The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-11 00:00:00

EVENING-1 SEPTEMBER 11, 1851.

Ti{ URSDAY

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
TIMES.—The mode in w bich law reform in Eng-
land has for the most part been effected can hardly
be deemed satisfactory by any class, whether lay or
I learned. The hit-by-bit process appears, indeed, to
cautious and timid persons, fora time, the safest and,
therefore, the wisest system of change. The aggre-
gate of mischief, however, resulting from continued
change, and its consequent uncertainty, must,
even to the most hesitating reformers, seem an
enormous evil—one which eventually may surpass
the mischiefs produced by sweeping and systematic
changes. Taking the first attempts of the late Sir
Robert Peel as our starting-point, and coming down
to the present hour, we find that something more than
a quarter of a century has passed away while we
have been attempting to improve the various branches
of our old and entangled system of jurisprudence.
We have in that time indeed changed the whole cha-
racter of our criminal law, rendering it perhaps the
most mild instead of the most savage and sanguinary
code in Europe. By degrees in this branch of law
and of procedure common sense and an enlightened
benevolence have usurped the place of cruel, unmean-
ing, and intricate technicalities ; the greatest possible
security being attained for society at the least possible
expense of pain to the criminals themselves and of
anxiety to those by whom the law is administered.
The comparatively simple nature of this portion of
law has permitted us to attain, even by our slow pro-
cess, to this beneficial result, which in this one case
amounts almost to completeness. But, turning our
eyes to any other portion of our legal system—what
a different scene do we behold ! For every part of
the field of Equity we are without a map or compass.
The old landmarks have been removed, and no one
believes that those which have been placed in their
stead can remain for a year as now established. In
the minds of the most enlightened of our lawyers a
grave doubt has arisen as to the wisdom; of the dis-
tinction between Equity and Law, and a very general
belief is now entertained that, before many years have
elapsed, the whole existing system of our Equity
courts will be swept away, and one uniform procedure
and one general class of courts, endowed with all the
powers of Law and Equity, will be adopted for the
whole kingdom. If this anticipation be correct, then
have we as yet done nothing in the way of settling
either the substantive law or that of procedure. We
have indeed unsettled nearly everything; but, beyond
creating confusion, we have hardly advanced a
step. Such, as regards Equity, is the product of a
quarter of a century's constant and unremitting toil
and change. Again, in all that relates to the law of
real property we seek in vain for certainty, or any
settled and steady result. The old law, with its in-
tricate and tiresome and expensive modes of proceed-
ing, has long been utterly condemned. But though
we are quite ready to condemn the old system we are
utterly unprepared with a substitute. We are all
quite apt at finding fault. We are ready and able to
pull down, but we are without a creative mind capa-
ble of constructing a systematic and practical code
in place of that we desire to discard. We are, there-
fore, ever busy at the labour of continuous tinkering.:
We pull down a little bit—we build up a little bit.
What was originally sufficiently incongruous we
render still more confused, and at length we
have arrived at this happy result—no one part
of the building agrees with, or corresponds to
any other. The learned and unlearned are alike at
fault in this mighty maze of law, and the toss up
of a halfpenny is a better guide than a learned coun-
sel's opinion, inasmuch as it is far cheaper, and quite
as likely to be correct. In one thing, however—but
in one thing alone—do we appear to have been con-
sistent and systematic. We have introduced the same
degree of confusion into every portion of the law. The
forms of procedure are not more settled than the law
itself; and the courts which administer the law are
equally in a state of transition. If to morrow all the
proposals of the last common law commission were
adopted, everybody would instinctively feel that these
changes would be but the harbingers of still greater
alterations. The work of to-day lasts but for to-day ;
the unstable fabric is no sooner completed than it tot-
ters to its fall. Let us hear what one of our most
active law reformers says on this head ; let us hear
what Lord Brougham, who has done so much, says
as to what yet remains to be done. The piquancy of
the statement must be our excuse for not curtail-
ing it :
" There are many further improvements in the sys-
tem, or in the practice of our jurisprudence, which the
sense of the community at large may reasonably and
usefully urge upon the Legislature; but it so happens
that the present improvement comes from the experi-
ence of those engaged in administering the law, be-
cause others could not be so much informed of
its necessity. The professional prejudices, there-
fore, which some have conceived against it appear
wholly groundless. They should be reserved (but will
probably be ineffectual to resist) attempts, which no
doubt will soon be made to render courts of equity ac-
cessible to all, and grievous to none—to make common
law procedure cheap, simple, and expeditious—to in-
