The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-17 00:00:00

EAST INDIA HOUSE.—(This Day.)

THANKS TO THE OFFICERS OF THE
INDIAN SERVICE.

A special general court of proprietors was held
this day in the East India House for the purpose of
proposing a vote of thanks to the superior officers
of the Indian civil and military service. R. D.
Mangles, Esq., M.P., the chairman of the board of
directors, presided.

The hon. gentleman, in opening the proceedings,
said, after what had passed in Parliament it would
be unnecessary to go at any great length into the
subject. He would at once move that the thanks
of this Court be given to the Right Honourable
Lord Canning, the Governor• General of India ;
to the Right Hon. Lord Harris, the Governor of
Madras ; the Right Hon. Lord Elphinstone, the
Governor of Bombay ; Mr. Halliday, Governor of
Bengal ; Sir John Lawrence, the Chief Commis-
sioner of the Punjaub ; and Mr. Frere, Commis-
sioner of Soinde. Lord Canning had exercised the
greatest energy and courage, and as far as in him
lay, had done his very utmost to furnish the
means for the reduction of Delhi under circum-
stances of great difficulty—(hear, hear)—and
Lord Harris was also well deserving their thanks,
for to the measures which he adopted were due in no
small degree that state of quietude in the Madras
Presidency which was of such infinite value to the
government of India when the mutiny broke out.
(Hoar, hear.) He had denuded his presidency of
European troops in order to assist the army in
its operations iu Bengal, and which assistance
was of the most valuable and important kind.
After recapitulating the services of Lord Canning,
Lord Elphinstone, Lord Harris, Sir John Law-
rence, Mr. Frere., and other high officials, the
chairman concluded by saying, he trusted that the
court would do as had been done in Parliament—
namely, after a little opposition, would come to a
conclusion on the vote, nemo contradicente.

DESPERATE 'SUICIDE BY A TAX-COL,

LECTOR.

Yesterday much horror and painful sensation
were occasioned in the neighbourhood of Pad-
dington through its becoming widely circulated
that Mr. John Crowe, the collector of Queen's
taxes for that district, had committed self-destruc-
tion ; and upon special inquiry being made the
report turned out to be too true, the unfortunate
deceased having in a dreadful manner destroyed
his own life in the course of the forenoon.

It appears that the deceased, who was by
profession a surveyor and architect, was highly
respected in Paddington, where he had re-
sided 15 or 16 years, but he had only
held the office of collector a few months.
Yesterday morning there was nothing as fir as could
be gleaned peculiar in his appearance to attract
marked attention, still less to lead to a belief that
he premeditated so fearful an act. However, he
had been missed a short time, and on one of the
household proceeding to the water closet a horrible
spectacle was disclosed, as the deceased lay on the
floor, with a ghastly wound in his throat, ex-
tending from ear to ear. An alarm was at once,
raised, and medical assistance very promptly ar-
rived, but the deceased had ceased to exist
some minutes. The razor with which the
frightful deed wasperpetrated was found near him,
and the medical gentleman who was called in con-
sidered that the wound had been increased by the
hapless sufferer forcing his fingers into the windpipe
after making the incision, so determined was he to
carry out his suicidal intentions. No cause can at
present be assigned for the rash act, but it is a pre-
valent opinion that the deceased found the duties
of the collectorship too onerous, and the responsi-
bility devolving therefrom was too much for his
mind. The deceased was generally of an exceed-
ingly quiet and phlegmatic turn of mind. He was
about forty-five years of ago.

HEE MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—The Queen and the Prince
Consort honoured the performances at this theatre with
their presence last evening. Her Majesty and his Royal
Highness were accompanied by the Princess Alice.
The suite in attendance upon the royal party included
the Duchess of Wellington, Lord Byron, the Hon. Miss
Stanley, the Hon. Miss Stopford, and Col. F. H. Sey-
mour. Among the company also honouring the theatre
with their presence on this occasion were—His Excel-
lency the Greek Minister and Madame Tricoupi, the
Countess Dowager of Harrington, Viscount Grey de
Wilton, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Sir John
and Lady Bayley, Lady Jane Repton, Lady Harry
Fane, Lady Marcus Hill, Hon. Mrs. Yorke, Mr. C. P.
Leslie, 1e1.P.. ; Mrs. Horace Lvi.2, Mr. W. D:l3fitid,
Capt. Gordon, Mr. Bl,gb, &o.
The Countess of Belmore arrived in town a few days
since for the season.

