The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-23 00:00:00

sidual products during the past six months haul been
considerably depressed, but nevertheless the direc-
tors were enabled to recommend a dividend at the
rate of 5 per cent. per annum. The arrangements
to meet the winter supply were far in advance, and

the demand for gas was on the increase.
The CHAIRMAN, in moving the adoption of the
report, regretted that it was not more favourable,
but entertained a hope that in the future the price
of coke and other products would be enhanced.
Although he could not hold out the expectation that
they would return to a 10 per cent. dividend, still
he believed that their prospects were encouraging,
and that improvement might fairly be looked for.
The motion for the adoption of the report was
seconded by the deputy-chairman.
Mr. WIL3IOT KNIGHT inquired how it happened
that so large a sum appeared in the accounts under
the head of donations and subscriptions.
The CHAIRMAN replied that it was composed of
sums given to the hospital and other local objects,
and the directors exercised every economy in that
respect.
The resolution for the adoption of the report then
passed nern dis.
Mr. WILMOT KNIGHT then moved a resolution to
the effect that the meeting was of opinion that it
would be highly desirable for the directors to print
and circulate the report and statement of accounts
among the proprietors at least one week previously
to the half-yearly meeting of the company. He
expressed great respect for the board, but was not
prepared to yield a blind confidence to any set of
men. He regretted that so few proprietors were
present ; and on behalf of those shareholders who
were non-resident in London, and unable to attend,
he hoped the proprietary would vote for his motion.
Mr. ALWGIIAN (auditor) seconded the motion.
lie did not anticipate any injury likely to result
from the publication of the accounts, but he believed
publicity would tend to dispel those misconceptions
the Brighton people entertained as to the profit
which the company was making and prove that it
would be utterly futile for a third company to com-
mence operations in opposition.
Considerable discussion ensued. The chairman
and some other directors expressed themselves de-
cidedly adverse to the motion ; but upon a show of
hands it was carried by a majority of one.
A resolution authorising the board to borrow
£5,000 for the purpose of the company was carried
unanimously, the retiring directors and auditors
were re elected, and the proceedings concluded with
a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors.

