The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-03 00:00:00

TILE PENINSULAR MAILS.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Valetta, Captain A. Kellock, arrived at South-
ampton yesterday at 1 p.m., with mails to the
undermentioned dates in charge of Lieut. Seriven,
R.N., Amiralty agent :----Gibraltar, Oct. 25 ; Cadiz,
26 ; Lisbon, 29 ; Oporto and Vigo, 30. She brings 11
first and second class passengers, £2,063 in specie,
7 boxes of pomegranates, 22 boxes of dates, 100
barrels of tapioca, 20 boxes of lemons, 210 boxes of
eggs, and 14 packages of miscellaneous merchandise.
From Gibraltar the Valetta had head winds, but
moderate, with fine weather. In the Bay she expe-
rienced a strong easterly gale, with very heavy
head sea, occasioning the loss of part of her bul-
warks, &c., and for which the engines had to be
eased for some time. Off Ushant gale moderating,
and fine clear weather. Up Channel a strong
easterly gale.

Advices from Gibraltar are to the 25th ultimo.
Latest quotations of exchange stood as under :
London, 90 days' date, 50 1-16 ; Paris, ditto, sf.
28c. ; Marseilles, ditto, sf. 30c. ; Genoa, ditto, sf.
31c. ; Madrid, eight days' sight, e dis. ; Cadiz, ditto,
dis. ; Malaga, ditto, par ; Seville, 1, dis. ; Ali-
cante, 1. dis.l; Valencia, k dis. ; Barcelona, pm.
Spanish pillared dollars, 3 per cent. prem.---none
and no demand.

Her Majesty's ships the Curlew and the Vulture
were at Gibraltar.

The screw steamer Ceylon, Capt. Evans, which
left Southampton on the 20th ult. with the India
and China mails, arrived at Gibraltar on the night
of the 24th, and sailed for Alexandria early on
the 25th.

The following outward-bound British merchant
steamers had arrived at Gibraltar :—Oct. 19th—
The Elba, Capt. Hammill, 13 days from Liverpool
and eight from Holyhead, with the submarine cable
for Candia. 20th—The Imperial, Capt. Hossick,
11 days from London, with a general cargo for
Genoa, Leghorn, and Naples. 22d—The Pactolus,
Capt. Mills, six days from Liverpool, with a general
cargo for Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria. 23d
The Peninsula, Capt. White, nine days from Lon-
don, with a general cargo for Gibraltar and Cadiz.
24th—The Corinthian, Capt. Wardell, six and a-
half days from Liverpool, with a general cargo for
Gibraltar, Palermo, and Trieste ; same day, the
Said, Capt. Campbell, nine days from Liverpool
and four and a-half from Plymouth, in ballast for
Alexandria.

The Gibraltar Chronicle says that the Jerusalem
brigantine Gloria and the French schooner Bien-et-
Mer were wrecked near Cape Negro. They had
been conveying grain from the western coast of
Morocco to Tetuan. The brig Livinstone, of New
castle, had been run into by the barque Christiana,
of West Hartlepool, off Cape St. Mary. The brig
was much damaged. The Dutch schooner Autze,
on her way from Havana to Amsterdam, had foun-
dered in lat. 38, long. 32.
The Government steamer Redpole had arrived
at Gibraltar from Tetuan, and brought a contradic-
tion of the rumoured assassination of consuls in
that city.
The overland Spanish mail, it is said, is to arrive
at Gibraltar daily, instead of thrice a week as here-
tofore.

The Spanish steam-frigate Ferrolano and steam-
corvette Isabel 11. had left Cadiz for Havana, with
nearly 600 troops.
Letters from Cadiz state that vessels arriving at
that port from Galicia, Buenos Ayres, Morocco, the
lonian Islands, Gibraltar, Malta, and Greece, with
clean bills of health, are to be admitted to free par-
tique. Arrivals from Great Britain and from
Spanish ports are to be subjected to three days'
quarantine.

Exchange at Gibraltar on London, 90 days date,
was at 50 1-16. Freights to London and outports
were at 12 dollars per ton and 10 per cent.

THE LATE SIR W. REID, K. CB.

In our obituary of yesterday occurs the name of
Major-General Sir W. Reid, 1.C.8., late Governor
of Malta.

