The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-19 00:00:00

QUEEN'S THEATRE.

Last night a new drama entiled, The Bronze
Statue; or the Virgin's Kiss, was produced at this
neat little theatre; and the manner in which
it is put on the stage reflects the greatest
credit on Mr. Green, the talented manager,
who seems to have spared no expense in its
production. The several performers acquitted them-
selves creditably, especially Messrs. Green, Kingston,
Manders, and Miss. M. Atkins ; in fact the whole of
the company appeared to exert themselves to the ut-
most to insure the success of the piece. The scenery,
by:Mr. James, the lessee, is first-rate, and frequently
brought down the ppplause of the audience. At the
conclusion, Mr. Green and the principal performers
were honoured with a call to receive the plaudits
of an overflowing audience. The piece was announcd
or repetition every evening.

POLY TECHNIC INSTITUTION.
Last night Sir Henry Bishop commenced a course
of lectures at this institution on the secular music of
England. Ile observed of modern date how few of
our poets had written for the lyric drama. Composers
had now to adapt their melodies to words without
character, and often without sense, so that their ideas
were brought down too frequently to a most degrad-
ing position. When music was in its infancy in
England, and executed by very inferior singers, the
greatest poets wrote for the composers—Shakspere's
Tempest being the first piece baying anything
like the characteristics of an opera in England. Sir
Henry dwelt at length on the genius of Purcell,
alleging that as a musician he was:equal to Shakspere
as a dramatic, or Milton as an epic poet, illustrating
this part of his subject by vocal accompaniment—
" Come unto these yellow sands," and "Vull fathom
five," " Where the bee sucks," Ex. Milton's Comas,
by Dr. Arne, which was produced in 1738, was an im-
provement ; but thirty years later the same composer
presented the public with the first complete opera in
the languige— Artaxerxes, which, although complete
and successful, was based on the models:of the Italian
opera, then just introduced. Recitative, he re-
marked, was ill-adapted to English words, and
although Handel had given us some fine
specimens, showing that the difficulty might be

His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse-
back yesterday morning, attended by Lieut.-Colonel
the Hon. A. Gordon.
The Duke and Duchess do Nemours visited her Ma-
jesty yesterday at Buckingham Palace.
The Royal Family took their usual exorcise yesterday
in the garden of the Palace.
The Queen and Prince Albert, attended by the Coun-
tess of Mount Edgeumbe, the Hon. Eleanor Stanley,
Colonel Buckley, and Lieut.-Colonel the Hun. Alexander
Gordon, honoured the performance of the French plays
With their presence yesterday evening.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.visited
her' Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yester-
day, at Gloucester House.
A deputation, consisting of the Earl of Bandon. the
Earl of Lucan, Lord Lorton, Lord De Freyne, Colonel
Chatterton, M.P., Mr. Thomas Bateson, M.P., Mr. H.
.Herbert, M.P., Mr. James Hans Hamilton, M.P., Mr.
Samuel Dixon, M.P., Colonel Dunne, M.P., Mr. Fitz•
atephen French, M.P., Sir W. Barron, M.P., Sir Thomas
Burke, Bart., M.P., Lord Monteagle, Mr. C. H. Frewea,
M.P., Mr. Edward Grogan, M.P;, Lord Bernard, M.P.,
Sir W: Verner, Bart; M.P., Sir D. Norreys, M.P.. Lord
Mountcashell, Mr. George A. Hamilton, M.P., Mr. J.
Napier, M.P., Sir John Walsh, Mr. 0. Grace M.P.,
Lord Naas, the Earl of Erne, the Earl of Gieniall, Sir
E. Macnaughten, M.P., liar. S. Dickson, M.P., Mr.
Keogh, M.P., and Mr. Alderman Humphery, M.P., had
an interview with Lord John Russell yesterday, at his
official residence in Downing-street. The Noble Lord
was accompaeicd, during the conference, by the Right
lion. %V. G. Hay ter, Secretary of the Treasury.
A deputation, consisting cf Mr. Colquhoun, of Killer-
mont, Mr. Tite, Mr. Oldfield, and Mr. Alexander Gra-
hame, had an interview with the Commissioners of Rail-
ways at the office of the Board of Trade, on Saturday,
on the subject cf the Caledonian and Edinburgh and
G:asgow Railways Amalgamation Bill.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday. An apie..l from Beegal, "biahtab Chund
Ba-
hadoor v. the Governor of Bengal," was argued by one
counsel cn each side on a point reserved. Au appeal
from the High Court of Admiralty, " Hammond v.
Rogers," the ship Christians, was commenced. The
Atorney.General and Dr. Addams were heard, and Sir
Frederic& Thesiger had commenced his address, when
the Court rose n ijourning the case.

