The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-05 00:00:00

LON DON, MONDAY EVENING, OC i OBER 5,

THE LOSS OF THE CENTRAL A M ERICA

LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.
The following items respecting the loss of the
steamship Central America are extracted from the
details of the.ceastrophe published in the papers
brought by the Europa :
"Of the 28 children who were saved the greater part
were babies. The stewardess of the steamer was a stout
negro woman. She had collected the money thrown away
by the passengers, it was supposed, and buckled it round
the body. The weight of this money was the cause of
her death when she was hoisted into the Marne, where
she died frern having too much gold about her loins. One
of the ladies placed her canary bird in her bosom on
leaving the steamer and preserved its life.
" Mr. George, who went down with the vessel, says :
—He heard to shriek, nothing but the seething rush and
hiss of waters that closed above her as she hurried,
almost with the speed of an arrow, to her ocean bed.
Night had closed in before the vessel sank, and he was
sucked in, by the whirlpool caused by her swift descent,
to a depth, that in its seeming was unfathomable, and
into n darkness that he bad never dreamt of. Compared
with it the blackest night, without moon or star, was as
the broad noonday. He was rather stunned than stiffed
and his sensations on coming to the surface were almost
as painful, from their reaction, as those which he en-
dured at the greatest depth to which he sank. When he
became conscious, after the lapse of a minute or two, he
could distinguish every object around him-for a consider
able distance. The waves, as they rose and- fell, revealed
a crowd of human- heads. Those unfortunates who had
lost their lift-preservers or planks while under water,
owing to the force of the whirlpool, were frantically
snatching at the broken pieces of, the wreck, which,
brsaking from the ship as she continued to descend, leapt
above the surface and fell back with a heavy splash.
The cries arose thus mingled into one inarticulate
wail, and then the lustier and less terrified
shouted for assistance to the bark Marine, which
was far beyond bailing distance. The waves dashed
them one against another at first, but speedily they
began to separate, and the last farewells were taken.
One man called to another in our informant's hearing,
'lf you are saved, Frank, send my love to my dear
wife;' but the friend appealed to Was answered only with
a gurgle of the throat. He washed off the plank, and
perished as his companion spoke. Many were desirous
of separating themselves as far as possible from the rest,
wing fearful lest some desperate struggler might seize
hold of them and draw them under. Others, afraid of
their loneliness, called to their neighbours to keep to
nether. Generally, they strove to cheer each other as
long as they remained within hearing, end when the
roar of the waves drowned all but the loudest shouting
the call of friendship or the cry of despair was heard in
the distance, and infused confidence or increased dismay
in many a failing bosom.
" It was when he bad drifted far from the companion-
ship any of his fellows in miefoi tune that Mr. George
began to realise his situation. The night was very dark.
Cecasienally, as the driving clouds parted and ga►e a
I.;i1/113et of sky, a star or two would be visible, but this
was very seldom, and offered but the faintest gleam of
imps that the morning would dawn fair and calm. The
swell of the sea was great, and successively the poor
otters, holding on to their planks with the energy
of despair, were riding on the brink of a precipice and
earied in a deep valley of water. Our informant, like
teeny of the rest, was seized with the fear of sharks.
Lespiretien was very difficult, owing to the masses of
sra'er which were constantly dashed upon them, as
wave after wave rolled by. For two or three hours the
eater was not unpleasantly cold, and it was not until
shout 1 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, when they
bad been nearly five hours in the water, and a fresh
chilling wind arose, that their limbs began to feel be-
num bed.

