The Sun.
London, England, 1835-08-06 00:00:00

LONDON, THIJRSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 6, 1835

STATE OF IRELAND.

DUBLIN, AUGUST 2.
" There is a moment of difficulty and danger, at which flattery and
falsehood can nolonger deceive, and simplicity itself can no longer
be misled. Let us supposed it arrived."--Junius, 85th Letter.

The paper from which the preceding sentence is extracted,
being written at a period of political difficulty not unlike the
present, is worthy of attention. But facts.more interesting to
the readers of your daily journal, preclude the necessity of re-
ferring to history for instruction when our rulers are embar-
rassed by the difficulty of their position. -
The city of Dublin, and I might say all Ireland, is at this
moment in a state of suspense and feverish excitement. The
tranquillity prevalent among the great body of the people since
his Majesty recalled the present Ministry, is likely to be dis-
turbed. To their anxiety and alarm the occurrences of last
week have mainly contributed. In the first place, a respect-
able portion of the inhabitants of this city have been prevented
from meeting to petition Parliament for a redress of griev-
ances. And by whom prevented ? Not by any legitimate
authority charged with upholding the laws, and preserving
quiet and good order in society—but by an illegal combination
and sanguinary club of Orangemen, who seek every opportu-
nity of breaking their fellow-citizens' heads, and the peace of
the country ! I This circumstance, which took pace in the
early part of last week, is magnified into one of fearful impor-
tance by the discovery, since made
_known, that his Majesty's
forces, in every part of his dominions, are tainted wits a similar
spirit of combination. Again, the question, so mud the topic
of every conversation, of " What will the Lords do ?" isanswered
by reports of that " august body " having resolved, " curia non
sedente," to delay, if not defeat the progress of Refer-ins,. In'
addition to these causes of discontent, the safety of the Catho-
lic citizens of Dublin is said to be immediately threatened by
hordes of Orangemen brought in from the adjacent counties,
for the purpose of preventing the meeting already interrupted
by them ; and appointed to be held to-morrow in the Coburg
Gardens. And lastly, the murder of the Rev. John Walsh,
Roman Catholic Curate of Borris, in the county of Carlow,
supposed to have been perpetrated by Orangemen, on Thurs-
day last, is producing a fear and phrenzy throughout the land
of which no man can foretel the consequences.
Such is the change of feeling produced in Ireland within
one short week, by occurrences which may possibly rouse into
action the wildest spirits of those factions that have long em-
barrassed every means of improvement and amelioration. The
collision is not to be apprehended in Ireland alone. It is likely
to pervade every part of his Majesty's dominions, should the
obstinacy of the House of Lords, or the vacillation of the Ca-
binet allow the people and the faction to struggle much longer
for superiority. It is awful to contemplate what may arise
out of such a protracted conflict. Several intelligent men think
that the symptoms of opposition by the " Lords" to the Bills df
Reform already on their table, or preparing to be laid there,
is the signal of civil war ; and their reasons for thinking so are,
the manifestations of the Orangemen in this country, and the
knowledge of their affiliations already mentioned. That there
are rebels to pie present Government in Ireland we have
strong grounds for believing; that such rebels consist of the
lowest classes of Orangemen, of some abandoned characters
and profligates, and of a few apostate Catholics, whose poverty
and destitution made them an easy acquisition for bribery and
corruption, all who are acquainted with the facts already men-
tioned, and the general condition of society here, will be in-
clined to credit. The writer of this heard a respectable, edu-
cated Protestant--an avowed Irish Tory—state something, a
few days ago, corroborative of these apprehensions. He said,
if England would not interfere, the Ascendancy party in this
country were prepared and willing to put down the Catholics,
however numerous, and resume that dominion over the country
which they have long exercised, and which, he said, ought to
continue. This declaration was made in presence of an English
Protestant gentleman, who ridiculed the notion, that a hand-
ful of Orangemen could put down millions of the people.
The answer was, that those millions never evinced a national
spirit of unanimity or courage—and that an organised and
united body of thousands could at any time subdue and go-
vern them. Experience teaches us that there is not such
absurdity in the assertion as would at first appear. The
Orangemen are organised and sanguinary ; they seek to up-
hold a system of monopoly, plunder, and oppression, in the
fruits of which every one of them may participate. On the
other hand the Catholics are, for the most part, peaceably dis-
posed ; many of them already feel the blessings of freedom
and equality, and—" Novis ex rebus aucti, tuta et prmsentia
quam vetera et periculosa malent "—would not risk in civil
warfare the benefits they enjoy. Besides, the chances of in-
dividual advantage among millions cannot prove to them so
great a stimulant, as the certain loss which their descendants.
must sustain is now to the thousands who struggle for ascend-
ancy and existing abuse's. Hence the equality of warlike
power between parties so unequal in numbers. It is to be
hoped, however, that the firmness of the Ministry, and the
discretion and humane feelings of English Tories, will not
permit that collision for which the more blood-thirsty and re-
mote friends of the latter are prepared. The Duke of Wel-
lington's reply to Lord Melbourne's true and philosophic esti-
mate of " public opinion " a few nights ago, is a guarantee that
the more wise and discreet of their Lordships are disposed to
avert that crisis, which the delay or refusal of justice must
inevitably bring about. As regardg Ireland, Lord Morpeth's
Bill is of vital importance to his Majesty's peaceably disposed
subjects of every sect; it contains the elements and means of
redressing our most pressing grievances. Should it be re:-
jected in the upper House, the people, now lulled into quie-
tude by the expected redress, may be roused into ferocious
hostility against the minions of their supposed enemies ; and
thus will that crisis arrive which wicked men wish for, and
which all good men should endeavour to avert. In the mean
time, preparations are making to preserve the peace of Dublin
to-morrow, should the liberals persevere in holding the meet-
ing, which many of their friends wish them to decline.