UNIVERSIT Y INTELLIGENCE.
OXFORD, FEB. 18.—The examiners appointed by the
trustees cf the Lusby Scholarships give notice that an
examination will be holden in Magee,len-hall, on Mon-
day, March 18, and the following days, for the purpose
of electing a scholar on that fJundation.

The scholarship, tenable for three years, is open to all
candidates, without regard to place cf birth or educa-
tion; if members of the University, they must not have
exceeded the eighth term from their matriculation.

Gentlemen Who desire to offer themselves aTcandi-
dates are requested to call on the Vice-Principal, on or
before Saturday, March 16, with testimonials from their
respective colleges or schools, and also, if they be twin-
hers cf the University, to bring certificates of their
standing. R. MICHELL.
H. HARRIS.
R. GANDELL.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.
Eagle Island Lighthouses, coast of Mayo.
Information has been received at the Ballast-office, at
Dublin, that the Lights at Eagle Island were again ex-
hibited on the 11th inst.

SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 18.—The Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steam. ship Montrose, Captain
Bowen, with the Peninsular mails, left the docks at two
o'clock with a full general cargo, several passengers, and
specie to the amount of 8,000/ The Royal Mail Com-
pany's steam-ship Great Western, Captain Walpe, with
the West India and Pacific mails, left this afternoon
with thirty-four passengers, a full miscellaneous cargo,
and specie to the amount of 6,606/. The Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steam-ship Ripon, Capt. Moresby,
will leave on the 20th instant for Alexandria, &c. The
Royal Mail Company's steam-ship Thames, with the
homeward West India mails, is due at the Post-office on
the 22d instant, and may be looked for about the 20th.
The :Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship
Phoenix, Captain Burney, with the mails from Spain,
Portugal, and Gibraltar, will be here on or about the
24th instant.

LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.--WO
believe it is the intention of the directors of this com-
pany to call a special general meeting after the half-
yearly meeting on the 26th, when the shareholders will
have had an opportunity of considering the report of their
own committee on the charges affecting the probity of
the directors, and at this special general meeting to place
at the disposal of the proprietors a certain number of
seats in the direction, to fill up or not as they.please and
how they please.—Chronicle.
METROPOLITAN ►SEWERS COMMISSION.—Yesterday
the commissioners met at the Court-house, Greek-strfe-,
Soho, tor the purpose of hearing appeals against the
sewers rate on the nanelagh district; but no party ap-
pearing to appeal against the rata, the court was ad-
journed.

CAUTION TO THE PUBLlC.—Messrs. Morison and
the Society of Hygeists and Medical Reformers hereby
caution the public that they have no sort of connexion
with the ointments, pills, and farinaceous powders sold
in chemists and druggists' shops.—British College of
Health, New-road, London, Feb. 1, 1850.
THE WARD OF BREAD-STREET.-0a Saturday a
few of the principal inhabitants of the ward of Bread-
street, in the city of Londor, entertained at dinner at
the George Hotel, Aldermanbury, the sheriffs and under-
sheriffs of London and Middlesex, for the current year,
two of . whom, namely Mr. Sheriff Lawrence and Mr.
Under-Sheriff Milieu', serve respectively the office of
Alderman and Common Councilman of Bread-street
Ward. Thomas Lowry, Etq., of the firm of Rogers,
Lowry, and Co., of Watling-street, presided, the vice-
chair being filled by J. C. Wakefield, Esq., of the house
of Inglis and Wakefield, of Friday-str< The guests
were limited in number, and were principally gentlemen
more or less intimately connected with the corporation
or the ward.

