The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-14 00:00:00

The Loss of the Steamer London.

The official inquiry, instituted by the Board of
Trade, into the circumstances attending the foun-
dering of the steamer London, was resumed yester-
day at the Greenwich Police-court, before Mr.
Trail, the district stipendiary magistrate, and Cap-
tains Harris and Baker, the nautical assessors.
Mr. Waun, surveyor at Lloyds,was recalled, and
repeated the evidence he had previously given re-
specting the seaworthiness of the London. He added
that so satisfied was he of the excellence of the
ship's fittings and her capacity for any voyage that
he asked Mr. Wigram to let his own son go in her
as third engineer.

George Barber, shipwright, surveyor of the Board
of Trade, was re-examined byMr. O'Dowd. He said
he had compared the dimensions of the London with
those of several transatlantic vessels at Liverpool
and the Clyde, and he had found the comparison
favourable to the London. He had considered the
tonnage under deck in connexion ith the dimen-
sions, and he did not think that the London was
what was called a sharp ship. On looking at the
dimensions of the masts and yards of the London,
he did not consider they were out of proportion in
relation to the size of the ship. He objected to box
spurketing on the weather deck of a vessel like the
London, RE it prevented the escape of deck water.
In reply to Mr. Traill,

The witness said if the skylight of the engine-
room had been properly secured by its fastenings
and battened down, he was at a loss to account for
the manner in which it had been unshipped. He
did not think that any sea could have carried it
away, and he was of opinion that the quantity of
water capable of being shipped in the engine-room
could not have swamped the ship.
The witness, in reply to Mr. O'Dowd, said he
had carefully considered the question of fixing a
load line in ocean-going steamers, and he was of
opinion that the proposed experiment was fraught
with much difficulty, when viewed in connexion
with the interests of owners and passengers.
Sir Samuel Hooper was examined byMr. O'Dowd,
and deposed—He had been speaker of the Legisla-
tive Assembly in Sydney. Ile had gone on three
voyages to Australia and back, and was a passen-
gerael
e
she did was
not
slowsteera s
a well sailing
hrsail, before
and een
in the London in the year 1864. On leaving
Plymouth he noticed her very deep in the water.
On reaching the Bay of Biscay he observed the
or thee even
wind,i
t n
th
London very sluggish in the water, and he con-
sidered her a very heavily rigged ship. Captain
Martin always carried all he could of sail, and that
was the reason witness went with him. The Lon-
don
screw down. He considered that the combings of
the London were too low, and he complained of
the disadvantages of the generality of English ships
ip
in this respect when compared with foreign steamers.
under b
Mr. O'Dowd asked the witness if his evidence was -
not voluntary, and in the interest of the public.
The witness replied that was so. He wished to
say that, as some aspersions had been cast on the
professional reputation of Capt. Martin, he believed
him to have been a first-rate seaman, and the samo
might be said of Mr. Harris, the chief officer.
Mr. Cowley Miller, shipbuilder, of Liverpool,
was examined, and expressed his condemnation of
the system of introducing spurketing in ships, as
was the case in the London. He attributed the
foundering of the London to this circumstance, and
he had no doubt that if the ship had been provided
with a cutter way and a sufficient number of port-
skylightg enera of the London,
ot properly
protected.
he
port-
holes she would now be on her voyage to Melbourne.
He had never seen it used either at Liverpool or on
the Clyde in iron ships. In reference to the protec-
tionhad come to the conclusion that the fastening had
been left in an unsecured state. He was of opinion
that
o of
the
hatchway
engine-room
skylights u
yWere not

The court then adjourned until this day.

A. meeting of the committee that was formed for
the purpose of alleviating the distress ocenstioned to
the relatives of the unhappy
crew of the London by
their sad loss held
a meeting yesterday in the Long
Parlour at the Mansion-house' and the Lord Mayor
presided. The object of the meeting was to wind
up the matter, and arrange as to the best mode of
distributing the money that had resulted from the
subscription that was so kindly inaugurated by the
committee, aided by the influence of the Lord Meyer,
who, it will be remembered, headed the list with a
subscription of 20 guineas. Among the gentlemen
present were a representative of Wigrain and Co.
(owners of the London), Mr. B. Hume, Mr. Nunn,
Mr. H. R. Foster (hon. secretary), who has been
very active in furthering the object in view, and
made for
several other gentlemen. There has been collected
altogether about £1,200, and it would seem
that the result of a careful inquiry into the several
cases shows that there are about 49 persons, con-
sisting r so,blveicdtoswwtsoearned
who
are
o f fathersconsidered a n
properdm ot
receive the *
bounty of the public. it appeared to be the opinion
of the gentlemen present that the sum already re_
ceived is sufficient to afford such relief as is necessary
tinheadllistthreibcuatsieosn,
ofa ntdbeamrroannegyements
that has been received
in such proportions as may be deemedadvisable
each case.