He belonged to that corps of Royal Engineers
which furnished so many men to do essential ser-
vice to their country, not merely in the ordinary
routine of their duty, but by the voluntary exer-
tion of talentand energy of character in the pur-
suits of science, and in the government of the
dependencies of the British Crown.
Sir William Reid obtained his commission on the
10th of February, 1809 ; was a Captain on the 20th
of December, 1814; Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on
the 10th of January. 18.17 ; Brevet-Colonel on the
11th of November, 1851; and Major-General on the
30th of May, 1856.
Within a year of his receiving his first commis-
sion he was sent to the Peninsula, and served to the
end. of the war. He was at the three sieges of
Badajoz, the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, the siege of
the ',oils and the battle of Salamanca, the sieges of
Burgos and San Sebastian, and battles of Vittoria,
Nivelle, Nive, and Toulouse, and was wounded at
Badajoz, Ciudad Rodrigo, and San Sebastian. He
was present at the attack on Algiers under Lord
Exmouth in 1816.

In 1832 he was employed at Barbadoes in re-
building the Government buildings which had been
destroyed by the hurricane of the preceding year,
and then he first conceived the idea of endeavouring
to trace the laws which govern the movements of
tliese agents.
Subsequently, as Governor in Bermuda, Barba-
does, and Malta; as chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Great Exhibition of 1831 ; and as
the author of the Law of Storms, he rendered ser-
vices to this country which ought not soon to be
forgotten. Of the local improvements which he
effected in his several governments, and the vigour
and spirit which he infused into his administration
of their affairs, we cannot speak in detail. His
government of Bermuda was the subject of an
article entitled "A Model Governor," in Household
Words, some years ago. His tenure of office at Bar-
badoes was short. Soon after his return he received
the command of the garrison at Woolwich, which he
held:until he was requested to take the chair of the
committee for managing the Great Exhibition,
with absolute power in case he should find it
necessary to exercise it. It is not too much to say
that the success of the Exhibition, at least in its
early stages, and, above all, its punctual opening at
the appointed time, contrary to the repeated decla-
ration of the French that it could not and would
not be done, were in a great degree owing to Ws
tranquil energy and determination, which in some
instances refused even to yield to the highest in-
fluence, to which every one else had given way. At
the close of the Exhibition he was made a K.C.8.,
and the government of Malta was conferred upon
him, which he administered during the Crimean
war ; and there were not a few persons here who
regretted that he had not. the administration of the
war itself nearer to the scene of action. He only
returned last summer, at the expiration of the usual
period of colonial government. His well-known
work on the " Law of Storms"—that is, on the laws
of motion of the tropical whirlwinds—was founded
in a great measure on his own experience in the
West Indies, where he had been on military duty
before his government of Bermuda. This work, it
may not be generally known, is not merely a
theoretical investigation, but of eminently practical
value to all who have to navigate in the seas both
of the East and West Indies. What was, in fact,
a second edition of it was published a few years
ago under the title of the " Progress of the Develop-
ment of the Law of Storms." It is remarkable that
such a work should have proceeded from a military,
and not a naval officer ; but Sir W. Reid's mind
was one that could not be idle, or fail to be im-
pressed with any phenomena either of the natural
or moral world with which he was brought 'into
contact. He possessed the placid and calm temper
of a true philosopher, with a determination to avoid
all personal conflicts and disputes which is some-
times not an accompaniment of philosophy, com-
bined with a rare talent for conducting business
and in making his colleagues had subordinates do
their best. In private life he was one of the most
amiable of men, with a pleasant mixture of gravity
and cheerfulness. His father was a Scotch minister.
Sir W. Reid was married to a daughter of the late
Mr. Bolland, of Clapham, of whom two others were
the wives of the present Bishop of Lichfield and of
the late Baron Bolland. His wife died a few
months before him, and ho has left five daughters.

RE-MARRIAGE OF DIVORCED PERSONS.—in Prus-
sia clergymen frequently refuse to marry divorced persons,
and those persons are consequently obliged to go into
another state to be united. Recently a Prussian gendarme
wanted to marry a divorced woman, and as the clergy of
his native place refused to celebrate the ceremony, he ap-
plied for leave of absence to go to Gotha to have it per-
formed. In compliance, however, with the request of the
olergy, his superiors refused leave. Thereupon the woman
petitioned the Prince Regent, and his royal hihnesshaving
caused inquiries to be made respecting her, from which it
appeared that her divorce had not been caused by any fault
of her own, ordered that a fortnight's leave should be given
to him, and that it should be mentioned in the books that
it was expressly accorded to enable him to marry._
AN INFANT ACCIDENTALLY HANGED.— Yesterday
morning Mr. Carter held an inquest at the Royal Oak
Tavern, Bermondsey, on the body of Thos. James Ardley,
aged 12 months, the son of a journeyman gas-fitter. On
Friday last the mother and father retired to bed with their
infant, and about five o'clock the following morning the
former was aroused by her eldest child crying, and then
missed the deceased from her side. Upon going to bed on
the night before she took the precaution to place a table by
the side of the bed to prevent thedeceased falling out ; when
she missed the infant she obtained a light, and found that
it was suspended by its neck between the table and the bed.
Medical assistance was at once procured, but the poor child
was quite dead, The jury returned a verdict of "Acciden-
tal death,"

LORD ELGIN IN JAPAN.

