The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-09 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 9, 1850.

PHILLIPS'S FIRE ANNIHILATOR.
Another demonstration of the powers of this inven-
tion, on a somewhat larger scale than hitherto prac-
tised, took place yesterday in Battersea-fields. To
show the value of the vapour, both on sea and land,
a house and n old ship were the objects experimented
upon. The house was a tolerably substantial building,
containing six rooms, each of ‘ihich were fitted up
with rough furniture, so that it might present all the
appearances of an inhabited dwelling. In the hold of
the ship a quantity of hogsheads, casks, sacks, and
other things were stowed, to represent a general
cargo. Visitors were admitted into the house and on
board the vessel, and every facility was afforded to
show them the inflammable nature of the contents.
Fire was applied to the house a short time after eleven
o'clock, when the flames soon issued from the windows
and other apertures; after the fire had been allowed
to rage for the space of five minutes, it seemed cer-
tain, under ordinary circumstances, that the house and
its contents were doomed. Orders were then given to
apply the vapour, which was done from two machines,
one at the rear and the other at the front of the
house. Almost immediately after the machines were
brought to bear upon the burning mass, a sensible
diminution of the fire took place, and room after
room was acted upon with a like result. Twelve
minutes after, the inventor, Mr. Phillips, appeared
upon the roof, and made a signal that the house was
saved ; the vapour, however, still continued to be
applied for some time longer, and it was not till
twenty minutes from the time of the first injection
that the fire in the body of the house was totally ex-
tinguished. A few pails of water were then applied
to quench the smouldering embers, and, after the
smoke cleared away, ingress was again had to the
interior. A great part of the contents, with portions
of the flooring and ceilings were found to be destroyed,
and it was evident that the whole of the building must
have been consumed had not a remedy been applied.
At the close of this portion of the demonstration Mr.
Phillips addressed the assemblage, expatiating on the
benefits of the invention and congratulating them on
the success of the experiment ; he also announced that
further opportunities would be afforded the public to
witness the effects of the vapour. Fire was then
communicated to the contents of the hold of the ves-
sel, and when the flames began to appear through the
hatchway the vapour was applied, and after the lapse
of three minutes the flames were entirely checked. A
vast deal of smoke continued, however, to ooze
through the crevices of the deck and sides; but, to
show that little fire remained, a man walked through
the hold and emerged from the hatchway. The de-
monstration was certainly successful to a certain ex-
tent, but it is more than doubtful whether, under
ordinary circumstances, the vapour could be brough
to bear in the short time that elapsed before its appli.
cation yesterday.

TO THE EDITOR OF TEIE SUN.
SlR,—Having seen in a column of your widely
circulated paper, of the 3d instant, a very incorrect
report of a robbery which took place in Ivy-lane on
the 2d instant, I trust' you will be kind enough to
contradict the same. I was not knocked dawn by
three men, as described. The following are the
facts:--A female with whom I was standing, in a
dark part of Ivy-lane, stole from my coat pocket a
purse containing seven sovereigns and some silver;
whilst in pursuit of her I was tripped up by a man
whom, I have reason to believe, was connected with
her. I beg to add the whole affair did not occupy
more than a minute. By inserting the above you
will greatly oblige
__

Your obedient servant,
G. IL BALLEY,
30, De Beauvoir-terrace, Kingsland-road,
October 7, 1850.

BREVET RANK.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR,--As some of the subalterns of the army are
putting forward their claims to be made majors over
the heads of captains who have not served so long as
themselves, may I beg of you to say a few words in
favour of the promotion of old majors and lieutenant-
colonels at once to the rank of major-general ?
Some of them have been longer in the service than
the senior colonels ; if, therefore, such a principle is
recognised, surely they ought to be made major-
generals in preference to those young colonels who are
three or four years their juniors.
I remain, Sir, your humble servant,
A VERY OLD SOLDIER.

