The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-14 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MAX 14, 1857.

Naval. and Military Intelligence.

Her Majesty will not leave Osborne until the
4th of June. It is rumoured that a squadron will
be assembled at Spithead to salute the Grand Duke
Cmsta,ntine of Russia, whose own squadron of
several sail is also expected at Spithead from the
Mediterranean.

Admiral Sir G. Seymour and Rear-Admiral Mar-
tin went to Cowes yesterday in the Fire Queen, for
the purpose of paying a visit to her Majesty.
The Duke of Cambridge, with the view of ascer-
taining the opinions of Cle various commanding
officers respecting the new clothing issued to the
troops during the present year, has directed that
all officers in the comtraud of corps shall forward
the proceedings of boards held for the purpose of
inspecting the clothing received for the troops
under their command to the Horse Guards, with
an opin.on of the now tunics issued for their men.
Her Majesty's steam store-ship Urgent, Com-
mander S. Phillips, with the 67th Regiment from
the West Indies, arrived at Plymouth yesterday.
YesterJav the troops stationed at Chatham gar-
rison, consisting of the depots of the Provisional
Battalion, under the command of Col. H. Jervis,
the Royal 'Marines, commanded by Col. E. A.
Parker, and the Royal Engineers, under the com-
mand of. Col. H. Saudham, were drawn up on
Chatham Lines, when the entire brigade went
through a variety of manoeuvres, under the direc-
tion of Col. Eden, commandant of the garrison.
A melancholy accident occurred yesterday morn-
ing to a colour-sergeant of the Rep]. Engineers at
Chatham, named E ward B irnicoat, an experienced•
diver, who lost his life whilst diving for the pur-
pose of recovering the 32-pounder iron gun which
was accidentally sunk at Rochestfr-bridge in the
pontoon experiments on Saturday last. The de-
ceased, who was a most experienced diver, having
been employed in recovering the Royal George,
went under water about nine o'clock this morning,
and made the usual signals for some time. After
being down about half an hour, it was found that
he did not reply to the signals, when he was imme-
diately drawn up, and was discovered to be quite
dead, there being a quantity of water in his diving
dress. An inquest was held on the body this even-
ing, when, after hearing the statement of Major
Has,ard, and the otherowitnesses, the jury returned
a verdict that the deceased was accidentally
drowned.

The Melville, two-decker, fitting as an hospital
ship, for China, was taken out of dock to-day.
The Princess Charlotte, three decker, Captain St.
Vincent King, is not now to take out the troops
assigned to her. They are to go out in a hired
steam transport.. An embarkation of troops is now
expected to take place here for China on Tuesday
next.

The Volcano, steamer, which brought round ma-
chinery for the new sNam-ships fitting at this and
the other ports in the west, sailed for the latter
to-day. _ _

> Lieutenant-General Baron de Brandis, the War
Minister of Hanover, who represented the King of
Hanover at the funeral of the Duchess of Glou-

tester, is expected to visit Portsmouth tc-morrow,
to inspect the various departments.
The Hamilla Mitchell, convict ship, arrived on
Sunday evening from the eastward. Yesterday she
embarked from the convict prison 60 prisoners for
Gibraltar, and sailed, calling at Portland.
The Agamemnon, 91, Master Noddall, was taken
out of dock to-day. _ _ _

The Fancy, 2, gun-boat, has come into harbour
to pay off.
Sir Colin Campbell, G.C.8., Inspector-General
of Infantry, arrived in Cork on Saturday morning
for the purpose of inspecting the regiments in that
garrison.
The 36th depot, under command of Col. Halli-
day, has left Cork for Athlone 300 strong. The
company which was stationed at Spike Island was
relieved by one of the 99th Foot.
The service companies of the 36th Regiment are
expected to arrive from America in the latter part
of this month. They are to land at Portsmouth.
The 3d L;ght Dragoons are expected daily to ar-
rive in Cork from Cabir, in the room of the 13th.
Half a company of Artillery left Cork on Thurs-
day, under. command of Captain Blackburne, for
Limerick.