The following interesting letters have been for•
warded to us for publication :

" Aug. 13.
"We arrived at Nagasaki upon the 3d inst. It
is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen,
the land high and precipitous, some of the hills rising
1,500 feet, covered with fine trees and vegetation of
all kinds, the most common tree being not unlike a
magnificent Scotch fir. The outer harbour is formed
partly by islands, partly by the main land, the
islands rising perpendicularly out of the sea.
From the outer there is no appearance of the
inner harbour; till you are almost at the head of
the former, when the inner one suddenly opens
to the view round some wooded islets, the town
of Nagasaki lying at the further end, built
in a valley formed by two hills, up the sides of
which a few temples and houses have crept. Naga-
saki is the port at which the Dutch have been set-
tled for 200 years, on a small island connected with
the town by a small bridge ; the island is only
about 400 yards long by 300 broad, and, till within
the last few years, the Dutch were kept rigorously
to it, never being allowed in the town or country.
They, as well as all foreigners, are not allowed to
walk at pleasure about the town and into the coun-
try. Everywhere foreigners are received with the
greatest civility by the people. There are two Em-
perors of Japan, one the spiritual, the other the
working one. The former lives at Miaco, and is the
descendant of the old race who were turned off the
throne by the ancestors of the reigning Emperor.
The spiritual Emperor has nothing to do with
governing the country, and is partly looked up to
as a heavenly being, one condition of which is
that everything he wears or uses is destroyed each
night, and new clothes supplied the next morning.
It is to prevent any one using the sanctified gar-
ments. The reignmg Emperor lives here, and is
elected, but in what manner I am not sure, but I
believe by the Princes. It appears a mere nominal
election, for the son regularly succeeds the father,
and has done so since his ancestor usurped the
throne. I believe the descent of the spiritual Em-
peror can be traced, names and dates, with many
of the branches-of his family, for 2,500 years. The
country is held by Princes, who owe feudal duty
to the reigning Emperor, who obliges them to re-
side for six months in the year at Jeddo, with their
families ; during the other six months he allows
them to visit their estates, but keeps their families
hostages in Jeddo. This restrains them, and the
practice is intended to prevent the Princes from
obtaining too much influence over the people. It is
difficult to discover what the military system of
the empire is, but that it must have the power of
bringing an immense number of men into the field
is beyond doubt—they have numerous and well-
appointed batteries.
" Nagasaki, and everything Japanese, bears a
striking contrast to everything Chinese. You can-
not be five minutes in Japan without seeing it is a
progressive nation—the country towns, houses, and
people, all show this. The streets are wide an d
paved in the centre, houses open throughout on the
ground floor, with matting, formed in frames, fit-
ting neatly all over the rooms. On this they sit,
sleep, and eat, and everything is kept scrupulously
clean. Behind each house is a small garden, with
a few green shrubs, and occasionally a fine tree.
Cleanliness seems one great characteristic •of the
Japanese—they are constantly washing in the most
open manner. To our great surprise, as we wan-
dered the first day through the streets, we saw t wo
or three ladies quietly sitting in tubs in front of
their doors washing themselves with the utmost
unconcern, traffic and the business through the
street going on past them as usual. We understood
afterwards it was a general custom. The Japanese
are eager for knowledge. Never was there a people
more ready to adapt themselves to the changes and
progress of the world than they are. It is curious
that while some of their customs are what we would
deem rather barbarous, and while they are igno-
rant of many common things—while they still rip
themselves up, and shoe their horses with straw
because ignorant of any other method, they have
jumped to a knowledge of certain branches of science
which it has taken nations in Europe hundreds of
years to attain. At Nagasaki they can turn out of
their yard an engine for a railway or steamer;
Japanese captains. and engineers command their
men of war, of which three are steamers ; they un-
derstand the electric telegraph ; they make ther-
mometers and barometers, theodolites, and, I
believe, aneroids. Their spy-glasses and micros-
copes are good, and very cheap. They have a large
glass manufactory which turns out glass little
inferior to our own. They have a short line of
railway somewhere in the interior, given by the
Americans. Many of them speak Dutch, some
English, all anxious to learn ; everything is done
by themselves, and when it is considered that it is
not much more than ten years ago since they made
this start the advance they have made in that short
time is perfectly wonderful.
" A yacht having been sent by the Queen to
be given to the Emperor of Jape n, we left Na-
gasaki with her for that place, our squadron con-
sisting, besides her, only of the Retribution and a
gunboat. After five days, three of which were
spent in a very heavy gale of wind, we arrived at
Simodx, the port opened by the Americans, and
where their Consul-General lives. It is to be given
up, as it is utterly useless as a harbour, too small
and open, with no trade. After remaining there
two days, and investing in Japanese lacquer ware,
which is the best in the world, we came on here
(Jeddo). The pert of Jeddo is at Kanagawa,
about 15 miler down the Gulf. Great objection has
rsdebeedenma
Kanagawa to men-of-"war
:of_-War coming further
has only been open a
few months. The Japanese said great obstacles
existed to ships coming to Jeddo. We, however,
put it to the test, and without the least difficulty
ran right up, and are anchored within their own
men-of-war, which we did not know were here, and
within a Mile of the forts of Jeddo. The town
stretches for miles round the bay. I suppose it is
the largest in the world, for it covers more ground
than London, with between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000
of people, which, if I reccollect right, is more than
the London population. We have been begged to
go further back, which when we declined going
they made no further effort to get rid of us, but
have offered us a residence on shore and requested
us to commence a treaty. The Americans have
made a very good one, and I suppose before many
days we may be doing the same.
"We land probably to-morrow or next day. I
will say no more till I can tell you something
about the inside of the city.

