The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-14 00:00:00

)I'.T DON MO N DAY EVENING.. ING APRIL 14

SPORTING NOTES.

TBEANNUAG MOTION FORT.IIEBALLOT.

The claim of the electoral body of this country to the
protection of the ballot in the discharge of their consti-
tutional duty of " freely and indifferently" electing their
representatives in Parliament, will be again brought, by
Mr. IL Berkeley, M.P., before the House of Commons,
on Tuesday, 290 April inst. No one acquainted with
the state of public feeling in their constituencies can fail
to be aware that the ballot is the measure of reform, in
the progress of which the greatei4 interest is felt by the
electors. In prospect of another division on the ques-
tion, which may be. the-last during ths present Parlio,-
uAt, it will be inte,r -sting to trace Ake history of the
ballot during the four Parliaments oft Ale present reign.
In the first Parliament elected in 180itithe adoption of
the ballot was moved by Mr. Grotty on the 15th of
February, 1838, when there divided—A,ee, 198 ; noes,
315. In 1839, Mr. Grote renewed his ,motion ;on this
occasion a greater nutubar voted for the ballot than in
any other
were, 2
ther division ;
h
t eeitnhoeersb, before or since that time. The
ayes
Tee effect of the great number of supporters obtained
by Mr. Grote was to induce Lords Melbourne and Lord
John Russell to make the ballot an open question 'in the
Cabinet, one of its ablest supporters, Mr. Macaulay,
being made Secretary of War. In the Parliament of
'lB4l the Tories obtained a la?ge 'majority, the numbers
of the supporters of the ballot of cour.e was diminished;
Mr Grote bad retired from Parliament; and the atten-
tion and energies of the people were absorbed in the free-
'rade struggle. Under these circumstances the ballot
was only once mooted in ti at Parliament, viz , in 1842,
wr.eit the ayes were 157, the noes 240,
In the Parliament elected in iso the ballot was
' hrougl, t yearly before the Hoeseof Commons by Mr. H.
Berkeley, the numbers being as follop ;--1848, ayes,
.86 ; noes, 81,, ,1549-40., 841, 1850.-aiumit
121 ; noes, 176. 1851, ayes, 87 ; noes, 50. 1852, ayes,
144 ; noes, 246. _ _ _

On two occas;ons it will be seen Mr. Berkeley obtained
a maj,rity, but in each case at late a period to allow
of further pr egress being made with the measure, though
in 1848 a bit,, was prepared, brou2lit in, and read a first
time. The effect of thee reiteraed discussions was to
increase the number of the support.-rs of the ballot in the
Par iamert e!eeted in 1852, not withstandirg that elec-
tion took 'lane ui:der the aulAces of "Beresford, Flew-
ker, and Fr ail," Shortly after the general election, the
" Society for Promoting the A loption r f the Ballot,"
was established. This body have especially attended to
,ecuring the presence at the divisions on Mr. Berkeley's
annual motion of ineinbtra fay.urable to the measure.
The resnt of these cireemstance have been an increase
in the butuher of Mr. Barkeley's supporters on each di-
vision during the present Parliament compared with the
divisions fr .re 1817 to 1852. The following are the
numbers :-1853, ayes 172, noes 232 ; 1854, ayes 157,
noes 191 ; 1855, ayes 166, noes 217. Altogether 229
ineini,ers of the present Parliament have in the al *se
three divisions voted for the balitt, but the ayes hive
never attained the .am' number as in 1839, viz., 216
HO each of then, ir,em')ers been .is he ought to have
beer) pre ent at any one of the three divisions, the ayes
might have been carried bayond the maximum attained
in'lB39.