"Some of the incidents described to U 3 as occurring
before or about that time are truly thrilling. One roan,
Pirating in sAirude, and terrified at his loneliness, after
shouting himself hoarse to find a companion, saw at
length a man with tao life-preservers fa,tened about his
body drifting towards him. His heart leaped with joy
at the welcome sight, for the feeling of desolation which
had overcome him was terrible to endure. He called'te
the otter t 9 join him if possible, tsnd made every exertion
to meet him half way. There was no reply, but the other
drifted nearer and nearer. A wave threw them to-
gether.; they touched, The living man shrieked in the
face of a corpse. The other bad been drowned by the
dash of the billows, or had perished from exhaustion.
" When rising and falling with the swell of the waves
the lights of the bark Ellen were first discerned by the
survivors in the water ; the thrill of hope that at once
filled every breast amounted, it may well be believed, to
a perfect ecstasy. Let Mr. George speak for all. He
Faye I never felt so thankful in all my life. I never
knew what gratitude was before. Ido not know whe-
ther I cried or not, but I know I was astonished to hear
my own laughter ringing in my ears. Ido not know
why I laughed. That verse, God moves in a mysteri-
ous way,' kept passing in and out of me—through me,
rattier, as if I had been the pipe of an organ. It did not
come to we by my own volition, but somehow made me
remember it. When the lights approached nearer a
score of voic€ s sprang up around me, crying Ship ahoy,'
'Boat ahoy,' and then I began to shout too. And I bad
never any doubt that I should be saved till I saw the
lights pass by. about half a mile from where I was, and
recede in the distance. Then I bega.o to give myself up
for lost indeed. But I slowly drifted toward her again'
'ill I could make out her hull and one of her masts, and
presently I floated close to her and shouted, and was
taken up. When I got on the deck I could not stand.

I did not know till then how exhausted I was.'

George, before he was rescued encountered six men

clogipg to a I,g of wood, two of whom were washed off
in his sight, within a short distance of the bark. The

others must bare afterwards shared the same fate, as
they were not taken on board the bark and were never

again seen. Mr. George thinks a raft could have lived,
but no attempt was made to construct one.
"A little girl who was savel along with her brother

rays :--

"At about 10 o'clock on Saturday a gentleman came
down and took us up into the saloon ; my father was
with us ; he handed me his money and told me to keep
it—prliaps I might be saved and he not. This was
before we came in sight of the brig. Alter we got in
-fight of the vessel I handed it back to him ; I told him
that it was too heavy. Then they called us up to the
iifehoat.. I came on in the second beat to the brig. I
think the terror will never leave my heart. I felt as
though I had almost as lief go down with the ship as to
get off. I have not heard, from father since I left him
on Saturday • I think he is lost.'
" When the boat cast off from the steamer Captain
Herndon said, Tell the captain of the brig for God's
sake to remain by us ; that I have 500 people'on board
sod two millions of treasure.' When we arrived in the
brig Mr. Black communicated this request to Captain
Burt, who replied at once Ay, ay ; tell him I'll stand
by him.' It is alleged that the boats' crews declined to
return to the wreck, for fear of being swamped.
" A passenger says,—` Life-preservers were plenty,
and. each had secured one for himself. On coming up
I found plenty of things to cling t', at d got bold of a
door, which I held on to about 15 minutes, till three
Irishmen grabbed it, when I left it, as I was becoming
so numb that I was obliged to warm up by a little
swimming exerciss. Though a large quantity of ma-
terial was fl-ating about, still there was a good deal of
desperate struggling and lighting to appropriate articles
promising the most security. I next got hold of a trunk,
but it soon fell to pieces. But a flour buret directly
came in my way ; in clinging to it I soon got chilled and
had occasionally to leave it and swim to get warm. Bu t
I did not let it get far out of my way. I observed th
Irishmen still fighting for the door the last I saw oaf
them, and they are doubtless lost.