crease the frequency of the superior judge's attendance
in the country, whether for trying causes or prisoners
—to improve the ancient inferior judicatures—to let
the people know the criminal law they live under, and
the procedure whereby they must be tried—to provide
for its execution at the expense and on the responsi-
bility of the State, and not of those suffering by its in-
fraction. For these great measures the public voice will
be general and loud, though it has not been raised for
the changes recently effected. This reflection may com-
fort the friends of improvement ; not surely satisfying
them as if enough had been gained; for well they know
they must look back upon the past only to take courage
and counsel—deriving frcm success the spirit to make
new exertions, from experience the caution to make them
safely ; but never deeming their mission ended until all
its objects have been attained :
' Counting nought done, while ought remains to do.' "
This is a gallant statement on the part of the veteran
reformer, but assuredly the enumeration of the things
yet to be accomplished, and the importance of the
items thus set down, prove that what has been
achieved is of little comparative moment when viewed
in reference to its permanent results. Lord Broug-
ham, in enunciating the reforms which will be de-
manded by the people, and which have yet to be con-
ceded by the Legislature, goes in reality over the
whole field of law. Iles mentions as the subjects of
future reform, equity, and equity courts, the courts
of common law, whether of superior or inferior juris-
diction, the whole system of common law procedure,
the criminal law and its administration, tie promul-
gation of the law itself, and, lastly, the manner in
which it is to be executed. Can we, after such an
enumeration by such a man, be accused of exaggera-
tion when we say that we have indeed changed the
law without having permanently reformed it ; that
while we have attempted to improve, we hive been
successful only in confusing it ; that, in short, we
have had the will, but not the capacity of reformers ?
Let no one fancy that because we say these things
we are enemies of reform, or that we deprecate
change. What we desire to insist upon is, that we
have indulged in unsystematic and piecemeal reform
long enough. To the profession we say, you can no
longer successfully oppose a complete and sear hang
change in the system of the law and its mode o. ad-
ministration. Whatever may be the conceptions
you form as to the influence of change upon sour
professional interests, the result will be the same;
change is inevitable ; and, as far as yo.o are con-
cerned, a long agony of transition is the most
serious calamity that can befall you. Yield then, we
say, to the spirit of the times in which you live, snd
act in accordance with, and not in opposition to the
wishes of the community at large. They desire
cheap law, and cheap law they will have. But
cheapness is not the only quality needed. The ad-
ministration should be above suspicion, and the law
itself certain, predetermined and easy to be
known. But, to give it all these qualities, a
comprehensive dealing with the whole system is ne-
cessary. The work of reform must not be allowed
to linger on from year to year, creeping forward at a
snail's pace, and precluding the possibility of cer-
tainty, and knowledge, by rendering change, which
is in itself an enormous evil, almost unceasing. Law-
yers must really become law reformers ; see in an
effective reform their chief hope of advantage, and
attempt to benefit themselves as a class, by making
the law what it ought to be—cheap, expeditious, pure,
and certain. Hitherto, in spite of Lord Brougham's
ambiguous praises of his brethren, the great
opponents 'of law reform have been found
in the legal profession. Their dogged oppo-
sition has compelled reformers to propose uncon-
nected and often incongruous alterations, every inch
of the ground gained has been defended as if the very
safety of the citadel of law was involved in the fate
of every proposal. With the most desperate tenacity
the legal body has clung to every antiquated and mis-
chievous technicality, and, when forced to yield, they
have exhaled their rage and disappointment in direful
vaticinations of mischief. We see the result of this
most impolitic opposition. Will the acute and
learned body to whom we now address our remarks
not derive a lesson from experience ? Will they still
allow blind and unreasoning prejudice to injure them-
selves as well as the community ? Will they not
be patriotic, now that patriotism in the shape we
point out will bring both honour and profit ?
ADVERTISER.—Our readers will, we are sure,
have shared the ineffable gratification with which we
perused the vivid and feeling account which appeared
in yesterday's paper, from our Paris correspondent,
of the circumstances under which the liberation of
Kossuth was to have taken place. We can only hope,
which we do, though not without emotions of anxiety,
that the illustrious Hungarian, on his liberation from
his prison, was sufficiently protected by the Turkish
authorities, to defeat the murderous purposes of
Austria. Our Paris correpondent, to whose peculiar
sources of information we have before had occasion to
allude, confirms, it will be seen, what appeared in a
leading article in our paper of Tuesday, respecting
the conspiracy into which a band of Austrian ruf-
fians had entered, instigated by the gold of the Vien-