_
A Tory organ speaks with triumph of "the perceptible
decrea-e in the followers of Grote and Bentham slice the
question was first mooted," and congratulates its readers
on the fact "that a proposition only once supported
under any circumstances by 200 members cannot be
considered as hiving come practically before the coun-
try for its trial." The friends of the ballot should there-
!ore use every exertion to secure the attendance at the
cooing division of 200 members at least. Lot them b,,ar
in mind the effects which followed the division of 1839,
and as the success then attained is not lost, for the bal-
lot is an op 4 n question in the present Cabinet, let them
by as powerful a display as pos-ible of their Parliamen-
tarp streng'sh induce Lord Palmerston to act with
regar 1 to the b dint as he has acted on the Church-rate
question. The friends of religious liberty, by bringing
the pressure from withiut to bear through the House of
Commons on the Ministry, hayr in three years converted
a majority of 48 against Church-late abolition into a
majority of 43 in its favour. The mu aerials and means
for securing a similar triumph for the ballot are the
same, and equally witlin the power of its friends ; and
the cause of freedom of election is surely as worthy a
persevering and arduous struggle as the cause of freedom
of conscience.

THM FETIALE CON riffs UNDER SEN-
TiNCE OF DEATH IN NEWGATE.

The two unhappy women, Elizabeth Ann Harris and
Celestina Somner, who were convicted on Wednesday
and Thursday, the former of the murder oUter children
by drowning, and the latter of the murder of her child
by cutting its throat, and whose cases excited so painful
an interest upon the trial, were removed immediately
after tae sentence was pronounced to separate rooms on
the female side of the orison, where they will remain
until their ultimate fate is decided upon by the Govern-
ment. A female turnkey is in the room with each pri-
soner the whole of the day, and at night two women sit
up with them. It has been already stated that there is
no condemned cell, as it was commonly termed, and
mvicts who are under sentearce of death are now spared
the misery of being confined in the gloomy receptacle
formerly appropriated t, that purpose for the short
period of their existence prior to the carrying out of the
fatal sentence. They are now placed in a comfortable
aitartn3ent, where they have the advantage of light and
warmth; and no reasonable privilege likely to soothe
them in their melancholy position is denied them. Both
the unhappy women, although they were very much ex-
cited during their trial (particularly the woman Harrie),
have since become much more composed; but the worean
Harris appears more fully impressed with her awful posi-
tion than the other prisoner. The Rev. Mr. Dav el, the
chaplain of the gaol, has been in constant attendance
upon theto, and Miss Frazer, a benevolent lady, who
devotes her attention to the sr .lace of the wretched in-
mates of this place of woe, has also been frequently with
the prisoners, i,nd her religious exhortations have appa-
rently had effect upon Celestina Somner. She is stated
to be only 24 years old in the calendar, but is it appears
two year- older ; even according to this she must have
brought the Unhappy child whose life she destroyed into
Vie world when she was little more than 15 years old.
She affects to believe that there is no intention of carry-
ing out the sentence of death, and she has stated that
she expects to be sent to a lunatic asylum, and that
after she has been confined there a few months, she shall
be set at liberty. But the authorities of the prison, as
well as the medical officers, are of opinion that there is
not the least ground for supposing that her mind is in
any way disturbed. The prisoner appears to have re-
ceived a good education, and it is said that she is re-
spectably connected. A very fearful impression prevaris
upo❑ the subject of the paterni-y of I a child, which is
not necersary more particularly to allude to. The woman
Harris is only 25 years old, and she appears to have
received very little education, being scarcely able to
read. It is now several years since a woman was exe-
cuted at Newgate, the last being a girl named Browning,
for the murder of an old woman in Westminster, with
the object of getting possession of what she believed to
be a Bank of England note, but which, after she had
committed the dreadful crime, turned out to be a note of
the Bank of "Elegance," and utterly worthless. It is
understood that a petition for a commutation of the sen-
tence is in course of preparation, and it is almost need-
less to add that the authorities of the prison earnestly
hope it may have effect, and that they may all be spared
from the performance of the distressing duty that will
devolve upon ;them should they have to carry the law
into effect.

TURKISH GUARANTEED LOAN.

DEPUTATION TO M. MUSURUS.