The Lords of the Admiralty at Portsmou'h,

The Lords of the Admiralty, comprising the
Right Hon. 11. I'. L. Corry, M.P., First Lord ;
Vice-Admirals Sir Alexander Milne, K.C.8., and
Sir Sidney C. Dacres, K.C.8., Rear-Admiral Geo.
11. Seymour, C. 8., m.P., Mr. Chas. Ducaue, M.P.,
accompanied by Lord 11. G. Lennox, M.P., First
Secretary to the Board, and Captain Brandreth,
R.N., private secretary to Mr. Corry, arrived at
Portsmouth about noon yesterday from Loudon, on
the Board's annual visit of inspection to the dock-
yard and other naval establishments at the port.
Admiral R. S. Robinson, Controller of the Navy,
with the Accountant and Storekeeper-Generals of
the Navy, had arrived at the port on the previous
day from London.
Their Lordships on the present occasion inverted
the usual order of procedure on official visits to the
port in making their inspection of the Royal Marine
Artillery their first duty after their arrival, instead
of making it, as hitherto, one of their last duties.
At 2 p.m. their Lordships had left the yard in car-
riages provided for their accommodation, and drove
to the practice-ground of the Artillery at Fort
Cumberland, where they were received by Colonel-
Commandant Schomberg and Colonel B. 0. Bar-
nard at the head ,of the corps, drawn up on the
glacis of the fort in two battalions in line, with a
demi-field battery on either flank. Their Lordships
were received with the usual honours, and, at-
tended by the Inspectof-General of the Royal
Marine Forces and other officers, afterwards in-
spected the force as drawn up on the ground.
Marching past followed with the usual wall-like
steadiness and precision which are characteristic
featurss of her Majesty's Sea Artillery, and this
having been couelnied, the men were marched off
the ground to the various land and sea service bat-
teries for practice, piling arms and lodging their ac-
coutrements in rear of the guns. The broadside
naval battery was under the command of Capt. Cox.
Two field batteries of six guns each, with the siege
gunscol. Williams.
onn d er
gunst hoen ct
ho
om amnpda
rot
sf
wegaerrre u
of the fort were under the command of Lieutenant-
Colonel Adair, and the • t Lave -gun battery (sea ser-
vice) under Captain Poore's command.
The shell practice at targets placed seawards, at
ranges varying from 800 to 2,000 d yar s, was never
excelled on any previous day's practice
by the corps,
every shell bursting at the right moment over the
flag targets, and making the latter the centre of a
storm of iron splinters. The general fi • rms. at one
time with shot and shell seaward from
all It ebat-
teries produced a most magnificent effect.
We may mention here, for the
Admiralty alone, that in this establishment for the
training of some 2,000 Marine
Artillerymen there
are at the present time only two heavy sea-service
guns that are not obsolete. As a consequence, there
cannot be more than some 20 men in all
who have passed their drills as
disciplined
Marine
Artillerymen.
"My Lords" were much pleased with the result
of their inspection of the corps so far, both in its
appearance under arms on the glacis of the fort and
in the gunnery practice. From Fort
Cumberland
Mr. Corry and his colleagues, attended by Colonel
Schomberg, Captain and Adjutant
Colotnb, and
other officers, drove to the new barracks of the corps
at Eastney, where they were received
by Colonel
Clarke, R.E., Admiralty Director of ngt E • neering
and Architectural Works; Mr. H. Wood, C .E., the
Admiralty Superintending Engineer at Portsmouth
and Mr. George Smith, the contractor ; by whom
they were attended over the works in hand, com-
mencing with the mess building of the officers
in
the east wing.
The head-quarters of the Royal Marine Artillery
at Eastney, when completed, which will be by the
end of the present financial year, will be one of the
most perfect establishments of the kind in the United
Kingdom. The walled enclosure in which it stands
on the sea beach between Southsea Castle and Hay-
ling Island embraces an area of 27 acres. The
Main building, running along the centre of this space
from east to west and parallel with the beach line,
is upwards of I,oooft in length, and is appropriate d
to single men's quarters, divided into blocks of
rooms. Each room in the block is fitted for eight
men, is 55ft. long by 24ft. wide andil3ft. between
floor and ceiling. It thus gives 612 cubic feet of
space to each man. The whole length of blocks
contains accommodation for upwards of 1,200 men.
The building is of red brick with stone dressings,
three stories high, and wants only projecting ve-
randah over each line of windows to protect the
rooms from the heat of the summer's sun in their
south aspect, and the wind and rain of the winter's
S.E. gales, to render the building as nearly as pos.
sible perfect. Connected with this main line of
building and in its rear is a covered drill shed,
604 ft. in length by 60ft. in width, under which the
men drill in wet or rough weather. A large re-
creation building, connected with the main quarters
on the opposite side of the drill shed, contains a
library and lecture-room or theatre, each 61ft.,ft by
271 t., and 19ft. high ; a games room, 501 t. by 2r
and a billiard-room, sGft. by 27ft., both 14ft. high.
Solid mahogany tables and chairs, with firs here
s
billiard tables, bagatelle, and other games,
administer to the leisure hour of the soldier and tell
wonderfully of Admiralty liberality. The sergeantsand
'
mess-room is a noble apartment, 36ft. by 28ft.,
a library of the same size is attached. A spacious
canteen, with bar, non-commissioned officers' and
gunners' parlours and other rooms, with grocery
stores, &c., attached, stands in the rear of the drill
shed and between the married and single men's
quarters) The married quarters stand in a separate
walled-in piece of ground, and at present consist
of two blocks, each 21Gft. long by 38ft. deep, and
three stories high. The ground-floor rooms are