PROFESSOR MUSPRATT ON THE
USE OF LEAD IN THE MANUFACTURE
• OF SUGAR.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Stx,—As my opinion has often been asked with
regard to " the use of lead in the manufacture of
sugar," and having devoted more time to the investi-
gation of the sulphites than any other chemist, I
deem myself justified in declaring an opinion upon
Dr. Scoffern's process.
I feel convinced that all the lead can be removed
by sulphurous acid by Dr. Scoffern's patent. Ha trace
of sulphite of lend remains, it must have dissolved in
the excess of sulphurous acid. The following is the
account I gave of sulphite of lead,. in " Liebig's
Annalen," for 1844, page 284 :—" Sulphite of lend
is insoluble in water, and very sparingly soluble in
aqueous sulphurous acid ; it is anhydrous and taste-
less." '['he persistent nature of suiphite of lead, and
its insolubility render it innocuous. In my mind,
the great feature in ScOffern's plan is, that the excess
of lead used in the manufacture of the sugar can be
entirely removed, and in the most insoluble state
possible, i. e., as sulphite of lead.—l am, Sir, &c,
SHERIDAN MUSRATT, F.R.S.E.
College of Chemistry, Livt rpool, Oct. 7, 1850.

COURT CIRCULAR.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent has left
Abergeldie for Haddo llouse, Aberdeenshire, at-
tended by her suite, on her return to town.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer arrived last even-
ing at his official residence in Downirtg-street, from
his seat, Hickleton Hall, Yorkshire.

CAPTAIN COLLINSON'
By private letters received from Captain Collinson,
C. 8., dated the 26th of June, at Oahu, Sandwich
Islands, it appears that Captain Kellett, C. 8., (who
had sailed in the Herald fur Behring's Straits), had
appointed Cape Lisburne as his rendezvous.
Captain Collinsou was to sail in a few days ; and
though he had got 3,800 miles before him, hoped
to reach the edge of the ice about the middle of
August.
inspirited by the knowledge of the efficient expedi-
tion under Captain Austin in Lancaster Sound, it was
his intention to endeavour to meet him at Melville
Island.

