The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-08 00:00:00

SEPTEMBER lOl.

show of justice. But the Executive in America is
weak and powerless against popular passion, or, more
properly speaking, against popular frenzy ; and we I
are in no degree suprised that the fate of the 52 men
executed as mere piratical invaders has excited (as our
American advices published to-day inform us) an
active and contagious sympathy at New Orleans,
Philadelphia, New York, and other cities and towns
throughout the Union. An energetic cry of this kind,
under the guise of patriotism, meaning annexation,
may overbear the Government of 'Washington, and
render it powerless to stop a national crusade against
Cuba. In such circumstances ill-blood may be gene-
rated, and the United States Government might seek
a pretext or cause of quarrel which would have some
show of justice to back it up. For any established
or civilised Government to make common cause with
the pirates we hold to be impossible ; but the firing
on an American steamer may be deemed a just
cause of quarrel by those among the Executive of
the United States who seek a decent pretext to cloak
over an unavowable purpose. In such an event as
we hint at—which is possilsle—ought the diplomacy
of the European powers, more especially of England
and France, to remain tranquil, or to forbear from
state papers and representations cogent and strongly
expressed. A great maritime power in possession of 1
Cuba would command the Gulf of Florida, would
threaten the British possessions in the Carribean
Sea, and would hold, in fact, the key of these
dependencies. These are considerations bearing not
merely on the interests of English trade and naviga
tion, but on our ascendancy as the most powerful
maritime nation, and on our dominion as the greatest
mistress of far distant colonies the world has ever
yet seen. It may be that these speculations as to
the United States Government are unwarranted. It
may be that the Executive at Washington has the
power and the principle to resist the cry of an
encroaching and turbulent democracy eager for the
possession of the finest and most fertile.island on the
face of the habitable globe, and that sympathisers
with the Lopez and Crittendens will be put down and
punished by native American authorities. But if we
read the American journals aright the mania for the
piratical possession—or, as it is called the annexation
of Cubs, is on the increase, and while such principles
are rife, it becomes the Governments of England and
France to hold counsel together, and in union in tem-
perately and in friendly fashion to suggest to the
United States, the propriety, first, of guaranteeing
together to Spain the possession of Cuba, or at least
of discousaging those marauders—those hostes human'
genera, whose existence as a permanent body is in-
compatible either with peace or civilisation. France
is, next to ourselves, the greatest maritime nation.
She has rights of fishery, of commerce, and of naviga-
tion, secured
by treaty, which might be seriously
compromised, injured, or altogether effaced by the
predominancy of America in a quarter of the globe
already with common accord in the possession of a
third-rate power like Spain.

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

A serious event occurred on the Buckinghamshire
Railway on Saturday evening, by which no less than
six persons lost their lives, and many were injured.
Excursion trains left Oxford on Monday and Tuesday

mornings for London, with the understanding that
passengers could return at stated times as late as
Saturday. On that day when the excursion train left
the Euston Station for Oxford, it consisted of fourteen

carriages, drawn by one of Stephenson's six-wheel pa-
tent engines. Some of the carriages were unoccupied.
There were hoivever about 200 passengers. The
train left London at about five o'clock, and approached
the Bicester Station at a rapid rate at about 7.30.
On passing the "points" the engine became discon-
nected from the tender, went off the line to the right,
knocked down the farther gatepost by the side of the
turnpike road to Aylesbury, which crosses the line
on the level, and approached close to the back of the
station-master's house, which in all probability would
have been forced down but for one of the rails becom-

ing twisted round the wheel of the engine, and the
ponderous machine becoming embedded in the sand.
Several persons who were by the side of the road as
spectators were placed in imminent danger. Two or
three, on seeing the engine off the line, ran under the
porch of the house, to which the engine approached
within a few inches. The three carriages next to the
engine tender went off the line to the left, knocked
down the opposite gate-post, and went over with a
dreadful crash into the turnpike road. The scene
was terrific, and can only be understood by those
who witnessed it. The cries of the suffering passen-