I nese Government, to assassinate Kossuth before he
could reach the asylum which an English vessel would
afford him. The fact that our Paris correspondent and
ourselves should at the same moment be making use
of the same: information is presumptive proof of the
accuracy of the communications made to us respect-
ing the attempt which would is 2 made by the minions
of Austria to assassinate the distinguished Hungarian
General. If the existence of this diabolical conspi-
racy was discovered in time we cannot doubt that
the requisite measures were adopted sufficiently early
to prevent the murderous plans of these Austrian
miscreants from being carried into effect. Of this
we are certain, that if Lord Palmerston was warned in
time of the atrocious attempt which would be made,
under Austrian inspiration, to take away the life of
Kossuth, he would not lose a moment in adopting the
necessary steps to protect his person from the dagger
of the assassin ; and we have every reason to believe
that information did reach the Noble Lord at the
head of Foreign Affairs of what was intended towards
the Hungarian General. Though, therefore, as we
have before observed, we are not without uneasiness
as to the safety of Kossuth, and will not be until
we hear of his actual arrival on our shores, our
hopes very largely preponderate over our fears. At
all events, it is right that the English people should
assume that the illustrious Hungarian will be among
us in a week or two at the farthest. 'We bid our
countrymen take it for granted that no mishap befel
him on his way from his prison to the English
steamer, which was waiting to receive him, in order
that the necessary preparations may be made to give
him such a welcome to our shores, as Englishmen can-
not fail to accord to such a man. We know that
there beats not a bosom from one extremity of the
land to the other which will not heave with joy when
he first puts his foot on our shores ; and we know,
moreover, that every subject of Queen Victoria
within these realms is most eager to give expression
to the boundless admiration which the character of
this distinguished statesman, general, and patriot,
is everywhere regarded. But we doubt whether
anything like concerted preparation have been
made to give him that national welcome which all
are desirous to accord to him, and to which
one so illustrious as a man, as a soldier, and
as a lover of his country, is so well entitled. There
will be, in a sense, two arrivals of Kossuth among us.
First, there will be his landing at Southampton.
There, we believe, all things are ready to greet his
arrival in a manner worthy of the man and of the
people—of Kossuth, and of the inhabitants of South-
ampton. The latter have done themselves great and
enduring honour by the deep interest which they
have shown in his fate ever since he became a prisoner
in Turkey. They have not failed to keep his case
constantly before Lord Palmerston and the public.
Their profound sympathy with the illustrious pri-
soner has been something more than a mere senti-
ment. It has been embodied in action. It has been
expressed again and again at public meetings. It has
been made to assume the form of energetically-
worded memorials to the Foreign Secretary, praying
that the most strenuous efforts which the Noble Lord
could make might be made to procure the liberation
of Kossuth. We are confident, therefore, that the
interest taken in the Hungarian General by the people
of Southampton, is too intense by far, not to have in-
sured, on their part, all the needful preparations to
give to him one of the most hearty and enthusiastic
welcomes ever accorded to an illustrious stranger
landing on our shores. It is of London that we are
afraid. We fear that no adequate preparations have
been made in the metropolis for according to Kossuth
such a reception as we know it is the wish of all he
should meet with. A committee of gentlemen should
be formed forthwith, to make the requisite arrange-
ments to greet Kossuth with a metropolitan welcome
worthy of the man—worthy of the capital of the
world—and worthy of the greatest country under the
sun. It would be deeply to be deplored should
Kossuth, through mere want of business habits
among his admirers, be allowed to come into our
midst without a grand demonstration of the feeling
with which he is regarded in this country. We should
like to see him brought in triumph into London, just
as the Roman generals who had brilliantly distin-
guished themselves were brought: in triumph to Rome.
Never did man better deserve the honour of a trium-
phant public entrance into a city which has always
been distinguished for its fervent attachment to the
principles of liberty, whether civil or religious. At
any rate, we cannot doubt that the corporation of
London will lose no time, after Kossuth's arrival in
the metropolis, in inviting him to one of their most
magnificent banquets in Guildhall. Never, we unhe-
sitatingly say, was that building appropriated to a
more worthy purpose than it would be by the cor-
poration of the City making the Hungarian General
their guest. But the City must not be allowed to have a
monopoly in the matter. The metropolitan boroughs
generally must also be permitted to lavish their at-
tentions and the expressions of their esteem on Kos-
suth. :Drury-lane, as the largest building in London,
must be engaged for the purpose of treating him to
one of the most splendid entertainments which can be
provided on so large a scale. We are sure we need
do not more than throw out these suggestions. They
will meet with a cordial response in the public bosom.
To suppose that they needed enforcement would be
to do an injustice to our countrymen for which there
could be no excuse. Thus far we have spoken of a me-
tropolitan demonstration in favour of Kossuth, as bear-
ing on himself alone. Its effects would not be limited
to him. He would not be the only party who would
feel it—others would feel it too, though in a very
different way. He would be overwhelmed with
emotions of gladness and gratitude—others would
be overwhelmed with feelings of mortification and
rage. What would be the feelings produced in the
Court of Vienna by such demonstrations in favour of
Kossuth may be safely left to those of our readers
whose imaginations are lively and vigorous. There
would he wailing and gnashing of teeth in that
despotic Court. There would be no limit to its
rage—no bounds to its mortification. Nor would
the chagrin and the indignation be confined to
Vienna. They would be shared by the Czar of
Russia, and by every tyrant who sits on a continental
throne.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURNS.
LONDON ♦ND NORTD-WESTERN RAILWAY.—Retarn of
Traffic for the week ending Sept. 7 :
Passengers, parcels, &c. (ordinary) £37,362 15 1
Horses and mails (extraordinary)... 4,240 0 0
Merchandise ... ... 16,666 12 1
Cattle .. ... 1,784 910