occupied chiefly by staff sergeants and their fami- I
lies. The first floor is occupied by non-conirnissioucd
officers and gunners. Over the first floor of one block
are the dormitories for children, and over the other
are at present, fixed temporarily, their schools.
The east wing of the main line of buildings on the
sea front contains colonel commandant's residences,
officers' quarters, and an exceedingly well-arranged
and handsome stone-fronted officers' mess-house.
The latter contains—all as yet unfinished—a gene-
ral mess-room 70ft. long by 35ft. in width, with
unusually large breakfa.st-rooms, library, billiard-
rooms, &c., and a splendid range of kitchen accom-
modation and offices. The west wing of the main
line of building comprises officers' residences, pay-
masters' and other offices, court-martial room, and
all the necessary adjuncts in that form of a large
barrack establishment, isolated from all others of
the kind as the Royal Marine Artillery is. About
the centre of the west wing of buildings is being
erected a water-tower, about SOft. in height to the
cornice from the parade ground, and about 40f t. in
diameter. It is being built of red brick with stone
dressings, in keeping with the rest of the buildings,
with a truncated roof and turret, and a flat floor on
the roof for observation. When finished it will be
about as pretty a bit of architecture of the kind as
can well be imagined.
Off all these buildings the married and single
men's quarters, with the offices, washhouses, cook-
houses (the main cookhouse is 50ft. long by 28ft.
wide, and is 18ft. in height, cooking for 1,200 men),
canteen, recreation building, and other like offices
hand is intended to
as we have already
rem,sad
anl
ly et
the t
wo
obr
ke
afitnpi srhe
se
edn,
tb
iunt ,
be completed by the end of the present financial
year. There will then remain for the consideration
of the Admiralty the necessity of erecting other
buildings as an infirmary, a hospital, and a prison,
which must be added to render the whole arrange-
ment and organisation of the barracks perfect.
A large portable circular iron church, which has
done duty in Southsea for many years past, in
various positions as the place increased in size, and
was somewhat irreverently called "crinoline" church
has lately been purchased by the Admiralty, and
erected near the south-west end of the barrack en-
closure, for the accommodation of the officers and
men of the Marine Artillery. It has sittings for
1,000 men, women, and children.
The " garden allotments" of the men on an ex-
tensive piece of ground outside the head-quarters
boundaries, and lent for the purpose by the War
Department, are well worth a visit from any one
who may be in the neighbourhood, and who feels an
interest in the barrack life of the soldier. Each plot
of a company has its fringe of flower beds which
now are glowing with colour, and many of them con-
tain flowers of more than common worth. The re-
mainder of the plots are covered with fine vegetable
produce in seeming sufficiency to supply a large
army.
During the stay of the Board at Portsmouth the
royal paddle-yacht Osborne will be appropriated as
their lordships' " hotel," but it is not probable that
she will fulfil the same duty at other ports, the pad-
dle-shaft, or rather one of its cranks, having sus-
tained an injury during the recent trip of the yacht
with their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales to the Continent.
Last evening their lordships were entertained at
dinner by the Port Admiral, Sir Thomas Sabine
Pasley, and afterwards patronised the ball held at
the King's Rooms, Southsea, in aid of the funds of
the Seamen's and Marines' Orphan Schools.
To-day the Board will make their inspection of
the dockyard and the new extension works. Pos-
sibly this latter may occupy also a part of Saturday.
At 2 p.m. on Saturday the First Lord will hold the
customary levee at the Royal Naval College, in the
dockyard. On Monday Clarence Victualling Yard
will be inspected, as will also the Royal Naval Hos-
pital at Ilaslar, the deserted gunboat yard and slip-
way at Haslar, and the Royal Marine Light In-
fantry at Forton. On Tuesday morning the board,
according to existing arrangements, will embark on
bOard their yacht Enchantress, and leave for Devon-
port, on their visit of inspection to that port.

