The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, Le fl 1:-<4, FRIDAY EVENING„ SEPTEMBER
_5,

which the person alluded to came, she thought he must
have come from the Board of Health. She had long

noticed the dilapidateh state of the house. Pieces of

mortar used to fall from the ceiling. On Friday night
she and her sister awoke by a sound like the "unloading
of a cart-load of bricks." The noise appeared to pro-
ceed from between the two houses. She got up and
procured a light, but could not see that anything had
fallen. She did not mention it to any one the following
day, because Mr. Crane was very hard upon them,
and she thought if she did he would think it
was done to get out of the place. On Sun-
day Seibert, who occupied the room adjoining Palmer's,
was hammering all day, putting a lock on to his door.
Mrs. Palmer said, " I don't think any of us will want
locks or bolts long for I don't think the house will stand
long." Witness then corroborated her husband's evi-
dence with regard to the noise on Tuesday night. She
got up with her baby, and saw in the fire-place a light
which came from below, and she said to her husband
she thought the house was on fire, and whilst saying
that she fell through the floor. She saw the crack the
side of the room nearest No. 8, from whence
the noise appeared to come. Mr. Reynolds and Mr.
Cox looked at the house in the spring of the year, but
she did not know their object.
By the Foreman—On Friday night she and her sister
considered the house was un-afe. She made no attempt
to leave or make any complaint of the state of the house.
Sarah Parry, who formerly occupied rooms in the
house, deposed—That about three years ago the noticed
the dilapidated state of the premises. The plaster from
the ceiling near the window, and the bricks from the fire
place began first to fall. She was a tenant to Mrs.
Marsh, and on complaining to her she had it repaired.
About the same time one of the steps of the stairs gave
way froth decay. The summer before last while white-
washing the room some of the plaster fell down, and she

could see through. She was sister to Mrs. Pullen, and her

mother occupied the house for a long time. From her
observations she was satisfied the house was in a very
bad state. Mr. Horton, Mr. Reddington, and others
called some months since and looked at the exteriors of
the houses. They said they wished the houses were all
down, and asked the occupants why they did not leave.
They said the parish wished to have the houses down.
Mr. Reddington did not go into the house because he

was afraid to go over the stairs.
Mr. E. \Voodthorpe, district surveyor, deposed that
he knew the premises in question and produced plans he
had made of them. About 13 months ago, when he was
condemning houses in Sun•court, adjoining Little Swan-
alley, he found from observation, before his notice
had been called to it, the property in a dilapidated
state. He condemned the property in Sun-court
under the old building azt, which vested these powers
in the Court of Aldermen ; those houses were pulled
down. At that time he examined the exterior walls of
the building in question. He bad no power to enter

the premises an'l survey them. He had to take care that

no danger was likely to occur from old buildings to pas
sengers and the aaljoining property. By the new act the
eccupicTs of houses were pro ected as much as pa3sen-
gers, eta. Under the old act, and on a certain process
being gone through, he had power to survey—without
it he could not enter premises for tl!at purpose ; the In-
spector of Pavements gave him notice of any houses
being dangeroul, and on receiving it he applied to the
Court of Sewers for authority to act. He was
not aware if Little S,van-atley was in tho dis-
trict of the Inspector of Pavements. If he saw
danger he should move in the matter without
notice ; and rep)rt t) the Cammissioners of Sewers.
There was nothin2 definite in the act to compel sur-
veycrs to wa7k round their diAriets like polictonen, and
examine tie swellings, but it was the spirit of the act.

110 had condemned a whole, street on his.own observa-
tion, and without his attention Laving been c.tiled to it.
The removal of the houses in Sun-court had not affected
the stability of the house in Little Swan-alley. Thee()
houses were from 150 to 200 years old. The wood woik
was all worm eaten. .He had examined the premises
since the accident. Iu his judg:nent the interior of the
house fell bodily from decay of the ends of the rafters
and wood work generally being worm-eaten, and, falling
in this manner, the outer walls were forced over a shed
into an adjoining court. The weight of the people in the
house was more tbau the floors cmld bear, and that was
the cause of their giving way. The exterior settlements
of the house ss ere not so serious as many in the neigh-
bourhood. The house in question showed less exterior
in,liratious of falling than the houses Nos. 10, 11, and 12
now etatding. Similar defective aution was going on in
them, and that of No. 9. About ten or twslve years
ago he beliived the house was prescribed by the Wood
inquest. He had since taken measures for securing the
whole of the adjoining property. Unless titre were

some exterior indication of danger he should nc,t, ask to
-go in,-idc. The only way to have known the stae of the
,ors would have been Ly taking ni) the boanFng and
ex.mining the bcarirg%
A Jl.ror handed to the witnees a presentment relative
to the building,: in question dated 1845, and asked whose
duty it was to take proceedings under it?