Total £60,053 17 0
Corresponding week last year ... 50,975 14 10
Aggregate, 1850 ... 503,192 19 2
1851 —. 635,681 16 5
Note.—The returns as published are exclusive of the
traffic of the Huddersfield Canal and Shropshire Union, Nerth
Union, Preston and Wyre, South Junction, Manchester and
Buxton, and Buckinghamshire Railways, and of the propor-
tion of traffic deducted under agreement with the North
Staffordshire Company.
LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTYRN RAILWAY.— Amount o
Traffic for the week ending Sept. 7 :
Passengers ... ... A:14,599 18 11
Goods ... 2,257 3 1

Total ... £16,857 2 0
Corresponding week last year... 13,125 9 6
THE GRIAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.— (Miles in work, 241 i)
Return of Traffic for the Week ending Aug 31, 1851:
Passengers, parcels, carriages,
horses, dogs, and mails ... £7,763 1 2
Merchandise and minerals ... 3,819 10 7
Cattle ... ... 474 17 8

Total .. ....£12,057 9 5
Corresponding week, Sept. I, 1850 (236 miles):--
Passengers, parcels, &c. ... £4,340 19 8
Merchandise, Cattle, &c. 1,451 0 10

Total ... ... £5,795 0 6
NOTE STAFFORDSHIRE RAILWAY. - ( Miles open,ll2.)
Return of traffic for the week ending Aug. 31:—
Railway and canal £5,174 0 0

Corresponding week last year ... 5,025 0 0
Note. —The above is exclusive of the receipts available
under the agreement with the London and North-Western
Railway Company.

THE EAST ►NGLIAN RAILWAY.—(6B Miles in work.)—
Return of Traffic for the four days ending Aug. 31, 1851.
Passengers, parcels, carriages,
horses, dogs, and mails ... 4430 18 2
Merchandise and minerals ... 264 15 6
Cattle • ... ... .... 15 8 9

Total £7ll 2 5
Corresponding week in 1850 ... 701 10 6
Ding's-cross, Sept. 10.
LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY. (260 miles
open.)—Traffic for week ending Sept. 7 ...£18,320 7 9
Corresponding week in last year, (2531
miles open) .. 811
CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD RAlLWAY.—Traffic for the
week ending Sept. 7 :

MAIN LINZ.

Passengers ... •••
Parcels, H. C. and D. ...
Goods, cattle, &c.
Mails

... £2,624 5 5
... 88 5 4

... ... 4(30 16 1
... ... 575 0 0

Total ..

•••
AIOLD•

... £3,748 6 10

-. £4l 2 4
2 7 8
84 13 8

Passengers •••
Parcels, H. C. and D. ... ...
Cools, cattle, &c. ... ...

Total

£l2B 3 8
••• ••• •••
STEAM-BOATS.

Passengers
Parcels, 11. C. and D. ...

.£523 12 5
24 1 0

Total ... ... £547 13 5
SIIROrSIIIIM UNION RAILWAY.--(Open 29 miles.)—Traffic
for the week ending Sept. 7 :
Passengers parcels, &c. ... £421 14 10i
Goods and live stock ... ... 1 9 0

Total £6ll 3 10i
Corresponding week last year ... 445 16 4i
CAutpo:itiai (189 i miles opened.)— Return of
traffic for the week ending Aug. al ;
Passengers, &c.
Goods, &c.