A COMMON IN FLAMES.—Last evening, between
five and six o'clock, information was received, almost
simultaneously, at the various fire-engine stations in
town, that a tremendous fire was raging in the direction
of Nine Elms, Vauxhall. The engines of the West cf
England and London Brigade were immediately ordered
out, but whilst they were being horsed several other per-
sons arrived from the various bridges, describing the
scene of conflagration as lying towards Battersea. The
firemen having arrived us far as the Wandsworth-road
they faund the distant country illuminated to such an
extent that they believed a tremendous fire was raging,
but the exact locality completely puzzled them. Hun-
dreds of mee, on foot and horseback, were also hurrying
towards the fire, when, on getting almost as far as
Wandsworth, they were met by an express, bringing the
intelligence that the cause of so much alarm was owing
to the furze on the common having been set on fire. The
firemen having learned that no house was near, returned
with their engines to their stations. The person who
brought the news informed the firemen that upwards of
three-quarters of a mile in extent of the nazi was in
flames.
A lustrous ButLoos.—Yesterday a bullock
broke away from the herd to which it Lelonged, near
Greenwich, and proceeded at a furious pace towards the
metropolis, knocking down every body who attempted
to impede its progress. Near the New Cross turnpike,
Mrs. Annan, of Peckham was thrown down and dread-
fully injured. In the New Kent-road a row of stalls,
seven in number, were levelled and their contents de-
stroyed, the owners being much injured. In the Old
Kent-road a Mr. Armstrong of 11, Harlingen-terrace,
with"as a attackedfract ureb d reaching the Bricklayers'
Arms the beast seemed to pause, but, the immense crowdy the animal, and was conveyed borne
of men, boys, and dogs, that had followed soon 'came up,-,
and it resumed its career towards the Borough. Between
the Bricklayers' Arms and the Town-hall, no fewer
than four persons were knocked down and received such
injuries that their immediate removal to Guy's and St.
Thomas'sllospital was considered necessary. On London-,
bridge the cruwds of omnibuses and vehicles in the road
forced the animal on the footway, and numbers unable
to escape were knocked down. On reaching King Wil-
liam-street, the animal passed down Arthur-street into
Upper Thames-street, and the gates of Mum. Thomp-
son and Forman, 96, Upper Tuames street, Dy era' Bail
Iron Wharf, being open, rushed in, and was at length
secured. It is not known to whom the beast belongs,
and from the damage done it is supposed that it will Lot
ho claimed.
Dx Acumu.—At the Episcopal Chapel, in West-
street, St. Giles's, on Sunday last, before reading the
General Thanksgiving, the officiating minister made the
following unusual announcement:—" A person desires
to return thanks to Almighty God for deliverance from
captivity in the dungeons of the Inquisition at Rome." •
It was at once known that Dr. Achilli, who had arrived
in England the night before, was in the chapel. •
HecTonsurr• OF MARISCHAL " COLLEGE, ADEI.
DEEN.—The students are already astir regarding the
election of Lord Rector. The names of four no-
minees have bean mentioned the Duke of Argyle,
Sir Robert Peel, J. G. Lockhart, Esq., and Thomas
Carlyle.

AWFUL EXPLOSION OF A STEAM
BOILER.

FIFTY KILLED AND FIFTY WOUNDED.
(From the New York Herald of Feb. 5.)
It is our melancholy duty to day to present to our
readers the details, as far as they could be gathered
up to the time of our going to press, of one of the
most frightful casualties, attended with an awful de-
struction of human life, that ever occurred in New
York.
The accident occurred at a quarter to eight o'clock,
yesterday morning, by the bursting of a two hundred
horse power boiler, in the printing press and machine
shop of Mr. A. B. Taylor, Nos. 5 and 7, Hague-
street, within a door or two of Pearl-street. As soon
as the explosion took place, we are informed
by persons who witnessed the eatastrophe, the
whole building, which was six stories in height,
was actually lifted from its foundation to a
height of six feet, and when it reached that
elevation, it tumbled down, crushing in its ruins a
vast number. So great was the force of the explo-
sion, that fragments of the building w -re scattered
in every direction ; the windows in the neighbour-
hood were broker, and a large portion of the
front wall of the fated building was thrown
with tremendous power into the houses oppo-
site. Iu fact, the building was completely
wrecked, hardly one brick being left standing on an-
other, with the exception of a solitary piece of wall
eight or ten feet high, as if to indicate what had been.
In the firm of Alva B. Taylor and Co., there were
about sixty-five persons employed. In addition
to these, there were about the same number
employed in another firm in the same build-
ing, namely, St. John Burr and Co., hatters.
In the basement story was the engine and the
-blacksmith shop, where there were four pair of bel-
-lOws and about twelve men at work, besides Crissey,
the engineer, and his brother. The engine con-
nected with the second and third stories, where
the machine shop was situated, by means of
shafts and straps. The ground floor was oc-
cupied as a hat shop, and eight men worked at
a table in front, of whom there is no account.
The fourth story also belonged to the hat establish-
ment, and was used as a blowing room. The fifth
story of the building was used as a carpenter's shop
for making models for the machine shop. The sixth
was occupied by Mr. Singer, a letter engraver, who
has obtained a patent for a new invention. It is be-
lieved there was no person in this story at the time of
the explosion.
A building immediately in the rear, occupied as
brush factory, and also as a watch-case manufactory,
had the roof and a portion of the wall thrown in by
the falling ruins. It was in going to this building that
Louis Day, the Frenchman, was killed. The walls of
•the machine- shop were very strong, being 20 inches
thick. The building belonged to the Messrs. Harper,
and we understand was not insured. The stock and
engine, &c., we have heard are insured.
The soap and candle factory of Hull and Co in
,the rear, was considerably injured by the shock.
So dreadful was the explosion that the windows in
several houses in Pearl-street were broken. Even
the sashes of 351 were smashed. A gentleman who
was looking on at the time informed us that the ex-
plosion was like the reports of two cannons fired in
quick succession, one after the other. Doubtless
the second report was the crash of the falling ruins.
' Immediately after the explosion fire burst from
the promiscuous heap of bricks and beams, and
human bodies were seen with legs and arms
sticking out—some of them dead, some living.
The fire alarm for the district was first
given, and then a general alarm, which
brought the firemen from all parts of the city to
the scene of desolation. Some plied the engines,
while others assisted to get out as many as possible
of those who were under the ruins. In a short
time the fire was so far subdued that the fire-
men could work more effectually in removing the
bricks and timbers ; and towards ten o'clock
there was scarcely any flame issuing from
the wreck; but the heat was very great, and the
great difficulty to be avoided was lest those beneath
the pile should he either drowned or scalded ; while
on the other hand they might be burned to death by
the fire ; and but little could be done to save those
still living, until the fire was completely brough
under.