Witness raid be believed it was referred to a eelev
committee of the C Ant of Aldermen.

The Foreman said that he was the fnrornan of the in.
quest referred to, which was presented to the Court of
Aldermen, who refers.. d it to a select committee of the
Aldermen of the ward thrmg,h the City solicitor, with
power to take the necesary steps for putting thera in a
proper state of repair. From his own knowledge he
could state that the repairs required were attended to.
By a Juror—He had no doubt the surveyor at that
time h ,d the repairs done.
In answer to a question from Mr. Waddington, one
of the jury,

Mr.-Vroo dthorpe said-that he took the opportunity of
going into the houses No. 8, 10, 11, and 12, a day or
two sinco, and he found the interiors of them in an un-
sound state. Ho had since obtained the nec.s,ary au-
thority, and had condemned them this day. Die nso.4
dangerous part of these houses arose from the chimney
shafts, which, owing to the excavations of the cellars,
were now supported by the joi,ts of the buildirr,; only.
These old chimney shafts were three times the weight of
modern shafts. Surreptitious repairs to houses were
frequently done, the surveyors knowing nothing of them,
and great injury was frequently done to houses by sink-
ing toe cellars 12 or 18 inches deeper than they ought
to be, and it was generally done without the knowledge
of the surveyor. He considered his duties to be, that,
on seeing a building in a ruinous and dangerous state,
to give notice to the Commissioners of Sewers, and when
on his rounds to look out and examine buildings
externally, and see if there were any dangerous or ruinous
indications. He made periodical visit, but at no speci-
fied time, such as once or twice a-year.
By Mr. Bennett (juryman)—Have not the state of
these houses come under your especial notice since you
condemned the houses in the neighbourhood about 2i
years since?

Mr. Woodthorpe—There Lave been no external indi•
cations of danger.

_
By Mr. Bennett—Did you take no mean 3 to survey
these houses when in the neighbourhood about three
weeks since ?

Mr. Woodthorpe—l did not examine them specifically,
but only in a casual way with other buildings.
In answer to a question from another juryman, Mr.
Woodthorpo said he did not know helot e the accident
that these houses were condemned in 1845. The duties
of the surveyor were defined in the old act, but had not
been inserted in the new act.

By Mr. Jones (Ward Clerk)--He believed the indica-
tions of decay in these houses have been going on ever
since they had been built. The walls and chiwnies were
from 1 foot to 18 inches out of the perpendicular. The
houses 10, 11, and 12, were kept back in their position
by being tied with iron rods.
Mr. Perkins, the foreman, was then examined relative
to the presentment of the house to the Court of Alder-
men in 1845, and added that as the landlord paid atten-
tion to the summons, the repairs were done without the
further interference of the Court of Aldermen.

Mr. Bennett proposed to examine Mr.lPerkins relative
to the actual execution of the repairs, but he wa3 inter-
rupted by

The Coroner, who said it was not necessary to go
into that. They need not be so particular, because that
was merely a Court of inquiry.
Mr. Bennett said he thought the jury should examine
into it, because if the Corporation faded to do their duty
in 1845, they were to blame.
The Coroner said they had nothing to do with that
now. It was a question for their consideration when
they deliberated.
After some further discussion,
The Coroner said it had been shown that repairs were
ordered and executed.
A Juryman sail he thought the question arose
whether the City surveyor of 1845 did his duty on the
presentment made.
The Coroner said that was not a question then before
them.

Mr. Pei kins said that repairs were done to the
house at the time, which satisfied the gentleman who
presented the property.
-- • -

John Thomas Hopkins)n, sanitary inspector, and
ewaperpsoinfo appointed
theto
in-
spector of pavements, deposed that he was
those offices by the Commissioners of s
No:th Middle district, in which Little Swan-alley is
situate. When he saw a dilapidated building, it was
his duty to give notes to the district surveyor in writing.
As a sanitary officer he examined premises internally'
and externally. He was appointed to his office in
April, 1856, and he inspected the house in question on
the 23d of May last for sanitary purposes. The state of
the houses he reports to the medical officers, who nport
to the Corumiskioners, who .then order the issue of the
proper notices. The house then only appeared to want
the plaster made good and cleaning. If he had noticed
anything cut of the usual course he should have reported
it to the surveyor. He considered he was empowered,
as inspector of pavements, to enter any house he thought
ruinous or dangerous. Ho was through Little Swan-
alley four times last week, but did not notice any
judicatioos of clangor LIVIA the house, The district sure.

veyor always attended promptly to his reports. He
bad examined many houses, especially in Golden-lane,
iu worse condition than thosel were. He served Mr.
Crane with the pr)per notice to lime white and plaster,
and the repaira were done. He tdid not notice if the
staircase was broken, or that the boards of the floor
were loose. The cellar was uninhabited ; he did not
inspect it.