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gers, and of their friends who were waiting at the
station, were appalling. From the station being so
near the town the event was soon known, and many
of the inhabitants forthwith hastened to the spot, and
assisted to the utmost of their ability. The sad acci-
dent was forthwith communicated to Oxford. A

telegraph massage was also sent to the locomotive de-
partment at Wolverton for assistance, and in about an
hour ➢lr. Bedford, the inspector, arrived with a staff
of assistants, and the necessary implements, &c., for
assisting the sufferers, and righting the line, bac.
The rails were found to be torn up, and impas-
_

sable. Some of the sufferers had thrown them.
selves out from the carriages, others were unable
to do so, and some were, it was evident, dead.
The work of extrication lasted till morning. Mr.
M'Connell, the head of the locomotive department at
Wolverton, and Mr. Brusts, from the Euston Station,
were at the scene as soon as possible. Mr. William
Acton, surgeon, of 46, Queen Anne-street, Cavendish-
square ; and Mr. F. G. Wyatt, of 11, Queen-street,
Oxford, a student of King's College, were passengers
with the train. They immediately rendered every
assistance in their power, and saw to the proper re-
moval of the sufferers. The resident surgeons were
also soon in attendance, as were other professional
gentlemen from Oxford and Winslow. Alderman
Browning, of Oxford, one of the directors of the
Buckinghamshire Railway Company, with other gen-
tlemen from that city, was at the spot in the course
of the night. Every arrangement was made for the
comfort of the sufferers. Several who were only
slightly hurt proceeded to their destinations, but the
injuries received by ten of the passengers were so
serious, that they were forthwith removed to the
King's Head, the Nag's Head, and other inns. The
line was ere daylight made passable, but the engine
and the carriage on the road had not up to that time
been righted. The other two carriages were, from the
crash and the sawing, to relieve the passengers, cut
to pieces. The cause of the accident will form the
subject of a legal inquiry, and it would perhaps be
scarcely fair to give
.publicity to the rumours on the
subject.
The following persons are now lying dead at Bi-
cester, viz. :
Corporal Noon, No. 63 of the 7th company of
Royal Sappers and Miners, a promising young man,
the son of a builder at Oxford. He had leave of
absence from Kensington-barracks until Thursday
next.
Mrs. Shelton and infant child, of Ashley-place,
Oxford.
Elizabeth Easley, of about 18, from 2, Draper's-
place, New-road, London.
Carrier, a lad of 14, son of the engine-driver
who „had charge of the engine at the time of the
accidelat.
The following are seriously injured, and are now
lying at Bicester :
James Luckett, a young man of about 24, who was
on his way to Oxford.
Life Guardsman Davies and his daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Barington, from London.
Mr. Bailey, from London.
Mr. Bolton.
Mr. Smith, on his way to No. 1, Clarendon-place,
Oxford. This gentleman will, it is thought, be able
to proceed home this afternoon.
A female of the name of Collis, from 53, Moorgate-
street, London, sister to Mrs. Shelton.
A female of the name of Terry, on her way to Bull-
street, the Friars, Oxford, and Mr. Daniel Shelton,
brother-in-law to Mrs. Shelton.
Sir H. Verney, Bart., M.P., the chairman of the
board of directors, visited Bicester this afternoon
(Sunday) and made personal inquiries.
Since the above was written poor Luckett has
breathed his last.
(OFFICIAL Accousr.)
An accident, attended with fatal consequences to
several persons, occurred on Saturday evening to a
return train from London at the Bicester station.
The engine, in passing the points, appears to have
taken the wrong line, became detached from the
train, ran off the rails, and some of the carriages
were overthrown.
The information at present received is very scanty ;
but we understand that a soldier, three children, and
a woman have lost their lives, and that eight or ten
other persons are wounded. The company's officers
and a director of the Buckinghamshire Railway were
very shortly on the ground, and offered every assist
ance in their power.
- I The inquest will be held immediately
ied

TUB SPEAKER OP THE HOUSE Or COMMONS.-
The Right Hon. Mr. Shaw Fefevre, Speaker of the House of
Commons, and his son-in-law, Sir Henry ➢iildmay, who ar-
rived here last week, in the course of a short tour in the
Highlands, went south on Monday morning, by the Edin-
burgh Castle, Captain Turner, along the Caledonian Canal,
and proceeded that evening as far as Oban.—lnverness
Courier.

THE AFFRoACHING MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.—
We understand in consequence of the recent indisposition of
Sir George Grey, that the nuptials of Miss Bernal,
daughter of Ralph Bernal, Esq., M.P., is unavoidably post-
poned with the Rev. Mr. Sandford, M.A., as the Honourable
Baronet was to have officisted on the happy occasion to give
the lovely bride away.—Kelso Chronicle.
DEATH OF MR. ANSTEY'S FATHER.--MT. T. An-
stey, of Van Diemen's Land, died in March last at Anstey
Barton, his seat in that colony, and where he had settled for
some years. The deceased was father to Mr. Chisholm An-
stey, M.P. for the borough of Youghal. The deceased was,
we believe, a member of the Church of England. Hie eon is
a convert to the Aomea catholic Church.