On Saturday morning, pursuant to appointment, a
deputation of the holders of Turkish guaranteed bonds
waited upon the Ottoman minister, at his residence,
Bryanstone-square, to submit to his Excellency's atten-
tion a proposition for the registration of the bonds. The
deputation consisted of Mr. Oliveira, M.P., Mr. Crau-
furd, M.P., Mr. Ralli, and Mr. H. Toogood, and was
received by his Excellency with mush courtesy.
Mr. OLIVEIRA explained the object of the deputation,
and stated the result of his interrogatbn of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, who had alleged that the ques-
tion was one in which the English GOvernment could not
interfere, but which they would sanction c old any
ar-
rangement be entered into for the purpose with the
Porte and the Bank of England. He had since applied to
the Govei nor of the Bank, from whom he read a letter,
stating that the Bank was prepared to consider any plan
which the Ottoman Minister might submit t) his Go-
vernment for effecting the object in view. Mr. Oliveira,
•sho stated that Mr. S(!ott, M.P., Mr. Hutf, M.P.,
Mr. Luce, M.P., Mr. Curt's, and Mr. trzielli had ex-
pressed their approval of his su2westion, and then read
a letter from Mr. Hutchinson, chair Ilan of the Stock
Exchange, regretting his absence, and recommending
the conversion, at the option of the holders, of the bon s
into registered transferable Wock, which would have the
effect of greatly raising its va,ue in the market, and of
the desirability of which he quoted a striking instance.
The hon. member explained fully how the registration
of the bonds would opt rate in their favour as a security.
Mr. RALLI then addressed the Minister, and observed
that he was a holder of the bonds to the amount of
25,0001., and bought them to keep, not as a speculation ;
consequently the registration would be in his case very
desirable.
His Excellency, who speaks English with great
fluency, listened with marked attention to the state-
ments of Mr. Oliveira, and after putting several ques-
tions, which were responded to by Mr. Craufurd, ob•
served that the proposition undoubtedly tended to give
additional security to the holders of tile bonds, and
promised that he would take immediate steps to com-
municate with the Porte, as well as with the Governor
of the Bank of England, on the subject.
The deputatiin, after thanking his Excellency, then
withdrew, much satisfied with the result of their inter-
view.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—FIVE SHILLING DAY, APRIL 12.
—Admissions on payment, 297 ; ditto by season tickets,
2,581 ; total vioitors, 2,878.

TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF TILE V AUX-
HALL RAILWAY TION.

Last night a fire of a terrific nature, the reflection of
which must have been seen throughout every portion of
the metropolis, and many parts of the coutity of Surrey
—broke out in the station-of the London and South-
Western Company, situated at Vauxhall, and near to
her Majesty's private station.
The flames, it appears, were first perceived by Mr. In-
spector Etrker, one of the officials at Watermo terminus,
who, having been sent to see a gentleman at the Vauxhall
station, Was in the act of ascending the staircase on the
down line, when he noticed that the fire was burning
the paper and canvas wall leading to the offices of Mes,rs.
Maudslay.

An immediate alarm of fire was raised, and every one
we❑t to the assistance of those previously on the plat-
form, but without being able to do the least good, inas-
much as the fire travelled with the rapidity-of electricity,
seizing upon the whole of the offices, then extending
to the ticket depots, and finally seizing upon the roof of
the station, and, burning both upwards and downwards,
it assumed such a formidable aspect as to convince every
One that-the station was doomed to be whol;y destroyed,
and it was questionable whether any of the buildings
that adjoined it could escape.
A telegraphic message was, therefore, at once des-
patched to the Waterloo terminus, conveying the un-
welcome intelligence of the disaster, and at the same
time men were sent down the line to stop any train ap-
proaching London, in order to prevent accidents. The
latter was fortunately accomplished, but some hundreds
of excnnionists and others were put to great inconve-
nience, as they were unable to -get nearer town than the
Clapham and Nine Elms Stations.
The Southampton excursion train which left LOndon
in the morning conveyed nearly 7DO persons, who, of
course, would have to walk or provide their own con-
veyance from the Nine Elms station to London.
Information having reached the terminus the engines
of the brigade and the West of England were dolled, but
the flames having ,hown such a lurid glare in the horizon
the engines hic-I started bef .:e the messengers had time
to reach them, a. 4.1 having been guided to the place by
the light in the air on.), he firemen at once went to work
in a manner fur which they ere proverbial on similar oc-
casions.