" Sept. 2.
"Jeddo, without exception, is one of the finest
cities in the world ; streets broad and good, and the
Castle, which includes nearly the centre of the
town, built on a slight eminence. There are three
walls or enclosures round this quarter. Within the
inner, the Tycoon Emperor and heir apparent live.
" The homes of the princes and nobles are palaces,
and you may imagine the size when some contain
10,000 followers. They are built in regular order,
forming wide streets some 40 yards broad, kept in
perfect order ; an immense courtyard, with
trees, and gardens, forms the centre of each
enclosure, in the midst of which is the house
of the owner ; the homes containing the
followers, servants, stables, &c , form this large en-
closure. They are built of one uniform shape.
The gateways leading to the court-yard are exceed-
ingly handsome, of massive wood work, ornamented
with lacquer and other devices. From the road
that leads by the moat to the second wall is one of
the finest views I ever recollect seeing—on one side
the Gulf of Jeddo, with the high hills rising be-
yond, while on.the other is a portion of the great
city of Jeddo with its trees and gardens, pictur-
esque temples, and densely crowded streets, ex_
tending as far as the eye can reach towards the in-
terior; then there is a view of the trees and green
fields in the distance, far beyond a thickly built
suburb ; but the most striking view of all is that
close by the well-kept green banks of the second
defence, rising 70 feet from the broad moat below,
every-
thing, with grand old cedars over a hundred years of age
growing from its sides. The fine timber, the la 4
thrdeieN.v, aatned completeness r
cliolmiep of ery-
thing, equal, and in someways -far surpass,
the
in the moat,
e fr
a hn
eguirl), d,
sd
o
pass, an
thing I have seen in Europe, or any part oft he
world.
"We made an expedition into the country, The
cottages were surrounded with neatly
hedges, the private residences as well clipped
kept as any ylace in England. The railed and
aess and finish exist in everythin same complete-
" The Botanical Gardens are v g:
cared for; good nurseries of eiy good, and well
young pines, cedars,&c".
T- R.

_HE .EV. MR. SMITH, THE CONVICT.—The
Sussex Advertiser has authority for contradicting a report
which has appeared in the Bristol papers of the death, in
Lewes prison, of the Rev. S. Smith. " The rev. convict
has not been in the Lewes prison at all, and if he be dead
his decease must have been sudden, for he was seen a few
days ago in another convict establishment by au officer from
the Lewes prison, and he was then in his usual state of
health."
SERIOUS COLLIERY ACCIDENT.—An accident of
a very serious nature occurred in one of the Coltness Iron
Company's pits at Coltness on Friday last, by which two
men, named Thomas Gibb and William Gibb, uncle and
nephew, lost their lives. It appears that they, along with
a son of the former and brother of the latter, had been
taking down F'yotshaw coal for some time past. They were
in the act of filling a hutch, when about 20 tons of coal
.
came away on them, and, of course, killed them on the spot
The other two were repairing some piece of a road back
from where they were working, or very likely they would.bv
have met with the same fate. We believe William Gi s
father,
Company,wh undergroundowlvsaskiuea t:.9mi atnhagrerptiotsthle7 Cyoelaitnsesasglore_on
WaBgow

