The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-17 00:00:00

THE GREAT GOLD ROBBERY.

Yesterday morning Mr. Baron Martin made an order
that the Turkish Bonds taken from Pierce by the police
at the time of his apprehension should be delivered to
Fanny Kay, Agar's mistress, upon the ground that, as
taey had been held in trust by Pierce for Kay and her
child, the prosecutors had clearly no right to seize them
as if they had been purchased by Pierce himself. By this
decision Agar's wish will be realised, and the woman
Kay will become possessed of about 2,500/., a sum which
will enable her to lead an easy, and, if so inclined,
a respectable life. Had Agar been included in the pro-
secution and conviction for the great gold robbery, the
South Eastern Railway Company would have had an on•
doubted right to the bonds ; but that not being the
case, they have no claim which it is at all likely could be
substantiated in any court of law. Tester's friends are
very much disappointed at the result of the trial, since it
was they who aivised him to surrender, contrary to the
opinion of his solicitor, upon his solemn assurance of his
innocence—an assurance so unequivocally given as to
lead them to anticipate his acquittal,

TEE ROYAL MAIL PACKET TYNE.

SOITITLIMPTON, SATURDAY, 10.15 A.M.

Wind W.N.W., fine.
The Aid steam tug arrived here at one o'clock this
morning, with the quartermaster of the Tyne, injured
last night by the boat getting under the sponson of the
ship. The rest of tho crew escaped, some by jumping
overboard, and others by lying down in the bottom of
the boat, but the quartermaster got jammed, and
broke his back. Captain Vincent reports more favour-
ably, and that there is every prohability of ulti
mately getting the ship off. The Aid lefi, her at eight
o'clock last night, and now remains in the dock awaiting
orders, by telegraph from Captain Vincent. It is believed
that she will take back a large quantity of casks to
assist in floating the steamer. The Aid also takes 100
to 200 men, with pumps. The Tyne's decks are scuttled,
so as to get the pumps easily to work for the purpose of
clearing the ship of water. The Devastation and Pigmy
had left the ship,and returned to Portsmouth, not being
able to render any further assistance. The weather
continued 4ne, but a heavy swell bad set in last evening.

______ •
LOSS OP THE SCREW STEIJI Si7IP BRITON,

SO UTHANIFTON, FRIDAY.
This morning intelligence was received here of the
total loss of the Union Screw Company's screw steam
ship Briton, Capt. Sarle, at the entrance of the Bay of
BPeay in lat. 48.16 N., lon. 6.30 W., on Sunday last.
The Briton was intended for the trade which this com-
pany has taken up between Southampton and the Bra
ails ; but on the occasion of the disaster we are now
recording she was conveying a cargo of wheat from
London to Seville (Spain). She was of between 500 and
600 tons burden, and of 60 horse power.
Oa the sth inst. the Briton left London for Seville, the
weather being moderate and the wind blowing east-south.
east, which continued up to midnight of the Bth, when
the Start Light wai made ..ut at a distance of about 13
miles, bearing north-north-west. The wind then shifted
to the westward, and blew fresh, continuing to increase
until noon of the 9th, when it blew a gale from west to
west-north-west, with a heavy sea running.
At this time the ship laboured heavily, and several
seas swept over her. At five o'clock on the evening of
the 9th tke ship was hove to under close reefed sails.
At 9.59 it blew a furious gale, with terrific cross seas
running, the ship still labouring heavily. At this time
the mainsail blew out of the bolt ropes. At 11 20 the
foretopsail was unbent, and bent in the room of the
mainsail, and the pumps were looked to.
In this state they remained until the morning of Sun-
day, the wind blowing fiercely the whole time. At one
o'clock on Sunday, the wind being in the north-west
quarter, the Briton shipped a sea which carried away
part of her larboard bulwarks, and stove in the port
lifeboats. At 230 the foresail split into ribbons. At
4.40 she shipped another sea, which carried away two
more boats, stowed by the main hatchway, also unshipped
the cabin skylight, and filled the cabin with water. Ten
minutes after this the engine room was found to be fast
filling with water, and the fires were washed out. The
pumps were then worked by the crew, and other means used
to keep the ship afloat, but without avail, for the water
continued gaining, and at 5.20 it was up 8 feet in the
engine-room, and 10 feet in the after cabin.
Darkness was now setting in, and the position of the
vessel and her crew was truly deplorable. The wind was
still blowing a gale, and the water was gaining on the
ship, in spite of the efforts which were made at the
pumps. Their only chance now was to lighten the ship
by casting overboard her freight. Ten tons of fuel and
an immense quantity of fire bars, with chains, &c., were
committed to the deep. This having been accomplished
somewhat in their favour, a tremendous sea struck her,
carrying away all her deck houses. The jib was then
set to wear he ship round, but it was immediately blown
to rags. New storm sails were then bent in the place of
the foresail, which had been previously carried away.
The water was still gaining on the ship, the boats
were all stove in or swept away (save one), and it was
expected that she would go down each moment. At
this juncture a schooner hove in sight and bore down on
her port bow. Never were the well-known words,
" A sail, a sail in sight appears !