The screw corvette Malacca, 17, Capt. Farquhar,
arrived at Spithead yesterday forenoon from the
Mediterranean. She left Malta on the 15th April,
and Gibraltar on the 29th. She brought 20 soldiers
of various regiments from Malta, 10 Sappers and
Miners from Gibraltar, 2 women, and 6 children.
She filled up with Commissariat stores, &c., as
usual with vessels now coming home from Malta.
On the Ist inst., in lat. 37.0, lono'. 10 0, exchanged
numbers with the steamship Golden Fleece; on Sun-
day, West of Scilly, exchanged numbers with her
Majesty's ships Exmouth and Colossus, under can-
vass ; on Monday, off Scilly, spoke the brig Moun-
taineer, 55 days from Gibraltar, and supplied her
with water. The Malacca has sailed for Plymouth,
taking round supernumeraries.
The United States steam frigate Niagara passed
the Wight yesterday for the Thames, to ship her
portion of the Atlantic telegraph cable.
The Hotspur, Indiaman, one of Smith's sqadron,
passed the Wight yesterday from India for the
Thames. She experienced strong easterly winds
for 14 days. She passed the Southampton India-
man, bound up Channel, and a large quantity of
shipping. Among her passengers are Major
Ricketts, Captain B. P. Reid, Messrs. B. Frazer,
C. W. Janvrin, L. North, F. W. Goldsworthy
Brownlow, &c.
The screw steamship Exmouth, 90, Capt. Harry
Eyres, which arrived with the Colossus at Ply-
mouth yesterday morning from Lisbon, struck the
ground about three miles north of the Lizard on
Tuesday morning, during a dense fog, and was for
a short time in some danger. She was under sail
with a light wind from south-west, and was sup-
posed to be in a fair course for Plymouth Sound.
At 9.15 a.m. land was suddenly discovered right
ahead. The Exmouth was put about, and when
in the act of going round took the ground forward;
sails were loWered, and she fell off immediately
into deep water. The anchor was let go in seven
fathoms, steam got up, and within a few minutes
of 11 o'clock the ship was out of danger. The star-
board fore boiler was bulged by the concussion,
and some of the bolts• are bent, which makes the
boiler leak. It is supposed that a portion of the
false keel forward has been knocked off, and that
some of the bolts connecting it with the keel have
been loosened, as the ship has a leak averaging an
inch per hour. The tide was in the last quarter of
the ebb. Land was first seen at 6.30 a.m., and the
course marked at 8 a.m., when they were about
15 miles south of the Lizard. A strong northern
current is supposed to have put the ship out of her
Course.

The erection of the new slips at Pembroke dock-
yard is proceeding rapidly. Their length is very
great, in order to meet the increased size of our

modern men-of-war. The beds are of limestone,
with solid copings of granite. The widening and
lengthening of the dock are actively being carried
out, and this year are to cost 20,0001. It is pro-
posed that the navigation in front of the dockyard
shall be materially improved by being both widened
and deepened. Large quantities of mud in banks
have been for many years accumulating, and these
are to be removed. The mud between the' Car
Spit and the dockyard is to be scoured away. The
extension of the sheds seaward is proceeding ra-
pidly, as also the erection of the various new
workshops, 45c. The sum to be expended this year
on the extension and improvements at this dock-
yard cannot be less than 100,0001.

THE LATE LOSS OP LIFE IN TOTTEN

HAM-CJURT-ROAD.

INQUEST ON THE FIVE BODIES.
Yesterday afternoon
.Mr. G. S. Brent, deputy-
coroner for the western division of the county of
Middlesex, opened an inquiry at the Lord Wellino--
ton, University-street, New-road, respecting the
deaths of Frederick Bing, aged 24, shopman ; Ann
Driscoll, 26, servant ; Richaid Turner, 30, carpen-
ttr ; John Gurnett, 29, carpenter ; and G orge
}Civil,' 28, labourer ; the five victims of the falling
on Saturday last of the premises of Mr. Maple and
Mr. Hunter, furniture dealers and upholsterers in
Tottenham-court-road, the published details of
which have caused the most painful sensation
throughout the metropolis.
The inquest was or iginallyappointed to take place
at 11 o'clock ; from that hour until one o'clock, the
time ultimately fixed for Vie commencement of the
inquiry, a vast number of persons flocked to the
inquest-room, , and congregated in its immediate
locality.