MORE DISCOVERIES IN ST. PANCRAS,

Yesterday a most extraordinary and painful scene
of excitement took place at the meeting of the
directors and guardians of the poor of St. Pancras,
in the Vestry-hall, by the announcementi(in addi-
tion to the recent defalcations and absconding of
Mr. Hallam, one of the rate collectors, and Mr,
Birchmore, the relieving overseer), that the cleric
to the board, Mr. Charles Hibbard, had also become
non est.

Mr. Churchwarden ATTENBOROUGH having been
called to the chair, as soon as the minutes of the
previous board were read,
Mr. WYATT said it was with deep regret that he
had a most painful communication to make to the
directors ; although at the present. moment they
had no positive proof in reference to defalcationFe
there was no reasonable doubt but that Mr. Hib-
bard, the clerk to that board, had absconded.
(Great sensation.) They were aware that the clerk
had asked for a week's holiday to go and see his
wife, who was ill in the country, and his time to
return had expired last Thursday, but he had not
made his appearance, and from what had transpired
there was no doubt of the fact that he had ab-
sconded. About a fortnight ago himself and Mr.
Attenborough discovered that there was a sum of
£3 for which the clerk had given a receipt not
accounted for, and although they admonished hint
severely, still, having full confidence in him and
being assured that it was the result of error, and
the only one, they did not think it advisable to
denounce, him before the board as a defaulter.
(Sensation.) As Mr. Hibbard did not return on.
Thursday Mr. Attenborough and himself had.
visited his house, and finding no satisfactory infor-
mation as to where he was, they waited upon his
father, and he referred them to his solicitor, in.
Ely-place. From what they collected there they
had no doubt he had absconded; and upon exa
mining the clerk's accounts they found that there
was about £B5O represented as debts due from other
parishes.' (Cries Of " Oh, oh," and sensation.) At
the same time, with the exception of the £3. re-
ferred to, they had not up to that moment a proof
of one shilling defalcation against Mr. Hibbard.
In fact, in order to ascertain how they stood, they
would in all probability have to write to nearly
every parish in England to know what they owed.
(" Oh, oh," and sensation.)
Mr. Fisher, Mr. Turner, and other members
warmly condemned the conduct of Messrs. Wyatt
and Attenborough for not bringing the discovery
of the £3 before the board the moment they made
it ; and Mr. Turner said it was alleged that Mr.
Birchmore, like Mr. Hibbard, was a most confiden-
tial officer although his dismissal was moved twice
prior to his defalcations.
Mr. STOCKTON did not think Messrs. Wyatt and
Attenborough were deserving of censure. They
looked upon the clerk as an old and confidential
officer, and did not wish to destroy his character
for so trivial a sum. He was, however, truly
astounded at what he now heard (hear, hear.)
Mr. WYATT defended himself and Mr. Atten-
borough, and said another strong reason why they
did not mention the £3 to the board at its last
meeting was that they found it had been paid in
the very morning Mr. Hibbard went away for his
supposed holiday.
Mr. YOUNG thought all they could now do was
to refer this painful subject for investigation to the
committee of inquiry already appointed as to
Birchmore's defalcations.

Mr. WYATT thought that power should also be
given to put the matter into the hands of Messrs.
Humphries' and Sons, solicitors, and employ a
detective. It might also be necessary to offer a
reward for apprehension.
The CHAIRMAN, in answer to a question from
Mr. Austin, said he had no doubt that Mr. Hibbard
was fully acquainted with the defalcations of Mr.
Birchmore when he asked for his holiday, which
was on that day fortnight.
In answer to further questions, Mr. WYATT
stated that the apprehension as to defalcations
arose from an observation from the solicitor (Gs was
understood) that if L5OO would cover their clerk's
difficulties, he could have it, and he replied it was
no use.