The letter alluded to has come via California and
Panama.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE BRISTOL CHAN•
NEB.-An inquest was held at Bristol on Monday, on the
body of M-. Evan Jefferies, who was drowned in consequence
of the upsetting of a pleasure boat in the Bristol Channel, on
the afternoon of Sunday last. The jury returned a verdict
that the deceased was accidentally drowned.
yards,
THE SPONGE TRADE OF THE BAHAMAS'—The
the year 1847 appears
rapid strides made in spongingalmost incredible. Although the
trade has been carried on for years, a Mr. U& man was the
first, we believe, who gave it an impetus. Since then others
quantities of sponge may
and house-tops, where it is
have embarked in it, and sponge has now become one of our
staple products. From Bay-street to Thompson's Folly vast
within the Bahamas since
each for the London
after having been
previously buried (in order to kill the zoophite which in-.
in bales, averaging 300Ibs. weight
! habits it) and washed. It is afterwards divested Of the
fragments of rock which adhere to it, Pres'ed' and packed
market, where it is manufactured into cloth hats, &c., and
converted to many useful purposes. We are informed that
it has recently become the medium for applying poultices to
wounds, instead of cloth. In order to glue our readers an
Leleisteetno
dry, after
fences,
trad, we have ater
idea of the importance of the sponge
the following statistics from a gentlemean engaged g
in shied
A-
ping large quantities :—From the Ist of January to 30th
June of the present year there were exported nearly I,eoo
bales of sponge, of the value at least of 25 dollars each
25,000 dollars; on the Ist of January a very small stock of
sponge was ou hand, while on the 30th June every dealer in
this article had a large stock ; therefore, as it is a cash
article, there must have been paid to the crews employed in
this trade at least 40,000 dollars.---ArasB"u (N.P.) Guar_
dian, August 17.
The lessons of blunder, disappointment, and humi-
liation impress more than those of a thousand masters.—
Eliza Cook's Journal.
DISTRESS IN THE COUNTY OF K ENT.—Whatever
may be said as to some other counties, we can vouch for
this, on indisputable authority, that there is a far greater
amount of distress now prevalent here than what has been
witnessed for a long time previously. We would adduce a
variety of facts in confirma"°n—whether it be in the many
sales of agricul.ural property, or the general depreciation of
trade in the towns and villages—but the Parliamentary
returns are sufficient, showing from the unions themselves
the number of persons receiving relief in the past year.
From these we find that there were nearly 500 more persons
receiving relief on the Ist July last, compared with the cor-
responding period last Year.' Our,. r..ealers all know the ,I
much greater number receivlng ell" last year to what '
there was in previous years. 11'e czuniot refrain from alto
referring to the frightful increasein daring offences, as
another indicatiun of the extension of pauperism.
It is a
favourite notion with the free-traders themselves that want,
more than ignorance, tends to crime. Within the past
two or three years crimes
et a desperate nature have fright-
fully increased, especially in agricultural counties.— Canter-
bury Journal.
lkir• Taylor when
SINGING SHELLS.------ • , a f at Bathea- 1
lon, in Ceylon, ooing at nignt on a lake near the fort, was i
struck by a loudensical noise proceeding from the bottom '
of the water. It was caused by multitudes
.of some animal
inhabiting shells, at least the natives call them .. si a.
shells The sounds are like thoSe of an accordinaitnog
.rEolian harp, guitar, &c., vibrating notes, and
.pitcheci in
r
different keys. A snail, abundant in Corfu, if irritated by a
touch of a piece of straw, will emit a distinctly audible
sound in a querulous tone, and this it frequently repeats if
freshly touched.
R EPRESENTATION
OF I JONGFORD.---It is stated
that Major Blackball is to retire from this county, and that
Mr. Hughes, the new Solicitor-General, is to seek the re-
preoutation.

The Aurora, from Cardiff to Liverpool, was also
totally lost near Holyhead yesterday morning during
the gale. All hands were fortunately saved.
The Catherine Jenner, for Ciudad Bolivar, which
sailed on Sunday, has put back with mainmast sprung
and other damage. The Celina Lucille, from this
port to Marseilles, was also wrecked off Carmel Point;
crew saved.

The Alice of Runcorn, from Liverpool to Llanelly,
sunk in Holyhead Bay during the gale yesterday ;
crew saved.
We learn, by a letter from Southport, that the
Helena Zillen, from Liverpool for Ostend, was totally
wrecked at that place this morning; one man only
was saved.

The sloops Freedom, of Salcombe, and the Corn.
merce, of Jersey, were also driven on shore at
Southport.

The flat Industry, of Liverpool, laden with salt,
scnk in Llandudno Bay yesterday; crew saved.
Since last night the gale has been gradually abating,
and it is now calm. We fear, however, that many
casualties will yet be heard of from the more distant
parts of the coast, and from Ireland.

DAMAGE TO THE WORKS AT THE HAR-
BOUR OF REFUGE AT DOVER. N
DOVER, TUESDAY IGLlT.—During the whole of
Sunday night the storm raged with the most fearful
fury, tearing away from their moorings nearly all the
craft riding at anchor, and sweeping away a portion
of the esplanade, and finally completely damaging a
very large portion of the works of the Harbour of
Refuge. The force of the storm may be imagined
when it is stated that the immense coffer-dam by
which the walls were surrounded, although con-
structed of huge timbers, was torn up and scattered
about as if it had been so much match-wood. The
immense stones with which the walls are being con-
structed were washed away ; as were also several
diving-bells, and nearly all the apparatus employed in
this great undertaking. The damage is estimated at
15,000/.