Mr. Randall, of No. 4, Sandell•terrace, Poplar, owned
the property in question up to about four years since.
During the time he had it the City authorities complained
of its state, and gave him notice to repair, which ho at-
tended to. He thought the notice was served on him
about ten years since. He disposed of the property,
about eight or nine houses, to Mr. Crane. It was held
under a lease on the life of an old lady of Greenwich,
who died about five weeks since.

By a Juryman—He could not recollect the amount of
repairs done to the house, in consequence of the notice
served on them. All was done to the satisfaction of the
authorities. Crane acted as his agent for the collection
of the rents previous to his purchasing witness's interest
in them.

Mr. Crane, the person above referred to as the holder
of the property, deposed that he resided in Little Bell-
alley, and was a messenger at Messrs. Morrish and Co.,
Gresham-street. When he took!the property Nos. 8 and
9 were rented by Mr. Marsh, who let out N 0.9 to weekly
tenants. Marsh left the premises about 4or 5 weeks since.
He used to go to No. 9 to collect his rents, and went
into the rooms. He saw on those occasions the tenants.
On Saturday fortnight Mrs. Pullen called his attention
to a board that was loose in the floor near the fire-
place. It appeared to have been occasioned by the
clopping of wood. On moving it he could look into
the cellar. Last Saturday night be called, but saw
neither of the tenants, and wont again in consequence
on Sunday morning. He then saw Mrs. Pullen who
paid him her rent without making any complaint.
She did not call his attention then to the state of the
floor near the fire-place. He also saw King, who made
no complaint. A step on the stairs was lose but nothing
to indicate danger. No complaint was even made to him
of the state of the house except the loose board. He was
in the house three hours before it fell. He did not no-
tice anything that indicated its falling. He repaired all
the windows except King's a week before the accident,
and he refused repairing theirs because they were bad
tenants. He had only been served with a notice to
lime white and repair, which he attended to at the
time.

By a Juryman—The property was not surveyed when
ho purchased it of Mr. Randall at 75guineas per annum.
Shortly after he had them they were condemned. He
bad received the rents up to the time of the accident,
not knowing the old la ty was dead on whose life the
property was held. He knew the property was in a bad
stw.e of repair, but he did not consider it dangeroug.
Mr. Bennett—lt you had attended to the repairs of
Pullen's floor you would have discovered the joists were
rotten.

By a Juryman—He never examined the main tim-
bers of the house. He did the repairs when Marsh
rented the house.

Mrs. Sarah Marsh, of 10, Little Sman.alley, deposed
that when her husband rented No. 9, they let it out in
tenements. She-lived in it about three years ago. It
was not particularly out cf reno.'r. It was rented as an
old house. She had complained of certain repairs being
necessary to Mr. Crane, which he had attended to. She
never heard any cracking sounds, nor considered it in a
dangerous state.

Bj a Juryman—She never felt any alarm about the
house.

Police constable Richard Hewett, No. 154, deposed
that he had known the houses for 18 months, an:: the
inhabitants also. They never complained to him of the
state of the premises. On Tuesday night, ab,ut ten
minutes past twelve, he heard a noise like unloading
stones from a cart, accompanied with screaming. He
proceeded to the spot, and fonnd the house in ruins.
Screams were coaling tro:n persons in the ruins, as well
es those in the surr..unling houses. The house appeared
to have fallen down bodily. He then procured assist-
ance Mrs. Siebert and Mr. Siebert were got out, and
conveyed to the hospital. Palmer and the other de-
ceased, with the whole of the inmates, were taken from
the ruins. Palmer was taken out dead about two hours
after the accident. He was taken from the cellar.
Pollen and the other deceased were taken out
before Pa,liner. They were conveyed to the hospital.
He passed the house about a quarter of an hour before
the accident. He neither heard nor saw anything indi-
cating danger. Eiery assistance was rendered to the
persons as they were taken from the. ruins, and they
were forwarded without delay in cabs to the hos-.
pita%

By Mr. Thrmett—lie did not consider it a part of
his duty to report the dangerous state of buildings to the
district surveyor, if be saw anything dangerous, or the
inhabitants informed him of anything dangerous, he
should report it to his inspector.

The Cs;roner said he bad the names of several other
witnesses, who spoke to the ra•ne facts, but
The Jury said they considered it was not necessary for
them to be examined.