Naval and lll:litary Intelligence.

Rear-Admiral Sir John C. 1). Hay, M.P., an
the Second Secretary, Mr. Wm. G. Romaine, C.B
will remain in town to transact business at the
Admiralty, Whitehall, during the absence of the
Board of Admiralty on their annual tour of inspec-
tion of the several dockyards.
The flying column which left Aldershot Camp on
Tuesday morning for Sandhurst arrived at the
ground selected for encampment at half-past 11
o'clock, and speedily pitched tents, picketed horses,
and commenced the various duties of field life in
much the same manner as in actual campaigning.
liwhich but a few hours before was
te, and the usual measures of
o'
A very short time sufficed for the growth of a can-
vaasreder ilciit
aPynad securityor'illtiaN' ud
sposot
were taken. In the afternoon
everything wore a settled aspect, and at 5 o'clock
each regiment paraded and underwent inspection by
its commanding officer. Pickets had been previously
thrown out, and these were recalled at the hour of
i unvaryingt ,
retreat. At tattoo all was quiet in the encamp-
te nOn Wednesday thecolumn, suddenly attacked by a supposed enemy,
turned out with alacrity to repel the invader, and
savieand there the tread of a sentry on
hisi c ler
round of duty,
went through all the movements incident to a field
day, the Lieut.ot -Genefralter ctheomm fieldandinday there was a arrived
from Aida-sh. A
parade. Yesterday the migratory character of. the
column was well exemplified. As early as 5.30 a.m.
the tents were struck, and the men, having break-
fasted, fell iu at 7 o'clock, and marched towards
Bourley Bottom, the next halting place. Their
march, however, was not devoid of incident, for on
the way they were intercepted by the cavalry of the
division, under Major-Gen. Hodge, C. 8., and an
interesting sham fight took place. Ultimately the
column formed squares, the frcnt ranks dropped on
one knee, and formed a bristling chevaux de frise with
their bayonets, and fire being opened from the right
and left of faces, the cavalry were compelled to re-
treat, the column, L'.aving a few prisoners and some
baggage in their hands. The column then continued
its march to Bourley-bottom, which it reached unmo-
lested at 12 o'clock. The whole force is under the com-
mand of Major-General Ronny, and is composed of
the 54th Regiment, under Major Deacon ; the 56th,
under Col. Lacy ; the 70th, under Col. Cooper ; B
battery, 9th Brigade, Royal Artillery, under Capt.
Elton, and detachments of the Royal Engineers,
Commissariat Staff Corps, and Military Train. It
is expected that the column will return to camp this
afternoon, and that a second flying column will be
despatched in the coarse of a few days.
The Ordnance Select Committee of Woolwich
Arsenal yesterday attended throughout the day in
the long range at Shoeburyness, for the special pur-
pose of testing the old wooden gun-carriages and
stands, as :applicable to bear the increased
charges fired from the 68-pounder service guns,
—Brigadier-Ge
ciple. The members present were
strengthened and altered on Major Palliser's priii-
n.
Lefroy, R.A., YRS., president ; Capt. Lord Fred.
Kerr, R.N., vice-president, in succession to Capt,
Heath, C. 8., retired on promotion to flag rank ;
Lieut.-Col. Greville, temporarily attached, in suc,
cession to Col. Adye, C.B. ; Lieut.-Col. Shaw, at•
tached, in the absence of Brevet-Col. Younglius•
band, now on duty at the Paris Exhibition
Brevet-Col. Freeling, R.E. ; Col. Wray, C.B.
Lieut.-Col. Mayne ;Major Heyman, R. A., secre-
tary ; and Qaarterniaster Bellellllll. The trials
were very satisfactory, as proving the thorough
efficiency of the carriages, which resisted even to
the destruction of the guns. One of the 68-pounder
cast-iron guns of the service was used on the occa-
sion, and was fired five rounds with charges of 161 b.
of powder, and a cylinder weighing
1151. A second
series of five rounds of 181 b. charges, and a similar
cylinder was also fired satisfactorily, when, after a
1 short deliberation, it was resolved that the cartridge
should be increased to 201 b., which it was pro-
nounced would be fatal to the gun. The members
consequently took the precaution of being
secure from danger, and the greatest anxiety
was created on hearing the report to witness the
result of the first round, which, as expected, de-
stroyed the gun,
The following appointments Were made yesterday

