The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-26 00:00:00

AMERICA.

SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY EVENING.
The steam-ship Ocean Queen, Capt. Seabury,
with New York mails of the 13th inst., has arrived
at Cowes, and proceeded for Havre. She brings
1,500,000 dols., a great part of them for France;
also 90 passengers for this place and 100 for Havre.
Advices are anticipated by the Anglo-Saxon.

FREE DRINKING FOUNTAINS FOR THE METRO-
POLIB.-A public meeting, convened by the members of the
Fitzroy T.,mperance Association, was held in Fitzroy-hall,
Little Portland-street, Marylebone, yesterday evening, to
set forth the great advantages likely to result from this
movement. The great influence for good that the erection
of fountains would have on the public at large, thousands
could quench their thirst without resorting to places for
drink, which often sowed seeds that brought forth bitter
fruits in after-life to myriads of families, for intemperance
was a dire and dreadful scourge to humanity. Mr.
Miller, who occupied the chair, drew attention to
what the Fountain Association had already done, and
read a list of 70 places which were fixed upon for such erec-
tions. The Rev. Mr. Amos, of Trinity Church, Messrs.
Pickett (Oxford-street), Geo. Mudie, and John Roberts ad-
dressed the meeting, at the conclusion of which a collection
was made for the Free Fountain Fund.

FATAL COLLISION OFF THE SOUTH
FORELAND.

DOVER, AUG. 25.

An inquiry was held yesterday, before Mr.
Thompson, the borough coroner, on view of the
body of Jeremiah Hammond, a Dover pilot, who,
with three others, lost his life by the schooner
Robert Garden being run down by the Ondine
screw steamship, off the South Foreland, early on
the morning of the 7th inst. _ _

Mr. Catta-rns, of Mark-lane, London, appeared
for the owners of the Ondine ; and Mr. Sharland
for the schooner.

The evidence was most conflicting. The schooner
Robert Garden was from Hartlepool to Dover,
with coals, and, according to her master's testimony,
it appeared that on the morning of the 7th, about
two o'clock, she was off the South Foreland, mak-
ing for Dover Bay, under all canvas, the wind
S.S.W., when the Ondine was seen coming up Chan-
nel, two points on the schooner's port bow, half a
mile off. Her green (starboard) and white lights
were observed. The steamer continued her course
and crossed the bows of the schooner, her helm was
then suddenly ported, and she came into the Robert
Garden between the bowsprit and starboard cat-
head, causing her to sink in three or four minutes.
The deceased was crushed and killed at the moment
of the collision, his body falling overboard. It was
averred that the schooner had her proper lights up,
and her helm was put hard aport before the vessels
came in contact. It was stated also that the On-
dine was going at the rate of 10 or 11 miles an
hour, and that her crew evinced some delay in
rescuing those of the schooner.
On the part of the steamer it was shown, that as
soon as the red light of the schooner was seen the
helm of the Ondine was ported in accordance with
the Admiralty regulations, that her speed was re-
duced, and her engines reversed, and that the acci-
dent arose from the helm of the schooner having
been starboarded. Every exertion was made to save
the crew of the schooner, and there was no delay
in lowering a boat.
Mr. Cattarns said Captain Hunt, the master of
the steamer, was in attendance to give evidence.
The Coroner said he would take any statement
he might wish to make, but he would not examine
him on oath.

Mr. Cattarns said if his evidence was not to be
received on oath, he should not advise him to make
any statement.
The Coroner then summed up, and
The Jury returned the followed verdict :—" From
the circumstances stated in the evidence before us
we find that the death of Jeremiah Hammond was
caused, on the morning of the 7th instant, by the
Ondine screw steamer coming into collision with
the schooner Robert Garden, on board of which the
deceased was pilot. We are also of opinion that
the said collision and loss of life on board the
Robert Garden is attributable to James Hunt, the
master of the Ondine, neglecting to port his helm
in time to pass astern of the schooner."
The Coroner said the verdict amounted to one of
manslaughter, and it was arranged that Captain
Hunt should put in bail to answer the charge at
the next assizes.