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LONDON, TI7EDNESDAY, FEB. 14, 1866,

•-•-'...-----

We have, happily, little cause to apprehend the
receipt of disturbing intelligence from our Austra-
raa colonies. They are blessed with a fertile soil,
and with a favourable climate; they are endowed
with great mineral wealth, in addition to their rich
agricultural lands, and their population, so far from
suffering from the excessive competition which
Ives so.many willing hands idle among ourselves,
dies not as yet bear any proportion to the capa-
cities of the country. What would our Registrar-
General here, in lamenting our overcrowding,

The events of the last few weeks in Prussia fur-
nish plenty of subjects for contemplation and re-
flection. It seems, indeed, as if a new state of
things had arisen, and as if people were beginning
to wake up from the lethargy in which they have
too long been plunged. The course adopted by
the Judge of Appeal in Cologne, Herr von AMMAN,
is worthy of the occasion, and redounds to his credit.
He has written to the editor of the Cologne Gazette,
stating that in March, 1848, it was he who was
charged by the Government of that day with draw-
ing up that part of the Constitution in which
the disputed clause occurs. He also was the chair-
man of the committee which subsequently prepared
and settled the Charter in the same year. Hence
he is indisputably in a position to give a correct
opinion of the matter, and he declares emphatically
that neither in the Government nor in the Parlia-
ment was there at the time a single man who did
mean to bestow upon members for the future the
privilege of freedom of speech unreserved and un-
conditionally. It has proved a great satisfaction
generally that Herr von AMMAN has thus come for-
ward in so decided a manner. He declares that this
is his firm conviction, and by it he will stand or fall.
There arc not wanting many proofs of the indig-
nation universally felt. The member for Bonn,
being compelled to leave Berlin for a short time,
wrote a letter to the President of the Lower House,
in which he expressed himself in the most decided
manner. He said that he felt the greatest regret
at being unable to be present for the purpose of
voting against the recent decree of the Supreme
Tribunal, and truly affirms that if the people do
not commit illegal acts, it will be no thanks to
those who set this evil example in high quarters.
o the point,
This is quite t
and exactly explains
the condition of
affairs at present existing in
Prussia. Addresses
of a congratulatory charac-
ter have been sent to the Lower House, and
also to Herr von AMMAN, which show the feeling
prevalent in the country. As for the debate upon
the question, it displayed in a marked Wanner the
so long thwarted
temper a the Louse A being

and interfered with. Dr. GUEIST, the Pro-
fessor of Law, delivered some remarks, which
were distinguished for their force and clearness.
He reminded the members that they had now been
for two years debarred from the exercise of their
prerogative, and now it was proposed that Parlia-
ment should be muzzled. Doubtless Ministers found
it rather awkward to appear before the Assembly ;
hence, argued Dr. GUEIST, they deemed it expedient
to break the law which gave them freedom of
speech, the same as they had already broken all the
other rules of the Constitution. Well might the
eloquent speaker declare that " Europe shuddered
to see what had become of Prussian justice
under the action of these modern new-fangled
and altogether non-German laws." Such is a good
epitome of the state of affairs as at present existing
in Berlin, and all hope cannot reasonably be ex-
tinct of a change for the better while men are
found to speak out their minds boldly
and decidedly, and to protest against
the mean and mischievous course pursued by the
Government. Certainly Herr von BISMARCK and
his friends cannot say in exculpation that they are
not aware of the unpopularity of their propositions,
for on all sides and from all quarters they are
unremittingly assailed, and if freedom of expres-
sion were not so greatly prohibited in Prussia at
present they would hear and see still more that they
did not like. Herr WALDECK, in the course of the
debate, appropriately expressed himself concerning
the topic under discussion, when he said that
" the members of that high assembly were quite as
free and irresponsible representatives as the KING
himself ;" and he went on to say that the Govern-
ment had better speak out and say openly,
" Gentlemen, beware, we have a certain class of
people at our disposal who will aid us in incarce-
rating yon if bidden to do so." Herr von Bis-
MARCK has been more insolent and indignant than
usual in his replies to those speeches, which is,
perhaps, a sign that the home truths uttered have
been only too well understood by him.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