at the Admiralty :—C. 11. Hill, paymaster, to the
Barracouta ; F. Pittman, assist.-paymaster, to the
Cumberland ; J. Barnes, clerk, to the Formidable ;
F. H. Molesworth, naval cadet, nominated ; G. F.
Williams, Win. J. Warren, and S. Lawton, engi-
neers, to the Zealous.

TILE CRETAN INSURRECTION.

-0-

ATHENS, Aug. 15.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs has addressed
the following circular to the Greek Consuls with
reference to the Candian refugees who have been
conveyed to Greece by Greek and foreign vessels :
" Athens, July 28 (Aug. 9.)

" Sir,—Enclosed I send you a circular which has
been addressed by the Government to the prefects
and sub-prefects of the kingdom relative to the
measures to be ad,,pted in all the districts for
receiving and bestowing all necessary attentions
upon the thousands of Cretan families who were
recently brought to Greece by the fleets of Europe,
being prompted to this act by Philhellenic and
philanthropical sentiments.
" The people of Greece will show these new re-
fugees who have found homes with Greek families
the most paternal solicitude ; but, independently of
the board and lodging which will be given to the
refugees by the inhabitants of the kingdom accord-
ing to their means, these families have other wants
which cannot be met without money. Much has
already been contributed in Greece and other coun-
tries for the relief of these unfortunates; but their
number having inordinately increased the funds
destined for this purpose are now almost exhausted,
despite the economy which has been practised in the
distribution.
" Under these circumstances we are convinced
that our fellow-countrymen will not consider the
great extent of the sacrifices to which they have
hitherto voluntarily submitted, but that taking into
consideration the new requirements which present
themselves they will make fresh sacrifices for the
accomplishment of a patriotic and humane duty.
" As the Greeks who are residing in other coun-
tries cannot receive the refugees into their families,
we are persuaded that they will contribute some-
thing to their aid ; and, as one can scarcely foresee
the duration of this state of things, it is desirable
that any assistance which may be given should not
be contributed at once but monthly until the deli-
verance of Crete from her miseries.
" On receipt of this letter you will please open a
monthly subscription, and will communicate to the
Greeks under your jurisdiction.
" At the same time, as the aim of this work is both
philanthropic and national, you will please confine
yourself to simply announcing the opening of the
subscription, leaving to every person the option of
joining it. You will remit any sum that the sub-
scription may realise to the Central Committee of
`le Cretans at Athens. " Tittcouris."

TILE SULTIIi\'S PEI URN 70 CONSTAIV,
7 IN OPLE.