••• £N,123 5 8b
••• ... 4,318 3 2

Total .. £9,441 8 101
CMCSP94ICIiPg 7f*ck Igt year 91140 4 a

THE LATE BALLOON ACCIDEA T.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIDIES.
Sir,—As one of the four persons who aster tcle din
Mr. Bell's balloon on Monday last, I should e e 'zeem
it a favour to be allowed to lay before the pal )iic a
brief narrative of the circumstances attenckant tb ereon.
I should not attempt to trespass on yi 'fur valuable
space, had not a most incorrect and inco, esisff nt ac-
count of the accident appeared in nearly a ll tl le jour-
nals of Tuesday. The report I allude to s tat es that
immediately after "an alteration was visi bit in the
shape of the lower part of the balloon" the t ipver part
of the machine collapsed, and goes on to sa3 r t, 'it Mr.
Chambers, by some unexplained means, m ana,ged to
place his arm over the top. There is also something
said about a pressure of " 151 b. to the squ are inch ;"
which, considering the altitude we had atta fined when
the accident occurred (nearly a mile) is sifnoly non-
sense. 'that really happened is as follow s :—We
ascended steadily, and proceeded with t tioderate
speed towards the river in a south-westerly oi irection.
Mr. Chambers, the person who was permitte d by Mr.
Bell to become the custodian pro tem. of th, lives of
three persons, was busy waving flags and cutting
away some comical figures of paper attached to the
car, and I was admiring the wonderful panorae la be-
neath me, when I heard a report like that of a ne usket
above my head, and immediately exclaimed that
there was a rent in the balloon ; an assertion de-
nied by Mr. Chambers, who had got by this time
among the netting, and ordered us to throw out
ballast, notwithstanding which we descended % with
frightful velocity—the houses, churches, and ii elds
beneath us getting horribly nearer and nearer every
second. Exclamations of " We're all right, we're sill
right !" half hoping, half despairing, broke from us,
followed by an awful cry from one of us at least of
" It's all up with us !" Then, Sir, we three men in
the car stared death in the face for some 40 seconds,
while Chambers (an old man, but as brave as a lion)
had cut the cords attaching the neck of the balloon to
the hoop, the consequence of which was that the whole
of the silk flew up to the top of the netting, and formed
a parachute. We were then steady for a moment—
then oscillated (a proof of comparative safety)—then
went down, down again, with frightful force. Cer-
tain death was now before us; but not one of us lost
presence of mind, though I had not the slightest hope
of escape. Mr. Chambers was entirely calm and col-
lected. We cut away the grapnel, threw out more
ballast (bags and all on my part), and descended with
a concussion not nearly so severe as I expected in a
market gardener's field. I fell on Mr. Gardiner, Mr.
Chambers, jun., on me, three bags of ballast on him,
and the car over us all ; while " the pilot, who had
weathered the storm," was thrown with considerable
violence from among the cordage round the hoop
where he had been standing.
So much for the accident itself. The cause I think