. -
" Another passengers says : —'Nearly all the passen-
gers had been provided with life-preservers, but many
of them had lost all hope and become discouraged
before the critical moment arrived, and when the ship
sunk they lacked the energy to make any effort to
save themselves, while others were affrighted out
of all presence of mind and lacked the judgment
to convert to their use means which might have
been rendered available. The majority o' the crew and
a number of the passengers. at the time of the sinking
of the step were below engaged in bailing.
" Some of the female passengers fell two or three
times into the sea before they could be got into the
boat. Oa of them, a stewardess, fell in three times,
and once was pinched beta een the boat and the aide of
the steamer. The captain did hie best to keep the pas-
seeeees esim and cool.
It is stated by many of the survivors that there
was seldom so large an amount of money owned by pas-
sengers es was in the case of those who came by the
Central A.eoerice. Many were persons of large means,
and there were very few whose immediate wealth did not
amount to hundreds, while numbers reckoned their
gold by thousands of dollars. The greater portion of
the passengers were returned miners, some coming
hither to invest the capital they had realised, in hopes
to live a life of greater ease as the result of their in-
dustry, end others to get their families and once more
go to the land of gold. But as the storm continued to
rage, lees and less of gold was thought of, and when, on
Saturday, it became evident they were likely at any
moment to be buried beneath the waves, wealthy men
divested themselves of their treasure belts and scattered
the gold upon the cabin floors, telling thoee to take it
who would, lest its weight—a few ounces or pounds—
carry them to their death. Full purses, containing in
some instances 2,000 dole. were laying untouched on
sofas. Carpet bags were opened by men and the shin-
ing metal was poured out on the floor with the prodi-
gality of death's despair. One of the passengers, who
has fortunately been rescued, opened a bag and dashed
about the cabin 20,000 dollars in gold dust, and told
eim who wanted to gratify his greed for gold to take it
But it was passed by untouched as the veriest dros..
A few hours before he would have struck down the man
who would have attempted to take a grain of that which
he now spurned from him,'
"A passenger named Miller, who was lost, took a
position at the top of the steps leading to the steerage ;
he drew his revolver arid threatened to shoot any one
Thererefusedwho
Aecworas u
di
ntgoo
race
a wootterhkare asstthatethti tI am aware pumps and attempted to get
upon deck,
t of
ffemale
survivor,—
on

the steamer up to the time we first espied the sail. which
we believe brought us ielief. Thera seemed to be a
perfect calmness, which I could not have belieyedit.
possible for such a number of persons to exhibit under
such fearful circumstances. But when the'brig hove in
sight there were tears of joy, and the men worked with
renewed energy and hope. The ladies begged 'of the
men to work firmly and with all their strength, and said
they would take hold and work themselves if the mon
did not do their best. Some of the women begged to be-
allowed to assist, and some were so anxious that they
even attempted Vo dress up in Men's clothing, so that
they might-go down and help in the task.'
"Of the working at the pumps, a passenger says :
It' was rather &novel spectacle to see men at work,
many of whom had never been in the habit of physical
labour, ta, log hold with strength and willingness equal
to the heartiest. After awhile the work began to be
rather a serious affair for the strength and muscles. To
keep up the spirits songs were sung, and every imaginable
joke retailed to exoite Laughter and cheer the spirits'.
Occasionally a man, notwithstanding the urgency of
the occasion and the determination of m at, to make the
work as cheerful as possi le, would fall from the ranks,.
and it was utterly impossible to rouse them again to
activity. Some were comp!. tely ex'austed physically,
and had to reCre from work for that reamn ; but it was a
fact that a few gave up in despav of the possibli y es'
raving the steamer from sinking, and would not work.
The example of that few had a tad effi'et upon others,
notwithstanding, the conetant cheering remarks of the
captain and officers that everything was working fa-
vourably. The men worked faithfully all Friday night,
although under the serious disadvantage of but little
light and no water or refreshments.'
"Mrs. Small and her child were in charge of Captain
Herndon, of whom she speaks with much emotion; She
was handed into the boat by him. He appeared-sad, hot
very firm. Mr . Small,' said he, this.is sad ;I am
sorry not to get you home safaly.' With these words he
turned -away:- -
" Mr. Payne states that he was indebted to Captain
Herndon for his life, I was in irk quent coremltation with
him before I went, and he asked me what I thought of
affairs. I said, Thank God,- the women and children
are ail off, and we are strong.' He replied, Yes, thank
God,' and added, You take the next boat.' This I did,
but before I went he reque•ted me to go into his office
and get his gold watch and chain, and, is saved, to carry
tebna to his wife. Said he, Tell her—,' but his utter
-
Lance was choked by deep emotion, and he said no more
on that subject, but changed it by saying be wished me
to see the president of the c nmpany, Marshal 0. Roberts,
and the agents, and communicate with them ia relation
to the disaster.

" After raying this much he walked away a few steps
and at down ou a bench, with his bead in his hands,
apparently overcome. He remained in that position a
few moments, and then arose and resumed giving orders
as the boat from the brig Marine returned.

