The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-23 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM, MARCH 21.

STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market was firmer to-day.
Great Western Stock was done at 68,k—Worces!er and
Birmingham Canal Shares at 16—London and North Wes-
tern, 1016 5-51idlands, 81i 2i—Birmingham New Union
Mill, 3h 4—Great Western, closed 68 X —South Staffords,
9i 9j.

OXFORD, March 22.—Mr. E. Parker (from Rugby
school) and Mr. T. Hudson were on Friday last elected
scholars of Pembroke College.
UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.—The University boat race
is fixed for Friday, April 3. the day after the " Metro-
politan." S. al.x,ous is Alma Mater to let the world
know the respective weight of her sc•ne, that the present
list descends to half-pounds, and in fact one Corpus man
is registered at 12st. 21 lbs. I If he does not rigidly
obey the anti potato and pastry rules of training, this
fine balance may be disturbed.
THE. SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY MOVEDIENT.—Mr.
Campbell, the chief registrar, on Saturday had an in-
terview with the Lord Chancellor, and received an order
for formslly closing the courts and offices of bankruptcy
at two o'clock on every Saturday.
Mine. B ieio, M. Lablache, and other artistes of the
Opera at St. Petersburg, have arrived in Paris, the sea-
son in that capital having terminated. The great buffo
and Mine. Bosio are engaged by Mr. Gye for he Lon-
don season.

A number of experiments have been made at Bromp.
ton barracks, by order of Lord Panmure, to ascertain
the merits of a new method of arranging the °harps 'of
gunpowder used in destroying stockades ; but the result,
however, proved the superiority of the plan now in use.
GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY,—Among the papers an•
nounced to be read at the weekly meeting of this society
this evening, is one by Mr. S. Sydney, the author of
" Three colonies of Australia," on the proposed search
for Leichardt's missing party.

. _
SaYENTEEN HOUSES BURNED DOWN.—Loss OF LIFE.
—A dreadful fire broke out late on Friday night, at A
verstock, about two miles from Gosport, by which 17
houses were burned to the ground. A poor woman
named Roberts lost her life in endeavouring to save some
furniture by the roof falling upon her. The fire was ul-
timately extinguished by the soldiers of the garrison.
TIIE THOUSANDTH LOOOMOTIVEI—The eminent firm
of R. and W. Hawthorn, whose celebrity keeps pace
with the progress of the locomotive, are now building
their thousandth engine. Some conception may be
formed of the progress of railways from this one circum-
stance—that within about 30 years from the opening of
the first passenger line, one single establishment has
turned out 1,000 locomotive engines—while Stephenson
and C0.,-another Newcastle firm, have turned out even
more.—Oatesh,ead Observcr.

ABTLRY'S AMPHITHEATRE.—Those patrons of Astley's
must be very young who do not remember "Tom Barry,"
celebrated at that establishment for combining within
himself the two separate offices of Clown to the ring and
comic Irishman on the stage. This once popular artiste
is now on a bed of sickness, utterly unable to maintain
himself ; and his pantomimic friends, beaded by Mr.
Boleno, the Drury-lane Clown, have united for the
organisation of a benefit that is to take place on Wednes-
day next. Mr. W. Cooke, the manager of Astley's,
has generously lent his theatre for the occasion. -
FORTY VESSELS LOST.—During the last week no
fewer than 40 ships have been reported lost at Lloyd's,
many having foundered with all hands. Among them
were the barque Lord George Bentiuck, Capt. Irving,
in which the captain, steward, and two seamen perished ;
the remainder of the crew, 16 in number, suffered for
10 days from want of food and water when they were
picked up. The ship Hungarian, Capt. Baker, which
sailed from Liverpool in October last, for Philadelphia,
with passengers, has not hiuce been heard of. The
Duke of Bedford, from Smyrna, for New York, and the
A. 8., Van Olinda, from Philadelphia, have also, it is
believed, been lost with all hands,

NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY.--YORK, SATURDAY.-.--
Some important claims, arising out of the dreadful acci-
dent at the Church Fenton station of the North Eastern
Railway, came before the Sheriffs' Court, for assessing
the amount of damages. Mr. Waterhouse, a young
married man, claimed 4,0001. for injuries he sustained.
Mr. Overend, Q.C., and Mr. Deightoo appeared for the
plaintiff, and Mr. Knowles, Q.C., and Mr. Addison for
the company. The plaintiff was a passenger in a
second-class carriage, and on reaching Church Fenton
station the train was run into by a coal train, and shock-
ing censequeoces ensued. He sustained a contused
wound on the head and shoulder, legs lacerated, and ribs I
fractured. He had not been able to attend to business.
Mr. Knowles said the company admitted their lia-
bility, and they were ready to give the plaintiff a reason-
able amount for the injury he had sustained, but they
ought not to be exposed to vindictive damages. The jury
awarded 2,2004 The next case was that of a widow,
named Brain, who claimed compensation for loss of her
husband, killed at the accident. The company consented
to a verdict of 1,0001., one ball to the widow, and Hie
other half to be divided among five children. Nicholson
v. North Eastern Company was a similar description of
case, and a verdict was taken for 1501.