Mr. Elliott, churchwarden of St. Stephen's Coleman
street, stated that there were a number of these dilapi-
dated houses in the neighbourhood in question, which
required examination, and ho hoped the coroner and jury
from what they had that day heard, would express
strongly their opinion that it should be done forthwith,
He shonld call on the sanitary inspector to do his duty
more efficientiy than lier:l9fore.
Mr. In,pecter TAhunter handed iu a list of the de-
lapidated houses in the district, and said that although
it was no part of the duty of the police to examine these
buildings and report than, he should take care it was
done in future,

Dalle,y, house surgeon, deposed that when Palmer
and 111: two lads were brought to the hospital, about 3
o'clock on Wedne:day morning, they were all dead and
the extremities were cold. There were no fractuns and
they have appeared to have died from suffocation. They
presentf.,d the appearanco of persons hAviogsuffer,d from
an accident such as that above described.

Hewett was re-called and stated that the girl Pullen
was not sent to the hospital because a medical man whe
was pi e,t2nt, and Mr. C ild, the police surgeon, pro-
rounced her dead.

This beinz the whole of the evideoce,
Mr. Benuttt submitted that evidence should be pro-
duced to show that the necessary repairs wale done to
the house on the pr,,sentiment in 1845, and what was
the state of the building then.
The Coroner said he did not consider it was necessary
for them to go back so far on that occasion. It would
bear but very remotely on the fall of the house.
'Mr. Bennett said that if the timbers of the house
were rotten in 1845, no repairs could have made them
sound and safe..

The Coroner said they had heard the evidence cf the
foreman on the circurestanees. He would call any one
else the jury wished, but he thought it unnecessary.
The Jury having expressed an opinion that they
thought it unnecessary to call further evidence,
The Coroner summed up, remarking that it would
be their duty, amongst other questions, to coneidt r
if there had been gross and culpable neglect on the part
of any person that would make him liable to a criminal
charge. The external part of the house did nut appear
to have given indications of danger, and it was for them
to say if there had been that serious and formal notice
given to the landlord to repair the house by the inmates,
the neglect would involve him in a charge of manslaughter.
He (the coroner) wished and he had no doubt they did also,
that a little more vigilance had been used on the part of
those who Lad to survey the neighbourhood, and asur-
tain the state of the buildings, because if there had been
the rotten state of the house must have been found out,
without blame atltaching to any person for it, and the
house have been pulled down and this unfortunate acci,
dent have been prevented.
The jury, after deliberating twenty minutes returned
a verdict of accidental death, accompanied with the fol-
lowing recommendation :—" The jury earnestly recom-
mend to the Coinms loners of Sewers that they would
authorise a special survey forthwith to be made of all
buildings in the City of London, that from age, or other
c :uses, may be supposed to be outof substantial repair."
The Coroner said he concurred in the recommendation.
The inquiry occupied from 11 o'clock till half-past four
o'clock.

LONDON GAZETTE--(This Evening.)

FOREIGN-OFFICE, AUG. 30.

The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Nicolas
Mahs as Consul at Liverpool, for his Majesty the Emperor
of All the Russias.

FOREIGN-OFFICE, SEPT. 2.

The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. George
Appel as Vice-Consul at South Brisbane, in New South
Wales, for the Free City of Hamburgb.

FOREIGN-OFFICE, SEPT. 5.
The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Franz
Tagliaferro as Consul at Malta, and of Mr. Lewis Power
as Consul at Gibraltar, for his Majesty the Emperor of
All the Rushy. _ _ _

The Queen has been also pleased to approve of Mr. N.
Solomon as Consul at St. Helena for his Majesty the King
of Prussia.

BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, SEPT. 4.

The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received,
through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy
of a Despatch from her Majesty's Consul at Lisbon, report-
ing that the Board of Health at that place have issued a
decree declaring the port of Sines to b 3 free from infection
and the port of Funchal to be considered infected.
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, SEPT. 4.

The Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of
Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received,
through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy
of a despatch from her Majesty's Minister at Copenhagen,
stating that in consequence of the disease prevailing
amongst cattle in the Duchy of Holstein, an order
has been issued prohibiting their importation into
Denmark from that Duchy, unless accompanied by a certi-
ficate of a veterinary surgeon of their being in good health
when exported, and a declaration of a magistrate that the
district from which such cattle were exported was free
from disease at the time of exportation.
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, SEPT. 4.
The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Council for Trade and Plantations have received, through
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a de•
spatch from her Majesty's Consul-General at Algiers, trans-
mitting a copy of a decree which has appeared in the
Moniteur Algerien, by which English packet ships, bring-
ing to Algiers pilgrims from Mecca, will be subjected to a
navigation duty at the rate of one ton per passenger only ;
bat under the condition of no other commercial operation
being effected by such vessel.
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, SEPT. 4.
The Right Hon. the Lords of the Committee of "-erivy
C.,uncil for Trade and Plantations have receive(l,
through
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a, .o of
en-
of a Do-
spatch from her Majesty's Charge d'Aff-
res
en-
closing copy of a Spanish Royal It
•••fool.oe, onapting from

all dues vessels exclusively importing into Spain wheat,
flour, barley, and maize, until the let Juno, 1857.