uttered with greater joy by any then the crew of the
Briton, who had given up all hopes of succour.
The ship proved to be the Wave Queen, Captain Blan-
field, of Jersey. She was immediately hailed by Capt.
Serie, and requested to lay to, as the Briton was fast
sinking. The only boat fit for use was quickly over the
ship's side, but was with difficulty kept from being
dashed to pieces. A boat from the Wave Queen also
came alongside, and Captain Serie gave orders fur the
ship to be abandoned. This was at 9.30. The stern of
the Briton was then under water, and the sea was
making a clean breach over her
The captain and crew of the Briton were then taken
on board the schooner in an exhausted state, and treated
with much kindness. The Wave Queen brought them
on to Jersey. Captain Serle had two of his ribs broken,
and sustained other injuries, and several of the crew
were severely injured. The Briton was insstred.

The Queen will hold an Investiture of the Bath, at
Windsor Castle, on Saturday, the 24th inst., at half-
past two o'clock.
The Duke of Roxbargb, accompanied by the Marquis
of Bowmont and Lord Charles Inner-Ker, has arrived
at the Clarendon, from Broxraouth Park, laddington-
shire.

Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston have a small
circle of friends staying with them at Broadlands.
Mr. and Lady Charlotte Watson Taylor are staying
at Claridge's Hotel. •
Mr. Francis Watt has arrived at the Clarendon from
Bishop Burton, near Beverley.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyne Stephens have arrived at Claridge's
Hotel, from Lynford Hall, Suffolk.
ETON COLLEGE.—The Christmas vacation terminated
yesterday, there being no extra week this half. The
lower boys arrived on Wednesday, the fifth form on
'nv, ' , • ;- '
term arrive—when L:.e
Vice•Chanceilor Kindersley is to proceed, ou the
28th inst., to settle the list of contributories of the
Justice Assurance Society, now 'winding up.

N
r 4:TEST L E WS.

PRUSSIA AND SWITZERLAND.

BERNE, FRIDAY.

The final Tote of the Federal Assembly of
Switzerland has just been taken upon the propo-
sitions of the Federal Council for the settlement
of the dispute with Prussia.

The Council of States, which, together with
the National Council, constitutes the Federal
Assembly of Switzerland, having separately dis-
cussed the propositions, in a long and animated
debate, has just resolved upon their adoption,
that is to say, abandonment of the trial and
removal of the insurgents beyond the Swiss terri-
tory until the final r ttlement of the dispute.
There were 82 members voting in the ma-
jority ; the minority was composed of Messrs.
Fdzy, Vogt, and Pignat.

VIENNA, FRIDAY.

His Majesty the Emperor of Austria made his
solemn entry into Milan at half-past 2 o'clock
yesterday.

We have news from Constantinople to the
9th. Ibrahim Paella has beaten the Russians in
Oircassia. The Russian General was killed in
the action.

The English wish to disembark a force at Bus-
sorab, on the Tigris, the river, at that part, form-
ing the dividing line of Turkey and Persia.

A. telegraphic despatch from Madrid informs
us that twenty-five political prisoners have just
contrived to effect their escape from Valencia.