Com-
merce have been evidently guided by the following
leading principles and practical considerations :
1. Instead of the hitherto existing sole standard of
pure silver, a gold standard shall be substituted ; and
whereas hitherto the unit of value of the Bank of Ham-
burg was 1000 1000 pure silver as such, and not in the
farm of coined money, so in future the unit shall be
10001000 of pure gold as such, whether in bars or con-
tained in coined money, so that mark banco shall con-
tinue to be as heretofore, and contain in itself a fixed and
unalterable unit of value, according to which the par of
exchange may be estimated in the moneys of all other
countries also possessing a gold currency.
2. Notwithstanding the establishment of this funda-
mental principle, that in future pure gold is to be con
sidered in Hamburg the standard measure of value and
principal means of exchange, silver, both in bars and
coins, shall be considered as a subsidiary basis and ad-
mitted as circulating medium to a considerable extent
This will be effected by accepting deposits of pure silver, .
and making advances on tkin in the new gold standard,
and free of interest or charges, at the rate of 98 per cent.
of the value of such silver at the market price of the day,
and to the extent of one-third of tee funds of the bank.
8.,4 this means great facility will be afforded for quickly
increasing,, if necessary, the amount of the circulating
medium, and at the same time for carrying on extensive
~pra,tions in silver for canneercial purposes.
3. Although the new bank standard of value is founded
on the weight and fineness of pure gold as such, yet it
is understood that well-known gold coins (such as the
sovereign, the Louis d'or, and the ducat) of general cur-
rency and established value, may be received and form
part of the funds of the bank without being melted down,
and, if required, taken away in the same state.
4. At the period when the alteration of the standard
comes into operation, great care must be taken to pre-
vent any large and sudden fluctuation in the price of the
precious metals and the course of the exchanges, for
which impose it is evident that the day for the definitive
settleinsut of the exact amount and value of the new
mark bunco and the division of the Col trot mark of
pure gold (tlb.) into marks banco must be fixed a very
short time previous to the proposed alteration actually
taking place.
5. The regulation of the liabilities for payment en-
•ei ed into before the introduction of the new standard,
and not expressly stipulated to be such, shall be effected
by sienna of all official publication adjusting the agio
between the gold and silver standards. With the intro-
uucti of the new standard it follows, as a matter of
course, this all the existing accounts in Hamburg silver ,
bane() will be closed, and the amounts standing to the
credit of the parties be re-opened in marks of the gold
stand aril.

In order to prevent any bss to the bank from a
fluctuation in the current price of gold, every de-
positor of that metal is bound to sign a document
•bincting himself, in case of a depreciation of gold to
the extent of 1 per cont., to pay in the difference
to the bank, which sum, however, be placed to his
credit when the price of gold rises. But this mea-
sure is only a provisional one, and has reference
merely to those transactions entered into between
the publication of the ordinance and the day that
the alteration in the standard takes place, which it
is proposed to fix for the Ist ofJuly,lBsL—Daily
?Yews.

THE CHANCELLOR OF TILE EXCLIEQUBB
AT HEREFORD.

HEREFORD, SATURDAY NIGHT,
The annual meeting of the Hereford Agricultural
Society was held here to-day. The dinner took
place in the evening at the Assembly-rooms, at the
Green Dragon Hotel. The chair was taken by
Elias Chadwick, Esq., the president for the year ;
at the head of the table sat the Right Hon. Sir G.
Cornewall Lewis (the Chancellor of the Exchequer),
Mr. Booker Blakemore, M.P. Hon. Captain Han-
bury, M.P., the Venerable Archdeacon Freer,
commenced
C. W. Allen, high sheriff of the counth and about
no landlords and tenant farmers.
Eot Com
sirAoft.eres.oLmeewiinst,Towdausctrorroypotoseadstsfr,om "The
the hcheaalitrh. of
CHANCELLORhisThreemarkformer connection
with the county, and to the electoral contest which
remarks
by
referring o f the
to
Ro ichei us
had dissolved it. After glancing at the question
of free trade, then in debate, but now for ever
settled, Sir Cornewall Lewis said the agriculture of
this country did not depend for its prosperity upon
any temporary influence of war, but that it would
continue to thrive during the peace which now
happily existed, as it had thriven during the peace
which preceded the last war. Agricul-urerested
i
on foundations broader and deeper than these : it
rested on the skill, on-the industry, and on the en-
terprise of the agriculturists of this country ;Hear,
hear.) When he saw before him so distinguished a
party of persons mainly belonging to that class,
when lie thought of the splendid exhibition of stock
which he had that day witnessed, when he heard
no despondence of any class of the agricultural
community, neither of landlords being compelled
to lower their rents for a time, nor of tenants
driven from their holdings by their incapacity to
obtain remunerating prices for their produce—
when he saw around him these circumstances, he
could not but regard them as certain indications of
agricultural prosperity. He could only say, in
conclusion, that in the midst of prosperity in this
_country among all -branches of industry, whether
among the agricultural classes, or any other por-
tion of the community, the labouring classes should
be considered.