WAR DEPARTMENT, PALL-HALL, SEPT. 5.
sth Regiment of Dragoons—Lieut. John Stephenson
Ferguson to be Captain, without purchase, vice Brevet-
Major A. W. D. Burton, C. 8., whose Brevet rank has boon
converted into Substantive Rank, under the Royal War-
rant of 6th Oct., 1851.
12th Light Dragoons—Cornet John uncle Cotton to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vico Harford, promoted.
26th Foot—Captain William Hopson Hopson to be
Major, by purchase, vice Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Fer-
dinand Wbittingham, C. 8., promoted, by purchase, to an
Unattached Lieutenant-Coloneley ; Lieutenant Henry
Charles Hardinge to be Captain, by purchase, vice Hop-
son ; Ensign George Hogarth to be Lieutenant, by pur-
chase, vice Hardinge; Philip Conway Story, Gent., to be
Ensign, by purchase, vice Hogarth.
43,1 Foot—Ensign Chris.topher Elora Hatchell to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Calvert, who retires ; Henry
Charles Talbot, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice
Hatchell.

51st Foot—Captain George Henry Hibbert-Ware, from
the 97th Foot, to be Captain, vice Marston, who exchanges;
Lieutenant Charles Goddard to be Captain, by purchaAe,
vice Young, who rotires ; Ensign Eustace Beaumont
Burnaby to bo Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Goddard ;
Henry Stewart Thompson, Gent., to be Ensign, by pur-
chase, vice Burnaby.
54th Foot.—Major Rowland Moffat to be Lieutenant-
Colonel, without purchase, vice Brevet-Colonel W. Y.
Moore, who retires upon full pay ; Captain J. C. Hill
Jones to bo Major, without purchase, vice Moffat; Captain
Robert Bourne, from the 2d West India Regiment, to be
Captain, vice Lake, who exchanges; Lieutenant John S.
Swann to be Captain, without purchase, vice Jones • En
sign Arthur Herrick to be Lieutenant, without purchase,
vice Swann.

58th Foot.—Captain Robert Children Whitehead, from
the 97th Foot, to be Captain, vice Herbert, who exchanges.
74th Foot.—Lieutenant F. R. Thackeray to be Captain,
by purchase, vice Brevet-Major Robert Bruce, promoted
by purchase, to an unattached majority. Ensign A. W.
Chalmers Magrath to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice
Cathcart, who retires. Ensign Colin Hugh Thomson to be
Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Thackeray. Edwin Tarver
Sainsbury, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Magrath.
Samuel Richards, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice
Thomson.

83th Foot.—The Christian name of Quartermaster Evans
is Matthew, and not William, as previously stated.
97th Foot.—Captain Henry Fletcher Marston, from the
51st Foot, to be Captain, vice Hibbert-Ware, who ex-
changes; Captain C. St. John S. Herbert, from the 58th
Foot, to be Captain, vice Whitehead, who exchanges.
2cl. West India Regiment—Captain Percy Godfrey Bot-
field Lake, from the 54th Foot, to be Captain, vice Bourne,
who exchanges.
Cape Mounted Riflemen—Ensign John Theodore Cart-
wright, to be Lieutenant, by purchase, rice Thursby, pro-
moted ; Ensign Christopher John Barnard, to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Gill, who has retired.
UNA.TTACIIED.—Brevet-Major Robert Bruce, from the
74th Foot, to be Major, by purchase ; Brevet-Major Adol-
phus W. D. Burton, C. 8., sth Dragoon Guards, to have
his Brevet converted into Substantive Rank, under the
Royal Warrant of Oct. 6, 1854; Brevet-Major Robert
B. Hawley, 89th Foot, to have his Brevet Rank converted
into Substantive Rank, under the Royal Warrant of 6th
aitober, 1854.

Despatches were received at the Colonial-office, yes-
terday, from the Governors of Tasmania, Victoria, Coy-
ion, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Malta, and Western Aus-
tralia. Despatches were sent to the Governors of Aus-
tralia.