The discussion yesterday in the Senate was of an
important character, being almost exclusively de-
voted to religion. The speakers maintained the
necessity of supporting the rights and privileges of
the Pope. Count Segur d'Aguesseau commenced
by expressing his opinion that the treaty of Sept.
15 had created a perilous position in Italy, but he
appreciated the great value of the Imperial Speech,
which declared " indispensable the power of the
Holy Father," and passed a just eulogium upon the
manner in which the Pope had exercised his autho-
rity in the Roman States. The paragraph (9) re-
called to recollection, also, that Rome was the city
of the Holy Father, the capital of Catholicism. It
also acknowledged that the desire of the Emperor
always was that the Papacy should be respected by
Italy, just as he wished, and wishes, that Italy
should be respected by Europe. Such words
and such declarations could only be received
with gratitude by all French hearts, and
by all truly Catholic hearts. After this
exordium the speaker commented upon various
points connected with the policy of France towards
Italy, and expressed some apprehension of the views
of the Italian Government in regard to Rome.
Cardinal Bonnechose, as I had reason to antici-
pate, spoke at great length upon the subject of
Italy. He criticised the passage respecting it, but
said his vote would bo favourable, particularly as
the Emperor had determined to maintain the tem-
poral power of the Pope.
Cardinal Mathieu deprecated the occupation of
the provinces of Italy, and particularly those of the
Pontifical States, but said he must look at all the
poiuts connected with the question with a practical
eye. lie did not believe that the Emperor had cal-
culated all the consequences of the treaty of the
15th September, but he should adopt with entire
confidence the paragraph under consideration.

Cardinal Donnet concurred in the sentiments of
the two cardinals who preceded him.
The paragraph was then adopted.
Commercial and trading affairs, it is said, have
improved so wonderfully in France within the last
two months that the railway companies have found
it difficult to expedite the goods entrusted for
transmission. The Western and Eastern Railway
Companies, instead of receiving an annuity from
the Government as additional interest, intend to
pay a considerable sum to Government by way of
deduction from that received from it last year in
consequence of conventions for the guarantee of
interest. The sum to be paid by the Eastern Rail-
way Company will amount to at least 1,500,000 f.
M. Bougenier, historical painter, has just died
at Paris. He was one of the oldest pupils of Gros,
the eminent painter, whose labours adorn the
domes of several of the churches of the capital. A
Paris paper says that Bougenier was one of the
men the most known in the world. His nose was
of a peculiar shape. A daring hand traced it on
the walls of Paris, and it was speedily sketched
from one end of Europe to the other, and even on
the Pyramids of Egypt. Bougenier, an excellent
man, bore his strange popularity like a philosopher.
The Salut Public of Lyons gives an account of a
triple marriage at the village of Villars. At the
same altar were married a mother and her two
daughters. The same priest performed the marriage
ceremony for the three wedded pair on the same day
and hour.

A man named Poncet, who for years kept a wine
shop at Vanves, in the vicinity of Montrouge, has
committed suicide from disgust at being of the same
name as the criminal just executed at Versailles,
although there was no sort of relationship between
them. The inquiries which have taken place respect-
ing his property have led to the discovery that he
was on very intimate terms with his servant girl,
and that she and another lover had long been in the
habit of robbing the deceased man.

The unprecedented weather is certainly a leading
topic of the day. In the vicinity of Paris trees
show signs of being ready to burst into leaf. In
the reserved garden of the Tuileries are two weep-
ing willows, which are as green as they generally
arc in the month of April. The Moniteur takes up
the subject as it were officially, and asks what has
become of the predictions which presaged a terrible
winter. The successor to the deceased weather
prophet Mathieu de la Promo, himself a Mathieu,
but Mathieu de la Nievre, expressed confidence that
the Seine would be entirely frozen over on the 15th
of January, and that there would be sledges on the
Boulevards. On the contrary, says the Moniteur,
the gutters could not make up their minds to freeze.
M. Babinet, a member of the Academy, who is a
fair authority upon scientific subjects, also predicted
that it would not be cold this winter. He says,
however, that he is completely ignorant of the cause of
the absence of cold, and candidly confesses that he
had no faith in his own prediction. M. Babinet
expresses his apprehensions of drought this year,
because, he says, no snow no water. Snow, too, he
says, is required to wet the interior of the earth.
Rain does not penetrate the land. It is too rapidly
absorbed by the atmosphere, except in woody
districts.

The fancy dress ball on Saturday evening, at
he Ministry of Foreign Affairs, appears to have
exceeded in magnificence those of the Tuileries. A
Chinese Princess was brought into the ball-room in
a splendid palanquin, which was used by Baron
Gros, who, when ambassador from France to China,
went to Pekin to dictate terms of peace to the
Government of the Celestial Empire. It would be
useless to describe the costumes ; they were the
most brilliant and original of ancient and modern
times. Madame Drouyn de l'Huys, the wife of the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, had a dress of the
time of Louis the Fifteenth, which she wore so
gracefully and so naturally that it did not appear
to be a disguise.
The Tribunal Correctional of the Seine has been