•
Mr. Hardinge. Gifford, barrister, instructed by
Mr. J. W. Chamberlain, appeared on bilhalf of the
repre,entatives of the deceased Bing. Mr. Maple,
Mr. Raggett, his surveyor, and Mr. Taylor, builder;
Mr. Hunter, Mr. Redding, surveyor, and Mr. John-
son, build-r, were represented by Mr. Cooper.
Mr. Henry Baker, district surveyor, Mr. Reeve,
surveyor to the etropolitan Commissioners of
Police, and others who evinced deep interest in the
proceedings were pre3eut during the inquiry.
• Inspector Checkley, of the E division, was pre-
sent to watch the proceedings;- by the direction of
the Commissioners of Police.

It was intimated to our reporter that the Right
Hon. Sir 13. Hall, feeling a• deep interest in the
proceedings, had at an early hour yesterday morn-
ing personally inspected the ruins.
Previous to the jury being sworn, Mr. Brent ex-
pressed a desire to offer a few observations. It was
with deep regret he had to announce the absence
from town of the coroner, which was occasioned by
the serious illness of Mrs. Wakley ; the sad event
had detained the coroner at Brighton for some days
past. Yesterday he (Mr. Brent) had the advantage
of seeing Mr. Wakley, who came up to town ex-
pressly to confer upon the present inquiry, but was
compelled to return immediately, and Le (Mr.
Brent) expected momentarily to hear of the demise
of Mrs. Wakley. Under these circumstances he
wished to put it to the jury before they were sworn
whether they would prefer for the present merely to
view the bodies in order that they might be identi-
fied and interred, and then to postpone for a fort-
night the taking of evidence, by which time he
trusted they might have the advantage of the pre-
sence of Mr. Wakley. If, however, the gentlemen
summoned were of a different opinion, he was quite
prepared to proceed with the evidence.
Mr. Dyke, a juryman, was of opinion that whilst
no doubt it would be found necessary to adjourn
the inquiry, still a fortnight would be too long a
time to keep parties concerned in suspense.
After some observations from the foreman, it was
determined to proceed with the inquiry.
The jury was then duly impannelled, and having
selected Mr. James Linton, of Bath-place, New-
road, as their foreman, proceeded, accompanied by
the deputy coroner, to view the bodies, and then
to inspect the scene of the catastrophe.
After an absence of nearly an hour, the jury re-
turned and answered to their names.