The Levant Herald of the 14th inst. publishes
the following address from the Sultan to the Grand
Vizier, on the occasion of his return from Europe :
" The marks of sympathy and goodwill which I
have received during my journey from the Sove-
reigns and the great nations of Europe have been
such that I can never forget them. In returning to
the capital of my dominions, I wish to convey to my
faithful subjects the pleasure which I have experi-
enced, and to make them sharers in it. They know
that the first and dearest of my wishes is to witness
the daily growth of the prosperity and peace of my
empire, and the wellbeing of all my peoples, and
their consummation in every respect. The satisfac-
tion of my heart increases the more when I find all
my subjects, like the Governments and the nations
whose hospitality I have been enjoying, appreciating
the sincerity of my intentions.
" There is no sweeter recompense for a Sovereign
than to see Lis subjects respond by affection and de-
votion to his efforts for the tranquillity and pros-
perity of the country. The public marks of attach-
ment and fidelity which I have received once more
on this occasion from the entire population are
therefore most agreeable to me, and I esteem them
at the highest price. The sentiment of duty which
renders it incumbent on me to ensure protection to
all interests, and to guarantee the general welfare
of all my subjects, has derived a new strength from
this welcome, and has become invested with the
character of a sacred debt.
" My solicitude will therefore continue to be de-
voted to fostering those elements which everywhere
serve to bind commonwealths together ; to the ad-
vance of public instruction, the extension of means
of corninunica.tion, the good organisation of the
military and naval forces, and the development of
public credit ; and my firm will is that all my Mi-
nisters and all the functionaries of the State should
devote themselves to that object, each within the
limits of his proper sphere.
4t I desire that you should make known to all the
pleasure which I have experienced from the sincere
devotion manifested towards me by all classes of my
subjects, and the gratification displayed by foreign
subjects, our guests, on the occasion of my return
t o the capital of my empire."
The same journal gives an account of some of
the most noteworthy incidents connected with the
three days' festivities in Constantinople in celebra-
tion of the Sultan's return :
" At 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning the boom
of a signal gun from the batteries of Fanaraki an-
nounced the Sultan's approach to the Bosphorus.
The first vessel to meet his Majesty on his return
to his capital was the Turkish steamer Titi, and
soon afterwards came up the Austrian Lloyd's
steamer Pluto, which had a number of the staff of
the Ministry of Finance on board, and which met
the Imperial yacht in the Black Sea, about eight
miles from the mouth of the strait. During the
whole day the greatest animation prevailed in all
parts of the city. The Bosphorus swarmed
with caiques and crafts of all kinds ; the main
thoroughfares were crowded with people ; the
scene was varied by Turkish ladies in carriages
and on foot ; the roar of artillery was kept up
at froquent intervals, and the whole city presented
that marvellous spectacle of picturesque confusion
which Constantinople alone, of all capitals in the
world, can off;-.T. At night the streets were bright
with illuminations, and the Bosphorus presented
really a fairy sight. On Thursday evening, just
before sunset, the Sultan held a reception of the
diplomatic body and the great State functionaries at
the palace of Dolma Baghtche. General' Ignatieff,
the Russian Ambassador, as doyen of the corps diplo-
matique, addressed a few words of congratulation to
the Sultan on his auspicious return, which his Ma-
jesty briefly acknowledged. In the evening A'ali
Pasha gave a diplomatic banquet at Bebek, at which
the health of the Sultan was proposed by General
Ignatieff. His Highness responded to the toast,
and drank to the health of his Majesty's allies. It
was gencrally expected that the Sultan would have
made a progress on horseback in the evening, the
weather being so fine, through the chief streets of
Stamboul and Pera, as he did on his return from
Egypt five years ago ; but after the reception at
Dolma Baghtche, his Majesty steamed up and down
the Bosphorus in his yacht after nightfall to see the
illuminations and the brilliant display of fireworks
at 11.2bek.
" The three days' fete concluded brilliantly on
Friday night. The illuminations on both sides of
the Horn and on both the European and Asiatic
shores of the Bosphorus were as numerous and vivid
as on the previous nights. In the course of the
evening the Sultan landed from his caique at Baght-
clic Crpon, near Yeni Djami, and passed through
some of the streets and bazaars of Stamboul in a
carriage, returning on horseback across Karakeui
Bridge and along the lower part of Galata to the
Palace. The fete at A'ali Paella's country house
at Bebek went off with great eclat, although
the Sultan did not go there either, as it was believed
he would. About a thousand guests were present,
including the members of the diplomatic body, the
principal functionaries of the Porte, and the leading
families of the capital. The Greek Legation, how-
ever, was ' conspicuous for its absence ;' and the
Russian embassy was not numerously represented,
some of its members having accompanied General
Iguatieff, who had left for the Crimea. The grounds

