The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-17 00:00:00

THE ELPHINSTONE MEMORIAL.

Yesterday afternoon a meeting most influentially
attended was held at Willis's Rooms, King-street,
St. James's, to take into consideration the most
appropriate mode of testifying respect for the me-
mory of the late distinguished Indian statesman,
the Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone. Sir Charles
Wood, Bart., M.P., was called to the chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, I
passed a high eulogium upon the late Mr. Mount-
stuartaElphinstone, and expressed his concurrence
with the object in view.
The Duke of ARGYLL proposed the first resolu-
tion, to the effect that, in the opinion of the meet-
ing, the eminent public services of the late Hon.
Mountstuart Elphinstone throughout a long and
varied career of distinction and usefulness afford a
brilliant example of the highest qualities of a British
statesman, and deserve the lasting gratitude of his
country.
The motion was seconded by Lord ELLEN-
ROROUGII, and carried non. con.
Lord STANLEY next addressed the meeting, and
in the course of his remarks said, that the most
characteristic feature of the life of the decease d
was the uniform and unvaried success, unbroken
by a single failure, which he had achieved, and
which had distinguished his brilliant career, and
oftentimes in positions of no common difficulty.
His lordship concluded by expressing a hope that
a statue of Mr. Elphinstone might one day be placed
in the august temple consecrated alike to divine
worship and to human genius, in which, for gene-
rations past, the remains of our noblest country-
men had been laid. (Loud applause.) His lord-
ship then moved :—" That in order to give expres-
sion to this feeling, it is fitting that the public esti-
mation of the services of the deceased statesman
should be shown by some permanent memorial."

Sir JOAN LAWRENCE seconded the motion.

Mr. GRANT DtiFF, M.P., threw out a suggestion
that in lieu of a statue they should found three
scholarships—one to be given to Oxford Univer-
sity, one to Cambridge, and the third collectively
for the Scotch Universities.

The resolution having been carried unanimously,
Earl STANHOPE moved the appointment of a
committee for the purpose of collecting subscrip-
tions, and determining the most appropriate mode
of carrying out the objects of the meeting.
Colonel SYKES, M.P., seconded the resolution,
which, after a few words from the Right Hon.
HOLT MACKENZIE, was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman, on the motion
of Lord STANLEY, closed the proceedings.

COLLIERY EXPLOSIOY AND LOSS OF

ELEVEN'' LIVE,.

A very serious colliery explosion occurred on
Wednesday, at Higham, near Barnsley, in one of
the pits, the property of Messrs. Charlesworth.
Eleven men and boys perished by the fire-damp,
and three others terribly injured. It appears that
between one and two o'clock, the bottom steward,
Mr. Ainsworth, whilst in the pit, had his attention
attracted by some slight noise, immediately after
which some men came from the bottom, and in-
formed him that an explosion had taken place on
the north side. He then went to the top, and having
got assistance, without delay descended. He dis-
covered in that part of the pit, where 14 men and
boys were at work, that only three were alive.
These were with all possible speed brought to the
top and conveyed to their homes. The bodies of
the 11 poor fellows were then brought up, and
presented a most painful appearance, they evi-
dently having suffered not only from the fire-
damp, but also from the after damp, being
mach bruised and burnt. The bodies were at once
removed to their respective homes. Several of the
wives of the men were present when the bodies
were got out, and it need scarcely be said that a
scene of a most distressing and painful character
occurred, as each blackened and bruised, yet w
recog-
nisable, husband or son as claimed. The pit,
which is situated in a rather wild of part of the
district, has been hitherto very free from accidents ;
the owners, the well known and wealthy firm of the
Messrs. Charlesworth's, having. introduced into
their numerous collieries all the aids for the preven-
tion of accidents which modern science has de-
veloped. The colliery is a very extensive one, 210
yards deep, in which three scams of coal are
vorked ; the deepest, the well-known Silkstone
bed, being 210 yards deep. It was whilst working
at this seam that the accident occurred. Happily,
the explosion was confined to one of the workings ;
otherwise a more serious calamity might have taken
place, as there was at least 120 men and boys in the
pit at the time. It is rather singular that, con-
trary to explosions from fire damp, no report was
heard, the men at the top not being aware of a
matter until the bottom steward communicated the
fact to the manager, Mr. Depledge. The came of
the accident does not as yet appear to be know'',

NEW 'WESTMINSTER BRIDGE, --Yesterday the
works of the permanent approach on the Middlesex side
were in a very advanced state, the houses in Bridge-street
having been razed to the grottml, and notices of removal
served on the occupiers of the remaining promises re-
quired for the approach, which is macadamised from the
toot of the bridge. On the Lambeth side the approach is
fully completed, and the superstructural of the bride as far
as Stangate neatly finished. The line aiNot icom the
Westminster-road to the 11islilep i-a-walk will be widened
and iniproTc4 155, P.Ctt:t 44 the bridge is opened.