The following is the panel : Mr. James Linton,
14. Bath-place, New-road, foreman • Mr. Alexan-
der Watson, 20, Euston-place ; Mr. Robert Pollock,
15, Osnaburgh-street • Mr. William Dyke, 21,
Grafton-street East ; Mr. Thomas Alvey, 16, How-
land-street ; Mr. William Purkis, 6, Cain-place,
Kentish-town ; Mr. Septimus Battam, 160, Totten-
ham-court-road ; Mr. John Eeles Lawford, 15,
Tottenham-court, New-road ; Mr. J. T. Rothwell,
27, London-street ; Mr. S. Wills, 86, Tottenham-
court-road ; Mr. H. Matthew, 59, Warren-street ;
Mr. B. Winter, 27k, Charles-street, Hampstead-
road ; Mr. S. Rogers, Cleveland-street ; Mr. T.
Thomas, 101, Stanhope-street ; Mr. G. EH, 5,
Tottenham-court, New-road ; Mr. G. Bossom, 2,
Tottenham-court, New-road.
W. L. Bing deposed as follows :—I live at Can-
terbury, and aria out of business, but was formerly
engaged by Mr. Maple. The deceased F. Bing was
my brother, he was employed as shonntan to Mr.
Maple, and lived on the premises. I 'last saw him
alive on Thursday week—he was then well. I have
been employed on the premises myself fqr 14 years
and a month, and lived in the house for 12 years.
The place was always considerel perfectly safe.
Abby Driscoll identified the body of Ann Dris-
coll as that of her sister.
Ann Turner, having been sworn, identified the
body of John Turner, as that of her husband, who
was a carpenter in the emplopntent of Mr. Taylor,
the builder.
The deceased John Gurnett, also in the employ-
ment of Mr. Taylor, was identified by his wife,
Sarah Gurnett. She had heard her husband speak
of undermining and putting a girder in which he
could hear it crack. Did not hear him say that it
was dangerous, or she would not have suffered him
to go to work iu the same place.
Alfred Barnes, bricklayer, in the employment
of Mr. Johnson, builder, identified the body of
George Kivil, who was to the time of his death, a
labourer in the employment of Mr. Johnson. Was
at work with deceased from six in the morning un-
til the occurrence took place. He was at work on
Mr. Maple's side of the party-wall,' on the ground
floor. The body was found dote to the basement
of the party-wall on Mr. Maple's side.
Joseph White, labourer, of 4, Prince of Wales'-
passage, deposed that he was employed by Mr.
Johnson, and was at work on the premises at the
time of, the accident. He escaped by running
across the road. After the houses fell he assisted
two others in getting out some of the bodies ; soon
after there were a great many more helping. He got
out Bing, who was lying quite dead, in bed, under
the lead flat. He appeared to be pressed to death,
there being nothing between him and the lead flat
but a sheet and a blanket.
Alfred Barnes recalled—The whole of the bodies
were taken out from about the middle of the ruins.
Wm. Price Jones, M.R.0.5., sworn, deposed as
follows—l am medical resident of the University
College Hospital. The bodies of the four deceased
were brought to the hospital quite dead. The
cause of death in four cases was from suffocation.
There were no marks of external injury. There
was great lividity about the head. All the internal
organs were healthy, and showed the cause of death
to be suffocation merely. In the case of Ann Dris-
coll, I believe that death must have been instan-
taneous, from laceration of the liver, which was torn
into several pieces. There were four ribs broken on
one side, and two on the other. In the case of Bing
there was no sign of injury either internal or external.
The heart was filled with dark fluid blood. J. Gur-
nett also died from asphyxia. The scalp was corn
pletely separated from the skull ; but that was not
the cause of death. In the case o George Kivil, in
addition. to evidence of suffocation, there was a
fracture of the left leg and right thigh ; but death
was caused by suffocation.
The next witness called was Arthur King, who
deposed that he was a bricklayer, in the employ-
ment of Mr. Taylor. He was engaged on the pre-
mises on the day of the accident. He was running
up some brickwork to strengthen the party-wall
between Mr. Maples's two houses. He was at work,
with two others, under the direction of Mr. Taylor.
By the Jury—ln running up the brick he used
Roman cement. It was about 20 feetfrom the street.
Examination continued—The first intimation he
had of the accident was the rolling down of dust
from the party wall. The foreman called attention
to it. He said to Johnson's men, "you are cutting
away too much brickwork, and we shall have the
wall down." 'Did not hear what reply was made to
this. The observations were made about five
minutes before the wall fell. He saw the party-
wall on Mr. Hunter's side bulge, and split in the
middle. Two men shouted to Mr. Hughes, the
foreman at Maple's, and others who're be could see,
to get out of the way, as the place was falling. He,
witness, ran and made his escape by getting down
a ladder into Tottenham-place. Just as he got to
the doorway the place fell down with a heavy crash.
There were two openings in Mr. Hunter's party-
wall, one at one end and one at the other, about 4
feet square, as near as he could judge.
After some discussion between Mr. Giffard and
Mr. Cooper,
Thomas Hughes, salesman to Mr. Maple, de-
posed that be resided on the portion of the pre-
mises No. 2, Tottenham-place. On Saturday be
was on the ground floor looking at the bricklayers
making a hole in the party-wall. They were not
employed under Mr. Taylor. At 7 o'clock in the
morning, there were two at work ; ono was knock-
ing away with a crowbar to make a hole. The hole
that was made about the centre was about 3 feet
by 3. Soon after seven, one of the bricklayers called
out, " That wall does not look safe ; there is dust
coming out of it." Immediately afterwards the
same man shouted out, "Pun, run for your lives."
All those who were within hearing—about eight or
ten—did run, and so just escaped. There were on
Mr. Maple's premises at the time about ten per.