" The conduct of the head engineer, Ashby, was
strongly condemned, and some of the rescued passengers
talked of 'lynching' him. It is alleged that he aban-
doned the engine-room long before there was any neces-
sity. It is also charged against him that in the boat
there were two seats vacant, and a person jumped into
one of them ; at this instant Ashby, who was overseeing
the shipmfnt of the women and children, drew his bowie
knife, and raising as if to strike the man, commanded
him to get oat. His arm was arrested by a person near,
and the man retained his place. As the boat pushed off;
Ashby jumped in ; a general murmur arose, and a cry
was heard, ' Shoot him The Captain called out that
he depended upon hitn returning, which Ashby failed to
do, alleging that the boat's crew refused to do so, fearing
for their own safety. It is likewise stated that one of
the survivors also averts that Ashby approoched him
and threatened to cut the strap which held his life-pre-
server round his body; the interference of a passenger
prevented him from taking it away from him.
" C.i,ptaie Johnson, of the El,en, on board of which
vessel many of the rescued received very kind treatment
wakes the following statement I was forced by the
wind to sail a little out of my course before I came up
with you, and on altering it a small bird flew across the
ship once or twig', and then darted into my face. I,
however, took no notice of:this circumstance, and the
same thing occurred again, which caused me to regard
the circumstance as something extraordinary ; and while
thinking on is in this way the mysterious bird for the
third time appeare,t and went through the very same

ex raordinary mance ivres, Upon this I was indueed to
re-alter nay curse ibto the original one which I had been

steering, and in a short time I heard noises, and on try-
ing t,) discover what they proceeded from. di.o mrered
that I was in the midst of people who had been ship-
wrecked. I proceeded instantly to rescue them, and in
a few mlments succeeded in getting four of them on
board. Nut one of them could speak, all being perfectly

senseless final exhaustion. After a few momenta we
got another one n board. The first words he spoke
were Where is my wife r—give me something to
111

" Mr. finding the iessel going down, wrenched
a door from the wheel-house. Atter being on the raft
about an hour or an Lour and a-half the ship west down,
and apparently carried all on board with her. I had
great difficulty in holding on to my raft, on account of
the rou,;bness of the sea, and after having remained on it
for about two hours I was drifted near a larger raft, on
which there were five men. I then left my raft and
swam to them. The darkness was so great that I coul
not recognise any of them. We were frequently washed
off by the force of the wavep, and had to swim to reach
the ra't again. Soon I found one of our number was

tniising. The rest of us--there Were now fire—clung to
the raft as best we could, at times being washed off, and
then regaining the raft by swimming to it. Towards
morning a sea washed off all of us but one, and only two
of the four succeeded in recovering the raft ; they had
become ea chilled and exhausted that they bad not

strength to reach it again,Tniwerel),t. This left only
three of3tis on the raft out of the six:that were on it.'
A captain (Badger) who wai on board the Central
America attributes the foundering of the vessel to the
stoppage of the engines. She fill into the trough of the
sea, and took in much water through her lee &Hilts and
dead lights. It was aft-rwards ascertained that the

cause of the stoppage of the engines was the neglect of
the fire and engine department of getting coal along from
the bunkers to the fire-room fast enough to keep up the