Mr. Charles Edward Coleridge, of the South
Wales Circuit, has been appointed secretary to the com-
missioners appointed to inquire into the existence of corrupt
practices at the last election for the city of Gloucester ; and
Mr. Dew, of the House of Commons, has been appointed
secretary to the commissioners appointed to inquire into
the existence of corrupt practices at the last election for the
borough of Wakefield.
The Peninsular and Oriental steamer Orissa, to
sail on Saturday, will take 21,000 sovereigns for Alexan-
dria, and £20,700 in gold and £204,360 in silver for Bom-
bay. In the latter amount is included a Government re-
mittance of £172,000.
In accordance with Admiralty instructions,
certain alterations, with a view to an extension of Deptford
Dockyard, are to be carried into effect, the requisite portion
of hind having been obtained. The building slips at Wool-
wich, upon which the Repulse and Barossa are now con-
structing, are also ordered to be improved.
DEATII OF THE SENIOR COMMANDER, ROYAL
NAVY, AND VACANCY ON THE OUT-PENSION, GREEN-
WICH HOSPITAL.—We last week announced the death of
Commander 'William Kelly, the then senior commander;
we regret now to have to record that of Commander Charles
Seward, 1814, the next senior on the list. This officer
entered the service in 1793, and was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant in 1801; was midshipman of the Majestic at
the battle of the Nile, and lieutenant of the Orpheus at the
reduction of Gaudaloupe, in 1810 ; and was officially noticed
in the " Gazette" in 1798. Commander Robert Forster,
1815, an officer who has served with great distinction, and
is one of the few surviving heroes of the landing in Egypt,
is now the senior commander. _