The Earl and Countess of Fife have taken a residence
in Bruton-street for the season.
Lady Stanley of Alderl"y has issued cards for an
assembly at her mansion in Dover-street, on Wednesday,
the 24th inst.
The Baroness Alphonse de Rothschild was safely
delivered of a daughter, in Paris, on Monday night,
and with the infant is progressing favourably.
His Excellency the Brazilian Minister has left town
for the Continent, and will probably remain absent
during the next two months. Chevalier Agular de
Andrada has been accredited as Brazilian Charge;
d'Affaires at this Court during the absence of his Ex-
cellency.
The next Indian telegram is due in London on the
I 221 instant. It will contain news from Calcutta up to
the 24th ult. The Indian mail packet Pera, which is
due at Southampton on the 6th proximo, will, it is ex-
pected, bring to England many of the women and chil-
dren belonging to the famous Lucknow garrison.
SEACOLE, THE SOLDIERS' FRIEND.—In five
weeks from this time the devoted Mrs. Seacole will
tail for India to commence again her work as mother,
nurse, and friend to the British soldier.

SALE OF DRURY-LANE THEATRE SHARES.—Yester-
day Mr. Robins offered to public auction a 5001.
renter's share in the Theatre Royal, Drury-lane, paying
an annaal di►idend which last year amounted to 31. per
annum, with a free admission saleable annually, sold
at 42/. A similar share sold at 401. 193.

SALE OF THE MARYLEBONE THE ATRE.—Yesderday
the 111Arylebone Theatre, situated in New Church-qreet,
Marylebone, capable of accomodating 2,000 persons,
together with the scenery, fittings, dm, came under the
hammer of Mr. Robins, at his rooms, Covent-garden.
Let at 9701. per annum, and held for an unexpired term
of 63 years at an annual ground rent of 1691. per annum.
The biddings reached 6,75 C/. when it was bought in at
the reserve price of 7,0001.

. .
Yesterday, Mr. Richard Jones, who was until within
these two years in opulent circumstance, carrying on
business as a saddler, committed suic'de at the Stafford
Alinshouses, Gray's-inn-lane, in which he had sought
shelter in his declining years.. Mr. Wakley has ap-
pointed this day for holding an inquest on the body.
DESTRUCTION OF A COTTON MILL. BY FIRE —Yester-
day morning, about a quarter before eight o'clock, a
fire broke out in the new cotton mill of Me ,err.
Edwin Firth and Sons, cotton-spinners, and mohair
manufacturers, at Heckmondwike. It was disc:,vcred
by a girl feeding one of the scribblers in the third
storey that sparks were attending the cylinder-swift
in its revolutions and she also perceived a small body of
flame under the side of tbc mr.chine. She immediately
gave the alarm. Orders were dispatched at once for the
fire-engine at Mill-bridge, but before the arrival the fire
bad communicated with the top room (fourth store)),
in which cotton WM carded and spun, and, on the arrival
of the engine, this room was ono body of flame
Other fire engines from Batley, Berstal, and Gomersal,
soon arrived ; but despite the efforts of the firemen,
the men in employment of the firm, and numbers of
the townspeople, the fire extended until the roof
fell in, about 9 o'clock, and the whole mill was completely
burnt to the ground. Their efforts ware then direct .c 1
to preserve the adjoining shed, and, after a vig: rolls
struggle, they were successful in staying the Lutes
in that direction. By ten o'clock the whole of the
new building was completely gutted ; little remaining
beyond the mere outer shell. The fire can only be supposed
to
(h)ratvh oeafrisen from a bit of steel, perhaps a willy tooth,
having been fed on with the wool and having struck
fir; and ignited the cotton whilst passing the cards. The
-mill is insured iu the Unity, West of Eugoand, ar.d
i this catastrophe will wofaillees for 10000/. ; and the loss is
wbßatuilud:lldhattobwbaeilnln yards of 11,0001. The number of
Guar dean
01
Tuesday.
thrown out of employment by
be (considerable--Manchester'