lies in a nutshell ; and I am loth to allude to it since
it argues a want of prudence on the part of the per-
son who, by his presence of mind, saved our lives sub-
sequently. When we ascended, the neck of the bal-
loon was tied round with a silk handkerchief. On
clearing the earth, the balloon ascended to a higher
and much more rarified atmosphere ; the atmospheric
pressure became less ; the gas expanded rapidly ; and
the balloon burst. What lam stating I know to be
true, and I do not state it without the sanction and
advice of experienced aeronauts.
A few words, Sir, in conclusion. lam a young
man, and the feeling of curiosity which prompted me
to ascend may perhaps find an excuse in my being an
artist, and an enthusiast withal, in aerostation as a
science. But I am too thankful for that Divine mercy
which permits me to be here to-day, a living man and
not a shattered corpse—l am too sensible of the mis-
chievous folly of which I and my brother balloonatics
have been guilty, to let this opportunity pass without re-
cording my humble, but solemn protest against the
whole system of ballooning as at present existing. If
any beneficial result was to be looked for—if any sci-
entific ends were to be gained by balloon ascents, I
should be silent; but it is madness and folly to permit
any enthusiast or any charlatan who may be the pos-
sessor of a silk bag which he can afford to fill with
coal gas, to risk his own life among the clouds, as
well as those of the madcaps who are with him, for
the amusement of some hundreds of gobeinouches who
have paid a shilling a head to see their fellow-creatures
commit constructive suicide. Whether he and his
companions come down in safety, or are sent, unpre-
pared and unshriven, into the presence of their
Maker, the risk is still the same—the utter useless-
ness and folly of the thing remain intact. When
some personage more important than a poor caricatu-
rist has been killed in a balloon, the attention of the
authorities will perhaps be drawn to the subject, and
this wanton trifling with life be perhaps put a stop to,
like any other dangerous nuisance.
Apologising for this intrusion on your columns,
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
GEORGE AUGUSTIJS SALA.
17, Upper Wellington-street, Strand.

FATAL COLLISION OF THE SAPPHIRE
AND METEOR STEAM-BOATS.

Yesterday Mr. Baker and a respectable jury as-
sembled in the coroner's room of the London Hospital
to institute an inquiry relative to the death of Marian
Goodge, the wife of a shoemaker, who received such
serious injuries in her head while on board the Meteor
steam-bcat, on Tuesday week, from a collision with
the Sapphire steam-boat, that she died on Saturday
at the London Hospital, in consequence of the inju-
ries. Mr. Arnold, of the firm of kidder and Arnold,
Gravesend, solicitors of the Star Steam-packet
Company, with Mr. (late Alderman) Harmer, the
chairman, and Mr. F. Southgate, of the firm of
Southgate and Sons, Gravesend, solicitors to the
Diamond Steam-packet Company, to which the ves-
sels respectively belonged, were present to assist in
the proceedings. Mr. Walter, solicitor, Providence-
place, Limehouse, attended for the friends of the de-
ceased.