•
sons upstairs, who slept in the house. Up to that
day he had no apprehensioroot the promiso being
in a dangerous state. He was of ()pinion that the
premises fell tbreugh the cutting away of the pal ty-
wall to make the holes. He did not see a,:y'prack
in the wall. None of Mr. Taylor's men were work-
ing at the same wall where Mr. Johnson's men
were at work. There were three bricklayers, two
carpenters, and two labourers present. Mr. Tay-
lor tlineriutended the work himself.

By Mr. Cooper—There bad been some altrrat'oes
made iu the front of Mr. Maple's sh,T. There was
a column removed. He could not say whether a
new Bressemer has been put up lately or net.

By the Coroner—Had not the least apprehension
of any danger until a few moments before the acd-
dent occurred. _ _ _

In reply to Afr.• Gifford, the coroner stated teat
at a later period of the inquiry the professional.
gentlemen
would have ample opportunity afforded
ihem of putting any question they de4ird to the
witnesses. The present was a most important in-
quiry, and: would not be hurried forward.
Sp urow Harrison was next examined, and de-
posed that he resided at Dalston, and was foreman
to Mr. Johnson, builder, of the same place. He
was at R ork on Mr. Hunter's premises in Totten-
ham-court-road, on Saturday morning last, in
company'with several workmen. He had set the
carpenteri to work to fix the joists, and Jones and
Barnes, bricklayers, to cut away the brickwork in
the party wall ; ie other men were at work on
Mr. Hunter's roof. About a quarter past 7he went
dowia to the office in the hoarding in front of the
building to . make oti,t the time sheet, it being Sa-,
turday. At half-past 7he was called out by a man
named White, who said he was alarmed at seeing
some dust falling over. He (witness) then looked
in.from the front of the shops, so that he could see
the party-wall, and thought ho saw it cracking.
The wall is 14 inches thick. On examining it he
fancied he saw it cracking. Kn,owing the state of
the party-wall between 146 and 147, be called out
to both se,s of men. One of the openings was about
five feet by three. The dust came from the party-
wall between Mr. Hunter's and Mr. Maple's. Im-
mediately after he called out to the men he beard
a crash, and saw the building fall. He then assisted
to get out some of the injured persons.
Mr. Cooper submitted that it would be most de-
sirable at th's stage of the inquiry to adjourn the
proceedings to a future day.
The Coroner had not the least objection to such
a course, provided it met the approbation of the
jury and others whose attendance would be abso-
lutely necessary. As he understood that the person
who received the notice respecting the condemned
wall was present, it might be as well to take his
evidence, as it formed part of the narrative in con-
nexion with the lamentable occurrence.

Inspector Checkley stated that it having been
intimated to the officer who, served the notice that
bis evidence would not be required that day he bad
left the court.. _

An adjournment was then agreed to, and the
jury having been severally bound in the snm of 501.
each to appear at the same place on Friday next
(to-morrow), the day's proceedings terminated.
Mr. Taylor, son of the contractor, died this
morning, making the sixth life which has been lost
by this melancholy catastrophe.

PERSIA.