COUNTY OP MIDDLESEX REGISTRA.TION.—The bar-
risters appointed to revise the list of voters for the
county of Middlesex intend bolding their courts at the
following times and places :—Thursday, Sept. 25, the
White Horse, Uxbridge ; Saturday, Sept. 27, the Black
Dog, Bedfont ; Monday, Sept. 29, Sussex Hotel, Bon-
verie-street, Fleet-street ; Sept. 30, the Lords Justices
Court, Lincoln's-inn ; Oct. 1, Belvidere Tavern, New-
road ; Oct. 3, New Globe Tavern, Mile-end-road ; Oct.
4, Green Man, Bethnal-green ; Oct. 6, Windsor Castle,
Broadway, Hammersmith ' • Oct. 8, Ca3tle Inn, Brent-
ford ; Oct. 9, Enfield Arms, Enfield ; Oct. 10, Cbandos
Arms, Edgware ; Oct. 11, Jack Straw's Castle, Hamp,
stead-heath.

APOTHECARIES' HALL—The next preliminary ex-
aminati, n of candidates in classics and mathematics will
take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 18th and
19th Nov. The examination is at present voluntary,
and the subjects of the current year, viz., Nov., 185 G,
and March and July, 1857, will be as follow :—ln
Greek, the Gospel of St, John, and the Ist Book of
Homer's Hail. In Latin, the Ist Book of the Odes of
Horace and Cicero, "De Amicitia." In. mathematics,
the Lt Book of Euclid's Elements, arithmetic and alge-
bra, including ail:Lyle equations.

PROSPECTS OF THE BARVESE

There seldom was a year when the prospects of
the harvest were either more varying or more im-
portant than we now find them. About ten weeks
ago the indifferent yield of last year, the extra-
ordinary consumption of the war, the fact of large
corn-growing districts in the East having been left
untilled and the backwardness of the spring, raised
the prices of- grain to a pitch at least very dis-
couraging to commercial enterprise. Then came
several weeks of unusual heat, during which the
crops ripened so fast that there arose a new panic ;
hands could not be found, railway works were sus-
pended to release labour for the fields, but the
farmers would not bid high enough they trusted
to a continuance of the fine weather ; and much
grain that might have been got in was allowed to
remain on the field. There was then a sudden
change of weather, which told severely on
the crops, whether standing or cut. The market
rose, anal we were threatened with scarcity. We
have now had a week of fine drying weather ; and
each day we read that the corn market is " dull,"
or "drooping," or " heavy," as the gratifying
prospect of plenty is usually announced. The clear
sky now above our heads certainly seems to pro-
mise ample opportunity for saving all that is still
uugarnered, and it will be the fault of the farmer
if his rickyard is not at least as well filled as in most
former years. Thus far there is no prospect of
prices receding to a point injurious to agricultural
interests, but there is little doubt of that plenty
which is necessary for the interests of trade and the
comfort of the people at large. Such are the fluctu-
ations to which we have been exposed in the brief
space of ten weeks. The importance of the question
consists in the obvious advantage of what may be
called a commercial revival just now. It would on
all accounts be a great thing for Europe if the
minds of men could be diverted from painful
topics, from sores ever ready to break out anew,
and feeling ever threatened with collision, to the
vulgar but more useful rivalry of material enter-
prise. Railways, steampackets, mines, manufac-
tures, the conflux of traders, the currents of traffic,
and even the streams of summer tourists, un-
doubtedly tend to unity and peace, and slowly but
surely conduce to the improvement of mankind.
One of their first conditions is plenty, and that we
may now reasonably expect for one more year.
From the Continent the accounts of the harvest
are still more favourable. As it was earlier than
iu this country, it has not suffered to the same
extent by the general change of weather
three weeks ago. A well-known correspondent,
writing from Magdeburg on the 30th ultimo,
and recording his obServations on a journey
from England, describes the harvest as every-
where much above the average, and, for some
hundreds of miles, more abundant than in this
country. As this occurs where the proportion of
tillage is much larger than with us, the result is
all the more important. There is'probably an im-
mense increase upon former years, and of that in-
crease England will have the full advantage. The
great fretwork of railways is rapidly pervaing and
penetrating the whole continent of Europe, and not
only the vast plains of Germany and France, but
even the valleys of Switzerland, aro now traversed
by the locomotive. The effect upon prices is the
same as we have already experienced in this coun-
try. But a few years ago the most saleable and
movable things—wheat, fat beasts, horses, butter,
cheese, and eggs—varied considerably in price in
districts not very wide apart ; and it was usual for
families to fix their residence in this neighbour-
hood or that, because, it being thirty or forty
miles from a market, the necessaries of life were
ridiculously cheap. Meat was cheaper by
two pence a pound ; butter was only half the
price ; eggs were to be had in incredible abun-
dance, and poultry at fabulous prices, because the
only means of conveying these articles to the dis-
tant market were slow, costly, and precarious.
All that is now past. In England, at least, leav-
ino, Wales slid the Highlands out of the question,
the market is becoming almost uniform, and no one
district is at much disadvantage compared with the
rest. Railways aro doing the same for the Contin-
ent, and prices are consequently often twice what
they were a few years ago. It is so, at least, in all
articles of the better quality, for the English will
have the best of everything, and appear every-
where as the rivals of the native consumer. Thus
year by year Europe becomes one vast market, and
we recover from those great fluctuations that but
the other day were of frequent occurrence.
There are many things to be considered in com-
paring the cost of production in countries and
populations so different as those enumerated in the
letter of our correspondent ; and perhaps some
of these may escape the notice of the most
vigilant railway traveller. Where labour is cheap
it is commonly thought to be so much the less
valuable ; if agricultural itnplensieuts are simple,
they may he su much the less capable of heavy
work, and light carts are often a necessity of bad
roads. If there are no trees or hedgerows to ob-
struct the rays of the sun and harbour birds and
insects, on the other hand the subdivision of pro-
perty, and the minuteness of the patches devoted
to the different crops, present a more effectual
check to profitable cultivation. Throughout great
part of Germany, indeed, there are large domains,
and farms of corresponding proportions. But we
are slow to believe that oven in the vast plains of
central Europe, or the fertile banks of the Elbe,
agriculture is under any considerable advantage
compared with this country. At all events, we
should like to see the comparison instituted by those
who have had the advantage of a residence, with
ample means of information. Undoubtedly, a large
proportion of the Continent is cultivated in a way
that would not answer in this country, and that
would ruin both peasant and proprietor in the end.
Nevertheless, in such a year as this the result is an
abundant harvest, not only of grain, but of pota-
toes, beetroot, and many crops little known here ;
and by all aceounts wo are promised an abundance
which will tell even on future years. This, too, is
plenty after pas co. It comes at a time when labour,
money, and enterprise are happily released from
the unproductive employments of war. It is not
unreasonable to hope that such a prospect, and the
undertakings which will invite the co-operation of
different States, will serve to heal sores, to efface
painful memories, and even soften and humanise
the despotisins now so formidable to the tranquil-
lity of Europe. The arts of peace may not always
be successful for this purpose, but there is at least
less risk in them than in the cast of war.—Times.