fires ; consequently all the engines stopped, as well as
all the pumps attached to the engines. Au attempt was
made to raise steam in the donkey boil-r. Births were
torn and thrown into the furnace to raise the steam to
start the pumps, but all to no avail. A drag was prepared
but failed, and the ship continued in the trough of the
sea. " Baling," says Badger, " went on vigorously
and was kept up all night by gangs, wno were changed
as often as they became exhausted. Towards morning
the men were beginning to fail and the water to increase
and grow up in the hold of the ship. At four o'clock on
the morning of Saturday, the 12th, the gale abated,
with a heavy sea running. They were encouraged by
myself and -ethers with assurance that the ship would
hold out. Every passenger remained cool, and seemed
to forget his danger in the united efforts to save vessel.
There was no weeping or exhibition of despair, even on
the part of the women. At opt o'clock another at-
tempt was made to raise steam in the donkoy-'oiler to
pump the ship, but without avaii. Ode proposed to
box the pumps, but en inquiry no carpenter or tools
could be found, and the water gained • rapidly. , The lee
shaft was shrouded with heavy blankets to stop the
leak, but the water burst through. At 2 o'clock on
Saturday a sail was reported to windward, and at half-
past 3 she came under the stern. Boats immediately
were lowered, but were stove instantly by the sea.
Three boats still remained—one in a bad condition. At
4 o'clock the work of removing the ladies and children
to the deck of tbe Marine was commenced. The brig
being much lighter than the ship, had by this time
drifted away to leeward. The distance was consider-
able, and the boats were long in making the trips
and there being a heavy sea but few could
be carried at a time. After sending tbe ladies
and children the engineer and some 15 others were em-
barked on the brig. By this time it was dark. The
work of baling was still teept on, but the water gained
faster and faster upon the vessel. As the boats succes-
eively approached the ship a simultaneous rush was
that passengers to get on board, and it was ap-
prehendedat the boats would be filled and stove. It
made by th
was now dark. About two hours before the sinking of
the ship a schooner ran down under our stern, but could
not render any assistance for want of boats. The work of
baling went •en until within an hour of her going down.
Two lights of the above vessel were now seen far to
leeward. - Rockas were fired from the wheel, but went
downwards, The immediate sinking of the ship followed.
Capt. Hearndon remained on the wheel up to the moment
of her going down, which' was 8 o'clock on Saturday
night. I was standing on the quarterdeck. Some jumped
over, and put out from the now rapidly descending ship,
and seized en whatever they could. No one shrieked or
cried, but all stood calm. The captain behaved nobly,
and sa.d he would not leave the ship. I promised him I
would remain with him, as also did the second officer,
Mr. Frazer. All at once the ship, as if in the agony of
death herself, made a plunge on an angle of 45 degrees,
and, with a shriek from the engulfed mass, she disap-
peared, and 500 human beings floated out on the bosom
of the ocean, with no hope but death."
A paper referring to the statements of passengers says
We found no ono who would confess to a dread of
death per se. One thought of his family, hie friends, and
struggled for life for their sake.. Another wished to live
that he might enjoy the treasure which he had stowed
away on his person, and which would be saved if he was.
A third, who bad lost everything, wanted to begin life
anew, and make his fortune over again. A species of
fatalism consoled some. If their time was come it was
come, and they saw their comrades in misfortune fail in
their last struggle and sink with scarcely. a pang One
man told us he went to sleep in the water."
One survivor makes rather an amusing statement :
"I guess I bad been about four hours in the water
and had floated away from the rest, wt en the waves
ceased to make any noise, and I heard my mother say,
`Johnny, did you eat sister's grapes ?' I hadn't thought
of it for 20 years at least. It had gone clean out of my
mind. I bad a stater that died of consumption more
than 30 years ago,. and when she was sick—l was a boy
, of 11 or so—a neighbour had sent her some early hot
house grapes. Well, those grapes were left in a room
where I was, and—l ought to have been skinned alive
for it, Llittle rascal that was--I devoured them all

Mother came to me after I had gone to bed, when she
couldn't find the fruit for sister to moisten her mouth
with in the night, and said, 'Johnny, did you eat sister's
grapes ?' I did not add to the meanness of my conduct
by telling a lie. I owned up, and my' niother went away
in tears,' but without flagging me. It-occasioned me a
qualm of conscience for many a year after ; but, as I
said, for 20 'yeari at least I had not thought of it, till,
when.' was floating about benumbed with o.ld, I heard
it as plain as ever I heard her voice in my life. I heard
it:miller say, Johnny, did you eat•sister's grapes I
don't know to account for it. It did not scare.me,
though. I thought it was a presage of inx death."
A. survivor says—" Five hundred men, with death
yawning before them at any moment, stood solid as a
rock, nor made a movement for the boats until the
women and children had all been safely transported to
the brig, after which about 40 of the ere v and male
passengers, in a few trips, reached the latter vessel be-
fore the steamer went down."

Several of the passengers whole position and intelli-
gence, and, withal, the trying:citcumistances in which
the ship was placed, ought to 'have restrained them from
deporting themselves other than properly, drank exces-
sively of liquors on board the ship, provably from their
own private stores, and made themselves very noisy and
troublesome. Two of the passengers of high social and
p Utical associations refused to work, but got alarm-
ingly drunk, so much so that their more sober compa-
nions had to put them in their berths. In that condition
they lay when the 'steamer sank. Others, being corn
pletely exhausted, took to their berths, and went down
with the vessel.