The moment the plugs of the Lambeth, Vauxhall, and
Southwark Companies' mains were drawn a sufficient
supply of water was obtained to set the engines of Price's
candle works, Messrs. Burnett's and Hodge's distillery,
to work, as well as that of the %Vest of England Office,
and many of the London Brigade.
The station, however, standing upon the top of the
line, and being taiilt of wood, a ,d the wind blowing stiffly
off the river Thames, the confi gration continued to pro-
gress, and at length cointnehced to attack the houses on
the south side of the property, and by 11 O'clock sundry
portions of the timber roof give way and fat with a great
crash, portions being hurled into the middle. Of the per-
mar ent way and abut parts falling at the feet of the fire-
men ; but in spite of their most strenuous labours net.
the least impression could be made upon the violence of
the flames. TM) men, however, under the admirable
directions of their superior officers, Messrs. Henderson,
Conporton, Holloway, Yeinming, and several others,
stood to their post-, ; but, even at the time this account
was written-12 o'clock—although all da,ger of any
further extension of mischief was over, the fire was far
from being entirely extinguished. By that period the
whole of the statiAt, hooking-officeA, warehouses, Scc.,
were reduced to ruins, net even the woouen walls of the
railway company rematuing.
The moment the news was received at the Waterloo
terminus, Mr. Crornbie, the secretary ; Mr. Young, the
superinteritient of the terminus ; Mr. Godson, and seve-
ral other officials hastened to the spot and gave the
necessary instructions as to what was best to be done to
presreot scaidents, and by so doing not a single person
was injured.
The mail baps were taken by one of Mr. Barwick's
vans and deposited at the Nine-elms station, and they
left the place in sufficient time to be delivered in the
country at the usual hour this day. Of course nothing
could pass up or down the line between Waterloo aed
Vauxhall last night; bnt owing to the permanent way
not being damaged by the fire to any extent, the line
will he sufficiently cleared and repaired during the night_
to allow the trains to run as usual this day.
To give anything like an idea of the inconvenience ocs
casioned at the London terminus would be next to an
impossibility ; every cab, omnibus, and other vehicle on
the platform and the stands in the open streets were
taken away. The public houses, instead of being over-
crowded, were completely deserted, and business might
be fairly stated to h we become for a time suspended.
A crowd, roughly estimated at at least 50,000 person,,
lined the roads leading tb the fire, they Laving been
drawn from various parts of the metropolis by the re-
flexion, but were kept out of danger by the police of the
A, L, and M divisions, under the personal directions 41
Superintendents Walker (A), Evans (L), Branford (M),
and a host of inspectors.
Up to the time this account was written we did not
kear of any one having met with a fatal accident, neither
could it be ascertained whether the station was insured
or n. 4.

OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following is the official report of this melancholy
occurrence :

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sunday, April 13, 12 p.m.
Sir,—l regret to have to announce that the buildings
of the Vauxhall station of the SAith-Western Railway
Cotnpail have been this evening entirely destroyed by
fire, fortunately without 10-s of life or personal injury.
I have the satisfaction to state that, after a careful exa-
mination, tie permanent way has been found to be unin-
jured ; and the only inconvenience therefore, to the pub-
lic will be the temporary ce,sation of the ,t,,pping of any
trains at the Vauxhali station until necessary accommo-
dation can be provided--I am, sirs, y ours, &c.,
L. CROMBIE, Secretary.