The Scinde Railway Company yesterday despatched
Mr. William Brunton, and a staff of six engineers, by
the steamer Indus, for Bombay and Kurrachee, en route
for the Punjaub, to prosecute the survey of the country
between Monitan, Lahore, and Umritsir. Mr. Brunton
was appointed by the railway company under the sanc-
tion of the India House, and it is expected from the
facilities which the Punjaub Government are said to be
prepared to afford that the preliminary survey of the
line will be completed by the end of the ensuing cold
meason.

TRH LATE SIR RICHARD WESTMACOTT, R.N.—There
was a time when the death of Sir R. Westmacott would
have created more sensation in the world of art, both in
England and on the continent, than is likely now to be
the case when a younger race of sculptors have arisen,
with a new school more or less of their own creation. Sir
Richard died at his town residence in South Audley.
street on the Ist inst., in his 82d year, after an illness of
about three weeks' duration. Richard Westreacott was
born in London in 1775, and, showing early signs of
his future vecat'on, adopted the profession of a sculptor
when he was quite a child. Having received the firstrudi-
ments of instruction in the studio of his father, who was a
sculptor of some eminence in Mount-street,Grosvenor.
square, he visited Rorie in 133, where he is said to have
studied for a time under Canova. Be this as it may, in
the following year he received from the Academy of
Florence their first premium for sculpture, and the medal
of his Holiness in 1795, in which year he was also elected
a member of the Academy of Florence. Having passed
some years in the classic regions of Italy, and made him-
Bel familiar with the best remains of ancient art, he re-
turned to England, and established himself in the west-
end of London, where he soon gained an extensive repu-
tation. In 1805 the Royal Academy of London elected
him an associate of their body, and he became in 1816 a
Royal Academician. The works of art by which he
was best known are his 'statues of Addison, Pitt, and
Erskine, his statues of the late Duke of Bedford and of
Charles James Fox, in Bedford and Russell-squares, and
his monuments to Sir Ralph Abercromby, Lord Coiling.
wood, and others in Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's
Cathedral, togetlaer with the elegant and classical figure of
Psyche, so much admired by every lover-of art for its ele-
gance of form and chastity of expression. Besides these
he designed the .colossal statue of Achilles in Hyde-park
and the statue of Nelson at the Liverpool Exchange, and
together with :Elaxman and Baily, a portion of the
figures on the frieze of the marble arch originally erected
at Buckingham -Palace but now standing at Cumberland-
gate. His latest work, we believe, was the sculptured
pediment at the British Museum. In 1827 he succeeded
Flaxman as Pro lessor of Sculpture in the Royal Acade-
my, and held that appointment until his decease; he
had not, however, exhibited since 1839. His artistic
works are all strictly classical in their style, but partake
far more of the R ocean than of the Greek character. They
are not abstract and ideal, or of the highest order of
conception, but living and breathing realities, executed to
the life in a bold and severe style. Among the best known
of his productions are "The Distressed Mother," which
he executed in 1 522 for the Marquis of Lansdowne; "The
Houseless Tray eller," a copy of which is in Westminster
Abbey; his "E, aphrosyne," for the late Duke of New-
castle in 1837;1 tie two statues " Cupid" and "Psyche,"
in pos-session of ' the Duke of Bedford ; together with a
large alto rebel ro, "The death of Horace," which he
executed for the, late Earl of Egrernont, and which we
believe is still in the gallery at Petwerth. He received
the honour of knight hood as an acknowledgment of his
artistic merits in 1837. Sir R. 'Westmecott married, in
1798, Dorothy Margaret, the daughter of Dr. Wilkinson.
His son, Mr. R. Wesitmacott, is a Royal Academician,
and he inherited lane share of his father's goal%