were a perfect blaze of light, and presented a bril-
liant and fairy-like scene. There were two large
transparencies, one with the inscription in Turkish,
'Long live the Sultan,' the other with a Persian verse
signifying, 'Do not think these are lamps which
illuminate the land and the water ; they are stars
which have descended from heaven to felicitate his
Imperial Majesty on his happy return.' The Sultan's
band, conducted by Signor Gustelli, played in the
garden, and also in the ball room. At 12 o'clock
supper was served in a handsomely decorated saloon
erected for the occasion. A'ali Podia gave his arm
to Madame Outrey, wife of the French Charge
d'Affaires, and Fuad Pacha was cavalier to Madame
Vetzera, wife of the Austrian Charge. The supper,
it is needless to say, was of a most sumptuous and
recherche character. Steamers were provided by his
highness for the conveyance of those guests who did
not go by calques or by land."
_

MURDER AND SUICIDE

At Kennington yesterday much excitement was
caused by the report that a mother had killed two
of her children, and then committed suicide. It
appears that for some years a Mr. Roberts, a re-
spectable tradesman, from 40 to 50 years of age, has
lived at 51, Chester-street, Kennington. He was
married to a woman a few years his junior, and by
her he had three children, two boys and a girl.
Their ages were 12, 9, and 7 years. The husband
and wife lived on the most affectionate terms. Yes-
terday morning, at half-past 7 o'clock, Mr. Roberts,
who is a house-decorator and painter, left his house
to carry out a contract at a school which he had
undertaken to paint and paper at Brixton. Before
leaving he embraced his wife and kissed his children.
This was the last time he saw them alive. Yesterday
afternoon, between 4 and 5 o'clock, Mrs. Roberts
sent a message to Mr. Bargrave, grocer and tea-
dealer, of Chester-street, where her eldest son, aged
12, was employed, stating that she wanted to see him
immediately. Her son at once left the shop, and
was seen to enter his mother's house. Upon going
up stairs he was horrified at seeing a large pool of
blood upon the floor of his mother's sitting-room.
His mother was standing at the side of the door in-
side the room. She was very pale, and grasped in
her right hand a large long-bladed knife. She gave
a loud shriek when she saw her son, and waving the
knife in the air she rushed after him. He then saw
that she intended to kill him, and he ran or rather
leapt towards the stairs, and when he got two
steps from the top his fright became so great that
he fell and rolled towards the bottom of the flight.
His mother rushed after him and caught hold of his
clothes. He escaped, however, from the house, and
hastened to the shop of his employer, Mr. Bargrave.
The latter at once ran to the house, and upon en-
tering went upstairs to the sitting-room, and he
there saw two children covered with blood and evi-
dently dead. 'They were lying in a position that
showed that they had not struggled much. In an-
other pool of blood, and near her children (both
of whose throats she had cut in a frightful, manner),
lay Mrs. Roberts. There was a large and very
deep wound across her throat. She was struggling
hard for breath, and her features bore an expression
of the most intense agony. Her eyes, which were
wide open, were directed upwards, and as she
looked fixedly at the ceiling her lips quivered, and
she appeared to be in the act of praying. Her arms
were outstretched, and her hands were convulsively
clinched. Within a few inches of her right hand
lay the large knife with which she had committed
the two murders. Dr. Donahoo, of the Westmin-
ster-road, was called to the house, but the woman
expired shortly after he came. Mr. Roberts was
at once sent for, and he in a short time arrived
from Brixton. He could give no explanation for
the cause of his wife's madness. He, however,
said that she had been unwell lately, and ever since
a fire which she had seen take place at Ball's floor
cloth factory, Lower Kennington-lane, her nervous
system appeared to have been easily affected, and
the most trivial occurrences seemed to agitate her.
A neighbour states that he saw the miserable
woman rush round the back garden of the house
after her son, but not seeing the knife in her hand
at the time he had no idea that she contemplated
murder. Ile saw the boy run towards a low wall
and leap over it, and when he did so he ran down
the road. The boy said that his mother attempted
to strike him in the abdomen with the knife, and in
his efforts to get away he tore his clothes. He had
noticed that his mother had been low and despond-
ing for some time past, but from a cause he could
not tell. She had always been kind to him.

