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

SCENE 1N A BAPTIST CHAPEL.

At the Cambridgeshire petty sessions, en Saturday
last, a men named Dowman was charged with illegally
disturbing the congregation of a Baptist chapel in the
village of Colon (about three miles from Cambridge). Jt
would seem 'that the congregation of the chapel are not
celebrated for their erudition, and in a public-house on
the East-road, Cambridge, a conversation arose over
some potations as to how easily they could be doped, and
eventually it was agreed between some parties whose
names were freely tasted, that an imposition should be
attempted, and several wagers were laid upon the re:ult.
It was arranged that Dowman, who is a travelling
hawker from Colchester, and who was considered
the best hand at recitation, should personate a Bap-
tist minister, and he being dressed for the part find
put on large spectacles to prevent recognition, pro-
ceeded to Coton with his confederates, on the 18th
of May, introducing himself to the deacon,
and presented a letter (with a fictitious signa-
ture),saying that he was engaged in preaching
an
and collecting on behalf of a missionary social.
Eventually the appointed preacher made way for him,
and he ascended the pulpit, gave out a hymn, engaged
in prayer, and then taking his text, Ezekiel, c. ix., v. 33,
roceeded to read sundry passages trom a printed book,
which turned out to be Baxter's" Saint's Rasa" The
congregation being used to extempore discourses,
evinced symptoms of disapprobation, arid at last the
mock preacher fairly broke down, entreating the audi-
ence to excuse him, as he was not in the habit of ad-
dressing such large congregations. Mr. Beadfield, the
regular preacher, then rose and cautioned his coegregae
tion not to part with any money, as he knew nothing of
the party who had addressed them. This spark caused
en explosion, the storm burst, and the term " impostbr"
resounded on all sides, and Dowman had to make his
escape to a fly, in which his confederates were waiting
for him. Dowman was met in Cambridge next day by
Mr. Bradfield, and having been identified this prccess
was eventually
issued. The magistrates sentenced Dow-
man (who let judgment go by default) to pay a fine of
10/. and the costs, which was made up among the con-
federates who had planned thin ill-timed joke.

DEATH OF SIR THOMAS PELHAM HAYES, BART.—
This gentleman died on the sth instant, at Dieppe, in the
57th year of his age. He was son of the first baronet, by
the eldest daughter of Henry White, Esq., of New York.
Sir Thomas was for many years connected with the civil
department of the East India Company on the Bengal esta-
lalishment, and filled several important offices of trust. lie
returned home from India in 1823. The first baronet was
physician to the forces during the American war. The title
was created in 1797, the ,deceased having succeeded his hi-
ther in 1809. Sir Thomas married, 1840, the relict of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Hill Dickson. Reis succeeded by his brother,
the Ilev. John Warren, born 17(.19.
VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS IN THE WEST INDIES.—The
last West India mail has brought detailed accounts of the
recent volcanic eruptions in the island of Martinique, whose
violence has caused so much alarm to the inhabitants of St.
Pierre, and peasant population of the neighbouring parishes.
It appears that the Montagne Pelee, the seat of the new vol-
cano, has long been conspicuous for its formation, which
marks it as an extinct crater, and for its springs of hot sul-
phuretted water. In July last these springs were observed
to emit ai powerful smell of sulphur. Large quantities of hot
water and mud were ejected by some internal convulsion,
until, on the 6th of August, about midnight, a violent erup-
tion took place. A rumbling noise, similar to the rapid ap-
proach of large masses of cavalry, alarmed the inhabitants
of the villages around the Montagne Pelee ; and, on their
rushing into the open air to save themselves from the effects
of what they believed to be au earthquake, they saw three
colums of a whitish vapour rising from the top of the moun-
tain. It appears that the mountain movements and subter-
ranean explosions did no mischief whatever beyond forcing
up the coatings of the old crater of the Montagne Pelee,
when the soil was thrown up, burnt, and impregnated with
sulphur, very much in the way in which it would have been
defaced by the springing of a mine. When the mail left the
crater was still open, and continued to exhale poisonous
(i. e., sulphuretted) gases.
WE ALL HAVE OUll, HownEs.—lhe philosophical
world, being rather addicted to the dreamy, has only just
woke up to a knowledge of the agitation that has prevailed
on the great Lock question. We understand, however, that
the subject will be thoroughly investigated, and that the
next number of the Philosophical Transactions" will con-
tain a very profound treatise on the relative merits of the
philosophy of Lock and Hobbs.—. Punch.
THE FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE BUCKINGHAM-
SHIgE EAILWAY.—The inquest on the persons killed by this
accident on Saturday was resumed yesterday at Biceater,
and again adjourned.