Mr. Cook, the vestry clerk, was called up, and
asked whether he could spare Mr. Burrows, one of
his clerks, to assist Mr. Jaques in performing the
duties of clerk to the directors till a successor was
appointed. replied that in consequence of the
rigid orders of the vestry in reference to checking
the collectors' rate-books he could not. He had no
objection, however, to assist himself.
After further discussion, it was resolved :
" That information having been received by the
directors that Mr. Hibbard, their clerk, has ab-
sconded, •thc vestry be requested. to declare his office
vacant. That the vestry also be requested to aid
the board with the assistance of one of its clerks to
assist Mr. Jaques, the accountant, in the perform-
ance of the duties of clerk for two or three weeks,
until a new clerk can be appointed."
Upon the motion of Mr. WYATT, it was further
resolved :

" That the treasurers (London and Westminster
Bank) be informed that the clerk to the directors,
Mr. Hibbard, has absconded, and that he is no longer
authorised to countersign cheques ; but that the
board have appointed Mr. Jaques to do so till fur-
ther notice."
In the midst of this complication it was announced
that the poor law auditor, Mr. Streeten, desired an
interview to make a statement to the board, and on
being introduced said—Having recently made him-
self acquainted, by his audit, with their books, he
found them in such a state as to render it de-
sirable that he should ask the directors to
appoint a committee to re-arrange, them, to
he found that there were no two books which agreed
with each other. After entering into sonic details as
to the books, Mr. Streeten said, in reference to his
audit he had felt obliged to make certain surcharges
upon the directors, but he had not done so in any
unfriendly spirit, but strictly in accordance with
his duty.
Mr. Wyatt and other gentlemen complained that
they had been surcharged for matters not explained,
and contended that the auditor was bound to es-
plain this.
Mr. Streeten admitted this, and said he would
do so in his certificate book.

The committee was then appointed and a most
excited board adjourned.

GREAT NUMBER OF FIRES.

During Monday night and Tuesday morning the
services of the parish engines and London Brigade
were called into active requisition, several fires oc-
curring in the metropolis during that period, at-
tended with considerable loss of property. One
fire took place about half-past 5 o'clock on Tuesday-.
'morning in the Great Western Railway station at
Paddington, which at one time threatened a vast
destruction of valuable property.. The discovery
was made by one of the policemen employed
on the line noticing smoke issuing from a
cupboard in the carriage fitters' shops, and
in the brief space of a few minutes the fire
had extended to the roof and also to the
counting-house and store-rooms. Without delay ar
alarm was given by the railway authorities, and in
a very brief period the engines of the parish, that
of the railway company, and several belonging to
the London Brigade reached the scene, under the
direction of Mr. Staples, the chief officer of the C
district. Before their arrival, however, the fire
had caught one of the work benches, a cupboard,
and thirty feet of the roof of the carriage
fitters' shops, the roof of the e minting-house*
and store-rooms, all of which adjoined. The
engines were forthwith set to work • and,
owing to the combined exertions of all pre-
sent, and a good supply of water, the fire was
eventually extinguished, but not until the whole of
the buildings and their contents were considerably
damaged by water and fire. The origin of the fire
is unknown. The company, it is understood, are not
insured. The fire caused- great excitement in the
neighbourhood, more especially among the passen-
gers by the early mail train. Fortunately the acci-
dent will not occasion the least delay on the line,
and the damage, when the extent of the place is
taken into consideration, may be described as
inconsiderable. A fire also happened on the
premises belonging to Mr. J. Hughes, a grocer
and tea dealer, carrying on business at No.
9, York-terrace, St. Paul's-road, Canonbury, near
Highbury. The outbreak was caused by a spark
flying from a lighted candle among some light
goods in one of the rooms, and in less than five
minutes, and before sufficient assistance could be
obtained, the fire had seized upon several rooms in
the building, as well as the 'front shop, thereby 'el:
dering it necessary to, send for the fire engines and
escapes. The parish and London-bridge engines
promptly attended, as well as the Royal Society's
'escapes, with Mr. Inspector Baddeley and
conductors Newell and Ward. By that time the
fire had taken possession of every part of the
premises. A bountiful supply of water having,
been procured, the engines, under the direction 01
Mr. Foreman Fogo, were set to work, but the
flames were not subdued until the premises and all
they contained were destroyed. The total loss is
very considerable, but fortunately the sufferer was
insured in the National Provident Institution.
fire also took place between 12 and 1 o'clock at No.
12, Boar's Ilead•court, Middlesex-street,
chapel. It commenced from a spark flying out 04
the grate, which ignited a quantity of linen and
wearing apparel. By the timely aid of assistance'
the fire was subdued. The sufferer was uninsured.
Several other fires also took place, but the damage
at each "y4§ very Wiling, Whitei