CONCEALMENT OF SEX FOR FIFIEEN
YEA US.

An investigation of a very extraordinary charac-
ter took place on Wednesday evening before Mr.
Bedford, the Westminster coroner, at the Prince of
0 range Tavern, Brewers-green, relative to the death
of a woman unknown, the supposed illegimate daugh-
ter of a Scotch nobleman, whose true sex was dis-
covered while dying at a common lodging-house,
No. 5, Perkin's-rents. She had dressed as a man
for the last fifteen years. _ _

William Gillard, superintendent of the lodging
house, said he had known the deceased for the last
eight or nine months by the name of Fred. Mitchell,
or " Scratchem," the latter being a nickname, owing
to a fidgetty disposition. The deceased had dressed
as a male, which he believed her to be until he acci-
dentally discovered her true sex. She
,slept in a
separate bed in a room in which twenty-two men
also slept, but not the slightest suspicion was
created as to her being a woman. Her habits
were very strange and her mode of obtaining her
livelihood a mystery. She was exceedingly well-
educated, and drank nothing stronger than
tea. She would bring in her food in a news-
paper, and eat it privately. There was not the
slightest sign of insanity about her. Shortly before
12 o'clock on Friday night last she retired to bed
apparently in good spirits, and at half-past 10 the
following morning had not risen. About one o'clock
she appeared to be insensible; and foaming at the
mouth. Medical attention was called in, and while
carrying out the doctor's orders he found to his sur-
prise that " Scratchem" was a woman. She died at
la quarter-past eightin the evening. He found some
letters in her coat pocket, which he turned over to
Mr. Fitzgerald, the proprietor of the house.
Mr. Hunt, surgeon, of Tatelifield-street, deposed
to being called to the deceased on Saturday last.
Ile found her lying on her back in bed, apparently
labouring under the effects of narcotic poison or
apoplexy. He gave instructions as to her treat-
ment, but she never rallied. He had made a post
mortem examination. He thought when he first
saw the deceased that she was a man, for she had a
most masculine face, with a slight beard, and there
was no development of her breasts. She had a femi-
nine hand. There were no external marks on the
body, which was well nourished. On opening the
head he found a most extraordinary condition of
diseased brain, both lateral vanticles being broken
down. The cause of death was softening of the
brain, which must have existed for a very long time.
It was singular that she had not exhibited symptoms
of insanity. She wasbetween 50 and 60 years of age.
Mr. George Ogle said one of deceased's letters
belonged to him, and was an answer to one sent by
him to his aunt at Cheltenham, relative to the death
of his mother. About April or May last the de-
ceased presented herself, hat in hand, before the
window at witness's father's houso, and solicited
alms. She said she had been in very much
better circumstances, but got gradually lower and
lower, and was then lodging in Westminster, some-
where near Old Pye-street. She saveaid
he she had
bread
been
a bank clerk. Witness's father gr some
and meat and some other things, and witness gave
her a coat, in which was the letter produced. They
believed the deceased was a mate. She had a very
delicate hand, white hair cut short, and walked with
a stick.
The Rev. A. White, Catholic priest, said he saw
deceased dying in an Irish lodging-house, when the
letters produced were given to him by the pro-
prietor. That addressed to a lady was in the hand-
writing of some one in Edinburgh, and the lady
took an interest in deceased, as she was accustomed
to attend a chapel near the lady's residence. The
letter was written by some half-witted sister to de-
ceased, who inquired, "flow is my brother?" mean-