DREADFUL EXPLOSION OF THE

POWDER MILLS AT HOUNSLOW.

About half-past 8 o'clock yesterday morning the greatest
consternation prevailed in the towns of Twickenham and
Hounslow, and their vicinity, in consequence of a very loud
explosion, which could only be equalled by the heavy report
of a park of artillery. In a very few moments the alarm was
increased from perceiving the horizon, which was just before
in a cloudless state, suddenly become dim, and what had the
appearance of a cloud passing over at a high elevation, while
at the same time various pieces of bricks and wood were flung
up. As a great many workmen are employed in the powder-
mills, whose families live in the neighbourhood, a very painful
scene ensued; the wives of the men, with children in their
arms, and some with children following them, were quickly
wending their way towards the scene ofdestruction. On reach-
ing the mills of Messrs. Curtis and Harvey, the appalling ex-
plosion was found to have taken place.there : when on its being
ascertained that the loss of human life, which at first was sup-
posed to have been very serious, was no more than two per-
sons—namely, Thomas Colson and George Vaux, the distress
which before was felt by so many became less conspicuous.
The wife of one of the unfortunate sufferers was on her way
(with the other women), having an infant six months old
in her arms but before she reached the spot to know the
painful truth, she fell down in a fit, and was obliged to be car-
rifld back home in that state:

The premises of Messrs. Curtis and Harvey, and which
occupy a large extent of ground, are situated about a mile
and a-half from Hounslow, on a cross-road, leading from the
western extremity of Hounslow to Hanworth and Sunbury,
and the mills are called the Hounslosv-heath Mills. Within
th% last nine years, this is the fourth explosion of the same
mill, each time two lives having been lost. The present ca-
lamity has excited more than usual attention, since on Friday
last the composition-mill was burnt down, the fire having taken
place about three o'clock in the morning, there being no one
in 'the mill at the time. The whole of the premises were then
in the greatest danger, as owing to the grass being dry, the
flames were rapidly advancing along the ground, and were
likely to involve the whole extent of buildings, but for the
great exertions of the men, who with buckets of water stopped
the progress of the flames. On this occasion the whole of
the mill was destroyed with all the property it contained,
amounting to about 500!., the Messrs. Curtis being but
partly insured. How the fire originated is not known. On
Monday last an accident also happened to a man of the
name of Pearce, who was employed in preparing powder,
about 401 b. weight, when by the explosion of it he became
very seriously injured, and now lies in a very dangerous state.
Soon after the melancholy event, information was sent to
the parish-officers of Twickenham, in which parish the mills
are. Mr. Stirling, the coroner, was then communicated
with, who ordered a Jury to meet him at six o'clock last
night, to hold an inquest on the bodies. Soon after that
hour the coroner arrived, and when a panel of 22 jurors was
sworn in at the'clerk's office.

Previous to receiving the evidence, the jury viewed the
bodies of the two unfortunate men, which lay in a shed, and
which were very frightfully disfigured, being also blackened
all over. The Jury then went out to inspect the site where
but a few hours before the mill stood, and at the base of which
ran the Isleworth stream, which flows into the river Thames
at Islevvorth. Not a vestige of the mill remained entire, the
large wheel, and every part of the building, being impelled to
a considerable distance ; several trees had been flung down,
and the boat by the side of the mill shattered to pieces. The
effect of the shock has been to injure every erection, while the
report was heard all round the country for some miles off.
The Jury having performed this painful part of their duty,
proceeded to call witnesses, previous to which Mr. Curtis ex-
pressed a wish that the fullest inquiry should take place, and
that every facility should be afforded to the Jury to prosecute
the inquiry.
Samuel Mavedson, foreman to Messrs Curtis and Harvey,
deposed that the two deceased men came to their work about
6 o'clock that morning, and immediately proceeded to the
corning mills, in which the second process of the manufacture
of gunpowder takes place. He never saw them alive after-
wards. About half-past eight o'clock he beard an explosion,
and found that the mill in which the deceased were was blown
up, and the building was scattered over the premises in every
direction. The bodies of the deceased were lying in differ-
ent directions.

CORONER—Can you account in any way how the accident•oc-
curred ? Witness--No, I cannot; every precaution was al-
ways taken to prevent accident.
Juror—Do you always wet the corning-mills in this hot
weather before going to work ? Witness—That is always done.
-Juror—Because I have always observed that these acci-
dents take place in hot weather.