FATAL RIVER ACCIDENT.—(THIS DAY).—
Shortly after ten o'clock this forenoon a very painful acci-
dent occurred at Battersea-bridge pier. The River Queen
and the Matrimony were both in motion abreast of the
pier, and the call boy of the former, while in the act of
passing to the latter, miscalculated the distance, and fell
into the river. Unfortunately both boats backed, the one
up and the other down stream, nearly suffocating the boy
with back water. Life buoys and boat hooks were then
thrown towards him ; but, falling short, he disappeared,
after striking out ineffectually for a short time. Deceased
is only 12 years of age.
REDUCTION OF DUTY ON LACE.—Our readers
will be gratified to learn that our worthy representative, Mr.
Chas. Pa.-et, has been successful in his repeated applica-
tion to the late as well as the present Government to effect
an alteration in the Sardinian tariff upon crotchet tulle,
which, through their representations, and the exertions of
Sir James Hudson (our Minister at Turin), has been altered
from 6f. the kilog. (21bs. English) to 2f. 50c. ; and, consi-
dering the additional territory acquired by the King of Sar-
dinia, this great reduction must prove very beneficial to the
lace trade.—Nottingham Review.
M. FELIX PYAT AND THE AMNESTY.—M. Felix
Pyat writes from London to the _lndependence Beige to cor-
rect.. a statement in that paper to the effect that he had
taken advantage of the amnesty, and passed through Paris
on his way to Vierzon, to visit his mother. M. Pyat says—
" I thank your correspondent for his good intentions, and
for the pious sentiment to which he attributes my precipita-
tion. But, alas ! I have no reason any longer to be in such
a hurry. I can, no doubt, if I like, revisit my country ;
but I cannot find there my mother, who died in her grief,
and whose eyes I was unable to close."
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH BETWEEN LIVER-
POOL AND HOLYHEAD.—Though the line of telegraph
along the Liverpool docks will be managed and worked by
a public company, the dock board retaining certain exclu-
sive privileges, the board at their meeting
of the yesterday de-
cided to keep for the present the working telegraph
between Liverpool and Holyhead in their own hands. It
was stated yesterday that the saving which will be effected
by the abolition of several of the semaphore stations would
equal the amount of interest per annum upon the expendi-
ture involved by the new means of communication.
The letters from St. Petersburg state, that as the
prices of produce are much too high for exporters, the Rus-
sians themselves have entered into large local speculations
in tallow, and are keeping back the supplies which ought
to be now in course of shipment. The accounts from the
Nishni fair are favourable. It is also mentioned that a
considerable portion of the subscriptions to the recent loan
were on Russian account—a circumstance which nullifies
its effects on the exchanges, and even in some degree ren-
ders them for the moment more unfavourable for Russia,
since remittances are made thence to provide the deposits
on this side.
TERRIFIC THUNDERSTORM.—Last night one of
the most severe thunderstorms with which we have been
visited for some time passed over the metropolis. The atmo-
sphere during the day was close and oppressive, and soon
after sunset vivid and incessant flashes of sheet lightning
played around the horison. At ten o'clock the flashes were
intensely and awfully brilliant, followed by crashing peals
of thunder, the rain falling in torrents, which in a very few
moments inundated the carriage roads, and in many places
overflowed the foot pavements. The accumulated waters
rushing into the basements and cellars, flooded them to
some depth, occasioning considerable damage to the con-
tents. At half-past ten o'clock a frightfully vivid flash
illuminated the hemisphere from the zenith to the horison,
and almost simultaneously a heavy crashing peal shook the
houses on the south side of the river to the foundations.
BARON CHAZAL)—The following is a short bio-
graphical sketch of General Baron Chazal, Minister of War
In Belgium, who so strongly defended the Antwerp Forti-
fication Bill during the late discussion :—He is the son of a
member the of French Convention who voted the death of
Louis XVI., but:subject to respite. lie was born in 1808 at
Tarbes, where his father was residing as Prefect of the
Hantes-Pyrenees. In 1816, the father was proscribed, and
took up his residence at Btussels, with his family. )(sung
Chazal was educated in Brussels for commercial pursuits,
and he embarked in business as a cloth dealer. But when
the revolution of 1830 broke forth he took an active part in the
proceedings, and having entered the army, became succes-
sively intendant-genera], commander of a regiment of in-
fantry, general of brigade, and general of division. In 1844
the chambers by law accorded him complete naturalisation,
and in 1847 he became Minister of War in the Frere-Rogier
cabinet. In 1850 he retired from the ministry, in conse •
quence of some offence given to the national guard. The
title of baron was conferred on him some time back by the
King, in whose confidence he is believed to be highly
placed. In 1856 he was sent on an extraordinary mission
to St. Petersburg, to congratulate the Emperor Alexan-
der on his Majesty's accession to the throne.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—The number of visitors to the
Crystal Palace on Tuesday, at the Foresters' Fete, 63,181,
was by far the largest which has ever been collected there,
and exceeded by more than 17,000 the number on the same
occasion last year. The conduct of this immense mass
throughout the day was in every respect admirable ; hardly
a single case of drunkenness was observed, and the greatest
order and good humour prevailed. The visitors spread
themselves over the whole of the grounds, as they ha*
never done on any former occasion. and the result was that
not more than the most temporary pressure or inconvenience
was at any time felt in the building. It will hardly be
believed that no damage whatever was done to the property
of the company within or without the Palace. Fully two-
thirds of the visitors came by rail, and the arrangements by
which this enormous throng of more than 40,000 wore
broughtto the Palace and conveyed backreflects the greatest
credit on the officers of the Railway Company. For some
hours during the morning the passengers delivered at the
Palace exceeded 12,000 an hour—i.e., 1,000 in every fii e
minutes. Measures were adopted by the managers of the
Palace by which the excursionists from the country, vd- •
formed a large proportion of the visitors, were enabled to
reach their return trains with very trifling delay, The
management of the refreshment department, by which the
creature comforts of this great multitude were supplied,
seems to have given universal satisfaction, and though the
Foresters make no professions to be a "temperance society,"
the free drinking fountains lately erected in the Palace were
literally besieged by thirsty visitors throughout the whole
day. The annual *demonstrations of the Foresters have
steadily increased in popularity since the first year that
they attempted one, and have now assumed an importance
possessed by those of no other society of the day. If these
gatherings continue to be conducted with the same admir-
able order and good feeling that was so abundantly mani-
fested on Tuesday, we can only say that we think they are
worthy of the most strenuous support.