A conversation having taken place as to the best
mode of proceeding,
The CORONER observed that there was no objection
on the part of the friends of the deceased to a post
mortem :examination, and as without one the jury
could not come to a definite verdict, as the deceased
might have come to her death from some other cause
than that of the accident, it would be necessary for
him to issue his warrant, to direct that a post mortem
examination should take place.
The jury having consented to this proposition,
Mr. Southgate wished to know what would be the
course in taking the evidence.
The CORONEa remarked that it would depend, in a
great measure on circumstances. He observed that
on the 30th of October, 1840 (quoting from a work
he had published, entitled "A Practical Compendium
of Recent Statutes, &c."), an order was issued from
the Trinity-house, which was in compliance with
directions issued by the Lords of the Admiralty to the
captains of steam-boats in her Majesty's service, and
which stated that " when any steam-vessels, in diffe-
rent courses must inevitably or necessarily cross so
near, that by continuing their respective courses there
would be a risk of coining in collision, each vessel
should put her helm a-port, so as always to pass on
the larboard side of each other."
Mr. Harmer—That is the question.
Much desultory conversation ensued as to which
of the vessels was in fault, which was put an end to
by the Coroner, who adjourned the inquiry.

THE COLLISION ON THE GREAT
NORTHERN RAIL WAY.
Up to the present time, although several persons
were were seriously injured by the collision ,
Monday evening took place at Hornsev, on which on
Northern Railway, the precise cause which led to its
occurrence has not yet been made public. The fol-
lowing particulars are from a trustworthy source,
and embody briefly the real facts of the case. It has
been previously stated that the stoppage which led
immediately to the accident was occasioned by the en-
gine attached to a coal train being " disabled from
some cause or other." The disability of the engine
arose as follows :—The engine-driver' finding that the
steam was being generated too rapidly, turned the
emptying tap, or stop-cock of the boiler, with a view
to let off a portion of its contents, intending when a
sufficient quantity had run out to stop it. Upon at-
tempting to do so, however, he found himself unable to
stir the handle of the tap, partly owing to
i the tight-
ness with which, being new, it fitted into its socket,
and partly to the force with which the water rushed
out through the pressure of the steam upon its sur-
face. Finding, after repeated efforts, that the tap
continued immoseable, and that the water had
nearly all escaped, be became apprehensive that the
boiler would become red hot, and so collapse. With
praiseworthy. presence of mind he therefore left the
tap, and hastily raked the fire from the furnace, after
which the tap was, with some difficulty, closed, the
boiler refilled, and the furnace rekindled. A
lengthened delay wag, of course, the consequence of
these various operations, and the collision followed.
At the same time it was strange that one train should,
in the broad light of day, run into another train,
after being duly signalled, as is alleged, in the pre-
sent case, to proceed with caution. The matter will,
of course, be searchingly investigated.
The Rev. Mr. Snell, who lies at the Railway
Tavern, near the Hornsey station, suffering from con-
cussion of the spine, is said to be progressing favour-
ably. He was yesterday visited by an eminent sur-
geon, sent down by the directors by special train. In
the course of the day the reverend gentleman was also
visited by
many gentlemen residing in the neighbour-
hood, including several of the metropolitan and
suburban clergy.
The other parties injured are also reported as doing
;
well.
A party of platelayers was yesterday employed in
relaying the rails displaced by the accident.

The Earl of Cardigan has been entertaining a large
fparty of sporting noblemen and gentlemen during the. last
ortaigilt, at, 1141 gli99Gilag ciugt,m, Foyers, layopeoliure.