The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-19 00:00:00

THE PARAS YESTERDAY.

Notwithstanding the rain—which with very short in-
tervals descended in torrents during nearly the whole of
yesterday, the various parks in the metropolis were at-
tended by great numbers of peeple. Placards of various
descriptions bad been extensively circulated during the
week, announcing that a demonstration of working
men would take place in the different parks for the pur-
pose of protesting against the stoppage of the baud
playing on Sundays, and calling upon all persons to at-
tend, as it was intended to have music notwithstanding
the decision cf Lord Palmerston to the contrary. It
being therefore anticipated that some of the violence of
last summer might be repeated, the attention of Sr
Richard Mayne was called to the matter, and after
careful consideration it was decided by the commis-
sioners that lsrge numbers of police should be sent into
the neighbourhood of the various parks, but that they
should be secreted, and not tailed out unless their ser•
vices were required, so that any unpleasant collisions
with the police•might be avoided. The consequence of
this was, that during the whole of yesterday very few
constables were seen in any of the parks.
HYDE PARK.-4 this park the people began to as-
semble about three o'clock, acid in about an hour, not-
withstanding the heavy showers of rain, several thou-
sands were gathered together. Many expressed their
disappr Jbation thatno one came forward to a 'dress them,
and after a short time a great crowd had collected in one
spot. Tee people at this point were soon joined by a
considerable number of " reughe" with sticss in their
hands, who commenced to hoot, shriek, and swear, in a
disgraceful manner. The majority were most respect.
able, well-dressed persons, and as soon as they perceived
the low fellows were bent upon mischief, they moved off
as quickly as possiole, dispersing in various direct.ena,
with an apparent deterininatien not to take part in any
uproarous proceedings.
In Kensingtwegardens, where by far the greatest
number of people assembled, a similar concourse of
"roughs" had banded themselves together, rushing
against every respectably dressed person they met, at
the same time whistling, hooting, and shrieking, for the
purpose of creating confusion and cornrnit!ing robberies.
Several of the trees were iejered, in consequence of the
branches being pulled,off, to be used as sticks by the
disorderly. The scene was at its height a little after 4
o'clock, when down came the heaviest shower of tie-
day, which had the effect of nearly clearing the park.
REGENT'S•PARIC.—The number of people who assem-
bled in this park was very small, and though much dui
appointment was expressed at the withdrawal of the
band no disturbance took place. A large force of police
was in reserve. Up •n inquiry at the Albany-street sta-
tion late iset evening, it was ascertained that everything
had passed off quietly.
VICTORIA-PARS.—Great numbers of people fio3ked
into this park during the day, but there was no indica-
tion of riot or disorder.

The letter purporting to come from Sir B. Hal

which appeared in our impression of Saturday is,

appears, what is called a hoax. The silly practical
j )her who concocted it has reason to be thankful thad.
the unfavourable state of the weather, yesterday, pre-
vented the assembling of a crowd so numerous that its
drircPiiiiiiiiinent might have broke out in turbulence.

Since.nu harm has come of his foil, it is not worth while
to try to unearth the foul.—Daily News.

FATAt EXPLOSION IN WOOLIVICII
ARSENAL-FOUR LIVES LOST.

On Saturday afternoiin last, at half-past three o'clock,
another explosion .ncurred in the laboratory,departnient
of Woolwich Arsenal, the re-ult of which has caused the
utmost excitement, and plunged many families into the
deepest affliction. We are enabled, through the kind-
ness of several officials connected with the department,
to give the following details of the accident.
In th., centre of the Laboratory-square are two wooden
sheds, each about 12 feet square, used for the purpose
of mixing the composition for filing percussion caps.
Tnis composition coutiins a proportion of fulminating
mercury, and in consequence of its combustible na-
ture it is conveyed to other sheds for use in gutta
percha bottles, and only two persons are allowed in
each of the sheds where it is mixed. Adjacent to
these sheds is the carpenters' shop, and at the time of
the accident several carpenters and labourers were em-
ployed in removing square boxes, made for the purpose
of 'packing fireworks for London. At the time men
tioned the sheds were blown up with a loud explosion,
and twelve men and boys were thrown with terrific force
into the air. The utmost consternation prevailed in the
establishment The gates were closed ; and Captaii.
Boxer, Superintendent of the Royal Laboratories, with
the police force, were instantly on the spot to discover
the extent of the accident, and render assistance. The
dead and maimed were found in all directions at a con-
siderable distance from the sheds; and one poor fellow
was literal), blown to atoms—his limbs being entirely
disjointed. The following are those killed on the spot :
—William Flack, foreman of the mixing sheds ; Richard
Taylor, John Reading, and William Green, labourers.
The seven principal sufferers, namely, John Andrews, a
carpenter, Richard Russell, Henry Gale, John Savage,
John Richardion, and .two lads named Blanch and
Webber, were conveyed to the Royal Ordnance Hos-
pital in ambulance waggons, under the direction of
the Royal Ordnance surgeons. On inquiry at the
hospital at eight o'clock last • evening, it was ascer-
tained that all the 'sufferers were in a very precarious
state, and that Richardsbn was nut expected to survive.
William Powell, who was injured by the e plosion in a
rocket shed ten days since, died at the Royal Ordnance
Hospital on Friday last. An inquest will be held on
the deceased before C. J. Carttar, coroner for West
Kent, to-morrow.

ANOTHER OFFICIAL DEFAULTER AT
PORTSWOUTE.

ID consequence of the lengthened inquiries resulting
from the complaints male by the convicts on board the
Stirling Castle, convict invalid hulk, in this harbour,
circumstances have transpired ofsa somewhat serious
character. These complaints were made previous
to the murder of the late Mr. Hope, the surgeon
of that ship, and they were repeated Subsequently ;
and it appears that an inquiry was instituted by
three of the inspectors of prisens under the Home-office.
The exact result of these inquiries has not, of course.
been promulgated, tut it aupears they have led to
the precipitate departure of Majer Shaw, the governor of
the Stirling Cache, who it is reported has appropriated
to his own use come 600 i. oilaaoney, the property of the
Government, and which was entrusted to him for pay-
ment of general expenses, adages of vi arders, &c. The
salary of the governor is 3501. per annum, besides which
he 'nad'apaittnents on board the hulk, the whole of the
poop being appropriated to his use, far more room and
accommodation being provided for him than any admire.'
possesses on board ship. Many other perquisites and
advantages were obtainable, and altogeth, r the value of
the office could not be less than 4001 altar. We are
sorry to 'say that a warder, who of course could ill ,-fford
to spare the money, hese, 51. by he governs is departure,
,;he latter having borrowed that sum of him a day or two
before !saving Mr. J. Shaw was formerly, we hear, a
colour s:-rjeant in the British army; the title f tnejor was
obtained is the Spanish service, in the contest against
the claims of Don Carlos: He is an aged man, ahem 60,
married, and has one son. It is impossible to c ,njecture
what could have induced hiin, to sacrifice such a situa-
tion in such a manner at least. We are told that his,
expenditure, personally, was hardly more than 1001. a
year. With regard to the charges brought by the con-
victs, so far as ill-treatment are conce ned, we believe
they were unfounded ; he sometimes_ used language that
wee, rough, but not excessively CO. Caiee;n J. S. War-
ren, deputy-governor of Milbank Pritem, was appointed
early in the week to succeed Mr. Shaw in the governor-
Ohip at the Stirling Castle.74l4ntpshire Telegraph.