CORONEK-It is an accident which sometimes happens that
there is no way of guarding against.
Witness—lt is not possible to assign any cause for the ac-
cident.

James Sansom, in the employ of Messrs. Curtis and Co.,
stated that he delivered the goods to the deceased men which
they had to work about half-past six o'clock, and never saw ei-
ther of them till after the explosion, when they were found dead.
ConoNEß—Did you deliver the goods they had to work in a
proper state and carefully made up? Witness--In a proper
state and carefully made up.
By the Jury—The men were supplied with five cwt. of
powder: after finishing which, they have at dinner time a si-
milar quantity. They never have any greater weight. The
whole mill is entirely cleared out at night.
CORONER—WouId it not contribute to the safety of the place
to have &smaller quantity of powder? Witness—They cannot
do with less. _ _

CORONEII—Were the men sober? Witness—Yes; there
were no men more steady.
James Raveney said that he saw Vaux that morning before
he went to the mill. Both the men were used to the work,
and bad been employed in the same mill four years.
Juror—Do they work day work or piece work ? Mr. Cur-
tis said by the day._
The Juror observed, that he thought if they did not, they
might hurry the mills.
Mr. Curtis observed that they had no occasion to do that,
and it so happened this week that they bad had less work to
do than for some time past. The men were well paid at so
much a-day, and every precaution was always taken to prevent
accident. _

The beadle stated that there were other witnesses, if the
Jury thought proper.
Several Jurors observed there was ne necessity, and on that
appearing the unanimous opinion,
The CORONER, in summing up, observed that there was no
doubt but that the diSaster was entirely accidental. The com-
mon sense of the men would tell them not to incur danger,
but, take what care people would, these accidents would
sometimes occur.

The Jury immediately returned a verdict of " Accidental
Death."

Colson has left a wife with three children, and Vaux a wife
with two children.

" TALES OF' THE RAMAD'HAN.--(Mr. St.
John's New Work.)--" The first of these amusing tales,"
says the Athenceum, " leads us out into the very depths of
the Eastern desert. How vivid is the description of a cara-
van in the wild waste, and the sand storm overwhelming it
Nor is the author less successful when he changes the scene
from oceans of sand to oceans of water. The adventures of
the pearl merchant are as interesting as those of Sinbad, or
the companions of Kamrup, while the incidents scarcely pass
the limits of credibility. The Story of the Kabyle Chief, il-
lustrating the depth of parental affection, is equally original
and powerful ; it is impossible to detach one of the hair-breadth
escapes of the gallant chieftain, while bearing off his infant
daughter, without injuring its beauty."
EXTRAORDINARY CONVULSION OF NATURE.

—A few days ago a remarkable phenomenon occurred at the
quarry of Dr. Hughes, in Toxteth Park. Whilst the work-
men were engaged in their labours, they observed a mass of
.rock, with a quantity of superincumbent earth upon it which
would weigh at least 100 tons, suddenly :to heave and rise six
inches, after which it immediately settled into its proper posi-
tion, cracking the rock in various places, and leaving 'other
marks of the convulsion. The subject is about to be investi-
gated by a very able geologist of Liverpool.—Manchezter
Courier.

EXTRAORDINARY TEMERITY OF A CHILD.--
On Tuesday an inquest was held before Mr. Payne, at the
residence of Mr. Walker, merchant, No. 1, Lawrence Pount-
ney-hill, Cannon street, on view of the body of William Wal-
ker, son of the above, aged 10 years. It appeared from the
evidence that, between eight and nine o'clock on Sunday
morning last, Mr. George Trimley, residing in Lawrence-
lane, was looking out of his bed chamber window, when he ob-
served the deceased walking along thr.., parapet at the top of
his father's house. The situation of the child being so very
perilous, Mr. Trimley sent his servant to Mr. Walker to ap-
prise the inmates of the danger that awaited the unconscious
boy, who, in the interim, climbed over two attic wind4sys, ap-
parently with the greatest self-possession. On Mr. and Mrs.
Walker being apprised of the imminent peril of their child by
Mr. Trimley's servant, they cautiously adopted measures for
his preservation, but before they reached the top of the house,
he unhappily fell from the situation he was seen in by Mr.
Trimley, and falling a height of more than 50 feet on the
stones beneath, was killed on the spot. Verdict—" Acci-
dental Death."

On Tuesday an inquest was held at the Brown Bear,
Knightsbridge, before Mr. Higgs, on view of the body of Mr.
James Bay-ley, aged 32. The deceased was a respectable so-
licitor, and resided at Greenwich. On Sunday morning he
visited a friend, Mr. Smith, No. 2, Coventry-street, Haymar-
ket. On Monday tool-fling the deceased and Mr. Smith pro-
ceeded to Hyde Park for the purpose of bathing in the Ser-
pentine. The deceased, who was an excellent swimmer,
crossed from the south side, and was on his way back, when he
suddenly sunk. The Royal Humane Society's boat was im-
mediately on the spot, but the deceased did not rise, and his
body was picked up in about two boors. Verdict. -." Accidental
Death."