NORTHERN AND EASTERN COAST.—The violent
gale of Sunday night and Monday has been produc-
tive of very disastrous consequences on the coast.
The list furnished at Lloyd's yesterday, by the agents
at the different ports, conveys a sad detail of the
mischief occasioned. The eastern and Channel coast
suffered severely, and at present it is difficult to tell
the exact amount of life and property that has been
sacrificed. In the neighbourhood of the Downs,
throughout the whole of Sunday night, the gale was
very alarming. It continued till an advanced hour on
Monday, causing much damage to the fleet of vessels
usually riding about this part of the Channel. Many
succeeded in running into Ramsgate harbour for
safety, but even some of these lost spars and portions
of rigging, and the Isabella from London, bound to
Ulverstone, had one of the crew blown overboard, and
the poor fellow perished. In the course of the night the
Freetrader, bound to Coquimbo, came in collision, near
Beachy Head, with the Avenger, a brigantine, bound
to London. Mr. Pitts, the master of the latter vessel,
and five or six of his crew, succeeded in getting on board
the Freetrader, but the remainder, six, it is thought,
were driven away with their vessel by the gale, and
eventually lost sight of. The fate of the poor fellows
excites much interest. The Freetracier, after some
difficulty, got back to the Downs, and landed those
belonging to the missing sbip. The above does not
furnish all the casualties that happened on this part
of the coast. There were numerous vessels disabled
by collisions and the fury of the gale.
About midnight on Sunday a melancholy wreck
took place near the prominent neck of land, known
as Dungeness. A Dutch galliot, called the Juffrow
Jantzs, laden with a cargo of iron, and bound to
Frederikswark in Norway from Cardiff, was driven
ashore in the Ear Bay. A most tremendous sea was
rolling on the coast, and the very moment the ill-
fated vessel struck she was engulfed apparently in
the surf. The poor creatures on hoard had not the
least opportunity of saving themselves, and neither
could any assistance be afforded them from the land.
In a very short time the vessel, with all on board,
with the exception of one man, who miraculously
enough managed to battle his way through.the surf,
were lost. Some of the bodies have been picked up.
Farther down the Channel the same tempestuous
weather was experienced, and at every point of the
coast there are evidences of the disastrous character
of the gale. On the eastern coast, it is described
to have been heavy. It commenced to blow
from the S.S.W., and afterwards got round to W. by
N. Yarmouth-roads, as usual, was the scene of
many disasters; some vessels were driven on to ad-
jacent sands, while others lost their anchors and
cables, and sustained other damage. The new har-
bour at Lowestoft offered considerable refuge to the
disabled craft, and ssveral were taken in to make good
their damage. The gale more to the northward was
as severe, and the shipping in the coal trade have
been heavy sufferers. If possible, the storm appears
to have been more formidable on the Welsh coast. In
some parts it was accompanied by thunder and light-
ning. Off Pwllheli the accounts speak of its being
very destructive ; two wrecks had occurred, and, from
the awful state of the weather, more were anticipated.
Near Carnarvon it was also very violent, and two ves-
sels had been cast ashore.
NOTTINGHAM, TUESDAY.—The storm, which was
so violent in this town and vicinity during Sunday
night and the greater part of Monday, partially sub-
sided last evening. From almost every district in the
town and neighbourhood, accounts have reached us of
chimneys being blown over, roofs torn off the houses,
hay and corn stacks injured, &c. The poor woman
Ellis, of Derby, who had come from that town to
Nottingham Fair, and who was injured yesterday by
the falling of the roof of Messrs. Hopkinson and
Welsh's shop, lingered in great agony until six o'clock
in the evening, when death ended her sufferings. The
injuries were chiefly on the head. The other suf-
ferers, we learn, in answer to our inquiries at the
General Infirmary, are reported to be as well as eould
he anticipated. Morris, the wool-stapler of Cotgrove,
has passed a tolerable night, and is pronounced out of
danger, but the injuries are of such a character that
it is almost impossible to say bow they will termi-
nate. The injury that has been done to the articles
in the bazaars is immense, and the proprietors are
now disposing of their goods at half-price. The house
where the accident occurred presents a lamentable
appearance. The rubbish has been all cleared away,
and, during the whole of the night, policemen were
engaged in protecting the premises.
TEIGNMOUTII, OCT. 7.—The Atlas, Green, of
Guernsey, on coming in last evening from Guernsey,
got on shore inside the bar, where she remained for
some time, but came off on the rising of the tide,
A ap-
parently without sustaining any damage. man
named John Matthews, of Maldon, one of the crew
of the pilot-boat, was struck by a sea which knocked
him out of the boat, and before any assistance could
be rendered to him by the rest of the crew the poor
man was engulphed in another heavy sea, and was
drowned.. He has left a wile and two children.
SHIELDS, MONDAY.—Mr. Ripper', master of the
Crown, arrived here from Hamburgh, reports that at
11 a.m., on the 28th September, Heligoland, bearing
E., distant 18 miles, Anthony Park, seaman, whilst
in the act of unreeling the ring rope of the anchor,
slipped his hold and fell overboard. The ship at the
moment was under double-reefed topsails and foresail,
with a strong sea. The helm was immediately put
down, and the ship hove all aback ; got the tackles on
the boat, but he sunk almost immediately, having his
oilskins and seaboots on. The deceased belouged
to South Shields.