An elderly woman implored the captain to allow her
husband to go in the boat with her ; she was refu id.
Very kindly but firmly Captain Hirridon told her that
no man could leave-the:steamer until all the women had
gone. Jnst before she went down into the boat her
husband took her by ;the hand and bade her good by.
He toll her that he would try and meet her again, but
that perhaps he would not be able. Sile never saw Um
again. Another woman tells a similaAipainful story.
The engineer stoutly denies the allega'ions made
against him.
It is asserted that the pumps and donkey engine of
the vessel were unserviceable.

Sangnina hopes were entertained of the a tfety of the
captain (Herndon) and a number of passengers. When
the reisel went down the captain way on deck on the
wheelhowie, and when last seen was clinging to a plank.

PICCOLOMINI AND GIUGLI

( From the Birmingham!, Journal. )

Wednesday evening last was signalised by the finest
' concert we have listened to for some years. The scheme
was au admirable one, the vocalists in the first ranks of
their profession, and the audience, though not so nume-
, ous as the occasion merited, musical and discriminating
to a degree. The concert commenced with the trio from
Don Giovanni," between the Dan (Mdighieri), his
valet Leporello (Belletti), and the Ciintrandatore (Rossi),
sung with that aplomb and method only possible to Ita-
lian actors and singers. The duetto which followed, b,
Madame Potna and Signor Rossi, was also a flee speci-
men of operatic singing, Rossi pourtraying his share with
a conic vivacity and genuine spirit so infectious that the
audience at once received its tone of e j ,yinent for the
night. Piccolornini and Bell-tti fellewed in the ever
fresh "La ci darem." If the charms of the fictitious
Zeilina at ell equally i those of her bewitching represen•
tative, the enslavement of the dashing D need cause
no wonderment, for never did a more fascinating little
cantatrice warble her way into the heart of hidalgo or
grandee, cavalier or true knight, than this sates c3p i-
vating c4,anteuse. An enthniiastic encore was gr: e fully
re-p inileit to, Pice,loinini appearing to enj iy the affair
equally with the audience. The prelude to the next
piece might have been very reel played; very few peop'e,
however, we in aeine, heard it; the tole intere-t centring
in a quiet-1 inking, swarthy foreigner, whose black hair,
thro .vn behind ears, inclination to stoutness, a• d t4ron,zly
marked features, reminded us of F‘ire,s ; bat hi w un
like the profundities of the Geriran singer the silvery
tones of this Italian marvel, we ',nye no hesitetion in
placing Gtugiiut as the very first 1 ring tenor, the trumpet
clang and the vibrating sound of Reeves, and a sort,
• pure, and liquid tone and charming expressi,in pfcli!iarlyt
his own—these const.tate the attractions of this magiii•
ficent singer. The audience wee evidently not prepared
for such perfection, and the applause was unmistakeably
genuine. Giugiini quietly reepen led, ALA once inure
di-lighted the audience. He sings so ea: el; end uti•
affectedly, his voice is so equal aid true, his tours de
force are so magnificent, alai his cadeices melt in the
a r with such sweetness aed purity, that we ere certainly
justified, considering all his setiibutes, in naming him
the finest singer of the day. Toe lung aed
itig duet (from "Rime() and Juliet") by Mantles. Spezia
and Ortolaui, enabled the audience to reenin their wonted
calmness in time for Belletti's splendid singing of Haydn's
greet piece (with organ accompaniments) " Anil God
said," with its flee air, "Now liraven,' &c. ; he
achieved a triumph, and afforded a lesson to some of
cur native singers, his articulation was s.e) good and his
points s admirably made. Piccelornini enchanted the
audience by the irresistible grace and abandon with
which she sang and acted " I dreamt that ti welt," and
was again enthusiastically encored. Mad le: Spezia sang
with effect in "Qui la voce," dieplayieg a voice of great
compass and flexibility ; her execution, too, of the diffi.
cult passages in the cabaletta being most arti-tic. In
the famous trio from "It Maeromonia Segreto," farne
liarly known as "My Lady the Countess," Piccolornini
displayed her talent for comedy the more wonderful
when contrasted with the pathetic tenderness she infused
into the mournful and graceful air from " La Figlia,"
" Cowden partir." This Queen of the fete never could
have received a greater ovation in her triumphal career
than from the audience on Wednesday last. Whether
from fluency of vocalisation, stage cep abilities, keen ap-
preciation of the ludicrous, or volubility of utterance,
we have never heard a more effective performance than
the "tin segro" duet, from " Cenerent.ile," by Beietti
and Rossi. We have already perhaps trenched upon our
space too far, but the theme is so tempting, and such of
our readers who were present will so readily find excuses
for us, and justice must he done to these a inaira,b!e per-
fortuere, that—in short Giuglini in the re x ; air, " Della
sua pace," not only ratified our previously conceived good
opinion, bat if possible increased it. Should he pay a
second visit, we hope a hall full of the adtrerers of the