At a meeting of the Royal Geographical Society,
held on Monday evening at their rooms in White-
hall-place, Sir Roderick Murchison presiding,
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry C. Rawlinson,
K. C. 8., F. R. G. S., delivered to a large assembly
of the members a lecture on Mohammerah and
Shat el Arab, with reference to the late operations
on the mouth of the Euphrates.
After some preliminary business, in the course
of which the. CHAIRMAN proposed that Captain
Allen Young, who had distinguished himself in the
merchant service, and afterwards commanded the
transport steam-ship Adelaide in the Black Sea,
and who had since volunteered to join the expedi-
tion and serve under Captain M'Cliutock to search
after the relics of the Franklin expedition, should
be elected a member of the society; _
Sir. H. RAWLINSON addressed the meeting by
observing that he held in his hand a report on
Mohammerah and Shat el Arab which ho had pre-
pared for the information of the Government about
15 years ago, when the dominion of those places
was contested between the Persians and the Turks,
and when those two Powers had requested the ar-
bitration of the English and Russian. Governments
for a settlement of the matters in dispute. But, as
the document to which he alluded treated almost
exclusively of dry geographical details, he thought
the meeting would prefer hearing a statement of
the history and actual position of Mohammerah
having inflicted on them a dry list of geographical
names. He proposed, therefore, to divide his ad-
dress into three parts. He would first trace upon
the map and explain the geography of Mohamme-
rah ; secondly, he would give a sketch of its ancient
history ; and he would then offer a few observations
in reference to the military operations that were
now going on there, and especially in regard to the
Persian war, as at present conducted by Sir James
Outram. Mobammerah was the scene of the latest,
and he trusted the last, military exploit of the Brit-
ish forces against Persia. Although it was a place
of considerable interest, he believed that tat the pre-
sent hour it was but little known. Its position was
set forth in a very few maps, and there were not
many persons, even among the best informed,
who were acquainted with the actual position
of the place which had been recently cap-
tured by the British troops. The first expe-
dition landed at Bushire, and the second expe-
dition moved on to Mohammerah, across the
mouth of the Persian Gulf to the Euphrates. The
only navigable mouth of the Euphrates was at Mo-
hammerah. It was not practicable in the ordinary
acceptation of the term ; it was not like the Thames;
it never had more than three fathoms of water, and
was generally only from 12 to 14 feet. But very
few ves,els could cross the bar of the Euphrates
without grounding. The expedition having left
Bushire on the 19th of March was not able to at-
tack Mobammerah till the 26th---.being upwards of
a week. The question was constantly asked
" Where is Mohammerah ; is it in Persia or is it in
Turkey ? " The whole country from Ararat to the
Persian Gulf had been scientifically surveyed by
English and Russian Commissioners for a distance
of 1,000 miles, and the physical or geographical
question at issue betweeir Persia and Turkey was
whether Mobammerah was on the Euphrates or on
the Karoon. It was agreed that the country
watered by the Karoon belonged to Persia ; but
the question was, as he had just stated, whether
110hammerah was on the one river or on the other.
It was fully decided that Mohammerah should
be considered as belonging to Persia, but there
was reason to believe that that was contrary
to geographical accuracy. He hims-lf was of
opinion that the place was situated on the
Euphrates, and, if so, it belonged to Turkey.
Sir H. Rawlinson then read some notes on the
history of Mohammerah. It had, as he had
already stated, been ruled that Mohammerah was
Persian, and the Persians had occupied the place
for a certain period, but the Turkish Government
was 'never satisfied with that adjudication, and
within the last six weeks, when it was known that
an expedition had gone forth with the intention of
attacking Mohammerah, the Turkish Government
entered a protest against it. They did not con-
sider that they bad lost their territorial claim to
that place. Sir Henry then referred to the history
of Mohammerah from the earliest times. It was
not generally known that Mohammerah was for-
merly a city of a very famous Greek kingdom, and
although it might not have been the capital, it
formed part of the kingdom of Karaknia and
Messinae. It was a city of great importance, and
there were extant coius which issued from its mint.
The ground upon which the city stood was formed
from alluvial deposits. The present fort 'was a
quadrangle enclosure of about 350 yards by 300
yards' and was entirely destitute of artillery. The
town had no natural advantages over Bussorab,
but had thriven solely from the uncertainty of its
dependence, whether on Persia or on Turkey, and
its consequent freedom from a tariff. The object
of General Sir James Outram in removing from
Bushire to Mohammerah was to obtain a position
for' carrying on the war. It was absolutely neces-
&try that he should secure a strategical basis from
which he might advance into the country. Had he
remained at Bushire it would haver been a mere idle
demonstration. He had no reason to suppcee that a
treaty of peace would be concluded at Paris ; his object
therefore was to carry on the war with activity d
vigour, and the basisforhis operations could or?l;nbe
obta'ned at Mohammerah. Igo doubt he believed
that by gaining a position upon the Karoon he
would have made an impression upon the Persians
which would have brought them to reason, and had
the war continued he would have gone further into
the country. This was, however, now a matter of
speculation which he Would not investigate. His
own opinion was that the undertaking would have
been one of difficulty, but in Oriental cpuntries the