LIVERPOOL, OCT. S.— W Ind W.—The Aurora,
from Cardiff for this port, Ras wracked off Holyhca
yesterday morning;
crew, saved. The Arcturui, from
Ibraila,.was wrecked on Crosby Point yesterday; pilot
and first mate drowned. The Alice, of Runcorn, hence
for Llanelly, .ank on Hhead Bay yesterday; crew saved.
The Flat Industry, of this port, laden with salt, sank in
Llandudno Bay yesterday; crew saved. The Lady
Constable, for New Orleans, has put back. The Catha-
rine, for Bolivia, has put back, with mainmast sprung,
&c. The llelene, hence, for Ostend, is totally wrecked
at Southport; one man saved. The sloops Freedom, of
Salcombe, and the Commerce, of Jersey, are both ashore
at Southport.
ADZIWEEIq, Ocx. 7.—The schooner Bamborough

THE LATE STORM.
LOSS OF AN AFRICAN TRADER AND
TWENTY-THREE LIVES.
LIVERPOOL, TULSDA Y.—The letters received at the
underwriters' rooms here, this morning, announce, we
regret to state, several casualties to shipping on the
coast from the late severe gale, some of which involve
a serious lots of life.
The ship Providence, Captain Moyse, for Africa,
left this port on Sunday, and after having encoun-
tered the full force of the gale on Sunday night and
yesterday, was driven back amongst the banks, where
she was observed yesterday about noon from the
Boston telegraph station. Intelligence was sent to
Liverpool as soon as possible, and steps were taken to
rescue the crew from their perilous situation. We
regret, however, to say that out of a crew of 36, in-
cluding the pilot, 23 have perished. As soon as the
intelligence was received, the crew of the Magazine
life-boat put off to render assistance, and was taken in
tow by the steam-tug Albert. The work was at-
tended with very great labour and danger, for the
storm was at its height, but, after considerable diffi-
culty, they had the satisfaction of rescuing eleven who
remained upon the wreck. The following is the list
of persons saved;—Robert Moyse, master; Samuel
Davis, trader; William Boyles, chief mate; John
Morris, boatswain ; William Parry, pilot, of No. 4 ;
D. Smithurst, cook; John C. Berry and Hugh Ven-
seny, seamen ; George Smith, cooper; George Dale,
carpenter's mate; Archibald Cowan, carpenter; John
Austin, and John Thompson.
The second casualty was to the Arcturus, Lidstrow,
from Ibrail to this port, which was driven on shore at
Crosley Point, where she became a complete wreck ;
the pilot and first mate drowned, the rest saved in the
ship's boats.