ALARM OF FIRE AT DRURY-LANE
THEATRE.

Early yesterday morning there was an alarm of fire a,
Drury-lane Theatre which arose under the following cir-
cumstances : It appears that at the conclusion of the per-
formances on Saturday night, the committee of the theatre,
according to previous arrangement, arrived upon the
stage for the purpose of witnessing some experiments
with Phillips's patent fire annihilators, in order to test
their applicability in case of fire occurring within
the building. Mr. Curtis, the secretary of the An-
nihilator Company, some of his men, and a number of
machines were taken upon the stage, while the hands
employed in the theatre were in other parts ce the
house, to be ready to assist in case anything should
arise to demand their services. The perf)rinances
commenced with a trial between the patent hand-
pump, such as is used by the fire brigade, and one or two
small annihilators, to see which could most quickly ex-
tinguish the lights burning in the battens over the stage.
nese battens are about '4O feet high, and have each a
great number of perforations to allow the gas to escape
so as to illuminate the top of the stage and " borders."
Three firemen, named Samuel Girrard, John Jones, and
J. Webster, were engaged working the band pumps and
discharging water over the gas jets to ascertain which
would most effectually extinguish the flame. The water
from the pumps for some time appeared to prove of
greater advantage than the small annihilating machines,
when it was proposed by Mr. Curtis, the secretary, that
one of the larger machines, drawn upon two wheels,
should be tried. This was accordingly done, and the
carriage having been placed near the centre of the stage,
a large iron funnel, 15 feet iu length, was attached for
the purpose of assisting the vapour to reach the gas
burning in the battens. The signal having been given,
the man in charge of the annihilator broke the bottle
containing the acid, which ignited the composition, and
the vapour commenced to escape, but in a few seconds
the funnel, through which the gas generated in the ma-
chine was passing, b'ew off, and was projected up to the
flies and lodged under the bridge of the stage in a heated
state. At the same time the cap or lid of the annihilator
was blown off, which knocked down the man having
charge of the apparatus, and passed by him to a distance
of 35 feet, The machine then threw up such a vast body
of fire that every one in the theatre apprehended its en-
tire destruction. Fortunately the firemen bad taken the
precaution to have their engines placed upon the stage
and charged with water, and they were therefore en-
abled without the least delay to render assistance. So
great was the concussion caused by the explosion that
another annihilator standing on the stage rolled away,
and having broken the iron and glass of five of the floats
it fell into the orchestra, demolishing one of the musk-
stands and upsetting the seats. This so alarmed the com-
mittee that they rushed out into the street, and a cry of
" fire " was at once given, which caused the engines to
arrive in the course of a few minutes. The firemen cor
fleeted with the theatre, however, managed to get the
fire subdued, and before any groat damage was done,
the only part that was but nt through the eurface of the
wiedwork being a beau under the bridge of the first
tier of the flies. The man who had charge of the ma-
chine was severely burnt by the force of steam that
escaped when the explosion took place. Mr. Tuck, r,
the master carpenter, was also burnt in his bands by the
rush of steam. A man named Watson was likewise
badly burnt, arid was taken by Lyons, the
gasman, to
AF
the hospital, but was soon enabled to return home. A
to the precise cause of the expiosidnenothing positive
could be ascertained, but it is supposed that the lid or
top of the machine could not have been properly rivette
el, as the mechines are invariably strong enough to bear
the force of the charge they contain.

COMMUTATION OF SENTENCE.—WaI and Carr, the two
men left at Liverpool to be hanged for the murder of a
seaman by strangulation, have had their sentence com-
muted to transportation for life.
CALCRAFT THE EXI.CU T lONER. On Saturday the
aldermen forming the gaol committee held a meeting at
the Guildhall, which Caleraft, the public hangman, at-
tended, to explain his conduct at the execution of Bons-
field. The meeting was strictly private, but it is under-
stood that Calcrah's services are to be retained, and that
he ie to have an aasiktal►it. _