A 3 near as can be estimated, there were 120 per-
sons in the building at the time of the catastrophe,
scattered thrbughout the machine-shop, and the hat-
factory above-mentioned, in both of which a great
many men and boys are usually employed.
Had the accident occurred an hour, or even half-an-
hour later, the destruction of human life would
unquestionably have been much greater than it
was, as a great many of the boys, in consequence of
the extreme coldnes of the weather, had not at that
time arrived at their work. As it is, however, the
number of persons killed is dreadful to contemplate.
In thia machine shop and hat shop together there
were usually about 130 hands employed; probably
there were from 100 to 120 men and boys present at
the time of the explosion.
In the hat shop most of the hands were present.
In this establishment a good many boys were em-
ployed—in the machine shop there were few. The
following is a list of names, though not a complete
one, of the hands in the machine shop :—George Ford,
first foreman ; Robert King, second ditto; J. S.Crissey,
Samuel T. Crissoy, A Huggins, Adam Neely, John
Browne, Larry Carystal, Robert Ross, John Gil-
martin, Thomas M'Keever, Owen Cunningham,
Charles Dougherty (saved), A. C. Osborne, William
Proctor, Henry Reed, Di Hull (taken out dead),
Marshal Vought, George H. Davis, Thomas Van-
derbilt, Robert Hyslop, Rufus C. Witing, A.
Aldridge (Seneca Lake), William Gowenlep, James
Gilderoy, Thomas Pnilips, Robert Knowlton,
Oscar Kelsey, Lorah King, Halsey King, John C.
King, Leonard Brookes, James Brookes, Thomas
Brookes, Clarke Voug'nt, Oliver Browne, Luther
Thompson, William .De Lander, M. M. Culton,
Thomas Wood, William Rogers, William
Proctor, Richard Herschel!, M. D. Ford,
J. Gilder, J. Thompson, James Powers, Richard
Burtwhistle, and two or three names not ascertained.
Mr. Taylor, who resides in Newark, had not arrived
at the time of the accident; Mr. Putnam, his part-
ner, isulso saf-, not having reached the premises till
after the explosion.

The fullowing are names of those in the employ of
Messrs. Burr and Co. :—C. 0. Jessup, foreman, W.
L. Canfield, James Hyatt, John Mills, A. R. Martin-
dale, J./mei Flood (boy), P. McPhillips (boy),
Thomas Weed (boy), H. W. Smith, S. H. Smith,
Joseph Hannibal, John Rogers, Edwin Hurd, George
Hyde, Peter Hyde, Frank Hyder, John Lockwood,
W. Quigg, J. Docherty (boy), D. Docherty (boy), G.
F. Worrell (boy), R. Hannibal (boy), L. B. Whitney.
Richard Egbert, IV. Boudoine, M. M'Laughlin, W.
Barclay, Frank Barclay, R. Oughton, E. Lambert,
S. Findall, W. Merritt, Tyndall (boy), F. Lynch,
Dutch Frenchman, Thomas Farrell, W. Collins
(boy), J. Collins (boy), W. Thompson (boy),
Peter , Bumf., John Ward, W. Collins, Luke
Collard, J. Dorning, T. Granger, John Thurston
(boy), J. Huestis (boy), and a boy, name unknown,
with others, whose names the foreman could not re-
member. For many of these their friends and relatives,

who heard of the accident, entertained the moors!

fears.