joyous science will share our pleasure. ^ Mdl e. Spezia
should not sing "Tacea la unite ;" she is unequal to it.
As there is always a gem in every concert, so was there in
this—the duet from " Lucia ;" Giuelini and Piccol nnin
commencing with the tenor s•do, " Sub, tombs," em
bracing the melodious duet, "Venano and ending
with the adieu of the lovers. An encore as irresistible
as it was de-erved followed, and we must say, often us
we have heard this famous piece, we never until Wed-
nesday night perfectly realised it. Madame Poma sang
"Il segreto" well and effectively, though it is possible
to become tired even of this ; and the laughter-moving
"Papatacci " trio, superbly sung by Gitiglini, Belletti,
and Rossi, brought the vocally successful concert to a
brilliant termination. The weather may have had
some ibflaence on the attendance, but we trust, should
these unequalled artistes pay us a second visit, that
Birmingham will sustain its reputation for musical taste
by supporting them to the fullest extent of the Town
Hall capabilities. Signor Voschetti played modestly
and intelligently, and kept himself sufficiently and
agreeably under throughout the concert.

TIIE LATE SIR CHARLES NAPIER ON

ME BA LL9T.

The people should have the ballot. It is their secu-
rity and their will, and therefore their right also.
When Sir Thos. Maitland assumed the government of
the lonian Islands, he abolished the election of members
of the Legislative Assemb), by ballot, which had hither-
to prevailed, and he established the vote rivet rote. I
am not aware of any other act of his act which gave so
much dissatisfaction. While the ballot existed, elec.
tions passed quietly ; there was no canvassing ; rough
nature grewa rather more civil at such periods ; the
thermometer of urbanity ranged higher ; nu bribes were
thought of. A tolerable guess was, perhaps, made how
each man would vote, but no one was sure. Anger or
violence provoked black beans—affability conciliated
white beans. The effect was, as I have said, that in-
creased cordiality was perceived in society, and bad
feelings (tor the Moment at least) were repressed ;
but when the open vote was ettablislied, the fiercest
passions burst forth. Formerly we were told, "Of two
evils choose the least." The doctrine is altered. "Of two
evils choose the greatest." Starve your children rather
than give your vote against your politics. Break the
law of nature rather than disotlige a man of adverse
politics. Destroy your family immediately, for fear the
aabeas Corpus Act should be suspended a hundred
years hence. This is " being English," in the opinion
of those who breakfast, dine, and sup plenteously—
Stoics in theory, and Sybarites in practice. When the
Duke of Wellington chased Massena from Portug,ll, I
was three days without food. Toe fiiet day was any-
hing but agreeable ; the second convinced me of the
close alliance that there was between honour and an
oven ; and on the third day I would, for a biscuit, have
•oted for the Duke of Newcastle himself ! It any Tory
can prove o me that my not voting for him at the nt-x'
election will be followed by the unt owsrd feeling 1 had in
my stomach in the Estrella mountains, .1 will give him
a plumper against the best Reformer in England.
Really oue cannot reasau seriously on such a subject."

DEATH FROM LOCK-JAW. —FATAL FALL DOWN, STAIRS.
—An inquest was taken on Saturday night by Mr. W.
Baker, at the Landon Hospital, on the body of Timothy
Connell, aged 70 years. It appeared n evidence
that the deceased went hum.: a few nights since, an,
while ascending a stairoase he slipped wit' fell to Oat'
bottom landing. He was raised up and found to hay,
received a severe injury to the spine. He was carried
to the hospital, where symptoms of tetanus or lock jaw
suparvened. He was attended by Mr. F. Owen, the
ho se surgeon, but the deceased gradually grew worse,
Ali I expired on Friday. The ni_dtcdl evidence having
been adducFd, the jury eturoted a seirdict of accidental
deal how look pm