THE PRESENT CONDITION OF MEXICO.

Advices from Mexico to the sth ult. give a rather
full detail of the present condition and prospects of
the republic. The opinions expressed, however,
differ widely. According to some writers, the
Liberal party is gaining strength, and the power of
President Comonfort is gradually becoming conso-
lidated. Apprehensions of a Ministerial crisis
from the resignation of Senor Montes, the Minister
of Justice, had been dispelled by his resumption of
office ; the article in the new constitution guaran-
tee ing religious toleration, on which a severe
struggle was expected, had been adopted by Con-
gress ; the sales of church property were progressing
satisfactorily, and were likely to bring in a con-
siderable stun ; and although an outbreak, headed
by Vidaurri and promoted by Texan sympathisers,
had broken out, the people were confident in the
ability of the Government to put him down. On
the other hand, a communication from an intelli-
gent observer, dated three days previously to the
last account from New Orleans, where intelligence
of the adoption of the measure for religious liberty
had been received by telegraph, gives the following
unfavourable view
" The state of anarchy which had long been threatening
this country is now firmly established,-and will, no doubt,
reach its full development very shortly. Vidaurri has at
last thrown off his mask, and has openly proclaimed the
independence of the northern States under his control,
which, as a matter of course, will share the same fate as
Texas, and soon form part of the American Union. A change
of Government in Jalisco served as a pretext for those
that were dissatisfied to create disturbances in that depart-
ment, which is now also in a state of open rebellion; and,
though we are told that the Government forces have taken
possession of the chief town (Guadalaxara), no reliance is
to be placed on the fidelity of that province, which has
ever been foremost in the complicated history of Mexican
revolutions, and is notorious for its disposition to separate
from the rest of the republic, in order to form a separate
and independent nation by itself.
"Similar symptoms have been observed for some tine
past towards the south, in the province of Guerrero, which
has been under the absolute sway of the Mulatto General
Alvarez for many years past. In fact, it would be long and
tedious to describe all the elements of dissolution which are
now at work, and seem to threaten the country with im-
pending ruin. In the meantime, great dissatisfaction pre-
vails in all classes of society, and rumours of a fresh revo-
lution to upset Comonfort's Administration are daily cir-
culated, while the latter appears blind to the precarious
eharacter of the power be wields, and instead of adopting
wise and conciliatory measures, is ruling in tho most des-
potic manner in spite of the ultra-liberal principles he had
sustained till he was elected president. To make matters
worse, Comonfort's Government and the Congress are
waging war against each other in the most relentless way.
Each party threatens to upset the other, and it is whis-
pered that many days will not pass before Congress is dis-
solve 3.

" The sale of the church property has hitherto proved a
complete failure, and it is not impossible that some politi-
cal change may put a stop to it altogether. The Govern-
ment have consequently been disappointed in their ex•
pectations of receiving a large amount of money out of the
tax paid for the transfer of real estate, and it is, as usual,
just as poor as it is extravagant and negligent about its
finances."

"Congress is now discussing a question of great import-
ance --viz., that of religious liberty, and, though the debate
has already lasted four days, no decision has yet been
adopted ; but, of course, great agitation prevails both in
the Chamber and among he public, and the result is looked
for with great anxiety by all parties."